Title: By the Light of Mars
Parings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru and Sango/Miroku
Chapter 17 of ?
Summary: After Naraku is killed Inuyasha's world is settling in to a normality He hadn't expected but when his brother appears bringing with him Rin and royal intrigues can Inuyasha prevail over the new obstacles in his life, including this strange affinity his brother seems to have for him?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise, anime, manga or characters. I play with them for fun not for profit.
The smell of fear hung pungent in the air as he neared the village. Smoke rose in the distance bringing with it the smell of burning flesh. Human flesh. He realized trying desperately not to wretch.
He slowed just inside the tree line staring out at the deserted village.
"It will be okay husband." Inuyasha nodded as he husband wrapped one strong arm around his shoulders.
"Yeah I know, ain't anyone that could take us on together." He griped the hilt of tessiga in agitation.
"I know you're out there hanyou!" A voice broke the silence of the ghost village.
Sesshomaru took one step in front of him, his impossibly soft hair brushing his face. "You will cease taunting This Sesshomaru's Mate."
Inuyasha growled and pushed past his brother throwing him a harsh glare. "You ain't gotta protect me." He muttered finally getting a good look at his opponent.
Long black hair blew in the breeze, imperial red robes marking him as a royal. He was tall, black markings peeked out from under his hairline and encircled his neck. Green eyes flashed in the light of the fire behind him.
He smiled baring long white pointed teeth. "I am so glad you could join the party hanyou. We were just cooking a feast." A peal of laughter from the assembled men brought Inuyasha's attention to the rather large crowd of demons and the man roasting over the fire.
He growled leaping forwards. "Bastards! What the hell have these people done to you?" He yelled unsheathing tessiga with a pulse of raw power.
The lesser demons stumbled under the enormity of the hanyou's power. His antagonist laughed.
"They exist, that is more than enough reason to destroy their pathetic lives. Humans are a stain on this world. An animal with just enough intelligence to believe it is above being hunted."
Inuyasha shook with rage. "Where is she?" He asked his rage building. "Where is Lady Kaede. What have you fuckers done with her?"
The other looked decidedly unimpressed. He snapped his fingers and motioned to one of his cowering underlings. "Bring the old woman."
Inuyasha balked as she was led in to the middle of town. Her robes were tattered, bruises littered her skin along with small oozing cuts.
"Let her go!" Again Inuyasha stepped forwards wanting nothing more than to run to his friend.
Sesshomaru's Hand halted his progress. "It is a trap husband, you know this." His voice shot like ice through Inuyasha's veins.
"Should we just leave her to them then?" He snapped slapping his brothers hand away fiercely.
"You will not save the old crone with force pet!" The strange demon's voice echoed. "Come to me and we can work out a deal. That is why I've come here little one. The news of your greatness, of your skills has come to me from across the land. Return to the east with me, be my slave, my bitch and I will allow these insects their lives!"
Inuyasha stared dumb struck at the obviously insane demon. "Why the hell would you want me?" He asked glaring at the other demon.
"It matters not why he wants you. It is null you are This Sesshomaru's." His brother growled shoving him behind him in one swift movement.
Miroku caught him before he could hit the ground from the rough treatment.
"You will release this woman and leave my lands Rokuyu! If you do not I will take this as an act of aggression and declare war on the east!"
Inuyasha fumed brushing the dirt from his hakama. Fucking bastard where did he get off pushing him around like that?
"You would do well not to interfere in this Lord Sesshomaru it will not end well for you." The obviously delusional demon spoke. Inuyasha couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"This guy is a fucking Lord?" He asked his brother, still eyeing the bastards that held Kaede.
"Unfortunately." His brother nodded his entire being vibrating with power.
Faster than Inuyasha could comprehend Sesshomaru had moved his whip lashing out and killing the guards holding Kaede while his furry appendage snatched her back to him.
Inuyasha caught her as she was thrust at him. "Have the women take her from this place, we will hold them off if they attempt to follow. Jukoto take twenty men and accompany them back to the castle with most haste we will follow." Inuyasha watched as their company scrambled to do as they were told. Sesshomaru's eyes never left their opponent.
There is something going on I'm not seeing. He realized as the two faced off.
"You killed my men." The dark demon growled.
"You killed my Mate's humans. I will take the lives of your men as recompense." Sesshomaru retorted. "If you feel this is unfair please bring it up with the council of elders."
Rokuyu pulsed with anger. "One demon life is worth a thousand humans!" He stepped forwards coming in to striking range of Sesshomaru's whip.
"Any being Inuyasha feels is worthy is worth more than any of your men combined. You will leave this place Rokuyu, you cannot win against this Sesshomaru. I have more than proven that."
