Chapter 20: Dread

Carla let out a huff as she flew through the air, "I still don't understand why he wanted us to come here, she is not in this direction!"

Miroku nervously looked at the ground below, feeling the wind a little too fast as Panther Lily carried him.

"He had a point that we could not leave without knowing what's going on on the other side. We have a good team here."

Carla still wasn't convinced however. Sesshomaru had brought up that although his fortress was now behind a shield, they could not leave the other area unattended. The demons there needed to be destroyed. So they separated. Carla, Wendy, Lily, Miroku, Shippo, and Sesshomaru were to head over to Naraku's lair while the rest set off towards the direction that they took Kagome.

Sesshomaru was not fully convinced at first with the team that Laxus decided for him. The runt was still too small and although Miroku was useful, he was still just a human. Gajeel however, said that he couldn't have better support when Wendy offered to go with him.

Whatever that meant, he's yet to see the girl do anything extraordinary.

As they got closer to the lair, the fog seemed to get thicker, making it hard for them to continue flying in without seeing where they were going.

As they landed on the ground, Wendy's blue aura came forth. A move of her wrist and the fog started to disperse.

Maybe it wasn't bad that she came along.

Neither of them could smell anything, and Miroku could not feel any demonic aura.

It was impossible however, they had just been fighting hundreds of them. They retreated, but there were no signs of them.

Lily, now transformed, carefully pushed the doors open.

All they could see was blood on the ground, but still, no signs of anything.

Wendy felt sick, "This is fresh."

Miroku had his staff up, "Be all vigilant. I don't believe this is an empty fortress suddenly."

Sesshomaru appreciated the Monk's awareness. He did not believe it was empty either. It was too soon.

"We're gonna have to head inside," Carla quietly said as she hopped on Wendy's shoulder. Shippo was already gripping Miroku's robes from his spot.

He felt terrible for grabbing Levy and taking her the way he did, but she seemed to be the only one to get the lacrima to work in order to track Kagome. He knew she'd be very dizzy afterwards, but he needed to get to her fast.

However, the faster they all traveled, the realization started to set in that they were on their way back to Kaede's village.

As they reached the ruins of the village, Inuyasha started to get agitated as he could not smell her scent anywhere. He pointedly looked at Levy, "Are you sure that thing is working right?!"

Gajeel growled in warning, "Tone it dog-boy!"

"There's nothing here! Her scent isn't here!"

His snarl made the dead leaves of the trees fall.

Levy started to shake as she honed her magic on the lacrima, which started to shine brightly.

Laxus knew how smart Levy was. There was no way it was wrong.

"Everyone, take different routes," he commanded quickly, "There has to be a clue somewhere here. Don't venture far."

Inuyasha let out a noise of annoyance. Gajeel quickly took Sango as Levy started to walk around with Laxus.

Something did not feel right.

Her hand was trembling as she continued walking, the lacrima vibrating harder as they were walking towards the well. His eyes widened as he realized, his heart sinking at the thought of it. Levy grew pale as they now stood before the well and the lacrima vibrated so much, it cracked.

"There's no way," her voice was barely above a whisper, "There's no way she's there."

Laxus suddenly wrapped his arm around her and jumped out of the way as a bomb was hurled at them.

"Oh no! Be careful! You almost blew off his gorgeous face!"

Laxus growled loudly as they came into view.

"I think that was the point."

Two men then appeared from the shadows of the afternoon. A man with purple markings and dark eyes, a bandana wrapped around his head as he carried a weapon on his shoulder. The other one, which much resembled a woman, had short hair with red lipstick and purple eyeshadow.

He went and sat at the edge of the well, "Sorry sweetie, but I cannot let you jump in there."

That cleared their suspicions immediately.

Just then, the others rushed over due to the explosion. Inuyasha was next to Laxus, an evident glare right to both Jakotsu and Renkotsu. Sango gripped the handle of her boomerang as Gajeel seemed confused.

"The lacrima stopped working when we got to the well," Levy murmured quietly, "We have to get through to them."

Just as Inuyasha was about to jump into action, Gajeel had knocked both of them back several feet away from the well. Laxus took it as his queue and jumped right in, quickly going after the man with the weapon.

Jakotsu's eyes were wide as Gajeel came at him with full force. He took in the redness of his eyes, the glistening of his black hair, the scars on his biceps.

"Where have YOU been all my life?!"

Gajeel looked horrified for a second, giving Jakotsu an opportunity to slice his arm with his sword.

