Betrayal

Ilyo stood completely stationary on the roof, pondering Inuyasha's parting words. In his current frame of mind, he wasn't sure if he even wanted to return to the Feudal Era. He knew however, that Sesshomaru wished to return, so he started formulating a plan to take the jewel from Inuyasha and use it to return to the past.

The presence of a small hand suddenly wrapping around his arm snapped Ilyo back to reality. He looked down to see Kagome looking up at him. He started to speak but she cut him off.

"You killed Spirah?" she asked quietly. When he nodded, she merely stared at him. Then she smirked.

Ilyo was surprised; he had no idea that she was so bloodthirsty. But in a second, the smirk was gone, to be replaced with a look of concern. "How are you going to track Inuyasha down? He has obviously hidden himself away for the day."

Ilyo looked down at her and it was his turn to smirk. "I'll find him. There are demons still left in this era. At least one of them must know something. Inuyasha might have even enlisted the help of one or more of the demons. It would be easy to convince them, with the power he now wields."

Kagome still looked worried. "But how are you going to get them talk? I doubt that they'll help you willingly, and they are no use to you dead, so you're death threats will be useless."

Ilyo's smirk suddenly took on a very cruel overtone and he looked to Icthalur. Icthalur grinned back at him. "Let's just say that Icthalur and myself took it upon ourselves, when we were younger, to learn as much as we could. One of the things we learned was the fine art of torture. Of course, we had to have a little practical experience on the subject. Some of our enemies that we captured did not die a quick, painless death. Some lasted for weeks." Ilyo grinned at the memory, and once again, Kagome was struck by the ruthless, remorseless persona of Ilyo. He had killed Spirah, a former friend, without any emotion, and he spoke of torture with happiness in his eyes.

Ilyo noticed the look in Kagome's eyes and his expression softened. He reached for her and pulled her close to him. "Don't worry. It may seem cruel, but I do what is necessary to ensure the survival and happiness of those I care about." Kagome nodded and allowed herself to wrap her own arms around him.

They stayed in that position until a cold voice interrupted them. "Are you two going to stand there all day, or are we going after Inuyasha?"

Kagome turned and saw both Icthalur and Sesshomaru looking at them. She blushed and jumped back from Ilyo.

Ilyo merely grinned, then turned to Sesshomaru. He indicated himself and Icthalur. "We are going. Before you join us, I need to ask a favour of you."

Sesshomaru actually allowed shock to register on his face for a second, before his emotionless mask was back in place. "What do you need?"

Ilyo motioned towards Kagome. "I want you to accompany her back to the castle. I'm worried that while we are searching for Inuyasha, he may come for her, to get to me. At least at the castle, your future self will be there to protect her, but I would like it if you would escort her back. Just in case."

Sesshomaru stared at Kagome silently for a minute before decisively nodded his head. Ilyo smiled and nodded his thanks.

Kagome, meanwhile, was staring at Ilyo in anger. "What the hell? I want to come with you!" Ilyo just shook his head. Kagome was about to argue again, but before she was able to start, Ilyo shot a glance towards Icthalur and then disappeared. Icthalur grinned at Kagome before he disappeared as well. Kagome sensed their immense energy for a second but then it moved too far away. She made as if to follow them, but a hand on her shoulder forced her to halt.

"Do not even try. You cannot catch them. Let's just return to the castle; I don't want to waste all day on this." Kagome nodded, quickly realizing that Sesshomaru was correct. If Ilyo and Icthalur did not want to be followed, no one would be able to follow them. Sighing deeply, she turned and followed Sesshomaru as he leaped up into the air and headed back towards the castle.

As they flew, Kagome's thoughts turned once again to Ilyo. He was the epitome of duality. He changed from a loving, caring person, to a remorseless, emotionless killer in the blink of an eye, and then back again just as quick. However, now that Kagome thought about, she realized that it no longer scared her or made her nervous. She now found it quite interesting, and not just a little attractive. She knew that she could never be like that.

Kagome didn't realize that Sesshomaru had been watching her from his position, beside her in the air. He was fascinated by the power she seemed to have. In all of his many years, Sesshomaru had never come across any demon that had spiritual powers. He knew that she had been a human, but he figured that when she became a demon, it should have nullified her spiritual powers. Yet she had somehow managed to retain them. Not only that, but he sensed that she was becoming more powerful as time went by. It made him nervous to think a former human female was beginning to rival his own power.

Suddenly, Kagome felt his eyes upon her and turned her head to look at him. When she saw his emotionless face, she turned back around, just in time to catch a glimpse of the castle, a few miles ahead of them. They continued on silently, and as soon as Kagome landed on the lawn, Sesshomaru turned around and headed back, following the scent that Ilyo had left behind to guide Sesshomaru to him and Icthalur. Grumbling to herself, Kagome entered the castle and set off to find present day Sesshomaru.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was flying towards Ilyo and Icthalur at as quick a pace as he could travel. Once again, his thoughts turned to Kagome. Her growing power was not the only thing that was disturbing him. He had begun to see that her demonic nature was slowly taking over her original side. He had seen her look at Ilyo when he spoke of torture and he could have sworn that he saw excitement in her eyes. Sesshomaru was certain that Ilyo had not noticed. He was too attracted to Kagome to see much of anything while he was in her presence.

