Chapter XXXVI Vermillion
Part One
This chapter is both a tribute to Inuyasha, Shin and Kikyo. Both the name and song of vermillion seems perfect for their tribute. Involving Inuyasha pitiful denial and fantasy world, Kikyo's false existence, and Shin's troubled inner self ("I won't let this built up inside of me.") Well enjoy it everyone!
'She seems dressed in all the rings
Of past fatalities
So fragile yet so devious
She continues to see
Climatic hands that press
Her temples and my chest
Enter the night that she came home
Forever
Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)
She is everything and more
The solemn hypnotic
I get nervous, perverse when I see her, its worse
but the stress is astounding
it's now or never she's coming home
forever
Hard to say what caught my attention
Vixen crazy, Aphid Attraction
Carve my name in my face, to recognize
such a pheromone cult to terrorize
I'm a slave, and I am a master
No restraints and, unchecked collectors
I exist through my need, to self-oblige
She is something in me, that I despise
She isn't real; I can't make her real…'
Inuyasha crashed into the front doors of the castle and broken through the shoji screens. "Naraku!!" shouted Inuyasha as he sniffed the area, trying to find any trace of the dark hanyou.
Running down the halls and passing by the rooms, he searched…Yet nothing…no scent nor proof he was here.
Then he smelled it, the faint scent of almonds and graveyard soil…
'It can't be…' thought the hanyou as he entered the last room.
The two women sat on the grassy hillside and waited; watching the castle and for any sign of Inuyasha, Miroku or Sesshomaru. Shin waited at the base of the hill, standing firm and ready…ready for needed protecting or assistance.
"I wonder if Shin is ok…" whispered Sango to Kagome as she looked at the half demon.
Kagome agreed, 'He's been so tense every since he returned from getting his sword…I wonder what happened…'
Sesshomaru and Miroku soon followed the trail covered with scattered debris of broken screens and clawed walls. "This is strange, I can sense neither any demonic aura nor evil in this palace…" said Miroku as he walked beside the Demon lord.
"Hmm…" mumbled Sesshomaru as he scanned the area. 'Indeed…it is strange…I detect no trace of him…yet somewhere in here…it's faint, I can smell it…the scent of death…'
Just then at the corner of Miroku's eyes he saw a glimpse of pure white. He quickly turned and saw nothing. He froze in horror, 'Just what was that…?'
Sesshomaru stopped and looked at the monk then in the direction he was looking at.
"Is there something there, monk?" asked the Demon lord.
"N-No…I suppose not, I must have imagined it…" Miroku said with an awkward sigh as he continued on.
Soon as they left, in the dark corners appeared the white mu demon girl. Her black void eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly vanished. 'Fate is left undone…'
"K-Kikyo…" Inuyasha said in shocked.
The dead miko smirked wry-ishly. "Hmm…Disappointed? Were you expecting someone else?" Kikyo said viciously.
Inuyasha's eyes glistened, "Kikyo…"
"Please Kikyo! Join me and the others…We can fight Naraku, we can beat him if we band together!" Inuyasha said as he reached out to her.
"You don't have to fight alone!" Inuyasha said almost pleadingly.
The dead miko lowered her head; she grinned widely then began to laugh as she threw her head back. It was wicked almost a dark manic laugh that escaped from her pale lips. Lifting her frail hand covering over her mouth to hide her cruel smile, she looked at the hanyou, "My…my…you are indeed a fool! Inuyasha!" said Kikyo.
'What is she talking about?' thought Inuyasha, as his instincts screamed at him to run, but he couldn't…this was Kikyo…
'No…it's…it's…' Inuyasha couldn't admit it…He looked at his former lover with confused and pleading eyes…
"Kikyo…What are you saying?" asked the hanyou as he walked to her, step by step.
Kikyo glared at him, "Not one step further!" shouted the dead miko.
Inuyasha tensed up as he stopped in his tracks. Clenching his fist, he just couldn't take it…!
"No!!" cried out the hanyou as he raced to Kikyo. Embracing the woman tightly as he held back a sob. "No!! I will not stop, nor run away…Kikyo…I can't let you go through this!" choked Inuyasha as he buried his face into her hair.
Kikyo's eyes glistened softly…
"It's too late…" lightly whispered the dead miko as the sudden sound of ripping-tearing flesh was heard and the sharp yelp of pain echoed through the castle.
Sesshomaru and Miroku stopped, "Inuyasha!" called out the monk as he raced down the darken halls.
Everyone outside jerked their heads towards the castle.
"Inuyasha!" gasped Kagome.
Just then Shin raced to the front gates, "Ah! Shin!" called out Sango.
"What should we do? Should we follow?" asked Kagome.
"Hmm…" nodded the demon slayer. "Kirara stay here…" ordered Sango as she and Kagome ran down the hill.
