InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ New Enemies and New Friends, Inuyasha Retold ❯ The Best Laid Plans ( Chapter 14 )

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

I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA and/or COMPANY

While I am thrilled by the reveiws I have recieved, I beg for more people's opinions of my story, PRETTY PLEASE??
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“Tell me of your observations concerning Inuyasha’s newest follower, Byakuya. Is she another damned priestess?”

“No, master.” Byakuya replied to the indistinct mass that was Naraku, “I sensed power from the woman, but it was faint and almost demonic in nature. If you would have allowed me to collect the shard and her, you would have been able to study it first hand.”

“Do not attempt to reprimand me. I will never again trust only your observations after the last time you underestimated Inuyasha and his damn priestess’s powers. They almost destroyed my heart within Mouryoumaru’s body and because of your incompetence, Inuyasha was able to disintegrate most of my nearly perfect demonic body. I have been forced into hiding while I renew myself yet again, when I would have destroyed them all by now if my previous form would have been completed!” Naraku growled angrily before taking a moment to compose himself. “Kanna,” he called and the pale girl stepped from the shadows near the chambers entrance, “have you located Kikyou and Kohaku?”

“Yes, they are following rumors of a fire-demon that has joined with Inuyasha. Kikyou will be upon them soon.” Kanna paused as Naraku cursed again. When he stopped, she added more news, which further infuriated the demon, “Kohaku has mastered the powers granted to him by your flesh, despite Kikyou trying to remove the piece and blocking your influence over him with her control of the shard.”

“DAMN INUYASHA! Kohaku was not to live long enough to know of my flesh on his neck, let alone master the powers it grants him!” Naraku’s glob of mass shook with his rage. “Byakyua! You will distract Inuyasha while I test the power of the woman. Kanna, you will come with me. We will leave Kohaku and Kikyou for another time. It is unfortunate that Kohaku discovered the powers but they are still insignificant compared to my own, even as I am at present.”
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Far from Naraku’s lair, Kikyou was studying a sleeping Kohaku as she waited for her soul-collectors to return with their latest offering. Kohaku has grown into a fine man, despite all efforts put forth by Naraku to end his life. Yet, when the time comes, I must take the life-giving shard from his back. She thought to herself when a voice spoke from within her head.

Kill the man now, Kikyou. His presence delays us unnecessarily and you know this.

Midoriko, do not attempt to force your will on me. When I must, I will take the shard from him but until then he will remain by my side.

You are being a fool. Kohaku will die anyway and we must still retrieve the shards from the wolf and the demon Inuyasha has chosen to aid. They both are resisting my call and time is of the essence.

Do not tell me what I already know. You created this situation, Midoriko, and left others to deal with the repercussions. Do not complain of how I choose to do so, just keep blocking Naraku’s influence and remain silent.

Kikyou could feel Midoriko’s resentment but the soul within remained silent as Kikyou’s soul-collectors returned. Before dawn, Kohaku awakened and they once again continued on their path. The silence of the forest was broken when Kohaku cleared his throat.

“Lady Kikyou,” he began, “I don’t understand why Inuyasha would allow a demon that holds a shard to travel with them. Besides that every village we’ve been to hasn’t been able to report that the demoness has any true power.”

“I have been pondering the same things, Kohaku.” She replied tilting her head to look at the man’s face from his fully-grown height. “I will speak to Inuyasha alone before taking the shard from them.”
“I will keep Sango and the others busy for you. I feel a need to see my sister after all this time.” Kohaku informed her.

“As you wish.” Kikyou replied as Kohaku lifted her over a large fallen tree in there path.

The human form soul-collectors glanced at each other in annoance. Kohaku had been frequently touching their master, unasked, for sometime and they did not approve even though it was always innocently. If only we were both really alive. Kohaku thought as he gently set Kikyou on her feet. He is always so kind even knowing I will kill him. I don’t understand it. Kikyou thought. Niether of them said anything aloud, merely continued on their course.
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That same morning when Inuyasha and his family were enjoying a quick breakfast and Karma’s coffee (even though it was the only thing she could make, she made the best tasting coffee Inuyasha and Sango had ever had) they decided to backtrack and follow in the direction Byakyua had gone. The day passed uneventfully to the relief of most of the group, but Inuyasha and Karma were both wishing for a bit of action. When the others had fallen asleep, Inuyasha saw the glowing forms of Kikyou’s soul collectors gesturing for him to follow. He carefully moved Kagome from his shoulder and laid her down silently as he got up to obey. Just before he was out of sight from the camp Kagome woke up and saw him walking away. Kikyou must be near. I should let them talk privately but I just can’t. She thought as she got up to follow him.

