Sesshomaru-Inuyasha BIA: Chapter 61

章 61 --錨鎖の末端
Shō 61 -- Byōsa no Mattan
Chapter 61 -- The Bitter End

"Sesshomaru," Inuyasha called out. "Sesshomaru, get up," he shouted, hoping his brother would hear him. Hoping he would know how much he wanted him to live; but there was no way he was going to leave without Akatsuki, and he hoped she understood why.

The youkai lady could still sense the power of dark magic surrounding her. But Lord Balthazar was dead, was he not? Why was his magic still so very strong here? Should it not have died with him? But what was that, she wondered as she turned and saw the amulet lying beside Sesshomaru. It had fallen from his hand when he had transformed back. It was the same amulet used by Oji Akimaru. Sesshomaru had taken it after he'd killed him. Is that how he knew where to find Lord Balthazar? But even his sword attacks had seemed far more powerful than it had been in his last battle.

Was it because he absorbed it when he'd transformed that he'd had those horns. Did that amulet still possess some of Lord Balthazar's dark magic? Could she possibly use it to enhance her healing abilities? But could she, a life sorceress, utilize such magic? Yes, her love's life was at stake; she could not afford to fear it because she did not understand it. If she did not attempt to utilize it, her love could die. She could not allow that. "Inuyasha," Akatsuki called out, hoping the amulet could indeed enhance her abilities. "That amulet on the ground, pick it up and place it around my neck," she said, unwilling to discontinue her healing efforts even for a moment.

"Huh," the hanyou responded puzzled looking around until he sighted what she was referring to, then rushed forward to retrieve it. "What is this?" he asked as he tied it around her neck.

"Dark magic," Akatsuki responded, thoughtfully. "I think it will help me save your brother's life."

"You think? But I thought…"

"No, I have never used dark magic. But now, I will use anything that could help me save his life; that could help me save all of our lives," Akatsuki declared as her head once more fell back across her love's chest. "Sesshomaru, come back to me. If you love me, please come back to me," Akatsuki muttered softly. If nothing else, she would will this amulet to do her bidding, she thought as she flared her youkai to enhance her power; but this amulet did nothing to augment her already fading energy.

"Akatsuki," Inuyasha called ten minutes later, pointing toward his brother; his eyes widening in shock.

Unseen by the youkai lady, Sesshomaru's eyes had drifted slowly open as he saw the top of Akatsuki's head only a few inches away from his face. She had practically collapsed onto his chest. He could see the white of her hair and even the point of her youkai ear and he was delighted to know she was there for him, as he looked around and realized he was in the demon lands. But he knew she had been healing him when he saw the energy still flowing from her hands. "Enough," he said in a quiet choke as the memory of the last time he had seen her heal someone filled his head. He had not come here to risk her life and he would not be the cause of such an event.

"What?" Akatsuki asked with wide-eyed surprise as she lifted her head, her crystal blue eyes initially filled with a sadness that instantly tore at his heart.

His eyes only barely open, Sesshomaru watched her tears flow down her face. Saddened by what he saw, the youkai lord lifted his palm toward the side of her cheek.

"My lord, you are awake," the youkai lady cried out.

"Sesshomaru," Inuyasha mouthed softly, his heart warming as his own eyes welled to see his brother had truly awakened, though his color was still pale, he saw some small degree of it slowly returning to his face. Inuyasha, though, could also see that Sesshomaru was still severely injured.

"Enough my love," Sesshomaru insisted, his voice low and hoarse, as he coughed up some blood. "You need do no more."

"Sesshomaru? Please rest, you are not yet healed," Akatsuki protested delighted but still deeply concerned even though he had awakened. She could see the poison was beginning to recede, but she knew it still overwhelmed him as he continued to fight to expel it.

"Enough my lady," the youkai lord said with determination. "You are weakened. You cannot risk your life or the life of our child to save me."

"Sesshomaru my love, please," Akatsuki pleaded once more, her face covered with streaks where her tears had flowed. Ignoring his words, she continued to flare her youki. "You are not yet fully healed."

"No," he confirmed. "I am not, but you have done enough," he insisted, clasping her hands to his chest hoping to prevent her power from flowing. "I know you are weakened, I can scent it; and from here, I will heal on my own," he said struggling to lift himself to a sitting position as he noticed the amulet around her neck. "What is this?" he asked, fingering the amulet that graced her neck with concern. "Did you use the dark magic in this?"

"I could not let you die," Akatsuki said as her heart swelled and her tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Are you damaged because of it?"