"Script Magic: Fire!"

A ball of fire came suddenly at him, burning part of his pink and purple kimono. He immediately took a look at the woman and he felt his anger rise.

Gajeel did not let him get anywhere near her. His fist turned into his iron club, knocking him out several yards away. Laxus had done the same with the other one.

"They have to kill them," Sango said seriously, "They can't be left alive."

Levy's eyes widened as she stared at the two men. They've fought several battles, but from her understanding, neither of them murdered someone before.

Inuyasha felt Levy's apprehension, "They're already dead. I killed them with the others. If they care as much as they claim for her, they will do it."

Laxus started to make his way over to the well when he felt another bomb coming their way. He quickly took care of it with a shot of lightning, causing an explosion in mid sky.

He raised his hand and as he brought his fist down, a shot of lightning came down to Renkotsu. His yells echoed in the empty forest as he was incinerated by the power of the lightning. Sango had to cover Levy as they could see the skin turning into rubber. Jakotsu was horrified, as Naraku had not prepared them for anything. He angrily yelled out and as he hurled his extended sword, his head was rolling on the dirt.

Gajeel moved swiftly and quickly, killing him with his Iron Dragon sword.

"As Gajeel said it," Laxus said as he turned to Levy, "There's no magic council here. I will wreck the entire place and kill anything that's in my way to get her back."

Sango couldn't help but wish for them to have been there during the first time they met the band of seven. They would've gotten rid of them a lot faster then.

"Are you 100% sure it stopped when you neared the well?" Inuyasha asked as he walked away after looking at the bodies.

She nodded, "I can feel a strange magic from here. Not like before when we first came."

"Her family," Sango said dreadfully, "Inuyasha, her family-"

"Stop!" he snarled, "Don't say it! They're fine!"

Laxus couldn't hold it anymore.

They jumped in.

Wendy continued covering her nose. The stench of blood was heavy in the air now. She gripped the candle she found and was able to light it in order to see better. It felt cold and evil being there.

They all separated to cover more of the grounds of the inside of the castle.

Nothing made sense. It shouldn't be empty. But there were no bodies, just blood.

She pushed the wooden door open to explore another room. There, she found a sole mirror in a stand. There was no blood on the floor, just the mirror. She carefully made her way deeper in until she was standing right in front of it. She could see like a fog inside of it, the whiteness swirling around.

The fog started to slowly clear, showing her a room with giant windows. It seemed tall. There was a long table, a single candle in the middle. She squinted, but then gasped as she realized it was Kagome.

She was sitting upright, her shoulders tense and her eyes narrowed. She seemed to be glaring at someone, she could only guess Naraku.

This looks nothing like the area…

She then thanked the sixth sense she possessed and the time she's spent training with the guild. She jumped out of the way as a dark energy attack was thrown at her.

"You're fast."

The voice was low and sultry. She carefully eyed the other woman, taking in the short black hair and skin as pale as snow. Her eyes were a vivid red, while her full lips were as dark as the night.

She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. The other woman was not remotely trying to hide the dark energy coming from her. It felt evil, it felt wrong. It was just her luck that she came across her.

"Shinda…"

Sango couldn't help it. Her eyes were wide in shock, ecstasy, and a bit of fear. There was no way she was able to pass through. For three years she was unable to. But now here she was, following Inuyasha and Laxus as they rushed over to a mansion. At least in her eyes it was. It was big compared to all the huts she's come to know. People that lived in houses like this were royalty or high class.

This was insane.

She could hear a bunch of noises she's never heard before. She noticed the house well lit, but not a sign of a fire or candles anywhere.

This was the future.

Inuyasha didn't bother knocking on the door. He kicked it open and started to yell, "Sota! Sota!"

Footsteps were heard frantically coming down the stairs as well as some coming from another room.

Kagome's mother, Yui, seemed shocked at the sight of them, "Inuyasha! What's going on?"

He was walking around the living room sniffing around, "Has Kagome been here?"

She was confused as the last time she saw her was with Laxus.

"Not since yesterday," she looked at the blonde for an answer, "What's going on?"

He hated to be the bearer of bad news, as the day prior she had been praising him for his help in taking care of her daughter.

Levy stepped forward, "I'm so sorry, but Kagome has been taken by saving a young girl."

She gasped horrified while Sota started shooting questions. She felt dizzy suddenly.

Gajeel and Laxus quickly took a hold of her and had her sit down on the couch. The tears quickly came, "Was it him?"

