Chapter 18: What Has Come to Pass

~Yakunan~

He could smell it, the very threads of the netherworld. It swirled around him, communing with him. He was after all, a beast from its own making. It was his time. Time to inherit all that was rightfully his as the oldest son of his father Jaoquin. The dying dragon had lived many centuries, and his power had slowly began to recede back into the great abyss, only to be consumed by his son. Yakunan had completed nine trials that brought him to this one. The tenth and final one. He had entered the land of the dead through nefarious means, though as a dragon of darkness that was not beneath him. It had weakened him, and to continue through the gate to the underworld, he would need every last soul that sought judgment.

He spent days, maybe weeks even. Time was lost to a realm that was not bound by it. His strength slowly returned, and the calling of his blood only grew stronger. He could see it in the far distance. The Giant demon he would need to defeat to gain access to the final resting place of his father, the netherworld. An infinite space existing in and outside of time. It fascinated him. Every culture, no matter the diversity or belief would end up there, and the souls would be his for the taking. That is, if he were to defeat the guardian, and to do so he needed to finish off the last bit of awaiting souls to replenish his own self, and deplete the supply of the guardian. It would definitely tip the scale in his favor.

The Black dragons had held this tradition since the beginning of time. When the Patriarch of the generation dies, the eldest would rise up to take his place. Yakunan, Jiaolong, had been a unique individual though. He would be the youngest dragon of any generation to inherit the ancient powers. His father had gone many centuries without procreating and by the time Jiaolong was born, he was already nearing the end of his life, leaving Jiaolong and two sisters in his wake.

As with any black dragon, the rite of passing is drawn out over decades of trials and provings. Yakunan had begun these trials as a soft scaled whelp, but this was it. He was in the final days, and mere hours away from possessing all that his father knew. That was until everything went terribly wrong.

He could see the faint glow below the hulking demon that guarded the portal. It was barely visible from the seemingly infinite abyss. The souls, many of them, were… Released? He watched in horror. It was the only thing he could feel in that moment. Horror, and disbelief at what he was witnessing.

The guard of the afterlife fell dormant in battle, before him, a demon. A white ghost that reeked of sorrow. Jiaolong began to transform. His anger overtaking him. This couldn't happen. He needed to defeat the guardian, not someone else. All of his time. Over half of his life would be wasted. He gained speed in his true and terrible form. Gliding through the remnants of existence within the realm of the dead. He was so close… Approaching the figure he gained speed as he watched the last of the souls disperse. He was ruined…

The demon stood up, holding something in his arms as he turned toward an opening to the outside world. He could hear a woman's voice, beckoning the demon to leave. Sesshomaru… She had called.

"No!" Jiaolong yelled.

It was a child that the demon held in his arms, a small child that was still tethered to the afterlife. She herself was lifeless, but the thread of her soul was still intact. He could see it being drawn toward the guardian's portal. The demon stepped through, back into the world of the living. The portal closed behind him. Jiaolong was left in darkness. No souls, no guardian to defeat, and a useless gate. He had needed every last soul to enter the netherworld, and that demon had robbed him of it.

Upon returning himself to his own land, he had little left to offer his family. His father was in the last stages of life, and it wouldn't be long until his complete form along with all of his power would be sealed for eternity in the netherworld. Untouchable without the completion of the trials.

Jiaolong had refused to give up however. He would find a way to gain his father's powers, but once he had, his first rule of business would be to hunt down the very demon that had halted the process. He would make Sesshomaru pay for making him go to such great lengths for something that should have been handed to him on a platter.

His father had been angry upon learning of his failure. He had demanded Jiaolong be banished from his lands, handing over the rule to his younger sister Lewin. Commending her to begin the trials of succession. However, Jiaolong would not see that happen, and he didn't. His father found his death by Jiaolong's very hands. A premeditated strike that killed his father, opening up a world of dark and unorthodox truths. Jiaolong set down a path of destruction that his kind had not seen in many centuries. Killing his own father had given him what he needed to gain what was rightfully his.

A direct link to the Ether realm. A place between the netherworld and the celestial realms, where both places could be accessed. There he met two deities. The forebearer of death and the bringer of life. Two beings neither demon, mortal nor celestial. Two beings that merely existed to maintain balance. Yin and Yang. They appeared to him as dragons. One with scales of ebony, and the other a translucent opal.

