Insane-san says: Ahh, my fluffies...We arrive once again to a brand spanking new chapter...Hmm, maybe lemony fresh would be better. OH NO WAIT. Lemony fresh?! Never mind! XD THIS ISN'T LEMON! -headdesksnort-
I am much, MUCH happier with this chapter than my last one. Even though you expressed that you loved it (which I am so, so grateful for), I'm happier with how this one turned out (being the stubborn authoress I am).
As many of you do (or do not) know, while writing, there are always typos. Of course I do my best to catch every one of them in spell checkers and such or simply while I'm typing, I see them. One in particular had me laughing for a very long time. XD I was typing fingers, okay? Fingers. And I typed Giners. XD WTH MAN. It sounds like some dirty word for something I shouldn't speak of...in...public! -SNEEZE- Darn. Anyway...
A new character makes his appearance here. Bokusen-On. (If you don't remember who he is, I'm not going to tell you because I'm already spoiling something or other by revealing his name. DON'T RUSH TO LOOK HIM UP ON WIKI BEFORE YOU READ THIS, EITHER! You little villains... -eyes you-) There was much dispute between me and my dear wikipedia on this name. Bokusen'On? Bokusen-On? Bokusenon? Or perhaps Bokusen-on? You see, I was quite...confused. I tried searching for him in my Inuyasha mangas, but I couldn't remember which volumes he appears in. (There are 49 volumes and it's quite a chore to search through the lovely things.) Heh... Well, enough of my insane ramblings.
I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. And as for your reviews, thank you SO much once again. Reviews seriously keep me motivated in my writing. It's like, I get a review, and then I'm all hyped up and go write huge chunks of fanfiction. So the more you review, the faster these come out... ;D
Oh, and happy late Halloween! I hope yours was a good one. I won't get deep into mine, but I scared at least a hundred little kids with my old man mask, as well as made quite a few burst into tears. (I'm horrid, I know.) Several people also thought I was mechanical...-sweat- Until I jumped off my chair or snapped my head in their direction...In which they responded to with a gasp or a scream... -dark giggle-
Enjoy the chapter!
Shousetsu no Kowai
Page ten.
"Hey Kagome, wake up." A playful voice shattered the silence. Kagome's eyes fluttered open.
"Huh...?" She blinked at the ceiling with a tired expression and took in a deep breath. Her joints cracked as she sat up.
Her eyes scanned her surroundings slowly in confusion. She was in a beautiful bedroom fit for a princess. Shining marble made up the floor and magnificently detailed furniture lined the walls. Vases full of roses and sunflowers sat upon the dressers and tables in the room and made up a nice scent. She sat on a bed with gold and red patterns in the blankets and bright red pillow cases. Golden curtains of silk hung down next to the bed and swayed slightly from the breeze that came in through the open window.
The bed was soft under her hands and she stroked it slowly. Her eyes danced around the room in wonder until they landed on the window to the left of her. See-through curtains of gold danced lazily in the night-time wind from the large open window. A boy sat on the window seat of bright red velvet with a fanged grin on his face. His hair was long and white and flowing in the breeze almost on-beat with the curtains. His eyes were bright gold and two dog ears sat on his head. His clothes were red and gold in a style that made Kagome think of a prince from Cinderella. He matched the room in a bright, almost beautiful way and Kagome was speechless for a moment.
"Inuyasha...?" She murmured in quiet fascination. She swallowed and tried to understand what was happening. "Where...Am I? And what the heck are you...?" She watched him stand up with a frown. "Why are you asking me so many questions?" He asked offendedly. "Don't you trust me?" He asked with narrowed eyes. Kagome's heart skipped a beat in a strange guilt and she bowed her head as she looked at him. "S-sorry...I'm just...a little confused is all." She said softly. Despite her apology, his gaze was the same prying one. Kagome shrunk back a little and watched him. "I said," He stared at her. "Don't you trust me?" Kagome swallowed loudly and felt her eyes widen. Her mind calculated the question slowly until it came up with an answer. "Yes, Inuyasha..." She said with a small frown.
His face lit up and he grinned. He jumped forward onto her bed and knelt in front of her. The mattress bounced and Kagome tried to keep her balance. "I'm your friend, right?" He asked excitedly, grabbing her hands. Kagome felt her cheeks change color at his strange behavior. She blinked several times at his happy face and stammered, "Well, I...Guess...!" He lowered his head and stared up at her through his silver bangs. His face held a pouting look and he made sure she saw it. "Then why are you going to seal me away into the book again, Kagome?" He asked in a sad voice.
Kagome's heart hammered in her chest and she wet her lips. "Seal you...?" She echoed him cautiously. He glared in hate and tightened his grip on her hands until Kagome's face winced with discomfort. "You're a liar." He hissed. Kagome's pupils shrank and she felt her breath get caught in her throat. "No..." She whispered. He tightened his grip more. "You are a liar. You're lying even now." His eyes stabbed into her own and Kagome couldn't look away. "You don't trust me. You don't think of me as your friend." He spat angrily. Kagome shook her head harshly. "You hate me just like you hate everyone else!" He yelled in her face. "NO!" Kagome screamed, slamming her teary eyes shut.
His face calmed and he threw her hands away from him. "No?" He repeated her slowly. Kagome's body shook with each deep breath that entered her lungs. She clenched her teeth and knitted her eyebrows up in a frown. "No," She whispered. "I don't hate you." Inuyasha's face showed a satisfied smile and he rubbed his fingers over her face to clear away the tears. "You trust me?" He asked again in a quiet voice. Kagome bit back her sobs and tried to calm her trembling as he wiped her tears away. "Yes." She said. "Do you think of me as your friend?" He asked, moving a strand of hair from her face. She bit her lip and nodded slowly. "Yes..."
