When Worlds Collide
Chapter 13: The Second Alliance
Naraku quietly contemplated the invisible portal, which he knew was ever present. It stood on the grounds of his latest castle. What unnerved him the most about it was he never even knew it had existed until dozens of demons he had never seen before appeared out of nowhere. However, he could sense a sudden surge of energy in the area the demons had appeared so he knew something had to be there.
As soon as Naraku saw the mysterious demons he made himself known to them. Immediately striking one demon down he called the others' attention to himself. They moved as if to attack him but he put a stop to that idea by flicking some miasma on one. As the demon screamed in agony and perished the rest grew quiet.
After getting answers from a few of them Naraku was able to make a little sense of the situation. The demons, they called themselves orcs, were from another world. They had come through the portal because a few others from their world had disappeared. These 'orcs' didn't strike Naraku as the kind to aid a fallen comrade so he really assumed they had come through for either curiosity's sake or to escape the one they called Saruman.
Before the orcs left Naraku put a few shards into a spider demon and had it go with them. He was actually rather proud of his newest creation. Who would think to fear the lowly spider demon? But Naraku had been working on creating a new line of spider demons. Spiders with the intelligence of man and the potent venom to go along with their newfound bloodlust. The spider he sent out was a simple prototype. He would see how it fared and make any necessary changes. And by sending the spider demon with the orcs he would be able to track and monitor these newest demons and be sure they wouldn't try and attack him.
It was when the spider fell and his bee returned with the shards did Naraku learn about the other three. When he was told two of their kind had never been seen before, and that they were traveling with Inuyasha's group, he had put two and two together. So he immediately sent Kagura out with his message to the three outsiders. If he was able to infiltrate their minds with thoughts of returning home he could use them for his own plans.
But there was still something Naraku wanted to know. The orcs had spoken of a powerful wizard by the name of Saruman. He was intrigued by what the orcs said about him: all-powerful, dark, manipulative, intelligent-that Naraku wished to see the wizard himself. If what the orcs spoke of were true Naraku could possibly also use Saruman. But to do that he would first have to crack the puzzle of the portal.
Naraku knew the exact location of the portal. It haf about a six foot diameter, but the problem was he couldn't see or enter it. Whenever he got close enough to touch it would shock him with energy. And he was not strong enough to fight the power it held.
So how to open it? There had to be a way. How else would the orcs have arrived if there was no way to access the portal? The question was, how to do it.
Naraku's fingers lazily rubbed over a small sliver of the shikon jewel. Suddenly they clenched over it tighter. If only a small sliver could grant unimaginable power to a demon as weak as a spider, then why wouldn't it also be able to overcome the power of the portal and open it?
Grasping the sliver in his hand he went to where he knew the portal was located. Reaching out he pressed his hand against the portal long enough to insert the shard into it. Shaking out his slightly burned hand Naraku stared with interest at the now changed portal.
Where the shikon shard had been inserted there was now an opening, the jewel seeming to float above it. The open doorway was about three feet across and it was rimmed in the evil energy that was flowing from the shikon shard. Raising an eyebrow in interest Naraku reached out to try and remove the shard. A much stronger force than before met his hand, immediately burning the skin away. Cursing under his breath he backed up.
Facing his castle he beckoned with his unburned hand to it. Almost immediately a lone figure responded by coming to his side. Kneeling before him the boy waited for further orders.
"Guard this portal with your life," commanded Naraku to his servant. "Let no one through. If someone comes through kill them."
"Yes Naraku," murmured Kohaku softly, his head still bowed to the ground.
With an abrupt nod towards the boy Naraku once again turned to the portal. Narrowing his eyes he steeled his nerves and stepped through.
Entering the village Inuyasha and the others were quickly greeted by Shinji.
"My village!" he asked, not wasting a second, "Is it ok? Were you able to save it?"
Miroku smiled for the anxious man's benefit seeing as everyone else were still in deep thought about Kagura's words. "Your village is save Shinji. We killed the demons that were terrorizing it."
"Oh thank you!" exclaimed the man. "I don't know how I can ever repay you."
"Do not worry about it," replied Miroku. "We were glad to have been of assistance." Miroku switched his attention to Aragorn when the man, out of nowhere, began limping away. "Aragorn?"
Aragorn looked up to face his confused companions. "I'm fine. I just have to go think for a little bit. Don't worry about me."
With a look to Gimli, Legolas promptly followed his friend, the dwarf a few steps behind him.
"Is everything all right?" asked Shinji hesitantly. It was odd after all. When they left to save his village those three had been cheerful and downright immature, but now he couldn't even picture any of them cracking a smile.
"Everything is fine," answered Miroku. "Something unexpected came up. That is all."
