Author's Note:
Sorry, didnt have time to proof-read, so sorry for mistakes, and i think I spelt the sword's damn name wrong all the way through but feh! XD Hope ya like the chappie anyways - The next chapter will be the last.
Enjoy and review pwease ^.^
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Haunting Eyes
Twenty
The cold darkness billowed around him, causing silver hair and the furs draped over his shoulders to sway slightly, as did his footsteps, as that cold, unwelcoming dark closed in on him, and he strode towards it. He gave a cautionary sniff of the freezing air, looking this way, then the other, though could not decipher which way to go. The scents here were disturbed, he did not know what he was even looking for within them – since he hadn't had the pleasure of meeting the nameless revolutionary leader before, but he knew they were here. He could smell the blood on the walls. His own blood wept from his wounds and he winced. He didn't have much time left; he'd have to move onwards, and quickly.
Clawed fingers sought the Sou'unga from his waist, and the sword glowed with an ethereal, dangerous beauty in the dark. I'll be your eyes tonight, 'Master', it whispered in his ear. The Dog Lord smirked, the voice almost sounded pleasant tonight, not like its usual sarcastic, blood-lusting tone. You merely seek blood, he responded to it, knowing the blade could hear him, even if he didn't speak aloud. As you wish…Sire…I will show you where to go…
Guided by the light of the sword he had carried for centuries, Inu-no-Taishou found a spiralling staircase, and, resting his free-hand on the cold, iron banister, he ascended. He winced with every step. Soon, this needed to be over with soon. Let me take the pain, My Lord, the sword whispered in haunting hushed tones. Inu-no-Taishou shook his head. If he gave in and opened that gate…if he allowed Sou'unga in, and allowed it to share his pain and power, he'd be consumed by it. No.
You do not trust me, Sire?
Have you done anything to warrant that trust?
Touché…
He recalled the times Sou'unga had whispered in others' ears. By mistake at one point an adolescent Sesshomaru took it in hand, and near-enough destroyed him in the process. He would never forget the way Sou'unga tried to tear him apart when he'd tried to tear the sword out of Sesshomaru's grasp. After nearly losing his son that day, so too did he lose all faith in this sword. Which is why I have not put you to use in over 200 years…
Indeed, replied Sou'unga as they reached the landing, the Demon lord looking around under the light of the sword as to which way to go. Since the battle with Lord Takemaru…defending your brood, My Lord…You thought you were going to die then as well…
If I die, I will take you with me, he reminded the sword of an old promise, he would not be so foolish as to leave it in the world of greedy, contemptuous men. Do not get any ideas of betrayal, with my fang was you forged, and by my hand will you fall into darkness if you deceive me once more. The sword was silent, and he realised it understood, and so he pressed on.
Eventually his path was interrupted by great doors, closed, and he stared up at them with golden, suspicious eyes. All this way with no interruptions? The Sou'unga hissed. Inu-no-Taishou agreed with what he was saying – for once.
Something is wrong?
What will you do? The Demon Lord pondered the sword's question for a moment, eyes never leaving the doors. Thoughtfully he ran clawed fingers down the wood, and he gathered himself in the dark just then, readying himself for whatever lay beyond the door. Such has your life always been, Sou'unga whispered, neither sarcastic nor cynical. Always looking to the next door, ready for what lies behind, and always prevailing… Though you do not expect to survive, do you, Sire? Inu-no-Taishou did not answer, as he pressed his weight to the doors, and pushed. They swung open with a foreboding creak, and he winced as the all-but blinding light struck his eyes.
Unlike the rest of the forsaken castle, this room was bright and lustrous. Paved with marble and carved stone decorated what he could see was evidently a throne hall. His eyes scanned the wide expanse of the room, and he found I empty, all except for three, cloaked figures at the end of the room, two either side of the one upon the throne.
"So you have come, Lord Inu-no-Taishou," the words ushered past the middle demon's voice, whose whispers ricocheted off the walls, bombarding the Lord's ears with the all-but silent sound. Such was the hoarse, foreboding whisper that he could not determine whether it belonged to a woman or a man. And again, the scents in the room were…disturbed; he could not discern who any of them were, if indeed, he knew them at all.
