Chapter 3: The Madness Within
The two sentries stood to attention when they noticed the fast approach of several horsemen. They relaxed their guard as they realised that it was their troops. Both moved to the large gates and pulled them open. Their nods were barely registered by the passing riders, who seemed intent on their pursuits.
The horsemen raced quickly towards the small palace that stood in the centre of an open field and dismounted at the front steps, passing through the double doors to enter the building. Their footsteps echoed throughout the long empty hallway as they marched together, turning into a dark and rather austere reception room. They stopped before a throne that was positioned at the farthest wall of the room, bowing low to the man that sat and stared at them with piercing red eyes. The leader stepped forward, fear rising in his chest as he noticed his master's gaze sweeping over his group. He knew that his lord was searching for the prisoners. He took a steadying breath and swallowed the lump that rose in his throat.
"Sire, we have scoured the land and can find no trace of anyone."
Menomaru frowned. "What do mean, no trace?"
The soldier fidgeted nervously. "There was none left sire. The area was completely bare."
"Did you search the entire land?"
"Sire, we did as you bade. There was nothing unchecked. The only places left in which to hide are the caves and they too were empty."
Menomaru's head swung round and his sharp glance fell on the back of a woman that stood, looking out a small window. "Can you explain this?"
She turned slowly and pierced him with an equally sharp gaze before replying. "They were there. Of that, I am certain. They must have found a way out."
"You said that they were not capable of travelling great distances so quickly." He stared at her accusingly, his face contorting with rage.
"Yes, and that is true."
"They must have died then. You swore to their survival."
The woman's black hair shone with blue highlights in the sun's bright rays. Her mahogany brown eyes glittered as she chuckled in amusement, her cold features momentarily softened. She watched the moth demon closely as his wings spread threateningly behind him. Her sneer didn't waver and neither did her burning glare. Her smile widened when, with a yell of rage, he flew across the room at her. She didn't flinch, only continuing with her unwavering gaze. He stopped suddenly, inches from her, a comical look upon his face. This time, she could not contain her laughter. His ire tripled as he watched, held suspended by her powerful magic. Her laughter died as suddenly as it began and she leaned forward, her now coldly masked features mere inches from his.
"I have warned you not to take such foolish actions with me. I will not tolerate your attacks or your fowl manners." She turned dismissively and faced the awe-struck soldiers that stared at her in fright. "Send your men to search the borders. And be sure to arm yourselves well. You will face a most formidable opponent."
Menomaru raged inwardly but remained silent. He cursed the wench again as he watched his men hurry to do her bidding, vowing that she be the first to learn her lesson when he finally came into his true powers.
How long had he been sitting there? He couldn't remember. There were times when he seemed to lose all sense of reality and recede into darkest corners of his mind. 'Why? What ails me?' the sane portion of his brain questioned. 'It is your guilt which sends you mad' answered the same voice that plagued him incessantly. He stood and growled in anger as he began pacing the length of the dark cavern. 'I have nothing to feel guilty about. I destroyed my enemy.' A faint eerie laugh echoed in his head, taunting him. 'You destroyed the pitiful remains of what you call a soul.' His pacing suddenly ended as he stood breathing deep gulps of calming breaths, attempting to regain his flailing senses. His reasonable brain spoke up again. 'Something has affected me. This cannot be right.' His mind wandered back over all that had happened the last few days. 'It must have been the barrier that protected the girl and myself.' He could remember the sensations that had passed through his body at the time and now wondered if perhaps, the barrier's strange magic had not somehow, affected his head. Indeed, that would explain his hesitation in ridding himself of her, a creature he deemed worthless and below his notice. 'I must regain my senses.'
He walked to the foot of the cave and stopped, assailed by the memories of sad eyes that showed the suffering of pain and hurt emotions. His jaws clenched as he stepped forward determinedly. 'I will not give in to this madness.' He flew from the entrance and sailed over the treetops, ignoring the urge to search the grounds below. 'You know that you want to look for her.' His growl of frustration echoed in the air around him. 'I will not search for her. She is dead.' 'Then the least you can do is give her a proper burial.' He swooped down suddenly, landing on the hard dirt between two trees. He fought the urge to slash at everything around him, assuring himself repeatedly that he had control and again, the laughter filled his head, mocking him with its taunting ring. 'I will not search for her.' 'Why?' 'It is pointless. The creatures that crawl about at night would not pass up a dead body.' He denied the sinking feeling that came with that thought. 'Deny as you will. You know that what you did was wrong.'
