AT The Office:
B-M faces the cast of Inu Yasha
B-M: Wow Guys, I'm so excited to meet you all. I can't believe I'm actually working with you. I have a great story lined up and I know you're gonna love it.
Inuyasha: Hey wench, stop wasting our time with your shit and tell us something, can you write?
Everyone gasps in shock.
Kagome: Inuyasha do you have to be so rude?!!!
Inuyasha: Keh, if I'm gonna be in her dumb story, I wanna know if the stupid bitch can write, ok?!!!!
Everyone: (moan) Here they go again.
B-M: Listen Inuyasha, I really think you'll like my story a lot. You have a really great part.
Inuyasha: Are you gonna make me wimp out to this prick like everyone else does?
B-M starts looking uncomfortable.
Inuyasha storms over to stand in front of B-M
Inuyasha: I knew it!!!!!...You are, aren't you?!!!!!...Does he end up with Kagome too?!!!!!
B-M: Kagome!!!!...Help!!!
Kagome: Inuyasha...Osuwari!!!
(Crash)
B-M sighs with relief. Cracking her knuckles, she takes a seat at the computer.
B-M: Well now, that didn't go nearly as badly as I thought it would. (smiles) Begins to type.
Chapter 1 The First Piece Of The Puzzle
The lone rider trailed down the mountainside, his pace slow and steady. He looked about him, at the lush green vegetation with it's glorious array of flowers and sighed in contentment, happy to have finally made it home. Ahead of him loomed a large castle, beautiful in it's tones of white and gold. The outer wall was so high that it allowed only a glimpse of the tops of the largest towers within. As he neared the huge black iron gates, the only variation in tone to the entire structure, he raised tired eyes, mentally signalling to the guards that stood above him on a lower outer wall. Immediately, one lifted a horn and a deep, echoing sound blasted through the air. Almost instantly came the sound of a turning metallic wheel, followed by that of rolling chains. The huge iron gate slowly swung open, revealing the breathtaking sight of a glorious white and gold city inside.
The rider, who was usually appreciative of the sights within the city walls chose to ignore them this day, instead he urged his horse into a light gallop as he made his way through the sea of faces that lined the streets. All who heard the siren stepped aside to make way for the passing rider, bowing low in recognition of the one atop the majestic horse. The rider made his way out of the bustling marketplace, through the woods and on to the castle ahead. He approached another wall, this one much smaller than the first. Before he reached it, the heavy iron gates were swinging open, allowing him entry. The rider tore into the courtyard, steering the huge beast beneath him toward the left side of the large building. He stopped beside the huge white doors and dismounted, handing the reigns to the small green toad that appeared at his arrival. The toad covered his heart with his right hand and bowed deeply.
"Welcome home your Highness. I trust you had a safe and pleasant journey"
The rider merely nodded his head indifferently at the toad and moved past him. As he stepped into the doors he found himself facing another of the toad-like creatures.
"Aah, Sesshoumaru-sama you have returned at last."
"Jakken, is there any news?"
"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama, the fourth patrol returned this afternoon. Captain Tiyaku is waiting in your office as we speak." The toad squawked in his annoying little voice that always managed to grate on the Western Lord's ears.
Without replying, Sesshoumaru turned and made haste for his office. Upon entering he encountered a distinguished looking Inu youkai with the characteristic silver white hair, dressed in the traditional Western Patrol uniform of royal blue tunic and pants, both trimmed with silver blue ribboning. He wore the appropriate epaulettes on his uniform to mark his rank. Crossing his right hand over his heart, he bowed deeply to his lord.
"At ease captain."
Sesshoumaru moved to sit behind his desk and motioned for the young officer to take a seat.
"Have you any news for me?"
A slight smile passed across Tiyaku's face.
"I have something that is much better than news Sire."
Just as Tiyaku reached into his tunic, there came a knock on the door.
"Enter" Sesshoumaru had been that focused on what the Captain had to show him that he failed to sense the approaching presence. He mentally berated himself for the lapse as he turned toward the door. Another very distinguished looking youkai entered the room. This one wore the house uniform, customary for all officers absent from duty. Both pants and tunic were made of a light silver blue material that created a dazzling affect when combined with the silver haired good looks of the Inu Youkai. He bowed low to his lord.