Inuyasha moved his face close by her ear and took a breath. He waited a moment before speaking. "But Kagome," He began. "...People who trust others and think of others as their friends don't usually seal them into books...do they?" He asked, his voice manipulative.
Kagome's head pounded and she gripped her fingers tightly into the thick covers of the bed. She shook her head in response to his question. "Aren't you being a little selfish, Kagome?" He asked in a boyish voice and pushed himself away to look at her face. His eyes held an almost psychotic glinting as he stared at her. Kagome felt her pulse quicken. "Did you ever think about what I wanted?" Kagome frowned and curled her hands into fists. "I have," She said calmly. "But I...Just...It's difficult to think about...Having to keep you under control for my entire life. And being the only one able to see and talk to you...It's...difficult." She mumbled, looking away. "If I manage to find a way to break your curse, then you'll be unleashed into the world. Who knows what you'll do?" She asked as she looked back at him.
His eyes were that same strange look of psychotic-ness and a fang showed from his closed lips. "I thought you said you trusted me, Kagome." He said carefully. Kagome's eyes widened and she held her breath. "I...Do." She said with a nod. "But I just don't...Know...What might happen. That's all." She stared earnestly into his eyes and waited for his reply. Moments passed in silence and he continued to stare at her.
Eager to replace the sickening silence, Kagome began speaking. "If I seal you into the book, then everything would be solved."
In a horrifying split second, Inuyasha's face twisted in rage and he slammed a hand forward around her neck. Kagome fell backward into the bed and gasped. He tightened his grip more and more until her face was red and her head pulsed loudly in her ears. Kagome stared helplessly up into his murderous eyes and felt tears of pain drip from her eyes down her hot face. Her hands were clenched tightly around his wrist and she struggled. "WHAT WILL BE SOLVED?" He screamed. "DO YOU THINK THAT WILL MAKE ME HAPPY?" He squeezed tighter around her neck. Kagome choked and trembled beneath him. "I thought I was your friend, Kagome!" He said in a cruel voice of mocking. "I thought you trusted me!" Kagome sobbed and closed her eyes tightly and tried to force out words.
"I...Do...Trust...You...!" She choked. "LIAR!" He screamed into her face. "You don't trust anyone! You don't even trust yourself!" He pushed her down further into the mattress. "I'd be good to you!" He yelled with sad eyes. "I'd be your friend!" He narrowed his eyes in anger. "But you don't care. You don't want me or anyone else in your life." Kagome tried desperately to shut out his words. "Your mother hates you, your father left you to rot, your aunt wanted to turn you in to the cops, and you have. No. Friends!"
Kagome's heart felt tight at his biting words and her vision became blurred. She clenched her teeth and dug her fingers into his long, velvety sleeve. "YOU...ARE..." She tried to gasp. "MY..." She shut her eyes tightly. "FRIEND...!" Her hands fell from his wrist and she felt her last breath leave on that word. The angry hand around her neck left her and she sucked in a gasp.
Her body trembled all around her and she gasped in as much air as she could. Inuyasha put his hands under her back and pulled her up. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed the side of his face onto her shoulder. "Okay, Kagome." He said in soothing voice. He smoothed his hands over her back and Kagome felt herself relax into him. Tears spilled down her face and she tried to catch her breath. Her neck ached painfully. "You won't ever seal me away?" He asked as he ran a clawed hand through her long black hair. "No," She said through a choked sob. She lowered her forehead to his shoulder and tried to swallow the lump of tears in her throat. Something inside of her was trying to get her to realize her hate for him. He had choked her to near death. Somehow, it was easy to forgive him. He could have stabbed her a dozen times and she still would have been okay with him. Her head felt light at her strange thoughts and she shook her head.
Inuyasha moved himself away from her and put a hand under her chin. He tilted her head up to him and stared down into her rain-colored eyes. "You trust me, we're friends, you'll never seal me away, and you promise you'll try to find a way to break this curse?" He asked. Kagome swallowed and nodded. "I promise." She mumbled quietly. Inuyasha smiled happily and traced his claws along her cheek. Kagome's heart fluttered and her face reddened. He grabbed her chin and began lowering his face towards hers. Kagome's eyes widened and she held her breath.
"I SAID," Someone yelled. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN! SHE'S SLEEPING!"
Kagome's eyes snapped open and she stared at the shock of white ceiling above her. The top of her head was touching the ground and she was in a strange, sprawled out position, but she felt much less ill. Her stomach was hungry instead of ready to vomit and her nose wasn't runny. Her throat was cool and she didn't feel the need to cough. The voice had been Miroku's, she was sure. On that thought, she remembered where she was. At his temple. She blinked at the ceiling and felt odd. A strange warmth surrounded her, almost like someone's body. Some kind of cloth was brushing against her. She raised an eyebrow and pulled her head up.
Her eyes met with gold ones. There was a strange pause of searching stares. Inuyasha's face contorted in an almost comical look of shock. Kagome's face twisted in the same way, and her dream came rushing into her like a speeding train. She opened her mouth in a surprised and embarrassed scream at the same time Inuyasha did. They shoved each other away and jump backwards. "WHAT...WHAT...WHAT...WHAT THE HECK?" She screeched. She had been sleeping on his lap. Her face burned and she glared swords into his face. Inuyasha tried to raise himself up to his full height as he glared at her from a distance. "Wha-WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT THE HECK?" He blurted out.