He finally lost his struggle and tore viciously at the trees and shrubs around him until a large clearing of stumps was formed amongst the thicket. His breath was laboured by the time his senses returned and he hung his head in defeat. Never in his life, had he lost control in this manner. He couldn't understand why it was happening. Even with the extremities of his present circumstances, it still did not make sense. He had endured many difficult situations in the past and had always maintained his ability for rational thought.
His head snapped up as a sharp pain wracked his body, sending it into spasms. He couldn't move, couldn't turn to see what had attacked him. From behind him, a sharp chuckle and the sounds of approaching footsteps drew closer. He breathed a sigh of relief when the haze lifted from his mind, feeling much like a man waking from a deep sleep. His relief soon turned to anger as he found himself imprisoned by some sort of spell.
"Well now… seems like we caught ourselves a fine one this time."
A short but rather muscular man stepped into Sesshoumaru's line of vision. His black hair sat up like a thick, dark tuft of grass and his ragged face was lined and scarred. He spat some black substance from his mouth and grinned, showing his dirty grey teeth.
"I wonder what price ye fetch."
Sesshoumaru suppressed a growl, keeping his face passive as he watched the man closely. 'A human!' his mind roiled at the thought that his capture was at the hands one so weak. 'How? How has he managed this?' Even in his previous state of disorientation, he should have heard or smelt them, at least. He listened to those behind him, attempting to calculate their numbers while he waited for the opportunity to strike. He knew it would come.
"How?"
The man spat more of the black goo from his mouth and grinned, gracing the demon with his stained and rotting teeth as he answered in a cocky voice.
"Easy really." He held out his hand to display a small black crystal. "Quite a bit of strong magic in this ere gem."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as he focused on the small black jewel. It was unlike anything he had ever seen and he could feel its malevolent presence from where he stood, held within its grasp. A sudden shift in the atmosphere caught his attention and his ears picked up the faint sound of an arrow, slicing through air. Before his eyes could turn, a blur passed over his captor's hand, cleanly removing the small black stone. Everything stilled as the squat man before him gasped and raised his fear-stricken eyes. An evil smirk passed briefly over Sesshoumaru's face. His mind puzzled the mystery of the arrow as his claws lengthened, his fangs sharpening and growing in preparation for battle. In the blink of an eye, he tore at the man's throat, smirking in pleasure at the look of shock that he received.
The silence lengthened as those around them stared on in horror, their startled gasps whispering through the trees. They watched their comrade raise his hand, grabbing at the gaping wound in his throat, in an attempt to staunch the heavy flow of blood. He dropped to his knees and fell forward, laying face down in the fast growing puddle of his own life sustaining fluid. They stood paralysed for seconds more, before the tall demon's movements brought them back to life. A mixture of emotions, from fear to outrage, swept through the group and their swords were drawn in one collective motion as they swarmed the waiting beast.
Sesshoumaru went into immediate action, slashing and clawing at everything in his path. To his surprise, he sensed many mortals pouring from the sheltering trees. 'So, the bastard was not entirely stupid.' He knew that his fight had just become more interesting. With a deadly smirk, he drew his poison whip and sent a powerful electrical current around him, in a circular motion that wiped out the first line of the onslaught. Replacing the whip with his sword, he sliced through the necks of the next four men who stepped within his reach. His mind stayed alert to those behind him as he continued to move with great speed between the figures in his path. Bodies dropped in quick succession, until all that stood before him were no more. He spun around to deal his justice on those at his rear and froze in surprise. Twenty or so bodies littered the ground, their life fluids slowly draining from a multitude of wounds.
His eyes lifted quickly and scanned the surrounding forest, his nose searching for any trace of a scent. 'Nothing.' A slight frown marred his brow as he continued to stare through the trees. Someone had obviously assisted him but why? A tightening sensation squeezed at his chest and he gasped as stupid idea teased at his mind. 'No' he countered adamantly before the thought could form. 'She is dead. She could not have survived that attack.' He turned sharply and looked at the men that lay on the ground. 'It is more likely that the slave traders have made themselves some deadly enemies.' With one last contemptuous glare, he raised his head and walked calmly from the mess.
He was back in his world of madness once more, staring unseeingly at the grey walls around him as the voices continued to whisper in his head. Since the previous day's events, he had one more thought to join the many strange and disturbing ones that already haunted him. His feet shuffled along the hard stone surface as he moved to stand in the cave's entrance, staring down at the forest with searching eyes. 'She is dead' his mind yelled in rage as he realised his actions. 'She is dead and I am glad. My vengeance is served.' A hollow laugh taunted him, earning a ferocious growl in response. As the last echoes of his ire faded into the distance, he calmed his raging blood and moved silently back into the dark cavern. He dragged himself towards his favourite wall and slid down its cold surface until he sat with his feet stretched out before him. A deep sigh that was a mixture of anger, frustration and some other emotion he could not quite identify, passed listlessly through his lips. As hard as he tried, he couldn't lift the insanity that threatened to take over his mind. How long he sat on that cold stone floor, he had no idea. He wasn't even aware of which moment that sleep chose to claim him. His mind had given in.
