A/N: Well, I'm back with the second installment of Abrasions. There is one more chapter left after this, but first and foremost I must say that I am so sorry that it has taken so long for me to update. My excuse, and it isn't much of an excuse to be honest, is that my computer was broken, had to be completely sanitized, and everything was wiped off. It took months for it to get fixed because we were always so busy with sports, our new puppies, family drama, and it just took precedent over my work. But now, obviously, my computer is fixed so I should be able to update more frequently. Thank you for being patient and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha do not belong to me.
To Be Haunted
Light trickled into the small dark hut, giving off a strange iridescent glow. She could see them, all of them, sparkling brightly in the sky, glittering dangerously. Giving off life. It seemed so alive here, so perfect, and for a moment, a deep welling resentment rose in her chest, her emotions twisting around her heart like sharp painful barbed wire, and her hands tightening on her blanket.
It wasn't what she was looking for, and she hated it. Because she was always trying so hard not to hate everything, to continue on as though nothing were wrong, but she knew she couldn't do it. She knew that she didn't have the strength. And it hurt. It hurt because she knew that she wanted the easy way out, she wanted to be able to step outside the light, the sanity, hoping that everything would just go back to normal, wishing that it would. It would have been easier.
But the nightmares were still there, haunting her, pulling at her resolve, calling her weak, taunting her. The nightmares were still there, reminding her of what she had done, what had been done, and all she wanted was to escape from the pain. Because the pain was black, and it was damp, like ice, and she hated the snow.
She could remember, back home, when she used to love to play in the snow, with Souta, with her mother. She could remember when it was beautiful, pure, lovely. And it had been fun, because she had her family, the people who loved her more than anything, who would build snowmen with her, who would have snowball fights, who would make snowangels. Because she had her family who understood what it was like to be her, who understood what it was like to be on the edge, to be engulfed in the pain.
Because pain had been there, in her mother's eyes whenever she looked at them, wishing that she could have had more time than what was given to her. Pain had been there when her mother had shut herself away, crying every night, wishing that there was something warm and gentle beside her, wanting that warmth to hold her and kiss her and tell her that it loved her. Pain had been in her mother's eyes when she couldn't look at them, when she would push them onto their grandfather just so she could say "I need a moment" and pretend that she was being an actual mother.
The pain had been there, and that pain, Kagome was familiar with. That pain was dull and throbbing, and it caused her ribs to ache, but that pain, she could handle. There wasn't the darkness, burning, frightening, pulling at her whenever she opened her eyes. There were tears, but even now, she found it too hard to cry because if she did, then she couldn't breathe, and then, she wouldn't be able to live.
There had been happiness, a few times, when he lied to her, when he told her she was human. But even then, she felt the grief weighing down on her, drowning her, and the tears were too hard to repress, and she pretended that she was happy, just so that dark look wouldn't come into their eyes once more.
But she had been fooled then, too.
No matter what anyone said, no matter how many soothing words they attempted to give, she could not forget. There had been blood, and it was hot and sticky and it had been on her hands, on her face, in her hair, her eyes, on her clothes... it had been everywhere.
Gods, Kagome thought bitterly, burying deep into her sleeping bag, I just want it to end, please just let it end.
But it was still there, looming in her mind, and she was suffocating.
Slowly, Kagome rubbed the sweat off of her face, tossing her blankets away. The cool air hit her forcefully, causing a violent shudder to dance of up her spine.
She needed to escape.
Gently, she rubbed her arms, curled her toes, trying her best to keep the warmth from slipping from her body. She stood slowly, shakily, watching as the darkness in the hut brightened, watching as Shippou's chest rose and fell peacefully, as Miroku shifted, his eyelids twitching ever so slightly, the rings on his staff clanking together beautifully. It soothed her, in a way, that she had never been soothed before, and for a moment, she wanted to crouch down next to him, she wanted him to wake so that she could look into his eyes and say thank you. But his lies were still there, and the grief that weighed down her heart was lurking ever so close to the back of her mind and she found that she just - just couldn't. There was still bitterness, laced within the grief, and she wanted to hate him for it.
