Author's Notes: Hello there, my supportive readers! It's been a few months but now that I've not only finished translating First Sight, Yet Nostalgic (another SessKik story for those of you who didn't know about it), but also finalized the climax of this arc, which will include some intense action scenes. Thus, I've decided to continue uploading this story.
However, there is a catch. I want to make sure that the story is engaging and full of life. In other words, I'm trying to ensure that quality comes before quantity. Hence, I cannot guarantee that I will upload monthly as I used to from now on. But as I've said before, I will not be abandoning this story without a conclusion since that is not my style. To make things easier, I will continue to supply frequent updates on the story's progression on my profile page, which you can all check. Also, I've decided to add a quick summary of the previous chapter to help refresh your memories.
I would like to thank everyone for being patient with me and also an additional gesture of appreciation to those who left a review. Thank you to fabelliot, 8579, and Meech Macko.
fabelliot: I'm back with this story! Sorry to keep you waiting. Well, while Naraku does not have the courage, much less power, to challenge Sesshomaru directly, he'll resort to deceptive means to ensure misery. Mocking Sesshomaru like that is indeed a daring move for him, much like the one he pulled off in the series.
The tension is getting thick, especially now that Kikyo has literally given a death flag to Sesshomaru. Yes, we will have to see whether or not Sesshomaru comes out triumphant… but I'm sure you have faith in him. ;)
8579: Here's the update that you've been waiting for. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long, though as one of my supportive readers for First Sight, Yet Nostalgic, I'm sure you understand why this story was temporarily put on halt.
Meech Macko: Well, Kikyo was kind of out on weapon choices. And as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. Also, she does know that a mere dagger can't end Sesshomaru. At best, if he somehow didn't detect her action, he would've gotten seriously injured. Well, not due to the sharpness of the blade but from the spiritual powers that she had infused within.
It's worth noting that Sesshomaru would've ignored Kikyo under normal circumstances because he doesn't consider her worthy of his time, at least not yet. The first time when he provoked her was to test out the limits of the restriction (the rosary) he had placed. While in the last chapter, he taunted her to get more details... both on a more personal note and on what she had foreseen.
I can see why you're expressing your concern about my construction of the OC characters. I do understand that fleshing them out is very difficult, especially when putting them side by side with the canon characters. However, as I've mentioned before, it's a challenge I'm willing to take. I do understand that it may deter some readers but it's a risk I'm willing to take to improve on my writing.
Inuyasha does have a special part in this story that he will play a role in. I'm determined to draw parallels between this version of him and the canon one as well as express how his somewhat different upbringing stimulated changes. After all, his relationship with Sesshomaru isn't as hostile compared to the series due to a few reasons (not listing them yet) so we can already expect things to play out differently in this department. And regarding your question about Inuyasha's mother, all I'll say for now is that she will be included in future chapters when that time comes.
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Chapter 16-Seeking Retribution
Recap: Last time, Sesshomaru holds a conference in preparation for a war against the South while Kikyo foresees a series of events that Sesshomaru will ultimately have to surmount, though not without aid. The two establish a bet, placing not only their pride but possibly even their own lives on the table. And now—
"Pathetic. It is a cowardly act for those born with indignity." -Sesshomaru on ambush
"Use the element of surprise to your advantage and you may find yourself victorious." -Kikyo on ambush
The drizzle was beginning to clear. That was a good sign.
Flicking away her wet bangs that slicked to her forehead, Kotori studied the sight before her with squinted eyes. The demoness was on top of a long wall that marked the boundary between the west and the south, with a lush forest behind her that was home to lesser youkai. The wall circled the edge of the forest before stopping at the base of several mountains. Resting against the valley, the infrastructure ended as the natural terrain served as the remaining indication of the borderline.
With the south separated from the west by the numerous steep mountainsides, there was no denying the significance the wall held, positioned on top of the even ground that was easy access. The previous Lord of the West, the Inu no Taisho, had planned to demolish the reinforced structure as a show of faith to the Lord of the South. However, he perished before he could commence the project. At present, Kotori could only be grateful for the wall's presence, for it was the last barrier that obstructed the hoard of undead from entering the Western Province.
For several days, the undead would amass in great numbers before the wall. They came in the form of decaying humans and youkai of various shapes and sizes. However, most were undoubtedly deceased soldiers of the East. If Kotori didn't know better, she would've believed they had risen from the dead to exact vengeance.
'So the South has decided to set us up against men we have already defeated? This is absurd. It's no wonder why Sesshomaru-sama seemed agitated once he realized who we'll be fighting.'
"They're coming, Kotori-sama!" A guard from the top of a nearby tower shouted in alarm.
Kotori nodded in acknowledgment, despite having spotted the impending swarm long beforehand. As a bird youkai, her visional range was far greater than most other species — provided there was light. Granted, she would've made an excellent sentinel, though she had demonstrated far greater talent in combat.
"Give the signal," Kotori commanded, her narrowing eyes never leaving her enemies. They were an ocean of small dots, assembling to crush the west's defense. It was utterly pointless to count them and the demoness was no fool to waste time on the impractical.
"Understood!" The guard obeyed straight away, taking out a trumpet tucked in his belt. He blew on the instrument and the signal screeched into the ears of nearby youkai. It wasn't as deafening as one might believe from a look at its design, though the distinctive frequency of the sound waves was audible to many species of demons, especially the Inu youkai.
