Chapter Eleven: New Players
"Kagome."
"Is that my name?"
"Kikyo?"
"Mm…I don't know…"
"You are Kagome."
"No…am I? Part of me…pinning InuYasha to a tree…falling in love with him…wanting him to become a human…is Kikyo."
"Let go of the memories. Let go. You are Kagome."
"It hurts…"
"You must."
"I-I can't!"
"You must, Kagome!"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
I felt it. I felt myself flow from spirit into body, the soul into a form. It hurt. I felt it scar my heart. That ache will never leave.
"InuYasha?" I was awake.
"Kagome…?" he whispered, drawing me close. "I'm…I'm sorry…I couldn't…I failed…"
"No, you didn't," I argued, voice strong. "She meant to kill me no matter what…you killed her for me. Thank you."
"What happened?" he urged, his eyes pleading with me.
I sat up, turning away. "It-it hurts…trying…to rip a soul in half…forever. I think…Kikyo and I were one…I had to fight. Someone helped me. I don't know who…the soul was joined…and I had to…to kill the part that was Kikyo…I had to!" My voice rose in a wail, begging him to understand. "I killed her!"
He reached out, offering comfort, and I fell back, wanting his touch. "I killed her," I whimpered again. "I had to kill myself…" and I wept. When the soul united, I was neither me, Kagome, nor Kikyo. We were both, and in moments could have either been sent away or reincarnated. Either that or one of us had to win. We couldn't live in the same body, harboring each other's memories. I could still feel her deep pain, and the ache that her memories left behind was searing my spirit. "It hurts," I whispered. "It hurts."
"Kagome," he sighed into my hair. "Oh, Kagome…"
"I'm sorry, InuYasha," I sobbed.
He shook his head. "Don't be. Her time…her time was over. You needed to come back."
"It hurts," I repeated. "I can still feel her, still feel her dying," and I shuddered.
He just held me close. Sango fell to her knees beside us and took my hand. Miroku laid a hand on my shoulder. I could sense their fear and relief, and feel the love emanating from them all. A terrified Shippo slipped onto my lap, hugging my waist. Slowly, the empty, searing feeling deep inside of me began to fade away. The love Kagome had, I had, for those around me grew strong, blocking out Kikyo. I felt whole again.
XOXOXOXO
"Hoshiko!"
"What?"
"Telephone!"
Hoshiko Tajing fled lightly down the stairs, short hair glimmering in the light. It was a very dark brown, raven colored, but streaked with bright pink. Her eyes were light, a pale silver that shocked most people. She was wearing quite a bit of jewelry, multiple earrings dangling from each ear, silver bangles jingling around each wrist, and more than one necklace. She looked like someone that could take on anyone, tough and distant at the same time. But you could see that worry was haunting her all the same.
Two days ago, her best friend, Kagome Higurashi, had been reported missing. Actually, all of her family was gone. No one even knew that she and Kagome were friends – she lived in a small town while Kagome resided in downtown Tokyo. They had met over the internet, and had met twice. They were both frustrated and bored with their friends from school – shallow, boy-obsessed girls. They had kept up a relationship via the internet, letters, and telephone.
It was no wonder Hoshiko was very nearly sick with worry.
"Hello?" she asked now, eyes glittering with hope.
"Hoshiko Tajing?" a voice asked. It reminded her of quicksilver, sliding and changing form, unpredictable.
She frowned, not liking the prospect of more trouble. "Yes. This is?"
"My name is Takahashi."
"First name."
"Miss Taijing, I'm calling about Kagome."
Her fears melted. "Kagome? What do you know about her? How did you know we were friends? Do you have any news?" Even though it wasn't like her to ramble, she was desperate. She tossed her head of short pink-and-black hair, glaring at the receiver.
"I'm an old family friend," Takahashi explained.
Right. Hoshiko frowned, suspicions returning. Kagome had never mentioned him. And why wouldn't he say his first name?
"I think I may have a lead on what may have happened," he went on, voice smooth as silk. "But I'd like to confirm a few things with you. Could we meet?"
A sly smile slid onto Hoshiko's face. Not a problem. And she just might confirm a few things with him while she was at it. "That would be wonderful, Mr. Takahashi," she cooed, voice dripping with honey. "How about tonight at six o'clock? You could come to my place."
"That sounds perfect, Miss Taijing, just perfect."
"Oh, call me Hoshiko," she urged. Just try it. I'll let you get away with that for now. Most of my friends don't even call met that. Except Kagome. And if you have anything to do with her disappearance, you are going to regret it.
