A/N: Omg sorry about the skip of a week... . I had Chem and Spanish projects so I couldn't update... I'll be on schedule from now on I promise!! ^^
*Italics=Thoughts*
~*Chapter III*~
That feeling of restlessness wouldn't go away. It was as if all of her weariness from before had turned into restlessness churning her stomach. Frowning Kagome got up from her bed. Looking out the window, she saw night had crept upon her insidiously. With the darkness came gloom and unwelcome memories...
Annoyed at herself for being so childish, Kagome went slipped back in bed and closed her eyes. But the quiet quality of her room was curse at night. Images of Sango and her little brother danced in her eyes, turning into herself and Souta... *Why is it always so hard... Souta I'm sorry.. I'm sorry...*
Kagome frowned in confusion even as the soft quality of serenity engulfed her. She was hearing voices again...
"I told you nee-chan needs me!" that whine could only be Souta...
"I really did think she would handle this better..." her mom's soft voice had an inlay of worry.
"Things are moving too fast..." a soft masculine voice replied worriedly. Kagome felt she should recognize that voice but she couldn't.
"Then we'll do it this way," came a feminine voice that Kagome never heard before. It was a strange mixture of sorrow and peace.
Suddenly, her peacefulness was gone and in its place was that irritating restlessness.
"Nee-chan! Nee-chan wake up already!" Kagome heard Souta's voice and turned in her bed.
Standing on his tip toes to see over her bed, Souta was glaring at her mischievously. "Nee-chan's a sleepy head!"
Kagome sat up quickly. "Souta? Souta it's you isn't it?!" She started to get off the bed but Souta also walked backwards. "Souta, where are you going? Come and let me hug you! Souta!!!"
A quick look of pain flitted across Souta's face. It was gone so fast, that Kagome wondered if she really did see it before. Souta just grinned at her again, "Nee-chan catch me if you can!!" With that he ran out her door.
Scowling Kagome got up and ran after him. When she went through her door she saw Souta waiting patiently for her. As soon as he saw her catch up he stuck out his tongue and ran off with Kagome following.
Soon Kagome lost track of where they were going as they past the turn to the kitchen, went downstairs, turned in one hallway, went upstairs, ran through one door and out of another...
"Souta, come on! Please slow down!" Kagome whined as she followed her brother.
He just stuck out his tongue and kept running. "Nee-chan I have to show you something! Come on! When did you get so slowwwwwwww?"
Kagome glared at him, "What do you mean," she panted. "I got slow? When," she gasped for breath deciding she better phrase all communication as concisely as possible. "Did you-so-fast?"
Souta just grinned. At one point he made her angry when she followed him into a room, and there was no connecting door. He ran back at her and slipped past her before she could catch him saying ruefully, "Sorry, nee-chan wrong door. It was... that one! Yeah that one!" With that he entered another door with the now angry Kagome following.
"Souta! You! Don't know where you're going do you?" She yelled.
"Noooo! I do nee-chan I do!" was the indignant reply.
Finally after about fifteen minutes a thoroughly tired Kagome stood outside a door. Heaving, she muttered, "Souta, I'm going to kill you."
Souta laughed, "Nee-chan, you need to exercise more!!"
Looking up suddenly, Kagome asked, "Souta where were you? I was so worried about you!" Kagome tried to think about what happened to Souta but for some reason, although she could remember that she had been sad because of Souta's absence she couldn't remember why.
Souta frowned a little before wrinkling his nose. "Nee-chan open this door and look inside!" He smiled and looked so adorable that Kagome just laughed.
"Fine, I'll see what it is that you just HAD to show me," she said and turned the knob. Stepping inside, one thing caught her eye. All that running had kept the restlessness at bay but now the uncanny urge was just painful. Her eyes traveled to the middle of the room. A wooden pedestal held a transparent glass box. Inside the box was a gold hanger which held a necklace shimmering as colors seemed to be at war with each other in the opaque pendant. "Souta... is that what you wanted me to see?" Kagome whispered as she walked toward the necklace transfixed. There was no answer.
On the pedestal, there were five vases holding holy water Kagome assumed. So many thoughts crashed into each other in Kagome's mind as she reached carefully for the lid. *What do you think you're doing?! I don't know... I shouldn't be doing this... What is that? The colors are moving... Swirling... Clashing... I probably shouldn't be doing this... I should go out and tell Souta off for making me run... But why can't I stop? DRAT it Kagome Higurashi pull yourself together! Oh there's a seal... A purification seal? The colors... It's as if they're fighting with each other..* Hesitantly with her heart thundering, she couldn't breathe Kagome touched the seal bracing for an unwanted impact like a shock.
