Disclaimer: Omg. T_T I just saw the saddest movie of Rurouni Kenshin
called Reflection and--- Oh. right.
*Clears her throat and steps up to the podium - Taps the microphone a few times*
"Testing - Testing. Is this thing on? Oh. Good. Attention everyone! I do not own InuYasha."
*Blinks, then slowly walks away*
"Thank Kami For Computers."
And because she's such a fantastic friend - I dedicate this chapter to Collie-chan. (Fairywings817)
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Sesshoumaru made his way slowly into the clearing, his opponent? A wooden well, standing in his path. The demon's golden eyes fell to the well, and then slowly his hand fell to grasp the hilt of his sword - The Tokijin. His fingers curled lightly around the magnificent sword's hilt, and slowly he drew it from its sheath, letting the brilliant metal of his sword meet the deserving light of the day.
"Forgive me, for using you for such a minuscule task." His smooth voice cooed softly to the sword.
Stepping upon the ball of his right foot, Sesshoumaru narrowed his dangerous golden orbs upon the well, and in one smooth motion, leapt towards it, swinging the Tokijin horizontally at its base. The strong metal of the fine sword sliced it apart effortlessly, and the well crumbled into it's self, smashing to pieces and sending shards of wood flying in every direction.
Sesshoumaru leapt back, standing out of the way as he let his eyes rest upon the cloud of debris that had settled around where the well once stood. Finally it cleared, and in it's place stood the remains of what was once the Bone Eater's Well, now caved in and diminished to nothing more than crumbled wood.
Sesshoumaru turned away from the pile of meaningless wood, and slowly re- sheathed the Tokijin, listening to the satisfied song of metal sliding upon metal with a sigh.
Now his task was complete, and he had confidence that his brainless hanyou brother would be easily distracted by the female called Kikyou. It was all left to Naraku now, and Sesshoumaru had to admit he was less than confident in Naraku.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Naraku watched calmly from the tall trees that loomed overhead of him, hiding him from the eyes that could destroy his plan, and letting his own eyes settle confidently upon Kaede's hut. He could hear them inside - And he knew that Inuyasha was not among them. No, Kikyou had done her job well, and now he could carry out the plan.
Naraku had been watching patiently, his eyes fixed upon the hut, his ears strained to hear their conversation. He could sense sadness, despair, and fear. It all fed to the adrenaline that was building inside of him, waiting to explode at the moment he had his chance. It was all so deliciously plotted; he hadn't had the heart to send a puppet, or Kagura and Kanna. No - This - This task he would do himself.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Kagome pulled away from Sango as she tried to embrace her, and sooth her tears. Kagome didn't want to be comforted, because she was scared. She was scared that if she tried to sooth the pain, she would never be able to face it, and thus never come face to face with the reality. She was falling apart inside - But she knew she couldn't stop that.
"No, don't." She breathed with effort between tears. "I - I can't be here. I h-have to go." Kagome turned towards the door of the hut, closing her eyes tightly and trying to be strong.
'Be strong Kagome, be as strong as you can.'
Sango pulled back from Kagome as the young woman pulled from her embrace. She sighed softly, her lips fallen in a sad frown. She turned her eyes upon Miroku, looking for an answer - But all Miroku could do was shake his head sadly, and turn his gaze back to Kagome.
"Where will you go?" Miroku's quiet voice seemed to echo throughout the room.
"I just need to be by myself for a little while..." Kagome said softly, and wasted not a moment more as she stepped forward and pushed away the bamboo that fell in front of the door. It rattled softly as she moved it, and stepped outside - But that was the only protest given to her departure, besides the sad eyes of her friends.
Once outside Kagome stopped, and closed her eyes. She breathed in heavily, taking in gratefully the sweet smell of spring and sakura blossoms that filled the daytime air. The warm air around Kagome seemed to hug her form like a glove, keeping her warm as best it could, and yet somehow not managing to cease the chill she felt on the inside. The cold she felt working it's way through her body, whispering every now and then to her subconscious and sending a visible chill through her form, despite the warm air that so desperately tried to ease her pain.