"Hoshiko," he replied. "What a lovely name. I do hope that this meeting goes well."
Her brilliant eyes narrowed at the thinly veiled threat. He must think I'm an idiot! I'll play along. He's in for a BIG surprise. "Oh, so do I," she simpered. "I'm just desperate to find Kagome."
"Tonight at six, then?" he asked, but it was not a question. Not really.
"I'll be waiting," she chirped. No lie there.
The phone clicked, and she darted upstairs to Tsukiko's room. "Tsu! Tsukiko! Open the door!"
It slid open without a sound to reveal her elder sister. Tsukiko's lovely black hair cascaded down her back in a waterfall of ebony strands. It rippled on its way down, ending at her hips. She never tried to keep it back or hold it in check. Tsukiko's eyes were a red color, a bright crimson that startled most people. She was tall and slim, her body curving in all the right ways. Despite her eyes, most males couldn't help drooling over her. Actually, most couldn't with Hoshiko either. But unlike Tsukiko, she didn't put up it, or use it to her advantage. If they didn't have anything intelligent to say, they had better get out of her way. Most learned that pretty quickly.
"What can I do for you, little sister?" Tsukiko smiled, and it was a dangerous thing. The sisters made a deadly, dangerous pair. Only Kagome had been able to see them together and not start to stutter with fear.
"As if you didn't know," Hoshiko snorted. She did not care for her sister's fine grace and careful movements. "I'm guessing you were listening in on the other line?"
"He isn't a friend of Kagome, is he," Tsu nodded. She leaned against the doorway and raised her eyebrows at Hoshiko. "Well? What did you have in mind for this six o'clock meeting?"
Hoshiko's smile mirrored Tsukiko's as she poured out her plan.
XOXOXOXO
The doorbell rang.
Hoshiko nodded once and Tsukiko returned it as she moved gracefully towards the door, dressed in a black leather skirt that came down her mid-thigh and a black halter top. It was probably unnecessary, considering it would probably take Takahashi about thirteen seconds for him to stop gaping at her in her normal clothes, but Tsukiko liked to do things cleanly.
"Well, hello there," she greeted him, her voice rasping slightly. "Are you looking for my sister?"
"Well-well-I-well-I – depends on what your sister's name is," he seemed to recover. "Hoshiko Taijing?"
"That's her. Why don't you come in and you and I talk awhile?" she pulled the door back, twisting her body forward so that he had to brush past her to get in. Hoshiko sighed at the way Tsukiko was really going for it; anyone could see that Takahashi could barely contain himself all the same!
Still, she knew why: Takahashi had something to do with Kagome's disappearance, they were both sure of it, and anyone who messed with Hoshiko and Tsukiko's friends did not come out unscarred.
"That sounds fine," Takahashi agreed.
"Takahashi?" Hoshiko asked, forcing herself to sound eager and hopefully, widening her eyes innocently. "I'm Hoshiko. Do you know anything about Kagome?"
"Hoshiko," Tsukiko growled warningly, right on cue. "How about you go up to your room? I'll take Mr.….Takahashi…up in a minute."
Hoshiko nodded. She faded into the background. Somehow, if she was careful, no one ever saw her if she didn't want them to. She watched as Tsukiko poured wine for Takahashi and water with red food coloring for herself. To accept it though, Takahashi had to set the items he had brought with him down.
Hoshiko pounced. She slipped into the open behind his back – her sister keeping him quite occupied enough.
Her silver eyes narrowed with fury and a slight growl escaped her lips. There, in the center of everything, was Kagome's diary. She would know that little blue booklet anywhere. Mouth opened in a soundless snarl, she grasped it and ran upstairs to read it while she waited.
"Dear Diary,
I guess if I'm going to start writing to you and have it make sense, I have some explaining to do. First of all, I'm the reincarnation of a very powerful priestess and can time travel to the past.
Never mind. Take Two:
I'm in love with a half-demon whose name is InuYasha, and we are on a quest with a perverted monk, a kitsune, and a demon-slayer to find the Jewel of Four Souls, or the Shikon Jewel.
Take Three:
My name is Kagome Higurashi…?"
Hoshiko laughed. She was utterly bewildered, but the way Kagome was attempting to explain what appeared to be rather…unusual aspects of her life was hilarious. Eventually though, she succeeded, and Hoshiko was just reading the final words when she heard the sound she had been expecting.
"…and that's that. He'll come for me soon, I know he will, but it hurts being away from him. I love him. I know how Kikyo feels, but that doesn't make it any better.
