Chapter 37: Everyone, Everywhere
She stared down coldly at the one who had summoned her, "Onigumo", as well as the one beside him, "Kikyo."
The man was far from offended. "Come now Kagura, and here I was going to give you the offer of a lifetime."
"I doubt it," she spat. Just because she had to obey him to protect her sister, there were no illusions about their relationship. But the man was undeterred, merely smirking before placing an object on the table between them.
The Shikon jewel shard? She looked up towards Kikyo, instantly drawn to the necklace she wore. Did they get a second shard? She was unaware of everything Onigumo was up to, but the wind did carry some secrets and she had recently heard that these events had something to do with the ancient artifact. She was snapped out of her pondering by Onigumo's voice. "This, Kagura, is a false shard."
"False?" she questioned, although it did relieve her to hear.
"I take it from your reaction that you already know what it is a false shard of." She jumped, but remained silent. Nothing she could say would make her any less suspicious. "Don't worry Kagura. It doesn't matter anymore. In fact, I truly have no further use for you now that my Saimyosho have reported both brothers heading to the Realm of Fire. How nice of Sesshomaru to make it even easier on me."
In an instant she had her fan drawn.
But Onigumo's expression remained unchanged. Even Kikyo didn't bother to grab her weapon in response. "Of course, I'm a businessman. It's important to have a good reputation by paying off your debts. I made you a promise, did I not?" Seeing her stance relax minutely, he continued, "that shard contains some real energy from my Shikon shard. Perhaps enough to stabilize your sister's condition for several decades. I have one final task for you, and then, you can walk away with it."
My freedom.
X
X
The wooden target shattered with such ferocity that even Sango flinched. "Kagome, maybe that's enough training for today." Her suggestion went unheard as Kagome raised her bow yet again, taking aim at the next dummy.
Miroku whistled. "It's a shame she has no interest in fighting. A few months of intense training and they'd bump her up to an elite without hesitation. She's going to collapse from physical fatigue long before her reiki runs out."
Sango returned to her spot beside him to observe. "It's a good thing Inuyasha's a hanyou. He's in for it when he gets back."
Miroku sighed. "It is difficult to be mad at him. So much has happened in such a short period of time that he has a right to not know what he's doing. It's not as though we haven't always known our friend to be impulsive."
"Especially when Kagome is involved." She sighed as her friend let loose yet another arrow. "Miroku?"
"Hmm?"
"You're more familiar with the spiritual aspect of the Shikon Jewel. Do you have any idea what he's thinking? I feel like this is about more than just keeping us safe."
He considered it. "Yash has never been good at expressing his concerns. I imagine destroying the jewel isn't nearly as simple as it sounds. It would not surprise me that even if there was a way, there's likely a heavy cost."
"A cost? The way he's acting, do you think he already knows that? That's why he's trying to keep us away?"
"It's hard to say. Chances are it's not as simple as the carrier's death, even he's not that impulsive. Although, perhaps with the right hostage, someone could force him into it."
A thought occurred to Sango. "What about his father? Didn't he say it wasn't an accident?"
"Yes, perhaps. However, even for his father, if he were contemplating death, you'd think he'd be a little more conflicted. No, this doesn't seem that extreme. And Inuyasha specifically said his goal is to destroy it which implies this isn't a rescue."
"Oh, right."
Beep. Ping. Chime.
Sango was the first to notice. "All of our phones are buzzing? Kagome!"
The girl gave her a death glare at being interrupted again, but Sango was undeterred and merely rolled her eyes and held out the phone.
"What, it's probably spam." She was about to disregard the message and toss the phone back into her bag since she wanted to be left alone anyways, but the sudden look of horror on Miroku's face caught her attention. Concerned, she looked at her messages.
All level 1, 2, and 3 fighters in proximity to central Tokyo must report immediately. The Crimson Vigilante is to be captured dead or alive.
Attached to the message was an image: Inuyasha atop a tall building, flames burning in the background, blood littering his face and clothes, and a pitch black jewel shard hanging from his neck.
