Disclaimer: I do not, sadly, own InuYasha or its characters, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Cardcaptor Sakura or its characters, I just love them more than life itself, they belong to the wonderful ladies at CLAMP.
Song credit: Yasashisa no Tane performed by Junko Iwao (voice of Tomoyo Daidouji in CCS)
~~Chapter 6~~
The following morning after everyone had eaten and camp was packed up, the group set off, heading east once more. There wasn't much chatter on the road this time, as they traveled in relative silence. Syaroan looked to be fighting an internal battle, Meiling kept watch on Renaku, as he seemed to like-wise be battling himself in his head. Eriol was smiling to himself, Miroku and Sango were riding on Kirara, scouting ahead to see if they could find anything worth checking into, Kagome was walking while reading one of her text books, intent on studying more, despite not being in school yet again for an even longer amount of time, Sakura and Tomoyo were talking quietly to each other about Syaoran, as Sakura had long-since realized she loved him, she was just entirely oblivious to Syaoran's feelings for her. Yukito and Nakuru were likewise talking, only they were just talking about random mundane things, such as the first things they were going to do once they returned to the future. Inuyasha was leading the group and didn't mind the relative silence, letting his thoughts drift to two different subjects, the first being where Naraku could possibly be holed up at and the second being of the whereabouts and well-being of Kikyo.
The mostly silent day ended as Miroku and Sango returned, Kirara landing a bit ahead of Inuyasha, "There's a few small villages along the path, but none have mentioned seeing anything that looks or sounds like it might have been Naraku." Miroku stated as he slid off Kirara's back.
"It makes no sense that he's this well hidden, even before there were at least sightings, and aside from Kagura attacking at my village yesterday, we haven't seen or heard from Naraku or his incarnations in awhile." Sango added, "Its as if he just disappeared."
"We should stop for lunch, Inuyasha." Kagome spoke up, before the hanyou had a chance to say anything to what Sango and Miroku had said.
"Tch. Whatever." Inuyasha grumbled before jumping into a tree.
"I suppose we should go ahead and gather some wood for a fire." Miroku sighed as he and Sango took off.
Tomoyo sighed as she sat down with the others, "You know, I am starting to miss school. I wonder what was told to our friends. Chiharu-chan, Rika-chan, and Naoko-chan must be terribly worried. And I'll probably have been kicked from the choir club…"
"If you were, it won't be hard for you to get back in." Sakura commented, smiling.
Meiling smiled at this and sat next to Sakura, "Ne, Tomoyo, would you sing for us? Something cheerful preferably."
Tomoyo smiled and nodded, "Sure, I don't mind." she replied as Sango and Miroku returned, "Though it would be nice to have a partner to sing with." she added, giving Sakura a pointed look.
Sakura nodded, pulled out her Star Key first, turning it to a staff, then pulled out The Song card and focused her mind before incanting "Card created by Clow, discard your old form and be reborn, in the name of Sakura, your new Mistress! Song!"
Appearing before them was a young girl wearing a long dress, all in lavender-white, and bluish-lavender headgear. The headgear resembles a treble clef, and the dress resembles the front of a stringed-instrument. Her dress also has the 'F holes', which are long to look like the cello. Her hair is purple, and split into two sides with the ends in a curl.
Tomoyo smiles at the girl, "Song-san, I would like it very much if you would sing with me." she says, the song smiles and curtsies to Tomoyo in acceptance.
Tomoyo thinks for a moment then begins singing "Sabishii toki niwa nukomori wo sagashi
Haruka ni tadoru yo natukashii kioku wo….." as she begins the next verse the Song joins in, copying her voice perfectly, "Haha ga itoshi go wo kaina ni idaite Hidamari no naka de komoriuta wo utau"
Inuyasha's ears swivel in Tomoyo's direction, as everyone remains silent listening to the beautiful vocals of Tomoyo and The Song card. The whole group was silent listening to the two harmonize together, the words to the song flowing beautifully from them. Sakura smiled as she listened to them, feeling a bit of peace fill her.
