InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Path You Follow ❯ A Change of Plans ( Chapter 13 )

The Path You Follow

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Author's note: 0_o My review numbers for each chapter are dwindling, probably because I don't update often enough.

>_< Infinitely sorry, but thanks for your continued reading and interest in this fic. I won't give up on it!

Last time: The kuroi miko stood there, her eyes dark and lifeless as she approached them. She was about to speak, when a voice, hoarse with disbelief, drew her attention.

"Kami! How is this possible? My lady, what have you done?" Sango cried out, hurrying towards the dark priestess.

Chapter 13: A Change of Plans

~*~

Walking beneath the mass of thick branches offered by the trees to escape the intense rays of the afternoon sun, Sesshoumaru and Jaken ventured ever closer to the border of the northern lands. For reasons unknown to the toad-like youkai, his master had opted to travel on foot and so travel was much slower then he had anticipated.

`I thought we'd have gotten the little brats days ago. For some reason Sesshoumaru-sama is taking his time about getting them back… Perhaps he intends to finally be rid of Rin and the other humans as well! Then it will be just like old times…'sighing in contentment at his conclusion, Jaken continued to plod along behind his master.

"Jaken," the silver-haired youkai said, his voice low and dangerous. It was a tone that made the retainer shiver; it was a tone that he hadn't heard in a while. "Be wary. We are now entering the northern lands."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

They continued on, Sesshoumaru once again ignoring the quiet mumblings of the smaller youkai. It would not be long now, until he met his first opponent, of that he was sure. If the northern lord did not come and confront him in person, then he would most likely send one of his many sons or perhaps even several of them to face the taiyoukai of the west.

If everything went according to plan then by the end of the day the northern lands would be up for grabs, the entire clan would pay for their father's mistake and the rest of youkai society would learn as well. They would see that despite the company he kept he was still capable of destruction.

A slight change in the breeze brought a scent to Sesshoumaru and made him pause in his footsteps. He waited patiently for the bird youkai to come down from the treetops and was not disappointed when a moment later someone gracefully fell to the earth, landing in a half bow. The youkai had short blond hair and sharp amber eyes that were a shade or two darker then Sesshoumaru's.

"Konnichiwa, Sesshoumaru."

The inu youkai inclined his head slightly in a silent greeting, his amber eyes watching every movement made by the other youkai. Stretching out his senses, he tested the aura of his opponent and found it lacking, only slightly more powerful then that of a ningen. But it shouldn't be so, the young man in front of him was obviously a pure blooded youkai, and yet there was something tainting his jyaki, decreasing the strength of his energy.

"I am Saburo; third son of Choukichirou-sama of the Northern lands. I have been sent here to guide you to the castle."

Sesshoumaru snorted disdainfully and took a few steps towards Saburo, his claws reaching out to wrap around the younger youkai's throat. He felt a few warm trickles of blood touch his palm as his grip tightened, watched as the other's eyes went wide with fear his jaw opening in a silent gasp.

Gathering his strength, Saburo tried fruitlessly to yank the hand away from his throat. But it was not enough, his lungs were burning from lack of air and all he could see was a pair of fierce golden eyes boring into him.

"Your guidance is unnecessary," it was said so smoothly, as if addressing the most mundane of issues, "as is your existence."

With one swift movement of his arm, and a sickening `snap,' Sesshoumaru ended that particular battle before it had begun. Wordlessly, he stepped over the corpse and continued towards the castle of his enemy.

"Perhaps you will be wise enough not to challenge one such as Sesshoumaru-sama in your next life!" Jaken croaked before hurrying after his lord.

~*~

The cool blue eyes seemed to shimmer with mirth and were wide and innocent looking despite the fact that they had seen more then a century. Ringlets of bronze colored hair framed delicate cheekbones highlighted with a faint blush. Her skin was lightly tanned, her lips set in coy smirk. It was a beautiful portrait, the only one existence. It had been commissioned just a few days before her death; in fact it hadn't even been finished until after the tragic accident. The artist had completed it from memory alone, but he had gotten every detail, captured the emotions within her so well.

Sighing, Kisho gently ran his knuckles against the colored canvas. It wasn't a particularly large painting, only about a foot and a half wide and perhaps two feet long. But it was his treasured possession, kept in his room, hidden away from everyone else. The only other person who had seen it was the artist himself.

At times he felt as if his mother watched him from that painting, he imagined that her brows furrowed a bit when he was angry or sad, or that her smile was brighter when he had done something particularly clever. He wondered how she would feel about his actions now, if she would have hated his father, as he did now. Though his mother had not been a spiteful person, he could not help but think that she would want him to avenge her death.

