InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Soul Possessed ❯ A Soul Possessed: Discovering the Truth ( Chapter 5 )

Kiade and Kagome helped Sarah inside the hut. Sarah was weak and walking alone became a task for her. Her head swimming she was happy to finally lay down and close her eyes to find relief. Kiade examined her and talked to her for about an hour. Everyone waited outside for Kiade to give them her diagnosis. Kiade had a very worried look on her face when she exited the hut.

“So what is it? What wrong with her?” Kagome asked.

“I am not sure.” Kiade replied. “She is sick. But it is not entirely in her physical body. Her soul is sick and it's affecting her physical body.”

There was a pause as no one knew what to say next.

“Kagome,” Kiade broke the silence. “Didn't you tell me that she was poisoned by the demon?”

“Yes.” Kagome answered eagerly.

“I don't think the poison injected in her body was meant to plague her body, but her soul.” Kiade informed them.

“What do you mean?” Miroku asked fearing the response that was coming.

“I believe the demon could have passed her demonic aura to the girl.” Kiade answered. “It is not that uncommon for a demon to do who doesn't want to die. It doesn't keep them from dying, but it keeps their souls from being sent to hell or getting trapped between the worlds. I am afraid to say that if something is not done soon this demon could return in Sarah's physical form, and she will loose her soul in the process.”

“We will have to find a way to stop it, but how?” Sango added.

“I am not sure exactly.” Kiade replied.

Sango dropped her head and took leave from everyone. Miroku watched her walk away as the others continued discussing the issue at hand. He took crept off following her. Sango continued on until she was at the edge of InuYasha's forest and she sat down. Kirara jumped down from her should her tried to comfort Sango.

“Sango, are you alright?” Miroku's voice came from behind her.

“Miroku.” She said surprised he had followed her.

He sat down beside her. “What is bothering you?”

“Its almost the same thing that happened to my brother.” She said staring at the ground. “He was possessed by a demon when he killed our father. If we don't do something soon we could loose Sarah just as I have lost Kohaku.”

“We are going to get your brother back.” Miroku said placing his hand on her shoulder comforting her. “And we will find someway to help Sarah.”

Sango blushed. Miroku was not usually so polite. Was he changing his attitude towards her? Was he showing her respect because he wanted to show her he really cared? But those thoughts were soon extinguished as she felt his hand slide down from her shoulder to her bottom. Angered by this she turned and popped him a good one. The sound carried back to the edge of the village.

“Miroku is at it again.” Shippo said.

Before long as everyone was gathering inside the hut to enjoy some of Kiade's stew for dinner, Sango entered with an offended look on her face. Miroku tagged along behind her still caressing the side of his face that still had the red imprint of a hand on his face.

“You know Miroku, if you keep that up eventually that mark is going to stay on your face.” Shippo laughed.

Kagome and Sango snickered at the comment. Miroku however was not entertained by his comment. InuYasha sat gobbling down his dinner paying them no attention. It didn't make any sense to him anyway. If Sango liked him so why did she keep slapping him every time he advanced her.

Later on as everyone was sleeping Sarah again transformed and exited the hut. InuYasha sat in a tree outside of Kiade's hut. The unusual presence awoke him. He looked down to see the demon walking away from the hut. He decided to follow her. It was not long when she returned to the spot where he had battled the snake demon about a month ago. The ground opened up and she retreated inside. InuYasha followed.

“If you were going to challenge me, you should have done it before now.” Akuma said.

“Eh, you knew I was following you?” InuYasha replied.

“Of coarse I did.” She laughed. “But a hanyou is no threat to me.”

She turned and faced InuYasha with a grin on her face. Behind her was a huge round stone in the wall made of earth. “I could have easily finished you off, but I have a feeling Iris will enjoy your blood, even though it is that of a half breed.” She laughed as with one hand she pushed the stone from the earth wall.

Behind the stone was another chamber. She instantly illuminated the room with a circle of fire around a stone pillar with fire from her fingertips in the center of the chamber. Akuma entered the room walking through the fire and approached the stone pillar in the center of the room.

“Impossible!” she shrieked. “It's gone!”

“Looks like you will have to defeat me without your friend.” InuYasha scoffed drawing out his sword.

“You fool! This was no companion of mine! My sword has been stolen.” She announced.

