For readers new and old, I have edited this story for the second time. I had not realized till just recently that from the previous changes I had made, had some mistakes. For example, Sesshoumaru was in place for Naraku and or Inuyasha in place of Sesshoumaru. For my usual readers be aware that this is no longer a Sesshoumaru/Kagome pairing. I'm trying something new. Forgive me to those who were confused and I have remedied it. Also there have been parts added into the second chapter. I'm placing a note similar to this one on chapter three so that all are aware of it.
Also I do not own Inuyasha or anything affiliated
with him (no shit) Nor do I own Vivian Green's Final Hour (thus why
its called Vivian Green's 'Final Hour') However I do believe it suits
the situation so I will use it. So without further adieu,
here it
is.
Sincerely,
Tigress.
Crimson
Haze
A woman ran through the forest as fast as her long
legs could carry her. Screams fought to free themselves from her
chest, but she held them firmly. Pride and fear kept her from voicing
her inner anguish. As tears streamed down her faces, she prayed to
any god or goddess that would listen for her not to be found.
Her
hand rested on her chest, a hot sticky substance greeted her. She
looked down to see her hand covered in dark red blood. A sob escaped
her when she remembered who had given her the wound.
"Love and betrayal are very similar things."
She had said once.
"Both are like arrows to the
heart."
Inuyasha. She remembered.
Her once beloved hanyou was now her attempted assassin and enemy. She had told him long ago that when the Shikon no Tama was completed, he would have to make a choice. A choice between being demon and human, a choice between her and Kikyo. And Inuyasha had made his choice. He had chosen Kikyo.
She stumbled on something but did not care to see what. Kagome tried to make herself stand but she could not. She had been running for an hour or so without letup, she could go no further. The adrenaline that had kept her running all this time was waning. Inuyasha would be there soon to finish the job.
But Kagome was not going to die, at least not by his hands. She stared around her for a moment. Over the three years she'd been in the Feudal Era, she had trained herself to both listen for and be able to feel oncoming demons. About a thirty mile off she could feel Inuyasha coming closer.
His intent was obvious but he would fail. Kagome stared down at her chest, the bleeding had nearly subsided, but the wound was still there, forever giving testament to her betrayal. She smiled ironically, for all the blood she'd lost she still would not die. Oh no, she would need to lose far more than this to die.
Kagome's head swam nonetheless, scarlet clouds blurring her vision. She tried but could not see through them. She realized a moment later that she did not care. Unsheathing the dagger Sango had given her from its hilt she stared at it for a second. It was a fine blade, well polished and sharp. It would serve her purpose well.
Kagome raked the blade against her wrist; she winced as it burned her flesh. Ignoring it, she did the same to the adjacent wrist. Her blood began to pool over the new wound.
That hurt like hell. She thought as she lay down on the soft grass.
Her head rested on a rock as Kagome stared at the sky; the sun was just beginning to go down, which set the sky ablaze with an array of gorgeous colors. She smiled and carved the scene into memory as the garnet vapors began to overtake her vision. She did not try to force them away.
She remembered the good things that had happened for a while. She would miss her near-sister Sango, her forever-lecherous monk of a friend Miroku, and her surrogate son Shippo. Inuyasha...she could never miss again. Kagome had fancied herself a poet, and she proved it in that moment. Clinging to consciousness she spoke her last thoughts.
Vermillion tears poured from
her vein, leaving her mind in a daze.
Because of sorrow and of
pain, she could not pierce the Crimson Haze.
"WENCH!" A snarling masculine voice shouted. "Wench! Where are you?" It continued. Kagome Higurashi scowled from where she stood. It had been three years since she had met that baka hanyou and he still called her 'wench'. She began to walk down the path back to the village. Waiting at the entrance stood a very annoyed looking Inuyasha.
He was handsome in a rugged sort of way. His snow-white hair was wind blown around his face. He had sharp golden eyes with a cynical smirk on his face. He was about 6'0" and with a nice build that was visible under his simple red and white kimono. But no matter how nice he looked, he made it very hard to overlook his less than charming qualities.
"It's time Kagome, where have you been?" He demanded. "I went for a walk Inuyasha, I needed to clear my head." She replied; she could understand why he was so excited. After two weeks of recovery, she was finally well enough to use the newly completed Shikon no Tama.
"Well why couldn't you have taken a walk after I made my wish, I have things to do to you know." He declared. Kagome glared at him. She understood the problem, but that didn't mean she'd accept his disrespect. "You know what Inuyasha?" She said while smiling sweetly. "What?" He asked. "SIT!" She yelled and he crashed to the floor.
