"The End to the Feudal Fairy Tale"
Chapter 13
Author's Notes: Sorry about the delay! I moved and just started a full-time job. That means a bit less time to write. All right, A LOT LESS time to write. I hope to continue updating about once/ week or two weeks until the story is done. Don't worry, I promise to finish it and it won't be long now! Please check out my new short story, a two-parter entitled: "Broken Mirror." And review! I love reviewers! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. What about Sango? Everyone could use a butt-kicking friend. Boo, they won't share. All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. This story is mine though, so please respect it.
"Don't say it." Kagome sobbed. "I understand that there can't be anything. I don't know if I want there to be. All I ask is all I've ever asked. Let me stay by your side. You promised me that."
"Okay." Inuyasha nodded.
"I'm going to bed now. We can go back to the feudal era in the morning." Kagome wiped her eyes and headed for the house.
Inuyasha silently retreated to the god tree as Kagome closed the kitchen door behind her. Slumping down in the doorway, she clutched the stuffed dog to her chest. Gingerly, she rubbed the animal's ears. "I know Inuyasha, I screwed up. I know that you have promises you can't break. But, " She pressed her nose to the stuffed dog's, "I have my promise too. And when this is all over, I will tell you."
vvvvvvvvvv
Miroku stared longingly at Sango's back. She was currently resting against a nearby tree, her eyes closed in deep thought. For three long days, he had resisted. His hand twitched in response. He sighed. It seemed hopeless for him now. Sango was engaged to Lord Hojo of the distant Hokkaido Island. On top of it all, Lord Hojo was only thirty years old and apparently nothing short of perfection. How had this happened? Miroku sat up for a moment and rummaged through his robes. "No more pocky. Now, I'll never know. Ah, Sango." He sighed glumly. "It may be better this way." With a sigh, Miroku stared down at his cursed hand. A shadow hovered over it.
"Houshi-sama?" Sango stared down at him.
"Ah- hahah- ha-"
"What were you talking about?" Sango titled her head slightly.
"Well, that is-" Her bottom was now in close range. Miroku resisted. It was not his place to touch her if she was betrothed. Supposedly.
"I know I heard my name." She pressed on, ignoring his stupor.
The monk slumped and held his right hand with his left. Self-control was entirely too taxing on a person. She was so close-
"You've been gloomy these last few days. You haven't helped me with our trap either." Sango knelt down beside him. "What's wrong with you?"
Miroku's hand started to drift.
"You haven't even tried to grope me in the last three days!" She shouted.
That was just too much. His hand, of its own accord, reached for the soft, round curves of Sango's bottom. The wind shifted. Birds stopped chirping. Elsewhere, a small fox demon burped. In that split-second, Sango snapped up and promptly bashed Miroku with a strong, resounding slap.
"Pervert!"
Miroku rubbed his cheek a bit, but something wasn't right. "Forgive me Sango-san." He looked away absently.
Since when did Miroku apologize for being a pervert; and since when did he use formalities with her? "What?" Sango breathed, her rage lost.
Standing quietly, Miroku turned to leave.
"Miroku?" Sango said softly. He stopped. "Just what is this about? I've never seen you act like this before, please," she reached out and grasped his shoulder, "tell me what's wrong."
A guilty pang raced through his mind. If she knew he'd been spying on her affairs, he'd be a dead man. If he didn't tell her he knew, she'd probably kill him too. It seemed that Miroku would be digging his own grave either way.
"Miroku, if you don't tell me right this minute-" Sango's rage surfaced again.
"Ah- ha- ha- um-" Miroku turned and immediately paled. She was mad, oh was she mad. Option two was looking better. Maybe he still had a chance? It was worth a try.
"Sango." He knelt on the grass, allowing his eyes to meet hers. The gaze was piercing and Sango froze, her confusion evident. "I know that there are things that stand in my way, and your feelings for me may have changed."