The darkness surrounded him; pitch black, silent and calm. He relished its soothing peace, taking deep breaths of sweet relief as he felt its effects seeping through his body. After the past few days of tormented thoughts and emotions, he welcomed the balm to his raw nerves as a babe welcomed the loving touch of a mother's hand. Sudden warmth flared in front of him and he could see a faint glow of light from behind his closed eyelids. He knew he should open them to investigate but felt reluctant to do so. That would mean an end to his peace, a thought that was most unwelcomed. However, the light was rather persistent, brightening to a blinding pitch that omitted such intense heat, he had no choice but to acknowledge its presence. He blinked rapidly, attempting to adjust his sight as he struggled to sit up. To his relief, the glare slowly faded to a soft glow. His eyes narrowed as they focused on the blur at the centre of the waning light. Five figures materialised, taking the shape of women that somehow seemed familiar to him. He squinted and leaned forward as his mind sailed through the past, searching for a memory.
A soft chuckle filled the silence, causing his eyes to widen. His body tensed as the haunting sound filled him with dread. He hated that sound, the sound of madness. His breath hitched as one figure stepped forward and stood a short distance from him. He looked closely at the face of the woman, trying once more to recall the moment of association.
"You have forgotten me so soon my lord."
Suddenly, his mind stopped on the precise time. 'No' he denied in shock. 'It cannot be. They are… dead.' He blinked and peered through the surrounding darkness then back at the figures before him.
"Is this a dream?"
"Yes and no."
He stared at the woman closest to him, the one he had killed just before the destructive wave had swept through the west. She smiled as though she knew his thoughts.
"You are indeed in a sleep, one which we induced. We brought you here for a reason."
His eyes narrowed as he stared silently into her steady gaze before replying. "And what precisely would that reason be?"
"Duty my lord"
Sesshoumaru frowned, unable to comprehend her meaning. 'What does her duty have to do with me?' He started wondering if they were there to kill him. 'Are they responsible for my recent state of mind? Why then, did they not just finish their work? They had plenty of opportunities.' Then he remembered his mysterious ally and felt more confusion. 'Was this their work as well? Are they playing with my sanity?'
The haunting laughter filled his head again and his eyes flashed to the woman before him. "Are you the one who has tampered with my mind?"
"Relax my lord. All shall be explained to you." She smiled. "My name is Margarai and these are my sisters."
His eyes flicked to the women behind her and back. He was rather surprised at the gentle warmth that flowed from all of them. Did they harbour no grudge against him? He certainly did, against their kind. 'Why does she smile? In her shoes, I would attack, not make conversation.' A picture of the girl's pleading face came to mind. Even after all he had done to her and her people, she had still wanted to stay with him. That was one of the things that had plagued his mind continuously. He couldn't understand the seemingly instant trust she had placed in him. One moment they were enemies, attempting to kill each other and then suddenly, she was clinging to him as though he her life depended on it. He came out of his thoughts to find the young woman waiting patiently for his attention. He frowned at her, finally deciding to take control of their interrogation.
"What does your duty have to do with me?"
She smiled gently at him. "Unfortunately, it now lies in your hands."
"What in the hell are you talking about? How can your duty lie in my hands? I have no idea what this duty is to start with." A frustrated growl escaped him. "You make no sense."
'Curse it all!' he flared inwardly. 'Is there no end to this madness?' He started wondering if in fact, he had died that day. Maybe this is my hell. First, to be saddled with his greatest foe, and then to suffer the haunting presence of her dead sisters could surely mean only one thing. He was indeed atoning for his sins. A string of giggles brought him back to awareness again.
Margarai stepped closer to the confused demon. "I assure you my lord, you are most definitely of the living world."
Sesshoumaru frowned as his suspicions were confirmed. "You can read my thoughts."
"I apologise. I do not mean to be so intrusive." Margarai released a sigh as she sat on a large boulder near the demon lord. "Perhaps it is best that I explain our duty to you. We, my sisters and I are guardians to Kagome, the girl you brought here. A long time ago, we were forced to leave our home because of a threat to her life. We were bound to her before our departure. While she lives, our souls cannot leave the earth. However, I'm sure that you see our dilemma. Without our earthly bodies, we can no longer provide her the kind of protection that she needs."
An incredulous gasp escaped Sesshoumaru. "And you think that I will step in and simply take over your role? You are highly mistaken."