"Omoikiri takaku jiyuu ni habatakeru Jiyuu ni habata keru sono mune ni hana wo sakasete…" the two trail off after singing, the Song returning to card form while everyone else, except Inuyasha, clapped politely.
"That was amazing, Tomoyo." Sango said with a soft smile, "You have a real talent."
"Indeed, I have never heard someone with a voice so lovely before." Miroku added.
"Thank you." Tomoyo said with a smile.
"See, Tomoyo-chan, you'll still be able to have a spot in the choir club, they would be foolish to reject you." Sakura stated then groaned, "Though I'm not so sure about my spot in the cheer club…."
Tomoyo nodded, and they both sighed, while they had grown to care very much about Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara, they missed their friends and lives back home very much.
After eating lunch, they spared an hour for the usual combat training between Sakura and Sango. Sakura having been given a sword to use and thanks to her athletic skill to begin with, she was coming along quite nicely.
After the training was finished they were on the road once more, their moods much improved. As they walked Sakura walked alongside Syaoran for once, talking to him about the ofuda he used, curious to know if she could learn to use them or not.
When they stopped to camp for the night, Sakura again trained with Syaoran to use magic other than the Clow or rather Sakura Cards. As they trained, Sakura felt someone watching her and it sent a shiver down her spine, "Who's there?!" she demands, whirling away from Syaoran, hand automatically going to her pocket.
Syaoran frowned and moved to stand beside her, the sword he had gotten from Sango drawn.
"What's wrong?" Sango called as she and Miroku jogged over to them.
"Someone is watching us." Sakura replied. As she finished speaking, a few giant wasps flew out of the trees.
Sango gasped, "Naraku's insects!" she announced.
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and went to attack them, but Miroku stopped him, "Wait Inuyasha! They are undoubtably going to report to Naraku! If we follow them…"
"They'll lead us straight to the bastard! Lets go!" Inuyasha finished for Miroku, waiting only a moment for Kagome to get on his back before bolting.
"Dash!" Sakura called out as she took off running after Inuyasha, Dash helping her run fast enough to keep up with him.
Kero transformed and carried Syaoran and Tomoyo while Kirara carried Sango and Miroku, Meiling, Renaku, Yukito, Nakuru, and Eriol were left to follow as quickly as they could, Shippo remaining with them in order to trace the others' scents in case they got too far ahead of them.
They ran all through the night, following the Saimyōshō. Upon reaching half way through an open field of grass, the Saimyōshō began to fall one by one, dead.
The group came to a halt, tired but on alert, The Dash returning to card form.
"I don't get it, what's going on?" Inuyasha muttered mostly to himself as he nudged one of the wasps with his foot. Before anyone could answer however, an orb of bluish white light passed them by before taking shape and revealing a man with long silver-white hair and the same gold eyes that Inuyasha possessed wearing a white formal hakama, with red at the hem of the sleeves and on the left shoulder, thin white hexagonal shapes with white flower cut outs were formed inside the red areas, a black obi, battle armor, and yellow and purple heko-obi. His cold gaze took in the dead Saimyōshō, before glaring at Inuyasha. "Sesshomaru." Inuyasha stated with a slight hint of disdain in his tone.
"What happened to the Saimyōshō? Did you kill them?" the man spoke.
"Sesshomaru? Who's that?" Sakura asked, confused.
"Inuyasha's older brother, or half-brother actually. Sesshomaru is a full demon, and he's ruthless and has no patience for anything." Kagome replied, quietly as Kero landed just behind Sakura.
"You mean those poison insects?" Inuyasha asked looking down.
"You're so short sighted. I was following them to Naraku but now I have nothing to lead me." Sesshomaru stated, sounding as irritable as his typical monotone allowed.
"Let me make one thing clear." Inuyasha snapped, already tensing for battle, "I didn't kill those bugs."
"You have an excuse for everything. It gets tiresome to hear." Sesshomaru once more stated, as he drew his sword, Tokijin.