Quickly, quietly, she left the hut, feeling the coolness of the dirt seeping through her socks, the rocks digging into the soles of her feet. And as she stood on the dirt, she knew that, most definitely, it was not enough. She could remember his words, the way they echoed through her mind, telling her, reassuring her, that she was human, that she was alive and that they still had a purpose, that they needed her just a little bit longer and to please, oh please just hold on.
And he had been wrong.
Because even though it had been done, even though everything was still irreverisble, she could still feel it nagging at her essence, burning her every muscle, causing her joints to creak and her skin to sweat and...
She couldn't beg for forgiveness any longer.
Inuyasha had told him once, after she had been nursed back to health, after she had screamed her throat dry, after she had tore her skin until she bled, that he was wrong. But she had continued to beg, and Miroku had continued to be bitter, and they both continued to lie and there was nothing that could be done about it. Absolutely nothing.
But she wanted to feel the magic swirling around her, and she wanted to ask her mother how she had cope with it. How she was able to deal with the dull throbbing that had turned into that icy cold darkness. She needed to know how she had learned to smile again. It would be easier, so much easier, than staying in a place that was so bright and yet so dark at the same time. So alive.
But I needed to know, Kagome thought, wandering away from the village, I needed to know that everything that happened was no more than a nightmare.
Angrily, fearfully, Kagome dug her fingers into her forearms, doing her best not to cry. Because if she cried, she knew that she would forget how to breathe, and then the grief would give way to the darkness, and she would forget who she was, what she was, and then - then she would want to be human, just once more.
Inuyasha was always cruel, just so he could be kind. It was something that she learned long ago, something that she had learned, even before he had chosen death over life, before he decided that she was strong enough to be let go.
Strong enough to protect herself.
But he had been wrong then, as well.
If she had been strong enough, able enough, then maybe it could have ended. There was never any guarantee, that she knew, but they would have been closer. Closer to happiness. Closer to absolution.
"Nothing is ever that simple," Kagome's grandfather had told her once when he found her staring up at the tree, wondering where to go, what she was going to do next, "Say, for instance, I want some tea, and I ask you to make make it for me. But as soon as I do, you are hiding in that well again, shirking responsibilty. See, all I asked for was a simple cup of tea and can't even that. There is no respect, no will anymore. Absolutely none."
He had been wrong too, though, just like every other male in her life. But more than ever, she just wanted to prove to him, to everyone, that she could handle it. That she was responsible and strong and capable of everything.
And it would be so easy.
Because she was standing over the well, staring down into its inky black depths, wanting to disappear into it forever. And she needed them, she needed her family more than anything, because they, better than anyone else would understand, and she needed someone - anyone - to understand what she was feeling. What she needed.
Kagome choked and gripped the rouch wooden edge of the well tightly.
But she had always been taught not to take the easy way out. She had always been taught that she had the ability to choose between right and wrong, difficult and easy. And it would be so easy to simply walk away from it all.
But then people would be hurt and it wouldn't be finished.
And despite the nightmares and the sorrow, she would still be bound to this place. Through Shippou, through Inuyasha. Through Naraku.
And part of her, more than anything, wanted to get revenge on him for what he did to her, wanted to get revenge for the pain and suffering he put her through. For manipulating her and causing everyone to think differently of her. And he - he was the reason she needed to get away. The reason she wanted to get away, the reason she wanted to take the easy way out.
If Inuyasha knew what she was going to do, he would call her a coward. And, when she thought about it, she was. She already knew she was weak, incapable of protecting others and herself. And it was easy being a coward. After all, what Inuyasha thought didn't matter. The end was there, in the darkness, in her dreams.
But she wouldn't let that fool her too.
