Inside a Spiral
“Inuyasha!” Kagome squirmed in the youkai’s arm as Inuyasha tries desperately to catch on while dodging the youkai’s attack at the same time. The other side of the portal now seems familiar for the hanyou. They’re moving in a wide tunnel with rock walls, similar to the one he and Miroku stumbled into a few moments ago. And just like before, there aren’t any youkai around. This is perfect for Inuyasha, for he needs to focus all of his attention on chasing Kagome’s kidnapper.

“You bastard, give back Kagome!” Inuyasha yelled while making sharp turn. He kicked on the tunnel walls to propel himself forward a little. “I’ll slice you into pieces if you don’t stop running now!”

The big, ugly-looking youkai heard Inuyasha’s threats. But he only turned his head to grin at the hanyou and ran even faster. The tunnel doesn’t seem to have an ending. But Inuyasha can feel that they’re traveling down in a spiral. A mix of different smells is reaching his nose, making him a little nauseous. It’s obvious that a large group of youkai is near, and as they go down the spiral more and more, the smell comes stronger, and now some noises as well. Inuyasha’s senses are being pushed into overdrive.

“Damn it, where are you leading me to?!” Inuyasha increased his speed as well to match the youkai in front of him. And all the while he did not forget to curse out to his heart’s content.

“Inuyasha, hurry!” Kagome tried to push away the youkai’s arms, which are tightly surrounding her small body. Finally, she pushed out all the gross thoughts in her mind and took a big bite into the youkai’s arm.

But the attempt seemed pointless, for the youkai’s skin is impossible to penetrate, and he didn’t seem to feel it at all.

Next Kagome rolled up her left sleeve a little and took out a lollipop from the inside of that sleeve that she stashed away for Shippo. Kagome squirmed a little bit more, when she’s finally in position, she jammed the lollipop stick straight into one of the youkai’s many eyes.

The youkai howled in pain and stopped in his tracks. He threw down Kagome angrily and heavily, causing her to almost faint from the impact. The youkai continued to howl. He covered his eye with his one of his hands, and the other one waved around angrily in search of Kagome. His feet stomping at the same time, and before Inuyasha came and dragged Kagome away, he almost stomped the miko into a pancake.

“Kagome, are you alright?” Inuyasha held her tightly, deeply concerned about her. About ten feet away the youkai still howled in anguish.

Kagome gave him a big smile of reassurance. “I’m okay, although Shippo-chan will be missing a lollipop.”

“That brat can have more when I get you back safely.” Inuyasha set her down gently and swung his Tessaiga into “slaughter-mode”.

“I don’t think this bastard will be any less stubborn than the other one.” He smirked evilly, “and his howling is really getting on my nerves.” Inuyasha looked back at Kagome as though asking for permission.

Kagome smirked too. “Why not?” She nodded.

Without any more hesitation, Inuyasha swung his sword and cut the youkai in half. The tunnel went quiet instantly.

Inuyasha looked back again in triumph. “That bastard was lucky I didn’t use my ‘kaze no kizu’.”

Kagome giggled. “Yea, and so are we.” Before Inuyasha can detect her other meaning, she changed the subject. “So how are we going to get back, Inuyasha?”

“Eh…” Inuyasha scratched his head with his left hand, while his right swung the Tessaiga lightly over his shoulder. “Well, the portal is closed. So unless we find whoever was responsible for the portal, I’m not sure how to get out of here.”

Kagome sorted her skirt out. “Then let’s go find whoever was responsible for that portal. Lead the way, Inuyasha.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Creepy place.” Haruko commented as they set foot into the world on the other side of the portal. She climbed down from Kirara and stared off to their surroundings.

It’s not really creepy at first look. They landed in front of a large cave opening. It’s foggy all around them, so they couldn’t really see anything. It appears they’re in a really high altitude, because Haruko feels her breathing is becoming a little hard. The only way to take is to go inside the cave. But it’s the jaki around the cave that makes the humans shiver.

