A TALE FROM THE PAST
by Kittymui
CHAPTER XXV
It was another fine day, with the late afternoon sun shining peacefully over the fortress of the West.
However, although it showed nothing unusual from the outside, it was actually a complete chaos within the high walls.
Kagome and Sesshoumaru were walking through a wide corridor when a couple of servants hurriedly passed them by.
After they disappeared around a corner behind them, Kagome turned aside to look at her brother. "Is it always like this each year?" she asked.
The dog demon nodded. "But it's different this year," he added.
She slightly tilted her head in puzzlement. "How so?"
"In the previous years, they try their best to make it look like you're here inside this fortress. This time, they're actually working their hardest because you're really here," he explained. "It's a completely different atmosphere, though outsiders wouldn't notice."
"I see..." Kagome understood. "But isn't it dangerous for me to be here, now that every guard and servant knows I'm back?"
"Don't worry, those who would come to visit you won't be able to meet you in person. Furthermore, it is Rin who will be sitting in your room, just like every other year."
"And where would I be?" she asked with a raised brow.
"You will be dressed like another servant," he stated plainly.
Kagome turned to look straight ahead. She wasn't surprised to hear this since she had figured as much. "What if...somebody leaks out my identity...or Rin's?"
"They won't," said Sesshoumaru reassuringly. "They too treasure their lives. They understand that once they have leaked out your true identity or other confidential information, their lives will be forfeit; either by my claws or those who strife to conquer these lands."
"You're right..." she agreed. "Will I have to be dressed like a servant for the rest of the day?"
The dog demon turned to her. "For your own safety, you should. Why do you ask?"
Kagome hesitated and played with the ends of her sleeves. "Well...I was kind of looking forward to wearing the kimono you gave me..."
There was a short pause before Sesshoumaru responded. "The villagers who come to visit you usually arrive in the morning since we only allow them to go near your room until mid-afternoon," he said. "After that, they would attend lunch with father and mother in the dining room while Inuyasha and I have lunch with you in your room."
"Really? Then I can wear my own clothes again!" she smiled cheerfully.
Sesshoumaru gave her a strict look. "Only if you promise not to leave your room in those clothes until all guests have left."
"Okay!" she nodded.
Shortly after that, they arrived at the doors to the guest quarters.
As soon as Kagome pushed one of the doors open, a small white object jumped out of the opening and straight into Sesshoumaru's arms, startling him.
Kagome was just as surprised as her brother, but before she could react to it, a familiar voice drew her attention.
"Well, that's a surprise!"
She turned to the voice that came from beyond the doors, only to see Sango sitting on the floor and cleaning her large boomerang.
The taijiya was happy to see her, but the smile on her face disappeared as soon as she saw Sesshoumaru entering the room behind her. "Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama, what brings you two here today?"
"We...actually I decided to pay you a small visit. It's been more than a week since we've arrived and since I've last seen you," Kagome replied.
Sango smiled politely. "It's been that long already? Well, it's only natural for you to be busy, it's your twentieth birthday after all," she said. "Nevertheless, I'm honored that you've come to see me despite the busy preparations."
Hearing this, Kagome dropped her face, which didn't go by unnoticed with the dog demon standing near her.
"You need not use formal titles nor language towards Kagome in my or Inuyasha's presence," he said to the taijiya.
Both Sango and Kagome gave him a surprised look, to which the dog demon merely nodded.
"My point exactly," Kagome agreed with a smile as she turned to her guardian. "You got that?"
Sango relaxed a bit. "Well, that's a completely different story then..." she puffed with a relieved face, which was soon replaced by a scowl. "You've got a lot of nerve to see me after...what was it again? A week?"
"Eh...more than a week actually..." Kagome corrected.
"Precisely!" the taijiya exclaimed. "Unbelievable!"
"I'm so sorry. If time permitted, I would have come sooner..." she apologized deeply. She was surprised when Sango suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha. You ought to look into a mirror right now. The look on your face is truly priceless!" she laughed.
This time, Kagome was the one scowling. "Geez Sango! You scared me! I really thought you were angry at me!" she pouted, but hesitated again. "You're not...are you?"
"Of course I'm not angry at you!" the taijiya smiled. "I've been living with you long enough to know you're not an ungrateful person."
"And I've been living with you long enough to know that you're not a person who would conclude things irrationally and become angry without asking the reasons," Kagome smiled.
"Except towards those who could endanger your life," Sango corrected her.
"O-of course," she chuckled, knowing her guardian was referring to Bankotsu.
"Kagome."
The dog demon's voice suddenly reminded her that he was there as well and she turned to him. "Yes?" 'Oh God...he's not suspecting something is he...?'she thought nervously.
At that moment, a soft rumbling caught her attention and she gave her brother a puzzled look. "Are you...purring...?"
Sesshoumaru responded with a frown. "Dog demons don't purr," he grumbled before lowering his gaze.
Kagome followed his line of vision until she saw a certain fire cat lying comfortable in his arms.
"Kirara!" she exclaimed surprised. She had completely forgotten about her, who had jumped into her brother's arms when she opened the door earlier. She was even more stunned to see her rubbing her tiny head against the dog demon's white tail.
After all, she was a cat and he was a dog...well sort of.
"Stop laughing and get it off of me before I rip its head off," Sesshoumaru growled.
Not realizing she had been laughing outwardly, Kagome suppressed her smile and carefully picked up Kirara, to which the fire cat responded with a sad mew.
"I think she likes you, Sesshoumaru-sama," Sango chuckled.
"Unfortunately, the feeling's not mutual," he grumbled, lowering his arms to his side.
"Well forgive me if I'm wrong, but Sesshoumaru-sama didn't just come here to pay me or Kirara a visit...did you?" she asked after a moment of silence.
Kagome raised her brows in surprise and turned to the dog demon. "You didn't?"