She bit her bottom lip when her fingers landed on the pale paper sealing the lid to the box. *What am I doing?!?!!?* A tingling sensation shot through her right arm as the seal started to shine brilliantly blinding her. Warmth filled her as she opened the container and finally lightly grasped the necklace. The pearl-shaped pendant seemed to glimmer as lighter colors raced across it's surface and the darker ones faded away. The chain holding it was made of crystal shards. Carefully, Kagome pulled it out of the box when she was startled out of her reverie.
"Stop right there!" a harsh voice commanded and Kagome spun around in astonishment. The room was suddenly teeming with people. There were about four archers in the room, and the one called Sesshomaru was also there. The nonchalant careless look out of his eyes which now burned with a cold contempt and anger at her.
Kagome took a step back and bumped into the wooden pedestal. "I said FREEZE!" the voice was Sesshomaru's. An arrow flew by her head missing her by a centimeter. "If you take another step, the arrow will impale you. This is your last warning." Kagome froze closing her eyes. *I knew I shouldn't have touched it! Why did I do it? Why? Oh Kami-sama, am I going to die tonight?*
Then to her relief Kaede-sama arrived. Behind her a monk in purple robes came, and behind him the King. Kaede-sama took one look at Kagome and froze.
"What is going on here?" the king demanded angrily.
"Father, my soldiers were woken by someone shouting and running. A few from the stations set around here to guard the Shikon no Tama got up and followed her. When they got here, that their had the tama," Sesshomaru said icily glaring at Kagome.
"What happened to the seal Kaede-sama and I put on the lid?" the monk asked suddenly.
Kagome wondered if it was alright to speak. The king answered her question by barking at her, "Miko, tell me what happened. How did you get here? How did you know the tama was here? Takihana-san brought it to us just earlier today. Well? Speak!"
Gulping Kagome answered as best as she could, "I don't know! I'm sorry... I was just following Souta! He came and told me he had something to show me... And then he ran off and I followed him, and then I was here... It was as if the box was asking to be opened!"
The king looked at her and then spoke, "Everyone out except for Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Kaede, Miroku, and Takihana." As he was saying this the youkai started to file out silently.
Then Sesshomaru cleared his throat, "That poor excuse for an youkai isn't even here."
That's when Kagome noticed a man in a demon exterminator outfit similar to the one Sango wore earlier. He was staring at the necklace in her hand and then started to walk toward her rapidly. "Did you do it? Were you the one who started to purify the Shikon no Tama?" he asked making a few people intake breaths.
"What... what do you mean?" Kagome stuttered.
Kaede-sama came over and put a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Kagome-chan, why don't you sit down and tell us what happened. And don't leave anything out."
Kagome although feeling extremely confused did as she was told. She repeated what happened from how she found Souta by her bed when she woke up. Then she got up quickly saying, "Kami-sama! Souta! I forgot about Souta!" With that she raced out the door and looked around. "Souta? Souta?!?!"
"Kagome-chan," came Kaede-sama's pitying voice. "No one saw your brother when they came here..."
"But he was here... I followed him.. He called me slow..." Kagome said as she felt her will weaken and her eyes blur. Then closing her eyes she took a deep breath and suppressed it all down.
"This complicates things," the monk muttered. "I thought we decided that Kikyo was going to be in charge of protecting and purifying the tama...."
The king turned to the exterminator, "Takihana, the Shikon no Tama originated from your fort. What do you think we should do?"
Takihana-san turned his gaze from the tama up into Kagome's face. After staring at her for a few minutes he smiled. "I think, the tama has found its own miko."
"That apparition of her brother. Could it be the other side?" Sesshomaru asked.
Then the monk spoke up. "No. If there was jaki in this room Kaede-sama and I would know about it. The amount of jaki needed to impersonate someone so well and get it to lure Kagome-sama all the way up in this room would be a fair amount. We would have sensed it sooner as this room can only be accessed through that private corridor..." (A/N: Jaki is evil demonic energy.)
"Kagome-chan, you must be tired. Why don't you go back to bed?" Kaede-sama asked her.
