Disclaimer: All characters from the series Inuyasha that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything regarding their creation; I have Rumiko Takahashi to thank for that.
Author's Notes: Hello, everyone! I'm back with not only another chapter but also terrific news! Bubu-chibi-chan has offered to betaread this story and has done a superb job on this chapter. It helps me tremendously so allow me to dedicate a moment to offer my gratitude. Thank you, bubu-chibi-chan!
And also a word of appreciation to fabelliot, Proxy57, 8579, Meech Macko, Shion Lee, kikyou flower, and yami2703, who kindly submitted a review. The feedbacks strive as encouragement and inspiration as they tell me what I'm doing right and wrong with this story.
fabelliot: Sesshomaru was left doubting his father's motive in the last chapter and Shishinki was certainly cruel to make sure it really sinks in. Because of him, the Inu no Taisho's intention was thrown into the center of contemplation, with both Sesshomaru and Kikyo having made valid points. Well, it's all speculation for the characters (and readers) at this point, considering that they couldn't go and ask the one in question for the answers.
And yep, it's just like Sesshomaru to crush anything that tries to hinder him. And he does it with his pride intact and radiating. I do hope that I managed to capture that essence of him. ;)
Proxy57: Here's the next chapter after the wait. I hope that I didn't leave you in suspense for too long. Please enjoy.
8579: Thank you for your review. While both of them weren't too happy with teaming up, they did it nonetheless and temporarily set aside their differences. As for the romance part… well, I do understand that it's indeed lacking and what scenes that involve SessKik are few in between. However, please be a little more patient. I'm setting up the events and I can promise you that there will be chapters dedicated to the two of them and their interactions coming up soon.
Meech Macko: Well, I won't say too much about the manga since what I'm writing is fanfiction so my focus will remain on the latter. While I'm borrowing the main concepts from canon, there are major disparities as you may have noticed, such as Inuyasha being less unwilling to work with Sesshomaru due to not sharing as much antagonism.
However, I will say that this Inuyasha is indeed not interested in ruling the lands and grand conquest. He longs for a sense of belonging and family/friends rather than fulfilling an ambition. And Sesshomaru does know this, though Myoga's words might have added fuel to the fire when he was already incited by Shishinki's mockery.
Shion Lee: Hi there, it's nice to meet you. I'm really happy that you decided to check out this story. And if you do enjoy reading about SessKik, there are some stories I can recommend to you. Forbidden and Unexpected Encounters are both awesome fanfics that convinced me of the unlimited potential of SessKik and got me to fall in love with the pairing.
kikyou flower: Hello, it's pleasing to see new reviewers. Thanks for dropping feedback. And love your name and thumbnail.
I understand your concerns and I agree that SessKik isn't interacting as much despite being nearly 20 chapters into the story. However, I am trying to set the scenes for their chemistry. As neither is the warm and affectionate types, the progress can be agonizingly slow so I ask for your patience. The good news is that once this arc, which is nearing its conclusion, ends, I can delve deeper into SessKik's relationship as well as the potential future for them.
yami2703: Yeah, I was late with the last one. But now it's back. I hope that you're enjoying it and thank you for being patient as well as a continuous supporter. :D
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(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).
Chapter 19-Three Swords of the Honorable Ruler III
Recap: Setting aside their differences, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha cooperate and defeat Shishinki together. Later, Inuyasha receives the completed Meido Zangetsuha from Tenseiga.
It was a mistake to believe that everything was resolved simply because the immediate danger, Shishinki's life-threatening technique, was taken care of.
Sesshomaru was inches from reaching So'unga when Hakudoshi charged out from his hiding spot. With a shorter distance to cover, the child maneuvered his body in the air to evade Sesshomaru's claws and kicked the Sword of Hell away.
"Hehehe," Hakudoshi chuckled, rapidly climbing altitude as Sesshomaru split the earth that So'unga had been lodged in with another swipe of his arm. A fearsome mass of youki pushed outward, driving the child's white mane into a mess. Despite witnessing such a daunting display of might, Hakudoshi remained unperturbed as he gazed down at the daiyoukai. "Sesshomaru, that was quite careless of you. Are you going to ignore your precious sword? Look, it's flying away."
"Hmph." Deeming So'unga to be of greater importance, Sesshomaru allowed Hakudoshi to make his escape unhindered and instead rotated his head. He was just in time to see the blade spiraling out of control and drawing a circle in midair as long purple tentacles extended outward from the hilt.
