It's down to this
I've got to make this life make sense
And now I can't do what I've done
And now again I've found myself
So far down, away from the sun
That shines the life away from me
'Cause now again I've found myself
So far down, away from the sun
That shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down, away from the sun
That shines the life away from me
To find my way back into the arms
That care about the ones like me
I'm so far down, away from the sun again
-Away From The Sun
By 3 Doors Down--------------------
Chapter 1
Betrayal
--------------------
"Decide Inuyasha, the undead wench, or the Miko bitch?" Naraku hissed at the Inu-Honyou as he tightened his hold on the two women, however only one whimpered to his dismay. Kagome looked up trying desperately to hide the fear on her face. "CHOOSE!"
Inuyasha looked between Kikyo and her reincarnation, his mind racing in which one to choose.
"If you do not choose I will kill both," Naraku growled his patience wearing thin.
Inuyasha looked to Kagome his eyes sad as she looked to him; desperation in her eyes was evident. He could see her pleading for him to help her through her eyes; though he had a responsibility to Kikyo he couldn't let her die a second time because of him. Flashing a sad, sincere smile to Kagome, she bowed her head as the tears flowed from her eyes.
"I choose Kikyo," he announced his voice unwavering, as he glared at Naraku as the evil Honyou smiled.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid." Naraku berated Inuyasha. "You have the undead wench, but it was a stupid choice. This little girl has much potential, too bad she will suffer. I guess it was a good choice for me, she will scream when I torture her, for the undead do not feel pain, like she dose." Naraku snickered as he disappeared from the clearing, leaving only destruction in his path. Inuyasha ran to Kikyo who was lying on the ground. He bent to pick her up only to have her body turn to dust. There lying where she once did was a humanoid looking stick, a puppet.
-----------
Kagome shuttered at the cold feeling of cold medal against her skin. The harsh feeling of bark on her back gave her little comfort. Though the fluttering on the pink sakura pedals and the constant hum of the river to her front was great to sooth her tensed muscles.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked Naraku as he edged closer to her, while she struggled against the medal binds that bond her to the sakura tree.
"This place Miko is a place of great sacrifices. The demon that is hidden in the elements here is strong and will be a good attribute to my already powerful body." Naraku smiled as she pulled away from him as he ran a hand down her cheek.
"H-How do you summon it?" Kagome asked uneasily. She had some hint of how, though she was praying that she was wrong.
"The blood of a Miko is all I need." He whispered into her ear. "You see I knew that Inuyasha would choose that undead Bitch, I knew it from the very beginning and for that I am grateful." He smiled as he tore of her shirt and skirt leaving her there in her bra and underwear. "You see I can't sacrifice someone who is already dead."
Kagome shuddered as he pulled a dagger down the right side of her body though not hard enough to cause any damage. She readied herself for the pain that was to come.
"Such a beautiful body put to such a waste," Naraku shook his head in mockery as he sliced off what little garments she had on. Kagome gasped and struggle to cover herself up, though no avail. "Such a beautiful body," he whispered into her ear as he racked his claws down her sides causing blood to surface. Kagome was barely able to hold in her whimper of pain.
She watched in fear as he used his claws to write Kanji on her body. It was hard for her to read since it was upside-down and the blood that poured from the wounds made it hard to read what was originally written. Once he had covered every inch of her body he pulled a dagger from the depths of his clothes. Everything was blurry to Kagome because of blood loss but she couldn't help but notice how sharp the object was. She watched in utter horror as it speed towards the left side of her chest and imbedded itself into her pale flesh.
Naraku smiled as Kagome let out an ear-deafening scream that rolled over the lands. Pulling at the dagger he brought it down making the gash in her chest larger, he watched in amusement as he blood poured out of her body and littered the ground as it streamed into the nearby river making it a sickly crimson.
The earth shook around the tree as the ground split draining the river into its depths. Until all was still, there was not a sound, no rustle of leaves, even the panting of the dieing Miko seemed to be drowned out by the sickening silence. Though slowly a light seemed to ascend from the pits of the crater.
Naraku stood in anticipation as everything was engulfed in a white light, blinding them all. When dark invaded the area once again a woman dressed in a dark red stood before them. Her black hair flowed down to her mid back; her blue eyes calmed the most fearful souls. Her blood red kimono flowed around the figure as she floated towards the two.
Naraku looked on eyes wide, if Kagome hadn't lost so much blood she would have laughed at the shock on his face. This didn't look to be the fiercest Youkai she had ever seen, she looked to be a woman in her mid twenties.
"You are no Youkai!" Naraku spat at the woman when she was no more than a meter away. Her eyes caught the sight of the mangled body of Kagome and her eyes seemed to flare in anger.
