Summery: Kagome is soon thrown into a world she can barely comprehend. Following a dark voice both in her dreams and waking life she finds terror and friends. Friends that seem all too familiar. Kagome. The bearer of the Shikon no Tama. Or the jewel of four souls. Kagome lost in this strange world for the moment finds solace in that the sorrowful pain stopped as soon as she entered.
((Author's note: Remember that stars are your friends. This is going to be….particularly different from the series.))
Drown My Devil
Chapter Two:
Delivery
Kagome heard a child sobbing. From the sound of it was a girl, she heard breathing. And a deep whisper that shook her deeply. "Please…" the child cried. "Run away! Kagome run away!" Kagome looked around and found herself in the little shrine that had the well in it. She stepped towards it hearing the whisper again. "Please run Kagome! Don't come any closer! They'll get you!" the child shrieked at him from the well…No not from…IN the well.
"Hakaku?" Kagome breathed. "Hakaku is that you?" Kagome came closer to the well stepping down onto the dirt floor. There was a hiss and the child screamed.
"RUN!! HURRY RUN!!!" then absolute silence. Kagome breathed to calm her erratic heart. She went to her knees and put her hands on the side of the well. Looking into the inky blackness Kagome paused before she spoke.
"Hakaku?" she whispered. "Are you down there?" No reply. "Hold on…I'll come get you." Kagome looked around for anything to help her. There was nothing. "I have to got get a ladder. Just wait a little longer." Kagome jumped up and turned around and froze. A bright light consumed the shrine from inside the well. Eight human arms stretched out and grabbed her shoulders, arms, and waist.
"RUN KAGOME!!!" Screamed Hakaku. The arms pulled her backwards lighting her arm is she were a feather. Kagome felt the arms drag her to the well, she was on the wall of the well she gripped in with all her strength. The arms slipped off her and Kagome out of surprise let go and fell into the inky blackness. She screamed once and shot upwards in her bed. Gasping in breath she jumped as her mother burst through the door.
"Kagome! Are you okay?!" she asked looking around the semi dark, room wildly. She looked at her daughter like she was a small child just waking up from a night terror.
"Yes…" she said finally after a long silence. "I'm…okay. It was just a bad dream." Kagome fell back down into bed and pulled the warm covers over herself feeling chilled.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he mother asked.
"Yes…just back to sleep mom. I'm going to….sleep myself." Her mother gave one more glance around the moon her eyes settling on her daughters form. She left shutting the door to the room. Kagome sighed and sat up in the semi dark. "The dreams are getting worse." she said to herself. "Much worse." A single tear ran down her cheek before she laid her head back down onto her pillow and closed her eyes to go back into her nightmares.
Kagome stared at the student in front of her who fidgeted holding a print out of one on Shakespeare's sonnets. Not very many people who haven't read his work or any work from that period often had trouble speaking the poems right. Stumbling their words and starting over. The student was female and her name was Sango. She too had black hair but hers was pulled into a tight bun in a business sort of way.
Her brown eyes looked over the class a light blush covering her face. The class clapped at her recitation. She quickly sat down emerging herself into the class. Mr. Tanaka walked up to the front of the class and Kagome looked down at her book. "Very well are there any more takers?" he asked the class. It was oddly silent. "alright then we shall go on. Turn to page 49 and start reading. This is Hamlet. There will be a quiz on this on Friday so read well." She felt the air of his passing and opened her book. The phone rang once and The class went so silent the ticking of the clock could be heard.
"Yes…yes…Thank you." He hung up the phone and Kagome could fell his eyes on her back. "Mrs. Higurashi you are wanted in the office." he told her. She looked back into his smoldering eyes and quickly looked away grabbing her book and bag. She stood feeling all the eyes of the classroom on her. She nodded to the teacher and very nearly ran out the door. Kagome ran into her mother halfway there. Her mother looked flustered and in panic.
"Mom?" Kagome questioned. Her mother began pulling her out of the school. "Mom what is it?" she asked looking at her mother.
"Its your grandfather…" Her mother replied. Kagome sucked in breath waiting for the words to come. "He had a heart attack and he's in the hospital." Kagome breathed out and jogged with her mother. They burst out of the school. Her mothers car was parked out front in idle. Her brother Souta sat in the back his cheeks stiff with tears. Her mother pushed her into the car and ran to the drivers side putting the car in drive before the doors were closed. "Don't worry Souta." her mother said to him. "I'm sure he'll be okay." her voice said otherwise.
