Rise and Fall of the False God
CHAPTER 6
It was a day later from that when they arrived at their destination, a small village that they had passed on their way to the Wolf Clan's lands. Sesshomaru had been very quiet since that night, but he usually was. Kagome knew that he was even more so in the presence of his of those he should be comfortable with, because if he indeed was comfortable than it should be easy to assume that you understood him well enough. And Kagome was starting to think that she did. She knew that he was nervous, but he had been about everything since they arrived, his defeat at the hands of Rimiku had certainly shaken him. She also knew that he was doing something that was against his better judgment, though just yet Kagome didn't know what. Sesshomaru raised a hand and Ah and Un stopped, shaking their heads and 'arguing' with each other for a moment. His eyes closed and he took a deep inhale, unnerved, Kagome drew her bow, nocking an arrow and waiting. Sesshomaru made no motion for her to follow and stepped three steps forward, suddenly his muscles tensed under those baggy pants and he leapt backward, landing gracefully next to Ah and Un as the ground where he once stood exploded into fragments. His gold eyes still hard in concentration as a boy dropped out of the tree and looked at him, the boy's eyes held no caring or understanding though he appeared to be only fifteen or so. He had two balls on what looked like cords, which were spinning of their own accord. A moment later a sound started to play in the area, a soft and melodic sound that was as enchanting as it was disturbing. Kagome's eyes followed up into a tree where the first boy's twin sat playing a flute.
"Hanyou…" Sesshomaru growled. "Here?"
"Where is 'here' Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked. Suddenly she was jerked into motion as Ah and Un rose into the air, the ground where they stood suddenly exploding as one of the spinning balls hit it. The other swung at Sesshomaru, his acid whip flashing out and cutting the cord, blood sprayed everywhere and the first boy screamed in pain, suddenly the calm melody became a high shriek, as if the boy had blown very hard on the whistle and Sesshomaru clutched his ears, falling to his knees. "SESSHOMARU!" Kagome screamed out, she drew the string taught and released the arrow, it whizzed through the air, hitting the flute player in the shoulder, he made a soft sound and fell from the tree, dropping the flute.
"Brother!" The first called out, he grabbed the severed ball and ran over to his brother on the ground, Ah and Un came to land next to their fallen master; Kagome leapt from its back and nocked another arrow. "You!" He growled, standing, amazingly both of the weapons seemed to be attached again. Both of balls flew forward, she felt Sesshomaru tensed to move and again the shriek came from the boy with the flute and Sesshomaru fell, his hearing much more sensitive than her own.
She saw the blood fly as those bladed balls encountered flesh, and she wondered if the shriek that came was something, she was able to make, there was no pain, only blood. Then she shook it off, it wasn't her that had been hit, at first she thought that Sesshomaru might have managed to overcome the flute, but that wasn't it either. The boy with the bladed balls ran forward as Kirara fell to her belly in a pool of her own blood.
"Kirara!" The boy yelled as he fell at her side, his hands pressing desperately against her injured body. "No Kirara!" He sobbed. "Baka Neko! Why did you do that?"
Kagome did not understand what was going on, other than that Kirara was hurt and this boy seemed to know her.
"Sesshomaru, are you alright?" She asked, he was on his feet again, a small amount of blood trickled from his ears, and he nodded to say he was. Kagome wasted not a moment in running then to Kirara's side.
"Oh Kirara!" She sobbed clinging to the injured cat. "Please be alright!"
"Don't touch her!" The boy yelled pushing Kagome back with one of those whirling bladed balls in her face. "Why do you have her? She is supposed to be with InuYasha! Why is Sesshomaru with you? Who are you?"
"How do you know Kirara? And InuYasha?" She gasped, the boy with the spinning bladed weapons did not answer, he simply pressed himself against Kirara to stop the bleeding. "Sango? Do you know Sango?"
"Of course, we do." The second of the twins said softly. He was sitting calmly on the ground, his flute in one hand, and his other hand holding the arrow in his shoulder. "She and Maroku-sama are the elders here. They taught us to defend ourselves."
"I am Kagome Higurashi!" She said finally. "I am a friend of Sango and Maroku and… and… InuYasha."
"The Miko!" The boy pressed to Kirara gasped, as if it were the most horrific thing anyone had ever told him. "InuYasha's Miko!"
"Oh Kami." The second boy whimpered. "Suboshi, I think we have made a horrible mistake."
"No. No no no." The fist boy called Suboshi cried. "No Amniboshi! Sango will kill us for sure for this!" He turned back to Kagome. "Gomen! Gomen nasai!" He cried out. "We did not know who you were, only that you were with Sesshomaru! And Sesshomaru… him and InuYasha didn't… where is InuYasha, Miko Kagome?"
"My brother is dead." Sesshomaru said coldly.
"You! You Bastard!" Suboshi cried out, forgetting the injured cat he leapt over her at Sesshomaru, his bolo like weapons ready for the attack.
"This one did not kill him." Sesshomaru said with the same chill etched into his voice as before as he leapt gracefully and easily to the side, landing some distance away. "Rimiku killed him."
"Why should I believe you!" Suboshi sobbed. "You hate InuYasha! You hate him!"