"I mean," She seethed with an embarrassed face. "What the heck was I doing sleeping on you?" She asked loudly, trying to get a grip on herself. Inuyasha laughed into the air in an attempt to hide his nervousness. "You stupid fool!" He scoffed. "As if I would let you sleep on me...! Those weird sly defect things kicked in and you...ordered...me to sit still as you slept!" He snapped quickly.
"I did what?" She gasped, slapping her hands to her cheeks to hide her blushing. "W...What else...Did I do?" She asked carefully with a raised eyebrow. Inuyasha's eyes flicked around the room, thinking quickly for an escape route. Realizing the situation was in his favor, he smirked at her. "Oh, a lot of things." He said casually. Kagome blinked in horror and she shook her head, her black hair flying around her. "Be quiet!" She shouted, pointing at him. His mouth closed and he looked as though he was trying his best to glare.
'What the heck?' She swallowed and turned away from him. 'Is he lying...? He must be. What did I do...?'
Her eyes raised themselves from the floor and met with Miroku's. He was sitting against the wall with four other monks, gaping at her in interest. A very old-looking monk was far away down the hall, frozen on the spot. Kagome guessed he had been the one Miroku had yelled at. She looked around at them slowly and placed a hand on her forehead. "Oh, jeez..." She stared at them.
Miroku was on his feet suddenly. "Would you...Be interested in a cup of tea?" He asked with an air of wisdom. Kagome eyed him strangely and tugged at her jacket sleeve. She glanced carefully over her shoulder and saw Inuyasha giving Miroku a smug look. Her heart leapt to her throat and she swallowed as hard as she could. Pieces of her dream danced around in her head. She stared at the floor for a while, reviewing the dream. The end of the dream slammed into her brain like a hammer and her eyes widened. 'No way...Do I...Like him...?'
Miroku cleared his throat quietly and Kagome looked up. "Oh, the tea...Yes..." She blinked slowly and nodded. Miroku waved his arm ahead of himself to ask her to follow him. He began walking down the hall. The other old monks bustled around to their feet and followed him closely. Kagome shoved her hands into her skirt pockets and followed them. 'Tsk, that dream was nothing. I'll just...forget about it.' She turned into a doorway with the rest of the little group and glanced around at the plain walls. 'He has nothing to do with me, anyway. I was perfectly happy before he came out of that book to torment me. I was! Release him from the seal? Oh, please...' She frowned slightly as she walked and clenched her fists in her pockets. The angry voice of the dream Inuyasha flooded into her head. 'Your mother hates you, your father left you to rot, your aunt wanted to turn you in to the cops, and you have. No. Friends!'
Kagome bit back a shudder and shook her head. 'Why did I make all of those promises to him in that dream?' She sighed quietly and rubbed her hand over her neck, remembering his anger and his horrifying strength. Maybe it was true that you couldn't tell a lie in your dreams. If that were the case, Kagome knew she would have to release him from his curse. Either that, or face the wrath of possibly another nightmare with him in it.
She snapped away from her thoughts and looked around. She was in a small kitchen. A large stove was to the left of her and a small table was to the right of her. Three small pillows sat on the floor for seats around the short table. Miroku went to the stove in a rush of fluttering robes and began filling a tea pot with water. An old, bent-over monk took her arm gently and led her to the table. Kagome allowed him to guide her and help her to the floor. She knelt on the pillow and bowed slightly in thanks.
The old monk that guided her began waving the other monks out of the room. There was a good deal of "Awww"s and "But why?"s before they were out of the room and the doors were closed. "Thank you, Hakushin." Miroku said. The old monk nodded and walked out of the room. Kagome looked around in nervousness and placed her hands on her lap. Inuyasha leaned into the corner of the wall and glared around the room in distaste. He crossed his arms and watched Miroku turn on the stove to boil the water. "So, what brought you to this forest, my lady?" Miroku asked Kagome as he took a seat across from her. "Keh, my lady?" Inuyasha said in a mocking question. Kagome ignored him and bowed her head a little.
"Really." Miroku said, staring at her in a serious sort of kindness. "You can tell me." Kagome stared in surprise. She hadn't expected him to act so friendly. She frowned and curled her fingers together. "I ran away." She mumbled, looking away. "Oh, come on!" Inuyasha slapped a hand against his face. "Don't look away when you say something like that! You gotta own it." Kagome's head pounded in embarrassment and she immediately regretting acting so meek when speaking. Her eyebrows raised when she realized she was listening a great deal to what Inuyasha had to say. 'Me taking life lessons from that guy?' Miroku's eyes widened in surprise at her answer. "Is that so?" The tea pot whistled loudly and Miroku stood and went to it quickly.
"Did you have a bad family?" He asked as he took the pot off the stove. Kagome rolled her eyes at the question and sighed loudly. "Yeah, I guess. But it really wasn't as bad as other kids have it." A strange wave of paranoia washed over her. She watched Miroku in suspicion as he poured the boiling water into three teacups. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she felt her eyes grow into a strange tenseness. "Cut it out..." She heard Inuyasha growl quietly. She glanced back at him and saw his arms wrapped around his head and his eyes closed in a look of frustration. "Oh," She whispered. She blinked at him. "Sorry..." She looked down at her lap. "Do you like sugar in your tea?" Miroku asked by the stove.
"Yes," She answered, looking up. "Please." She quickly added, almost forgetting her manners. Miroku chuckled quietly and stirred her cup of tea. "I like mine plain." He said with a smile over his shoulder. "...And your friend?" He asked absentmindedly, looking down at the cups.
