I just want to say that the first part of this chapter: Laying down the Rules, was inspired from a review I received from ncbeachbabe2004. I hope you like it.
Last of the wilds; Chapter 20, Word count 7889.
I do not own anything of the Inuyasha product, this story is merely for fun and venting out some stress into a constructive manner. Enjoy!
Chapter 20
Laying down the Rules
It had been two days since the jewel was shattered, two days of me eating myself up on the inside over becoming just like her, like Kikyo. I had left the small miko hut along with Keade towards the river to bathe my stresses and worries away, yeah as if that would work. Keade seemed to be getting a kick out of my misery, and Inuyasha well, he was steering clear for the time being. Grumbling occasionally about being a stupid wench who shattered the jewel. So what I shattered it, it can be put back together again, Keade said so. Checking the area was clear, I pulled my Kimono off and placed it beside Keade, before diving straight into the icy cold waters of the small pool of trapped water.
Trapped, everything I see or touch seems to become trapped, much like myself. Am I doomed to remain forever trapped in this body, trapped and enslaved to the miko soul deep within my own. Trapping that hanyou, Inuyasha into my own personal hell? I really should remove those beads, should remove the object of his binding.
***
Kagome turned from the small pool and slowly walked waist deep in the cold waters to Keade. She had her eyes closed to the world, silently thinking about removing Inuyasha's beads, how it was totally unfair of her to do that to him in the first place. Having decided that was what she was going to do, she opened those tawny brown eyes to see him looking at her, at her upper body nakedness. She let out a shrill scream, ducking into the water. No-one was permitted to see a female youkai naked, only other female youkai.
Deep within her, Kikyo was silently pleading not to remove the beads from Inuyasha, that Kagome needed them. However with the argument lost, she receded into her soul once more. Only to surface as she felt the waves of unease and embarrassment fold all around her. In that moment it was Kikyo who acted "Inuyasha you pervert, SIT!" The words tumbled from Kagome, with the deeper meaning of Kikyo.
Inuyasha's necklace glowed brightly as the full miko power from Kikyo flowed into them, pulling the hanyou to the dirt, unfortunately for him, said dirt was a good hundred feet away. He fell from the small hill to land face first into the dirt behind Keade.
Keade looked at Kagome for a moment, having felt the shift of raw miko power surface in Kagome to issue the command. She knew that command belonged to Kikyo. Kagome would not use the necklace of subjugation, she detested it more than Inuyasha did. In that brief moment she felt a pity for the half demon "are ye alright Inuyasha?" she asked seeing him in distress on the hard ground, clutching the necklace.
Kagome had left the waters, swiftly grabbing the first set of clothing she could. Kikyo was still fuelling her rage at looking upon a woman who was naked. Flesh that should belong to her, flesh that Inuyasha would look at, should be hers, not Kagome's, not her shirei's. Kagome slipped an arm into the haori not thinking whatsoever about the texture of the rougher cotton. She was too mad, mad at Inuyasha, mad at Kikyo, but more mad of herself for allowing Kikyo to take control. She stepped into the hakama, tying it into an intricate knot and bow, again still not thinking that she wore a kimono. Not a two-piece.
Kagome was still flattening out, and smoothing the creases of her attire, not truly paying attention as the squabble between Keade and Inuyasha was too much to bare. She stepped out from the bush, striding over to Inuyasha to give him a piece of her mind, and berate him about watching females bathe. When he looked at her like he'd seen a ghost. "what?" Kagome snapped fully in control of herself once again. She heard Keade's sharp intake of breath and turned on her too "What?" both of them seemed to be shocked into a stupor "Kikyo" Keade whispered. Both Kagome and Inuyasha had heard it, Kagome's eyebrows pulled together in annoyance over being called such, whereas Inuyasha remained in a stunned silence.
"Not you too Keade, why did you call me that?" Kagome snapped, it was really beginning to piss her off, as to Keade's human brain not thinking about who and more importantly what, she was dealing with. Kagome may be trapped within a human body, but she was still a youkai. Kagome closed her eyes for a moment, trying to collect herself, her thoughts and her anger. She took a few deep cleansing breaths and thought about killing both the old miko and Inuyasha.
***
She stood perfectly still listening to them continue on in their nonsense prattling. Their voices griping on her last nerve. Clenching her teeth and attempting to return to her peaceful state of mind she slowly counted to three. However when Keade called her Kikyo, shortly followed by Inuyasha, she snapped. Her eyes flew open, the world around her blood red in anger, she flexed her fingers, poised them ready for attack. Kagome stood before them, in all her demonic glory. Snarling at them "I am not Kikyo!" she screamed before launching into a full scale attack.