“Hmm…it’s a little different than the place where Inuyasha and I landed. Should we go in?” Miroku looked to Sesshomaru for instructions.

Without a word, Sesshomaru took a step into the cave. There was no guard, not even some plants to camouflage the cave opening. It’s like whoever resided in it didn’t care about strangers intruding his/her space.

“O…kay, let’s follow.” Miroku hesitantly signaled Haruko and Kirara to follow him. He still doesn’t trust Sesshomaru. It just seems too convenient for the youkai to appear at the same time they’re in trouble.

As they entered the cave, Miroku’s memory came back to him. “Now I remember. This was a tunnel, a large one in fact. Inuyasha and I ended up in a tunnel like this one. It was weird, we seemed like we were walking in circles.”

“It’s a spiral.” Sesshomaru’s speed was impossible for them to keep up. He was also incredibly calm, like he’s been in there before.

“A spiral?” Haruko found herself asking out loud despite that she promised herself no to speak with the youkai.

“We’re inside the largest mountain in the Western Lands. This tunnel is a spiral that goes down to the bottom of the mountain.” Jaken answered instead. “The only opening is the one we came through, and it was on the top of the mountain. The only other way to get in is by portals.” Then he looked up at his master, as if looking for praise. “Is that right, Sesshomaru-sama?”

Surprisingly, Sesshomaru actually replied with a nod this time instead of ignoring the toad. This almost caused Jaken to have an emotional breakdown.

“He’s a suck up, isn’t he?” Haruko whispered to Miroku, causing the Houshi to smirk.

Sesshomaru heard the comment with his super sensitive youkai ears, and without realizing it, he smirked as well. “Perspective, aren’t you.” He commented out loud.

Haruko looked at him in surprise. “Huh?”

Sesshomaru became quiet once again.

“Is he always this rude?” Haruko asked Miroku once again, in the lowest voice she can muster.

Once again Miroku smirked.

“Guess it runs in the family.” Haruko answered her own question, trying to keep herself out of the boredom as they walked down the spiraling tunnel.

Sesshomaru smirked again. “It’s from our father’s side.” He commented again out loud.

Jaken stared at his master, thinking that Sesshomaru has gone crazy, talking to himself like that. Haruko finally caught on and realized he can hear her. She turned her head sideways and tried to hide her blush.

On seeing how uncomfortable Haruko is, Miroku decided to change the subject. “Why aren’t there any guards, or patrolling youkai?”

“They feel as though they have no need for security.” Sesshomaru answered this time. “Only bored youkai wonder around in this tunnel. Most of them just use portals to enter and exit this place.”

“You seem to know a lot about this place.” Haruko just blurted out the question Miroku has been wanting to ask ever since Sesshomaru offered his help. Miroku’s ears shook a little, anticipating the answer.

“Yes, I do.” However Sesshomaru’s reply is as clear as mud.

“Just why do you know so much about this place.” Miroku is finally unable to hold in his curiosity anymore.

Sesshomaru froze in place and turned his head to give Miroku one of his “deadly stares”. Kirara growled protectively, showing her teeth at the same time. Miroku patted her on the head to calm her down.

“I think we deserve to know, Sesshomaru.” Miroku’s expression turned serious. “You’ve never been so generous before, I’m sure it’s not just about Rin’s birthday present.”

Sesshomaru stared at the Houshi for some time. But his look was no longer deadly. Jaken is silent this time.

After a long time, Sesshomaru finally turned around and started walking again. “This place used to be where influential youkai families meet.”

Small gasps came out of Miroku’s and Haruko’s mouths. Sesshomaru grinned silently to their reaction.

“This place has very high security. Unskilled youkai and normal humans cannot come in here, so there was never any use for guards. About once a year, youkai families would gather in the pit of this mountain, the end of the spiral tunnel, and share their most splendorous food. Male youkai compare their stories of battles, while the female bring their children for… fun.” Sesshomaru’s voice suddenly turned different.

