I neglected to mention that my friend Bekotsu, a fellow writer and member, is my co-editor/slash co-writer for nearly all of the story. I'd like to take this moment to thank him for his help and hard work. I really appreciate, man. Thanks.
Ch. 2 Black Revival
The tree limbs flailed back and forth as the two female youkai walked through the forest. Kagura the taller, more beautiful women, wore a silk kimono lavished with magenta stripes and light-blue swan designs on the sleeves. Her hair was kept up by a single white feather. Kanna, the younger looking youkai, wore a simple white dress and sandals. Her snow white hair was adorned with twin lilies on either side of her head. Her cold emotionless eyes masked something much darker behind their quiet stare.
Kagura reached up and pulled down a small twig from a low hanging branch as they continued on their way. The events of the battle would not leave her. This new power that Inuyasha had acquired was proof that he had become far stronger than in their first encounter. She wondered whether allowing him to become so strong had really been in her best interest. She smiled as a gentle breeze eased through the trees at her command. Then, too, was Sesshomaru. Now he was a sight to behold. Sheer unadulterated power, not to mention the title of lord. It was no wonder then why Naraku had been so quick to flee the castle that night when his barrier had broken. Between the brothers combined he never would have stood a chance. The only question still plaguing her mind, "Where was he now?"
"Kagura."
Kanna's cold voice pierced her thoughts
"We are here."
Kagura looked around the forest in confusion.
"What are you talking about, Kanna? There's nothing here. I . . ."-
Kanna raised her hand, pointing straight ahead.
Kagura squinted to try and see what Kanna thought she saw.
"Wait . . . I feel something."
Kanna raised her mirror.
"An illusion. What we seek lies behind." She said as her mirror began to glow along with the forest around them.
"What's happening, Kanna? " , Kagura asked as the trees vanished.
The sky turned jet black as ominous black clouds gathered out of nowhere. The thick veil of branches, roots, and limbs evaporated before them. The illusion was gone.
What lay before them was an ancient and worn structure of an enormous temple. The air was immediately filled with an overwhelmingly dark demonic aura.
The ground split beneath their feat and out rose a flame colored Oni.
"Just my luck.",Said Kagura, drawing her fan.
"You will not pass!", the demon roared, bearing its fangs at the unwelcome intruders.
"And why not?"
Suddenly, Kanna felt a wave of darkness overtake her. Something or someone was inside her.
"You Will Not Pass!"
The Oni barreled forth, reaching out to crush Kagura in his massive hands. She easily avoided and took to the sky. Seeing Kanna unprotected the demon turned upon her.
"Look out!" Kagura shouted.
Kanna levitated off the ground and came within three feet of the Oni's head.
"You have a jewel shard.", She whispered, "Give it to me!"
Much to their surprise and horror Kanna tore into the demon's forehead and ripped the gleaming shard out with a smile.
"Raarhh!", he screamed as he toppled over.
Kanna looked up at her sister.
"Finish him, Kagura."
She snapped out of her trance raising her fan to finish the wounded beast when he cried out, "Wait. Please."
Kagura paused to hear his pathetic pleas for mercy.
"You must not free the demon sealed inside.", It gasped, blood oozing from the hole in its head.
Kanna turned to her sister with an unfamiliar glare.
"We don't have time for this. Kill it."
"The demon inside must not be set . . . Free!"
The Oni leaped back to its feet and struck at Kanna. She turned and raised her mirror reflecting the force of the blow and sending him flying. Snapped back to her senses, Kagura joined in and finished it.
"Dance of the Dragon!"
Pillars of wind descended upon him, blasting him into nothingness.
"So much for him.", She said, landing softly on the ground, " What was he talking about, Kanna? . . . Kanna?"
As she reached to place her hand on Kanna's shoulder she felt something else, something . . . evil.
"No.", She whispered in fear.
Kanna's empty black eyes turned blood red as her body began to convulse uncontrollably;and when she spoke it was Naraku's chilling voice that emitted from the ghostly figure.
