InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Centre ❯ Midoriko's Grave ( Chapter 38 )

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

Chapter 38: Midoriko's Grave

"Where's Kagome?" Sango asked Inuyasha. The Hanyou was sitting on the floor, one clawed hand buried deep in his silvery tresses as he stared at nothing.

"I put her in bed. Kaede said her breathing was normal. All she needs is rest. How's Miroku?"

"He's no longer running a fever. He should be fine in the morning…until I tell him what he did while unconscious that is," she said with a weak smile. Inuyasha's mouth didn't even twitch.

"Hey," Sango said, sitting by him so that their shoulders touched. As expected, Inuyasha shied away from the contact. "What's got you so worked up? Don't tell me it's just Kagome."

Golden eyes looked up and met hers. They were filled with guilt and shame, and quickly looked away. Realization dawned on Sango.

"Inuyasha," she said softly. "What happened in the garden?"

A long silence followed. Sango feared she may have overstepped her bounds and his silence was a way to tell her to butt out. However, the Hanyou gave a long sigh and finally answered her.

"I'm not exactly sure. I remember being shot by Kikyou…and being called out of the darkness. Then….then I woke up with Kagome covered in blood under me…and I…." he stopped, looking down at his claws. "I don't know what my demon side was doing, but whatever it was, Kagome was terrified. I never wanted to see such fear in her eyes….because of….me," he finished in a whisper.

"You don't remember anything else?" Sango asked gently. "Kagome doesn't seem to fear you now. Maybe your demon side was a little rougher than she expected."

"Ruthless is more like it. Sesshoumaru can be vicious…but I….I am nothing but a heartless killing machine. My demon blood can't be controlled without Tetsusaiga."

"Inuyasha, one day you are going to have to stop blaming your blood for your mistakes. I'm sure Sesshoumaru has had his share of insanity….just like all of us. It's in human blood as well as demon, and we all struggle to control it at some point."

"But have you terrified someone you…." He didn't finish.

"Love?" she finished for him. "No….but the day isn't over yet," she joked. "Look, stop killing yourself over this. Kagome's exhausted and her brother has been kidnapped. Once this bullshit is over you can sit down together and work through this. I don't think Kagome is one to run away, even from a formidable demon such as yourself."

"Don't feed my ego, wench," Inuyasha growled, but a bit of light had reentered his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'll deflate it again tomorrow," she promised. "I'm going to go get some food for everyone. What would you like for dinner?"

"Ramen," he said. "The way Kagome makes it."

"You do know all she does is boil the noodles, then add them to a premixed broth, don't you?"

"It's different when she makes them," he argued. "I don't know why…it just is."

"Ok, ok. I'll do my best Kagome imitation. Hopefully you won't be too disappointed."

*************************************************************** *******

"Hakudoushi, I'm disappointed in you," Naraku said from the shadows. "An earthquake is hardly a reason to let them go."

"Your damn fortress was falling down. You should have known I'd get out of that dump."

Kagura observed the two from the corner where she sat, chained to the wall. Naraku had wasted no time in keeping her contained. She would no longer roam these walls freely. Her obstinate attitude had proved to be her downfall and now she was to receive the same treatment she used to deliver. Karma was such a bitch.

The question was, what were his plans for her? Naraku did nothing without some twisted intent. Hakudoushi did things for the sick pleasure of them, but Naraku's actions always had a darker purpose.

"No matter. The miko is drained and there is tension between them all. Kanna, bring me the data from our latest test." The small albino girl left the room without a word.

"How do you want me to capture the inu-youkai? He's more dangerous with those humans, even without one arm," Hakudoushi said, plopping himself onto a nearby couch.

"We no longer need him. The cloning has produced unexpected, but still useful results."

Kagura's head snapped up. Cloning? Since when had Naraku been trying to do cloning? He noticed her sudden interest and flashed her a sinister smile.

"Oh yes, Kagura. I have been doing many things you don't know of. One mustn't forget to explore all possible options when trying to obtain a goal. Yes, my dear, cloning. Unfortunately demon genes don't clone well. However, we did manage to produce an acceptable human-like substitute."

"A human cloned from the genes of demons?" Hakudoushi scoffed. "A clone that really isn't a clone. Sounds like a miracle of science gone horribly wrong. Just what do you expect to do with the uncontrollable creature?"

"What makes you think it is uncontrollable?" Naraku asked, a smile on his lips.

"Because no human can actually handle the insanity that runs in demon blood."

"True….but they are controllable enough to be used in the breeding program. Rather than having the demon father the hanyou, we'll turn the tables and have the human clone pass the genes on to a demon mother."

"So a Hanyou with the power of two demons?" Hakudoushi said, throwing his head back to laugh. "And who is the lucky demon bitch?"

Kagura felt her body tremble as first Naraku, then Hakudoushi looked down at her in the corner. Her blood ran cold as she realized who the demon bitch was to be.

