InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Sage ❯ Yami no Otaru Part I ( Chapter 29 )

~*~*~*~*~*~Edited version~*~*~*~*~*

 

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Yami no Otaru Part I

 

Kagome braced herself as the shockwave of the two great youkai shook the building. Sorano had launched herself at Mystic the minute the dust settled and they were once again in the heat of battle. She had never seen Sorano fight like this before. She had a strange sort of beauty to her movements and yet Kagome knew that her strikes were deadly accurate. How can someone so beautiful and angelic be so deadly? Sorano is like a totally different person. She truly is the only one that can take on Mystic. Her youki levels are through the roof and they seem to be rising. But why isn't her youki setting off my miko?

 

As if Kaeda heard her thoughts she answered the questions that were plaguing Kagome's thoughts. “You are wondering about her youki?”

 

Kagome half turned to look at Kaeda, who had walked the short distance to her side, and half kept an eye on the battle that was ensuing. “Yes I am. Her youki is filling the whole area and yet my miko is totally calm. Every time any one of us gets into a battle my miko reacts and yet…”

 

Kaeda nodded as she too gazed at the heavens that flashed and crackled with youki. “Sorano's youki is not like it once was. There is a legend about Light Youkai that I must say I never believed. But now I know that it is true.”

 

Kagome jumped slightly as a hand was placed at her hip. Through everything that was happening Kagome hadn't noticed that Inuyasha had also followed Kaeda and he was now standing at her side. “What legend?”

 

“I have heard of this legend as well as I am a Dark Youkai.” Kagome glanced around and finally spotted Duane. He was standing a good distance away, with Sesshomaru glaring at his head, as they watched the battled. He must have really good hearing to be that far away and heard our conversation over the sound of the battle.

 

“The Legend is a long and lengthy tale and one that I will not go into now but it states that when a Light or Dark Youkai is completely balanced with the elements of the world they reach a sort of plateau. A sort of utopia that makes them so powerful that their youki is almost pure.”

 

Sango landed softly in front of them and leapt off of Kirara. “I just heard the tale end of that but I still need to say, and I think it is on behalf of everyone when I say it, ma huh?”

 

Kagome snickered to herself at Sango's chose of words though she did have to agree with her. What is Kaeda saying? That a Light or Dark Youkai can become so powerful that they no longer give off an evil youki? I mean Sorano's was never evil but it did react with my miko. But now… she is different and I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing…

 

***

 

Sorano couldn't believe the rush of power she was feeling. It was like her whole body was on fire and yet she didn't feel any discomfort. She felt that she was meant to feel this way. It was like she was finally whole. The weight of Yami no Otaru felt like it was apart of her body and its movements were like a dance that she had known her whole life. The strangest thing was that Mystic seemed to be glowing but it wasn't his youki. No. It was like she was seeing him for the first time. At times certain parts of his body would glow slightly brighter then the rest of him and when she swung Yami no Otaru at that spot she would hit him every time.

 

She was only slightly aware that the others on the roof had all come together. They must have been talking about something very important because every once in a while one her friend's aura's would flash. But she couldn't think about them right now. She needed to stop Mystic. But if I totally kill him off then he will just be reborn from the Master. I need to find a way to contain him that would cut him off from the influence of the Master…

 

Sorano landed softly on the roof and rolled to the left as Mystic brought down his katana. The force of the swing carved a huge gouge into the roof. Mystic didn't even have time to move out of the way before Sorano came flying at him again. This is going to last all day if I don't do something to stop him. The others are all tired from the attack earlier and now this. Wait a minute!

 

Sorano flipped across the roof and raised her hand. Mystic charged at her just a sphere of light erupted from the palm of her hand. Mystic's pupils dilated but he still charged at the still form of Sorano. He should learn when to evade. Mystic raised his katana and was about to swing when Sorano, with a slight grin on her face, launched the sphere of light straight at Mystic. Sorano flipped into the air as the light collided with Mystic.

 

Sorano landed softly on the roof once again and shot towards her friends. She had the plan completely figured in her head and it was going to take all of them to make it work. Sorano slid to a halt in front of Kagome and waved off the concerned expression of her second in command.

 

“Listen good because we only have one shot at this. Mystic can not to killed out right, as he would just be reborn from the Master. I see this now and though I could kill him it will only be wasting energy and time. We need to contain him and for that I will need both Miko and Kaeda.”