"This Sesshomaru Does Not Lie." Sesshomaru growled.
"Suboshi! Stop!" Kagome heard a familiar voice. It was that of Maroku as he came running up the hill, his hand still wrapped in the black silk and beads even though Naraku was dead and the Wind Tunnel had closed. Suddenly the calming play of the flute started, it was shaky, because the player was in great pain from his shoulder.
"Amniboshi! Brother! Why?" Suboshi cried out as his weapons fell and he came to his knees, calmed by the melodic sound. "Why?"
"Maroku asked you to stop Suboshi." Amniboshi answered softly as he let the flute fall from his hands. Kirara was panting, but Kagome could see the wounds knitting closed, she pulled out a small knife and ran over next to Amniboshi, falling to her knees. She ignored Suboshi's pleas as she cut a small incision on either side of the arrows head and carefully removed it.
"Ari…ga…to… Miko." Amniboshi said softly.
"Oh, hold on!" Kagome croaked. She was scared he would die on her.
"Shh… Mi…ko… it will… heal." He gasped softly, she could see it was already starting to close, Amniboshi smiled angelically at her. "I see why… Inu…Yasha… loved you… your eyes are… so… pure."
"Stop brother. Don't talk. Just heal." Suboshi said over Kagome's shoulder, she was blushing furiously at what the boy had said, but also he had said InuYasha loved her. And for her, that was everything she ever wanted to hear, he had never told her that before. Kagome felt hands on her shoulders, at first she thought it might be Sesshomaru, but there were no claws, these hands were lifting her so that Suboshi could move in and kneel next to his twin.
"Shh." Maroku said softly. "Is what Sesshomaru tells me true? Is InuYasha truly no longer with us?"
"Hai." She said softly. "We have come back to defeat Rimiku, he killed InuYasha, and Rin and Jakken. We have to stop him, I have seen the world that he rules, and it is a scary place Maroku!" She sobbed turning into his chest, he held her softly as she sobbed.
"Is he a demon?" Maroku asked softly, he turned his eyes to Sesshomaru, his hand simply softly running over Kagome's hair to calm her.
"No." Sesshomaru answered. "He is the child of the gods."
"I don't understand." Suboshi said.
"Nor shall you, the less that know the truth of it the better, this is for Sango and Maroku alone." Sesshomaru said clearly.
"No! That bastard killed InuYasha!" He yelled standing up from his brother's side.
"And what is my brother to you?" He asked softly.
"Your brother is the first person that gave a rats ass about us! He saved us from a monster and brought us here to learn from Maroku-sama and Sango-sama!" He snarled at him. "I want a piece of the ass that killed him."
"No." He said coldly.
"Fuck you!" Suboshi growled. Sesshomaru growled deeply and lurched forward, grabbing the boy by the throat, against the tree, his own ribbon dancing around him to keep those bladed weapons from coming in and attacking him.
"This Sesshomaru has had his patience tested far to thoroughly by the likes of this Hanyou." He growled deeply, his eyes flashing red before Tenseiga at his hip pulsed and his eyes went back to gold. It wasn't like him to loose his temper like that really, after the insults he endured at the hands of the Wolf Clan for his choice of company one would think he could handle this boy.
"To hell with this Sesshomaru!" Suboshi yelled. Spitting clean in Sesshomaru's face. Everyone was in motion as soon as the action was made, Kagome came forward to grab the arm holding Suboshi as those claws bore into the boy's flesh, Maroku's chant started softly and he cast an anti-death guard on the boy, but that would not stop the pain of the death, only assure the boy did not die.
"This Miko is touching This Sesshomaru." He growled deeply, Kagome swallowed hard holding onto his arm as tightly as she could. Staying as close to him as she could to avoid the acid ribbons.
"Yes she is!" She said brazenly. "Let the boy go."
But it was Amniboshi's flute again that caused Sesshomaru to fall.
"I apologize Sesshomaru-sama, great Inu Lord of the Western Lands." Amniboshi said gently as he rose to his feet. "While my twin's actions are rash and uncalled for, and while it might well be that he deserves the punishment you should deal him for such a dishonor, I am afraid I can not sit back and allow it to happen. Since I have no desire to die this day, I ask you, sama, for the greatness of your forgiveness and ask that you disregard my brother's actions. He mourns the loss of your brother, and surely you can understand the pain of that loss, and the loss I would endure should you take the life of mine."
Sesshomaru looked at Amniboshi as he again came to his feet, no fresh blood; it had been a warning more than an attack. He seemed to listen to that which Amniboshi said and then simply regained his composure and fell in next to Kagome.
"Take us to Sango." Sesshomaru said glancing at Maroku who nodded.
"Amniboshi, Suboshi, get Metsa to heal Kirara, she will come to us when she is better, than continue your patrol." Maroku said. He glared sternly at Suboshi as he moved to argue and then moved to lead them toward the village.
"I see." Sango said. She had been standing near the well in the center of town when they approached. She had taken them to her and Maroku's hut and there they had listened as Kagome again told the entire tale to them. "Of course we will help you Kagome. Can I ask something?"
