Sunday, February 7, 2010

Chapter 4
During the laughter the wind stops entirely and the area has a real heavy feeling to it.

"What's going on?" Inuyasha asks dropping to his knees while clutching his chest.

"I have never felt such a demonic energy before." Miroku says also dropping to his knees.

"I must have these two." Naraku says watching the action on Kanna's mirror.

A shadow figure bows and fades into the darkness of the castle.

The ground shakes and unexpectedly several nearby trees sink into a large hole that is forming. In the center of the hole a demon arises that looks just like Akurei. Except his tattoos are a dark blue and he has long black hair with blue streaks in it.

"May I present, Akuma, the other Lunar Demon." Akurei says walking towards Akuma.

"Brother. Long time no see." Akuma says jumping away from the hole before it completely seals up.

"Inuyasha. I suggest you take everyone away from here. It's about to get messy." Akurei says over his shoulder.

A sacred arrow shoots over Akurei's shoulder and Akuma catches it.

"Seems there is another person at this party." Akuma says, "SHOW YOURSELF!" He shouts.

Kikyo emerges from the dark forest on the opposite side of the village.

"Kikyo." Inuyasha mutters.

"I shall send the both of you to hell." Kikyo says drawing her bow.

She fires and the arrow dissolves in midflight. The air has become even heavier and electricity is coursing through the trees.

"What's going on?" Kagome asks.

"I think Akurei has released his full demon aura and it has combined with Akuma's." Sango says as she and Kagome run over to Inuyasha and Miroku.

"Well priestess. What are you going to do now? In your current state you can't even draw your bow. Not to mention, your soul collectors can't bring you new souls with our aura blocking them." Akuma says.

Inuyasha stands between Kikyo and the Lunar Demons.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Akurei asks as he stands at his brother's side.

"Yes, and it is simply beautiful." Akuma says as lightning strikes his hand and an ominous sword materializes.

"Impossible." Inuyasha says.

"Ah, your father had this sword but it now belongs to me." Akuma says holding So'unga up to the moonlight.

"Why isn't it possessing him?" Miroku asks.

"Long before So'unga was a sword he was a great and powerful demon. Our master once fought him and killed him. Then had his remains forged into a sword. Only the sword's true owner can wield So'unga without being possesed. Your father was an exception. Apparently, So'unga saw greatness in him and allowed him to wield him." Akurei explains.

"Excuse me one second." Akuma says and swings So'unga once causing a massive fire twister to wipe out the forest and all the ogres.

"You two shall not harm Kikyo." Inuyasha says drawing Tetsusaiga.

"Inuyasha leave me. It is my duty to kill these two." Kikyo says.

"I will not lose you again." Inuyasha says.

Kikyo draws her bow and fires one final arrow. It blows through the demon aura and narrowly misses Akuma's head.

Akuma stabs the sword into the ground and a massive column of fire shoots out burning Kikyo. Inuyasha turns and tries to jump into the fire but Sango and Miroku hold him back.

"KIKYO!!" Inuyasha screams as he watches her burn.

"Return to dust you abomination." Akuma says removing So'unga from the ground.

"You bastards! I'll kill you both!" Inuyasha shouts and lunges at them.

He runs into someone and looks up.

"Calm yourself, Inuyasha. These two are more powerful our father." Sesshomaru says coldly.

"If it isn't little Sessy." Akuma says walking towards him.

"It seems my nose was correct. So'unga has returned. Why?" Sesshomaru asks.

"Quite simple. We simply wanted our master with us. Now each of us has something of our master's." Akuma says.

"Sesshomaru, I see what you are thinking and that is not what we are going to do. We are simply regaining something that we lost years ago. We have grown to like this world. I have seen the future and it doesn't look too bad." Akurei says.

"We shall see soon enough." Sesshomaru says and walks off.

During the confusion, Kagome took off on Kilala with tears in her eyes.

"I doubt he would be that concerned with me." She says as she heads home.

"Well, I am ready for a nice long nap." Akuma says stretching.

"Inuyasha, that challenge is still open. Come and find me when you are ready." Akurei says as both he and Akuma vanish.

"Those bastards will pay for this." Inuyasha says through gritted teeth.

"Where's Kagome?" Sango asks as she looks around.

"There was a young woman who flew off that way, shortly after the column of fire shot into the sky." The village elder says pointing towards the Bone Eaters Well.

"Now what?" Miroku asks.

