Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale
The Ringenkai Plant
Chapter 11: Revival of The Shinkantetsu
In the evening covered dew of the forest habitat nothing but an expansive acre of lush green trees were grown along the land, with the occasional lakes and mountain ranges to complete the beautiful scenery. Far out in the outskirts of where the normal stretch of villages and towns lie, there was a single rocky path that curved towards an upwards hill which stood out from the casual bird's eye view from above.
With the many decades having been passed through the trials and tribulations of war during this feudal era period, not a single human or creature has trespassed around this path in particular. There were tons of rumors told by old folklore that the path was haunted by vicious demons who would set out to murder anyone who dared to walk down it. Some foolish stragglers or naive children would try to prove the rumors false by actually finding the path and surveying it, only to never return or be heard from ever again.
The second half of rumors that existed that the path consisted of exactly one thousand miles in distance which led to the hidden quarters of an ancient demon class dating back to nearly over four hundred years ago. No one believed it of course back then, until the knowledge of demons' existence had grown to be seen by mankind's eyes.
However the only difference separating the rumors from the truths after all of these centuries relied on the shoulders of one being. And that being was currently traversing on the legendary haunted path at this very moment.
"You do realize that if Inuyasha finds the Ringenkai Plant then your plans will have all been for naught yielding no positive results." Kagura reminded her master.
"Heh... such little faith, Kagura. You are becoming more dillusioned to the fact that I always find many ways to counter a backfire. In fact, to conjure up a great amount of careful planning in turn only leaves me frustrated to choose the best of my plans." Naraku replied to his female incarnation.
That exchange of speech was only a few hours ago. Kagura and Kanna had arrived at Naraku's castle to inform him of their failures to kill Inuyasha and his friends, but yet they managed to take information regarding the location of the Ringenkai Plant. Naraku was now aware that there was a powerful solution to counter the miasma conceived poison seed that he himself created. With this sensitive knowledge in Inuyasha's mind, Naraku knew it the dog demon would do his best to overcome any hardships to get to the herbal plant.
How far was Naraku planning tolerate this action? To the corrupt demon lord, he aimed to end those troubles today. Having been heavily questioned by his detachment Kagura about what exact plan he was storing up his sleeve, he decided to play the silent mouse and let her find out on her own. Kanna as well.
It was only a mere three hours later Naraku had set out east towards one of the darkest territories of Japan, his ambitions drawing him to this uphill path. Calmly perched atop a dead horse carriage, Naraku was donned in his white baboon pelt as the animal powered vehicle slowly made its way down the path and only a few more miles closer to his goal at the other end of the dead quiet forest he rode through.
"Here lies the secret to an untold story of our ancient demonic brethren." Naraku thought to himself, raising his hands to whip the two skeletal horses that pulled the large carriage behind them. The bony figures picked up the pace in their walking speed, bringing a cool breeze that stung Naraku's eyes like a sharp arrow made out of pristine glass.
The evening skies were showing signs of turning dark within the next three hours, and the further that the path itself stretched the darker the environment transformed into at a snail's pace. Naraku could hear the clear spiritual screams of the victims that were brutally killed by the old demons of yore in his ears, each and every high pitched yell of terror and death easing each bone in body. To him it was a pleasant song of peace that calmed his swirling dark soul, another element of the hatred, jealousy, and greediness that defined the meaning of evil that was housed inside him.
"Excellent. I do believe we are on the right path." Naraku said calmly to the two people sitting inside of the carriage, their silhouettes moving not a single inch despite the constant rocking and rumbling resulting from the horses' pulling. The clip-clopping of their hooves hit the dirt hard ground with a following echo due to the silence in the air, or so it seemed in the imaginary minds of those who could hear the sound.
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About two hours later, Naraku's carriage abruptly stopped in front of an ongoing flight of stone stairs that seemed to lead the way into the heavens itself. With a large red sign marking either side at the start of the steps, Naraku could clearly see the faint shimmering glow of the old magic binds that rendered the entrance completely impassable to anyone. There were two sacred ropes tied to the two large posts with faded Japanese kanji on the material, responsible for the bind.
Naraku dismounted from the driver's seat of the carriage and faced the barrier, his form hunched over inside the pelt he disguised himself in. His deep red eyes poked out from the baboon's eyeholes, that glazed look lost within his pupils with the worst of intentions.