As the signal exhausted the long breath of the guard, Kotori's ears were granted relief, only to jerk up in alertness at the sound of footfalls. The two sets of footsteps spoke of their owners climbing the stairs that linked the surface of the wall to the basement. The wall was as thick as it was tall, with its interior currently occupied by the waiting army of the west.
"We're all good to go down there, Kotori." Inuyasha, who emerged from the base of the tower, made his way toward her. Understanding the magnitude of their predicament, the hanyou's features had hardened in an appropriate reflection. In the place of flippancy was rare austerity. His golden orbs flickered around with vigilance and his right hand twitched, eager to grip Tessaiga. 'Tessaiga seems restless. What's wrong? Is it because it senses my feelings? Or is there something else that's bothering it?'
"My division is taking their post as we speak," said Waramaru as he followed Inuyasha out and into the open sky, which was blanketed by a heavy layer of grey clouds. Despite being in a war, the bull youkai's attire did not change, spotting with the same furred hakama and a silver wrist guard. His upper torso was still bare, almost as though he believed it was fashionable.
In contrast, Kotori was warier and went with extra protection. Having swapped her casual kimono for one that allowed more mobility, she was also wearing a winged vest suited for combat on top. She supposed she could never be too careful when in a battle, though she had to admit that her protection was nothing compared to Inuyasha's.
With just his Robe of the Fire-Rat, the hanyou was practically untouchable by heat, flames, and steel. Not only was it regenerative, but it was also stronger than any human-made armor, allowing the wearer to deflect most weapons and absorb concussive pressure from high-powered explosives. In short, it was a very valuable and versatile piece of clothing. Kotori heard that it once belonged to Inuyasha's father before the hanyou inherited it after his death.
'Come to think of it, I don't know anything about his father. Since he died when Inuyasha-sama was an infant, I don't believe even Inuyasha-sama knows a lot.' Curiosity spurred her next words, however unpredictable they were. "Inuyasha-sama… what can you tell me about your father?"
"Huh? What brought that on?" As tensed as he was, Inuyasha was completely caught off guard by the sheer randomness of the inquiry. But upon finding no harm in responding, the hanyou decided to offer the demoness an honest answer. "I've got no idea who my old man is. He died before I could meet him. What little things I know came from my mother. But that's barely enough to know what kind of youkai he was."
"I see." Kotori only nodded, showing no guilt about having pried on such a personal question. It would've been considered insensitive, though only she understood how unnecessary pity was for the hanyou who grew up under constant prejudice. Unaccustomed to receiving kindness from other people, Inuyasha tended to reciprocate with hostility, often lashing out or simply running away. Such was an understanding that she reached. Acceptance, not pity, was the best approach, which was why they both adopted it.
"We've no time to dawdle. Save it for after the battle." With a grunt of mild annoyance, Waramaru redirected the duo's attention to the present matter.
Inuyasha and Kotori turned around. In the interim that they were conversing, Waramaru's division had taken up its position at the embrasures. Numerous archers had their bows drawn and were eagerly waiting for permission to attack. It was obvious what the west's first course of action was against the hoard of invaders.
Waramaru did not wait any longer. The enemy was closing in to swarm the fort. He flung his arm in a theatrical motion. "Fire!"
It began. The chaos.
Numerous strings vibrated upon release, sending forth a barrage of arrows. The shower poured down on the reanimated bodies, riddling them with sharp projectiles. Some corpses stumbled but many more advanced forward, looking far too grotesque to be associated with a porcupine.
The rounds continued for a while until it became clear that the projectiles were less than effective. The fierce and unrelenting attack should've made quick work of any other armies, yet Waramaru was not obtaining the results he desired.
"Pesky things. I've been looking at their hideous faces for the past few days but I've never noticed how durable they are. If they're dead, then they should stay under the soil," Waramaru muttered, clicking his tongue in a fashion that highlighted his annoyance.
"Are you at your wit's end already?" Despite the ominous threat approaching them, Inuyasha managed a curt remark. While he didn't enjoy the prospect, he believed that it was far too early to wallow in depression. In fact, he would never allow himself to lament in defeat. After all, giving up was never a part of his vocabulary.
"Obviously not," Waramaru answered, disgusted by the idea. He gestured for the nearest soldier, who nodded before scurrying to the tower's stairs. "Give me a moment with the setup and we'll obliterate the impending fools with our next volley."
Having successfully appealed to the bull youkai's sense of pride as intended, Inuyasha cracked a smile that exposed the tip of his fangs. "Good, then I'll buy you all the time you need. I'll take the assault team down there and deal with them directly."
As if on cue, several generals leaped off the wall with their guards flanking them. They pounced on the undead, tearing and cutting into each one of them. Each youkai fought with vicious murderous intent, ending one foe after another before they could surround them with their overwhelming numbers.
Then came the unexpected. Kotori watched, aghast.
Blue foam-like substances gushed forth instead of blood. They fizzed and covered the wound, shrinking in size as they were pulled back into the body. It took no more than minutes before the undead had regenerated, with its appearance as ugly as ever.
A deep sound emitted from the undead as they retaliated with capabilities that far surpassed that of a human. And it soon became a test of endurance.
"Outta my way!" Inuyasha charged forward and pushed himself off the wall with his feet. Landing on the ground, he whipped out his blade and swung it down in a direction devoid of his comrades.
