Enchanted Orbs
Chapter 27 Encountering Asssassins.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
He growled out his frustration and flung an empty vase against the wall. It didn't matter; it wasn't his anyway. "For now." He mentally grumbled.
Rokoshi prowled the room like a caged lion. It hadn't gone off like it was supposed to, "So close. Sesshoumaru was as good as dead then he vanished. What the hell happened?"
He had been watching from afar while the battle raged around the desperate fighters. They were tired, wounded, and about to fall.
Orange eyes glittered as he remembered the illustrious Western Lord on the brink of defeat, but then things went wrong.
Rokoshi was not even sure what happened; one moment the generals were spread out fighting individually, the next there was a foreign power sustaining a shield in the middle of the field. The generals had disappeared.
He watched as the soldiers pounded on the shield. Obviously, they could see through it at their proximity. Then the shield was gone and his enemies with it. Simple as that.
Upon speaking to the frontline soldiers, confusion was still evident. They said they could see the lord, two generals, and a human girl inside the barrier. There was an argument between Sesshoumaru and the girl...that's were things get fuzzy.
The shield became solid, opaque, at that time. Minutes passed, and no one knew what was happening then the barrier vanished, wrenching his prey from his grasp.
Until Sesshoumaru was dead, Rokoshi wasn't the rightful lord. He had planted rumors and "evidence" of his death, but that wouldn't satisfy his troops for long. His most loyal and deadliest fighters had been sent throughout the lands to assassinate any of the former generals and the unfortunate lord.
Those few were the only ones that knew without a doubt of his survival.
There were more problems aside from Sesshoumaru alive. He had to meet with his superior in a few days.
'Old Deathbreath is not going to be happy when he finds out Sesshoumaru survived, and half of the soldiers he gave me are dead.' He shuddered at the possible punishments he would receive if the taiyoukai hadn't been disposed of by that time.
Rokoshi wasn't ignorant; he knew that his master feared the stoic inu.
But all he could do at this point was plant more "proof" of Sesshoumaru's death and wait for the reports of his assassins.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The questions that haunted Sesshoumaru finally pushed him to make a decision. The ever-under-control lord resolved to only ask questions that could be answered or could better his current position.
So his questions took a more directed approach instead of the random pattern that had been plaguing him in his recovery.
'First and foremost, my lands. Rokoshi. What does he want? It is obvious, to rule, but what was Samon's role? Rokoshi would probably dispose of him after he was established as lord, but what did he offer Samon to get his alliance against me? Samon...wouldn't want to rule. He is too insecure of his own individual power, coward.' Sesshoumaru sneered. 'He would want the wealth and power of ownership but not the responsibility.'
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened upon realization. 'My other fortress. They must know of it. If anyone could find the information on its location, it would be one of my generals. That was Samon's incentive...Rin.'
She was in danger if Rokoshi knew she was there, but did he? Sesshoumaru wouldn't take any chances. He needed to go. She was his responsibility; Rin depended on him for protection, and he'd be damned if he let Rokoshi touch her.
'But what of Kagome? That damn hany...' But Sesshoumaru caught himself. '... whelp has not come back to tell me whether she has come back to consciousness. If she dies while I'm gone...it does not matter. Rin comes first; she is and always will be loyal to me.'
His plan had been to disappear for a short time period and then go back to reclaim his property, but he needed to get to Rin as quick as possible.
In a surge of power, surrounded by clouds, a beautiful but terrible white dog stood where Sesshoumaru had previously. The canine was at least three stories tall.
With a great leap, Sesshoumaru was running among the clouds to reach his charge.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Shippo sniffed. "But she'll be alright, won't she?"
Shouron gave him a comforting smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine, little one. We just need to wait and..." But he trailed off.
He felt a surge of his lord's power and immediately ran to the site the surge originated from. Shouron saw the hindquarters of a great dog leaping through the air towards the west. 'Great. Now where is he off to at this time?'
Shouron had been worried that someone was attacking, and that was the cause of his power surge. Seeing the beast form of Sesshoumaru bounding through the sky reassured him, though.
But now he was left alone with no clue as to what to do until either Aishi, Sesshoumaru, or Kagome returned. He sighed heavily.
Just then a red blur ran through the trees behind him. "Where did you go, Shouron?" Shippo spoke as he saw him.
Shouron turned to address him. "I thought Sesshoumaru might be in trouble. I went to make sure he was safe; he might not need me, but he is still my lord. It is my life before his, always. Forgive me for leaving so abruptly."