"A-gah…K…Kikyo…" burbled out the hanyou as he clinging to her clothes, and then slowly fell to the ground. Gripping at his deep wound from his stomach he cringed as he looked up at the dead miko.
She stared down at him, no remorse nor any other emotion shone throughout her features, dull brown orbs stare coldly at him.
"It would seem the poison worked; even if you are a half breed…It can still be fatal…" Kikyo said stoically.
"Wha…what are you talking about…Nnn…" said Inuyasha as he hunched over then fell to his knees in agony.
"I dipped this dagger in a bowl of deadly poison, almost lethal for a full-blooded demon. Even more for a human, so just imagine…what it's doing to you…Causing you a slow and painful death, just as I went through…" said Kikyo as she lowered herself to one knee, hovering over Inuyasha. She traced her fingers along his cheek, slowly lifting his head up. "Do not worry…my love…you shall avenge me…and then we can be together forever in hell…" Kikyo said darkly.
Miroku and Sesshomaru ran through the hallways then noticed up ahead something small and glowing figure dressed in a soft white.
"Kanna!" called out Miroku as he held his right hand, preparing to unleash his wind tunnel.
"This one…knows only one way-too defeat Naraku…" Kanna said unusually erratically.
"What…?" questioned Miroku.
Kanna then waved her hand, asking them to follow her. Her light steps ventured into a small room, the two followed. And there in the middle of the room was a blue-ish crystal-like ball. It seemed to almost be alive, as it pulsated and vast dark colors swirling the center.
"What is it?" asked Sesshomaru.
"This…is Naraku's heart…" Kanna said wearily as she then fell to the ground, dropping her mirror as it shattered into thousands of little pieces.
"Ah!" Miroku ran to the mu demon girl, picking her up, Miroku then hesitated. The ceilings and walls were shaking, the building was about to collapse!
"Come on!" yelled out Miroku as he held the demon girl.
"Wait!" called out Sesshomaru.
Miroku turned around, he noticed the Demon lord staring at the precious stone.
"Take it!" yelled out the monk.
Sesshomaru was slightly uneasy, there in his view was Naraku's most vulnerable weakness…Yet something was holding him back…What was it?
A loud scream was heard, "Kagome!?" Sesshomaru said as she ran to her aid.
"Nnn…Sesshomaru-Sama!!" called out Miroku.
Looking back at the blue-ish ball, he couldn't carry it and the girl at the same time. He had to make a choice…
"Forgive me…" Miroku whispered.
"AHHH!" cried out Kagome as she and Sango were trapped by a huge wooden beam blocking them from any way of getting out.
Just then a green whip zoomed through the air and slicing the wooden timber in half.
"Ah! Sesshomaru!" cried out Kagome as she hugged the Demon lord.
"Where is Inuyasha?" asked Sango.
"He is still further into the palace." Said Sesshomaru.
"Hmm, maybe Inuyasha and Shin already made it out!" Kagome said.
"Come on, let's go." The Demon lord said as he carried both Sango and Kagome out to safety.
Pieces of wood chipped and broke off the ceiling, falling on to the rotting ground, as Inuyasha still held on from the pain. Kikyo leaned closer to him, "Oh Inuyasha…you were always so strong and stubborn, even in near death you'll never admit it won't you?" Kikyo said as she trailed the dagger over his throat and across his collarbone. He hissed at the stinging pain. Even barely touching the skin it still hurt immensely. The strong burning sensation created from the poison formed a dark rash against his flesh. Kikyo laughed darkly as she continued to torture him; pleased of the pain she was conflicting on him.
As Sesshomaru, Sango, Kagome got outside and away from the castle Kagome turned and saw Miroku close behind. And in his arms was Kanna.
"Miroku! What are you doing?!" asked Sango, troubled by the fact the monk was saving one of Naraku's incarnations.
"It's alright…she helped us…" Miroku said calmly as he looked down at the mu demon girl still unconscious.
Sesshomaru then sensed something, the smell of burning wood and ash, he looked up and at the top of the castle's wall was a blazing fire.
The rest of the group looked up worried; will Shin and Inuyasha make it out?
Sesshomaru then sighed deeply to himself, "I am going back in…"
"What?! Sesshomaru!" Kagome said with deep concern.
"Do not worry, my kimono too has the threads made from the fire rat, I will not be harmed by the flames…" Sesshomaru said actuality.
Kagome nodded as she watched the Demon lord walked back into the burning building.
'Please be safe…' prated Kagome as she clenched her heart.
This is probably my biggest cliffie yet, sorry I am cutting right at the good stuff…I will make this into two parts! Stay tune for the next chapter, and please review!!
Upcoming Chapter:
Chapter XXXVII (Vermillion) Part Two: Hell In Her Eyes