Margarai smiled gently. "I am afraid you leave us no choice my lord. Had you not taken our lives, we would not be placing this task upon you."
"You speak as though I have no say in the matter." He scoffed as he stood abruptly and began pacing. "I will not nurse a grown woman, do you hear? I will have nothing to do with this."
His tirade ended abruptly when a thought crept into his head. "Why are we having this conversation anyway? She is dead."
Margarai gave him a look of understanding. "I think you know in your heart that that's not true."
"Damn it all to hell!" he exploded in a fit of rage. "I killed her with my own bare hands! Don't you think that I would know!"
"Tell me then, why do you stare into the trees expectantly? Why do you fight with the urge to search for her?"
He was teetering on the edge of the madness again. Thoughts raced through his head so fast that he couldn't grab on to one, let alone make sense of them all. Never in his life, had Sesshoumaru wanted to run away from something so badly. The confusing swarm of emotions that entered his body was mind-numbing and stimulating at once. 'Emotions' he spat the thought out. 'Since when do I suffer from foolish emotions?' He almost groaned aloud in frustration as an intense wave of warmth washed through his chest. His face twisted into a mask of revulsion. 'How disgusting.'
"How do you do this?" His angry glare pierced the one closest to him. "How do you produce these feelings within my body?"
Margarai's head shook firmly. "We are not responsible for more than your thoughts."
He frowned at her angrily. "Then how do you explain the fact that I now have emotions I should not feel?"
The young woman frowned a moment in thought before answering. "I am not certain but I think that it would most likely be from Kagome's barrier. She has the ability to heal. That destructive force triggered those powers, so when you came into contact with it, it would have tried to heal whatever ailed you."
This piece of information only seemed to incite the demon lord further. As she watched his eyes harden, Margarai decided that there was only one way to deal with this youkai.
"Regardless of your feelings, what's done is done. I am certain that if you try, you can achieve your hardened state of heart once more. However my lord, the fact remains that you are now responsible for the welfare of our charge." She waited to see his reaction, knowing already what it would be.
"Like hell I am!" he roared in anger. "I have no obligation to any of you and certainly not to the murderer of my family."
"I fear that you are gravely mistaken in this matter sir." Margarai's tone suddenly went cold. "I have known Kagome since she was born. She would not participate in a senseless slaughter. She fights only in defence."
"And you think that I would believe you? You are her ally and most likely had a hand in it."
"Believe what you will. It is irrelevant. The fact remains that you now have our duty to perform and you will do it."
Sesshoumaru stared at her incredulously. "What makes you think that I will bow down to your demands?"
"The fact that you so dislike the state of mind you have recently been in is one reason."
His eyes narrowed, his anger rising another notch. "So, you are responsible for that."
"As will I continue to be, if you do not take responsibility."
A massive growl escaped him as he lunged forward, his claws flying through her yet touching nothing. He blinked and stepped back a couple of paces, attempting to regain some composure. 'Damn. What is wrong with me? Why can I not control these reactions?' His frustration grew as he struggled with himself. His hard-earned self-discipline was abandoning him when he needed it the most but hell, how was he to tolerate this kind treatment? 'How dare she order me around and threaten me? Nobody does that without paying the price.'
"Consider the debt paid. You cannot kill us twice. Now…" She stood and looked him in the eye. "The choice is yours. You can do your duty and guard Kagome or, we can continue to keep you company through these long and lonely hours. But understand this demon lord, if you take too long in accepting your responsibilities, Kagome could end up in the wrong hands. If this happens, I guarantee you that what you saw in the west will be nothing in comparison to what will come."
'What will come' he thought in puzzlement. 'How could anything be worse than that, which flattened the west?' Before he could voice his thoughts, the woman spoke again.
"Do not take too long in accepting your duty, demon lord. Time is running out."
The glow of light began to dim, their figures fading into nothing. Sesshoumaru stepped forward, irritated at their sudden departure. 'They expect me to guard this girl but tell me nothing of the circumstances. What wrong hands do they not want her to fall into?' A hiss of breath suddenly escaped through his clenched teeth. 'Why in hell am I thinking about it?' He had no intention of obeying their orders. He gave commands. He did not heed to them. 'How do I wake from this cursed dream?'
He sat up suddenly, breathing deeply as he looked around. For the first time in days, his gaze was clear. He looked at the deep slashes that covered every surface of the cave's wall. He almost grimaced as he remembered the incident that led to his loss of control. He swallowed and pushed down the sensation in his chest, feeling relieved as they slowly ebbed, until the words spoken in his dream came back to haunt him.
"Do not take too long in accepting your duty, demon lord. Time is running out."
