Chapter 43: Check, But Not Checkmate
Sesshoumaru smirked at the wary dragons surrounding him and held up his right hand, elegant clawed fingers beginning to glow. Just as the males broke and rushed him he spun, the light from his claws growing into a glowing green whip that slashed all his opponents into little tiny bits. Coming out of his spin he snapped his wrist in one final motion, and the light pulled back into his claws as though it had never existed.
With a satisfied huff he looked around for another opponent. It was apparent from the sudden dearth of enemies trying to attack him that the battle was almost over and he frowned, disappointed for a moment. Combat never lasted as long as he'd have liked – it was continually frustrating that he could not seem to find a worthy enemy to test himself against.
A faint tremor from the ground beneath his feet gave away what was coming, and with a shocking suddenness Sesshoumaru leapt backward and up and slashed at the ground before him with his whip. Several dying screams of agony told him that he'd successfully killed those trying to sneak up on him as the ground practically liquidated and the body parts of four snakes gushed blood across the broken earth. He grinned at the sight, his eyes going crimson to match the sanguine liquid that was drenching the field of battle all around him.
He inhaled the scent of blood and death with eagerness even as his now glowing eyes fell closed with enjoyment of the smell of victory. This is the only time that the scent of cold blood is agreeable – when it is drowning the land beneath it as the fools die. His eyes opened again as an earthshaking snarl echoed across the battlefield, and he turned his head to watch his mother taking on her true form against a large dragon also in true form.
Striding forward with his sword held easily in his left hand Sesshoumaru simply separated the heads of any enemy that got in his way as he traversed the field towards the area his mother was in. There were several pockets of enemy fighters there, and his blood was still high and singing within him.
A dark, icy smile crossed his lips when he caught sight of Arata battling Ryukotsussei's standard bearer; it was obvious that the kitsune would soon have the dragon's flag as his trophy as the male he was attacking staggered and barely managed to keep the fox's sword from his body. There was no denying that this day had gone extremely well for them - and not so great for the dragon youkai of the North.
Darting forward when a heated black gaze met his Sesshoumaru immediately attacked, sudden excitement making his eyes flash. Here was an opponent that just might be worthy... this male was powerful as evidenced by the way his youki swelled and billowed around them and his blood-covered sword and claws glistened redly in the sunlight.
His spirit exulted fiercely as their weapons clashed, and neither one paid the slightest bit of attention to the earth shuddering around them as the mother to the heir of the West tore great rents in her own opponent's already heavily bleeding flesh.
~oOo~
Terrible snarl drawing her lips back from needle-sharp fangs Satori lunged at the dragon she was fighting, her youki swelling as she battered relentlessly at her opponent. The blue dragon shrieked and attempted to coil around her and squeeze, but with barely a flicker she pulled in her power and fell into her human form, slipping easily from the dragon's grip. Drawing her sword without missing a beat she whirled around, sword out and biting deep into scaled flesh, and the beast's shriek turned into a scream of pain as it tried to get away from her softly glowing weapon.
With a dangerous grin Satori pointed her katana at her enemy and almost whispered, "Dokugai-dammaku!"
The attack slammed into the flailing dragon with furious potency and the beast fell to the earth below, writhing in agony as the toxins from the katana burned at his flesh. Neither he nor she paid the slightest bit of attention to those their battle crushed as he plunged into the ground, the female inuyoukai attacking again as soon as he landed.
Hissing in rage and pain the dragon drew in his own faltering youki and switched back into his human form, blood pooling to the earth from several deep wounds. Satori was not uninjured herself, but she paid little attention to the wounds that were healing even as she pressed her advantage. While the dragon she'd been fighting was fairly strong he was nowhere near her in age or power, and so the injuries that he had managed to inflict on her were all minor.
The same couldn't be said for him.
Uninterested in toying with him any longer Satori darted in close; ignoring the claws that slashed at her and opened a swift wound from her shoulder to her thigh she somersaulted over him and plunged her katana straight down and into the dragon's head. With a shuddering cry the male stiffened - and then he collapsed, dead just that quick.
Landing with a chuckle she gathered her youki and allowed it to swirl around her, and when it faded she was once more pristine and elegant – and seemingly untouched by her previous battles. She sheathed her sword with a light sigh as she looked around and realized that the few enemy fighters remaining – besides the one her son was fighting - were all of a much lower caliber, and that she definitely wouldn't need to bother with swordwork again this day.
"Pity... I was just getting into the spirit of the battle, too," she pouted with disappointment as she absently skewered a lizard youkai that was trying to sneak up on her from behind with brightly glowing claws. "Ah, well... the victory is most definitely ours, so I suppose I can't complain too much."
