InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Fire ❯ A Second Chance to Live ( Chapter 19 )

Title: Into the Fire

Author: Chiaztolite

Rating: NC-17/M for lemon, rape, and violence

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Inuyasha

 

Into the Fire

 

Chapter 19: A Second Chance to Live

 

 

Far within the depth of the woods, a male tiger was sitting underneath a tree with his back pressed against its rough bark. The ice had turned into rain, drenching his clothing and hair, and everything that lay beneath the clouded grey sky.

 

`…Shouri…' He whispered her name inwardly. He laid his trembling hand on top of his left chest to shield his heart, the source of intense pain he suffered. His other hand that was soaked in blood lay limply on the ground. His tears had collided with the rain, both streaming down his cheeks in clear rivulets of water.

 

It was like a nightmare, he wished it was. But the pain he felt was too real to be a mere illusion. He closed his eyes, searching for a way to escape the agony of both body and soul. And yet, even in the darkness, the memory tortured him. Unlike before, he had seen it all. His consciousness was awake when it happened, when he saw himself jabbing his arm through her heart. The mental connection between him and his mate was opened when the tragedy took place. The physical pain took his breath away, yet it was nothing compared to knowing he was the one who inflicted such agony on her.

 

They were dead, she and her children, their children. No one could endure such damage, such pain and still survived. Burying his face in his arms, he let his tears flowed along with the raindrops to moist the ground.

 

`…Stop this pathetic moping…' Inside his mind, a chilling voice spoke impatiently. `You've seen it coming, you've expected it…'

 

`…No…' He sobbed inwardly. `No…'

 

`…You wanted it to happen…' The unseen voice snorted. `…If you truly desire power, your mate and children are nuisances… You allowed it to happen, you wanted to get rid of them…'

 

“…She's the only thing that matters…” His voice was nothing but a hoarse whisper.

 

“If you truly feel that way, you would have listened to the inu's warning…You would have forgotten about your revenge… You would have turned around and walked away… Your ambition had killed them…”

 

“NO!” He shouted, waving his arm angrily as if to slice the invisible owner of the haunting voice. “…No…! You… you killed them…”

 

One's laughter filled his ears. Wicked, mocking his suffering.

 

`Look at your own hand, you oblivious creature…' The unseen voice said again. `It is your hand that is soaked with her blood…'

 

Slowly, he brought the shuddering hand before his face. And just like a blind who was just granted the gift of sight, he stared at the blood-drenched limb with a pair of widened eyes. The scent marked the crimson dye as hers. He could not forget the warm sensation when his hand dug right into her heart, holing her left chest, spraying her life-giving fluid in the air. He coughed, for it was too much. The scent, the sight, the memory, they were all too much…

 

Pressing his forehead on the rough bark of the tree, he struggled to drive away the nauseating sensation that welled up within him. His other hand was covering his mouth, his eyes were squeezed tight, yet all he saw was red.

 

Blood, dead faces… Her blood, her dead face...

 

Unable to hold back any longer, he vomited whatever his stomach held. The heinous laughter still accompanied him in every second of his suffering and degradation. With his eyes still sealed, he strived to regain his breath. Wet locks of his hair cascaded to cover his face as his weakened body slumped onto the ground. Now that Shouri and his children were gone, there was nothing left for him. Even the grudge and the revenge he had nurtured for 300 years of his life seemed so insignificant at that moment.

 

`…Wouldn't you rather forget…?' He heard a voice. Soft, coaxing, alluring…

 

Whether it was still the spirit resided within him or his own consciousness, he could not tell, he did not even care. When he opened his eyes, he saw pure black, shadows of oblivion that was ready to claim him. He could feel a hand pulling him down, drowning him in the black sea of nothingness. He closed his eyes and this time, let the realm of unconsciousness took him into its dark embrace.

 

`…Wouldn't it be easier…?' The voice spoke again.

 

He had the chance to agree before he fell into a deep, deep slumber. The last thing he heard was the accusing whisper of an invisible spirit, cold and haunting like the breath of a ghost.

 

“Murderer…”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Her eyes were moist when she opened them, her vision was blurred by the tears that had gathered there. She was crying in her sleep, as if she was overcome by a grief that stemmed from deep within, and it was for a reason she could not understand. She blinked a few times, trying to comprehend the time and place where she was, trying to recognize those faces that hovered above her. Then she remembered… She had died once. When her weak hand rose to feel her left chest, she had expected to touch her blood-soaked garb, her shredded flesh… But there was no moist or gaping wound, everything was clean just like it was supposed to be. She slid her hand lower to press against her abdomen, anxious to feel her children, to find out if they too survived. So relieved she was when she felt them, as alive as they ever were.

