InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Hatred and Ignorance ( Chapter 30 )

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

Chapter 30: Hatred and Ignorance

Ungai looked out over the small valley and smiled slightly. Once again, he and his growing army had come across a village that had been saved by the same group as the first village. It seemed that the people that traveled with that half-demon were going around doing good deeds...

They must be trying to fool and mislead the people of these lands - make them think that demons and half-demons are not evil. The people here must not understand that halflings, just by existing, are evidence of wrongdoing - no human woman would willingly consort with a demon... meaning that for a half-demon to exist, a demon has forced himself on a good woman, and ruined her life.

It should not be born that they be allowed to continue existing - only in death can they be freed from the evil in their blood...

Death by purification.

But how do we reach the people that have already been fooled and teach them of the deception?

Or should we even try?

Perhaps it were best to simply root out the corruption... from all sides.

Ungai looked over at one of his monk's and spoke. "Send several monks and priestesses back to that village - and instruct the people that they must not consort with demons - that group that supposedly saved them are a sign of evil. If they do not listen, return to me here."

The monk frowned, but bowed. "Yes, Master Ungai. It will be as you have said." Turning, he motioned for a couple of the other monks to follow, then spoke to the most senior priestess that was following them, and she sent a few of the older miko to join him.

Once they were all gathered, they moved out, heading once more for the peaceful village at the end of the valley.

It was, perhaps, telling, that they resembled nothing so much as a dark cloud moving across the ground like a plague of locusts - eating up all the sunlight as they came.

And, by the end of the day, as an army of darkness moved on to a new destination, all that remained of that once peaceful village was contained in foul black smoke that rose and covered the entire valley...

Blocking out all the remaining light of the day.

---wWw---

Shunichi stumbled out of the remains of his hut, shock keeping him frozen as he stared around himself.

Monks... and priestesses... did this - those that are supposed to protect... did this, out of anger and hatred. And they tried to tell us we were evil for not hating that group - all they did was help us. Who then, is truly the evil, here?

He laughed darkly as he looked around, letting the totality of the destruction filter through - there was not one hut left undamaged... and not a sound stirred within the confines of a once noisy village save for the savage crackling of flames from a last few huts that were still burning.

Everyone... all of them... dead. What should I do now?

He sank down onto his knees as grief overtook him, and he screamed out in agony... screamed out promises of vengeance and retribution against those that would commit a crime so heinous as to attack and destroy a peaceful village, just because they would not hate without just cause.

Hours passed, as the flames flared high, and then finally died, and still no sound came from the ruins save for those he himself made...

Father... mother - everyone dearly loved and happy... gone. For all of you, I will gain vengeance - I swear it.

With that promise, he felt his resolve harden, savage hatred writhing through his heart, and he stared into the remains of the fires that had taken his home from him, trying to decide what he should do. As the night passed, and dawned into a new day, he remembered those who had come and aided his village against the rogue demons...

And decided that he would search for them.

They needed to be warned that this evil army looked for them with hatred and death in their hearts - and perhaps, if he stayed near them, he would gain his chance for retribution, as well.

That decided, he stood, and stumbled back into the remains of his hut - and down into the underground chamber he'd specifically dug underneath it. That was the only reason he was still alive at all - he'd been underground when the monks had struck, setting fire to everything, and as his hut was one of the last to catch fire, they had already left before he'd needed to get out.

It's a good thing that this is where all my food supplies and extra clothing was stored... at least I am not left with nothing as I am left with no family.

Taking only what he would need and could conveniently carry, he grabbed a katana and a long knife, and pushing them through his hastily tightened obi, he climbed back out of his storage area and left the remains of his hut.

With one last, long look at the village he'd called home all of his life, he turned, and hardening his heart, walked away...

Heading for the village of Edo.

He'd overheard some of the members of the group talking when they'd been here, and they'd spoken of that village as home.

He could only hope to find the group in residence when he arrived.

---wWw---

Sesshoumaru stared at the mirror in Kanna's hands, anger and disgust burning through him at the savage acts he'd just watched taking place.

That monk... it seems there is no end to his hypocrisy. First demons - and now his own kind. Just because they would not agree to hate my miko and her friends.

And my half-brother.

His brow furrowed. Inuyasha needs to be warned - he should no longer roam alone. Even a son of the Taisho could be overcome, and an army of those wielding spiritual powers would be dangerous if met while alone.

He looked thoughtfully down at the girl still standing before him.

"Kanna... find Inuyasha, and show him what you have me, then instruct him to return here - we must decide how to meet this threat. Then go and inform Nyoko - have her also come to me."

The void child nodded, then turned and silently made her way into the trees, vanishing swiftly into the looming darkness beneath them.

He turned his head as he felt Kagome approach, not surprised at her angered, yet also saddened, expression.

"It is the nature of some people to be this way, miko. There is naught you can do to change one who is like that," he said, knowing that somewhere inside, she would be feeling guilty because all that had been perpetrated against those people because of her and her friends.

