Chapter 28

The Barrier Revealed

Jaenelle glared up at the stars, her mind in a million places all at once. She'd regretted shoving Daemon through that barrier the second she'd done it, but it didn't matter now. It was over. He was safe and so was Kagome and her pup, but still, it hurt.

"Did we do the right thing, Inuyasha?"

Not in the slightest surprised that she knew he was behind her, Inuyasha joined her at the railing of her balcony. "I hate it, but we did. The three of them are safe in Kagome's time. Hakuuyo can't follow her there."

Jaenelle nodded and turned so that she could lean back against the railing. "I just wish there had been another way. Daemon is…passionate about me,"

"You're his Queen and his wife. You're in danger right now. He's going to be pissed when he gets back, but the relief of seeing you alive will sate him long enough for you to enjoy his company before he gives you the verbal throttling you deserve. We both deserve…"

"Your understanding of our culture after only a year still amazes me." Jaenelle sighed heavily. "At any rate, another week and the webs will be complete,"

"Have they given you your answer?"

She tensed slightly at his inquiry. "No, they haven't. It's more troubling with each passing day. I don't want to have to wait until the last minute to find out, but I have a bad feeling that that's exactly what's going to happen. You made a promise, Inuyasha, to Kagome and I intend on making you keep it,"

"Feh! I'm not goin' anywhere!"

"Good," Jaenelle stood erect and blew her breath out in a huff. "Well, let's go check in on Saetan and Surreal; see if they've come any closer to figuring out this barrier,"

Saetan rubbed his eyes and sat back in his chair, ready to give up but at the same time, nowhere near it. Surreal tossed a book aside and rose from the table intent on browsing the very back shelves of the library one more time just in case she'd missed something. Geoffrey had given as much aid as he could, but still, not much had been found. Not even a name to go with the damned barrier. They, so far, had found only that the barrier had been erected before the first war between the realms. Saetan had never known about it, but then again, until just recently, they couldn't even be sure if the barrier had originally run through Kaeleer. Over the last few centuries, the land had changed quite a bit, so there was a chance that the barrier had moved around to accommodate those changes. Still…it wouldn't hurt to have a lot more information than that on the damned thing.

Surreal blew out her breath in an agitated sigh as she reached the back shelf and began her search anew. An hour after she'd started this, her fingers scraped across a dust covered book hidden on the very top of the book shelf. Curious, she pulled it from its resting place and blew the dust from its cover, her eyes narrowing at its title; Spells and Powers of the Youkai.

"Saetan!" She shouted as she dismounted from the ladder and raced back towards the table. "Look at this!"

Saetan studied her for a moment before he pulled the book from her hands and stared curiously at the title. "Where did you find this?"

"On top of the shelf itself. Can it help us?"

"I don't know, possibly," He opened the cover and studied the script on the very first page. "It's not printed text. It's hand written,"

"Odd,"

"Yes," Saetan murmured, turning the first page. He raised his brow in interest as he examined the photograph that covered a small compartment within the pages beyond. "I do believe we have ourselves a clue. Is that not the Lord Inutaishu?"

Realizing that Surreal wouldn't know, Saetan shook his head, removed the photo and became pensive over the small key resting within a square that had been cut into the pages.

"Ok, I'm intrigued,"

Saetan removed the key from its resting place and instantly began to wonder if he shouldn't have. The key pulsed in his hands and was overcome by a surrealistic purple glow. Surreal took a step back and watched as the key lifted itself from Saetan's hands.

"Does this qualify as a Youkai spell?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this but…follow that key!" The maze of the Keep's Library seemed to grow in size when the key darted between rows of bookshelves, leading its followers on in a crazy little race around the library. Saetan's bad leg throbbed in protest, but he flooded his body with black power and kept following that little key until he and Surreal found themselves in a part of the library they had never known existed. The key slowed until it stopped in the center of the room, went vertical and lodged itself in a keyhole directly in the center panel of the floor.

"Well, isn't this…interesting…" Saetan's voice faded out completely as the creases around the panel began to glow, producing a holographic image before them. The man in the hologram that greeted them was Inutaishu himself.

