InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ X-stasy ❯ Xstasy ch 16 ( Chapter 16 )

X-stasy

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

AN: Since it conflicts w/ how the plot is going Sess's mother...actually looks different from how I have earlier described her! I will go back and fix that discrepancy. Sorry! Today's chapzilla is a double feature! It's wayyy long! So enjoy!!! TGIF!

Warning: This fic is rated R, and this chapter contains Lemon content. The censored version will be up shortly.

Chapter 16: -Bloodlust-

Flashback...

InuTasiho, Lord of the Western Lands, and his second in command, Tanjiro, wandered through a dense forest in search of water to sooth their parched throats. They had just come from a fierce and bloody battle between the neko youkai, and InuTaisho's army had come out victorious.

InuTaisho was the first to come out of the woods and spot the lake. A bloodred moon hung high overhead in a star speckled sky shedding its rays upon a lone figure that stood in the center of the lake.

InuTaisho's breath hitched in his throat as he looked at the very incarnation of beauty before him. It was a woman. She was otherworldly with midnight-blue tresses cascading down her back in waves that offset her stunning, sapphire-colored eyes. She was wearing robes of shadowsilk as black as the night sky that clung to her damp form, and accentuated off her delicate curves. Her skin was as pale as a new moon, and her forehead was adorned with the symbol of a blue crescent moon...

Tanjiro came up to stand next to his lord to see what had managed to fixate his lord's attention.

"A woman..." Tanjiro noted.

The woman reached her hands out in front of her and suddenly two blue-black wings sprouted from her back. The feathers were smooth, and glossy. Light bounced off of her wings playfully in the moonlight making the affect that her wings were sparkling.

InuTaisho found himself drawn to this mysterious woman and unexplainably he began walking towards her.

"No my lord you mustn't!" Tanjiro warned suddenly finding his voice. "That woman...is no true demon but a Shadow Master."

"Shadow Master?" InuTaisho tried the title on his tongue. "So she's a Shadow Master. What of it?"

"All I know is they are a cursed people and it would be best to stay away from her. She will only bring you suffering." Tanjiro warned.

"Ridiculous!" InuTaisho scoffed. "She is but a woman and a very beautiful one at that. I think I shall go to meet with her." InuTaisho continued his way towards the Shadow Priestess regardless of his second in command's continuing supplication for him not to go. He couldn't help himself as he was drawn to her by some invisible force; perhaps, it was the ki lines of fate?

The woman spun around to face InuTaisho with a serene expression on her face. "Lord InuTaisho?"

InuTaisho blinked in surprised. "Yes? How did you know?"

"This meeting was fated." The woman let a small smile grace her supple lips. "You are the one meant for me and only me."

InuTaisho stepped forward and took the woman's hands in his and stared lovingly into her comely face. "What is your name?"

"InuTsuki," she replied willingly. "The adopted daughter of the Lord of the South."

"I see," InuTaisho nodded. "Will you come with me?"

"Yes," InuTsuki nodded. 'It is my fate to be betrothed to the Lord of the Western Lands. Long ago I was given by my people to the Lord of the South for safe keeping until this day would come. Regardless of my feelings I have no choice in this matter since InuTaisho is the one meant for me and only me. From our blessed union shall be born the Key of Darkness, the Dark Knight. It shall be so as decreed by the Shadow Seers, those that can part the veils of the future. I only hope he'll not try to dominate me so. I feel I shall not be able to handle submitting, and fear my spirit shall be broken at the hands of this inuyoukai. No matter, I have no choice. No one can fight their destiny.'

InuTsuki gave InuTaisho a small smile before he began to lead her away...

ooo

Flashback...

InuTaisho flung his glass of wine that he had been sipping from him, so that it hit the painting on the far wall, shards flying into the air, and red wine splattering onto the portrait it had hit. The one of his beloved InuTsuki.

She had finally shown her true colors and InuTaisho was both shocked and bewildered by her true nature and to the calling of her blood.

"InuTaisho my love," InuTsuki begged. "Please try and understand me. I had to reveal to you my true nature. I could fight the calling of the Blood of Feng no longer. I am sorry for my deception. But you must also know this-your son has the same calling in his blood as I. Will you reject your own son as you have your own wife?!"

InuTaisho looked back at her with a look of mixed horror and sadness. "My son? My poor Sesshoumaru...I cannot allow this. I will think of a way to seal the darkness in his blood away before his tainted blood gets the better of him. I will raise Sesshoumaru live by his sword and a code of honor. I will beat the sickness in his blood out of him if I have to! No son of mine will stoop so low as to commit foul, cowardly acts. I will not allow him to revel in killing illogically to the point of the lesser youkai. My son will be master of his innate evil as well as this newfound..sickness in his blood."

InuTsuki broke into sobs. "My love! You do not know what you are saying! If you truly do find a way to seal the darkness in his blood you will only make things worse. For when the Promised Day comes and his true powers are awakened it will be as if a dam broke and their will be no stopping the darkness that will flood his soul! Instead you should allow your son to embrace the darkness within himself so he can gain control over it. If not...I can only pray for the fate of my poor son."

"Enough!" InuTaisho barked. "I have decided. No mere woman will tell me what to do. Know your place, InuTsuki. I am through speaking with you. Leave me!"

"Y-yes my love," InuTsuki sobbed as she looked back at InuTaisho sadly before leaving him alone with his dark thoughts.

ooo

Flashback...

