Chapter 2 - Chapter Two

Chapter Two

With an uneasy soul, the warlord looked out at the lands to the east of his domain. He could sense and see that something fell was going on.

“Milord, the scouts have returned.” One man murmured, bringing the troubled warrior out of his musings for a moment.

“Send them in.” the warlord responded. With a nod, the servant did as he was told and then ushered three somewhat winded men in.

“What do you have to report?” the warlord questioned, a bit worriedly.

“Milord, it is as you had feared. The youkai that had been sealed in the other Tree has been unleashed, and he’s stealing the souls of the living and the dead!” One man blurted, fearfully.

“I was afraid of this…..Gather as many mikos and houshi that are living in this area as you can, and have them erect a barrier. Tell everyone within this domain to go to that one spot and remain there till I return.” The warlord ordered, grimly; turning abruptly and leaving the audience chamber before he could be stopped.

“But Milord! Why must you go out and face it? Even though you are the strongest swordsman in the Western Province, you can’t possibly face this youkai on your own!” the other messenger shouted, after the warlord’s retreating figure.

“I can certainly try.” The warlord murmured, as he then rushed from the castle; his white mantle whipping back behind him as he moved from a normal run, to incredible speed.









……………………….









The battle at the other Go-Shinboku was going badly for the two who had come on their own to try and reclaim a possessed friend.

“Kazaana!” a male voice shouted, as he released the cursed vortex from his right hand, yet watched in shock as his opponent closed her own kazaana and allowed herself to be carried by the current of air towards him. When she was close enough, she reopened her hand and they met with a slap of flesh; hand to hand.

“Very nice! You’re a handsome one, young houshi!” the youkai stated, then sneered, “Makes me want to dig out your heart and eat it!” With that said, she started phasing her hand through his arm; her smirk widening when she saw the look of horror on the houshi’s face….and when the horror turned into agony. With an outcry of pain, the houshi withdrew his hand from hers’ and covered his kazaana; severing their gruesome connection. The youkai only smirked again as he hand emerged from his chest; blood flying freely as she took up her halberd once again, and thrust it at him….only to have it stopped by another blade.

“What?!” the youkai snarled, as she turned to face the owner of the sword.

“//1….//1…..” the houshi thought, as he also looked at the blade’s owner. The man was tall; lean and strong in body, and had cunning in his amber-hued eyes.

“Can you stand, houshi?” the stranger asked, getting a shaky nod from the houshi as a response.

“Yes. Your arrival couldn’t have been better timed. But where did you….?” The houshi questioned, as the man pushed the youkai back, and then stood poised for the next attack.

“Feh, I’ll imagine all will be explained later, when this fiasco is finally settled. Until then, we’ll have to concentrate on the battle at hand.” The stranger growled; his eyes narrowing when he saw that the youkai was calling more to aid her.

“You’re right, of course….By the way, I am known as Miroku. Who are you?” the houshi asked, as he took up a defensive stance beside his benefactor.

“Hajime Saito.” The man replied, shortly.

“Well, then, Saito-san, let’s not spend any more time talking. It looks like our conversation is about to be interrupted, anyway.” Miroku said, with a grim smile.

“Indeed.” Saito mumbled, inwardly reminded of a friend from his own past when he heard Miroku’s remark.







…………………..







“Kirara!” a young woman’s voice cries, as she dodges some flames that are being thrown at her by one of the other youkai; barely holding the possessed feline off, when it attacks her and pins her. With a desperate heave, the woman got the nekomatta off of her, and watched as it returned for another swipe.

“Kirara, snap out of it!” the woman shouted, desperately, as she blocked the attack, and watched as her friend returned to the side of the one that had enslaved her.

“It’s useless. She cannot hear your voice anymore.” The youkai sneered, then added, “A human and a youkai….You were never destined to understand one another.” With that said, the youkai, who went by the name of ‘Hari’, blew on some leaves from the plants decorating her hair, and sent them flying at the woman; only to have the attack interrupted by a man’s voice, and a black blur.

“Kagemaru!” the voice shouted, as the blur roared and followed the implied command; moving the woman out of harm’s way before the ki-charged leaves could reach her.

“What the…?! //1 nekomatta?! But where…...?!” Hari asked, her eye widening when she saw what appeared to be a white-mantled, armored warrior standing on a branch over their heads.

“//1 partner, witch, and you would do well to remember it.” The man growled, as he leaped down from his perch and landed gracefully in front of the woman; drawing his sword as he did so.

“Are you all right, Taijiya?” the man asked, as he glanced at the female warrior behind him for a brief moment, and then returned his attention to the angered youkai in front of him.

“Yes. But what are you doing here? Don’t you realize how much danger you’re now in?” the taijiya asked, concernedly; more afraid for his safety, than her own, at this point. The man only gave her an arched eyebrow for that.

“I would ask you the same, if it weren’t for the fact that your own partner is being held under sway, here. The main reason I am here is to try and get the souls of my people back from this cursed tree.” The man replied, calmly.

“ ‘Your people’? You’re a warlord?” the taijiya questioned, confusedly; she’d hardly ever heard of a warlord who was that willing to protect those he cared for! The man nodded.

“Yet, it is something that can be discussed later. There’s no time for it, now.” The warlord stated, barely leaping away in time before Kirara charged at the both of them; with fangs and claws bared.

“Right!” the taijiya agreed, then said, “My name is Sango! What name do you go by?”

“Seijuro Hiko the Thirteenth, current lord of Kitakata.” The warlord answered, with an unruffled calm that the taijiya was almost instantly secretly jealous of.

“//1…..//1” Sango mused, as she, Hiko, and the black nekomatta named Kagemaru continued their running battle….and their efforts to get Kirara back.







…………………….







“Damn! There’s no end to ‘em! Where’re they all comin’ from?!” Sanosuke asked, as he and Aoshi fought side by side. They had lost track of Kenshin and Saito in the midst of the chaos surrounding the tree, and now fought a losing battle against creatures that shouldn’t have existed at all.

