Hey! Sorry I took so long. I was waiting for more reviews. Anyway, I've been working on my major update, and I'm having a problem deciding which new fic I wanna use. I've started so many and I could easily write any one of them. Help!! Please!!!
Note, this chapter may be slightly boring, since the Inuyasha-tachi isn't there for most of it, but please bear with me. This chapter isn't one of my greatest, but the next few will really get things going.
Disclaimer: I still have…only five dollars. I'm broke…wait…never mind, but I will be soon, you can count on it. Get it? Count? Hahahaha…oh it's not that funny. I've been playing Threads of Fate on the PS. I don't have a PS2, since, as you can see, I'm usually in debt or broke…or I only have five freakin dollars! But anyway, it's a great game^.^ Play it!
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*When a slip occurs, it's not unnatural for there to be strange things that happen. Unexplainable things happen during a slip, because matter itself has to be fixed in order for it to work. The fabric of all life, time, space, is being repaired. A slip in fate can cause a rip in space, which leads to places you couldn't even begin to imagine. It's all so strange, but that could explain why people see ghosts, why there are haunted places. When a slip occurs, everything changes and rearranges to compensate for the loss. It's hard to understand and grasp, but things aren't as easy as we like to pretend they are. There is so much more than just life itself. There is fate, there is destiny, there is time, there is space, there is the past, present, and future, and then kokoro, the human soul. It's all too much to understand. Nothing is simple, but that's the point. If it was simple, we'd all just get bored. And no one likes being bored.*
It was morning and the Inuyasha-tachi decided to continue their search. They were currently walking through the forest, going towards the place Myoga had talked about. Inuyasha was walking in front with Myoga sitting on his shoulder. Kagome was behind him, holding Shippo. Kirara had transformed and was currently carrying the two injured members on her back. Miroku sat in front and Sango was behind him, since she had been injured worse than he had. His ankle was the only thing bugging him.
"Well, Myoga-jiji, where is it?" asked Inuyasha.
"It should be right about here," said Myoga. As if on cue, the scar appeared. It was like a scar in the very fabric of matter. It was highly interesting.
"It must lead to the place where Yume is," said Kagome.
"Well then, let's go. We need to end this now," stated Inuyasha. He took a step forward, but the gap suddenly exploded with light. They all had to shield their eyes from it. When the light cleared, the hole was gone. The forest had returned completely to normal. "N-nani? Nande Kuso?" shouted Inuyasha. "The hole is gone!"
"Hmmm…there must be something that triggers the hole to open," said Myoga.
"Oh, really? I never would have guessed," said Inuyasha in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, what should we do?" asked Miroku. All eyes were on Inuyasha, making him uncomfortable.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"What should we do, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome. Inuyasha crossed his arms and thought it over.
"Well…maybe we should wait here. The hole has to open again sometime. If we wait long enough, maybe we'll see it." They all nodded. It was settled. They would wait around for a few days to see if the hole would open. This would also give them time to come up with a strategy and for Miroku and Sango to heal their wounds. They all sat down as Kagome decided to get lunch ready.
******
In Yume's thrown room, all three girls were still lying on the floor. Suddenly, Yume's body pulsed and she opened her eyes. 'The slip must be over,' she thought to herself. She pushed herself up and then looked around. Siria and Cycil were lying next to her. They were both still unconscious.
"Siria! Cycil! Wake up!" shouted Yume. Both girls slowly stirred and then opened their eyes. Both of them sat up and then looked down at the kiseki stones. They placed them back where they had taken them out of and smiled. Both girls turned to Yume.
"We did it!" said Siria happily.
"We saved you!" said Cycil with the same cheerfulness. Yume couldn't help but smile. She didn't see this coming. For a minute there, she had actually thought she was going to die. Yume felt something in the back of her throat and she couldn't hold it back. She began to laugh quietly, but it soon erupted into joyful laughter. Cycil and Siria soon began to laugh as well. They weren't sure why, but it felt amazing. None of them had laughed like that before. Yume couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard, and Cycil had never laughed like this. The last time Siria had was after she had met Seidou and stayed in their village. It was all ironic. Three women, one a youkai, one a ningen, and one was neither, but a hateshi. They had all been thrown together in a bizarre twist of fate and they were determined to make it through together. But fate is uncertain, and none of them knew what was about to happen. Maybe that's what they were laughing about. The irony of fate, of freedom, of destiny. It was worth laughing about. Eventually, their laughter subsided, and they were left with only smiles on their faces.
