"So, this is the Realm of Fire, huh?" Miroku's voice broke the tense silence as he peered down at the jagged landscape below, taking in the vast expanse of craters scattered across the mountain summit. The larger ones were emitting black smoke as it pollutted the air.
Sango voiced her concerns aloud, her tone carrying a hint of apprehension. "This seems rather too easy. Which only means that it is just a trap."
Inuyasha, leaning casually against a nearby tree with a cocky fanged smirk, interjected confidently, "The plan is simple. We'll make our way to the graveyard, retrieve the jewel shard before the bad guy. Simple."
Shippo, casting a glance toward Miroku and Lord Sesshomaru who stood side by side, couldn't help but comment, "Speaking of simple..."
Inuyasha's response was swift, "you trying to pick a fight with me runt?"
Miroku, although amused, turned to the young fox kit. "Hey, cut Inuyasha some slack, Shippo. Can't help it if he's got his limitations."
"Enough bickering, you two," Kagome interjected, her patience wearing thin as she listened to the incessant arguing between Inuyasha and Shippo. The morning's journey eastward had already begun to give her a slight headache.
As Kagome observed the swarm of poisonous insects converging on one of the smaller craters, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "We've arrived."
Touching down on the ground, the group peered cautiously into the narrow opening that loomed before them, its darkness seeming to swallow the light around it.
"It does look rather eerie," Shippo remarked, his voice tinged with apprehension, while Rin, ever curious, merely blinked in fascination.
Inuyasha, his confidence unwavering, strode confidently to the ledge. "Well, it is the entrance to the graveyard. What did you expect?" he remarked casually. "Let's not waste any time. We need to get moving."
Turning to Lord Sesshomaru, Kagome sought his opinion, noticing his measured gaze fixed on the ominous opening before them. "Lord Sesshomaru," she addressed him respectfully, "what do you think?"
In response, Lord Sesshomaru simply nodded in agreement with Inuyasha's assessment, his stoic demeanor betraying nothing of his thoughts.
"Quite the discovery, indeed," Miroku remarked in awe as he sat alongside Sango on the back of Kirara, their surroundings illuminated by the soft glow of the fire rat's flames. "Who would have thought such a vast expanse lay hidden beneath the surface?"
"Well spotted Miroku," Inuyasha, his tone tinged with irritation, ran alongside them with Kagome securely seated on his back.
They had left the children above with Jaken and Ah-Un, taking precautions to ensure their safety in the perilous depths below. After all, with Lord Sesshomaru's focus elsewhere, there was no guarantee he could revive Rin if something were to happen to her or she were unable to come back with them.
"Judging based on all the demon skulls that we are passing by, it means that we're going the right way." Kagome said aloud, watching as many shapes and sizes of demon corpses laid about.
"Inuyasha," Sango called out. "Up ahead."
"Looks like we finally made it."
As the group ventured deeper into the cavern, they arrived at a colossal chamber adorned with towering golden doors, their gleaming surface marred only by the heavy chains that bound them shut. Each link seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if holding back something powerful from within.
Standing guard on either side of the entrance, two imposing stone statues towered above them, their features weathered by the passage of time. Carved with intricate detail, they held an air of ancient wisdom, their gaze fixed on the intruders with an unwavering intensity. Before each statue, flames danced and flickered, casting long shadows that seemed to dance across the cavern walls.
"So there is a gate," Miroku rubbed his chin.
"No guards around!?" Inuyasha exclaimed, letting Kagome off of him. "This is going to be easy!"
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Kagome mumbled to herself, before turning to Lord Sesshomaru who just stared at what laid in front of them
The air hummed with a palpable sense of magic, tinged with a hint of danger that sent a shiver down Kagome's spine. It was clear that they had stumbled upon something of great significance, something that had remained hidden in the depths of the earth for untold ages.
Inuyasha's hand tightened around Tessaiga, the weight of the blade comforting as he scanned their surroundings with heightened senses, alert for any signs of danger. Finding none, he made the decision to unsheathe the sword, his resolve clear as he addressed the group.
