Cursed

CHAPTER 14


“I don’t understand, where could they have gone?” Akane twisted her hands together, she had a really bad feeling about this. She’d woken that morning to find that Ranma had disappeared without a word to her. That itself was disturbing, but Inuyasha was also missing. Now they found themselves inside inuyoukai territory and no idea where to look for their own pair of strayed dog-demons.

Kagome chewed on her lower lip, also feeling uneasy and no small amount of put out. Inuyasha might have a tendency to disappear now and then whe whe was in a moody snit, but he’d have never left without telling them. Not right now. Everything about their situation felt wrong. “I think we should go look for them.”

“Where?” Miroku asked simply. Sango sat down next to Kagome and put a reassuring hand on the girl’s arm. “We tried to track them already. Kirara lost the scent almost as soon as she found it. It was like they just vanished from that spot.” The exterminator and her neko-youkai had returned only a few minutes earlier, disturbed by what they hadn’t found.

Miroku rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Maybe Asariko-sama can help. We should return to her cave and see if perhaps Ranma and Inuyasha went back there for some reason.” Akane and Kagome exchanged hopeful looks, it sounded like a good idea.

Sango sighed, hating to be the one to break the news. “I already tried. When I couldn’t find a trace of them in the forest, we went straight to that mountain. I couldn’t find the cave. It’s like she never even existed.”

“Maybe you had the wrong mountain,” Kagome started to say. Her voice trailed off at Sango’s expression. “No, I know where I went. There was no trace of that cave or the old woman.”

She looked over at Miroku. “I have a really bad feeling about that.” The monk frowned. “You think maybe we were set up?”

Sango nodded. “Why else would Asariko have disappeared? Maybe that amulet has something to do with Ranma and Inuyasha taking off. If Ranma couldn’t control himself, he would have tried to get as far from us as possible. Inuyasha could have either followed him or taken him away if he wasn’t able to do it himself. I just don’t understand why they didn’t tell us.”

“We will wait here for them,” Miroku said quietly, looking to Akane and Kagome for confirmation. The girls nodded and Akane reached over to pull Shippo into her lap. The kitsune was soft and comforting, just like her stuffed animals at home. She felt the need to hold something right now. The fox looked up at her earnestly. “Don’t worry Akane, they’ll be okay. Ranma will come back and there’s nothing out there that can stop Inuyasha. You’ll see.”

She stroked his hair and smiled at Kagome. “I sure hope so, Shippo.”

*****

Wake.

The demon’s eyes remained closed, his breathing deep and even. He resisted the soft voice in his mind, unwilling to abandon the delicious lassitude that filled his body.

Wake.

A tiny snarl of anger bent the demon’s lips. He was awake. He was angry to have been dragged out of the darkness. His body was starting to tingle now, pins and needles racing along his flesh. Blood flowed like wildfire in his veins, his strength was returning now. Still, he kept his body immobile, refusing to give in to the voice that was whispering so insidiously.

Get up.

You don’t command me, the demon thought, rage beginning to cloud his mind. Whatever it was, whoever it was, he didn’t know what he had awoken, he didn’t know he was fanning the flames of his own demise with his callous, pathetic orders. I answer to no one. I am youkai.

I said, get up, demon. I have what you want.

This time he let his eyes open, slowly focusing through the fog of bleary eyelids. A figure was standing to his side, hovering over him, compelling him. He would not allow it. The demon raised his hand, moving like he hadn’t used his muscles in years. The figure stepped back, but not before the demon lying on the table was able to lift a clawed finger, point with it, and send a fiery blast of pure energy right at the fluttering baboon cloak. It tore the form apart, shredding it, scorching the wall that was behind the shadowy outline. The demon smirked, pleased with destruction.

Very good. I knew you were strong. Get up now.

Hissing, the prone demon sat up, hating everything. His mind was a seething whirlpool of hatred, his eyes flicked dangerously around the room, looking for a target. He was alone. “Who are you?” he asked in a harsh voice. “Show yourself, coward.”

In time, demon. Before you ask me who I am, you should ask yourself a question. Who are you?”

The d ope opened his mouth to retort and found he had no words. His mind was blank, a gaping darkness existed where memories should live and he couldn’t recall who he was or where he had come from. Unable to answer the voice, he looked down at his clawed hands. “It doesn’t matter who I am,” he snarled at last. “Show yourself. Nameless or not, I will kill you just the same.”

I have what you want.