"Hmm. Such a pathetic spellbinding barrier. Strong to those of the old age of nearly five centuries, but laughably weak in comparison to my superior power. After all of these years, did they really at most assume that this kind of magic could repel a demon such as myself?" Naraku asked while holding back an unconcerned chuckle as he raised his hand. He barely even lifted his finger before the barrier was destroyed in a flash of light, cracking apart like old bitter steel and granting all open access.
Naraku paced himself. He was in no exact rush to find the area he was heading to, although for some reason his nerves tingled with an odd malevolent excitement he could not contain. Maybe it was the vacant surroundings that kept his mind at ease or it was the fact that he was only another mile away from hatching his latest and carefully thought out plan. Whatever the case was his presence known to the once magically protected land was only the beginning of the end. Perhaps this accounted upcoming ritual would finally bring to him his dreams of obtaining the ultimate power of the sacred Shikon Jewel and then some. Only time would tell in the next few minutes.
After completing the task of climbing the fifty flights of stone steps, Naraku had come upon an open cavern. Its wide gaping mouth boasted nothing but a black void that dared to swallow up the inviting curiosity of the damned. The long dead suffering cries that crossed the line between the physical and astral plane has long ago dissipated. Now Naraku was about to cross the threshold to a new world. A world that even he may not have been able to possibly comprehend without the right knowledge before stepping into its welcoming arms.
Floating like an angelic devil into the blackness, it was only a moment later that Naraku was facing a wide enclosed space with a large altar with five stone cold obelisks erected to form a circular shape around it. Japanese kanji was deeply engraved on each corresponding obelisk, the stone structures slightly cracked and riddled with immense periods of age. Discoloration plagued the hard surfaces and the altar itself was laced with a small yet distinguishable trace of an old holy magic bind tied to it.
"If the power of the Shikon Jewel has truly granted me the wishes that I've yearned for so long... then breaking the seal to what was once the most strongest and proud race of demons by their very name alone should not pose a problem." Naraku said quietly as he revealed the nearly complete Shikon Jewel in his right hand. Setting it on the altar before him, the jewel had immediately began to react to the magical bind sending forth a spinning carousel of sparkling mystical light.
Naraku took four steps back and watched as the Shikon Jewel's unbounded power destroyed the magic bind on the altar, sending a big streak of white hot energy directly into the altar itself. The faded kanji inscriptions containing the words to an old chant were released from the obelisks, shooting forth and disappearing into thin air. A strange vapor was suddenly released into the cavern, forming a thin mist while the stone encasing the obelisks cracked and shattered apart, revealing their new smooth surfaces made from pure obsidian.
Five rays all shot out from their respective obelisks, forming a center point and shooting down onto the altar. The vapor mist became thicker, causing Naraku to squint hard through it at the grand summoning that was taking place. Then in a blinding flash of light, the obelisks exploded in chunks of black stone as five spirits flew out of them. The mist absorbed the floating spirits and formed five different physical bodies. They all materialized in front of Naraku in a crouched position, and when the light finally faded nothing but an evil and most cruelest of smiles unfurled upon under the white baboon's gaping mouth.
Naraku took four steps forward to his original position while retrieving his precious jewel sphere. His gaze shifted up at the five demons that slowly rose to their feet.
"The Shinkantetsu. It has been over 500 years, has it not? Now your reborn demon bodies will take the first breath of fresh earthen air as you were unknowingly released from your long age captivity by the humans who sought your utmost banishment from this world." Naraku said.
"Wh... what kind of sorcery has brought us here? Could it be... that we're actually alive?" one of the demons said, who had an attractive feminine face. His name was Tarensei, a young bishounen with purple long hair that flowed like sharp silk cloth down to the length of his knees, cut off halfway with a small hair band. His eyes were that of an emerald color, pristine as holy water and riveting enough to capture the soul of anyone who looked deeply into them. Tarensei was a master of the ninja arts and was considered an elite shinobi, wearing a magenta full sleeved gi that was designed with a large rose with petals dotted across the chest along with a dark blue hakama decorated with raining cherry blossoms. On his feet he wore white socks and red banded slippers. Lastly, tied to the right of his waist was a sheathed masamune sword.
