Chapter 6
By: Kisu
A/N: Sorry for the tardiness in updating the fic! I've been really busy with a intense case of writer's block! So I think you'll enjoy this chapter a lot!!! School is out! I'm graduated!!! WHOOO!!!..okay….much cookies and ice cream to my reviewers!
Disclaimer: You knoe the drill..you Inuyasha fanatics…o_o;
Previously:
Miroku met her confused gaze and an agony filled scream broke their serenity.
"Kagome-sama." Miroku realized. He and Sango got up quickly from the grass and ran toward the sound that was on the opposite end of the meadow. "Naraku has somehow gotten a hold of her!"
"Kagome-chan." Sango whispered with dread. They quickened their paces as another scream rang out from the mentioned miko. "Kagome! Hold on!"
Chapter 6
Kimiko sat on a sun warmed rock watching as the light of her life ran through the flowery meadow in a cheerful attempt to catch a butterfly. A tender, loving smile spread across her face as she watched the butterfly beat its dappled pink wings and flew just above Toshi's reach.
"Okaasan! I almost have it!" He said as he jumped up again.
"Take your time, dear." She replied, warmly. Toshi growled and jumped again. The butterfly flew higher from his reach. Kimiko narrowed her eyes as a sudden dread came over her. She shuddered as an unexpected chill escalated down her back.
Miko, heed me. An unnerving voice filled her mind. She looked around in confusion. I call your soul forth, Kagome! She gasped as she felt something trying to be torn away from her.
"What are you doing?" She gasped as she held herself tightly.
Your soul is what I sought. Give it to me.
"Naraku!" She gasped, in recognition. Toshi stopped and ran toward her.
"Mama!" He cried, fearfully.
"It's all right, darling." She said as she tried to steady her shaky voice. She gasped in pain and clenched her jaw.
It is useless to fight, Miko. I always get what I want.
Not this time. She shot back and she heard his evil chuckle vibrating in her head.
What a pretty name. Kagome.
"I will fight you!" She whispered. "I will destroy you." The Shikon no Tama flared from her neck and pulsated around her body. Toshi stepped back in surprise and she screamed as a ball of light erupted from her.
Your soul will resurrect me!
She froze and fell to her knees. Her fingers dug into the earth and sweat rolled off her forehead.
"Kagome!" She looked up at the voice as Sango called out to her with Miroku was not far behind. Suddenly, Inuyasha jumped out from behind them and landed next to her.
"Are you all right, Kagome?" He asked as he shielded away from the evil aura radiating from her. Her scent was mixed with Naraku's. But how was that possible? Naraku was dead.
"Inuyasha…" She freed one hand from the earth and grabbed onto his haori. "Inuyasha, you must kill me." She said. He reeled back in surprise. "Naraku wants my soul to resurrect himself."
"Baka. That would make it easier for him." Inuyasha replied. "Fight him, Kagome. You're strong enough."
"Don't call me that." She seethed. The hanyou shut his mouth and looked away.
Funny.
Nani?!
No matter how hard I tear you away from him, the more he loves you. Naraku's chuckled resounded in her head once again. I tried killing Kikyou to torture him. I tried killing you of. However both of you came back like leeches who refuse to let go.
I have no idea what you are talking about. She thought angrily.
I erased your memories, my dear. How fortunate that you ended up with Sesshoumaru, instead of Inuyasha. Inuyasha, whom you fought Kikyo for.
Bastard. She whispered.
Little miko. You are still so young and naïve. I will give you back your memories. But I will not kill you.
But I will destroy you, Naraku. She vowed. His evil presence flickered within her mind.
Kukuku. You could only wish. He laughed. Inuyasha will be the one who kills you. With that, he swiftly left her mind and released a rush of turmoil in his wake. Her memories and the strong emotions tied within them flooded her mind. She screamed as the scenes pounded through her head and she clutched her head in agony. One flashed in her mind, repeatedly. The one of an angry hanyou with glowing red eyes and bloodied claws.
"NO!" She shrieked. Inuyasha winced and wrapped his arms around her.
"Kagome! Calm down!" He pleaded as she struggled. With a hand pulsing with white light, she pushed him violently away from him and ran.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo exclaimed as he arrived with Rin after he had sensed their distress.
"Lady Kimiko!" Sango cried. "Wait!" Kimiko's foot caught on the train of her kimono and she fell. Her head hit a rock with a sickening crack.
"Okaasan!" Toshi screamed as he ran to her still body. "Okaasan!"
"Kimiko-sama." Miroku quickly lifted her into his arms and shook her lightly. He gingerly touched the bleeding wound by her temple. "It looks like a concussion." He said. "Let's take her inside."
