~Inuyasha's POV~
What kind of mess did I just get myself into? Wandering the black space, all I could hear was my own breathing and erotic heart. At times, it felt as if I was following something, then others it would feel like what I was searching for just disappeared. This mouse chase is getting me nowhere.
"Is anyone there?" I felt silly asking pure darkness if anything lived in it, which I highly doubted.
That's when I started to feel the tugging again. Not having any other leads, I started to follow it. But as soon as the feeling got strong, it slipped away. I think it's time to get outta here.
"Hey! How do I get out of this place?" Suddenly, what looked like a mirror appeared but it revealed Sango and Miroku. Yes! A way out! Just before I made my way through again, I silently thanked whatever let me back to my friends.
~Kagome's POV~
How could I just do that? I let him walk right out of here. He could've been the one to free me. I could just feel the rage pooling in my gut, ready to attack anything. But it always settles since I know there is nothing here to take my anger out on except myself. Those never end too well either. After a while, hurting yourself seems pointless.
I started to unconsciously rub the faint scars that still lingered on my wrists.
~Inuyasha's POV~
"Inuyasha! You need to get up!" the pounding on the door only adding to the ache in my head. Growling inhumanly, I reached for the door, almost ripping it cleanly off the hinges.
"Miroku, you better have a good reason for getting me up this early in the morning."
"Yeah, Sango is after me and I need to hide." Thinking this would be quite fun, I threw a glance behind my eager friend.
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Miroku must've seen the cogs turning in my head because fear was evident in his eyes.
"May I please come in until she cools down? You won't even know I'm here. I'll cook some breakfast for you and you can go back to sleep." The look in his eyes showed that he was starting to get desperate. I did want some breakfast and making something decent seemed like too much work for right now. With one last glance behind him I stepped aside to let the poor man in.
"Thank you so much Inuyasha." He soon took off to the kitchen to keep fast to his word. "Anything you feel like eating this morning?" he inquired after taking a quick glance through the fridge for things to salvage together as I took my position on the couch.
The small footsteps I had been keeping an open ear for were starting to approach. Time for payback. I thought fast with what had to happen next. Let's see, no eggs and low on milk. Perfect.
"I would like some scrambled eggs but I haven't been to the market lately. Could you pick some up for me?" I hoped he wouldn't be able to see through my "genuinely innocent" look.
"S-sure. I'll be back in a little bit." His nervous yet thankful grin almost made me feel bad for what I was doing. Almost.
3…Miroku was just approaching the front door…2…hand on the doorknob…1…bingo!
"MIROKU!" The flaming beast stood at the door, ready to rip his throat out.
"S-Sango!" Quickly slamming the door, Miroku threw his back against it as he locked it.
I could barely contain my laughter. This is what he gets for milking that embarrassing moment in class and waking me up so early in the morning.
"How could you be so cruel Inuyasha? You must have known that she was coming!" The look in his eyes portrayed that of utter betrayal and pure fear. Not wanting anything broken, especially my door, I walked over and pushed him aside as I carefully unlocked the rattling barrier.
"Hey! Would you knock it off with the banging Sango! Some people are trying to sleep." I guess she didn't buy it because I was soon pushed out of the way. Before she could do some real damage to the poor man I quickly grabbed her arm to stop her. "Sango, I'm sure whatever it was Miroku did, he's truly sorry. I mean look, he's been practically reduced to begging at my feet." Not saying that I didn't like that, but it just didn't work for men to grovel at each others' feet.
I was pretty sure I got to her so I gently dropped her hand just as Miroku peeked around the couch, on the opposite side of the room, to see what was going on.
"Besides, don't you want to have some Miroku's delicious scrambled eggs?" I threw a quick wink at him. Suddenly, Sango turned to look me in the eye. Something there wanted to agree while the other part battled with it to kill the scared man.
Finally giving in, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Scrambled eggs does sound nice right now." That was Miroku's signal to get his, now saved, self to the market and fast. Doing that, he was out in a flash. After thinking about it, I hadn't seen Shippo with him, nor Kirara with Sango.
"Where's Kirara and Shippo?" Our little group could never get accustomed to calling them 'Creatures' when they already had proper names. Which always seem to tug at my mind in the wrong places. But playing with the old ways would be like challenging society itself and that was never a good road to stray; especially for a Master without a Creature.