“Your guess is as good as mine, Sagara…..But, if I must hazard a guess…..I’d think they were coming from within the tree itself…..It seems almost as though some sort of seal has been broken.” Aoshi gasped; actually sounding as though he were getting a bit winded by the battle.

“//1…..//1//1//1” Aoshi thought, as he and the former fight merchant stood back to back; faced with the very real possibility that they were going to die in this strange era, and there would be no one to mourn them.







……………………..







Back in the Meiji Era, Kaoru sat beside Hiko’s futon; keeping a silent vigil, since she was too uneasy and worried to sleep.

“How is he, Kaoru-san?” Misao asked, as she quietly entered the room, with honest worry in her own blue eyes.

“About the same.” Kaoru replied, somberly.

“I see….” Misao murmured, as she gazed at the man who had been the Oniwabanshu’s hero, not too long ago. His brave, handsome face was very pale, and a bluish tinge had settled on his eyelids and lips…..In truth, he looked almost dead.

“He looks worse than he did earlier.” Misao stated, as she sat down alongside him as well, and put a hand to his cold brow.

“But we can’t give up….not yet. It wouldn’t be fair to him, after he’d fought so hard to survive what had happened in Kyoto, and then…..” Kaoru said, trailing off when she thought of all that had happened during the worst of Enishi’s Jinchuu, and what they were now faced with. Misao nodded in agreement. The older warrior had been through so much more than they had, and yet carried himself with a dignity that they were only just beginning to see.

“//1” Misao thought, as she continued to sit and watch, as well; hoping against hope that the four who had gone to solve the mystery would do it in time to strengthen Hiko’s now very fragile hold on life.

“//1” Kaoru mentally pleaded, as she turned her worried gaze to the window, and the snow falling quietly beyond it.







………………………







At that very moment, Kenshin reached one of the highest branches just adjacent to the huge center of the evil tree, and stared at the unbelievable sight before him. There, in the very center, a glowing orb floated. Within the orb, something that resembled a man ‘stood’ with his arms raised, and had an elated smirk adorning his features.

“//1…..//1//1//1” Kenshin thought; looking down when he felt an odd warmth come from the sheathed sword he now gripped tightly in his left hand. It was to his added astonishment that he saw what appeared to be a soft glow settling around it!

“//1…..//1…..” Kenshin mused, as his mind quickly pieced the mystery together; remembering what Saito had said about it earlier, and how it could possibly aid him in this fight.

“//1…..” Kenshin thought, as he braced himself, and then attacked.

“Kuzu Ryu Sen!” Kenshin shouted, as he whipped the sword from its’ sheath, and dove at the unholy light.

“What?!” the youkai within the sphere yelped, turning when he saw a bright red and silver flash coming right at him; eyes widening when the nine slashes left their marks on his barrier.

“Whatever it is you’re trying to do, sessha can’t allow you to continue!” Kenshin said, his voice gaining the hard edge it was known for, when he was particularly ticked off.

“Oh? So one lowly human has come to challenge me?” the youkai asked, as he sneered down at the rurouni with contempt (and barely concealed uneasiness) in his eyes.

“Aa.” Kenshin replied, as he held the now brightly-glowing sakabatou in his right hand; his own eyes narrowing as a single thought crossed his mind.

“//1…..”







……………………







“Had enough of this yet, houshi? What do you say to settling this little battle?” Ruri asked, sneering when she saw the wary expressions appearing on the pair’s faces.

“Saito-san, you might want to hang on to something…..Things are about to get turbulent.” Miroku stated, as he gripped the beads that warded his right hand with a grim look on his face. Saito only nodded; somehow sensing what was to come, and quickly moving aside.

“We’ll test your kazaana against my own, and we’ll see who will be sucked inside first.” Ruri said, before both she and Miroku shouted, “Kazaana!” From his vantagepoint nearby, Saito could see that they were, for the moment, evenly matched….then watched in consternation as the woman cut the palm of her right hand with the tip of her halberd, and as the wind increased in ferocity.

“And now, Houshi, swordsman, prepare to die! Farewell!” Ruri laughed, as she watched Miroku begin to slide towards her; his own kazaana now entirely overwhelmed. Yet, Miroku started when he felt a hand grab the back of his robes and hang on; feeling surprise when he looked and saw that Saito was now doggedly trying to keep him from being drawn in.

“Thanks.” Miroku said; earning himself a snort from the tall swordsman as a response.

“I’m not one who can leave bakas hanging.” Saito responded, shortly, as he dug his katana into the rough wood beneath him, as well. Miroku in turn could only sigh and shake his head; he’d heard Inu-Yasha say something similar before.

“I win this battle!” Ruri cackled; not noticing until it was too late that her kazaana was spreading even farther than before.

“Foolish woman.” Saito growled, when he saw this happening….and Miroku was inclined to agree.

“Oh, what’s this?!” Ruri yelped, when she finally realized what was happening, and gripped her swiftly disappearing right hand in shock; the kazaana was devouring her! Seconds later, the wind became so strong, that even Saito was beginning to think that he wouldn’t be able to hold on anymore….then Ruri vanished with a scream into her own hand, the backlash of the two opposing currents of wind creating a tremendous explosion, and leaving a crater in the tree itself.

“Someday….that very fate will befall me….My own flesh and bones will be sucked into the void of my own cursed hand….” Miroku murmured, when the last of the wind had finally abated, and he’d been able to cover his own kazaana again.

“You’ll defeat it.” Saito muttered, with certainty, as he then turned and looked in another direction; ignoring Miroku’s questioning look, when he’d sensed some very strong ken-ki coming from there.







………………….







“You both refuse to admit the obvious. Youkai are born to be controlled…..and the best way is with power.” Hari sneered, when she saw what kind of damage she was inflicting on the pair below her. Sango was bruised and battered from the constant running battle, and Hiko was bleeding from a few wounds, as well.

“Not true! My relationship with Kirara is nothing like that!” Sango argued, as she stood side-by-side with the Hiten master and his dark-furred partner; prepared for the next blows. She allowed a yelp to escape when Hiko blocked an attack from behind, and when he shoved her aside when it knocked him off of his feet.

