Chapter 11-Possible Assistance: A second deal
(A/N: Were half way through the story people meaning things from here on out are going to getgradually instense. Just a heads up. Thanks for the reviews!)
It was a little over twenty minutes before Kohaku had returned to the infirmary where Inuyasha was with Kilala in tow. During that time Tsubaki had left Inuyasha to take care of what she called "some important business that needed attending". However, Inuyasha was not stupid in the least and knew that she didn't want to be near him. Especially in his current condition with all the pain he was in. As he lay on the table he stared at the well designed ceiling as he remembered what had happened when he fell into the black pit. It wasn't hard not remembering what that felt like in his mind when he closed his eyes and dreamed about it.
(Flashback)
He had fallen into a pit of black liquid that was no doubt evil in it entirety as he saw Tsubaki cut the chain that suspended him above it. When he felt the liquid with his bloody, bruised, and nearly broken body he felt it wrap itself around him like a long venomous snake. Inuyasha felt as if he was in an ocean of darkness that he couldn't swim out of much less swim in it at all. Through the pool of darkness he found himself being pulled down deeper into its depths as the air in his already damaged lungs left him. The deeper he went down the more the darkness seemed to spread through his body via his injuries. 'Kagome where are you?' thought Inuyasha as he struggled to fight this plague of a nightmare that was around him.
Suddenly he was filled with images both good and some bad as past memories flood into his mind from where they were once stored. As they appeared and flashed in his mind Inuyasha began to feel he was changing inside as he heard whispers coming from within the dark pool itself. "Your loyalty is to Tsubaki. Embrace what you want in this life. You should fulfill YOUR hearts desires. Why care about them? Is it because they are your friends? If they are your friends...then why are they not here...to help you?" said the whispers that slowly echoed themselves into his mind.
'Stop it! I know where myloyalties lie and they are not with Tsubaki. I HATE HER! I HATE HER FOR WHAT SHE IS!' thought Inuyasha as he fought even harder.
"You have much to learn Inuyasha about what it means to serve adark master that brings hope into your world," said whispery voice came next to his right ear.
'What are you talking about? She is evil I will never serve the likes of her. NEVER!' thought Inuyasha to the darkness as he found his body was finally paralyzed by the liquid.
"Indeed Inuyasha. However, her goals suit you deepest desire in life. Not to become a full-blooded demon mind you, but something else that has been up till now...a dream. You know of what speak to you of...don't you?" said the whisper.
Inuyashas eyes went wide with shock and surprise. 'How do know that? I've never shared that dream with anyone,' thought Inuyasha to the whisper.
"Trust in Tsubaki and myself and the dream of perfect nation with humans, demons, and half-demons united as a family will be brought into this world...through you!" said the whisper.
'My dream' thought Inuyasha as he saw an image appear in front of him of humans, demons, and half-demons working together.
Inuyasha saw them as they were acting as a unity rather then at each others throats like mindless animals. "Give into Tsubaki and the darkness that will make all your dreams will come true. Who knows? Perhaps Kagome and the others will be apart of your dream when it becomes a reality. Only you can decide that...Inuyasha. Now embrace your inner self," said the whisper that if had a face would have smiled.
'Yes. For too long I have ignored MY desires, MY dreams, and MY DESTINY!' thought Inuyasha as he felt the darkness consume his heart and soul.
"You made the right decision Inuyasha. Let's begin your...transformation from an average half-demon...to a superior one," said the whispery voice as it began to alter Inuyasha's physical make up both inside and out.
(End Flashback)
Kohaku entered the room causing Inuyasha to awaken from his remembrance of what happened when he embraced what he was now. "General Inuyasha...as you...you had commanded...I brought Kilala here," said Kohaku who was panting from all the running.
Inuyasha looked at Kilala in her little cat form in Kohaku's arms as the fire cat demon hissed at him with hatred making Inuyasha chuckle at her. "Thank you...Kohaku. Put Kilala...down and leave...us so we may...talk in...private. Guards...leave us," said a serious sounding Inuyasha surprising everyone...including Kilala.
"But General sir, she may try to hurt you," said one of the guards in protest.
Inuyasha raised a blooded hand as high as he could till his tolerance to the pain was maxed out. "I will take...full...full responsibility if...Kilala does. I won't...even blame her if...she tried. Now do as...I ask of you...as your General commands...of it," said Inuyasha in a more commanding, but still struggling voice.
"Yes sir," said the guard as he and the others bowed and left the room with Kohaku leaving last.
"Kilala, please don't attack Inuyasha. He has done so much for me and I owe him so much for reuniting me with you and Sango. Do this for me," said Kohaku who left the room and shut the door.