His temper swelled instantly but this time, he held his composure. He breathed easily as he quelled the intrusive emotion, secretly glad to have his mind back. 'It was nothing more than a stupid dream.' He would not waste any more of his time on it. Rising gracefully to his feet, he stretched his cramped muscles and walked towards the cave's entrance. He stood at the lip of its opening, peering down into the trees below. Irritation pressed in on him as he realised what he was doing. His teeth clenched but he allowed no more than that reaction. 'Enough of this petty behaviour. I did not train long and hard in the discipline of my blood to ignore it now.' His cold mask firmly in place, he sailed down to the forest floor. 'It is time that I start heading north.' The southern regions in the Lands of East were not habitable, hence the few encounters thus far. However, they provided little in the way of sustenance and housing. Although Sesshoumaru was a demon with much experience at roughing in the wild, he still liked his creature comforts. Ignoring the urge to search for something he knew no longer existed, he made his way determinedly through the thick cover of trees.
The hours stretched before him as the sun's harsh rays penetrated through the leaves and branches above. He ignored the question of his decision to walk, rather than take to the air with the speed of flight. 'The chances of discovery are greater up there. I will not take the risk' he reasoned, ignoring the voice that said otherwise. He had no idea of what he was to face. The only information he had of these lands was from those who had previously journeyed through it, and from those accounts, there was much danger to encounter here. His father had always maintained a strict code of conduct for the youkai of the west and if any had dared to ignore his rules, punishment was instantly met. The creatures of this realm were an entirely different matter. He suppressed a sigh of impatience, annoyed that he was explaining his behaviour, even if it was to himself. Sesshoumaru never made excuses or sought forgiveness for his deeds. He did what he had to, regardless of what others said and thought. In fact, he couldn't think of a time when he had ever stopped to think of his actions or regret them, usually because they were well thought out. 'No, this is obviously still an effect from the strange happenings of late.' He studiously avoided any thoughts of the girl, not allowing the voice of suggestion that stated his intentions as other than he acknowledged. 'Admit it' they plagued him. 'You search for her, even now.' Stemming the hiss of irritation, he quickened his strides. He silently thanked whichever powers concerned for the fact that his senses remained in tact. He could not bear the strange feeling of losing control again.
His eyes narrowed as his senses picked up a sudden movement nearby. He felt the spike of his blood. 'Something approaches.' His head turned slowly as he tested the air. 'Something very powerful.' Moving silently between the trees, he breathed deeply as he pulled his energy inwards. He focused his mind, relaxing his body and lowering all vital signs that could indicate his presence. His scent faded into non-existence, his heart lowering at the same swift pace as his youki. His stillness was echoed by forest around him, all frozen in anticipation. A sudden movement in the air beside him caused his head to swing round quickly, eyes scanning the bushes and trees. He felt nothing to indicate another presence. 'What in the hell…' His eyes moved left and right, darting in between each tree as he continued to monitor the approaching power. It was still some distance away. Then suddenly, it disappeared as though it had never been. He started to wonder if he might still be caught up in the madness that had earlier gripped his mind then deduced this unlikely, due to the fact that his senses were still functioning and his head was clear. 'Then what is near me?' He knew that something was definitely there. For just the briefest moment, he'd felt it. Suddenly, his senses whirled, his youki rising and falling in erratic bursts. Eyes blinking rapidly, he staggered forward and leaned against the nearest tree as he struggled to breathe. His mind couldn't even form a thought as a numbing sensation slowly took hold of it. A noise vaguely penetrated his hearing but he could do little to discern its source.
'Horses' he finally identified the sound that was suddenly much too close. 'How? How is this possible?' Again his head swirled with a dizzying intensity that brought him to his knees. His pulse raced and his blood pumped at a frantic rate. His inner beast struggled within its confines, craving release but try as it might, it couldn't move, trapped by the power of some potent form of magic. A flurry of motion drew his attention and he caught a glimpse of the prancing hooves that belonged to several mounted horses. His mind cleared and he found himself standing before a large troop of soldiers. A fierce growl of warning rose from his throat, echoing within the quiet stillness of the forest.
"Demon" a soldier separated from the others and brought his horse forward. "We mean you no harm. We are searching for six human girls. Have you seen them?"
Piercing gold eyes stared into the soldier's. "Release me and your death shall be swift."
Another soldier moved forward, stopping beside his comrade. "You heard demon. Answer the question."
Sesshoumaru concealed his curiosity as he stared unblinkingly at the pair. His mind went back to his dream. 'Maybe it was more than a mere dream after all.' Could it be possible that the girl really was alive? 'You know that she is' his mind answered instantly. If this was so then what did these youkai that dared to call him demon, want with her? He also realised that they apparently had no knowledge of her sisters' deaths. The puzzle intrigued him.