"I want the knowledge of my fathers before me." He spoke calmly. Knowing that even he would be no match against these guards. They were not meant to defeat, and trying to do so would be foolish and pointless.

The ebony scaled dragon gazed upon him with fiery eyes, a gleaming hint of satisfaction lay deep within there depths.

"Your journey here proves you are strong, and what you seek is possible."The raspy voice held echoes of eons. Just hearing the ancient sound both terrified and exhilarated Jiaolong's sense of pride. He was the only dragon alive that had witnessed this. Delving into the Ether. It was Taboo among his kind, because it was only accessible through the killing of one's patriarch. His kind may have been created and known for destruction, but loyalty to one's family was honored.

"Possible, but with a price." A new voice, equally as powerful answered from behind him. The sound made him flinch. Everything within him wanted to turn and gaze upon the magnificent being, but something else, a deep carnal hatred of the white dragons solidified his resolve. Without turning he answered shaking his earlier notions.

"I'll do what it takes." Silence. The world around him fazed in and out of view as time itself warped around the edges, unable to penetrate the Ether.

"Your desires will be granted, but the consequences will follow you." The white apparition spoke once more.

"I care not of consequences, only of what is rightfully mine." Jiaolong's voice carried with urgency and determination. He was so close… So very close.

"I will grant your entry to the world below, but be wary. One should not ignore the white call." The ebony dragon proclaimed.

" I care not what the white dragon has said. Life is full of consequences. Something everyone among the living must deal with throughout their lives. It is you who sheds Karma, and I will receive mine as you see fit when the time comes."

The world around Jiaolong began to rumble. The gate of energy behind the Ebony dragon flared with power. Jiaolong could feel it's pull. Every last ounce of his father's mighty power would be there waiting for him. He had assured that fact when he had killed the great dragon himself.

"Very well," replied both dragons in unison.

Yakunan stepped forward, gaining speed as the Ebony dragon shifted, revealing the gate to the netherworld.

There he found his true power, and so much more.

~Ameki~

She could see the terrible truth, feel the pain of the souls that received Yakunan's wrath. His plundering of the netherworld sealed the fate of many souls. Souls that would never find rebirth in reincarnation. Souls he rightfully claimed as his own to fuel his newfound powers. Ameki couldn't move, she wanted to, but her physical body would not adhere. She felt as if she were no longer tethered to it.

The vision before her changed. Yakunan was once again among the land of the living.

"The Great Dog General's son...Sesshomaru?" Lewin, Yakunan's sister, answered. Her eyes were shaded as she glared toward her brother.

"All of this to chase a dog?!" She screamed in anger.

"Now now Lewin, I spared you once, but I think my mind is perhaps reconsidering?" Her nostrils flared as she held his gaze.

"You may have killed our father, but I'm not on my deathbed. I'm not just laying around waiting to die. I won't go down so easily." Her hissed words didn't seem to faze Yakunan. A rather smug look crossed his face.

"Run along Lewin. I have much work to do. I'm sure there's a battle ground waiting for your appearance. An army of men that would pledge their lives to your beauty." Lewin huffed at his remarks.

"As should you brother. That is what father's powers should be used for." She replied.

"And they will, and so much more. I plan to usher in a new era for the black dragon's. We will reign again, and with the absence of the white dragon's, we will conquer this land and more." Lewin's face calmed as she held her brother's gaze. In a cool voice she spoke.

"Make excuses all you want, but in reality, you simply want to chase after the dog that hurt your pride. Do as you will, but be cautious Jiaolong. You are such a young vessel to carry around such ancient power. You will need discipline, or you risk losing control." Yakunan smirked toward his sister.

"You'll see Lewin. I will return with his head, and along with it the rule over his land."

Ameki could feel something with protruding familiarity. The vision changed once more. A beautiful visage lay before her. Her home. Castle Yamato in all of its glory. A beautiful sunset cast the last of the days light upon the bustling village below. The castle windows soon illuminated with independent light sources from within.

Two figures came into focus just outside of the main courtyard, in a small grove. Ameki immediately recalled the scene from her own memories, but with different perspective. Her father's grave. Her and her mother mourned over the fresh dirt and newly picked flowers. Ameki was almost engulfed with the sorrow of the moment, but a voice distracted her.

"I have plans for you…" Yakunan's voice came forth. Ameki was witnessing the moment from his point of view.