 

When her vision gradually cleared, her green eyes stared into those of her cousin before they shifted to a pair of amber colored orbs. A pair of arms reached out to pull her into a warm, protective embrace, burying her face in the strong shoulder that felt so familiar.

 

“…You were dead…” She heard Yuusou's voice whispered against the locks of her hair. “…I thought I've lost you…”

 

She rested her cheek against his body, inhaling the scent that was both familiar and comforting. Her hand was still on her left chest, feeling her heart that was beating like it had always been. As the thin layers of fog that clouded her mind lifted, she looked around and realized that she had returned to the chamber she spent the night in. Soon, her eyes met those of her brother's and she acknowledged his presence there, sitting quietly on her other side. Though he put a cold mask on his face, she could sense the strain within him, a tension that was emphasized by his silence.

 

Shards of memory sparked in her mind, revealing images of the past that replayed before her eyes. A face, his face, but the smile was not his… And the pain, the scorching and humiliating pain when he raped her… And finally, the heartbreaking ache that killed her…

 

“…Ryoushin…” Her lips called the name of him who was not there, so softly and yet the two males within the chamber heard it clearly.

 

“...Do not mention his name again… Ever…” She startled when she heard her brother hissed, causing her to stare at him, wide-eyed.

 

“…But…” As she started to speak, he glared at her menacingly, silencing all her words of defiance. She turned her attention to her cousin, who returned her gaze with a pair of eyes that were softer than those of her brother's.

 

“He ran to the woods and never returned…” Yuusou told her, as if he recognized the query she held in her eyes. His fingers gently brushed away those strands of hair that covered a portion of her face and tugged them behind her ear. “Only the Gods know where he is right now…” He sighed.

 

Turning her head towards the translucent screen, she gazed at the beads of water that was pouring from the sky. The rain had filled the air with its moist, earthy scent, a fragrant that usually calms her and yet this time, failed to ease her turmoil. Though her eyes were fixed on the yellowed paper of the shoji, her mind was nowhere but on the whereabouts of her mate.

 

`…Ryoushin…' Again she called him, though this time only her heart whispered his name. `…Where can you be…?'

 

“…I have to…” She murmured as she strived to raise herself to her feet. “…I have to…find him…” Her voice grew dim as the thick fog returned to cloud her mind. She saw the world around her swirled as the shadows of unconsciousness tried to pull her into the oblivion once more. Her weakened legs could not support her body, and she would have hit the ground had it not been for Yuusou's arms that swiftly caught her when she fell.

 

Her fingers were clutching the neckline of his kimono as she hang on to him, letting his stronger body propped hers for she was unable to support herself. It was her brother's Tenseiga that revived her, she knew that much. The power of the sword had healed the severe wound that holed her left chest, yet for a reason she could not understand, it left all the wounds from the previous night's abuse untouched. It was as if the sword wanted her to remember the pain, the humiliation her own mate had caused her.

 

Yuusou held the shivering body in his arms, his face was laced with deep concern as he sensed how painful it was for her to move a limb. He could still hear her echoing screams in his mind, it reminded him of what he had seen when he peeked into her memory. The replay was enough to trigger his cool green eyes to blaze red, though only for a brief moment before they quickly returned to their original color. He was never one to let the temper engulfed his cool, no matter what calamity took place before him. But knowing what the tiger had done to Shouri, not to mention when she was in her most delicate condition, seeing it all happened with his own eyes was more than enough to cause his blood to boil in anger. He could very well understand Sesshoumaru's wish to chase after the tiger and spill the animal's blood right then and there. It was unfortunate the situation did not allow for such thing to happen, he thought as he cradled her in the shield of his arms, his fingers twined themselves between her locks.

 

A pair of slender hands that clutched the neckline of his kimono curled into tight fists, snatching his attention away from his deep contemplation. He stared into a pair of eyes that were very much identical to his own, seeing the turmoil that resided within those emerald colored orbs.

 

“…I need to find him…” She echoed her own words, her legs were already making a second attempt to bring herself up. Not yet had she succeeded in standing on her own two feet, her brother's sudden voice stopped her cold.

 

“…Do not tell me you are still planning to go to that scum…” Sesshoumaru spoke in his low, chilling voice when he saw her stubbornness to search for the wretched tiger.

 

“He does not know that I am still alive…” She whispered as she lowered her head, letting the veil of her long tresses concealed her face from his piercing golden eyes. Though low and almost inaudible, her voice contained the never-ending determination to bring her mate back.