But really, that was just the excuse that Ungai was using. For people that taught hatred, as he did, needed no reason to do so. They were just born that way - if it wasn't one thing, it was another.

Kagome nodded, but her unhappy expression did not change, as she glanced at Miroku, Sango and Kikyou. They looked as upset as she did. She turned back to Sesshoumaru.

"I know. But that doesn't make me feel any better about it. Those people died because of ignorance and hatred... and it was directed at us."

His eyes softened just a bit on her. She cares so much - sometimes... too much.

But she wouldn't be Kagome if she did not.

"That does not mean that it is your fault, Kagome. Do not take on guilt for actions that were not your own."

"Uh, pardon me, but this whole thing, is because this Ungai guy hates you people?" Kisho asked, a rather confused expression on his face. "I thought it was because of all the rampaging demons running around lately."

Kagome sighed and said, "That's what started him off, I guess - but we've had a run-in with him before. He thinks that if it's demon, its evil, and should be destroyed. Apparently, now, he's gone on to thinking that humans that even speak to a demon of half-demon are also evil."

Sesshoumaru looked around, then spoke. "Come. We should find a place to camp while we wait for Inuyasha, and Nyoko."

At that, Kagome frowned. "I'd almost forgotten about that." She narrowed her eyes on the demon Lord, and his brow rose quizzically. "Just who is this 'Nyoko', anyway?"
His brow rose even higher at the tone of her voice. "Is there some reason that you still seem suspicious of my intentions with other females, my Kagome? Have I given you cause?"

She looked startled, then shook her head and laughed. "No, no, Sesshoumaru, I didn't mean it that way. I just know that you're devious, and you probably have your fingers in all sorts of things. I'm just wondering what little sneaky game she's part of."

He eyed her for a moment, then nodded. "Hn. In that, miko, you are correct. She is part of several different plans. Nyoko is a sorceress that I have known for many years - she is very powerful, and has proven useful many times in the past."

"Well, I look forward to meeting her - anyone that you respect has to be very strong-willed."

At that, a peculiar look crossed Sesshoumaru's face, and he almost looked like he wanted to laugh. In fact, he did almost want to laugh. "It will be interesting to see Inuyasha meet Nyoko... she does not seem to understand the meaning of respect - and takes pleasure in riling those with inflated opinions of themselves."

Kagome thought about that for a moment, as did the rest of the group, and then laughter burst out all over.

She was almost bent double, and had to pause to wipe the tears out of her eyes.

"O-oh kami... I can just see that... and you! Sesshoumaru..." she burst out in more laughter, "I-I... oh... For you to know that she acts like that, means she's done it to you... you do have a tendency to have a very... positive? opinion of yourself. Oh, oh... she's tortured you, hasn't she?" she asked, gasping for breath as he glared at her, suddenly very much on his dignity.
"Nyoko knows when she is faced with an opponent she cannot win against, miko, and no longer tries her games with me," he said, arrogance thick in his voice.

The rest of the group watched avidly as Kagome once again burst out in laughter, managing to choke out, "Well, it's a good thing that she no longer tries, at any rate, since poking fun at you is now my job - and I don't intend to share."

He frowned disapprovingly, eyeing her for a few moments, then turned on his heel, ignoring her giggles in favor of looking around. This particular topic had very obviously been dismissed - despite Kagome's occasional snickers.

"We will make camp here and await Inuyasha and Nyoko. It is a good place, there is shelter, and water - and it is defensible." Everyone sort of sobered at that - there were still many rampaging demons, though the west had been cleared fairly well, no one was left unaware that they could still be hit.

They were surrounded by danger, and if they weren't very careful, they'd end up caught between Ungai and his army...

And the demons still running wild through the lands.

Not a very comforting thought.

---wWw---

Looking around, Shunichi noted the small caves that lined the cliff face he was near, and finally, after exploring several, found one that would suit as a place to sleep for the night.

It had been several days, already, since his village had been destroyed, and he had been able to skirt that army of monks and priestesses quite easily - though he had to grit his teeth, wanting nothing so much as to see them all dead for what they had done - and, no doubt, what they would still do.

He was well aware that it was not only his village that that group had helped.

What kind of world is it when helping someone in need becomes a crime? he thought, wearily, his mind lingering on his dead family and friends. And that fool of a monk... doesn't he realize that all his viciousness has done is underline the good nature of that group of humans and the half-demon, and show how his so-called holy people, are the truly evil ones?

Hmph. I know who I would choose to side with - to hell with all those 'holy people'... they're worthless.

With a deep sigh, he sat down in his overnight shelter, quickly digging a fire-pit and getting a blaze going with the wood he'd gathered. Once it was blazing merrily, he pulled some dried meats from his pack, and ate, drinking deeply from his waterskin to wash his mouth of the salty aftertaste of the meat.