Inuyasha smiled as Kohaku left the room leaving the little fire cat demon and the severely bleeding half-demon alone. "In case you're...wondering Kilala...you can transform...in here. Would you? I need...to see your...face, even if...it one of...hatred," said Inuyasha who caught Kilala once more by surprise.
Kilala did transform in front of Inuyasha and let out a very terrifying roar at Inuyasha with her fangs several inches away from the one who caused her mistress so much pain. 'Why did you call me here?' thought an angry Kilala as she stared at Inuyasha with the desire to kill him growing in her mind.
Inuyasha smiled at her as if he read her thoughts. "I need...your help old...friend. That is the...answer to your question...right?" said Inuyasha who saw Kilala's cat eyes widen in surprise.
'How did he do that and why should I help HIM?' thought Kilala though she had an idea that Inuyasha would tell her.
"You asked...a double...question Kilala, which...I shall answer. This room has...been altered to...allow me to...read specific thoughts...of those I am close to...in my...my heart. Namely...you and your...mistress. The answer...to...to the second half...of your...double question is that...IF you help...me...I will free...free you...and Sango...as...well as...Ko (coughing up blood)...Kohaku," said Inuyasha as he saw Kilala's eyes mix with emotions when he offered her the deal.
Kilala stared at Inuyasha whose eyes though still a demonic red and without pupils had lost the fear inducing look they normally gave. 'Before I...agree to this little deal, what's the...intended assignment?' thought Kilala to Inuyasha.
"Curious aren't...you...Kilala. Not surprising...really...as youare one of those...creatures that has...a brain. You must...retrieve...Totosai and Kikyo's...old hag of...a (coughing up blood) sister...Kaede. Bring them here with a message I hadmy guards write down what I saidfor each one of them...tell...telling them to go...go with you to...this castle so they can...see me. They may be...be able to heal...me or find out...what Tenseiga...did...did to me," said Inuyasha who raised a clawed hand and petted Kilala on her head, but she shook it off almost immediately.
'You should die for what you did to us. To Sango!' thought Kilala as she turned to leave.
"Did Sango...ever...tell you that...she kissed me?" said Inuyasha freezing Kilala in where she stood.
Kilala looked back at Inuyasha who showed a blooded smile as he stared up at the ceiling as his eyes told her he was playing it back in his head. 'What?' thought Kilala who turned completely to face him as blood fell down the side of his mouth.
"Surprised I...see you are...now Kilala. Yes...she and I...kissed. As I...I look back...even now...I don't know why she did. But consider...this Kilala...if you turn down...this deal Tsubaki...will blame...it...it on YOUR...mistress in the...soul belief that Sango...some how weakened me...right before...my...my fight with Sesshomorru. Help me...me now...and I promise you...I will release...Kohaku as well as...Sango from this...place," said Inuyasha as he saw Kilala struggle with making her decision shortly after he finished speaking to her.
Finally Kilala nodded to Inuyasha. 'You got yourself a deal Inuyasha, but if you betray me I will kill you where you now rest' said Kilala who saw Inuyasha smile at her response.
"That's the...Kilala I...I know. Very well...then, you better...better hurry before...it's too late," said Inuyasha who patted Kilala on her head and this time she didn't shake him off.
After Inuyasha finished patting Kilala though he started coughing and contorting in pain as she quickly turned no wanting to see him like that. Kilala didn't know why she felt like doing that, but she felt he deserved some respect...if not pity. When she left the guards stormed in to check to see if their General was still alive and were very glad to see that he was. "General did she hurt you?" said one of the guards worriedly.
"No, my...my loyal...soldier as...you can...see...see, Kilala...has not harmed...me. She has...in fact...just saved...me...me from...dying," said Inuyasha as struggled to control the pain flowing from his body.
"How General?" said the guard unsure of what Inuyasha was talking about.
"You will...see when...when Kilala re...returns with...two...special guests. They can not...must not see...our "special"...prisoners. Understand?" said Inuyasha grabbing the guard's wrist hard.
"Yes...yes my General. I will have someone take care of that," said the guard as he motioned for another guard who ran to take care of it.
"Good. As for...right now I...want you to...to leave me alone in...in this room. I have...to do some...thinking in...private," said Inuyasha who saw his loyal guard looking at him with protest, but bowed and obeyed leaving along with the other guards. Giving Inuyasha timeto dwell on certain...private and personal matters that echoed in his mind as he closed his eyes to sort them out.