"It would seem so, Tarensei." another demon of the group replied while staring at his physical body in total disbelief. "My hunger for blood has been reawakened once more... set in an agonizing suspension for so long. I still feel as if I had died but now here I stand!" said Hankotsu, a slightly hunched over demon with distinctive red eyes and pale gray skin. His face was covered by an ivory mask with only the eye and mouth areas cracked open.
The mask itself was disfigured with one eyehole right side up and the other vice versa. A jagged and twisted grin was etched onto the mouth with Hankotsu's long sharp fangs lining the surface where the teeth should have been built, dripping with insatiable amounts of steaming venomous saliva. He wore torn black robes with white skulls scattered across its fabric, and dangling bloodstained chains hanging from both of his wrists, the obvious rust visible. His retracted sharp claws possessed poison secreted into each cuticle and was easily capable of tearing human flesh. On his back were four enclosed wings, and he carried a three sickle chain blade weapon around his waist like a belt.
"I would be inclined to think of this as a dream... but as you can all clearly see this is all quite real. We have been brought back to life and the path to our quest for eternal conquest has been reopened at last." said Rensatou, a light skinned brown eyed man wearing a white cloth on his head. He had a well toned body and sported blue and white robes with several tied bandages on his hands and legs. He also had large brown prayer beads around his neck, each bead engraved with old Hiragana writing and a medicine bag slung around his right shoulder. In his hand he held a naginata whose blade was purified with corrupt mystical water, giving off a mighty spiritual aura. Six white flames of energy hovered above him constantly.
The other two remaining demons diverted their attention to Naraku, coming forth to face the disguised stranger who they presumably deemed responsible for this act of revival.
"This animal apparently knows of us pretty well from what he's saying. Who the hell is he exactly?" a tall and broad muscular demon said. His name was Jaroutara, having wild green hair and black eyes that burned with anger. He only wore silver armored leggings with two spikes extracting from both knees and held a giant double sided axe over his back.
"You! Identify yourself this instant. Are you friend or foe? You had best give an answer or a quick death will suffice for your impudence." said Kagotaru, the strongest and appointed leader of the group. His long black hair was twisted into a ponytail and his eyes were flaming with a fiery red. On his forehead burned a black diamond shaped emblem and four streaks of fire markings were outlining the edges of his eyes, curving upwards to his temples. He wore robes underneath his spiked battle armor tied with red and white sashes for decoration, and covering his shoulders was a red cloak concealing two huge swords attached to his back with a tassel hanging from each of their handles.
"I am neither of which you accuse me of. Upon summoning you to the lands of the living world once again to place all of you back to your high plateau of power, I've merely done this to ask a proposition that shall prove most promising. If you agree to it that is." Naraku said while making direct eye contact with Kagotaru. The proud and prideful leader flipped his cape to the side and crossed his arms in a defiant manner.
"Hmph! Are you even consciously aware of who you are dealing with? We are the Shinkantetsu, 'The New Realization'. Five of the most strongest demons that has banded together to make our name feared throughout all of Japan. Don't even begin to tell me that an inferior morsel of your stature holds the accountability for releasing us from our prisons only to have the disrespectable nerve of asking us a measly favor?" Kagotaru asked. "Heh, don't be a fool!!!"
"Oh, but I am fully aware of your legendary history. But in retrospect I believe it is not wise to pass judgement on a matter that you have not heard to its fullest. What if I were to say I could transform your current miniscule amount of power into a much greater and recognizable size upon your return to the living world?" Naraku offered.
"This gentleman is absolutely speaking nothing but nonsense! Surely this is a joke, Kagotaru. You honestly don't believe what he says, do you?" Tarensei glanced over to his leader. "We built our ruling foundation strictly on strength alone, and I'm not to fall for this kind of ploy. And now he insults our position?"
"I must admit too, that this sounds rather hasty and hard to contemplate without any suspicions." Rensatou agreed, not taking his eyes off of Naraku. "How do we know that he isn't lying to us? His aura certainly gives off an ominous vibe that I can't help but be concerned about."
"Silence!!! All of you! I did not ask for any of your opinions." Kagotaru said in an irritated tone, turning back to Naraku. "There's no way possible that your promises can allow us to be stronger than we already are. Do not underestimate us because you are under the impression that we have been sealed in these ridiculous prisons for five decades. However, you have certainly captured my interest. But I shall ask you a second time and a second time only. Who are you, and what exactly is this greater power that you speak of?"
