InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Those Who Died ❯ What the hell are those?! ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Those Who Died.

Disclaimer:
I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. However, I do take credit for the “hell keepers” idea.

“Hiei thoughts” also “everyone else’s thoughts”
“Yoko thoughts”
“Kurama thoughts”

Chapter 4: What the hell are those?!

“Well now that we have introductions out of the way, let me congratulate you all. You all have been chosen because you are some of the most strong, remembered, and notorious fighters on record that the Spirit World has. You have shown exceptional strengths in the areas we are concerned about. As we go along, there may be more people added to this mismatched army, but we are hoping this is not the extent of the army.” As Koema said this, his eyes flitted over to where Kagome and her comrades sat, before shuffling his papers and continuing. “Now, you may all be asking yourself what it is that has got this whole operation going. Long ago, wise men prophesied that an unknown evil will appear, and blanket the gods children like a dark shadow. That nothing the gods could do would stop this, and ultimately, the gods would be no more, and these creatures would rule in the thrones of the gods. Until recently my father, along with all other gods, had never once blinked their eyes at this, for it seemed impossible. That is until one of the gods messengers vanished. He was gone for weeks. Suddenly he returned, except he was not as he once was. He was in essence a zombie. He neither walked nor talked unless told too. Finally frustrated the god picked his mind, and what he saw was incredulous. These creatures, they were as shadows, and nothing could kill them. They held immense powers and were like nothing the god had ever seen before, nor heard of. Not long after he pick his messengers head, did he vanish and in his stead, hundreds of these creatures he had told the council about attacked Makai. My team, you may remember that mission. Just a couple days ago, those things you went after on my command, and suddenly they vanished, those are the creatures we speak of. Just yesterday, my father got word of this, and this morning the god, an immortal, was found dead. His body had been turned into a mortal and his head cut off. Now no one knows where his soul is, hence the uproar of this morning.” He gave a pointed look at Botan who shook her head solemnly, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

“Koema-sama, if I may,” Suddenly in the dim of Koema’s voice, Kagome’s soft, magical voice abruptly sounded.

“Of course, Lady Kagome.” Koema turned his entire body to her in a subtle sign of respect.
“Koema, I believe what you speak of are called Nightwalkers. They are from our dimension, and are what we have been fighting against since the dawn of time. They take on hominoid shadow forms, but there is nothing of substance that makes them up. Am I correct?” She turned her head to the spirit detectives, waiting for one of them to confirm her suspicion. When nobody spoke up, Kuwabara spoke up, ignoring the glares from his two teammates.

“Um... Yea they did. It was like you hit them and it was like hitting smoke, but their claws were sharp, and they like took form whenever they hit us…just not when we hit them.” In the silence that followed Kuwabara looked down and shuffled his feet a little under the table.

“Thank you so much Kuwabara-sama, for speaking on behalf of your team.” Kuwabara looked up into Kagome’s face, and the radiant smile on her face made him grin.

Kagome looked back at Koema, and her smile faded. “If these are the creatures that reside in our dimension then you and your worlds are in trouble. It took thousands of years to learn how to defeat these creatures, and I am afraid your people wouldn’t last long enough to learn how to defeat them.” Her words instantly caused a ripple of indignant anger around the table.

“Now you listen here lassy, just cu’ we aint sure whatcha are and wheres you come from, don’t mean were going to put up wit ya putting us down like that. We’s just as strong as you creepy soulless people, and we can defeat any sorts of boogy monster your dimentia thingy can throw at us.” A voice with a thick foreign accent, cut across the room first. All heads turned towards the red head introduced as Master Jin.

“Master Jin, be assured I was in no way putting you down. I am quite aware that your are a capable, well managed world, I came from it. But allow me to repeat myself. You know not what you are up against. They are intelligent. Much more then you would ever give them credit for. They have their own language, their own powers, that my own people had never seen before. They have leaders, that have fought and killed their way to the top and are more deadly then anything you ever have seen, and anything you ever will see. What I am saying is that implore you not to underestimate these creatures. They can not be killed they way a demon, human, or even my people can be killed. They are not mortal, nor do they have a soul to destroy or a body to destroy. You could attack them with every power in your known universe and they would not eve feel it. So when I say that your worlds are in unimaginable danger, give me the benefit of taking my word for it.” As Kagome talked, her voice got louder, stronger, and when she was done, her voice rang around the room with enormous power that had everyone cowering inside. For a minute nobody spoke.

“Lady Kagome… May I ask, what are your people? I mean, last memory I have of you was of a human… but that is obviously not the case. Will you inform us of what you are, so we know how your perception of danger contrasts ours?” A timid female voice called out from the edge of the table, where a petite young girl sat, human in looks and smell but a demons mark sat high on her forehead, allowing the assumption that she was not human to be concluded.

“Do you hear that red?? This woman was a human!” Yoko spoke out from the recesses of Kurama’s mind.

“Then there must be a way to kill her.” Hiei’s voice drowned after Yoko’s.

