InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Wei-Peng and the White Key ( Chapter 48 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 290 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 290 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
Wei-Peng and the White Key
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His eyes wide and the unruly mop of his silver tresses flying about as he urgently scanned the surrounding area, Inuyasha could not escape the mild stirrings of panic when Kagome’s familiar form continued to evade him.
“Where… where the hell did she get to?!” he queried in spite of the knowledge that the male beside him would have had no more information than he. Unsurprisingly, Sesshoumaru did not deign to answer, his eyes remaining fixed on the last spot he had seen the miko. Though his features appeared largely unchanged from their normal bland indifference, Inuyasha was certain he had just felt a flux in his sibling’s aura. It was only brief, a quick flash of… something; something which felt like agitation suffused with confusion and intense frustration.
Even though the sensation was swiftly locked away behind the barriers with which Sesshoumaru always surrounded himself, the hanyou was positive in what he’d felt. Still agitatedly searching for Kagome, he heard his remaining companions skid to a stop shortly behind him.
“Where’d she go?!” Sango asked frantically, her head darting from left to right and back again as she too began to search for the miko.
“What happened?” Miroku chimed in, adding his question to the mix as he looked worriedly between the inu siblings.
“Don’t know!” Inuyasha answered both questions, his level of anxiety increasing with every moment the miko remained out of his sight. “Quit asking so many questions and spread out! We need to find her!”
No one argued with him and almost absently, the hanyou noted that Sesshoumaru had already moved some distance away and was clearly scanning the area. The others fanned out as well, each of their hearts clinging to the intense desire to find their friend while also attempting to ignore the uncomfortable knowledge that Kagome, more than any of them, seemed to possess a natural propensity of finding trouble wherever it lay.
Directionless rage simmered just beneath the endless depths of Sesshoumaru’s golden gaze. He was finding himself mightily displeased that the miko had run off on her own, but was not entirely sure who to blame. He still was uncertain as to whether or not she had acted on her own or whether something else had galvanized her actions, but he supposed it did not matter either way. The important thing now was to find her before she managed to get herself into trouble.
He would decide what to do next once he retrieved her.
The traveling companions turned search party, had managed to get a few scant yards between them as they fanned out in all directions before the air around them suddenly changed. Charged with an energy no one could clearly name, it instantly put them all on edge and with the exception of Sesshoumaru, who only paused in his movements and began gazing intensely into the sky, the friends gathered together placing their backs to one another as they awaited what would come. The wait was not long and the relative silence was soon pierced by a strange sound; something like a bellowing roar before the mountain began to shake with the rhythmic hammering of large feet. Lots of them.
Drawing Tetsuaiga from its sheath, Inuyasha scowled and grumbled. “Now what?!” then, glancing over his shoulder to where he knew his brother stood he said, “Whatever this is… we’ll hold it off.” his brow furrowed meaningfully and the rest of his thoughts were communicated only by the hard look in his eyes.
‘Find her!’
Without a word the daiyoukai pivoted on his heel before taking to the skies.
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Her eyes narrowed against the bright flash of youki, Kagome resisted the urge to shield them, opting instead to maintain her stance as she did not know what the demon would do next. Gradually, the light began to fade and in the place of the gigantic bird stood what appeared to be a man.
Tall and fair, the male was indeed a sight to behold. Only his ears, each pointed at the tip, gave away his demonic heritage. His jet black hair was gathered at the top of his head where it was bound in a tight bun, long but narrow bands of side locks being left free to drape over his apparently well developed shoulders. Like the feathers he had worn before his transformation, his attire was predominantly white, while his armor was mostly black and trimmed in gold. She noted that his pants, white and silk, were very similar to those worn by Sesshoumaru. But, instead of the elaborate obi Sesshoumaru tended to wear, this male wore a broad sash which draped over the front of his pants and came to rest just below his knees. His overall look, including the unusual design of his armor, the lack of long billowing sleeves and the boots, which were pointed and curved up at the tips, gave away his place of origin. He was from the continent.
“Who are you?” the male asked suddenly, his rich, accented voice simultaneously confirming her assessment of his origin and distracting her from her barely concealed perusal.
“My name is Kagome.” she replied and was proud at the firmness of her voice.
The demon narrowed his dark eyes at her and even though she sensed no malevolence in his aura, Kagome tensed, ignoring the tiring of her arms as she continued to aim a heavily charged arrow at the center of his forehead..
“You are obviously a miko,” he said speculatively, “So there is no way you should have been able to penetrate my barrier. And quit pointing that arrow at me!” he demanded almost as an after thought. “If I had meant you any harm, I would have killed you three times over by now!”
Surprised more by his tone than his words, Kagome inadvertently conceded to his orders, slowly relaxing her stance though she remained slightly on edge. The youkai walked over to her, his strides swift and purposeful and before she could decide whether or not to reclaim her offensive posture, the male was standing before her. He openly looked her over, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom. For her part, the miko was just on the brink of informing him how rude it was to stare when his arm reached forward and a powerful hand was wrapped around her right wrist.
“Hey!” Kagome protested vehemently, but the male ignored her as he turned a curious gaze upon the beads that circled her thin wrist.
“Ah,” he declared knowingly, “So you are in love with a demon.” His remaining hand came up to rub his chin. He could sense that the rosary she wore was only one half of a whole, the other portion being worn by an inu youkai. He was well aware that some species of demon signified their marriage, or mating bonds through shared trinkets such as this. The fact that she was connected to a demon in such a way was likely the only reason why she had been able to pass through his barrier.
Blushing, the miko finally snatched her hand away, a light blush spreading over her cheeks. “What?!” she asked incredulously.
Unconcerned of her words and actions, the male continued as if she had not spoken, “Though his demonic aura suggests that he is not a particularly powerful demon.” he looked her over again. “Well, to each his own.” he said, giving her a mildly disdainful look.
