A Sister's Gift

Chapter 46 – The Ceremony Begins


Sesshomaru and Inuyasha walked out into the courtyard. This is where the ceremony was to take place. There were mats placed around for those of high importance, and a platform had been erected a good distance away from the spectator seating. It appeared that they were taking extra precautions to protect the Emperor and the jewel during the ceremony.

Sesshomaru held Rin’s hand, who stuck beside him like glue. She was still very untrusting of other’s and the courtyard was quickly becoming crowded with various officials and guards. He picked her up and held her on his side, which relaxed the child considerably.

Inuyasha drew up his nose as he looked around. There were guards everywhere. He figured that there would be, since the Emperor was to hand over the jewel personally. He looked to the platform, searching for Kikyo. He caught sight of her sitting next to Kagome. He also noticed Prince Hasun and his fucked up cousin sitting to the side of the platform all cozy underneath a small white tent. He noticed the prince looking at Kikyo and it made him growl. ‘That guy needs to get his own woman.’

Sesshomaru ignored Inuyasha’s irritable growling. The pup was ate up with jealousy over the princes interest in Kikyo. He supposed he would feel the same if placed in his shoes. That thought brought him to stare at Onigumo. For once the man was not focused on Kagome. He seemed to be taking a great deal of interest in his surroundings.

‘I find that a bit strange,’ Sesshomaru curiously thought. “Inuyasha, do you find the behavior of Lord Onigumo a bit strange today?”

Inuyasha was about to answer when they were interrupted by Tooru. “Konnichiwa, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha,” Tooru greeted. “Did you just ask if Onigumo were acting strangely?”

“I did.” Sesshomaru replied.

“I see nothing strange. He is simply looking about.” Tooru replied. Then he thought about what he just said. When had he seen the lord Onigumo just looking about? “On second thought, he is acting a bit strange.”

Inuyasha knew exactly what they meant. “I see it now. That hentai bastard hasn’t looked at Kagome or Kikyo once since he’s been sitting there. Looks like he’s more interested in the guards. Maybe the slime has given up on women and decided to take up chasing men?” He gave a hearty laugh at his own joke, but Sesshomaru found no humor in him. His half-brother ignored him completely, Tooru snickered a little.

Sesshomaru wanted to be closer to the front, and despite the close proximity to the many humans, he pressed forward until he could even smell his mate’s distinct scent. He could sense Inuyasha and Tooru behind him, as well. He kept his eyes open, looking for signs of danger. He watched the crowd around him carefully. Something just did not feel right.

Sesshomaru turned to Rin, and then to Tooru. “Tooru, I ask that you do this Sesshomaru a deed. I entrust my ward, Rin, into your hands. See that she is kept safe from harm, should something arise.” Rin made to protest, but Sesshomaru stopped her immediately. “Rin, this Sesshomaru will return for you. You will stay with Tooru. He is a friend. You may trust him.”

Rin looked shyly to Tooru, who gave the child his very best smile. Children loved him, and Rin, although hesitant at first, soon allowed the ookami to take her into his arms. He then looked back at Sesshomaru, who was busy scanning the crowd. “Do you really think something is amiss?”

Sesshomaru was quiet for a moment, but finally said, “Let us hope that I am wrong.”

Senshi was used to guards, being of such high standing to the Emperor, but the amount of guards here today was a bit un-nerving. She knew it was a necessary precaution, but it still made her feel uneasy. At least, she hoped that the guards were the reason she felt this way. She made her way to the platform where the ceremony was to take place. In her hands she carried the enchanted box, which held the Shikon No Tama.

Once the daisaiin was seated the Emperor, surrounded by four Imperial guardsmen, made his entrance, causing quite an uproar from the previously quiet crowd. Cheering voices drown out all other sound.

Sesshomaru tried to ignore the loud human’s, but the task was a bit hard to undertake. His sensitive ears just couldn’t take this sort of thing. A grimace slipped across his face and just then he noticed something else strange. A youkai female.

He had been here during the entire competition and had not noticed this particular demoness before. There really were not many youkai present during the competitions and most had already departed with their mistresses once they did not place in the final five. So who was this woman, and why did she seem to be finding an interest in himself and Inuyasha? Did she simply find them attractive? He could certainly understand her finding him attractive, but Inuyasha? No, that couldn’t be possible.

Inuyasha noticed Sesshomaru checking out some demon woman at the edge of the crowd. She was a real piece of work. She wore a fancy kimono and had her hair and face all fixed up. She even carried a matching fan. He snickered and leaned over to Sesshomaru. “You know, Sesshomaru, if Kagome catches you checking out that demoness, you will be minus two balls?”

