Okay, I didn't get as many reviews as I thought I would. I can't decide if it was just bad timing, my story is becoming annoying, or if I waited to long to update. I've gotten 43 hits, and only 4 reviews…TT I'm just going to assume everyone had good intentions, but just hasn't gotten 'round to reviewing, and yes, I know, when you assume you make an ass out of u and me. Please R&R!
Okay, rereading my story, I found 2 huge, gianormous problems:
First: I did the same scene twice, two different ways. It was Naraku getting the pearl necklace from Taro (gramps) scene. I say make whichever one you liked better, the one that really happened. Or you can just say they both happened…Sorry!
Second: I got to thinking about the future plot line, but I ran into a little snag. When Naraku looks into the crystal ball he sees, "A HALF BREED! A HALF BREED AND A MORTAL!!" well, I'm changing that. Now, everyone get those imaginative cells working. C'mon, get them flowing! Now, repeat what I write: Naraku saw 2 mortals. What he meant by half breed, was a guy, looking like a girl, not a half dog demon. Yes folks, you heard it here. Right now Inuyasha looks like a human. (That will be explained shortly.) Proceed!!
Chapter 9
Of Traitors and Genies
Recap:
Kagome just walked away in a daze with Sango bringing up the rear. Just before she left the room, Sango turned around and stuck out her tongue at Naraku's back, muttering "Jerk."
"I am old, and won't live long enough to use much. Besides, it is one thing I have wanted since I was a child."
"And," Miroku spoke, "what…would that be."
Kurana smirked at him, "A lamp."
"A lamp."
"Yes…a single lamp."
"So let me get this straight," Inuyasha tried, "You're gonna show us the way out of here, and then lead us to a cave filled with gold, and jewels, all for the price of a lamp. Am I right?"
"Yes."
"Seems kinda fishy to me…"
"Inuyasha, I know you're naturally suspicious, but…wait, this is a great time to be suspicious."
"Hey, Koga." Was heard by the 3 jailed men…well, 2 jailed men and a loony, from the all too familiar Hakaku.
"Yeah, what?" was Koga's reply.
"The executioner wants to know where that Miroku and his human friend are. It's almost time for the execution."
"Sure, I'll show ya."
'Crap!' Inuyasha thought to himself. 'If they find me here, they'll put 2 and 2 together, and-!' "Okay, Old Man. We're in. Now, get us out of here!"
"As you wish…"
Kagome's room was sponged, and painted to look like the clouds in the sky. It was a very calming environment. She had a fancy twin bed (twin not included) with a big blue comforter, and light blue sheets. There was a desk with one or two pencils on it, and a couple sheets of paper. It was a fairly bright room, and even had a couch and coffee table, but seemed abnormally gloomy on such a nice, warm morning.
Kagome was sitting on the floor near the corner. Her back was to the glass balcony doors. She didn't want to see the rest of the world when she was so melancholy herself. She had locked the door, and everyone had long since given up trying to get her to unlock it. She wouldn't even let Sango in. Kagome kept telling herself that all that Inuyasha guy had been was rude, and she shouldn't feel bad for him…but, she did.
'Why? Why do I feel so bad? Why do I keep thinking of him, and how the execution-' a fresh new wave of tears came. She knew why. She was a caring person. There was something hurting him inside. Kagome was curious. What could cause so much pain and agony? Although he had been rude, there were times when…well, he may have been a little rough, but was, in his own way…kind? 'Wow. I never thought I could ever associate a word like that, with a guy like him.'
"Kagome, what's wrong?"
Kagome spun around, tears still fresh in her eyes. The eyes she met were blue, "Hey Shippo. I'm just," Kagome wiped her tears up, "thinking."
"Why are you so sad?" Shippo asked as he climbed into Kagome's lap.
"Oh, I don't know," Kagome began to stroke Shippo's head. "I just…I was…" just thinking about the time she ran away brought fresh new tears.
"Kagome! Kagome, are you gonna be alright?" Concern was written all over Shippo's little face.
"Y-yeah, I just…need to catch my breath."
"Kagome."
"Hm."
"Ya know, you can tell me what bothering you. I swear I won't tell."
Kagome laughed a bit, and then proceeded in telling the story, "Well, you know when I was missing yesterday?" Kagome told him about running away, meeting Inuyasha and Miroku. How Inuyasha was kind of mean and rough, but was really not a bad guy. Koga, Ginta, and Hakaku's "entrance," and what Naraku had told her.
