InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sunset Love ❯ Determination ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N – Ahhh.. So long…so very, very long. Stupid computers.. Anyhow the reason I have not posted in soooo very loooong was because the comp I had decided it needed a permanent vacation and had a melt down not too long after my last posting. So far all of you who’ve wondered.. Nope didn’t abandon you.. Just was forced to wait. Now I’ve got several chapters to write up and little time to do it is so I’ll try to post at least once a moth if possible bare with me guys I’m on a borrowed computer here and will be for a little while.

Disclaimer – Inuyasha is the sole property of their creature, but that wont stop me from tormenting the characters ever chance I can get with many twists and turns…and dungeons…and towers…and swords……*drifts off into infinity as each new torture comes to mind*
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Chapter 19 - Determination

Tanaka trembled in one corner of the darkened room as a slender hawk demon cowered in the presence of their master’s fury.

The hawk’s arrival had signified a change in the Western Lord’s plans but his long awaited report gave the master pause for concern.

“Are you certain of these events?” the master’s deep voice vibrated angrily from the room’s bare walls. He had risen from his chair to pace in front of the bowed youkai, his anger rising with each step he took.

“Y…yes master,” the hawk stammered, pressing his forehead even tighter against the wooden floor “the female inu-youkai held some sort of power over the Western Lord. I witnessed the events with my own eyes, master, and have every reason to believe the demoness to be the same Sora who is employed within these walls.”

“And you’re telling me, she vanished within the shadows when the miko confronted her? The disbelief in the master’s voice frightened both hawk and panther. The master was never uncertain of anything always holding back all displays of emotion with the exceptions of anger and satisfaction. Betrayals were often met with anger usually followed by the participants immediate death.

“There is more, Master,” the hawk’s wavering voice brought the master’s pacing to an abrupt halt.

“Go on.” The command came in the deadly tone Tanaka had grown to meant death for someone soon.

“Your servant Iyashii was captured soon after and is now being held under close watch. Until last night he refused to speak to anyone but the miko called Kagome. She awoke after two days and was ushered immediately to his holding cell by the general under her service. I do not know what was said because I could not enter the room but from the look on their faces when they emerged I believe he told them everything.”

“What did the miko do then?” the master’s tone was becoming deadlier with each new event revealed and Tanaka wondered if she should find a better pace to hide.

“She ordered that the inu-youkai be cared for and then left the castle. I believe, even now she and the bear general are on their way to meet up with Sesshomaru’s army at the Western Boundary.” the hawk explained without looking up at the master, to do so when he was this enraged was certain death.

“Return to your post, but be certain to report back when the miko returns to the castle or anything of importance should it occur in the meantime.” The master seated himself in the great chair and turned his face away from the hawk demon as his mind turned to the matters at hand.

“Yes master,” the hawk managed to squeak out before scurrying on all fours out of the room. In the lighter passage beyond the door Tanaka caught a glimpse of the crescent moon insignia on the arm of his haori that signified him as one of Sesshomaru’s soldiers.

The master never allowed weapons or armor to be worn in his presence so it did not surprise Tanaka that the hawk still wore the symbol on his haori. At least that explained how the demon had obtained so much information. She wondered if perhaps he had been among the small group that had protected the miko before Sora revealed her betrayal to everyone. Other spies in the castle had kept the master well advised of her illness as a means to find out why his brother Kage had taken an interest in the miko. Through these reports her master had almost become obsessed with trying to find any trace of the shadow youkai he could.

Tanaka dared steal a glance at the inu-youkai who dominated the room with his presence. The silence, once a comforting blanket around her, was now uncomfortable, radiating with the master’s ire.

