~ Chapter 8: Deception ~
Check the bottom for answers on last chapters references!
For this chapter, I included a quote from the anime (said by the same character) and just as a hint, it's not Kagome!
Also, I also included a quote from one of the most famous and acclaimed movie series of all time, and as a hint, it started off as a book series! And just to help out a little more, it is said from the protagonist of said series to the main antagonist.
Good luck guessing!
Kagome sat outside the forest, just looking at Mt. Mujitsu from afar as it stood in its place. Days had passed, and she hadn't decided when she wanted to leave, so Osamu suggested she meet him at the hut, knowing that she loved that place with all her might. He said they could do some lower level exterminating for a bit so she had time to think more. She agreed, but he decided to leave in the night, telling Master Kenjin that she should follow at dawn. He seemed to always be running about mysteriously, and she couldn't quite understand it at all. But dwelling on it would only give her a headache, as her mind was already full to the brim with thoughts and confusion. So, she stood, looking back at the place she called home now, and whispering her temporary farewell.
"Who knows when I'll be back this time." She muttered, before turning and taking off to meet Osamu. She was swift and fast, face stone hard as she ran. It's all she could ever do. Run fast and far away. Though she knew her dilemmas would follow. But if I sit and worry, nothing will be accomplished. C'mon Kagome, just give it time. Be patient. With that, she let her frustrations fall to the side, still there but now silent. And her features relaxed as she continued down her path.
"Osamu will be there. And he's been doing really well at distracting me." She smiled, "Plus, now he'll really get a chance to see my skills."
Without a break, she trudged on. Her endurance was incredible, and she didn't falter as she ran. Her thoughts wandered to all the fun she would have with him, and how maybe he would finally tell her what he'd been up since he left her. It was all she wanted, to spend the day helping villages and just letting herself have a good time. She wasn't even sure when the last time she had been out and about with anyone. She was usually alone. Training alone. Investigating alone. Hunting down strong demons alone. And for the first time, she would be with someone who cared about her, and supported her throughout everything.
Her smile was wide as the ocean, and her heart joyful. She was so caught up in her excitement, that it had startled her when she heard her name being called. Cautiously, she turned to see a woman clad in red and white, a face so strikingly familiar. She was just standing in a field, her posture perfect and her demeanor profession.
"You... You're the priestess that travels with Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted, not sure whether or not to be happy or upset to see her. She hadn't gotten the chance to really talk to this dead priestess aside from their battle in the forest, which was not exactly a friendly conversation. Still, she assumed that this woman had once been her close companion as well, as she had always been around when the gang was looking for her. I should be sympathetic to this woman. Not only did she lose her life so tragically, but she is probably suffering from my loss as well. Shaking her head, she put on the best smile that she could, though noting the dead priestess's blank stare. Though, at Kagome's words, she did begin to walk over, stopping only a mere inches from her.
The woman didn't speak, even after Kagome claimed her recognition of her. Her smile slowly faded and she shrugged.
"Is everything alright...uhh, I'm sorry but I forgot your name." Kagome questioned, feeling awkward and wondering what this woman's deal was. She clearly knew her, but her social skills were so bad, she couldn't imagine having ever been close to someone like this.
"My name is Kikyo." Kikyo spoke, her words solemn and low, "And I have finally escaped." She talked like a robot, eyes glazed over and back straightened. It was certainly an odd sight, one that juxtaposed the image of her angrily shooting her arrow. Her features were stiff, almost as if emotions ran under the surface but couldn't quite make it out to show themselves. And her gaze was harsh and demeaning, as she stood taller than Kagome, looking down at her.
"Escaped? Escaped what?" Kagome asked, cocking an eyebrow. This woman... she sure is weird.
"I have escaped Inuyasha." Kikyo had said it so nonchalantly that Kagome almost didn't believe it.
Escaped Inuyasha? What is she talking about? She's making it sound like he was forcing her to be with him. Kagome studied her, everything from her expression down to the perfect way she stood, like a statue. She wondered what would cause a person to be so rigid. C'mon Kagome, she's dead. She must be suffering deep down. You can't be so critical of her. But still, despite feeling bad for this woman's situations, Kagome couldn't help but be skeptical of her words. Why would Inuyasha force her to do anything? He would never hurt her and they were working together to fight the monster who did! Naraku!
"What do you mean escaped?" Kagome asked cautiously, "Did you two have a fight or something?"
"No." Kikyo began, sighing and narrowing her eyes, "Years ago, Inuyasha tricked me and tried to steal the Shikon jewel. He told me he would become human and we would be together, and I trusted him, believing he was my beloved. But I was wrong, and he wounded me one morning and went for the jewel. Bitter, I bound him to a tree, but died of my wounds. Now that I have returned, it seems as though he has fooled everyone into believing that he is innocent of his transgressions, placing the blame on Naraku." The look on the dead woman's face was almost remorseful, and Kagome's jaw dropped as she told the story.
"I am unsure what he has told you, but because of him, I roam this world as a ghost, void of joy." She continued, "And my soul cannot be at peace until he pays the price for my demise."