"Sure." Kagome said when she finished eating something Sango had made that was similar to Ramen but obviously not quite.
"What happened to InuYasha's body?" She asked. Kagome looked away and set down her chopsticks.
"Kouga buried it by the God Tree when he found it." She answered softly.
"Good, that is where he wanted to be laid to rest." She said, tears falling from her eyes. "We are going to miss him so much." She cried.
"Me too." Kagome said. Sesshomaru watched silently as the two embraced, so odd to watch her with her friends, she seemed like a completely different person, more like the care free girl she had been at home in the time line that should have been. He leaned against the wall of the hut, silently watching the two of them, his face a mask of ice that could not be broken. "Sesshomaru, could you excuse me please. I need to bathe and get dressed."
"Then do it." He answered. What? She wanted him to leave. No. He was supposed to be protecting her, taking care of her, and making sure that they together killed Rimiku. And for a moment, it became startlingly clear by the look of mixed rage and sadness that he had sounded just like his brother. He grimaced some at his own actions, turned sharply on his heal and walked out of the room.
Once outside he welcomed the cool scent of rain on the wind, his keen eyes the first in the village to catch the flashes of lightning that not yet made any sound for they were too far away. He smiled at sight. Reaching out and taking hold of a passerby he looked at the young woman who looked back at him terrified. He did not care if she was scared or not.
"It is going to rain." He said sniffing the air. "You should warn your village of that."
When he released her, she scampered back and ran off toward the center of the village where she announced that the youkai told her it was going to rain. A few other people came to look, some of them, it seemed, disliked him, they must have been other demon hunters, and some were curious.
"Stop staring at him like he is a show piece." The voice caught him off guard as he turned to see Shippo standing there. He was shaking his head, he had grown a foot or so, his lush tail now able to rest downward, no longer a simple fluff ball behind him. He looked up at Sesshomaru and said nothing, only looking away. He remembered how the youth had treated him in the future and said nothing, looking away again. "They might be a bit rude sometimes, but they mean well." Again, he didn't answer. What was the point? It did not really matter what he had to say, so long as the people were gone. "Yah, well, you're damned welcome too." Shippo growled stalking off.
"You shouldn't have just ignored him." He heard from behind him, it was Kagome's voice for certain, he turned around, a slender brow rising at her new appearance. Hair tied up tight in a high braid, her wide brown eyes looking out at him, those were the same. Instead of the baggy green pants and white Miko shirt she wore one of Sango's all black, skintight bodysuits and the Fire Rat over that. He mused for a moment that the bright red haori made her eyes almost look red, but then decided it was a trick of the light. She had her bow slung over her back and her hand on a canted hip. He only then realized that he was staring, not just looking on apathetically but staring. He turned his eyes away from her and looked to Sango who was also ready for battle.
"Kagome-Chan!" He heard and little Shippo jumped on her, hugging her tightly. He closed his eyes and just clung to her. "I missed you soooo much onee-chan!"
"I missed you too Shippo." She said softly, hugging him back. Sesshomaru fancied that he saw something in her eyes. She missed him, but his appearance there worried her, she didn't want to take him into battle with her because she was afraid he wouldn't survive it. "I want you to stay here and protect the camp" She said. She knew that it was hopless though when he glared at her. "Shippo…"
"I am not a kid anymore Onee-chan." He said nodding to her. "I want to help."
She sighed defeated. Sesshomaru knew that Shippo had won the fight without even really having to fight. She bit her lip and sighed as Suboshi and Amniboshi came to her side.
"Let us help too. InuYasha was a good friend of ours." Amniboshi said gently fingering the flute in his hands. She nodded.
"We will need all the help we can get." She said. Just then a sound exploded through the air, a high and panicked howl as a large white wolf came tearing into camp. Amniboshi raised the flute to his lips, but Sesshomaru gracefully slapped it out of his hands and sent it flying a few feet as Yuki slid to a stop, panting heavily before him.
"Th..they are… coming…" She panted, blood pooling around her standing form, her lips drawn back and her body shaking with the effort of trying to stand. "Rim..iku… is coming…" She panted, finally falling. Sesshomaru stepped forward, pulling Tenseiga from his hip he would slash.
"What are you doing!" Suboshi gasped as the seemingly ethereal sword passed clean through the wolf and her wounds started to heal.
"Rise now." Sesshomaru said as she stood, pulling herself to her four feet shakily and then coming to a full two legged stand. What she was wearing now was nothing like what she had been wearing at all. She was wearing a long black skirt that was slit up the sides all the way to her hips, only a chain holding the thing together and a top that had some armor to it, her long white hair was bound back in a tight braid.
"Rimku attacked the Wolf Clan." She said. "Kouga… Rimiku has Kouga!" She sobbed as she stepped forward and leaned into Sesshomaru's shoulder, he let his arm come around her slender shoulders as she sobbed. "I tried to stop him, but he has this odd collar he puts on them, and it doesn't let them command themselves. Kouga… he killed… Ginta and so many others…"
"No." Kagome cried out stepping forward. "He can't have Kouga."