Inside the depths of a dark cave two voices were heard conversing.

"Totosai," the taiyoukai began, "Are you sure this sword will seal away the calling of the Blood of Feng that flows within Sesshoumaru's veins?"

"Yes," Totosai quipped. "What do you take me for? A liar! I never get the respect I so deserve." Totosai sighed. "This sword, the Tenseiga, will definitely seal away the calling of the Blood." Totosai continued working on the sword in front of him with his hammer, flames shooting out of his mouth and heating the blade.

"And what of the sword for my hanyou?" InuTaisho continued.

"It is already finished, InuTaisho-sama," Totosai nodded to the left where the sheathed Tetsusaiga lay. "That sword will also seal away the calling of the hanyou's demon blood. Although I wonder if this is really wise...the brothers will come to rely on the swords and if the swords are ever broken-"

"Do you dare to question my judgment?!" InuTaisho snarled, spit flying in the air towards Totosai, who calmly wiped the spittle that had hit his cheek. "I will not have my sons turning into animals! And that's final! I know what I'm doing. Besides, the sealing of their blood is not the only reason I have asked you to forge these swords."

"Oh?" Totosai raised a bushy eyebrow.

A cunning smile formed on InuTaisho's mouth. "Haven't you wondered why I asked one sword to be endowed with the strength to slay a hundred demons in one stroke when the other sword shall be able to heal a hundred in the same manner?"

"Well, kind of think of it I didn't really understand. I thought it might be some sort of joke...since you know how Sesshoumaru will feel about his sword not being able to kill."

"A joke!" InuTaisho bellowed his face turning red. "This is no joke. I will not have my two sons killing each other, and so that is why I have asked you to make the swords as such. If InuYasha uses his sword Tetsusaiga against his brother's Tenseiga the two swords will cancel each other out. That way the two brother's will never be able to slay one another. And perhaps, when Sesshoumaru gets over his pigheadedness towards his hanyou brother he and InuYasha shall be as brothers should be-united."

"I see, that is indeed wise." Totosai nodded his head vigorously.

"I know," InuTaisho puffed out his chest with pride.

ooo

Sesshoumaru was about to leave the Temple of Light when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It was a strange half circular area that was lined with shelves, on those shelves glowed several crystal orbs. In front of this half circle of shelved orbs was a raised stone alter that had a small concave indentation on the top of it. It seemed that the orbs were to be placed there for some unknown reason.

Curiosity getting the better of Sesshoumaru he randomly selected a glowing orb and placed it upon the alter. It began to glow golden until a strange image appeared swirling above it. It was the strangest thing Sesshoumaru had ever seen. It was like water scrying but without the need for water. The image seemed to be showing a place that looked oddly familiar to Sesshoumaru and when he realized that it was his own palace at his home in the Western Lands Sesshoumaru's breath caught in his throat.

He watched with baited breath as the image zoomed in upon the palace to show a section of it on fire...

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened when he realized what he was watching...a recorded memory.

Sesshoumaru continued to watch until the image came to rest on two figures. From their appearance alone Sesshoumaru could tell they were Light-wielders. They both were bearing staffs and the white robes of the Order of the Sun and Moon. A sudden movement caught Sesshoumaru's eye and he was surprised to see...himself. It was his nine-year-old self in fact who was running towards the wing of the palace that was in flames. This was a memory from the day that his mother had killed herself. But why then had this memory been stored here in the Temple of Light?

Sesshoumaru frowned in thought as he continued to watch the familiar scene play out before him. He watched as his child-self pushed past the guards and into the flaming building. He noted that the two Light-Wielders seemed pleased at this development. Sesshoumaru was then shocked when one of the Priests raised his staff and a blast of holy god-power was sent flying towards the flaming wing. The wing collapsed to the ground and Sesshoumaru remembered all too well what had happened. His mother's hand had been reaching out to his...and then at that moment the ceiling beams had caved in preventing him from reaching his mother.

If what he was watching was true it wasn't the fire that had caused the building to collapse and trap his mother-it had been the Light-wielders.

Sesshoumaru watched as the two Light-wielders conversed.

"Well, that should do it." One smiled evilly.

"To think we managed to kill two birds with one stone." The other laughed.

"High Priest Aton will be very pleased with us that we managed to kill the supposed Key of Darkness along with his mother!" The other beamed.

"Don't forget to record your memory of this with a Memory Orb for proof to show the High Council of Elders." The other reminded.

"Indeed." The other fished into his robes and pulled out a crystal orb, he then touched the orb to his forehead and it began to glow as it absorbed the memory of that fateful day.

Sesshoumaru clenched his fists in anger at his side. His mother's death hadn't been a mere suicide...it had been planned. His death had been planned as well but unfortunately for the Light-wielders they had failed to take into consideration that the foretold Key of Darkness would have the innate ability to be immune to such flames.

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe what he had just seen. His mother's smiling face appeared in his mind again...her delicate hand stretching out towards him...her look turned hopeful. If it hadn't been for the Light-wielders he could have saved his mother. They had killed his mother! And attempted to kill him as well!

