Complete Summary: Behind these rotting wooden walls and corroded and warped ceilings lay individuals who are tortured and tormented down to their very souls. Inescapable fates went unabashed, unhealable scars and wounds that ran so deep marred once beautifully creamy skin. Blemishes of the earth, nay- lower than the dirt they walked on and scorned for their association, they await an ultimatum, for an absolution that they all knew would one day come. It was all a matter of when.
NOTES:
This is a DARK fic. It will more than likely have controversial topics and extensive dark scenes. This is a challenging fic for me and written for personal reasons.
Please, if you are underage or too immature to handle dark themes and adult situations, please leave.
WARNING: Character death.
The road had been long and rough. Village to village, she watched as each was burned. Families were either murdered or captured. Fields were pillaged, and markers were placed. Tears had non-stopped streamed from her face as she watched the horrors unfold before her. She had seen death before... she had simply never seen it while in the making.
They had been given scraps for the road. Their open-barred cages were placed in the grass or dirt on the side of the road on occasion so that the prisoners could relieve themselves, then it was right back on the wagon. There were others, like herself, crying, sniffling. The newer ones would plead and snivel, grovel at their feet to be released, but they were only beaten. At some point, a woman was hauled from her cage by the hair. The man who held her laughed at her, undid his sash, and had her face practically smashed into a tree as he had his way with her. This, of course, had effectively quieted anyone who spoke out but not before the outrage from a few of them.
And then they were on their way again.
There was rain. There was even slush and snow at some point. Temperatures had dropped drastically and they had lost a few of them. Mud and a horse slipped, and then a cart of women had been lost to a cliff. Some were beaten to death on the side of the road and left for nature to take its course.
She stayed as docile and boring as possible. After all... the less attention you gave yourself, the less likely it was to happen to you... right? At least, this is what she hoped.
They had finally made it to their destination. And she along with many others were forced to walk in a single file line into a rather foreboding dwelling. Its outer walls seemed to be falling to pieces as if it had been under attack and was now in its crumbling stages. Tents had been placed, guards stationed, and people were milling about. Men, women, and that was it. There was no laughter. There were no children. Just quiet whispering and eyeballing.
And then she was pulled from the line.
She was escorted to a set of double doors and down a few corridors. Up a flight of stairs and around a corner, and a few doors down was their target. The doors opened with a loud groan and she was pushed inside, the doors groaning shut behind her.
"The Shikkon Miko," a voice called ahead of her. She looked up from the ground and saw a man who was in his mid-fifties or sixties. "A jewel in my hands. I am known as Yazuo."
Kagome's face scrunched as she eyed the man. He had somewhat of a belly as he leaned against his throne. His grin was malicious, his eyes lighting up as he took in her figure. "You, my dear, are going to be my new pet."
"Why am I here?" She braved to ask. And at that moment, her stomach began to growl. She had barely eaten anything in the days it had taken to get here. She eyed a table of food next to the man and watched as he plucked one of the many luscious apples from the spread on the table. He was watching her expression, sizing her up. Studying her. His eyes were like a hawk. His relaxed posture was near-mocking. He had unruly greying hair and blue eyes. His entire countenance screamed master.
"Would you like a bite, Miko?" The man said, ignoring her questions. "I assure you, it's divine." He bit into his apple and she watched as juice squirted and trailed down his chin. He stood from his throne and walked toward her, and offered his apple to her. For a moment, she actually considered taking it from his hand and devouring it, core and all. But something stopped her from doing so. "What is your name?" He questioned.
"Kagome," she replied without hesitation, glaring at the man who was just too close for comfort.
"Mmm," he said as he took another bite and began to circle her. "Welcome to my fortress, Kagome. You've no idea the amount of trouble I've had to go through and the time it took to save you from that house of demons."
"Save?" Kagome asked, "As far as I'm concerned, all I saw was murder."
"Ah, yes," he replied, "such is our sacrifices. A shame we have lost so many. And the road to and from here is treacherous in itself, though it does make up for it with security."