“Hiko-sama!” Sango shouted, in alarm, when both swordsman and dark nekomatta were pinned by the just-arrived demon.

“Don’t worry about me!” Hiko replied, growling as he focused his attention on the beast that was now trying to slice him to pieces, “Free Kirara!”

“Right!” Sango said, then glared at Hari again.

“Fools! Still so na
ve and stubborn….You won’t be missed.” Hari snickered, as Kirara seemingly roared in agreement, and continued her charge towards her former partner.

“Kirara…..I know this isn’t how you want to be.” Sango tearfully said, then dropped the Hiraikotsu (much to Hiko’s shock and alarm); and, moments later, was sent flying by a blow from one of Kirara’s paws. She didn’t realize that, when that happened, one of her tears had landed on Kirara’s forehead! She could vaguely hear it when Kirara uttered an almost pained screech, and started bashing her head into some nearby branches.

“What’s the matter with you? Finish her off!” Hari commanded; seemingly bewildered by the nekomatta’s actions, and when the feline didn’t listen to her.

“Kirara?!” Sango cried, fear for her partner taking root, when she saw what was happening, “Kirara, stop it!” Within seconds of her saying that, the sound of something shattering came to their ears; shards of blood-red crystal flying free from the diamond-shaped marking on Kirara’s brow. With almost a scream, Kirara collapsed into a heap; exhausted from the effort of freeing herself from Hari’s control.

“Kirara!” Sango shouted, as she forced herself to her feet, and raced over to the downed nekomatta.

“Finally….” Hiko muttered, relieved that the nekomatta was finally free from Hari’s control, and, at the same instant, finding the strength to kill the youkai on top of him.

“Are you all right, Hiko-sama?” Sango called from beside Kirara; noticing when the man freed himself and rushed over to her.

“I’ll live.” Hiko replied, calmly; allowing a slight, tired smile to shine through, when Kagemaru gently nudged Kirara, and tried to help her get to her feet.

“Kirara, I have no further use for you!” Hari howled, furiously, as she started to attack them again. Without another word, the taijiya and warlord both leaped onto their respective nekomatta’s back in order to avoid the ki-charged leaves that were now flying at them.

“Milord! Hiko-sama!” a man’s voice shouted, desperately, from amidst the chaos. Startled by this, Hiko looked down; eyes widening when he saw one of his retainers standing there with a sword in hand, and a vaguely panicked look on his young face.

“Shin! What in the name of the seven hells are you doing here?! I thought I’d told you to remain within the lands!” Hiko replied, as he rushed over to help the younger man fend off some more of the youkai’s onslaught.

“Milord, there’s more mainland youkai entering the lands! They’re being summoned by this one! We’re being overwhelmed!” Shin cried; his deep blue eyes fearful as he said this.

“Damn!” Hiko snapped, then shouted over his shoulder to Sango, “Taijiya, you’re going to have to handle this one on your own! I’m needed back in my lands!”

“Okay! Keep safe, Hiko-sama!” Sango replied, as she watched the white-mantled warlord turn towards his imperiled lands; grabbing Shin by the arm when he was close enough to do so, and pulling him onto Kagemaru’s back.

“//1….” Sango mused, as she watched him go; the foreboding building until she pushed it aside, and motioned towards her weapon, “Kirara! The Hiraikotsu!” With a roar, Kirara dove towards the fallen weapon; determined to settle the score with this youkai, if nothing else.







……………………..







Sanosuke looked up, when he heard what sounded like a roar overhead.

“shoot! Not more attacks from up there!” Sanosuke cursed, as he turned to face the newest threat. Both he and Aoshi were now almost too tired to fight, since they had been fighting nonstop after arriving at the tree. And yet, instead of finding a new attacker, they were shocked to discover who had just arrived. The man in question appeared to be a strong, capable warrior, who wore sturdy-looking armor and a white, red-trimmed mantle. His long dark hair was tied back in a high tail, yet thick strands still blew free from it; hinting at the rough battle he’d just come away from. Astride behind him, a younger man also rode the strange, catlike creature they both sat on.

“Either you’re braver than most men, or you’re suicidal. Fighting youkai with bare hands is something only hanyou are foolish enough to do.” The just-arrived warrior stated, as he and his companion leaped from the cat’s back and cut down some more youkai that had moved in to attack during the lull.

“//1…..” Sanosuke thought, as his eyes took in the regal warrior. In this younger Hiko Seijuro’s visage, he could not see the cynicism he’d become so used to seeing in the future version’s face. Instead, this version had a look in his eyes that was more similar to the one that was normally in Kenshin’s!

“Your arrival to aid us was very well timed, milord. Thank you.” Aoshi gasped, as he wearily bowed to the white-mantled man. Hiko nodded, then looked almost worriedly over his shoulder at the lands to the west. He could sense very clearly the youki of the arriving youkai, and was secretly fearing for his family.

“We must go now, milord. The shield won’t last for much longer.” The man beside Hiko reminded, equally as worriedly.

“Right.” Hiko agreed, then both returned to the nekomatta’s back and motioned for it to head in that direction. As they watched him go, Sanosuke couldn’t help but think of the reasons why Hiko had remained separate from the fighting factions during the Bakumatsu.

“He’d had a lot on his shoulders in this time, Sagara….One can only imagine how much worse it would have been, after all he’d been through in this era, if he’d gotten involved then, as well.” Aoshi stated; having guessed what was crossing Sanosuke’s mind about this encounter.

“Yeah….” Sanosuke quietly agreed, then added, “Let’s see if we can find the yarou and Kenshin.” With only a nod, Aoshi led the way to where he’d felt Kenshin’s ki coming from; hoping that the rurouni was holding out against the demons as well as they had.







…………………….







Kaoru and Misao looked on in dismay, as Hiko’s condition continued to worsen. By now he was so cold, that even the blankets on top of him were becoming icy to the touch.

“//1” Kaoru thought, grimly; looking up when Megumi again entered the room, and gave her a questioning look.

“Still no change?” Megumi asked. Kaoru shook her head.

“Iie. He feels even colder than before.” Kaoru replied, somberly.