"I-I don't... I don't understand." Kagome's voice cracked, her heart racing as she thought of him. The Inuyasha that she had seen and the sincerity she had felt from him. It didn't make sense, but here Kikyo was, telling her that everything she had believed was a lie. "Inuyasha... he can't be the bad guy. He can't be the murderer."
"Inuyasha is a vile beast. I despise him, that loathsome half-man." Her words stung the warrior woman, who could feel her trust shatter.
All this time... these weeks I've spent and the faith I put into him. I believed him. I wanted to see him again. Kagome's head began to hurt, But he played me. He pretended to be a man he was not, one that had reeled me in. He isn't a hero. He isn't a tool for good. He is a MONSTER! Her breathing quickened, fists clenched by her sides as she processed everything she was told, feeling a sting of betrayal rising in her gut. He took advantage of me. To him, I am a pawn in his evil game to becoming a full-demon. Power. He is nothing but a power-hungry beast. And I was so desperate for answers that I got manipulated.
"He was your love, and he betrayed you..." Kagome's voice had been laced with despondency at this discovery, and she was eyeing the woman, "Kikyo, in your honor, I will kill him." She was seething now, face progressively getting redder at the rage set in.
"Yes, he must die." Kikyo whispered to her, and watched as Kagome sped off into the distance, her existence a force t be reckoned with, and her pain at being let down and used evident on the living woman's disposition. Kagome was hurt, now. Her trust had been broken. And the dead priestess knew the feeling. When first resurrected by Urasue, Kikyo would have loved to see this woman run off, ready to end the hanyou's life. But now, she couldn't help but despise herself. Her bitterness was the catalyst for what was about to happen, and she had to watch.
Please... be safe, Inuyasha.
"O'course, Miroku had to go use his damn wind tunnel and pass out." Inuyasha huffed, sitting cross legged, his back leaned against a trunk of a tree situated on the outskirts of Kaede's village, the old woman herself standing in front of him as he complained about the current situation. "Now, we gotta wait for him to feel better to get back out there. Keh, we all told him to stop using it. Now, Sango's pissed because that damn monk is an idiot."
"I see. Ye would like to rush back into the hunt for Naraku because ye have hope that Kagome will appear." Kaede asserted, watching as he turned his head to the side and rolled his eyes.
"I wanna get back out there because Naraku's collecting all the jewel shards while we sit around." He countered, jaw tightening.
But the old woman just shook her head, "So, Kagome plays no role in your impatient desire to leave? Do ye really think me a fool?" She sighed as the half-demon's muscles stiffened at her accusations, "She will come. I feel it, so do not fret, Inuyasha. When she is ready to find you, she will find you."
"Dammit, ya old hag. It's been almost a week. How much time does that wench need, anyways?" The inu-hanyou questioned, now staring thoughtfully in this distance, "She promised she would be back." He sighed and bit the inside of his cheek, as he felt the anxiety rise up, wondering if the priestess had changed her mind about seeing him. He would never admit it, but he wondered if she decided that she wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe she didn't like him. Maybe she realized that her life was better without him in it, regardless of if she knew him before.
"Ye need to learn empathy. Kagome is trying to sort out what having a piece of her past means to her. And as ye have told me, she also has goals of her own that she must focus on." The gray haired priestess did her best to assure him, having been told the situation by Miroku. The monk had informed her that Inuyasha had been shown a vision of how she died, and that said vision included a rather explicit scene of the young girl getting forced by some men. She knew that deep inside, the half-demon blamed himself for Kagome's tragic demise, and that her death, being especially torturous, probably haunted him as much as Kikyo's did.
"She will come around when she is ready. Kagome was never one to break a promise." Those words reassured him. Kagome was always a pure-hearted person, and when she promised something, she kept it. He nodded at Kaede, who followed his gaze off into the horizon, wishing, too, that she could see the reincarnation of her sister again.
And it seemed that fate had plans to honor these wishes, though not in the way Kaede would hope.
Time seemed to stand still and both of them lost themselves in thought, with nothing to do but have faith that everything would work out eventually. The omnipotent sky stared down on them, watching patiently as no one made a single move. They were just sitting ducks, easy targets. Not one was alert, or even aware of what was happening around them.
And in that time, Kagome dropped down from the tree that the half-demon was leaning on, landing in between him and the old woman, jaw clenched as he slowly turned in disbelief to meet her gaze.
"K-Kagome. You came." He wanted to burst from how amazing it felt to see her, and he held back from giving his best toothy grin, not wanting to appear too eager to continue where they left off. But her eyes were glazed in a layer of seriousness, her lips turned down into a small frown. Her fists were clenched and her stance was rigid, as she stared at him without saying another word. He let any happy thoughts drain as he quickly came to realize that this woman was not here for anything good.
Dammit... she looks pissed as hell. Keh, I shouldn't be surprised, it ain't like luck was ever on my side. He thought, standing up and preparing to deal with whatever had put her in such a sour mood. She eyed him as he did, narrowing her gaze and analyzing his every movement. She looked methodical, almost as if she was calculating when to respond, just looking for the right time to do something. And Inuyasha was just waiting, wondering just what the hell could be wrong this time. He relaxed his muscles, trying his best to be calm with her and empathize just like Kaede had said. But the seconds felt like hours of silence, and her angry orbs just targeted his like needles piercing though him. She was pissed. Very very pissed. That much he could tell right now, but there was no damn reason he could think of for it. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Kaede standing behind the younger woman, watching curiously, but also slightly alarmed.