"With your birthday approaching, your brother should be more concerned with arranging the troops in the fortress instead of coming to see your guardian," the taijiya reasoned before looking at Sesshoumaru. "Am I right?"
The dog demon's face became serious as he finally parted his lips to explain his true motives. "The guards won't be enough to ensure Kagome's safety," he began.
"That's why you've come to ask me for my help huh?" she concluded.
Sesshoumaru frowned at her cocky choice of words. "I've come to give you permission to leave your quarters at all times and to order you to protect Kagome as her guardian," he haughtily corrected her.
Sango picked up her boomerang and stood up. "In that case, I'll have to disappoint you, Sesshoumaru-sama," she said as she glanced at Kagome and back at him again with determination filling her eyes. "I don't need your permission nor your order to protect Kagome."
With that, she hugged Kagome briefly and brushed past him. "Come Kirara," she said after opening one of the sliding doors.
The fire cat jumped out of Kagome's arms and followed her mistress out of the room.
"Insolence!" Sesshoumaru growled angrily after the taijiya left.
Kagome turned to her brother. "Please forgive her Sesshoumaru onii-sama, she didn't mean to insult you," she explained. "But although I don't approve of her attitude, I don't really blame her for saying those things."
The dog demon quickly shifted to look at her and she responded simply by looking him straight in the eyes.
"How would you react if someone was implying that you're merely protecting someone because you're allowed or ordered to do so?" she reasoned without looking away from his gold amber orbs.
Her question was answered by a stubborn silence.
She gently placed her hand on Sesshoumaru's as she continued. "I'm not saying that you're the one at fault onii-sama. I just hope you could abate your anger towards Sango after considering your answer to the question I just asked you."
She was relieved when her brother's eyes began to soften after she said that. Knowing his character, she couldn't expect him to actually give her a verbal answer and so she decided to drop the issue. "I think the rest needs our help with the preparations at the moment. Shall we go?" she suggested.
The dog demon nodded silently and followed her out of the room.
.-.-. that night .-.-.
"Here you go."
Bankotsu snapped out of his thoughts, only to see a bowl of warm soup on the wooden floor below his nose. "Thank you," he said after looking up to the one who placed it.
It was an old woman dressed in a ragged green robe. Several gray curly locks framed her wrinkled yet fair face, while the rest was tied into a knot at the back of her head. "You're very welcome young man," she croaked with a small smile. "Forgive my bewildered behavior earlier; it's just that we hardly get any visitors. As for your question earlier, I don't really mind letting you stay, but I'm afraid you'll have to sleep on the floor."
"Please, I'm already grateful to have a roof above my head for the night," he smiled as he looked around. It was a small house made of wood and clay and there was a small fire burning inside a shallow pit in the floor before him. The same fire seemed to be the only source of light in the room, but it was enough to lit up the small place. One of the corners of the house was shielded by a large brown cloth that was attached to the ceiling. Bankotsu concluded inwardly that it should be the sleeping quarters since it was the only place the light couldn't reach.
He had to admit that it was a bit run-down, but despite that, he felt quite comfortable as it was radiating the same coziness as Kagome's place. And honestly, he wasn't really bothered with the rather dirty floor since it wasn't his intention to stay the night from the very beginning.
Bankotsu took a small sip from the hot liquid and put the bowl back down. "It's delicious," he commented with a smile. He noticed that the elderly lady was staring at him and slightly averted his gaze of embarrassment. "I-is something wrong?" he asked awkwardly.
"Oh...I'm sorry..." she apologized. "It's just that I've never seen such a beautiful fabric before." She pointed at the clothes Bankotsu was wearing underneath his armor. "You must be a foreigner, aren't you?"
He nodded. "I came from the Northern Lands," he replied.
"Ah, the North," she nodded understandingly. "Brings back memories."
Bankotsu gave her a surprised look. "You come from the Northern Lands as well?"
The old woman nodded. "I used to live there a long time ago, but that was until we were driven away from our home by some horrible demons," she explained sadly.
CLUNK
Bankotsu darted his eyes to the origin of the sound, which seemed to be coming from behind the large cloth. He shifted to look at the woman, who seemed to be smiling.
"Well...now that both of you are awake, why don't you come out and greet our guest?" she said.
After a hesitant hush, the cloth finally lifted a little and revealed a small boy and girl.
A bit startled, Bankotsu watched the two shuffle on their bare feet over the floor to the elder. "These are...?" he asked.
"Oh of course," she smiled. "These are my grandchildren."
"Where are their parents?" he asked with an uncomfortable feeling rising in his chest. He knew he had to expect the worst when the three slightly dropped their faces.
"My son and daughter-in-law died when we were fleeing from the North," she explained after a while. "It was nine years ago..."
"I'm sorry," he sympathized as he looked at the two children.
The boy, who was wearing an oversized brown shirt and a pair of short green pants, didn't look like he was older than thirteen. And the girl, dressed in a worn-out gray dress, seemed to be his younger sister as she looked a bit older than ten.
"Don't worry about it young lad, it's already in the past. Right now, it's more important to take care of the young ones instead of mourning about the deceased, right?" she told him as she brought the girl to sit on her lap. "This is Yomi," she introduced the child in her arms and then placed her hand on the boy's shoulder. "And this is Karyl."
"Grandma, who's that?" the girl named Yomi asked shyly as she pointed at Bankotsu.
"That is our guest for the night," the old lady explained. "He came to the Western Lands to see the princess. He was looking for a place to stay for the night, so I decided to let him in."
Yomi widened her small brown eyes. "The princess? You mean Kagome-hime?"
Bankotsu shifted uncomfortably on his knees upon hearing the name, but did his best to ignore it and nodded.
"That's impossible," Karyl sniffed as he folded his arms together.
He raised a brow. "Why?" he asked innocently.
"It's for her safety," the boy replied, rolling his eyes. "Everybody knows that."