“What would you know!?” Kagome seethed, her ire invoked by his lofty attitude and the insult he had so casually lobbed against her friend. “Inuyasha’s not weak!” then as she remembered what else he had said she continued, “And I’m not in love with…”
“Then he must be… a hanyou?” he postulated, his features contorted in confusion. He could sense in the woman’s aura that she was an especially powerful priestess and could not help but wonder why she would be willing to saddle herself with a half-demon. Not, he amended mentally, that all hanyou were weak, in fact some could be rather powerful indeed, but from experience, he knew that the rare females who were not only privy to such powers, but also willing to mate a youkai, tended to settle for nothing less than daiyoukai.
Frowning, and oddly offended, Kagome crossed her arms over her chest as best she could while her bow and arrow were still clutched in her fingers. “Yes, he is hanyou, but I hardly see how that’s of any…”
“Humph.” he murmured audibly, his eyes staring blankly off into the distance as he again ignored her words. “Well,” he said as he turned back to her, “I suppose that’s of little importance now. If you fought your way through my barrier, I suppose you must have had some reason for doing so. Why are you here?”
Ignoring his rudeness, Kagome put her weapons away and calmly cleared her throat. “I’m looking for a key.” she intoned evenly.
At her words, the demon gave her a long assessing look. Through sheer dint of will, the miko resisted the urge to fidget under his immovable gaze and stood proudly in the face of his scrutiny. Finally, he asked, “Who sent you?” the previous airiness of his voice lost to the icy steel he now infused into his tone.
Not having anticipated the question, the miko allowed surprise to show in her expression before her brow crinkled and she searched her memories to recall the name of the old fox. “Dai… Daisuke!” she announced, a smile finding her lips with the emergence of her recollection.
“Hn.” the male murmured thoughtfully, “And I suppose you have proof of this?”
“Proof?!” Kagome echoed back, a bit of color draining from her cheeks. The youkai’s eyes narrowed at that.
“Yes,” he intoned almost menacingly. His eyes hardened and he took a deliberate step in her direction. “Proof,” he reiterated.
Though she did not shrink away, the miko’s eyes widened slightly as she continued to stare up at him. ‘Proof?’ she wondered, ‘What could he…’
“Oh!” she declared excitedly and snapped her fingers, an action the male thought a little odd. She quickly slid her traveling bag from her shoulders and began digging through its contents. In a moment, she retrieved a roll of parchment but she did not hand it over. Recalling what Daisuke had told her about this mission and the confidentiality he had entrusted her with, she instantly decided that she would not show him the map.
“How’s your sense of smell?” she asked and the demon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I…” he began, uncertain how to answer the unexpected query and faintly wondering if he should be insulted. “Fairly good I suppose.”
Rolling her eyes impatiently she continued, “Daisuke asked that I keep the specifics of my mission confidential, but he did give me this,” she waggled the tightly coiled parchment, though she still held it close, almost protectively against her person. “I won’t show you what’s on it, but if your sense of smell is good, you should be able to detect his scent on it.”
Raising a brow, the male considered her words and in a few seconds deduced that the girl was reasonably clever. She didn’t know him any better than he knew her and she quickly managed to come up with a solution that would satisfy them both. “Fair enough,” he agreed.
Now it was Kagome’s turn to eye him suspiciously. “Put your hands behind your back and promise not to move them until after I put this away.”
Annoyance flashed in his eyes for only a second before it was replaced with exasperated humor. A small chuckle escaped his lips and Kagome couldn’t help but tremble lightly at the sound. The demon spoke in a deep tenor that was really quite alluring and the sound of his laugher tickled her in a way that was not quite funny. “Very well.” he said and with a small smirk, he placed his hands behind his back and leaned forward.
Satisfied in spite of her intimate knowledge of demon speed, Kagome tentatively lifted the map to him. Not really knowing what would be close enough, she held the parchment somewhere around six inches from his nose. She noted the delicate flaring of his nostrils and when she felt he had sufficient time to take in the scent she pulled the paper away and folded her arms over her chest. “Well?” she asked expectantly.
Sure enough, the demon was able to detect Daisuke’s unique musk among the other fragrances that clung to the parchment. Satisfied and barely remembering to keep his hands behind him, the male straightened his back and gave a curt nod. “Yes, it seems the old kitsune’s scent is present on what I can only assume is the map he gave you to aid in your quest? As I am certain the old trickster wouldn‘t let such a thing out of his sight otherwise, I can only assume that you speak the truth.”
Deciding that no answer was necessary, as he apparently had taken her word and understood what she was trying to do, Kagome said nothing as she put the map back in her bag. “Well then,” she said once her things were again situated to her liking, “Do you know where the key is or what?”
Finding the little miko more amusing by the moment, the youkai smiled. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
They stared at one another for several seconds, the demon smiling politely, yet showing no sign that he would say or do anything other than stare at her idiotically. Not that he was bad to look at, but Kagome did not have time to be standing around and her patience quickly came to an end. “Well, are you planning on telling me or would you rather we just stand here and stare at each other?!”
“Oh!” he said as if he had not expected her to say something along these lines. A huge, and rather fetching smile was plastered on his lips and his eyes were shining with mirth. “So you want me to tell you where the key is.” his smile only broadened at the exasperated look the little woman sent his way. “It would likely be even better if I showed you myself ne?” he glanced into the sky. “I suppose we should get going then, the portal will only remain open for another…” he trailed off thoughtfully and Kagome’s eyes widened with interest. “Hmm… now that I come to think of it,” he said, his hand coming up to rub his chin. “It may already be closed.”
“What?!” the miko cried incredulously, opting to ignore the fact that she wasn’t really sure what portal he was talking about. “Are you telling me that we’ve been wasting all this time and now we can’t get the key?!”
“Perhaps.” he stated cryptically, sending a sly but indistinct look at her.
