Enchanted Orbs

Chapter 41 Darkness

Disclaimer: Just a renewal…I don't own Inuyasha or any of his affiliates within the anime or manga. Also, the newest character, Darkness, is a product of the imagination of Laurel K Hamilton. So, yeah, I don't own him either.

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Sesshoumaru was beginning to get frustrated, though no one could tell from his outward image. He and Aishi had been within these walls for two days, and their plan had not worked thus far. The anonymous figure behind the treacherous upheavals was still just that: anonymous. None they had encountered knew anything about Rokoshi's master; nothing was known, not where his origins lay, not skills, not even his appearance.

And it had been two days. Two days within his former home, two days within scent range of his betrayer, two days of patience that the taiyoukai did not wish to grant. Rokoshi was dead; he walked, he talked, but he was dead. He just did not know it yet. His death was sealed the moment Sesshoumaru knew of his treachery. And yet the former lord knew exactly where he stood, breathed, this instant and he still lived.

Irritation was grinding against him, but Aishi and Sesshoumaru had agreed upon their plan. They would stick to it until they met in private to discuss other options.

The plan which seemed to be ineffective was beautiful in its simplicity. Sesshoumaru, who had the most powerful magic, would slip through the hallways, just an invisible breeze passing. He was to follow Rokoshi and those closest to him to learn anything they could of when, where, and how they met with the mastermind behind this ordeal.

All the while, Aishi would be stirring dissent in the lands. Rokoshi had told the soldiers of Sesshoumaru's death, but only a massive field of dead youkai was used as proof. Samon was the only general found amongst the dead. The warriors of the Western Lands were strong and most were very loyal. The fact that both Aishi and Shouron were absent from the field along with no trace remains of their lord caused a great suspicion amongst them.

Aishi and his abilities came in handy here. When he came across a lone soldier that he recognized, he would reveal himself, tell the youkai the truth, and bid him leave the estate and gather Sesshoumaru's followers from the bordering villages and forests, summoning those who were on leave. This would have been considered absolutely foolish without Aishi's mental capacities, but since he could read what the soldier intended to do with the information, there was little cause for worry.

If the warrior truly planned on doing Aishi's bidding, then the general showed him to the hidden exit he and Sesshoumaru had used to secretly enter the estate. If the youkai was loyal to Rokoshi and intended to tell the new lord that Aishi was within the Western Fortress, the youkai wouldn't even see the claws that came for his head.

The bloody carcass was left in the open to notify Rokoshi that there was indeed something wrong. Sesshoumaru knew his generals well enough to know what Rokoshi would do. Rokoshi would grow nervous with the growing fatalities among his people.

He would call on the only one he felt could handle the situation, the one he answered to, his master. And that's what Sesshoumaru and Aishi were waiting for…a chance to meet with the magistrate of the deceit.

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"I assume you have many questions, Lady Kagome." Lord Dachi spoke gently as he walked.

Kagome instantly grew nervous. The two were walking through the Eastern Lord's peaceful garden sanctuary. Sunlight streamed down upon them through broad leaves and brilliant petals. The entire scene was like something out of a fairy tale, but Kagome was not enchanted.

Kariudo had revealed to her that Dachi knew what had happened to her, was happening to her, and that the lord intended to speak with her about it today. But now he tells her to ask her questions. Kagome didn't want to ask questions. She didn't know enough of what was happening to know what questions to ask. She was frustrated with all the emotions from last night still driving her; she yearned for the peace that filled her earlier in her journey.

She was frustrated at that time too, what with an arrogant taiyoukai throwing her into the floor and walls all in the name of training, but at least then, she knew what to expect. She once believed that the only certain things in life were the passage of time and death. Now the 'passage of time' bit seemed to be the only steady thing in her life, but even that could be tampered with, ancient wells sending you five centuries into the past can make a girl question even that concept.

So nothing grounded her; there was no steady thing in her life to anchor her. Depressing, but true.

