InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cross of Blades ❯ Destruction's Right Hand ( Chapter 21 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Striking Falcon 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.29.2006 | Pages: 9 | Words: 8.9K | Visits: 543 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.29.2006 | Pages: 9 | Words: 8.9K | Visits: 543 | Status: Completed
For Disclaimer: Um, please see the other chapters. If you haven’t been reading and this is your first chapter, then go back to chapter one where the disclaimer starts. I know what I said about chapter twenty-one being titled Sunday Morning. I thought it was a good idea until recently so I decided to change it. Some of you might recognize it, especially if you’re a FMA fan.
Sigh. What doesn’t have to be what way?
This bloodshed and violence, this needless slaughter. Haven’t we destroyed enough lives to satisfy you?
No. This world deserves to suffer for leaving me locked away for so long.
You were locked inside me and we would have come to some sort of compromise had I been aware of your presence. This isn’t Spira’s fault.
Hmnh. I hold no love for such measures of peace and mercy.
But I do and this is killing me. Can you imagine what would happen to your power if I died?
Boost to the point where I could become unstoppable?
You would weaken and they would kill you.
They would not be able to touch one such as me.
One could...and he will...and I think I’ll allow it.
You will not!
Oh, but I will. See, unlike you, I haven’t been holed up for the past 17 years. I know what monsters like Deling are capable of. I also know that he’s not through with us.
Meaning?
He wants more than a weapon. He wants power, pure and simple, and he wants to wield it without worrying about someone coming to take it. He wants unquestionable loyalty and the ability to rule over people’s lives with a sweep of his hand.
What could be more loyal than an aeon?
(I)
Information poured into the Garden from all four corners of Spira, including the secluded frozen village of the Shumi, home of an exclusive tribe of beings that sometimes evolved into red-furred catlike beasts called Moombas. Each lead was carefully investigated and scrutinized, but the SeeD were still clueless as to Deling’s whereabouts in spite of hundreds of thousands of tips from every government on the planet.
Nearly two weeks had gone by and Sesshoumaru and his team were beyond frustrated. Other small towns, this time on the continent of Trabia, were being demolished. The hundreds of survivors of the Deling City destruction stood in a class by themselves as other cities that were destroyed usually came out with little or no survivors. Men-Hadin, a small metropolis twenty miles southeast of Trabia Garden, had the most after Deling City, with five people lucky enough to keep their lives. Each survivor described the same light and the same earthquake that shook the city to it’s foundations. Each reacted violently to Sesshoumaru on sight, the same apologizes and weeping confessions spilling from their lips before their vacant eyes slid closed and they shut down from the rest of the world.
Today, though, was a different day and Hojo couldn’t help the spring in his step as he knocked on Headmaster Leonheart’s office door. He entered at the headmaster’s permission and opened the door to a familiar sight. Sesshoumaru stood on one side of the large mahogany desk, Squall stood on another and together they studied an enormous world map that lay on the desk’s polished surface. Squall looked up and gestured for Hojo to approach.
“Tell me you have something useful for once,” Sesshoumaru growled before Headmaster Leonheart could open his mouth. “And your useless attempts to sidetrack this Sesshoumaru will be met with a less than joyous response.”
“Um, o-of course,” Hojo gulped audibly. “I’m sorry to interrupt sirs but we have new information that may lead to Deling’s headquarters.”
“Let’s have it then.”
Squall accepted the file in Hojo’s hands and read over it, his frigid blue eyes widening marginally as he held up a group of satellite photos.
“What is this?” he asked as he pointed to a white dot in the center of the black and white pictures.
Hojo’s grin widened. “That is a heat signal, we think. It’s a large one too.”
“And what led to this?” Sesshoumaru asked as he pulled the pictures from Headmaster Leonheart’s fingers.
“An interview with one of the Deling City survivors gave us a tip that we couldn’t ignore. She was at the train station when everything went ka-plooy. She was trapped underneath some rubble for a couple of days before a group of people came along and dug her out. Until then, she said, the carousel on top of the Presidential Palace kept her conscious. She said the lights and the music played all night long.”
“But...that’s not possible if the entire city was destroyed,” Headmaster Leonheart whispered in disbelief. “We were there and-“
“And the palace was most likely concealed by the rubble around it,” Sesshoumaru growled in afterthought as he flipped through the photos. “These pictures were taken by the Esthar Space Station correct?’
“Yes sir.”
“And they have been wired to you over the past weeks?”
“Yes sir, that’s right. How can you tell?”
“Because only Esthar’s Space Station could capture the destruction so clearly from so far away. And also-“ He held up a few of the pictures and pointed. “They are the only ones that can document roadways being cleared.”
“Really?” Squall said as he leaned toward the photos. The time lapse photos showed the roads gradually clearing over what looked to be four days after the attack on the city, leaving a clear path to the Presidential Palace. “My God...how did we miss that?”
“We are not in space Headmaster,” Sesshoumaru replied before handing him the folder. “Do you have anything else?”
“Yes sir I do. Instructor Trepe assembled a small squadron to run surveillance on the area. They found the area teeming with rogue youkai, fiends and New Galbadian soldiers. They barely got away with their lives.”
“I see,” Sesshoumaru mumbled thoughtfully, then waved his dismissal and turned to the enormous window along the back wall. Squall watched as the commander’s shoulders tensed, his back straightened in thought before turning around.
“I assume you want your own squadron,” Squall said before Sesshoumaru could speak. “You will have to take the train in Timber to reach the city if you wish not to be seen. Would you like to assemble a team or would you rather I do it?”
“I will do it,” Sesshoumaru told him. “The hike from the East Academy Station will be at least a day’s time. Supplies will have to be sparse and the team cannot have more than 6 people.”
“That’s not enough,” replied Squall with a disapproving frown. “We’ll have to ask Esthar for one of their airships...again. (Sigh) Their president isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Let him be unhappy,” Sesshoumaru growled back. “I am not concerned. If we are able to get an airship, then I will acquire two more people and fewer supplies.”
“Then it’s done. Assemble who you can while I call President Loire. I will let you know if he’ll allow another ship for our usage.”
“Headmaster?” Sesshoumaru called out as Squall picked up the phone.
“Yes Commander?”
“Request the Black Dragon for this,” Sesshoumaru recommended. “There is no other airship with its radar avoidance abilities and I feel we will need all of the stealth we can muster.”
(II)
Inuyasha stood in line with the others, his body at attention and rigid as Sesshoumaru paced in front of the rest of his team. They landed under the cover of night on the outskirts of Deling City, their descent uneventful and the air around them as silent as the grave. They could just see the ruined city just at the horizon and were surprised to hear the carousel music coming from the rooftop of the palace.
‘Some people are just itching for attention,’ Inuyasha thought with disgust. He glanced down the rest of the line at his friends and sighed. Shippou stood beside him, his auburn tail twitching in barely contained fervor that betrayed the calm and stoic look on his face. Miroku and Sango stood on the other side with three new additions at the end. Ayame, a red-haired wolf youkai from Kouga’s tribe, Kouga himself and Souten made the last of the group, with Kouga’s complaints at having to take orders instead of give them falling on deaf ear-
“Would you stop it?” Sango hissed angrily at Kouga after one too many ‘dog-breath bastard’s fell from the wolf prince’s lips. “Quit complaining or go home, but stop it so the rest of us can think!”
Kouga growled one last time before falling silent, his icy blue eyes narrowed in Sango’s direction before Sesshoumaru cleared his throat.
“I trust we have our supplies in order?”
“Yes Commander Sir!” the others responded as quietly, but enthusiastically, as possible.
“Good. Bravaldi-not you Kouga,” Sesshoumaru snapped when Kouga’s ears perked up. “The other Bravaldi. You and Souten stay with the airship and alert us to any trouble. The rest of you will follow me.”
“What’s the plan commander?” Miroku asked before Sesshoumaru could dismiss them. “I mean, what’s going on?”
“The plan is simple.” They listened, Souten and Ayame excusing themselves beforehand to head for the cockpit, to Sesshoumaru as he described their plan of attack. Their eyes widened one by one, each just as stunned as the person next to them as Sesshoumaru continued to the end. Finally he fell quiet, his golden eyes watching them expectantly before Inuyasha exploded.
“Are you insane?!” he bellowed into the night. “I mean, of everything I thought you were going to say, I for sure as hell wasn’t expecting that?! Have you lost your MIND Sesshoumaru?”
“I take it you do not approve?” Sesshoumaru quipped instead of answering.
Inuyasha snarled negatively. “Hell NO I don’t approve! This is nuts! Has it occurred to you that you’re waltzing into a suicide mission?! We can’t just knock on the door and tell the doorman, ‘Hi, we’re SeeD and we’re looking for your president so we can arrest him...or kill him. Whichever one comes first. Oh, and can we borrow a cup of sugar’. And you say I don’t think.”
“That was not my idea Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru replied in annoyance. “And I did not say as much either.”
“But it’s almost as bad Sesshoumaru,” Kouga said next. He agreed with Inuyasha (for once) and, despite orders from the Headmaster, he wold not follow some crazed dog to death if he could help it. “What makes you think Deling doesn’t know about the sewers underneath the city?”
“I did not say he didn’t know about them,” Sesshoumaru retorted in exasperation. His middle and index fingers rubbed between his eyes wearily while he inwardly wondered at his decision to have so many drama queens accompany him. “My plan is simple. We follow the sewer lines the Headmaster’s wife discovered years ago to a manhole outside the palace. We climb up the buildings-if they’re still there-to the rooftop and cross the stage to the receiving area. From there we infiltrate the rest of the house. What is so hard about that?”
“Other than the fact that there are hundreds of New Galbadian soldiers patrolling the streets?” Kouga sarcastically demanded. “Or the fiends that have always lived in the sewers.”
“This conversation is moot,” Sesshoumaru finally decided with a flippant wave of his hand. “Anyone who would rather remain here should do so. Cowards will be nothing more than a hindrance on this mission.”
“That’s harsh Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha said and ran to catch up with him when the older inu walked off. “None of us are afraid. We just want to make sure you’re-“
“What? Thinking clearly?” Sesshoumaru finished for him. “Yes, Inuyasha, my thinking is quite clear lately.”