"They wanted to train a little today and seeing as how…" that reminded me of Combat day coming up. I wasn't even prepared and still with no Creature by my side. True, I could hold up on my own but last year was a close call. If I hadn't found out Koga and Ayame's weakness in time, I would be a little worse for wear. Suddenly the blackened mirror came to mind in a flash and was soon gone again… "So they decided to go to the park to practice. Inuyasha! Did you even hear a word I said?" Sango's anger meter starting to climb again.
"Hmmm? Oh…Sorry." I couldn't help but be bothered again by that mirror; some unfinished business.
Sango's hand was soon on my shoulder, accompanied by the worry in her eyes. "Is something bothering you?"
"The mirror." Within an instant she knew what I was talking about.
"It was quite strange that you could pass through it like that. Are you sure there was nothing on the other side?" The strange, tugging darkness soon clouded my mind. It was almost, alive. Hearing Miroku's steady footsteps traveling up the stairs I brushed off Sango's hand and shook my head. Just as he came through the door, I had seated myself on the couch and Sango was still standing in the middle of the room.
"Did I miss something?" Miroku held up the slightly stuffed grocery bag. I couldn't take the feeling anymore. I needed to check out the mirror again.
"You guys start breakfast without me. I'll be back in about an hour." Thinking it was the fastest way, I decided to jump out the window since the 3 story drop was a cinch for me. Sticking my head back in before I left, I warned "you guys better not break any of my stuff. I mean it." Throwing one last glance at the two, I was off.
~Kagome's POV~
I wonder how that man got in here, let alone found the mirror. He seemed different than what I had expected from the outside world.
The outside world…
I waved my hand and watched as the mirror came into view, but held the figure of someone approaching. It was him again! But he seemed lost. Carefully, I watched his graceful movements as he peered through the fun house for his objective; his long, white hair fanning behind him, what seemed like dog ears, twirling in every direction. My slow breath came and went as I waited to see if he would find me again. Then he turned; face to face. I didn't know if he could see me but if felt as if I could feel him standing right in front of me.
His body started to move, in what felt like slow motion, towards the entrance of my long forgotten jail. Ever so slowly, the man that I had wished to come again was standing before me. The savior who would release me from the chains of this prison. My body reacted on its own as I reached my hand out towards him and waited for what seemed like eternity.
~Inuyasha's POV~
I had finally found the mirror, for what felt like a million years in that god forsaken maze of reflections. Passing through the cold glass, I would never have imagined that someone, let alone a girl, would be lingering in the darkness. Her pale features threw a whole new contrast to white on black. The simple white dress she wore added to the simplicity of her existence. Ever so slowly, I watched as she raised her hand towards me, waiting.
The beating in my heart suddenly quickened and I was pretty sure she could hear it. But all I could tell was that she had been waiting a terribly long time and I was there to set her free.
Taking her hand I felt the most amazing thing ever.
The bond forming between a Master and a Creature.
~Normal POV~
Inuyasha, fascinated into silence, watched slow, intricate swirls being painted over his wrists that glided over the skin only to stop before his elbow. The design mimicking that of what seemed like the wind. Even after the sensation had died down, Inuyasha held onto the girl's small hand and watched as a mirror image of his markings passed over her arms as well. As soon as it had finished, he felt as if he should speak.
"You're a Creature." What a thing to say to someone. Think before you speak! Inuyasha mentally smacked himself but felt relief as the girl's expression stayed mindful but sharp. She slowly nodded her head.
"Do you have a name?" Inuyasha's nerves were still in overdrive as he awaited the answer. It seemed as if she was debating something; searching his eyes, reading his thoughts, seeking his soul. After a while, she opened her mouth but soon closed it again, apparently deciding not to answer. "My name is Inuyasha."
Carefully, the girl took hold of Inuyasha's hand again and drew 'K-A-G-O-M-E', pointing to herself afterwards.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha questioned, trying to see if it was pronounced right. Her smile came and so did his quickened heartbeat. "I umm guess we'd better get going then." Inuyasha then made his way towards the mirror but noticed that Kagome hadn't moved. Motioning her over he waited for her form to follow. "Hurry up." Her small form looked so fragile as she slowly crept over to the mirror.
She must think she can't get out yet. Feeling her distress, Inuyasha pulled her hand with him as they leapt through the mirror, leaving behind the now empty darkness.
I can't believe it. I'm finally free! Kagome silently overjoyed with the feeling of freedom, the world, and…light.
As Inuyasha silently led them home, all he could think was what now?