Kikyo clambered over the barrack wall frantically, looking over her shoulder every so often to check that Inuyasha was not following her, though she was sure she would hear him shouting at her for certain if he had seen her.
The barracks were finally devoid of rotting corpses: it seemed that Sesshomaru had cleaned up his grounds with an impossible efficiency. Still, the smell of decaying flesh clung to the soft wood, mingled with the foul herb she had set alight in order to cover her tracks.
Kikyo did not rely on her sense of smell to locate demons, her powers as a priestess meant she could sense the demonic aura of demons nearby, the stronger the aura, the easier it would be for her to find them.
Kikyo sensed that a strong aura was close to Tsumetai's body. Not only one: several other, lesser aura's were crowded around him, aura's that were laced in with human fear. Something was going on at the boulder were she had sealed the northern lord, and she was going to find out what. It would distract her from Inuyasha, and was a reason she could venture out even further and put more distance between them.
Her trick with the Dokudami leaves would likely mean Sesshomaru had not realised there were uninvited demons in his midst, it would also mean he would not be able to save her if she was overwhelmed. A small shiver of apprehension traced itself up her spine, but she continued on. Kikyo had never been one to be cowed by insurmountable odds.
Kikyo made her way once again into the war zone wasteland, edging towards the demonic energies invading her senses. She knew she should not be surprised. Tsumetai's forces were bound to try and release him. They obviously did not know their attempts would be useless. However, it would provide her with the chance she needed to locate Tsumetai's ally. Then she could report to Sesshomaru and be rid of this seemingly endless war between demons that she had been inexplicably caught up in.
'Surely this amount of demons have gathered for one purpose, to try and release the demon lord from his catatonic state. They are wasting their time, no amount of demonic energy will break that seal... Should I try and kill Tsumetai's ally, or simply report to lord Sesshomaru?' Kikyo thought to herself uncertainly.
Kikyo walked with purpose, closing in on the multiple demonic aura's nearby. Her fingers flexed on her bow string, anticipating a rushed, surprise attack. After a few tense minutes of walking, a black outline of a monstrous group developed before her, a blot in the surrounding barren fields. Kikyo had hoped to go unnoticed for some time, or at least for the demons to seem surprised at her sudden appearance. But they were lined up facing her, as if they had been waiting for her to arrive.
Kikyo's sharp eyes took in the several spider demons crouched before her in precise battle lines. Their unfathomable black eyes followed her every move as they shifted their heavy bodies. The way they moved made Kikyo uncomfortable, the jerky limbs and snapping pincers…It was as if they had been forced to stay in their assault position for some time.
Kikyo squinted at the tangle of black legs before her, the demons seemed to be carrying something in their front legs.
Things that were small and peach coloured.
Kikyo's heart lurched as she realised that the demons held a number of children hostage. All of varying ages, the children must have been abducted from the village a few miles from Sesshomaru's castle. She made a physical effort to keep her face relaxed and serene, as if nothing concerned her. Fear was a dangerous weapon that many demons had used against her in her years of protecting the Shikon jewel. With difficulty, Kikyo ignored the yelps and tears from the helpless children.
"Who goes?" Kikyo said harshly to the spider clan before her, echoing the words and tone she had used when she had last seen Seiyo. Kikyo clutched her bow and arrow firmly, ready to shoot at the first sign of movement.
Another demon stood on the side-lines, with long claret hair and wearing an expensive red kimono. Pointed ears poked through that russet hair, just like Sesshomaru's. Kikyo could sense this demoness was powerful, and the majestic marking of a star on her forehead proved she was a high born demon. The demoness eyed Kikyo excitedly, as if a twisted show was about to begin.
A large and mottled black spider scuttled forward, and Kikyo tensed in case it attacked her. To Kikyo this spider looked almost identical to the rest, despite being more corpulent.
"Lady Kikyo. Back from the dead I see? I never thought I'd have the pleasure of meeting you face to face…" Hokai said in a mockingly raptured voice. His pincers clicked maddeningly as he tried to converse with Kikyo haltingly in Japanese.
Kikyo glared at Hokai with as much authority as she could muster. The children were sobbing in fright as the monstrous guards grasped their shoulders, in her peripheral vision she could see their skin had scratch marks from the spider's clawed legs. Kikyo forced her eyes to stay fixed on the spider demon speaking. Kikyo remembered Sesshomaru mentioning some spider demons that had attacked her sister's village…
"I do not know you demon. But I do know that a group of demons matching your description attacked a human village not far from here. Why did you attack that village and why are you here now?" Kikyo demanded. Hokai gave a wheezing chuckle at her words.
