InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lying From You ❯ Rescue Mission ( Chapter 45 )

Sesshoumaru stood in the ‘living room’ of his home, his friends and allies gathered around him. He had taken a brief rest and taken a quick bath so that his appearance did not show his stress. He wanted to be able to go into this battle still able to intimidate his enemies, which he certainly couldn’t do if they saw him appearing as disheveled as he had previously been. He wasn’t about to admit it aloud, but he knew that he’d need every advantage that he could get his hands on in order to stay in control.

Sesshoumaru leaned forward, placing his right hand on a table in the center of the room to emphasize the importance of what he was about to say. “Friends, Allies, I call upon you to ask for your aid. As you all may know, I am going to go into battle to save the life of my beloved. I will not require that any of you come along, save Inu Yasha, whom has already agreed to help me. He has already been given instructions of what is to be done after we have taken Kagome back. As for the rest of you, you may come along if you so choose, but be aware that I will not be in a position to be responsible for any lives other than Kagome’s. If you should fall in battle, know that such is the way of a true warrior and feel honored.”

A grim silence fell over the room as everyone seemed to be considering whether this battle would be as difficult as the battle that had been waged upon Naraku. It had only been about two weeks before that they had fought Naraku, yet now they were facing another enemy, possibly just as powerful as Naraku had been and certainly just as sly.

Sayaka stared at Inu Yasha for a few moments, studying his expression. His eyes reflected his determination; meaning that there was going to be no way that Sayaka could convince him of doing other than what Sesshoumaru had just stated he would do. Slowly and quietly, Sayaka stood, a similar determination flaring within her. “I’ll go.”

Sango held Miroku’s hand tightly as she felt the weight of her world upon her shoulders. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to risk Miroku in this battle. She knew that he was now without the Kazaana, though a curse, it had also been his back-up when he was backed into a corner. Her thoughts, though, were interrupted by another voice.

“I feel that it is my duty to go, Sesshoumaru-dono. I only hope that I can be of aid.” Kohaku stood in the back of the room, awaiting his sister’s eminent refusal to allow him to go.

“Kohaku… you… Fine, I’ll go too.” Sango stood, smiling down at Miroku. For the first time ever, she knew that her younger brother had chosen to be more mature about a situation than perhaps she was. The thought alone made her chest swell with pride.

Miroku returned Sango’s smile as he too stood. “I could never leave the two of you alone…”

Kagura and then finally Kouga stood as well. Kouga turned to Kagura, shaking his head. “You cannot possibly fight in your condition. Stay here.”

“I know exactly where Michiko’s mansion is, I can at least lead you there.” Kagura crossed her arms and threw Kouga a look that practically said, ‘Don’t even dare to argue with me.’

But argue he would, as he pulled her out of the room, so that the others would not witness his argument with Kagura. He stared down at her much in the same way a parent would stare down a mischievous child. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“I should know my own capabilities perfectly well, Kouga,” Kagura retorted as she leaned against a wall, avoiding Kouga’s icy stare.

Kouga slammed his hands on the wall on either side of Kagura’s head, doubtlessly gaining her attention. For a moment, their gazes stayed locked on one another, her fuchsia irises unmoving from his cobalt blue. Then, in a moment lacking the usual formal restraint, their lips finally met.

Kouga’s hands quickly fell from the wall to Kagura’s shoulders. He pulled her close to himself as they continued the kiss for a moment of bliss that they wished never to end. But end it did and for a few minutes that seemed an eternity, they remained silent, blushing, eyes downcast, refusing to meet one another’s gaze. Finally, Kagura rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, “What now?”

Kouga took a long, deep breath. “I don’t know… I’m not sure that the rest of my tribe would understand, but I cannot see that they would have the power to do anything…”

“Except to banish you from the tribe, perhaps… Kouga… I don’t…” Kagura took a deep breath, pausing to stare into Kouga’s deep blue eyes. “I just don’t want you to risk everything you’ve got for me. After all that has happened, all I ask is for your acknowledgement of me as another yokai. For that matter, I won’t even dare to ask your forgiveness—it isn’t deserved by one such as myself.”

Kouga held Kagura’s hand securely in his own, holding her gaze just as easily as her hand. “I never held you entirely responsible for what happened that day. Naraku was the one at fault, and he has paid dearly for his sins. You need not serve his penance as well.”

Kagura looked down, just enough that her bangs shadowed her face so that Kouga could not see her expression. A few moments later, though, he knew exactly why she didn’t want him to see her face; he couldn’t have missed the smell of the salty liquid pouring from her eyes if he was a mile away. “Please, just stay here where it’s safe. You’re still hurt and in no condition to fight again.”

“You’ll come back, right?”

Kouga smiled as he touched his forehead to hers. “I would never abandon you.” ~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ -^_^- ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

Michiko tapped her fingers on her elbow as she watched out a window. (What is taking so long? He should at least have sent a messenger or something, aside from the wind witch that was here before. She wasn’t even a messenger, just a vassal hoping to get lucky and rescue her new master’s beloved.)

True, Michiko had been calculating, waiting for the right moment to strike against Sesshoumaru for years. However, now that her victory seemed so close at hand, she had become rather impatient for the results. In a fit of anger, she stormed down to the cell where she was holding Kagome captive. Perhaps the human woman would have some answers. “Woman, tell me something. Do you know for sure whether or not Sesshoumaru-sama loves you? How do you know that he will even bother coming for you?”