He tried his best to stay still and wait until she was ready to talk, he really did. But she wasn't saying anything. And he was growing tired of feeling like a bug ready to get stepped on.
"What is it?" He asked, hoping she would just tell him for fuck's sake.
"You... You liar." She huffed, "You tried to deceive me."
Now, this had the hanyou boiling. After all this time, she still thinks he's some liar? And here he was, thinking that he had finally gotten somewhere with her, just to end up backed against a tree and accused again of something he didn't do. Dammit, didn't the world get tired of trying him so much?
Kaede's eyes widened behind the woman, confused but also unwilling to leave. Something was wrong, and she could see that Kagome felt distressed and betrayed. She could hear it in the way she spoke to the hanyou, and while he had always had a special talent of irritating her, this time felt much more urgent. This time, Kagome had seemed as if her trust in everything was broken. But the old woman couldn't imagine what he could have messed up this time.
"Deceive you?" He countered, "How many times do I gotta tell you I ain't lying about anything. Got that?"
"You murdered that priestess." Her fists were shaking by her side as she spewed the accusation with absolute malice. It was harsher than when she had interrogated him at the hut. In fact, her tone was almost brutally murderous, "You killed her, Inuyasha. And blamed it on someone who'd be easy to believe did it. And don't waste your damn time talking. Because she told me."
Kikyo talked to her? No... That can't be right. She may have wanted me dead when she was first resurrected, but now, she just wants Naraku gone. He thought as he processed what Kagome had just said, And she knows she's got a better shot of seeing that bastard drop dead with me around. So, what the hell is Kagome going on about? He paused, wondering if the dead priestess had been so fed up with going after Kagome that she turned on everyone. She had at one point wanted Kagome dead. Inuyasha knew that. But he had thought all of that was in the past. And when he found out Kikyo had left, he assumed it was because she had preferred going after Naraku. Preferred. And maybe she had gotten upset that he had been so attentive to this situation with Kagome, but he just couldn't wrap his mind around the idea that she betrayed him.
"You are nothing but a fake." She continued, "And I won't make the same mistake of letting you go this time." And before Inuyaha could even think of how to respond as pink spiritual energy surrounding her shaking fists, and she lunged to punch him in the jaw. Fortunately for him, he was better with his reflexes than with words, and he hopped over to the side, landing several feet besides the tree. Her hit ended up cutting through the trunk and the tree began to fall over the woman. But instead of getting out of the way, she just raised her fists above her head, her aura slicing through it again, and the remaining pieces fell around her. She was unphased, and looked over at the hanyou, whose jaw was clenched tight as small growls emitted from his throat.
"Whatever you heard, it's wrong." He spat, hoping she would wait a damn minute before trying to kill him, but by the way she was staring, he knew it wasn't gonna happen. So, he remained alert and ready to dodge her again, "I did not kill Kikyo. I would never do that, dammit!"
"Oh, please. You manipulate the people around you for power. You're pathetic." She hissed, "And you'll never know love or friendship, and I feel sorry for you." Once again, she ran toward him, ready to make contact, and when he jumped in the air to dodge, she followed, lunging with him. When he saw her soaring in the air only a foot below him, he prepared to take a hit, and she managed to make contact with his abdomen, knocking him backwards. He fell to the ground, landing on his back and gasping for air. She was damn strong, and he knew she might just kill him now.
"Your life was a lonely mess, and when you found someone who just wanted you to be happy, you didn't have the balls to take it." She was now strutting towards him, "Doesn't sound like your life is worth anything to anyone but yourself because you only live for yourself. And you took advantage of my situation. You used the fact that I didn't remember anything, and you painted yourself as some innocent man just trying to stop the bad guys. As if not being able wasn't painful enough! So, why shouldn't I kill you?" She stopped and looked over his body. His golden orbs watched her carefully, as he felt the pain from her punch much more intensely than the first time. Yes, she had hit him way harder than she ever had.
"Kagome! You mustn't!" Suddenly the crackling voice of Kaede came echoing towards them. Kagome's head whipped around to see who it was, noting the elderly woman struggling to make it over to them quickly enough, "Stop this. You have been fooled, but not by Inuyasha."
"No, you have been made to believe that he is innocent, but I heard it straight from the woman he killed!" The young woman asserted, not wanting to be persuaded not to do this. She had wanted Inuyasha to be right, trusted him. And now, she needed him to be dead, because if he lived, she would always wonder.
"The woman he killed? Ye must be referring to my sister." The older priestess sighed as she arrived, noting how pained the hanyou looked, "I am Kaede, and I witnessed my sister's death 50 years ago. For 50 years, I believed Inuyasha to be wicked, all the while he thought my sister had betrayed him. It was clear they had been fooled, and Naraku had been the one who had done it."
