Inuyasha: Sealed Fates Unleashed
By: Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or its associated characters.
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Chapter Fifteen
The Minion Tir
Yellow eyes looked over the construct of the hut with mild interest. Moonlight highlighted his dark black hair, his skin a light tan with green tinge. He wore a green, white and gold kimono, a gray sash tied at his waist. His sword sheathed under his left arm, he squatted behind the bushes, observing the hut. Nothing moved around or inside.
Asaia managed to protect herself with Humans, a group of slayers that included the half-demon Inuyasha, the younger brother to the Dog Demon Sesshomaru. Tir growled in irritation.
Hoping Asaia would lead him to Sesshomaru, disappointment set in. She went in search of the half-breed instead. Nonetheless, he knew there was another way to discover Sesshomaru's current position. He would eventually run across the Demon sometime tomorrow if his information proved correct.
"Hardly his father." A low growl broke the evening silence.
Atokiyada would not be happy unless his mission was completed successfully. A majority of the strong continental demons were eliminated by his very claw. The powerful demons of this land were a bit more difficult to track down. Sesshomaru traveled his lands instead of ruling from his castle. Just like his father in that regard.
Tir moved through the forest at lightning speed. The dragon demon blood in his veins did not give him the sensitive sense of smell afforded to other demons. Still, his own heritage would hide him from Sesshomaru until he was within striking distance.
The dog demon would be quick and agile, even without his left arm. His sword, the Tokijin, would not be a problem. Sesshomaru's Tokijin dragon strike attack, the sword's most lethal technique, would be useless against a dragon demon. His own sword, Kojin, was more powerful than the Dog Demon's. Sesshomaru's death would be slow.
Atokiyada wanted it that way.
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Rin studied her food carefully, losing her appetite. Two days passed since Lord Sesshomaru suffered some kind of sickness that made him lose his memory. But, he returned to the Lord she came to serve and respect. However, Lord Sesshomaru kept silent since learning he physically unioned with a mortal, namely Kagome, the girl who traveled with his brother, Inuyasha. Nor had he asked her further questions about the night in question. Lord Sesshomaru appeared angry. But, not with her it seemed. Rin chose to keep quiet while Lord Sesshomaru brooded over his own thoughts.
Rin shifted her position on Ah-Une's back, more for something to do. The two-headed dragon had returned mid-day after the Night of Chaos, shortly before Jaken returned to his master's side with no plausible explanation for his absence. Lord Sesshomaru was well aware that all demons were affected that night.
Her attention diverted to the tree horizon. Rin did not recall ever seeing Jaken move so fast and with such urgency, the Two-Headed staff in his left hand held askewed. Lord Sesshomaru's servant Imp appeared fearful. His clothes trailed behind him on the wind.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!" The high-toned voice echoed on the air.
Sesshomaru stopped, turning slightly to look down at Jaken. His servant had urgent information to deliver. Perhaps, it was news on the culprit of the chaos two nights back.
"Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked.
Jaken prayed he did not fall over his feet at such an important time. He used the Two-Headed Staff to keep himself upright, sliding to a halt near Lord Sesshomaru.
"I've just heard!" Jaken could barely breath let alone talk. "Mikado, the master demon of the South, has been killed."
Sesshomaru studied Jaken momentarily. 'Someone got by Mikado's barrier and slain the gigantic serpent? Not an easy task.' His own father would not have attempted such an undertaking. Mikado was a strong snake demon who ruled his lands with cunning and tact. Mikado also respected the Dog General deeply having asked for help when his lands came under attack from a band of continental demons.
"By whom?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.
Jaken shrugged, dropping the Two-Headed Staff.
"No one knows." Jaken stood at Lord Sesshomaru's feet. "I have also heard that there are a slew of strong demons that have been slain, even on the continent. Senshi, Moshi, WeiWei and Kimo just to name a few."
"WeiWei and Senshi of the Continent?" Sesshomaru did not bother to look down at Jaken. "Powerful demons indeed."
