Hey '....I FINALLY updated!!!!!!!!! yay!!!!!!! runs around the room screaming with joy while pretending not to see all the angry glares from reviewers........well....its not my fault '....ok, so it is....so how many of you are officially mad at me??? crosses fingers hopefully none....welps, tell me what u think of this new chapter....hope it was...worth it
Roku ran through the woods, rushing towards the sound of the struggle he heard. The wind was blowing in every direction, so he couldn't rely on his sense of smell. Hell, he barely heard it. It had sounded at first like a predator had finally caught his prey. He had almost turned and walked away. That is, until the wind shifted ever so slightly and Roku thought he caught Sesshomaru's scent. He would have called for Kari and Reshki, but if Sesshomaru was in trouble, he had no time to seek them out.
'I think this way.' Roku thought to himself as he continued through the dark under brush.
After a minute more of useless searching, he stood in the windy woods and growled under his breath. He quickly felt his blood heat as he began to transform into his tiger demon body. Black and orange fur covered his body, his face elongated into that of a tigers, and dangerous claws grew. Within moments, a large tiger stood in the woods, taking in the smells and sounds. Roku's head jerked to his left. He heard a small growl of irritation. He immediately sprinted in that direction.
His fluid cat body easily navigated the woods where his more human like body was not as adept. He bounded over a fallen log, searching through the dark for any sign of movement. With the wind as it was, he couldn't hear anything except the rustling of the leaves and the noise of bushes been blown together.
He bounded over a fallen log and behind some bushes. His ears jerked forward to hear someone speaking. He crouched low, his hearing straining to catch the words that were blurred by the wind.
Chii rose above his upper body, looking down into his blank gold eyes. She had him. She finally had him. She could feel his mind, could feel him struggle within himself, yet he could not break her hold on his body.
He was hers!
Chii stood, smoothing out her dress as she did. "Stand." she commanded, seeing his body do as she had ordered. 'I finally have the great Lord Sesshomaru! Soon the Miko will die and my Shadow Lord will rule this cursed surface and I will claim the underworld!' she thought with excitement.
The wind died down, now that her powers were spent, and she finally caught the scent of a tiger demon. 'It must be his Guardian,'Chii thought then muttered softly to Sesshomaru. "Order your Guardian out here."
"Roku, here," Sesshomaru stated in a flat, dead-pan voice. It would've sounded like his normal cold emotionless voice except it lacked life. It lacked the very essence that made Sesshomaru's voice cold. Instead, it just sounded dull and void of any life.
Roku knew something was up, but he wasn't sure. Unable to deny a direct order from his Lord, he slowly crept into the clearing. A low growl escaped his throat, his mind screaming something was wrong with his Lord, but he couldn't figure out what it was. His tiger ears were laid back as his golden eyes glanced from Chii to Sesshomaru.
"Now, now. Were you spying on your Lord?" Chii asked mischievously.
I do not answer to you, Roku thought to both Chii and included Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru, please teach this mere...demon...to respect me, Chii thought to only Sesshomaru while her smile turned seductively sweet.
Roku didn't even have time to react. One minute he's ready to pounce on Chii, the next he's being thrown by Sesshomaru into a tree. Roku hit with a sickening crack before falling to the forest floor. He was pretty sure one of his ribs were broken. The tiger demon looked at his Lord with pure surprise.
"Do not disrespect Mistress Chii," Sesshomaru stated in a dull and flat tone. Roku's surprise was doubled at that phrase.
Chii laughed maliciously as she stalked slowly towards the injured Roku. His ears laid back and he bared his sharp canines, growling. He might've been injured, but he would not allow her to get close to him. "Now, now, now. Calm guardian, wouldn't want to upset your Lord," Chii taunted, glancing over her shoulder to a statue like Sesshomaru.
My Lord, what is going on? Roku pleaded, but he saw nor heard any reaction from his still Lord. He tried to move but growled in pain. It was worse then he thought. It seems he had broken more then just one rib. His tiger eyes watched Chii approach slowly and realize he would not survive this encounter. He slid his calm gaze to Sesshomaru. Reshkif!! Kari!!! Can any of you hear me? Roku called out, sending his urgent mind voice in all directions, hoping anyone heard him.
Chii watched as the tiger struggled pathetically to stand. She would've laughed at him at such a futile attempt. She could see his blood pooling around him. His ribs were shattered and his demon blood would be unable to heal him before he died. 'Perfect,' Chii thought, standing out of the Guardians range. "I will give you some credit. Only you heard me," she stated slyly. The tiger faced her, growling. However, she could see the pain he attempted to conceal. "Sesshomaru chose well when he picked you for a Guardian. You are stubborn, just as he is. You can die knowing your Lord fought me....and lost."
Roku could do nothing. Already, his vision was getting blurry and he could not feel his hind legs. He was dead and he knew it. He never thought he would go like this. Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands, the one he was bound to protect, stood by as Chii grasped Roku's head. By then, he was too weak to attempt to fight her.
