InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Another Opens... ❯ The Plan ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Namiyo11 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 191 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 191 | Status: Completed
Chapter 9- The Plan
No, Inuyasha and company aren’t mine! Kokuzoku is, however.
Recap: Kouga has discovered Kagome’s er...recent changes, and is less then pleased at several related developments even as he still desires her as his mate. Kagome has discovered she really would rather just be friends. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru hunt for Rin as Sango and Miroku head after the missing ex-miko. What happens now? Read on!
Kokuzoku needn’t have worried. Ayami’s new friends were indeed on the way. Even if-they weren’t all pleased about it.
Tohan was troubled.
She had declared the feud between her people and the sons of the General finished. But the Tribe...hadn’t agreed easily. Her own position as eldest of the four children of the Panther Master was in jeopardy, her rule over them, first among equals...was made precarious by that decree. They still harbored fond hopes of his return, in spite of his choosing to take the lives of his own children to power himself and open the way to his return. That act-and Lord Sesshomaru’s-had convinced her that it was best to let him remain in Hell.
Lord Sesshomaru, who was very powerful, and so unique a personage...one who understood the demands of their roles as Leaders. A pity they had been on opposite sides. Now Kokuzoku was stirring up trouble! They crossed the border into Inu lands with varying degrees of excitement.
Three eager to be on the war trail again and one who wasn’t eager at all. Winter’s handmaiden was discontent.
***
“Hello!” Ayami beamed. They’d traveled all night to reach this clearing, the one designated for their meeting. Kokuzoku had introduced them, bows were exchanged...and now Ayami drank in the sight of them. These, now...these were fine allies. Strong, powerful ones. Marvelous. Except that she didn’t like the scent of the taller female. The oldest one, not very pretty to her mind. Tohan.
She smelled uncertain.
Ayami, mad as she was...knew uncertainty was dangerous. She’d keep an eye on that one. But the rest, well, they would be perfect. Perfect tools, to be used and discarded. The wolf would’ve laughed to discover that as she suspected, the Panthers felt the same about her. She admired such allies, and approved of that kind of thing. It smacked of thought.
Unlike her new hound. Kokuzoku, having delivered on most of his promises, having burned his bridges at last-did not yet understand things had changed. Ayami took his arm and drew him to sit at her right hand as they discussed and planned. He sneered as he took the place of honor, sure he’d succeed, that the Clan would be his to rebuild and rule over when all was said and done. None of them had any interest in controlling the Inu, after all, and he figured he could work something out with the Panthers after they took care of Inutaisho’s brats. He didn’t see it at all, as he sat with smug pride and was consulted as he’d always felt he should be, Ayami listening patiently to every word he spoke.
No, he missed that she threw a sop to a hound. One she would kick in the teeth in due time. A dog that had turned on one master was never truly trusted by the next one, after all.
***
Sango and Miroku, meanwhile, rode with Kirara. The tajiya’s eyes widened as she felt his hand on her rump again. Looking over her shoulder at her husband, he returned her gaze with a smug grin.
*Smack*
“Aie!” he gaped at her. “What was that for?”
“This is hardly the time!” she snapped, adding with a sly smile, “later.”
But later was to be a long time in coming.
The first inkling of trouble was the arrow that slammed into Kirara’s side! The great cat yowled in pain at the unexpected attack. Kokuzoku’s packmates had set their ambush carefully. The Inu Clan in general was well aware of the capabilities of the neko and the tajiya, thanks to her work with Kagome. The assistance and aid she had offered a friend...was now her undoing.
“AH! Sango!” Miroku yelled, as the neko desperately managed a crash landing!
Mewling, she tried to stagger to her feet, the humans she’d borne thrown in the landing. An Inu took aim and smiled, bow drawn...until an ofuda ripped a hole in his side.
Screaming, he went down as the couple pulled themselves together to face their foes. Outnumbered by armed, trained warriors, the battle was joined. Even so, they nearly got away cleanly at the end. Sango fought free of the press, Kirara in her smaller form tucked under her arm...to see Miroku knocked out cold from behind! He fell into the arms of one of the few still upright, who decided to take what he could and go.