Her bother crying in the back and her mother speeding down the road running a red light heading to the hospital seemed all to surreal for her. Kagome leaned back into the car seat looking up at the ceiling. No tears came to her eyes, she saw herself as a passing care might see her. A melancholy young girl and a frantic looking mother with a young child crying in the back seat. She closed her eyes to be spared her vision. The pain bloomed inside her chest.
Creeping into her daily life now. Kagome gritted her teeth and bore the pain. The car skidded to a stop. Kagome dully got out taking her brothers hand as her mother shut the car off and jumped out the door. Slamming it shut behind her leaving her children to follow. Kagome's pain felt like someone was ripping her apart. Like pieces of her were being pulled off into nether land. She began walking shutting the car doors and following her mother slowly. Souta crying rubbing his face with his free hand.
Kagome looked at the doors of the well. The night air was cool around her and the wind seemed not to dare to blow. Feeling like she was in pieces she opened the doors and stepped inside shutting them behind her. The inside was dark. Nearly true darkness consumed her in the shrine. She didn't hear the sobbing of a little girl but she did hear the horse whisper coming from the well. It called her name. She sighed and slowly walked to the well.
She looked down into the pure darkness of the well. She waited. For a long time she waited. Nothing happened for that long time. Shaking Kagome turned away and took one step before feeling those eight hands on her body again. She did not try to grab the wall of the well and instead let the arms pull her into the deep darkness. Her body tensed wait for an impact but none did come.
"Finally I will have the scared jewel!!" she a slightly female voice that rasped metallic-like. Kagome's eyes shot open to the thing before her. It only looked human. With four arms on each side and a long centipede body from below the waist. Her eyes were black like pure darkness and she had long black hair that looked more like spider silk than hair. She tilted her head back with a terrible smile.
Kagome rose her hand and a light shined on her hand. She shoved it in front of the demons face and turned away from the thing with a scream. She felt herself rise up and the darkness of the well turned into semi dark. She looked up seeing blue sky. A white cloud passed by and Kagome stood. "Hello?" she called out. There was no answer. She looked around for something to use to get up. Nothing but the walls of the well. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Kagome felt the walls small pockets in the wall were big enough for a hand or foot. Slowly Kagome made her way out of the well.
She flopped onto the ground around the well staring up at the sky in a slight daze. She could quite place it but a small feeling told her the sky was not the same. The sun shone brightly in the east it being early morning. Birds chirped merrily around her and the wind blew warmly on her cheeks. Grass tickled her bare arms and lower legs. She shot upwards and looked around. "What?" she asked herself. This was nothing like home. There was a large green pasture full of swaying grass around her.
Trees dotted the landscape in their deep green color. A forest stood off to one side. Kagome felt panic stir in her breast and she turned around. Nothing but forest all around. "Don't panic." she told herself. "It will be fine." She tried to calm her speeding heart; then a hissing sound. She turned around and looked at the demon emerge from the well with and insidious smile. Kagome fell backwards as the demon lunged at her. It soared over her crashing into a tree.
"The jewel will be mine!!" the demon hissed getting back up. Kagome stared at the burned face of the demon. She felt herself frozen in panic and fear. The demon laughed and held her down with those arms of hers. She creamed at the demon bit into her side. The demon reared up a shining light in it's mouth. A arrow spilt into the demons head and the small light dropped onto the ground beside Kagome.
Two more arrows flew into the demon making it fall into the ground. One arrow in its head and two in its chest. Kagome groaned and sat up holding her stomach in pain feeling her warm blood push past her hand. A large red spot started to grow on her side. Numbly she reached out for the small light. She closed her hand around it and felt a soothing warmth spread through her body. The warm trickle of blood stopped and Kagome was freed of pain. She blinked upwards to a scarred face. Wait…no a wrinkled face.
A old woman stood looming over her holding a long bow. Her gray hair wa tied back an cloth covered her eye. On the cloth seemed to be a glowing symbol. Kagome recognized it as some kind of ward. "Are yea unharmed child?" the old woman asked concern flowing out of her voice. Kagome looked down to her side. There was no trace of blood on her clothes or even hand. She pulled her hand away and pushed herself up to a sitting position.
She opened the hand that hand clasped the light and a pale pink jewel about the size of a large marble glowed in a sparkling wane light. The old woman looked at the jewel and gasped. "Child! Where did that come from?!" she asked. Kagome unsure if her voice would be steady pointed to her side. She looked up at the woman begging her with her eyes to tell of where they were.