The horses before him danced nervously. "He will not cooperate. We should kill him."
The first frowned as he stared thoughtfully at Sesshoumaru. "I have told you demon that if you help us, we will release you unharmed."
The second rider growled impatiently. "Do not be a fool. He will kill us all the moment we free him. Let us end it now, while we still can."
Sesshoumaru waited, his breath held as the silence lengthened. He knew that if they decided to kill him that there was little he could in defence. The magic that held him was too powerful to fight. All they had to do was increase its effects until he was once more reduced to the mass of swirling senses as before and he would be helpless to their onslaught.
With a reluctant nod, the first soldier dismounted and drew his sword. Several of his comrades joined him as he moved closer to the demon. They ignored the fierce growl that the youkai released and continued to advance, all wary as they felt the massive rise of his youki. The leader turned and nodded to one at the rear.
Sesshoumaru looked to see a soldier holding up a small black jewel. 'Again, this damned stone. What in the hell is it?' The thought stopped as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed his senses. He braced himself for the coming attack and waited. Nothing… nothing but the smell of blood came to his awareness. Eyes opening, he took in the sight before him. On the ground lay four dead soldiers, their blood spilling from the deep slashes on their throats. 'How…" The question was wiped from his mind as chaos suddenly filled the small area. Soldiers leapt madly from their horses, swords drawn and aimed at the tall youkai in anger. He couldn't believe his eyes. Where had they come from? There were so many that he wondered how he had missed their presence. 'That damned stone. It is responsible for their concealment.' He watched the first swell of soldiers that came towards him, frustrated to find that he was still trapped by magic. He struggled against it as they drew closer. To his astonishment, a strong wind passed before him, leaving a trail of death in its wake. He stilled and blinked in confusion at the sight. The noises and movement increased around him, as he remained frozen to the spot. He watched in fascinated silence as the wind whipped around the youkai, dropping them easily. A loud yell turned his attention to the rear of the fray, his eyes widening as he noticed the strange weapon that was held between two soldiers and aimed directly at him. He almost laughed at their panic-stricken faces. 'The fools think that I am responsible for the attack.' Time slowed as he watched the arrow leave the strange crossbow, a dark light swirling around it and growing at an alarming rate. By the time it was near him, the size of the black energy dwarfed him immensely. He gasped when a brightly glowing figure materialised before him, spreading its arms as a surge of power rushed from its body. He stared in amazement as the light covered the immediate area and intensified. A warm and sizzling energy ran over his body and he braced himself for pain. The smell and sounds of death filled his senses as the light became so intense that his eyes could no longer take its brightness. It disappeared instantly. He blinked as his sight slowly returned. A gasp of surprise escaped him as he watched the glow fade from the figure. It swayed and staggered forward then dropped to the ground in a dead faint. 'It is her' he stared in amazement at the girl he brought with him from the west.
-
Kikyou's cold eyes flashed as she felt the surge of power. She turned quickly and strode from the room. Within minutes, she stood before the moth demon.
"I know where she is."
Menomaru's eyes narrowed on her. "You are certain?"
A nod was his only reply. He turned to his retainer, giving orders to summon his generals before turning back to the woman before him. His eyes wandered momentarily over her lush curves before he drew his attention back to the matter at hand.
"So, where exactly is she?"
Kikyou moved to a large map that was laid out on a table in one corner of the room. Her finger went straight to an area on the northern borderlands.
"She is here."
"You are certain of this?"
Kikyou smirked coldly at him. "I am not the incompetent one."
Turning on her heels, she ignored the warning growl and walked quietly from the room, leaving an angry and very frustrated demon to watch her retreating back.
-
Sesshoumaru crawled towards the crumpled. 'How is it possible? She should be dead.' His hand moved forward, reaching towards her. He hissed in irritation and quickly snatched it back. Standing to his feet, he stared down at her pale features. She looked so small and helpless, her face half buried in the dried leaves that covered the ground. He suffered a moment of indecision, struggling to ignore the feelings of guilt at the thought of walking away and leaving her behind. 'I owe her nothing. She still remains my enemy.' The hollow ache in his chest would not leave him. 'She saved you. How can you abandon her?' He growled and turned away, fully intending to leave. As he took the first few steps from her, a sudden haze entered his mind. He cursed adamantly as it proceeded to wipe away his senses, reducing him to the crazed state that he had previously endured. 'No… I will not succumb to this madness again.'
"Do you really think that you have a choice in this?" a familiar voice haunted him.
