Inuyasha: Sealed Fates Unleashed
By: Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha and characters we know and love.
Author's Notes: Sorry for such a long delay in updates. It's been a long couple of months and I just got through finals. Whew! I'd rather have a test than papers. Killer man! Anyway, we got through them and now I'm free for three weeks. Yay! Okay, here's the next chapter. I'll get working on the next one this week and hopefully have it up by Friday. Thanks for the patience. Now enjoy.
Chapter Nineteen
Kidnapped!
Sesshomaru sat in peace against the rock. He lifted his amber eyes to the evening sky. 'It is especially clear tonight.' A perfect night to launch an attack, he realized. If the demon returned, he would not be in any condition to defend himself let alone anything else. The thought irritated this Sesshomaru. He did not like knowing he was dependent on others for once.
The scent of Inuyasha carried on the breeze reminded him of this required dependence on his half-breed brother and his…friends. The effects of the poison flowing through him diminished since the monk arrived. The Human proved knowledgeable with demons and medicinal uses. Both Rin and Jaken carried out orders given by the monk in hopes nothing would befall him.
'To spend so much time on such trivialities…' Sesshomaru lost his train of thought as his eyes settled on Rin's young face. Her closed lids hid those dark, inquisitive depths.
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None of the sleeping figures stirred. Kagome, Asaia and Sango slept in sleeping bags nearest the fire now burning low. Miroku settled himself near his patient, behind Sango. Shippo slept with KiRaRa near Sango's feet covered with a checkered blanket. Rin and Jaken lay together near Sesshomaru under a thick blanket with branches of leaves for a pillow.
Inuyasha leaned against the thick tree, the farthest from Sesshomaru and his traveling group. Tetsusaiga lay on his left shoulder, the weight barely noticeable. His head leaned forward, his chin resting on his chest as he slept. KiRaRa brought the sword back with her from Totosai.
A light breeze crossed the field, rustling the encampment. Inuyasha woke from his sleep, his nerves and senses on edge. He slept light tonight, in case Jaken attempted to steal his sword. Nothing moved in the calm night. A very dark night. Yet he felt a presence. Could it be waiting for the right moment to strike? Was it the creature that attacked and wound Sesshomaru?
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Yellow eyes perused the campsite. For a group as eclectic as these, they proved to be quite versatile. Even the mighty Sesshomaru did not reject their aid. The Dog Demon was in no condition to do much of anything at the moment. The remainder of the group was of no interest to him. Relatively weak and incapable of facing him in true combat were considered useless.
Why Atokiyada issued new orders within the last day did not make any sense. The threat was not the Dog Demon but the young girl traveling with them. The child in shimmering blue and white kimono did not appear threatening. Nor did she sleep for long periods like those humans with whom she traveled.
Kill the one called 'Asaia'. The order confused Tir. He wanted Sesshomaru not some…girl. Yet, he felt like he knew this child. As if from a past memory he could not recall. Shaking his head and the crazy thought from it, Tir moved into position. He would wait until the moon disappeared.
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Asaia woke just before the transparent yellow haze began to spread and cloud in the field. She sat upright, sleepily surveying the darkness. Shifting her eyes up, the moon had disappeared for the remainder of the night. Her eyes widened, recognizing what would transpire.
Tir returned. 'But for what purpose?'
Asaia startled when Inuyasha jumped to his feet first followed by Jaken. He pulled Tetsusaiga from his waist, its blade transforming into a shining wide blade. The sword sensed danger lurking in the thickening haze. The green Imp ran, barely keeping his balance, to Sesshomaru resting against the rock eerily still.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken raspy voice urged. "We should leave now. This cloud forming is not a good omen."
Sesshomaru raised his head weakly, the amber eyes expressionless in the pale face. Jaken realized his master was in condition to move let alone fight. The poison continued its strong hold on the Dog Demon. Jaken set his chin, raising the Staff of Two Heads, standing before Sesshomaru so that the ailing demon was between him and the rock. He alone would save his master from any threat!
