InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Unexpected ( Chapter 36 )

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

Chapter 36: Unexpected

Wow... madhouse is right, Nyoko thought, as she began to descend towards the village, looking around a bit wide-eyed. Looks like that stupid monk has pissed off a hell of a lot of people...

The once calm and peaceful, small village had grown, seemingly overnight. New huts lined the outskirts of the village, and there was a rush of activity in every corner. And on top of that, there were youki signatures everywhere - this little hamlet had become the base for an army...

She cast around for the aura of the one youkai that she needed to see, and wasn't at all surprised to find him a goodly ways outside the village, in a somewhat peaceful clearing near an old well.

Hah! Lord of the West, and all around anti-social guy, and he's stuck dealing with all these humans and demons... must be driving him batty!

The very idea filled her with glee, and she turned the feather in his direction.

"Oh, well... now there'll be two more people to bother him!" she said cheerfully as they landed and she watched him turn towards her with a completely blank look.

He's really upset, she thought, then, as she caught sight of his expression. I wonder why?

The smile draining from her face, she moved forward briskly to stand before him questioningly.

"What's going on, Sesshoumaru-sama? There has to be a reason you look like your best friend just died... not that you have any of those," she said under her breath.

Sesshoumaru ignored her comment and question. "Why are you here so soon, and without the wind witch?"

She scowled at that. "The stupid bitch decided that she had a better way of gaining your attention - she's gone to dig up new allies against this monk. I have the potion ready, when she returns, I can still complete the spell... but I really hate it when someone does something they weren't supposed to," she huffed, crossing irritated arms over her chest and pouting.

Sesshoumaru turned, a frown settling on his brow. "Allies," he said slowly. "Do you, by any chance, know what allies she speaks of?"

"Not for sure... but she was heading off in the direction of the panther tribes, if that helps."

She watched, fascinated, as a brow rose, and an amused look filtered into his eyes... and then, he chuckled.

She gaped.

I've never seen him laugh before - even if it is a stingy one!

"Uhm... what's so funny?" she finally asked cautiously.

"The panthers... they are old enemies of mine. It is up in the air whether Touran will actually come and join this fight, since she does love a good one, or simply kill Kagura for even suggesting that she join me in anything," he said, obviously still amused, and Nyoko had to admit... it sounded funny.

"Well... that's enlightening. And amusing." She shook her head. "So... in the meantime, what should I do?"
Sesshoumaru studied her for a moment, then looked at Kanna. "You will be best utilized in keeping an eye on the monk and that disgrace he calls an army - this one is also sure, knowing how antagonistic you are, that you more than likely have many more tricks up your sleeve to use against them."

She began to grin, a rather toothy, evil grin, and nodded. "Oh, you bet I do. I brought along a whole pile of very promising scrolls and spells..."

"Then I wish you a pleasant journey, sorceress. But stay out of their reach - I do not wish to lose allies before we even meet in battle."

Nyoko rolled her eyes, knowing that was as close as Sesshoumaru would ever get to saying 'be careful'. Then a thought occurred to her, and she frowned petulantly.

"And I had so looked forward to housetraining your brother... I even brought along plenty of useless old scrolls to swat him with," she pouted.

A brow rose slowly, disappearing into his bangs, and a faintly disturbed look settled on the demon Lord's face. "Please do not say anything further, sorceress... I have no desire to know of your methods of courtship - especially as they apply to my brother."

The sorceress merely laughed, and pulling another feather, she climbed aboard, taking a silent Kanna up with her.

"Fine... be a spoilsport. But keep him on a leash 'til I can get back, would you? I don't want to have to chase him down - running is such unpleasant work." Her nose wrinkled. "It makes a girl all sweaty, don't you know."

Sesshoumaru shot her a rather annoyed glance, and she chuckled as she guided the feather back out of the clearing. "We'll check in in two days," she called out cheerily.

That is certainly a threat I could do without, he thought, resigned to the thought of having the mischievous and annoying sorceress as a relative.

Of all things, I would never have thought that she would go for Inuyasha - but it will be extremely entertaining watching her lead him in circles, I must admit.

He shuddered, then. But the thought of Nyoko and his miko becoming close, as he somehow just knew that they would, was infinitely disturbing.

Perhaps I should send Inuyasha to China?

Or mayhap further...

---wWw---

Ryozo stood at the entrance to the well clearing, and stared, awed, at the demon Lord before him.

His aura... it's immense! If he chose - he could destroy us all...

He faltered, then, not sure that coming to speak to this Lord had been the wisest of choices, but when he remembered the mad light in Ungai's eyes when he spoke of this demon, he forced his legs to carry him forward.

He needs to know...

"Sesshoumaru-sama," he said hesitantly, bowing respectfully as the Lord turned to gaze at him questioningly.

"I am Ryozo, formerly a part of Ungai's group." He swallowed heavily as the demon quirked a brow. "I left when he started losing his mind..." he broke off as Sesshoumaru broke in.

"Losing his mind?"