“Come,” he commanded her when the master caught her glance. A smirk formed alng his mouth as the shaking panther youkai slunk toward him on all fours to curl around his legs. Clawed fingers dug their way through her short fur to puncture small holes in the tender skin underneath. She was his to command as he saw fit and it amused him how she refused to cry out in pain. Out of all the demons he commanded, Tanaka would always be his favorite. “it seems you fears were greatly founded my dear. Iyashii has one more betrayed out cause”

Tanaka wisely remained silent as he spoke knowing that he would soon command something of her. She glanced up at him questioningly her eyes fixing on the small orb he held in his other hand.

Whatever the master saw in its red depths displeased him even more for the claws dug deeper into her skin until Tanaka could feel her own blood soak through her fur. The pain also increased but she kept her silence, even as tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

“It would seem we have more to deal with then we first perceived.” his growl startled the panther and she bent her head toward the floor in a show of complete submissiveness.

“Some one has dared to enter my sanctuary and take that which is rightfully mine.” He looked down at her finally realizing just how far his fingers were buried into his pet. “Someone has taken the dog’s pup from my holdings.”

Tanaka looked up wide-eyed at her master with a sudden realization. She had not know her master still held the pup but believed her death had come soon after Iyashii’s first betrayal.

The master mused over this for a moment, his fingers caressing her blood soaked fur. One of his favored concubines lay dead on the floor of the hut he had placed the two in, the absence of the female child was unsettling. Who could have been strong enough to overtake Himiko? The demoness was a strong fighter and sorceress. It would have to have been a very powerful youkai to overcome the strict woman.

A month had passed since the last time he had visited Himiko and the child and he had not looked in on them the entire time as he should have. From the state of her body, the master believed it had occurred not long after his last visit, the telltale signs of animals feeding off her corpse attested to that. That meant two things: 1. The attacker had time to hide the pup, and 2. Iyashii had not known of the pup’s escape. It was an interesting problem.

The master grinned maniacally as a sudden idea came to him. If Iyashii did not know his pup was no longer in the master’s possession then he would not know if she were alive or dead. Maybe Iyashii still had his uses.

Tanaka shivered as the master’s deadly laughter rang out and the fur along her spine stood on end.

She was almost afraid to find out what he had in mind but fear kept her rooted to the spot.
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The sounds of battle filled the air, climbing effortlessly up the small hill where Sesshomaru, Tatsu, Kisho and several other generals had set up a make-shift war counsel. They sat in order of station with the Western Lord at the head of the assembly.

It had been four long days now that the battle had lasted and there appeared to be no end in sight.

At night when both sides had retreated to rest and tend the injured, centuries were posted along the borders of the battle field and during the day the sounds dominated everything.

“M’lord, there seems to be no end to the usurper’s armies and many believe that there are thousands left to his reserves.” one general addressed the assembly, his ancient face drawn and haggard looking. He was one of the few human allies to be permitted at the assembly.

“General Aritomo,” Sesshomaru’s voice commanded attention from those gathered and all eyes were drawn to him. The human shivered visible under the weight of those golden sun’s and the demons could smell the fear coming off the man. “How long do you propose it will be before General Kuro can return with our reinforcements?”

“Given youkai speed, M’lord,” Aritomo shifted uncomfortable as he spoke. “It maybe another two days before they are within striking distance.”

“But our men grow tired, M’lord,” the youngest general among them dared speak up. He was a raccoon youkai barely a century old and had not yet tested his full potential as leader. “I do not know how much longer we can hold out against such odds.”

“This Sesshomaru will allow none of the Western Lands fall to the abomination who dares attack me.” Sesshomaru’s cold voice held the slightest trace of a growl that warned the younger demon of his mood.

“Y…yes M’lord,” the raccoon replied looking back down.

They continued talking at length over the strategies and possible ways of keeping the larger army at bay until Kuro could return. A plan of attack was slowly formed before each of them retreated back to their various squadrons leaving Sesshomaru and Kisho alone on the hilltop. ‘’If the plan worked they would be able to lure a good portion of the opposing army into an ambush set amongst a ring of hills to the east of their position but that meant Sesshomaru had to allow a fall back into the Western Lands. It was a decision he disliked but conceded to the fact that in the end it would weaken the usurper’s army.