Their faces hidden, Inu-no-Taishou watched them closely, discerning his plan of attack, and how to kill the middle demon without it's bodyguards killing him first. "I sent my entire army to meet your sons on the frontline," the voice sounded again; "I wanted to meet you alone."
A man, Sou'unga whispered inside his mind, this person is a man.
You are sure? Inu-no-Taishou questioned, and when the answer was confirmed for him, he stared intensely at the cloaked figure, as if trying to stare straight through the hood and discover the wearer's identity.
"Show yourself," he ordered, his voice carrying through the hall in a harsh echo. "What coward hides behind a mask and two others?" He could sense the smirk riding on his enemy's lips.
"The same 'coward' that had your mate killed, and your castle attacked," the indecipherable voice responded, "the very same person who has ordered your sons to be slaughtered on the battlefield." At this Inu-no-Taishou merely smirked.
"There is no demon that could kill them when they are together, that threat will not work with me, little fool." A clear sneer came clearly across in the next words that escaped the creatures' lips.
"We shall see how much your overconfidence costs you – 'My Lord'." At the sarcasm in that voice, Sou'unga almost seemed to swing itself menacingly. Now, it barked at the Demon lord, do it now!
"Enough," Inu-no-Taishou said at last, "of this idle gossip." He brought Sou'unga upwards, holding still for that moment, as he stared at the three before him, waiting, waiting…
Suddenly he leapt forwards, silver hair swept around him as he shot towards the three at the head of the room. The figure on the right moved in his path, and he collided with them. Sou'unga seemed to cry out in bliss at taking its first life in so long, as it sliced through its enemy. Blood ran down the reflective surface as Inu-no-Taishou drew the sword back, not stopping to watch the demon crumple to the floor. He dove forwards before the other guard could get in his way, and thrust the sword in the middle demon's chest. A strangled hoarse cry erupted into the air, and the Demon lord smirked as he drew back, watching the revolutionary leader struggled to draw his last breath, before he moved no more.
Long, clawed fingers clenched around the hilt of Sou'unga, turning with a satisfied, triumphant smile, to face the very still guard that was standing to the side, watching him. Not to his surprise, the demon did not advance or attack him. Perhaps now that the revolutionary leader is dead, there is no reason to find us an enemy? Sou'unga suggested, though Inu-no-Taishou silently agreed, he was not willing to take his eyes of them, just in case.
"I did not come here to kill you," he said carefully, moving backwards. "I intend to leave without your death occurring, but if you attack, I will be forced to bring it about." Only the mouth of the person was visible when he was this close, and the mouth upturned into a sinister smirk. Something is wrong, he thought, his grip on Sou'unga tightening.
"Lord Inu-no-Taishou, I knew you for a sentimental creature who bears love for unworthy creatures far below our on stature and position in the world," this voice was smooth, and dulcet, almost like… "However, I never took you for a fool, before."
Golden eyes widened, as a long, slender hand shot out of the cloak before he could blink, sword in hand, and brought the blade down towards him. All he could do was flinch, the Sou'unga seeming to scream in the indignity of it all as did another voice. The Demon lord opened his eyes at the sound of that ear-splitting scream, one he knew all too well, though he hoped…he begged it not to be true.
Moving backwards swiftly, Inu-no-Taishou turned to see Kagome running towards him, bow in hand. And his eyes widened at her presence. What is she doing here? Inu-no-Taishou didn't answer, could only stare dumbly at the cloaked figure before him, who was clutching its hand, the flesh turning fuchsia around the wound the purification arrow had created. With a sneer, the creature yanked the arrow out, and tossed it aside carelessly, rounding on Inu-no-Taishou once more. "Do you really think that the 'Leader of the Revolutionaries' would really be so foolish as to leave themselves out in the open for the Great Dog-demon's attack? Of course not, you have forgotten who you are dealing with…" That smooth voice assaulted his mind once more, and he felt Kagome tense beside him, holding a second arrow to her bow, the metal tip emitting an otherworldly pink light that made his skin hum.
"You are the Revolutionary leader?" Inu-no-Taishou asked, casting a glance to the two dead substitutes on the floor. Though he already knew the answer.
Those cruel lips turned to smirk at him once more.
