Prodigality
I won't make the same mistake…I won't waste my time.
K. Higurashi
Written To:
Thoughts of a dying Atheist by Muse
Fever by Syntax
Kagome Higurashi gently rolled the compass between her hands as she tried to ignore the idle chatter around her. It had been two days of wandering around the state of New York and they had yet to find anything related to Naraku.
'I've got time,' Kagome firmly reminded herself.
Her eyes darted across the busy streets filled with traffic and the many oblivious people that marched down them. Sighing, she glanced behind herself to see Dean buying a couple hotdogs. The man had insisted upon lunch and she knew that nothing would stop him from getting his meal. Sighing, she glanced at the trashcan and stared when she noticed a newspaper. A quick glance at Dean and he was stuffing a hotdog down his throat. Kagome plucked the trashed newspaper.
"Watch ya' reading?"
She jumped at the voice and small warmth of breath that tickled her skin. Kagome glared at Dean as she watched him chew. Ignoring him, she glanced back at the ad only to have him grab it from her hands.
"Those papers are full of it," Dean grumbled and tossed the paper back into the trash.
Kagome gave him a weird look before she pulled the paper back from the trash. Her eyes scanned the bright yellow letters and her eyes widened when she saw a strange picture. Opening her mouth to speak, she gagged when a hotdog was shoved into it. Kagome dropped the paper and grasped the dog as she bit into it, quickly chewed and swallowed.
"You're such a jerk!" Kagome growled as she stomped her foot.
She dropped the food and scooped the paper back up.
"You barely eat," Dean argued back as he bit into his dog.
"And you always eat," Kagome pointed out as she slapped his gut with the paper.
Dean scoffed as he took another bite from his food, finishing it. He quickly chewed and swallowed before he seriously asked, "You calling me fat?"
Kagome rolled her eyes before she settled them back on the paper. She pointed to a picture and held it in Dean's face.
"This is about supernatural things," Kagome pointed out.
Dean arched a brow at the paper and this time gently took it. He straightened it as he looked it over and then looked at her. He cleared his throat and sighed.
"It reports all freaky stuff!" Kagome protested as she caught his look.
"Kagome," Dean softly sang her name. "This paper is about people making outrageous claims in order to make a quick buck."
She snatched the paper and held it up as she asked, "So it all has to be false?"
Dean snatched the paper back from her and randomly opened to an article and read loudly, "Bigfoot is my baby's daddy! Mother of hairy child demands child support."
Kagome scowled as she angrily agreed, "So that is a bit weird."
"A bit?" Dean questioned. "Your mind must be rotting after all these years."
"Are you calling me old?" Kagome questioned, shocked as her mouth dropped a bit.
Dean shrugged as he darkly smirked and replied, "I wouldn't know since you keep so many secrets."
"That's uncalled for," Kagome grumbled.
"What's uncalled for is having my life sold as a book and having wacky writers do the unthinkable with me!" Dean argued, eyes looking around.
Kagome snorted as she muttered, "You already do the unthinkable to yourself perfectly fine."
Kagome huffed as she roughly snatched the paper, crumpling it in the process as she swiftly turned on her heel. Kagome still glanced through the paper despite Dean calling out to her.
Secrets…
The word echoed in her head as she weaved through the crowds of people on the sidewalk. Kagome kept her eyes glued to the paper and sighed. Some of the articles were ridiculous, but then there was that add. She flipped back to the front and stared at the title. It had been a good fifty years, but the title looked familiar.
'They did say it was Ex Nihilo,' Kagome thought as she searched for an address.
"It's not even a mainstream paper!" Dean called to her only to his annoyance, she ignored him still. "It's crap!"
Kagome's eyes lit up when she finally found an address. She didn't have a clue where the it was, but was willing to wander around for a bit. Glancing up at the steel city, she knew she had never truly visited. Keeping the address in site she began to move quickly to the nearest street corner and stared up at the names. Dean at that moment chose to grasp her shoulder.
"Going somewhere without me?" Dean questioned, irritated at being left behind.
"You caught up," Kagome blandly pointed out.
Despite it being true, he still grunted in annoyance and shoved his hands in his pockets. Kagome grinned at his action and softly laid a hand upon his bicep offering him a soft smile. He met her gaze before looking away with a scoff; he wouldn't fall for that doe look.
'He truly means well,' Kagome thought as she let her hand slide down his arm until she pulled his hand free.
Dean's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he felt warmth grace the top of his hand. Kagome laced their fingers together and offered him all teeth as she smiled up at him. She gave his hand a firm squeeze.
"So we're together, okay?" Kagome questioned, but he could tell she wouldn't take no for answer.
Dean flexed his hand and decided there were worse fates. He gave the sapphire eyed woman a smirk and she began to lead him. His hand instinctually tightened upon her own as she continued to walk. It was only a few blocks, but he was amazed at the fact she weaved down the Big Apple without bumping into people.
