InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Alliances ❯ A Vow Unto The Departed ( Chapter 11 )

Bonjour, mes amis!!

 

Comment ça va?

 

(Blank stares)

 

Gomen, I'm starting a French correspondence course. Very scary. Too bad they don't offer Japanese!

 

Review Responses!!!

 

Kagome92111- You had your winter break 2 months ago? Now I'm confused, considering the temperatures here at the end of January were -51OC with the wind chill. A little cold, you could say. (And yes, the temperature reading is Celsius, which means I'm a Canadian!)

 

By the way, for all those wondering, I do not live in Toronto.

 

Kitsama- Gah! I feel so sorry for you, considering all the asterisk points were around the sentences I had wrote on a different word processor. That's why the formatting was weird…

 

Thanks so much for beta-ing!!

 

Sur avec les stories! (On with the story!)

 

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§ A Vow Unto The Departed §

 

The crushing, heart-stopping pain within his chest did little to ease Katsume's mood. The arms of his men, his samurai, shook with the effort of carrying their leader as gently as possible through the craggy hill-country. Each jolt of their footsteps thrust another dagger into his already tender ribs. As much as Katsume was enjoying this trip home, he could only wish it would last forever.

 

His lord was not going to be pleased.

 

In fact, Katsume was fairly certain the gods were on his side if he lived through this day. The hanyou had proven to be a foe filled with surprises, even if his ultimate outcome was to lose in the end. To some extent, that is. At least he wouldn't be bothering Katsume anymore.

 

The master cursed to himself. How the hanyou had managed to return to a human form was beyond him. After that trick, everything had barreled down the hillside. Kagome was of now no use to any future plans, being exposed to the true side of his mission, obliterating any chance to use her skill once more.

 

But that fact was the least of his worries.

 

The link between the dragon and Inuyasha's soul had been severed far too soon. Katsume feared that he may not have enough usable spirit for his lord to power the St'aler, and if he did not return with some results this day, the master feared his life to be on the line.

 

The ground under one samurai's foot chose that moment to give way, causing the man to trip and jar the precarious grip the men had on their leader. Katsume howled in agony, twisting away from their hands. The cracked rib broke soundly as Katsume landed full force upon it, sending a wave of anguish coursing through his body.

 

I hope Inuyasha's enjoying his revenge, he thought, as the dark abyss came up to collect him.

 

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Shippo clutched desperately to Kirara's white fur as the twin-tailed fire cat sped through the dying morning. His green eyes scoured the tree lines, pinpointing every little red dot. At least that was one good use of Inuyasha's red haori. It was always easy to spot... almost...

 

That is if one didn't take into account they had been scouring the area from which Miroku had seen the light for nearly half a day.

 

The kitsune glanced back to the worried faces behind him. Sango and Miroku, tired from the long, strenuous night, gave him weary grins. As much as Shippo tried to imagine it, he couldn't see much mirth trapped within them.

 

Shippo unclenched a tiny fist from the fur, pausing only briefly from his meticulous search to wipe a small tear from his face, before the others could see it. To lose Kagome was one thing. Though Shippo cared deeply for her, Inuyasha's haughty attitude had assured the young kitsune that he would bring her back. He always had pulled through for him. However, to mayhap lose his inu-papa as well…Shippo was desperate.

 

A cue from Sango turned Kirara east, back towards the towering canyons. It had been the first area they checked, in the early morning light, Shippo remembered, but their search had revealed only wind-swept rocks and sand. Miroku had remarked that a fierce gust might have cleaned the area out before they had arrived, but the urgency of the situation had allowed no extra time.

 

Now it was the only place Inuyasha, Varon, and Kagome could be.

 

“Do not worry, Shippo. We will find Inuyasha and the others soon enough.” Miroku reached out, rubbing the young kitsune's back. Shippo was startled to feelthe monk flick off a missed tear from his face. He closed his eyes, embarrassed.

 

They passed over the canyons again, and again. There was no sign of them. Each crossing added on an extra weight onto Shippo's chest, and soon he could hide the tears no longer.