“There may be time yet though!” he added quickly, the low growl emitted from the girl suggesting that he attempt to placate her. “Come,” he smiled and extended a hand to her. “We must make haste if we are to get there in time.”
Kagome ignored the smirk on his lips and eyed his hand warily. Only now did she fully realize that she had become separated from her friends and she glanced back over her shoulder. Deciding that it must have had something to do with her passage through the barrier, she resolved to find her companions as soon as she had located the key. They were probably waiting for her on the other side of the barrier anyway so there was no need to worry about them. Turning back to him, she was struck with the recollection that time was of the essence and she cautiously accepted the youkai’s proffered hand.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the male swept her up into a sidelong embrace and took to the skies. “By the way,” he spoke up, ignoring her startled, indignant shriek, “My name is Wei-Peng.” he turned from their path to smile down on her, “But you may simply call me Peng.”
Managing to escape the last vestiges of surprise invoked by their sudden flight, Kagome frowned but said, “Thank you Peng… for taking me to the key, I mean.”
“Peng!?” he asked imperiously, “Who gave you permission to address me so informally!?”
Kagome’s eyes widened in shock. “But you just said…” She looked at him, noting the laughter visible only in his eyes and sighed with exasperation. Deciding that it was best not to argue she amended, “Peng-san?”
Peng only smiled at her and turned back to watch their path.
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In the short time Kagome had become acquainted with the albatross youkai called Wei-Peng, she had learned that he was quite possibly the strangest man she had ever met, even more so than the sword smith Totosai. In one moment he could be serious, arrogant or even intimidating and in the next he could be lobbing jokes, (although it was sometimes difficult to tell) and then he’d go right from that to being deep, informative and occasionally somber.
When she’d asked why she’d become separated from her friends in her passage through the barrier, he had explained that the barrier was created specifically to deter miko, so it would affect her differently than it would the others. She was able to decipher from his complicated explanation that the barrier she had passed through to get to him, was not in fact a barrier at all. It was a wall… of sorts. He made the mountains his home some years ago and had spread a thick but transparent youki around them which, while done to deter miko, could also affect others who possessed holy powers and even humans who did not. It held no affect on youkai. The wall she had passed through, had in effect, been the boarder of a separate dimension he had created as his personal inner sanctum; in other words, his bedroom. The miko had blushed furiously at that.
Not wanting to dwell on that particular piece of information, Kagome had asked what he had against miko. Why did he wish to keep them away from the mountains, and thus away from himself. His ever present smile had faded with the question and he had explained that, many years ago, he’d fallen in love with a miko back in his homeland. Ostracized for their love, the pair had fled the continent and took up residence in this new land. After arriving here, he told her that his love betrayed him, though he did not deign to disclose any specifics. Heartbroken and not wishing to return to the ridicule that surely awaited him back home, he took up residence in the mountains and attempted to assure himself that he would never set eyes on another priestess again.
The confession had caused Kagome to regret her intrusion and she had apologized for disturbing him. His smile had instantly returned and he told her that it was of no consequence. The incident with his intended wife had occurred many, many years ago and he was all but over the pain her disloyalty had invoked. “Besides,” he had said almost casually, “It was her loss. She would be long dead by now.” When she’d scowled at him for the offhanded remark, he’d shrugged and said, “If she had stayed with me, she would have retained her youth and beauty for as long as I live.”
The miko had asked what he’d meant by that and he’d told her about a bond that can be created between youkai and human who are able to look beyond the differences between their species and come together as husband and wife. She recalled Kaede saying something similar, but his explanation was far more detailed.
“If that’s the case,” Kagome had said, “Then why aren’t there more humans married to demons? Wouldn’t they do so just so they could become immortal?”
It was a fair question, and the answer was simple. He had explained that the bond could only be created when there was a profound and mutual love between the pair. It was also exclusive to youkai who intended to take only one mate. And even with that, human immortality could only be achieved when the demon was of great power, and the human, be it a monk, priest, priestess or sorcerer, had to be in possession of great power in his or her own right. In some cases, he had added, the human can be effected by the bond even before it is fully created. “However,” he had countered in a more somber tone, “In most places the rift between the humans and demons grows only wider each day. I have seen the two species sacrifice even the lives of their children in a bid to destroy one another. It seems that most humans would rather die than share their lives with a demon.”
Staring thoughtfully into the distance, Kagome had recalled the incident with Rin; noting that the girl’s wound had healed far quicker than what would have been normal for an ordinary human.
The same thing had happened to her as well…
Abruptly changing the subject and inadvertently retrieving the little priestess from the privacy of her thoughts, Peng had asked, “So the old fox has finally decided to destroy the keys? Or does he have something else in mind?”
She started slightly and then stared up at him for a moment before deciding to answer. Apparently the two already knew of one another and if Daisuke had entrusted Peng-san enough to let him guard the key, it was probably okay to speak with him frankly on the subject. “Yes. He asked me to collect the keys so that they could be returned to the foundry in which they were forged. He told me that they needed to be destroyed so that they didn’t fall into the wrong hands.”
Peng nodded in understanding. “I told the old trickster that it would be better to destroy those wretched things! Leaving them around was just asking for trouble in the first place!”
The pair had landed shortly after this discussion and Kagome noted, with a level of disappointment, that this portion of the mountain, while a bit snowier, didn’t look much different than the place from which they’d come. He released her with a hint of reluctance and slowly made his way to what appeared to be an ordinary embankment of pure white snow. Kagome watched him curiously and he raised a single hand, his palm facing away from him as if to touch something only he could see. Her continued gaze was met with a soft bluish light that radiated from his palm. It slowly spread out in soft waves which reminded her of the ripples of water when its surface was warped by a stone.
It was colder here, she noted almost absently and she wrapped her arms around herself hiding her hands in her sleeves in an attempt to escape the icy breeze. Smiling in satisfaction, Peng turned away and gave a curt nod. “It seems we made it in the nick of time.” he said, smiling at Kagome’s obvious confusion.
