Fragile Dreams, Chapter 20



written by Christine

Chapter 20

(A couple of days earlier at the Castle in Otherworld)

	“Do they always keep people waiting this long?” Tennu asked “Tennu, be patient. Vash only returned to the Princess a couple of days ago. This wait is short compared to the time our father and Queen Vara made me wait,” Teriyu said. “They’ll be here shortly.”

A minute later Princess Aara and Vash entered the room. “Tennu, Teriyu, so nice to see you again,” Aara said. “What can we do for you?” “Well, Princess Aara, we have come to ask for the your assistance. We've been in pursuit of a band of bandits that have been plaguing the border of Suzaku and Otherworld,” Tennu said. “We believe they are the resurgence of the same band that almost killed Sesshomaru 23 years ago.” “According to our research,” Teriyu interjected, “this band of thieves appears to have been around for longer than most of us. They started out as mercenaries for hire. Then apparently their first leader was killed and the new leader turn the band to thievery.” “The band was almost wiped out by Sesshomaru but the leader survived and gathered up a new band,” Tennu continued. They avoid the Western Lands now but they hit Suzaku and Otherworld mercilessly.” “So, what do you need from us?” Aara asked.

	“We've tracked the bandits to what we believe to be their home base, a village located in Otherworld,” Teriyu said. “It’s in a remote location in the mountains. We really could use Hiei and InuYasha’s skills to dig them out.” “They would also represent your interest in our actions since the village is located in Otherworld.” Tennu added.

“Of course you’ll have our aid," the Princess said. "Unfortunately, Hiei is on another mission but I’ll talk to InuYasha. I’m sure he'll be willing to help. When you leave you should take the portal to the White Tower. They should have most of it rebuilt by now. Jaal can help you get to the village much faster than traveling by land. Stay here with us this evening. Then all of you can get an early start in the morning”.

Present Day

The three demons laid on the ground at the top of the cliff overlooking the village. It was the start of the third day of their surveillance. When they had arrived, they found that mostly women and children occupied the village. The bandit band was out among the lands. Teriyu, being the youngest and thus least likely to be recognized, went into the village to investigate. He discovered that the men had been away for nearly two months and should be returning at any time. So they waited and watched. The two bobcat demons were bachelors and were prepared to wait as long as it took, but InuYasha longed to get back to his Princess. He was growing more and more impatient. “Why don’t we just go hunt them down?” InuYasha asked. “That would be wasted effort,” Tennu said. “We know that they'll return here. They'll feel safe and won’t expect our trap. With luck we'll catch every single one of them.” It made sense but it didn’t make InuYasha any happier. He raised his head slightly as he spied the woman who had been nagging at his mind ever since he first saw her. He watched her walk to a neighbor’s house. The woman reminded him of somebody but even with his remarkable memory, he couldn’t place her. “Teriyu, did you learn anything about that woman, the one entering the house there?” He pointed her out. “That’s the leader’s mate, I believe. I didn’t discover her name. She has one son whom I believe is called Luka.”

	InuYasha huffed acknowledgement. He then backed away from the cliff, turned and jumped up into the nearby tree. “What’s wrong with him?” Teriyu asked aside to Tennu. “He misses the Princess,” Tennu whispered back. “You should see our father when he’s away from the Queen too long. It’s like he’s withdrawing from an addicting drug.”

“But it’s only been two nights. I heard that InuYasha was away from the Princess longer than that when he and Kagome hunted for the jewel shards.” “Yeah, but I heard they fought a lot of the time. He was obviously short tempered and missed the Princess. Besides, I think tonight was suppose to be his night” "Oh... Is he going to be okay?" "If he wasn't, I'm sure he would take his leave. Since he is still here, I suspect he can hold out a little longer."

	InuYasha sneezed and gave them a stare. He knew they were talking about him, but they were friends and were just concerned. He settled back to take a nap. He knew they would wake him if he was needed. If the cursed bandits didn’t return today, someone would need to do the night watch.

