The New Kagome
Chapter 7: Pain
Disclaimer: Inuyasha R Not Us.
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Emma: Holo!
Kelsey: You do realize it's hello, right?
Emma: I like how MegaMind said it!
Layla: What did you do to her?
Aqua: Nothing illegal.
Layla: Right…
Jazz: Anyways, here's our next chappie! We hope you like it, and for the record, the coupling for this story has not officially been decided! Vote on our profile poll! Now here it is…the next chapter of The New Kagome!
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Crack.
Kanna felt her grip around the branch loosen. Splinters of bark cut into her palm and slim drops of red blood wound around her wrist and down her arms. She ignored the stinging pain. She felt like…like she needed to let go.
Under Naraku's rule, she'd stolen the souls of innocents, and helped destroy their lives. She had put Kagome and her friends in danger. She'd always had a dark heart, done terrible things. But she regretted every last one of them.
Crack.
The branch lowered itself a little more. But still not safely enough for Kanna to step down onto the next branch below. Despite her conscience, Kanna glanced at the ground below. And soon wished she hadn't. She was very high, another 15-20 branches and she would have reached the top of the tree.
Why had she climbed? Had she thought she could escape her problems if she was away from the Earth, high in the sky so that she might touch the clouds? Or did she believe that if the branch did fall she would be free of the pain and sin she had committed?
Crack.
Kami…she just didn't understand! So much was happening…all because of Inuyasha. He shouldn't have let Kagura take Kagome. He should have forgotten about the dead priestess Kikyo, there was no return from her. Until she returned to the world of the deceased, she would be an empty shell for all eternity, feasting on the souls of the innocent girls who died.
Kikyo and Inuyasha. Wasn't this all their fault? Why? Why was there so much bad? Why did people lust for power so much? Could life not be simple and full of joy? Or was that just an impossible wish made by a confused young girl?
Crack.
Again, the crack widened. Kanna returned her gaze to the branch she was hanging onto dear life for, and saw that it would soon break. There was no hope for her. No one would save her. No one could come to her. She would die, and be trapped in the fires of hell for all the wrong she had done.
Kagome. She didn't deserve this. Naraku should not have transformed her into a demon. She was kind, gentle, forgiving. The demon blood would only taint her heart, and corrupt her. All traces of the girl that once was would be gone, a slave to the negative energy flowing through her body. Kagome deserved someone who was able to return all of the love she gave out, someone who accepted her unquestionably. Someone that she could depend on, the give her heart to and to trust completely.
But Naraku had taken all those chances away from her. She'd never be the same. All of the love in her heart would die, replaced by a craving for blood and power. No more kindness, just hatred for all other living creatures. No happiness and friends, just the dark joy that comes with destroying lives.
Oh Kagome…Kanna thought. Kagome was like her only friend, her mother, her sister. She'd given her things her actual sister did not. Things her creator did not. Things they could not even offer her. Kagome had given her a second chance-at life, at happiness, at-
Snap!
The branch fell away from the tree, plummeting to the ground, taking Kanna with it. Tears ran down the girls face as she closed her eyes.
I'm sorry, Kagome…I'm so sorry…
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Pain. So much blinding pain. It stung throughout Inuyasha's body, as if it traveled through his blood. Opening his eyes, he found he was no longer in the clearing where the battle between him and Kohaku had taken place, but he was once again in Lady Kaede's hut.
He sat up, but moved to quickly. His head began to throb and he felt nauseous. Inuyasha laid back down again, one hand over his forehead, staring at the roof of the hut.
How'd I end up here? He wondered to himself. He had no recollection of coming into the hut. He remembered the battle with Kohaku and him passing out in the clearing. Yet someone had moved him into Kaede's.
But what had happened? He was very well familiar with Kohaku being controlled by Naraku and being forced to commit terrible acts against his will, but never before had Kohaku been controlled by a demonic spirit. Was it Naraku's power, or something far beyond?
"I see ye are awake." An older voice said. Inuyasha turned his head and saw Kaede stirring a large kettle. She didn't look up at him. He also saw a still unconscious Rin, unaware of any danger.