She took the moment to study the battlefield and was well pleased with what she was seeing. It appeared as though approximately a third of their army or a little more had fallen in the fight – but that was far better than Ryukotsussei's forces had fared. Less than half those that had been on the field at the start of the battle were still standing – and it looked as though that was partially because one of the dragon clans had turned and was forcing the rest to surrender. Her lips curved up in scathing amusement at that, though she could easily understand the motivation behind what they were doing.
And while that clan's actions might save some of their race, the power of the dragons had been broken – they were now a decimated breed and with as slowly as they produced young it was not likely that they would ever recover from this day.
Ryukotsussei's blind hubris and desire for ultimate power without consequence had doomed his own people to virtual extinction.
How ironic, she thought, even as she watched most of the last of the enemy forces throw down their arms and surrender.
How appropriate.
~oOo~
Kenji finished off his enemy with a snap of his wickedly fanged jaws, cleaving the youkai in two with little effort. Just as he tossed the body away he felt his Lady's aura receding rapidly away from the field, and with a dismayed snarl he darted off after her, determined not to be left behind.
He couldn't help but to wonder what she was doing; it didn't take him two seconds however, to realize that she was following their Lord's youki, who was in turn chasing Ryukotsussei. And the fact that the dragon was heading at speed for his half-ruined palace, from which the sounds of battle were coming, did not bode well.
It meant that he had some trick up his sleeve.
Calling forth more of his power he poured on the speed, worried. He had a bad feeling about what was coming...
~oOo~
Kajiko glanced around; taking note of the fact that the enemy forces in the area were all gone she turned her head as she felt the youki of the dragon she hated most flash past her headed for his palace, pursued by Touga. Without even thinking about it she followed, determined that she would at least see his end even if she couldn't actually take his life herself.
She used the damage caused by Sou'unga to her advantage, twisting and turning her way through the wreckage with such split-second precision that none of the castle guard could catch her. Not that too many of them tried – they were very busy fighting against each other, or at least that's how it seemed to her. Paying no attention to what she considered unimportant peripherals, she burst into the honmaru and paused for a moment as she caught sight of the Western Lady atop her firecat companion blasting her way through those opposing her entrance into the palace proper.
After she'd decimated about half of those that had been guarding the doors the rest of the cowards ran. The firebird snorted with derision at the sight, and then sauntered forward as the hime and nekoyoukai disappeared through the doors. Before she could enter them herself, however, a flare of powerful youki heading right for her caused her to turn to meet the threat head on.
Bemused, she watched as a kitsune youkai in true form dashed past her without even pausing, and suddenly deciding she really didn't want to miss whatever was about to happen she blurred and followed the still-strong signatures of those who'd already passed this way after Ryukotsussei and the powerful male fox who'd just run by her.
I do believe that was Izayoi-sama's liaison and guard – Kenji. That would explain why he was following the Lady so swiftly and with such concern in his aura.
But why is she following Touga-sama with such desperation? Does she fear for him? Kajiko had a hard time with that idea – Ryukotsussei was no true match for the Western Lord in her eyes. She just could not see the great General of the Inuyoukai falling to such vermin as the thrice-bedamned dragon. The only way she could see him losing to the bastard was if he was distracted and worried about something else to such a degree that he lost focus and was taken by surprise.
There were bodies all over the first few rooms and halls she passed through, but as she got deeper into the complex there was little left but blood-covered walls with no remains visible. Slightly surprised at this but not curious enough to leave the trail she was following, she trotted down yet another corridor after the fading traces of youki and reiki.
Eyes narrowing at that odd fact, Kajiko slowed down, suddenly cautious. Why was the trail disappearing? Izayoi-sama and Kenji's auras at least should still be quite evident, as they had just passed through the area, and yet... even as she came to a halt the last of the signatures of those she had been trailing faded completely away. She scowled and drew her sword – she wasn't about to be caught unawares by some sneaky trick of Ryukotsussei's.
Moving forward slowly she continued following the corridor she was in, carefully examining every room she passed for any signs of those she was searching for – or enemies. A few turns after the trail disappeared she came to the end of the hall she was in and was faced with stairs leading down. With no other options at this point as she was unwilling to give up she started down them, senses extended to their utmost in the dingy light.
It was that caution that saved her life. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to enter the hallway it led to a sword came at her in a flashing arc, and she leaped back while bringing her own katana up to block the blow.
The male dragon she was facing looked enough like her most hated enemy that she knew he had to be one of the bastard's sons, and that was enough reason for her to forget about the trail she'd been trying to find and kill him, instead.
As their swords clashed with a scream the male sneered at her. "So you think you can take me on? Your arrogance will be your undoing, female. I will be very pleased to teach you your place - which is at my feet as I pull my sword from your entrails. You will die here, wench."
Kajiko burst into flames, the white hot tongues licking over her body and up her sword as she met the startled dragon's eyes with her own filled with hatred. She laughed darkly as she flung the male away from her, her sword slashing outward in an overwhelming display of strength and power. "You can try, snake, but you will not succeed. The only one to die here will be you."
