A/N: Hello everyone! Here's Ch. 8, which is hopefully up sooner than Ch. 7 was but…eh…anyway, disclaimer! Errrr…Sakura!
Sakura: What? Why me?
Me: Oh for the love of Kami, stop fighting with Ino and get your medic-nin-in-training ass over here!
Sakura: (Death Glare)
Me: (Isn't fazed at all) Ha! My death glare beats your death glare! Now read the disclaimer!
Sakura: (Grumbles and sighs) Aki doesn't own Inuyasha. She wishes she did, because then she'd have Harukichi in every episode and he'd die a painful death each time, and Sesshoumaru would revive him and everyone would kill him again. Aki also doesn't own Naruto, because she would've married-what the hell?
Me: Just READ IT!
Sakura: (Shrugs) She doesn't own Naruto because she would've Neji by now and she'd most likely somehow transport herself into the manga, and live there for the rest of her life.
Me: Finally! Thank you! Now go away! I need to answer reviews!
Dragon Man, yes, we will finally get answers! And you're right on track with your guess! (Am I that predictable?) Yes, politics suck. He would've left nothing of their existence left, if he could have killed them all…but unfortunately, he could not. Which sucks. A lot. Lol…well, maybe in an author's note I'll humor you and have Harukichi meet that terrible fate. Yay! Post it! I wanna read it! (Grins) Neji-kun! He's MINE! ALL MINE! (Kishimoto Masashi and a bunch of lawyers appear) Er…He's mine in my dreams! (Kishimoto nods in approval and he and his lawyers disappear) Hehe…suckers…Neji-kun is my one, my only, my…precious! (Attempted Lord of the Rings joke) Yay! The spark is back! You must write before it fades away! Enjoy Ch. 8…I'll shut up now…
Angie, a happy face is all you can say! Sheesh! Lol…j/k…enjoy Ch. 8…
Kagome's Pup, thank you, I'm glad you liked it! (Gasps dramatically) FIFTEEN DAYS WITHOUT INTERNET! OH MY GOD! How did you survive! I would've died within hours of the first day without it! I was literally going out of my mind when my computer broke and I couldn't use it for two days because my mom was fixing it…anyway, I'm glad my chapter helped make your day! Ooh neither can I! (Waits expectantly for it to appear so I can read it) Oh right…I'm the author…I have to write it first…lol…enjoy the chapter!
Ohiowriter, glad you liked it! And just as you requested six times, here's more, more, more, more, more, more! Enjoy!
LockedxHart (aka Jane), yay! The subscription thing finally worked! (Grins) I get a lot more reviews now! (Is happy) Please enjoy Ch. 8!
Riku, yes! I live at LAST! I decided I would have to post soon or else people would think I abandoned the fic…well, I was cornered by a bunch of "The Sims 2" youkai. Yes, I guess I do put wrenches in it…I think you did a fine job! Lol…yes, Sesshy kinda saw a butterfly and was like "ooh pretty!" lol…and then the butterfly flew away and then he realized what was going on and then he stepped in. Yes, Harukichi's going to have a really painfully excruciating demise. No, don't be scared Riku! Riku needs you! Hehe…that made absolutely no sense. Kyo has to keep his powers…besides I'm kinda fighting with Mei over him at the moment…lol. Oh come on, I'm not that good. You should've read the original draft. I was ready to shoot myself because of the sheer stupid-gayness of it. Yeah, and in school I'm studying Shakespeare, and we're focusing on Romeo and Juliet…and this thing with Mei and Kyo reminds me of R+J. Lol…yes, that was one of the things I didn't like about this second draft. Inu-kun seemed so weak. (Sweat drops) That's ok. But now you know. Besides, we all forget things. Er…you know what? Pretend I didn't say that. I have no clue what I'm saying right now. Lol…poor Sora…you need to post. Because by the time he actually does leave Atlantis, he'll be an old man. Yay! You thanked Dragon Man! Well, I could help motivate you and your brain! Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Kitten, that's ok, I don't think it's rude at all. I understand completely…lol… (Smacks self) Bad Aki, bad! Yes, that's true…lol…I'm also typing nonsense. I'm going to work extra-hard now and make sure I don't have any one month and ten day gaps between posts. Enjoy Ch. 8!
