Chapter Fourteen:
Yusuke and Keiko were the last two to reach the gateway for the Makai. The sidewalk in this rural section just outside of the city bustled with people. He and Keiko bobbed and weaved through the crowds. Yusuke kept stealing glances at Keiko. He couldn't help himself. It had been years since he'd last seen her. Yet, here she was, at his side in his time of need.
They passed through an illusionary wall created by Koenma to keep regular humans from stumbling through the dimensions. The last thing Makai needed was for some person walking their dog to find themselves lost in the middle of the youkai homeworld.
Before Hiei was able to go through the steps to open the gate, it opened on its own from the other side. Kouga, the Wolf King youkai, stepped into the human world. He glanced around to either side before settling his bright, blue eyes on them. "King Sesshoumaru is waiting for you. He's found them," Kouga explained.
Yusuke gaped at him for a few seconds, before he was able to recover his composure. "How did he find them?" Yusuke asked. "We couldn't find any traces of them in the human world."
"King Sesshoumaru is an inu-youkai and they are known for their superior tracking capabilities," Kouga scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "It's only natural that he'd be the one to find them. And he has an army at his disposal. You are only a small group." He pivoted on the ball of his foot Now, keep up and follow me." He ran quickly back into the Makai, kicking up a whirlwind of debris behind him.
"Better hurry," Hiei advised before he took off after him.
Botan pulled her broom out and balanced upon it. She offered her hand to Keiko. "Might be hard to keep up otherwise," she explained. Keiko settled behind Botan and the two females rocketed after the speed demons.
Yukina smiled and then vanished in a sprinkle of ice crystals.
"I wish she'd learn how to teleport me with her," Kuwabara complained. He turned to Yusuke with a smirk. "Race?"
"Eat my dust," Yusuke challenged. Kuwabara might have been an impressive human spiritual specimen, but Yusuke was Raisen's descendant. The cloud Kouga stirred up in his wake left a visible trail that Yusuke was able to follow.
Yusuke and Kuwabara were the last two to reach Kouga's destination in Makai. Yusuke bent at the waist, braced his hands over his knees, and tried to catch his breath. He may have been the descendant of a very powerful demon, but he wasn't nearly as fast as Hiei.
A tall, regal, imposing figure stood alone near the edge of a canyon. His back faced them, but his long silver hair reminded Yusuke for a moment of Kurama's previous life form. Hiei, Kouga, Botan, Kieko, Yukina, and Shippo were gathered in the valley just below him.
"You're late," Sesshoumaru scolded. He turned to face them, his golden eyes narrowed in impatience. Over his shoulder was a huge sword with a blade dark as midnight with purple stars glittering on its surface. He faced the deep canyon once more and extended his sword over it. "They are below us."
Hiei ambled to the cliff edge and peered down. "All I see is a river of lava," he observed skeptically. He turned to Sesshoumaru. "What do you expect us to do?"
Sesshoumaru swung his sword with an extravagant flick his wrists and split a hole into reality. "With the power of the Meidou, I can create a portal between any dimension. I expect you to jump into this dimension and save my son," he answered in an irritation. "I thought you were the smart one," he said with an arched white eyebrow.
"I thought you were the one with an army at your disposal. Why do you need us?" Yusuke asked.
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed crimson. "I wasn't talking to you, half-breed," he snarled. He took a deep breath and the crimson in his eyes faded back to gold.
"You'll have to excuse King Sesshoumaru," Shippo apologized. He laid his hand upon Yusuke's shoulder gently. "He's understandably upset and old prejudices tend to rise up. He's really not a biggot. His younger brother was a hanyou. They worked past it — eventually."
"I don't care what he calls me," Yusuke argued. "I just want to get our friends."
Hiei glowered. "Well I care what he calls you." He stepped near the edge of the cliff alongside Sesshoumaru and peered into the starry rip in the dimension. "I'll go first," he declared jumping into the pathway.
Kouga leapt after him with Botan and Keiko trailing behind on the flying broom.
