Chapter 29: The Eastern Palace
In the Eastern land near the Eastern palace laid a human village. But it wasn't a peaceful village. It was filled with human slaves who were being ordered by dragon yōkai soldiers. Soon after the Eastern lord was dead and Shinji had taken over, the villager have fallen into despair. The sky was always cloudy and dark. Not a ray of sunshine which was much like their hope. The hope of anyone fighting against Shinji.
"Get moving ningen!" A dragon yōkai soldier ordered as he pushed a man who stumbled onto the ground.
"I-I'm very sorry, sir!" The man said, frightened.
"You know what happens to those who are behind in work, don't you ningen?" The soldier snarled.
"Of-of course I do! It-it's just that-!" The frightened man began to say.
"No excuses!" The soldier said in an angry tone. The man shuddered at the soldier's tone of voice.
"Maybe it would be better to get rid of your existence!" The soldier said as he unsheathed his sword and raised it above his head, ready to end the man's man closed his eyes in fright, ready for the pain that the dragon yōkai will inflict on him. But the strangest thing happened, he didn't feel any pain. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a sword pierced through the soldier's heart. The soldier's eyes widened when he slowly looked down and saw a blade sticking out of his heart. Then the blade retracted from his heart. He dropped to his knees and fell face forward towards the ground with a thud. The man stared at the dead demon on the ground and looked at the one who killed the soldier. There was one thing that they didn't expect: another dragon yōkai behind him. He had long dark purple hair that was tied up in a topknot and amethyst colored eyes. He had a pale white horn on both sides of his forehead. He was wearing a light purple kimono that was covered by a dark blue haori coat and a dark purple hakama along with a comfortable pair of black boots. He was holding a sword that had blood on it, which meant that he was the one who killed the soldier just now.
"W-Who are you?" The man asked in fright.
"I am Prince Masahiro, second son of the Eastern Lord Tatsunari and Lady Jitsuko." Masahiro said.
"Masahiro-sama?" The man asked, shocked to see the youngest son of the Eastern Lord in front of him.
"You alright, sir?" Masahiro asked as he held his hand out to the man. He slowly took a hold of Masahiro's hand and he helped the man to his feet.
"We were told news that you were dead, Masahiro-sama." The man said.
"I escaped the palace in order to find allies to help me fight against Shinji." Masahiro said.
"Escaped?" The man asked.
"Now, I have met a powerful group of individuals who will help us in this cause." Masahiro said.
"Thank goodness." The man said, tears began gathering in his eyes.
When all of the dragon soldiers were defeated by Masahiro and the others. They helped villagers in any way they could. But they had one more thing to do: defeat Shinji. Masahiro knew that some members of the pack couldn't go to the palace with them. He felt the presence of the pack members standing by his side as they gazed the Eastern palace that laid ahead of them.
"So that's the Eastern palace, huh?" Akari asked, looking up at the palace.
"Hai." Masahiro said, nodded.
"Let's hope your brother is more entertaining than mine, Masahiro." Sesshomaru said.
"Hey!" Inuyasha said with a irk mark on his forehead.
"I agree with you on that, Sesshomaru." Hansuke said, taunting Inuyasha.
"I'm right here you know!" Inuyasha said, clearly angry by Sesshomaru's statement. Masahiro turned around and faced his pack members.
"Miroku, Sango, Tomoe, Shippo, Koga-sama, Ayame-sama, I need you all to stay here and help the villagers." Masahiro said.
"Why, Masahiro-sama?" Miroku asked.
"I would like you to come along, but there are some disadvantages for you. Sango, your weapon won't stand a chance against my older brother. Miroku, I know you're a powerful monk, but without your Kazaana, you're pretty much a weak opponent. Koga-sama, Ayame-sama, I know you use more of your fists and feet instead of swords, which is a disadvantage for a long range attack. Tomoe, Shippo, even though you two have powerful flames, but they're not going to be powerful enough to stop Shinji's flames. So I'm asking you to protect the villagers in my stead." Masahiro said.
"Don't worry, we'll help them, Masahiro." Koga said.
"Me, Tomoe, and Sango will treat the injured ones." Ayame said.
"Thank you all so much." Masahiro said, bowing at the waist. Then Masahiro, Kagome, Hansuke, Akari, Sesshomaru, and lastly Inuyasha headed towards the Eastern palace.
"Good luck, everyone." Sango said, holding her hands together in a prayer as she, Miroku, Koga, Tomoe, Shippo, and Ayame watched them go towards the palace.
