A:N: You guuuyyys!! T_T I love you all, honestly, but you keep asking questions that would reveal the entire plot!! If I answered them, I'd give away the whole plot! And, while I'm sure that at least most of you know the story of Helen of Troy, remember that I'm adding a few unconventional twists to it (besides making it the InuYasha cast). So while I am mainly sticking to the original plot, I want to add more that will make the story even more interesting. So, gomen, but I can't do any review replies today. =( You all are asking me questions that I can't answer, but I want to!! Really, really badly!! Demo, understand that if I did, I'd be handing you the plotline on a silver platter. But I will give you guys two spoilers.
Spoiler #1: I merged the characters of Cassandra and Andromache (quick! Look her up!) together, meaning that she'll have traits of both characters. (And if you read the last chapter, you'll know who Cassandra is.)
Spoiler #2: This I couldn't resist. Later on in the story, Naraku (the Agamemnon character) will do something to infuriate Kikyou, his woman (the Clytemnestra character), that had a huge piece of importance on how to find the Tachikawa gang's "hideout". Also, don't worry, readers! "Agamemnon" will never ever ever touch "Cassandra". Ever. Nor will he have lust for her, as that would be evil.
Disclaimer: Me no own! No ask why sound like Shampoo. (By the way, Shampoo is my favorite character from Ranma ^___^) .:goes back to normal:. Phew. Seriously, I don't own InuYasha, and I don't own Helen of Troy. Well? Didja bother at those ancient Greek-type people? Didja?? No? Maa, go do it now!! Hurry! Go!
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Kagome of Tokyo
Chapter 5
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Kagome was sick of it. Sick of the home that wasn't her home anymore, sick of the looks that were either worshipping or full of hatred, sick of having to take every shot they threw at her, sick of pretending, sick of having to be sick of everything, sick, sick, sick.
Ever since she got back, it wasn't her home. Naraku made that known as they returned. "Fellows," he had said, in his dark and quiet way, "Higurashi Souta, your leader, is dead."
A shocked cry had rippled throughout the people clustered on the stairs. The ones who had returned clenched their teeth, trying bravely not to cry. Kagome's eyes had locked on to one person in that crowd, however—her twin, Kikyou. Kikyou's eyes were burning into her own like hot coals.
They said to her, You killed our brothers. It's your fault.
Naraku continued. "With his dying breath, he has named our onii-san, Kouga, as your leader." He shoved Kouga in front of them all. Kagome felt him yanked from her side and shivered, cold at the loss of warmth. On their ride back, she had clung to Kouga as her one and only source of warmth.
Kouga flashed a grin, and a large group of girls began to whisper and giggle. Kagome rolled her eyes. Sure, he was pretty cute, but he was too forceful for her taste. Of course, by the way he defers to me, you'd never guess, she thought wryly. "No longer is this the Higurashi gang," Kouga called out. "From now on, we will be the Nakamura gang, and we will have no allies!" He turned and beckoned, almost shyly, to Kagome, and she stepped forward to his side gratefully. "Kagome is gonna be my woman from now on," he shouted, causing the same group of girls who giggled at Kouga's grin to glare menacingly at her.
Everything else was blurred together in Kagome's memory after that. Naraku had chosen Kikyou as his "woman", so that he and Kouga have equal power, after all. Naraku had also found a young orphan and brought him to Kagome. Since he had no family, and Kagome was like a sister to him, he clung to her. She smiled; that part she could remember well.
Another part that stood out in her memory was the day Kikyou had been found pregnant. She shuddered; that was far from a happy memory though..
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"There you are, Kohaku-chan." She smiled at him.
"Arigatou, Kagome nee-chan," Kohaku replied gratefully. He looked up happily at his older "sister". "Gomen. I didn't mean to get into that scuffle," he continued, lowering his eyes. "That boy just insulted you like that! I had to stand up for your honor!"
Kagome smiled again at the boy's chivalry. It reminded her of Kouga. "Arigatou to you, Kohaku-chan," she said gently. "You stood up for my honor. I should be thanking you." He smiled at her, and she touched his shoulder. "Your heel should be fine. Until then, rest and elevate it on a stack of pillows." Kagome watched him run off and smiled wistfully. Souta and Hojou used to take care of her when she was in scraps like that. She missed them with an ache that cut deep into the heart.