Falling back, suddenly very wary, the male stared at the female firebird as she stalked him down the hall with the hottest of flames limning her body in an eerie blue-white and with a dark, wicked grin tilting her full lips at a dangerous angle.
He braced as she darted forward, eyes widening as the fire she was exuding roared anew, catching the walls and hangings around them on fire.
And it was thus that Ryukotsussei's heir watched his death stalk him on light and deadly feet, the inferno now surrounding him giving him no way to flee her wrath.
~oOo~
'The trail has disappeared, my Kagome," Kirara said and Izayoi frowned, puzzled and leery.
'I don't like this," she replied slowly. These halls and corridors all look the same – it's as if... as if it's all an illusion! I think that's what's happening – Ryukotsussei must have set certain safeguards into place in case he ever needed to confuse and deceive an enemy chasing him inside his own palace.'
Silently asking her companion to take her down so that she could stand on the seemingly normal floor, Izayoi allowed her senses to open as she touched the smooth wooden planks, hoping to be able to see the magic woven within and perhaps dispel it.
She probed at the energy that was literally drenching the walls, floors, and ceilings, but it was a confusing morass of twisting and turning power, ebbing and flowing with no apparent reason. It was clear that whatever it was that Ryukotsussei had done to the area, it would take some time for anyone to be able to figure the tangled mess of energy out and find the strand that held it all in place.
Chikuso! she swore silently, frustrated and worried. If she was entangled in this web of deceit that the dragon had spun then her mate probably was too, and there was every chance that Ryukotsussei might choose to use such an enchantment to his advantage, ambushing her husband and striking a devastating blow before Touga could even sense him. Closing her eyes she reached for the bond she shared with him and was relieved to find that, at least at the present time, he was unharmed. In fact, the high of victorious battle was still singing through his veins and he was actually enjoying the hunt that the dragon had initiated when he'd fled the battlefield.
Never run from a predator. It was a fact, because they enjoyed the chase, the hunt more than just about anything else - and her husband was definitely all predator.
With a sigh she opened her eyes again and once more began studying the energy around her, trying to trace it all back to the strand that held the magic in place so that she could then destroy it. Kirara, sensing that her mistress was going to be busy for the next little while, sat down and watched quietly so as not to disturb her friend's concentration.
The strike was so sudden that neither Kagome nor Kirara even had a chance to react; within a split second the miko's struggling form had vanished into the illusion, to an enraged firecat's dismay. Helpless to find her lady she roared in rage and headed back the way they had come, hoping to run into someone who might be able to help her find her charge.
~oOo~
Coming to a halt in stunned surprise, Touga snarled as he felt his wife's shock and fear through the bond. And when he realized what had happened to her, he howled so loudly with wrath that the frame of the palace rattled and shifted around him.
That bastard! He has Izayoi... if he harms one hair on her head I will make him suffer rather than just killing him – he will beg for death but I will not allow it to find him. The peace of the underworld will be a boon he will never be granted, I swear this on the blood of my ancestors!
The hunt he'd been enjoying just moments before promptly lost his interest, and with anxiety and a fury that could not be contained he gathered his youki and then allowed it to burst outward from his body in crippling waves, completely overwhelming the illusion that had surrounded him from the moment he'd entered the lower levels of the half-destroyed shiro.
As the magic wavered and then dissipated with an audible sizzle Touga tilted his head and inhaled deeply, and the moment that his wife's sweet scent mixed with that of his most hated enemy crossed his nose he was gone. A bright flash of light was all that could be seen as he vanished down the now even darker corridor that the dissolution of the illusory magic had revealed.
The trail led him to yet another set of stairs and he descended them in a flash, stepping so lightly that he barely even touched the ground at all. However, when he reached the bottom of the staircase he came to a temporary halt – there was yet more magic at play down here. But though it was also an illusory magic it was different from what had been in place on the upper levels of the palace.
He scowled. Damn that bakayarou filth! Just exactly what is he hiding down here that he is so desperate to reach? With a snarl etched on his face he strode to the end of the hall and stared at the dead-end with narrowed and suspicious eyes. There was a way through it and he knew it – there was little reason to have a stairway lead you down to a corridor with no destination.
Now if he could only find the way past it he would be that much closer to getting his claws into the male that had dared to touch the one thing that was off-limits to everyone – his beloved and beautiful wife.
Sending a surge of reassurance and love through the bond he turned his formidable intellect onto the problem at hand – figuring out the puzzle before his eyes. He scowled at the seemingly impenetrable wall, and just for the hell of it put his hand out to touch it. When it went right through, his scowl turned to a grin, instead, and he stepped through it and continued on down the hall.
I'm coming for you, you filthy bastard!