The morning gave way to afternoon and then into evening. Finally there was new activity. There was a large group of men approaching the village. The bandits had returned. They looked worn and some were wounded. They certainly didn’t look prepared for a fight. Teriyu turned and bumped into InuYasha. InuYasha steadied him as Teriyu backed off and nearly tripped. “Help’s on its way,” InuYasha said in hushed tones, tapping the communication device he wore. It was another new gadget acquired from the Human World. Kurama had picked them up after Ryoku-Ashi was defeated. It didn’t have a long range but it was enough to reach an encampment of Bobcats a couple of miles away. "I think we should let them settle in for the night and make our move at first light." Tennu said. "Have our men surround the village but only to contain right now." InuYasha nodded and relayed the instructions. The three of them crawled back to the edge and watched the homecoming celebration. There was much partying and drinking that ran well into the night before they departed to their separate quarters. In the morning InuYasha watched the bandit leader step out of his house and head purposely toward a large building in the center of the village. Then he saw his wife chase after him. She spoke to her mate but he didn't stop. She grabbed at his arm trying to impede him. InuYasha growled as he watch the woman being hit to the ground. Tennu and Teriyu joined him just in time to see the scene below. “I hate women beaters,” was all InuYasha said as he watched the man disappear into the building. "Isn't it time to move in?" Teriyu asked. Just then there was a signal on the radio. “Time to go,” InuYasha said, drawing his sword. As one, the three demons jumped off the cliff and charged the village. The fight was over as quickly as it began. Most were caught still in bed. The few that put up a resistance were slain. The rest, seeing that they were surrounded, surrendered.

	As InuYasha sheathed his sword he heard his name. He turned to face the woman that looked so familiar as she ran up to him. “InuYasha, please stop him before he kills them.” the woman pleaded. “Do I know you?” he asked. “I’m Nami,” she said. “We knew each other as children. Please InuYasha, Yutaka will kill them both. They’re in there,” She said pointing to the large building which the bandit leader entered before the battle started.

InuYasha looked for and spotted Tennu and Teriyu. He caught their attention and pointed to the building. They met on the steps and entered. The two Demons and the Hanyou searched the whole building but found nothing. “There’s nothing here,” Tennu said. “There has to be,” InuYasha said. “Nami wouldn’t lie about this and we all saw him enter…” InuYasha sniffed the air. “Do you smell that? Blood…” He followed his nose to a hidden trap door. Suddenly they all heard a muted cry for help followed by a sickening thud. InuYasha kicked the door open, sword drawn, and charged down the stairs followed by Tennu and Teriyu. At the bottom of the stairs stood a naked Yutaka with sword in hand. InuYasha didn’t even seem to hesitate as he sliced the man in half. Tennu and Teriyu saw another man hanging limp on the opposite wall and rushed to him. “Oh by the gods,” Tennu said as he cut the limp body off the wall, “he’s just a boy.” He laid him on the floor and felt for a pulse or even the essence of the man that was. "We're too late. He's dead." “Tennu, I think this was his son." Teriyu said. "I recognize him. But the blood smell is not his,” “NO!” Nami screamed at the top of the stairs. She had cautiously followed the demons into the building. Teriyu and Tennu backed away as the boy's mother ran down the stairs, fell to her knees and grabbed her son’s lifeless body into her arms. She rocked him sobbing in grief. Teriyu placed a supporting hand on her shoulder.

	InuYasha stood over the body of the dead leader and scanned the dark room. He finally spotted the other victim still crumpled against the wall. He sheathed his sword and walked over to the bloody heap, Kneeling closer, he reached to feel a pulse at her neck but encountered instead, a golden collar. The collar was attached to a chain that was, in turn, attached to the wall. He noticed her chest rise with an inhaled breath and sighed with relief. She was still alive.

