Chapter Eight
~*~
His crimson eyes glittered maniacally as he hovered above the troops, a wicked smile playing on his features.
It had been a few weeks since anyone had dared to wander into his territory, and now – an entire group of Inu youkai were wandering aimlessly, obviously searching for something. He had contributed to having his brother keep track of what was going on within the southern territories, and when his brother had stumbled across the small group – he grinned maliciously.
After he had heard the news of the Inu youkai storming his province, he had been tracking them for days, watching their every movement and listening to their every conversation.
A girl.
She was supposed to be a beautiful woman with long dark ebony locks and enchanting blue-gray eyes, whose name was Kagome.
And she was a miko.
That was who they were looking for.
The flitter of opportunity had opened so abruptly, he hadn't acknowledged it at first, but then – when he had heard the plans that they held for her, he simply had to take advantage of the situation.
It was simply too good to be true.
Turning slightly, he motioned to his younger brother, his crimson eyes undecipherable.
"Oi," he started, getting his brothers attention, "let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"You know that girl they've been raving about?" He asked, looking down at the Inu youkai from his safety in the sky.
"Yeah."
"Well – we're going to assist them in finding her."
His younger brother looked enlightened.
~*~
The air around her was cold and stiff.
A light frost covered the ground, concealing the once luscious green earth with that of a ghostly white. Snowflakes fluttered needlessly to the ground, causing the land to give off an almost surreal ethereal glow. It was truly lovely.
A small smile graced her lips as she pulled the thick cloth more tightly around her body, reaching a thin pale hand outwards, in an attempt to catch one of the sweet snowflakes. After all it had just started snowing, and her mother had always told her that first snowflakes were always the sweetest.
But then, as soon as it had appeared, her smile faded.
The simple thought of her mother caused an empty feeling to rise within the pit of her stomach and a despondent cold spread throughout her limbs.
She missed her mother terribly.
She was unsure of how she was able to endure all the seasons with her mother no longer close to her, no longer near, no longer alive. She knew of course that she would be there in spirit, always watching over her as though she were a precious artifact that needn't be lost but -
She still wished that she could see her mother's smiling face, feel her warm touch, and hear her sweet melodic voice.
Her cold fingers clutched the thick brown fabric tightly, her face flushed as unwanted tears began to flow down her face.
The simple thought of her loving mother was so - unbearable - she did not know if she would be able to take it any longer.
Everything continued to remind her of her deceased mother, from the sun, to the snow, to the whispers of the wind, and especially the Shikon no Tama but - she had to deal with it.
She was a miko.
A powerful white priestess who was meant to protect others with her own life, one who was not supposed to kill unless it was for the good of man kind, and even if she could she would avoid killing at all costs.
Killing was below her.
Protecting ones life wasn't.
An uneasy smile made its way to her face as she gazed up into the sky, her ebony black hair cascading around her shoulders at the simple action.
The snowflakes fell onto her heated cheeks, melting on contact, and Kagome's uneasy smile turned into one of happiness.
Last winter she had been too ill to enjoy the white wonderland at it's finest.
"Don't look so sad," a husky voice purred in her ear, and almost immediately two muscular yet lean arms clad in brown furs wrapped around her small figure, and pulled her back against a cold piece of armor.
She sighed in mild content, blinking as the beautiful snowflakes tickled her long dark eyelashes.
"I try not to," she replied quietly, pulling the brown furs tighter around her.
"Hmm," was the male's response, and he rested his chin against her shoulder, merely content to watch the snow fall with the miko.
Her heart felt at peace for the first time in a long while and -
"You should stay with me."
A girlish bought of laughter bubbled in her throat, threatening to spill past her lips.
"You know as well I as do that I can't. I-I have duties that I have to attend to," she responded softly, although deep inside, she knew that she would have been content to simply sit in his arms, watching the snowflakes descend to the earth. And as his arms tightened fractionally around her, she knew that he knew as well.
"I am not simply going to let you go. Forget your duties, stay with me," He murmured, his breath hot against her ear.
"I can't," she nearly stammered, her face flushing hotly at the huskiness of his voice, "there are people that I need to protect."
"Always so selfless. When are you actually going to put yourself before others? I mean, damn, people aren't as fucking helpless as they make themselves out to be. You got hurt just attempting to help my clan and you were injured for days. But does your chivalry stop there? No. You still want to help others. Don't you ever fucking think of yourself?" His voice grew more bitter and harsh as he raved; his grip tightening on her small frame, but all she managed to do was remain stoic and cold. She would not let his words get to her.