Brushing his own bronze bangs away from his eyes, the young youkai walked to the other side of his small room. Picking up a flask of water sitting amongst at least a dozen of it's kind, he opened it and took a sip. Kisho looked out of the window located in the western wall of his room and saw that the sun had not yet reached its zenith. If his plan were to succeed then the taiyoukai would have to come within the next two days or the water supply would not last.

It was true that youkai did not need to eat, at least not as often as ningens did but there was one thing they absolutely needed in order to sustain life and that was water. Though they could last longer then a human without water it was possible for them to become dehydrated.

With his flask in hand Kisho left his room, being sure to lock the door behind him. His father's aura lingered around the corner and he had guessed correctly, the older youkai's intention of seeking him out.

"He's headed here," Choukichirou said, looking at his youngest son.

There were no other words were needed and so Kisho nodded and walked past his father. Apparently, his worry had been for naught because Sesshoumaru had already entered the northern lands.

~*~

"La la la la la la la la…"

"Rin."

"Hum hum hum hum hum huuummmm…"

"RIN"

"Doot doot doot…"

"RIN!!!"

"La hum doot…"

"Rin, shut up!"

The ningen girl stuck her tongue out at Shippou before continuing her tuneless singing.

"Kagome!!!!" Shippou whined above Rin's noise, "save me!!!!"

~*~

There was a general stir within the castle as the youkai within it sensed that something was coming; something was about to happen. A few, who had been able to glean the information of Rin's identity, knew exactly who it was headed towards the castle. Some of them chose to flee, uncertain of who was the stronger youkai; their father, Choukichirou or the reputedly dangerous Sesshoumaru.

Among those who stayed there were only four who knew the northern lord's exact plans. Of those four one was now dead. The three remaining conspirators paced nervously in the courtyard, having sensed immediately the death of their sibling. Their father was nowhere to be found.

Sneaking quietly through the interior of the castle, a particularly burly golden-haired youkai headed towards the room where the captives were being held. The one who possessed them would be the one with power over the western lord, so it was that he had decided to be that particular person. If nothing else, he could ensure his safe escape from Sesshoumaru's wrath.

Around the next corner he could hear the clash of metal, frowning he took a few steps ahead but kept the majority of his body hidden behind the wall. Already there were three others there, swords drawn and clanging against each other. Apparently, he had not been the only one with the idea to use the two children as bargaining tools.

A grin formed upon his lips as yet another plan formed within his mind. Why not let them fight? Once they had destroyed one another he would take on the weary victor and then take the children for himself. Just as he was mentally going over his plan, there was a sound from behind him. Before he could react something collided with the back of his head and sent him sprawling forward, his hand rubbing at the now tender spot.

"What the hell is going on here?" the northern lord's eyes glared coldly at his sons. He didn't need to ask; he already knew exactly what they had been thinking.

"If you're that hungry for blood, then by all means, why don't you go and greet the western lord… or perhaps that is what you are trying to avoid?"

All of them looked away guiltily.

"Pathetic, all of you! If you don't have the courage to protect your home than leave before I kill you myself."

Behind Choukichirou, Kisho stood, his face blank of emotion as he watched what occurred between his father and siblings. The other four stood, warily watching the northern lord as they left.

"My orders, otousan?" Kisho asked.

Glancing down at his youngest son, he placed a clawed hand atop the boy's head.

"It was smart of you to report this to me," he said, indicating what had just transpired between the four youkai. "You have gained my trust Kisho, perhaps mating your mother was not a mistake after all."

The older youkai turned away, and so did not notice the fire gleaming in his son's eyes or the way his fists were clenched tightly at his sides.

"You are to stay here and watch over the ningen. Afterwards, you shall be rewarded," and with that Choukichirou left.

Kisho's bitter eyes followed his father's movements down the hall.

"Hai, otousan," he whispered, "I will be rewarded. But not by you."

~*~

It wasn't long until the northern castle came into sight and suddenly Sesshoumaru was filled with excitement. It was reported that the northern lord had thirteen sons, and he would enjoy slaying every last one of them. In what seemed nothing more then a flash of light to ningen eyes, Sesshoumaru sprinted forward.

Within the open courtyard stood three youkai, all of them falcons, just like the northern lord himself. No doubt, they were more of his many sons. But, like the one he had encountered before, each had a weakened aura. They themselves didn't seem aware of it as each drew their sword. Apparently the plan was to attack all at once.

They weren't particularly swift, they moved nearly as slowly as ningens and so Sesshoumaru was left a few seconds to ponder his strategy. He was sorely tempted to take their lives without the use of his weapons; his energy whip would have been an ideal attack for multiple enemies. What made him change his mind was the pulsing of Toukijin at his side, as if the powerful weapon could sense that blood would be shed and longed to taste it.

