Inuyasha: Sealed Fates Unleashed
By: Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha. Whew! Glad that's over! Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven
The Missing Seal
Miroku sat in the grass as the sun began to set on the first calm night after the demon chaos of the previous evening. Kaede mentioned that Kagome came back to check on them and appeared unharmed though both females disappeared shortly after he woke from his deep sleep. He turned his head towards the Bone Eaters well, spotting Kagome coming out of the forest. She wore her school uniform but her shoulders appeared dropped. 'Kagome must've battled far worse things than we did, yesterday. No wonder she spent the day alone.'
'So, she made it back safely.' Sango thought, exiting the hut, laying weary eyes on Kagome. She walked slowly over to Miroku. She still ached and felt very tired from the night of demon battles. She mood perked as Kagome got closer.
"Kagome looks just as tired as we do." Sango waved to get her attention.
Her body felt so heavy suddenly but she felt relieved to see Kagome survived. She could still use another week of sleep. Her arms felt like they were going to fall off. Never had she fought so long, even for Miroku.
"It seems so." Miroku half heartedly agreed.
Only time would tell. Miroku could tell Kagome was not exactly her normal self. 'She could be putting up a good face', he reasoned. His instincts were not completely satisfied with Kagome's quiet behavior. Something bothered her. And where was Inuyasha? He did not come back yet.
Kagome looked up, spotting them. She waved her arm, happy to see her friends tired but alive. 'Keep it together', she thought. This is no time to break down and cry. Sango and Miroku could not understand or know what happened last night. 'Concentrate on your friends', she ordered silently.
"Sango! Miroku! Welcome back!" Kagome called out.
"We didn't think you'd be able to keep those demons off you." Sango spoke first.
Kagome seemed okay, Sango narrowed her eyes studying Kagome closely. She was a little rattled from last night. Heck, she did not blame Kagome for being exhausted, having all those demons after her all night. Sango shrugged, accepting Kagome's explanation. Her friend would be scarred for sometime before talking about what exactly occurred once they lost her.
"Good thing Inuyasha was there to take care of them." Kagome had to lie. "He showed up at the last minute. I didn't think that bird would ever let me go."
"Inuyasha saved you?" Miroku narrowed his eyes at Kagome.
"He showed up and defeated all those demons. There was a mass waiting when the bird dropped me." Kagome searched the area for Inuyasha. "Not sure why it waited so long."
Kagome sighed silently. Inuyasha went off by himself once they returned to the village. He remained quiet on the way back, deep in thought. Did he doubt what she told him about last night? Kagome worried needlessly. She did not attempt to stop him knowing Inuyasha would feel better if he went hunting.
Miroku sensed something off in Kagome's story. Was she covering the true events of last night? He would have to take her word that Inuyasha did save her. Actually, his mind was not completely clear to begin thinking about other matters. Miroku shook his head to clear all thoughts.
"Did you notice that change?" Kagome changed the subject.
"Change?" Miroku blinked at Kagome. "What change?"
Kagome felt pleased she could distract her friends from discussing last night. She needed to forget it ever happened. Especially Sesshomaru and Inuyasha together. And Miroku seemed more interested in figuring out who would have done such a terrible thing.
"Yes, when the sun rose, all the demons seemed to wake up. Like they'd been asleep the whole time. Even Inuyasha seemed affected." Kagome looked at Sango firmly. "It was very odd. What was is it?"
"Miroku, you mentioned you thought a sorcerer was at work here?" Sango reminded the monk. "Some kind of spell maybe?"
Miroku appeared preoccupied by something. Maybe he was still considering last night. 'Oh no!' Kagome felt apprehensive that he did not believe her. His mind was quicker than the others. She relaxed when Miroku shook his head, his eyes focusing on her. He must have decided that her story probably was true. No use trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. 'What a molehill!'
"Yes." Miroku looked off in the distance. "It feels like a spell, a very powerful spell. It's the only way to control all these demons to attack a specific target."
No one saw the streak of red until it landed beside Sango.
"Inuyasha!" Sango was happy to see him.
Inuyasha, his kimono restored to him, stood up from bent legs, straightening his back. Miroku and Sango exchanged quick glances between him and Kagome.
"Kagome told me everything that happened last night." He growled. "A sorcerer, uh?"
Inuyasha spent most of the day looking for any trace of the demons who attacked last night. Nothing. No scent to track, no residue from the battles Kagome described. All evidence of their existence disappeared without a trace. As if none of the events Sango and Miroku showed signs of fighting did not occur. Inuyasha did not like this, any of this.
"At first we thought is was Naraku." Sango spoke to Inuyasha. "But, this isn't his style. No Humans died last night."
Miroku turned to the horizon.
"There's a demon aura approaching." Miroku could sense it was coming.
Kagome felt the jewels growing stronger as they approached the village. She had not lost her ability. Why was that? Is that not how it was supposed to be? Once she lost her innocence, she would lose the ability to sense the jewel. 'Guess, I was wrong', she thought.
