InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in Guiding Darkness ❯ A Rise To Power ( Chapter 3 )

SF: This doesn't have jack to do with the story. I was looking over my Inuyasha DVDs this weekend and I came to the one where he meets Rin. One scene has stuck with me. It's the one where Jaken is standing on top of Ah-Un and calling Sesshoumaru an ungrateful mongrel (or something equally as funny). Then out of nowhere WHACK!!! This rock comes from behind him and clocks him in the back of the head. That scene was great. (What? I said it had nothing to do with the story.) Oh, and for those who care, this fic has been Jeffs approved! =^.^=

_Chapter Three: A Rise to Power_

He hated them.

He hated them both, nevertheless he kneeled there watching as his bitch sat in that bastard's lap and giggled like some kind of love-sick schoolgirl. Inuyasha bit down on the disgusted snarl that threatened to rip from his breast, but he could not smother the contemptuous glare inside his blood red eyes.

Naraku glanced away from his prize to regard the hanyou, his gaze nothing short of mocking. "Inuyasha," he called, his voice smooth and caressing in the darkness that surrounded them. "Don't you have other things to attend to around the castle, instead of sitting here?" he asked.

"No, my lord," Inuyasha answered with an inward growl. His stomach turned at having to show him such respect, yet he wouldn't deny him of it.

"Fine, be that way," he said with a flippant wave, then turned back to Kikyou. "Where were we, my dear?"

Inuyasha drowned out the giggles and conversation that followed, the little gold left in his eyes bleeding away to a forest green. 'Bastard,' he growled to himself. 'Kikyou belongs to me, not to him. She's mine!'

`Why do you even want her?` his curse inquired curiously. `What good is she, other than to rut? I say let Naraku have her. There are plenty around here who would willingly serve the same purpose.`

'She's my mate," Inuyasha argued. 'But she sits up there with him.'

`I see that. But life is not all bad for us,` his curse reasoned. `You are the general to his vast army. His soldiers are loyal to you-`

'There is no such thing as loyalty in a vampire army,' Inuyasha countered as Kikyou stood from Naraku's lap. She stepped down the landing and walked past him to a table close by, the helm of her black see-thru dress brushing past his arm.

`Yes, that is true,` Inuyasha's curse agreed. `But they do fear you. You are more powerful than any other youkai, and the third in command to Vlad Tepes himself. You should be honored.`

'I guess,' Inuyasha relented. 'But-' He glanced over his shoulder, his hair whipping around him as he glared at the entrance to the room.

"What is it Inuyasha?" Kikyou asked when he stood up and tested the air. Naraku glanced up from his musings, his attentions on Inuyasha as well while the inu hanyou's ears swiveled toward the door. 'Soot,' Inuyasha realized as the sounds of rushing air came to his ears. 'Soot, blood, wool and sunshine. Who could that-'

He stopped when the heavy stone doors burst open in a gust of wind, his arms thrust up to shield his face and head. Kikyou's scream pierced his ears, then the violent thud of the stone doors closing before the winds settled around him. Inuyasha lowered his arms slowly, watching in his peripheral vision as Kikyou struggled back to her feet before regarding the stranger in their midst. He stood a foot taller than Inuyasha's 6' 7" frame, and was covered from heel to hair in red earth and soot. It caked the stranger's leather trench coat and pants, and fell in large flakes from his wavy black hair.

Blue eyes faded to emerald green as the newcomer dropped to his left knee, crossed his fisted right hand over his chest and lowered his head. "Forgive my intrusion, my lord," he said in a deep, accented, velvety tenor. "But I flew a long way to see you."

Naraku waved the formality aside, his eyes fixed on the left breast of the stranger's coat. The upside down cross with the crucified dragon informed him of his master, as well as what country the soldier resided from. "It is forgiven. Tell me, what word do you have from our lord?"

"Our lord has been dead for the past week."

"What?!" Naraku snarled, ignoring Kikyou's gasp of disbelief. "You're lying! Tepes-"

"Was killed seven days ago, and Constantinople burned to the ground. As a matter of fact," the stranger began, glancing up a moment before lowering his head again. "I'm pretty sure it still burns."

