Nights in White Satin
Chapter Fourteen: Mind Over Matter
Written by Sleepwalking Chicken
Written on October 9. 2004
Chapter dedicated to: My beta, Tennyo no Ame (Read her stories, damn you.)
Author's notes: Counting this chapter, I estimate about three chapters left, plus an epilogue (maybe).
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Inuyasha growled as he stared at the girl. She was taller and more mature looking than Amaya. Long sea foam green hair fell to her back and framed a curved, motherly face. Her dark emerald eyes observed the youkai with a critical gaze, sizing him up.
Her kimono was shorter than Amaya's had been, stopping at her knees. The delicate fabric was a maroon and a beautiful lavender, a bright yellow bow holding the folds together. All together, she looked like a normal girl from a village, minus her odd hair color and her pointed ears. She looked like an elf, almost.
His hand strayed to his sword and held its hilt protectively.
"Do not fear me, Inuyasha; I am simply the earth carrier, Takeshi. You have no reason to be on the defensive," she said softly, her whole being quiet and reserved. Her demeanor radiated her free spirit and a wise soul. She walked slowly around the small clearing that was formed around the rock the inu youkai had been resting on. She held out her hand and gently touched a long stalk of bamboo. It quivered under her touch and sprouted many branches of leaves.
Inuyasha was not so trusting and followed the girl's moments with his eyes, his body turning whenever she moved from his sight.
"I'm not surprised you made it this far," she said softly. "Amaya was overconfident in her ability to dispose of you. Her powers are weak. Water is weak."
Her eyes narrowed slowly as she bent and plucked a pure white flower from the grass. Its petals swayed in the breeze that lofted through the bamboo forest. "However," her voice grew in volume. "I cannot forgive you for slaughtering my dear little sister. She may have been a weak-minded fool. But she was the only one who ever understood my pain." She gripped the flower tightly in her hand and Inuyasha watched as the petals turned a deep red. She turned and gave him a dark look as she stepped towards him.
Inuyasha growled softly and drew his sword, the mighty fang transforming at once.
Takeshi smiled softly. "You stupid fool."
"Fuck you, bitch," Inuyasha snarled, feeling extremely agitated. He was tired, thirsty, hungry, and his muscles were screaming. He felt sluggish and slow. He felt like he was missing something very important.
'I need them…' he thought with only a hint of disgust as his mind drifted back to his friends and, more importantly, Kagome. 'They give me the strength to go on.'
Takeshi's lips quirked into a small smile as she began to circle the inu youkai. She sized him up slowly, her eyes roaming over his body like a wolf did a piece of meat. Inuyasha snarled and swung his sword. She easily dodged and continued moving.
"My, my, my, you certainly are an interesting man," Takeshi said slowly, her dark green eyes glimmering. "So quick to judge."
"There's not much to judge. You're a fucking guardian. I have to kill you," Inuyasha said with a deep frown.
"That may be true," Takeshi said softly.
"I'm going to slaughter you," Inuyasha vowed with a deep growl.
"Drop the façade, Inuyasha; I can see right through it," Takeshi said softly. "You act tough, but you're really nothing."
"How the fuck would you know?" Inuyasha snarled.
"Let's just leave it at an earthly intuition, shall we?" Takeshi said quietly.
"Feh," Inuyasha snarled darkly.
"Well, Inuyasha, as much as I believe life to be so precious," Takeshi said slowly as she held out her hand, her finger tips glowing a soft green. "I'm afraid I will have to dispose of you now. Enough preamble, hm?"
"You read my mind, you little bitch," Inuyasha growled.
"Hm, indeed," she said slowly and pulled her hand back, tightening it into a fist. As if pulling on an invisible string, a small red flower left the sleeve of Inuyasha's haori. His eyes widened when he recognized the flower as the one the little girl from his village had given him. It was lightly wilted and missing a few petals… but it was still in fair condition.
'I'd forgotten I still had it,' he thought with a widening of his eyes.
It fell into Takeshi's hand and she softly observed the red, dying flower. "So, the dog has a heart does he?"
"What do you know?"