Inuyasha watched at the demon weighed his options. Finally after several long moments of silence he stepped back slowly rising in to the air. "They are ours Sesshomaru, for now" He called glaring at the two inu on the ground. "Don't think this is the end Lord Sesshomaru I will win the Hanyou, one way or another."
INY
(POV Change)
Sango sat astride Kirara holding tightly to Kaede. The elder woman shook with sobs. The demon slayer hurt as she watched her friend in such anguish.
"They ate the men." Kaede's normally strong voice sounded small and broken. "They roasted them one by one still alive in front of the women and children."
Sango flinched inwardly, stroking one hand across the soft grey hair of the other woman. "Sesshomaru and Inuyasha will stop them Lady. They will make them pay." She whispered just loud enough to be heard over the roar of the wind.
She sighed and watched the demons bound below her. This was not the honeymoon she had dreamed of. As glad as she was that Lady Kaede was alive, if not well, she wished Miroku was coming back with them. It would be difficult not to see him.
"I hope they skin the bastard." She muttered watching the clouds rush past them.
INY
(POV Change)
Inuyasha walked around the decimated village. His brother and the remaining guards were busy securing their prisoners so it had been left up to him and Miroku to search for survivors.
"Inuyasha over here!" Miroku's voice echoed across the desolate expanse. He turned ears perking and took off towards the sound. It took moments for him to come across Miroku pulling debris from the front of a small hut.
"I hear someone in there come on!" He called when Inuyasha was in sight. The hanyou grabbed hold of large pieces of timber that had been thrown haphazardly in front of the doors. It was obvious what it was there for. The bastards were going to burn the villagers alive inside their homes.
He finally pulled the last piece of timber from the opening and pulled the ramshackle door open.
Eight small children huddled together behind three women who looked to be in their late teens.
"Please don't hurt the children!" One of the girls cried throwing herself at Inuyasha's feet in fright.
The hanyou kneeled slowly placing one hand gently on the humans head. "It's over now; we're here to save you." He whispered.
"In-Inuyasha?" The girl asked looking up at him in surprise. "Oh Inuyasha Lady Kaede said you would come and you have!" She threw herself in to his arms weeping. Behind her the other girls relaxed and began to coax the children from their hiding places.
"Where are the other villagers?" Inuyasha asked the eldest of the group a young girl named Amkio.
"I think we are the last." She explained her voice barely above a whisper. "They were eating them men and… playing with the women and children. There were thirty of us last night." She explained eyes down cast.
Inuyasha growled he had never thought someone would do this much damage to get to him. He would have never waited.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get here faster." He apologized head dropping.
Small arms wrapped themselves around his neck. "Don't cry Yasha you came back you didn't forget us!" Akiko's small voice broke through his anguish.
The looked in to the large brown eyes of the little girl who had gifted him with a blanket what seemed like a lifetime ago and smiled. "Yeah kid of course I came; I couldn't just leave you here." He whispered wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Ehem, Inuyasha it would be best to remove the children from this place. Come we can get them some medical treatment back with our companions. I believe Lord Sesshomaru wishes to leave." His voice was soft but firm and Inuyasha nodded knowing they needed to get the children out of the thick smoke.
He picked up Akiko and one other child cradling them safely in his arms. He lead the group across the burning landscape of the once thriving village and in to the forest where his brother waited for them.
"Inuyasha are we going with you now?" The little girls question tore at his heart and there was only one answer he could give her, Sesshomaru be damned.
"Yeah Akiko, you're gonna come home with me. We're friends and I look after my friends." He whispered smiling at both her and the small boy in his other arm.
Through the haze of smoke he caught site of his mates glistening hair. He leaned down and let the two children stand on their own as the trees encompassed them. "Miroku stay with the kids and check them over. I gotta go talk to Sesshomaru." He nodded towards where his brother stood.
He didn't wait for a reply knowing his friend would take good care of the humans. His brother was watching as his men argued over how best to transport their prisoners. Inuyasha pushed past the crowd to stand beside his mate. "Just kill the fuckers." He declared watching as the demons eyes went wide. "They raped, tortured and ate my pack. I say kill em." He growled looking to Sesshomaru for is reaction.
"Do as my Mate says. Keep three of them for interrogation and kill the rest." Sesshomaru nodded and turned towards Inuyasha his eyes blazing. "Are you well Husband?" he asked. Inuyasha sighed as soft fingers came to caress his soot stained face.
"There are a few survivors, some girls and a few kids." He explained ignoring his brother question. "I want them to come with us; they ain't got anywhere else to go." He explained looking up at his brother, ready to argue.