“Yeah well, I hope so,” Inuyasha muttered, his eyes darting to Sesshoumaru’s back with concern. Strapped to his back, it’s silver holster crossed tightly over Sesshoumaru’s broad chest, was Junesei, it’s crystal blue blade glimmering darkly in the sparse moonlight as it bumped against Sesshoumaru’s shoulders. “She’ll need us all tonight, that’s for sure.”
Sesshoumaru’s shoulders stiffened but he never stopped as he made his way closer to the city. “Do not read more into this hanyou,” Sesshoumaru warned testily. “This Sesshoumaru merely wishes to be prepared for anything.”
“Yeah, sure,” Inuyasha nodded in acceptance, then gestured for the others to be quiet when they reached the manhole. Sesshoumaru pried the steel cover off without effort, then gestured for Inuyasha to jump inside.
“Hell no,” Inuyasha growled softly as he peered into the gaping dark hole. “I’m not going in there first. You do it.”
“I’ll do it,” Miroku snapped and jumped inside before anyone could stop him. They heard his boots land on the wet stone with a barely audible ploom, then the click of metal against metal as he flipped the safety off of his shotgun. Sango dropped in next, followed by Kouga and Shippou before Sesshoumaru finally pushed Inuyasha inside.
“Really Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru growled as an eerie green light began to glow from his fingertips. “And here I thought you’d gotten over that fear of the dark.”
“I ain’t afraid of the dark you jackass,” Inuyasha snorted angrily. “It was just stupid to jump into a dark hole, that’s all.”
“Sure,” Kouga grinned before taking the lead down the dimly lit passage. “Hey, would you like to hold a teddy bear while we’re down here? We wouldn’t want you to get too scared without anything to cuddle.”
“Kiss my ass you-“
“Enough,” Sesshoumaru interrupted before things could get heated. Kouga and Shippou snickered one last time before leaving Inuyasha alone. They walked behind Kouga, with Sesshoumaru growling out directions every quarter mile or so when the pathway split or banked away. They continued this way for an hour or more before they reached a dead end and a rusted ladder on the opposite side of the wall.
“This is it,” answered Sesshoumaru to their silent question. “From here we will have to be quiet, so no talking unless absolutely necessary. Radio silence is also in order.”
“Right Commander Endo,” Souten voice called out from a small earpiece in his ear. “Radio silence begins on your mark.”
Sesshoumaru climbed the ladder, lifted the manhole covering a fraction, then scanned the immediate area. He watched as a searchlight shone from the top of the palace, his fingertips quickly lowering the lid when it neared him. He waited until the light went on before jumping down to the others.
“There is a searchlight but it is not hard to time. The only hindrance will be Almasy and Saikai’s inability to lift the manhole cover. Kouga, you will be last to insure they are able to get out. Inuyasha, you will follow me, then Makayura, Almasy, Saikai and Kouga. Run toward the dark side of the palace wall before the light finds you. You will go on my mark. Is that understood?”
“Yes commander,” they whispered with a quick salute. Sesshoumaru nodded, then returned to the ladder and the manhole cover. “Radio silence begins...” Sesshoumaru waited until the searchlight passed him, then growled a quick, “now” before disappearing from the sewer. Inuyasha quickly replaced him and one by one the SeeD members listened for Sesshoumaru’s mark, then sprinted from the manhole opening across a street littered with blackened wooden beams and steel pipes, then flattened themselves against the wall alongside Sesshoumaru. He waited until the last person was across before pointing upward toward a small ledge on the edge of the palace roof. He pointed to Inuyasha and Shippou, then Sango and Miroku before vaulting toward the ledge.
Inuyasha struggled not to gripe as he kneeled, grimacing slightly while Miroku clamored on his back before jumping up. Kouga and Shippou soon landed after him with Sango slipping gracefully from Shippou’s back and running to Miroku’s assistance when Inuyasha dropped him like a sack of moldy potatoes.
“I don’t see why I had to pick up the lecher,” Inuyasha griped irritably. “There’s no telling what he would have tried to do to my poor back.”
“I only have eyes for the charms of women Inuyasha,” Miroku calmly retorted while he dusted himself off. He smiled charmingly when Sango glared at him and quickly added, “However, my weakness has always been for the many wiles of my dearest Sango.”
“Can we cut the crap?” Kouga growled as Sango evaded Miroku’s groping hand. “We’ve got stuff to do and I can already smell something funny going on.”
Sesshoumaru said nothing though his patience was rapidly wearing thin with his rag-tag group of followers. He searched the stage and the carousel for an entrance to the building and found an unlocked access door on the carousel’s base.
“This smells like a trap Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha quipped nervously. Sesshoumaru agreed, as did the others before disregarding the feeling and entering the building. The receiving hall was silent except for their footfalls and the tiny ding of the elevator at the opposite side of the hall. The black double doors opened, the golden light inside inviting as the group stared warily within.
“What do you think Commander?” Sango asked and frowned at the elevator music. “Should we get in?”
“We may as well,” Sesshoumaru determined as he stepped inside. “I see no point in delaying the inevitable.”
“I do if it involves me dying,” Shippou muttered once the elevator doors closed behind them. “I’d like very much to avoid that for as long as possible.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Kouga growled and winced when Sango crunched down on his foot. “OW! What?”
“Shut up,” she snapped angrily. “Shippou, do you feel anything?”
“Like what?”
“That’s a no,” Sango sighed despondently. She smiled when Miroku draped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I was just hoping to see...but maybe that’s too much to hope for.”
“Perhaps not,” they heard Sesshoumaru say as the elevator slowed to a stop. “There is something here that has her scent. However, it is not entirely here.”
“Well where is it?” Shippou demanded. “I want to see it so I can ask where she is.”
“It is here.” Sesshoumaru gestured toward the elevator doors, which sprang apart with barely a squeak of the gears. They exited the elevator one at a time, everyone but Sesshoumaru awed at the grandness of the gigantic sparring room surrounding them. The paneling on the eight-sided room was of a rare tree from the frozen forests of Trabia, the wood stained a beautiful cherry to accent the many deep swirls and marks. The burgundy floor padding sprang up underneath their feet and eight beautiful golden silks streamed down the corners of the room.
“Welcome,” said a voice that chilled them to the bone. “I have been expecting you.”
The group turned to Deling, the confusion they felt evident on their faces as he sat behind a desk at the eastern edge of the room. He watched them cheerfully, the light from the antique lamp glittering malevolently off of his fangs and in his clear blue eyes.
“Please,” he began as he beaconed them with his left hand. “Come forward. I don’t see why we can’t be friends in all of this.”
“I can,” Shippou replied furiously, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled with his inner beast. Images of Kagome’s ‘death’ played in a continuous loop in his mind’s eye. “Slime like you doesn’t deserve to breathe clean air, no less have friends.”
“Now where is this hostility coming from?” Deling said with a jovial laugh. “I invite you into my home and try my best to make you comfortable, including relieving my guards for the night, and this is how I’m repaid? Honestly, and here I thought SeeD were trained to have a bit more manners than the rest of the swine.”
“We ain’t here to have crumpets and tea with you mack,”Inuyasha growled angrily. “So cut the crap and come on. You’re under arrest.”
“Under arrest?” Deling repeated with confusion. “Why am I...Oh. Oh yes. Now I remember.” He glanced down at his desk and flipped over one of the many papers stacked on top of it. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for that my dear pup. There’s so much to be done and so many problems that need my attention. Now if you would like to help me with my recent problem then I wou-“
“Where is she?” Sango interrupted from the back of the group. Her hand twitched sporadically against her double barreled shotgun, and her eyes were narrowed to hide the dim glimmerings of hope that stirred within them.
“Where is who?”
“You know who,” Shippou snarled back. “She was with us the last time we were with you. You punctured a hole in her stomach.”
“Oh, you mean the young SeeD private. What was her name again?” Deling tapped his chin thoughtfully, then shrugged and dismissed the question. “She doesn’t matter now.”
“Oh yes she does,” Sango retorted and shook Miroku’s hand off of her shoulder. “You’d better spill it or I swear I’ll shoot you between the eyes before you get the chance to blink.”
Deling huffed irritably, as if her question unconvinced him greatly, and answered her. “If you must know, she’s gone.”
“Gone how? Like ‘left’ gone.”
“No. ‘Dead’ gone. Mostly gone anyway.” He rolled his eyes at Sango’s heartbroken sigh and shook his head. “Now if we can get back to more important matters, like helping me with this-“ Shippou surged forward and, without warning, flipped Deling’s desk toward the wall on the other side of the room.
“Who in the fuck do you think you are you asshole?!” he snarled in Deling’s face. “Do you think we’re really going to help a bastard like you?! What the fuck for?!!”
“Because, I have this.” Deling rolled up the sleeve of his right arm and held it up, revealing what looked to be a thick silver bracelet around his wrist. A tiny blue sapphire star winked back at the group and Deling made sure of the group’s rapt attention before brushing his finger against the little gemstone.
This time it was Shippou who jumped back as the floor between himself and Deling began to shiver beneath them. Deling stood his ground unafraid as the floor melted into a thick, liquid black sludge. The stench of sulfur and terror choked the SeeD and they found themselves overwhelmed and unprepared for the muck-encrusted thing that struggled toward the surface. Five slender digits stretched themselves out, the oozing coating glistening wetly in the sparse light. The hand grasped the edge of the padded floor, the fingertips leaving streaks that squeaked on contact.
Another hand followed the first before the arms could be seen, the limbs deformed and twisted in sharp unnatural angles. The arms pulled their owner from the blackness, the screams of the dying and tortured erupting from the hole as the ooze produced the rest of the creature. It paced the ground on all fours, it’s glowing green eyes glaring at them dangerously before coming to a stop underneath Deling’s downward palm.
“SeeD, this is my newest acquisition,” Deling said and reached down to give it a gentle pat on what they could assume was it’s head. The creature gave a guttural snarl of warning and snapped razor sharp fangs at his unprotected fingertips.
