InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Delusions ❯ Chapter Eighteen ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Author’s Notes:

 

 

 

 

Delusions

 

Chapter Eighteen

 

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

 

 

 

 

Sōrin had not moved an inch. The bemused grin was still plastered onto his face and his eyes had not even widened a fraction despite the fact that had Amaya’s aim been off he would be missing his scalp. It was almost as if her reaction was his intention. ‘Was it?’ Kagome wondered. Dangerous to antagonize someone who could easily kill you. Especially when that person had no idea of their own strength.

 

After the tree had been felled, Inuyasha laughed at the situation. He then walked over to where Sōrin still leaned against the topless tree, still chuckling. His face went dead pan and he flicked Sōrin in the forehead, “You really are stupid. Next time I hope she aims lower.”

 

Sōrin’s hand went to the red spot where Inuyasha had merely flicked him, his eyes finding Amaya and lingering on her with a satisfied smile which in turn earned him a glare from the silver-haired pair that stood several feet away. Kagome saw too much of Inuyasha coming out of Sōrin. His hand in raising the boy was standing out.

 

Inuyasha turned his attention back to Amaya who was trying to suppress a small smile. “Don’t get cocky yet,” Inuyasha said simply, “do it again and prove that you can do this to me. This time without help from dipshit over there. If you call that help.”

 

Amaya turned to the tree. She seemed to have gotten a feel for channeling her yōki into her claws through her brief rage induced show of power. This time she did not hesitate, but merely struck the tree with her claws in a swiping motion, sending the tree flying to join it’s fallen brethren.

 

With a triumphant smile she glanced over at her naysayers and walked over to where Kagome stood waiting. “Impressive,” Miroku said, clapping his hands. Amaya looked a little embarrassed from the praise she received and waved it off.

 

Inuyasha, though, seemed to feel more was needed. “We'll have to continue training everyday, if you are to get any better. That should do for now, I guess. Maybe I should get you a weapon…” he trailed off becoming distracted. His golden eyes narrowed and he turned his head to the east, placing his hand on Tessaiga’s hilt.

 

Kagome began to wonder what Inuyasha sensed but she then felt it as well. A vaguely familiar feeling. From the corner of her eye she could see Amaya tense up. The girl was so unused to her new powers and she did not understand half of what she felt. Miroku and Sango, taking their que from the others, also tensed up in preparation.

 

“Is that...Sesshōmaru?” Kagome asked.

 

As if summoned by the utterance of his name, the taiyōkai himself emerged from the sky and alighted himself in front of the group. He calmly eyed everyone, with his eyes widening infinitesimal when they alighted on Amaya.

 

Inuyasha was not going to let his brother get in the first insult, “What do you want, Sesshōmaru?”

 

Sesshōmaru’s gaze settled upon his younger brother. “I see that you’ve rutted with the miko and watered down our father's great bloodline. But that is of no matter to me, halfling.”

 

Inuyasha bristled at the insult but didn't retort, “Spit it out, will you? I have shit to take care of and you are wasting my time.”

 

If Sesshōmaru was bothered by Inuyasha’s refusal to rise to his insult, he did not show it. He was just as Kagome remembered, but perhaps a little less mean-spirited somehow.

 

“I've been informed that you have information on the reappearance of Naraku,” Sesshōmaru said.

 

“Yeah...so?” Inuyasha was not going to make this easy.

 

“You will tell me, Sesshōmaru, what you know. Naraku must be dealt with and I have serious doubts that a half breed can get the job done.”

 

“I ain't telling you shit!” he yelled. His grip on Tessaiga tightened.

 

‘Typical!’ Kagome thought. “Sesshōmaru,” Kagome called, pulling his attention away from Inuyasha, “We don't know much. Just that he has more Incarnations than before and he is after something...or rather someone, but we don't know who.”

 

Inuyasha shot Kagome a look at her offering of information, but said nothing. Sesshōmaru seemed satisfied with what he heard and departed just as quietly as he came, his fumi floating around him as he flew away.

 

“What the hell, Kagome?” Inuyasha yelled. He was livid now and faced her down.

 

Kagome was not going to be intimidated by him. He was being ridiculous. “Seriously? It's not like telling him what he wanted to know is going to hurt anything. Quit being so difficult!”

 

Inuyasha began muttering under his breath and walked away. He made it several feet before he called back to the rest of the group who still stood, dumbfounded at the whole exchange. “Are you all coming or what?!”

 

Slowly the remainder of the group grabbed up their belongings and set off in the direction that Kagome pointed to.

 

 

 

 

It was midmorning and they had only been a few hours since they started out. As before, Amaya was walking with Inuyasha and conversing with him. Kagome walked in between Miroku and Sango while, she assumed, that Sōrin brought up the rear.

 

Kagome could feel the distance between herself and Byakuya closing and a small knot formed in the pit of her stomach that grew the smaller the distance became. Not dwelling on the issue and finding comfort in her companions is what helped her not to wallow in despair. That and talking about the small scene from earlier.

 

“So, their relationship not improved over the years I take it?” Kagome asked.

 

Miroku scoffed before answering, “The two avoid each other as much as possible. Not that Lord Sesshōmaru seeks his brother’s company, but with Rin residing in the same village, the possibility of them bumping into one another is greatly increased.”

 

“Oh, I see,” Kagome said, scratching her chin at the idea of the brothers ever getting along.

 

“Yes, and when Lord Sesshōmaru does come, he only speaks to Shippō, a yōkai who is not “beneath him” as he puts it.” Miroku switched his staff from one hand to another. “I wonder if he will go and collect Rin now?”

 

“That is if she will go,” Sango input.

 

Kagome was intrigued now to know more about the young girl. “He visits her? What is going on between them?”