Surprisingly the other man nodded his consent. "Of course brother I will have human caretakers chosen from the surrounding villages they can come live in the palace and when they are old enough hey can take places working there. Is that acceptable?" Inuyasha blinked dumbly for a moment before nodding his head.
"Yeah that's great. More than I was expecting to tell you the truth." He agreed watching a small smile grace his brother's lips.
"I wish to make you comfortable in our home husband and it seems these humans mean much to you." The word hit Inuyasha like a ton of bricks and he felt his heart ache.
Why, why did his brother have to be so convincing when he knew it was only a matter of time before he was once again discarded like the abomination everyone said he was?
"Thanks I guess." He managed to grit out. "I gotta go check on the kids, can you pick a couple of men that will be nice with them to help us carry them? We don't need any human haters these kids have been through enough." He turned to leave but waited for his brother reply.
"Of course Inuyasha I will send a few over foe you to pick from." As soon as he heard this he continued on to the small group of mortals that were bunched together.
"Hey I got a few people I want you to meet they are gonna help us get to my house faster okay?" He said stopping in front of children. Miroku looked confused but rightly kept his mouth closed.
"How are they gonna help?" Akiko's little voice called from the back of the group. He smiled and motioned her forwards.
"Come here and I'll show you." HE told her smiling as she hurled herself at him.
He crouched down with his back to her. "Climb on kiddo, you gonna get a ride to the palace." He explained smiling when she immediately did as he said. IT was nice to be around children that weren't afraid of him.
"How can we trust demons we don't know to carry us?" One of the elder girls asked eyes filling with dread. Inuyasha smiled.
"My brother has chosen his most trusted men to carry you. No harm will come to you I promise." He assured them.
"I have personally traveled with these men, they are trust worthy." Miroku cut in his voice as soothing as ever.
Soon the children were nodding their consent and talking amongst themselves about how fun it would be to ride a demon.
Inuyasha let his little charge down and turned to her. He placed on finger on her nose eliciting a giggle. "I'll come find you when it's time to go okay? Don't let anyone else take the honor of carrying you." He whispered smiling as her eyes lit with excitement.
"Okay!" she squealed.
He laughed and turned to find Sesshomaru. A small group of demons led by his brother was coming his way when he did so. He walked quickly to them.
"So you guys are the ones Sesshomaru picked?" He looked them over noticing no dissention. "Well I guess you look pretty trustworthy. But just let me tell you if you hurt one of my pack I'll run you through with my old man's fang, get it?" He looked at each one of them as he said this making sure they understood these were not just humans, they were his humans.
The group nodded looking decidedly nervous. "Hey there aren't enough of you we need one more." He told them counting again.
"This Sesshomaru will carry the Monk." Sesshomaru explained pushing past him and walking towards the humans. "Come let us be off I wish to make it to the castle by day break.
INY
(POV Change)
Rin sat head pillowed on the book in front of her. She had read all through the night and most of the day. Sesshomaru had a vast amount of information on the jewel of four souls. She had found Kouga's assertions that he was under the jewels control credible. it seemed that mind control was the foul gems specialty.
Her ladies lay prostrate around the room, still in their court finery staying with her even through her madness. She sighed and read the one sentence that made everything clearer, the one piece of information that had cemented Kouga's innocence in her mind.
'The Jewel preys on your greatest fears, the things about your nature you find most repugnant and it intensifies them one thousand fold. One account tells of a demoness killing her Mate because he chewed too loudly after coming in to possession of a shard of the stone.'
She stared at the passage reading it over and over again until she finally could not bring herself to blame her intended for the hurt he had caused her.
Finally she broke down and wept.
INY
(POV Change)
Hime Mikata ran with a ferocity she had never felt before in her life. Those men had been her fathers. Not all of them, but enough for her to know this was not a coincidence.
The horrors she had seen perpetrated against the small village sickened her to her very core. To know that her father had a hand in this in any way made her blood boil.
What is happening here, how can this truly be? She questioned over and over again trying to find a reasonable explanation for northern soldiers to be in the ranks of something as foul as Rokuyu.
She knew what she had to do. She did not wish to but there was no choice left to her now. She would have to inform Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Inuyasha of her father's deceit and pray to Kami her family came out of it alive.
End Chapter Seventeen
A/N: Yet another chapter done with! And the plot thickens! Why does Rokuyu want Inuyasha? What does Mikata's father have to do with this? And will Inuyasha ever realize Sesshomaru might be serious about him? All will be answered… at some point in the story :D
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It was really fun to write. Sorry about the decided lack of fighting but I think when the guy realized Sesshomaru was there he would not have tried it.
Please take a moment to vote on how I should update this story. I have about four chapters done now and I am trying to decide when to post.
I hope you all enjoyed this and that you real lives are going well.
Yours as always
CBT
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