The monk was grabbed-and they were gone! Vanished into light as the Inu transformed into a pearl and floated away.
“NO! MIROKU!!” Sango set down Kirara, and unlimbered Hirakotsu again. “Where did he take him?!” she roared, and the few left...chose to stand and face her. Bravery was a trait of theirs, even in the cause of darkness. Blinded by rage, the tajiya turned on them savagely.
When Sango could see again there was no one to question, short of looking to the next world. Kneeling, tossing her weapon aside, she cradled her beloved neko and wept as she did what she could for her.
***
“So. You do not wish to kill them outright?” Ayami asked, startled. The Panthers had come armed with a plan that had surprised her.
“No. Not yet, anyway. We need them, and need their blood. The beings who slew the Master must be used to revive him. Both of the General’s sons helped each other to do it. After a fashion, that is,” the fire Panther who answered looked grimly pleased at the prospect. Tohan’s eyes widened. This had not been discussed with her...they were keeping things from her as they never would have before. Her grip had been weakened more then she guessed by her order. Now, though, was no time to repair it.
“But, we would need his bones,” she tried, and her siblings grinned like they shared a secret.
“No. We don’t. Thanks to the Dokueki!” Natsu answered cheerfully.
“Oh?” the winter youkai looked confused.
“They ate most of the Lynx, sister Tohan. Well...in their old territory is a very special Temple! One that was a repository of knowledge about our kind years ago. The Lynx killed the Monks that served it, but it’s powers are still active. I checked.” A proud grin.
“I see. But what nature has a mortal Temple that could serve us?” Bring him back...after he’d slain them all! How could they be so foolish? Tohan’s mind raced. The Inu believed the feud was ended, and this action had no honor in it!
“Well. They didn’t exactly ask youkai to be guests there to learn about them! One of the things they discovered there was a means to restore the dead, using those that slew them to do it. Monks, often, but it has been done with youkai.” Ayami went very still at the news.
“You mean...a method of raising the dead is there?”
“Yes,” she answered with a glance at the wolf, and the girl turned back to her sister eagerly, “Using the blood of his killers, we can revive him! Restore ourselves fully! Don’t you see? I know you felt the tribe needed to recover, but we can do this with little risk! We decided-”
“Without me.” Actually, she hadn’t felt that. But they had assumed it and she’d let them, because it had eased their dissent. A mistake.
“No! To surprise you only! As you surprised us by ordering our rightful feud with the sons of the General at an end.” Three nods met this, and Tohan’s stomach sank. They’d overthrow her if she pressed, she felt it. Drive her away, make her an outcast.
“Well. This Temple sounds fascinating. I look forward to seeing it,” Ayami informed them. The Panthers, one and all, were surprised. Her green eyes glowed and her heart filled at the delicious chance offered here. For the first time in months...her grief eased. She would be whole again. For a moment, the Ayami Inuyasha and the others had met, a bright, fiery and fierce wolf princess sat there. Hope was a tender thing, a precious thing...having it again was like water in the wastelands.
Lord Naraku. Back at her side! If it was possible...she’d do anything to have it so. Her mate and Lord returned to life! But that meant she’d need them all if the Panther spoke truly. Inuyasha. Miroku. Sango. Kirara. Kagome. Oh yes, Kagome! That would be fitting, for them to give their lives so her Lord might live again, called from the other world back to her.
The Panthers would have to settle for revenge, she decided, and smiled brightly.
“We had not intended to have you accompany us.”
“Oh? I should not wish to miss the festivities-when your Master returns. Nor to miss watching my enemies suffer. Surely you would grant my wish? After all, my Dokueki have opened this chance, and they will assist my friends in their seeking of the Inu. Also in keeping intruders from interference,” Ayami cooed. And could so easily be turned on her new allies...they picked that up. Naraku had taken the secrets or creating them to the grave, and only Ayami, who had worked beside him, held the key to controlling them. A fragile, clumsy control only. They had leapt to his every whim, she remembered with a pang.
