After Midnight

DISCLAIMER: The rights to IY were not at the bottom of the cereal box. Someone lied to me. *pouts* I still don’t own it.

Chapter 2:
The Coming Storm


Even after decades of training Kagome could never manage to keep the sweat from beading on her brow. She had been traveling the countryside of Japan with Shippou on and off for forty-eight years, but every battle was like this.

‘Is this the one?’ The thought always came unbidden. Fear flashed, adrenaline kicked in, but thankfully the doubts no longer haunted her. ‘No hesitation. Eye on the mark. Senses open. Breathe,’ Her mind coaxed.

She waited for the being to emerge from the forest.

After so many years her fingers no longer trembled. The reactions of her body were now tightly controlled chaos. Everything except for the damn sweat forming on her brow.

The was a rustle in the underbrush to the left of her target.

‘Nice try,’ she quipped to herself, ‘But no buy.’

There was no aura coming from the moving area, obviously a diversionary tactic. She could feel the demon. He was mid-grade.... and he was stalling. Unfortunately for him, the more he delayed the quicker his death.

Kagome’s mind was battle honed.

‘Mid-grade, intelligent, knows tactics, without long-range weapons or he would have shot me already,’ she thought wryly as she assessed the demon. ‘Most importantly,’ her lips curved into a smirk, ‘He is unsure of my ability.’

The demon’s attention shifted a split second before Kagome’s. There were more energies approaching. Small auras, hanyou auras. They were moving quickly toward the clearing and behind them was the pull of five more mid-grade youkai.

‘Soldiers,’ was Kagome’s horrified thought before she loosed her arrow.

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Two young girl’s sprinted through the woods as if the hounds of hell where snapping at their heels. The elder, who appeared to be about ten years old, half-carried, half-dragged her five year old sister with her.

Terrified leaf-green eyes filled with tears as she watched her elder sister’s soft black cat ear’s swivel to hear behind them.

“Come on Sayuri. We have to go faster,” the elder panted as she tugged her baby sister along. Akitsuki held in her own tears as she tried to get her mother’s desperate face out of her mind. She had told them to run to the village, to run for help, and that was what they were going to do. They would help their mother, but they had to get away from the soldiers first.

The low branches and brambles lashed across their faces and dug wooden fingers into their clothing. It seemed like the forest itself was doing it’s best to hinder their progress.

The elder panther hanyou forced her way through the thick underbrush and pulled her sister into a small clearing. They both skidded to a stop in horror at what lay ahead of them.

A strangely clad woman stood in front of them with an arrow pointed in their direction.

“Get behind me,” she ordered in a voice that brooked no argument. “Stay there and don’t move.”

Akitsuki pulled her sister behind the odd woman, who by aura she could identify as a miko. Was this the miko her mother spoke of?

Kagome’s pure energy snapped furiously around her as the two hanyou huddled together, shielded by her legs.

As the first soldier breeched the clearing the miko released her arrow and the two girl’s watched in fear and awe as the snake youkai disintegrated on impact. The woman unsheathed a sword with her right hand in a graceful practiced motion, then dropped into a defensive stance.

Akitsuki wrapped her arms protectively around her sister as the four remaining soldiers charged.

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Shippou sprinted for all he was worth back towards camp. His damp hakama twisted around his waist and his sopping hair slapped his back. The sound of swords clashing met his ears intermixed with grunts, cruses...and crying?

He sniffed and grimaced. Snake youkai, and more than one. The stench mingled with the smell of ash and he could feel the prickle of his mother’s holy powers dance across his skin.

Leaping over the low line of brush that ringed their camp Shippou caught an unexpected sight.

There stood his mother in all her battle glory. Her bow in her left hand as the sword in her right blazed with pink purity. She was surrounded by four snake youkai dressed in the garb of soldiers. Huddled together behind her legs, crying, were two young female cat hanyous.

The youkai shifted around Kagome. Their flat faces twisting what would be a normal smirk into a sickening leer. For a moment she was thrust back into memory.

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50 Years Ago

“Inuyasha!” Kagome screamed as a large sinuous youkai crept up behind him.

To her dismay Inuyasha didn’t show any indication that he had heard her. He was occupied with Naraku. The Inu-brothers were darting around the evil hanyou taking him apart chunk by chunk with their attacks.

Kagome notched an arrow, as the snake youkai leveled it’s sword at Inuyasha’s back.

‘Hit the mark!’ Kagome prayed as she fired her bow.

The arrow flew through the air and buried itself in the base of the youkai’s neck. The sword clattered to the ground mere inches from impaling her friend. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

A voice screeched out in rage, “No!”

Kagome swung her head around looking for the source only to find a small youkai moving quickly in the direction of her, Shippou, and Rin.

A-un pushed Rin behind it and made ready to defend, but the youkai was quick. It ducked the two-headed dragon and prepared to attack the first defenseless person.

Rin screamed just as Kagome dove in front of her.

‘What kind of youkai is that,’ was all Kagome could think as it sank it’s fangs into her thigh.

Her eyes rose for a moment and caught the golden-gaze of Sesshomaru from across the battlefield.