"What…" Kagome looked to the demon. "What is that…thing?" she asked the old woman. The woman looked at her like she was mad for a moment.
"Tis a demon, child." the old woman replied simply. "What are yea doing here child?"
"I-I don't know." Kagome answered. "I…uh…the well." she pointed to the well.
"Are yea saying that thee came from inside the dry well?" Kagome nodded. "How is that possible?" Kagome looked down not knowing anything.
"I…where am I?" she asked. The woman gave her another look like she was crazy. "Is this Japan?" the old woman stared at her blinking with her one eye.
"Child does yea not even know?" Kagome stared at the woman. "Aye this is Japan, but why does thee ask?" Kagome looked around.
"It doesn't look like the Japan I know." she told the woman. "Who are you?" The old woman stretched straighter, which for her seemed a big feat. Her back was hunched. Kagome saw that see dressed like a old priestess.
"My name child, Is Keade." she said proudly. "Guardian of the nearby town." Kagome looked around seeing no town. "It is over that hill." she pointed to a roll of earth covered in lush grass that prevent anyone from seeing any farther in that direction. "And are thee?" Kagome pushed herself up clutching the small stone in her hand. Feeling its warmth spread through her.
"Kagome." she replied. "Wha…what is this?" she held out the jewel to the woman. Keade looked at her now like she was indeed mad.
"It is the Scared Jewel, child. It gives the bearer amazing powers. Does thee not know this?" Kagome nodded. "It is common knowledge how can yea not know what the Shikon no Tama is?" Kagome looked down again at the grass. She smelled the thick slightly stale stench of the demons blood and inched away from the body.
"I don't think that I'm home." Kagome said mostly to herself. "maybe…if I…" she looked to the well covered by the demons body.
"Where is your home child?" Kagome looked up at the clear blue sky and felt a few tears run down her face.
"I don't know." she answered in a voice beginning to be choked by tears. "I don't know anything about this…place." Keade patted her shoulder unsurely.
"There, there Kagome. I am sure we can get yea home. Where dous't thee hail from? What is the region that thee come from?" Kagome shook her head.
"Here…but this…this isn't my home." Kagome sobbed.
"Come now child." Keade put her hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Why not come to my house and we can get thee some rest? Come now. Thee seem like thou can use it." Kagome sniffled and nodded allowing the old woman to lead her away. Behind the demons body twitched and rose up with a large hiss. Both of them looked back as the demon lunged at them. Kagome jumped backwards knowing the demon was lunging at her. "Run child!" Keade yelled at her as she drew an arrow.
The demon hissed at the old woman. Kagome took the chance and fled towards the forest. She dodged trees and pushed herself faster hearing branches break behind her. She stopped at a very small clearing. A large tree was in front of her and pinned to the tree was a young man with silver hair and red pants and kimono. Two white furred dog ears were on the top of his head. A great vine wrapped around him but that wasn't what pinned him. A tattered gray arrow was in his shoulder.
Kagome ran up to him and looked up at his face. It looked like he was only sleeping. A tree crashed down behind her making her jump. She watched as the young mans eyes opened at looked down at her. His eyes were a soft amber color reminding her of someone. He looked very surprised to see her there. "Kikyou." he said quietly. He growled and struggled to get free. Kagome stood there staring at him. "Kikyou are you just going to stand there?!" he yelled at her.
The sound grew closer as the demon neared. "Well Kikyou?" he growled. Kagome looked back to see the demon crashing the clearing. She jumped and felt her heart skip. She backed up towards the young man if that is what he was. The demon lunged at her but didn't attack. Kagome was flung onto the tree as the demon coiled her long body around the tree. The jewel dropped from her hand and the demon swallowed it up with a happy laugh. "Losing your touch are you Kikyou?" the man sneered.
Kagome screamed as the demon squeezed the tree harder. Her lower half was pinned to the tree by the demons body. "I can kill this demon." She looked up at him.
"Can you?" she asked breathlessly. The man smiled a toothy grin.
"If you let me go." he replied. Kagome reached upwards past the mans body and grabbed the arrow. What have I got to lose? She thought and pulled out the arrow. It turned to dust. "Heh." in a blur of moment she watched at the man rose a long finger nailed hand and brought down a slashing arc on too the demons body. The demon screamed. In pain. "IRON REAPER SOUL STEALER!!" the you man yelled. Swords or maybe something else slashed with his own claws at the demon hacking it to pieces.