“I have no time to deal with you!” she said as she began walking towards InuYasha.

Before InuYasha could strike out at her she was gone and he was left alone in the chamber. Confused he turned and ran out into the open, but she was gone. He could faintly smell Sarah's waning scent. It was as if she was miles away. He took off as fast as he could after her, but no matter how fast he travel her scent never became any stronger. It was hours later before he began to gain on her. When he arrived she was standing face to face with Sesshoumaru. InuYasha stood behind a tree watching the events unfold.

“I take it you long for your death.” Akuma said staring down the great demon lord.

“I will not be sent to the afterlife by someone like you.” Sesshoumaru growled.

“We'll see about that!” Akuma disagreed and took to the air shooting down flames from her fingertips.

Sesshoumaru drew Tokijin from his side and blocked the attack of flames. He charged her slashing at her with the demon sword. Akuma dodged his attacks in mid air. She landed softly on her feet as Sesshoumaru landed on a few feet away. Akuma rushed at him and as Sesshoumaru turned to face her she struck him with her fist. Angered by this Sesshoumaru returned the favor striking her back as she stood overconfidently too close enjoying the moment. She fell back landing hard on the cool dew drenched grass.

“Fool!” she said returning to her feet. “I will make you suffer for that.”

She began to charge him again. Sesshoumaru held Tokijin out in front of him parallel to the ground as the power of the sword illuminated the blade in a bright electric blue. As the power of the sword raced toward Akuma like electricity channeled through a conductor of nothing but air it was met by a Wind Scar from the Tetsaiga. When the dust cleared InuYasha stood staring down his older brother.

“InuYasha! You fool, you let her escape!” Sesshoumaru growled annoyed by his little brother's interference.

“I won't let you kill her!” InuYasha barked back.

“As if you can stop me.” Sesshoumaru smirked.

Daybreak was fast approaching. The midnight blue sky with its blanket of stars was being chased away as the sun began to rise. Shades of purple, pink and light blue cleared the way for the bright yellow sun. Sesshoumaru sensed Akuma behind him and used his moko (the fluffy scarf-like item on Sesshoumaru's shoulder) to subdue her and held her out in front of him. He returned his sword to his side and his claw began to grow a greenish yellow. But before he could strike Akuma passed out. Her time atleast for now was over. The body changed it's appearance and before Sesshoumaru in his grasp was an unconcious Sarah.

Her deep blue eyes opened and connected immediately with his golden eyes. Sarah blushed held there in his warm moko. It was surprising soft as is a mattress made of feathers. And though Sarah knew this was not good, for some reason she did not fear the demon lord. Sesshoumaru's claw returned to its normal state. After a moment locked in each others eyes, taking each other in for the first time at such a close distance, InuYasha's voice broke the gaze.

“Let her go!” InuYasha commanded. “She's gone! The demon is gone and this girl has done nothing to you, so let her go!”

And Sesshoumaru released her. InuYasha was surprised, but happy she was unharmed. Sarah staggered towards InuYasha. Sesshoumaru stood and watched as the now mortal girl walked away from him. InuYasha rushed to meet Sarah and took her on his back. Sesshoumaru only stood and watched as they left. What was it about this girl that kept him from killing her? Something inside his impenetrable heart stopped him. He left with his mind consumed by thoughts of the girl.

Sarah held tightly to InuYasha as they sailed through the air back toward the village. She had no memory of what had happened that night nor the night before that. How did she keep encountering this man and who was he? She was so tired. Her body was completely exhausted as if she had been without rest for days. She rested her head on InuYasha's back and soon fell fast asleep.

Sometime early in the morning Kagome had awoke up well before dawn. Noticing that Sarah and InuYasha were gone she looked around but there was no sign of either of them. Kagome worried that something bad had happened and could not go back to sleep. She was overjoyed to see InuYasha return with Sarah upon his back. InuYasha explained what had happened that night.

“We have to do something to keep her from wondering off in the night.” Sango said.

“But what can we do?” Kagome asked.

“Perhaps I can use some of my sutras and we can create a barrier in the storage hut. We can place her inside, seeing as how she only changes at night, and keep her there until morning.” Miroku suggested.

“It's worth a shot.” Kagome agreed.

