InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Curse: One of Life and One of Death ❯ Chapter 16

When Onigumo arrived at the Higurashi Shrine the first thing that he noticed was that Rei was not at home. Then as he smelt Inuyasha and Hokadashi a barrier flew up around the shrine. “So the old man wishes to play! Well I shall not disappoint him; it's not like he has much power anyways.” he said laughing as he walked right through the barrier. “Hey, exactly how much help are you anyways old man; he just walked right through the barrier as if it were nothing.” Inuyasha all but yelled out. Hokadashi just stood there with a smirk on his face, `So he fell for the trick, to think everyone considers me to be weak, it shall actually work in my favor.' Inuyasha just rolled his eyes and clenched his teeth together when he realized that Hokadashi wasn't going to answer him at all and prepared for the on coming battle.

 

The first thing that he noticed when Onigumo hopped onto the top step was that he no longer carried any of the bags that he had been previously. `Something is not right here; I can't even sense Sesshoumaru anywhere near here.' Sensing that something was different with Onigumo as well, Hokadashi turned to Inuyasha and said, “Prepare for anything and everything this demon has yet to show us his tricks. Though he appears to be Onigumo, he is clearly not the same demon that came the other night in search of my daughter.” Inuyasha was a little shocked but not completely surprised because he was also feeling the same thing. “So I see that you realize that I am merely a puppet! No worried though, I can and will kill you all the same. So who would like to go first?” Onigumo asked as he looked from one to the other.

 

“So you have decided to show us your trick demon? It is humorous how even this here puppet takes on the same arrogant attitude as the real Onigumo. Heed my warning the only being that Death will come for is you, for she has already begun to knock on your door!” At that same time across town Kagome's eyes shot open. Her eyes were glowing silver, “It is time now Master, and we must go into battle and prove we belong here just as much as anyone else! Death is here to stay and we shall start with Onigumo!” The Angel quickly broke the chains that shackled her to the wall and floor. “Our prey is fast approaching! Interesting, we wonder if he would be as eager if he knew what was lying on this side of the door.” she mused to herself out loud.

 

Onigumo could barely feel Kagome inside, `I hope that she still has enough energy to remain conscious; after all it isn't any fun torturing someone if they aren't conscious to revel in the pain, now is it!' As he approached the house he told his warriors to be on the look out. He knew that Sesshoumaru was free from the illusion but he couldn't figure out where exactly. “Well I have kept my Pet waiting long enough, here it is already 4:30 pm. To think, I wasted so much time trying to make sure that Sesshoumaru couldn't follow me, when I could have been here dressing my Pet in her new outfits. Oh just thinking about how deliciously eatable she will be in these gets me aroused all over again!” he mused as he proceeded to enter his house to find said Pet.

 

Back at Onigumo's other house a mysterious woman approached what looked to be a battlefield. She gasped when she saw one particular demon lying in the mist of bodies. “Lover, wake up! You can't leave me; you must tell me who did this to you so I can avenge you.” Suddenly he opened his eyes and looked at her face and smiled, “Love I am fine, I was just knocked unconscious. Now what are you doing here? You know you can't be here; if Onigumo finds you, I won't be able to protect you. You must leave before he realizes you are here.” She hugged him and said, “Hush Moryomaru, let me look at your wounds. Onigumo is long gone, I saw him leave with some strange girl; he returned alone shortly after Naraku died, however now I can only assume that he has returned to finish whatever sick and twisted deed he has planned for that poor girl.”

 

“Tsubaki, tell me where is Lord Sesshoumaru Taisho?” “You mean the Lord of the Western Land's son?” she asked a little confused as to why he was asking about the pup. “No Love, I mean the new Lord of the Western Lands. Lord Maliki is dead thanks to my brother. I must find the new Lord and warn him about the house he must travel to so he can get his mate back. It is the least I can do since he was generous enough to spare my life.” Tsubaki knew that her dark priestess power could sense any and all demons even if they were trying to conceal their scents. She gasped when she located him, “He is already there Love. He fights the gang known as the Band of Seven. Kanna and Kagura are with him though from what I sense lying within him, he needs no help.”

 

Moryomaru could only hope his lover was right, “We still need to go there. Only your dark powers can destroy the spell that was cast on that house to drain all powerful demons. If Onigumo gains Sesshoumaru's powers then we are all doomed.” She agreed and helped him to her car where she then started driving towards Onigumo and Sesshoumaru. `I wonder who that girl could be, I sense that she is a demoness, but she is so much more than that; I just can't put my finger on it. The strange power I feel radiating off of her is so powerful, almost like that of an ethereal being.' Suddenly she slammed on the brakes and turned to her lover and asked, “Is she the one from the prophecy? Is she one of the descendants from Midoriko's line that will either kill everything or destroy the natural order of things?”