“You killed my father,” the unidentifiable youkai screamed, “And now I’ve killed you.”

As what Kagome now realized was an adolescent snake youkai fled into the forest, one thought pounded through Kagome’s brain. ‘Poison.’

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As Kagome came back to herself the same thought again made it’s way into her mind. ‘Poison.’

Snake youkai were notorious for producing large amounts of the toxic substance.

She highly doubted that if she were to get bitten this time Sesshomaru would show up to save her hide. She was still mildly surprised he’d done it the first time.

The shifting of air alerted Kagome that her opponents were on the move.

She ducked the nearest youkai’s sword and slashed across his abdomen. He burst into ashes. She pivoted through the cloud to stab the undefended back of the snake on his right. He barely had a chance to scream before he disintegrated.

From the corner of her eye she saw Shippou leap forward and release a wave of fox-fire at one of the two remaining soldiers.

The snake youkai raised his sword and swiped at Shippou awkwardly. Her son dodged, his hair licking around him like flame, and drove his claws through the youkai’s neck. Kagome knew he’d severed the snake’s spinal cord.

She turned her full attention back to the last of the attackers. The youkai had been hanging back observing, but when Shippou had entered the clearing the snake had leant his sword to the fray.

He ducked and parried with more refined skill and instantly Kagome knew he was a Captain. Her suspicion was confirmed when she saw the horizontal bars across his shoulder.

The youkai circled her, while Kagome focused on keeping herself between the children and his blade. Shippou made a move toward the snake’s undefended back but stopped short with a curt shake of Kagome’s head. He again made a motion towards his mother in an effort to remove the two hanyou she was protecting from the line of fire. Another shake of the miko’s head was his answer.

Kagome could see it, the youkai was waiting for her son to approach. He saw Shippou, being a demon, as more of a threat than a human miko. ‘Foolish,’ she thought.

“Why does a miko protect two hanyou?” The Captain asked with a tilt of his head.

She wrinkled her nose slightly at the way the youkai had spat the last word, but refused to answer.

The snake lunged forward, feinting the blow toward her right leg, but actually aiming at her more vulnerable left side.

Her blade sang as collided with the youkai’s, knocking his back. She didn’t have time for this. Kagome could feel the presence of more youkai brush the edge’s of her consciousness. They were still far off, but not for long.

‘This is taking too long.’ In one swift move Kagome sidestepped her opponents sword, dropped her bow, and released a controlled burst of pure ki from her left palm. The Captain crumpled into dust.

Shippou turned to his mother and stated the obvious, “Soldiers.”

Kagome nodded as she sheathed her sword and kneeled in front of the still frightened half-demons.

Her body was thrumming from the battle and her tone was blunt, “Why were they chasing you?”

The elder girl snapped her head up at the question. “They captured our mother,” she said her brown eyes wide and tearful.

The younger girls chestnut head bobbed in confirmation and she wiped her eyes on a ragged lilac kimono sleeve. “They wanted us too, but mama made us run. She told us to run to the village.”

Shippou whistled. “Four soldiers for two kids, man.”

“Six,” Kagome corrected, “But I think the first was a scout. There were five behind them.” She gestured toward the two girls.

Her son’s eyes went wide. “Why so many? All dead?” He shifted from foot to foot scanning the forest.

“All dead,” Kagome confirmed.

A glint from around the younger hanyou’s neck caught Kagome’s attention. She leaned closer and the girl curled her fist protectively around the charm. Kagome’s eyes softened and she gave a wink as she pulled away and stood.

“We need to go. More are coming.”

She stooped down and fished out a pair of shoes and a light jacket. ‘This is going to kill my last pair of sleep pants’ Kagome thought as she tugged on her shoes. She grabbed the packs from the ground, shouldering one and handing the other to Shippou.

Retrieving her bow and turning back to the two hanyous she added, “It would safest right now if you came with us. You won’t be able to outrun the soldiers on your own.”

The younger hanyou trotted up to Shippou and gazed at him, green eyes curious. He gave a fanged grin as he scooped the girl up in his arms. She squeaked in surprise and then giggled.

The elder hanyou eyed Kagome and Shippou with trepidation. Kagome smiled reassuringly.

“It’s alright,” she said as she shot a pointed glance at the younger hanyou’s necklace. “I think I know you mother.”

The older girl caught the look but her nod was hesitant. She climbed onto Kagome’s back. The pack made it awkward but the miko clasped her hands around the hanyou’s legs to secure her.

Shippou gave Kagome a questioning look but her eyes seemed to say ‘later.’ He shrugged.

As soon as Kagome was sure her passenger was stable she took off into the forest in a sprint, masking their scents. Shippou followed close behind.

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A vicious snarl sent the servants scurrying from the corridor outside the study of the Lord of the Western Lands.

Inside the room, Sesshomaru was seething. ‘The insolent fool dares?’ he growled to himself. His youki crackled around him as he stared at the crumpled parchment in his fist.

“Jaken,” his voice boomed.

A small lumpy toad-like youkai hurried down the hall towards his Lord’s call. The passing servants sent him pitying looks.

