Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Special Thanks and Dedication to Beautiful Phantom who did the fanart for this story! You're awesome! XD
Summary: Actions must always have an opposing and equal reaction. What one does one day might come back and hurt them the next. In Kagome's case, she's only got one chance to make things right. Just one chance to return to the past and prevent the war between humans and demons that has left their world covered in ash and blood.
The Hands Stained With Sin
Chapter Two: Return
Hatake stood motionless by the empty opening that was going to be a window. That woman had managed to escape his grasp earlier. His calloused hands touched the concrete of the opening that was her exit. He rubbed the course surface slightly. Her scent was faint but still present. A delicate mixture of sakura blossoms and fresh rain water. How many times was that now that she eluded him? Onyx eyes narrowed in disgust. Was he truly this weak? Incapable of capturing even one woman? Even if it was that woman. This shouldn't have been so difficult of a task. Today, that look of fire and determination was what stilled his hand. For the briefest of moments, he remembered how she was back then. The anger, the hatred even the fierce resolve was what originally drew him to her. Now, he despised her for it.
Midorimaru, the little frog youkai that called him there, trembled at his feet. Hatake glanced at the toad, "What news do you bring?" He queried. The fire demon rolled the glass object with his thumb across the palm of his hand. It was light and clear save for a streak of color through the middle. The scent of the priestess and another youkai permeated from the object. It was of no clear use other than to entertain a child. The demon's scent he detected was one from a pup. It was old, possibly upwards of five maybe even six years since the child last touched the object. They had discovered it earlier next to a felled steel beam. It was highly possible that she had managed to hide under it before striking down Tetsu. The ashes of his friend and comrade lay piled in a pathetic heap near his feet. Was that to be his future too?
"Milord, good news has arrived from our contact. Ranshin has successfully infiltrated the Banken's headquarters and is nearly done in bringing down the barrier." The little demon shivered in terror at the youkai before him. He had seen the death of his comrades at this monster's hands. If he didn't want to die a pitiful death as well, he had better keep his head down. It was the only way for his race to survive at this point. Even amongst demons there was strict hierarchy. Failure to comply with that structure would result in an immediate and painful death. "Sir, if you wish to deal with their leader yourself then we should probably leave as quickly as possible. The Gunken has already made their move. You know how they can be."
Hatake thought over his underling's words. It was true. The canines weren't exactly known for their restraint. If he didn't arrive soon then they'd kill the priestess before he'd get his chance for revenge. Also there was another searching for her head on a pike, not to mention his as well. Onyx eyes narrowed at the thought. The bastard had no right to take what was rightfully his. The priestess's life belonged to him. That fact alone was indisputable among the demon community. He'd make damn sure that the fowl mongrel wouldn't get close enough to sniff her, let alone kill her. That was his privilege, and his alone.
"Indeed." He acknowledge Midorimaru's presence, "We leave at once. You can take the rest of your clan back to HQ. You won't be needed for this mission." He turned swiftly on his heel. The cool breeze of the season's first cold front rustled his clothing and hair gently. Tonight he'll end her life and hopefully save another. The muscles around his chest constricted with a long lost emotion. It had to be done. It was the only way to save her.
Midorimaru kept silent. He was aware of his master's plan. He also knew of the person he wished to save. Yet something was off about his plan. For the little amount of education he had, the little toad was quite aware that it was impossible to change the past. Magical well involved or not. One way or another that girl would return to the past. When she did, all of their fates would be sealed. That person would die. Hatake would lose his mate. The miko would lose her home. All those who followed her would be condemned to a life of hate and fear. There was no way around it. Even if he did manage to kill her, that reality would exist in an alternate universe. They would never be able to experience that world themselves. One could say that their fates had already been sealed the moment Hatake chose to commit his life and soul to his hatred. In his own opinion, he believed that the fire youkai owed it to himself to figure out what really happened that day. It was the right thing to do. His drive for revenge clouded his judgement. Even she would have agreed. Sighing inwardly, the little frog bowed as his master left. All he could was wait and watch. Someday his lord would see how grievous his error truly was, but for now he'd support him. If only to protect his own life.
Midorimaru looked outside the perfectly square opening. The full moon's light illuminated the abandoned buildings and smoldering homes. He truly hoped that some good would come from this genocide. Too many had died all for the sake of one man's selfish desire for retribution. The howling of wolves signaled the first assault on the barrier in progress. He sincerely hoped that the girl somehow did find a way to stop the past from happening. If for no one's sake but hers. She was the one that had the most to lose. Closing his eyes, he too left the building that was their symbol of "success". Charred remains of their fallen littered the ground. Blood of their enemy was splattered in grotesque shapes across the walls like someone's macabre idea of art. In the end, it didn't matter which side you were on. Your body would always be lying next to your enemy's and your sacrifices quickly forgotten by the masses. What was all this death and violence for? What exactly had the humans done to deserve such treatment? What even made them think that they were so much more superior to those 'lowly humans'? Functioning on the basis that the entire war was started over one woman's death, did that not make them even worse than their original 'adversary'? After all they had killed far more humans than the other way around. How many wives, daughters, sisters had they killed? How many husbands, sons, brothers were sacrificed for the sake of protecting their family? This was not a war. This was the eradication of an entire species. With Hatake at the top pulling the strings.