"Hah, I don't have to make excuses for you, I'm telling the truth." Inuysaha replied, clenching his fist.
"Inuyasha isn't lying" Kagome cut in, "He didn't kill them!"
Inuyasha quickly draws his Tetsusaiga, "Stay outta this Kagome, he's so stubborn he never understands."
"Inuyasha I'm not feeling particularly magnanimous today, I won't go easy on you like I have in the past." Sesshomaru stated. By now the others had caught up and were spread out in a line behind Inuyasha. Sakura keeping a hand on her cards and her staff transformed, Tomoyo, Eriol, and Nakuru being guarded by Kero.
"You guys stay back, Sesshomaru won't hesitate to kill any of you." Inuyasha snapped, as he readied himself.
Sakura frowned at that, pulling a card out, "Card created by Clow, discard your old form and be reborn in the name of Sakura, your new Mistress! Shield!" she called, a pink barrier emerging protecting everyone besides herself and Inuyasha within it.
"Sakura!" Syaoran called, worried that she wasn't inside Shield's protective barrier.
"Don't be foolish, go back with the others." Inuyasha said, not taking his eyes off Sesshomaru.
"Not a chance. I can help." Sakura replied, her usually bright and happy eyes turned hard with determination, she repeated the incantation to change a card, this time changing 'The Sword'.
Before Inuyasha could say anymore, Sesshomaru charged forward, which in turn caused Inuyasha to charge, the both jumping into the air, blades meeting, before they both pushed themselves backwards.
"Oh come on, both of you knock it off already!" Kagome yelled.
"You're wasting your breath." Shippo pointed out.
"Those two are constantly at odds with one another." Miroku agreed, as the two brothers continued to fight, sparks flying as their blades connected once more. Everyone was held in awe of the battle, they failed to notice a two-headed dragon fly over head.
"Time for my….Wind Scar!" Inuyasha bellowed, unleashing the wind scar. Sesshomaru didn't even look bothered as he used Tokijin to slice through the wind scar and dart forward, knocking the Tetsusaiga out of Inuyasha's hand and knocking Inuyasha onto his back. He held his sword to Inuyasha's neck.
"I win this time. Are you prepared to die, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru said scathingly.
Inuyasha growled, "I don't care about my life, kill me and get it over with."
"Wait!" Kagome cried, ignoring the others trying to stop her as she ran out of the cover of the Shield card, towards Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Sakura immediately ran with her using Sword to knock Tokijin out of Sesshomaru's hand.
Golden eyes of ice turned Sakura's way, though she merely glared back as Kagome continued speaking, "Do you want to know where to find Naraku? Then head for the Ox-Tiger, someone said they sensed Naraku's presence heading that way!"
"Kagome shut up!" Inuyasha snapped, having not wanted to give Sesshomaru any information.
Sesshomaru's gaze shifted to Kagome, "In the direction of the Ox-Tiger? That is all I need to know, thank you." he said though he didn't at all sound grateful, as he turned, retrieved Tokijin and began to walk away.
"Wait! Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha called after him, "Why are you after Naraku?"
"I have a score to settle." came the bored reply of Sesshomaru, who merely continued on, not bothering to stop.
Once he was out of sight Inuyasha turned on Sakura and Kagome, "What the hell were you two thinking?!" he demanded as The Sword and The Shield returned to card forms.
"I was thinking that maybe if we gave him some information, he'd leave without killing you!" Kagome snapped right back.
"And I won't sit back and watch as someone I consider a friend be killed! I won't do it so don't even think to ask it of me!" Sakura yelled at Inuyasha, causing him to freeze.
"Tch. Whatever." Inuyasha said, crossing his arms as he got to his feet and walked off to retrieve Tetsusaiga.
The exhaustion in the group was evident as Inuyasha looked back at them, everyone starting to sit down, and water being passed around. With the Saimyōshō dead, their only lead gone, it was time for a well deserved break.
