Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)
Authors Beginning Note: I seriously tried to type this chapter a million times, but I had such bad writers block, its like I would get one sentence b/4 I would stop and walk away b/c I didn't know what else should happen. That and I have been working hard on my other fic too.
This story is however nearing its conclusion.
So I am very sorry.
Shout it outs!
Rayame325: Well, I needed to move the story along in some places so the Wolves won't be mentioned, but I do hope that othe rencounters will be jsut as satisfying.
Tanwen-Whitefire: I actually have mixed ideas on weather Keio and/or Miyako should live. Hmm...lets see how the rest of the sotry goes a bit.
inuyashagal: Well, I never reveal who's going to die, if anyone next, so you'll just have to keep reading to find out:) But thank you for the compliment.
MoonKitii: My soul being suck out by penguins through my feet...that is the strangest form of torture I have come across. (Please don't hurt me)
DreamCatcher: I am awful at coming up with names/titles and other stuff of the like. Really, that is one of my ruining factors. I just don't know how to improve it. (sulks in a corner)
Valeese:Wew! I am soo glad to hear it. I was worried it would turn out kindabad. :)
pinkpreppypunk: I'm sorry, I really did update as fast as my poor litle mind could envision this chapter and i could write it. Alas, I believe that answer leaves many of my reviewers unsatisfied.
Chapter70
The Little Bird
He lashed out with vicious grace. His sword merely a more painless way of death than the suffering of his whip or poisonous claws. He was a deadly foe. He arced and weaved. His movements were rapid and executions precise. His defense was nearly flawless, not that he really needed it. Even through all of his great power, he did now bother to flatter himself or his opponents. His style was not that of supercilious splendor, though if he had shown such an air, none would hold it against him. After all, he was like the grim reaper or the black plague.
Sesshoumaru stood alone in battle and had done so since it had begun, yet his body showed no signs of tire. He was ice cold and seemed like an invincible god. He demanded respect and fear.
Blood ran freely in his presence.
In a way, he pitied them. If they had not been so blinded, they may have seen that they were no match for him, and their lives would have been spared.
"Do you really take us for fools?" The loud low voice of a woman bellowed. Two wide-waisted rabbit creatures of white fur sat in imposing thrones. Robes adorned their shoulders and fur crowns, their heads.
"But your heinesses…"
"Do not speak unless spoken to." Said the male rabbit on the throne.
"Forgive me." Jakan mumbled in a cowardly tone. To think, they had stayed in a plain room for the past few days, just to be torn and hacked to pieces by the royal family. How shameful indeed. To top it off, they had to listen to the gossiping guards that stood watch over them. Disturbing stories. They said that once the King and Queen were quite reasonable and never foul tempered. Very protective and treated everyone like their children. Jakan shuddered to think of the new 'self-improvements' they had done and 'punishments' they had given. Maybe it was safer to have stayed back in Lord Sesshoumaru's castle.
The room was silent as the two scrutinized the helpless four. Neelah was quietly trembling, Jakan had sweat drops on his brow, Kohaku bit his lip in deep thought and Rin tried her best not to desecrate her Lord Sesshoumaru's reputation.
" Chain them outside in a snowdrift. Let them freeze to death. I don't want to hear another word of such nonsense."
"But surely…" Jakan went to interrupt. Rin gasped, and Kohaku caught a nearly fainting Neelah. The crowd was a buzz of mummers.
"If I may, I would highly recommend you revise your last course of action, your heinesses." The breath was blown away from the room. Who dare have the audacity to speak as such?
A path was made as a pleasant figure appeared and bowed at the waist like a man, sweeping on arm in front and the other firmly held in the back before again standing. Her violet eyes pierced the dull red coals of the King and Queen alike.
"After all. Such actions against Lord Sesshoumaru could be considered an act of war." The guards raced to point their weapons at her at the Kings light wave of the paw.
"Stand down." Hosomi hissed. Her breath laid out a frigid mist and a layer of ice stayed their padded feet. None could move, or wouldn't move near her.
"And your actions may very well be the very cause of the war you are trying to avoid. Release my men at once." The king demanded.