“Forgive me,” Deling offered diplomatically. He raised his fingers and grimaced at the blood pooling on one of the tips, the thick crimson flow more of a deep purple than red. He popped the digit into his mouth and used his uninjured hand to gesture toward the creature kneeling at his feet.
“This, gentlemen-and lady-“ he said as a quick appeasement to Sango “Is the problem, my GF.” He sniffed suddenly and frowned, his nose wrinkling in disgust at the GF. “Clean yourself off,” he ordered quickly. “You smell like the bowels of Hell itself.”
The GF growled in insult, but did as he commanded, and the group watched as water droplets collected around its form. The steam rolled from out of nowhere to shield the GF from the eyes of those around it, but it couldn’t hide the murky plops of goo that dropped from underneath the steam. Deling smirked at the SeeDs discomfort and found all of them (except for Sesshoumaru) with rounded, comical eyes.
“What is the matter? You all look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” Deling teased.
“Yeah well, that thing of yours smells ghastly,” Kouga growled in disgust. “What kind of power does it have anyway? The power to kill through smell?”
‘Kouga states his ignorance,’ Sesshoumaru said to himself as he kept his eyes on the steam. All of his attempts to read the creature’s mind failed and his instincts were beginning to alert him to something strange. ‘Why does it smell so strongly of the stuff coating it? It is obviously not the creature’s natural scent.’
“No, Kouga-sama, my GF does not kill through smell,” Deling laughed jovially. “And I doubt it would ever need to. She is a handful though.”
“You said you were having a problem with her,” the previously quiet Sesshoumaru asked from his place nearest to the president. “What sort of proble-“
“You’re not actually thinking of helping the bastard are you?!” Inuyasha vented angrily. Kouga, Shippou and the other’s readily agreed with him.
“Personally, I for one hope the GF eats him,” Sango said from the back of the group. “I hope it eats him and chucks his bones across all of Galbadia.”
“Hey, I like the way she thinks,” Kouga smirked in approval. Sesshoumaru’s quick glare silenced the group, their questions and objections no longer pouring forth as they turned to look at their leader.
“Enough of this nonsense,” Sesshoumaru determined and pinned Deling with a pointed glare. “Clean your GF off and explain your reasons for tonight.”
“Ah, a youkai of purpose,” praised Deling. “I admire that. How different things would be if my father had been a youkai, or man, of purpose. Anyway,” Deling hurried with a final wave of his hand. “We were discussing my problems with my GF. She is powerful, amazingly powerful, and her power only grows the more she uses it. Deling City was a fluke, a fluke that I’m glad happened or else I’d be homeless.”
“And you’re living arrangements mean what to us?” Inuyasha grumbled irritably. “I can’t believe we’re stuck hearing this guy’s rambling all because Sesshoumaru’s caught a case of ‘Curious George’.”
Sesshoumaru ignored his comment in favor of the GF and the blobs of dark matter that were ebbing away. He still couldn’t see it for the steam ball but he could catch what he thought were the beginnings of it’s scent.
“As I was saying,” Deling continued. “She became more powerful the more she attacked, with Men-Hadin being her most powerful strike. Did you see the destruction she caused?” Deling threw back his head and laughed, his mirth welling from his throat to flow happily into the room. “It was beautiful, like a grand opera or a wondrous painting.”
“It wasn’t BEAUTIFUL you sick-“
“Enough,” Sesshoumaru commanded, his hand raised in front of Shippou. “Nothing will come of it. Let the hanyou have his fun.”
“You don’t agree?” Deling inquired curiously. “Oh well. You’re appreciation for art obviously is still in it’s infant stage. My problem began a couple of days ago when=Oh!” he said suddenly. “She must be ready now.” His gaze guided the SeeD downward, back to the steam ball that was slowly dissipating. The steam carried the GFs true scent and the youkai of the group quickly recognized it as the GF shook the last of the water droplets from her body.
Deling reached for the back of the GFs neck and hoisted her to her feet. “My dear companions, this is-“
“Kagome...” Sango breathed in relief and barely conscious revelation. “It’s her, right guys?”
“Who?” countered Deling in confusion. “No, her name’s not Kagome. This is Seraphim. Seraphim, greet our guests.”
She regained her footing, her bare feet soundless against the dark floor mat. She lowered herself into a crouch, wide black pants hung loosely from her waist to gather around her feet. The ruby tank top fit snugly along her torso, the golden dragons imprinted in the fabric clashing with the silver collar around her neck. She balanced herself on her right hand, silky waves of crimson cascading softly over her shoulder and covered one of her glowing green eyes.
The group stared in shock at Kagome’s face, but it wasn’t Kagome that stared back.
She rolled her shoulders back and gently shook her head, her hair whirling around her before being jerked, once again, to her feet. A growl of warning escaped her lips and she narrowed brilliant jade orbs at the hanyou on the other end of her collar.
“She’s a bit strong willed at times,” Deling apologized with a frown at ‘Seraphim’s behavior. “Especially with the situation I find myself in now. What do you know about this aeon, Sesshoumaru-sama? Do you know anything about what she’s truly for?”
“What’s he talking about?” Inuyasha demanded. “Sesshoumaru, do you know something about Kagome?”
“Seraphim!!” Deling hollered suddenly, the madness that he held contained now shimmering in his eyes. “Her name is Seraphim not that weak little human you lost so many months ago! That human is gone and you’d better get used to it!!” He huffed deeply, greedily dragging in mouthfuls of air as he struggled to regain his control. His eyes bled over and he buried his nose at the back of Seraphim’s neck. He was rewarded with another growl and the sharp zing of claws sharpening before they embedded themselves into his left thigh. He grimaced, pushed away from her, and frowned at her satisfied smirk. “She doesn’t like it when I touch her when she’s in this condition.”
“What condition?” Miroku asked, concerned, as the others gave Kagome a studying glance. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Deling calmly assured them. “She’s just doing exactly what she’s supposed to do.” He inhaled the air around her and smiled. “She’s gone into heat, and that’s where my problem lies.”
“I don’t believe him,” Kouga growled in annoyance. “Either of us would catch the scent of it by now, Sesshoumaru, especially you since you’ve spent so much time with her.”
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement and took a breath to say something, but stopped as something filtered through the air toward him. He could finally catch the scent of Deling’s new weapon and it held Kagome’s lily scent along with the addition of whatever she’d become. Beneath this complicated bouquet of scents there lay another, something more mysterious and exotic than the ones previous.
“The Al Bhed that created her came up with another purpose for my dear Seraphim,” Deling explained. He watched as, one by one, the breathing of the males around him deepened, with Kouga the first to be truly affected. “There were supposed to be two of them, a Seraphim and an Archangel, but the facility was destroyed before he could be created. My dear aeon is in heat and won’t be sated until she is pupped.”
“And why do you care so badly Deling?” Sango shot back. “It’s not like you to play Matchmaker.”
“Oh, and I wouldn’t be either, except she won’t allow me to touch her,” Deling pouted. “She thinks I’m too weak, so she’s deemed me unworthy. I’m sure she’ll find her significant other among one of you. Once she’s pupped and the kid is born, I’ll raise him-or her, I don’t care really-as my own. It’ll be the perfect weapon that only I can control.”
‘You asked...’
Asked what....
‘What’s more loyal than an aeon. Well now you know...’
“Ok,” Inuyasha huffed at last. “So you pair Kagome-“
“Seraphim!!”
“ Right, whatever,” Inuyasha grumbled with drunken sigh. The air around him was slowly starting to get to him and it was becoming increasingly difficult to think. “So, you pair her with one of us right? Then what happens to the rest of us.”
“That’s simple,” Deling laughed.
“You die.”
Deling grinned at the snarls and snaps that came from the youkai, his grin weakening slightly at the sound of safetys coming off. “Oh, and I seriously doubt she’d allow you to shoot me. Seraphim.”
She opened her eyes and glanced toward Deling, the look of disgust for the hanyou written plainly on her face as she awaited his instructions.
“Choose who you will. I won’t stand in the way.”
She rolled her eyes at the last part of his command, then turned glowing neon orbs toward the group in front of her. Her gaze fell on Miroku first, her attentions critical and calculating before glancing toward Kouga. She passed him with a barely audible snort and continued on while Kouga complained.
“Hey!” he shouted angrily. “What the hell! I’m a lot more powerful than these other guys!!”
“Shut up Kouga,” Sango snapped. “It’s not about you so deal with it.”
Her eyes slid past Shippou entirely, something that didn’t fail to catch the inu brothers attention as she gazed toward the pair. Her head tilted to the side thoughtfully and one clawed fingertip tapped her side before she turned back to Deling. “Have you decided?” he asked and was rewarded with a lowering of her eyes.
“Then take him and destroy the rest.”
‘Woah, wait a second!’
What now?
‘Um, you really don’t want to do this do you! You don’t want to kill my friends, do you?’
Friendship is overrated. Besides, our master has commanded this.
‘But he’s not our master! We’re masters of our own destiny! You don’t have to do this!’
The SeeD were on their guard the moment she stepped forward, the edges of her pantslegs whispering along the soft plastic beneath her feet. She moved until she stood directly in front of Deling, her body providing a barrier for the president. She cupped her hands in front of her, closed her eyes and began to chant. The whispered words missed Sesshoumaru’s ears but the effects were felt throughout the room as the temperature dropped . Soon their breath came out in puffs of vapor and the humans of the group began to shiver.
“W-we can’t t-take much m-more of this Sesshoumaru,” Sango stuttered out as she and Miroku huddled together for warmth. “Something’s gotta give!”
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, with a quick gesture on his part, the youkai separated. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kouga moved to attack the aeon directly while Shippou stayed behind to help Sango and Miroku. ‘Seraphim’ smiled as they neared her, opened her hands and released a powerful Firaga spell toward Kouga. Kouga yelped and barely dodged te smoking fireball. It careened past him and he breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew, that was clo-“
“Kouga, you dumbass!” Inuyasha snarled as he doubled back and raced toward the spell. Kouga looked back and watched, horrified, as the fireball that nearly hit him blazed toward Sango and Miroku. Kouga turned back as well but knew that neither he nor Inuyasha were fast enough to save them in time. Kouga’s ears twitched at a sudden zing and fell backward when Junsei and Shikyo landed in front of him. The Firaga spell bounced off of the crossed blades and dissipated, leaving nothing but a puff of smoke and a very unhappy aeon.