"There's jewel shards coming our way fast." Kagome's eyes widened.
"Not him again!" Inuyasha growled.
A brown tornado appeared on the horizon, traveling fast across the ground, following the road. Sango and Miroku looked at one another, Sango shrugging. Kagome wanted to shrink back into a hole and hide. Inuyasha stood his ground, his anger building.
'Damn, why did the wolf have to show up now?' Inuyasha growled.
He fisting his hands tightly. Like he did not have enough to do? There were too many things going on right now. And they were just about to leave on a journey to the Northern Valley tomorrow once everyone got more rest. Inuyasha and the others did not have time to play with the wolf boy.
"KAGOME!" Koga stepped out of the whirling tornado.
"Koga." Kagome gulped.
Kagome hid her cringe. 'Great, another demon who could smell her.' She hoped her long bath this morning helped to mask anything…incriminating. Her own hands fisted, hoping nothing would be detected. Her best offense was to stay away from demons and half demons.
"I came as soon as I heard about the chaos that went on." Koga took Kagome's hands in his. "You're okay!"
"Chaos?" Kagome repeated.
Kagome put on a brave face, forcing a smile to her lips. Koga did not seem to notice her obvious strain. She wanted to be alone and not deal with Koga right now. In fact, she wanted to go home and cry until her heart fell out.
"Yeah." Koga sniffed the air. "We were out on the western edge when we watched the battles start going. Demons were attacking villages all night. What gives?"
Kagome, Sango and Miroku exchanged confused glances. What was going on here? Not just their villages were attacked? Others far away were also attacked as well?
"I thought all demons were affected?" Sango asked Miroku.
Apparently, Koga stayed out of range of the spell. If he was closer to the mountains, then the spell only covered about a twenty square mile area. Miroku looked to Kagome then Inuyasha and then Sango. Only one person was missing from their group. 'Well, actually three', if you counted KiRaRa and Shippo who had not yet returned, he thought.
"Apparently not." Miroku responded. "Koga, you said, you were on the western edge when the demons began attacking?"
"Yeah." Koga nodded.
Then that would mean it was a diversion. Someone wanted everyone bust so they could do something. Probably stealing something important. His eyes widened.
"Where's Kaede?" Miroku turned to Kagome.
Miroku knew he should have headed straight there once the chaos dissipated. He had not noticed the priestess was not around previously, believing she retired to her own bed to rest. It had been only a half hour since he arrived back when Kaede muddled around the village and then disappeared. Here, he went to sleep instead of helping the priestess check on the Fifth Seal.
"Off checking the cave of the Fifth Seal." Kagome said.
"Come on." Miroku lifted his staff. "We need to get there now!"
Miroku moved first, getting to his feet quickly then heading in the direction of the Cave of the Fifth Seal. The others looked after him, slightly baffled by why they had to go now. Sango sighed, got to her feet and walked after him. Kagome looked to Inuyasha then to Koga and jogged over to join Sango.
Koga did not know what was going on but he did not like it one bit. Folding his arms, he contemplated the situation. Even Kagome seemed disturbed by last night's events. Did something happen to her? His anger began to build. Fisting both hands, he would never let harm come to Kagome. The mutt did not do his job properly. Did Kagome feel that Inuyasha failed her? Koga smiled. He would cheer her up.
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Kaede stared in disbelief at the remains of the cave. It was blackened. As if a series of explosions had taken place inside. But, she would have been notified if there had been an attack. Her eyes widened as the chaos of the previous night came back to haunt her. 'The demons were sent to hide this!'
"What could've done this?"
There were too many spells guarding the Seal. Shaking her head, Kaede felt tears and pain stab her heart. All the work they put in to protecting the Fifth Seal was useless. Someone wanted the Seal badly, someone strong and powerful enough to use the Seals to their fullest power.
"Lady Kaede!" Miroku's voice called out.
She turned to greet the group coming to join her, unable to smile at her friends. Sango looked very tired, more exhausted. Same with Miroku. Both fought hard and long to save the village. Inuyasha leaped over the ground, anger showed on his face. Kagome walked solemnly, closely followed by Koga, his eyes never leaving her.
"It's just as we feared." Kaede shook her head.
Miroku almost fell, joining Lady Kaede at the entrance to the cave. His eyes widened at the damage done to the entrance. His grip loosened on his staff, surveying the damaged cave walls. 'The walls were black!' What spell could break all spells that turned rock black? Miroku had no answer.
"Yes. The Seal has been stolen." Kaede looked directly at Miroku. "I fear the First has been stolen as well."
Only the monk seemed to fully grasp the importance of this theft. Kagome was behaving unusually. Kaede knew why the demons attacked last night. Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango were distracted from protecting the Seal, trying to protect one another. But it was no ordinary attack. Their village was the center point. The demons were sent specifically after them. But, why them specifically?
"Have you gotten word?" Inuyasha asked. "About the First Seal yet?"
