Title: Consequences of my Faith
Rating: PG 13
Author: Catherine Perey
Summary: Near the end of their journey, Kagome mulls over her new fate that
she may not speak of. "Welcome to the beginning of my end.."- Kagome
Author's comments: I'm not the greatest writer in the world, I know. This is still rough around the edges but I'm going to wait for reviews before I go over it. This is just a bit of a twist upon the story-line, like an unspoken story.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all materials related to this story are copyrighted to Rumiko Takashi.
PROLOGUE: The Assay of my Nights
=I'm not quite sure when it started.=
"Come on, wench!" Came a snide voice from the hut, Inuyasha was keeping a quick pace towards the thickets in which Kagome stood. The damn girl hadn't stayed in Kaede's hut again. If she ever had youkai blood in her, he was sure to put one of those damned rosaries around iher/i neck.
=All I remember was a lot of pain.=
Just before he broke through the last wall of brush, she managed to tie the last knot and stuff the remaining linen in her pack. She kept her back to him as she pulled out a small black bottle and re-sprayed her arms. Inuyasha drew his red clad arm to block the smell. What the hell was that?
=...and blood. Lots of blood.=
Kagome tried to stifle a cry as she heaved her pack up upon her back. In the corner of her eye she could see one of her sleeves riding up a bit. Quickly, she pulled it down, making it seem as if she were simply scratching her arm. Kagome bit her lip in pain as she passed by the hanyou quickly, not even saying hello or offering a smile. Somehow she knew that it would come back to haunt her.
=Silence has been my only companion.=
Miroku, Sango, and Shippo had joined them along the path; not much was said. Last night there had been a youkai attack in the village, it was strong enough to hold a humanoid form. Inuyasha had dispensed of it easily enough, but it's scent and strength had been masked by Naraku. The youkai had sprung on Kagome, slicing her arms with a wind attack.
=It's been a long time since I have cried.=
Kaede had patched Kagome up to the best of her ability, and it seemed she would be as good as new by the end of the week with the help of her magic. No one worried, not yet. That evening she had sensed a shard, and, despite Inuyasha's complaint to go right away, decided to head out the next morning. Kagome hadn't gotten much sleep last night.
=iThey/i would know, to them, that is my weakness.=
It was going to be at-least a day's trip to a village just outside the mountain where the shard rested. The road was well traveled, the carts and people kept Shippo, perched on Kiara, busy. "Kagome!" Whined he, jumping off to scamper over to Kagome who walked quietly behind the group. "Make Inuyasha stop! I'm hungry and tired!" The kitsune's face was a blubbering mess of tears, tearing her eyes away Kagome took a moment to glance at her companions. Miroku was leaning on his staff a little with a tired smile on his face, Sango seemed worn underneath her angry composure. She had been too tired to pummel the Houshi for his antics.
=I can't afford to be weak anymore.=
Had she been too carelessly locked up in her thoughts to notice? Shippo sniffed slightly, his face suddenly became frightened. "Kagome, I smell blood, someone is bleeding nearby." The poor kid was starting to hyperventilate, he couldn't figure out who it was. Kagome tried to conceal her panic with a little lie. "Don't worry Shippo, I cut my hand a little when I fell earlier." She paused and placed him upon Kiara again. Kagome could no longer hold him. "Inuyasha!"
=I can't stop it. So I must follow.=
The hanyou appeared quickly enough by the four, scowling as usual. "What, bitch?" He asked- no, snarled at the girl. Kagome tried to waive herself off as angry but the fury wouldn't come. She silently sighed and met his eyes. "We should rest for the night, we are all tired." "Feh, weak humans, the mountain is less than two hours walk from here." "We're itired/i, Inuyasha, we are going to set up camp here." Kagome felt like kicking herself in the face. There had been nothing but cold impatience in her voice. Inuyasha paused for a moment to stare at her and sniff the the air a bit before "huffing" and leaving them to settle down and dredge up some food and flame.