She heard him curse her through the dirt and laughed. He would get his wish; he shouldn't worry so much. But what Kagome would wish for, was anyone's guess. She was drawn away from her thoughts when a small furry ball tackled her. The ball turned out to be a young fox kitsune with orange fur and big green eyes.
"Kagome-sama!" He shouted excitedly and buried his face the hollow of my neck. "Missed me Shippo?" She laughed. He grinned up at her and nodded enthusiastically. He clung to her as she walked towards Sango and Miroku. Sango wore her demon exterminator's uniform, while Miroku went simply as a monk.
Miroku had been more reclusive lately, spending much more time with Sango. And during that time he never groped her, much to Sango's surprise. Plus, throughout their recovery from the battle with Naraku, they had gotten even closer. It did Kagome's heart good to see them together and happy.
"Good morning Kagome-sama." Miroku said with a formal bow. Kagome replied and kind and turned to her near sister. "Today's the day Kagome." Sango beamed. Today was the day Inuyasha would make his wish; Sango believed that he would ask to become a full human to be with her. But for some reason Kagome doubted that was what he wanted.
Sango had nothing to wish for; neither did Shippo nor Miroku. They were merely there to be a welcoming committee to the new Inuyasha. Kaeda was here too, the ever vigilant elder to them all. Kagome doubted she would make a wish. Kaeda would no doubt believe it was not in her place to do so.
It was then that Inuyasha arrived, looking less annoyed than usual. For some reason he was smiling. Kagome wondered what had suddenly put him in such a good mood. But she did not have time to do so. Sango's hand was on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. She smiled at her and stepped forward.
Kagome cupped the Shikon no Tama in my hands and held it to the sky.
"I call upon the power of the Shikon no Tama."
She said, her voice booming like thunder.
"I call upon the spirits that dwell in the jewel. I command you to come forth and grant our wishes."
The result was instantaneous. A blinding light flashed through the area. When it cleared four ghostly white figures hovered above her. Although white and transparent, Kagome could make them all out. One was a young boy around nine or ten in age. The second was a girl around fifteen or sixteen. The third was a handsome man in his prime and the last was a beautiful but elderly woman.
"Keeper of the Jewel, we shall grant your wish first." The woman declared. Kagome thought for a moment, and realized that she didn't want anything. There was nothing she wanted to wish for. "Spirits of the Jewel, I have no wish to make." They seemed to think about it for a moment. Then the man spoke.
"Keeper of the Jewel, your wish will be held for another time when you do need it. Now what are the wishes of your companion?" He asked. Inuyasha stepped forward.
"Spirits of the Jewel..." He began. "I
wish that I, Inuyasha, become a full demon. And that the dead miko
Kikyo will have a living body of her own."
Shock crossed
all of their features. Before Kagome could stop them, the spirits
granted his wish. Before her eyes Inuyasha became a full dog demon.
The top of his kimono was ripped off as his muscles bulged and
tightened, silver claw marks glistening against his biceps, pecks,
and shoulders. His features became more polished twin silver claw
marks decorating each cheek.
He stared at her with eyes that
had gone from molten gold to sterling silver. His hair was streaked
with the same silver color and had lengthened by about three inches.
He smiled at her, showing sharpened canine teeth. The silver light
around him faded and he settled down on the ground and stared at her.
"What's wrong Kagome don't you like it?" He asked smugly. For a moment, all she could do was stare. She could not believe he had done it. "How could you?" She whispered; the words nearly chocked from her throat. "Awe Kagome I'm hurt, I thought you would like the new me." He declared.
"You told me to make a choice Kagome and I
have, I choose to be a demon and to be with Kikyo." Inuyasha
added. The words were like a slap in the face. "And speak of the
devil." He declared. Kagome spun around to see Kikyo or whom she
guessed to be Kikyo stepping out of the forest.
She was
shorter, around 5'6" in height. Her once waist length hair was
maybe an inch or too shorter than Kagome's. Her eyes were a light
jade color and held a wicked glimmer in them. She smiled sadistically
at Kagome, her bow in her hand as she stepped forward.
"Hello
reincarnate, not happy with his choice?" She purred. Kagome's
eyes narrowed with anger. Kilala had turned into her full youkai form
and was snarling at Kikyo. "Back down beast." Kikyo
snapped. Kilala snarled and launched herself at the dead miko.
Kikyo merely raised her hand to the demon and Kilala froze in
midair. Making an elaborate sweep with her arm, the cat youkai was
flung into the forest. Her snarl announced when she collided with a
tree. "Kilala!" Sango shouted. She glared at Kikyo and
pulled out her boomerang.