The first to be clawed to death was Keade, the old crone's blood flowing over her claws, like warm water. It's coppery scent filling her senses, she hadn't put up much of a fight, but she was old, and a rather poor excuse for a miko. Inuyasha was next, he seemed to cower away, looking at her in shock horror. "I'll teach you runt!" she hissed, before she launched herself at the hanyou.
They clashed, claws raking across flesh, teeth sinking into flank, she ripped and prised with all her strength, ignoring the hanyou's yelps and cries of pain and torture. She was enjoying ripping his smile off his little head; in fact. She changed so her claws were hooked under his chin. She dug her razor sharp talons into the soft flesh, he cried out in pure agony, but she simply grinned. Deeper and deeper she pushed those claws, like pushing her claws through butter. The oozy blood flowing uncontrollably, over her hand and down her arms, dripping off her elbows.
In one swift movement, the sounds of flesh tearing and bones splintering, she ripped Inuyasha's head clean off, holding it by the silvered hair at arms length. She smiled as his body thumped to the ground beneath her, at her feet, delighted in the scent of his blood, rich and coppery. She brought his severed head closer to her face, before she kissed it gently on top of his brow "you should learn to keep those comments to yourself" she hissed.
***
Having collected herself, her breathing exercises worked, and her mind running overtime, killing the hanyou and the stupid old miko Keade, she seemed more relaxed. That is until she looked at herself. "Keade, why am I wearing the attire of a miko?" she hissed at the old woman, suddenly realising why Inuyasha was so shocked, and the meaning of why Keade slipped the name Kikyo by sheer accident. She was wearing Kikyo's miko attire. Her calming thoughts of tearing the hanyou and miko set aside, her mind turning on Kikyo instead.
'You really think its funny don't you?' she growled at Kikyo deep within her soul
'what's your problem Kagome?' she replied at a safe distance
'I'm a demon for kami's sake, not a flaming miko!' she hissed once more.
In her mind she could see Kikyo in front of her standing on the other side of a great canyon. They were separated by a sheer drop that seemed bottomless. Kikyo was grinning, her arms pulled together so they sat comfortably in each other's hold. She was smug, believing that Kagome could not reach her. Kagome was in her human cage, but in her mind, she was who she wanted to be, no restrictions. Shaking her head of pure raven locks; they tumbled down her body as the miko attire disintegrated into a fine battle kimono. She snarled, dropping into a battle stance, one poised for attack.
'Bitch, this is my mind and my soul, you may have some control over my body, but here, you are a mere irritation, and one I can do with as I please' Kagome launched herself over the canyon, effortlessly landing before the shocked miko. She grabbed her by the neck, squeezing her roughly. She knew that she wouldn't gasp for air nor emit any sounds of strangulation; which Kagome really wanted to hear right now. But the force was evident, and her anger more so.
'if you ever interfere like this again. I will have no qualms about ripping you into several chunks and watching to see how long it takes for you to make yourself whole once again, before I rip you apart once more. Don't you ever, EVER put me in a miko's attire again. Do I make myself clear?' Kagome hissed in her face, her hand closing ever tighter around Kikyo's neck, as she nodded her acknowledgement. She grabbed onto Kikyo's arm digging her claws into said appendage and ripped it clean off, throwing it at a distance away. Kikyo did scream, which Kagome enjoyed. She dropped the disfigured miko to the ground harshly, before returning to those outside, in the realm of the living.
***
"Kagome, why are ye smiling like that?" Keade asked suddenly frightened of the malicious look on Kagome's face, she was so angry for being dressed in the attire of a miko, Kikyo's old clothes. Then she drew a blank expression, as though she had folded herself within. Her eyes were glazed, her lip furled, her hands clutched together tightly that if she had claws, they certainly would have penetrated the skin. She was perfectly still, breathing shallowly, her raven hair lifting lightly as it dried.
Then suddenly her eyes were bright, alive once more, she blinked behind those thick rich black eyelashes, an evil smirk on her face as though she'd just caused pain to someone that seriously pissed her off. She exhaled, unclasped her hands, the whiteness of the knuckles slowly returning to soft pink. "where are my clothes Keade?" she asked, though her voice still held some hint of promised pain, should she defy her.
Keade not wanting to know exactly why Kagome was in a royally pissed off mood, nor wanting to know of the reasons she suddenly stepped out of her body and into her soul, before returning somewhat pleased, grabbed her kimono from her bag. She handed it to her, with shaking hands. Kagome's dark eyes looked at those hands, another smile gracing her lips. She bent down and took them, whispering light words into the old miko's ear. "If you or Kikyo ever think about pulling a stunt like that again. I will not hesitate to kill either one of you. Granted I cannot kill Kikyo, but severing limbs is quite refreshing" she pulled back to see that her words had etched themselves into Keade's mind. That she suddenly was aware that Kagome had caused Kikyo harm, over her being placed into the garments a miko should wear.
