Disclaimers Notice: I know! I will pretend to be Rumiko Takahashi and steal
her identity! Wait...that's illegal...
Authors Beginning Note: Here's your new chapter! I'm kind of if'd out as to how it's going to turn out but I think it will be worth it?
"" while during a flashback means the person having a flashbacks words in the present time
********* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Chapter 33
Kanna's Story and
Kohaku's Mission
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"Inuyasha, milord. What Sesshoumaru spoke of was the truth." Said a tiny flea that appeared upon Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Exactly how much did you hear?" Inuyasha growled, threatening to flick the flea off and leave him on his own. An audible gulp was heard.
"Please forgive me Lord Inuyasha, it was not my will to eavesdrop on your important conversation! I was mearly there and could not stop myself from hearing what was said!"
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't squish you like the bug you are."
"I was with Sesshoumaru the whole time. What he spoke of wasn't completely the truth."
"That bastard!" Inuyasha spat.
"Indeed, it is far more gruesome and unbearable. I fear if Naraku actually succeeds, this will be the end of everything." Myoga said seriously. Inuyasha froze. Now that he was sure he had his master's attention he continued.
"Naraku has a vast territory of an army that none can ever imagine. All of them dark and greedy, thirsty for blood and power. Each one promised a share of the jewel. Inuyasha, this may very be the beginning of the apocalypse."
"How can Naraku have so much power?"
"Do you forget? He has many shards of the Shinkon Jewel and he absorbs the power of many demons." Inuyasha felt sick, but began running back to the village and almost lost his balance as the wind shifted.
"Inuyasha, do you think you could go a little bit slower?...Inuyasha?" He questioned as a deep and low rumbling bored through Inuyasha's chest. Without bothering to answer he rushed off even faster, Myoga screaming in tow.
***
Inuyasha threw the matted doorway aside. Tetsusaiga was raised, ready to use as soon as the danger presented itself. He looked at the semi- startled faces of his companions and growled at the new face seated right next to Kagome.
"Hello Inuyasha." Kanna said coolly.
"What is she doing here?" He asked walking menacingly towards her.
"Inuyasha, I know what you are thinking, but hear us out." Miroku said quickly. Inuyasha glanced at him, ready to hear what he had to say, but didn't ease up his guard.
"This is Kanna and..."
"I know damn well who she is, now what is one of Naraku's bastards doing here!"
"Inuyasha, she is no longer under Naraku's control." Kagome said and stood up. Inuyasha stared at her.
"How do I know she's not controlling you or the others?" Kagome paused.
"Sit boy." She said and vroom. Inuyasha fell face first into the floor cracking the wooden boards. Keade sighed and ladled a bowl of soup for Inuyasha, while trying hard not to laugh.
"Kagome, would ye refrain from using the subduing spell while inside?" Kagome blushed and nodded.
"You didn't have to do that!"
"Well, what did you want me to do!"?
"I don't know! I..." He stopped suddenly and sat up. He sheathed his sword and sat down cross-legged.
"Inuyasha?"
"Well? Aren't you going to tell me why she's here? Or do I have to force it out of her?" He snarled, not explaining his abrupt halt in words, completely throwing everyone off guard, as they had been expecting a new fight to ensue, but none came. Everyone seemed at ill ease at this, every one that is except a certain mischief maker. Shippo threw a top at his head leaving a large bump.
"Why you little!" Inuyasha got up to chase Shippo in circles inside the hut.
"Inuyasha! Don't you dare even think about hitting Shippo!" Kagome said sternly as she grabbed Shippo and placed him in her arms. Inuyasha grumbled and pouted as he sat back down, facing Kanna. Shippo stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha only to earn a stern look from Kagome and a cross eyed look from Inuyasha, whose course of action went amazingly unnoticed. Yes, things were defiantly more normal than they had been. Kanna sat up straighter than she had been and everyone turned their attention to her.
"I started my journey many nights ago. Naraku attempted to attack the Yukai called Sesshoumaru, but when I told him his plan would fail, he struck me. For many moon cycles I knew he would. I also now this very moment that he intends to kill me. My life is to be lived short. I came here in order to tell you of the war that is coming."