"Indeed, My Lord – I am the leader of the Revolutionaries – your enemy…"
"I do not even know who you are!" He insisted angry as well as frustrated now, he just couldn't understand why someone he'd never even met would hate him and his family so much. Master, no… Inu-no-Taishou regarded the sword for a moment as it whispered in his ear once more, confused. That's-
"But you do know me, My Lord," the voice of the hooded demon came again, still smooth and indecipherable, and yet he recognised it…somehow. With those final words still lapping at the Demon lord's senses, long, delicate hands came out to seize the hood slowly. They paused there a moment, prolonging the mystery, until the hands tugged the dark material back slightly off the demon's head, and revealing pale flesh and platinum hair swept back out of the demon's face. Haunting eyes stared at him, bearing a past he knew all to well. Framed with a ghostly beautiful face he knew all too well.
"It cannot be," Inu-no-Taishou all-but whispered, though his voice bore significant doubt. Kagome just looked confused, though never lowered her arrow. "You-" But he cut off at those rose-petal lips curved into a foreboding smirk. The crescent moon on the demon's forehead seemed to capture his attention, as if daring it to be true. But he knew, somehow that it was – even Sou'unga recognized the truth in what stood before them, as their enemy.
Kagome gnawed her lip, never tearing her eyes away from her opponent, though speaking to Inu-no-Taishou. "But this is-" She ceased her speech as Inu-no-Taishou nodded, his breathing heavier than before. It was a moment before he spoke, but when he did, it was weighted, and almost confused.
"Sesshomaru's mother…" Kagome's eyes widened as she took in the woman's countenance once more, there was no mistaking the likeness. If ever there was a female version of Sesshomaru, this was it – his mother, who was supposed to be dead. And she was the Revolutionary leader.
"Come now, may I not be introduced your Half-breed's whore by my own name? The name I was given, and the name you once spoke so gently and warmly when you asked for my hand?" The cold playfulness in her voice sent a shiver down the priestess' spine, but this was nothing to the uneasiness that crept up inside her as she watched Inu-no-Taishou simply stare at this woman, confused, as if he still couldn't believe it.
When Inu-no-Taishou seemed like he wouldn't respond, the demoness looked at Kagome once more, shedding the dark cloak, allowing it to tumble to the earth and expose a pearl-white kimono, and shoulders dressed in fur similar to Sesshomaru and Inu-no-Taishou's. "Sachinatsu," she said at last with false courteousness.
"But you…you were supposed to have-"
"-Died, Lord Inu-no-Taishou?" she finished for him, still smirking, "Do not be ridiculous, then again, you were too concerned with your mortal wench to care whether I was dead or not."
"But I…I buried you!" he replied, a hint of desperation in his words. "You were dead!" The woman shook her head playfully.
"No, not exactly…" she paused, staring into her ex-mate's eyes. "You did not know, did you? That I knew what you were doing… With that human princess…using her as your whore! Going to her and giving her half-breed whelps when I was your mate and could have given you pureblood pups! Did you hate your mate and son that much?!"
The question rang in their ears, and it was for the first time in a long while, that Inu-no-Taishou lowered his head slightly, silver hair hanging into his eyes and disguising the look within them from Sachinatsu. "I have never hated either of you," he replied quietly, though honestly. "I loved you both-"
"But you were in love with her!!!" The woman screamed indignantly, raising her voice for the first time. "You committed adultery with a human! DO have ANY idea how HUMILIATING that is?! A human, and my mate-"
"-I admit, the way I went about it was wrong, but you must understand," Inu-no-Taishou began, "I cared for you, and I had no desire to hurt you in that way." The woman sneered at him, completely ignoring Kagome's presence by now.
"And discovering the man I loved in the arms of a woman who was so intolerably less important than I-"
"-Silence you rlies!" Inu-no-Taishou hissed, finally raising his eyes to her, fury now brewing within them. "Do no play the 'wronged woman' with me! I did love you – unconquerably so, and I loved our son, but you were poison from the very beginning. You flattered me and offered feigned claims of love and fidelity when in reality you were always nothing more than a treacherous bitch." Kagome looked at the Demon lord, then at Sachinatsu, as if deciding who she felt more sympathy for, but she didn't understand what had happened, how could she, when they were talking in riddles?
