Chapter Ten
Minako Miharu: Thank you for your review, and support. I'm glad filler chapters are alright, because sometimes I just need to, like you said, take a break in the action. Thank you again for your review, hope to hear from you again.
Slamlam: Thank you for your review, I'm glad you liked the story.
stand alone complex: Read on to find out who is at the gates! Here is an update, enjoy.
lil-kag0m3: Gottta love a cliffy! You must read on to find out who's at the gates. It's Friday, which means it's time for an update. Thank your for the review. Hope to hear from you again soon!
EternalAffliction: Thank you for the review, and I'm not telling you who is at the Taijiya gates, read on to find out though. Enjoy chapter ten.
Kalei: Well, with the pairing thing, again, EternalAffliction pointed out that maybe Koga and Mayoka, but I'm still not really sure, just another thought. Sango and her little band seem to have become more involved with the plot than originally planned, so I have a feeling that they will butt their way into this more, which is cool with me. Don't worry, I love reading novel reviews, makes me feel loved. Now that I've written you a novel review response back, I'm going to wrap this up. Thank you for your novel review, it's Friday, so here is chapter ten, enjoy.
iNuQTpIe: Lol, thank you, for both my birthday and your review. I'm glad you liked the chapter. Can't wait to hear from you again.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of the Inu-Yasha characters, but everyone else, as well as this plot, belongs to me, ok? I'm poor, so don't sue me.
He was thrown backward. A snarl left his lips as he got back to his feet. His blood red eyes glared at the grey wall stretching up into the sky. "SESSHO-MARU!" He roared, punching the wall again. Blood seeped from his torn knuckles, but the wild Inu didn't notice. "Stop hiding you bastard!" His fist connected with the stone again.
"Enough, hanyou." The youkai's dark voice echoed on the air. The large door began to open, reveling Sessho-maru standing there in all his powerful glory. "What are you doing here?"
"You know what I'm here for. Giver her to me."
"She doesn't want to be seen with a filthy half-breed like you."
"Bastard." He snarled at the youkai. A hint of a dark grin pulled at Sessho-maru's lips.
"Why would there be a doubt in that small mind of yours? After what you've done, to her alone, how could you think she would want to be near you?" Sessho-maru snapped back.
He panted as his bloody glare fixed on his brother. "Let me see her."
"No."
The short answer sent him into a rage. He instantly charged at the youkai Lord, who kicked the younger Inu back. "Who do you think you are?" Sessho-maru's eyes flashed red in a rare show of anger. "She doesn't want you, hanyou." Sessho-maru moved forward, standing toe to toe with his brother.
"You've broken her soul, Inu-Yasha." The youkai Lord whispered. His breath stopped at the words.
Well, that blows all of your theories on Inu-Yasha being at Sango's front door, read to find out who it really is. Wink
((Across A Land))
The Miko limped her way into the main room of the castle. The youkai Lord had done a number on her again, but the damage would heal quickly. Kagome smiled as she saw Rin setting food on the table.
"Oh, good morning, Kagome-chan." The child set another bowl of rice on the table before turning to the Miko. "How was your morning exercise?"
The woman laughed shortly through her nose. "Sessho-maru seems to like using me as his punching bag."
"Punching bag?" The girl repeated, tilting her head in question.
"Never mind, is lunch ready then?" Kagome moved to the table and sat on the cushion. Rin nodded as she sat across from the Miko. The two shared a smile as they dug into the bowls of rice and beef stew. The woman had been fighting with Sessho-maru during breakfast, so she was quite hungry after her "workout."
I wonder where Hokori is… The thought crossed the Miko's mind in mid-bite. And is Mayoka alright…? How is her wound...? I wonder if Koga is looking for me... Does he know that I'm alright…? A light grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. Or at least I'm not dead, not yet anyway.
"Kagome-chan?" The younger girl's voice broke into her thoughts.
"Hm, Rin?" Kagome's head lifted, her gaze shifting back to the other female.
"Are you alright? You suddenly stopped eating."
"Oh, yes." The Miko gave an almost reassuring smile. There was a silence again. I do miss them…
A door was opened and footfalls echoed into the main room where the human's were. Both pair of brown eyes turned to the youkai Lord standing in the doorway.
"Sessho-maru-sama," Rin stood up and lowered her head in a bow. His golden eyes ran over the child once before turning to Kagome. The woman had lowered her eyes back to her bowl of food.
"There was a visitor." His voice held no emotion.
"Really." Her focus didn't change. Why should the Miko care who came to visit the youkai Lord's castle?
"He came for you."
He! Her eyes snapped up to the Inu-youkai. "Who came for me?" Her voice was dangerously quiet.
"Inu-Yasha."
"Inu-Yasha!" She was on her feet, her clenched fists shaking at her sides, as she glared daggers at Sessho-maru.
"So, you can hear." There was no humor in his tone.
"Where is he, Sessho-maru?" Her voice shook in anger.
"Not here."
"Then where?"
"How would I know?"
"You're the one who saw him!"
"He left."
"Left where?"
"I do not know."
"Bastard! What right do you have to turn him away!"
"Do not forget, Miko, this is my castle."
"And my life!"
He was inches away from her in the blink of an eye. Her teeth bared as he took her chin in his hand. "And how long do you want to keep that?"
Kagome stepped back and aimed to slap the Lord, but he easily caught her wrist. Her eyes were filled with anger as she stared at Sessho-maru. "Damn you." She hissed, pulling away sharply and walking purposely to her room. The door slammed behind her.
((Across A Land))
"Inu-Yasha's been here!" Koga shouted to Hokori in the air above him.
The Neko roared, covering most of Mayoka's "Who?"
The ouji's head lowered to the castle gate in front of him. This place reeks of both Inu-Yasha and Sessho-maru, but I can smell Kagome faintly here too. Are they still here? Koga's thoughts stopped as the Neko came to land next to him. The door to the castle had begun to open.
The young woman standing in the doorway looked familiar to him, but her scent gave it away. "You're that girl who always traveled with Sessho-maru. Is he here?" Koga growled.
"Sessho-maru-sama is waiting for all of you in the hall." She turned away, not seeming to care if they new arrivals followed or not.
"Koga…" Mayoka's small hand took his own as she slipped to his side.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine." The Ouji gave her hand a slight squeeze before leading the way after Rin.
((Across A Land))
Sango stood silently, watching carefully as she, Miroku, and the children waited to see what had come to the village. "What is it?" The Houshi whispered at her side. He held his staff at the ready, his brown orbs focused on the youki coming from behind the gate. Everyone stiffened as rocks began to be kicked into the entrance, until a woman dressed in a white kimono with pink flowers, stumbled in.
"Kagura." The Taijiya growled, stepping forward, a dark look on her face.
"How could that be? I thought she died when we killed Naraku." Miroku put in.
"I don't know, but that's her, so maybe he isn't really dead."
A harsh laugh echoed to them across the space. The two adult humans turned back to the youkai woman.
"Don't worry, Naraku is dead." Her red eyes slowly lifted to look at them.
"Why have you come, Kagura?" Miroku stepped in.
"I hate to say it, but I've need of your help." Her breathing began to enter her body in pants.
"I smell blood on her." Shippo whispered as he jumped onto the Houshi's shoulder. Both nodded.
"What have you been up to, killing villagers? There's blood all over you." The Taijiya called to the shadow.
Kagura laughed again, this time ending in a cough. "No, Taijiya, though I am covered in blood, it does not belong to villagers."
"Then what?"
"I am dying, and came to thank you, and ask for a favor."
Thank us for what?" Sango pressed. A small smile flashed across Kagura's face.
"For setting me free."