“Then there’s only one alternative I can think of that might work…..since no amount of blankets or warmed sake will help, at this point.” Megumi stated; knowing that the two girls knew what she’d meant, when they both blushed slightly at the idea.

“Sharing body warmth? Is that it?” Misao asked, and got a nod from the female doctor as a response.

“It’s a last-ditch effort…..but I don’t think any of us really wants to give up on him without a fight.” Megumi said, even as their blushes deepened, nonetheless.

“I’ve got at least two winter yukata we can use, Misao-chan. Let’s go and put those on….I have the feeling we’re going to need them.” Kaoru murmured, after a few more moments, before she and the kunoichi left the room to don the warmer clothing.

“//1” Megumi silently begged, as she kneeled down beside him, and brushed a gentle hand against his cold brow; hope fading even more, when she felt the frost that had formed there. Time was running out.





………………………









“So, it seems Myoga was right about Menomaru…..” Miroku gasped, as he and Saito climbed onto one of the thicker branches, and got a good look at what was happening.

“Maybe. But it seems as though one of those I had come with had given him something to worry about.” Saito muttered, when he saw the multitude of cuts in Menomaru’s youki barrier, and knew who had inflicted them.

“Saito!” Sanosuke’s voice shouted, getting the attention of both houshi and Wolf of Mibu.

“You two had managed to survive, as well?” Saito asked, almost casually (and almost getting the finger from the former fight merchant as a response.

“No thanks to you.” Sanosuke grumbled, irritably; looking aside when a young woman arrived on the scene, as well.

“Houshi-sama!” the woman called, from astride a cream-colored nekomatta, as the feline landed near them.

“Sango!” Miroku replied, relief coloring his own voice as she got off of the feline’s strong back; her eyes showing some surprise when she saw the three strangers, as well.

“How did you do?” Sango asked; seeming more than a little concerned, when she saw how tired Miroku looked.

“Well, I managed. I overused my kazaana a little bit, though.” Miroku wearily admitted.

“It feels as though the demonic aura has gotten stronger than before….I can only hope that everyone is holding out all right.” Aoshi stated, grimly; ice-blue eyes narrowing when he felt how powerful the youki had become.

“You’re right about that, friend. I can only suggest that you three go with Sango and make your escape. I’ll use my kazaana to take care of it.” Miroku suggested, bravely. All he got in response from the four before him were stubborn looks.

“You’re not gettin’ rid of us that easy, houshi. We came here to stop whatever it is that’s freezing time…..and we’re not about to back down, now.” Sanosuke said, determinedly. And yet, further words were forgotten, when the youki they were sensing from the evil tree’s center suddenly spiked; an ominous light shining brilliantly from it, as something started to emerge.

“//1” Saito inwardly snarled, then looked at the four alongside him, “If anyone has an idea of how to handle this youkai, then say so. We won’t have another chance to think of one, once we head into this battle.”

“I don’t think any plans we make will mean much against //1…..The only thing we can do is be ready.” Aoshi murmured, getting a grim agreement from Sango, Miroku, Sanosuke and even Saito for that.

“Then let’s go. That thing isn’t gonna come to us.” Sanosuke growled, before they all took off towards the evil light.









……………………







Kenshin uttered a yelp, as he was thrown back from the ‘orb’; tumbling end over end till he rammed into something in midair.

“Dammit! What the hell are you doin’ here, human?! Tryin’ to get yourself killed?!” an irritated voice asked, as the owner of it caught him, and they both landed on one of the branches closest to the orb. Dazedly, Kenshin looked up at the speaker; trying to remember where he’d heard that voice before….

“//1…..//1” Kenshin wondered, his vision frustratingly slow to focus on the speaker’s face, for some strange reason.

“Go easy on him, Inu-Yasha! He’s probably here to fight against that youkai too.” A girl’s voice rebuked, then asked, “Daijobu ka?”

“Sessha is all right, de gozaru…..Just a bit dizzy, that’s all. Why are you here?” Kenshin questioned; putting aside any surprise he may have felt upon hearing the name of someone he’d met in his own past.

“We’re here to kill Menomaru. Whattabout you?” Inu-Yasha questioned, shortly.

“To save someone sessha regards as a father.” Kenshin replied, as he regained his footing, and gazed out at the menacing light. All three of them flinched when a tremendous explosion violently shook the tree.

“What was that explosion?” the girl asked, shakily, as she clutched her bow tightly in her delicate hands.

“Curses! We’re too late!” an old man’s voice shouted, in dismay; prompting all three of them into looking at Inu-Yasha’s shoulder. There, a tiny flea youkai stood, gazing anxiously at the center of the tree.

“Oro?” Kenshin heard himself ask, bewilderingly.

“Myoga?!” Inu-Yasha also asked, surprised that the tiny youkai wasn’t running for cover.

“You’re not running away?” the girl questioned, equally as surprised by this turn of events.

“I can act when it’s necessary.” Myoga retorted, insulted by their disbelieving tones.

“Seems I’d misjudged you, Myoga my friend!” Inu-Yasha said, actually sounding pleased, as they watched something ominous begin to emerge. They were forced to move to avoid what appeared to be huge portions of broken crystal; pieces of the barrier that Menomaru had erected around himself. Seconds later, the youkai appeared, in all his fiendish glory.

“Look at the size of him! He’s enormous!” the girl shouted, with true alarm emerging in her young voice, as the sight.

“Size isn’t everything, Kagome!” Inu-Yasha retorted, then added, as he glanced at Kenshin, “You agree with that?”

“Aa.” Kenshin replied, with a firm nod of agreement.

“You can’t scare us, moth man!” Inu-Yasha howled, as he charged into the monstrous youkai’s sights; only succeeding in getting blown back for his efforts.

“Daijobu?” Kagome asked, worriedly, when the hanyou had somehow managed to land on his feet.

“Don’t waste your time worrying about me.” Inu-Yasha growled; starting when Kenshin leaped in next.

“Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu! Ryu Tsui Sen!” Kenshin cried, the sakabatou glowing brilliantly as he struck the youkai’s chest, full force. With an enraged roar, the youkai tried to backhand the tenacious redhead with one huge hand, only to have Kenshin use it as a springboard to back away from him!

“That was amazing! Where did you learn //1?!” Kagome questioned, as the redhead returned to their sides; getting a slight smile from the rurouni for her question.

“Sessha had a very good teacher, Kagome-dono…..One that might end up dying, if this thing isn’t stopped soon.” Kenshin murmured, as he gazed up at the youkai for added emphasis.

“//1” The youkai snarled, as he recoiled from the burning wound Kenshin had inflicted.

“And kicking! Now it’s //1 turn to thank //1!” Inu-Yasha snapped, angrily. He only got a laugh from the youkai as a response.

“//1” the youkai, who had once been Menomaru, cackled, as he spread what appeared to be wings, and unleashed a new horde of beasts from within them.

“What are those youkai?! Where’d they come from?!” Kagome asked, as Inu-Yasha and Kenshin stood in front of her; shielding her with their bodies.

“They are youkai from the Continent.” Myoga replied, gravely.

“There were youkai even in the mainland, Myoga-dono?” Kenshin questioned.

“Hai. The only way to defeat them is to combine the powers of the Tetsusaiga and Kagome’s arrow.” Myoga continued.

“Wait a minute! This swordsman’s sword is glowing with the same light that usually comes from my arrows! Maybe he can help too!” Kagome suggested.

“Indeed.” Myoga agreed, as he took in the sight of Kenshin’s sword, “//1”

“My Tetsusaiga, Kagome’s arrow, and this fool’s sword? Would that actually work?” Inu-Yasha asked, as a plane began to form.

“We won’t know until we try. Right?” Kagome asked, as she glanced at the both of them.

“Right. Now, I will take my leave! Good luck to you all!” Myoga said, before leaping from Inu-Yasha’s shoulder and high-tailing it away from the imminent danger.

“He’s running away again…..” Inu-Yasha growled, in frustration, as he watched the tiny demon run.

“You can’t fault him on that. If it weren’t for the kenkaku sessha had learned, he would be running too.” Kenshin admitted, “This creature’s presence is that frightening.”

“So, you’re a coward too, then?” Inu-Yasha sneered, as the thought of a cowardly swordsman brought a tone to his voice that Kenshin was very used to hearing, by now. Kenshin only shook his head and allowed a grim smile to appear on his youthful features.

“No. Sessha just has a strong desire to live.” Kenshin replied, ruefully; remembering //1 particular lesson a little too well, at this point.

“//1” Kenshin mused; gazing grimly at the monstrosity before them, and listening as it sneered at them.

“//1” the youkai commanded, and sent the deluge at the trio.

“Feel the wrath of my Tetsusaiga!” Inu-Yasha shouted; sweeping the mighty fang in a sidewards arc, and dispatching many of the attacking youkai.

“Yes! He did it!” Kagome cheered, “Nicely done!”

“Dammit! I’m not getting anywhere!” Inu-Yasha growled, listening when Kenshin bashed a few more aside, as well as their yelps of shock and pain in response to his sword’s burning aura.

“There are more coming!” Kenshin said, as he did his best to protect both Kagome and the kitsune with her from the next wave.

“Here they come!” Kagome cried, as she desperately notched an arrow into her bow, and fired it. She was stopped from firing any more when a few of the youkai slipped through Kenshin’s defenses, and swiped at them with their sharp claws.

“Grab onto my shoulders! Both of you! Quickly!” Kenshin urgently ordered, when he’d managed to knock the attacking youkai back away from them again. With no arguments, both Kagome and the kitsune did as they were told; gripping his gi tightly as he leaped as high as he could to avoid what appeared to be a giant boomerang as it screamed past.

“Hiraikotsu!” a young woman’s voice shouted, strongly. To all of their relief, the cavalry had finally arrived!

“Sango!” Kagome said, glad to see that the other girl was all right, and that a nekomatta was with her.

“Miroku too!” the kitsune added, yet they both seemed surprised when three more men joined them on the branch Kenshin was landing on.

“Good to see that you’re still in the land of the living, Kenshin.” One of them said, with a hint of relief in his normally reckless eyes.

“You doubted it, Sano?” Kenshin asked, rhetorically.

“Nah. Not really. The yarou was doubting it, however.” Sanosuke replied, as he turned and glared at Saito for added emphasis; not really surprised when the former Wolf of Mibu ignored it completely.

“Don’t just stand there! Help me out, here!” Inu-Yasha snarled, impatiently.

“Right. Hang tough, man!” Sanosuke shouted, before he launched himself into the battle before him.

“That moron.” Saito grumbled, with an irritated sigh, before he and Aoshi also unsheathed their blades and fought.

“Kazaana!” Miroku cried, as he unleashed his own power onto the horde; sucking in as many into the vortex as he could, before shouting, “Hurry and go! I’ll take care of them!”

“Thanks, Houshi-sama! Good luck!” Sango encouraged.

“Please, do you best. Should any of you not live through this, I’ll never forget you.” Miroku said, in all seriousness, as his cursed hand swallowed the youkai whole; yet getting a deadpan look from Kagome, Sango, and Kenshin as a response.

“Not very encouraging….” Kenshin muttered, dryly.

“Yeah. Don’t jinx us before we can even get started!” Kagome added, irritably.

“We’re gonna win, ain’t //1 obvious?!” Inu-Yasha snapped, with just as much annoyance in his voice as Kenshin and Kagome had shown.

“//1” the huge youkai asked, angrily.

“Feh…..Why’re all mainlanders so full of it?” Sanosuke asked, with a snort of contempt at the youkai’s words.

“Good question, Tori-atama.” Saito muttered, reluctantly agreeing with the fight merchant on that sentiment.

“I’ll //1 ya how it’s done!” Inu-Yasha retorted, as he again charged into the fray.

“Inu-Yasha! Wait!” Kagome called, as she started to run after the hard-headed hanyou.

“Kagome-chan, be careful.” Sango warned, as she got astride the nekomatta again, and prepared to take the fight to the youkai waiting in the air.

