InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part II): Tortured Soul ❯ Sesshoumaru's Sacrifice ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter Fifteen

Sesshoumaru's Sacrifice

Sesshoumaru could sense Naraku. He was not far away now. He had been flying faster than he could ever remember flying. He could feel his demon form taking over, and held it back. The last thing he wanted was to frighten the priestess worse than she already was. And certainly seeing him in his true form would do nothing but frighten her.

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Naraku sat waiting. Hitomi had told him what she had done, and he had to admit it was perfect. The demon lord was now on his way, and would be willing to trade the shinju for the girl. Naraku gave thought to the priestess. He desired her very much, and did not wish to give her up. Then a smile passed over his face, for now she belonged to him and he could find her no matter where they tried to hide her. Once he had the gem he would allow her to leave, and reclaim her later.

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Miroku looked down at InuYasha. He was doing his best to keep Sesshoumaru's scent, but the demon had taken off in a fierce hurry. The group moved as fast as they could, but it would take some time before they caught up to Sesshoumaru.

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Kagome was woken by Naraku's servant. She informed her that she was to come with her. The servant led her to the baths and Kagome allowed herself to relax. For some reason Naraku had not bothered her yet today, which made her feel somewhat nervous. When she stepped out she was given her undergarments and a beautiful silk kimono that looked like ivory. She dressed and again the servant brushed her hair. She reached down and felt her side. It was still very sore, but she couldn't heal it. She was saving up every bit of energy she could. If Naraku tried to force himself on her, she needed to be able to protect herself.

When she returned to the room Naraku was waiting. She instantly became tense and tried to keep distance between them. He walked towards her and pulled her to him. "The demon will be here soon. If he gives me the shinju, I will allow you to leave. If he doesn't; tonight I will claim you as mine." Her eyes grew frightened. She couldn't allow Sesshoumaru to give him the gem, no matter what. She felt tears again coming to her eyes, but refused to let him see them. He then pushed her onto the bed and left. She sat there trembling, not knowing what would happen when Sesshoumaru showed up.

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Naraku was waiting outside the castle when Sesshoumaru arrived. The two demons stared each other down, contemplating one another. Finally Naraku broke into a malicious smile.

"Don't tell me you actually came to protect a human, Lord Sesshoumaru. Surely you don't care about her fate." Sesshoumaru's blood was boiling. He considered transforming and ripping Naraku apart, but looked around. He couldn't sense the priestess here. "Where is she?" He asked the half breed standing in front of him.

Again Naraku smiled. "You won't be able to find her; I have marked her as mine. She is part of me now, one of my possessions." Sesshoumaru stepped towards Naraku and pulled his Tokijin. "Where is she?" Naraku took on a dark look. "You give me the shinju and I will turn her over to you."

Sesshoumaru continued to stare the half demon down. "I want to see her now, Naraku." He was not daunted by the demon lord. He too stepped forward.

"I will give her to you, as soon as I have the gem. If you choose to keep it, then I will keep her." Finally Sesshoumaru used his power to extract the shinju from his eye. The same thing he had done to his brother when they went to their father's tomb. He held it in his hands. The once beautiful shinju now looked like a dull black marble.

Naraku watched Sesshoumaru suspiciously. He could feel the power of the shinju, even in its tarnished state. He stepped towards the demon lord, and Sesshoumaru held up his sword.

"If the girl is not here within the minute, I will kill you and tear your castle apart myself, half breed." Naraku watched the shinju closely and then called to his servant. The young demoness appeared before them, and he ordered her to bring Kagome to them.

They stood watching each other attentively until they heard the women return. Kagome was clean and wearing a silk kimono, but Sesshoumaru could see that she was not well. Her skin was pale and she held dark circles under her eyes. Her cheeks were sunken from lack of nourishment and loss of blood. She walked stiffly towards them and Naraku grabbed her and pulled her close to him. He gripped her hair, much like the last time the three of them were together. Sesshoumaru stepped closer and Naraku pulled her head back further. It appeared as though Naraku had some amount of power over her. Probably do to the burn he had watched him give her. The demon lord was seething at the idea that he was being blackmailed.

Finally he spoke to Naraku. "Since I do not know if I will still have control over my Tenseiga once I have given you the gem, I want you to release her so that I may heal her before I give it to you."

Naraku glared at him but said nothing. Finally he took on a malevolent look and dropped his hands to her kimono. He pulled the top open and turned her around, showing the demon the mark he left on her.

"Even your sword can't heal this. Once you take her, I will be able to follow your every move." He then shoved Kagome to the ground and Sesshoumaru stepped towards her, quickly unsheathing his sword and using it on her, noting that Naraku spoke the truth of the mark, it still remained when her other injuries disappeared.

She looked up and began sobbing pulling her kimono back around her body. "You can't give him the shinju. Just leave now." Naraku looked down at the girl and said in a taunting tone. "Either way, I get something that I very much desire to have."

Sesshoumaru grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, and instantly Naraku was there. He grabbed Kagome's hair roughly again and pulled her away from the demon lord. Sesshoumaru looked at Naraku with hatred and then glanced at Kagome.

They then heard a loud noise coming from the wooded area. InuYasha rushed towards them and stopped dead in his tracks. He was watching Kagome. He could see her, but all he could smell was Naraku. He moved towards her and Naraku pulled her tightly against him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I would recommend that you keep your brother in line." Sesshoumaru looked towards InuYasha and put his arm up. "Don't move you'll only put the girl in danger."

Sesshoumaru watched Naraku and finally stepped forward and handed the shinju to him, and at the same moment grabbed Kagome and pulled her away from him. Kagome began to cry uncontrollably as she looked back at Naraku. He was gazing at her and then held up the shinju. Naraku then addressed Sesshoumaru.

"Thank you, for now this is all I will take." He then looked at Kagome. "I will seek you out later, to claim the other item that I desire." Sesshoumaru moved Kagome out of the way and prepared an attack, but found himself unable to keep a hold of his Tokijin any longer. Naraku chuckled and then disappeared.

Sesshoumaru glanced at the girl and then began to feel light headed. He looked to his brother and saw a look of shock passing over his face. Sesshoumaru continued to watch as InuYasha's hair and eyes faded to brown. His ears and claws disappeared. InuYasha was now standing before him in human form.

Sesshoumaru suddenly felt vulnerable. His senses were fading quickly and he too had no claws. He quickly turned back to the priestess and she held a look of disbelief on her face. Sesshoumaru then realized the words of the priestess Toshi had been true. The shinju held his demon soul. Without it he, like his ancestors, was a mere human.

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A/N: That's the end of part two…I will get around to posting the beginning of part three soon. Drop some reviews if you would like to me to post it quicker. LOL If not, I'll get around to it in the next couple of days. Here is the summary for part three:

The Secrets of the Shinju: Demon Blood, Gone.

Part Three of a Three Part Series

Having traded the shinju to save Kagome's life, a now human Sesshoumaru and InuYasha set out with Kagome to again meet with priestess Toshi to try and restore their demon blood. Kagome quickly learns that Hitomi wants her powers, and when Kagome refuses to comply the demoness takes one of Kagome's friends into her twisted world. When her friend's life is in mortal danger, Kagome is forced to turn to the most unexpected place for help. Priestess Toshi reveals disturbing news about the Shinju's past and its future.

Part Three will be rated NC-17 for sexual violence and reference to rape.