InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Impossible Love ❯ Chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

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

Impossible Love

Chapter Fifteen

YuriYaoiHet_ILoveEmAll



---------------- -------------------_____________________-------------_____________________< br>

Sango rolled over painfully and shivered. She opened her eyes and was startled for a moment before she remembered where they were. They'd flown until they'd found a cave suitable for them to spend the night in- Sango wasn't comforatable sleeping out in the open without her weapons in hostile territory. She sat up and looked over at the others. Killala and Shippo were curled up into a ball together and Miroku was laying on his side, one arm under his face.

The events from yesterday flew back to her and she jumped up ignoring the pain of the wounds on her back. They had to reach the Inu's territory as soon as possible. They had to do everything they could to save Kagome. Sango was still surprised at the girl's selfless sacrifice. No one had ever done anything like that for her before.

She leaned over and nudged Miroku. His eyes flew open and he sat up quickly. "What is it? What's wrong?" He yelled, waking Shippo and Killala up.

"Nothing." She said soothingly. "It's morning. We need to head out soon."

Shippo stretched and jumped up. "We have to save, Kagome!" He didn't even seem to notice the wounds on his back. Killala mewed, stretching and ran to the head of the cave. They all walked outside, blinking in the sunlight. Twenty minutes later, they were soaring over the trees. They'd made half of the loop around the wolves territory last night, so they headed south towards the lakes.

They flew in silence, each lost to their own thoughts. Sango tried to remember everything she knew about the different youkai territories in the area. She felt naked without her weapons. If they were attacked, there would be nothing they could do but run. She didn't like feeling defenseless. It reminded her of when she'd lost everything in one great act of betrayal. After they saved Kagome, she was going to find the place where her fellow tajai had died. If it took the rest of her life, she would see her fellow tajai's bodies laid to rest in hallowed ground.

Howls peirced the air around them, cutting through her thoughts. Her first thought was that the wolves had found them. "Killala! Faster!"

Killala roared and picked up her speed. There were sounds of pursuit below them. Out of nowhere, a giant snake reared its head over the tops of the trees and knocked them all to the ground. Sango tucked her body and rolled as she hit, evening out the impact and gaining her feet in one move. She spun to face the snake, only to see it disappear in a flash of multi-colored fire. The wolves don't have illusion capabilities, she thought wildly. As the sounds of pursuit grew louder, she grabbed a branch that had snapped off a tree as they fell and swung it through the air, testing it. It would function as a rough weapon. She glanced around to see the others to locate them and moved between them and their pursuers. She would fight with everything she had. She had no intention of being taken back to the wolves territory. This time, it would be to the death.

Youkai came through the trees in front of her. She felt a moment's surprise when she saw what kind they were. Inu youkai were almost never seen this far to the northeast. There were five of them. She didn't let down her guard. Youkai were youkai, Shippo and Killala excluded, and she wouldn't be taken prisoner again. Wait, she thought. Inu youkai! They might be the same clan that Kagome came from!

"They aren't wolves." One of them said. He sniffed the air. "But they smell like them." There were a few growls.

"If they are allied with the wolves, they deserve to die!" Another snarled.

More movement in the trees and Sango was astonished to see even more Inus come through the trees. There had to be over a hundred of  them. More astonishing was the fact that intermingled with them were kitsunes of varying coat color.

A red kitsune female stepped forwards. "Look! They have a kit prisoner! Get them!" She leaped towards Sango.

Sango yelled with surprise and swung the branch knocking her out of the air. "He is not our prisoner!" She heard Miroku yell from behind her. He moved beside Sango

"These are my freinds!" Shippo called, leaping onto Sango's shoulder. Gasps rang from the youkai.

The female youkai who had attacked stood and faced Sango, growling. "Stop! That is my daughter!" Sango's heart stopped. It couldn't be her father. She'd seen him die with her own eyes. The youkai parted and she was atonished to see him sitting on the back of a large inu youkai. "Sango!" He called. The youkai kneeled and he got to his feet. He was obviously injured, but undoubtedly alive.

"Sister!" Her heart skipped another beat as her little brother stepped into view.

The branch fell from her hands. "Father! Kohaku!" She ran forward.

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and for once, she didn't care who saw them. Her family was alive! She embraced them both, sobbing. Her heart felt as if it would burst. Her world had just been given back to her. Killala, still in her big form, ran forwards and butted her head against Jinsea's side.

