Hey, everybody!!! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update this, and I'm not going to make any excuses for it.
Newayz... I'm sorry to inform you that I'm going to be taking a bit of a vacation from this story. No, I am not going to abandon it. I have no intentions of never coming back. However, I do have another story in my head trying desperately to come out, so I'm going to devote all my time to that one for awhile. I can't tell you whether or not I will ever post it online, but for right now, it is priority.
Now, that that is taken care of, enjoy this installment and let me know what you think.
Chapter 22
Naraku walked through the trees, deep in thought. Ever since his rebirth, his thoughts all seemed to center on one person. And for once, it wasn't that insufferable hanyou, Inuyasha. No, it was the enigma known as Matsudaira. Just what were his motivations? Why did he help him regain his body? These were just some of the questions surrounding this mysterious youkai.
He had a sick obsession with the hanyou and his family, but if Matsudaira wanted them destroyed, why not just do it himself? Why bring back someone who had been taken out by them before? It made no sense, unless... "He's using me for his own means." Naraku spoke aloud, as if speaking it made it true.
But he seems so loyal. Whatever had been asked of him, had been done to perfection. Was that his cover? To make him seem inconspicuous? From what Naraku had found out from his informants, Matsudaira was an underling for the English tai-youkai. Which just seemed to confirm the theory. But why?
A slight breeze brought an intriguing scent to the hanyou, causing him to stop and decipher whether this was some new threat to him or a possible new ally.Hmmm.... Not human, but not youkai either. And certainly not hanyou. This new scent has certainly peaked my interest. He stopped to await this new entity as the scent got stronger.
"You are the one called Naraku, are you not?" a voice as smooth as velvet asked. Naraku turned toward the voice coming face to face with a tall, broad shouldered man. He was dressed all in black, his shoulder length hair and fathomless eyes reflected the color, giving him an air of danger. He looked down at Naraku, making the hanyou feel like the prey for this predator.
Naraku nodded carefully, not wanting to find out what it was like to be on the receiving end of his ire. And maybe, just maybe, if he played his cards right, he would find an ally in this man.
"And this is your domain?" he asked, a slight edge to his voice. Naraku could feel the slight compulsion his voice held, but could do nothing to break it.
"Yes." he replied warily. Just what was this stranger getting at?
"Then perhaps, you can tell me, why the hell you've let that hanyou bitch survive this long?" Fire shone fiercely in the man's eyes. Naraku took an involuntary step back at the hatred rolling off the man in waves.
"Why do you have such a vested interest in her? What wrong has she committed?" Naraku asked, a calculating look on his face.
"Do you defend her?" the man snarled. He bared his teeth at the hanyou, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. The sight made Naraku reconsider his earlier assessment of the man's origins.
"Believe me, when I say that I do not defend anyone who travels with Inuyasha and his ilk." Naraku said fiercely, daring the man to refute his words.
"I'm here on behalf of my people, the Carpathians. According to our laws, she is to be hunted and killed for what she has done." he said simply.
"And what exactly has she done, if I may be so bold?" Naraku asked in a somewhat bored voice. He was not interested in this man's problems at all, but the compulsion in the words would not let him walk away.
"She has decimated our race's chances of survival, by killing our women. Without our women, we are as good as gone. They are the light to our darkness. Without them, we would be extinct."
"So, you expect meto rid you of this threat to your people? I already have someone who expects me to do their dirty work. Go find someone else." Naraku scoffed. It was completely laughable that this inferior being was expecting him, Naraku, to avenge his people.
"No, but she never leaves the safety of her family. I've heard report that you intend to dispose of the brothers." The man looked to Naraku for confirmation. "All I ask is that you help me get them apart from each other so we can destroy them."
"And how do you propose we separate the bitch from her brothers?" Naraku was truly interested now. He had been contemplating how to get rid of Inuyasha and his family with the new, and unknown to him, member. Now, he might have someone to take care of this little hitch in his plans.
"We must attack simultaneously. By dong so, we will confuse and scatter them." the man replied, a simple tone in his voice, as one speaking to a child. "Once it registers in their feeble minds who is attacking them, they will split into factions. It is then, that we will kill them."
"I see your point. It would be easy to destroy them by working together and yet separately. Now, we just need to decide upon when we should attack and where."
"We would need to attack at night as I am at my weakest during the day." the man replied, his eyes clearly saying that Naraku would do well to not use that info against him. "As for where they've set up camp on the south side of a crater. It seems to be permanent as they haven't moved from that spot."
"Very well, let us attack them this night so, we may remove these threats to our lives quickly." Naraku commanded, moving in the direction of the crater.