"My little soul that got away. You are untouchable by my mark, but you will die nonetheless, and he will watch." There was excitement in his voice. The sound made Ameki ill as Yakunan gazed at her mourning mother.

"You however, I'll have my uses for you." Ameki could see the reflection of herself through Yakunan's eyes.

"A dog's loyalty is strong, unwavering. He'll come to your aid when the time is right, and I'll have him at an impasse. I'll force his hand through you."

The monster had planned this long before Ameki had even known about her mother's past. Long before she had met Sesshomaru.

Ameki fought against the vision as it changed. The smell of smoke filled her senses once more, the pounding of heavy footfalls could be heard. She was seeing through her eyes once more, running through the forest, hiding in the burrow of a large tree. The familiar fiery eyes, and the pain that filled her chest as Yakunan's sword cut through her, only this time she could actually remember. There was no fog, or trauma blocking her mind. She was witnessing every moment, every excruciating detail.

"It's nothing personal…" Yakunan's voice rang through her memories. Her conscious mind was slipping away as her life fluids followed suit onto the ground around her. Yakunan's hand grabbed her hair, pulling her limp form across the ground, dropping her weighted body, sounding a thud through the otherwise quiet forest.

"He'll come for you my dear. Right about now he's feeling like a lost puppy. I want him to feel the pain. He's not above it like he would have everyone believe." Yakunan paced as Ameki fought to take in a shallow rugged breath, choking on the liquid filling her lungs.

"He'll smell you before long, so I must make this quick. Though, I'd love to drag it out if I could. You are quite the collectible, such a feisty spirit." With those words, Yakunan's nails pierced the flesh of Ameki's neck. Sending her into eternal darkness.

A small light, the size of a grain of rice was all that Ameki's mind could fathom. The light grew brighter, as she drifted through the darkness, gaining intensity the more time passed. Though, time itself seemed to slow, her mind unable to form any thoughts. A myriad of emotions swept away into the darkness as the light threatened to envelope her. It was a peaceful feeling, one of warmth and security. The light embraced her as a beautiful white dragon emerged from within. Ameki was formless, but an image of her appeared, along with another form. One of a beautiful woman with stark white hair, and an angelic face. Her crystal eyes gazed upon the image of Ameki. Reaching out the woman tenderly raised Ameki's hand, placing a kiss upon her palm. The flesh burned where the woman touched, reminding her of… Ameki's mind reeled with anxiety.

"The true battle begins when dormancy is broken..." the woman whispered, sending a burst of energy toward the image of Ameki, hurling her back toward the darkness.

~Sesshomaru~

The day waned, as did Sesshomaru's nerves. Seeing Ameki's petrified form, engulfed in the roots of Nimka was more than enough to put him on edge. The risks were all that he could ponder on. Yet, he waited. Hoping that Ameki was strong enough to hold on through the tortures and visions that would no doubt cloud her mind.

Nimka's eyes were void of life, though the demons life energy grew stronger throughout the drawn evening. Nimka was feasting… on Ameki's memories.

Night approached, the nocturnal woodland creatures began to move about, and fill the silence of the forest with their calls. The wind had shifted, calming from the snowstorm that was in its last stages. Nimka's roots had gathered a bit of accumulation.

The snow began to drift and fall off as the roots around Ameki began to tremble, sending vibrations through her body. A low howl can from the rooted demon. The face of Sara Asano began to distort into one of pain.

"Ses...Sesshomaru…" The small voice cried out from within Nimka's roots. Sesshomaru wasted no time. Within a blink he was beside her, ready to rip every single root away if he had to.

"I can't…" She gasped, regaining consciousness from her petrified state.

"Can't breath. He's here." Ameki's eyes were open, but only the whites were visible. She was still under Nimka's grasp. The familiar presence was quickly appearing. Yakunan had chosen now, while Ameki's mind was not in her own control, to make an appearance.

"Release her!" Sesshomaru demanded, sending a threatening glare toward Nimka.

Nimka didn't respond, her eyes returned from a void death like state to one of complete apprehension and terror.

"Now!" Sesshomaru growled.

"If I release her now, I'm not sure what will happen!" Nimka hissed.

Sesshomaru readied his claws.

"Wait, please listen. I can shield her from him, but it's causing great strain. If I release her too soon, it might not be without consequence. Her mind, and my own are still joined." Nimka's eyes glazed over once more.

"Lord Sesshomaru...please!" Ameki and Nimka's voice pleaded in unison.