They took care of the guards at the door when they got to the palace. Masahiro and Hansuke pushed open the door and ran through the hallways to find their enemy. They felt a strong amount of powerful youki coming from the other end of the palace. Then they noticed something else: there was no sign of life inside of the palace. Almost like it was empty except that source of youki. When they approached the door to the throne room, they tightened their grips on their weapons. Masahiro stepped up to the door and pushed it open. After the door was opened, there stood a figure who sat comfortably on the throne chair in the room. The figure was a male with long black hair that was tied in a topknot and violet eyes. He had two long black horns coming out of his forehead and pointed ears. He was wearing a black kimono with a gold haori coat over it and a sword was strapped into his obi around his waist. Everyone already knew who this male was: Shinji, the first prince and Masahiro's older brother. He stared at Masahiro and the others as they entered the throne room. Shinji had his elbows resting on the arms of the chair with his hands interlocked together in front of him and his legs crossed. He smirked when everyone stood in front in a defense pose.
"Well, well, well, hello little brother. I'm very surprised to see you. I'm also impressed that you were able to make it here with the help of your little friends. You even managed to convince Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands and Lord Koga of the Southern Lands to aid you. I am very impressed, little brother." Shinji said as he slowly got up from the throne chair. His walk was slow and calm, like a predator waiting to pounce on its prey.
"Who would have thought that my weak little brother would be able to make an alliance with the sons of the belated Lord Inu no Taishō in order to fight me? Not to mention that you have a white tengu and a miko as well. The Shikon Miko none the less."
"But we have defeated all of your allies, Shinji. The only one left is you." Masahiro said.
"True, but I did wish that they were strong enough to destroy anyone that came across them. Even with a tainted jewel shard, they were still weak. I should have known from the start that Naraku was a weak hanyō. It was hard to believe that no one could defeat him until I heard that you and your pack was able to destroy him. Quite a pathetic hanyō." Shinji said, sighing.
"You truly are the nephew of that dreadful dragon." Sesshomaru said, narrowing his golden eyes at Shinji.
"You're truly the son of that weak dog you call your father, Sesshomaru-sama. Your father died at the hands of a ningen while protecting a ningen woman and your hanyō half brother. The both of you seem to be following in your sire's footsteps. What's so special about ningens? They're weak and greedy beings that only care about themselves." Shinji said, while examining his claws. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru narrowed their golden eyes at the sinister yōkai in front of them while clenching onto the hilt of their swords.
"That may be true for some ningen." Sesshomaru said.
"But there are those with pure hearts. Ones that give up their lives in order for their loved ones to live!" Inuyasha shouted, remembering all those he had met and those in his pack.
Sesshomaru stared at Inuyasha. On the outside, he showed a calm expression, but on the inside he was shocked. He remembered the times when Inuyasha would protect his pack and the times he would protect others. Sesshomaru remembered his pack as well. Rin and Jaken were always encouraging him whenever he fought against a strong opponent. They also respected him in many ways. He remembered when he and Inuyasha defeated Sō'unga, their father appeared before them and told them that he was proud of them for defeating Sō'unga and protecting those who were dear to them.
"I'll never understand you dogs. They were always the ones who would protect a weak species." Shinji said, "Well then, shall we get down to business?"
Shinji unsheathed his sword. The blade was pure black with lines of red on it. Kagome could sense the powerful and dark aura that was coming from the blade. It reminded her of Kaira's blade when they went up against him. But the aura felt more powerful that Kaira's, more darker and sinister. Suddenly, a black glow surrounded Shinji and his blade. It made everyone in the room go on edge.
"But let's have a little bit of fun first." Shinji said, smirking. He raised his sword above his head and the black aura began to grow bigger and bigger until it was the size of a humongous bowling ball.
"DĀKUSHADOU-KYŪ!" Shinji shouted as he released the black ball towards Masahiro and the others. They quickly jumped out of the way before it could hit them. Hearing a crumble of stone and wood pieces falling, they glanced behind them and saw a huge hole that crashed through the doors and possibly down the hallway. Then they turned back towards Shinji who was smirking at them. He rushed towards Masahiro and attacked him with his blade. Masahiro quickly blocked it with Sukaiburēdo.
"Ah, so you've obtained Sukaiburēdo. I'm surprised that you're able to wield the blade. No other dragon could except for the golden ones of course." Shinji said, grinning evilly.
"Lady Asahi, Lord Ryuunosuke's great granddaughter, entrusted me with this blade. I intend to use it to protect those I care about and vanquish evil!" Masahiro said, pushing against Shinji who was also pushing against Masahiro. With a little boost of youki, Masahiro pushed Shinji a few feet away from him.
"Impressive, you know how to control your youki well." Shinji said.
"Mother was the one who taught me how to control it." Masahiro said, narrowing his violet eyes at Shinji.