She glanced at her companion then back to the ground before her feet. Dachi seemed as if nothing in the world could ruffle him, and Kagome envied that calm demeanor. She licked her lips and tossed out the first question her brain could bring up.

"What happened to me yesterday?" Kagome spoke in a near whisper. Her voice had suddenly gone hoarse.

Dachi looked up into the leave-filtered sunlight and spoke. "You nearly died." He said as if he had just told her of the weather. No one could tell by the tone that he felt anything towards her near death in his courtroom.

Kagome swallowed audibly. "Why didn't I? What kept me from dying?" She spoke with more force, but her voice still shook.

The Eastern Lord kept his pace as they walked through the garden path. His gaze never touched the girl beside him as he answered her inquiries. "Your energy, power, aura, whatever you wish to call it. The power flowing through your veins brought you back from an early death." This time his volume dropped a bit, but his inflection still spoke of indifference.

Kagome stood silently for a moment. Dachi paused his walk briefly, but never so much as glanced at her. "But how?" Kagome stuttered finally.

She heard the lord pull in a heavy breath before his sharp gaze settled on her. "You are familiar with the cycle of existence to which we are all subject, are you not?"

She blinked at him, not sure which cycle he could be referring to…there were so many. Before she could ask him to clarify, he did. "The ever present power surrounding, filling us and everything, the cycle involving that."

As articulate as ever, Kagome gave him a blank look, still not connecting her question to his logic.

Dachi was not an impatient youkai; he simply continued. "I know within your studies, in your home era, you have been introduced to many religions, many methods of worship. No matter the method, there is always a circle of energy grounding everything, though it may not be emphasized. In one, when someone dies, their energy follows their soul to help the rise of the reincarnation; in another, the power acquired through life returns to the earth they are buried in and returns to their deity. In others, the energy transports them to the stars above where they will join with their master. And with those with no faith, the power flows back into the earth which sustained them throughout their lifespan." Dachi paused, measuring how Kagome followed his words.

Then he continued, "But have you ever wondered what has driven man and youkai alike to strive to gain more and more power? For centuries, struggles, wars, deceit, seduction have all been used to gain more power. Why, Kagome? Because within every power- hungry creature, there is an unconscious desire to fight death, to become powerful enough to prolong their existence. Youkai can live for an extensive time, but not if they are not strong enough to protect themselves. Humans either desperately cling to their faith to appease their fear of death, or fight to gain power enough to convince themselves of a life of safety, secure in their strength. We both know the folly of that reasoning." Dachi's gaze traveled back up to the sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Kagome narrowed her eyes in thought; she thought she knew where he was headed, but Kagome had to be certain. "There is truth to your words, Lord Dachi, but what does this have to do with me?"

Dachi's voice sounded far away, distant, as he answered. "Because every story, every belief has some grain of truth in the words. Some more than others, but behind every fantastic tale, there is something valid, it may be only a few words beginning centuries ago within the origin of the tale, but the truth is there." His head turned slowly to look into shocked blue eyes.

She gaped for a moment; then Kagome forced her mouth to close and answer his statements. "You are saying that if one gains enough power, they are able to cheat death?"

Dachi smiled. "That is the belief."

"But why? How? Life is supposed to be about balances. Good and evil, light and dark, how can one gain this much power and there not be consequences? I do not accept this thinking." Kagome was shaking her head violently, eyes fixated on the ground.

"It is true Kagome. How then can you explain the lifespan of a taiyoukai as compared to a lesser demon, or that of a hanyou compared to a human? And there is weak energy everywhere, surrounding everything." Kagome looked up at him, and he continued. "Do you honestly think you have walked this garden path and avoided every insect you have crossed? We crossed a grassy meadow before we stepped onto the path. Did you avoid every blade, every flower? You may not have killed the entire plant, but you robbed it of the energy it will have to spare to repair itself. And these things happened while you were totally unaware. The life energy of the plants and insects so low that you would have never noticed." His intense eyes pierced through her like a sword.