Deep within his own mind, Sesshomaru watched with rage. He could hear Roku's final plea echoing in his mind. The Western Lord struggled with all this might to move, to rip the spinal cord out of the creature that called itself Chii. He watched, truly hopeless, as she grabbed his Guardians large tiger head with her seemingly delicate claws, and twisted until there was a sickening crack. Instantly, the tigers body slackened, indicating he was dead. If Sesshomaru could've breathe, he would've sucked in a shocked gasp.
Sesshomaru howled within his prison, blinded by the sudden powerful rage that over took him. Even then, his body would not respond. It was like he was slamming head first into some invisible wall. 'No!!!' He cried within his own mind, wanting to drop to his knees.
Chii turned from the dead body, looking every bit as evil as the deed she had just committed. "I'm sorry Sesshomaru. I know you grew close to your guardians, but he simply got in the way. He couldn't be telling the others about this recent developement." Her small body approached his stiff one, trailing her hand down the front of his chest. "Perhaps, later, I will be able to fully claim you," she added almost as an after thought, smiling to reveal small sharp canines. Nothing compared to his own, which he wanted to tear into her with.
Sesshomaru sunk within his own mind. The Lord of the West was, for the time being, defeated.
Inuyasha sat outside his tent, unable to sleep any longer. The sun had barely crested above the horizon. He was staring to the north, where Derenti and Ventai would be. He wanted to send Suki there. He knew things were about to happen, things he could neither prevent nor stop. He just didn't want her to get into the middle of it. He didn't want her to get hurt. Inuyasha sighed heavily, preparing himself for the argument he knew Suki would put up.
His thoughts, for some unknown reason, turned to Kagome and Sesshomaru. 'If you've taught me anything, Sesshomaru, its how to be a true friend and a real mate,' Inuyasha thought, remembering the times he had seen Sesshomaru with his best friend, Kagome. They looked so...serene and whole. Inuyasha knew, when he fell in love with Suki, that she was the other half to him. While Kagome and him would always have a special relationship, it couldn't compare to the one she had with Sesshomaru nor the one he had with Suki. He would do anything for Suki or Kagome, knowing they would do the same for him.
Inuyasha stood, glancing once more to the north, before walking back towards his tent. Upon walking in, he saw Suki was up and brushing her shimmering golden hah". Inuyasha admired the normal and peaceful scene, knowing he would have to interrupt her soon.
Suki sensed Inuyasha was watching her and sensed something was wrong. She turned to face him and laid her brush down, concern gracing her features. "What?" Suki asked delicately, unsure as to what would worry him so early.
"Suki..." Inuyasha began, unable to look at her while he continued. "I think it would be best if you returned home." Inuyasha braced himself for her response, unsure how she would take his previous statement. Suki looked at him for a moment, confused at first as to why he would suggest that. But his posture revealed to her this was something he did not want to ask her. Instead of questioning his statement, she went to him and wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug. He returned it gratefully.
Suki buried her face in his chest and mumbled into it," I don't want to leave you." He hugged her all the tighter.
"You won't be. I just don't want you to get hurt." Inuyasha stated, nuzzling the side of her neck.
"Who would hurt me?" Suki asked, even though they both knew the answer to that question. She sighed hopelessly.
"Please, Suki," Inuyasha whispered. "I want you to stay, but I need for you to be safe. You're not safe here, we both know that." Suki nodded her head against him, understanding but now liking it.
"How will I get away? I'm always being watched when I leave this tent," Suki murmured into his clothes, submitting to her mates wishes.
"Tonight, when the watch is switched. If you go South and around the camp to the North, you should be fine." Inuyasha explained, clinging to her all the tighter. She tilted her head slightly so she could look at him and smile sadly.
"They will notice I am gone..." she began before Inuyasha silenced her with a gentle, sweet kiss. He rested his forehead on hers and sighed.
"Let me worry about my father. You just worry about making it home." Inuyasha replied quietly.
X'ith sat in his throne room, alone and irritable. The Shadow Demon Lord had hoped that since both Chii and Inutaishou were on the surface, they could've gotten rid of the miko by now. X'ith was SO close to rising up on the surface with his shadow demon armies. He could almost hear the screams of the dying and see the rivers of blood that would be spilt. The fight for the surface would be quick and deadly. No normal demon was a match for a shadow demon. There were not enough magical blades to harm their shadow like bodies. They would fall quickly. And the surface would be his. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
X'ith slammed his black, clawed fist down on the arm of his throne in impatience. Almost as if on cue, Chii's image appeared on his white crystal wall. X'ith was about to vent his frustrations out on Chii when he saw she wasn't alone. Plus, unlike usual, she was smiling.
"I am deeply sorry for keeping you waiting, my Lord."Chii began. Normally, X'ith would've silenced her then subject her to a verbal beating for being late. But something inside X'ith told him Chii, for once, had good news. "The task you sent me here for has been completed." Chii's words echoed in the large, empty black chamber. X'ith's eyes regarded her with a small measure of surprise and suspicion.
"Elaborate," was all he said.