"What happened?" Inuyasha rasped. His lips were dry and his voice weak. Kaede turned to him with two bowls and stood, walking up to him. She kneeled a few feet away from his head and placed a bowl near him. Inuyasha made no move to grab it. Reaching behind his head, Inuyasha heard Kaede's hands playing in water.
"Move your hand." Kaede ordered. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her aloof attitude. But he did as told.
Then he felt a cold rag on his forehead. It sent shivers through his body but he didn't move it. He closed his eyes and took a few deep, calming, slow breaths.
"Open your mouth." Kaede ordered. Inuyasha sighed but complied. He felt one hand slip under his shoulders and slip him up. Then a bowl was pressed to his lips, tipped back enough to slowly let the liquid fill his mouth and trickle down his throat.
After a short while, Kaede took the bowl away and put it to the side. Inuyasha laid back down on his back. Kaede got up and turned away from him.
"What happened out there, old bat?" Inuyasha asked. There was no way Kaede would just leave him there with these question buzzing around inside of his mind. He felt like he needed to know the answer. There had to be a reason. Something had to have happened.
"Nothing ye need to worry about now, Inuyasha." Came Kaede's steady reply. But Inuyasha wasn't satisfied with that.
"I need to know now, bat. What the hell happened out there?" Inuyasha demanded. His eyes snapped open and he gritted his fangs together tightly. His claws dug in the blanket around his body.
"Inuyasha…" Kaede began. She obviously didn't want to tell him what he wanted to know. But he needed to know what had happened.
"Now!" Inuyasha yelled. It hurt his throat but he didn't let her see. That battle in the clearing wasn't an ordinary fight.
Finally, Kaede gave in. She returned to where she had been sitting moments ago to put the rag on Inuyasha's head. Kaede opened and closed her mouth twice, unsure of what to say. Inuyasha's annoyance slowly returned. Eventually, Kaede opened her mouth to speak when the entrance to the hut opened up.
In the entryway stood Miroku.
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Sango stood still as she could. Kilala had landed on a high tree branch and now stood at Sango's side in her smaller form. They were silent and unmoving.
"I feel a powerful demonic aura…" Sango whispered to Kilala. But she wasn't sure where it was coming from. In truth, it felt as if they were surrounded by the presence, but it had to have a base. Finding that base would be the challenge.
Then, a bright red flashed in front of Sango's eyes and she was knocked off the branch. Screaming, Sango reached out and squinted her eyes, watching Kilala transform into her true form. She felt herself land onto Kilala's hard spine and fly to the ground for safety.
Taking Hiraikotsu into an offensive position, Sango waited for any indication for the location of her target. Then, there was the flash of red and white again. This time, it sliced Kilala's flank. Kilala hissed and ignored the pain and let the bit of blood trickle to the ground.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Sango shouted into the trees. She heard feminine chuckling, but the sound rang out through the trees. It was impossible to find the source of it. Even Kilala was confused as to where the enemy was hidden.
"Coward! Hiraikotsu!" Sango yelled, throwing her weapon. It took apart multiple tree tops, but the red did not show itself. Whoever it was, they were skilled at keeping themselves hidden. Sango caught her weapon with ease as it returned to her. The girl, as it was evident the laughter was coming from a female, chuckled again.
Then, a green weapon flashed in the corner of Sango's eye. She went to dodge but she wasn't fast enough. It grazed her cheek and left a thin trail of blood. Sango was relieved it hadn't been a few inches higher, or the weapon may have taken out her right eye. Then, a new realization came to the female demon slayer. Her enemy had finally made the mistake she needed to learn their true identity.
Turning, Sango saw just what she was looking for. It was a green leaf with a sharp point embedded deeply into the trunk of the tree behind Sango. And she knew only one person who used leafs as a weapon.
"Show yourself, Ayame!" Sango shouted out, bracing herself for the wolf demoness' next attack. The chuckling went on again before Sango saw a shadowed silhouette in a high tree nearly fifty feet away. Ayame stayed in the shadows, but Sango could see enough light trickling through the tree top canopy to see Ayame smiling, one fang glinting in the sunlight.
"Hirai-" Sango yelled out, preparing to launch her weapon again. But Ayame's voice stopped her.
