InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Falling Away ❯ Down The Rabbit Hole ( Chapter 40 )

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

I am so sorry it has taken me forever to update this story (I can’t believe I nearly let 2 years pass ~wibble~) I can’t tell you how grateful I am for everyone that has read, reviewed or added this story to their favorites or alerts list. Much hugs to you all and I hope to catch up on review replies at some point in the near future but I want you all to know each and every word left was read and appreciated by me more than I can express.
This story was my first work of fanfiction and it will always hold a special place in my heart even if it no longer has my undivided attention.
I hope you all enjoy it and have a fabulous weekend!

(Kouga’s POV)

Sango and I had spent a good amount of time in the library with Tibade going over documents until our eyes were tired and Hikari had sent Jaken after us to say dinner was nearly done. We went our separate ways to clean up before meeting back up in the dining hall.

When I arrived Lord Sesshoumaru was already there talking to Jaken about the kids who were seated at the end of the table looking rather sheepish. I could only imagine what sort of mischief they had gotten into that day. Several times the Inu Lord cut his eyes over at the pair and this only caused them to sink further into their seats. They must have really done something this time, and I couldn’t wait to find out what it was so I could tell Miroku all about it when he returned.

The very thought of him made my focus fall on the empty seats at the table. It felt odd to be seated at the table knowing they were not going to appear in the archway to join us anytime soon. I sighed aloud and that made the Youkai Lord focus on me.

“They will not be gone forever Wolf Prince,” he began and in a voice so low I know only Tibade and I heard him, “I miss Inuyasha too so I am unfortunately acquainted with what you are feeling.”

I smiled sadly at that, nodded, and whispered a solemn thank you. It was the least I could do in return for the rare expression of feeling he’d shared. It was so unlike him and I couldn’t help but think on the changes I’ve seen in him since this whole mating business started with Inuyasha. There was never any doubt that he cared for all those under his rule in some way and those of us in the palace especially but now there was something much warmer about his attention to us all and it was a nice change.

I was in no way all wrapped up in open displays of affection like the kind I had seen from the humans but something about my attraction to Miroku made me want to be. I wanted to be all over him and I didn’t really give a damn who was around to see it. It took a lot not to do more than wave at him when he left today and that thought made me feel more distraught.

This must have been obvious to Sesshoumaru because he swiftly closed his conversation with Jaken, ordered the kids to apologize to the imp for giving him something called a wedgie, and asked me to join him for a stroll.

I agreed and followed him out of the dining hall just as the kids began saying their apologies to the Jaken. Confused as to what he had to discuss with me I broke the silence by asking him what a wedgie was.

Unexpectedly, the corners of the Lords mouth turned up as he explained to me that it was when someone grabbed the back of a person’s underclothes and pulled up as hard as they could. This stopped me dead in my tracks as I imagined the kids doing this to the little toad demon and a chuckle left me before I thought better of it. I asked Sesshoumaru to beg my pardon only to have him say, “There is no need, it took more self control than I care to admit not do the same as Jaken relayed the story to me. In truth, something in me was more upset about not having witnessed this “wedgie” than it was about the fact that the children did this to my bumbling retainer.”

That statement had us both chuckling, well as much as Lord Sesshoumaru could chuckle, as we traveled past the kitchen earning us questioning and stunned looks from Hikari and her assistants. When we went into a side corridor that led to the cellar I grew more confused, but I kept my mouth shut. I figured I would find out what this was all about soon enough.

He was looking at rack after rack of wine and sake until he found the one he was apparently searching for. He grabbed two bottles and handed them to me. I thanked him even though I had no idea why he’d given them to me.

“Over the past few months and my observations of everyone I have come to know several of your wants, likes and desires. That particular sake is rare to find amongst demons since it only produced on Mount Hakurei. I think this would be a wonderful welcome home gift for our resident holy man.”

My eyes grew wide as I took in the thought behind Sesshoumaru’s action.

“Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I don’t know what to say. I was trying to work up the nerve to go to that blasted mountain but since the spiritual aura has grown in strength I wasn’t looking forward to the visit.”