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Kikyou.” Inuyasha said the moment he neared her, deep in the forest.

“I can’t imagine why.” Kikyou responded. “Unless you are going to hand over the demon and the shard you posses.”

“No, I won’t do that.” Inuyasha informed her, “Karma is human and I’m really getting sick of the assumption that she isn’t. You know I’m not going to give you the shard so you can just hand it over to Naraku. I want to talk to you about our past.”

Kagome had just hidden close enough to hear when Inuyasha spoke the last sentence. Back at the camp, the remaining family had awoken at Kohaku’s intentionally loud approach. Miroku and Shippo didn’t recognize the young man but after a moment of studying his features, Sango did.

“Kohaku! Is that really you?” Sango exclaimed.

“Yes, sister. I have missed you.” Kohaku replied solemnly.

“Where are Inuyasha and Kagome?” Karma asked as she stood.

Miroku and Shippo were startled to realize the couple was missing and they hadn’t noticed. Karma saw Kohaku’s eye shift briefly in the direction he knew Kikyou was waiting, as Sango looked to the ground.

“You only came as a distraction, didn’t you, Kohaku?” She said remorsefully.

“Kikyou wishes to speak alone with Inuyasha, that is true, but I really have missed you, Elder Sister.”

Karma darted in the direction Kohaku had glanced, but he flung out his hand as an energy chain shot from it wrapping around her legs and tripped her.

“What? How?” Sango looked up into his beloved face in shock.

Before Kohaku could say anything, Karma’s eyes turned full black and she used a barrier to slice the chain from her ankles.

“Can you handle him, Sango?” She asked getting back to her feet.

Sango nodded and Karma went running off with a barrier protecting her back from another unexpected attack. Kohaku watched her go with a small shrug and returned his gaze to his angery sister and her remaining friends.

“Kikyou won’t let her interfere.” He informed them before kneeling at his sister’s feet and pulling his now long hair from his neck. “Naraku attached some of his own flesh to my lower neck. Kikyou believes it was how he was able to control me for so long. When she tried to remove it, the flesh swelled slightly but would not separate from me.” Sango bent to see a small raised scar in the shape of a spider at the base of Kohaku’s neck as he continued to explain, “It was invisible and dormant until then, but since I have been discovering powers I would not have without it. My energy chain is only one of them and should I choose I can add a blade at the end of it, exactly like my own weapon which I still keep to remind me of my sins.”

Realizing that he was telling her, in his own way, that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone, Sango tilted his head to meet her sad gaze.

“You are obviously a man now, brother. Why do you insist on carrying the blame for what Naraku forced you to do?” She asked as tears slowly escaped from the corners of her eyes.

Kohaku stood keeping his eyes on Sango’s, completely ignoring Miroku and Shippo who were silently watching the siblings’ exchange. When he was towering over his sister, Kohaku gently took her shoulders in his hands.
“I am a man, as you say my sister. And being a man, I know it is my duty to avenge our father by sacrificing my life to destroy Naraku.” He pulled Sango to him in an effort to erase the sadness from her eyes and hugged her. “Let’s talk of more pleasant things while I remain here to wait for Kikyou, sister. Tell me what has been happening in the year and a half since I last saw you.”

Miroku added wood to the small fire and they sat down knowing it would be useless to follow Inuyasha and Kagome, as Karma had done. Karma had dropped the barrier guarding her back the moment she felt it was safe. Karma was running as fast as she could when she was suddenly sent flying backwards a few feet.

“OUCH! What the fuck was that?” She questioned aloud as she rubbed her exposed skin, which had blistered at the direct contact with Kikyou’s barrier.

Karma took a few steps forward until she could see the shimmer of the barrier. She tried a few of her own spells to break it but they were useless against the pure barrier Kikyou had set. Where's Sesshoumaru when I could use a little help? The thought slipped into Karma’s head before she could stop it.

