Sorry for the long wait guys. But I'm back again, and with your next chapter. This chapter gets a little darker at certain points, but don't give up, the humor will return shortly. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Dark Magic

Looking up when he heard footsteps, Inuyasha appeared hopeful when he caught the telltale scent of his half brother.Well, he silently thought, it was about damn time his brother returned with the others for it was way past evening by now. Kagome had not woken even a little for hours now. She just laid unmoving, almost as if she was ready to pass on to the next life and was preparing her body for her eternal rest.

Inuyasha would be damned before he let her give up that easily. Oh yes, he was even willing to let his arrogant half brother do some crazy mind melding shit with his future mate to save her. Yes, he'd be damned before Kagome gave up.

"How is she?" asked Sango as soon as she had fully entered the hut.

"Worse," replied Inuyasha softly. "She won't even move anymore. There seems to be nothing left of her."

Kneeling down by her best friend, Sango rubbed one hand gently over the still girl's forehead. "We're going to save her Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru taught us what we have to do and we will not fail her. She's never failed us so we won't fail her."

"So don't worry, she'll be able to sit you, Inuyasha Kouga, and beg Sesshoumaru soon enough," added Miroku perkily from his position by the doorway.

Finally realizing what was missing, Sango asked suspiciously, "And just where by chance is Kouga? And my brother?"

Laughing shakily, after all, there was no way to tell how Sango would react when she discovered her brother ran off with the wolf, Inuyasha said, "So. What do you say to saving Kagome now?"

Sesshoumaru entered the hut just in time to see Sango vault over Kagome's body to land behind Inuyasha and take the hanyou in a stranglehold.

"Inuyasha," said Sango harshly, "Where. Is. My. Brother. I did not just go through hell to save him to have him disappear on me again!"

Coming up behind the young woman, Miroku gently grabbed hold of Sango's arms and removed them from around Inuyasha's neck. Pulling her backwards he snaked one arm around her waist and held her firmly to his chest. "Now that you can breathe again Inuyasha, where may I ask is Kouga and Kohaku?"

Scratching the back of his head nervously, Inuyasha eyed the woman in Miroku's arms. "Well uh…Kouga left and um…Kohakuwentwithhim."

Lunging at Inuyasha, Sango grabbed his ears and twisted them until the hanyou screamed. Or she would have. If one persistant and damn annoying monk wasn't currently restraining her from turning one hanyou permanently deaf.

"Let. Me. GO!" grunted Sango as she strained and pulled against Miroku's arms. "He let my brother leave! Leave! How could he? How could you!" she yelled towards Inuyasha. "You saw how he was! And now he's alone with only Kouga? Do you want him to kill himself? He's depressed Inuyasha! Any idiot could see that! And you let him leave?How could you?"

"Calm yourself woman," said Sesshoumaru. "He left. So be it. If you want to chase after him that's up to you. But there is one miko who currently needs your help if you would so choose to calm down and help her. The choice is yours," he finished coldly.

Deflating in front of everyone's eyes and going limp in Miroku's arms Sango sighed softly. "You're right Sesshoumaru. I'm sorry. I'm sure Kouga will look out for Kohaku. And Kagome really needs us right now."

Pulling her tight against his chest, Miroku said, "Sango, Kohaku will be safe. Not only can he take care of himself but Kouga is with him as well. You know as well as I that Kouga is completely trustworthy and he would not let anything happen to your brother. Have faith in him. They will return."

Nodding, Sango straightened up and pulled herself free from Miroku. "Right then. So I believe we wasted enough time as it were. Let's save Kagome now."

"And tie Sesshoumaru to a human," snickered Miroku.

"Keep that up and there will be one less human around," growled Sesshoumaru beneath his breath yet loud enough for Miroku to hear.

Grinning, Miroku didn't reply.

"Take her outside," commanded Sesshoumaru upon seeing that everyone was ready to be serious. When he saw Inuyasha react instantly to pull the miko into his arms he turned and walked out of the hut. Once outside he scanned the grounds quickly and located a prime location to perform the ceremony. Far enough away from the village to be assured of privacy, yet close enough to be assured of safety. Or at least as much safety as could be assured in this time. Reaching it quickly, he waited for the others to arrive.

Sesshoumaru wasn't entirely confident this would work. Sure, he knew the ceremony he told the others about existed for he remembered reading books about it back when he was younger and his father still lived. But those books were ancient history by now. There was no telling if the ritual was even correct, of it was just wishful thinking by the writers. What if a crucial piece of information was exempt from the books? Then this would fail. And there was no telling what the consequences of failure might be, for both Kagome and himself.

Half of his mind was thinking himself insane. He could be risking his life for another's, a human's no less. He was not prone to acts of compassion. Bringing Rin back was mainly for satiating his curiousity, not compassion for the murdered child. Even now he kept her around because she intrigued him. Yes, he would save the child if she needed to be saved. But he would admit to himself he would not risk his life for her. And he would not exchange his life for her's.

