ASHES OF A DREAM
A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. Chapter one was a bit short but as we go on the chapters get a bit longer, I presume. All the chapters have been written previously because I was so "into this." Love Does Conquer All
Chapter Two: Between Reality & Fantasy
(The Next Day)
"Kouga, where are you going?" His two faithful followers panted.
He glared at them, "To see my woman of course."
Meaning Kagome, I presume. He doesn't give up...at least not easily. "But Ayame..."
"I...humph." Kouga scoffed and didn't reply but both the two other wolves noticed a faint blush covering his cheeks. "Let's get moving. You're slowing me down!"
"But--" Neither wolf could get another word in before Kouga spend off.
They sighed in defeat. "What a fool."
I'm close...I can't smell that dog-shit anywhere. No, his scent I smell it, but it's faint. Perhaps Kagome finally got rid of him. Stupid dog couldn't even wait until I came to abandon my woman? Kouga thought furiously and sped up.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Jaken questioned.
Sesshoumaru stood there, a frown on his face as he looked at the forest off in the distance. Rin looked as well.
Jaken pouted slightly, "What are you all looking at?"
Lord Sesshoumaru looks troubled. Rin thought. Being around him for so many months she knew his moods no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And he was trying really hard now; harder than she thought was ever possible.
Stupid half-breed. Yet again you fall in Naraku's trap. Sesshoumaru scowled. Naraku's scent was faint but it wasn't far. Die if you must, Inuyasha, but I have my own score to settle. With that, he turned and left. Either he chose to ignore Jaken calling him or he didn't hear because he was wrapped into his thoughts, Rin was unsure.
Probably the former. the young girl thought and hurried to catch up.
Kouga stared intently at Kagome, glad that he would have a few minutes alone with her. Well...not alone exactly. Her friends were a just a bit out of earshot but could clearly see any gestures made. He hadn't meant for those words to spill out. "You deserve so much more, Kagome. He doesn't love you. I do." For it seemed Kagome grew cold and stiff when he'd said that. And foolish wolf that he was, he had went on and on, digging an even deeper hole in which he doubt Inuyasha ever would. By the time he realized this, Kagome was storming away from him.
Mo-ron Shippou sighed and tried not the roll his eyes. Kouga had showed up not long ago and was coaxing Kagome to come with him. It seemed the wolf-demon was willing to say anything. And say anything he did. Which explained Kagome's reaction. The wolf-demon began to apologize but seemed to have a bit of difficulty, possibly because of his male ego.
Can't you see she's in love with Inuyasha...even though Inuyasha is SO clueless about that! Shippou thought to himself. You gotta give him props though for making a fool out of himself...things never change. Inuyasha would've tried to kill him by now...Where are you Inuyasha...?
He's really sweet but... Kagome sweat-dropped. I really don't have time for this...I need to go look for Inuyasha again. "Thank you for apologizing. Kouga, you're a really nice friend." Kagome smiled gently and everyone could see the wolf-demon's wolfish grin faltered for a moment before it fell completely. "And--" A flash of red caught her eyes.
I-Inuyasha? Kagome thought. She saw him walking there just a few huts down. No mistaking it. Inuyasha. You're back! Without a word she turned and ran towards the hut just as he turned the corner. "Inuyasha!"
"Inuyasha?" Her three friends chorused.
Kouga growled. Mutt-face?
"He has that affect on all the ladies. They run the opposite way." Shippou muttered.
Kouga growled and punched both wolves. "Oww! What was that for? We didn't say anything!" They exclaimed.
I don't smell that mutt...Kagome just left me in the dust f-for that bastard? He clenched his fist and ignored everyone around him as he walked away for the moment. I will be back Kagome. No mistaking it. And if I have to, I'll kill Inuyasha to win you.
She felt giddy, so giddy! Inuyasha's back! He doesn't look injured and everything will... Kagome's smile was wiped clean off her face. He wasn't there.
What? It doesn't make sense, I knew I saw him. He was walking right here!
"Kagome?" Sango asked.
Kagome didn't look at her. She shook her head in disbelief. "He was right here, Sango." And only then, did she look at her friends.
Sango just nodded.
Kagome bit her lower lip and forced back her tears.
She doesn't believe me...none of them do. But I knew I saw him...
The front door opened and a young woman smoothed her kimono and grinned at the man that stood there. "Inuyasha?" Kikyo smiled. "You brought dinner."
He nodded. He ran a hand through his black hair and blushed sheepishly. "I-I hope this is ok."
"It will do just fine." Kikyo went to gather the fish and said, "The children will be home shortly."
Inuyasha nodded. "Which reminds me, the villagers wanted to know if you were up for going to the Cherry Blossom festival."