 

Sango leaned forward to Miroku. “Maybe we should stop for today.” A concerned look crossed her face. “Kirara's exhausted, and I think we all need a break.”

 

Miroku nodded his head in silent agreement.

 

“Shippo?” Sango questioned. “Are you right with that?”

 

Shippo gave a last glance to the canyon walls. The sun, on its last legs of the day, gave the rocks an almost peaceful, serene quality. The relaxing effect made him realize how exhausted he was.

 

“Whatever.”

 

Kirara mewed, and banked slowly near a forest ridge on the edge of the walls. A tiny stream was visible, meandering through the saplings, passing through a small clearing only to plunge from the sheer edge into the valley. Shippo thought it was a nice place to spend the night, but the firecat picked up speed, heading instead farther south.

 

“Hey! Where the hell are you people going! Don't leave us here, wait up!!”

 

“Inuyasha!” cried Shippo, spinning around to the source of the voice.

 

The familiar fire-rat haroi was in the clearing below, sleeves flailing rapidly as Inuyasha raced to catch up with others. “Hey! Wait up!” he repeated.

 

“Sango, turn Kirara around. Inuyasha's down there!”

 

“Where?” answered Sango, her eyes frantically searching the area. “I don't see him.”

 

Shippo gave her an impatient growl, and thrust his finger towards the opening. “Guys,” he said, “he's right…”

 

“…there?”

 

Miroku snatched the kitsune before he could fall off in amazement. The clearing was empty, and Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Shippo, are you alright?” Miroku plopped the fox demon back on Kirara. “You sure gave us a scare, there.”

 

“But, but,” sputtered Shippo, “I swear I saw him.”

 

“I think we've all had a long day, and the sun is setting. Maybe your eyes where just playing tricks on you.”

 

“I saw what I saw! Please, Inuyasha was down there.” Shippo gave the monk his cutest face possible. “Don't you believe me?”

 

Miroku sighed, reluctant to give in. “I suppose it's worth a look. The area didn't look too bad for the night, despite being so close to enemy territory. Sango?”

 

“Come on, Kirara,” she said. “Let's go back.” She looked to Shippo again. “But I'm not promising there be anything there, okay?”

 

Shippo's face transformed into a triumphant grin.

 

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“See, what did I tell you! I did see him!”

 

Miroku's toe nudged the ashes of a well-concealed fire. The area within the trees was hidden cleverly as well, both aerially and from the ground. “It may be them,” he said, “but they were concerned about secrecy as to their location. We wouldn't have found this place if we were not looking specifically for it.”

 

Sango shook her head in wonder. Whoever had found this place knew what they were doing, and had a real reason to use it. The thought that mayhap Inuyasha and the others might have been here had crossed her mind, but if that was true, where were they now?

 

Her eyes sought a clue, and they quickly found it. A robe dangled loosely near her, hanging precariously on a tree. Sango sucked back a gasp. The robe was soaked with blood. Her hand reached out to grasp it. “Miroku,” she called, “isn't this one of Varon's-“

 

“Watch out!” cried Shippo. An arrow flew through the trees, striking mere inches from Sango's outstretched hand. She recoiled back, jumping away from the robe.

 

“Whoever you are, go away!” a feminine voice called out. “We don't want to have to deal with you, but if you refuse to leave…”

 

“Kagome?” questioned Miroku.

 

There was a slight pause. “Guys,” the voice tentatively answered, “is that you?”

 

“Kagome!” squealed Shippo. His furry feet sped to the source of the voice, leaping wildly through the air. Sango sighed as Kagome emerged from the bushes, just in time to save him from dashing through a patch of brambles.

 

“Shippo! Miroku, Sango! Thank god you found us!” Kagome's elated voice cried.

 

“Miroku!” called Varon from another section of trees. “It is you.” He tapped his foot impatiently to the ground. “It's about time you decided show up!”

 

“We couldn't find you guys!” whined Miroku, trying to grovel in his friend's eyes. Sango shook her head in disgust as the monk hastily tried to put together an explanation. “I swear, we were searching all day.”

