Welcome all to chapter seven. Lucky seven. Maybe this will be the chapter I can get a review on! I won't hold my breath cause I like living. Seriously, I GOT REVIEWS! One from TheTraveller411. I appreciate all the comments, even if I can't really understand most of it ;). I got the gist of it in that you like the story. I'm happy someone does! Another thank you to Yohan for his comments. As for making Tomasaru TOO strong, well I guess it's my fault for not having many fight scenes since I don't think I am very good at them and I don't want to DBZ it having one fight take five chapters. I made Tomasaru into a speedy guy. If you read the first story, he got his butt chewed out by Sesshomaru…LITERALLY! Most of the so called fight scenes I made he basically was dodging and threw a power blast to put things simply. Don't worry, they'll be more and better fight scenes to come. I just used most of the fights to move the story along. Things started to get darker for Tomasaru in the previous chapters, the next few will basically have him trying not to be obliterated by BOTH the Gods and Demons. Should be good fun! Wow, this is a big ass paragraph but I like to show my profound appreciation for those who actually take the time to review and tell me their thoughts. This is feedback from my views to answer the reviewer and everyone curious to their points. Well, standard disclaimer, I don't own anything except my self insert character. Anyone wanting money from me get in line! YOU'LL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!
It was a long night. Everyone was recovering from the battle. I healed what I could but my sword can't heal any wounds magical. Demons are magical by nature. Hence most of the wounds are still there, though not as bad. I managed to heal some of it but no where near as effective as normal wounds. I can only hope we can find Naraku before the Gods and Goddesses fix the mess I left them. I know once they do I'm dead in every way that counts.
I hop down from the tree and make my way to camp. I see it's already packed up and the others are ready to leave. I may have killed Kagura, but she was small fry. We need to find Naraku. I'm on borrowed time as it is. "Ok guys, lets get Naraku!" They look at me strangely. I guess last night's revelations still left them a bit shaken. Normally I'd let them work through it themselves, but I am on a timetable here. "Kikyo, can you shield the jewel? Mask it?" She looked a bit confused but then her face lighted with recognition before going back to dejected. "It will not work, remember the compass was created to find the jewel no matter what masked it. You will still get it pointing here." Crap, forgot about that. I guess desperate people are stupid people.
Miroku looked at me strangely. "Why are you in such a hurry? We will find Naraku in due time. The last attack proved he believed us a threat. He will show himself in time if only to take our Shikon shards." I clench my fists. Kikyo notices my discomfort and looks suspiciously at me. "Why are you in a hurry Tomas?" I looked at her and muttered "Nothing."
She got a determined look and turned to the others. "Excuse us!" She marched up to me and grabbed my right ear and marched me into the forest with me whimpering all the way. Once we got far enough she released my ear with a shove that nearly made me tip over. Once I recovered I turned to see her face set in lines of dissatisfaction. "Ok, want to tell me what's wrong." I cross my arms and look away. "Nothing, I just want to get to Naraku as soon as possible." She narrowed her eyes. "I don't believe you. Our last quest you acted nothing like this. Now after your trip you are heedlessly going forward no matter the risk. You never would have suggested that stupid plan before. What's wrong?" I want to tell her it's none of her concern, that everything is alright. But I couldn't. I've never been a good liar and Kikyo knows too damn well.
"To get back. I had to do something….very bad." Kikyo eyes widened a bit but did not look surprised. "I gathered that from last night. What did you do?" I winced. I'm STILL trying to figure out the full extent of what I did. The more I understood, the more horrified I become. The really sick part is knowing what I am still figuring out I'd STILL do it. "Well, first I tried to find a Goddess to get me back, but they couldn't do it. I spoke to the Creator, and she couldn't do it either." Kikyo looked stunned. I guess meeting the Creator of EVERYTHING is sort of a big deal. I remember her words and I am NOT looking forward to our next meeting. "She was bound by her rules, and she couldn't undo the Demon's wish, so I sort of did it myself."
Kikyo looked at me a bit proudly. Well, better not get too proud of me Kikyo. I still haven't told you HOW I did it. "That does not sound so bad. Why are you looking ill?" I gulped. "I sort of broke into the place where my wish was being kept. I then changed it so I couldn't be taken from this world." Kikyo narrowed her eyes at me. "Toooommmmaass……you STILL are not telling me exactly why you are looking so troubled?"
I closed my eyes. No way to sugar coat this. "I had to be sure my wish was not somehow over ruled by the Demon's wish, so I….destroyed all the wishes made after mine." I looked at Kikyo and she looked horrified. Yeah, she's got the idea. She looked at me in disgust. "You….took all those wishes from innocent people…." She whispered in disgusted awe. I just looked down. Seeing the loathing in her eyes towards me was too much. "I had no idea which was the demon's wish. The only way to be sure was.." She cut me off in a soft voice. "To destroy them all. You…violated so MANY people Tomas.." My ears dropped. "I had to get back, I had to make sure you were alright.."
"STOP!" I looked up at her angry voice. "Do NOT use myself or anyone else as an excuse. What you've done….do you have ANY idea what you've DONE!" I nod slowly. "Yes. I do. And seeing you all in the position you were yesterday I'd do it again!" She backed away from me looking at me as if I were a monster. Thinking back to my actions, I guess I was. Only a monster would sacrifice trillions for his own needs. She looked me in the eyes where her tears were falling. "I….do not know you! You are NOT the man I knew. Do not return to the group."