"I'm impressed that you've uncovered my secret, however, the signature taken of your hands when you touched this key was not an accepted signature. Access to my private chamber is denied unto you." The hologram flickered for a moment before it faded completely.

"Definitely interesting…" Surreal whispered as she moved forward and removed the key. "We should tell Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru about this…"

"I agree,"

Excitedly, Graysfang raced down the hallway and met Rin as she was leaving the study, barking happily to get her attention.

"Well someone's in a good mood today," Rin knelt and patted him on the head, smiling softly as he wagged his tail. "Well, what's got you all excited?"

Saetan and Surreal found something! Where's Sesshoumaru?

"Oh, dear, um…" Rin rose and looked around her surroundings. "He was around here earlier. Let's go see if we can't find him," Graysfang followed her just as happily as ever and soon, after searching the rooms rather thoroughly, found him in the family garden locked in some deep mediation, his body wrapped in a light blue silk robe with a non-formal white obi wrapped around his waist.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" At first he was unresponsive to her call and then, as she approached him and gently touched his shoulder, his amber eyes opened and he tilted his head to look at her. "Graysfang says that Saetan and Surreal have found something and need us,"

He studied her carefully for a moment before he inclined his head and rose, allowing her and Graysfang to lead him back into the living quarters at the Keep, then through the maze of hallways to the library. Inuyasha and Jaenelle were already there upon their arrival.

"So, what's got everyone's panties in a twist?" Inuyasha grumbled, noting that Sango and Miroku had joined them as well.

"I think you'll find this very interesting," Saetan stepped towards the two half brothers and motioned for them to extend their hands. When this was done, Saetan held the key out, instructed them to each grab an end and watched in amusement as the brother's reacted in kind to the pulsing that emanated from the key, just before it fled their hands and made for the hidden chamber at the very back of the of library.

"I think you two will want to follow that key," Saetan said softly as he, Surreal, and Jaenelle moved quickly after it. Sesshoumaru seemed unconcerned by the triviality of such a trick and so took his time. However, Inuyasha saw less triviality in the key and more importance. It was obviously a clue to everything that was going on, otherwise Saetan wouldn't have been so confident all of a sudden. So, as not to be outdone, Inuyasha took off after the key, leaping onto the tops of bookshelves to make the race go by much faster.

"Damn, where did it go?" Inuyasha crouched low on one of the shelves and snarled, his amber eyes searching his surroundings carefully. "There you are!" Leaping forward, Inuyasha landed just behind the key and slid to a stop in the hidden room just as the others rounded the corner to see the key shoot into the center panel in the floor. Again it illuminated and, much to Inuyasha's obvious surprise, and Sesshoumaru's not-so-obvious surprise, the holographic image of Inutaishu appeared before them.

"So, my sons, you've both found your way here," A small smile bloomed. "Please, have a seat. What I have to say is important and very lengthy. You may ask questions, but I must warn you that my responses are limited. If you ask the right questions, you'll get the answers you seek,"

Blood stained the once green grass the ugliest shade of crimson he'd ever seen. Before his golden eyes the entire land was being ruined with the murderous actions taking place in this war. After so long a time of peace between the Blood and the Demons, it had finally fallen apart. Peace never lasts, of course, but a few more years of it would have been greatly appreciated. However, a solution had already been met. Many of the Demons involved in this war had done so in secrecy and were now, thanks to the combined efforts of himself and a select few others, backing out of the war. It was as if they had never existed. Save for the blood thirsty Jhinka, the Demons were fleeing back to their lands. And rightfully so. This war was between the realms of the Blood and was best kept that way.

"Master Inutaishu?" Mioga watched the scenes playing out from his sanctuary on the Dog Demon Lord's shoulder, feeling the uncertainty that was always with him rising up to choke him. He wanted to flee the scene and find safety as he always did. There was no changing a coward such as he. "Are you sure that the spell will work?"

"This destruction shall not pass into the realm we inhabit. The corruption and taint that has overcome the Blood cannot be allowed to pass unto us. This barrier is necessary. I'm afraid, Mioga, that our last vision of this once beautiful land shall be of war." Inutaishu moved slowly towards a clearing ahead of him. "I only pray that when the time comes…" His voice trailed off and he shook his head. "Come, Mioga. The sooner we raise the barrier shields and spells, the sooner the abomination Hakuuyo will be trapped within its magic. Our kind will know not the evil of the taint in this land."

