My exams are going on so chapters are going to be few and far between, but hey ill try my best.
This ones a bit long, it might also seem a bit rushed. Thats cos this is the one where the whole picture starts becoming clearer...well slightly
Chapter 3: Of good books about bad things
"Kyaaaaaaa!! What happened here Jaken-sama??" The sight before them wasn't a pleasant one. Jaken watched it in complete it in shock, only one thought racing through his mind 'Why? Why had he done this wasn't this just-' only to be interrupted again by Rin's constant stream of questions.
"Be silent girl!! I don't know what caused this. Probably…there must have been some big war-…"
"Use you eyes Jaken, there was no war here. This was done by a single creature"
Jaken choked on his words as his master spoke an unsettling felling coming over him "Y-yes master. May I ask why did we come here, it was as if you were listening to that monks wor-"
Jaken's words were cut short by Lord Sesshoumaru. He had stopped moving. He now stood, idol hovering above the lake of blood upon his fur. Jaken who was riding on Ah-Un with Rin immediately began to beg for his life. He knew what was coming.
Sesshoumaru raised two fingers preparing to unleash his poison whip. Jaken whined, he'd never been punished this badly before. He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw, gritting his teeth preparing for the blow.
Whack!!
Jaken jumped…but oddly felt no pain. Looking up, he saw that Lord Sesshoumaru had resumed floating across the lake taking no further notice of his servant.
"Never again shall you cross this Sesshoumaru" He spoke calmly yet with an authority none could match. He seemed to be talking to something else, but Jaken was use to it. He was just glad to have his life.
"Y-yes master" Jaken continued to sputter apologies but it seemed that his master ignored him.
As Sesshoumaru continued forward, he began to question his actions-something he never did-the man had seemed too pure, something about him radiated pure good ness. It was too late now here was nothing that could be done, but…feeling the unease within him, the Inu-lord made a decision. Immediately he began moving to the left, away from the mild sent of his half brother that still lingered about the blood and bodies. 'I need answers'
Jaken didn't even open his mouth as they changed direction. He had no wish to cross his master again. But as they moved forward Jaken saw something in the lake that made him jump. Suddenly all of his master's recent actions became clear to him, sighing with relief he continued on with Rin by his side on Ah-Un.
There in the blood, lay a body, still intact…a gash across its throat…poison still lingering on the rain washed wound. There, dead, lay the body of a priest. A priest, prayer beads still in hand and a piece of cloth wrapped around his eyes displaying his blindness to the world…
The path was like a snake. Meandering left then right, almost trying to throw travelers off its un-chartered course. The pouring rain didn't help keep the spirits up.
"This stinks, where are we going" Shippo seemed to voice the concerns of all his companions.
"Keh!! I told you…we never get anything out of helping others. Look where it landed us!" Soaked to the bone and with no knowledge of their destination, Inuyasha had good reason to be upset
"Inuyasha…you don't think that monk was a demon do you??"
"No chance Shippo, that guy reeked of human. There wasn't a hint of demon coming from him"
"I agree with Inuyasha" Miroku paused, checking to make sure he'd heard himself correctly before going on "the priest radiated pureness. There was absolutely no taint within his heart. I'm sure Kagome-sama will agree with me" he looked hopefully through the rain towards the figure riding on Inuyasha's back.
"Well…I did sense a really strange aura coming from him. I mean it wasn't evil but it was…well I cant explain it, I haven't felt a presence like that since…well I never felt one like that in my life"
"Keh!! So what if he's not evil. He's still sent us on some wild treasure hunt after…I don't even know what were looking for!"
The group were about to express their approval when suddenly, as if out of thin air, there appeared a clearing in the woods. There, soaked to its base was an old run down temple. The rain had driven the group mad, the temple seemed to be empty, their decision was obvious. After a thorough inspection by Inuyasha, the group entered the building and prepared for a long rest, all thoughts of the priest driven out of their minds.
"Hmmmmmm finally some respite from the rain" Kagome had already un-packed her sleeping bag preparing for a long nap. Even the others began spreading their makeshift bedding, their sprits lifted with the thought of rest…but they would get none that night.
Inuyasha found himself a suitable section of wall and prepared to settle down for the coming night. As he did so his eyes caught something, far in the back of the room there appeared to be a pedestal of some sort; one Inuyasha swore he never saw in his initial inspection.
"Hey Miroku, come check this out. I never saw this the first time I was in here." Miroku stared ad the battered book upon the pedestal, slightly confused. He to couldn't recall seeing anything of the sort on entering the temple. Suddenly, the words of the priest flashed in his mind
"Read the good books, come the dawn you will know what to do"
A chill went down his spine as understanding dawned on him, he knew what to do. Picking the book up and taking it to the center of the room, he sat down beside the candles-there had been plenty of candles, and plenty of lamps stored in the temple, the oil still fresh…as if waiting for weary travelers to come across them. The rest of his companions huddled around him-Inuyasha found is spot against the wall-and Miroku began reading…
The book was old, tattered; yet the print seemed unblemished. Its title read 'The logs of the Final day'. The book spoke of a mortal…a human by the name of Valcos. He was once a great warrior, his skill unmatched as he traveled the world hunting evil in all forms he encountered. So great was his skill that the havens themselves came down to him to seek his aid. Soon he became the very hand of god upon the earth, but know this Valcos never asked for blessings of the divine, in any form. All his victories, every one of his mighty foes were defeated by his own power and strength. The greatest of all being when he defeated the Lord of hell Himself, pushing him and his legions back to the fiery pits from whence they came. Years later the warrior of heaven met his at the hands of a mortal.
