In the last clutches of the night, made clearer by the dissolution of the barrier, they had been surrounded. With a jolt of dismay, Sesshomaru stared at the small army of spiders now flanking them from all sides. For a few seconds, Sesshomaru waited with tensed muscles for the spiders to swarm them, but they did nothing but surround them from a distance, skittering excitedly, waiting for their master's command. There, spearheading the monstrous march, were Hokai and Mikata. The demoness's demonic aura was fizzing with power, and her stinging green eyes had a hectic, almost manic haze to them. Her long, talon-like claws were clutching serrated battle knives. The two demons looked arrogant and utterly delighted with themselves. Tsumetai was nowhere to be seen.
'Clearly hiding somewhere safe nearby, out of sight,' Sesshomaru thought with anger. Tsumetai must be weak and vulnerable, his power wholly leeched from his body and funnelled into Mikata.
It was so frustrating! Even injured as he was, he could have evaded Mikata, found the hidden Tsumetai and killed him, effectively ending the connection between the two demons. Then, with Tsumetai out of the way and their little magic trick behind them, he would have a hope of destroying Mikata.
But it was an impossible fantasy now. The murderous demons had set their trap well. Kikyo, almost completely devoid of souls, was virtually incapacitated in his arms. Sesshomaru could not search for Tsumetai. He could not even flee with Kikyo, a desperate idea that he loathed considering, for that would leave his castle residents to face Hokai and Mikata. A fate they did not deserve, for his servants would surely suffer torture and an agonising death at Mikata's hands. The fight looming was unavoidable, but he would be hampered in his need to protect the priestess. He would be forced to defend and not be able to attack. He was glad that Rin at least, was safe with his brother Inuyasha.
Hokai and Mikata hastened forward, looking triumphant at finding Sesshomaru and Kikyo so compromised. Sesshomaru moved Kikyo to his left claw, leaving his right free to wield Bakusaiga.
Sensing danger afoot, Kikyo's soul collectors threw themselves into soul searching, swooping through the skies. But the tragic souls of maidens would be far, malingering in human villages. And no human settlement would be foolish enough to build right next to a demon castle. Her soul collectors would be too late to save their mistress from her stony prison.
Kikyo tugged at Sesshomaru's sleeve, Sesshomaru nodded to show he was listening, but did not take his eyes off the approaching spider and demoness.
"Go Sesshomaru. Flee with your castle servants. You'll be in danger if you stay here," Kikyo said insistently, her voice faint. Sesshomaru ignored her, not deigning to reply to such a preposterous idea.
Hokai and Mikata had reached them, and stood several metres back with a pulsing red barrier encircling them.
Hokai, who had heard Kikyo's words, guffawed with amusement. "Ahh, sacrificing yourself for the man you love again Kikyo? Didn't you make the same gesture for Inuyasha? I just can't seem to keep track these days," the spider taunted.
Kikyo's dark eyes flashed. "You loathsome, cowardly beast Hokai! You knew you could never beat Sesshomaru in a fair fight, so you resorted to this chicanery" Kikyo spat. Her neck was stiff and unyielding, she could only make out the outline of Hokai and Mikata with her peripheral vision.
Mikata laughed cruelly, eyeing the couple like a hunting bird eyes prey on the ground. "You call it cowardliness, I call it being clever," the demoness said smugly.
Sesshomaru's demonic aura seethed and bubbled with the astonishing audacity of the demons stood before him. Nothing would satisfy him more than crushing them where they stood. Sesshomaru glared at Mikata menacingly, Kikyo's body still tucked away safely under his arm. "You could not be clever, even if wit stood an inch before you. The three of you are so wary of defeat, that you resort to low schemes to fight your battles," Sesshomaru snarled, "you think you have us cornered, but I'll kill you one way or another."
The malice of his words was palpable in the dog demon's voice. But if the demoness and the spider were intimidated, they showed no sign of it.
Hokai grinned, or at least his pincers widened in the motion of a grin, and his horde of spider soldiers cavorted behind him, waiting for permission to strike. "Defiant until the end…And this is the end, Sesshomaru. I saw you get struck down by your own sword, I can see the damage the blow has caused you. And Kikyo can't even walk, she's looking more and more like a lump of quartz with each moment that goes by. What could either of you do to us now in such a state?"