'Those bastards! They are responsible for my mother's death! I will never forgive them! I will kill every last one of those damned Light-wielders! They will pay for the dire sin they have committed! Mother I shall avenge your death!' Sesshoumaru looked down at the Sword of Feng that was in his hands, the Da-ku Fenikkusu. His new friend would help him on the path of vengeance. Sesshoumaru smiled a cruel smile as he made his way out of the Temple of Light.

ooo

Back in Naraku's lair...

The Dark Priest peered within a brass basin that was filled with water and smiled at the images that were presented to him. He watched with glee as Sesshoumaru discovered the memory orbs and was drawn to the very one that housed the memory of the sad truth behind his mother's death.

This was just too perfect. Sesshoumaru was now filled with anger and hatred towards the Light-wielders, who had caused his mother's own premature demise. He would not forgive them very easily. Now was his chance to act. Sesshoumaru would be forced to embrace the darkness within himself and with every step he was all the more closer to becoming the true Dark Knight, the Key of Darkness who would unlock the Doorway unto Darkness eternal.

The Dark Priest with a swirl of his cloak left his chambers and went to find Naraku. He had a favor to ask. He found Naraku in his chambers along with Kagura, of the Wind, and her sister Kana, of the Void. They were both watching InuYasha and the others trying to make heads or tails of their actions.

Naraku didn't move his head to look at the priest, only looked at him out of the corner of his red eyes. "Yes Obsidian? Is there something you need?"

The Dark Priest Obsidian smiled his crooked smile. "Yes, I have a favor to ask my Lord Naraku. I require a fragment of the Shikon Jewel. It would be in your best interests to grant this request as it has to do with the disappearance of your dear Isane."

Naraku raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Very well I shall grant your request. I had better not be disappointed."

"You shall not, my Lord." The Dark Priest bowed.

Naraku reached into his dense robes and pulled a single jewel shard, which he threw at the Dark Priest, who easily caught it in his blue-veined hand.

"You are too kind." Obsidian murmured as he began bowing his way out.

"Not at all. If I am unpleased by anything that results of this it shall mean your imminent death." Naraku smiled a cool smile at him.

"Of course." Obsidian said before he left Naraku and the others entirely. He quickly made his way back to his chambers and over to the black raven that Sesshoumaru had sent back to earth, which was now perching on a stand. "Now my pet spell I have a little present for you." The raven opened its mouth obediently as Obsidian fed it the jewel shard. Suddenly, the raven began to morph and its body began to stretch abnormally in places as the shard transformed the mere raven into a demonic creature of evil. Two sets of red eyes, the shape of crescent moons, peered back at Obsidian. The raven was now was twice as large as it had originally been, and it massive beak now housed a two rows of razor sharp teeth.

Obsidian began to laugh with psychotic glee at how his spell had been transformed. 'This new spell will do quite nicely.'

ooo

"Of the information you have managed to get out of the demon what evidence makes you think that he is the Key of Darkness?" The voice of High Priest Aton rang through the council chamber, which was in one of the many rooms of the main palace structure.

He had called an urgent meeting of the Council of High Elders and requested the presence of a few of the normal Priests and Priestesses to attend. With the return of the Doorway the Promised Day was at hand. And speculation as to the identity of the mysterious demon male that had shown up with the Doorway had been causing quit a stir among the general public. It was time to tie such lose ends before things began to get out of hand.

"Well, sir, if I may be so bold," Lumina began in her breathy voice, "One can simply not ignore the facts. With the return of the Doorway and with the appearance of this demon...who bears the mark of the crescent moon. It just seems only logical that he would be the Dark Knight and foretold Key of Darkness. After all, why else would a demon be close to the Doorway if not to manipulate the coming of Dark Huang into the world?"

High Priest Aton steepled his fingers in thought. He warily eyed the rest of the council members, who sat around the sun-shaped table, and noticed their nervousness at Lumina's words. The Key of Darkness was supposed to be dead, this upset him greatly.

"If the girl is correct the demon should be executed immediately!" One of the High Elders blurted.

Aton shot him a quick look, which silenced any further outbursts. "We cannot be so reckless as to just assume his identity. He shall be brought to trial as I have already decreed. The Doorway shall be the one to pass judgment not us."

"But High Priest Aton this demon could present a danger to our community!" Lumina objected. "He seems harmless enough at first but...even under the cruelest and most base tortures...he did not break. There's something not right about that. Any normal man would have been crying for his mother but he...just took it all in, embraced it. It's not right."

"One should not mistake strength with evil intent." Flash advised Lumina placing a hand on her shoulder before she could get more heated than she was already.

"But Flash!" Lumina glared at him in disbelief.

"Enough of this!" High Priest Aton sighed and rubbed his temples. "Have you no respect for this council! You will behave yourself; you're acting like spoiled brats! What shall I do with you when-" His thought was interrupted by the sound of a disturbance coming from outside. It sounded like the sounds of battle...

A messenger suddenly burst through the doors of the council chamber. He was panting and out of breath. "High...Priest...Aton...it's the demon! He's attacking...the palace! More than a hundred warrior-priests are facing him, but he continues to advance! He's...a monster! He's not real he's...an abomination! Blood...it's everywhere!" The messenger suddenly collapsed in a faint.

"What?!" Aton bellowed and stood from his seat. "This cannot be!" With a swirl of his white robes the High Priest stormed out of the council chamber followed close behind by Lumina and his son Flash.

ooo

Sesshoumaru stood with the Da-ku Fenikkusu held in a two-handed grip before him. His breath was becoming ragged, but he continued to stand his ground against the hundred or so Priests and Priestesses of the Order of the Sun and Moon that had surrounded him. Some wielded the Hikaru no Kens while others were using their moon or sun tipped staffs to fight him.