Inuyasha
X
X
The sun was quite comfortable. The warm rays beating down on his face, the peaceful chatter of nature. It was a momentary reprieve from the stress of everything.
"How are you feeling honey? Are you sure you're not a nekoyoukai?"
He laughed and opened his eyes at the shadow now standing over him, "yes, quite sure Izayoi."
She smiled back at him, "come inside, I've just finished preparing dinner."
"Ah, I smell ramen, pork." It was a shame he had to consume his wife's outstanding cooking while stuck in his sealed form. He dearly wished to utilize his complete senses, but it was imperative he remained undetected. Using ofudas to hide his youki was something he preferred not to do too often. Last time had merely been an exception so he could truly see his son for the first time. "Another time," he whispered. Turning his thoughts back to the present, he considered where his son would be heading any day now by Sesshomaru's estimate and chuckled.
His wife popped back into the doorframe, "what's so funny dearest?"
"Our son," he answered. "My friend won't kill the reckless boy, but I imagine they'll bump heads upon meeting. It should be an interesting tale."
She sighed, pulling him along to the dining area. "I wish he and Kagome hadn't fought. I'd feel better if they had each other's backs at least. Sesshomaru is far too unpredictable."
"Sesshomaru may be unpredictable, but he has always taken pride in being my heir. He'll protect my legacy, including Inuyasha. That much I guarantee. Ah." The smell of the ramen his wife put in front of him was quickly addicting, a love his son definitely got from him. Scooping up the first bite in his chopsticks, he thought of one thing to add, "of course, Inuyasha's not wrong. Sesshomaru can be a bastard."
Izayoi laughed, "I believe you're just annoyed that he tried tricking you and you fell for it."
The first bite didn't quite make it to his mouth. "No." He shook his head. "No, he's just being suspicious as I taught him. He doesn't trust me. It was rather convenient that I woke up when I did, with no memory of what happened. Kagura may have played a role, but Onigumo is a manipulative schemer, and her a mere pawn. He allowed it to happen. I just wish I knew why. We can only hope that Sesshomaru is managing to stay a step ahead of his schemes."
The worrying statement left the air around them heavy, and filled with silence. Izayoi was the first to break it. "How about I put the news on? You estimated he'd be recovered by around today, right? Maybe he'll be out causing trouble," she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
He gave her a curious look, but nodded at the suggestion. "I'd hope he's smart enough to head straight for the cave once his wounds healed up, but then again, Inuyasha can be just as unpredictable."
With a smile, she turned the news on, to channel 6, seemingly the channel showing the most news on the crimson vigilante. Both dropped their chopsticks in shock. The words from the report sounded like little more than background static against the shocking image of their son, dipping in blood, letting loose carnage in the city. Breaking the silence, the Inu no Taisho moved instantly over to his sword. He may have been willing to take a back seat to protect Kagura before, to give his sons a chance to leave their own marks in history, but he would never abandon them! "Izayoi, head to the emergency lodging at the edge of the Western Forest! Do not leave there until Sesshomaru or I reach out."
Shaking, Izayoi forced her voice out, "y-yes!"
There was more he wanted to say, more assurances he needed to give, but he didn't have the time nor strength to waste. Pushing forward, he opened the front door only to stumble slightly at two unexpected figures. One carried the scent of youkai, but that was clearly sealed to avoid detection. The other had no presence whatsoever. A rush of memories hit him, he knew this one. He knew the white haired girl with the mirror. "GO!"
X
X
A lone figure watched the news report with a shaky breath. She always knew it would come to this, that it had to come to this, and she would accept responsibility. But it did not make it any easier. Knowing eyes drifted to the necklace he wore, observing every pulse beating in tune with the wearer's darkened heart. There was no going back now. She grabbed the arrows she had prepared, having stored within them months of accumulated reiki. Through the window, she looked at the sun, burning bright without even a cloud in sight.
How did it come to this?
X
X
"Ginta, Hakkaku, we're on the job. Put your phones away!" The shout brought them out of their shock.
"Kouga, you need to see this," replied Ginta.
