Queen of Hearts
by: kleine-kiko
A/N: Okily-dokily! I'm going to update, even though you don't deserve it. I only have 2 review and 40+ people have read it. C'MON! I know all of you want reviews! Why would you deny reviews to a fellow author when you are vying for the exact same thing? I am dedicating this chapter to the people who reviewed the last one:
to kayko15, who is an excellent writer, and twinkle-twilight, who likes the story and was kind enough to review it.
So, enjoy the update. I hope its better… and I hope all of you who read it will REVIEW! And the "review rule" is still in order. If you don't know what that is, it's at the end of the previous chapter.
P.S. I don't own of Rumiko Takahashi's characters—I'm just a really big fan. You should all check out all her other stuff.
Chapter Two: Sango's Broken Countenance
It had been nearly a month without Kagome, and the effect of Kagome's absence was taking its toll on Sango.
Over the time Sango had spent in the group that followed the half-demon Inuyasha, she had come to know and care for the young priestess. Kagome had become a sister figure to her, and loosing her was like loosing Kohawku all over again.
During the days, when Sango would usually be out practicing techniques with her Hiraikotsu, she now sat indoors, absentmindedly stroking Kirara or swatting Miroku's wandering hand away from her derriere, and after three weeks had passed, Miroku took matters into his own hands and headed towards the Bone-Eater's Well, where he knew he'd find a sulking Inuyasha.
Indeed, as Miroku reached the top of the green hill he spotted Inuyasha sitting right next to the dried up well, peering into its depth, whining in a dog-like manner as he occasionally sniffed the air for Kagome's delicate scent. Miroku walked up quietly behind Inuyasha and cleared his throat.
Inuyasha leapt to his feet and glared at the monk, "What the hell do you think you're doing monk?"
"Merely pondering on why you've decided to sit by this well everyday, all day, while looking forlorn, for the past three weeks or so. Is it perhaps you miss our dear Kagome, but are too prideful to just go to her time and bring her back?"
As Miroku gazed at Inuyasha with a smug smirk, Inuyasha had again put up his defensive barriers and pushed past Miroku to get away from the well and its surroundings.
"That's not it at all Miroku!" Inuyasha yelled at him, "Besides, she could've come back at any time, and has decided to stay in her own time," Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder at the sighing Miroku, peeking at the well. "Besides, who needs a pathetic jewel-shard detector anyway, I can find them on my own?"
Miroku heaved a heavy sigh, "Are you trying to convince me we don't need Kagome… or, are you trying to convince yourself that you don't need her?"
Inuyasha turned around and faced the monk. His stern expression was fixed and there was a dulled glaze that he purposefully placed over his golden eyes to hide the emotions that would have been swimming in them, "You don't understand anything Miroku… you'll never understand."
Inuyasha turned on his heel, showing his back to Miroku as he jumped into the nearest trees at the edge of his forest.
As Miroku watched Inuyasha's fleeing form he called out, "I won't understand because you won't tell me! I only want to help!"
When he received no reply from Inuyasha he lowered his eyes to look at the ground… and ended up looking into the eyes of the little fox-demon, Shippo.
"Oh, hello Shippo," Miroku smiled, but his voice was rife with the raw emotions Inuyasha had stirred up within him. Miroku had been fervently waiting for Kagome's return, so the little group could continue their journeys to find the fragments of the Jewel of the Four Souls.
Shippo stared at Miroku with a focused intensity that had the monk fidgeting, "What's wrong? Why hasn't Inuyasha gone to get Kagome?"
"I don't know Shippo," Miroku answered truthfully, not wanting to hide anything from the fox-demon, who had grown so mature after all the battles he'd seen since the group started seeking to make the jewel-shards whole again.
"Why did Kagome leave in the first place? No one even heard her and Inuyasha fighting."
Miroku wondered when Shippo had become so aware of so many things. The little demon had usually just assumed Inuyasha had made Kagome mad enough to stay away for a few days, but then she had always come back within a few days. This time was… different; for everyone. And whilst Miroku was under Shippo's scrutiny, he dared not lie—too much.
"Most likely another petty argument Inuyasha saw fit to invoke," Miroku said laughing it off with a smile.
Shippo immediately bought the half-truth, wanting someone to be at fault, and started his ritualistic blame of Inuyasha, "It figures! Inuyasha is always doing something to pick a fight with Kagome! Why can't he just see that he's useless without her?"
Taking in what Shippo said, Miroku decided to head to the river to ponder the thoughts that had been rolling around in his mind since Kagome's admittedly strange departure from Kaede's Village. He left the ranting Shippo, who immediately took Inuyasha's spot of sulking next to the well.
Miroku had to ponder what he didn't understand about Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship, and what he would never understand.
Sango sat staring blankly at the reed mat door of Kaede's hut, willing Kagome to walk through it at any time. She saw a familiar head pop in and was almost convinced it was Kagome until she saw the traditional clothing of a shrine priestess. It was…
"Kikyo! What are you doing here?" Sango exclaimed as the dead priestess walked into the hut.
Kikyo coldly glared at Sango, "I am here to re-stake my claim on this domain!" she spat glaring at Sango.
Sango's mouth was hung open as her thought process brought the entire situation concerning Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyo, into perspective. It had to be Kikyo who had prevented Kagome from returning… but how?
Sango's eyes followed Kikyo's form as the priestess walked around the hut, gathering various items.
