: Chapter 8 :
: Started: July 2, 2006 :
: Finished: July 2, 2006 :
"We want to know if you will join forces with us, so that we can stop Death, it is only until the threat is over. Once it's over we never have to see each other again. I'm asking this, not demanding it, tough if you're not with us you're against us, there's no neutrality in war, especially in this one. So what is your answer?" Sesshoumaru asked, Sango and Miroku looked at each other, back to Sesshoumaru and Aki, and then nodded. Kagome looked skeptical and InuYasha was considering.
"If someone was killing things I would sense an evil aura, but I haven't felt anything." Kagome said she didn't believe them. Aki bent down so that her eyes were level with Kagome's.
"Death has no aura, he just is, he is dead and yet not dead. Hence none of us can tell where he is." Aki said in a low dangerous tone. It wasn't like her to be this way and Sesshoumaru knew something was going on, but he didn't interrupt. It was valuable information. "Either you're with us or you're against us, say no now and I'll kill you fast so you don't feel anything, say no later and I'll slowly torture you to death." Aki said, her eyes were still slits.
"How do you know then?" Kagome asked as she stood, she didn't like staying still under Aki's gaze, it was unsettling and she didn't like it, not one bit. Aki smiled and closed her eyes, she opened them and her eyes gave off a dark forbidding look, her smile said the same thing.
"I was supposed to become the new Death, but I was lucky and got away from his clutches, though I was with him for two horrible years, praying on humans for fun, I've killed many miko's such as yourself, but none are as strong." Aki explained. "I know what I know because I can also do what he does, but the more I do it, the closer I get to becoming Death. I'm not going to become Death just because some little miko doesn't believe it when people try to tell her something!" Aki growled as her hair rose into the air, Aki was surrounded in flames, red, blue, black, all three colors. Her hair was whipping about; the heat coming from Aki was intense. Then Aki closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the flames disappeared and Aki looked at Kagome with that gaze of hers that made Kagome want to turn and run in fear. "What is your answer?" Aki asked.
"I will join with you." Kagome whispered, she had never seen such a frightening thing in her life, Aki turned to InuYasha, he nodded, not wanting to trust his voice, he didn't want to sound like a coward.
"Then it's settled." Sesshoumaru said. "We're going back to my castle, be there in three days." He added as he and Aki walked away. After they got a fair distance Sesshoumaru grabbed Aki's arm and turned her to face him. "What's wrong?" he asked, Aki looked at him in a confused manner.
"What do you mean what's wrong? I'm fine." Aki answered as she turned away to try to get back to going to the castle.
"No, you're not." Sesshoumaru said. "Your eyes are slitted and you've been in a foul mood ever since we got here."
"Death is around here some where, he's bringing the demon plane here with this plane, soon it'll start to effect you, and even that miko, we'll all start acting more evil and soon enough we'll start to tear each other apart, limb from limb." Aki explained.
"Then why has it only started to affect you?" he asked.
"Like I said…I was supposed to become Death, hence I've spent more time on the demon plane and I'm more venerable what everyone else, it's a side effect. One that I'm going to have to get used to." Aki added under her breath. "Well let's go or else those humans and half-demon are going to beat us there." Aki said as she yanked her arm free of Sesshoumaru's grip and started running to the castle. Sesshoumaru followed Aki, deep in thought.
Something's not right… Sesshoumaru said to himself. There's something she's not telling me and I wanna know what it is. Suddenly he heard Aki scream, she fell to the ground clutching her head in pain, he didn't hear anything.
"Get out of my head!" Aki growled, it wasn't a very strong growl, but it was deadly. "I SAID GET OUT!" she yelled, Sesshoumaru smelled blood and he noticed that blood was coming out her ear.
"Aki! What's going on!" Sesshoumaru asked.
"He's…inside my head…ARGGGG!" Aki shrieked in pain so loud that Sesshoumaru winced. Blood came out her eyes and nose as well. "If he doesn't…get out soon…I'm dead." Aki managed through gritted teeth, blood was also coming out of her mouth.
"What can I do?" Sesshoumaru asked, he didn't know what to do and he didn't want Aki to die, there HAD to be SOMETHING he could do!
