Authors note:
I have added my amazing advisor that helps me with content and consistency to the credits finally. The amazing SessRin Eternity (found on IG and X). Absolutely could not be writing this fic so well without Eternity's ongoing support and advice. Also a massive thank you to my real life best friend (the Towa to my Setsuna) and beta reader HomespunMercy (also found on IG and X). Who reads each chapter to check for spelling errors and overall cohesiveness before I post.
Inu-fan 24: oh man! I'm so sorry about your internet. That sucks. Mine went out last week too. Hope it gets all fixed!
SaltMango: hopefully you're okay with my portrayal of Kikyo. I'm not a fan of hers, and I hadn't originally intended to include her. Except that after absorbing the first movie, I realized it was entirely mandatory to explain Sesshomaru's involvement. :3
Chapter 21 - Loathe
Though it must have been nearing sunrise, the sky remained dark, mostly covered with clouds. Milky, faded, mist seemed to rise from the very ground itself. From the mountain cliffs, rivers far below cut deep ravines through the valley forests. It was amidst all this beauty and wildness, that a single gnarled and blackened tree rose to the sky. Within it, an orb of massive proportions was encompassed and held aloft. Hyoga's lair.
None of this was what drew the yokai lord to the mountain cliffs though. It was something else entirely. After witnessing the coldness of the dead priestess, Sesshomaru suspected that he knew her full intentions. It would not be permitted.
Soundless in his movements, Sesshomaru stood on the edge of the cliff, slightly beyond where the thick woods ended. His gold eyes narrowing fiercely as he watched the dead priestess. She stood just a few feet beyond him, at the peak of the cliff, her gaze out at the rising evil amidst the valley forest. The wind was violent here, tearing at their hair and clothing, sending them into dramatic, spirals snapping with the force.
Kikyo spoke first, as Sesshomaru had no intention of breaking the stoic silence. "You're InuYasha's older brother." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, without fully turning her head.
In the short time he'd observed her, Sesshomaru had witnessed Kikyo saying so much without saying anything of value at all.
"The girl named Kagome." He began. "You truly must loathe her. Or are you merely testing her powers?"
"I loathe all things. I despise every living creature who is bound to time."
Sesshomaru could well believe that. This woman was heartless. She'd thrown away Kagome like a broken shoe. He well believed that her next goal was to harm InuYasha in the cruelest way she could conceive. The yokai's eyes hardened, she would not have her way.
"Do as you see fit." His gold eyes narrowed at her, as if he could see to her very soul — if she still had one. "Though I warn you, I will be the one to destroy InuYasha." The warning was clear enough, if Kikyo harmed InuYasha, Sesshomaru would be the one she faced. If she knew of him, then she would know his reputation as being an efficient killer.
Turning, Sesshomaru strode away, the wind still ripping at his clothing. Reentering the woods nearby, he followed the dirt path that had led down the backside mountain, through the thick forest. Rin and Jaken emerged from the trees where they'd been hiding, as he'd given stern instructions to stay out of sight. They raced to catch up with him.
"Lord Sesshomaru" Jaken cried out in his squeaky voice. "Are you certain it was a wise decision to let that woman go free?"
Was he implying that he should have removed her as a threat? She was only a threat to InuYasha at present. Well warned, he believed she would not take further steps. Not now anyway.
In response, Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder. "Are you blind Jaken? That woman is already dead."
Both Jaken and Rin gasped in unison.
"Dead?" Rin asked, clearly confused. "But how can that be? She spoke as if she were living. How can she be dead if she's alive my Lord?"
"Silence Rin!" Jaken screamed at the human girl.
From the corner of his eye, Sesshomaru saw Rin glaring at the imp, her tiny fists balled in anger. She could well handle herself against the mouthy demon.
"I'm not asking you master Jaken."
"What?! You— brazen child!" Jaken raised his staff to hit her, which Sesshomaru would have prevented, but Rin skillfully danced out of the way and tripped the imp with one quick movement of her bare foot. He fell with a suppressed squeal of rage.
Clever Rin. Not waiting for any further complaints out of Jaken, he strode ahead leaving Rin to race to catch up.
"Wait for me Lord Sesshomaru!"
Now that the dead priestess had been settled, he would leave the destruction of Hyoga to InuYasha. He had, after all, been the one who released the seal on Hyoga's demon power. Let him clean up his own mess. If for some reason InuYasha failed, Sesshomaru would be forced to step in. Such demons as Hyoga could not be permitted to roam the lands unchecked.
"Where are we going, my Lord?" Rin asked from her place at his side.
For a moment Sesshomaru was silent, in thought. "We will travel to the next peak." InuYasha would have to deal with Hyoga quickly, to prevent further loss of life. If he did not move soon, Sesshomaru would have to be close enough to strike. Glancing down, he observed Rin skipping by his side. However, he had to be far enough away to account for Rin's safety.
They made their way back to where A-un had remained at the base of the mountain. Then, as a group, they began the trek up toward the next mountain. It was many hours later when they arrived at the mountain peak that Sesshomaru selected, there was a cave set back from the cliff, which he directed Rin and Jaken to. He had no intention of looking away from the happenings amidst the valley of trees. Hyoga's tree of ages stood tall and strong, vaulting high above the forest below.
InuYasha would return to battle the ga yokai soon, he was certain. From the distance he couldn't see the intimate details of the battle, but it appeared that two of InuYasha's companions - the monk and the slayer - battled with two minions of Hyoga. Eventually winning. But within his tree of ages, Hyoga was already beginning his final transformation.
Where are you InuYasha?
"Jaken. Put up a barrier."
Just as he spoke, Sesshomaru scented the faintest hint of InuYasha lingering on the strong winds that lashed against the cliffs. Was he finally here? Gold eyes swept the valley and peaks. Another scent reached his nose, mingling with the half demon scent — Kagome.
So. Kikyo failed to keep her away. I thought as much.
Shafts of light pierced the valley and mountaintops, then exploded outward in a tidal wave of goo as Hyoga's cocoon split open. The now fully formed moth demon emerging as a beast of gigantic proportions.
Due to the distance, Sesshomaru could not see the specific details. Other than flashes of light and power as blows were exchanged. At times he saw a flash of red, as InuYasha leapt into an attack. The power from the moth demon was immense, filling the air with darkness and foreboding. Finally, a blow was successful, in a blinding flash of purple one of the moths wings was severed. That blow was not from InuYasha. Hyoga was enraged by the attack, and lashed out at the group. The next blinding flash came from InuYasha and Kagome combined — the only attack which mattered. Hyoga was burned and dissected from the inside out. Sesshomaru knew exactly what that felt like, though he could not feel the least bit sorry for the murderous demon, who enacted senseless violence against all forms of life.
As the moth demon burned into nothingness, his tree fractured and receded back into the earth, a small figure flew in and then out of the battlefield. Presumably InuYasha and his friends' ride to escape.
It is over, then.
Through the clouds which had been overshadowing the land for days, the bright sun finally broke through. Casting warmth and light across the valley and peaks. Sesshomaru gazed up at the celestial brightness, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. Could it be pride? InuYasha, though only a half demon, had defeated one of their father's mighty foes. Without any assistance from himself, or any other higher being. Despite his blood, his half brother had succeeded.
"Lord Sesshomaru! The sun is shining again!" Rin came skipping out of the cave to stand beside him. For a long moment they looked out over the valley together in silence.