Chapter Fourteen
Preparations
"I wonder how Kagome is doing?" A concerned voice asked in wonder and the two companions besides her nodded in agreement. A smirk made its way upon one of their lips as she held the gift basket within her hands tighter. "Won't she be surprised to see us, won't she?" With that the three girls climbed the many steps up to the Sunset Shrine. "Kagome's birthday is coming up in three weeks, have you two gotten her a present already?" Ayumi asked as Eri and Yuka averted their eyes. "Um, I haven't quite gotten to that, but I still have time." Yuka confessed as Eri nodded as well. "Anyway," Eri began as they approached the house.
"I called her house yesterday night and her grandfather said she had developed pneumonia." Eri explained with a serious frown on and worry eyes. "It isn't contagious is it?" Yuka asked slightly afraid and ceased herself from climbing up the stairs. Ayumi smiled before nodding her head lightly. "Yes, but it's not as contagious. We'll be fine." Ayumi told her and Yuka let out a relief breath.
"You guys hurry up!" They heard Eri yell from the top of the staircase while waving her free hand.
The two teens made it up and casually walked towards their sick friend's house. "Are you sure we can come over like this uninvited?" Yuka asked nervously as Eri rolled her eyes and rang the doorbell. "Yuka, of course it is." She told the brown haired girl with reassurance.
"Besides, I did call yesterday night. That should be some sort of heads up." The black haired teen added with a sharp nod of her head. Ayumi and Yuka sighed in union at their friend's assertive nature.
They heard barking and all three girls looked at one another with inquisitive glances. "Since when did Kagome have a dog?" Ayumi asked with a raised brow when the door opened and there stood a very healthy looking Kagome and a chocolate colored dog.
"Kagome!" They both exclaimed in excitement as they all tackled her with hugs to the floor. Kagome yelped sharply as she hit the wooden floor with shock eyes. "Eri, Yuka, Ayumi, what are you all doing here?" Kagome asked as the three girls kneeled before her with worry eyes and frowns.
"We came to visit you and give you gift baskets to make you feel better." Eri said as she handed Kagome the basket filled with accessories and Kagome's favorite snacks. "Gift baskets?" Kagome asked as Yuka nodded. "It's the least we could do, considering you have pneumonia and have to be stuck in the house." The brown haired teen said as Kagome's brow twitched.
'Pneumonia? At least he's not using anymore exotic diseases.' Kagome thought silently to herself when she heard giggling coming from Ayumi and Akio growling playfully to her right.
"He's so cute, Kagome, when did you get him?" Ayumi asked with a bright smile on her face as she rubbed the pup's stomach. "Yeah, Kagome is he a gift from your bad boy boyfriend?" Eri asked with a mischievous smirk that caused Ayumi and Yuka to be silent and wait for Kagome's response.
The room became cold and heavy all of a sudden. The smirk fell from Eri's lips as she and the other girls watched Kagome carefully. She was stiff and her long bangs overshadowed her eyes, making it hard for them to see the hurt and anger that swirled within her azure eyes.
With Kagome's head slightly down casted, Ayumi's chocolate brown eyes caught sight of a half completed jewel hanging from around the teen's neck. The curly haired teen squinted her eyes and saw the pink gem changing colors. It was turning black in many swirls.
"Kagome is that a-" Ayumi was interrupted when Kagome snapped her head back up suddenly with a bright smile and closed eyes, scaring the other girls senseless with all that cheeriness.
"Oh, he was an early present from Souta for my birthday!" She told them with fake enthusiasm and stood up quickly. "Let's go up to my room and hang out." Kagome said as she headed up the stairs, leaving the three girls to exchange knowing glances to one another.
They followed after Kagome with Akio not to far behind.
Once Kagome was in her room, she quickly took the time to compose herself and control the tama. She touched the jewel with her right hand and concentrated on purifying it. It slowly began to clear itself of darkness and Kagome shot anxious eyes towards the doorway.
They should be getting here very soon and she needed to make sure the tama was pure. 'Come on, only a few more seconds.' She cheered herself on when she heard their approaching footsteps.