"N-nothing…I ha-have to d-d-do it." Aki said, she closed her eyes and concentrated. No matter what Sesshoumaru did he didn't a response out of Aki after she had closed her eyes.
Aha, I've finally drawn you in here. Death said to her, Aki scowled and growled, it wasn't a pretty sight especially with the blood on her face, bringing out the flare in her eyes.
Get out of my mind you fag. Aki growled, in her mind she was free of pain, until he attacked her mental self at least. Death smiled and laughed, it wasn't a very nice sound to her ears, it hurt them, but she would deal with it to stop the attack on her mind.
I think not. I'm going to destroy the world you know, and then give Nyx back her body. Death explained. Aki growled warningly. Oh…I'm so scared. I think it's time I went into your mates mind. Death smiled evilly and Aki lost it.
DON'T YOU DARE! She yelled as she attacked him, she was much faster than he remembered. Aki grabbed him by the throat and lifted him. You go into his mind and it'll be the last thing you do. Do what ever you want with me but I swear, touch him and you die. Death smiled and her and then was gone. Aki opened her eyes and she noticed that she was in her room and she was clean.
"What happened? How'd I get here?" she asked as she looked around.
"You've been out of it for about a day, and I brought you here when you collapsed to the ground." Sesshoumaru answered, he looked tired.
"I've been out THAT long?" Aki asked, Sesshoumaru nodded. "You looked tired, you need sleep." Aki said as she got out of bed. She walked over to him and pushed him onto the bed. "Sleep." She ordered. Aki didn't have to bother, he was already out. Worry and dread always made people sleepy; she knew he would be out for a while yet. There was a knock on the door and Aki opened it.
"Lord Sesshoumaru is needed." The messenger said, Aki looked back at Sesshoumaru.
"He's…busy, I'll go in his place." Aki said. The messenger looked uneasy, Aki closed the door and a few second later came out looking like a general over Sesshoumaru's status. "Lead the way." He nodded and led Aki to the briefing room. "Dismissed." Aki said in an official tone. He saluted with a fist to his heart and a bow. Aki walked in the room and noticed that the other lands were there.
"What's the meaning of this! Where is Lord Sesshoumaru and what is a woman doing in his place!" one of the generals of the South said, Aki's eyebrow twitched and she turned to him.
"First of all, I'm the lady of this land, hence when Lord Sesshoumaru is resting I will take his place. Second, he is sleeping, a much-needed rest I might add. Third, you WILL show the proper respect for me. And fourth, stop being a sexist asshole!" Aki growled at him as she slammed her hands down on the table in front of her, her language startled them all, even Tyr and Kouga. "Understand?" Aki asked.
"Yes, Milady, forgive me." He added with a bow.
"Forgiveness will not be granted in this war so don't ask for it." Aki said to him, he was silenced and everyone looked at her expectantly. "As you know we are at war, this opponent though is one that will be extremely hard to beat, for he is Death itself." There were gasps all around. "He's not invincible as you all think, I know how to kill him, but a new Death will be appointed, and Death's Mistress will choose. We have NO control over it. Moving on," Aki said as she folded her hands behind her back and started to pace from one side of the room to the other, "we have to be organized, and the demon plane is coming to this world so your worst nightmares are likely to meet you." Everyone looked at her funny and Kouga raised his hand. "Yes?"
"What's the demon plane?" he asked.
Aki sighed and began, "The demon plane is a place where demons have unimaginable power, that is if you're on the right side, you will see our true forms and not the forms we take now, or for us the Lord's and Ladies of the lands, we'll be the same but have more demon like traits. Either way we'll look different, as we speak it's slowly starting to seep into this world and it's already started to affect me, though I've been there before so I'm no longer am immune to it as I once was. Mind you, our true selves will come out on the plane, how we act and look will be different, for example, my eyes slit and I grow into a foul mood I also loose control when you piss me off, so watch yourselves, once you're on the plane you'll find it harder to resist killing for fun, trust me, blood lust is so much more, it's like…hunger, you have to have it or else you'll die." Aki explained as best she could.
"So you mean that there's a chance that we might loose ourselves to the demons inside of us?" the Lord of the South asked, Aki nodded. "What if we join with the other side?" he asked, he wasn't trying to be offensive but he was starting to get on Aki's nerves, once again she slammed her hands down onto the table.