"You are more then welcome to stay here for the night. The fires should die out by morning." The village elder says.

Kagome sits in her tub a couple days later still upset about what Inuyasha did.

"I can't blame him. He was in love with her first but still." She says to herself.

"Told you this world was interesting." A familiar voice says.

"It's very interesting." Another voice says.

Suddenly the bathroom door opens and Akurei and Akuma walk in.

"This is their bathroom. They don't have to bath in a river." Akurei says completely unaware of Kagome.

Her face turns bright red and she lets out a blood curdling scream.

"What are they doing here?" Kagome asks her mom a little bit later.

"So you know each other?" Manami asks.

"Yes. Inuyasha wishes us dead. Me for insulting and beating him. And he wants Akuma dead for killing a resurrected priestess that Inuyasha is madly in love with." Akurei explains.

"I see. Well, I told Akurei, he is welcome any time. So he brought his brother to show what Japan is like in the future." Manami explains.

"That's part of it. We also came by to see if you'd like to come to our festival." Akurei says.

"Both of you are invited." Akuma says.

Kagome thinks for a second before saying, "I'd love too."

"That way I can forget all about this whole Inuyasha and Kikyo thing." She says to herself.

"Good. Go get ready." Akuma says.

Manami walks down the hall dressed in a kimono and is ready to go.

"That was quick." Sota says sitting on the couch watching T.V.

"Inuyasha. What is the plan now?" Miroku asks.

Inuyasha remains silent and continues to sit on the roof staring off into space.

The wind blows and Inuyasha sniffs the air.

"Kagome?" He says and sniffs a few more times.

"Where?" Miroku asks.

Inuyasha leaps from the roof and takes off running towards the Lunar Shrine.

"Sango! We're leaving!" Miroku shouts and runs after Inuyasha.

Sango hops onto Kilala's back and swoops down to pick up Miroku.

They start the long climb up the mountain path to the Lunar Shrine as it begins to rain heavily.

"Fortunately with this rain he won't be transforming tonight." Sango says as they climb higher and higher.

They reach the village and its deserted. The rain is making it tough for Inuyasha to follow the scent. He gets a good whiff and follows the path even higher.

"Guess everyone is at the shrine." Miroku says.

They climb through the clouds and are greeted by the sounds of a festival. Sango and Miroku climb off of Kilala and walk the rest of the way.

Inuyasha suddenly stops in his tracks and looks for the moon.

"Damn it." He says as he becomes human.

The three of them stop outside the gates.

"I think we should go back and find a place to lay low for the night." Miroku says.

"Kagome could be taken prisoner in there by those two bastards." Inuyasha says and opens the gates.

"A festival?" Sango says surprised.

They walk in and are completely unnoticed. Sango gets swept up by everyone having fun that she grabs Miroku's hand and starts walking to the food.

"Welcome, Sango. Miroku." The cook says.

Sango looks up and sees Akurei cooking.

"Relax. Tonight is a celebration. Just enjoy yourselves. I believe Kagome is over there." Akurei says and points to the other side.

Akuma is up front doing an acrobatic type of show with all kinds of flips and things of that nature. Kagome is helping a couple young kids paint their masks to look like Akurei and Akuma.

"If it isn't Inuyasha." Akuma says landing next to him.

Inuyasha glares at him and reaches for Tetsusaiga.

Akuma grabs his hand and Tetsusaiga's handle together and squeezes.

"Look. Tonight is a celebration and fighting is not allowed. If you draw that sword, then you'll die before you can even get it out of the sheath. It won't even transform since you are human any way. So have fun and when you become demon again then we'll talk." Akuma says and lets go.

"Why did you kidnap Kagome?" Inuyasha asks.

"Kidnap? We didn't kidnap her. She and her mother were invited. And if you'd like to speak with her then she's over there." Akuma replies

Inuyasha spots her and walks over through the crowd.

"Kagome." Inuyasha says.

Kagome looks at him and storms off.

Sango and Miroku are still at the food table stuffing their faces.

"This is so good." Sango says.

"Thanks. I try." Akurei says before walking away.

"Whoa." Miroku says seeing Kagome's mom. He walks over and grabs her hand.

"Hello." Manami says.

"Hello, I have a favor to ask of you. Would you bear me a son to continue on my quest." Miroku says kneeling before her.

She stands there in shock for a second.

"You must be Miroku the monk. Kagome has told me a lot about you." Manami replies.

