Scroll Twenty-Nine

A/N: Edited on 1/1/2017

"This is foolish." Sesshomaru jumped back out of the entrance of the cave demanding the snake demon to follow him out into the open. He swung Tokijin and let a little demonic aura hit the creature. Small bits of flesh and blood squirted from the top of its head, but it retreated before it got within yards of the entrance.

The rest of the group had already retreated when the realized no one was going to get through the barrier blocking their way to InuYasha. The monk and demon exterminator had to drag the priestess away from the cave as she had desperately tried to break the barrier with another one of her purification arrows. It had been to no avail, and the snake head had decided she was a big enough threat to lunge itself out of its protection barrier and aimed its fangs at the fragile human. The wolf demon had jumped in front of the priestess and let out a powerful kick, with the boost from his jewel shards, and sent the snake backwards, away from harming the priestess.

Sesshomaru stepped downward as his body fully emerged from the cave into the misty mountainside surroundings. The snakehead disappeared into the darkness of the carven, a slithering sound and water droplet splashes was heard with its retreat. Its hiss of annoyance echoed from the entrance as Sesshomaru stepped forward to attack the creature once more.

"Enough Sesshomaru." Sango glared. "It won't come out."

"What about InuYasha?!" Kagome cried.

"If he's truly a demon now, he can handle himself." Kouga snorted.

"As both Sesshomaru and you have demonstrated, you can get hurt too!" Kagome yelled back.

"Calm down everyone!" Miroku shouted above all of them. "We need to re-approach our strategy."

"Unless you plan to use the wind tunnel monk, I don't think anything is getting through that barrier." Sango huffed.

"Then what do you have in mind Sango?" Miroku asked.

"How about we wait until dog turd decides that playing chicken with a large snake demon is not a good idea." Kouga snorted.

"No." Kagome glared at Kouga. "I'm not leaving him alone to fight an unknown enemy."

"We have no other alternative priestess." Sesshomaru eyed the mountainside. "I will scout for another entrance. The rest of you humans remain here." With that, the Demon Lord floated upward and headed west.

"Heh, I'm not human." Kouga growled under his breathe.

"Lord Sesshomaru will be fine on his own." Miroku looked back at the cave entrance. "I think we should try entering again."

"What about the snake?" Sango asked.

"How about I just go by myself?" Kagome asked.

"No!" Kouga snapped.

"Kouga it senses your demonic aura, and with only one of us I might be able to sneak in." Kagome begged her friends. "I'll be extremely cautious."

"You're not going alone Kagome." Sango stepped up. "I will accompany you while you two…" Sango glared at Miroku and Kouga, "Stay and guard the entrance. If we run into trouble we will meet you out here."

"What if I hear Kagome screaming?" Kouga glared at the demon slayer.

"I'll be fine Kouga." Kagome stared.

"I'll take care of it." Sango glared at the wolf demon. "I am a demon slayer and Kagome is a powerful priestess. We are not as helpless as you want us to be."

"I didn't say that!" Kouga yelled.

"Enough." Miroku patted the wolf prince on the shoulder. "Sango I can trust you with anything. Even so…" He walked up to her and whispered in her ear. "Please be careful."

Squeeze. SLAP!

"Pervert!"

Kagome couldn't help but let out little giggle. She stared back up at the entrance and slowly gave Sango a nod letting her know they were entering. Kagome hitched her breathe and entered the cold moist walls of the cavern. Sango was not too far behind.

Please be all right InuYasha, Kagome thought. We're trying to get to you, just hold on a little bit longer.

(-)_(-)

"Ugh…" InuYasha slowly opened his eyes as the world around him began to become less of a blur. He tried to sit up when suddenly he was yanked backwards and his head and back hit a boulder. InuYasha snarled and looked down to see that some vines bound his arms and chest. In addition, he noted that all his armor and clothes from the waist up had been removed.

"Where the hell are you?!" InuYasha yelled out into the cavern. He looked up and noticed he was at the foot of the large tree with its roots and vines plastered all over the large rocks. InuYasha glared ahead as the smaller snakehead appeared and curled itself into a circle, watching him closely.

"Release me!" InuYasha bellowed, his yell echoing throughout the cavern. He jerked forward and slashed at the vines, letting out one of his golden streaks from his claws. The attack slashed into the vines, but they regrew back almost instantly. InuYasha slashed at them again, with more speed and strength and when suddenly one of the vines glowed, sending his own attack back at him.

"Ugh!" InuYasha hissed in pain as one of his streaks slammed into his side, spewing blood into his face. He spat his blood back out and growled. InuYasha felt his demonic aura rising as he glared at the snakehead. The urge to transform into his new large dog form began to commence.

"I would not do that if I were you." A female voice iced through the air. InuYasha stopped his attempt at transforming, his barred fangs and red eyes glared in the direction where the voice had come from.