"That is not possible at this time."
"What!" Naraku growled, spinning to face the man once more.
"The night is growing older as we speak, And I am not able to travel while the sun is up." the man replied calmly, turning toward the east. The first rays of morning were starting to lighten the sky. "I shall meet you in two nights time, on the southwestern edge of the crater." The man turned towards the tree line and began walking back the way he had come.
"Wait." The man stopped in mid stride but did not turn. "Will you not favor me with your name? For you know mine, but I do not know yours."
"Ville." Naraku watched him disappear in the tree line before turning back to his thoughts. But now he had two people to consider. The newest, Ville the Carpathian, seemed straight forward in his dislike and plans, but Matsudaira still posed an unknown equation.
"Did he take the bait?"
"Yes. I had no problems getting him to agree to the attack." Inuai gave a sigh of relief. Their whole plan had hinged on that one conversation.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night. I apologize for not reaching you sooner, but the sun prevented my travel."
"Do not worry. We've planned for every possibility." Inuai commented.
"I must take my leave now, lest Naraku suspects me."
"Of course. Thank you, my friend." Inuai watched as the Carpathian walked toward the western edge of the crater. She knew he would soon alter his course to fool Naraku.
"When do they plan to attack?" came Sesshomaru's cool voice.
"Tomorrow night from the southwest." Inuai replied evenly. "Do you... do you think we're ready for this?"
"Do not worry, little one." Sesshomaru said softly, pulling the young hanyou to him. "We are prepared. We have already won once, we can do it again."
"But what if something goes wrong?"
"Then we shall deal with it. Now, come on, we must tell the others."
Naraku paced amongst the trees near the crater. He made sure to stay back from the edge, hoping to keep his location hidden.
"The time to attack is almost upon us."
Naraku's head sapped up at the voice. He had not sensed anyone approach his location. "Ville, I did not hear you."
"It is my nature to be silent as the death I bring." A feral gleam lit in the Carpathian's eyes caused Naraku to shudder inwardly. "The noise made at our first meeting was for your benefit only."
"Are you sure of the campsite? I have not seen any signs of a fire or movement." Naraku bit out.
"They douse the fire every night, for fear of discovery. I assure you, they are there." Ville said confidently.
"And why have you not attacked them before now? With all your information, surely you could've taken out the bitch."
"It's not as easy as you make it out to be." Ville said simply. It's like talking to a child! He growled mentally. "The only one who sleeps is the human, the rest keep watch. Now, if you are completely done with these inane questions, it is time to attack."
Ville and Naraku crept quietly to the center of the crater. They planned to call them out and destroy them if the very place Naraku had been destroyed. A bit of karma to bite them in the ass. Unfortunately for Naraku, karma didn't seem to be on his side.
As they looked to the south, there stood the inu family, standing in readiness, on the rim of the crater. The demon lord with Tokijin and Tenseiga on his hip. The hanyou, Inuyasha, already brandishing Tessaiga. The miko, with her simple bow and arrows. The twin, standing in a defensive pose, ready to fight for those she loves. Naraku's eyes widened marginally as he spied his one time minion amongst their ranks.
"So, this is the path you choose, Kagura?" he shouted. "You choose to die with these vermin?"
"No, Naraku," Kagura yelled back with barely contained rage. "We will not be dieing here today. That honor belongs solely to you!"
"We shall see." Naraku sneered.
"Inuai!" The demons turned at the new voice. Inuai inwardly smirked, knowing what was to come. "For your crimes against the Carpathian race, you shall pay!"
"Is that so?" she commented dryly. "Well, come on! Make me pay, Ville!"
Inuai ran to intercept the Carpathian, her sword hidden amongst the trees. Naraku smirked, victory would soon be his, he could taste it. He turned back to his opponents, the snarling from the group cause his lips to twitch into a menacing smile. "It seems as though it's down to us now. Perhaps you'd like to surrender now to save you the humiliation of losing."
"Not on your life, Naraku!" Inuyasha growled, gripping Tessaiga tighter in his hands. Sesshomaru nodded slightly, never once taking his cold gaze from the enemy.
The demons watched as a streak of red came blasting out of the trees, straight toward Naraku. Come on, come on! Kagome thought nervously. Just as the blur was about to connect, Naraku reached out and stepped to the side, holding a struggling Shippo by the neck.
"Did you honestly believe that little trick would work?" Naraku snarled as he tightened his hold on Shippo's neck.
"Yeah, cuz it did!"
"What?"
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha bellowed out unleashing the Wind Scar. Naraku moved to the side, holding Shippo in the direct path of the Wind Scar.