“Oh, hell no!” She said angry with herself, “I am not about to become one of those air-heads who can’t do anything without their man. Sesshoumaru has a big enough ego as it is.” She stared at the barrier for a few seconds then smiled triumphantly, “Just because I can’t go through the barrier doesn’t mean I can’t find out if my idiot brother and Kagome are ok.”

Karma sat down cross-legged and stared at the barrier. Her eyes eclipsed into blackness and she felt beyond herself for Kagome’s soul, which she knew intimately. For a confused second she felt the missing half of Kikyou’s soul before Kagome’s outshined it and called to Karma. Kagome didn’t notice the iridescent form of Karma materialize behind her because she was completely focused on Inuyasha and Kikyou who had lowered their voices too much for her to hear them.

“Inuyasha, what makes you think I care, now, who you choose to bed. The only thing I demand of you is your life once I destroy Naraku and can return to hell where we both belong.” Kikyou whispered coldly to Inuyasha after he attempted to explain his feelings for Kagome.

“It isn’t like that.” Inuyasha told her, “I love Kagome.”

Kikyou smiled sarcastically and pressed her dead body into his as she wrapped her arms around him. Kagome cringed in her hiding place as Inuyasha made no move to remove Kikyou.

“That Asshole!” Karma’s voice floated eerily into Kagome’s mind and she whipped her head around to face the iridescently wavering being.

“Karma? How did you get through the barrier?” Kagome whispered trying to hide her tears. “Why do you look so strange?”

“I’m not really here. I’m sitting outside of the barrier. I’ll explain later because I can feel myself losing strength. Are you going to be alright? Should I get the others to come and try to break the barrier with them?”

“No, Kikyou won’t hurt us physically. I don’t think you could break her barrier anyway.” Kagome whispered sadly.

“I’ll be waiting for you to return where I am now, I think I may need help to get back to camp.” Karma’s voice rang through Kagome’s mind as her form vanished.

Kagome returned her attention to Kikyou and Inuyasha who were still embracing.

“You loved me more, Inuyasha and respected the fact we couldn’t mate. Why should I believe you feel more towards my reincarnation when you don’t want to show her the same respect?”

“Kikyou,” Inuyash murmered into her hair, “it isn’t like that at all. What I felt for you was love but it was more the loving worship of a child than the love of a man for a woman. I wronged you that way without even knowing it at the time and I’m sorry. I will always cherish you but I love Kagome the way love is supposed to be.”

A vison of Kohaku’s face flashed in Kikyou’s mind before she shoved Inuyasha and the vision away from her.

“Then what are you telling me, Inuyasha? I will not release you from your word just because you claim to love a shadow of my former-self.”

“I won’t ask you to.” Inuyasha stated firmly, “I just wanted to appologize to you before I complete my union with Kagome. I had to let you know where I stood before I felt completely right with her.”

“How sentimental of you.” Kikyou snapped as she was lifted, by her soul-collectors, above the trees and into the night sky.

Midoriko sent a call to Kohaku, at Kikyou’s comand and the young man bid farewell to his sister as he left to answer the summons. Inuyasha didn’t bother to watch Kikyou disappear. He walked to where Kagome was hiding and as she stood embarrassed to be caught, Inuysha wrapped his arms around her for a tight hug.

“You were supposed to let me talk with her alone, my love.” he gently rebuked her.

“I couldn’t.” Kagome whispered into his chest.

His only answer was to tilt up her head and give her a deep kiss. She forgot everything as she clung to him, responding instantly. Inuyasha’s hands traveled up and down her back before one of her own made it’s way down to his shaft which was pressed against her demanding attention. Inuyasha groaned as she gripped it and slid one of his hands under her skirt to test the moisture he could smell was building at the junction of her thighs. He froze before his fingers reached their destination.

“What’s wrong now?” Kagome pouted in a daze.

“I thought I heard Karma in pain, but she’s at the camp and it’s too far away for even me to hear.” Inuyasha told her shaking his head and attempting to continue where he left off.

“OH NO!” Kagome pushed him away and started running in the direction of their camp.

Inuyasha ran behind her completely confused by her outburst and the flight. As they got closer the spot Karma had passed out, Inuyasha heard her cries of pain much more clearly and blamed the demon whose scent he had just picked up. Inuyasha removed Tetsusaiga from its sheath as he put on a burst of speed, passing Kagome with the hope Karma would stay alive long enough for him to save her. He stopped short the moment he came within sight of her. Sesshoumaru was kneeling with Karma’s head resting on his lap and a pained expression was on the demon’s face untill he noticed Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru’s face quickly went into its costomary expressionless mask.