Now, onward, to Chapter Eight!
Chapter Eight: Dragon's Bane
Ryouji smirked, seeing his rival in such a rage.
'It serves him right…he's most likely gotten our clan into a rather large mess over the years since I've been away…' He thought, his smoldering sapphire eyes burning holes into Harukichi's back.
The Ryuuyoukai of the Sun turned, sensing Ryouji's stare. He shot back a glare of pure hatred, before promptly continuing on his way.
-
Harukichi growled angrily as he made his way down the hall.
'Damn that bastard Ryouji…he just had to show up…now of all times…damn him…' He seethed silently.
He approached a door and slid it open, stepping inside.
"Who's there…?" A tired voice asked.
"…Ryouji has returned…He wishes to speak with you, Hinoki-sama…" Harukichi replied, fighting back his rage.
"…Ryouji…?"
"Hai…he has sent for you."
"I'm so weak, Harukichi…please, I will need your assistance…"
Harukichi didn't say a word, approaching Hinoki's form where it lay still beneath several layers of blankets. He firmly gripped her wrist and pulled her to her feet, striding forward quickly.
"Harukichi, please, slow down…I cannot keep that pace…"
The Ryuuyoukai of the Sun grumbled, reluctantly slowing to match Hinoki's slow hobble.
Their journey back to the throne room was long and sluggish, much to Harukichi's displeasure.
When they finally reached their destination, Harukichi uncaringly released his grip on the Tsuki Ryuu. Hinoki, unable to support her weight, began to crumble. Kyo reached out and caught the older youkai, and helped her stay upright.
Harukichi turned his stare to Ryouji, his eyes narrowing.
"I have done as you asked. I have brought Hinoki-sama to you." He stated flatly.
"You have yet to apologize and drop the sentences…" Ryouji reminded, his voice laced with impatience.
Harukichi growled, lowering his gaze. He knew that at that moment, that if you were to look into his fiery orange orbs, you would see nothing more than the need to kill. He turned quickly, facing away from Ryouji.
His eyes locked with Kyo's before they quickly averted to Megumi's. Gritting his teeth, he took a deep calming breath.
"…Megumi, Kyoshima, I have wronged you…I had no right to do such things…for that, I apologize. In a gift of consolation for my ill acts of late, Kyoshima, your charges are dropped, and I shall interfere as little as possible in your lives. I am also stepping down from my position as head of the clan and I shall willingly hand over all power to Ryouji." He said, walking off to his quarters quickly.
The rest of the Ryuuyoukai, seeing that the meeting seemed to have come to a close, began to disperse.
Ryouji turned to Hinoki, Megumi, and his son.
"We have many things to discuss…" He said in a level voice.
-
"Why didn't you do anything!" Inuyasha yelled angrily.
Sesshoumaru remained silent.
"You just fucking stood there and waited until you decided it was convenient for you to do something about it! What the fuck is your problem, Sesshoumaru!"
"…She is not my responsibility…" The taiyoukai answered finally.
"Not your responsibility! She's our sister!"
"Feh…she and I are hardly related…she only shares half of my blood…"
"But Inuyasha's right. Just because she only has half of your blood doesn't destroy the fact that she is your sister." Miroku stated.
"You didn't even bother to help me, you bastard!" Inuyasha continued vehemently. "You keep saying how you're so concerned about Oyaji's lands! But even when Imouto-chan was in trouble back there, you still didn't do a damn thing! Even when losing the Oyaji's lands were at stake!"
"…This Sesshoumaru did not desire to start a war…"
"War! Don't give me that shit! You know damn well that you wouldn't have started a fucking war by defending your own clan!"
"Inuyasha, you seem to not understand. Managing Chichiue's lands is challenging. Allies can turn on you. The Torayoukai are known to be very fierce and are angered easily. They could have turned on me, and if they did so, then that would have started a war. However, I waited until they were out of the way, and then made my move by preventing the Ryuutaishou from harming our dear sister."
"Keh! So you're telling me that you can't do shit when Torayoukai are involved, but you can suddenly do whatever the hell you want when Ryuuyoukai, a much higher and powerful clan step in?"
"…Hai, that is correct…"
"But Sesshoumaru, that doesn't really make much sense…" Kagome said, sounding confused.