Kagome gaped in shock and let her mouth fall open. 'That...jerk!' She spat to herself. 'If he thinks I'm crazy with a little friend, he shouldn't humor me. At least pretend like I'm sane, for crying out loud!' She sniffed and crossed her arms loosely. "Well?" Miroku persisted. Kagome's eyes widened in an offended way as she stared at his back. 'Of course he's figured out I believe that someone's with me, but to take it this far...! He...!' She clenched her fists and ground her teeth.
"I hate tea." Inuyasha said in a simple voice. Kagome whipped her head to his direction. He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms behind his head. "I like to drink blood, though." He smirked. "Didn't I tell you before that I liked to put human blood on everything I eat?" He asked darkly. Kagome grinned at him and laughed. She nodded at the memory. "You're weird." She smiled. Inuyasha's face contorted in a look of fearful shock and his arms fell to his sides.
"I'll just bring your friend's tea plain, how about that?" Miroku asked with a charming smile. He set the cups on the table each in their rightful spot. He knelt on the pillow across from Kagome and folded his arms into his large sleeves. Their eyes met and Kagome held her breath. Something about his gaze was just so knowing. It was like he knew a dirty secret and was excited about it.
"I've figured it out." He said gently. Kagome raised an eyebrow. "...And...What might that be?" She asked in a dodging way. "That book that's with you," He nodded to it. Kagome curled her arms around it as if to hide it and stared at him through her raven bangs. Miroku smiled in an understanding way. "There was something in that book. Something sealed..." Kagome's heart sped up and her eyes widened. "...How did you...?" Miroku cut her off with a shake of his head. "When you've been living in a place like this for your whole life, you learn a lot about the paranormal." He raised a sly eyebrow.
"Then you know...?" Kagome's face molded into a look of curiosity and confusion. "Well," Miroku sighed, taking a sip of his tea. Kagome followed suit and sipped her own tea. Her face scrunched up at the overwhelming sweetness, but she quickly shook it off. "After observing you for a while, I knew something wasn't quite right. How you kept talking to someone in those woods by the fire." He nodded at her. Kagome flushed slightly in embarrassment and glanced away. "Yeah..." She murmured. "Anyway," Miroku took another sip of his tea and glanced around the room, almost looking for something. "I saw your book and felt some kind of power...And by the fire, there was a dark aura that I sensed. Something angry." Inuyasha laughed to himself in arrogance from across the room. Kagome narrowed an eye at his rudeness. "Then when we were finally here, and that medication kicked in, I finally realized it. And it was even more clear after you woke up." He tapped his fingers against the little glass teacup.
Kagome licked tea from her lips and played ideas around in her head. He would help her, or rebuke her. Maybe he even thought she was possessed by a demon. In a manner of speaking, she was. But she had control of the demon instead of the other way around. She waited for him to speak again. Miroku rotated his cup of tea in circles in his hand and focused on the corner of the room where Inuyasha was standing. "Something was sealed in that book, correct?" He asked, staring hard into her eyes. Kagome shrunk back slightly at his serious stare and nodded slowly. "And it's with you now? Everywhere you go?" Kagome nodded once more. "He has to do whatever I say." She added.
Miroku's eyes lit up in interest and he leaned back slightly. "Really?" Kagome sipped her tea to finish it off and set the cup on the table. "Yes," She said firmly. "But it really isn't that bad." She said with a fake smile. Inuyasha's ears twitched and he raised an offended eyebrow. "It's just a little annoying to have someone only I can see and talk to. So I ran away to find a way to release him of his curse." She finished, slapping her hands together. Miroku smiled. "Really, now? What sort of creature is it?" Kagome flashed a grin and placed a hand behind her head. "To tell you the truth, it almost looks like a purple donkey. Kind of stumpy and weird...It can talk and stuff." Inuyasha's jaw dropped and he made a strange noise of shock. "Anyway, I've grown attached to the little thing and thought maybe I could keep it as a sort of pet." Inuyasha stepped forward. "Pet?" He asked in disbelief. "It's absolutely harmless." She smiled warmly at Miroku. "HARMLESS?!" Inuyasha yelled in shock.
Miroku nodded with a large smile, completely convinced. "I'd love to see it if you can get it released." He spoke with enthusiasm. "In fact, I think I know just where you should go to find out how to release it." His face turned dead serious and he stood. "Follow me, and I'll show you." Kagome's heart felt like it was pounding a million times a minute. She twisted her fingers together and stood up to follow him with a fake smile.
As she was walking towards the door, Inuyasha grabbed her arm. Kagome sniffed back a gasp and put an emotional mask on her face. "What the heck are you doing?" He asked in a low hiss. "...Didn't you hear?" She asked quietly. She watched Miroku walk down the hall completely oblivious to her situation. Kagome moved forward out the door and tried not to seem bothered that Inuyasha was holding onto her arm tightly in anger.
"Yeah, I heard you." He growled. "But what's wrong with your head?" He let go of her arm roughly. Kagome ignored his question and picked up her walking pace to catch up with Miroku. "Don't ignore me!" He yelled, catching up to her. "Is this some kind of joke?" He asked loudly. Kagome glanced at him with a face as if to say, "Are you stupid?" Inuyasha got the full message and snorted in insult. "Don't give me that look, I get it. It's not like I believed you actually wanted to find a way to release me." He said in a belittling voice. Kagome gave him the same look with a raised eyebrow and followed Miroku into a doorway. She looked away with a sigh and shook her head.
