A Picture's Worth
by Lady Bliss
Chapter Four: A Tragic Tale
Part One
Great, Inuyasha thought, now what? He stared down at the unconscious girl on the ground, debating on whether or not to leave her there. He did not know why he cared, but a small part of his conscience scolded him for even thinking about leaving a defenseless girl in a dark alley, especially since he was the one to cause her defenselessness.
With a sigh of defeat, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder before taking off again. He did owe her a tiny bit of gratitude, he mused, for she was the one to relieve him of the curse he had been plagued with for many years. But saving her from the darkness - and the creeps that live in it - would return the favor, and he would no longer feel indebted, he thought.
Again, he was in the air, hardly landing on his feet for more than a second before jumping up again. The feeling of the wind whipping past his face put him at ease, along with the single jewel shard he clutched in his hand.
First being released from his curse, and then chancing upon the shard. It was though his luck was finally turning around after so much rotten occurrences. Perhaps, he thought, it was indeed a good thing he met that annoying girl after all. But the thought ended quickly when she awoke in his arms and began to scream and kick at him.
He lost his balance when nearing a branch he was going to use for leverage and they both started to tumble towards the hard earth, again loud screams ringing in his ears. Hitting the ground first, he let an umph escape his lips, and then a yelp of his own when Kagome landed on top of him.
"Stupid Wench!" Inuyasha yelled, sitting up and knocking the raven-haired girl backwards onto the ground. He rubbed his back, gritting his teeth as he eased the ache with his hands.
Kagome sat up and rubbed her head, an ache spreading from her forehead all the way to the back of her neck. She let her blurred vision focus on the boy in front of her, and when she finally saw only one Inuyasha, she scrambled backwards against the base of the tree they fell from. Her chest began to rise and lower quickly from the tears that threatened to burst from her.
"Keh, I'm not going to hurt you, so stop your belly-aching," Inuyasha demanded as he turned his head away from the weeping girl.
With new-found courage, or stupidity - she was never sure which - she pointed an incriminating finger toward Inuyasha. Her eyebrows furrowed and her voice went to a serious, yet loud, tone as she spoke, "You hit me, didn't you?"
Inuyasha's eyebrows drew slightly upwards in surprise from her sudden outburst. He quickly put back on an aggravated expression. His chest went out and his back straightened so he could try and be more threatening. "You were following me. How was I supposed to know if you had one of those stupid, stinking weapons?" he shouted.
"You are a wanted criminal!" Kagome yelled back in defense. Suddenly, an odd feeling ran through her. It was a feeling she had not felt since she was a little girl, which caused her to draw a hand to the pendant she wore around her neck.
"So that makes it your duty to chase me?" Inuyasha questioned, bitterness still in his tone. When he noticed Kagome's sudden blank expression, his own features softened a bit out of curiosity. "What is it?" he asked.
"I don't know," Kagome drawled, her eyes focusing on the boy's clutched hand, "What do you have?"
"Huh?" Inuyasha followed her gaze to his hand. He narrowed his eyes at her, baring his fangs. "Why does it matter to you?"
Kagome released the pendant and let it drop back to her chest, continuing to stare at Inuyasha's hand. The feeling that washed over her was so odd. It was like something she had always felt, but suddenly grew stronger when she neared Inuyasha. He had something that brought this feeling upon her, but her mind could not place what it could be.
Inuyasha drew his eyes down to the necklace the girl had around her neck. His eyes widened to see yet another jewel shard fit snuggly inside a circular silver pendant. He slowly reached out his hand to grasp it, but it was slapped away while a shriek rang through his ears once more.
"Pervert!" Kagome whaled, covering her chest with both her hands.
"Don't even flatter yourself!" Inuyasha shouted as he rubbed his hand that throbbed from the sudden blow. "Give me your necklace!"
Kagome reached down and held her pendant again, pulling it out so she could look at it as if in thought. She clutched it tightly and brought her attention back to Inuyasha. "No way. My father gave this to me," she said in another tone of seriousness.
"Give it to me," Inuyasha demanded, out-reaching a hand.
From those few words and that simple guesture, he opened the flood-gate to Kagome's mind, causing a rush of memories to be released. She was practically reliving the extremely vivid dream she had only so many nights before. There she stood again, facing who she was now sure was Inuyasha and the man with the evil aura on that stormy night.
"Do not make this harder than it has to be, Kikyo," Inuyasha said once again, though this time she noticed his voice was full of sorrow.
