Disclaimer: You know the drill!
Red Lantern
Chapter 9: Rage
Author's Note:
I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know that cliffhangers aren't nice, but I didn't think the last one was so bad! And I'm sorry that it was so short! Oh well! You guys are probably skipping this anyway, so go on and enjoy!
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Chinese Glossary ~
N/A: I'm Chinese myself, but I'm not 100% sure on the spelling of these words/phrases. If anyone knows for sure, tell me! They are in order they appear in the story.
Shi ah: "Yeah!"
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Author's POV~
Kagome could hear her husband's angry footsteps for seconds before she saw his face. When she did, however, she instantly regretted it.
Naraku's face was red with rage and unforgivable anger. He walked to his fourth wife's side in mighty strides.
He slapped her in the face, as hard as he could. "You bitch! Who do you think you are to deceive me like this?"
Kagome met his enraged face with an unflinching gaze. She remained silent.
"You whore! You are not worthy of being my wife!" he yelled. He was furious at her seemingly calm face. He wrenched her chin up so he could look at her more closely.
Kagome looked away from his glare.
"Look at me. Look at me!"
Kagome looked at Naraku's face. She could tell that he would kill her if not for his still lingering love for her.
"You will never lie to me again, understood? In fact, you will never talk to me again!"
He released his grasp from her sore face. He backhanded her once more, and swept out of the room.
Kagome fell to the floor, tears falling down her face, corseting in fierce waves.
From outside her room, Kagura rushed in. She hugged the poor girl's shaking frame. "It's okay, Kagome. It's alright," she murmured, trying to comfort the sobbing girl.
"Kagura, I-I failed you!" Kagome said, her voice teary. She could not bring her face to look at her friend.
"No, it was never meant to be. I should have stopped you. I am the true fool in this!"
Kagome looked at Kagura. "Don 't you know? The Master will never visit me again! I let Kikyo win!"
Kagura shook Kagome, her jaw clenched fiercely. "No! Never say that! You are better off now!"
Kagome pushed her away. "Kagura, leave me be. I need time t-to think about this…"
Kagura nodded, understanding what the young woman was going through right that moment. "I will, but remember: it is not your fault. It was but a mistake."
Nodding, Kagome got up. "T-thank you… For helping me, Lady Kagura…"
Kagura smiled faintly. "It was nothing." She left without a sound.
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Author's POV~
Men carried dusty, black drapes to the lanterns adorning Kagome's house.
Climbing on small foot-ladders, they covered up the red lanterns, never to be lit again.
Kagome stood at the side, watching the whole scene. Sayo stood by her side, smirking.
"I guess the Master's never coming to visit you again, is he?" she mocked.
Kagome whipped around, a frown on her face. "Sayo!"
Sayo's smirk widened. "You deserve it!" she gloated.
Kagome glared at the teenage servant. "Sayo… You told her, didn't you?"
Sayo tossed her head, not knowing the danger she was leading herself into.
Kagome glowered at her. "I can't believe you…"
Sayo laughed.
Something in Kagome snapped. It didn't matter to her that the Master would never show his face to her again. It didn't matter that Kikyo had won. It didn't even matter that she was alone in the world, abandoned. All that mattered was the rude girl in front of her.
Spinning around to the courtyard, Kagome advanced towards Sayo's living quarters. Sayo followed her fast progression.
"Where are you going?" Sayo asked, the mocking tone in her voice no longer present. Panic was starting to set in.
Kagome remained silent, almost sweeping though the air. Sayo had to jog to keep up with her testy mistress.
In seconds, they reached Sayo's small hut.
Kagome, without asking permission, opened the door and stomped in. She began pulling out the tattered red lanterns that Sayo had so carefully smuggled into her house.
Sayo watched at her side with fearful amazement. Her mouth uttered no complaints or pleads.
Kagome worked with speed, tearing the lanterns down and dropping them into the yard.
The noise she made soon attracted many passerby, both servants and the other wives.
When she was finished with her task, she pointed to Sayo and began speaking in a loud and strong voice, mainly to the oldest and first wife.
"Lady Anzu, since the Master is away, you are in charge of household doings. You saw: the servant has been stealing from this family, breaking taboo in this family tradition! What should we do with the thief?"
Lady Anzu pursed her lips and frowned. It was not like Lady Kagome to do such things. Unfortunately, what she spoke was the truth and family tradition forced her to do what was right. "The lanterns must be burnt, the girl sent to kneel before them until she agrees to beg for mercy against Lady Kagome."
Tears filled Sayo's eyes. She would not. She would never do it. She would die trying.
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Author's POV~
Kagome watched Sayo kneel in front of the burning lanterns, hidden to all. It had begun to snow lightly, a sure sign that soon, a snowstorm would arrive. Already the girl had started shivering, her shoulders shaking.