***
Silent Thoughts
Silence, its deafening nothingness, eerie and ghostly. Yet when it is silent you can smell everything around you, as though the sound of scent is amplified; and the sound of scent is silence. Closing your eyes you can fully appreciate the finer things in life, such as the tree's and their woody smell, but not just the wood, if you really delve deep into the scent you can get the hints of age and wisdom. Its peculiar how you can scent age and wisdom, just as peculiar that silence has a scent. But if you truly stand in a remote place, surrounded by trees in the light of day, you can smell things you've never truly dreamed. The scent of wet earth, woodsy, musky and sweet filled the area. It was buzzing with life, rich and plentiful. The potent scent of flowers in full bloom, offering their spoils to the heavens sun, the beauty overflowing the vast space of untouched beauty. The darkness of the various greens and browns that flood the area, the sunlight spilling form small cracks in the branches embrace, the spillages from the holes in the leaves high above.
Sesshoumaru had been wandering the vast forests of his lands in his silence, Jaken had been following his liege as he always did. He'd once spoken, asking where they were heading only to be stomped on for breaking the Lords reverie. The young demon Lord was unaware of where his feet has wandered, where his soul search had brought him. He stood in the same spot his Kagome was last seen; alive. It was three hundred and fifty years to the day when his beloved mate-to-be was taken from his life. A tragic day in the history of his life that he was truly alone, without friend nor loved one to guide him, when he was lost. It was days spent in the silence of the forest when he'd picture her the most, running through the trees, smiling, full of life and beauty.
But he would never see her again, even now, three hundred and fifty years after her tragic death, he was already starting to forget things about her. The softness of her voice was almost lost to the fragile memory, the touch of her silken skin was forgotten. Sometimes even her face was a blank. Only when Sesshoumaru could really loose himself to the silence of the forests could he truly begin to remember everything about his beautiful Kagome.
He absentmindedly stroked the scar on his left hand, under his thumb. A small scar, one that was shaped like the crescent moon upon his brow, only this was a shade of blue, the blue that was the colour of Kagome's eyes. He remembered vaguely how this scar had come about, seeing her lithe form splayed out in the bath chambers after her death. Battered and in despair, blood from her veins seeping out around her. He had touched her, in that touch his skin burned a small scar under his thumb. It had started to tingle fifty years ago, as though a soft and ice cold tongue had run itself along the heated flesh, to cool it, offer some comfort. It had remained that was for a period of eight or nine summers, then suddenly it had ceased, nothing. Not even a dull ache. Only now it had started to tingle once more, calling out for the one who could offer it some relief. It was an odd sensation, not one that was uncomfortable, but certainly interesting.
As he was starting to remember, starting to visualise her face, the softness of her scent, the singing notes and tones to her voice, Jaken spoke. His voice; high pitched and croaky at best, caused the great Lord to wince in spite of himself. He clenched his teeth and fists tightly, before turning heated glare upon the unsuspecting toad. Haughtily he approached the toad and stepped upon him, earning a groan and rush of air from his tiny lungs. Just his simple, harmless question had broken his thoughts, and his erased the rising memories of his Kagome. Now she was nothing in his mind, there was nothing to conjure, the memory totally faded into the recesses of his private mind.
There was a scent on the breeze that burned his nose, and fired his anger afresh. Chestnuts and forest Pine; Inuyasha was awakened once again. Seemingly in the village the miko sealed him, the hanyou was truly dense, to remain in the place where he was treated the vile beast he truly was. Not that Sesshoumaru cared, he hated the half-breed, centuries of torture and torment every time he looked at his 'half-brother' only served to make him wonder exactly what happened, detail for detail to his Kagome. Something he would never truly know.
He wandered closer to the borders of his lands and his would have been in-laws lands, into the forest that Inuyasha had laid claim to. It was the only thing the half breed would have that was tangible in the name of the West. Had Sesshoumaru had his own way, he'd have nothing, not even this small area of forestry. But this was out of his control, the forest was his half-brothers' simply because he'd been sealed here, fifty years ago, by a dying miko. Which brought him to what he was doing now, wanting to know who and what had released his 'half brother' he ventured forward, his aura suppressed, into the deep green forest, The Forest of Inuyasha.
***
Outcast and Alone
Do you know what it is like to be alone, shunned and outcast from everyone else because your different? I do. I'm not talking about self inflicted loneliness, but more the sort when you are shunned away by those who are supposed to take care of you, because you aren't doing things right. I tried to act 'normal' around them, but despite my attempts, I am not 'normal' and I know this.