~oOo~
Izayoi blinked tearing eyes as Ryukotsussei's hold on her throat eased up a bit and struggled to bury her fear. Surprisingly, or maybe not, her fear wasn't really for herself – but for Touga. She could feel his rage – he knew his most hated enemy had her, and she was deeply worried that he would become so distracted by his wrath that he would make some mistake that would give the evil bastard dragging her along through the dark lower levels of his palace an advantage.
It's a good thing I had once more disguised my aura before he caught me – right now it's my only advantage – what he doesn't know will definitely hurt him.
She gagged a little as the dragon came to a halt at what appeared to be a dead end – she grimaced inwardly at the terrible pun – and tightened his hand around her already bruised neck.
"Now don't make a sound, little human, or I'll be forced to make sure you no longer have a voice at all," the twisted youkai drawled. "I would prefer for you to keep it – it makes it so much more entertaining when the bitch can scream." He dragged her close to his nose and inhaled her scent; dragons may not have the nose that canine and feline youkai had, but it was still better than a human's sense of smell. "Oh, yes... I definitely want to hear you scream as I sample you – I am very curious to discover what that infernal mutt finds so attractive in a little human bitch. Although," he added, "I can say this for the dog – you do smell quite delightful and are very beautiful. Apparently, the mutt has rather exotic tastes. I never would have thought it of him."
"You are so lucky that I'm so drained from my earlier battles, you bastard," she croaked, "because if I wasn't so tired I'd have already purified you."
The dragon at her back stiffened for a moment in anger, and then he chuckled, flexing his fingers around her throat in warning. "So very fiesty. But foolish, if you think that your paltry aura would ever be enough to harm me – even were you at full strength."
Izayoi scowled mutinously, but unable to say anything aloud due to his tightened grasp on her she smirked inwardly that her bluff was working once again. And you just keep thinking that, Ryukotsussei. When I know for sure what you are up to, I will show you just how paltry I really am.
Pretending to be too angry and afraid to pay attention to what he was doing as he once more loosened his grasp on her, she watched furtively as he tapped a certain pattern out on several stones, memorizing it in case the information was needed later and then filing it away as the wall in front of them wavered for several seconds. Ryukotsussei stepped through quickly and the wall immediately solidified again, leaving no sign that there was anything of value in that corridor.
Pulling her along briskly Ryukotsussei strode along the hall they were now in, the darkness steeping the area not bothering him at all, though Izayoi could barely see. Not that there was anything to see – there were no openings in the corridor leading to other rooms, and it was all fashioned out of the same dingy gray stone.
She could feel her husband's frustration; he had reached the wall they'd just passed through, and without even thinking about it she sent the knowledge she'd gained of the pattern needed to dissolve the false wall to him. When he realized what she'd done, she got back a sense of pleased pride – and worry. Before she could send reassurance through, the male holding her stopped once more and repeated his earlier actions, tapping out a quick pattern on certain stones. Once more Izayoi sent the information to Touga, who was almost upon them.
Now, she thought as she suddenly began to struggle against the one holding her, forcing him to pay attention to her... and not her husband's rapidly approaching aura.
Unfortunately that only worked for a few seconds, and then the male's head snapped up and he glared down the passageway at his nearing nemesis with insane hatred glowing in his eyes. "How did that bastard get through my illusion?" he snarled, even as he once more repeated the necessary pattern for this wall, as it had closed while she had struggled with him.
Stepping through it just as Touga came into Izayoi's sight he flung her down and snarled at her. "If you try to escape you will fail, and I will simply kill you and get it over with, wench. Remain silent and motionless if you value your life."
Ha! Don't think I'm that stupid, you idiot. I'm quite well aware of the type of 'life' I would live were you to succeed in taking me hostage – and how long that life would last. She shivered as that thought passed through her mind and forced the visuals that knowledge brought into the back of her mind. He would not succeed.
Keeping quiet as he'd ordered Izayoi looked around at the plain, rock-hewn room they were now in, and when her eyes lit on the flawless mirror that Ryukotsussei was now standing before she knew exactly what he was up to. For the image in the mirror was not of the room they were in, but of another place altogether.
She didn't get the chance to share that knowledge with her mate, because at that moment several things happened. The wall behind her wavered just as Ryukotsussei grabbed her again, pulling her into him as he held his claws to her throat and backed up slowly towards the now softly glowing glass.
Touga took in everything in the darkness of that room at a glance, and growled. So that was the fool's secret – an escape through a mirror. As much as the thought of his enemy escaping him angered him, his first priority had to be his mate – there was no way he was going to allow the dragon to get away with his wife, because by the time he was able to track them back down again, Izayoi would already be dead.
"How dishonorable and cowardly can one be-" he said tersely, glaring into the dragon's mad eyes, "-to hide behind a woman's skirts? I didn't think even you would stoop so low, but I obviously gave you far too much credit, vermin. Let her go and face me like a true youkai and warrior!"