“You made a wise decision my friend,” Kisho told him as they looked out over the battlefield. Already he could see signs of the strategic withdraw taken place in the makeshift camps below. They would use the cover of darkness to put the plan into action and Kisho hoped for both their sakes it worked.

“Prepare yourself, Lord Kisho,” Sesshomaru replied before turning away. He had his own preparations to make for the coming day. He would be the one who lured the enemy into the trap, a position that he would not allow anyone else to take.

Night brought with it a flurry of activity ads the great move took place until only those under Sesshomaru’s direct command had retreated back toward the ring of hills. Those left behind made a ruse of there being double numbers by retaining many of the tents and fires the others had left behind. The illusion would by them as much time as possible and when the sun dawned the following morning it appeared as if the act had worked.

Sesshomaru stood in front of his men, sword drawn and eyes trained on the enemy encampment. He did not have long to wait as the usurper’s lead generals assembled their men and marched onto the battlefield.

Once again sounds of battle rang out through the morning air and slowly at first Sesshomaru’s men drew back. To the enemy it would appear as if they were abandoning their lord. Soon Sesshomaru and a few others stood alone and even those started to call for a retreat.

Reluctantly, Sesshomaru appeared to retreat under the steady assault of the enemy and they quickly gave chase assured that victory would soon be theirs.

Their jubilant cries quickly turned to anguish as they found the supposed deserters waiting for them at the center of a great clearing. Small hills encompassed the circle and as the usurper’s army spilled into the clearing, the ambush was sprung.

Sesshomaru cut his way through the enemy with the deadly accuracy he was known for, leaving thousands dead in his wake, but the enemy kept coming.

In the midst of the chaos a familiar scent drifted above the foul stench of blood and death to command his attention. Even as Tokijin sliced through another enemy, Sesshomaru’s eyes searched for its source.
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“Damn that miko to the depths of hell!” Sora raged pacing back and forth in the confines of Kage’s personal rooms. She hated being forced into his persona and every since her escape she had to keep up the male form. It was only in these rooms that she could drop the illusion long enough to regain some of her strength.

Male forms were harder for her to maintain then female largely in part to the fact she was truly female and need only change small parts of her body while a male’s form was a complete transformation, one that required Sora to change her entire body and power signature. These had to be kept for long periods of time and after each she needed to rest for a certain period of time.

Having absorbed several male youkai had helped but only to a small extent. At least she had the foresight to establish herself as Kage’s lover in the eyes of the amassed youkai he commanded.

Seeing as how she was both Kage and Sora it had been quite a feat on her part and the female servant she had used as a double had been swiftly dealt with the moment Sora’s objective was obtained.

Her anger at Kagome had smoldered, growing with each passing day since her forced retreat. That had been over a week ago and Sora knew that the master must be onto her betrayal by now. Word had reached her that the battle between the master’s army and Sesshomaru’s had already begun. According to the reports she had received, the miko was alive, well and on her way to meet up with Sesshomaru at the Western Boundary.

“I have to get to him before she does,” Sora hissed between clenched teeth. “Or else all my plans will be for fruitless.”

Sesshomaru was a key part in Sora’s plant to become the next Great Demon Ruler of all Japan and the known world if she had her way and Kagome poised a threat to it all.

“I told you I was not to be disturbed!” Sora screamed as she whirled angrily toward the human male that dared enter the chamber without her consent. She was about to end his pathetic life when the more rational side of her kicked in.

“This lowly servant, humbly begs the lady’s forgiveness but Lord Kage instructed that word be brought to her greatness should something occur of great importance,” The man’s dirty, matted hair swept the ground as he bowed low before her.

“Continue,” she hissed believing it was nothing more then another report of failure of the demons Sora had dispatched after Ozeki and Kagome.