Sesshoumaru had followed the scent of frankincense and myrrh to this location knowing Isane to be somewhere within the palace walls. The palace itself was an enormous structure entirely constructed of white marble that reached towards the clouds that made up the sky. It was made up of several minarets and an impressive wall surrounded it. Using the sheer power of the Da-ku Fenikkusu Sesshoumaru had managed to slice his way through the iron gates and into the main palace courtyard. There waiting for him had been the entire warrior force of the Order of the Sun and Moon.

Sesshoumaru enveloped the Da-ku Fenikkusu in an aura of demonic energy giving it a blue tinge. His hidden powers had not been awakened enough for him to have used his dark elemental energy manipulation instead. Sesshoumaru then swiftly lunged at one Light-wielder and their swords clashed sending sparks of white and blue into the air. Using his youkai speed Sesshoumaru slashed horizontally and the Light-wielder was too slow to block the attack. His stomach was sliced open and gripping his spilling guts the warrior-priest sunk to his knees in defeat.

In response a Priestess unleashed a large wave of holy god-power at Sesshoumaru using her golden sun-tipped staff. Sesshoumaru summoned his demonic energy and his aura flared around him and the Da-ku Fenikkusu. He cut through the energy blast with lightning speed and sped towards the unsuspecting Priestess. She raised her staff in time only for Sesshoumaru to cut it neatly in half. The Priestess looked back at Sesshoumaru anticipating his coming attack, but he merely smiled at her eerily. She blinked back at him in bewilderment until her head finally fell off her shoulders. Her body then collapsed lifeless to the ground to join it.

After this display of brutality several of the Priests and Priestesses began to move back. This caught the attention of their General Priest, however. "Don't fall back! He is only one enemy! We will be sure to overwhelm him with our sheer numbers! Attack!"

Several hesitated before two Light-wielders came at Sesshoumaru carrying Hikaru no Kens. They attacked him simultaneously leaping in the air to bring their Hikaru no Kens hard upon him. Sesshoumaru only got into a defensive position and calmly waited. Seeing an opening Sesshoumaru lunged at the one that was attacking him on his right and managing to get under the warrior-priest's guard sliced through the Light-wielder's sword arm. The Light-wielder howled in pain as his sword dropped to the ground. Quickly spinning around to meet his other opponent Sesshoumaru raised his sword just in time to block an attack, which had surely been meant to take his head.

The Light-wielder glared at Sesshoumaru with eyes full of hate for the lose of his comrade. The warrior-priest quickly spun and brought his sword in a low aimed swing at Sesshoumaru's legs. Sesshoumaru did a back flip as the Hikaru no Ken's blade passed under him. Sesshoumaru then lunged at the Light-wielder and met him head on. Their swords met and a series of blocks and slashes ensued. The warrior-priest was already tiring and pressing his advantage Sesshoumaru disarmed the young man in one easily placed blow to his sword's hilt. The warrior-priest took a step backwards as Sesshoumaru made his approach.

Wasting no time and showing no mercy Sesshoumaru dispatched of the Light-wielder dealing a quick slash from the shoulder cutting down towards the stomach. The two parts of the body's flesh fell to the ground soon after. Sesshoumaru could barely hold his sword upright at this point and his breathing was coming in and out in short gasps.

"Quickly form the Sacred Star of Light around the demon!" The General Priest advised.

Immediately five Priest and Priestesses surrounded Sesshoumaru to form a five-pointed star. They simultaneously raised their staffs and brought them down upon the ground. The surrounding space around Sesshoumaru began to light up as holy god-power drew lines into the ground forming a blazing pentacle symbol. Suddenly Sesshoumaru's body was flooded with holy god-power, so much that he was immediately brought to his knees. He embedded the Da-ku Fenikkusu in the ground in front of him and panted for breath. He was about to try and use the sword for support to stand when a blur of black and blue shot straight for him.

Before he knew what was happened a demonic raven had snatched the Tenseiga from his side.

"Tenseiga." Sesshoumaru watched the raven fly upwards with the sword in its mouth helpless to do anything about it. He could see its razor sharp teeth and flinched when the demonic bird bit down upon his sword. With a loud cracking sound the sword his father had gifted him with after his death had been broken in two. The demonic raven then tossed the broken pieces aside and they fell clattering to the ground.

"Again!" the General Priest commanded to the group of five Priests and Priestesses. They obeyed and Sesshoumaru's body spasmed as it was flooded with the holy god-power for the second time. His eyes became dull and lifeless as he collapsed to the ground face first.

"Did we do it?" One warrior-priest asked hesitantly.

The General Priest sighed with relief. "We did."

One of the warrior-priests walked over to Sesshoumaru's lifeless body to check it for signs of life. He certainly appeared dead...the Light-wielder poked Sesshoumaru's body with the hilt of his Hikaru no Ken. He was just about to jab Sesshoumaru again when he noticed that Sesshoumaru's eyes were open.

Staring back at the warrior-priest was a set of bloodred eyes. No longer were they the color of the morning sun. A wicked smile formed on Sesshoumaru's face at the bewildered Light-wielder, who instinctively took a step back. In less than the blink of an eye Sesshoumaru's clawed hand was around the warrior-priest's throat.