“This portal,” he began in explanation, “Is unlike the one you encountered before. It responds only to my touch, and even then it is accessible only during certain times of the day and certain times of the season.” then, answering her question before it could be voiced he went on, “This is because of the nature of the item the portal was designed to protect. Daisuke and I decided that accessibility should be kept to a minimum. It is fortunate that you arrived here today rather than tomorrow. After this day, the portal will be closed even to me for the next six lunar cycles.”
“Six months?” she repeated, her eyes widening slightly. Before she could invest much thought into this, she was distracted by the large hand that entered her field of vision.
“Shall we?” he asked, bringing her attention to his handsome face. Looking past him, she now noticed an area directly in front of him. It was like the entrance to a tunnel, but it was carved into the air itself. It was one of the strangest things she’d ever seen! On either side of the dome-shaped opening, the mountain scenery was unchanged, but as she moved to stand in front of it, she could see that it lead to a long, dimly lit passageway. “There is nothing to fear.” the youkai spoke up when he saw the uncertain look on her face. “Because of the seal placed on the key by Izumi-sama, only you will be able to pinpoint the key’s exact location. However, I am more than willing to accompany you into the passageway.”
He waggled his brows ever so slightly, a gesture that bordered the edge of suggestiveness and Kagome made a face at him, refusing to accept his hand and moving past him into the tunnel. Clearly undaunted, Peng only chuckled at her before following her down the corridor. The portal sealed over behind them leaving no evidence of its existence.
The pair moved down the tunnel in silence for several moments before sudden recollection inspired Kagome to speak. “Hey,” she said inelegantly, “If you wanted to keep mikos away, why were you…” she trailed off, uncertain how to continue. “Before I entered your… personal dimension,” she managed uncomfortably, “I felt like, like something or someone was calling to me. Was that you?”
He gave her an odd look. “No, I was sleeping before your arrival.” then after a moment he asked, “Have you already retrieved any of the other keys?”
“One.” she told him, “We found the blue one.”
Peng nodded, “Because you, a powerful priestess, have already touched one of the keys, and the keys are connected to the chains and the chains thus connected to the dragon, it is likely that it was the dragon itself that inspired you to move forward and enter my realm.”
“What?!” she asked, her heart skipping a beat.
His expression turned serious, his eyes again facing forward to the path ahead. “It was calling out to you; it wishes to be released,” he said gravely. He turned to her then and she was struck by how intense he looked now. “But you must not allow it. It is a wonder they managed to seal him in the first place. His power is beyond imagining.”
Not daring to ask how he came to that knowledge, Kagome suppressed a shiver and gave a quick nod. “With each new key, the sensation will probably become even stronger. The beast’s willful spirit might even try to incite you to releasing it. If even one of the locks is removed, the dragon will wake fully and it is very likely that it will break free of the remaining bonds. If someone is not there with the amulet to subdue it, the creature will run rampant through these lands and destroy any and everything in its path.”
The young miko nodded again, her expression becoming thoughtful. Suddenly, something tugged insistently on her soul and the breath was stolen from her lungs. “There!” she cried, her abrupt declaration surprising her temporary companion. Like Peng had predicted, the call she had felt earlier was stronger now and without a second thought, she broke into a light jog down the monotonous grey tunnel. Faintly alarmed, the youkai immediately trailed after her.
She turned a sharp corner and gasped at the thick wall of ice that greeted her there. Jagged in some places and smooth in others, the wall seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky while thin wisps of frost floated from its mirrored surface. “It’s… wow…” she said quietly, her hand moving to touch it but then shrinking away at the icy chill it emitted.
Peng, who had since joined her in the small corridor, saw nothing but a grey expanse of wall and realizing that her miko senses must have detected something he did not, he merely stood silently behind her.
Swallowing dryly, Kagome again reached forward, the tips of her fingers brushing the surface of the ice. She was startled when it began to melt and pulled her hand back as if it were she that had been burned.
“Are you hurt?” she heard the youkai ask and she could not help but to find comfort at the concern in his voice.
“No, it’s just… the ice…” she trailed off distractedly. Then, she rubbed her hands together as if to warm them before reaching for the ice again. This time she was not surprised when the ice began to melt. As if her hand were engulfed in flames, the ice parted even before her palm could make contact with it. Peng watched with interest as her hand seemed to disappear into the wall, the sleeve of her haori falling back until even her elbow was no longer visible.
Finally, Kagome felt the tips of her fingers brush over something that was extremely cold, but she could tell it was not ice. She grabbed hold of it and attempted to pull it out. It resisted her efforts and she tightened her grip, ignoring the burning cold and trying again. It still would not budge so she summoned a small amount of her powers allowing them to radiate from her hand and with a final, insistent yank, the item came free.
Not having anticipated its abrupt release, Kagome stumbled back and was only saved from the cold hard ground by the male who stood behind her. The albatross youkai caught her easily and made certain to steady her on her feet before releasing her. She sent him an appreciative, but inattentive smile before she turned back to the item that now rested in her palm.
Shimmering in gold just like the one before it, the key lay innocuously in the palm of her hand, a large, white diamond centered in its rounded bow.
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Note: the bow of a key is the part you would hold while turning it.
That aside, I know, I know, there wasn’t any Sess/Kag interaction in this chapter. I hope I managed to keep it interesting anyway. Besides, I felt a little time apart would do them good. It makes the times they are together that much more rewarding. Also, I know that the retrieval of this key seemed pretty easy, but there are still two yet to go. I suspect that this will be the only break they’ll get.
Oh, and abut Peng, I’d really like to know what you guys think of him. Aside from using him to give out oodles of information, I wanted him to be really interesting. I have always wanted to create a character that was kind of all over the place personality wise and I used him for this outlet. I hope you all enjoyed.
