Chapter 6: A search party
SESSHOMARU'S POV
"What do you plan to do my Lord?" Rin ran along beside me.
I didn't answer, for I myself didn't know that answer to that question.
The castle was rank with the smell of Naraku and so there was no way to tell which direction he went.
Maybe the villagers would know something.
Walking out of the castle, Jaken ran ahead to announce my arrival.
All of the villagers came rushing out of their houses and stood outside, waiting for me to speak.
"I need to know," I said, "if any of you saw any strange occurrences last night."
Most of them shook their heads, but a boy, about Megan's age approach with his two friends.
"Speak," I said.
"We saw something my Lord," the tallest one said, "It looked like a purple cloud, retreating from your garden my Lord."
"Which way did it go?" I asked.
The smallest one stepped forward, "It headed north towards the mountains my Lord."
I nodded and then turned and looked at Jaken and Rin, "I will be gone for a while."
"I will accompany you my Lord!" Rin exclaimed and wrapped her arms around my leg.
I shook my head, "Not this time Rin. It is far to dangerous in the mountains. Jaken will stay here with you."
"But Lord Sesshomaru!" he wailed, "I have always been by your side!"
I picked him up by the collar so that his face was level with mine, "You will stay here and protect Rin do you understand? "
He nodded softly.
Putting him back down and making sure that I had both of my swords, I turned to the North.
"Hey Sesshomaru!" a voice called out to me.
When I turned I saw Inuyasha and his group walking towards me. I turned to face them.
"What do you want little brother?" I asked, "I am in no mood for fighting so I suggest that you turn around and leave."
"Feh, I'm not here to fight," he said.
"We were following Naraku's sent and it led us to your castle Lord Sesshomaru," the monk they called Miroku said.
I looked at their group. Inuyasha, the monk, the demon slayer, the two tailed cat and the fox child…
Where was that human Kagome?
"Little brother, your wench appears to be missing. Has she gone back to her home?" I asked.
Inuyasha just glared at me and growled, "Don't call her that!"
The little fox demon child stepped forward, "Naraku kidnapped her! We are going to rescue her."
Rin gasped and ran forward, hugging the small demon child, "My Lord!" she exclaimed, "he is so cute!"
The small demon blushed.
"So Naraku has kidnapped her?" I said to myself.
Strange…why would he kidnap both of them.
'My plan has finally been set into motion'…that is what Naraku said right before he took Megan.
"You are so cute!" Rin continued to squeal, "My mommy would love you!"
The demon slayer, Sango, knelt next to Rin and smiled, "Where is your mother?"
Rin's face fell and a tear ran down her cheek, "Naraku kidnapped Megan last night. Naraku killed me, but Lord Sesshomaru brought me back to life again!"
"Megan!" Sango looked up at me, "But I thought that she went back to her home?"
I shook my head, "She stayed here."
They all just stood and stared at me, shocked.
Ignoring there stares, I turned and continued to the North.
"Wait Lord Sesshomaru!" Miroku called, "let us accompany you!"
That made me stop dead in my tracks, "and why would I allow that?"
"Because we both are going the same way, and we both have to go and save our loved ones," Sango said.
Inuyasha laughed, "Are you trying to tell me that Sesshomaru is in love with Megan? I find that a little hard to believe."
"Isn't it obvious?" Miroku said, "He is different from the past encounters we have had with him. There is a certain kindness about him. And if he didn't love her, then he would not have let her stay here in this time."
I clenched my fists, "Kindly stop talking as if I were not present," I growled.
They all shut up immediately.
"Fine," I said, "You may accompany me, but if any of you get in the way or slow me down, I will kill you."
MEGAN'S POV
Sesshomaru…where are you?
I sat awake in the cell while Kagome slept beside me. She had seemed strangely calm about all of this.
Made me wonder just how many times she had been kidnapped…
Kagome stirred beside me and opened her eyes.
"Have you slept at all?" she asked.
I shook my head, "No, I'm way to high strung right now. We have to figure out a way to get out of here."
Kagome nodded, "But we just aren't strong enough to get out on our own."
"Hey Kagome, being a priestess and all, can you sense the sacred jewel shards?" I asked.
She nodded, "Yeah why?"
"When Naraku came in, could you sense the jewel shard on him?" I asked.
She thought for a minute, "Now that I think about it, I didn't sense it on him. But I do sense it in the castle somewhere."
I smirked.
Oh yes… Megan's got a plan…
"I think I have an idea Kagome. If there was some way to get out, do you think that you could go and find it?" I asked, "Maybe if we had it, we would have a chance of escaping."