I want to tell them I feel trapped, depressed and unsafe. That I want to be held so tightly by the one who left me in the arms of another. She wanted me to feel safe and protected until she returned for me. But waiting in the silence of my mind, wondering why she had not come after a few years worried me. Wondering why she still did not come for me after ten years disturbed me. After twenty I began to feel betrayed, then thirty years passed, and she still had not come. Those around me grew concerned for my lack of aging, my lack of anything more than wanting to venture to the green hills beyond the small village to seek out the one I was missing.
I knew better than to leave the place I was put. If I were to leave, how would she find me? So I remained still, and quiet, like a statue, a perfect flawless child in my mind, just how she left me.
I can not age, for if I did, how would she know it was me? I had found a way to halt the processes. I waited and waited for the time when she would come. And as the time drew on and on with no end in sight I knew I was alone. Something must have happened, for her not to come to me, she promised me she would come back for me, and I knew in my heart that she would keep her promises. She was not one to say something to quell the fears of a child, only to be twisting it into a lie for her own amusement later, no. Kagome was not like that.
The villagers were afraid of me, yet amazed by me. They placed me upon an alter to the kami's above thanking them for their generosity. They believed me to be a deity of protection, one of good luck. So here I sat upon my stone cold alter, as they brought me fresh fruits, meats and other delicacies. But my eyes remained upon the horizon, waiting patiently for any sign that she would come back for me, but there was nothing.
Another twenty years passed and I began to loose hope that she would ever come back. Though my life is never ending, for it never truly began I the first place. I remain upon my stone alter, my eyes trained upon the never changing horizon. For the first time in fifty years there was a noticeable change in the skies, above the small shrine keep I remained in. It was streaked with pinks and shimmering flashes of purple. The feel of ancient souls battling for supremacy as they darted across the timeless skies, scattering in all directions.
I could hear the promise of death, the promise of life and everything you've ever dreamed of, all at the cost of one small price; your eternal soul. I was strong enough to ignore it's calls and false promises, but I knew deep down that there were those who would gladly give up their soul for a piece of inhuman strength, of extra youkai power, more fool them. But there was something else attached to the streaks of blinding light, there was something almost holy about it. As though a miko was battling for dominance, pleading to those who would listen to the fake promises, that it was all a lie. But her single voice was not enough to over power the hundreds that spoke over her.
I sighed in defeat, there was something sinister going on, and no matter how patiently I waited, I knew that perhaps she couldn't come to me. So I stood for the first time in many, many years catching the eyes of the villagers as I stood. I shed my prayer Kimono leaving me in a simple orange and white chequered yukata, and proceeded to walk down the cold stone steps towards the hills that called to me. The villagers were shocked and baffled over my sudden need to move and walk, they were used to me being sat, statue still, an eternal child at the shrine of wanting mothers. They did not know what to say nor do as I walked away, leaving them without a goodbye or a thank you.
"Thank you, deity Rin-sama" the elder spoke. One whom I remember as a youth some time ago, he had a warming smile upon his withered old face, I glanced his way, eyeing him for the first time in many years, and continued.
What would I thank them for? Placing me upon an alter, praying to me, for something they had control over themselves? Believing me to be akin to the kami's above, able to offer them divine intervention in reproduction and healthy children. Not possible even if I wanted to help them believe in that lie. I never spoke to them, nor looked at them, never one to give them any encouragement for believing me something I truly was not. Instead I simply walked away, walked towards the place my heart lead me, between the hills, into the valley, and towards the one I missed with all my broken heart.
Keeping secrets and Working together
Keade was summoned back to the village, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha alone. They remained still in silence, neither one wanting to speak to the other. However Kagome being the more mature youkai, decided that she should initiate a conversation. "I guess we should start looking around for the jewel shards" Inuyasha remained upon his haunches and let lose an exasperated blow.
"we, what's this 'we' business, you broke it, you find it. And when you've found the pieces you'll give 'em to me for safe keeping!" he declared, arms crossed and pouting.
"Inuyasha, I don't like this any more than you do, hell I wish the damn thing was never in my body in the first place. I would rather just go home and be done with this nonsense. But as you rightly said, I broke it, so I'll be the one to fix it". Kagome stated as she started to walk into the forest once more "and for the record Inuyasha, I'll keep a hold of the pieces" she added looking over her shoulder, then continued forward. Inuyasha didn't follow, likely sulking like a immature pup that had been scalded from sneaking into his fathers study late at night, to play 'Lord of the Keep'. Kagome chuckled lightly to herself, recalling how many times he actually had been scalded for loosing important peace treaties, or scribbling on them believing the official signatures to be 'boring' and needed prettying up. The many meetings with nobles and courtesans, having to apologise for the doodles and drawings of his youngest upon such important documents. Many a time Sesshoumaru and herself would laugh for hours over the look on Lord Tashio's face when he had another 'prettied peace treaty' to present.