 

“Good…” The taiyoukai's tight, unyielding voice did not change as he slowly raised himself to his feet, his cold eyes were looking down on the drooped female. “…And he will never find out…”

 

She lifted her eyes to stare at her brother, looking very much taken aback by those words he had just uttered.

 

“…What do you mean…?” Her trembling voice asked, her apprehension roused from within as if she could already sense what he had in mind.

 

“You are never to see that despicable creature again, that is what I meant.” He confirmed her suspicion. Though she knew such reaction was predictable, it did not fail to snatch her breath away as she stared at the towering male before her.

 

“…You cannot keep me away from my mate…” She shook her head slowly, striving to sound firm and yet, her quivering voice was filled with hesitation.

 

“Mate…?” He repeated her word coldly. “You still dare call him that? Tell me one thing…Would a mate kill his own companion and offspring?” He asked in a mordant tone as his eyes made their way from her pallid face to her flat belly, which had not yet revealed the presence of her growing pups. What he said struck her into silence, her gaze lowered to the floor as she slowly accepted the fact that he had somehow discovered her fragile condition.

 

`Would a mate kill his own companion and offspring?' He had asked, an irrefutable question indeed.

 

The painful musing had caused the warm tears to once again gather within her eyes. Her fingers that lay upon the weaved tatami floor clenched into tight fists, dampened by the beads of tears that started to roll down her cheeks.

 

“…I want to save him…” She whispered her one true wish, which was responded by a snort of disapproval from the aggravated youkai lord. Soon enough, she lifted her glazed eyes to return her brother's stern amber gaze, revealing her tear-streaked face to his view. Slowly, she dragged herself across the floor until her body was kneeling before him, her hands were clutching the white fabric of his hakama.

 

“…Nii-sama, please…” She called him, her eyes were pleading despite knowing his condemnation and repulsion towards her mate.

 

“…Let me go to him…” She begged. “I have to let him know I am still alive, that his children are still alive…”

 

But her sobs and pleads only fanned the rage of the already infuriated taiyoukai, causing him to shove her clinging hands away. A ferocious rumble formed in his chest as he glared angrily at the female sprawling across the floor in her desperation.

 

“How much longer is this foolishness going to continue…?” He growled, impatient as he watched her letting herself sink even lower than she already had. “That loathsome scum you called `mate' had killed you… He had his arm plunged into your heart, remember?”

 

He dropped to his knees and stared right into her eyes, those green eyes that refused to believe him.

 

“Your heart had already stopped beating when I withdrew Tenseiga from its sheath…” He said. “The pall-bearers had already gathered to collect your soul when I brought you back to life. He killed you…”

 

“…It wasn't him…” She sobbed, shaking her head in denial. Her tearful face was buried within the shield of his arms, concealed by those tousled strands of her hair. “…It wasn't him… It wasn't him…” She repeated those words like an endless chant.

 

“It was him...!” He almost snarled, her blindness had eroded his last sliver of patience. “Do you not understand? He was right there! And yet, he did nothing… He let it happened, he let you die!”

 

As if she had lost her strength to deny her brother's accusing words, she remained silent. Only the river of her tears that kept flowing proved her shattered heart.

 

“If you want to lie to yourself, go ahead…” He said coldly, each piercing word stabbed her heart mercilessly. “But what he had done is unforgivable… It is a sin that can only be atoned by the last drop of his cursed blood…”

 

The mention of blood and death caused the female to jerk in terror, the fear for her beloved's life was clearly imprinted on her face. She turned to her cousin, seeking the support he never failed to provide her in times of anguish. But this time, she was denied of that comfort, for his grim face told her otherwise.

 

“…Your brother is right…” Yuusou spoke softly as he wiped her tears away, striving to coax her into compliance with each gentle touch. “What Ryoushin had done is beyond any forgiveness… It is time to end the agony your own mate had brought into your life…”

 

Needless to say, she was crushed. Her head drooped low, the mess of her tangled hair veiled most of her face, her shoulders shook uncontrollably as she cried and cried in silence.

 

“No need for grieving.” The youkai lord said, his best effort to comfort his own sister. He rose to his feet, his eyes were looking down upon her. “You will return with me to the western lands. You and your children will be taken care of, that I can promise you.”

 

Yet his attempt provided no comfort for Shouri, for it only deepened her sadness and desperation. Her mournful eyes soon saw the door, her gateway to escape and search for her mate, her one chance to save him and bring him back. Without wasting any time for a second thought, she lunged forward, racing for the door that seemed so close to her reach. Alas, her brother was ready to abolish her effort to flee. Before her hand had the chance to touch the wooden frame of the door, the youkai lord created a barrier around her, trapping her within a clear blue sphere.