"Take this! Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha synchronized his roaring cry with the crashing sound of his Tessaiga ramming the ground. Waves of yellow energy erupted and careened. The ground ripped apart as the awe-inspiring youki smashed into a crowd of corpses, instantly obliterating those in contact.
Leaving no time to inspect the impact of his damage, Inuyasha rushed into the chaotic mass, delivering a broad sidecut. The steel cleaved right through rotten flesh and a stench of decaying matter assaulted Inuyasha's nostrils.
He was given no time to gag as a blurred object whisked through the air. Inuyasha's triangular ears jolted as he made a desperate dive to the right, sacredly avoiding the blow that whistled an inch away from his cheek.
The adrenaline pumping into his blood prompted action. He regained immediate balance by planting his feet on the ground before swinging Tessaiga in a broad, hissing arc.
The large sword swiped through the air as his attacker leaped back. Inuyasha growled at the lack of contact and whirled his body around to face the one who offended him.
"You're not dead. Who the hell are you?" he demanded, poising with Tessaiga in one hand so that the tip of the blade was directed at the new threat. Without needing to look, he opened the nearest corpse's stomach with a few swipes of his free hand. No undead was going to pull a sneak attack on him. Not when they reeked of rancid meat.
Not frightened by the outsized weapon, the figure's dark eyes shined with deep passion as he slung his curved sword on his shoulder. He squealed in pure delight. "You're adorable!"
"What?" Inuyasha's brows twitched as he felt a shiver down his spine. Did random flowers just bloom in the backdrop or was it his imagination? For the sake of his sanity, he hoped it was the latter.
"I love those fuzzy ears of yours! I want them." Despite his cheery words, there was underlying menace wrapped around them as the figure licked his lips.
'Who is she— No, he?' Disgusted, Inuyasha stared at the man whom he believed was beyond strange. It wasn't just his words that emphasized the fact but also his appearance. After being initially misled by the distinctively feminine face, the purple kimono, the red lip coloring, and the hairstyle, where the dark hair was done in a bun using a butterfly-shaped hairpin, Inuyasha's sense of smell finally corrected him on an erroneous belief. Who he thought was a woman was undoubtedly a man with two purple tattoos that ran vertically from near his eyes to his cheeks.
Getting sick of the man's strange taste, Inuyasha gritted his teeth and restrained his impatience. As much as he would love to silence the nuisance before him, Sesshomaru's rare words of caution once again echoed in his mind like a curse.
"…Heed this otherwise, half breed. Even the mightiest youkai are nothing when reliant on emotions and primitive instinct alone."
With that in mind, he figured he would attempt a conversation to lure out some information. "What are you after? Why are you here?"
"You know, you're cute when you're angry."
"That's it! I'm sick of listening to your pointless babbles." A vein snapped. Inuyasha condemned caution and sprinted forward. He dipped low as he was about to reach him. But before he could take the initiative, his opponent's sword zigzagged toward him with a flash. The faintest hint of purple coated its surface, and its familiarity struck alarm bells inside Inuyasha's head.
'That power!' With a sharp intake of breath, Inuyasha pivoted his legs and managed to evade the blade from cleaving off his ears. Several strands of silver hair sizzled and fell off as he staggered back. Not one to allow such an act to go scot-free, he swung his sword at his opponent, who reacted by distancing himself.
'Not so good when up close, huh?' Although Inuyasha refused to admit it, being with Sesshomaru and Kotori long enough did have a good perk. Whether he liked it or not, his brain was getting accustomed to at least doing some analyzing on his foes when he was in a bind. He wasn't as proficient with reasoning in battle as Kotori, though he still managed to deduce a weakness from his opponent.
At the same time as that realization, an undead lashed out for him. Inuyasha dug his claw into it and then hurled the body at the man, who sliced through the soaring object with his blades. For the first time, Inuyasha could study the mechanism of his weapon. It was composed of segmented retractable blades that curved out across a great distance. It shot forth and bit into the body, like a snake coiling itself around its prey before sinking its poisonous fangs.
The blades did not stop there.
The man took no consideration of anything else as his peculiar weapon cut through any undead in the way. It flicked upwards at an unpredictable angle. But Inuyasha was prepared. His sight wouldn't offer much aid, so he opted to rely on his other senses to track the motion. With a heart prepared for a gamble, he closed his eyes and keyed into his hearing.
The sound of air being sliced apart was all that he needed. He dodged and parried the chain of bizarre attacks. Everything about him was expeditious and wary, for one wrong step would spill blood. But the retractable blades were unrelenting. They matched his dexterity, abruptly altering their course to trail him. There were instances when he felt the fleeting touch of cold steel. As he feared, the aura infused into the retractable sword could nullify the effects of his Robe of the Fire-Rat. Cuts and tears decorated his clothing but he managed to avoid any direct contact with skin.
The man pulled back his blade, enjoying Inuyasha's struggles.
BOOM!
Keying into the soft whistles of the wind made Inuyasha flinch when his sensitive ears vibrated with a thunderous clamor. Startled but not stunned, his eyes flew open and passed a glimpse of a tank-like body situated some distance to his left. He could spare it no more than a glance as smoke billowed from a falling tower attracted immediate attention. His golden orbs were glued onto the horrific sight as the tower crumbled onto the wall, igniting flames that spread with wild ferocity.
"It looks like Ginkotsu has joined the party," the man chuckled and brandished his sword in quick succession, once again cutting down neighboring undead before zipping towards Inuyasha. "But don't mind him, handsome. Come! We must continue our dance!"
