InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams of Red ❯ Meeting the Lord of the West, Sesshomaru ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: Meeting the Lord of the West, Sesshomaru

 

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

 

Youko Kurama snarled as everyone converged in Yusuke's meeting hall. “So this was just a waste of time? They could be dead by now.” The kitsune paced back and forth, he wasted Shuichi back, he wanted his other half. Kuronue wrapped his arms and wings around his mate. “I am so scared, Kuro. What is we're too late? What if Shuichi is dead?”

 

“It's fine, my beloved Youko. This wasn't such a waste of our time though. We now know that Shuichi is neither in Ningenkai nor Makai, that leaves us two worlds that they could be in; Meikai and Reikai. Koenma keeps a close watch on Meikai and I am sure that he would have told us if there was any unusual activity. Therefore we can safely assume that he is in Reikai.” Kuronue said with a smile. “Once we have our way in, we can search Reikai top to bottom. We will find our friends, my Youko, and make the guilty party pay. Now, who would be able to get us all in there?” It was Inuyasha who spoke up.

 

“You could try my half-brother, Sesshomaru. I know that he is the most likely to be able to help us.” The hanyou said. “However I know that he won't do it out of the goodness of his heart, and because I'm involved things may be more difficult. We aren't exactly close as a family, in fact we are as distant as distant can get. He doesn't exactly like the idea that his younger brother is a half-breed and can wield the Tetsusaiga.”

 

“He is still sore that your father left the sword to you?” Kagome asked, shocked that the feud between the two brothers spanned five centuries. “Surely in five hundred years he has managed to accept the fact by now.” That made Youko Kurama laugh.

“You don't know that much about demons. A five hundred year old feud is quite common amongst demons. Lords Raizen, Mukuro and Yomi fought for that long. Raizen and Mukuro fought for longer.” Kurama explained as Hiei started to sharpen his katana. “A feud is a feud, but not all feuds are irreparable, look at Hiei and Yusuke. They have broken down the feud between their groups by taking each other as the other's mate.” He watched as Yusuke sat beside Hiei and leaned against him. “Maybe we should pay your brother that visit.” Kurama said before he smiled at the pair, knowing that Hiei wouldn't be able to resist.

 

“Yeah, take is there, Pooch.” Hiei's comment made Inuyasha growl and the others laugh.

 

“Stop calling me that! My name is Inuyasha!” Inuyasha said as he led the way to his brother's, knowing that Sesshomaru may not be too happy to see him.

 

 

Deep in the lands of the west of Makai, Sesshomaru became aware of intruders in his territory, and one of the scents carried to him on the wind was none other than his half-brother. It was definitely Inuyasha, and he was bringing others straight for him. “Jaken, who are the intruders in my lands?” He asked his servant.

 

“It is Inuyasha, my lord, and it seems as though he is bringing emissaries from the three kings, or rather from two of the three kings and taking the third to you. He also has the human priestess that he was with 500 years ago, a bat demon, a young Koorime and a male ice demon.” Jaken said as he looked through the scrying mirror, one of his newest acquisitions. “It seems as though the three less important demons are retainers.”

 

“Let them approach. I would like to hear what the three are wanting to ask of me. It must be important if the three are representing their respective kingdoms.” He looked down at his replaced arm.” I owe Lord Mukuro for the return of my left arm. I still cannot believe how well her machines work. My arm was reconstructed back to what it once was.”

 

 

“Hey, mutt, are you sure that your nose is working, or are you intentionally making us walk in circles?” Hiei asked, making the group stare at Inuyasha. “Or maybe it's `that time of the month'?” Inuyasha growled, this was why he hated travelling in groups, especially with knowledgeable demons such as Youko and Hiei.

 

“So when does Yusuke lose his ability to access his demonic powers?” Inuyasha asked as he sat on the ground. The night had started to quickly close in, and as the light faded when it became night, the white hair turned black as he changed from demon to human. “Come on, all hanyous have the same weakness.” Yusuke's eyes opened in shock and looked at Hiei, who sighed.

