InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Inuyasha's Wrath: Stormbringer ( Chapter 26 )

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

Chapter 26: Inuyasha's Wrath: Stormbringer

Vengeance... rage and hatred... Justice....

These words, fading in and out, echoing through every inch of the underworld, called to the souls trapped within.

Make him suffer... deadly dreamscape... no escape...

Every lost soul listened, then, and wondered at the words, and the reason that something so obviously powerful as to send this message even unto the depths of hell, should need vengeance on anything... was it revenge taken for the sake of another?

Harm... beloved... others... destruction...

It seemed that it was... and throughout every level of the underworld, all those that had suffered and died at the hands of another listened, harder, to the message being sent, and hoped that it would be against the one that had harmed them.

And then, the final word... a name, and all those that heard it and knew it, heeded the call, flowing outward towards the source, a bright, shining mass of souls determined to gain vengeance against the one that had harmed them all...

A name that echoed through the underworld like the worst blasphemy ever spoken, a name that screamed with hatred and woe to all those that heard it....

Naraku...

The voice was pleased with the response. All these souls would bear witness to his strike against the bastard that had harmed the one who was dearer to him than his life, and in so doing, find peace in their own souls - for the revenge that was taken would cover with blood and pain all the horror that he had piled on the people that these souls represented.

As the Master of the Underworld watched, he felt a bit of amazement at the sheer volume of those that the bearer of that name had harmed... at how many deaths he was truly responsible for. It was too bad, in the long run, that he would not be finding a place in the deepest parts of hell... for he would have enjoyed also tormenting the evil in that particular being - however, he would not have that chance.

Naraku's fate was much worse than hell... it was one that even the Lord of that place shivered at.

Malice...

Wrath...

And the storm moved closer.

I don't want Kagome getting into the dreams, tonight... I need to talk to her mom and get those pills for sleep she always carries.

Inuyasha hopped out of the tree, glancing back as lightening lit up in the distance, and shivered at the flare of power through the air. The night air was still, and muggy - it was an odd time of year for this kind of weather... at least, back in his time. Here, who knew? With a shrug, he turned and went into the house.

As he entered the genkan and wiped his feet on the mats, he glanced up, and caught sight of his target walking into the living room.

"Higurashi-san," he scratched behind his neck sheepishly, "Can I... talk to you for a minute?" He'd noticed at the last minute that Kagome was heading in here from the kitchen, and wanted to talk to her mother outside of her hearing.

She swept him with a surprised glance, but nodded. "Of course, dear. Kagome," she looked over at her daughter, who had a questioning look on her face, "Inuyasha wanted to talk to me about something. Go sit down - you can start the movie and I'll come in when we're done, okay?"

Kagome shot Inuyasha a confused glance, but nodded, and asshe sat down, Inuyasha followed her mother back into the kitchen.

"Is everything alright, Inuyasha?"

"Well, Kagome hasn't been sleeping well at all, and I'm starting to get worried, you know? It's not healthy. I've tried to get her to take those little pills that make you sleep, but she just says she'll be fine." He snorted then, annoyed. "If it were anyone else, wench'd be all over them to take the pills, but when it's herself, she swears she's fine - and then she gets sick or something."

Her mother chuckled, shaking her head, she said, "You are right, dear. That's jusst Kagome for you." She winked at him, and turned towards one of the cupboards. "That's why she has us - to make her take care of herself. Don't worry anymore, son, I'll take care of her." She smiled at him as she took the bottle and dropped two blue pills into her hand, then replaced the bottle in the cupboard and grabbed a glass, filling it with water.

He grinned, relieved. He wasn't lying, Kagome hadn't been sleeping well - not for some time, and even though tonight there was a specific reason for him wanting her deeply asleep in her own dreamworld and not traipsing her way into his, he would have probably resorted to this in another day or two, anyway, strictly for her own sake. This way, he killed two birds with one stone.

When they got back into the living room, Inuyasha watched as mother Higurashi handed the water to her daughter, and the pills, and then told her in no uncertain terms that she'd best take them, now. Kagome shot a dirty look at Inuyasha, but did as she was told.

"Don't look at me like that, K'gome. You haven't been sleeping, and you know it. You need a good nights sleep - and those pill things will make sure you get it."

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want to sleep, Inuyasha, ever think of that?" she asked sarcastically.

Her mother looked at her sharply. "And why wouldn't you want to sleep, Kagome?"

Kagome's eyes widened, and she turned red. Oh, no! I got mad and forgot she was there... now what do I say?

At that, Inuyasha jumped in. "The battle with Naraku is getting closer, Higurashi-san, and Kagome's had several nightmares about it. But what I can't get her to understand," he said, with a meaningful look in Kagome's direction, "is that going into any battle with such a lack of sleep is insane."