 

Kagome looked like she was about to voice a question but closed her mouth, noticeably swallowed, and nodded to Sorano. Good girl Miko. I think you understand what I am going to be asking of you and Kaeda.

 

“Alright here's the plan.”

 

***

 

Inuyasha stood about twenty feet to Kagome's right. He didn't like the plan but if it worked then Mystic was going to wish that they just killed him outright. Kagome had her hands linked together before her chest and was muttering something under her breath. Inuyasha glanced at Kaeda, who was standing directing across from her, as she too was muttering.

 

Okay Inuyasha just follow the plan. Sorano would never do anything to put your mate in harms way. This is how it has to be done and for it to work you need to believe in her one hundred percent. Inuyasha raised his katana and concentrated on his mating mark. Kagome was going to need all the strength she could get and he was more then willing to give her his. The plan wouldn't go into action until Kagome and Kaeda were radiating with miko.

 

Inuyasha glanced around the roof. Duane was standing opposite Miroku with his eyes closed. In Inuyasha's point of view the two of them had the easiest part of the plan. Yeah… pretty much stay the hell out of the way. How much effort does it take to create mist? And the lecher… well he was pretty much told to stay away from Sango, as he can't control is damn hand.

 

Inuyasha heard a loud yell from above and saw that Sango had started the plan. She was to wait until Sorano had hit Mystic and then she was to ram him causing him to fly straight towards the roof. Inuyasha steadied himself as Mystic came flying through the air and straight at the roof. Inuyasha felt a tug at his mark and knew that Kagome was ready. Duane's eyes flew opened and flashed a deep crimson red as the roof filled with mist.

 

Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Duane leapt into the air just before Mystic connected with the mist-covered roof. Inuyasha gasped as he watched Kaeda's and Kagome's miko flashed out from them and head straight for Mystic's body. The whole roof crackled and hissed with the intensity of the attack. A flash of light caused Inuyasha to look away but from the sound of Mystic's pained filled cry the plan had worked.

 

Slowly the three youkai and one hanyou descended back down to the roof. Inuyasha made a beeline to his fallen mate. Inuyasha reached her and pulled her into his arms. She was breathing pretty heavily but she was fine.

 

“I'm very proud of you Miko.”

 

Inuyasha and Kagome glanced up and looked into the smiling face of Sorano. Inuyasha had to look twice as she looked so much different then she did that morning. The marking on her forehead and cheek had changed completely and her hair now hung differently around her face. It gave her a more angelic look and she seemed much older and wiser.

 

“Arigato Haven.”

 

Sorano smiled as she turned to look at the spot that Mystic had landed. The mist was still swirling around the point of impact and the flashes of fuchsia and aqua made it so that none of them could make out Mystic. Kagome sighed against Inuyasha as she snuggled closer to his warmth.

 

When the mist and miko finally seemed to calm down Inuyasha gasped. Mystic was contained within a strange orb of miko and mist. His eyes were closed and he was curled into a small ball. “It seems that your plan worked Haven.”

 

Inuyasha jumped slightly as he wasn't paying attention to anyone approaching. He growled protectively as Kaeda reached down to touch Kagome. Kaeda just smiled as she turned her attention back to Sorano. “I will inform the Alliance that he is up here and they will move him into a more secure location. I will not have him here at headquarters as it could lead to a breach in security if he were to ever escape. But I daresay that he will not be bothering us again.”

 

Sorano turned her attention back the others. Everyone had gathered around as Kaeda walked off. “Well that was a most interesting turn of events.”

 

Sorano turned and growled at Duane, “You can leave now. You have served your purpose and you are not a member of our team. I will thank-you for your help but it is no longer required.”

 

Inuyasha had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the defeated look on Duane's face and to stop himself from laughing at the dismissal that Sorano had told him. Duane bowed and excused himself from the group. Sorano watched him as he left the roof.

 

Sango knelt down beside Inuyasha and Kagome and looked at her fallen friend. “That really did take a lot out of her didn't it? I mean Kaeda seemed fine but Miko here…”

 

Sorano looked down at them and smiled softly, “Miko is not used to using her miko like that. Kaeda was once the best of the best in the field and she is more used to these kinds of things. I mean when I was training with her when I first started out I thought that I was going to be purified for sure.”

 

Sango gaped at Sorano, “You trained with Kaeda?”

 

Sorano shrugged her shoulders, “All youkai that wish to become Elites have to face off against a powerful miko. All the other mikos were no challenge for me so Kaeda stepped up and I have to say that I very grateful that I only ever have to do that once in my career here at the United Alliance.”