Sesshoumaru landed noiselessly outside a village hut. With a swipe of his claws, the door hanging was torn away from the entrance of the hat to reveal a woman kneeling in front of a fire. She got up slowly and turned. Sesshoumaru stared in amazement as the miko walked toward him.
"You." He stated.
"Sesshoumau." She replied in the same disinterested tone. However her stormy blue-gray eyes were filled with slight amusement. "It's good to see you."
Sango gently tucked the blankets around Kimiko's still form. She leaned back and glanced over to the corner where Inuyasha was stitting. "She'll be fine."
"Keh. I'm not worried." The hanyou retorted. Sango raised an eyebrow at him and walked over to him. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and watched as one of his ears twitched. He chuckled suddenly and raised his head as an amused smirk crossed his lips. "Sesshoumaru is going to have a cow."
"Eh?" Sango blinked. The door slid open and they turned as Miroku stepped into the room. Shippo followed after him and waited for Rin. She was carrying a bundle of plants in her arms.
"These might help." She said as she laid them down. Shippo gave her a bowl and she proceeded to mash the leaves together. Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and shielded away from the smell. Rin gently laid the poultice on Kimiko's wound and Shippo got up. Inuyasha did the same and bounced out the door.
Sesshoumaru stood outside as he watched his half-brother run out of the house. His eyes narrowed when he smelled Kimiko's scent all over Inuyasha. There were also the fresh smell of herbs and the slight copper of blood. "I brought you something, Inuyasha." He commented as he noticed the slight anxiety in him. "After you're done, then come to me." He swept past him and into the castle. Inuyasha frowned as he watched Sesshoumaru depart and turned back around.
What the hell was he talking about? He thought as his eyes scanned the area. Then he saw her. She stood basking in the moonlight with her dark tresses following softly in the night's breeze. He slowly walked toward her and reached out his hand, never blinking to be sure she was real. Then she turned and smiled that same smile that had made him fall in love with her.
"Inuyasha." She whispered and reached for his hand. He met her soft brown eyes and she nodded, reassuringly. "Inuyasha, it's me."
"Kagome?" He asked in childlike wonder. "Is it really you?" He closed the gap in between them and crushed her to him. "Kagome." She leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. "You're so cold." He took off his red haori and draped it around her shoulders.
"Inuyasha. I missed you so much." She murmured, her eyes filling with tears.
"Shh. Don't cry." He chuckled, softly. He tucked one of her stray lock of hair behind her ear and wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks. "It has been hard on all of us."
"Inuyasha, don't leave me along ever again!" She cried as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his chest.
"Don't worry, Kagome. I'll never leave you again." He said as he gently pushed her away. Glancing at her closed eyes, he kissed her softly on the lips. At that moment, Kagome's eyes slowly opened and glittered with triumph.
"Kimiko." Sesshoumaru settled onto the ground with Rin kneeling next to him. He stared at the poultice on her temple and glanced at Rin. "Rin, did you apply the poultice?"
"Hai." She said, bowing her head.
"I'm proud of you." He placed a hand on top of her head and she looked up happily. "But at this rate, the wound would still take a long time to heal." He pulled Kimiko close to him and nicked his right index finger. Rin watched as the tip of his finger slowly beaded and he placed it on Kimiko's temple. When he removed it, the wound was completely gone.
"Sugoi." She said, breathlessly. "Demo-" She gasped as Kimiko jerked and her body started to spasm, "Sesshoumaru-sama! What's that?" The lord of the western lands inhaled sharply at the glowing stone around Kimiko's neck.
"Kuso." He swore and ripped the stone away from her neck. The Shikon no Tama hit the floor and rolled underneath a pile of clothing at the corner of the room. "INUYASHA!" He yelled in fury as he shielded Rin away when bright light exploded from Kimiko and filled the room.
Inuyasha looked up when he heard Sesshoumaru call out his name. He cocked an eyebrow and gaped as a beacon of light tore out from the roof of the castle. Hearing Kagome's sharp intake of breath, he looked down. "Shikon no Tama." She exclaimed. "I thought it had been destroyed!" She ran toward the house and Inuyasha quickly followed her. They walked down the hallway with scared servants peeping out from every corner. When they entered Kimiko's quarters, they gaped at the damage done to her room. The walls were singed, cracked, or gone. Inuyasha quickly glanced around the room and noticed Kimiko still laying on her futon. Kimiko jerked suddenly and a stream of blood trailed down from the corner of her lips.
"Kimiko-sama!" Inuyasha ran forward and placed a finger under her nose, stepping away when he was reassured by the exhaling of air. "Sesshoumaru?" His brother lay on the other side of the room with Rin next to him. He groaned and shakily pushed himself up.
"What did you do to her?" He demanded, collapsing after his strength left him. Inuyasha quickly walked over and helped him up. "I come back to smell her scent all over you and to find that you have given her the Shikon jewel?"