"Stand and explain," Naraku commanded harshly. "Who would dare to kill Dracul?"

The stranger turned to look at Inuyasha, a strange smile spreading across his face as he said, "Why, a demon that looks a lot like him."

"Impossible!" Inuyasha hissed. "I'm tired of his lies Naraku! Let me slit the bastard's throat!"

"You won't find me quite as easy to kill, halfbreed," the stranger committed dryly, then turned back to Naraku. "I would gladly tell you what transpired my lord. Of course, without interruptions."

"Yes, that is best," Naraku agreed. He rose to his feet and gestured for the stranger to follow him to a nearby doorway. Naraku entered the new room first, leaving the stranger to close the door behind him before turning into the semi-dark room. The shades over the windows blocked the morning sun from view, but sunlight still filtered through spaces in the bamboo shoots. Naraku sat at the head of an enormous table in the middle of the room, assuring himself of his position away from the rays of light before motioning the stranger forward.

He watched as the stranger approached him, stepping through the light without harm. 'What kind of vampire is he?' Naraku wondered to himself as she stranger bowed again. "What's your name and what do you have to tell me about Tepes?"

"I'm Aragon, and everything started a week ago."

"Go on," Naraku instructed. "What happened exactly?"

"One week ago Lord Tepes sensed a disturbance in one of the villages bordering Constantinople. He investigated and found a demon-"

"Youkai?" Naraku questioned. Aragon nodded. "Yes, an…inu youkai and a young woman. My apologies Naraku, but my Japanese is rusty."

"You're excused, now continue."

"Tepes became interested in the girl and took her away from the youkai. The youkai destroyed countless villages, and killed thousands of soldiers in an attempt to get her back. Tepes turned the girl, but she fought the curse well after the youkai destroyed Constantinople and killed Tepes."

"She…fought the curse," Naraku repeated. "Not possible. None have been able to resist the curse."

"That may be true here my lord but I assure you, the girl fought the curse and won. It was the last I saw of the two before being buried underneath some rubble when a wall exploded."

"But that doesn't sound right," Naraku argued. "Constantinople is protected by powerful spells and spirit barriers. How did one youkai manage to get through and cause such destruction?"

"I don't know," Aragon replied. "But whatever it was, it was powerful. Flames appeared out of nowhere, and rocks moved by themselves. It was as if nature itself was at war with the entire city."

"This is disturbing," Naraku said after a moment's pause. "Who did Tepes name as his successor?"

Aragon's eyes widened in surprise. "My lord, were you not told? It's you."

'Me…' Naraku stilled instantly, the look of total astonishment and un-expectancy etched across his face before being replaced by an evil grin. "Are you sure about this?"

"Hai, Naraku-sama," Aragon replied with a bow, his Japanese finally settling into something coherent. "I felt it my place to tell you."

"Naraku!" Kikyou called as she burst into the room. "There are others to see you."

Naraku stood up quickly, his movements hurried as he walked toward the door. "One last thing," he said as he paused in the door's threshold. "How did you get past my guards?"

"You mean your werewolves?" Aragon inquired with a smirk, his British accent more pronounced in his amusement. "Well, I can promise you that they don't know what hit them."

"I imagine not," Naraku retorted with a chuckle, then left Aragon to himself inside the room. 'I wonder about that one,' he thought to himself as he and Kikyou made their way back to the throne room. Inuyasha stood in front of the thrones themselves, his sword drawn and ready as he growled at the room full of soldiers.

'What kind of vampire is this Aragon? How is it possible for him to have survived such a terrible attack? Surely this one is stronger than he's putting on. It would be wise to have this vampire on my side.' Naraku sat in his throne, yawned and said, "What is the meaning of this disturbance?"

One of the soldiers, a young vampire with curly dark brown hair and eyes, stepped forward and bowed before Naraku's feet. "We come to inform you, Naraku, of your succession. You now-"

"Yes, yes," Naraku interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I'm the new overlord, I know. I have already been informed."

"Really?" the soldier responded. "How so?"