Her heart began to race within her chest as small light beads of sweat formed on her forehead and temples.
"Kagome." She head Eri call out and just when her friends reached the top of the staircase did the jewel become completely pure. Brining down her hand from the jewel, Kagome, sighed out in utter relief.
"Yeah?" Kagome answered as the girls sat on the floor on top of her pink flower rug. "Is everything okay with...you know who?" Eri asked as Yuka and Ayumi rubbed Aiko's head and ears. Kagome blushed red, not from embarrassment like she did in the past, but from anger.
Her friends sensed this and from the dark look in Kagome's eyes they knew, Inuyasha was no more.
"That bastard....he has no part in my life anymore." Kagome told them in a cold tone that made them gasp lightly in shock. They never heard Kagome curse before during their entire friendship and it was shocking to hear it flow out of her mouth so fluently. That and the hatred that laced her tone.
"Wow, Kagome...I'm sorry." Ayumi said gently and took another glance at the jewel around her neck. It was changing colors again, but only subtly this time. "Don't be , because I'm not. It was for the best and it was never meant to be anyway. No matter how much I tried." Kagome said muttering the last part to herself.
Yuka looked over Kagome's form while stood and noticed she changed a lot since the last time she saw her. Her hair was much longer for one and the sun dress she wore revealed tone legs and arms, especially when her arms were folded across her chest. She looked in good shape and very beautiful.
This didn't look like a constant sick person.
Yuka narrowed her eyes slightly in suspicion before shaking her head, getting rid of the thoughts forming in her mind.
Eri smiled awkwardly as she looked aimlessly around the room. The room suddenly got cold again and it was uncomfortable. They didn't come here to talk about Kagome's love life, although it was interesting. She would have to call Kagome later on and ask her about the details of the break-up.
"Soooo, Kagome, did you get accepted to all your chosen colleges?" Eri asked striking up conversation, which cut the tenseness flowing in the air. Kagome nodded and took a seat on top of her bed. "I got accepted into two, one of them being the one I really wanted. Yokohama National University." She told them with excitement in her voice.
They clapped and cheered for Kagome.
"That's so great, Kagome, I guess I'll be seeing you in Fall session." Yuka said giving Kagome the peace sign. Kagome's eyes widen. "Really, that's great, maybe we'll be roommates." Kagome suggested as Yuka agreed. "Let's keep our fingers cross." She said with a bubbly smile.
"What about you two?" Kagome asked referring to Eri and Ayumi.
Eri smirked and folded her arms across her chest with an air of arrogance surrounding her. "I'm going to NYU in America." Kagome's eyes widen in surprise. "America!" She exclaimed. Eri dropped the arrogant act and smile brightly. "Yeah, I'm leaving this July to settle in Manhattan in my new apartment." She said with bright eyes.
"What about you Ayumi?" Kagome asked, knowing that Ayumi could have her picks for she was the smartest out of the group and the entire school. "Well, my father wants me to go to Tokyo University, but I decided to go to Oxford in England and study." She revealed with dreamy eyes.
Wow, Eri was going to America and Ayumi was going to England.
Tears filled Kagome's eyes at the thought of them separating. When she traveled to the feudal era, she always knew she would see them again because they were always there. But now Eri and Ayumi were going to travel to other countries to study and a sense of loss filled her.
"I'm going to miss you guys." Kagome whispered as Eri, Ayumi and Yuka cooed loudly with tears developing with their eyes as well. "Awww, Kagome we'll keep in touch." Eri said softly as they all hugged the sadden miko as she nodded.
There was a knock at the door, ruining the moment as Souta poked his head in. "Hey, sis, is everything alright in here, I heard crying." Souta asked and was meet with four teary eye girls that looked like they were about to erupt in any moment.
The girls stared at Souta with weary eyes. He was still young and had time to be with his friends still and they were parting. It wasn't fair!
They all looked at each other and broke down in tears, causing Souta to flinched at the sound of their loud sobbing. "What-what did I say?" He asked himself as he quickly closed the door and tried to calm his racing heart.
Women...