"Don't freak out," Kagome suddenly spoke as she cast him a glance.
"About what?"
Dean felt warmth travel from her hand. It pushed into his hand and set his blood aflame. Every nerve came alive with a new furiousness that made him wonder if had simply been dead and was now alive. The breeze pushed against his skin and he could feel every hair upon his body tickle his skin with the moment. The stopped walking and Kagome moved them out of the way of pedestrians. He froze as he stared at her. Her complexion was even more clear, hair was darker than black, eyes were softly glowing making it as if some type of light was radiating from within.
"No secrets," Kagome softly whispered. Yet her words were clear as if she had spoken normally to him. "There are friends in the city and I can locate them by their youki."
It took Dean a moment but then he asked in awe, "This is your fairy floss powers!"
Another surge of heat traveled throughout his body as she smirked at him. That was all the answer he had needed. She had healed him, but it felt nothing like this. With this he was…
"Aware," Kagome explained. "I've connected us so you can experience what I am feeling."
And then he felt it. He couldn't identify the where because he wasn't skilled with such power, but he knew something was there. The energy he felt was wild; it brushed against his and recoiled in surprise before it strengthened, like a beacon it beckoned them.
"What you felt is a youkai," Kagome clarified after witnessing his surprise and seeing his shock.
He felt the warmth roll away from him and then it was simply gone. Dean made sure not to release her hand as he stared down at her. He was a bit shocked at the experience and didn't know how this was supposed to repeal all the secrets. She had just let him touch a deeper part of her.
"You feel that all the time?" Dean finally questioned as the noise from the city suddenly invaded his senses.
Kagome wistfully smiled as she replied, "My heightened senses are the Kitsune youki that Castiel referred too. But the wild energy you felt was a youkai."
Kagome blinked and then he was inches away from her. A large hand coming up and being held a hair away from her face as he kept his eyes trained on her.
"Everything is heightened?" Dean questioned, humor not lacing his words.
"The scent of metal, gunpowder, and the wind coats your skin," Kagome replied as she slightly turned her head. Her nose met the palm of hand as she kept her eyes trained upon him. She pulled away from him and smirked as she tugged him along.
Dean was surprised that she didn't always have a headache. He couldn't imagine being that sensitive all the time. The Miko was always proving to be something amazing. Despite Castiel's doubts, he didn't think that she was in anyway harmful.
"Where are we going?" Dean questioned.
"Remember that newspaper?"
Dean glared at the back of head but drawled, "Yeah."
"I think I know the owners."
That energy he had felt. She must've had a hunch and searched it out. That meant that there were more youkai and they were in New York. Dean glowered, hopefully they weren't wolves. Dean rolled his eyes, great, just what he needed.
"More weirdoes," Dean grumbled.
Kagome's laughter didn't put him at ease any.
The building was old; bricks stained with weather as time had passed. Yet, the three story building proudly stood tall within the industrialized city. Its windows had bars; its door solid metal with a gold knocker and no knob or handle. Strangely, it was carefully constructed to resemble an old church. Kagome released his hand as he approached the brick gate that surrounded the house. The marble path carefully weaved around a pond before reaching the door.
Dean watched as she stopped at the entrance and held up a hand. A flare of pink and he watched something flicker around the house. Kagome offered him a reassuring smile and motioned for him to follow.
"Looks like a gathering place for the Emo," Dean muttered.
Kagome chuckled as she said, "You'll understand in a bit."
She easily approached the door and stopped in front of the steel mammoth. Dean glanced down at the stone steps before he stood a bit behind Kagome. A single brow lifted when he noted that there wasn't a doorbell. The metal groaned and he eyed it suspiciously. Suddenly, it just swung open causing his eyes to close as a gust of wind shot out at them.
Dean felt hands grasp his elbows and his eyes shot open when he heard Kagome shriek. They were pulled into the darkness of the house before the door slammed shut. Dean immediately pulled out his hands from his pockets and cursed his frail sight. He wished he could see in the dark, but he couldn't. Soft snickers filled the air causing the hair upon his arms to rise.
"You've brought us a meal…"
"How kind of you Kagome-chan!"
There were two separate voices. Dean ignored the darkness and focused on his hearing.
"It's been…"
"Forever."
A hand brushed along his back causing him to spin around and face more darkness. A snicker and Dean realized that one voice was deeper, more sensual as it spoke. The other voice was a bit higher, but snider in tone.
"I will not have you scaring my friend."
Kagome's voice was the easiest to distinguish and by the tone he knew she was being firm. What type of friends trapped others in darkness? Still, snickers cut across the darkness causing him remain on guard.
"It's just a human." The two voices formed a single tone that told them that there was no love lost upon the human race.
