Author's Note: Aha! I updated on time again! Can you believe it?Yeah, and it may not be important to you guys but it certainly is to me! (big smiles) And cause I'm in one hell of a good mood for some reason, I made this chapter LONG, lol, can ya tell?
Oh! And we're going to take a peek at what Sessy, Rin, and their kiddies are doing! They are going to make more appearances in the story, but that's all I can tell you for now. Please read and review! Enjoy-
DarkHanyouGurl: Ha!……………………….. I know, my evil knows no bounds. Thanks for your review!
Akida411searcher: Don't hate me please! Look I updated! (Points at chapter nervously) lol, Thanks for your review!
Suaru: Cliffies are the most evil this world has ever known… (Laughs like an idiot) don't you just hate that! LOL!
Taigo: I know! I just had to ruin their luck just one more time before anything could go good for them again. But hey, not everything is gonna be all the predictable here mmmk? I might mix up things! And yeah, poor Kagome! I'm so evil! Thanks for your review!
Miru Amai: lol, yeah I know. Just when it was gettin' all good, it ends... Man, that is such a bitch, huh. Ha, I love the 'million-o-guns' thing you pulled! Yes, please continue firing and thanks for your review!
Somegirl1110: Yes! Cliffies are the most evil of all! lol, glad you got all that out! And careful now, I don't want you to break an arm when you fall off the chair while reading my story... read my story then fall break your arm (smiles innocently) just kidding girl! I wouldn't want you to do that! lol. Thanks for your review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Nineteen: The Image of an Empty Soul pt II
Inuyasha sprung into action. He headed for Kagome as fast as he was able, and yet that was still far from enough.
He quickly tucked the orbs in his haori and ran faster, if that was even possible, but it seemed like something was slowing him down on purpose. He just couldn't reach her, he knew he wouldn't be able to in the end, but still let his mind deny that.
Kagome couldn't scream, she watched her skin instantaneously become pale and her breath came out in a light haze, 'Inuyasha.' Was her last thought before she lost her vision and couldn't feel herself breathe any longer.
Inuyasha reached her then, when it was all over.
He breathed heavily in absolute dreadful misery as he hugged her. In hopes to shield her from Reina's attack by any means, he was still hugging her and knew it was no use anyway. "N-No…" He almost whimpered. Kagome felt of nothing but ice. So cold, so dead.
He slowly pulled back to look at her face that was frozen in with the look of fright. Her eyes were wide in shock, her lips parted slightly, and her hair blown back slightly behind her shoulders.
It felt like he was standing there for hours, but was gradually being brought back to reality when he heard Reina's faint laugh become clear little by little, until he heard her voice perfectly. He didn't look at Reina, he couldn't.
Reina stopped and watched the scene in amusement, "You're too late…" She said softly, knowing he could hear her flawlessly whether he chose to or not.
Inuyasha grit his teeth and gripped Kagome's arms as if to squeeze some of his life into to her. He growled and whimpered when he felt his hands and fingers numb from the long contact. He turned his head to look at Reina now, his eyes blazing in rage, "You, bitch... I'll get you for this." He growled louder and forced himself to not hold Kagome to any further extent.
The hanyou tried to control himself. He knew Kagome wasn't dead, he was sure of it. Almost all sorceresses and sorcerers alike possessed one great power of either some kind of element or other powers of only one kind. And it was mostly a spell they cast. And to break the spell that was cast on someone or thing, they had to destroy the person who had caused it. So all he had to do was defeat Reina, and then Kagome would be brought back to life once more.
It seemed though, that Reina thought Inuyasha didn't know this, and so she smirked, "Now that she no longer lives, this is only between you and I. Give me the orbs you have and I might not decide to kill you either." She threatened in a low voice.
Inuyaha scoffed, "She ain't dead idiot, I know all about how your kind of demons use your powers. So you can't fool me!" He shouted and unsheathed Tetsusaiga, "Damn it all, I should've just killed you with everything I had in our last battle." He cursed himself and glared at her, "But I won't make that mistake again." He raised his sword up, "Windscar!"
Sanae helped Taikan up, "Are you ok?" She asked him worriedly and he nodded, spitting out blood from his mouth and stood up straight. "Yeah, I'm ok." He muttered and looked at his hands for scratches or blood.
Quickly afterwards, he looked up at Miroku, "We need to get to my parents. Reina's fighting them right now, I sense the battle happening-" He stopped and gasped in unison with Sanae.
Miroku and Asoka looked at them with understandable confusion, "Oh no. What's the matter now?" the monk went to them hastily.
Sanae was the first the shed tears, "I-It's M-Mommy. I can't smell her scent." She said and ran toward the mountain, "Mom!" She cried just as Taikan grabbed her shoulders. "Wait Sanae! Don't go there alone!" He called to her but couldn't say anymore because she was shaking his arm to let go of her.