Ryukotsussei snarled in anger at the taunts but merely dragged Izayoi closer to his body, slowly backing up to his portal without once taking his eyes off of his enemy. "I would dare anything to get what I want, dog – honor has no place in the battle for Supreme Conquest!"
Izayoi could feel as Ryukotsussei stepped into the mirror, and just as he was about to force her to step through, as well, she dropped her barrier and allowed her reiki to surge outward from her body in a concentrated rush.
The scream of agony from the dragon garnered a fierce grin from the young miko as she stumbled away from him and towards her husband and safety. She had to stop him from what he was about to do – he couldn't be allowed to follow the ryuyoukai into the mirror – it was far too dangerous. She didn't know as much about mirror magic as she'd have liked, but she did know this much – if Ryukotsussei reached the other side and shattered the second mirror before her husband could get through, he would be trapped for eternity in oblivion.
Too enraged at the threat to his wife and the bruising he could see around her neck to realize what he was doing Touga darted around her and stepped into the mirror, bound and determined to destroy his opponent right now. He couldn't be allowed to escape or this mess would never end.
However, Ryukotsussei had already reached the other side, and with a terrible grimace of hatred and pain he raised his sword and smashed the connecting mirror, just as Izayoi had feared.
The tinkling of glass shards was the last thing she heard from the other side as the mirror in front of her went dark.
No!
~oOo~
Kajiko danced backward on light feet as she continued to toy with the arrogant and ignorant bastard before her, the scream of clashing weapons echoing through the burning corridor. With a twist of her wrist she disengaged from the fool, and taking note of the fact that the fire was about to destabilize the floor beneath her feet, she thrust out a hand and called the flames back to her.
Instantly, with a wooshing sound that almost deafened her they raced into her hand and then dissipated. Within seconds there was nothing left of the burning blaze except blackened walls, light smoke, and the strong smell of charred wood and cloth.
Her opponent eyed her warily, his sword still held out in a defensive stance. Perhaps discretion was the better part of valor, and he chose not to taunt her again. "Why are you so determined to kill me?" he inquired, confused and fearful. Whatever was going on, this female was out to destroy him and it was a very personal rage that she was returning his scowl with.
"An eye for an eye," Kajiko stated sardonically. When the male she was facing just looked more confused, she elaborated. "Your damn father had my grandmother murdered. I'm simply returning the favor. And since you are the only one of the bastard's spawn I have come across, you are the unlucky one that will pay the price for his treachery."
Sinking back from the dangerous female the male tried to think of some way to escape the firebird that was slowly stalking after him with a menacing grin. Honor didn't matter to him when the only option on the table was death, and if he could escape he wouldn't think twice about fleeing like a coward.
But Kajiko wasn't about to give the waste of flesh a chance to escape her and she darted forward the moment his eyes wandered, plunging her weapon through the bastard's gut and then following that with one clawed hand piercing his chest to crush his heart.
He was dead before he could even scream.
Watching the male convulse and then go limp with blank eyes and detached expression, Kajiko allowed her fire to erupt again as she pulled her hand from his body so as to burn away his filthy blood from her skin. The body slumped to the ground, sliding off the blade of her katana and she sheathed it after swiping it through the air several times to get the blood off of it, as well.
"Damn... that was hardly even a fight." She shrugged after a slight pause and leaned down to pick up the remains of her enemy, heaving the carcass lightly over her shoulder. As soon as it was in place she turned and began heading for the upper floors – and the outside world.
She would be quite proud to display her trophy, especially to her parents.
They would have much to celebrate very shortly.
~oOo~
Eyes bleary from the heavy smoke, Takemaru reigned in his horse and coughed lightly to clear his throat. As heavy as the fires were they'd had to move much more slowly than he'd have liked – their horses couldn't go any faster with what the smoke was doing to them.
It was also very disorienting; while he was trying to head west in order to bypass the fires and find some intact villages and towns to plunder, it seemed that they were going in circles, instead. And that could be a very deadly problem out here on the plain with fires raging all around them. If the fire managed to encircle them it would all be over.
At this rate, he thought with aggravation, they would have to travel for days to find something that hadn't already been spoiled and burned by youkai. Damn those disgusting creatures!
Shaking his head to clear it, he squinted through the haze in the direction they'd been traveling. It almost looked like... trees! Without further ado he motioned for his men to follow, and they shortly found themselves beneath the eaves of a large forest. Pretty sure he knew where they were now, nonetheless he wanted to be sure and so he ordered his second to climb one of the taller trees to see if he could find where the fires were in relation to where they were.
While the agile young man scurried up the trunk and into the branches, Takemaru signaled the dismount, and the gathered men breathed sighs of relief as they dropped off their horses to stand and stretch. Most were also breathing in very deeply as the smoke was much thinner where they were – it was mostly just a bit blown in by an errant breeze here and there, only to dissipate as the breeze faded.