"Miroku?" She frowned. What on earth was he talking about? Did he think she didn't care about him anymore? Sango knew she'd been distant these past few days while she was planning the trap, but really, was he that dense?
He silenced her with his eyes. "Despite this, I have one request." Grabbing her hand lightly in his, he continued. "If you deny me, then I will not interfere again."
"What are you-"
"Sango, please, if I live through this-" his grasp tightened.
"Miro-"
"Would you still live with me and bear my children?"
Sango took a sharp breath. He was serious? Hadn't they been through this already? Apparently, Miroku was that dense. "Idiot." She huffed.
Miroku felt his heart sink. She was rejecting him. Dropping his eyes from her face, he took a deep breath and stood. "Forgive me for making such a-"
Then he felt it; a sharp pain across his cheek. Immediately, Miroku snapped to attention. "What are you thinking?" Sango fumed, rubbing her hand slightly. "Is this some stupid joke? I know I haven't been talkative lately, but that's no reason to act like this!"
"But, Sango-" Miroku tried.
"But nothing! And, if you don't just sit there quietly and listen to me, I'm going to get Hiraikotsu." She added.
Miroku dumbly nodded his reply.
"Now, if you're absolutely serious about all of this, then you already know my answer. Right?"
His shoulders drooped and he refused to meet her eyes.
"Miroku?" Sango tilted her head to the side. "Did you actually think I would change my mind?"
His head shot up, eyes wide. She was going to choose him? "But, what about Lord Hojo?"
"Who?"
"Your betrothed?"
"What betrothed? I don't have a fiancé." She crossed her arms fervently while her eye started twitching.
A look of sheer horror wiped across Miroku's face. He hadn't meant to let that bit of information slip. His horror was immediately replaced by an expression of anger. Sango blinked. The expression clearly read 'I am going to kill Shippo.' She'd seen it many times on Inuyasha. It was discernable from other looks by the sudden popping veins and tinge of red in the eyes. Shippo had been awfully quiet and surprisingly not hungry the last few days. That was always a bad omen.
"Miroku?" She prodded.
The monk started laughing evilly. Sango nervously shifted. "Are you all right?"
"I am going to kill him."
vvvvvvvvvv
In the depths of the castle, a rumbling subsided into nothingness. From the void, a man-shaped shadow floated, grinning widely. "Yes, this will do quite nicely." He said to no one in particular. As his movement stopped, the castle room appeared around him. Naraku flexed his new fingers eagerly. "Boy." At the sound, Kohaku hastened his steps into the room and kneeled quietly on the floor.
"Fetch me Kagura. It is finally time for her to fulfill her use." He said coldly.
Kohaku nodded slightly before rising and leaving the room. He could only guess at what Naraku had in store for Kagura. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Naraku had appeared even more fearsome after this transformation. Kohaku rested his hand on his sickle, one thought dominant in his mind. Naraku needed to die, and it had to happen soon.
Finding Kagura was not a difficult task. She was floating high over the castle in lazy circles, avoiding all contact. "Kagura?" The feather continued to drift with the ever-present wind. He tried again, "Kagura-san?"
"What?" Kohaku strained to hear her reply.
"Naraku has called for you." He kept his tone flat, emotionless.
The feather slipped to the ground as the winds died down. Kagura steeled her mind before strolling past Kohaku into the castle. The boy hurried to his feet. "What does he want now?"
Kohaku thought it best to remain silent.
"Great, I forgot you're practically a mute. Why is it that the only one who talks to me is that bastard Naraku?" She wrinkled her nose as though the name left a bad taste in her mouth. They continued to walk in silence.
"Kagura."
"Naraku."
"It is time. I have a special job for you." He stepped forward into the dim light of the room. Kagura drew back. "I see you have noticed my improved body." Naraku chuckled, his huge body pulsing. "With this new strength, I will be able to remove that thorn, Inuyasha, from my side permanently."
He'd become more powerful than Kagura had ever imagined. The air around him felt thin and debilitating. There was no way that she alone could stop him now. In fact, she highly doubted that any one creature could stop Naraku.