"Why else would you have a flower? To accessorize?" Takeshi asked with one eyebrow raised curiously. "I highly doubt that. You put up a great act, Inuyasha, but you're really just a helpless dog inside."
Inuyasha growled.
"My point exactly." Takeshi observed the flower before it started to grow, its stem splitting and intertwining until it was a decent sized staff with the red flower at the end. "I think just to taunt you; I'll use this as a weapon, hm?"
"Feh, like I care. It's just a fucking flower," Inuyasha said with a disdainful snort.
"Indeed." Takeshi smiled softly and nodded her head. "Well, Inuyasha. I expect a very good fight; don't disappoint me."
Inuyasha growled and charged forward, his sword high and ready to strike down the girl. Takeshi giggled and held up her newly formed staff. The flower surprisingly blocked Tessaiga's swing and they stood at a stalemate.
Takeshi's arm wobbled as the stronger of the two began to push harder against the other's weapon. Her eyes narrowed as she used her other hand to wave lightly in a circular motion. Bamboo shoots sprung forward towards the youkai. Inuyasha growled and jumped up in order to avoid the plants from crashing into him.
"Teme…" Inuyasha growled angrily as he landed a few feet away from Takeshi.
Takeshi laughed softly and touched her palm to the ground. "This is your punishment for daring to enter this holy and pure land. How dare you try to soil it with your greedy desire."
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and growled darkly, pulling back his lips to expose his fangs. "Go to hell."
"No."
Takeshi smirked and allowed her energy to flow into the ground below her. The grass shot up like poles, tying around Inuyasha's ankles. Inuyasha cursed softly and tried to pull himself from the plant's grasp. Takeshi smirked and approached the youkai.
With a small frown, she hit the youkai with her staff across the cheek. His head whipped to the side. He stared at the bamboo to his right as he breathed heavily, still struggling against his binds.
He swung his sword towards Takeshi, but she easily blocked it with her staff. The youkai whipped angry golden eyes towards her and was shocked to see that the calm and collected Takeshi was gone. In her place was a rather pissed off Takeshi.
"You killed Amaya," Takeshi hissed venomously. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. It seemed he had provoked something deep within the earth holder. "She was my younger sister. She was the only one who truly understood me!"
"Feh, it was her fault she was so weak," Inuyasha said and threw a punch at Takeshi. She kicked him in the gut, causing a small yelp of pain to escape the dog demon.
"She was so beautiful. She was so kind," Takeshi snapped angrily. "She cared and understood me like no one else. And you killed her!"
"Yes, we've established this," Inuyasha said sarcastically.
"Shut up," Takeshi snapped and punched him again.
Inuyasha chuckled. "Is someone losing their temper?"
Takeshi's eyes flared with anger as she threw both palms onto the ground. "You fucking bastard," she snapped angrily. "I gave you a chance to run away."
"Hardly," he snorted and struggled again with his ties.
He gasped out in shock as he felt something impale him from behind. He stared down at the spike that had just dug into his chest and was sticking out from his stomach. What was it with people and stabbing him in the stomach? His hands, shaking, lightly touched the spike in his stomach, a deep growl ripping from his throat.
He felt a sudden warmth spread through him and he cringed. "…the hell?" he murmured.
"Heh," Takeshi seemed amused again and she quickly regained her composure, returning to her calm and reserved self.
His heartbeat quickened and he felt sweat forming on his forehead. "What did you do?" he whispered as his eye began to twitch.
"Poisoned you," Takeshi said softly and smirked sinisterly. "Any wound I give you will not heal."
Inuyasha's eyes widened as Takeshi approached him, the staff transforming into a blade with a green hilt. He could see the red flower still, small and shiny like a jewel at the tip of the hilt. Takeshi smirked and held her sword above her head.
"Let's see… should I behead you? Or just slice you? Or perhaps cut you so that you bleed to death?" Takeshi asked, her green eyes narrowed.
Inuyasha chuckled lightly as his hand closed around the bleeding plant protruding from his gut. "Whatever, wench," he snarled and pulled the plant from his body, slashing out at her with it. He smirked as the sharp edge nicked Takeshi's cheek.