“The battle has shifted lady Sora,” the man began his eyes never leaving the ground. “Lord Sesshomaru is leading the master’s army into what appears to be an ambush to the east of their current known position.”

Sora listened carefully to the rest of this report with the a growing smile. Apparently, instilling her own spies within Sesshomaru’s ranks had its benefits.

The servant also reported the expected failure and Sora was quick to send him away with a command to dispatch the next hunting party after the miko.

The second she was alone, Sora shifted back to the inu-youkai disguise and stepped into the waiting shadows, this time she would have her Taiyoukai right where she wanted him. Powerless and without the miko to rescue him.
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“Where are they all coming from?” Kagome panted as the last of their attackers drifted away in the form of purified dust.

They had been traveling for days now and it was beginning to grate on her nerves. Even with the weakened state Kagome had started out in they still should have reached the Western Boundary within two days at Ozeki’s speed.

After a few hours of walking that first night, Ozeki had opted to carry Kagome on his back much the same way Inuyasha had carried her ten years earlier. Of course, Kagome had used their agreement to con the bear into agreeing. She had reasoned that it would help her to regain some of the strength she had lost while unconscious. Ozeki had grumbled about his forced servitude before realizing she was right. She had been pretty sick and he did not wish to become the cause of a regression in health.

His great strides covered more ground then her slower once could, his demon strength adding to his speed. Twice the ground was covered before the first attack came.

The first one had poised little threat to them as twin lizards leapt from the dark underbrush. The two had fallen quickly to Ozeki’s hammer.

After that a frustrating pattern began of fight, rest, travel, then fight again.

Kagome had lost track of how many attempts had been made against them since that first one. Each new attack was more aggressive and deadly then the one before and Kagome was beginning to wonder if they would reach the battlefield at all.

“I believe that someone is trying to keep us from reaching our destination,” Ozeki replied through deep gulps of air. The last attack had consisted of twelve cat demons of great strength and had taken a while to defeat.

Kagome rolled her eyes as she plopped down on the ground and began to inspect the newest addition of cuts and scrapes that now littered her arms. Her clothing were becoming nothing more then tattered rags under the constant assaults.

A heavy thud to her left sad that Ozeki had taken her lead and sat down to rest as well. Both ere covered in bruises and she knew he felt as tired as she did.

“This whole thing reeks of Sora,” Kagome sighed as she reached for her backpack. She had had the foresight to bring extra clothing and chose to swap the miko garbs for the tighter fitting modern clothing of her home.

For once her modesty abandoned her as she swiftly changed into the jeans and black sweater. Kagome did not like changing in front of the bear but neither did she wish to chance another attack in a more private spot.

Grunting, Ozeki turned away to give her as much of the privacy she seemed to like as he could. Her strange attire never ceased to amaze him and he wondered how the miko could possible fight in such constraining clothing. What he believed to be strange looking hakama were tight and indecently hugged her every curve like a second skin.

“Ready to start again?” Kagome asked turning toward him as she tucked the sweater into the waistband of her black jeans.

He nodded, giving her clothing one last disapproving glance before turning his back and kneeling down.

As her arms and legs wrapped around him, Ozeki was surprised to discover the rough material stretched, allowing her full movement. The softer material of her haori was almost like a strange type of fur woven into something a human could wear.

Once Kagome was ready, Ozeki pushed the odd clothing from his mind and hurried forward. Three more attacks and several hours later they began to hear the sounds of a great battle being waged up ahead and Ozeki hurried forward with growing apprehension in his heart.
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Once again I’d like to apologize for making you all wait so very long… Don’t worry my mom’s on yer side too and has been after me to hurry and update.. Go mom!.. Anyhow.. Now that I have someone who’ll let me use a comp. I’ll try to keep my updates to at least monthly until I can afford a new one of my own.

Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and has patiently awaited my next chapter. This one’s for you guys…. I hope you enjoyed it!

Much love to you all
DJ aka AuroraNyte/l3lackroze