Author's Note: I know I haven't updated in like forever, but that was because I had a major case of writer's block for this story, but now I've come up with a brilliant idea! So please review!
Chapter 9: Kyoto's Dark Secret
"I have to do it!" Kagome thought, tears streaming down her face "I've got to!"
Her eyes softened as her grip on the arrow loosened. "I'm so scared" she said, feeling herself grow weaker. The tension bomb was beginning to work its magic on her. She started breathing in a shallower manner as she struggled to keep herself from faltering "I don't want to leave him! I can't bear the thought of never being able to see him again! But, if I stay, it will only cause his death!"
"You are truly my reincarnation" a voice called from behind her. It was only too familiar to Kagome as she whirled around.
"Kikyo!" she said in alarm, eyeing the priestess through narrow eyes "how did you get in here?"
Kikyo did not respond, but merely looked past Kagome to the arrow, which she had dropped, lying on the floor behind her. "You are planning to sacrifice yourself for his sake aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes!" Kagome answered, hoping she at least sounded more confident than she felt, a hundred times more confident!
Kikyo merely smirked "you are willing to do it even knowing that in doing so, you are surrendering Inu Yasha to me?"
"Wrong!" Kagome shouted, standing "It just means that I'll be doing the same thing you did for him, you and I will finally have an equal chance."
"We would" Kikyo agreed smugly "if only I hadn't killed Urasue upon my rebirth, destroying any chance of her rebirthing any more priestesses."
Kagome's eyes widened, Kikyo was right, there was no more chances for her. After this, she would be gone forever! But even as she stood there, looking at Kikyo's smug smile, she couldn't help but wonder if this Kikyo was just another illusion made by her fears. After all, a similar occurrence had happened not too long ago, from which she had been saved by Inu Yasha. "I…I don't care!" she said, even though it pained her to do so "You can have him if you wish" a sharp pain stung her heart "just as long as he remains safe from Kyoto."
Kikyo merely began to laugh triumphantly "finally you give up the pointless battle!" she said proudly
"Leave me alone!" Kagome continued to shout "this time, I'm not listening to you! This time, I know you're not real!"
Kagome stared up at Kikyo, picking up the arrow she had previously dropped on the floor "this time…" she said, angrier than before "I'll listen to what my own heart tells me and not yours!"
She lifted the arrow; ready to plunge it into her heart "I'm not you!" she yelled "I never have been! You disgust me! To be you would be and insult!"
With that, she brought it down, feeling the pain of it searing her skin. She winced, falling to a kneel on the ground as she forced it farther into her body. What's this? she thought why aren't I dead yet? I should have been dead minutes ago!
But no matter how much she forced the arrow inside of her, her life force would not give out.
"I gotta admit, I had my doubts" said a female voice from above "but that Kyoto guy seems to know what he's doing."
Kagome looked up, the voice was not Kikyo's. In fact, she had disappeared, proving to Kagome that she really was an illusion. Instead this voice belonged to a blue haired, pale demon girl.
"H-how do you know Kyoto?" she said, grabbing at the arrow in her chest and sweating from the pain.
"I'm working for him as of late" the girl replied nonchalantly "he's a real nutcase, him and some other demon that wears a fluffy thing around his kimono came to me and my brother koru a while ago."
"Huh?" Kagome said, breathing heavily.
"Oh I'm sorry" the girl said, snapping her fingers "that arrow must hurt huh? I'll get rid of it."
Upon the snapping of her fingers, Kagome's arrow dissolved into thin air before her very eyes. "No!" she said, grasping for it as it faded away "that's not fair! I wanted to die!"
She looked up at the girl again, tears in her eyes "Why did you have to interfere?" she screamed angrily!
"Can't have you dead" the girl replied swooping down to Kagome's level "I got strict orders to bring you back alive."
"Idiot!" Kagome continued to shout "I'm not going anywhere with you or Kyoto! Forget it!"
"Wow you're rude" the girl said "usually, you're supposed to ask someone's name, not call them one."
Kagome was seething "Give me back my arrow right now!" she yelled.
"That arrow was just an illusion stupid, don't you get it?" the demon said with an incredulous tone "just like the Kikyo you saw. It was all part of the tension seal"
"T-tension seal?" Kagome asked.
"What's this? I think I've piqued you're interest" the girl smirked "unfortunately, I'm not supposed to tell you, that's Kyoto's job."
Kagome scowled "that is" the girl continued "if you'll come with me to him."
Kagome fumed, she hated irony, especially this kind "If I can find out what he's planning, I'll go with you!"
"You got it honey" the girl smiled, pulling the miko to her feet "the name's Kaoru by the way" she said as she snapped the fingers of the hand which wasn't holding Kagome's arm.