"I think not," Akatsuki said, though uncertain of any after effects the amulet might bestow.

Now, noticing the opening in her kimono, Sesshomaru fingered that as well. "Are you injured? How did this happen?" he asked as he turned to look at the remnants of the fallen demon lord, his fangs flaring as he snarled angrily.

"No," Akatsuki smiled at him looking down at the opening she had torn. "That is not because of Lord Balthazar. I did that to communicate with you earlier," she told him as she pressed her palm lovingly against his face. "I will tell you all about it when we get back."

"Akatsuki," he began, thoughtfully, yet frowning slightly from the pain as he pushed himself upward; his thoughts racing back to how he probably looked when he had transformed. He was not exactly sure what the transformation had entailed, but he did know it was different; he knew he had horns; that he had transformed into some kind of dark demon dog. "When I transformed," he said, his warming hands slipping to her wrist as he looked at her with apprehension. "Did I… frighten you?" He asked remembering he had asked her that once before; shortly after they met; when she was healing from her own injuries and she had told him what she'd sensed in his heart.

Akatsuki stared at him with wide eyed disbelief. "Sesshomaru, how could you ask..." her words trailed when she saw the pain in his eyes. It was as if he thought she could not love him now that she had seen who he was. But she knew all the reasons he had done it, as well as all the reasons he would ask her that. She turned her lips into a gentle smile, her crystal blue eyes alive with life and love. "Sesshomaru, I am your mate; a life sorceress. I used the magic in that amulet for the same reason you did. Do I now frighten you?" she asked looking at him with equally pain filled eyes.

"My love, I know you wish to protect me, but please I am asking again, do not treat me like a child in doing so. Through our child, I know it has been difficult for you. Over the past week, I know you have questioned everything you have done and every reason you have done it, because I have questioned myself as well," she said clasping his palm to the side of her face and snuggling against it. A few seconds later, she clasped his hand tightly to her breast as the emotions in her heart swelled within her. "But you need never, ever question my love for you," she said smiling at him. "It does not matter that I had not seen this transformation before; I knew you ever since I first sensed your heart, even before then; and I know this transformation was different," she raised his hand to her lips and imparted tender loving kisses on it, as a single tear streamed down her cheek. "You are my lord and my love. That means every part of you. For what you did in leaving me behind, I should probably kill you, but how could I possibly be afraid of the one I love?"

His golden gaze smiled at her. "My lady, please know that it was never truly my desire to leave you. I left you and Inuyasha, only because I wished to protect you both," he said cradling her face in his palm.

"I know that," Akatsuki responded "but I was so afraid for you. Yes, you vowed to protect me, but you need not be overly cautious in doing so," her heart thumped loudly in her chest from the mere thought. "Because of my weakened barrier, my being here, almost got you killed, but that was never my intent, I simply wanted," she could not continue when she lowered her gaze to hide her tear filled eyes as she considered her own selfishness. "I could not bear that."

"No, my love. It was me. I am a warrior, I should never have allowed my flank to be so exposed. But I thank you both for coming," Sesshomaru said turning his head toward his younger brother. He had never thanked him before, but now he wanted to change how he treated him, if only Inuyasha would give him the opportunity. "Your presence here made me stronger. I will never leave you behind again," he said with conviction turning back to his lady.

Even after all she had been through; even after his failure to protect and keep her safe, the look in her eyes told him she still loved him. In that instant, he knew he regretted that it had taken him so long to find and love her. To think of all the years he could have loved her and did not saddened his heart. But he knew he would do whatever he could to show her how much he truly loved her from this moment forward. "I love you my lady," he said as he placed his palm gently behind her head and pulled her lips toward his.

With their freely shown signs of affection, Inuyasha knew his brother had truly changed and he was happy for him. He had never thought he would ever love; especially not after he had attacked him shortly after he had awakened from that seal.

Knowing that his brother and sister had been through so much recently, Inuyasha turned to give them a couple of minutes of privacy; but only a couple of minutes as he shortly, turned back toward them. "You guys starting that crap again? Have either of you thought about whether we can find some way out of this hell hole?"

The youkai lord and lady smiled at each other as golden and crystal blue eyes twinkled warmly and Sesshomaru gently brushed his long slender fingers below her eyes to remove the traces of her tears; then he remembered. "No, wait," he said as he struggled to his feet. "There is something inside Balthazar's castle that I wish you to see," he said cryptically.