 

She looked around frantically, searching for a way to break out from the surrounding, yet there was no void along the wall of her confinement. Enraged with her brother's decision to imprison her, she curled her fingers into tight fists and started to pound on the wall, exerting her strength to break the barrier. But the moment her hand touched the crystal clear sphere, blue sparks of a lightning emerged from its surface, burning her skin. With a loud shriek of pain, she withdrew her hand. Her eyes were now glaring at her brother, who returned the furious stare with his cold pair of amber orbs.

 

“…Stay in there and cool your head…” He said, his tone unyielding. “You shall remain within the barrier until you found a good sense.”

 

Certain that he had created a barrier that was impenetrable, the youkai lord turned around to leave the chamber. His cousin remained for a little while, but at the end he too rose to his feet and trailed after him.

 

“…Is it alright…?” Yuusou muttered soon after he slid the screen closed, leaving Shouri alone in her chamber, trapped within the blue sphere barrier accompanied only by her own despair. His eyes were still glued to the yellowed paper of the screen, watching the shadow of the mournful female. “…Is it really alright to leave her like that…?”

 

Sesshoumaru turned around. His eyes, cold and hardened, glared at his cousin who was not even three steps away from him.

 

“I want you to erase her memory.” He said, loud and clear. The youkai lord's words caught the other inuyoukai off guard, forcing that pair of green eyes to stare at him in blatant disbelief.

 

“…What…?” Yuusou whispered, so low that it was almost inaudible even for a youkai's keen sense of hearing.

 

“Her memories of that tiger…” Sesshoumaru said. The coldness he bore in his gaze, the demanding tone he carried in his voice did not falter, but seemed to grow with each word spoken. “I want you to rid them. All of them…”

 

Yuusou could only glare at the youkai lord, any bewilderment that filled his eyes had slowly turned into piercing gaze. He heard it clear now, his cousin's request that was spoken with true command.

 

“…Do you even know what you are asking for?” He hissed, taking a step closer towards the motionless taiyoukai. “…Erasing her memory? That is unnecessary, if not excessive…”

 

“…Unnecessary?” Sesshoumaru repeated, his amber eyes narrowed as he echoed the word. “…Excessive, you said? For me, such action is required.” His eyes shifted towards the translucent screen beside him, his vision caught the silhouette of her drooped figure.

 

“There is no way I will allow her to engage in the battle…Not in her condition…” He murmured his decision before he returned his gaze to Yuusou. With a clenched fists, he continued, “…Once I kill Naraku and that blasted mate of hers, I will take her home to the west. Her memory of the tiger will be nothing but a burden for her… It will be a blessing to loose such burden…”

 

“Blessing…?” Yuusou echoed the one word with a voice filled with mounting rage. “…Is that what you call `blessing'?! Your mother…”

 

The mention of his late mother caused the youkai lord to abruptly aim his sharp glare towards the inu who immediately shut his mouth, seemingly taken aback with his own display of rage, not to mention his recklessness that had caused him to mention it. It, something that was never to be spoken again…

 

“What about my mother…?” The taiyoukai's cold voice asked as he took one step forward, a silent threat was in his eyes. “What about her?”

 

But Yuusou knew better than to talk about the forbidden subject, and he chose to leave the question unanswered. He turned around, leaving his back to Sesshoumaru's view. He took a brief moment of silence, secretly cursing himself for his own negligence.

 

“There is nothing to tell…” When he spoke, his voice had regained its cool and composed tone. “Forget what I said…”

 

But those words that had already been said could not easily be forgotten. The taiyoukai's eyes were already narrowed into golden slits, marking his suspicion that grew with each passing second. Though a part of him demanded the truth, his better judgment chose to push the mystery of his past aside and aim to settle the present predicaments.

 

Naraku and the tiger whose days were numbered…

 

And Shouri…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

And on the peak of the mountain, screams of terror echoed throughout the quiet palace. The noisy disruption lured a black haired demoness out of the gloomy mansion into the empty courtyard where a blond male stood. The gory sight took her breath away, the smell of death and burnt flesh was vivid in the air. Tattered limbs, all belonged to the dragon soldiers, were scattered on the ground. The earth was bathed in thick, black blood.

 

Kagura took a step back as she lifted her slightly trembling hand to cover her nose, blocking out the stench that was almost too much. Her ruby eyes were glued on the male who stood as a solitary figure in the center of the bloody massacre. His head was bowed down, concealing his face from anyone's view. Even so, she could recognize him. That black-streaked golden mane, that modest black and white garb, those were enough clues to proof that he was the leader of the holy tigers, Shouri's mate.