=And the pain remains...=
They had a quick meal and lied down for some rest before the inevitable dawn rousing from Inuyasha in the morning. Kagome sat on her sleeping bag thinking. How long before he confronted her? She knew that he was aware of her disappearances in the night, until then, she was only buying time. Heaving herself up, Kagome winced and crept off to a tiny clearing by a stream far from the camp.
=And the blood still flows crimson and metallic.=
She pulled her sleeves up and sucked in a tight breath from the pain. A criss-cross pattern of linen strips covered her arms, spotted with blood here and there. Deftly, Kagome began to untie the knots on her left arm with one hand.
Inuyasha jerked up in his sleep from his dream. "Kuso..." He muttered. He had wanted to stay awake tonight to watch for when Kagome left but even he had been worn down from the day's quick pace and sullen aspects. His thoughts drifted to Kagome's behavior, instantly he pricked up and glanced over to her sleeping bag. Empty, once again.
=How long has it been?=
The trees waved back and forth, groaning under the pressure of a repressed storm. Ironic how life could be these days. The cool water of the stream felt good upon Kagome's barely healing wounds. She needed rest, not even she doubted that. Her eyes softly gazed at the water- at her reflection. Kagome resisted the urge to splash the water away. She was the very image of Kikyo, she couldn't change that. But her eyes changed, from a warm amber, to a cold blue-ish, purple-ish, silver, then to green, hazel, blue; it didn't really follow a pattern. Kikyo didn't have her eyes, Kagome didn't have Kikyo's.
=It began so long ago, I don't remember the date=
Kagome leaned back on her heels, trying to savor a sliver of peace. No battles, no noise, no pain... just eerie silence. Lately she hadn't had any time to relax, or sleep. Every night she would tend to her wounds then spray them again to mask the smell, no one was to know. Kagome shook her head remembering that day, it had been so long ago. 'I better get back before they notice, it's almost dawn.' She stood slowly, making her way back to camp. Tomorrow would would be another battle.
=But I remember that fateful day. The day when my life ended and immortality began...=
=-----=----=----=-----=----=----=----==---==---====----=--=-=-===-==----==
That's it for now. Review please!
Author's comments: I'm not the greatest writer in the world, I know. This is still rough around the edges but I'm going to wait for reviews before I go over it. This is just a bit of a twist upon the story-line, like an unspoken story.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all materials related to this story are copyrighted to Rumiko Takashi.
PROLOGUE: The Assay of my Nights
=I'm not quite sure when it started.=
"Come on, wench!" Came a snide voice from the hut, Inuyasha was keeping a quick pace towards the thickets in which Kagome stood. The damn girl hadn't stayed in Kaede's hut again. If she ever had youkai blood in her, he was sure to put one of those damned rosaries around iher/i neck.
=All I remember was a lot of pain.=
Just before he broke through the last wall of brush, she managed to tie the last knot and stuff the remaining linen in her pack. She kept her back to him as she pulled out a small black bottle and re-sprayed her arms. Inuyasha drew his red clad arm to block the smell. What the hell was that?
=...and blood. Lots of blood.=
Kagome tried to stifle a cry as she heaved her pack up upon her back. In the corner of her eye she could see one of her sleeves riding up a bit. Quickly, she pulled it down, making it seem as if she were simply scratching her arm. Kagome bit her lip in pain as she passed by the hanyou quickly, not even saying hello or offering a smile. Somehow she knew that it would come back to haunt her.
=Silence has been my only companion.=
Miroku, Sango, and Shippo had joined them along the path; not much was said. Last night there had been a youkai attack in the village, it was strong enough to hold a humanoid form. Inuyasha had dispensed of it easily enough, but it's scent and strength had been masked by Naraku. The youkai had sprung on Kagome, slicing her arms with a wind attack.
=It's been a long time since I have cried.=
Kaede had patched Kagome up to the best of her ability, and it seemed she would be as good as new by the end of the week with the help of her magic. No one worried, not yet. That evening she had sensed a shard, and, despite Inuyasha's complaint to go right away, decided to head out the next morning. Kagome hadn't gotten much sleep last night.
