InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Alliances ❯ Brotherly Love ( Chapter 16 )

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§ Brotherly Love §

 

The great and mighty Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, dove behind the shelter of a stone overhang. Ominous thunder rumbled overhead, confirmation of the menace that mercilessly stalked him. He placed his one hand lightly on his sword, Toukijin, and waited for the lightning's next attack.

 

Small pieces of burnt cloth dotted the otherwise unmarred clothing Sesshomaru wore. Despite his calm expression, the demon lord's face was streaked with sweat, evidence of the exertion he maintained in the last few hours to keep himself alive.

 

Outside the overhang, a stray gust of wind kicked up a fine layer of dust, tossing the grains ruthlessly into his eyes. St'aler use was turning this area into a desolate wasteland. The dry, twisted stems of the underbrush snapped and crackled in the wind, and a dull roar emanated from the sickened leaves as they cascaded in waves to the ground.

 

The entire area had become a deathtrap.

 

Blinking the dust away from his eyes, Sesshomaru caught the sweet, sickly scent of ozone. Pushing himself as far back against the overhang as possible, he shielded his eyes, and waited for it.

 

A blinding light flashed through his closed lids, accompanied almost immediately afterwards by a deafening roar. His sensitive demon ears ached from the assault of sound. Shaking his head to clear his ears and eyesight, Sesshomaru squinted out at the land surrounding him.

 

The lightning had struck a tree nearby, situated far enough away that Sesshomaru knew those who directed the storm's attack had lost his position. A small fire licked at the tree's trunk, feeding itself hungrily on the desiccated wood. The dried vegetation around it began to twist and blacken, bursting into flame from the intense heat. Within seconds, a vicious wildfire emerged, driven on by the wind in many random directions.

 

Concerned, Sesshomaru looked for a way out. The fire was most likely a means to flush him out, but if he were to stay, the flames and smoke would mean his certain death. And he did not intend to fall here, at the hands of a petty demon and his human minions. Not when those enemies had dared to take from him that which they thought they could control him with.

 

The front of the fire abruptly accelerated, the wind driving it in the direction of his temporary retreat. It appeared they had found him once more. Sesshomaru braced himself, drawing his sword and preparing for the onslaught of heat and flame. Against his will, a tiny tremor shivered through his body. He was already exhausted from fighting. Another attack might be all that is needed to finish him.

 

As the fire licked Toukijin's edge, Sesshomaru's nose caught a familiar scent.

 

Inuyasha?!

 

Startled, he glanced about through the haze of the fire, but the demon lord caught no sight of his hanyou half-brother. However, over the roar of the flame Sesshomaru's ears registered a new, unfamiliar sound, a soft spitting whisper, accompanied by a cool, refreshing smell.

 

Abruptly, a torrential downpour erupted in front of him, smothering the hunger of the flames with a blast of water. The weak hiss of steam replaced it, the only remnant of the murderous blaze. Eyes wide with surprise, Sesshomaru stepped out from underneath the overhang and allowed the rain to wash away the scent of smoke and clean the wounds inflicted earlier by the lightning.

 

Despite the rain, Inuyasha's scent remained heavy on the air. Sesshomaru had a limited working knowledge of the St'aler, and had spent the last few weeks gathering more, but this particular feature made no sense. Had his despicable brother succumbed to the demon enemy's influence when he left to find that miko girl? True, he had heard nothing more on the whereabouts of his brother and his companions, including that troublesome monk they now traveled with, since that day he had given Inuyasha his warning.

 

Sesshomaru stepped back into the overhang to allow himself to dry. A sharp, thorn-like pain pierced his neck. Sheathing Toukijin, Sesshomaru slapped his hand to his neck, squishing a small body beneath his palm. With two delicate forefingers, he pulled the intruder away from his skin and hoisted the little demon before his face.

 

“Myouga. I am surprised to see you here, of all places. Then again, may not, as this could be the sole shelter for miles.”

 

The flea cringed visibly in Sesshomaru's glare. “Forgive me, my lord Sesshomaru. There wasn't such a tasty meal in miles. If you'll put me down now, I'll move on right away…”

 

“Silence. Why are you here, Myouga? Shouldn't you be serving yourself with the despicable blood of my brother?”

 

Myouga looked slightly taken aback. “You haven't heard, my lord? Master Inuyasha's soul was stolen to power the St'aler.”

 

“What? All of it?!”

 

“No, Lord Sesshomaru. Not all. Master Inuyasha managed to keep a portion of himself away from the enemy's grasp.

 

Sesshomaru growled a low note. So his brother had been stupid enough to be captured. Despite his heritage, even a half-demon's soul would have made Inuyasha a tempting target and a powerful source of energy.

 

“Why are you here?” repeated Sesshomaru.

 

Myouga trembled slightly. “I've been trying to gather more information about the St'aler,” he said. “To help locate the orbs, my lord, and… to try to determine how much time Master Inuyasha has left.”

 

“You mean before they manage to capture the rest of him.”

 

“Exactly, Lord Sesshomaru. Lady Kagome and the others have come up with a plan to try and locate the remaining jewel shards. It is their intention to make a wish upon the jewel once it is complete, but it is taking them a great amount of time to locate the remaining shards.” Myouga shifted himself in Sesshomaru's grip, trying to move into a position where he could see the dog demon more easily. Sesshomaru obliged him, releasing the flea demon and opening up his palm to allow Myouga to sit.