"I'm just a human," Kagome's sadden voice argued back.
Both voices scoffed before laughter consumed them in between snickers the two voices murmured between themselves.
"Uncle always said you were naïve…"
"But father was correct."
"You're just stupid."
He felt pressure upon his chest, while hands caressed his thighs. Dean snarled and pulled away, falling into what he felt were more hands. Finally, a firm hand grasped his and he felt warmth. Fingers threading together, he knew this was Kagome. Something within him reached out and recognized her.
"Enough."
Kagome's voice was firm. A flare of pink and he closed his eyes against the energy, but not before witnessing the way it ate away at the darkness. A pair of groans told him that whatever had happened was over. Dean opened his eyes and was surprised when saw a normal looking room. Glancing to his right, he saw Kagome standing next to him with her sapphire eyes focused ahead. Dean turned his gaze and his eyes widened at what he saw.
Two identical males reclined upon a crimson velvet couch. Their hair was a pristine white that reached their lower backs. Their eyes were a deep honey set above two slashes of dark violet. Their bangs were shorter than their hair, coming to their chin and curling a bit toward their face. The Prussian crescent moon adorned their forehead and. Dean watched as their lips curled into identical cruel smirks, displaying the tips of fangs.
"Your father would abhor your behavior," Kagome firmly declared.
They both smirked at her, dark amusement in their eyes. Even as they sat straighter upon the couch, Dean noticed that they moved with ease.
"For the past century he has told us that he loathes our career choice."
The one that spoke crossed his legs, making Dean notice that they both were dressed in black slacks with navy blue dress shirts. The one that had spoken had the deeper tone and was wearing a thin silver chain.
The other one clapped his hands together causing the sleeves of his shirt to slide down and reveal twin slashes that matched the markings upon his cheeks. He gave a deep sigh as he replied, "Oh aunt Miko-chan, father has never liked us much so we ignore the old man!"
Kagome rolled her eyes, but kept her glare firm upon them both. Despite her current temperament, she was still amazed at how the two looked. Releasing Dean's hand she moved closer to the twins who looked warily at her. When she was close to them, she reached out and grabbed them around them neck, pulling them into breathe limiting hug. They both reached out and gripped a side of her hip to steady themselves.
"It's still good to see you both!" Kagome happily stated.
It was strange, he always found himself observing the Miko. Every action she took he found himself simply watching because she was simply amazing in each action. The twins in her grasp gently pushed her away with an echoing exasperating sigh.
Twin eyes, with pupils that were like ovals suddenly were focused upon him. Dean stared down the two with a smirk. He wasn't intimidated easily.
"So..."
"Who's the human?"Human was said with a slight sneer, displaying disdain. Kagome scowled as she stepped back, closer to Dean as if silently saying that she would take his side.
"This is Dean Winchester," Kagome softly introduced, "a very good friend."
He noticed both their eyes widened in surprise, but no other outward display was shown.
"And who exactly are the Olson twins here?" Dean questioned back as he lifted a chin at them.
The two males scowled, one even getting to his feet. It was then that Dean noticed that the male was close to Sam's height. His slender form stalked toward them. Honey eyes roamed Dean's form and causing the Winchester to twitch. The male's eyes narrowed as his nose twitched. Kagome easily kept herself between the male and himself and he wondered why.
"This is Katsumasaru, the Second son of the Lord of the Western Japan lands," Kagome introduced.
"I am also the eldest of us," Katsumasaru informed. He was the one with the deeper voice, tone more haughty.
"How can you tell them apart?" Dean questioned as his eyes glanced to the silent twin upon the couch.
"The one upon the couch is Sounori, the last son of the Lord of the Western Japan lands," Kagome introduced as he happily gave a nod and smiled. "And when Katsumasaru smirks, the right corner of his lips goes up, plus Sounori smiles too much."
Sounori smiled and gave an agreeing nod. He had always been far too cheerful for his father's taste. Which is part of the reason he no problem not seeing the old man often. Still, he did miss their elder brother, but still not enough to go visit.
"So, how do the sons of a Lord end up publishing a cheesy magazine?" Dean questioned.
Sounori sniggered at this as Katsumasaru softly growled in irritation. Kagome happily led Dean to a chair where she sat him down. Hands upon his shoulders, she cast another warning glare at the twins before she took a seat beside him.
"Katsu here," Sounori began with a flick of his hand, "has always loved manga ever since Shippo began drawing and wrote Kagome's life as one."
"Manga?" Dean questioned as he glanced at the Miko. Her cheeks tinged pink and he smirked. So he wasn't the only one with lack of privacy.
"Manga," Katsumasaru drawled his tone deep and bored, "is a type of graphic novel."
"It's a rare manga too!" Sounori happily pointed out as he got up and stretched.