Kikyo turned around and began to chop up the vegetables. "Of course I'm able to. Why would they think that?"
"They say you're acting a bit strange."
He heard a low 'snap' sound from the knife cutting through the vegetables and then silence followed. "How so?"
"They say you're getting sudden pains and anytime your questioned...Kikyo, are you ok?"
"I..."Kikyo nodded, her vision was going. I n-need the crystal. Kikyo thought. Without it, her dream would end as would her life with Inuyasha. She could feel the shard in her body calling out for it. She willed her body to gain control of itself, "I'm fine. Just was out in the sun too long is all."
They heard two children chattering coming and Kikyo smiled wryly. "They're here."
Kaede nodded and listened to Kagome and Sango as they relied today's events.
"I keep seeing him everyone. It's like he's still here...just..." Out of my reach... Kagome added silently to herself.
Kaede patted Kagome on the shoulder in a reassuring manner. "Ye best not hold back what ye think. Ye need not worry if one be considered 'draft'."
Kagome nodded.
"Perhaps this is Naraku's doing." Miroku said. "I did see a few of his insects that night but they fled so quickly."
The old woman nodded, "Aye. Ye say ye saw Inuyasha before you and then he vanished. Mayhaps it's due to--"
Kagome began to zone out as she got lost in her own thoughts, her worries and fears began to consume her. Inuyasha, where are you really? Are you ok? You've been gone so long. I know it's been two days but it feels like two years to me. Is this really Naraku's doing? Where has he taken you? Why can't I sense you as I always do? You're presence is masked by something so dark. What's happened to you? I-I want to see you.
Kagome blinked.
"...It's an old legend. It was said to have been made by a goddess or some sort long ago. This goddess fell in love with a mortal man but knew they couldn't be together. She found out the man she loved was now married to a mortal woman. The goddess' father had approved of the marriage and was pleased. The goddess became jealous and hate consumed her heart. She wanted to keep her lover away from his new bride and so used her powers to create a ball that would hold her deepest desires and from there she cast herself and her lover into this dream world. This ball that the goddess made came from a rare crystal among the heavens. Their bodies were left among the living but their souls were locked away. As time passed, the mortal man's health grew worst and more of his soul began to leave his body. The mortal woman pleaded for her husband's life and wanted him to return to her. The goddess' father soon learned of his daughter's trick and grew angered. He freed the mortal man but left his daughter trapped for all eternity in the ball of her dark desires."
"But how is this going to help us, Miroku?" Sango questioned.
Miroku continued. "The material from this crystal was said to have fallen from the heavens afterwards. The god made sure to cast a spell or a barrier of some sort allowing those with pure intentions to handle and wield its power. The god became depressed when he noticed not a soul was even near pure enough to come near the area. It was said to have disappeared without a trace. If Inuyasha has truly become trapped into such a world we must find something just as pure or close to it made from the same crystal."
"How about the scared jewel?" Shippou asked.
Kaede seemed to have thought this over before she nodded. "Yes, the jewel seems to have the same features as the crystal."
"Perhaps it was forged from the same." Sango said.
"If the jewel responses to the area in which Inuyasha slipped into this different plane then it should provide us with the ability to get through." Kaede said. She got up and retrieved something from her many pouches by her bed. She came back and began chanting something and sprinkled a green substance over the jewel shard Kagome held. "This is supposed to be the same spell the god had used. But if Naruku is truly behind this, it will not last long." she said referring to the spell. She sighed regretfully, "My powers aren't as strong as they use to be. But it should be enough to get in, get Inuyasha and get out. Do not dottle for ye too may become trapped."
Kagome nodded. "I understand." But I rather get trapped there and be with Inuyasha for all eternity than be here without him.
"Ye may also find Inuyasha's body. Bring that back so we can hopefully join the soul back with its body."
"Destroy the young priestess." Naruku said to Kohaku. With her gone, I shall have the remaining shards that I need.
He nodded curtly.
Naruku didn't turn around and continued, "Her friends as well. They've meddled too long. Once you've completed that, I will force the dead priestess from her dream and finally my greatest desires shall become a reality."
"You will finally possess Kikyo." Kanna stated.
Naruku didn't reply. Kikyo...My weak human heart still desires that wrench. I will satisfy it for the time being.
Kohaku looked at the images in Kanna's mirror and saw her, Sango, again.
Destroy her too? But why does it feel so wrong to do such a thing. The more I look; this feeling in my chest grows more unbearable. It's as if I know her, truly know her. These things I see in m-my head. It's as if we knew each other long ago. They seem faint and yet, my body doesn't desire to kill her...it doesn't desire to kill no one. It desires something more...something I cannot get in this life, especially as I am. Kohaku thought and left without a word.