"Why should I believe you?!" Kagome demanded, shaking her head. Kikyo said he had fooled everyone around him. How can I know this old woman hasn't been a victim of Inuyasha's lies?
"Ye must listen to me. My sister was tasked with protecting the Shikon Jewel. And many coveted it. One day, she found and helped a bandit named Onigumo, who had been severely injured in a fire. She could see that he was hurt badly, so she brought him to a secret cave where he could heal. She spent time nursing him to health, but it was clear that he would never move again." Kaede began, moving closer to Kagome and feeling confident that, somewhere inside, was the kind girl she once knew, "However, he fell for her, and called on demons to devour his body for strength and power so that he could have her. And from that was born the evil Naraku. But when he became a half-demon, he wanted power more than love, so he tricked Inuyasha and Kikyo, hoping that if they hated each other, the Shikon Jewel would be tainted. When he disguised himself as Inuyasha and wounded her, he thought she would use the jewel to wish for her health, but she did not, and died believing Inuyasha had betrayed her."
Kagome skeptically gazed at the old woman, then back at the injured Inuyasha.
"Naraku was born from Onigumo's desire to have her, but the demons who devoured him did so for power, and despised my sister for protecting the jewel. So, that desire was buried deep down, and Naraku cared not for Kikyo any longer." Kaede continued, "But since Kikyo died bearing that hatred, she, too, feels the bitterness of her untimely demise, even now that she knows that Inuyasha did not betray her."
Inuyasha struggled, trying to sit up but feeling as though his insides were burning. So, he lifted himself a bit, resting the weight of his upper body on his forearms, but not being able to sit up fully.
The dark-haired woman's eyes glazed over with confusion as she contemplated what the apparent sister of Kikyo had said.
"It is too convenient, that this Naraku was able to trick everyone for so long. I can't believe that." She said finally, "The way your sister looked, devoid of any happiness, saying she could not rest until Inuyasha paid for his wrongdoings, it was clear that she did not truly believe in Inuyasha's innocent. And as the one who died, she knows better than anyone else."
"Ye will just kill this half-demon?" Kaede questioned, "Is it not clear that he harbors no malice inside of him? Is it not clear that he cares for you?"
"I don't care!" Kagome shot back, "Just as Kikyo died for caring for him, he will die caring for me."
"Ye must truly be a fool." The old woman asserted, now frowning as she realized that this woman would not be convinced, "Once, ye would have showed compassion for this man, and knew evil did not rest in his heart. Now, ye will lose him. And if ye make this choice, the rest of your life will be spent thinking of it."
As they bickered, Inuyasha realized his body was healing, and he finally gained the ability to sit up. Keh, if I want, I can stand again. This hit was harder than last time, but she only hit me once. My body was able to recover... But what the hell can I do? It ain't looking like Kaede is gonna be able to stop her, and I sure as hell ain't fighting her off... Dammit, if only I knew what happened, and why Kikyo betrayed me.
"I am not a fool. I will not be walked on by a man who thinks I'll believe whatever he tells me!"
That's it... Inuyasha thought, a light bulb flashing over his head, She won't believe me anymore, but if I can find Kikyo and sort this all out, maybe I can get her to tell Kagome the truth. But... that still leaves me with the task of getting out of this alive.
"Believe me. There is an entire village who will vouch for him." Kaede pleaded.
"They may all be deceived." Kagome countered.
Inuyasha shook his head, feeling energy and strength coursing through his veins. There was only one thing he could do if he wanted to live. And that was to run away while she was distracted. Kagome was so caught up in trying to justify herself to Kaede that she hadn't noticed that he was healing. So, he had a chance.
"Do ye truly believe this man could deceive everyone around him?" The old woman asked.
That was it, that was his cue. Inuyasha jumped up, turning around and running off into the distance, far, far away from the village. He didn't look back to see if she was following him. He just kept running. She may be impressive, but he knew he could out run her. He was a demon after all, and his endurance was much greater than any human's, trained or not. So, he pressed on, feeling like such a failure for leaving. But it had to be done. Had this happened before Kagome's death and resurrection, he would have acted rash and would have stayed and died trying to convince her, because he didn't want to look like a coward. But now, he knew that this death would not be worth it. Whatever is happening, Kagome deserved to know the truth.
But he felt his heart drop as he remembered everything she said. I'll never know love or friendship? Kagome, don't you realize that you gave me those things? He wondered if maybe this woman was no longer the one he knew, and if he was just holding on to something that's not there. No... that's bullshit. She may act different because of the way she was trained, but her core is still there. I saw it in the way she held Shippo, and it was definitely there when we were talking. She's just upset. And dammit, when Kagome is upset, there ain't no stopping her. He scowled, hoping he could find Kikyo and find her soon. Nothing about this made any sense, but he just hoped she would have a good explanation for everything.
Could it be... did Naraku disguise himself? He wondered as he sped onward, Wouldn't Kagome have been able to sense if it was? Goddammit. This is so frustrating!
Inuyasha, feeling defeated, continued to seek out the dead priestess with much haste, his mind set on figuring out what the hell happened. He would find her, and he would correct this bullshit.