"Not unless I have your word that neither I or these members of the Western Castle household shall not be harmed, molested, or in any form hostily treated." She felt slightly on the edge. Her instincts were ringing, making it hard to concentrate. Not a good feeling to hold when trying to keep things as diplomatic and civil as possible.
"Very well. I give you my word." The king said quite crossly. Hosomi relaxed ever so slightly, when movement caught her eye.
"Kohaku! What are you doing!"? Rin cried. The boy leapt towards the thrown. None were quick enough to save the King or Queen as an attack upon them was evident. The blade was thrown freely into the air and met its intended targets.
They landed cautiously upon the ground and stepped upon the wood. Kirara's hair was raised and she attempted to suppress her growls.
"There's no one guarding the place, do you think he's still here?" Sango questioned, looking around the mist covered castle.
"I can't tell. His scent is all over the place."
"Kagome, is something wrong?" Kagome stood rigid, concentrating.
"I can sense the jewel shards."
"Where?" Inuyasha growled.
"Inuyasha, I think perhaps it would be wise if you calmed down. Rash tempers lead to rash actions." Miroku said sagely. He found a quickly swelling bump on his head in gratitude.
"This way." Kagome whispered. Shippo quietly clung to her shoulder and Inuyasha stayed by her side protectively. Miroku took the rear, having Sango in front of him, for her…'protection' as Kirara sat on her shoulder pacing.
Shurran fought ruthlessly against any and all who opposed her. She was possessed. The only substances in the real world that was left to her was the doll Gumbo at her side, and occasionally her brother.
All of her enemies feared her. Her allies were scared, and even her very own older brother was frightened of her.
You killed her…you killed her…I will make you pay…I will not let you live…she died because of you…how could you…
Curses ran through her mind and her heart swelled with pain. Her eyes were bloodshot and tears constantly poured down.
She was made a legend. The Weeping goddess they called her. For though she killed she seemed to cry for the ones at her hands. A beautiful cat girl with the power of illusion, fighting ruthlessly with caution far behind. Her once innocent eyes pouring out sorrow as each foe fell beneath her feet. A romantics tale really.
Maybe its better that they didn't know the truth about the ugly thoughts that went through her mind. The lust for revenge that was driven into her. At least, that's what those who knew her thought.
The threads fell uselessly to the ground and the Royal members slumped into their thrones. Many thought them to be dead, until they heard the loud snoring. It was hard to tell who was worse.
Kohaku caught his weapon on its return path, waiting for the enemy to show his face. A figure hooded by the hide of a white baboon stepped from behind the thrones.
"Kohaku, why do you insist on defying me? Was I not the one who granted you freedom? Now look at you." He quivered shamefully, even as he stood ready to fight.
Flashback
"I guess I'm just afraid." Sango nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest and sighing.
"You know, I was afraid when I went into my first battle."
"Really?" She smiled and nodded.
"Everyone is afraid of something Kohaku. Even father is afraid."
"Father? But he's so brave, unlike me."
"It's doing what is right even when you are scared that makes you brave. Will you be brave Kohaku?"
Present
I will not let my sister down…I will be brave…and if I die…than maybe I can join her and father…
"If you insist on resisting me, than I shall have to ask for that Jewel shard in your back." Kohaku lunged and was attacked from behind by a viny arm extension from Naraku himself. They both dodged what would have been fatal blows.
"Kohaku!" Rin cried out.
"I shall put a stop to this immediately." Jakan took a step forward only for Hosomi to hold out an arm, barring him from passage.
"No."
"But lady Hosomi…"
"This is his fight. If he dies, than so be it, but if he lives, than maybe the boy will find some rest. Even if it is only a puppet."
"A puppet?" Neelah asked weakly as she looked on. Hosomi nodded.
"Now watch." Blow after blow was given and dodged. Naraku constantly attacked from the front, but Kohaku knew that his movements were deliberately avoiding their target. As soon as he let his guard down, Naraku would attack from behind and reclaim what he had been given and take more than a simple jewel shard.
