AN: Hello everyone. Finally I am done with chapter 29. It is not as long as the last chapter, but I am happy with it. In the next chapter I am not sure wether or not I am going to focus on the ones in the feudal era of focus on Kagome, Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Inu Yasha in the future. I will have to wait and see where my inspiration takes me. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 29.
Inside Mt. Hakurei in Naraku's hidden castle, Kanna stood completely still in one of the corners of Naraku's room as said man stood in the middle of the room, panting and growling in fury. The room was completely destroyed, all the furniture had been either shattered by brute strength or melted with Naraku's most poisonous miasma. The walls where either cracked or had deep claw marks, the same was with the floor and ceiling. Any decorations that had been in the room was destroyed beyond repair as well. Kanna looked at her master with her unemotional expression as she held her mirror. Naraku hadn't been able to witness the fight once Kagome had put up her barrier, but movement inside, hidden by Sesshomaru's poisonous fog, did indicate a fierce fight. However, when the urn that held Kagura's heart inside Naraku's chamber shattered and said heart turned into dust, Naraku had known that he had lost. When the barrier and the poison fog vanished and they could see the little Miko and her friends surrounding what was left of Kagura, the wind demoness' clothes, fans and hairpins, laying on the ground, ashes mixed with reiki blowing away in the wind was all the confirmation that Naraku needed to confirm that Kagura was no more. However, once his attention zeroed in on Kagome both he and Kanna could see how much stronger the little miko's reiki had somehow become. That is what had made him lose his temper to this extent. Kanna could understand some of his fury but for her it had been more of a surprise than anything else. Kanna knew that Naraku never had thought Kagome could ever become this strong. In truth, Kanna had known that Kagome would grow stronger but not to this extent and Kanna didn't believe that Kagome had finished grow just yet. Kanna blinked her thoughts away when she noticed Naraku move towards her, and she looked up at him.
"Kanna, I will start the creation of more incarnations. I want you to find a way to seal Kagome's reiki." Narakus said and Kanna bowed her head in understanding and then watched how Naraku stormed out of the destroyed chamber, most likely going to find another room to occupy. Kanna slowly walked out of the room as well and walked to her room to make preparation to go out to fulfill Naraku's order. 'Be happy, Kagura, and make sure to protect the little miko. Naraku won't umtil he has her in his grasp again.' Kanna thought as she entered her room and took a small pouch with what she needed and then walked out of the room, confident that Kagura was still alive and would more than likely pledge loyalty towards Kagome.
Naraku stormed through his dark castle, his youki raging around his body, he was still absolutely furious. He didn't care that Kagura was dead, he would've killed her sooner or later after all. No, what he was furious about was that the stupid bitch hadn't even been able to injure anyone of Kagome's companions or Kagome herself before she died. If Kagura had injured Kagome just slightly or anyone else, preferably the monk or slayer, the group would have had to recuperate for some time, and he would've been able to attack them himself to kidnap the little miko. Naraku walked into a chamber, just as luxurious as his first chamber in this castle and sat down on one of the cushions and scowled as he lifted his hand and looked at it. His plans that he was working on while hiding inside Mt. Hakurei was progressing well, it would soon be complete, but he knew he wouldn't have much time now that most of the members of The Band of Seven was now alive, truly alive for that matter, and they were obviously working with Kagome and her group. What pissed him of the most though was that, that bastard Bankotsu seemed to have entered a courtship with the little miko. Kagome belonged to him, he was going to capture the girl as soon as he can seal her reiki and after that, she would be his slave. Naraku shook his head and took a deep breath as he let his youki swirl around him, right now, he should focus on what is as hand. Now with Kagura gone he would need more incarnations than he had planned and for now, he needed to focus on what he wanted those incarnations to be able to do. Naraku closed his eyes as he began to put together what kind of power that would be needed.
With Kagome and the others.
