I don't own any of the characters from the Inuyasha anime series; Rumiko Takahashi does. I just own Yume. Constructive criticism welcomed bashers ignored!
Translations:
Sama - Lord, Master
Yamero - Stop
Hanyou - Half demon
Masaka - Impossible
Taiyoukai - Ultimate demon
Miko - Priestess
Chan - Little
Kieuseru - Disappear
Zaijouyuuha - Nature of Offense. It is the Blood Rose Sword's special attack.
Kaze no Kizu - Wound of the Wind a.k.a. the Wind Scar
Bakuryuuha - Grand Sword Style or Backlash Wave
Meidouzangetsuha - Dark Path of Dawn's Moon (This is from the Inu Yasha manga folks. According to the manga's desription it is Tensaiga's fighting method. A path of darkness that leads to the netherworld is cut & through it the enemy is literally sent to the realm of the dead.)
Souryuuha - Tensaiga's special attack (sorry...I don't know the true meaning...but after watching the 3rd Inu Yasha Movie so I know it is an attack for Sesshomaru's Tensaiga sword-)
Chapter 18
In another dimension walked an innocent soul down a lonely, crystallized path. "This feels…" Her body small. "…So…" Dressed in a white kimono with long black hair and dark eyes. "…Familiar…" Her cloudy eyes focusing as she looked ahead towards a empty forest full of darkness and depression. "A grieving forest…?" Studying the dead plants and gray sky.
"End it here Dark Lady!" The dark voice sending shivers up & down her spine. "...Your still alive..." Eyes widening from the realization.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" The little voice in the back of her head crying. "Help me...!"
"Your final confrontation with Lord Sesshomaru ends here!" The demonness cried; watching as the soul of her apprentice stopping in front of the motionless Dark Lady & Lord Sesshomaru.
"This is wrong!" Overwhelmed by the sight. "You can't do this Yume-sama!"
"...So your here too..." A tone that almost resembled guilt starting to find a place in Sesshomaru's voice. "...Rin..."
Dark Lady's eyes widening as she sensed the change in Sesshomaru's voice. "...That girl..." Her brows wrinkling into a discomforted look. "...It can't possible..."
"Please don't hurt him!" The girl's pleaing tone already making Dark Lady cringe. "We have been decieved by an evil demon who wants nothing more then Lord Sesshomaru's endless suffering! If you continue fighting him the evil demon who governs over our subconcious shall surely win!" Clasping her hands in prayer. "Something that I...that you yourself...do not wish for..." Her eyes closing as she spoke her soft words.
"...Is that right..." Dark Lady muttered softly as she mimicked the girl & clasped her hands together in the same prayer like form.
"...Kikyou..." Tears streaking down her cheeks. "Inu Yasha..." Their blood painting the ground they sat on.
"...Can you see what has happened..." Tears streaking down her face. "This is because of the Dark Witch of Dreams & Nightmares..." Visions of Inu Yasha & company enduring their worst nightmare. "Death...destruction...and despair..." The visions of Sango & Miroku at eachother's throats making Dark Lady shiver in fear. "...mutiny...malice...and pain..." Dark Lady's own vision now blinded by her own tears. "...We were all used in Yume-sama's game..." The spirit of her former childhood self wavering throughout the darkened area.
"...She used me..." Looking into the eyes of the Taiyoukai that stood before her. "Used me...to get to you..." Her tone full of shame as well as shock. "...Lord Sesshomaru...I..."
"Insolent wretch!" Yume's voice booming throughout the area. "How dare you awaken from your nightmare!"
Her ominous voice forcing Dark Lady to yell out. "STOP THIS IMMIDATELY!" Unconciously unsheathing the sword of Nature.
"NEVER..." Yume's vengeful tone muttered through her subconcious; loud enough for Sesshomaru to hear.
"Yamero!" Tokijin's light shinning in Dark Lady's direction and knocking her into the ground.
A smile creeping up Dark Lady's face as she pointed the Bloody Rose Sword. "You think you can save her?" Laughing evilly as her good side now under the control of someone else."Now that she is under my control?"
Golden orbs narrowed on the sight of Rin's sprit form. "...Please Lord Sesshomaru..." Her energy lighting up the area.
"Save us…" Kagome breathed through silence. "Inuyasha…" The hanyou's gaze becoming cloudy as the arrow that pierced his chest began to take effect. "Don't die…!" A tear falling down her cheek as her body grew cold.
"Hang in there…" A whisper emitting from the lips of the undead priestess as she got to her knees and remained near her dying reincarnation and her ex lover. "If you die then everyone will be trapped in this nightmarish realm of dreams."
"A…dream…?" Her lips moving but no sound coming from them as she questioned the undead miko.
"Yume has made our greatest fears into a reality." Placing her hand atop Kagome's cold one.
"All for the sake of killing Lord Sesshomaru and anyone else that gets in her way." A barrier of white light shining down on Inuyasha and Kagome. "Kikyo…" Kagome muttered n a low voice; struggling to move but failing as she felt her body go numb again.