In a rage Sango threw it at the
her. With a smile Kikyo did the same gesture, only this time she sent
Sango's boomerang flying towards Miroku. The monk was not able to
dodge fast enough and was hit with the blunt end of it. He too was
flung backward. "Miroku!" She screamed and ran to his side
apologizing profusely.
"I don't suggest you try that
again hunter." Kikyo mused. "Or next time I'll aim for the
brat." She snapped while pointing at Shippo. Sango glared at
her, but said nothing. "Now as I was saying before I was so
rudely interrupted..." She turned to Kagome, a satisfied smile
on her face. "It seems you do not appreciate his choice."
She mused.
"Of course I don't." Kagome retorted.
"He chose a woman who would sooner drag him to hell than love
him." She quipped. Inuyasha growled at her. "Well you won't
need to worry about me for long Kagome." He declared calmly.
"You won't be here long enough to do so."
It was
then that Kikyo pulled out her bow and arrow. She loaded it and fired
at Kagome. Shock kept her from moving, and the arrow hit her squarely
in her chest. The impact alone sent her flying backwards, the sky lay
above her but her vision was marred by crimson streaks.
For a
moment all Kagome could do was lay there. Both trying to give her
body time to recover, and second to try to understand what had
happened. Inuyasha, the man she thought the loved had betrayed her
for a corpse. And to add insult to injury, he was trying to kill
her.
Anger forced her back to her feat, clutching the arrow in
her chest. "Still alive are we?" Inuyasha asked in a bored
tone. "Maybe I'll finish it, wouldn't you like that Kagome?"
He added. Kagome glared at him and pulled the arrow out of her chest.
She screamed when she did it, but continued nonetheless.
Inuyasha
stared at her for a moment. "That was either very brave or very
foolish Kagome." He told her while shaking his head. "Maybe
you are stronger than you look. But either way, you're still going to
die." He said and ran towards her, claws ready to kill her.
Kagome looked up at him and conjured some of her powers.
A
dark blue mist surrounded Kagome, and Inuyasha was unable to find
her. He couldn't even smell her. Kagome had done the only thing she
could think of. She had ran.
End Flashback:
He had seen everything. From Inuyasha's betrayal to the miko's retreat. And for once, Naraku was shocked speechless. He knew that Inuyasha was a bastard in more ways than one, but he never thought that Inuyasha could stoop so low. He believed that Inuyasha had some shred of honor.
But he had been wrong. Inuyasha was a bastard through and through, and now he had even more reasons to kill him. But at the moment, the miko remained in his mind. He had seen the hurt in her eyes, her aura radiated with signs of her anguish. And even though she had fled, he could smell the salt of her tears.
But what he could smell even more was the blood she had lost. Wounded prey was much too easy to find, and even easier to kill. He wondered what she would do now and decided to follow her. He hid most of his smell and aura so he could alert neighboring youkai of his presence, but still is invisible to the miko.
He followed her scent deep into the forest, she was running surprisingly fast for a human. About sixty miles an hour, (the equivalent to a cheetah's speed) she was running as fast as any demon. Her scent was easy to catch on the wind. She smelled so differently from other humans.
She did not reek of animals and sweat, she smelled clean and pure. Taking a deeper breath he registered the smell of cherries and almonds. Naraku gave one of his rare smiles, she smelled good. But then he realized that her own blood was beginning to mar her scent.
He found her moments later, her head resting on a large stone. The smell of blood was so heavy here, but he could not see the cause of it. As her eyes were beginning to close her heard her say.
"Vermillion tears poured from her vein,
leaving her mind in a daze. Because of sorrow and of pain, she could
not pierce the Crimson Haze."
At that her eyes closed, a
single tear running down her face. Silence emanated in the clearing,
Naraku almost feared he was to late. He would have saved her, and
resolved that he would anyway. A faint glowing light distracted him.
On the ground beside her where her tear had fallen, was a small glass
sphere. Naraku realized it was her tear and reached forth to hold it.
It glowed in his hand and Naraku was so transfixed by it,
that he did not notice the appearance of four ghostly figures. A
moment later he remembered them as the spirits that dwelled in the
Shikon Jewel. Their transparent faces held forlorn gazes at their
fallen mistress. The boy stared at Naraku.
"We didn't know he would do this." He whimpered. The girl put in. "We thought that Inuyasha was a descent sort, we thought he loved Kagome." Naraku could tell they weren't lying. "We can bring her back hanyou." The man declared. Naraku just stared at him.
"Why should I care if the miko comes back, she has been a nuisance to me since she arrived."
He retorted arrogantly. He knew it was not true.
He wanted Kagome alive, his heart—and loins—told him so. The
elderly woman glared at him, her eyes piercing him like daggers.