Sesshomaru awoke under a blooming magnolia tree. The setting sun sent a reddish-pink glow cascading over the land. He looked down at his blood stained claws and thought of his brother. The events of the battle played over and over again in his head. How? How had he allowed him to obtain such power? The very thought sickened him. The Wind Scar, the Backlash Wave; both were mockeries of his own great power. A shower of petals rained down on him as his thoughts shifted. He sat up against the huge roots of the tree and sniffed the cool forest air. Rin and Jaken's scents were all about him. He could feel bandages around his chest and stomach, Rin's handiwork no doubt.
"Hmm."
He laughed at the thought of Jaken screaming hysterically over his broken body. Honing his senses, he heard the two of them up ahead near the river. Bracing himself against the tree, he rose to his feet and started toward the clearing. He stopped suddenly, detecting another scent in the wind.His amber eyes narrowed into a ferocious glare.
"Naraku."
There was no mistake. The smell of that loathsome creature was burned into his memory. As he turned to pursue the trail, he heard shrieks coming from the river. He rushed through the forest and leaped over the brush. An orange serpent emerged from the water starring hungrily at the frightened duo.
"What have we here? A mortal and an imp.", It hissed.
Jaken jumped up. "How dare you call me an imp! I'm a demon!", he insisted.
The snake youkai cackled in amusement as he coiled around them, barring their path.
"Oh it doesn't matter to me. I'll devour you just the same!" The snake's jaws opened to swallow them.
"Staff of Two Heads!", Jaken shouted, unleashing a stream of fire from his staff.
The serpent fell back, writhing in agony as the fire ate away at its flesh. It shriveled up and rolled on it's back as its skin roasted and blackened.
"Hmph!", Jaken said proudly, "That's what happens to those who dare to call me an imp!"
Rin hugged him tightly.
"But you are an imp, master Jaken."
"Why you . . . "-
Just then the youkai's ashes began to glow. It was regenerating! Before Jaken could attack it again, it was already striking for the kill.
"Die!"
A streak of white flew over their heads, drawing his sword. Without a second thought Sesshomaru drove Tokijin through the vermin's head, nailing it to the ground.
"Begone."
The demon's body evaporated in a single burst of light leaving nothing behind, save a single glimmering shard.
Kagome walked back into the house with a bucket of fresh water. Inuyasha lay sleeping on the floor. She sat down next him as she tied her long black hair back behind her. She dipped the rag into the water and began cleaning his wounds. His eyes immediately shot open and he clasped her hand.
"How are you?",he whispered.
Kagome smiled as she rang out the rag.
"I really should be asking you that question."
She rubbed the rag softly across his chest. Most of the bleeding had stopped hours ago. She could almost see his wounds beginning to heal. He turned his head just enough to notice the absence of the others.
"Where are Sango and Miroku?"
Kagome placed the rag in the bucket and edged closer to him.
"They're in the village, shopping."
Inuyasha coughed and managed a laugh.
"Don't you mean Sango's in the village shopping and Miroku's out being a philandering creep?"
Kagome laughed at the thought. "That's our Miroku."
A cool breeze crept in through the doorway relieving the tension of the tiny room. Kagome looked down at Inuyasha as he stared blankly at the sealing. Probably thinking about his brother.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you think that girl was doing with Sesshomaru today?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"I couldn't care less.", he baulked, "As far as I'm concerned Sesshomaru and his little fan club can just go to -Oww! The hell'd you hit me for?"
Kagome shook her head. "Cause you're being a jerk. Why are the two of you always at each others throats? You'd think you could show a little compassion for one another every once and while!"
Inuyasha rolled over in annoyance.
"Geez!",Kagome scoffed, "I not asking you to like the guy. I'm just saying you can't hate each other forever."
Inuyasha snorted at the idea of ever feeling anything towards his brother.
"Okay, Inuyasha. You may think that way now, but one day you two are going to need each other."
Kagura stared in disbelief at Kanna's empty form. "I-I thought you were . . ."-
"Dead?", Naraku finished.
She fell to her knees at the sound of his voice. Kanna's mouth was moving but the voice was not hers. How? How had he survived? Where had he been all this time?
