InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Longest Journey ❯ Dangerous Liaisons ( Chapter 20 )

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

Chapter 20: Dangerous Liaisons

Leiko stared into her mirror, unsure of how to react. She had stumbled upon the fact that Sugimi, the father of her son, had somehow returned from the dead - and was currently courting another ningen female.

Doesn't he ever learn? Ningens are dirty, and beneath us! Why would he accept them as mates, and yet, not one such as I, who is actually worthy of him?

She had never known anyone with more power than the now former Western Lord - although, it seemed he was now the Northern Lord, and she couldn't understand how one such as he, with so much power and prestige, could turn his back on it all just to mate a worthless ningen.

If asked, she could tell you honestly that she had no love for the daiyoukai - she was attracted to him, certainly, but the reason she was so angered by his seeking a ningen mate, was because she felt that only she was truly worthy to be his mate, and carry the titles that went with that position.

Certainly, no mere ningen could ever be deemed worthy, and she was determined to be waiting in the Northern Palace once they returned there from their little quest. She would scare the little ningen away, and then Sugimi might finally recognize her suitability as his mate. She could even birth him another heir - after all, the Northern seat would now require one, and then, one day, it would be brother's that would rule half of Nippon... brother's carrying the illustrious blood of the Inu no Taisho, and his Lady - Leiko.

If she'd only known what she was getting herself into... Kagome was not now, and never had been, a simple ningen, and Leiko hadn't, in her arrogance and assurance of her own superiority, bothered to find anything out about the competition.

That was bound to be a big mistake. The first, no doubt, of many.

---zZz---

In the several days since Koga had joined the pack, Miroku had spent the most time with him, bringing him up to speed on everyone's stories, and what had been going on. He pretty much stayed away from everyone else, keeping to himself and watching, a bit bitterly, as Sugimi made it absolutely clear who Kagome belonged to.

He spent almost every minute with her anyway, and he kept his scent strongly on her, as well, knowing that would deter most males - and he was, of course, openly affectionate with the little miko, not timid about showing his devotion in the slightest. Koga, and every other male around, got the message loud and clear... Kagome belonged, heart and soul, to Sugimi... and she made no effort to deny it or fight his possessiveness at all.

That rather irked Koga, seeing as how she'd always been annoyed at him for acting that way, and with Inuyasha as well, and yet, she lapped it up when it came to the daiyoukai. He had also caught Sesshoumaru watching him with amusement, and was pretty sure the younger daiyoukai knew just what he was thinking, and was finding it highly amusing.

The one thing that worried Koga, was what he had been told about Inuyasha's absence. He knew that the mutt was as stubborn as they make them - and he was pretty sure that whatever the hanyou was up to was going to come back to haunt them all sooner rather than later.

He was right.

---zZz---

Inuyasha now had a total of six shards, and he could feel that the time was near when Naraku would appear - the saimyousho had been buzzing around, and that was a sure sign that Naraku was nearby. Glancing at his surroundings, he settled himself in to wait for the bastard to show, completely sure of how to go about getting the youki he needed away from the dark hanyou.

He'd already figured out how to use the shards to pull the youki away from him, and filter it into his own aura... all he had to do was catch Naraku off-guard with it - and certainly, he wouldn't be expecting that kind of attack from him - he'd be looking for him to blindly rush in with the Tessaiga.

So, he had the advantage of surprise, and the power boost of six shards. That should be more than enough... and once he had the added strength of all that youki, he should be more than a match for his father. Once Naraku was finished, he'd head immediately back to his pack - and then, challenge for alpha.

Crazy as it was, he really didn't want the alpha status - he just wanted Kagome, and as soon as he had her, he, Kikyou and Kagome could leave, and his father could have his stupid alpha status back. Then maybe, in few years, when the old dog had gotten over it, they could finally work on some kind of relationship.

Maybe. Though this might cut off all chances of that. He regretted that, but... he'd lived his whole life without a father, so it was no problem to continue doing so - but a whole lifetime without Kagome? He knew he couldn't do that, so...

His thoughts were interrupted by a thickening aura - an aura filled with the blackest miasma, and Inuyasha grinned ferally as he stood, and for show, unsheathed Tessaiga, leaning it over his shoulder as he waited for the dark hanyou to appear. He knew that this was the real Naraku - not a puppet - because he could feel a large chunk of the jewel in the bastard's hands, meaning that he'd only have more power with which to face his father.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Naraku. Let me guess... since I'm out here alone, you decided to actually face me yourself, since you're such a coward that you won't take on more than one person at a time." Inuyasha taunted him, hoping to throw him off balance.

Naraku chuckled, though he was a bit angered, he didn't show it. "It isn't cowardice, Inuyasha, merely wisdom. He who fights smart, wins. It is as simple as that."

Inuyasha laughed as he brought up his hand - the hand that held the shards he'd collected, and suddenly, Naraku found himself held within the grasp of the jewel, unable to move.