=iThey/i would know, to them, that is my weakness.=
It was going to be at-least a day's trip to a village just outside the mountain where the shard rested. The road was well traveled, the carts and people kept Shippo, perched on Kiara, busy. "Kagome!" Whined he, jumping off to scamper over to Kagome who walked quietly behind the group. "Make Inuyasha stop! I'm hungry and tired!" The kitsune's face was a blubbering mess of tears, tearing her eyes away Kagome took a moment to glance at her companions. Miroku was leaning on his staff a little with a tired smile on his face, Sango seemed worn underneath her angry composure. She had been too tired to pummel the Houshi for his antics.
=I can't afford to be weak anymore.=
Had she been too carelessly locked up in her thoughts to notice? Shippo sniffed slightly, his face suddenly became frightened. "Kagome, I smell blood, someone is bleeding nearby." The poor kid was starting to hyperventilate, he couldn't figure out who it was. Kagome tried to conceal her panic with a little lie. "Don't worry Shippo, I cut my hand a little when I fell earlier." She paused and placed him upon Kiara again. Kagome could no longer hold him. "Inuyasha!"
=I can't stop it. So I must follow.=
The hanyou appeared quickly enough by the four, scowling as usual. "What, bitch?" He asked- no, snarled at the girl. Kagome tried to waive herself off as angry but the fury wouldn't come. She silently sighed and met his eyes. "We should rest for the night, we are all tired." "Feh, weak humans, the mountain is less than two hours walk from here." "We're itired/i, Inuyasha, we are going to set up camp here." Kagome felt like kicking herself in the face. There had been nothing but cold impatience in her voice. Inuyasha paused for a moment to stare at her and sniff the the air a bit before "huffing" and leaving them to settle down and dredge up some food and flame.
=And the pain remains...=
They had a quick meal and lied down for some rest before the inevitable dawn rousing from Inuyasha in the morning. Kagome sat on her sleeping bag thinking. How long before he confronted her? She knew that he was aware of her disappearances in the night, until then, she was only buying time. Heaving herself up, Kagome winced and crept off to a tiny clearing by a stream far from the camp.
=And the blood still flows crimson and metallic.=
She pulled her sleeves up and sucked in a tight breath from the pain. A criss-cross pattern of linen strips covered her arms, spotted with blood here and there. Deftly, Kagome began to untie the knots on her left arm with one hand.
Inuyasha jerked up in his sleep from his dream. "Kuso..." He muttered. He had wanted to stay awake tonight to watch for when Kagome left but even he had been worn down from the day's quick pace and sullen aspects. His thoughts drifted to Kagome's behavior, instantly he pricked up and glanced over to her sleeping bag. Empty, once again.
=How long has it been?=
The trees waved back and forth, groaning under the pressure of a repressed storm. Ironic how life could be these days. The cool water of the stream felt good upon Kagome's barely healing wounds. She needed rest, not even she doubted that. Her eyes softly gazed at the water- at her reflection. Kagome resisted the urge to splash the water away. She was the very image of Kikyo, she couldn't change that. But her eyes changed, from a warm amber, to a cold blue-ish, purple-ish, silver, then to green, hazel, blue; it didn't really follow a pattern. Kikyo didn't have her eyes, Kagome didn't have Kikyo's.
=It began so long ago, I don't remember the date=
Kagome leaned back on her heels, trying to savor a sliver of peace. No battles, no noise, no pain... just eerie silence. Lately she hadn't had any time to relax, or sleep. Every night she would tend to her wounds then spray them again to mask the smell, no one was to know. Kagome shook her head remembering that day, it had been so long ago. 'I better get back before they notice, it's almost dawn.' She stood slowly, making her way back to camp. Tomorrow would would be another battle.
=But I remember that fateful day. The day when my life ended and immortality began...=
=-----=----=----=-----=----=----=----==---==---====----=--=-=-===-==----==
That's it for now. Review please!