"He's right, Kagome. I hate to know that you're over there fighting like that, and the only reason I allow it is because I know Inuyasha is there - well, that, and it seems to be your destiny, but the truth is, without Inuyasha protecting you, I don't know if I'd allow you to go, no matter what." She laid a heavy look on her daughter, then, not noticing Inuyasha's anguished look at her words.

"But if you are going to start refusing to take care of yourself, and make it that much harder for him to watch out for you, then I'm going to put my foot down and make you stay here until you cooperate, is that understood, young lady?"

Inuyasha turned his head away from the two women at her mother's words, guilt and pain washing through him. If she only knew the real reasons for Kagome's lack of sleep - she'd never let me near Kagome again. I failed her... and I failed her family, and I feel so shamed that they treat me so well... because I don't deserve it.

He wiped all expression from his face before turning back to look at them, even though he felt such shame that the woman didn't know how badly he'd failed her daughter, it wasn't his secret to tell, and Kagome didn't want her mother to know. And, he had to agree, in at least one aspect. There was really nothing to be gained by telling her. Kagome was alive, her injuries had healed. The culprit was no one that their modern methods of justice could do anything about - only he could get the bastard responsible.

No... the only thing telling her mother would do, is bring her pain... and Inuyasha didn't want to do that. Not ever. Almost as much as he wanted to keep Kagome safe, he wanted to keep her mother happy - and telling her of the thing that had been done to her daughter would strip that happiness away. He couldn't do that.

So he watched silently as Kagome made a face, but took the pills, then said, "You were going to watch one of those mo-vies?" As she nodded, he went to the couch and sat down, patting the seat next to him. "I'll watch it with you, wench... and if you fall asleep, I'll carry you upstairs."

She rolled her eyes, but sighed and nodded, and her mother smiled before starting the movie. They all sat back, and stared at the screen, and Kagome leaned her head against Inuyasha's shoulder, whispering, "Thanks for covering for me. She caught me off-guard with that question."

He nodded down at her, and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her further into his side. "That's what I'm here for, wench. I've got your back, as you always say. Now watch the movie. I'll put you to bed when it's done."

Inuyasha sighed. It was time. Kagome was sleeping peacefully beside him, actually smiling in her sleep, for once, so hopefully, whatever dreams she was having were happy, and would stay that way.

Laying back himself, he let his mind wander to the place he'd created for his revenge... or at least, he thought with a feral grin, the beginnings of his revenge. Once all was said and done, he hoped that the rumors of Naraku's fate would keep any others from considering doing the evils that he had, even if only out of fear.

Sinking himself into his dreamscape, he looked around, satisfied. He wanted the imagery just right - he was going to strip the bastard of everything before he was done, and he'd chosen a certain place for this - one that Naraku would understand immediately.

Just like he'd done to Kagome, forcing himself upon her in Urasue's old home, Inuyasha was going to attack him in his vulnerable place...

Onigumo's cave.

A few minor alterations, though. He wanted the bastard to know that he was being sacrificed, in a sense, so he'd placed a huge stone altar in the spot the bastard had lain in all those years ago... one with large chains, and symbolic sutras. They weren't really necessary, since this was his dreamscape, and he controlled it, but the symbolism just looked right, and would give that son of a bitch something to stare at - when he wasn't screaming, that is.

He drew a deep breath, and nodded. He was ready.

Closing his eyes, he began to weave the dream sequence, and using his grasp of the shards, he entered into the ones held by the dark hanyou, and struck. Before Naraku was even aware of what had happened, Inuyasha had pulled him into his personal nightmare, and though he struggled, he was bound by the shikon, and couldn't fight back. As his panic and rage increased, Inuyasha moved forward, where he could see him, and laughed, humorlessly.

"What's the matter, Naraku? Hmmm? Don't you like your... accomodations? And after I went to all the trouble of making things homey for you."

Naraku glared at him, still struggling against the bonds that were holding him. "And what do you think you can do, Inuyasha? This is just a dream, it isn't real."

"But it's going to feel real, Naraku. It's going to feel so real, that when you wake up, your going to feel the same things a true victim would feel... your mind won't care that it was only a dream, I guarantee you." He gestured around him. "Tell me, bastard, do you recognize this place? Besides the altar you're chained to, of course... that was my own personal addition. I think it works well in here, don't you?"

"Are you going to sit here and talk to me all night? While that would be a fate worse than death, I don't see the point - but then again, you are the fool that kept leaving a living woman behind in danger, to chase after one who was already dead. Not too bright, as they say." He grinned, then. "Although, I shouldn't complain. It gave me the chance to taste the flesh of the living woman... and I must say, she tasted divine. So much power in her blood..." he was cut off by Inuyasha.

Inuyasha growled his rage, flashes of the memories he'd shared with Kagome moving through his mind. "And as much as you hurt her, Naraku, your going to receive a thousand fold back tonight. When I'm done with you, you'll be nothing but a powerless bitch!"