He pulled one arm from around Sango to caress the neko's head. "Have you been protecting her all this time, Killala? I knew I made a good choice with you." He said to the large neko. She purred and butted her head against him again.

Sango gathered herself and wiped the tears from her eyes. She opened her mouth to ask him how he had survived when an inu hanyou stepped into sight. The other Inus and the kitunes bowed to him as he walked towards them. Sango knew immediatley who he was. She pulled away from her father and brother and took two steps towards him.

"Prince Inuyasha." She dropped to the ground and bowed.

She looked up to see a surprised look on his face. "How do you know me, ningen?" he asked suspiciously.

"I bring news of Lady Kagome." She said.

Inuyasha stiffened. "What news? How did you meet her?"

"We were in the same prison cave with her. We made a plan to escape, but it went horribly wrong. We were captured at the border." She guestured back at Miroku and Shippo. "Lady Kagome made it across, but she came back and swore herself to Kouga in order to free us. She bade us to find you or your father Lord Inutashio. She needs your help."

"She swore herself to Kouga to save you?!" He yelled. He looked furious.

"I told her not to do it. That we weren't worth it, but she did. I swore to her that I would find you or Lord Inutashio. Please. She told me that the two of you had a disagreement, Prince Inuyasha, but we have to save her!"

"We?" He asked.

Sango nodded. "Hai. She gave herself over to Kouga to save my life. I owe the Inu Clan a debt for her genorosity. If you go to rescue her, I will fight with you. To the death if I must."

"I do as well." Miroku called out. "I owe the same debt and would fight as well."

"What good would a monk be in a fight?" One of the black kitsunes called out.

"I'll show you." He turned away from the youkai and removed the prayer beads from his hand. "Shippo, go to Sango." The kitsune jumped off of his shoulder and ran to her.

He ripped off his glove and released the Kazaana. Sango had never seen it before and gasped with the inus and kitsunes as they witnessed its power. Rocks and branches flew through the air towards him. Entire trees were torn from the ground by their roots and sucked into the hole in his hand. After a moment, he flipped up the glove and harnessed it again with the beads. Everyone was speechless.

"That is a powerful weapon." A new voice said. She spun around and gasped again as an enormous three-tailed white kitsune stepped into the clearing. It was a living myth before her eyes. She was awed by the power of this youkai's energy.

"I agree." Her father and Inuyasha said at the same time.

"Lord Tonkouro. Would this be the kit you sought?" Inuyasha asked, geusturing at Shippo.

Tonkouro moved towards them and Shippo jumped into Sango's lap, trembling. The great kitsune lowered his giant head and sniffed. "Is your name Shippo, little one?"

"H-hai." Shippo stuttered fearfully.

Tonkouro gave him a toothy smile. "I swore to your father before he died that I would see you safe from harm. Do not be afraid of me, little one."

"You knew my father?" Shippo asked surprised.

"Hai. He was a good freind of mine. He lead your Clan for many years before you were born and traveled many places. He did me a favor and in exchange, I gave him an amulet and told him to contact me if he needed me. On the day the wolves attacked he summoned me, but I came too late. You were taken and he was mortally wounded. He bade me to save you, but it seems you have already been saved by the Lady Kagome." He looked at Inuyasha. "It seems the kitsunes are in your debt, Prince Inuyasha. Though the kit we sought is safe, we will still help you to release Kouga's prisoners and stop his destructive rampage."

Inuyasha looked releived. "Arigato, Lord Tonkouro."

"Prisoners?" Sango asked.

Inuyasha looked down at her. "Hai. We are releasing all of the prisoners Kouga has taken and if we get the chance we will kill him." He appraised her for a moment. "If you were his prisoner, you should be able to tell us what we need to know."

"Hai. I will give you any information I have."

Inuyasha looked around at the youkai. "Make camp. Rest well. We head out tonight! By morning we will reach the wolves door!" He called.

As the youkai broke up, Inuyasha guestured for a few of the Inus and one male grey kitsune foreward. Then he guestured for Miroku to come there as well, along with her father. The hanyou sat and the others followed suit, forming a small circle in the clearing.

"So. What can you tell us about the wolves inner defenses?" Inuyasha asked her.

Sango took a deep breath. "They are allied with the Spider Clan." She started with the most important news. There were gasps from the youkai."The spiders don't have much by the way of numbers, but they seem to have something over Kouga. He defers to the Queen almost like her is her servant. A very independent servant, but a servant all the same."