Kikyo's eyes were searching the skies fruitlessly, hoping to see her soul collectors on the dark horizon. But the skies were barren. And besides, Mikata would never just allow Kikyo to receive the souls she needed. Mikata would kill every last soul collector Kikyo had with those wicked looking knives of hers. Kikyo could hear the low yowls of fright from Sesshomaru's underlings, but soon they would need to fight for their lives against the army of spiders standing before them. Sesshomaru himself was breathing heavily, clearly hiding the extent of the damage he had inflicted on himself. The hour was desperate, and Kikyo had to do something. Anything.
"Let Sesshomaru and the servants go…And you can have me. I'll stay willingly without fighting," Kikyo said. She hoped Hokai's hatred of her might save Sesshomaru and his servants.
Mikata cackled delightedly, it was an evil laugh, half mad and half malignant. Mikata fingered one of her knives lovingly. "You are in no position to be trying to barter your way out of this. I'll have both your heads within the hour. But don't worry, we'll have some fun first," Mikata sneered maliciously.
The spider mob were closing in, sensing the time was drawing near, they prowled some invisible line, clicking and spitting.
Sesshomaru's eyes blazed with fury at Mikata's threat. Kikyo felt his claw tighten around her. "If you touch a hair on Kikyo's head, it'll be the last thing you ever do," Sesshomaru growled. Desperate and furious, Sesshomaru's eyes began to glow scarlet.
Hokai clicked his pincers impatiently. "Enough of this! Mikata, finish this mongrel. My army of spiders will relieve the dog of his precious priestess."
With an inimical grin, Mikata brought down the barrier and launched herself at Sesshomaru, leading the horde of spiders that now converged upon them. Mikata brandished one of her knives, aiming for Sesshomaru's head. She was too slow, Sesshomaru sprang away and into the air moments before. Clutching Kikyo painfully tight, he unleashed Bakusaiga. Due to his injuries and because he was clinging to Kikyo, his stroke did not have its usual force, but several spiders were still obliterated, the rest scattered or were blown backwards like rolling stones.
Mikata lunged a second time, her amoral face stretched into a snarl. Sesshomaru parried Mikata's daggers, the metal sparking. Sesshomaru dodged and fended off Mikata's attack, keeping his right side facing the demoness to give Kikyo more protection.
Mikata's assault took all of Sesshomaru's attention. He leapt from place to place, and the spiders and castle demons fought ruthlessly around the pair. As Sesshomaru blocked another blow, he raised his sword, one of Hokai's spiders snatched at Kikyo, wrenching her frozen body from Sesshomaru's claws. Sesshomaru turned around frantically, trying to locate the priestess in a sea of spiders legs. Taking advantage of Sesshomaru's guard being down, Mikata slashed with her knives. This time she hit her target and her knife dragged deeply across Sesshomaru's chest. Sesshomaru wildly dodged away from her blade, but the damage was done and blood exploded down his front.
Sesshomaru hardly noticed the searing pain racing across his skin. He whipped his head this way and that, searching for Kikyo.
Mikata licked the blood off of her blade with relish, finding true pleasure in watching Sesshomaru suffer.
"What a foolish dog you are. You should have abandoned your servants and your lump of a priestess. Then at least you might have had a chance of escape, but now it's too late. You're finished!" Mikata cried scornfully. The demoness readied herself to spring at Sesshomaru, and Sesshomaru prepared his injured body to evade her once again, his eyes darting around for any sign of Kikyo.
"MEIDO ZANGETSUHA!" a voice roared. Mikata's eyes widened in surprise and she turned, in time to see a circular shaped gouge of the netherworld hurtling towards her. She shrieked and jumped aside as the form of Inuyasha burst onto the scene. His meido zangetsuha consuming parts of the grass and ground, catapulting great chunks into hell.
A cluster of spiders cried out in alarm and Sesshomaru at last located the priestess, who had been dropped unceremoniously to the ground. She may not have been able to move for lack of souls, but with whatever consciousness that remained within her grasp, Kikyo had managed to illuminate her body with her spiritual power, so that any spider that touched her skin got burned.