 

“There were some patrols out looking for us,” explained Kagome. “We had to lie low for a little while. I can't believe you found us here though.”

 

Sango smiled, remembering Shippo's happiness earlier when she had decided to stop and look. “It was Shippo,” she said. “We were going to head for safer ground for the night, but he spotted Inuyasha calling us from the trees. A good thing too, or else we might have been looking for you guys for days.”

 

She glanced around. “Where is he, by the way? Inuyasha? Did he go out looking for us or something-” Sango stopped immediately as a gray shade passed over Kagome's face.

 

Varon looked to the forest floor for the strength to speak, but Kagome beat him to it.

 

“It was my fault,” she mumbled, looking away from the others. “I didn't know it was him.”

 

“Gods,” she continued. “Why did it have to be him? Inuyasha, you idiot, why did you have to come!”

 

Confusion laced about the group. Sango ached to run to her friend, to comfort her in her arms, but her feet seemed frozen with shock into the unyielding ground. Frightening images of what her friend had gone through rampaged unchecked through her mind. “What… what happened?” she finally managed to ask.

 

“Inuyasha… he sacrificed himself to the St'aler in order to save Lady Kagome's life.” Varon fumbled with his hands, suddenly finding a very interesting scar. “I watched him do it…I stood and watched.”

 

Shippo, in Kagome's arms, whimpered with fear and shock. Miroku turned away from the others, grasping his staff in frustration. Sango felt the tears at the corner of her eyes finally begin to fall.

 

“Where is he?” Sango was startled to see Shippo gently pulling on Kagome's tattered shirt. “Where'd you guys leave him?” the fox-child's trembling voice repeated.

 

“Oh, Shippo…” Kagome started, then hugged him to his chest. She turned around, pulling apart the bushes she had been hiding in.

 

On the cool forest floor, Inuyasha's body lay quietly sleeping, his human face calm and quiet. Sango stifled a gasp at the amount of damage to his fire-rat haroi, and the blood soaking it.

 

“The idiot,” mumbled Kagome, “it was the new moon last night. He came after me, on the new moon, battled a demon I helped summon to destroy him…and lost.”

 

Suddenly, Sango saw something that almost made her scream with joy.

 

Shippo leapt from Kagome's arms, his little voice squeaking with excitement. “He's alive!” he cried, as Inuyasha's chest took another labored breath.

 

“Yes,” said Varon, “but I'm sorry Shippo. Inuyasha's body may still be alive, but his soul has been seized.”

 

“But,” said Miroku, “there still may be a chance. If we can somehow retrieve his soul, Inuyasha will still be alive!”

 

Kagome looked to the ground. “We can't,” she said. “There is no known way to stop the St'aler.”

 

“And when has that ever stopped us?” Sango flinched at the malice in her own voice. “I'm sorry, but I can't believe we're all just giving up on him. We haven't explored all the options yet. Let's go back to the village and talk with Lady Kaede. She may have knowledge of something we do not.”

 

“Kaede?” questioned Varon.

 

“A priestess,” said Kagome, her eyes alighting with hope. “Back at our village.”

 

`It's worth a try,” said Miroku. “We're not going to lose anything by doing it.”

 

“Time,” countered Varon. “And that's something we have precious little of right now. But I see no other options.” He eyed the setting sun. “I'd suggest we'd spend the night here though.”

 

He gave a joyful smirk. “Dibs on first watch!”

 

“Hey!” exclaimed Shippo. “No fair!”

 

Sango couldn't help but grin as the others took Varon's bait, cheerfully arguing over the watch orders. The prospect of hope with Kaede seemed to lighten everyone's mood.

 

Maybe they could save Inuyasha after all.

 

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From a hastily made stretcher, Katsume waited quietly as a samurai returned the St'aler and its dagger to the pedestal. The samurai seemed nervous to even be near the objects, as if they would suddenly transform and strike him down. With the utmost care, he placed them into their slots, then turned and bowed to Katsume.

 

“Master, I have done as you wish. Is their anything else you require? Anything for the pain?”