She growled toward Sesshoumaru, who quickly growled back. She was angry, but pleased at his defiance and it showed in her scent and aura. She welcomed his advance toward her and readied herself, but growled in annoyance when Kouga landed in front of Sesshoumaru and reached out for her.
“Come on Kagome,” he called out as she evaded his outstretched hand. “Let’s get you away from this evil bastard. Come h-“ His breath came out in a wheezed croak when she finally stopped running and kicked him in the crotch. He doubled over in agony, crystal blue eyes wide and disbelieving as she smirked down at him. She grasped his shoulders tenderly, a sweet smile gracing her lips before she slammed his chin into her knee. Kouga blacked out instantly and was completely unaware when she slid him toward the opposite wall.
“That’s one,” Deling happily chanted from behind her. “Though he’s not dead, that will do. Continue Seraphim.”
She turned toward Inuyasha next, who stood on her right side, and charged toward him. “Yeah right,” Inuyasha said aloud as he ducked her wild swing. “Like I haven’t spared with you enough over the years. I know all of your moves Kago-“ His mouth shut with a click when her fist connected with his jaw, his eyes briefly flashing red as the pain shot from his face to his brain and back again. He stumbled back and spit out blood (and what he thought might be a tooth) onto the floor and snarled. She smirked back and caught him with a Stop spell before he could blink again.
Inuyasha struggled to free himself and stopped when Sango’s Esuna spell burst over his head. He rotated his shoulder and nodded toward her in thanks, his momentary distraction enough for Seraphim to sneak behind him and knock him to the floor. He cried out in outrage, then in agony when she stomped down on his right forearm, his loud bellow barely heard over the vicious snap of his bones breaking. She left him where he was when Sesshoumaru swiped out at him, a pleased smirk on her lips as she allowed Sesshoumaru to distract her. Shippou immediately darted out and dragged Inuyasha further away from the battlefield.
“Hey Inuyasha, are you alright?” Shippou asked as he struggled to lift Inuyasha’s sleeve. He grimaced at the odd angle Inuyasha’s arm now laid in and used a scrap piece of cloth to wrap it while Sango and Miroku kept watch. “Man, this looks like it hurt-“
“Why ain’t you fightin’?” Inuyasha moaned painfully. “We need all the help we can get you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” Shippou looked away guiltily. “But I can’t do it. I can’t hit her.”
“Well I don’t like the idea of hitting Kagome either but-“
“No, it’s not that,” Shippou interrupted. “I can’t hit her! It’s our mark.” He held up his arm so Inuyasha could see. “If I hit her I’ll get shocked and she’ll disappear.”
“Disappear where? And what for?”
“It’s supposed to keep enemies from taking advantage of the blood marks,” Shippou explained. “Every kitsune knows about the marks and what they’re for.”
“But you said Kagome would disappear,” Inuyasha reminded him. “Why is that?”
“Its supposed to be for protection. The victim is sent to the nearest safe place and the other person is punished.”
“Hm...you know,” Inuyasha said after a moments though. “That gives me an idea.”
“Uh oh,” Shippou said warily, then glanced up at a frustrated growl from Sesshoumaru. “I’m not going to like this am I?”
“You’ve got to get Kagome to hit you,” replied Inuyasha instead of answering his question. “Then maybe the shock will knock some sense into her.”
“No,” Shippou refused. “I’m not going to do it.”
“Why not?” Inuyasha demanded. “It’s a good idea. She’ll get her senses back you’ll-“
“Get transported to the ship but Inuyasha that’s not why I don’t want to do it!” Shippou said in a rush. “I don’t want to do it because...our mark will fade.”
“Fade? You mean, the two of you won’t be connected anymore?”
Shippou nodded miserably. “I know it’s selfish of me but-“
“You’re damned right it’s selfish of you,” Inuyasha retorted. “Here you can be of some help and you won’t do it because you’re afraid of losing some mark.”
“But Inuyasha, Kagome and I-“
“Won’t be any different than you were before this whole mess started. Kagome cares about us, and she always will but we can’t get her back if whatever it is and Deling keep her under their control. You won’t lose a friend stupid. You’ll just be losing a scar.”
Shippou sighed dismally, but headed the wisdom in Inuyasha’s harsh statement. Inuyasha gave Shippou a reassuring pat on his shoulder. Shippou nodded back, stood up and approached the battle ahead of them.
Deling stood by, a self-satisfied smirk on his features as he watched Seraphim and Sesshoumaru fight each other. He could tell that his little aeon enjoyed the taiyoukai’s attempts to knock her down or get past her and truly felt no fear. ‘I will have what I want,’ Deling said to himself when Seraphim knocked Sesshoumaru’s feet from underneath him and pounced on his prone form. ‘I will have that child I desire and soon, I will have the world. Father couldn’t have done better himself.’
“Kagome!”
Deling looked up, as did Seraphim as Shippou stopped beside her. He looked down on her, watching as she snarled in his direction. He reached down and pulled her off of Sesshoumaru, who quickly sprang to his feet and stood by as Seraphim struggled to regain her freedom. She glared at Shippou and snarled again. Shippou shook his head and braced himself for what was to come.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered seconds before her fist connected with the side of his head. He sank to the floor and fought to stay conscious, his jade green eyes unfocused and bleary as Seraphim glared down at him. She jerked once, twice, then screamed as wave upon wave of electricity washed over her. She fell down beside him, her eyes squeezed shut as spasms tossed her body around. She went still moments before Shippou disappeared, a lone tear slipping down his cheek as his outstretched hand faded from sight.
“What just happened?” Deling demanded as he stalked across the room toward Seraphim. “What did he do to my aeon?”
“It’s not what he did, it’s what she did,” Inuyasha grunted as Sango and Miroku helped him to his feet. “All Shippou did was set the re-set button on your so called ‘aeon’.”
“Wake up!” Deling hollered as he lifted Seraphim by the shoulders and shook her. “Wake up damnit! I won’t stand for this! Obey me and destroy them!!”
“Looks like you’re having a little trouble there De-“ Inuyasha gaped, as did the others, when the president lost control and slapped the aeon across her cheek. The cheek darkened only for an instant, then the bruise disappeared before Deling slapped her again. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kouga, who had finally awakened, snarled in warning at the enraged hanyou, but Deling paid them little attention as he balled up his fist and smashed it into the aeon’s nose.
“I demand that you wake up this instant!” he howled as he punched her repeatedly. Blood dribbled down one side of her nose and her bottom lip began to swell. He stopped when Sesshoumaru grasped his wrist, his normally cool golden eyes blood red and his youki barely leashed.
“You will so-“ He was tossed back like a ball and he shielded his eyes from the blinding light that suddenly flashed between himself and Deling. The light engulfed the president and his weapon and prevented anyone from seeing or touching anything inside. The light disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, leaving Seraphim sitting in the middle of the floor...
Alone...
As tiny gray bits of ash floated around her. She stood up and brushed herself off, her glowing orbs filled with unhinged malice as she raised her arms and laughed.
“What’s she doing?!” Sango shouted above the howling, frigid winds. “Sesshoumaru?! Don’t you know what’s going on?”
“She’s a GF without a master now,” Sesshoumaru answered her. “She’s free to do what she wants and now-“
“Now she wants to go on a killing spree!” Inuyasha called out. “Kagome! Kagome stop it! You’re going to hurt somebody!”
‘Hmm...that’s it!’ Sesshoumaru realized as the wind swirled around him. ‘That’s what Dr. Gippal wanted to tell her! I believe I know what to do...’ He gathered Junsei and Shikyo, placed them back in their holsters and left the small gathering to walk toward her. Seraphim watched him, ruby red hair swirling about her and her eyes pinned on his form as his hand gently wrapped itself around her wrist.
“You will stop this,” he told her evenly, all traces of his anger toward Deling completely cleared from his eyes and aura. “You were not made for this.” He sensed her confusion at his command and he jerked her toward him before she could stop him. Her eyes widened in disbelief and outrage and her power spiked around him, threatening to fry him, freeze him, or purify him on the spot.
“You are an alchemist, just like your father.” He mentally smirked at the shock on her face. “It is time you rested Kagome. Pa drui vun dra baubma.”
The wind died instantly as did the glow in her eyes as the power around them surged back to her lithe form. She sagged against him, her turquoise eyes grateful as he caught her and wrapped his tail around her. Red hair darkened to onyx cascaded over his left arm. He watched as her eyes closed and she fell asleep before turning to the others. They stared at him in open-mouthed awe and did little more than watch him as his tail reached behind him to pick up something that glimmered on the ash coated floor.
“Well,” Inuyasha said as he finally came to his senses. “I’d say that was eventful. Now who’s ready to go home?”
(End chapter)
SF: Ok, I’ll admit, that chapter kinda sucked.
Kagome: No it didn’t. You got a lot of stuff solved in this chapter.
SF: Yeah, but writer’s block was a b-otch. I hate it when that happens.
Inu-chan: So now what? That’s the end right?
SF: Um...wrong! Duh! You know there’s one more chapter left to this story. Um...hey Sesshou!
Sesshou: (from deep within the confines of the fridge) What is it crossbreed?
SF: It’s your turn to do the summary for the next chapter.
Sesshou: I do not wish to do so. Charge the hanyou with that duty.
SF: Alright then but...
Sesshou: (pulling out a red Freeze-Pop) But what?
SF: Well, I was just thinking about that favor you asked me the other day. The one about the one shot on A Single Spark and Mediaminer. Don’t you remember what you asked me about it?
Sesshou: Yes..
SF: Well, I’ll consider it if you do this.
Sesshou: (grumbling around his Freeze-Pop) Fine. Hand this Sesshoumaru the script. (Snatches script)
SF: Hey!