"Spiders are known for their dark magics and seductive charms." Tonkouro stated. "That may be what started it all."

Inuyasha looked at her. "Tell us more."

She described the wolves territory as best she could. Going into detail about the den and waves of defenses that she'd noticed during her imprisonment. Miroku joined in and told them what he had learned and together they were able to give them a clear veiw of the way the wolves inner society and defenses worked.

"The border partols may have been strengthened after our recent escape." Miroku was saying. "But there were three of them before, six to each."

"We've been preparing for much more than that, so even if they have been strengthened,, there shouldn't be much of a problem. " The grey kitsune, Takata said.

"Yes, but we didn't prepare for facing magic." The young Inu,#############, said.

"That is what we are for." Takata snapped. "We send in our illusions to fight with you, a second before you reach the patrols. If there are any magical traps, our illusions will trip them."

"Even so." The female Inu, Kasumi, countered. "Even if your illusion trip the traps, we will still have only seconds to silence the patrol's alarm. What if the magics are a type you've never encountered before? My trackers are the ones who will be the ones who will risk our lives behind your illusions." She looked as if she were getting angry.

"Peace, Kasumi." Inuyasha spoke soothingly. "You are the swiftest of all of us. And you are intelligent. I have no doubts that between you and Faryae you will be able to keep your trackers safe and accomplish your mission."

Tonkouro nodded. "And we have seen spider magic before. I will not go as far as to say we are experts, but I have trained with each and every kitsune here, save Shippo, so each one has at least a basic idea of what they will be facing. I've withheld none of my knowledge from them. If you remember, we were about to attack the wolves by ourselves before this alliance. We tried to repare for anything."

Kasumi blushed. "I meant no disrespect, elder. I am only concerned. I don't wish to die by some magical trick." She shot a glance a Faryae and everyone in the circle knew in that moment that there stood the root of her doubts. She was in love. "Nor do I wish to see the ones I care for meet that fate." She looked back at the circle. There was a longing in her eyes that Sango couldn't decipher.

"It's fine, Kasumi. Go to her. I understand. We will inform you of any modifications later." Inuyasha said softly.

Kasumi bowed until her nose nearly touched the ground, crossing one arm over her chest. "Arigato, my prince."

Inuyasha chuckled, as did Tonkouro. "We may all die on tomorrow. It make sense you would like a few moments with the one you love." Tonkouro said lightly. "Go, child."

She jumped up and ran to Faryae. Everyone watched as she took her hand and lead her into the trees. Sango looked back around and saw Inuyasha's face drawn in a painful mask. Wihout thinking about it, she reached forward and put a hand to his shoulder.

His head spapped around and he gave her a surprised look. "We will save Lady Kagome. I swear my life on it."

"Hai." Jinsea spoke. "You have never seen Kohaku and Sango fight together. They are truly a destructive force when they stand side-by-side in battle. Her strengths counter his weaknesses and vice-versa. I've seen them take down huge groups of youkai by themselves." He said proudly." He seemed to notice something. "Where are your weapons?"

Sango lowered her head. "They lie in the wolves den. They were taken from me when I was captured."

"No matter." He said lightly. "You can use mine until yours are collected."

Sango looked up at him, astonished. "But, father! You never let anyone touch your weapons."

He gave her a stern yet somehow gentle look. "I won't be fighting in the battle tomorrow. You have no weapons. It makes perfect sense, daughter."

"H- hai." She was still shocked, but she fought to hide it.

"When we make the raid to release the prisoners, I'd like you two to guide our warriors inside the wolves den. You can collect them then." Inuyasha said to her. He looked at her for a moment. "What do you know about the other prisoners?"

"Not much, we were kept secluded to our cave most of the time, but many are youkai." Then she repeated what she'd told Kagome what seemed like forever ago. "Kouga fancies himself a collector of sorts. If anyone fights well or amuses him in some way, he takes them. Most are meant to be sacrifices to Lumi, but the others I'm not sure about."

Inuyasha nodded. "We've been thinking he uses some to manipulate other clans into doing as he bids."

"They do seem very weathly for a clan of pillagers." Miroku stated calmly.