So'unga caught Inuyasha by complete surprise as it latched onto his right arm. The tentacles coiled around him like ropes, constricting his arm as the ends jabbed past skin and entered inside his limb.
"W-what is this sword doing… to me?" The question barely left his lips before Inuyasha found his consciousness being shoved aside by a feral instinct. The demonic aura slipping from the tentacles into his body was like poison to his veins, dapping over a sinister veil over everything that made him who he was.
Unable to resist its influences, Inuyasha's world faded into a sheet of red as he let loose a bloodcurdling roar that echoed throughout the entire mountain.
'This scent!' Sesshomaru couldn't control the surprise that clung to his pupils as his eyes widened. The scent of full demonic blood on Inuyasha was strong, slamming into the daiyoukai with as much vigor as the red youki whirling around his changed appearance.
His physical build hadn't altered, though what had changed was unsettling. No longer were Inuyasha's irises golden; instead, they became blue slits with white pupils enveloped by his sclera of deep red. Jagged purple stripes — that closely resembled Sesshomaru's — appeared on the sides of his face.
Before Sesshomaru could reflect on anything, Inuyasha charged at him with astonishing speed that should've been impossible for the hanyou. Startled but never careless, Sesshomaru leaped back on instinct. His endeavor fell short as Inuyasha demonstrated incredible speed and brought So'unga down.
Blood immediately spewed out as Inuyasha disembodied Sesshomaru's left arm from its limb. A low grunt escaped from the daiyoukai's lips as he staggered back, his right hand clenching the bleeding stump. In the midst of the agony coursing through his left side and the critical warning ringing inside his head, his primal instinct stirred as the magenta stripes on his cheeks serrated and extended their length. His standard gold orbs became encrusted with a sheet of sanguine and his pupils shrunk towards the center.
Yet, being the prideful daiyoukai he was, Sesshomaru refused to allow his demonic nature to dominate his actions as Inuyasha did. Compressing his youki, he glowered at the hanyou with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
With diminished intelligence, Inuyasha was ignorant of the intimidation. Provoked by the stench of blood staining So'unga, he licked the warm liquid with the tip of his tongue.
Then he was off in a flash, like greased lightning.
Inuyasha was faster than what was expected, yet Kotori was an expert in the area of speed. Sensing his killing intent, she sidestepped to cover for Kikyo. Her feet slid across the ground, utilizing the momentum to intercept So'unga with her katana.
"Inuyasha-sama, what's wrong with you?" Kotori grunted, to which Inuyasha responded with a beast-like growl.
The two pieces of metal clashed in an explosion of sparks. With a charge of youki, Inuyasha pushed forward and overwhelmed the demoness with raw strength. Kotori stumbled but managed to steady herself in time to ward off a thrust. So'unga scrapped against her katana, though the demonic energy from the sword reshaped the air current. The invisible blade drew a thin red line on Kotori's chin.
Energy crackled between them and then finally thrust them apart. Kotori was pushed back once more. Before she could react, Inuyasha's hand grabbed her face, bringing her entire body into the dirt. Her vision became a blurred mess as her head and back found the hard surface in a powerful slam. The ground cracked beneath her and blood spew from her mouth.
Inuyasha positioned So'unga for a final strike when he felt his youki being distorted. On instinct, he threw himself to the side and narrowly avoided getting hit. Kikyo's arrow skimmed past his right arm, the thick rope-like substances coiled around him sizzling under the power of purification.
The threat spurred his next action. Inuyasha pounced at the miko, snarling like a rabid dog. With So'unga's youki preoccupied with the remnant of the spiritual power that had lingered around, Inuyasha was forced to use his claws, lengthened and bloodied.
"K-Kikyo-sama!" Kotori coughed out a splatter of crimson. She heaved her body back up, even though she instinctively knew she would be too slow. "Don't, Inuyasha-sama!"
The Beads of Subjugation glowed with a dazzling light that left Kikyo breathless and in agony. Unable to erect a barrier in time, she did the only thing she could and made a desperate dive to the left. Against the half-demon Inuyasha, she would've come out unscathed. But the current Inuyasha, consumed by So'unga's evil aura, was much faster than before, his speed rivaling that of a daiyoukai.