The women came from behind a large section of the tree. She had long, dark green hair, her eyes were piercing ivy, and her skin was extremely pale. Her kimono danced with colors of flowers and nature and her ears was as pointed as a sword. She slowly walked over to the smaller snake and started lightly petting the top of its head. It closed its eyes, tilted its head to the right, and enjoyed the touch of its master. "Transforming into your demonic form will only hasten your death."

"Who the hell are you bitch?!" InuYasha snarled. He tugged at the vines again, but to no avail. She eyed him curiously, but didn't answer his question. She closed her eyes as hissing was heard through the walls of stone. InuYasha growled loud enough to get her attention again. "Release me now!"

"How did enter my dwelling demon?" Her question iced through the air.

"I don't know!" InuYasha yelled in response. "I just know something was telling me to come here! Now release or I'll rip your throat out!"

"You are no position to do so, demon." She stopped petting her snake and slowly walked over to where InuYasha was imprisoned. She knelt down in front of him and grasped his chin with her right hand. "What told you to come here?"

"Don't touch me bitch!" InuYasha swung his free leg and kicked her in the gut. She seemed unfazed, even though she was thrown back. She gracefully landed on her feet and brushed her kimono off as if he had defiled it somehow.

"You were able to pass my barrier, and the water turned to ice under your feet. Who are you and who sent you?"

"I don't know!" InuYasha roared. "Maybe you could ask your friend from Hell!"

She froze. "My friend from Hell? Do you mean a God has come up from the underworld to land?"

"Yes." InuYasha managed to say. Now they were getting somewhere.

"I am Midori, one of the God's of the land, protector of these mountains'." The goddess stared at him. "Why would a God of Hell be interested in a demon like you?"

"That's why I'm here!" InuYasha snapped. "I was lead here by something I possess!"

"You possess what demon?" Midori asked.

"I don't know! I was wondering if you did since you're a God and all." InuYasha grumbled. "All I know is that it turned me, a born half-demon, into a full-fledged demon like my father. Moreover, since I've turned into a full-fledged demon that God of Hell has been following me. I ran into a few 'dead' relatives of my father's and they said that I possessed something they were after."

"You were a half-demon?" The goddess eyed him with a look of suspicion.

"Yeah. You surprised?" InuYasha managed to make a cocky smile. "Look bitch, release me. I don't have any beef with you."

"On one condition," She glared at him.

"What?"

"You remain seated and not use any of your abilities." Midori stared at him.

"Grr…fine." InuYasha growled and rolled his eyes. "Also keep your pets away from me." InuYasha glared at the snakehead. Suddenly the vines bounding his arms and chest were moving and released him from the stones. He rotated his shoulders and sat up, leaning an arm on his leg. "Can I also get my fire rat and sword?"

"Not until you leave." She eyed him closely. She passed her hand over the snake's head and it closed its eyes and slowly slithered back into its pond. "I don't recognize the type of demon you are, your aura is strange."

"I'm a dog demon." InuYasha answered. "Now what would you know about what's going on?"

"A dog demon?" Midori looked at him, her eyes staring a bit too long at his bare chest. InuYasha felt the urge to cross his arms. "I remember a time where the dog demons long ago were entrusted with something of the God's."

"Yeah? What is it?" InuYasha growled, trying to keep on topic without losing his temper and being bound to the rocks again.

"Your father was the demon correct?" Midori asked.

"Yes…"

"What was his name?"

"Touga…I think." InuYasha scratched his head. "If I'm remembering that right from Myoga. He did say his name a lot, but I wasn't paying much attention."

"Touga? Lord Touga of the Western Lands?"

"So?" InuYasha snapped. "What does my father have to do with all this? And how the hell did I get involved?!"

"You ask too many questions, demon." Midori turned her back on him and walked towards the large tree. InuYasha felt the opportunity arise, but before he could think about executing an attack plan, one of the vines snagged out and wrapped around his neck.

"Bitch!" InuYasha managed to choke out.

"Even though your aura is strange, I can still sense when you plan to attack." Midori turned around and held one of the vines in her bands, rubbing the velvety plant. She closed her eyes and the vine in her hand began to glow, along with the vine that had snagged his neck.

"Ugh…!" InuYasha grasped the vine as it dug deeper into his throat; blood beginning to drip down his chest. "I'm…going…too…"

"Demon, you are an interesting mortal." She let the vine go and it released its hold on his neck. InuYasha coughed and let out a gagging sound before standing up and growling at the goddess. "Sit, before I make you."

InuYasha actually involuntary flinched at the word 'sit'. Instead, he just leaned his back on the rocks, eyeing the vines with scrutiny. "No, we speak at eye level, bitch. Or do you have a problem with that?"

"Like your father, you care for humans." It was not a question. "Especially a young, human woman by the name of Kagome."