Shippo's face brightened when he realized Shouron hadn't left because he was annoyed at him. "Forgiven." The kitsune said immediately. "Do you want to see a trick?" He said cheerfully.
The general smiled and nodded.
With a tiny cloud of dust and a POP, Shippo disappeared.
Shouron's eyes widened a bit at the disappearance, but then he noticed the smell of the child still remaining in the area. He looked around and focused.
"That is impressive, Shippo." He said as he saw through the kit's illusion. "You are strong for your age."
With another POP, Shippo reappeared, chest puffed out with pride. "That's not all I can do! Just watch!"
A little blue flame floated in his hands before he yelled, "Foxfire!" and threw it as a nearby tree.
Shouron laughed mischievously, and took control of the little flame before it struck its mark.
Shippo's mouth dropped open when the little flame stopped its progress, hovered for a second, then started looping around his head.
With a squeal, Shippo ducked the flame that was darting around him like an insect. Without another sign, the flame floated over to Shouron, who made the flame flicker and dance.
Green eyes widened with realization, and Shippo crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. "That's not fair. You cheated."
Shouron laughed good-naturedly. "Forgive me; I couldn't resist."
Shippo quickly changed gears from pouting back to hyper, "Do it again!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Kagome felt like her skin was dissolving away from her bones. Moving was torture, but she was sick of lying in bed. She had awakened yesterday, and nobody had stopped fussing over her since.
Inuyasha hadn't stopped assaulting her with questions. 'Are you feeling better? Did Sesshoumaru hurt you? Why are they still here? When can I kick Sesshoumaru's ass?' It was really annoying. Even though Kagome had already explained the prior events, Inuyasha still pestered her. 'Hurry up and heal already.' It seemed as if he couldn't wait to get back and gloat over his brother's failure. Kagome sighed with her remembrances.
Kikyou had reverted back to healer, constant vigil at her bedside and asking her mother for herbs that had long been extinct in this time period. But in her defense, Kikyou had given her some advice on reading her body's silent messages on how to tell when to slow down or stop altogether in order to avoid this in the future.
Her mother was acting like Kagome was an infant again. Spoon-feeding her, adjusting the weight of the blankets pressing down on her body, and fluffing her pillows were all favorite pastimes for her mother over the last few hours.
It was infuriating. She had finally gained independence by being capable of protecting herself only to be shoved back into damsel in distress status.
She huffed. "I need a bath." Kagome said. Kikyou and her mother both stood to draw the water, and Inuyasha blushed slightly and vacated the room.
Getting up and moving around hurt beyond belief, but it did make her feel better emotionally. She was still traumatized about the whole 'kissing' incident.
The influx of emotions she felt were bewildering. At the time, she knew she cared for him, but love? No, it couldn't be. 'It was probably just the life and death situation making me feel as if I loved him. Yes, that has to be it. Please let that be it.' She pleaded with herself.
Flashbacks haunted her. The concern he exhibited when she took the poison meant for him. He had cared for her; he cared for her when she almost killed herself and him with her own attack, also. Scenes of their endless practice sessions drifted through her mind, he was lethal but extraordinary in his skill. The slight smiles he gave her when no one else was around warmed her like no fire or heater could.
'I might be attracted to him, but love is a vast overstatement.'
It scared her. Sesshoumaru was a demon who hated humans. Even if he did make a slight exception for her, he could never return the feelings Kagome had tried to avoid.
She mentally berated herself. 'I specifically remember going back into the feudal era with the mindset of staying away from boys.' She became determined. 'I am my own person. I am independent, and I don't need anyone, male or female, to make me who I want to be.' She nodded in affirmation as her mother stuck her head through the door.
"Kagome, your bath is ready."
Kagome took a few tentative steps toward the door, and she declined her mother's attempt to help her. 'Independent.' She reminded herself fiercely and ignored the aching of her battered body.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Aishi slowed to a stop and looked up to the sky with a bewildered expression.
Mokuso stopped just short of running into him. "Tired?" She asked with a smirk.
He didn't answer her, but instead began running in the direction they had just spent a full day running from.
"Why are we turning around?" She yelled out and began following again. After moments of running, a shadow engulfed her and the surrounding ground.
The shadow passed so quickly, she wondered if it had been imagined, but when Aishi's speed increased in pursuit, she knew it was not imagined.
Mokuso looked to the sky and saw the huge white body of a dog running through the sky overhead. 'Is that Lord Sesshoumaru? It could be no one else.' She looked to Aishi ahead of her and increased her speed to pull up beside him.
"Where's he going?" She asked the general.