"Karyl!" the old woman shushed him before turning to Bankotsu with an apologetic expression. "I'm terribly sorry. It's just that he got scolded last year by one of the guards for going to near the princess' quarters."
Bankotsu faked a surprised expression. "Are the guards really that strict when it comes to protecting their princess?"
"Well yes. People like us are only allowed to go as far as the garden in front of her room to give her our thanks. After that, we would always attend lunch with the lord and lady so, we never get to see her or meet her in person," the elder explained.
"Feh! It's not like I was going to eat her!" Karyl stuck up his nose.
The old woman flashed him an angry look. "You were lucky that the younger prince had stopped the guard," she reminded him. "Or else you would've surely been punished."
"So...where is the room of the princess located?" Bankotsu suddenly asked.
Both kids and the elder looked at him with wide eyes. "You're not thinking of meeting Kagome-hime...are you?" Yomi asked with sparkles in her eyes. "Uwahhh...that's so brave!"
"That's stupid Yomi, not brave," Karyl corrected her before turning to Bankotsu. "But if you really want to know, it's on the east part of the fortress."
"Karyl!" the grandma snapped, causing him to cringe. She quickly shifted to look at Bankotsu. "Please don't listen to the boy. It was fortunate that it was Inuyasha-sama last time-"
"Yeah, if it was Sesshoumaru-sama, I would have been dead by now," the boy grinned.
"Who're they?" Bankotsu frowned in puzzlement.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is Kagome-hime's older brother and Inuyasha-sama is the youngest of the three," Yomi explained. "Sesshoumaru-sama is very strong."
"You better watch out for him if you see him," Karyl added. "He'll kill you in a second if he doesn't like you."
'We'll see about that...' Bankotsu thought rather excited. "Anything else I should know before visiting the fortress tomorrow?"
"Just don't try anything stupid if you treasure your life, that's all," the kid smirked.
This time, the old woman agreed with him and nodded. "The pride of the dog demon is not to be tampered with; especially when it involves his beloved sister."
"They're really careful when it comes to her safety huh?" he said.
"Well yes, she's the pillar of peace after all," she said. "It is because of her that we're finally freed from the endless war with the East." There was a slight pause before she continued. " She's the one who showed me the meaning of a peaceful life."
Bankotsu was surprised to see a warm smile on her face directed towards him. "That is why this house will always welcome those who've come to give their thanks to her."
To this, he only responded with a small smile before lowering his gaze to his lap out of awkwardness. Something inside him was telling him that the conversation must stop right there, or else he would do or say something he might regret.
Fortunately, he was saved by an innocent yawn of the young Yomi.
"Grandma, I'm sleepy..." the little girl murmured, rubbing her eyes.
"Of course you are, it's already past bedtime," her grandmother smiled, stroking her silky hair. She turned to Bankotsu. "I'm going to put these two in bed now."
He nodded. "Please don't let me be in your way."
"There is a small well around the corner if you walk out of here, you can use the water to wash your face before going to sleep," she kindly explained. "Visiting the princess is only allowed until mid-afternoon so we're planning to leave early in the morning tomorrow. If you like, you could join us on the way to the fortress."
Bankotsu smiled. "How can I possible turn down such a kind offer." He watched the three disappear behind the brown cloth and stood up. 'I better take this opportunity to wash my face...' he decided inwardly and exited the house.
.-.-. some time later .-.-.
As soon as he caught the snoring of the old lady and the kids, he opened his eyes again and sat up from the hard floor. 'Time to go back...' he told himself in his thoughts.
Right before he walked out of the door, he paused in his steps and looked over his shoulder to the cloth that separated the living room from the sleeping quarters. Without much thinking, he pulled a small bag of money out of his sleeve. After placing it on top of a nearby cabinet, he softly left and closed the door behind him.
After he reached a hill on a safe distance from the small village, Bankotsu paused and let out a heavy sigh. 'What am I doing...?' he asked himself as he looked up to the dark starry sky. If he stayed in the house any longer, he would surely have given away his true motives, or worse...he would have given up on the mission.
But he knew he couldn't, that's why he had to leave.
Bankotsu started walking again, downwards the hill and into the dark forest. That's right, Kyoukotsu and Ginkotsu were still in the hands of Naraku, there was no way he could abandon them. They would never forgive him if he did...neither would he be able to forgive himself, that's why the mission has to go on. Even at the cost of...
He swallowed hard as the image of the old woman and her two grandchildren suddenly appeared in his mind. He quickly bit his lips to snap out of it. 'Pull yourself together Bankotsu...your men are counting on you...' he reminded himself as he shook off the doubt that consumed him. Time is already running out, there's no place for these useless emotions.
He knew he should have brought one or more companions with him before doing this. If he had, he wouldn't be having this internal struggle at all. He already knew it was wrong to go alone, but since he was the only of the group who looked the least hostile, he had no other choice.
Nevertheless, he got the information he wanted and now, his plan was going to be perfect no...flawless.
Relief filled his heart again when he saw yellowish gleams beaming through the thick trunks before him. It was the campfire of their resting spot.
"Welcome back!" they greeted him as he walked into the small clearing.
He breathed out heavily as he settled down near the fire.
Jakotsu, as always, was the first one to approach him with questions. "How did it go? I hope it wasn't too hard. We all felt very bad for not being able to help you out."
"It's okay, it was me who made the decision so no need to feel guilty about it," he replied casually. "It went pretty easy actually. I manage to gather the information without much effort."
"That's good to hear," Renkotsu smiled as he and the rest gathered around him. "So...what's the plan?"
Bankotsu sat straight and cleared his throat. "Okay, listen up guys..." he began.
.-.-. the next morning .-.-.
By the time the Shichinintai arrived at the border of the clearing where the fortress stood, there was already a small crowd assembled in front of the closed gates.
"Geez look at all that people." It was Renkotsu who spoke. "traveled from various places, just to give their thanks to the princess for making that barrier...how pathetic..."