Kagome fell down to the ground hard coughing. The man loomed over her looking like he was about to strike her. He crouched next to her. "Hey are you alight?" he asked, no concern at all in his harsh voice. She coughed more but pushed herself up.
"Yes…I think." she replied. Kagome looked at the familiar looking man and looked to the decimated path the demon left. The old woman Keade ran in drawing an arrow. She dropped the arrow in shock but hurried over drawing another. She pointed it at the young man.
"Stay back demon." she warned pointing the arrow to the middle of his eyes. He looked at her bored.
"Look here old woman I'm not going to kill her…yet." Keade kept the arrow drawn. "I owe her from…releasing me. Stupid wench." Keade did not turn back to Kagome.
"Is this true Kagome? Did you free him?" Kagome looked up at the two the air thick with the scent of demon blood.
"Yes." she replied. "He said he could kill the…demon." Keade took one sharp glance around eyeing the scattered remains of the demon. She lowered her bow.
"Child were is the jewel?" Kagome stared at Keade for the moment.
"The demon ate it." Kagome told her looking around. She saw in a rather large hunk of the demon carcass a glowing pink light.
"Can you see where it is?" the young man scoffed.
"No one can do that. You two better leave before the demon gathers its self up." he sneered folding his arms across his chest. Kagome pointed at the glowing light. Keade walked to the hunk and shoved her hand inside. The man chuckled shaking his head. Keade pulled her hand out covered in black demon blood. In her withered old hands held the Shikon jewel. The man jaw dropped and he looked from Kagome to the jewel and back again.
Keade made her way to the two. "No way! Lucky guess!" Kagome opened her mouth to object but Keade silenced her with a sharp look.
"Inuyasha, thank yea for killing the demon." she said gruffly. She dropped the jewel into Kagome's hand. Kagome swallowed bile as the demon blood touched her. The blood burned at her skin she quickly wiped her hand on her skirt. The man Inuyasha sneered at the old woman.
"Would you give me the jewel?" he asked Kagome holding out her palm. Kagome started her hand forward but Keade grabbed her wrist.
"No!" she said sharply. "Yea had killed my sister for the jewel so thee will not ever touch the jewel." Inuyasha growled at the old woman. Kagome watched his sliver hair float in the breeze.
"What do you mean?" he growled at her. "She's right there." He pointed at Kagome. "And I didn't kill her!"
"My name is Kagome." Kagome told him. He looked at her like she was crazy. He squinted at her then jumped back a yard. "I'm not this Kikyou person." she told him. Keade nodded to her.
"Yes. Inuyasha it had been at least fifty years since that day." Keade said simply. Inuyasha's jaw dropped. "I'm Keade Kikyou only sister."
"No." was all he said. "It…can't…" Keade stared at him with her one eye and slid the arrow back into the quiver on her back thick with arrows. She grabbed the cloth covering her right eye and pulled it partially off. A red eye stared out from the old woman's face. A eye that looked like it belong to a demon. She covered the eye back up quickly. Inuyasha dropped to the ground in deep thought.
"Come now child. Lets go rest at my home." she told Kagome. Kagome looked to Inuyasha and followed the old woman as she began walking away.
"Are you coming?" Kagome asked him pausing her steps. Her looked up at her with a slight glare, but he stood shoving his hands into the sleeves of his red kimono.
"Feh." he said and brushed past her. Kagome followed them at a slight distance in deep thought. The jewel spread warmth through her and eased the aches in her lower half. She looked after them wondering what to do. She decided what could it hurt to follow them. If Inuyasha the 'demon' would attack her she was sure Keade would strike him with one of her arrows.
"So…you're a demon?" Kagome asked Inuyasha when she caught up with him. He glared at her.
"Half demon." he corrected. She stopped at that but jogged two steps to keep up with him.
"What's a half demon?" He growled and turned to her stopping.
"You don't' know? My mother was a human wench." Kagome glared back at him. She pointed a finger at him.
"My name is Kagome. KA GO ME."
"Whatever." She pursed her lips as he went on. "Ka go me." the name sounded like a insult. Kagome picked up some kind of tree seed from the ground and tossed it at him. It bounced off his head. He whirled around glaring at her. She shrugged with a light smile and kept walking.
Terms: No new terms. I will explain Keade's eye soon though….Now it is no longer a mystery!