There were nods...and slow smiles. Kokuzoku, though, he shivered as did his packmates. This was not what they had expected. A clean kill, battle and revolt, yes...but not this. Not unleashing the Master of the Panthers! Many of them had fought these scum and that ravening monster who had sired them. Kokuzoku could sense their nervousness.
He shared it.
***
But only one of the party sent to retrieve or kill the monk and tajiya were all that returned to them. One, bearing an unconscious human. Miroku, but no Sango, no Kirara. He was tied up and relieved of his weapons, and set next to Rin as the female wolf rounded on the Inu.
“Incompetent fool! I wanted all of them! All, not a mere monk only!”
“I answer to my Lord, wolf bitch! You want them? Be my guest to fetch them yourself. I barely escaped with my life,” he snarled, and the wolf’s lips skinned back in fury. Her hand went to her waist, and a leaf was pulled free. Flicking it-the Inu screamed and Kokuzoku rose in fury as he fell.
“How dare you!”
“I dare because he must pay the price of failure, Kokuzoku. If you wish to remain by my side and in my councils, you will remember this. You told them they might slay them without informing me or asking first, and for that, your packmate paid the price,” Ayami told him, eyes glittering.
“I-”
“You will see to collecting all of them. And-” a pause, “pray the neko survives their wounding of her. I want them all brought before me. They must all die together! Get me the Inutaisho, Kokuzoku. Personally. Bring them to the Temple the Panthers spoke of. We will meet you there. Go.” He stared into Ayami’s eyes-and shivered.
She was mad. Utterly mad. He had no choice now, though...and they both knew it.
All because of a prophecy. The one that had hung over him all of his life. As a foolish, proud young warrior, he’d gone to a true oracle. He’d been seeking to know if one day, he would be the power he dreamed of. What he heard instead had stunned him.
‘You will not be able to be killed...save by...’ the oracle paused.
‘Speak!’ he’d demanded.
‘By the hand of an Inutaisho.’ By his own Lord. The terrible Inutaisho...who had no mate. At first, he’d reassured himself that as long as he was a faithful servant, he would be safe. Serve his childless master well, and there would be no reason to harm him.
But time and ambition did their work. Waiting, worrying, thinking. The terrible temptation to remove the problem, and gain invincibility in the doing. To become all powerful. But the oracle had said ‘AN Inutaisho’. Meaning one of the House. This fact would shape much of his life. It was a terrible thing to know the only thing that could kill you, even for a youkai.
Lady Kumori. That bold, brazen, blood-drenched bitch! An assassin who could kill in silence, who became mother of a son she trained in her ways...she had to die. Too much of a threat. So he arranged it, a stray arrow, it was thought.
It wasn’t.
Sesshomaru had been too well protected. So, he’d begun with the mother. Then, he saw another chance years later. A mortal woman named Izayoi. It had been so easy as a trusted friend of Inutaisho’s to find out where he’d hidden his pregnant mortal mate, and make sure her dear former betrothed learned of it. Inutaisho and Sesshomaru-well, the pup had no liking for him, but it had been simple to keep the father from reaching out to his son. To divide a pack already in turmoil.
The mortals had done the worst part for him. But the child and his woman, an Inutaisho female even if widowed, had survived. Inuyasha. A pity the poison he’d had sent to them didn’t get them both. His sickness had passed...hers hadn’t. Damned hanyou vitality! But Sesshomaru had hated him. Keeping a whispering campaign up, he made sure to torment the new Lord with the fact that he wasn’t as strong as his father, that he was not the equal of Inutaisho, he couldn’t even kill a mere hanyou, after all...and kept them at each other’s throats. Not that it needed much nurturing.
Then-Kagome. A hanyou, but shockingly strong like that little bastard! One who was eager to be a true packmate and help her new Lord...but the packs hadn’t finished her as expected.
Another damned Inutaisho! A daughter of the Lord by adoption. A threat. And now, she’d brought a reconciliation between the brothers, forcing his hand out of fear and fury, the cause of his son’s shame...
No, no turning back now. Kokuzoku accepted this as Ayami harangued him, comforted by the knowledge that she could not touch him. He would avenge himself for her petulance and tone. Later.
For now, their interests were as one.
