Chapter 13 The Key
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"
Inuyasha sliced through the cloud of Saimyosho that swarmed around him. But for each one he cut down, hundreds more flew in and drove their venomous stingers through him. They were after the jewel shard. He dove underwater to escape the horde but turned back to see them coming in after him.
Damn.
"They're going in after him!" Shippo cried.
Miroku grasped his wrist in pain, still not recovered from the poison himself.
"I can't use the Wind Tunnel."
Sango stepped up beside him.
"I'll handle it. Kilala!"
The nekomata demon flew to her side and they took to the air over the lake.
Inuyasha cut through the Saimyosho that clung to his kimono as hundreds more kept pouring under the water. The more he killed, the more that surrounded him until the water ran black with blood.
Just then, the Hiraikotsu came spinning past, slicing through the insects barring his path. Kilala came gliding past and Sango grasped Inuyasha's hand. They broke through the surface of the water, cutting down Naraku's insects as they rose.
Sesshomaru looked down on his brother in annoyance.
"Get out of the way."
He descended to the water's surface , shielding Sango and Inuyasha from the insects.
"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha said in surprise.
"We've wasted enough time here!"
A surge of demonic power exploded from Sesshomaru's hand and engulfed the swarm of Saimyosho in its entirety, reducing them to dust in his wake. A shower of burning insects rained down on the lake around them.
Sesshomaru turned to his left to see a single fluttering Saimyosho flying from the trees and rushed after it.
"Where the hell are you going?" Inuyasha called out.
Sesshomaru turned back as he flew through the air.
"The insect isn't just retreating. Where it's heading Naraku or Kimaryu is bound to be there!"
Koga took off behind Sesshomaru without a second thought, Ginta and Hakkaku picking up the slack. Inuyasha placed the jewel shard within the fold off his kimono and leaped to the ground.
"Wait for me, Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken cried out as he and Ah-Un flew behind them.
Inuyasha turned to Sango, Miroku, and Shippo.
"This is it. You guys ready?"
Sango smiled.
"You even have to ask?"
"We're behind you all the way!" Shippo said.
Inuyasha nodded and they headed off into the distance.
Kagome awoke to the cold damp ground beneath her. Every inch of her body ached. She took in her surroundings and realized that she was in a cave of some sort. A strange glow emanated from the emptiness behind, and as she rose to her feet she realized she wasn't alone. As she turned around a hand reached out from the darkness to choke off her scream.
"You're finally awake", came Kimaryu's icy tone, " It's about time. You have something I need."
"What are you talking about?", Kagome gasped as she wrestled his monstrous grip, " What have you done with Rin?"
"Sesshomaru's urchin? She made the mistake of wondering off into the cave and was pulled into the void. Such is the fate of those who trespass without a key."
"You monster. You don't deserve to live."
Kimaryu tightened his hold and smiled.
"Naraku seems to think differently."
Kagome's eyes widened in shock.
"Naraku?"
"Yes. He's the one who freed me from my seal in the first place. He even told me that you have power to save me."
"What are you talking about, Naraku has been running from Inuyasha and Sesshomaru ever since his barrier was broken. He . . ." -"He has given me the key to my ultimate ascension!" Kimaryu said waving his hand into the darkness.
Suddenly the black cave was lit by green streams of light running the length of the ceiling and floor. The streams ran all the way the back of the cave, revealing a large door with a sphere in the center.
"What is this?"
"The door to the wall of memories", Kimaryu said as he lifted her off her feet and approached it, "You're going to open it for me."
Sesshomaru and Koga leaped over the last stretch of forest and landed at the edge of a cliff face the valley. Directly beneath them lay the ruins of the what appeared to be a temple.
"He's here!"
Inuyasha and the others arrive just minutes after.
Sesshomaru looked back at the others as he descended.
"Jaken, stay here. The rest of you . . .stay out of my way."
Koga scoffed as he followed.
"Ginta. Hakkaku. Don't follow me!"
"What?!", they yelled.
Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and Kilala rushed down the face of the cliff.
Shippo yelled down after them, "Don't worry I'll protect these guys while you save Kagome and Rin!"
Kimaryu threw Kagome to ground in front of the door.
"Get up and open it!"
"There's no way I'm helping you , no matter how much you threaten me!"
"Fool! It's not just your life in the balance. As we stand here, the child's soul is being drained."
"What?",Kagome asked, here determination wavering.
"This cave feeds on the souls of humans and demons alike. She was pulled in because she wondered in up to this point and is not a descendent of the inuyoukai tribe. On the other side of this door she is being drained of her soul. If she hasn't been devoured already. So you see, you have no choice if you wish to save her."
Kagome couldn't believe what she was hearing, had Rin truly been pulled in? She couldn't risk it.
"How do I open it?"
Kimaryu's lips twisted into a wicked grin.
"Place your hand on the sphere in the center of the door."
Just then a Saimyosho flew into the cave and landed on Kimaryu's hand.
"What?!" Kimaryu roared.
He turned to Kagome in fury as he crushed the insect in his fingers.
"Open it!!" he roared.
She place her hand on the sphere and it began to glow red.
"What's happening?"
She couldn't remove her hand.
"Hurry up!"
Her hand passed through the glowing sphere and she twisted it. The cave was illuminated as the door dissolved to reveal a portal of light.
"Yes, it's just behind here."
"Kimaryu!"
He turned to see Sesshomaru and Koga rushing up behind him.
"You fools! You are too late!"
He drew Tokijin and unleashed a blast of lighting forcing them back. Just then Inuyasha and the others arrived.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called out.
Before she could even turn around, Kimaryu pushed her into the light and leaped in behind her.
"No!"
Inuyasha and Koga tried to follow but were hurled back by a barrier.
"Damn it!"
Sesshomaru sniffed the air.
"This barrier wreaks with the souls of the dead."
He drew Tensaiga from his obi and flew forward.
"Stand back!"
He cut through the spirit barrier and a powerful demonic force came pouring out.
"This is the entrance to the wall!", Myoga shouted, "Only Sesshomaru and master Inuyasha are able to enter! Kimaryu may have already succeeded in tapping into the temple's power. Be on your guard!"
"You better bring her back in one peace, mutt!", Koga roared.
"Be careful, Inuyasha!", said Sango
"Count on it!"
With that, the brothers stepped into the light.