"My Great Lord, you sent me to the surface to entice Prince Sesshomaru. I have done just as you have commanded. He fell before my powers not too long ago. I am in control now. He will no longer be a problem," Chii explained, seeing an evil smile slowly spread on the Shadow Demon Lord's smokey black face, causing his red fangs to flash in the scarcely lit room.
"Sent word to Inutaishou. I want that miko dead, and soon." He ordered, the smile still on his lips. That smile even made Chii shudder. She bowed respectfully before her image disappeared from the only white wall in the large throne room.
"Soon, soon." X'ith calmly told himself. 'Very soon.'
Sesshomaru had watched with keen interest when Chii had produced an image on a full length mirror. The sight that had greeted him sent a chill through his unresponsive body. The room had been dark and for a minute, he thought it was empty. Black marble had covered all the floors and walls. He had seen no ceiling. A large, black throne with a dark purple glow had been the focus of the mirror.
That was when he had seen the room was far from empty. A midnight black creature sat on the throne, fiery red eyes, and black horns the only distinguishable features of the creature. That, and its red fangs. He was unable to determine its size, but he was guessing it wasn't small. Wisps of smoke trailed off its form, like it was less then solid.
Sesshomaru knew, when he heard the creature speak, this is what they were up against. This was the creature that wanted Kagome, his mate, dead. He didn't understand why, exactly, but that was inconsequential. This...thing...wanted something from Kagome. 'But what,' he thought. The only thing he learned from the short talk Chii had with the creature was that her part in this was to capture him. And she had not failed.
Chii turned to Sesshomaru, the smile still not fading from her lips. "Well, whether you heard him or not, looks like I will have to post-pone play time for now. I need to kill your little miko first." She seemed to pause for a moment, thinking, before a cruel smile graced her lips. "Better yet, why don't you do it for me."
Sesshomaru growled within his mind, pressing once more against the wall that held him away from his body. 'I will kill you before my mate ever comes to harm,' he sneered at her, knowing she couldn't hear him but he didn't care. He would kill this Chii, what ever she was, and he would derive great pleasure from doing it. His Youkai rage flared up once more.
Chii could see a little bit of red bleed into his eyes, indicating he was angry. 'Good,' she thought. 'Let him wear down his anger. The sooner he realizes how hopeless it is, the better.'
"But first thing's first. We need to go see mutaishou," she stated aloud, then commanded, "Pack my things." Sesshomaru had no choice but to obey.
Trey looked down at Kagome, at the black skin around her neck. Trey was dumbstruck. He had been powerless to prevent this, he knew, but he couldn't help but feeling like he had failed. Like he should've been here, or he could've somehow prevented it. He knew she wasn't dead. After all, he was still alive. 'So if she isn't dead, then...does that mean she's trapped in her own mind?' Trey thought to himself. He glanced around the empty room, as if looking for some kind of support. Only the emptiness of the room surrounded him. 'Reshki, what would you do?' he thought hopelessly.
Trey sat next to the bed, thinking. 'If only there was some way to hear her thoughts...' He paused at that, then almost fell off the bed. An idea popped into his mind, screaming with hope. 'It's so OBVIOUS!' He cried to himself as he got up and ran out of the room.
He sped down the hall as quickly as his feet would carry him, flying past pictures, tapestries, and servants. All the while, he was hoping his idea would not be dismissed or impossible. He flung the door open to Derenti's study. "I have an idea!" he stated, unable to contain his enthusiasm. Derenti, Ventia and Tsume looked at him in surprise. Trey never seemed to be the excitable type, but here he was, almost shaking from excitement. They stared at him, confused at first, but waiting for him to continue. Trey let them absorb his statement before continuing. He wanted to make sure he had their complete attention.
"Well, elaborate," Ventai stated, the first of the three to come to their senses.
"Derenti, Kagome is still alive, right?" Trey asked, building up to Kami only knows what. The dragons stared at him like he had gone crazy.
"Well, I suppose since you're still here," the dragon rumbled his reply, shrugging his massive shoulders.
"Couldn't you read her thoughts then?" Trey pressed. A long moment of silence followed his question before the idea sunk in with everyone else. They all burst into action and moved quickly down the hall.
"I can't believe I didn't attempt that to begin with," Derenti scolded himself, moving right behind Trey. How he couldn't have seen it himself, he wasn't sure.
"We were too set on finding the cause to think about it," Ventia reminded, but couldn't help the smile that graced her features.
All three poured into the room and automatically went to Kagome's bedside. Derenti peered down at her in thought, before glancing at his mate. "I will be able to read her thoughts..." he started, glancing at Trey.
"But he will have to find her first," Ventia concluded for him, nodding. "Come, Trey. We will leave my mate and Kagome in peace." Ventia grasped Trey's upper arm, getting his attention.
"I could stay and watch," he stated, his eyes not leaving Kagome.
"Trey, there was nothing you could do to help her before, and there's nothing you could do now. You're just tearing yourself up. Come with me," Ventia stated softly yet firmly. With that, they both left Derenti and Kagome alone in the room, praying he would find her.
Sorries to all those who were waiting...the more reviews, the better...motivates me ya know