Kagome took in a breath deeply, and tried to hold it in, savoring it, only to let it go soon after with a reluctant sigh. She slowly reopened her big brown eyes and began to walk away from the hut, keeping her gaze cast towards the ground, and her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her fingers laying on her arms and trying to sooth the goose bumps that had formed.
It wasn't long though, before Kagome stopped in her path, and raised her gaze in front of her. The air around her changed dramatically, becoming thick and hard to breath in. The atmosphere was instantly cold and unfriendly - An enemy. And she knew. She knew at that moment.
Slowly Kagome turned herself around, and stood silently, staring at the man in the baboon skin cloak standing before her. Fear seared through her, and her knees threatened to give out under her, but she stood still, staring at him. The moment seemed to last an eternity... and then...
A soft chuckle echoed from the depths of the baboon skin cloak, and Kagome's eyes widened with panic. She turned on her heel, and broke into a run, hoping desperately to get away from him. Because she was positive he was after her. She was positive.
Kagome's breathing increased as the panic within her grew, and she was running so fast down the deserted path, her long raven locks flowing gracefully behind her. And then she felt a sharp pain enter her head, as those lovely raven locks were yanked back effortlessly, and Kagome staggered backwards with the force, and into his arms.
Horrified, Kagome tried to run again, but the hand that was not clasped around her hair came forward, around her chest and up to her face, placing a cloth over her nose and mouth. Kagome struggled in her enemies grasp for a little longer, her brown eyes wide and staring ahead of her. But soon her attempt to hold her breath became futile, and then slowly her vision began to blur. Kagome could feel reality slipping out from beneath her.
'Inuyasha...'
And then things went black.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Naraku gazed down at the unconscious dying woman in his arms, and a devious grin graced his infamous lips. He was trembling softly with excitement, and he quickly dropped the cloth he had used to bring her down to the ground, and raised her comfortably in his arms, only to quickly take off soon after.
Once soaring comfortably through the sky, he let his gaze fall back down to Kagome, and for just a moment something stirred inside of him. She was in fact, Kikyou's reincarnate... and perhaps if Kikyou wouldn't have him...
"Fool - Silent your thoughts." Naraku scolded himself softly aloud for such foolish and disgusting thoughts. He was a demon. No longer was he that fool Onigumo - And never again would he be.
Never.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Miroku bent down, and let two outstretched digits graze over a piece of cloth forgotten on the ground. Carefully, he picked it up and brought it to his nose, taking a very small sniff. He instantly recognized the substance, and stood up, holding the cloth tightly in his hand.
"Sango, I think something may have happened to Kagome."
Sango looked up and over to Miroku. Shippou was thankfully playing with Kirara off to the side, and hadn't heard Miroku's comment. Sango didn't want to hear it herself, or believe it. They had just gone out for a walk.
"Why do you say that-" Sango was cut off as Miroku turned around and placed the damp cloth gently in Sango's hand.
"Take a small sniff." He whispered quietly to her. But Sango knew what it was even before she slowly raised it to her nose and took a small whiff of the substance. Carefully she lowered it away from herself, and turned her gaze back to Miroku.
"This doesn't prove that Kagome was the one who this was used upon." She said softly, gazing into the Houshi's eyes. Miroku returned her stare seriously. As much as he wanted to believe what Sango had pointed out - A better part of him knew.
"We need to find Inuyasha."
Sango paused, and her gaze fell to the cloth in her hand. She eyed the damp piece of material carefully, and then finally let out a soft sigh.
"Yes." She said softly. "And as soon as possible."
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
A/N: *Dances* Chapter eight complete. I am so happy with the way this one came out! I think it's my best chapter thus far.
Sorry if it was a little short - I didn't want to drag it on for too long. And I promise in the next chapter, we'll get caught up on what our beloved hanyou is doing.
Anyway, I just want to take this time to give a special thanks to all of my reviewers. It's because of you guys that I am encouraged to keep going.
Oh, and one last thing. If anyone knows how to italicize and bold and yada yada, I would greatly appreciate it, if you would share your secret. Arigato.