Kagome had known that she was going to break down, but was caught by surprise when Shippo started crying as well. 'I didn't think poor Shippo would be so affected... Oh, God! He's probably being reminded of his dad!' "I'm sorry, Shippo! I didn't mean to make you cry. Do you want some ice cream?"
"Uh-huh," Shippo managed to choke out.
"Come on!"
Kurana was atop a brown stallion with Inuyasha guiding it, and Miroku walking beside Inuyasha. "Hey, Old Man! Where is this "Cavern of Dreams," anyway? I mean, really. We've been walking all day. This is becoming a nuisance!"
Kurana laughed hoarsely, "Just a little farther."
Inuyasha grumbled some more, before Miroku shut him up.
"Hey, Inuyasha."
"Yeah?"
"I didn't meantion it before, because of this...guy, but your hair is still black."
"What?"
Miroku motioned for him to be quieter. Inuyasha nodded, "Ever since we ran into this guy, your hair's been bla-
"You two!" Inuyasha and Miroku turned their heads around. "Take a right when you pass that dune, and we'll be there."
Inuyasha guided the horse around the dune, only to see another pile of sand. "What the hell? Where's the entrance?"
"Heh, heh, you'll see…" Kurana pulled something out of his pocket that seemed to glint in the sunlight.
Inuyasha tried to get a look at what Kurana was holding, but it was already out of the old man's hands by the time Inuyasha could focus on it. "Huh?" his eyes followed the little specks of gold, until they split apart, and spun around the dune before becoming a pair of eyes. 'What? Eyes?'
"This is the Cavern of Dreams!" The wind was picking up, and sand was flying in their eyes, muddling their view. Then a dog's head tore its way out of the sand, its mouth open wide. Then, it began to speak:
"WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?!" Well…more like roar. --'
"Are you looking for a fight?!" Inuyasha yelled back, fist raised, ready to punch the lights out of this colossal. (There were giant anger marks all over his face…)
Miroku sighed. He walked over to Inuyasha and pressed his thumb against the upper part of the inside on Inuyasha's ear, causing said dog demon to relax immediately. "The magic touch," Miroku sighed, content. "Well, now what, Kurana?"
Kurana smirked, "Pronounce your names, walk in, get me the lamp, and then everything else is yours to do with as you please."
"Right…Inuyasha! Come on!" Miroku dragged Inuyasha till he could walk straight. "We are Miroku and Inuyasha!" Miroku declared with great confidence, "Let us in!"
"Or else…" Inuyasha muttered more to himself more than anyone else. Personally, Inuyasha thought Miroku had over done it, but the dog head apparently didn't show the same views.
"YOU MAY ENTER! TOUCH NOTHING BUT THE LAMP!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Inuyasha grumbled, trudging after Miroku.
They descended the dirt stairs into the throat of the dog. The walls inside were covered with gold, and the ground littered with gold coins, rubies, pearls, emerald, and an assortment of other jewels of all shapes, sizes, and elements. There was gold, silver, bronze, copper, and more. The sight of all the money made even Inuyasha's eyes widen. Miroku, on the other hand, was drop jawed in love…with a golden statue of a goddess. Yes, goddess. She had long gold hair, sapphire eyes, ruby lips, and emerald nails. Even if the goddess was just a statue, Miroku acted as if she was real, almost rubbing her rear, till Inuyasha stopped him. "What did the big dog head say?"
Miroku sighed, "Touch nothing but the lamp, yeah, yeah…" They kept walking until Miroku broke the silence, "Uh, Inuyasha, I didn't mention this before because Kurana was around, but, you do know you look like a human, right? I mean, don't you feel weaker like usual?"
Inuyasha looked at Miroku, "What?" Inuyasha turned around and began looking into a shield, "What are you talking about? I look fine, and feel fine too. Are you sure you're not just seeing things?"
"Inuyasha, I swear your hair was black and everything, but once we got to the bottom of the stairs, your hair turned white again!"
Inuyasha just shrugged him off, "Yeah, whatever."
They continued onward, till Inuyasha was sure he felt something following them. He turned around. He saw 2 flashes of gold on opposite sides of the room. "Hey, Miroku, did you see that?"
"See what?" Miroku turned around and two more flashes of gold were seen.
"That!"
"Yeah," Miroku stared, looking for a pattern. It only took a minute, "Inuyasha, when I say now, act as if you are talking someone to your right."
"Uh, sure…"
They readied themselves, "Now!" Miroku's voice echoed off the walls as the two leapt into action. Miroku tackled to the left and Inuyasha to the right. Miroku was met with a gold, indigo, blue, and purple embroidered rug while Inuyasha met a gold and red rug with some white embroidered into its design.