Clumsily, Kagome climbed on to the edge of the well, positioning herself to slip harmlessly into the depths of its magic.
It's better this way, she thought as she closed her eyes, ready to take the plunge, I can be human this way.
And she could feel something press a scorching hot kiss against her arm.
Startled, Kagome whirled around, her blue eyes wide, yet resigned, wishing that she wouldn't have to be a coward to reach her goal, but accepting it.
There was nothing there.
"Weird," Kagome murmured, sliding off the lip of the well and onto the wet grass. She knew she had felt something pulling on her, tugging at her, and when she looked closer she could tell that it was less violent than the darkness. Kinder, gentler. Tiredly, Kagome wiped her hair out of her eyes, pulled her nightshirt tighter, and walked.
She knew, with aboslute certainty, where she was headed, but unsure of the reason why she was headed there. It had been so long since she had visited the Goshinboku, in her time, and in the past. But she knew why she wasn't there.
It held no answers.
Holy, yes, but painful, even more so.
She could hear the whisper of the trees as the wind rustled through its branches. She could smell the wet scent of the earth rising up into the air, could feel the moistness of the grass through her feet. And for once, she felt calm. And it was, within that moment, when she realized that she was standing before the Goshinboku.
Answers, no, the Goshinboku did not have. But maybe, just maybe, it had the power to make her stronger. To remind her why she was there in first place. And to her, she needed that reassurance more than anything.
"Miko."
The voice was cold, chilling, and instantly recognizable.
"Kikyou," Kagome started, pressing her hand into the hot bark of the sacred tree. "Why did you bring me here?"
"We are not entirely different," she said, her voice low, and, to Kagome, it sounded almost regretful.
"I know," Kagome answered, leaning her head against the tree. "Our emotions are the same. The way we feel for Inu-"
"Do not put our feelings on the same level. You have no feelings for Inuyasha."
Kagome whirled around, her eyes wide, her body trembling as she watched the undead miko, completely surprised at the anger, the cold cutting clarity in her statement. She could feel the fear rising up inside of her, attempting to take over, to throw her back into the darkness, but she felt that same scorching kiss against her arm, and almost at once, she reached out, her fingers brushing across the chilled scales of Kikyou's soul stealers.
"We share the same soul, and I feel your pain, your sorrow. It sickens me. You feel nothing but regret, self pity. And you have never been more of a coward than you are now. You do not deserve Inuyasha."
Kagome flinched, the tears threatening to suffocate her.
Kikyou was right though, because she had been ready to leave. To go home and to ask her mother how she dealt with her grief, her torn emotions. She would have come though, wouldn't she? She would have come back because things weren't finished. Naraku was still alive, the jewel was no complete and -
She never wanted it to be.
"I wasn't going to come back," Kagome whispered, shame filling her body. She tried her best not to choke, not to cry. "Why did you stop me? Why are you trying to save me?"
"I can not purify the jewel. I am dead, and I loathe everything. My hatred for you, for Inuyasha, for Naraku would only blacken it more, the way Naraku continues to manipulate you into thinking that he has blackened you. But still, you continue to shine, and that it why Inuyasha still stays -"
"You had no right! It was my decision and mine alone! You had no right to force me to finish this night-"
"You are a shadow of me," Kikyou replied, touching her fingers to the Goshinboku, barely grazing the spot where Inuyasha was once pinned. Kagome was stunned, her eyes wide, and her anger building slowly. Part of her wanted to sink into the shadow that was Kikyou, to believe her, to grasp it. Because then she wouldn't have to think, she wouldn't have to live being a monster. But the other part of her - it raged, her emotions, her anger, and she could feel her hands curling into tight fists, the fire raging in her heart.
"I am not you."
There were tears, hot and salty and blinding, but she was breathing and she couldn't think, and all she felt was anger. Had she really become so weak? So weak as to where she couldn't even handle her own angry emotions?
