InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Shikon no Tama ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 8 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned any part of Inuyasha or his world. This is a work of fanfiction made entirely for the fans of Inuyasha to enjoy. This story is based off of Inuyasha characters that I do not own.

This is also a work of fiction. Any simularities to any real person, dead or alive, is completely coincidental.


Chapter Eight:

A week had passed since they had been at Kaede's village. Kagome had planned on going home for a day or so, but then, something happened. A samurai had come running into the village. He had been bleeding and begging for help. Apparently, a demon had attacked his village and he was the lone survivor.

The companions had decided to escort the man home. When they got there, they helped the man bury the bodies of all the people he had known and loved. Inuyasha had searched for the demon and slain it.

Kagome wiped her brow after she let loose another sacred arrow. They were now on their fourth demon since that. Each demon had been different, yet each one had something in common. They had all shouted out for Naraku's cause before they died. Even this one, the one they were fighting now.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted before the hanyou could let loose a Wind Scar. "Don't kill it! We need it alive for questioning!"

The half demon looked to the priestess and sighed. He shouted back, "You're a real pain in the neck, you know."

She growled, "I'll remember that tonight when you are cold!"

Miroku and Sango shook their heads as Inuyasha stared at Kagome in disbelief. Surely she didn't mean it?

"Watch out!" the priestess warned suddenly, pointing to the demon.

Inuyasha's instinct took over as he jumped out of the way of the demon. The demon crashed down and roared it's frustration. It was an ogre demon and quite large. It had thought it could squash Inuyasha with it's weight.

"Yeah, yeah, roar, roar back at you, buddy," Inuyasha grumbled as he put Tetsusaiga on his shoulder. "We got some questions to ask and you're gonna answer them."

The demon smirked and snarled, "I won't answer anything!"

"Wanna bet?" the hanyou challenged. "If you value your life, you will."

"Ha!" the demon snapped, "Naraku would never allow it."

"What does Naraku want, anyway?" Kagome asked the demon. "What is he up to?"

Before the demon could answer, he exploded. Just like that. Gone. The companions blinked as Inuyasha put an arm over his face to protect it from the carnage.

Miroku stepped up to where the demon had stood and examined the area. He looked around to find out what had happened. How had the demon blown up? The monk could feel Sango behind him and stood up. He shook his head.

"Well, I suppose that's that. He's managed to escape us again," Sango commented.

Miroku sighed as Inuyasha and Kagome joined them. Shippo was perched on Kagome's shoulder.

"I don't understand," Kagome said softly. "What is he planning?"

Miroku bowed his head and stared at the ground where the demon had been. "From what we've seen thus far," he told them, "it seems as if Naraku is planning an all out war. Either that, or he hopes the demons will distract us long enough or even kill us. You have to remember, too, Kagome, you carry the full jewel, not Naraku. He might be trying to find a way to get the jewel from you. It's easier to steal from a lesser demon than it is from us."

"So, why doesn't Naraku attack us himself? Or send Kanna or Kagura?" Sango questioned.

Miroku shrugged. "There's no telling... Again, I'm just making assumptions here. No one knows his plans but Naraku."

Kagome looked at the carnage and thought about everything that had happened. She didn't know how she had ended up with the completed jewel. It had been more luck than anything. For the longest time, Naraku had held most of the jewel. Then, sometime during the last battle with him, Kagome had managed to take the jewel back. Now it was in her possession.

She knew Naraku would try anything to get the jewel. Even if it meant starting a war. He was already far more powerful than she could've ever imagined. She then realized what needed to be done. Naraku was gathering other demons to his "cause," whatever that cause may be. If they were to defeat him, they needed to gather their own allies.

She looked to her companions and friends. Thus far, there were five. She knew they needed more. She touched Inuyasha lightly on the shoulder and then remembered. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older half brother, was after Naraku as well. So was Koga.

"We need to find Sesshomaru and Koga," Kagome spoke aloud.

The companions looked at her curiously as Inuyasha piped, "Why the hell do we need them for?"

Kagome sighed, "If we are going to defeat Naraku, we need all the help we can get. I also want to find Kikyo and see if Kaede can gather other priestesses, or whatever she can."

"Are you sure you want Kikyo?" Sango asked, unsure. Kagome's relationship with Inuyasha was still relatively new and the demonslayer feared that contact with the dead priestess could cause trouble.