"You dare to try and summon a Youkai with someone so pure of heart," she seethed, her voice holding all the anger she felt.
"The scripts for the sacrifice said a Miko!" Naraku yelled outraged by the woman.
"It said a corrupted MIKO!"
"She was betrayed by the one she saw as her protector, he gave her to me for her incarnation, any who were put through that should be corrupter!"
"Then tell me why she dose not harbor ill will towards this protector? You tried to sacrifice someone so pure of heart, that she forgives the worst of people." The woman glared at the Honyou and raised her hand that began to glow a bright blue. "You are inconfident fool." She yelled as Naraku was engulfed in a ray of blue energy. Once the light passed there was nothing left of Naraku except for the scorch mark where he once stood.
Kagome would have danced and laughed at the death of Naraku if she wasn't in her current position. Her head nodded to the side as a dark sleep began to play with her senses. She wasn't even aware of a woman walking towards her until her head was cradled in her soft hands.
"Dear child what has he done to you, someone so pure of heart, tortured on the inside and out. Your soul is incomplete; I can see this though I do not know what kind of creature can take a piece of a soul that is as old as they come. One of the first souls to be made on the existence of this earth. Child I feel pity for you, you have been betrayed and hurt in more ways than one." Blue eyes met and Kagome couldn't help but feel bliss. "I shall help you to my fullest extent, for you are a child of prophecy, here to help both human and demon alike."
The woman's hands began to glow once more as it engulfed Kagome's body. Though it wasn't the light of destruction, it left her warm and she felt whole, for the first moment in a long time.
-----------
Shippo sat in Sango's lap as he sobbed into her kimono, rocking back and forth. She was gone; she was gone and wasn't coming back. His cries for his adoptive mother grew louder.
"Will you shut the fuck up!" Inuyasha growled at the kit, annoyed at the constant crying.
"It's all your fault," Shippo yelled through struggled pants of air.
"Shippo, please calm yourself," Miroku told him calmly as he sat by Sango's side placing a hand on the crying Taijiya. "Inuyasha had to make a decision, though not all of us agree on it, it was his decision and his alone. Kagome is strong and will make it through what ever Naraku has in store for her. All we can do at this point is pray for her safe return to us."
"Hai," Sango sniffed as she hugged the small kitsune. "All we can do is pray for her safe return. Though at the moment..." She looked at Inuyasha eyes a blazing, "I would like to knew where this Miko you choose over Kagome is?"
"I well you see..." Inuyasha began to back out of the hut though he was blocked my Miroku who had gotten up from his spot next to Sango when he saw the Honyou begin to retreat.
"Hai, I would like to hear that too."
"I'm not sure..." Inuyasha put his head down.
"Just as I thought. Naraku tricked with a puppet, did he not?" Miroku growled at Inuyasha.
"Hai," Inuyasha whispered quietly.
"You traded Kagome for a puppet!" Sango screamed at him as she stormed to the Honyou.
"I didn't know!" he yelled back at her, mad at his own mistake.
"Couldn't you at least SMELL the difference?!" Shippo yelled from Sango's shoulder.
"How could he. They both would smell like dirt. Don't they Inuyasha! DON'T THEY!" Sango screamed at him.
"I-I..." Inuyasha stuttered, knowing full well that she was right. They both did smell like dirt unlike Kagome's sweat smell. Oh what had he done?
"I don't believe you would do that, Honyou," she spat the name in disgust making Inuyasha cringe. All the respect he had worked so hard for was tossed out the window.
The sound of flesh meeting sounded throughout the small village as Sango smacked Inuyasha in the right cheek. Even Miroku cringed at the sight. It had to be by far the worst beating he had ever seen.
"You truly are worthless, half-breed," Sango seethed as both she and Shippo marched out the door.
"Miroku," Inuyasha looked to the monk for support, but he only shook his head in disappointment as he followed the Taijiya and Kitsune.
-----------
Sesshomaru looked at the young girl who played in the field without a care in the world as she danced in the meadow of flowers. She had insisted that they stay there for the night; the girl had a fascination with the small plants that he was not able to understand. Despite the fact that he did know why it made her happy and though he wouldn't tell anyone he enjoyed seeing the young girl be happy.
He sat back against one of the many trees that surrounded the meadow, waiting for the young girl o become tired of her game. However the quiet of the night was interrupted by horrible scream that rang in his head even after it stopped. Rin ran to his side as she tightened her hold on his leg.
"Jaken watch Rin!" he ordered as he placed the frightened girl on the two headed dragon and sped off into the distance to investigate what was happening...