Despair
Chapter One
*~^One who Lives in Despair
"Get up!" I heard a loud voice yell. I was half asleep and actually didn't feel exhausted to death for once. I simply moaned and rolled over. Bad move. I yelped loudly as a leg hit my back, hurting it more than it already was.
"I said get your ass out of bed! If you do that again we won't feed you!" I heard his threat and was up in an instant. Even if I was strong, I had no idea how to hunt. I quickly pulled on the kimono provided. The edges were singed from the fire work I'd done in my previous years. There were cuts and tears everywhere. It hadn't been washed in years. But, I suppose I should be grateful. At least they don't kill me.
I noticed the man with a strange look on his face. "Sir?" I asked. I grimaced at the thought of what job I would have to do today.
"There is word that there is a group of travelers headed this way. You shall treat them with respect and be rewarded. However, we hear they carry Shikon shards. Kill them, and retrieve the shards. We know your power, you can handle them."
I bowed my head nodding.
"And Tsukiko," I looked up as he threw something at me. My hands dropped slightly as a large pouch landed in them. I gasped as I opened it at all the money.
"That's the money we owe you from the past two years. Use it to clean yourself up."
I didn't smile. I didn't want money. I wanted freedom. I wanted the Shikon jewel for myself and become human. The reason I was treated so badly. The reason I often cut my hair. The reason I was tortured. I was hanyou. Yep, that's right. A fucking hanyou. Rejected, used, and abused. And abused in both ways. But one thing I didn't get. No matter how much I cut my hair, it grew back the next day. It reached my hips and a little ways on. It was a silvery color. I had two ears on my head resembling a dog. I never knew who my parents were. This village just happened to find me in the middle of the woods one day.
"Tsukiko!" a slap across my face broke me from my trance. I quickly nodded my head and ran out.
*~^Kagome
"Osuwari!" I screamed pulling Shippo from Inuyasha's clutches. I heard his muffled cry but could care less. All I knew is that Shippo was crying and he had a bump on his head.
"Honestly, Inuyasha!" I scolded him as if he were a child. "Can we please get moving? At the rate we're going we'll never get to the village!"
*~^Tsukiko
A whole day had passed. I had already run out of money but had gotten more from pleasuring men. I hated doing it, but it was money. Besides, at least I never went far enough to bear a child. They always quit and gave me money. I believed they just didn't want a demon child on their hands.
I noticed a cry for my name as one of the children yelled. It was a cry of laughter and I watched sadly.
"Ketsui!" I called out to their attacker. The fire-cat stopped and looked up at me. His, yes-his, fur was a dark jet black. But the fur on his ears, feet, and swirls on his tails were red. He had two tails. He also had a red diamond on his head. His eyes matched the red fur he had. I didn't know much about him. He'd shown up one day and my master was about to kill it when I suggested it be used as like a guard. He asked me how such a small pathetic neko youkai could do. Then, out of the blue, a bright orange flame surrounded him and he'd transformed into a large fire cat.
"Ketsui! Come here!" I cried. Ketsui ran to me and let out a huff of air though his nose in an attempt to comfort me.
"Tsukiko! They are here!" I heard them yell out. I gasped realizing I was late and sped down the hill. I didn't pay attention only noted that there were five.
"Excuse-" I shrieked as I tripped falling flat on my face. I heard the man yell angrily pulling me up by my hair. I cried out unable to hold back the tears.
"Please, forgive me! I'll-"
Suddenly I was dropped. I kept my face in my arms hoping to just die. I was tired of the ridicule. I had just shamed myself in front of five people and-wait...what's that smell?
"Don't pick on her," I heard a soft voice. I recognized the scent of a miko. I heard a meow and expected Ketsui to me in front of me. I felt someone pick me up but I kept my eyes shut tight. I heard gasps all around me, obviously the guests.
"She's a-" I heard the one holding me say but stopped as I opened my eyes. I saw a monk holding me. I looked to my side and noticed a woman that smelled like a miko in strange clothing. There was another woman who had the scent of battle around her. A small kitsune child perched on her shoulder.
"Hanyou," I turned around at the voice and gasped. Another hanyou-like me. Only it was a boy around my age. A cat demon jumped up on his shoulder meowing again. The monk set me down and I slowly walked in front of the hanyou. I felt Ketsui jump onto my shoulder. Just as I was about to speak I felt the yank on my hair again pulling me back. I saw my master leading another girl to them pulling me away.
"All right Tsukiko, since you just made a fool of yourself you won't get your reward. But you can make it up for one of our guests."
I sighed realizing I had my common job again. I was grateful, however, that I was given a second chance. A second chance was suppose to be better than death right?-Not for me.
*~^Inuyasha
We were almost to the village-FINALLY! I wouldn't admit it, but my feet were killing me. I smirked at Kirara when she kept jumping at me trying to bite the hilt of Tetsusaiga. I knew she was as bored as us.