"I will never be you. I'm my own person. Not yours, not Inuyasha's, not Naraku's. And I - I can never make the sacrifices that you have made. You died for Inuyasha. For your beliefs, but you died hating him and denying yourself what would have made you happy. I refuse to do the same. I have family and people who love and care for me. I just - I can't leave them." Her tears were blinding, sliding down her face, hitting the tops of her hands. She should have wiped them away, she should have been strong. But she needed to get home, and she needed to see her mother, but she was tied to this spot, this one place in time that would never die, and she needed to speak to Kikyou.
"You let your emotions blind your judgment. You're truly weak."
"And you're not?" Kagome asked, her voice weary, tired. "You allow Naraku to to trick you into killing Inuyasha, you allowed your emotions of betrayal cloud your judgment. You - you didn't stop to think that he loved you - that he could never betray you like that! He loved you too much... he loved you."
"Yes," Kikyou said softly, her eyes clearing, the darkness disappearing for a moment. And Kagome could see, weary and defeated, that the memories of the past they shared together was slowly taking over her mind, pulling her back, begging her to remember. But then, if Kikyou remembered, then surely, she would remember seeing those eyes, the eyes Naraku intimidated, burning with anger, hate, and she would feel the hatred more than anything. Feel the betrayal blaze in her stomach once more. And once more, she would be cold, seeking death and destruction. Being cruel.
"But there was no trust, for all the love there was, and Naraku saw that weakness and exploited it. Because - because he wanted you to see him as well."
Kagome wanted to stop, to stop feeling sorry, to stop slipping. But somehow, she needed it, she just needed to hear the words from her own mouth. They burned and they stung, but she couldn'tn help it. It was the truth, raw and bleeding, and if it stripped her down to nothing it wouldn't matter.
I'm already there, she thought, bitterness encasing her once more. The darkness crept steadily closer.
"He sees weakness in you as well."
Kagome nodded, feeling to raw to answer.
The silence that stretched between them then was stifling; it made Kagome confused, embittered. But she would have to live with it; she always did.
"We're alike you know: Kagome whispered, leaning her head against the Goshinboku, pressing the pads of her fingers against the cool bark, "Naraku and I. We both desire something that we can't have, no matter how hard we work for it."
Kikyou remained silent, watching the miko, watching the way her sould stealers burned and scorched her, pressing hot kisses of anger against her skin. Trying to make her remember. Trying to make her feel. But she was lost, somewhere within that icy void trying to climb out. Trying to figure out why. After all, there had to be a reason, a reason for why she was so eager to get out, so eager to get back what she so desperately desired.
"Escape."
"Yeah," Kagome sighed, sliding to her knees, her eyes filling and her chest tightening, " It hurts too much to be here, to remember. Forgetting is easier, it makes it easier on all of us; I don't need to think when I forget."
"And Naraku will exploit that weakness."
Kagome looked at her, eyes shimmering, and couldn't help but wonder, what if.
"Don't," Kikyou responded, sliding her fingers along the groove in the tree. The urge to ask was so close though, eating at her, pulling and pinching so hard that Kagome's eyes clenched shut, her fists curled into balls, and she bit into her tongue, tasting the disgusting tang of copper. Ask her, her mind screamed, she'll say yes. She'll have to.
But Kikyou had told her not to, had told her in that cool sharp tone not to.
But then - then it wouldn't hurt would it? They could use Kikyou, more than they could use her and she could go home, away from the nightmares, from the violent icy darkness and there would be light, hot and tingly on her skin, helping her heal, helping her become human. Because, on the other side, there insanity, and she needed that more than anything.
"Please," Kagome whispered, giving into her own selfish desires, "help them. They - they need you more than they need me. You could finish it." The tears were suffocating this time, drowning her, and her voice was rising, higher and higher in desperation. "I can't."
"He'll make you come back," Kikyou responded, anger dancing in her eyes. "He continues to manipulate you, through your sadness, your sorrow. Inuyasha does not deserve to die with someone so weak at his side. Is that truly what you want? To all Inuyasha to die, to be buried by Naraku's wishes, his hatred?"
