Chapter 21
The coming of dawn once again brought Shura back into training with her father however this time around things were much different. Sesshomaru, the once distant soul content to stand and watch from afar as Shura toiled with his various assignments had been replaced with an intense and looming shadow that tracked nearly her every move with scrutinizing eyes. The great dog's focus had also altered, shifting away from the realm of general physical improvements and focusing instead on a much more narrow and complex array of skills such as accuracy, sensory perception, concentration, analysis of enemy defense, and strike efficiency. These lessons proved to be far more involved and often kept the she-demon busy so late into the night that she wouldn't have the energy to return and visit Inuyasha and his friends.
And things only grew worse the further up they journeyed. Now nearing the winter season, icy blizzards were already starting to pelt the upper mountains, making travel significantly harder. By weeks end the weather was so uncooperative that each of the two dog brothers found themselves inclined to take completely separate routes. Sesshomaru naturally did not waver in the storms, and so kept his current course; strait up and over. This was by far the most difficult and dangerous strategy for crossing, but the challenge would prove useful. Years back, Matyeo had concluded his training on these very peeks, and with any luck Shura would do the same by the time they reached the other side.
The she demon must have sensed his intention because she followed her father into the blinding snow without a fuss even after Rin, ah-un and Jaken opted to follow a safer path. As for Matyeo, he possessed a knowledge of the area and its winter tantrums to a degree not even Sesshomaru could ignore, and so was instructed to ascend into the storms as well to act as a navigator and, for Shura at least, a source of encouragement.
Inuyasha and his friends meanwhile took a similar route to Rin's party, choosing to evade the storms rather then charge into them. Strong as they were, none were exactly willing to try and challenge the elements as Sesshomaru. Even Inuyasha, whose concern for his niece had doubled now that she was at the mercy of winter's chill and the equal cold of his half brother, was not so bold as to risk such a climb. Even had he decided to go it alone, eliminating the danger to his friends, the northern mountains had claimed more then their fair share of accomplished demons. And as stubborn as he was Inuyasha was not so foolish that he'd take on such a venture so close to the coming of the new moon.
And so it went. Inuyasha and his companions descended from the mountainous terrine following what they believed to be the shortest path, and in the end made relatively good time. The six-day journey just barely managed to beat the lunar calendar and to the group's relief there was even a well-placed village nestled on the fringe where mountain gradually tapered back into wilderness. Intent on restocking supplies, having a home cooked meal and generally reassuring themselves that life did indeed exist in the northern territory, Inuyasha and his companions traveled with hopeful hearts in the direction of the town, all the time unaware that their movements were being tracked….
Hidden in the woodland outskirts that flanked one of the village's boarders, Kagura stood and watched impatiently as the black, hulk of an incarnate Goshuri sat motionless staring strait ahead with an almost vacant expression.
"Lazy oaf" snapped the irritated wind rider with one of her most unpleasant grimaces "you know last time I checked, sitting around like a lump wasn't the assignment Naraku gave you…" To her annoyance the black demon hardly sent a glance in her direction.
"Dear sister, if there is one thing you did not gain from our master it is the gift of patience," the incarnate mused in a cragially tone that almost perfectly mimicked that of his late elder sibling Goshinki "Naraku wishes that I slay Inuyasha, but to do that I will also need to kill the three gifted mortals, and two lesser demons that accompany him." Now the demon moved, arching his pointed snout ever so slightly in a directing gesture towards a distant range of mountains that were visible on the horizon. "They are passing through the northern mountains as we speak. By the time they make it here, fatigue and the summits chill will have weakened them, ensuring me an easy victory." The strategy sent the wind sorceress into a fierce glare.
"Unbelievable! With nearly all the power of the sacred jewel at your disposal you still choose to sit and wait in ambush like a spineless jackal! You're pathetic! If Naraku had given me the jewel…"
"You would have charged ahead blindly as my brother once did, and wind up an ornament suspended at Inuyasha's side," The demon concluded before his elder sister could finish. Then after a brief pause the sneer he was carrying broadened. "Or perhaps you would have even abandoned your orders altogether in favor of betraying our master" Kagura's eyes widened in horror.
