InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Dreams ❯ Fire Storm ( Chapter 41 )

Broken Dreams

 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it, and a Happy Hanukah to those fans who celebrate it! Overall, whatever your faith, have a happy holiday! I figure there's about 10-15 chappies left, so I'm gonna get cracking! Updates over the next few weeks will be spotty though, because hey, December 25th, big day! Anyhow, enough with my ranting…geez I can blab, can't I?

 

Chapter 41

 

Fire Storm

 

“Hold on tight, ok Kagome?” Inuyasha asked. Kagome tightened her grip around the hanyou's neck. “Are you sure we're close Raijin?” Inuyasha shouted. Above them, Raijin floated in his thunder-cloud form, occasionally sparking and flashing.

“Yes. Naraku's castle should be over this next mountain, we just have to make the climb.” He boomed. Inuyasha nodded and jumped. Kagome clenched her eyes shut as the wind raced through her hair. She had forgotten what riding on Inuyasha's back was like. It was exhilarating, but also scary. Especially when he was traveling mostly vertical, and one slip would mean a premature end to the ride…

Inuyasha landed on an outcropping of rock, jumping back into the air as soon as he landed. Raijin had it easy, he merely floated up and over the cliff wall. Inuyasha had to take the hard route. He jumped again and missed his aim in mid air. He shouted and slipped down, letting go of Kagome's legs and digging his claws into the cliff, sliding to a stop. Kagome screamed as he arms went taut, as the two dangled from the cliff wall. Raijin floated to a larger outcropping and shifted back to hanyou form.

“Are you alright?” He called. Inuyasha grunted.

“Yeah, just peachy.” He snapped. “Get Kagome, take her up with you.” He ordered. Raijin nodded and dove towards them. Kagome eeped in surprise as Raijin's arm slid around her waist, pulling her to the side. Free from the extra weight, Inuyasha reached up and dug his claws in higher up, pulling himself upwards. He began scaling the cliff fairly quickly, his claws holding strong under his weight. Raijin watched him for a few moments before jumping up the cliff, Kagome in tow. Raijin reached the cliff before Inuyasha, and set Kagome down to reach down and help the hanyou up. The three companions caught their breath for a moment before Kagome stood up and stared out before them.

“Guys…” She said shakily. Inuyasha and Raijin climbed to their feet and stared out at the valley that was Naraku's domain. The cliff fell away into a steady drop into a deep valley. About 50 feet below, the air turned purple and thick with miasma. The trees grew gnarled and old, their bark cracking and their branches skeletal. It was as if someone had drawn a circle around the valley, and everything in that circle was dead or dying. Skeletons of men, youkai, and creature Kagome couldn't even imagine what they looked like littered the dry, rocky ground. And rising above it all, on a plateau about a half mile into the valley, Naraku's castle. A ring of black clouds tumbled and toiled high above them. They looked like storm clouds, except the force behind them was more malevolent then any thunderbolt or rainstorm. Kagome giggled. The scene of terror and death was something straight of one of the North American movies she had seen when she was younger.

“Great, miasma everywhere.” Inuyasha growled. “How are we supposed to get it?”

“We aren't. I think that much would be obvious.” Raijin replied. “The castle is impenetrable to all but those who possess the gift of flight. Namely, myself and Kagura.”

“Well that's good for you, what are we gonna do? I can't take that much miasma.” Inuyasha muttered. Kagome groaned and looked up. So close, they were so close now, but Naraku had finally outsmarted them. There was no way…

“What's that?” She asked, pointing. Inuyasha and Raijin looked up. Something light pink was floating down from the sky. It was small but growing bigger. And it was falling towards them. A breeze picked up, and Kagome shielded her eyes as the gigantic feather came to a rest on the ground a few feet away. Raijin sniffed it and narrowed his eyes.

“Kagura.” He announced. Kagome looked at the large feather and gulped.

“I think we have our way in.” She said nervously.

“Do you trust this?” Inuyasha asked. Kagome shrugged.

“Not really, but Kagura isn't Naraku's most loyal servant. She thinks his death will grant her freedom.” Raijin whirled around to stare at her.

“Will it?” He asked anxiously.

“I'm not really sure. She's a part of Naraku, so she may die with him. But there's no way to tell until he's dead.” Kagome replied. Raijin growled and stepped onto the feather. Kagome followed him, along with a reluctant Inuyasha. The second they were seated, the wind picked up and blew the feather towards the castle. Kagome looked over the edge at the pit of purple poison mist below and gulped. “Don't think about it, don't think about it.” She whispered.

“Don't think about what?” Raijin asked.

“About how we'll be poisoned and die painful deaths if this thing drops us, right Kagome?” Inuyasha muttered dryly. Kagome winced and nodded. The feather reached the castle, and the three of them hopped off. Inuyasha and Raijin looked around and sniffed.

“Naraku must be somewhere inside.” Inuyasha said. “Kagome, you come with me, Raijin, you try and find Naraku on your own.”

“Ah, so you are the traitorous Raijin.” A voice laughed. The three looked up. Perched on the gate of the castle was a tall fire-youkai in a black kimono. Two large black wings were folded neatly on his back. His claws were blood red, and his hair was also bright red, short and spiky. His red eyes flashed with amusement as the three below him readied their respective weapons. “Master Naraku said you were powerful, but you don't look it.”

“Who are you?” Raijin demanded. The new incarnation grinned, showing off his fangs.

“I'm afraid that doesn't matter to you. The dead have little use for information.” The youkai flung out his hands roared. “Kaze-no-Bi!” Inuyasha, Kagome and Raijin dove away as a wave of flame hit the ground where they had stood. Raijin growled.

“You two find Naraku, I'll deal with him.” He said. Inuyasha and Kagome nodded and took off running across the courtyard. Raijin turned to face his new foe.

“Sacrificing yourself to save your friends? That's quite noble of you. Nobility is a foolish quality. Someday, it's going to get you killed.” The incarnation snarled and leapt towards Raijin in a flurry of claws.

 

A chapter dedication to the first reviewer to correctly name Naraku's new incarnation…yes, he has a name! But I wonder how many of you remember him from my other stories!

 

Miasma; Naraku's poisonous mist/gas

Kaze-no-Bi; Flame of the Wind