 

“Nothing more than friendly visits. However, it should be said that Rin is still young and has had many suitors try and court her, but she is not interested in their pursuits. I’m afraid that she has misplaced her feelings in someone who cannot reciprocate them,” Sango said while readjusting Hiraikotsu.

 

“You mean Sesshōmaru, of course?,” Kagome asked.

 

Sango nodded demurely, “Yes, it seems as though she has developed more romantic yearnings for him over the years, but I do not believe he feels the same way.”

 

“Has she told him how she feels?”

 

“No. When I last spoke to her she was afraid to broach the topic due to his general feeling towards humans. She values his friendship and does not want that to diminish by discouraging him from coming around if he does not feel the same.”

 

“Oh, I see.” Kagome could empathize with Rin and loving someone who could not love you in return, though Rin’s situation was more convoluted than hers was. Sesshōmaru, though quiet, was complicated even for a yōkai and Kagome could not fathom how he would react to a revelation of Rin’s true feelings, though even he had to know that Rin dreamt of more than friendship.

 

“I’ve encouraged her to look elsewhere, but I think she may remain unwed for a while longer yet.” Sango sighed at at her own words.

 

Kagome agreed, “Yeah, that is pretty sad. It would make it even worse if she went with Sesshōmaru then, wouldn’t it?”

 

Sango shook her head, “Lord Sesshōmaru has asked Rin to join him for a few years now, but she has not accepted his offer. Seeing as how she wants to be more than a companion to be looked after, she has settled for life in the village. I cannot see her accepting now, just because there may be danger for her. Only time will tell.”

 

Miroku pointed with his staff ahead of them, “I can feel a demonic presence coming from that direction. We must be getting close.” He stopped and Sango and Kagome stopped along with him. “Inuyasha!” Miroku called ahead.

 

“Yeah, I know!” Inuyasha called back and he and Amaya turned to regroup.

 

Kagome could feel the presence, too. It coincided with the link she shared with her tormentor. Her breathing betrayed her and she could feel her heart pounding inside her chest like a hammer trying to break through her ribcage. Her friends stood defensively around her and as if sensing her distress, Inuyasha ran over to her. He had drawn Tessaiga and then turned to face what was coming.

 

Sōrin had finally reappeared, he must have felt the demonic energy and come to rejoin the party as well. His staff at the ready he covered their flanks while Amaya stood near her mother.

 

Kagome could not help but notice that everyone had formed a defensive perimeter around her. It made her bristle inside to know that everyone thought she was incapable of protecting herself. She readied her bow and an arrow, loosely nocking the arrow in anticipation. She still felt dread at the prospect of facing Byakuya. It was odd that he had not called out to torment her or send pain to her through their link. She wondered what his angle was.

 

She did not have to wonder on it long as in the distance, a paper crane came into view. It seemed small and grew in size the closer it got. It became apparent that Byakuya had animated the paper manifestation and rode upon it. He was not alone, though. With him came the same monstrosity that had beleaguered them just days ago, Mōryōmaru. This time, it flew on bat-like wings as it approached.

 

“That thing can fly now?!” Kagome yelled.

 

“Keh!” Inuyasha said, “That won’t save it from being demolished!”

 

Inuyasha still stood defensively in front of Kagome. She reached out and touched his shoulder, “Inuyasha, that...that’s him,” she said pointing to the figure floating in the distance. He looked back at her, his brow knit together in tenacity, and nodded his brief assent. He turned back to await the arrival of the pair.

 

Before the monstrous pair could get any closer, Sango threw Hiraikotsu, hoping to catch them off guard and cause damage. The bone boomerang whipped around and hit it’s target, that of Mōryōmaru, but it’s body became putty and after the boomerang passed through it quickly reformed. Sango reached up and grabbed her weapon as it returned to her, “Dammit!” she grunted.

 

Miroku, looked hesitantly at his right hand, trying to assess his Wind Tunnel and if it was worth using his own cursed weapon. He held the flap that closed the tunnel, ready to whip it off the moment that Mōryōmaru and Byakuya came close enough to be sucked in. However, Byakuya stayed in the distance, not coming any closer, but Mōryōmaru did finally descend. The monstrous golem was finally close enough so Miroku ran ahead of the group and ripped off the rosary flap where a vortex appeared.

 

“Miroku, no!!!” Sango yelled. “It will consume you!”

 

Miroku stood, nonetheless, with the vortex sucking everything in the vicinity not rooted to the ground into his palm. Mōryōmaru began to inch forward from the pull of the vortex. It’s eyes widened and it’s hands morphed into sickles that it plunged into the ground as an anchor. The pull was too strong though and the golem’s flesh began to be pulled into the vortex. Piece by piece, globs of flesh were pulled in and Miroku smiled. “It’s working!” Amaya called from where she stood. “It cannot hold its form,” Sango remarked.

 

Just as they began to feel triumphant, a curveball was thrown. The Saimyōshō buzzed ahead and surrounded Mōryōmaru. Sango gasped and ran over to her husband, throwing his nenju over his open Wind Tunnel, and closing the vortex before any of the poisonous wasps could enter. “That was too close, Miroku.” The monk grunted and supported himself on his staff. The action had taken a lot out of him. The Wind Tunnel had only a limited amount of usage left on it before it consumed Miroku as it had done his father and his grandfather before him.

 

Inuyasha stepped back in front of Miroku, “Don’t beat yourself up, monk. I got this.” Sōrin rounded the group and stood by Inuyasha. Together, they formed a two person wall, ready to form an aggressive assault on the golem.

 

Mōryōmaru smiled, which seemed unnatural on it’s grotesquely large features. “Think you can take me, do you?” he asked.

 

 

 

 

Next time on Delusions……