"What's on your mind laddie?" asked Gimli, a hint of worry in his otherwise gruff voice. Never had he seen Aragorn so subdued.
Aragorn stopped walking a second later, coming to a stop in a small clearing just inside the woods on the outskirts of the village. He stared off silently into the woods, prompting Legolas to speak up as well.
"Please don't tell me you believe Naraku," said Legolas, coming to rest a few feet behind the man. He stared intently at the back of Aragorn's head. "You could not possibly be thinking of believing him. Not after all Kagome and the others told us about him."
Aragorn spun to Legolas, his head snapping up sharply. He looked at the elf with a dangerous fire in his eyes. "What kind of man do you take me to be Legolas? I am well aware that Naraku is the enemy. Do not question me on that."
Legolas took a step back from the force of the man's anger. He didn't expect Aragorn to respond with such ferocity; normally his friend was calm in any sort of situation. It was a testament to how much Kagura's words were weighing on his mind. But why? If his friend wasn't considering taking Naraku up on his offer why would he be acting so stressed?
Gimli walked up to stand alongside Legolas. "Easy Aragorn," soothed Gimli. "The elf did not mean to question your honor. But what is on your mind?"
Sighing, Aragorn ran a hand through his hair and turned to face into the woods. "I just can't get out of my mind that we can use this latest turn of events to our advantage."
"To return home?" asked Gimli hopefully. He had no great problems with Feudal Japan, but he still much preferred Middle Earth.
Shaking his head Aragorn said, "No, not to return home. We promised we would help them destroy Naraku. And I for one refuse to back out of a promise. No, I at least am here until Naraku is killed."
"And you know wherever you are I am right there beside you," said Legolas.
"As am I," agreed Gimli. "So share with us what you're thinking."
"What if we could use Naraku's proposition to get close to him?" asked Aragorn.
"Use his trap against him," said Legolas, a slight grin tugging on the corners of his mouth. "Since this proposition of getting us home must be a trap."
"That is precisely what I was thinking," said Aragorn, crossing his arms in thought and beginning to pace in front of his two friends. "He's tricked both Inuyasha and Sango and cursed Miroku's line. Would he actually believe we would fall for his tricks as well?"
"He doesn't know us," suggested Legolas. "He does not realize what kind of people we are. He may be hoping we're weak-willed and easily seduced with the thoughts of returning home."
"Little does he know we are three of the most stubborn people around," chuckled Gimli. "And honorable as well."
"I suppose," mused Aragorn. "But…"
"Yes?" prompted Legolas when the man had trailed off in thought.
"We have yet to see Naraku, but from the stories he doesn't strike me as dumb. I mean would he actually be naïve enough to hope we were who he wished we were? If someone has laid that many traps and destroyed so many lives you would think they'd be smarter than that."
"Perhaps," said Legolas. "But perhaps because he has been so successful he has grown cocky. If that is the case we could use that to our advantage."
"But we also do not want to be naïve," warned Aragorn. "We must not underestimate an enemy we have yet to fight."
"So what do you propose us doing?" asked Gimli. He rather liked the idea of using Naraku's insidious plot against him.
Aragorn sighed. "I do not know. Let me think on it more and try to come up with something. I just hope Naraku gives us a few days before he comes with his proposition."
"Very well," replied Legolas. "Shall we head back to the village before the others grow concerned?"
Nodding, Aragorn finally uncrossed his arms and discontinued his pacing. "Yes, just don't say anything to the others about what we're thinking."
Legolas's brow furrowed in confusion. "But Aragorn, what's the reason for that? Perhaps they could help us think of something. Why withhold the plans from those who know Naraku?"
"Because if we even hope of deceiving Naraku we cannot have too many knowing about it. The less who know the lower the chance of Naraku finding out."
"So you want to deceive Kagome and her friends as well?" asked Gimli incredulously. The idea of deceiving of Naraku he greatly enjoyed. However, the thought of betraying those who helped them made him question the plan.
Aragorn violently shook his head. "No, we are not deceiving our friends. When the appropriate time comes we shall tell them. But currently we don't even know what to do."
"And Kagome strikes me as the type that would immediately balk at what we're proposing," added Legolas in amusement. He was already rather fond of the girl from the future, she was just so free-spirited and friendly one couldn't help but like her. But he could tell she was also fiercely protective of those she deemed worthy of protecting. And Legolas was pretty sure he and his friends fell into that category now.
Gimli let out a hearty laugh. "Very true princeling! The longer Kagome doesn't know the longer we will have peace!"