Sesshomaru shot Inuyasha a disgusted look, but basically ignored him. He looked back to where the demoness was, but she was no longer there.

Inuyasha smelled food. ‘Damn I’m hungry. I wish they’d get on with this stupid thing so I can eat.’ He decided to press a little further toward the delightful aroma of roasting meat. Maybe he could swipe a strip without anyone becoming the wiser. Sesshomaru was ignoring him anyway, which was nothing unusual, so Inuyasha took off in the search for a bite to eat.

Senshi took the podium. She looked out into the crowd and smiled at all the familiar faces. She looked over her remaining miko’s and smiled warmly to them. “We have all come here today for a very special event. Today the Shikon No Tama will find a new and permanent home, but first I must announce my decision. This has been a very hard thing to do, as there have been so many gifted miko’s here. I would like to say that not one of them shall walk away today without honor. You all have fought well. However...” Senshi paused in her speech for just a moment. She thought she seen something odd. A ghostly child in white, but when she blinked the image was gone. She shook the image away and focused on her task at hand. “...However, not all of you can have the privilege of becoming the Shikon's protector.”

Senshi smiled at Kagome, and then Kikyo. “Kagome, Kikyo, I have decided that you both will become the protector’s of the Shikon No Tama.”

The crowd whispered and everyone looked confused with this announcement. Senshi ignored them all and motioned for the two young women to come forward. “I know this is rather unorthodox, but after watching you not only in battle, but also in private, I came to see something very important. You are both very powerful and capable, yes, but you each draw strength from the other, and I know that you will fight together to do the right thing. I know that there is no one that could be more suited to keep the jewel safe, than the two of you working together.”

Kagome and Kikyo were stunned. They could hardly believe what she was saying. Both of them were to protect the jewel? How could this work?

Senshi knew they were unsure of what to say. These two needed to be together. They needed each other. To have youkai mates, would mean a harsh life ahead for them, for many humans, as well as demons, harbored hatred for those who would mingle the two races. They would need each other to overcome the loneliness. At any rate, protecting the jewel was no easy task for a lone miko. Demon attack could occur at anytime, and one person could easily be worn down over time. It was also a lonely existence, as human and youkai alike craved the jewels power. This would be the best solution. The two of them would share the responsibility.

Inuyasha stopped briefly, as the announcement was made. ‘Well that was unexpected.’ He wondered what Kagome and Kikyo were thinking right now. They looked shocked, but held pride in their eyes and it made him smile a little at how beautiful they both were standing up there. He watched as the old daisaiin moved to the side as the Emperor made his way up. Ani appeared with a shiny black box. The daisaiin pulled out a small silver blade, which he figured would be the instrument used to draw the Emperor’s blood to release the protection spell on the box.

As the drop of blood was spilled, and the daisaiin opened the wooden box to reveal the iridescent shine of the Shikon No Tama, Sesshomaru felt it suddenly and with horrible strength. Pure evil. The black thickness of it became practically overwhelming, and he knew exactly where it was coming from.

Senshi held out the stone to the Emperor, who was to place it in the hands of Kagome and Kikyo, but before the transaction could take place, all hell broke loose.

Onigumo made his move. The Prince’s shocked face was struck hard with hanyou strength before he fell deftly to the ground. The guards around rushed forth, and he laughed wickedly as he sent his powerful tentacles bursting through their guts. The smell of fresh human blood drove him into a frenzy as he made his way to his prize.

Kagome and Kikyo turned automatically to the crowd because someone released a blood-curdling scream. Before they could turn back around Naraku had made his appearance and was headed toward the Emperor. It happened so fast, and both women stared in horror as the man they once new as Lord Onigumo, became some sort of horrible beast. After the initial shock, they both reached for their weapons, but by then the creature had the Emperor in his grasp. One tentacle held the Imperial ruler inches above the platform as the hands of the attacking demon drew out a sword. One thing became painfully clear to all. This thing meant to kill the Emperor!

Before the miko’s could even get into position, a blur of white flashed over the platform, and with two frightfully accurate and powerful swings of Tokijin, Sesshomaru had sliced clean through the arm wielding the sword as well as the tentacle wrapped around the Emperor’s waist. He then flung the human clear, but during this lightning fast event, the jewel had become dislodged and Naraku wasted no time relieving them all of it.

Inuyasha was getting close to that roasting pig, but then he heard someone scream. He began to race back, but suddenly found his path being blocked by the youkai bitch that Sesshomaru was checking out earlier. She was up to no good. He smirked at her and cracked his knuckles. ‘So she wants to play?’ “Hey bitch, if your looking for a good time, you’re definitely looking in the wrong place.”