The demon swung his legs off the table where he’d awoken. He was utterly naked, but he barely noticed his lack of garments. He felt strong, he felt every muscle in his body pulsing with power. He was storm, he was fire. He flung out his hand and melted the wall in front of him, his youki bursting in the small room like a lightning strike. “What do you think I want?” he hissed.

You want blood. You want death. You want the flesh of your prey in your teeth and you want to hear their screams before they die. I can give you this and much, much more. If you serve me.

“I serve no one!” the demon shouted.

The voice didn’t answer and the demon smiled nastily. Whatever it was, it couldn’t compel him. “Are you afraid?” he said, challenging the voice. Come on, you bastard. Show yourself. Feel my wrath.

Fear is irrelevant, the voice said softly.

“Who the FUCK are you, then?” he raged, tearing the room apart with his bare claws. It felt good to destroy, it felt right.

I am the one who made you. I am the one who has set you free. You will serve me in time.

“I seriously fucking doubt it,” the demon sneered.

Even unwilling you will serve me. Your existence already serves my needs. Yours and your brother’s.

“Brother?” the demon asked suspiciously. His mind was still a blank hole, holding no memories of anything.

I made him for you. A perfect set. You will be a storm of destruction on the earth. There will be no one who can oppose you when you fight together.

“Interesting,” the demon said, smiling faintly. He was starting to like this plan. “Have I got a name, you invisible bastard?”

I will call you Ranma. Before you are done, all creatures will fear your name and terror itself will be your power.

*****

Kagura stepped into the room, sliding the door shut behind her. Now was her chance. Naraku was a fool, of all his underhanded, insane plans, this was the most insane of all. The hanyou was asleep, his long white hair flowing over the edge of the table. Staring into his slumbering face, Kagura was struck by how young the half-demon looked. Young or not, it didn’t matter. When he woke and realized what had been done to him, he was going to fly into a rage. This was the best chance she’d ever have to kill him.

She whipped out her fan, her eyes glowing slightly. “Time for a little payback,” she hissed. Time for a little revenge for all the humiliation she’d suffered at his hands. The time now now.

“Kagura. You should not.”

She looked over her shoulder. Kanna was standing there with her empty black eyes. “Stay out of this,” she ordered. “This is the best time to kill him. When Naraku comes to his senses, he’ll realize I was right.

Kanna shook her white head. “Naraku said to leave him be.”

Kagura gave the small demon a smile of pleasure. “I’ll just tell Naraku that Inuyasha woke up on his own and attacked me. I had to defend myself, Kanna.” She held the fan up, hovering over the sleeping hanyou. “Now’s your time to die, half-breed.”

Just as she brought the fan down in a sweep that would have taken the half-demon’s head from his shoulders, his hand came up and caught her wrist. She struggled to pull free but he was like an iron vise. “Damn it!”

Inuyasha remained asleep, his face completely relaxed and at peace. Kagura couldn’t free her arm, his fingers continued to tighten around her and she felt her wrist bones grinding together. “Kanna,” she hissed. “Help me!”

Kanna simply turned and left the room. Kagura gasped from the pain shooting in her hand. She could feel her bones splintering and a small whimper escaped her lips. With her free hand she pounded on the hanyou’s bare chest. “Let me go, damn you!”

“Kagura. Didn’t I tell you not to play with him?” Naraku looke her her, a dour expression of his face. He walked slowly to her side, noting that his disobedient incarnation was almost on her knees from the pain. “I believe he has broken your wrist.”

Angry, she looked up at him. “Are you going to do anything about this?” Naraku smirked. “Are you asking me for help?”

She didn’t answer, grinding her teeth against the pain and feeling more bones crumbling. “Please,” she whispered, hating herself for capitulating once again.

Naraku raised an eyebrow. “Please, what?”

“Please, master!”

“That’s better,” he smiled. He passed his hand lightly over Inuyasha’s head. The half-demon’s grip slackened then enough for Kagura to free her injured wrist. She cradled her arm against her chest, wincing. “Naraku, you’re a fool to bring them here,” she muttered, not looking at her master.

“I think they will prove very…useful,” he said lightly. He favored the sleeping hanyou with a smile of pure malice. Naraku had never expected Asariko’s amulet to capture both of them. His intentions had been focused on Ranma. The young demon had power and Naraku wanted that power for himself. It was also obvious the reluctant youkai feared his own strength, mistrusted its use. Simple enough problem to resolve, just remove the memories of the human soul that dwelt inside. Suppressed and constrained, that soul would start to die as Ranma’s crimes grew. Then, with the assistance of Asariko’s cursed pendant, the raging demon would be free to destroy and terrorize everything in his path. It was regrettable that Ranma’s demon nature resisted his attempts to compel him. Regrettable, but not unexpected.