Jaken did not know what Lord Sesshomaru could be thinking. The news certainly surprised him. Was his master surprised by the recent slayings or was he still brooding? Of course, that would mean Lord Sesshomaru must be next in line.
"Lord Sesshomaru, what do we do now?"
Sesshomaru turned back towards the direction he had been traveling before Jaken's arrival. If the culprit behind the deaths of WeiWei and Senshi were coming after him, he would need to do nothing but wait. The assailant undoubtedly searched for his whereabouts.
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Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Shippo and Miroku surveyed the remainder of the North Valley with gaping mouths. Smoke of smoldering fires polluted the air, making it difficult to see the valley floor. That once green valley was black and dead.
"This is horrible." Kagome placed a hand over her mouth.
She wanted to cry. Never had she seen such devastation of a village before. Who ever wanted the Seal did not hide their anxiousness in obtaining the sacred object. And were willing to destroy everything in its path. Everything from trees to the rivers were knocked down or filled with debris.
"The fires were everywhere." Sadness in Asaia's voice as she spoke. "Those who survived hid in the caves high on the mountains. There weren't many. Most of the monks and priestesses had gone to the cave to check on the First Seal. I followed them thinking I'd be safer with them."
"What happened to them?" Inuyasha hid his concern.
Was there a demon out there strong enough to do this? If there were as many spells protecting the First Seal like he saw at the cave of the Fifth Seal, the demon had a lot of work to do. Which meant, there might have been more than one demon involved.
"I don't remember." Asaia looked at the ground. "A massive wind blew the fire back towards the village. I ran for help, the fire on my heels."
"Can you show us the cave?" Miroku looked at Asaia.
The girl looked up at the monk and nodded. Tears stung her eyes. There was nothing she could have done for these people. So, she had run for help so that they may rebuild the village and return to something or a normal life.
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Sesshomaru halted in mid-stride, sensing an unusual aura. It was close, extremely close to him. He felt his neck shiver, the hair standing on end. But where? Shifting his eyes around the landscape, he saw nothing out in the open. 'So, it's hiding.'
"Jaken?" His hand gripped Tokijin's hilt.
It was watching them. His senses could not pinpoint the source. A stealth demon of some skill. But which one? 'A Dragon demon,' Sesshomaru concluded. It made sense. Only a Dragon Demon would be able to break a barrier using its blood and slay a powerful demon without being detected. Mikado would not have sensed its presence until it was too late.
"Yes, my Lord!" Jaken looked around.
What was Lord Sesshomaru doing? His hand was on Tokijin. Jaken gulped, knowing that meant trouble was close at hand. He looked at Rin, she watched Lord Sesshomaru closely. She knew something was not right as well.
"Do you sense anything?" Sesshomaru waited patiently.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes slightly. The Staff of Two Heads should have picked up on the Dragon Demon. Yet, it remained silent in his servant's possession.
"No." Jaken did not know what to do in the event there was an invisible enemy. "Do you sense anything, my Lord?"
The Staff of Two Heads suddenly twirled out of Jaken's hand, flying into the air. It landed on the ground between Sesshomaru and Jaken, spinning. The female head was singing out loudly.
"What…what does this mean?"
There was no time to react. Jaken felt the wind streak by him, blowing him off his feet. Sitting up, Lord Sesshomaru easily engaged the invisible opponent. Their swords clanged together with each blow. His eyes could only see the white streak of his Lord's clothing and the occasional streak of green.
"Jaken!" Rin ran to Jaken's side.
They were moving too fast for her to keep track who was winning. Rin wondered if Lord Sesshomaru in any danger? Her normal calm nerves were anxious for her master. Squeezing both fists, Rin didn't know what to do. Lord Sesshomaru fought a formidable opponent.
Sesshomaru could smell the creature aiming at his heart with the short sword. Not a formidable weapon against Tokijin, he concluded. But the demon did not rely on his weapon in battle. The long claws he spied as the opponent launched itself at him proved that the demon held magical prowess. It was a Dragon Demon indeed. And it wanted to kill him. His eyes turned crimson, elevating his strength. They danced in circles, deflecting and exchanging blows.