~Kimmy-chan
*Clears her throat and steps up to the podium - Taps the microphone a few times*
"Testing - Testing. Is this thing on? Oh. Good. Attention everyone! I do not own InuYasha."
*Blinks, then slowly walks away*
"Thank Kami For Computers."
And because she's such a fantastic friend - I dedicate this chapter to Collie-chan. (Fairywings817)
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Sesshoumaru made his way slowly into the clearing, his opponent? A wooden well, standing in his path. The demon's golden eyes fell to the well, and then slowly his hand fell to grasp the hilt of his sword - The Tokijin. His fingers curled lightly around the magnificent sword's hilt, and slowly he drew it from its sheath, letting the brilliant metal of his sword meet the deserving light of the day.
"Forgive me, for using you for such a minuscule task." His smooth voice cooed softly to the sword.
Stepping upon the ball of his right foot, Sesshoumaru narrowed his dangerous golden orbs upon the well, and in one smooth motion, leapt towards it, swinging the Tokijin horizontally at its base. The strong metal of the fine sword sliced it apart effortlessly, and the well crumbled into it's self, smashing to pieces and sending shards of wood flying in every direction.
Sesshoumaru leapt back, standing out of the way as he let his eyes rest upon the cloud of debris that had settled around where the well once stood. Finally it cleared, and in it's place stood the remains of what was once the Bone Eater's Well, now caved in and diminished to nothing more than crumbled wood.
Sesshoumaru turned away from the pile of meaningless wood, and slowly re- sheathed the Tokijin, listening to the satisfied song of metal sliding upon metal with a sigh.
Now his task was complete, and he had confidence that his brainless hanyou brother would be easily distracted by the female called Kikyou. It was all left to Naraku now, and Sesshoumaru had to admit he was less than confident in Naraku.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Naraku watched calmly from the tall trees that loomed overhead of him, hiding him from the eyes that could destroy his plan, and letting his own eyes settle confidently upon Kaede's hut. He could hear them inside - And he knew that Inuyasha was not among them. No, Kikyou had done her job well, and now he could carry out the plan.
Naraku had been watching patiently, his eyes fixed upon the hut, his ears strained to hear their conversation. He could sense sadness, despair, and fear. It all fed to the adrenaline that was building inside of him, waiting to explode at the moment he had his chance. It was all so deliciously plotted; he hadn't had the heart to send a puppet, or Kagura and Kanna. No - This - This task he would do himself.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Kagome pulled away from Sango as she tried to embrace her, and sooth her tears. Kagome didn't want to be comforted, because she was scared. She was scared that if she tried to sooth the pain, she would never be able to face it, and thus never come face to face with the reality. She was falling apart inside - But she knew she couldn't stop that.
"No, don't." She breathed with effort between tears. "I - I can't be here. I h-have to go." Kagome turned towards the door of the hut, closing her eyes tightly and trying to be strong.
'Be strong Kagome, be as strong as you can.'
Sango pulled back from Kagome as the young woman pulled from her embrace. She sighed softly, her lips fallen in a sad frown. She turned her eyes upon Miroku, looking for an answer - But all Miroku could do was shake his head sadly, and turn his gaze back to Kagome.
"Where will you go?" Miroku's quiet voice seemed to echo throughout the room.
"I just need to be by myself for a little while..." Kagome said softly, and wasted not a moment more as she stepped forward and pushed away the bamboo that fell in front of the door. It rattled softly as she moved it, and stepped outside - But that was the only protest given to her departure, besides the sad eyes of her friends.
Once outside Kagome stopped, and closed her eyes. She breathed in heavily, taking in gratefully the sweet smell of spring and sakura blossoms that filled the daytime air. The warm air around Kagome seemed to hug her form like a glove, keeping her warm as best it could, and yet somehow not managing to cease the chill she felt on the inside. The cold she felt working it's way through her body, whispering every now and then to her subconscious and sending a visible chill through her form, despite the warm air that so desperately tried to ease her pain.