Just as the first one reached within attacking distance, Sesshoumaru drew Toukijin in his right hand and used it to parry the first strike. A second later he also drew Tenseiga, to use as a defense against the other two swords. Though the Tenseiga would not cause harm, it was capable of catching the blades that were aimed for him.

For a few minutes he just blocked and dodged attacks taking the offensive only rarely. Reveling in the fluid way his muscles moved, enjoying the sounds of metal upon metal and the smell of blood from the few innocuous wounds he inflicted.

Soon enough the swordplay grew boring and Sesshoumaru jumped out of range of his opponent's weapons. Then, in one smooth motion, Toukijin came up in an arch and the jyaki he had been holding in check until then was released. There was a bright flash of energy that consumed the three brothers.

When the energy had died down, there was no sign that the three youkai had even existed, although one of the front walls of the castle had been destroyed by the attack. Sheathing both Toukijin and Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru began to approach the castle's entrance; already his senses were stretching out to find his two wards.

"What does that make the score now? Four for you and zero for me, is that correct?"

Sesshoumaru nearly snorted, watching as the northern lord jumped from a balcony into the courtyard.

"Is that what this is to you; a game? Do you find enjoyment in my… eradication of your sons?"

Choukichirou shrugged, he did not appear troubled by the loss of his offspring.

"I have more sons, and unlike you I do not find procreation to be a difficult task."

It took a large amount of will power to ignore that insult to his virility, but Sesshoumaru stayed silent.

"However, my intention had not been to start a physical confrontation such as this; I had hoped you would be willing to negotiate for the girl rather then coming here for blood."

Seeing his words had very little effect on the inu-youkai, Choukichirou drew his sword from the sheath strapped at his side. Sesshoumaru followed suit, his eyes never leaving his opponent.

~*~

Sango fell forward onto her knees, bowing her head before the woman standing in front of her. The kuroi miko smiled, her dark wavy hair swaying gently in a stray breeze. Everyone else shared startled glances, the silence was broken momentarily when Yukiko let out a piercing scream and fell to her knees with her hands clutching at her head. No one moved, except for Inuyasha who quickly drew Tetsusaiga from its sheathe.

Kagome fixed her eyes on her friend kneeling on the ground, if she did not look at the dark miko then the woman would have no power over her. Her left cheek began to burn fiercely, apparently the curse symbol was reacting to the presence of its creator.

"Do you know me, Sango?"

The taijiyaa's eyes were fixed upon the grass beneath her, her hair, tied in its usual high ponytail swung from side to side when she nodded her head in an affirmative answer.

"Hai, I do Midoriko-sama."

Dark, tinkling laughter filled the air as the kuroi miko threw her head back. She ignored Miroku as he slowly approached, his hand reaching out for Sango's shoulder.

"There has to be some mistake…" Kagome whispered.

Sango shook her head, ignoring the houshi's hand tugging on her shoulder.

"You've only seen her image once, I grew up in the taijiyaa village and often visited the cave where Midoriko's last moments were lived, I know the face caught within the stone; this is her."

Miroku, who had given up trying to tug Sango back towards their group, but nevertheless stayed by her side, nodded in agreement.

"This woman does resemble the miko-warrior who created the Shikon no tama, I remember when Sango took us to examine the cave. I wouldn't forget the face of a beautiful woman…"

Since her head was still bowed Miroku didn't notice when Sango's eye began to twitch and she abruptly stood to slap the monk.

"I grow tired of all your bickering," Midoriko's like-ness drawled.

No one but the kuroi miko noticed when Yukiko's form stood behind the group, the eyes a fierce blue. They did notice, however, when a large amount of energy was let loose by the girl, headed directly for their enemy.

The attack was easily evaded, and again there was laughter coming from the dark-eyed woman.

"Still out for my blood?"

The blue eyes narrowed, and Takehiko rushed forward.

"Of course, once you're dead I can be free of this wretched girl's body!"

"Oh, is that so? And where will you go? Your body has long since turned to waste without your spirit to inhabit it."

Both women went still, their eyes meeting from where each stood.

"However," Koridomi continued, "you can't all live inside of that girl's body forever either. She's a weak ningen, she'll most likely die soon."

Putting a thoughtful look on her face and raising her hand to rest beneath her chin she offered her solution, "You could always use the Shikon no tama to wish for new bodies."

Kagome stiffened, her hand instantly going to the jewel hanging from her throat as Inuyasha took a defensive stance in front of her with both Sango and Miroku close behind. The blue eyes set into Yukiko's face turned towards the group appraisingly.

"That could work."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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