To her side, she saw two other servants talking quietly to each other. She leaned in to hear their conversation.
"That Sayo… How could she do such a thing?"
"Shi ah! She seems like such a nice girl! She really should stop being so stubborn and just apologize to Lady Kagome."
"Ah… So you haven't heard? Sayo hates Lady Kagome! Many thought that the reason she has all those old lanterns is because she envied Lady Kagome and wanted the Master herself!"
"Really? I thought it was because Lady Kikyo told her to!"
"Lady Kikyo? What does she have to do with this?"
"You have not heard? Sayo was also working for Lady Kikyo!"
"I don't like her, that Lady Kikyo. I still remember her rage towards Lady Kagura."
"She is so nice though!"
"What are you girls doing? Get back to your duties!" a familiar voice said. It was Kaede.
"Yes, Kaede," the two maids said in unison. The quickly moved away, their conversation forgotten.
Kaede nodded at their retreating forms. Glancing at Sayo, she muttered, "Stubborn child," and moved away.
Kagome bit her lip. Would they all think her cruel for this act? She hoped not… She had too much to deal with.
How long would Sayo kneel there in the snow? 'Just… Don't kill yourself out there, Sayo!'
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Author's POV~
Night had fallen. Sayo stooped down, trying to keep warmth in. Her lips were tinged with blue, her skin unearthly pale.
The wind had picked up, blowing the snow across the empty courtyard, save Sayo and the charred remains of the burnt lanterns.
Suddenly, Sayo dropped to the ground, her energy spent.
Kagome screamed, still watching, bringing servants running.
Once they saw Sayo, however, they quickly picked her up, and carted her out the yard.
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Author's POV~
Days later, Kaede went to Kagome's room. Her head was bowed respectfully.
"Lady Kagome, I'm sorry to inform you that Sayo has died from pneumonia in the hospital."
Kagome stared at her serious face. "What of her family?"
"A message has been sent, along with her remains. She is to be buried with her ancestors."
Kagome looked down, suddenly ashamed. "I didn't mean for that to happen…"
Kaede touched her arm, comforting her. "It was not your fault, Lady Kagome. Sayo made a mistake, and paid the price."
Tears filled Kagome's eyes. "I-I was horrible!"
"Nay, Lady Kagome. You need to rest. I'm going to be your new servant. I may be old, but I have wisdom. You will be happy under my care."
"I h-hope so, Kaede. I don't ever want to see myself like that again."
'Let's hope you never will be, Lady Kagome. You poor child…'
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Finally done! I love writing angst now! Funny, huh? I'm a humor queen, yet I love writing sadness! Wonder how I can combine it…? Next chapter, "Secret Reveled"!
Responses to Reviews:
(Holy ****! 17 reviews! Thank you everyone!)
AnimeObessionFantasy: Yep… It wasn't pretty when the 'Master' found out, was it? I'm updating as fast as I can!
Kiawatha Amara: *faints* This story is better than a 10?! Thank you so much! I'm so honored! I gets hyper, too, but right now it's really depressing… I'm trying to write a dark story, and I have to stay depressed for that to happen! BTW, did you know that we became members on the exact same day?
Kirsten: WOW! A great long review that totally flatters me! Thank you so much! I tried making this as original as I could, since there are so many Inu Yasha stories that you can't do that anymore. I am emphasizing on Kagome for now, then Inu Yasha in these later chapters. And once again, thank you!
DiaBlo2: I never thought of it that way before! Kaede as Inu Yasha's mom? Traumatizes me a bit, you know! LOL! Thank you so, so, so much for all the reviews! It makes me feel so happy! OMG… You reviewed almost all the chapters! Thank you for the Chinese spellings and stuff! I'll use it to the greatest advantage! You are the best!
CrissyKitty: Here's the next chapter! I hope you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
Dark-coyote: Thank you for telling me the correct translations! I thought you had stopped reading my story! But now that you're back, all is happy! Don't worry; I talk a lot, too!
Jenny: Maybe. Maybe Kagome will die, but don't count on it. Predictions are good! I'm so glad you like this story so much! I'll IM you!
Sleepy8: A cliffy! But at least I didn't cliff hang you this time! I'm glad you like it so much!
Fire Phoenix: I feel sorry for Kagome, too! Sayo is a bad, bad girl. Oh well! At least she's dead now! I'll update as fast as I can!
Hentai-Sango: Y-your tone o-of voice… It m-makes me f-feel so intimidated that I'll u-update faster!
Bikutoria: OMG! I never thought about that! I should go change it right away! I'm surprised no one else told me about the year difference! Thank you so much for telling me! Thanks sooooooooooo much!