"Simply enough. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Naraku, and I have strictly gone to great lengths of coming all this to request upon your services." Naraku replied. "Having read and learned much from the written literature passed down from generation to generation consisting of holy priests and priestesses, it was there I've gained knowledge of five surviving demon warriors out of a thousand kings. It was said that by being exiled by a single priestess named Midoriko, these five demons were nothing but a spare remnant of a combined tolitarian force that was capable of destroying mankind and even any kind of holy essence that dared to oppose it."
"Hmph. Lucky guess! What else doesn't he know of our past?" Hankotsu scoffed as he licked his bone dry claws, intentionally cutting his tongue so that it leaked blood onto them. The grotesque demon proceeded to lick the blood off them, satisfying his ongoing eternal thirst for the red liquid's delicious taste that delivered satisfactory sustenance.
"During the massive war between humans and demons that was the period that the five of you rose to true power, each of you possessing a region of Japan under their respective rights. However, it was together united did you own the demon underworld of the country. Well, before Midoriko had appeared. But that wasn't all. After the seven days and seven nights of Midoriko's last battle to save the human race, all of you no longer had a position to rule as you were chased down by the sole survivor of Midoriko's family. You were all hunted down like animals down to this very spot, each overpowered by the magic spell that bound you to these obelisks that restrained your bodies for as long the Earth continued to exist. Midoriko's daughter, Makoto, made it her duty to restrain the Shinkantetsu but she was not quite strong and pure hearted as her mother to actually dispose of them instead." Naraku went on, his left hand rising from underneath his pelt and revealing the Shikon Jewel to Kagotaru.
"And until now, this is where history transcends down to. What you see in my hand lies the Shikon Jewel, a crystal sphere containing her very soul and that of the demon she fought many centuries ago." Naraku held out the jewel as the Shinkantetsu looked on, intrigued by the clear hard substance that sparkled with a mysterious glow of energy.
"Oooh! So pretty!" Tarensei said, his green eyes quivering at the immediate sight of the jewel. "I've always been infatuated with many types of gemstones and I was an avid collector of them when I was younger, but I've got to say... THAT is the prettiest stone I have ever laid eyes on in all my years of living! This Shikon Jewel looks very authentic and I think it would go great as an accessory to my wardrobe!"
"So, he does speak the truth after all. I can sense a great deal of spiritual energy emanating directly from the jewel. That energy is similar to the lady priestess Makoto who has banished us, only much stronger by tenfold." said Rensatou.
"I'm impressed, Naraku. You've certainly done your homework. I would take it that our power was great enough to be warranted as a tale for the current age of mankind to be told. I will give you my thanks for reviving me and my men. However upon learning more of this Shikon Jewel I'm further intrigued by its ability you seem to know so much about. How do you know that I couldn't just as easily kill you in an instant and take the jewel for myself to use? I sense no particular kind of threat stemming from you, as a matter of fact." Kagotaru implied, his hand slowly creeping towards the handle of one of his swords.
"How do I know? Hm..." Naraku could only respond with a confident smirk, already knowing what Kagotaru was preparing to do. "Because I know that you will willingly do whatever it takes to obtain what I hold in my hand. But I wouldn't be so foolish as to give you the jewel for no apparent reason. As I've said before, my offer still stands if you truly desire my treasure."
"And what offer may that be? Obviously it is something you can't do yourself if you've gone to the trouble of coming to us." Rensatou remarked.
"Oh, I personally believe it is a small matter that even the likes of you will not have much difficulty completing. What I am asking is for you to kill a half demon named Inuyasha for me, who has been causing quite a stir of trouble in my personal agendas. He is an annoying insect that must be squashed by any means necessary. In return for his death, I shall give you the Shikon Jewel to assist in increasing your individual strengths further than your minds can fathom." Naraku proposed, causing Kagotaru to cease his reach for his sword.
"Inuyasha? A half demon? Ha ha ha! Don't make me laugh! The chance to own the Shikon Jewel for a petty job like this sounds way too good to be true! Heh, I almost feel sorry that we're practically robbing this fool if he couldn't take care of a half demon let alone a full one!" Jaroutara exclaimed.
"But this no ordinary half demon as you are hard pressed to believe. Inuyasha is very strong and can hold his own against almost anyone who challenges him. He even holds a sword that can slay up to one hundred demons in one swing. Be forewarned that he seeks the power of the sacred Shikon Jewel as well. That is why I require of you to eliminate him. Would you rather prefer that he finds it before you do?" Naraku questioned.