When Kagome and the others arrived at the village of Edo, the villagers that was outside welcomed them happily, though they were a little bit weary over Sesshomaru's presence and Kouga's woolves, but the villagers all expressed their happiness that Kagome was alright. Only Kaede knew that she had been kidnapped in the village, the villagers had been told that Kagome had gotten sick, since no one in their group, nor Kaede, wanted to worry them. Kagome smiled at them and thanked them for worrying about her. Once they reached Kaede's hut, the elderly miko was waiting for them outside. The old woman eyed Sesshomaru for a second before she bowed in respect to the demon lord and then turned to Kouga, telling him that his woolves better not cause any trouble. Kouga just grumbled that they wouldn't do that. After that Kaede chuckled and than asked everyone to come inside her hut for some tea. Once everyone was inside Kaede started to prepare tea for everyone except Sesshomaru that declined the offer. While Kaede sat, preparing tea everyone else in the group sat down around the firepit, Sesshomaru stayed near the door standing, his focus seemed to be on their surroundings, but he would occasionally look at the group in the hut, especially Kagura, the wind demoness seemed to have a lot of mysteries around here, especially since it would seem like she had been part of one of the wind elemental clans before Naraku had absorbed her. So now he would have to return to his castle to contact the other lords, Kouga was already in the know, so he would only have to contact the lord of the south and lord of the north. After that, he would have to get in contact with the elders of the clan they thought Kagura originated from. But most importantly, they would have to find a way to keep it a secret from Naraku that Kagura was still alive. Sesshomaru's thoughts were interrupted by the elderly miko that had finished serving the tea. Once that was done everyone made themselves more comfortable and Kagome started to tell Kaede what had happened since the last time. Sesshomaru closed his eyes as he listened. He knew that the old woman knew some of it by the way she was looking at the younger miko with worry, but it was probably for the best for her to know everything and not have any blanks just in case.
The talk had been long and once it was done, they all decided to call it a night since everyone was tierd. Sesshomaru had just quietly left the hut once it had been decided that they should all get some rest and had jumped up on to the roof of the hut then up to a tree bransch in the tall tree behind the hut and sat down on it and looked up into the now dark sky. Soon Sesshomaru could feel most of the occupants in the hut was asleep. Only the demons were still awake. Kagura, from her energy, seemed happy yet bewildered. Not that Sesshomaru could blame the wind demoness for it. She had been freed from Naraku and gotten a new heart. Making her able to truly live like the wind like all wind demon's instinct told them. However, it was Kouga's energy that held Sesshomaru's interest. The young lord of the east was angry yet calm as well as frustration, but Kouga seemed to hold suspicion towards Kagura. Sesshomaru just scoffed silently. He knew that Kouga's pack members had been killed by Kagura by order of Naraku so the wold demon was most likely not completely fine with Kagura being so near, yet he could no longer attack her. Kagura had pledged her loyalty to Kagome something a demon that was not a ruler could only do once towards another and since Kagome was considered as a pack sister to Kouga and his pack, Kouga could no longer attack Kagura, at least not with the intent to kill her. Sesshomaru looked up at the stars as he let his thoughts wander. A part of him could understand Kouga's predicament but he also knew of a few ways for Kagura to still pay for what she had done to Kouga's pack. Though he wasen't sure if Kouga had thought of that or even knew them. Kouga was still a very new lord and knowing the wolf leader, Kouga might just have ignored to learn everything about being a lord since it was obvious that the wolf cub liked to move freely.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes as he let his thoughts on the matter go and then focused on Kagome. The little miko was truly a wonder in this world. Not only didn't she judge demons like a normal miko. Instead, she judged them for their actions. If a demon attacked just for the fun of it, she dealt with them, but she always sought out the reason first before choosing what to do. She could also heal wound that should be impossible for a human to heal. Sesshomaru's regrown arm was proof of that but know he knew she could also create organs to replace the old once for. Not even the best demon healers could do such a feat. Of course, he had kept it a secret on how he had gotten his arm back from the other two lords, Kouga obviously knew but would never tell the other two either, he had also kept it from the demon council. Since if word got out, Kagome would be targeted for just that power. He didn't think that his mother, Lady Inukimi, that was part of the council would do anything. Her hatred for humans had subsided after she got to know his ward, Rin, but that was not the reason why he thought Kagome was safe from his mother. No, Kagome was safe because his mother might just find it better to befriend the miko instead of targeting her and force Kagome into working for her. That was the type of woman his mother was. The other four members of the council, as well as the two remaining lords, however, would most definitely use force or threat Kagome into agreeing to work for them and that is why he never revealed how he got his arm back so quickly. Sesshomaru's musings were interrupted when he heard movement from inside the old mikos hut and when he opened his eyes, he saw Kouga sneak out och the hut with a disgruntled face and he mentally sighed and then closed his eyes again. He wouldn't involve himself in the young eastern lord's problems. Besides, from the movements inside the hut, Kouga's two packmates was about to come out as well. He would let those two, deal with their stubborn leader.