Kagome took in a breath deeply, and tried to hold it in, savoring it, only to let it go soon after with a reluctant sigh. She slowly reopened her big brown eyes and began to walk away from the hut, keeping her gaze cast towards the ground, and her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her fingers laying on her arms and trying to sooth the goose bumps that had formed.
It wasn't long though, before Kagome stopped in her path, and raised her gaze in front of her. The air around her changed dramatically, becoming thick and hard to breath in. The atmosphere was instantly cold and unfriendly - An enemy. And she knew. She knew at that moment.
Slowly Kagome turned herself around, and stood silently, staring at the man in the baboon skin cloak standing before her. Fear seared through her, and her knees threatened to give out under her, but she stood still, staring at him. The moment seemed to last an eternity... and then...
A soft chuckle echoed from the depths of the baboon skin cloak, and Kagome's eyes widened with panic. She turned on her heel, and broke into a run, hoping desperately to get away from him. Because she was positive he was after her. She was positive.
Kagome's breathing increased as the panic within her grew, and she was running so fast down the deserted path, her long raven locks flowing gracefully behind her. And then she felt a sharp pain enter her head, as those lovely raven locks were yanked back effortlessly, and Kagome staggered backwards with the force, and into his arms.
Horrified, Kagome tried to run again, but the hand that was not clasped around her hair came forward, around her chest and up to her face, placing a cloth over her nose and mouth. Kagome struggled in her enemies grasp for a little longer, her brown eyes wide and staring ahead of her. But soon her attempt to hold her breath became futile, and then slowly her vision began to blur. Kagome could feel reality slipping out from beneath her.
'Inuyasha...'
And then things went black.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Naraku gazed down at the unconscious dying woman in his arms, and a devious grin graced his infamous lips. He was trembling softly with excitement, and he quickly dropped the cloth he had used to bring her down to the ground, and raised her comfortably in his arms, only to quickly take off soon after.
Once soaring comfortably through the sky, he let his gaze fall back down to Kagome, and for just a moment something stirred inside of him. She was in fact, Kikyou's reincarnate... and perhaps if Kikyou wouldn't have him...
"Fool - Silent your thoughts." Naraku scolded himself softly aloud for such foolish and disgusting thoughts. He was a demon. No longer was he that fool Onigumo - And never again would he be.
Never.
*~~~~~*~~~~~*
Miroku bent down, and let two outstretched digits graze over a piece of cloth forgotten on the ground. Carefully, he picked it up and brought it to his nose, taking a very small sniff. He instantly recognized the substance, and stood up, holding the cloth tightly in his hand.
"Sango, I think something may have happened to Kagome."
Sango looked up and over to Miroku. Shippou was thankfully playing with Kirara off to the side, and hadn't heard Miroku's comment. Sango didn't want to hear it herself, or believe it. They had just gone out for a walk.
"Why do you say that-" Sango was cut off as Miroku turned around and placed the damp cloth gently in Sango's hand.
"Take a small sniff." He whispered quietly to her. But Sango knew what it was even before she slowly raised it to her nose and took a small whiff of the substance. Carefully she lowered it away from herself, and turned her gaze back to Miroku.
"This doesn't prove that Kagome was the one who this was used upon." She said softly, gazing into the Houshi's eyes. Miroku returned her stare seriously. As much as he wanted to believe what Sango had pointed out - A better part of him knew.
"We need to find Inuyasha."
Sango paused, and her gaze fell to the cloth in her hand. She eyed the damp piece of material carefully, and then finally let out a soft sigh.
"Yes." She said softly. "And as soon as possible."
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
A/N: *Dances* Chapter eight complete. I am so happy with the way this one came out! I think it's my best chapter thus far.
Sorry if it was a little short - I didn't want to drag it on for too long. And I promise in the next chapter, we'll get caught up on what our beloved hanyou is doing.
Anyway, I just want to take this time to give a special thanks to all of my reviewers. It's because of you guys that I am encouraged to keep going.
Oh, and one last thing. If anyone knows how to italicize and bold and yada yada, I would greatly appreciate it, if you would share your secret. Arigato.
~Kimmy-chan