Kagome bit her bottom lip, "It'll be risky, but I'll do it."
I smiled, "Good, and I can go with you to watch your back."
Kagome nodded.
We both went to the cell door and looked out.
"All clear," I said.
Kagome went to the hinges one the door and poked at them with her finger. Suddenly a pink light surrounded her and the hinges fell apart in her hand.
"Wow, that was so cool," I whispered as she removed the last bolt.
I slowly pushed open the door and we both crept outside.
"We have to be extra careful, Naraku could be anywhere," Kagome whispered in my ear.
I nodded and signaled for her to lead the way.
The building seemed to be completely deserted. Around every corner it was like I could hear voices whispering in my ear, but when I turned, no one was there.
"In that room," Kagome pointed to a sliding door directly in front of us.
She slid the door opened just enough to peek inside.
"He's not in there, why would he leave the jewel unguarded?" she whispered.
"He must have known that we would try something, we should hurry," I said.
Kagome looked behind her and saw a bow on display on the wall along with a sword and a single arrow. She took them down and handed me the sword.
Kagome paused at the door and gripped the bow tightly, "I can't do it. The demonic aura is to strong in there."
I sighed, "I'll get it," I said.
Before I could walk in, Kagome grabbed my arm, "Don't touch the jewel, its been cursed. I need to purify it."
"Got it," I said and walked into the room.
What demonic aura?
If she meant a really uneasy feeling, then yeah, this place was one big demonic aura.
Keeping my eyes on the jewel I slowly walked toward if.
When I was right in front of it I just looked at. What's the big attraction? It looked like a gray rock to me, and it was broken anyway.
"Megan, come on I can sense Naraku!" Kagome hissed.
Gathering my kimono sleeve, I picked up the jewel. I cold shiver went through me.
Weird…
Hurrying to the door I handed Kagome the jewel and it instantly turned a beautiful pink color.
Funky…
"Come on, lets get out of here," I said.
We turned and hurried down the hall, Kagome in the lead.
"The demonic aura gets thinner up here! It must be the way out!" she said.
Just as she turned the corner, she ran straight into Naraku himself.
Kagome screamed and I stopped dead in my tracks.
Damnit!
Why is it that the good guys can never get away without having to run into the bad guy?
"Give me the jewel," Naraku gripped Kagome's wrist tightly.
She turned and looked at me, "Megan! Catch!"
And then the idiot threw it at me…
I caught it and an incredible power rushed through me. I flowed through my veins and seemed to comfort me. Everything around me seemed to come into a better focus, and now I knew what Kagome meant by a demonic aura. Naraku reeked of it. Kagome's own kind, soft pink aura was being smothered by it.
I remembered some of the stories that the villagers had told me. They had said that the sacred jewel gave it holder amazing powers.
This could get interesting…
"Let her go Naraku," I said, keeping my voice steady.
He smirked, "Give me the jewel."
I shook my head, "I don't think so, because I have found your weakness. This jewel gives you most of your power doesn't it? So you need it, and I need you to let go of my friend."
He growled and threw Kagome at my feet. Her wrist was bruised and swelling.
Kagome stood up, ignoring the pain in her wrist, and picked up her bow.
"Do you want the jewel back now?" I asked.
She shook her head, "You keep it for now. If I took it back you would have no way of defending yourself."
Thanks…I'm not that helpless you know…
"Sorry to make our visit so short Naraku, but we are going, and I'm taking the jewel with me," I smirked.
His eyes narrowed at us.
Backing away slowly I nudged Kagome.
"Run," I whispered.
We both turned and booked it down the hall, towards the nearest door. We ran inside and closed it, I was shocked to see that Naraku hadn't followed.
I ran to another sliding door and opened it. It led to a type of out door arena thing.
"Come on!" Kagome yelled.
Just as we ran outside, there was an explosion behind us. I looked back to see the ugliest thing I have ever seen emerging from the roof.
Oh wait…its just Naraku…a hundred times bigger…
He appeared directly in front of me and slapped me across the face, sending me crashing to the ground. With the sword in one hand, and the jewel in the other, I didn't have anything to break my fall.
As I hit the ground my sword went flying, but I managed to keep a hold on the jewel.
"Megan!" Kagome turned back for me.
"Kagome stay back!" I yelled.
Naraku took a step forward.
"Kagome go find Sesshomaru!" I yelled.
And with that I concentrated on the power of the jewel, sending a burst of air at Kagome that carried her up and over the castle walls to safety.
Naraku glared at me, "It's over for you." he hissed.
And that's all I remember.