"Arigatou, Siria, Cycil, you save my life."
"You saved us, Yume. We were just returning the favor," replied Cycil.
"Yep," agreed Siria. Yume just stood up and walked back over to her thrown. She took her seat and looked at her two rising subjects. No…they were her friends.
"We need to get to work now," said Yume. Both Siria and Cycil nodded. "The slip is over. We have things to do now. I'll notify you when I need you." They both nodded and then walked away into the darkness.
"I'm gonna head out for a while," said Cycil as she turned a different way from Siria.
"Alright, but you better come back this time. I don't want to have to go looking for you again," replied Siria. Cycil just smiled as she turned the corner and disappeared into the darkness once again.
******
Cycil flew through the air, traveling at near impossible speeds. She was in dire need of some fresh air. Her dream had gotten her thinking. 'Am I…just a tool? The devil of the hateshi…the devil…is that what I am? I'm nothing more than…a tool used for slaughter. I'm nothing…just a tool, demo…Yume…she treats me differently. She's my friend. She's different from the other hateshi. They used me for all the wrong reasons. From now on, I won't take a single life unless Yume tells me too. Unless it's for her, I will refuse to kill. Maybe I can live my life as a ningen. I may not look like one, but I can try. The question is…will the human world accept me?' Cycil spotted a small valley and decided to take a break. She was tired of flying and just wanted to sit down for a while. She folded her wings, and after a few cracking sounds, they disappeared within her. She looked around at the flowers that covered the grassy field. She was sitting on a small hill that overlooked a field. A little ways away was a village that she had spotted before she had landed.
"It's been a while since I've been able to come to a place like this. I remember my parents used to love places like this one. Such odd youkai. But then…" She closed her eyes as painful memories began to flow back to her mind. Her parents had been killed in front of her by an oni group. She was completely alone after that. That is, until Suteki found her. Then her life became a never-ending cycle of blood and death. She hated it and tried so hard to shut it out, but everything reminded her.
"Excuse me…" whispered a small voice behind her. Cycil turned around to see a little girl, dressed in a brown and blue kimono. Her black hair hung down to her shoulders. Her eyes were a gray, hazel color. Cycil didn't know what to say. No human had approached her like this for a long time.
"What…is it?" Cycil asked slowly, as if she was unsure.
"I came out here to pick flowers and I got lost. Do you know where the village is?" asked the little girl.
"I…I…" she stuttered. It was such an odd experience for her.
"There's no need to be nervous, miss. If you don't know, that's okay. I can find it." The little girl began to walk away, down the slope of the hill. Cycil wasn't sure what to do, but she knew she couldn't let the girl go on her own.
"Matte!" she yelled. The child turned around and looked at her.
"Nani?" Cycil stood up and walked over to her.
"It's not safe to go alone. You'll have to pass through the forest."
"But then how will I get home?" Cycil paused for a moment. She couldn't leave her like this. Well, she could, but that wouldn't be right. And something inside her wasn't going to let her walk away like that.
"I…I can take you. I'll bring you back to your village."
"Really?" The girl's eyes became full of excitement and she smiled brightly at Cycil, causing a smile to grace the youkais' face.
"Sure. What's your name, kid?"
"It's Yuki."
"I'm Cycil." She walked up to Yuki and then began to head towards the forest. The little girl gripped her hand, which shocked Cycil. Her hands. Her blood stained hands. The same hands that had killed hundreds were now being held by a child like this. This little girl didn't seem to care at all. Cycil looked down at her other clawed hand. 'If this little girl doesn't care then…who knows? Maybe there is a place for a youkai in a world of humans.'
******
"Yume," said Siria. Yume looked towards the darkness and watched as the crimson haired ningen walked out from the shadows. "I want you to answer a question for me."
"What is it?"
"I want to know why you're doing this. Why do you send warnings to Sango-sama when you want them to die anyway? What's the point?" Yume closed her eyes and lowered her head. That was a good question, and it wouldn't be easy to answer.