"The Torayoukai are much weaker than Ryuuyoukai. And they're about the same level as Inuyoukai. It would have been logical to have fought them instead of interfering with the Ryuuyoukai." Sango added, agreeing with her young miko friend.
"…You Ningen never seem to understand…it will make sense to you later on…ask Hana-chan, perhaps…"
The taiyoukai sat down on one of the soft, plump cushions in the room, sinking into it, closing his eyes in thought.
"Oi! Gamyou, gamyou! Sesshoumaru-sama, Inuyasha-sama!" A familiar voice yelled.
The two Inuyoukai turned, not looking very surprised.
"Still alive, Myouga-jijii?" Inuyasha asked, sounding mildly bored, anger still pent-up inside, struggling for release.
"I've come from a message from Hana-sama! It's about Mei Lhi-sama's current condition!" The old flea explained, hopping onto Inuyasha's nose and sucking up blood, his body swelling.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and smacked himself in the face, Myouga fluttering off like a dead leaf.
"Inuyasha-sama…so rude…"
"Shut up. Now what about Imouto-chan?"
"Mei Lhi-sama is still the same as she was before…she hasn't improved or worsened."
"Is that all? You're supposed come when you've got something interesting to tell us!"
"Mei Lhi-sama will allow visitors now…"
Everyone in the room looked up; all but Sesshoumaru scrambled to their feet and ran. The taiyoukai took his time and followed after the others, easily keeping up with them.
Myouga had been flattened to the floor, having been run over so many times and decided to make no effort to get up.
"Squished again!"
-
"So Kyo, please, tell me everything that I've missed, Megumi-chan, Hinoki, fill in the gaps." Ryouji said.
The two women nodded.
"Well…anno…Naraku was defeated over two and a half years ago. The Shikon no Tama is completed and is being guarded by the reincarnation of the one who originally protected it fifty two years ago…" Kyo started to explain.
"And what of Hakaru?"
"When we were younger, staying with Kiori, when the Great Fire happened, Hakaru was able to get our lives spared. Hakaru told the samurai leader that he would take over the armies once the leader himself was dead…I…I wanted to save her…but we couldn't go back…"
Ryouji looked to his son.
"Who? Who did you wish to save?" He asked.
"Mei…that's why the fire started in the first place…they wanted to kill her…so they burned the house that we all lived in together…but she escaped, and she got taken into the care of the miko, Hana." Kyo paused, closing his eyes and breathing slowly, before going on. "It wasn't long before a few years had passed, and I realized that Hakaru was changing…his outlook on things was darker, and he no longer cared about what happened to Mei, like he used to when we were young…so…years went by, and I met Mei again…in the exact same village where we had lived. Hakaru had tried to kill her then too, but I stopped him, and it was then I joined the group of companions who had come to the village. Mei had found friends, the reincarnated miko, Kagome, a taijiya, Sango, a monk, Miroku, a kitsune, Shippou, and her older brother, Inuyasha. Hana was also with them at that time. I decided it would be best if I left the village and helped them all on their quest…"
Kyo continued his story, telling all the battles, when Hakaru attacked the Ryuu Order, all his fun times with his new friends, and everything that had happened with Mei, including the more intimate moments, which made Ryouji's eyebrow rise quite a bit.
Finally the Ryuuyoukai boy began to tell of the more recent events involving Harukichi, and what had happened that same day just hours before. When Kyo was done speaking, he sat silently, waiting for his father's reaction to all the information.
Ryouji met eyes with everyone in the room before looking at the floor.
"Megumi-chan, I'd like to speak with my son. Please take care of Hinoki." He said finally.
Megumi nodded and helped Hinoki up, and the two women left the room.
"…Kyo, do you love her…?"
"Hai, Chichiue. I do."
Ryouji grinned slightly.
"Have you thought of marriage?"
Kyo nearly choked with surprise.
"Anno…iie…not yet…"
The Suna Ryuu's face broke into a wide smile.
"Then I think I should go meet her…some time soon…"
"So…you don't care…?"
"I don't care about what?"
"That she's hanyou…"
"Why should I? You've found love. That's all that matters."
Kyo smiled, relieved.
