Not really following my intended schedule, as I have noticed. But you can expect chapter 4 to come out a little later than I planned. It's giving me writer's block, and where I began rewriting doesn't really fit with what was already there, so you see my dilemma.
Disclaimer: Don't own the hanyou and co.
Dark Lineage
Chapter Three
Four days had passed since Kagome had been kidnapped, and her rescuers now stood on the edge of the Cliffs of the Rocs. The journey to had been very uncomfortable, though never quiet. Kouga and Inuyasha were always arguing over Kagome, Kikyo, the world, each other, and battling styles. Kikyo always stayed next to Inuyasha, where Sango could not reach her.
All were silent now as they gazed across the clear water to the distant island. It was peaceful, and not the sort of place where fighting would occur at all. This illusion would have been shattered had they taken a closer look at the water, where mystic shapes circled around. Predators, waiting for the ensuing battle, where they would feast for sure.
They weren't silent for long.
"What a great place for my Kagome to be rescued from!" said Kouga gleefully, a little out of place in the serene settings.
"How many time do I have to tell you?! Kagome is not your woman!" Inuyasha shot back very angrily. Such a sore subject!
By now, Kouga was tired of arguing with Inuyasha, so he chose not to reply. All he wanted was to see Kagome again WITHOUT the mutt chaperoning them. She might have feelings for him, after all, that were contained only by her generosity with Inuyasha's feelings.
Kikyo moved up to the edge of the cliff, and reminisced about her fall off a cliff before. However, while she had no intention to fall again, Sango felt very much like pushing her, and so moved behind her. She didn't know what to do after she got there, but...
Kikyo's hair streamed back into Sango's face with the wind. Blowing strands of hair out of her mouth with a grimace, Sango tried to see if she could still get a handle on Kikyo, but the miko turned, foiling her plans.
"Inuyasha, how will we get all the way over there?" Shippo asked worriedly. He could see no path available for them. After all, he could just change into a cloud, and that could carry only himself. He had no intention of venturing into unknown territory by himself. No matter what puffed up ideas he held of himself, he knew that in reality he was a very weak kitsune.
Miroku meditated as Inuyasha struggled to answer. He knew that somewhere, he had heard something very important about the Cliffs of the Rocs that would inevitably be needed.
"Easy Shippo dear, I will help all of you across with the use of my soul collectors. They can easily get all of us across at the same time, and in good time." Kikyo said disdainfully with an idle wave of the hand.
Everyone jolted when they heard the sickly sweet voice that Kikyo used. It was the reason why she spoke that way.
"Okay then, Kikyo, let's go!" said Inuyasha impatiently, confident in his former love.
Kikyo immediately concentrated, and a swarm of the lizards appeared, and wrapped themselves around everyone except for Miroku. His status as a monk was preventing their 'help'. They circled around him, not trying to penetrate his natural defenses.
"We'll just have to leave you behind, Miroku." Said Inuyasha ruthlessly, only thinking of Kagome who was waiting ahead. He was still thinking of rushing in magnificently, astounding her again with how much he cared for her.
They started rising in the air, and towards the ominous islands. Kikyo motioned that they best not speak; the unearthly silence in the air shouldn't be broken now that they were over the water. It was proceeding quite smoothly.
That is, they were until several tentacles shot up from beneath the waves and grasped all of them firmly by the arms and legs. Kouga struggled, the shards in his legs powering his kicks. He stopped his efforts when he realized that if they did let go, he would fall right into the rest anyway.
Miroku gasped in a moment of understanding. He remembered. Too late, honey.
"Octopuses also reside near the cliffs. They are predators, and you've been caught." Miroku said, almost smirking. This is what they get for leaving him behind.
Shippo yelled piercing all hearing organs unmercifully as the suckers began their work, digging extra tendrils into his skin and dragging him down to the water. The process was slow, almost as if the sea creatures were unable to move fast.
This spurred Miroku into action. He quickly began chanting and flung scrolls at the appendages. They released at their own pace, as if telling him that their power was also great. Miroku was sweating by the time they got back to shore. Kikyo was paler than usual, her serenity shattered by the ordeal.
Kagome woke up, sore as usual from her practices. She hated how weak she was. Tetsaki had been the one originally to train her, but when she got knocked around even when he was barely trying; Tesake had decided to take over. She was also barely trying, but Kagome was beginning to think that the katana wasn't for her. But this wasn't the only thing occupying her mind.
What was she supposed to think? Naraku had proved to be a dangerous foe over and over again. But now... he was acting like a gentleman for once, and one without any schemes. He actually fit in with his reincarnations, and while his relationship with Kagura wasn't that good, Tesake seemed to love him. And her brother with his light yet dark looks...well, he seemed to be made of ice. Was this all an illusion?
'And I bet that you would love to melt him, wouldn't you?' a voice piped up from nowhere.
Kagome blushed furiously, and then shut it out. She had Inuyasha, didn't she? He cared about her, even if Kikyo did meddle ever once in a while. Thinking about Kikyo made her frown with anger. (The main reason why she feels fine is partially because Naraku has constructed an aura around his places to lower the guard, and release the inner evil, and partially because her heart, as I said, is growing darker.)