"One that I don't approve of," Kagome grumbled as she crossed her arms.
Katsumasaru sighed as he lazily scratched the side of his arm. His honey orbs watched as the human male, Dean, lightly reached out and tickled the side of her neck. Sounori stiffened behind him and he knew that his twin had witnessed the same action.
"Katsumasaru and Sounori are basically extras in Youkai society," Kagome proudly stated.
"You're so mean," Sounori sadly murmured as his eyes misted.
Katsumasaru pushed his twin back into the couch and scoffed at his antics. It was no wonder why father refused to acknowledge his youngest. A scowl tainted his face when his thoughts drifted to father. The Taiyoukai even after all these years was still brutal.
"The first born male in an Inu clan is the heir as tradition states, so any children after that are…"
"Useless," Katsumasaru finished with a sneer.
Sounori waved a thin hand around as he sighed, "You people are so negative!"
Dean stared at the oldest that was glaring at his twin. It seemed that these youkai were different from the wolves they had come across. The wolves had seemed more family orientated, Kouga treating all his children like equals. Yet, these two acted like they wanted nothing to do with their father and seemed, despite their bond, to hold a bit of disgruntlement.
He hadn't developed the best relationship with his father, but he couldn't imagine feeling that way. His eyes glanced to Sounori that was sprawled on the couch with a depressed look about him. The youngest twin glanced at him and smirked before he sighed loudly.
"Ignoring our daddy issues," Katsumasaru coldly ended that topic. "What is it that you need?"
"As you know, my age isn't getting any younger," Kagome sighed with a wistful smiled.
Sounori poked himself in the side of his head and questioned, "You getting memory issues with your old age."
"Distasteful," Katsumasaru grumbled as he kicked his twin. "Respect those higher than you."
Sounori yelped as he cradled his shin. His slit pupils narrowed as he softly hissed at his twin for the abuse.
"I was wondering," Kagome began she poked her index fingers together. "You see, Dean doesn't want any secrets and in a show of good faith I would like to reveal what I've been through."
Sounori smirked as he quickly sat up and leaned forward and asked, "You want us to do that?"
Dean shifted, uncomfortable. Something told him that Kagome wouldn't harm him, but something also warned him to be wary of these twins. Katsumasaru was glaring at him, hard, and yet kept his face perfectly stoic. Sounori was another story, eyes narrow, but in pure amusement, he was radiating something sadistic.
"You can still perform?" Kagome questioned, truly curious.
"What are you talking about?" Dean finally snapped, not liking being left in the dark.
Katsumasaru smirked, but didn't answer. His pupils turned to Kagome with purpose as he placed his arm across his twin whose mouth quickly snapped shut.
"Katsumasaru and Sounori are the sons of Lord Sesshoumaru; a great Inu Taiyoukai. They're the byproduct to insure that his bloodline remains." Kagome calmly explained. At Katsumasaru's nod, she continued, "a Lord as powerful of Sesshoumaru can't rely on merely one heir."
"What can they do that's so special?" Dean questioned, not caring about their lineage.
"Our mother was a Tennyo, which is a being from the celestial realm," Katsumasaru finished.
"They're part angel?" Dean questioned.
Kagome gave a firm nod to Dean's dismay.
"They shouldn't even exist," Dean flatly sighed.
"A celestial being is lower than an angel, but still more powerful than a youkai or human," Sounori added. He briefly thought before he replied, "Not exactly an angel, but a byproduct of the manifestation of energy from the creation of the angels that managed to gain sentience after the fall of Lucifer."
"So," Dean mused as he took in this newfound information, "a celestial being could pose as God or Goddess to humans?"
"Correct," Katsumasaru simply affirmed.
"Unless, you take their item of power or use a representation of their item of power to seal them," Sounori elaborated on his twin's short reply.
Dean pointedly looked at Kagome as he dryly asked, "No anyone normal?"
Katsumasaru sneered as he stated, "Know your place human. Kagome is far above your station in life and what she offers you is something that you don't deserve."
"Katsumasaru," Kagome sighed as she tried to stop.
"Don't deserve!"
He ignored her and Dean as he continued, "You're pitiful trials are not much since your battle has a destined end."
"Kagome's battle has lasted centuries," Sounori softly whispered.
"It'll end when the world ends," Dean plainly informed as he glared colder twin. The younger one rolled his eyes and rubbed a hand over his heart.
Katsumasaru's lips twitched, revealing the tips of fangs as he growled, "Ignorant human."
Kagome's eyes widened. Sounori may have been the more emotional of the twins, but Katsumasaru was much like his father to the extent that when he lost his temper, instincts tended to run free. Sounori's eyes widened in shock, but they were all to slow to move. Katsumasaru had left no trace of movement as he materialized before Dean. His hand was firmly around the human's throat with a two claws at his jugular.