"Siria…let me tell you something. A story, if you will. A long time ago, people used to believe in kokoro. They believed that the mind, heart, spirit, and will were all the same thing, but that theory was proven wrong. They are four different components of the human soul. The essence is the fifth. It's hard to explain in words, but there are people who are torn between what their hearts want them to do and what they have to do. Right now, my heart is telling me that I don't want them to die, but my duty is to kill them. I'm torn between what I want and my duty as one of the hateshi…as a dream weaver. So please understand. I would save them if I could, but what I have to do comes first."
"Then why did you befriend them? Why did you do this when you knew you'd get hurt in the end?"
"Siria…you've been hurt before, haven't you?"
"…" Siria turned her head away and cast her eyes to the ground.
"Siria…why does anyone get close to another? There is always the chance of heartbreak, but you need to understand that it's worth feeling. It's worth the pain to just have a moment of comfort…a moment of peace. Everyone will end up alone in the end, but it's how it happens that makes it hard or not. Everyone needs to have friends, and even if I get hurt in the end, I will try to do everything I can to prevent it. Also…I did this for a test."
"A test?"
"There are things in this world that I can't understand, but I want to see if they can do it. I want to know why slips happen with these people. There's a reason, and I plan to figure it out. I believe in them, and I will help them the best I can. Who knows? Maybe I can defy fate."
"Defy…fate?"
"Hai. I know it's impossible to do, but I will try. As a hateshi, iya…as Yume…I will try." Siria lifted her head and looked into Yume's eyes. They were determined, yet frightened at the same time. Siria nodded.
"I believe in you, Yume. I'll follow you no matter what you decide. I trust you." Yume smiled.
"Siria…I see you've started using my name."
"Hai," Siria said sheepishly.
"For that…I thank you. It makes me feel like I'm the same as you. Don't hold me any higher than you would yourself, alright?"
"Hai. Arigatou. I think I understand things better now. I'll be leaving." She bowed her head and then left the area. She was going to go out for a while.
******
A snake like youkai cried out as it was cut up by another's claws. As it fell, Cycil stood, her hand still in the swipe that had ended the youkai's life. Yuki was standing behind her. More youkai were coming and Cycil was doing her best to keep them at bay.
"Yuki," she said in a quiet yet firm voice. "I want you to run. The village isn't far from here. Get out of the forest and then wait for me. I'll be there soon, alright?"
"Iya. I…I'm scared."
"It'll be alright, I promise. Now go."
"Demo…"
"Go!" Cycil lunged at another youkai, swiping at it with her claws. Yuki made a mad dash passed the youkai that were going for Cycil. She was ducking in and out of the bushes to keep hidden and it was working. Cycil stole a glance in that direction and smiled. She then finished off the youkai she was dealing with. 'There isn't a slip this time, so I'm back to my full strength. I won't be defeated so easily this time.' She stood strait and then crossed her arms. She then spread them out in one quick motion, and her wings came out as well. She flapped her wings and then lifted off the ground slightly.
"You're going to be sorry you messed with me," she said. She pointed her finger at one of the youkai and shot off a blast of youki. It pierced the youkai, who fell to the ground, dead on the spot. The others looked down at it and then back up at Cycil. "Go ahead, come at me, that is…unless you value your life." The youkai ran back off into the forest and Cycil landed, withdrawing her wings again. She looked down at her hands. They were soaked in youkai blood. She was a youkai who killed her own kind. But didn't all youkai? Kill or be killed. That was the rule in the youkai world. But in the human world…things were different. Cycil began to walk down the path that Yuki had taken. She soon found herself out of the forest and into a clearing. Yuki was waiting there for her. She ran up to her and then stopped, noticing the blood on her hands. Cycil looked down and tried to hide her clawed and crimson hands. She started to wipe the blood off of one of them.
"Cycil…what are you?" asked Yuki, looking up into Cycil's crimson eyes.
"I…I'm a…"
"You're a youkai, aren't you?" Cycil chocked a little at that and lowered her head even more.
"Yes…I'm a youkai." 'I knew it…there isn't room for a youkai in a human's world.'
"Cycil…you said you'd take me back to my village. Let's go." Cycil lifted her head to meet Yuki's eyes. They were pleading and seemed full of joy for some reason.
"Aren't you scared of me?" Yuki simply shook her head.