Naraku gestured to his left just as Aragon left the conference room and stepped before them. The soldier's gaze turned hateful instantly, his eyes narrowing to slits as the irises turned an icy blue.

"You…"

"What's the matter Aloyoshenka?" Aragon taunted. "You don't seem happy to see me?"

"Why doesn't it surprise me that you're the only one left alive, DayWalker?" Aloyoshenka snarled. Aragon shrugged. "I don't know. Lucky break, I suppose."

"DayWalker?" Inuyasha repeated, breaking into the two's conversation. "What's a DayWalker?"

"Ask him," Aloyoshenka retorted nastily.

"Enough!"

All eyes turned to Naraku, who sat quietly rubbing his forehead as if he never made the outburst. "Tell me Aloyoshenka, why weren't you there in Dracul's time of need?"

"We were investigating something here," Aloyoshenka replied. "We were sent to capture the girl you were supposed to-" He froze at Naraku's glare, then shot a glare of his own at Aragon when he began to speak.

"They were commanded to seek out a young girl by the name of Kagome Higurashi," Aragon told him. "I'm sure you're familiar with the name Naraku-sama."

"I am. For what purpose did he want the girl?"

"She was to be turned or killed," Aloyoshenka replied. "He left the choice up to you."

"Did you find her?" Naraku asked. Aloyoshenka shook his head. "She'd left by the time we arrived."

"And what of her village?" Aragon asked innocently. "Did you destroy it like you destroyed the others? Really Aloy, you should learn to control your bloodlust."

"Shut up!" Aloyoshenka yelled hotly. "How dare you try to look down on me, you fucking Sun Sipp-"

"Enough!!!" Naraku hollered above the ruckus. "I'm not going to repeat myself."

"My apologies," Aragon said with a bow. "It won't happen again."

"Good. See that it doesn't. Inuyasha," he waited until Inuyasha snapped to attention, then gestured to Aragon. "Show our guest to a room."

"Right away Naraku-sama," Inuyasha replied, though inside he grimaced. Naraku dismissed them without another thought, then stopped them just as Inuyasha opened the stone doors.

"Aragon?" Naraku called out, waiting until green eyes attuned to him before continuing. "What exactly does this Higurashi Kagome look like?"

"You've never seen her?" Aragon asked. Naraku shook his head. "Unlike Tepes-sama's mirror, mine can only see the aura surrounding the person and not the person themselves. Now, what does she look like?"

Aragon thought back a moment, his eyes lazing over the crowd until they fell on Kikyou. He stared for a second, utter shock clouding his face as he studied her before bursting into loud chuckles.

"What is the meaning of this?" Naraku demanded angrily. "What's so funny?"

"Forgive me, Naraku-sama," Aragon appeased with a calm smile. "You asked what this Higurashi looked like. Well I assure you, you'll know her when you see her."

*

"When did I become a porter?" Inuyasha grumbled under his breath as he guided Aragon through the inner depths of the castle. "There are hundreds of servants that could have shown him where to go just as easily."

Aragon stayed a few steps behind him, a secret smirk on his face as he listened to the hanyou's complaints. 'So, Naraku's followers are not as loyal as they should be, that is if the little halfbreed is anyone to consider. Still, I wonder how Naraku will take to leadership?'

His thoughts went another way, this time thinking of the events he witnessed a week before. 'To think, Tepes was so stupid. Had he killed the dog demon the moment he noticed him, he would still be alive.' Aragon remembered his reluctant guide, wondering to himself what relation, if any, he had to the other demon when Inuyasha stopped in front of one of the many doors in the middle of the hallway.

"Here," Inuyasha barked gruffly. "This is yours." Aragon stepped past Inuyasha and entered the room, the dirt flicking off the ends of his coat as he regarded the room thoughtfully. "There are extra clothes in here," Inuyasha kicked a nearby closet. "And the shower's over there." He pointed to a door inside the left wall and grimaced. "I would suggest you use it."

"Thank you," Aragon replied with an unsteady bow. "Inuyasha, right?"