"I will not kill you, but will gift you with the sight," Katsumasaru rumbled.
The tips of his claws smoldered an acidic green. Dean barely witnessed the glow, but he felt the claw puncture. The small puncture felt like nothing to what his flesh had felt over the years but the sudden sensation that filled him caused him to grunt. Fire raced through his veins as his heart began to race. Sweat broke his skin, even which felt like warm coals rolling unrestricted upon his form. Katsumasaru let him fall unceremoniously to the floor with a solid thump.
His body convulsed at the action, but he felt cool hands instantly placed against both cheeks. Vision blurred, but he could still make out worried sapphire eyes as Kagome spoke his name.
"What have you done?" Kagome hissed, orbs glowering up at Katsumasaru.
"Poison," Sounori confirmed, worry tainting his features.
The youngest twin quickly kneeled beside the fallen human and the angry Miko. He winced as he felt her holy aura flare at his presence. His eyes focused upon the woman he had known for most of his life. She was more than human to the both of them. Kagome had been there to care for them when their celestial mother had simply left them. Despite her rough standings with Sesshoumaru, she had helped raise them, teaching them about aspects of their celestial that Sesshoumaru could not. The power of the Celestial's required a training that couldn't be met by mere like taming of youkai.
'She truly cares,' Sounori realized as his gaze softened; for her aura to react to so strongly, she must've considered this mortal as something, no, someone important.
"I can't heal poison!" Kagome snapped at the elder twin.
He scoffed as he mused, "You suppose I intended him to live."
Her teeth grinded together as she tensed, there wasn't much time. Kagome reached toward Sounori; taking his clawed hand she slit her palm. Quickly, she pressed her palm against the area and shifted his neck so her blood could flow into the wound. If she could get her blood into his system, no matter how little, it would give her an advantage in saving him.
'So frantic,' Katsumasaru noticed. He could agree with Uncle Shippo, Kagome was tenderly naïve, but not stupid. She always worried about others that were held dear to her heart. Her naïve honesty and firmly justified loyalty were probably the reasons his father had kept in contact with her. There was no desire for her power, only allies that that would benefit him somehow.
Sounori had reached out and was rested the palm of his hand against her forehead. He softly whispered something to her before he rested a palm across Dean's eyes. Katsumasaru watched his twin work the ability that had been gifted only to him by his celestial heritage. His honey eyes flashed and Kagome waivered upon the heels of her feet. Katsumasaru quickly caught her and laid her down beside the fallen human male.
"That was a cruel trick," Sounori snapped, cheerful façade replaced with anger.
"A necessity," Katsumasaru dispassionately replied.
Sounori got to his feet and glared at his twin. There spats were always like this, always feeling as if they were looking into a mirror. An elder twin gifted with poison and another gifted with illusions.
"Kagome has suffered much and yet…you dare to stab her in the heart!" Sounori hissed, fists clenched and claws digging into his flesh.
Katsumasaru gave clipped laugh as he replied, "She is destined to watch him fade anyways."
Sounori scowled as he replied, "Regardless, it is the quality and not quantity."
"Did you grant her request?" Katsumasaru questioned.
"Of course," Sounori replied; voice calm again.
Katsumasaru sniffed as he glanced down at the human male. He could easily scent Kagome on him, proving that they had been in each other's company for a while now. Yet there was something surrounding the male he couldn't understand. He was surrounded by Kagome's aura, much like a thin sheen of mist. It wrapped around him protectively.
"Such a foolish choice."
Sounori could only chuckle at the choice of his brother's words.
Dean Winchester was used to the strange.
His hand slapped up to his neck and the moment he felt no wound he had to wonder if he had perhaps, been dreaming. Yet, the sight of the wooden shrine, the stone pathway, and the large tree swaying in the spring breeze told him otherwise. The soft tinkling of bells had his eyes diverted to the doorway as a young boy with a mop of messy black hair and brown eyes ran at him. Dean braced himself only to have a fat cat run under his legs. A moment later the boy ran through him causing him to yelp.
He spun to watch the boy chase the cat up a few steps and finally, the boy stopped and stared at the crack to the strange wooden building.
"I figured this was better than a comic."
"Kagome!" Dean shouted as he spun around and paused. There was Kagome standing behind him, but she was dressed differently. Kagome smirked at his inquiring gaze for the conservative outfit she wore. The common outfit to a Miko in feudal Japan would be odd to any modern day human. The crimson hakama and white haori served no purpose in the future other than decoration for history's sake. "What the hell are you wearing and where the hell are we?"
"You are in my memories," Kagome simply answered. Dean glared at her as she chuckled and decided to explain a bit more. "Sounori has the ability to create illusions, but has been able to manipulate the ability to create a world where people can return to their memories."
"You brought me to your memories?" Dean asked, not believing it.
