CHAPTER XII
MEETING THE TRUTH
Special thank you to byakugan-master93 and Kaihaku No Iroke for reviewing the last chapter. Thank you all for your advice and again sorry for the quick review but I really couldn't wait to write this chapter. So more details with the groups problem and its solutions. Few more hints to the actually kinda predictable but powerful twist coming up in the story. Review please.
The sky was finally shifting into a obsidian black. Tiny pin points of light had forced their way into the horizon, and a thin crescent moon was rising to cast a pale glow onto palace. Kagome felt a great deal of excitement even though she and her group had been traveling for most of the day. 'Now Healo will finally tell us what's going on,' she thought with determination as she turned slightly to her right to find the said demon sitting beside her.
They were in a small room that had large windows through which the miko looked out over the ocean. Healo was of course sitting on her right, Miroku was sitting opposite of the demon lord, Sango was sitting across from Kagome with a hand suspiciously tense, Inuyasha sat on the end beside Healo, and Sesshomaru sat at the other end. The miko had left Shippo with Rin and Sulam since Healo had assured her that they would be fine together. Silence continued to reign for a moment longer before another figure entered the room.
Kagome was not afraid but she was slightly alarmed at his appearance. She had of course seen several of the demons in the city with purple hair but his sudden entrance had been a shock. When she noticed the snow flake on his brow she calmed and thought ', He must be related to Healo.' Her suspicion was proven correct by the demons' statement ", Forgive me. There was I small incident in the marketplace that had to be dealt with." Without another word the demon walked quickly to the seat beside Kagome.
Sesshomaru wasted no time before starting the meeting. He swept a cold gaze over everyone before intoning ", You have all been invited here at the insistence of my brother Lord Healo." The demon paused here for a moment as if daring anyone to interrupt his statement with their impatience. Indeed, Kagome glanced nervously at Inuyasha but she found that he still appeared uncomfortable about everything that had happened. She knew that some of what his brother had told him had hurt him badly, but he seemed to responding well so far.
Her reverie was interrupted by Sesshomaru's cold tone. "I have agreed to this in order to preserve the safety of my lands. However, that does not mean that I will tolerate any foolish behavior," here he gave a cold stare to Inuyasha who surprisingly only smirked in response before he continued. "Remember that though you reside in the Western Lands you are here only at his insistence. Healo, you may make your plea." Kagome was confused as she thought ', Plea? What is he on trial or something?'
She glanced at her friend to find that he merely smiled and began to speak in a clear voice. "My friends we all have witnessed first hand the destructive power of Naraku. Some of us should be reminded that at one time or another we actually helped to further his designs." There was a tense pause here as Healo stared stonily at his one time master whose golden orbs did not hesitate, but Kagome thought that for a moment she saw something like a flame burning there. However, if he was struggling with anger he was able to control himself because he said nothing.
Healo's tone became less hostile as he continued ", However, despite what we may have done in the past I hope that we are all committed to seeing this half-demons destruction. He certainly has condemned himself. Thousands were killed in the North and thousands more fled from their homes. We all know that he has coveted after the shards of the sacred jewel in order to obtain the reformed jewel, and he wishes to use that power for his own designs." He paused here and caught the eyes of all as he said with determination ", He must be brought to justice for this."
Kagome and everyone else in the room nodded. They all had their own reasons for wanting Naraku gone, but the young miko felt that she knew the reasoning behind all of their convictions. She thought sadly ', For Miroku it's a matter of life or death. Sango hopes to save her brother,' she contemplated their distressing issues as she watched them out of the corner of her eyes.
'Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and even Healo are in it for revenge,' Kagome thought with a tinge of anger as she glanced at the two brothers. She shook her head slowly as she pondered ', So similar. But what do I hope to get from Naraku's death.' A strong voice answered her ", You want to find justice for the thousands of innocents who have suffered under his malice just as I do." The miko turned suddenly almost as if expecting to see someone standing beside her.
However, she dismissed her distressing thoughts as Healo began to speak again. "I know all about your brave attempts to thwart the half-demon. I also know that he responded by hiding himself from you. However, as I told Lady Kagome earlier the question is not 'where is he?' but 'how do we get to him?' He was interrupted by Inuyasha who said in irritation ", You mean to tell me that you know where that snake is hiding."
Healo laughed and Magus smiled but no one else found any humor in the comment. The demon lord sighed as he answered ", Assuredly, I have known since long before you reawakened that Naraku has made Brilith, my castle in the North, his abode. However," he continued with a raised hand when Inuyasha went to stand ", there are at least two potentially deadly problems. First there is the fact of Naraku's formidable military might. He has recruited many demons, and humans, who have made the Northern Lands into a formidable fortress. Also, we believe that he has a secret alliance with the Eastern Lands. Bianen is the most ambitious demon, besides Naraku himself, whom I have ever met. He stands to gain a great deal from aiding Naraku.
