Kizuna Chapter 3: Intentions
Banana Rum: Kiyomi
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Midoriko-sama cared for Haru one year. I knew he was malicious from the beginning, but his tainted aura still grew stronger every day, along with his longing for my master. Now, looking back, I wonder why Midoriko-sama did not cleanse his spirit. He had become as corrupted as the worst of youkai.
As I cared for Haru, I sometimes notices him staring at me. At first, I ignored it, as I was something different to look at, opposed to the bleak, grey, cave walls. But then, his staring became more intent and sometimes his eyes would bulge and grow fanatical. These were the times he frightened me, but I did not show it.
Most of the time, Haru did not speak unless I directly addressed him. But once, he brought up an alarming subject.
"Midoriko," he asked. He had decided some weeks before we should be on a first name basis. "Do you care about me?"
Of course I do, Haru." I answered. "If I didn't, you would be dead by now."
He chuckled. "Well, do you love me?"
It was a serious question. "I don't know about love. It is a very strong emotion." I replied carefully.
"Oh. I get it." he sounded rejected. He lay there for about a minute. "I'm not good enough for you, am I? Right?"
I kept my silence and he continued.
"It's all because I'm stuck in this crippled, useless body. You'd love me if I were stronger." He fell silent once more. " Get away from me. Go. I don't feel like your company right now."
"Haru, it's not like that. Let me explain..." I objected feebly.
"Get away! Leave! Go away from me! I don't want to see you! GET AWAY!" he screamed, spit flying, as his face turned red and breathing haggard.
I quietly packed up and left the cave. Before I walked down the mountain, I looked back at the cave. I could faintly hear him muttering curses and coughing. He shouldn't have worked himself up like that.
The next day when I visited him, he did not say a word or even look at me. The oppressing silence seemed to carry a foreboding aura, but that may have just been me.
For the rest of the week, he did not say anything to me. He simply lay there and let himself be fed and cleaned. The whole while, he seemed to be deep in thought, but I did not say anything.
During the day that started the new week Haru finally spoke, but his words were disturbing.
"You do not love me. That is a fact, is it not?" he started. "So, in order to impress you I will show you how strong I am! I will walk and embrace you tightly in my arms. You won't be able to escape me. You will regret you didn't love me in this body. Just wait until tomorrow."
I chose to stay silent and merely continued mixing up a strengthening potion for him. Haru had exhausted himself that day he yelled at me. He was certainly crazy if he thought he could walk or even get the energy to. Poor man. Maybe Kirara was right when she blocked my way to the mountain path. She obviously did not trust him. How did I grow to trust Haru anyway?
The next morning I dressed, ready for battle. Last night a wounded man had staggered into the village. He claimed that a swarm of demons attacked his village. I put on my undergarments and my normal, everyday attire. On top of this, I strapped on my armor given to me by a warlord I had helped. It was crafted be a well-known maker and did not hinder my movement, nor was it too heavy. Overall, it fit me very well and was an excellent piece.
Before I left, I would have to visit Haru. I did not know how long this extermination would take. Calling Kirara to my side, we left to the mountain cave with haste. The other taijiya hopefully wouldn't need my help right away.
As we approached the mountain, the air became thick and hard to breathe. The normally tranquil and peaceful aura felt saturated with evil. When Kirara landed and I stepped upon the ground, I realized noises were coming from the inside. I could hear low growls and snarls which were obviously coming from something much larger than a cat.
After telling Kirara to stay outside, I immediately ran into the cave, concerned a youkai had found and injured Haru.
The cave was filled with tons of demons. Swirling masses of them covered the floor, and many more of them flew around the cave madly, becoming entangled in my hair. Small and large youkai had come to meet here, but why?
"Kukuku." Haru let out a purely sinister chuckle. "So, you have come... wench." He spat the last word with such hatred I stepped back.
" You have come to watch me, become stronger, have you not? Or, maybe I thought wrong, and you do love me?" The last question deeply disturbed me. Haru was lying on his mat, as always, but his eyes did not seem to belong to the Haru I had known him as. His eyes carried a maniacal glint and shone with such ferocity that they appeared to be glowing. All the while, I kept a straight face.
"Of course not Haru. I merely came to help you, as I do every day." I answered back.
"Well then, why did you run in here with such a worried look on your face? It's simple. You LOVE me."
Before I could respond, or even comprehend the situation, all the youki was making me sick, Haru yelled, " Demons! Unto me! Grant me the power I wish!"
They quickly descended upon him, covering every square inch of his body and then they piled up on each other. The whole time he was laughing. He was laughing. As if he enjoyed it. No shrieks of pain, or gasps of horror. Yet, the demons were there, eating him alive.
As I rushed forward to start "purifying" the demons, I heard a piercing cry. It sounded, odd though. It was a shriek of triumph. It was as if a hawk had finally caught its prey after a chase.
The mass of youkai which I had originally thought to be hundreds of, stood up on two reptilian like legs. It was not hundreds of separate youkai, it was hundreds of conjoined ones.
Then, it spoke, with numerous voices, and numerous mouths, some only vaguely human, others, not at all.
"See now? How could you not love me? I could destroy anyone that threatens our love now! Love me, Midoriko."
His last sentence was a strong command to which I answered, " Never! I will die before that happens! Kirara!" I screamed for my faithful companion as the former bandit called Haru charged at me. I was ready for battle.
Author's Note: Um, please review.