Still, there was some other players out there that voiced their opinion of these atrocities. Midorimaru wondered how long it would be before they took up arms against Hatake and the Gunken. Couldn't be too much longer now. There were only a few clans of humans left. If they wanted to save them then they'd have to move quickly. The Banken was the source of hope for all the humans, if that clan fell then there'd be no hope left for the others.
He would wait a bit longer before deciding his next move. The winds were starting to shift and he didn't want to be on the opposing end when that happened. For now he'd hope that everything would turn out alright. It was the only thing he could do. It was the only thing any of them could do.
Kagome and the others watched in horror as the barrier crumbled to the ground. The earth trembled beneath their feet. She didn't sense any of the youkai before this happened. So why did the barrier fall? Could Takeshi have been correct in his assumption that one of them managed to infiltrate their little band of survivors? Kagome didn't have much time to think on the subject. Several packs of wolves and dogs charged across the tiled courtyard. Their eyes were dilated with blood lust and their silver fangs bared for the kill. She notched an arrow and fired it into the chest of a black wolf that dove head first into them. Its body scattered into ash. Almost immediately more charged ahead in its place. The fury of their lost companion became evident in their attacks. They got faster and stronger. The hatred was so tangible that most of their little group had to shudder at it. She let loose another arrow and watched stoically as it purified a youkai into a heap of ash. Regardless of the leak, she'd do whatever she could to protect her followers. They were the only family she had left in this screwed up world. She turned, catching her brother's gaze. He was still filled with trepidation at the thought of taking another life but watching the threat up close and personal like this, a certain fire entered his eyes. He was ready to join the fight.
Souta grabbed his staff. It was a relic left to him by their grandfather. Through it he was able to channel what little ability he had. It was a paltry amount compared to Kagome and Amaya, but it was enough to stave off an attack. He had spent most of his time training. Countless hours he tried his best to channel his abilities. He had seen what terrors this world held for him and his family first hand. He had watched as his mother and grandfather were mercilessly slaughtered before his eyes. He also watched his sister purify those monsters into nothing. What he wanted more than anything was the power to protect his sister, just as she had done for him. His grip tightened. One of the wolves splintered off and rushed him. It's powerful muscles propelled it swiftly across the courtyard and towards him. Sweat beaded his brow in nervousness. Just a few more seconds. Silver fangs flashed in front of him. Sensing that the wolf demon was about to go in for his throat, he thrust the staff forward. The sharp end of the staff pierced the creature's chest deeply. Wood splintered off and bit into his skin as he quickly twisted the object, ensuring the wolf's death. The flesh nearest to the demon's wound sizzled and was reduced to cinders. Cobalt eyes narrowed in dismay. He was definitely stronger, but it still wasn't enough to completely purify the creature. He needed more power.
A bullet whizzed past his head as Shika fired off a shot into an Inu youkai that thought to attack his turned back. Its head snapped backwards as its body fell limply to the ground. He gave her a quick nod of appreciation. She ignored it and continued to fire away at the enemies that were surrounding them. Just next to Kagome, Amaya cringed. Several of the Gunken had already managed to circle them. No matter how many arrows she shot there were still many more that replaced the ones that she killed. Sweat drenched her neck and face. Blonde strands of hair stuck to her skin. Was this their future? Kill or be killed? The teenager notched another arrow. This time her enemy was in his humanoid form. The youkai's eyes were a stunning shade of blue. His hair was brown like the earth. Pale lips curled back to reveal pearlescent fangs. This thing wasn't human. It was there to kill her. So why did her hands tremble so? Her legs were weak and her heart raced. She knew she had to kill him, so why couldn't she? The Inu launched into the air, his claws extended. Amaya froze. Was it because they looked so similar? The image of a man flashed in her mind. She couldn't kill him. Not in that form. Not when he resembled him so much. The memory of blood soaked snow invaded her mind. Father.