The whites of Ameki's eyes became red with tears. The salty smell stung Sesshomaru's senses.

"Quickly then!" Sesshomaru replied. Focusing his complete attention on the struggling woman before him.

How was he to know this could happen? He thought Yakunan only made an appearance in Ameki's dreams. Sesshomaru's thoughts raced. He wanted to reach out to comfort her. He needed to do something. Anything.

The piercing scream didn't come from Ameki, but rather Nimka. The face of Sara Asano slowly turned to stone before him, the stone transformation was transferring to the roots as well. The roots that ensnared Ameki's body and mind.

Sesshomaru instantly reacted, cutting through the roots that held Ameki in their grasps with his claws. Grabbing Ameki he quickly distanced her from the fallout behind them. Clutching her firmly against his armor he peered down at the woman. Her eyes soon returned to normal, but seemed rather unfocused. They didn't search his features as Ameki often did, or even seem to dilate or adjust to the low light setting.

"Ameki…" Sesshomaru spoke softly. Trying not to hint at the bit of panic that teased his mind.

"Lord Sesshomaru…" She replied as her hand traveled upward, slightly wavering before touching his face. The foreign feeling of another being touching his face would have shocked him, had it not been for her next words.

"I can't see." Her voice held signs of confusion. Her eyes seemed to stare at nothing, while trying her best to squint and focus. Sesshomaru stood in silence, holding her as she struggled to regain her vision.

"Lord Sesshomaru…" Her voice was backed with a whimper.

"I can still see him." A small gulp followed as she blinked back tears.

Sesshomaru tightened his grip on her. Yakunan. Sesshomaru's aura flared around them. The anger building deep inside, fueling the sudden burst. If Ameki had not been so close to him, he would have growled, but even in his anger he maintained his self control with her so close. He needed her to be close for this to work. His aura would overtake Yakunan's, and drive him back, and hopefully out of her mind. This felt different though. His presence couldn't be felt, meaning there would be no aura to overtake. Sesshomaru tried anyways, hoping that something would give.

It did. As the last bit of life slipped from the crumbling stone face of Nimka, whatever spell Ameki was under broke. A light came back into her eyes, her pupils dilating as she blinked profusely, and lastly gazing up at Sesshomaru. The look on her face was of awe. He hadn't realized how close he held his face to hers, or how tight his grip had become.

"Lord Sesshomaru…" She whispered once more. He pulled back while loosening his grasp around her. Her body had relaxed considerably, meaning she was no longer in diress.

"I can see your aura…and…" She paused. Her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her.

"It's beautiful." She gave a small smile.

Sesshomaru had heard her words, and witnessed the expression on her face. He himself had felt the relief after her quick recovery, but something irked him. Her scent. It was slightly different. Something about her was different and now she could see auras? Sesshomaru scoured her features, trying to make some sense of the little, but sudden change. The only difference he could find though, was the white strand of hair that had not been there before. A white strand that lay almost hidden among her bangs. The strand itself looked normal, like an aging follicle among an ebony crown. Anyone else would let it slide as a side effect of some kind of trauma, but that one hair. It was almost like Sesshomaru could pinpoint that as the change in her scent.

That one minor inconsistency Sesshomaru couldn't shake from his mind, even after returning to where they had set up shelter in the old mining camp. It was no surprise that Kohaku would be fuming, and Sesshomaru didn't care to indulge him in his feelings at the moment. He needed to know what Ameki knew. He wanted to know what had happened in the final stages to cause Nimka's death. It was a rather outlandish turn of events and had been very unexpected. He also wanted to make sure that Ameki was alright as well, and in a sound state of mind once again. He had so many questions. Questions he wasn't sure could or would be answered.

"Yakunan is trying to stop us." Ameki voiced. Sesshomaru hadn't even had the chance to inquire any details. She turned toward him, an urgency outlying the mood in her eyes. Eyes that seemed more alert than normal.

"I suspected as much." Sesshomaru replied coolly, still trying to access Ameki's well being.

"Every time I see him. When he comes to me in dreams, or whatever that was that happened today…" She trailed off.

"He tries to sway my mind. He wants to convince me to not go with you on this journey, but he can't control my decisions. Which is a relief. That hasn't stopped him trying though." She paused once more, focusing on Sesshomaru, as if she were taking in his appearance for the first time.