Sesshou: (reads over) To have her back...to have her finally with us...with me...I do not know how to describe the relief that has settled over the team. They stare at her as if she will disappear at will...and she just might. But what will they do-what will I do-when she’s taken from us again?
Next chapter-Chapter Twenty-Two: Vindicated
Chapter Twenty-One: Destruction’s Right Hand
It doesn’t have to be this way, you know.Sigh. What doesn’t have to be what way?
This bloodshed and violence, this needless slaughter. Haven’t we destroyed enough lives to satisfy you?
No. This world deserves to suffer for leaving me locked away for so long.
You were locked inside me and we would have come to some sort of compromise had I been aware of your presence. This isn’t Spira’s fault.
Hmnh. I hold no love for such measures of peace and mercy.
But I do and this is killing me. Can you imagine what would happen to your power if I died?
Boost to the point where I could become unstoppable?
You would weaken and they would kill you.
They would not be able to touch one such as me.
One could...and he will...and I think I’ll allow it.
You will not!
Oh, but I will. See, unlike you, I haven’t been holed up for the past 17 years. I know what monsters like Deling are capable of. I also know that he’s not through with us.
Meaning?
He wants more than a weapon. He wants power, pure and simple, and he wants to wield it without worrying about someone coming to take it. He wants unquestionable loyalty and the ability to rule over people’s lives with a sweep of his hand.
What could be more loyal than an aeon?
(I)
Information poured into the Garden from all four corners of Spira, including the secluded frozen village of the Shumi, home of an exclusive tribe of beings that sometimes evolved into red-furred catlike beasts called Moombas. Each lead was carefully investigated and scrutinized, but the SeeD were still clueless as to Deling’s whereabouts in spite of hundreds of thousands of tips from every government on the planet.
Nearly two weeks had gone by and Sesshoumaru and his team were beyond frustrated. Other small towns, this time on the continent of Trabia, were being demolished. The hundreds of survivors of the Deling City destruction stood in a class by themselves as other cities that were destroyed usually came out with little or no survivors. Men-Hadin, a small metropolis twenty miles southeast of Trabia Garden, had the most after Deling City, with five people lucky enough to keep their lives. Each survivor described the same light and the same earthquake that shook the city to it’s foundations. Each reacted violently to Sesshoumaru on sight, the same apologizes and weeping confessions spilling from their lips before their vacant eyes slid closed and they shut down from the rest of the world.
Today, though, was a different day and Hojo couldn’t help the spring in his step as he knocked on Headmaster Leonheart’s office door. He entered at the headmaster’s permission and opened the door to a familiar sight. Sesshoumaru stood on one side of the large mahogany desk, Squall stood on another and together they studied an enormous world map that lay on the desk’s polished surface. Squall looked up and gestured for Hojo to approach.
“Tell me you have something useful for once,” Sesshoumaru growled before Headmaster Leonheart could open his mouth. “And your useless attempts to sidetrack this Sesshoumaru will be met with a less than joyous response.”
“Um, o-of course,” Hojo gulped audibly. “I’m sorry to interrupt sirs but we have new information that may lead to Deling’s headquarters.”
“Let’s have it then.”
Squall accepted the file in Hojo’s hands and read over it, his frigid blue eyes widening marginally as he held up a group of satellite photos.
“What is this?” he asked as he pointed to a white dot in the center of the black and white pictures.
Hojo’s grin widened. “That is a heat signal, we think. It’s a large one too.”
“And what led to this?” Sesshoumaru asked as he pulled the pictures from Headmaster Leonheart’s fingers.
“An interview with one of the Deling City survivors gave us a tip that we couldn’t ignore. She was at the train station when everything went ka-plooy. She was trapped underneath some rubble for a couple of days before a group of people came along and dug her out. Until then, she said, the carousel on top of the Presidential Palace kept her conscious. She said the lights and the music played all night long.”
“But...that’s not possible if the entire city was destroyed,” Headmaster Leonheart whispered in disbelief. “We were there and-“
“And the palace was most likely concealed by the rubble around it,” Sesshoumaru growled in afterthought as he flipped through the photos. “These pictures were taken by the Esthar Space Station correct?’
“Yes sir.”
“And they have been wired to you over the past weeks?”
“Yes sir, that’s right. How can you tell?”
“Because only Esthar’s Space Station could capture the destruction so clearly from so far away. And also-“ He held up a few of the pictures and pointed. “They are the only ones that can document roadways being cleared.”
“Really?” Squall said as he leaned toward the photos. The time lapse photos showed the roads gradually clearing over what looked to be four days after the attack on the city, leaving a clear path to the Presidential Palace. “My God...how did we miss that?”
“We are not in space Headmaster,” Sesshoumaru replied before handing him the folder. “Do you have anything else?”
“Yes sir I do. Instructor Trepe assembled a small squadron to run surveillance on the area. They found the area teeming with rogue youkai, fiends and New Galbadian soldiers. They barely got away with their lives.”
“I see,” Sesshoumaru mumbled thoughtfully, then waved his dismissal and turned to the enormous window along the back wall. Squall watched as the commander’s shoulders tensed, his back straightened in thought before turning around.
“I assume you want your own squadron,” Squall said before Sesshoumaru could speak. “You will have to take the train in Timber to reach the city if you wish not to be seen. Would you like to assemble a team or would you rather I do it?”
“I will do it,” Sesshoumaru told him. “The hike from the East Academy Station will be at least a day’s time. Supplies will have to be sparse and the team cannot have more than 6 people.”
“That’s not enough,” replied Squall with a disapproving frown. “We’ll have to ask Esthar for one of their airships...again. (Sigh) Their president isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Let him be unhappy,” Sesshoumaru growled back. “I am not concerned. If we are able to get an airship, then I will acquire two more people and fewer supplies.”
“Then it’s done. Assemble who you can while I call President Loire. I will let you know if he’ll allow another ship for our usage.”
“Headmaster?” Sesshoumaru called out as Squall picked up the phone.
“Yes Commander?”
“Request the Black Dragon for this,” Sesshoumaru recommended. “There is no other airship with its radar avoidance abilities and I feel we will need all of the stealth we can muster.”
(II)
Inuyasha stood in line with the others, his body at attention and rigid as Sesshoumaru paced in front of the rest of his team. They landed under the cover of night on the outskirts of Deling City, their descent uneventful and the air around them as silent as the grave. They could just see the ruined city just at the horizon and were surprised to hear the carousel music coming from the rooftop of the palace.
‘Some people are just itching for attention,’ Inuyasha thought with disgust. He glanced down the rest of the line at his friends and sighed. Shippou stood beside him, his auburn tail twitching in barely contained fervor that betrayed the calm and stoic look on his face. Miroku and Sango stood on the other side with three new additions at the end. Ayame, a red-haired wolf youkai from Kouga’s tribe, Kouga himself and Souten made the last of the group, with Kouga’s complaints at having to take orders instead of give them falling on deaf ear-
“Would you stop it?” Sango hissed angrily at Kouga after one too many ‘dog-breath bastard’s fell from the wolf prince’s lips. “Quit complaining or go home, but stop it so the rest of us can think!”
Kouga growled one last time before falling silent, his icy blue eyes narrowed in Sango’s direction before Sesshoumaru cleared his throat.
“I trust we have our supplies in order?”
“Yes Commander Sir!” the others responded as quietly, but enthusiastically, as possible.
“Good. Bravaldi-not you Kouga,” Sesshoumaru snapped when Kouga’s ears perked up. “The other Bravaldi. You and Souten stay with the airship and alert us to any trouble. The rest of you will follow me.”
“What’s the plan commander?” Miroku asked before Sesshoumaru could dismiss them. “I mean, what’s going on?”
“The plan is simple.” They listened, Souten and Ayame excusing themselves beforehand to head for the cockpit, to Sesshoumaru as he described their plan of attack. Their eyes widened one by one, each just as stunned as the person next to them as Sesshoumaru continued to the end. Finally he fell quiet, his golden eyes watching them expectantly before Inuyasha exploded.
“Are you insane?!” he bellowed into the night. “I mean, of everything I thought you were going to say, I for sure as hell wasn’t expecting that?! Have you lost your MIND Sesshoumaru?”
“I take it you do not approve?” Sesshoumaru quipped instead of answering.
Inuyasha snarled negatively. “Hell NO I don’t approve! This is nuts! Has it occurred to you that you’re waltzing into a suicide mission?! We can’t just knock on the door and tell the doorman, ‘Hi, we’re SeeD and we’re looking for your president so we can arrest him...or kill him. Whichever one comes first. Oh, and can we borrow a cup of sugar’. And you say I don’t think.”
“That was not my idea Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru replied in annoyance. “And I did not say as much either.”
“But it’s almost as bad Sesshoumaru,” Kouga said next. He agreed with Inuyasha (for once) and, despite orders from the Headmaster, he wold not follow some crazed dog to death if he could help it. “What makes you think Deling doesn’t know about the sewers underneath the city?”
“I did not say he didn’t know about them,” Sesshoumaru retorted in exasperation. His middle and index fingers rubbed between his eyes wearily while he inwardly wondered at his decision to have so many drama queens accompany him. “My plan is simple. We follow the sewer lines the Headmaster’s wife discovered years ago to a manhole outside the palace. We climb up the buildings-if they’re still there-to the rooftop and cross the stage to the receiving area. From there we infiltrate the rest of the house. What is so hard about that?”
“Other than the fact that there are hundreds of New Galbadian soldiers patrolling the streets?” Kouga sarcastically demanded. “Or the fiends that have always lived in the sewers.”
“This conversation is moot,” Sesshoumaru finally decided with a flippant wave of his hand. “Anyone who would rather remain here should do so. Cowards will be nothing more than a hindrance on this mission.”
“That’s harsh Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha said and ran to catch up with him when the older inu walked off. “None of us are afraid. We just want to make sure you’re-“
“What? Thinking clearly?” Sesshoumaru finished for him. “Yes, Inuyasha, my thinking is quite clear lately.”