 

`…Why is he here…?' The female wondered. `…Slaughtering all these youkais…”

 

Slowly, the drooped head rose, revealing a pair of blood red eyes that glared right at the motionless demoness. Gasping in shock, she could only return the stare of those shimmering scarlet orbs.

 

`…What on earth…?'

 

Before she had the chance to figure it out, a cool voice of a child startled her. A short, youthful figure loomed from the darkness behind her.

 

“What is it, Kagura?” The childlike demon asked, his eyes shifted from the silent female towards the male in the courtyard. The sight caused a frown to appear on his forehead in an instant.

 

“An intruder…?” He muttered to himself. That pale, cold face of his did not change. “How dare you enter this place, stranger…?”

 

Yet the spirit within the tiger's body, Shiyuu, kept his silence, only the corners of his sealed lips that curled slightly to form a thin smile. He wielded no sword in his hand, and no other kind of weapon was fastened to his garb, proving his completely unarmed state. His immaculate face and what used to be a pristine white kimono, was stained by the blood of his kill. When he walked towards the entrance of the palace where Kagura and Hakudoushi stood, his steps displayed the confidence and poise he carried in his demeanor.

 

Needless to say, the young youkai was alarmed, proven in the rise of his demonic energy that surrounded him. Yet, the looming feline creature showed neither fear nor hesitation in bringing himself closer and closer to the few steps that led up to the palace.

 

“Stop where you are…” The white-haired youkai child growled as he took a more defensive stance. “…You filthy…”

 

In a split second, a hand was jabbed into his throat, silencing all the angry words that were on the tip of his tongue. Five razor sharp claws ripped his neck off his body, another set of five danced in the air to shred the rest of his limbs. Strange it was, the pieces of the youngling's body stayed afloat, causing the Shiyuu's eyes to narrow at the interesting sight. Slowly those lump of flesh shifted to merge together, forming a new, unblemished body. The reborn was perfect, unaffected by the slaughter that just happened a few seconds earlier.

 

The thin frown that spoiled the tiger's handsome face soon disappeared, exchanged by a thin smile that graced his lips. Snorting in both amusement and disgust, he swayed his hand once more, burying his unusually long claws in the flesh of his prey's neck.

 

“…You cannot kill me…” Hakudoushi calmly said. His childish body was lifted off his feet, dangling off a set of deathly talons.

 

“Incomplete creature…” The other male hissed. “…Be silent and enjoy your death…”

 

The moment he finished his words, he released his fiery youki. Dark flames that appeared almost black emerged from his stabbing hand, licking, swallowing the body he held at his mercy. Hakudoushi's eyes widened when he felt the fire nipping into his skin, when he felt the pain gradually increased to become unbearable.

 

“…No…” He choked. Black smokes that emerged from his burnt flesh started to rise higher in the air. “…This is not… supposed to… happen…”

 

In one quick movement, Shiyuu withdrew his hand, only to sway those deadly claws once more, decapitating the burning body. The chopped head which was still blanketed in black flame fell onto the ground, soon followed by the equally charred body. Once the fire finished licking the life off the pitiful creature, it receded into nothing but dark smokes that soon disappeared into thin air.

 

Kagura had been watching the whole scene in silence, her body was frozen in awe and bewilderment. She did not understand. That white-haired incarnation of Naraku was not supposed to die, for he was protected by their master's power. But there he was, lying on the ground with his head separated from the rest of his body. Her ruby eyes followed the movement of the intruder who calmly bent over to pick the blackened head off the floor, grasping it by the loosened strands of white hair.

 

The female held her breath when he walked towards her with the burnt head hanging loosely from his grip. Had she was a complete being at the time, she was sure her heart would have been racing, pounding within her chest. She resisted the urge to squeeze her eyes tight when he was right in front of her, she forced herself to fix her sight on the ground before her. But without sparing any words, he passed the stunned demoness to enter the gloomy palace, his eyes did not even stopped for one second on her.

 

Finding the master of his most recent kill was far from difficult, for all he had to do was to follow the scent that he also smelled in the lifeless youngling. Soon enough, his nose took him to a dark chamber where another male youkai was waiting, the one who was no other than Naraku.

 

The tiger's eyes narrowed as he observed the raven haired demon, hiding a derisive smile that was about to appear on his impassive face.

 

`…A hanyou turned full-blooded youkai, huh? Another incomplete creature…' He mused.

