Author's Note:
This didn't take too much time to get out. I apologize for the shortness, but I had to maintain the cliffhanger. You see, this is everything to just before chapter twenty one. Eight chapters, where twenty once were. That's incredible…not. The really short chapters from before shame me.
Dark Lineage
Shade Eight
"You are joking. Please say that you are joking. Kagome is not dead." Sango said over and over again. Each time, Inuyasha pointed his clawed finger at Kagome's body. She seemed to be preserved, her face becoming paler, her blood richer. It had stopped making its way out of the small gash by this time, however.
Miroku was dry-eyed and calm, although his emotions were betrayed by the shaking of his hands.
"Where should we bury her? Or should we keep her preserved?"
"We are not going to pile her under some worm-infested dirt! We are going to entomb her in a tomb of stone, if anything." Inuyasha protested in an insane manner.
Miroku raised his eyebrows.
"Who is going to bring the stone here? And what exactly is her mother going to say about the death of her only daughter? And what exactly is she going to tell the educators of Kagome's time? Have you considered any of this yet, oh rash-headed friend?"
Inuyasha growled with frustration, and hissed,
"Mitsuko is going to help me, her mother already knows, and we'll think of something to tell the school." He was blatantly lying, and everyone could tell.
Tossing his head, Miroku then remarked,
"Mitsuko left two hours ago. Some more urgent business, I presume. For some reason, I feel nothing about that attractive woman, only blind indifference." For a moment, his face cleared and sorrow was seen. "It is as if my emotions have been trapped, and yet, I feel them."
"Apparently, your intelligence hasn't." shot Sango, her tears soaking the top of her kimono. Kirara had jumped out of her arms long before; her fur had been getting wet as well. Kaede offered a piece of fabric to her.
"Feh. I am going to discuss something with Kagome's mother. Find Shippo while I'm gone, will ya? The little shrimp's been missing long enough."
Miroku and Sango exchanged glances. Inuyasha's more sensitive side was coming to light.
Inuyasha leapt out of the well and reached for the door.
It slid open on its own, revealing Mrs. Higurashi.
"Inuyasha! I was hoping that you'd happen by. I have no idea what you were thinking, playing that nasty joke. I don't like crying, as you should know. No one does."
Inuyasha leaned back. "What joke are you talking about, woman?"
"You told me that Kagome was dead!" she shouted, her hands on her hips, her eyes turning red at the edges. She made a very scary picture, but the hanyou held his ground.
"She is! I saw her with me own eyes!" he shouted back.
"Oh yeah?" she said, crossing her arms. "Kagome, would you come here for a moment?"
A girl stepped into the house and gaped at Inuyasha.
"My, are those ears real?" she asked, tugging on them. Inuyasha gaped at the familiar girl dressed in her uniform. He didn't even move from her hands.
"I don't want to see you again. Kagome has suffered amnesia, and obviously doesn't remember you or anyone else. She is staying here. I don't know what I was thinking, letting her go on all of those 'adventures' with you barbarians. To make sure you stay away, I'm sealing the well!" her mother, shoved Inuyasha back down the well and slammed the lid on, placing a prayer on it. She nodded to Kagome, who looked confused. When her daughter didn't do anything, she slammed her hand on, and a blue glow covered the seal. Binds of light held the lid shut.
Kagome twirled her noodles around. Who was that sweet white-haired boy? Why had mother gotten so angry? It was strange; mother never said that the well was a time-transport. When had that happened?
"Kagome, you're going to be late for school." Souta said, handing her a backpack with a bit of trouble. It was loaded with homework.
'That's funny; I don't remember doing this work.' She paused at the door.
'Is there something wrong with me? Is there something I'm missing?'
"Kagome! The bell is going to ring! We've got to get to homeroom!" yelled Kagura, waving furiously and pointing in the direction of the school.
'Kagura, I know her from somewhere else, too. Maybe she knows what is happening.' Kagome hurried down the steps and joined her friend.
'How did she seal the well? Her grandfather was supposed to be the only one besides Kagome with any miko powers at all. How am I going to turn into a full-blooded youkai without her to find shards for me?!'
"Still wondering about her mom, Inuyasha?" asked Miroku. Sniffing, he finished sarcastically, "I'm sure that in a fit of confusion, she dug up the power from deep within her blood. Or maybe, it was there to begin with and she fooled you."
Sango walked in silence. They knew the location of three more shards, but after that, without Kagome, finding shards would be a chore and a very difficult task. If only she could be brought back to life…or the new future one brought back to the past. Inuyasha had told them of the new human in the future, when he described the said incident.
A demon erased all thoughts of Kagome and the shards. Well, thoughts of Kagome were gone, the five shards in its forehead didn't chase away thoughts of the Shikon no Tama.
The shards were arranged in an artistic pattern, / . (Sound familiar?)
Lowering their gazes to the actual features of the face, they saw that the demon was female, with yellow eyes. She smiled, her small mouth moving only slightly.