Kagome said nothing as the sensation following the snapping of the girl's fingers engulfed her. She felt as though a metal bar was pressing up against her, squeezing her until she found it very difficult to breathe. Panting, the sensation continued until suddenly, it stopped abruptly. Kagome found herself lying on the floor, breathing heavily. But at least the sensation was gone. In fact, it was as though it had never even occurred.
"Yeah the sensation kind of takes some getting used to" Kaoru told her "but at least you made it through, I was kind of worried."
Kagome refused to speak as she sat on the ground, eyeing her surroundings. She appeared to be in a big cave, its golden walls shone blindingly. So much so that Kagome had to squint to see. And in the middle of it all, was a tall tower-like throne. Sitting in it, was none other than Kyoto himself.
"Pretty nice work Kagome" Kyoto smirked "I didn't know you had such an imagination."
"What do you mean?" Kagome said angrily, not wanting to say more to the villain than she had to.
"Well, I put an enchantment on this cave" Kyoto said "it becomes whatever a person thinks of a certain hanyou we both know."
"What?" Kagome said, still confused.
"For example, since Kaoru does not know about Inu Yasha" Kyoto continued "the cave would be empty to her eyes."
Kagome merely scowled "but to yours, he is a high and mighty prince worthy of all the gold in the world."
"Then how can you see it?" Kagome said "your version of this cave must be different than my own!"
"Because Kagome" Kyoto said "I am in your mind"
Kagome clutched her head in disbelief "But I got out of your mind control! I know I did!" she said.
"You merely are able to keep me from controlling your heart and your body" Kyoto explained "but you haven't been able to get me out of your mind."
"Despicable…rotten…!" Kagome tried to think of an insult befitting of a fink of his level, but none came to mind.
"And do you know why?" Kyoto said in amusement at the girl's frustration "because you can't stop thinking about how I can harm Inu Yasha."
"What?" Kagome said.
"Ironic isn't it" Kyoto said with a smug smile "while you thought you were helping him all this time by deciding to kill yourself, you were actually leading me to you! The more you think of me as a threat, the more you open your mind to me, the more I can seep into your thoughts. It won't be long before I can once again gain control your heart, but that is all in good time."
Kagome frowned "You!" was all she could say to the man.
Kyoto merely chuckled "when you were doing all that thinking about killing yourself, I knew it was the time to strike. I couldn't let you die, I have to many plans for you."
"Why would you want me?" Kagome said fuming.
"Because you have power Kagome" Kyoto said "more power than anyone I have ever known."
"Power?" Kagome said "I'm not using miko power if that's what you want!"
"Not that kind of power Kagome" Kyoto said, still smiling.
"Then what power!" Kagome yelled up to him in frustration "I have no other strength!"
"Not all power can be seen Kagome" Kyoto said "the power that is felt by the heart can be much more immense than anyone might realize, that, Kagome, is the power I desire."
"What?" Kagome said confusedly.
"I thought that I was able to manipulate your power by controlling you" he said "but it seems you are too strong for even me. No, the only way to gain power of your stature is to have your heart."
"Right!" Kagome said sarcastically "like I would give my life to you."
"You already have Kagome" Kyoto laughed loudly "You already have!"
"What?" Kagome said.
"Lift up your sleeve on your left arm" Kyoto instructed.
Kagome did as she was told, but all she saw on her arm was a tiny Japanese symbol "What is this?" she said, she had never seen it before.
"That, is a tension seal" Kyoto said "ever wondered why you kept seeing visions of Kikyo?"
"This thing created them?" Kagome said.
"No, that was your doing" Kyoto said "the tension seal merely helped you to realize your true fears and showed them to you by using the strength in your heart."
"I don't get it" Kagome said "how is this giving you my life?"
"Because Kagome, how long do you think a human can take seeing their worst fears become reality?" Kyoto asked her.
Kagome's eyes widened as he continued "each time you see them, a bit of your soul fades away, the more elaborate the illusion, the more of your soul is taken. You Kagome are almost dead as we speak!"
"NO!" Kagome said "I don't want to die!"
"But, I thought you did" Kyoto said with a chuckle "why the change of heart?"
"I won't surrender my heart to you!" Kagome said "whatever power it is I possess I won't let you have it."
"Not even for the sake of Inu Yasha?" Kyoto asked her.
"What?" Kagome said.
"I can help you Kagome" Kyoto said "I can make it so you won't have to die. But it comes at a price."
"What is it?" Kagome said.
Kyoto chuckled as a bright light surrounded his body.
Author's note: there's your chappie! Have fun! See you next update! Peace!