"Don't you dare bring her into this!" InuYasha bellowed. He cracked his claws and was about to lose all control, when Midori only held up her hand.

"I have no interest in her." She glared, making InuYasha back down only for a moment. "I know that she and the others in your group continue to try to come to your aid from the outside. I am only reading the vibes you put off. The vibe of love is a strong one and can be read off easily from any mortal."

"So you know all about me?" InuYasha snarled. "Well, I know nothing about you!"

"I am Midori, one of God's of the land."

"You've told me this already!" InuYasha snapped. "Why would whatever I possess lead me to you?"

"Because I have some of the answers you seek." Midori eyed him.

"You haven't given me any yet…" InuYasha droned on.

"Because what I am about to tell you should never fall on mortal's ears."

"Well to bad." InuYasha crossed his arms and took a step towards the goddess. "I need answers, and I need them now."

"You're a violent creature lusting for power." She glared at him with an icy cold stare. "I cannot understand why God's entrust mortal creatures with anything that we create."

"Because we're not all power hungry." InuYasha snapped back.

"You did seek a source of power called the Jewel of Four Souls, did you not?"

InuYasha stopped cold and sneered at her. "That was a long time ago."

"Not exactly, and your desire for power has still not changed, even though two different human woman have tried to prevent you from seeking such power."

"Quit reading into my life bitch, unless it gives you the answers to questions I need!"

"You are an arrogant mortal. I cannot understand the intentions of the God's of the sky, but the power that you possess trusts you to tame its abilities. I should accept this fact and explain what I do know."

"Why does this sound like you want to trade something for this information?" InuYasha snapped. Midori looked at him, her green eyes pierced into his yellow ones and he felt like she was looking into his soul for something. "Stop glaring at me like that!"

"What I will say will not leave this cave. Do you understand?" Midori glared at him.

"Maybe." InuYasha glared. "I don't like keeping things from my friends if it's important to them in battle."

"They will only hindrance you." The goddess slowly nestled on the vines, which made a makeshift throne. "They cannot see what you can; therefore they cannot fight with you."

"I'll deal with them, bitch." InuYasha paced the stone floor, keeping both an eye on her and the pond where her pet snake rested. "What do you know, or I'm leaving with my sword and fire rat and will seek answers elsewhere."

"You will find no answers elsewhere." Midori answered. "I have been entrusted with the information you seek."

"Then why did you ask how I got in here in the first place if you knew all along?" InuYasha questioned.

"The vines told me what I did not know before." She answered as a vine curled around her arm and into her palm. "Nature is very patient at listening. I did not believe I would have to deal with the situation as it lay out before me."

"You're stalling or boring me," InuYasha spat. "Which is it?"

"Neither." Midori stood up off her vines and began walking toward him. "You have the Eyes of the God's."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" InuYasha yelled.

"It a piece of an ancient weapon that was used long ago. It was broken into many pieces and although I know about the Eyes, I know nothing about the other pieces. This safeguards the weapon so that it would never be used against the spirit world or the mortal world. The Eyes were entrusted to dog demons long before your father's birth and they were passed down to him from his father. Why he would give his bastard half-demon son the Eyes is puzzling."

"What the hell did you just say?" InuYasha cracked his claws. While his anger boiled over her last comment, the new information flooded his ears and all he wanted to do was hear more.

"The Eyes did not just accept you as its next protector; it has allowed you to tap into some of its power." Midori glared. "This power you should not have."

"While I do, bitch." InuYasha suddenly felt smug about himself and slowly stalked over to her. He felt stronger than she did even though he was in her cave.

"You feel powerful with this new information." Midori stepped back, a glint in her eye. "I see that your power hungry cravings have blossomed."

"Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?" InuYasha snapped.

"You're not powerful enough to stop the God from Hell from taking them from you." InuYasha stopped his advance. What was he thinking? He shook his head and cleared his thoughts before the rage and overconfidence made him do something stupid.

"You got a way to make him leave me alone?" InuYasha growled. "He appears to want to make me stronger. Why?"

"Because he cannot simply take the Eyes from you. In your weakest form, the human, the Eyes protected you without any input from your consciousness. Therefore, they were able to keep you from being noticed by the Hell God. However, he sensed their aura anyhow and without your consciousness directing them, the Eyes can only do so much. It is opening your mind and your abilities to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands."

"But why would the Hell God want me to be able to use these powers if they can hurt him?' InuYasha asked.

"Because that is the only way they can be removed from you."

"That makes no sense."

"Power drives the protector, but too much power he can have it all taken away." Midori looked up at the tree.

"So you think this Hell God wants to build the weapon back up?" InuYasha glanced at the roots of the tree seeing if he could spot his sword.

"No." Midori shook her head. "The weapon was split into too many parts. However, the Eyes alone could bring Hell to land."

