Chapter 11 Gifts and Revelations
Golden streaks of light pierced through the canopy and beamed down on Inuyasha's face as he slept in the tree tops above. Yet, even as he slept in the tranquil peace of sunrise, he could not forget what had happened the night before.
No, you don't understand!
I have to save her!
I'm going alone . . .
He looked up into the sky, slowly letting his hazel eyes take in the growing sunlight. Had he been too harsh? He had just left him standing there ,after all.
"Damn."
He shifted positions on the branch, trying to compensate for his aching wounds. The battle had drained more of him than he was willing to admit, and he had thus been forced to retire here until he was fully recovered. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered to him unless she was alright.
"Kagome." He whispered as he fell back into the all too tempting lull of sleep. Just as his eyes began close he felt a sharp pain in his neck .
"Myoga."
He smacked the tiny flee demon and watched as he fell back into his hand.
"So, the coward finally shows up. Wake up, Myoga! I know your still alive!"
The flee's crushed body inflated and, returning to normal as he sprang to life.
"Master Inuyasha! What a pleasant surprise. How have you been?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Spare me, okay."
Myoga looked up at his master in confusion.
"What are you so angry about? I dropped by to say hello! You don't have to bite my head off!"
His cries for attention were cut short when he noticed the empty sheath at his masters side.
"Um, I may be out of place for asking this", he began, "but where is the Tetsusaiga?"
Inuyasha's reluctance to answer only confirmed his suspicions.
"Please tell me you did not lose the Tetsusaiga."
Inuyasha continued to look away and Myoga broke down in tears.
"You lost the sword! I can't believe this! After everything we've been through, you choose now to lose it?!"-"Shut the hell up, alright!", Inuyasha shouted, "It's not like I handed it over to him on a platter!"
Myoga froze. "Him? You mean someone has your sword? Who?! Who has the Tetsusaiga?"
Kimaryu stopped dead in his tracks as he detected the presence of another.
"Some one is coming."
No sooner had he drawn Tetsusaiga, when a purple light descended up ahead. He leaped through the trees and took to the sky. From this altitude he could see everything within a fifty mile radius; and with the power of the shards, he felt everything that so much as breathed. Then he felt it, a ripple.
"The lake."
Immediately, he fell back to the ground and rushed through the forest. The smell of new prey was permeating the air. He burst out of the clearing and came skidding to a stop at the water's edge.
The lake was churning back and forth as if something has disturbed it.
"I see you." Kimaryu leaped back raised the sword. "Wind Scar!"
The blast of wind and light rushed forth preparing to reveal what lay underneath when a new light came up through the lake.
"What?!"
The Wind Scar was split in two and dissipated when it collided with the pillar of light. The waters parted and a massive demon rose up from it's waters. It's body stretched nearly seventy feet and was inclosed in purple blade-like scales. Even this, however, paled in comparison to it's monstrous fangs jutting from it's serpentine head. Atop the demon's head, sat a snow white girl holding a mirror. Kimaryu's eyes widened as he beheld this sight.
"I know you . . ."
"What?!", came Myoga's startled shriek, "Did you just say Kimaryu?!"
Inuyasha nodded, "Why, ya know him?"
Myoga fell flat on his back as he took in this information.
"What's your problem?"
"Forgive me, master Inuyasha. That is name I've not heard spoken sense the time of Great War."
Myoga sat up and looked very intently. "Kimaryu was the only son of Lord Zenaku, your father's brother."
Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat.
"So he really is my . . .cousin."
Myoga nodded.
"Even then, he was a formidable warrior. So great, in fact, were his skills that your father appointed him as third in command of his grand army."
Inuyasha could barely keep his posture as his heart continued to pound in his chest.
Kimaryu? His flesh and blood? The thought of having anything to do with that beast made him sick to his stomach.
Myoga wasted no time in continuing. "The war was raging to a close, and your father had received critical information as to the panther tribes base of operations. Using this information a plan was created to take out the enemy in a single crushing blow. The grand army was divided into two units. The group led by Lord Zenaku and Kimaryu were to attack and secure the panther tribe encampments in the east while your father and his group attacked the leader." Myoga suddenly paused and sighed heavily, his eyes becoming hazy with the memories of the past.
"Why'd you stop?" yelped Inuyasha.
Myoga shook his head as if he'd been woken up from a trance.
"Forgive me master. My heart grows heavy in recalling these memories. Your father would soon learn that those plans did not fall into his hands by chance. No, it was a trap set by the Panther King himself."
Inuyasha stared at his tiny vassal, completely captivated by his recollections.
"So you mean dad knew it was a trap and still went in anyway?"
"Yes.", Myoga sighed, "But even he could not have foreseen what was to come . . ."
The leviathan towered over Kimaryu as he readied himself.
