The Book of Sorcery
By: BlackShade14
Updated: 06/13/22
Disclaimers apply.
A/N: I'm still rewriting the beginning chapters of this story. So far I've posted rewritten chapters 1 through 9.
Before the Battle
Inuyasha and Kouken fell to their knees when they arrived at her village, out of breath from running. Inuyasha recovered first, getting to his feet, he picked up Kouken and went inside her hut. Carefully, he set her on the plush, scarlet pillows that adorned her sleeping room. Before he could let her go, Kouken grabbed him by the shoulders and brought their faces close together.
"What is wrong with you!? Why did you go alone to Mount Hakurei? Did you really think you could face Naraku without help?" Kouken yelled practically against his mouth.
"I thought I could with the jewel." Inuyasha tried to pull away from his snarling girlfriend, only to have her yank him back to her.
"The jewel, which was taken from you by that wind sorceress." Kouken's eyes narrowed.
Inuyasha's ears lowered to his head as embarrassment at his failure filled him. "I wanted to keep you safe."
"And who would keep you safe?" Kouken's anger faded, replaced with worry. Her grip loosened, her hands releasing his shoulders to wrap around his back. She pressed his form into her, and Inuyasha realized she was shaking.
"You have no idea how scared I was. What if you didn't make it? It would've killed me inside to know that you died and I wasn't there to prevent it." Kouken's voice was muffled from pressing her face into his neck.
"I'm sorry." Inuyasha tightened his arm around her waist and rubbed circles into her back with his other hand.
"If you're sorry," Kouken lifted her face to glare at him, "then you better not do something so stupid ever again. You and I are a team; we watch each other's backs so we both come out alive."
Inuyasha wanted to protest, but in light of his previous defeat, he decided Kouken was right. "Okay."
Kouken smiled in relief and pulled him in for a kiss. Despite her negative feelings, she was happy to see him.
Inuyasha allowed himself to indulge in his girlfriend for a few minutes before he pulled away. "We have to get to Earth. I know what Naraku's plan is."
Inuyasha quickly told Kouken what Kagura said to him. "Is it possible to resurrect someone with the jewel?"
"It's possible, but…" Kouken frowned in thought.
"But what?" Inuyasha widened his eyes in expectation.
"But why would he use only you as a sacrifice?" Kouken tapped her finger to her chin.
"I don't understand. Kagura said only death pays for life. I figured it was like an exchange; a life for a life."
"Resurrection is more complicated than that. One needs to open a portal to the underworld and drag the person's soul back to the living realm. However, that leaves reality unbalanced, so another's life is given to take their place in the underworld. But here's the thing—one soul is not equal to another."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha's brows scrunched together in confusion.
"A person's soul is worth the sum of their good deeds and morally right choices."
"So if you're a good person your soul has a higher worth, and if you're a bad person your soul has a lower worth?" Inuyasha asked to make sure he understood.
Kouken nodded. "Naraku should've gathered several people as sacrifices, not just you. Just in case your soul isn't enough."
Inuyasha tilted his head in contemplation, his furry ears twitching with his mental effort. Kagura made it seem like he was the only sacrifice. Was it a lie to throw him off their plan? He allowed his mind to take him back to his conversation with the wind sorceress.
Inuyasha's expression went from anger to shock. "That's not possible. Resurrection is the one power sorcerers don't have."
"All but one."
It took a few seconds for Inuyasha to put the pieces together. "Yokoshima figured it out."
"Almost. There's a catch—only death pays for life."
"And I'm the sacrifice." Inuyasha couldn't keep the fear from invading his tone.
"Correct." Kagura gave a condescending pat between the fluffy dog ears.
Kagura made it seem like he was the only sacrifice needed, but what if that's because his incorrect conclusion is what she wanted him to think, rather than him figuring out Naraku's actual plan? Kagura did say Naraku was on Earth.
Inuyasha felt a spark of fear.
Why was Naraku on Earth? Could it be…he was gathering his other sacrifices? Why would he travel to Earth when there were plenty of sorcerers for him to choose from? Unless Naraku has specific people in mind.
The realization turned the spark of fear into a raging inferno.
"Inuyasha?" Kouken could feel his heartbeat speed up under her hand.
"My family. Naraku's going to after my family."
Inuyasha shot up, unintentionally knocking Kouken on her back, and ran out the hut into the forest.