"You came here to tell us that? That was kind of pointless." Inuyasha stuck his nose up in the air in his know it all way, but looked confused as everyone stared at him in curiosity and surprise.
"And I suppose you knew of this before us, hmm Inuyasha?" Miroku questioned.
"Yah, Sesshoumaru told me."
"Sesshoumaru?! You saw him? When? Where?" Kagome questioned.
"Feh. I don't see why it's any of your business." He said. Kagome's eyes narrowed.
"Sit." Smack, he went through more floor boards. Myoga, who until now had gone unnoticed jumped onto Sango's shoulder and began sucking her blood only to get a large 'Smack'! The small flea floated down to Sango's expectant hand and quickly became 3-D again.
"Ah Sango. You have such a unique taste." He said dreamily, before being squished again.
"Myoga, what are you doing here? Finally come back after the fighting is done?" She said tartly.
"Dearest Sango, I would never dream of abandoning you or any others of this group in such dire moments of need. I was merely accompanying Sesshoumaru unnoticed to Naraku's castle."
"Naraku's Castle!" Everyone said in unison except Kanna who was silent and stiffly poise, and Inuyasha who was still face first in the ground.
"Yes, it was quite by accident mind you that I stumbled upon the Lord of the Western Lands, but I heard him say something about knowing the where abouts of Naraku's Castle and decided to follow."
"Indeed, and do you know the where a bouts of Naraku's Castle?"
"Alas, I fear not, for the height of a mere flea is so small compared to that of a humans and his sight limited." Miroku raised and eyebrow but nodded for him to continue.
"We traveled many days and nights, it wasn't until maybe five nights ago that Sesshoumaru stumbled upon the strange dark valley of Naraku's only to behold the horrors of what lay there."
"And tell us Myoga, what exactly was there?" asked Sango, for her and Miroku were very curious, for they had not been told of the complete dangers or gruesome horrors there. Only Kagome and Inuyasha.
"An army. A vast army lay spred out overcrowding a huge valley in the shape of a bowl. At first it just seems like a huge black blanket, but it's really an army of men and Yukai alike, all deadly and all thirsty for blood. There are dead trees scattered and in those trees are horrible flying creatures that have blood dried onto their claws, fangs, and wings. In the very center of it all is a huge castle, like the one you've seen in Naraku's illusions, only much bigger. And this is only a brief description of what it was like." Everyone was pale, even Inuyasha who had a red face, and was trying to look like what he was being told was nothing more than a boy fell in a mud puddle.
"Ah yes, and Sesshoumaru was indeed attacked by two Yukai, very naive Yukai, but fast. They were of course obliverated. Then we came upon Inuyasha and he and Sesshoumaru faught, only to have Sesshoumaru withdraw and tell him of the war to be. What's worse is that Naraku's army is supposedly going to attack around the night of the new moon." Kagome let in a sharp intake of breath and Inuyasha's ear twitched in her direction. His face strangely contemplative. A moment of silence ensued before Myoga spoke.
"Why? Why would you tell us Kanna? Why did you come all the way here to tell us of this war, when even you think you'll be killed because of it?"
"Because, you are the only one's who can destroy Naraku."
"But you said it was because you were angry at him for hitting you!" Shippo yelled. Kanna did not flinch.
"What do you mean we're the only ones who can kill him?" Inuyasha said seriously.
"Because you are. As for my reasoning of being here that is true, in part but not completely." Inuyasha growled at her half answers. She might as well be talking in riddles.
"You see, I was once human." She said and looked out into a world past the shocked faces of her hosts.
***
"Kohaku."
"You called Master?" The boy dressed in a blue Taijiya uniform spoke monotone. He sat back on his heels with his head bowed as he was given orders. His mind dull and hazed from real thoughts or his own.
"I want you to find a human for me. One human, a small human girl that goes by the name Rin."
"Yes Master. What will I do once I find her master?"
"I want you to bring her to me. She travels in the company of the Yukai Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. He heads north as we speak. Now go."
"As you wish Master." The boy said and stood up silently, leaving the man that had sat before him to brood in his own dark thoughts.
Kohaku snuck past many demons and humans, silently, as if he himself were a shadow, and came upon the rim of the valley, taking a secret passage. He stood there as the wind whipped around him and yelled at him urgently, as if there was something else he should be doing.