Kouga slowly walked a little bit away from the hut as to not risk waking the humans up, he wasn't worried since he had noticed that Bankotsu, even when he was asleep had his guard up completely and he knew very well that Lord Sesshomaru was near as well even if he couldn't pick up the western lord's scent or youki. Kouga huffed out in annoyance at that. Kouga stopped once he was close enough to get to the hut in case of anything happening but far enough as to not wake the humans sleeping inside. He let his eyes wander towards the forest where the bone eaters well were and clenched his fists. He was still not all that happy with everything that happened. Sure, he understood that having Kagura free from Naraku and joining their side was a good thing. But he couldn't forget his promise to his dead packmates on getting revenge for them and he couldn't either forgive Kagura for their murders. His musings were interrupted when he smelled his two friends and he turned and looked at them.
"Didn't I tell you two to stay and keep an eye on that wind bitch?" Kouga asked annoyed only for his two friends to roll their eyes.
"Kouga, you know just as much as us that Kagura wouldn't be able to do anything with both Bankotsu and Lord Sesshomaru there. Besides, Kagura has sworn her loyalty to sister. I am sure that it is perfectly safe to leave her be. She is too focused on listening to her own heartbeat right now anyway." Ginta said quietly as Hakkaku nodded his head in agreement and Kouga scowled a little but then huffed and nodded in agreement. Not many demons swore loyalty to another, especially not towards a human but there had never been a demon who have broken that oath before, so he knew that Kagura was safe to have around Kagome, but he still didn't like it.
Ginta and Hakkaku both looked at their friend and leader with concern. They could understand Kouga's thoughts and worries. The woman that had been responsible for a lot of their packmates deaths was in front of them but the benefits of letting her join them outweighed killing her and since she had made an oath towards Kagome, Kagura was now seen as Kagome's very own packmate. Which in turn made her partly part of Kouga's own pack since Kagome was an honorary sister to the pack. It had become complicated now since in the law of demons, especially canine demons such as them, a life must be paid with a life. Both Ginta and Hakkaku sighed and looked at each other before looking back at Kouga.
"Look, Kouga, why don't we just talk this out before Kagome and Bankotsu goes back through the well in the morning?" Hakkaku asked and Ginta nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, let's do that. Kagome has to know this too after all." Ginta said and Kouga looked at them for silent moment before he let out a tierd sigh and nodded.
"Yeah, let's do that." Kouga agreed and soon the three wolf demons just stood and watched out over the forest. Before Kouga turned and started to walk back towards the hut, Ginta and Hakkaku walking behind him and soon they walked back inside the hut to rest.
Seeshomaru had heard everything and once the three wolf demons were back inside the hut Sesshomaru opened his eyes once again and looked up at the moon. He would never admit it, but it seemed like the young wolf lord some good people close to him. Sesshomaru himself didn't feel the need for that himself but it was good for a demon lord as young as Kouga to have. His thoughts then went to his castle, and he wondered how his ward, Rin, and Shippo was doing. Knowing Jaken, the children were being taken care of well and he knew that he could trust the servants. But he still worried, even if he would never show, nor tell, anyone that. He also let out a small smirk at the thought of what kind of micheif the two children could get up to. They most likely also pulled Jaken into as well. Sesshomaru closed his eyes as he decided to talk to Kagome about him returning to the castle while she and Bankotsu went through the well. he could always send Jaken and Ah-Un to meet up them as long as he knew when they planned on returning. With that Sesshomaru decided to get some rest himself, while he still stayed on guard.
