Fandom The Hanyo & The Miko

[BaikynTakyr]

Miroku laughed. As irritable as Jaken could be, the little imp made for a surprisingly good caretaker.

Beaming once more at the twins as they played with the chagrined Shippo and Jaken, the monk went away to collect his staff and other spiritual effects from their hut.

Sesshomaru's golden eyes pierced the forest, as though his gaze might reveal something unseen dwelling amongst the tall grass and canopying trees. Hearing Rin approach, he turned to face her, his countenance unreadable.

"I will have to cut this visit short," he said, gently. It was unfortunate, but he wanted to assess whatever treacherous presence had lurked deep in the forest himself rather than leave this to the likes of his younger brother and the monk (nor would he in a million years openly seek to accompany them).

"I shall return tomorrow." And he would visit more often, should this mystery persist. Sesshomaru's presence within the village would, in theory, ensure that this demon never dared disturb it.

---

Groaning, Inuyasha began to stir. The night had passed and the new moon with it, allowing his demonic physical traits to once again resurface.

He shook his head, shaking off the remaining drowsiness.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Sango nodded once to her appointed caretakers, already headed down the path with her husband to their hut while her baby continued to wail. "Almost there, Hisui. I promise." She finally reached her home, pulled back the cloth her family used as a door and stepped inside. The demon slayer could only do so much not to cry when she finally freed her son from the cloth on her back. Had he been born only a few years ago and Miroku had perished defeating Naraku, little Hisui might have inherited the dreaded Wind Tunnel. "There..." She murmured once Hisui found his food. Miroku...be careful. What was she to tell her children if their father was killed by this strange demon Sesshomaru mentioned?

If looks could kill, Rin could decimate a whole army. Sesshomaru was always gone now. "I understand." This was true. Rin understood there was danger nearby, but why was Sesshomaru always putting himself in danger? What if he couldn't defeat this thing?! No...this was Lord Sesshomaru! Rin couldn't think like that! Of course Sesshomaru would return to her! "Please, I know you can handle yourself, but I want you to promise me you'll be careful. You still haven't held up your end of the deal with Lady Kaede. And I refuse to let you back out of it." The woman moved to stand just mere inches from him. "Promise me and then I'll allow you to leave." The woman was bold enough to grab Sesshomaru's hand. "Or take me with you. I don't care."

"Inuyasha?" The miko pulled back her own fabric made door and crept into her home in case her husband was still asleep. "It's not like you to sleep in so late, even after you've changed." Kagome would have gotten down on the floor, but their child made that almost impossible without assistance. "Inuyasha, come on. Miroku needs your help with a demon Rin and I heard outside the village." Kagome grinned when her husband began to stir. "Good. You're awake. If you hurry, you might make it in time to beat Sesshomaru to this new demon. From what he's telling us, it's more powerful than Naraku..." Here, her demeanor changed, "which means, I need you to be extra careful. Please." Human eyes met hanyo eyes for the first time that day. "We need you, Inuyasha."

 

[BaikynTakyr]

As he entered through the cloth leading into their humble little home, the monk's shoulders sagged. For a moment, the weight of Sesshomaru and Kagome's concerns weighed on him. A demon with an aura greater than Naraku's? After nearly four years of peace, it was almost unthinkable.

Miroku had been a different man when last he faced their old foe. His hand had been cursed with a churning void; he'd been the last of his lineage, with no other relatives and little to lose if the wind tunnel swallowed him whole. Now? He had Sango. Kin'u and Gyokuto. Hisui, their newborn. Everything he'd ever wanted. If this demon was as dangerous as they were being lead to believe, all of that hung in the balance.

Miroku took a deep, slow breath, bracing himself. In spite of his growing worries, a small smile spread across his lips as he peered over at Sango and their youngest. Paying a potential threat no heed could prove far worse than undertaking a simple investigation. There wasn't a single risk he wouldn't be willing to take for them.

Taking up his staff, Miroku placed a chaste kiss against Sango's cheek. "We'll be back soon," he promised, before leaving the hut.

---

Sesshomaru could plainly see the emotions simmering within Rin. Unlike him, she wore her heart on her sleeve and was not afraid to act on it. It was a quality he'd grown surprisingly fond of. It pained him to leave so soon. There were many things for him to preside over even without new demonic presence, and his visits were growing shorter and shorter each time.

Sesshomaru knelt to her eye level, giving her hand a light squeeze. No matter what came up or stood in his way, he would always return. Ensuring Rin's continued well being greatly surpassed the importance of his other affairs. "You have my word, Rin. Remain here in the meantime."