Bankotsu's grip on his halberd tightened at this but he reluctantly shook it off again. No matter how angry he was, he had no right to lecture his companion about being disrespectful. Compared to the assassination of the princess, Renkotsu's blasphemy was nothing.
He turned to the rest of the group. "Let me make two things clear beforehand," he spoke sternly. "We're only here for a mission, so concentrate on that. Act according to the plan I explained to you last night and only kill when necessary. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yessir!" they nodded.
"What's the other point you wanted to make?" Jakotsu asked him.
Bankotsu's eyes drifted to the fortress. "The princess is my prey," he stated. "Any objections?"
"Whatever you say leader."
"Good."
He narrowed his eyes as he followed the roof of the building that reached above the high walls until he reach the east part of the fortress. 'Nothing personal princess, but your life is mine to take...' he thought to himself. 'In your eyes, I may be just as evil as all the previous assassins who attempted to kill you, but preventing my men from giving you a slow and painful death is the least I could do.'
'You hypocrite...'
He sighed inwardly. 'What is it this time?'
'You let the innocent villagers survive the coming massacre, but you're going have them live a life in despair by taking away their only hope of peace? Good thinking Bankotsu.'
'I don't want you lecturing me right now...' he grumbled in reponse.
'Say, have you ever thought of the possibility that Kagome might come here as well?'
Bankotsu rolled his eyes. 'Why do you think I forbad the rest to kill mindlessly?'
'What if they disobey your order?'
'They won't, now stop asking me these annoying "what if..." questions.'
'I'm only trying to help...'
'You're not helping by making me doubt.'
'At least I'm showing you the flaws of your so-called perfect plan.'
'Look, they're not going to disobey me,' he repeated angrily in his mind. 'Besides, there's no guarantee that Kagome will be there.'
'Oh-oh, first you're positive about your group's reliability and now you're trying to convince yourself that there's no chance she'll be there.'
Bankotsu ignored the last remark as the large gates of the fortress began to open.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his group moving and raised his hand to halt them. "Act according to the plan," he ordered as he kept his eyes on the grating gates.
'Don't say I didn't warn you...'
'Shut up!' he snapped inwardly one more time before he determinedly signalled to the rest to take action.
He watched how Renkotsu headed towards the mass of people while Mukotsu poured some of his custom made scent-masking liquid over his small body and clothes.
"Do you need to apply some on yourself leader?" he asked, offering him another bottle.
Bankotsu shook his head. "As soon as you and Renkotsu have started an uproar, the rest and I will start the assault on the fortress," he reasoned.
"Understood," his companion nodded as he put away the bottle and left the group to follow Renkotsu.
'This had better work...' he thought as he glanced at the moving crowd again.
.-.-. that mid-afternoon .-.-.
Inuyasha watched the last group of people enter the dining quarters before going back to the east part of the fortress.
"Pfew, that was the last one," he puffed after entering his sister's room and closed the sliding doors behind him.
Rin, who was sitting at the center with a grand pink kimono enveloped around her slim figure, turned to the hanyou and bowed politely. "Inuyasha-sama," she greeted.
He responded with a nod before turning to Kagome who was sitting right behind the servant. "Never thought there would be so many of them huh?" he smiled at his sister.
When he received no reply, his smile dropped. "Aneue?" he called as he knelt down to her.
The real princess, who was wearing the clothes of a servant, had had her face lowered to the floor until her bangs shielded her eyes.
Inuyasha moved closer to have a better look at her face and widened his eyes when he heard her sob. "Aneue, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked panicked.
"Don't worry Inuyasha-sama," Rin calmed him down before she turned to Kagome fully. "Although I'm only impersonating you, I too, shed tears when I heard the villager's touching words during some of your previous birthdays," she confessed.
Kagome finally lifted her face to look into the servant's brown eyes. "It must have been tough...I'm sorry for putting you through all this," she apologized.
Rin shook her head. "Don't say that Kagome-sama. I have always admired and respected you for your courage and sacrifice for the people of the Western Lands. It is my honor to be able to help you protecting them."
"Thank you," she returned a smile.
Both of them turned to Inuyasha when he suddenly spoke. "Aneue! You shouldn't be crying on your birthday!" he argued.
Rin smiled at this and started drying Kagome's tears with her pink sleeve. "Inuyasha-sama's right. Let these be the last tears you shed today, okay?" she said. "Now didn't you say you wanted to change into the kimono Sesshoumaru-sama gave you?"
Kagome nodded and sniffed for one last time.
"Well then, if Inuyasha-sama would be kind enough to excuse himself and wait outside, I shall help you get dressed," she hinted as she straightened up.
"No problem!" the hanyou smiled.
.-.-. later .-.-.
"You look very beautiful in this kimono Kagome-sama," the servant praised her as she got rid of some wrinkles in the smooth fabric near her feet. "There, it's done!"
"Thank you," Kagome smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. Strangely enough, she looked even better than last time she wore it. Maybe it's because she had her hair loosely draped over her shoulders instead of tied up. Nevertheless, she was content with her appearance.
"Wait! I said wait! She's probably not done yet!"
Upon hearing Inuyasha's distressed voice, she turned to the doors that were already partly opened.
"Oh Sesshoumaru onii-sama!" she said surprised at the sight of the dog demon and quickly ran to him. "How do I look? I think I look better with my hair untied, what do you think?"
Her brother looked at her for a silent moment. "You look more graceful with your hair tied up," he said plainly.
Hearing this, the enthusiasm disappeared from her face.
"But," he suddenly continued, which surprised her. "your dauntless character is better expressed with the way you have your hair now."
Her lips grew into a wide smile. "I'll take that as a compliment," she grinned and pulled him further into the room by his sleeve. "So when are we going to have lunch? I'm hungry."
In respond to this, the dog demon simple turned to look at Rin, who was standing not to far from them.