“I’ll be fine! I’m with Inu-Yasha!” Kagome replied, confidently.

“And sessha is still willing to help, as well.” Kenshin added, as he ran alongside her. This got an encouraged smile from the girl in response.

“Arigato….um….Kenshin-san….was it?” Kagome asked, remembering what the youngest of the trio had called the redhead when they had arrived.

“Aa.” Kenshin replied; not realizing that, as he turned his head to momentarily look at the her, she’d spotted the scar on his left cheek, and that her eyes were widening in shock.

“//1…..//1…..//1…..//1//1//1….” Kagome thought, as she then remembered what he had said to her and Inu-Yasha when they had entered the fight.

“//1” Kagome wondered, as they reached the spot where Inu-Yasha was fighting, just as the hanyou was knocked flat on his back again.

“Are you all right?” Kagome asked, when she had gotten to the hanyou’s side, and when Kenshin took up a position in front of them.

“//1” Hyoga growled, in disgust, as he watched Inu-Yasha sit up, and as Kagome boldly stood alongside him.

“What’s wrong with them being together?” Kenshin questioned, knowing full well what the pair faced, since he had seen some degree of the same thing, in his own time.

“//1” Hyoga snarled; his aura growing as he glared down at them.

“//1” Inu-Yasha thought, as he got to his feet and gripped the Tetsusaiga’s hilt even tighter than before; watching as Kenshin did pretty much the same thing with his own sword, and knowing that the human swordsman was feeling the oppressive weight of Hyoga’s aura, as well.

“Kagome, shoot an arrow! Kenshin, follow my lead!” Inu-Yasha ordered.

“Right! Ready when you are!” Kenshin replied, as Inu-Yasha started running.

“//1” Kenshin thought, as he launched a Ryu Kan Sen at Hyoga’s abdomen; slashing into the barrier surrounding the youkai with a flash of pure light. As he descended, he saw it when Kagome’s arrow impacted as well; hitting the spot where his strike had landed, and opening it even further.

“There! The spot where the air collides! Kaze no Kizuu!” Inu-Yasha cried, as he swept a brightly glowing Tetsusaiga at the opening…..yet only managing slight damage, despite their combined efforts.

“I barely even scratched the surface! Damn!” Inu-Yasha snarled, before Hyoga sent his retaliation blazing at them.

“//1” Hyoga roared, before sending a powerful blast of youki at them.

“Kagome-dono! Run for it!” Kenshin yelped, as he picked up the startled teenager and leaped out of the way; his godlike speed just barely enough to keep them from being incinerated.

“Thanks, Kenshin-san!” Kagome gasped, when they had reached a different branch, and he’d set her down carefully on it.

“You all right, Kenshin?!” Sanosuke’s voice shouted, from below them.

“Sessha is fine, Sano! Don’t worry!” Kenshin reassured, as Inu-Yasha rejoined them on their branch.

“That thing’s youki has become so powerful….” Aoshi said, as he gazed at the destruction the demonic energy had caused.

“We really got ‘im good and mad, that time…..But we can win. I’ll use the Bakuryuuha to send his own energy right back at him!” Inu-Yasha said, confidently, then gave them both a questioning look, “Think you two can time it so that after Kenshin’s strike lands, Kagome’s arrow will hit?”

“Sessha is willing to try anything, at this point, Inu-Yasha-kun.” Kenshin muttered, tiredly.

“Good. Be ready to go at my signal.” Inu-Yasha replied, when he’d gotten a nod from Kagome, as well.

“//1” Hyoga sneered, as he watched the humans below him regroup.

“You’ve got two legs and a heartbeat, so what’s stoppin’ you from coming to me?!” Inu-Yasha taunted, smartly.

“Inu-Yasha, Kenshin-san, his youki is centered around that mark on his forehead.” Kagome said, when she’d noticed it.

“Think you can hit it?” Inu-Yasha asked.

“I’ll try!” Kagome said, then nodded to Kenshin. It was now or never.

“//1….” Kenshin mused, as he sheathed his sakabatou, and prepared himself for Inu-Yasha’s signal. With the sound of the arrow leaving Kagome’s bow, Kenshin made his move; the beyond-godlike speed coming easily to him, in the face of the desperate situation they had before them.

“Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ougi! Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki!” Kenshin cried, as he unleashed his sword-craft’s final move…..only to watch as his blow, as well as Kagome’s arrow, got knocked off course. Therefore, almost all were stunned by what even the deflected power did next; they struck and severed Hyoga’s left wing!

“Great shot, jou-chan! That’ll ground ‘im for a while!” Sanosuke shouted, encouragingly; giving the teenaged girl a grin and a thumb’s up to show his support.

“Thanks!.....I guess…..” Kagome said, mumbling the last part since she wasn’t very certain about the fighter’s sincerity, at this point.

“//1” Hyoga snarled, then sent yet another blast at Kagome; this time knocking her off of the branch she was standing on.

“Kagome!” Inu-Yasha yelped, in horror when he saw her begin to fall.

“Kagome-dono!” Kenshin echoed, as he leaped to try and catch her; managing to curl himself around her in an effort to cushion the fall, yet finding himself surprised when he felt someone grab the both of them from midair!

“Wouldja look at this? I caught me a miko //1 a man! It seems I’m having some luck today!” a female voice cheerfully said; startling the both of them into looking up.

“Arashi-san!” Kagome said, pleased to see the one that now held them.

“Orororo?” Kenshin asked, bewildered by this turn of events. The woman that now held them had the same silver hair and amber, cat-slitted eyes as Inu-Yasha, yet had a single red stripe on both cheeks. Her armor was simple in design, and lacked any shoulder-guards, signaling that she was an archer, as well.

“Sesshomaru-nii sent me to help you out, since he’s busy trying to keep the rest of Hyoga’s forces from making landfall. Are you both all right, Kagome-chan?” Arashi asked, as some concern filtered into her golden eyes. Kagome nodded, then glanced at Kenshin.

“Sessha is just fine, thanks to you, Arashi-dono.” Kenshin replied, with a smile.