I raise my hand to wipe away her tears to have it slapped away. "Do NOT touch me! You lost all right! How much have you destroyed to return? How many lives have you ruined?" I looked at her with my own eyes blazing. "What was I supposed to do? You give you up, abandon you all?"
"YES!" I looked at her in stupefied amazement. "Wha.." She looked at me through reddened eyes. "Do you believe, for one SECOND we would have wanted to harm all those innocents you have harmed for our own needs? I think I can speak for everyone when I say we'd have rather died than pay that price. Now that you saved us, does it make you feel better? DOES IT?" I look at her in profound sadness. "Yes." She looked at me with hate. It took my breath away. I have never seen her look at me like THAT. Truthfully I never want to see that look again. "Good, take that happiness because that is all you will get from me and everyone else. I….thought you better than this! What you have done….it PALES in comparison of Naraku's! He only killed people here in Japan and this world. You….I shudder to think of the scope of lives you have destroyed." I looked at her sadly. "I only wanted.." She turned and cut me off.
"Enough! What you wanted? Yes, of course. What YOU want is paramount next to the needs and lives of countless others. Do not let me see your face EVER again!" Then she walked away. Away from me and out of my life. I slumped to the ground. I looked at my clawed hand. Am I worse than the demons I fought against? Sure, they kill innocents. But I…I DAMNED innocents. Just so I can get back to Kikyo and the others. Now, now I have nothing. Kikyo hates me, with good reason, and I doubt everyone else will be feeling fuzzy joy once they hear the length I went through to get back. Ok, lets review. No friends, no love, and every God and Demon in existence probably wants to tear me to shreds not to mention all the good people who lost their wishes because of me. Ok, I guess I deserve ultimate death.
I rise from my slumped position. If this is to be my last life then I may as well make sure I don't leave anything unfinished. Once I kill Naraku and reclaim the jewel they should be well enough on their own. I look at the compass and see it pointing to the direction Kikyo left. Well, I guess I'll go the opposite direction until the needle changes. Then it should be pointing to Naraku. I guess I'll have to do this alone. Heh, I tried so hard to get back and now I am more alone then when I was in the other world. Talk about irony. Well, may as well get going.
I moved as quickly as I could from tree to tree. I've been traveling for more than a day and the needle still hasn't twitched in any other direction than the one I left. Damn, Naraku must be far awa…oh, it moved! Great! It suddenly shifted Northeast. With a feral grin I race off in that direction. Alright Naraku. Your days are just as numbered as mine!
As I make my way my foot hits something crunchy. I stop and lift my foot. Damn. "Sorry Myoga, in bit of a hurry." I peel him off my heel and watch as he gently floats to the ground. Once landing he pops back to his original shape. Resilient little bugger isn't he? "Master Tomasaru, I'm so glad I found you! I've been looking everywhere for you and Master Inuyasha." I looked at him deadpan. "You'd know where we were if you didn't cut and run whenever it looks like a battle is brewing!" He looked shocked. "Master! You know as I, your faithful vassal, would never abandon you in your time of need!" My heart beats painfully in my chest. "Why not? Everyone else did!" Myoga looked upset. "What? Master I will find Inuyasha and the others and give them the dressing down of a…"
I shake my head. "Stop." He looked at me confused. Although he is a coward, he's been my companion for over sixty some odd years. My fate is pretty much sealed. He'll probably run anyway but may as well give him the heads up I'm going into something I'm probably not going to make it out of. "Myoga, they have every right to be angry, and even disgusted with me. I've done something…..horrible." He looks at me in complete faith. How funny that it was being looked at like that and being the one relied on caused me to probably one of the worst crimes in the entire multiverse. "Master, whatever you've done I'm positive you had a good reason to do it!" Good old Myoga. Always trying to cheer me up when I'm down. I'll miss him. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions my friend and I just paved an intercontinental road. I need you to tell the others a message for me."
I try to keep myself calm. I feel the weight of all I've done weighing me down like Atlas's burden. My friends, well old friends, deserve at least a goodbye, even if I can't give it personally. "Tell Sango I'm proud of her. She's become a great demon hunter and when I see her in action I'm reminded of her great grandfather." Myoga looks alarmed. "Master!" I shake my head. "Please Myoga, this is your last assignment from me. Tell Miroku that his spiritual powers are on par with the greatest I've seen, but he REALLY needs to learn to keep his hands to himself. Tell Kagome that I'm happy to have known her and she's her own person, not Kikyo and never her." I sigh, the next two people are the closest to my heart. "Tell my brother….tell him I'm proud to be related to someone like him. And Kikyo…" What to say? She basically ripped my heart out and did the dance of joy on it. As a priestess I can understand how horrible what I did can look, but I really didn't expect that level of revulsion. "Tell her I love her and I hope one day she can understand and forgive me."
Myoga looked agitated. I can relate, things are not looking too good from my view either. "Master, please stop talking like this! Let us return to the others. I'm sure whatever happened is not as bad as you are claiming." I looked at the flea with grim eyes. "It's probably worse. Get the story from Kikyo and the others. I have one last thing to do before the end." Myoga was hopping up and down begging. "Please Master, this is not necessary. You can work together with the others!" I turn to where the compass is pointing. "The others want nothing to do with a monster like myself, not that I can blame them. Myoga. You've been a great friend and retainer for me. You've helped me more times that I can count. You've run away just as many times though. I'll miss you." With that I took to the trees leaving the crying and begging flea behind. I don't want to lie to myself and say some garbage like it's better this way, but at least no one else will be hurt once I take on Naraku. He's got a bit more than half the Jewel. Hopefully I'm strong enough to take it and put an end to him once and for all.