Inuyasha was unexpected. Naraku was amused that fortune had at long last placed the hanyou in his hands. He had toyed with the idea of killing him outright. Torturing him to death, maybe? He knew the half-demon’s strong constitution would keep him alive for a very long time. Maybe even long enough for Naraku to vent the anger and hatred that swelled within him whenever he looked at the white haired bastard.

Naraku enjoyed the thought of Inuyasha suffering in immense, never ceasing agony. It brought a smile to his lips even. However, he was nothing if not a practical creature and he had no intention of wasting what fortunate circumstances have visited upon him. It was with great satisfaction that Naraku thought to use his enemy. Turning him into a monster was almost as satisfying a thought as cutting him into small bloody pieces.

*****

“We can’t stay here any longer,” Miroku said, facing the girls. Sango nodded in agreement. The exterminator was uneasy, they were out in the open and unprotected. It was only a matter of time before someone or something attacked. She rubbed Kirara’s head lightly, the neko was also restless and anxious to move.

Akane sighed and put her head in her hands. “I guess we don’t have any choice.” Ranma had been gone for three whole days. Kirara hadn’t been able to pick up so much as a whisper of scent from either Ranma or Inuyasha.

She looked over at Kagome, who was already slipping her pack on her shoulders. “Let’s just start moving, maybe we’ll find some trace of them along the way. They didn’t just vanish. They’ve got to be out there somewhere. Maybe we’ll find someone who has seen them.”

Sango opened her mouth to agree with Kagome’s comment when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up. “Miroku,” she said in a low voice, slinging Hiraikotsu off her shoulder.

He nodded, gripping his staff with a sudden determination. “I sense it too. We’re surrounded.”

Kagome immediately picked up her bow and notched an arrow. “Are you sure,” she asked tensely. “I don’t sense anything out there.”

“And what would you sense, pretty human?” A rough voice addressed her from the woods and Kagome pointed her arrow in that direction. “Show yourself!”

A youkai slipped from the trees, grinning. He was dirty with long matted hair and ragged clothes. His smile was still sharp and the blade he held looked well used. “Isn’t this a pleasant sight,” he said softly. “Three pretty females to be had.”

Miroku scowled. “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” The demon laughed. “I don’t count the dead. The women will be useful to me, you on the other hand…my fangs aren’t that picky about the meat they consume. At least you’ll taste better than that kitsune rat at your feet.”

“Who are you calling a rat?” Shippo demanded angrily. “In case you can’t count, you’re outnumbered. Go peacefully and we can forget this little insult.”

Kagome smiled faintly at Shippo’s bravery. “He has a point,” she said in a mild voice. “You won’t find us females an easy target.”

The demon met her eyes with a certain feral glee. “Oh, I think you’ve frightened me now, girlie. I can’t stand the idea of being ganged up on, but you’ll learn to love it before I’m done with you.” He put his fingers to his mouth and gave a piercing whistle.

The rustling of the trees and brush produced another dozen demons, all wearing matching smiles and laughing. Kagome’s aim never wavered, she kept the tip of her arrow pointing right at the first demon’s throat. She felt a sudden anger flooding her body. She was tired, sick and tired, of being leered at by smelly demons. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she muttered. “Miroku, Sango, are you ready?”

The monk grinned. “We can take them, Kagome. It might get a little messy, but I don’t think Sango and Kirara have had enough exercise lately anyway. Akane, you stay back.”

She glared at him. “I’m not defenseless, you know.”

The youkai gave them a sour look. “Are you going to fight or not? I’m in a good mood, if you three girls just lay down now, I’ll let the monk and the rat go. Not that I’m feeling merciful, I just think it would be a shame to spoil all that nice soft skin with fighting.”

“Eat shit,” Kagome said roughly. She had definitely been spending too much time listening to Inuyasha. Right now she really missed him, he would have so much fun making these losers run for their lives.

“We got us some feisty ones, boys,” the youkai leader said, turning around to grin at his comrades. “Now make sure you don’t damage them too much, this one here is all mine.” He stepped forward, a bloody smile on his face and raised his sword as Kagome pulled back on her bow.