Closing his eyes again, concentrating hard, he opened the doorway to the underworld, and let all those who had cause against Naraku begin to enter the dream - all those who had responded to the call. He kept it open, knowing that as those in front moved back to the underworld as they finished, more would come in behind...

This was going to be a long night... and one that he would enjoy every moment of. No matter how nasty what they did to the bastard was, he would watch, and mock. He would find that the price of what he'd stolen from Kagome, was higher than anyone would ever be able to pay. He grinned once again, a triumphant snarl breaking from him as the first screams broke for the piece of garbage before him.

When Inuyasha took vengeance... the world shivered. They would learn that it wasn't wise to hurt those that he cared for.

And it was definitely beyond stupid to harm his mate.

Hours had gone by, already, and still more came, wanting to get their chance at vengeance against the filth that had tainted so much of life. Inuyasha thought it amazing, that Naraku hadn't really died - some of the things that had been done to him were horrible - but he deserved every bit of it.

The creepiest, but most appropriate attacks, as far as he was concerned, anyway, had been the ones that had chosen to inflict the same kind of attack on him, that he'd inflicted on Kagome. Yes... the dark hanyou, the cause of so many rapes and murders, had himself been raped... and he'd screamed just like the bitch Inuyasha had promised he'd become. The first and foremost of those attacking in that way, had been, no surprise there, really, Jakotsu. It was his way of having a little fun, and getting to take the bastard's virginity, so to speak, had been is revenge for the uses he'd made of he and his companions.

The worst thing about those attacks, was that there were quite a few women's souls that chose to watch and taunt him while it was happening... it wasn't hard to figure out what he'd done to them, raped and then murdered them, and in that moment, he could only be thankful that at least Kagome was still alive.

It was the only thing to be thankful for, but still...

And so he watched. He stood, where always, Naraku could see him, and know that the humiliation that he was suffering, the beatings, the torture, the rapes, were being watched by his most hated enemy. It was a devastating blow to someone with a mind as warped as Naraku.

He had lost control, and now he was being controlled. He was the puppet now... and Inuyasha the puppet master. Even if this was only a dream, Inuyasha had been correct - the effects of it were such that they may as well really be happening.

It might not actually be his body being tortured and raped... but it was one worse.

It was his mind - his soul, and as the night wound down, and the last of those with cause against him returned to the netherworld, Inuyasha stared at the remains of the bastard who'd haunted his life for so long - and felt no pity. The guy wasn't dead, that wasn't his fate, but soon enough, his soul would finally be destroyed, and Inuyasha couldn't be happier about it.

He let the fool go back into his own dreamworld, knowing that his revenge had been served.

As he'd met the bastard's eye for the last time that night, he'd seen madness swirling in his soul... madness, and for the first time, ever, fear.

Naraku was still dangerous, true... but not as dangerous, because now, he wouldn't be thinking clearly, he wouldn't be able to.

And a bastard that wasn't thinking clearly... was a doomed bastard.

Sesshoumaru watched silently from the entrance to the cave he'd barely found in time, as the storm raged overheard and its full fury was unleashed. He could tell that this was no normal storm - it carried within it the fell voices of the dead... memories of rage, hatred, and malice.

He'd been caught on his way back to the village with information on Naraku's whereabouts. It had taken some time, but his spies were starting to come up with information, and he'd decided that he would head back to the rest of the pack - his spies could find him there if they had anything new to report.

Raising his head, he sniffed into the air, deeply, and wondered at the scent it held. It held the scent of Naraku... but unlike any other time he'd caught that scent, this time, the scent was overlaid by a thick coating of hatred, and fear.

Fear? I have not scented this from Naraku at any other time before... what have you done to him, I wonder, little brother?

As he stood there, wondering, a scream came... a scream of rage, and of pain - one that raised itself above even the sounds of the storm, and then it died away, and as it did so, so too, the storm began to die away... it's fury soothed by the pain of the one it had been summoned to harm.

Naraku.

With a raised brow, the daiyoukai watched as the clouds began to thin, and the sunrise became visible through the blackest of the clouds.

A new day had risen... he wondered what it would hold. Shaking his head, he left the cave and continued on his journey back to his brother's village.

He had the feeling that Inuyasha and Kagome would be coming back today.

Time to resume the hunt.

A/N: Wow. This chapter was kind of difficult to write, because I wanted to get across the things that were happening to Naraku, and yet, not be graphic about it. I hope I held that line. However, in the next chapter, we will be visiting Naraku... and finding out what all that truly did to his mind. That chapter actually might get a teeny bit more graphic than this - but not too much. While there will be lemons later on between our two main characters, I didn't want to glorify the rapes by making them descriptive. Hope the readers agree with me on that one. Anyway, may you all enjoy the new chapter!

Ja Ne!

Amber