Inuyasha clenched his teeth and burned a glare into the back of her head. She was ignoring him and dodging his questions. She wasn't giving him straight answers. He hadn't known that she wanted to torment him with little jokes about actually releasing him from the seal. Of course she realized what he would do without her control. He would do whatever he wanted, that was what. Her mind was a strange one. What she was doing then gave him the full understanding that he would never ever have her fully figured out. Ever. Either her medicine was still affecting her, or she was turning into a sick person who liked sick jokes and used them on sick people like himself.
They began walking up stairs. "So what's your game, anyway?" He asked impatiently. "You're just wasting your time here. These stupid people don't have a clue about anything. Aren't your supposed to be running from home, or something?" Kagome sighed loudly and stopped walking up the stairs. She spun around and shook her head. "You know what? You're an idiot." Inuyasha's eyelid twitched and he stared. "Don't say anything until we get to wherever Miroku's taking us, okay?" She spun back around and continued walking up the stairs.
'What the...!' He bared his fangs at her back and followed her grudgingly. 'What is she planning? Dumb girl. What does she think she's going to accomplish here?' Ever since she had started talking to Miroku with that tea, she had become impossible to read. Something was constantly on her mind and she was always thinking. He could see it. It was more than irritating to him to not know what was going through her head. Something had happened to her. But there was nothing he could think of that could have affected her so much that she would start to joke around by saying she would release him instead of seal him.
'Keh, I get it now...She's gonna find out how to release me and how to seal me at the same time.' He growled quietly and clenched his fists at his sides. 'I need to find some way to have her dead before she knows how to seal me. There has to be some way...!' Once again, the thought of killing her would vanish the instant it entered his mind. He gave a dark sneer in her direction. 'Even if I can't kill her, I have to at least find some way to change her mind into thinking of releasing me...But...How?'
"Here we are!" Miroku said with a smile. They stood in front of two large oak doors with brass handles. Miroku pulled one of the handles and struggled to get it open. He pushed his foot up on one of the doors and pulled at the other half with both hands. Dust and dirt flew gently out of the crack in the door. With one last grunt, Miroku managed to get the door open. A cloud of brown dust came flying at them. Kagome put an arm over her eyes and coughed. Inuyasha twitched his ears back and put his sleeve over half of his face. Miroku led them into the dark room. It smelled of earth and water. Inuyasha could smell a tree, too. It was close by.
'What the heck does a tree have to do with any of this?' He asked himself impatiently. He crossed his arms and glared at Miroku as he lit a torch. "What is this place?" Kagome asked quietly. "This," He waved his torch and walked further into the room. "Is the highlight of everyone's lives here." He breathed. He put a finger to his lips with a smile to signal them to be quiet. Kagome put her hands to her mouth with a look of surprise and hushed herself. She was so easily swayed by people telling her what and what not to do. It was sickening. So what if she was loud? What would happen if she yelled? The world would explode? He narrowed his eyes at her. She had full control over him and she was so weak. His blood boiled.
Kagome turned around and put a finger to her lips with a strange look of innocence, like she was sharing a secret tip with him out of concern. Inuyasha's eyes widened and he blinked. Kagome turned back around and followed Miroku closely. Something inside of him winced. Suddenly it was like he wanted desperately to be as quiet as he could. His mouth opened slightly at the feeling and he shook to make it go away. It stayed stubbornly. 'First she messes with me by acting like she wants to release me as a joke, and then she acts all weird like she doesn't know anything! What is this girl? Horrible, disgusting human...'
Miroku raised his torch up high and lit something up. It was a tall, old-looking tree. Its branches stretched out so far, they touched the walls of the large room. The floors were made of dirt and a strange fog floated around the room. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at it. It gave off a strange sense of power. It wasn't an ordinary tree. Kagome and Miroku walked closer to it. Inuyasha stayed back, staring up at the old tree in suspicion. Kagome gasped quietly and pointed. Inuyasha looked to where she was pointing. "It...Looks like it has a face..." She whispered. Miroku nodded. "This is an old, old tree. The temples were built here because of it...This tree goes straight down through the floors into the ground. It's thousands of years old." He said. "Ohhh..." Kagome said in a quiet, impressed way. She stared up at the great tree in wonder.
"Are you ready?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha bit back the urge to punch him because of his strange tone when speaking those words. Kagome hadn't noticed and simply nodded. Inuyasha crossed his arms and glared at the tree's "face". The curse upon him was more irritating than usual. He swallowed back a growl and let his mind play sweet images of ripping Miroku's intestines out.
Miroku cleared his throat quietly and stood up straight in front of the tree, holding the torch out in front of him. "Bokusen-On!" He shouted in a clear voice. "There is someone here who seeks your wise council! I ask thee humbly, awaken!"
There was a strange cracking that sounded like wood was being split or a tree was starting to fall over. After a moment, two small, glowing slits were shining on the tree. It was clear only seconds later that they were eyes. The torchlight shone on them and lit them up. That was the only light in the entire room. All else was black. The "face" became more pronounced and the eyes moved around very slowly. "Who seeks my council?" It asked in a low, gravely tone. Its voice was slow and ponderous and sounded as though wood were cracking in the back of its throat when it spoke. Its eyes moved around carefully and landed on Inuyasha. Their eyes locked and Inuyasha stretched his claws. He sensed the strength in the tree and gave it a wary stare. The tree smiled slowly, its wrinkled lips cracking as they stretched.