"He thinks he can run from me, does he?" Kagome snarled, watching as flashes of red and sliver disappeared right before her eyes. She knew he could heal himself pretty quickly, but she had severely underestimated how fast that would happen. He had probably been near completely healed a few minutes before he even jumped up and ran, planning his escape when he realized he was all better. But now he's underestimating me if he thinks I won't catch up to him. And this time, I won't let some silly old woman distract me.
She readied herself to go after him, eyes ablaze with determination. That is, until, the old woman had to open her mouth.
"Ye mustn't kill Inuyasha. It will be a mistake." Kaede pleaded, "I can explain everything to you. Come, child. Come and let us discuss this."
"Every moment I'm not after that half-demon, Kikyo is in danger. He may kill her for exposing him." The young priestess replied darkly, her mind distraught.
"He is not capable of doing such a thing." The older woman sighed, "Ye must hear me out, for it is out of ignorance when one acts without considering both sides." She closed the distance between them, noticing Kagome's hesitation when she placed a wrinkly hand on her shoulder. "And one thing I know is that ye will not kill out of ignorance."
Kagome paused and bit her lip, her fists clenched as she pondered what the old woman was saying. Didn't I already consider his side? Could there really be more to this than what I've been told? Kikyo... she seems like the perfect witness, given that she was the victim. So, why would she lie? This... is so frustrating. She thought, impatiently. The wind brushed against her, almost willing her to stay. But it was getting to be too much to bear. She felt like she was being thrust into this world, and someone was taking advantage of the fact that she didn't remember anything.
But she guessed that if she was going to make a decision about the hanyou's life, she should at least hear this woman out.
"Fine." Kagome decided, her tone still impatient and laced with frustration, which Kaede could easily gauge, "I'll go with you. But not for too long. If I feel your story to be unconvincing, I will leave and I will kill him."
Kaede nodded, leading her back to her hut, the villagers' eyes widening in shock as Kagome strutted behind the old priestess. Whispering ensued, quiet and hushed, but still noticeable. And the young woman noticed, uncomfortably aware of the looks she was receiving. Of course, no one seemed to be whispering anything negative, but still. She hated wondering about all of them while they appeared to know all about her. She shifted her gaze and focused only on the path she was being led down, eyes examining the ground as she kept moving forward.
"Kagome!" A feminine voice called, and it was slightly familiar, causing the dark-haired priestess to raise her head to find the source. Of course, she wasn't that surprised to see that demonslayer rushing towards her, a look of optimism painted over her features. "You're here!"
"Sango." Kaede addressed her, "It appears my sister has told Kagome something rather disturbing."
"What?" Sango cocked a brow, noting the serious look on the old woman's face, "What did Kikyo say...?" She just couldn't fathom what could have happened that could put a damper on this reunion. Although, something did seem off given that Inuyasha was not at Kagome's heels. She scanned her old friend's face, and noticed that there was not a trace of happiness or anything good in her expression. In fact, she seemed to be aggravated at something, which quickly put Sango on edge as she waited for Kaede's response.
"My sister has claimed that Inuyasha killed her." The old woman brushed a gray strand from her face, stress deepening the lines on her forehead.
"S-She did what? Was she that angry that the attention wasn't all on her?" Sango shook her head, "Well, you don't believe her, do you, Kagome?"
Sighing, the warrior woman clenched her fists, "Kikyo is the most reliable witness to her death." But, then she relaxed her muscles and stared off into the distance, "But... I'm willing to hear everyone out before I kill him." I just hope he isn't going after Kikyo right now. This was becoming way too overwhelming for her, being completely out of the loop for an issue that seemed to revolve around her. Her head was full and throbbing from all the he-said, she-said that was going on, almost numb at this point. But she managed to remain stoic in her appearance, even if she just wanted to break and fall to the ground.
"Let us go to my hut." Kaede urged, "Ye should join us as well, Sango." The demon-slayer just nodded, and they all began walking together. And Kagome could see the rage rising within the other woman, lips pursed and eyes narrowed. It was clear that she was upset with Kikyo, thinking that she was lying for some reason. Kagome didn't want to cause all this trouble for everyone, but dammit, who could she really trust? It just seemed as though she would never be sure.
The trio waltzed into the hut, taking a seat around the little fire pit nestled in the middle of the room. The warrior priestess sat tall, her posture perfect, back arched and shoulders back. Her neck was straight and her chin lifted proudly as she eyed the two woman who sat across from her. The ninja tunic she wore with the green sash boasted her best features, and overall, her appearance was intimidating. She looked like a picture of beauty and violence in perfect harmony with one another, swirling and dancing like partners beneath her milky skin. A rose with thorns. But still, she wasn't the only one with the skills to flaunt the deadliness within her feminine features. Sango did the same, sitting tall and perfect, with eyebrows lifted and eyes narrow. Her slayer attire with the pink to juxtapose the lethal black, tight enough to catch the eye, but not tight enough to restrict swift movements, like a second skin. She had the look of a warrior who was not only strong, but intelligent as well. The two were mirror images of each reflecting back, so much so that Kagome began to wonder that if she moved her hand, would the demon-slayer perhaps copy.
Kaede noticed them watching the other, although she knew that somewhere buried in the seriousness of Sango's demeanor, was compassion and care for the young and powerful priestess.