Sesshomaru gave a small grunt of relief, for being able to locate Kikyo and for his brother's sudden arrival. Inuyasha had found his brother and leapt over. "Sesshomaru, are you alright?" Inuyasha yelled, his eyes widening at the sight of the blood down Sesshomaru's chest.
Mikata had recovered from Inuyasha's sudden appearance. Her eyes glowed an acid green and she raised her arms to the sky, using her full demonic power for the first time.
Out of nowhere, vines as strong as steel snaked up from the ground and wound their way around Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's wrists, pulling them to the floor. Inuyasha tried to swing his sword, but Mikata's demonic vines held him fast.
Hokai, who was bending over Kikyo's now lifeless form, waiting for her spiritual power to fade, looked on in surprise at the turn of events. "How interesting that your half breed brother has come to save the day," the spider mused.
"Release me you hag!" Inuyasha yelled at Mikata, who looked offended.
"Hag? How dare you. I'll cut your tongue from your head," Mikata screamed, advancing on Inuyasha with her knives raised in anticipation. Sesshomaru struggled, trying to free himself from the demon vines entangling him. They were too tight, enough to cut to the bones. Every movement caused blood to splash onto the grass below him in worrying amounts. Rivulets of blood traced red rivers through his white clothes.
He had felt a fragment of relief at Inuyasha's arrival, but that feeling had quickly dissipated. It was a seldom feeling when Sesshomaru felt helpless, but he was approaching that emotion now.
For all Inuyahsa's power, he was still only a half demon. The likes of Tsumetai and Mikata were high ranking, aristocratic demons. Had Inuaysha been fighting Mikata alone, he would have had a chance to win. But with Mikata's combined power...
Mikata had reached Inuyasha, who twisted feverishly, trying to break free from his own trap. Mikata gripped Inuyasha's jaw and placed her knife against his skin. "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget," she hissed softly, revelling in violence. But the knife never cut Inuyasha's skin. Before Mikata could apply pressure, a glowing lime green whip had suddenly coiled around Mikata's arm like a snake, preventing her assault.
Mikata, Inuyasha and Hokai turned irresistibly, almost expectantly, towards Sesshomaru. But the poison whip was not created by the western lord, who remained crouched and covered in his own blood.
Forced to follow the source of the whip, the eyes of the four slid away into the distance, past the din of spiders. A pale, silver-haired woman stood on the fringes of the battlefield, lit up by the stinging green of the whip connecting her to Mikata. The woman was dressed in a many layered kimono of cream and pink hues, it was an outfit that would have been worn by a noblewoman. She had one crinkled red stripe on each cheek and her lips were a deep magenta.
Sesshomaru's mother, the Lady Sora, had unexpectedly arrived, looking so serene in the midst of the chaos, she could have come across them by accident. She held her whip casually but in a clearly firm grip.
The sudden arrival of Sessomaru's mother was a catastrophic blow for Mikata and Hokai. They had no idea his mother would be likely to come to his aid. Inuyasha was an inconvenience, but he was a half demon they felt confident they could either defeat or evade, especially with Sesshomaru and Kikyo so quelled. Sesshomaru's mother was an entirely different matter. She was old, full blooded demon royalty. Not only was Lady Sora a powerful dog demon like her son, she was the diamond of demonic society. Sesshomaru was in reality an unpopular loner, but fighting with Lady Sora came attached with a social dilemma of another kind.
Mikata yanked her arm this way and that, her skin beginning to sizzle under the whip, but the whip's grasp held fast. Mikata's attention wholly focused on the new assailant, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru managed to rip off the weakened vines that had only moments before felt so strong.
"Wind scar!" Inuyasha shrieked, swinging Tessaiga. The spiders milling around Inuyasha had no chance to react, believing Mikata had the half demon incapacitated.
The sword's power swept the majority of the spiders, over a hundred, away and into nothing, like they were composed of fragile dust. Lady Sora began reeling Mikata in and away from Inuyasha, like a fish on a hook.
"You should have left my son well alone, Mikata. Riff-raff like you have no business battling for land," Sora said imperiously, as Mikata pulled at her restraint.
