Clash of the swords
Chapter Two - Memory of the flame
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or Sesshourmaru, or anyone from the anime or manga entitled Inuyasha.
By the way: This chapter contains some information from the third movie, so sorry if I ruin anything. Anime sweat drop.
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The moon had pulled itself into the sky at a rapid speed, bringing an unnerving chill into the air. The trees shook, a scent of fear spreading across the area. The grass swayed to the west, small pebbles rolling into the unseen, dirt sliding across the surface of the earth. A forest reaching great heights towered over the party of three; it's trees casting unease onto the two companions, of the great demon lord.The shadows of the inhabitants leaked out of the forest, their silhouettes rippling over the dancing weeds.
"Sesshoumaru-sama..." A weak voice strayed from the young girl's lips, her eyes wide in fear. She shielded herself behind the youkai, reassuring herself she'd be safe, though she could not help but feel frightened by the scary faces that seemed to radiate off the bark of the trees.
Jaken positioned himself beside his master, his staff slightly bobbling in the grass. His hand shook slightly, but the same could be said for him. He was mildly frightened by the uneasy feeling the illuminated off the forest, but he took into account the Sesshoumaru would indeed save him from any dangers. And aside from that, the toad recognized this place.
"Jaken." The toad's attention was quickly drawn to his master. "You will stay here with Rin."
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I have accompanied you into the forest before," The toad nodded, "It truly is nothing more then a mere forest, some youkai here and there-" The demon grunted in annoyance.
"I did not say that it was scary, or overrun with demons, I simply ordered you to protect Rin, and if you defy me, well, what do you said should become of you?" The toad scrambled around in worry, his eyes wide.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! I did not disagree with you! But Rin is a brave girl and has Ah-un!"
"I am here to see Bokusenou, my business is my own. Have you asked Rin her feelings of this place? She is much more observant then one such as yourself." Sesshoumaru replied coldly. The toad remained frozen, after his extended scramble. A frown took his face.
"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama." The inu youkai tilted his head discretely, to reassure himself Rin was there, and took off to his destination, held in the forest.
'He gave Rin that worried look again... Something is wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama!' Rin frowned, as she watched her master drift into the forest, her stomach churning.OoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The moon seemed to have not budged since they'd left their picnic area, their body temperature appeared to be lowering as they tiredly walked onward. Their words were short, their bodies having trouble heaving words from their lungs.
"Are we almost there?" Sango shivered, her hiraikotsu slowing her to the back of the group. Inuyasha stopped to whiff the air, trying to catch the scent of Kaede's village.
"Well Inuyasha?" The houshi ran his hands over his arms, pursuing heat to come from the friction. Kagome turned to face Inuyasha, as Sango took this time to catch up with the others. The hanyou tilted his head downward, his expression stricken with worry.
"This isn't good." With that statement, Inuyasha had bounded off towards Kaede's village, his ability to move defying his body temperature.
A rather large black cloud was swallowing all surrounding clouds, mobs of darkness cluttering the navy blue of the night sky.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called after him, but he did not turn back. She was tormented with thoughts of which could have Inuyasha so riled up. Before even turning to her friends, the miko bolted after the hanyou, her feet hammering into the ground. She could feel her breaths shortening, her body incapable of towing her further. But she struggled to keep going, her arms rushing up to meet her eyes, then back down, her legs pumping like pistols, her feet pushing the dirt far behind her. She tried to draw a deep breath, but her lungs withered, an ache making itself known to her side. She let out a groan of pain, but did not stop. Her ears caught sound of her friends very close behind her, their feet pummeling into the earth.
"Kagome-sama!" The monk called after her. Normally she would have replied with a small 'yes,' but could not even manage to pull words from her mouth.
A steep hill poked out of the ground, a sign the Kaede's was very close by. Kagome had chatted with Inuyasha at the top of this hill several times, so it was easy to recognize.
She darted up the hill, her breaths so short that it was easy to notice she was slowing down. Her feet collapsed under her weight, sending her face first into the grass.
"Kagome-chan!" A familiar set of feet slid to a stop near the miko's body, and hand grasping at Kagome's arm. "C'mon..." Sango wheezed, towing Kagome up. The school girl gave a small nod to show appreciation, then rushed after the fox and monk.
As she slid to the top of the hill, she caught sight that Miroku and Shippou has paused, their jaws hanging open. She averted her glare from them, and set her eyes below her. What lay before her startled her, her heart beating wildly in her throat, not just from exhaustion, but from what lay before her.
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"Jaken-sama." The girl sighed, leaning herself against a creature known as Ah-un. She pulled her knees up to her chest, and examined the small youkai before her. "Rin is worried from Sesshoumaru-sama." The toad threw her a dangerous look.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is fine. I've been in that forest before, and as have you, Rin. Nothing terrible is in there." He cocked his head, he brow burrowed.
'Sesshoumaru-sama! How could you leave me here with HER? The three of us have all been in there before, I don't see what you and the girl are so worried about.' Rin laughed, her eyes slowly closing.
"I'm just worried. I know Sesshoumaru-sama can handle himself."
"You're right, that he can! He's the strongest demon there is!" The toad punched an arm out in front of himself, as to symbolize strength. "I don't know why he keeps you around. He's a strong youkai lord, and keeping a human such as yourself around will only create weaknesses and slow him down." He stomped his foot in disapproval, his eyes examining Rin.
Her face had turned bright scarlet, her cheeks enduring a stream of tears making their way down her skin. She tried to hold in her sobs, by stuffing her face in Ah-un's side. The toad's eyes widened, not realizing he'd said something strongly offensive to her.