Kagome was surprised by the suddenness of Michiko’s questioning. However, she wasn’t about to take Michiko’s verbal abuse that was certainly soon to come. “Sesshoumaru will come for me. He has told me… that he loves me. You have chosen your ill fate by crossing Sesshoumaru in such a brash manner.”

It seemed that Michiko hadn’t been the only one surprised by the cold, harsh tone that Kagome had answered in. Both of the women stared each other down in absolute silence in the dungeon room. Finally Michiko turned away from Kagome and began to walk out of the room, but not before adding, “Fine then. Since you are so sure, then you won’t mind my sending out a messenger to tell Sesshoumaru that his current deadline is to be here by the end of the day. If he doesn’t get here in time, I suppose I’ll just have to execute you anyway, seeing as you aren’t doing me any good right now.”

Kagome bit her lip in anxiety as she watched Michiko continue out of the room. (He didn’t abandon me, did he? Perhaps… perhaps he doesn’t really love me… no, that can’t be right, can it?) ~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ -^_^- ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

Sesshoumaru paused for a moment to make sure that the rest of his allies had assembled, ready to leave the castle. He took one last long look at his home and turned away. He felt that he had initially fear the potential of his own death, but he had, by now, accepted it. Especially if it would mean Kagome’s safety, he would die a hundred times. He had determined that if he was not willing to sacrifice his own life, then what kind of a man would he be? There would be no honor in living such a life, knowing that Kagome had been killed because of him.

With a final nod from Inu Yasha, Sesshoumaru began rushing in the direction that Kagura had advised. He knew well that the humans would be unable to keep pace with him, but he did manage to slow his pace enough that Inu Yasha was able to keep sight of him. Normally, he would not have even bothered to wait for Inu Yasha, however, Inu Yasha’s presence was essential, because Inu Yasha was the one to be taking Kagome out of harm’s way.

His mind raced with the thought of seeing Kagome again. However, he knew that, logically, he would not truly be able to enjoy the little time he would have with her. He knew that Michiko would not grant him much time to speak with Kagome before insisting on continuing with her plans. But knowing that Kagome would live made Sesshoumaru feel much better.

Inu Yasha followed closely behind his elder brother, though he felt hesitant to continue, despite the purpose. Something suddenly did not quite feel in place. He had the dread feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong, something unexpected, and he would have no way of stopping it. He knew that the feeling of dread was not for his brother’s dilemma, Inu Yasha had already accepted that. (For their sake, I hope that nothing happens to Kagome.) ~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ -^_^- ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

Kagura couldn’t stand it any more. She wasn’t going to sit and wait for them to return. Too many things could possibly happen, none of which she could prevent if she wasn’t there at all. It would be all too easy for Michiko to spellbind Kouga, Inu Yasha, or Sesshoumaru.

Her anxiety at a peak, Kagura jumped up to leave the castle. She immediately doubled over, tears burning her eyes as pain shot through her body. For a few moments, she had forgotten her previous injuries. Then again, why should that stop her now? ~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ -^_^- ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

In order to purge her mind of worries, Kagome sat in her cell, concentrating on her miko abilities. She cleared her thoughts and concentrated simply on sensing all other energy around herself. Immediately she noticed Michiko, then after a short while, Enryomaru. She concentrated harder, hoping to sense Sesshoumaru eventually.

Then, faintly, she noticed another source of youki in the mansion. She concentrated on this yokai until she could practically see the owner of the energy. Nearly as soon as she recognized an image to associate with this mysterious energy, it began moving directly towards her.

The door creaked open and Kagome saw the silhouette. Slowly, the figure stepped into the light. Just as Kagome was sure that she would see a face, she noticed that the person was wearing a blue mask. “Ano…. Who are you?”

The figure’s head bowed, seemingly in amusement. The mask appeared to slip for a moment, but the person pushed it back towards their face. “You think that I should simply tell you, our prisoner, who I am?”

Kagome’s eyes widened as she realized not only that the person had quite a point, but also that since she was trying to judge gender by voice, there was no possible way in which that particular deep, velvety voice would make obvious gender. The more she tried to figure out about this person, the more of an enigma this figure became. “I--I suppose that you’re right…”

The figure crept closer to Kagome’s cell, only a few feet away from her, taking a long look at the imprisoned miko. “Besides, what good would it do you to know?”

Somehow, Kagome felt slightly relieved by this question. “I would, umm, feel more comfortable.”

Her wavering voice became more confident as she continued, “Yes, it is slightly unnerving, not even knowing the faces of all of those that surround you when you are in a position such as I am.”

The figure leaned back, as though to continue conversation, but suddenly straightened. “I must go now.”

Kagome leaned against her cell bars. “Wait!”

The person ignored her completely and hurried out of the room. In the distance, Michiko’s voice was heard. A quick reply was given by the unnamed figure and then Michiko continued into the dungeon room. Her scarlet eyes seemed to shine with malevolence as she shoved a key into the lock holding Kagome into her cell. “It seems… that your rescuer has arrived.” ~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ -^_^- ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

A.N. Wow, that took quite a while to get done. But slowly, we’re creeping close. *sighs* How many times have I said that? I know, but I mean it this time. It probably should have ended at Chapter 37. (Which, upon referencing, I realize that I even said that then) However, I feel that this part of the story arc is essential, though it could have been a sequel, many a person would have come into the middle of said sequel and been confused. Therefore, I will likely explain the method to my madness at a later point when this fic has finally come to an end… (hopefully before the end of this year… ^_^;;)