Rin coughed awake along with Kagome and Sango. Her eyes widened watching Jaken take his defensive stance. She knew that trouble was close by. Sleep drained from her, replaced by fear. She got to her feet, glancing around at the others.
"Lord Sesshomaru…what is this?" Rin ran to her master.
The figures of the group were disappearing in the thick mist. Rin knew better than to think this was from condensing water when the air temperature became warmer than the nearby watery lake Lord Sesshomaru spoke about. No…this was caused by a demon…a powerful demon coming to do battle with them. Lord Sesshomaru was in no shape to fight. Her thoughts were interrupted by an impatient voice.
"Miroku?!" Inuyasha called out growling. "Can you see anything?"
He squinted his eyes to see where everyone else had gone. 'Damn this stuff was thick!' He would have to use his sense of smell to locate everyone. Hell, he could not detect the scent of the dragon demon that attacked and wounded Sesshomaru. The demon who turned his brother into a liability on purpose. And now came for them.
"No!" Miroku squinted at the thickening yellow cloud. "The mist doesn't seem poisonous!"
"Sango, what about you?" Inuyasha called out, hoping she was nearby.
"Inuyasha?" Sango rushed towards the source of the voice. "Where's Kagome?"
She could handle herself in this mess. Her friend was another story. Kagome seemed to not be herself since the Night of Chaos. Sango knew something was not right about Kagome but left it alone. Perhaps something horrible happened and Kagome did not want to say anything out of humiliation. 'Now's not the time to think about the past!' Sango ordered herself to concentrate and feel the aura of the demon obviously waiting somewhere close.
"I don't know." Inuyasha turned around, finding the cloud too thick. "Kagome?!"
No answer.
The thick mist seemed to swirl around her, allowing her some visibility of the field. The green grass appeared brownish under her feet. Then she felt the cold chill up her spine, tingling every nerve in her body. Kagome turned in time to see a pair of yellow eyes rush her. She had no time to scream, her cry for help caught in her throat.
Suddenly, she was snatched onto the shoulder of a large demon. Its aura, though chaotic, was powerful and magical. She clutched at her throat, trying to scream out to Inuyasha. Her bow and arrows fell from her shoulder, sprawling over the grass. A pleasant smell permeated her nose, making her feel light-headed. Kagome smiled then passed out.
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Sesshomaru lifted his head at the thickening mist. Jaken stood defiantly in front of him with the Staff of Two Heads tightly clasped. That was the last image of Jaken he would have before losing sight of the Imp. 'Pointless.' Nothing would stop a powerful dragon demon from killing its target. Sesshomaru felt a sudden chill. There was a presence behind the rock he rested against.
Suddenly, a large green claw clasped over his head, yanking him from the ground. Too weak to fight, Sesshomaru realized that the demon was not here to kill him. In fact, there was another presence with the demon. That female miko Inuyasha associated and traveled with, including the demonslayer, the monk and the tiny fox demon.
'Why would this Sesshomaru be…'
Sesshomaru's anger flared at the mere thought of being captured on purpose. Without warning, pain at his neck constricted his breathing. A bright flash of blue light erupted from a thin line around his pale flesh just above his kimono. All the anger he displayed for a mere few seconds dissipated immediately.
'What is this?'
Images of the battle flashed in his mind. They fought like seasoned demons in war. The dragon demon knew how to deflect and implement attacks at the same time. He looked forward to defeating such a difficult opponent. Tokijin could not be used to its fullest extent during the battle. Nor had he felt the necklace go around his neck.
A pleasant smell drew him to hold his breath to avoid taking it in. A form of toxin designed to render the victim unconscious. Did not matter…the smell seemed to seek him out. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes before becoming light headed. He realized he made only one mistake before losing consciousness.
'This Sesshomaru underestimated my opponent.'
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Inuyasha waited…then waited some more. Agitated, he walked in a circle, listening to Sango and Miroku call out their locations looking for people. Shippo was now on Sango's shoulder. Miroku had KiRaRa and Rin. Jaken insisted he was fine. But Kagome or Sesshomaru could be located. Neither of them called out to anyone.