"Oi, Captain," came the shout from above, and Takemaru shouted back. "The fires are behind us and to the east, and the wind is blowing them that way. If we follow the edge of the forest heading west, we will escape their reach. But I think it's going to rain soon – if the darkness of the clouds are any indication, it's going to be enough to put out those fires, anyway."
Eyes narrowing in thought, the samurai waited for his second to jump down from the last branch and then asked, "Could you tell if the afternoon has already passed?"
"It's almost night, sir – the sun will set in another couple of marks."
Annoyed at the havoc smoke played with ones senses, Takemaru nodded with resignation. "Very well. We will move further back into the forest to a place where there's no smoke and then make camp for the night. We will then set out at dawn heading due west."
Turning around and leading his horse further into the trees, the former Captain of Setsuna's palace guards led his men to as safe a place to camp as one could find while still on earth.
The night to come would not be pleasant – and the day following would be just as bad.
~oOo~
Hiraku leaned back on his cushion and chuckled as he set the scroll in his hand down on his desk, the Hojo family sigil catching the light as he did so. He was not at all surprised by the missive and actually found it quite funny. For Takeda to be so much of a fool as to believe that he would leave his lands and family to a weak-willed heir just showed how naïve the young man truly was.
Turning the matter over in his mind, the Setsuna lord's brow furrowed as he did what he usually did so well – he plotted out just what Takeda's next moves might be.
He will probably ally himself with Takemaru, seeing as how that one has already contacted him. So I can expect Takeda warriors interspersed with the ronin that have already flocked to his banner when he comes to confront me.
After a moment, however, Hiraku's expression became heavy and full of weariness. He looked around at the familiar walls of his study and couldn't help but to wonder if his palace would still be standing once this mess with Takemaru was finally finished. He could only hope so.
It hadn't escaped his notice that the man seemed mighty certain of his victory. It was almost as though... as though the prideful young man had a guarantee that he would win. But Setsuna was anything but an easy target, and he had all sorts of ways to outlast any siege the fool tried to lock him into.
So what could Takemaru be planning?
Scowl now spreading across his face he put the message from Hojo away and then stood and left his study abruptly, feeling the need to speak to his son – the one Takeda seemed to think would be easily controlled.
Making his way to the Sakura room, for some reason needing that link to his daughter, as slight as it was, he ordered the first servant he found to find Ichirou and send him along. As an afterthought, he also told him to summon Yozei – the inuyoukai had proved to have a brilliant mind for combat, and especially of defensive maneuvers.
Half a mark later Ichirou and Yozei arrived at almost the same instant, and the Lord waved a hand, indicating to them to take comfortable seats. Another servant arrived with sake and cups, and once everyone had been poured out some the servant left, quietly sliding the shoji closed.
The silence was heavy with curiosity, but the two who had been summoned sat patiently enough, waiting for Hiraku to indicate why he'd needed to see them and sipping on their sake as they waited.
After a few minutes of contemplative silence, Hiraku spoke, bringing up the topic he wished to deliberate with them on.
"Takeda has finally learned that Izayoi is already wed to Touga," he began, lips twitching just slightly as both Ichirou and Yozei leaned forward in anticipation. "He left Hojo as soon as he found out, apparently headed for home. I believe that he will attempt to ally himself with Takemaru after breaking our own alliance. But I am concerned..." he trailed off for a moment before continuing. "with what our former Captain of the guard could be planning. According to the man I have planted in the force he is now gathering, he seems absolutely certain that he will defeat us. It could be simply the foolishness of a man who has lost his mind, but... it could be something else. So... I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter."
Ichirou and Yozei exchanged glances and then the heir spoke up. "Takemaru wasn't here very long – and most don't know of the countermeasures you have in place should anyone attempt a siege of either of our palaces. So he could be thinking to starve us out, thus forcing us to surrender."
It was definitely plausible, but Hiraku just didn't think that was what the man was planning. "While that is a possibility, for some reason I don't think that's what's going to happen."
"Is the man honorable enough to challenge you and meet your army on neutral ground, thus allowing battle to settle the matter?" Yozei asked.
"At one time probably, but I believe any honor he had is now gone. He's become what he fears the most – a monster who will use any ploy, no matter how dishonorable or wicked, to win."
Silence fell once more as the three in the room tried to put themselves in Takemaru's shoes. After a time Ichirou said, "It seems to me that what he is counting on is assistance from within, so to speak. Subversion. So who do we have that would be open to being bought?"
Hiraku blinked, then frowned. "Several, actually. Some on the council, and possibly even some of the army."
"Then perhaps the next step would be to rout out those who are so inclined," Yozei said deferentially. "Now would be a good time to get rid of the deadwood infecting your halls, since Takemaru won't be ready to attempt any kind of coup until next summer at the earliest."
"Hm," Hiraku intoned, nodding to himself as he placed everything in order in his mind. "I think that is a very good idea." He looked at his son, and Ichirou nodded. He knew what his father wanted without him having to say a word.
