Chapter 17 – Enter the Foe
"You never did like to share, did you now sister?"
Everyone's gaze flew to the temple rooftop. There a child with white hair and a sickle-like weapon stood atop, looking down, with a sinister smirk.
Kagome's eyes slanted. "Hakudoshi."
The one venomous word from her lips caused the others to gasp. Hakudoshi chuckled from his spot. His poise screamed confidence and self-assurance. "It's so nice that you remembered who I am; after all, it's been forever since we last saw each other. Oh yes," Hakudoshi placed his finger on the side of his mouth in ponderance, "The last time you had contact with me was when I slaughtered your friends. That was fun. Just like lambs to the slaughter."
Kagome couldn't keep the hurt and rage that was building up inside her any longer. She could feel the heated tears prick at the back of her eyes. She couldn't show him weakness, no matter how difficult it was.
She wanted to jump onto the rooftop and strangle him with her bare hands. She wanted to claw out his eyes and feed them to Kouga's pack. Kagome didn't like the feelings that were building up inside her, and she was helpless to do a thing. Most of all, she wanted revenge for her friends and second family that were slaughtered mercilessly by him.
She knew she shouldn't have come here weaponless. She vowed again to carry some sort of protection with her. She solemnly swore she would no longer care about the looks or whispers behind her back. She now wanted to make sure that she would be able to protect herself at all costs.
Hakudoshi ignored the threats coming from the spirit detectives. He jumped from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground.
He started to tisk and mock her. "You know Kagome; it's not a wise decision to leave all the jewel shards unprotected on your shrine grounds. It would be a pleasure to take them from your family." His smirk darkened. "Now, I wonder if they are dead yet or if my lickspittles are still playing with them?"
Kagome's blood drained from her face. In her haste, she left her sword with the jewel at home, and now her family could be dead, and it would be all her fault.
"Kagome, they are uninjured." Kanna's soft voice was heard by Kagome and she showed her the mirror and the temple grounds. Everything was safe and sound.
Kagome sighed in relief. Hakudoshi laughed. "This is why I didn't kill them right away. You know that I like to toy with my prey. I'm flattered that I can make your blood pump. Here I thought only Inuyasha could make you do that."
Kagome growled low, "Watch what you say about the dead."
Hakudoshi dismissed her completely by waving his hand through the air. "Now sister," He turned his attention back to Kanna. "You have a choice to make. The girl or your new toy? Decisions, decisions." Before he gave her a chance to make her choice, Hakudoshi attacked.
Kanna didn't have a chance to save both her toy and the priestess. She figured if she could capture the demon once, she could do it again. She opened a portal and tried to push Kagome into it. She managed to shove her in; but in the process, Hakudoshi managed to pierce the mirror and release Hiei's soul.
Missing his original target, Hakudoshi jumped back and smirked. Once again his sister didn't get everything she wanted. He didn't either, and he would sulk later. For now, he was content. "Seems like we both lose this time dear sister. Next time, I won't play nicely."
Kanna stared blankly at her younger brother. "You will die brother."
"You make such idle threats. Don't tell me you're still upset because I killed your lover? That was so last season. Why be tied down, when you could be free to do as you please? Join me now Kanna and I'll overlook all that you've done. We could be a family; like we were meant to be."
"You killed my family, remember?"
Hakudoshi scoffed and rolled his eyes, "What, you mean Kagura and that lover of yours?" He watched as she nodded her head. His eyes darkened, "So instead of following your beloved brother, you choose to follow the one who killed our father and several of our siblings?"
Kanna didn't say anything. She knew if she spoke up now, the humans around Hakudoshi would be in eminent danger, and quite possibly at the cost of their lives.
"You've made your choice sister. We will meet again, rest assure." He dismissed his sister and turned his attention to the spirit detectives before him. His smirk darkened if possible.
Most, in the spirit realm, had seen him as the good and obedient little slave boy. He was for a while. But when people become trustworthy, even just a little, they become lack in their judgment. Back in the beginning, when the barrier was first being erect, he was still trying to find the jewel shards on his own. He happened to come across a tiny boy with extraordinary powers and a low level demon that wanted to feast on said powers.
Instead of allowing the demon to kill the child, he killed the demon. However, killing the child was solely meant for Hakudoshi. He would have enjoyed sucking out the soul and feasting on its power. However, the moment he had claimed the demon's life, the boy's father stepped into the scenes and swept the boy into his arms.
As a reward for saving the son, the boy's father gave him his job today. Hakudoshi knew that King Enma only did it so he could keep an eye on him.
Can't kill someone that saves your precious son's life, right? 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.' He thought as he condescendingly looked upon them.
"Now spirit detectives, it has been nice working with you all. But I have a piece of unfinished business with the big guy. The bastard has been withholding my bonus for a while now and I think it's time to collect."
"Bonus?" Yusuke asked dumbfounded.
Hakudoshi's eyes lit up. "Yup, my bonus of working for that god. I have decided to take my bonus now. The shard. Once I collect that, then taking the rest of the jewel from the soon-to-be-dead priestess will be all too easy."