Author’s Notes-Plots and plans! Hurray! So please enjoy, and thanks for Reading!- Namiyo
No, Inuyasha and company aren’t mine! Kokuzoku is, however.
Recap: Kouga has discovered Kagome’s er...recent changes, and is less then pleased at several related developments even as he still desires her as his mate. Kagome has discovered she really would rather just be friends. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru hunt for Rin as Sango and Miroku head after the missing ex-miko. What happens now? Read on!
Kokuzoku needn’t have worried. Ayami’s new friends were indeed on the way. Even if-they weren’t all pleased about it.
Tohan was troubled.
She had declared the feud between her people and the sons of the General finished. But the Tribe...hadn’t agreed easily. Her own position as eldest of the four children of the Panther Master was in jeopardy, her rule over them, first among equals...was made precarious by that decree. They still harbored fond hopes of his return, in spite of his choosing to take the lives of his own children to power himself and open the way to his return. That act-and Lord Sesshomaru’s-had convinced her that it was best to let him remain in Hell.
Lord Sesshomaru, who was very powerful, and so unique a personage...one who understood the demands of their roles as Leaders. A pity they had been on opposite sides. Now Kokuzoku was stirring up trouble! They crossed the border into Inu lands with varying degrees of excitement.
Three eager to be on the war trail again and one who wasn’t eager at all. Winter’s handmaiden was discontent.
***
“Hello!” Ayami beamed. They’d traveled all night to reach this clearing, the one designated for their meeting. Kokuzoku had introduced them, bows were exchanged...and now Ayami drank in the sight of them. These, now...these were fine allies. Strong, powerful ones. Marvelous. Except that she didn’t like the scent of the taller female. The oldest one, not very pretty to her mind. Tohan.
She smelled uncertain.
Ayami, mad as she was...knew uncertainty was dangerous. She’d keep an eye on that one. But the rest, well, they would be perfect. Perfect tools, to be used and discarded. The wolf would’ve laughed to discover that as she suspected, the Panthers felt the same about her. She admired such allies, and approved of that kind of thing. It smacked of thought.
Unlike her new hound. Kokuzoku, having delivered on most of his promises, having burned his bridges at last-did not yet understand things had changed. Ayami took his arm and drew him to sit at her right hand as they discussed and planned. He sneered as he took the place of honor, sure he’d succeed, that the Clan would be his to rebuild and rule over when all was said and done. None of them had any interest in controlling the Inu, after all, and he figured he could work something out with the Panthers after they took care of Inutaisho’s brats. He didn’t see it at all, as he sat with smug pride and was consulted as he’d always felt he should be, Ayami listening patiently to every word he spoke.
No, he missed that she threw a sop to a hound. One she would kick in the teeth in due time. A dog that had turned on one master was never truly trusted by the next one, after all.
***
Sango and Miroku, meanwhile, rode with Kirara. The tajiya’s eyes widened as she felt his hand on her rump again. Looking over her shoulder at her husband, he returned her gaze with a smug grin.
*Smack*
“Aie!” he gaped at her. “What was that for?”
“This is hardly the time!” she snapped, adding with a sly smile, “later.”
But later was to be a long time in coming.
The first inkling of trouble was the arrow that slammed into Kirara’s side! The great cat yowled in pain at the unexpected attack. Kokuzoku’s packmates had set their ambush carefully. The Inu Clan in general was well aware of the capabilities of the neko and the tajiya, thanks to her work with Kagome. The assistance and aid she had offered a friend...was now her undoing.
“AH! Sango!” Miroku yelled, as the neko desperately managed a crash landing!
Mewling, she tried to stagger to her feet, the humans she’d borne thrown in the landing. An Inu took aim and smiled, bow drawn...until an ofuda ripped a hole in his side.
Screaming, he went down as the couple pulled themselves together to face their foes. Outnumbered by armed, trained warriors, the battle was joined. Even so, they nearly got away cleanly at the end. Sango fought free of the press, Kirara in her smaller form tucked under her arm...to see Miroku knocked out cold from behind! He fell into the arms of one of the few still upright, who decided to take what he could and go.
The monk was grabbed-and they were gone! Vanished into light as the Inu transformed into a pearl and floated away.
