InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Reflections of a Devastated Land ( Chapter 40 )

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

Chapter 40: Reflections of a Devastated Land

Inuyasha stared out at the devastated landscape before him grimly - with a quicksilver glance, he could see the same look on the face of the sorceress. As much as she seemed to be a tease, not even she could poke fun while staring at the horror they were traveling across.

A once fertile plain, crossed by rice patties and dotted with small villages, was torn and disfigured; burned and gutted homes and marketplaces dominated the once prosperous region.

Keh! Whole towns swallowed by that bastards madness!

"We need to stop him once and for all. This is beyond despicable - and he calls demons the monsters," he spat.

Nyoko nodded angrily. "And that's what we're going to do. I'm going to make that bastard wish he'd never been born by the time I'm done with him." She reached into a small pouch she wore tucked into her obi, and pulled one particular scroll from it.

As he watched curiously, she read through it, and smiled to herself. Kanna stood placidly at her side, and she turned to the girl. "Hey... would you hold onto this scroll, Kanna? That's part of a pair of spells - one for food, and one for drink - and I need the other one."

Kanna silently took the scroll and held it, not paying any other attention to what was happening around her.

Inuyasha frowned, though, when her heard what she said. "Oi... I take it you're planning to poison his food supply since he's begun carrying a great deal of it with him instead of stealing it?"

She glanced up at him, and nodded, then looked back at what she was doing. "Yeah."

"And whatever water he stops near?" he pressed, and she stopped, and looking up, this time she held his gaze.

"Yes."

"Well," he frowned thoughtfully, staring down at the ground, "wouldn't it be more effective to use one at a time? I mean... make them sick from the food tonight, then another night, strike the water? I think it just spreads it out more, ya know?"

She pulled another scroll from the pouch and tapped it thoughtfully against her chin. "I guess that would work... but we still have to find where they're at." She scowled at the disaster before them. "Obviously, he's not here, since he's already fucked all this up, he's moved on. We need to catch up with him before he does this to more areas..." she trailed off, a troubled look settling onto her face.

Inuyasha nodded, his expression still outraged, and his nose wrinkled against the stench on the wind - a stench that told it's own story about what had happened in this place not too long ago.

"Yeah... so hop back on your feather and let's track that bastard down."

She didn't say much, until he flashed her a quizzical glance just as she settled on the feather.

"Oi, by the way... how the hell did you get those scrolls out of that tiny little pouch?" he asked.

Nyoko glanced down at it, then chuckled. "I'm a sorceress, remember? It's ensorcelled."
"Oh... right. Well, anyway, let's get going."

The small moment of humor disappeared as they started across the spoiled plain.

From here on out, humor would more than likely be in very short supply.

---wWw---

Fate is being kind to me so far - even though that daimyo did not care to join me, and forced me from his lands, no few of his samurai chose to leave his service and swear fealty to me.

Too many have been affected by demons - have lost loved ones to the evil that they perpetrate, to leave any chance behind to gain vengeance...

And to keep it from happening again.

With a long look back at what lay behind, he turned and stared ahead, his eyes alight with mad fervor.

New lands to free from demons holds - next, we take on the West.

The white demon - Sesshoumaru.

"Once you fall, evil one, the other lands will be freed quickly - and then demons will be no more, and man will rule these lands... as they were always meant to," he whispered.

"Are ye so sure about that, young man?" a querulous old voice asked, and he turned in surprise to see an extremely old woman being escorted into his presence. He scowled, about to answer her, when he noticed her aura, and then, though still frowning, he bowed.

"Elder priestess." He bowed once more, the stood, and met her gaze, though it was strangely difficult. "Yes, I am sure. Demons should not exist - and I will destroy them if it's the last thing I do." He looked away from those strangely knowing eyes.

"And what is one such as yourself doing here, if I may ask?"

The old woman chuckled. "This servant of Amaterasu has come to see this confrontation play out - and to see just exactly how the goddess will punish you for your transgressions."

He flushed angrily, a dangerous light in his eye. "Crone, do not mock me. Do you mean to tell me that you, a servant of kami, suffer demons to live?!"

"I do not think to place myself above kami by destroying what they have created," she said calmly, not at all phased by his suddenly threatening tone. "You may say what you like, but you will not lay a hand upon my person - if the kami that I serve feel that I am in the wrong, they will punish me - not you."

"The kami only created the demons to test us, that is all, and now, their time has passed! I will cleanse the lands of their evil, and you will not convince me otherwise, old woman," he finished, frustration evident in his voice.

"I did not come to stop you - did I not just say I came to witness your punishment for your presumption? If you stop, then you would not be punished. I wish to see what judgement the kami will place upon you. Therefore, I will simply follow, and watch."