If you ever read this, my love, InuYasha:
I love you forever.
Kagome Higurashi"
As Hoshiko digested that last bit of information, she heard three loud bangs from below, signaling that Takahashi was officially drunk enough to answer any questions they might ask. Closing the book and feeling a cold rage take hold of her at what Takahashi might be planning do to with the information he had obtained from Kagome's diary, she began the short trip downstairs.
Sure enough, there was Takahashi, lolling against the counter for support, a dazed look in his eye. Tsukiko had lost the seductive demeanor and was using the power of her eyes to hold him in place. "What would you like to know, Hoshiko?"
With a dangerous smile, Hoshiko took over where Tsukiko had left off, stepping in front of her sister and meeting Takahashi's drunken gaze. "Why were searching for Kagome?" She let silver light radiate from her irises, forcing him with some hidden power combined with the wine to answer truthfully.
"The half-demon," he slurred, under her spell, "I want him. Scientific wonder. Make millions. Stupid hanyou. Doesn't deserve to live."
She pressed harder. "Did you get him? Where are Kagome and InuYasha now?"
"Gone," he answered, a bitter note still staining his voice. "Tried to get to them. Used the Well. Hoped you had a Shard of the Jewel."
"I don't. Is that where her family is? Did they all go down the Well?"
"Yes," he mumbled. He fell backwards and she forced him up with sheer power flowing from her. Power she hadn't realized she possessed had been released and she was having extreme difficulty harnessing it.
"Are they safe? Speak!"
"Not…for long," he managed. His words were clearer now, and that was because of Hoshiko too, not because his muddled brain was clearing. "I will find them…somehow. Found a Shard of the Shikon Jewel…in the well house. But I need…a demon…or someone with demon or miko blood…to bring me through. I hoped…that you would…be a demon."
"Why? Am I? Tell me!" she commanded forcefully. She could sense Tsukiko watching from the side with disbelief.
"You…may be. Tsukiko…beautiful…"
Hoshiko didn't have time for this. She narrowed her eyes, concentrating the flow.
"You and Tsukiko have powers inaccessible to mortals. You must have some demon blood. With the Shard, you can reach the feudal era." No stumbling or protests this time. If Hoshiko had told him to go drown himself (and the thought was temping) he would have done it. He no longer had any control over his mind.
"Where is this Shard?" Hoshiko demanded of him, not relaxing in the slightest. This would be the information he would be least willing to give up.
But his fight was over; the alcohol had begun sapping his willpower long ago and now Hoshiko was in charge. "Left coat pocket."
Tsukiko was there in an instant, grabbing his discarded coat and pulling out a small pink Jewel Shard. She dropped it almost instantly on the counter, drawing back as though burned.
Hoshiko stepped back; Tsukiko knew what to do.
"Go home, and forget this address," her sister instructed, red light spilling from her eyes. "Forget about Kagome and InuYasha. This never happened. And you might want to apologize to Ai while you're at it," she added.
He obeyed.
"Who's Ai?" Hoshiko questioned softly.
Tsukiko let out a short bark of laughter. "His sister. And don't you have more questions to answer than me?"
XOXOXOXO
"We should be on our way soon," Miroku declared. I glanced up, briefly meeting his eyes. Typically it was InuYasha that was impatient for our departure, but this time he made no complaints.
We had returned to the village where my family and Kaede lived after Kikyo's second death. Even though I was now certain of who I was and was stronger than before, pain still gnawed deep within me. It had only been over two weeks drinking some potion Kaede mixed up and spending every moment with someone who loved me, Kagome, that I had finally managed to heal.
Now, I nodded to the monk. It was time to go, but InuYasha would not leave until he was certain I was fully healed. For that, I loved him all the more. "He'll be at the Well," I determined quietly. "I'll find him and tell him it's time to go."
He was there. "InuYasha?" I inquired softly.
He was at my side in an instant. "Kagome? Are you okay?"
"Fine," I sighed, melting into his arms. We had all been so tense since the incident. They had seen me dead and I had had to kill someone that had been a part of me. All of us were deeply scarred. "It's time to keep going though."
"Are you sure?" His golden orbs gazed down at me, flickering with concern.
"Yes."
I would have said more, but at that moment two people I had never thought I'd see again came rocketing out of the Well.
"Well," one of my best friends said calmly, "that was easier than I thought. It was just like Kagome described it."
I was suddenly not looking at Hoshiko and Tsukiko but at the back of InuYasha's kimono. "Who are you?" he demanded. "How do you know Kagome?"