“Yeah well, I hope so,” Inuyasha muttered, his eyes darting to Sesshoumaru’s back with concern. Strapped to his back, it’s silver holster crossed tightly over Sesshoumaru’s broad chest, was Junesei, it’s crystal blue blade glimmering darkly in the sparse moonlight as it bumped against Sesshoumaru’s shoulders. “She’ll need us all tonight, that’s for sure.”
Sesshoumaru’s shoulders stiffened but he never stopped as he made his way closer to the city. “Do not read more into this hanyou,” Sesshoumaru warned testily. “This Sesshoumaru merely wishes to be prepared for anything.”
“Yeah, sure,” Inuyasha nodded in acceptance, then gestured for the others to be quiet when they reached the manhole. Sesshoumaru pried the steel cover off without effort, then gestured for Inuyasha to jump inside.
“Hell no,” Inuyasha growled softly as he peered into the gaping dark hole. “I’m not going in there first. You do it.”
“I’ll do it,” Miroku snapped and jumped inside before anyone could stop him. They heard his boots land on the wet stone with a barely audible ploom, then the click of metal against metal as he flipped the safety off of his shotgun. Sango dropped in next, followed by Kouga and Shippou before Sesshoumaru finally pushed Inuyasha inside.
“Really Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru growled as an eerie green light began to glow from his fingertips. “And here I thought you’d gotten over that fear of the dark.”
“I ain’t afraid of the dark you jackass,” Inuyasha snorted angrily. “It was just stupid to jump into a dark hole, that’s all.”
“Sure,” Kouga grinned before taking the lead down the dimly lit passage. “Hey, would you like to hold a teddy bear while we’re down here? We wouldn’t want you to get too scared without anything to cuddle.”
“Kiss my ass you-“
“Enough,” Sesshoumaru interrupted before things could get heated. Kouga and Shippou snickered one last time before leaving Inuyasha alone. They walked behind Kouga, with Sesshoumaru growling out directions every quarter mile or so when the pathway split or banked away. They continued this way for an hour or more before they reached a dead end and a rusted ladder on the opposite side of the wall.
“This is it,” answered Sesshoumaru to their silent question. “From here we will have to be quiet, so no talking unless absolutely necessary. Radio silence is also in order.”
“Right Commander Endo,” Souten voice called out from a small earpiece in his ear. “Radio silence begins on your mark.”
Sesshoumaru climbed the ladder, lifted the manhole covering a fraction, then scanned the immediate area. He watched as a searchlight shone from the top of the palace, his fingertips quickly lowering the lid when it neared him. He waited until the light went on before jumping down to the others.
“There is a searchlight but it is not hard to time. The only hindrance will be Almasy and Saikai’s inability to lift the manhole cover. Kouga, you will be last to insure they are able to get out. Inuyasha, you will follow me, then Makayura, Almasy, Saikai and Kouga. Run toward the dark side of the palace wall before the light finds you. You will go on my mark. Is that understood?”
“Yes commander,” they whispered with a quick salute. Sesshoumaru nodded, then returned to the ladder and the manhole cover. “Radio silence begins...” Sesshoumaru waited until the searchlight passed him, then growled a quick, “now” before disappearing from the sewer. Inuyasha quickly replaced him and one by one the SeeD members listened for Sesshoumaru’s mark, then sprinted from the manhole opening across a street littered with blackened wooden beams and steel pipes, then flattened themselves against the wall alongside Sesshoumaru. He waited until the last person was across before pointing upward toward a small ledge on the edge of the palace roof. He pointed to Inuyasha and Shippou, then Sango and Miroku before vaulting toward the ledge.
Inuyasha struggled not to gripe as he kneeled, grimacing slightly while Miroku clamored on his back before jumping up. Kouga and Shippou soon landed after him with Sango slipping gracefully from Shippou’s back and running to Miroku’s assistance when Inuyasha dropped him like a sack of moldy potatoes.
“I don’t see why I had to pick up the lecher,” Inuyasha griped irritably. “There’s no telling what he would have tried to do to my poor back.”
“I only have eyes for the charms of women Inuyasha,” Miroku calmly retorted while he dusted himself off. He smiled charmingly when Sango glared at him and quickly added, “However, my weakness has always been for the many wiles of my dearest Sango.”
“Can we cut the crap?” Kouga growled as Sango evaded Miroku’s groping hand. “We’ve got stuff to do and I can already smell something funny going on.”
Sesshoumaru said nothing though his patience was rapidly wearing thin with his rag-tag group of followers. He searched the stage and the carousel for an entrance to the building and found an unlocked access door on the carousel’s base.
“This smells like a trap Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha quipped nervously. Sesshoumaru agreed, as did the others before disregarding the feeling and entering the building. The receiving hall was silent except for their footfalls and the tiny ding of the elevator at the opposite side of the hall. The black double doors opened, the golden light inside inviting as the group stared warily within.
“What do you think Commander?” Sango asked and frowned at the elevator music. “Should we get in?”
“We may as well,” Sesshoumaru determined as he stepped inside. “I see no point in delaying the inevitable.”
“I do if it involves me dying,” Shippou muttered once the elevator doors closed behind them. “I’d like very much to avoid that for as long as possible.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Kouga growled and winced when Sango crunched down on his foot. “OW! What?”
“Shut up,” she snapped angrily. “Shippou, do you feel anything?”
“Like what?”
“That’s a no,” Sango sighed despondently. She smiled when Miroku draped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I was just hoping to see...but maybe that’s too much to hope for.”
“Perhaps not,” they heard Sesshoumaru say as the elevator slowed to a stop. “There is something here that has her scent. However, it is not entirely here.”
“Well where is it?” Shippou demanded. “I want to see it so I can ask where she is.”
“It is here.” Sesshoumaru gestured toward the elevator doors, which sprang apart with barely a squeak of the gears. They exited the elevator one at a time, everyone but Sesshoumaru awed at the grandness of the gigantic sparring room surrounding them. The paneling on the eight-sided room was of a rare tree from the frozen forests of Trabia, the wood stained a beautiful cherry to accent the many deep swirls and marks. The burgundy floor padding sprang up underneath their feet and eight beautiful golden silks streamed down the corners of the room.
“Welcome,” said a voice that chilled them to the bone. “I have been expecting you.”
The group turned to Deling, the confusion they felt evident on their faces as he sat behind a desk at the eastern edge of the room. He watched them cheerfully, the light from the antique lamp glittering malevolently off of his fangs and in his clear blue eyes.
“Please,” he began as he beaconed them with his left hand. “Come forward. I don’t see why we can’t be friends in all of this.”
“I can,” Shippou replied furiously, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled with his inner beast. Images of Kagome’s ‘death’ played in a continuous loop in his mind’s eye. “Slime like you doesn’t deserve to breathe clean air, no less have friends.”
“Now where is this hostility coming from?” Deling said with a jovial laugh. “I invite you into my home and try my best to make you comfortable, including relieving my guards for the night, and this is how I’m repaid? Honestly, and here I thought SeeD were trained to have a bit more manners than the rest of the swine.”
“We ain’t here to have crumpets and tea with you mack,”Inuyasha growled angrily. “So cut the crap and come on. You’re under arrest.”
“Under arrest?” Deling repeated with confusion. “Why am I...Oh. Oh yes. Now I remember.” He glanced down at his desk and flipped over one of the many papers stacked on top of it. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for that my dear pup. There’s so much to be done and so many problems that need my attention. Now if you would like to help me with my recent problem then I wou-“
“Where is she?” Sango interrupted from the back of the group. Her hand twitched sporadically against her double barreled shotgun, and her eyes were narrowed to hide the dim glimmerings of hope that stirred within them.
“Where is who?”
“You know who,” Shippou snarled back. “She was with us the last time we were with you. You punctured a hole in her stomach.”
“Oh, you mean the young SeeD private. What was her name again?” Deling tapped his chin thoughtfully, then shrugged and dismissed the question. “She doesn’t matter now.”
“Oh yes she does,” Sango retorted and shook Miroku’s hand off of her shoulder. “You’d better spill it or I swear I’ll shoot you between the eyes before you get the chance to blink.”
Deling huffed irritably, as if her question unconvinced him greatly, and answered her. “If you must know, she’s gone.”
“Gone how? Like ‘left’ gone.”
“No. ‘Dead’ gone. Mostly gone anyway.” He rolled his eyes at Sango’s heartbroken sigh and shook his head. “Now if we can get back to more important matters, like helping me with this-“ Shippou surged forward and, without warning, flipped Deling’s desk toward the wall on the other side of the room.
“Who in the fuck do you think you are you asshole?!” he snarled in Deling’s face. “Do you think we’re really going to help a bastard like you?! What the fuck for?!!”
“Because, I have this.” Deling rolled up the sleeve of his right arm and held it up, revealing what looked to be a thick silver bracelet around his wrist. A tiny blue sapphire star winked back at the group and Deling made sure of the group’s rapt attention before brushing his finger against the little gemstone.
This time it was Shippou who jumped back as the floor between himself and Deling began to shiver beneath them. Deling stood his ground unafraid as the floor melted into a thick, liquid black sludge. The stench of sulfur and terror choked the SeeD and they found themselves overwhelmed and unprepared for the muck-encrusted thing that struggled toward the surface. Five slender digits stretched themselves out, the oozing coating glistening wetly in the sparse light. The hand grasped the edge of the padded floor, the fingertips leaving streaks that squeaked on contact.
Another hand followed the first before the arms could be seen, the limbs deformed and twisted in sharp unnatural angles. The arms pulled their owner from the blackness, the screams of the dying and tortured erupting from the hole as the ooze produced the rest of the creature. It paced the ground on all fours, it’s glowing green eyes glaring at them dangerously before coming to a stop underneath Deling’s downward palm.
“SeeD, this is my newest acquisition,” Deling said and reached down to give it a gentle pat on what they could assume was it’s head. The creature gave a guttural snarl of warning and snapped razor sharp fangs at his unprotected fingertips.
“Forgive me,” Deling offered diplomatically. He raised his fingers and grimaced at the blood pooling on one of the tips, the thick crimson flow more of a deep purple than red. He popped the digit into his mouth and used his uninjured hand to gesture toward the creature kneeling at his feet.