"Do you really think," the girl stuttered, "That Sesshoumaru-sama wishes Rin away?"
"I didn't say that, Rin." The toad snapped aggressively, his eyes filling with frustration, but also holding a sympathetic shine. "I'm sure m'lord enjoys your presence as much he enjoys mine."
"Thank you Jaken-sama." She smiled sweetly, her final tears dripping onto her kimono. She let out another quiet whimper, her face again taking sadness. The youkai turned to her, his eyes worried.
"What's wrong now Rin?" He said coldly, seeing as there was nothing around to even hurt her. She shook her head calmly, her face growing pale.
"Rin's just cold, that's all." She gave a weak smile to her companion. "The moon seems to be testing our strength." Rin said optimistically. The toad grunted, facing the forest, in hopes of seeing Sesshoumaru.
"Curl up to Ah-un then."OoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The demon lord stalked into the depths of the forest, the shadows of the trees a matter of no concern to him. Creaks of the trees and groans from demons filled the air, but the youkai's eyes never strayed from his destined path.
"Sesshoumaru." His name hung in the air, a tense feeling arising in himself.
"Bokusenou." He replied, raising a lip to reveal a fang. His eyes strayed from side to side, his ears twitching.
"I'm over here, youkai." Sesshoumaru's head turned to face a tree in the distance, a face carved into it's bark. It was held a rather thick trunk, it's branches shooting up into the sky at a higher rate then the surrounding forest. It's bark was rather light opposed to the other tree's.
It looked the youkai up and down, it's bark moaning. Sesshoumaru's eyes did not move from the tree, his glance set on Bokusenou's.
"I wish," he began, his face hardening. "To discuss something with you." The tree grunted, it's eyes falling shut.
"Be this about Tenseiga?"
"You would do well not to close your eyes in my presence." Sesshoumaru growled bitterly.
"Well, what's troubling you, then?" Bokusenou's eyes opened lazily.
"You know what it is I am here about." His glare intensified, "I came to you not long ago, seeking your advice on how to strengthen Toukijin."OoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Inuyasha!" Her frightened voice screeched into the air, her eyes shifting back and forth across the land, in hope to see the boy in the cloak of the fire rat. "Inuyasha!" She called again, her voice cracking. She turned her head to see the monk racing down the hill, Sango and Shippou close behind.
What lay below the hill, was Kaede's village, set aflame. The houses were cracking, as sparks flew onto the pathways of the village. Screams were heard in the distance, their voices shrilling to the bone. Her eyes did not happen upon any bodies, but the flames dancing upon the house rooftops was enough to scare her to death.
She darted down the hill, looking back and forth for the hanyou. She stumbled around the paths, fire cackling in the background as she screamed for the half demon. She pushed open the house doors, to see the insides of people's houses set in flames.
She watched as her fear danced in the flames. She was alone in a burning village, planks of wood set on fire falling all around her. She was about to throw her face into her dirtied palms, when a cry of a baby hit her ears.
'Someone is still here.' She gathered herself and darted off to the cry, pushing open doors to houses. As she pushed her way past a burning door, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Before her stood Inuyasha, facing a mother and baby curled up on a corner. The woman clenched the boy to her chest, tears rapidly forming in her eyes.
"I-Inuyasha!" She screamed, throwing herself before the hanyou. "What're you doing?" She found her eyes forming more tears, to see the half-demon's eyes were lifeless.
'What's wrong with him! He's standing completely fine, but he's so lifeless!'
"INUYASHA!"
A large figure loomed beyond the flames, brandishing his blade. It shone with pride, the flames of the fire reflected from the metal. His long hair dangled down his sides, his armor exceedingly heavy. His back was turned away, for his target was one among the fire.
"Takemaru!" His voice boomed over the destruction being caused. His body seemed to stiffen, though his status was that of a true demon lord, defending his kin. He proceeded into the flames, a feeling of despair overshadowing all the woman's feelings.
She was holding a baby close to her chest, her heart thumping into the child's ear. Her eyes wavered, as she studied the little child that wailed in her arms.
"It's okay," she whispered uncertainly into the child's ear. The auburn depth of the child's eyes held her stare for a time, before he broke away in a fury.
"Takemaru!" The man called out again, taunting the human man to come at him. Their swords hit at each other, sending out a 'clash noise. The woman's face scrunched at the noise, tears streaming down her face. "Izayoi!" Her ears perked up when she heard her name from the demon. "Inuyasha!" He called to her.
"Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha! That is the name of our son!" She glared at the little hanyou, embracing it.
"Inuyasha..." She clutched the baby, her heart in an unbelievable pain. She knew what was coming next, she knew the answers as to why her love was suggesting a name in the midst of battle.
"Go now!" He yelled. It was obvious to him, that he could not survive this battle. The room was ablaze, a ring of fire forcing Takemaru and the demon lord into battle.
"Hai." She nodded worriedly. She picked herself up from the ground, sending a longing gaze after the inu lord.
The baby's cries filled the room, until the building began to collapse.
"FATHER!" His eyes fell forward to see Kagome, grasping his arms.
"Inuyasha!" She cried, tears washing away the dirt on her face.
"Ka-kagome..." He shot his eyes into hers, taking a moment to understand where he was. His breathing was deep, his heart pained.
"A-are you okay, Inuyasha?" He averted her glare, his heart pounding against his ribcage.
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Yarr, and that be chappy two. I am mildly happy with the way this one turned out. I it... but I feel I rushed through things. Eh... reviews and suggestions, please and thanks! n.n