 

A new body, thought Katsume, to replace this one. The dull ache abruptly spiked as if to argue that statement. “No, samurai,” answered Katsume. “You may go.”

 

“I will summon our lord, then.” The samurai left the room, his footsteps whispering softly down the hall. Katsume groaned, trying to making his battered body as comfortable as possible.

 

Of course, it may not matter. I might be dead soon anyway. What a joyful thought.

 

Katsume closed his eyes for a bit. The sounds of someone entering the room soon became apparent, the familiar thump of feet on the wooden floor. A shadow fell across his face, and Katsume hesitantly opened his eyes.

 

“Tsk, tsk. Katsume, my friend. What have you done to your self now?”

 

“My lord, I-”

 

The demon smiled, and shook his head. “You foolish man, you almost got yourself killed. I told you not to underestimate Inuyasha.” He turned to the St'aler. His eyes gazed the stiletto. “I saw the entire thing.”

 

Katsume's worry deepened. “My lord?” his voice rasped. “You saw it all?”

 

“Do not think I would let the opportunity to see Inuyasha's demise go to waste. Yes, the entire thing.” The demon stepped back so Katsume could see him from the floor. “You think you have failed me?”

 

“Yes, my lord.”

 

“Be glad you have not.” Confusion crossed Katsume's brow. The demon turned back the stiletto, lifting it from its slot. He fingered the blade delicately, tracing the worn patterns with a fingernail. With a gentle hand, he took to blade to the St'aler, balancing perfectly on the sphere.

 

A low hum filled the room. The dragon appeared, its limbs and body now whole since the battle. It growled a low note, and vanished within the black sphere below.

 

“The transference is complete.” The demon removed the blade and returned it. He moved to Katsume.

 

“There is enough of the hanyou's soul there now to run some tests. However…” the demon leaned down and grabbed Katsume's collar, lifting him up. The man stifled a yelp of pain. “I still need the rest. I saw the hanyou thwart your plans. The rest of his soul is still out there. Find it, soon, or face the consequences.”

 

Katsume nodded his head, biting his tongue to keep from screaming.

 

“Good. I see you understand.” The demon dropped him and turned to the door.

 

“Do not fail me, Katsume.” He exited the area.

 

Katsume, his chest screaming with pain, caught his breath, trying not to overuse his lungs and move the injured rib.

 

Well, he thought, that went better than expected.

 

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Shippo gazed softly at the gray lumps encircling the dying fire. The soft contours and dips vaguely resembled familiar shapes, ones that he had no trouble identifying. However, sometimes he'd forget, so he'd have to wait until the lumps shifted, revealing the sleeping human hidden underneath.

 

The night was turning out to be a cool one, so Kagome had to break out emergency blankets for all of them. Kagome herself had refused to take one, giving two to keep Inuyasha, no, Inuyasha's body, warm. When she had finally fallen asleep, though, Shippo had crept out of his and quietly given it to her shivering form.

 

He had tried to get to sleep, but nightmares kept plaguing his thoughts, keeping him fully awake. Shippo hadn't known you could have nightmares while you were awake. At least, he hadn't known until his father and mother had died. They eventually had gone away, and never returned. Until now…

 

A breeze brushed through the area, and Shippo had to clung to the branch he was on to keep from falling off. When it finally subsided, he crawled lower down, to shelter within the branches. It was disorientating to see Inuyasha sleeping on the ground outside. Usually he'd be doing what Shippo was doing now, hidden among the branches, watching over his friends. Shippo smiled to himself. Sometimes, when Inuyasha had fallen asleep, and the nightmares of his father's death woke him up, Shippo had climbed the branches and snuggled into his inu-papa's lap. The feeling of safety and comfort had always lulled him back to sleep.

 

Inuyasha had never known he was there, for Shippo managed to awaken first and scramble away. It was a secret Shippo intended to keep safely to himself.

 

A thought crossed the young kitsune's mind. He had been sure he had seen Inuyasha calling them from the trees today. There had been no doubt in his mind. However, according to Kagome, they had been attacked last night. There was no way Inuyasha could have waved them down.