"I see. But why did our all powerful father marry that pathetic excuse for a dragon demoness?" Shinji asked, sarcastically.
"He loved mother for who she was. Not because she was powerful or beautiful. It was because of her strong and kind heart!" Masahiro said.
"Tch." Shinji scoffed. Then the two clashed together once more. Masahiro was trying to land a hit on Shinji somehow. But he knew that Shinji had more experience than him. After one more clash, Masahiro and Shinji skidded across different sides of the room. Suddenly, Sesshomaru appeared on Shinji's right side and attacked him with his Tōkijin. But Shinji blocked his attack.
"I never would have imagined that you would join my little brother, Sesshomaru-sama. After all, my uncle did a good job on heavily injuring your father which soon lead to his death at the hands of a lowly ningen." Shinji said.
"Your little brother has more honor than you, you repulsion reptile." Sesshomaru said with venom in his tone.
"I resent that." Shinji said, narrowing his amethyst reptile eyes at Sesshomaru. He pushed Sesshomaru who jumped a few feet away from Shinji. Then Hansuke stepped in to attack Shinji who blocked his attack.
"Another dog who fell for a human." Shinji said, "What is it with you dogs and ningen?"
"That's something you will never understand." Hansuke said.
"I suppose you're right about that, dog." Shinji said. He pushed Hansuke away who jumped next to Masahiro. Akari stood in front of Shinji and her fan started to glow.
"TEN NO HA!" Akari yelled as she thrusted her fan forward and blades of light came out. Shinji jumped out of the way and the blades hit the wall in back of Shinji. Then Kagome attacked when Shinji landed to the other side of the room. Shinji blocked her attack. Both swords began to glow a certain color. Kagome's was pink and Shinji's was a dark red color. Kagome's began to grow brighter and brighter. A flash came between the two. Then Kagome and Shinji both skidded on different sides of the room. Masahiro quickly went to Kagome's side.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Masahiro asked.
"I'm fine." Kagome said.
"Well this is getting boring. How about we make it more interesting?" Shinji asked as he sheathed his sword. Then a thick chain of dark purple smoke wrapped around Shinji's form. The smoke grew bigger and bigger until it broke through the ceiling and above it. When the smoke disappeared, a creature that was the size of the palace appeared: a dragon yōkai. It had black scales, two big bat like wings, a long tail, four limbs that had five sharp claws on it, two long black horns on both sides of its forehead, a long neck that had a mane of black hair that went all the way down to its tail, and had violet colored reptile eyes.
"That's Shinji's demon form?" Kagome asked, looking up at the creature.
"Hai. This is the first time that I have seen his demon form." Masahiro said who also looking up at the creature. He sheathed his sword as an idea entered his mind. Then a violet glow surrounded Masahiro as he shot out of the ceiling above them. The glow grew brighter and brighter as it got closer to Shinji. A flash came and something appeared when the flash disappeared: another dragon yōkai. He had a white horn on both sides of his forehead, four limbs with five sharp claws, a mane of purple hair that went all the way from the tip of its head to its tail, and had violet colored reptile eyes.
"That's Masahiro's demon form?" Kagome asked.
"It appears so." Hansuke said. Then the dragons clashed with one another in the sky.
In the village:
All of the soldiers were all dead. The villagers were being treated by Ayame, Tomoe, and Sango for their injuries while Miroku, Shippo, Koga handed out food and water to the villagers. Suddenly, they felt a huge amount of youki coming from the Eastern palace. From where they were, they could make out two beings fighting with one another.
"It must be Masahiro-sama and Shinji." Ayame said.
"I hope Masahiro-sama will win this battle." Miroku said.
"I hope so as well, Miroku." Sango said, worried for their comrades.
In the village of Edo:
Rin, Kanna, Kohaku, Jaken, Ah-Un, Ginta, Hakkaku, Totosai, Momo, Kaede, along with Myouga who sat on Totosai's shoulder, sat on the hill that was on the edge of the Inuyasha forest. All of them grew worried for their comrades who were fighting at the Eastern Palace.
"I wonder how Masahiro-sama and the others are." Kanna said. She was worried about her pack mates. Ever since she joined them, she had been gaining new emotions that she had never felt before.
"Don't worry, Kanna-chan." Rin said, smiling at Kanna, "I know they will defeat the evil lord!"
"You're always so positive, Rin-chan." Kohaku said.
"I agree with Rin-chan." Hakkaku said.
"Ya do?" Totosai asked.
"Hai, they're all very powerful warriors. If they were able to defeat Naraku." Hakkaku began.
"Then they can overthrow that dragon!" Ginta finished.
"I see." Totosai said. Momo mooed.
"But what can we do?" Myouga asked.