"After all, my own daughter carries a great deal of my own powers. What could be stronger than blood?" Naraku said with a deep, cold laugh.

"Do you like kids, Kagura?" Hakudoushi asked. "Looks like you'll be having a whole bunch soon!"

`I should have let that human bitch kill me when she had the chance,' Kagura thought.

*************************************************************** *

"Midoriko was the first miko right?" Souta said.

"I'm not sure," Shiori said with a shrug. "I just know this cave is very powerful and safe. Midoriko's barrier keeps out those with evil intent."

"This place is scary," Shippou said, clinging to Souta's shirt.

"Nah, it's just dark," Souta said. "The dark is never dangerous. Just things in the dark. You're just scared cause you can't see."

"He may be scared because demons can feel the barrier testing them," Shiori commented. "It's like an adult watching you, expecting you to suddenly do something worth reprimanding."

"Creepy," Souta said with a shudder.

"When do you think Inuyasha will get here?" Shippou asked.

"I don't know," Souta answered. "Let's hope soon."

**************************************************************< /div>

Kagome woke to the sun shining in her window. Her head felt heavy and distant, too fuzzy to remember where she was. It seemed like any other day.

"What time is it? Did I sleep in?" she asked herself, wondering if she missed a class yet. As she stumbled around she tried to think why she felt like she was forgetting something important. A knock on the door interrupted her train of thought.

"Inuyasha said you were up, do you want something to eat?" Sango asked as the door opened.

"Oh god," Kagome said as her brain fully woke up and registered what had happened. Souta….gone. "Quick! No time to lose! Take me to where his footprints stopped!" Kagome flew past a surprised Sango who was struggling to keep the breakfast tray upright.

"Inuyasha, can you take me to the shed Souta was in?" she asked. The Hanyou looked up from his noodles, a very surprised look upon his face. Next to him Miroku was nursing a headache while trying to down what looked like oatmeal but smelled like burnt popcorn.

"Not so loud, please," he said, looking up. The spoon dropped from his hand as his jaw dropped. Kagome looked at both surprised males, her brain trying to understand their reaction.

"Uh, why don't you put these on," Sango suggested, handing her a pair of pants. Kagome looked down and noticed she was only in a small nearly see through tank top and matching underwear…made by playboy.

"When did I buy these?" she asked as she pulled on the pants.

"My head still hurts, but my eyes are appreciative," Miroku commented only to earn a growl from the Hanyou beside him. "Hey, I'm only looking!" he protested.

"Why do you want to go back to the shed?" Sango asked.

"I don't know….I just have this feeling. I need to go back to that shed….now."

Inuyasha tipped back the bowl of ramen and drained it in one gulp, dropping the bowl on the table.

"Ok, let's go."

"What about Sesshoumaru and Rin?" Inuyasha opened the window and sniffed once.

"Text his cell….they'll follow when they're done."

Kagome's face turned red as she realized what he was referring to and Sango laughed. Miroku was merely shaking his head lightly in amazement.

"The demon lost an arm yesterday and he's still got enough for that. Amazing."

"Pervs," Inuyasha muttered. "They're not having sex. They're taking a shower."

"Which will lead to sex," Miroku pointed out.

"Not everything is about sex you perv!" Inuyasha yelled. He stopped and sniffed again before slamming the window closed.

"Now they are, aren't they," Sango said with a grin.

"Shut up," he snarled. "Let's go Kagome."

`Why me?' she thought.

**********************

"Hmm," Rin sighed as she rested her head on a very clean demon lord. Sesshoumaru noticed the flashing light on his cell and picked it up, flipping it open.

"When did you get that?" she asked.

"When Jaken bought it," he stated. Rolling her eyes she watched his claws expertly manipulate the buttons. How he didn't bust the thing was a miracle.

"You sure do learn fast," she said with a frown. He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You observed that of this Sesshoumaru only now?" he asked.

"Tease," she said with a pinch. He growled and ran his claws up the side of her body, earning an appreciative shiver. He might only have one arm now, but that hadn't changed much.

"Kagome is awake. She and the others are off to find her brother," he said, closing the phone.

"Are we going?" she asked.

"No, we are not."

Rin looked up at him in wonder, but the demon didn't answer. He cared little about Souta, that she knew, but if they found Souta with Naraku wouldn't Sesshoumaru want to go after Naraku?

The demon lord was sleeping again, his breathing so low and even she could barely tell he was still alive.

`Always proud. You won't admit you don't want to go because you still need to heal,' she thought. `Alright, we'll play this game of pretend….for now.'

************************

Inuyasha set Kagome down at the shed. She ignored the warped door and ruined equipment, searching for something on the ground.

"There's no smell of blood. Souta, Shippou and Shiori were here," Inuyasha said with a few sniffs. "And Hakudoushi not far behind…but their smells aren't mixed."