"I don't think you understand. There are people that need me." Her voice - it was so distant she did not recognize it as her own.
"Yeah there are people who need you," he growled, his voice unusually throaty, " but damn it, did you ever stop to think that I-"
"That you need me too? Yes, I have. Which is why - when there is no longer a deadly threat against everyone I will return."
She could hear his shallow breathing as he contemplated her words, his grip loosening slightly. She decided to use his silence to her advantage.
"I know that it may seem like I am asking a lot, but the time isn't right. Please wait for me," her words came out as hushed whispers, and her chest constricted painfully while she spoke.
But then, just as she thought that he was going to remain silent and reject her, just as she was ready to remove herself from his arms, he turned her around roughly and pressed his lips to hers in a bruising forceful kiss.
His clawed hands gripped her forearms roughly, his claws digging into her tender flesh. But she didn't care. She could feel all of his emotions - all of his desperation, his love, and his sorrow - he didn't want her to leave, but he knew that she had no choice. She still possessed the Shikon no Tama, and if she still possessed, she would never be able to live a normal life. But as long as she disposed of her only threat then -
They could remain with one another.
For as long as their hearts desired.
They broke apart briefly, and he gazed down into her beautiful stormy blue eyes and smiled, brushing his lips against her once more.
"You better not die priestess, or all those people that you worked so hard to protect - well it would have been for nothing."
"I can't make any promises," she mumbled, turning away from him to gaze at the white wonderland once more. Her lips still burned from his ferocious kiss, and she could feel her desire sweltering within her, demanding to be released.
She had to leave quickly.
"I'm not asking you to promise anything," he countered, removing his hands from her forearms.
She let out a brief sigh of relief, hoping at he had not heard it. She loved him - Gods did she love him but - a deep sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she remembered that her mother had told her not fall in love.
"It is the most foolhardy thing that you could ever do, for not only are you risking your own life, but the life of the one you love, and then before you realize it, everyone who surrounds you will also fall victim to your impetuous mistake. Although it would hurt not to love - it is better not to love, then to love and then have lost. You would forever be lonely and miserable, and then slowly but surely your heart will turn to darkness. So please my young Kagome, do not allow yourself to fall victim to such childish fantasies. Do not fall in love."
She sighed, shaking her head slowly. She hadn't listened to her mother; in fact she had done exactly what her mother didn't want her to. And now -
She was in love.
Slowly, she turned to her lover, a false smile upon her face as she reached a frozen hand out and ran her fingers against his jaw line.
"I'll be seeing you," she murmured before pressing a kiss to his cold yet soft lips, cherishing the feel of them one last time.
Because - if what her mother had said was true - everything would soon start to unravel, and the life of the one she loved would be gone.
She could see the almost pleading look on his handsome face as she pulled away from him, smiling gently.
"I will be back," she said and then she turned around and walked away, pulling the brown furs tighter around her figure.
She knew that she might not see him again; that within the span of time she was away she could possibly die, just as he could as well.
And as the thought of never seeing him again fluttered across her mind Kagome found that -
She wasn't as sad as she thought she would be.
And if she wasn't sad -
Was she truly in love?
~*~
He hadn't expected to receive the news so quickly.
The kitsunes – known for their trickery and deceit – had given them news of a battle between a monk and a miko.
Needless to say, he was greatly intrigued.
But – he did not know whether or not to believe the Kitsune–Clan. Their information could have been faulty and untrue, but he had decided to take his chances anyways – especially if it would help him get back at the Inu-Clan for trespassing in his domain. That was simply something he did not stand for.
The search had been long and tedious, taking days – but it finally paid off. The kitsunes had not been lying – for only a few days south; they had found traces of miko energy near a deadened forest. Just east of that forest stood a village.
And he could feel the slight pulsation of a pure power, and it sent silent ripples through his body – a dull throb of pain echoing throughout his being. He turned to his brother, motioning silently towards the village, a wicked smirk playing across his features.
"You think she's there?"
"Oh I know she's there brother. Don't you feel it – that pulsating power? She is here, now let's go," He ordered, ignoring the slightly elated look that came over his younger siblings features.
They headed towards the village.
~*~
His hands were cold and icy as they wrapped around her wrist, his claws digging surreptitiously into her skin.
