Chapter Two: The Council of Myoga
"So, it has come to pass," old Myoga said as he looked at Kaede, who was slowly withering away. "I figured this curse would catch up with her one day. It was inevitable that one day Inu-yasha would succeed in destroying a demon where Kaede had failed. And yet, Kaede lingers… Every hour that you stay here, more is lost in her life."
"Okay, so we're going." Kagome said gathering her arrows.
"Yeah, but all of us tramping around the countryside to Fuji will attract unwanted attention. You know?" Tristan said.
"That is why only nine of you may go." Myoga said.
"Only Nine?" Yugi asked.
"That's all Kirara can be asked to bear. Time is short, and you'll need her swiftness, for not only must you reach the mountain, but in a cave deep inside it is where the Chalice of Amateratsu resides… And there are untold dangers in the deep places of the earth."
"What about you?" Inu-yasha asked the flea, "Are you one of the nine who are going?"
"Me!? Of course not! I'm here purely for council." Myoga said., sweat drops coming in his fear. "So, any volunteers?"
"I'm definitely going," Kagome said.
"You'll get yourself killed," Inu-yasha said, "I'm going too."
"It's your fault anyway," Kagome said.
"I told you I didn't know!" he yelled.
"You have my Puzzle," Yugi/Yami said, standing.
"And my Key," Joey said.
"And my Ring," Bakura chimed in, "You'll need a compass to find this thing, whatever it is, and my Ring will lead us there."
"You can't leave me behind," Mai said, "How will you know if anyone's following us?"
"And how will you know what dangers lurk ahead?" Serenity said. "You'll need our Millennium Items to warn you."
"And since Kirara is my friend, I'm going," Sango said.
"You'll need a holy man to guide you past the pitfalls and perils of the mountain," Miroku siad proudly."
"Oh well, I guess you'll do," Sango said. Miroku dropped his head and groaned.
"Then that's it!" Myoga said, jumping up, "Nine companions, loyal and true. You shall be hereby known as-!"
"Can it," Inu-yasha said throwing the Tetsusuaiga over his shoulder, "Lets just go!"
"Oh, but I had such a great speech planned," Myoga pouted. As the group began their journey, their back on their shoulders, Kaiba, Duke, Ayumi, Tristan, Shippo, and Mokuba stood close to the hut, for they would remain with old Kaede and protect her from her enemies, who would no doubt seek her in her wounded state.
"So what do we do if the old bat croaks?" Kaiba said.
"Seto!" Mokuba scolded.
"Don't worry," Duke said, "We'll take good care of her."
At that moment, a villager came running towards them, his face twisted in fear, his clothes stained red.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked.
"Horsemen! Demon Horsemen from the south!" the man gasped. "They're cutting down innocent people as they ride past… They seek the old woman!"
"Mokuba, Shippo, get inside," Kaiba said. "Duke, you ready?"
Duke pulled out his machetes, whipped them around in his hands, and said, "Let's go."
"Wait, what'll I use for a weapon?" Tristan asked. He looked around, and saw an old axe leaning against the wall "Oh well, better than nothing," he said, picking it up and running after Kaiba and Duke.
------------Transition-----------
On the outskirts of the burning village near a swift flowing stream, the Nine Riders stood, ready to ride again, when Ryota sniffed the air. "I smell humans." he said in a deep horse whisper. They turned, and before them stood three men, and one familiar face and scent.
"Sister Kagura," hissed Minoru.
"Kahhhhhgurahhhhh!" they all hissed.
"That name has no meaning for me anymore," she said, "Taste the power she left me! Dance of the Dragon!" she cried, swiping her fan, creating two enormous dust tornadoes. The whirling funnels advanced, but then Takashi lifted his hand, and the faint image of a heart appeared in within it.
"Kagura, treacherous child of Naraku…Die." he said, squeezing the heart.
Ayumi's face went white, she clutched her chest, and she fell to the ground screaming in pain.
"NO!" Tristan cried, and he flung his axe at Takashi's hand, severing it just below the elbow. When the arm hit the ground, it dissolved into a pool of ash, and the heart disappeared.
"As long as Naraku has Kagura's heart, he can hurt Ayumi," Duke said, "She can't fight!"
"Then we'll fight," Kaiba said, brandishing his Millennium Rod, the ancient item glowing red with it's inner power.
But at that moment, Kirara flew overhead, and the Riders saw her heading for the mountain.
"They are a diversion…" Takeshi said, "We want the Half breed, Inu-yasha."
"Inu-yassssssshaaaaaahhhhhhhh" The rest hissed.
"You won't get a foot near them," Kaiba said. He lifted the Rod and started chanting, "Shadow Powers, hear my cry, unlock the magic deep inside. Shadow Powers hear my cry, unlock the magic deep inside," each time he said it got louder, and around them they heard a sound that grew with Kaiba's voice, a rumbling came that grew and grew until it deafened them, the earth beneath them shaking as if in rage. Then with a final shout, Kaiba threw up his arms, and the earth beneath the Riders cracked and split like a great mouth opening up to swallow them.
But before gravity could take hold and pull them down into the depths of the earth, where all creeping things dwell, their black horse's hooves erupted in fire, and they galloped up- into the air! And with many high pitched shrieks of rage and bitter hatred, the Nine Terrors of Musashi flew away.
"You think Inu-yasha and Yugi have enough of a head start?" Duke asked Kaiba. Tristan came up from behind them, the hurt and weak Ayumi in his arms.
"Let's hope so," Kaiba said.
-----------Authors' Note-------------
Bluerain: Due to my brother finally moving to his own place- fanfare and trumpets sound as confetti is thrown from windows and cheers erupt in the streets- we won't be updating as much as we used to.
SirLarry: So please be patient, and make sure to review, and tell your friends about the Chaos Series!!!