"Excuse-" I heard a girl call out before tripping right in front of us. I wanted to laugh at first, but then I noticed, her hair was silver. I knew that wasn't normal, nor were the ears-just like me, I thought. But it...it was a girl. I'd seen hanyou's before like Jinenji or Shiori, but I never expected to find a half breed dog demon female. Now THAT was rare.
I wanted to scream at the guy who picked her up by the hair.
"Please, forgive me! I'll-" I glared at the man. He looked at me and dropped her immediately.
"Don't pick on her," I heard Kagome plead. I was surprised when a cat demon sped down the hill landing next to the girl. It was like...the exact opposite of Kirara. Black fur with red stripes.
Next thing I knew, Miroku picked her up. I wanted to hit him so hard, he's just stupid.
"She's a-" I heard him saw in awe obviously. Kagome and Sango went to his sides to get a better look at the girl. Shippo jumped onto Sango's shoulder where he could see clearly. The girl looked up at all of us, everyone but me.
"Hanyou," I finished off what he couldn't say. At my voice the girl spun around. If jaws could hit the ground, hers would've. Kirara jumped on my shoulder as she slid out of Miroku's arms. As she walked towards me her cat demon jumped on her shoulder. We studied each other a minute. Right when she was about to speak the man grabbed her hair and yanked on it forcing her backwards.
"All right Tsukiko, since you just made a fool of yourself you won't get your reward. But you can make it up for one of our guests."
Tsukiko? Was that her name? It's kinda pretty; it fits her looks-wait-a-minute! What the hell am I thinking?!
Before I knew it, my mouth was taking over. I grabbed the man's shoulder causing him to turn around. I gave him a death glare and almost let a growl slip. He pulled my hand off his shoulder and turned back to the girl.
"Um, Tsukiko, I think maybe you'd do better by serving this group."
*~^Tsukiko
Did I just hear right? Did he just tell me to serve this group after all?
"Y-yes sir," I mumbled as I motioned for the group to follow me. I looked over my shoulder to make sure they were following. I saw Ketsui messing with the other cat demon.
"Ketsui!"
"Kirara!"
We said the names in unison. I looked over to the taijiya as she looked at me. Our cat demons ran to us.
"This way," I motioned again as we continued into the inn and into their rooms. "Is there anything I can get you?" They all shook their heads as they simply laid down against the walls and relaxed.
"Kagome, Kagome," the kit called. I looked at him as he tugged on the miko's strange green kimono.
"What Shippo?" she asked in an annoyed tone. He pointed to me and I backed up.
"She smells like Inuyasha."
I nearly fell. "Wh-what?!" I yelled in unison with the hanyou boy.
"Shippo, how can she smell like him, we just met her."
The kit ran to my heels sniffing furiously. He turned back tot he miko. "Twins smell like the other only the girl and boy scents are separate. She has his scent-I'm positive!"
Twin? "I have no twin!" I rejected the thought. I turned my head and realized I had said the denial phrase in unison with the hanyou. We stared at each other for a moment before sitting down.
Obviously, something awkward was going on. I noticed the monk staring at me.
"Well-" I started but was cut off as the door opened. I swallowed the lump down my throat standing and followed my master out.
"Tsukiko, do not forget your mission, but right now we have another guest who wishes your services."
Oh damn.
*~^Inuyasha
A twin? Me? I have a twin? I won't argue with what Shippo said; twins do have identical scents. The only way to tell them apart is the feminine and masculine scents. As she stood I got a whiff of her scent. He was right. She has my scent. But is that what father meant by I'm not alone? And why didn't mother tell me I had a twin? But-a girl? What the hell...
"Tsukiko, do not forget your mission," I strained my ears at hearing this, "but right now we have another guest who wishes your services."
I heard her sigh and walk off. Another servant came giving us some food. I flinched as my nose picked up a scent that disgusted me. What the hell where they making Tsukiko do?!
I hate this...
"What the hell?!"
Kagome looked at me like I was mad. "What's the matter?" I sat down mumbling before I answered. "I think a telepath is trying to read my mind, I keep hearing voices."
Why do I have to do this?
"Ah! There it is again!"
"What are they saying?" Sango asked me. I sighed and tried to relay the messages.
"It's a girl...she upset. She's asking herself why she's doing what she's doing, she hates her life, she-"
"She what?" Miroku asked anxiously. I couldn't move suddenly. "I-It's Tsukiko."
They all stared at me like I was mad. Shippo said something but I couldn't hear him at first.
"Identical scents, can hear each other's thoughts when close, they're twins!"
"But I don't HAVE a twin!!!"
"How do you know that?" I shut up at Kagome's question. She was right. How did I know or not know?