“Well consider this as a personal gift from me as well as a token of apology for my poor behavior in the courtyard a few moons ago.”

I didn’t know what to say but I stammered and tried to come up with something anyway.

“No need to struggle for words Kouga, I was in the wrong and it was poor of me not to apologize properly before now. So please take this and anything else you see in this cellar that you may like as a token of my appreciation for your understanding.”

Wow.

Lord Sesshoumaru humble, I never thought I’d see the day.

I smiled at him and he said, “Now all you need to do come up with a plan for a decent relaxing night for the two of you and I’m sure you will be wearing an even bigger smile.”

My face heated up and I looked away from the smirking demon in front of me.

“Act shy all you want right now Ookami but I have seen the looks you’ve given Miroku, I am well aware of the intention behind those looks.”

I wanted nothing more than to disappear.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. If not for desires like that none of us would be here.”

I know that was said to lift the embarrassment I was feeling but I think it might have made it worse if the heat in my face was anything to go by.

“Come. Let us return to the dining hall I am sure dinner is being brought out as we speak.”

I followed him, silently clutching my newfound bounty. My mind already picturing the cute flush painting Miroku’s cheeks as drank his much-loved sake.

When we got back to the main floor, I told Sesshoumaru I would be back as soon as I put the sake in my chambers.

(Miroku’s POV)

Falling.

Inuyasha and I were tumbling through the void in a way I knew was unnatural. I could feel Inuyasha falling into some weird state of consciousness as he drifted away from me. Grappling for anything I could get my hands on, when I made contact with him I wrapped my body around his in a frantic attempt not to lose him in the darkness. I didn’t feel the level of control I usually did when I used the portal and it terrified me.

It had taken more out of me to do battle with Kagome than I had realized when I threw us into the void, but it wasn’t as if I had much time to think or many options. She was putting Inuyasha through a pain so intense it went beyond words and it didn’t feel much better to me. Our souls being connected as she tried to purify his demon half had me battling a level of stress and agony I had never experienced before and it was nothing I ever wanted to repeat.

I could only imagine how it felt to him. But, if the screaming he was doing inside my mind was any indication it had to be white hot agony.

As I felt more of what little control I had slipping, I grew desperate. I needed something to anchor us to the outside world, and preferably, to the destination I had in mind. I had never tried moving this far using the portal but even so, it felt like we’d been in the void too long.

Inuyasha’s mind was so jumbled in his odd conscious state that I was surprised when I felt an odd spike of emotion from him. I had heard plenty from him before but never… felt. Confused and concerned I tried to analyze the sensation when it happened again only stronger. The feeling was definitely distressed and that’s when I realized it had to be Sesshoumaru.

Of course! He had a sensory bond with Yash and even over the distance; he had to know something was terribly wrong. Latching onto the feeling, I did my best to try to establish a connection with Inuyasha similar to the one that bound our minds. It was a risky move, but so was aimlessly tumbling around in the void.

My options were limited.

I figured Sesshoumaru killing me would at least be swift.

Once inside Inuyasha’s mind I tried reaching out to Sesshoumaru. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. For what felt like forever until I felt a wave of power that was nearly stifling. It appeared that in his own way the demon lord was doing the same thing as I. Even if he hadn’t realized what it was that he was doing.

I latched onto that power and when he tried to withdraw from my presence I refused to let go. I needed that energy trail and so did Yash if we were going to get out of the void alive. The energy resisted me at first and I can only assume it was because I felt foreign. Whether he knew it or not he was reaching out for Inuyasha… and finding me roaming around his mental landscape was not a welcome sensation.

Not wanting him to attack or withdraw I tried to think of a way to let him know it was me and convey how much we needed his help. As he withdrew further and raised his mental defenses I brought my mind back to that that weird sensation I got when I touched him a few nights ago when we retrieved Inuyasha from that mountainside. I was fairly certain that whatever that feeling was he’d never experienced it before either.

It was a slim shot but it’s not as if we had a whole lot of experiences between us to draw from.