In the instant where life and death were measured, Inuyasha's eyes reverted to their original color before being dominated by his demonic nature once more. More startled by his own action than the unwanted glimpse of apprehension on Kikyo's face, Inuyasha twisted his arm in the fraction of the second he had regained his sanity.
There was a frightening sound of something tearing and a hiss immediately followed as his claw ripped through her abdomen. Crimson liquid shot forth and Kikyo's knees buckled. Her body leaned backward and she surprisingly found something soft and furry.
His jaws were clenched and his eyes were as cold as everlasting winter as Sesshomaru drove his fist into Inuyasha's chin. The intense movement aggravated his injury, blood rained over the miko wrapped around his mokomoko. Shrugging the pain off as though it originated from a minor wound, the daiyoukai wasted no time and reached out for Tessaiga resting inside its scabbard.
Yellow sparks crackled around Sesshomaru's hand and the resistance became an unbreakable obstacle. His eyes narrowing in slits, the daiyoukai continued to pull even as the energy imprinted scorched marks onto his hand. Not one to withdraw, he permitted this unwavering action to illustrate his needs.
'Father, I need Tessaiga's power.' As if his unspoken request was heard, the weapon Sesshomaru could never manage to wield not only willingly slipped out from its scabbard, but also revealed its magnificent transformed state to the Lord of the West. Utilizing the force of his motion, the daiyoukai landed a swift kick at Inuyasha before swinging the blade downward. A robust wave of energy spilled out and Inuyasha was hurled into the ground several feet away.
The achievement would've made anyone beam with pride, but it only served to leave a phlegmatic countenance on Sesshomaru. He knew that such an occurrence was temporary; once Inuyasha regained his will, there would be no doubt that Tessaiga would choose the hanyou over the daiyoukai. Watching the half-demon climb back onto his feet, his mokomoko stretched out towards Kotori before tossing the miko in her direction.
"Stay well back," he uttered, his voice reaching below a temperature that could freeze everything.
Having been subjected to the same experience twice already on the same day, Kikyo braced herself for a rough landing. Despite the suddenness of Sesshomaru's action, Kotori responded timely and caught the miko in midair. It was anything but gentle and the impact of colliding back first into the demoness' chest almost forced blood from the miko's throat. Even supposing that Inuyasha had avoided her vital organs, the wound on her abdomen was deep enough to spill out a pool of crimson liquid. She pressed a hand to the injury and compressed it, noting how her blood loss was barely noteworthy compared to the amount that leaked out from Sesshomaru's severed arm.
Ignoring his own wound, Sesshomaru charged at Inuyasha, launching a side cut. Inuyasha countered with So'unga. The two fighters rotated on their heels, trading blows. They thrust, swung, and parried with lightning speed, almost impossible to follow.
Even with a blade he wasn't used to handling and handicapped with his dismembered limb, the daiyoukai was still a fierce fighter. However, Inuyasha matched his skills with an intensity unseen before. The hanyou's rapid shots came close to hitting their mark. One managed to slice the fabric of Sesshomaru's collar where his insignia was sewed on. It had only missed his flesh by perhaps a centimeter due to the demon lord intercepting the weapon with his own.
The sound of weapons colliding echoed in the area as the two swords crisscrossed.
As Sesshomaru and Inuyasha struggled for the ascendancy in strength, So'unga's hilt glistened with a brilliant red glow that left behind an ominous sensation. At that moment, a sinister voice floated into the daiyoukai's ears, taunting him with its mocking words.
"I am disgusted, Sesshomaru. Your darkest secrets are nothing but a laugh. You would work with a mortal, and for what? A juvenile dream. You're weak, Sesshomaru, unworthy of my time. But if you manage to defeat me, I will in turn foil Naraku's scheme and we will revisit the conversation of your worth." The disembodied voice laughed, generating a sense of eeriness that would've made anyone but Sesshomaru shiver in anxiousness.
Familiar with the hellish dragon's spirit that resided within So'unga, the daiyoukai had long since been immune to its tantalizing yet menacing words. Nonetheless, that didn't prevent the blade from taunting him as it once did when he first obtained it. Sesshomaru would've thought that it had learned from its futile efforts centuries ago, though the blade was importunate in its endeavor.
"What's the matter, Sesshomaru? Don't be so hesitant. Don't you have the resolve to kill your feeble brother, the one who took your left arm? Or do you still feel the need to compel to the deal you made with your father's wench?"