Her musings brought her to a place that sent chills down her spine. There before her sitting harmlessly in silence, was her prison. Its walls lifting out of the earth as though they sought their prisoner, the vines sweeping across the dead wood, awaiting her to be close enough to snare once more, to hold her there for eternity. The prison of woes, of blood, of tears and endless silence. The dry well of the Dead; or as the humans termed it, The Bone Eaters Well.
Inuyasha had been sitting still awaiting the infuriating bitch to return to him, and hand over what he believed to be rightfully his. Yet she seemed intent on infuriating him further, by doing the complete opposite and not coming back. He huffed, deciding to fetch the woman instead and demand to be obeyed, he stood and followed her peculiar scent. He sniffed, wondering why there was something very familiar about this scent; familiar yet very different. Choosing to push it aside, he continued until he found her.
***
Having felt the pull of a strong demonic aura, tainted with that of a miko, and the presence of the illusive Shikon no tama once again, a lone female demon with a miniature version of herself in the form of a puppet, left the sanctuary of her hideaway. Together they followed the unique and intricately balanced aura's to their ultimate goal - The Shikon no Tama. The youkai held her puppet in her arm almost lovingly, nestled in the crook of her arm. Its ruby red eyes, screaming agony and pure evil, dressed simply in a white yukata, its long black hair pulled into two identical braids. Whereas its real counterpart seemed more flesh flaunting, clothing so black that barely hid anything form the eyes, and hair cropped short that it was almost a polar opposite to that of the puppet. She smirked devilishly, no-one was powerful enough to stop her, from her goals, not even the half-breed she could sense that was following the Shikon no tama's guardian, no she was closer, she would snatch the jewel and do away with the guardian before the retched hanyou appeared.
***
Kagome placed her hands atop the well, feeling the wood underneath her hands, wood that seemed innocent enough, yet held her secrets and her pain within its confines for many decades, and stared deep into the darkness. Her blood turned cold as ice as it raced through her veins, warning every nerve in her body to prepare for attack, as she wasn't alone. Taking in a quiet breath, tasting the scent of the intruder to distinguish it from friend or foe, her eyes narrowed in anger. It appeared a lower class youkai was attempting to take what did not belong to it. Kagome would not allow that, she was its keeper, and that would be the end of it.
She turned slowly until she faced the one who sought her. She stood facing the woman, who appeared to have a grin of victory already spreading across her face. "What do you want youkai?" Kagome asked, knowing full well what it came for, and what it would not have. "The jewel, I know you have it, give it to me and your death with be less painful" she spoke with soft laughter in her voice. "You want this?" Kagome asked puling the fragment of the jewel into her finger and thumb. It twinkled, singing its call of death and false promises. "You naughty, naughty little girl what did you do to the precious jewel?" the demon hissed. Kagome smiled as she answered "I broke it, and I'm in need of venting my frustrations out! You'll do nicely". she eyed up the youkai, circling her in a predatory manner.
The youkai laughed "you, harm me. I am a youkai little girl. I am your better, you human should fear me!" she stated watching the 'human' girl as she continued. This time it was Kagome who laughed as she stopped still, looking over the demon with a desire to vent her earlier frustrations. "Human, I see no humans here" Kagome taunted, she was sick and tired of those who believed the spun tales of her being nothing more than a mere human girl.
"Why don't we cut the crap?" In the blink of an eye, Kagome flowed her demonic aura over her skin, dissolving the illusion until she stood in her demonic form, claws itching to tear something, fangs wanting to sink into flesh. The youkai before her smiled and placed the doll onto the ground before walking towards a sturdy oak tree, sitting against it, then falling lifeless and limp at its base. The doll on the ground roared into life, its ruby eyes cutting into Kagome's soul. "So the legends are true, the Shirei of the Shikon no miko. I never thought you would become the new guardian of the Shikon-no-tama. We are both youkai, why fight against me, against those who are your brethren? Why not find the pieces, reconstitute the jewel. And become our queen? I would be your loyal servant" The youkai drawled. Kagome ground her fangs keeping herself composed enough not to balk at the idea.
"Because unlike you, I hear the lies, the deceit, the false promises. This jewel can give you nothing but sorrow, nothing but pain. You hear what you want to believe. It offers you a body of your own, not one that you are trapped within, and certainly not having to a create a body that moves, because you can't. I hear every lie this small fragment sings, and every lie makes me feel pity towards those of you who are weak enough to listen. I am the guardian, simply because I do not wish anything of this Jewel. I want nothing, I will not give my soul for any false promises. If you were truly a noble demon, you would attain your wants and desires yourself, without having to resort to lowering yourself to these circumstances. Nothing is easy, and certainly not free". Kagome placed the jewel fragment into the small pouch in her Kimono, and took a fighting stance, cracking her knuckles ready for the assault.