"Oh, Sango. You wouldn't dream of hurting me." Ayame taunted, leaping from her spot in the trees to land smoothly in front of Sango, who held her weapon back and glared into the female wolf demons emerald green eyes. She could feel Ayame's over confidence.
"Oh? And just why wouldn't I?'' Sango challenged. She had once felt bad for Ayame, after learning that she was betrothed to Koga and loved him with all her heart even her feelings went unreciprocated. She had even once counted Ayame, and maybe even her tribe, as allies. But all of those feelings were now forgotten.
"Because if you hurt me, how will I ever be able to lead you back to your monk…," Ayame whispered, drawing closer to Sango, drawling out the word 'monk'. She walked so she stood directly beside the girl before continuing. "Or your brother."
With those last three words, Ayame knew she had Sango hitched. The demon slayer would do anything to have her brother returned to her, alive and well. She was once prepared to kill him and then herself in order for them to be together. Sango bowed her head and put the end of her Hiraikotsu in the dirt, a silent sign of surrender. Ayame smirked.
Everything after that went by so fast, not even Ayame could keep up with the movement. Kohaku dropped from the trees and took the butt of his sickle and knocked Sango in the head. She fell to the ground, unconscious. Kilala attempted to rear up, but all in vain. Kohaku used the chain on his sickle to wrap Kilala's hind legs together and pull them from underneath of her, taking away her balance.
Unable to escape the chain in her true form, Kilala lowered herself into her domestic appearance. Kohaku used the opportunity to pull the rope swung over his shoulder and tie up the kitten so she was defenseless. Ayame grabbed Kilala and ran back towards Naraku's castle. Kohaku, using his newly developed demon strength, picked up his sister and followed after Ayame silently. He heard the unconscious girl in his arms whisper his name, and resisted the urge to help her. Surprisingly, it wasn't easy for him to resist the temptation. But he had to, Naraku would need her soon…
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Kagome released the Lord of the Western Lands and looked up into his face. He wore his usual mask of indifference, and Kagome found even his eyes to be unreadable. But even without emotion, the beautiful pools of amber displayed a hundred different things. She felt herself drowning in their depth…
"Miko." Sesshomaru said. Kagome was snapped out of her trance and looked at him, trying to ignore his features. She'd never noticed how attractive he was until now, especially since she'd never really gotten this close to him. Well, she had, but she'd been too busy trying to figure out a way to get away from him before he killed her to really pay attention…
"Such lies you speak." She replied, eyes narrowing. She noticed that she was still holding onto the fabric of his top, but when she had stepped away, his hands had rested on her hips. She tried to hold the crimson blush she felt burning her cheeks at bay.
"How so?" He asked. His eyes narrowed as well. Even behind the anger and annoyance, Kagome could swear she heard a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I am no longer simply a miko. I have kept those powers, but I believe it quite clear that I am now a demon." Kagome responded.
"Then perhaps you should see for yourself." Sesshomaru stated, releasing her and walking away. After he took a few steps, he glanced back at her. Then he returned his eyes forward and continued walking. Kagome took this as a signal to follow, which she did.
Not long after, they stood in front of a river. Sesshomaru stood back and seemed to be waiting. That was when Kagome realized he wanted her to look in the river. Cautious, she stood at the bank of the river and looked in. A startled gasp rose to her throat. She no longer had the claw marks on her cheeks. The crescent moon stayed on her forehead, but it was now a light, sky blue. She still had her claws and fangs. Only the marks were gone.
"Why are they gone?" Kagome whispered aloud, touching her cheeks. She wasn't sure how long they had been gone, or why they had disappeared in the first place.
Then, Kagome felt something. It was an unexplainable feeling, but it told her she needed to leave that area, right then. It wanted to take her somewhere, and Kagome was only too happy to comply. She jumped over the river and into the highest of tree branches.
She needed to get away from the young Lord. She had begun to feel a bit too comfortable with him, especially when she had been holding her close and he had rested his hand on her hips. Had he even been aware that was where his hands were?
Now was not the time to dwell on such things. She needed to find the source of this strange feeling. It felt like her heart was calling her somewhere. The further she got, the more familiar her surroundings came. She was flying through Inuyasha's forest, nearing Goshinboku. A new scent hit her…it was Kanna's. Even from there, she could smell Kanna's fear. Her desperation. Kagome quickened her pace.