With each syllable, Inuyasha increased the pressure as if trying to add emphasis.
Sesshomaru's boots slid back against the dirt ground, his stamina depleting fast from the blood loss. He persisted, however, averse to losing to Inuyasha.
As if bent on ridiculing the daiyoukai's situation, the voice of So'unga spoke in a way that gave the impression of someone sneering. "Look at you — Two blood brothers… trying to kill each other. Your weakling of a father was just as foolish as you. If only he had heeded my words, he would not have met such a miserable end."
"Silence!" The single word held the devastating might of a roaring avalanche. The dormant anger detonated once more in a day, obliterating the emotionless mask the daiyoukai wore. A visible snarl overtook his features and his demonic energy discharged in waves of ferocious magnitude. The feeling gave birth to a surge of strength, which he poured into Tessaiga.
A mental command summoned a torrent of power from the blade. Faster than Inuyasha was able to counter, the energy-generated waves of the Kaze no Kizu sailed straight for his body before engulfing him in a blinding illumination. Sesshomaru watched with narrowed eyes as the force shoved the hanyou back, tossing him in a straight arc before crashing into the earth. The shockwave scarred the grounds and generated a crater shaped exactly like Inuyasha's body.
As predicted, Tessaiga refrained from manifesting its full potential so Sesshomaru found no need to hold back. His apathetic expression slipped back into place as he captured Inuyasha's staggering form. The younger son of the Inu no Taisho climbed back onto his feet and coughed out a mouthful of blood. It was an indication his body was breaching its limits. Regardless of his enhanced abilities, he was in a shell that was more fragile and less durable than a full-blooded youkai. Such a fact would've normally made the half-demon wary. Although at present, he remained battle-crazed due to So'unga's manipulation and would most likely continue to ravage on until his own destruction.
Inuyasha pounced like a hungry tiger, his sword readied. Sesshomaru prepared himself for an attack, though that became unnecessary when an energy field separated the brothers from their line of path. The layer of blue drew a curve around Sesshomaru, enveloping him inside a dome that flickered with spiritual powers.
Recognition came to the daiyoukai as quickly as the barrier formed. How dare she interfere when he specifically told her not to? Annoyance flashed across his eyes as he whirled around to scowl at the miko. Sesshomaru halted his premeditated sentence as he perceived the hidden layer of pain within Kikyo's quivering pair of mahogany orbs. With an arm looped around Kotori for support, the miko made her way toward the daiyoukai.
"You've had your warning. Back off before I end you." The threat that came into mind ended up leaving his lips in a fresh dosage of menace when Kikyo signaled Kotori to stop right next to him.
"Believe me, Sesshomaru. I would if I could. I like our predicament no better than you do." Kikyo retorted, though her words lacked the usual defiance and were instead laced with a sense of willingness for a compromise. Her tone was softer and fluctuated with a tinge of desperation that was unheard of from their usual confrontations.
The miko bit back a wince as her kekkai was met with a forceful slam. Fortunately, the protective barrier held its stability, though she knew that it wouldn't be long until it reached the breaking point. Thus, she opted to speak again, laying her emphasis by grabbing onto the Beads of Subjugation. "You and I both know that we cannot afford to become fixated on this battle. Should you wish to achieve the desirable outcome, then I bid you to remove this restriction."
What should've sounded like a request held none of the humility that his subjects would have demonstrated. She had returned to speaking to him as though she was his equal. Nonetheless, her mannerism was neither condescending nor humble. It didn't get on his nerve yet it demanded his attention as though she was an equal.
Sesshomaru reasoned that she must've erected the kekkai around him to keep him at bay. It was a way to get his attention so that he would listen to whatever she wanted to say. Under normal circumstances, he would've opted to permanently silence the one who dared to show such insolence. However, he reminded himself that the miko was indispensable in his conquest, even supposing he had realized that it was a highly improbable objective to attain given Tessaiga's properties.
Moreover, her implication was not lost to him so he eased his growing ire with years of self-discipline and instead asked, "What are you planning?"
It was a question, but the authority latched onto his monotonous voice gave rise to a demand. Kikyo resisted the urge to give a slow toss of her head in exasperation. His egotistical attitude could be so insufferable at times. Still, she supposed it was much better than the daiyoukai taking action and destroying her barrier from the inside, especially given how Inuyasha was dealing damage to the exterior. Perhaps that was the reason why Sesshomaru was willing to spare her a few words rather than take immediate action. The barrier would soon be eradicated, regardless of whether or not he lifted a finger to do so.