"Release me," Kagome said as she fingered the collar at her neck. "I don't know what kind of tricks these things are playing, but I demand to be treated as a human being."
The man's visage changed then. He looked almost delirious, mad. Within seconds he was in her face, holding her jaw and shoving his partially eaten apple in her mouth, stifling a surprised cry that had escaped with the action. "Listen well, Miko," he spat, "you are here because you will make a statement. And you will be here until this fortress falls or you do. Either way, you will remain here. I am the king here. You will obey my every order, or you can get raped and beaten like the rest of them."
He released her jaw then, and the apple fell from her mouth. She choked on the few drops of juice that had gone down the wrong way and cleared her throat. "Then why aren't I with the rest of them?" She asked.
"Because you are my gem, Miko," he replied as he took a seat once more. "You are the Shikkon Miko. As such, you are special."
And with a frown, she was waved away. The doors groaned behind her and she was escorted away from the room and down the hall.
"It's about damned time you arrived," a man said as she entered the room. "You know how long I've been waiting for you?"
The man had similar features to Yazuo. Had it not been for the clear age difference, she would've called them twins. "I assume father told you nothing of why you're here."
It wasn't even remotely a question. She stayed silent, nonetheless, glaring. If his father was anything to go by, this man could be just as intimidating, if not worse. As time seemed to stretch a little too long for her, she studied his posture. Regal. Defined. He was pinpoint perfect and reminded her of a pirate.
"Figures," he said with a click of his tongue, "this is your living quarters. You will be fed once a day. As long as you do what you're told, we won't have any problems." He paused a moment before disgust crinkled across his nose. "Your kind is disgusting. I don't see how Father could collect you all."
"My kind?" She asked with a tilt of her head.
"In my opinion," he said, "you are just as evil as the demons themselves. Made to combat, but even a kind Miko can go dark." He sighed and then walked toward the door, "the only thing your kind is good for is a good rut. Consider yourself lucky that you are among my father's favorites."
He walked toward the door and leaned up against the frame. She turned, her eyes following his figure as he made his way out. "Miko, you should know that if you do not join us willingly and without hassle, there are worse accommodations for you."
Kagome kept her calm for the most part. She wasn't scared off easily, but the trembling in her knees made her seem weak and fragile. "And what, praytell, is your goal?"
The man's wicked smile practically stretched from ear to ear as he turned from her. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He said, turning once again to face out the door. "You'll learn soon enough."
She was never told just why, exactly, she was there.
She was pulled by chains around her wrists through the winding hallways and straight to the cart outside. "I was told to show you what we do around here, Miko," spat the man who carted her into the seat next to him.
She was taken down and escorted to a village a ways away. Her chains were undone and she was given a very cheaply made bow and a single arrow. "You should know, Miko, that should you go against the rules, you will be punished."
With a frown, and not quite understanding what she needed to do, she got out of the carriage. The man, with her at his side, approached another man and woman who had lined up every villager. Kagome's eyes landed on several who were mixed races, and a sudden feeling of dread washed over her. It became clear to her right then, of what they intended to do.
They were going to make a statement.
And it was going to be a horrible one.
And they wanted her to do it.
Each man and woman, lined up side by side, stood with varying apprehensive looks. Some were solemn, others looked near-tortured. Looking further down, she could see children, huddled together to the side- separated from their parents.
Her face grew pale as their voices rose. "Hear me!" Said the woman they had come to a stop next to, "Your actions have been recognized as treasonous and you will be paying the ultimate price for it!" She walked over to one of the children and dragged them out by the scruff of their neck. It was a young rabbit demon, no bigger than Shippou. Her floppy ears and massive feet were a dead giveaway. The woman threw the little one down at Kagome's feet and Kagome could already feel the sting of tears threatening to fall.
She trembled. What could she do? She couldn't just sit there... could she? She definitely couldn't kill her... and she wouldn't even try. Protecting her would likely kill them both.
"Kill it," the man ordered.
Her head whipped around to him and her eyes narrowed, "What?"
"Kill it," he repeated, and she could hear the sudden silence from all of the villagers.