But, to the demonslayer's amazement, Kagome nodded. "I never said it was going to be easy," she told her. "Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do. Regardless of who's involved. We can get through this. All of us."

They all knew the importance of Kagome's words. Miroku applauded her for her bravery and her wisdom. However, it was Inuyasha they worried about the most. Already, they could see the hanyou's mind working.

Kagome slipped her hand between Inuyasha's arm and side. The hanyou looked at her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "We will do whatever we can, Kagome," he reassured her. "I just don't see the point in calling all these people. The five of us.. we've done so much together. Defeated so many foes."

"But not Naraku," Kagome answered. "And the reason we haven't defeated Naraku is because we can't do it alone. We need more people. Even if they don't believe in our cause, they do believe that Naraku's being here is a bad thing. He will destroy, not only Japan, but the world. We need them."

The hanyou sighed and stepped away from her. He turned his back on her and clenched his fist. "I do not need my brother's help. Call the others, if you want, but leave him out of it. And Kikyo as well. There's no need to drag her into this."

"Don't you dare protect her, Inuyasha!" Kagome warned. "And yes, you do need your brother's help! I need your brother's help. Don't you realize how strong he is? What he could bring to our band? Don't be stupid! And as far as Kikyo goes, I've given it a lot of thought. She needs to be in this as well. Her powers are great and could add a lot to the final battle.

"I know Kikyo died. And I know that maniac was the one to kill her. I also know that you want her to find peace. Don't you realize that, by helping us, she will find her peace? Putting that monster deep into the depths of Hell will help her find peace."

Inuyasha turned to look at the miko. He didn't know how he had done it, but he had done it again. He had managed to hurt Kagome's feelings. He hadn't meant to. He sighed as he pulled her into a hug. "I'm not going to protect her," he reassured her in a whisper.

Even though he had proclaimed his love and told Kikyo that he no longer wanted to be with her, the dead priestess was still a touchy subject. He knew it would be a long time before he or Kagome could get passed everything that had gone on during the past three years.

The hanyou raised his head as a familiar smell filled the area. He growled softly, "Sesshomaru."

"Good!" Kagome shouted as she pushed away from the hanyou.

"You're not going to talk to him now?!" Inuyasha demanded.

"No time like the present," she said merrily as she looked around for the taiyoukai. She saw him approaching from the east. Quickly she walked towards him. She called, "Sesshomaru!"

Inuyasha pulled out his sword and followed after her. He didn't know what she planned on telling Sesshomaru, but if the taiyoukai hurt her...

"Inuyasha, sit!" Kagome shouted. "And stay put!"

Sesshomaru ignored them. He knew they were going to cross paths. He had smelled the hanyou about two miles ago. However, he had no desire to fight or argue. He continued down his path as Kagome caught up to him.

"Hello, Kagome," Rin chimed.

"Hi, Rin," Kagome greeted. "I need to talk to Sesshomaru."

"My lord does not speak to mere mortals," Jaken snapped.

Kagome rolled her eyes, "Fine. He doesn't have to talk. Just listen."

She tried to stay in step with Sesshomaru. It was hard. He was a fast walker. "I need to talk to you about Naraku," she began.

"There is nothing you can say that I do not already know," he replied.

"Actually, Sesshomaru," she argued, "I think there is. I think Naraku is planning to start a war. He's gathering other demons toward some great 'cause.' I don't know what the cause is, but I know it's not good."

The taiyoukai didn't say anything. He just kept walking. Taking his silence as a good thing, she continued, "I know you don't care about humans or human life, but, if something's not done, a lot of lives could be lost."

"What do you want, priestess?" he asked.

"Your help?" she said bluntly. "The enemy of my enemy is my ally... I feel a great battle is coming and I need your help to defeat Naraku. If not, all could be lost."

"You sound sure of this."

She shook her head. "I'm not sure of anything. Not absolutely. But, I do know that in order to defeat Naraku, I need all the help I can get."

"When I destroy Naraku, I will do it alone. I will not aid a human, nor my brother," he said, simply.

She sighed. Her legs were beginning to tire. She didn't know how Rin did it all the time. Keeping up with the great demon. "Please, Sesshomaru," she asked. "I need your help. I'm not asking you to help your brother. I'm asking you to help me. Think of all you know and care for. Think of Rin. If Naraku succeeds in his 'cause,' there's a good chance Rin won't make it."