"I have heard that the blade contains the spirit of a fearsome dragon from the depths of hell. It stands to reason that it may feel threatened by our presence. Or to be specific, it is afraid of my spiritual powers, the Meido Zangetsuha, and your strength of mind," Kikyo paused and took a quick breath, utilizing the moment to reinforce her barrier. Inuyasha was relentless with his attacks and each blow delivered felt like a direct punch to the chest.
"Strength of mind?" Kotori parroted back, expressing her perplexity. From the corner of her eyes, she watched as the miko shifted her weight against her somewhat, before supplying her with an answer.
"Yes. Unlike Inuyasha, Sesshomaru has proven himself capable of combating the blade's influence." Setting her sight on the daiyoukai, she bore her gaze straight into his golden orbs as she articulated her words with additional stress. "You are able to wield it with your own willpower. As such, the blade seeks to eliminate you, along with any other potential threats. Considering Naraku's influence in this matter, it is quite likely he has also offered additional incentives for the blade to take action."
Sesshomaru met her gaze in intense coldness. Despite having sustained injuries that numbed their senses, they mirrored each other's stoicism as they gave their appraisal. What left his lips next was without any fluctuation, though there was an underlying sense of impatience. "All very interesting. But did you interrupt my fight to simply tell me this?"
Slowly, as if trying to highlight that her motion was harmless, Kikyo dropped her longbow and delved into the hidden compartment of her kimono. When her pale hand reemerged seconds later, a talisman and a rosary came into sight. "I won't pry into your reasons but I believe you have no intention of seeing Inuyasha die. I have a plan in mind, one that could end his rampage. However, with my powers restricted by the Beads of Subjugation, the idea is infeasible."
With that, the available options were in front of Sesshomaru. He could now comprehend why she felt the need to elaborate on their situation before offering her proposal. It was all a tactic to appeal to him, in a manner quite similar to how the elders of the council would resort to. Although, he couldn't deny that it was effective, particularly when she had the nerve to bargain as if they were equal.
He briefly contemplated the outcome should he refuse her suggestion. There was no doubt in his mind that he would ultimately emerge victorious against Inuyasha, even when considering the handicap of his missing arm. It would be an internecine battle that tested stamina. Given the circumstances, it was highly likely that Inuyasha would perish from over-exhausting himself. A barely perceivable frown appeared with that notion. As much as he would never admit it aloud, the miko was correct in her assumption; he had his reasons for keeping Inuyasha alive.
Another forceful slam collided with the kekkai in a resounding impact. Kotori expressed words of genuine concern when Kikyo hissed in pain and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Nevertheless, they couldn't halt Sesshomaru from his deliberations.
All things considered, freeing the miko from her restrictions seemed like a wise move. Still, he didn't neglect the likely repercussion of the decision. Once he took them off, it would be a nuisance to control her after the problem with Inuyasha was stabilized. The idea might have given birth to doubt for any other demons, though Sesshomaru was not one to be troubled. He would deal with her accordingly when the time came.
"Enlightened me of your plan, miko." It was his pride and confidence to surmount that triumphed over all other possibilities that could be unfavorable. Nonetheless, even though his mind was already fixed on his decision, he opted to gather all of the unknown variables in an act of instinctive prudence.
In contrast to Kotori, who twitched her ears to listen attentively, he gave no indication that he was listening to the miko as she obliged. When she finished with her elaboration, certain adjectives floated into his head. Her plan of action was simple and efficient, though hardly fair. As the son of the great Inu no Taisho, he valued honor and was therefore blunt with his wording.
"This scheme of yours is beneath me." His grip on Tessaiga tightened to express his displeasure. "Should it fail, you will pay and I will kill Inuyasha."
As the last syllable left his throat, he supplied a mental order to the Beads of Subjugation. Responding to him straight away, the rosary was temporarily lit with a red glow before the string snapped off, as if cut by something invisible. Gravity picked up the beads and dragged them down, scattering them across the ground near Kikyo's feet.
Kotori cast a worried glance at the flickering kekkai just as another brutal attack came barreling down like a landslide. The generated energy instantly shattered the barrier into millions of dispersing fragments.