She could have said no, it would have been simple. It would have been over. But for some reason, she wanted Kikyou's presence, and she didn't want to be alone.
She wanted someone who understood.
"Do you - do you wish you were alive again? That you were human?"
"Humans have faults. These faults make them weak, imperfect. I have no desire to become weak again."
Humans have faults, these faults make them weak.
And for a second, she could understand them, if only for a second. Naraku and Inuyasha, their wish to be only demons. And for a second, it lifted her out of the void, and she could see the light tugging at her, beckoning her forward. Seducing her.
"Tell him," Kagome said quietly, coming to her feet, feeling the sharp stab of rocks through her socks. "Tell him that we're coming."
Kikyou glanced at her, the tips of her fingers brushing against the scales of her soul stealers.
"If that is all you ask of me, it will kill you sooner."
"Yeah," Kagome agreed, her throat tight and dry. "But he wouldn't... couldn't kill you."
"And he wants nothing more than your blood, Inuyasha's blood, on his hands."
"But he's still human," Kagome whispered, her bright blue eyes burning into Kikyou's dark chocolate ones, remembering Inuyasha's continually harsh jibes.
"And that makes him weak," Kikyou responded, something close to interest tinting her voice, wonder shining in her eyes. Kagome couldn't help but nod, a dim twinkle lighting her eyes.
"That's what I'm counting on."
Inuyasha shifted, opening one eye slowly. She'd been gone long, too long, and he had hoped that she would be back by now. He had given her time and space, just so she could get herself together, so that she could have a chance to escape from the nightmares, which was a great sacrifice on his part, since he wanted nothing more than the beat the living hell out of her.
He couldn't bring himself to blame her though.
He had been there, he had seen the carnage, through the flames, and he had seen her world shatter, like a mirror, into tiny shards of glass, right before her eyes.
Miroku had responded quicker than he had, blinding her, forcing her to be still, and even now, that still grated at him.
And that was probably why, when the nightmares haunted her, when she was continually dragged deeper and deeper into herself - the resentment, the hatred - she went to him. To Miroku.
And for a while, he was glad. Becuse if Kagome had come to him, he wasn't sure that he would know what to say. She would ask the same question, over and over and over again, wanting reassurance, wanting to escape.
Am I human?
And Miroku, the idiot, would give her the same answer, the same blatant lie.
Yes, Kagome-sama, you're human.
It made Inuyasha sick, no matter how he attempted to shield himself from it, no matter how he scowled and pouted and tried to think of something else. But whenever he tried to think of how close Naraku was, or where another shard could be, it all tied back to Kagome, her silent desperation, and what was missing between them all. He wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault, but damn it, it was. She had gotten careless, and she made a mistake. But then again, something had changed, something that they weren't expecting to get in the way. And he found that he still couldn't blame her, no matter how much he wanted to, even if the blame did belong rightfully to her.
Growling, Inuyasha stood, storming out of the hut.
He needed to clear his mind. Thinking was making him irritable. So, with a muttered curse, he decided to find Kagome.
He sniffed the air, picked up on her scent, and took off.
And, cursing violently, he realized what direction he was headed in.
If that stupid girl even thinks she's going to get away with this...
He stopped running, his golden eyes burning with anger as he saw her, sitting quietly on the lip of the well, straing down into its magical depths. And, with a burning, fearful realization, he took a step forward, wanting nothing more than to hold her down, in place, so that she wouldn't be able to escape.
She wanted to leave.
It had been apparent, on their way back, that she wanted to leave, both him and Miroku, to be on her own, and graciously, he stepped back, giving her space.
She would have done the same for him, after all but - but she was just playing the coward now. And Inuyasha - Inuyasha was pissed.