Aragorn snickered at the truth behind Legolas's and Gimli's words. Kagome definitely struck him as the type that would constantly try and convince them to see the idiocy in their plan, even if none existed. And if she was able to control Inuyasha she also had to be amazingly stubborn. And to speak of the devil…
"Aragorn? Is everything all right?" called out the young miko in concern. She hurriedly walked up to Aragorn and the others, relieved to see that they were still by the village. When they had simply walked off she grew worried and as soon as she was able to went off in search of them.
"Everything is fine," assured Aragorn. "We were just discussing some things amongst each other but everything is all right now."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Kagome, glancing from the smiling man to the grinning elf to the practically laughing dwarf. Just what were these three talking about before she came? From the looks of things it definitely didn't look like Naraku's proposition. "Uh, well you want to go back to Kaede's now? I think she's making some food. I'm sure you all must be hungry."
"You know me too well already my lady!" exclaimed Gimli, immediately walking up to Kagome. "I think now would be a wonderful time to go back!"
Rolling his eyes Legolas said, "You had better watch how much you eat Gimli. Or else pretty soon Inuyasha will be right and you won't be able to dodge an unmoving boulder."
Naraku fell through an inky blackness for what felt like an eternity. He had no knowledge of how far he fell or how long it took. In fact, he couldn't even be sure if he was even falling. For the first time his senses failed him.
For a second he thought he saw a cluster of figures standing below him but that was just a passing thought. He couldn't even see his hand in front of his face; there was no way he'd be able to make out someone beneath him.
When his feet touched solid ground he jerked in slight surprise. He wasn't expecting the landing to be quite so gentle. Glancing around him he was able to make out a narrow breadth of a light gray region. Thinking it might be an exit to this dark place he walked towards it. When he reached it he saw it was opaque, in fact it looked like a wall.
Reaching out a hand he tapped one long finger against the seemingly solid wall. When the wall shimmered and rippled as if silver-lined water he unconsciously took a step backwards. Shrugging off his foolishness he straightened his shoulders and stepped through the liquefied wall.
It felt like a beaded, electrified curtain passed over his body. But it didn't hurt; rather it was an almost soothing feeling. The passage was only a few feet in length; soon his face broke out of the wall and for the first time a person from Japan laid eyes on Middle Earth.
The four orcs that had been guarding the portal immediately turned to capture the person coming out of the portal. Their crude swords were raised in an attempt to intimidate the person into simply surrendering.
Naraku smirked and cracked his knuckles when he saw more the demons from before surrounding him. Well, he could now be sure that they were indeed telling the truth about coming from a different place. But the orcs surrounding him were simply foolish. Imagine, trying to take him a prisoner.
"You are a prisoner of Saruman," said one orc in its low, gravelly voice. "Surrender all weapons at once." The orc gave the katana hanging at Saruman's side a pointed glare. Although secretly he wondered why someone would actually want to use a sword so small and dainty looking. He much preferred the heaviness of his sword.
When the orc mentioned Saruman Naraku's smirk turned into a grin. So it appeared the portal had dropped him precisely where he wanted to be. "I will not be taken as a lowly prisoner," replied Naraku in his smooth, unruffled voice. "Tell Saruman he has a visitor who would wish to speak with him."
When Naraku refused to surrender the orcs drew in tighter around him, their weapons now raised aggressively. "If you refuse to come peacefully as a prisoner we have direct orders to kill you," said the orc, his voice not able to hide his glee in being able to kill the person in front of him. "You have one more chance human. Surrender and lay down your weapons."
Very foolish indeed. Naraku grinned in bloodlust. He would love tearing down these frail demons in front of him. He grasped his katana and pulled it out of its sheath. When the orcs tensed he simply dropped the katana on the ground. He raised his hand and focused to bring some of his ever-ready miasma to his fingertips.
The orcs thought they had won. "So you're not as stupid as I thought you were," sneered the orc.
"Ah, but that weapon is not nearly the strongest one in my possession," responded Naraku slyly.
"Lay down all weapons immediately!"
Naraku let a few drops of miasma drip from his fingertips, smirking when the orcs stared in shock at the now dissolved ground. "You made the mistake of thinking I am human. For I am not. And my deadliest weapon is myself," said Naraku sadistically. "And I don't take kindly to being threatened."
Without wasting another second Naraku lunged at the first orc, driving his fist ruthlessly through its chest. Spinning gracefully on his feet he flung miasma on another two, grinning when they began screaming in pain. The final orc dropped its sword and tried to run. Naraku easily caught up to him, grabbing his neck and twisting it quickly. Happy with the deadly snap he heard he dropped the now dead orc to the ground and went to retrieve his forgotten katana. Sliding it back into the sheath at his waist he watched in amusement as a mass of orcs came to a stop in front of him.
"Put down your weapons," commanded a cold voice from the rear. The orcs regretfully lowered their weapons and waited for further orders from their lord.