"So, what did Kikyo tell you." Though a question, Sango phrased it like a demand, one that was full of force and aggression. Even if it wasn't directed at who she was speaking to. Still, seeing the slayer so confident and strong, Kagome could only cock a brow.
"Inuyasha is a vile monster who killed her. And she can't rest until he's paid the price." Kagome replied, her tone just as forceful.
"Bullshit." Sango countered, not even a second after Kagome finished her response.
Lips poking out in agitation, the only thing Kagome could think to say to that was "Prove it."
The slayer hesitated, the look on her face faltering only slightly as she pondered the best way to do so. But how could she prove something like that right now? Sure, Naraku had admitted to it at some points during battles, almost boasting about how he split Inuyasha and Kikyo apart, but it'd be hard to find him, especially just to ask him to admit to it again. And if he was smart, he would see that admitting to it was not exactly in his best interest anyways. And yeah, Kikyo herself had known that Naraku did it, but apparently she was trying to get Kagome to believe otherwise so they couldn't exactly count on her right now given the situation. Sango's mind raced to find the answer, but she couldn't fathom whose word would be above Kikyo's when it came to her death. Even if there were witnesses, Kikyo's claims still rose above theirs as being more reliable in Kagome's eyes. And honeSeestly, she couldn't even blame her for that. The only other way the slayer could fathom proving it to Kagome was if there was some way she could see it herself.
See it herself? But that's impossible. Sango thought, getting frustrated by this conundrum. There's no way for her to look into the past like that and be shown what's already happened. Right? Where could she possibly be shown a vision like that... Unless...
Her eyes widened immediately, face bright as she realized that there was a chance to prove it. It was a long-shot, but dammit, it was worth trying. "Unmei." She began, earning weird looks from both of the woman around her.
"Unmei? What the hell is that?" Kagome questioned, slightly curious but not letting that show on her face.
"Unmei, the demon of vision." Sango continued, her lips curving upwards as she proudly began to reveal her plan, "She has the powers to see things that have happened, and then show them to someone else. Visions of the past. If we find her, she may be able to show you what happened on that day that Kikyo died. And then you'll have all the proof you need." She took in a deep breath and smirked. If they could manage to find her, not only might it save Inuyasha's life, but maybe Unmei could even show Kagome visions of her own past to help her remember. Not to mention, tell her about the prophecy.
"A demon of vision, huh?" The priestess replied, skeptically, "And where do we find this demon?"
Of course, there was the catch. No one had ever seemed to have heard of her before, so finding her seemed to be quite the task, and if Kagome saw it a waste of time, they'd all be out of luck. Sango shifted uncomfortably, not knowing how to answer the question in a manner that wouldn't make the woman in front of her scoff and brush the whole suggestion off.
"Unmei. The monk told me about her, a haggard old woman with no eyes." Kaede jumped in, seemingly saving Sango, "I have looked into her since hearing about the encounter, and have learned quite a few things about her."
Everyone leaned in, interested to hear more about this fascinating demon.
"The legend is that she was born of both joy and destruction, and though she cannot see like we do, she constantly watches over the battle between both. Death cannot touch her until one has overcome the other in the world." The old woman began, finger raised in a matter-of-fact manner, "And in her extended lifetime, which has lasted thousands of years, she uses others to see what she cannot, and shares it in order to warn of approaching chaos. However, finding her seems to be quite the issue. Some say it is impossible, while others say few know where she resides. It appears as though only those old enough to have witnessed her birth and prime would know how to find her. Someone who was also thousands of years. Perhaps even older than Inuyasha's father would have been."
While useful information, Sango slouched a bit as she realized that Kaede had not actually found out how to get to Unmei at all. In fact, the only thing they know now was that in order to find her, they'd have to ask some super old demons and hope they knew where she was. But that seemed almost pointless.
Kaede, noting that the information given so far hadn't sparked any conversation of the next step, leaned in close before suggesting, "Ye may want to ask Myoga the flea. If I am not mistaken, he has lived quite a long life. Perhaps he may know where to go from here."
That's right! Sango thought. We saw him not to long ago, but Inuyasha only told him that Kagome died and was resurrected, not bothering of the details regarding who told us in the first place. Maybe he does know something... Or at maybe he could point us in the right direction.
"So, I'm supposed to find this flea who will tell me where to find this vision demon and hope she can show me what really happened?" Kagome scoffed, finding the task a bit ridiculous, "Seems like a lot."
"You wanna know the truth, right?" The slayer questioned, and Kagome realized that she was right in a way. The real truth isn't always the easiest to find. And if Unmei does resolve this, she really will have the whole story about Inuyasha. No more wondering and no more lies.
"Yes. I do." She responded, "So, I'll go with you to find this Myoga. And then we'll go from there."
With me? Kagome wants to do all this with me? Sango nodded quickly, although her heart was beating quickly, shock running through her as she realized she would be spending some actual time with her old friend much sooner than she anticipated. She took in a deep breath before both of them stood up, their journey beginning right now. They looked at each other for a bit, just standing there as their presences collided in a fit of energy and auras, whirlwinding around between them.