He jumped, landing on the lip of the well, staring at her bent head, just daring her to do it. Daring her to push off, push away. His eyes glimmered in the darkness; the stars twinkled above them.
But Kagome didn't move.
She sat completely still, breathing lightly, her fingers tightening and untightening on the uneven wood.
"I would have come back you know," she said softly, her voice nothing more than a whisper dancing on the almost silent wind.
"Keh," Inuyasha growled, his anger fading to annoyance. "You'd be here whether you wanted to or not."
She reached out, caught his fingers in hers and smiled
She was tired.
It was strange, for a moment, for her to just wake up, but feel tired, exhausted, as though she hadn't slept in days. Her throat was dry, her skin wet, and the darkness, the perfection was still on the edge of her mind, teasing her, taunting her, and she wanted nothing more than to fall back into its depths once again.
But the miasma was close, and he knew that she was there, that she was awake, and almost at once, she wanted to reach out to him, to beg him to return her to it.
Because she could remember, so vividly, the feel of his hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer so that he would know if she were real, so that he would know just how to break her. The memory was so sharp, so fresh, that she clenched her eyes shut again, wishing that it would just disappear.
She had only wanted to fly, to taste the purity of the sky, to feel that nagging sensation in the back of her mind that there was something missing, something that she always felt had to do with the perfection, but knew that it didn't.
Slowly, she turned to him, her burgundy eyes glimmering slightly, begging, pleading for him to deliver back into her cosmatose state, her throat too dry to say anything.
But, instead, he walked towards her, knelt beside her, and ran his fingers over her small oval face, his red angry eyes burning brutally into hers, demanding to know just what she was thinking when she decided to speak to the boy, demanding to know what gave her the right to even speak to him, to be in his presence. There was something about him, she knew, something that kept drawing her mind away from the man in front of her to the boy whose brown eyes haunted her memory. From the boy who held her so gently, wanting to break her, wanting to break something inside of her. Wanting to she her emotions released.
She felt the tug, sharp and painful against her scalp, and slowly, she drew her mind away from the boy towards the man, towards his long wavy dark hair, to his crimson eyes, to the cruel words that were slipping from his mouth.
"Taijiya," he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers, miasma dripping from her fingers, burning her skin, causing her to bleed. "You will be punished."
"No," it came out in a whoosh of breath, pleading, but she knew that he would not listen, he never did. Because there were times, when she saw his children being punished, brutally, when she wasn't supposed to. There were times when she saw them glare at him in hate, in disgust, wishing for nothing more than his death but the words were never spoken. And she would see it, see her master curl his outstretched hand into a fist and squeeze, with all his might, the heart that was dripping a beautiful crimson blood onto the floor, onto his beautiful white furs, and she would freeze up. And she could remember, quite vividly, the wicked look in her eyes, in the one who claimed to be wind, when she passed by her, wishing for nothing more than her death.
She felt his breath on her neck, the harsh touch of his lips on her forehead, and realized that she was bleeding. Then she could feel a moist gentle wetness on her temple, the miasma growing stronger, fiercer, and she recoiled, pulling away from him, her eyes wide, her skin pale, and her body trembling. There was fury in his eyes, cold, sharp and disgusting, and he stood, a small purple orb dangling from his fingers.
"Remember, taijiya, it speaks to me, and it tells me what's within."
There was a cold decisive snap, and she wrapped her arms around her body, wanting him to stop, willing her skin to stop splitting open, trying to will the pain down to nothing but a slow, dull throb. But it was sharp and clear and it caused stars to burst in her eyes, and she could feel his anger raining down on her, could see that cold pleased look in his eyes, and she could taste the hot salty tears on her lips as they slid down her face.
"Do you repulse me, even after everything has been wiped clean?"
She couldn't speak, her throat had closed up, but she could feel the scream welling up in her throat, she could feel the hot, sticky, blood hardening on her white kimono, she could smell the poisons, thick and disgusting and deadening. She wanted to escape, away from this perfect torture, away from his anger, his lusty desire. Gods, she wanted to escape so bad.