 

Sesshomaru sensed the old demon's surprise at this gesture. “Thank you, my lord,” the flea said, kneeling gratefully on Sesshomaru's skin. “I assume you too are here to find out more on the St'aler's power?”

 

“Perhaps.”

 

“My lord,” Myouga began. Sesshomaru could sense the cautious urgency in his voice. “The search for the shards is not going well. Not to mention the fact that Kagome must somehow gain Naraku's shards. Please, not even for your brother, but for the Western Lands and the world, please… assist her efforts.” The last portion came out as a squeak.

 

“There are other ways to stop the St'aler, easier than gathering the Shikon jewel shards,” Sesshomaru said. “Though none of them will save Inuyasha. In the interest of time and the stakes set against me, I will pursue those options first.”

 

“But my lord!”

 

“Myouga! I have some advice. Tell the miko girl this. Tell her to be wary of whom she shares her journey with. There is a spy for the enemy near, and if she desires any hope of saving my clumsy half-brother, she had better guard her plans. My brother,” Sesshomaru growled, “got himself to this mess because of his feelings for her. If she cannot save Inuyasha, then he does not deserve to be brought back.”

 

The rain outside had finally slowed to a gentle spring shower. Sesshomaru tilted his palm to a vertical angle, and Myouga spiraled to the ground. He moved out of the overhang.

 

“I have lent those two more than enough of my assistance already,” he said, turning his back to the flea. The mists swallowed him in.

 

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At the village in the canyons, another vassal knelt in supplication before his lord. A small boy, one Kagome would recognize as Hiko, peered from behind a door. He watched cautiously as the vassal, his master, delivered his report. The boy had been ordered to stay near, as his master was still healing from the aftereffects of the demon Inuyasha's attack and often required his assistance.

 

“Lord Sesshomaru slipped through our grasp again, did he?” remarked the demon lord, twirling a stiletto blade in his claws.

 

“Yes, my lord,” stammered Katsume. “The hanyou's soul is proving most difficult to control. It almost appeared as if he managed to save his brother at the last instant with the downpour. It destabilized the storm's currents, and I was unable to trigger the lightning to strike down the Western lord again.”

 

“And Inuyasha's companions? They escaped the blizzard trap, as well?”

 

“We lost track of them after the ambush was broken. I believe it was Inuyasha's doing as well.”

 

The demon's face contorted with anger. Hiko gave a little gasp of fear, but neither man appeared to notice. “I cannot risk having them interfere!” the demon cried. “There must be some way to subdue the hanyou's will. Your Shindeiru dragon demon has failed one too many times. Find another way to capture his soul!”

 

“My lord, Inuyasha's resistance is weakening. He was barely able to avert his brother's death last time. A little more time and Shindeiru will succeed!”

 

“We have no more time. All the tests have been completed, despite Inuyasha's tinkering. I need to make my move now, before my enemies gather enough forces to resist me.”

 

A moment of silence ensued. Abruptly, Katsume rose to his feet. A desperate gleam danced in his eyes. “Boy, come here!”

 

Hiko rose shakily to his feet, pushing back the door to rush to his master's side. Bowing his head, Hiko tried very hard not to look at the demon standing beside him.

 

“When you first came to me, you spoke of the demons your village revere. What were they called again?”

 

“Shi…shikigami, my lord?” Hiko stammered. He was confused. Why would Master Katsume be interested in Shikigami? They were gentle, yet dangerous demons, with the ability to steal souls of the dead. His family guarded the demons from those who might slay them in fear, and also contained them to prevent the demons from disturbing those at peace. As far as Hiko knew, the only Shikigami outside of his village's control followed a strange priestess whom had lured a few away nearly a year ago.

 

“Shikigami?” said the demon. Hiko chanced a glance upward, and saw the demon's glare shift from him to Master Katsume. “The soul-collector demons truly exist?”

 

“If what the boy told me before is true, then yes,” replied Katsume. He gave Hiko a somewhat desperate look. “You did speak the truth, right boy?”

 

“Yes master.”

 

“How many are in existence?” said the demon. Its eyes bored into Hiko's own, daring him to lie.

 

“About fifty,” squeaked Hiko.

 

“Enough for our purposes. Katsume! You will go to this boy's village and tell the people there they are to send the Shikigami on a mission. Tell them that if they fail, their lives and the life of this boy are mine. The Shikigami have five days to capture the remainder of Inuyasha's soul.”

 

“Five, my lord?! But we have no idea where Inuyasha could be!”

 

“I suggest you find the hanyou's companions. Find them, and you will find Inuyasha.”

 

“But my lord, we lost track-” The demon clenched his hand, and Master Katsume's voice stopped mid-sentence. His eyes bulged in fear. Hiko tried to jump away, but found himself held securely in place.

 

“You are fortunate, then Katsume, that I have another means of tracing them.” He opened his hand, and Katsume choked and gasped. Reaching within his clothing, the demon pulled out an old sutra with thin script barely visible on its surface. “Gather the Shikigami, and follow these directions. They will lead you directly to Inuyasha.”

 

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Next Chapter: “Shikigami…Kikyo's Soul Collectors”

 

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