The Light-wielders eyes widened in terror, "P-please don't kill me. Have mercy!"

Sesshoumaru began to laugh in a psychotic manner. He tightened his grip upon the offensive being's throat and traced the claw of his thumb along the Light-wielder's bare throat. He smiled evilly before slitting the man's throat open as blood poured onto Sesshoumaru's hand. His hand was covered in blood and he found that he was drawn to it. Sesshoumaru curiously sniffed at the blood before letting the tip of his tongue taste some of it. His eyes sparkled with glee and he began to lap up the blood from his hands relishing in its taste. He then stuck his index finger in his mouth and sucked on it in an obscene manner.

The Priests and Priestesses of the Order of the Sun and Moon could only watch in horror and a few suddenly became sick and found themselves losing their breakfast. Sesshoumaru quickly leapt over to his sword and yanked it out of the ground. He then wasted no time in finding his next victim. He brought his sword down upon a Priestess before she could so much as bat an eye. His sword was now covered in fresh blood and he ran his tongue along the blade of it. Blood...how he craved blood. Sesshoumaru's smile widened broadly as blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. He then eyed his new prey...the Priests and Priestesses of the Order of the Sun and Moon. His smile widened even more showing off his newly extended fangs.

'Blood...I must have more blood. Killing...I have this uncontrollable urge to kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! KILL!'

It was at this moment that the High Priest followed by Flash and Lumina chose to enter the courtyard. Lumina gasped at the sight before her covering her mouth in shock before a fiery hatred burned in her ruby eyes. "Foul Demon!" Lumina spat and wasted no time in attacking Sesshoumaru. She ran at him with great speed showing much agility as she raised her moon-tipped staff and sent a tremendous wave of the holy god-power at Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru gathered his demonic power to shield himself from the attack he knew would be too great to try and cut through. Again Lumina's attack was powerful enough to break through his defenses and Sesshoumaru found his body attacked by the holy god-power. Pain wracked his body and he gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. She knew exactly how much he could and could not handle and was taking full advantage of that fact. But Sesshoumaru had his hatred and anger towards the Light-wielders for the death of his mother to spur him on. He embraced those dark emotions that were now flowing through him freely. He let himself be consumed by the darkness within him...

Sesshoumaru used his enhanced speed to attack Lumina and she created a Light Shield. Sesshoumaru raised the Da-ku Fenikkusu high overhead and brought it down upon her Light Shield. Using his full demonic strength Sesshoumaru sent wave after wave of his energy towards the Light Shield. Lumina only reinforced it with her own holy god-power but soon her shield began to flicker. Sweat formed on Lumina's brow as she struggled to maintain her barrier. But he was more formidable than she had known him to be for some reason and this unnerved her. Something wasn't right. She gasped in shock as her barrier gave was and dissipated and she barely made it in time to block his quick downward stroke.

Her staff, which she had enveloped in her holy god-power to reinforce its strength, met with the Da-ku Fenikkusu and miraculously held. She looked at the sword curiously and her eyes widened when she realized what it was. "The Da-ku Fenikkusu...but how is that possible! You really are the Key of Darkness! Only the Dark Knight would have been able to remove the sword from its seal in the stone!"

Sesshoumaru's mouth twitched in a near smile. "Oh, does that bother you?"

Lumina's eye twitched. "Y-you monstrous demon! You are nothing but a foul creature of darkness! I will destroy you even if it means at the cost of my own life!" His voice was different she noticed...more beastlike. This only made her more nervous. Something was terribly wrong with all this.

"Lumina!" Flash watched in horror as he realized what Lumina intended to do.

Lumina summoned all of her holy god-power until her aura flared around her like a halo of golden light. Her orange locks billowed about her and her ruby eyes blazed with power. She smiled her cruel smile that Sesshoumaru knew so well before unleashing everything she had at him. There was a bright blinding light and an explosion.

Lumina tried to see through glare to Sesshoumaru. To see if she had managed to defeat him. And when the brightness faded and all that was left was a crater in the center of the courtyard Lumina almost laughed with glee. She had defeated him.

Or so she thought.

She suddenly felt an extreme pain in her chest and looked down in horror to see Sesshoumaru's hand was imbedded in her chest. Sesshoumaru pulled back his hand and in his palm was her still beating heart.

Lumina's eyes widened in shock as her body began to fall backwards. The long, white sleeves of her robes billowed upwards as she continued to fall. Flash watched in horror as if everything was happening in slow motion. Even in her death Flash thought Lumina looked so graceful. Her staff clattered to the ground as her body hit the earth. Her orange hair fanning around her lifeless body and becoming stained by her own blood as it began to pool about her. Slowly her eyelids closed over her ruby eyes and the fire that had once burned so brightly within them was no more.

"Lumina!" Came Flash's strained voice that was thick with emotion. He couldn't believe it. How had he misjudged the demon, he had been so sure...and now he had lost the only woman he had ever loved. Who had ever understood him. He rushed to her side and was surprised to see her lips were still moving...

Flash leaned his head over her to hear what she was saying... "Flash...my love I am already dead. I am merely using this body as a means to speak with you one last time. I'm so sorry Flash for everything. I never realized how much I loved you and only you. You were my other half Flash. Be careful the demon...is not the same as he was. He's changed somehow. Please...promise me you'll live and be happy."