(1 hour later Kaede's village)
Kaede the younger sister of Kikyo was sweeping the shrine floor of the leafs and flower petals that had fallen off the nearby trees hanging over it. Had anyone seen both Kikyo and Kaede together now and been told that Kaede was the younger of the two then you wouldn't have believed it. Unless of course you knew that Kikyo was already dead and brought back to life with of body of dirt and clay after 50 years of being ashes in an urn. When Kilala arrived in the village she knew exactly where to go when seeking Kaede for help, which was of course in the shrine where she normally was when all her other duties as priestess were done. When Kaede saw Kilala she first smiled at the flying massive fire cat demon as it approached her, but frowned when she noticed there was no one else riding on her back. "Strange Kilala wouldn't come back with Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others. What has happened ye wonders?" said Kaede mumbled as Kilala landed near her and walked over to the old priestess. She immediately noticed a piece of parchment tied to a short string that was around the fire cat demons neck.
Kilala growled a little and motioned with her paw to Kaede to take the notes from her, which Kaede did. When she read it she was shocked to see what the paper said.
"Kaede I have become wounded beyond my own demon abilities to heal and I need your knowledge as apriestess for help. Kilala has already told Totosai to meet me at the castle andI have instructed himwhere to go on HIS note. Hopefully the old bastard didn't get lost or I'm doomed. In case your wondering why I asked for him as well as your help is because I was wounded by my brothers sword Tenseiga that is a sword of healing and I don't know why it was able to hurt me. Your knowledge of medicine combined with Totosai's some what...'dense' knowledge of my father's twin swords of the fang may help solve what has been driving me to meet death before my time. Kilala will take you to me since it is way too far from where you are to go by horse. I have all the herbs and medicines you need where I am so you just have to ride on Kilala to get here. Hurry I do not have much time.
Signed...Inuyasha," said Kaede as she looked up from the note to Kilala who nodded at what the note said was true.
"We must hurry Kilala or Inuyasha's life will be lost to the others," said Kaede who had jumped on Kilala and they took off to the castle.
'You have know idea how lost Inuyasha's life is,' thought Kilala as she remembered Inuyasha's bleeding body and the fact that he served Tsubaki, which was conveniently left out of the note.
(Some time later back at the castle)
Lieutenant Shinn walked with a purpose as he marched down the corridors of the castle as he finally made his way to his destination...the infirmary. The guards outside the door stood at attention when Lieutenant Shinn appeared at the doors to Inuyasha room. "You may...may enter...Shinn," said Inuyasha's weak voice as coughing and the sound of blood leaving the body could be heard.
Shinn waited a second to get his thoughts together before entering and when he did he saw Inuyasha's condition he couldn't even speak to his half-demon General. After what seemed like an eternity before the door shut behind him, Shinn decide to break the silence between the two warriors. "My General I'm sorry if I have disturbed you in any way, but our scouts in the shadows have reported that Totosai is nearly here and Kilala is caring that old priestess Kaede on her back. They should both be here soon," said Shinn who turned from Inuyasha who was continuingly in pain.
"Good. Right before...Totosai and Kilala get...get here tell Kohaku to...spend some more time with...his big sister so...so when Kilala returns to her mistress...(coughing) they can all...leave here as I...promised. Understand?" said Inuyasha who saw Shinn's face had a look of surprise hidden on it.
"Is that wise sir? To give up your second-in-command like that?" said Shinn curiously.
"Kohaku despite...despite being...loyal to me...has longed to...to stop fighting on...the battlefield. He wants...to...to stop...the fighting or...or end the fighting...that we...have created. I'm just...just simply fulfilling...HIS wish," said Inuyasha in a quiet voice that was almost like a whisper.
"I understand sir. I will tell Kohaku right away," said Shinn who bowed his head and started leaving.
"Shinn! If the...queen were...to...to die you...and the...others would...still serve...me still...correct?" said Inuyasha causing Shinn to freeze where he stood.
The Lieutenant turned to face his General with uncertainty, but felt he should answer the question. "Of course General. Queen Tsubaki may have brought me into the army, but my loyalty is to you and you alone. Why?" said Shinn who looked at Inuyasha whose face seemed...unreadable.
"Just a 'What If'...situation...my Lieutenant. I always...want to...plan ahead for...the worsted case...scenarios...so...so I can...try to...to form some sort...sort of a plan should such a...a moment ever...arise," said Inuyasha who saw Shinn nod in understandment of the question before he left.
"I hope that day never comes General," said Shinn as he finally left the room and the door slid shut behind him.
"So...do...I. However, I...sill wonder," said Inuyasha as he stared once more up at the ceiling.
(A/N: Hmmmmmmm what is Inuyasha thinking? Well you'll find out in the next chapter I'm afraid and the secret of the black pit will be revealed to you. You didn't think I would leave some sort of origin of the pit out of the story? Please you all know me better then that.)