The servant nodded understandingly. "Hai Sesshoumaru-sama," she said and excused herself from the room.
Inuyasha let her enter the corridor first before going into the room and closed the door behind him. "Geez aniue, you could have at least asked her," he frowned at Sesshoumaru.
But as always, the dog demon disregarded the comment with his habitual silence.
"Inuyasha, didn't you have something to give Kagome?" he said after a while, eyeing the young hanyou.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Inuyasha reached into his red sleeve. He walked towards Kagome. "Here," he said as he put something into her hand.
Kagome looked at what her little brother had given to her and widened her eyes. "Kirei..." she gasped at the glistening marble at the center of her palm.
"It's called euhm...Tama or something..." Inuyasha stammered.
"Shikon no Tama," Sesshoumaru corrected him with a stern voice. "It's a sacred jewel guarded by the holy priestess Kikyou. How did it fall into your hands?"
"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're implying," Inuyasha snarled with narrowed eyes. "I went to see Kikyou-sama several days ago and asked her if I could give aneue the sacred jewel as her birthday present."
The dog demon raised a brow in stupefaction. "You asked the priestess and she just gave it to you?"
Inuyasha nodded. "She said that if it stayed in aneue's possession, it'll be okay."
Kagome smiled. "In that case, I shall keep it with me at all times." She put it into her sleeve and turned to her siblings again. "I wonder what's for lunch today," she mused aloud. She tilted her head in puzzlement when she saw the serious looks on their faces. "What's wrong? Sesshoumaru onii-sama? Inuyasha?"
Sesshoumaru turned to her. "Stay here and do not go outside this room no matter what happens, understood?" he ordered before looking at Inuyasha. "You stay here and protect your sister."
"Wakatta," the hanyou nodded firmly.
"W-wait! Where are you going? What's happen-..." she asked but was cut off by an awful screaming that came from outside the room.
Without sparing her another glance, Sesshoumaru flung the door open and disappeared through the doorway.
Inuyasha, who remembered what the dog demon ordered him, quickly walked towards the door and closed it before turning back to his sister. "Don't worry aneue, I'll protect you," the hanyou said determined.
But Kagome was anything but reassured as she slowly began to realize what was going on. 'Someone has come...to kill me...' she thought frightened. Consumed by fear, her legs suddenly felt weak and she collapsed to her knees on the floor.
Inuyasha immediately ran to her side. "Aneue are you okay?" he asked worried.
"Y-yeah..." she responded with a trembling voice. She clenched her hands together and pushed them against her heart, which felt as though it was trying to jump out of her chest. 'Calm down...calm down damn it!' she told herself inwardly. 'It's no use being afraid...think...' She looked at her surroundings. 'I can't just stay here doing nothing while everybody out there is fighting the intruders...'
She grabbed Inuyasha's hand and forced herself to stand up again. "We can't stay here, we have to leave this room!"
The hanyou pulled at her hand. "But aniue told us not to go outside no matter what!" he argued.
"We can't just stay here doing nothing! If we don't leave now, the enemy might surround us in no time! We have to keep moving!" she reasoned and ran towards the door, pulling him with her. With a hard pull, she jerked it open and ran into the garden.
Fortunately, there were no guards or enemies around when they left the room, which allowed them to enter the garden without obstructions. "W-where are we going?" Inuyasha asked.
"To the main building, where mother and father are," she panted in reply while avoiding some bushes and rocks on the way. 'And probably Sesshoumaru onii-sama as well...' "We're almost there...just a little bit further..."
Not long after that, the main garden finally came into view, but what was happening there made the two halt their steps abruptly.
Soldiers were lying all over the floor. Men and woman, holding their children tightly to them, were running for their lives towards the gates.
While she stared at the people struggling to exit the fortress, she suddenly noticed three individuals moving into the opposite direction of the stream.
'Who're they?' she thought as she tried to distinguish them from the moving crowd.
She was about to give up as the three reached the building where the villagers were fleeing from, but a sudden irregularity in the flow of people granted her the sight of something that resembled a halberd, just before they went inside.
'A-a halberd...!' she thought shocked. 'Could it be...no...it can't be him!'
"Aneue! Aneue!"
She was shaken out of her reverie when she heard Inuyasha calling out to her and she turned to look at him.
"We shouldn't stay there! It's too dangerous!" She heard him say through the screaming and wailing. It took her a moment to respond to this, but she nodded eventually. "Y-you're right," she agreed with a rather confused expression.
Just when they were about to advance forward to the gates, something flew through the air before them and crashed into the wall to their left.
BRRRWWAAAAMM
Both Kagome and Inuyasha averted their eyes from the dust that emerged from the impact.
After the cloud dispersed, Kagome let go of Inuyasha's hand and took a step closer to the wall to identify the dark object that was lying amidst the debris. She covered her mouth with a hand and widened her eyes when she saw the taijiya, battered and covered in blood, on the floor. "S-Sango!" she cried, kneeling down next to her. "Sango! Please answer me! Open your eyes!"
Much to her relief, the taijiya slowly opened her eyes and moved her face to look at her. "K-Kagome..." she groaned with the word 'pain' written all over her face.
"Sango, what happened! Who did this to you?" Kagome asked as she looked at the nasty wounds on her body. Tears began to sting her eyes when her guardian suddenly coughed up a lot of blood. "Sango! Please hold on! I'll get someone to treat your wounds!"
She was about to get up again, until Sango suddenly grabbed her wrist. "K-Kagome...you have to...run...run away..." she breathed heavily. "...they're too strong...they'll kill you..."
After saying that, the taijiya closed her eyes again.
Kagome widened her eyes. "S-Sango?" she called out. "Sango! No...don't leave me..I won't have it!"
"Well well princess, so there you are..." An unfamiliar voice spoke from the opposite direction.