Kagome quickly pushed her apprentice behind her. The older priestess thrust her bow into the torso of the demon and pushed much of her power into his body. Poor fool didn't have enough time to scream let alone feel pain. Sensing an opening, Takeshi made a mad grab for the catatonic teenager. Her azure eyes were wide with fear and her body trembled violently. She needed the most protection. So that was exactly what he was going to give her. The muscular man tucked the limp girl under one arm and pushed his back against Isamu's. The younger male was only a few inches shorter than him. Which was odd given their age difference. Nearly ten years apart and they could've passed off as siblings. Isamu was quite tall and muscular for a boy at the ripe age of seventeen. As a result, he was often at the front line of these battles and made great use of his strength. The dark haired teen thrust his fist into the cheek bone of an inu youkai. His strength alone was comparable to that of a hanyou's. Many suspected that he might have demonic blood in his lineage somewhere, but none knew for certain since his mother died prior to the war and his father was probably lying dead in a ditch. The demon roared in pain, clutching at his injury. Several bones were definitely broke. Isamu didn't give it the chance to recover. Over and over again he punched at its face. Breaking more of its bones and doing as much damage as he could to the vile creature. Takeshi was forced to pry the young man off of the youkai to keep him focused on the task of keeping Amaya safe.
They couldn't keep this up for much longer. More demons poured in then they could handle at once, even with Kagome's power. Isamu nudged for them to edge closer to Kotone. She had been holding up fairly well and was their best bet at keeping Amaya fully protected at this point. Where many of them were skilled in their physical prowess, Kotone was skilled in ingenuity. She was the only person to date that had managed to use their taishou's special ability and weaponize it in a way that they could all use it. Inside some of her canisters was a solution mixed with Kagome's blood. One drop and many a demon were turned to ash. They didn't have the ability to freeze the blood as they should have, so the few canisters they had of this special solution had to be used quickly, and strategically.
"Taishou!" Takeshi cried out for his leader. Understanding his message, she nodded at him. It was best to get everyone into the well house now. It was the only way they were going to survive the night. Especially if Hatake decided to make a special appearance. Going by how desperate the Gunken was to get rid of them quickly, she was fairly certain that he'd be arrive soon.
"Follow Takeshi! We will secure its perimeter and fight the others off from there!" She raised her arm and motioned for them to move forward, "No demon will enter that building as long as we live!" They let out an enthused war cry and charged towards the abandoned building. Many of their elderly and children had already been evacuated to there with Suzume tending to the injured. Kotone quickly threw down a canister. The cap popped off with a loud 'clack' and a cloud of red smoke erupted from the opening. It'd not only cloud their senses, but purify any foolish enough to dive into the mist. The scent of copper hung heavily in the air as Kagome headed the group towards the well house. They ran at full speed with herself and Takeshi in front. Souta and Shika took up the rear while Isamu and Kotone protected the middle of their little group.
The cover worked for a short bit. They had managed to make it halfway across before it faded and the canines were able to charge through without any deterrent. Souta cursed under his breath as one snapped at his legs, nearly knocking them right out from under him. Shika put the edge of the gun on the demon's head. It only had a second to react. Fortunately for Souta, it wasn't quite fast enough. The crack of the bullet entering its skull and turning its brain to mush echoed loudly in his hears. The teen regained his balance. Despite his lack of power, he was quite good at making small barriers. Without waiting for clearance from his sister he stuck his staff into the ground. Power pulsated from the object. Those who had pursued them suddenly stopped in their tracks. A light veil spread across the darkened sky. It engulfed most of the area around them. It wasn't perfect, but he had managed to erect a barrier just large enough to encase their little group.
His muscles tensed as he held his position. If he moved an inch, the barrier would fall. He was screwed. That was for certain, but at least this way he could buy the others a little bit of time to make it to the well house. It was their last line of defense. It had been outfitted with steel and wood of the Goshinboku. The exterior was a hard metal that was nearly infallible by most human standards. It'd last for some time against demonic attacks. In the interior, the wood of the God Tree had been used to reinforce the walls, creating an additional barrier that they could retreat to in case of an emergency like this. It would last until morning under an attack like this. Many had already evacuated there. So now it was up to him to make sure that his sister and the others made it. If he was going to die, than he was damn well going to do it like this. He wasn't going kneel on the ground and wait for some damn youkai to kill him. He'd go out fighting. Especially if it meant that his sacrifice would save all of their lives. His power wasn't much but it'd be enough to save them. He was just going to live with that for the rest of his life. Which probably wasn't going to be much longer anyways.
"Just get to the damn well already!" The teenager growled. "I've got this!"
"You heard him! Keep moving!" Kagome urged the others to continue moving forward. No matter the circumstances she would never leave her brother behind.
Takeshi and the others bolted for the well. He had his doubts about leaving his leader alone with her brother. More than anything he wanted to fight valiantly by her side and not hide like a coward in the well house. But he knew that their leader had her reasons for splitting them up like this. She must've had a plan. It was the only thing he could think of. She wasn't the type of woman to send them off and take the part of a martyr. Maybe back when Kazuhiro was alive she would've pulled that act. But not anymore. The only thing being a martyr got her was a blind eye and a dead fiance. If anything, Takeshi was resolute in his belief that she had a counter attack already thought out. Also, he knew that she was desperate to keep Amaya safe.