Lumina's mouth stop moving and Flash's eyes became blinded with tears. He quickly rubbed the tears away with the back of his hand to fix his gaze on the one who had killed the being that meant the most to him in the world. Sesshoumaru simply smiled a cruel smile and sunk his teeth into Lumina's heart drinking of her blood. Flash let out a cry of pure anguish at the sight. Sesshoumaru cast the heart aside snickering at Flash's expression of horror, and was about to attack Flash, who felt as though his own heart had already been ripped out, when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.

It was a mother with her child in her arms. Somehow she had gotten in the midst of this battlefield and was trying to sneak away from it as fast as she could. She froze when she saw the demon's eyes had come to rest on her and her son...

Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat before he lunged at the pair. Everyone and everything here on this accursed floating City in the Clouds was his enemy. He would show no mercy. Not now that the blood of Feng was boiling within his veins, his dark elemental powers straining to be unleashed just below the surface of his wrath.

"No don't do it!" Came Flash's urgent plea.

The woman screamed as Sesshoumaru was upon her.

ooo

Isane huddled in the corner of her golden cage and was rocking back and forth. Her mind had been filled with horrible previsions...visions she knew couldn't possibly be real. At one point the visions became too much for her to handle and so she called for Huang's presence.

"Huang! Huang answer me!" Isane cried in despair into the surrounding darkness.

"Yes my child?" Came a voice from all around her.

"I'm having visions...visions of death. Please tell me they're not true."

"I have gifted you with the power to part the veils of the future, my child. Are you saying you don't believe in my gift?"

"No! That's not it at all...it's just that what I see can't possibly be true!"

"Oh?" The Goddess tilted her head at Isane. "And why is that?"

"Because it shows Sesshoumaru...doing horrible things! Things he would never do! Sesshoumaru fights with honor and in my visions he stabbed someone in the back and decapitated another and licked the blood from his blade! What I'm seeing can't possibly be real!"

"I see. Well, my child perhaps you put too much faith in a mere demon. A demon is a creature that is innately evil after all. Perhaps what you see is going to come to pass or for that matter already has. The time for us divine beings passes differently than for mere mortals."

"No! No! No!" Isane shook her head in disbelief. "Sesshoumaru would never do that. He is a demon, who is in complete control of his evil. His demonic side does not rule him he rules over it. I know him!"

"You know his one side, but what about his other side?" Huang questioned.

"What do you mean his other side?!"

"His true self...the side of him that answers to the Blood of Feng, my child."

Hot tears poured down Isane's face. "I know Sesshoumaru...I know what he is capable of and not capable of!"

"As you wish however-" Huang stopped in mid sentence as a prayer for help came to her mind. "My children! My children are suffering!"

ooo

The Goddess Huang quickly made her way through the palace halls and pushed the large front doors open unto the courtyard.

"NOOO!!!" Isane cried as she took in what she was seeing. Still trapped in her own mind but able to see what was going on Isane looked on in horror at the blood and carnage in front of her. It was a bloodbath, a massacre, and there in the center of it, surrounded by more than a hundred dead bodies, was Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru could it truly be him? There he was covered from head to toe in blood and gore. His eyes were glowing a fiery red while his fangs protruded out from his mouth and were dripping with blood. His mouth was twisted into a sadistic smile, and the claws on his hands had grown several inches. His hands were twitching, and his whole body was spasming from its insatiable desire for more blood. After all the lives he had taken his body, his tainted soul, still craved for more bloodshed.

"No! This can't be! This can't be happening!" Isane wailed as she saw Sesshoumaru practically dancing over the bodies of the dead. Sesshoumaru noticed one wounded Light-wielder was trying to crawl away and brought his blade down upon the arm of the warrior-priest twisting the blade and making the man cry out in pain. Sesshoumaru then began to laugh hysterically as the warrior-priest continued to writhe beneath him. He was enjoying this...he was enjoying the pain and suffering that he was causing. He was reveling in death and killing. He was filled with sick pleasure. Isane could see it in his eyes.

'What has happened to you Sesshoumaru?!' Isane wondered. 'You may be filled with evil intent. You maybe be acting like a bloodthirsty monster. But if you really were one then why do I see such sadness in your eyes! You can't want this...not really.'

Huang slowly took in the scene before her and a small frown formed on the face of her Noh mask. This sort of behavior was unforgivable even if he was possibly the one meant for Isane and only Isane. He would pay for killing her dear children.

Sesshoumaru finally noticed that the Goddess was watching him. Sesshoumaru's bloodred eyes wandered brazenly over the Goddess's body that was clothed in nothing but sheer white gauze and he licked his lips in a feral manner. He then launched himself into the air as he prepared to attack the Goddess head on.

"Foolish demon," Huang tisked as she raised a hand and used her divine powers to simply stop Sesshoumaru in midair. Sesshoumaru looked back and forth in confusion trying to figure out what had suspended him and he began to struggle. "Resistance is futile, demon. And now you shall pay for taking the lives of my children!" Huang began to close her hand into a fist and Sesshoumaru's body began to be crushed from the inside out. Sesshoumaru felt his body was flooded with divine power, a power so great, so overwhelming. It was like nothing he had ever felt before.

The divine power consumed him entirely and then he felt as his body was being crushed. Soon the pressure on his ribs was too great and they began to crack...