Righting herself, Kouken stood and followed after him. She didn't hesitate to go through the blue portal Inuyasha made.
Izayoi stood on the roof of the highest tower of the palace. The barrier she placed around the castle glowed and pulsed as the sun beamed down, sharing its energy with her.
She replaced her kimono with a black skintight bodysuit, over which laid brilliant gold armor with metallic wings. Her teachers thought it appropriate to give her magic armor to increase her protection. It also helps that it's enchanted to fly.
Izayoi took deep breaths, it was all she could do to keep herself calm. She could hear her husband barking out orders to the soldiers below. Focusing on his voice helped her stop her hands from shaking.
Her eyes snapped open when she felt a sudden surge of magic hit her barrier. Waves of blue light formed from its origin on the ground, somewhere in the forest ahead of the front gate.
She recognized the magic signature immediately.
"Why is Inuyasha outside the barrier?" Izayoi thought aloud, opening the shield a bit to allow him entrance.
She spread the wings on her armor, the sunlight reflecting off the metal, leaving streaks of gold on the ground as she flew. She needed to get to the front courtyard. Something wasn't right…
Inuyasha carried Kouken on his back as he raced through the front gate of the palace. He paid no mind to the shocked looks the soldiers were giving them. He needed to find his mother quickly.
He came to a stop when he saw his family gathered in front of the steps to the palace. It seems his father was briefing everyone on the battle plan. He scanned each person looking for his mother, but saw she was the only one missing. Where was she?
Before he could say anything, a gust of wind made him look up.
Everyone in the courtyard stared as Izayoi descended. Each flap made a strong burst of air slap everyone in the face, or blow their hair in their eyes. Her golden wings sparkled as her flapping slowed enough for her to land softly. The wings, along with the rest of the armor and her beautiful face, made her look like a warrior angel. For a brief moment, no one said anything and simply looked in awe.
"Mom?" Inuyasha gasped once he regained his ability to speak. "You look amazing! What are you wearing?"
Izayoi couldn't help but smile at her son's expression. "Enchanted armor." Her gazed switched to the violet-haired girl resting her chin on Inuyasha's shoulder and she frowned in confusion. Why did he bring his girlfriend here knowing there would be a battle today?
Placing Kouken on the ground, Inuyasha grabbed her hand and brought her to his family. By then they had gathered behind Izayoi, wondering who Inuyasha had with him.
Kouken straightened her spine and pulled back her shoulders. She wasn't expecting to meet her boyfriend's entire family so suddenly, let alone so soon. She tightened her hold on Inuyasha's hand in nervousness. She felt Inuyasha bump her shoulder in support.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to explain, but his brother spoke first.
"This is your girlfriend, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked, already knowing the answer. He eyed the girl, giving her a critical once over.
Everyone gasped. Girlfriend? When had that happened?
"Inuyasha, what is your brother talking about?" Inutaisho narrowed his eyes at the thought of yet another secret being kept from him.
Inuyasha cleared his throat and shook his head to clear his nerves. He had more important things to worry about right now.
"Everyone, this is my girlfriend Kouken." Inuyasha raised his and Kouken's connected hands. Kouken didn't say anything, merely giving a shy wave at the demons staring at her.
"She's here because we have important information about the battle today."
Inuyasha and Kouken explained what they discovered about Naraku's plan. Kouken gave a quick description of the shikon jewel and her job as it's protector. Inuyasha told his family about how Naraku forced him to collect the jewel shards. Inuyasha omitted his shameful loss to Naraku's daughter and simply said Kagura is currently in possession of the jewel. Inuyasha and Kouken impressed the severity of Naraku's plot to free his master Yokoshima; using the jewel to open a portal to the underworld and resurrect his long-lost wife, sacrificing them in the process.
The family was silent when the two finished talking; each person needing a moment to absorb the information. Izayoi was barely holding back tears. Her baby suffered so much for too long. How hadn't she noticed?
Mindless of everyone else, she let the water fall from her eyes and enveloped her son in a hug. As an afterthought, she spread her wings and wrapped them around herself and Inuyasha to give them some privacy.
"Why didn't you tell me? How could you go through all that alone?" Izayoi whispered, pressing Inuyasha's face into her neck, knowing her scent gives him a sense of comfort.