"Just who are you?"
The pale demon atop the monster's head began to speak.
"Put down your sword. We have not come to fight you."
Kimaryu only tightened the grip on his weapon.
"I asked you a question."
"I am Kanna, an incarnation of Naraku, he who freed you from your seal."
Kimaryu lowered his guard in hear this.
"Naraku freed me?"
Kanna nodded.
"For what purpose?"
"Naraku wished that you be set free and so it was." Kanna replied.
A faint grin appeared on Kimaryu's face. "That's it?" He asked, beginning to laugh, "So some random demon happened upon my prison and broke my seal did he? And I suppose this Naraku expects some sort of payment back, does he?"
"Naraku asks nothing except that you use the jewel shards to destroy Inuyasha and his friends.", said Kanna.
Kimaryu's eyes narrowed. "You came all this way just to tell me that? Does this Naraku take me for a fool?"
Kanna's soulless expression remained unchanged.
"It is true that you are strong, but you could be even stronger."
"What do you mean?"
"Something stands in your way, something buried deep inside your soul. At your core rests a lingering sorrow, regret for a fallen comrade perhaps."
Kimaryu roared out in protest, "Regret?! You dare imply that such a worthless emotion bars my path? I've slain hundreds! Armies have fallen at my feet and you dare mention that word?!"
"What's left of he who was once whole fears the full power that the jewel offers. That part of him wishes to preserve what is left of the previous life and that is what stops you from realizing true power. You must forget the past, forget your regret, and forget . . .her."
Kimaryu's world began to spin around him because deep down, he knew this demon spoke the truth. He saw Kagome's face again and then he saw her face. Her silver hair glistened in the light. Her sky blue eyes racked his soul with pain and he was again brought to his knees. The wounds inflicted upon him by Sesshomaru had reappeared.
"How?!", He screamed, "How do I forget?!"
"Zenaku and his troops were ambushed in the east by the Panther King and his soldiers.", Myoga said.
"But I thought the Panther King's new base was in the west. What the heck was it doing all the way out there?", Inquired Inuyasha.
"He must have known that your father would follow the fake lead. He realized that he could weaken the enemy by obliterating half his forces and chose to fight your uncle. When Zenaku arrived, he and his forces were completely overwhelmed. Four hundred soldiers when in. One came out."
"Kimaryu.", Inuyasha finished.
"He suffered a terrible blow that day. He lost his father and friends to the war . . . and his wife to be."
"What?"
"She was a beautiful woman and an even stronger demon sorceress. Her powers were amazing but unfortunately she would never have the chance to hone them. Lady Sinoriko would meet her end at the hands of the Panther Lord. When your father found him he was so overtaken be grief and anger that he left the clan and renounced all ties with your father."
Inuyasha sat back in shock. So much had happened that he didn't know about.
"What happened next?", He asked.
"The war raged on for many years until your father was finally able to come face to face with the demon lord and deliver the final blow. Not long after this, Kimaryu returned. Yet something was different about, darker. There was a great void left by what he had lost. His heart had been devoured by darkness. . ." Myoga paused yet again.
"What is it?", Inuyasha asked, "What happened?"
"He attacked the castle . . ."
"Tell me how!", Kimaryu screamed as the scars from his past reappeared. "How do I erase this pain?!"
The leviathan lowered its head as Kanna dismounted, and landed softly on the ground. She stood over Kimaryu, an eerie light shining in her cold eyes. Something almost resembling sympathy. She placed a ghostly pale hand on his shoulder as he continued to quiver.
"How do I forget?" He asked again.
Kanna knelt down until she was within an inch of his face and whispered in his ear, "Kagome."
Kimaryu looked into her eyes in confusion.
Kanna whispered, "She has the power to take away your pain. She must be made to know your suffering. When her heart has been consumed by despair, you will have true power."
"How?"-"The wall of memories. . ."
Immediately his pain stopped and his wounds vanished. He stood using the Tetsusaiga and looked around.
"She's gone."
The demon towering over him seemed to be awaiting his orders.
"I understand.", He said.
He placed Tetsusaiga back under his belt and started back towards the trees.
"If you see the half-demon and his friends . . .kill them."
"He murdered his own brethren?"
"Yes.", Myoga said, "Luckily, your father arrived in time to stop him before he could go any further."
Inuyasha leaped from the branch and descended back to the ground.
"What are you doing, my lord?"
"I'm going to get Miroku and the others. We've rested long enough!",Inuyasha roared, "We've got to stop him!"
Ch.12 Unspoken Alliance, Battle on the Lake- Upon learning Kimaryu's true intentions from Myoga, Inuyasha and the others set out to rescue Rin and Kagome. On their way, they must face a new and powerful youkai. Also, an old nemesis makes his presence known. To receive true power a sacrifice is needed.