`La `La `La
There's something...I'm supposed to remember. Something. I knew before I was summoned to Naraku. At least I think I did, maybe it was a dream. A dream. It was a dream, of, of a memory. A memory. A memory of what? Why! Why can't I think? It's like, I'm moving through a cloud. A girl. It was of a girl, no. It wasn't was it? I must be thinking of the girl I'm supposed to find. Then, what? What is it that I forgot?
`La `La `La
Kohaku made his way along many paths, thinking of the one thing that tormented him the most, but the more he thought, the less he remembered, and so, as the sun rose, he knew nothing of his previous thoughts earlier that night, and traveled with nothing but his name and his mission.
***
"I was human once. I belonged to a village far north. So far that water on lakes and rivers froze, even the rain froze into soft flakes. It was just twenty years ago that is happened." She said reminiscing. Many images flew into her mind.
/ / / ~*~*~Flashing Back~*~*~ "Mommy! Mommy! Daddy's coming home!" A small girl shrieked as she ran into her mother's leg. The Mother looked down lovingly at her precious Gem. The daughter's innocent white eyes looked up into her mothers gentle pale silver ones. Unlike her daughters though, this woman's looked weary, as did her body, from crying.
"My dear little snow flake. How do you know this?"
"I saw our men! I saw them coming up the valley! Isn't it wonderful Mommy! We'll finally get to see Daddy again!" The girl jumped up and down, and try as she might, the mother didn't smile.
"How can they be our men? They died a few days ago, unless my mirror was mistaken. Please oh Kami above, let that be so, and do help us if it turns naught to be." She whispered.
My mother was right. It wasn't my father and out men that came.
"Kanna! Kanna! Run!" The young women screamed to her young daughter as she held a long stick. Many men, if they could be called that were facing her. They were dead, they walked, but disoriented, like a drunken man fresh from the pub.
"No! I won't leave you!" The little girl screamed.
"Kanna, you must. You have the mirror; you will know when to use it. That is all you need. I will find you if I can, so please! Please! Run! Go!" She yelled and a teary eyed girl ran into the thick forest. So thick, no snow could be seen upon the ground, and no light would shine.
I was cold, and hungry. For Four nights I wandered that forest. I had no water, no food. All I had was a mirror. I was all-alone, until one day.
"Kanna? Kanna?"
"Mommy! Is that you!"? The little girl cried out as she saw a figure in the dark. The figure held up a lantern and shone to reveal a woman, worn, tired, scared, but alive.
"Mommy!"
"Oh Kanna dearest! You're safe!" She exclaimed as she kneeled to the ground and held out her arms to be held. Kanna ran to her joyfully, crying into her mother's shoulder.
But it wasn't my mother whose arms were held open for me.
"Mommy, You're squeezing me to tight! It hurts. Mommy?" She heard a snicker.
"I am not you're mommy, little girl."
"No, No! Let me go! No!" She screamed, but was soon absorbed into the figures body, to be no more. The woman stood up, only to slowly transform into a man wearing a baboon skin that covered every part of him but his mouth and eyes. His laughter rang out through the forest, demonic drunken laughter. / / / ~*~*~Flashing to the present~*~*~
"But, why did he absorb you?"
"Tell me about you're mother's mirror."
"How do you know this?"
"Yah! Especially if you're his incarnate, Kagura didn't remember her past did she?" And the questions kept rolling until everyone notice that she was not answering any of them. Soon they were quiet.
"Feh." Inuyasha said disgustedly. Still not trusting Kanna, but fueled all the more in his anger as to what happened to the little girl.
"My mother was a very strong fortune teller. She could gaze into the past and present with her mirror. My father was a strong warrior, and he was a Hanyou. So In truth, I wasn't really human, but nor was I Yukai or Hanyou. Naraku wanted me for my magic, he absorbed me so that he too could wield my mother's mirror, but only someone of our family blood can use it, unless given freely to another. So, he chose to incarnate me as his follower. I never really questioned my past, and when I did and found out the truth, I hated Naraku, but there was nothing I could do. He held my heart and still does. I am not free to live. Nor ever was in truth."
"So are you saying you can use your mothers mirror?" Sango asked.