Laxus swallowed, "Yeah."

Sota's angry tears were coming down his face, "Then why are you here? You need to find my sister!"

Sango could understand his anger, "We were led here."

Yui's eyes went to her as she finally paid attention. She took in the giant boomerang, the attire, and the small cat with two tails. Dread filled her as she knew who she was.

"Sango, you're Sango! But how? Then that means-"

"Yui!" a yell came from the second floor, "Yui! Turn on the news!"

Sota snatched the remote from the coffee table and turned on the TV. Sango jumped at the sudden image.

"There's been mysterious outages occurring in Downtown. Experts advise that the shortages are expanding across the city. There's been reports of screams coming from the latest built Skyscraper as well. Witnesses advised of a young woman being pushed roughly against the glass."

The image then cut, clearly taken from someone's camera and was zooming in.

Yui gasped, "That's her, that's my daughter!"

"It is unsure if this is related to the latest disappearances in the area for the past month. Officials are waiting for confirmation before- Oh Kami what is that? Kuo, turn the camera-"

There was a low groan as the entire power went out, leaving them in darkness.

"The electricity went out!" Sota exclaimed, "Now we won't know anything!"

Yui's body started to shake from the sobs. It was evident the woman was trying to be strong, but the overwhelming feeling of loss was too big. Her daughter had been taken by the same man that's been haunting her for so many years.

"How do we get there?" Gajeel asked, "We have to go get her."

Yui sniffed, "It's about twenty five minutes from here. You can't just go. You'll get seen by the police."

Sota went outside to open the door, "You can see it from here!"

However, as he opened it, a green smoke started to creep in. He started to cough violently as he stepped away from the door. Gajeel took a hold of him, grimacing as he took a breath.

Sango quickly put on a mask, grabbing the spare one and putting it on Yui's face.

"That's toxic gas, don't breathe it in!"

Laxus growled, "We have to get out of here."

Yui grabbed Inuyasha's haori, "Their grandpa is upstairs, he can't walk well!"

Inuyasha cursed as he quickly made his way up the stairs. He kicked the door open until he found him. The poor old man was struggling to walk with his cane. He saw the familiar fat cat and internally growled, as he knew he couldn't leave the fat thing behind either.

"Come on old man, get on my back,"

"Just leave me behind! Take Buyo and just go, my granddaughter needs you!"

"Not happening. Now come on!" he didn't wait for an answer as he grabbed his arms and made him get on his back. He noticed a backpack on the floor and with quick speed, he threw Buyo in there and slightly closed it.

He came down the stairs, instantly coughing as the gas was getting worse.

All of them rushed to the sliding door that also led to outside. Kirara switched to her normal demon form and Sango had Yui and Sota get on her quickly. Inuyasha re-adjusted the old man on his back while throwing the backpack to Levy. She was surprised to see a cat there.

Gajeel grabbed her by the waist and started to jump, getting away from the smoke that started to spread. Kirara flew up in the air, Yui holding tight on to Sango while Sota grabbed on to his mother. Inuyasha growled as he started to jump up in the trees, Kagome's grandfather astonished by his agility.

Laxus looked around, trying to see where the smoke could be coming from. His nose was burning and he could feel his eyes becoming slightly hazy. There was lighting crackling around him. Gajeel took the way he was about to inhale.

Gajeel jumped up to ask Ms. Higurashi a question, "You don't have any neighbors behind those trees right?"

The older woman was confused but she shook her head, "They're at the bottom of the hill."

Just then, Laxus had let out a lightning roar as he figured out where the smoke was coming from.

No one dared to walk to ensure the perverted thief was dead. Those with the better noses could smell the burnt flesh.

They all went to the bottom of the shrine, where Ms. Higurashi kept her van. Levy went in there and Inuyasha grabbed Sango's arm.

"Kirara is going to be too noticeable with her flames, go in with them!"

Sango was skeptical about going inside the strange mechanism with wheels. Kirara went back to her normal form and hopped in. Sango went in, trying not to shake as she sat down.

Gajeel also went in after the grandfather got in. Once everyone was secure, Ms. Higurashi pointed to what the direction was.

There was no way Laxus could fit in the van, so he and Inuyasha were to run using the houses and buildings.

He could feel the crippling anxiety as the rain started to fall and the faster he and Inuyasha kept going. Ms. Higurashi was trying her best to keep up, but she also needed to still follow the laws of the road. The last thing she needed was to get stopped and have to be delayed because of it.