"We can't let them have all the fun," Shippo said with a grin. He grabbed hold of Yusuke and Kuwabara's arms and had the three of them jump in together.
They stood in what appeared to be a great desert. Yusuke shielded his eyes from the bright, glaring light from the sun. "Where are we?"
Sesshoumaru and Yukina materialized next him. "Where we need to be," Sesshoumaru answered. "Hiei, your sister tells me that Kagome's grandfather gave you something powerful."
"Hn," Hiei snorted. He reached into his front pocket and pulled out the cheap keyring. "Not sure what use this will be." He tossed it to the King of the Demon World.
Sesshoumaru caught the souvenir keyring with ease. He sniffed it and then sniffed the air. He gazed down at the sand dunes below them. "They are within the subterranean levels of this land." He cringed. "There appears to be others here." He turned to Shippo.
"I'll see if there's an illusion," Shippo offered. As a kitsune, he had superior skills when it came to creating and dispelling illusions. "Oh boy," he muttered. "Kai!"
The sand dunes cleared away and what appeared to be thousands of demons gathered in the area. The scent of fear rose up amongst the group of heroes.
"Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks," Shippo assured them. "Give me a little more time and I'll dispel this illusion too. There's only a few hundred."
"Rebels," Sesshoumaru growled.
"How do you know?" Yusuke asked. It reminded him of the tri-annual tournament he arranged in Makai to establish leadership. There seemed countless rowdy demons gathered.
"I recognize the ring leader," Sesshoumaru answered. "Spiteful demons that are angered that I do not allow them to visit the human world. Only those youkai that have proven to be tolerant of mankind and without ill will are allowed to cross over the borders."
"Ah hah! There we go!" Shippo exclaimed. He dispelled the last of the illusion and the numbers of enemies dwindled to the hundreds that Sesshoumaru had claimed. "Nine of us, seven-hundred of them. That shouldn't be too difficult."
Keiko took in a sharp intake of breath and Yusuke wrapped his arm around her shoulder. His former love had a big heart, but she wasn't any match for these creatures. "Stick with me," Yusuke whispered. She nodded quickly.
"I'll take the right," Kouga said. He rushed towards the crowd.
Hiei watched. "What does he mean that he'll take the right?"
"He's a bit arrogant," Shippo said. "I'll help him and we should have that third handled." Shippo took off after Kouga.
"Hn. I'll take the left them," Hiei said. He vanished before their eyes and reappeared in the midst of the crowd of angry demons. His black dragon was unleashed and he substantially reduced the numbers around him.
Yusuke opened his mouth to claim a section when Sesshoumaru turned towards him. "Stay here and protect the humans," he said to Yusuke. "Go help your brother," he ordered Yukina. "You too," he said to Botan.
"What about the hundreds of youkai standing around down there surrounding our friends?" Yusuke asked.
"I'll take care of them," Sesshoumaru growled. His face began to elongate into a snout, crouched on all fours, and transformed a gigantic dog demon.
Yusuke had seen a lot of youkai, but never one this big! He craned his head back and still couldn't properly see the top of Sesshoumaru. The large dog demon leapt into the middle of the melee and squished rebellious youkai with his gigantic paws, swept others out of the way with his tail, melted others with his poisonous claws, and ripped others apart with his massive jaws.
"I'm really glad he's on our side," Kuwabara said in awe.
"Me too," Yusuke agreed. He stared in disbelief as Kouga and Shippo had destroyed the right side of the battle field. Hiei, Yukina, and Botan did similar work on the left. And there was no one left standing in the center. "I can certainly understand why he's been the victor in the Demon World Tournament for so many years."
OoO
Snakes slithered along the ground. Byakuya laughed in manic glee as he continued to pour snakes from the gourd in his right hand. In his other hand, he held the raw jewel that continued to glow brighter as it stole more and more of Kurama and Kagome's essence.
The snakes' fangs dripped poison as they lunged at Kurama and Kagome. Kurama used his rose whip to lash at the creatures and they disintegrated into ash. For every one he destroyed, two more seemed to take their place. He could feel himself weakening in the endless battle.
