InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Nearly Forgotten ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Rating: R for coarse language and adult situations (Not a Lemon)

Author's Note: Again, this is not an alternate pairing.

A Love Nearly Forgotten

Ch. 5: Decisions

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"Lord Sladen, I have reports that the girl traveling with Inuyasha has been retrieved as ordered." A large cat demon said as he appeared in the great hall of his master's home.

"Good, the girl that can see the Shikon Jewel shards?" the master, Sladen, responded hopefully.

"Yes Master"

"Excellent, Once I have her, everything will fall into place. Before it is over I will have Inuyasha's head on my wall and the Shikon Jewel in my possession."

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"If you don't let me go right now I'll… " Kagome screamed, flailing in the cat demon's arms.

"You will what?" the cat demon asked mockingly and grinned. "Little girl, I do not think you are in any position to make threats."

"Lord Sladen will take care of her. Her spirit will not last long." The second cat demon said, turning toward the girl in his friend's arms. "She is a pretty little thing isn't she? Perhaps we should have some fun with her before we bring her in."

"Mmm, yes lets do..." agreed the other demon.

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"Sesshomaru, are you able to tell Inuyasha's location?" Schala asked, stopping briefly to face her friend.

"Hph, His scent comes from the direction of the road" Sesshomaru replied coldly. He was not looking forward to meeting his brother again. Seeing the way Schala desperately tried to find him, only to see that bastard half-breed made Sesshomaru sick. Even after he had abandoned her, she still devoted herself to the hanyou. He knew that she would only be hurt again, for she did not know of Inuyasha's newest wench. The human girl that was always by the hanyou's side. He did not know the girls name, nor did he care. He simply wished to kill his brother, kill him for what he was doing to Schala.

"Then that is where we..." Schala began.

"If you don't let me go right now I'll… " Someone screamed ahead of them, cutting Schala off and snapping Sesshomaru out of thought.

Schala looked off in the direction of where the scream had come from, "Perhaps we should investigate." She stated calmly as she changed her course, Sesshomaru following not far behind.

When the two arrived, they found two very large cat demons harassing a young human girl. One had her pinned to the ground and covering her mouth, while the other was fiddling with her clothing in an attempt to remove it without ripping. He did not need his master discovering the reason for their small delay.

"Hph that is Inuyasha's wench" Sesshomaru stated.

"I see... " Schala said in a low, sad tone. `So he has found another, and she looks so much like the last... only much younger.' Her translucent figure flickered for a moment as she became lost in her thoughts, but another whimper from the human girl caught Schala's attention once again. Her eyes narrowed as she brought her gaze to the scene before her. The girl looked so frightened. Her large eyes were red from crying, and her tear stained face showed slight signs of bruising. Schala found herself wondering where Inuyasha was, and how he would allow such a thing to happen. "Help her Sesshomaru." She managed to say; her voice wavering only slightly.

The demon lord's head snapped around to face his companion. His expression had narrowed into anger as he stared almost through Schala, "Surely you do not expect me to save that little wench do you?" he demanded.

"Of course I do, I cannot allow Inuyasha's new mate do be harmed in such a way. Do not ask me why, just help her." Schala said coldly as she turned away from Sesshomaru and the scene before him, and stared off into the forest.

The demon lord looked upon the girl once more. The demons had managed to untie her shirt, and were now trying to get it off of her. The side of Sesshomaru's mouth quirked up a bit as he thought of Schala's state, "Why don't you save her? You have the ability..." he began tauntingly.

"You know good and well why!" Schala snapped. "Sesshomaru if you do not help the girl I will never forgive you!" She said, crossing her arms.

"Humph, very well" the demon lord replied. He could not have her hating him. She would never become his mate then... after he killed Inuyasha that is. He leapt into the clearing, and came down upon the cat demon that held the girl down. He grabbed it by the ears and pulled it away from the girl so that she would not be drenched in the mess Sesshomaru intended to create. He sliced through the demon's body with his claws, leaving a bloody mess on the forest floor. Then he turned to the other demon and took it by the head. The demon lord simply growled at the cat as he crushed its skull in his hand, tossing the corpse to the side. With his task complete, Sesshomaru looked down at the human he had saved. She sat frozen upon the ground with her small hands clutching her blouse closed. Her eyes were wide, and glossed over with amazement and fear.

"Ses... shomaru?" was all Kagome was able to say. She looked up towards the demon lord in amazement. She simply could not believe what she had just witnessed. Had Sesshomaru just saved her? Why was he here in the first place? Maybe those cat demons had done something to anger Inuyasha's brother to begin with and he was simply taking care of his own business. Her mind reeled with questions and it was beginning to make her head hurt more than it already was. He just stood there staring at her as if she were something vile, which only frightened her further. She closed her eyes in anticipation, `He is going to kill me now…' she thought. If she had her bow and arrows she might have tried to stand up for herself, but unfortunately she could barely see straight much less try to stand.

