I wanna live before I die
So don't say I have to cry on
One more freezing floor
I ask you to open the door
And see how things could have gone
The reason that it took so long
Before you could figure out
That for so long I was about to break
And there were no arms to keep me
From harming me and now I'm searchin back to see
How I never tried to ask for some sympathy
'cause no- nobody wants to ride with me too far
'cause I might trip away
But in your arms I'd rather stay
You might just turn into something I like
You might just turn into something I like
You might just turn into something I li-li-li-li-li-li-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
You might just turn into something I
-I like
Katy Rose
--------------------
Chapter 3 This Is Me Talking--------------------
Kagome was doing her daily tour around the village to check on the villagers to make sure they were healthy and well. She had been doing it all morning, starting from one side of the village and ending at the front gates to cheek in on the guards that hadn't went home yet.
"Hey boys," Kagome greeted as she walked the stairs to the top of the fortress walls.
"Hey Miko-sama," one of the three man greeted her with a bow. They were all in tight exterminator uniforms along with an assortment of weapons; some Kagome couldn't even put a name to.
"Hey Hinso, how was the watch last night?"
"Boring as usual," all three of them yawned as they leaned against the walls.
"Hungry?" She tossed her basket on the floor next to the men and watched as they hopped on it and struggled to get the food. "Men," she exasperated as they munched happily on their food.
"Miko-Sama, there is a woman at the front gates asking to enter," a woman ran up to her, she too was wearing an exterminator uniform. In the village both women and men were guards, though if they were too young or were not trained, they attended to other needs of the village.
"Well if you shall excuse me," she nodded to the three men who bowed their heads, their mouths still full of food. Kagome looked to the exterminator who also nodded and took her to the front gates. She opened the large gates to peer at the traveler.
"Kikyo," she greeted the undead Miko, disgust was clear in her voice.
"I see my reincarnation has finally found her place in the world," Kikyo's calm voice sent chills down her spine, though she stood her ground. "I need shelter and this being the only village for miles is my only choice."
"You are not welcomed here, though that is not my place to say whether you stay here or not. I shall take you to the village's elder." Kagome turned and walked off in the direction of the elder's house. Her body language clearly stated that she wasn't enjoying this.
"Ah Kagome-Chan," an elderly man walked up to her and clapped her on the back. "What brings you to my humble hut?"
"A woman requests shelter in our village," Kagome looked at him her eyes empty of emotions.
"I see, well seeing as how there are no villages nearby she may stay." Kagome nodded and turned to leave. "She shall stay in your hut."
Her fists immediately clenched by her side, though instead of telling him no, she simply nodded her head and allowed Kikyo to follow her to her hut.
----------------
Inuyasha woke up slowly as the sunshine reached his face. Blocking the offending with his hand he looked around the room, trying to recall what had happened the night before. He remembered sitting in his tree arguing with Shippo, when they were attacked. Now he remembered. Looking over his chest he expected to see gashing holes where the demons claws had caught him off guard, though to his utter surprise they were gone.
"You have finally awaken Inuyasha," the said looked to see Miroku leaning against the frame of the door.
"How long have I been out?" Inuyasha asked as he brought his hands down from his face.
"Not even a day," Sango glared at him.
"Where's my wounds?" he asked ignoring the death glare he was being given.
"The village Miko healed you, though I think she should have left you. You know for revenge purposes." Sango's glare intensified as she turned to leave the room.
"What did I do now?" Inuyasha asked Miroku, who only shook his head and went to follow Sango with a slightly confused Shippo at their heels. "Sure blame everything on me, than just walk away. FINE! BE THAT WAY!" he yelled to them unsure if they could hear him. He stretched his sore muscles and stood from the futon on the floor. "Useless, hear that you're all useless!" he yelled to no one in particular knowing full well that his companions were out of hearing range by now.