Until next time…
Wei-Peng and the White Key
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His eyes wide and the unruly mop of his silver tresses flying about as he urgently scanned the surrounding area, Inuyasha could not escape the mild stirrings of panic when Kagome’s familiar form continued to evade him.
“Where… where the hell did she get to?!” he queried in spite of the knowledge that the male beside him would have had no more information than he. Unsurprisingly, Sesshoumaru did not deign to answer, his eyes remaining fixed on the last spot he had seen the miko. Though his features appeared largely unchanged from their normal bland indifference, Inuyasha was certain he had just felt a flux in his sibling’s aura. It was only brief, a quick flash of… something; something which felt like agitation suffused with confusion and intense frustration.
Even though the sensation was swiftly locked away behind the barriers with which Sesshoumaru always surrounded himself, the hanyou was positive in what he’d felt. Still agitatedly searching for Kagome, he heard his remaining companions skid to a stop shortly behind him.
“Where’d she go?!” Sango asked frantically, her head darting from left to right and back again as she too began to search for the miko.
“What happened?” Miroku chimed in, adding his question to the mix as he looked worriedly between the inu siblings.
“Don’t know!” Inuyasha answered both questions, his level of anxiety increasing with every moment the miko remained out of his sight. “Quit asking so many questions and spread out! We need to find her!”
No one argued with him and almost absently, the hanyou noted that Sesshoumaru had already moved some distance away and was clearly scanning the area. The others fanned out as well, each of their hearts clinging to the intense desire to find their friend while also attempting to ignore the uncomfortable knowledge that Kagome, more than any of them, seemed to possess a natural propensity of finding trouble wherever it lay.
Directionless rage simmered just beneath the endless depths of Sesshoumaru’s golden gaze. He was finding himself mightily displeased that the miko had run off on her own, but was not entirely sure who to blame. He still was uncertain as to whether or not she had acted on her own or whether something else had galvanized her actions, but he supposed it did not matter either way. The important thing now was to find her before she managed to get herself into trouble.
He would decide what to do next once he retrieved her.
The traveling companions turned search party, had managed to get a few scant yards between them as they fanned out in all directions before the air around them suddenly changed. Charged with an energy no one could clearly name, it instantly put them all on edge and with the exception of Sesshoumaru, who only paused in his movements and began gazing intensely into the sky, the friends gathered together placing their backs to one another as they awaited what would come. The wait was not long and the relative silence was soon pierced by a strange sound; something like a bellowing roar before the mountain began to shake with the rhythmic hammering of large feet. Lots of them.
Drawing Tetsuaiga from its sheath, Inuyasha scowled and grumbled. “Now what?!” then, glancing over his shoulder to where he knew his brother stood he said, “Whatever this is… we’ll hold it off.” his brow furrowed meaningfully and the rest of his thoughts were communicated only by the hard look in his eyes.
‘Find her!’
Without a word the daiyoukai pivoted on his heel before taking to the skies.
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Her eyes narrowed against the bright flash of youki, Kagome resisted the urge to shield them, opting instead to maintain her stance as she did not know what the demon would do next. Gradually, the light began to fade and in the place of the gigantic bird stood what appeared to be a man.
Tall and fair, the male was indeed a sight to behold. Only his ears, each pointed at the tip, gave away his demonic heritage. His jet black hair was gathered at the top of his head where it was bound in a tight bun, long but narrow bands of side locks being left free to drape over his apparently well developed shoulders. Like the feathers he had worn before his transformation, his attire was predominantly white, while his armor was mostly black and trimmed in gold. She noted that his pants, white and silk, were very similar to those worn by Sesshoumaru. But, instead of the elaborate obi Sesshoumaru tended to wear, this male wore a broad sash which draped over the front of his pants and came to rest just below his knees. His overall look, including the unusual design of his armor, the lack of long billowing sleeves and the boots, which were pointed and curved up at the tips, gave away his place of origin. He was from the continent.
“Who are you?” the male asked suddenly, his rich, accented voice simultaneously confirming her assessment of his origin and distracting her from her barely concealed perusal.
“My name is Kagome.” she replied and was proud at the firmness of her voice.
The demon narrowed his dark eyes at her and even though she sensed no malevolence in his aura, Kagome tensed, ignoring the tiring of her arms as she continued to aim a heavily charged arrow at the center of his forehead..
“You are obviously a miko,” he said speculatively, “So there is no way you should have been able to penetrate my barrier. And quit pointing that arrow at me!” he demanded almost as an after thought. “If I had meant you any harm, I would have killed you three times over by now!”
Surprised more by his tone than his words, Kagome inadvertently conceded to his orders, slowly relaxing her stance though she remained slightly on edge. The youkai walked over to her, his strides swift and purposeful and before she could decide whether or not to reclaim her offensive posture, the male was standing before her. He openly looked her over, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom. For her part, the miko was just on the brink of informing him how rude it was to stare when his arm reached forward and a powerful hand was wrapped around her right wrist.
“Hey!” Kagome protested vehemently, but the male ignored her as he turned a curious gaze upon the beads that circled her thin wrist.
“Ah,” he declared knowingly, “So you are in love with a demon.” His remaining hand came up to rub his chin. He could sense that the rosary she wore was only one half of a whole, the other portion being worn by an inu youkai. He was well aware that some species of demon signified their marriage, or mating bonds through shared trinkets such as this. The fact that she was connected to a demon in such a way was likely the only reason why she had been able to pass through his barrier.
Blushing, the miko finally snatched her hand away, a light blush spreading over her cheeks. “What?!” she asked incredulously.
Unconcerned of her words and actions, the male continued as if she had not spoken, “Though his demonic aura suggests that he is not a particularly powerful demon.” he looked her over again. “Well, to each his own.” he said, giving her a mildly disdainful look.