Kohaku thought quickly. Using both instinct and taught training, he used the best he had. He began to lag more and attack less. Finally he stood, poised and eager to attack this writhing mass that was only half human. The moment he had waited for had come.
His guard had fallen in his tiredness and it came from behind. Kohaku never saw it coming.
Kagome shivered at the feel of darkness. I crept on her skin and made her want to vomit. A warm hand crept into hers and she looked up. Inuyasha's cheeks were stained with a light blush. Kagome smiled and didn't say a word.
"It's too quiet." Sango said and Kirara mewed in agreement.
"Do you think it's a trap?"
"I don't know Miroku. Possibly."
"We'll just have to keep our guards up and prepare for the worst."
Kagome stopped and the hold on her hand tightened.
"What is it?"
"I can sense the jewel shards. They're very close by."
"Ah. Inuyasha. So you've come at last." The mist cleared showing Naraku sitting calmly on a bench in the middle of the dead garden, stroking a bird in his hands. He grinned and twisted its neck until it cracked. Kagome gasped in horror.
"Monster." Sango yelled through gritted teeth.
"So you've come to finally kill me. I wonder. What makes you think this time will be any more successful than the last ones?" Kagome shot her arrow at his heart and he moved faster than light, coming up behind her and stealing her away in a breaths moment.
"Damn you Naraku! Let her go!" Tetsusaiga gleamed threateningly.
"You wouldn't want to harm her, would you Inuyasha?" Naraku laughed as he grasped Kagome's neck tighter. Her breath barely came out as she gasped for air.
It's too tight…I can't breath…Inuyasha…somebody…save me…I can't…it's tighter than when Kikyo…Kikyo…
She reached out to him, dreading the possible consequences.
Maybe…just maybe…And she tumbled into a world of darkness.
But he knew all the same. He dodged just before the tails tip could pierce flesh. Naraku screamed as he struck himself in the heart. A flash of light and he became nothing more than a wooden puppet tied with black hair.
Kohaku panted, while grasping his knees. A kind hand grasped his shoulder gently.
"You did well." Hosomi smiled. Rin jumped up and danced around.
"Oh! Rin is so happy that you are safe!" Neelah smiled, just before fainting and Jakan grunted something that sounded awfully like a congratulations. Not that he would ever admit such a thing.
"Oh dear. I'm afraid, we don't know what is going on." The queen announced in a daze. An uproar burst out among the rabbit demons in the cavern throne room. Many were for the death of these intruders and others wanted the guests to stay, for if they were that brave and cunning, surely they had good stories to tell.
"Please, calm down." The queen said, clearly distressed. Her pink eyes were wide and she looked like she was about to panic.
Hosomi let a warm breeze sift through the guards and freed them from their ice-icicles. The group found spears at their neck and the room quieted down as a large handful began to calm the rest of everyone down.
"Edward! Oh Edward do get up. I fear we have found ourselves in a bit if a situation."
"A situation you say Cecelia? Of what sort?" Yawned the king quite drowsily, opening his eyes.
"Oh my. This isn't our sleeping quarters." He perked up quite a bit and his ear flopped over lazily at his surprise. Hosomi politely coughed in her hand.
"And we have visitors!" Gasped Cecelia. Hosomi blushed and nodded.
"Greetings. I am Hosomi, the keeper of the Western Castle while our Lord is away."
"Well go on. Who are these other friends."? Edward said in a slightly nasally voice.
"This is Jakan, Lord Sesshoumaru's retainer, and currently his temporary ambassador. This boy is Kohaku, body Guard to Lady Rin, friend of Lord Sesshoumaru's, and this is Neelah, servant of the Western Castle Household." Both Rin and Kohaku were surprised at their titles.
"Rin is Lord Sesshoumaru's…friend?"
"Shut up, or we might get in trouble." Jakan said. Rin thought about it and smiled broadly.
"We are sincerely sorry, but it seems we are at odds with ourselves right at the moment. If you don't mind, may we hold our discussion to a farther pressed date? Of course we would have you here as our honored guests until then." Cecilia said graciously.
"We would be honored." Hosomi bowed, and the other four followed suite. What an adventure this was turning out to be.
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