"Yes. I have even become more powerful than her."
"How so?" Miroku asked suspiciously.
"Inuyasha. Naraku knows of you're weakness. He knows you bear no threat when you turn human. And so his army will come forth at dusk, only a few moments after you are fully human on the night of the new moon." She said.
"How do you know this?" Kanna just looked at him without answering his question. After he began to squirm she looked away.
"Kanna, you look tired, you should sleep." Kagome said kindly, the girl turned to her and her lip twitched to what might have been a smile. Kagome gave Kanna her sleeping bag and sat back down with the others.
"But Kagome, what are you going to sleep with then?" Sango said. Kagome thought for a moment but shrugged her shoulders.
"I'll be fine for one night." Miroku shook his head at her kindness. Keade smiled at the girl. Soon they all began to talk and tried to sort this whole mess out. After many hours and more headaches than actual progress, everyone went to their bed rolls and slept, except for Kagome who laid down on the bare floor, her only source of heat from Shippo's small body.
***
The sun had barely risen, and yet Kagome sat up, wide awake. He heard her yawn and mumble something under her breath. HE even heard her small footsteps come towards him and drop something warm on him. She walked back to where she had laid. Inuyasha twitched, but didn't actually open his eyes until he heard her rummaging here and there, while trying not to disturb the others. He watched her, until she had finished packing her bag and she stood up quietly. Her clothes we rumpled from falling sleeping in them, and she looked tired, but she looked happy. Sighing, not even looking at him, she walked out of the hut quietly. Inuyasha stood up from against his post on the wall and followed her, while putting his Haori shirt back on.
He watched her walk silently through the forest, hardly even tripping, and listening to the early birds singing. He didn't even let her know he was there, or stop her.
She threw her bag in and swung both legs over the wells lip, hesitating for a moment as she sat there. He saw her muscles tense up to jump.
"Kagome, wait!" He said in an almost begging tone that he loathed. Kagome stopped and looked behind her as Inuyasha jumped down from the trees. They stood there, each contemplating each other's thoughts while looking at one another. Nothing stirred, and the only sound was the birds.
"Inuyasha, I'm going home." Kagome finally said, but didn't move.
"You-"He stopped as his voice cracked.
"You're coming back right?" He said, this time arrogantly, but still could not completely hide the whimper in his voice. Kagome smiled.
"Yes. Yes, I'll be back. I'm going back for four days, maybe less if I can. I need to take care of things."
"I know, those tests or what ever." He said angrily at the thought that she might rather do those than be here with him.
"Yes, tests, but not just that. Inuyasha, I have to tell my mom about...that...too. It might take a while though." Inuyasha's head hung guiltily for a moment. Kagome tensed up as she began to jump over again.
"Kagome, wait." Inuyasha said again.
"Yah?"
"You promise...that you'll come back?" He said, his eyes sad and worried. Kagome swung her legs over and walked over to Inuyasha. She stood a hair breds away from him before hugging him tightly. She stepped back and took something out from underneath Inuyasha's haori shirt that had been hanging from around his neck. She held the nice warm, golden trinket in her palm.
"You see this locket?"
"Yah?"
"I told you I would never leave you. Ever. And if I did, that you would always have this so that if ever we never saw each other, we could at least be together somehow. Inuyasha, I said some stupid things. I even said I would never return, but the truth is, I would have eventually. I'm not able to leave all of you behind as if it were just a dream. If I wasn't able to then, then there is no way I'm able to now. You and the others are as much apart of me as anything else. I could never leave forever, and to say so would be a lie. So trust me when I say I'll return." She said. Inuyasha nodded and watched her go.
"I'll see you in a couple of days!" She waved, a bright smile in her eyes as she disappeared. ***
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****** Authors Ending Note: Gah! Oy Avea! I wanted to add more, but this chapter is already so very long! Oh well, I guess you won't find out about...(wouldn't you like to know) till I get my next chapter posted. Te he!
By the way, I noticed a few mistakes I made in previous chapters, saying that Inuyasha turned human when the moon was completely full (te he-what was I thinking? Oh yah, my head still had a 4 rent sign hanging in it) so if you see any of the old chapters being reposted, that's why.