With his droves of spiders pulverised and with another incredibly strong demoness added to the mix, Hokai knew they were on rocky ground. The corpulent spider sprang into action. Hokai shifted the blood flow in his body, increasing the flow into his back legs. When he did this, he could jump fifty times his body length. Hokai propelled himself towards Lady Sora and spat his most undiluted, most toxic form of poison from his fangs at Sora. Sora managed to turn enough to prevent the poison hitting her in the face, but the poison being flung at her distracted Lady Sora enough for Mikata to twist herself free.
"Let's go! Now!" Hokai shouted to Mikata, who stopped only to stare at Sesshomaru noxiously, before screaming in frustration and running full pelt towards the distant forest, Hokai ricocheting behind her heels. The handful of spiders left alive scampered after their master, until the castle ruins were quiet and still.
"Get back here you cowards!" Inuyasha howled, sprinting after them. Some of the castle demons followed him, others hung back, watching their master with relief.
Momentarily dreading the pain he knew he was about to cause, Sesshomaru slowly stood and made his way towards Kikyo's stone-like form. Warm blood bathed his chest and legs as he moved.
Sesshomaru knelt by Kikyo as Inuyasha returned. Inuyasha gave Sora a small nod of thanks for saving him, a gesture that Lady Sora ignored with mild disgust. The three silver-haired demons stared down at the frozen priestess.
Inuyasha gazed down at Kikyo's face, looking close to tears. "It really is true. She's here, back in this world. Oh Kikyo, why didn't you tell me?"
Looking sadly at Kikyo's stiff form, he reached out and clasped the priestesses' hardened hand. Sesshomaru's shredded chest twinged with resentment at this action. The dog demon could practically feel his mother's eyes boring into the back of his head, watching his every move, ready to listen to every word.
"What's wrong with Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked.
"She needs souls," Sesshomaru replied. Sesshomaru placed his hands on Kikyo's shoulders, rather possessively, a movement that made Inuyasha frown.
Sesshomaru looked into Kikyo's dark eyes, a glimmer of life remained. Once her soul collectors had returned with souls, Kikyo would be revived.
Seemingly unable to let this gesture pass without comment, Lady Sora's well refined voice rose up. "Son, why are you clinging so desperately to that animated golem? Did you make that creature? I hope you haven't been dabbling in some grim type of dark magic, Sesshomaru."
A heavy and awkward silence reigned.
Sesshomaru stood up, looking calmly towards the sky, his hair being lifted by the light breeze. "Here they come," Sesshomaru said, gazing up at the sky and thankful that the arrival of the soul collectors meant he did not have to answer his mother's question.
Desperate to assist their mistress, the soul collectors glided through the air quicker than they ever had before. Mere blots on the fading moon at first, blots that raced closer and closer.
The silver demons watched as Kikyo's soul collectors swooped down, carefully cradling their precious cargo of souls.
They released the souls just above Kikyo's body, which began to glow with rejuvenation.
"I need to speak to her. When she wakes up, I need to speak to Kikyo alone," Inuyasha said.
Lady Sora raised her eyebrows behind the brothers.
Sesshomaru tried his best to prevent anger and irritation washing over him. Now the threat had passed, Inuyasha had immediately become acquisitive of Kikyo. Perhaps an old habit from their past relationship. But Inuyasha's sudden appearance had wedged a cold knife of doubt between Sesshomaru's eviscerated ribs. Would Kikyo leave with Inuyasha? Would Kikyo continue to aid Sesshomaru in the current war?
Soul after soul was cast adrift, lazily sinking into Kikyo's body.
"My son, I crave a word with you. The spectre has your brothers undivided attention. Let's walk," Lady Sora said in a bored voice, folding her arms comfortably, her poison whip gone.
Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder. "I will not leave until I know Lady Kikyo is safe," Sesshomaru said simply, ignoring the deepening suspicion in both Inuyasha's and his mother's face.
"I see," Sora said, in a voice that sounded like she did not see at all.
Beneath their golden eyes Kikyo's clay limbs began to change, began to soften like candle wax into human flesh. The marble deafness was lifted as a fifth soul was absorbed, and she could hear again. Kikyo blinked, staring up at the still, dark sky.
"Sesshomaru," she said, her eyes flickering. Relief coursed through Sesshomaru's bones, though his outside exterior betrayed nothing, and he looked on as coldly as before.
"I am here…There is someone else here to see you as well," Sesshomaru said, watching Kikyo's pale face closely.