“What did you do to, Karma?” The half-brothers snapped at the same time.

Kagome caught up just in time to hear the echoed question and after pausing a moment in surprise at Sesshoumaru’s protective pose over her friend, she walked forward and knelt down beside Karma.

“Neither of you did anything to her.” Kagome told them both. “Karma did something to make herself appear inside Kikyou’s barrier right behind me. Her voice was speaking inside my head and she said she was getting weak but I didn’t know it would be this bad.”

“Foolish woman,” Sesshoumaru muttered to Karma as he stroked her cheek, “you endangered yourself for this pathetic family of yours again.”

Karma’s eyes fluttered open to stare at him. Kagome was shocked to see the love shinning in the woman’s eyes. Karma tried to lift her hand to Sesshoumaru’s face but was too weak so the demon lord did it for her and cradled the hand between his own and his cheek.

“How many times will I have to tell you not to insult my family, you thick-skulled asshole?” Karma whispered in a weak but caressing voice.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” Inuyasha roared in anger and complete confussion.

“Inuyasha, this isn’t the time.” Kagome told him as she got up, “We need to get her back to camp.”

Inuyasha started to lean forward to pick Karma up but Sesshoumaru beat him to it.

“Karma is coming with me.” The demon lord stated coldly.

“Haven’t we already had this discussion?” Karma asked with one raised eyebrow.

Sesshoumaru smirked slightly looking down at her.

“I do not believe you are in any state to argue with me, little wild fire.” He told her gently.

“You aren’t fucking taking her anywhere, bastard.” Inuyasha said in a deadly voice.

“Sesshoumaru just take me to our camp.” Karma said then looked at Inuyasha, “Little Bro, we have to talk and this asshole here will behave if you do, or else I’ll deal with you both as soon as I get my strength back.”

Inuyasha was about to argue more but Kagome grabbed his arm to draw his attention.

“I think she’s right, Inuyasha. We want to hear whatever Karma has to say.” Kagome told him softly.

“Feh! I know I don’t WANT to hear whatever it is, but I guess I have to.” Inuyasha snapped in a pensive voice.

“Let’s just go, already.” Karma said from Sesshoumaru’s arms.
Proving he knew exactly where they had made camp, Sesshoumaru led the way. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were all sitting around the fire awaiting the return of the others. Shippo yelped in the middle of a yawn when he saw Sesshoumaru step into the fire’s light. Miroku and Sango started to rise but were stopped by Karma’s reasurance.

“It’s ok, he’s not going to do anything. Are you?” She tried to make her voice sound threatening as she asked Sesshoumaru the question but it was too weak.

Inuyasha and Kagome circled around to sit with the others while Sesshoumaru remained standing with Karma in his arms.

“What’s going on here?” Sango asked nervously.

“That’s what I want to fucking know.” Inuyasha told her.

“Sit down, I’m not having a long discussion hanging in your arms like this.” Karma told the demon lord.

He obeyed reluctantly but still kept Karma in a protective embrace by sitting her on his crossed legs. She shifted a little to get comfortable then looked across the fire at the family she feared would reject her by the end of the night, if not sooner.

“I didn’t mean to betray any of you,” Karma began trying to keep her voice nuetral, “I didn’t intend for this to happen.”

“Just get on with it, already.” Inuyasha said not meeting her eyes.

“Okay, but don’t interupt, please Li…Inuyasha.” Karma couldn’t bring herself to use the personal pet name she normally did when he seemed already on the verge of despising her. She told the mostly unedited version of what happened at the hot spring, only leaving out specific details of what they had done. Her family looked on Sesshoumaru with rage as Karma talked, but the woman thought it was directed at her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Karma told them all of her last meeting with Sesshoumaru. He rested his forehead on the back of Karma’s head as she repeated his confessions almost word for word to her family.

“I love Sesshoumaru. I’m sorry it hurts you all,” Karma said ending her tale, “but I can’t help myself. Even though he’s an arrogant ass, I wouldn’t change that now if I could.”

