INUYASHA: SEALED FATES UNLEASHED
By: Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: Yeah…we all know the drill…not mine….yada yada yada yada.
Author Notes: Oh look, another chapter. I WILL FINISH THIS ONE!
Chapter Thirty-One
The Truth of Lies
Inuyasha felt his eyes beginning to tear up from her grip on his throat. It was beginning to become difficult to breathe. Even his head felt slightly dizzy from the lack…of oxygen as Kagome called it. He could not fight Atokiyada like this.
He also felt his inner demon beginning to scratch from within wanting to get out. Concentrating on Atokiyada's eyes, he did not prevent himself from becoming angrier about the situation. She wanted him to get angry. And he wanted his inner demon to show itself. It would give him more power so that he could…her grip tightened then.
Kagome pressed her hands over her mouth
"Yes, you want to change, don't you?" Atokiyada seemed unconcerned.
She drew him closer, eyeing the slightly shorter demon now lifted off the floor. He weighed little but then her powers associated with being half celestial were responsible for her ability to handle those who out-weighed her. Atokiyada smiled knowing victory was within her grasp.
"Leave him alone!" Kagome shouted.
She felt helpless to do anything about Inuyasha's predicament. Left with being a spectator, Kagome suddenly found time passing slowly. A few seconds felt like an eternity. Blood rushed to her cheeks turning bright red. The memories came in deluge, drowning her in guilt and humiliation.
"Oh yes." Atokiyada stole a glance at Kagome's reddening face and smiled at the corners of her mouth. "You're little girlfriend, Inuyasha. Amazing what a few spells can do to change the entire world of one little girl."
Inuyasha gripped her wrist. "What…are…you…talking…about?"
He could feel the floor nowhere beneath his feet. Just how strong was she? He could barely breathe but somehow it did not matter. Her words were now beginning to penetrate. Kagome? His girlfriend? Spells? What spells? The images...the...images...came without warning. A constant series of images, none that made sense.
"Oh…" Atokiyada smiled. "You don't remember, do you? No, I guess you wouldn't. Men often don't. Then again, you really weren't yourself then."
Inuyasha growled in response.
"Shut up!" Kagome ordered her face growing red with embarrassment stomping her feet. "Inuyasha! It's all non-sense! She doesn't know what she's talking about!"
"Just as well." Atokiyada smiled fiendishly knowing she had everyone's full attention. "I do love the mating rituals of animals."
Rin's eyes widened. Sango staggered with KiRaRa and Miroku at the news. Shippo folded his hands and blushed. Asaia stood up then, her eyes leaving Tir. For the first time, it appeared the human-celestial was angry. Kagome hid her face, turning almost purple.
"SHUT UP!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs. "Don't you dare listen to her, Inuyasha!"
The images slowed down, passing in front of him as a series of snapshots. The kind Kagome showed him of her family back home in her time. They were haunting...trivial at first. Then they took a darker turn as Kagome...fear in her eyes. She was running from him...through the forest. Why was he chasing her? The Springs...his hands ripped her clothes...Inuyasha's eyes deepened another shade of crimson.
Kagome felt her whole body shaking from the memory. She hoped to never reveal what happened to Inuyasha. Now that Atokiyada played the card she had no choice but to admit what occurred. It was no longer just a nasty dream. The nightmare came full circle. And Inuyasha was connecting the dots hanging in Atokiyada's grasp. For once she felt hatred for another being. Deep seated, hot, raging anger. It was then she realized something.
'…oh god…the humiliation.' Kagome could not look at anyone else. 'Find a way to kill her, Inuyasha!'
Atokiyada ignored Kagome and lowered her voice seductively. "I could make you relive that experience all over again, Inuyasha."
"I…?" Inuyasha growled in disbelief then his voice shifted to something more normal. "What?"
Tears streamed from his eyes, as Atokiyada's hand gripped him tighter. The images from before stopped giving him time to recooperate from his emotions. He could barely breathe let alone concentrate on what the celestial-demon said. Something with Kagome and him...and the Springs. He saw little of what occurred after his ripped Kagome's clothes in the images...his eyesight blurred then. Something happened between them.
Suddenly images flashed across his mind at high speed again. Memories more than images...the evening sky, the smell of demons everywhere, the forest passing by him at alarming speeds, the rising fears of everyone around them, the humidity of the hot springs, the smell of Kagome, the look of her skin in the moonlight, the scent of Sesshomaru nearby. Inuyasha seemed incapable of making sense.
He heard Kagome crying in his ears, begging him….
Kagome cringed as his body jerked side to side as Atokiyada laughed at him. Oh god…she was showing him everything! And she was helpless to stop it! What would Inuyasha think? What would he do if he changed completely? Would he stay with the group after wards knowing what he did?
After several moments, Atokiyada dropped him to the floor. It was apparent that Inuyasha was shocked, confused and overwhelmed by what he saw. But the urge to change continued its inner battle. Somewhere, Inuyasha was trying to make sense of this mess. Sango understood the look in his eyes. How was Kagome handling this? She glanced over her shoulder at Kagome. Her friend was hiding something.