But this miko…he couldn't understand it. He was about to perform an untested ceremony to save this young woman. He could wind up destroying himself yet he knew he would not change his mind.

"I know I don't ask for anything, and much less deserve anything," said Sesshoumaru softly to the night air, "but let this ceremony work."

Turning his head, he saw the others arriving, Inuyasha cradling the miko against his chest. When they reached him Sesshoumaru beckoned for Inuyasha to hand the miko over.

Appearing against it for only a split second, Inuyasha overcame his inner beast's instinct to keep his future mate safely in his arms and handed Kagome over. Lowering his ears, he continued fighting his inner beast when Sesshoumaru sat down and placed Kagome in his lap, the girl's limp head leaning against one shoulder. Not able to control his continuously soft growling, Inuyasha clenched his fists and willed his inner beast to trust his half-brother. But it was hard, so hard, to let another male hold his Kagome so closely. To see her cradled gently against another's chest almost turned his inner beasts loose.

He jerked when he felt a soft hand slowly yet persistently loosen his own. Looking down, he saw a pair of small hands holding one of his own. Soft brown eyes stared up him and a smile greeted his tormented expression.

"Sesshoumaru-sama will take care of her," said Rin with conviction. "He won't hurt her and then you can have her back!"

The childlike innocence and trust the small girl held for Sesshoumaru, and the willingness to attempt to soothe a hanyou brimming with barely suppressed rage, finally achieved what all of Inuyasha's willpower could not. The inner beast was beat down, and it withdrew back into the deep depths of Inuyasha's mind. Not willing to leave go of the one thing which aided him, Inuyasha grasped one of Rin's hands loosely in his own. Careful not to harm her with his claws, he remained silent, but calm at last.

Pleased to see his half-brother refrain from going berserk on them all, Sesshoumaru settled the miko more firmly against his chest. Contact was needed for this ceremony to work, and as much as Sesshoumaru tried to deny it, he knew he liked the feel of the small woman against his chest. Knowing that he was the only one who could help her also served as quite a big boost to his beaten pride. Perhaps he didn't kill either Naraku or Akki, but he would save the other's blessed miko.

And you'll save her for yourself too, added a little nagging voice in the back of his mind.

Silencing that voice immediately Sesshoumaru made eye contact with the three people who would aid him in the coming process. "Are you ready to proceed?"

Moving to form a tight triangle around the demon lord and the unconscious miko, Miroku, Sango, and Kaede joined hands for Sesshoumaru's answer.

"Whenever you are," added Miroku for a vocal affirmative to the demon lord's question.

"Then begin."

As if they were of three bodies but only one mind, Miroku, Sango, and Kaede began chanting in perfect unison. The language was that of an ancient race of demons long gone, long ignored, that is until Sesshoumaru thought of them to save Kagome's life.. It was smooth and beautiful being heard from in three different voices, but at the same time it was dark, forboding, and evil.

Inuyasha jerked in dawning comprehension. Words long forgotten that had been told to him by his father filtered into his mind. 'Never forget my dear child, if you ever come across a true psychic, a true harbinger of death and despair, do not anger them. They can tear apart your mind faster than you could think of attacking them. These are not peace loving demons. They relish in causing pain and destruction to all around them. And they have not been heard of in centuries. I doubt you will ever come across one. But in any case it is best to warn you of them.'

This short conversation piqued the child Inuyasha's interest. Late at night he would sneak into his father's massive library searching for something, anything, on this mysterious race of demons. He found a giant tome on them at long last.

What he read in the following nights turned his blood cold. His father seemed to almost be making a joke of them with what he said. The truth was worse, so much worse, than the young Inuyasha could ever imagine.

Death. Yes, these psychics, or as the book called them, Oracles, dealt out death in generous amounts. It appeared their greatest pleasure in the world was causing other demon races to extinguish themselves. In fact, it appeared they were responsible for the vast majority of the disappearance of most long gone demonic races.

It was their method that made the young Inuyasha's blood run cold. They would turn mother against child. Husband against wife. Brother against brother. Leader against kingdom. They would ensnare each individual's mind. Control them like a mindless puppet. And when the time was right, they would free their captive.

Mothers would wake only to find the bloodied body of their child lying at their feet. Husbands would wake to find their wife's mutilated carcass lying in their hands. Grief ravaged each race the Oracles took out. One by one, the members of the race would turn on each other in their mind numbing despair. Mini battles raged throughout their lands. If they didn't die in a fight against their own kind they took their own life. What mother could live with the thought that she murdered her own child?

The Oracles never stained their own hands with blood. They didn't need to. Their powers were astronomical. And it was for this reason they destroyed themselves. The very same method they used for destroying other races was employed in destroying themselves. One by one they turned against each other, each one wanting to be the most powerful, to dictate where their race went next. Rebellion broke out, fighting amongst each other took over their lives. One by one they fell. Eventually they fell out of existence.