"I'll find you when I've completed this task, father." He bowed and then stood and turned on his heel to stride away with grim purpose.
"Did you have any further need of me, my lord?" Yozei asked respectfully, and stood and bowed when Hiraku waved him away.
"No, that is all. I will call on you again when I have need of your... specific talents."
A wicked grin lit the inuyoukai's face as he bowed once more and headed back to his quarters, leaving Hiraku to sit in silence and ponder on the next move that he would make in the never-ending game of politics and power.
~oOo~
Izayoi never did know for certain if she'd screamed aloud or only in her mind, but the sound of it echoed loudly either way. Without pause she leaped forward and grabbed at the end of her husband's pelt, her heart thundering in her chest as she managed to grasp it.
Already being pulled away by the void, Touga was cursing himself for his moment of foolishness and was only interrupted by the tug he felt on his pelt. Surprised, he glanced down and then behind, and his eyes opened wide as he was surrounded by his wife's power. He could see her, determination and panic in her eyes as she forced her reiki through the mirror he'd so stupidly jumped through – and he could see the fact that her hand was what was tugging on his fur.
He was astonished and awed in a way he very rarely ever had been. How in the hell...? He shook his head as he felt her pulling him closer to the flat image of the room in Ryukotsussei's palace – this was... unprecedented. What his idiocy and impulsiveness in jumping in after the dragon should have bought him was an eternity lost in the void. What his wife was doing to save him should have been impossible.
But then again... she seems to be in the habit of doing the impossible on a regular basis, he thought with a small, fond smile as he was pulled back through the mirror and stepped back down onto solid ground in a world he'd almost just cost himself.
The mirror shattered behind him as his wife's power made sure it could never be used again.
He could see the worry and fear in her face turn to anger, but before she could begin to yell and chastise him for his stupidity he raised his hand and placed a finger over her lips.
"I apologize to you, my beloved," he said contritely, "I let my desire to end Ryukotsussei now so that he could never again harm you drown out my common sense. And I thank you for ignoring my idiocy and saving me from the consequences of my actions."
Guilt washed through him in a torrent as Izayoi's lower lip wobbled as his finger fell away and she threw herself into him, her arms going around his chest to hold to him tightly as she ranted softly at him.
"Don't you ever do something like that again! I would rather Ryukotsussei live forever than lose you! What was I supposed to do if... if..." she broke off on a sob, obviously unable to vocalize the rest of what she'd been about to say. "Kami, you big baka inuyoukai! I should purify you halfway to dust for what you di-"
She was cut off before she could finish by her husband tilting her face up and covering her ranting mouth with his own and she went limp in his arms, tears streaming down her face.
The moment had all the potential to turn into something else with all the heightened emotions running through the both of them, but Touga had just enough control – and sense – left to call a halt before it could get to that point. This was hardly the time for such endeavors, after all, and with great reluctance he pulled away from his wife's sweet lips.
The heavy-lidded look she was giving him almost caused him to change his mind, but he shook his head and closed his eyes so he couldn't be tempted any further.
He could feel the sudden heat in her cheeks as close as she was to him, and when she cleared her throat with embarrassment and stepped out of his arms he knew she had returned to sense and he opened his eyes once more.
With a slow exhale he released his tension and then looked around the room they were standing in almost absently as he forced his mind back to the matter at hand. "Damn that bastard, anyway," he finally said, frustration filling him with the knowledge that though they had won the battle this day, they hadn't won the war – as long as that mad fool was still on this plane, it would never be over.
Red rage began to take over his mind as he contemplated the reality that his failure to actually destroy his enemy was placing not only the West at risk, but his wife – and the entire world, as well, for if the dragon managed to find the Shikon no Tama, today's victory against Ryukotsussei's house would become void and meaningless.
Startled out of his escalating anger as his wife grasped the hand he'd clenched with gentle fingers, he looked down in surprise as she caressed it open once more and wiped away the crimson with a soft tut and sad eyes. He blinked – he'd been so angry he hadn't even noticed any pain.
"Don't, Touga. It's going to be okay. So the fool escaped today – he can't avoid his fate forever, though, and eventually you will take care of the threat he is, I've no doubt. There's no point in getting angry about it-" she coaxed gently, "-since it won't change anything. Put it out of your mind. There's enough to deal with after this day already, is there not?"
Forcing himself to calm down he gave his mate a small smile as he nodded agreeably, wiping her cheeks of the remains of her tears. "Oh, hai, you are most certainly correct. I suppose that we should make our way back out to the battlefield and begin settling all the little details that need to be attended to after one has conquered a land."
A weak but sincere smile crossed Izayoi's lips as she stroked his hand once more before letting it go. "How long do such things usually take?" she asked curiously.
Touga turned towards the false wall, throwing back over his shoulder, "It depends on a great many things. I believe that this time it will be fairly quick, however. I think we will be home within a few days."