"How did you…" was the only thing she could bring herself to stammer. Not even Naraku knew of her attempt to betray him by enlisting Inuyasha's elder brother…so how then did this mere servant find out? Goshuri cackled, delighted by his sister's unrest.
"Goshinki may be little more then a sword now, but that doesn't erase the fact that we are twins…and will always remain linked. He told me of you're little escapade…among other things." Now Kagura's entire face turned red with embarrassment and fury. Knowing the finer details of her betrayal was bad enough, but being informed of her little crush on Sesshomaru… The wind sorceress tried hard to retain her composure but such efforts only seemed to entertain her sibling even more.
"So then sister," Goshuri continued shrewdly "care to rethink your views of my strategy? Or shall I enlighten Naraku to the full extent of your unwillingness to cooperate?" after a long moment of quiet fuming and half uttered syllables of protest the wind sorceries conceded.
"Fine. I'll go along with your idea for now. But breathe one word about me to Naraku and I'll make sure you regret it." With that said Kagura snatched one of the snow white, decorative feathers from her hair and fashioned it into a transport with a mighty gust of wind. Those same currents surged her upward into the atmosphere, away from her snickering sibling.
"We'll see," muttered Goshuri under his breath once the she-demon had traveled out of range. Then after letting out a satisfied snort the incarnate resumed his observation over the peaceful town. For the time being the villages remained oblivious of his presence, but as soon as he got wind of Inuyasha their blood would serve as an ideal lure.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome squeaked as a sudden chill ran through her body. The half demon turned to face his friend with an anxious expression.
"What is it Kagome?" he asked. The girl gestured to the horizon. The village they were heading to was just barely visible in the distance.
"I sense a really big fragment of the sacred jewel…It could be Naraku." Everyone's insides tightened.
"Are you sure?" inquired the perceptive Miroku, but before he could get an answer Sango gained everyone's attention with an observation of her own.
"Look there!" the girl directed to the sky with an outstretched arm. Looming not far in the distance was a massive, writhing cloud of demon bodies. The creatures were identical to the types kept by Naraku, and they were coming closer.
"Those are Naraku's demons!" squeaked Shippo in alarm, though by that point such information was trivial. The telltale scent of the demon horde had already reached Inuyasha, as did another, much more alarming one.
"They must have come from that village…because I smell a lot of human blood."
Without any further delay Inuyasha was off and running towards the town. His friends started to follow, but they soon found themselves being swarmed not only by the multi-colored cloud of demon serpents, centipedes and ogres but also by droves of Naraku's loudly buzzing hell insects. With no other choice but to defend themselves, and the monk's wind tunnel not an option, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Kirara set to work on what was to be a very long hack and slash battle. Even with the power of Kagome's sacred arrows intermittently blowing large portions of the swarm to kingdom come, the seemingly endless waves of demons' just kept coming…
Watching the carnage from her airborne, feather perch, Kagura mused over the efforts of Inuyasha's companions. From what she could tell, none of them had even noticed her presence there, let alone the fact that she was commanding the horde of demons. The wind sorceress snorted lightly to herself. Thus far she had abided to Goshuri's plan; using a swarming barricade of lesser targets she had deliberately cornered Inuyasha's friends, while allowing the half demon himself an unhindered path to the village where Goshuri was waiting in ambush. But the wind sorceress by no means enjoyed it. As fun as it was to watch the three mortals run around rampant like little ants, it didn't change the fact that Goshuri would skyrocket up Naraku's hierarchy if his strategy worked. If that happened…she would not only have to answer to Naraku's demands…but also those of her lumbering sibling.
The wind sorceress shuddered heavily at the thought. But nevertheless she held her position. With the threat of her brother's blackmail looming precariously in the future, obeying him was the only option she had. Either way, it seemed, she was out of luck.
Just about that moment, the faintest of scents drifted across Kagura's nose. It was barely detectable, masked with the frosty aroma from the northern mountains, but the wind sorceress recognized it instantly and it filled her heart with dread. The scent was Sesshomaru's. Grimacing slightly Kagura summoned a wind gust and secretly started off in the great demon's direction. As bad as things looked for her now, they would only grow worse should Sesshomaru enter the battle wielding his sword forged of Goshinki's fangs.