His eyes narrowed in anger at the woman, but he did not dare to strike at her; as a direct servant of the goddess, she was untouchable to any save Amaterasu herself, and he would not wish to bring down the wrath of kami on himself for attacking their chosen.

It was evident within her aura that she was who she said she was - she radiated power - but he was angered at her assertions that it was he that was in the wrong, and deeply wished that he could strike her down.

As far as he was concerned, her words were treasonous to humanity.

She, on the other hand, almost oozing amusement at his blind arrogance, simply turned and began walking, completely ignoring him.

Hopefully, he would get the message that kami were not pleased with his actions before it was too late...

But then again, it was probably already too late.

Yes, she was sure it was. It had probably been too late from the moment he had been born.

---wWw---

Satori watched the happenings in her mirror with disdain - and no small amount of enjoyment.

She had always had a contentious nature, and the turmoil currently going on in the lands suited her right down to her toes.

Not to mention that the central figure in the mess was her only son.

That made things even better, as far as she was concerned.

There were so many things to trouble him about implicit in this situation - the monk, that ningen he was planning to mate - she scowled - the fact that he had allied himself with those nasty cats...

Oh, yes, there was plenty of opportunity for antagonistic behavior in this mess.

She stared at the scene in the mirror for a few moments more, then looked thoughtfully away. Should I look in on Sesshoumaru one more time before I head for him?

With a shake of her aristocratic head, she decided there was no need - after all, she would shortly be standing in his presence.

To his eternal dismay, no doubt, she thought with glee. I do so enjoy annoying him!

She grinned a bit as she thought back to that sorceress, Nyoko. She also enjoyed annoying Sesshoumaru - it seemed that he was a favorite target of those with antagonistic tendencies...

I wonder why? she purred, as she thought about his arrogant assurance - he'd always had that, and it was such fun poking holes in his ego because of that.

Ah, well.

She looked around one last time, then shrugged. Time to get moving.

With that last thought, she wrapped her youki around her and slipped into her true form...

And then took off, red eyes gleaming with excitement.

So many possibilities inherent in the chaos now drowning the lands...

---wWw---

Touran stared thoughtfully into the trees, her mind on the things that had happened earlier in the clearing. To be suddenly thrust into the presence of a goddess - even a minor one - was intensely humbling.

Especially when it was someone you'd met before.

Oh, yes, she remembered the young woman that they'd kidnapped from the red-clad half-demon son of the Inu no Taisho those years ago.

She also remembered that they had been planning to feed her to their resurrected Lord - and that it was Sesshoumaru and his brother that had stopped that plan, and coincidentally, saved her kin from the greed of their Lord.

With a frown, she pondered the significance of the girl's divine aspect.

He intended to mate her - but will she still want such a thing with a mere demon Lord, when she is now a goddess in her own right?

And I... and my people - will she seek vengeance now that she has the ability to take it on her own?

Deciding that she needed to find out more about this young woman, she cast about for Sesshoumaru's aura, and found it - along with the new goddess' - in the same clearing he'd been in before.

With a sigh, and an uneasy mind, she went in search of one that could either be a most powerful ally - or a deadly enemy.

Note to self, she thought wryly, be very careful who we kidnap next time - we don't want to be in this kind of position again.

She wondered, also, what the young woman thought of her new powers - from what she had gathered in the meadow, the woman wasn't too thrilled with having this situation all of a sudden thrust on her.

But it was hard to believe tht anyone would despise such power being placed in their hands - especially a human. Most would grasp such a chance and run with it.

Was this woman so different as she'd seemed?

It didn't take long, lost in her thoughts as she was, to reach Sesshoumaru's little hiding place, and she flared her aura, warning the demon Lord of her presence before she stepped into the clearing.

She scanned the area curiously, and as her eyes landed on the lightly glowing skin of the attractive female he was guarding, they widened - she was smiling in welcome, looking straight at her.

Well... that's certainly not what I was expecting, she thought, genuinely surprised.

Does she not remember who I am?

---wWw---

Kagome felt the youki of the panther demoness long before she approached, and having noticed her and her kin at the meeting in the meadow when she'd popped into the area, had wondered if the woman would end up wanting to speak to her.

Apparently, she did, and Kagome waited patiently for her, wondering when Sesshoumaru would take note of her presence.

It was perfectly clear the moment that he did, as he stepped between her and where the panther would soon appear protectively.

She buried a laugh - he hadn't caught on to the fact that she really didn't need protecting...

And considering the matter for a few moments, she decided she'd never mention it, either. She was his female, and he was protecting her as a matter of instinct and desire. The fact that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself didn't matter at all.

As the panther stepped into the clearing, Kagome could feel her hesitance, and knew it was because she wasn't sure what her welcome would be... all because of that matter from several years back.