Izayoi sighed, slumping a little as her weariness finally caught up with her. But she didn't hesitate to follow him, mind already focusing on what she would be doing while her husband and the other lords spoke of affairs and settled the fate of the northern lands – and the dragons that still lived to call them home.
"I will probably need to have someone set up an area for me to use while I attend to the injured," she said softly, brow furrowed as she thought. "I'm going to need a lot of help sweeping the field to sort through those who are dead and those who are simply terribly injured. That should be our priority for this day," she added, looking up at her husband as he opened the way through the wall and pulled her through. "The rest of what needs taken care of can be spoken of tomorrow."
The Western Lord looked down at his wife with smiling eyes, not surprised at all by her words and not inclined to argue with her over them, either. Taking care of the wounded and the dead was indeed more important.
"You will have all the help you could ever need, my love," her husband promised as he led her down the rough-hewn stone corridor to the next false wall. "And then some."
~oOo~
Kenji, now back in his human form frowned, worried and unsettled by the conflicting messages his usually reliable youkai senses were giving him. He'd come across an enraged Kirara already, or rather, better to say that she had run into him, in a literal sense, but even though she'd just come from wherever it was that they'd been ambushed the trail was cold and no scent remained from her flight to guide their paths.
Growling low in his chest with frustration he looked both ways down the corridor they were in, trying to decide which way to take, when a large surge of reiki almost knocked him on his rear. His head snapped around to look in the direction the power flare had come from, and without questioning it at all he darted down that way, Kirara close on his heels and snarling angrily.
They had traveled for several minutes when they came to a set of stairs leading down, and both youkai almost flew down them – only to come to a halt facing none other than Touga and Izayoi. Kenji's breath whooshed out of him as he almost slumped from the release of so much worry, and Kirara immediately transformed and leaped at her companion and dearest friend, nudging her and purring, little nuzzles making Kagome giggle. "I'm fine, you know," she said, addressing Kirara and Kenji both.
'Fine? And I suppose those aren't bruises around your neck then,' Kirara snapped, glaring up at Kagome before turning up her nose and hissing. 'Fine, she says. I'd like to get my teeth into that smelly dragon, oh yes I would,' she snarled vengefully as Kagome giggled again, highly entertained by a small and cute Kirara's bloodthirsty rant.
"Really, I'm fine, Kirara. It's no different than if I'd gotten them during the battle, ne?"
The kitten snorted, to everyone's amusement. 'It's not the same. And why haven't you healed them already? I know you can.'
At that question Kagome's amused expression turned somber, and she shook her head. "These are just bruises," she said, her fingers brushing over them as she spoke, "and barely even hurt. What kind of person would I be if I wasted my strength healing such a minor thing, when there are doubtless hundreds of injured from the battle – injuries that are much more serious than a few bruises?"
After a moment of thinking about it Kirara finally huffed and curled up in Kagome's arms. 'Your point is well-made, but I don't have to like it.' She unbent after a moment and blinked up at the miko. 'I'm just glad you are okay,' she flicked a quick look at an amused Touga and said, 'And you too, dog,' in a grudging manner everyone there could see wasn't really how she felt.
The inuyoukai chuckled and returned the sentiment, and then looked at Kenji as they all ascended the stairs. "Where are the rest of my wife's guards?" he asked.
"I'm not certain, Touga-sama," the kitsune replied. "The battle separated us, and when Izayoi-sama followed after you, I followed her."
"Then go and find them now – Ryukotsussei managed to escape, which means this is not over as I had hoped it would be, and he is a very large danger to her. She is to be guarded at all times, especially until we reach the citadel again."
Kenji looked surprised. "He escaped?"
Touga nodded. "Apparently he planned ahead. He used mirror magic," he said tersely as his mind turned to the serious matters still to be attended to.
"Ah," Kenji nodded in understanding. "That is unfortunate." He promptly excused himself and hurried off to do as he'd been bid without any further questions. He'd find out all the details soon enough, after all.
Izayoi sighed quietly to herself. Check, but not checkmate. I wish I knew what further part he has to play for the kami to have allowed him to get away. And so the game will continue until a final winner emerges.
She shivered.
~oOo~
A/N: For those who have been following this story, I am proud to announce that after the next chapter we will be beginning the third and final part of the story. Part three, A Culmination of Evil, will continue to follow the canon outline of the events that are given as the story of Inuyasha's parents in the third Inuyasha movie, Swords of an Honorable Ruler. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the tale, and how I weave the canon events together while still giving the story a happy ending.
As well, I wanted to thank all those who've read and reviewed – it's a joy to read them, even though I just no longer have a chance to really answer in return. If it weren't for the reviews, this story might not have even been finished – I've been suffering from some major writer's block for almost a year, and its only the encouragement of all of you that has kept me pushing through it and writing anyway.
Amber