"I am not Kikyo!" Kagome shouted. As her angry words spilled out, the man and his evil aura vanished, and Inuyasha became more clear from the city lights off in the distance. She rubbed her eyes as if she did not believe she was actually there, away from the confusion that she thought was a dream.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha questioned the name in awe, a stutter trimming the beginning of the name. His face became very serious, his eyebrows furrowing and his lips forming a frown.
Kagome was still continuing to look around in shock, ignoring the confused and irritated half demon. She was not sure what just happened. It was like her unconscious mind took control and forced her back into a REM-cycle. Though it was so real. How could something so real be a dream? She had had dreams before which she had thought to be extremely vivid, but she always knew real life from a dream when she awoke. Perhaps that was just it, maybe she was still sleeping.
"Tell me, why did you say that name?" Inuyasha asked, grabbing a hold of Kagome's shoulders and giving her a quick shake as if to awake her from her daze.
Matching his angry face, Kagome placed one hand on her hip and used the other to knock Inuyasha's grip from her shoulders. "You called me it!" she yelled.
Inuyasha jolted back a ways in shock. He tried racking his brain to think back, trying to remember a time he had last said that name. It had been years, more years than the girl before him even had on her life. Sure, his mind often went across that name. How could it not? But before she spoke it, he was certain it had never left his lips in centuries.
"At least, I think it was you," Kagome drawled, turning her head down to the side in thought.
"You aren't making any sense!" Inuyasha shouted, "Tell me! What meaning does that name have to you?"
"Maybe you should answer that question for me," she bit out, scrunching her nose in distaste.
"Don't play games little girl," he bared his claws as he spoke, "I can rip you to shreds."
"Then do it already!" she turned to face him once again, anger in her voice and on her face.
This made Inuyasha jerk back in surprise once again. Had the girl gone mad? Just a few hours before she was quivering in fear of him, and now she was testing his threat? There was certainly something strange and possibly wrong with her, he mused. Though without letting his mind settle on the thought too long, he slightly admired the trait.
"I don't kill humans," he said, turning away from her.
"What does that mean?" Kagome asked.
"Are you stupid or something?" Inuyasha took in a deep breath to try and calm his nerves, "Do you know what I am?"
"An inbred?" Kagome shot back, not knowing the hurt behind her own words.
Inuyasha jerked his head away from her so she could not see the hurt on his face. That was exactly what he was, he thought, and always would be unless he did something to change that. He stood, continuing to look away from her as he spoke, "I am a half demon."
"Demon? You mean, an actual demon?" Kagome asked, her voice in a confused and unknowing tone.
"That's what I said, aint it?" Inuyasha shot back, finally summoning an angry expression to show the girl behind him. "Demons are all over, out to eat little annoying girls like you." He crossed his arms and once again turned away from her to look out at the city lights.
"I've never seen any," Kagome said.
"You are looking at one!"
"So those cute little ears make you a demon?"
Inuyasha let out a disgruntled ahg, drawled to show his frustration. "I can't stand humans. Just because you think you are at the top of the food chain, doesn't make it so."
"But," Kagome paused as if to reconsider speaking her next question, "are you not half human, too?" Inuyasha took in a deep breath once again and squatted in front of the raven-haired beauty, his back turned to her. After a moment of waiting, he turned to look over his shoulder, "Well, aint you gonna get on?" he snapped.
"On your back?"
"Either that or you can take the next hour walking home by yourself," he made sure that it did not seem like a favor. Something he did not want to associate himself with was kindness, because it would only show weakness, as he had learned bitterly over more than his fair share of lifetimes.
Slowly and awkwardly, Kagome stood and placed herself against Inuyasha's back. She put her hands on his shoulders and felt his arms intertwine with her legs that he moved around his waist. After he stood and began to rush off, she held on tightly, her arms circling his neck and her face hiding in his hair. Though it only took a few moments before she, too, learned the joys and freedom of the air.
Part Two
"Die, Inuyasha!" Kikyo yelled, letting an arrow fly from her bow.
Inuyasha turned around slowly as the arrow hit a tree he was standing next to. His eyes were wide, and his stance clumsy. Shock ran through him when he saw Kikyo's angry eyes and weapon directed at him, but it soon wore off. He began to piece together what was happening.
Betrayal.
He leaped from the spot he was once glued to, narrowly dodging another flying arrow that would have struck him had he stayed still. He pushed himself off of a tree branch and began running at top speed once his feet touched solid ground again. Once he was at a safe distance away from the priestess, he stopped to let his anger build.
How could she do that to him? he wondered. That was hardly her style to begin with! To be so sneaky and conniving… it sickened him. She had many chances to have done off with him long before that day, but to gain his trust and then attack? She was truly deceiving.