"He does!" Yuki sobbed. "And they are coming this way, I was only just barely able to escape, since I can turn into a wolf and Kouga can not I was able to beet him here, but I am afraid they are coming. Sesshomaru, Rimiku told me if I handed him you he would release Kouga, but I couldn't… I knew he was lying and somehow I think you are more important alive than me, or Ginta or even Kouga."
"He comes." Sesshomaru said as the scent of the troops caught his nose, some scents he knew, who undoubtedly served Rimiku because he had defeated Sesshomaru, or so they believed. There were a great many men under Sesshomaru's command that would leave for the stronger, but he smelled something else, something that made his blood run cold. "Yuki, stay here, rest, Kagome, with me." Sesshomaru said, he ran, yes ran, pulling his figure up onto Ah and Un, offering his one arm to give Kagome a hand up. Once she was settled behind him he would kick the beast into motion.
They crested the hill to see the seal of Rimiku blazing, the large yellow circle that had a plus sign through it, each section a different color, red, blue, white and black, the colors of the beast gods. Leading the lines was what he smelled. A large man, graceful in motion atop the most beautiful black dragon-like horse. Unlike Ah and Un, Kibo had only one head and she was black. The man had what appeared to be the head of a bird, his armor on it made him look almost like a hooded falcon, his strong body was like that of a human, with large feathered wings that splayed out behind him, and his tail fell over the back of Kibo like a saddle skirt of feathers. His large orange orbs normally like fire against his black feathers showed nothing of that fire, dim and faded. It hurt Sesshomaru to see him so defeated. He had around his neck a black steal collar that had chains that ran down, crossing over his chest and connecting to his pants. His bare chest glistened in the light, he should have been wearing a haori, but he wasn't. He pulled back on the reigns and Kibo came to her full bipedal height, giving off a hard roar as he drove the men forward. Sesshomaru's men. Some with collars like the eagle had, and others that were acting with the new ruler of the western lands.
"Kagome." Sesshomaru said watching the approaching army.
"Yes?" She asked, she seemed to be awe struck and in fear. She was trembling.
"Can you stay your hand?" He asked.
"Yes." She answered, her voice betraying her, saying that she wasn't really sure that she could, but she could try.
"Do you see the eagle demon?" He asked.
"Yes." She answered.
"Do you think you could hit the chains without hitting the demon?" He asked.
"What?" She looked at him, her brown eyes wide, as if in thought. She supposed that she could do it if he were to turn to the side. "You want me to purify the chains but not the demon right?"
"Yes." Sesshomaru answered.
Kagome thought for a moment on how she was supposed to do this. She had to get him to turn to the side so that she could get a clear shot at the chains without the eagle in the way. Her eyes closed and she sighed.
"Who is he?" She asked softly. She gasped when she saw Kouga come up beside the man, he was dressed the same as this man now, wearing the uniform of what appeared to be Rimiku's army, with his quad colored seal on it. "Kouga!"
"Forget Kouga for now, that one Kagome. The eagle is Kyo. He was a general under my father, his service passed down to me when I took the House of the Moon. It appears that rather than kill him, Rimiku decided to enslave him for his abilities, which are vast and strong. If what Yuki says is true, than that collar is controlling him, if you can purify the magic on it, than it might negate the collar's effect and then we can get Kyo on our side." Sesshomaru said. She couldn't believe what he was saying; after all they went though to get the Wolf Clan now he was just saying to forget Kouga!
"Sesshomaru!" She gasped.
"We need Kyo!" He growled looking at her. "With him we can turn the tides of this war!"
"One Youkai!" She gasped. He was loosing it for sure. "With Kouga we have the support of the entire Wolf Clan and you would give that up for one youkai?"
"Kyo is a priest of Byyako." He explained softly. His eyes watching the giant bird like man with the awe of a child. "He is older than I am, and was my teacher when I was young. He can do amazing things with the wind, and the sounds carried on it. Yes, we need him. He could turn the tides."
"Who is Byyako?" Kagome asked.
"One of the pagan gods, the White Tiger, the god of Wind." He said watching them approach. "Do it Kagome, now or never!"
"Oh Kami!" She thought desperately as she tried to think of a way to attract their attention, suddenly it struck her, if they were once Sesshomaru's men would that mean… she turned around, pulling out one of her arrows she came forward, quickly and slashed it across Sesshomaru's hand.
"This Miko is touching This Sesshomaru." He gasped and turned to her growling. "Again." He added
"Shut up! I have an idea!" She hissed at him, shocked, she could only assume, by her unwillingness to shrink back from him, he just blinked a few times. She took the tip and rolled it in the blood that had pooled in his hand, knowing the wound had already closed itself.
As she nocked the arrow she noticed Sesshomaru lick the blood off of his wounded hand and flex his fingers, the tell tale cracking of his fingers told her right away that his hand was alright.
"Take another arrow out of the quiver Sesshomaru, I will need it right away." She said. She was shocked to see that he did not fight the fact she had given him a direct order, and instead he simply complied. Holding the arrow ready until she needed it. She pulled back the string and aimed to the hard right of the eagle, not enchanting the arrow she would release the string. As the arrow soured over head the eagle responded, as she wanted, he turned his head to watch it. His beaked mouth moved, but she could not tell what he said.