Puzzled but embracing him, Akatsuki helped him up and Inuyasha rushed forward to provide support from the other side. "To see, in that castle? But what is it my lord."

"Inside, you will see," Sesshomaru responded without offering further information.

"Inside," Akatsuki repeated turning a puzzled gaze toward Lord Balthazar's castle. "What could be of interest in there?"

"Patience, you will see," he said as they moved toward the castle.

Upon entering through the oversized brick entryway, the youkai lady could immediately sense the aura of dark magic surrounding them as they proceeded down a long hallway toward a door Sesshomaru pointed to at the far end of it. Akatsuki froze for a moment as she soon sensed the underlying power of Suzaku magic emanating from behind the door.

The youkai lord knew that door had been sealed, but with the death of Balthazar, the seal should now be broken.

Neither the youkai lady, nor the hanyou questioned him further; as they eyed each other curiously. They knew if Sesshomaru did not desire to answer, he would not; so they contented themselves with the knowledge that they would soon know what unknown entity awaited her that the youkai lord believed was worth concealing.

"Open it," he said smiling gently at his lady with love in his eyes when they had arrived at the door. Then he moved her arms from around his waist.

Akatsuki eyed him curiously for a moment, then turned to slide the shoji screen door open as she was hit full force by the aura of Suzaku illusionary magic. How could this be? The youkai lady could barely believe what she saw. A relatively attractive sitting room, unlike anything she would have imagined Balthazar would have an interest in. In essence, except for the red bricked wall and red stoned floor, or the picture of the ouroboros gracing its wall, it looked much like any sitting room in the Suzaku castle. Toward the side of one wall, she saw two youkai sitting on tatami mats apparently talking to each other. Despite seeing only her back, the familiarity of one of the youkai was unmistakable.

"What is this?" Akatsuki asked turning toward Sesshomaru as the two youkai turned toward them. "This cannot be real," Akatsuki declared staunchly despite the pulsing sensation within her own heart. "Yukiko?!" she cried out.

"Akatsuki," the young female screamed out, "My sister," she quickly rose to her feet as she rushed toward the youkai lady wrapping her arms tightly around her.

"This is not real," Akatsuki declared once more. "It cannot be," she rationalized. "What magic is this?" She demanded knowing full well what she sensed was illusionary Suzaku magic with a mixture of dark magic, but here was a Suzaku in front of her. What was her purpose in trying to delude her?

"This is not magic. It is me, Yukiko," the young youkai female said squeezing her arms more tightly around Akatsuki. "I am living flesh."

She felt real, was she? Akatsuki wondered as she hesitantly wrapped her own arms around the young female. In addition to the typical blue and white clothing her sister had always worn, her hair was also adorned in the long braid that was so familiar to her.

"The magic you sense, is for the illusion of this room only, but I am real," the young Suzaku hidenka clarified as her older sister's eyes roved the room they stood in.

"She is real, my love," Sesshomaru said moving slowly toward them and placing his hand gently on his lady's shoulder.

Clutched in each other's arms; their eyes began to fill with tears from the overwhelming emotion they felt welling within each of them. Here was the sister she thought had died some 25 years earlier at the hands of Princess Edera; but here she stood alive and well. The two youkai female had virtually locked their bodies together in a tight embrace; tears streaming down their faces as they hugged each other; afraid to let go, afraid it would cause this apparent reality to disappear like a bad dream.

Sesshomaru watched his mate with a warmth in his heart. He never liked to see her cry, but for once he would tolerate it, because he knew it was from joy and he was grateful that it was he who had brought such joy to her heart; especially after knowing the hell she had probably endured over the past week.

"Akatsuki, my love. I have missed you so much," the young female youkai said against her sister's hair; her breath blowing gently along the strands.

"And I you, dear heart. We have all missed you so dearly," Akatsuki said not wanting to let her go.

"Is… is Lord Balthazar dead?" Yukiko asked unsteadily, pushing herself back to look at her sister, the youkai lord, and the young hanyou, as if expecting the demon lord to walk in any minute.

"Yes, our lord has taken his life," Akatsuki said rubbing the tear stains from her sister's face; leaning in as her sister did the same for her. "I cannot believe it. You are here; alive. I thought you were… we all thought you were … how is this possible?" Akatsuki asked, her thoughts a mass of confusion as she turned her eyes back toward Sesshomaru; her arms still tightly locked around her sister. "How… how did you know?"