Miroku put a hand on Kagome's shoulder and pushed her forward gently. She tripped over her shoes and stumbled in front of the tree. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at her stupidity. "Ahhh," The tree drawled, staring at her. "It is you...Interesting..." He said slowly. Kagome stared up into his glowing eye slits and hugged the book tightly to her chest for some kind of comfort. "What do you seek?" The tree asked in a booming voice. Kagome jumped in surprise and almost fell down. "I-I-I..." She cleared her throat. "I seek...A way to break the curse on..." The tree laughed a strange, cackling laugh that shook the entire room and made leaves fall from its great branches. "You seek his cure? To release him upon the world? You are a strange child..." It cackled. The sounds of crunching wood grated in Inuyasha's ears.
Kagome frowned and gave the tree a determined stare. Inuyasha eyed her carefully and waited for her to speak. "I do!" She yelled. Miroku gasped at her boldness and stepped back with a hand outstretched. Obviously to him, it wasn't a good idea to raise her voice to the old tree. "Will you please tell me?" Her voice was clear and determined. Inuyasha stared at her and noticed that she was trembling. She was trying her best to hide it, it seemed. He narrowed his eyes in thought and waited for her to get to the part about sealing him away. He wouldn't let himself think for a minute that she was actually serious about releasing him. She couldn't have been that good. No one was that good. No human, or demon, or insect, or anything on the planet would be so kind to him without any clear reason. He was a horrible person, and he admitted it proudly. He had killed many and regretted nothing. Her kindness was strange and had spread wide enough to the point of her worrying over him and caring for him when he was wounded. No, it wouldn't go farther than that. She did that out of guilt for him saving her, hadn't she said so herself? It was obligation. Her kindness wouldn't spread any more. She wouldn't release him. He was sure.
The tree laughed even louder than the first time at her boldness. The dirt beneath them trembled and the three of them stumbled backward a few steps. Kagome regained her balance the quickest and went back to staring determinedly into the tree's face. "You amuse me!" The tree said loudly. "Would it not be best to seal the creature back into his book which you cling to so lovingly?" The tree said with a stretched smile. Hearing those words, Inuyasha looked at the book he was once sealed in. Kagome was hugging it as tight as she could. Then it hit him. She wasn't trembling in fear; she was trembling because she was hugging the book so tightly. His eyes tensed in confusion and he clenched his fists. It was strange. But it didn't matter. The tree had opened the door to the question that Kagome sought.
Sealing him away into the book again.
"No!" Kagome yelled in an almost bratty way. "I...Don't...!" She ground her teeth and bowed her head. Her lips moved silently and Inuyasha strained to hear what she was saying. He couldn't hear her at all. His heart beat fast in his chest. "No?" The tree drawled. "Why is it no?" It asked the question that played over and over in Inuyasha's head. Kagome looked up at the tree and stepped closer to it. "Because..." Her voice was loud at first, but it trailed off and faded. The tree smiled wide and it cackled quietly. "Interesting..." It mumbled, eying her in amusement. It took a deep, rattling breath. "I will tell you what you seek." It said. Kagome's face lit up and she grinned. "You have gained favor with me, child of humans. Come close..." Kagome was hesitant at first, but walked as close to the tree as she could. She stood on the tips of her shoes and turned her ear to his mouth.
Minutes passed in silence and Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in frustration. He couldn't hear a word the stupid tree was saying. The only thing he could do was watch Kagome's expression and see if he could read anything off her. Her straight black hair hung down over the side of her face so he couldn't see her that well. From what he could see, her eyes were slightly narrowed in concentration. But they were strangely blank and her breathing was very even, as if she were sleeping. He raised an eyebrow. The tree had hypnotized her somehow?
After a minute, Kagome backed away from the tree slowly, her eyes confused. But something about her was giving off an air of acceptance and she was suddenly determined-looking. She nodded in a brave way to Bokusen-On and smiled in gratitude. An irritating pulsing of paranoia washed over Inuyasha and his eyes focused all of their power on Kagome. She had secretly discussed how to seal him, didn't she? It was only reasonable. When would she do it? How would she do it? Could she do it?
Would she do it?
The tree yawned a loud, cracking yawn. Its eyes closed slowly until the glowing slits were no longer visible, and the face grew dim. Miroku waved his hand swiftly and Kagome hopped away from the tree to follow him with a smile of satisfaction on her face. Inuyasha curled his lip in a silent snarl and followed them. The annoyance and confusion and paranoia were tearing his insides apart. He couldn't believe how easily he could fall into a state of angry despair over a stupid human girl whom he despised with every fiber of his being. It made him ill and weak and he wanted her to leave forever so he wouldn't have to feel that way ever again. How could she go frolicking about behind a fat-headed monk, acting innocent and happy, when she was planning to ruin him?
When they were out of the room and the large, moldy door of wood was closed, Miroku clapped the dust off his hands and gave Kagome a large grin. "That was amazing!" He yelled. "I thought you were going to have the worst scolding of your life for yelling at him like that." He slapped her on the back. Kagome laughed lightly in a humble way and put a lock of hair behind her ear. "So, what did you see? Did he show you where you need to go?" Miroku asked excitedly. Kagome smiled and nodded. "It was weird, like I was seeing where I had to go, and hearing his voice in my head at the same time." Miroku grinned and nodded. Kagome put a finger to her lip and looked at the ceiling as they walked. "What's even weirder is I can play the directions over in my head without forgetting a single thing." She tilted her head to her shoulder. "Oh, is that so? I guess that's Bokusen-On for you." Miroku said with a proud smile.