"Wish for her to return demon." She growled in demand. "And
why should I hag?" He demanded curtly. "Because we have no
will in which to bring her back. So you will have to."
"I
will do nothing old woman, as you said you have no will so you cannot
force me to do anything. I will have nothing to do with your problems
for they are not my concern." He declared. "And I do not
and would not need you to bring her back." He added.
"So
you are offering your services I presume hanyou?" The elderly
spirit asked. "Yes, I do want her alive. The mark she bares
could be very useful to me.
The young girl regarded him, her
transparent eyes filled with guardedness. "She never trusted
you. You're the one she had to defeat to complete the jewel."
She declared. The mature male stepped forward. "You were
supposed to be destroyed, while it is apparent you are not. Why do
you wish to help your enemy?"
Naraku seemed unfazed by
the question. "She was my enemy. Now I regard her in a
different light and thus will bring her back. And I can do so without
any of you using her powers." The youngest of the spirits bobbed
before him. "And how can you do that?" He demanded, his
once light cheerful tone shadowed by disbelief.
"The miko is not the only one with powers
spirits. Give me the chance and I will bring her back." Naraku
added. It seemed to satisfy the spirits, for they began to disappear
back into the depths of the jewel.
When they had disappeared
into the jewel Naraku raised his hand to it and it shot into his
hand. He resolved to return it to Kagome when the time came. Naraku
stepped closer to Kagome's body. The miko began to glow with a faint
black light while being surrounded by Naraku's magic.
Naraku
was not even distracted when Inuyasha crashed through the trees
brandishing his sword. When he saw the fallen Kagome and Naraku ever
closer at first he knew not what to say. Luckily Naraku did.
"Leave here Inuyasha, your presence is neither desired nor required for what I have to do." He declared.
"What are you doing to Kagome, Naraku?" He demanded.
"You have your whore hanyou, this one is
mine." Naraku replied and went back to what he was doing.
Kagome's energy came forth trying to protect the body. It
blazed sapphire against the black but was quickly contained. Naraku
stepped closer again; he lowered his hand till it was about two
inches from her face. He brought his hand down the length of her
body. To Inuyasha's apparent shock, bone, tissues, and flesh began to
move under his touch.
Her hair lengthened to reach mid thigh
and began to glisten with dark scarlet highlights towards the lower
half and tip. Her skin became fairer, lightening from its usual ivory
to snow white. Her cheekbones became more pronounced giving her an
aristocratic appeal.
Inuyasha. A voice called in the
back of his mind. For a moment he could not place whom.
Inuyasha,
don't let him to this to me. He realized it was the Kagome.
And
what do you propose me do, bitch? He asked.
Kill Me.
She said simply.
For a moment Inuyasha was too shocked to
speak. She wanted him to kill her. But he could not understand why,
nor would he try.
It was what you intended before Inuyasha.
Just kill me now.
I won't do it Kagome, I'll just
let Naraku have you. Inuyasha declared firmly.
Her body
was beginning to change now. Her breasts became more ample and the
rest her filled out more, giving her luscious curves. She grew
another three inches, her arms, and legs becoming supple and lithe.
Please Inuyasha, before whatever Naraku's doing is
complete. Let me die.
You no longer mean anything to
me Kagome. Whatever Naraku wants with you is not my concern. He
snapped coldly.
Please! She begged, her voice echoing
her anguish.
Rot in hell with him bitch. He
retorted.
But the moment the words left him he nearly
regretted it. He heard a sound, a sound like no other he'd ever heard
before. It was like a mournful keening echoing his head. He realized
it was Kagome, but what was done was done.
The transformation
was now complete. Naraku slipped a fine black velvet collar around
her neck. Naraku sighed and stepped back. "She will awake in a
moment and then you can admire my handiwork." Naraku declared
proudly.
Inuyasha's eyes were glued to Kagome's form. She had
changed, that was obvious. Any man who had seen her before would have
noticed the difference. She had been pretty before, but now she was
gorgeous. And for a moment Inuyasha wished that he could have rode
her just once before he gave her to Naraku.
Shocked by his own
thoughts he brushed them away with a scowl. No matter what had been
done to her, she was a human while now he was a full demon. She was
unworthy of him now. He stared up at the sky, trying to distract
himself. The sun had fully set and the stars were just beginning to
come out.
Just as the moon was beginning to rise she began to
stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared around her for a moment.
Even with his impeccable vision he could not see what emotion lay in
her eyes. The only thing he could make out in her eyes was the mote.
In the iris that ringed her black pupil, a fleck of color shone.