"I am infusing you and Inuyasha with the remaining energy I have left…" Looking away from the stirring hanyou. "You are too young to die Kagome…as are your friends."
"…Kikyo…" Choking on her name as she became overwhelmed by the miko's warmth. "Stay with me…" Her eyes focused on the earth. "Both of you…and pray that Lord Sesshomaru will succeed in breaking the curse."
Nodding the two remained still and endured the energy Kikyo could give them. "Live so your friends can…"
As Tokijin's light faded, the only two remaining on the desolate battle field were the possessed Ningen and the Lord of the Western Land.
"Where's Rin?" His sword at Dark Lady's neck.
"Whatever pain I feel…Rin feels Lord Sesshomaru!" His serious expression turning irate as he felt Dark Lady's strength pressing downward on his weapon.
"You are being decieved!" The voice of innocence ringing throughout Dark Lady's mind.
"Damn it!" She coughed; kicking Sesshomaru in the stomach as she saw him come down on her again with Tokijin.
"Go away!" Dark Lady muttered as she placed her hand over her head.
"You can't make me do this!" She cried as she continued running through the endless forest.
"Your heart and soul belong to me Rin!" Screaming as she blasted Sesshomaru with her energy. "We made a deal!"
"I won't allow an imposter to take over my body and harm my Sesshomaru!"
"Rin-chan…" The Taiyoukai's tone melting as he heard Rin's intention. "She wants to protect me."
"LEAVE!" Dark Lady screamed as she battled with the determined spirit. "I refuse to share this body with you!"
"I WILL NOT!" Rin cried, refusing to back down from the evil that had possessed her and tricked her master.
Pulling out her Bloody Rose Sword and slashing at open air as she screamed. "YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE!"
The screams of the enraged demonness filling the dark land. "YOU CANNOT WIN! I WON'T LET YOU!"
"...You have already lost!" Sesshomaru growled as he sheathed Tokijin.
"NO!" Screaming in her mind as she tried to battle her conscious and avoid being hit by Sesshomaru's sword. "I WON'T LET YOU BEAT ME!"
"LORD SESSHOMARU!" Rin screamed as she dropped the Blood Rose Sword to the ground.
"MASAKA!" Yume screamed as she felt her power over Rin weakening.
"The hell is going on?" Kagura questioned as she sensed the darkness that once covered the entire area disipating.
"Rin is freeing herself of Yume's control..." The little girl's emotionless eyes focusing on the surrpunding area as it's darkness started to lift. "She is dispelling the darkness with her own power..."
"How is that possible?" Disbelief overtaking the commander of the winds.
Looking into Kanna's mirror. "I was right..." Smirking as she noticed Yume's broken staff mixed in the pile of blood Naraku was standing in. "You are nothing but the same as your ancestors..."
"Wha-wha? What's going on!" Jaken cried. "Where is Lord Sesshomaru & Rin?"
"...They are all within the shadows." Replied Myoga.
The little imp just looked at him dumbfounded.
"...And that bright light must be what is now warding off all the evil that remains in this area." Replied the flea demon.
"You can't be serious!"
"Then what is that?" The little flea replied; pointing in the direction of the bright light as it began to expand across the area & light up the field.
As the dark air began to disipate it seemed as though although the vengeful being of the subconcious was weakening that she wouldn't give up without a fight.
"DAMN YOU TO HELL SESSHOMARU!" Growled Yume through Dark Lady's voice as she slammed her Bloody Rose blade up against Sesshomaru's fist.
"You've lost! Sesshomaru growled as he unsheathed Tokjin & defended himself against Dark Lady's assualt.
"I wish for you to die!" Blue and red energy flowing from her body as she dashed at Sesshomaru.
"Our swords are based on the same energy…" His grip on Tokijin tightening as Dark Lady lashed out at him. "So they cancel out." Metal slamming into metal once more.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Her voice echoing throughout the darkness. Dark Lady now under possesion allowed her eyes to narrow angrilly upon the Taiyoukai lord. "Neither you nor Rin shall not leave this place!" Her voice sounding cold as ever.
"Just like your brother and his friends she too shall die in this dream like state!"
His red youkai aura rising off his body. "Leave Rin out of this…" He growled. "Or suffer at my hands." His eyes glowing red and temper rising.
Laughing evilly. "There's nothing you can do Sesshomaru...you STILL haven't found a way to truly break through my spell and free Rin." Cutting right through his armored chest as Sesshomaru's sword arm came up to guard at what looked like a frontal assault.
Glaring at the evil dream demon as he ignored the wound in his abdomen. "My actions shall speak louder then my words...!" He growled as he lashed out with Tokijin; missing as he was tripped up by Dark Lady's low sweep.
"Foolish!" Her power rising as she was able to get a few kicks in & knock the Lord to his knees."...Your too proud to admit your feelings & you know it!"