She growled lightly and clenched her sword. "You'll regret that, boy."
"You're all talk," Inuyasha smirked as his left hand strayed to his bleeding chest. He smirked. 'Just a little closer, you little bitch.'
Takeshi pursed her lips and circled the dog demon slowly. "You're an interesting man, Inuyasha. I've never faced someone like you, and I have faced many in my years of living."
"I'm sure you have."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Takeshi asked with dark smile, the man's confidence and cockiness wearing thin on her senses. Her dark green eyes stared at him angrily.
"I'm just saying you're so old, that you must have killed many," Inuyasha said, a smirk on his lips as he completely enjoyed pushing Takeshi's buttons.
Takeshi let out a little growl and started walking towards him, her sword poised to cut Inuyasha with it.
'Perfect.'
"Hijin Ketsuso!" Inuyasha shouted out as he threw out his hand, dripped in his own blood from Takeshi's attack. Five red blades whipped from his hand and slashed at her. The girl cursed and tried to dodge them, but to no avail, as three of the blades sliced through her arm.
She hissed in pain and dropped her weapon in favor of grasping her bleeding arm. A small bead of sweat fell down her cheek and Inuyasha watched her as she took a step back.
"You'll regret that," she said angrily as she sunk into the ground. The trapped youkai blinked in shock as he looked around for where the girl had gone.
A short moment later, Inuyasha felt vines wrapping around his wrists and holding him completely in place. He grunted and struggled against the bonds, fruitlessly trying to get free.
He stopped when he felt a vine wrap around his neck. His eyes widened in shock. "Takeshi, get the fuck off me." He realized the girl had become one with her plants and it was scaring him slightly. He wouldn't admit it, but he was growing nervous with his ever growing predicament. 'And I have two more after this! Damn it!'
He heard a laugh somewhere to his left as the vines and grass tightened their grip on the hanyou-turned-youkai. Inuyasha gasped for breath and felt his vision already growing fuzzy. He took a deep breath of air, so that he could better prolong his air supply and tried turning his head towards the left, where he'd heard Takeshi's cackle.
His golden eyes narrowed when he saw that sharp spears, probably made of the surrounding bamboo, were pointed in his every direction.
"One wrong move, Inuyasha, and you shall be slaughtered. Though if you don't move, you'll choke," Takeshi seemed rather entertained as she sat on his rock with a great flourish. "It's a shame really; I rather enjoyed your visit."
"Don't act like I'm already dead," Inuyasha snapped.
Takeshi's eyes twinkled, "But can't you see, Inuyasha? How can you escape this when you couldn't escape me with your limbs free? Like I said before, I gave you a chance to run away. And this is what you decided. You may not be dead yet, but you might as well be."
Inuyasha growled as Takeshi laughed.
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"A what?" Kagome asked in shock, barely able to comprehend what the flea had said. There was that surreal feeling again. She often felt that way, as of late. It was times like these when she realized just how odd and different her life could be.
"My Lord has formed a bond between you and himself," Inuyasha's vassal said with what she suspected was happiness in his voice.
"I have a… link with Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, feeling as if a throbbing headache was about to form.
"Yes, as his mate—"
"Wait a second, stop right there!" Kagome waved her hands bashfully, a bright blush on her cheeks. "I'm not his mate yet." She felt like her head was going to explode with the amount of blood that rushed to her face after that statement. She and Inuyasha were very… close… but he hadn't mentioned anything about mates.
"But, he has most certainly laid the foundation to make you his mate," Myouga said proudly. "I won't go into a long drawn out ceremony as to how a male will mate his desired female." If she wasn't so shocked, Kagome would have found it amusing that the flea was lecturing her on 'mating.' "But the basic matter is that the male will form a link with his female when he plans to make her his life partner."
"Life partner?" Kagome's cheeks flamed.
"Yes…" Myouga rubbed his head. "But your link is very strong. If you can actually hear Inuyasha's thoughts and actually feel his emotions… that is very strong link indeed."
"Is it not normal to hear the other's thoughts?" Kagome asked. 'No duh, you moron. You're hearing Inuyasha's thoughts for god's sake. That's not normal!'