"I believe that amulet was specifically enchanted for me," Sesshomaru said turning toward the young hidenka. "When I absorbed it during my transformation, it imparted more knowledge than the demon lord might have wanted," he said looking at the young female life sorceress. "But I believe your sister had something to do with that."

"I am sorry my lord," Yukiko said, looking at him with sadness; lowering her gaze to the floor. "We have caused you such pain, and I am so deeply sorry, but we saw it as our only opportunity to…"

"Do not concern yourself, you have already allowed me to see what has been done. Further explanation is unnecessary," Sesshomaru told her, leaning on his brother for support; something he had never previously done to anyone. "I am pleased that I have helped restore my mate's sister to her."

Inuyasha looked with amazement at the young female life sorceress and the other youkai standing beside her. His brother had told him that Akatsuki had lost her sister to Edera over 25 years earlier and he had been grateful that he had killed her considering everything that had happened. Now, the young youkai stood before them, alive and well. She looked like and was just as beautiful as her older sister, but younger, closer to his own age; her eyes, also was a cool blue, much like her sister's sparkling blue ones. Her hair was the typical Suzaku white color, not unlike his brother's and his own. He couldn't help thinking how Akatsuki must feel knowing her sister was alive. He knew his brother hadn't felt the same about him when he had awaken after 50 years of that sealing spell, but he took comfort in the fact that he knew Sesshomaru truly did care about him now.

Spotting the youkai female standing beside Akatsuki and her sister, Inuyasha stepped forward. "Who are you?" he asked.

"What's it to ya, half-breed?" the young female youkai responded in her typical brash tone.

"This is Mizu Tamora," Yukiko filled him in. "She is a Phoenix youkai from Osaka who was previously imprisoned by another youkai, someone she thought she loved, in fact. But recently she was banished here. But much like I was when I first came here," she now addressed her lord and lady. "She has been plotting her escape ever since.  It is because of her that…" Yukiko's words failed as she reconsidered whether she truly wished to divulge this particular revelation to her sister now or not.

"Probably because of her smart mouth," Inuyasha muttered. He did not like the thought of some smart mouth female who didn't even know him, mouthing off at him like that.

"What did you say? Oh, I'm sorry, did I offend you before?" Mizu retorted, angling her arms on her hips. "Deal with it. That's what I've done for ages."

Rolling his eyes at the snippy young female, Inuyasha muttered beneath his breath as he turned away.

"What's that? I'm sorry, I can't hear you above the sound of me not giving a rat demon's ass."

"I do not believe you would wish to test my younger brother's mouth little one," Sesshomaru interjected.

"No, well I certainly won't have to if you're going to take up all his battles for him."

"What?" Inuyasha bellowed. "Sesshomaru doesn't…. I fight my own damned battles," he declared with mounting anger.

"Mizu," Akatsuki softly interrupted, feeling the building tension. Having utilized so much youki power to revive her love, she could spare no more to sense the young youkai's heart, but even without that she could sense the anger flowing from her in streams. "May I ask why you are so angry?"

"Why? You've got to be kidding, aren't you?" Mizu directed a stern glare toward the youkai lady.

"No, I am not," Akatsuki said surprised at such a blatant query. "Are not Phoenix more even tempered?"

"Even tempered. I am entrapped in the realm of a dragon -- a damned dragon. Do you know what that means to a creature of my nature? My life has not been my own for as long as I can remember.  First, practically enslaved under a youkai named Akari no Kuromaru, who told me he loved me. Then being held against my will by my mortal enemy. And do not tell me that the Phoenix and the dragon tend to be blissful lovers. Balthazar is not a youkai to love. I am being forced to hurt people, against my will, and you wonder why I am so angry? Personally, I'm surprised your sister's not more so after being trapped in this hell hole with that bastard Balthazar these past 25 years, but I guess you're two of a kind. But you should be happy," Mizu said clasping her arms across her chest. "She did you proud. She's a hidenka and she'll always be a hidenka. It wasn't until I told her to use whatever tools were at her disposal that we developed that scheme to get us out of this hell hole."

"Mizu," Yukiko, raised her voice to silence her. "I do not believe now is the time for such a conversation," she said diverting her focus uncomfortably between her sister and her lord.

"What are you two talking about?" Akatsuki wanted to know.

"Clearly, Edera never devoured your sister's soul," Sesshomaru quickly spoke up as he turned toward his mate. "It was a lie that Balthazar wanted you and your clan to believe. He has been doing that type of thing for eons. Edera deceived her and entrapped her here to be servant to the demon lord, who kept her trapped here for these past years. He used her the same way he used all the other sorceresses he had secured over time. The truth was concealed from all those residing in the land of the living. I am certain for fear of retaliation."