Review and tell me how I'm doing! (If you want, I guess you don't have ta)
Authors Beginning Note: Here's your new chapter! I'm kind of if'd out as to how it's going to turn out but I think it will be worth it?
"" while during a flashback means the person having a flashbacks words in the present time
********* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Chapter 33
Kanna's Story and
Kohaku's Mission
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ***********
"Inuyasha, milord. What Sesshoumaru spoke of was the truth." Said a tiny flea that appeared upon Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Exactly how much did you hear?" Inuyasha growled, threatening to flick the flea off and leave him on his own. An audible gulp was heard.
"Please forgive me Lord Inuyasha, it was not my will to eavesdrop on your important conversation! I was mearly there and could not stop myself from hearing what was said!"
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't squish you like the bug you are."
"I was with Sesshoumaru the whole time. What he spoke of wasn't completely the truth."
"That bastard!" Inuyasha spat.
"Indeed, it is far more gruesome and unbearable. I fear if Naraku actually succeeds, this will be the end of everything." Myoga said seriously. Inuyasha froze. Now that he was sure he had his master's attention he continued.
"Naraku has a vast territory of an army that none can ever imagine. All of them dark and greedy, thirsty for blood and power. Each one promised a share of the jewel. Inuyasha, this may very be the beginning of the apocalypse."
"How can Naraku have so much power?"
"Do you forget? He has many shards of the Shinkon Jewel and he absorbs the power of many demons." Inuyasha felt sick, but began running back to the village and almost lost his balance as the wind shifted.
"Inuyasha, do you think you could go a little bit slower?...Inuyasha?" He questioned as a deep and low rumbling bored through Inuyasha's chest. Without bothering to answer he rushed off even faster, Myoga screaming in tow.
***
Inuyasha threw the matted doorway aside. Tetsusaiga was raised, ready to use as soon as the danger presented itself. He looked at the semi- startled faces of his companions and growled at the new face seated right next to Kagome.
"Hello Inuyasha." Kanna said coolly.
"What is she doing here?" He asked walking menacingly towards her.
"Inuyasha, I know what you are thinking, but hear us out." Miroku said quickly. Inuyasha glanced at him, ready to hear what he had to say, but didn't ease up his guard.
"This is Kanna and..."
"I know damn well who she is, now what is one of Naraku's bastards doing here!"
"Inuyasha, she is no longer under Naraku's control." Kagome said and stood up. Inuyasha stared at her.
"How do I know she's not controlling you or the others?" Kagome paused.
"Sit boy." She said and vroom. Inuyasha fell face first into the floor cracking the wooden boards. Keade sighed and ladled a bowl of soup for Inuyasha, while trying hard not to laugh.
"Kagome, would ye refrain from using the subduing spell while inside?" Kagome blushed and nodded.
"You didn't have to do that!"
"Well, what did you want me to do!"?
"I don't know! I..." He stopped suddenly and sat up. He sheathed his sword and sat down cross-legged.
"Inuyasha?"
"Well? Aren't you going to tell me why she's here? Or do I have to force it out of her?" He snarled, not explaining his abrupt halt in words, completely throwing everyone off guard, as they had been expecting a new fight to ensue, but none came. Everyone seemed at ill ease at this, every one that is except a certain mischief maker. Shippo threw a top at his head leaving a large bump.
"Why you little!" Inuyasha got up to chase Shippo in circles inside the hut.
"Inuyasha! Don't you dare even think about hitting Shippo!" Kagome said sternly as she grabbed Shippo and placed him in her arms. Inuyasha grumbled and pouted as he sat back down, facing Kanna. Shippo stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha only to earn a stern look from Kagome and a cross eyed look from Inuyasha, whose course of action went amazingly unnoticed. Yes, things were defiantly more normal than they had been. Kanna sat up straighter than she had been and everyone turned their attention to her.
"I started my journey many nights ago. Naraku attempted to attack the Yukai called Sesshoumaru, but when I told him his plan would fail, he struck me. For many moon cycles I knew he would. I also now this very moment that he intends to kill me. My life is to be lived short. I came here in order to tell you of the war that is coming."
"You came here to tell us that? That was kind of pointless." Inuyasha stuck his nose up in the air in his know it all way, but looked confused as everyone stared at him in curiosity and surprise.