 

“Yes she is, but it doesn't change anything we still need to help her and Lord Sesshoumaru. A life for a life; he spared my life so I will spare his as best as I can. Midoriko cursed your family but left them the knowledge that to help an Angel would lift the curse on your bloodlines. Maybe she was referring to a member of her line. Remember that her name back then was often said to be the Great Priestess of Life and Death, what few people know is that she was also revered as the Moon Goddess herself. Maybe, just maybe, helping this Angel of Death is what it will take to break this horrid curse.” he stated as he gently caressed her face before she continued to drive off in the direction of the new battlefield.

 

Inuyasha summoned for Tetsasaiga to come to him while he and Hokadashi prepared to do battle with the Onigumo puppet. `I sure hope that Sess has made it to Kags by now.' he thought as he felt his sword come closer. He waited for the perfect opportunity to arise for him to jump into the battle once his sword arrived fully transformed and all. Hokadashi felt himself tiring and knew that what little strength he had left he would need to purify the puppet's remains so that it wouldn't be able to regenerate and attack them all over again. Sensing that Inuyasha was finally prepared, he stepped to the side to allow the young half breed to bring him down. Inuyasha gladly accepted the invitation to take over the battle, he drew his sword up in the air and with a leap he yelled, “Wind Scar!” they both watched as the puppet disappeared and Hokadashi purified the ashes that remained.

 

Kagura stepped in front of Sesshoumaru as they approached the new house. “Lord Sesshoumaru I have only been here once before but know this, the house is home to a gang called the Band of Seven. They are ruthless and just advisories. You can't just charge in headstrong into battle with them as you did before. I am sure that Onigumo has already warned them to be on guard, so they will be prepared for us.” “You presume too much, if you believe me to be without a plan. I never rush into battle without thinking of my strategy. As for this Band of Seven, only one seems to be a possible formidable challenger, the others I could cut down in my sleep with one hand.” Sesshoumaru growled out at the thought that this demoness thought him to be weak.

 

Bankotsu rounded up his gang members and told them to be prepared for anything. “The Bossman has a new toy and like all of his other past toys I am sure this Bitch comes with baggage as well. You all need to be on your toes; I don't need to remind you all what will happen if the Boss gets interrupted. Suikotsu I need you to make sure your other personality is in order, or I will kill you myself; keep that damn vial around your neck. Kyokotsu and Suikotsu I want the two of you to hang out together on the eastern perimeter. Jakotsu, Mukotsu the two of you take the southern perimeter. That leaves the western perimeter to you two Ginkotsu and Renkotsu. I will take the northern perimeter. If any of you see them approaching yell out so we can come and help.”

 

“What the hell makes him so damn special, that stupid ass sword he carries around? I swear I don't see why we have to take orders from him.” “Shut up Renkotsu, though I agree with you, he is our leader whether we like it or not. Unless you are going to challenge him and defeat him you should stop talking such traitorous deeds. You know that he won't think twice about killing you off if he wants too.” Ginkotsu said as they walked to the western perimeter. Ginkotsu really did like Renkotsu but he also knew that there was no way Bankotsu would just sit idly by while there was a potential threat to him. “Come on Renkotsu lets get to our posts and do this, if nothing else we will have one hell of a battle on our hands. Who knows maybe even the Bossman will give us a turn with that pretty little thing he brought in.”

 

“Oh, Great Big Brother!” Bankotsu turned around just in time to see his partner sashaying towards him. “What is it you want now Jak? You need to be with Mukotsu and going over your strategy.” “Well lover, I wanted to get a good luck kiss from you.” Jakotsu said as he learned into his lover. “Also Banky, I was wondering something; is this Lord Sesshoumaru person really cute?” he said as his eyes started to get dreamy just thinking about what Sesshoumaru could possibly look like. Bankotsu narrowed his eyes, `I always knew he has wondering eyes but really, must he ask me about our enemy's looks?' “As far as I am concerned Jak, no one is as beautiful or cute as you are to me.” “Banky that was so sweet and sincere, you know if you keep up those compliments I will never leave you for another.” Jakotsu said as he walked away to join up with Mukotsu.

 

Mukotsu looked at his comrade, Jakotsu, as he finished his business with his lover, the gang leader. “You know Jak, one of these days you are going to say something or look at the wrong person and Bank is going to leave you in the dust and find someone better. I just hope when Big Brother comes to his senses, I hope he ask me to do you in; I still haven't forgiven you for your comment about my face.” “Really Muko can you blame me, I mean look at you then look at me. Did you honestly think I am or could ever be attracted to you?” Jakotsu said as he waved his hand in the air laughing as he walked to the perimeter in the southern area. `I wonder if Big Brother will blame or punish me if Jak were to die in battle. To think our Great Big Brother Bankotsu could ever fall for someone so openly flirtatious and could not remain loyal to their partner is beyond me.' Mukotsu thought.