"Everyone, step back! I'm going to use the Wind Scar to break apart these doors," he announced, his voice firm and determined.
As Kagome's unease grew, she instinctively reached for the familiar weight of her bow, her fingers tightening around the polished wood as she prepared herself for the impending confrontation.
Sango exchanged a cautious glance with Miroku, a silent understanding passing between them of the perilous situation they found themselves in. With a nod of agreement, they stood ready to support each other in whatever challenges lay ahead.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed through the cavern, startling the group into silence. "Do you wish to pass?" it demanded, its tone heavy with authority.
Inuyasha scoffed at the question, his impatience evident. "What a dumb question," he retorted, his frustration clear.
Before anyone could respond, Myoga's voice cut through the tension, the tiny flea demon hopping onto Inuyasha's shoulder with a sense of urgency. "Don't answer! I beg of you, young Lord!" he pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.
Inuyasha's brow furrowed in confusion. "Since when did you get here?" he demanded, surprised by Myoga's sudden appearance.
Kagome exchanged a puzzled glance with Sango, both equally surprised by Myoga's unexpected return. "I thought he ran away ages ago," Kagome whispered to Sango, who nodded in agreement.
Ignoring their confusion, Myoga turned to address both women with urgency. "It's not too late! Turn back now!" he implored, his voice trembling with fear.
Inuyasha's frustration mounted at the interruption. "What are you babbling about now!?" he snapped, growing increasingly irritated by Myoga's cryptic warnings.
But before Myoga could respond, the deep voice spoke again, its question directed at Inuyasha once more. "Do you wish to pass?"
Inuyasha's patience reached its limit, his growl rumbling in the cavern as he barked out his response. "Why do you think I went to all this trouble to come here?" he declared, his determination unwavering despite the mounting uncertainty surrounding them.
Tears streamed down Myoga's tiny face as he pleaded with Inuyasha, his voice choked with emotion. "No, Master Inuyasha, please reconsider!" he sobbed, his desperation palpable.
Ignoring Myoga's distress, the deep voice spoke once more, its tone unwavering. "Then you may pass," it declared, the words echoing through the cavern with an ominous finality.
As the group braced themselves for what lay ahead, the cavern rumbled with a deafening roar, causing the flames before the stone statues to flicker and die out. To their astonishment, the statues began to stir, their stony forms coming to life with a chilling inevitability.
With an eerie silence, the stone guardians stepped down from their pedestals, towering over Inuyasha with imposing stature. Their eyes, once lifeless, now gleamed with an otherworldly light as they raised their weapons, their movements synchronized with a precision that sent shivers down the group's spines.
Myoga's voice broke the tension, her tone edged with frustration as he addressed Inuyasha. "Gozu and Mezu are the guardians of the afterlife," he explained tersely.
Inuyasha sighed in exasperation, running a hand through his hair. "What?" he muttered. "I thought they were just stone decorations."
"They're not just decorations—they're here to ensure that no living being passes through this barrier." Myoga snapped, waving his flea arms around as he jumped about his shoulder
Mezu's voice cut through the silence, its tone devoid of emotion. "Only the dead may pass through these gates," it stated matter-of-factly.
"We ensure that all those who wish to pass are dead," Gozu added, his voice echoing with an unsettling finality.
Sango shot Inuyasha a pointed glare, her frustration evident. "I told you it was a trap set up by Hakudoshi," she reminded him. "We were the bait so he could pass through."
But Inuyasha's resolve remained unshaken, his grip tightening around Tessaiga as he faced the stone guardians with determination. "I'm not about to turn back now," he declared defiantly, raising his weapon high above his head.
As Inuyasha leaped into the air, his sword raised high above his head, a primal scream escaping his lips as he unleashed the Wind Scar with all his might. The cavern reverberated with the force of his attack as the blade struck the ground with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
With bated breath, the group braced for the aftermath, their hearts pounding in anticipation as they awaited the results of Inuyasha's bold maneuver. But as the smoke began to clear, revealing the hulking forms of Gozu and Mezu still standing tall and unscathed, a sense of dread washed over them.