"Of course not. But if this Inuyasha is as strong as you say he is, then this should prove rather interesting and quite the challenge." an evil grin spread across Kagotaru's face. "I have not had a worthy opponent in over three hundred years before and after I appointed myself as leader of the Shinkantetsu, and now this half demon may very well satisfy my hopes for a grand battle. I look forward to seeing him if it means owning the Shikon Jewel to restore our status upon Japan. Mankind shall tremble before us again and forever."
"That is exactly what I wanted to hear. So it is agreed then, Lord Kagotaru. Kill Inuyasha and I will grant you the Shikon Jewel. But to sweeten the settlement even more, here I hold five shards of the jewel. What I may have neglected to mention earlier is that a single shard alone is capable of giving a demon a massive boost of strength, enough to take down any sort of enemy he may come across. If you should choose to do so, using these shards is more than enough to deal with Inuyasha himself provided that you take advantage of its power." Naraku said, holding out five jewel shards in his hand, each of them brightly shining.
"Precautious, aren't we?" Kagotaru asked as he took the shards. "I would prefer to defeat my opponents based on my own original strength. I may not believe in unfair advantages, but I will only use this shard if the time calls for it, of which I can assure you that will never happen." Kagotaru said, slipping one shard into his sash. He then turned and flicked the other jewel shards straight through the air like bullets, only to land into the palms of his four followers behind him.
"Ooh! One shard is more than enough to make me happy!" Tarensei said happily as he tied the shard around his neck on a small piece of string. He leapt through the air and performed a few pirouettes with his hair spinning in circles around him, modeling his new shard piece. "Don't I look absolutely wonderful now that I wear this?"
"Ugh, please don't push it! You think everything looks wonderful on you." Hankotsu said disgustedly as he balanced his jewel shard between one of his claws.
"Hmph. Naraku, I'll have to commend you for being so brave to stand up to us and demand this kind of rewarding offer. My only disagreement in this whole ordeal is for the fact that my instincts as leader... permits me not to trust you so wholeheartedly. How do I know that this isn't all a trick in the end?" Kagotaru asked, still uncertain.
"There are no strings attached to this deal, Lord Kagotaru. You kill Inuyasha for me, and you reap the benefits of the sacred jewel. You and your men will see for yourself what those shards are capable of if you are inclined to use them. Personally, I truly believe that the aftermath of this meeting will redirect your instincts in quite a different direction than you originally perceived of me." Naraku said as he quietly turned and left the cave grounds, only stopping short a few seconds later before he reached the entrance.
"Remember that Inuyasha himself also carries a few shards as well, which will make pinpointing his location much easier. Now that I have done my deed, I bid you an utmost farewell." the foul creature last remarked while disappearing into the faded light of nothingness, leaving the Shinkantetsu behind to ponder his real identity.
Kagotaru remained silent, taking a few strides outside of the cave to follow the trails of swirling leaves that floated by him. Upon experiencing his rebirth into the living world along with his followers, Kagotaru's prominent stature alone took a deep breath of fresh air. His demonic eyes were unable to take in what little light that shed itself through the trees of the sacred grounds, longing after the man who he had just made a deal with.
"He is gone. Possibly like that into thin air? He is definitely one of not only strange powers but a mysterious allure that easily can confound anyone who dares to decipher it. Something is either amiss or awry, leader." Rensatou said in a low tone of voice. He closed his eyes and held his naginata close as if he were entranced into a deep spiritual state, perhaps trying to understand the depths of Naraku's truer self.
"So even you could not see through his ruse either, Rensatou? For a moment there I was beginning to comprehend the dire fact that my skills were getting quite rusty. Still, I was in no position to bend to a weak willed half demon such as him. Clearly while one is so hard pressed to use the sacred jewel's strength to add to his own - isn't it raw power within himself that makes the true fighter?" Kagotaru said, crossing his arms. His gaze was lost within the acres of the outstretched forest that lay before his skyline view.
"That would go against our own code. True while it feels quite strange having to take these very same shards that sealed our souls by the high priestess Makoto, the more I hold it in my hand the less inclined I am to shun away from its intoxicating shine. Even though I haven't tasted the spoils of war for as long as I can recall, this single shard alone is returning all what was once lost during our imprisonment." Hankotsu hissed as he hovered out from the cave and floated down onto the ground a few feet away.