"Now." She snatched the arrow from Sesshomaru, said a silent prayer to the fates and the arrow started to glow, the second prayer was please don't let me miss, please god! Don't let me miss! And she released, the arrow didn't arch like the other had, instead it flew straight, she watched, her eyes wide, she could feel Sesshomaru tense at her side, he was nervous of her aim too. The man must've meant a good deal to him the way he was watching, eyes wide and jaw slacked as the arrow flew. A bright light flooded the area and she could hear demon's screaming, seeing Kouga jump up and clear over the top of the light she still didn't know if she had hit him. She turned away when the flash lit up, her arm over her eyes, but Sesshomaru did not, he watched on, as if waiting for horror to strike his eyes.
Sesshomaru couldn't take his eyes off of the purifying light, all too aware that if he were too close it could land him blind again, but for good this time. He waited, slowly the darkness fell again and the figure of Kibo still stood, shifting on her long legs, and the man still sat atop her, he had not been purified, she hadn't hit him. He watched with wide eyes as Kyo reached up and took hold of the chains, with a single tug they snapped and his eyes moved to where the first arrow had landed. Of course, it smelled of his blood, he glanced over at Kagome, for a moment debating on telling her she was a genius and then deciding against it.
The large black eagle spread its massive twenty eight foot wingspan and a single flap lifted him off of Kibo's back, the black dragon's red eyes watched him passively as he soared over the heads of the troops landing next to the arrow and pulling it from the ground, he sniffed it twice before tasting the head.
"He freed you." The voice came from behind the very confused eagle demon. He spun around slashing the arrow with his Lord's blood on it. "It appears that Sesshomaru survived after all."
Kyo didn't feel the need to tell the boy that his Lord couldn't fire a bow and arrow, certainly the boy underestimated Lord Sesshomaru.
"Be that the case." Rimiku said easily dodging the arrow that was slashed at him. "We can't let you live now that you have been freed."
Rimiku raised his hand to Kyo as he had done before to so many, the eagle's wings spread and pushed him up into the sky, a single flap was all it took, but the vibration over came him, causing this wings to buckle and his body to fall to the ground. He clamped his hands over the ear holes of his head and crouched to the ground as if trying to block out the buzzing sound.
Then it stopped. Rimiku was staring wide eyed at Kyo; he turned his head from where he knelt, causing the large birdman to roll onto his side. Over him stood the giant white tiger, his long fur licking around him. Kyo made a chattering sound, clicking his hard tongue against his beak. The tiger responded by chortling as him.
"You attack a priest of mine." The tiger growled.
"I… I didn't know." Rimiku said stumbling back. "Please Byyako, I didn't know!"
"You have killed those that claimed ignorance before." The tiger growled, his head lowering as Kyo grabbed a hold of the long fur on his leg and pulled himself to his feet.
"Forgive me Lord Byyako!" Rimiku called out.
"You are forgiven." He growled, lowering his head he would rub it against the boy. "No more such mistakes my child."
"No Lord. None." The boy said petting the large tiger's face. He didn't even notice or care when Kyo's large wings spread bringing him to Kibo, and he kicked her to go. He didn't understand why Byyako was supporting this tyrant of a child, but for now he did not question, he took Kibo's reigns and kicked her into motion, she glided gracefully across the ground, he black form quickly melding into the shadows as he moved off in search of his Lord Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru heard Kouga give the order to continue, it worried him slightly to think that he just let Kyo go without a fight, even if Byyako had ordered him to, it seemed unlike Rimiku to bow down to anyone in such a way. He mounted Ah and Un and helped Kagome up behind him once more, kicking the monster beneath him into motion he would sore upward once out of range of the army. As soon as Ah and Un rose into the air Kibo snarled, and Kyo kicked her into motion that way, he knew his master's steed. Sesshomaru didn't stop to talk to Kyo, but he knew that Kyo expected no less, he would follow him until the very end, it was one thing, in this world that was making less and less since, that he knew for sure. Kyo's loyalty.
The village was ready and on the guard as the two dragons landed and the two youkai and the Miko slipped off of them. Almost all of the people that were out and about were dressed like Sango, hunters… and entire village of hunters… it was no wonder Rimiku wanted it destroyed, but it would not happen, not under Sesshomaru's watch.
"The children and those that do not fight are held up in an underground room." Maruko said looking at Sesshomaru and then Kagome. "We got the idea from the 'bomb shelters' that you told us about."
She smiled at him and Sesshomaru sniffed the air.
"Since we took Kyo they have put Kouga in charge." He said coldly, ignoring Yuki's gasp. "If we can claim him back, or take him down, then the troops will have to regroup."
"No!" Yuki plead. "Don't kill him! Please!"
"Are you his mate?" The eagle asked looking down at the slight woman from his height which stood a head above even the tall Sesshomaru.
"Yes!" She sobbed.
"We will do our best to save him." Kyo responded, those massive black wings flexing. "But there is no certainty. I cannot promise. This is war."
Yuki nodded, the tears pouring down her face and she pulled herself together.