As I go from tree to tree I feel something familiar wash over me. Shrugging I continue on to hit a barrier. As I slide down it I groan. Damn, that was a detection ward to let someone know to put up the barrier. Must be a powerful one if they need to turn it on and off. Usually a barrier you turn it on and forget it. If it's really REALLY powerful then you need to use the energy cautiously or you'll burn it out. I raise my fist and slap it into the barrier. It takes a second but the pain reaches my hand and I pull back and shake my injured hand. Damn, that was STUPID! As I hop around waving my hand in the air I hear clapping. Forgetting the pain I turn towards the sound surprised. I didn't smell anyone nor did I hear any heartbeats.
I look and see…..Mara. Oh crap on a stick with fries and a shake! She smiles coldly down from a tree branch. "Well if it isn't the mutt. You know you are probably the greatest demon I've had the pleasure to know. Oh Naraku, he's evil and evil through, but YOU! Oh, dear boy you surprise me!" I growled. Damn bitch. "You broke my wish over you. That in itself is impressive, but you not only did that but you broke EVEYONE'S wishes over the multiverse PLUS caused a near catastrophic system failure that nearly destroyed a cluster of dimensions and ruined the lives of more mortals than your puny mind can create a number to represent it! Oh, you have done something every Demon always wished to do but haven't the courage for!"
I snarled at her. "I didn't do it for kicks! I had to get back. My friends needed me!" She just smirked at me in a superior way. "Where are those friends now I wonder?" She put her finger to her chin in mock thought. "Oh yes, they wanted nothing to do with a butcher such as yourself! Oh, that was priceless. The woman you loved spurning you so completely. My, it must have really hurt. Especially knowing you'll never be able to see her in any other life." My eyes burned. I completely destroyed myself and my 'friends' abandoned me. The one thing I tried so hard to keep from doing to them. "Yes, they did abandon you, didn't they? All that effort. All that sacrificing, and for what? NOTHING!" She laughed as if this was the greatest joke she's ever heard. In truth it probably is. Everything I've done and all I accomplished amounts to jack squat to what I did to get back. "Oh my, I haven't enjoyed entertainment like this in millennia!"
She looked down at me thoughtfully. "You know, usually a demon like myself revels in the destruction they cause. They pain and suffering they bring to their victims. When I watched you begging to those goody goody Goddesses I was SO pleased to see your hopes of getting back here crumble. But did you give up, no siree! You actually….I still don't believe it! You ACTUALLY went up to see the Creator. And after SHE turned you down you CRASHED the whole blessed Multiverse Mainframe! Now that's balls, Big, planet crushing BALLS!" Stupid Demoness!
"Aren't you at all pissed that I crashed the system?" She waved in my direction airily. "Oh, don't get me wrong, myself, as well as every demon down below are extremely angry that our ability to grant wishes to bring grief to mortals has been suspended, or in your case, nullified, until the system is brought back online. We can't do much without the power of wishes to you mortals. Then on the flip side neither can the Gods. You effectively disrupted the very Creator's divine plans. Oh, that's the only reason I'm not tearing into you. In all my millennia I've never witnessed an execution of this scale. A very SOUL'S destruction. Oh….it gets me….excited." I can see her flushed and wiggling on the tree branch. Damn, that is one sick demon.
"So when the system is back online they're going to try me?" She shook her head amused. "Nope, once you die you are judged for what you have done in your life. So once you are dead….oh boy! It's going to be better than the OJ Simpson trial!" I frowned at her. She just smiled smugly. "No acquitting for you dog boy! There's no question of your guilt." I just glare at her. "As interesting as this is, I need to get through Naraku's barrier." She just smiled and a door into the purple dome opened. I looked at her suspiciously. "Why so helpful?" She just smiled sweetly. "Naraku is going to win. He won in several dimensions, this one included. Inuyasha and his pals put up a good fight, I'll give them that, but they lose and die in the end."
I shook my head. "That makes no sense, if Naraku wins then how is the present NOT affected?" She stares deeply into my eyes. "Silly doggy. The jewel consumes him and then collapses onto itself. Like a sun turning into a black hole. He'll be sucked into the void once the jewel is fully corrupted." She looked at my face. "What, thought the only was the jewel could be destroyed was for it to be 'purified'? Ha! Either direction works hon."
She points towards the door she made. "Go on boy! Meet your fate. I'll see you at the trial. Well, more like the execution!" With that she disappeared in a puff of red sulfur. Damn, that stuff stinks! Yasha loses? They all die? I remember the Kami's words in what seemed ages ago. That bastard! He KNEW! He knew, and did nothing but watched as good people died. I don't care what their 'supposed' destiny was! It's not going to happen. No matter what she or anybody else says, the future has not yet been determined. It's an open road, not a railroad track!
I make my way past the barrier and watch as it closes up. I guess there is no turning back now. Not that I could anyway. Being in too deep doesn't even begin to describe my situation. I keep walking and see the familiar castle. Well, he seems to like the place. I unsheathe my sword and transform it. I send a weak blast into the front of his castle. After the debris settle I yell out "Knock knock you bastard!"