Kagome's shoulders drooped with the reasoning in his words. "Can I die?" Her voice was whisper soft in her fear of the answer.

The lord looked at her for a moment before answering. "Yes, Kagome, anyone can die; it is just harder for some than others."

Her eyes shot up to him with his words. "If I can die, why didn't I?"

"Your power allowed you to overcome the pull of death. Your body died; your heart stopped, but your power had no other outlet to use as escape. The power has to go somewhere, and your last command was to heal your body, was it not? Your energy continued to flow, closing your wounds, healing your flesh, and caressing your heart until it beat once again."

Kagome just stood there and nodded. She felt like an ignorant child in the face of Dachi's wisdom. There were too many thoughts buzzing through her mind, too many to focus on, to many to sort through. "So I would have to give my power away in order to die?"

Dachi's gaze studied her for a moment. "No, you would have to release it, force it to flow into something else, and you would have to overcome your body's desire to heal itself. Why are you so interested in death, child? Do you wish to die?" Dachi became concerned, maybe her sanity had not survived the night as he had thought.

Kagome dropped her head and gave a sad smile before she spoke. "No, well, not now at least." She raised her eyes to his. "But I do not wish to be immortal. I don't want to watch my friends and family grow old and die while I remain. I cannot bury my children, my children's children. I am not that strong." Her thoughts took a depressing turn, and then suddenly a horrible idea pierced her like a knife. Shocked eyes swung to the lord as she asked. "So the woman who gave me this power…she was trying to die?" A horrified expression painted her face as she suddenly felt the guilt of her death.

Dachi shook his head. "No, Lady Kagome, the only thing that took place that night by the lake was a spell. With no proper training, you do not know how to sway your power. The spell which was cast was meant to allow you to bend your power to your will, without incantations or ritual. Most miko training involves such measures to pull the power from within, such acts...for lack of a better word, persuades the energy to come forth for the miko's use. Without knowledge of those rituals you are a prison for your power, with it leaking out only in dire circumstances. But that spell changed things for you; you are not required to coax your energy forth, now all you must do is call upon it and give it the proper direction. And you seemed to have done well with what you've been given." He gave a pleased smile.

She shook her head, dazed. "So she gave me nothing that night."

"Lady Kagome, have you not yet realized that it is your own power and none others? No one gave you anything. The power that resides within you is yours and yours alone; it has been dormant for the majority of your life, but it was always present."

Kagome's brow furrowed for a moment. "But it wasn't until…" But her words were cut short as Dachi continued.

"Have you ever concentrated on your own aura? You sense others' when needed, but have you ever looked at your own? It is as a fortress, a formidable barrier that surrounds you on all sides, that speaks of extreme power. Only taiyoukai have auras such as yours. Your power has been centuries in the making, child. Do not make light of your own abilities." Dachi spoke words that confused her greatly.

Shaking her head, Kagome replied. "But how? I do not understand." She began to feel like a broken record, but it would be worth it if she could sort through her confusion.

Dachi smiled gently. "You believe you are the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyou, do you not?" At Kagome's nod, he continued. "That is true, to an extent, but she was not the first. Your line is ancient, powerful, and every lifetime within your line contributes to what is held within you. Every soul deposits more and more to your power reserve, a very unique heritage. Such is not unheard of, but very rare. Through ancient times to yours in the future, you have gained and gained. Your soul is extreme. This is the reason why Kikyou's soul returned to her with no repercussions laid upon yourself and why the void's mirror could not successfully pull your soul from your body. But there are other reasons for your high energy." He paused ensuring Kagome's attention.

The miko looked lost, but she was still listening. Dachi continued with the needed information. "You lived for years with the Shikon no Tama residing within your body. Its power nurturing you, strengthening you, its protector, when the wish was made upon the jewel, there was still power remaining in its depths. The amount of energy it takes to turn a hanyou into a youkai and bring an animate woman back her life is insignificant compared to a jewel that, when broken into shards, a single sliver can multiply a youkai's strength tenfold. One would think when the energy was released, any extra power would flow into those it was already being used by, and that may be the case in part, but not fully. Most of the excess energy went back to the one who guarded it within her body for so long, you, Lady Kagome."