"Each time I see him, he shows me things. Horrible things. What he's going to do." Her lip quivered as she spoke.

Sesshomaru slightly nodded, acknowledging her words.

"I think Nimka alerted him. Like she was trying to access something that she wasn't meant to. He appeared out of nowhere, as if he had stepped out of a memory I was witnessing, but when he tried to approach me he couldn't. Nimka was doing all that she could just to hold him back" Ameki paused, her eyes fell to the ground as her brow furrowed.

"He eventually got passed her though. He did reach me however, I fought against him this time. I didn't feel the fear. I don't know if it was because I wasn't fully unconscious, or maybe he was weakened. Something inside myself though, fought against him. I could feel it." Her eyes found Sesshomaru once more, filled with confusion.

"Something came from within me. The light was so bright I couldn't see, and then I heard Nimka's screams."

Sesshomaru continued listening to her rushed words. He didn't know what to make of her details about what had happened when Nimka had been in control of her mind, or in lack of control.

"I could see your aura. I couldn't before. I think the link I had with Nimka somehow messed with my mind or something." She swallowed.

Sesshomaru had known that Kohaku had been eavesdropping outside of the hut, but he had not cared. Sesshomaru found himself liking the idea of traveling with the slayer less and less. Kohaku wasn't only nosy and foolhardy, but he was also becoming obsolete with discovering that the twin priest and priestess were no longer in Echigo. Their journey was changing. To where he didn't know, but if the priestess was missing, and the brother was searching for her, then there was no chance that he would be willing to help anyone.

"Let me get this straight. You openly gave your mind over to a demon?" Ameki looked up, a bit startled at Kohaku's sudden outburst as he slid the door open. At first Sesshomaru thought that she would reserve herself to silence, but that wasn't the case to his surprise.

Her brow furrowed once more as she spoke.

"Yes, in fact I did of my own accord nonetheless, and I would do it again. It's shed some light on our situation. Maybe not what we wanted, but I understand so much more now. It was clarity that I needed. I needed to know why this happened, and now I do."

Sesshomaru's brow involuntarily rose as she spoke. He had yet to talk to her about what she had learned, but apparently it had been an enlightening experience. At Least she seemed to think so.

"That's not the point Ameki. I'm not going to tell you what you can and can't do, but please just consider caution when dealing with demons. We already have one mess to clean up. We don't need anymore." Kohaku narrowed his eyes as he spoke. Ameki however, didn't back down.

"That mess you are referring to is my life, and I will proceed as I see fit." Only for a moment, as Ameki spoke, Sesshomaru caught a glimpse of something in her eyes. A small spark, or trickery of the lighting in the dim lit shack. He had definitely noticed something though.

Kohaku seemed a bit surprised at Ameki's quip. He wasn't dealing with naive villagers that would listen to his beck and call while dealing with demons. He was addressing a princess. One that was finally finding her authoritative nature it seemed. Her normally innocent and shy nature had been replaced by one of a determined woman. Sesshomaru found himself pleased by the outcome. Curious as to what had brought on the change more than anything.

Sesshomaru learned all that he could from Ameki that night. It was a drawn out conversation that took many turns in new discovery. Sesshomaru had been most shocked when Ameki had explained the scene she had witnessed through Yakunan's eyes. The small mortal girl that Sesshomaru had carried from the land of the dead. Sesshomaru wondered if she was aware that the small child she had seen had been her mother. Surely Ameki must have put the pieces together, but she didn't voice it if she had. Her vivid details had indeed shed light on Yakunan's grudge toward Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru had interrupted Yakunan's rite of passage, causing banishment among his family, forcing Yakunan's hand.

Something had caused Sesshomaru concern though. Ameki's telling of the events after Yakunan had sent her to the afterlife. The mysterious white haired woman. The white dragon. Sesshomaru was already putting things into perspective. He liked to stay three steps ahead, because three steps forward and two steps back is still one step forward. The new white hair that had the strange scent. Somehow that was connected to Ameki's experience. He was almost certain. Ameki had mentioned that the woman had placed a kiss on her hand. In the exact spot where a new mark appeared each day, each number one less than the day before. She had spoken of something laying dormant, and after it was broken the battle would begin.

Sesshomaru wanted all things to be laid out before him. He wanted to expect anything that could or would happen, but in reality. He was confused. He hated being confused. He hated even more that he couldn't prepare every way possible to protect the woman that sat across from him.