Sachinatsu stared at him in mock horror. "I was always a faithful mate to-"
"-Do not lie!" Inu-no-Taishou barked. "Your attempts to try and sway my opinions regarding half-breeds and humans were countless… And when they failed you would send your private guards to slaughter a mortal village in the night – slay innocent travellers and disguise the attacks as a work of the enemy," he paused, staring into haunting pools of gold, no longer confused or unsure. "When all the time it was you who was the enemy…"
Kagome lowered her bow slightly, still staring at her mate's father with bewilderment. It would seem he was to blame in all of this, but to be tied to a woman who betrayed you at every turn, who killed innocent people and deceived him – and then blamed it all on him, how heavy a burden must that have been to bear for the centuries before she'd evidently faked her own death?
"When I asked for your hand, I believed you to be the most gentle and kindest of creatures, but you turned out to be like everybody else, and you betrayed me, just like everybody else…" Sachinatsu smirked at Inu-no-Taishou's words, though said nothing in return. "And when our son was born, I thought you would change, that I would see more of the woman you once were – but as I watched him grow, I watched you steal him away from everything good and just that I tried to teach him, and taint him with your own poisonous thoughts. And I realised then, that the woman I once saw you as was nothing more than an illusion, as was the person I fell in love with – this," he said, gesturing to her person, "you were never the woman I loved."
"Poison?" Lady Sachinatsu repeated, "Just? He was my son and even if you were a simpering mortal-loving fool I would not have my son stoop as low as to lick the boots of humans!" It was on Inu-no-Taishou's lips that the smirk appeared this time.
"But he was better than that – better than your sardonic views – he loves his half-demon brother, and is mated to a human girl. The heir to the Western lands and your grandchild will be a half-demon just like you despise." The demoness sneered again at his words.
"Then these accusations of 'poison' and 'treachery' are your reasons for why you stole Sesshomaru away at every moment? Why I was barely able to see him?"
"He made the decisions by himself – I cannot steal something that did not wish to be stolen-"
"-You took him to see HER – To see your WHORE! You introduced MY pup to that human BITCH! Did you think he would not tell me?" Inu-no-Taishou did not answer right away, but when he did, it was once again weighed down by guilt.
"I should have realised he would have followed me to Izayoi eventually, and when he did what would have had me say? He was not pup – he was a man, and I told him the truth, of course – that my love for you had been a fleeting fantasy of my heart, and that Izayoi was the woman I now – and shall ever love…" He was looking at her closely again, even though the space between them was great. "But what I do not understand was why you faked your own death." At this, that same foreboding grin reappeared on the Lady's lips.
"You met Princess Izayoi when she was – what? Fourteen? Wasn't that the human number for her age at the time?" Inu-no-Taishou nodded slightly, evidently the more civil of the two of them, even though the demoness practically spat venom at the utterance of Izayoi's name. "And it was seven years after that, that you gave her that foul half-blooded child and mated with her – and that you refused to give her up – even my attempts to seduce you back to my bed instead of her were useless… But it was five years after you met her, that I devised a plot for what I was to do, with you…"
"So you faked your own death and watched from the shadows as this…masked revolutionary leader for over two-hundred years?" Kagome asked, causing Sachinatsu to turn her head to look at her with utmost disgust. "And all that time you were still so…so angry at him? You were doing all these horrible things to him – to your own son after all these years-"
"-SILENCE!" The Demoness all-but screamed, "What would a mortal creature such as yourself know of my pain-"
"-I know that it must have been hard for the man you loved to go to another woman but-"
"-Do not kid yourself, Kagome," Inu-no-Taishou interrupted her softly; "She was in love with my title and my lands, not me – never me."
"Nevertheless," The Priestess continued, "How could you expect anyone to love someone who killed innocent people – who betrayed you and held such contempt for everything? Lord Inu-no-Taishou may have been wrong to sneak around behind you back, but despite everything, he cared about you – and despite everything, you are the one that is wrong."