She immediately turned around to the voice. "Who's there!" she snarled with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Before her, on the elevated wooden floor of the mansion, stood a bulky man dressed in dark blue with brown armor around his shoulders and torso. He had spiked black hair and green stripes coloring his cheekbones and forehead. On each of his hands, he had metal claws equipped, but what terrified her the most was the blood that trickled down the steel.
"Suikotsu's the name, my lovely princess," he introduced himself.
"You..." she narrowed her eyes in disgust and hatred. She had planned to lunge forward to the murderer but that was until Inuyasha suddenly placed himself between her and the assassin. "I-Inuyasha..." she gasped with wide eyes.
"Run aneue! I'll keep him busy!" he cried as he jumped into a fighting stance.
"B-but!" she argued.
"There's no time to hesitate aneue! Just g-"
Kagome watched in terror how the assassin suddenly appeared in front of them and smacked the hanyou aside with the back of his arm.
"Inuyasha!" she cried and reached out to him. But before she could move an inch, a metal claw was already placed against her neck.
"It's would be easy to kill you right now. Too bad I've got an order to obey," Suikotsu chuckled near her ear.
"You monster!" she hissed.
She winced when the man pushed a sharp edge into her skin and drew blood. "Watch your tongue princess. I may not be allowed to kill you but I can still hurt you," he growled.
At that moment, Kagome saw a brief distraction on Suikotsu's face and watched how he hastily jumped away from her. Immediately after that, something made a loud crash with the floor before her and caused her to topple backwards to the floor.
BWAAAAMMM
After pushing herself to sit up, Kagome turned to look at the place of the impact, only to see Sesshoumaru standing before her with his clawed hand glowing green. "S-Sesshoumaru onii-sama!" she cried, relieved to see her brother.
"You idiot!" he barked, causing her to cringe. "I told you not to leave your room! Why didn't you listen to me!"
"I'm sorry..." Kagome apologized guilty. "I just..."
"Take Inuyasha and run!" he cut her off sternly.
She widened her eyes. "But what about you? What about mother and father?" she asked.
"Father is fighting another enemy, mother is with him, you needn't worry about them," he told her. "I will catch up to you as soon as I've disposed of these scum!"
Suikotsu smirked at this. "Big mouth huh? We're not called the Shichinintai for nothing!" he spat as he lunged forward at the dog demon with his steel claws.
CLASH
Sesshoumaru managed to deflect the attack with Tenseiga and pushed back the enemy. "What are you doing! Take Inuyasha and run! Now!" he ordered with a growl.
Kagome quickly got back to her feet and ran to Inuyasha, who was knocked unconscious by Suikotsu's blow earlier. She gathered the young one in her arms and turned to the direction of the gates.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Kagome almost jumped up of shock when a hideous man suddenly appeared in the middle of her path.
"W-who're you?" she asked frightened.
The man, whose height barely reached above her waist, grinned. "I'm Mukotsu, a member of the Shichinintai of course," he told her as he walked closer to her. "Gosh I never though you were that pretty."
Uncomfortable by the way he uttered those words, Kagome took a step backwards in fear. "Don't come any closer!" she cried.
Hearing Kagome's cry, Sesshoumaru became distracted, which prevented him from parrying an incoming attack from the clawed assassin.
SLASH
"You better pay attention demon, or you might lose your life before your sister's," Suikotsu smirked as he bounced backwards to a safe distance.
A very displeased look appeared on Sesshoumaru's face as he glanced at the four red gashes underneath his shredded armor and haori on his chest.
"Sesshoumaru onii-sama!" Kagome cried.
"Don't worry about me! Just go!" the dog demon ordered without turning to her.
Kagome turned back to the short man in front of her and flashed him an angry look. "Go away! Or I'll make you regret it!" she snapped threateningly, although she was already at her limits.
To her surprise, the short assassin suddenly stepped backwards and created a safe distance between them. "Oh don't worry princess, I'm not the one to kill you," he told her. "But even if I let you pass, I doubt you will be able to leave this place." As he said that, he pointed to behind him.
Kagome looked at what Mukotsu was referring to and painfully realized that he was right.
A mass of people was blocking the gate as they all struggled to save their own lives, making it impossible for her to escape through the main exit. When she turned to look at the mansion, she was shocked to see black smoke coming out of the windows and open doorways. 'They set the mansion on fire..?' she thought appalled.
"You might want to try the back door...if you have one..." Mukotsu suggested as he grinned. "Oh and don't forget to run princess, because our leader likes to chase down his preys."
Without another moment to hesitate, she took one last glance at her brother before running into the opposite direction of the gates, into the smoking mansion.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru cried to stop her, but failed as she already disappeared into the thick smoke. "Damn it!"
"That silly princess, she could have just walked over those villagers, but instead, she dug her own grave by running into that place," Suikotsu laughed. "...where our leader is right now."
The dog demon's eyes flashed red for a brief moment. "You bastards, I will kill you and then finish off your leader before he can touch Kagome."
"Yes, but first, you'll have to kill us," the assassin smirked evilly.
.-.-.
The sight of chaos was never pleasing to look at. So Bankotsu thought as he scanned his surroundings and listened to the frantic screaming and wailing around him. With the cushions and low wooden dining tables scattered all over the place, he concluded that it should be the dining area...or should have been...
'What in the world did Renkotsu and Mukotsu do to create such havoc...' he wondered in himself.
"Yo leader! What are you spacing out for!" a familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
It was Renkotsu who spoke. The bastard...always having that sadistic look on his face.
"What should we do now?" he heard him ask. "Burn this place down?""
There was a short moment of silence in which he hesitated. But eventually he opened his mouth. "Yeah...let's do that."
It was no use combing the area for their target, the fastest way to lure preys out of their hiding places was to start a fire and smoke them out. And it had always worked so far.
"All right!" Renkotsu took a brown gourd from behind his back and pulled out the cork.
"Only the building," Bankotsu commanded him with a strict look.