"Sesshomaru-sama..." Rin began as she walked besides her Lord and fiddled with her wild long hair. The Taiyoukai didn't bother to glance at the child as he continued forward towards his palace. They were almost there, only a few miles to go. He couldn't stay in that human village. It contained Kagome's scent everywhere he went and it irritated him to no end.
It made his waiting for her all the more unbearable.
"...do you love Kagome-chan?" She asked innocently with bright eyes. The questioned caused the Taiyoukai to stumble in his step and lose his balance for a millisecond. Jaken had heard Rin's question and had fallen flat on his face in pure shock.
The Taiyoukai's golden eyes sharpen in color and glanced quickly at his ward.
What possessed the girl to ask him that question?
Looking expectingly at him, Rin, waited for his reply. She really hoped he did love her, so that Sesshomaru-sama would propose to Kagome-chan and they would have a wedding party. She giggled to herself in absolute glee.
Jaken on the other hand was outraged. How dare she ask Sesshomaru-sama such an obscure question such as that. "Wretch, how dare you ask Lord Sesshomaru that ridiculous question. Of course he-"
BONK!
Jaken's body fell limp to the ground as the others continued their journey to the palace with a large bump forming on the back of his head.
Rin smiled at the sight from behind her and focused her attention back to Sesshomaru. "Well, Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked again as she rubbed the side of Ah-Uh. Sesshomaru stood silent and pondered within his mind.
Love.
That word had never crossed his mind before.
Desire, yes, but love?
That was something he had to think over before answering his ward, if he so chose to answer her that is.
So, he went ahead of her to avoid any other question his ward had cooked up within her mind.
Rin frowned when he didn't answer her, which in turn made her smile secretly. He was thinking about it, which meant he wasn't so sure if he did love Kagome-chan. Now, all she needed to do was convince him that he did. "This is going to be fun, Ah-Uh!" Rin exclaimed as the beast closed its eyes in a smile.
Low buzzing sounds reached her ears and it sounded awfully near by. Turning her head around she meet the unattractive eyes of Naraku's poisonousness insects. There were many of them and Rin quickly screamed, while erupting a barrier around her and Ah-Uh.
Sesshomaru, so deep in thought about Rin's question, had missed the scent of Naraku's insects. He quickly leaped in front of Rin and began to kill the insects with his claws. One by one they died and the Taiyoukai was trying to figure out what they wanted. They weren't even fighting back, which was strange and unusual.
'What do they want?' Sesshomaru asked himself as he continued to slay the insects. A group of them began to attack from his front and Sesshomaru quickly took out Tokijin, slicing them all in half in one sweep. Three groups formed and attacked at the same time, making Sesshomaru focus on them while their leader falls in from behind.
Rin watched amazed as Sesshomaru swung Tokijin, killing each insect and leaving them crumpled in a heap on the ground. She smiled when the last of the groups was taken down and Sesshomaru returned to his compose upright position. When he began to walk towards them, did the young miko realized that there was still one left.
"Sesshomaru-sama behind you! There's still one more!" Rin shouted and Sesshomaru quickly went to kill it with his claws when the insect managed to flee, but the taiyoukai had managed to tear one of its wings in half. Its flight was corroded and lopsided as it escaped.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the retreating insect. Why had it fled, unless it obtained what it wanted in the first place, but what was it? Sesshomaru flicked his long silver hair and approached Rin, who let down her barrier at will.
He was impressed, the miko was teaching his ward well. Last he recalled, his ward couldn't control her barriers a few weeks ago.
"Are you okay Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked worried as the taiyoukai didn't answer for he had many thoughts filling his head.
"What are you planning this time Naraku?" He asked himself as he stared at the direction of the insect's path with suspicious eyes. He would have to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, with Naraku anything was possible. When they reached the palace he would have to have Rin guarded constantly as well as Kagome when she returned.
He had a feeling that something was going to happen...something unforgivable.
That little bitch.
All she had done was stand there and watch as that bastard slowly, but surely kill her. If only he had instead of letting her live with this constant pain traveling throughout her body. It was like white fire that invaded her body. Burning every muscle, organ and artery in her body.