From the dust of the debris I see his figure slowly walking towards me. I settle into my stance when I see him emerge wearing his bone like armor and his jewel glowing malevolently in his chest. He looks at me and chuckles. That does nothing for my temper and I ground out "What's so damn funny?" He doesn't stop laughing and merely continues looking at me. "You. I'm amazed someone so stupid could cause me so much trouble. But the jewel.." he chuckles sinisterly. "The jewel, it KNOWS all…." I get a cold knot in my stomach. Either the jewel is making him even more off his rocker than usual or…
"Yes, to the possessor of the Shikon No Tama, the wielder has access to the multiverse's mainframe…." My eyes widen in shock. "Yes. I can see all the threads of fate and the destinies of all whom I choose. I know I win, it's as simple as watching the end of a movie." I snarl at him. "What about YOUR destiny? You know THAT, HUH!" He smiles wickedly at me. "The jewel cannot tell the possessor their destiny since the jewel SHAPES destiny. It does not matter, I know everything, I can DO anything!"
I smirk at him. "I beat you last time and you had the whole jewel. What makes you think now is going to be any different when you have only half?" He manifests his power. It's HUGE. It's…..it's even MORE powerful then when he had the whole jewel. "How…"
"When you and your friends attacked me I just finished creating my little back up plan. Mara told me of my destiny and how to best employ it. You merely defeated a doll endowed with the power of the jewel while I lay dormant, waiting. And now my time is here. And yours….has come to its end!" He raises his hand and a blast of dark miasma shoots forth I dodge to the left. I look at the spot I just vacated and see a five foot crater. I look at him shocked. He just keeps his sinister smile. "That was just an inkling of my true power. Your dead, fool!" He fires another blast and I again more out of the way.
This isn't good. He looks and feels like he's just flexing him proverbial muscles. I thought all the traveling and training made me strong, and with me embracing both my human and demon sides made me stronger. But this…
I jump again and angle myself toward Naraku. I cleave my giant fang towards his head and hit a purple barrier. Damn, forgot about that…
He smiled and his demonic aura flexed, pushing me away and burning me slightly. I back away smoking slightly. Ok, this isn't going well. He moves toward me, turning his arm into a red, fleshy scythe that I block with my fang. The blow pushes me back and my arms jar painfully. I grunt to hold my ground and Naraku looks like he's not even exerting himself. Definitely NOT good. He then pushes me off and as I move back fires a horizontal wave of black energy that hits me squarely in the chest.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" My chest, my whole body burns! I am gasping for breath as I lay on the cold ground. Was that his poison? Whatever it was it hurt worse than almost anything I've been through. And I've been through A LOT.
I just hear chuckling. The bastard is slowly walking toward me. He has me and we both know it. I painfully sit up and use my sword to get me to my feet. I'm not going to die on my back. He looks amused at my attempt to prepare myself for his next assault. "Look at you. You could have been a ruler. You could have had the lands quaking with the very mention of your name. Now look at you. Your pitiful existence was justified by others. Now you are alone. Look how WEAK you are!" He attacks me again and I duck under his swing and make my own assault toward his unprotected belly. He gasps as I cut into him and my momentum moves me forward a few steps. I look to see I cut him in half by the waist. He uses his arms to push himself to look at me. Then his lower body shoots tentacles toward the top half and he reattaches himself.
He smirks at me. "Well, shall we try this again?" With that he turns his other arm into a sword and attacks me in a flurry. I jump and dodge as best I can but he still cuts me more than a few times while all I can do is desperately dodge and block. He's too close for a Backlash….well, desperate times. As I block and dodge I focus my energy into my sword. As for my aura I try as best I can to make it as cold as possible. I'm going to try something very risky and extremely stupid since I never attempted anything like this before. I led Naraku into a spiral that I memorized by heart in my early days of training and making techniques I saw in animes. As we got to the center I focused myself. I was mixing TWO of the most powerful attacks I know of together and I hope it doesn't blow up in my face. "Hiryuu Shouten Ha revised!" I swing my fang up into the air releasing a huge Backlash Wave while the power behind the fist HOLDING the fang was as cold as ice.
The results were immediate. A tornado of burning gold lifted Naraku and started sucking his energy out of him as well as tearing him up. He kept reforming himself inside the growing golden tornado and that power was once again used in tearing him apart. I immediately cooled my fang the moment I released the energy so not to get sucked up with Naraku. This was the first time I used the attack since I've never met someone I really needed it on. As I watch Naraku bellow in rage as he keeps reforming himself I'm glad I kept this as a trump card. The tornado seems to be getting taller and wider as time goes on. Is it taking the energy from the jewel? The jewel is burning with evil. Is THAT what's powering the twister now? Well, at least I can sit down now. Damn, I HURT!
My nose twitches. I see the Kami. He seems to be eyeing the twister. He holds out his hand and…he's sucking the twister in! The twister is losing power and Naraku is repairing himself again! I rush toward the seemingly old man and he negligibly tosses me away with his power.
"What are you DOING? Stop, that's NARAKU!" He looks at me coldly. "I know very well who that is hanyou!" Wow, he looks pissed. "I told you that this was destiny, you couldn't fight it and yet you STILL interfered with matters you DO NOT understand." I look at him with angry amber eyes. "What I understand is that you are helping a damn MONSTER!"
I can see burning hatred in his gaze now. "You, of all people, should be wary of calling others monsters, hanyou!" Is he….is he a GOD god, connected to the multiverse computer I crashed? He nodded his head to my mental question. Oh yeah, he read minds. Still annoying! "Wait, why are you HELPING Naraku? He's the bad guy. He killed a lot of people and he'll just keep killing people!"