"What's that you're taking? This is Kaede's hut—those are her things!" Sango said trying to figure out what Kikyo was up to.
Kikyo ignored her as she gathered a knife, a small leather pouch that had six stones in it, another pouch with flint and a stone in it, and a basket of bread, milk, and cheese.
As Kikyo moved to the entryway she turned and faced Sango one last time, "I'm am gathering supplies for a fire and a meal, then, I will be leaving this village."
"But… wha-what about—" Sango stuttered.
Kikyo laughed her cruel laugh, her shoulders shaking, "What about Kagome? Is that it?"
Sango nodded dumbly for an answer, not able to think of anything intelligible to say.
"Can't you all see? Are you really that dense?" Sango was becoming less confused the more Kikyo talked. "She's of no use to me. She barged into the time unaware of anything happening. She claimed what should have been mine."
"What would that be Kikyo?" a voice from behind the reed mat asked.
Kikyo gasped as Inuyasha stuck his head into the hut. He straightened his form to its fullest height and loomed over her with a sense of impending doom if she said the wrong thing.
To Sango, Inuyasha truly was an intimidating sight. He was tall, even for a Japanese man, even for a half demon. He stood with his wild silver hair falling around his shoulders, spilling down his back in a tumultuous cascade. His eyes, normally so devoid of emotion, held the wrath of a million hording demons and the hurt of an innocent child who had been taken advantage of, his fire rat robe tinting them red. His hands were clutched at his sides, his nails digging deep into his palm so that they drew blood which dripped in a steady pattern onto the dirt floor of Kaede's hut.
Kikyo shrunk into herself, the former priestess cowered before the half-demon she had kept so much from. He knew she wanted to become a real woman, who was able to give her love and her life to the man she wanted most. She wanted Inuyasha to help her with that. Yes, she had denounced her place as a priestess—but it had not been because of a passionate love she held for Inuyasha. It was so she could be normal. Inuyasha was to be the means to the end, he was going to give her children… and then he could be done away with.
Sango watched the exchange, and gasped as Kikyo slapped Inuyasha, and moved to get away, running out of the hut; both Inuyasha and Sango followed her.
Inuyasha leapt through the air and caught up with her. Grabbing her arm causing the basket of bread, milk, and cheese to fall to the ground, where bugs waited to feed off of them.
Taking her shoulders into his hands, Inuyasha peered into Kikyo's dead eyes, "What did Kagome take away from you Kikyo?" He asked with a sullen voice.
Kikyo wrenched herself out of Inuyasha's grip, causing his nails to drag along her skin, souls leaking out and flying to the heavens where they could finally have peace in death.
"She took you," Kikyo said venomously. "I was the one who was supposed to heal your heart! I was the one who was supposed to make you happy… I was the one you were supposed to love! Me!"
Inuyasha's faced flushed scarlet at the last part Kikyo said, and he hurried to correct her, "No, Kikyo, no. You're the one I love, can't you see that. I'm going to avenge your death by killing Naraku and going to hell with you."
Even as he said the words, he knew he was lying, but he didn't have to let Kikyo know. The problem was, Kikyo already knew. She knew it was all a lie as she watched Inuyasha's countenance crumble before her eyes.
"I see now, my dear Inuyasha, I was mistaken," she said in a soft voice, imitating Kagome. She walked forward and wrapped her arms around Inuyasha and kissed him softly on the lips.
Inuyasha blushed again and hugged Kikyo back, trying to make her pale thin body warm like it used to be.
Kikyo rested her head on Inuyasha's chest, and stared into Sango's wide eyes. She glared at the girl, and smiled a smile that was thinly veiled with malice as she said, loud enough for Sango to hear, "I'm glad you promised to leave Kagome in her own time. You don't need her anymore, now that you've got me."
Sango's hands rose to her mouth, "It's your fault."
Her nose was turning red, and tears welled up in her eyes. She took a step backwards and tripped lightly, barely catching herself. She slowly sunk to her knees, her kimono, which had been a myriad of colors, was dirty, and all of it looked to be a faded grey color. As tears spilled over onto her cheeks, sliding down and dripping off her chin, Inuyasha turned to look at her.
What he saw shocked him. Her usual happy face was pallid, grey and sickly, making her appear aged. Her hair, which was to amazingly illuminated, hung limp and greasy, in a mass down her back. And her bright shining eyes had darkened and lost their luster. The skin of her hands was yellow and stretched, and her kimono hung loosely on her body. Kirara wouldn't even approach her.
As Inuyasha called out to Sango, reaching his hand toward her as he kept his other arm wrapped around Kikyo, Sango fell over and her body lay limp on the ground. She was still breathing—still alive, but her will had been broken, and her hurts had overwhelmed her to the point that she no longer saw anything. She didn't see Inuyasha leaving Kikyo's side to rush to her aid; she didn't see Miroku running towards her fallen body so he could help his beloved. And if she had been next to the Bone Eater's Well, she wouldn't have seen Shippo's ears perk up, or his nose lift in the air as he smelled a familiar scent.
Nor would Sango have heard the tinkling of Kagome's voice as she called up from the bottom of the well to announce her arrival in the Feudal Era…
A/N: Hey, I hope you guys like this chapter. I will stress again… PLEASE REVIEW. I want all of you to like—if not love—this story. And how am I supposed to do that if you don't tell me what's wrong with it? Anyway, this is an anguish-type chapter it'll get better from here… I think. We'll see….