"Then they escaped?" Sango asked. "How did he know where they were?"

"Naraku probably knew all along," Miroku said. "Or perhaps pure luck."

"His direction was too purposeful to be luck," Inuyasha pointed out. "He began heading east, only to turn sharply and head straight for them."

"Look!" Kagome suddenly cried out, running up to Inuyasha with a handful of small mushrooms, shoving them under his nose.

"What?" he asked, recoiling at the odor. Stinky mushrooms….laced with a light kitsune smell.

Shippou!

"WAAHHWAAHHH!" the mushrooms began to cry, little eyes forming on them as they rocked back and forth in her hands.

"Crying mushrooms?" Miroku asked. "That's one species I'm not familiar with."

"It's fox-demon magic," Inuyasha said with a cocky grin. "Shippou left us a trail!"

**********************************

"So what do we do?" Ginta asked Kouga.

"Gather what men are left to fight. We leave within the hour. Kagome will know where Naraku is. We follow them and kill the bastard."

`And what will you do when you find Kagome again?' Ayame thought. `Will you turn your back on the pack or accept reality?'

**************

"Someone's outside," Shiori said, pulling Souta and Shippou father back.

"Inuyasha?" Souta asked hopefully.

"No…. smells wrong," Shippou said. "I don't like the smell. It smells bad."

Souta backed farther into the cave until his back hit something cold. Reaching out a hand he felt around him. It felt like armor….very old armor. He quickly removed his hand, trying to resist the urges to either flee or wet his pants. This was Midoriko's grave….and for some reason he got the sudden impression she was not cremated or neatly tucked in a coffin.

"It's Naraku," Shiori whispered. They all shrunk back, watching the entrance from the shadows.

Sure enough, the dark man covered in baboon pelt approached the cave. As he stepped into the entrance a powerful holy barrier pushed him back.

"Still kicking, eh Midoriko? Still against me even in death. One day I will get the treasure you guard. The jewel that will make me invincible. You cannot guard it forever. I feel your power weakening. Helping the miko strike down Hakudoushi took more power than you thought. He is weak now, yes, and will soon disappear. As will you, old girl, as will you."

"Jewel?" Souta asked Shiori who shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Wait for me, Midoriko," Naraku chuckled. "You escaped me last time by dieing. Soon not even death will keep me from you. And then you'll know what hell looks like." With one last laugh he disappeared, miasma hissing at the cave entrance until the barrier had purified it.

Souta looked at Shiori whose face masked his in utter surprise.

"I smell Inuyasha!" Shippou exclaimed.

"You sure?" Souta asked.

"I'd recognize his stink anywhere!" the fox demon said proudly and suddenly found a new bump upon his head.

"I heard that, brat," Inuyasha snarled as Kagome climbed off his back and threw herself at her little brother, hugging him tightly.

"Oh gods, I thought Hakudoushi had kidnapped you!" she cried. Souta sighed and let her squeeze him to death as he looked at Shiori.

"Who's Hakudoushi?" he asked.

"No idea," she replied with a shrug. "Sounds like another minion under Naraku."

"Yo, sis….can I breath yet?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, releasing him. "How come you all came…."she trailed off, staring at something behind Souta.

"Sis? Sis?" he called out, then looked behind him.

The wall behind them that had been dark was now visible. A mass of tangled bodies were wrapped around the suit of armor his hand had found earlier, a skeleton with a full head of hair trapped within the clutched of what seemed to be demons turned to stone. There was a clean whole through the armor right where the person's heart should have been. Souta suddenly really wished he were back at home. He wasn't sure what was creepier, the demons or that the skeleton still had a full head of hair turned to stone.

"What the fuck?" Inuyasha said, stepping forward with his arm upon Tetsusaiga's hilt. The skeleton was glowing.

"I don't know," Kagome said. "But it's really powerful."

"Get back, I'll blast it with the Cutting Wind," he said, but Kagome stayed his hand.

"No…this isn't evil."

"Put that sword away, pup," a new voice commanded. Inuyasha's jaw dropped in shock as the skeleton's head turned to him, hallow eyes pinning him where he stood. "Not even your demon blade is a match for me," she said.

A bright light filled the cave, causing them to shield their eyes. As quickly as it had come, it died.

"Welcome," the voice said, a bit less commanding. They looked up and the sight that met their eyes astounded them.

The skeleton was now a woman. A woman in full samurai armor with her long black hair flowing in an invisible wind. She looked down upon them from the stone youkai that held her where she was.

"Midoriko," Kagome whispered.

**********

"Her power has greatly decreased," Hakudoushi pointed out. "Did you find a way to weaken her more?" he asked Naraku. Naraku, however, was not smiling.

"No…she is planning something. She would not give up power so easily if it were not for a reason. Find the miko. Midoriko has paid far too much attention to the girl to ignore."