With an inward chuckle, she shook her head, and smiling welcomingly, she waved a hand towards the surprised woman. "Don't mind him, he's just overprotective. Why don't you come over and sit down - and we can talk," she finished, keeping her aura soothing.

Touran stared at the demi-goddess for a moment, then shrugged and walked over, sitting down as she'd been bid. After all, the woman was a divinity. If she wanted her dead, there wasn't too much she could do about it.

Sesshoumaru didn't say a word, just watched with narrowed eyes, and scented the air, not relaxing until he noted the complete lack of aggression, and then he sat down as well, back against the old wood of the only structure in the clearing.

Kagome smiled at Touran, ignoring Sesshoumaru's cautious attitude.

"So," she asked, "do you really think I'm going to kill you because of what happened before?"

Brow rising, Touran found herself thinking blunt, and right to the point.

"I considered it a possibility, yes," she answered, just as bluntly. "We did, after all, kidnap you, and attempt to feed you to our Lord, after all." She flicked a glance at the inu, noting his sub-sonic growl, though the young woman before her once again seemingly ignored it.

She laughed at that. "Well, if I wanted revenge against everyone that tried to kill me, had kidnapped me, or stole things from me - including my soul," she rolled her eyes, "I'd be after pretty much everyone I've met here." She flicked a laughing glance at Sesshoumaru. "Him included. After all, he tried several times to kill me."

This time, his growl was easily heard by anyone, even humans, and he shot her an annoyed look. "This one does not like to be reminded of that, woman."

Touran watched the two, bemused. She is good for him - but I do wonder what happened between her and the half-demon... at the time, it seemed as though those two would be the ones...

"If you do not mind me asking," she paused, meeting Kagome's gaze squarely, and waited for her assent before finishing, "what happened between you and Inuyasha? When all of that happened, he told the others that you were very important to him."

Kagome sighed, and looked away, her eyes going distant. She didn't miss Sesshoumaru stiffening beside her, however.

"Things just didn't work out between he and I. The other miko that was in the meadow today - the one I sort of resemble?" Touran thought for a moment, and then nodded, and Kagome continued. "Her and Inuyasha were at one time a couple - and then Naraku came between them. When he and I met, he was drawn to me - but it was because I resembled Kikyou - not for who I was. And even after that changed... he could never really choose between her and I."

"I see. So in his indecision, you made your own choice?"

Kagome looked over at Sesshoumaru, meeting his beautiful golden eyes, and nodded. "You could say that. I will always care about Inuyasha, but..." she put a hand to her chest over her heart, "this belongs to Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru held her gaze steadily, accepting her words without comment, though his eyes were lit from within, and Touran's brow rose.

"Even now?" she asked quizzically, with a vague gesture at her meant to indicate her new status. "After all, you are divine."

Kagome blushed, and waved a suddenly annoyed hand in dismissal. "Yeah, well, let's not bring that up. It doesn't change anything at all, so it's not important."

The panther couldn't believe her ears. This woman was waving off power such as most demons and humans would kill to have, and declaring it unimportant!

Who was this woman, really?

She glanced at Sesshoumaru, wondering, and he didn't seem surprised at his woman's words in the least, so apparently, the sentiment was common for her.

With a deep sigh, Touran let go of her concerns, and nodded over at the newest goddess that had been added to the pantheon.

"I'm glad that I joined you as ally, then. This monk must be stopped - his atrocities will only grow worse as time passes." She glanced at Sesshoumaru. "How much time do we have before he reaches us here?"

He looked out across the clearing, a slight frown crossing his brow as he thought about it.

"He is currently less than a week from here - however, it depends on how fast he moves, what he attacks between here and there... and what havoc Inuyasha and Nyoko wreak on him and his army. We may have as much as ten days - if we are lucky."

Kagome had remained quiet through that, her expression distant, and pained. "I don't think I want to wait that long to stop this, Sesshoumaru," she said softly. "Even the earth itself cries out against what he's doing - and it hurts. I can feel the pain of the land, right here," she placed a hand over her chest.

She met his concerned gaze sadly, and in her eyes, he could almost see a reflection of the devastated lands that Ungai had despoiled already - as well as the outcry of lands he had yet to touch.

"You see it, too, Sesshoumaru, don't you?" She closed her eyes. "It has to stop."

It has to... because if it doesn't...

Not just demons will die.

Everything will.

---wWw---

A/N: And here's another chapter! Sessmom's coming - hehehe! Things are going to be livening up soon, that's for sure - we have all our characters coming together, and the battle coming... and then there's more courting, you know, Kikyou and Kisho, and even better - Inuyasha and Nyoko!

And then there's Sesshoumaru and Kagome... well, you all get the idea. There's still plenty of story to come.

Amber