"Inuyasha! You gave her the Shikon no Tama?" Kagome asked in confusion. Inuyasha sheepishly turned to her.
"I thought she was you." He replied. Kagome frowned and looked away. Seeing this, Sesshoumaru smirked and pushed Inuyasha away. Then he slowly made his way to Kimiko's side and sat down next to her, pulling her limp body into his arms.
"Because of the Shikon's presence in her blood, her body is fighting off my youkai blood." He said, quietly. "I have no idea why you gave that blasted jewel to her."
"She recognized it." Inuyasha replied, blankly. "She used it."
"Used it?" Sesshoumaru repeated, sharply. "On what?"
"On who." Inuyasha responded. "She used it on me."
"Kimiko, wake up. I'm here." Sesshoumaru murmured as he stroked her dark tresses. "Kimiko, open up your eyes."
"Sesshou…maru." Kimiko whispered. His eyes widened and he hugged her close in relief. She placed a hand on her neck and her eyes flung wide open. "Where is my jewel?" She demanded, trying to get up and failing.
"The Shikon? I tore it from your neck." Sesshoumaru replied.
"Where is it?" She cried, desperately. "I have to keep it away from him!"
"Who?" Inuyasha cut in sharply. Her brown eyes were wide with fear.
"Naraku." She said.
When Sesshoumaru had finally persuaded Kimiko to get some rest, he exited the room with Inuyasha and Kagome. He stared resentfully at the miko and frowned at the mix of her scents. She smelled like Kimiko, the dead clay miko, and an odd scent that seemed strangely familiar, although he couldn't place it. "You don't think I can get the Shikon back?" Kagome asked, quietly. Inuyasha shrugged and Sesshoumaru's frown deepened.
"If it's in Kimiko's possession, then it stays in her possession. This is until she decides otherwise." He said, sharply. "No one will question the matter further." Kagome glared at him sharply and Sesshoumaru returned the look.
"Hey, let's go see Shippo." Inuyasha said as he took Kagome's arm.
"Shippo?" Kagome repeated, carefully.
"Hai. That kitsune brat has grown a lot since you last saw him." Inuyasha grinned. Kagome nodded and they walked down the hall leaving Sesshoumaru on his own. The youkai lord of the western lands stared after the couple and went back inside Kimiko's room.
"So, what have you been doing these last five years?" Inuyasha asked.
"Being lost." Kagome replied. "It took awhile for me to recover from the battle with Naraku. I can't believe that he is still alive."
"Feh, that bastard is just asking for it." Inuyasha smirked as he walked next to her.
"Inuyasha. You've changed." Kagome said.
"What?" His left ear twitched slightly and she continued.
"You've softened up. Look, you don't even wear the Tetsuaiga anymore." She pointed out. "I see after the battle, you've finally relaxed."
"Iie. It's just that Kimiko—" He began.
"Why do you insist on bringing her up? First it was Kikyo, now it's Kimiko?" Kagome stopped and glared at him with tears in her eyes. "What about me? Don't you think about me? How could you mistaken her for—" Inuyasha placed a finger on her lips and looked around, slowly.
"We're still in Sesshoumaru's castle. We should be careful of what you say about his mate. Words travel fast." He cautioned.
"I don't care." Kagome said, angrily. She stomped down the hall and Inuyasha sighed.
"Kagome, wait!" He called as he reached out to her.
"Osuwari!" She yelled. A smirk crossed her lips and she frowned when there was no sound of a body slamming into the floor. She turned around to see Inuyasha looking very satisfied behind her.
"Sorry B!tch. Won't work this time." He growled.
"What? What happened to your rosary?" She stammered.
"Kimiko took if off for me." He smiled, evilly.
"Ano—" She stepped backwards and glanced nervously at Inuyasha who clenched his clawed hand in anticipation. "Inu—yasha…" She gasped as her back pressed into the wall. "Gomen nasai!" She dropped to her knees, her hands coming up to cover her face. "I always thought the rosary could protect me from you!" Inuyasha sighed and dropped down next to her. "I thought that if I took it off, you would never talk to me again! The rosary was what kept up together!"
"Kagome---" Inuyasha sighed.
"Gomen nasai! I'm sorry!" She cried, hysterically.
"Kagome, you should know that it wasn't the rosary that tied us together. It was you." Inuyasha pulled her into his arms. "From the first moment that I saw you to the last, I knew that you were the one for me."
"Inuyasha." She whispered. As he smoothed her black tresses and whispered words of comfort in her ears, they were oblivious to the presence around the corner. Rin tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and glanced at Shippo. He shook his head and led her back down the hall.
TBC…ahahhaa..wat an interesting twist!