Kagome nodded somewhat numbly, but fully understanding his words. It was just such a shock; she had always felt so weak, so helpless compared to the great and powerful priestess Kikyou. But if excess power from the Shikon had infused her body, was the power from Midoriko or her opponents? A dark fear pierced Kagome's heart at that question.

Breathless with anxiety, she questioned the lord. "The youkai that had battled with Midoriko within the jewel, could they have traveled with the power to live within me now?" She held her breath waiting for his answer.

Dachi's brow creased with his thoughts. For once in this conversation he did not know. "I am not sure, lady, but it is a likely possibility. Midoriko could have fled, her soul finally freed, but a bodiless youkai with a sadistic pleasure from suffering would not wish for eternal peace with rest. The most harm the youkai could inflict would be to find an entity of great power to reside in, so yes, it is a definite possibility, one which I hadn't forseen. This could cause a great many more problems." His face reflected his worries; he turned towards her, eyes beseeching. "Have any dark urges risen, desires you were not able to control?"

Kagome began to worry herself, but then she remembered a hope. "Yes, I was struck with a malicious need to punish, humiliate, and kill someone who had insulted me, the one who had attempted to cause a mutiny on our travels here. But…" She made sure the lord was paying attention. "but, it has only come when I couldn't fight it. Only when I was so exhausted did the urge become irresistible. I had some bloodlust in the fight in Sesshoumaru's fortress, but it never overwhelmed me. I never succumbed to it. The urge became real only when I had not slept nor really eaten for days. So, I think I am strong enough to resist the youkai." She smiled slightly and felt a sense of relief at the answer to Inuyasha's pointed accusations. This just meant she would have to be careful not to exert herself overly.

Dachi nodded in confirmation at her words. "You are in a unique situation. I have never seen one as strong as you with so little control over their power. Without the proper training, the youkai might be able to overcome your will, but you are one of pure heart. I doubt it will be an easy task. Just be aware of which thoughts are your own and which could be implanted from a darker source." His eyes held weight, as if the warning were meant for more, a deeper meaning than just the evil locked away within her.

But she dodged the feeling and moved onto more pressing matters, at least in her mind. She distinctly remembered him referring to her heritage reaching to her 'in the future.' Just how much did this relative stranger know about her, and should she be as trusting as she had been for the past few hours.

Her eyes narrowed a bit as she asked a question that dodged the exact knowledge she wanted to know but couldn't ask outright without exposing her secret. "Lord Dachi, that is the second time you have mentioned my lack of training, and you talked as if you were present when the spell was cast. How do you know these things? You were not in the clearing that night. How could you possibly know, without a doubt, what happened when you were not there to see it?"

Dachi slowly turned his head to look at her, stretching out the time, emphasizing his gaze. When his eyes locked with Kagome's, she immediately felt a pull to them, as if she could fall into them forever. It wasn't a romantic feeling at all; it was disconcerting, but she couldn't break free. She couldn't look away.

She heard his voice like a distant call, a whisper in the breeze. "I see many things, Kagome." When his voice died from her ears, his eyes began swirl.

Like a whirlpool, she felt the pull get stronger until she couldn't move. No muscle responded as she began to panic, but the miko still could not tear her eyes from his. She could see patterns emerging from within the swirls, then a picture reflected upon the surface. As soon as she could see the image, it was projected in front of his eyes; a movie played before her on an invisible screen about the size of her head. The image blocked her view of Dachi's face, but she was no longer trying to get away. She was mesmerized.

Mesmerized by the scene which was playing out before her. Kagome saw herself holding her cat, Buyo, in front of the Bone Eater's Well as Mistress Centipede rose from its depths and pulled her into the well. Then the miko watched as she played with the feathered tip of an arrow pinning Inuyasha to the Goshinboku. Kagome was in awe as excerpts of the many battles the group had been through played out before her, then a picture of the woman kneeling by the lake as everything shone that brilliant golden color she remembered so well. But then the images changed.