"Dammit!" Inuyasha cursed and dashed back, determined to provide Kotori aid. His resolve was strong but so was his opponent's tenacity. The segmented blades gave pursuit, snaking through the field as fast as he could run.
Shove.
Hack.
Hurl.
He repeated the motions against any corpses near him before finally taking a leap into the air and clearing a small crowd. A second later, a white flash looped off the head of several deceased. He couldn't help but take a sharp intake of breath. That was close. A little slower and he would be limping.
Still on the run, he directed a rapid glance behind his shoulder and noted with a hint of exasperation that the man was still mad on his trail. 'I need to get him off my trail. But the others could get caught up in my attacks! Dammit!'
At the exact moment that the blades lashed out at him did an arrow sail over his head. Purification power resonated from it as it left an increasing arc of violet light to trail its flight.
Instincts urged movement and Inuyasha took another bounding jump into the grey skies. He glanced down, just in time to see the projectile striking one of the flashing blades with deadly precision. Violet energy crackled on both surfaces before the unprecedented occurrence unfolded. The tip of the arrow exploded with accumulated energy, throwing the man backward and onto his rear.
Jakotsu, a member of the Shichinintai, was bewildered as he sat on the ground. His brain found no appropriate depiction of what had just occurred. His Jakotsuto was a sword renowned for its erratic behavior. Even he had to expend much effort and time to perfect its use. Yet some archer on the wall was capable of comprehending his weapon's path of attacks and counteracting it in an instant.
More shocked than irritated, the mercenary searched for the culprit. His eyes followed the direction of where the arrow originated until they met the pair of mahogany. Recognition immediately sank in and only one thought managed to filter through his mind.
The feat was impossible… unless it was her. If it was her, then it was indeed very much plausible, especially when considering the trump card he and his sworn brothers have prepared for the demons.
'Ah, it's that damn saint! Why is she…? What?' Jakotsu narrowed his eyes into slits. The distance between the two was far too great to hear anything but he interpreted the message she wanted to convey via lip reading. 'She wants a word with me? There's no way I'm going up there. Ah, she scares me more than anyone!'
"Time to make a run for it! I've seen all I needed!" For the first time in years, Jakotsu was reminded of what fear was as it crept into his heart. The typically gallant mercenary scurried onto his two feet and shouted out a warning before scampering away from the wall. Whether or not his comrades heard his call was not his priority; it was every man for himself on the battlefield. Besides, surely not even the less intelligent members of the group could've missed the implications behind the awe-inspiring arc of purple light.
From where he stood, Inuyasha caught a glimpse of six figures of various shapes and sizes fleeing in succession, all the while swiping away any undead or youkai that impeded them.
Given his temperament, giving chase was the most desirable option he could think of, though a more rational part of him forced him to disregard them. After all, he was in the middle of an already troubling war so it was hardly the proper time to go after interlopers with unknown agendas.
Inuyasha made a swift return to the wall, where he met up with Kotori and Kikyo. Much to his surprise, the two women wore an obstinate expression on their features as they stood opposite each other. If he did not know any better, then he would have thought that the two were engaged in a battle. What had elicited the situation? He drew closer, determined to discover what was happening.
"Kikyo-sama, you need to get back to the basement this instance. More importantly, why did you fire that Hama no Ya?" Letting out a breath that forcefully composed herself, Kotori suppressed the urge to shout as she pinned the miko with a look of disapproval. Even supposing that Kikyo was known to be unpredictable, her action this time was not something that could be handled with care. In other words, it was beyond Kotori's control. The last thing she anticipated was the miko climbing the stairs of the tower adjacent to the one burning, grabbing a youkai soldier's bow, and an arrow, and then firing it with such a display that attracted immediate notice.
'Although I understand she did it to aid Inuyasha-sama… she has also simultaneously aggravated our warriors with her powers. This is precisely why I wanted to keep her down in the basement…' Between Inuyasha and Kikyo, Kotori felt like she was at her wit's end when it came to dealing with those who refused to obey others. She contemplated if pride was the issue before eventually admitting to the possibility.
Seemingly unmindful of the demoness' growing ire, Kikyo casually dismissed her words as she asked, "Where's Sesshomaru?"
"Sesshomaru-sama has headed off on his own. He said he'll join us after locating So'unga." The abrupt change in topic caught Kotori off guard and she responded before she could stop her words. A scowl fell on her face and her ears twitched. She wasn't supposed to grant the miko free access to the information when she refused to cooperate.
A tiny spark of concern lit up in Kikyo's eyes for a millisecond before they returned to being emotionless. Inwardly relieved that neither Inuyasha nor Kotori noticed the abnormality, she lowered her gaze and gave some serious contemplation. Thus far, everything was proceeding as she had predicted. Nonetheless, the single factor that would set the west's fate in stone was still undetermined.
She turned her head towards Inuyasha and spoke in a monotonous cadence that pulled his attention towards her. "Inuyasha, is So'unga the fabled sword tainted by evil?"
"Evil? I guess you can call it as much. It does contain the spirit of some dragon in hell or something like that, from what I remember," Inuyasha answered, mildly surprised when his Tessaiga pulsed from inside its scabbard. Although the movement was discreet, he instinctively responded by gripping its hilt. Once again, he was reminded of how restless his blade was, almost as though it was being drawn to something nearby. Despite knowing that he would receive no answer, he inwardly questioned its behavior and speculated the cause. 'Again? What do you want, Tessaiga?'