The Demon puppet seemed to mill over her words, its small doll like form raising off the ground, levitating in the air, as its aura crackled and pulsed from within. The limp body at the base of the tree suddenly rose and sprang to its feet, it was as Kagome would have expected. The demon puppet was incapable of anything other than talk, the fighting would come from the real 'puppet' the one with claws. It made is first move lunging at Kagome's feet with incredible speed, throwing the earth in plumes of unsettled shrouds of mist. Kagome recoiled instantly, and prepared to strike. Only to stop, her attention turning sharply to the tree line, hissing and cursing beneath her breath.
Inuyasha tore through the trees his knuckles cracking. He coughed as the dust clouded al around him, his eyes unable to define the figures, one he knew was the infuriating woman, Kagome. The other he did not know at all. "Friends of yours wench?" Kagome freely hissed, he couldn't see her for the time being, and she welcomed a short period in which to be herself. "Don't be absurd Inuyasha. This demon puppet and her slave were after the Jewel shard" That was all she had to say, for Inuyasha was instantly attacking the puppet's shadow. Kagome herself went for the Demon puppet. Recalling her youki before Inuyasha saw her, allowing her skin to sizzle with raw miko power once more, she stalked the puppet.
"Just who the hell are you?" Inuyasha yelled as he took a punch to the gut from the puppet shadow. "I am Yura, Yura of the hair" the shadow spoke as she distanced herself from the hanyou. Within her fingers strands of hair stretched out to ensnare him. Not being able to see the attack he was bound; his arms pulled tightly to his chest, and his legs drawn together, another hair draped around his neck. "No fair, I can't see what your doing!" Inuyasha bellowed as he was now unable to attack. Kagome's attention was pulled to him instantly "Inuyasha, the hair, break the Hair!" she called out.
"Hair I don't see any hair" Inuyasha yelled back, trying to break free. He pulled against the puppet Yura, only to be thrown against the great Oak tree behind him, the hair pulling tighter against his body, slowly cutting into his Haori and Hakama to the flesh beneath. "Inuyasha!" Kagome called out seeing him unable to defend himself. Her eyes flashed their demonic crimson as she offered some assistance without being discovered, pulling the hairs around Inuyasha's neck firmly in the other direction. The tension causing them to splinter. Inuyasha heaved himself against the hairs, making them snap, freeing him instantly. Forcing a tremendous amount of miko power and youki together she blasted the demon puppet into oblivion, before falling to the earth on all fours panting from over exertion. Leaving Inuyasha to deal with the puppet's shadow Yura.
"You foolish girl, I can transport my power into this puppet, though it will not last for very long!" Yura yelled, forming hair strands upon her fingers, and a ball of tangled hair between her hands. Inuyasha slashed about blindly, trying to break the clumps of hair that dared to harm him again as he approached Kagome. He shed his Haori, laying it over the fallen woman on the ground "Its made with hair of the Fire rat, it'll offer a little protection whilst I deal with this" he gruffed. Kagome clutched it tighter, she was a youkai, a full youkai. She didn't need such a thing. "But Inuyasha you can't see the hair, you need this more than I do." she replied, trying to remove it. "you're a human female, you need it, trust me" he responded before running off towards Yura.
Kagome remain there on the ground collecting herself, of course, she was a youkai, but she was currently in the body of a human. Inuyasha had simply reminded her of the problem at hand. She silently thanked him, then watched as Inuyasha battled Yura, still blindly slashing at the hair, looking for something his claws could shred. He was hauled up into the air as a clump of black hair pulled him from the ground to Yura's level. More thickened strands wrapped themselves tightly around his ankles and other wrist, seemingly pulling in all four directions at once, applying uncomfortable pressure on his joints.
"so you're the half-breed that's playing fetch with human miko. First the Shikon's master, now the reincarnated shrine maiden, though she's not really a reincarnation of anything, are you dear?" Yura taunted, Kagome growled angrily, her fingernails digging into the ground, Inuyasha heaved against his restraints. "Stop talking as though you know me, I play 'fetch' for no-one, especially not a half-wit human, like that one down there. I'll teach you, I'll make you regret those words, and you'll wish you'd never heard my name, much less seen me!" Inuyasha pulled and heaved with as much strength he could muster, breaking the hair on his ankles and wrist, swinging from the other towards Yura.