"Arigatou Chichiue…"
Ryouji smiled back at his son.
"However, we may not be able to meet the girl for a while…I have more important things to attend to…"
"Hai, I understand, Chichiue…"
"Megumi-chan, Hinoki, you can come back inside now."
The two women reentered the room and sat down.
"Hinoki, Kyo and I believe that Harukichi is responsible for your illness. Have you noticed anything odd about him lately?"
Hinoki shook her head.
"That's not possible. Harukichi would know better than to try to harm me." The Tsuki Ryuu replied.
"But have you ever considered that perhaps he wanted power, and in order to gain it, he had to hurt you?"
"Iie…I haven't…"
"Hmmm…has Harukichi used his powers on you?"
"Iie. He would never do that."
"She could've been poisoned, Chichiue." Kyo said.
"That is a possibility. And probably most likely." Ryouji agreed.
"Poisoned? Iya, I would've known…I'm immune to most poisons as it is…so it would not have worked."
"Hinoki-sama, Harukichi knows you well. He could probably know the poisons you're not invulnerable to. Did you tell him what you're weak against?" Kyo stated.
"Kyoshima, of course I told him. He would have to know anyway. In the case of emergency, it would be valuable information."
"Who has served you your meals?" Ryouji asked, now fully believing that Hinoki was being poisoned.
"Harukichi has…" Hinoki replied, trailing off, suddenly realizing something. "That bastard! I should've known that he was taking an awfully long time to put sugar in my tea! He must've slipped some dragon's bane into everything…"
"Hinoki, do you know how we can help you?" Ryouji asked.
"I need the powers of a miko. I have taken too much poison into my body. I will most likely die soon…" Hinoki answered bitterly.
"Kyo, it appears that I can accomplish two things at once…we will take Hinoki to your miko friend, Hana, and at the same time we can go meet this girl of yours…"
Kyo nodded.
"Megumi-chan, prepare Hinoki for travel."
-
The door slid open and the group was greeted by Hana.
"Don't come in all at once…just a few of you at a time. I had to coax her into letting all of you see her." She explained quietly.
Everyone nodded in understanding and entered quietly.
"Anata, you may want to come in last…she's somewhat angry with you…" The miko-youkai said to her mate as he made to move towards the room.
Sesshoumaru paused, giving a curt nod of understanding, waiting for all the others to go inside before finally stepping into the room.
Mei Lhi sat in the middle of her room on her futon, clutching Kyo's haori close to her body. She looked up slowly at everyone in the room, and they looked at her, concern clearly reflected in many of their eyes.
She looked away from them all; waiting in silence for the many questions she figured would come.
"Mei-chan, daijoubu?" Kagome said, in an effort to make conversation, knowing full well that after what had happened, there was no way the hanyou girl could be alright.
Mei nodded, understanding Kagome's attempt.
"Anno…anno…" Kagome stuttered.
"…Kagome-chan, it's alright…it can be quiet…you don't have to say anything…" Mei Lhi said, seeing her friend at a loss for words.
The moderately cold atmosphere in the room seemed to warm up, and everyone became more comfortable and relaxed.
The soft chatter that wafted in the room was pleasant and inviting.
Loud knocking on the door alerted everyone, and all eyes focused on the door.
"Come in." Hana called.
Jaken stumbled in, Rin, Shippou, Tsukimaru, and Tsurugi not far behind.
"Hana-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama! There's some Ryuuyoukai at the gate! They're asking for you, Hana-sama!" The toad youkai said in a rush, gasping for air.
"What do they want with me?" Hana asked, her eyebrows narrowing slightly.
"One of their clan heads is ill and they require your immediate medical attention."
"I'll be back soon. Give me ten minutes. If I haven't returned by then, come after me." The miko-youkai said to her mate before turning quickly and following Jaken.
-
"Please, open the gate!" Kyo yelled at one of the guards.
"Open the gate willingly, or we'll fly over. No matter what, we need to see Hana-sama!" Megumi called up to them.
Hana appeared on the wall.
"Kyo? Why are you here? And…Hinoki-sama?" She asked, puzzled.
"Hana-chan, Hinoki-sama's been poisoned by Harukichi." The Kaze Ryuu boy replied.
The gate opened and the four Ryuuyoukai rushed inside.