Sanae's little girl instincts only told her to go to her mother, and that was hard when someone was holding you back, "But something must've happened to Mom, we've got to go help her!" She tried to get out of his grasp.
"No, here just get on my back and we'll both help her together." He said while bending one knee to the ground and let Sanae on.
While he stood back up and held her legs securely, Miroku came up to them, "Let's all go, but you must stay with me until I tell you otherwise. Understood?" He looked at them and especially at Asoka. His son nodded and in agreement, and they were off.
Taikan jumped from ledge to ledge while Asoka and Mirkou climbed up the rocks. Asoka took off his outer traveling kimono and threw it on the ground below him, revealing his dark green colored demon exterminator outfit that Sango had given him a little more than a year ago.
Asoka had to admit, as he still climbed up those rocks to the first ledge, he couldn't help but become incredibly anxious. Well, he had fought minor demons in the past, but Reina nor Taisuke were no minor demons what so ever. 'Will my training make a difference? I don't think I stand a chance against a demon like Reina, at least not yet.' He thought but still managed to keep his spirits up.
Miroku appeared to know what he was thinking and caught his breath for a second before smiling, "It's all right Asoka. You don't have to worry, I know you'll do what you need to when the times comes for it." He encouraged. Asoka smiled back.
Kaede turned around abruptly from where she stood in a garden near the hut. Shippo was standing next to her, holding a basket half filled with fresh herbs. He and Kaede both gazed in the same direction with concern.
Shippo took a step forward, loosening his grip on the basket till it nearly fell, but he held onto it before it could fall completely out of his grip, "Did you sense something just now Lady Kaede?" Shippo asked quietly, not turning to look at her as of yet.
She didn't answer, for a moment, but then took a deep breath to calm her nerves that she felt was building up, "I, think something has happened."
Sango and Teishin had finished up the remainder of his training and were now walking toward the Kaede and Shippo, who both seemed to just be staring off into space for some reason.
Sango brushed stray bangs from her russet eyes, "What's going on you two? What, are you looking at?" She murmured the last part and turned to look at the direction they were looking. Shippo snapped out of his trance and turned to Sango, "Kaede and I just sensed something happen towards over there." He said and pointed needlessly in the direction.
Sango nodded, "but that's the South, the same route Miroku, and.. the others went…" She said and furrowed her eyebrows in worry, "Do you think something went wrong? What is it exactly that you sensed? A power growing or-"
Shippo shook his head, "No. A power, disappearing…"
Teishin glanced up at his mother and frowned, 'I wonder if everything is ok.' He looked down and his eyes saddened, 'I miss my father and brother.'
He sighed miserably and turned around, walking away in hopes to find the other children, "Keiko. Where are you?" He called out with a hand next to his mouth to be a little louder.
"You don't have to shout you know, we're right here." Keiko answered and came from around the corner of the hut. Rikku and Kaden were next to follow. Teishin raised an eyebrow; the girls were covered in mud.
"Um, what exactly have you three been up to while I trained with Mom?" He asked hesitantly, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer or not.
Keiko put her hands on her hips and frowned, "We were just playing in some mud ok. What's the big deal?" The other two girls nodded in agreement. Teishin grinned and waved his hands in front of him nervously, "N-Nothing, I was only curious." He said and waited what for his sister's response.
Keiko sighed, "Well I was too bored just watching you train till it was my turn so I started a new game with Rikku and Kaden." She explained simply. Keiko wasn't really the patient type of person when it came to wanting to train.
Teishin smiled, "Oh well, uh. It's your turn now I guess." He said and was going to walk away but Keiko held onto his shoulder, "But don't you want to play the game with us? Who knows, maybe you'll win." She smirked.
"I don't think I want to." He responded
Keiko rolled her eyes, "Oh whatever, come on girls." She giggled as she and Rikku and Kaden picked up Teishin who was struggling against them, "W-wait, how do you play this game?" He asked in a panicked voice.
The girls just started laughing and Teishin became scared for his life, "NOOO! Mother help me from these crazy girls please!" His voice echoed throughout the forest, and the girls' laughter shortly followed.
Sesshoumaru walked outside and into the garden area.
The day was beautiful and the demon lord could smell the fresh flowers all the way from where he stood. As he walked nearer to his destination, he heard the sound of laughter from children. He walked toward it.
When he walked into a clearing where the laughter came from, no one was in sight.
Sesshoumaru was puzzled at first, but then knew what was going on and so stayed standing where he was, turning his head to look around and pretend he was searching for something.
He smirked and turned back around, "I wonder where my children are." He said in a low voice and then suddenly, a three-year-old girl came running toward him as fast as her little legs could take her. Sesshoumaru heard the noisy footsteps against the grass, but remained where he was.
"Caught you Daddy! You're it!" Tani squealed and hugged Sesshoumaru's leg.