"Stupid wench, do you not realize the longer you stay here the more likely I am to kill you" Sesshomaru stated as he flexed his now bloody claws at the girl. He knew that in front of Schala he could not kill her, but he was hoping to scare the girl enough so that she would leave on her own.

Kagome's eyes snapped open, `He is warning me?' she thought. "I... umm... " She stammered, unable to move herself from the ground. She closed her eyes again halfway hoping that he would just go away, but she knew that wasn't going to happen. These were his lands, and he would not just let her and Inuyasha simply pass through. Tears began welling in her eyes again as she thought of what Sesshomaru might do to her, or Inuyasha for that matter.

"Sesshomaru! Do not frighten the poor girl, she has been through enough" came a voice from edge of the clearing.

"Humph you are the one that wished me to save her." Sesshomaru said to the translucent figure that appeared beside him.

Ignoring her friend, Schala turned her attention toward the human sitting on the ground. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you too much did they?" she asked.

"Ahh... " Kagome swallowed hard. `Oh my god! This is one of those ghosts the elder was talking about isn't it! And what is Sesshomaru doing with her? Are they going to kill me? No… Kagome... think rationally they wouldn't have saved you if they wanted you dead, and they would have already done it by now...right? No they must want the Tetsusaiga, and plan to use me to get it.' Kagome thought; becoming almost frantic with each passing thought.

"Tell me, what is your name?" The woman said softly.

Startled by the kindness in the strange woman's voice, Kagome began to stutter. "Ka… Kagome... I'm Kagome." She managed to get out.

"Well then Kagome, you may call me Schala. Now what are you doing here? I thought humans feared this place?" Schala asked.

"Ahh… well… actually... those stupid cat demons brought me here. They attacked me and my friends... they said something about a person named Sladen." Kagome said quickly.

Schala's eyes went wide at that name... she had not heard it in quite some time. "Well let us not worry about that now, tell me where these friends of yours are." she asked, knowing that one of them was Inuyasha.

"I… I..." Kagome began; she didn't know where her friends were. She didn't know where she was. Kagome looked around the forest in an attempt to find some clue as to where she might be, or how far the demons had taken her.

"Yes wench where is that bastard Inuyasha" Sesshomaru cut in.

Schala only glared at the dog demon, "Be quiet Sesshomaru, honestly you can be such a child at times." She snapped.

Normally the great demon lord would be infuriated by such a remark, but he let it go. "Humph." was all he said in reply. He had to admit; even in spirit she was beautiful when she was angry.

"I do not know where they are. The last I saw of them they were still fighting off a bunch of demons. I hope they aren't hurt... " Kagome said quietly and trailed off. She was once again staring off into the forest.

"Well then, it is getting dark and going back through the forest now might not be a good idea. If there are more of those demons around it would be best to face them in daylight." Schala said to the girl. "Now I must leave for the night, Sesshomaru will watch over you."

"I will do no such thing!" the demon lord growled. "I did not come here to pup-sit Inuyasha's stupid wench!"

"Sesshomaru, please do not argue with me further. I am growing tired and I need to rest, or I will not have the strength..." The woman said weakly. She was tired now; it took a great amount of energy to appear before them.

"No, really it's ok. I can take care of myself! " Kagome said frantically. She had no desire to be left alone with Inuyasha's bloodthirsty brother over night.

"If that is what you wish Lady Schala I understand, and will do as you ask," the demon lord said lowly. She had defeated him again. She knew he would always do as she asked eventually. He walked over to a nearby tree and leapt up into one of its large branches. "I will remain here for the night; go and rest." he glared down at the human, who was now looking very nervous, "And I expect no trouble from you." The only reply he was given was a small nod from the girl.

"Thank you Sesshomaru..." Schala said as she began making her way back toward her tomb, but then turned back "Oh, and do not call her such names." She said and then was gone. She knew what she was asking of her friend, but she would not allow herself to be responsible if the poor girl was harmed. Inuyasha would never forgive her for that.

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"Inuyasha can you smell where they took her?" squeaked Shippou, they had been searching for Kagome for what seemed like forever.

"No, I can't get a good trail." Inuyasha was now furious; if anyone harmed Kagome he would tear them apart… slowly.

"It will be alright Shippou, we will find her soon." Sango said, trying to calm the fox.

"I sure hope so," Shippou said through his many sniffles. "If anything happens to her I don't know what I'll do..."