"What's it to ya?" Inuyasha growled in response. Aragon merely smiled back, his easygoing nature refusing to be baited by an ill-tempered person such as the youkai standing in front of him.

"Just wanting to know, I suppose."

"Feh. Whatever." Inuyasha left the room without another word, making sure to shut the door behind him with a loud bang.

Aragon sighed to himself and shed his dusty clothes, watching as the ruined black leather crumpled to the floor at his feet. 'That's just great,' he thought to himself as he removed his boots and tossed them to a nearby corner. He reached down for the coat and traced the deeper of the many rips in the fabric. 'I really liked that coat too. Oh well.'

He entered the bathroom and showered, taking the time to scrub the red soil and blackened ash from every inch of his lean, muscular body before focusing on his hair. 'Two hundred years ago,' he mused as he poured a handful of shampoo into the palm of his hand and lathered his hair. 'One would have killed for such a luxury.' He used the pads of his fingers to massage his scalp, his eyes closing to mere slits before finally rinsing off completely and stepping out of the tub basin.

Aragon dried quickly, his eyes distant and thoughtful as his hand grazed the amulet draped around his neck. He left the bathroom and dressed quickly, choosing a pair of loose brown leather pants and a matching vest from the closet before standing in front of the only window in the room. 'I should be sleeping, but I don't trust these creatures enough to simply slumber unprotected. I know what to do.'

Aragon reached for the shade and with one gentle tug watched it roll to the top of the window. Sunlight engulfed him immediately, and for an instant he felt a tingle beneath his skin before closing his eyes and accepting the warm rays. "Ah," he exhaled with a smile. "Now that's better."

He stretched out on the bed, his arms cushioning his head from the black silk below him as he closed his eyes and relaxed. 'None would dare come in here now,' he thought with a laugh. He sighed again, opened his eyes and lifted the amulet to his face. It was a large black stone, suspended around his neck with a simple leather strap. Similar little stones hung from beneath it, and in the center of the stone was a kanji inscription painted in blood.

'Elizabeth,' Aragon thought wistfully as he traced the kanji. 'You have no idea how much I miss you. The dog demon took my chance to avenge you, but there is still this Naraku. Tepes must have trusted him to have named him successor.' His eyes slid closed once again, with one last though to surface his tired mind before falling asleep.

'He shall fail just as his master failed, then I can join you in Hell.'

*

Jaken scampered a few feet ahead of Sesshoumaru and Myouga, his bare webbed feet kicking up puffs of blood red dirt. Myouga sat on Sesshoumaru's left shoulder, his eyes closed and his arms folded across his chest while Jaken squawked from ahead of them.

"We're almost there my lord," Jaken assured before torching a passing devil. "It shouldn't be too long now."

"Where are we going?" Sesshoumaru asked. "Neither of you said."

"We're going to see the White Witch, remember my lord?" Jaken replied, then squawked when Sesshoumaru growled in annoyance. "Of that I'm aware. What I meant was where is the White Witch herself?"

"The White Witch resides on the outskirts of Hell, on a plateau known as the Dark Plains," Myouga answered. "The only way to get there is to follow the river Styx to her shores, then cross a cavern to her. She is not known for her hospitality."

"So I see." Sesshoumaru nodded thoughtfully, then turned to the little flea youkai himself. "Myouga, why are you here?"

"To help you Sesshoumaru-sama," Myouga replied. "After all, I promised your father that I would look after his sons."

"No, you promised Father that you would look after Inuyasha, not myself. Why are you here?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken shrieked, unknowingly hurting Sesshoumaru's sensitive hearing. "We're here!"

Sesshoumaru looked around him as he studied the landscape, his eyes flowing over the black sand underneath his feet before spying the dock and the boat a few feet away. "This way my lord!" Jaken cried as he scampered across the dock way. Sesshoumaru followed a little less eagerly, his curiosity not as excitable as Jaken's.

He stopped as Jaken jumped into a gondola of a sort, the vessel seemingly unable to carry the little toad youkai, no less the Jaken, Sesshoumaru and Myouga at once. "Jaken, is this vessel secure?"