"I don't know, but we will find out." He said, determined.
Sesshoumaru's speed was nothing short of marvelous as he began disappearing into the clouds.
Both runners increased their pace once again, and began racing towards the horizon.
But Aishi and Mokuso weren't the only ones that noticed the heaven bound inu. In fact, many had seen him coursing past, but there were a select few that altered their path in order to follow his.
Four of Rokoshi's assassins were close enough to see the airborne beast, and all turned to stalk their intended prey.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
After her bath was done, Kagome convinced everyone that she was tired and needed to sleep, and they left her alone for a bit.
When they were gone, she paced slowly around the room, loosening the muscles of her legs. She was still stiff from her prolonged stay in bed but the bath had helped out with those aches greatly. Circling her arms tentatively, she worked out the kinks in her neck and shoulders.
Every movement hurt, but she pushed herself. She wanted to be in top shape by tomorrow. Last time this happened she had been sore for days, but, then again, last time it took hours and Sesshoumaru's help to walk a few steps.
'Sesshoumaru' She thought with a pang. 'Does he hate me for what happened?' Kagome stopped and stubbornly pushed that out of her mind for the time and concentrated on her healing.
She wanted to get back as soon as possible. She missed her friends; she missed her Shippo.
She loved the little kit like a son, but it was such a big responsibility to care for him. Kagome was tentative to make any long term commitments to the past; the well could close up at any time.
'It would be my luck to adopt him only to be torn away from him on the next visit to my family. What would he do then? I can't do that to him. He's already been orphaned once.' Because of this fear she had distanced herself from the boy slightly in hopes that he could learn some self-reliance, but it pained her to do so.
She shook herself from the depressing path her thoughts had taken her down. 'Ok, muscles are limbering up slowly. Let's try a bit of power.' She needed a distraction and this was perfect.
Holding up her hand in front of her, she made a little white glow appear in her palm. It hovered for a moment before flickering out.
'Man, I must have really over done it.' She sighed. 'Back to the beginning, Higurashi.' She mentally scolded.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Rokoshi and Mokuso had been chasing Sesshoumaru's disappearing form for about two hours. The taiyoukai's pace was quicker than theirs, so his was now only a small dot in the distance.
It didn't really bother Aishi, though. He had a pretty good idea where his lord was going now. Even though the general didn't know the exact location of the other manner of the Western Lands, he knew he could find Sesshoumaru eventually by aura or scent because he knew the immediate area in which it was located.
Suddenly both Aishi and Mokuso stopped dead in their tracks. Something wasn't right.
They knew they needed to stay on the trail of the demon lord, but their instincts were screaming at them to ignore him temporarily. Survival instincts are a bad thing to ignore.
Both figures freeze, alert and ready for anything.
Movement to his right causes Aishi to duck then parry a follow up blow that was inches from his neck.
Aishi knew this was an assassin. He was too skilled to be any ordinary soldier; it seemed as if he was more comfortable with his sword than he was with his own hands.
The general had barely been allowed to draw one of his swords. The way he dodged the original attack would have amputated his arm had he reached for his other sword. 'Yes, this opponent is not one to be underestimated.'
Aishi blocked a swing towards his stomach and forced the attacker back with enough strength to throw him off balance long enough to draw his second sword. Aishi smirked at the black-clad enemy when he had the comfort of two hands filled with lethal weapons.
Double swords reflected the light of the sun momentarily as the two paused. After a breath, the battle resumed.
Mokuso gasped at the scene unfurling before her. Aishi and some unknown soldier were exchanging attacks with a speed and fury never experienced by her before. It was hypnotic in its ferocity; passion and skill mingled in a storm of blows.
Aishi twirled, both swords deflected by a solid metal spear; the assassin used the deflections to his advantage and thrust at Aishi's feet.
Aishi leaped into the air, twisting over his opponent and landing behind him while simultaneously sending his first sword towards the exposed back.
Within a flash of onyx, the assassin jumped forward, curled in midair, and landed on his feet just out of Aishi's reach. He spun, forcing his spear back at the firecat, but the spear was again deflected.
The spear glanced off the sword harmlessly, but quickly changed direction. With the flick of his wrist, the assassin turned the blade, allowing him to try for Aishi's head.
Aishi leaned back low enough to escape the swipe while swinging his swords under the advancing spear. The under-swung swords made an arch inward towards the enemy, but he realized the strategy and maneuvered around the threats.
Aishi straightened and leapt backwards into the air once more as his opponent swiped at his midsection. He flipped in midair and pushed off a tree behind him, surging him towards the waiting foe, one sword bent overhead and the other straight ahead, ready for his heart's blood.