“What would you know!?” Kagome seethed, her ire invoked by his lofty attitude and the insult he had so casually lobbed against her friend. “Inuyasha’s not weak!” then as she remembered what else he had said she continued, “And I’m not in love with…”
“Then he must be… a hanyou?” he postulated, his features contorted in confusion. He could sense in the woman’s aura that she was an especially powerful priestess and could not help but wonder why she would be willing to saddle herself with a half-demon. Not, he amended mentally, that all hanyou were weak, in fact some could be rather powerful indeed, but from experience, he knew that the rare females who were not only privy to such powers, but also willing to mate a youkai, tended to settle for nothing less than daiyoukai.
Frowning, and oddly offended, Kagome crossed her arms over her chest as best she could while her bow and arrow were still clutched in her fingers. “Yes, he is hanyou, but I hardly see how that’s of any…”
“Humph.” he murmured audibly, his eyes staring blankly off into the distance as he again ignored her words. “Well,” he said as he turned back to her, “I suppose that’s of little importance now. If you fought your way through my barrier, I suppose you must have had some reason for doing so. Why are you here?”
Ignoring his rudeness, Kagome put her weapons away and calmly cleared her throat. “I’m looking for a key.” she intoned evenly.
At her words, the demon gave her a long assessing look. Through sheer dint of will, the miko resisted the urge to fidget under his immovable gaze and stood proudly in the face of his scrutiny. Finally, he asked, “Who sent you?” the previous airiness of his voice lost to the icy steel he now infused into his tone.
Not having anticipated the question, the miko allowed surprise to show in her expression before her brow crinkled and she searched her memories to recall the name of the old fox. “Dai… Daisuke!” she announced, a smile finding her lips with the emergence of her recollection.
“Hn.” the male murmured thoughtfully, “And I suppose you have proof of this?”
“Proof?!” Kagome echoed back, a bit of color draining from her cheeks. The youkai’s eyes narrowed at that.
“Yes,” he intoned almost menacingly. His eyes hardened and he took a deliberate step in her direction. “Proof,” he reiterated.
Though she did not shrink away, the miko’s eyes widened slightly as she continued to stare up at him. ‘Proof?’ she wondered, ‘What could he…’
“Oh!” she declared excitedly and snapped her fingers, an action the male thought a little odd. She quickly slid her traveling bag from her shoulders and began digging through its contents. In a moment, she retrieved a roll of parchment but she did not hand it over. Recalling what Daisuke had told her about this mission and the confidentiality he had entrusted her with, she instantly decided that she would not show him the map.
“How’s your sense of smell?” she asked and the demon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I…” he began, uncertain how to answer the unexpected query and faintly wondering if he should be insulted. “Fairly good I suppose.”
Rolling her eyes impatiently she continued, “Daisuke asked that I keep the specifics of my mission confidential, but he did give me this,” she waggled the tightly coiled parchment, though she still held it close, almost protectively against her person. “I won’t show you what’s on it, but if your sense of smell is good, you should be able to detect his scent on it.”
Raising a brow, the male considered her words and in a few seconds deduced that the girl was reasonably clever. She didn’t know him any better than he knew her and she quickly managed to come up with a solution that would satisfy them both. “Fair enough,” he agreed.
Now it was Kagome’s turn to eye him suspiciously. “Put your hands behind your back and promise not to move them until after I put this away.”
Annoyance flashed in his eyes for only a second before it was replaced with exasperated humor. A small chuckle escaped his lips and Kagome couldn’t help but tremble lightly at the sound. The demon spoke in a deep tenor that was really quite alluring and the sound of his laugher tickled her in a way that was not quite funny. “Very well.” he said and with a small smirk, he placed his hands behind his back and leaned forward.
Satisfied in spite of her intimate knowledge of demon speed, Kagome tentatively lifted the map to him. Not really knowing what would be close enough, she held the parchment somewhere around six inches from his nose. She noted the delicate flaring of his nostrils and when she felt he had sufficient time to take in the scent she pulled the paper away and folded her arms over her chest. “Well?” she asked expectantly.
Sure enough, the demon was able to detect Daisuke’s unique musk among the other fragrances that clung to the parchment. Satisfied and barely remembering to keep his hands behind him, the male straightened his back and gave a curt nod. “Yes, it seems the old kitsune’s scent is present on what I can only assume is the map he gave you to aid in your quest? As I am certain the old trickster wouldn‘t let such a thing out of his sight otherwise, I can only assume that you speak the truth.”
Deciding that no answer was necessary, as he apparently had taken her word and understood what she was trying to do, Kagome said nothing as she put the map back in her bag. “Well then,” she said once her things were again situated to her liking, “Do you know where the key is or what?”
Finding the little miko more amusing by the moment, the youkai smiled. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
They stared at one another for several seconds, the demon smiling politely, yet showing no sign that he would say or do anything other than stare at her idiotically. Not that he was bad to look at, but Kagome did not have time to be standing around and her patience quickly came to an end. “Well, are you planning on telling me or would you rather we just stand here and stare at each other?!”
“Oh!” he said as if he had not expected her to say something along these lines. A huge, and rather fetching smile was plastered on his lips and his eyes were shining with mirth. “So you want me to tell you where the key is.” his smile only broadened at the exasperated look the little woman sent his way. “It would likely be even better if I showed you myself ne?” he glanced into the sky. “I suppose we should get going then, the portal will only remain open for another…” he trailed off thoughtfully and Kagome’s eyes widened with interest. “Hmm… now that I come to think of it,” he said, his hand coming up to rub his chin. “It may already be closed.”
“What?!” the miko cried incredulously, opting to ignore the fact that she wasn’t really sure what portal he was talking about. “Are you telling me that we’ve been wasting all this time and now we can’t get the key?!”
“Perhaps.” he stated cryptically, sending a sly but indistinct look at her.