"Sire, we have finally located the book you seek." Walking forward, he placed a black leather-bound book on top the desk before turning to give a short nod as Tiyaku saluted him.
'How does something as large and obvious as this become impossible to find? You couldn't possibly loose it if you tried.' Sesshoumaru wondered as he eyed the book sitting on his desk. He raised his eyes to the officer in the silver blue uniform.
"Where did you find it General?"
"Sire, I know that this will sound incredible to your ears, but the book was on its stand in the Shiiyon Temple."
If it had not been for the hundreds of years of training, Sesshoumaru's face would have revealed his surprise.
"Is this a joke of some sort?" he asked, in his usual calm emotionless voice.
"As my word Sire, it is not. The discovery came shortly after your departure. We have had an entire month to conduct our investigations into the matter and I assure you that we have overlooked none in our interrogations. There is no reasonable explanation for it. It seems that somehow, the book just re-appeared in its rightful place. As you know, the temple is so heavily guarded by the Shiiyon magic that nothing, not even magic itself will penetrate it. There is no other explanation for it Sire."
Sesshoumaru contemplated this for a second longer before putting it aside for the other matter at hand.
"Take a seat General, no doubt we will solve this mystery eventually. Captain Tiyaku was just about to show me the findings of his expedition." Sesshoumaru pointed to the other chair in front of his desk. Once again, Tiyaku reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked to be a dirty old piece of leather, bound by a coarse bit of twine. Sesshoumaru took the leather, realising that it was actually a pouch. Tiyaku smiled again, as the great lord wrinkled his nose in disgust of the foul stench omitted from the object.
"We discovered it inside a cave at the base of Kahala." he offered, in explanation. This brought understanding. For Kahala was a mountain deep in the south, that was said to contain within its great depths, so much evil that nothing grew nor lived for thousands of miles in it's surrounding area. It lay like a barren wasteland of dirt and rock and omitted a stench so putrid that it would literally make one want to loose all the contents of their stomach. Sesshoumaru extended a claw from his right index finger and sliced through the binding. Inside he found what looked to be like a piece of a scroll, which surprisingly, considering the state of its housing, was clean and undamaged. His stomach muscles tightened as he wondered if this could be another piece of the Shiiyon Scroll. Standing swiftly, Sesshoumaru headed toward the door, mentally summoning his servant Jakken.
"Let us hope that it helps our cause." he spoke to the two officers who followed him out the door and down the hall. Before they reached the end of the long corridor, the green toad appeared, bowing before his Sire.
"Jakken, locate Inuyasha and get him to the temple as quickly as you can. You will also find Lady Kikyou in the herb garden. Bring her to the temple as well. It is imperative that you make haste. Do you understand me Jakken?"
"Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama." Jakken bowed to him before disappearing.
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Fifteen minutes later, inside the Shiiyon Temple stood Sesshoumaru, Prince of the Great Western Lands. With him were the officers who had accompanied him earlier, his brother Prince Inuyasha, and the priestess, Lady Kikyou. They all watched anxiously as he approached a large circular table. The table was rather strange, appearing to be part of the floor, rather than resting atop it. It was a dull black, like the blackness of nothing and seemed to possess a living presence that vibrated softly throughout the room. Sesshoumaru removed the shred of paper from its leather case. Throwing aside the pouch, he placed the newly acquired piece of scroll on the table with the existing piece. Turning, he gestured to Kikyou to come forth. As she approached, she started pulling different objects from a large silver pouch, tied to her waist. She slowly circled the table, placing crystals around its edges in four identical patterns. Each formed a triangular shape, with the tip pointing to the table's centre, where the pieces of scroll lay. The first row was made up of three deep blue crystals, the next row two blood red crystals and finally at the peak, one large brilliant silver crystal. The priestess started chanting as she laid candles in between each formation.