"Why would I be? You helped me, remember?" Cycil didn't know what to say. This little girl wasn't afraid of her, even though she was a youkai. It didn't make sense. Yuki grabbed onto Cycil's hand, the one that wasn't soaked in blood. She began to pull her towards the village. "We should get going now. Come on." Cycil looked at her hand that was being grasped by Yuki. 'She's not…afraid of me? Is it possible? But I'm a youkai. Humans are afraid of youkai, but she isn't…well, she is, but she's not afraid of me. Why? I don't get it? My hands are the ones stained with blood…my hands have been…and yet she's…I don't get it.' Cycil let Yuki lead her off towards the village.
******
It was dark now. The Inuyasha-tachi had waited around all day, but the hole didn't appear again. Inuyasha wasn't in a very good mood. They had wasted the entire day doing nothing. However, it had been a very relaxing day. Kagome had been reading her books, Shippo and Kirara had played in the stream while Sango sat and watched them. She hadn't been allowed to do much moving. Miroku had walked around even though Kagome and Sango had told him not to. He wanted to explore the forest for a while, so they had let him. Now, since it was late, they were all resting quietly. Inuyasha was even asleep this time. Nothing had attacked them all day, so they decided to all get a good nights sleep in case the hole appeared again. Inuyasha was sleeping on a tree branch above Kagome, who was sleeping comfortably in her sleeping bag. Sango was sleeping on the other side of the campfire. She seemed comfortable and at peace as she slept. Miroku was leaning against a tree. He, too, was sleeping peacefully. However, a shadow was lurking nearby their camp. It passed over Kagome, who suddenly shifted from the change in lighting. The moment of darkness from the shadow caused her to awaken. She looked around for what it had been, but saw nothing, so she stood up quietly and walked a little ways away from camp. She stopped when she saw who was standing in front of her. The wind blew by gently, tossing the girl's crimson hair. Her sword was at her side as always and she had her back to Kagome. The miko didn't know what to do. If she moved, Siria would hear her and if she just stood still, Siria would eventually turn to see her. Either way, she was going to get caught.
"Kagome-san," spoke Siria without even turning around. "I know you're there. It's alright." She turned her head and glanced back at the miko. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"Then why did you come here?"
"To…remember."
"To remember what?"
"The day I lost everything. The day I became who I am now. The day the hateshi, Suteki, did this to me. She made me what I am. She gave me this name."
"Siria-san…gomen ne."
"Don't feel sorry for me. It's my fault this happened. I wasn't strong enough to save the one person I cared about the most. He died right here, in this forest. I was powerless to save him. If it hadn't been for me…he would have lived. He was my best friend, and I let him down. I will never forgive myself." Kagome didn't know what to say. There was so much about Siria that she didn't understand. "I'm going to find a place someday. I'm going to find a place where I belong. Every town I've ever lived in has been destroyed. It's my destiny to be alone, and I was doing a good job at following that destiny. Then I met Yume, and she gave me a purpose. She gave me a life. I couldn't be happier, unless…I had them back. My okaa-san, my ji-chan…Shiro-sama, Seidou…all of them. If only I had been stronger. I could have protected them."
"Siria-san…I didn't know. Demo, why are you telling me all of this?"
"I don't know. Maybe because you're the only one who will listen to me? The rest of them hate me. I just needed someone to talk to, that's all. You're a lucky girl, Kagome-san. You have friends who care about you and love you. They'd lay their lives down for you in a heartbeat. I used to have people who would do that for me, but now…I'm not so sure."
"What about Cycil and Yume?"
"Cycil would bail me out if I were in trouble, and Yume…well…yes…I guess you're right, Kagome-san. I do have friends who would do that for me." A smile spread across her face. "Arigatou, Kagome-san. You've really helped me. I think I'll be going now. There's someone I need to look for." And with that, she walked off into the forest, just as quietly as she had come. Kagome turned around and headed back towards the camp. 'I hope you find what you're looking for, Siria-san. I've found what I'm looking for. Friends who love me no matter what, and I also have Inuyasha. I hope you find the person you're looking for.' And with that, Kagome got back into her sleeping bag and fell into a peaceful sleep.
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See? It's just a nice, boring, filler chapter. The next one will be better, I promise. And it'll be up on the 4th, so wait for it, okay? It's part of my major update. Okay?
Nande kuso –what the h*ll
Yuki –her name means snow
Well, that's all for now. Like I said, on the 4th, okay?
Bye for now!