She saw herself in the future, struggling in her classes at school. Kagome blushed as she saw Hojo desperately trying to flag her down, trying to catch up with her after school. She saw her mother, grandfather, and Souta sitting around the table eating, saw herself laying on her bed in her room reading.

The image disappeared, and Kagome was left gasping, breathing hard, heart pounding in her chest, pulse blaring in her temples.

As she tried to regain her composure, tried to sort through what was just dealt to her, she spoke. "How...what...what was that?" She spoke as coherently as she could.

Dachi looked at her with a blank face. No expression marring his features, waiting for her sort through the information he had indirectly given to her.

Kagome took a deep breath, gathering herself before she resumed the conversation. "You can see the future." She landed on the only solid thought that came from the surprise of him knowing about her home and her era.

"And the past, and the present." Dachi clarified. His voice was steady.

Kagome took another deep breath, steadying herself. "How?" Her mind still struggling to grasp onto something, anything to make some sort of sense.

"Every youkai has different talents, Lady Kagome. Some have battle prowess, others intelligence beyond compare, strength, stamina, many things, but all have their gifts. I am gifted with far-reaching sight."

Kagome sat down on the grass beside the path. They had not walked since the conversation began, and she felt she definitely needed to sit down. But she was properly beyond her shock, now, she could think straight now. And questions came unbidden again. "If you could see the future, why didn't you protect your estate better? Mokuso told Sesshoumaru that you lost most of your forces. Surely you could have changed the course of events." She was baffled as to why he would let his men die.

Dachi released a weary breath. "Playing with the future is very risky business, Kagome; I may prevent one fate, but bring about one far worse. I do not tread were I am not needed unnecessarily. There are too many variables one must take into account. Besides, just because one can see the future, it doesn't mean they can prevent it. Events can be set in motion years before they occur. A set of actions or decisions will lead in a progression to greet a certain end. If I do not know the preceding events, I have no power to change anything." There was regret in his voice, as if he would go back and change the loss of his men if he could.

Kagome's head dropped a bit, ashamed for making him relive his pain.

He continued, "But because I have access to the important decisions, the ones that make history. The conversations which lead to great actions, I know where to look." He smiled pleasantly.

Confusion reigned again, and Kagome was getting seriously tired of the emotion. "I don't understand. How do you know which conversations are important and which are insignificant? Doesn't one look like the other?"

His smile grew. "Kagome, you have met my love, have you not?" He reached his hand out towards the direction from which they had come.

The topic changed so quickly that Kagome was momentarily thrown, but quickly recovered. She stood to greet the lady of the eastern lands only to stop and stare, slack-jawed, at her.

The woman smiled gently at her. "Kagome, it is good to see you again."

Kagome blinked. "Nara?" Her gaze flew from lord to lady and back again.

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Sesshoumaru stood completely cloaked in his former chambers watching Rokoshi intently. The traitor paced back and forth, nervously wringing his hands behind his back. The taiyoukai could pick up pieces of his incoherent mumbling. It seemed as if his master was on his way.

The hidden figure smirked in triumph; Sesshoumaru would finally get to meet the master. He could practically feel his claws shredding the bastard. His senses were on alert for his arrival, so it was an extreme surprise for the former lord to hear an unfamiliar voice echo across the room.

As the last rays of sunlight faded, a figure emerged from the shadows across the room from where Sesshoumaru was hidden. His voice was a bass so deep it rumbled across the chambers. "Rokoshi, why have you called me here?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. He had not noticed his entrance at all; this thing didn't even feel like a youkai. There was not energy to it at all, but the being stood before him, melting out of the shadows.

Rokoshi feared him, and thus had lamps lit across the room, not that it mattered. "Darkness, milord, there have been complications."