Rising to full height, Sesshomaru slowly began to ascend into the air, his fur billowing as though a current of wind was carrying him away. Though his face betrayed no such feeling, he felt a pang of sadness seeing Rin grow further and further into the distance as he departed. Part of him yearned for times past, when she accompanied him nearly everywhere. Alas, this arrangement with Kaede was what was best.

He couldn't help but selfishly hope, however, that when the time came, Rin would choose to stay with him once more.

---

Inuyasha's eyes fluttered open, confusion setting in. A demon outside the village? Sesshomaru? He'd just woken up, what the heck was going on?

The news that this new demon could surpass even Naraku in strength hit him like a stone. The hanyou shot to his feet, previous drowsiness all but forgotten.

"You heard it? What were you and Rin doing outside the village?!" Inuyasha started, exasperation already flaring within him. His irritation was stifled, however, as his wife took on a more somber air. She was as worried for him as he was for her.

"Hey, you know I ain't goin' no where." He took Kagome's hands in his. "Whatever's out there's not gonna keep me from either of you. Quit worryin', I'll be fine."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Even with her husband's reassurance, Sango couldn't help the atrocious feeling in her gut. A new threat to her family? Her whole family? And she was just supposed to stand by and do nothing?!? Feeling Hisui retract his lips from her skin, Sango covered herself again, only this time with one hand. "Well, I'm glad you're happy." If only Kohaku was here. If he was, perhaps Sango would feel much better about the situation. "Papa!" Kin'u spotted her father leaving their home and dropped the floral crown she was making for Jaken. Gyokuto tried to follow after him, only to be stopped by her mother's voice. "Don't even think about it, you two! You're too young!" Gyokuto pointed to the sky after this. "So why does Uncle Kohaku get to go?"

Kohaku, who had initially traveled from far off in the east to aid his family and friends in preparation for their newest member, halted mid-air, observing the great dog demon fly ahead of him. It's the first week of spring. he remembered. Sesshomaru always visited Rin around this time. Averting his gaze downward, the demon slayer noticed a young woman with wild hair watching Sesshomaru depart. "Rin..." To go with Sesshomaru or stay and protect the family. That was a hard call, but Sango was worth it. "Alright, Kirara. I guess we're staying with Sango." He had the nekomata descend just at the edge of the village. Rin was brought out of her stupor by the sudden arrival. "Kohaku..."

"You have to say that." Kagome stated with a shake of her head. "You're just saying that so I don't go out there and make sure you come home." Her hands found each side of Inuyasha's face. "I just want you to know, the second this baby is born, I'm going to be out there fighting just as hard as you do." The miko brought their lips together for the first time that day. When the kiss broke, Kagome pressed her forehead to his. "This sucks. I hope you know the second you leave, he's gonna go crazy." The young mother was so sure this child was a beautiful boy. "I'm not gonna be able to take it easy, Inuyasha. I know you're not planning to fight, but it could happen. Just...stick with Miroku, okay?"

 

[BaikynTakyr]

"Kagome," breathed Inuyasha, his face grave. It didn't matter what he said, he knew no amount of words would give his beloved any sort of lasting comfort, not with what could be at stake. He met her lovely brown eyes, arms encircling her as he allowed the moment to lapse into a pregnant silence.

"I will. We'll look out for each other," said the half demon, referring to the monk whom was already waiting by the edge of the village. He glanced down at her belly, smiling slightly at it. Their child was in there. There wasn't a thing in this world that would keep him from being there to see it enter it.

"I'll see both of you real soon."

---

Minutes later, Inuyasha and Miroku had set off into the forest, trodding along the same dirt path that Sesshomaru, Rin, Kagome, and Jaken had emerged from earlier. Initially, the the forest had been quite normal. Birds chirped about, critters rustled through the overgrowth and across the path, and gentle winds ruffled through. They didn't talk much as they pressed on, the hanyou keeping his nose high, checking for any unfamiliar scents that might've lingered.

This idyllic walk through the forest didn't last long, however. Nothing major occurred to undercut the peaceful scenery, but the atmosphere shifted as they continued on. The birds had all but stopped singing from their perches among the trees. No critter strayed around them. No sound permeated the area save for the dirt crunching beneath their feet.

"I don't like this," Miroku murmured, frowning. "There doesn't appear to be much of any life around here anymore."

"It's like they've all been scared off," Inuyasha responded, looking around warily.

One unspoken but confusing fact hung between them, however. There wasn't a demonic aura. It wasn't weak or subdued, but nonexistent. Whatever Sesshomaru had detected earlier had either fled or completely masked its aura. The latter seemed unlikely, however. Even Naraku had needed a relic to accomplish that.

A thought arose in the monk's mind.