"Kagura! I see you've been having a little fun while I was away."
His twisted smirk appeared on Kanna's face.
"Please, don't look so shocked. It's as if you've seen a ghost."
Indeed she was literally shaking before him. He was worlds away and yet she could still feel him breathing down her neck, holding her frozen heart in fear.
" As much fun as it would be to play catch up we've work to do. Come."
Kanna floated past Kagura's face and into the temple courtyard. Kagura's eyes flashed with anger. How dare he use them like this? She would kill him here and now.
"Your thoughts are an open book to me, Kagura.", He laughed aloud, "I must admit your treachery is proving more helpful to me than first I realized. If not for your scheming I might never have thought to look here in this barren temple."
Kagura followed keep ten feet between them as she did.
"What are you going on about Naraku?"
"Can you not feel it Kagura-The aura permeating these walls? It wreaks of betrayal and rage. It was that which called me here. It wants revenge against the one who sealed it. The ruler of these lands."
Kanna stopped just short of the enormous temple doors before them and raised her mirror. The rotting stone entrance flew open and they walked in. The floors were cracked and overrun by a thick carpet of moss and weeds. The walls looked as if they would fall at any moment and the air . . . the air wreaked death. Kanna walked into the center of the temple and halted.
"What exactly are you after in this place?"
Kanna pointed to the other end of the room revealing another door. Stabbed into the middle was a huge silver fang. The heavy doors slammed shut, locking them inside. The jewel in her possession turned black emitting a foul demonic aura. A swirl of energy surrounded her and flew at the door dissolving the seal. The door vanished unveiling a void of empty nothingness.
"Great Warrior of eons past, I summon you!", Naraku called out.
A furious roar echoed through the temple from behind the darkness. The void seemed to be reacting to the light of the jewel. From behind the howling darkness a youkai bound in chains reached out.
"Hungry for life I see! Fear not, for I've every intention of giving it to you! I ask but one thing in return if I am to free you!"
The youkai roared out screaming for the chance to devour the intruders. It was all Kagura could to hold onto the walls as the void began to pull them in. She couldn't believe the powerful energies Naraku was meddling with. This demon was like nothing she'd ever felt before.
"Go forth and destroy the sons of he who bound you! Take from him what has been taken from you! Destroy Sesshomaru and Inuyasha!"
With that Kanna hurled the black jewel into the void. "Yes, sever the chains that bind you to your prison!"
The demon unleashed a blast of light from its mouth engulfing the temple in flames.
"Naraku!", Kagura screamed. In the blink of an eye the temple was lifted off its foundation and blown into pieces. Out from the cloud of destruction and fire stepped a mighty dog demon. He bore scares on his stomach and massive shoulders. A long trail of fur extended out from his back and flowed in the wind like a cloud. His single eye glowed with a darkness far greater than that of night itself. His black claws dug into ground, poisoning the earth beneath him.
"Where Are You?"
His body was enveloped in a blinding light as he took on a humanoid form. Long silver hair hung down past his waist. Huge spiked armor lined his chest and shoulders. His kimono was white with blue stripes running down the sleeves and lining his collar.
"Inutaisho, where are you?"
He placed a clawed hand on his throbbing forehead trying to silence the screams of terror and agony that plagued him.
"W-What is this?"
Suddenly he caught something, a scent in the wind.
"S-Sesshomaru?"
He burst into the sky, his fur trailing behind him.
" You will fall." . . .
Koga stopped in mid sprint. Ginta and Hakkaku caught up to him panting and wheezing.
"What's wrong, Koga?", Hakkaku asked. Koga leaped into the highest tree and looked out over the land. Ginta followed him up.
"I felt him."
Ginta looked at him, confused.
"Felt who? You don't mean . . . ? "
"Naraku, that bastard. It was only for a minute but I could swear I sensed him."
Ginta shook his head. "That's Koga for ya, crazy to the T."
Koga kicked him from his perch and leaped down.
"What do you want to bet that mutt Inuyasha's involved?",he said looking into the setting sun. The warm breeze foretold the coming of a disaster.