Sesshoumaru's eyes were just as effective at night, but he had a difficult time seeing Darkness; the name suited him. His skin was completely black, not the black that human skin can be, but the black of a dog. A thick braid of black hair hung from the nape of his neck to tickle the floor. His eyes were solid black, as well. Garbed in nothing but the blackest silk, the only color reflected in his appearance was the silver jewelry adorning his pointed ears. Silver studs curled up the shell of the ear nearest Sesshoumaru, accenting the tip.

The taiyoukai had no way of knowing whether the other ear was symmetrical, but at the present time, he didn't care. He was more concerned with how this male, for he did not think he was youkai, had escaped his senses.

"Obviously." The voice was emotionless, thick and reaching, like you could hear it decades away.

Rokoshi immediately bowed before Darkness. But Sesshoumaru's eyes were again drawn to the man when he saw a flash of color. Deep, piercing green eyes stared at him from beneath the black hair loosely drawn into a rope. A second creature was hiding at his neck, one with a very small stature if he could hide so thoroughly.

But that wasn't the most alarming thing to Sesshoumaru. No, the most disturbing fact was that those eyes were looking directly at him, as if he could see him as clear as day. Black eyes slid towards Sesshoumaru's position, but his head never turned, just a simple movement of the eyes.

Rokoshi was blind to the small movement as he had not risen from his bow.

Sesshoumaru tensed expecting an attack, but nothing moved in the room. Before he knew what was happening, fear slid across his body like water. He should fear the creature; everyone is afraid of the dark, and the opponent before the taiyoukai was darkness made flesh. The cold, unfeeling Darkness, nothing could hurt him, nothing could kill him. He moves in shadows, can wrap them around him to hide. Darkness was the perfect assassin, and none could touch him.

The fear was a tangible thing, making his hands tremble with the terror. Never before had he felt this, he had never feared an opponent. He knew nothing about this creature, why should he fear him so completely. His thoughts pushed the fear back slightly, enough for him to hear a small whimper.

Sesshoumaru looked over to Rokoshi. He was no longer bowing; now he was curled into a ball on the floor, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Golden eyes narrowed. This was not his fear alone. This thing before him, Darkness, was projecting fear into the room like an aroma. Forcing terror on those who faced him. With the realization, the fear vanished.

Rokoshi weakly looked about the room.

A flash of white showed where Darkness smiled at Sesshoumaru. The smile was not a true smile, more a showing of teeth, but his words rang out across the room. "A worthy opponent. We will meet again, taiyoukai."

Sesshoumaru watched as he began to sink into the shadows without moving an inch. It was as if he could pull darkness like a cloak around him and be perfectly hidden.

Rokoshi called out to him. "Wait, master! What is happening?"

Darkness stopped his retreat, and the shadows fled uncovering his body. "You sent my soldiers into a trap, Rokoshi. Lord Sesshoumaru remains in your castle. He is most likely the one behind the slaughtered soldiers. Dispose of him if you can. I must see to those we sent to the east." His face turned towards Sesshoumaru's corner. "Are they headed into a trap, or is the Eastern Lord merely a diversion, Sesshoumaru?"

Rokoshi's head snapped to the corner Darkness was facing, but he saw nothing.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, prepared for an attack, but again, it didn't come. Darkness disappeared as he watched, and he was left alone with his traitorous general, watching as Rokoshi frantically searched the area looking for him.

The taiyoukai quietly turned and left the room, no thought was given to Rokoshi and his search. He needed to find Aishi; they had some things to discuss.

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A/N: Yes, it has been a while, my friends, and for that I am truly sorry, but it was unavoidable. Summer is here officially now, so I will return to my weekly schedule. Maybe even more than once a week…we'll see.

So we finally get to meet the ultimate bad guy. grins Actually, this character isn't mine, Darkness belongs to the PROFESSIONAL author Laurel Hamilton. But in her books he isn't a bad guy…but he's a kick ass character, and I couldn't resist.

I'll see ya'll later. ------Syrinx

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