Spinning his spear, Aishi's aim was repelled on both accounts, but the forward force of his momentum, crushed the youkai opposite him against a tree behind him.
Aishi's swords were crossed over the assassin's throat, held at bay by his vertical spear, but the two were locked in a temporary stalemate.
The general's strength held the assassin against the rough bark, but the strong metal staff of the spear warded off the lethal position Aishi almost had almost trapped him in.
"What is your purpose in attacking me?" Aishi growled at his assailant.
"That is none of your concern." The answer spit back at him as the owner of the statement tried to force Aishi off of him.
Aishi let the killer push him back slightly, but it was only a ploy. The general shifted his weight to his back foot with the help of the trapped spearman, and he then swept his opponents feet out from underneath him with his free front foot.
The assassin landed in a heap on the ground. Aishi kicked his spear from his grasp, and poetically arranged both swords in a kill position.
"One more try, what is your purpose in attacking me." Aishi demanded more than asked.
The supine warrior clenched his eyes in concentration. "I will not betray my lord." He hissed the words as a snake would. After a second's pause, a malicious grin crossed his face. "If I were you, I would not be worried about me. Your lord is the primary target; the others can finish him easily. You and the other general are only after thoughts to kill. I just happened upon you first. I would hurry if you wish to see him draw his last breath."
Aishi's eyes widened in shock. Without the slightest hesitation, the general beheaded the assassin and sped towards the horizon his lord had disappeared over.
Mokuso was still motionless. Both were amazing warriors, and Aishi had rightfully won the contest. But the death of the assassin, even though he would have killed Aishi, and most likely her, also, bothered her.
She hated to see death. Even though she was youkai, even though she was trained in combat, she had never been the cause of someone's death. She had only seen a few die, and those were peaceful in their passing.
The quick splash of blood and the roll and rock of the disconnected head made her nauseous.
But she couldn't turn away, she could only stare in fascinated horror.
"Wench!!" Aishi yelled as he raced away. "I hope you don't need me to hold your hand!"
Her stupor was shattered by his rude comment, and even though she should have yelled her lungs out at the arrogant general, she was just glad to have him interrupt the disturbing trance she had fallen into.
Trying to suppress the image, she sprinted at top speed towards Aishi. The winds flew through her mane, whisking away the sightless eyes that held her prisoner only seconds ago.
Mokuso had been trained to defend herself, but her skill was lacking compared to the scene she had watched between the male she was trailing and the corpse she had left.
But she had a gift that allowed her inability at combat. Speed. She had never met anything, youkai, animal, or human, male or female, that could match her speed, and she could sustain that pace for hours.
In seconds, she was beside Aishi again. His speed was faster than earlier. He seemed almost frantic in his pace.
'Well, he is trying to protect his lord. At least I know he is loyal.' She thought as they raced through the foliage of the forest surrounding them.
But Mokuso started to worry after half an hour of this pace. "Are you even going to be able to fight when we get there?" She asked as trees flew between them.
"What are you talking about?" He snarled.
"Well, you won't be any good to your lord, if you have no energy when we arrive." She admonished.
"I can feel his aura. He is just over this ridge." He stated and further increased his pace.
As they topped the hill, Mokuso was again surprised as another perfectly seamless battle was raging.
The whirlwind of weapons and claws stopped as four fighters retreated to their temporary corners.
Sesshoumaru, peerless in his skill, stood with sword drawn, gleaming in pristine white. He appeared unaffected by the world as the assassins plotted his demise.
The three assassins crouched in defensive positions to ward off any attack Sesshoumaru may throw at them to break the seconds of peace.
Sesshoumaru only watched them; his stoic face betraying nothing of his mood or tactics.
As if in silent communication, all three hired killers lunged. Two closed in from the left and right, the last dove from the front. All determined to end the taiyoukai's life.
Aishi gasped from the top of the hill. If he didn't get there soon, he was afraid his lord might have more of a fight than he could handle.
The first assassin had been incredibly difficult to defeat; if these were on the same skill level... 'Please don't let me be too late.' Aishi prayed as he rushed toward his battle engaged lord.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Sorry I was a little late, but I was abducted. Yes my friends, 'Human Physiology' decided it liked my company far too much for my comfort. But hey, I got it up within the weekend, just like I promised. I'll have the next chapter up next weekend.
Yes, this was a bit of a cliffie, but guess what...you wanted more action. My beloved readers, you wanted it...you got it, but I withhold the right to be evil with my action sequences! See you next week.