"You said you wanted no more secrets," Kagome sighed.
Dean nodded, he had said that and yet, this was so personal. It was something that he didn't believe most would submit too, especially if they had the ability too. Kagome reached out and grasped his hand, the white of her bell sleeve brushed his knuckles.
"I am a Miko, so I am wearing the traditional white haori and crimson hakama; white for purity and crimson for the sacrifice of my life to retain this balance."
Dean heard a feminine shout come from the well house as the young boy took of screaming towards the house. Kagome chuckled as a fat cat soon followed.
"That was my brother, Souta."
Dean glanced at her, eyes misted while her pupils narrowed in anger. A soft sigh, a fleeting look of longing and she began to lead him towards the strange house. The wood didn't groan under their weight, but she was able to push open the door a bit more. There suspended in air, above the well, being held by multiple hands was Kagome.
"I was pulled down this well by a centipede youkai when I was fifteen."
Dean pulled away from her hand as he circled the well and stared over the ledge warily. The edges of the well began to fade, like static upon a television before white consumed his vision.
"I had an object of great power within my body, because I am the reincarnation of the Miko Kikyo. The Shikon no Tama was a jewel created from the balance of one soul to seal an evil hanyou within it."
Dean didn't know when he had closed his eyes, but when he reopened them he was standing in front of the large tree from the shine, but upon it was a male dressed in crimson outfit similar to Kagome's. His hair was a shade darker than the twins he had meet and upon his head rested dog ears. Dean winced at the arrow protruding from his chest.
Kagome easily climbed up the roots, the young one and stared at the boy. The memory froze and his Kagome was beside him again.
"So what was this jewel…Shinky no mama?"
Kagome smirked but replied, "Shikon no Tama. It was created from the most powerful Miko of that time." Kagome motioned to the boy upon the tree and Dean recognized the hanyou from the portraits. It had to be the man she loved. Dean didn't know how he felt about that, "Inuyasha and Kikyo; the hanyou Naraku tricked them into betrayal. The result was her death and Inuyasha's sealing."
"You didn't mention this jewel of power before," Dean pointed out as Kagome moved past him.
She didn't stop walking as she replied, "That jewel caused such evil. I don't want it remembered."
As they walked forward Dean noticed the way she tilted her head in the direction of Inuyasha. A soft sigh escaped her and then the colors began to run together around them. He continued walking toward Kagome not wanting to see what would happen if he would get left behind.
"There are some memories that aren't important," Kagome suddenly spoke. Her tone was more subdued than normal. People, youkai, and hanyou appeared alongside them in this sudden world of blurred colors. Kagome quickly began naming off some and explaining what their brief role was.
"Lingering in the past, you're such a fool."
Kagome had stopped walking and Dean paused beside her. He had thought these were memories and therefore were controllable. His eyes darted to the female with peach skin, ruby eyes, and short black hair. Instantly, he knew she was wearing a kimono, but the red and violet patterns he couldn't quite describe.
"If I had a chance at the future, do you think I would spend it lingering on what ifs?"
"Kagura," Kagome sighed as she focused on the memory. "Sometimes, my subconscious gives life to certain figures." Kagura snorted at this as she remained unmoving, but glaring. "Kagura was a part of Naraku that craved freedom, but he killed her."
"Yet you live and act as if you're remorseful about not being dead," Kagura pointed out. Her voice caused Kagome to wince.
"Silence," Kagome strongly murmured. Her word was enough to return Kagura to just an image.
"You know," Dean began before they began moving again, "we survive for a reason."
Kagome sighed as she replied, "Sometimes I feel as if my reason were to be merely a tool."
Dean scoffed; he knew that feeling all too well. Kagome once again began to walk him through the rows of people she remembered. Random names such as Thunder Brothers, Shiori, Tsubaki, and many others filled the air. It was a few moments later that the mess of colors began to take shape and form another scene.
The Kagome; dressed in her short green and white sailor uniform was standing behind a tree, hiding. Dean glanced at his Kagome as she wistfully sighed and moved forward. Dean followed her as the memory continued to play out. In the distance was woman dressed as his Kagome, her eyes where a slate grey, her flesh pale, and hair het back. There was also Inuyasha who was heatedly arguing with the woman.
"Kikyo was robbed of much," Kagome softly murmured as her eyes remained on the scene. "She had guarded the Shikon, tried to do good, fell in love, and was tricked."
"We all got bad lots in life," Dean softy stated as he kept his eyes on the scene.
Inuyasha kissed Kikyo and Dean heard a breath hitch, but it wasn't the younger Kagome because the memory had ceased moving. His Kagome was biting her index finger as she moved forward. She circled the couple and sadly, her eyes began to water.