"Leave him alone!" Rin's cry piercing through Dark Lady's possesed heart & voice. "SILENCE!" Yume screamed as she lifted the sword of nature above her head.
His eyes narrowing. "This must be the sword's special technique..." Quickly gripping the hilt of his sword as he watched a torrent of rose petals surround Dark Lady.
"...Kieuseru..." His eyes widening as the shock from the oncoming attack made itself present in his body." ZAIJOUYUUHA!" Growling as he felt the shock of the golden light that came from the Bloody Rose Blade.
"...What was that?" Kagome wondered as she felt the presence of something so powerful.
"You mean what is that?" Kikyou uttered in weakened shock as she watched a gold wave of energy expand across the field.
"...INU YASHA...!" Kagome screamed as she placed her head down upon the beaten hanyou & Kikyo in an attempt to protect them.
Seconds later brightening the area & blinding all in it's path.
"...My she is so strong..." The darkened area now lightening the area. "It sickens me that with her power she was able to purify the darkness around her..." A smile replacing her bitter frown as she took in the sight of piles of broken branch & destroyed plants. "But at least she was able to ruin you..." Smiling at the sight of a motionless Sesshomaru who remained laid out on the ground.
Eyes closed with scratches across his face & exposed body. "Everything is torn..." Smiling at the sigh of the holes & gashes she found not just in Sesshomaru's clothes but in his body. "How sad...that despite the strength of this great sword...that heaven itself exused you from the hands of death..." Her glowing red eyes narrowing upon Tensaiga; it's blue aura surrounding & shielding the fallen youkai.
As the light of the sun began to shine down upon them Inu Yasha's eyes snapped open. "Ka! Kagome...!" He growled; looking around for his friend; sighing a great sigh of relief as he felt her arms wrap around him. "Inu Yasha..." She muttered weakily. "I'm so sorry..."
"Stop it Kagome..." He muttered as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you guys alright?" Sango muttered as she came down the the green hill top with Miroku, Shippou, Myoga & Jaken close behind.
"Yes..." Kagome & Inu Yasha replied in unison.
"It was all a dream..." Kikyou muttered as she sat up.
"...Your okay..." Inu Yasha muttered softly; still holding Kagome close to him.
Only getting a nod from the priestess; Kikyou looked ahead of them. "Rin & Lord Sesshomaru still aren't awake yet..."
"What?"
Ignoring the baffled hanyou as she kept her glance on a part of the forest that was still surrounded in darkness. "Did you not feel that power Kagome?"
The miko looked at her puzzled. "...I felt something...something extraordinary...but hard to explain..."
"...It was Mother Nature..." Kikyou muttered.
Inu Yasha & friends still wore puzzled looks.
"...To make a long story short..." Myoga began. "Rin-chan had been chosen by the Bloody Rose sword to be it's true owner...with that it was out of her intention to have influence upon the sword's ultimate power.
"...Ultimate power...?" Shippou asked innocently.
"Just like Tetsuiga has the Kaze no Kizu & the Bakuryuuha...& Tensaiga has the Meidouzangetsuha & the Souryuuha...the Bloody Rose Sword has it's own special techniques."
"...Amazing..." Kagome bluttered out. The hanyou just looked at Myouga questioningly.
"So what Kagome, Kikyou, myself & the other's felt was the sword's attack?" His eyes narrowing on the flea. "Is that what you are trying to say?"
Nodding. "It was the Zaijouyuuha...otherwise known as the Nature of Offense. An attack that can be used against someone opposing nature...if the sword is in the hands of good intent...it was that power that awoken you all from your dark dreams & purified most of the darkened forest."
"...So...the Bloody Rose sword is a weapon of purification when in the hands of a good soul." Miroku answered.
"...And a weapon of mass destruction only when in the hands of evil..." Sango finished.
"That is correct."
Kagome looked at Kikyou with a pained look. "...You said Rin & Sesshomaru haven't awaken yet..." Looking towards that one small part of the forest that remained in obscurity.
"...Rin was able to awaken all of us...but...because she is the owner of the sword...and is still under Yume's control..." - "But she's dead!" Inu Yasha yelled.
"ALREADY?" Jaken's eyes widened. "Who?"
"Naraku..." Inu Yasha growled.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it was because of him that Yume the Guardian of the Subconcious Realm is dead..."
"...But it isn't really over yet..." Kikyou muttered.
"...Kikyou?" Inu Yasha gave her a curious but concerned look.
"...Mother Nature has just punished the Lord of the West..."
Both Inu Yasha & Kagome wore stunned looks. "...So...Sesshomaru...is...?" A look of worry overtaking the miko's face as she thought of Sesshomaru's demise.
"No! He's not!" Inu Yasha growled.
"...Inu Yasha..." - "Sesshomaru wouldn't die like that..." His golden orbs narrowing. "He says he has nothing to protect..." Silence breeching them as they looked at the field of greenery. "...But it's a lie..."