"And I suppose you knew of this before us, hmm Inuyasha?" Miroku questioned.
"Yah, Sesshoumaru told me."
"Sesshoumaru?! You saw him? When? Where?" Kagome questioned.
"Feh. I don't see why it's any of your business." He said. Kagome's eyes narrowed.
"Sit." Smack, he went through more floor boards. Myoga, who until now had gone unnoticed jumped onto Sango's shoulder and began sucking her blood only to get a large 'Smack'! The small flea floated down to Sango's expectant hand and quickly became 3-D again.
"Ah Sango. You have such a unique taste." He said dreamily, before being squished again.
"Myoga, what are you doing here? Finally come back after the fighting is done?" She said tartly.
"Dearest Sango, I would never dream of abandoning you or any others of this group in such dire moments of need. I was merely accompanying Sesshoumaru unnoticed to Naraku's castle."
"Naraku's Castle!" Everyone said in unison except Kanna who was silent and stiffly poise, and Inuyasha who was still face first in the ground.
"Yes, it was quite by accident mind you that I stumbled upon the Lord of the Western Lands, but I heard him say something about knowing the where abouts of Naraku's Castle and decided to follow."
"Indeed, and do you know the where a bouts of Naraku's Castle?"
"Alas, I fear not, for the height of a mere flea is so small compared to that of a humans and his sight limited." Miroku raised and eyebrow but nodded for him to continue.
"We traveled many days and nights, it wasn't until maybe five nights ago that Sesshoumaru stumbled upon the strange dark valley of Naraku's only to behold the horrors of what lay there."
"And tell us Myoga, what exactly was there?" asked Sango, for her and Miroku were very curious, for they had not been told of the complete dangers or gruesome horrors there. Only Kagome and Inuyasha.
"An army. A vast army lay spred out overcrowding a huge valley in the shape of a bowl. At first it just seems like a huge black blanket, but it's really an army of men and Yukai alike, all deadly and all thirsty for blood. There are dead trees scattered and in those trees are horrible flying creatures that have blood dried onto their claws, fangs, and wings. In the very center of it all is a huge castle, like the one you've seen in Naraku's illusions, only much bigger. And this is only a brief description of what it was like." Everyone was pale, even Inuyasha who had a red face, and was trying to look like what he was being told was nothing more than a boy fell in a mud puddle.
"Ah yes, and Sesshoumaru was indeed attacked by two Yukai, very naive Yukai, but fast. They were of course obliverated. Then we came upon Inuyasha and he and Sesshoumaru faught, only to have Sesshoumaru withdraw and tell him of the war to be. What's worse is that Naraku's army is supposedly going to attack around the night of the new moon." Kagome let in a sharp intake of breath and Inuyasha's ear twitched in her direction. His face strangely contemplative. A moment of silence ensued before Myoga spoke.
"Why? Why would you tell us Kanna? Why did you come all the way here to tell us of this war, when even you think you'll be killed because of it?"
"Because, you are the only one's who can destroy Naraku."
"But you said it was because you were angry at him for hitting you!" Shippo yelled. Kanna did not flinch.
"What do you mean we're the only ones who can kill him?" Inuyasha said seriously.
"Because you are. As for my reasoning of being here that is true, in part but not completely." Inuyasha growled at her half answers. She might as well be talking in riddles.
"You see, I was once human." She said and looked out into a world past the shocked faces of her hosts.
***
"Kohaku."
"You called Master?" The boy dressed in a blue Taijiya uniform spoke monotone. He sat back on his heels with his head bowed as he was given orders. His mind dull and hazed from real thoughts or his own.
"I want you to find a human for me. One human, a small human girl that goes by the name Rin."
"Yes Master. What will I do once I find her master?"
"I want you to bring her to me. She travels in the company of the Yukai Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. He heads north as we speak. Now go."
"As you wish Master." The boy said and stood up silently, leaving the man that had sat before him to brood in his own dark thoughts.
Kohaku snuck past many demons and humans, silently, as if he himself were a shadow, and came upon the rim of the valley, taking a secret passage. He stood there as the wind whipped around him and yelled at him urgently, as if there was something else he should be doing.