"I don't fault them," Kagome softly whispered, more to herself. "I feel bad for Kikyo; sure she left me die, but I think desperation, anger, and confusion can cause the best of us to be unjust."
"She left you to die?" Dean questioned, a little put off.
"And gave our enemy part of the Shikon."
"So let me get this straight," Dean began as he pointed to Kikyo. "She got half your soul, tried to kill, tried to take him to hell, gave the enemy a powerful object, and you still feel bad for her?" Dean reached out and poked Kagome in the forehead. "Is there something loose up there?"
Kagome smiled as she reached up and grasped his hand. She didn't release his hand as she explained, "I tried to dislike her…but there comes a time when you realize that there has to be something more."
Kagome explained who Naraku was as the memory swirled together in a mixture of colors until it became black. His image appeared before as she had last seen him. He was strung up in a net of darkness against the dark background. His wavy black hair framed his silent, pale features as he hung there.
"This is Naraku," Kagome introduced as she stared up at him.
Dean blinked before he stared at the man. He didn't look so tough, a bit girly in his opinion. Of course, he hadn't seen this creature in action. Yet his soul, it did display a cruelty from within the confines of his host, Kagome's brother.
"Hello Kagome."
Dean jerked his gaze to the crimson eyes that were narrowed upon him. The man's lips curled up in a smirk.
"It seems you still keep the same type of company."
"Naraku," Kagome softly responded.
Naraku chuckled as his gaze switched to her. He tilted his head to the side as he smirked at her.
"You should visit more," Naraku plainly stated. "Such a bad host you are." His crimson eyes switched back to Dean as he replied, "Of course, you also shouldn't bring foul company."
"Foul?" Dean mocked, "coming from a strung up freak with gender identity issues."
Naraku sniffed as he asked, "Why do you keep those with such bad manners?"
Kagome could only shrug. She had often wondered that herself. There had been many times she had wondered why she couldn't find a normal youkai or human to hang around with.
"Why does he seem different than the others?" Dean suddenly asked as he looked to Kagome.
"He's more observant than Inuyasha," Naraku stated with a smirk.
"Inuyasha was oblivious," Kagome agreed with a wistful sigh.
"And as for your question," Naraku pointedly looked back at Dean. "My wish was upon the Shikon was to replace the battling souls, an everlasting battle between Kagome and I."
"I choose to wish the Shikon gone," Kagome interrupted.
"I was split," Naraku confided. "My destroyed humanity went to hell, my body died, but a bit of my youki attached to Kagome in dormancy."
"It was awakened it when I took on Shippo's youki," Kagome finished.
Naraku hummed as he replied, "I am a bit more than her subconscious, but nothing…harmful."
"Leftover youki that simply has left a stain," Kagome summed up.
"I will probably cease when she loses the Kitsune youki," Naraku mused more to himself.
"Does that bother you?" Dean questioned as he motioned to Naraku.
"Of course not," Kagome easily replied. "The youki is not enough to manifest, only enough to feed off my thoughts and emotions and give a spark of his personality."
"So rude," Naraku murmured as he began to fade into the darkness.
The image that appeared was one instantly recognizable. There, waiting in a field, were three people and one hanyou that appeared disgruntled, along with one Kitsune. The young Kitsune bounced up and down around the well excitedly.
"Stop moving runt!" Inuyasha scolded.
The auburn hair child stuck out his tongue before he once again began his bounce.
A soft whine caused the dog ear to twitch as the Houshi sighed, "Children are children Inuyasha."
Inuyasha scoffed as he glanced at the child Miroku was holding. The twin daughters were only two years. The little girl in Miroku's arms giggled as her violet eyes darted to his ears.
"Patience is something he hasn't learned," Sango sighed, her daughter within her embrace giggling.
"True, true, my love," Miroku wistfully agreed.
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Inuyasha snapped.
Miroku nervously laughed as Sango chuckled, both at Inuyasha's annoyance. Shippo finally peeking over the edge of the well not interested in them.
The scene froze like so many others he had witnessed.
"These are the people from the portrait."
"Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Inuyasha," Kagome introduced as she longingly stared at the four.
She moved forward and gently reached out to smooth a bang from Sango's face before she smirked at them.
"And these two are their twins!" Kagome enthusiastically responded as she giggled at the two girls.
"Sango, the youkai slayer that lost her village to Naraku's deeds, whose brother was used as a puppet and eventually killed," Kagome sadly recalled as the memory of Kohaku's death replayed in her mind.
'My fault,' Kagome thought.
"And her husband?" Dean questioned as he stared closely at the man.
"Miroku," Kagome softly sighed, "he was a trained monk that helped me with my own holy powers. His family was originally cursed by Naraku; he lost his grandfather and father to the curse." A reflective smile gleamed on her face as she sighed, "We broke it and he had his children."