 

“I lose my ability to use my youki?” Yusuke asked Hiei, who nodded. “Wow, I guess that it is good that I rarely use my youki, but it is worrying that I may reach for it one day and find it gone.” He said quietly, trying to think of a time that he had tried to access his demon energy and it not being present. However he couldn't recall a single time. “Maybe I do, but I just don't realise it. I never really take my true Toushin form unless I have to.” Yusuke said with a shrug. Then he, along with the other demons, heard the bushes move as three figures approached them. Inuyasha groaned, trust Sesshomaru to turn up when he didn't want him to.

 

“What brings Lords Yusuke, Hiei and Kurama to my lands?” Sesshomaru asked as he approached the group. “ Have the old kings set aside their differences? What can I do for all?” Yusuke laughed. Was this what was known as hospitality amongst the dog demons.

 

“This is strictly personal, Lord Sesshomaru.” Yusuke said. “We travel as a group purely because it made sense as we were all looking for missing friends. We have established that those we seek are neither in Ningenkai nor Makai.” He draped an arm over Hiei's shoulders. “Myself, Hiei and Kurama know each other through working together. Now will you help us willingly, or will we have to beat you into submission?” That made Sesshomaru laugh coldly.

 

“Do you really think that you, or any of those with you, could?” The full-blooded dog demon said, and both Yusuke and Hiei stepped forward to take him on, but Youko Kurama stopped them going further and shook his head as he approached the shorter dog demon.

 

“I will happily take on that challenge.” Kurama said as he stopped in front of Sesshomaru. “However I request that you remove Tenseiga. I want a fair fight and a sword of life and death tips the balance in your favour.” The fact that Youko Kurama knew about the Tenseiga surprised both brothers, but Sesshomaru brushed the fact aside.

 

“Very well.” He said as he removed his sword. “However I have a request for you also. That you will not use kitsune illusions.” He said as he handed the sword to Jaken. Kurama simply pulled a rose from his hair.

 

“You have me mistaken for a red kitsune. My kind is that of the spirit foxes. We are nature demons, not tricksters.” He then laughed quietly. “So you share the same characteristics as any other dog? Poor colour vision.” With a flick of his wrist the rose turned into a rose whip.

 

“Kurama just get on…” The rest was muffled as a vine securely gagged Hiei, earning the spirit fox a nasty glare. Ignoring what Hiei was going to say, Kurama's tail swished in the breeze as he continued to stare down the other demon, before cocking his head, as though telling Sesshomaru to start whenever he wants.

“Trust me, Sesshomaru, everything that you see and feel will be all too real.” It was then that the human woman accompanying Sesshomaru ran over to try to get the pair from fighting when a vine snaked out and wrapped around her waist. Kurama chuckled. “You better tell your girl to stop her struggling, or you'd have to use that wonderful sword on her to bring her back to life. I will protect myself from harm, be it from demon or human hands.”

 

“Let Rin go, kitsune. This is between us, and not our allies, don't you agree?” Youko nodded and released Rin from her prison and Hiei's mouth from it's gag. Yusuke grabbed Hiei before he could attempt at attacking the fox as the pair faced off once more.

It was Sesshomaru who attacked first and Kurama countered, using his speed to avoid the attacks of the other demon. As was his style, he studied what Sesshomaru did, gauging what his next attack would be, however he wasn't the only one watching. Sesshomaru was no fool, and although he didn't know Youko Kurama personally, he had heard of the fox's calculating mind and he knew what his adversary was doing.