Kanna watched him go. You're remembering...but what will you do with these memories, Kohaku...?
The trees pasted her by, one hundred of them at a time. But no matter the distance, no matter how much her legs ached, she wasn't about to give up!
Kagome panted heavily. She stared at the shard in her hand and at the Time Tree before her.
Inuyasha...Shippou said your scent died here. Kagome thought and held the shard. I'm here now, but Kaede never told me how to open that portal. How do I reach you, Inuyasha?
"Where'd Kagome go?" Shippou asked. He, Miroku and Sango were by the river, a good walk from the village collecting herbs for the sick.
"She went to bring back Inuyasha." Sango replied.
"Funny. It's usually the other way around." Miroku chuckled lightly.
Sango nodded, "Indeed."
Suddenly an explosion occurred in the village. "The village!" Shippou exclaimed.
The villagers scurried as far as their bodies were able to.
"Mommy!" A little girl cried out as her grip on her mother's grew too loose and she fell onto the ground. Her mother gasped and turned for her and pulled her daughter into her arms. Through the smoke, something silver, looking like an ax attached to a long chain, came hurtling towards them. Knowing it was far too fast, the two females were frozen into place, both screamed and awaited their deaths...but alas it never came.
The woman opened her eyes and found herself in some monk's arms. He smiled at her, "You're safe now." She nodded and glanced around for her daughter who was hugging Shippou. The woman sighed with relief.
"You two better get outta here." Sango said. The older woman nodded and pulled her daughter into her arms. "Lady Kaede should be with the others as well."
The smoke cleared and Kohaku stood there receiving his weapon back into his grip. His eyes were cold and his face was emotionless.
K-Kohaku. Sango thought.
He was there talking to his other self, or so he presumed. This other part of him made him feel uneasy with its dark-red eyes, its claws and its sharp fangs. But somehow this beast sounded depressed but his gruff tone made it hard for one to see.
"I do believe I had love Kikyo in that time span, I admit so. I promised that she'd be the only one that I loved. But then Kagome came into my life and things changed. My heart changed. Dreams that I never thought would be possible with Kikyo seemed closer to a reality with Kagome. Feelings, emotions, things that I couldn't express until then, until Kagome. Kikyo, I see now, is someone you respect. A woman who lacked and couldn't feel passion, she was far from the ground. Shortly so, I fell in love with Kagome, breaking my promise. Kikyo must know this and for that she must hate me. But she desires to have things they way she dreamed them to have been. But no matter how good it may seem, it's still a dream world. And no one can live in such a world."
Kagome…? Inuyasha snapped out of it. What was that? He couldn't shake the feeling that he knew him, this monster. It doesn't matter, I have to finish this. Inuyasha continued his work and at last finished his sketch. Perfect.
"I hate her."
He turned around and saw Kikyo there. She had her fists clenched. Kikyo never hated anyone before... Inuyasha thought. So...why this girl? He looked at his drawing. The girl he drew was pretty, if not beauitful. She had long black hair and gentle brown eyes. She wore some outfit that looked werid but seemed perfect for her. She looks so nice...but Kikyo doesn't seem to like her. Why Kikyo?
Kikyo unclenched her fists and a light dose of panic filled her, but she hid it well. Eventually, she'll try to take you away from me. My recarnation will not have you, I will not allow it. She will not be allowed to enter this dream of mine. This is my world, of my own creation. She has taken enough from me as it is. She will not have you.
"Why is she there?" Kikyo questioned.
Inuyasha frowned. "You sound almost...jealous. She's just a drawing, Kikyo. I just...she keeps flashing in my mind. Those eyes, her bright smile. I had to capture it. I haven't met her before, if that's what's bothering you."
You have...you can't remember, you never will. "I-I don't want to see it, Inuyasha. Please."
"You said you 'hated her'."
Kikyo adverted her eyes from his, "I-I never meant it. I never meant that."
"Why are you so upset? Tell me why you hate her so much?"
"I don't!" Kikyo found herself shouting. She covered her mouth and breathed in deeply and exhaled. "It's nothing."
"Tell me..."
"I just hate the way things turned out...that's all." she turned around. "I need to see a villager."
Inuyasha watched her go. Kikyo, I've never seen you so angry. Was it just the drawing that had angered you so much? What is it that you're hiding from me? Inuyasha thought. He turned and found his drawing was gone.
Kikyo crumbled the paper into her hand. Do not tamper with time, Kikyo. The voice snickered. Even I Naruku, wouldn't be as foolish to.
Next Time: Kohaku's Untimely Decision