Sachinatsu was livid. Her fingers clenched, grating into her palms and causing blood to shiver to the ground. "You have no idea – and as for my son, he was a filthy blood-traitor if ever there was one. When I revealed myself to him what did he do but run straight back to his father to tell him what I'd seen – he went back to fight with his father against me. He forsook my kindness and the right to call me 'Mother' when he loved and coddled that half-demon brat, and played 'step-son' to that mangy human-"
"ENOUGH!" Inu-no-Taishou's movements and voice was so abrupt that it made Kagome jump back in surprise. He surged forwards, clawed fingers seizing Sachinatsu's throat, causing the woman to slam back hard into the wall behind, under his mercy. "Enough of this childish name-calling – Lady Izayoi was more than you will ever be."
"You say that, but I am not the one who died like a whimpering beast-"
"STOP IT!" The pressure on her windpipe grew, and she winced as she struggled for breath, though still with that sick grin crossing her features.
Master – Master NO! "Goodnight," Sachinatsu began, her soft words overpowering Sou'unga's in Inu-no-Taishou's mind, "'Dearest'…" Within that short moment, Kagome's eyes widened, her throat tearing under the force of her scream, and Inu-no-Taishou's grip on Sachinatsu's throat receded, as he crumpled to the floor, his own sword in his stomach. The Demoness stared down at him with some kind or morbid satisfaction, seizing the hilt of the blade once more, and pulling it out.
"So this is the sword that was forged to protect Izayoi?" she asked herself aloud, glancing at the silver blade as she swung it this way, then that, admiring its precision and speed. "Sou'unga –bow down to your new mistress…"
"HEY!" Sachinatsu raised her eyes slowly, and carelessly gazed upon the obsidian-haired-girl that stood now far off, an arrow pulled tight back against her bow. "I'll kill you." That was all Kagome could think of at the time, but now, as a human priestess put against a powerful demoness, she found her words a little foolish, and lacking in the confidence to make it sound convincing. As predicted, Sachinatsu merely smirked, advancing towards her with Sou'unga in hand.
"I think not, little human, it is you who will be the one to fall."
Kagome felt her heart hammer. Her fingers released their hold to the arrow and it shot forwards. The Demoness dodged it, and Kagome's eyes widened as Sou'unga descended upon her. She rolled forwards, beneath the blow and ran towards the head of the room. Her breath stung her lungs as she snatched up the sword that had fallen from one of the dead guards' hands, and spun to face Sachinatsu. Too late. Sou'unga swung at her, biting into her side, and causing her to seize it with a tortured cry, as she dropped to her knees, waiting for the end to come.
"Look at me," Sachinatsu demanded venomously, and the Priestess raised her head, tears stinging her eyes as she gazed up at her soon-to-be murderer. "So like Izayoi," she goaded, "another dead girl to add to list of forgotten names… YOU-" She punctuated the last word by slicing a thin gash across Kagome's cheek, admiring her work as the wound wept blood. But Kagome dared not raise her hand to stop it. "-You will go to neither heaven nor hell, instead you shall wander between worlds – forever damned, just as that little fool Izayoi will, and all mortal whores that mix beyond their species." Kagome flinched, her body clenching, awaiting the blow, the sword came down upon her, it seemed to be happening much slower than it actually was, and then, it stopped.
Sachinatsu stared at the sword in confusion, as her arm held fast, not moving in either direction, mere inches from cleaving Kagome's skull in two. "W-What? What is this trickery?" The Demoness asked, almost panicked. I serve, only one master – Sachinatsu. The voice rang loud and clear throughout the room, and Kagome and the woman looked swiftly to Lord Inu-no-Taishou, who scrambled to his feet with no small amount of difficulty. Did you seriously think that a sword forged from The Great Lord Inu-no-Taishou's fang could ever be used to take his life? Impossible.
"But this is – this is-" She struggled for words, enraged, staring with horror at the demon who pressed his shoulder against the wall in order to keep himself standing. He smirked hazily at her through the blood and pain. "-This is-"
Kagome looked quickly from Inu-no-Taishou to Sachinatsu, and at that moment she seized an arrow from the quiver on her back, and thrust it upward, into the cold heart of the Demoness before her. "This…is-"
"-Over," Kagome finished for her, as the eerie fuchsia aura spread from the tip of the arrow, tainting pale skin with the otherworldly glow. Sachinatsu screamed. Sou'unga dropped from her hand, landing to the floor with a resounding clang. It was then, that it was Sachinatsu, who fell to her knees before a human woman, and it was that human woman that was the last thing she saw, before she toppled sideways, eyes fading to black, and she saw no more.