"If he must die." She said gently, but with a will that touched even Sesshomaru. "Then I only ask that you allow me to kill him."
"So be it." Sesshomaru said. He glanced over and saw Kagome biting her lip, this must be very hard on her, to stand back and give the rights of the mate over to Yuki, when not more than a week and a half ago from the way it seemed to her, she had been Kouga's mate. He turned away, a feeling welling in him that was not only inappropriate for the moment, but completely unlike him at all. He shook it off and turned back to Kyo. "Kyo!"
"My Lord!" He responded snapping to attention.
"Take these ones here and secure the high grounds." He said pointing to specific members. "Make good use of those two, Amniboshi and Suboshi, they managed to catch even This Sesshomaru off guard and do considerable damage to him."
"Yes Sesshomaru-sama!" He responded, the shock showing plain in his large orange eyes. Sesshomaru grinned, ah, Kyo might have taught him almost everything he knew, but he was always shocked when something got past Sesshomaru's defenses.
Kyo took those that were pointed out, among which were Amniboshi, Suboshi and Shippo. They would take the tree lines, a covert attack from above as the troops marched mindlessly under the trees. Once they were all in position the shrill hawks cry from Kyo told him that they were ready.
"Kagome, take the archers and get them lined up there." Sesshomaru said pointing to the well. "Have them facing the path the enemy will arrive on! Sango, take the swords men and the other short range weaponists and have them right behind the archers, when the first wave of arrows flies remain, when the second wave flies the archers will move to the side and allow you to pass, then the archers need to flee to take the high grounds. Maruko, are there any other magic wielders here?" Maruko nodded. "Take them and flank the paths. Keep the defenses up; keep as many of our men alive as possible. You!" He pointed to Metsa, who was returning with Kirara up and in action again. "Get the healers together, go to the manor there," He pointed to one of the larger homes. "Set up a Medic Tent there so that the injured may get treatment!"
Everyone had split into their groups and started to do as they had been ordered. He never thought the day would come that he would be leading an army of humans and hanyou against his own highly trained forces in battle. He was sure they would all die here, but at least they would not die a useless and meaningless death.
"You look worried." Kagome said from his side. He was sure his face had not changed any; maybe she had simply learned to read him that well.
"My men, that Rimiku are leading, are the best of the best the House of the Moon have to offer, I wouldn't have had it any less." Sesshomaru explained. "Now I lead a pack of rabble against them."
"A wise man once said that one small man defending his home from harm can be more dangerous that twenty armed thugs." Kagome said softly. Sesshomaru thought on this for a moment. Was she right? Was it possible that these people, for love and fear, could overcome the strongest army that Japan was likely to ever know? Was that the power of love and fear that made InuYasha and InuTaisho so strong?
"Who told you that?" He asked softly.
"Kevin Costner." She responded. He had never heard an odder name before. "Never mind, you will understand one day."
"Keh." He responded, but her point had been made and he had heard it.
It took another fifteen minutes for the hawk call to come again, letting Sesshomaru know that the troops were approaching. Yuki had gone with Kagome, brandishing a bow and arrow with amazing skill for a wolf. He would watch as the front lines took the assault from the bowmen. It was unexpected, apparently Rimiku thought they would just lie down and allow him to take them down, but that was far from what Sesshomaru intended to allow happening.
"Now!" Sesshomaru called out. The bowmen scattered, finding roof tops and high grounds to fire from. A good deal of the men had been injured in the initial blow from Kyo's charges. Now they faced Sesshomaru, one strong leap brought him down into the center of a great deal of them, the villagers watched in wonder as a long green ribbon of acid extended from his fingers, with the grace of a ballerina he would spin, the ribbon dancing around him, finally stopping that spin the ribbon lashed out, killing everything in a ten foot circle around him before he marked for the others to advance.
Kagome kissed the tip of her arrow, tears pouring down her face.
"Do it Kagome." Yuki said, her jade eyes wide and waiting.
"What if I miss?" She gasped.
"Then he dies, better than to serve life as Rimiku's attack dog." She said. She leaned over kissing the tip of the arrow as well. "A kiss from two women that love him, may you arrow fly true as our hearts to his aid." She said. Kagome choked back a sob and then shook it off, wiping the tears from her eyes. It almost felt as if they were one when Yuki laid her hand on Kagome's shoulder. A pulse radiating thought the air that even the small Rimiku seemed to notice. Together they took sight of the target as the arrow started to glow, Kagome closed her eyes, but she could still see him in her mind, and released the arrow.
Kyo's men had performed magnificently, he had been surprised, humans and hanyou protecting their homes. The flute player had started playing only moments after they were situated. His twin told Kyo that he was conditioning them, the other troops and his own. He would play a cheery little piece, then move to a slow mournful one as the troops came into view, when they were passing under the tree, he would blow a shrill sound into the flute. While that sound annoyed Kyo's sensitive hearing the troops dropped clutching their ears. Those unaffected by the magic flute drew and got ready to attack.
Covertly a good deal of men were taken down, but Kyo knew too well that it was only the tip of it. Once there were too many men there, Kyo chattered and called the men back, they would then become the rear flank. Allowing Rimiku's men to believe they were killing them as one by one they stopped attacking and withdrew, occasionally one was hit and would fall, but most of them survived with ease.