 

Curling up into tiny crevice within the tree, Shippo began to gaze up at the stars. A tear crossed Shippo's cheek as he began to count them. He was scared, scared for his inu-papa. Inuyasha had always been so strong, so arrogant, and had always been there. He was the security blanket for all of them, and now he was gone.

 

Shippo suddenly wondered whom it was that Inuyasha trusted in.

 

<Hey, twerp, whatcha doing?>

 

Shippo nearly jumped out of his skin, and quickly checked the party below. Inuyasha's blanket hadn't moved.

 

“Inuyasha?” he asked, but there was no answer.

 

Okay, I'm officially going nuts. Shippo curled back up into his nook in the tree, and resumed his stargazing. Nevertheless, the poor kitsune couldn't concentrate, so perturbed was he from hearing Inuyasha's voice.

 

“Inuyasha,” he whispered, “are you really out there?”

 

The breeze picked up again, and Shippo sighed. It was as if he really expected an answer. Besides, he was half asleep. I probably just imagined him.

 

Shippo yawned, tucking his tail around his body for warmth. It wasn't long before the world of dreams lulled him within its grasp.

 

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A figure appeared from the direction of the canyons. It had watched silently as the camp had slowly, one by one, fallen asleep. The figure quietly darted by their sentinel, now Sango's duty, on watch for any sign of trouble. Her eyes didn't move as he slipped past her, focused on a point beyond him.

 

The figure stopped near the fire, gazing on the sleeping bodies before him. A small smile escaped his lips, exposing tiny twin fangs, as his eyes found Kagome. His thoughts put to rest, the figure bounded into a nearby tree to guard them.

 

To his disappointment, the figure found his place already taken. The tiny kitsune in his nook was twisting violently, whimpering, in the grip of a fearful nightmare.

 

<Keh. Oi, Shippo.>

 

The figure slipped down beside the kitsune. He pulled off his fire-rat haroi, and placed it about the child's shoulders. He quieted instantly.

 

He smiled.

 

<Don't worry kid. You're stuck with me.>

 

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The following is a special presentation to celebrate the eleventh chapter of Unexpected Alliances, courtesy of my co-writer/psychopathic sister, demoness. A special, touching and humor-bound authors' note. Please enjoy, or scroll down and review!

 

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Ah, Inuyasha is being parental to the kitsune (group sigh “Ahh”). My guess (as the oft-spoken, fair, well-writing authoress) is that the part of the soul that hanyou-boy is missing is the part that makes him an immature baka to the lonely orphan.

 

Inuyasha: No its not, it is the part that makes me not murder the idiot co-authors making me look weak and cuddly on the net.

 

Sure, my Lord of the Rings boys would be all over you.

 

(Voices in background, sounding British- No we wouldn't! We shall come instead to your aid, puppy-eared demon.)

 

Okay, then. Your graceful goodbye for the epilogue of Answering to the Threat just got little more sadistic. (Moans and cries of strike heard) Oh come on you guys, suck it up for one more chapter.

 

Now, on a less violent note Inuyasha, would you like your braggadocio expatiated?

 

Inuyasha: Was that Japanese, or a crappy English dub?

 

Oh god! To translate it for you into the language of the `Idiot', would you like to feel happier from more reviews?

 

Inuyasha: Yes! Why didn't you just #$^%$^& ask that!

 

(Translation from `Idiot' for all of the rest of us: Please review, or Inuyasha may decrease our vocabulary skills even more from their depreciated levels!!)

 

Sesshomaru: I understood the demoness perfectly brother, any fool would…

 

Inuyasha: Now you are calling yourself a fool! I don't even have to insult you as much anymore, you do it on your own!

 

Sometime we are just going to have to you two in a room together, and let you fight it out.

 

Sesshomaru: It would be fine with me.

 

Ohh, maybe there could be rubbing oil of some kind involved, like they had on Brad Pitt in Troy…

 

(Both authors stare off dreamily, giggling. The two brothers hurriedly find some way to make up their differences.)

 

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Anyway, hope you all enjoyed.

 

P.S. I'm scared too!

 

-Hanyou