“NO! MIROKU!!” Sango set down Kirara, and unlimbered Hirakotsu again. “Where did he take him?!” she roared, and the few left...chose to stand and face her. Bravery was a trait of theirs, even in the cause of darkness. Blinded by rage, the tajiya turned on them savagely.
When Sango could see again there was no one to question, short of looking to the next world. Kneeling, tossing her weapon aside, she cradled her beloved neko and wept as she did what she could for her.
***
“So. You do not wish to kill them outright?” Ayami asked, startled. The Panthers had come armed with a plan that had surprised her.
“No. Not yet, anyway. We need them, and need their blood. The beings who slew the Master must be used to revive him. Both of the General’s sons helped each other to do it. After a fashion, that is,” the fire Panther who answered looked grimly pleased at the prospect. Tohan’s eyes widened. This had not been discussed with her...they were keeping things from her as they never would have before. Her grip had been weakened more then she guessed by her order. Now, though, was no time to repair it.
“But, we would need his bones,” she tried, and her siblings grinned like they shared a secret.
“No. We don’t. Thanks to the Dokueki!” Natsu answered cheerfully.
“Oh?” the winter youkai looked confused.
“They ate most of the Lynx, sister Tohan. Well...in their old territory is a very special Temple! One that was a repository of knowledge about our kind years ago. The Lynx killed the Monks that served it, but it’s powers are still active. I checked.” A proud grin.
“I see. But what nature has a mortal Temple that could serve us?” Bring him back...after he’d slain them all! How could they be so foolish? Tohan’s mind raced. The Inu believed the feud was ended, and this action had no honor in it!
“Well. They didn’t exactly ask youkai to be guests there to learn about them! One of the things they discovered there was a means to restore the dead, using those that slew them to do it. Monks, often, but it has been done with youkai.” Ayami went very still at the news.
“You mean...a method of raising the dead is there?”
“Yes,” she answered with a glance at the wolf, and the girl turned back to her sister eagerly, “Using the blood of his killers, we can revive him! Restore ourselves fully! Don’t you see? I know you felt the tribe needed to recover, but we can do this with little risk! We decided-”
“Without me.” Actually, she hadn’t felt that. But they had assumed it and she’d let them, because it had eased their dissent. A mistake.
“No! To surprise you only! As you surprised us by ordering our rightful feud with the sons of the General at an end.” Three nods met this, and Tohan’s stomach sank. They’d overthrow her if she pressed, she felt it. Drive her away, make her an outcast.
“Well. This Temple sounds fascinating. I look forward to seeing it,” Ayami informed them. The Panthers, one and all, were surprised. Her green eyes glowed and her heart filled at the delicious chance offered here. For the first time in months...her grief eased. She would be whole again. For a moment, the Ayami Inuyasha and the others had met, a bright, fiery and fierce wolf princess sat there. Hope was a tender thing, a precious thing...having it again was like water in the wastelands.
Lord Naraku. Back at her side! If it was possible...she’d do anything to have it so. Her mate and Lord returned to life! But that meant she’d need them all if the Panther spoke truly. Inuyasha. Miroku. Sango. Kirara. Kagome. Oh yes, Kagome! That would be fitting, for them to give their lives so her Lord might live again, called from the other world back to her.
The Panthers would have to settle for revenge, she decided, and smiled brightly.
“We had not intended to have you accompany us.”
“Oh? I should not wish to miss the festivities-when your Master returns. Nor to miss watching my enemies suffer. Surely you would grant my wish? After all, my Dokueki have opened this chance, and they will assist my friends in their seeking of the Inu. Also in keeping intruders from interference,” Ayami cooed. And could so easily be turned on her new allies...they picked that up. Naraku had taken the secrets or creating them to the grave, and only Ayami, who had worked beside him, held the key to controlling them. A fragile, clumsy control only. They had leapt to his every whim, she remembered with a pang.
There were nods...and slow smiles. Kokuzoku, though, he shivered as did his packmates. This was not what they had expected. A clean kill, battle and revolt, yes...but not this. Not unleashing the Master of the Panthers! Many of them had fought these scum and that ravening monster who had sired them. Kokuzoku could sense their nervousness.