Kikyo's eyes focused, her pupils dilating to take in the dim light and her surroundings. Her doe eyes fell on Inuyasha's face, crouched on her other side. Her own face registered a myriad of emotions. Shock, confusion and…was that longing subtly carving her graceful features?
"In…Inuyasha? What are you doing here?" she whispered.
Inuyasha gave a roguish grin. "Helping you escape a demon ambush apparently. Are you OK?"
Sesshomaru squirmed inwardly, he should have asked after Kikyo's health, not left it to Inuyasha. Now he sounded as aloof as he looked.
Kikyo smiled wanly, then seemed to realise that Sesshomaru was also kneeled beside her. She struggled to sit up, and both men offered a claw to help her. She took them awkwardly and stood.
Lady Sora looked on, her gaze icy.
Kikyo dusted off her borrowed blue kimono, now tattered and ragged. Her thick, jet hair had predictably broke free from its tie and fell about her shoulders in an oddly beautiful tangle.
"Where are Hokai and Mikata?" Kikyo asked, peering around the shadowy perimeter, looking anywhere that was not Inuyasha's or Sesshomaru's golden eyes.
Sesshomaru answered quickly, determined that Inuyasha was not going to butt in this time. "They have fled into the trees," Sesshomaru said blandly. It was very important to him in that moment that Inuyasha did not gain Kikyo's admiration by being viewed as their saviour. "The appearance of Inuyasha and my mother, Lady Sora, caused them to fall back."
Kikyo noticed Sora for the first time and stared at her in amazement. Waking up surrounded by three dog demons was a surprise. Kikyo bowed politely in Lady Sora's direction, "Thank you for your assistance, Lady Sora."
Lady Sora gave an odd twitch of her head in response, looking Kikyo up and down unhappily.
Unsure of what else to say, Kikyo instinctively turned towards Sesshomaru and saw his bloody chest. She clapped her hands around her mouth in horror. "Sesshomaru, your bleeding!"
He was more than bleeding, he was gushing blood. But he was not overly concerned, already he could feel his skin and muscle knitting itself together, the blood that was lost being replenished.
"We have to do something to stop the bleeding, I can bandage the wound," Kikyo said, taking in the injury with appalled eyes. Sesshomaru wondered if, away from present company, whether Kikyo would have already removed his Kimono from his shoulders, her cool smooth hands determined to cure his every ailment…
"It's not necessary. These wounds are not like the frosted ones from Tsumetai, they are already healing," Sesshomaru said. He did not mention that right now, and probably for the next few hours at least, he would be dangerously impaired in a fight.
"Kikyo, Sesshomaru heals really fast, he'll be fine..if you were worried…We need to talk," Inuyasha said, placing a hand on Kikyo's shoulder.
"And I wish to have a word with my son. Come Sesshomaru, your brother can…see to the spectre," Lady Sora said rudely.
Kikyo stared at Inuyasha with a dumb sheepishness. Sesshomaru supposed that she knew that Inuyasha would be angry; she had tried hard to conceal her presence from him.
Kikyo eventually nodded. "Alright."
The priestess turned to Sesshomaru, who stood by as impassively as he could. Kikyo opened her mouth to say something, then seemed to think better of it. She shook her head and began to walk away, Inuyasha close behind her…
So that was it.
Would she return after her talk, or would she go back to living in her old village? Would Inuyasha and Kikyo's relationship be rekindled, and Kagome be discarded?
No. He could not believe that. He was jumping to conclusions. An hour ago he was holding the priestess in his arms, preparing himself to kiss her. He had stroked her hair and reassured her. Just an hour ago he was fearful for her life, as fearful as he would have been if Rin was threatened.
Their rescue had burst their bubble of intimacy, and normal life and the lives of others pressed in on them.
Lady Sora watched Kikyo and Inuyasha walk off into the trees with a look of satisfaction, the glowing seashells adorning her silver hair shining as she moved her head to regard her son. Sora's eyes were the exact same shade of gold as Sesshomaru's, and just as cold.
"Come my son, and walk with me. We have much to discuss, you and I. About important, life-threatening things," Sora said lightly. Sesshomaru stared after Kikyo and Inuyasha with despondent glint in his eye.