Speaking Through Dreams
IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS CHAPTER IS FAIRLY GRAPHIC, EVEN FOR ME. THEREFOR THIS CHAPTER IS RATEDT+ (little less than M, but not much) FOR GORE AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE UNTILL THE MESSAGE THAT IT'S OVER
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. No profit is being made off of this story, so please don't sue me; I have no money.
Japanese Words in this Chapter:
Hanyou: half demon
Houshi: a low rank of Buddhist monk; often a wandering one, with combat training
Taijiya: demon slayer
Youkai: demon
Arigato: Thank you
Baka: stupid/idiot
Chapter 4: Bloodlust and the Second Message
"What do you want with me?" Kagome all but shouted at Kikyo. She was breathing heavily and her heart was pounding in her throat. She didn't know how Kikyo had been moving around like that, or how she had even known about the well in the first place. Kagome was past freaking out; she was downright hysterical.
"What do you mean?" Kikyo answered in a dull voice that sounded like she didn't really care what the answer was.
"Why were you in my world? Why were you chasing me? How were you teleporting? How did you get back here before me? And why are you smiling?" Kikyo had an icy smirk on her face. The kind that says "I know something you don't know, and I'm not telling you what it is".
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I was merely passing by when I noticed the presence of a hanyou. So where is he, where's my Inuyasha?" Kikyo answered with a heartless, smug voice. However, when she saw tears start rolling down Kagome's cheek from down-cast eyes, her smirk started melting into a frown.
"He's dead." Kagome answered in barely a whisper. Her ears were flat against her head, face down, and her overall appearance looked like she was being weighed down by her own grief. Kikyo had just broken open a dam of emotions that Kagome had been trying to keep closed for a month. "There was a battle with Naraku. He sacrificed himself…to save, me." Kagome collapsed to the ground, unable to support her own weight anymore. Tears were pouring out of her eyes now and she could no longer find her voice.
Kikyo's eyes were wide with shock. This wasn't supposed to happen. Inuyasha was supposed to give his life to her, not that wench. But wait, if it wasn't Inuyasha that she had sensed, then…
It was then that Kikyo noticed that changes in her reincarnation. "You wretch! You have poisoned my pure soul!" Kikyo yelled as her expression went from shocked to furious. "I can't believe you would stoop so low as to become a hanyou!"
"But you don't understand!" Kagome pleaded. "I had no choice! I…"
"Save it, you piece of hanyou filth!" Kikyo spat on Kagome, who had a look of shock and hurt written in her watery eyes. "Inuyasha should have been mine, but you stole him from me! I bet you let Naraku attack you on purpose so that Inuyasha would die! You are a liar and a disgrace. I will not allow such a monstrosity to live!" With that Kikyo whipped out her bow and notched an arrow. "Die half-breed!" And Kikyo fired the arrow.
Kagome was in pain from Kikyo's assault on her heart, and barely dodged the arrow.
'Anger, pride! How dare she talk about you like that! And then try to kill you! Anger, rage, fury! You're in no condition to fight right now Kagome; I'll take care of her.'
…
Kagome's eyes started to glow red as Kikyo fired another arrow at her, but this time she dodged it with ease and leapt out of sight. Before Kikyo could grab another arrow, Kagome had dropped down from above her, snapped her bow in half and grabbed Kikyo by the neck, starring at her with her blood red eyes. But before Kikyo could retaliate, Kagome had thrown her into a tree.
"You'll pay for that." Kikyo said. As she stood up. She sounded like she wasn't scarred, but Kagome could clearly smell fear radiating off her; it was making her hungry. 'Pleasure.' Kikyo looked into Kagome's eyes, and a chill colder than her non-existent heart made its way down her spine. She had believed that Kagome was incapable of killing another human, but the color of her eyes told her otherwise. Her eyes told her exactly what Kagome wanted at that moment. What she was lusting for.
They were the color of blood.