"She has?" Miroku says confused.

"I'm her mother." Manami says as a large boomerang hits him in the head.

"Forgive his rudeness. I am Sango." Sango says.

Morning comes rather quickly and all the villagers head back home.

Inuyasha is sleeping outside of the gates while Miroku and Sango sleep near the pond. Manami is sleeping peacefully in Akurei's bed while Kagome sleeps in a spare bedroom.

Akurei and Akuma sit on top of the mountain overlooking everything.

"Not much has changed here has it." Akuma says.

"Not really. You thinking about leaving?" Akurei replies.

"Yeah. Just for a couple hundred years." Akuma says.

"Milords. You have a visitor." the Monk says.

The two of them return to the front gates and Naraku is standing there completely unaware of Inuyasha sleeping nearby.

"It seems we both have the same problem." Naraku says bowing deeply.

"And you are..." Akuma says.

"I am known as Naraku." Naraku says.

"What is it you want?" Akuma asks.

"I wish for the two of you to kill Inuyasha and his friends. Given your superior abilities this should be real easy for you. I also wish to thank you for killing Kikyo. She was a constant thorn in my side." Naraku says.

"For a half demon you seem strong enough. Kill him yourself." Akuma says not even thinking about it.

Akuma turns and leaves and Akurei follows.

Naraku smirks and vanishes.

Inuyasha wakes a short time later and has returned to his normal self. He enters the shrine and heads straight for the temple.

"I smelled Naraku. Where is he?" Inuyasha says barging into the temple.

"He left some time ago. He wished for us to kill you and your friends, completely unaware that you were sleeping less then thirty feet from him utterly defenseless." Akurei says.

"We don't have a conflict with you or this Naraku. We just want to be left out of this whole affair. However, we won't turn a blind eye to Naraku. There is something I don't trust about him." Akuma says.

"I told Sesshomaru the other day that Naraku was hiding out in the western lands and that he should check on it after the new moon. Fortunately, my vision was correct and all of those insects are on the move to watch our every move. Now all you have to do is find Naraku and kill him while your brother tracks down the other Naraku." Akurei says.

"Wait, so you have been watching Naraku the whole time?" Inuyasha asks.

"Not the whole time. About a year ago a small baby was brought to us by one of the villagers. Something didn't seem right so we had it cast off the mountain. Within an hour of it being thrown from here a young boy and those insects took off with it so we sent our own spies to watch it." Akuma explains.

"That's it! That's what I have forgotten. Naraku cast his human heart out to become a full demon and he hid that heart in a baby. To kill Naraku you have to kill the baby before he has a chance to regenerate." Kagome says walking in.

Back at Naraku's castle, Naraku sits in the darkness.

"It shall be completed this evening at the latest." Hakudoshi says.

"Good. This plan should bring the last few remaining shards of the Shikon Jewel to me and kill Inuyasha once and for all." Naraku says laughing.

"I have to take Manami home now but feel free to stay as long as you'd like. It seems the two of you need to work some things out." Akurei says and leaves.

Kagome looks at Inuyasha briefly then looks away.

"You two aren't leaving this room till you work this out." Akuma says locking the door.

Sango and Miroku run into Akuma in the hallway.

"Those two are working there problems out." Akuma says walking past them.

"SIT!!!" Kagome screams.

Throughout the surrounding canyon, "Sit" is heard echoing. With each one Inuyasha is slammed into the ground.

"Oh this is too good." Akuma says laughing as he walks back to his room.

That night Naraku walks out into the courtyard and standing before him is Hakudoshi and two kneeling demons.

"Show me." Naraku says.

The two demons stand and look exactly like Akurei and Akuma.

"With that information you collected this morning these two are perfect clones. No one will be able to tell the difference." Hakudoshi says with an evil smile.

"That's excellent. You know what to do." Naraku says with an evil smirk.

A couple days later, the monk runs into the central garden out of breath.

"Milords. I have bad news." He says sweating badly.

"What is it?" Akurei says laying in the grass.

"WHAT!?!?" Akuma and Akurei shout together.

"What's going on?" Inuyasha asks running in.

"It seems that Lord Akurei and Lord Akuma are attacking villages. Yet they haven't left the shrine since the new moon festival." The monk explains.

"I am willing to bet this is Naraku's doing." Akurei says.

"His blood shall stain this the soil for eternity for this transgression." Akuma says grabbing So'unga, "This is an act of war."