"What about this necklace?" Kagome asked.
The king answered, "Miko, I entrust you with it. But what ever comes, you must not let anyone else have it. Understand? It is your responsibility now."
Nodding Kagome got up silently and walked out into the hall. Then blushing a little she came back in. To the inquisitive looks she was getting she answered, "Um, which way is my room? I don't think I recognize this hallway..."
Expressions of shock were portrayed on faces before Kaede-sama offered to escort Kagome back. "Kagome-chan, you're in the west wing of the castle... Your room is in the east wing. Here child, follow me."
~*~
When Kagome left the people inside the room turned their gazes on the empty Shikon no Tama container.
Miroku asked absentmindedly, "I thought Takihana-san said there was a shield on the container so no one could sense the tama..."
"There is." was the hoarse reply.
Miroku took in his breath sharply. "She didn't recognize the hall..."
"Who is that girl?" Sesshomaru asked his voice hard as steel. "This Sesshomaru barely sensed the tama's presence once the seal closed the container earlier... That seal... not even this Sesshomaru was able to touch it..."
Miroku grimaced, "That seal had the most powerful spell Kaede-sama and I knew on it... To keep everyone out, youkai, mikos, ningen alike." (A/N: Ningen are humans.)
"Takihana, tell me what do you believe is happening? I thought you brought the tama to us so we can protect it since war seems to be destroying the balance of the world." the king demanded.
"Inutaisho-sama, that was our intent. We tajiyas heard that Kikyo-sama, the most powerful miko to date was at residence here. Fearing that the tama which Midoriko entrusted to us would be used for evil, we brought it her for her protection." Takihana-san answered. "As for that young miko, I do not know what is happening. Unbelievably, the tama seemed purer as if Midoriko was winning the continuous battle raging within... Exactly who is she?"
~*~
The tama rested consolingly against Kagome's chest as she fell back into her bed. Sighing, Kagome felt as if the restlessness was gone. Incredulously, the constant ache that Souta's absence had brought had also dimmed. As she closed her eyes, her thoughts went back to her family. *Souta, I did see you today didn't I? I wasn't hearing voices was I? ...Why did you lead me to this... The Shikon no Tama? Are you still trying to look after me? Why is it that you're still looking after me... just like it was when you were with me... Mama... Souta.. I miss you...*
Silent tears wet her pillow as Kagome fell into slumber.
~*~
"Child, sadly and regretfully do I bequeath you this responsibility. Finally I have found you, one of my kin who is similar to I... Rest well for I fear the trials and tribulations are soon to come."
~*~
In the morning Kagome was determined she's find Inuyasha and thank him for saving her and bringing both her brother and her to his land. When she went out in the hall, Kagome was thankful that last night's escapade hadn't become public. So she went up to the nearest youkai and asked for Inuyasha.
"Excuse me, but um is Inuyasha around?" Kagome asked.
The inu youkai looked at her with contempt then went back to leaning against the wall.
Frowning Kagome calmed herself willing to give him another chance. Speaking a little louder this time she asked, "Ex-cuse ME. DO. YOU. KNOW. WHERE. I .CAN. FIND. SOMEONE. BY. THE. NAME. OF. INU-YASHA?"
Glaring at her, the youkai snapped, "Filthy ningen! Get away from me!" With that he quickly walked off.
Kagome realized that what happened the first day when she was looking for the king wasn't because she was new at the palace. Nor was it because she looked weird after grieving for her brother. Getting angry she stormed down the corridor and asked the next youkai she saw for Inuyasha.
"Hello, do you know where I can find someone by the name of Inuyasha?"
To her dismay and anger, she received the same treatment as before. Feeling as if she'd explode, Kagome yelled, "ARE YOU DEAF? I ASKED WHERE THE HECK IS INUYASHA?!"
"Bug off ningen," was the muttered reply and the youkai pushed her before walking off.
Kagome now royally pissed, took off her right shoe and threw it at the retreating youkai's head. Cursing he turned around and slammed her into the wall. Pain seared through Kagome's head as she hit and the youkai wasn't done as he pulled her up by the front of her shirt.
"Put me down this instant! How dare you? LET ME GO!" Kagome shrieked trying to kick at the demon in front of her.