"Shippo! No!" Kagome screamed, running toward the kitsune, only to be held back by Inuyasha.
"It's too late, Kagome. He's gone." Inuyasha said softly, trying to comfort his mate.
"Watch those punches, Ville!" Inuai called out.
"Sorry, just trying to make it look real." Ville commented as he sent another punch toward the hanyou. "So, how's Mistoffelees doing?"
"He's good. He thinks my little Siri is his mate though." Inuai quickly ducked a well aimed combo.
"Shippo! No!" Inuai looked towards her family.
"That's the signal!" she yelled, running to grab So' unga. "Let's go!"
Naraku laughed. The kitsune was dead and at the hands of his 'father'. How much better could it get? "Will you not surrender now? Save your miko the pain of watching her family die, give up now." he said, gesturing between the charred remains in his hand and a sobbing Kagome.
"The only one to die here today, will be you! Kaze no Kizu!" The Wind Scar raced across the ground toward Naraku.
"Do you really think your little parlor tricks are going to hurt me?" Naraku scoffed. "I've seen everything you've got, and it'll mean nothing." He sent his tentacles toward Kagura and Kagome. He knew their mates would try to protect them at all costs,even if that meant sacrificing themselves. And just like he predicted, Inuyasha jumped if front of Kagome to protect her, his body pelted with the tentacles.
"Inuyasha!"
"Now, sis." Inuyasha wheezed out. The miasma was already starting to affect him.
"Dragon Twister!" Inuai yelled, pointing the sword at Naraku to direct it's path. The twister ripped up the ground, creating a path of destruction so wide that there was no way to dodge it.
"Damn you! I shall exact my revenge!" Naraku screamed as the twister tore up his body.
"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that." Inuai muttered before looking over to where her family was gathered around Inuyasha. "Ville!" she called running over.
"He needs help, now!" Kagome cried through the tears coursing down her face. She was smoothing Inuyasha's hair, trying to comfort her mate and herself any way she could. Sesshomaru looked on as stoic as ever, but you could see the pain radiated from the depths of his eyes. He may have projected to the world that he despised his brother, but for those that truly knew the tai-youkai, it was a different story. He loved his brother more than he would ever be able to say.
"Kagome, can you purify the miasma?" Inuai asked, urgency evident in her voice.
"I I don't know."
"Well, try! We need to get the poison out his system before Ville can try to heal him!" Inuai shouted at her sister in law. She looked back at the Carpathian, who merely nodded, letting Inuai know she was correct.
"Okay." Kagome intoned, positioning herself to purify the miasma for her mate's body.
"What do you mean, he'll tryto heal him?" Sesshomaru asked seriously.
Inuai looked up at her brother's voice. "The damage could be too great for Ville to be able to heal all the injuries on his own. He may need help." She looked to the Carpathian in question to see what he thought. Ville walked over to the hanyou and took in all the wounds. It didn't look good in his opinion, and he knew it.
"I'll need to contact Gregori. He's the best healer of our race."
"Do it."
"Inuai! Your side!" Kagura called out, noticing the blood dripping down Inuai's leg. Inuai looked down to see the deep cut in her side.
"Don't worry, it's not that bad. Inuyasha needs more help than I do." she said, wincing slightly in pain.
"Okay, I think the miasma's out now." Kagome said tiredly. It had taken almost twenty minutes to rid the hanyou of the poison to his system. Kagura gently pulled the young woman back from her mate to give Ville space to work and a more comfortable place to sit and watch over him.
"I can only repair the smaller injuries for now. We have to get him to my homeland where Gregori is waiting for us." Ville said before sitting down next to Inuyasha and beginning to chant.
"Kagura, can you take Inuyasha and Ville to the Carpathian Mountains on one of your feathers?" Inuai asked quietly. It was apparent to everyone that the gash in her side was starting to affect her.
"I think so." Kagura replied from her spot next to Kagome.
"Sesshomaru, I need you to help me get back to Mirkwood."
"Are you sure you can make the jump?" Sesshomaru asked, concern coloring his voice.
"Yeah. I'll be fine. We need to worry more about Inuyasha." Inuai said softly, looking at her brother. His breaths were becoming shorter as they spoke and she feared that he would not make it to the Carpathian village. "Hang on, Inuyasha. You have to survive for your mate." she whispered as they watched Kagura and Ville lift Inuyasha onto the feather and speed away to the west.
Blanket disclaimer for A Hanyou's Life:
I don't own anything you recognize. If I did, my daughter would be spoiled rotten.
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