In spite of clearing through the barrier, the dynamism of the blow was still very powerful. Waves of youki were hurled into the previously enclosed space, threatening to knock the occupants off their feet.
Disinclined to be pushed back, Sesshomaru forced a step forward and brandished Tessaiga in a horizontal arc. An incredible storm of demonic power traveled through the air and collided with the impending energy, nullifying it in a rampage for dominance.
Following the plan, Sesshomaru engaged Inuyasha in a fearsome display of swordsmanship. In mere seconds he reduced the distance and settled into the rhythm of swordplay. The two sons of the Inu no Taisho danced across the scarred ground in a blur of red and white, each wielding a blade that they weren't accustomed to. Whereas Inuyasha relied on the lethality of each powerful swing, Sesshomaru made a somewhat conscious effort to avoid any of Inuyasha's vitals and focused on evasion and swift counters.
Crimson liquid dribbled down from his ripped sleeve each time he maneuvered his body, but Sesshomaru could spare no youki to stop his severed arm from bleeding. He ensured that his whole attention was on his opponent and in return, Inuyasha showed him the same courtesy.
While Sesshomaru kept Inuyasha distracted, Kikyo gripped her rosary with her free hand and mumbled an incantation that was unrecognized by Kotori. Keeping the miko supported, the demoness watched with instinctive weariness as a soft pink light burst from the woman's fingers and fused into the beads.
Then the rosary was gone, faster than Kotori could blink. Bewildered, her eyes darted around, only to fix on Inuyasha's neck as it rematerialized itself there a second later. She watched intensely as Sesshomaru seemed to have taken some sort of cue and broke free of their interlocking blades.
"Osuwari!" uttered Kikyo, triggering the rosary shortly after Sesshomaru distanced himself. The accessory was never intended to be used on Inuyasha, though the effect was still the same regardless of who the wearer was. The beads glowed and activated, dragging the half-demon's body down as though it was subjected to immense gravity.
"Curse you, miko! I won't be stopped so easily!" So'unga offered ample resistance, determined to keep itself latched onto the half-demon while keeping him upright. The sword glowed and the spirit within spilled forth curses.
The stalemate ended when Kikyo gave Kotori a silent nod, to which the latter responded by leaving the former and rushing in. Forcing her unsteady legs to keep her body upright, the miko watched as the demoness closed the distance between herself and Inuyasha with astounding swiftness. She looped her arms around the half-demon's waist in a tight embrace and pulled.
The power of the rosary combined with her weight finally yanked Inuyasha down. There was a clamorous thud that kicked up clouds of dust, followed by Inuyasha's alarmed cry.
So'unga was sent flying into the air. It managed to steady its form and project itself towards the miko, leaving a trail of red behind. But before it could sink its tip into her heart, a flash of green trailed after it, halting it midflight by wrapping itself around the hilt.
Although Kikyo's features remained impassive, she was mentally relieved that Sesshomaru had followed through with her plan and stepped in to assist in the nick of time. Taking the opportunity he granted, she pasted the talisman she had prepared onto the surface of the suspended blade. The piece of enchanted paper wrapped itself around the steel. As if it was a puppet that had suddenly lost all its strings, So'unga fell and clattered onto the ground the instant Sesshomaru withdrew his youki-generated whip.
With that as a signal that the worst part was over, relief washed into her and at the moment where tension left her, she found her unsteady legs unable to support herself. Her complexion was ghostly pale as she fell to one knee, her form appearing so fragile that it would collapse with the smallest pressure.
Looking over, she noted that Sesshomaru wasn't faring any much better. In fact, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that he was far worse off than her. The daiyoukai had dropped Tessaiga, unable to muster the strength to stand, let alone grip onto his weapon any longer. His white hakama was marred with dirt and blood as he kneeled on the floor. In all honesty, she was amazed that he managed to continue fighting despite his injury. Blood was still flowing out of his dismembered limb without any restraint and he was in no condition to summon his youki to halt the flow. But more importantly, there were thick tendrils of jaki from So'unga that coiled around the wound, slipping into his deteriorating body. Despite the excruciating pain that must be coursing through him, he held onto his consciousness, stubbornly refusing to submit to the darkness even as his face was slightly contorted from the agony.