"We cannot be slain by blades of this world," Gozu's voice echoed through the cavern, its tone cold and impassive.
"It is useless," Mezu added, their words dripping with disdain.
A cry of frustration rang out from Myoga, the tiny flea demon hovering in the air above them. "As you know, Tessaiga is a sword that slays the demons in our world, but it isn't able to hurt them!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with desperation.
Kagome's eyes widened in realization, a plan forming in her mind as she turned to Lord Sesshomaru. "We would need a blade like So'unga," she declared, her voice filled with determination.
Lord Sesshomaru met her gaze with a nod of acknowledgment, his expression unreadable as he turned his attention back to the formidable stone giants.
Panic flickered in Miroku's eyes as he voiced the question that weighed heavily on everyone's mind. "What are we supposed to do then?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
Sango, having changed into her demon slayer gear, stood ready for battle as she posed the crucial question. "How do we stop Gozu and Mezu?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the mounting tension in the air.
"Once they are awakened, they will not rest until the gate has been opened and closed again. Or in other words they won't rest until Inuyasha is dead and past the gates." Myoga further explained
As Inuyasha's attempts to combat the stone guardians proved futile, Miroku's frustration reached its boiling point. With a determined grimace, he unleashed his Wind Tunnel, hoping to overpower the statues with its relentless force. But to his dismay, Gozu and Mezu merely turned their stony gazes towards him, unaffected by the swirling vortex.
"Do you wish to pass through?" their voices rumbled in unison, their tone impassive as they awaited a response.
Realizing the futility of their efforts, Kagome and Sango sought cover behind large rocks, shielding themselves from the perilous pull of Miroku's Wind Tunnel. Meanwhile, Lord Sesshomaru had vanished, his absence noted but his intentions unclear to the rest of the group.
With bated breath, Kagome watched as Inuyasha continued his futile attempts to outmaneuver the stone guardians. Her heart clenched with worry as she saw him facing such formidable foes, his determination unwavering despite the odds stacked against him.
A cry from Myoga broke through the tension, the tiny flea demon hovering anxiously nearby. "Master Inuyasha, turn them back to stone!" he implored, his voice tinged with urgency.
Inuyasha regarded Myoga with a bemused expression. "Oh, you're still here," he remarked, his tone laced with disinterest.
Myoga bristled at the implication of Inuyasha's words. "Just what are you inferring to? I have been here the whole time!" he retorted indignantly.
Inuyasha waved off Myoga's protests, his attention returning to the sealed doors with the heavy chains. "Right, right. Now spit it out already," he urged impatiently.
Myoga wasted no time in conveying his plan to Inuyasha, his voice urgent with the need for swift action. "Use your Wind Scar on the chains to force open the gates, and then the guards will turn back to stone!" he insisted. "I shall take my leave now."
As Myoga vanished into the shadows, Inuyasha huffed in exasperation. "There he goes, running off again," he muttered, his frustration mounting as he prepared to enact Myoga's plan.
Kagome's heart raced with anticipation as she watched Inuyasha channel the power of Tessaiga, its blade glowing with an ominous red hue as he prepared to unleash the Wind Scar once more. With a swift motion, he unleashed the devastating attack, directing it straight at the sealed doors. The chains shattered under the force of the Wind Scar, crashing to the ground in a cacophony of noise as the gates swung open with a resounding clang, flooding the cavern with blinding light.
As the brilliance of the light enveloped them, Kagome's senses were overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of hundreds of demons soaring overhead. With a yelp of alarm, she instinctively dodged out of the path of an oncoming creature, her heart pounding in her chest with fear.
"Thanks, Inuyasha!" Kagura's voice called out from amidst the chaos. "I'm going on ahead now, okay?"
Inuyasha's frustration boiled over at Kagura's abrupt departure. "Damn you, Kagura! Get back here!" he snapped, his voice tinged with anger.
But before any further words could be exchanged, the demons flying through the gates began to undergo a strange transformation. Their once menacing forms turned a dark gray before crumbling into thousands of tiny pieces, falling to the ground like shattered glass.