“When my mother died, and Inuyasha’s mother became the new bride, father faced silent criticism and protests from his subjects. After Inuyasha was born, his human mother brought him into one of these meets. I came too. Inuyasha was made fun of by the other youkai children, ignored by the adults.”

“And you stood there and watched.” Sesshomaru turned at the voice. Haruko is just about to go up in flames, her body shook. “He was your half-brother, but you watched him getting teased and made fun of.” Memories of her father’s death flashed in front of her. Her father was ambushed by dozens of youkai while he was out gathering fruit for the village festival. He was gone for an entire afternoon. When her mother Hanako finally decided to find him, his corpse was hung on a branch of her favorite oak tree, right near the village pond. “It’s youkai like you that make me sick to my stomach!” Haruko yelled angrily.

Without any more consideration, she took out an arrow, and took aim at Sesshomaru. Before she can shoot, Sesshomaru somehow appeared in front of her bow and grabbed her arrow. Her miko powers attacked his youkai youki. Sesshomaru’s right hand started to sizzle.

“Your arrow will not damage me easily.” Sesshomaru snapped the arrow in half with his little finger. “Besides, if you kill me, you’ll never get back your friends.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Haruko is more angered now than ever. She quickly took out another arrow and jammed it toward Sesshomaru’s heart.

“Wait!” Miroku jumped in the way and pushed Haruko down. The arrow went off and scratched Sesshomaru’s kimono and cut off his left sleeve.

And that’s all there was, an empty sleeve.

“What the?” Haruko exclaimed as Miroku pushed her down on the ground. Her thought wasn’t on the Houshi, who is currently on top of her. Her eyes fell on Sesshomaru’s ripped kimono, and his missing left arm.

Miroku got off of her quickly and looked up at Sesshomaru. The youkai stared at Haruko with an icy stare, while Jaken angrily stuttered by the side.

Miroku helped Haruko get up; everyone’s attention fell on Sesshomaru. His eyes did not move away from Haruko, and she did not take her eyes off of his. A hint of regret surfaced her eyes.

They all stayed still for a long time, only Jaken mumbled on, cursing at Haruko. He then went to pick up the ripped sleeve to return to his master. “Sesshomaru-sama… your…”

Sesshomaru ignored the toad and continued with his story as though nothing happened. “This is also where my father’s subjects presented their annual gifts. These gifts are hidden inside this mountain, after all those years of my father’s reign, this mountain is like a treasure chest.”

He turned once again to walk. Jaken followed, still holding Sesshomaru’s sleeve. Haruko and Miroku looked at each other and followed as well.

“After father died and Inuyasha left in pursuit of the Shikon no Tama, I took over my father’s place as the Lord of the Western Lands and the treasures here…”

“What?!” Haruko’s face almost became distorted. “You… you’re the Lord of the Western Lands? That means, your father was…”

“A dai-inuyoukai that ruled the Western Lands for over three centuries.” Sesshomaru cut in. “You know my father?” He knew there was no way a young human girl like her would know his father personally, but her tone intrigued his curiosity.

Haruko blushed again. “I heard about the great Lord from my father. He was one of the two only youkai lords who wished peace between youkai and humans.” She paused for a few moments before continuing. “My grandfather knew him, personally.”

“Is that so?” Sesshomaru is now definitely interested. But his expression remained cool and unnerved. “And who was your grandfather?”

Haruko looked straight into Sesshomaru’s eyes. I’m a human, he’s a youkai, but my blood lineage is just as significant. And so she replied with dignity. “The great white tiger youkai, Lord of the Northern Lands.”

Everyone stopped walking and stared at Haruko in astonishment.

“Haruko-sama… you…can’t be…serious.” Miroku is shocked at this new discovery. He made a mental note to ask questions after they get out of this place.

Haruko ignored the Houshi and kept on looking at Sesshomaru. She was never very proud of her youkai lineage, but this time, it’s important that she says it out loud.