He removed his outer kimono and laid it around her naked bleeding body. Something about her seemed familiar to him. He lifted her face and recognition began to form. He brushed the woman’s bangs from her forehead. There it was, the faint blue star. Childhood memories came flooding back to him, the happy times before his world fell apart. “Isabo… Isabo can you hear me?” There was no response. She was still unconscious. How could something like this have happened to her? he thought. Then he sensed something else. She was pregnant and the infant's life force was fading. InuYasha examined the collar. It appeared to be one solid piece of metal. InuYasha drew his sword. “InuYasha, what are you doing?” Tennu asked “She’s chained to the wall. I’ve got to cut her free” “Then undo the collar.” Tennu said walking over to them. “I can’t. There's no locking mechanism on it. Besides there has to be more to it than that. If it was a normal chain and collar she would not be here like this.” InuYasha said. “Do you know her?” “Yes.” InuYasha kept the sword in it’s harmless rusty disguise, and carefully inserted it between the collar and her skin at the widest area at the back of her neck. He was careful to place the flat of the blade over her spinal column. He gripped the sword with both hands and called on the transformation. The collar sparked and flashed sending a charge into Isabo and up the sword into InuYasha. He immediately released the sword. “SHIT!” he yelled shaking his burning hands. The sword reverted back but it had done its job. The collar clanged to the floor sparking and crackling. InuYasha retrieved his sword and sheathed it. He kicked the collar further away from Isabo. Then he picked up her limp body. There’s too much blood, he thought. She and the baby won’t last much longer. He turned to Tennu and Teriyu. “Tennu, I need you to go to find Sesshomaru. Tell him to come to the Castle as quickly as possible and have him bring ALL his family. Teriyu, I’ll leave it to you to wrap things up here.” Tennu looked at InuYasha but decided now was not the time for questions.

	InuYasha walked up to the grieving mother. “Nami, I’m very sorry for your loss. If there is anything you need, just ask Teriyu here. We’ll be at the Castle. You are welcome to come there at anytime. We saw how you were being treated. With luck, your bravery saved 2 people today. I’ll make sure Isabo and her baby are well taken care of.” Nami nodded, still weeping over her lost son.

"Take special care of her, Teriyu," he said as he handed him the earpiece, shuffling the weight of the woman to do so. The Bobcat nodded and asked, "Is she going to make it?" "I hope so," the Hanyou responded. InuYasha left the dungeon carrying his precious cargo. Tennu trailed after him. Outside, the bobcats had gathered the villagers into two groups, the innocent and the accused. InuYasha watched the reaction of the two groups as he walked by. The majority of the men either glared or looked away. One thing he was sure of. All the men recognized the woman he carried. He said to Tennu “Make sure kidnapping, hostage holding, and rape are added to these men’s charges.” Tennu nodded. The two of them ran quickly back to their surveillance post. The White Tower’s mirror passage was at the backside of it. InuYasha and Tennu stepped through and arrived instantly on the other side, Tennu pulling the mirror back with him. At the White Tower the two men went their separate ways. InuYasha immediately went on through the portal to Otherworld’s Castle carrying his precious cargo. Tennu hailed Jaal who was entering from the adjacent room. "Jaal, I need your help with finding Sesshomaru." Tennu said. "Who was InuYasha carrying?' She asked as she helped the Demon work the mirror. "She was a prisoner held at the village of bandits we just raided. You were at the celebration weren't you?" Jaal nodded, "I think she may be Sesshomaru's mother. I heard InuYasha call her Isabo." "Really? You mean the Unicorn?" she said Suddenly Bya, followed shortly by Rye, burst into the room. Jaal and Tennu turned away from the traveling mirror to stare at them. The two men followed the blood drops on the floor from the mirror up to the Castle portal, then both Dragons stood in front of the portal, staring at it. “What’s wrong with you two?” Jaal asked. “It’s a slayer alright, badly wounded,” Rye said to Bya. “Should we go after it?” asked Bya. “No, we’re at peace now. I don’t want to upset the balance. We know where it is. If it’s just and peaceful we should have no problems.” Tennu and Jaal looked at each other. It was obvious that the dragons were in their own world. They both shook their heads and went back to looking for Sesshomaru.