It did not take long before he decided what he was going to do. He awaited nightfall to carry his plan into action. The air began to carry the smell of oncoming rain and the sky promised a storm which he welcomed. He raced toward the village where Kikyo resided, slowing his pace as the priestess came into view.
He was slightly taken aback by the blood the stained her white clothing, though she did not seem to be affected by it. Typical Kikyo, he thought. She had never been one to show her pain or weaknesses, and with the amount of blood there was he was sure she was indeed hurt badly. At first, concern shown through his eyes, but he quickly replaced it to one of hate. He was betrayed, and he had to put up his own façade as well.
The first crack of lightning whipped ferociously through the night's sky, followed by the loud booming of thunder. Small drops of rain began to fall lightly, sprinkling ever so gently onto their skin. The scampering of animals and demons alike could be heard as they sought shelter from the oncoming storm.
Inuyasha felt the presence of another slowly come forth as he continued to stare at the priestess, who also noticed the other. He sneered for a moment as the familiar scent of Onigumo, a rival in love, floated through the air. His attention never left Kikyo, but his stomach churned in another hate for the other human standing amongst them.
"Do not make this harder than it has to be, Kikyo," Inuyasha finally spoke.
Kikyo took in a deep breath before responding, her words demanding and fierce, "Both of you, leave now!"
A chuckle came from Onigumo whom was hiding in the darkness. His foul stench was still lingering even as the light sprinkle of the rain began to come down harder. Inuyasha felt that the human thief certainly did not know his place as he spoke, "Hand the jewel to me, and I might spare your life."
Kikyo had removed an arrow from her quiver, equipping her bow and aimed the dangerous weapon at Onigumo after he had spoken. Her eyes were narrowed and a look of hate flowed through them. Even at the strain she placed on her open wound, neither her stance nor expression faltered.
Inuyasha let his eyes adjust to the darkness to gaze over at Onigumo and spoke to him, "You are stupid if you think Kikyo would give the jewel to someone like you." He returned his attention toward the priestess and outstretched a hand, "Give the jewel to me."
Kikyo quickly re-aimed her bow and arrow toward the half breed, causing him to move back in surprise. It had been a very long time since she had turned that arrow his way. "I said, leave now," she demanded hotly.
Before Inuyasha had time to react, he found Onigumo lunging toward the priestess who was still focused on himself. He quickly took a leap of his own and stopped the man from his attack on the woman, knocking him backwards. After the human male stood back up, his attacks were focused on the half breed.
Without really knowing why, Inuyasha did not attack neither Onigumo nor the priestess, even as they attacked him. He had never hurt a human before, and did not plan to start then. Deep down he felt the reason why he kept his claws off even Onigumo was because of Kikyo. He did not want her to think of him as a cold-blooded killer. Only a coward would kill someone who was obviously much weaker.
Though his conscience - that he would never admit he had - did not keep him from trying to swipe the sacred jewel that hung on a string of beads around the priestess's neck. That was his goal, and he would get it one way or another. But every time he tried, he was distracted by an attack. Either he was being targeted or Kikyo was, and he quickly stepped in the way to make sure she was not slaughtered.
Blood spilled, even though he was completely on defense. The rain came down hard and it did not wash away the scent of the priestess's oncoming death. He worried for her, but did not allow it to distract him. It was brought upon herself to trust Onigumo, and to betray him.
Suddenly, directly after Onigumo's own scent of death floated in the air, Kikyo dropped her weapon to the ground. This caused Inuyasha to stop and watch cautiously to see what the priestess was doing.
She grabbed the jewel from her neck and jerked it free from its chain, the beads falling to the ground. Clutching the precious spear in her hands tightly, her eyes closed and her concentration was focused only on it.
Onigumo stood, pulling an arrow from his limp arm and watched the woman. He growled and lunged for her, but was stopped by Inuyasha. The half breed balled his hand into a fist and hit the human in the stomach, forcing blood and his stomach contents out of his mouth.
Then, a crack was heard. At first the half demon ignored it and continued to keep Onigumo away from the priestess. But then he heard it again, this time louder, even catching the attention of the dying human man before him. Both turned to look at Kikyo whom was encircled with her own spiritual light.
Inuyasha gasped, his eyes wide. He took one step forward but froze. He out reached his hand as if to caress the dying woman as he yelled, "No!" He could feel her life fading rapidly, and the jewel's power grow intently. She was using the last of her life and strength, but he did not know what for until the jewel was released from Kikyo's hands.
It floated in front of her, the light no longer around her, but around the jewel. The light from the jewel shot forth and encircled Inuyasha and Onigumo's neck, lifting them up into the air. They both struggled to breathe, for it felt like they were hanging from a rope. Their struggles were fruitless, for they could not break free.