"Kagura."
She straightened again, feeling his icy gaze tear her apart. "Yes?"
"You must travel to the village where Inuyasha and his companions rest. Destroy it all. Lure them out of hiding." Naraku commanded.
"You want us to attack them head on? What happened to all of those brilliant plans-" she choked on her words. Grasping her chest, Kagura slid to the floor.
"May I remind you that I make the decisions?" He chided, squeezing Kagura's heart in his huge hand. Kagura gasped. "Good."
Kohaku stole a sidelong glance to the wind demoness. Naraku could kill him at any time as well. He was of no use to his sister dead. At least not until he had atoned for those he'd slaughtered. He felt cold. Naraku's gaze was on him now. He stiffened.
Seemingly pleased, Naraku released Kagura's heart and continued, "This is a brilliant plan. Inuyasha is without his sword, now is the perfect time to make him suffer." He started to pace. "We will destroy everything he holds dear, and when his rage overcomes him, he will be easily disposed of. Boy." Kohaku desperately tried to meet his eyes, but found it increasingly difficult.
"Yes, Naraku?" He replied.
"You will stay with me at all times. It will be even more satisfying to watch Inuyasha die as his only chance for salvation lies in my grasp."
Kohaku bowed a little, acknowledging his orders, while Kagura remained frozen. She could see it in his eyes; Naraku intended to destroy her once and for all. So this was how it was going to end.
"Kagura." His voice echoed in her mind. "Go now, and take him with you."
Mouryoumaru: her chance at freedom. Kagura shivered inwardly before sharply turning and exiting the castle. If her plan was going to work there was no time to waste.
vvvvvvvvvv
Kagome stared down the well and sighed loudly. Every time Inuyasha upset her, she forgave him. It was a hopeless cycle. She knew that it was pointless to love the half demon because he could never return her affections. So many times Kagome thought he loved her. It was all so confusing. One minute he was acting like a love struck teenager, but the next he treated her like a tool. She sighed again. Could she really ever tell him and face the rejection?
Behind her, Inuyasha struggled under the bulk of her backpack. "If you sigh one more time, wench, I swear I'll-"
"You'll what?" She spun to face him, eyes blazing.
"Erg-" He seemed to rethink his decision.
"That's better, now come on, it's already half past ten!"
"Keh. Not my fault you took so long packing all of this junk!" Inuyasha snorted.
"Inuyasha."
The half demon paused, his ears twitching. Kagome's lips started to form the word he hated most. Surging forward, backpack haphazardly slung over his shoulder, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome around the waist and leapt into the well. Kagome yelped as she lifted off of the ground and into the depths of the time slip.
Jumping out of the well, Inuyasha tentatively set down the backpack. Kagome struggled in his arms, her body wriggling like a snake. "Damnit Kagome, will you stop that?"
"No! Put me down!" She squealed.
"No way! If I put you down, you're going to say the word!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Fine! Then don't put me down."
"Huh?"
"If you don't want to put me down, then why don't you just carry me to the village?" She asked.
"Keh." Inuyasha huffed. Grumbling, he lifted the backpack again and started trotting through the forest. Curiously, Kagome turned her head and Inuyasha thought he saw a tinge of red in her cheeks. It must have been wishful thinking.
vvvvvvvvvv
Shippo fell onto his back, his tiny arms and legs spread out around his overstuffed middle. "I shouldn't have eaten it all so fast-" He hiccupped, "But it was so good!" Miroku was probably driving himself crazy thinking Sango was engaged. He was probably trying to find a way to win her back. This was a truly brilliant plan, Shippo mused. Closing his eyes and ignoring Kaede's call, he settled in to take a nap.
"I'm glad I thought of this." He whispered. "Miroku will eventually find out it's a scam, but by then Kagome will be back to protect me." A short fit of giggles erupted from his throat, causing little tremors all the way down his belly. He cupped his stomach, trying to hold off the painful laughter, but to no avail.