“Guys please!” Kurama was about to chastise his mind mates, but suddenly Kagome’s sharp eyes were on them, and briefly had a hurt look crossed her beautiful face before she turned and sought out the voice.

“Ahh Rin-san, I believed I smelt you somewhere in here.” Kagome’s voice had gone back to sweet and loving. Her smile was directed at the young girl who replied with the same sweet happy smile. “Your right, I guess that is rather important, but unfortunately that is a long and complicated question, and answer, and I believe that it is best that your demigod continues his speech, and that you trust me that you are all in danger.” She reinforced her smile, and then turned back to Koema in an encouragement to continue. Koema straightened his back and cleared his throat. “Thank you Lady Kagome, for that useful insight. If you would, after the meeting I would like to take you back to my father to discuss those matters in greater detail.” he nodded his head to her, and turned back to everyone else. “Now, obviously, you all understand the why and the how, now you must understand the how. We are hoping that Lady Kagome will ally herself with us, and bring her arm to this realm to help. But if not, we are expecting you all to-” “Wait a minute! Why wouldn’t you come back and help us??” Inuyasha barked, leaning forward. For a minute all was silent and though he had an ugly snarl on, in his eyes it clearly read “why wouldn’t you come back to me?”

:Inuyasha:
I cant believe what I’m hearing. Would she really not come back to help us? Come back to help me? Why would she even consider not coming back to me?? Inuyasha caught himself and had to fight turning red. He stared in to her beautiful eyes, full of wisdom and pain that was never there before. His eyes traced her face, still the exact same, she had not aged a bit. Yet there was an elegance in her face, a strength in her chin, a pride in her cheek bones, a wisdom in her eyes. She Isn’t the young girl I once knew. She may not have aged, but she’s alive…a queen… how do I even begin to reconnect with her, she’s so different… As he looked back into her eyes, he saw the pain that flashed there, before her expression became neutral and she began to talk.

:Everyone:
“Inuyasha, there is more then just myself to consider. I must do what is best by my people, and if that is not what is best for my world, then I can not do it. You must understand that it is not that I refuse to help I just must do whatever I can for my kind.” Her voice was kind, but her tone was firm. She spoke volumes, she would not be swayed. She returned her attention to Koema, where he threw a glare at Inuyasha for interrupting him and continued. “As I was saying, if all else fails we are expecting you all to protect the three worlds. Now, I have explained it, if you came on your own free will I implore you to stay, and join this effort, but if not, you are free to leave now. A short silence spread until a cold voice chimed in for the first time.

“What do we receive in return for our services.” A man that had stayed silent this entire time, spoke from the other side of the table. All heads turned to him. He sat at easy attention with an unconcerned look on his face. He had bright auburn hair with matching ears and intelligent green eyes that were intensely trained on the queen. At her gaze met his, his face cracked into an easy smile and tears filled his eyes.

“The reward would be your life.” Koema snipped. The mans eyes immediately dried up and his smile slipped away. “Why should I help you then when I can live anyways without your bullshit war?” The man clipped back.

“Because you would be doing something worth while with your life aside from stealing others fortunes.” Another person said quietly and the mans eyes snapped from Koema to the white haired demon sitting across the table from him. “Shut it Sesshomaru. Maybe I like taking shit from assholes like you.” He crossed his arms and smirked. Sesshomaru growled and began to rise. Instantly Rin grabbed onto his arm and tried to pull him into his seat.

“He’s right Shippo.” When Kagome’s voice cut through the tension all eyes turned back to her again. “Just because you do not get anything in return, does not give you an excuse not to help someone, or many someone’s when you get the chance. I know you knew that when you were a boy, what’s changed?” Her voice was silky and cold and sliced through Shippo like a knife. His smirk faded, his eyes got wide and his head dropped. He looked like a child that was just told his mother was disappointed in him. Silence prevailed once again before she spoke again. “If I am to help, I would require some accommodations. I would be bring many men with me, and I would need land to build and house an army of a million, maybe two. Also, we would require it to be in either realm of the living. We would also need permission to feed as we please, given of course,” she said with a pointed look at Koema who looked ready to protest, “we were civil about it and made sure evidence was well covered and no lives were taken.” She gave Koema a stern look that said ‘my way or the highway’.

He stuttered for a minute, before he composed himself. “Well I am sure we can work with that given that your camp was located in Makai. Does this mean you agree to help Lady Kagome?” He asked, hope shining in his voice. All waited with baited breath while she looked to one companion, to another and then sighed.

“I will return to my council, and debate it. I will have a decision by tomorrow at dusk.” with this said she rose and her companions mimicked her.

“Wait!” Suddenly a human girl was on her feet, in a frantic panic. “What…what if you don’t decide to help? Will you come back Kagome?” Her brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she had on a suit that screamed fighter. Her hand was small and delicate as she reached for Kagome across the table- hoping, pleading, that her sister would come back, even if she was not going to help.

Kagome’s face faltered as she watched the woman reach for her. “Sango… I am sorry to say that if my people are not going to fight this war with you… I will not return. Until today, my people have never been welcomed here, and if we do not agree to help, we will never be welcome here again.” Her voice grew hard as she finished her last sentence and she spared a harsh glance at Koema who shuffled his feet guilty and looked anywhere but the queen.