He looked around to find nothing. A taunting laugh was now ringing in his head, playing havoc with his thoughts. He tried to walk forward but found himself staggering over a large, fallen branch. He fell to his knees and struggled to stay upright.
"What do want from me?" he growled out angrily.
"You owe her your life. You cannot just leave her here like this."
His body shook with the intensity of his struggles. "I owe her nothing."
"You are wrong demon lord. She has saved your life but three times now. Once the day of the west's destruction, another was at the attack of the slave traders and now this. You owe her."
"I will not be responsible for her!"
"You have no choice! Unless you want to remain in the state that you are in, you will help her demon lord!"
The anger in the voice was plainly clear. He hovered again, on the brink of indecision. He wanted nothing more to do with the girl but knew that he could not continue this way. It would most assuredly lead to his demise. Frustration overwhelmed him once more. He was now forced into a course of action that went against everything he felt.
"What is your decision demon lord? Unfortunately you do not have much time. In helping you, she has made her presence known to those who would use her for their greed. They will soon come for her."
Sesshoumaru felt a strange tightening sensation in his chest. He frowned slightly as he tried to rid himself of its disturbing presence. 'Why should I care of what befalls her? She is not my responsibility.' He gritted his teeth as his head swam with a thousand echoing voices that ranted their madness at once. He breathed deeply and waited until it subsided. A helpless feeling of resignation settled within him. There was no way around this. He would have to take the girl with him. He could not tolerate a moment more of this madness. It was all just too strange for his peace of mind. He needed to be in control. He could not exist otherwise. Heaving a sigh of defeat, he finally relented.
"Fine… I will do it. I will take the girl with me but only as far as the nearest human village."
"We will accept this for now."
His brow wore a frown of irritation. "There is no negotiation. It is this or nothing."
"You have no time for discussions now demon lord. The enemy will be upon you soon."
His head cleared and his senses returned. He stood to his feet and breathed, carefully adjusting his weight as the feeling returned to legs. Slowly turning, he looked down at the limp figure that lay in the same place, unmoving. He hesitated, reluctance filling him at the thought of what he had to do. He still harboured his suspicious grudge and was loathe to touch her again. Taking deep a breath, he stepped forward until he stood beside her. He took one last frowning look at her prone figure before bending, reluctance pushed aside, and lifting her into his arms. His gaze averted from her beautiful slumbering features, he summoned his energy beneath him and took to the air in flight.
AN: Wow, finally finished. This chapter gave me so much trouble. I can't believe it. I knew how I wanted it to sound but just couldn't get it that way. (sighs) Oh well, it's done now and hopefully to everyone's approval.
Guys, I know that you've had quite a wait for this chapter and that some of you have wondered if I'm giving the story away. Well, I'm not. I fully intend to write this to completion. As I've said before, I really love this story and I'm looking forward to getting into it properly. The trouble is that at the moment, I'm juggling three stories at once and finding it quite annoying, to be honest. So, I've decided to narrow it down to one at a time. This means that I'll be focusing on my other story "When Two Paths Entwine" until it's done. I've chosen this story for two reasons. One, it's the readers' favourite and two; it's the shortest of the three stories. That doesn't mean that I won't continue this one, it just means that you won't get as many chapters until the other is done. Once I've finished WTPE, I'll concentrate on this story.
Anyone who doesn't receive author alerts and would like to know when I update, leave your email address in your review and I'll email you when I post my chapters.
Now for the reviews,
The Black Cat: Hey don't worry girl, I'm never far away. Probably just caught up in life again. But I promise you, I'll always return with another chapter. Thanks for all the reviews.
DarkMystic: Oh wow thanks Mina. That's such a lovely compliment. And as you see from this chapter, Kags is fine. You really didn't think I'd kill her off straight away, did you? lol.
Arryelle: Hey girl, a thousand apologies to you. I told you that you'd have this chapter ages ago and never got finished. By the way, did you receive the preview I sent you? I was hoping it would keep you until the chapter was up. (grins cheekily) Thanks so much for the lovely compliment. I hope you enjoy this one too.
Ashley: Thanks! I'm hoping to provide you with more soon.
TAJE: (giggles) yeah I know what you mean Teresa. And so true girl, Sess does not know anything but rude. lol. Well, at least now our happy couple are reunited and the fun shall begin. Hehe. The mysteries will unfold as the chapters continue and I promise that you'll get all the answers to your questions.
Kut u Up: lol yeah, I am rather bad for my extra long chapters. Unfortunately, it's rather necessary to help you guys fully understand the plot. I'll try to keep it interesting though, so I don't bore you too much. I've got your story in my list and will try to get round to reading it soon. Thanks so much for the review.