He slid open the shoji screen and fell to his knees on the floor. His Lord was obviously more than displeased.

“Y-yes, milord? This humble Jaken is here to serve you.”

“Have the guard around the citadel doubled. Allow no one in the proper.” Sesshomaru ordered as he swept passed his cowering retainer.

“Of course milord,” Jaken said raising his head, glad he was not the focus of his Lord’s ire, but of course he just had to push it. “A-are you traveling Lord Sesshomaru?”

Sesshomaru paused in the hallway shooting a frigid glare over his shoulder at the servant. Jaken instantly prostrated himself.

“Forgive me milord. This lowly servant has no right to question,” he stuttered out. Jaken busied himself counting the wooden slats in the floor directly beneath his nose, cursing himself for his curiosity, as he continued spewing apologies.

When he looked up Jaken let our a relieved breath to the empty hall and wiped his brow with his little hat.

“Oh, Lord Sesshomaru, why must you leave this faithful Jaken behind?”

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The demon Lord strode purposefully through the courtyard headed for his gates. He could see his General, Isamu, walking toward him from the corner of his eye. The Inu-youkai General’s long brown braid swung behind him as he hurried towards his Lord.

‘I have no desire to discuss matters now,’ Sesshomaru thought in an attempt to justify his haste. He almost smirked at his excuse. ‘Why bother? After so many years I know I am attached to the girl.’ He paused in his musings. ‘Girl? No woman, she was long ago grown.’

Sesshomaru knew he was doing exactly what his enemy expected. While the knowledge infuriated him, he could see no satisfactory way around it. He could get there faster than his soldiers. He could get there undetected, and once there, he could lay waste to all who defied him.

The demon Lord would take the threat seriously because it was a threat to one of the few things Sesshomaru held dear.

‘No one harms what is mine.’ He repressed his snarl.

“Lord Sesshomaru,” Isamu addressed him with a bow.

“General Isamu,” Sesshomaru acknowledged without breaking his stride.

“We received information from our scouts that the Southern army has breached the Eastern Land’s borders.”

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. ‘So it is part true, at least. Haruki, pray you protected your mate and children,’ he thought darkly.

“Our borders?” Sesshomaru questioned as the youkai fell into step behind him.

“Secure, my Lord. The South has made no move against us.”

“Think again Isamu,” Sesshomaru intoned in a deadpan voice as he handed his General the missive he had received minutes ago.

Isamu smoothed the parchment, his silver eyes widening as he read. “Impossible! The procession left only two days ago. They would have only just passed Edo.”

“Indeed.”

The General seemed to catch the direction of his Lord’s thoughts. “You believe he sent the message before the deed was carried out.”

Sesshomaru nodded once. ‘Coward,’ the daiyoukai thought as he attempted to hold his darker side in check. The beast inside him was howling for blood, demanding the slow painful death of the one who threatened his pack.

“Arrogant bastard,” Isamu muttered, venom lacing his words. “Could this be Naboru’s attempt to draw you out?”

Isamu turned to Sesshomaru as they reached the gates. He noted the crimson beginning to thread into his Lord’s eyes.

The daiyoukai raised his eyebrow at his General. “Undoubtedly. He is indeed foolish to anger this Sesshomaru.”

The General watched as with that parting comment his Lord transformed into his energy ball and zipped off over the castle wall.

“Very foolish,” Isamu agreed.

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AN:

Sessho: This Sesshomaru was only present for two pages.

Indigo: Jeez Sess. Do you have a page quota or something? Keep it up. You’re pissing me off.

Sessho: ::scoffs:: You are merely a lowly ningen authoress...you are not even paid for your trade.

Indigo: O.O ::eyes fill up with tears::

Kagome: That was harsh.

Inuyasha: ::nudges Kagome:: Watch...

Indigo: ::scary flames dancing around her as she stomps over to Sessho::

Kagome: ::whispers to Inuyasha:: What’s she doing?

Indigo: ::pulls out something black from her pocket, stands up on tip-toes and locks it around a stunned Sessho’s neck::

Inuyasha: Just watch..

Sessho: Wench! Remove this item from my person.

Indigo: ::smirks evilly:: Why Sessho, such language. ::pushes remote control::

::ZAP::

Sessho: ::YELP::

Indigo: Shock collars, the subjugation necklace for the 21st century.

Inuyasha: ::Laughs hysterically::

Preview!

Chapter 3: Truth and Memory

‘Whoever took Rin masked their scent as they left, but the children’s scent cannot be more than two days old. They were not kidnapped then.’ Sesshomaru’s mind was whirling.

‘They fled,’ he concluded. As he followed the two hanyous’ scents he could smell their fear increase. When the scent of their tears hit his nose he found himself dangerously close to loosing control of his beast for the second time in as many days.

‘The bastards hunted them down like animals.’ He cursed mentally.

Sesshomaru caught the unmistakably bite of holy powers as he neared the clearing ahead of him. He soared over the low brush ringing what looked to be an old camp and froze.

‘The miko?!’ His mind asked incredulously.