"Of course my lord!" Jaken assured him. "I promise, it will get us there."

"Very well then," Sesshoumaru relented as he stepped into the back of the gondola and sat down. "But should you be wrong, you will regret it."

"O-of course, Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken stammered fearfully. 'Five centuries seems to have done nothing for Sesshoumaru-sama's temper.' He grasped the single oar on the opposite end of the boat and began to row away from the dock. Sesshoumaru sat by idly, giving no hints to help his struggling servant as he turned back to Myouga.

"You have not answered my question," Sesshoumaru said after an hour or so of silence. Myouga and Jaken both stared at him curiously before Sesshoumaru plucked Myouga up by the collar of his haori. "Why are you here?"

"Do you mean, here with you or here here?"

"Here, period," Sesshoumaru growled in annoyance. "What happened for you to be here?"

Myouga sighed sadly, his head hung in shame and hurt. "Inuyasha-sama terminated my services, as I said upon my arrival."

"Don't beat around the bush old man!" Jaken screeched. "You answer Sesshoumaru-sama's question!" Sesshoumaru winced, then frowned in Jaken's direction. "You will not do that again," he warned with a deep, dangerous sounding growl. Jaken stopped rowing and bowed instantly, fully prostrating himself on the gondola floor and pressing his forehead against it repeatedly.

"Don't worry Sesshoumaru-sama, it won't happen again!"

Sesshoumaru drowned out the rest of Jaken's apology, his attention fully on Myouga as the youkai remained quiet. "I am aware that Inuyasha sent you here, but why? What was your offense?"

Myouga sighed again, this time with his shoulders slacking as if they held the weight of the world. "It's not a happy tale Sesshoumaru-sama."

"And yet, it is one I wish to hear," Sesshoumaru retorted calmly, though his annoyance with the little flea grew with each stalling word. 'What could he be hiding from me?'

"Then I will do as you command," Myouga relented. He settled himself in the center of Sesshoumaru's palm, sighed and began.

"Not long before you were defeated, Sesshoumaru-sama, Naraku and Inuyasha-sama conspired against you. Inuyasha-sama wanted more prestige than he had in your court, and Naraku promised it to him. You were a threat, but Inuyasha-sama had no idea of what kind of a threat you really were.

"The deal was that if Inuyasha-sama killed you, he would take your place on the Western throne and he and Naraku would be allies with the human miko at his side."

"Kikyou," Sesshoumaru growled, his eyes briefly flashing red at the name. Myouga nodded. "Yes, Kikyou. But soon after your death, Naraku usurped the other kingdoms and took the west for his own."

"What did Inuyasha say?" Sesshoumaru asked. "Did he not speak out against such treachery?"

"He would've if he could," Myouga replied. "But Kikyou turned him, infected him with the vampire curse before Naraku took full control.

"I attempted to warn Inuyasha-sama of Naraku's plan when I first heard, but he wouldn't hear it. The miko tainted him, promising him that they would be mated if he accepted the vampire curse. He never knew that Naraku and Kikyou were already mated.

"Once again, I tried to tell Inuyasha-sama of Naraku and Kikyou's plans, but Inuyasha wouldn't listen. The curse by then fully infected his blood and he wasn't the Inuyasha he used to be. Kikyou soon accused me of trying to poison her. Inuyasha became enraged, and hunted me for days on end. I fled as far as these old feet would carry me, all through your lands to Inuyasha's Forest."

Sesshoumaru watched with an unexpected twinge of guilt as a single tear trekked its way down Myouga's face. "The last thing I saw, other than your brother's claws, was your lands. They lie in ruins, the subjects that once lived in them scattered to the four winds. The land is dangerous, untamed and youkai and oni run rampant. I failed your father, Sesshoumaru-sama. He must be so disappointed in me."

"If he is disappointed in you," Sesshoumaru said coldly. "Then he is disappointed in us all, though the opinions of others have never mattered to me. However," his voice softened some and he looked away from Myouga to the waters beneath them. "I am sure that he understands. Father was always one to understand what others could not."