Inuyasha had released Kouken's hand when he saw his mother approach. He thought he was in for a slap to the face, but was surprised when she glomped him instead. His heart clenched when the smell of salt reached his nose.
"I wanted to protect the family. They're not magicians—they're more vulnerable to magic than we are. Sana was almost killed. I couldn't… I didn't… I just…" Inuyasha choked on his voice as the lump grew in his throat.
Inuyasha clutched his mother tightly and pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry."
Izayoi wiped her eyes when she stopped crying, and used her thumbs to swipe across Inuyasha's cheeks.
"I'll kill him." The sadness in Izayoi's eyes was replaced with determination and anger. Naraku was going to pay for what he did to her baby.
"We'll stop him together." Inuyasha wanted to quell the red developing in his mother's eyes. He placed his ear on her chest, listening to her heartbeat. He nuzzled into her, his cheek resting on her breast. He idly remembered how he used to do this when he was a little kid. His mother's pulse never failed to make him feel safe.
Izayoi's eyes returned to violet when her son snuggled into her. She held Inuyasha to her bosom for a few minutes before letting go, her wings releasing them from their close confines.
Inuyasha looked around for Kouken. He cringed when he saw her surrounded by his family. It seemed they were bombarding her with questions. He went to save Kouken from the pack of dogs cornering her.
Izayoi sent a spell to summon her teachers, who were patrolling the forest outside the barrier. They needed to know what was going on. She wasn't startled when two spheres of light appeared in front of her before manifesting in the forms of Majutsushi and Ichiko.
"It's worse than we thought." Izayoi began as she recounted everything Inuyasha and Kouken told her.
The siblings expressions became grim and grew darker with each word she said.
"This is going to be a problem." The siblings sighed.
Kagura landed quietly on the ground at the cliff's edge, her feather shrinking from seven feet to less than three inches before she placed it back in her hair.
"Kagura." Naraku held out his arms to hug her.
"Father." Kagura returned his embrace.
"Do you have it?"
Kagura didn't answer, she merely reached into her kimono to show her father the shikon jewel.
Naraku gave a sinister smile. "Excellent."
"Inuyasha and the jewel protector escaped." Kagura handed her father the shining pink sphere.
"It is of little consequence. The eclipse is almost upon us." Naraku looked at the closing distance between the sun and its lunar partner.
Kagura looked down at the demons gathered in the gorge below them. Ten thousand reanimated corpses stood deathly still, waiting for their orders from the ones who control them.
"Kagura."
She didn't answer, simply turned around to indicate she was listening.
"When we reach the western palace, I want you to stay well back in the forest and guard your mother."
Kagura's eye twitched in annoyance.
"For the resurrection to work, her body must not be damaged." Naraku's tone told Kagura there was no changing his mind.
Kagura huffed before glancing at her mother. If it weren't for Kagura's obvious youth, one might think she and her mother were twins. The red rose pattern on the white yukata made her mother's cream-colored skin and red eyes more noticeable. Her hair was even styled; beautiful loose waves traveled from her scalp to mid-back, rather than the simple side braid it was usually in. It seemed her father wanted her mother to look good for her official return to the living world.
Kagura couldn't help but feel sadness at the blank eyes staring back at her. Sure, her mother could move and see and comprehend orders, but without a soul it was just a mindless puppet. No more than the demons in the canyon.
Kagura couldn't wait to see the sparkle of life come back to her mother's eyes.
"I understand." Kagura's irritated looked faded.
Naraku followed his daughter's gaze, eyes softening once he looked at his wife. He walked over to his love, placing a gentle hand on her cold cheek. "I will bring you back, Kimi," Naraku promised. "Soon our family will be complete, and your skin will feel warm once again."
Naraku looked down to his right when he felt a hand grasp his. Kagura's eyes were loving, and her gesture comforting.
"We will succeed." Kagura never failed to know when her father needed encouragement.
Naraku nuzzled her hair and squeezed her hand.
"It's time to head out."
At that moment, ten thousand demons released an ear-splitting howl so loud, even the humans could hear it from miles away.
AN: Feel free to inform me of any grammar/spelling errors. :)
Preview for next chapter:
The ground rumbled, pebbles and sticks that littered the ground shook. Inuyasha covered his ears at the shriek that filled the air. When the awful noise stopped a minute later, he was unsettled to find blood on his hands.
~BlackShade~