"Shippo-chan." A voice called.
"Maybe now that he's out of candies, I can get toys from him?" His laughter continued.
"Shippo-chan!"
"Wha-" Shippo's eyes widened in panic. "Uh-oh." Without looking, he knew that Miroku had figured it out. He probably wanted to turn him into Shippo pancakes.
"Shippo-chan, you have some explaining to do." Sango tapped her foot.
He was in deep trouble. Miroku he could get away from, but Sango? When she gets mad, all hell breaks loose. Craning his neck, Shippo found Sango and Miroku staring down at him, obviously not happy. "So-" He gulped, "Did the two of you make up yet?"
"Shippo!" Miroku roared. "I'm going to let Inuyasha get you if I don't get to do it myself!"
"And I'll tell Kagome-chan so that she lets him!" Sango added.
The small fox wobbled onto his feet, trembling. "Listen, I can explain!"
"We heard your explanation and it wasn't good enough!"
"But, you figured it out, so no harm done right?" Shippo was backing away now.
"It's not okay!" Miroku shook his fist. "I've spent the last three days making myself crazy! I thought that she had changed her mind! I thought she might leave me! I thought I would have to die because I couldn't be with her!" Shippo honestly expected something nearby to burst into flames.
"You were that worried?" Sango asked in a hushed voice.
Miroku turned to meet her eyes, rage fading. "Of course. Sango, I couldn't imagine my life without you."
She scooted closer. "You mean that? You really want to be with me?"
"More than I want to breathe."
Shippo slipped towards the door.
"Does that mean that you-" She paused, "you really- but what about all of the other women you flirt with?"
"I asked only you to both live with me and bear my children for a reason." He smiled.
Sango blushed as Miroku drew her closer. He swallowed hard, trying to form the words in his head that his heart yearned to say. Shippo turned the corner.
"No matter what happens, Sango, always remember that I love you." Miroku bent down and gently kissed her lips. After a moment, he pulled back.
She attempted to make her voice work. Only a whisper came out. "I love you too, you idiot."
"Is that any way to talk to your betrothed?" He smirked. She scrunched her face, puzzled by his implications. Suddenly, it clicked.
"Betrothed?"
"Well, that is, if you're really not already engaged to Lord Hojo."
Sango smiled. "I'm not, but what makes you think I'd agree to be your wife?"
"Because no other woman would have me?" He grinned.
"You're right." She giggled. Looking around the hut, Sango noticed that something was out of place. "Where's Shippo?"
"That little-" Miroku remembered his anger. "Where did he go? I owe him Buddha's punishment!" With that, he raced out of the hut, spying a terrified Shippo not far away. Miroku broke into a run.
The scene when Inuyasha and Kagome arrived at Kaede's village was rather odd. Sango was sitting outside the hut, apparently drawing a map in the dirt. Nearby, Shippo was toddling away from a hardly running Miroku. Apparently, when full of pocky, foxes run slower. Shippo huffed. Spying Kagome, the little fox changed his course and headed for the safety of his surrogate mother.
Inuyasha set both the backpack and Kagome on the ground lightly. Folding his arms into his robes, he yelled, "Oi, runt! What did you do this time?"
Without answering, Shippo clutched onto Kagome. "Help me! Miroku wants to kill me!"
"What? Now why would he want to do that?" Kagome eyed Miroku angrily.
"Because he's been playing tricks on me." Miroku slowly approached.
"I'll help ya, monk. He deserves a little punishment now and then." Inuyasha cracked his knuckles.
"No! Shippo is just a kid! He can't defend himself from bullies like you two!" Kagome held him protectively.
"It's okay, Kagome-chan." Sango called.
"What?" She replied. Shippo flinched.
"I said, it's okay. Let them punish him, he deserves it."
"Oh."
Inuyasha let a fang protrude from his mouth.
Miroku pulled out an ofuda.
Sango waved.
Kagome let go of Shippo.
Shippo quivered and passed out.