She had hoped that it wouldn't have had to come to this - that she would have been able to destroy Naraku before she returned to her lover but - Naraku had been three steps ahead of her, manipulating her in his own sadistic way.
Now, he had her love, beaten and bruised - nearly dead and he was telling her to choose - her duty as the white priestess, or the being she had grown so much to care for.
It was something she had wished she would never have to deal with but -
Naraku was always a persistent hanyou.
He would ensure that he would get what he wanted, when he wanted, and she knew that unless she did something her love would die.
But only a few months ago she was truly questioning whether or not she loved him wasn't she?
The priestess shook the rancid thoughts from her mind, looking from Naraku to her lover, a silent battle raging within her.
How could she possibly give up her duty to protect those of innocent demeanor, but then - this situation was one life for many. And what was more important to her? The life of one or the lives of many?
Naraku had so brazenly managed to ask her those questions, causing the white priestess to seriously doubt herself. She inwardly began to wonder whether or not her mother had to face this kind of decision but - no, her mother had been trying to protect her from Naraku and had ended up dying in the process.
Her mother had chosen the one life.
Her own life.
But she had only done that because - because her mother knew that she had a successor, one that would protect others and take on her previous role.
And she had.
The priestess did everything within her power to help her mother, to follow in her footsteps, but she realized that the more she tried to be like her mother, the more she seemingly failed.
It should have been different.
But the miko knew that she could only blame herself.
She had fallen in love when her mother had warned her not to, when her mother had told her that it was dangerous to do so - and the simple thought of losing her beloved sent her heart into a wild rage.
She had been falling into darkness all along.
And Naraku knew.
He continued to play at her emotions, smirking and sneering in the process. He enjoyed her emotional distress and - she would make him pay.
White energy crackled at her palms, and her eyes narrowed as the hanyou's grip threatened to snap her wrists.
Then as though sensing the rising hatred that continued to grow within her heart he recoiled, hissing in pain as white flames erupted from her hands, scorching everything in it's purity.
"It seems as though you have made your decision," Naraku stated primly, grabbing the battered young man by his neck and digging his claws into the tender flesh.
Something inside of her snapped, and her eyes glittered guiltily.
"Wait! Don't - don't hurt him." She whimpered, placing a hand against her chest.
"So, you choose his life over the lives of others? Pitiful miko. Allowing simple emotions to cloud your judgment. Your mother was much more powerful then that-"
"I didn't say that I was choosing him-"
"But wait - she did sacrifice herself so that you could stay alive. Her only flesh and blood giving up everything that she had strived so hard to work for. It truly is a pity that I will destroy it no matter what the cost."
The wistfulness that rose within her at the mention of her mother caused a burning guilt so deep within to rise, that she could simply allow tears to stream down her face.
But everything that he had said, it was true.
She was pitiful and no matter what she did – Naraku was always three steps ahead of her. She shook her head wistfully, wiping tears from her eyes before reaching a hand up to her neck, and snapping the small-shelled chain from around her neck.
Who was she to choose?
After all it was the duty of a miko to protect, one life at a time.
And she'd have to start with his – her love, her desire.
She didn't notice the pained look that reflected from those beautiful crystal blue eyes as the Shikon no Tama clattered noiselessly to the floor.
~*~
The people didn't cower in fear as they had first expected. Instead, they spared them with wary glances and continued to go about their business.
Perhaps they were used to having strangers – even demon strangers – to wandering through their village, but that didn't matter to the crimson-eyed boy at the moment. No. He was simply focused on finding the girl. It should have been easy, he would have just had to pinpoint the exact location of her power but – it felt as though it were resonating from every which direction and –
He was completely and utterly infuriated.
The lightening shaped staff quivered in his hand slightly, before he turned to his brother, his crimson eyes unusually dark.
"What do you suggest we do little brother?" He asked impulsively, ignoring the surprised look that spread over the goliath's face.
"I am unsure. Maybe we should ask one of the villagers?" He suggested, glancing around the village at all the people who milled around acting completely carefree.
"That's the best idea you've had all day. Oi! Woman!" The older boy shouted, catching the attention of a young woman, who was currently attending to a half built weapon.
She glanced up at the two nonplussed at first, but then her surprised look turned to one of annoyance as she stopped her hitting the cream colored weapon with a wooden hammer.
"Yes?"