“Then...then you must come back! Kagome… I spent my whole life knowing that you were dead! I knew I would never see you in the after life… you were too good to be wherever I ended up. But….” her voice faltered and she fisted her outstretched hand against her mouth, fighting back the tears rapidly forming in her eyes. She looked down, and when she raised her head her tears were falling vigorously. “But you’re here now! You’re…you’re here, you can stay with me! Please, I miss you so much! Even the after life couldn’t stop me from thinking of you… and what you did to save us all… please sister… I’m begging you…” her voice faded ad she begged Kagome with her eyes, wanting for all the world for her sister to stay.
Kagome turned her back. “Sango I can make no promises to you. I can no longer say what I can and can not do, with out considering my people first. Please understand.”

And with that she grabbed her cloak and swept out of the room, the two males she came with flanking each side of her.

It was a long while before anyone said anything. Sango had collapsed into her chair and the young priest beside her held her shoulders as she cried for many long minutes. Finally, when her sobs turned to sniffles, Koema spoke again. “Well if no one else is going to leave, this meeting is adjourned. Please feel free to return to your lands, and make arrangements for long absences. As for the rest of you, the ogres will show you to your rooms. Spirit detectives, please follow me.” As Koema started to move, a loud voice interrupted. “Wait just a God damn minute! What the hell just happened! Who the fuck was the queen bitch? WHAT the fuck was she, and why is everyone so up in emotional arms about her?” Yuuske finally exploded, his patients with being left out of the loop evaporating after Kagome and her men left the room in tears and disappointment from everyone.

Everyone tured to him, some with anger, some in agreement, and some with indifference. “Well Yuuske, her name is Lady Kagome, queen of dimension 7, ruler of Hell keepers. As for peoples reactions too her, she was in close association with many people at this table before her human death in 1509. Anything else will be explained at a later time, by her if she chooses.” Koema snapped at Yuuske before turning around.

“What is a hell keeper?” The young priest spoke up again, still holding Sango in his arms.

Koema sighed and let his shoulders drop, turning around and sitting back down. “Hell keepers are what humans, and even some demons have always called ‘vampires’. They are exactly what they are called. The 7th dimension is much like this one, but they consists of an alternate universe that I am not even sure I understand.” He placed his head in his hands and rubbed his temples. “But I do know that this is the dimension that the Night walkers come from and also where Lady Kagome come from and her people.”

“So wait a second. When you say vampire, you mean blood sucking, burn in the sun, changes into bats, Dracula type vampires??” Yuuske asked.

“Well some of that is correct, but mostly just myths created by people when hell keepers were sent away, many, many, lifetimes ago. All I really know about them is what my father knows, and that’s not much. They are a mystery to us really. I know that they do survive on blood, are more powerful then anything you’ll ever see again, can do things with their minds, and much prefer the dark. Anything aside that, no one knows. What is myth, what is not, your guess is as good as mine.”

“How are they created?” A still unknown voice spoke up. Growls came from two or three people in the room before Koema turned on him. Oh here we go. Koema thought tiredly. Last thing I need is for old arch enemies to start fighting over an immortal.

“They are created when their mortal bodies die. When they die, their souls are taken from us by what hell keepers call ‘trackers’. Trackers are much like our grim reapers. They wonder all realms, looking for souls that were not meant to die, and who deserve to be made a hell keeper. Their souls are found much before a ferry ever gets to them and they are given the option to be reborn. If the dead say yes, then they give permission for a living hell keeper to enter the world their body resides. From there the hell keeper bites the dead body, thus sending the soul back into their body, and take the body and soul back through the portal to their realm. From there it is said they go through a harsh transformation, where there is no guarantee the reawakened body will survive, and if the body does not survive neither does the soul. Or so the story goes. Anything past the portal is all guesstamation, to anyone but them. However, they are peaceful creatures, often birthed of violence and war, therefore caring for it little in their new life. From what I understand only the most pure, the best of souls, the best of minds, without evil intent are sought to be hell keepers, because of what they do. On the downside, they do protect hell, both inside and out, and make sure no evil gets out of hells doors. Though never seen, they guard night and day, protecting against attack. Therefore even if Lady Kagome does decide to lend us aid, many of her people will not be here, due to the fact that there are hells in all thirteen dimensions.”

All was silent in Koema’s answer. No one spoke. No one moved. For a long time no one even seemed to breath

Suddenly Hiei spoke. “If they are such a mystery how do we know we can trust them?”

“We really don’t know. We’re just counting on the fact that they were good hearted people when they were alive before.”

“How are they killed?” Was the guarded reply of Kikyo.

“They aren’t. They’re immortal.”

SOOOOOO. I know I haven’t updated in sooo long. I know I promised that I wouldn’t do that…. But I did. didn’t want too. Shit just happens. =] So anyways, please review, I would love to hear what you think of this new chapter and I need encouragement to continue. Lol
Thank you!