They believed in their taishou and would follow her command until death. She wouldn't abandon them. It was clear that she wanted to fight this battle alone with her brother. So they would grant her that much. They piled in and secured the door. Besides, they could keep the others safe for as long as possible. If they were going to die, then they'd do it protecting those who truly needed it. However what they saw after they entered the decrepit edifice was not one that they expected.
Kagome grabbed Souta by his neck and quickly ran across towards the well house. She was absolutely furious with his idiotic attempt. He did manage to buy them some time but that wasn't the point. As furious as she was with him, she couldn't blame him. This wasn't the life he was supposed to have lived. She stared at her sibling in despair. She had wanted so much more for him but as it turned out, this would probably be the last battle they faced together. His barrier fell and they were left defenseless. Fortunately the siblings had managed to get across the rest of the courtyard without much incident. They flung their backs against the wooden door. The sounds of terrified screams and cries for help burned in their ears. Souta's soul burned with fury. Those who weren't lucky enough to be evacuated laid strewn in pieces across the shrine like twisted pieces of decoration. How could these beasts truly live with themselves? What had any of them done to deserve this treatment?
The young woman watched the scene in despair. She had failed them. She had promised them that she'd protect them. Now they were dead. Of all the things, she believed that one day the well would reopen and that they could return to the Sengoku Jidai. The well had become her sign of hope. Five years ago it had sealed itself. The magic still existed within its depths. She could sense it, but it refused her entrance through it. She had hoped that she could reopen it herself. Was this their end? Then, it hit her. Like a breath on the skin of the back of her neck, power surged from within. It was pure and full of light. Could it really be? For just that instant, Kagome began to feel hope again.
When Kazuhiro arrived three years ago, she believed that together they would've had the power to unseal it and send their people to the other side-saving them from the despair and horror of their time period. As fate would have it, Kazuhiro died the night before they were to attempt the ambitious plan. A cobalt eye narrowed at the forces that were swiftly closing in on them. This time she would not fail her brother. She'd ensure that he would survive. He was the last bit of family she had. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him too.
Determination filled her soul. She'd end this war with one last battle. The miko waited for the youkai to get within a breath's distance of herself. Just above her a black portal opened and Hatake appeared before them, his back turned to the siblings. Her body stiffened. Despite what his presence meant on the battlefield, she had anticipated his appearance and used it to her advantage. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Hatake has a personal grudge against her. The reason was still unknown to her but at least she knew she could count on him to appear at just the right moment to keep other youkai from killing her. He'd rather do that himself.
She leaned over and whispered quietly, "Get in the well."
The young man didn't have a chance to argue since she grabbed him by his collar and threw him inside. She locked the door from the outside, preventing him from getting back out.
Hatake glanced back at the priestess. How very predictable. Even now she'd rather sacrifice her own life for the sake of her beloved comrades. She had always been such a martyr. It disgusted him. He figured after killing her little human lover that she'd get the picture that self-sacrifice didn't always equate to a better end. His hands balled into fists at his side at the mere memory of that event. A type of rage, one he hadn't felt for many centuries, spread across his chest like wildfire.
Kagome backed into the hardened steel of the well house. She had no clue what she was thinking trying to take on Hatake by herself. She was only going to get herself killed at this rate. Then what would happen to the others? It wasn't like he was just going to let them go because she begged for it. In fact just because she'd beg for their lives that he'd probably slaughter them first. Hands shaking, she notched her last arrow and pointed it at the center of his back. One wrong move and she'd kill him.
The dark eyed youkai looked over the woman's trembling form. How unusual. For the first time he saw the miko shake at the thought of death. Perhaps she wasn't all that ready to die yet? No matter. He'd deal with her momentarily. For now he had a pack of mongrels to deal with. They knew their orders. Kagome was his to kill. No one would ever have that right. A ball of scarlet flames appeared in the palm of his hand.
"Which of you was it?" The fire demon queried darkly. All of the canines, whether they were in their full form or their human form, took several steps back. Only one remained. It was a young man. He had dark hair and deep emerald eyes. Blood stained fangs were drawn into a deep snarl.
"Who made you god?" The male growled as he flexed his claws. Hatake recognized him as the newly appointed leader of the Gunken clan. He went by the name Kutsuu. The ookami was best known for his arrogance and fierce loyalty to his kin. Unfortunately that loyalty also bred a sense of pride in his kind. A trait that was now going to be his downfall. Such a waste. The bastard could've been of great use to him. Now he had to dispose of a perfectly good soldier.
The fire in the palm of his hand more than tripled in size.
"Do not forget your place you filthy mutt. I am the one that granted you immunity from the others." He raised the ball high enough to make many of Kutsuu's underlings to sweat in fear. "Who was it that took in your sorry hides as you were begging in the streets? If it weren't for me you'd all be dead right now."