Chapter One
*~^One who Lives in Despair
"Get up!" I heard a loud voice yell. I was half asleep and actually didn't feel exhausted to death for once. I simply moaned and rolled over. Bad move. I yelped loudly as a leg hit my back, hurting it more than it already was.
"I said get your ass out of bed! If you do that again we won't feed you!" I heard his threat and was up in an instant. Even if I was strong, I had no idea how to hunt. I quickly pulled on the kimono provided. The edges were singed from the fire work I'd done in my previous years. There were cuts and tears everywhere. It hadn't been washed in years. But, I suppose I should be grateful. At least they don't kill me.
I noticed the man with a strange look on his face. "Sir?" I asked. I grimaced at the thought of what job I would have to do today.
"There is word that there is a group of travelers headed this way. You shall treat them with respect and be rewarded. However, we hear they carry Shikon shards. Kill them, and retrieve the shards. We know your power, you can handle them."
I bowed my head nodding.
"And Tsukiko," I looked up as he threw something at me. My hands dropped slightly as a large pouch landed in them. I gasped as I opened it at all the money.
"That's the money we owe you from the past two years. Use it to clean yourself up."
I didn't smile. I didn't want money. I wanted freedom. I wanted the Shikon jewel for myself and become human. The reason I was treated so badly. The reason I often cut my hair. The reason I was tortured. I was hanyou. Yep, that's right. A fucking hanyou. Rejected, used, and abused. And abused in both ways. But one thing I didn't get. No matter how much I cut my hair, it grew back the next day. It reached my hips and a little ways on. It was a silvery color. I had two ears on my head resembling a dog. I never knew who my parents were. This village just happened to find me in the middle of the woods one day.
"Tsukiko!" a slap across my face broke me from my trance. I quickly nodded my head and ran out.
*~^Kagome
"Osuwari!" I screamed pulling Shippo from Inuyasha's clutches. I heard his muffled cry but could care less. All I knew is that Shippo was crying and he had a bump on his head.
"Honestly, Inuyasha!" I scolded him as if he were a child. "Can we please get moving? At the rate we're going we'll never get to the village!"
*~^Tsukiko
A whole day had passed. I had already run out of money but had gotten more from pleasuring men. I hated doing it, but it was money. Besides, at least I never went far enough to bear a child. They always quit and gave me money. I believed they just didn't want a demon child on their hands.
I noticed a cry for my name as one of the children yelled. It was a cry of laughter and I watched sadly.
"Ketsui!" I called out to their attacker. The fire-cat stopped and looked up at me. His, yes-his, fur was a dark jet black. But the fur on his ears, feet, and swirls on his tails were red. He had two tails. He also had a red diamond on his head. His eyes matched the red fur he had. I didn't know much about him. He'd shown up one day and my master was about to kill it when I suggested it be used as like a guard. He asked me how such a small pathetic neko youkai could do. Then, out of the blue, a bright orange flame surrounded him and he'd transformed into a large fire cat.
"Ketsui! Come here!" I cried. Ketsui ran to me and let out a huff of air though his nose in an attempt to comfort me.
"Tsukiko! They are here!" I heard them yell out. I gasped realizing I was late and sped down the hill. I didn't pay attention only noted that there were five.
"Excuse-" I shrieked as I tripped falling flat on my face. I heard the man yell angrily pulling me up by my hair. I cried out unable to hold back the tears.
"Please, forgive me! I'll-"
Suddenly I was dropped. I kept my face in my arms hoping to just die. I was tired of the ridicule. I had just shamed myself in front of five people and-wait...what's that smell?
"Don't pick on her," I heard a soft voice. I recognized the scent of a miko. I heard a meow and expected Ketsui to me in front of me. I felt someone pick me up but I kept my eyes shut tight. I heard gasps all around me, obviously the guests.
"She's a-" I heard the one holding me say but stopped as I opened my eyes. I saw a monk holding me. I looked to my side and noticed a woman that smelled like a miko in strange clothing. There was another woman who had the scent of battle around her. A small kitsune child perched on her shoulder.
"Hanyou," I turned around at the voice and gasped. Another hanyou-like me. Only it was a boy around my age. A cat demon jumped up on his shoulder meowing again. The monk set me down and I slowly walked in front of the hanyou. I felt Ketsui jump onto my shoulder. Just as I was about to speak I felt the yank on my hair again pulling me back. I saw my master leading another girl to them pulling me away.
"All right Tsukiko, since you just made a fool of yourself you won't get your reward. But you can make it up for one of our guests."
I sighed realizing I had my common job again. I was grateful, however, that I was given a second chance. A second chance was suppose to be better than death right?-Not for me.
*~^Inuyasha
We were almost to the village-FINALLY! I wouldn't admit it, but my feet were killing me. I smirked at Kirara when she kept jumping at me trying to bite the hilt of Tetsusaiga. I knew she was as bored as us.