`La `La `La
There's something...I'm supposed to remember. Something. I knew before I was summoned to Naraku. At least I think I did, maybe it was a dream. A dream. It was a dream, of, of a memory. A memory. A memory of what? Why! Why can't I think? It's like, I'm moving through a cloud. A girl. It was of a girl, no. It wasn't was it? I must be thinking of the girl I'm supposed to find. Then, what? What is it that I forgot?
`La `La `La
Kohaku made his way along many paths, thinking of the one thing that tormented him the most, but the more he thought, the less he remembered, and so, as the sun rose, he knew nothing of his previous thoughts earlier that night, and traveled with nothing but his name and his mission.
***
"I was human once. I belonged to a village far north. So far that water on lakes and rivers froze, even the rain froze into soft flakes. It was just twenty years ago that is happened." She said reminiscing. Many images flew into her mind.
/ / / ~*~*~Flashing Back~*~*~ "Mommy! Mommy! Daddy's coming home!" A small girl shrieked as she ran into her mother's leg. The Mother looked down lovingly at her precious Gem. The daughter's innocent white eyes looked up into her mothers gentle pale silver ones. Unlike her daughters though, this woman's looked weary, as did her body, from crying.
"My dear little snow flake. How do you know this?"
"I saw our men! I saw them coming up the valley! Isn't it wonderful Mommy! We'll finally get to see Daddy again!" The girl jumped up and down, and try as she might, the mother didn't smile.
"How can they be our men? They died a few days ago, unless my mirror was mistaken. Please oh Kami above, let that be so, and do help us if it turns naught to be." She whispered.
My mother was right. It wasn't my father and out men that came.
"Kanna! Kanna! Run!" The young women screamed to her young daughter as she held a long stick. Many men, if they could be called that were facing her. They were dead, they walked, but disoriented, like a drunken man fresh from the pub.
"No! I won't leave you!" The little girl screamed.
"Kanna, you must. You have the mirror; you will know when to use it. That is all you need. I will find you if I can, so please! Please! Run! Go!" She yelled and a teary eyed girl ran into the thick forest. So thick, no snow could be seen upon the ground, and no light would shine.
I was cold, and hungry. For Four nights I wandered that forest. I had no water, no food. All I had was a mirror. I was all-alone, until one day.
"Kanna? Kanna?"
"Mommy! Is that you!"? The little girl cried out as she saw a figure in the dark. The figure held up a lantern and shone to reveal a woman, worn, tired, scared, but alive.
"Mommy!"
"Oh Kanna dearest! You're safe!" She exclaimed as she kneeled to the ground and held out her arms to be held. Kanna ran to her joyfully, crying into her mother's shoulder.
But it wasn't my mother whose arms were held open for me.
"Mommy, You're squeezing me to tight! It hurts. Mommy?" She heard a snicker.
"I am not you're mommy, little girl."
"No, No! Let me go! No!" She screamed, but was soon absorbed into the figures body, to be no more. The woman stood up, only to slowly transform into a man wearing a baboon skin that covered every part of him but his mouth and eyes. His laughter rang out through the forest, demonic drunken laughter. / / / ~*~*~Flashing to the present~*~*~
"But, why did he absorb you?"
"Tell me about you're mother's mirror."
"How do you know this?"
"Yah! Especially if you're his incarnate, Kagura didn't remember her past did she?" And the questions kept rolling until everyone notice that she was not answering any of them. Soon they were quiet.
"Feh." Inuyasha said disgustedly. Still not trusting Kanna, but fueled all the more in his anger as to what happened to the little girl.
"My mother was a very strong fortune teller. She could gaze into the past and present with her mirror. My father was a strong warrior, and he was a Hanyou. So In truth, I wasn't really human, but nor was I Yukai or Hanyou. Naraku wanted me for my magic, he absorbed me so that he too could wield my mother's mirror, but only someone of our family blood can use it, unless given freely to another. So, he chose to incarnate me as his follower. I never really questioned my past, and when I did and found out the truth, I hated Naraku, but there was nothing I could do. He held my heart and still does. I am not free to live. Nor ever was in truth."
"So are you saying you can use your mothers mirror?" Sango asked.
"Yes. I have even become more powerful than her."