 

“…You should really train your subordinate to watch his mouth…” He said, tossing the charred head on the floor. He watched it rolled, creating a dark path of ashes across the clean tatami mat. When he finally lifted his eyes to gaze at the raven haired youkai, a smile was on his calm face.

 

Naraku's eyes were glued to the head that stopped just in front of his feet, his nose shriveled in disgust at the disturbing sight. Hakudoushi's death was unfortunate, he thought, though he was more interested in inspecting this creature standing before him than mourning the lost of his underling. The fact that the tall, blond male had the ability to take his incarnation's life intrigued him, and even threatened him to some extent.

 

`Just how much does he know?' He wondered in hidden apprehension. Yet the Shiyuu only smiled, as if he could smell Naraku's fear and uneasiness caused by his presence.

 

“So…” He spoke. “…You came seeking for my help?”

 

“It was not you I went to, stranger…” Naraku said, returning the gaze of those intense blood red orbs. The male he met once, the true heir to the throne of the Mountain of Gods, possessed cerulean blue eyes just like other members of holy tiger clan. This stranger, though his physical features were just like Ryoushin's, they seemed to be two different souls.

 

“The gate to the afterlife…Don't you wish to have it opened…?”

 

Naraku's eyes narrowed when he heard the intruder mentioned it. He had struggled to solve the mystery of the Sword of Heaven, Tenken. He had relied on those four scrolls he ordered Kagura to steal, yet at the end the plan failed, for the fourth scroll was a fake. Ever since, he had searched high and low for another method to open the gate to the afterlife, alas he found none. And now, this intruder who showed up out of nowhere dared to offer him the realm beyond the living?

 

“…Are you saying that you have the ability to open the gate…?” He asked with a tight voice.

 

The questioned male chuckled in amusement.

 

“…After all…” Shiyuu shrugged lightly. “…I have done it once…”

 

Naraku arched one eyebrow when he heard those words, spoken in such a confident manner. But again, this creature managed to infiltrate the impenetrable barrier of the mountain, kill one of his detachments, not to mention planting his soul within the body of the only one who had the power to reveal the world of immortality.

 

Would it be wise to accept his offer?

 

“…Name your terms…” He said at the end.

 

The feline youkai smiled in satisfaction when he heard Naraku's words of acceptance. It was as easy as he thought it was going to be, vanity and greed were indeed two sins that were difficult to resist.

 

“Once you have what you wish for, you shall leave this mountain and never return…” He started. “The Sword of Heaven is to be mine…And lastly…”

 

Naraku kept his silence as he waited for Shiyuu to continue.

 

“Your ally…” At last the blond male spoke. “I want him.”

 

It only took Naraku a few seconds to spread a vile grin on his lips, his positive answer to Shiyuu's offering…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

 

The door flew open, revealing a tall, grey-haired youkai who sat alone in the center of the chamber. His pair of aquamarine eyes was intently observing a plain black-sheathed sword that was displayed not so far in front of him. The stunned expression on his face proved that the strange intruder had caught him off-guard. Quickly, he rose to his feet, taking a more defensive stance with his hand on the hilt of his own sword.

 

“…Who are you…?” He growled, his hand was ready to unsheathe his blade. The rays of light that suddenly penetrated the dark chamber blinded his eyes, preventing him to recognize the creature that had caused him a commotion. But the intruder kept his calm, slowly stepping into the spacious yet empty chamber, bringing himself closer and closer to the alarmed dragon. As their distance receded, the dragon's eyes widened, for he finally recognized the looming youkai.

 

“…You are…” He started to say. “…No… You can't be… Those eyes…”

 

Shiyuu had shifted his attention towards the black-sheathed sword, aiming his scarlet orbs to the weapon that silently waited to be used. Noticing the tiger youkai's growing interest on the sword, Seiryuu quickly placed himself in between, guarding the one sword that held the key to the success of their plan.

 

“Don't you dare…” He growled, which was responded with a thin grin on the calm face of the intruder. Without any warning, the intruder advanced, claiming his head in a strong grip in a blink of an eye. A powerful force pushed his body backwards, slamming his back against the hard surface of the wall behind him. Shiyuu's hand was on top of his face, those sharp-clawed fingers were pressed into his skull. With widened eyes, the dragon glared at the male before him through the void between those fingers that held his head still.

 

“…Who are you…?” Seiryuu asked once more, his voice was reduced into a tight whisper.

 

The grin on the Shiyuu's face widened before he lowered his blond head and whispered into the dragon's ear. His grip on his prey's head grew tighter with every word spoken.