 

Miroku raised a hand to his chin, “Well Kaeda was giving off a lot of miko when she was chanting and she didn't seem to be straining herself when she did it. Kagome on the other hand had to use Inuyasha's strength as well.”

 

Kagome wrapped an arm around Inuyasha and she gazed at Miroku, “Well Kaeda has been training a lot longer then me and that was a very hard sutra to remember and to chant.”

 

Sorano tapped her staff into the roof, drawing everyone's attention back to her, “Well as much fun as it is to stand out here and discuss this I think it would be wise to head back inside. There is a lot that needs to be talked about with what has recently happened.”

 

Inuyasha picked up Kagome bridal style as he led the way back inside.

 

***

 

Sorano stared at the suspended orb that contained Mystic. It was a plan that had worked and she was grateful that it did. All though she was worried about Kagome and the power that she would be using she was glad that Inuyasha had stepped up and helped his mate. Now she gazed at Mystic with a sort of sadness in her eyes. He was forever trapped within the sphere and he would never bother them again. Though this made her happy she was also saddened by the fact that he would never be free again. These feelings have to be from my transformation. I couldn't care less before if Mystic never walked this world again and yet now I'm feeling sorry for him. Are these feelings what I will have to deal with every time I capture an evil youkai? Will I always feel sympathy for those that will never again feel freedom?

 

Sorano looked one last time at the sphere before turning and heading towards the cell door. They were holding Mystic within a maximum security cell that was about fifty city blocks from headquarters. It was Kaeda's idea after all to hold him in a cell that was far away from the HQ. It was her idea to come and make sure that it was secure.

 

Sorano smiled to herself as she remembered what Sesshomaru had said. He had outright refused to stay at headquarters when she said that she was going to go to Mystic. He had said that he wasn't going to leave her side again not after what had happened in the Elite office.

 

“Elite Haven?”

 

Sorano shook herself out of her memory as the guard addressed her, “Hai?”

 

“Will you be leaving now?”

 

Sorano nodded as the guard reached to his side to get his scanner. “Please place your hand on the ID scanner.” Sorano raised her hand and placed it on the scanner. The scanner lit up green as it scanned her palm and fingerprints. The scanner hummed softly as it recognized her signature. “Elite Haven your orders?”

 

“No one but Elites with Omega Clearance and Kaeda are allowed within the cell. Mystic is a high danger prisoner and no one is to get closer then ten feet to him. All guards are to be Mikos or Houshi. The sphere must be reinforced with spiritual energy or Mystic could break free.”

 

The guard bowed as he placed the scanner back at his hip. Four guards approached the sphere and raised their hands to their chests. Sorano left the cell just as the four guards started to chant. With the houshi chanting purifying sutras around the orb there is no way that Mystic will ever break free. Sorano left the cell and entered into the guard corridor.

 

Sorano glanced at the guards as they looked at her with awed expressions. Do I really look that different now? Have I changed that much? Sorano was about to leave the guard corridor when one of the guards called out to her.

 

“Excuse me Elite Haven?”

 

Sorano stopped and sighed quietly to herself. She just wanted to return to HQ and get on with the paper work. Not to mention that her team and the others probably had a lot of questions for her. “Hai.”

 

“I know that it isn't my place to ask this but the other guards and I were wondering if you were going to challenge the Head Elite since she is leaving. We have heard that many others have challenged her but none of them have lasted very long against her.”

 

Sorano glanced over her shoulder. “You are right, it isn't your place to ask.” Sorano turned around and left the corridor. Once the door hummed closed behind her she let out a sigh that she didn't even realize she was holding.

 

“The only time you make that noise is when something is on your mind.”

 

Sorano smiled at the sound of his voice. The one person that truly understood her and stood by her side no matter what. The youkai that she loved with all her being, though they only knew each other for a short time it felt like she had known him all her life. She glanced over her shoulder and looked into the cool amber eyes of her chosen one. “Here I thought you would be waiting for me in the waiting area.”

 

Sesshomaru smiled softly. He only smiles for me. That thought alone caused Sorano's smile to widen. “If that short female snake youkai flicked her tongue at me one more time I was libel to remove it from her mouth.”

 

Sorano walked over to Sesshomaru, “Then you would be in trouble.”

 

Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around her waist, “I am spoken for so I shouldn't be held responsible for my actions towards other lowly female youkai.”