-
Hana ushered the four guests into an empty room.
"Hahaue! I want to help!" Rin exclaimed.
"…Hai…please, tell your father that I'm in here and then make sure Tsukimaru and Tsurugi haven't killed Jaken yet and watch them for me."
"Hai, Hahaue!"
Rin ran off quickly.
Hana rolled up her sleeves and instructed for Hinoki to be placed on the futon.
"Do you know what she was poisoned with?" She asked.
"Dragon's bane…" An unfamiliar Ryuuyoukai answered.
"How much?"
"We don't know…"
"All Hinoki-sama told us is that she has enough in her body to kill her." Kyo said.
"Hai, I understand. Now I'll have to ask you all to stay back and not interfere."
Hana clasped her hands together in prayer and her hands had a blue aura surrounding them. She brought her hands down to Hinoki, where they became semi-transparent. The miko-youkai's transparent hands went through Hinoki's body, the blue aura growing darker as all the poison gathered into the place where her hands were.
"I cast this wretchedness out of you!" Hana said barely above a whisper.
'There's so much of it…hopefully I can manage it long enough to purify it….' She thought.
Hana pulled her hands out of Hinoki's body, where they became solid once again, the black poison visible in her hands. The poison began to dissipate, dissolving into Hana's body.
Hinoki sat up quickly.
"Iya! Don't do that!" She exclaimed.
Hana's color began to fade. The poison's effects took hold of her at a remarkable rate. The miko-youkai found herself struggling to breathe.
"Get…Sesshoumaru…" She forced out.
Kyo took off immediately.
He tracked the taiyoukai's scent and reappeared in Mei's room.
"Kyoshi-kun?" The hanyou girl asked, confused.
"Errr…hi…" Kyo replied awkwardly. "Sesshoumaru, Hana-chan needs your help. Hinoki-sama was poisoned, and Hana-chan managed to take the poison out, but she had to take the poison into herself in order to get rid of it. And she's already feeling the effects."
Sesshoumaru was on his feet in an instant, already out the door.
"What kind of poison is it, Kyoshi-kun?" Mei asked.
"Dragon's bane…and a lot of it…"
"Hmmm…Hana-chan taught me something about that one…but I can't remember…"
"Mei-chan, isn't it a sort of incense that must be burned?" Sango asked.
"Anno…no that's for something else…I think…wait, I remember…Hentai-Houshi, Kagome-chan, I need your help…since I don't have any spiritual powers, it won't do me any good, but you two do…so you get to do the fun part and try not to purify anyone."
Mei Lhi stood, Kagome and Miroku following.
"Where to?" The hanyou girl asked.
Kyo quickly led them in the direction Sesshoumaru had gone, quickly entering the room.
"Shimatta…this is bad!" Hinoki exclaimed.
Megumi nodded in agreement, her eyes clearly expressing her concern.
"I don't know the antidote…or any way to remove the poison…without it killing me…" The Earth Ryuu mumbled sullenly.
"Well, you're in luck. I do." Mei Lhi said, making her appearance known.
All eyes focused on her. The hanyou girl ignored their stares, her eyes scanning the room frantically.
"Anno…Kagome-chan, focus on getting your miko powers into your hands…I know you haven't done that before, but you'll have to trust me and try. Hentai-Houshi, gather your spiritual powers in your hands too. And don't think any impure thoughts…Sesshoumaru will kill you if you so much as look at Hana-chan the wrong way…" She explained.
The two nodded, the monk seeming somewhat nervous.
"What now, Mei-chan?" Kagome asked.
"If Harukichi was using the poison, then he most likely has some awful jyaki in it. You're going to have to focus on purifying that. Without purifying Hana in the process…" The hanyou girl answered.
"Ehhh!"
"It'll be difficult, but just do it. It'll work."
The miko girl and houshi nodded, setting off to work.
"Hana-chan, for the love of Kami-sama, you're a reincarnation of Midoriko! Help Kagome-chan and Miroku. Try and purify some of it yourself if you can. I can't do much, except tell everyone what to do…"
Hana nodded; taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and chanted softly, a faint pink aura surrounding her.