Sakura and Kagome went back to the rest of the group, settling down, Sakura finding a seat between Syaoran and Tomoyo, while Kagome sat near Miroku and Sango, the spot next to her vacant as an obvious invite for Inuyasha.
"That was reckless!" Kero complained back in his plush form.
"Gomen ne, Kero-chan." Sakura replied, not at all sorry, "But I meant what I said, I won't sit back and watch someone I care about be killed. I have to do what I can, otherwise what point is there in having magic and these cards? What's the point in training every day? I'm not a child anymore and I want to help."
"Hey" Inuyasha said as he sat down, "What's with having Sango give you a sword from her village if you had one in those cards?"
Sakura shrugged, pulling The Sword card out, "Sword makes the wielder of it a master swordsperson. I wouldn't learn anything about fighting if I relied solely on it to guide me. So if I lost it in the midst of battle, I'd be useless. For one, it takes over my staff, so I would likewise lose my staff and be unable to call for another card. For another, I would have no battle experience after losing it as well. I figure it would be better to have a back up sword and learn to fight without the use of magic."
"That makes complete sense to me." Sango said, with a smile.
"I don't know about the rest of you," Meiling cut in, "But I want a nap. We ran all through the night, and I'm tired. Naraku, Clow, and whoever else can wait for just one day so I can sleep!"
The others laughed and agreed with Meiling, the only ones who didn't was Sakura and Inuyasha. As everyone began to set things up to take naps, or really to just sleep for the rest of the afternoon and most of the night, Inuyasha struck up a conversation with Sakura.
"So you guys are pretty certain that Clow guy has something to do with all of you being trapped here." he states.
"Yeah." Sakura replied, confused as to what exactly Inuyasha wanted to know, "I've sensed his presence several times since we got here. It makes no sense to me. Clow Reed lived about 300 years ago give or take a decade or two. Or rather, considering where I am now, 200 years in the future. He shouldn't be here or in mine and Kagome's time to make trouble and yet…there is no mistaking that its his presence we keep feeling."
Inuyasha scratched his head, trying to keep up with what she was saying, "Is there any chance he's working with Naraku?"
"I want to say a flat no. But I honestly don't know. I've never met Clow. Kero and Yue are the ones who know him best. But...from what I do know of him, from the stories Kero has told me, and from the nature of both Kero and Yue, and the Cards, Clow was a good man with a sense of humor. I don't see him working with someone as vile as this Naraku seems to be."
Inuyasha sighs and nods, "I understand. I hope for your sake he's not."
"Thanks Inuyasha." Sakura replied.
"Feh" was Inuyasha's only answer, and before long the silence in camp, aside from the light snoring from Kero, drew Sakura into the depths of the lands of dreams. No one had moved from the spots they'd been sitting in, so Sakura was curled on herself, laying between Syaoran and Tomoyo.
~END Chap. 6~
Again, sorry for the long wait. I had an internal struggle to pull inspiration for this story from somewhere, I still have scenes in my head, scenes that won't happen until closer to the end. But all the stuff in the in-between is kind of lost so I'm winging it and hoping I can tie the planned ending into where the story goes. But it'll take me a bit longer to write chapters because of that, so please have patience! I refuse to let this story be left unfinished, because I do love it. So no matter how long it takes me to write one, I promise a new chapter will be along as soon as I can write it!
Cards Turned During Previous Chapters
The Mirror
The Erase
The Sweet
The Cloud
The Rain
The Storm
The Silent
The Voice
The Twin
The Wood
The Fly
The Jump
The Sleep
The Time
The Shadow
The Loop
The Dash
The Libra
The Lock
The Wave
The Bubbles
The Change
The Return
The Float
The Maze
The Glow
The Flower
The Little
The Big
Cards Turned in this Chapter
The Song
The Shield
The Sword
Cards That Still Need To Be Changed
The Sand
The Through
The Earthy
The Dream
The Snow
The Mist
The Firey
The Power
The Windy
The Create
The Move
The Watery
The Thunder
The Illusion
The Shot
The Fight
The Freeze
The Arrow
The Light
The Dark