She gulped, her body growing hot with anger and humiliation. Kagome realized that she forgot that night during their journey here. But she never forgot how that night changed her forever. And this 'bitch'...'That's right...I used the word!'...just decided to remind everyone of the crazy occurrences of that night. Kagome felt angry Atokiyada would throw this in Inuyasha's face. But then, the celestial-demon orchestrated the whole thing to escape her prison so Tir could steal the five seals keeping her imprisoned.
'Damn her…' Kagome gritted.
Then her anger disappeared watching Inuyasha.
Inuyasha fell to his knees, his head hanging as he sifted through the images in his mind. He lifted his head in shock. His hands laid palms up on his legs. He flexed his right hand, folding his arm at the elbow. He held it out in front of him locked in shattered realization that he was the one who attacked Kagome. He forced himself on Kagome. And she cried. He hurt her. Over and over again. How could he live with himself now?
"Sex." Atokiyada smiled evilly. "With Kagome. Would you like to see more?"
His eyes turned bright crimson now, his back arching as the ability to control the change weakened momentarily. But something made hhim change his mind. Perhaps there was a way out. His head drooped low to allow the change to occur. His teeth lengthened as his demon fangs grew slowly. His body shivered as the demon began to separate from him human side. The pure demon in Inuyasha was about to emerge.
"No, Inuyasha!" Kagome begged. "Don't listen to her! Don't change!"
Atokiyada turned to Kagome.
"Don't you want him to know how you begged him not to take you?" She strode towards the miko. "How you ran from him at every chance? Playing games with him all night until he cornered you in the hot springs. Don't you want Inuyasha to know why he couldn't wait to make you his? You wanted him to take you in the end, didn't you? But then you ran into Sesshomaru."
"Wh…what?" Inuyasha growled, his eyes deepening a darker shade of crimson.
"Oh yes!" Atokiyada knew Inuyasha weakness lay with Kagome. "He had his way with her too. And then you…joined in."
Inuyasha clutched one hand over his heart. He fell forward onto one hand, crying, his body shivering. Part of him wanted to believe none of it. But the horrific expression on Kagome's face said it all. He HAD done all those things. Worse, Sesshomaru was involved. How could he let this happen? Why could he remember nothing?
"You and Sesshomaru shared Kagome together." Atokiyada continued her attack on Inuyasha's fragile psyche. "The brotherly love you truly do have. I'm impressed."
Inuyasha lifted his head, his eyes burning a deep crimson color. His full demon self was close to revealing itself...it was almost out! He fisted both hands to let his anger flow freely, overwhelm him so that he could allow his demon form to take hold and confront Atokiyada with full power. But he could feel it holding back, as if it did not want to come out too.
Sango and Miroku recognized the lengthy transformation. Why was it taking so long, Sango wondered. The change into Inuyasha's demon form usually came so quickly. This was new and unexpected. What was he shown? His confusion over the images shown and what he felt kept the change from completely overtaking him despite his strong emotions. Something was stalling the change Sango realized. A glance at Miroku and Shippo told her they noted it too.
"Kagome!" Asaia reached out to the young woman. "Don't listen to her! It was all false!"
No one seemed to pay Asaia any attention.
"TIR!" Atokiyada demanded. "KILL THEM ALL!"
Immediately, Inuyasha jumped towards Tir landing in front of the Demon Dragon. He did not understand what a demon dragon was at the moment. Only that he wanted to destroy it and return to Atokiyada. He would destroy both of them! Though his full demon was not yet fully materialized, he would force it to come out with the spillage of blood...demon-dragon blood.
But the demon dragon hesitated.
Tir took one step towards the group placing himself between the group and Sesshomaru. All of the scales on his back stood on end in anticipation of another battle. His eyes grew deep yellow matching the mood of the demon confrontation. He lifted one paw towards the half-breed. Tension among the human-demon grew as he contemplated his next move thoughtfully.
Rin shrieked and tore her eyes away as the demon dragon paw came down. Sango and KiRaRa leapt out of the way but Miroku was still in pain and remained on the floor. Kagome rolled off to the right and had to jump up to avoid some debris to get out of the way.
'Didn't seem like Tir was trying too hard.' Kagome realized.
Kagome slid across the floor trying to maintain her balance as she nearly skidded into a fallen beam. Her eyes fell on the arrows brought by Sango. They were scattered over the floor near the corner almost forgotten. No wonder she had not seen them till now. If she could set Sesshomaru free, they would have a powerful ally. There was a vague memory of Sango insisting she use these specific arrows against Atokiyada.
"A gift from Kikyo most likely." Kagome eyed them warily.
Then she remembered the dream.
The dead woman knew more about being a miko than she did. Kagome got to her feet and ran for the fallen weapons. Who was she to question the reason for sending red arrows? Picking them up, she spied her bow fifty feet away, next to the entrance pillar. Inuyasha growled, fighting his transformation. Atokiyada enjoyed playing with people just because she could. Well, Kagome had something to say about that.