A long while passed the two in the hall then, staring at the dead, purified corpse of the once Great Demoness Sachinatsu. It took Kagome a while o work up the courage to speak, and when she did, it was not what she'd meant to say. "You were in love with her weren't you? Before Lady Izayoi, I mean." Inu-no-Taishou nodded sadly.
"She was my everything and anything, a beautiful dream brought to life, but then," he stumbled over to her, the Priestess leaping to her feet to steady him when he nearly collapsed once more. "Like all dreams," he continued, "we must at some time, awaken from them, and I fear, the part of Sachinatsu I fell for, was nothing more than a dream…" Kagome stared at him, watching as he pulled away from her assistance and stooped to seize Sou'unga, and slide it back to its place at his side as he relied on her shoulder to steady him once more.
"Didn't Sesshomaru tell you it was his mother that was the Revolutionary leader?" Kagome asked, again, knowing this wasn't really what she wanted to ask him. And again Inu-no-Taishou just shook his head.
"My Eldest son is strange at times, but above everything, he holds to his sense of honour, and faithfulness. He may have hated his mother for what she attempted to do to a brother he now loves more than almost anything in the world, but, despite that, he could not betray his own blood, to do that would betray his very soul – So when he discovered his mother, he came straight to me, and informed me of everything but who the Revolutionary leader was." At the confused look from Kagome, Inu-no-Taishou smiled. "As I said, my Eldest son is strange at times."
With a final glance back, the two came to the silent conclusion that they had spent quite enough time around death, and the Demon lord allowed the Priestess to support him as they made their way out of the castle. Whilst descending the stairs (with great difficulty) Kagome gnawed her lip, and once again, her next words were not what she'd wanted to ask. "Lord Inu-no-Taishou? How do you think Sesshomaru will react when he finds out I was the one who…killed his mother?" That calming and at the same time unnerving gaze regarded her closely once more and she distracted herself from it by helping him off the stairs and onto the landing.
"If I know Sesshomaru, he will not react at all," he said, again with a smile, leaning a little more onto their shoulder as he felt his limbs start to go numb from blood loss, and she (not knowing his plight) helped him out into the cool night air.
Dusk had just fallen, and even through his wounded state, Inu-no-Taishou still nearly jumped when he saw two large, crimson eyes staring at him in the night. "This is Kilala," she said with a smile, "She'll take us back to the camp."
"Indeed," Inu-no-Taishou replied, "I imagine your pups are crying for you by now. How was it exactly that you regained such power after their birth?" A small sigh uttered from Kagome at this, and he climbed on first, offering her a hand up onto Kilala's back afterwards.
"It's a long story…"
It was only when they were far away from the forsaken castle, and descending slowly from the clear night skies upon their camp somewhere far below, that Kagome managed to find herself, and force out what she had been meaning to ask since Sachinatsu's death. "Is it…is it true what she said…about Lady Izayoi? Is she really…can she go to neither heaven nor hell?" At this Inu-no-Taishou regarded her closely once more, not for the first time confused at her concerns. The night air whipped silver and obsidian hair around their faces as Kilala descended, the camp in sight, little pinpricks of light from the fires offering some disembodying warmth. Though still Inu-no-Taishou did not answer her question.
TBC
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Meanings:
Sachinatsu -- I made it up myself since officially she doesnt have a name - even in the manga. I created it from 'Sa' (Blossom), 'Chi' (Thousand) and 'natsu' (summer). So if ya want to combine them all to make a meaning, I'm saying it means 'the blossoms of a thousand summers' - if ya wanna borrow this name, please ask me ^_^
A/N: DUM DUM DUM DUM! Was anybody expecting that? XD Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that it has not kept you waiting too anxiously...much ^_^ Anyways, next chapter is gonna be the last chapter, so I hope you are prepared for a few tears....from me *sniffle* Jesus I'm gonna miss you all *sobs into laptop* But never mind, since I have enjoyed working on this, and hearing from you wonderful readers, and I will be updating the sequel to my story 'Smoke' soon, so if you like Sess and Inu getting along and the Inuyasha and Kagome pairing, please check that one out, so that when I update the sequel you can read that too *Chu* R&R PLEASE ^_^
Shigure-san
x chuu x