The alpha chose not to back down. Hatake sighed, "The woman is mine to kill. Challenge me on this and I'll eradicate your very existence."
"Go ahead and try it!" Kutsuu growled loudly, his eyes shining with the desire to main and slaughter. He launched himself into the air with glass-like claws reflecting brightly under the moon's corrupted light.
The fire demon threw the flame at his enemy. It scorched his flesh and burned the creature into a blackened mass. The scent of burned flesh assaulted their nostrils. Many of the remaining Gunken took several steps back.
"Do not forget who you owe your lives to." He threw another wave of fire at their feet, purposely missing them by inches. "Go!"
The youkai retreated with tails tucked between their legs and fearful whines escaping their throats.
The sound of wood tapping against wood rang loudly in Kagome's ears. It didn't matter how hard she tried, her hands couldn't stop trembling. The arrow shook against the grain of her bow. A cobalt eye widened ever so slightly in fear. C'mon now, she just had to think of something! When the last of the youkai vacated the area, the priestess was forced to watch in horror as their leader slowly turned to meet her gaze. His eyes were as dark as they were this afternoon, but something was different this time. There was almost a reluctance in those onyx depths. Could she have imagined it? Kagome shook the very notion from her mind. This was no time to be fantasizing. Especially when all their lives depended on her! He moved towards her fluidly. His steps were silent and the only sounds that permeated the air was that of the shrine burning to the ground. The man who proclaimed himself to be her executioner paused. He was barely a breath's away from her. The scent of ash and woods filled her nose. Other than the incident earlier in the day, she had never been close enough to catch his scent. Or rather the only other time she had been, the pain of losing her eye and fiance at the time overshadowed the memory of his scent. Being this close to her self-proclaimed arch nemesis terrified her. Not just because her life was on the line, but what that meant for those who she was supposed to protect.
Kagome's eye narrowed as she pressed the tip of the arrow into his chest, "One more step and I'll kill you." Her voice was much more resolute than she felt. It didn't matter if she died here. All that mattered was making sure the others had enough time to evacuate to the other side of the well. She had felt its power and deep down she knew it wouldn't reject them. The young woman wasn't exactly sure why she knew this, but somewhere deep in her soul she could just sense it. Perhaps it was the jewel? She had sealed it within herself five years ago. As a result she had been unable to use its power to return to the feudal era once she passed through for that final time. Could the seal have weakened enough to where the well was now fully functioning as it should? Regardless Kagome was determined to get her clan to safety. She'd buy them just enough time to get across. She'd see to that.
Hatake watched as the emotions of the miko's face rapidly changed from fear to defiant determination. There it was again. That fire. It burned deep within her soul, and he hated her for it. How many times were they going to play this game? Rather than wasting time trying to figure out her reasoning behind the sudden bout of strength, he chose to destroy the one thing that made her feel safe. Black, crystal-like claws slashed horizontally across the woman's torso. Parts of her clothing ripped and beads of red swelled at the shallow injury. He purposely missed seriously harming her. He still had something he wanted to discuss with her. Broken splinters of the miko's bow and arrow crashed to the ground. Now she had no way to defend herself. Her knives were all used up. If she were to try to use her powers of purification, she'd leave herself open to a counter attack. She didn't have the strength to kill him. Nor would she ever. He had all the cards in this situation.
"Are you done yet?"
"Go fuck yourself!" She responded in kind. Kagome's fear began to ebb away. In its place anger grew. Throughout this entire war there had been one thing that was a constant: Hatake's hatred for her. It was her shrine that had been attacked first. It was her life that he sought to end. Over and over again he'd try to kill her and fail miserably. Whether it'd be due to her comrades fierce determination to save her, or a weakness that even Hatake himself was unwilling to admit, Kagome knew that she was the sole reason this war started and it infuriated her.
"If you wanted to kill me then go ahead and do it!" She screamed, her fury getting the best of her, "Don't put all these innocent people through this hell just for your selfish hatred!" Before the demon could fully register her words, she brought her hand up and struck him as hard as she could across the face. If she was going to die anyways, then she was going to do it speaking her mind. She wasn't just going to cower away in fear. She would face him and tell exactly how she felt about his idiotic pursuit for some revenge that may or may not be valid. At this point it was no longer of any importance to her why he chose to attack as he did. The only thing that was important to her was giving her people the life they deserved. One where they could choose who they wanted to be, not who the had to be.
Hatake was in shock. It had been a very long time since someone had the guts to strike him in such a way. He grabbed the priestess by the collar of her shirt and hauled her up close.
"I won't be the one to kill them," The fire youkai started, "Ranshin will." He leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Technically speaking you were the one who condemned them to this fate, Kagome." The miko's eye widened. That was the first time he had ever called her by her first name. So why did he do it? Why was he acting as if they knew each other? Why was any of this even happening?