However, their books, their culture, didn't die with them. That could be seen and heard by just looking at Sesshoumaru and the others.

Inuyasha highly doubted that Miroku, Sango, and Kaede truly knew what they were doing.

Dark magic.

Evil magic.

Magic that had been used to murder thousands.

Magic that had been used for nothing but cruelty and malice.

Inuyasha wanted to scream at Sesshoumaru, hit his brother, do anything to make him stop. Oracles never used their powers for the good of others, Oracles dealt in nothing but destruction. How could his brother even think to use one of their spells to save Kagome? More than likely it would end up in both of their deaths.

When a mini whirlwind started at the base of the chanter's feet and swirled up to engulf all five of them, Inuyasha fell to his knees. He could do nothing but stare as they all disappeared from view. There was no turning back. The ritual had begun.

Inside the whirlwind, Sesshoumaru silently listened as the chanting continued. He knew what he was delving into. Dark, ancient magic was never a smart thing to trifle with. Yet here he was doing it, and dragging four others into it with him. But it was either use dark magic to save the miko. Or sit back and watch her die.

He taught the three the ancient chant and was pleased to hear them saying it with perfect accuracy. However, he refused to tell them what they were saying in the common tongue. If he did he doubt he could have convinced them all to try this ritual.

'My dark Father, my ruler of the Underworld, grace me with your presence as I look to devour this soul standing in front of me. Grant me the power to seize their mind as I look to further expand pain and darkness in this world. I swear on my life this individual will suffer and despair before I release them to your world. My dark Father, my ruler of the Underworld…'

For the race of Oracles, the one taking over the mind would chant it themselves. However, there had been a great study of this ritual in the past. Oracles were one of the most interesting races to study for the academically inclined. Books upon books were written about them, their powers, and their magic rituals. This one was delved into a great deal. After all, it supposedly granted the power of mind control to the user. Scholars could barely contain their excitement in imagining the great possibilities if this ritual was ever mastered.

It was here the books grew fuzzy. Many different methods of recreating this ritual for the non-Oracle were created. Sesshoumaru was taking a gamble, this he knew. The method he picked had the most agreement of working amongst the great scholars. But before it had been fully tested all had perished in a mass assassination. Every book on the Oracles was hunted down and burned. The study of Oracles was banned amongst the demonic races.

Sesshoumaru never asked his father how he came across his wide collection of books on Oracles. Instead he silently studied this mysterious and powerful race. He never knew his half-brother was doing the same.

But from the looks of things this ritual was working. Darkness encroached on the land, great storm clouds billowed up out of nowhere, and through it all the whirlwind grew thicker and faster.

Sesshoumaru had to silently give Miroku, Sango, and Kaede credit. Throughout all the changes in the environment they never faltered once. At times their eyes would widen, a slight jump would occur in one of them, a hand would start shaking. But without fail another would tighten their hand around the nervous one. They would remain strong for they believed this could save their friend.

At the first clap of thunder, Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and looked down at the unconscious girl sitting in his lap. It was time. Raising one hand, he drew one claw across the miko's forehead. Her deep crimson blood quickly seeped out of the small wound and began sliding down her face.

Focusing entirely on his task at hand, Sesshoumaru jumped in with the chant when the three others had started over.

"My dark Father, my ruler of the Underworld, grace me with your presence as I look to devour this soul standing in front of me. Grant me the power to seize their mind as I look to further expand pain and darkness in this world. I swear on my life this individual will suffer and despair before I release them to your world."

Sesshoumaru pressed a small kiss to the wound on Kagome's forehead. Letting a little bit of her blood dribble into his mouth, he swallowed it.

A sharp, splicing pain hit his head. His throat locked up and he unconsciously drew the miko closer to his chest.

Sesshoumaru could have sworn he heard a dark chuckle of amusement in the recesses of his mind. He could have sworn a bright light pushed that dark chuckle right out of his mind. Or he could have sworn he had simply been hallucinating.

In whichever case, everyone could swear upon what happened next.

The demon lord's eyes rolled into the back of his skull and without a sound he fell into a dead faint.

xXxXxXxXxXx

I had fun writing about the Oracles. That was a complete whim. I wasn't going to make this be dark magic, but then I couldn't resist once I thought of it. Who knows what this dark magic could add to the story in the future. I sure don't. After all, I just thought of them today when I was finishing this chapter. Ah, writing without a single idea of where you're going is such fun. I surprise myself half the time. Well, in good news, I got most of the next chapter already written. So I'll probably post it in a week or so. Until then, please review!

Oh yes, and I give out my thanks to those who told me I wasn't a shitty author. Just so we're clear, I was saying I was a shitty author because it takes me so long to update. But I greatly appreciate you guys telling me I was a good writer. That made me feel quite good. Thanks again, you guys are great.