"You must leave this one to me," Kurama whispered in Kagome's ear. "Let me fight him as long as I can, ascertain his weaknesses. You take over when I fall."
"I don't think so," Kagome protested. "He's attacking us both. I won't sacrifice you or anyone else." She stepped away from Kurama and held her hands in front of her gathering spiritual energy. She formed a fireball of holy energy and shot it towards Byakuya, only to shatter a mirror. "Another decoy," Kagome grunted in frustration.
"He's an illusionist," Kurama observed. He didn't tell Kagome that the illusion was so detailed that it fooled even his senses. As a fox-demon, illusion was one of his specialties.
"No, that was him," Kagome argued. She spun in a circle and looked around the room. "He moved away at the last moment, exchanging places with that mirror." Kagome focused on purifying the snakes slithering before her and dashed to Souta's side. She started to free him from his restraints, but Byakuya materialized right behind her.
Kagome tried to purify him, but her energy continued to weaken by the proximity to the shikon jewel.
Kurama created a whirlwind of deadly rose pedals to destroy the snakes and draw Byakuya away from Kagome. He pulled another seed out of his pouch. "Binding Fist of the Demonic Vine," he growled. His right forearm was encased with the a deadly sword and he thrust it into Byakuya's chest. The illusionist substituted another mirror in his stead and reappeared on the other side of the room huffing for breath.
Kagome took the opportunity to free Souta. "Together," she said. She and her younger brother stood shoulder to shoulder and sent a powerful purification ball of energy towards Byakuya, he evaded again, but wasn't able to escape entirely unscathed. The left side of his body was singed, his vest scorched.
Souta hurried to Shiori's side to free her, while Kurama rushed at Byakuya with his Binding Fist blade. The Illusionist began to bleed, crimson staining his dark blue vest before exploding into shards of mirror and reappearing on the opposite side of the room.
Kagome fell to one knee, her body felt heavy and weak as more and more of her life force was being drawn into the jewel.
A gash appeared in the wall behind Byakuya. The opening grew wider with the dark purple glimmer she remembered being associated with the Meidou so long ago. Out of the rip between dimensions, Sesshoumaru with his massive sword, laced with the power of the Meidou stepped through into their realm.
The great Inu-youkai sliced through Byakuya, ripping him in a half. "No one messes with my son," Sesshoumaru growled, flinging the blood off his sword as the illusionist demon lay dying. "And that fodder you left on the surface to feed the jewel — let's just say they're out of the equation."
Kurama didn't waste any more time before rushing to his mother's side. Souta had removed most of the restraints, but there were just a few more. He could smell the fear wafting off her at his proximity. As he released the final restraint, Shiori fell into his arms. She stared at him in shock.
"Mom, are you okay?" Kurama asked in concern. "It is me, Shuuichi. I know I look different, but I'll explain everything."
"I always knew there was something," Shiori whispered. She traced her finger along his fox-ears on the crown of his head. "You're not human. How?"
"I'm still your son. Shuuichi. When you were pregnant, the fox spirit Youko Kurama bonded with the soul of Shuuichi Minamino.
Shiori wrapped her arms around Kurama's waist and hugged him close. Her tears began to soak into the collar of his shirt. "I love you no matter what, Shuuichi."
"That's quite the entrance, Sesshoumaru," Kagome said. She crouched near Inuyasha's elder brother and picked up the Shikon no Tama that Byakuya had dropped. Without the demon to direct it, the jewel no longer tried to suck in her energies. Souta stood beside her. "Help me purify it?"
Souta nodded. Together they managed to purify the incomplete jewel. It shattered and fell to pink dust at their feet. Byakuya's remains also turned to dust.
"I had hoped there would be more for us to do here," Hiei grouched as he stepped through the portal. "The fight above ground wasn't very challenging." Botan and Yukina followed after him. "I see you're sporting the Youko look," he said to Kurama. "It definitely proves the family resemblance between you and your father."
Kurama kept one arm around his mother's shoulders and turned towards the one that claimed to be his father earlier. He could see similarities between his features and those of Sesshoumaru.