Kagura sent the hanyou a huge fake smile. “That would depend on your definition of a good time, hanyou.” She flipped out her fan. “You may call me Kagura. I am a wind sorceress, and a good time for me will be introducing you to my DANCE OF BLADES!”

Inuyasha barely missed the deadly razor blasts coming at him. ‘Damn this bitch is gonna be a tough one!’ He made a leap for her but she was too fast and managed to miss his claws. That did not phase him, however as he landed on his feet and flipped for her again with one calculated push. She sent another wave of blades at him, which grazed his shoulder, but he was none the worse for wear. He swiftly turned right as he ran his hand over the wound gathering the warm blood onto his fingers. “BLADES OF BLOOD!” Inuyasha screamed as he sent dozens of piercing bloody needles towards his target.

“Damn you hanyou!” Kagura hissed as one of his needles pierced her flesh. She would have his life for that! “DANCE OF BLADES!”

The Emperor was removed to safety by a dozen armed guards, and Sesshomaru turned to see that the thing known as Onigumo had taken possession of the jewel. He looked to Kagome and Kikyo, who had a strange look on their faces. He started to attack the evil hanyou once more, but something stopped him. Something was happening between the two women, and he felt strongly that he should not interfere.

Sesshomaru then became aware of another player in this game, a demon child had stepped out, then he soon caught sight of dozens of lesser youkai as they descended on the guards. The Imperial guards were doing well in the battle, and Sesshomaru hacked a few of the demons who dared to come near him.

Senshi was about to assist the two miko’s against the awful creature who took the jewel, when she caught sight of the ghost child again. She felt a terrible foreboding deep inside herself, and knew that this demon child was filled with an awful evil power. Senshi took up her battle stance and prepared to cast the child of darkness into the pits of hell.

Sesshomaru caught the scent of Inuyasha’s blood on the air. He was torn between ensuring his mate was kept safe, and assisting his half-brother, who obviously was in need. One look at Kagome helped him to make that decision.

Inuyasha was beginning to tire. The wind bitch had sent wave after wave of her blades, and he was doing well just to stay alive, much less strike her down. He had made three connecting hits, but none of them were life threatening. Now was one of those times he wished that he had a sword!

Sesshomaru spotted Inuyasha battling the demoness he noticed earlier. She was giving the hanyou quite a fight with that fan of hers. It appeared that she could control the winds, and Inuyasha was losing this battle. He jumped into the fray saying, “Little brother, if you wanted her for yourself, you should have said so.”

Inuyasha snarled as he dodged another attach from Kagura. “Hey, you saw her first! Who am I to stand in the great Sesshomaru’s way?!”

Sesshomaru began his assault and after taking a blast from Tokijin, the wind witch was beginning to lose speed. Inuyasha took over from there and screamed “IRON REAVER – SOUL STEALER!” His attack hit its mark and Kagura fell to her knees gripping the wound across her stomach. Sesshomaru stepped up to finish her off, but the sly woman pulled a feather from her hair. The gust of wind following, surrounded the wench, and the now giant feather took her up high into the sky.

Senshi sent her miko arrow flying to the ghost child, who strangely held up a mirror in defense. Senshi’s eyes narrowed as the demon child made no move to avoid her purifying arrow. With the speed of light, the arrow came back to her and before Senshi could register what had occurred, she felt the piercing pain of her own arrow as it split her wrinkled skin and entered her heart. One thought played in her mind as darkness took the old daisaiin; ‘I hope I have chosen well.’

Kagome held Kikyo’s hand tightly as they faced this mutual enemy. His inhuman face was twisted in sick pleasure as he stared at the jewel in his hands. He looked up, finally acknowledging the two miko’s before him. “Ah, the lovely miko’s Kikyo and Kagome. Did I tell you how ravishing you are today, my dear Kagome?”

Kagome was disgusted. How dare this filth speak to her in such a manner! “Onigumo, you would do well to offer up your prayers, because today you die!”

The creature before her only laughed in response. He held up the jewel in his hands, which no longer contained the former sparkling iridescence. The once pure jewel was rapidly becoming tainted with this monster’s evil.

“Please, my lovely one, call me Naraku. Onigumo’s body has been very useful, but this Naraku has evolved beyond anything that useless human could ever comprehend!”

Kagome watched in horror as dozens of appendages began to spring forth from beneath Naraku. She looked to Kikyo, who nodded her head. They knew what they had to do.