The entire group was silent, as Miroku turned the page. As he read the title, a new, unfamiliar chill seemed to settle over the group. Even Inuyasha seemed to shift uncomfortably. The Page simply read
Book Two, The prophesies of the burning sky.
The book now went into detail about the demise of Valcos. The warrior had been given one last assignment by the heavens; to defeat the balrog, Lord Dragonus and his five brothers in hell. The fight lasted days. As always, it was Valcos alone against all six of the beasts. He succeeded in defeating Dragonus and four of his brothers in one attempt b-
"Wait!! Your saying that this, Valcos person defeated five balrogs at once!!" Sago couldn't believe it, they had been give a huge amount of trouble with just one…and he had defeated FIVE
After a small, uneasy silence Miroku resumed reading, it seemed to be the only cure from the unease they were feeling but at the same time seemed to be fueling it. The five were already dead, but one, Incarnius, last of the balrogs escaped into the mortal realm. So Valcos gave chase, his hunt for the beast leading him all over the earth; his soul denied eternal rest until the beast was slain.
"Wait" Kagome had a look of deep understanding, Goosebumps all over her flesh. " What if this priest…is Valcos"? There was another odd silence as everyone allowed the notion to sink in.
Trying the shake the uncomfortable silence, Miroku continued to read.
The warrior's hunt for the last balrog brought him to these very lands. It was here, that he met a blind priest whose name to date is unknown. Over the years the priest looked after the warrior between battles and began to consider Valcos as his son, whether Valcos reciprocated these feelings is unknown.
It was here also that Valcos found love, in the form of a woman, a woman named Faye. It seemed, to him that he'd found true happiness. So content was he, that he cast his heavenly obligations aside and prepared to settle down for the remainder of his life.
But things-as they always are-turned for the worst. The arrival of Incarnius to the lands had brought misery and despair to the native people. The people blinded as they always are blamed the ill happenings on Valcos and his to be bride. One day as Valcos was out preparing for his own wedding, the natives came and stoned Faye to death, in hopes that her death would drive the evils from their land. On arriving, ready for what promised to be the happiest day of his life, he faced his last.
To best describe the warrior's reaction the book quoted the Blind priest; "He knelt before her, screaming in silence, slowly picking the remaining rocks from her now battered skin. He washed her wounds and then, we gave her a respectful burial. All along, I was shocked to see my child not shedding a single tear. He seemed to shake, ironically with the rage of hell itself. After he laid the girl to rest he delivered his final words to the world with a chilling clarity. 'Cursed is the world-he said-for they must suffer mortality. Soon they shall suffer eternal' as he spoke he drove an arrow into his own heart hoping to end his life. The words shake me to this day."
He was buried under the priest's supervision over this very mountain in the valley below, a reminder to all of the strength of men. His life, though he wished it would not end. His soul would suffer eternal until his tasks completion. Only then, after the purification ceremony can his soul ascend to the havens.
On the last page, as if confirming their suspicions, there was a rough drawing of the priest in question. The picture-though hand drawn-left no doubt in any ones minds as to who the priest was.
"That's to sad" The grief seemed to cut through the unease within Kagome. "He had every thing, he was so happy, but he died in such a sad way"
"Keh!! I'm just glad we can get this thing done with…quick"
"Oh Inuyasha your so blunt, don't you care, even a little about this guy"
"Don't even try Kagome, getting through to Inuyasha is like trying to make a fox fly" Shippo was then seen running around he room as Inuyasha tried to show him just how easy it was.
"Inuyasha's right" Miroku paused, this was happening too often. "Now we know who the priest is"
"Yes." Sango agreed, "This clears everything up. The priest is trying to give peace to a person he loved like a son."
They continued talking for what was left of the night.
They were about to take a short nap before setting out to help the priest when Miroku noticed something within the book. It seemed that there was another drawing behind the priest's. Picking up the book, Miroku nearly dropped it again when he saw the drawing. The title above the image bore the persons name leaving all I no doubt who it was.
"Hey Inuyasha, look at this doesn't this look like…"
Inuyasha scooted over and peered over Miroku at the image, his eyes going wide.
"What…what are you two looking at, I bet its something dirty." With a sly smile across his face Miroku passed the book to the girls.
"Wow that looks like you"
"No it doesn't, come on I don't look like that"
"Wow that does look like you" Even Shippo seemed convinced.
She continued to stare at the drawing; there was a striking resemblance.
And so, as the night slowly wore into day, the group packed their things and journeyed to the aforementioned valley.
Upon arriving, even through the rain they could see the obelisk that marked Valkos' tomb. What they didn't see was that there was already someone there.