The wind suddenly stops and the entire mountain begins to shake violently.

"Naraku's head is mine." Inuyasha says pointing at Akuma.

Akuma looks back at Inuyasha and he flies through the wall.

"If you can get to him before I do, then he's yours. However, get in my way and you'll die." Akuma growls at him.

Akurei walks by with his bone mask and hands one to Akuma.

"Better get going if you want Naraku's head." Akurei says and leaves with Akuma.

"It seems Naraku has struck a nerve by duplicating them." Miroku says.

The four of them grab their stuff and also take off.

At the base of the mountain with a huge waterfall, Sesshomaru stands.

"This information better be correct. Jaken, stay here and watch Rin." He says and heads off towards the mountain.

Around sunset, Akurei and Akuma find the clones and chase them. The clones retreat back to Naraku's castle and stop in the courtyard.

"This is a trap you realize." Akuma says.

"So. What he doesn't shall be his death." Akurei says with smile.

As the enter they put their masks on. A couple minutes later, Inuyasha and company arrive and watch from the front gates.

Akurei and Akuma have squared off with their clones and haven't taken a defensive stance yet.

Akurei walks around his clone and smiles.

"This is some very nice work. Everything is an exact copy right down to the last detail. Even the aura is the same." Akurei says.

"Of course it is they are like you in every way. And once this battle is over they shall replace you at the shrine." Naraku says sitting on the roof of the main building.

"However, there are some flaws." Akuma says.

"Impossible." Naraku says.

"Not impossible. Just one flaw per clone which is rather quite easy to overlook. Nobody knows them so its understandable. Actually if these were to go to the shrine then they would be killed because of it." Akurei says with a laugh.

"What are these supposed flaws?" Naraku asks.

"We will tell you with our dying breath. If you can kill us." Akuma says and uppercuts his clone, breaking his jaw and sending him flying.

Akurei roundhouses his sending him spinning through the air.

The battle intensifies and the four of them are going blow for blow. The punches are so hard the ground is shaking from it. The battle rages even more as Akurei drops to one knee and straight punches his clone in the gut sending him crashing through a building.

"Why doesn't he just draw So'unga and kill them?" Miroku asks.

"Guess he doesn't want to rely on So'unga's power all the time." Inuyasha says.

Akuma grabs his clone and whips him into the wall next to the gates.

"What was that runt?" Akuma asks.

"I said you rely on So'unga's power." Inuyasha repeats.

"His power? I have never used his power. That would be a waste. The only power I use is my own. Watch and learn, mutt." Akuma says taking a punch to the jaw.

Suddenly a miasma seeps through the ground dropping Akurei and Akuma to their knees.

"Now you two die." Naraku says laughing demonicaly.

The Lunar Demons kneel there coughing as the clouds part and moonlight illuminates the castle.

Akurei and Akuma both get to their feet and the miasma eats through their flesh. They both rip their own flesh off and throw it on the ground. When they are done they are just standing skeletons with miasma oozing from their eye sockets.

"Now do you think you can beat us?" Akuma asks.

A white mohawk grows out of Akurei's head and the tips of it turn crimson.

"Enough of this." Akurei says grabbing his staff.

He twirls it around for a second before swinging it at his clone. The clone stands there unaffected and confused.

Akurei simply stabs the staff into the ground and leans against it.

The clones are standing their unable to move. Naraku tries to move as well but he too is stuck.

"No running away, you bastard. You will die tonight." Akurei says as Akuma draws So'unga.

"Hey, mutt. This is my power and So'unga's power combined." Akuma shouts.

"DRAGON'S WRATH!!!" Akuma shouts as the clouds overhead turn dark and lightning strikes everywhere.

The winds pick up and it starts raining. From out of the clouds a massive dragon's head emerges. The dragon roars and the villagers from miles around hide in terror. Akurei and Akuma walk back towards Inuyasha and company.

"A barrier, monk." Akuma says to Miroku.

Miroku makes a barrier and Akuma strengthens it.

The massive dragon roars once more before flying all around and then crashes into the center of the courtyard. It's massive body destroys the entire castle.

When the dust settles, the sky has returned to normal and Akurei and Akuma have begun to regenerate their flesh. Where the castle once stood is now a large crater.

"Too bad Naraku sent a demon puppet." Akurei says peering into the crater.

"Yeah, but he should think twice before cloning us again." Akuma says.

Inuyasha is speechless after seeing that.