"I figured Sesshomaru would be join us. I thought I saw him flying off this way."

Inuyasha scoffed. "Like he'd tag along. He's probably way ahead already, floating around somewhere."

Miroku shrugged. Chances were they'd run into the older dog demon, soon enough.

---

The trio didn't return for a few hours. By now the day was going strong, the village bustling with work. The noonday sun blazed down upon them.

Miroku came surging out of the forest. Dirt and soil caked his tattered robes. An old scar like a precise slash ran across his face. His hair was long, wild, and dirty, as though it'd been left untouched for months.

No one came out from the trees after him.

He slowed to a limping gait as he entered the village, a hand clutching his side.

"SANGO! KAGOME!" he cried out in a hoarse voice. All around villagers stopped to look upon the disheveled monk. Miroku collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed with exhaustion. Despite it, his weary eyes were wide with desperation, gaze flitting around wildly as he searched for some sign of his family.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The women were looking after the children when Miroku's voice caught Sango's attention immediately. "Miroku?" She quickly handed her son to his uncle and got to her feet. Something about her husband's calling out to her wasn't right. "Kagome, did you hear that?" The miko too got to her feet. "Kohaku, protect the kids. Something isn't right." She grabbed her bow quickly, Sango grabbing Hiraikotsu and dashed outside. "Kohaku, watch the kids!" His sister commanded. The younger demon slayer looked down at the little wiggly bundle in his arms as nervously as if he were holding dynamite. "Hey!" "Rin will help!" The wives called back to him, Sango making a mad dash for her wounded husband. When she saw them, however, she knew something was wrong. "Miroku..." For the first time in many moons, the woman felt helpless. Her husband was wounded...and Inuyasha was missing! "Miroku, what happened?! Are you alright?! Where's Inuyasha?!" Question after question kept firing off of her tongue while Miroku was still in a tremendous amount of pain. "Kagome, calm down! You're pregnant." Sango finally helped Miroku into their home, knowing full well that she couldn't take him into their home because of the children. "Miroku, what happened?" Sango echoed once the four of them, including Kagome's baby, were safely inside. She watched Kagome get to work tending to Miroku's wounds, trying to keep her voice down. "Where are Sesshomaru and Inuyasha?"

 

[BaikynTakyr]

It was a wonder Miroku was even still conscious. A network of cuts and scars marred his torso, many having never properly healed. Dark circles ran beneath bloodshot eyes. His throat was dry and aching after calling out to them, he could hardly say a word more.

He couldn't believe he was home. Sango was actually here, before him. His children were off in their hut. It was better that way. He couldn't imagine coming back to them in this state.

The monk could hardly imagine else at all, really. He kept getting flashes of that place. Of twisting, hellish landscapes. Of nights so black that the darkness seemed tangible. Of creeping shadows and gnarled faces. Of phantasms masquerading as loved ones and friends.

Miroku released a breath, head spinning. He did his best to quiet his mind, focusing on the one truth that now reigned above all others. He was home.

But Sesshomaru and Inuyasha weren't.

Miroku grimaced, recalling what had just transpired back to mind. "They're... trapped," he rasped. "-in its realm. We were there for..." he paused. Had it been weeks? Months? There had been no way to tell just how much time had passed in there. Whatever it had been, it'd been too long. After a while, Inuyasha had feared that he'd missed the birth of his child.

Yet, Kagome appeared to be as pregnant as the day they'd left. In fact, from the looks of things, not much had changed at all out here.

"How long were we gone?" Miroku asked, unaware that only a few hours had passed in the real world.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Kagome's heart may as well have been run through with a blade. Inuyasha was...trapped? A half demon and his full demon brother were trapped somewhere and Kagome didn't know where?! "It's only been a few hours." The miko couldn't help the tears that poured from her cheeks. Being so close to birth and without the father of her child was indeed difficult, agonizing even. It was then that the old priestess, Kikyo's sister Kaede entered the hut, observed the situation and spoke up. "Ye will need to hurry if ye wish to save Inuyasha. I sensed a barrier has been erected in the forest." Knowing Kaede was correct, Kagome had a decision to make. Go and fight, risking the life of her child, or stay here and risk the life of her beloved Inuyasha. "Sango, I understand if you want to stay with Miroku. I can take Kohaku instead." Sango, now holding Miroku's hand to her cheek, winced at the thought of her brother possibly dying during this encounter. The woman agreed reluctantly. Someone had to watch Kagome's back. "Yes, take Kohaku with you. But be careful. If he dies, he doesn't get another chance." Kikyo had seen to that. Bearing that in mind, Kagome allowed Kaede to take over nursing Miroku back to health. "In all my years, I haven't heard of such a place. Monk, are ye sure of what ye saw?" Kagome didn't hear Miroku's response; she was already coordinating with Kohaku, filling him in on Miroku's news. "We'll take Kirara. Bring every weapon you have. Kaede says there's a barrier." Kohaku nodded once while handing off Hisui to Rin. Both she and Jaken were absolutely distraught, also finding it hard to believe a demon as powerful as Sesshomaru would be taken down so easily.