Sesshoumaru tightened his hold on her, half in protest of her opinon of him and half because he touched deeply by her admission to her loved ones that she would never choose to change her feelings for him. Inuyasha stood and began to pace as the others just sat silently trying to digest the fact that their vivacious, adoptive sibling was in love with someone as cold as Inuyasha’s half-brother. Karma forced Sesshoumaru to allow her to stand and braced herself for Inuyasha’s expected rejection. Sesshoumaru stood as well and tried to pull her against him for support but Karma refused to lean on his strength when she felt she deserved the full force of Inuyasha’s rage. Inuyasha’s pacing stopped as he walked to Karma and looked down at her pensive face. He sighed deeply in fustration and ran a hand over his face.

“You picked a real shitty partner, Sis.” He told her.

“You don’t hate me?” Karma questioned not being able to believe otherwise.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re stuck with us for life?” He growled out to her before looking Sesshoumaru straight in the eye, “If you’re still using Karma in some fucked up scheme to get to me, I’ll make you wish for death.”

Instead of taking offense, Sesshoumaru actually bowed his head slightly before telling his half-brother, “You have nothing to do with Karma and I, other than she foolishly cares for you and your pack and wants your continued acceptance, Inuyasha.”

Seeing tears begin to drip from Karma’s eyes, Kagome and Sango rushed to embrace her comfortingly.

“We wouldn’t stop loving you just because you fell in love.” Kagome said as tears began running from her own eyes.

“You should have told me from the start.” Sango tearfully reprimanded Karma.

Miroku stood and walked over to stand slightly behind Inuyasha with Shippo clinging to his shoulder. He looked between the brothers and the crying women between them for a moment before stopping to look Sesshoumaru in the eye.

“If your going to stay around, you’ll have to get used to these three bawling for stupid reasons.” He informed the demon lord humorously as Shippo nodded in agreement.

Karma turned her head towards her love in time to see his mask slip reveiling absolute horror at the thought of dealing with events like that on a regular basis. She laughed aloud as her tears of sarrow became those of joy.

“I know the feeling.” Inuyasha said smugly to his brother. “I’m not thrilled about it, but if you want to bring Rin and that pest Jaken to travel with us, I won’t object.”

Sesshoumaru was about to refuse the offer when he saw Karma’s face glow with delight at the idea.

“Do you and these wenches truly cry constantly?” he asked. Karma shook her head in the negative and he relented, “Only to ensure your happiness for a time will I endure this rabble. I refuse to stay with them always so you had best resign yourself to that fact soon.”

Instead of taking offence, the members of the “rabble” grinned at Sesshoumaru as if he had just lost a war he didn’t know he was fighting. Karma hugged him and as she took his hand, she told the others she’d be back in a minute. When she was certain they were far enough away that Inuyasha wouldn’t overhear, she stopped.

“Thank you.” Karma told him simply before rising on her tiptoes to give him a passioned filled kiss.

“You are not yet fully recovered from your exhaustion, my wild fire.” He said once the kiss ended.

“I think I can manage just fine.” Karma tried to tempt him but he remained firm.

“I shall not endanger your health, woman. If you ever drain your powers like that again the punishment shall be feirce.” He threatened lightly before informing his heart, “I shall take you back to your camp and return at dawn, under great protest, I might add.”

“I wouldn’t have taken you as a whiner, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Karma teased as he directed her back to the camp.

“I, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, do not whine at any time.” He informed her regally, causing Karma to bend over with laughter at his stuffy words.

As the pair reached the camp once again, Sesshoumaru ordered Karma to go straight to sleep and save explanations of the cause of her weakness for the morning when he would return. After repeating the orders to her family, the demon lord walked off into the forest.

As they laid down to finally return to the peaceful sleep which they had been awoken from Sango teased Karma, “And here I thought I had the worst taste in men.”

Miroku was the only one to remain unlaughing. Just before sleep claimed him, the monk thought to himself, I must make a renewed effort to win Sango back before she completely moves on.
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A/N: Happy Dance to me! I've finially caught my typing up with my writing!!
*Singing* Joy to the World, all the boys and girls. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and ME!
Okay I'm done with my celebration now I'm off to write the next chapter in my little abandoned notebook, I just know it missed me, LOL.
I do solemnly swear to type each seprate chapter as it is completed from this moment on.