Myouga stared at him questionably, never guessing that Sesshoumaru would be one with words of comfort, no matter how lacking. 'Maybe time has softened him,' Myouga thought to himself. 'There was once a time when one would have never expected such from him.' A stray wind picked up on the water's surface, the breeze swirling around the travelers as Sesshoumaru raised his head and pinned Jaken with a icy glare.

"How long until our destination, Jaken?"

"But a few days Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken assured him. "The tide seems to be working in our favor."

"Very well then." Sesshoumaru reclined against the back of the gondola and relaxed, one leg crossing carelessly over the other as he raised his arms and laced his fingers behind his head. Myouga and Jaken stared in shock, with Jaken forgetting to row as Sesshoumaru stared at the black void above them.

'I feel…pity for Myouga,' Sesshoumaru admitted to himself as the boat once again began its trip downriver. 'It is hard to swallow the bitterness of betrayal from someone you once trusted. Perhaps, once we find this witch and her mirror, some questions will be answered and the little flea can get some solace.'

*

Aragon awoke instantly, but listened to the room around him before opening his eyes. The sun had set an hour ago, and already he could feel the rest of the house awakening for the night. The sun's warmth still seemed to surround him, even warming his skin to the temperature it was when he was still among the living.

'But that time has passed,' Aragon thought with a sigh as he moved to the foot of the bed and looked around. His soiled clothes from earlier were no longer in the room, and his cleaned boots neatly waited in the corner he carelessly tossed them in. 'And the time of retribution has come. Tepes may be dead, but that does not stop my course of action. It just means that someone else will have to take his place.'

"A-Aragon-sama," a timid voice called from the other side of his room door. Aragon shook the fog from his head, then lifted it up. "Hai. I'm awake."

"Naraku-sama asks that everyone assemble in the throne room," the servant told him. Aragon sighed to himself, a wistful tired sound that belied his true age. "Yes, of course. I'll be there shortly. Arigato."

'At least I think that means thank you,' Aragon thought to himself while listening to the servant's footsteps as they faded down the hallway. Aragon recalled the way to the throne room as he shoved his feet into his boots, then searched the closet for another jacket and a shirt to go underneath the vest. He succeeded in finding a brown version of his previous black coat, but no shirt met his liking. Aragon slipped into the outer garment, then studied the room around him once again.

"I seriously hope they didn't take the…ah! There they are!" Aragon walked across the room to a desk on the right side and picked up an English rapier and two silver spheres. He tied the rapier to his side and placed the spheres inside the inner pockets of his coat before leaving the room and traversing the castle to Naraku.

"Aragon," Naraku greeted as the vampire pushed open the stone doors and entered the room. "So glad to see you at last."

"Forgive my tardiness," Aragon replied with a bow. "The journey here was tiring."

"I'm sure it was. I want your help with something."

"Alright," Aragon agreed as he stood beside Inuyasha. "How may I be of service?"

"I want to carry out Tepes-sama's last order. I want the girl, Higurashi, brought to me. I will decide what to do with her. I want you, Inuyasha-" he ignored Inuyasha's outraged snort "and Aloyoshenka to track the girl and bring her here. Alive. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Naraku," Aragon and Aloyoshenka said with a bow before Aloyoshenka left the room. Inuyasha bowed as well, though not with the obedience of Aragon and Aloyoshenka.

"Good. The two of you may go now."

Aragon followed Inuyasha out of the room, and waited until the hanyou sprinted toward the outer castle gate before yawning.

'Let the silly halfbreed and that fool Aloyoshenka run. They will not find the girl before I do. After all, I'm the only one who knows exactly what she looks like.' He continued his lazy gate down the hallway, stopping at the treasury for a spare purse before leaving the castle entirely.

"I don't think I'll bring the girl back just yet," Aragon decided after a few minutes of walking. "I'd like to get a chance to study her first. I want to know what it is that made both Tepes and Naraku wary of her. It may be something I can use…"

----

SF: Ack! Isn't Aragon the coolest?

Silver Fox: I think you spelled his name wrong. Isn't it spelled Aragorn?

