Well here is chapter fifteen. More answers this time around. I'm not sure if it will generate more questions but if it does ask away and I will answer them if it wont spoil the story. Now to answer a review, to YuniX-2 you are half right. Don't let that bug you you'll see what I mean in this chapter. Well, on with the story!
Disclaimer: 'insert disclaimer here'
Sesshoumaru walked back into the abandoned shrine. He had used the tensaiga to partially heal his wounds but he was still sore. "Why have we returned here milord?" asked Jaken.
Sesshoumaru looked down at the imp and said, "to find that tomb. It's too late to revive the demon lord but maybe I can get some answers". Sesshoumaru searched until he found the slab covering the tomb and used tokijin to pry it open. "Guard the entrance" he said to his companions before heading down. He found the corpse of the demon lord just as Kouga had before him. He read the inscription wondering if the demon had been aware of the prophecy. "Hopefully I can get some answers" he whispered. Tensaiga was glowing white-hot compelling Sesshoumaru to draw it. He did and looked down at the copse, his mind suddenly full of the information on what he needed to do to contact the demon's soul. He had been right. The messengers of the underworld had long since gone leaving the body and empty shell. However he could use tensaiga to forge a temporary link with the demon's soul, then Sesshoumaru could get the answers he sought.
Sesshoumaru knelt next to the dead demon and thrust tensaiga through its chest and into the pedastal. There was a blinding flash, as tensaiga became a temporary link to the demon's soul. Sesshoumaru then sat cross-legged on the floor and began to focus. The sword's aura flared as Sesshoumaru's consciousness detached from his body and went along the connection to where the soul lay. Now all he had to do was wait until Kagome fell asleep.
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"Hey Kouga" yelled Hakkaku, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Kouga skidded to a stop and looked back at his companions. "Exept for the tomb" he said, "we have found nothing useful. I need to be with Kagome more then I need to be sniffing at dead ends". Koga looked off down the road then and, quietly said, "besides. Something has gone wrong, I can feel it in my bones".
With that Kouga was off again with Ginta and Hakkaku barely able to keep up.
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Naraku looked into Kanna's mirror and nodded in approval at the scene of Kagome's final transformation. "It won't be long now," he said.
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"Kagome…" said Inu-Yasha reaching for the girl. He put his hand on Kagome's cheek. Her skin was hot to the touch and covered in sweat. Whatever else the final transformation had done it had clearly taken a lot out of the girl.
Kagome, literally, purred when Inu-Yasha touched her. "That feels nice" she mumbled. Compared to her Inu-Yasha's skin was fairly cool and it was a relief to Kagome. She felt like someone had lit a bonfire in her gut and it was burning her. She was by no means weak though. In truth Kagome really did feel better than she had in her entire life. The whole world was alive. She could see and hear everything that moved. And the smells told her everything. She could literally smell the concern Inu-Yasha felt for her. Her skin tingled feeling the air currents shift around her subtly. It was like she had spent her whole life in a sensory deprivation tank and was suddenly released.
"Snap out of it Kagome" said Inu-Yasha, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her slightly.
Kagome blinked almost sleepily and looked Inu-Yasha right in the eyes. "Oh" she said, "hi Inu-Yasha". She was beginning to cool down now and the sensory overload dissipated with it, her altered mind automatically filtering out the irrelevant information.
Kagome leaned against Inu-Yasha and began purring again. Needless to say he was a little freaked out by her. She was acting like she was in heat or something. "Uh, Kagome?" he said.
Kagome looked up Inu-Yasha lazily and gave a non-committal "hmm?"
"Maybe we should get going" suggested Inu-Yasha, "we can't stay here for the rest of the night. Something might smell the blood and come to check it out". It was a lame excuse and he knew it but Kagome was too mixed up right now to really care.
Inu-Yasha guided Kagome back to the others and indicated they should leave. Realising that he wasn't in the mood for talking the others gathered up all the gear and headed out. Something that might have been jealousy crossed Miroku's face for a split second but he became rather interested in the sky when everyone except Kagome gave him a strange look. Kagome steadfastly refused to let go of Inu-Yasha and Kilala was just as adamant about going anywhere near the pair, or more specifically Kagome.
After a few hours of travelling the group settled down again to rest. Dawn was long since past but none of them had had enough sleep with Sesshoumaru showing up. Kagome for one reason or another still refused to let go of Inu-Yasha no matter how much he tried to coax her to do so. Even after she fell asleep again she refused to let go, if anything after a while she held on tighter.
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Kagome's dream
Kagome was once again back in the endless fields that represented her essense but now the demonic energy was almost tangible in the air and most of it was twisted and corrupted. The man in smoke was waiting there for her as usual though this time it was different. His cloak writhed around him looking like a nest of angry snakes and, judging by his voice, he was absolutely livid. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
Kagome yawned and scratched her head. "I don't know what your talking about" she said.
"This" said the man angrily sweeping his hand over the scene around them. "I told you not to give in. Do you have any idea what you have done?"
"Seems to me like I saved myself," said Kagome as she sat down and leaned against the crystal.
"Saved yourself?" sputtered the man, "you may have doomed us both you stupid girl". He started pacing angrily and started lecturing Kagome again but she wasn't really listening until he said, "when I chose you I never thought you would do something so foolish".
"Chose me?" asked Kagome. Then it occurred to her, the massive catlike aberration. It must have been him. "Your that thing that jumped at me aren't you?" she said.
"Yes that was me. I was so sure you were my salvation. Instead you have damned us both".
"So you're the demon from the prophecy," she said.
That got the man's attention. "Prophecy, what prophecy?" he said.