"Sure thing." Was his companion's casual reply. He took in a large sip and spewed the gourd's content to the wooden floor. As soon as the liquid left his mouth, it turned into fiery flames and attached themselves to anything that was burnable.
Soon the entire room was enveloped by fire, accompanied by Renkotsu's sick laughter. "Wuhahaha, run for your lives! Run before you get burned!"
'What a horrible sight...' Bankotsu thought to himself as he stared indifferently into the flames. 'We should quickly finish this and leave...'
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of black shooting pass an open doorway to his left and his lips curled upwards into a mischievous grin. 'Running away huh?' he thought tempted. Chasing after running targets was always something he couldn't resist after all.
Without hesitation, he flung his halberd over his shoulder and darted into the hallway.
During his pursuit, he came across a room with a small mirror standing on a low wooden dresser. As curiosity took over, he stopped running and slowly approached it. After picking up the neat piece of art, he raised it until it was on the same level as his face and smirked. "It's good to see you again," he said to his reflection.
Immediately after he said that, he caught a faint gasp coming from an unknown direction. Having no more use for the mirror, he dropped it to the wooden floor before darting his eyes around. "Give it up! You can't hide from me forever!" he shouted with a loud and clear voice.
.-.-.
Kagome could practically hear her own heartbeat as she ran down the hallway with Inuyasha in her arms.
She didn't know how many corpses she had already encountered on the way, but every time she accidentally stepped on one, she pleaded inwardly for their forgiveness.
With the suffocating smog lingering in the passageway, she could hardly see what's in front of her and how far she was, but she would never give up. Even at the cost of her life, she would make sure that Inuyasha survived. Although she couldn't see it very clearly, she guessed she should be running near the dining area at the moment.
A few seconds after she walked past one of the entrances leading into the dining area, she detected another pair of footsteps over the floor behind her...and a couple of seconds later she realized that it was actually chasing her.
'I have to hide...' she told herself and quickly took a turn at the first doorway she encountered.
As soon as she entered the room, her eyes quickly searched around for a good hiding place. 'Where should I hide? Come on Kagome...use your head!' Suddenly she noticed the wardrobe that was built inside the wall. 'There!' she decided inwardly.
Without a second to waste, she quickly opened the door to the wardrobe and hid herself in it together with Inuyasha.
'Calm down...they shouldn't be able to find you here...' she convinced herself as she tried to breathe as silent as possible.
"Ngh..."
Kagome looked down at Inuyasha and realized that he was starting to drift out of his unconsciousness state. "Shh," she shushed him as she held him closer.
She froze when she heard someone entering the same room and made herself as small as possible with Inuyasha against her chest. 'Please...make them go away...' she pleaded with her eyes closed.
For some reason, the individual had decided to remain in the same room and Kagome prayed it wasn't because of him or her finding out about their hiding place.
"It's good to see you again."
Kagome widened her eyes and gasped at the voice. 'T-this voice...!'
When she heard the sound of glass breaking, she knew she had done something very careless. But no matter what, there was no way she could ignore the familiarity of the voice.
"Give it up! You can't hide from me forever!"
After hesitating a short moment, Kagome made a final decision and put the sleeping Inuyasha curled up on top of a pile of clothes next to her.
"D-don't go...aneue..." the hanyou whispered softly.
Kagome placed a soft kiss on his small forehead and removed some strands of hair from his face. "Live on for me," she whispered into one of his white ears.
.-.-.
For one moment, he was afraid he had to turn the entire fortress upside down to find the one he was assigned to kill. But he was stupefied when a door of a nearby wardrobe, which was built in the walls, slid open.
'Talk about being stupid...' he thought as he watched a young lady come from behind the sliding doors.
She had long untied raven-black hair draping over her shoulders and chestnut colored eyes, and was dressed in a light-yellow kimono with red sakura-blossoms randomly embroidered on it; a garment that only one of a royal family could afford.
"You're the hime of the Western Lands?" he asked straightforwardly.
The girl, with a surprised expression on her face, nodded.
He grinned as he readied his large halberd.
Without warning, he stabbed it through the girl's stomach. "You're making it far too easy for me, hime-sama," he chuckled as he looked into her shocked eyes.
He slowly pulled back his halberd and watched the princess fall down to her knees.
Bankotsu was just about to turn around and leave, but halted in shock when he heard someone call his name.
"B-Ban...kotsu..."
Someone he knew very well.
Bankotsu turned to the girl fully with widened eyes.
Two streams of transparent liquid flowed from her sorrowful eyes while a red one sprung from the corner of her mouth.
"Y-you..." Bankotsu gasped disbelievingly. And then suddenly, a name flashed through his mind.
"K-Kagome...?"
To his surprise, the princess smiled at him before she closed her eyes and started to topple sideward.
At that moment, he finally realized what he had done.
"Kagome!" he cried as he let go of his blood-soaked halberd and caught her before she hit the floor
He held her close to him. "Why...why didn't I realize it before..." he scolded himself.
"Y-you know..." she said with a hoarse voice as she raised her hand to his cheek.
It felt cold, but he remembered this touch...her touch...more than anything else. He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it with regret.
"I...I always had the same nightmare...over and over again..." she croaked as tears left the corners of her eyes. "...where I would find myself...surrounded by fiery flames...like a bird in a cage...of fire..." She paused when she felt blood entering her lungs and coughed.
"Please don't talk anymore...I'll bring you to someone who can treat you..." Bankotsu hushed her with a gentle voice as he wiped the blood from her chin with his sleeve.
Kagome shook her head and stubbornly continued. "And then...just before I have lost all hope...a warrior would appear...he would extinguish the flames...rescue me... and take me away to a faraway land...where we live...happily...ever after..."
She blinked and caused more tears to flow down her cheeks. "I guess...I was right...about the beginning..." she smiled sadly. "...but...I was wrong...about the ending..."