His arms were folded across his chest. Sniffing the air, he only detected the burnt cinders of the cave rock. Whoever stole the Seal certainly had not bothered to hide their desire to get the Seal. It would have caused a lot of racket. His eyes opened, realizing why he had no memories of the night of chaos.
"No. But that's what I suspect." Kaede spoke tiredly. "When a Seal has been stolen, a messenger is dispatched to warn the others. We also send out safety messages every six days. The First Seal's safety message is still missing."
"That's a very good plan." Miroku agreed.
"Any idea who could want these Seals?" Kagome asked, standing beside Sango.
Sango was having trouble standing. Who could think? She was extremely tired from last night's battle. Leaning against the boulder nearest her, she set her weapon down. The new night was beginning to fall, making their journey back to the village a little more treacherous. On top of that, neither KiRaRa or Shippo had returned yet.
"Not too many." Miroku rubbed his staff in his right hand.
"Naraku?" Inuyasha suggested.
That disease was the cause of a lot of turmoil in this region, Inuyasha boiled. His sworn enemy enjoyed destroying families and pitting friends, lovers, even family members against each other. The one person who proved very difficult to kill.
"He could, if he new about them." Kaede suspected it was not Naraku.
"It would take more power than Naraku possessed to break through these spells. But Sesshomaru does possess that kind of power." Miroku put in.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha growled.
"He is powerful enough to get through them if he was so inclined." Kaede had not thought about Inuyasha's brother.
But, Sesshomaru rarely attacked without purpose. He was a demon. Even if he possessed the Seals, he would need a sorcerer to use them. No normal human or demon could use the seals. Kaede did not think Sesshomaru would bother with something like the Seals. They were considered Human tools. 'Useless to a demon like him'.
"Anyone else?" Kagome asked.
Kagome did not know much about sorcerers of this time period. They were considered myths as far as she knew. If it was a sorcerer, she had something to say to him. Kagome Higurashi would give him a piece of her mind.
"Lady Kaede, Miroku mentioned a sorcerer might have had something to do with this." Sango said, leaning her head against Hairaikotsu.
She needed a few more hours of sleep to replenish her energy. Her body ached from the battles. Would she be able to make it back to the village? Sango knew someone would help her. Perhaps, they should put off going to the Northern Valley for another day.
"A good start, monk." Kaede nodded. "I would not rule it out."
"Do we know of any?" Koga asked the group in general. "I mean, they're a rather small number of them."
He did not know any personally, folding his arms across his chest. Koga blinked, unsure whether Humans understood his line of reasoning. All five only stared at him.
"No one knows a sorcerer?" Koga said finally, catching the hint.
Miroku shook his head 'no', Sango began to fall asleep against her weapon, Kagome shrugged, and Inuyasha crossed his arms and closed his eyes. They were not any closer to an answer than they were last night.
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Rin sat on the rock, staring at water, her hands nervously folded into her lap. She did not hear the rustling of the vegetation behind her until it was upon her. Leaping off the rock, she fell into the thick bushes, finding large eyes peering at her. Surprised that her voice failed to scream for Lord Sesshomaru, did she not want him to find her? She blinked a few times, looking quickly for the thing that scared her.
"Rin…is that you?" Jaken's voice asked, a bit raspy.
"Master Jaken!" Rin got to her feet, a smile on her face for the first time in twenty-four hours. "You came back!"
Rin covered her mouth as Jaken barely kept his feet as he pushed through the thick bushes, struggling to maintain his composure under her poised stare. He appeared very tired, even exhausted. Had he gone off…like Lord Sesshomaru? 'Good thing I didn't follow him.' Rin lowered her head at that thought. 'That wasn't fair. Who was worse?'
"Jaken…" Another voice answered. 'You have returned."
Both Jaken and Rin froze in place. Lord Sesshomaru found them. Rin berated herself for being so careless. Of course he could find her easily. And he would wants answers to his questions.
"Y…yes, milord." Jaken did not understand why he woke where he had. "Forgive me! I did not know what I was doing!"
Jaken fell to his knees. He had no explanation of what transpired the previous night. All he remembered were shiny lights at sunset and then waking this morning naked in a field surrounded by other demons of his own kind. He quickly found his clothes and scurried his way back to where he knew he left Lord Sesshomaru at sunset.
A bit that he found his master and Rin so soon felt good. They had not wandered from where he last remembered them traveling. Jaken gulped, setting his eyes on Lord Sesshoamru. His master did not seem pleased. 'As he should!' He abandoned his master…some time last night.
"I…I also seem…to have misplaced the Staff of Two Heads."
"Stopping groveling, Jaken." Sesshomaru turned from Jaken and Rin. "The odd events of the previous night bare immediate investigation. Rin has the staff."
Sesshomaru fisted his hand, the only hand he now had, disposing of the decaying left one this morning upon awakening. He would question Rin some time later when she did not cower from him. The girl witnessed something that kept her lips sealed. Was she afraid for herself or what she knew? 'Later.'