Chapter 12. Unspoken Alliance, Battle on the Lake
" . . . . . .Yeah. So, anyway, that's what happened." Inuyasha said.
"Wow."
Miroku and the others sat back and contemplated the information they had just received. Shippo hopped onto Miroku's shoulder.
"So, let me get this straight. Kimaryu is your cousin? Your own flesh and blood stole the Tetsusaiga and tried to kill you?"
"Would you stop repeating the obvious? He turned against his own clan and went after my dad. So his attacking me and Sesshomaru shouldn't surprise you!"
"Yes." Miroku agreed, "It makes sense now why he hates you two so much."
Koga stood up in frustration.
"This little history lesson's been entertaining and all, but what about Kagome? We can't just sit here talking while she's . . ."-"Shut up, wolf!" Inuyasha retorted, "No one has forgotten about her! Especially not me!"
"It's your fault she's gone, mutt!" Roared Koga.
"My fault?! Where the hell were you?! Oh, that's right, face done in the damn dirt!"
"Why you fu. . .!"-They were cut off as Miroku was forced to intervene.
"Both of you just calm down. This is exactly why we're in this predicament!" He said.
Inuyasha and Koga exchanged glares and returned to their spots across the room.
"I have a plan any ways."
"It won't help us if you and Koga continue to fight like this. You two have to come to a mutual agreement." Said Miroku.
"And what exactly might that be?"
"You two must agree to work together. If you hope to have any chance of getting back your sword and liberating Rin and Kagome, cooperation is needed from you both."
Before Inuyasha had to decline, Koga was already shooting down the proposal.
"What the hell are you on, monk? You really think I'd ally myself with a mutt?!"-"It's for Kagome!"Shippo shouted, "Or does nothing get through that thick skull of yours?"
Everyone looked at the little kitsune in surprise.
"And if you two don't quit acting like babies, then I'll go save her myself.!" He added.
"He's right!"Ginta and Hakkaku said, only to be stared down by Koga.
"Yes, stop being so childish and work together for once!" Sango chimed in.
Inuyasha and Koga turned away from each other, neither willing to admit the truth.
"Inuyasha!"
"Koga!"
Finally, they both caved in.
"All right! Get off my back!" They said in unison.
"I'll agree to this for now, mutt! The moment Kagome's out of harm's way, you're on your own!"-"Fine with me ya mangy stinking"-"Okay!" Miroku said, cutting them off yet again. "Now that we've finally gotten that settled, Inuyasha, lets hear your plan."
Sesshomaru stood facing the wind as the calm breeze steadily began to pick up.
"It's faint,"he said to himself, "but Kimaryu's aura seems to be fading. Almost like it was during our battle when I wounded him with Tensaiga. Could he be . . ."
Sesshomaru turned back from the edge of the cliff.
"Ah-Un!"
The two headed dragon flew to him and he mounted his stead.
"So Kimaryu is hiding in some old run down temple?" Koga asked.
"Not just any temple." Replied Myoga, jumping up until he was eye level with the wolf demon, "It is the hidden fortress of old that holds all the secrets of the great dog demon clan. Simply put it is the temple of forgotten memories."
"Okay . . .?"Koga said, trying to wrap his brain around it.
"Look", Inuyasha said, "It used to be a place were the leader of the clan used to go and train and meditate and all that crap. Right, Myoga?"
"Um, yes. It was created many eons ago by the first ruler of the dog demon clan. It is believed that when he died the vast knowledge and demonic power he'd acquired was infused into the very walls themselves."
"So the temple was alive?" Shippo asked.
"Not in so many words." Myoga replied, "It was meant to be a haven for the dog demon lords that followed. It was where they went to master their powers and emerge as even stronger demons. As you can probably imagine, this place was both a great asset to the dog demon tribe and a great danger. So, to insure that infighting never occurred between disagreeing factions, the location was only ever known by one ruler at a time. The secret was then passed on to the ruler's successor at his time of death. Lord Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father was the last ruler to know
its location."
"Why didn't he pass it on to Sesshomaru?" Miroku inquired.
Myoga laughed.
"You really think my master would have passed on such a power to someone as arrogant as Sesshomaru? No, but he had other reasons for not revealing it. The same reason he refused to tap into the temple's true power. It required . . .a sacrifice."
Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Myoga, you didn't tell me this!"
"I told you my memory is hazy!", Myoga protested.
"The mutt's right!", Koga shouted, "What kinda sacrifice did this demon temple need?"
"It required the blood of a priestess."
"What?!"
Inuyasha nearly squeezed the life out of his vassal.
"What part of 'Kimaryu has Kagome' don't you understand?!"
"I-If you'd stop crushing me I'm sure I can explain!"
"You sure as hell better!"
"The priestess isn't so much sacrificed as she is used as a sort of link or medium to the temples power. The problem is that after three days the soul of that priestess fades completely and is absorbed into the temple as well. After that point, the temple's power is active for thousand years before another sacrifice is needed. Not only that, but being that Kimaryu was not the next successor, he will be unable to tap into the temple's power. If he tries to venture into it's core, he will be destroyed."
"What about Kagome?"
"I'm unsure. However, if Kimaryu had attempted to used it a massive amount of demonic energy would have been released. It would have been felt for miles, my lord."
"So there's still a chance?" Inuyasha asked.
"Yes, if we can locate the temple in time."
Just as everyone rose to their feet the unmistakable sound of buzzing filled the air.
The sky was blackened by the wings of thousands of Saimyosho as they swarmed over the tiny hut.
Ah-Un had to land to avoiding being covered by the cloud of yellow and black hell wasps.
Sesshomaru looked on as Inuyasha and the others came out of the hut.
"T-Those are Naraku's insects.", Ginta said.
Miroku nodded. "Definitely a trap."