The Lord of the North was interrupted again but this time by Sango who asked ", How great an army are we talking about here?" Healo glanced at Magus and Sesshomaru who both nodded in assent so he responded ", If Naraku does have an understanding with Bianen we could face an army of over half a million demons and humans. Lord Sesshomaru and I together could muster at least three hundred thousand, but our troops should be better trained. However, Naraku would have the advantage of the defensive as well as sheer numbers," he finished and looked at all of them waiting for a response.
Miroku closed his eyes and said reflectively ", A difficult obstacle indeed." Sango nodded and added ", There's too much that would be risked in such a war especially since we would be on the offensive." However, Kagome was surprised when Inuyasha asked ", So where are the Regent and your father-in-law going to stand on the issue?" There was a quiet disbelief for a moment since the hanyou had actually brought up a good point. Healo shifted slightly before answering ", Lord Nelit has only about seventy-thousand troops; plus he has no heir except me. So he will not risk war unless we begin to become victorious." He sat back into his chair and said quietly ", However, the imperial regent may be another matter."
Healo looked expectedly to Magus who cleared his voice and explained ", The regent and I have been in contact for several weeks. He is alarmed by the amount of influence Bianen has over the Imperial Lands. In fact, he has asked both of my brothers to meet him in Maleon, the capital, to discuss an appropriate course of action." The demon took a breath but was interrupted by Sesshomaru ", I have agreed to do so, but I believe that Healo wishes to address the second obstacle to our victory." The demon lord nodded in thanks and replied ", Yes. I hope that you all do not take this the wrong way, but none of us, even together, are strong enough to defeat Naraku himself."
The reaction was swift and sure as stony silence pervaded the room. However, Healo ignored this and pressed on in an even stronger voice ", However, some of us know of the sword Yamikira." Kagome was confused and was glad to see that most of the others were as well but she was surprised when Inuyasha asked ", Isn't that just some silly legend?" Sesshomaru actually gave a cold laugh and said ", I told you that he would learn nothing from education. The sword was rumored to be just a rumor. However, the Emperor Maleus himself wore that sword into battle when he crushed an invasion by foreigners."
Healo interrupted hoping to break up the brewing storm. "Yes brother you are correct. This sword is said to have the power to pierce through any material be it physical or spiritual." Miroku's eyes opened as he said plainly ", A sword of that power would be useful in destroying Naraku." Kagome felt that she should add ", Yes, but it also sounds like it could easily be misused," she said with earnestness. She had already seen enough good people corrupted by power.
The demon lord's blue gaze was understanding when he said ", Lady Kagome makes a very valid point especially considering the other power of the sword. Whenever a human or demon is killed with the sword it will absorb some of the dark energy in that beings soul." Kagome was intrigued and so she asked ", It purifies their souls?" Healo hesitated for a moment before answering ", Not completely but in a sense yes. However, the sword does not just release this evil energy, as mikos do, but absorbs it. Eventually if too many beings are killed in too short a time; the sword will gain an influence over the wielder."
The demon slayer leaned forward and asked ", It possesses them?" Magus answered this time in a quiet voice ", It breaks down its wielders inhibitions to their darkest desires, and eventually causes their death." Healo nodded in agreement and added ", It is rumored that if a person were strong enough the sword could absorb enough energy to unleash a horrible evil into the world." Inuyasha asked impatiently ", Oh ya? What could be worse than Naraku?"
Healo only shook his head and said ", I can not say brother. However, some of my sources suggest that Naraku is willing to do one of two things. He would prefer to gain the sacred jewel and use it for his own designs. However, he is also trying to find this sword in order to unleash this evil if his other plans fail." Kagome shivered at this information. 'I knew that what we were dealing with was evil but I didn't expect anything like this,' Kagome thought gloomily as she imagined the number of people that would probably suffer.
Inuyasha decided to break the contemplation that followed this revelation by asking ", So what's your plan?" Healo gave a small smile and answered ", In regards to the jewel shards; you are now safely within our territory. It will be a long time before Naraku is strong enough for him to come for you here." Kagome let out a soothing sigh ', Well, that takes away part of the pressure.' The demon lord pushed a strand of hair out of his face before continuing ", Concerning the sword; the first problem is finding the sword before Naraku or his satellites do. However, there is an extra complication. Only a direct heir of Emperor Maleus can wield it."
Sango asked hesitantly ", Doesn't that mean that Naraku will be unable to use it?" Healo nodded then answered ", In theory, but who knows if a descendant has survived? If one has survived Naraku could force them to wield the sword. Besides the fact that he is looking for the sword suggests that he knows that an heir is alive. We could destroy Naraku and bring stability back to the lands if we can find this person." Kagome nodded in understanding and asked ", So where do we start."
She waited for Healo to respond but she was surprised by who answered. Sesshomaru replied ", It is not far. Actually its in my own territory. We must travel to the Tower of the Moon. It is supposed to be a secret area for Imperial records, but my father revealed its location ot me before his death." Healo nodded and responded ", Yes that is the best place to start. Hopefully, we will find both Yamikira and an heir to the Empire."
Yay!!! Another chapter. Ok now you know about what the group will have to do. Still I'm going to add another more personal dimension to their problems very soon. Thanks for those who reviewed. Let me know what you think. Review please!