Tir had not counted on Sesshomaru being so fast, evading each attack as if he knew the next action. The son of the General was not the push over he had been led to believe. Atokiyada underestimated Sesshomaru despite his missing left arm. He narrowed his yellow dragon eyes, forcing himself to concentrate on his task.
Sesshomaru felt the rush of air, dodging the lunging claw. The swing of the sword came fast and furious. A sudden swish off to his left caught his attention last minute. Too late to fully evade, long claws gashed his shoulder, tearing through the white silk and into flesh. Blood oozed down his chest and right arm. He dodged another down-swipe with the other clawed arm.
Then he saw it, the yellow cat-like eyes. His opponent appeared human at first then transformed into his true form. A dragon with sunken in green scaly flesh, yellow eyes and a long whip-like tail split into four tendrils. The tendrils were laced with poison.
He cringed from the throbbing pain in his right shoulder. Suddenly, his armor spilt and fell into pieces onto the ground. Four gashes opened across his chest, blood spilling down his torn white kimono and spotting dark red on the ground. 'I failed to evade the second attack.' Sesshomaru did not register the new pain until he fell onto his knees. His demon power seriously weakened, the creature did not wait.
It was gone, its task accomplished. Sesshomaru's face finally contorted in pain. What had been the demon's motive? Then he felt it. A slender silver collar adorned the circumference of his neck, pulled tight.
Jaken's eyes widened. Rin sucked in her breath, holding back a cry of worry. Tokijin dropped to the ground first. Lord Sesshomaru fell onto his knees then his hand, his face contorted in pain. Rin ran to him without thought of her own safety.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried.
Rin backed away when Sesshomaru collapsed onto the ground on his side, gritting his teeth. His body quivered from the open wounds on his chest. 'They must be deep.' She turned fearful eyes to Jaken now standing beside her.
"Rin, we must see to his wounds!" Jaken eyed the wound on Lord Sesshomaru's left arm then veered to his chest.
The wounds were very deep indeed and oozing a green-yellowish puss. Jaken did not know what was going on with these secretions. This was going to take some time to heal. More time than when Inuyasha cut off Lord Sesshomaru's left arm. His master stirred, grunting.
"Master Jaken!" Rin felt very nervous. "We should get help."
Lord Sesshomaru was going to die! She could sense it. His wounds did not look normal compared to those he received before. Rin felt terrified of losing Lord Sesshomaru, her eyes widened more with fear. There had to be someone she could fetch to help him.
"No…" Sesshomaru could barely speak, clenching his teeth fiercely.
The pain was excruciating, fresh blood oozed from the wound as he spoke. Sesshomaru did not know for sure if he would survive. Jaken attempted to gauge the depth of his wounds, rubbing his green chin thoughtfully. His wounds would heal, albeit slowly. Then he would set out to find the dragon demon that attacked him and make the brazen creature regret his action against this Sesshomaru.
"You hear that? Stop being a pest!" Jaken scolded her. "Lord Sesshomaru will be just fine. He just needs some rest!"
Rin did not need anyone to tell her what to do. Her instincts had never been wrong before. She needed to get help. There was one person she knew had the power to help Lord Sesshomaru. But, would they bother to extend their hospitality? No, that would be the last resort. She would go and collect the herbs for healing and make Lord Sesshomaru a paste to cover his wounds. She turned towards the forest, taking one step forward.
Rin stopped, her foot having felt something cold underfoot. She bent over and picked up a bead bracelet. Holding it up to the sun, she eyed the green jade beads. Thinking nothing of them, she slid them onto her wrist and walked away from Jaken. Lord Sesshomaru needed help.
Jaken looked up, finding Rin had disappeared.
'Where did that idiot girl go now? Impudent human!'
He snorted and returned to helping Lord Sesshomaru lay on his back. His master needed to be made comfortable so he could begin healing. Demons did not need the same medical attention humans required. Jaken shook his head in disgust.