"Well… usually with youkai mates," Sango cut in to give Myouga a break, who looked rather perplexed. "From what I know of it, anyway, is that the link enables them to feel one another's presence and bind them for all eternity. The link allows them to know where the other is and to be able to share blood…"
"Share blood?" Kagome asked, eyes wide.
"It means that they'll be able to heal each other," Shippou explained, making the school girl feel like an even larger idiot. The young kit child knew of the mating ceremony and she didn't. Though she had an excuse, she still felt like a young girl being scolded.
'They're linked together for all eternity… does that mean…?' Hope rose in Kagome's heart and she turned her attention back to the flea.
"Myouga-jiichan," Kagome asked, feeling her heart flutter. "Is there a way that I can live as long as Inuyasha?"
Myouga was silent for a long time. "I'm afraid there's nothing that my lord can do to extend your lifeline," the flea said regretfully and Kagome felt her hope ripped from her chest.
"However…"
Kagome snapped her head up her eyes wide at the hidden secrecy in Sango's voice. She'd almost forgotten the girl was there. Sango smiled lightly and knelt beside Kagome. "However, Kagome-Chan, you can do something."
"Huh?" Kagome blinked in surprise as she looked at one of her best friends. "What do you mean?"
"Inuyasha and his link can't do anything to extend your life expectancy," Sango said softly, her eyes glowing warmly, "But there's a way for you to stay alive forever."
Kagome stared at her in shock, her blue eyes blinking rapidly. "How…?" she asked breathlessly. Her hands clasped together and she leaned forward excitedly. "How?"
"The Shikon no tama," Sango said, her maroon eyes unwavering as Kagome stared at her.
"Sango-Chan, that can't work. The Shikon no tama is inside of Inuyasha," Kagome said, trying to get the girl's words through her head and trying to comprehend what she'd said. How can she use the Shikon no tama when Inuyasha had it within his body?
"It's very simple," Sango said nonchalantly. "The jewel was created by Midoriko and her soul still battles the youkai within its depths, correct?" She didn't wait for the miko to respond. "She is an immortal being caught in a tireless battle. The jewel is entrusted to a miko pure of heart and one who is able to protect and guard the jewel, even at the cost of her own life.
"So," Sango continued, her voice growing in volume as she got closer and closer to what she meant to say in the first place. "Since the jewel has souls that fight a never-ending battle, the jewel is immortal. In order to protect the jewel, you must always be in its presence. Therefore," Sango said slowly as Kagome's eyes widened.
"The miko becomes immortal," the two girls said at the same time.
"How do you know this?" Miroku asked. Kagome nodded her head; surprised the monk had said anything. She'd forgotten the man was there.
"The jewel was created in my village," Sango said with a tender smile, "And we guarded it for many years before it was given to Kikyo. The people in the village often spoke of the jewel's powers and what it could give to that of a pure heart. No one is spared by its power."
"So you're saying that if I continue to guard the jewel, I will remain immortal?" Kagome asked and Sango nodded. "But it's inside of Inuyasha. It's gone forever."
"No it's not, Kagome-Chan," Sango said matter-of-factly. Kagome looked at her silently, begging her without words to continue and explain. "When a youkai, or human for that matter, absorbs or uses the Shikon no tama, the jewel does not disappear. As you know, the jewel shards used were never fully absorbed. The same goes for the Shikon."
"Wow…" Kagome was breathless.
"As long as you stay with Lord Inuyasha, My Lady," Myouga said and Kagome blushed lightly, not used to such a proper term from the flea. The youkai had always called her as such, but this time she actually understood the meaning behind the pleasantries. If she was Inuyasha's intended, that made her the… princess of the Western Lands That sounded odd. She shooed these thoughts aside for another time. "The link will ensure that you are connected to the jewel!"
"Meaning you can become immortal for as long as the jewel is in existence," Sango finished.
"But… if Inuyasha becomes a hanyou," Kagome said, distressed, "Wouldn't that mean even after he dies the jewel will live on and I'll stay alive?"