"We're looking for a girl. Black hair, blue eyes, strange powers, you see her?" He asked flippantly, taking notice of the dawning expression that passed over her slightly angelic features.
"Yeah, she's been unconscious for days though."
"Where can we find her?"
"What do you want her for?" She asked, her voice growing steadily suspicious. The goliath looked over to his brother, wondering why he was allowing the human to question his motives, but then looked away when his brother fixed her with a glare.
"That business is my own human, now where is she?"
The woman hesitated for a moment, glancing over them skeptically once more before motioning towards a small hut across the way from her own. The demon nodded, turning around – unaware of the disgusted glare she shot him behind his back. He would have thanked her – oh how he would have thanked her – but he didn't have time for formalities at the moments. He simply had to hurry and leave the village – with his brother and the girl – and then go pay a visit to the leader of the Inu-Clan, possibly after having his way with the girl first.
He was still wearing that conceited smirk as he walked into the little hut.
"May I be of assistance?" The crimson-eyed boy turned, taking notice of an ebony haired monk, before motioning towards the bamboo screen that had been put up in the middle of the room.
"The girl, Kagome, I'm here to retrieve her."
"Hmm, and why would you like to take her away from here?"
The crimson-eyed boy seethed, but the goliath simply ignored the monk's rude comment.
"We are her bodyguards. We need to take her back to her family now – they miss her terribly."
The monk however, did not seem to believe them in the slightest.
"A human family that employs demons?"
"Yes. Now we are impatient to get Kagome back, we would like to take her home now," the goliath replied through gritted teeth, taking a step towards the monk threateningly. The monk's eyes glittered with momentary amusement as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. A brief moment of silence passed as the demons continued to wait for the monks consent – after all they did not want to draw suspicion to themselves.
"Very well," the monk replied after a terse moment of silence, " I see no harm in allowing her to go with you. She is unconscious however, and you would need to be careful of her. If you are not, in fact, her bodyguards, I am sure she will simply put you through hell. Her powers are extraordinary."
The monk disappeared behind the bamboo screen, and then a moment later came back out, a limp girl in his arms.
"I suspect that she is in good hands?"
"Yes, she is," the goliath replied as his older brother took Kagome's limp body into his arms.
The woman was still watching them suspiciously as they left the village.
~*~
"You made a mistake," his voice was cold and distant as he spoke to her, refusing to meet her eyes as she tended to his wounds.
"It is my duty to protect, and protect you I did."
"Don't give that bullshit. I didn't need protecting, I could have made it out on my own," he snarled, ignoring the bitter chill that was laced through her voice. He couldn't accept the truth at the moment.
"I could tell. As he held your limp body by the neck, I could just tell that you were ready to impale him." She hated fighting with him. Each time she attended to his wounds he continually degraded her, telling her that she made a mistake and people were getting annihilated.
But he didn't know. He didn't know the guilt that continued to pierce her heart each time his voice reached her ears. She had been given a choice and she had made one.
She decided to protect him and –
Why didn't he appreciate it?
He loved her right? And when people loved one another they were supposed to make sacrifices for one another, to ensure each other's safety but – she sighed vehemently, ignoring the snort of indignation that sounded from the man who was currently resting on the thick furry mat.
"I could have killed him."
"You were going to die. I thought – I decided to spare your life because I care about you so much – damn it, can't you at least be grateful that you and I have another chance to be together?"
"But what if I don't want it?!" He snapped suddenly, causing the priestess to recoil slightly.
How could he not have wanted to be with her? Didn't he love her? Didn't he care?
"I would rather have died in honor rather than have you sacrifice the only thing that would have aided in the destruction of Naraku."
"I see," her voice was quiet and cold, and she held the thin strips of bandages tightly, her hands trembling.
It hurts more to love only to have lost.
Is this what her mother meant?
It did hurt. It hurt more then she had intended it to but – there was nothing she could do.
She wouldn't let him see how deeply his words wounded her. No, she would leave it behind and hope that he wouldn't notice her tears, her pain. Because – because then he would simply call her weak and pitiful, just as Naraku had done. She could not help but chuckle bitterly, dropping the gauze onto his bandaged chest.
She wouldn't help him, because she had just realized what he was.
A demon.
And she had been so foolish to overlook the fact.
Demon's had their pride, their arrogance, and their honor.
And demons didn't love. Demons didn't know what love was.
They only knew one emotion.
Lust.