Isane opened her eyes at the sound and realized what was happening. "No! Huang please don't do this! Don't harm him! He's not himself! Please stop this! STOP IT NOW!!!!" Isane shrieked at the sound of more of Sesshoumaru's bones breaking.

Suddenly a bright light surrounded the Goddess and Sesshoumaru was blinded by it. When the light dispersed the Goddess seemingly collapsed upon the ground in a state of unconsciousness. Sesshoumaru also realized that he was free...

Isane slowly opened her eyes and it took a moment for her to realize she was once again in control of her own body. Through sheer will of wanting to return back to reality she had managed to stop the Goddess from killing Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru?!

Isane looked over to the fallen form of Sesshoumaru. She quickly ran to him and knelt at his side. "Sesshoumaru! Are you alright! Speak to me!" She placed a hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder and began to shake him when he didn't respond.

Suddenly she felt it was hard to breath...

She looked back at Sesshoumaru wondering when his eyes had opened. When had they ever been red? She remembered them being golden like her own. Something wasn't right. Something definitely wasn't right. Sesshoumaru had one of his clawed hands wrapped around her throat and was continuing to tighten his grasp upon her making it even more difficult to breath.

"Sesshoumaru," Isane gasped. "You...don't want to harm me. I'm you friend Sesshoumaru...I'm more than just a friend."

Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat and flung her backwards from him so that she hit the ground hard. She was about to get up when she found herself being pinned to the ground by Sesshoumaru, who was straddling her about the waist.

"Sesshoumaru!" Isane croaked as she felt his wet tongue touch the bare skin at the hollow of her throat. "Sesshoumaru you don't want to do this! This isn't you!" But even as she was saying this her body was filled with desire by his harsh touch. Isane moaned when Sesshoumaru brought his powerful, clawed hands to crush her breasts. His brutal treatment of her was only stirring bittersweet desire within her and she was powerless to do anything about it. But she knew Sesshoumaru, the real Sesshoumaru, would never forgive himself or her if this was allowed to continue.

Sesshoumaru was already beginning to rip Isane's gauze outfit from her petite body. Soon there would be nothing left between her and this berserk demon that Sesshoumaru had become. She felt his drool as it dropped down upon her bare skin and shivered involuntarily.

Isane tried to reign in the desire that was pulsing in her blood as she struggled to resist the urge to just give in. It took everything she had but she began to fight against Sesshoumaru. "Stop! Before you do something you regret!" Isane cried but she only earned a backhanded slap from the youkai in response. She knew what she had to do and hoped it would be enough. "Foul demon don't you dare try and look at my face!"

Sesshoumaru snarled at her before bringing a clawed hand towards the Noh mask. As he lifted it away a bright light blinded him and he found himself flying backwards.

Sesshoumaru rubbed his head as he came back into consciousness...what the hell had happened? The last thing he remembered was being brought to his knees by the Light-wielders in a pentacle of light...when...when what? On shaky legs Sesshoumaru stood and took in his surroundings as his eyes widened in shock. Had he done this? Had he killed all these Light-wielders with his own two hands? It seemed an impossible feat, but here before him were the dead bodies that lay about him as the evidence of his actions...he inspected the bodies...and was shocked by all he saw.

His nose was then filled with a familiar scent...Isane's blood. Sesshoumaru was filled with panic as he followed his nose to where the body of Isane lay...his eyes took in her shredded clothing...and the state of her bruised body...had he?!

"Isane!" Sesshoumaru came over to Isane and cradled her in his arms.

Isane slowly opened her eyes and looked back at him through the eyes of the Noh mask. When she still saw his worry she realized that he didn't know she was awake. "Sesshoumaru...I'm alright...are you?"

"Isane...did I do all this?" Sesshoumaru swallowed visibly.

"Yes," Isane nodded.

"Did I do this to you? Did I..." Sesshoumaru trailed off unable to voice his concern.

"You tried but did not manage to force yourself upon me Sesshoumaru. Do not worry." Isane tried to comfort him.

Sesshoumaru paled at what she had just told him. He then looked down at his own blood stained hands. Slowly, the weight of the atrocities he had committed began to sink in. Sesshoumaru began to feel nauseous once again and he found himself crawling away from Isane and retching. Isane watching him concern for him welling up in her sad heart. Sesshoumaru's body began to tremble as he thought about everything...everything he had done...as he himself remembered what he had done...

"Sesshoumaru..." Isane said prying him away from his thoughts for a moment. He looked back at her with lifeless eyes. "We have to get out of here. More Light-wielders are sure to come and...we must go."

Sesshoumaru nodded mutely and walked over to Isane.

"Hold my hand Sesshoumaru." Isane commanded and he did as he was told. Isane then closed her eyes and tried to concentrate...on the last place she had felt truly safe.

They were both enveloped in a holy light that blinded the two of them. When they were able to see again Isane found that she and Sesshoumaru were in one of the gardens at his own palace in the Western Lands.

"We made it Sesshoumaru," Isane let a small smile form on the face of the Noh mask. But when she turned to see him...her heart wrenched painfully in her chest at what she saw. Covered in blood and gore from head to toe...with eyes that were once filled with so much life now dull and lackluster. They no longer held that spark she loved, that had drawn her to him. He was a broken man. "Sesshoumaru...let's get you healed and cleaned up alright?" Isane questioned and waited patiently for a response. Sesshoumaru just stared past her as if she hadn't said anything. Isane sighed sadly and began to lead the prostrate Sesshoumaru to the bathhouse.