The scene was quickly wiped clean and she was upon her wedding day. She was dressed in a white kimono with the villagers watching her and Inuyasha. Dean felt a wave of nausea hit him at the sudden transition, but his eyes focused upon the marrying couple and confirmed his thoughts about what was happening.
'Inuyasha was her husband,' Dean thought, not shocked at the revelation, but he did feel strangely.
"If we would've waited," Kagome paused as she bit her lower lip, "before we had relations. He might be alive today."
Dean didn't know what to say. There wasn't a guide to a situation like this; a situation where you become immortal and leave your hubby to die. Dean sighed; there was something with odd situations. So he did the normal guy thing; he decided to distract her.
He swung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close as he asked, "So, am I going to be fine when I wake up?"
The colors became distorted once she was distracted. Her eyes solely focused upon him as he smiled at her.
"I hope so."
And then she slid from under his arm causing his smirk to falter. The serious look upon her face didn't give him any clue to whether or not she was serious.
"Kagome."
She merely closed her eyes and didn't reply as the colors were wiped clean.
Dean dryly laughed as he asked, "Seriously, Kagome?"
Katsumasaru and Sounori idly stared at the man across from them. Apparently, their Aunt Miko Kagome was meeting strange beings. The angel known as Castiel did not pretend to be human. He sat with his spine stiff and eyes focused upon the two.
"Would you like a drink?" Sounori questioned.
Castiel didn't twitch as he replied, "No."
'Kagome does keep rude company,' both thought as she wryly watched Castiel.
"How exactly did you locate them?" Katsumasaru asked.
Castiel pulled out his cell phone and replied, "GPS."
"No angelic powers or anything?" Sounori queried.
"No."
Silence quickly consumed them. Sounori loudly sighed and blinked at the strange Angel. He felt Katsumasaru stiffen beside him and knew that his brother was irritated. Another sigh escaped the normally happy male as he slumped upon his seat.
"Will there be any repercussions to this event?" Castiel asked as he motioned to the two.
"None that I know of," Katsumasaru replied with a smirk.
"None," Sounori quickly assured with a chuckle.
Castiel didn't look reassured, but a groan from Dean was enough to direct his attention to the pair upon the floor. Dean's hands twitched before they went to his head and he loudly groaned. Kagome merely yawned as she sat up and stretched.
"Are you alright?"
Castiel's voice caused a look of pleasant surprise to flitter across her features. Kagome gave a reassuring smile as she replied a soft yes and then directed a gaze to Dean.
Gently she reached out and pried his hands from his face. His eyes were slightly open and she smirked down at him. Tenderly, she cupped his face and allowed her powers to rise to the surface. It was most likely the poison working against her blood.
"That feels wonderful," Dean groaned as her powers worked their magic.
"You have such weird friends," Sounori muttered.
"I knew you before them," Kagome happily pointed out.
Katsumasaru snorted, but didn't bother with a dignified defense. Kagome smirked at their silence as she removed her hands.
"Better?" Kagome questioned Dean.
"Yep."
"So why is Leo is here?" Sounori questioned motioning to Castiel.
"And why hasn't he attacked?" Kagome asked looking to Dean. She had been attacked and got the feeling that the angel didn't take well to those of youkai heritage.
Castiel scowled but replied, "I sensed something was off, Katsumasaru didn't attack, and I came because I located Naraku."
Sounori's smile was wiped from his face as his back stiffened. Katsumasaru remained stoic, but his pupils narrowed.
"Where?" Kagome seriously asked.
"Apparently a small island off the coast of Maine has been isolated. The water surrounding it had turned to oil and destroys any type of transport. There were murders reported, the victims melted," Castiel explained.
Kagome pushed off the floor and smirked. It was time to get going again. The twins easily accepted her hug and wordless farewell. Every time she went after Naraku was a time she possibly wouldn't come back. They could only accept that this was her battle, but as they tightened their hug, it didn't mean they had to accept it.
"Good luck," Sounori whispered.
"If you need anything, you better call," Katsumasaru idly threatened.
"Of course," Kagome happily assured.
His look assured her that he wasn't joking. Kagome pulled away from the embrace and offered a hand to Dean. He stared at the petite appendage with a smirk.
"You coming?" Kagome questioned with an arched brow.
Dean took her hand and replied, "With such honesty and skilled hands, how could I pass."
They both glanced to Castiel and didn't find any disagreement.
"Watch her," Katsumasaru ordered Dean.
Dean smirked as he answered, "Can't keep my eyes off her."
Author's Note:
Please give a big, warm, wonderful, and loving thanks to Ohio_Writer! Her work is awesomely awesome as usual!
Anyone know who Leo is?
Welcome Asheluna!
Much love to those that review and assure me that this story isn't worthless and to Ohio_Writer who is just wonderful during this crossover!
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Every time you review an angel gets his wings! {/\}