"Not now. Are you not paying attention to your surroundings?" How they could miss it was beyond him. Even from Jinenji's buried lab he could feel the pulsing waves of malicious jyaki coming from relatively close.
"We did! That's why we went on the spiritualist's news network. Dozens of people were reporting it. But uh," Hakkaku hesitated, "someone posted a picture."
Curious, and figuring not knowing what was going on would be bad for security, he snatched the phone to look. His breath caught. "The mutt?!" Lord Sesshomaru warned us something might happen, but it's too soon. "Oh crud. He's out of town." Tossing the phone back he ordered, "mobilize everyone. Get this place on lockdown and contact the imp about what's happening!"
He was gone before they could reply. "Right!"
"Right!"
They flinched at the sound of sirens.
X
X
Inuyasha looked across the vast expanse and a chill went down his spine. The border of the afterlife. He looked around, surprised by how much there was to see in such a place. From atop the bony bird he had forcibly grabbed ahold of, he could see the forest, a lake, and a mountain. But what really caught his attention was the hills of bones in the distance. When he first laid his eyes upon it, he swore he felt the pulsing of the jewel shard on his neck. As he got closer, he noticed the bones surrounded an open clearing, open except for a lone structure sitting in the middle.
Flying right over it, he jumped down to land right in the clearing. He felt the jewel pulse again. This is it. He looked up at the lone structure, some kind of formation made of adamant with a skull at the center. "Huh?"
"Who goes there?" He jumped back at the sudden voice and the sudden appearance of red eyes on the previously dormant skull.
Seeing no further movement, he answered, "Inuyasha. My father is the Inu no Taisho and Myoga sent me." Speaking of, he recalled the rest of Myoga's words. "Myoga mentioned a guardian, an old friend of father's. Assuming it wasn't those statues, that makes you Hosenki?"
The figure laughed, "I am. The Inu no Taisho you say. Why have you come to visit his final resting place?"
Inuyasha looked around at the open clearing that was surrounded by bones. "His resting place? He's alive, you know."
"For now, maybe, but we all die eventually." The figure hummed. "You referred to me as guardian. Is that what you are here for hanyou? To take the Shikon Jewel shard?"
"Yah." Recalling how most tended to view the jewel, he quickly amended his answer. "Well, no. I'm here to destroy it."
"Destroy it? That is impossible."
He shook his head, "Sesshomaru figured out a way. Once all three shards are brought together, I can destroy them. I just need this shard, and someone else is working on getting the final shard."
"Three shards? You seem to be a couple short."
He blinked. "There's only three. Dad's, that you have. The spiritualist's, that I won. And the shard that went missing long ago that a jackass managed to find." That's how the story went, three shards.
Hosenki laughed. "I can hear the jewel talking, plotting. It would never allow you to destroy it so easily. Onigumo is still a step ahead of you."
He tensed, "where'd you hear that name? I didn't tell you."
"There was no need for you to do so as long as I hold a shard of the Shikon Jewel you crave. Now." Inuyasha tensed and drew Tessaiga as he felt a sudden and threatening pulse come from the youkai before him. "Not only has the jewel spoken of Onigumo, it has spoken of you. If you truly think you have the strength to defeat it, then show me now."
Damn it, I guess it's fair that he wants to know it'll be safe. Just wish I hadn't wasted my strength on those statues. "All right Hosenki, you got yourself a deal. I'm taking that shard."
X
X
"33.. 34.. 35.. 36." He felt a pulse and went still.
"Bankotsu?"
The man looked up to see Renkotsu staring down at him. That's when he noticed he was mid lift and decided to put the barbell back on the rack. He felt another pulse. Without a word, he quickly left the room and shouted at a group, "hey! Turn that thing to the news." Hearing their grumbling, he added, "now!" Knowing better than to argue against him, they complied.
As they all listened to the report, he heard Renkotsu mutter, "the Crimson Vigilante". He was obviously as surprised as the rest of them.
"Guess they'll stop calling him that. More like the Crimson Monster now," joked one of the inmates.
"Crimson Beast!" declared another.
Bankotsu listened to the news report with a bright smile. "I can feel it. The jewel knows it's time for the endgame."