"A soul lurks within… Tell me, does it possess a will of its own?" asked Kikyo, not bothering to mask the apprehensive curiosity latched onto her tone.
"I've never paid the thing much notice but looking at how my Tessaiga behaves, it's possible. Sometimes it warns me about things and reacts on its own. I don't know how it does it but it's like having a prophet around. It's pretty useful, if I can actually work out what it's trying to tell me half the time."
"Hmm, how interesting," the miko mused to herself, though her statement was loud enough for her companions to hear. Her eyes discreetly traveled between Inuyasha and Kotori, as if trying to gauge their reactions. "Tessaiga. Tenseiga. So'unga. All three weapons are rumored to be a gift from the heavens… If they do originate from the same source, would it be possible for them to possess some similarities, or perhaps share a connection?"
"A connection…!" Inuyasha's eyes widened, his pupils nearly popping out. A loud deafening explosion resonated from the battlefield beyond the wall, synchronizing with the sound of a lightning strike that hit his brain. There was no precognition as everything just clicked into place. Seeing the situation in a new light, he could finally understand what Tessaiga was trying to tell him.
"Inuyasha-sama?" Confusion spoiled Kotori's visage when the hanyou froze. She tried to call out softly to him, hoping to snap him out of his trance.
"A connection…" Inuyasha muttered. Armed with the new knowledge and bearing the responsibility that came with being chosen by Tessaiga, he spun on his heels and bent his knees. "I'm heading off!"
He would've acted on the exact words had Kotori not grabbed him by the back of the collar before he could jump. Unable to fully grasp the reason for his urgency, the demoness utilized all her strength to prevent Inuyasha from running off. "What has gotten into you, Inuyasha-sama? You can't just leave. It's your job to lead and command the assault team."
"I'm leaving that to you and Waramaru," said Inuyasha, pulling himself free. Contrary to what Kotori thought would happen, he didn't run off immediately and instead spared a few minutes to appease her. "Tessaiga is telling me to go. So I'm gonna follow its lead and see what's up."
Kotori did not miss the unspoken implications. "Wait, are you going to see if Tessaiga is trying to take you to So'unga? If so, then once we locate it, we can end this farce!"
"Yeah, I'll end it." Despite the uncertainty that should have come with the word, Inuyasha was confident that he was grasping onto something crucial. He paused momentarily and added, "Besides, this could be why that arrogant iceberg went off on his own. 'Cause he's using Tenseiga to guide him. So I'm gonna catch up to him and see what kind of fun I'm missing out on."
Under normal circumstances, Kotori would've reprimanded Inuyasha for disrespecting Sesshomaru. Nevertheless, she realized that his words were lodged with mild concern for the daiyoukai's wellbeing. She didn't feel the need to question the reason behind it and instead supplied an encouraging nod that urged Inuyasha forward.
And the hanyou would've done just that, if not for Kikyo calling out his name. Exasperated that he was stopped once again, he turned around to meet the miko's gaze, only to be startled by the intensity dripping from her pair of mahogany.
"I see you're adamant." Her tone was inexpressive, so Inuyasha could only attempt to extract the message she wished to convey from her words alone.
"Keh! Aren't you the same?" he piped, arching an eyebrow.
At his rhetorical question, Kikyo allowed a wry smile to play on her lips. "I'm reassured knowing that our objectives are lined. Good. Allow me to accompany you."
"Hop on. I'll take you with me," Inuyasha grinned and crouched in front of her, offering his back.
Seeing that, Kotori furrowed her eyebrows and pressed two fingers to her temples in exasperation. Somehow, she was getting the impression that Inuyasha was keen on going against every one of the arrangements that Sesshomaru made. In consideration of the current circumstances, she was willing to cooperate with his reckless idea and follow it through. However, she couldn't forget that things were not so simple with Kikyo involved. 'My first priority is to keep an eye out for Kikyo-sama. I should dissuade her… though unfortunately, she is just as stubborn as Inuyasha if not more. Ah, this is a problem… I guess I have no choice…'
"Ahem, I doubt that you two will listen to me but this is a significant point in time to slow down and contemplate the unknown first. You are aware that I cannot allow the two of you to oppose Sesshomaru-sama's orders as you like," she said, despite knowing the futility of her effort.
As expected, Inuyasha scoffed with a type of haughtiness that made everything around them appear trivial. "Nothing is stopping us from going. So you can stop wasting your breath."
Well, at least she tried. Straightening herself and squaring her shoulders, Kotori heaved a sigh before stating, "Fine. However, if Kikyo-sama is going with you, then I shall follow. Sesshomaru-sama has appointed me as Kikyo-sama's guardian. That is what I am before anything else. No rebuttals accepted."
The mild shift in posture told Inuyasha that Kotori was standing firm with her decision. As her words clearly showed, there was no room left for an argument, nor did he feel like having one.
A gust of wind brushed past them, causing locks of hair to flutter about. As distracted as Inuyasha was, it was at that point he noticed that the end of Kotori's long tresses was singed black. One glance and he could determine that the source was not the fire at the collapsed tower. It was infeasible for the dexterous Kotori to be caught in such a small incident.
His eyes narrowed into slits and waves of frustration swirled inside his body. "What happened to your hair, Kotori? Who's the bastard that did this?"