 

“…I am the one who dwells within…”

 

And when his words were completed, he increased the force of his grip, crushing the skull underneath his palm in a matter of seconds. Blood and pieces of destroyed organ spattered, accompanied by the creature's scream of death. Patches of red were imprinted on the wall, the blood was dripping onto the ground, staining his skin, clothing, and hair. He could not suppress an amused chuckle that came out of his mouth. The thought of the three pitiful creatures that spilled their blood for his enjoyment that day, the vivid sight and scent of blood, they pleased him to a great extent. He watched the lifeless, headless carcass that lay on the ground, taking pride in the work of his own hand.

 

`…Be grateful, boy…' He whispered inwardly, a wicked look on his face. `Your revenge is now fulfilled…'

 

His eyes returned to the sword, the silent witness of the bloody slaughter. His hand reached out to let his fingertips grazed the shiny black sheath, savoring the feel of the slick wood that did not change even after over one thousand years. He unsheathed the sword, observing the gleaming, razor-sharp blade in satisfaction.

 

`…Tenken…' He whispered inwardly. `…Finally…'

 

“…Did you get what you want…?” The low voice of a male suddenly appeared from behind him, curling a thin smile on his lips. It was Naraku who stepped into the chamber, his nose shriveled in disgust when he smelled the strong stench of blood, when he saw the bloody remains of the dragon's body lay on the floor. Such a convenient way to rid a useless ally, he thought. He had come to the Mountain of Gods to take advantage of its impenetrable barrier, and most importantly, to join himself with the forces of the dragon clan. But who could guess that even the current master of the mountain could not decipher the secret to opening the gate to the afterlife?

 

“…Worry not…” Shiyuu said as he put the sword back in its casing. “For I will grant you yours…”

 

He turned around and walked back to the courtyard, standing in the center of the open, spacious square. Naraku followed and watched in silence as the tiger dropped himself to one knee with the naked sword raised over his head. With one powerful thrust, Shiyuu jabbed the sharp blade deep into the earth, causing the hard ground to crack and split. The sky soon followed, summoning the dark clouds to cover the whole palace in shadows.

 

Naraku's eyes narrowed when he saw a dark spot that appeared so high in the sky. The small speck slowly grew in size, gradually turning into a large swirling black hole. Witnessing the phenomenon that was taking place right before his eyes, his fists tightly clenched in excitement and anticipation

 

“The undead army you have been longing for will soon arrive…” Shiyuu said, raising himself to his feet. His eyes too, were glued on the darkened sky, observing the sparks of lightning that flashed beyond layers of grey clouds. “Your wish is their command, you may use them for whatever you like…”

 

“Very soon, we will have companies…” He added as his hand moved to sheath the blade. “I am sure you can handle small-fries like them?”

 

“…Inuyasha, is it?”

 

“A hanyou and his pack of lousy humans…” Shiyuu nodded. “And a full-blooded youkai clad in white…”

 

“Sesshoumaru…”

 

Shiyuu recalled those striking, shimmering amber eyes of the inuyoukai, just before they turned completely red, as a proof that his beast was begging to be unleashed. Still young, he was, that youkai who bore the mark of a crescent moon on his forehead, yet the demonic aura he possessed was enough to impress the ancient spirit.

 

`Yes… Wouldn't it be fun to fight him…?' His own beast whispered, and he smiled in agreement. It was too bad that the opportunity would probably never come.

 

He left Naraku to enjoy what the black haired demon thought was the success of his plan. A smile, thin and mysterious, curled on that perfectly sculpted lips as he walked away to return to the palace. His grip on the sheath of the sword tightened, as if he did not intend to ever let the weapon go, not for the second time.

 

`Foolish creature…' He thought as his eyes were glued to the piece of legend he held in within his palm. `He does not even know the true power of this sword…'

 

But again, who knew? Only himself, and the young tiger who had drowned in his own grief…

 

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Drowning in his solitary, Yuusou stood on the veranda of the abandoned quarter, his body was rested against the wooden post that held the ancient structure together. His eyes were intently watching the sky, as if he was waiting for something to happen.

 

A sign, a confirmation…

 

He lifted his back from the column he leaned on when his sharp vision caught the sight of a dark typhoon that appeared on the distant sky, turning the already dark sea of clouds into a deeper shade of grey. The sky was splitting, as if to make path for an army of darkness to enter the world of mortals. He heaved a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

 

`…Ryoushin…' He whispered inwardly. `…So this is the path you have decided to choose…?'

 

Again, he sighed and shook his head slowly, swallowing the disappointment that was inevitable. He had seen what he needed to see, he had gotten all the confirmation he was waiting for. Feeling there was no need to linger in that place any longer, he turned around and walked along the veranda, each step took him closer to the chamber where his female kin lay in her misery.