 

Sorano just shook her head as Sesshomaru's lips descended upon hers.

 

***

 

Kagome sipped her tea as her eyebrow twitched softly. Though she loved the hanyou that was pretty much attached to her hip she didn't like how he growled at anyone and everyone that came near her when she was feeling weak from all the energy she used. Sango had actually voiced her secret thoughts when she told Inuyasha off for actually snapping his jaws at her.

 

Now they all sat quietly in a conference room. She was tired from the battle and from being awake for too many hours to count. They were waiting for Sorano, Sesshomaru and Kaeda to come back now. Everything that had happened was going to be explained to them and Kagome for one was looking forward to some answers. Sorano was tied to her family in more ways then she had ever thought possible. She was truly the Protector of the Higurashi family and she wanted to know what that meant.

 

Sango was looking at the wall but Kagome knew that she was thinking along the same lines she was. Sango had been the lucky one out of the group to be found by Sorano. Though Sango's past was unknown to pretty much everyone, Kagome had a feeling that she was also tied to the past.

 

Kagome jumped slightly as the conference door hummed open. Sorano and Sesshomaru were the first to enter and they were followed by a short red haired kitsune that looked very familiar to Kagome.

 

“You're that Shippo kid from school!” Inuyasha pointed a claw finger at the young kitsune.

 

Shippo smiled nervously as he looked to Sorano for instructions. Sorano smiled at the kit and pointed to a seat that was next to Rin. Rin smiled and waved at Shippo as he walked over to the seat and sat down.

 

“Well since Inuyasha yelled out his introduction I think it is safe to say that everyone now knows that this young man is Shippo. He has been working for the Alliance for about three months and Kaeda and I think it is about time that he is assigned to a team.”

 

Kagome looked from Sorano to Shippo and smiled. She knew where this was going and smiled softly at Shippo. Shippo smiled back and relaxed a little in his seat. This didn't go unnoticed by Inuyasha who growled at the kitsune and wrapped his arm a little more securely around Kagome's waist. Kagome sighed as she shook her but none the less rested her head against Inuyasha's shoulder.

 

“Shippo is actually a member of Central Command. He is Operator 229.”

 

Sango laughed softly, “I thought I recognized the voice when he spoke over the communicator. I just didn't think it was actually this kitsune.”

 

Shippo smiled weakly at the group. He was so nervous and Kagome could feel it in his youki. He was sitting in the presence of one of the Alliance's greatest teams and now he was actually being assigned to a team that knew Team Sage. Kagome smiled reassuringly at the young kit and he relaxed a little.

 

Rin was beside herself with excitement. “This is awesome! Shippo is no longer going to be known as 229!!” Rin half hugged Shippo and his face lit up slightly at being hugged by Central Command's number one Operator.

 

Sorano chuckled softly, “Innocence please leave the poor kitsune alone. He is already nervous enough as it is.”

 

Miroku, who was silently watching the events from one side of the room, finally spoke. “Who is he being assigned too?”

 

Sorano smiled at Miroku, “I'm glad you asked Miroku. Since it was Koga that we had all thought to join the Alliance turned out to be nothing more then an insult to the name youkai; we have carefully thought about whom to add to your team. The answer was one that Kaeda suggested. She and I believe that Shippo would make a great Central Command Operator for your team Miroku.”

 

Miroku smiled as he looked at the red haired young youkai, “Welcome to the team though I didn't know that were officially a team.”

 

Sorano walked further into the room, “After the events that happened last night and this morning Kaeda has decided that Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo will become the newest team of the United Alliance. Starting tomorrow you will all be training with the best of the best at the Alliance. Some of you will be offered the chance to become Elites while others will not. However one thing is for certain. You all will be given aliases and your team will be named by the end of the week.”

 

Sesshomaru stepped forward and looked at Sorano, “So your team will be training our team.”

 

Sorano smiled at Sesshomaru, “Not only our team. There are a lot of teams that work at the Alliance here in Japan. They will all be training you in different parts of the Alliance. Most of the combat training will be with us but other teams will be training you all in studies, transportation, weaponry, armour, and other sub divisions.”

 

Suddenly the door hummed open and in worked Kaeda. Kagome looked from Kaeda's face to her hands. She was carrying a tightly coiled scroll that had yellowed with age. The look on Kaeda's face was one that Kagome hadn't seen in a long time. It was a look of hope.

 

***

 

Huggles all!!! Tal ^_~