"The only thing we can do for all of them now is to pray for them to achieve victory." Kaede said.
"Right!" Rin said. Then everyone put their hands together and prayed for their friends in battle.
It was hard to tell who was winning from where Kagome and the others stood. Both were getting clawed at each other. It was only a matter of time until one would go down. One of the dragons cried out in pain and fell down onto the floor of the throne room. Everyone quickly jumped out of the way before the dragon could hit them. The dragon's form was surrounded by a violet glow and then it turned smaller and smaller as a shape grew out of it or rather a person they knew: Masahiro.
"Masahiro!" Kagome yelled as she quickly ran over to Masahiro's unconscious body and knelt by his side, "Masahiro! Wake up!"
Masahiro groaned as he slowly opened his amethyst colored eyes and saw Kagome looking at him with worry. He slowly sat up with Kagome's help. Everyone ran towards Masahiro's side.
"You won't be able to defeat me, little brother. Actually, you never will be able to!" Shinji said. Then he began to laugh. Mocking Masahiro and the others in the destroyed throne room below him.
"Oh man, how are we suppose to defeat this guy?!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"We can use a new binding spell that I found. It should be powerful enough to bind Shinji." Hansuke said.
"Are you positive it might work, Hansuke?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I haven't tried it out yet, but we'll have to risk it." Hansuke said. They knew that there was a possible chance that it might not work, but there is an even greater chance that it will work.
"Then let's take that risk." Masahiro said as he stood up.
"Hai!" Everyone said as they all nodded.
"Kagome, Akari, protect Hansuke as he prepares the spell. Sesshomaru-sama, Inuyasha, and I will distract Shinji for as long as we can." Masahiro said.
"Hai!" Kagome and Akari said at the same time.
"Sesshomaru-sama, Inuyasha, let's go!" Masahiro said.
"Hai!" Inuyasha said. Then Masahiro, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha leapt through the ceiling and went to attack Shinji in his demon form.
Kagome and Akari stood in front of Hansuke who closed his eyes and started gathering his reiki and youki into his staff. He knew that this spell would require both of his powers in a big amount. But he'll have to risk it for them all. Kagome and Akari glanced behind them and saw Hansuke glowing silver and gold around his body as he held the staff in front of him.
Masahiro, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha kept using different attacks, but they had no effect on Shinji at all.
"IT'S USELESS! YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!" Shinji yelled as he slashed his tail to push away the three warriors. They each landed on their feet on the palace roof.
"BUT ONCE I DEFEAT YOU, I WILL RULE ALL OF THE LANDS!"
Everyone knew that they had to keep fighting Shinji until Hansuke's spell was ready. But they didn't know how long it will take. They were also getting low on their youki. If they don't beat him soon, then Shinji's ambition will become a reality.
'We need to come up with something fast.' Masahiro thought as he breathed heavily. Suddenly, Masahiro felt a warmth coming from Sukaiburēdo who was giving off a golden glow and Enerugī kiba that sheathed on his right side was starting to glow purple. Then he decided to unsheath Enerugī kiba. Masahiro's violet eyes widened when he saw both of his swords glowed even brighter as he held them.
"SEINARU GĒTO!" Hansuke yelled. The eight rings on Hansuke's staff went straight towards Shinji and formed a white squared shaped cage around him. Then gold glowing chains wrapped around his arms, legs, tail, and neck. Shinji started thrashing in the chains, but they tightened every time he tried to move.
"EVERYONE, ATTACK!" Masahiro shouted.
"SŌRYŪHA!"
"KAZE NO KIZU!"
"TEN'NYO NO MAI!"
"JUNSUINA ENERUGĪ-HA!" Masahiro shouted as he swung his swords down. A tornado of purple and gold merged with everyone's attack as Kagome's arrow joined in last went towards Shinji in the chest. Shinji could feel his insides being disintegrated and his body burning on the outside.
'NO! This can't be the end of me!' Shinji thought in panic.
"NOOO!" Shinji screamed as the powerful blast of reiki and youki consumed him.
Shinji's painful cry echoed as the powerful attack consumed him. When the attack finally faded away, everyone was breathing heavily at the moment. Then the clouds began to disperse, letting the sun shine through them. It lite up the few remains of the Eastern palace's throne room. For some unexplainable reason, everyone was smiling. A joyful smile. Except for Sesshomaru who was smirking.
"It's over." Masahiro said. Then he let out a breath of relief.
A/N:
Dākushadou-kyū - Dark Shadow Sphere
Junsuina Enerugī-ha - Pure Energy Wave
Ten'nyo no mai - Angel's Dance
Seinaru gēto - Holy Gate
Sōryūha - Blue Dragon Blast