"Maa," she heard her voice say, but with more cruelty than Kagome could ever summon into it, "you miss them, ne? Wish you hadn't made them die, ne? Wish it hadn't been this way, ne?"
Kagome spun around to face her mirror image—Kikyou. "Ki-chan," she breathed, but Kikyou interrupted.
"How dare you call me that?" she cried, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "You call me that, but really, you just want to kill me, too!"
Kagome took a step back. "Never," she replied, tears welling up in her shocked sable eyes. "I would never do that to you."
Kikyou smiled, a smile that spat venom on open wounds. "You said that about them, too," she whispered. "And what happned, imouto-chan? They died. For a wench like you." She paused, still smiling her venomous smile. "Why, I'll never know. You're good for nothing. You're naught but a stupid wench who'll be synonymous with one thing in this gang: death."
At that, Kagome stepped towards her twin. "Never!" she screamed. "Never, never, never! And if you ever say that again, I'll—"
Her sister stepped up to her and slapped her.
Stunned, Kagome's hand flew to her cheek. She could only stare at Kikyou. Breathing hard, Kikyou's eyes flashed dangerously. Her features were contorted into hate.
Her twin hated her. Like Hiroyuki, like those girls whom she didn't even know, like Naraku.
"There," Kikyou hissed. "Fix that, will you, Kagome-sama?" Her voice rang with a sharp, mocking tune. Kagome pressed her hands to her ears. "Oh, you'll hear me!" Kikyou shrieked. "You'll hear me!" Kagome merely pressed harder.
A pause stood between the twins. Finally, Kikyou let out a sigh and slumped in a chair. Kagome slowly let go of her ears. Kikyou whispered, "I hope you're happy."
"Are?" Kagome blinked and crouched down to hear her sister.
"I said, I hope you're happy," Kikyou snapped, then sighed. "I can't take it," she whimpered. She looked up at her twin, and Kagome nearly fell over with shock. Kikyou's eyes those eyes that had been filled with rage and hatred not five seconds ago were now echoing pain and hurt. "Kagome-chan" she whispered, the first time she'd called Kagome that since Hojou's death, "I think I'm pregnant." She paused, a hint of the poison returning to her eyes. "And it's your fault."
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Two year old Kagura burst into Kagome's room. "Aunt Kagome, otou-san wants you." She stared at Kagome with crimson eyes that seemed to haunt her. Kagome repressed a shiver, patted her niece on the head, and left the room.
"You wanted to see me, Naraku?" she asked softly as she slipped into his room.
He didn't look up. "Kikyou's pregnant again."
Kagome bit her lip. "Congratulations, onii-san." She bowed. He waved his hand, obviously irritated.
"Go. That is all." Kagome left his room, not at all surprised at the brief meeting. Naraku could only stand her because she was the sister of Kikyou. Naraku was the only person who found Kikyou more appealing than her twin sister. From what Kagome had later learned, Naraku had wanted an excuse to make Kikyou his "woman", and Kouga taking lead of the gang had ensured that. Both the brothers would keep the sisters safe if each were taking care of them, Naraku had explained. Kouga, mainly thinking of Kagome, had approved vaguely.
Kouga came walking up to Kagome, grinning broadly. "Oi, Kagome-chan," he greeted happily.
"Ohayo, Kouga-kun," she returned weakly. Kouga noticed immediately and took her arm as they walked.
"Daijoubu, Kagome-chan?" he asked quietly—well, as quietly as Kouga could, Kagome thought. "You seem ano, weary." He gently kissed her cheek, and Kagome sighed. Kouga would never understand that she felt nothing but sisterly affection towards him. She didn't expect he ever would. This is as good as it will get, Kagome, she reminded herself.
"Un. I'm fine," she assured him. "I just need to take a walk. I'll be fine," she said when Kouga opened his mouth to object. "I know a place that nobody ever goes to. I can take care of myself now."
Kouga closed his mouth, thought a moment, then unlaced a sharp knife he had tied to his waist. "Take this," he said softly, pressing the hilt into Kagome's palm. "You'll be safer." Kagome smiled and leaned towards him. He looked on, stunned, as she kissed him full-on.
As she pulled away, Kouga stared at her, stunned. "Kagome-chan," he whispered huskily, reaching towards her again. Kagome pulled back.