"How so?" Miroku asked suspiciously.
"Inuyasha. Naraku knows of you're weakness. He knows you bear no threat when you turn human. And so his army will come forth at dusk, only a few moments after you are fully human on the night of the new moon." She said.
"How do you know this?" Kanna just looked at him without answering his question. After he began to squirm she looked away.
"Kanna, you look tired, you should sleep." Kagome said kindly, the girl turned to her and her lip twitched to what might have been a smile. Kagome gave Kanna her sleeping bag and sat back down with the others.
"But Kagome, what are you going to sleep with then?" Sango said. Kagome thought for a moment but shrugged her shoulders.
"I'll be fine for one night." Miroku shook his head at her kindness. Keade smiled at the girl. Soon they all began to talk and tried to sort this whole mess out. After many hours and more headaches than actual progress, everyone went to their bed rolls and slept, except for Kagome who laid down on the bare floor, her only source of heat from Shippo's small body.
***
The sun had barely risen, and yet Kagome sat up, wide awake. He heard her yawn and mumble something under her breath. HE even heard her small footsteps come towards him and drop something warm on him. She walked back to where she had laid. Inuyasha twitched, but didn't actually open his eyes until he heard her rummaging here and there, while trying not to disturb the others. He watched her, until she had finished packing her bag and she stood up quietly. Her clothes we rumpled from falling sleeping in them, and she looked tired, but she looked happy. Sighing, not even looking at him, she walked out of the hut quietly. Inuyasha stood up from against his post on the wall and followed her, while putting his Haori shirt back on.
He watched her walk silently through the forest, hardly even tripping, and listening to the early birds singing. He didn't even let her know he was there, or stop her.
She threw her bag in and swung both legs over the wells lip, hesitating for a moment as she sat there. He saw her muscles tense up to jump.
"Kagome, wait!" He said in an almost begging tone that he loathed. Kagome stopped and looked behind her as Inuyasha jumped down from the trees. They stood there, each contemplating each other's thoughts while looking at one another. Nothing stirred, and the only sound was the birds.
"Inuyasha, I'm going home." Kagome finally said, but didn't move.
"You-"He stopped as his voice cracked.
"You're coming back right?" He said, this time arrogantly, but still could not completely hide the whimper in his voice. Kagome smiled.
"Yes. Yes, I'll be back. I'm going back for four days, maybe less if I can. I need to take care of things."
"I know, those tests or what ever." He said angrily at the thought that she might rather do those than be here with him.
"Yes, tests, but not just that. Inuyasha, I have to tell my mom about...that...too. It might take a while though." Inuyasha's head hung guiltily for a moment. Kagome tensed up as she began to jump over again.
"Kagome, wait." Inuyasha said again.
"Yah?"
"You promise...that you'll come back?" He said, his eyes sad and worried. Kagome swung her legs over and walked over to Inuyasha. She stood a hair breds away from him before hugging him tightly. She stepped back and took something out from underneath Inuyasha's haori shirt that had been hanging from around his neck. She held the nice warm, golden trinket in her palm.
"You see this locket?"
"Yah?"
"I told you I would never leave you. Ever. And if I did, that you would always have this so that if ever we never saw each other, we could at least be together somehow. Inuyasha, I said some stupid things. I even said I would never return, but the truth is, I would have eventually. I'm not able to leave all of you behind as if it were just a dream. If I wasn't able to then, then there is no way I'm able to now. You and the others are as much apart of me as anything else. I could never leave forever, and to say so would be a lie. So trust me when I say I'll return." She said. Inuyasha nodded and watched her go.
"I'll see you in a couple of days!" She waved, a bright smile in her eyes as she disappeared. ***
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****** Authors Ending Note: Gah! Oy Avea! I wanted to add more, but this chapter is already so very long! Oh well, I guess you won't find out about...(wouldn't you like to know) till I get my next chapter posted. Te he!
By the way, I noticed a few mistakes I made in previous chapters, saying that Inuyasha turned human when the moon was completely full (te he-what was I thinking? Oh yah, my head still had a 4 rent sign hanging in it) so if you see any of the old chapters being reposted, that's why.
Review and tell me how I'm doing! (If you want, I guess you don't have ta)