InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Converged Destinies ❯ The Crystal Forest ( Chapter 1 )

Converged Destinies

Chapter One

The Crystal Forest

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Sesshoumaru glided gracefully across the forest. His hair swooshed behind him like a curtain of silver. His footsteps gentle with grace, but with it also came on an unmistakable sense of power.

Suddenly, out of what seemed to be nowhere, a horned youkai sprang at Sesshoumaru with alarming speed. The youkai raised his claws and let out a terrifying roar as it prepared to strike.

But with fluid like grace, Sesshoumaru dodged and easily slashed off the youkai's head with ten times the agility. The head rolled over the fire scorched ground while the body fell limp.

"You will not survive the Crystal Forest" the head spoke in a deep menacing voice. "No one ever has, and no one ever will…" With that, the head erupted into insane laughter.

Sesshoumaru's face remained as stoic as ever as he destroyed the head with a brutal slash from his whip. Allowing the remains to slowly disintegrate into ashes and scatter gently away with the warm summer breeze.

Even though his face betrayed no emotions and no hint of thought, the wheels inside his head turned rapidly.

`The Crystal Forest…that sounds familiar…' Sesshoumaru thought deeply for a moment until the aged answer slowly resurfaced under piles of other childhood memories.

*Flashback*

"The Crystal Forest? What's that?' asked a curious silver haired pup with large golden eyes.

"It is a forest where no men or demons alike that entered has ever emerged from." remarked a kind dry voice. "It is a cursed place, for thick miasma that hangs at the edge of the forest and will immediately kill off almost anyone who ever tries to enter, accident or not."

"What do you mean by almost anyone?" the young taiyoukai questioned.

"That is because very rarely, when all the conditions are right, the miasma will thin slightly allowing some strong youkai's to pass. But sadly, no one knows of what conditions needs to be met for the miasma to thin. Otherwise I myself may have attempted such a task"

"But you said no one has ever emerged from the forest, but if one can enter, can't one wait until the miasma is thin enough again to leave?"

"Ah, you are most observative, young master. For that, it is because most will likely die before they get too far into the forest. But other than that, it is believed that the youkai's go mad and cannot think of anything else other than to smite anyone or anything that hinders in their path."

"Or perhaps…perhaps there is someone or something in there killing off all those youkai's that had had the misfortune of stumbling across those sacred grounds…"

*End Flashback*

Though already wise for his age. Sesshoumaru couldn't stop regretting the fact that he had not asked a few more questions back then. For maybe if he had, he wouldn't be unsure about if he is indeed in the Crystal Forest.

"The Crystal Forest…" Sesshoumaru whispered to himself. "The miasma…." Suddenly, a sense of realization engraved itself onto the taiyoukai's handsome features, as he remembered with crystal clear detail how he came to be within the forest.

He remembered surveying his Western Lands a few days ago when he felt a strange vibe. A small tug within his very soul, it called to him… and he followed it, unable to back down from the silent challenge.

It lead him to the edge of a forest, where thick miasma hung thickly. Any Vegetation within a five hundred meters range were all crumpled and limply hugged the ground.

Sesshoumaru simply stood studying the area, when the `tug' suddenly strengthened. As if daring him. Sesshoumaru's molten eyes hardened, and slowly he walked towards the miasma.

When he was within striking range, he finally grasped the hilt of Toukijin, a sword he had asked an infamous sword smith to forge long ago, and slowly drawled it out.

Then, in one swift motion, Sesshoumaru dissipated the deadly miasma from the air and forced it to the sides.

Putting the sword back in the well decorated sheath. He approached the forest with determination, set on finding what the miasma has been concealing all these years…

Now remembering all the details, Sesshoumaru was almost positive that he is indeed near the heart of the Crystal Forest.

Since remembering…he realized the once gentle tug seems to get a bit stronger the deeper he travels into the forest.

With one mighty leap, Sesshoumaru surpassed the many branches that blocked off almost all of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor and landed onto one of the highest branches strong enough to support his weight.

Though toward the exterior of the forest the miasma had completely wiped out all forms of life, the deeper he continues into the forest, the larger and older the trees seem, clearly showing they have not been touched for centuries. Excluding a few which seemed to have been cut down, clearly the work of demons.

Sesshoumaru glazed toward the way he has been heading (which was north), and with his demonic eyesight, he saw a temple which would have been invisible to the human eye.

`So that is my destination…' Sesshoumaru silently remarked as he descended from the branch and continued forth his journey.

*

A lone figure stood in the center of an enormous glade, he had long brown hair that he wore in a simple braid down his back. The figure was clad in a deep green outfit, and around his lean torso was a silver colored sash that supported a well polished sword.