"Botan, you will see the humans back to their world," Sesshoumaru ordered. "Kouga has already taken the others back to my residence in the Western Lands."
"Of course," Botan said with a respectful bow. She started towards Kagome and Souta.
"I don't think so," Kagome protested. "I'd like to hear how you found us."
"That would be my fault," another voice called. Stepping through the portal was a red haired, green eyed fox demon that Kagome knew all too well.
"Shippo?"
"In the flesh and all grown up," Shippo admitted. He rushed towards Kagome and scooped her up into a warm embrace. "Kouga and I are the ones that set you and Kurama on that wild goose chase," he apologized. "We thought it might be interesting for the two of you to meet." He set her back on her feet.
Kagome cupped the side of Shippo's face and stared into his familiar emerald eyes. "Inuyasha is at peace," she said with a small smile. She could feel tears of relief wetting her eyes. "Somehow, Byakuya brought back to life former enemies and sometimes allies to fight against us." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Inuyasha was trapped within a world of madness in his demonic form. I helped him find his way back to sanity and then he moved on to the next world."
"Good," Sesshoumaru stated. He stared down at the dark stain on the ground that marked Byakuya's final stand. "I regret that I was only able to kill this monster once." He looked over the various humans and youkai gathered with wary golden eyes.
"Takaramono?" Shiori asked, stepping near to Shippo.
"No," Shippo said, tilting his chin curiously. "You knew Takaramono?"
Shiori swallowed thickly, her hand clenched in a fist into the front of her blouse. "He was my husband. Shuuichi's father."
Shippo's eyes widened. He ran his fingers through his long, red hair.
"Wait? What? Dad's name was Soujiro," Kurama protested. "What are you talking about, Mom?"
"His legal name was Soujiro Minamino, but he too had a nickname like this 'Kurama' that you use. His nickname was Takaramono," Shiori explained. She stared hard at Shippo. "No, I suppose you aren't him. But your eyes and hair…," she trailed off into a whisper. "You look so similar."
Shippo rubbed the back of his neck and turned to Sesshoumaru. "Well, this is about to get a little incestuous," he said.
"What do you mean?" Sesshoumaru asked with narrowed eyes.
"Takaramono is my hanyou son. He renounced everything youkai and chose to live amongst the humans in peace," Shippo answered. He grinned at Kurama. "Guess that makes you my grandson." He laughed nervously and reached for Kagome's hand. He held it a little too tight and Kagome knew that her longtime friend was extremely nervous. "Perhaps we could continue this conversation back at your residence, King Sesshoumaru," Shippo suggested. He turned to Kagome. "The others that helped in the search for you are already waiting there."
"Botan and Shippo, escort everyone, not just the humans, to my residence," Sesshoumaru ordered. "Except for Kurama and Kagome. I will see to them myself."
"Of course," Shippo agreed.
Shiori looked reticent to leave her son, but she recognized Hiei and finally agreed. Shippo was about to usher everyone out through the portal.
"I don't suppose we can change locations soon, this place isn't exactly full of happy memories," Kagome pointed out.
"Very well," Sesshoumaru agreed. He used his sword, Bakusaiga, to open another portal. "Come with me," he said. The three entered the portal and when they stepped into the next realm it was in the middle of a huge garden. The sky was dark and the moon was bright. "We're outside my palace in the Western Lands, though these days Shippo is the one managing the duties."
"You seem to mistakenly believe that you're my father," Kurama said. He closed his eyes to orient himself. "And that Shippo could be my grandfather. It seems all too bizarre." He gazed about the gardens. It was impressive with various blooming flowers and trees. It felt good to be outside of the oppressing atmosphere of Byakuya's maze. He felt Youko receding into the back of his mind. His hair was red once again and his ears were that of a normal human.
"Your mother was a very skillful kitsune. Did she never tell you about your father?" Sesshoumaru challenged. He brushed his fingers along the leaves of a large rose bush, taller than him. "She's the one that planted this garden three hundred years ago."