Cygnus: Hey Cyn, long time no speak. How's it going girl? (frowns) Beat me up? What for now? Huh? Cliffie? (scrolls back to previous chapter) Dang, now how did that get in there? That's not like me. I mean… since when do I end chapters with a cliffie? Soooo… are you going to kill me for the long wait too? hehe.
2 Souls 1 Body Half-Girl: You know, I'm still trying to figure out which half of you is the girl. Wow, thanks for the praise. Sorry that I made you wait so long. As soon as I finish WTPE, I'll focus most of my attention on this story.
rainthewolfdemon: How's it going girl? Nice plushie. And hey, I made Kags speech that way deliberately. Remember that she grew up from age eight, in a peasant village. But don't worry, she'll go back to normal later, when her memories come to her.
Marquel: Hey girl, how are you? And yeah, sorry about that. I know you guys must be really curious but I promise you that I'll answer your questions as the story unfolds. Clever little cookie you. Yes, as you can see by this chappie, Kikyou is indeed the villainous double that killed Sess's family. Hope you like.
Catrice: hehe. What would I do without you girl? (scratches head) hmm, I'm not really sure what Sess's problem is. Must be that time of month again. lol. Ah, another clever girl. Man… I have the smartest readers out. Yep, enters Kikyou the villain.
Adrianna: Hey girl, thanks for the reviews. I checked on that double notice thing and yep… I had you in there as both Adrianna and Princess Maura. (smiles) See how much I love you girl. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. See you next update.
kagome: Wow, thanks babe. That's one of the loveliest compliments I've ever received. And no, I promise that I'll finish this story. Most of my readers prefer my other story, so… for the time being that one will get most of my attention. As soon as it's finished, I'll work more on this one. I can't wait to see what you come up with. And it's a real shame about Animespiral but trust me girl, you're not the only one who has hassles with it. Must be something in the site. Well good luck.
gab: Hey thanks. I hope this chapter meets with your approval as well. Let me know.
moonpriness888: Why thank you so much. Sorry to say, but the chapters will be slow to come until I've finished one of my other stories. And in answer to your question, well… as you can see this chapter the villain is Kikyou. You'll find out more later.
name is not important: Thanks for the review. I hope you like this chapter. Hopefully the end won't be too, too far away.
Miko's Sorrow: Oh girl! You didn't really think that I'd kill of our heroine, did you? Man, that would make it the shortest, non-event ever. lol. No, our girl Kagome will not fold so easily. Yes, that little problem with unwanted inspirations unexpectedly popping in is a constant source of distraction for me. lol. Well thanks for all your reviews and I'll try to not keep you hanging so long next time.
shan: Aww girl, I'm sorry for the wait but I'm trying to fix the problem. Thanks for reviewing.
diorgirly: Wow thanks. I'm so glad you like. Sorry for the hold-up. Unfortunately I have another fic taking up most of my time for now, but hopefully soon, I'll finish it and concentrate more on this one.
none: Hey sorry for the wait. I'll try and get my other story done quickly so I can write more of this one. Thanks for the review.
Rone M Daen: Hi girl. Are you still not receiving my alerts? I've checked your email address and it's correct. I've also checked the last alerts and your email address was in it. I didn't receive any failure notifications, which I usually do if the message didn't go through. I'll pay particular attention to the next alert but I was wondering if you might have a junk mail or bulk folder that might be collecting it. I've had quite a few of these cases. Just let me know. Well, I'm sure this chappie answered those questions of yours, if not then ask away. Thanks for all your reviews. See you next update.
Jazzy: Hi girl. Thanks for all your reviews and lovely compliments. I promise you that I'll keep up with the stories. See you next chapter.
Emowyen: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you like the story and I'll try to update as soon as I've written a chapter or two to my other two stories.
devlzcut: lol. I'm so sorry to frustrate you. Unfortunately the wait isn't so much to do with the length of my chapters. I have two other stories that I'm working on as well as this one. One of them is more popular with the readers and I tend to write more chapters to that one than the other two. As soon as I've finished that one, this story will get most of my attention. Bear with, I promise you that it'll be worth the wait. I have lots planned for this fic.
ptbear: I know that I've probably caused a lot of you some concern but I promise you that it will all work out just the way we all expect it to. Thanks for the reviews and sorry to make you wait so long.
Aurora-Nyte: Hey DJ. It looks like you've managed to catch up with some reading. lol. Wish I could say the same. Ah well, no point in crying about it. One day I'll attack that growing list of 'to read'. And what was that you say? Kags kicking Sess's butt? Hmm. Not such a bad idea. (grins mischievously)
Well folks, that's all for now. I'll see you all next chapter. Thanks for reading.
Babs