Innocent Resentment
"The feelings of those with stolen light"

Chapter 6 - Pitch Black

"Ayumi." Kagome watched her friend with fearful horror. "What happened to Hojo?' A chill settled over her at her friend's stony silent. "Ayumi what did you do?"

Ayumi turned blazing eyes in Kagome's direction again and a gasp escaped her. "It's your fault!" The girl accused angrily. "All yours! You did this!"

What was going on? This couldn't be Ayumi. Ayumi would never do anything like this. What was going on? Had Ayumi been processed? Kagome remained still watching her friend glare, scared at the dangerous aura her friend projected. Kagome hesitated then took a tentive step forward.

"Ayumi this isn't you. What ever…what ever's done this to you, you can fight it!" Kagome silently wished Inuyasha was here. Or Miroku. If Ayumi really was processed he'd be able to exorcise it.

"Not…me…" Ayumi's voice wavered and sounded broken. They scythe in her hands shimmered for a moment and Kagome felt hope blossom.

"You have to come down Ayumi. We have to get Hojo to a hospital."

It was the wrong thing to say. Kagome realized that the instant after she spoke. Ayumi's eyes chilled and froze again and the scythe flashed solid black in the carnation sunlight. Ayumi's grip tightened around it.

"Hojo. This is all you're fault." Ayumi screamed as she launched at Kagome, sweeping the scythe out sharply in an arc. Kagome screamed and threw herself out of the way of the sweeping blade. Ayumi rounded sharply, "You never wanted him!" Ayumi lunged again and Kagome jumped to the side, felt the tip of the arced blade sweep over her shoulder, tearing her uniform and slicing into skin. "You never even looked twice at him but all he saw was you."

"Ayumi."

"He never saw me." Ayumi shook her head frantically, facing Kagome off with the scythe in hand, silver tip of the blade stained crimson with Kagome's blood. Her head was lowered, dark locks hiding her face. "He looked right threw me. And I…I was able to bear it. I could stand that he loved you because I thought you loved him too." Ayumi lifted her head "But you didn't!"

She jumped, straight up and brought the scythe down. Kagome moved backwards quickly, able to avoid the downward slash but a gasp of pain escaped her as Ayumi set her feet and threw her self to the slide, slashing outward and raking Kagome over the hip with it. Kagome stumbled and fell to her knees.

"You were to obsessed with this mystery man. This bad boy who was no god for you! Who you would barely tell us anything about." Ayumi pushed up from the ground to her feet, rising slowly, her eyes dark and brimming with a blend of anger and sorrow. "But even with that you still wouldn't let me have him."

"Ayumi." Kagome murmured again. Ayumi had been in love with Hojo all this time. Why hadn't she said anything?

Ayumi walked towards Kagome's crumpled form slowly. "As long as you weren't there I had a chance. I hated it every time you came back. You stole everything away from me! And I hated myself for feeling that way!"

"Ayumi." Kagome shook her head as tears brimmed in her eyes. "You never said anything. That's not fair?"

"How could I?" Ayumi stood over her now, dark, lifeless eyes staring down devoid of anything even resembling mercy. "What good would it do? He'll never love anyone but you. But…but if your gone… If you're gone then you can't hurt him. And I won't hurt." Ayumi lifted the scythe. "Goodbye Kagome."

Kagome looked up at the silver blade poised above her. Ayumi… If Ayumi loved Hojo. "Will this help Ayumi?"

The blade stopped.

"Will Hojo love you after you've done this?" Kagome struggled to her feet slowly, shakily. "I can't…I can't help the way someone else feels. But that's all right. Because…if I had known I would have helped you."

"No!"

Kagome saw that blade look in Ayumi's eyes faltered and hope stirred again tentivly. "If you really love him Ayumi you wouldn't do this. You're a great person. And if you just try…if you just talk to him he'd see it too."

Ayumi shook her head, nervous doubt replacing anger and sadness. "He never sees me!"

"But you never try to catch his attention either Ayumi. How can he know you even want him to if you never say anything? You have to try. You won't get anywhere if you stand in the background."

Ayumi's eyes wavered and danced as if she were trying to hold something in. "That's not fair."

Kagome offered a shaky smile and tried to straighten despite the pain in her shoulder and side. She felt the cool brush of blood trickle down her leg at the movement but ignored it; lifting her hand despite the pain it caused and extended it to Ayumi. "Just try first Ayumi. Please try."

Ayumi stared at Kagome's hand and then a tear rolled down her cheek. There was the sound of something shattering and the black scythe exploded into shimmered scarlet dust that coated the air as it fell. Kagome gasped in surprise and whirled, turning back just in time to see Ayumi collapse to the ground.

"Ayumi!" She crossed over to the friend's side quickly and stooped down next to her. "Ayumi! Wake up." She tugged at her friend's sleeve with concern, worry in her eyes dimming as Ayumi's chest began to rise and fall steadily. She sighed in soft relief. "Ayumi."

Then the sound of clapping interrupted her reassurance, slow and even and accompanied by a honey voice. "Nicely done. But then, it was a very weak seed."

Kagome turned to look at the blonde haired girl who stood at the entrance to the roof. The girl smiled, hands clasped behind her back sweetly, blue eyes sparkling dangerously. A light wind stirred, blowing her short locks over her eyes.

"Who are you?" Kagome questioned and then something clicked "You! You're the demon who possessed Ayumi!" Kagome rose to her feet angrily. "Why did you do this?"

The girl shrugged. "It was Naraku's wish."

"Naraku?"

The girl nodded and smiled again. "I think it's a wonderful game."

"A game! Toying with people's feelings isn't a game!" Kagome screamed angrily. "I won't forgive you for this!"

The girl glared. "If you wish to point fingers I suggest you include yourself as well. If it wasn't for you there would have been nothing there for me to manipulate." She leaned back against the wall. "You can call me Discord." She dropped her arms and walked across the roof to the ledge. "You'll be seeing my brother, Strife, and I again."

A silver haired man appeared floating just off the roof edge and Discord smiled then stepped off into his arms. Discord laughed softly, her giggle fading long after she and Strife did. Kagome watched the air they'd occupied only moments ago.

Discord and Strife. Incarnations of Naraku. But how had they gotten into her time? Kagome turned at the soft groan from the ground and whirled to find Ayumi stirring faintly. Kagome gasped.

"I almost forgot! Ayumi! Hojo!" Kagome turned to hurry back to the pair but paused at something in the corner of her eye. On a small pile of the crimson dust the scythe hat shattered into laid a fully blossomed red rose. Kagome walked over slowly and reached a hand down to brush her fingers over the flower. The moment her fingers touched the petals, however, it shriveled into a black bud, crumbling into onyx dust, the swirled away by a breeze.