"What the hell are you talking about?" The dark haired woman growled through clenched teeth. She grabbed at his wrists, digging her nails into the soft flesh there. A trail of scarlet streamed lightly from the wound onto her hand. Three drops hit the ground noiselessly before he continued.
"Suzume," The man began, "Was my ally from the beginning." His onyx eyes darkened as realization passed through the miko's expression. Good. Now to give her the last bit of detail she'd ever need before death.
"I sent her to you wearing a special contraption that hid her true nature from you." Hatake paused for just a moment to watch her face shift once again into rage, "It took a few years, but we were able to create an object that would seal our powers temporarily and alter our appearance." His grip tightened as he pressed the fragile human further into the cold steel of her well house. "How many others do you think I've sent into your little group? Do you think Suzume is the only one? Granted that fox did manage to play you quite well." Hatake dipped his head low, pressed his lips against the shell of her ear, and whispered menacingly, "You were none the wiser to her little ploy were you? Face it Kagome, you'll always be nothing more than a pawn in our game. Give up now."
Kagome's mind was racing. Suzume was a traitor? But how could that be! Not once did she ever sense her presence as anything other than a human! Unless, that contraption Hatake spoke of really did exist. Could it have been her bracelet? The memory of an emerald bracelet came to mind. She had never seen the woman take it off. Was it possible? It appeared similar to that of Kazuhiro's amulet. Were they connected somehow? It was possible considering that Kazuhiro's family shrine was never successfully returned to him. Her chest constricted at the mere thought of him. Was his death really her fault? Was everyone's death her fault?
"Shut the hell up!" The young woman yelled, her voice cracking a bit with fury. "I don't give a damn who you've managed to use to infiltrate our camp, but be warned I will find out who it is! And I will send their head back to you in a box!" She blasted him with as much miko-ki as she could possibly muster. "May the gods have mercy on your soul." The priestess said in a low, emotionless tone. It was devoid of any kind of life and love. For just a second, Hatake remembered what it felt like to experience fear.
Suddenly the building behind them burst. What felt like a powerful gust of wind ripped apart the building and blew it to bits. Kagome was sent flying, a large piece of metal piercing her side. She screamed in pain and clutched at the wound. The tile cracked against her other side harshly. By now she was certain that she not only had several broken ribs on one side, but some organs punctured on the other. With a cobalt eye narrowed in pain, she surveyed her surroundings. The only thought going through her mind was the desperate hope that the others had managed to escape to the other side by now. That was all she was asking for. Please don't let there be another death.
Souta stared in horror. There was no way. There was no damn way this was possible! The woman that they had known as "Suzume" laughed at them. Her brown eyes changed into amber colored ones and her brown hair elongated into thick, scarlet curls. She had been the person to heal their wounds when they were injured. Now she was going to be the monster that would tear them all apart.
"I'm surprised that none of you ever figured it out. That's right, I'm a fox demon. Congratulations for playing! The name's Ranshin and I'm here to kill you all." She laughed as her silver fangs glistened in the candle light. It was odd and otherworldly. The mere sight of the "new" appearance caused a chill to run down Souta's spine. "You guys were the last hope of your dying race. You prided yourselves so much on being strong and tolerant of those less fortunate. None of you ever guessed that a demon would just come waltzing into your camp like I did!" Ranshin laughed maniacally. "Your taishou is even more stupid than you!"
Ranshin held Amaya by her throat. The girl's feet danged in the air as she struggled for breath. "Your leader failed you!" She said specifically to the blonde, "If she were a true miko she would've sensed my presence immediately. However," amber eyes lit with twisted delight, "It would seem that the death of her beloved fiance had clouded her senses. Makes you wonder doesn't it?" She pulled the girl close and whispered darkly in her ear, "Do you think she ever really had the power to save you at all?"
Isamu had seen enough. Fury burned hotly in his veins. Who did this bitch think she was insulting their leader? Their taishou did more than anybody else to keep them alive! The mere thought of her failing them was utterly incomprehensible. She was never the type of woman to give up, regardless of the situation! Deep seeded hatred flowed through his blood like fire. In a desperate attempt to save the young priestess, he slammed his shoulder into the woman's side. It knocked the fox off balance just enough to let the girl loose from her vice-like grip. Amaya coughed as Isamu swiftly pushed her behind him and into Kotone's arms.