Maroku's spell casters threw spell after spell of protection at the line of archers and then at the men in one on one combat. It was hard to see it, it was hard to tell what was going on, but soon enough the attack started to focus more on the spell casters than on the fighters.
Sesshomaru moved quickly into the battle, pulling Tokijin he used it to clear a path for the ground fighters to move in, the smell of blood and death ate at every fiber of his being, he wanted to fight. All of the pent up rage bubbling up and coming down again as if a monster was rising in him, one he wanted badly to let loose. He could hear the death around him, his nose telling him that more if their men than his had fallen, it seemed that for now, they could hold their own.
The arrow flew its path would alter as people got in its way.
"GOOOOOOO!" She cried after it, watching in wonder as it did just that, with the speed and agility of the wolves it dodged through the crowd, narrowly missing Sesshomaru and a few others. That was when she saw him, Sesshomaru had been right, a young boy with silver hair and mismatched eyes. He came forward as he saw the arrow take flight.
"No." Yuki whimpered softly as the boy caught the arrow in his hand, it's purifying light having absolutely no effect on him. He broke it in two a hand gesture was all it took for Kouga to resume his slaughter of the people here. "Kouga…"
"Shh," She nocked another arrow, again she prayed to it, and again she released it. It flew a false course now, she had aimed for Kouga's leg, no sooner had she released it than did the second of the blessed arrows fly. One of Rimiku's minions stood in the way, the bright flash came as it screamed, when the light dimmed there was nothing between the second arrow and Kouga. The arrow hit home, catching the collar in the neck, the flash was again blinding and when it faded Kouga had been thrown back a hundred yards.
Kyo saw it coming, his large wings opening, and he soared straight upward as the first of the restrictor chain came his way, it missed him and clamped around one of the twins. Suddenly the boy fell his hands holding his head, fighting the best he could. The second set of chains came at the second twin, clamping around him as he tried to free his brother.
"Get back! Stay away from the chained ones! Stay away from the chains!" He screamed out and the men reluctantly complied as Amniboshi and Suboshi both stopped writhing. Shippo ran into the town with the others on order, they had been ordered to take up the flank and the rear while Sesshomaru distracted the troops from the front.
"Come to me…" The soft voice vibrated through the air. Kyo landed next to Amniboshi who was blinking trying to remain himself, but loosing, his brother was still writhing. He spread his wings and disrupted the air so to stop the boy's voice.
"Byyako, you aided me once, please master, aid me again!" He cried out. But it did nothing, a gust of wind came, catching his large wings and nearly pulling him up off the ground. He moved quickly to the ground again. The twins and a couple others were walking towards the battle, he had lost them and he knew it. He had to warn Sesshomaru.
Maroku tossed scroll after scroll, reciting spell after spell and he was still unable to defeat these men, they were strong youkai, Sesshomaru had warned them that they would be. He was watching the men, and noticed that there were a few stragglers from those that were taking up the rear, but Suboshi and Amniboshi had arrived at last. Amniboshi raised his flute to his lips and Maroku could only hope that he had enough time to attune them to the whistle. As he started to play a sleepy song wafted over the camp, but it seemed not only to affect Rimiku's, but Sesshomaru's men as well, even he was starting to get tired.
"What are you doing…?" He started to ask, but then he looked closer, clamped over his chest was a set of Rimiku's blasted chains, and the same ones were on Suboshi as he started to come closer. Maroku started forward, he knew where Suboshi was heading, and it seemed that the sleepy tune had even started to affect the intended victim.
Sesshomaru's ears were accosted again by the sound of Amniboshi's flute. His eyes becoming heavy he turned to where the boy was, his acid ribbon again came out and he spun it over his head before attempting to flash it forward, but it flickered and faded, he wasn't angry enough to keep it.
His keen eyes focused on the arrival of Suboshi.
"What is going on Suboshi?" He asked his eyes trying hard to focus as the humans and some hanyou were starting to fall around him.
"What is going on? This is what is going on." He growled. Sesshomaru managed just to stammer out of the boy's way when the ball like weapon came forward impacting hard with the ground. "Stay still and die!" He growled, again he came forward; Sesshomaru reacted like an injured dog trying to avoid a striking cobra. He remained calm; knowing that should he panic what little energy he had would be expended quicker.
Sudden panic came. Sesshomaru was falling, his lethargic movements had made him trip and fall over a rock, and the ball was coming right at him. He was done for, behind Suboshi he could see Kyo in a full dive, but it was too little too late, surely this could not be the end for him. His golden eyes widened and suddenly the deafening shriek filled his ears and before the pain caused his eyes to close, he saw Kyo's wings buckle and he fell like a brick. The ball came forward, blood spraying all over his face and his clothes, but it was not his. Before him stood the monk, his mouth taking on the 'o' shaped expression, his eyes already flickering back. There was an enraged scream, and the giant boomerang flew by him and decapitated the twin, the second boy dropped the flute, holding his own neck. They were connected. Sesshomaru's eyes returned to Maroku, his arm coming forward and grabbing the monk as the last of his muscle twitches let go and he started to fall.