"Say whatever you want. I'd say Naraku can be trusted at this rate. Giving us these shards was the best thing that could happen to us if this Inuyasha person has been causing him so much trouble. To think that he'd come to us, The New Realization, going to great lengths to bring our souls back from limbo? He's either pretty smart or plain stupid if you ask me." Jaroutara said as he strongly gripped the shard in his meaty fist. "Makes me feel five times as strong already! And besides, if the Shikon Jewel can grant us a secure lock onto our new reign over Japan, then we might as well go along with the plan."
"Hmph. Truly, once we slay Inuyasha we could always opt to do away with Naraku as well. In my most humble opinion a weakling that hides behind a raggedy animal pelt surely can be no match for more than a single swing of my sword." Kagotaru followed up, slowly walking along the edge of the steps to his left.
"But my lord, may I be as so bold as to ask why did you not kill Naraku right then and there? What chances in life present themselves can turn into a hardened position that one could regret eternally." Hankotsu asked.
Kagotaru stopped and turned away from his men, holding his hand to his waist as his long cloak swayed to the side by a quick gust of wind that passed over his head.
"That is not what the Shinkantetsu is all about. Have you forgotten our ideals? Has the bloodshed and torn flesh of demons and humans during the wars we were involved in has clouded your mind to what our real goals are, Hankotsu? You disappoint me. While I agree with all of you that Naraku is a suspicious one, I refuse to fall to the path of dishonor and greed. If the lot of you are willing to cast aside what you once stood for then I won't hold it against you. Just remember that none of that was what I have taught you when this group was founded by yours truly." Kagotaru replied smugly.
"If we are all truly strong then we should not have even taken the shards to begin with." Tarensei thought, being the least talkative one of the bunch as he calmly stroked his own hair with the gentle touch of his hand. "But on the other hand, this Inuyasha fellow seems quite intriguing just by his name alone. *sigh* Inuyasha... what a beautiful name. My interest is peaking each time I repeat it."
The four members were silent upon hearing their lord's words, each of them frowning and reconsidering their decisions. However, temptation had gotten the best of them. Without anyone saying a word, Kagotaru could instantly feel the reverse conclusions by his followers without even having to ask about it. Ever since they had received the jewel shards, he knew that all that was on their minds was reclaiming their lost title as warriors - even if it meant having to accomplish it with artificial strength.
"Even by the most honorable of codes, there comes a time when we are free to pass judgement on our own futures and to decide upon them. Forgive us all, Kagotaru-sama. I can initially speak for all of us that while we may appear to be placing disrespect towards the original beliefs of our clan, in our hearts remains the true ambition to take back what is rightfully ours. This is only a means of attaining those rights by a different method as we see fit." Rensatou said, his deep voice expressing extreme emotion of each word.
Kagotaru still did not move. He simply nodded his head, a thin smirk unfolding from his lips. Approving their final decisions, he could no longer talk them out of it. "Very well, then. I need not say anymore on the matter." He then spun around at last, facing his men while raising his hand to make a gesture. "So who wants to claim the status of being the one to take Inuyasha's head?"
"Not I." Hankotsu said tiredly, coiling his four wings around his body like a child would cover himself in a warm blanket from the cold.
"And why not?" Rensatou curiously asked.
"I hunger for not battle, but I heavily thirst for nothing but blood! I have grown mighty weak all of these years. Surely you should realize that the sweet red liquid of humans is what I desire more than a mere fight." Hankotsu said a moment before disappearing in a streak of hazy black lines, never to be seen again.
"Do whatever you want, not that you'd be around to hear that." Kagotaru said. Tarensei suddenly popped up at Kagotaru's right, jumping up and down like a young child in an excited fashion.
"Then I might as well be the first to officially volunteer! Can I be the one to search for Inuyasha?! Please, Kagotaru-sama! Pretty please with sugar and sprinkles on top?"
Tarensei asked, his eyes becoming super deformed and having an odd starry twinkle in his pupils. Kagotaru reared back in disgust and shooed Tarensei away with his hand.
"Fine, fine! Go on ahead. You have my permission to do so." Kagotaru said lazily, surprised at how easily influenced Tarensei was for battle.