There Isane silently stripped him of his bloody garments and after she had rid herself of her own torn garments helped Sesshoumaru into the warm waters of the onesen. He offered her no resistance and simply allowed her to guide him. After Isane had finished cleaning herself she was able to concentrate on the sad sight that was Sesshoumaru. Pulling her mask back just enough to let the tears fall upon his chest Isane watched with relief as Sesshoumaru's breathing became easier and his broken ribs were healed. His hair was matted with blood, and his now healed body had been covered in several wounds, so that a thin layer of blood still stained his torso. Using a cloth and some soap she used a delicate touch to clean his every inch of his ivory hued skin.

She then began to work up a lather of soapsuds in Sesshoumaru's hair. Still he didn't move or offer any sign really that he was still alive. It was as if he was in shock. Isane frowned as she continued to wash the blood out of his hair. She motioned for Sesshoumaru to dunk his hair in the water and tears came to her eyes as his beautiful silvery-locks returned to their original state. If only the soul were so easy to cleanse of blood.

Now, Isane was truly concerned. Sesshoumaru had a tendency to bottle up his emotions and try to deal with everything by himself just as she was sure Sesshoumaru was doing now. He would carry the weight of the world on his shoulders unless someone stopped him.

"Sesshoumaru...you are not alone." Isane swam through the water and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm here for you Sesshoumaru." Isane began to hum and she stroked his hair comfortingly.

Soon she felt warm arms hesitantly embrace her in return. Then Sesshoumaru's body began to tremble in her embrace and she realized it was because he was crying. Sesshoumaru then buried his face in Isane's breasts as sobs began to wrack his body. Isane continued to hum and stroke his hair in a soothing manner until finally the sobs began to subside and then stopped abruptly in an eerie fashion.

"Sesshoumaru?" Isane questioned and swallowed audibly, as she tried to get her fear under control.

"I killed them Isane..." Sesshoumaru started in a low voice. "I killed them all."

"Shhh..it's ok you were just defending yourself."

"No!" Sesshoumaru said with more harshness than he intended causing Isane to flinch. "I sought them out. I wanted revenge...I found out in the Temple of Light that the Light-wielders were responsible for my mother's death. But then...then somehow the darkness within me consumed me and I...lost control. I have never lost control before but I did...and I killed...I not only killed the fighters Isane...I killed a woman and her innocent child...and then I even tried to...force myself upon you! I am-"

Isane placed a slender finger on his lips silencing him before he could continue. "Shhh...Sesshoumaru...it's alright. You're not alone...so don't suffer alone. I'm here for you Sesshoumaru...to share your pain. Your pain is my own Sesshoumaru because...I belong to you." Isane leaned over to whisper in Sesshoumaru's ear. "Sesshoumaru...my heart, my soul, and my body belong to you..." She placed his hand over her heart for emphasis. He could feel her beating heart...feel as her heartbeat quickened at his touch.

Isane then slid one of her delicate hands down so that she could gently massage his straining masculinity. Sesshoumaru leaned into her touch as a harsh groan of male satisfaction left his lips. Sesshoumaru's powerful, callused hands ran over her smooth, flawless, golden expanse of skin until they came to rest on her small of her back. He guided Isane closer to him and she complied impaling herself on his straining shaft. Sesshoumaru sighed with contentment at the feeling of Isane's body enveloping him.

It felt so right...he didn't feel alone anymore. Far from it, in fact, he felt complete, calm, at peace.

This is all Isane had wanted to do for him. She had bestowed this precious gift upon Sesshoumaru in an effort to heal his battered soul. To provide comfort and warmth and a sense of oneness that could be accomplished no other way. By giving herself to the man she loved she was showing him how much he meant to her, and how he was never going to alone again. She would be there for him always...and she communicated these thoughts and feelings thought her gentle caresses, and her throbbing heartbeat.

Isane moaned as Sesshoumaru began to move within her. At that moment nothing else mattered...not death...not ancient prophesies...as long as they had each other nothing else seemed to matter. Sesshoumaru began to dig his claws unconsciously into Isane's back and this only increased her own desire for him tenfold. She moaned loudly as he caused her the slight pain and Sesshoumaru found his blood boiling from the way she reacted to this. He racked his claws over her back leaving red streaks, and Isane's petite body trembled with pleasure. Sesshoumaru delved deeper into her with each rhythmic push and Isane matched his fluid motions.

Their passions both surged and ebbed as Sesshoumaru continued the primal rhythm as old as love. Breathless urgent gasps left Isane's lips. Soon a dizzying explosion of feeling flooded Isane's body as she reached her completion. She cried out with unabashed abandon against his throat. Sesshoumaru followed soon after as he abandoned himself to pleasure, groaning in blissful agony, soaring over the edge.

At that exact moment two raven-black wings sprouted from Sesshoumaru's back.

Sesshoumaru blinked back at Isane in surprise and she pulled back to look at him through her Noh mask just as surprised as he was to see that his hair had turned black as night...

The Dark Knight, Key of Darkness, had been awakened at last...

ooo

To be continued...

AN: Oh, and I fixed the fact that I was only accepting non-anonymous reviews! So people you can now feel free to review even if you don't have a fanfiction.net account!!!!

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Reviews please!!!