"No," she said, "what's the point? She's still young and can't even defend herself yet." Kagome said with venom in her voice. She knew, then, what she would do, even if it killed her.
"Why do you hesitate?" The man said, "Look at it. Put it out of its misery."
Kagome took a moment to look down at the trembling little demon. Her eyes were wide, tears already spilling from her wide eyes as she stared up at her. "I won't do it," Kagome said with finality in her voice as she took a deep breath and faced the man.
And then suddenly, pain ripped through her neck, slowly at first before it spread to her shoulders, creeping along her spine and forcing her to her knees. "You will obey, Miko, at some point or other."
And then he stalked closer to the rabbit, and she put her arms around the girl just moments before her left arm was struck. Blood fell in gushing rivulets, soaking her sleeve and tainting the rabbit's white fur. She looked up at the man, defiance still in her eyes as she shielded the girl.
"Move," was her only command as he pulled a whip from his hip. She hadn't even noticed it till right then. He cracked the whip, whether it was to intimidate her or just scare her into complying, she wouldn't know. She caught glimpses of the quiet crowd as they stared at her with mixed reactions to the man's commands. Their eyes silently pleaded with her. And she caught sight of her family. Short, but stark white against the myriad of colors around them. Their eyes, wide as saucers, the ears, all drooping as they watched.
The man cracked his whip at her and she hid her face behind her bleeding arm, and her left side was struck. "I need you to run," Kagome whispered. "I don't know if you will live, but you need to run when I release you."
"Okay," came her whispered stutter. So soft and meek.
"Now! Miko!" The man yelled. At this point, Kagome's labored breathing made itself known. The pain shooting throughout her body was enough to make her want to faint, but she refused until she knew she could save the child. If no one else, at least the child.
Kagome stood to full height on shaking legs. And the man cracked his whip at her, striking her in the cheek, but preventing his view of the girl. Thanks to her billowing sleeves, her clothing hid the girl from their view well. It was until the man grabbed her by her collar and pulled her close to his face that she could see the anger boiling beneath his surface. "You will learn your place, Miko."
Kagome struggled to get out of his grip as her bow and arrow fell to the ground, discarded.
She wrapped her hands around the man's wrist that held her, nearly lifting her from the ground. She could feel the eyes of those who wanted to help but couldn't. She could hear the thundering of her own heartbeat in her ears.
And then she was thrown to the ground. And she couldn't get back up. Her energy was completely sapped. And she could see the little girl behind her, a good distance away. Her smile began to stretch across her face, and she was happy as she watched her run through the fields and towards the forest beyond. Rabbits were fast as hell. She could hear the cries of relief behind her as the little girl reached the edge of the forest.
And then... the girl dropped. Everything stood still as an arrow pierced the little girl's back. The smile that had stretched across her face just moments before wavered, and her eyes, still wide, watered instantly.
"Would anyone else like to disobey my orders today?" Kagome heard him. She knew she heard him. She couldn't comprehend anything other than the small rabbit a ways away. Unmoving.
Shippou. Her child came to mind. Unmoving in Sesshomaru's arms. Limp as he fell to the ground unceremoniously. She swallowed thickly, a lump in her throat catching as her breathing turned to hyperventilation. She wanted to remain calm. She wanted, more than anything, to have saved that child from her fate. She wanted... many things in that particular moment. Tears spilled from her eyes in rivers as she stared off in the distance to the little blot of white in the fields.
And all of a sudden, she was dragged upward by her hair and thrown back onto the cart. Her tears went unbidden. She stared at her trembling hands- in the end, she could do nothing.
My apologies for SUCH a late chapter! Geezus- sometimes I hate real life. O.o I hope nobody has to wait nearly as long for the next chapter... :/ I technically had this chapter written up all the way back in, I think, February, and just never had the chance to post it. I feel guilty cuz I literally could've just POSTED it. A few clicks was all it takes and yet... I got lazy. The real world straight-up wore me out and I feel like I'm finally getting back into the swing of things.
See you guys in the next chapter!