Still grumbling he grabbed Tessaiga and headed out of the large hut they had stayed in. Though he wandered how Miroku was able to get them accommodations in such short time. Shrugging he took a tour around the village. Perfect, they had landed themselves in a Youkai exterminating village just what he needed, villagers who disliked him and knew how to kill him. Though to his surprise they seemed to ignore him.
"Miko-Sama!" He listened to the chorus of young children yell and laugh, as well as a woman's voice.
"Hakari, be careful child," she heard the woman laugh from somewhere in the village. Curiosity took over and he followed the voices.
In what he assumed to be the middle of the village ten young children surrounded, who he assumed to be the villages Miko. She had her hair let down and her back was facing him. She was wearing traditional Miko clothing with a white haori and blue hakambi.
"Tell us a story, Miko-sama," One of the children cheered.
"Yeah a story!" a tiny girl smiled as she held on tight to the Miko's hand.
"What would you like to hear about today?" the Miko asked the children softly.
"I want to hear about the most worstess, scariest demon you ever saw!" A young boy widened his arms as far as they could, his eyes wide.
"Are you sure?" she asked, Inuyasha could hear the doubt in her voice.
"Yeah!" all the children yelled at once.
"Well, there once was a man named Onigumo. He was deathly injured and a Miko much like myself was helping him heal. However he told a whole bunch of Youkai that if he allowed them to eat his body, he too was to become Youkai. Though in the end he was still given Onigumo's heart so he still remained a Honyou. That was 50 years ago. Now he returned to get the Shikon-no-tama. You all remember that story right?" a chorus of yes rang throughout her audience. "Well he wanted the jewel to become full Youkai and become even more powerful than what he was. He killed everything in his path and hurt so many people. He also had detachments to do his bidding."
Inuyasha recognized the story ever since the beginning and started to near the scene.
"What happened to him Miko-sama?" The young girl attached to the Miko's hand asked.
"Well Hakari, he died."
"How did he die?" A little boy asked.
"He tried to sacrifice a young girl, but a powerful woman came from the depths of the earth and killed him."
"Who saved the girl?!" they all cried out.
"She was found by a demon lord and taken to his castle to heal."
"Who was the girl?" Inuyasha asked as he neared the Miko, who turned around, her blue eyes wide as she stared at him. It took him all of his strength to keep the surprise off his face.
"You should know." Kagome glared at him. "I think its time you all went home and got some lunch." She ushered the children off.
"Kagome?" he asked still unsure if it was her or his imagination.
"Hai?"
"What are you doing here, I thought you were dead," he said calmly.
"Well no thanks to you, I'm here and healthy." She plastered a fake smile on her face that lasted only a few seconds. "Come, we shall walk and talk."
Inuyasha walked by her side quickly as she retrieved her basket and sped off. "So are you going to tell me what happened after Naraku took you?"
"Nope. Plus Naraku didn't take me. Apparently you gave me to him. Though I do not recall ever being your possession." She growled at him as she sped her pace up.
"Look I had a promise to uphold to Kikyo, I had to choose her. She died once already because of me." Kagome stopped in mid-step and spun around pointing an accusing finger in his face. He flattened his ears when he knew what was coming.
"Miko-sama! They have returned! My papa is back!" A young village girl ran to the front gates, apparently some traveling exterminators had returned to the village.
"Come if you must," she spoke coldly as she ran off in the direction the child had gone. When they came to the front gates there was chaos to put it mildly.
"What happened?" Kagome asked as she ran up to the scene. There lying on the ground were three woman, each having a large gash across their stomachs. Placing her hand to their pulses, she frowned when she found none.
"We were attacked just outside of the village by a Youkai. It only went after the woman," a older man came to stand by her.
Kagome sat down at their feet, Indian style. Closing her eyes, the four of them began to glow a light pink. Growling Kagome looked to the older man.
"Seiko, explain what happened." She ordered him.
