Otherworld 2 - 21 - The Tide Turns



Chapter 21 - The Tide Turns

Just as death was reaching out a hand to claim Jin and Xuho, fate stepped in. The Cats suddenly were torn to pieces by unseen hands and they either fell dead or ran screaming. When the last Cat had disappeared, Shido and several of his Blood Demons materialized. They had moved so fast that they had been invisible. Shido told the Wind Demons to go to Raizen's side. He would protect the Western Lands and the rest of his men had gone after the fleeing Cats. None would live out the day. Jin and Xuho took off, going as fast as possible. Traveling at super-sonic speed, they reached the keep in a very short time. Ahead of them were the Moth Demons, still raining death on the two Ice Demons and the Foxes. The Wind Demons sent hurricane force winds toward the Moths, tearing their thin wings to bits. They plummeted to the ground, where they were easily dispatched. Jin and Xuho landed and told Toya and Toyna about the Blood Demons' rescue and Shido's promise to protect the Western Lands. Just as they were going to look for Raizen and Yusuke, the pair arrived, covered in blood, but none of it was their own. The Bear Clan was destroyed. The Cats were fleeing from the Blood Demons and would soon be dead. The foxes were finishing the last of the lesser Demons and the Snakes. They had won! The lands were safe once more. Mukuro was defeated and would soon send an emissary to sue for peace.

A finger twitched, eyelashes fluttered, and then golden eyes opened. He sat up, feeling light-headed and weak. He struggled to his feet and went to the balcony. Smoke was all around the Castle and hundreds of Demons circled, trying to break the barrier. What was happening? He spent no time on useless questions, just quickly dressed and picked up his Demon sword. Kaiba looked up in surprise from the hall where he was treating the wounds of Hulfa. Without a word, the Dog Lord opened the front door and stepped outside. "Glad to see you," muttered the little Fire Demon. Hiei was bleeding from numerous cuts. Sesshomaru nodded and then saw what they were facing: two Blood Demons. He moved like lightning, while his sword sent out waves of energy. Tyrrl moved one way and Ralf the other, trying to get the Dog Demon in between them. All three were moving so fast, that they were invisible to the eye.
	"Get inside!" Sesshomaru yelled to the group, and Hiei instantly obeyed, pushing everyone inside. Once they were safely inside, Sesshomaru changed, turning into his Demon Dog form. Where once was an elegant man, now stood a snarling vicious dog that was nearly 20 feet tall. Greenish saliva dripped from his fangs and a putrid mist began to rise.
Ralf moved in for the kill and faltered, then collapsed into the mist. He was dead in moments, for the poison from Sesshomaru's fangs was the most deadly known. Tyrrl kept his distance, backing away from the dripping poison as Sesshomaru advanced on him. Keeping his eyes on the Dog Demon, trying to find an opening, he moved right into the snare of a blood plant. Three huge thorns pierced him and began to pump out his blood. He died screaming. Sesshomaru went after the rest of the Demons. Most of them had already died from the deadly mist; the few that remained fled, most of them to be caught by Kurama's plants that still stood on the hills surrounding the Castle. Sesshomaru returned to his human form and dissipated the poison. In a few minutes, both the mist and the poison had vanished. Sesshomaru returned to the Castle and was meet by the Princess who rushed to him, hugging him. "Thank the gods you are awake! And thanks to you the Castle is safe! But how did you wake up? Whom are you bound to?" Sesshomaru sat on the steps, suddenly tired, "First tell me what happened." Kurama quickly filled him in, telling him of Naraku's escape and Ashara's betrayal, of Bankotsu's death, and of the war in Suzaku. Sesshomaru listened in silence and then spoke in his soft, cultured voice, "I had a strange dream. I dreamt of a bird of fire that was Tasuki but at the same time, it wasn't him. His power burnt away my bindings and freed me. I am bound neither to you, Princess, nor your daughter. I am free." "Good! I wanted to free you and messed everything up by calling you to me. I am so sorry for that." "It was not your fault. I was obeying Ashara's call, and then I felt the need to go to you. If you hadn't called me, I would have gone to her and fallen into Naraku's trap." Kaiba and Rin were busy bandaging the wounded. Hulfa was the worst, but he had already stopped bleeding. Kaleffe and Hiei had bad cuts but nothing that they couldn't heal. Kiri walked outside and looked sadly at the scorched earth. The Princess' beautiful gardens were gone. Kurama had followed him and smiled. He scattered seeds to the wind, then touched the ground and the soil moved, new plants springing to life. A new cherry tree replaced the old one. Kiri followed suit and brought forth his Unicorn magic. The air cleared, soft breezes carrying away the smoky haze. The scorch marks on the walls and door disappeared. Suzuki came out after them and went to the twisted gate that was lying on the road. He bent to touch it and it moved with unseen hands, straightening out and lifting itself to its hinges. The Castle soon looked as if a battle had never been fought.

Kouga whispered instructions to his son and Kome took off in the direction of the wind Demon. Just as he got close to Kagura, he veered off and she followed him. He kept only a short distance between them and now the edges of the wind shears were reaching their mark. His arms and legs were covered in cuts, but, although painful, they were not life threatening. But they slowed him down. The young wolf stopped, bent over, his hands braced on his legs, panting. Kagura smiled, this one would die here!

	She raised her hand to create the wind that would end his life, but her hand never followed through. Kouga flew through the air using a nearby hill as a launching pad and tore her open. Kome had followed his father's instructions, leaving himself open. Kouga knew that Kagura would be unable to resist easy prey and would let her guard down when she moved in for the kill. His plan had worked and now the Wind Demon lay dead.

Kouga told his son to rest while he returned to the Village but Kome shook his head. Together they raced to the Village. They were making a last stand in front of the dojo. As he approached the Village, Kouga saw his mate nearly covered in blood and went insane with rage. He tore into the Demons and ripped them apart as he passed. Kome did the same when he saw Ayala and her many wounds. The two wolves broke the Demon's advance and Kenshin and Sanosuke moved quickly to take advantage. Flames licked the blade of Kenshin's sword and it drank the blood of many a Demon. Sango and Kagome returned to Kirara's back and attacked from the sky. Shippo's foxfire found the insects again and again. Soon it was over. The Village was saved! Kouga walked to his mate and was overjoyed to find that none of the blood was hers. She had been standing too close to a Demon that Kenshin had hacked to pieces. Ayala was not badly hurt, and all her cuts were minor. Kome's cuts were twice as bad and Kaede forced him to bed and bandaged the wolf up. When she finished, Kome was nearly covered in bandages. Kenshin, Sango and Sanosuke all had minor cuts and scrapes and a few bandages were all they needed. Miroku was the worst, badly poisoned, but Kaede had given him an antidote in time and he would be sick and weak for a few days, but he would live.

The Demon World, the Castle and the Village had won their battles, but if Naraku won, their battles would be for naught. These little skirmishes were nothing in the grand scheme of things. Tasuki had turned into the Red Phoenix and saved Suzaku, but the Black Dragon could easily destroy the entire country. And even the Red Phoenix was no match for a Great Dragon. As long as Naraku was alive, he would continue to plot and scheme against Otherworld and one day he would succeed. Everything now depended on five beings: one half-Demon Dog named InuYasha, one untried mage named Bakura, a wounded Unicorn named Keiki, a Red Dragon named Kyo, and a man named Vash. The real battle was about to begin.