"Oh, they were weathly before. The wolves have one of the best placed territories." Tonkouro told them. "The mountains in the north were volcanic at one time and so there are many gem deposits there. In the past, they would trade gems and furs they collected for anything they needed. Thats why their attacks were so succesful. Everyone thought they were coming to trade and then they attacked without warning."

"At any rate, it doesn't matter how it started. It matters how we finish it." ############## said firmly.

Almost everyone laughed. Inuyasha still looked solemn, but he smiled at the grizzled old inu. "Well said, my freind."

And talk of the battle began. Sango quickly realized that the inus and kitsunes had already laid a solid battle plan in place. Her new part in the plan was minimal so she let her mind wander slightly. Looking around atg the inus, she began to feel the layers of grime and dirt that covered her body. She would really like to bathe and wash her suit now that there was a little time to relax.

"Prince Inuyasha. Lord Tonkouro." Miroku said, cutting through her thoughts. "May Sango, Shippo and I be excused? I would like to freshen up a bit before our meal."

Inuyasha looked surprised. "Of course."

"We passed a few hot springs a mile or so back. Your neko freind can take you." Tonkouro told them.

Sango gave a barely audible sigh of releif. "Arigato." She bobbed her head and stood.

Shippo leaped from her arms. "Yay! I haven't bathed in a hotspring in ages."

Sango smiled down at him. She glanced at Miroku to see him doing the same. "Hai. It will be a welcome repreive from cold river water." He said.

"We will return as quickly as possible." She promised, before they mounted Killala. "Ikuzo, my freind." She said to the giant neko, and they were off.

***** Page Break*****

Kagome sat with her fingers buried into the fur at the nape of a sleeping Hinata's neck. They'd returned to the den and the young youkai had asked her if she could return to her full youkai form. Kagome, upon seeing that Hinata was much more comforatable sleeping in that form had wished for the first time she could be a youkai. If only she could just simply change forms and loose herself in sleep to avoid her problems. As it was, she couldn't sleep at all. She remained wound like a top for hours, unable to relax or vent her anger and misery. Her hold on Hinata was all that stopped her from making a mad dash through the wolves den screaming her head off. If she made it past Hochki and Tenne, who were guarding her only exit that is.

She sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time and looked around the splendid room they'd given her after she'd returned from bathing. Apparently, Kouga was very serious about treating her like a queen now, because the room was decorated with elaboratley painted wall hangings, jewels and thick, luxurious furs. A large fireplace took up half of one wall. There was actually a desk of sorts carved from ebony rock of some kind that held silken thread writing papers and charcoal pencils. The papers themselves were a treasure. There was a large mirror slab like the one she'd had in her room in the western lands. It was currently facing the wall. Kagome hadn't been able to look at herself. Gas lamps lit the large room. She counted four. One would have been enough. Once again she wondered how a clan that was so wealthy had fallen to such lows.

Hinata woke and growled suddenly, drawing Kagome out of her thoughts. The young demoness moved in front of Kagome, facing the door, the fur on the ruff of her neck standing on end. Kagome jumped up and grabbed a long peice of firewood, holding it like a club as a large, white she-wolf stepped into the doorway. Hinata went immediatley submissive at the sight of her and crawled forwards, whimpering, to lick her chin. Kagome stayed where she was.

The she-wolf apraised her with her icy blue eyes. "Peace, miko. I shall not harm you." She said softly, lips curling into a toothy wolf smile.

Kagome didn't lower her weapon. "Who are you?" She snapped.

"I am Ayame, Queen of Wolves. I am Kouga's mate."

Kagome gasped. "His mate?" Kagome asked. She was shocked.

Ayame moved forwards and shifted into a beatiful young woman with fiery red hair. "Sit and I will tell you a story, miko Kagome. A story of a once great clan that fell prey to magicks and dark promises all because of some foolish young man who wanted to protect his family."

Kagome lowered her weapon. Her instict told her that Ayame would not hurt her, so she did as she was told and sat on the bed. Hinata jumped up and laid her head in Kagome's lap contentedly. Almost unconsciously, Kagome storked the fur between her ears. It was so easy to forget that the young wolf was a youkai and not a large dog while she was in this form.

Ayame watched her. "She's taken to you quickly."

Kagome looked down at Hinata. "Hai. I only just met her earlier today."

Ayame sat and reached over to stroke Hinata's back. "Thank you for being kind to her. She is my younger cousin." Kagome was surprised to hear this. Ayame continued. "It pleases me to see her taken care of. I heard what you did to defend her."