"That's right, bastard... and he who has the element of surprise is fighting smart. Now I'm gonna turn the tables on you - you've spent all this time stealing other's youki - and now it's gonna be mine."

Naraku panicked, unable to move because of the swiftness of the attack, he couldn't even access his chunk of the jewel, and he could feel it beginning to suck his youki into it, and funnel it out through the shards in his opponent's hands. Unable to look away, he watched as the corrupted shards began to overtake Inuyasha's mind, and he finally quite even attempting to fight it... because all that was about to happen is that he would have a new body. Hanyou, still, yes, but powerful, nonetheless... not realizing that his mind wouldn't transfer in a whole state, but only in pieces.

Inuyasha began to scream as the foreign youki invaded his body, and suddenly, fear ran through him... he hadn't realized that Naraku's essence, his mind, would come along for the ride, he'd only been after the youki, and even though what was left of the hanyou's mind was mostly in fragments, still, with his own youkai side fighting to come out, and overwhelming his hanyou mind, it was enough - and suddenly, he found himself becoming something he hadn't planned on, as his eyes closed in agony and he fell forward, dropping his sword as he lost consciousness.

When he woke, he remembered everything, and why he'd done what he'd done, but he felt no corresponding emotions to that knowledge. He still intended to find and defeat the youkai that had taken what he considered his, and then take the onna for himself, forcefully if necessary, but it was only because she belonged to him.

He'd lost all touch with his human half - at this point, the tiny little bit of him screaming somewhere deep inside was easy to ignore - and so he staggered to his feet, and feeling like seeing what he now looked like, he grabbed his sword and moved off towards the scent of water, unconcerned with anything else.

The fragments of his mind that were the remnants of Naraku called to him, attempting to seduce his attention, and he fought them back with a snarl, interested only in the moment, and the gratification of the desires that filled him now, and not in the future.

He had become a creature swayed by his base desires - whatever they happened to be at the time - and right now, he wanted to see himself, then maybe he would want food... and then, then he would go find his women. Yes. His desires would soon come around to the pleasures of the flesh... and the two females that would satisfy them.

He finally came upon a small stream, and crouching over the embankment, he stared, fascinated, into the water. His eyes were still golden, but his hair, like Naraku's, was now dark, and he carried crimson markings along the lengths of his eyes... making the gold stand out even more. Beyond that, his body now closely resembled Naraku's, but without the eye in the center of his chest. He could feel another form lurking inside himself, not a spider, like Naraku, nor a silver-furred Inu, like his brother and father, but a dark Inu, with short fur and pointed ears - and venom, much like Sesshoumaru. And best of all, from his point of view? Those ridiculous puppy ears were now gone.

He grinned, pleased with his new appearance - all of him except that still screaming, tiny voice trapped somewhere deep inside. He brushed the annoying thing aside and ignored it. No longer would he be ridiculed or spoken down to by any youkai - they would die immediately if they did so, and he flexed his aura, pleased with the strength of it.

Turning his back on the stream, he tilted his head to the side thoughtfully, and then decided it was time for food.

In a flash, he had disappeared into the trees, deadly instincts coming to the fore...

It was time to hunt.

---zZz---

Kikyou shivered, a sudden fear sneaking through her as something cold slithered its way down her back, and paling, she scooted closer to the fire. Her heart pounded - something was very, very wrong... only she wasn't sure just what. Her mating mark burned, first hot, and then cold, and now, her whole neck felt like ice, and absently, not even realizing it, she began rubbing it. She'd been feeling odd most of the day but now...

Kagome was watching, and she frowned as she saw Kikyou's face become even more pallid than usual.

"Are you okay, Kikyou? What's wrong?"

She looked up, frowning, unsure of what to say. "I... don't know. Something's wrong, but I'm not sure what. I've been feeling odd all day, like something was walking over my grave - and now, my mating mark is freezing cold - it's like it's spreading ice through my body."

Sugimi's eyes widened, and he glanced over at Sesshoumaru, who met his gaze placidly. If something was happening with her mark, that meant that something had happened to Inuyasha.

Kikyou spoke again, a definite fear running through her voice this time. "I think - I am pretty sure something is wrong with Inuyasha - but I can't tell what."

Everyone looked at each other in concern, and Sugimi looked over at her. "Well, he's alive, at least there's that - if he were dead, you'd know." He sighed as she paled even more. "There's nothing we can do right this minute, we don't even know where he is. But if something happened to him, Myoga will be heading for us - so maybe we should wait till he gets here before we consider moving on."

The others all nodded quietly, unsure of what else to do. However, Sesshoumaru spoke up then, with a suggestion that garnered everyone's attention.

"I understand your concern, father, but are we really all needed for this? I would suggest that at least Kagura and I continue on - we both can travel quickly to Kanna's location, and be back with the heart in a few days."

Kagura was rather excited at that - several days alone with the handsome daiyoukai? She was game for that.