"Inuyasha, is it? I am sure that the reason for your fascination is because of my resemblance to Mitsuko. Ah well, my twin often finds her way to the hot guys first. She even got a better name than I…Mitsuko can be shortened in so many ways, while Akira can only be murmured in times of danger. And it's a masculine name, no less! She was always way too fast for her own good…But now, enough with the pleasantries. Let us fight!" she brandished her long pike. It was headed with a sharp barbed skull. The whole weapon resembled a swordfish. Despite its comical look, no one dared laugh.
Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga, and Kirara transformed. Before the battle had truly begun, Miroku tossed a bunch of prayers into the air, transfixing both demons. They had not the power to do that on their own, but it did serve to attract their attention.
"If you are truly Mitsuko's twin, you may know of her whereabouts. We have reason to suspect that she is the one behind our friend's death."
The demon laughed.
"Do you think that my sister would be that obvious? We have something in common: covering our tracks with blood. You won't find her unless the master wishes it! Since you've already discovered my purpose, I suppose we won't be able to fight today." She laughed once more, and flung down something from her hand. Shimmering away, she said finally, "A little hint: Naraku has been reforming the essences of the Shikon no Tama. You would do well to remember this, and not all that glitters is a shard."
The demoness shimmered away, and nodded in satisfaction. Her little act had worked quite well.
A wave of a hand brought clouds of blue mist around the little kitsune, who was slumbering peacefully.
"Shippo, how do you feel?" asked a gentle voice.
"I'm okay. Are you Kagome?" he asked, the mist beginning to affect his senses.
"You must be mistaken. I am called Kimo. However, I can bring you to your mother. Would you like me to do that?"
"Yes please!" Shippo said eagerly, standing up.
"Then follow me. Remember that not everything is free. You must do something for me before I can find your mother for you."
Thoroughly taken over by the mist, Shippo followed Kimo in a drunken state, agreeing completely.
"…and that is why you did not remember. You must also keep in mind that what I have told you is what I know, you may have experienced other events and feelings, etc." Finished Kagura, sipping her tea and watching Kagome's face.
"You must be kidding me. I couldn't possibly be a miko, and I would definitely not commit suicide by rushing on a demon's sword point. And even if I did believe this, I don't understand why or how I was brought back here to this time. Not only that, I doubt that if I had lost my memories so soon, drama lines would dictate that I regain them only after a long period of time, for suspense. It is all quite illogical."
"There, you have just proven that you do believe what I have told you. And for now, you do not need to understand anything besides the fact that Naraku is the least of your worries. Go back to the past, and go to Inuyasha. He won't ask any questions if he knows what's good for him, and it would be good if you didn't encourage doubt." Kagura advised. She waved her hand, shooing Kagome in the direction of home.
"Good luck!"
Kagome looked back, uncertain. She knew she would go on, and see if she could figure out her life.
"Please inform the Nanashi that I cannot make it to her meeting. I have urgent plans that cannot be left unsupervised." Ordered the Nobu. Kieoko bowed with a hidden smile. She left the room, certain that she knew what was going to happen.
The Nobu sat back and sipped his wine. He waved for the servant to pour Naraku some. Naraku was at ease with Onigumo's childhood friend. He was also eager to see how the machinations of the master would work out.
Sure enough, after a few minutes, the Nanashi burst into his chamber. She was out of breath and not quite as dignified as one of her station and rank should be. Her hair was in her face, but she quickly composed herself. She tucked a strand of hair behind a ear and asked in a dangerously low voice,
"Did it occur to you that I might have a reason for meeting you at that precise moment? That I wasn't the only one waiting for your appearance?"
He considered her, and answered,
"Of course, my dear. I know that you have several Nobu replacements in your chambers…and you wanted me to be surprised and taken off guard. Naraku informed me." He gestured in Naraku's direction.
She spun around until her gaze rested on Naraku, who had been up to that time half-hidden behind the plant. He now moved into the light, his eyes lighting up with tainted mirth. She advanced on him. His sneer began to fade.
"Did you think that I might want him to evaluate my personal guard?" she whispered into his ear. Her fingernails began to extend and sharpen into points. She crawled her fingers up to where his heart would be located. This would have been seductive, were it not for those dangerous points.
"Naraku told me, but I knew beforehand, sister. You possibly hope to carry out a plan that will affect me without my knowledge. One of your candidates is my spy, if you wish. He reports many things that I might have overlooked, such as the beauty of your neck. However, these things are as they say, 'small potatoes', the fact that each of your lovers possesses a strength…"
"But sister, I may have found out in time anyway. I would let this go, if it were not for the fact that this is the most intricate plan I have ever seen. I want to see how you will carry this out. Your memory will be erased, and several triggers placed." Even as he spoke, white spheres floated out of the Nanashi's body. She gasped.
Naraku took one and placed it in his spider burn mark. The Nobu placed one on the inside of the door, and gathered the rest.