A knock on her door jolted her out of her dark thoughts. Kagome went to answer it, and was surprised to see Naraku. Usually Tesake or Tetsaki came in the morning to rouse her from her slumber.
"Kagome how was your night?" Naraku asked politely.
"It was fine, thank you. Why are you here today? I usually don't see you until the mealtimes." Kagome replied, a trifle bewildered, caught off-guard.
"Your friends are here. I assume that they will cross over in approximately 5 and a half hours. I shall be leaving soon, as well as Tesake, Tetsaki, and Kasikie. Kagura will stay behind and...clean things up for us. Be prepared."
Naraku bowed sarcastically, and tossed a puppet into the room behind her. It didn't activate yet, but began moving through the walls to wherever its destination was. It left quickly, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts yet again.
Inuyasha was going to rescue her. Strangely, she wasn't as happy about it as she would have been a few days ago. Too late, she realized that she didn't know who Kasikie was.
Having realized that the way to cross was hindered by many obstacles, the group was hard pressed to find a solution. When the Rocs began to circle overhead, Sango said,
"Wouldn't the Rocs have some sort of alliance with the Krakens? They are able to pass back and forth with no harm."
Having finally the lead they needed to begin their crossing, the minds began working with a new craze. As the birds descended, all snapped to the best solution. Kirara changed and ran upwards, trying to herd them down to the waiting passengers. Showing none of their beforehand shrewdness, all willingly dove down at steep angles.
Inuyasha let out one long sweep of the Tetsusaiga, making them shy away strategically. Each person or people grabbed the feet of a roc. The birds struggled, but Kikyo's soul collectors entwined themselves around the necks of the birds. Tightening so slightly, the breathing grew labored.
With the hint of death in a dishonorable way, the birds immediately behaved. (While their intelligence was great compared to that of ordinary animals, the concept of honor was blown up, much more so than the traditional warriors. Seppuku, the honorable suicide, was the preferred way to go, or in battle. Strangling in this strange culture of birds was the worst, reminding them of their weakened forms when humans snapped their necks like twigs, supper ready in seconds.)
The serpentine creatures pointed the rocs in the right direction, and krakens did not raise their arms. Landing successfully, they formatted a quick plan that basically just involved rushing in at the same time and trying to head for Kagome, using Kikyo's miko powers. It sounded as if Kouga had made the whole thing up, but in reality, there really wasn't anything else. Plans of complexity worked when there were many variables to work with. Here, there were few.
Kagome packed up her backpack and headed to the door. Before she got there, however, Tetsaki and Tesake burst in and barricaded the door with anything and everything available. Tetsaki's usually neat blonde hair was disheveled, and in places streaked with blood.
"What's wrong?!" Kagome shouted in panic.
Tesake puffed gently with a weak smile, "Naraku underestimated the loyalty of the Krakens. He's battling now, even as your friends are. We are supposed to guard you with our lives until your friends come, but it goes without saying that it's better off if they don't know of what sort of relationship we have. It might throw the hanyou off."
They each bore several other minor wounds, but Kagome wasn't too worried about that. Demons could heal themselves quickly.
She was worried about how her friends would react, and surprisingly, when she confronted the little shadow in the corner of her mind, Kagura. The demon had caused no end of trouble for her, and had slaughtered Kouga's people.
"Where's Kagura?" she asked hesitantly. Tetsaki replied shortly, eyes still on the heaving door,
"We believe her to be dead, and if not, near it. Last I saw, she was in a mass of those tentacle things, wind not doing much good."
Tesake glanced at Kagome, and pretended not to see the shock plastered on her features. The wind sorceress had been a formidable opponent in the past; it was hard to imagine the demon having trouble with monsters. She began to wander to the stone niche which served as a window.
Tesake grabbed her quickly and shook her hard. Now wasn't the time for foolishness, or mourning for a comrade-if you could call Kagura a comrade to Kagome.
Kagome looked up into Tesake's face. All of her previous impulses had retreated, in its place, perfect logic and watery eyes.
"Kagome, do you have any spells to ward them off? Or something that will enable us to get out without being seen?" asked Tesake urgently, forming her mirror again.
Kagome gulped down her tears, and thought. Before she settled on her repertoire of spells and wards, she asked the question that had been bothering her for a while.
"Why do you have a mirror? Kanna was the one with the mirror of souls the last time we met Naraku."
Tesake looked annoyed, but took the time to answer. She also materialized her mirror.
"Kanna's visions were becoming less accurate, so Naraku fused her with her mirror to give it more powers and brought me to life to control it. There's some more complications in that, but that's all you need to answer your question. Kanna is still alive, in a sense, and her flower here is basically her gate to this world." Satisfied, Kagome continued on her search for a proper spell.
"No, I don't think so. We'll have to fight." She said grimly.
Wordlessly, she readied her bow and arrows, as Tetsaki drew his sword and Tesake modified some extensions of her mirror, and broke them off as weapons.
The door was knocked down, and a glob of arms began inching its way in.