Just when I thought my effort was in vain and that I may just end up a victim of this damn place just as I’d feared most of my life Sesshoumaru responded.

I felt… everything.

That’s the only way to describe it. If this was what Inuyasha constantly felt from his soon to be mate on a daily basis no wonder he walked around in a Sesshoumaru driven daze all the time. The emotions that wrapped around me were such a heady mixture of love, devotion, desire, affection, admiration, lust, respect, protectiveness, wonder and many more things I didn’t have a name for that I couldn’t breathe yet didn’t care.

Was this just because it was Sesshoumaru or did all demons feel so intensely? Maybe it just felt that way because it was coming from the outside pushing in. I didn’t know and when our lives weren’t hanging in the balance I vowed to figure it out but now wasn’t the time.

(Sesshoumaru’s POV)

Something felt wrong as I sat down at the dining table. It was the strangest feeling to ever wash over my person. Soon the feeling turned to alarm and I knew it had to do with Inuyasha. I was about to take my leave of the palace and go to him when my vision began to fade and swirl. I tried to speak only to find I could not.

All I could do was feel.

Fear… all consuming nearly paralyzing fear. That was bad enough but it was soon followed by pain. A burning, tortured anguish I didn’t think could exist. Something was twisting, pulling and burning him from the inside and it was almost more than even I could stand. The next thing I heard was a tormented scream. By the time I realized it was my own voice making the sound the agony lessened.

It was still there but it lessened.

The next sensation was that feeling I would get when I was close to Inuyasha and Miroku when they were using the bond they share. I realized that the monk had to be trying to aid Inuyasha against whatever was attacking him. I could sense Inuyasha trying to fight against his assailant then all of a sudden; tremendous physical pain was added to whatever was ripping him apart from the inside. His presence felt so weak and he was in such agony it had me desperately fighting to free myself from whatever had me paralyzed and blinded to my surroundings.

Abruptly, the burning eased once more and the essence of the monk grew stronger. Inuyasha grew stronger for a moment as well before another wave of physical pain slams into him… into us both. I vowed then that whoever or whatever was responsible for this would die by my hands.

Then without warning, his existence exploded into agony once more and I felt my body trying to transform. I was fighting it, but I was so lost in Inuyasha’s turmoil I didn’t know how much longer I could resist it. I was reaching my limit when I felt a spike in the power the monk wielded followed by the embrace of darkness.

The sudden shift from agony to nothingness placed Inuyasha’s consciousness in some primal barely lucid state. I was getting an odd mix of unusual sensations from him that made me cautious. If his assailant had somehow managed to invade his mind I didn’t want to play into their hand.

Just when I thought I would succumb to madness in my trapped state, I was hit by a strong reminder of the sensation that passed between Miroku and I a few nights ago. Realizing it was the Monks emotions that I was sensing through Inuyasha I quit trying to pull away. Miroku was terrified and desperate in a way I had not thought possible for him.

For a human he has proven himself to be as courageous and valiant as they come.

He was reaching out and with no warning I felt his energy wrap around me. I didn’t fight it; if anything I embraced it and pulled.

The next lucid moment I had was filled with the sensation of a strong wind above me. When I looked up I saw Inuyasha and Miroku fall out of the void the Monk controlled. They fell onto the table skidding across the surface like stones over a pond.

(Kouga’s POV)

When I returned to the dining hall, everyone was just putting food on their plates. As I passed by lord Sesshoumaru, I sent him a smile only to find him looking somewhat in a daze. I didn’t think much of it until he remained motionless for far longer than normal. By this time, Tibade had noticed this as well. He called out to Sesshoumaru several times but received no response. The moment the healer got to his feet the most horrid tortured sound I’d ever heard, came out of Sesshoumaru.  

Tibade and I were at his side as fast as our feet could carry us and the only coherent thing that we could make out from the rambling he was doing was Inuyasha’s name. I looked at the healer just as he ripped the sleeve off Sesshoumaru’s haori and the mark that was in the crook of the Demon Lord’s arm was humming and vibrating in a way that made me feel like I needed to be ready for battle.