"When your plan is almost complete…and the final stroke is all that is needed, you will remember and weep." Naraku stared at the display of power. He knew that the Nobu was far stronger, but hadn't imagined that his strength could extend to these limits.
He left, and after a few minutes passed, events happened again.
The Nanashi strolled into the Nobu's outer chamber.
"The meeting went fine without you brother, but it would have been a lot better if you had been there." She said, irritated. Her brother only nodded and smiled, as if to an idiot.
"Kimo, if you wish to know your past, you must admit that you are a dark miko." Repeated the tired demon for the millionth time. The Nobu had put him in charge of controlling the miko, and she really wasn't cooperating. Kimo only shook her head once again, and went back to fashioning her arrows from cedar wood. She wanted to know who she had been, but there was something telling her that she wasn't truly a dark miko, and she shouldn't admit it to anyone or anything. Sure, her new mentor had said she was and he was usually right, but mikos weren't allowed to love. She was already in love…with an image from her past.
The door opened, and they both looked up to see the newcomer.
"Hello Kimo, the Nobu sent me to fetch you. He says you're going to work on your mind powers."
Kimo frowned at him. There was something familiar about the face and the scar at the side of one cheek.
"Who are you?" she asked her eyes intensely focused on his face.
"Yes, he did say that your memories had not returned fully yet. I am Tetsaki, an incarnation of our favorite hanyou, Naraku. Do you remember him?"
Kimo wrinkled her brow in concentration. There were so many faces and not enough names. However, one face leapt out at her. More than one actually; a white baboon, a mummified evil, and a dark-haired youth. All reminded her of a spider. She inquired about this.
Tetsaki nodded, and remarked, "I see that you really are remembering. Naraku, Onigumo, and his current body are all one and the same. I suppose I can tell you some of his history."
But definitely not all, you play too big a part in his life to be described to yourself again. He proceeded to explain all of the occurrences of Naraku's life.
Kimo nodded every once in a while, the explanation and telling reforming themselves in her mind, placing themselves into individual files.
Kagome hurried down the stairs to the shrine. Her mother's ward was still there. She wondered why, she had never known her mother to possess this sort of power. She gingerly removed the scroll and removed the cover. Shutting her eyes, she slid in. Instantly a blue light filled the space around her and she got a floating feeling.
The air settled down and she found herself looking up at blue sky.
'I guess Kagura was right. Well, let's go.'
Kagome climbed out of the well, grasping the vines weakly.
'Wow, this is so familiar, even this weakness.'
Sango glanced over in Inuyasha's direction. He had been very irritable lately; without Kagome sensing and directing them to the shards they had not collected any. This just gave Naraku an opportunity to get all of them. Not only that, Shippo was missing and had been missing for a while. There weren't enough worrying spaces in her brain to worry over all of this.
Abruptly he stood up.
"I'm going to the well to see if it's still sealed. Are you coming?" Miroku and Sango exchanged glances, and then nodded. It wouldn't hurt, however unlikely.
They made their way to the field. The hanyou began sniffing the air, his face twisted in an unreadable expression.
"Okay Shippo, you know what to do now?"
"Yes, Kagome, I do. I have to go to Inuyasha and get the rest of the shards that he has. Then, I give Kirara this cake because she's my friend and she deserves it. I also give Miroku this scarf and say I got it from you. Then, we're playing a game so I have to run away from them and towards you." Shippo said gleefully, smiling the whole time at Kimo. She smiled back and said gently,
"Yes, that's right. We'll begin this game soon. Wait for my signal. Go play for now." Shippo ran outside and Kimo stood up. She had tried many times to get her to call her by her name, and not the name of the girl he thought she was. She hadn't succeeded, and so just left things as they were.
"Do you think he will stay under the spell long enough? There is much to be done, and we cannot risk letting him loose beforehand. Are you sure he is the one to be trusted with all of this?"
Kimo sighed and stared at the speaker. It was another dark miko, one of the younger ones. He was lucky, first mission with the best miko ever! He had remained nameless, probably to protect him from her wrath when he fumbled their plan. He ignored her scoff, and thought back to what the Nobu had warned him of.
"Make sure that she does not recognize Inuyasha and the others. It could possibly ruin all of our plans. Everything will fall upon you to keep us safe. Even I cannot predict all that will happen, and can only take precautions against the things I think will happen. Don't falter."
"Yes sir, you can count on me."
"Come Shippo, let's begin. Don't forget anything, or else I won't be able to feed you again."
Inuyasha stopped, letting Miroku and then Sango run into him. He had stopped so abruptly that they all overbalanced and collapsed in a pile of limbs.
"Kagome…" he whispered from the bottom, paying no attention to the groans from up above him, nor to the slaps that started to occur.
Author's Note:
Nothing to say, just to review, if you do read. Oh yes, I realized that a miko should be a female, but play along, will ya? I'll change it to monk later, but the overall thing is still going to be called 'miko'. Thank you for understanding.