"Yes." The monk moved further into the clearing and sighed as he looked around at the peaceful, sun-warmed clearing. "His insanity has a name, as well. Funny enough, it's the same as yours. He is determined to destroy you - the rest of demon-kind is just a side-quest for him, so to speak."

"So, you mean to say that I am his main target?" He looked towards the forest, a distant light in his eyes. "That does not surprise me..."

He stopped abruptly as Rin ran into the clearing, heading straight for him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! There you are... Rin was getting worried," she said as she came to a halt before him... and then she noticed the man standing not too far from her - and his robes, and she skittered closer to the demon Lord, suddenly nervous.

Sesshoumaru noted her actions, and placed a calming hand atop her tiny head. "There is no cause for concern, Rin. This monk will not harm you, he is much as the monk that travels with us."

She looked up at him, beaming, then back at the monk, who was observing the interaction between the two with a confused and surprised look on his face.

"Hi! My name is Rin... what's yours?" she chirped, and Ryozo blinked. She trusts his word so much that all her fear left her because he said it was okay... that says a lot about this demon...

He bowed with a small smile, and said, "My name is Ryozen, my Lady, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Rin smiled wider, but before she could say anything, Sesshoumaru spoke. "Rin - go find Jaken, and the fox kit."

Ryozo watched as the little girl bobbed her head, and then immediately ran out of the clearing, her, "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," ringing high and sweet behind her.

"She is an enchanting child - is it permissible to ask how she came to be with you?" he asked.

Sesshoumaru cast him a sidelong glance, then looked away, motioning him to sit with him. Once they were both seated, he spoke.

"She is an orphan - her village was decimated by wolf youkai. I myself recently killed the prince of that tribe, for his transgressions against my miko - and my ward."

"So... you took her in?"

"When I met her, her village had yet to be destroyed - but she was already and orphan, and the villagers were beating her. She could not even speak. Then, the village was attacked, and everyone was killed - including Rin."

Ryozo gasped, and stared at him. "B-but, then...how?"

He slipped Tensaiga from his obi, and allowed the monk to look at it. "This is Tensaiga - forged from the fang of my father. It has the ability to slay the minions of the underworld, and return a being to life. This is how Rin is still here, though she died that day."

The monk was amazed - there was no getting around that. This demon - has power over life and death... and he used it to save a little human child.

"And so you've kept her with you ever since. But why? Why not return her to a nice couple somewhere that would be willing to take her in?"

"She has no desire to return to live with humans. This one would never force her to do so - she is my ward by my choice - and her own." He looked over at the monk from the corner of one eye. "Do you find that strange? So, too did that fool, Ungai."

Ryozo started at that, and raised a questioning brow.

"Rin is central to my... fight with Ungai. She was the catalyst. The monk tried to steal her from me and force her to live in a village of humans - this one would not tolerate anyone forcing her to do something she did not want to do. So, they tried to exorcise me. Needless to say, they failed."

Suddenly, Ryozo understood a whole lot more about Ungai.

So... the fact that a little human girl chose a demon over a monk is what really set you off, is it, Ungai?

How... utterly unexpected.

---wWw---

Kisho reached up, and moved the branch out of the way, bowing slightly as Kikyou stepped past, and she smiled at him.

How gallant, she thought, then frowned, so unlike Inuyasha - Mr. Impatience himself.

"I understand from things I have heard, that you have quite the story to tell, nisou. Would you find this one worthy of the telling?" he asked, brow raised questioningly, and Kikyou flushed, and lowered her head.

"It is certainly a long tale," she said wryly, "although, whether it's truly interesting, I can't say."

He smiled down at her as they continued on their way. "Then tell me of your life, and let me be the judge," he said softy.

Kikyou met his gaze, and nodded. "If you wish... but, please, tell me if you start getting bored."

He chuckled, his eyes lighting like blue flames, burning a hot path right into her soul. "Don't be concerned - you will not bore me."

"Well, since it is such a long tale, maybe we'd be better off finding someplace to sit," she laughed, and he tilted his head, and gestured to a small clearing on the banks of a small stream.

"Would this little glade be appropriate, nisou?" he asked, and she nodded again, moving to take a seat near the water on a soft patch of grass, sunlight warming it perfectly.

When he sat down, she began, and as the sun moved in the sky, and afternoon followed morning, she told him the story of her life. Not once did he become bored, and in fact, stopped her several times to ask questions, and she flushed with pleasure at the fact that he showed such interest in her.

In that way, they passed a pleasant day, and as dusk approached, Kisho stood, offering a hand to help pull her up. "I must ask your forgiveness, miko... I kept you here, talking all day," he glanced at her guiltily, "and I forgot that you had nothing to eat."

Kikyou's eyes widened, and then she laughed as she put a hand to her abdomen. "I completely forgot... I was having such a good time, that I didn't even notice I was hungry, so don't apologize!"

She looked down, then. "It's been many years since I could claim such a happy day, Kisho-sama, so don't feel badly. I don't," she assured him.