Anger and hatred bubbled just beneath Isamu's skin. He could feel it. It was like a doorway had been opened for him. Power both familiar and foreign to him pulsated throughout his body. Stormy eyes concentrated on Ranshin's form. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he could tell that she was weak. Especially for a daiyoukai. She had very little power of her own. Most of what he sensed seemed to come from the bracelet that she wore. Well he'd just have to fix that now wouldn't he? He raised his hand and a rush of air shot out of it. The wind sharpened into a solid, blade-like substance and penetrated the youkai's flesh. Silver eyes narrowed with confidence. He shared a look with Souta and Takeshi. The message was clear even though no words passed between them. He would distract Ranshin while the other two evacuated the others to safety.
The youngest Higurashi sibling quickly ushered most of their members inside the well. The light of magic surrounded the inside and many were skeptical of jumping in. He tried his best to comfort them but to no avail.
"But Higurashi-san, we'll die if we jump!"
"How do you know we'll be saved!"
"Have you lost your damn mind!"
He had heard enough. Gathering all of his strength the teen yelled out, "This was a direct order from my sister. Disregard it and you'll be disobeying her!" Many quieted down but unfortunately Ranshin heard everything.
Her amber gaze fell to the well, "So this was your escape plan? Not bad at all. However I'm under strict orders not to let any of you live." She gave them a sinister smile, "Say goodbye."
Without thinking, Takeshi pushed the crowd into the well with all of his force. Souta jumped out of the way as Isamu rushed forward to stop the youkai's attack. She was met with a flesh-piercing gust of wind and the well house around them exploded.
By the time Souta looked up again, everything around them was in shambles. Isamu stood among the wreckage covered in Ranshin's blood. Her limp body laid strewn across rubble. He cringed in horror. What the hell was going on? Was Isamu part demon too? It didn't matter right now. They still needed to get his sister across the well too! His cobalt eyes surveyed the rest of the shrine in the hopes of finding his sibling. Fire scorched the once holy ground as blood painted the buildings red. This was what it meant to fight in a war? His heart ached. How many had died today? How many had they saved? What was all this for? He mustered the strength to stand on his feet. Where was she? Where was Kagome?
Not too far away said miko shook in pain. "Souta," she cried out weakly, "Get out of here!"
He along with Isamu quickly rushed to her side. The both looped one of her arms around their neck and supported her weight. She screamed in pain.
Hatake arose from the chaos as well. Large chunks of metal protruded from his shoulder and leg. The wounds themselves were superficial. He'd recover within a day or two. His onyx eyes were drawn to Kagome's limping form. She on the other hand would take much longer to recover. If he hurried, he could still stop the cycle. He could still save her life.
Kagome's scream pierced his ears. He stopped. An emotion long lost resurfaced once again. Why couldn't he do it? Why couldn't he kill her? Cobalt met onyx in a battle of wills. Despite her wounds, she was determined to keep her 'friends' alive. The fire youkai collapsed to his knees. It wasn't the injuries that were hurting him. No, it was much deeper than that. It was his very soul that ached.
He watched as the three disappeared into the well together. Black hair danced in the wind as she fell into the dark abyss of the portal. He had failed. Now she would die.
Miroku stared into the dark depths of the well. It had been five years since any of them had last seen their companion. Was she doing alright? Did she find love in the future? Was she happy now? These were all things that Miroku thought about when he visited this portal. Violet eyes darkened at the memory of her horrified face as she was sucked down into the well. It wasn't the ending any of them had hoped for. Somewhere deep inside their hearts, they selfishly desired for her to stay with them. Inuyasha and himself more so.
The inu hanyou may have been harsh in his treatment of her, but it was obvious he cared about her. Just not in the way she really wanted him to back then. His gaze narrowed as he watched the darkness shift within. An ancient power seemed to stir to life. His staff jingled as he shifted into a better position. Could the well be re-opening? He had sensed it earlier this morning. So after he finished exorcising the last of the low-leveled demons that haunted Inuyasha's forest, he chose to return here to check into it himself.
A dark and sinister part of himself whispered that he only returned here in the hope of avoiding his fiancee. It uttered the words that he could not bring himself to accept. Not after all that they had gone through together. Five years and he still couldn't bring himself to marry Sango. With Naraku gone there shouldn't have been any reason why he was so reluctant to go through with it. So why did he feel such despair at the thought? His chest clenched in sorrow. He was worthless. Was it because of Kagome? Was it concern for her well being that made him standoffish with his lover?
Violet eyes shadowed at the pang in his heart. It would be best if he swallowed his pride and focused on the present. The well was closed and there wasn't anything any of them could do about it. The monk turned on the ball of his foot. Dirt crunched under his heel as he made a move to leave the clearing. Then he heard it. The cackle of power surging to life and unfamiliar voices bickering amongst each other.
"Takeshi what the hell!"
"Where are we?"
"What's going on? Where's taishou!"
It was a conglomerate of males and females struggling against each other. He peered into the well and saw a shocking sight. Upwards of a dozen people were jostling amongst each other. Their eyes were a picture of fear and uncertainty. Yet their bodies were covered in scars and filth. Miroku looked over the lip of the well.