Then, she saw it. The branch Kanna was holding onto snapped and the girl fell to her doom. Without thinking, Kagome rushed forward and caught the girl before she collided with the ground. Tears were rushing down the girls unusually pale face, her gray blue eyes distant and unseeing.
"Don't worry, you're safe now…" Kagome promised as she continued on. She would go to Kaede's hut and have the elder priestess check out the girl and make sure she was healthy. Hopefully Kaede would have time, and it would be good to see how Rin was faring…
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Shippo cried out in pain as he was thrown on the hard floor at Naraku's feet. He could feel the blow had, at least, scraped his chin. He felt his knuckles drag across the ground, but he couldn't do anything seeing as they had also tied him up.
"We got what you wanted, Master Naraku. We also found this little spy." Ayame announced, after carelessly throwing him and Kilala on the floor like they were trash. Shippo was too afraid to speak out against the female wolf demon. Kohaku laid an unconscious Sango to Shippo's right.
"Good work." Naraku praised. He surveyed the three laid before him. The demon slayer would no doubt prove her worth. The nekomata could also be of use. The kitsune, however, had no worthwhile abilities that Naraku knew of.
Shippo had never felt this nervous or terrified in his life! He'd have much rather been dealing with the Thunder Brothers! With Naraku, he wasn't sure what his fate would be. Would Naraku let him live, finding that he had some use after all? Or would he be given mercy and killed swiftly? Or would they torture him until his small body could no longer handle the pain and he would be no more?
Even without looking up, Shippo knew that Naraku was staring at him. Studying him. Deciding whether or not he was worth keeping alive. Shippo gulped and shivered with fear. The silence as Naraku thought was deafening, and Ayame appeared to think so as well.
"What would you like us to do with them, Master Naraku?" Ayame eventually asked. Shippo glanced back and saw that Ayame's eyes were darting between Naraku and Sango. The wolf demon was obviously ready to end the demon slayer's life.
"Ayame, you take the kitsune and the nekomata to one dungeon cell. Kohaku, take Sango to another." Naraku ordered. Ayame tensed.
"Are you sure that it is wise to do so, My Lord? Would it not be better if we just killed the girl?" Ayame suggested. Whatever had transpired between her and Sango, it definitely seemed to make Ayame's blood boil with anger. Naraku narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"Ayame, have you forgotten who you serve?" Naraku asked. Ayame was surprised by his question.
"No, sir."
"Who do you serve?"
"You, sir."
"And did I not give you a direct order that the demon slayer should live?"
"You did, sir."
"Then it would be sensible of you not to go against my judgment. Especially if you desire power to take the leader of the wolf demons for your own."
"I understand, Lord Naraku. It will never happen again." Ayame vowed. Without making contact with Naraku, she grabbed Shippo and Kilala by their tails. Kohaku knelt and scooped up Sango, carrying her bridal style. The girl stirred but did not awaken.
The walk to the dungeons was silent. Kohaku was naturally quiet. Ayame was still feeling humiliated about the scene that had just taken place in Naraku's chambers. Sango was still unconscious, and Kilala couldn't effectively communicate with anyone of the small party. Shippo just dared not breathe a word.
When they arrived to the dungeon, Kohaku turned right while Ayame went left. She carelessly threw him in first, then Kilala. Kohaku returned to her side a moment later.
"Any escape attempts, and you're both dead." Ayame promised. Without waiting for a reply, Ayame turned tail and disappeared into the darkness. Kohaku looked at them for less than a second before turning and following her. And in that instant, Shippo could swear that Kohaku's eyes were not hostile, but apologetic.
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The river disappeared and Rin found herself in a dark care. She frowned. The water had been so nice and peaceful…once she stopped fighting, her fear had left her. But she couldn't dwell on the past, she had to find a way out of this scene. Or hopefully out of this mad world anyway.
"Why am I even here?" Rin wondered aloud. First the beautiful, but later horrifying meadow, the tragic deaths, the relaxing river…where was she? How was she here? Would she ever find her way out?