"What makes you think you will get the jewel?"
Hakudoshi snorted. "I'll walk right in and take it. I pity the fools that try to stop me. Actually, I relish in the thought of tearing them apart limb from limb and seeing into their soul. It's been a while since I've binged; because for some reason people think it's wrong to indulge in the senses… So I hope many people try to stop me. I haven't had nearly as much fun as I once did. I hope that I'm not rusty. I would hate to get blood on my white clothing."
Hakudoshi laughed and opened a portal behind him. "I do hope next time we can play together. I'll make sure that my pesky sister is nowhere around to stop me. She's jealous of my play-dates. Adieu, my soon to be dead toys."
Hakudoshi turned and entered the portal. He was gone…for now.
Kanna watched the group let out a collective gasp of relief. "He is serious; you should give the jewel right away to its owner. He will never stop if you don't stop him now."
Kanna looked into her mirror to make sure that everything was still going according to plan. She would not let Hakudoshi win this time. She wouldn't give up her freedom. Now that she had a real taste, she liked it.
"Why are you guys over there?"
Everyone turned their heads towards the weak voice coming from the wooden steps leading up to the shrine. Yukina stood there healthy as can be. There was no longer any sign of poison marred on her pure skin.
The group let out a collective sigh. Kanna looked up from her mirror to the demon. She nodded her head slightly then peered back into the mirror. Silently, she walked down the steps. There was much to plan for and she was afraid that Hakudoshi had just pushed up the due date. She wondered if she would have enough time to complete everything before they were all dead.
The spirit detectives all ran over towards their friend and in the process, forgot about Kanna and her silent departure.
"Yukina, my love!" Kuwabara was the first to reach her. "I'm glad you're alive!" He hugged her. Yukina laughed delicately at the affection he was showing her.
"It's all thanks to the efforts of Jinenji and Kagome. By the way, where are they now? I would like to thank them for saving my life."
Keiko and Shizuru glared at the four male bodies. "I'm afraid they all had emergencies that came up and forbid them to stay. They said to say you're welcome." Botan hurried, as she lied through her teeth.
The others nodded their head in agreement.
The ice demon looked hurt, but instead she gave a cheery smile. "Was that Kanna that just left?" Yukina tried going down the stairs to catch up to her, but was stopped by everyone telling her to continue to rest and to give the medicine time to fully work.
Not being one to argue, Yukina went back to her room. Botan left for the spirit realm. She knew that Koenma would need to be informed about this right away. She didn't know what was being planned, but she was sure it was going to be big.
The rest of the spirit detectives took this time to discuss just what the hell was going on. None of this made a lick of sense to them. "Okay, so Kagome is over five hundred years old," Yusuke started.
"She killed Kouga." Kurama supplied.
"Hates Sesshomaru." Yusuke topped.
"Preformed an illegal ceremony and got away with it." Kuwabara stated not wanting to be left out of the conversation.
"Has the jewel, and Hakudoshi is out to kill her." Kurama stated while he was in deep thought.
"Hey! That was two ideas." Yusuke pouted as if he lost the game.
"I don't know about you guys, but Kagome did save Yukina." Shizuru said playing devil's advocate.
"Not to mention she didn't kill you that one time when you were fighting." Keiko stood beside Shizuru taking her side.
"Actually," Kurama interjected, "She saved Yusuke twice. Once then, and again at Lord Sesshomaru's castle."
"She saved you twice and you called her a vile snake?" Keiko was becoming enraged again.
Yusuke was forced to take a step back. "Fine. She saved me. Big deal."
Keiko shook her head wanting to stuff some gratitude in his thick skull. "So, how are we going to help her?"
The boys stood there in shock as Keiko suggested that they help Kagome out. "What, we can't let her do this on her own. I mean she would have still been safe had she not come out into the open to save Yukina. I think you owe it to Kagome if you helped her out."
"Shizuru, you do realize what you are implying, correct?" Shizuru nodded her head understanding Kurama's question.
"I guess for there to be peace between us, we must do what we can to help her out, I guess." Kurama wasn't fond of the decision. He watched the reaction on his friend's faces. Kuwabara was easy to persuade. However, he feared the other two wouldn't take too kindly to the decision.
"Whatever," Yusuke huffed crossing his arms.
Keiko ran over to him and swung his arms around his neck. "You won't be sorry Yusuke; I promise."
Kurama looked at the last member of the group. "Hn," Was the reply.
"You know, I could run over and swing my arms around your neck too H—" Shizuru half smirked before she was cut off by the disappearance of the demon. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the white cigarette package and light one up.
Kurama half shuddered. He didn't want to relive that nightmare again. But everyone was on board, and ready to go.
AN: -pokes head up- Yup I'm alive. Please stop throwing your knives, my muses keep picking them up and love to torment D with them -.- I know this chapter sucks and it's nothing but a tease…but please put up with this chapter… You know, I'm looking back on my notes, and it's really scary to know just how easy it is to get right back into it all. Just be happy I updated … oh and if all goes well, 4-5 chapters left.. so that's what?... a year or two -snickers- Enjoy!