"Are you all right?" He queried. The monk had seen many things in his years but this was a first. Were these people from Kagome's time?
Twelve pairs of eyes turned up at him and simultaneously widened in shock?
"Kazuhiro?"
"Kazuhiro is back from the dead!"
His brow arched in confusion. Kazuhiro? Who the hell was that?
"Just hold on! I send down a rope to help you!" Miroku called. However his voice was drowned out by their tears of happiness. What in the world was going on? As soon as they made it to land, he found himself lying flat on his back with several pairs of arms around him. Miroku stared up at the sky, utterly lost. Who was Kazuhiro?
Isamu and Souta landed on the ground easily. Kagome hung limply from their hold. It was clear that she was in dire need of a doctor. She was going to bleed out if this kept up.
"Are you guys up there?" The younger sibling called, "We need a doctor immediately!"
The happy "reunion" came to an abrupt ending. Takeshi, Shika, and Kotone rushed over to the well. One by one they climbed down and helped secure a rope around their leader's waist. Kagome cringed and bit her lip. Searing hot pain shot through her body. Even with what little power she had, it wouldn't be enough to heal her injuries.
A cobalt eye opened slowly to see her people crowding around Miroku's form. It must've been such a shock for them. However their hopes of their friend and comrade returning from the dead was not meant to be. Miroku wasn't Kazuhiro. Nor was Kazuhiro ever Miroku. That was exactly how she preferred it too. It'd be much too complicated if she believed them to be the same. Just like between her and Kikyou, they were both different people in different times. Shika hauled her from the well onto the ground gently. The priestess smiled kindly. It was the first they had seen in well over a year.
"That's not Kazuhiro," Kagome wrapped her arm around Shika's neck as the hanyou lifted her to her feet. The miko's eyes met the monk's, "It's been a while, Miroku." She couldn't help it. Tears of happiness and relief began to flow from her one good eye. They were home. The war was over. For the first time, she had hope that her people would be given the chance to choose their own path. Hopefully in this time, they would never need to experience the fears of death and war all over again. She held hope that maybe now, they could live their lives in peace.
The monk was awestruck. This woman was Kagome. That he could sense, but she wasn't the same. Her shirt was torn and ripped in many places, blood seeping through the gashes. A large, black patch covered one of her eyes and half of her face. The young woman's cheekbones were sunken in. Her skin was pale and her body appeared frail, even without the injuries. It was as if she had been living off of scraps. Without his even knowing, tears began to flow down his own face. A mixture of sorrow and hope tore at his heart. What had happened to her? To all of them? The monk threw down his staff and gathered the miko into his arms.
It wouldn't be long before Inuyasha arrived, so he'd only have to go a short distance. Still, if she wasn't given to Lady Rin soon she'd die.
"Follow me!" The man called to the strangers. He wasn't sure what was happening, all he knew was that they were with Kagome. That was enough for him. Any ally of Kagome was an ally of his.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest. Kagome's injuries were more sever than he realized. Holding her in his arms he could see the blood draining away. The ribs in her side felt awkward, as if they had been broken in multiple places. Resolved filled his entire being. He took off into the forest as quickly as he could. He'd be damned if he allowed her to die.
A/n: Please forgive quite a bit of the typos and awkward paragraphs. I had all typed up then Doc Manager decided to "rearrange" paragraphs as it pleased. So now I'm going through and making sure everything is back in the order it should be and fixing original typos. -_- Sooo, thoughts? Concerns? Criticisms? After posting "Hell" recently, I've become increasingly concerned about whether people have been enjoying the stories that I've written. I've already accepted the fact that since this story is not a crossover and contains original characters that it will not be popular. However, I would like to see some kind of evidence of whether the readers are enjoying these works or not. This is in no way a review demand. All that I'm asking for is that if there is something that you think is 'off' or that you find is 'crap' then please leave a PM or review to let me know. I just become concerned after seeing the number of hits rise and receive no feedback to correlate with that rise. I truly am excited to write this story and I would love to hear what little amount of readers I have for it have to say about it.
Even if you're opposed to reviewing, I'd truly appreciate a PM in its place instead. All that I'm asking is to hear from you. I know these long chapters can be daunting to read, but I've been doing this to give ample time to develop characters while sticking to the plot. If the character development were to be cut out then I could probably write 4k word chapters instead. Either way, I'd truly love to hear from all my readers. Even those who don't have such a high opinion of this story. I'm not sure when the next update will be, but I'm going to try my hardest to get one up weekly. As always, let me know if there's anything you see off even if it's just spelling errors. We're all humans and as a result we're susceptible to making mistakes. Acknowledging and correcting those mistakes is what makes us stronger. So in essence, I welcome all kinds of feedback including the negative variety. Thank you all very much for your interest, I truly do appreciate it!