And it shone red, or better yet crimson. It was beautiful and
it suited her. She continued to stare at him for a time through the
dim light. It was then that Naraku spoke. "Miko, you understood
what has happened to you?" He inquired. Kagome's eyes turned to
him.
She inclined her head in a nod. Naraku then held out his
hand. "Come." He declared. Knowing that she could not fight
him, at least not until her strength was recovered she obeyed. "Have
you anything to say to Inuyasha?" He inquired. It was then that
her eyes rested on him again.
The crimson fleck glistening in
the moonlight, but what emotion was in those dark eyes he could not
see. "Inuyasha." She declared, her voice as smooth as
velvet. A shiver ran down Inuyasha's spine. Her voice was like a
silken caress. "You should have killed me when you had the
chance."
She gave him no time to reply. She raised her
hand to him and Inuyasha was instantly frozen. For a moment Inuyasha
tried to struggle but found that he could not move his body at all.
"YOU BITCH LET ME GO." He growled.
Kagome merely stared and spat his words back at him. "You no
longer mean anything to me demon. Whatever happens to you now is not
my concern." She told him while standing up.
As she
began to walk away, Kagome ignored his snarls and curses. "The
hold is only temporary demon, you will be free soon." She called
over her shoulder and kept moving. Inuyasha growled once more but
said nothing. Kagome began walking down the path, with Naraku at her
side. Her former enemy, her new master.
Her heart feeling
like a stone in her chest. "I will let you see your friends one
last time Kagome, your meeting with them again will be few and far in
between." Kagome just nodded. She didn't know how or why she did
it, but a song came to mind and she let her voice relieve her of her
pain.
(Vivian Green's Final Hour. As she walked down the
path.)
"I loved you, just too much
You
owned my emotions
Devoted, completely
You had me, I couldn't
see
No one else, by myself
I remained through the pain
You
were all that mattered
But now I know there's better"
Three years of her life she had given him. Forsaking her family, her friends, and her world, and he has thrown her away like trash. She had been blind to his plan, she had not seen or had not wanted to see. She had given him everything, and he had left her hollow and alone but wiser for it. The path led her towards Kaeda's village. It was beginning to rain, but Kagome ignored it.
"So I walked away
While it rained down my face
I
turned away
From the pain of hurting me."
Kagome stared down at the village; it was peaceful except for the obvious line that had been drawn between former allies. On one side, the newly freed Inuyasha and Kikyo sat. On the other Miroku, Kilala, Sango, and Shippo lay. Each had deadly glances for the other but none moved. Kagome's eyes turned to Inuyasha and Kikyo. She clutched her hands over her heart; the wound was gone. But the memory remained. A small yelp diverted her attention; Shippo had seen her and was racing towards her making the rain splash around him. Miroku and Sango watched too expecting her to come down. But she would not come dome, she would never come down to greet them again.
"I gave you full control
my
mind, my body soul
Confusion, delusions, untruthful,
unfaithful
Weighed down my self-esteem
Never again will I
give
my power, to be me
Her eyes rested on Inuyasha one last time, he was watching her too. He put a protective arm around Kikyo. Kagome curled her lips back in a snarl before her head turned towards the kitsune. Shippo stopped running, not understanding why Kagome had not come to him. She forced a smile on her face and then turned away from them all.
"And be free, now I see."
She began to pull back from the village, leaving her only family behind. Kagome did what she sang. She walked away from the village and everyone within it, or more so walked away from the pain that was threatening to consume her. She was coming to a cliff. The view beyond was amazing. The swollen moon greeted her as she reached the summit. Again tears began to stream done her face. She heard the tapping sound as they hit the ground now solid glass spheres. She left them there.
"So I walked away
While it rained down my face
I
turned away
From the pain of hurting me"
"So I walked away, while it rained down my face.
I turned away. From the pain of hurting me."
Kagome knew that this was the end of her life and beginning of her hell. She'd heard stories about her plight, but she had never believed that it was real. It was called the Crimson Haze, and she would be forever marked by it.Naraku must have recognized it and had now claimed her as his own. Not as a mate, but as a protégé. She would have great power but at a terrible prize. Possibly for the rest of her life, every time Kagome came in contact with blood, the Haze would claim her. She would becoming stronger, and much more dangerous.
And the only one who could help her overcome it was Naraku, for he was marked by it as well. Only in another form. And she could not fight him till she was strong enough to do so, and Kagome knew that it would be a long time in coming. As they drew nearer to Naraku's castle. Kagome could only think of the words she meant to be her last. Thinking of them now, she whispered them again.
"Vermillion
tears poured from my vein, leaving my mind in a daze. Because of
sorrow and of pain, I could not pierce the Crimson Haze."