He smiled at her, a genuine smile of pleasure, and offered her his arm. "Then I will not regret it, either. Allow me to escort you back to your sister's hut, my Lady."

Both of them were so caught up in each other, that they didn't notice that they'd had an audience for several minutes...

Keh... looks like Kikyou's moved on already - guess its a good thing I'd already decided that we needed to set each other free.

Inuyasha stared after the two with a melancholy expression.

Doesn't mean it's easy, though... seeing both Kagome and Kikyou with other people.

It sucks...

But I'll get over it. I swear it.

---wWw---

Kagura stared at the panther demoness, and scowled in frustration. The damned cat was toying with her, she was sure of it.

"This isn't for Sesshoumaru's sake, panther! It's for every demon out there... once that damn army finishes with the other lands, they will come after you! Ungai wants nothing more than the obliteration of all demons - no matter who you are or where you live."

Touran shook her head, a cool, amused look crossing her face. "Did you think I didn't know about that monk already? You come here asking for us to ally with Sesshoumaru, and you think I'm too stupid to know why you're doing this?"

A chorus of amused purrs erupted from the three other demons standing with the tall, cool panther female.

"She thinks that we don't know that she is doing this to try to win Sesshoumaru for herself, my brothers and sisters," Touran chuckled. "She is a fool, if she thinks that she has any chance with the dog, but that is her problem."

Kagura's face flushed angrily. "Despite what you all say, I refuse to give up - it's called persistence - I will win him in the end, cat. But that is neither here nor there. Will you join with his forces to defeat this menace?" she snapped out.

Her unwise choice of the word cat brought a bevy of growls and hisses this time, and Touran frowned. This witch... she thinks highly of herself! I think we will go, just to see her humiliated when Sesshoumaru puts her in her place - as he will undoubtedly do.

She stared coldly at Kagura for several silent minutes, and just as Kagura was about to break out in a sweat from nerves, the panther demoness nodded once, sharply.

"Very well, we will ally with Sesshoumaru to defeat this menace." She made a shooing motion with her hands, then turned her back on Kagura. "You may go now - we will find him on our own, we have no need of you," she threw over her shoulder, condescendingly.

Kagura's eyes narrowed with barely controlled rage. Bitch! To turn your back on me in such a way... Once your usefulness to me is finished, I'll take great pleasure in destroying you!

"Good," she finally managed to get out. "Then I'll see you there," she turned her feather and lifted higher into the air, "if you cats can find it without getting lost, of course," she said snidely. "After all, cats are always managing to get lost..." she trailed off with a smirk, then disappeared in a blast of wind.

Touran watched her fly off with a narrow stare as the rest of the panthers hissed and growled.

When this is over... that bitch is mine!

---wWw---

Kagome watched the waves break on the shore in this odd place, and waited for the goddess to speak again, unsure of what she was really even asking for.

I want to change the balance - to fix it... but is that even possible? It's such a drastic action, she thought despairingly.

Amaterasu watched the girl for a few moments, an almost fascinated look crossing her brilliant visage - as though the young woman before her was something new, and unexpected.

Perhaps she is, the goddess mused.

"Well? And why do you think it is such a drastic action, nisou? Am I not a goddess? Nothing is impossible in this place."

"But that's the catch, isn't it?" Kagome asked. "What I'm asking for isn't in this place - but somewhere entirely different."

The goddess blinked, and then chuckled. "True - but for me, here, or there - it really matters not." She shrugged, an elegant motion made by perfect shoulders. "The true question is 'what is this going to cost'. Because there is always a price, child, for our aid. Always."

Kagome paled. "Price? What do you mean?"

"I mean that my aid will cost you. After all, you are asking something of me - turnabout is only fair."

"B-but... I don't have anything to give you! I mean... what could you possibly want from me?"

Amaterasu turned and studied the girl sitting beside her, curiosity writ large on her face. "You, even born of our creations as you are, are a mystery to all of us." She had a far-away look on her face, and Kagome shuddered. Then that gaze sharpened on her again.

"Your permanent presence here, child - if I agree to help you, you will stay here in this realm with me... forever - or at least until my curiosity is satisfied, which may well be forever."

And Kagome stared at the beautiful face of the goddess, horror etched upon her own.

Forever?

What about Sesshoumaru? I don't want to lose him!

---wWw---

A/N: oOoOo cliffie! Sorry... couldn't resist! Anyways, hope that caught everyone off-guard... I love to throw those little curveballs in sometimes - if anyone's caught sleeping they just might get hit, lol! Sorry it's taken so long to get this out, but I'm on meds and dealing with an ovarian cyst right now, along with a broken tailbone courtesy of my husband, so actually writing anything coherent is a bit difficult.

(No, my husband didn't deliberately hurt me - he's just a bull in a china shop, and is constantly mowing things down that get in his way without realizing that whatever was in his way might break. Men)

Anyway, hope everyone enjoys the new chapter while I fight with the stoned plot bunnies hopping around in my head to write the next one.

Amber

P.S. Nisou means priestess.