 

[BaikynTakyr]

Miroku winced slightly as his wounds were looked after, but otherwise steadied himself. The news that a barrier had been sprung in the forest saw the monk attempt to stand in spite of his physical suffering. However, his muscles, his joints, every bit of him begged for rest, and the monk had barely risen an inch before giving up. As much as it pained him, he would be doing no more fighting today. The fiend that lorded over that realm had all but left Miroku on death's doorstep.

"Without a doubt," he responded to Kaede, looking grim. "That demon lured us there. We spent a long time trying to find a way out, but everything kept changing. Again and again. Somedays, it was just an empty void. On others, a withered version of this region, or a fiery landscape. Once, it even-" Miroku paused, heart racing. He slid a hand into Sango's, giving it a weak squeeze, assuring himself that this was all real. "-it made me think I was home. It separated us, but lead me to believe I'd escaped."

Miroku exhaled. He explained how he'd been among illusions of them all. He continued on by telling them of how Sesshomaru had found him, dispelling the apparitions of Miroku's loved ones to reveal that they were still trapped in the illusory realm.

"Somehow, Sesshomaru grew wise to the entity's tricks. He'd managed to find its true self, and dealt it a devastating blow. That diminished its control over the realm long enough for a gateway out of it to reappear. Sesshomaru cast me through the gateway, but didn't come through with me. I believe he stayed to find Inuyasha."

At this point, Miroku looked over at Kagome, watching her and Kohaku plan out their next move. He couldn't imagine the distress she was already in. He measured his next words very carefully.

"Kagome... when the two of you make it past that barrier, be careful. You must also be wary of Inuyasha. He was separated from tetsusaiga, for too long. And whatever anguish that demon exposed him to... Inuyasha was overtaken by his demonic half."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"His demonic half?" Kagome echoed her friend, fear stabbing her in the gut as they stepped back out into the bright sunlight. How was Kagome supposed to get close enough to Inuyasha while in that state? "We'll have to find Tessaiga first." Kohaku stated, also a bit nervous about the situation. His hand found the Kusarigama at his waist. "I agree. We'll stay together and hope we find the sword or at least Sesshomaru first." He didn't want to use his weapon against the hanyo, but with Kagome and her baby at stake, he'd have to make a decision if it came down to it. Sensing what was on Kohaku's mind, Kagome started to panic. "You can't hurt Inuyasha, Kohaku! He's your friend! He would never hurt us!" The young demon slayer was already mounting the demon cat. "But I also can't stand by and allow him to harm you. Being a demon slayer means protecting humans and that's what I plan to do if it comes down to it." He offered Kagome a hand up while saying this, an apologetic look in his eyes. For a split instant, Kagome's eyes changed from.their deep brown to a demonic, bloody crimson and back again. "Woah!" Kohaku leaned back, away from the miko after she climbed on behind him. Kagome didn't seem to realize what happened, staring Kohaku down, still angry. Bidding their family goodbye, Kohaku kicked Kirara in the ribcage and held on as she soared into the forest. Inuyasha...please be safe. The miko couldn't help but worry. Her husband was in danger and weaponless! "Remember, Kohaku. Tessaiga first and then we find Sesshomaru." The young demon slayer nodded once more. "I know. That's the best case scenario."

 

[BaikynTakyr]

Miroku, injuries still smarting, watch as the pair took off Kirara. A deep sense of foreboding settled in his stomach like a stone. During the height of their adventures, the group had faced many unearthly perils. An ever-changing, illusory hellscape ruled by a disembodied demon was not one of them.

He hated not being able to go with them, but in his condition, he'd only be a liability. Exhaling deeply, the monk prayed that the two would be alright, and that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both would be safely recovered.

---

As Kohaku and Kagome drew nearer to the disturbance happening in the forest, the demonic barrier would start to grow ever more visible. It exuded a crimson aura that pulsed like a heart, as though it were alive. With each passing minute the barrier's boundary seemed to expand just a smidgen, kicking up dirt and dead grass around the circumference.