"That's certainly something to think about," Myouga said softly. "But with a bond so strong between My Lord and yourself, My Lady, perhaps that will not be the case?"
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"For a youkai bond to work, the two mates must remain alive, obviously; but once one dies or one is unfaithful, the bond is destroyed. After a bond is broken, the mates will die of heartache, as was the case for Inuyasha's mother, before her premature demise," Myouga said lightly, referring to his lord's mother's murder. "But, because of My Lord's bond with you and the enhanced power of the Shikon, as I expect it to be, your bond is so much stronger that…"
"If one of you dies and breaks the bond," Sango said lightly.
"So will the other," Miroku finished.
"How do you all know this much?" Kagome asked, exacerbated by all the information she was being bombarded with. It was very overwhelming and she felt like textbooks filled with knowledge had been poured into her skull in the span of fifteen seconds.
In other words, she was confused, disoriented and had a very bad headache.
"These are all theories, Kagome-Sama," Miroku said calmly. "But I think that they are all true. Sango and Myouga know of what they speak of. With their combined wisdoms in this matter, I believe that all you've just heard is true."
Kagome hugged her knees to her chest and her face crumbled. "But…"
"Kagome-Chan, please," Sango said softly as a tear ran down the schoolgirl's cheek. "It's going to be okay. Inuyasha has a link with you; the Shikon is making you immortal for as long as Inuyasha is alive and you'll be able to stay with him."
"You're right…" Kagome said and sniffed lightly, her nose runny from her near-tears.
"Yes I am. It's all going to be all right," Sango said with a warm smile and encased her friend into a hug.
"Hai…"
They were silent for a long time before Sango gently pulled away and retreated to stand next to Miroku. Shippou, Myouga and Kirara watched the display between the two human girls and let out a sigh.
"Wait…" Kagome said softly and opened her blue eyes to stare at the flea sitting on Kirara's head. "If we have a link and we can hear each other's thoughts and feel strong emotions… does that mean I can… speak to him?"
Her traveling companions looked mildly surprised at her question and glanced at one another.
Miroku smiled and Sango shrugged, a gentle smile on her face as well. "Only one way to find out, Kagome-Chan."
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Inuyasha cringed in pain as another plant impaled him through the chest. Sweat dripped down his face and he gasped for breath as Takeshi sat coolly on the rock in front of him; observing him and well out of reach for the youkai to dig his claws into her flesh. She looked upon him indifferently, as if she were watching the weeds grow in her garden.
He felt himself growing woozy and drowsy from the amount of blood he'd lost. He glared at Takeshi, whose dark green eyes observed him coolly. The poison in his system was doing its job; the youkai could not feel his demonic powers healing what would normally be little scratches on his skin.
"Bitch…" he muttered out.
"Give it up, Inuyasha," Takeshi said coldly. "Just pass out already. It will make your death all the easier and less painful for you."
Inuyasha tried to resist the ever-increasing urge to fall into a beautiful oblivion, but he knew the minute he was asleep, he wouldn't wake up. He had to get back to Kagome…
He felt something hit the back of his head and everything went blank.
Takeshi raised an eyebrow as the rock dropped lifelessly to the ground near the drooped head of the inu youkai. She stood up with a flourish and approached the knocked out dog demon with a critical gaze. "It was nice to fight you… but sadly now you must die."
'Inuyasha…' He was dimly aware of the fact he could hear Kagome's voice. Inside the dark void of his mind, Inuyasha found himself stirring. His body didn't respond and he looked around. 'Inuyasha can you hear me…?'
'Am I dreaming…?' he asked himself as he looked around.
'No, no you're not,' Kagome's voice said again, but Inuyasha didn't believe her. How else could he be talking to Kagome like this?
'Inuyasha, you can hear me, right? Inuyasha, is everything okay…?' Kagome sounded worried; she always sounded worried.