"Sango…" He croaked out. He felt as if in slow motion as the human lie in his arms. "Tell Sango…" Tell Sango what? He would never find out, the strong stench of urine and defecation over came him, the stink of human death. He let the monk slide from his grasp and growled deeply, his eyes red, his body pulsing. Time to kill.
"Maroku!" Kagome was grabbed from the back of the Fire Rat as she nearly walked forward off of the building.
"Kagome! You did it!" Yuki said. She was looking over where the light was as a very pissed off Kouga was freed from the chains.
"But Maroku!" She cried out.
"No time! Mourn with blood." Yuki growled at her, she turned, staring wide-eyed at the woman. "If you mourn with tears the next blood you mourn will be that of you precious Sesshomaru, now shoot!"
Kagome turned around, aiming, and shooting before she knew what she was shooting at, the other boy. He had been an ally, but now as that whistle rose to his lips again he was the enemy. The arrow was released and flew clean, the bright light coming from it as it struck. She heard Amniboshi scream as the chains were struck. His scream was not one of death, but one of complete and heartbroken sorrow.
Kyo blocked his eyes against the purifying burst of light. His wings wrapping around himself as the light dimmed and Amniboshi screamed for the loss of his twin brother. Those wings would flap out behind him, making a load clapping sound as they smacked together and suddenly Kibo was at his side, her dragon like snout nudging in against his neck. He petted her face and then moved over, picking up the mentally scarred Amniboshi and then placing him atop her.
"To the healers with you. Go Kibo!" He said clearly she canted her head for a moment before turning and bolting, her legs carrying her faster on ground than in air she ran through the battle, all getting aside from her massive clawed feet.
The battle raged on. Many lost, many found, many freed. Out of those that died the most sinceless seemed that of Amniboshi. After his brother was killed by Sango for killing Murako he committed suicide when the healers were looking elsewhere.
Hours had passed. It seemed, as Sesshomaru looked around, with the number of dead that it was hardly a victory at all. His gate was panicked, and one thing kept coming in his mind. Where is Kagome! He had shifted, and he didn't remember what happened, he could tell from the number of dead he had attacked, but why? Why did he avenge the monks death with such ferocity, he had not been a friend? Had not even been an acquaintance. But he had been a human here in this camp, a camp that had taken them in, fed them, let them stay even though they were sworn to kill that which Sesshomaru was.
"Sesshomaru!" He heard her voice and turned as she threw herself into his arms, twining herself around him. "Oh my god, you're ok!"
He smelled her tears under the icy mask of hate he wanted to cry too. But why, why did it matter.
"Fix him!" The cry was accusational at the very best as Sesshomaru turned his eyes alone to face a red faced, angered Sango. "Damn you! You bastard! You should've died! Maroku was a good man! A monk and what are you!"
"Sango don't! Sesshomaru didn't use him as a shield!" Kagome cried out, the tears pouring from her eyes as well.
"Fix him." She sobbed falling to her knees. "Please… you did it for Rin, can't you save Maroku?"
"It is not that easy." When he found his voice at last it was a cold sheet of thick ice. No caring, Sango's hot eyes were burning, but still none of that heat found him from inside the icy shield.
"What do you mean? It's not that easy!" She screamed at him, breaking into sobs again. Sesshomaru felt suddenly very cold when Kagome released him and embraced the hysterical Sango.
"I can only resurrect those that Tenseiga wishes I do." He responded. He would simply stare at her his eyes impossible to read. "Tenseiga wishes this monk to die."
"Damn you!" He screamed standing up. "Damn you! He is not just a monk! He has a name… Maroku saved InuYasha! Kagome! Me! And you will let him die because a sword doesn't make you!"
"Human life is frail." Sesshomaru said. It felt to him as if someone else were speaking, he did not feel as though he himself were controlling these actions.
"Human? Is that all he was to you? He died to save you!" She screamed running forward, pounding hard against his chest. "You don't deserve his sacrifice, you heartless bastard! You don't deserve it!"
"Sango!" Kagome gasped. Sesshomaru raised a hand and Kagome stopped. He looked beyond Sango to where Kyo stood watching him with hawk like eyes. No emotion, no love he felt nothing for the bird that had raised him in his father's absence, simply dull ice.
"Maybe." He said without thinking. "You are right." He said. With that his single hand would plant against Sango's chest and push her back into Kagome's arms.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome growled, but he said nothing, only walked past them towards the springs, to wash the monk's blood from his hands. She was right, he did not deserve this. He did not deserve any of it and he did not know why he felt this way. It was as if all his protective instincts had woken all at once and there was nothing that he could do to suppress them.
He washed until his hand and face and chest were raw to remove the holy blood from his body, only stopping when Kyo grabbed his wrist. Like a child, something he had not done in years he would hurl his slender naked figure against the garbed form of the eagle and freeze over all his emotions completely. Over and over he said that he did not understand why he was given the monk's life, and over and over the giant eagle comforted him like a child. Eventually Sesshomaru fell asleep to a night of restless dreams of a dying woman and a body that was not his own.