Whatever the entity was plotting within the illusory world beyond the barrier, it knew others from the real world would soon come for it. And it did not want them in. Not when it had two powerful demons - two scions of the Great Dog Demon - trapped within it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The elder demon slayer felt the same way as her beloved husband. It was hard to stay behind and watch her best friend and little brother run off to fight Inuyasha at his absolute strongest. But what could she do? With Miroku as injured as he was, he needed her and the children did too. "The girls and I were so worried about you, Miroku. You have no idea what I had to do to keep them from running off after you." She was trying to keep their situation as pleasurable as possible. "I was lucky to have Kagome and Rin here to help. I'm sure they'd love to know you're alright."

It wasn't long before Kohaku and Kagome, now completely normal, came upon the encroaching barrier. "Inuyasha?!" She called, not knowing if the hanyo was coherent enough to hear her. "Sesshomaru!" The miko reached over her shoulder to ready her bow, and when she finally fired, she and Kohaku were able to slip through the small opening she managed to create. "Get ready. Stay quiet." Kagome took pointe, guiding Kohaku further into the forest. "Inuyasha..." She breathed. "Where are you?"

 

[Nicodemus.]

Despite the aching of his wounds, Miroku managed a small smile that did no justice to the elation and relief suddenly swelling in his heart. His children were here, alive and safe! He'd escaped the hellscape, and reunited with his family. This was no illusion. No elaborate trick or visceral phantasmagoria. The nightmare was over, for him at least.

"And I would love to see them," said Miroku, gently. "I can't begin to tell you how much I've missed you all."

---

A ripple shimmered across the barrier in the place where the sacred arrow struck, like the surface of a lake disturbed by a stone. A hole opened in it, permitting them entry into the foreboding landscape that lay beyond.

As Kagome and Kohaku ventured deeper into the forest, their surroundings grew... odder. The trees looked more gnarled and pale, with long spindly branches that sprouted deep purple leaves. The ground grew more barren and grassless, the dirt blackened as though scorched. Even the skies above, barely glimpsed through the thick canopy of trees, seemed to changing, growing more and more overcast with each passing moment.

An ominous presence hung over the withered forest, like a pressure that grew more intense the deeper they went. Now that they'd entered the barrier, the priestess and the demon slayer were encroaching upon the hellscape - or at least, the outskirts of it.

Up ahead, an object lay buried in the ground. Its gleaming blade was barely visible, but the white fur-rimmed hilt was unmistakable. There tetsusaiga lay, seemingly abandoned.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Miroku's wife brought her hand to her husband's cheek for a moment before striding toward the exit of their home and peeking out the door. "Rin? You can bring them inside now. Girls," Sango bent down to meet her daughters at their eye level. "Papa is very hurt right now. When you see him, you can't be climbing all over him, alright?" She allowed herself to fall silent and let the twins work this out for themselves before allowing them inside the dwelling. "Thank you, Rin." Sango took the baby from her and followed the girls. "Miroku, did Inuyasha attack you?" Sango wanted to know exactly what her brother was up against. If Inuyasha would hurt Miroku, who's to say he wouldn't hurt Kohaku or Kagome? "

"Kagome, look!" Kohaku indicated the abandoned weapon before having Kirara land just next to it. Kagome immediately jumped off of the demon cat and ran to retrieve her husband's sword, but as she reached out to touch it, the demon energy within her own body took over once again, giving her sharp claws and crimson eyes. "Uh...Kagome?" Kohaku tightened his grip on his weapon. Kagome grasped Tessaiga now, but her target was none other than the one person on her side at the moment!

 

[BaikynTaykr]

Miroku beamed as the girls entered the hut. He greeted them with as much liveliness as he could muster. Embracing them as he wished to was out of the question,f or aforementioned reasons, but the least he could do was ensure they didn't worry too much.

At Sango's question, Miroku sighed, his smile faltering as the grim recollection of Inuyasha's transformation came to mind. "I'm afraid so. Between being separated from the tessaiga, and enduring all the entity threw our way..." he went quiet for a moment. "... I've never seen him so consumed by his demonic half." If the tessaiga weren't found soon, he dreaded to think what would become of Kohaku and Kagome - and anyone else who crossed Inuyasha's path should the entity unleash him.

---

It was then, as the newly transformed Kagome prepared to unleash the demonic might of Tessaiga upon Kohaku, that a plume of black and red smoke rose from the ground behind them. The smoke coalesced into a humanoid form, revealing a nearly featureless shadowy figure with slitted eyes that glowed like the evening sun.

The ominous force that hung over the forest grew heavier than it had ever been as the architect behind this ordeal manifested at last. It watched as the priestess brandished the demon blade at her only ally out here in this forest, the malevolent presence eager to see blood spilt among allies.

No sign of Inuyasha or Sesshomaru had yet presented itself.