'I'm fine…' he snorted gruffly, 'Stop worrying for God's sake, woman.' 'Inuyasha… are you sure you're fine?' The girl sounded disbelieving and the youkai sighed. 'What's going on up there?''I'm being beaten badly, Kagome,' he admitted with a small sigh. 'She's poisoned me so I can't heal… and I've been knocked out. She's probably going to kill me soon unless I wake up.' He shocked himself at how calm he was coming off as. Perhaps it was because he believed himself to still be dreaming, or perhaps it was because he was in the presence of Kagome. Whatever the case may be, the truth of the matter still remained: Inuyasha was in trouble.
'You need to wake up, Inuyasha,' Kagome said softly, and he could have sworn he heard tears in her voice. Her voice was wavering as she tried to suppress her tears.
'Relax, I've got it under control.' He promised her silently. He let out a sigh, 'Kagome…what is this place?'
He heard Kagome hesitate, the small outtake of breath as she tried to speak, only for her lips to snap shut. The youkai growled and he asked her again. 'What is this place?'
'I think it's your mind… but it could be mine… I'm not sure; Myouga didn't explain,' Kagome said, nervousness evident in her voice.
'What? My mind? Myouga-jiji? Kagome, what the hell is going on?' Inuyasha snapped angrily.
'Inuyasha…it's hard to explain. But, you're a youkai. Surely you are aware of the link between mates?' If Inuyasha had been in his body, and not in his mind, consulting with Kagome's invisible voice, he would have blushed brightly.
'Yes, I do,' he snapped.
'Myouga thinks that with the combined power of the Shikon within you, we have an even stronger connection. Naturally, we're connected, but since I was connected to the jewel, it's made the bond stronger.'
'How does the Shikon play into this?' Inuyasha asked curiously. Kagome quickly explained it to him.
On the bottom of the mountain, Kagome sat in a meditative pose, her right ankle pushed up onto the alcove of her folded legs. Her hands rested lightly on her knees, one finger of each hand touching its thumb. She took a deep breaths and kept her eyes closed. A few yards away, Miroku sat, in a less meditative stance as he protected Kagome with one of his barriers. Should they be attacked, Kagome would be protected. The other travel companions sat near Miroku as he worked.
"Do you think it's working?" Sango asked hesitantly. Miroku nodded his head and placed the last charm on a tree trunk, extending Kagome's barrier to a roomy size.
"She has been in deep concentration and her life force is balanced. Her soul is reaching out to its mate," Miroku said quietly and leaned casually against a tree. "Kagome-Sama has successfully contacted Inuyasha."
"I wonder what it's like, to have such a strong bond with someone," Sango said lightly, tucking some stray hair behind her ear as she watched her friend for a short moment.
"Sango…" Miroku spoke softly, a gentle smile on his face as he grabbed her hand with his free one.
Sango blushed and allowed his fingers to intertwine with hers. She lowered her head bashfully and scooted closer to the monk so that their shoulders were gently touching. Miroku smiled warmly and squeezed her hand.
Meanwhile, Kagome had finished explaining all that Myouga had told her.
'So the Shikon can enhance my lifespan,' she finished, though she left out the part about him having to stay a youkai. What would he say? Would it sound like she was pressuring him to remain in one form? He'd take it the wrong way, knowing him…
Inuyasha blinked and frowned lightly. But then again, he might not have. He was apparently inside a mind, how could he do physical things?
'Inuyasha… what's going on up there?'
'I'm fighting the earth carrier. But, she's stronger than I thought,' Inuyasha whispered softly. 'She's knocked me out and is probably destroying my body as we speak.'
'Inuyasha!' Kagome sounded distressed. 'Don't joke about stuff like that!'
'Sorry…'
'You have to wake up!'
'I can't…'
'Wake up!'
Takeshi stared at the youkai for a long moment, her sword poised to cut him to pieces. She frowned deeply and observed him. This was the part she hated the most. The part where she'd have to kill her victim. Despite what the dog demon had done to her little sister, she still hated to take the life of another. Often times, Amaya disposed of all threats before they got to her, and she was spared the horrors of killing someone.
But now was not the case.
She had to kill him.
Yet, she feared the death.
Her fingers reached out and lightly touched his silken hair. The wind blew her hair gentle and she looked up towards the sky, her green eyes softening. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her cheeks and she let out a sigh.