"YES!!! I promise I won't fail you, my lord! The mission is set in stone!" The purple haired shinobi leapt into the air, cheering loudly out of happiness. He then dashed away into the forest in the blink of an eye, trails of dust and leaves kicking up into the air behind his afterimage.
"Heh heh heh! I hope Inuyasha will make a suitable husband. If he does prove so, then maybe I won't have to kill him. A little white lie to my lord about his death couldn't hurt now could it?" Tarensei said to himself, unable to contain his excitement. Back at the stone stairs, Kagotaru faced the last of his followers.
"So what do you two plan on doing now that the assignment has been passed?" the leader asked nonchalantly.
"Heh! I might as well go on and test the power of this jewel shard for awhile! Even though I'm missing out on the fun of annihilating someone right now, I'm sure coming back with a nice strength boost will make up for it all. If anyone else fails to get the job done, I'll gladly be the one to step in and take over." Jaroutara said as he briskly walked away into the opposite way that Tarensei left from the forest. Kagotaru shook his head, his eyes narrowed.
"Jaroutara, you are far too thick headed and blind to comprehend the true code of a warrior. Your constant need for a fix on violence has led you to thinking that way." Kagotaru commented flatly, leaving only he and Rensatou the only ones standing.
"And what of you?" Kagotaru asked, looking over at the humble spiritualist. Rensatou raised his gaze toward his leader respectfully, coming out of his trance.
"I will go wherever the gods of fate shall guide me." Rensatou simply responded as he walked past his leader and descended down the seemingly endless flight of stairs. "I am confident that Tarensei will take care of everything, and may the spirits of our yore help him succeed. Goodbye for now, my leader. Our paths shall regroup in the not so distant future."
In a manner of moments, Kagotaru was the only one left. But not for long as he took out the jewel shard and stared at it in the palm of his hand. The small crystal like item reflecting off the pools of his eyes and having a resonating sound that only his mind could hear, calling out his name strongly and repeating in an infinite echo.
"One piece... one shard alone could affect our future. But imagine what an entire jewel could do. But having to use the same accursed jewel that has sealed our fates so many centuries ago for our own purposes... for some reason I cannot bring myself to go against the very same set of codes I've set as an example for my men to follow. Not just men we are. Not just demons bred upon a human world that despises us. But as the Shinkantetsu. The New Realization. A realization that will soon bring this land upon a brand new era of light transfixed with darkness." Kagotaru thoughts lingered in his head while he walked down the stairs, leaving the past behind him and walking into his future.
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Not too far away from the ancient cavern altar stood none other than Naraku himself. Perched atop a tree branch, he was shrouded amongst the green foliage of the leaves that masked him entirely. His lips curled into a devious smile underneath the teeth of the baboon's mouth.
"Even I must admit, that was far easier than I had originally anticipated. It ceases to amaze me just how ridiculously gullible one can fall to the Shikon Jewel by hearing by word of mouth its incredible properties and the sort of power it holds. What was once known to a be a very formidable group of demon warriors has now disbanded over a mere trifle such as this. A pity that they won't enjoy their freedom for very long." Naraku scoffed.
"Once again the manipulator makes his mark. But are you certain that these demons are capable of standing any sort of chance against Inuyasha and his allies? Time and time again has proven that pulling the strings to a puppet will only get you so far if want your enemies dead and no less than that." a female voice said, belonging to that of Kagura. The Wind Sorceress was leaning against the bark of the same tree that Naraku stood at the top of.
Appearing next to Kagura was her sister, Kanna. The white haired young demon girl silently stared into space as her two relatives conversed with each other.
"Your reasoning does not bode with me well, Kagura. In my plans, I control the entire puppet and not just its strings. Think of it as the Shinkantetsu being my puppets and the jewel shards are the strings. Pulling each string separately requires a certain finesse. Inuyasha will now face a greater threat than he could never imagine. Ruthless demons whose strength exceed far that of his. And once that half demon is no longer alive to interfere with my plans, I will take back the shards from Lord Kagotaru and his men. With proper force, the rules of engagement need not be applied." Naraku said.
Kagura said no more, lowering her fan to her side and turning away. Kanna grasped her mirror in her dainty little hands, her eyes emptier than the space within a vacuum. Naraku and his troop then soon faded away into the purple miasma that enveloped their bodies, carrying them away into the sunset skies a few minutes before the end of dawn.
The End of Chapter 11.