 

Kyokotsu walked over to Suikotsu, “Sui you know I have been given orders to kill you if we see that god damn goodie goodie doctor come out, right? I will not hesitate in my orders.” “Kyokotsu I care not of your orders, if I feel the good doctor coming out I will kill myself personally. You have just better not try to kill me prematurely; we all know you are our weakest link here!” Suikotsu said while laughing. Just then Suikotsu looked to Bankotsu and noticed he had yet to go to his perimeter and wondered, `Why is Big Brother looking after Jak like he wants to kill him?' “Besides Kyokotsu with all the battle readiness and violent intentions, much less this blood vial around my neck, there is no way the doctor is coming out. You know that as long as I sense great violence and a lot of blood that the doctor can't come out to play!”

 

Popping noises suddenly erupted behind Suikotsu, who turned ever so slowly to see what Kyokotsu was doing. “So everyone sees me as the weakest link huh? At least I don't have a goodie goodie two shoe personality that turns it's back on it's friends and allies only to help our enemy.” Suikotsu knew that Kyokotsu was trying to bait him into a confrontation so that Kyokotsu could try to kill him, `If only that big brute really knew how much stronger I really am.' “Whatever Kyokotsu, so are we going to come up with a strategy or are we just going to play it by ear? Because if we are going with a strategy then we don't have time for this nit picking and we really do need to get busy with a plan. I would hate for our enemy to break through our defenses because we were too focused on fighting each other verses them.” Suikotsu stated as he brushed past Kyokotsu.

 

Bankotsu flexed his hand on his sword, `One of these days I am going to have to sit Jak down and have him tell me if he really wants to be with me or not.' “Banryu, it looks like it is going to be just you and me this time around. We will need to make sure we kill this Lord Sesshoumaru guy quickly, especially if Jak takes a liking to him.” Bankotsu said to his swords. Bankotsu knew that if Jakotsu found an opponent attractive he would take his time in the battle, even toy with that being. `If Jak takes too long with this Sesshoumaru guy, he might very well give Sesshoumaru just enough time to get under his defenses and kill him. If that happens I will have to make sure that Banryu and I are ready to either protect Jak or avenge his death. I swear he is going to be the death of me one of these days.' Bankotsu thought as he started heading to the northern perimeter.

 

Tsubaki and Moryomaru were only thirty minutes away when they started to feel the rising auras coming from their destination. “We must hurry; we have to get there before they enter the house.” Moryomaru said as Tsubaki sped up. “Moryomaru, do you honestly think that they will be able to break through Onigumo's barrier that he has protecting the perimeter of the house? Also, I believe you might be giving this Lord Sesshoumaru too much credit. Honestly do you really think he will be able to defeat the Band of Seven, destroy the barrier and enter the house all within thirty minutes? Come on, the Band of Seven are not that weak.” She just couldn't believe that her lover had so much faith in this new young Lord Sesshoumaru that he just met on this day. “Yes Love, he is strong enough to do just that! The barrier will fall due to his demonic aura alone.” Moryomaru stated blandly.

 

Sesshoumaru turned to Kanna and said, “Can you show me Kagome? I need to make sure she is alright.” “I'm sorry my Lord, but something within the house is preventing my powers from assessing the situation within. I can however, show you what awaits us just on the inside of the gates.” “Very well Kanna show me what you can.” He looked into the mirror as he was two men posted at three of the four entrances and one man at the other entrance. Though they were already on the outside of the eastern gate, he wanted to go to the northern entrance. `I might as well kill off the most powerful and who knows maybe the others will just run in fear!' he mused. As soon as he started to move he heard a shout come from the house and decided it was time to just go ahead and attack where he was. “Kanna, Kagura, I suggest you two prepare yourselves for I will not protect you.” he stated as he entered the gate's entrance.

 

Onigumo slammed door after door open as he searched his entire house for his Pet. “Oh Pet, come out come out where ever you are. I have a treat for you, but if you continue to hide like this you will leave me with no other choice but to punish you first.” “Hide? Who says we are hiding? We can see you just fine and we are ready to deliver your punishment for what you have done.” Onigumo looked all around himself trying to find her but to no avail. Suddenly he felt someone or something probing his mind, `What the hell is happening, no one is strong enough to get into my mind.' `That was before you decided to awaken us. We warned you that you didn't know what you were doing; we are a force not to be taken lightly. Now that we know who you are and what you have done, you will be punished even more.' Death said from within his mind.