"Great." InuYasha muttered under his breathe. "Well…I suppose I should thank you for lovely hospitality. I will be on my way now. Where is my sword?"

"You possess the Eyes and its abilities; I don't believe I want you to leave just yet." Midori glanced down at him from her perch.

"I don't plan on being your prisoner much longer!" InuYasha snapped. "I got what I came for, now I'm leaving!"

"I can allow the human Kagome to enter so she can calm you, if you would like."

"Leave her out of this!" InuYasha roared.

Midori floated down from the tree with the grace of a feather and landed right at the entrance of the cave that lead back out the larger snake and the cave's mountain entrance. "This human and demon interaction interests me. Since I gave you the information that you seek I believe I must receive something in return."

"I let you tie me up with your stupid vines and allowed your snake to bite and poison me." InuYasha snapped.

"That was in defense of my territory." Midori glared. "I will retrieve her and she will not be harmed."

"Bitch!" InuYasha yelled and began to run towards the entrance when the smaller snake shot out of its pond, blocking his exit. InuYasha swiped at the scaly hide and shot out his golden streak attack. The snake hissed in pain and swung its tail at his open midsection. It was enough to knock him off balance and land towards the vines, which of course sprung to life, once again binding him to the rocks. "Shit!" InuYasha snarled as he struggled against his bindings, not noticing one of the vines glowed nearby.

The snake snapped its head up quickly and dove back into the pond like it had been given a sharp order. InuYasha snarled and bit into the vines when her voice carried through the air making him freeze.

"InuYasha?" InuYasha snapped his head up from trying to get himself free and noticed Kagome standing there in her strange uniform, bow, and arrows over her shoulder.

"Kagome!" InuYasha shouted back. "Hurry and shoot these vines! They're pissing me off!" Before Kagome could even make a move, the vines released him without warning. "Well, I guess that solves that problem!" InuYasha jumped up, brushed himself off, and made one giant leap towards the priestess. "Where did that goddess bitch go?"

"She told me she was observing the rest of the group. Who is she?"

"I don't know. Midori was her name." InuYasha growled in annoyance. "She still has my sword. Will you help me look for it? Also, be careful around that pond! There is another snake in there even though I hurt it a few seconds ago."

"InuYasha…" InuYasha turned around and stared at the priestess, her voice had suddenly changed tones.

"What?" InuYasha growled at her, annoyed with how slow she was moving. "Kagome, we have to leave now."

"But look at this place!" Kagome gasped in excitement. "This tree is so much bigger the God Tree, the sun is coming through its large branches, the air smells like fall! So romantic!"

"Kagome, there is a snake demon in that pond that is three times bigger then you and can swallow you whole. We need to go!"

"Why? Didn't you say you got answers?"

"Yes! That's why we need to go!"

"But she might have more…"

"KAGOME! We need to…" InuYasha spun around ready to grab her and haul ass out when he suddenly was looking at Kagome with…barley anything on. She had stripped her skirt and weird top and only had clothes covering her most feminine parts. InuYasha felt the urge rise up that tried to wrap his brain in raging lust. "What the…hell are…doing?" InuYasha managed to stamper out.

"I have made a choice InuYasha. I want you. I am willing to lose my priestess powers to be with you. You mean that much to me." Her scent started to leak through his nose. A scent he hadn't smelt on her in a little while, but this time it was much stronger then previous three times.

"Kagome…we are in the middle of a battle here!" InuYasha finally managed to get his voice back. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Are you rejecting me?"

"WHAT?! NO! I…" InuYasha felt the blood rush to his face, other places, and his racing heart. What the hell is going on? Kagome is not usually this direct! Maybe that goddess bitch is mind-controlling Kagome somehow! "You goddess bitch! Release Kagome now!"

"She's not doing anything InuYasha."

"Oh yes she is!" InuYasha stammered out. He looked at his priestess and squeezed his eyes closed as he tried to control his raging hormones. The wave of nausea had barley entered his stomach when he looked up to yell at Kagome to put her clothes back on when his mouth couldn't utter a word out when he opened his eyes again.

Kagome was stark naked and only a foot away from him. Her chest rose up, pushed against his and her arms came up, and wrapped around his neck as she pulled him down in a passionate kiss. InuYasha could barely comprehend the sudden exploit before he was into the kiss and grasping the priestess hips as their lips dove deeper into one another. InuYasha didn't even notice she had already removed his sash and armor and was working on his fire rat pants knot.

"Kagome…" InuYasha breathed in her scent. "We shouldn't…your powers…"

"Are nothing without you." Kagome whispered in his doggy ear. She yanked him down as the last piece of clothing fell off his hips. InuYasha was such in a lustful fog and intoxicated with Kagome's scent he didn't even notice her super-human strength as she yanked him down to the cave floor.