Suddenly, the yellow mist dissipated. What was once blanketed was now left exactly as before. Inuyasha blinked then settled his eyes on Miroku and Sango.
"What the hell?" He growled.
"Uh…" Sango chose not to say anymore.
"My thoughts exactly." Miroku tightened his hand with the Wind-Tunnel. "The demon didn't want a fight. It knew we were willing."
Inuyasha once again faced the fact that he had no clue what the hell was going on. First that whole night of forgotten memories then Kagome changing and behaving oddly and now being kidnapped along with Sesshomaru by some dragon demon named Tir. Nothing made sense to him anymore.
"That doesn't make sense!" Inuyasha's brow furrowed deeply. "It took Kagome and Sesshomaru? Why?"
Asaia stepped out from behind a tree. She meekly walked towards Inuyasha.
"I'm afraid that Atokiyada will use her to lure us to her castle."
"Castle?" Miroku frowned, "How do you know she'll choose a castle?"
"She believes that celestials are gods of the world." Asaia shook her lightly. "Hence, she will occupy a castle to show her position. It will be in the mountains, closest to the sky. And most likely surrounded by water."
"The reflection." Sango whispered remembering the story.
"A vain woman indeed." Miroku suddenly smiled.
Sango's left eye twitched at the tone. 'Just like him to start thinking like a pervert at a time like this.' She spun around to face the monk who cowered away from her angry glare, smiling her off as he waved her towards the mountains in the west.
"Master Inuyasha!" Myoga cried out. "What are you doing?"
Everyone looked down at the dead log used as a seat near the fire. Myoga, the demon flea, jumped up and down to catch their attention to his location. He had a funny way of disappearing during times of danger and reappearing when an explanation was needed.
"What does it look like?!" Inuyasha growled.
"You can't…can't take on a half-celestial." Myoga sputtered jumping towards Inuyasha's face only to end up on his hand.
"You were watching the whole time?!" Inuyasha clenched the demon flea between his thumb and index finger of his other hand. "And you said nothing?"
"You don't understand!" Myoga could barely keep a breath in his tiny lungs. "Your great-grandfather couldn't defeat her on his own!"
"My great-grandfather?!" Inuyasha frowned looking at Sango then Miroku.
"Yes!' Myoga whimpered. "He fought against Atokiyada along side every powerful demon they could wrangle to stand with them. It was a bloody battle from the stories. She was a very tactful and difficult opponent."
"And how do you know about that?" Miroku asked, folding his hands together.
"My own grandfather served your great grandfather. Still not as popular as your father was, he was just as valiant and courageous." Myoga added. "He fought well and earned the trust of his comrades."
"Get on with it!" Inuyasha growled applying pressure to Myoga's tiny head. "How can we get rid of her?"
"I've just been to the mainland. There's been suspicious deaths of some very powerful demons this past year." Myoga rubbed his chin. "It will be difficult to figure out how. With the most powerful demons dead, it will…"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Tell us something useful."
"She's had them killed to prevent an army from forming to lock her back into her prison realm." Myoga searched his brain. "If we could find her sister…"
"Asaia?" Sango offered eying the small girl.
"Why yes, how did you know?" Myoga turned to face the demonslayer, jumping onto Inuyasha's shoulder to look at the weary group.
He noted that Rin and the Imp named Jaken were also with Inuyasha. Odd to see them unless Sesshomaru abandoned them in search of the half-demon half-celestial Atokiyada.
"She's here too." Inuyasha pointed at the young girl. "She's over there."
"Good…" Myoga took one look at Asaia then glanced around. "You're attempts will be in vain. Kagome's gone, I take it?"
"Tir took her." Asaia put in. "Atokiyada had him take Kagome and Sesshomaru. She will use them against us somehow."
"Atokiyada most likely has thought of everything." Myoga shrugged. "True to her reputation. She is half-celestial, you know."
Inuyasha flicked Myoga off his shoulder. 'Like he's been a real help.'