 

It was a strong barrier, the one her brother had created. No matter how hard she concentrated, no matter how much youkai power she exerted from her drained body, she could not get the barricade to crumble. And yet, the female was unwilling to resign in defeat. Torturing her own slender hands, she continuously pounded on the wall of the sphere surrounding her, paying no heed to the charged energy of blue lightning that mercilessly stung her hands. Her desperate effort too failed, for the barrier was made to stay.

 

But whatever strength left in her soon expired as exhaustion took over. Like a caged animal she lay there, curling her fingers that were raw and bleeding, placing those wounded fists close to her chest. For a moment, her struggle was put to rest. Though still angry with her brother's decision to imprison her like she was a wild beast, she was secretly thankful for that opportunity to be alone with her own thought. Yet, unfortunate for her, the silence only brought the painful memories back into her mind.

 

As she lay there and thought of the series of disastrous events that led up to that moment, her eyes saw the wooden blade that lay still on the ground. Its elaborately carved hilt poked from underneath the layers of garment that made up for her pillow. The tears returned to those melancholy green eyes as she recalled the moment she had that handle grasped so tightly within her hand, the reason why she had grabbed the blade in the first place.

 

She was sickened by the thought of that…beast. She could still feel his hands, his mouth on her skin, the hot lava that flooded her womb as he released his lust into her. Dragging her cracked, damaged claws along the floor beneath her, she indulged herself in pure hatred stemming from the humiliation that was too bitter to forget. She recalled that she, a princess of the great inu clan, had surrendered so easily to the intimidation of such a depraved creature. The thought caused her body to shudder in revulsion. It caused her to hate herself for what she had done, for her own weakness.

 

`…I should have killed him…' Her mind chanted as she bit her lower lip so hard that she could taste the blood pooling on her broken skin. `…I should have killed him…'

 

But then, she was again reminded of the reason why she did not, could not stab the blade all the way through. The unsolvable dilemma smashed her already broken heart into pieces.

 

`…Ryoushin, should I have killed you…?' She whispered her thought to the lost soul, her bleak eyes were watching the rustic ceiling of the old, old architecture. `…Would it hurt less if I did…?'

 

Shouri lifted her head as she sensed a new presence, meeting a pair of green orbs that stared right into her mournful eyes. With a clenched heart, Yuusou watched the female who was sprawling on the ground. What used to be thick, silky locks of spun white gold were now tangled webs of mess that had lost any luster it possessed. Her eyes were no longer the color of bright emerald, but gloom, murky shade that appeared almost grey. Her ashen complexion could not chase away the sadness that blanketed her face. It was a preview of her dim condition in the future, should nothing was done about it. With a sigh, he dropped himself to one knee, taking his place in front of the spherical cage that surrounded the miserable creature.

 

“…Why are you doing this to yourself…?” He asked her. “…You have a chance to live another life, one that is far away from all kinds of sorrow… Grandfather will take care of you, or you can return to your homeland with your brother…” Slowly, he extended his hand, reaching out to let his fingertips touched the gleaming surface of the sphere. Her eyes widened as she watched that hand gradually invaded her brother's powerful barrier.

 

“Your brother is going to kill him…” He said as he softly grazed her cheek. “You know who I speak of…”

 

She remained silent, only her eyes stared back at his pleadingly. The look of agony on her face caused him to sigh once more.

 

“…And upon hearing the news of his death, will you succumb to your grief and wither away…?” He asked softly. “…Like what your mother did?”

 

He dragged his hand until his index and middle fingers touched her forehead. With jaws tightened, he strived to make up his mind. His eyes never left the female whose head now drooped low, as if she had finally accepted her fate.

 

“…Maybe this is something we should have done a long time ago…” He muttered, pressing his fingers closer to her skin. “Worry not, Shouri… The next time you open your eyes, you will not remember the pain…”

 

`…It is better this way, isn't it?' He whispered inwardly, trying to rid his hesitation. Slowly, he started to work his power into her mind, aiming to erase all her memories of the one who used to be her mate…

 

 

 

To Be Continued…

 

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A/N: I have a feeling that it will take me longer than usual to complete the next chapter. It will be a difficult chapter to write. A lot of emotions and fight scenes, which I always struggle with. Please check back now and then if this story is not in your alert list. I have been quiet about reviews for a while, but I still anticipate them. Please spare me a few minutes of your time and let me know what you think. Remember that I also accept anonymous reviews.

 

-Chiaztolite-