"What the?!" Inuyasha held the rug up like he would were he holding a person's collar. It struggled and attempted to wrap around Inuyasha to constrict him.
Miroku was much more delicate, holding the rug by its sides. "They appear to magic carpets."
Inuyasha looked at Miroku funny, "Magic, what?"
"Really, Inuyasha, you never had a childhood, did you?"
"Never really had chance, now did I? So what exactly are 'magic carpets?'"
Miroku sighed, "Magic carpets are mythological 'creatures'. They are rugs that fly, but it seems like they actually exist. So, in a sense, they aren't mythological…I think."
"Riiight," Inuyasha sighed before letting it go, "Look, what do we do with…them?"
The rugs looked at Inuyasha indignantly. "Wha'd I do?"
"Inuyasha, I think you offended them."
"Huh?"
Miroku looked at the two rugs, "So, do you have names?"
The rugs looked at each other and then grabbed a pair of sticks and began writing in the dirt.
The purple rug wrote "Kagayaki" while the red rug wrote, "Tsuyomi."
"So, you two are Kagayaki and Tsuyomi?" the rugs nodded, "I am Miroku, and this is Inuyasha. We are proud to make your acquaintances." The rugs bowed to Miroku.
"Yeah, yeah. Speak for yerself," Inuyasha grumbled making the 2 rugs look at him indignantly.
Miroku just politely asked them if they knew the direction to the lamp. They nodded and flew off with Miroku and Inuyasha trailing behind.
Kagome walked out of her room carrying Shippo, and headed towards the kitchen for some ice cream. She was surprised when she wasn't mobbed by people. She looked at a clock and it read 2:14. 'Huh. I guess it's time to talk to the villagers.' Once a week, from 2 till 4 Kagome's mother and grandfather would always listen to the troubles of the villagers, and try to help. It was also a time for the villagers to bring their gifts to the royalty for past help.
Kagome sighed. It had been a rough day. She looked down at Shippo, sleeping in her arms. He was so cute when he was asleep. Kagome was thinking about demons and things along those lines when she bumped into something. She fell back, caught by strong arms a moment before hitting the ground. She opened her eyes and was met by gold.
Kagome's first thought was Inutaisho? A second look told her wrong. It was Inutaisho's nephew, Sesshomaru. Kagome felt disgusted just thinking the name, but her parents raised her to be polite. "Thank you. I'm sorry; I wasn't looking at where I was going. I'll be more careful next time."
Sesshomaru set her on her feet and then walked away with only a "Make sure there isn't a next time," thrown over his shoulder.
Kagome stuck out her tongue at him, and continued to the kitchen.
'That Sesshomaru. He just rubs me the wrong way!' Kagome thought to herself. 'Although, he looks strikingly similar to Inutaisho…' Kagome remembered the lost prince. When last seen he had dog ears, fangs, and white hair. You'd think someone like that would stick out, but no. I mean really! Just how many men look like they're in their teens with white hair, much less dog ears? Kagome had always attributed the lack of news to the possibility that said prince had changed since birth.
'It sure would explain a few things…' Kagome walked into the kitchen. She roused Shippo, and began making them some ice cream while he woke himself up.
Kagayaki and Tsuyomi led Inuyasha and Miroku through a maze of tunnels and crossroads that would have had the 2 searching for days. Even with Inuyasha's demon senses. The carpets led the duo into a final large chamber. There were a few goddess statues scattered about and in the middle of the room was a miniature mountain. Between the mountain and the entrance was a huge pit of lava and a stone pathway.
Inuyasha sighed, "I'll get the lamp. Kagayaki," the rug saluted, "You watch Miroku and keep him out of trouble. Tsuyomi, you come with me for backup." Tsuyomi nodded, happy to be of help. "Let's go!"
Inuyasha tried to jump across the whole lava pit in one leap, but only managed to go about 5 feet forward. He nearly lost his footing, but Tsuyomi helped him keep it. "Huh, seems my demon powers are useless here. This sucks." Inuyasha began the long and laborious work of crossing as a human. It took about 5 minutes. He climbed up the miniature mountain. '347 steps,' Inuyasha counted, thoroughly bored.
When Inuyasha reached the top, he saw a pillar. Approaching the pillar, he saw there was something on top. Upon closer inspection, he found a slim tea pot shaped piece of gold with light seeming to shine on it from above. Inuyasha looked up, but found no hole for the light to be coming from. He poked the lamp before snatching away his hand. When nothing happened he picked it up.