“Good. Glad I’d made it in time, then.” Arashi stated, with a relieved smile, then started her descent to where the two groups now stood.

“That was pretty damn reckless, Kenshin.” Sanosuke growled, when they had gotten back down to the ground again.

“Sessha knows, Sano…..yet sessha couldn’t just stand aside and do nothing.” Kenshin replied, with a slight smile; knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that all three of his companions were inwardly agreeing with his master, at this point. All turned to look when Hyoga took one step towards them, angry enough now to come after them.

“Seems as though he’s not going to wait for us to come to him, this time.” Saito snarled, as he wiped what he could of the demon blood off of his sword, and prepared to start fighting again.

“Yeah….Kagome, aim for that mark again! Kenshin, use that same attack you’d used a while ago that’d helped sever his wing!” Inu-Yasha commanded, as he gripped the Tetsusaiga even tighter in his clawed hands.

“His aura’s too strong! My arrow will never make it that far!” Kagome replied, uncertainly; jumping slightly when she felt Arashi place a hand on her shoulder, and turned to see her grin.

“Don’t worry too much about that! Hit ‘im with your best shot!” Arashi encouraged.

“Just be overconfident like usual and fire the arrow!” Inu-Yasha added.

“Like you’re one to talk!” Kagome retorted, angrily.

“Oro…..” Kenshin sighed, shaking his head as he listened to the argument, then saying, “We have no time for arguing, Inu-Yasha-kun, Kagome-dono.”

“//1…..//1” Sanosuke thought, as he watched the trio from where he stood. It was all up to them, now.

“I’ll use your combined strikes to relay my Bakuryuuha! Just trust me!” Inu-Yasha said; knowing that time was of the essence, and didn’t want or need their uncertainties to get in the way.

“All right!” Kagome agreed, her determination rekindled by those words.

“//1” Kenshin mused, offering the both of them an agreeing nod to prove that he was ready.

“//1” Hyoga roared, as he prepared to hurl an even stronger attack at them; the marking on his brow glowing in an even brighter intensity than before.

“You can do it, Kagome!” Sango and Miroku both murmured.

“C’mon, jou-chan…..Don’t let that monster’s size intimidate you.” Sanosuke added, “And Kenshin, put your all into this strike!”

“Don’t blow it, Battousai.” Saito grumbled, as he felt for his cigarettes and matches; scowling when he found that they were gone.

“GO!!” Kagome cried, as she loosed her arrow, and Kenshin moved from her side; swiftly and easily matching the arrow’s speed. With a blinding flash, Kagome’s arrow struck Hyoga’s barrier and Kenshin followed it in; intent on unleashing the ougi as soon as he was close enough.

“I’ll show you, Hyoga! You mocked us, and now you’re gonna feel our true power!” Inu-Yasha growled, as he adjusted his grip on the Tetsusaiga, and readied his own aura for the attack.

“Bakuryuuha!!”

“Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki!”

The battle was decided, in moments.







…………………………







The first thing he became aware of, was the fact that he could hear his own heart beating. At first, the sound was very weak, and then it started getting stronger. Soon, he was finding that he was shivering from an icy cold that was slowly but surely loosening its’ grip from around him.

“Hiko-san?” a young woman’s voice asked, the sound of it echoing slightly in his fogbound brain…..yet he was jolted somewhat into wakefulness when he realized how close the voice had come from. Slowly, he opened his eyes; finding to his shock and consternation that not only was Kaoru lying next to him, but so were Misao and Megumi, as well! Kaoru was on his right hand side, Megumi was on his left, and Misao was on top; all three of them sharing their body warmth with him.

“You three…..took a tremendous risk…..” Hiko whispered, his words alone rousing Megumi and Misao from half-slumber.

“Hiko-san!” Misao yelped; getting off of his chest and smiling at him when she saw that he was awake.

“Daijobu, Hiko-san?” Kaoru asked, gently, as she sat up and brushed a hand against his brow; seeming relieved when she felt his skin warming back up again.

“I’ve felt better…..But trying to keep me warm by using that method was dangerous, at best…..You three were at risk for freezing, as well.” Hiko murmured.

“True…..And we were all starting to get cold there, after a while…..But nothing else was working. We couldn’t just give up and let you die without trying everything!” Kaoru stated, even as a fervent blush appeared on her face, regardless.

“//1…..//1” Hiko wondered, with a slight sigh of exasperation…..yet couldn’t stop the feeling of warmth that stole into him at the thought that they had risked it all to keep him from dying; so like another group he had known, so long ago……

“Hiko-san, do you think you can sit up? I’m pretty sure Yahiko has some soup warmed up, by now.” Megumi finally said; breaking her unusual silence, at last.

“Feh, as long as I can have some sake to go along with it.” Hiko retorted; smirking when he saw one of her eyebrows twitch in irritation, and heard the quiet laughter from Misao and Kaoru for his comment, as well.









………………………









Kenshin watched from afar, as things slowly returned to normal within the Sengoku Era village; smiling when he heard Sanosuke and Inu-Yasha yelling at one another.

“Quite the lungs on those two, wouldn’t you say?” the elderly miko asked, as she joined him in the sunshine.

“Aa. But sessha couldn’t ask for a better comrade than Sano. Or Aoshi, for that matter.” Kenshin said, inwardly chuckling when he saw Aoshi return from the clearing where the well waited; shaking his head in exasperation as he did so.

“Things are coming to a head, Aoshi?” Kenshin questioned.

“Unfortunately.” Aoshi muttered; his eyes showing mild irritation as he looked back in the direction he’d come from. They all turned to look when they heard a baby begin crying within the hut behind them, and when Arashi’s voice softly spoke, and then began to sing a gentle lullaby in response.

“That’s another thing that is strange about this…..While Inu-Yasha’s strike slew Hyoga, the power of your Sakabatou Shinuchi and Higurashi-san’s arrow rescued Menomaru. He can start his life over, thanks to that gift.” Aoshi added, as he watched Arashi emerge from within the hut with the teal-haired baby in her arms.