The jewel rose high into the air and finally shattered. Pieces shot out, looking as if hundreds of shooting stars were taking off at once. The light from each shard faded into the distance, and that was when the men were finally released. They dropped to the ground and gasped for breath.
Inuyasha scrambled upward, in utter shock. The scent of death and blood were gone, as if the rain completely washed it away. Though he knew better. He knew the feeling of helplessness and weakness. He knew exactly why his nose was no longer so keen.
He was human.
He glanced around, hardly able to see in the dark night. Lightening cracked and lit up the body of the priestess whom laid on the ground. He could hear the shouts of the villagers coming his way, and quickly turned around, leaving the bloody scene and his beloved behind him.
The feelings of sorrow and hatred never left his heart.
- - - - - - - - - -
Inuyasha was not entirely sure why he felt the need to tell his story. He had not spoken a word of it aloud to another person a single day of his life, and never thought that he would. But Kagome brought something out of him. He felt that perhaps telling her would ease the sorrow he felt, but he was wrong.
He eyed the human girl before him as her gaze was set at the floor. He felt his heart beat quicken, her silence causing him to feel uncomfortable.
Kagome's mind was back on the dream she had only so long ago. His story fit the dreaded nightmare perfectly. "Kikyo died in such horrible pain," she finally said.
Inuyasha scoffed, "She had a gaping wound through her chest, of course she did. Humans are weak like that."
"No," Kagome said, her hand once again on the pendant around her neck, "her heart was full of anger and sorrow."
Raising an eyebrow, the half demon spoke, "How would you know?"
It took a moment before Kagome could answer, more awkward silence filling the air. "I don't know," she sighed, finally looking up at the taller boy, "I felt her pain as if I was there myself, in her body."
"You have empathy issues," Inuyasha grumbled, "Don't you feel sorry for that wench, she was the one that betrayed me, remember?"
"It just feels," Kagome paused and sighed, "like there is something missing to your story." She waited for a response, but silence once again filled the room around them. She found Inuyasha's gaze on her chest and narrowed her eyes, ready to slap him once again when she realized he was actually focused on her necklace. "What is your fascination with my jewelry?" she asked.
"I am collecting those shards. I want to make that broken jewel whole again," Inuyasha said, his voice drawled and soft for his mind was only on the shard inside the pendant.
"So?" Kagome scoffed.
"There is a shard in that pendant! Can't you put two and two together?" Inuyasha shouted, once again reaching for her necklace.
Kagome pulled from his reach and grabbed her necklace. "This… is a jewel shard? Then, that is what you have in your hand, right?" she questioned.
Inuyasha only narrowed his eyes and clutched his hand tighter. "How would you know?" he barked.
"I can feel it," she answered.
With wide eyes, Inuyasha slowly opened his hand to reveal a small fragment of the sacred jewel. He watched Kagome carefully as she examined it, seeing her eyes lighting up in awe. That was when a devilish thought crossed his mind. He would use this ignorant priestess to help him find the jewel shards. If she had the power to sense where each shard was remaining he would no longer have wild goose chases. He could finally gain the power that he craved so much.
"What does this mean?" Kagome asked, but only received silence. She let her gaze fall to the half demon's face, who was staring at her with a blank expression. She rose an eyebrow and waved a hand in front of his face, "Inuyasha?"
Snapping back to reality, Inuyasha looked up with a small and conniving smirk gracing his lips. "Do you feel any others?" he asked.
Taken aback from the question that struck her odd, she tilted her head to the side. "No," she drawled, drawing her eyes up in a thoughtful manner, "Just these two."
"But, you have had these 'feelings' before, right?"
"Well," Kagome swallowed a lump that formed in her throat roughly from the intense gaze Inuyasha was giving her, "not really. I never paid that much attention, I suppose."
"You are going to start then," Inuyasha snapped.
Kagome narrowed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows. "Where do you get off giving me orders?" she asked.
"Do you not get it?" Inuyasha scoffed, leaning in closer to the girl. "You have power you do not even realize. The more you practice, the more you will learn!"
"Power?" Kagome stuttered.
"Priestess power."
Author's Note: So yes. A rather short chapter. The basic tragic-Inuyasha-past storyline. In chapter 2 I mentioned "Naraku," so I changed that to Onigumo like in this chapter. It is for future purposes, I am taking a different turn that I originally thought. So, for people who have been keeping along since the beginning, just a little heads up. Though those of you that are just tuning in, don't worry about it! Already changed up for new readers.