“This, gentlemen-and lady-“ he said as a quick appeasement to Sango “Is the problem, my GF.” He sniffed suddenly and frowned, his nose wrinkling in disgust at the GF. “Clean yourself off,” he ordered quickly. “You smell like the bowels of Hell itself.”
The GF growled in insult, but did as he commanded, and the group watched as water droplets collected around its form. The steam rolled from out of nowhere to shield the GF from the eyes of those around it, but it couldn’t hide the murky plops of goo that dropped from underneath the steam. Deling smirked at the SeeDs discomfort and found all of them (except for Sesshoumaru) with rounded, comical eyes.
“What is the matter? You all look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” Deling teased.
“Yeah well, that thing of yours smells ghastly,” Kouga growled in disgust. “What kind of power does it have anyway? The power to kill through smell?”
‘Kouga states his ignorance,’ Sesshoumaru said to himself as he kept his eyes on the steam. All of his attempts to read the creature’s mind failed and his instincts were beginning to alert him to something strange. ‘Why does it smell so strongly of the stuff coating it? It is obviously not the creature’s natural scent.’
“No, Kouga-sama, my GF does not kill through smell,” Deling laughed jovially. “And I doubt it would ever need to. She is a handful though.”
“You said you were having a problem with her,” the previously quiet Sesshoumaru asked from his place nearest to the president. “What sort of proble-“
“You’re not actually thinking of helping the bastard are you?!” Inuyasha vented angrily. Kouga, Shippou and the other’s readily agreed with him.
“Personally, I for one hope the GF eats him,” Sango said from the back of the group. “I hope it eats him and chucks his bones across all of Galbadia.”
“Hey, I like the way she thinks,” Kouga smirked in approval. Sesshoumaru’s quick glare silenced the group, their questions and objections no longer pouring forth as they turned to look at their leader.
“Enough of this nonsense,” Sesshoumaru determined and pinned Deling with a pointed glare. “Clean your GF off and explain your reasons for tonight.”
“Ah, a youkai of purpose,” praised Deling. “I admire that. How different things would be if my father had been a youkai, or man, of purpose. Anyway,” Deling hurried with a final wave of his hand. “We were discussing my problems with my GF. She is powerful, amazingly powerful, and her power only grows the more she uses it. Deling City was a fluke, a fluke that I’m glad happened or else I’d be homeless.”
“And you’re living arrangements mean what to us?” Inuyasha grumbled irritably. “I can’t believe we’re stuck hearing this guy’s rambling all because Sesshoumaru’s caught a case of ‘Curious George’.”
Sesshoumaru ignored his comment in favor of the GF and the blobs of dark matter that were ebbing away. He still couldn’t see it for the steam ball but he could catch what he thought were the beginnings of it’s scent.
“As I was saying,” Deling continued. “She became more powerful the more she attacked, with Men-Hadin being her most powerful strike. Did you see the destruction she caused?” Deling threw back his head and laughed, his mirth welling from his throat to flow happily into the room. “It was beautiful, like a grand opera or a wondrous painting.”
“It wasn’t BEAUTIFUL you sick-“
“Enough,” Sesshoumaru commanded, his hand raised in front of Shippou. “Nothing will come of it. Let the hanyou have his fun.”
“You don’t agree?” Deling inquired curiously. “Oh well. You’re appreciation for art obviously is still in it’s infant stage. My problem began a couple of days ago when=Oh!” he said suddenly. “She must be ready now.” His gaze guided the SeeD downward, back to the steam ball that was slowly dissipating. The steam carried the GFs true scent and the youkai of the group quickly recognized it as the GF shook the last of the water droplets from her body.
Deling reached for the back of the GFs neck and hoisted her to her feet. “My dear companions, this is-“
“Kagome...” Sango breathed in relief and barely conscious revelation. “It’s her, right guys?”
“Who?” countered Deling in confusion. “No, her name’s not Kagome. This is Seraphim. Seraphim, greet our guests.”
She regained her footing, her bare feet soundless against the dark floor mat. She lowered herself into a crouch, wide black pants hung loosely from her waist to gather around her feet. The ruby tank top fit snugly along her torso, the golden dragons imprinted in the fabric clashing with the silver collar around her neck. She balanced herself on her right hand, silky waves of crimson cascading softly over her shoulder and covered one of her glowing green eyes.
The group stared in shock at Kagome’s face, but it wasn’t Kagome that stared back.
She rolled her shoulders back and gently shook her head, her hair whirling around her before being jerked, once again, to her feet. A growl of warning escaped her lips and she narrowed brilliant jade orbs at the hanyou on the other end of her collar.
“She’s a bit strong willed at times,” Deling apologized with a frown at ‘Seraphim’s behavior. “Especially with the situation I find myself in now. What do you know about this aeon, Sesshoumaru-sama? Do you know anything about what she’s truly for?”
“What’s he talking about?” Inuyasha demanded. “Sesshoumaru, do you know something about Kagome?”
“Seraphim!!” Deling hollered suddenly, the madness that he held contained now shimmering in his eyes. “Her name is Seraphim not that weak little human you lost so many months ago! That human is gone and you’d better get used to it!!” He huffed deeply, greedily dragging in mouthfuls of air as he struggled to regain his control. His eyes bled over and he buried his nose at the back of Seraphim’s neck. He was rewarded with another growl and the sharp zing of claws sharpening before they embedded themselves into his left thigh. He grimaced, pushed away from her, and frowned at her satisfied smirk. “She doesn’t like it when I touch her when she’s in this condition.”
“What condition?” Miroku asked, concerned, as the others gave Kagome a studying glance. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Deling calmly assured them. “She’s just doing exactly what she’s supposed to do.” He inhaled the air around her and smiled. “She’s gone into heat, and that’s where my problem lies.”
“I don’t believe him,” Kouga growled in annoyance. “Either of us would catch the scent of it by now, Sesshoumaru, especially you since you’ve spent so much time with her.”
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement and took a breath to say something, but stopped as something filtered through the air toward him. He could finally catch the scent of Deling’s new weapon and it held Kagome’s lily scent along with the addition of whatever she’d become. Beneath this complicated bouquet of scents there lay another, something more mysterious and exotic than the ones previous.
“The Al Bhed that created her came up with another purpose for my dear Seraphim,” Deling explained. He watched as, one by one, the breathing of the males around him deepened, with Kouga the first to be truly affected. “There were supposed to be two of them, a Seraphim and an Archangel, but the facility was destroyed before he could be created. My dear aeon is in heat and won’t be sated until she is pupped.”
“And why do you care so badly Deling?” Sango shot back. “It’s not like you to play Matchmaker.”
“Oh, and I wouldn’t be either, except she won’t allow me to touch her,” Deling pouted. “She thinks I’m too weak, so she’s deemed me unworthy. I’m sure she’ll find her significant other among one of you. Once she’s pupped and the kid is born, I’ll raise him-or her, I don’t care really-as my own. It’ll be the perfect weapon that only I can control.”
‘You asked...’
Asked what....
‘What’s more loyal than an aeon. Well now you know...’
“Ok,” Inuyasha huffed at last. “So you pair Kagome-“
“Seraphim!!”
“ Right, whatever,” Inuyasha grumbled with drunken sigh. The air around him was slowly starting to get to him and it was becoming increasingly difficult to think. “So, you pair her with one of us right? Then what happens to the rest of us.”
“That’s simple,” Deling laughed.
“You die.”
Deling grinned at the snarls and snaps that came from the youkai, his grin weakening slightly at the sound of safetys coming off. “Oh, and I seriously doubt she’d allow you to shoot me. Seraphim.”
She opened her eyes and glanced toward Deling, the look of disgust for the hanyou written plainly on her face as she awaited his instructions.
“Choose who you will. I won’t stand in the way.”
She rolled her eyes at the last part of his command, then turned glowing neon orbs toward the group in front of her. Her gaze fell on Miroku first, her attentions critical and calculating before glancing toward Kouga. She passed him with a barely audible snort and continued on while Kouga complained.
“Hey!” he shouted angrily. “What the hell! I’m a lot more powerful than these other guys!!”
“Shut up Kouga,” Sango snapped. “It’s not about you so deal with it.”
Her eyes slid past Shippou entirely, something that didn’t fail to catch the inu brothers attention as she gazed toward the pair. Her head tilted to the side thoughtfully and one clawed fingertip tapped her side before she turned back to Deling. “Have you decided?” he asked and was rewarded with a lowering of her eyes.
“Then take him and destroy the rest.”
‘Woah, wait a second!’
What now?
‘Um, you really don’t want to do this do you! You don’t want to kill my friends, do you?’
Friendship is overrated. Besides, our master has commanded this.
‘But he’s not our master! We’re masters of our own destiny! You don’t have to do this!’
The SeeD were on their guard the moment she stepped forward, the edges of her pantslegs whispering along the soft plastic beneath her feet. She moved until she stood directly in front of Deling, her body providing a barrier for the president. She cupped her hands in front of her, closed her eyes and began to chant. The whispered words missed Sesshoumaru’s ears but the effects were felt throughout the room as the temperature dropped . Soon their breath came out in puffs of vapor and the humans of the group began to shiver.
“W-we can’t t-take much m-more of this Sesshoumaru,” Sango stuttered out as she and Miroku huddled together for warmth. “Something’s gotta give!”
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, with a quick gesture on his part, the youkai separated. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kouga moved to attack the aeon directly while Shippou stayed behind to help Sango and Miroku. ‘Seraphim’ smiled as they neared her, opened her hands and released a powerful Firaga spell toward Kouga. Kouga yelped and barely dodged te smoking fireball. It careened past him and he breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew, that was clo-“
“Kouga, you dumbass!” Inuyasha snarled as he doubled back and raced toward the spell. Kouga looked back and watched, horrified, as the fireball that nearly hit him blazed toward Sango and Miroku. Kouga turned back as well but knew that neither he nor Inuyasha were fast enough to save them in time. Kouga’s ears twitched at a sudden zing and fell backward when Junsei and Shikyo landed in front of him. The Firaga spell bounced off of the crossed blades and dissipated, leaving nothing but a puff of smoke and a very unhappy aeon.