“There may be time yet though!” he added quickly, the low growl emitted from the girl suggesting that he attempt to placate her. “Come,” he smiled and extended a hand to her. “We must make haste if we are to get there in time.”
Kagome ignored the smirk on his lips and eyed his hand warily. Only now did she fully realize that she had become separated from her friends and she glanced back over her shoulder. Deciding that it must have had something to do with her passage through the barrier, she resolved to find her companions as soon as she had located the key. They were probably waiting for her on the other side of the barrier anyway so there was no need to worry about them. Turning back to him, she was struck with the recollection that time was of the essence and she cautiously accepted the youkai’s proffered hand.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the male swept her up into a sidelong embrace and took to the skies. “By the way,” he spoke up, ignoring her startled, indignant shriek, “My name is Wei-Peng.” he turned from their path to smile down on her, “But you may simply call me Peng.”
Managing to escape the last vestiges of surprise invoked by their sudden flight, Kagome frowned but said, “Thank you Peng… for taking me to the key, I mean.”
“Peng!?” he asked imperiously, “Who gave you permission to address me so informally!?”
Kagome’s eyes widened in shock. “But you just said…” She looked at him, noting the laughter visible only in his eyes and sighed with exasperation. Deciding that it was best not to argue she amended, “Peng-san?”
Peng only smiled at her and turned back to watch their path.
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In the short time Kagome had become acquainted with the albatross youkai called Wei-Peng, she had learned that he was quite possibly the strangest man she had ever met, even more so than the sword smith Totosai. In one moment he could be serious, arrogant or even intimidating and in the next he could be lobbing jokes, (although it was sometimes difficult to tell) and then he’d go right from that to being deep, informative and occasionally somber.
When she’d asked why she’d become separated from her friends in her passage through the barrier, he had explained that the barrier was created specifically to deter miko, so it would affect her differently than it would the others. She was able to decipher from his complicated explanation that the barrier she had passed through to get to him, was not in fact a barrier at all. It was a wall… of sorts. He made the mountains his home some years ago and had spread a thick but transparent youki around them which, while done to deter miko, could also affect others who possessed holy powers and even humans who did not. It held no affect on youkai. The wall she had passed through, had in effect, been the boarder of a separate dimension he had created as his personal inner sanctum; in other words, his bedroom. The miko had blushed furiously at that.
Not wanting to dwell on that particular piece of information, Kagome had asked what he had against miko. Why did he wish to keep them away from the mountains, and thus away from himself. His ever present smile had faded with the question and he had explained that, many years ago, he’d fallen in love with a miko back in his homeland. Ostracized for their love, the pair had fled the continent and took up residence in this new land. After arriving here, he told her that his love betrayed him, though he did not deign to disclose any specifics. Heartbroken and not wishing to return to the ridicule that surely awaited him back home, he took up residence in the mountains and attempted to assure himself that he would never set eyes on another priestess again.
The confession had caused Kagome to regret her intrusion and she had apologized for disturbing him. His smile had instantly returned and he told her that it was of no consequence. The incident with his intended wife had occurred many, many years ago and he was all but over the pain her disloyalty had invoked. “Besides,” he had said almost casually, “It was her loss. She would be long dead by now.” When she’d scowled at him for the offhanded remark, he’d shrugged and said, “If she had stayed with me, she would have retained her youth and beauty for as long as I live.”
The miko had asked what he’d meant by that and he’d told her about a bond that can be created between youkai and human who are able to look beyond the differences between their species and come together as husband and wife. She recalled Kaede saying something similar, but his explanation was far more detailed.
“If that’s the case,” Kagome had said, “Then why aren’t there more humans married to demons? Wouldn’t they do so just so they could become immortal?”
It was a fair question, and the answer was simple. He had explained that the bond could only be created when there was a profound and mutual love between the pair. It was also exclusive to youkai who intended to take only one mate. And even with that, human immortality could only be achieved when the demon was of great power, and the human, be it a monk, priest, priestess or sorcerer, had to be in possession of great power in his or her own right. In some cases, he had added, the human can be effected by the bond even before it is fully created. “However,” he had countered in a more somber tone, “In most places the rift between the humans and demons grows only wider each day. I have seen the two species sacrifice even the lives of their children in a bid to destroy one another. It seems that most humans would rather die than share their lives with a demon.”
Staring thoughtfully into the distance, Kagome had recalled the incident with Rin; noting that the girl’s wound had healed far quicker than what would have been normal for an ordinary human.
The same thing had happened to her as well…
Abruptly changing the subject and inadvertently retrieving the little priestess from the privacy of her thoughts, Peng had asked, “So the old fox has finally decided to destroy the keys? Or does he have something else in mind?”
She started slightly and then stared up at him for a moment before deciding to answer. Apparently the two already knew of one another and if Daisuke had entrusted Peng-san enough to let him guard the key, it was probably okay to speak with him frankly on the subject. “Yes. He asked me to collect the keys so that they could be returned to the foundry in which they were forged. He told me that they needed to be destroyed so that they didn’t fall into the wrong hands.”
Peng nodded in understanding. “I told the old trickster that it would be better to destroy those wretched things! Leaving them around was just asking for trouble in the first place!”
The pair had landed shortly after this discussion and Kagome noted, with a level of disappointment, that this portion of the mountain, while a bit snowier, didn’t look much different than the place from which they’d come. He released her with a hint of reluctance and slowly made his way to what appeared to be an ordinary embankment of pure white snow. Kagome watched him curiously and he raised a single hand, his palm facing away from him as if to touch something only he could see. Her continued gaze was met with a soft bluish light that radiated from his palm. It slowly spread out in soft waves which reminded her of the ripples of water when its surface was warped by a stone.
It was colder here, she noted almost absently and she wrapped her arms around herself hiding her hands in her sleeves in an attempt to escape the icy breeze. Smiling in satisfaction, Peng turned away and gave a curt nod. “It seems we made it in the nick of time.” he said, smiling at Kagome’s obvious confusion.