After Naraku safely touched down and continued regenerating himself the God turned to me giving me his full attention. I can't say I liked it. Made me feel like I was in trouble with the principle of my elementary school. "I told you that all mortals have a destiny. They move along, chained to the fate given to them at birth. I told you and you neglected my warnings. This is on your head, not mine." What sort of bull crap is THAT! "That's BS pal! You let Naraku go! You CHOSE to do that. Don't try to wash your hands of this!" Now Naraku was fully healed and looked to be enjoying my discomfort.
"Every creature has a destiny the Creator Herself gives them. It is not random, there is no chance. Things happen for a reason. The bad as well as the good. It all leads toward a glorious future for you mortals you can scarcely imagine! And here you are, thinking that you know better than a being responsible for all life everywhere." I growl. What a damn windbag. This isn't theology 101! "Up yours! This is life. You aren't the one struggling, you aren't the one bleeding and trying to make a better tomorrow! You are just a lazy watcher from the sidelines! We all have a destiny, all our lives are planned. Nothing is left to chance. Bull and a shit! We got free will and we got choices. WE choose, not YOU!"
He just looks at me impassively. "I look forward to your execution before the Creator." I flip him the bird. "I thought you couldn't interfere if you ARE a God. Demons and Gods aren't supposed to interfere with mortals, aren't THOSE the rules?" He smiled. "Mara let you in, meaning to keep the balance I must do something for your opponent. I did. Good luck leading him into a spiral again!" With that he disappeared in a shower of lights. I can't believe a damn GOD saved Naraku.
Naraku just watched with arms crossed as I argued with Kami. I decided I don't like Kami anymore. He smiled at me. "I hope that tornado wasn't your best shot. I must admit I would not have gotten out if not for the God's help. How ironic I was saved and you were betrayed by a God. Now.." His hands morphed back into the scythe and sword and I grabbed the hilt of my fang. Damn, that WAS my best shot. He rushed me and again I was forced to block and dodge. Unfortunately it seems Naraku is fresh while I am still hurting and very tired. I block a decapitating blow of Naraku's scythe with my fang, leaving me open for him to ram his sword straight into my stomach. His red eyes practically glowed with pleasure as I spit up blood. He then twisted his scythe and my sword flew away and transformed back. My eyes widened in pain as he lifted me off the ground as I was impaled on his sword. He looked into my eyes and smiled a sadistic grin. "Scream for me…" His sword lit up with dark power and I felt it rush into me. It felt like a combination of burning and electrocution. Needless to say it was not fun. And I did scream.
I screamed and screamed. He threw me around, nailed me to the ground, covered me with miasma, then ripped me off the ground to toss me around some more. I couldn't tell you which way was which. Up became down and right was left. I knew nothing but pain. Pain and his hideous laughter as he impaled me repeatedly and burned me alive with his power. I could barely breath enough to whimper, much less scream. He seemed to take my silence as an insult and soaked me in his miasma some more. Everything is so dark. Is this the end?
(A few hours before, When Kikyo and Tomasaru parted)
Kikyo stalked through the forest seething with anger and disgust. The person on she….no that..CREATURE was not capable of anything but selfish desires. She came to the clearing and saw she was the center of attention for everyone. Miroku looked up front his sitting position at the base of a tree he was leaning on. "Ah, Lady Kikyo, where is Tomasaru, will he.." Miroku never got to finish when an arrow embedded itself to the left of his head. She growled out "Don't you DARE mention his name again!" Shippo's eyes bugged out of his head while sitting in Kagome's lap. "Wow, I wonder what happened with those two." Miroku turned to his right and answered the little child. "Lover's quarrel I would imagine." His vision was obscured by another arrow landing a half an inch from his nose. He slowly turned his head forward and pretended to meditate.
Inuyasha wasn't so docile. "What the hell crawled up your butt Kikyo? What did my brother do to piss you off THIS bad?" He smirked after he said this. Probably thinking of using it on another dark haired miko of the group. She looked at the group with a furious gaze. "You want to know what he did? He…" she explained everything Tomasaru told her in the clearing. As she finished "That is why I do not even want to be reminded of the fiend. I could tolerate much, but that extent of evil…." Everyone looked lost in thought. Thinking of how horrible the crime truly was. Kagome was crying a bit.
"That's…so sad." Kagome's voice ached with sorrow. She looked at Kikyo with no small amount of pity in her eyes. Kikyo didn't like how her reincarnation was looking at her and narrowed her eyes in agitation. Kagome continued in a broken voice. "What he did….it's horrible. But, we know WHY he did it. I'm positive he didn't want to do what he did, but you said so yourself Kikyo, he did it to get back to you." Kikyo's eyes bore into Kagome's. "I said us, he came back for us. And that should excuse him of these crimes? He destroyed lives beyond mortal comprehension!"
Sango looked thoughtful and remembered the previous night. Tomasaru's words. She echoed them. "He said he did what he had to do. I've known Uncle for a long time. He'd never do such a thing unless…." She thought back to their search for Tomasaru and then fighting with Kagura and all those demons. "He wanted to protect us. He came back so he make sure we were alright. He did what he had to do and damned himself in the process. I know what he did was unforgivable, but not surprising." Miroku looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Kagome and Shippo focused more on her. Inuyasha and Kikyo just looked indifferent.