Inuyasha's fists clenched tighter and tighter until his claws drew blood from his palms. A strange burning was sweeping through him and he took a deep breath. "Hey," He said loudly. Kagome looked over her shoulder as they descended the stairs. "When are you going to do it?" He asked bluntly. Kagome blinked and seemed confused for a moment, but then looked like she understood his question. "We have to travel to this weird place and go through all this stuff. Anyway, the main place we have to be is far away. A big volcano from what I can tell. Isn't that weird? 'Cause there's this movie where these people..." Her voice faded in his mind and was replaced by his rapid thoughts. They have to travel far away to a big volcano. Why would they need to do that? From what he knew of ancient magic back in his time, if you wanted to seal something, you had to have the power to, first of all. Then, with a lot of power and concentration, you could seal anything you wanted so long as it too had power.
Why would they need to travel far away to a big volcano?
"So the guy's missing his finger, but he was free of the ring and everything." Kagome finished with a grin. Miroku chuckled and shook his head. Kagome raised an eyebrow at him. "What?" She asked. He smiled and shook his head again. "You don't know that movie?" She asked. Inuyasha sneered. She didn't ask him if he'd seen the movie. Not that he really understood what a movie was...But that was of course beside the point. She went from being nervous around the stupid monk to all buddy-happy.
"You're pretty quiet, Inuyasha." Kagome said in just above a whisper. He looked up with narrowed eyes, breaking away from his angry train of thought. "What, are you concerned about me or something? What the heck do you care?" He glared at her with a quiet "Keh," Kagome's eyes flashed a look of something that was strangely similar to sadness and he thought for a moment that she would burst into tears. Then her eyes burned with anger and fire and she slammed her arms to her sides stiffly and glared at him. "Maybe I do care! Or maybe I don't! I was just making an observation, JEEZ!" She shoved past him roughly and walked far ahead of him and Miroku.
Inuyasha closed his mouth and stared. What would he say after that? Nothing, it was better to be quiet. She would cool off. He wasn't affected by her anger...Miroku walked towards Kagome and caught up to her. He put a hand on her back and spoke to her in a comforting tone. Inuyasha watched them, his golden eyes widening slowly. Kagome looked at Miroku and nodded, wiping tears from her face. He made her cry? He tried to grin in triumph, but he couldn't. He didn't feel happy. She seemed to be explaining something to Miroku with an expression of frustration. Miroku smiled kindly and nodded. He patted her back. Inuyasha watched Miroku's hand slide up and down her thin back, taking in the curves. It trailed over her shoulders and moved some of her black hair from her neck. He listened to Miroku's strange tone of softness as he spoke comforting words to Kagome.
Inuyasha stood perfectly still as he watched them. Something in him felt wounded, like it was bleeding. His eyebrows rose for a second in a confused frown of hurt. The look disappeared and he reopened the wounds in his palms from his shaking, clenched fists. Blood dripped onto the tatami mats beneath his feet. The sound made his ears flinch but he ignored it. The anger he had for Kagome and her sealing him away diminished until he forgot what he had been mad at her for. He felt his legs start moving slowly. His head was empty save the image before him of Miroku feeling the back of Kagome's body with his hand. His hand went down her back further, slowly, until it was at her lower back. Slowly, it moved farther down. Inuyasha felt his pace quicken. Something wasn't right. It wasn't as if Miroku was putting her life in danger. Why would the curse make him feel that way? His mind was in a strange flurry of wheels and turnings. It wasn't the curse. Once he decided on that, he forgot the curse. He forgot how he was sealed away. It was just Miroku touching Kagome's back as he pleased.
Who was Miroku to touch her like that? He didn't deserve to feel her or even look at her. What had he done to earn her respect or favor? He had done nothing. Miroku wasn't allowed to touch her or speak to her. He would kneel on the ground in front of Kagome and not dare to even look up. Such a thought would be absurd and sick to him, but in that moment it was natural. Then something clicked in his head. Kagome had said that she wouldn't be able to marry because of him. Of course, that was true. Because he was bound to her.
Therefore, Kagome was bound to him.
Why hadn't he seen it before? It was so obvious, it was perfect. So perfect, it was obvious. It was such a nice thought. It made absolute sense. No one was allowed to have anything to do with Kagome but him. No one on the planet. Not even her family members. Miroku was touching her?
He would die for that.
Inuyasha felt his legs leave the floor as he bolted for Miroku. His body slammed against Miroku. His shoulder brushed against Kagome slightly as he went to the floor with Miroku and he caught a whiff of her scent. His heart was sent racing and it only made him three times as angry at Miroku for having anything to do with her. They both went sliding quite a distance across the floor. Inuyasha landed on top of him with a painful thud of Miroku hitting the ground.
Inuyasha held him down with all his strength and slammed his right fist into his face. He was just barely aware of Kagome's voice yelling behind him at a distance. His fist came crashing down again and again and again into Miroku's face and his eyes were glowing with hatred and fury. Miroku's face was soon covered in blood and he was trying futilely to free himself of his unseen attacker. Blood splatters dotted Inuyasha's face and fist with each punch and it filled him with a sweet satisfaction.
"INUYASHA, STAND UP!" Kagome screamed. Inuyasha's head clicked and his fist stopped just inches from Miroku's bloodied, swollen face. His legs stretched and he stepped away from Miroku. He turned his head towards Kagome and stared at her. Her hand was pressed over most of her face with her fingers stretched apart just enough to show her eyes. Her other arm was holding onto the book. She stared at him in shock and was trembling a little. To both of their surprise, Miroku groaned loudly in pain and sat up. He bent over his lap and pressed his hands over his bleeding face. He spit out a tooth and pressed his head against his knees. Inuyasha flexed his claws and bared a fang at Miroku.