“This portal,” he began in explanation, “Is unlike the one you encountered before. It responds only to my touch, and even then it is accessible only during certain times of the day and certain times of the season.” then, answering her question before it could be voiced he went on, “This is because of the nature of the item the portal was designed to protect. Daisuke and I decided that accessibility should be kept to a minimum. It is fortunate that you arrived here today rather than tomorrow. After this day, the portal will be closed even to me for the next six lunar cycles.”
“Six months?” she repeated, her eyes widening slightly. Before she could invest much thought into this, she was distracted by the large hand that entered her field of vision.
“Shall we?” he asked, bringing her attention to his handsome face. Looking past him, she now noticed an area directly in front of him. It was like the entrance to a tunnel, but it was carved into the air itself. It was one of the strangest things she’d ever seen! On either side of the dome-shaped opening, the mountain scenery was unchanged, but as she moved to stand in front of it, she could see that it lead to a long, dimly lit passageway. “There is nothing to fear.” the youkai spoke up when he saw the uncertain look on her face. “Because of the seal placed on the key by Izumi-sama, only you will be able to pinpoint the key’s exact location. However, I am more than willing to accompany you into the passageway.”
He waggled his brows ever so slightly, a gesture that bordered the edge of suggestiveness and Kagome made a face at him, refusing to accept his hand and moving past him into the tunnel. Clearly undaunted, Peng only chuckled at her before following her down the corridor. The portal sealed over behind them leaving no evidence of its existence.
The pair moved down the tunnel in silence for several moments before sudden recollection inspired Kagome to speak. “Hey,” she said inelegantly, “If you wanted to keep mikos away, why were you…” she trailed off, uncertain how to continue. “Before I entered your… personal dimension,” she managed uncomfortably, “I felt like, like something or someone was calling to me. Was that you?”
He gave her an odd look. “No, I was sleeping before your arrival.” then after a moment he asked, “Have you already retrieved any of the other keys?”
“One.” she told him, “We found the blue one.”
Peng nodded, “Because you, a powerful priestess, have already touched one of the keys, and the keys are connected to the chains and the chains thus connected to the dragon, it is likely that it was the dragon itself that inspired you to move forward and enter my realm.”
“What?!” she asked, her heart skipping a beat.
His expression turned serious, his eyes again facing forward to the path ahead. “It was calling out to you; it wishes to be released,” he said gravely. He turned to her then and she was struck by how intense he looked now. “But you must not allow it. It is a wonder they managed to seal him in the first place. His power is beyond imagining.”
Not daring to ask how he came to that knowledge, Kagome suppressed a shiver and gave a quick nod. “With each new key, the sensation will probably become even stronger. The beast’s willful spirit might even try to incite you to releasing it. If even one of the locks is removed, the dragon will wake fully and it is very likely that it will break free of the remaining bonds. If someone is not there with the amulet to subdue it, the creature will run rampant through these lands and destroy any and everything in its path.”
The young miko nodded again, her expression becoming thoughtful. Suddenly, something tugged insistently on her soul and the breath was stolen from her lungs. “There!” she cried, her abrupt declaration surprising her temporary companion. Like Peng had predicted, the call she had felt earlier was stronger now and without a second thought, she broke into a light jog down the monotonous grey tunnel. Faintly alarmed, the youkai immediately trailed after her.
She turned a sharp corner and gasped at the thick wall of ice that greeted her there. Jagged in some places and smooth in others, the wall seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky while thin wisps of frost floated from its mirrored surface. “It’s… wow…” she said quietly, her hand moving to touch it but then shrinking away at the icy chill it emitted.
Peng, who had since joined her in the small corridor, saw nothing but a grey expanse of wall and realizing that her miko senses must have detected something he did not, he merely stood silently behind her.
Swallowing dryly, Kagome again reached forward, the tips of her fingers brushing the surface of the ice. She was startled when it began to melt and pulled her hand back as if it were she that had been burned.
“Are you hurt?” she heard the youkai ask and she could not help but to find comfort at the concern in his voice.
“No, it’s just… the ice…” she trailed off distractedly. Then, she rubbed her hands together as if to warm them before reaching for the ice again. This time she was not surprised when the ice began to melt. As if her hand were engulfed in flames, the ice parted even before her palm could make contact with it. Peng watched with interest as her hand seemed to disappear into the wall, the sleeve of her haori falling back until even her elbow was no longer visible.
Finally, Kagome felt the tips of her fingers brush over something that was extremely cold, but she could tell it was not ice. She grabbed hold of it and attempted to pull it out. It resisted her efforts and she tightened her grip, ignoring the burning cold and trying again. It still would not budge so she summoned a small amount of her powers allowing them to radiate from her hand and with a final, insistent yank, the item came free.
Not having anticipated its abrupt release, Kagome stumbled back and was only saved from the cold hard ground by the male who stood behind her. The albatross youkai caught her easily and made certain to steady her on her feet before releasing her. She sent him an appreciative, but inattentive smile before she turned back to the item that now rested in her palm.
Shimmering in gold just like the one before it, the key lay innocuously in the palm of her hand, a large, white diamond centered in its rounded bow.
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Note: the bow of a key is the part you would hold while turning it.
That aside, I know, I know, there wasn’t any Sess/Kag interaction in this chapter. I hope I managed to keep it interesting anyway. Besides, I felt a little time apart would do them good. It makes the times they are together that much more rewarding. Also, I know that the retrieval of this key seemed pretty easy, but there are still two yet to go. I suspect that this will be the only break they’ll get.
Oh, and abut Peng, I’d really like to know what you guys think of him. Aside from using him to give out oodles of information, I wanted him to be really interesting. I have always wanted to create a character that was kind of all over the place personality wise and I used him for this outlet. I hope you all enjoyed.
Until next time…