"Lady Kikyo, we are here to liberate this demon lord you so unwisely sealed. We've been here for a few hours trying to find a way to…manipulate the situation. You may not know me, but I know you very well. I know everything that there is to know about you. That is, you... and my brother ...Naraku," Hokai hissed to the priestess.
Kikyo inhaled sharply, her pupils dilating at the mere mention of her nemesis's name. Naraku was an assortment of demons, but he did have a spider shaped scar on his back, and the chief demon that tricked him into a deal had arachnid origins. Before he was embroiled in a fight over the Shikon No Tama, was the core of Naraku a member of this clan of spiders?
"You…You are Naraku's brother? If that is so, why did you not come to his aid when Inu…when a half demon killed him? Why would a spider with ties to Naraku wish to help Tsumetai? The demon lord's war with Sesshomaru is a different squabble entirely," Kikyo countered.
"Naraku was exiled from the clan when he conspired with a human and left the underground. I, his brother Hokai, did not have the influence or power at the time to change that. When your old lover Inuyasha –yes I know his name! - When Inuyasha murdered him, Naraku and I had lost all contact. I think it's only fitting that I destroy his enemies to make up for this. Tsumetai's mate, Mikata, has offered to make an alliance against you. The one condition to this alliance: I set her mate free and join her in destroying our mutual enemies," Hokai admitted. Mikata stepped forward beside Hokai, a sneer marring her feral yet beautiful face.
"You bitch, how DARE you seal my beloved in this forsaken field! You had no right to interfere in a war between demons, in our war against Sesshomaru. This is a battle between the lords of the land, a grubby human commoner like you has no business getting involved," Mikata shouted at Kikyo angrily, her spirals of crimson hair curling around her waist until she looked like she was wreathed in fire.
Kikyo raised her eyebrows at Mikata's outburst. Despite the power she sensed, Kikyo also guessed that this demoness was rather foolish and unable to control her emotions. Mikata's eyes had a madness in them, giving Kikyo a sense that the demoness would unpredictably lash out at any given moment.
"I care not about your petty greed, demoness. Tell me, are you the source of Tsumetai's hidden power? Sesshomaru and I have noticed him using a power beyond his native abilities," Kikyo asked, her hand and arm taut over her bow. It was obvious this demoness wanted to kill Kikyo where she stood, Mikata's claws were twitching with rage.
The spider demons surrounding her shuffled restlessly and Hokai's many eyes never left Kikyo, watching her every move.
Mikata rolled her eyes and grinned maliciously. "Of course I am, you wench. Tsumetai and I mated together years ago in secret. We are united as one body and soul. When you fight one of us, you take on both of us! I can channel my demonic energy into Tsumetai any time I please and vice versa. Sesshomaru could obtain more power this way, but he's so cold it's unlikely that will ever happen. I'd be surprised if anyone even wanted the mongrel."
Kikyo felt an intemperate burst of anger at Mikata's jibe at Sesshomaru, even though this summary was probably true. Kikyo fiercely wished Sesshomaru was here to confront this band of demons with her. Then, she might have a chance at saving the terrified children.
Mikata gave an evil smile, showing two sharp fangs where her canines should be. The demoness and Hokai passed a look and the spider nodded.
"Now, I've heard this seal of yours is basically indestructible to me and my kind. Only you can remove it for me. So I would get a move on and remove that arrow, or my new friend Hokai here will rip these poor human children apart!" Mikata threatened in a silken voice.
At hearing these words, the children began screaming so loudly Kikyo's ears began to ring. Kikyo shook her head in disbelief, her composure slipping like rain water.
"No! Surely even demons like you would not sacrifice innocent children, even if they are human. That is not the way to get what you want, you would be committing a heinous crime," Kikyo said desperately. Her bow was next to useless, if they attacked the children, she could not save them all.
Hokai snatched a child from one of his soldiers, the movement caused the child to squeal in fright. The child Hokai had grabbed was a boy and looked to be roughly about ten years old. The boy was thin and wore poor quality clothing.