That successfully pulled Kotori's attention to the topic of his inquiry. She ran a finger down her tresses until it reached the tip of the blackened hair. "A human, who is different from the undead, caught me off guard when the tower was attacked. I dodged most of his fires but I suppose this is the disadvantage of having long hair. It's our species' tradition to keep it at this length so I'm not sure why you won't cut yours when necessary, Inuyasha-sama. It's not like you hold much regard for the Inu clan's traditions."
"Are you trying to provoke me, woman?" Inuyasha grunted in displeasure, not from Kikyo's weight as she boarded his back, but from the unpleasant reminder of being stuck on top of a tree because of his overflowing silver mane. "Keh! Still, it's bothering me that there are humans, in the flesh, running around and causing us trouble. I caught six of them running off moments ago."
"It seems like we can agree on the number… Although their identity concerns me, we should cast them aside until we locate Sesshomaru-sama," Kotori suggested, all the while making a mental note to gather the details from Kikyo when the chance came. Even though she had no evidence, the way the six men all fled simultaneously after witnessing the Hama no Ya told her that the miko was somehow tied to their appearances.
"Where do you think you're going?" Following the last syllable to leave the demoness' lips was Waramaru's voice. With a raised eyebrow, the bull-youkai placed his arms on his waist. "I don't suppose you plan on slacking off. Regardless of how puny our enemies are, we're on a battlefield."
As if on cue, pained cries could be heard amidst the clashing sounds of steel. Inuyasha scrunched up his nose as the stench of bowels from torn stomach drifted into his nostrils, combined with the metallic scent of blood and the suffocating smell of smoke. As experienced as he was to seeing bloodshed, he would never get used to the awful foulness that haunted his excellent scent of smell.
"Keh! As if we didn't know that already," Inuyasha muttered, pulling himself upright. Kikyo shifted slightly with his movement, unaccustomed to being carried. Carefully, he steadied her and was rewarded with a sign of appreciation when she gently squeezed his shoulders.
"You didn't answer my question," Waramaru stated. His position in the West's hierarchy meant that he couldn't order Inuyasha or Kotori to answer but that did not mean he would let them off without any explanation.
"Sesshomaru-sama has summoned the two of us along with the miko. We're obeying his order." The lie came without any reserve, though Kotori was sure that Waramaru wasn't fooled. As expected, the bulky archer snorted in what she believed was amusement. Understanding the implication, her brain spun in quickened motion and she added, "Although… Sesshomaru-sama's order is absolute, I do fear that the burden will be too great for Waramaru-sama if we leave and he has to bear the duty of leadership alone. Perhaps one of us could afford to stay..."
'Lies. All lies. If Sesshomaru-sama did intend to use the miko, then he would've taken her from the beginning.' Waramaru smirked and glanced at Kikyo. Although he doubted the validity of Kotori's claims, he couldn't deny that the demoness had left him in a challenging situation. Now he understood why Inuyasha had chosen to appeal to his sense of pride earlier as a form of inspiration. Kotori must've been the one who told the hanyou how much pride meant to the bull youkai, just like how said pride was putting words into his mouth. "All of you should obey Sesshomaru-sama and go. I can handle things here even without your help. My secret weapon is ready and all my men are prepared and armed. So go now and do what you think you have to do before things get explosive."
Hearing that, Inuyasha nodded and took off with Kikyo. Kotori followed, trailing his footsteps as she kept watch at the rear. Unbeknownst to them, at that point in time, the flea Myoga had grabbed onto a part of Inuyasha's kimono and latched on as they headed away from the war zone.
Another swipe of his claws had the corpse's body torn asunder. Sesshomaru did not linger, nor did he falter at the sight of rotten meat. Bodies after bodies fell, dotting a trail behind him as he made his way up, towards the peak of the highest mountain.
His kill count — if he could call it that — was getting increasingly high. Yet more undead swarmed him, keen to touch him with their filthy hands. In Sesshomaru's eyes, they were no more than pestering flies.
His claw plunged into the head of a corpse, then followed down vertically until both halves slumped to the ground like a balloon without air. Flexing his fingers, the daiyoukai's mind was momentarily distracted by a beautiful katana, one with various rune-like lines that decorated its backside. His Bakusaiga — it was a fang forged by one of his father's friends, Totosai, centuries ago. While it was debatable whether or not its powers were superior to the Three Swords of the Honorable Ruler — blades rumored to be a gift from the gods — its decomposition ability would've been extremely useful given his current situation.
Nonetheless, the image of the katana also evoked unpleasant memories that were once locked away in the deep abyss. He recalled the reason why he decided to use So'unga instead of his Bakusaiga. A frown marred his brows as he forcefully removed the recollections until he was left with just one belief. Regardless of everything, it was better for Bakusaiga to remain unused.
Tenseiga rattled inside its scabbard, as if questioning the daiyoukai's conclusion. A sense of discontentment was associated with its unusual behavior. Sesshomaru suspected that the sword of life was responding to the deceased, though he did not pay it much heed. There was no need to draw this blade either. The corpses obstructing his path were a nuisance but he knew that his claws were sufficient in guaranteeing their erasure from this world.
All Tenseiga had to do was serve as a guidepost to So'unga. The occasional tugs that were barely noticeable were adequate. Sesshomaru squinted, his line of sight fixed on the summit of the mountain until a presence dragged his gaze downwards.