Taking a step back, Kikyo watched as the former hanyou, her reincarnation, sniffed the air, then lowered her thirsty gaze back to Kikyo's face. Kagome let out a rumbling growl that quickly became a roar as she lunged at her, claws extended and aimed for her throat.
Kagome snarled out her rage as she leapt for the woman who smelled of death. Something was telling her to stop, but this woman had insulted her, weakened her, attacked her, chased her, and cornered her. She would get revenge.
With a roar of pure burning hatred, Kagome plunged her claws into Kikyo's throat. She was expecting soft flesh, but instead was meat with hard clay. Her body was frail and brittle, and broke easily when she applied pressure against her. Kagome was even angrier with this, since she did not get the blood she wished. 'Hunger, rage!' This woman had tried to draw blood, therefore she wanted to draw blood from her. But this woman had no blood!
Growling in frustration, Kagome lashed out again, catching her low in her stomach with her claws and ripping up towards her chest. More dirt met Kagome's efforts, and she finally got tired of playing with the woman who held no blood. 'Frustration, annoyance.' She was trying to fight back, Kagome could feel the shocks from Kikyo's miko energy blasting into her, but she didn't care. She was too intent on this kill. More than any other right now, she wanted this person dead.
Kagome ran at her again, knocking her bow from her hands and slamming her against the same tree she had hit before. She gasped out in fear and pain, surprised that Kagome could move as fast as she did; she had truly underestimated her. Kikyo's eyes widened as she felt Kagome grab the top of her head, still looking into her eyes with those blood-red orbs, and her vision turned slightly before everything went black.After twisting Kikyou's head all the way around on her shoulders, the cuts she had received started glow purple before turning to white, and in a sudden burst of light, dozens of white orbs that represented the souls of little girls stolen to keep Kikyo alive exploded out of her body and flew out in all directions. When the last of the souls escaped their prison, Kikyo's body crumbled into a pile of dust.
(A/N: The next part is very gory. Those of you who are squeamish or insulted/offended by such material should plug their ears and close their eyes)
Frustrated by the fact that that woman had no blood, Kagome sniffed the air, searching for more humans. There seemed to be a nest of them near by, so she ran off in the direction from which the smell came. Eventually she came across her first prey, a male and a female on the outskirts of the nest. She followed the smell and, coming up behind them, dug her claws into their backs, enjoying the feeling of warm blood flowing onto her hands.
The humans yelled in surprise and pain, but this only served to fuel her appetite. With a smirk of satisfaction, Kagome ripped open their backs, taking a few internal organs with her. The smell of blood filled her nose and she inhaled deeply. Taking the female first, Kagome stuck her head near the in the opening that she had made in the back and sank her fangs in, savoring the sweet taste of flesh and the warm metallic blood. Kagome ripped off a chunk of flesh and swallowed it before diving in again for another bite.
The human was screaming and wriggling in pain and a vain attempt to get away; Kagome was enjoying herself greatly. The taste and feel of warm blood all over her face and claws was most pleasing to her as she drank and ate to her hearts content. The human's continued struggle was becoming an annoyance now, so Kagome ripped her arms and legs off, shivers of pleasure running down her spine when she heard the popping and cracking of breaking bones.
Satisfied with the female, Kagome snapped her neck so that she could save it for later. The male, who had effectively crawled a good hundred meters away by now in a vain attempt of escape, yelled out in agony when Kagome dug her claws into his neck. The scream of pain was music to Kagome's ears and she loved the smell of the fresh blood pouring out. It drove her crazy and she couldn't think of anything but how good it would taste. The male let out another yell, causing Kagome's stomach to rumble in anticipation, her blood tingling in her veins. But somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, the yell reached past her youkai instincts and made it to her human mind. Kagome recognized the voice as Miroku's, and this snapped her out of the trance she was in.
(A/N: Ok, you can open them now)
Kagome looked down to see Sango's and Miroku's bloody bodies at her feet, their blood covering her hands and the taste of it in her mouth. Her eyes went wide in fear and disbelief as what she had just done registered in her mind.