SF: You're thinking about that guy from The Lord of the Rings. This isn't him. The names are similar, but they're not the same people. Oh, and if anyone's confused about the fluctuation of English and Japanese words, it's because Aragon's not from Japan (duh huh) so everything from his point of view will be English until I say otherwise.

Kagome: What I'm confused about are the names that Aloy guy calls Aragon. What was that Sun Sipp thing.

SF: Just like there are certain names people call Inuyasha, there are certain things people call Aragon. A few of those names are DayWalker and Sun Sipper. I know, they don't sound bad but to Aragon, it's the same as being called a halfbreed, a bastard, or a freak.

Sango: So he and Inuyasha have something in common?

SF: (nodding) They have a lot in common. Oh, but that's it for this chapter. The next chapter is Chapter Four: Entering the Den of the White Witch.

Responses:

Fire Kitsune Goddess, & Skitzoflame: Thanks so much for the reviews! More chapters are on the way!

Reality: No, I don't think you're annoying. Why? Yay! {::holds up a Free Sesshou banner::} He's free! Yay! Oh, (ahem) if you think this is angsty, just wait until the rest of the fic. Things get pretty hairy before they get better.

Tessa3: I've never heard that quote, but I already like whoever said it. The green eyed man (or vampire) will become very important in a while. For right now, he's just another soldier without a lord to follow. Tepes and Dracul are both Dracula, the one and only. The time line is five centuries from the feudal era, but everything else is different. Sesshou's been dead for that long, as have Jaken and Myouga, though Myouga's only been dead for 453 years. The new characters are important, and you won't find out who they are until certain parts of the story. You won't know who Kagome's sister is until she catches up with her, you already know who the green-eyed dude is, and the others are pretty much the same. Don't forget about the vampire that 'interrogated' Kagome's mother. He's important too.

ACrimsonNight: He is, I assure you. Just wait until the story gets rolling and he stretches his wings. You're close about the voice. It is a sort of spirit, but it's not.

Choyan: The rest is coming soon...or at least another chapter. So sorry about the gore, but I'm glad you kinda enjoyed it anyway.

Angelike Riddle: What makes you think that about Kagome's moms? I'm curious to know. Thanks for the love, and I promise to post more soon!

LittleBlackAngel: Yeah, I still do. I don't know why though. Sesshou didn't take to it very well. He's not to particular about being nude, especially since Silver likes to blast the stage with cold air every time he does. I swear, they fight about the littlest things. Kanna's here somewhere, and so is Shippou and Miroku. They're not the voice however. Keep guessing though.

NoLabel: I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm like that with my moms too, though there are some days where I could choke her myself and not feel that bad. I'm just playing. I'd never do that. As for hints on who the voice is, I suppose I could give you one...but the hint is in Jeffs story, not mine. It has something to do with a weapon of sorts, and who it belongs to. It's in the same world though. Another hint is coming in the next chapter.

BelleDayNight: Yeah, I'm rather fond of him too! I just adore that guy! Oh, but you guessed who Toutousai was on the first try! Good for you! He does have something to do with the story, but it's more than the Tenseiga. Jeffs laws of physics are hard to remember, but fun to use. He's so cool! Oh, anyway, thanks for the review. I can't wait for Sesshou to come back! He's itching to fight something, but none of the stories have him doing that for a while. Plus he's still a little perturbed about being human for A Breaking Point.

Tsuki Yume: It's not either, but great guess. The White Witch is an entirely different entity and her entire purpose in this fic is to help Sesshoumaru, though she will make it hard for our favorite tai. I just happen to agree with you on the Nazi world, but I think the vampire and the Predator vs. Alien worlds were great. I've always been a sucker for vampires, and anything having to do with the Predator or Alien movies. I like any movie that bleeds, blows up or crashes.