Miroku and Kagome worked hard at trying to purify the poison's intense jyaki. Both had their brows furrowed in concentration, pushing all their strength into keeping their powers in their hands. Kagome was beginning to tire, and her hands began to shake. Mei Lhi grabbed her friend's wrists, careful to avoid the crackling miko energy, helping the young miko girl keep her hands steady.
"Mei-chan, I'm running out of strength…I don't think I can do it anymore…"
"Kagome-sama, it's alright. I could probably take it from here…" Miroku replied.
"Iya, Miroku. You need Kagome's help…This jyaki is far more powerful than the Saimyousho. Or anything Naraku's been able to throw at us. And since a Ryuuyoukai brought this upon the female head of their clan, it's highly powerful. So we'll just have to fight youkai with youkai…"
"Iie, Mei!" Kyo exclaimed, catching on.
"…I'm only going to do this just this once. If it kills me, then Sesshoumaru-Onii-san, you've got a pretty little sword that'll reverse that easily."
The taiyoukai nodded in understanding. Mei Lhi took a calming breath before she reached out and gripped her friend's hands. The holy auras cracked and sizzled around the hanyou girl. Mei bit her lip and focused on helping her friends.
"Mane suru…kami kiyome no youki…" She said barely above a whisper.
The crackling of auras stopped briefly, before resuming with a much higher intensity. A large electric shock ran up Mei's arm, causing her to let go. She let out a low growl of anger before leaping up and trying again.
"She's going between her hanyou and Ningen forms…" Megumi said, astounded.
'Come on…I can do this…I just have to mimic Hana-chan's miko powers and turn it into a youki…' The hanyou girl thought.
She concentrated hard, finally feeling the desired force in the palms of her hands.
"You bastard…go to hell!" She growled angrily, as the purifying youki rushed forward and eliminated the poison.
With the only force keeping the hanyou girl from being purified gone, the auras cracked and sizzled viciously against her. Mei Lhi pulled her grip from her friends and exhaustedly fell over on her side, breathing hard.
"Kagome, Miroku that is enough! I'm fine now." Hana said forcibly.
The houshi and miko girl let go, the two of them also breathing hard from the strain. The miko-youkai stood and rushed over to the hanyou girl.
"Mei-chan, daijoubu?" She asked.
"…I think…I overdid it a little bit…" The hanyou girl replied.
"Your youki is almost gone…you almost purified yourself."
"It would've been for a good cause, then…"
Hana sighed.
"Kyo, go and take her back to her room and tell everyone to leave. She needs to rest for now…I also need to rest. The poison has weakened me…"
The room dispersed and soon emptied, all was quiet once again.
-
"How are you feeling?" Kyo asked.
Mei Lhi shrugged under the covers of her futon.
"I'm alright…I guess…" She answered, yawning sleepily.
"That's good to hear. Do you think you're up to meeting someone?"
"Kyoshi-kun, I'm not that tired…of course I can."
Kyo looked over his shoulder, as a tall Ryuuyoukai with long pale blonde hair and sapphire eyes with bronze colored armor stepped into the room.
Mei Lhi sat up, and bowed her head respectfully to the new comer.
"Mei, this is Ryouji of the Sand, my father."
A/N: Hehe…It's "Meet the Parents" Inuyasha style! Lol…anyways, it's finally done! And guess what! It didn't take me a month to finish it this time! YAY! Thankfully I'm on spring break and I have no life and nothing to do except live off my computer. So that gives me lots of opportunities to write more. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think. This one isn't really one of my favorites, and honestly, I'm starting to think my writing quality of whatever it is that makes you people read it, is diminishing. I'm starting to think my ideas and plot lines are ridiculously crazy and this story is nearly going nowhere…But then again, I never had a fully complete plot for this…I only had everything from the beginning to chapter four planned. All the rest of this is just "Going with the flow". (Sweat drops) I should probably plan everything, shouldn't I? Eh…Oh well. I'm too lazy, and I dunno where I really want it to go at this point. Anyway, you can ignore my rambling. I woke up about an hour ago, and I just hopped onto my computer right after that, so I haven't eaten. And yeah…you all should know what happens when I don't eat…But anyway, I'll go make myself some ramen. Please review and I hope Ch. 9 will be up soon! Ja ne until next time!
Gamyou is a noise Myouga makes when he jumps.