No. NO! NOOOO! This isn't happening, this isn't happening! Oh Kami, please, please, please, tell me I didn't do that! Kagome felt like she was going to throw up as she eyed the wounds on their bodies that were most obviously bite wounds. Oh Kami, oh Kami, oh Kami! This can't be happening! I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening. I didn't do what I think I just did.
Kagome turned away from the sight before her, and sat with her back against the nearest tree. Hugging her knees and rocking back and forth, Kagome's mind went to pieces. She was too shocked to do anything except sit there with wide eyes, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, trying to convince herself that that hadn't just happened.
"I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening. I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening." Kagome mumbled to herself, tears running down her face. "I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening." She could hear people approaching, but she didn't care. "I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening."
"Kagome-sama, where are you?"
"I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening. I didn't do what I think I just did. Nope, not happening."
"Kagome-chan are you alright? Kago—Miroku, Shippo, Kirara! Over here, I found her!"
Kagome looked up to see Sango running towards her, followed by Miroku, and Shippo on Kirara. But that's impossible. I just killed them!
"Kagome-chan! What's wrong?" Sango came running up to Kagome. She had heard Kikyo's cry and came to investigate it. When she arrived she saw that Miroku had come also, and was standing over a pile of dust. They had agreed to split up and look for Kagome; Shippo would go with Kirara, and Sango and Miroku would go by themselves.
"You can't be here!" Kagome yelled. Here face was contorted and she was crying. Her hair was all undone and she looked like she being crushed under her own grief and pain. "I just killed you! This is impossible!" She started backing away from them, like she was seeing ghosts.
"Sango," Miroku whispered, "do you have any idea what she is talking about?" "No, not a clue" Sango answered. Kagome, who had heard their whispering, pointed to an area in the forest.
"Right there! I just killed you and your bodies are right…" Kagome looked over to where she remembered their bodies laying to see nothing. "there…" They were gone without a trace. She couldn't even smell their blood.
"Kagome-sama, please tell us what you are talking about. We are at a loss." Miroku said, laying a calming hand on Kagome's shoulder. She motioned for them to sit down, then recounted everything that had happened that day. From the well not working the first time, to Kikyo's stalking her in her own time and eventual death, and finally what she thought her youkai blood had made her do. When she finished, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo had looks of concern on their faces.
"That's scary, Kagome." Shippo said in a slightly quivering voice.
"I agree." Miroku said. "It seems to me that your mind is so tired and stressed, that it is starting make things up. I do not know what is happening to you, but I think it would be advisable to give Toutousai a visit, now that we aren't being attacked by youkai every hour."
"I agree. Maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. Or maybe these instincts of yours are just getting out of hand and affecting the way you think. Yes, visiting Toutousai would definitely be a good idea. Kagome-chan, do you feel up to it?" Sango asked.
Kagome just nodded with a small smile on her face and they started setting up a camp; it was getting late. So much for three days of rest. Thanks a lot. 'Hey, don't blame your instincts; that was your fault baka. You're the one who blanked out. If it weren't for your instincts you'd be dead right now.' Well that may be so, but you're still going to Toutousai's about them. 'Feh, go ahead, he can't help. Just wait and see what happens.'
Kagome sighed and, leaning her head back against the tree she was sitting against, fell asleep.
Kagome was at peace. The pain in her neck was gone. Was it there before? It must have been; she simply hadn't noticed it. Sometimes pains are like that. Something hurts for so long that you stop noticing it until it stops.
"The girl appears to be stabilizing." Said an unknown voice. It seemed relieved about something.
"That's good news. We almost lost her there."
What are they talking about?
"Let me see Kagome!"
That sounds like Inuyasha!
Kagome opened her eye's to see Inuyasha sitting in front of her.
"Hey, Kagome! Here, I got these for you" Inuyasha gently opened Kagome's hands and gave her a pair of prayer beads.
"Arigato Inuyasha! But aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"Aren't Sango and Miroku supposed to be dead? Of course I'm alive, baka! What, you thought you could get rid of me that easily?"