"I will inform Miroku of your departure. Be safe." The gray haired woman sent her goodbyes, nodding at them to get going.
"She'll be safe with me." Kagome nodded, turning to leave. Sango gave a final look to the old woman, who sympathetically smiled, knowing that the slayer had been wanting to see her again. And also knowing that Kagome wouldn't do anything to hurt her. It was the perfect chance for the two to rekindle their old friendship, and perhaps the priestess would find out that she and the slayer work well together, too. It was an opportunity for togetherness with someone the warrior had never found threatening. Someone she definitely thought was innocent and trust-worthy, at least to a point. No accusations to be thrown and no fighting.
And together, they went off to find Myoga.
C'mon Kikyo, where the hell are you? Inuyasha bursted through the wild terrain, sniffing and sensing but finding nothing. It'd been hours, and while his demon heritage give him the endurance to easily keep going, his patience was wearing notably thin. Somewhere, Kagome was out there believing he had taken advantage of her and deceived her, and it made his blood boil. Not only would he have never had it in him to harm Kikyo, but he would never have done anything to break Kagome's trust like that. She was hurting. And he needed to fix it. And dammit, what the hell was going on with Kikyo anyways? He had come to the conclusion a while ago that if Naraku disguised himself as Kikyo, Kagome's advanced senses would be able to detect demonic energy. She had far superior senses than most, her aura detection perhaps even stronger than his. And if they had a conversation, that would be more than enough time for her to have picked up on it. And that meant only two possibilities, an actual priestess had disguised herself, or for some reason, Kikyo had, in fact, told Kagome that lie. And for some reason, the latter seemed extremely unlikely.
I won't jump to any conclusions, though. Maybe Kikyo has some reason for doing this that I don't understand. She doesn't want to hurt me anymore, right? He shook his head, knowing that if he allowed himself to continue pondering this, he would think himself to death. And while, in all honesty, death seemed like a sweet reprieve right now, he still had to protect Kagome from whatever this prophecy was, and he needed to be alive for that.
So, he scaled he region, running through forests, fields and even some villages. He couldn't leave any place unchecked right now, and his damn inability to remain patient had to be ignored for the time being. Dammit, this is all what I get for leaving Kagome behind in the first place. I should have never let her leave. He growled at himself, realizing that he honestly had no right to complain about anything right now. Karma was such a bitch, but, frankly, he had been, too.
So, he pushed his frustrations to the side and focused completely on the path ahead of him, determined to fix everything. He'd be the man he needed to.
And as the hours passed and the sun began to set, the scent hit his nose like a heavy fist, followed by the sight of glowy soul collectors flying through the air. He let out a sigh of relief, his upper body leaning forward in order move fast, his arms stretched out behind him as the large sleeves of his fire rat robe danced in the passing wind that his speed created around him. He knew she was there, just in near distance.
And he leaped into the air, over looming trees, his body high in the sky as he saw her figure down below, the black locks falling onto her red and white traditional garb. He forced his body downwards towards, falling at rapid speed until his feet his the ground in a cloud of debris. And when his golden eyes met with hers, she didn't seemed shocked. She didn't really seem like she felt anything when she looked at him, like a void. A lifeless doll. Her eyes were glazed over and dead as she looked at him. And he couldn't help but feel the sad aura that surrounded her.
She's... sad. But about what? The hanyou tried to look deeper into her eyes, but she looked away. He tried to sense some sort of corrupted jewel shard or demonic energy that may be controlling her, but he couldn't.
"Kikyo. What happened to you?" He asked, the inner corner of his brows shifting upwards in sympathy. There was so much distress that it was practically seething out of her.
"Nothing that is of your concern." She replied, her tone cold.
He paused. Her response definitely gave him the impression that she was angry at him, but she didn't actually appear mad. It was like her existence was now entirely consumed by sorrow, without even a hint of aggression. It was a sense of worry that surrounded her. And he could not make sense of it. So, he took in a deep breath, moving closer to her to try and solve the mystery.
"Did you... did you talk to Kagome?" He asked, his muscles tense as he awaited her answer.
"Yes." She stated, void of any real emotion.
"W-Well... what did you tell her?" The suspense was killing him. If she had in fact talked to Kagome, then she must also know what he was here for. But it seemed like she would not divulge into anything unless specifically asked.
"I..." She paused, almost as if trying to force her mouth shut, lips trembling as they pursed together, but eventually, words continued to flow, "I told her that you murdered me. And that I would not be at peace until you were dead."
He shoulders drooped at the sound of hearing her admit to something like that, without even a hint of remorse in her voice. She didn't even seemed concerned with explaining herself or trying to justify her actions. She said it so plainly. And Inuyasha knew that Kikyo knew what saying that would do. Kikyo was smart enough to figure out that Kagome would then go and try to kill him. And it would not only be to aid the dead priestess, but because she would have felt betrayed by him, too.
"Why, Kikyo!?" He demanded, desperately hoping that she had a good reason for it, "Did Naraku put you up to it? Or some other bastard? Tell me, dammit!" His breathing was heavy with aggravation, fists clenched and head lowers. He grit his teeth, needing to know, each second torturing him as he waited and waited for her to answer. And when she began to open her mouth, he froze in anticipation.