And she had been so completely and utterly foolish to believe that they could love, that they were even remotely possible of love. She would not allow herself to be fooled again.
And she found, that for the second time, she was walking away for the one that she loved.
~*~
The aching feeling within her heart was unbearable.
Kagome opened her eyes slowly, taking in the impetuous darkness.
Her head was pounding, and her shoulder throbbed with such intensity she couldn't place it. At first the pain that was shooting throughout her body was all that she could think about but then –
The dreams came flooding back to her, fitting so neatly within her being – it felt as though they belonged there.
The dreams were strange to say the least, each of them dealing with a part of what seemed to be her former life – a life that she couldn't remember – that she desperately wanted to remember.
And it seemed – she could still feel the bitter thoughts resonating within her. That man – demon – had told her that he didn't love her. Inwardly Kagome wondered if she would ever meet him again, but then realized that –
She didn't want to meet him.
He had caused her hurt and pain, and he probably wasn't sorry about it. And then, just as she was about to think about what kind of person he truly was –
She blinked, staring up into a pair of dark crimson eyes.
"Oi, the bitch is awake."
~*~
"You let her go?!"
"They said that they were searching for her, that they knew her and were returning her to her family."
"And you let them?" Sango screeched, the tip of her katana positioned dangerously close to Miroku's neck.
"I felt no ill will."
"No ill will? Ugh, you are so infuriating." Sango ran her slender fingers through her hair, allowing a sigh of exasperation to escape her lips. She simply could not believe it. Miroku – a sensible, intelligent Buddhist monk – had just allowed the woman they had been taking care of for weeks on end to simply be taken away.
By demons.
Sango did not know whether to kill him or – to kill him.
"You know Lady Sango, it would be logical to simply take her back," Miroku explained expertly, looking towards the ceiling thoughtfully.
"Oh," Sango whirled on him, a glare apparent on her face, "and how exactly do you expect us to get her back?" Sango asked huffily, sheathing her katana in one swift movement.
"With her," Miroku commented matter-of-factly, motioning towards a small yellow kitten, watching the two with amusement.
"Ah, I see."
~*~
Inutaisho growled in frustration.
It had been a fortnight - an entire two weeks - and his search party still had not found Kagome.
He was enraged to say the least.
For a moment, he briefly thought of finding his son and using him to vent all of his frustration on but - Inutaisho shook his head slowly, collapsing on a large plush pillow as his thoughts wandered over to the day when Inuyasha had so unwittingly told him that Kagome had disappeared.
He had to admit, he had been rash and allowed his anger to get the best of him, but he couldn't help it.
There was just - something about Kagome that caused him to go into ballistic. He felt as though his soul was exposed around her, that she knew each and every dark secret that he held. At first he thought that it had something to do with her being a miko but - she couldn't possibly get him to open up his soul unless she had tapped into her powers.
And the fact remained that she hadn't tapped into her powers.
Her memories were gone, possibly returning to her slowly, if her dream had been any indication, but he knew for certain that it was not enough to ignite her miko abilities.
So he had to think long and hard, and through his long hours of pondering he found out why she caused him to feel like that.
And then he knew.
She had his wife's eyes.
And his wife was the only other person able to make him bare his soul as well. Both of them - they had that beautiful stormy blue-gray eye color, filled with so much emotion, so much innocence -
That was why he had told Kagome about her death, because they were so much alike.
The thought startled him greatly.
But what had made matters even worse, was the fact that he had acted out so - viciously - towards Inuyasha when he had been told about Kagome. It didn't escape his notice that the same thing had happened not too many years ago.
That memory was something that would remain forever etched within his mind.
He could still smell the acidic poison melding with that of burning flesh and blood as his youngest son lay on the floor, his blood spilling everywhere. He had promised himself that he would never allow the desire to release his anger overpower him again but -
He failed.
He could still see the betrayed look on Inuyasha's face as he allowed his own claws to rake across his skin, spilling poison into the inflamed wounds.
He didn't know if Inuyasha would ever forgive him but - he knew that he would eventually tolerate his presence. After all, that was what happened last time.
Inutaisho sighed, a weary expression spreading over his face as he turned towards the window, noticing with little surprise that thick condensed storm clouds were billowing through the air rather rapidly. And then –
Something clicked.
"Damn it," Inutaisho muttered, running a hand through his silver hair as lightening struck the ground threateningly.
A horn blared in the distance.