Sango looked exasperated with the group. "Haven't you noticed by now the length he goes to for the people he cares for?" Her eye's glanced over to Kikyo as she said this. "He spent his life for his brother and then to the memory of Kikyo. He was separated from all he has known and loved and you expected him to stay in an unknown place with shadows of his friends and not do all in his power to return?" Kikyo looked furious at that statement. "We are NOT to blame for his crimes! He did this to himself. He has always thought of himself so he should just stay with himself and not sully ourselves with his presence!" Inuyasha stared at her with no emotion on his face. Arms still crossed he slowly uncrossed them. "Tomasaru and I have never really seen eye to eye. Hell, I tried to kill him a few times. One thing I know for sure is that he would NEVER abandon any of us. EVER!" He looked sadly at the revived priestess. "Especially you Kikyo. He did what he did to help us. He's risked his life for me a lot of times. All of them I threw it into his face. I can't do that this time. I feel like if we don't do something now there won't BE a next time." He got nods from all but Kikyo. She just looked at the hanyou in disgust.
"Well I guess you two are more alike than I care to think about! Do what you like, I will not join you in the aid of a…..monster such as he!" She stormed out of the clearing vision blurring and heart heavy. She leaned on a tree and slumped to the ground. She heard a noise and turned toward the sound. Her reincarnation stood there staring sadly at her. She walked to the tree opposite of her and sat down. She silently watched Kikyo. After a minute or two of the staring contest Kikyo barked out an irritated "What is it you want here?"
Kagome broke off her stare and looked into her lap. "You love him? Don't you?" Kikyo felt her anger rise before controlling it. Ever since she met Tomasaru she has not been in control. Even with Inuyasha she maintained a tight control on her emotions. She got angry and upset with him, yes, but never to the extreme that Tomas took her. "I thought I did. I thought I knew him. In the end, he really was just another demon." Kikyo said the last part in a sigh. Kagome got up eyes blazing "How can you say that?" Kikyo looked up at her startled. Usually Inuyasha was the recipient of her ire. Now it seems she found a new target. "I have some of your memories. I know what he did for you fifty years ago. And then what he did when you were nothing but walking clay with a sliver of MY soul! He's protected me, Inuyasha and everyone else. INCLUDING you!" She pointed her finger angrily at the priestess.
Kagome looked like the anger drained away as she spoke softly. "He's tried so hard. Suffered so much. Everyone can tell he did it all for you." Kikyo's eyes looked like they were burning with tears as she rose and spoke in a clipped, angry tone. "He did not do ANYTHING for me! Only himself. He desired me. He wanted me. He helped me for only his selfish ambitions! He didn't care who he hurt, not even his brother, in his pursuit of me!"
"That ain't true." Both women turned to the source of the voice to see Inuyasha standing with his arms in his sleeves. Kikyo snarled "Leave Inuyasha! This is none of your business. You should not eavesdrop on other's conversations." He just shrugged. "These ears aren't for show, you know that. The way you two were yelling I'd have to be miles away not to hear." His face lost some of its humor. "My brother isn't selfish. He never forced you Kikyo, he would have left if you asked it of him." She snorted in derision. "Come now Inuyasha. Do not lie to me. I know you still have feelings for me." He was about to reply when he noticed Kagome's flinch. Surprisingly that flinch hurt more than Kikyo's words. Remembering what his brother told him he continued. "Yea, I do and I probably always will. But Tomas….Tomas didn't steal you away. He made sure you had all the choices and all the power when he showed interest in you. If you had come to me instead of him…" he remembered that conversation which seemed like a lifetime ago. "He would have allowed it. Even blessed it. Your happiness was always his objective Kikyo."
She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "How would you know this? Guessing from your point of view?" Inuyasha's ears dropped a bit. "We…we talked about this a while ago. He came to me when things got serious between you two." She looked at the hanyou in anger as he continued "No, no details or anything like that. He just wanted to clear everything up. Told me everything from his perspective and how strongly he felt for you." Kikyo just shouted almost hysterical "He felt NOTHING! He was a selfish monster! I was nothing but a trophy." Inuyasha shook his head sadly. "He said if you chose me he'd have supported you. Then…." He looked up eyes widening in shock. "Oh SHIT! We have to find him!"
He turned and was ready to bolt before Kagome's voice stopped him. "Wait, what's wrong?" He turned toward her with a bit fear in his eyes. He looked at Kikyo and now, for the first time since he met her, he felt real anger toward her. "He told me that if Kikyo ever did have someone else he's bless it then go somewhere to die." His look conveyed the meaning in utter clarity. Kikyo's legs buckled and Kagome rushed to support her. Kikyo muttered softly "He HAS to be selfish. He has to be a monster. He can't be the Tomas I know…" Kagome's eyes looked on her previous incarnation sadly. This was hard on her as well. Inuyasha had no such sympathies at the moment. "I'll get the others and track his scent. I should still be able to follow it!" He rushed off the get the others and start on his brother's trail.
Minutes later Sango, Shippo, Kagome, and a dejected Kikyo rode on the fire cat Kirara while Miroku and Inuyasha were on the ground following his brother's scent. As they raced Inuyasha felt his foot hit something and heard a sick squishing sound. He stopped and raised his foot to see Myoga stuck on his heel. He peeled the flea off and watched him float to the ground where, with an audible pop, he returned to his original shape and looked at the figure that stepped on him. "Oh, Master Inuyasha thank the heavens I found you!" Inuyasha looked on in agitation. "Now isn't a good time Myoga." He turned to run off when the flea jumped on his shoulder. "Wait Master, PLEASE! It's your brother. Something is wrong with him!" He grabbed the flea with his forefinger and thumb and squeezed.