"Now all you have to do is head to the western lands and kill Naraku and that baby." Akurei says fully regenerated.

"Thank you for your help." Kagome says.

"No problem. Just get going." Akuma says.

Inuyasha and company quickly run off and Akuma collapses first followed by Akurei.

They both look at the staff and see that the moons on it aren't glowing at all. After a couple seconds a faint light is seen in the moons and both of them sigh in relief.

"That was close." Akurei says.

"Didn't think I made that big of one." Akuma says.

Naraku appears at the bottom of the crater and surveys the damage. He spots something and smiles as he absorbs it into his body before he disappears again.

Two days later a massive beam of light is seen from all over shooting into the sky.

"What was that?" Miroku asks.

"No clue. Could of been Naraku." Inuyasha says running next to Kilala with Kagome on his back.

They finally reach the base of the mountain the following afternoon.

"I think we should rest and recover our strength before attacking Naraku." Sango says hopping off of Kilala's back.

"Lets rest in those trees over there." Kagome says pointing.

They make camp and Inuyasha sits there staring at the mountain.

Kilala wanders off on her own and returns a little bit later with something in her mouth.

Sango takes it from her and looks at it.

"A finger?" She says dropping it.

Kilala wanders off again and Sango follows her. She can't believe her eyes as Kilala shows her, her discovery.

"Inuyasha. Miroku. Come here." She says still surprised.

The come running and stop dead.

Hanging upside down in front of them from a tree is Sesshomaru. His face and most of his front side has been badly burned.

"Is he dead?" Sango asks.

"Looks like it. Who ever did this had to be strong." Inuyasha says.

"Tensaiga is missing as well as Tokijin." Miroku points out.

"What could of done this to him?" Sango asks.

"That light we saw yesterday, I bet." Miroku says.

"Naraku must be stopped." Inuyasha says and cuts Sesshomaru down from the tree.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken shouts from somewhere in the forest.

"Isn't that Jaken?" Kagome asks.

"Jaken!" Inuyasha shouts.

Moments later the small green imp waddles out of the bushes and gasps at the sight.

"What did you do?" He asks running to his Lord's side.

"Nothing. We found him hanging upside down in this tree, dead." Inuyasha says.

The imp breaks down and starts crying.

After burying Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and company return to camp.

"Jaken, take Rin and follow this road till you come to this village." Kagome says showing him a map.

"Why?" Jaken asks.

"Ask for Kaede. Tell her you are friends of Kagome and Inuyasha. Don't argue with me imp or there will be hell to pay." Kagome says shaking her fist at him.

Jaken runs off and does as he is told.

In the morning the four of them pack their stuff and head up the steep and treacherous mountain path following Sesshomaru's scent. Halfway up the path Tetsusaiga starts shaking violently. Inuyasha holds on tightly and draws Tetsusaiga.

"I think Naraku is close by." Miroku says as his hand pulsates.

Akurei and Akuma stand up and the dozens of villagers that have surrounded them back away.

"Damn." Akuma says rubbing his head.

Akurei sits up and grabs his staff. He looks at the moon and smirks at the moons on it. The two of them vanish leaving the villagers confused.

Inuyasha and company scour the mountain for clues on Naraku's whereabouts but don't find anything. They make camp as the sunsets and all of them look tired.

"How is it possible that he can just vanish like that?" Inuyasha asks.

"He has to be on this mountain somewhere." Kagome says.

"That strange light the other day didn't bother that much, but finding Sesshomaru like that has changed my mind. What if that light was from Naraku? If it could beat Sesshomaru who had Tensaiga then what could it do to us?" Miroku asks.

"There is no need to worry. I will simply just run in and cut off his head before he can attack." Inuyasha says boastfully.

The others ignore his comment and eventually one by one fall asleep.

At the top of the waterfall on the other side of the mountain, lies Naraku's castle hidden deep in the mist and miasma.

"Inuyasha and his friends are on this mountain searching for this castle." Hakudoshi says.

"I am aware of this fact. However Inuyasha and his little ground no longer pose a threat to me with my new found power." Naraku says with an evil laugh.

"Is that so? What do you have in store for them?" Hakudoshi asks.

Naraku glances over and smiles as he says, "Your services are no longer required. Return to where you came from." Naraku's flesh clamps onto Hakudoshi and slowly absorbs him.

"Come for me Inuyasha and you too shall join my flesh." Naraku says with a demonic laugh that echoes throughout the mountains.
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