"Inuyasha," Kagome breathed in an urgent voice. He looked at her. "What...happened? Did he hold a knife to my back...?" She searched his face with her eyes. Inuyasha shook his hands and blood splattered on the walls and floor. He wiped his sleeves over his face to clean off Miroku's blood. "I just wanted to beat him up, is that a problem?" He gave her an arrogant look and wiped his bloody hand on his pants. He felt warm inside from getting to plant his fists in the foolish monk's face. 'Let's see him approach her again.' He thought with a cocky smirk.
"Something tells me your buddy isn't a purple donkey." Miroku said with a crack in his voice. He cleared his throat with a quiet chuckle. Kagome shrunk into herself and smoothed a nervous hand over her forehead. "What is that guy?" Miroku asked, spitting blood on the floor. "Thank you for helping me." Kagome whispered, somehow afraid to raise her voice. "Please don't tell anyone I was here." She clenched her fists together and blinked back tears. "Follow me, Inuyasha." She walked past him quickly. Inuyasha followed without argument.
"Wait," Miroku said loudly. Kagome's steps faltered and she stopped. "You said Inuyasha." He said quietly. Kagome's fists shook against her chest and she nodded, her back facing him. Miroku stared at her, something twisting in his head. "...But...Inuyasha was..." He smoothed a hand over his face with a sigh of shock, his bruised eyes wide. "Is he really...?" He breathed in question. Kagome nodded. Miroku's hands fell to the floor. "It can't...be true. He disappeared..."
"He was sealed away." Kagome forced the words out of her mouth as fast as she could. "I'm really sorry." She whispered. She walked in a near run in the direction of the exit. "You can't possibly want to release him!" Miroku yelled as she ran. "It's a mistake! A huge mistake!" Kagome shook her head violently as she ran. "Don't let that demon manipulate you! I beg you, PLEASE!" He screamed. Kagome shoved her way through the doors with Inuyasha close behind her. Her feet kicked up dirt and her mind race rapidly. Miroku's voice echoed in her head like a sick music box.
'A huge mistake, a huge mistake, a huge mistake,'
She shook it off with tears in her eyes and ran as fast as she could into the woods. She went in the direction they came from and ran as fast as she could. Her legs throbbed from the heavy exercise they did the night before and she held back a groan of exhaustion.
'I beg you! I beg you!' His voice echoed. Kagome's eyes were wide and tears spilled down her cheeks. 'What am I doing?' She asked herself in a hiss of a whisper. 'What on earth am I really doing? Am I really going to listen to a dream and a talking tree?'
Kagome knew that Miroku hadn't done anything. She hadn't given off any emotion of being frightened of him, either. Miroku had simply been comforting her. That was all. Sure, his hand was rubbing her back a little strangely. And sure, it started traveling a little too far south. But it didn't make sense for Inuyasha to fly off the handle and play punching-bag with Miroku's head.
'If it was because of the seal, then Miroku would have turned out like...Hojo...' She shook off the mental image of Hojo up against the fence, his face bleeding like a fountain. She bit her lower lip and hugged her arms around the book. 'If I don't do something about this soon, more and more people are going to get hurt. Physically and emotionally. Mom, aunt Yura, Hojo, those gang members, and now Miroku...' She shoved branches out of her way and played the map of Bokusen-On over in her head. She needed to go to a volcano.
A volcano that was underground in a cave.
'I'm well out of Tokyo now...But I need to find out where I am. I'll find the road and follow it out of sight for a while...Find a road sign or something...Or go to the first gas station I see.' She wiped the tears off of her face and felt much better. She turned off any friendly feelings she had towards Miroku to ease the guilt. She narrowed her eyes and tried not to think about Inuyasha. It hurt her head to think about why he beat up on Miroku. It was too confusing and strange. She'd ask him, but not then. She was furious at him for being so clueless to her pains and struggles over him. Miroku said it was a huge mistake. He had begged her and told her not to be manipulated.
'Why am I going through with this? Should I have asked Bokusen-On the way to seal him away again? ...Why didn't I?'
Her head pulsed at the questions and she shook them away. She'd find out where she was, get a map, and take it from there. She knew where she was going and what she needed and wanted to do. Bokusen-On said that by following the instructions he gave, then releasing Inuyasha was perfectly safe if she made it that far. He had even promised her.
Even though he might go psycho, and even though people were hurt because of him, even though Miroku begged her not to, and even though Inuyasha didn't believe her,
She was definitely going to release him from the curse.
Insane-san says: Whoo, I feel all awesome. That was a good chapter. Inuyasha's such a squish. I'm not quite sure what that means, but it's for sure a good thing. I hope the dumb authoress to this fanfiction updates soon. I'll fry her butt if she doesn't. I mean, jeez. I wanna read more so bad. Dangit. I guess I'll review now. That sounds good...Then I'll go eat some cheese. Monchego cheese. 'Cause I'm just that awesome.
Oh dear lo'd. Why am I so crazy? -shrug- It was very sad to see that so many people were disappointed that Mimi-chan was only going to stick around for a couple chapters... (I mean Miroku, yes.) Please be comforted in the knowledge that he will indeed be appearing in later chapters. But they will be later. Hmm. Yesss...Well, I'm off to eat some cheese. Delicious, tasty cheese... (Why do people always think of cheese when they're asked to answer quickly to a random question of what they like? WHAT DO YOU LIKE? CHEESE!)
Please review. I'll give you some cheese...? And glomp you! n.n ...Hey...Why are you running...? Wait! Dx -chases you-