Inuyasha was about to turn around when he felt a tapping on his shoulder. He turned around, "What is it?" He saw Tsuyomi franticly pointing down at where they had come from. Inuyasha followed the point and saw Kagayaki trying to stop Miroku from touching one of the goddesses, but Miroku's pervy hands found their goal, "MIROKU!"
The ground started shaking, and the roof crumbling. The voice they had heard on their way in spoke again, "YOU HAVE TOUCHED THE FORBIDDEN TREASURE!!!" Miroku jumped and began wondering if it was really worth it. He looked at the goddess and grinned. Yeah, it was worth it. "NOW YOU SHALL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY EVER AGAIN!!!" The goddess began melting. Okay, so maybe it wasn't worth it.
Miroku jumped on Kagayaki, and Inuyasha on Tsuyomi. "Hey, Miroku! You got us into this mess; now…Get…Us…OUT!!"
Miroku thought a moment, "Last one out's a rotten egg!"
"Feh, I'll beat you easy. See ya at the finish line!"
"Yer on!"
"Here," Inuyasha tossed Miroku the lamp. "Take this!" He smiled before yelling one last thing, "See ya!" The rugs began racing, dodging flying debris while being urged on by their riders.
As the rugs and riders got towards the finish line, Inuyasha could see Kurana waiting for them to return with the lamp. They saw the stairs falling, and the opening become more blocked up by the second. Kagayaki and Tsuyomi went even faster, hoping to make it in time, and completely forgot about the falling debris.
Kagayaki and Tsuyomi got hit by a huge boulder and Inuyasha and Miroku had to push off to propel themselves to the entrance. Inuyasha made it, but Miroku fell short and barely managed to grip the edge.
"Hold up!" Inuyasha yelled, running back to help Miroku, but his foot was grabbed by…a tentacle? Inuyasha fell, and struggled, trying to untangle his foot. "Miroku!" Inuyasha looked up to see Kurana's back blocking his view of Miroku.
Meanwhile Miroku was looking up into the cold black eyes. "Give me the lamp," was the cracked voice Miroku heard from the old man.
Miroku tried lifting his hand to reach down, and grab the lamp out of his pocket, but he began slipping, and had to return the hand for fear of falling. "I can't. I'll fall. Help me up and I'll get it."
Kurana was a few feet in front of Miroku, yelling. "First give me the lamp! Give me the lamp, and you shall get what you deserve."
Miroku tried again, and managed to get the lamp out of his pocket and hand it quickly up to Kurana before reverting to his original position. Kurana started a happy dance, before being rudely interrupted, "Hey, what about me?" Kurana looked down to Miroku, putting the lamp in a pocket.
"Oh, yes," Kurana pulled a jagged knife out of another pocket. "Here's your reward. Your eternal reward!" Kurana was bringing it down when Inuyasha pushed him aside. Kurana stood up, dusting himself off, before noticing Inuyasha trying to help Miroku back up. He hadn't regained his lost demon powers, (he still looked human, so that might be a good thing) and it was taking time.
Inuyasha looked back to see Kurana advancing, and tried shoving him again, but Kurana picked him up with one hand and threw Inuyasha into Miroku, making both fall.
The, "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" was sweet music to Kurana's ears. He couldn't care less what happened to the two boys. He had his lamp, and he was happy.
Shippo had gone to bed. It was almost 4. Kagome didn't know whether to be glad or not. She really didn't feel like being mobbed by tons of people, but she really wanted to talk to Sango.
Kagome, being bored, went through her day. It started with Naraku's rude awakening-Kagome smiled-then the horrible news, her crying, Shippo, and then, 'Sesshomaru. I wonder what he was doing here.' As far as Kagome could tell, there was no reason for him to be in the palace. 'Hmm. Maybe Sango and I should get to the bottom of this…'
Kagome ran off to her room to get ready. If there was one thing she had learned, it was: when dealing with Naraku, be prepared!
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Kurana danced gleefully. He had just killed two birds with one stone. "And now, for the lamp." Kurana crumpled into a heap of soil, and Naraku came from behind a sand dune with Kanna following. "Kagura!"
A lady with her brown hair in a bun in a white and red kimono appeared behind him. She placed a feather in her hair, opening her eyes to reveal a pair of garnet eyes, before answering, "You called." Her voice screamed her disgust at being at this man's beck and call, but he held her heart in his hands – literally.
"Find the lamp," Naraku pointed to the heap of soil in front of him before staring back at Kagura.
"Of course." Pulling out a fan she opened it. She flicked her wrist a few times and wind hit the dirt, moving it out of the way. She continued the task for the next ten minutes.