The others all looked at each other, and Sugimi caught Kagome's eye. When she nodded, he looked to his son and said, "Fine, but do not destroy the heart. We will take it back to the Northern Palace and destroy it there - and any allies of Naraku's that decide to show up, will be dealt with then, is that agreeable?"

Sesshoumaru considered that for a moment, then nodded. "However, how are we to contain the youkai and keep them from attempting to escape?"

Kagura laughed. "Don't worry about it, Sesshoumaru. Kanna listens to me - and she controls the infant. If I tell her to make it sleep, she will make it sleep, and Kanna herself will not argue with me. She, too, wishes for her freedom - and I will give it to her."

He looked at her calmly, then nodded once. "Let's go then." Glancing at his father, he said, "When we have procured the child, we will return. I will track your aura, so do not feel you need to remain here - if you feel you need to backtrack and find Inuyasha, please do so."

Sugimi nodded, and then watched as his eldest summoned his cloud and the kaze her feather, and together, set out after the heart of their enemy.

Kagome didn't like what was going on - something bad was coming, and suddenly, she was pretty sure they needed walls around them. Standing, she moved over to Sugimi, and settling down next to him, she spoke in a low voice that the others wouldn't be able to hear.

"I have a bad feeling about this, love, and I think we need to make for the shiro as soon as Myoga gets here. I think... I think Inuyasha's done something, something with the shards, but I can't tell what, and I don't want to say anything in front of Kikyou - she's having a hard enough time with this as it is."

He nodded, thoughtfully - Kagome was the jewel, and if she felt that Inuyasha'd messed with them and set something loose that was dangerous, then he respected that and would do as she asked.

Clearing his throat, he waited till everyone was looking at him, and said, "We will wait here for Myoga to find us - he should do so sometime tonight. Once he has arrived, we will immediately head back the way we came. Hopefully, we will be able to find out what he's done."

They all nodded, but no one really spoke, all lost in their own thoughts. This was becoming much more complicated than it really needed to be...

And all because one stubborn hanyou couldn't stand to be told no.

---zZz---

Late that night, as Sugimi had predicted, Myoga did indeed find them, and as his horrendous story came out, the group reacted with shock and horror.

The little flea slumped wearily in his master's palm, obviously grief-stricken, and unable to believe even now, what he'd seen.

"I tried, my Lord - I tried to stop him, but I couldn't get to him fast enough when I realized what he was going to do. At first, he pulled Tessaiga, like he was just going to battle the hanyou like normally... and then he opened his hand and pulled the shards so fast that neither Naraku nor I could respond fast enough."

Kikyou had let out a painful wail - as far as she was concerned, her mate was dead, because as far as she was aware, to even attempt to separate him and Naraku now would kill him. She couldn't believe he would go so far over this situation... and was not even sure that if he could be saved, that she'd remain his mate. This was... just too much. He'd gone too far, and she didn't know if she'd ever forgive him for this.

Kagome just cried, and looked at Kikyou, heartbroken. She felt so guilty - maybe she should just have stayed 'dead'...

"Kikyou... I'm so, so sorry," she whispered, misery visible in her eyes. "If I'd known he was going to act like this, I'd have stayed away - I mean it."

Sugimi growled, enraged, as he pounded a fist into the nearest tree, splintering it. "It isn't your fault, Kagome. You have not led him on or encouraged this, you've told him several times in no uncertain terms that you were not amenable to his plans... this is strictly Inuyasha's fault. Damn him!"

Miroku made his way over to a weeping Kikyou and offered her a shoulder to cry on, letting her grief run its course, as Rin and Shippo made their way to an equally upset Kagome and began to hug her, trying to calm her tears.

Sango looked at all of them and then spoke. "Why is everyone acting like the world is over? Kagome, I know you - you aren't one to give up - so I trust you'll find a way to reverse what the baka has done... and then the rest of us can spend the next couple of years kicking his ass from here to kingdom come." As the group all stared at her, startled, she turned to Kikyou and said, "And you. You have more reason to make him suffer than anyone here - instead of crying, you need to be thinking up ways of getting revenge. Believe me, it's much more satisfying."

She looked around at everyone. "So come on. I don't think anyone's really going to get much more sleep tonight, so why don't we figure out what we need to do and where we need to go, and then get busy doing instead of crying, alright? There's no use crying over spilt youkai guts, ne?"

Her speech was met with a profound silence, and then Sugimi laughed. "Spilt youkai guts?" he asked, brow raised.

Sango blushed as she realized what she'd said. "Oh!" Looking sheepishly around, she smiled. "Well, uh, you know what I meant."

He chuckled. "Indeed. And the sentiment is correct. We should be planning, instead of grieving, agreed, Kikyou?"

She looked over at him an smiled tentatively. "I... suppose." Looking at Kagome, she asked hopefully, "Do you think you can find a way to save him, Kagome?"

Kagome met Sugimi's eyes and swallowed her grief. "I will do my best, Kikyou."

She closed her eyes, and whispered, "I will do my very best - I do not want to lose my friend like that."

Sugimi smiled. She would succeed.