He continued walking. Tired, she stopped. She was quickly running out of options because he was quickly walking away. "I can give you back your arm!" she shouted without thinking.

That made the demon lord stop. Ever so slowly he turned, his yellow eyes on her. "What do you mean?" he questioned.

What did she mean? She had healed Miroku's hand. Could she give Sesshomaru a new arm? "The arm Inuyasha took," she told him. Yes, she was sure of it. She didn't know how, but she knew she could do it. "If you help me, I can give you a new arm. One that won't wither and die like the others. Your own arm."

"Why would I need you to give me a new arm?" he asked.

Kagome pointed to the stump. "A couple years ago, Naraku gave you the arm of a human with a sacred jewel shard embedded in it. I can still smell the burning flesh. Your arm won't grow back, Sesshomaru. Not for a very, very long time. I can speed up that process and give you a whole new arm. I don't know how, but I can."

He said nothing, just watched her. Confident, she stepped towards him. "You don't have to make a decision yet," she told him. "Just think about it. Even if you don't accept the arm, remember Rin. How much safer will this world be for her if Naraku is out of the way? You can try to defeat him, you have tried. Separate, we've all tried. None of us, not even my companions and I, have succeeded. However, if we work together, perhaps we can overcome him. Destroy him. Just... think about it for now."

With that, she turned and left the taiyoukai with his two companions. She ran back to her group where she found Inuyasha sulking under a tree.

"Will he help us?" Miroku asked, somewhat hopeful.

Kagome shrugged. "I gave him some food for thought, so who knows?" she told them. "Now we can only hope he takes the bait."

"What bait?" Sango questioned, looking at the miko curiously.

Kagome did not want to talk about it. Instead, she walked up to Inuyasha. "I'm sorry I gave that command," she said to him. "I didn't want you following me, because I didn't want the two of you to start fighting."

He snorted, "You could've just told me. What if he would've hurt you?"

She smiled at his concern. "He wouldn't. Not in front of Rin. He spoils her, and he knows how much she adores me," she assured him.

She walked up to him and gently settled into his lap. Without thought, he wrapped his arms around her and let her rest her head on his chest.

~~~

Sesshomaru continued walking. He thought over what the young priestess had said. She didn't have to tell him Naraku was getting stronger or that he was gathering forces towards some "cause." The demon lord had sensed Naraku's rise in power. Everyday, Sesshomaru fought and killed various demons who claimed they were working for Naraku.

Aside from that, there was something different about the miko. Something strange. "I can give you back your arm!" she had yelled.

How?

Just from her scent, he knew she and his brother had gotten close. She still didn't bare Inuyasha's claim mark, but Sesshomaru knew it wouldn't be much longer. What had been the other scent, though?

There had been something else there. Something aside from Inuyasha and the strange scent she always carried. She had changed in a way without her even realizing it. She was no longer a mere mortal, but something else. She wasn't a demon either, nor a hanyou. Sesshomaru knew she carried the completed Shikon no Tama. Perhaps it was the jewel that caused this change in her.

None of that really mattered to the demon lord. He knew the priestess could and would be a powerful ally in the final battle against Naraku. Whether or not she could give him back his arm, Sesshomaru did not care. What really, truly matter to him was...

"My lord?" the sweet little voice chimed in, interrupting Sesshomaru's thoughts.

"What is it, Rin?" he asked, welcoming the intrusion.

"Are you going to help Kagome, my lord? I don't know much about what's going on, but these past few battles have been kinda scary. Maybe, if we help Kagome, the battles will stop," she guessed.

"Don't bother him with silly questions, you stupid girl," Jaken reprimanded. "Lord Sesshomaru has more important things to worry about other than helping his brother's wench with her problems."

"Jaken," the demon lord called.

"Yes, my lord?" the toad answered timidly.

Sesshomaru took the staff Jaken had been carrying and used it to hit the toad. "Do not presume to know my plans," he growled. "Furthermore, do not reprimand her for asking me questions any longer... To answer your question, Rin, I'm still thinking about it. I'm not sure if I will or not."

The girl nodded, but said nothing. She was grateful to Lord Sesshomaru for sticking up for her against Jaken. However, she wasn't quite sure how to respond. He had never done anything like that before.