"And yet, you still crave my darkness. You are my imperfection, taijiya, and yet you want to be perfect. You can never be perfect, the darkness will not allow it."
He was kneeling next to her, and she was arching into his touch, the tears still streaming down her face, her joints cracking, her nerves pinching and pulling and making her scream.
But then he was gone, and in his place there was nothing but silence and it frightened.
Gods, she whimpered, falling back into the ground, her body weak, covered in blood.
He had punished her again, perfectly, angrily, and he had enjoyed it more than anything. He had always gotten pleasure out of seeing her in pain, out of seeing her writhe, and for some reason, she couldn't understand. She wanted to believe that it was similar to her desires, wanting the darkness, and knowing that the darkness was him but... but she knew it wouldn't just be for perfection. She had begged him, pleaded with him, and yet, he was heaving himself out of her reach, just high enough to where her fingers skimmed the fabric of his kimono, but could not curl it in her fists. It angered her, made her feel bitter, but there were times, when he would touch her, and she could feel the darkness drifting ever so close, where she could see the perfection that was supposed to be her, where death was just one step closer.
I wanted to see her break.
Her mind snapped in two, and she was there, in the middle of it all, tasting the light, tasting the darkness, and being able to run her fingers through both.
I wanted to see her break.
It was frightening, her mind moving back to the boy, knowing that her master would be angry for her delving back into that memory, for thinking of him and not of her master. Her mind, it was always drifting back to the boy, to the way he held her, to the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her.
You weren't perfect then, either.
And her desire to drop into the darkness grew stronger, and she could feel it pulling at her, tugging at her, and she stepped towards it, inside of it, feeling the cool, beautiful feel of ice on her pale injured skin. It was bliss, the darkness, and she wanted nothing more than to drown into it. To forget being human. Because it would have been easier, being perfect, not having faults. Because the boy had said that she wasn't perfect, that she wasn't human but -
But he still held onto her, pulling her close, asking her to free something.
Come back to me...
She whirled around, gazing at the light, her eyes wide, unsure, hearing the loud desperate plea within her mind. And she could feel something burning in the small of her back, teasing her, warming her, and she wanted so badly to grasp it, to feel it's warmth spreading through her limbs because then - the light was just as perfect as the darkness. Only - only the darkness wasn't with him, with her master, and if she fell into him, then she could be with him forever, and she wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Please come back to me.
The voice was coming closer, dancing around her, and quickly, quietly, she stepped through the darkness, into the light, and felt it's warmth dancing around her, teasing her senses, healing her wounds. It felt good, it made her feel good, and she wanted nothing more than to stand within it, her eyes closed, her tears dried, and to listen to the soft, pleading voice on the other side. It was lovely, it was beautiful, and she cherished it.
Please, oh please, come back to me.
"I'm coming," she whispered, opening her eyes, and looking around the empty white void, "my master will be mad but - but I'll come, I promise."
Do you promise?
She smiled then, pushing her long dark locks out of her face.
"I can promise that I will try. You seem nice."
Sango...
She froze then, her eyes turning wide, something snapping back into place. The voice sounded happy, comforting, and she wanted to believe that it held all the answers but... but she had never been called that before, to the extent of her knowledge. But something was falling back into place, and she could see the boy again, smiling, at her, holding her hand, his face flushed, his excitement rising. And then, she could see a man, with dark purple eyes, his hand sliding over her back side, and she could feel the sting of her hand as she slapped him, the exasperated sighs of other people of... of her friends and -
"Kagome?"
Will you come home Sango?
The doubt was there, but she felt the words slipping from her mouth before she even had the chance to stop.
"Yes," she whispered, her eyes closing tightly. "But - but I don't know if I'll make it. I'll miss my master more than anything."
We miss you, Sango. You need to come home.
"I know," Sango whispered, falling to her knees. "I know."