"Hai…" she murmured and raised her sword, ready to swipe at the youkai.
Inuyasha pulsed.
Takeshi paused in her battle-ready stance to stare at him. She felt a surge of energy within him and she took a hesitant step back.
The wind blew as the youkai's eyes snapped open. His eyes were flaming a bright white, blocking the irises and pupils from view. He growled darkly and the plants that held him evaporated as if they'd been burned. The youkai growled again and crouched down on all fours.
Takeshi stared.
He growled again as he tensed up. Takeshi took another step back as a bright white aura surrounded him, his hair whipping around his face by an invisible wind. Suddenly, a dark, loud growl escaped him and a large blast of white energy shot out from around the youkai.
Takeshi didn't stand a chance against the purifying blast of miko energy. She felt her body being ripped apart like rice paper on claws and she let out a loud gasp as the pain enveloped her.
"I failed… Amaya…" Takeshi whispered as she was purified and disappeared completely.
Inuyasha panted and fell forward onto his face, his chest moving in deep pants.
'Inuyasha…'The dog demon snapped his head up, looking around wildly. "Kagome…?" he asked, searching wildly for the girl who'd called his name.
'I'm here, Inuyasha; don't you remember?' Kagome's voice came to him inside his mind and the youkai's eyes widened.
'So that wasn't a dream…' He tried to speak to her using his mind and he felt Kagome's presence inside of him. It was a very odd experience, but he figured he'd get used to it, as long as Kagome was with him.
'No, it wasn't.' He heard the laughter in her voice and found a small smile gracing his lips.
Now that the link had been explained to him and why it was it was so powerful, he understood all those times he'd awoken after feeling Kagome's emotions in his dreams. It was their connection, not coincidence. Even before he unknowingly set up the link with her, he'd felt connected to Kagome. Now it was official.
But the moment was lost when Inuyasha felt Kagome tense up inside his mind (which was a very odd feeling).
Moments later, Inuyasha felt the presence too and tensed up as well.
'Fire,' both them recognized the power and Inuyasha dove for his haori, jamming his arms into it and bracing himself.
He hid his face in the sleeves of his haori as he felt the burning sensation surround him. The heat licked at his skin and the blazing inferno danced across his feet.
He hissed in pain as he smelled his feet beginning to burn.
As quickly as it had started, it stopped and Inuyasha hesitantly looked around where he was.
It looked like a volcanic eruption had taken place. Where Takeshi's beautiful green garden had once stood now was simply a dark grey ash and barren wasteland. Like it had been before Takeshi had come.
The disgusting stench of dead plants and ash filled his nose and made the youkai retch.
He stood up fully and grabbed his sword, which lay forgotten after he'd been attacked by Takeshi numerous times. He turned around quickly when he realized that there was the presence again. His golden eyes widened when he saw a teenaged-looking girl staring back at him.
Her puffy, red hair was pulled up into a high pony tail similar to Sango's and dark reddish brown eyes observed the youkai.
Her kimono was dangerously short, displaying her long, sluttish legs, her long, graceful neck, and her long arms. The kimono clung to her body like a second skin and emphasized her perfectly curved body. The girl smiled when she caught Inuyasha staring and she walked towards him, an obvious sway in her hips.
"Welcome to my domain," she said, her voice deep and sultry as she stopped a few meters away from him. The dark red hair swayed lightly in her breeze and her eyes glowed with poorly concealed mischief and lust.
"I am Yoko," she said loudly, her rosy pink lips curved into a devious smile. "I am the fire keeper."
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Author's notes: SUSPENSE!
And…
FINALLY!
Recently, my beta's computer was reformatted because of a certain virus that would not leave her alone (and it was a very annoying virus) but, due to the stupidity of technology, her network card will not install and therefore she does not have access to the internet.
Because of my stupidity when it comes to beta-ing my own work, I was unable to post anything until her internet was back up (it still isn't, I don't think) or she can use a computer at our library. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience.
Fan art of Takeshi:
www(dot)deviantart(dot)com(slash)deviation(slash)11378967
There shall be more soon…oh how there will be more soon. (cackles)