I looked up at the healer hoping he had some answers but I could tell he was just as confused as the rest of us. He was about to ask a question when a pulse of demonic power flowed off the demon Lord.  He looked like he was about to transform even though he didn’t seem to be conscious of his surroundings. I turned back to Sango and Jaken, to find they were doing their best to distract the children.

“Dear Kami, whatever is happening to Inuyasha must be unthinkable to be affecting him this way,” Tibade whispered.

I had the same thought but didn’t want to voice it. Just when I was putting together a plan in my head to go after Miroku and Inuyasha a vicious wind rippled through the room from above us.

I looked up just in time to see Miroku and Inuyasha fall out of Miroku’s void. They crashed down on the table sending food, glasses and utensils flying everywhere before the two came to a halt at the end near the children.

Rin screamed as she ran towards Sango. Shippou did the same and the exterminator found her arms full of distraught children. Even as she hugged them to her and mumbled words intended to calm them, her eyes never left the pair that had crash-landed in the middle of our dinner.

(Tibade’s POV)

When the Little One and Miroku literally fell out of nowhere I knew it was worse than even I’d thought. Pup hadn’t moved until Inuyasha appeared in the dining hall, but he was at the end of the table and by the Little One’s side with a speed that was impressive even for him. Eyes still red from the transformation he was in the midst of fighting; he carefully rolled the unconscious form of Inuyasha over but jerked his hand back as if burned. One look at him told me that’s exactly what had happened. Pup’s hand was smoldering with the energy it had come into contact with.

“Don’t…” came the weak near groan from Miroku as he held up a hand to keep Kouga from touching him. As he struggled to sit up, I could tell it was killing Pup and Kouga not to aid the two men on the table but it couldn’t be helped. The two were reeking of purification energy.

Satomi placed the children with Jaken and was up and ready for action once she figured out what the problem was. First, she helped Miroku down off the table and into a chair before she turned her attention to Inuyasha.

“Tibade tell me what you need me to do,” she demanded, voice panicked and tense.

I did and she followed my directions flawlessly. Once we determined that Inuyasha was as ok as a demon could be that was drenched in that much spiritual energy and in an altered state of consciousness, we made him as comfortable as possible and focused on getting Miroku to the point of being able to speak. We needed to know what in all the seven hells had happened to them.

During all of that, the cooks and various staff had come in after hearing the crash that marked the duo’s entrance and I’d sent them all away except for those that could be helpful.

This was a private matter and we didn’t need an audience.

“Miroku, son I know you feel like hell but can you tell us what happened?” I asked getting only as close to him as I dared. He was struggling to get to his friend and I was urging him to sit. He shook his head no and said he needed to do something to help disperse the energy coursing through and flowing off Inuyasha.

“I can understand your desire to help young Houshi but you don’t look up to doing anything.”

Menacing and serious violet eyes turned to me as he shouted, “You don’t understand… that… that bitch tried to rip our soul in half.”

Our? Before I could ask anything further, he staggered over to the table and placed both his palms on Inuyasha’s nearly still chest. I’m not sure what he did but the energy began to die down however it had Miroku shaking with the effort he was exerting. I watched in horror as rose hued energy began to snake its way up the monk’s arms. The further it climbed the more violently the young man shook.

“Miroku, stop!” we all shouted in unison, even Pup. I could tell he was as concerned as the rest of us as we watched the young monk seemingly pull the energy out of Inuyasha’s body. By the time, the slow crawl of energy reached his shoulders he was screaming but he did not stop if anything his efforts doubled.

Before I could prevent it, Satomi was in motion. She wrapped her arms around Miroku’s waist and yanked hard. The result was immediate and stifling. There was enough purification energy flowing in the room to make even me bristle. Poor Shippou and Jaken were already in a daze so I had Hikari take them a safe distance away.  I ordered this entire wing of the palace cleared because I had no idea what was to come and didn’t need more injuries to deal with than I already had.  

As Miroku staggered to his feet the sheer amount of anger and frustration he was feeling could be felt by everyone present.

I was certain this day was going to be one none of us would ever forget.