Inuyasha made short work of the arms grabbing him, but more replaced them. Kikyo's arrows seemed to be the only thing doing permanent damage, until a bright violet flash disintegrated the rest. The current attack seemed more vicious and organized than the loose one before. It was also dangerous, as they were far from any land.
The space that had appeared when the flash came quickly filled in. Sango's boomerang made calamari, but while they stopped moving, they stayed stiff. She quickly decided to use her swords instead when she nearly lost her weapon.
Miroku had opened his wind tunnel, after futile praying had done limited damage. The birds shook in the violent winds, but steadied and kept going for the craggy island. Now that they were closer, they could see the heads of two krakens slowly moving up the rock, its many arms extended up and into the cavern before it.
Suddenly, another struck out from below, and missed the group only by a little.
Everyone was recovering from the shock. Finally, Inuyasha punched his bird in frustration and practically screamed, "How the hell are we going to get her if there are all these suckers around the damn island!"
Shippo started crying, much to the irritation of Kikyo, who was on the same bird. She considered slapping the kitsune, but decided that it would lower herself more in the eyes of the audience she was sure to have.
A force began drawing them closer, to a spot at the top of the spire that seemed to be an entrance.
The rocs were only too happy to let their passengers off, and immediately began attacking the face of the rock. It was too late to do any damage, and their prey scuttled deep into the fortress. All ready for an attack, none were surprised by the first of Naraku's puppets. Kouga put all of his heart behind his attack, even while knowing that the puppet was not the actual one responsible.
It was not as hard as usual.
Kagome, meanwhile, was pushing out of the cramped room, fighting with the two demons at her back. Her sacred arrows were the only thing clearing the tentacles out, for once they died, they didn't necessarily clear out. All three would have suffocated if not for the blast of miko power that came again and again, disintegrating the obstacles.
The two factors attacking unknowingly pushed their way closer to each other, Kagome's group trying to get to the top; Inuyasha's trying to get to Kagome. The whereabouts of Naraku were unknown, but it could be surmised that he, too, was struggling.
After cutting one particularly thick tentacle, Inuyasha came face to face with the eye of a Kraken. He didn't have any idea how it managed to pull its body up so high, but it was there. It blinked several times, and a thick purple liquid began leaking out of the corner of the lid. It continued to expand, and took the form of a faceless woman. She raised her arms, and black blades shot out of the wrists. Inuyasha didn't wait for her weapons to fully form, and charged at her.
The purple globs drew back together, proving her to be one of those almost invincible types. Cursing, Inuyasha decided that the best way was just to trap it somewhere so that he could get to Kagome. Ducking behind and jumping over some rocks, he abandoned Sango and Miroku, and kept running till he thought the goo had been lost.
Kouga had also encountered another made of black stone. She was relentless in her pursuit, and he couldn't get near enough to Miroku to make use of his wind tunnel, which he was employing with various degrees of success. He saw the flash of Inuyasha's mane, and followed. His goal was Kagome, and much as he hated to admit it, it was the same as Inuyasha's.
Inuyasha inhaled deeply once.
He caught Kagome's scent.
At the time, Kagome weakly leaned against Tesake, who gingerly supported her with one arm, the other slashing randomly at the pulsing masses all around them. Kagome straightened, and readied for another blast of pure energy. These were the most effective, but took a more direct toll on her strength.
She fell. Something had jarred Tesake's firm hold. But someone had caught her again. Inhaling deeply, she smelled the putrid odor of the enemy, and something...natural, but still nice. Although the air was tinged with the metallic odor of blood, it still stood out.
She forced her eyes to open. Slowly, her lids opened. Tetsaki gazed back down at her. She scrambled out of his grasp, and just in time, as Inuyasha jumped through a gap and landed in front of them. The last thing she saw was Tetsaki looking away with an unreadable expression and Inuyasha's worried one closing in. She caught a flash of black hair over Inuyasha's shoulder, but blurred before being able to identify the face.
He caught her just as she began to stagger again.
Kagome woke up to the sound of Shippo fake crying as Inuyasha repeatedly punched him in the head. He tried unsuccessfully to escape.
Miroku had kept Sango occupied, by constantly turning her attention to slapping him.
Kagome would have just faded back into the peaceful blackness, but then Inuyasha said something under his breath. Her ears barely caught it.
"Kikyo, you left too soon this time."
"Sit...boy." She murmured out of habit. The tears had already begun to slide down her face and into the ground afterwards. "Sit boy, sit, and sit...sit...." She would have continued had the darkness had already begun to claim her again.
Inuyasha crashed to the ground repeatedly. The subduing spell had caught the attention of Miroku and Sango, and they looked over at Kagome. She didn't look guilty now, just sad and tired. Her face was peaceful, but her fist clenched several times and a faint outline of blue surrounded her.
They both looked at the hanyou.
"What did I do this time?!" yelled Inuyasha, fed up with treading lightly around both Kagome and Kikyo. They weren't the only ones with feelings.
The end of this one, yup. I'm not in the habit of doing previews, so you don't have to expect that.
Just wanna thank again for the QuickEdit 2.0. Can't say it made my life easier, but it's cool.
Review!