"The barrier held strong for over fifty thousand years before it was first breached by the human woman, Izayoi." Inutaishu looked directly at Inuyasha. "She was a gift from Lorn himself. The great Dragon King knew as well as I that the time was drawing near when Hakuuyo would be released. Naraku's arrival was merely one testament to this prediction." There was a pause in which silence filled the room and Inuyasha snarled at it.

"Tell us how to reactivate the barrier! Tell us how to fix it!"

Inutaishu merely gave him a blank look, unable to give an answer seeing as he had none. Sesshoumaru made no comment on the matter, but simply stepped forward towards his father's translucent image. "How do we stabilize the barrier?"

"You must strengthen the original spells,"

"How do we do that?"

"By using the blood of Hakuuyo. When this is done, an opening will form at the Keep to allow travel between Kaeleer and our land. To do this, you must return to the sight where the spells were originally placed. After this is done, it is up to the Keep's Seneschal to secure the portal to make sure only those with pure hearts may pass."

"And the location of the original spells? Where is it?"

"It is hidden in the territory of the Dea al Mon. Seek permission to pass through these lands from the reigning queen. Past the first Dea al Mon settlement, you will find a path hidden behind a single oak tree. Follow it for three hours. You will then reach the clearing. However, I must warn you that placing protective shields around this clearing was necessary. It is up to you, Lady, to solve the riddle that surrounds it." At this point Inutaishu had turned to stare directly at Rin. Stunned, Rin just stared right back at him, unable to voice any such sounds on the matter. Finally Inutaishu turned back to his sons, once again silent.

Inuyasha looked away and growled. "You should get going then, kid. The sooner that clearing is open for us, the better,"

"Hold it, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru muttered. "You're forgetting something important. When Rin lowers those shields, we must have the blood of Hakuuyo to reactivate and strengthen the barrier spells. If Rin was to leave now and lower the shields, Hakuuyo could just as easily destroy the barrier all together. Already, demons are pouring into this land when they are lucky enough to find the opening portal. If Hakuuyo were to gain the allied forces of the demons then this war would have already been won, but by the wrong side,"

"I know that," Inuyasha growled.

"The webs are complete," Jaenelle spoke up. "All that remains is to set the trap. Two days ago, Lady Zhara sent word to me that two witches, both bearing jewels ranking of the green, vanished and were found a day later, broken and dead in the forest behind the main city square. No doubt Hakuuyo's doing. We know that he's close now. In two days we'll set the trap,"

"Is Tersa up for this?" Surreal asked, studying Jaenelle and Saetan carefully.

"Tersa knows that her role is important," Jaenelle's voice had changed drastically suddenly. "Tersa will go through with this because she was always meant to do so. We are ready."

Finally…Inuyasha closed his eyes and started to leave the chamber, only to be stopped by the sound of his father's image clearing his throat.

"What?"

"Beware the Priestess, my son. She will be your ultimate enemy in the end,"

"Priestess? What Priestess?" Inuyasha waited but his father gave no answer. However, no more questions would be asked. Inutaishu's image vanished, the key exploded into brilliant light and then was gone completely.

"Wait a minute! Damn it!"

End of chapter! Ok, so it's been a long time, but I just finished this chapter and found myself very pleased with it, even if it was relatively short. So I gave you a bit of foreshadowing with Inutaishu's warning. ANYWAY, now that I don't have to worry too much about the barrier, I'm happy to say that the next chapter, perhaps two, will be primarily Kagome and Daemon heading back to her era. However, I will tell you that getting back isn't going to be a walk in the park. There are still dangers in the feudal era. I won't give it away, but it's going to be very eventful and action packed and dramatic. Daemon will learn about the falsehood of some appearances. Let's just say he almost falls for the whole damsel in distress scenario with a woman who's clearly NOTHING like a damsel in distress, but rather a bitch. But, yeah, I'll stop there.

Once again, I beg your forgiveness for the lateness of this chapter! I love you all! Reviews are appreciated and I'd love to know what you all are thinking now that it's slowly starting to draw to a close. Chapter 29 coming soon!