"Lord Sesshomaru. I heard that you're strong. Weaklings hold no appeal for me so I was hoping to fight someone with your rumored skills." To the surprise of Sesshomaru, though it was concealed, the one in front of him was not only capable of speech but also lacked the stench of decomposing matters.
Sesshomaru's light footwork fell out of its rapid pattern. He stopped and studied the human who dared to impede him with semi-interest. The man dressed in mostly white with some patches of blue met his gaze daringly, his dark eyes gleaming in amusement. He was a lean-muscled man with tanned skin. Decorating his forehead, in the center untouched by his jagged bangs, was a tattoo of a four-pointed star. True to his desire to seek powerful opponents, he was dressed appropriately for a warrior. A red obi kept his armor in place on top of his battle haori and kimono. Resting slumped on his shoulder was the largest halberd Sesshomaru had ever seen. Demonic aura leaked from the enormous steel, instantly alerting the daiyoukai that the man was no ordinary human.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and his voice was dangerously low. "What do you want? Should I know you?"
"I'm Bankotsu, the leader of the Shichinintai. My source of intel told me that I'll find you here. You've kept me waiting!" As if to emphasize his impatience, the mercenary swiped his halberd with a tremendous force that pushed back the air. Red sparks crackled around the weapon as a surge of energy rushed forward toward Sesshomaru. "Banryu Furasshu!"
The attack reminded Sesshomaru a lot of Tessaiga's Kaze no Kizu, though the torrent of youki barreling towards him was red instead of yellow. Unimpressed, he evaded the attack by sidestepping and watched with a backward glance as it obliterated all of the undead that was following him.
"Draw your sword, Sesshomaru. There won't be anybody interfering with this fight." Satisfied with the display of power, Bankotsu smirked and urged the daiyoukai as he gave his weapon one final test with a spectacular thrust. The force toyed with Sesshomaru's silver mane, causing it to sway. "Let me introduce you to my precious Banryu. Make sure to engrave its magnificence into your memory, 'cause it will be the last thing you'll see."
"Out of my way." Comparable to his almighty status, Sesshomaru's voice boasted of power and supremacy. Although he was not the type to back off from a duel or challenge, the daiyoukai knew better than to waste his time on an insignificant human. The mortal didn't deserve his attention, let alone bear witness to his supreme power.
Bankotsu huffed with apparent disdain, though the confident smile was kept plastered on his face. "You demons are all the same. You think you're all so high and mighty because you were born with demonic powers. Unlike you, I had to work to get to where I stand right now. But my effort is paying off since more and more people have come to acknowledge my strength. You know, one of them — this Naraku guy — even paid me to present your head to him on a silver platter."
For once, Sesshomaru found some value in listening to a human's prattle. Not one to miss the implications, he immediately sought confirmation. "Naraku, you say?"
"Yep. He's the guy who told me to give you a warm reception. Hah!" In less than a heartbeat, Bankotsu moved in and swung.
Sesshomaru dodged at the last second. For someone wielding a large halberd, Bankotsu didn't lack agility as he swiftly followed with another diagonal slash. Much to the mercenary's chagrin, he cleaved through empty space. The daiyoukai leaped back, clearing some distance between them. The sword on his obi remained untouched for the entire duration, as though he never had the intention of drawing it to counter his vicious assault.
"Pompous demon, I told you to draw your weapon! Or is your sword there for decoration?" Bankotsu growled, frustrated by Sesshomaru's indifference. It was apparent that the daiyoukai did not even consider him to be much of a threat.
Ignoring the provocation, Sesshomaru demanded, "Where is he?"
"Don't be so impatient, Sesshomaru. He has a surprise in store for you up there," Bankotsu paused and jabbed a thumb at the mountain. "But you're not going anywhere unless you can defeat me."
A sharp glint flashed across the daiyoukai's unmoving golden orbs. Having extracted the information he sought, there was no longer the need to delay the inevitable. He moved, faster than a click of the fingers, and was soon in front of Bankotsu.
The mercenary reacted by pulling back but he was a human through and through. His possession of a demonic blade did not mean he could attain the strength of a youkai, let alone a daiyoukai like Sesshomaru. A casual flick of his finger had the withdrawing human restrained with his green whip. Another flick sent Bankotsu sprawling into the side of the mountain with the force of a wrecking ball. The brutal execution sent a mixture of blood and stone fragments flying, before larger rocks came crashing down on his body.
By some miracle, or perhaps it was through sheer will, Bankotsu maintained his grip on his Banryu. Nevertheless, the weapon was rendered useless now that its wielder was left barely conscious, with most of his body buried underneath the rubble.
Sparing the groaning man no second thoughts, Sesshomaru continued on his way at a quickened pace. There was nothing else hindering his path for the rest of the climb and it wasn't long until he reached the flat peak.
What greeted him was not Naraku. In the place of the cowardly bastard that he wanted to shred in pieces were two figures that he did not recognize.
The first was a young child with pale skin and white hair that trailed to the middle of his back. He was a petite form donned in a white buttoned outfit. A naginata was being twirled in between the fingers of his right hand, as if it was a toy instead of a fearsome weapon.
The violet eyes that bore down on Sesshomaru were reflective and without pupils, though the child failed to capture his attention as much as his companion did. He was comparatively older and had greater complexity in color, having pale skin, red eyes, elf-like ears, and short purple hair. The youki that radiated from him boasted of power that belonged to a daiyoukai. Clad in a black uniform and hakama, he was protected by red armor plating and armbands with dark markings. Apart from the large tuft of black fur that adorned his shoulder, his most distinguishing feature was his white mask, which covered the left side of his face.