I stepped out from behind me, ducking under his protective arm.
"Oh, you must be InuYasha," Hoshiko greeted him, not sounding in the slightest surprised or threatened.
He growled. "I'm warning you –"
"Calm down, InuYasha," I ordered. "These are my friends. Hoshiko! Tsukiko! How did you get here, and how do you know about InuYasha?"
"Your friends?" InuYasha looked at me disbelievingly. "I didn't know you had friends that were demons, Kagome."
My mouth dropped open. "Demons? InuYasha, are you feeling okay?"
"I feel fine, wench," he spat. "I ain't lying to you. They're demons."
I shook my head, opening my mouth furiously, but Hoshiko beat me to the punch.
"He's right, Kagome," she told me calmly. "Or at least I think he is."
"Dang right!" InuYasha snorted.
"So how did you…how do you…?" I trailed off. There was just too much to ask.
Hoshiko gave me a surprisingly gentle look. She seemed to understand how confused and surprised I was.
It was a completely different story with Tsukiko. A sly smile streaked onto her face as she answered me with one word: "Takahashi."
Evil smiles contorted the sisters' features, making them a threatening pair. I pursed my lips with pleasure and anticipation thinking of what they could have done to the stupid man. InuYasha, on the other hand, shrank from them with a look of actual fright upon his face.
Hoshiko and Tsukiko are unique. For one thing, their names: Hoshiko means 'star' and Tsukiko means 'moon'. Then their eyes and power. They…weren't typical, I knew that, but I had never thought of them…as demons.
"So. What did you do to him?" I inquired innocently.
Hoshiko snorted, tossing her head. Always the rough, verbal one of the two, she answered me with her typical proud demeanor while Tsukiko stood quietly, maroon eyes taking everything in. "He won't be coming around looking for you any time soon. I got the answers out of him after Tsukiko got him drunk."
"And he won't remember us or you either," Tsukiko added softly, voice low and deadly. I was reminded irresistibly of Sesshomaru. "I took care of that."
"Come back to Kaede with us," I instructed. "Meet –"
"Sango and Miroku," Hoshiko finished. "Shippo too. And you've got some explaining to do too, girl." She tossed me my diary. "Last I knew, you and your 'Who are you how do you know Kagome' half-demon weren't speaking. Oh, and I have this too." She tenderly took a small black pouch from her pocket and threw it to me. I opened it, allowing a small pink Jewel Shard to tumble onto my palm.
"We couldn't touch it," Tsukiko explained. "It was like trying to light a fire on the palm of your hand. You purified it; if we had kept it, either we would have tainted it and harmed you or risk being purified ourselves. You are a powerful miko, Kagome."
"M-me?" I stuttered. "Powerful? No…you must be thinking of K-Kikyo…" I sighed. Why did I have to bring her up now of all times?
InuYasha just put his arm around me.
Hoshiko gazed at us curiously with a definite touch of eagerness while Tsukiko just raised her eyebrows in a distinctly Sesshomaru-like gesture. "Well," the elder said simply, "I suppose much has happened. There is quite a bit of information you need to tell us, Kagome, before we join you on your hunt for Naraku."
"You'll-you'll join us?"
"Of course!" Hoshiko exclaimed, pink streaks catching the sunlight just right. "No one messes with our friends and gets away with it!"
"She is right to wonder," Tsukiko remarked quietly but firmly.
"No, she's not," Hoshiko snorted.
"Yes, she is."
"Is not! Admit it, you stupid little moonbeam!"
"Peace, sister," Tsukiko ordered harshly. "There is nothing to argue about here. We need to speak with the monk and slayer. We need information and Kagome needs friends right now. She went through a dramatic death and needs love and peace."
"What the –? How did you…?" I gazed at them. There was no way…
"I," Tsukiko told me, "am a mind-reader."
I had taken in a lot since I'd first met InuYasha, but this was absolutely mind boggling. First, my two best friends leap through the Well, toss me part of the Shikon Jewel, and then proceed to inform me that they are demons and one is mind-reader.
I really do not understand my life.
XOXOXOXOXO
Ha ha! I finally came through! I kept promising you all longer chapters. Well, guess what?! I succeeded! This is the result when I am allowed to write without interruptions. I am going to try and keep all chapters following this one up to the standards you should look for. If I am NOT making them – TELL ME. I can't improve or fix things that I don't know about.
IMPORTANT NOTE Don't thank me for this chapter. Thank theruthlesscrow. That is who this chapter is dedicated to. LOVE YOU! Thank you again, theruthlesscrow
Until next time!