"What happened?" Kagome asked, worried.
"He's been eating nothing but sweets and he just ran around for the last half-hour. I think he's exhausted." Sango casually stated, walking towards her friends.
"Sugar rush." Kagome smiled. "I guess you'll have to wait to get back at him until after he wakes up."
"Keh."
"I am a monk, I can be patient."
"No you can't." Sango added. Miroku slumped in defeat.
Even Kagome had to stifle a laugh.
vvvvvvvvvv
Kouga stopped running, there was a change of wind and a familiar scent with it. Ginta and Hakkaku tumbled over each other as they tried to stop. They rolled forward and landed in a heap behind Kouga. "What are you two idiots doing now?"
"Um-"
"Never mind. I smell that incarnation of Naraku. She's nearby." He spat.
"How close?" Ginta dusted his legs free of grass.
"Just shut up so I can listen." The two wolves backed down, sitting quietly and waiting for Kouga's report.
Closing his eyes, Kouga sniffed the air. It was definitely Kagura and she wasn't very far away. "Let's go." He started running again.
"Huh?" Hakkaku stumbled, but followed with Ginta not far behind.
"Wherever she goes, Naraku isn't far behind. We'll follow her."
"I was afraid of that." Ginta breathed.
"Just shut up and run, I don't want to lose this chance."
vvvvvvvvvv
Something wasn't quite right. Inuyasha shuffled nervously before stepping outside. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and the sleeping Shippo sat in a half circle, discussing the trap. There appeared to be a large open area to the North that the fire had cleared out. No one would be hurt if the battle took place there.
"That's what I was thinking." Sango replied.
"So we know where we're going to fight him, now how are we going to trap him?" Kagome said as she absently ruffled Shippo's hair.
"Well, I thought that we'd use Kagome's shard to get him there, maybe spread word that she's willing to trade it for-"
"For your brother and the Tetsusaiga right?"
Sango nervously spoke, "Y- yes."
"I think it's a really good idea. It's believable." Miroku touched her shoulder lightly.
"So what do we do to get him, then?" Kagome pushed.
"We stage you and Inuyasha with the shard. You two should be okay for a few minutes." Sango paused. "It's not a foolproof plan, I don't know if it's going to work and it's not incredibly detailed or intelligent-"
"Sango, anything is better than nothing." Kagome cracked a cheery smile. "Besides, we trust you."
Miroku nodded.
"Thank you." Sango took a deep breath before continuing.
Inuyasha snapped into a fighting stance and raced outside. It couldn't be. "Stay inside." He commanded.
Kagome stood up. "Inuyasha?"
"What's going on?" Sango looked up from her map.
"I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out." Kagome stated proudly.
"But Inuyasha said-" She started.
"Since when has that ever stopped me?"
Outside, Inuyasha growled. A cloud settled onto the grass along with a two-headed beast. "You bastard. What the hell are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to greet Sesshoumaru-sama? Show some respect!" Jaken screeched, shaking his staff.
Inuyasha continued to growl, ready to strike if any sudden moves were made. As if on cue, Kagome raced out of the hut and ran into his back. "Sorry." She stumbled back a bit.
"Get back inside, now!" He shouted.
"Why?"
"Kagome-chan? What is it?" Sango called, stepping outside with Miroku close behind.
Despite the growling and warning, Kagome peered around Inuyasha to spot Sesshoumaru with Jaken and Rin in tow. She gasped.
"Damnit wench! Listen to me!" Inuyasha cursed.
Sesshoumaru's resounding voice cut the air. "Calm your temper, Inuyasha, or I shall have to destroy you after all."
vvvvvvvvvv
A/N: Well that's it for now. It's all coming together I promise. I'm planning about 3 more chapters for this story, so we'll see how that goes. We're actually getting to the part that I've had planned since beginning this story. Yeah! Anyhow, please take the time to review. It helps me keep writing and gives me an insight as to what things you liked/didn't like. Thanks to all my readers!