Sweetest Sin
DaggersBloodPain
A/N Ok I had to pretty much completely chicken out on the battle scene, I have written about three different versions of it and it just wont come out the way I want it to. I am sorry to those looking for an all out battle that is just not going to happen in the story. By the way this story is not done yet by a long shot.
Chapter Eight
Finding the Lost
It took three days to track down Naraku. They were all a little leery that it was so easy to find him. One had his suspicions that Naraku wanted to be found but never felt the urge to voice them. Once they were inside that monster's den they split off into two groups one to fight, and hopefully distract Naraku and his minions, and the others to find Rin.
Inuyasha led the group battling Naraku while Sesshomaru and Kouga headed off to find the girl. No one noticed Shippo follow the two demons deeper into the cave like hideout.
Sango riding Kirara attacked Kagura on the wind demoness's own level. Kagome and Miroku were trying to get to Kanna, and destroy the horrible mirror. Leaving Inuyasha to face off with Naraku himself, and the hanyou was surprised to find the other not instilled in his baboon suit for this battle.
Sesshomaru ignored the battle going on in the front room in favor of racing towards his Rin. He could smell her sweet human scent from there. It was particularly strong which told Sesshomaru she had not been bathed recently, nor been outside as other scents would overpower her own. In tracking her he noticed another scent, a slightly familiar scent, but did not concentrate on its origin Rin was his only priority.
The lower cavern was not without its guards, Naraku's poisonous bugs swarmed through them and Sesshomaru and Kouga were headed straight for them. Being surrounded by the biting insects and trying to fight them off just wasn't working, there was simply too many of them. Even transforming would not help them in the least. The two demons actually thought they might just be beaten by a bunch of bugs until they, and the bugs shrouding them, were enveloped in shimmering blue flame.
Shippo was using his fox fire to literally roast the insects alive. The fact that the fire burned only the insects and not Sesshomaru or Kouga showed just how much the kitsune had improved. Apparently his lessons with Kirara had involved more than stealth and tracking.
When the bugs were nothing more than smoking carcasses Sesshomaru and Kouga continued to track the scents emanating from further into the cave. It was Kouga who understood the second scent first, and it caused him to stop in his tracks.
"Sesshomaru, Rin was not the only one taken, I can smell Ayame with her." He explained inhaling deeply to try and read the scent of the familiar ookami.
"At least she is not alone." Sesshomaru whispered to himself just loud enough for Kouga to hear.
"You really love this girl don't you?" Kouga commented even as they continued their quest.
Sesshomaru appeared like he wasn't going to answer, but he finally growled out, "Yes."
"Good because I believe she is in the next cell, and she will need you." Kouga affirmed as they had finally reached the inhabited part of Naraku's dungeon.
They swiftly entered the cell and had to pull back in horror. It was a filthy place, dirt, mud, and some dark stains that looked suspiciously like blood covered the whole area. Inside that place of horrors were two figures huddled together. One larger with long greasy red hair that had been pulled from their normal pig tails, and one smaller figure who was shaking from cold and fright. The larger figure held the smaller tightly against her, the slight whimper of fear told the rescuers that she was too scared to tell who had entered the cell.
The two healthy demons rushed over to them, Kouga placed a gentle hand on his fellow ookami and felt the muscle tense a second before she jumped into the air and, taking Rin with her, fled into the darkened corner of the cell. It was only when she got a good look at them with her aqua eyes that her terrified mind caught up with the truth.
"Kouga? Sesshomaru?" She asked weakly.
"Ayame, what have they done to you?" Kouga asked with a slight crack in his voice as he looked straight into dead eyes.
She didn't answer with words, instead she shifted the still out of it girl to one side. Kouga didn't understand what she was trying to tell them until he heard Sesshomaru's sharply indrawn breath and took a closer look. Ayame's abdomen was rounded slightly. It was barely noticeable except for the fact if they were being kept in these conditions she should not have any extra weight on her at all.
Kouga moved slowly towards her, knowing she would still be easily startled for awhile. Placing one hand on her shoulder, he gently brushed his check against hers reassuringly, before he placed a very gentle hand on the swollen stomach. He was rewarded with a barely noticeable shift under his palm. Catching her eyes he saw the truth, this was not a consented union.
Knowing she had been through one too many shocks, he gently took Rin and handed the frightened girl to Sesshomaru's waiting arms where she burrowed deeper in the familiar warmth, before picking up the demoness in his own arms. They would both need some medical treatment but for now their priority was getting out of this place in one piece.
They met Shippo outside of the cell he had not been quite brave enough to venture inside. When the reached the outer level there was still sounds of battle but it was significantly less, someone was winning and from the numerous cries they heard it was their group that was winning.
Not wanting to pop out of nowhere and possibly distract someone to their death they came around the corner slowly. They were just in time to see Inuyasha strike out at Naraku forcing Tetsusaiga through the spider demon's chest and up words cleanly slicing the demon apart. The unearthly shriek that filled the cavern was the swan song of the evil demon.
The body of Naraku slowly fell to the ground tentacles retracting back into his body, leaving him in his human looking body. That revealed Inuyasha to them and with a foreboding air Sesshomaru noticed his fire rat clothes were darker than usual, and wet.
Inuyasha slowly turned to face the rest of the group which was on the other side of the cavern from Sesshomaru and he was able to see clearly there was a gaping hole in his back. It looked to go right through his lungs and possibly his heart. With a low cry he dropped to the ground and fell forward. Sprawled on the ground with his silver hair surrounding him and blood beginning to pool on the dirt floor Inuyasha did not move, not even his chest rose and fell.
He was dead.