What felt like a lifetime, they finally reached it. Laxus paid attention to the amount of people, lights of blue and red flashing rapidly. Some transportation was red, bigger than the others that were black and white.

Their eyes widened when what could be described as an oversized leg of a spider came crashing down on the cars. They heard popping noises coming from weapons what Laxus could only think of as the authority there. There screams and shouts when the red eyes of the spider demon came to the light.

Inuyasha was irritated as there were way too many people there. Kagome always warned him he needed to be careful as to not show his real self, because if not he could be taken away and never see him again.

Their hair was now flat against their scalp, their clothes completely soaked as the rain started to fall harder. They saw the way the spider demon kicked a wave of incoming vehicles, the screams of the perished reaching their ears.

"They don't know demons do they?"

Inuyasha could only shake his head as an answer. Laxus closed his fist as lightning cracked around him, a lightning bolt landing on the spider demon, making it screech in agony.

Finally, Ms. Higurashi caught up with the men. Everyone rushed out of the van as they could see the giant arachnid still screeching. Sota covered his ears, "That's so loud!"

Ms. Higurashi saw the mass of cops and firefighters, "It'll be impossible for you to get away after. They'll see you!"

Levy started to look around, "I don't think Naraku used the well to come here. You would've noticed the movement. Or heard something. There has to be something here that allows him to come to the future!"

Sota's grandfather wailed, "No wonder I never liked the idea of something being built here! The well of the Wishing Dragon was here!"

Gajeel turned sharply at him, "You said a well?!"

Inuyasha brought out Tetsusaiga, "I'll take care of this ugly thing. Some of you need to go in there and find her!"

Sango nodded, "I'll stay with you, we can take out its legs."

Gajeel stepped forward, "Count me in!"

Laxus looked at Levy, "You ready?"

The small mage, although terrified, was determined to find her friend.

Sango created the first diversion by hopping on Kirara's back and taking off into the sky. She swung her boomerang, making connection with one of its legs. However, she partially destroyed part of it, and was not able to cut off the entire thing in one go.

There were murmurs from the cops and firefighters.

Ms. Higurashi grabbed Laxus' hand, "Please find her."

He nodded and quickly took advantage of the distraction the others were now doing by attacking the arachnid; he and Levy were able to find a door that led them up to a stairwell corridor.

"That's so many stairs," she said as she looked up.

"Get on my back, I'm just going to jump."

"How do you know what door to take?"

"When I hear her yelling."

Wendy grunted as she was thrown into one of the wooden walls. She could feel the cuts in her arms, but she couldn't give up.

In one of her attacks, it destroyed a made up wall.

There was a well there.

Something was telling her she needed to kill this demon because that well may mean something.

Shinda was fast. Maybe just as fast as Natsu or faster. She knew she needed to destroy that staff as well, as she knew that's how she was able to control the dead.

Wendy screamed as she felt another blast hitting her. Shinda stepped on her, but just as she was about to stab Wendy on the neck with her staff, a sword intercepted it. Wendy coughed as she crawled away, her eyes widening as she saw Sesshomaru getting ready to battle her.

"There's a well!" She shouted, her throat raspy and painful, "And we need to destroy her staff!"

Shinda narrowed her eyes at Wendy as Sesshomaru was circling her, "My my, that little dragon is a little pest."

Sesshomaru glared, "The only pest here is you."

And in a flash, Sesshomaru was now battling her. Wendy could only wonder where the rest were, but she had a feeling they were all caught up with their own troubles. She was amazed by his fighting abilities as he only possessed one arm.

She saw the way Shinda started to disappear in shadows, something she heard that Gajeel also learned how to do. Sesshomaru's speed was impressive, but Shinda seemed to move like water.

"Fast wind that run the heaven… Ile Vernier!"

Sesshomaru's gaze slightly widened as he felt a sudden increase in his speed. He had been thinking about different ways to be faster than Shinda in her shadow. He glanced over to the dragon slayer and now he understood what the others meant about her.

Shinda's irritable stare went to the young girl. She was also an enchantress.

They were in a time crunch, she needed to kill them before time would run out.

There was smoke, black smoke, coming from her as she halted to a stop. Sesshomaru also stopped, eyeing her for her next move.

The smoke kept accumulating until it almost looked like tentacles. Wendy inhaled and possibly let out her most powerful dragon roar up to date.

"Sky Dragon Roar!"