"The demons have become petrified!" Miroku exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Sango shielded her eyes from the intense light, struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events. "But how can that be?" she wondered aloud, her voice barely audible over the chaos unfolding around them.
Realizing the danger of their situation, Miroku wasted no time in urging his companions to take cover. "Hide, or we'll suffer the same fate!" he yelled, ducking behind the nearest large rock for protection.
Inuyasha, ever the protector, seized Sango and leaped into the air, holding her close as they sought refuge behind the safety of a sturdy rock. Just as he moved to retrieve Kagome, his attention was drawn elsewhere, his gaze locking onto something amidst the blinding light.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." Kagome whimpered, clinging to him as he guided her to safety behind another nearby rock.
"Are you alright?" His eyes roamed over her figure in search of injuries she may have acquired.
"Y-yes," she cleared her throat. "Thank you for saving me."
Although they were safe now, one of his arms was still wrapped around her waist, holding her flushed into his side as he peered over the rock. Just as she peered over too, she felt the all familiar pull she felt when a jewel shared was nearby. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted the purple-pink light shine from the bright white light that enveloped from the large golden gates.
"I can see it," she mumbled.
As the gates slowly closed, sealing off the entrance to the Realm of Fire once more, the stone guards resumed their stoic positions on their pedestals, their watchful gaze fixed upon the cavern's entrance. The flames flickered back to life, casting dancing shadows across the cavern walls as the atmosphere gradually returned to its former state of eerie stillness.
In the aftermath of the chaotic events, Lord Sesshomaru's deep voice reverberated through the cavern, his concern evident in every syllable. "Miko," he addressed Kagome, the rumble of his voice resonating through his entire being. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Meeting his gaze, Kagome observed the visible concern etched in his eyes, a rare display of emotion from the stoic demon lord. In an effort to reassure him, she reached out and gently placed her hand on one of his magenta stripes, her touch light and comforting as she stroked it soothingly, watching as he shivered almost imperceptibly beneath her touch.
"Yes," she replied softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "All thanks to you."
The crackling flames of the campfire cast flickering shadows across the faces of the weary travelers as they sat in a circle, their expressions reflecting the weight of recent events. The children had long since been tucked into their makeshift beds, their innocent slumber a stark contrast to the gravity of the conversation unfolding among the adults.
"I sensed the presence of Naraku," Lord Sesshomaru's voice cut through the quiet night air, his words carrying an ominous undertone. "I ventured to confront him, only to find his incarnation shielded by a barrier."
The revelation sparked a ripple of murmurs among the group.
Miroku prodded the fire absently with a long, slender stick, his expression thoughtful. "It seems Naraku was using us as bait, or perhaps testing the strength of his defenses," he suggested, his voice tinged with a hint of apprehension. "If his plan failed this time, he'll undoubtedly seek out alternative means to achieve his goals."
The somber atmosphere hung heavy around them as they contemplated the looming threat of Naraku's machinations. "One thing is certain," Kagome spoke up, her voice soft but resolute. "The jewel shard is within the netherworld. I sensed its presence after Lord Sesshomaru shielded me from harm."
She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, a troubled expression clouding her features. "I caught a glimpse of it just before the gate closed, but then it vanished without a trace," she recounted, her words punctuated by a heavy sigh. "We must remain vigilant. Naraku will stop at nothing to obtain the shard, and we cannot afford to let our guard down."
"I cannot believe that the sacred jewel shard was there," Myoga grumbled.
"Why do I get the feeling that you knew we would turn to stone if we went that way?" Inuyasha squished Myoga slightly in his fingers.
"Would I have followed you into such a dangerous place if I knew?" Myoga argued
"He's right," Sango stated. "Let's think of this positively, we now know for sure a sacred jewel shard is there, and that Hakudoshi is no closer than us in retrieving it.
"The only thing that bothers me about this is," Kagome paused, staring up at the full moon that hid behind the clouds. "How did the jewel shard end up in the netherworld?"