Asmodeus: Don't be offended by the capital 'a'. It's the residual effects of grade school. I really hope I didn't say that you were jealous, but if I did I apologize. {::blushes::} Heh. Um, you wouldn't be the first to pick on me about that. Silver and my friends get on me about that too. I learned that they moved about four years ago, while my mother was pregnant with my sister. She'd call, and if I was too far away they'd twitch to catch what they could of whatever it was she was saying. It continued until about a year ago, when my sister touched my ear and it moved. (She loves that, by the way.) I thought I'd try to see if I could move them on my own and...only one cooperates. The other moves by it's own accord. Messed up, but you asked. Oh, and {::clocks Naraku upside the head::} thanks for the skillet. Mine is dented in the middle for some reason.

SESSLOVER: Nope, it's not the Shikon, but you're close. Thanks for the love!

Unknown: Midoriko was the elderly miko who's body she carried out of the shrine in chapter two. Good guess though. Keep trying.

Kiaor: Well, let me know what you think. No one's hit the nail on the head yet, but I'm sure someone will.

Nyx: But you know how Silver is. He just wants to be helpful. By God, it's rare so don't stomp on it. The White Witch is someone who lives in Hell amongst the other demons, devils and youkai. She's the only one with the power to not only see on the other side, but put Sesshoumaru in brief contact with it. Jaken gets kicked a lot, but he's a pretty good little guy. Lol, means Laugh Out Loud. It took me a while to figure that out too.

S1Cherry: I'll give you a clue. One of his comrades is mentioned in Jeffs' story, in the same world as this one. That's all I can tell you for the moment. Don't worry though, because more will be revealed when Sesshoumaru reaches the White Witch, which should be in the chapter after this one. And you figured out Toutousai! I'm so proud of you! I like Kagome's mom too, but if I didn't do it, she wouldn't have gone. Then Kagome would've died with the rest of her village and I would have had no story. That always sucks.

Kagome333: Not a problem! Curiosity nearly killed me too, so it was almost natural to at least try this fic. I can't wait to see how this ends, can you?

LovelyLioness57: Kagome and Sesshoumaru will meet soon, but not in the flesh. That's going to be a long while from now. The White Witch is someone who lives in Hell, like the Fates and such, that can see and make contact between the living world and the dead, or Hell. You're right about who she is. Good guess.

Kagome: There are so many people wondering about that voice. I can't wait until you guys figure it out, but just in case the White Witch hint at it to Sesshoumaru later on.

Fire Phoenix: Kagome's sister is one of the many surprises in this fic. We'll learn more about her in a few more chapters. For right now, let's just say that she's been on the road a lot. The mystery person is like a cousin to someone that's mentioned in Jeffs fic. As a matter of fact, Dracul mentions him somewhere during Kagome and Sesshoumar's stay.

Zhare: As far as what Jeffs said, the Shikon is gone. He never did explain what happened. You know, that's a really good question. I think it's time I asked him. {::reads about Kagome's 15th birthday::} Oooooo...ok then. That's a lot of help. Man, then it sucks to have all that stuff happen to you on your birthday. But there are a lot of differences in my fic and his, and that might be one of them. Who knows. We'll have to see. But it won't be a major difference. Thanks for the faves and the love. There's more coming soon.

NS: Thanks a lot! I'm so glad you like it! More's coming as fast as I can type it!

Dark Neko-Chan: I'm so sorry about that. I don't mean to get you los- Sesshou: Quit your lies. Of course you do or else you would not do it. SF: Heh. (scratches neck) Well, he may have a point. Dude, you do NOT have to do Kagome's mom. That's alright. If you want to do a pic of Sesshou though, I wouldn't dare stop you.

Gopher2806: I wish I could, but I don't think Jeffs would be too happy about that. It's really his idea, I'm just running with it. (blush) Thanks for the praise, it's truly appreciated! Hopefully I can keep this story from sucking long enough to get to the end!

MediaMiner:

Beanner, & Fire Ice: If you get it right, I'll give you a box of éclairs instead of cookies. Or maybe a cheesecake. I don't know. I'll have to think about it. It's not the Tenseiga, but you are close. Keep trying.

Kikyou372: Thanks a lot! I'm glad you're enjoying it! More's coming soon!

FallenAngel666: Nope, it isn't Miroku. He is here somewhere though, so be on the lookout. Butcher knives are heavy. Here. (passes over a yo-yo) Trust me. These work much better.