"We were on our way back from the southern lands, when we heard something in the bushes. Before we could react a Youkai came out of the bushes and killed the woman that were traveling with us. But you see that isn't the freaky part. After the Youkai left three eel like worms, flew in and these blue orbs floated out of the woman's bodies and the eels took 'em"
"Oh this is just great!" Kagome exasperated as she settled herself back down. "Well lets see how you like this," she whispered to no one that resided in the area. She brought her left hand up in prayer like motion as she began to chant. Again the four women began to glow with a pink light. Somewhere in the village they heard an ear-shattering scream as three bright orbs flew back to their original body. The three women took a rushed breath, but did not wake.
" A soul may be able to be taken before death, but with the right amount of power and good timing you can save the person before death overwhelms them." Kagome explained as she stood from her spot. "Bring them to my hut," she nodded to three men who immediately picked up the women and followed Kagome.
Inuyasha followed her, slightly confused. He spotted a large hut with a herbal garden outside and immediately thought it was her hut. As he went to follow her into her yard of the hut a barrier repelled him. He sputtered and looked at the offending angrily. A village man stepped next to him, chuckling.
"Miko-Sama, placed a barrier around her hut to conceal the scent of blood and sickness, and to keep the demons away, unless she invites them in." He explained. Inuyasha only growled at him. He was about to yell out to Kagome when he heard arguing coming from the hut.
"GET OUT!" he was able to make out Kagome's voice. He sputtered in surprise when both she and Kikyo emerged from the hut. "We allow you to stay in the village for one day and you are already the source of trouble."
"What are you talking about?" Kikyo asked in her emotionless cold voice.
"Tell me was the Youkai that attacked the women yours or Naraku's?"
"What?"
"Answer me?!"
"It was neither..." Kikyo stepped back slightly answered her question her voice squeaked a bit. Inuyasha growled, he had to help her, but unfortunately the barrier was in his way.
"How do you know that?! Oh wait I remember, cause you work with him, so you would know."
"Why you-"
"Save it Kikyo! Tell me now, was it yours or Naraku's!" Kagome growled as she pointed her arrow at her incarnation.
"It was Naraku's!" Kikyo cried out as she cowered away from the arrow.
"If Naraku is dead than how can that be?"
"Foolish woman! You think the dead can kill him. Your savior only took him to the depths of hell; he can still control what goes on here still. If not directly than with detachments, and through the means of others." Kikyo smirked at Kagome, the reincarnation stared at her dumbly, Kikyo edge out of the barrier slowly in the direction of Inuyasha. "Do you still bare the scars Kagome, from where he drove the dagger into your heart, or perhaps from the ritual of Kanji that was written over your body. Maybe it isn't physically but mentally, like when he touched you."
Kagome looked at her harder, not initially the look she had expected. She was hoping for some tears, for the Miko to breakdown but her hold on her bow only tightened. Kikyo finally made out of the barrier, Inuyasha saw his opportunity and enclosed the undead Miko in his arms.
"Let her go, Inuyasha," Kagome growled through clenched teeth.
"No, I won't allow you to hurt her," he glared at the offending Miko. Kagome merely sighed and looked at them.
"Yes, Kikyo, I still bear scars, I bare all that you say," Inuyasha looked at her pained but she ignored it. Dropping her bow, Kagome brought her hand to the neck on the lift side of her haori and brought it down to reveal a large, thick scar that traveled down in behind the fabric. Kagome than turned around and pulled down the neck of the haori on the back. There was a kanji signs that read, from the depths of hell. Kagome turned to them and fixed her haori. "I have many more scars like that. But this was my price to pay for Naraku to be put in hell. Only because he is in hell doesn't mean that he is stronger, if anything he is weaker and I shall defeat him." She looked past him and a smile crossed her face. "Come Miroku, Sango and Shippo, you are welcomed in my home." She nodded to them as she turned away.
Inuyasha looked at Kikyo and sighed. "I think I just fucked my life up more than it was." Looking at the retreating villages he sighed again. "Man, I hate my life, its too fucked up..."