The demon lord casually looked down at the young girl and smiled vaguely. "Very well then." He said and looked at the bushes where he could smell Minoru and Kensaku's scents. Tani let go of her father's leg and he walked toward the bushes and heard faint laughter from it.
Suddenly he jumped up high in the air and that's when the boys ran out of the bushes and tried to escape him.
Sesshoumaru landed just in front of them and laid both hands on their heads lightly. Tani laughed in delight and pointed at them, "You're both it! Come on Daddy, let's hide from them." She smiled and pulled on his pant leg to get his attention.
She walked a few steps away and Sesshoumaru was about to follow her when suddenly he whipped his head around and glared his at in the direction he looked toward. 'What is this immense power I sense? It's further more powerful than the Shikon jewel ever was.'
"Daddy?" Tani asked, her golden eyes filled with bewilderment as to why he was not following her.
"Sesshoumaru." Rin appeared a few yards away and looked at him in worry, "Do you sense that power as well?" She walked closer to him. He nodded and turned back to look where he was before.
The children, obviously confused, just decided to go on and continue to play with out their father.
Rin narrowed her violet eyes in question, 'Is that power what I believe it is?… It can't be the orbs of Higan… can they? From what I understand, they are still concealed from the world somewhere.' She felt someone's hand hold hers and she looked up to see Sesshoumaru was still looking in the direction, "The orbs of Higan, you know this." He said and she nodded slowly.
"But… I do not understand Sesshoumaru, they are supposedly lying dormant as of now. Who do you suppose found them?" She asked and glanced at him.
Sesshoumaru didn't say anything at first, but then turned his head to stare down at her, "My younger brother and his mate are there, along with their friends, they've found them."
Rin was more confused, "Why would they need them?" She paused, her eyes growing a bit wider, "Sesshoumaru, have you sensed any kind of evil aura in the past few days?" She walked and stood firmly in front of him.
He held his gaze into nothingness for one more moment, then looked down at her once more, "Yes, however it had disappeared before I could pursue the scent. I've also sensed it approach around here frequently, then just vanish." He looked up again, "I think my brother is fighting that demon, soon if not now."
Rin nodded and sighed tiresomely, but smiled nonetheless, "Should we help?" She tightened her hand around his slightly.
He looked down at her another time, then at his children who were happily rolling around in the flowers and chasing a butterfly. He kept is serene gaze on them, and did not look away this time…
Before Inuyasha entirely unleashed the attack, he stopped in mid-swing at smelling his children's scents draw closer. 'What the hell are they doing here?'
Taikan and Sanae finally made it up the mountain, and then he went down to help Miroku and Asoka. Once they were all there and standing up, they couldn't believe what they saw.
Kagome was a frozen crystal and Inuyasha was standing in front of her and facing Reina.
Miroku gulped nervously and wondered why Inuyasha hasn't turned full demon by the sight of Kagome like that. Inuyasha at all times seemed to not think at all in situations like this and just assumed the obvious was true. 'Does Inuyasha know something?' The monk wondered.
Taikan had tears in his eyes, "No! What have you done to my Mother?" He shouted at Reina. Sanae was just crying and Asoka hugged her for comfort.
Taikan growled and reluctantly let few tears slide down his cheek as he saw Kagome's scared face. He never ever wanted her to be scared like that again.
Just as Taikan was about to run and attempt to attack Reina, Inuyasha stopped him, "Don't come any closer Taikan! This is between her and me so don't interfere. Miroku watch them for me." He said and Miroku nodded in conformity, stepping in front of the children and gripping his staff.
Inuyasha was thinking too many things at the same time and tried to stop it. He had to save Kagome, retrieve the blue sphere, make sure his friends and children weren't going to be Reina's next victims. Inuyasha shook his head, 'Focus! The only way to win is to think clearly about only one thing. I want to save Kagome first. She's all that matters to me now. Then, I'll find the orb once I finish Reina off.'
Reina glanced at them behind her, not making any kind of face to let them know what she could be thinking of. 'Are his friends that foolish to be so near me yet again?… Hn, I'll deal with them soon after when the hanyou and his mate are dead.' she turned her head back to face Inuyasha, "You're right. So let the fight commence."
Taisuke smirked, 'It won't be long now until I arrive.' He knew for certain that Reina would mess up sooner or later.
Taisuke stopped her with a voice that was laced with utter warning, "Do not underestimate him Reina. He is much stronger now than he was thirteen years ago. He held back in the last battle with you and Hineto... You must have been aware of that, haven't you"
She paused for a long moment, "Yes, I was aware of it. And I will not underestimate him my lord, you will not need to be concerned about that."
He knew Rein wasn't stupid. Nevertheless, he just had this feeling that he can't leave her alone to take care of Inuyasha. 'I must do this for my part. I have to have the confirmation that Inuyahsa is dead and lying breathless at my feet. A dream Naraku never achieved. But now it is mine, and I won't fail it like he did.'