They clashed mid air, Inuyasha scraped his claws against her arm tearing the false skin as though it were mere parchment. Yura pulled back allowing the hair around her to reconstitute a new set of skin, she withdrew her short katana, launching herself at Inuyasha, and slashing him across the chest. Kagome was watching helplessly on the ground. She looked around for any sign of a bow and quiver of arrows but found nothing, she would have to resort to showing her 'true self' to Inuyasha, though she really didn't want to do that. Yura made another swing at Inuyasha, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to change once more.
Her youki and Kikyo's miko power clashed forcibly inside her, causing her to retch. Her aura flared angrily neither demonic nor holy, but an amalgamation of both. Equally coinciding with the other, deep tainted blacks and reds swimming with soft pink hues. It was quite a sight, to those who could see, and see Yura could. She halted her attack on Inuyasha and stared at the woman on the ground. Inuyasha turned his amber eyes towards Kagome also, but his hanyou eyes could see nothing of what Yura could.
Though she still stood in the body of a human, Kagome could feel her youki and her miko power coursing just under her skin, alighting a fire so fierce she swore she'd burn herself alive. In actions that were pure instinct she drew her archers arm in an upwards sweeping motion, as If forming a bow. Both Inuyasha and Yura watched in awe and surprise. Kagome flickered her right arm away from her body, allowing her energies to flow to her finger tips and beyond forming a single shaft of pure and tainted light. In a motion that was almost normal to any archer, she had notched and drawn the arrow into the bow, both aimed directly at Yura, the fierce energies singing to one another, both wanting the same goal; To protect and destroy the evil demon that threatened Inuyasha. It was as though Kikyo was standing inside her, under her skin, allowing her to harness and feel the power of a miko first hand, seeing as the miko within wanted to protect her lost love, Kagome merely wanted to protect the hanyou boy she was once guardian to, so in a rare display of joint goals, their powers had combined.
Releasing the arrow as though she'd done it thousands of time before, Kagome aimed for the giant hair ball behind Yura and Inuyasha. The energies from the arrow dissolved the barrier around the lair, causing it to break and fall. the heads of a thousand fallen soldiers and villagers from nearby villages tumbled down, all connected by their hair. Yura cursed as she watched her lair almost destroyed, by the female upon the ground. "That was a miko's sacred arrow. How can you? How was it possible?" She questioned fearfully, turning her gaze back to Kagome who had another flaming energy arrow notched and ready to fire, this one aimed at Yura herself.
Yura pulled on her own demonic power, a red comb from her hair. She lifted it towards the sky sending streams of fire on strands of hair towards Kagome. Inuyasha pulled against his restraints "cover yourself with my haori! It will protect you from the fire!" he yelled out. Kagome fired the arrow she had notched, before droping to the ground, clutching the robe close to her skin. Yura laughed as Kagome huddled underneath, Inuyasha heaving and tossing against his restraints all the more. "pets really shouldn't out live their masters, dog boy!" yura teased as she lauched herself at Inuyahsa once more.
He sword was a mere breath away from Inuyasha's neck, when she halted herself, a hand clutching at her chest as though her heart was being pierced. She dropped her katana, it hissed as it fel towards the ground, landing blade tip in, the hilt swinging to and fro with the force. The hair holding Inuyasha, slackened, placing his own clawed fingers into his bloodied wound, he drenched them with his blood. Then released her own attack on Yura's prone form "Blades of Blood" he yelled as they flew with ferouscity towards Yura, who merely looked at Kagome, face striken with shock.
Kagome lay on the ground, breathing heavily. The bow was no more, but her eyes, her eyes were pure demonic crimson, staring into those rubies that were almost vacant on Yura. Kagome growled low, but low enough for a demon to hear clearly "Never underestimate the power of Daiyoukai-miko hybrid". Yura's body was thrown back as Inuyasha's blades of blood tore into her body, throwing her to the ground with a dull thud. She looked towards her hairball, there was the source of her dimished power. Kagome's arrow was embedded in the crimson skull, the skull that housed her power. It was leaking the rubied liquid that was her essence. She was mortal now, and Inuyasha's blades had cut into her flesh. She hissed at Kagome before dissolving as though she never existed in the first place.
Kagome lay on the cold hard ground, as Inuyasha approached her on unsteady legs, and dropped to the ground beside her. "That was unexpected, nice work Kagome" he smiled before laying down beside her. They both lay there as the sun set slowly in the distance. The forest around them slowly succumbed to shadows, the skies becoming awash with colours of hope and peace. As the moon slowly rose from her slumber. They both remained there in peaceful silence, just allowing themselves to rest.