"If you join the other side you'll forever be lost to return to this world, never to return, if you dare choose to join that side I swear, I'll kill you now, where you sit, then I'll take over your throne and make the people join with this side, the right side!" Aki growled fiercely. "Anymore stupid and unnecessary questions?" Aki asked. Once again Kouga raised his hand. "What!" she erupted.
"Where is this plane starting to enter this world?" he asked, it was actually a good question. "Maybe if we can find where then we can half it or slow it down." Tyr and the others nodded. Aki thought a moment.
This started happening when I was near that village, there was a vast amount of energy coming from the forest there…THAT'S IT!
"The well near a village! I don't know what it's called but that well has a vast amount of energy, if we can destroy it then we might be able to slow the demon plane from devouring this plane."
"NO! You can't destroy that well!" the young miko's voice rang out as the doors burst open. Aki scowled, this miko was getting on her nerves.
"Why not?" Aki asked.
"That's the way I get back to my time and from my tome to this one! If you destroy that I'll never be able to go home or I'll never be able to come here!" Kagome explained, Aki rolled her eyes and looked at Kagome.
"You better choose where you'd like to stay because that well is going to swallow this world and I'm not going to allow that to happen. You have 10 minutes to choose. I'll be back in 10 minutes, have your answer then." Aki said, she left the room and retraced her steps back to her room, she opened the door and Sesshoumaru was still sleeping. She smiled, this was going to be one long war, and they were going to do it together even if it killed them both. Aki returned to the room, when she entered InuYasha, Sango, and Miroku were glaring at her. She walked over to Kagome and looked down at her. She had tears running down her face, Aki felt sorry for her, choosing between her family and the person she loved, Aki couldn't understand family, since she never had any but she could understand leaving the one she loved. "What's your answer?" Aki asked softly.
"I wish to stay here." Kagome answered. "I have a favor to ask though." Kagome added.
"What is it?" Aki asked. This little miko is really starting to annoy me… Aki thought as she waited for the favor.
"Will you grant me 10 minutes to say good bye to my family?" Kagome asked. Aki sighed.
"It's not my favor to grant, I'm not going to be the one to destroy the well." Aki said, Kagome looked up with fear in her eyes, it wasn't a fear of Aki, it was a fear of not being able to say good bye.
"Please, please will you be the one to destroy the well and grant me 10 minutes?" Kagome pleaded. Aki squatted down and looked Kagome in the eye.
"I can't. If I go near that well then I will not be able to control myself for longer than a few minutes. I have been to the demon plane and hence I'm not immune to it as you are." Aki explained. "There's no one more pure than yourself and you're the only one that can go into the source of the demon plane and come back and not be affected. The only other one that could possibly do that is Kikyo, or the one that you inherited your powers from." Kagome and the others looked confused.
"She got her powers from Kikyo." InuYasha said, Aki shook her head.
"No, she didn't. Her powers are far too strong to come from that little miko. She got hers from the person before Kikyo." Sango gasped.
"You mean she got her powers from Midoriko!" Sango asked, Aki nodded and turned back to the others. Then she sighed.
"Fine, I'll take you to the well and give you 10 minutes, then you must raise a shield or else I'll kill you when I see you, stand on the side of the well opposite of me and I'll destroy the well. If I fail to destroy you are to kill me and tell Sesshoumaru that I love him." Aki said, she held her hand out to Kagome, Kagome took it. "Is it a deal?"
"Yes."
"Good, mind you this is the last thing I'm going to do for you." Pause. "EVER." Aki added and Kagome nodded. "Now get on my back and we'll go to the well." Kagome did as she was told and got on Aki's back. Aki took off with more speed than InuYasha had, it made her sick to her stomach so she didn't look around, Aki didn't jump like InuYasha did so she didn't feel like she was leaving her stomach in the air when they fell. "Hold on. I'm going to go faster." Aki warned.
"Whadda ya mean faster?" Kagome asked in alarm, Aki smirked and took off so fast that Kagome was almost thrown backwards.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOddone: I don't own InuYasha.
Aki: Nor do I.
Oddone: Well laterz!
Aki: Yeah…laterz!