Hokai sank his fangs into the village boy's neck, causing a gush of blood to spurt down his side. The boy uttered a guttural shriek before collapsing to the ground, His body twitched for a moment, then lay still.
Kikyo screamed before she could stop herself. Before her, Mikata roared with laughter as she watched Kikyo's tormented face.
The remaining children began to squirm and scream, unable to tear their eyes away from the bleeding boy on the floor.
"No!" Kikyo yelled in anguish, her expert hand raising the arrow she was shakily holding. Within seconds the arrow raced towards Hokai, pulsing with an enraged violet light. Before her attack could strike however, an armoured spider next to Hokai leapt into the arrows path, sacrificing itself.
Chunks of spider flesh fell around Hokai, which he sidestepped distastefully.
"Well, death has not made you any less nimble, Lady Kikyo. But even killing me will not save all of these defenceless children. Lift the seal pinning Tsumetai here or I will slaughter every single one of them. If you refuse, I will butcher every child in this region until there are none left," Hokai said in a deceptively calm voice. As he did so, Mikata lifted a red demonic barrier, preventing Kikyo from harming Hokai.
"Please help us!" a little girl squeaked whilst Kikyo vacillated, unsure of what action to take.
'I…I don't know how to keep Tsumetai sealed and save these children…I don't know what to do…My indecision has already cost a young boy his life…Oh Sesshomaru, if only you were here to help me.' She wished fiercely that she had gone back to him, instead of charging off on her own.
"If she does not break the seal in ten seconds, we should start murdering the children. One by one!" Mikata said excitedly, clapping her hands together in delight. The demoness seemed to relish the idea of such violence, like it was a game.
"… … How do I know you won't just kill us all the moment I set him free, the moment the spell is broken?" Kikyo asked Hokai, biting her lower lip so it would not tremble.
The demons laughed at her words, their laughter rang in her ears, humiliating her.
"To be perfectly honest, Lady Kikyo, you don't have much of a choice either way," Hokai told her, human blood dripping from his maw.
Much to Sesshomaru's displeasure, Inuyasha had arrived shortly after Kikyo had left, leaping into the garden with his nose smothered by his robe of the fire rat. The reason for his visit, he had explained in a choking voice, was to check on Rin and meet the "new priestess" looking after her. The Dokudami plant had immediately derailed this plan, and all Inuyasha had done so far was complain loudly about the smell. Sesshomaru's servants were fanning the walkways with cloth covering their mouths and noses.
Sesshomaru had received his brother in the dining hall. Inuyasha did not seem to notice the intense dislike being directed his way. Then again, because of Kikyo's little trick, neither of them could see much of anything. The tiny plant had created a mass of smoke once lit.
Inuyasha ranted for what seemed like an age. An eternity of gabbling that stretched beyond Sesshomaru's limited imagination…
"Sesshomaru? I swear you're not listening to me. Your eyes look all vacant. I'm going to come back in a few days okay? Since your manky old priestess has ran off somewhere. Kaede won't be happy about it…I might just leave that part out. You'll have to try and make sure the priestess is around next time. I can't stand this smell much longer! What happened to make it smell so bad? It ruining my sense of smell too…my nose is burning…" Inuyasha seemed, to Sesshomaru, to talk on a continuum. As if any moment he was not gibbering, was a moment wasted. Sesshomaru regretted allowing Inuyasha into his great hall, it would take a great amount of coaxing to get him back out again without any more chatter. Inuyasha lounged on the ruby and gold coloured cushions, his bare feet covering the silk in dirt stains. Sesshomaru sat across from him stiffly.
Sesshomaru did not answer to the blabbing, and glared at his insufferable brother pointedly, but Inuyasha did not even notice.
The wretched plant Kikyo had set alight had been removed from the castle and taken outside, the smell was fading slowly, but it had not dissipated completely yet, Sesshomaru's own stinging nose proved that. He wondered if Inuyasha was affected by the smell more than himself, the half demon certainly made a fuss over it. Though Inuyasha was half human and humans did not seem able to smell anything unless it was right in front of them...
Or do anything useful for that matter. They would all end up like Kaede in the blink of a demon's eye.
'Apart from Kikyo. She will remain unchanged until she is physically destroyed. A daunting thought for her no doubt. Although she is trying her hardest to put herself in harm's way it seems,' Sesshomaru mused.