All she wanted was for them to be free and that wench wanted to stay and follow that bastard.
Kagura attempted yet again to stand up, but her body protested and send another wave of intense pain to remind her to stay still and heal. The wind witch growled in frustration as she collapsed back to the floor. The least Kanna could do was place her in bed.
She was going to kill that wench if it was the last thing she do. Kanna was the traitor here, not her.
Now her plan was ruined and she would forever be trapped under the dark hanyou's grasp. Kagura's ruby eyes glistened with tears. She never cried before, not then and not now. She was stronger than this, she wasn't...
"Damn it!" She cried out as a loud sob escaped her throat with heavy tears flowing down her full cheeks. She's tried so hard and now she was going to be Naraku's slave forever. It wouldn't be too long until Kisho received his punishment. For some reason the seductive demon was acting extremely cocky.
The faded mark of Onigumo on Kisho's back flashed within her mind and Kagura's eyes widen suddenly.
That was it!
That lucky bastard...he wasn't controlled by Naraku any longer, at least not completely. She needed to talk to him and fast. Having Onigumo's mark fade and eventually disappear from her back was the only way she would be free. She needed to know how Kisho did it.
Kagura smirked her tear stained cheeks redden from her earlier crying. "Just wait Naraku, I'm not done just yet." She said with dark promise as she lay her head down on top of her arms for comfort as she rest.
She had new hope now and with it, it gave her a reason for living.
The dark hanyou sensed his approaching insect and opened the window for it to enter. It crashed into the ground and hit the wall with its legs crumpled up within its abdomen and wings flapping slowly in growing weakness. A long shine reflected from its mouth as Naraku bend down and took hold of it with a satisfied smirk.
This was perfect.
A strand of Sesshomaru's hair was half of what he needed to preform his ultimate plot. Poor, little miko wouldn't even know what hit her. Literally. Standing upright, he left the insect to wither within itself and die. Walking towards the small alter in the middle of his room, he kneeled before it and placed the strand within the small black bowl.
There was small candles lit around the altar and a mirror was held against the wall above it, reflecting Naraku's handsome face. He smirked at his reflection before bringing his red eyes down to the bowl.
Excitement and eagerness spread his form as he anticipated the beginning of when his plot will commence.
The mistake he learned from Kikyo and Inuyasha was something so simple, but in which had cost him the shikon no tama, nearly one hundred and fifty three years ago. He planned not to make that mistake again and had made preparations to ensure that his plot went as flawless as possible.
Now with Sesshomaru's hair in possession, he needed Kagome's blood.
"Come back quickly, little miko, I have waited long enough as it." He began with a dark tone to his voice.
"This time the jewel will be mine. There is no doubting it."
The darkness radiating from his form, cast out the lights of the candles and left the dark hanyou in complete and utter darkness.
Red eyes glowed eerily in the dark as they narrowed in malice.
"Ruling the world is just a taste away." He muttered darkly to himself as he stood and left to his corner.
The setting sun cast a dark reddish glow across the shrine grounds with soft warm breezes filling the air and blowing the hair of Kagome's and her friend's. "Good bye you guys!" Kagome exclaimed as she stood, waving from the top of the stairs as they descended downwards. Aiko barked while running around Kagome's form with his tongue hanging out in excitement.
"See you at graduation next week, Kagome!" Yuka yelled as they made it to the bottom. "That's right and call me tonight Kagome!" Eri told her as Ayumi waved and all three girls left home.
Kagome smiled and sighed contently as she turned around to head back inside. Today had been fun and thank goodness none of them asked her anymore questions about him.
Ayumi had almost scared her earlier when she had mentioned her necklace. She said that it had changed colors twice and had turned black. Kagome had been surprised and quickly made up a lie saying it was a mood chain necklace. Ayumi seem to buy it, but now Eri and Yuka wanted one too.
Did they even exist and if they did where was she going to buy them?
All of her friends have changed. Yuka was growing her hair out and now it reached a few inches below her shoulders. Ayumi was never one to wear cosmetics, but today she had on light make up that made her chocolate eyes stand out beautifully. As for Eri, she was still the same with subtle differences, such as, now she had a belly button ring.