She growled toward Sesshoumaru, who quickly growled back. She was angry, but pleased at his defiance and it showed in her scent and aura. She welcomed his advance toward her and readied herself, but growled in annoyance when Kouga landed in front of Sesshoumaru and reached out for her.
“Come on Kagome,” he called out as she evaded his outstretched hand. “Let’s get you away from this evil bastard. Come h-“ His breath came out in a wheezed croak when she finally stopped running and kicked him in the crotch. He doubled over in agony, crystal blue eyes wide and disbelieving as she smirked down at him. She grasped his shoulders tenderly, a sweet smile gracing her lips before she slammed his chin into her knee. Kouga blacked out instantly and was completely unaware when she slid him toward the opposite wall.
“That’s one,” Deling happily chanted from behind her. “Though he’s not dead, that will do. Continue Seraphim.”
She turned toward Inuyasha next, who stood on her right side, and charged toward him. “Yeah right,” Inuyasha said aloud as he ducked her wild swing. “Like I haven’t spared with you enough over the years. I know all of your moves Kago-“ His mouth shut with a click when her fist connected with his jaw, his eyes briefly flashing red as the pain shot from his face to his brain and back again. He stumbled back and spit out blood (and what he thought might be a tooth) onto the floor and snarled. She smirked back and caught him with a Stop spell before he could blink again.
Inuyasha struggled to free himself and stopped when Sango’s Esuna spell burst over his head. He rotated his shoulder and nodded toward her in thanks, his momentary distraction enough for Seraphim to sneak behind him and knock him to the floor. He cried out in outrage, then in agony when she stomped down on his right forearm, his loud bellow barely heard over the vicious snap of his bones breaking. She left him where he was when Sesshoumaru swiped out at him, a pleased smirk on her lips as she allowed Sesshoumaru to distract her. Shippou immediately darted out and dragged Inuyasha further away from the battlefield.
“Hey Inuyasha, are you alright?” Shippou asked as he struggled to lift Inuyasha’s sleeve. He grimaced at the odd angle Inuyasha’s arm now laid in and used a scrap piece of cloth to wrap it while Sango and Miroku kept watch. “Man, this looks like it hurt-“
“Why ain’t you fightin’?” Inuyasha moaned painfully. “We need all the help we can get you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” Shippou looked away guiltily. “But I can’t do it. I can’t hit her.”
“Well I don’t like the idea of hitting Kagome either but-“
“No, it’s not that,” Shippou interrupted. “I can’t hit her! It’s our mark.” He held up his arm so Inuyasha could see. “If I hit her I’ll get shocked and she’ll disappear.”
“Disappear where? And what for?”
“It’s supposed to keep enemies from taking advantage of the blood marks,” Shippou explained. “Every kitsune knows about the marks and what they’re for.”
“But you said Kagome would disappear,” Inuyasha reminded him. “Why is that?”
“Its supposed to be for protection. The victim is sent to the nearest safe place and the other person is punished.”
“Hm...you know,” Inuyasha said after a moments though. “That gives me an idea.”
“Uh oh,” Shippou said warily, then glanced up at a frustrated growl from Sesshoumaru. “I’m not going to like this am I?”
“You’ve got to get Kagome to hit you,” replied Inuyasha instead of answering his question. “Then maybe the shock will knock some sense into her.”
“No,” Shippou refused. “I’m not going to do it.”
“Why not?” Inuyasha demanded. “It’s a good idea. She’ll get her senses back you’ll-“
“Get transported to the ship but Inuyasha that’s not why I don’t want to do it!” Shippou said in a rush. “I don’t want to do it because...our mark will fade.”
“Fade? You mean, the two of you won’t be connected anymore?”
Shippou nodded miserably. “I know it’s selfish of me but-“
“You’re damned right it’s selfish of you,” Inuyasha retorted. “Here you can be of some help and you won’t do it because you’re afraid of losing some mark.”
“But Inuyasha, Kagome and I-“
“Won’t be any different than you were before this whole mess started. Kagome cares about us, and she always will but we can’t get her back if whatever it is and Deling keep her under their control. You won’t lose a friend stupid. You’ll just be losing a scar.”
Shippou sighed dismally, but headed the wisdom in Inuyasha’s harsh statement. Inuyasha gave Shippou a reassuring pat on his shoulder. Shippou nodded back, stood up and approached the battle ahead of them.
Deling stood by, a self-satisfied smirk on his features as he watched Seraphim and Sesshoumaru fight each other. He could tell that his little aeon enjoyed the taiyoukai’s attempts to knock her down or get past her and truly felt no fear. ‘I will have what I want,’ Deling said to himself when Seraphim knocked Sesshoumaru’s feet from underneath him and pounced on his prone form. ‘I will have that child I desire and soon, I will have the world. Father couldn’t have done better himself.’
“Kagome!”
Deling looked up, as did Seraphim as Shippou stopped beside her. He looked down on her, watching as she snarled in his direction. He reached down and pulled her off of Sesshoumaru, who quickly sprang to his feet and stood by as Seraphim struggled to regain her freedom. She glared at Shippou and snarled again. Shippou shook his head and braced himself for what was to come.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered seconds before her fist connected with the side of his head. He sank to the floor and fought to stay conscious, his jade green eyes unfocused and bleary as Seraphim glared down at him. She jerked once, twice, then screamed as wave upon wave of electricity washed over her. She fell down beside him, her eyes squeezed shut as spasms tossed her body around. She went still moments before Shippou disappeared, a lone tear slipping down his cheek as his outstretched hand faded from sight.
“What just happened?” Deling demanded as he stalked across the room toward Seraphim. “What did he do to my aeon?”
“It’s not what he did, it’s what she did,” Inuyasha grunted as Sango and Miroku helped him to his feet. “All Shippou did was set the re-set button on your so called ‘aeon’.”
“Wake up!” Deling hollered as he lifted Seraphim by the shoulders and shook her. “Wake up damnit! I won’t stand for this! Obey me and destroy them!!”
“Looks like you’re having a little trouble there De-“ Inuyasha gaped, as did the others, when the president lost control and slapped the aeon across her cheek. The cheek darkened only for an instant, then the bruise disappeared before Deling slapped her again. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kouga, who had finally awakened, snarled in warning at the enraged hanyou, but Deling paid them little attention as he balled up his fist and smashed it into the aeon’s nose.
“I demand that you wake up this instant!” he howled as he punched her repeatedly. Blood dribbled down one side of her nose and her bottom lip began to swell. He stopped when Sesshoumaru grasped his wrist, his normally cool golden eyes blood red and his youki barely leashed.
“You will so-“ He was tossed back like a ball and he shielded his eyes from the blinding light that suddenly flashed between himself and Deling. The light engulfed the president and his weapon and prevented anyone from seeing or touching anything inside. The light disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, leaving Seraphim sitting in the middle of the floor...
Alone...
As tiny gray bits of ash floated around her. She stood up and brushed herself off, her glowing orbs filled with unhinged malice as she raised her arms and laughed.
“What’s she doing?!” Sango shouted above the howling, frigid winds. “Sesshoumaru?! Don’t you know what’s going on?”
“She’s a GF without a master now,” Sesshoumaru answered her. “She’s free to do what she wants and now-“
“Now she wants to go on a killing spree!” Inuyasha called out. “Kagome! Kagome stop it! You’re going to hurt somebody!”
‘Hmm...that’s it!’ Sesshoumaru realized as the wind swirled around him. ‘That’s what Dr. Gippal wanted to tell her! I believe I know what to do...’ He gathered Junsei and Shikyo, placed them back in their holsters and left the small gathering to walk toward her. Seraphim watched him, ruby red hair swirling about her and her eyes pinned on his form as his hand gently wrapped itself around her wrist.
“You will stop this,” he told her evenly, all traces of his anger toward Deling completely cleared from his eyes and aura. “You were not made for this.” He sensed her confusion at his command and he jerked her toward him before she could stop him. Her eyes widened in disbelief and outrage and her power spiked around him, threatening to fry him, freeze him, or purify him on the spot.
“You are an alchemist, just like your father.” He mentally smirked at the shock on her face. “It is time you rested Kagome. Pa drui vun dra baubma.”
The wind died instantly as did the glow in her eyes as the power around them surged back to her lithe form. She sagged against him, her turquoise eyes grateful as he caught her and wrapped his tail around her. Red hair darkened to onyx cascaded over his left arm. He watched as her eyes closed and she fell asleep before turning to the others. They stared at him in open-mouthed awe and did little more than watch him as his tail reached behind him to pick up something that glimmered on the ash coated floor.
“Well,” Inuyasha said as he finally came to his senses. “I’d say that was eventful. Now who’s ready to go home?”
(End chapter)
SF: Ok, I’ll admit, that chapter kinda sucked.
Kagome: No it didn’t. You got a lot of stuff solved in this chapter.
SF: Yeah, but writer’s block was a b-otch. I hate it when that happens.
Inu-chan: So now what? That’s the end right?
SF: Um...wrong! Duh! You know there’s one more chapter left to this story. Um...hey Sesshou!
Sesshou: (from deep within the confines of the fridge) What is it crossbreed?
SF: It’s your turn to do the summary for the next chapter.
Sesshou: I do not wish to do so. Charge the hanyou with that duty.
SF: Alright then but...
Sesshou: (pulling out a red Freeze-Pop) But what?
SF: Well, I was just thinking about that favor you asked me the other day. The one about the one shot on A Single Spark and Mediaminer. Don’t you remember what you asked me about it?
Sesshou: Yes..
SF: Well, I’ll consider it if you do this.
Sesshou: (grumbling around his Freeze-Pop) Fine. Hand this Sesshoumaru the script. (Snatches script)
SF: Hey!
Sesshou: (reads over) To have her back...to have her finally with us...with me...I do not know how to describe the relief that has settled over the team. They stare at her as if she will disappear at will...and she just might. But what will they do-what will I do-when she’s taken from us again?
Next chapter-Chapter Twenty-Two: Vindicated