Sesshomaru had decided to remain silent on the matter of Kikyo's resurrection. Mainly, because Inuyasha was annoying him. But also because Inuyasha was an interfering ruffian at the best of times, he may hang around the castle for longer if he knew Kikyo was alive. The thought of Inuyasha stomping through the halls for more than a few hours truly disturbed Sesshomaru.
And ...maybe another small, shrunken part deep inside Sesshomaru acknowledged that he wanted Kikyo to himself, if only for a little while longer.
Realising he had not caught a word Inuyasha was saying for a full minute, he deigned to listen for a short time. Inuyasha was still complaining about the smell around the castle, his boisterous voice loud and deeply irritating.
"Inuyasha, be quiet," Sesshomaru demanded rudely.
"Jeez Sesshomaru, you don't have to be such an ass. I personally don't care if Rin stays here or not. There's no need to have a go at me about it, it's Kaede who wants Rin to live with humans," Inuyasha said in a disgruntled voice, stung by his older brother's harsh words.
Sesshomaru ignored this comment and fixed Inuyasha with a direct stare.
"Inuyasha, I trust you know that the old hag you now associate with is dying, or are your senses too weak because of your human blood?" Sesshomaru asked waspishly.
Inuyasha looked surprised at this statement, his golden brown eyes staring at Sesshomaru fearfully, before looking down at his unclad feet in guilt. Inuyasha said nothing, for once lost for words: so he did know about Kaede's serious illness.
Sesshomaru continued to stare at Inuyasha with an uncomfortable intensity. He noticed Inuyasha's short stature, his coarse hair and loud mouth.
'What did Kikyo see in this whelp? Inuyasha is so unruly and foolish compared to Kikyo…How can two people who are so different develop feelings for each other?' Sesshomaru thought moodily.
"Yeah…I know Kaede is dying. She's been ill for quite some time now and I know she won't recover. I've told Kagome about it, but no one else," Inuyasha mumbled in a pained voice. Kaede had been a daily presence for him in the last three years, the thought of her passing caused Inuyasha great sorrow. Sesshomaru brooded on this confirmation.
'I will need to tell Kikyo about Kaede's fate. It will make the wretched woman ever more depressed than she is now, which is quite a feat in itself,' Sesshomaru thought. He sniffed at Inuyasha's open display of sadness, breathing in deeply to show his disapproval, then immediately regretting it as he inhaled a heavy breath of putrid, burning leaves...
His nose detected the tiniest hint of Kikyo's scent coming through the smell of burnt foliage.
But she was not alone. Her scent was mixed with that of a dozen spider demons and intertwined with the smell of human blood. A different scent also demanded his attention, of a demon that rivalled Tsumetai's power…could it be…?
The faint scents seemed to project emotions of fear, mistrust, anger and despair. What was going on?
The priestess was in danger, some humans were too, judging by Kikyo's close proximity to them.
Inuyasha continued to look miserable and distracted. He obviously could not smell what Sesshomaru could. Maybe his half human nose was not as powerful, especially with Kikyo's little ploy still befouling the air. Inuyasha sighed.
"Sesshomaru, don't tell Rin about this OK? Kaede's death would really upset her…Kaede is like the grandmother she never had," The half demon said passionately, his eyes still downcast.
Sesshomaru ignored him again. The dog demon got to his feet with unexpected speed, making Inuyasha jump slightly.
"I need you to find Jaken and tell him to stay with Rin. Any sign of a struggle he is to flee with Ah-Un to your village. After that, you can see yourself out," Sesshomaru ordered. Sesshomaru launched himself into the air and drifted there for a moment, as though he was weightless.
"But Sessho-"
"Silence! Deliver my message to Jaken NOW!" Sesshomaru snapped.
Inuyasha visibly blanched, unsettled by his brothers brittle words. Sesshomaru did not wait for Inuyasha to agree, instead he flew through an open door at the edge of the castle, his furs trailing behind him. Fumes of burnt leaves still clung to his clothes, interfering with his keen senses.
He had to find Kikyo quickly, before it was too late. As he flew his eyes glowed crimson, his face elongated and sprouted animal fur, the stripes on his cheeks began stretching. His blunt teeth enlarged and became razor sharp fangs that jutted out of his jaw. His Moko moko fur fell behind him to become a lashing tail.
'Do not do anything foolish before I get there Kikyo…'
Sesshomaru thundered through the sky in his true dog form, a terrifying threat that blotted out the sun.