Ch 7: Revelations
The wind whipped by Kagome as the scenery sped past her. She needed to thin, to reflect on what had happened in the past few days.
"Sesshoumaru will announce a battle royal. You, Kagura, Juuromaru, Inuyasha, Koga, and my apprentice, Setsuna."
Kagome sped along the Oceanside, to a cliff that overlooked the sunset. It was her place, the place where she could look over the waves and reflect.
"I know of you desire for revenge on Naraku. I would to in your case. That is why your plans and mine mesh so well."
Kagome got of her motorcycle, and removed her helmet. It felt good to have the cool sea breeze flow through her hair.
"My apprentice will take care of all the other challengers. You must focus on not being knocked out. After all the challengers are defeated, Setsuna will throw the fight."
"I won't. I'll win this fight without your help, Shippou."
"You don't have a choice. Setsuna will forfeit whether or not you agree to it. Trust me, I am your best bet for finally ridding the world of Naraku.
Kagome sat down and looked over the sea. It wasn't Setsuna that had her worried. It was Inuyasha. How could she fight against him? How could he fight against her? Her mind strained to comprehend what she was being forced to do, the choice she would have to make.
"You have to do what your heart tells you," a voice said from behind.
"Hello Sakana," she said to the ghostly apparition behind her.
"You remember what Naraku did, do you not?"
"Yes, as clear as crystal."
"You know you love Inuyasha, do you not?"
"Yes, that is the problem. Do I turn my back to the past and embrace my present, or seek vengeance for the past and jeopardize the future?"
"I cannot make that decision for you, Kagome. It is something you must choose on your own." With that, she vanished as she always did. Kagome rose and climbed on her motorcycle. Sakana's words weren't enough.
Kagome decided to return to Shina's house. She cut her usual path through Sezaku's garden. She approached the door, and got ready to knock. She stopped her hand cold, however, just before she made contact.
"I'd only be delaying the inevitable," she thought. She sighed, and got back on her motorcycle. She sped home.
***
Shippou looked at his apprentice with discerning eyes. "Are you sure this is necessary?" he asked. "I do not believe it is a wise move."
"I am certain, Master," Setsuna said. "Kagome will no doubt tell Inuyasha of what transpired four years ago. I must ensure that she doesn't leave out any...important details."
"You had best not disrupt my plans, Setsuna."
"The Master only reveals information to his pawns that will best serve his future endeavors." Setsuna replied.
"Ah, I have taught you well. Go then, my apprentice, and ensure our plans come to fruition!" Shippou laughed.
***
Kagome entered her home and sat on her bed. She waited for what seemed an eternity until Inuyasha got back. He looked at her and walked over.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked draping his arm across her back.
"Inuyasha, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Sesshoumaru's announced a battle royal next week in Naraku's honor. The winner gets to fight Naraku himself. We've both been entered. I don't want you to throw the fight or anything. I want you to treat me as any other opponent."
"Okay. That won't be a problem," he replied.
"But, there's something you should know, about Naraku and I," Kagome said as she got up. Inuyasha began to look concerned. "It happened 4 years ago. I was barely sixteen. I lived with my mother, grandfather, and brother. We were a normal family, except for one thing; my mother was an outspoken opponent of Naraku. She was active in the citizen's council, and a high- ranking official in the pits."
Inuyasha listened intently. Tears began to swell in Kagome's eyes.
"Naraku began a campaign to silence his detractors, usually through bribery. But my mother wouldn't be bought, so he decided to make an example of her. I managed to hide, but I was forced to watch as Naraku's soldiers slaughtered my family. In a rage, I flung myself at them and killed several. Apparently, Naraku was impressed by my display. He offered to let me live if I became his consort."
Tears began to run down Kagome's face. "And you refused," Inuyasha said.
"Of course. I hated Naraku as much as she did. But Naraku....wouldn't take no for an answer. He...he...raped me!"
Inuyasha jumped to his feet. He rushed to hold Kagome and she collapsed in his arms.
"Nine months later, I gave birth to a child, a son. I couldn't take care of him, so I gave him away, to Master Shippou. But now he...he's become....."
"Kagome, what is it? Who..."
"Is her son?" A man's voice asked. Inuyasha looked up and saw a man in a mask. He immediately recognized him as Setsuna. He slowly removed the mask, revealing features similar to Kagome's.