However, Sesshomaru was never one to pay much detail to someone's appearance. There was another reason why he kept his gaze glued to the older youkai. For in the hand that was not holding onto a staff, was the very item that should be in the daiyoukai's possession.
Seeing his prized weapon with someone else did not sit well with the Lord of the West. Waves of anger crashed into his golden eyes, lighting the layer of frost into a blazing fire.
He was off in a flash. The distance was not a concept he acknowledged as he closed in on them. His claw oozed with deadly poison and he unleashed his wrath with a swipe. His opponents were ready though. An energy dome that shimmered with violet materialized, encasing the two figures. Sesshomaru's claw clashed with it, causing a myriad of green and purple sparks to fly.
The pressure from the impact hurled loose stones into the air. The ground below Sesshomaru shook, trembling in fear as he discharged a fearsome amount of youki. Red demonic clouds swirled above, signaling the calamity that was the daiyoukai's might.
Yet the barrier withstood it all. It sizzled and flickered, but remained intact in a provocative manner.
Sesshomaru found his footing, his eyes narrowing into silts.
"Hehehe," the child chuckled, his visage twisted with a cruel smile that was a misfit with his innocent appearance. "That's some greeting, Sesshomaru. If I hadn't deployed the kekkai beforehand, then we would've lost before we could begin. I don't want that, and neither does Naraku… Ah, yes, speaking of which. I'm his incarnation. I'm Hakudoshi."
"I do not care who you are. Tell me, where is your creator."
"I see you have a lot of priorities on hand. Are you so desperate to seek Naraku and retain the sword that you would knowingly walk into a trap, Sesshomaru?" Protected by his companion's kekkai, the masked daiyoukai countered Sesshomaru's stare with one that was filled with disdain. As if to spite the Lord of the West, he flourished the sheathed blade in his hand with dramatic movements.
Since the scabbard was not specially forged for the sword, the swinging motions caused it to slide off and expose So'unga before Sesshomaru. The scabbard fell, ramming into the dirt right next to the Inu daiyoukai's boots.
Emotions steered away from Sesshomaru's face, but the youki he emitted projected a great sense of rage. Invisible energy intensified and hissed, causing the airstream to circulate in an irregular and fear-provoking manner. He stretched back his arm, only to be halted when he caught a whiff of familiar scents.
The smirk grew even wider on the child's face when he saw the newcomers. "So the rest of the actors are finally here. At last, we can begin the performance."
Much to Sesshomaru's growing list of frustrations, what entered his peripheral vision was Inuyasha as he placed the miko down on the ground next to Kotori. Without waiting for his orders, the hanyou rushed straight into the feud.
"Sesshomaru, you're in my way! Move!" With a shout of warning, Inuyasha wasted no time and unleashed a wave of Tessaiga's signature attack. "Kaze no Kizu!"
Sesshomaru bristled at the command, his pride averse to the notion of budging. A surge of vicious energy careened towards him, only to alter its route at the last moment. The Kaze no Kizu made an abrupt arc upwards, narrowly missing Sesshomaru's head as if having factored in the daiyoukai's refusal.
"You will stay out of this," the masked daiyoukai ordered his companion, leaving no room for an argument. When he was given a grin and a casual shrug in reply, he dropped his altitude until he was outside of the kekkai. He hoisted So'unga into the air in a manner that made Sesshomaru furrow his eyes in recognition.
"Gokuryuha!" As the single word left his new wielder's lips, So'unga responded with its most powerful attack. A large, violent, and fearsome purplish-black tornado surrounded the masked daiyoukai. Like the eye of a hurricane, the attack began from the point where he stood as it took the form of a dragon from hell.
The two energies collided with each other. For the briefest of seconds, Inuyasha's Kaze no Kizu held its ground before it was completely dispersed by the overwhelming beast soaring towards them.
Inuyasha's face paled in terror upon realization. It was becoming obvious that he had miscalculated the power of the two enemies. Nonetheless, he did not back down. The instinct to protect his companions propelled him forward. He barely had the time to reposition Tessaiga before landing a diagonal slash at the center of the ferocious denotation.
"Bakuryuha!" A torrent of energy, similar to the Kaze no Kizu, erupted from Tessaiga. It collided with the impending storm of overwhelming might. In theory, the twister-like attack should've reversed the flow of Gokuryuha back, with the additional power of the Kaze no Kizu. But much to Inuyasha's bewilderment, it failed to stop So'unga's ultimate technique.
"It's not working either!" Shocked, he barely shielded his body with his sword before he took the brutal force of swirling mass head-on.
"Inuyasha-sama!" Kotori's desperate cry was lost amidst the explosive power. The demoness pounced toward the half-demon. From the corner of her eye, she saw the Lord of the West's blurred figure heading toward Kikyo. She did not have the time to make much out of the sight. Her sole attention was on the screaming hanyou engulfed by the blast.
When the discharge died out, Shishinki and Hakudoshi waited for the smoke to disperse. Their eyes landed on Sesshomaru, who stood unharmed and away from the large crater with Kikyo secured in one arm.
All the while, Inuyasha and Kotori were nowhere to be seen.
Preview – Next time, an intense battle breaks loose as intentions and origins are questioned. Sesshomaru struggles to accept what his father had left behind while Inuyasha arrives closer to a truth that was kept hidden from him since birth.