Kagura sat in a corner of the hut with her hands over her chest and just listened to her heartbeat and let her thought fill with the amazement that she was truly free from Naraku. All thanks to Kagome. She knew she could never be able to repay Kagome for what the little miko had done for her, but she would make damn sure that Kagome was safe and could be happy. She had sworn her loyalty to the miko, and she didn't regret doing that at all. She knew all too well that if she had ever heard that she would one day swear loyalty to someone in the past, she would have called that person crazy or just killed them. But know she felt nothing more than gratefullnes for Kagome and pride to be at the mikos side. Her musings were interrupted when Kouga suddenly, but quietly left the hut and she blinked slowly as she watched him leave, mentally frowning at him and soon his two friends left to follow him, and she let out a relieved sigh. She knew that Kouga was not happy with her joining them, but he couldn't seem to go against Kagome it seemed. That made her relieved. She slowly closed her eyes and the tension in her body left her and she relaxed. She knew all too well that Kouga still wanted to avenge his fallen packmembers that she had killed five years ago. That made her tense being so close to him in a small hut. Sure, he could understand that somewhat, but she had just been doing what she was ordered, and she had also made sure to close of her feelings about it för so long that she just couldn't suddenly stop doing that. Kagura let out a soft sigh and decided not to think of those things for now. Instead, she let herself get lost inte listening to her heartbeat again, not even noticing how she was slowly falling asleep. Soon her eyes grew heavier and closed. Letting the wind demoness fall into her very first relaxed and restfull sleep.
With Kanna outside Mt. Hakurei.
Kanna slowly walked out of the cave that led to Naraku's hidden castle and then walked towards the barrier, said barrier immediately created and opening for her to pass through and she walked outside of the barrier and walked away. She was carrying her mirror as well as a small satchel on her back. Once the small void demoness was certain that there was no Saimyosho following her she let out a soft sigh. True, she had no emotion since they had been sealed away at the same time when her heart was taken, the moment she was created by Naraku, her dark lord had not wanted another incarnation like Kagura after all. But that said, just because she didn't have any emotion didn't mean she couldn't feel anything and right now she felt how tiresome her journey to find someone or something that could seal away Kagome's reiki was going to be. Without Kagura it would take longer as well but Kanna didn't care. In fact, she thought this was for the best. She was concerned about the new incarnations that Naraku was now going to create though. Kanna lowly shook her head and looked ahead as she walked a little faster. For now, her focus must stay on her task.
"Maybe I should find some dark mikos… I know of one or two not far from here…" Kanna said quietly as she used her youki to hide her presence completely, not letting anyone find her. It wouldn't be good if any of Naraku's enemies found her after all. Sure, she could steal their souls, but she was not a fighter. Kanna walked I silence to the south, knowing of a dark miko that resided there.
With Inu Yasha and Jakotsu in the future (No lemon)
Jakotsu looked up to the ceiling with a happy smirk on his lips as he held one of his arms around the sleeping Inu Yasha's shoulders. He glanced down at Inu Yasha who was sleeping soundly and his smirk gre slightly. When he had first found Inu Yasha all flushed and confused he had really been worried something horrible had happened, but once he realized that Inu Yasha had gone into a heat and that he had wanted Jakotsu to help him through it, Jakotsu had never been happier and he was now tierd but somehow he couldn't fall asleep. His thoughts were interrupted when Inu Yasha moved slightly to nuzzle against Jakotsu's chest and Jakotsu smiled and kissed him gently on the forehead and then made himself more comfortable and closed his eyes, he might just need the sleep since Inu Yasha's heat was not completely over just yet´, he also needed to make sure that the both of them got something to eat so he would get some sleep then make his way quietly to the kitchen to get them some food and water. He was also certain that Kagome and Bankotsu would return to check on the half demon, so he needed to make sure that they did not walk in on him and Inu Yasha being intimate. Jakotsu slowly hugged Inu Yasha as sleep slowly pulled him into it's relaxing embrace, his last thought before he fell asleep was to leave Bankotsu and Kagome a note for them and maybe a list on things that him and Inu Yasha might need until Inu Yasha's heat was over.