Rin stood and brushed off her kimono, wondering into the depths of the cave. She wasn't sure which was lead out, but hopefully if she kept walking, she'd find it.
"Rin…" A voice whispered. Rin turned around quickly, but no one was there. She must be hearing things…
"Rin! So you're the culprit!" Another voice shouted. It was male, and distantly familiar. Rin looked over her shoulder, and still saw nothing more than shadows and darkness. She turned forward again and quickened her pace.
"So, this shack is your home, eh?" A new voice asked. Rin's breath caught in her throat. It was just what that demon said to her that day when she was killed by the wolves…
"How careless of that Sesshomaru, to take his eyes off his companions…" That was a female's voice. And not just any female's voice. It was the voice of Kagura, the Wind Sorceress. And Rin remembered those words well. They were from the day Kagura first kidnapped her when she was taking food from a field with Jaken.
"What? You brazen child!" Rin stopped that time. She knew that voice quite well.
"Master Jaken, is that you? Master Jaken, this isn't funny!" Rin shouted out. There was no movement in the shadows, no reply to her call. She huffed angrily. This joke wasn't funny anymore. It wasn't funny at all. She waited for the next voice.
"Mind your own business. I don't like human food." Came the next voice. Rin's eyes opened wide and her lips parted in shock. Not only was she surprised because it was the same thing Lord Sesshomaru had said to her that day she brought him food when she found him in the forest, but it was the cave walls that surprised her.
On the wall to her right, there was a drawing of herself offering the food to Sesshomaru. As the voice had spoken, the drawing acted as they had that very same day. The drawing of Sesshomaru turned its head and the drawing of Rin lowered her hands holding the leaf. That was where the voice had come from.
Looking around her, Rin saw many drawings such as this. From the day she was killed by the wolves to Kagura kidnapping her. There were pictures of her once ordinary life with her family before the attack of the bandits and her current life with Lord Sesshomaru and Master Jaken.
Each picture played like a scene, the words never ending. The conservations echoed through the cave, many playing at one time. Rin looked around, trying to identify each scene. Trying to remember every moment of her life in this cave.
She continued on walking, glancing from side to side, from scene to scene as she went. But as she walked, she noticed something. The walls seemed closer than they had when she first entered the cave. As if they were closing in. The path was growing more narrow the further Rin went, could that be the reason? And how long was this cave, where was the way out? Or…would she never find her way out?
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Kikyo fell forward, her face hitting the ground with a thud. She felt weak, as if the experience with the fire had drained her both emotionally and physically. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her uneven breathing.
Even without opening her eyes, it felt to Kikyo like the world was spinning, and nothing she could do would stop it. Her head was throbbing, her limbs were numb, and she felt exhausted. But the thing that hurt most of all was the aching of her heart.
Sayo. The girl had been like a sister to Kikyo. She had looked up to Kikyo. She admired her. Kikyo had been trying to keep the girl blissfully unaware of the dark secret she carried with her. She should've paid attention. She should've been careful, made sure she wasn't followed that night. Then Sayo would have never learned her secret. Would have never been afraid of her. Would have never been accused of lying and ridding the village of a great priestess. And Sayo would not now be neglected and tortured by the very village who had raised her.
Rin. The girl was in pain and agony, suffering through death in so many different forms. Kikyo was not directly at fault for the girls current condition, yet she still felt responsible.
Inuyasha. She had manipulated his feeble mind into believing that the girl most loyal to him was an enemy. She had believed he hated her and wanted her to die, so she acted first. Now he was critically injured, and on the near brink of death. If she hadn't tricked him…
Everything was her fault. With her actions, she had ruined countless lives and shattered devoted relationships, both in love and friendship. But she knew this wasn't the end of it. No, the torture would never end. Not until Naraku was destroyed. And to fix the lives she had destroyed.
Even if that meant reaching out to every ally she could find for help.
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Emma: And there's chapter 7 for ya!
Layla: Hope you guys liked! If the ending started to get bad, that's because we wanted to get this chapter out to you all really fast!
Kelsey: Don't forget to check out the poll for this story on the profile page!
Jazz: Happy New Year to all, and lets hope this chapter kicks of 2011 with a great start! Lots of love to everyone! Don't forget to review!