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Schala could now see her tomb through the trees; it had not been too far from where they had found the girl. `Kagome was her name wasn't it? Yes I believe it was... Inuyasha's new mate...' It hurt her to think of it, but she knew that she could not ask Inuyasha to wait for her. He may not even be alive when she is ready. It would be unfair and cruel. "No let us not think of such things," she said lowly to herself. "Sladen is the main concern here. What does he want with the girl?"

"Ah lord Sladen is a powerful demon indeed..." A low voice came from nearby.

Schala turned toward the sound, realizing that in her thought she had not thought of the fact that she could still be seen by the living. "Who is there? And what do you know of the demon Sladen?" she demanded.

From the brush came a man dressed in a baboon skin, the head covering his own. "I did not mean to startle you my dear, you may call me Naraku."

"You are demon...what is your business here?"

"I merely wish to help my lady. Tell me, you are Lady Schala, daughter of the Vampire prince Aneurin and the Elvin princess Dylana are you not?"

Schala cringed at the sound of her parent's names. They had disappeared long ago, and she had no desire to be reminded of them now. "I am, but why is it any of your concern? Do you intend to kill me? For if that is the case I am sure you can see that it has already been done, so be on your way." She said angrily.

Naraku only chuckled, "I have come for no such thing, as I said before I only wish to help. The demon Sladen was once one of your father's most trusted and powerful servants was he not?"

"From what I have heard, but what does that have to do with anything? He was said to be dead, lost with the masters he served."

"Ah but he was not, for you see Sladen is alive and well, and is searching for the fragments of a very powerful gem. A gem known as the Shikon no Tama. He wanted the human girl because she has the power to see the fragments, no matter where they may be hidden. He already has several fragments in his possession. Those alone make him very powerful, but with the completed jewel he can become even more powerful... perhaps even more so than yourself."

"Well as you can see Mr. Naraku, I hold no power in my current state. I suggest that if you want to help so much that you go to Inuyasha. If Sladen is after Inuyasha's mate then he will be the one to confront the demon, not myself." Schala stated coldly. She found it odd that this demon seemed to think that she held some sort of power. It was true that she was not human and could defend herself if needed, but she was not powerful. She decided that, for the moment, she would play along with this demon.

"Do you really think that Inuyasha will have the strength to defeat a demon such as Sladen, from what I see he could not even protect his own mate. What makes you believe that he will have the ability this time?" The demon said mockingly.

Schala crossed her arms; she was becoming quite annoyed with this intruder. "Well as you can see, I am the one that died not Inuyasha. And I do not understand why you are speaking as if I could do anything about it in the first place."

"Because you can"

"How, may I ask, am I going to do that?" Schala asked. She was very annoyed now, and was half thinking about having the tree sprites go after him.

"You are immortal; you have the ability to return to your body. I understand why you have not already returned, but with my help you will have no difficulties."

Schala's eyes flashed green, "What exactly do you think you understand demon?" she growled.

"Hit a nerve I see." Naraku chuckled, "You carry that hanyou's pup within your body, is that not reason enough to delay returning? It is dormant now, but if you return before you are completely healed the shock will surely kill it, and the same will surely happen if you try to rush the healing. I cannot say I particularly enjoy the thought of Inuyasha having any offspring, for you see he is my enemy as well. At the moment though, he is not my main concern. Killing Sladen and retrieving the jewel fragments he possesses is my goal now. If you will agree to kill Sladen, I will help you." The demon finished.

"How am I supposed to believe you? Besides, as long as I am with child I hold no power. That is the reason I am in this state to begin with, I was too weak to defend myself or sense the danger." Schala said.

"You will simply have to believe me, and was it not Inuyasha's duty to protect his breeding mate?" Naraku said almost insultingly.

Schala averted her eyes toward the ground "He... he did not know…had I been demon he would have known right away... but..." she trailed off. She had no desire to tell this demon the entire story. Why was she telling him in the first place? He had already said that he was Inuyasha's enemy.

"I see..." Naraku said knowingly as he reached into his robes and pulled a tiny glowing object out, raising it into the air. "My Lady with this fragment of the jewel embedded into your body, your child will remain dormant. Allowing you to fully heal and return to your body. Your power will return to you and you will have the ability to kill the demon that threatens your love's life. I am sure with your own magic you will be able to hide the jewel from the human girl and perhaps even travel safely with the girl and her companions. Once your task is complete, however, the jewel will be returned to me along with those fragments found with the demon Slade. Do not worry of your precious hanyou; I will kill him eventually but not now."

`To travel along side him… even if I am not the one he favors… I will see him... speak to him, but there must be more to this Naraku.' Schala thought to herself, not exactly sure what she should do. Sladen was indeed powerful. He was most likely more powerful than herself, but to fight beside Inuyasha...they may defeat him then.

"Well, what do you say? I will not wait forever; I care not if Inuyasha dies now or later." Naraku asked impatiently.

"I…" Schala began, not sure how she should respond.

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