Miroku and Kiade prepared the small hut. They removed the supplies inside and covered the floor with hay. They chanted and placed sutras on every wall. Inside Kiade's hut Kagome and Sango tended to the cuts and bruises Sarah's body had suffered the night before. InuYasha sat in the corner holding the Tetsaiga.

“So Sesshoumaru just let her go?” Sango asked.

InuYasha broke his star into space to answer her. “Yeah.”

“That's not like Sesshoumaru.” Kagome replied. “But I think he has changed since Rin has been traveling with him. Perhaps he doesn't hate humans as much as he makes out.”

InuYasha stood up and walked out of the hut as Kiade entered.

“What's bothering him?” Sango asked looking at Kagome.

“I don't know.” Kagome said as she placed a damp cloth back in the pot of water. She went after him.

Outside she found InuYasha sitting high up in a tree. She looked up at him worried. Should I leave him alone? She wondered to herself.

“InuYasha?” she said.

“Kagome, are you finished caring for Sarah?” he asked as he jumped down from his branch.

“Yes. We've bandaged her up as well as we can.” She said sitting down by the tree trunk.

InuYasha sat beside her.

“InuYasha what is bothering you?” she began probing.

“Nothing. Why do you think something is wrong?” InuYasha asked.

“You just seem like you have been distant ever since you returned this morning.” Kagome replied.

“I just don't understand why Sesshoumaru let her go so easily.” InuYasha replied. “It's not like him to be so forgiving.”

“Like I said before, maybe he doesn't hate humans as much since he is traveling with Rin.” Kagome suggested again.

“Maybe.” InuYasha agreed halfhearted. “But what is most upsetting for me is that the demon that possesses her is not that of the snake demon. It is something else, something that has no scent and very powerful.”

“Maybe we should ask Kiade.” Kagome suggested.

Later on that evening they placed Sarah who was still sleeping inside the small hut and covered her with blankets. Everyone returned back to Kiade's hut and discussed the matter at hand over their dinner. Although everyone was looking to Kiade for answers she did not have them right off hand. When everyone was finished eating she walked to a wooden chest at the back of the hut and began rummaging for a scroll. Everyone sat around a small fire in the center of the hut as Kiade scanned the scroll for anything that could help them. Shippo and Kirara had fallen asleep.

“Ah, here this might help us.” Kiade said finally. Everyone's ears were tuned in for what followed next. “This is an ancient scroll passed down through the ages. Long ago this information was passed by word of mouth and finally put in writing. It says that long ago before humans existed on this plain of existence was ruled by demons. The land had no bodies of water to separate it.” Kiade paused and scanned the document further down. “InuYasha did you hear this demon called by name?”

“No.” he replied.

“There are a few listed here. If we could find out what demon is possessing her, this scroll may help us defeat her.” Kiade said.

The sun had not long set and darkness had just began to cover the land when a large crash came from outside. Everyone rushed outside to see what the commotion was. There before them in mid air was Akuma. She eyed her on lookers with caution. She sensed the powers of the priestess and the priestess power that resided in Kagome. Not to mention the spiritual power of Miroku.

“You think you can subdue me with those weak sutras and such a simple spell?” Akuma laughed.

“Who are you?” Kiade asked. “What do you want?”

An evil laugh came from the demon as she lightly landed on the ground and walked towards them. She grinned at InuYasha and stood face to face with him. “I owe you thanks.” She said. “Your interference last night saved me from a painful recovery. That was your kin was it not? You have the same scent.”

“Recovery?” InuYasha laughed. “He would have destroyed you.”

“Not likely, though he is very powerful, he could not kill me.” She grinned evilly. She walked over to Kiade. “Old woman you want to know who I am?”

Kiade nodded.

“Perhaps you should all know who I am, after all you should know who the future ruler of your world is.” She laughed. “I am known as Akuma. I walked this earth when humans were merely a pest. But like insects you have over run this world. I have returned to restore balance, to pave the way for the return of my kind. The race of ancient demons more powerful than any alive today, we ruled this place.” She stared yet again at InuYasha, “A time when half demons were not allowed to exist. As for your kin, if he continues to pose a threat to my plan I will end his life. He has the opportunity to join the race of full demons, or die.”

Kagome leaned over to InuYasha, “Do you really think she could destroy him?”