"Mohz ter Shiiyon debahas gahh halanam"
Over, and over she repeated the magical words that would pull forth the power they sought. 'Mists of Shiiyon release thy light'. When all the pieces were in place, she stood on the opposite side of the table from Sesshoumaru and gestured to Inuyasha to take his place. Once he stood next to his brother, she raised her hands, palms up and closed her eyes, all the while continuing her unceasing chant. 'Mists of Shiiyon release thy light'. Suddenly the vibrations increased and pulsing waves of energy filled the entire room. The table lit up, changing from black to a brilliant white. All the youkai in the room found it necessary to cover their eyes in order to avoid the intense pain from the radiating light. Kikyou continued chanting, eyes closed, hands raised. After several minutes, the light started dimming, enabling all to see once more. The table continued to shine, though now not quite so glaringly. All of a sudden, the candles lit up, at the same time as a swirl of wind surrounded the scrolls and grew steadily with force until the it too filled the room. The black leather book, now resting on a nearby stand, flipped open with a loud bang that caused the wind to stop.
Everything went quiet, as each took a moment to collect their thoughts. Sesshoumaru was first to recover, reaching to the now joined pieces of scroll to see what it revealed. He read the words 'Shorafn sonze tun corohabinz ter Shiiyon'. Turning to Kikyou, who had only now recovered from the spell, he asked.
"Priestess, tell me the meaning of these words."
Coming to stand beside to him, Kikyou looked at the paper. She turned to the western lord, her cool eyes blank, as she replied
"I am sorry My Lord, these words are not familiar to me. The only words of the Shiiyon that are passed to the priestesses of Gavalia are those of the release spell, which I but uttered not minutes ago."
Silence loomed as everyone pondered the meaning of all this. Inuyasha suddenly remembered the black book.
"Perhaps that will tell us something," he said, pointing to it. They all moved to stand before it and read,
'In the beginning there was one whose dominion reigned supreme throughout the lands. These were peace-filled, happy times. Then the lands divided and havoc was to be the rule for this new world. Slowly, the Earth began to die as destruction swept her mass. With the rise of evil, ruin fell upon three of lands and only one endured. However, the fate of this land would be uncertain as darkness now prevailed.
In sight of this, the ever kind and loving presence of Heaven sent his children hope, a ray of light...'
Sesshoumaru could feel anger seeping through his veins and his head started pounding. 'What the hell does this mean?' his mind yelled. Taking a deep breath, he struggled contain his emotions, before reading the words again.
"This tells us nothing" he said, an edge of impatience to his voice. He felt like ripping the thing to shreds, but firmly held his steely, impassive exterior. A Lord of the lands did not lose control in front of his subjects. He paced back to the newly joined pieces of scroll, staring at it in disgust, as he contemplated burning it. Instead, he turned away, maintaining his air of calm as he issued instructions to the waiting group.
"Lady Kikyou, you will return to your village and look for anything relating to the Shiiyon language. Inuyasha, see that she has safe passage there." He nodded to the pair then turned to Captain Tiyaku.
"Captain, you will go to the barracks and organize two extra patrols to leave at sunrise."
Tiyaku bowed to Sesshoumaru and took his leave. Turning to face the Himari, he gestured to him to follow as he started toward the door.
"General, seek out the Bablion Khai and tell them that they are to search through all the scrolls to see if some explanation can be found for all this."
"Of course My Lord."
Himari departed his Lordship in search of the wise and ancient scholars who spent much of their time in libraries and study halls, poring over scroll after scroll, in search of greater knowledge. Sesshoumaru turned in another direction, seeking a different set of doors, which held the same silver blue crescent moon that adorned his forehead. As he approached the doorway, the two soldiers guarding it, bowed low and uncrossed their spears. Sesshoumaru made his way quickly down the hall, intent on bathing before he retired to his room for a much-needed rest. He had ridden solidly for ten days to get back, not bothering to stop or sleep. Not to mention the constant fights he had faced, from one attack or another during his journey. All in all, he was exhausted. He would eat after his bath, then sleep. Finding solutions to all his problems would have to til the morrow. 'Bathe first' he thought, and then paused in his stride. 'Or maybe I should check on father...'
Back At The Office:
Well I hope you liked it. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to review. If not simply enjoy.
I'm going to take the time here to warn you all that I'm not at all inclined to rush the romances in my stories. Well, not the important ones at least. As well as this, I also have the bad habit of writing the characters exactly the way I like them. That includes personalities, looks and even their status. So I hope I won't get too many complaints about this. I'll keep my story as entertaining as possible to make up for it.
I'll try to make the updates as frequently as my life will allow. Till next time. See Ya!