He shared it.
***
But only one of the party sent to retrieve or kill the monk and tajiya were all that returned to them. One, bearing an unconscious human. Miroku, but no Sango, no Kirara. He was tied up and relieved of his weapons, and set next to Rin as the female wolf rounded on the Inu.
“Incompetent fool! I wanted all of them! All, not a mere monk only!”
“I answer to my Lord, wolf bitch! You want them? Be my guest to fetch them yourself. I barely escaped with my life,” he snarled, and the wolf’s lips skinned back in fury. Her hand went to her waist, and a leaf was pulled free. Flicking it-the Inu screamed and Kokuzoku rose in fury as he fell.
“How dare you!”
“I dare because he must pay the price of failure, Kokuzoku. If you wish to remain by my side and in my councils, you will remember this. You told them they might slay them without informing me or asking first, and for that, your packmate paid the price,” Ayami told him, eyes glittering.
“I-”
“You will see to collecting all of them. And-” a pause, “pray the neko survives their wounding of her. I want them all brought before me. They must all die together! Get me the Inutaisho, Kokuzoku. Personally. Bring them to the Temple the Panthers spoke of. We will meet you there. Go.” He stared into Ayami’s eyes-and shivered.
She was mad. Utterly mad. He had no choice now, though...and they both knew it.
All because of a prophecy. The one that had hung over him all of his life. As a foolish, proud young warrior, he’d gone to a true oracle. He’d been seeking to know if one day, he would be the power he dreamed of. What he heard instead had stunned him.
‘You will not be able to be killed...save by...’ the oracle paused.
‘Speak!’ he’d demanded.
‘By the hand of an Inutaisho.’ By his own Lord. The terrible Inutaisho...who had no mate. At first, he’d reassured himself that as long as he was a faithful servant, he would be safe. Serve his childless master well, and there would be no reason to harm him.
But time and ambition did their work. Waiting, worrying, thinking. The terrible temptation to remove the problem, and gain invincibility in the doing. To become all powerful. But the oracle had said ‘AN Inutaisho’. Meaning one of the House. This fact would shape much of his life. It was a terrible thing to know the only thing that could kill you, even for a youkai.
Lady Kumori. That bold, brazen, blood-drenched bitch! An assassin who could kill in silence, who became mother of a son she trained in her ways...she had to die. Too much of a threat. So he arranged it, a stray arrow, it was thought.
It wasn’t.
Sesshomaru had been too well protected. So, he’d begun with the mother. Then, he saw another chance years later. A mortal woman named Izayoi. It had been so easy as a trusted friend of Inutaisho’s to find out where he’d hidden his pregnant mortal mate, and make sure her dear former betrothed learned of it. Inutaisho and Sesshomaru-well, the pup had no liking for him, but it had been simple to keep the father from reaching out to his son. To divide a pack already in turmoil.
The mortals had done the worst part for him. But the child and his woman, an Inutaisho female even if widowed, had survived. Inuyasha. A pity the poison he’d had sent to them didn’t get them both. His sickness had passed...hers hadn’t. Damned hanyou vitality! But Sesshomaru had hated him. Keeping a whispering campaign up, he made sure to torment the new Lord with the fact that he wasn’t as strong as his father, that he was not the equal of Inutaisho, he couldn’t even kill a mere hanyou, after all...and kept them at each other’s throats. Not that it needed much nurturing.
Then-Kagome. A hanyou, but shockingly strong like that little bastard! One who was eager to be a true packmate and help her new Lord...but the packs hadn’t finished her as expected.
Another damned Inutaisho! A daughter of the Lord by adoption. A threat. And now, she’d brought a reconciliation between the brothers, forcing his hand out of fear and fury, the cause of his son’s shame...
No, no turning back now. Kokuzoku accepted this as Ayami harangued him, comforted by the knowledge that she could not touch him. He would avenge himself for her petulance and tone. Later.
For now, their interests were as one.
Author’s Notes-Plots and plans! Hurray! So please enjoy, and thanks for Reading!- Namiyo