Kagura got to the bottom of the pile, but still had found no lamp. Naraku glared at her, "Is this some trick, meant to anger me?" Kagura quickly began sifting through the dirt with her hands, looking for the lamp.
"B-but, sir!" Kagura clutched the left side of her chest as a searing pain rippled through her body, and she fell on the ground. Quickly, tentacles grew from the ground, and sifted through the dirt, but still produced nothing. Naraku growled, "Where is the lamp? No!"
Naraku stalked off. He left Kanna to make sure Kagura wouldn't die.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Inuyasha couldn't see much, but what he could wasn't good. It was a 50 foot free-fall, and even with his demon powers, there was a slim chance of survival, and if that wasn't bad enough, Kagayaki and Tsuyomi were still stuck beneath boulders. Two more problems: Miroku and falling rocks.
Inuyasha looked down, seeing a rock coming on the two fast. They were about to die from a rock falling slower then them. Inuyasha acted without thinking. He shoved Miroku above him and braced himself for a major headache if he ever woke up. Inuyasha felt a sharp pain in the back of his head before blacking out.
(A few hours later…)
Miroku woke up, groggy, to find himself sitting on something soft. Looking down, he saw Inuyasha wincing in pain. "Sorry!" Miroku hopped off Inuyasha, only to find out Inuyasha was unconscious.
Miroku walked around, waiting for Inuyasha to wake up when he saw them. Kagayaki and Tsuyomi were suck under a boulder trying to wiggle free. Miroku rushed over to help, "Hey! Are you guys okay?!"
The rugs glared at him, "Okay, stupid question. Let's get this boulder off you guys." There was heaving and shoving, even some struggling, but to no avail, it wouldn't move, and Kagayaki and Tsuyomi appeared to be stuck. But, then again, don't judge a situation by its appearances.
Miroku took one last heave, hoping to budge the boulder. It wouldn't move, and Miroku almost gave up, till he felt the boulder rise up some. Miroku looked to his left to see Inuyasha struggling to lift the boulder, "Well," he strangled out, "Are ya gonna help, or not?" Miroku smiled, and together they were able to lift the rock high enough for Kagayaki and Tsuyomi to fly out.
Inuyasha flopped down, "Hey, Miroku."
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"I should be asking you that!" Inuyasha humped, "Yeah, I'm fine, but seriously, are you okay?"
"Of course!" Miroku laughed. They had lived through another life threatening experience, and were relieved.
They plopped down and sighed. Inuyasha could sense something was bothering Miroku, "Hey, what's on your mind?"
Miroku sighed, "I just want to know what was so special about that lamp. Of course, we don't even have it to look at."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…"
Miroku looked over to see Inuyasha flashing him a grin. "Ta-da!" Inuyasha pulled the lamp out of his shirt.
"How…where…when?"
"I got it when saving your butt from Kurana and his knife."
"Oh." Miroku took the lamp and began looking it over. "Hey, Inuyasha, come here."
"What?"
"Look," Miroku said quietly. He pointed to some makings, impossible to make out with all the dirt on the lamp.
"Here." Inuyasha pulled his hand into his shirt, and then grabbed some to use for rubbing the dirt off. Miroku did the same. They began rubbing the lamp until it suddenly jumped out of Miroku's pervy hands.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!! YAHOOOO!!" Blue smoke began drifting out of the lamp, until a…person? No, but something definitively came out with many human-like features, "Oi! I it good to be out of there."
Yeah! Another chapter finished! Again, sorry for the long update, but I hope it was worth it.
Review time!!
dyingmiko06
konnichiwa. long time no talk. great chapter. it gave me something to do at 11:45 at night besides doing my homework that was due friday. xD. ah well. update soon.
Ah, yes! How my heart has hope that our paths will cross soon, but as it is, that has not yet been given a chance by the divine gods! And really! Staying up till 11:45 in the morning?! 'Tori-san would have a fit!
Hikaru Rouge
OH! Why the agony of making us wait for the next chapter? good job so far by the way!
Because, I'm evil like that. Why should I allow you any fun?
Fahlai ah Layn
This is brilliant! 5 stars!
Yeah, well, anyone could have done it; I don't see what's so special about it.
'angel-of-fallen-stars'
heii
i luv ur story its awesome!
plz write moore PLZ!
Why of course I shall. Thank you very much for your review.
Okay, I was bored, so I have Fruits Basket characters reply to the reviews instead of me. Now, you guys have to guess who said what. Here are some hints:
Kyo is so modest.
How much you wanna bet Hatori's older than Shigure and Ayame?
Yuki is…really being…formal. O.o
Akito should die already.
Sorry, I was bored. Hope you enjoyed!