“Of coarse I can!” she scolded Kagome. “I am millions of years old and he is but a child compared to me. Though he has a great deal of power it is no where near my own!”

While she was distracted Miroku handed Kiade sutras he had inside his robe. As the demon stepped back away from them to attack, they flung the sutras into the air chanting. Akuma bent over at the waist and fell to her knees riddled with pain. Miroku rammed his staff in the earth and began chanting louder. The wind encircled the demon as her eyes began to glow even brighter blue.

“FOOLS!” she shouted as she began to rise to her feet. With the wave of her hand the sutras were turned to ash. Kagome began to see something strange. Ripples of waves came from her hands as everyone around them began to move in slow motion. Akuma flew straight up into the air and sailed off. Everyone returned to normal puzzled by her disappearance. Kagome later explained what had happened. Inside the hut Kiade finally found a part of the scroll that mentioned Akuma.

“It says here that she was sealed away in between this world and that, something similar to purgatory I think. Her followers, other demons, used their powers to do this.” Kiade informed them. “It took a hundred of them to do it because she was so powerful. But it doesn't say why they might have done such a thing.”

“You mean her own followers banished her?” Kagome asked confused.

“Perhaps she was becoming too powerful.” Miroku answered.

“Or someone wanted to overthrow her.” InuYasha suggested.

“Which ever the case this `Iris' she is searching for is very powerful. It is a sword that absorbs the blood of humans and demons. It uses their souls to make itself more powerful. And it has killed countless numbers of them in the past.” Kiade went on to explain reading the scroll.

“So if she gets this sword she will be virtually unstoppable.” Sango stated concerned.

“Yes.” Kiade agreed. “We have to stop her now.” She turned to InuYasha and with a sadness on her face muttered the words no one wanted to hear. “InuYasha you have to destroy her.”

“Eh? How do you suggest I do that?” he asked.

“You have to kill her.” Kiade said looking down at the floor.

“We can't!” Kagome exclaimed. “Sarah will die too!”

“We have no choice.” Kiade said barely above a whisper. “My spiritual power even combined with Miroku's and his sutras don't even slow her down. It's the only choice we have. If she gets that sword she will open the portal between the world of the dead and this world and all her fellow demons will take over. As for Sarah she is getting weaker unable to even regain consciousness when the demon is sleeping in her.”

Kagome knew these words were true. She had known even before that their chances of saving Sarah were slim to none. But hope had still clung to her heart as it always did for her. Frustrated with the situation she walked outside for some fresh air. Sango and InuYasha joined her while Miroku continued to talk with Kiade inside.

“Kagome.” InuYasha said.

“I know we don't have a choice.” She said before he even had a chance to continue. “But there has to be something we can do.”

“Right now I have to go look for her. Kagome I will bring her back alive.” He replied.

Sango placed her hand on Kagome's shoulder. “Kagome we are running out of time. Miroku and Kiade are still reading over the scroll inside, maybe they can find a way to stop this thing. I am sure they can use your help.”

“We can't kill her.” Kagome said. “There has got to be another way.” Kagome went back into the hut.

Sango decided to join InuYasha in the search for Akuma. Miroku, Kagome, and Kiade read and reread the scroll searching for some answer to their problem. But meanwhile miles away Akuma was again searching for her sword. Yet again she found nothing. The wild goose chase continued during the night. InuYasha and Sango would only catch glimpses of Akuma as she sailed off faster than they could travel into the night sky. InuYasha pushed on harder and harder to find her but with no luck.

“Damn!” InuYasha growled just missing her again.

“I know it's important that we find her as soon as possible. But she did get a head start on us.” Sango said.

“That's not it.” InuYasha said. “It's almost dawn and tomorrow is the new moon.”

“I forgot!” Sango said. “You can't fight her if you are only human. The Tetsaiga will not transform for you then.”

Dawn soon came bringing another night to an end. They found Sarah back to her old self sleeping in a field. InuYasha carried her back to the village. Upon their return Kiade explained she had found even stronger spells in the scroll that might help them to contain Akuma. Miroku and Kiade immediately began working on them. Meanwhile Sango and Kirara took a nap. InuYasha later helped Miroku repair the hole in the roof of the storage hut where they would try to contain Akuma yet again