"KAGOME!" Sango's voice yelled over the rubble.
Kagome lifted her head to find Sesshomaru standing, the silvery ribbon broken. Her eyes widened as Tir and Sesshomaru stood side by side. Inuyasha then turned towards Atokiyada. Apparently, Tir had other plans than killing them. He was on their side now? Kagome frowned in confusion then glanced at the smile on Asaia's face. That little girl found a way to get through to Tir?
"You really think a trio of demons and a few humans can destroy me?" Atokiyada asked cynically. "FOOLS all of you!"
Asaia joined Tir, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. Miroku got to his feet and shuddered but lumbered his way over to join them. Sango and Shippo ran over to join them. Kagome picked up her arrows and was the last to form the group. Strangely, no one seemed to notice Jaken was missing.
Suddenly, Atokiyada shot her hands forward emitting a bright light that blanketed the room.
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Too bright for mere mortals; Miroku, Sango and Kagome had to shield their eyes. Asaia and the others did not seem affected. They moved forward into the light moving quickly enough to keep up with the pace comfortable to humans.
"Great!" Shippo grumbled. "She's using parlor tricks to cut and run. What kind of demon-celestial is she anyway?"
He stayed with Miroku to help the ailing monk through the bright light. Shippo could make out Tir following the group. Sesshomaru walked farther to the right side of the group to keep that flank covered. If Inuyasha was affected, he did not show it keeping the left flank covered. Asaia had her hands out in front of her with the Pearls of Truth guiding them. The light only dulled and parted in the immediate vicinity of the magical beads.
"What the hell is this?" Inuyasha growled, pulling Tetsusaiga from its sheath.
It appeared he was back to normal.
"We have to destroy the water bowl." Asaia spoke softly.
"How do we do that?" Sango wanted to know. "Atokiyada knows what we have to do to defeat her. She probably has it safely tucked away already."
"She moved it from this room after I fell asleep." Kagome offered. "Just before all of you arrived at the castle."
Funny how she only remembered these things so much later, Kagome thought ruefully. She never gave much thought to the water bowl possibly being a source of power. A mirror into the world outside of the castle sure, but Kagome never considered it an actual source.
Placing her hands over her eyes, it was still too bright. The floor was clean here, no debris could be felt as she inched her way forward with Asaia's guidance. For a little girl, she walked rather fast. But she knew they were out of the main throne room now. She wondered where Atokiyada went when she was not tormenting Sesshomaru or her. For a demon-celestial, she behaved like a teenager.
"The source of her power is in the water bowl." Asaia sounded positive. "With the loss of Tir, she'll be vulnerable to a powerful miko."
"ME?" Kagome was shocked.
"She's planning to escape and retrieve her water bowl before she either attacks or retreats." Asaia began walking forward. "With her power weakened since losing Tir…"
"Why is losing him so important to her?" Sango pushed forward into the light behind Asaia using Herykotsu as a shield.
Herykotsu being made of demon bone helped to dampen the affects of the bright light. Keeping it close to her head, she could see the castle floor. Having excellent hearing helped her keep up with the others. She agreed with Shippo of the simple trick to gain time in order to retrieve the water bowl. But why was Kagome so important now that Tir was on their side?
"He was her main contact into the real world." Asaia smiled and continued on as if unphased by the blinding light. "He did all of her bidding while under her spell. Because he is both demon and dragon, the reason he could even fall under her control, his power is hers only while she controls him. Now she cannot merge his power with hers since Tir has rejected her once I released her spell over him. Without him, she cannot stay here. Even now, she is vulnerable to a powerful miko."
"But there is a way for her to get outside, right?" Rin wanted to know anxiously from somewhere behind everyone.
Rin held onto Tir's rather long tail as they walked through the emitted light. Though the light was rather bright, she pretended it was a game of trust and allowed Tir to lead her. Lord Sesshomaru was nearby and free of his silvery ribbon tether. If Tir changed his mind to stand with them, she would be safe. All she had to do was scream for Lord Sesshomaru.
Asaia nodded. "If she merges her magic with the Pearls of Truth then she can emerge into the real world. The reason she needed to lure me along with the rest of you if her first plan failed using Tir."
"So, she's not a part of the real world yet?" Kagome inquired.
"No." Asaia gripped the Pearls of Truth tightly. "Not yet. She will correct that immediately if we don't get to that water bowl, Kagome."
Kagome felt the light was too bright even with her eyes closed. How were Sango and Miroku surviving this? And where were they following Asaia to exactly? Were Tir and Sesshomaru following them after Atokiyada? Kagome gulped remembering Sesshomaru's silence.
'Yeah…he's planning on getting even.' Kagome concluded and tightened her latch on Asaia.
She doubted Sesshomaru would miss the opportunity to exact vengeance on Atokiyada. Not after kidnapping the full demon and treating him like a dog and chaining him to the floor. Kagome smiled remembering how Inuyasha laughed about it but when he saw his older brother leashed to the floor then how it made him suddenly angry. They would stand together against Atokiyada for very different reasons.
But they would stand together.