"You saw him? Where was he heading?" The flea was turning blue from lack of oxygen. "Mas….ter….please…..aiirr….." He released the flea who got some air into his lungs and continued with his frantic explanation. "I do not know where he was going, but he seemed….resigned. I saw that look once before. It's the look of a warrior knowing he was about to die." Kirara landed and her riders were also listening in to the explanation. Kikyo's hand went to her mouth when she heard the flea's words. Myoga continued. "You father had that same look in his eyes when he went to rescue your mother so long ago…" Myoga looked himself haunted by visions of a past gone so wrong. He shook himself out of his daze. " Master, I do not know what kind of argument you had but you must help him! He looked and sounded like he had nothing left to live for! He had the look of a warrior with nothing left to fight for!"
Kikyo flinched with every comment the flea made. Was she responsible for his suicide like charge? Did he really care so much that the thought of being alone forever haunted him? She was so lost in her thoughts she did not notice that the fire cat was already flying and following Inuyasha. They moved on until they were stopped by a purple barrier. Kirara landed and her passengers dismounted before turning into a red eyed, two tailed kitten in a flash of flames. Inuyasha was beating on the barrier with his Tetsusaiga and not making a dent. "Wind Scar!" he cried. His energy just bounced off the shield harmlessly.
"Dammit! He's in there. I can SMELL it!" Miroku looked closely at the barrier. "I do not know how he could have entered. This is by far the strongest barrier I have ever seen." Kikyo nodded. That was her assessment as well. Kagome looked on in helpless anticipation. "How do we crack this thing open?" Kikyo opened her mouth to respond when they all heard "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Inuyasha growled "That's Tomasaru's voice!" Kikyo looked sick. The only time she heard that scream was when he was in extreme pain. Who could do that to him? The answer came almost as soon as she thought it. "Naraku.." she growled. She unstrung her bow and took aim at the barrier. She filled the arrow with her purifying energy and released her payload. It, like the Tetsusaiga's attack, bounced harmlessly off. Sango cursed. "Damn, he's in there alone and there's nothing we can do!" Kikyo looked down in shame. She was the reason he was alone in there, fighting for his life when they should have been facing this together. How ironic that all her arguments about him being evil and a monster disappeared when she heard his agonized scream. She turned to see Miroku with sweat pouring off his face trying to open a hole in the barrier. She looked at her reincarnation.
"Kagome, come with me." As Kagome neared Kikyo spoke softly to her on how to use her powers to pry open a barrier. "Follow Miroku and my lead Kagome." She merely nodded with a serious face. After a few minutes of trying they pulled back and rested. Kagome sat down heavily. "It's no use!" she said through heavy breathing. Kikyo was about to yell at her through her own labored breathing when her spiritual senses went crazy. She looked at the others who seem to have been feeling it as well.
Even Sango who did not have much spiritual training could feel the power behind the barrier spike. She muttered "What the hell…" when a huge sound of a twister interrupted her. They all looked to see inside the barrier a huge golden tornado has risen and expanded. The barrier flashed as it struggled to contain the power lashing into it. Inuyasha looked at the scene in awe. "That looks like a Backlash wave but I've never seen one do THAT….."
Myoga also looked on it with no small hint of pride. "That's my Master! Even when he goes off to die, he doesn't go easy." They all looked at the flea. Shippo was the first to speak. "Since when could he do that!" he pointed his little paw to the twister that was actually pushing its way out of the barrier. Myoga shrugged his little shoulders. "Master Tomasaru has many techniques he does not use for one reason or another. From the looks of that it seems it might have been a last resort technique." They all watched the barrier waver and distort as the twister sucked in it's energy to grow stronger. Then the tornado seemed to weaken. They watches as it slowly lost it's golden light and can make out a figure in the middle of the tornado being slowly lowered down. The barrier seemed to glow and distort wildly.
Kikyo shook herself out of her stupor. "Miroku, Kagome, this is our chance!" With nods they set to work again in trying to pry open the barrier to their missing friend. Kikyo closed her eyes and let her spiritual training come to the fore. She could sense Miroku and Kagome on either sides of her but she just continued with her work. The barrier was still strong, but now she could squeeze a bit of her spiritual power into the barrier and make a rift. As she concentrated on her task she pulled more and more of the power inside of her. She nearly made a hole when something happened that completely broke her concentration. Through the small hole she made the other could hear it as well.
It was a scream. It was a scream of indescribable pain. And it was in a voice they all knew. Because of her lapse in concentration the hole closed. More frightening was that they could hear the screams through the barrier, only slightly muffled. Kikyo's face set and she grunted with supreme effort. She called upon all her powers and forced another hole. Shaking themselves out of their shock Miroku and Kagome helped Kikyo. In another minute a doorway had formed. Inuyasha, dragging a kicking and screaming Myoga, went in first followed by Sango, Shippo and Kirara. Kagome, Miroku, and Kikyo broke their concentration and quickly dived through the hole which slowly closed up.
Breathing hard from exertion, the three stood and joined the others. They quickly made their way to where they heard the screams. When they got there they could only look on in horror. Tomasaru was raised in the air by an arm turned sword of Naraku. His once deep blue kimono was torn to shreds. Whatever left on him were all stained red with his blood. Most of his skin was either red with his blood or burned black. His hair was cut and charred as were his ears. They could see craters and blood pools all over the courtyard. They looked back to see Naraku smiling at them with Tomasaru still hanging off his arm like a body on a pike. "Well well well. I must say this certainly is a surprise, what do I owe for the honor of your visit?" Naraku spoke with a sinister smile and made no move to drop the body raised off the ground by his transformed arm.