Kurama's mother never talked about his father. She was a silver fox as well, but her eyes were a light gray, not gold. And she did go out of her way to avoid the Western Lands and always warned him not to steal from the Taiyoukai there. "Why did she leave?" Kurama asked.
Sesshoumaru stared off into the distance. "After I lost my brother, I was an emotional void."
Kagome scoffed. "Sorry, but you were an emotional void way before then."
Sesshoumaru turned towards her, his golden eyes tinged with crimson. "I learned to feel a great deal during those years, priestess," he snapped. "And after Rin died and then with the loss of Inuyasha…," he trailed off. He turned to Kurama. "That's when I met your mother. We were happy for a short while, but then Inuyasha vanished and I admit that I lost interest."
"You had no idea she was with child," Kurama reasoned.
"I would never have let her go, had I realized that," Sesshoumaru agreed. "Which I imagine is why she left. She felt trapped here with all the duties and responsibilities of ruling the Western Lands." He plucked a rose off one of the bushes and handed it to Kagome. "It was Shippo that found out about Youko Kurama. By the time I had learned the truth, he'd been forced into the human world." He gestured towards Kurama. "And then bonded, apparently to Shippo's grandson, to become the person he is now."
"The question is, what do you plan to do now, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked. She sniffed the flower. It was the same type that Kurama used for his rose whip and his other rose attacks. She held the rose out to Kurama for him to inspect. She also thought about Sesshoumaru's skill using a whip. Their shared ability to stay calm in the middle of chaos and to clinically assess a situation. The similarities were uncanny.
Kurama wrapped his fingers around Kagome's wrist, drew her hand towards his nose, and sniffed. "These are indeed my mother's roses," he admitted. He took the rose from Kagome's hand and worked his powers to create a crown of flowers. He set it gently upon Kagome's head. He looked across at Sesshoumaru, but kept his hand secured around Kagome's wrist. "I believe you," he said to the demon lord.
Sesshoumaru nodded slightly. "Perhaps, you would come and visit." He flicked his eyes between the two of them. "Both of you."
"I can agree to that," Kagome said. "We were both part of Team Inuyasha. We couldn't have defeated Naraku back then or Byakuya now without your assistance." She pulled her hand out of Kurama's grasp and pressed her hands together to give Sesshoumaru a proper bow of respect. "I would be honored to visit you, Lord Sesshoumaru."
"Are you the King of Makai?" Kurama asked.
"Yes," Sesshoumaru confessed. "It is at times a wearisome title, but someone must keep the peace."
"I assume you have running water here," Kagome said.
"Of course," Sesshoumaru replied surprised by the shift in conversation. "Why do you ask such a thing?"
"Good, because it's been days and we both need to shower," Kagome answered. She turned to Kurama, wrapped her arm around his waist, and hugged him. "You may smell like roses, but you need a shower too."
Kurama smiled gratefully down at Kagome. Meeting his father from his former incarnation, saving his mother from being murdered by a psychopath, meeting his previously unknown grandfather, and having half of his essence sucked into a shikon no tama had been draining. A shower was a great idea.
"There are several bathrooms," Sesshoumaru answered. "Come, I'll show you inside. The others, no doubt, are anxiously awaiting your presence." He turned back to the rose bushes. "Go on ahead. It's straight up the path. Jaken will escort you to the baths."
"Jaken?" Kagome snorted in disbelief. "That toad is still around?"
"He is a very loyal servant," Sesshoumaru murmured.
Kagome released Kurama and tapped Sesshoumaru on the shoulder. He turned to her in confusion. Kagome threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close, grateful he no longer wore the spiked armor from the Feudal Era. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru, for everything."
Reluctantly, Sesshoumaru returned the hug. He laid his cheek on the crown of Kagome's dark hair and took a deep breath. He abruptly released her. "Ask Jaken for the baths."
Kagome burst into laughter. She took Kurama's hand and started for the palace's back door. "Apparently, I smelled pretty bad."
"Dogs do have a sensitive nose," Kurama reasoned.