The scar
Jaken was following his liege his slimy hands gripping the staff of two heads firmly. He was anxious to speak, as when he did, he would encroach upon his Lords thoughts, thus earning him a swift kick to the gut, or being stomped on. But the raw power that had filled the area was too much in order to remain silent. "Milord, what do you suppose that was?" he asked, his eyes turned upwards to his Lord for answers. However his Lord continued to remain silent as ever, his eyes never leaving the changing horizon.
Sesshoumaru had remained silent, for his own thoughts were running as fast as a bull-youkai in full stampede. The power he'd felt was only that of a pure Daiyoukai, one such as himself. But this particular sensation was different, it had the soft caress of a miko's holy energy. He was struggling for answers himself. Either a miko was foolish enough to attempt to purify a Daiyoukai, or they were engaged in a battle for supremacy somewhere in the distance. He wanted to believe the latter, for no miko was powerful enough to maim a full-bloodied Daiyoukai. They could wound them, but not kill them. There was only one miko that possibly may have made a kill upon a Daiyoukai, and that was the Shikon miko, even then, she would have to had used the element of surprise, which did not come with the miko territory. You could sense them a few hundred miles off, which is why lesser youkai kept their distance. Only powerful Daiyoukai such as himself, his sire and the Cardinal Lords, along with their families entered human villages with miko occupants.
The small scar on his hand began to throb, Sesshoumaru brought it to his face, so his eyes could look at it more closely. True enough it was different, the deep blue of the crescent moon had changed to a more softer shade, and was enveloped in a light pink outline. He was baffled, not quite understanding what it was. He made the decision to seek council with his father another time.
Jaken watched his Lord intently, noticing the intrigue on something that was upon his wrist. The toad remained quiet, until his Lord lowered his wrist to his side once again. It was then he noticed it, the small crescent scar under his thumb. Sesshoumaru continued to walk into the forest of Inuyasha ignoring the indications of the scar.
"Milord, are you not going to answer her call?" he asked impishly, not really wanting another beating or swift kick to his aching gut. But he really did not seem to keep his beak shut.
Sesshoumaru ceased walking and glared heatedly upon the toad. "you know what this symbolises?" he asked lifting his wrist to indicate the scar on his wrist.
Jaken's eyes popped wider in astonishment. 'my Lord does not know of the calling mark' Jaken collected himself "Hai Milord, It is the calling mark, the mark given when a female accepts the propositions of a male. It would be the mark your mate gave you milord. It tingles when she is close by, and throbs when she's in danger". Jaken recalled from memory. Then his facial features dropped "You have a mate milord, I have never seen her".
"No Jaken, I have no mate. She died many years ago. This was bestowed upon my person before she died" Sesshoumaru answered shocking the toad into a stupor, for Lord Sesshoumaru never spoke of his personal life beyond his own mother. "She is dead Jaken, you will not bring this matter up again". With that Sesshoumaru walked into the forest towards his half-breed brother, leaving Jaken standing still in his spot looking after his lord.
---ooo---
Well that's the end to another chapter.
I made a mistake in calling Kagome a "Taiyoukai" the correct term is "Daiyoukai" I will go back when I have the time and fix the spelling error. But until then, all references from here on will be written correctly.
In the next one, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru battle for the Tetsuiaga, and Kagome comes face to face with her love once again.
Reviews (seven reviews - Thank you everyone!)
Juusan'ya - As always I'll update and hope to make you smile
FluffyandKagome - I do try to answer questions before they arise, thanks for the review.
Just-let-me-go - I always love your reviews, and I'm sure I've said before, never hit the backspace button, I love the honesty, really makes me laugh. You already know some of the stuff that's going to happen, in relation to expulsion of Kikyo's soul from Kagome's body. But of course its going to be tweaked so it fits to my adaptation. Thank you as always for your review.
ScarlettLove92 - Thank you for the prompt, Yes Sesshy did need to make an appearance, My bad, thank you for letting me know it had been too long between the chapters for the gorgeous Daiyoukai! He has two small fillers in this chapter, but plenty of sesshy action in the next one!
JammyDodger217 - I'm glad to see you know the route in which this story is going to take. And all will be revealed as to what will happen when Kikyo makes a come back into the world of the living.
Leonzite - Thank you for your agreement to not flitting back and fourth between times in this particular fic. And yes those times will be used for 'memories' whether they'll be Sesshoumaru's, Inuyasha's, Kikyo's or Kagome's who knows, I'll leave you guessing.
Ncbeachbabe2004 - As promised, a constructive review receives a dedicated chapter section, and I live for my promises! I hope you approve. Kagome is not going to be bossed about, I forbid it. She may have to act the 'filal dutiful' Shirei but Kikyo's in her body, therefore a little payback is in order.
Until next time!
Ja ne!