"Kouga-kun, I'll be right back," she whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek. Could she really ever learn possibly to love him? Could Kouga be the one I've been searching for, the one who'll truly love me?
Kagome walked out the door. "Ittekimasu, Kouga-kun," she called, smiling.
"Iterrasshai, Kagome-chan," he said in reply, grinning.
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Inuyasha brooded as he walked. What was that mark on his calendar? Why did he have this inscrutiable pull towing him through the city? It's all too much, he decided. I'm never going to figure this mystery out. He scowled as he let his body wander where it would. Ridiculous, he thought darkly. What in the name of Kami-sama is going on here? He could feel a blanket of gloom settling over the city as he sauntered toward a particular alleyway that seemed familiar. Then again, all alleyways look the same, Inuyasha thought, smirking.
He settled against a wall, closing his eyes and abandoning his gruff outer shell to sink into his thoughts. This is getting me nowhere, he couldn't help wondering irritably. Why the hell am I here?
"Let me go!"
A brusque laugh. "C'mere, bishoujo, lemme get a good look at ya," a male voice, slurred with drink, declared.
"I said, let go!" a girl's soft voice cried. Inuyasha suddenly stood straight. The voice of the girl seemed vaguely familiar.
"Temee, I said get over here!" The male's voice was suddenly harsh. Inuyasha quickly walked over to the source of the voice.
The alleyway was dark, so it was hard to get a good look at their faces. However, he could tell that the girl was clearly struggling to get away from the man. "Onegai just leave me alone," the girl cried, her voice breaking.
"Temee! You'll do what I tell you to now!" the guy snarled. A dark figure shoved another to the ground. "Now, take off your—"
Inuyasha couldn't stand it any longer. He had to find out who the girl was. "Oi, kisama. Nanio shite imasu ka?" he called to the man, smirking.
The figure on top whirled around. "Otoko no ko, I suggest you leave this alone," he said softly, dangerously. Inuyasha ignored the tone and rushed over to the man. He grabbed his arm and twisted it at an angle that was quite unpleasant for the man, as he howled in pain.
"Iie, I suggest you leave the girl alone!" Inuyasha raged, losing his patience with the man and flipping him into an alley wall. The man moaned as he slipped into unconsciousness. The girl looked up at Inuyasha, and he had the faintest impression of burnt sienna eyes.
"You saved me. Arigatou gozaimasu," she whispered.
"Don't worry about it. Daijoubu?" He crouched down, but it was impossible to see any details past this darkness.
"Hai, I'm fine," she said softly. Inuyasha offered his arm and the girl took it, rising.
"So do you know that?" He indicated the unconscious man.
"Iie." She shook her head vehemently. "And I never wish to!" She paused, her head drooping. "All that follows me is despair," she said sadly. "I should've brought Kouga-kun with me."
"Now, how am I supposed to feel about that?" In spite of himself, Inuyasha cracked a smile. "Are you trying to make me feel bad?" he continued.
The girl froze. "Iie, I didn't mean to offend you—" she began hurriedly, but Inuyasha interrupted her.
"Gomen, I was kidding," he said gently. "So why are you so upset? Surely that man would've hit on anyone. It was easy to see he's had too much sake."
"You can't see me, so you don't know," she replied quietly. "Here, I'll step into the light over there—" she indicated with sharp jerks of her head a patch of sunlight by an alley wall "—and you'll see why." As the two reached the sunlight, Inuyasha hung back as the girl stepped into the light, then turned to face him.
He gasped.
A girl with long raven hair, milk-pale skin, and sable brown eyes greeted his eyesight. Her eyes were dull, unhappy. Her hair flowed freely, cascading down to her waist.
Everything came flooding back to Inuyasha. The day meeting the three girls "In exactly two years, in this very spot, you will meet her the girl I have promised you." She didn't lie, he thought dazedly. Sora-sama told me the truth.
But will this girl have me?
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Kagome looked sadly at the suddenly rigid figure of the guy who had saved her. "You see?" she whispered brokenly. "All who love me despair. Even you are falling for this this cursed spell I bear!" Her voice rose shrilly in anger and sadness.
He was shaking his head. "Iie, iie, you don't understand," he said, stepping into the light.