Eri had shown it to her while they were eating lunch. It looked cute on Eri and Kagome couldn't help, but wonder how she would look like if she had one.
Maybe...
Kagome opened the door and went to help her mother with dinner. Everything went well and they all celebrated Kagome's acceptance letters. Soon everyone was in their rooms in bed. Kagome was busy looking through her photo albums. She had looked through her childhood photos and was now looking at pictures of her and her friends.
Soon drops of tears landed on the pictures, sliding down onto the bed cover.
Time went by so fast.
And hadn't been able to enjoy it.
"You won't get away with this!" Souta blinked confused as he watched his sister yell at a man dressed in armor with long black wavy hair. She wore a red silk kimono with her hair blowing behind her beautifully. He also noticed that she was pale and looked sickly. 'Kagome?' He thought to himself and as he looked around his surroundings. They were in a large open field that was partially destroyed and filled with many dead bodies of both youkai and humans.
The sky was pitch black and malice filled the air with dominance. He could feel the darkness caressing his body in temptation, but quickly resisted it with narrowed eyes.
What was this? He's never had a dream like this before.
To his right side he felt the auras of youkai, both large and small with one feeling unnatural. One youkai caught his eye, and he glared at the youkai. "Inuyasha." He breathed out angrily before his eyes widen in realization. That wasn't Inuyasha standing there. It was someone who looked like him with the same golden eyes and silver hair. If it wasn't for the markings he would have thought it to be Inuyasha. As if the youkai have felt his stare he brought his golden eyes to connect with his in a set glare.
'Who is that?' Souta thought with wonder when a scream caused him to break his gaze with the youkai and turn to his left. What he saw made his heart shatter into millions of pieces and his blood run cold as he felt his body move ahead on its own accord to the fallen warrior.
"Noooo..." Souta screamed out as he outstretched his right arm to the empty space before him. Sweat fell down his temples and forehead as he gasped for air. His heart was hammering within his chest and his body was shaking uncontrollably. That dream. It felt so real. He couldn't remember what the warrior looked like, but he knew it affected him strongly.
He had the sudden urge to call Hitomi all of a sudden to make sure she was alright. He took out his phone from the draw and send her a text. A few minutes later he received a replied saying that she was fine and to let her sleep. He smiled in relief and put his phone away, the glow from the screen being the only source of light in his dark room save for the moonlight.
Passing his hand through his soak hair, he throws his head back against his pillow while letting out a relief sigh. "It was just a dream." He muttered to himself as he stared at the ceiling with weary eyes. A piece of hair blew onto his vision and the teen went to move it away when he caught sight of his right palm. He looked crossed eyed as he pulled his hand further away to get a better look.
"What the-" He began as he quickly turned on the lamp besides his bed and looked at his hand once more. The middle of his palm on his right hand was darken and in the form of a circle. It slowly faded away until it was gone. Souta stared shock as he took in deep shaky breathes. That was not normal.
"That dream...Kagome was there too, she looked so sick." Souta said out loud as he looked at his door, before standing up and leaving to check on his sister. He slowly opened her room door and found her sleeping on top of her albums. He let out a relieved sigh and walked in, putting her into bed and placing the albums on top of her desk.
He glanced at her one last time before closing the door and heading back to his room. She was safe now and he would make sure she stood that way forever.
A/N: I'm adjusting to school again and I am managing to get the updates up sooner. My next update should be within the next two weeks, so keep an eye out for it! ;)
Naraku is gathering his things for his plot and now he needs Kagome's blood. With Sesshomaru's hair and Kagome's blood it can't be something good. I feel bad for Kagome, she didn't get to enjoy being a teenager with her friends because she had to search for the jewel shards. Maybe Sesshomaru could make her feel better when she returns. ;)
What do you guys think about Souta's weird dream? I know at least one person reading this story knows what the connection is, what about the rest of you? If it's confusing you then you would have to wait until the future chapters come out to find out. ;)
Please review and don't stop sending them, I like them far too muck for you all to stop! REVIEW!!
Lady Manami