"Well played." A chuckle and applause dragged Kikyo's attention away from Sesshomaru to the child with shoulder-length white hair, whose bare feet lightly touched the ground near her. Despite his youthful appearance, a menace lurked within his dull eyes that reminded Kikyo of a predator cornering its prey. Hoisting a naginata that was nearly twice his height, he jabbed the end toward her in an intimidating gesture. "You people have not only managed to defeat the Shishinki, but also prevented the half-demon from running amok. Let me guess, you infused the bulk of your powers into that talisman to negate So'unga's youki, thus rendering it useless. It is only temporary, though that should be sufficient time for Sesshomaru to subdue and reclaim it. Is that what you were thinking? Ha, you have proven yourself quite clever indeed. It appears Naraku was not wrong in—"
"Naraku…?" A small frown settled on Kikyo's features before her brows quickly returned to their normal resting position. "Are you working for him?"
"Curious, are we? Well, the answer is simultaneously yes and no. I am not Naraku's servant. I am his incarnation. My name is Hakudoshi and I will show you why it's a fatal mistake to have neglected me. With all of you incapacitated, nothing is stopping me from taking what I came here for," The child laughed as he moved over towards the miko. There was not a trace of caution in his steps, as he believed that all his foes weren't able to retaliate in their current state. Both Inuyasha and Kotori were lying motionless on the ground. Even Sesshomaru was fighting to stay awake. As for Kikyo, the woman had not only exhausted most, if not all, of her spiritual powers but she was also crippled by the wound that demon Inuyasha had inflicted.
There was no one present who could offer him a challenge.
Such belief was proven erroneous when Kotori closed the distance in a heartbeat. Acting on instinct, Hakudoshi swiveled to defend her katana with his naginata, though too late was he to prevent her expeditious attack. The sharp blade ran across his body, splitting him and his weapon in half.
Although the attack would've been sufficient to kill ordinary demons, Hakudoshi had survived. He gathered up his suspended body parts and reconstructed them until they remerged into one. In mere seconds, his body had returned to how it appeared prior to being cut, though his taunting expression couldn't be restored. Instead, his voice was contorted with anger as he expressed his disbelief. "How? I thought you were knocked out cold!"
"So Kikyo-sama is indeed the one you're after. As she had predicted." There was no blood coating the steel, though Kotori gave her blade a quick flick out of habit. She assessed her opponent with critical eyes, all the while ensuring that she was in a defensive position that could shield the miko behind her. Passing a glance at the unconscious Inuyasha, she decided to grant the child an answer to his bewilderment. "You're sadly mistaken if you think you have us cornered. Your cunningness overreached itself. Kikyo-sama intends to discover your intention so she told me to fall prey to Inuyasha-sama's subjugation. Just before we were slammed into the ground, I repositioned myself so that Inuyasha-sama would take the full impact of the blow. As brutal as it may sound, it is necessary to lure you into a false sense of security."
"So you pretended to be unconscious but were actually waiting for the moment I reveal myself. Hehe, not bad. I guess I underestimated you, Kikyo. Seems I was mistaken in believing that Naraku alone possesses this level of shrewdness." Tossing his broken weapon at Kotori, who reflexively sliced at the pieces, Hakudoshi utilized the distraction. Given what Naraku told him, Kotori was incapable of flight. Hence, he immediately resorted to taking refuge in the skies. "Well, I'm done for today. But don't think this means it's over. I'll return for some more fun the next—"
"Think again. This is your end! Meido Zangetsuha!" From his position, Sesshomaru grabbed onto Tessaiga and flourished the blade in a rapid swipe. His vision was a blurry mess so he relied on his other senses to pick up on Hakudoshi's exact location. Purple energy cut through the air and opened up the wormhole to the underworld. He had no visual means of confirming but based on his desperate cries, the daiyoukai knew that the child was being engulfed by the attack.
"Noooo! I can't die here! I'm… I'm the one who's going to replace Naraku! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Silence then claimed the surroundings. Sesshomaru could no longer hear anything as the last ounce of his strength left him. Tessaiga slipped out of his grasp but not before leaving his hand scorched. The blade was once again rejecting him now that all threats were eradicated. Such a realization came to him, though it was barely registered. For the first time in what seemed like forever, the Lord of the West was pulled into oblivion by the alluring darkness of the deep abyss.
More Author's Notes: Preview – Next time, the aftermath of the battle. The past, promises, and the potential future all intertwine to form a complicated decision…
Until next time! And please remember, reviews and feedback are much welcomed!