"Never EVER do such an insulting thing again ningen! You filthy whore, how dare you even throw your trash at me let alone speak to one as I!" barked the youkai as his red eyes seared into hers. Kagome glared back having no breath to speak and he pulled her up choking her. *What is this?! Somebody please help me!*
"What do you think your doing?" came an angry voice.
Kagome was dropped and she breathed in deeply as her attacker turned to the new comer. "Hanyou, don't mess with me today."
"Bastard, are you threatening me?" was the snarled reply. As Kagome looked up her attacker was slammed against the opposite wall.
"Get your filthy hands off of me you ass!" the youkai snarled at the young teenage boy who had him against the wall. He was wearing a red haori and looked almost uncannily similar to the boy Kagome saw before she blacked out when she was holding Souta.
Growling, Inuyasha punched the guy sending him flying.
"Inuyasha you bastard, you'll pay for that!" the youkai said picking himself off up and stomped off.
Kagome looked at her rescuer. He'd saved her twice now. Smiling, she got up and took a few steps toward him. Holding out her hand she said, "Inuyasha? Hi, I'm Kagome. I don't think I had the chance to tell you before but thank–"
"Shut up wench. I don't care about you." Inuyasha growled walking away.
Kagome couldn't believe her ears...
Frowning, she ran to catch up with him. "I think we got off to a bad start, but I want to–"
"Bug off wench! I didn't do that back there for you ok? I beat up that punk to show him, that he can't threaten me. You had nothing to do with it." was the gruff reply.
Kagome was getting irritated but she held her calm as she tried to slow Inuyasha down by holding onto his sleeve. Instantly she was shoved and not expecting it Kagome fell. Looking up with hurt eyes she asked, "What's your problem?"
"I told you f*ck off wench. I don't like you. I don't care about you. You remind me of something I hate got it?" Inuyasha snarled.
"My name is Kagome" Kagome said quietly.
Inuyasha stared at the girl sitting on the floor. "What?" he asked.
"I said my name is Kagome not wench."
"Do I look like I give a d*mn?" Inuyasha snapped.
"Look, I'm going to be living here for a while so I think we might as well be friends," Kagome started.
"Wench, I know your going to stick around and be a pain. I heard all about last night. How you pitifully ran about the castle calling out for your dead brother. But that doesn't mean I have to be friends with you. I don't need you. I hate your filthy smell! Now GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Inuyasha growled.
Kagome glared at him before getting up. She spat, "If you hate seeing me so much then why don't you leave?"
"Keh! FINE I WILL! Don't even THINK about following, you hear?!" Inuyasha growled and stormed off.
Kagome stood watching his back as she remembered a silver haired boy who had held her when she cried two days ago. *That can't be the same person... It must have been someone else...He's not a hero... He's a jerk...*
~*~
Inuyasha turned the corner and waited. After a few minutes he looked back and saw her turn away and walk off angrily. Sighing he closed his eyes, *Her eyes looks the same... Yeah I heard about yesterday. How you ran calling for your brother...Hate me. I killed your brother, I don't deserve your friendship. Although I want to tell you... I can't. You'll hate me in the end so it's better this way. I've already taken away your brother, I won't deceive you into believing I'm your friend... I won't let it become more painful for you. I owe it to your brother to keep you from hurting...* He watched her until her image was gone knowing he'd be seeing nothing but her back for a long time to come. A strange feeling filled Inuyasha as Kagome's friendly brown eyes stared at him in his mind. Eyes that saw him for himself not as a hanyou, something to be despised by demons and feared by humans.
~*~
A/N: Again sorry about the wait... . Kindof ironic that right after I say I post once in a week, I don't for two weeks.. T.T Hmmm finals are coming up, so I'll try to get another post up later on this week if you guys want it. So tell me what you think? Did this chapter disappoint you? . Not to worry this isn't going to turn to angst, Inuyasha's a little dense for that and Kagome too cheerful unless its about her family. And of course Souta would KILL me if I made Kagome suffer full out angst!^^ Not to mention the one who seems to be messing with Kagome's life and to what purpose? Who knows...
Lots of thanks to my muses: ox-Kagome-ox, Sailor-Helios, Alaskantiger, Tashy911, Seikkyokuka, and ChristyKay. ^.^ Reviewers are my muse ^-^ I know I'm sad but it's the only way I know how my writing is. Feedback from others! Feel free to give me constructive criticism ^_^ I know my grammar's atrocious and I apologize. If something bugs you put it in your review and I'll fix it.