"Excuse-" I heard a girl call out before tripping right in front of us. I wanted to laugh at first, but then I noticed, her hair was silver. I knew that wasn't normal, nor were the ears-just like me, I thought. But it...it was a girl. I'd seen hanyou's before like Jinenji or Shiori, but I never expected to find a half breed dog demon female. Now THAT was rare.
I wanted to scream at the guy who picked her up by the hair.
"Please, forgive me! I'll-" I glared at the man. He looked at me and dropped her immediately.
"Don't pick on her," I heard Kagome plead. I was surprised when a cat demon sped down the hill landing next to the girl. It was like...the exact opposite of Kirara. Black fur with red stripes.
Next thing I knew, Miroku picked her up. I wanted to hit him so hard, he's just stupid.
"She's a-" I heard him saw in awe obviously. Kagome and Sango went to his sides to get a better look at the girl. Shippo jumped onto Sango's shoulder where he could see clearly. The girl looked up at all of us, everyone but me.
"Hanyou," I finished off what he couldn't say. At my voice the girl spun around. If jaws could hit the ground, hers would've. Kirara jumped on my shoulder as she slid out of Miroku's arms. As she walked towards me her cat demon jumped on her shoulder. We studied each other a minute. Right when she was about to speak the man grabbed her hair and yanked on it forcing her backwards.
"All right Tsukiko, since you just made a fool of yourself you won't get your reward. But you can make it up for one of our guests."
Tsukiko? Was that her name? It's kinda pretty; it fits her looks-wait-a-minute! What the hell am I thinking?!
Before I knew it, my mouth was taking over. I grabbed the man's shoulder causing him to turn around. I gave him a death glare and almost let a growl slip. He pulled my hand off his shoulder and turned back to the girl.
"Um, Tsukiko, I think maybe you'd do better by serving this group."
*~^Tsukiko
Did I just hear right? Did he just tell me to serve this group after all?
"Y-yes sir," I mumbled as I motioned for the group to follow me. I looked over my shoulder to make sure they were following. I saw Ketsui messing with the other cat demon.
"Ketsui!"
"Kirara!"
We said the names in unison. I looked over to the taijiya as she looked at me. Our cat demons ran to us.
"This way," I motioned again as we continued into the inn and into their rooms. "Is there anything I can get you?" They all shook their heads as they simply laid down against the walls and relaxed.
"Kagome, Kagome," the kit called. I looked at him as he tugged on the miko's strange green kimono.
"What Shippo?" she asked in an annoyed tone. He pointed to me and I backed up.
"She smells like Inuyasha."
I nearly fell. "Wh-what?!" I yelled in unison with the hanyou boy.
"Shippo, how can she smell like him, we just met her."
The kit ran to my heels sniffing furiously. He turned back tot he miko. "Twins smell like the other only the girl and boy scents are separate. She has his scent-I'm positive!"
Twin? "I have no twin!" I rejected the thought. I turned my head and realized I had said the denial phrase in unison with the hanyou. We stared at each other for a moment before sitting down.
Obviously, something awkward was going on. I noticed the monk staring at me.
"Well-" I started but was cut off as the door opened. I swallowed the lump down my throat standing and followed my master out.
"Tsukiko, do not forget your mission, but right now we have another guest who wishes your services."
Oh damn.
*~^Inuyasha
A twin? Me? I have a twin? I won't argue with what Shippo said; twins do have identical scents. The only way to tell them apart is the feminine and masculine scents. As she stood I got a whiff of her scent. He was right. She has my scent. But is that what father meant by I'm not alone? And why didn't mother tell me I had a twin? But-a girl? What the hell...
"Tsukiko, do not forget your mission," I strained my ears at hearing this, "but right now we have another guest who wishes your services."
I heard her sigh and walk off. Another servant came giving us some food. I flinched as my nose picked up a scent that disgusted me. What the hell where they making Tsukiko do?!
I hate this...
"What the hell?!"
Kagome looked at me like I was mad. "What's the matter?" I sat down mumbling before I answered. "I think a telepath is trying to read my mind, I keep hearing voices."
Why do I have to do this?
"Ah! There it is again!"
"What are they saying?" Sango asked me. I sighed and tried to relay the messages.
"It's a girl...she upset. She's asking herself why she's doing what she's doing, she hates her life, she-"
"She what?" Miroku asked anxiously. I couldn't move suddenly. "I-It's Tsukiko."
They all stared at me like I was mad. Shippo said something but I couldn't hear him at first.
"Identical scents, can hear each other's thoughts when close, they're twins!"
"But I don't HAVE a twin!!!"
"How do you know that?" I shut up at Kagome's question. She was right. How did I know or not know?