Kagome nodded. "When she swore herself to me, I swore to protect her from Kouga and the Black Queen."

"And you have done so." Then she sighed and leaned back. "Do you want to hear the story of the wolves, Kagome?" She asked with sorrow in her voice.

Kagome looked up at her. "I'm listening."

"Five years ago, we wolves had everything we desired. We had good lands, plentiful food and riches to spare. Kouga's father, Lord Hayao, passed peacefully in his sleep with his mate Queen Karu, leaving the wolves to his son. Kouga was young and headstrong, but he made a good leader for all of us. He and I met not long after he became our leader. It surprised me when he began courting me. I was a gift to his mother from my father further north. I was the youngest of his daughters and I served as one of Lady Karu's Lady's Maids before her passing. I never aspired to be a Queen. You can imagine how quickly he won me over." She said, smiling. "He was so much different back then. He was kind and gentle and even though he was our king, he would still sully his hands to help his wolves with menial tasks. He was the ideal leader. We were mated six months after he became our leader and I had everything I desired. A wonderful mate and a powerful clan at my feet. I was happy. A year after we were mated, I found myself pregnant. He was overjoyed with the news and immediatley began having things crafted for our child. It would have been born with everything it could have ever wanted." Kagome heard the sorrow in her voice at the wouds 'would have been'. "I was five months along when something went wrong. I became deathly ill and no matter what remedies the healers tried I couldn't break free of my sickness. Kouga was devestated. He sent word to many clans that I needed healers and that the one who cured me would be rewarded richly. None could until the day the Black Queen came. I was lost in the throws of a fever. My mind was gone when she approached him with the offer to try to save my life. He brought her to me and I am told she cast many spells and forced remedies down my throat for days on end. My fever finally broke and I was fully aware for the first time in weeks. She told me that my well state would not last long. My pregnancy was killing me. She told me that if I carried the child to term, it would kill me and the babe would likely not survive my passing. Its heart was weak. I was devestated to hear it, but I was determined to try to carry him to term. Kouga paid her richly and begged her to stay by my side. She agreed. She seemed so nice. She cared for me like I was her own child. She cast spells of strength and healing on the baby in my womb, trying to make his heart develop correctly. Nothing worked. At seven months I lost him." Tears filled her eyes. "He looked just like Kouga. He had my eyes. He was so beautiful even in death." She blinked away the tears and gathered herself with a heavy sigh. "Kouga was never the same. He became distant and hard, snapping at any who spoke to him. I was too lost in my sorrow to see what was happening until it was too late. The Black Queen, who had stayed even after our babe's passing, went to him and bewitched him somehow, infected him with the evil that she'd kept hidden from me. Now his eyes burn red with blood lust and he runs our clan into the ground on this useless crusade of dominance!" Her eyes focused back on Kagome and they were full of anger. "We were once a great and powerful clan. Now we have been reduced to pillagers and theives. Her evil has spread from Kouga to many of the other clan. I'm sure you've noticed these red-eyed shells of wolves."

Kagome nodded. "Hai. I've wondered at it many times."

"They are mere puppets to Kouga now. But the Black Queen is really the one holding the strings. I've investigated as much as I can, but I can't figure out how she's doing it. Somehow, she is keeping the real Kouga, my Kouga, a prisoner in his own mind and through him the others of the clan." She reached forwards and grasped Kagome's hand. "If you can help me figure out how it is she's keeping him under control, I swear I will make sure you are returned to your home. Whether it be the Western Lands or back to the future."

Kagome thought long and hard before answering. If Kouga really was being controlled and the wolves were being forced to do the things they had, then they were mere victims. If She could help to free them of their bonds then she would be helping the rest of the land too. No more raids and senseless killing. If she could do it.

She looked back up at Ayame. "I don't know how much I can do, Lady Ayame, but I swear I will do my best to help you." She said earnestly.

Ayame smiled in releif. "Thank you, Lady Kagome." She stood. "Rest now. You'll need your strength." She paused in the doorway and looked back at her. "If the Black Queen tries to approach you, do not drink anything she gives you. She is very sneaky with her potions."

Then she swept out of the room. Kagome lay back on the bed and stared into the fire. Hinata snuggled into her side. Fatigue swept over her in a rush and her last thought before falling asleep was that if she was able to help Ayame, it would be a miracle.
Converting /tmp/phpApIxiz to /dev/stdout