Behind lay an aged looking staircase that lead clearly up to an ancient temple, and all around him were tall tress and exotic plants that perhaps only managed to survive there and no where else.

The figure raised his head to look at the tallest tree in the glade. And for a moment, his warm brown eyes seemed to twinkle with hope.

"So…he is here? Are you sure that he is the one that is destined to fulfill this ancient prophecy?" he asked.

A long silence followed and no sound other than the melodic chirping of birds or occasional buzzing made by insects disturbed the enchanted forest.

"You're right…I suppose we shall see…" the figure's words slowly faded into nothing but a memory to those that had heard him, and many had heard him.

*

Sesshoumaru treaded on. It's been three days since he had entered the forest. Though it was more to think then to rest, Sesshoumaru stopped once in a while to regain the little strength he lost.

He oddly felt uncomfortable in the forest, he felt as if he is being constantly watched by unseen spies. And the occasional attacks of demons slowly gnawed at his nerves.

Though all the attackers were easily taken care off, and weak to his standards, they were a few of the more powerful ones he had ever met. The more he travels towards the north, the more firmer and frequent the tug became and the demons ever stronger.

After all these days of traveling, he knew he was soon to reach the place of his destination. For the tug that pulled him seemed to be pulsing faster then it ever has.

Sesshoumaru effortlessly used more of his demonic agility and moved towards the temple as nothing more then a blur that the human eye cannot see.

Suddenly, he stopped near the edge of a glade. For there, was a presence, but not just any presence, for it was stronger then any other ones he had ever sensed in his whole life. Not just that, the person's aura felt strangely awkward and unlike any he had ever read.

"Greetings friend, what is your purpose here?" questioned a cool calm voice that seemed to have come from nowhere.

Sesshoumaru calmly with leveled glaze located the source of the voice, and was quite amused that it looked rather human. The person's features told him with simplicity that it was a he. And though he looked human, even a young pup can tell that he was definitely no ordinary human. And the sword he bore told another tale of its own.

"Who are you?" Sesshoumaru questioned in a placid tone.

"I am Hachiro, and I have been the guardian of this temple for centuries now. All those who wish it harm will have to go though me first."

"Why is it that you protect this temple?" Sesshoumaru requested.

"That is not for me to tell, for first you must prove yourself worthy of knowledge of its existence." Hachiro answered.

"Very well" Sesshoumaru replied as he unsheathed one of two swords he wore around his sash that he had fondly named Toukijin.

In mere seconds, both warriors rushed with amazing speed toward each other and their weapons soon collided. The force of the impact pushed both of them backwards, leaving a few neat lines of dug up earth as they slide backwards.

"You are a formidable foe Hachiro, most of my opponents would have been dead by now. But I'm afraid our little game is about to end." Sesshoumaru said.

"We shall see" Hachiro said smirking.

Sesshoumaru charged with an amazing display of demonic speed toward Hachiro, sword in an offensive position. Hachiro tried to counter the blow before it hit him by placing his sword in a defensive angle. But with agility even Hachiro could not fully capture, Sesshoumaru changed the angle of his sword and placed a neat little cut by the left side of Hachiro's throat.

Sheathing his sword, Sesshoumaru turned to the now sitting Hachiro that still looked baffled.

"Now, am I worthy?" Sesshoumaru bit out.

"You are worthy of my respect, but whether you are worthy enough to cross the barrier to the temple it is not for me to say." Hachiro replied

"Explain" Sesshoumaru remarked coldly while noticing that Hachiro did not seem the least bit upset about his defeat. But instead, a twinkle resembling hope that had not been there before seemed to sparkle in his eyes.

"If you are the one destined to cross this barrier, in time you shall know everything. But if you are not…and is foolish enough to attempt to cross it…" Hachiro said while looking towards the barrier.

"You shall die trying…"

Sesshoumaru gave Hachiro a hard look, trying to detect any signs of falsehood, and left it at that when he detected none.

Walking towards the barrier with indifference, Sesshoumaru slowly extended one clawed hand towards it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hachiro's own eyes widen, obviously he had not counted on him to attempt such a task without further questioning.

Time seemed to stop as his hand reached towards the barrier. And the rhythm of the `tug' seemed now to pull so often that it was constant, forming a heavenly song for even him to behold.

In that instant, he knew that he was the chosen one. The one destined to cross this barrier and behold the secret securely locked away within-that patiently waited for centuries upon his return…

Without any doubt, Sesshoumaru's hand confidently came to an inch apart from the barrier. And without giving the slightest thought that this might be the last moments of his life, his hand passed through the barrier as if passing through water.

A.N. Please be kind and drop off a review. Btw, in this fic, Sesshoumaru still has both of his arms.