The fight lasted some time before Sesshomaru started to wonder if it would ever finish, and decided that he needed to finish the fight soon before the dawn appeared and changed to his demon form. The large dog then looked down at the smaller kitsune, and Kurama yawned, before he too changed into his other form. The two `animals' faced off against each other, the larger dog pounced at the smaller fox, however the fox was nowhere to be seen. `Desist, Sesshomaru. I could finish this battle in a single bite.' Kurama said telepathically. `Trust me, you'd never survive.' Sesshomaru stopped and told Kurama that he yielded. Leaping off of Sesshomaru's back, and both returned to their more human forms.

 

“So tell me why the fight would have been over.” Sesshomaru said as he replaced the Tenseiga where it belonged. Youko only smiled and spat out a small black seed, a seed that Sesshomaru recognised as a Death Plant seed. A single bite would have introduced the seed in his blood stream and from there death would occur without his Tenseiga. “You are correct, that bite would have been the end of me. I'd never have known.” He looked at Yusuke, realising that he was somehow the leader. “What do you require of me?” He asked, straightening imaginary creases in his clothing.

“Lord Sesshomaru, our request is that you help us get into Reikai to look for our friends.” Yusuke said. “Then to take us back, either to Ningenkai or Makai.” Sesshomaru nodded to the request.

 

“I have to see Lord Koenma anyway.” Sesshomaru said as he started leading the group towards his `castle' “If Kurama lets me know when you are ready to leave and also your location, I shall get there as soon as I can.” Yusuke nodded, agreeing to Sesshomaru's request.

 

“That sounds reasonable.” Yusuke said. “However can we not leave until tomorrow.” He requested, looking at Inuyasha. “Your brother isn't exactly at his best until the dawn. We're all ready except him.” That made Sesshomaru laugh.

 

“So I see, maybe my little brother needs a good teacher, and doesn't learn the way by which I teach.” Sesshomaru said. “Please make yourselves at home.” He said as his home came into view, allowing the others to stare at it's magnificence. “It was one of the castles belonging to my mother.” Sesshomaru explained as he saw the shocked looks on his guests' faces. “Very few dog demons remain alive since the feudal era, most having been killed by enemies soon after we were all sealed in her by the Kekai barrier set up by the Reikai. It has been over two centuries since I have last seen a full-blooded dog demon at all.” He entered the castle carved from the edge of a mountain. “As far as I know myself and Inuyasha are the last of our kind.”

 

 

The next day Sesshomaru woke the others early. “I hope that you are ready to go. We should leave soon.” Moments later and everyone was up and ready to leave. “Remember to tell me when you are ready to leave Reikai.” He said, leading the others out and then he changed into his dog form. “Get on.” He said and started running before he leapt into the air, the Tenseiga creating a portal for him.

 

They landed just outside the entrance to the fortress where Koenma lived. “Thank you, Sesshomaru.” Yusuke said as they dismounted the dog. “We shall let you know as you requested, and I hope that you get what you want, Lord of the West.” Hiei smiled to himself. Finally Yusuke was learning to treat other demons of power with the respect that they deserved. He removed the ward from his Jagan Eye and searched the area.

 

“They're here, everyone.” He said “Where they are being held is a good day's walk to the west, so I suggest we have a good run. Good news is that we don't have to cross the River of the Dead.” It was then that Youko threw himself into Kuronue's arms, hugging him tightly. Finally they were going to get their other lover back, and they weren't the only one that seemed glad. Everyone seemed to be glad that they were soon to be reunited with their lost friends.

 

`Just wait a little longer, Shuichi, we're coming.' Youko said telepathically. `Tell the others that we will be there as soon as we can.'

 

`Youko Kurama?' A soft reply came. `You're really alive? Thank the gods of mercy! Are the others there with you? Is Kuronue okay?' Shuichi questioned. `Please be careful. A fire god named Kagotsuchi is holding us. I fear that if you fought him, he may use us against you. He is in a spirit form, and so he won't be easy to defeat.' He said informing the Spirit Fox. `Take care.' With that the connection was cut.

 

“Well what are we waiting for?” Youko said with a snarl. “We need to get there to get them back..”