Kikyo grabbed an arrow from her quiver and aimed at Naraku only to have the tortured body of Tomasaru to be put between them. "Now now!" He admonished with a shake of the body he carried. "I must thank you Kikyo. I never would have had this wonderful opportunity for a one on one discussion with Tomasaru if you hadn't pushed him away. So you have my thanks." Kikyo shook in rage as he taunted her. Miroku looked like he wanted to undo the prayer beads to suck Naraku in, but stayed his hand because of the hostage. "I truly wish to end this pathetic half breed's existence. He has been nothing but an irritant. I could, however, be convinced to spare the fool's life…..for a price." He looked straight at Kagome. Or more specifically, the jewel shards around her neck.
Inuyasha put himself between her and Naraku. "No way you bastard! Let him go NOW!" Naraku merely smiled and black energy run up from his blade into it's victim. Having long lost the ability to scream Tomasaru's body merely shook uncontrollably and blood started leaking from his nose, his ears, his eyes, and all open orifices. Kikyo, tears in her eyes, quickly reached over to Kagome and ripped the jewel from her neck. Before Inuyasha or anyone else could stop her she threw it at Naraku, who caught it halfway. She sunk to her knees crying. "Let him go, please, just let him go…"
Naraku smiled as the jewel fused into one piece again. He looked at the charred, broken body impaled on his limb and contemptuously threw the body toward Kikyo where it rolled toward her like a puppet with cut strings. "Ah, the jewel is once again complete. Mmmm, the power…" he closes his eyes in pleasure. Inuyasha and the others can only watch in helplessness as they feel his evil power rise. "I could destroy you all right now. With the jewel complete it would be so easy…" he watched with a smile as the group assembled before him tenses and prepared for an attack. "I think I'll wait. Yes, I'll let you all dwell on your demise before delivering the final blow."
His eyes narrowed on Kikyo, cradling the blackened broken body. "Except for you Kikyo. I have….special plans for you." He licked his lips with a serpent like tongue and laughed as his castle and he faded into the background. After a full minute the group was alone except for the echo of that haunting laugh. After the danger had passed Myoga jumped out from Kirara's fur coat and raced to his Master's side. He jumped from the top of Tomasaru's body and inspected it. Kikyo's hands also ran along the body feeling for wounds and broken bones. Inuyasha just watched and growled. "Well? Is he going to live?" They could all hear the undercurrent of worry. Myoga answered. "Probably. We must get him medical help as quickly as possible. From what I can ascertain from the Master's wounds, he….was wounded with intent on maximizing pain while minimizing the risk of accidental death…"
Miroku narrowed his eyes as Kirara transformed to carry the defeated body of their friend. "So you are saying he was tortured." It was not a question and Myoga merely nodded. Kikyo and Sango lifted the body onto the mighty fire cat and mounted her. Sango looked at the others apologetically. "Sorry, the rest of you have to walk. We need to get him to a village and fast. Outkast is no more than a few hours away." Everyone nodded except for Inuyasha and Kagome. Kirara took to the air while Inuyasha looked at Miroku. "Where the heck is Outkast? I've never heard of such a dumb sounding town!" It was Shippo that answered him. "You don't know it? It is a village made up of human, hanyou and demons. I was planning on going there after I had my revenge on the Thunder Brothers." The child's head went down as he remembered how his mother and father were brutally murdered by the pair. Kagome's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah, wasn't that the place Tomasaru told us about?" Miroku nodded solemnly. "Yes, and we must make our way there as well. It should not be too far on foot." Inuyasha just growled "Let's GO already! We can do the cheesy tour guide stuff later!"
He half turned when something could his eye. Tomasaru's sword embedded in the ground. He could see the sheath not far from a bloody crater. He walked to the sheath, grabbed it and headed toward the sword. Slowly he grabbed the hilt and pulled the sword from the ground. He looked at it with a mixture of sadness and rage. His brother was a better swordsman than him and deep down he knew it. To be able to disarm him and do the damage that was done to him….
A growl made its way past his throat. "Naraku….You'll pay for this!" He quickly sheathed the sword and put it on his belt next to the Tetsusaiga. He turned to the others with a burning amber gaze. "Come on! No use staying here."
Meanwhile high above the sky the two women and firecat flew as quickly as possible to a place where their friend may be healed. Kikyo looked at the battered and bloody body and tried to hold back her tears. Maybe more than a friend. She wanted to hate him. She should hate him. What he did was inexcusable and harmed countless innocents. The fact she couldn't made her hate herself even more. She remembered all he did and all she heard of him. How could she hate someone who did so much for others? Who loved her so much he practically threw his life away once she rejected him. She also felt guilty because here he was wounded because of her pushing him away and all she could think about was trying to sort her feelings.
As they flew towards the village all Kikyo could do is look at the unconscious figure before her and wonder how he could make something so simple into something so complicated!
OK, that's that. Lucky number seven done! Once again thank you reviewers doing reviewing. I have a feeling this is going to be a whole lot darker for a few chapters. You know what they say, nothing worthwhile is ever easy! Anyway, thank you for the reviews and keep them coming! It helps flow my creativity and bring out more chapters when I know someone is waiting to read them. Till I see you in chapter eight!