Jaken’s expression is almost too precious to describe. His toad eyes are opened to a point that it couldn’t be any wider. His mouth is wide open too, you can shove a tree into it and he wouldn’t notice. “You? A human girl? Can’t be!”

“Then your father is Sendou, son of the tiger lord, and his human concubine.” Sesshomaru’s voice remained as calm as his expression. But inside, he’s impressed by the girl’s lineage. Daughter of a miko and granddaughter of a daiyoukai… I need to be careful around her. “Wasn’t your father killed by hanyou hunters? Hung, as I recall, on an oak tree he planted for his miko wife.” Sesshomaru said those words ruthlessly; he wanted to test the girl.

“Haruko-sama… is that true?” Miroku is overwhelmed by the story.

Haruko’s stomach churned at the memory. “Those killers were from my father’s clan. Grandfather had already died; my father’s half-brother inherited the throne, and sent killers to ‘eliminate’ my father.” Haruko gritted her teeth, it was nearly impossible for her to hold back the tears. “I bet you’ve tried to kill Inuyasha several times, you monster.” Her last words were whispered rather than yelled, but they had the same effect.

Sesshomaru is finally stunned, and he did not have a reply for her. It was pointless to lie. He had tried to kill Inuyasha many times. Everyone was silent. Finally Sesshomaru started to walk once again.

“Our conversation is not over!” Haruko yelled after him. She ran toward Sesshomaru and grabbed his right arm. No other human except for Rin has ever touched him and lived, this, Miroku was sure of.

The Houshi panicked and ran to pull Haruko away. Before Haruko can protest, he lifted her up and settled her on Kirara. Then he turned to Sesshomaru. “Let’s move, we’re wasting time here.” Miroku’s eyes are determined, sending out a signal that says “if you hurt her, I’ll fight you to the end”. His left hand also rested on the beads encircled his right hand, as a warning.

Sesshomaru looked away and started to float instead of walk. Miroku made sure there was a certain distance between them and went to ride on Kirara as well. Because of the tunnel’s large space, Kirara was able to fly freely. Jaken called for them to wait, but he tripped and no longer had his master in his sights.

“You still haven’t told us why you wanted to help.” Miroku needed not to yell. Despite the distance, he knew Sesshomaru could hear him perfectly well.

Haruko didn’t talk, instead she sat sternly on Kirara, arms crossed, staring at Sesshomaru and thinking up ways to kill him after they return with Inuyasha and Kagome.

“After I took over as Lord, I haven’t tended to the ‘business’ like my father used to do.” Sure enough, Sesshomaru heard him and replied using a loud voice. “A lot of my father’s subjects rebelled while I was out looking for my father’s grave and the Tessaiga. They took over this mountain and the treasures inside. At first it was only the greedy youkai, and I let them have the treasures. But then they gathered more and more youkai. Sooner of later, they’ll search for me…”

“And overthrow you?”

Sesshomaru nodded.

“I see, so that’s why you wanted to help us.”

“It was convenient.” Sesshomaru said it like it was a matter of fact.

Miroku’s eyebrows knitted together. “But why are they gathering miko? First Kaede-sama, now Kagome-sama. I bet there are many more miko I this place.”

“They need power in order to kill me. First they sought after the Shikon kakeru, but as the shards are being collected by you and your companions, and that bastard Naraku, they need a different source of power.” Sesshomaru’s voice changed when he said “Naraku”. His memories of Naraku kidnapping Rin, and their fight still anger him.

The word “Naraku” caught Haruko’s attention. It’s that name again. What does it mean?

Miroku caught on, his heart skipped a beat. “You mean…they feast on miko to gather power?!?” It seemed too impossible.

Sesshomaru didn’t answer straight away. He heard the almost incoherent gasp from Haruko.

“Yes.” He finally answered. “And if we don’t get there soon. Your friends will be devoured. And…” He paused once again. “I doubt they’ll let Inuyasha live. After all… he is still the son of my father.”

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