"Yeah, well it ain't exactly like I can afford to pass it up!" Inuyasha said, "One thing's for certain, though! They all seem to be heading in the direction of Kimaryu's aura. So either way you look at it, it's coming down to the wire. If you don't think you're up to it, stay here!"
Inuyasha looked back at the others to see if they would back down. Their faces showed that they were ready to follow him no matter what lay ahead.
"Than, let's move!"
Jaken leaped onto to Ah-Un's tale as he and his master ascended into the air.
"Ha! Lord Sesshomaru will be finished with him by the time you fools arrive anyway!" Jaken yelled.
Kilala leaped forth from Sango's arms and transformed into her true self, issuing forth a mighty roar. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo climbed atop the nekomata demon as she too flew through the air.
"Well mutt- oh, I mean Inuyasha," Koga said with a toothy grin, "guess we're on foot! Think ya can keep up?"
"Bite me, wolf."
Immediately, the two took off in a burst of speed, leaving a trail of wind and dust in their wake.
"Wait!" Ginta cried as he and his counterpart choked on their leaders smokey trail. "Why do they always do this to us?!"
"Now we can finally have our revenge on that fool, Kimaryu, my lord!" Jaken said, trying hopelessly to make conversation, "Oh, and we can rescue Rin!"
As Ah-Un glided over a lake Sesshomaru suddenly pulled at the leash, signaling the dragon to stop.
"What is it my lord? Why have we stopped?"
Sesshomaru's glare was fixed on the lake.
"Lord Sesshomaru?"
A strange roaring sound began to echo through the air.
"A trap."
The lake surface was broken as an enormous sea serpent rose up and opened it's jaws.
"What is that!?" Jaken screamed.
Sesshomaru and Ah-Un separated just as the demon's powerful jaws snapped shut.
Ah-Un broke free from their muzzle and unleashed a blast of lightning while Sesshomaru attacked with his whip of light. The demon proved to be a formidable foe as it ducked beneath both attacks and disappeared beneath the water. It rose again to try and take Ah-Un and Jaken.
"Staff off Two Heads!"
The flames had no affect as the demon continued to rise straight up.
"I didn't work!" Jaken screamed.
Just as the demon was about to devoure them, Sango's battle cry rang out.
"Hiraikotsu!"
The spinning weapon flew passed Ah-Un and slammed the demon in the center of it's head, knocking it back into the water.
Sango, Miroku, and Shippo flew by atop Kilala and caught the Hiraikotsu.
"What is that thing?"
"From the looks of it, one of Naraku's demons." Said Miroku.
"Sesshomaru!"
He turned to see Inuyasha and Koga approaching.
"Finally decided to show up?"
"Shut up." Inuyasha said as he landed next to his brother, " The hell is that thing?"
"Apparently, one of Naraku's minions. Nothing but low class demon trash."
"What happened to all the Saimyosho?"
Sesshomaru flew through the air.
"Hey!"
"I haven't time for an interrogation, brother!"
As flew over the lake, the demon rose out again and unleashed a blast energy. Sesshomaru was caught off guard as the attack rushed straight at him.
"Wind Tunnel!"
The attack was diverted away from Sesshomaru and pulled in the void in Miroku's hand. He then aimed the attack at the demon. Before the wind tunnel could get hold of it however, a swarm of Saimyosho flew in the way from nearby trees and were sucked in.
"Ahh!" Miroku cried as he quickly closed the Wind Tunnel off.
"Miroku!" Sango shouted.
The leviathan's spike tail came jutting out of the water to impale Kilala and her precious passengers when Inuyasha leaped in to intercept.
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"
Inuyasha's claws collided with the demon's hide, but was repelled as razor sharp spikes skewered his hand.
Kilala caught him in her fangs and carried him back to shore.
"Damn," he said as he examined his bleeding hand, "Those scales of his are poison. Miroku, how you doing'?"
"Still here." He replied, "I didn't get too many, but enough to disable my hand for a while."
"I knew Naraku was involved somehow." Inuyasha said as they landed.
"Not only that." Said Sango, "I think that demon has a jewel shard."
"Great."
Sesshomaru flew down at the demon and clawed at it, careful to avoid getting caught on any razor scales. The demon moved its neck like a whip and knocked Sesshomaru back. He caught himself before he hit the water and flew back at the demon, landing a solid punch under its chin and sending it reeling.
"Dammit!" Koga roared, "I hate just standing here!"
"Don't get your fur in a bunch!" Said Inuyasha as he removed the scales from his hand, "I've got an idea."
"Love to hear it dog breath."
"Can the jewels in those skinny legs of yours carry you across the water?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Just go along with it." Inuyasha replied. "Sesshomaru!"
His brother turned to him in annoyance from his place in the sky.
"Follow my lead!"
"What?"
The demon rose out of the water once more in a rage.
"Go!"
Koga tore across the water, at top speed diverting the demon's attention while Inuyasha flew through the air.
"Eat this! Blades of Blood!"
Crimson energy blades flew off his claws and went slicing through the demon's neck.
"Now, Sesshomaru!"
"Poison Claw!"
Sesshomaru moved with lightning speed and burned through the demon's head, splitting it straight down the middle and killing it. As pieces of purple flesh rained down around them Inuyasha's attention was caught by the glow of jewel shard. He swam to where it floated and grasped it.
"We did it!"
His victory was cut short when Sango and the others cried out.
"Look out!"
The horde of Saimyosho that had been hiding in the forest around tem suddenly rushed in from all directions. Thousands all aiming for Inuyasha. All aiming for the sacred jewel shard.
Ch.13 The Key-A horde of Saimyosho closes in on the group's newly found jewel shard. Kagome awakens in the ruins of the temple to find Kimaryu preparing to 'seize his destiny'.You have the power to free me from this pain.