Briefly Kagome relayed what Sesshoumaru had said to them. The man listened looking grimmer by the second. "I had no idea," he said sitting down across from Kagome.
"How convenient for you" drawled Kagome, "truth be told I like the new me. Its very… refreshing".
"I'm sure it is" snarled the man.
"So" said a voice from around the side of the crystal, "you didn't know about the prophecy after all".
Both Kagome and the man spun toward the voice to see Sesshoumaru coming around. "What are you doing here" snarled Kagome.
"Calm yourself girl," said Sesshoumaru sitting down next to the two, "there is no point in getting angry. I merely came to talk. Besides you cannot harm me here".
Kagome reluctantly sat back down and eyed Sesshoumaru suspiciously. "How did you get here?" she asked, "were in my dream".
"I am projecting my mind here using tensaiga" explained Sesshoumaru, "but that is besides the point. I want to know more about our friend here". Sesshoumaru paused and looked at the man. "I assume that is some sort of disguise?"
"What if it is?" asked the man.
"I see no point in you holding it" said Sesshoumaru, "we all know who you are now".
The man hesitated before saying "very well". The smoke solidified into a flowing black cloak and the man's hands became slender and claws grew from the ends. He reached up with his free hand and threw back his hood. Kagome gasped when she saw his face. It was like looking into a mirror except for the green eyes and slightly more pronounced chin.
"Who are you?" stammered Kagome. Sesshoumaru just looked on as if he wasn't surprised at all.
"My name is Kenda" he said, "I am one of your ancestors. It was one of the reasons I chose you. An unexpected turn of events but fortunate nonetheless".
"So" said Sesshoumaru, "that is why the transformation progressed so rapidly and was so complete".
Kenda nodded. "Exactly. It was also why I thought Kagome would be the perfect vessel for me. Apparently I was wrong".
"Wait," said Kagome, "what do you mean vessal. Are you saing your soul is in my body?"
"That is exactly what I am saying," said Kenda, "but it is not possession".
"How is that possible?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"When a demon possesses someone they take control of the body pushing the current inhabitant back. Whether slowly or rapidly it does not matter. In my case I am the one confined at the back of the mind".
"I see" said Seeshoumaru nodding, "that makes sense".
"Wait," said Kagome, "If you can't do anything, how can you redeem yourself like you said earlier?" From the look on her face Kagome didn't really care what Happened to Kenda at this point but she was curious.
"You are on a quest to purge the world of something evil are you not?" said Kenda.
"I suppose you could put it that way," said Kagome.
"Well in offering you guidance and helping you become strong so you could complete this duty I would be, at least in part, redeemed and would find some measure of peace" explained Kenda. "But that is not possible now that you have given in to the side of your being that has been locked up thus far".
"It was only a matter of time," said Sesshoumaru, "she would have given in sooner or later".
"Yes, I see that now" said Kenda, "but the process was accelerated".
"Accelerated?" asked Sesshoumaru.
"Yes" said Kenda, "a little while ago a toxin was introduced into Kagomes system by someone named Naraku by way of a strange insect".
"The mosquito" said Kagome.
"Exactly" said Kenda, "The toxin sped up the Physical and mental changes and planted something else as well". At this Kenda looked straight at Kagome. "You will go to him willingly" he said, "sooner rather then later. And when you do all really will be lost".
Kagome snorted at this. "Right" she said, "like I would ever help Naraku".
"Don't be so sure girl" said Sesshoumaru, "you cannot handle your demon mind. Eventually you will give in to Naraku as you have given in to what you have become".
"He can't control me" snarled Kagome, "I would tear his head off if he tried".
"he does not need to control you" explained Kenda, "only offer you what you want. I wanted to warn you when he planted the toxin in your body but I had no time. I had to flee to prevent him from finding me".
"Finding you?" said Kagome, "wasn't that Naraku just a dream?"
Kenda shook his head before saying, "with all that has occurred in your dreams lately how could you possibly believe that? No my dear, Naraku forged a temporary connection just as Sesshoumaru has. The connection is broken now but the damage has been done"
The dreamscape began to blur then as Kagome began to wake up.
"Two more things" said Sesshoumaru, "Tensaiga said there was still hope. Is that possible?"
"Yes," admitted Kenda, "though it is slim".
Sesshoumaru nodded before continuing. Kagome was struggling to hold onto the dream because she wanted to know what Sesshoumaru wanted to ask. "Just out of curiosity" said Sesshoumaru, "can the transformation be reversed?"
"Unfortunately no" said Kenda, "maybe if Kagome had become a half demon. But no, she became a full demon. Her human body is no more. It would be like trying to, how should I put this, ah yes, un-fry an egg, it just isn't possible".
"I thought so," said Sesshoumaru, "I will take my leave when this dream ends".
"Good" said Kagome finally allowing the dream to slip away, "I don't want to be human again".
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"Interesting" said Sesshoumaru as he came out of his trance and retrieved the tensaiga. "Very interesting".
"Did you get what you need milord?" asked Jaken after Sesshoumaru had replaced the stone.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I should think so" he said, "come. We are leaving".
"Good" muttered Rin, "this place is creepy".
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Kagome opened her eyes to find that she was still clinging to Inu-Yasha and one more unexpected surprise. "Kouga?" she said looking confused, "what are you doing here?"
Author's notes
Wow. I thought for sure that it would be tomorrow before I got this posted. But I started writing it and just couldn't stop until I finished. Well its eleven thirty and I have school tomorrow so I have to go. oh and I may have to shift this story to an R rating soon depending on how things pan out. Ciao.