He grimaced. Travel rations... never my favorite meal, but I suppose I should be
happy that I even have anything left after those bastards leveled my home.

He was happy with his pace - one more days hard travel would put him in Edo - and he would make sure that those in the village knew the danger that would soon stalk them...

If it was indeed the home village of that group, Ungai and his god-forsaken monks and wenches in miko clothing would do everything they could to level it - and he would do all in his power to help keep that from happening.

He may not have been able to save his own village, since he'd not known there was anything to save them from but now...

Now, he knew, and in fact, any villages he came across he would warn.

Do not trust the army that will soon come through.

They are harbingers of chaos and destruction, no matter the clothes that they wear.

Like wolves in sheep's clothing...

---wWw---

Nyoko clenched her teeth in anger as she watched the end of the sequence of violence in Kanna's mirror.

Ignorant bastards!

"Tell me, Kanna - did Lord Sesshoumaru have any other instructions save that he wishes me to join him and his group?"

The void demonness shook her head, expression unchanged. "No, Lady Nyoko. Those were his only instructions."

Nyoko looked down at the ground thoughtfully. "Well, I do have Kagura on a mission - and I managed to make her lose all the ingredients she'd already found... so it will be a while before she'll return. I suppose I can get away for a while without her any the wiser."

"Kagura will not know where you are - she is too busy gathering things for you, and imagining what her victory over the miko for the Lord's affections will be like, to realize that you have gone."

Brow climbing into her bangs, Nyoko looked closer at the small demoness. "Ah. I see - you can see things in the near future."

"Hai," she said, quietly.

"Well, Kanna," she said, pulling the feather she'd taken from the wind demonness from her kimono, noting the lack of surprise in the small girl before putting it back, "since I have this neat new way of traveling, what do you say we make a side-trip on our way to meet with Lord Sesshoumaru?"

Kanna met her eyes, then, and after a moment, nodded. "It would be well with this one to do so, Lady Nyoko."

With that, the sorceress began to grin, a wicked, nasty smile. "Perfect," she purred. "I have a rather dirty little prank that I will enjoy playing on this Ungai, and his army. Since I can change my form, I can quite easily infiltrate their little encampment, and introduce an... interesting seasoning into their food... by the time I'm done, any of those foolish psuedo-miko that are still virginal... won't be."

As she pulled a certain scroll from her shelf, she glanced at Kanna, and noted the wicked flash in her black eyes...

So she is capable of emotion... somewhere within her. Perhaps I can help break the block that is holding her in the form she is now.

With the one who created her gone...

She can become something else - I think I would find her a most acceptable friend.

Nyoko grinned again, an evil light in her eye as she gathered the things she would need to make her potion...

Tomorrow night in Ungai's camp would be quite, quite interesting - and the resulting confusion would cause them somewhat of a delay as all the monks and miko tried to deal with the repercussions of a night of pointless rutting...

Giving Sesshoumaru and the rest of those opposing Ungai and his freaks just that much more time to plan how to deal with them.

I am so very evil...

She laughed aloud. I love my life!

---wWw---

Ryozo looked up into the sky, and shivered. Folding his hands into his sleeves, he made his way to the edge of the encampment, hoping for a little peace. He felt a great need to meditate.

He was troubled. Absently shaking his monk's robe of the accumulated dust of travel, he frowned out into the darkness.

I cannot help but feel that what we do here is wrong... despite what Master Ungai has said. It does not fit with the Buddha's teachings. It seems to me that it is a personal hatred of demons that he is drawing upon, and not what is right.

After all... what have those demons done to us?

I can understand fighting ones that try to attack, but even I have come across demons that have done nothing to harm me or anyone else - just as I have come across men that are evil, and think nothing of rape, theft, and murder.

He shifted uneasily, glancing behind himself at the groups of men and women settling comfortably after their meals.

It would seem that Ungai himself has no problems with stealing - destroying a village of quiet, peaceful people - then taking all their food and anything else he deems useful. How does that make us any better than bandits? At least they come honestly - all know as soon as they are spotted what they are after...

But with us - we come under a guise of peace - and then wage war.

No. He sighed, and guilt bit deeply at him. This is not right - and I cannot lend myself to this insanity any longer. I think...

I will head into the west.

This insanity must be stopped - and I think that the best place to start is with the very group that Ungai hates so much. Their supposed home is west of here...

In Edo.

That is where I will go.

With a last surreptitious glance behind, he turned and faded into the darkness...

---wWw---

A/N: I apologize to all for the delays in posting on this and most of my other fics save the Flower Girl - that particular fic is a daily serial, and with short chapters, I have several written ahead so I can post on it every day. This fic, however, and all my others, have much longer chapters, and so take more time to write. With my recent move, I just haven't had a chance to do much writing on them. Things are easing up a little bit now, so hopefully, it won't be so long before I'm able to post again.
Thanks for all your patience,

Amber