Bankotsu widened his eyes when her hand slipped out of his and landed on the floor with a soft thud next to her. "Kagome?" He held her lifeless body close to him and caressed her soft cheeks.
"NO-O-O-O-O!"
His loud cry, filled with pain and regret, echoed through the fortress.
.-.-.
What should have been a happy and joyful day had now become a sorrowful one as the last bit of surviving villagers escaped from the blazing fortress.
Despite the remaining soldiers' efforts to extinguish the fire, it had managed to spread its boundaries to the vital structure of the building and started to eat away its supporting function.
Within time, the supports eventually gave way and the mansion collapsed, taking all the people inside with it.
With the death of its creator, the barrier lost its right to exist and disappeared in a flash from the borders of the Western Lands.
Also with that, the empire of the West had come to an sad and abrupt end.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Pretty sad...I guess that's how fate works. He was struggling until the very end, only to realize that he had made the wrong choice after all. I almost cried when I wrote the last part of this chapter.
Sorry for the late update. I meant to update sooner, but the homework just kept piling up one after another. Anyhow, I hope you have enjoyed reading this really really long chapter (honestly, I've never posted a chapter this long haha), which took me almost forever to finish! I won't say 'goodbye' because you know what? It isn't the final chapter of this story :)! Frustrated? Here, let me explain:
After reading all your lovely reviews, I noticed that almost everybody had misunderstood what I wrote as a preview for this chapter. I wrote:
"All of this will be unraveled in the next and final chapter of the book called 'A Tale From The Past'."
Remember that we're actually reading the book called 'A Tale From The Past' through Bankotsu's (present time) eyes? So by saying 'final chapter of the book' I meant the book (tale) and not this story :). But I don't really blame you, since it's already 25 chapters ago that I mentioned Bankotsu of the present time and the book that he found in the old library. Plus the fact that it's actually a story being told inside a story so it's pretty confusing, that I don't deny :). So...one more time, don't abandon this story yet, because it is yet to be finished! Before you read the next chapter, it's probably wise to reread the first chapter again to refresh your memories:)
Greets,
Kittymui
.-.-.-.
'Italic': thoughts
"...": spoken words
.-.-.-.-.: time gap
-CAPSLOCKED WORDS-: noises
.-.-.-.
Next chapter: A hidden epilogue
.-.-.
Just when he thought the book would help him find an answer behind the recurrent dream, it had only thickened the mystery. Was he, in his past life, really the person described in the tale? The one who caused the entire Western reign to fall? So many unanswered questions and an obvious answer, but how can he possibly accept it? Wait...what's that between the carbon of the cover? A handwritten note?
.-.-.
Vocabulary:
taijiya: (demon) exterminator
onii-sama: (big) brother
hime: princess
aneue/aniue: a respectful way to call you older sister/brother
hanyou: half-demon
hai: yes
kirei: beautiful
wakatte: understood
.-.-.-.
REPLIES TO REVIEWS:
Wake-Robin: Yup, sure is! Thanks for reviewing!
satsu: Thank you! Hahaha don't worry, the story will continue for about 5 chapters, so be sure to read those as well okay?
Skitzoflame: You'll find out soon enough :)!
sangotaku6: Thanks! I'm happy to hear that!
sesshomaruobsessed: .-.gladly receives the chocolate and ramen.-. Thank you very much! Not really THE last chapter haha but I guess you already figured it out by now :).
TeenAnimeLover: Thanks! I'm glad you think that way :). I'll try to update sooner next time.
Seiteki Hekireki Jishinkaminarikajioyaji: How did you like the drama? I've created more elements in this chapter (than planned) to make it more dramatic, I hope it wasn't too much :). Sorry for the late update!
doragon no mizu: Thank you! Glad you understand!
Dark Neko17: You won't have to find another story yet :), how's that? I guess you kind of misunderstood the preview, but that's okay hehehe. Thanks for reviewing!
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Shortie630: Thanks! Hope you liked this chapter!
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Inukamisashi: Hahaha, it's not the end yet :) so be sure to check the following chapters too ne? Thanks for reviewing!
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Kc: Thanks I'll try!
BelleDayNight: That was a very nice and long review. Thanks a bunch! Anyway, it's not the end yet like I said in the author's note, so don't worry (yet) hahaha. (About) five more chapters from me and you'll be freed from my story's clutches hahaha. Okay, I was kidding about the clutches thing but I did meant when I said five more chapters. I mean, there are still some mysteries unsolved and business unfinished so I can't end the story just like that, can I? I like it when you tell me which part of the story/chapter you like :), thanks! I'm happy to know that so many readers like this story of mine, because I've been looking forward to writing this story ever since I first came up with ideas to write it, which was about a year and a half ago. Yup, I'm really proud of it indeed!
SesshomarusGirl15: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you liked this chapter!
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azn-anime-kagome12: I'll try to update sooner! Thanks for reviewing!
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tidusXyuna637: I'm glad you loved it :). Haha you're very welcome, I just want readers to know that their reviews are very much appreciated, including yours!
Unseen Moon: Thanks!
punkgoddess: Hope you liked this chapter despite the sad events! There are still more chapters to come! Be sure to read them too, thanks!
thunder siste: I'm afraid so...hope you liked the chapter regardless of the sad things that have happened :). But don't worry, more chapter are to come and they'll be better :)!
Kuroe: I'm happy to hear that :) thanks!
Aigle: Sorry for the late update, I hope you haven't bitten all your nails off :), just kidding. Thanks for reviewing!
Ayome: Thank you!
Sachichan16: I'm flattered to hear that, really. Thanks a lot :)! Hope you liked this chapter as well!
Posted: 29 September 2005
Last Edited: 29 September 2005
Spelling check: YES
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters of it. And I do not own whatever elements of this story that seem familiar and had already been used by other creative individuals before. But... I do own the idea of mixing all of these elements together into a new story!