“But how he uses the ‘gift’ is up to him. We can only hope, at this point, that we won’t have to come back here again later to finish him off.” Saito grumbled, from his perch on top of the hut. At this, he got an unreadable, yet fiercely protective, look from Arashi as an answer.

“He will be raised as my own, and, when the time comes, will be told of what had happened in that battle. What will decide his future, at this point, is how he is raised. And I will see to it that he becomes an honorable youkai, this time around.” Arashi said, determinedly, as she gently brushed clawed fingertips across her adopted son’s tiny brow; seeming surprised when Kenshin approached and did the same.

“Sessha wishes you and your mother all the best, Menomaru-kun.” Kenshin said, softly; smiling when the baby’s tiny eyebrows furrowed in response to the rougher feel of his sword-calloused fingers. Then he withdrew and gave the former Okashira and Wolf of Mibu a nod. It was time to go home. As they began to walk towards the well, they were again stopped by Kagome calling out to them.

“Hey! Wait a minute! I’ve gotta ask you something!” Kagome shouted, as she dashed over to them.

“What is your question, Kagome-dono?” Kenshin asked, curiously.

“Are you really…..? What I mean is, are you…..Himura Kenshin?” Kagome asked, in turn, then added, “And he’s Saito Hajime?”

“Last time we checked, kid. Why?” Saito questioned; feigning irritation, even though he was curious as to what had brought this on.

“W-well….It was just a big surprise to see you guys here, that’s all. I just never thought that anyone else from another time could come through the Bone-Eater’s Well.” Kagome stated, competently.

“Time isn’t what you think it is. It isn’t solid or streamlined, and paradoxes can happen all the time. At least…..that is what I have learned, from my own personal experience.” Saito murmured, almost distractedly; ignoring Kenshin’s surprised expression at his knowledge on the subject.

“I guess so. But on another note, can I ask you guys for one little favor before you go?” Kagome questioned, as a pleading look appeared on her childish face. Feeling dread creep up on him as he saw that look emerge, Kenshin nodded.

“Can I have your autographs?!” Kagome asked, with a smile, as she pulled a small notebook from nowhere, and held it out to Kenshin and Saito. In response to this, Kenshin fell flat on his face, while Saito’s expression went utterly deadpan.

“Ororororororo…….” Kenshin mumbled, even though his face was partially buried in the soil near Saito’s feet.

“For once, Battousai, I couldn’t have said it better, myself.” Saito muttered, as he reluctantly took the proffered notebook and pen from the teenaged girl, and started writing his own name in it (albeit with some difficulty, since he wasn’t used to the kind of pen Kagome had lent to him to write with).







…………………………









“Tou-san! What’re you lookin’ at?” a child’s voice asks, as she approaches what appears to be a white-mantled warrior. With a calm smile, the man turns, picks her up, and continues looking in the same direction he’d been looking in. The same direction where Hyoga’s Go-Shinboku had once been.

“Just enjoying the view, Kaoru-chan. That is all.” The warrior replies, gently, as he held his daughter close, so she can hear his heartbeat. He smiles when he senses her confusion, and when she looks up at him with a puzzled look in her sapphire eyes.

“But I don’t see anything different, Tou-san. Just a buncha trees…..” Kaoru said, confusedly. This got warm laughter from her father for that.

“Hiko-sama? Is Kaoru-chan out there with you?” a woman’s voice asks, as it’s’ owner emerges from one of the ornate buildings behind him.

“Hai. We’ll be inside in just a moment, Natsu.” Hiko replied, as he turned and gave his wife the same calm smile he’d just given his daughter. As he started to follow his wife back indoors, he could only inwardly wonder if what he’d felt when Hyoga had disappeared had been true.

“…..//1” Hiko wondered, then shrugged. He had enough to worry about, without that adding an extra burden…..as he was soon to find out, in short order……









…………………………….











Kenshin released the breath he didn’t even know he’d been holding, when he finally emerged from the Bone-Eater’s Well, and the well house it was being sheltered by, and found himself back in Meiji Era Japan.

“Well, at least //1 nightmare is over!” Sanosuke muttered, in relief, as he stretched to relieve the tension in his muscles.

“Aa. Sessha agrees wholeheartedly with you on that, Sano.” Kenshin stated, then added, “Let’s get back to the dojo.” With no more words said between them, three of them hurriedly made their way back (while Saito simply walked away in the opposite direction, fully intent on getting home to his wife, first and foremost). And the sight that greeted them when they arrived filled Kenshin even further with relief. Hiko was standing on the dojo’s porch, waiting for them. And, as Kenshin got closer, he could see an odd look of realization appear in the older man’s eyes, before the Thirteenth master sighed and shook his head.

“Shishou? Daijobu ka?” Kenshin asked, quietly.

“I’m fine, Baka Deshi.” Hiko replied, in his usual tone….yet, as he moved aside to let Kenshin get past him, he quietly (and even proudly) added, “You did well.” Startled by this, Kenshin turned to give the gruff swordmaster a shocked look, yet only got a mildly irritated one in answer to it.

“Go inside, you three. The Kitsune-onna, Tanuki, and Itachi are waiting for you.” Hiko commanded, motioning towards the door as he did so.

“Will do.” Sanosuke replied, then added, “I can smell the Kitsune’s ohagi from here!”

“Aren’t you coming inside as well, Shishou?” Kenshin asked, as he opened the door and glanced back at the white-mantled warrior; not seeming in the least bit surprised when Hiko didn’t answer him. and yet, after he heard the trio go back inside, and was certain that they were out of earshot, he called out to someone that waited close by.

“Kagemaru.” Hiko called, and was answered by the dark-furred nekomatta flying into the yard, with a cream-colored nekomatta following close behind him.

“As hard as it is for me to believe it, old friends, those three pulled it off.” Hiko murmured, then silently added, “//1…..//1…..//1” And, with that thought in mind, Hiko Seijuro gave Kagemaru and his mate one last scratch behind their ears, then reached into his gi, pulled out a small, well-worn piece of paper and looked at the date written there. He still had a little over a hundred years to wait….and who knew what would happen, before that time came?



//1//1

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