Black hair flooded over strong shoulders as violet eyes blinked at the sunlight, quickly adjusting to it. A permanent scowl etched on his face lightened, turning slightly softer as Kagome stared.
A dream. But that had been a dream! Kagome thought wildly.
The night before, she had dreamt of a girl standing before her. She was exquisitely beautiful, with her delicate fair features and crystal blue eyes. "Kagome-chan," she had said gently, "do you truly want to leave here so much?"
Yes! her heart cried out to the woman. Yes, take me away from here!
She shook her head. "Kagome-chan, you must have patience," she said. The girl stepped to the side and revealed a man. He had piercing violet eyes and long, inky black hair. "He will take you away from here," the girl had said. "You will love him, and he will love you so much, he will grant your one wish." Suddenly, the two people had vanished, leaving Kagome alone.
No! she cried out, please, don't leave me!
"I'm Kagome," she said, breaking the spell that hung over both the teens as they stared at each other. "Higurashi Kagome."
He blinked. "Tachikawa Inuyasha," he said gruffly. Kagome smiled, and so did Inuyasha. "You're from the Higurashi gang?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Not since my brothers died. Now, after Kouga has been made leader, he and Naraku have turned it into the Nakamura gang," she said bitterly. "The home that I spent so much time in is no longer my home."
Inuyasha was silent. "I didn't know," he finally said. "Gomen. I have lost a brother of mine, too. So at least we share in that."
Kagome stared at him. "Excuse me," she said abruptly, "but have you seen another girl? She has hair as long as mine, but paler skin, and blue eyes the color of a river?" Hopefully, Inuyasha had seen her and would know of what she promised to her. Already she could feel a bond between them, a bond that no one could break.
He stopped. "Hai," he said slowly. "Two years ago, in this very spot, she came to me with two other girls. They were fighting over a necklace, a jewel called the Shikon no Tama that had a tag reading, For the fairest of them all'. I was to judge who deserved the jewel." He was silent for a short while. "They all promised me something: one promised invulnerability, another knowledge. But the girl you described said, You shall love and have the love of the most beautiful woman in all Nihon, if you choose me.' Demo, regardless of what they offered," he added, "she was deserving of the jewel. So I gave it to her."
Kagome held her breath. Then could she tell him of her dream?
Inuyasha continued, "She told me to be here, exactly two years later from the date I met her. And here I am" He hesitated. "And here you are," he ended softly.
Kagome leaned against him and lowered her head onto his shoulder. Inuyasha looked startled, but then wrapped his arm around her. Funny, she thought happily, how I've only known him for ten minutes, and yet I can do what Kouga and I never could. "I had a dream the other night," she said softly, "that the same girl came to me and said that you would come here and take me away from that place I live in." Her eyes flashed bitterly. "It is not my home," she said harshly, "and it will never be anymore."
Inuyasha hugged her to him, and she clung to him, grateful of the warmth. "Mite," he whispered, "let's get to know each other better. Then, when we can manage it, you can leave the Nakamura's gang." He raised her face so she could look him in the eye, and smiled. "I promise," he finished. "I'd never leave you this way."
"Really?" She sniffed, tears welling in her brown eyes.
"Really." He smiled at her, and she threw her arms around him.
"Arigatou, Inuyasha, arigatou!" she cried, and he laughed, a true sound that made her laugh as well.
"Iie, arigatou to you, Kagome-chan," he said happily. "You've helped me as well." She held him tightly as he wrapped his arms around her as well. I don't ever want to let go, Kagome thought happily. I feel like nothing could ever hurt me again.
I just want to protect her, Inuyasha thought, startled. I could hold on to her forever and forget everything, everyone, and just never let go.
I finally found the one I can love whole-heartedly, both thought happily, their arms around their fated lover.
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A:N: WAI!!!! THEY MET!!! WAI!!!!!! ^__________________^ Now was that not the cutest moment?! They'll have plenty more, I swear. But that was the best. I didn't know I could write Inu/Kag-ness like that!! ^____^ Arigatou, muses! You're the best! Hold on though! This is far from the end. I've just completed Chapter 5. There will be much more, including matte, I've given you the Spoilers earlier. So that's all you get. Gomen, but I can't do that much ^_^;; Ah well. C'est la vie! Ai shiteru (whoa, went from French to Japanese. That was weird) minna, and remember to review!
Sayonara,
Akai-Sakura