"I am her son!"
The wind whipped by Kagome as the scenery sped past her. She needed to thin, to reflect on what had happened in the past few days.
"Sesshoumaru will announce a battle royal. You, Kagura, Juuromaru, Inuyasha, Koga, and my apprentice, Setsuna."
Kagome sped along the Oceanside, to a cliff that overlooked the sunset. It was her place, the place where she could look over the waves and reflect.
"I know of you desire for revenge on Naraku. I would to in your case. That is why your plans and mine mesh so well."
Kagome got of her motorcycle, and removed her helmet. It felt good to have the cool sea breeze flow through her hair.
"My apprentice will take care of all the other challengers. You must focus on not being knocked out. After all the challengers are defeated, Setsuna will throw the fight."
"I won't. I'll win this fight without your help, Shippou."
"You don't have a choice. Setsuna will forfeit whether or not you agree to it. Trust me, I am your best bet for finally ridding the world of Naraku.
Kagome sat down and looked over the sea. It wasn't Setsuna that had her worried. It was Inuyasha. How could she fight against him? How could he fight against her? Her mind strained to comprehend what she was being forced to do, the choice she would have to make.
"You have to do what your heart tells you," a voice said from behind.
"Hello Sakana," she said to the ghostly apparition behind her.
"You remember what Naraku did, do you not?"
"Yes, as clear as crystal."
"You know you love Inuyasha, do you not?"
"Yes, that is the problem. Do I turn my back to the past and embrace my present, or seek vengeance for the past and jeopardize the future?"
"I cannot make that decision for you, Kagome. It is something you must choose on your own." With that, she vanished as she always did. Kagome rose and climbed on her motorcycle. Sakana's words weren't enough.
Kagome decided to return to Shina's house. She cut her usual path through Sezaku's garden. She approached the door, and got ready to knock. She stopped her hand cold, however, just before she made contact.
"I'd only be delaying the inevitable," she thought. She sighed, and got back on her motorcycle. She sped home.
***
Shippou looked at his apprentice with discerning eyes. "Are you sure this is necessary?" he asked. "I do not believe it is a wise move."
"I am certain, Master," Setsuna said. "Kagome will no doubt tell Inuyasha of what transpired four years ago. I must ensure that she doesn't leave out any...important details."
"You had best not disrupt my plans, Setsuna."
"The Master only reveals information to his pawns that will best serve his future endeavors." Setsuna replied.
"Ah, I have taught you well. Go then, my apprentice, and ensure our plans come to fruition!" Shippou laughed.
***
Kagome entered her home and sat on her bed. She waited for what seemed an eternity until Inuyasha got back. He looked at her and walked over.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked draping his arm across her back.
"Inuyasha, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Sesshoumaru's announced a battle royal next week in Naraku's honor. The winner gets to fight Naraku himself. We've both been entered. I don't want you to throw the fight or anything. I want you to treat me as any other opponent."
"Okay. That won't be a problem," he replied.
"But, there's something you should know, about Naraku and I," Kagome said as she got up. Inuyasha began to look concerned. "It happened 4 years ago. I was barely sixteen. I lived with my mother, grandfather, and brother. We were a normal family, except for one thing; my mother was an outspoken opponent of Naraku. She was active in the citizen's council, and a high- ranking official in the pits."
Inuyasha listened intently. Tears began to swell in Kagome's eyes.
"Naraku began a campaign to silence his detractors, usually through bribery. But my mother wouldn't be bought, so he decided to make an example of her. I managed to hide, but I was forced to watch as Naraku's soldiers slaughtered my family. In a rage, I flung myself at them and killed several. Apparently, Naraku was impressed by my display. He offered to let me live if I became his consort."
Tears began to run down Kagome's face. "And you refused," Inuyasha said.
"Of course. I hated Naraku as much as she did. But Naraku....wouldn't take no for an answer. He...he...raped me!"
Inuyasha jumped to his feet. He rushed to hold Kagome and she collapsed in his arms.
"Nine months later, I gave birth to a child, a son. I couldn't take care of him, so I gave him away, to Master Shippou. But now he...he's become....."
"Kagome, what is it? Who..."
"Is her son?" A man's voice asked. Inuyasha looked up and saw a man in a mask. He immediately recognized him as Setsuna. He slowly removed the mask, revealing features similar to Kagome's.
"I am her son!"