An arrow suddenly went into his neck and dropped him to the ground. Kagome stared. It wasn’t her arrow, she still held her bow notched and ready. Around them, three more youkai dropped to the ground, similar arrows imbedded in their necks and chests. “What the hell is going on here?” The remaining demons turned and fled for their lives and Kagome heard the sounds of more arrows winging and the groans as bodies hit the dirt. Sango and Miroku exchanged tense looks, the unnecessary rescue was not unwelcome, but they were too experienced to guess that their rescuers might be any more preferred.

“Filthy, stinking mercenaries.” Kagome started at the sound of a light, feminine voice, letting her bow drop in surprise. A girl slipped from the forest, long reddish hair held back in a single neat braid. She was dressed head to toe in black leather armor and carried a sharp looking sword at her hip. She kicked the nearest body, scowling fiercely. “That’s what you get for crossing this territory, .” .”

The girl’s dark brown eyes roamed over the humans, a distinctly unimpressed cast to her mouth. “Kaho, Hiroshi,” she called out, frowning. “These ones are human, not part of that lot.” Two taller men slipped out of the forest then, wearing identical armor to that of the petite girl. She gestured at her companions with an air of command. The two men immediately slung their bows around and pointed arrows at Miroku and Sango.

The girl grinned at their surprised expressions. “Nothing personal,” she said, drawing her katana. “I’m under orders from my lord to dispatch any trespassers in his territory. We’ve been tracking these scum for the better part of the past two days. My thanks for distracting them long enough for us to find them.”

“This is thanks?” Kagome asked. She wished she’d never dropped her bow. She looked into the girl’s eyes and knew that her blade would be buried in her throat if she so much as twitched toward her arrows.

The girl blinked at her, smiling in a decidedly unpleasant way. “I don’t care much for humans myself. I thought at first you might be villagers that strayed from the road, but I can see that you’re too well armed to be local. That makes you trespassers. My lord doesn’t like humans or trespassers on the best of days.”

“So you’re just going to kill us?” Akane burst out. “We didn’t even know we were trespassing!”

Miroku moved forward, placing a calming hand on Akane’s shoulder. She glowered at him, but shut moutmouth. “We apologize for trespassing. We understand that the dog-demon clans are in a state of war right now. You have every right to protect your territory. However, we are simple travelers, we have no wish to become involved in any kind of conflict. Surely you have the discretion to be merciful and not murder us just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The diminutive demoness leaned on her sword, looking thoughtful. “You’re a smooth tongued creature for a human. My lord does give me a cin ain amount of discretion in my orders. I’ve personally seen enough bloodshed for one day. We can escort you to the border instead. Just don’t expect such tolerance again.”

Miroku bowed. “Thank you for your kindness, my lady.” She shot him an arch glance. “My name is Namichi and I’m a warrior and ranking member of the guard. I am not a lady or of noble blood.”

On the the two youkai behind her coughed, covering his face with his frs trs to hide his amusement. Namichi stared him down. “Something the matter, Kaho?”

He shook his head, grinning. “Not at all…lady Namichi.” She rolled her eyes disgustedly. “I’ll be sure to mention your disrespect in my report.” Kaho seemed completely unthreatened. “If his lordship even accepts your report. It’s not my mouth that got us assigned to patrol duty.”

“My mouth is not your concern,” Namichi snarled, pointing the tip of her blade at him. “Now move your ass and let’s get these humans to the border before nightfall. You forget who you’re talking to.”

Kaho snorted and elbowed his companion. “There’s that temper again. The lord was right to put you on discipline, Namichi.”

She glowered at him, quite forgetting the humans for the moment. “It’s not up to you to approve Sesshomaru-sama’s orders.”

“Sesshomaru?” Kagome said abruptly, her eyes flicking over at Miroku and Sango.

The tip of Namichi’s blade came dangerously close to Kagome’s neck. “That’s Sesshomaru-SAMA to you, human wench. Be respectful, it’s by his mercy that I’m sparing your life.”

“Am I to assume that it’s Sesshomaru-sama’s territory we’re in now?” Miroku said nervously. Namichi read his discomfort. “You know my lord?”

“We’ve, er, met a few times,” the monk confessed. Namichi gave him a hard look and slipped her blade into its sheath. She folded her arms, aware that her companions had resumed their alert stances. “I think you’d better tell me who you are and what you’re doing here.”

END CHAPTER 14