Sesshomaru knew that eventually, unless something happened to stop it, Kagome would be overcome by her demonic nature. It would change her into a murdering beast, unless she managed to gain complete control over it. Sesshomaru could control his demon side. He could transform into his true demon form at will and he had complete control over all aspects of himself and his power. But he was an anomaly. Ilyo, as powerful as he was, did not even have complete control over himself. He had allowed himself to lose control when Kagome's life had threatened. Sesshomaru felt sadness for his brother. He felt that Ilyo should have realized that he was more dangerous as a calm and calculating fighter than as a raving beast.

Sesshomaru's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a scream coming from directly beneath him. He quickly realized that the scream had come from a demon. Then, he felt Icthalur's power flare up for a moment. It came from beneath him as well.

Looking down, Sesshomaru saw a huge house. It was nowhere near as large as his castle, but it was quite impressive nonetheless. Landing lightly on the ground, he walked through the open door, his previously thoughtful face expression quickly replaced by a blank mask. A horrible sight met his eyes.

A demon was lying on the floor. He was average size, but that was about all that Sesshomaru could see about him. His face and flesh had been horribly burned, as if someone had held him in fire. Then, Sesshomaru noticed Icthalur and Ilyo standing off to the side.

Icthalur grinned when the demon Lord noticed him. "We've just been extracting a little bit of information from our little friend here. You've arrived just in time. I think he's just about ready to talk."

The demon stirred and spat blood onto the ground beside him. "I... won't... say... anything..." he managed to spit out.

Ilyo grinned at that. "You heard him Icthalur. I guess he needs a little bit more convincing."

Icthalur nodded and walked forward. He held his hand in front of the demon's horribly burnt face. A fireball quickly formed in Icthalur's palm and he pressed it into the demon's face. It screamed in agony as what remained of its flesh melted off. Icthalur withdrew before the demon was killed.

"Will you talk now?" Ilyo asked this question calmly, and was not surprised when the demon nodded feebly.

"Inuyasha hired me to be a kind of watch guy," it gasped out, pain causing its voice to crack and break after every few words. "If I see you, I call a phone number, and your position is recorded. There are a bunch of us all over the country. As soon as one of us spots you, we call a number, and all of the places you were sighted get recorded. That way, Inuyasha would know if you were succeeding or failing in tracking him down."

Ilyo nodded. "Where is he?"

Sesshomaru did not expect the demon to answer, but surprisingly it did.

"He is hiding out in a mansion about an hour's flight west of here," it revealed.

Ilyo nodded his understanding and then whirled around and exited the house. Icthalur and Sesshomaru followed him, leaving the dying demon on the floor to suffer alone with its horrible agony.

Once outside, Ilyo turned to his companions. "We know where Inuyasha is. Now, we need to take the jewel away from him."

Icthalur nodded to indicate his understanding. He turned and made as if he was about to take off, but Ilyo held him back.

"No. When we fight, it must be on our terms, not his. If we go to him, he will have the advantage. We must make him come to us. Luckily, I know how." Icthalur and Sesshomaru looked at him with curiosity. "Sesshomaru here will go to Inuyasha and tell him that he has deserted us and wants to help him," Ilyo elaborated. "He will tell Inuyasha that he has badly wounded me. As proof, Sesshomaru, you'll have to stab me. Inuyasha will smell my blood on your sword and he will believe you. Inuyasha will not be able to pass up the chance to finish me off while I can't fight back. He will immediately come to the castle. Once there, we will have the advantage and we can take the jewel away from him. Then, Sesshomaru can return to the Feudal Era."

Icthalur indicated that he thought that it was a good plan.

Sesshomaru, for his part, was extremely pleased by the plan. He had been getting bored from doing nothing all the time. This plan gave him the opportunity to do something. He turned to Ilyo and drew Tokijin.

Ilyo gestured for him to proceed with the plan. Sesshomaru thrust the blade forward, sliding it roughly in between his brother's ribs. Ilyo didn't even flinch. He just stood there as Sesshomaru withdrew the sword. Ilyo was about to say that Sesshomaru should get going, when a second sword thrust caught him in the chest. He looked at Sesshomaru in surprise.

"You're plan is good. But mine is better. I will go to Inuyasha, but I will take the jewel from him myself. Then I will have it and I will be the uncontested Lord. Before I go, I offer you a piece of advice, my brother. Watch your female closely. Her demon side is starting to show through." With that, Sesshomaru flew away. Icthalur watched him go, amazed at the balls he had just showed by attacking Ilyo. Then he remembered Ilyo.

Icthalur turned and saw Ilyo standing still, his eyes closed tightly. His two wounds, both of which would have been mortal wounds to almost anyone else, rapidly healed. Ilyo watched Sesshomaru fly away and shook his head in sadness. Then he turned to Icthalur.

"He has made his decision. Let him go to his death. We have things to do." With that, both took off, flying quickly back towards the castle.