"Do you know everything my lord?" Yukiko asked in a quiet, uncomfortable voice.

"I know all I need to know," Sesshomaru informed her. "The information you enchanted into the amulet was more than sufficient. If there is anything more you wish to say, you can tell your sister and your family when you return. This Sesshomaru has no further interest in that demon lord."

Turning toward the youkai lord, Akatsuki tried to question him further. "What do you mean you know all you need to know, and what information?"

"For now, it is unimportant. You may speak to your sister regarding it at a later point."

"Akatsuki, he is still badly injured," the young hidenka said noticing the blood dripping from the gashes still protruding through Sesshomaru's side.

The youkai lady lowered her eyes, as she moved back to offer Sesshomaru her support. "He is stubborn and will not allow me to finish healing him."

"May I my lord?" Yukiko asked as she approached and reached out to touch the youkai lord to further heal his wounds.

"It is unnecessary," he said ignoring the pain surging through him. Despite the poison, this pain was no worse than it had been when he had lost his left arm.

"I am aware," she replied softly, "But I wish too. You have freed me, and I am indebted to ..."

"No, you are not," Sesshomaru said interrupting her, as he affectionately wrapped his arm around his mate's shoulder, looking at her with regretful eyes. That word, itself, still held a lot of sadness for him as it brought back the memories of his foolishness and how close he had come to losing someone so vital to his existence because of his imprudent thoughts at that time. "You are indebted to no one."

"May I?" Yukiko asked again reaching out, placing her hands on his chest.

Sesshomaru acknowledged his consent with a warm gaze and she laid her hands on him, emitting a vibrant white glow of energy through her hands that surged through the youkai lord's body, injecting him with her life healing energy; removing any remaining poison, stopping the blood flow and sealing the wounds. "The rest, you will have to do on your own," she said about fifteen minutes later as she removed her hands.

"I am appreciative," Sesshomaru said, now able to stand on his own. His gaping wounds were now no more than scars and would be healed in less than a day.

"Are you now the lord of the demon lands as well?" Inuyasha asked his brother with a broad grin spanning his face.

"You fool, why would your brother wish to remain here and rule?" Mizu asked in her typical dispassionate squall.

"You should be quite, or I'll make sure we leave you here," Inuyasha quickly retorted.

"Why you insignificant little half-breed," Mizu began highly annoyed that anyone would dare try to silence her.

"Who are you calling little," Inuyasha spat back.

"Since it is not a position I desire, you are free to take it if you so choose," Sesshomaru replied flatly, hoping to silence them both.

"No thanks. I'd rather stay with my family."

Surprised, Sesshomaru turned to look at him with wide golden eyes.

Embarrassed by the intensity of his brother's observation, Inuyasha turned away, "You heard right," he said. "I would rather stay where I am. I like it there," he said obstinately.

Sesshomaru did not question him further. He contented himself with the knowledge that his brother finally seemed to trust him at last. Akatsuki extended her hand and gave his a gentle squeeze as she smiled up at him with loving blue eyes. He turned and smiled back, knowing that their families were complete at last.

"So has anyone thought about how we're going to get back?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshomaru looked at the amulet still gracing his mate's neck. "This is only capable of transporting one," he said as he reached for it. "With Lord Balthazar's death, it…"

"Do not worry," Akatsuki interrupted. "I took care of that before we left. Everyone, let's go outside, then gather around me," the youkai lady said turning to smile at her younger sister. "We are all going home."

"Will you be all right?" Sesshomaru asked stepping up behind her to place his hands on her waist, stealthily touching her stomach as he quickly calculated the potential weight his mate would be forced to carry and the energy she must have expended healing him. "We do not have to do this now. We can wait until…"

"I will be fine," Akatsuki said as they all moved outside the castle. With a soft, gentle smile, she turned toward the young hidenka. "My sister," she said, reaching out her hand. "I may require your assistance."

Yukiko reached out and extended her hand, clasping fingers between fingers. Instantly, the two life sorceress became of a single mind as they flared their youki engulfing everyone within their barrier and lifted them into the air as they prepared to leave. "Ōji Akimaru's manor," Akatsuki called to enact the kimuto enchantment spell she had initiated before she had departed with the young hanyou. Immediately, they were all caught in a whirlwind of youki energy that sped them through space; transporting them back to the land of the living; back to Ōji Akimaru's southern manor.




The End