InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets Behind Too Much Power ❯ The Missing ( Chapter 3 )

Secrets Behind Too Much Power

Chapter 3: The Missing

 

Something was wrong. He didn't need the reports to tell him that. There was something other than a rebel group rising “in the name of Naraku” as they put it. Stupid beings. For they weren't just lower youkai, but others that believed in the ridiculous hanyou's goal.

Sesshoumaru shook his head in frustrated annoyance. The rebels were one thing; he could squash them and their `dreams.' It was the unnatural calm, and great fortune, which was taking effect everywhere else. No villages were fighting with each other; they were all remarkably prosperous. What was going on?

He was stirred out of his thoughts by an eagle demon as it flew in next to him. “My lord.” He said calmly with a bow.

“What do you have to report?”

“A human rebel group. One your father thought had been done away with. They are reforming. They plan to over throw you. The only difference was the plan to seek demonic help. From who, I do not know.”

“Watch them, closely. Find out anything and everything you can” Sesshoumaru commanded. “Report back regularly.”

“Yes, my lord.” With that the eagle took back to the skies, and the Western Lord continued along the path. He didn't fly on his youkai cloud because he knew the power it radiated would warn Naraku's rebels that he was near. He couldn't have that, he needed them off guard, and then he could… dispose of the problem.

A disturbing scent suddenly attacked his nose. It was disgusting. Reeking of beings that had not bathed in days, perhaps weeks and they had been sweating. It was all Sesshoumaru could do not to gag.

He looked around, and realized the scent was stronger directly in front of him. Odd, they went off the path to the village and into the forest? Hmm…

He followed the smell, masking his aura and scent. Shortly he came upon a rather larger cave. In which, lazed around two- or three-dozen people. Sesshoumaru leapt into a tree and observed them from above.

There were two men in a heated dispute about… whether they, Naraku's Rebels, should join in force with the humans.

The rebels my father disbanded? Sesshoumaru questioned silently.

“… But sir! Why bother? They are weak, Naraku doesn't need them” Said a man who was sickly thin, with a higher and rather shrill voice. Obviously he was a rat or mouse demon. With

“True, but if we help them get rid of Lord Sesshoumaru, then a human will take over and with a flick of his wrist, Naraku will have the western, and largest territory,” Objected the other, whom had a gruffer and deeper voice that matched his foul appearance.

The youkai in the trees had to suppress a growl, as this reached his ears. Naraku… Once again the vile hanyou was interfering with his life. He would pay dearly for such treasons. Oh how he would pay.

Sesshoumaru leapt silently out of the tree and summoned his acid whip slicing all the traitors, which proceeded to melt due to the decomposing properties of the acid. Soon only puddles of goop surrounded him.

A sneer crossed his face. Disgusting filth. They dare to defy this Sesshoumaru?! May they rot in hell. He pivoted on his heel and walked off, now that that was settled, he needed to return to patrolling his lands. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could go home and relax, if only briefly.

Once back onto the road, Sesshoumaru's youkai cloud formed around his feet and the regal lord rose into the sky. Safe…peaceful…negotiating… Passed through his mind as he flew over the villages, and farms.

He almost, almost, wished for Naraku to attack. That, at least, would provide longer lasting entertainment than those he had disposed of a short while ago.

But no, there was nothing. No word, no sight, no warning or anything of what was to come! Oh how the gods must be laughing. Playing a cruel trick and twisting his life to the will.

Much later that evening, Lord Sesshoumaru landed on his balcony. The sun had just set, and he was tired, though he would never admit it. But for some reason he seemed more exhausted, from using his youkai cloud, than he usually did. Odd…

However he didn't ponder on it long, for he was quickly sprawled out, most undignified like, across his large bed. That was more than large enough for several to comfortably sleep in, at once, but still too small for his youkai form.

He was asleep fast enough that he never registered the difference in the castle…

 

Earlier that day

 

“Rin! Rin?! Curses, where the hell are you wench?” Jakken shouted as he darted through the maze hallways of his master's castle, which was more of a gothic type palace.

The girl in question, Rin, insisted of turning everything into a game of some sorts. That was if he was lucky, if not, well, let's not put it past the child to dress him up like a doll.

“Riiiiiiiiiiiin!” He shouted once again, only to be met with a shriek of terror from none other than Rin. He ran in that direction fearful of what he would be met with. And oddly enough he wasn't worried because his life was on the line if anything happened to her, but because he actually cared. He hated admitting it but the little human had grown on him.

“Jaaaaaaaaaaakkeeeeeeeen!” Rin screamed, as she rounded the corner and shot towards him. Not even a second later some ugly, scarred demon turned the corner to continue after its prey.

“Rin! Get away from her you oaf! Staff of Two Heads!” The man's face spewed fire from its mouth and the demon fell back with a cry of pain.

“Come, Rin, run!” And the two ran, tears rolling from Rin's eyes as she ran a head of Jakken. Soon, however, the little toad's footsteps ceased, and Rin dared a look behind her.

What met her eyes terrified her, into running harder, her sole focus becoming the desperate need to get as far away as possible.

She turned a sudden corner, and regretted it; there in front of her was a girl with pure white hair, soulless grey eyes, and clothes to match her hair. Under normal circumstances Rin would have asked her to play, but these were not normal circumstances, and this `girl', if you could call her that set Rin on edge. Something was not fright with her, and why does she carry a mirror?

Rin found out shortly. Her eyes became huge, nearly bulging as much as Jakken's did. She watched as the mirror began to glow, and saw herself only with a glow around it. A glow that was slowly leaking into the mirror. Something within her chest started to ache. What was happening? She never found out as darkness consumed her conscious.

 

Jakken had stopped running, because he was much slower than Rin, and if he couldn't get out with her, he damned well make sure she got out safe. So he turned and used his staff to burn the foe to death. However, lady luck wasn't with him, and the demon, severely burnt and livid, caught him in strong, massive jaws.

Kagura stood back, in the middle of two crossing hallways. She shifted her fan to control the dead demon that Sesshoumaru's little imp was trying to defeat the undead enemy. A cruel, mirthless laugh bubbled from her lips, as white gleaming teeth poked out from under them.

“Die!” The wind witch shouted and brought the fan down in a great sweep in front of her causing a large gust of wind, turned into little deadly blades, to fly at the two demons.

The big one took the main damage, and was killed. Jakken, however, was hit hard, hard enough to be knocked unconscious. The good thing to that, Kagura believed him to be dead.

Now for the girl. Kagura thought, turning to head the way she had seen the toad and girl running. Except, now she was nowhere in sight. Hmm, wonder if Kanna beat me to her.

Sure enough, she came to the two and the Void Girl was lowering the mirror; the little girl Naraku ad sent them after was unconscious on the ground.

“You do plan on giving that back don't you?” Kagura asked.

“Hai. Master Naraku would not approve if his bait was all but dead.” Kanna replied in her listless voice. Kagura involuntarily shivered, oh how the little girl could creep even her out!

Shaking the thought from her mind, the Wind Witch scooped the child into her arms and left the Western Palace; Kanna right behind her.

The trip on Kagura's trademark feather was silent, that is, until Kanna had to return the portion of Rin's soul she stole. Then there was a ruckus, but that was solved with a snap. The bound her hand and foot, plus they gagged her.

Now it was silent again, and they were upon Naraku who appeared to be conversing with the inu-hanyou and his lackeys…