"But, Miroku and Sango think I'm just going crazy. They think I'm just seeing things out of guilt."
"If I'm dead, then how are we talking?"
"I guess you have a point there Inuyasha. So where have you been for the past month? If you were alive, then why didn't you come looking for me?"
"Because I couldn't. And technically I can't right now either."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not actually here right now. My spirit is just visiting you so that I can tell you how you can see me again."
"You mean, I can actually revive you! I can get you back and see you again?"
"Feh, of course baka, what'd you think I meant? Oh yea! Before I forget, don't bother trying to see Toutousai. That old fart wouldn't know how to seal your youkai blood if he had the instructions right in front of him."
"But then, what do I do about my youkai blood?"
"Well, I suppose I could just teach you how to control it when you see me again."
"Really! Oh, arigato Inuyasha. Arigato so much! So how do I revive you?"
All of a sudden Inuyasha's face grew very serious, almost anxious. "It's easy," He put his hands on her shoulders, "all you have to do is wake up!"
"Wake up, what are you talking about? I am awake."
Kagome opened her eyes suddenly, like pulled her from her dream abruptly. I guess it was just a dream. Maybe you are going crazy. After all, you keep dreaming of reviving him. The though that he was really gone forever made Kagome's eyes start welling up again, but she refused to cry. Crying was a sign of weakness that would be exploited by other youkai. She clenched her fists to keep her emotions in check. But as she clenched them, she felt something in her hand. Looking down, Kagome saw the prayer beads that Inuyasha had given her in her dream.
A/N: Yes, I am very mean. But I hope you all enjoyed this chapter all the same. To those of you who were offended by the graphicness of this chapter, I'm sorry, and Ipromise this is the only chapter like that. To those of you who enjoy that sort of thing...you're welcome. But in all seriousness, I am very proud of this chapter (you would have to read it in its unedited form to understand; the improvement is phenomonal). The next few chapters will be mostly action, so if you like that, review and you'll get it sooner. Also, I will be moving into my college dorm tomorrow, and all next week I have band camp. So if a new chapter isn't posted imediatly after the reviews are in, don't worry. It will be coming shortly. Wish me luck at college!
Preview Chapter 5, The Second Coming:
"Kagome-sama, how is this possible? We all saw Inuyasha die. Unless he is a ghost or a specter of some sort, there is now way that you could have seen him." Miroku reasoned. It sounded just too crazy to be true.
"Houshi-sama is right Kagome. It just isn't possible. You've been under a lot of stress and guilt lately; maybe you imagined it?" Sango stated. She looked to Miroku for his support, but before he could agree, Kagome spoke up.
"It's true! I just had a dream. In it, Inuyasha told me that he wasn't dead and gave me some prayer beads for support. Then when I woke up I still had them in my hands! See?" Kagome pulled out the beads and showed them to the others. Miroku and Sango glanced at each other, but Shippo was the first to say anything.
"What are you talking about Kagome? Those are the prayer beads you've always had." Shippo said. Sango and Miroku nodded their heads and Kirara meowed in agreement. Kagome was starting to freak out. How could they say that? Was this some kind of sick joke of theirs? Her joy was quickly evaporating and doubt and fear were starting to replace it. As well as a felling of helpless confusion, the kind that makes you want to just curl up into yourself, plug your ears, and cry until it all went away. First the cave, now this! What was going on!
pua lahi lahi: Thanks for the compliment! Once again I'm glad to have pleased you. And as you can probably tell from what happened, I don't like Kikyo all that much either (stupid clay pot). And just a heads up, the story is about to get really confusing...even for this story. Just take note of everything that's going on and excuse me for the crappy temporary answers given. Just a heads up
SlummyRedDragon: Your welcome.
inuyasha-backslashwave: Well, at least Inuyasha made an appearence this chapter, even if it wasn't what you were hoping for. And it's good to know that you like me that much! I'm flattered.
Until next time,
Akuhonou Ryuu