Naraku stood, the cockiness easily seen in his stature, and waited for the mysterious person to come forth. This one had better be Saruman as he was beginning to get highly impatient.
The orcs parted as a figure clothed in worn white robes strode forward, a black staff held in one crooked hand. Hard, calculating eyes scanned the lone figure in front of him. Never before had Saruman seen someone fight the way this person did. Attacking with no weapons and flinging poison from his own body to kill his enemies.
"Who are you and why have you come through this portal?" asked Saruman, wasting no time in getting to the point.
"Is that a way to treat a guest who came all this way just to talk to you Saruman?" asked Naraku cockily, almost certain this being in front of him was Saruman.
"How did you come by my name?"
"Simple. Some of your underlings appeared on my land the other day. I quickly got them to obey me and they soon told me what happened. In their explanation your name came up several times."
"Why have you come?"
"Another simple one. I wanted to see if your power is anything I can use. The best way to see that was to come to you myself."
It was official. Saruman did not care for the cocky being in front of him. Not only did he trespass on his land and kill his workers but he also had the gall to accuse of Saruman of working for him. "You are grievously mistaken if you believe I will work for or with you," said Saruman coldly. "Coming here like this, unannounced and alone, has simply proven to me how foolish you are."
"Foolish, or confident in my own abilities?" asked Naraku. "Do not be a fool yourself and confuse the two. And now, prove to me and your warriors how wise of a leader you truly are. Will you grant me an audience?"
Saruman's gaze traveled slowly over Naraku. With a curt nod he turned and walked briskly back to Orthanc. He had to admit, he was curious about the world this person came from. With a grin Naraku began following the wizard, immensely pleased when the orcs scattered away from him in fright.
He followed the wizard up into a dark, gloomy, extremely stark, black room where the wizard took a seat upon the throne. In the center of the room stood a stand upon which a sphere sat, a cloudy darkness swirling within. Naraku felt a pull to this mysterious sphere, almost as if the sphere were calling out to him. Most interesting was that it even felt like the shikon shards he carried with him were attracted to the sphere. Giving the sphere a curious glance he turned his attention back to the wizard.
"You will tell me why you have come," said Saruman coldly, his back straight against the throne. From first glance he hadn't thought this person was all that powerful. But now that they were indoors, away from all distractions, he could feel the dark aura surrounding the lone man. A dark, powerful aura. "Who are you?"
Naraku crossed the room until he was at the doorway diagonal to Saruman's throne, through the open doorway he could see stacks of dusty books and papers. Leaning casually against the doorframe he said, "The name is Naraku. The reason I have come is that the orcs that came to my castle said they were looking for others who had also been transported. I believe the ones they speak of have teamed up with my enemies. I will get your people back if you help me take down my enemies. If you refuse I will kill them."
Saruman's eyebrows rose in amusement. "And why do you believe I would care to have them back?"
"Ah, ruthless, I like you," smirked Naraku. Standing up straight again he strode closer until he was between the sphere and Saruman. "They seem to be a bit more powerful than the weak things you call orcs. So perhaps they are of a little more value to you."
Now Saruman was thoroughly interested in what the man had to say. "More powerful you say? Tell me who these people are. Then perhaps I will consider your offer."
"There are three of them. One is a man. The other two I cannot say. Never before have I heard of demons such as those two."
Saruman's mind was racing. So the three he had transported were now in Naraku's world. And they had aligned themselves with Naraku's enemies. Perhaps it was a good thing Naraku had come.
Naraku watched in interest as a cold, cruel smirk slowly appeared on Saruman's face. "I have a different plan for you," said Saruman, his hands coming up to rest in front of his face.
"Continue."
"I will aid you in killing you enemies. And you will aid me in killing mine."
Soon Naraku's smirk mirrored Saruman's. "You know, I really like you," remarked Naraku.
"So do we have an agreement?"
"One thing you will quickly learn about me Saruman, and that is I never turn down death. We have an agreement."
"Very good. I will send a few of my warriors back with you. They should prove useful."
Naraku raised an eyebrow incredulously. "You mean those miserable things called orcs? If you're as powerful as I sense why align yourself with such lowly creatures?"
"You are mistaken. Those orcs are not my warriors. They are my workers. My warriors are the fighting Uruk-hai. They will accompany you back to your world as I have much to still accomplish here."
"Uruk-hai? What kind of demons are those?"
"They are my own creation. Bred for the single purpose of war."
Naraku smiled maliciously. "I shall accept your Uruk-hai. Perhaps they will prove to be more useful than orcs."
"They will. Mark my words. They will prove most useful in your fight against our enemies."
Last revised: December 8, 2006