"I said those things because..." And then again, she paused, lips trembling. She was holding her mouth tightly shut. And it appeared as though all of her effort was going into it, and she continued to look away from him as she tried and tried.
"Dammit, Kikyo! I have to know!" He shouted, coming even closer to her. But as he inched nearer, she raised a hand to stop him, forcefully placing it on his chest. He cocked a brow and she finally looked at him. Her lips were no longer trembling. In fact, she looked completely put together, save for the dark void that her eyes had become. He watched her curiously now, hoping to get some sort of explanation out of her that would help him understand everything. And then, maybe, he could get her to explain everything to Kagome.
But she then shoved him back. And while her hardest push on his chest only knocked him back a step, it was still out of character. "I said those things because I want you to suffer and die, Inuyasha." And when the words hit his appendages, those golden orbs widened like suns on his face, jaw dropping down. He could feel his knees wanting to give up on him, and in that moment, he wouldn't have minded if the earth just swallowed him up. There was nothing in her expression that would allude that she was joking or messing with him in any way. Her voice was perfectly serious, and her gaze was unapologetic.
"Why...?" He asked, staring down at the ground, "I don't understand."
"I loathe you. You are nothing but a filthy half-breed, and being with you caused my untimely demise. You have no worth, no reason to exist. Love will always run from your disgusting presence. Now, begone." She turned from him, "I never want to see you again." She began walking away, leaving him to drown in his misery as he fell to the ground, his disbelief lodged in his throat. Gasping for air, he took one final look at her as she left, disappearing from him and leaving him with those stabbing words that had waged war on his heart.
Kikyo, I thought we were past that. I thought you still cared about me. Don't you know how I feel about you?
For a half hour on the ground, he cursed the sky and the sea. He physically felt hope leaving his body. Once again, he had been reduced to nothing but a half-breed. Once again, he was faced with the reality of what the world thought of him. He had learned at one point to stop caring about all of that, because he knew there were people out there who saw him for the person he was. And Kikyo, she was the first one to make him feel like he was worth something in this world. But now, it all faded. She hated him. Had she always hated him? Had she always been looking for the perfect opportunity to make him suffer? He wasn't sure. In fact, he was not sure of anything right now.
She... left me here. She won't tell Kagome the truth. She just wants me to die. He did partially blame himself for Kikyo's death, as he was not able to see through Naraku's plan, but was it more than that? Does she think he shouldn't exist? Should he even exist? He wondered if he should follow her and ask her to drag him into hell with her, like she had originally wanted, although it appeared that she didn't even want to be with him in death.
No. I...I can't die, yet. Not when Kagome is still out there. I can still save her, even if it costs me my life. I'll save Kagome, I'll avenge Kikyo. He thought passionately, rising from the rubble. And I'll figure out where to go from there. Kikyo, I don't give a damn if you hate me. I'll do what I need to do to make sure Kagome's safe, and you can rest in peace. I promise. No matter how you feel, I...I'll never stop caring about you.
He didn't know where to go from there. He had no idea how in the hell he could fix things with Kagome, but he knew he damn well would. He'd do anything to start back up again.
"I ain't no damn wimp. And I sure as hell ain't gonna waste time feeling sorry for myself." He huffed, fists clenched at his side, "I deserve whatever bitter feelings you have, Kikyo. But neither you or Kagome deserve for me to just give up. Even if I wasn't good enough for you both at some points, I will be now. And dammit, I'll prove it. I'll prove it to everyone. I'll prove it to myself."
He sped off, not really knowing where to go but knowing he needed to go somewhere. He was in pain, Kikyo's words still hurting with every step he took. But he didn't care. He would take all of the pain and then some. Because he didn't matter. They did.
Alright! Here are the answers for the last chapter:
Anime Reference:
After Light Yagami is revealed to be Kira, user of the death note, he tries to convince everyone that he is, in fact, a hero of the world. However, Near sees straight through him, calling the death note the "deadliest weapon in the history of mankind" and Light a crazy serial killer, "nothing more, nothing less." You can find this scene in the last episode of the famous anime Death Note. Kagome uses these lines to describe hate.
Congrats to AniSanO.o for getting this right!
DC Reference:
Kagome, while going on about her duties, states that she does her task because "night is darkest just before the dawn". You can also find this quote in the famous Batman movie, The Dark Knight. Before Harvey Dent becomes two-face, he gives a speech at a conference where he plans on falsely admitting to being batman. During this speech, he uses this line to spark hope in spite of the Joker's threats.
Kagome also references herself as not a hero. This was also inspired by Batman's speech at the end of the movie, where he plans on taking the blame for Dent's killings. The exact quote from him is "I can do those things because I'm not a hero like Dent." I thought it fit because killing, even if it is for the greater good, is never seen as heroic, but she finds she can do it because she's not a hero.
Congrats to Abi and inuallday for this right!
I hope you all have as much fun with this as I do. I'm super excited to see who gets the next ones!
I'm loving the reviews so don't forget to let me know how I'm doing and if you get the next references! Love you all!
