Author's Note; Sorry about the lack of updates, everyone. RL threw me a tough schedule these past few weeks, and I also came against a slight case of writer's block. I know where I want this story to go, but getting there is easier said than done! D
"Yes, I'm afraid that I do. My name is Gishohu, and Yojikin is my younger brother."
Chapter Five: New Aquaintances; Friends or Foes?
"Yes, I'm afraid that I do. My name is Gishohu, and Yojikin is my younger brother."
"What? You're in league with that bastard?" Inuyasha growled as he reached for the hilt of his sword.
"Stay your hand, Inuyasha. Allow me to explain."
"It began nearly 30 years ago, when we were children. Our father, a powerful lord, was attempting to groom me as his heir. My younger brother was jealous, and did everything he could to attract Father's attention. As far as I was concerned, I wanted Father to choose Yojikin as his heir; I wanted nothing to do with his corrupt power.
"My Father was notorious for accepting young women as payment for debts owed. He would use these women in ways that still turn my stomach. My mother, who was once a village girl herself, was repulsed by Father's behavior and asked him to change his vile ways. He refused, and that is when the beatings began. He would beat my mother every time that she spoke, until she reached her breaking point. She finally decided that enough was enough.
"So, Mother arranged for me to live with my grandfather in the village. She was attempting to find a way to smuggle my brother to safety when she was betrayed."
"Who would betray her?" Sango asked, her eyes shining with her own memories of betrayal.
Gishohu turned his blue eyes toward her, which softened as he spoke, "her own son; Yojikin."
"So wait a minute, let me get this straight. Your brother turned on his own mother? Why?" Inuyasha rubbed his silver head absently as he shifted on his green pillow.
Gishohu nodded. "Yes. He was so desparate to gain Father's approval that he warned him of my mother's plans. They confronted her together, and when she tried to flee, Father had her killed. Ever since, I have remained here, vowing my revenge on that insolent coward."
"But why keep any of this secret from the villagers? Shouldn't they already know by now?"
"Miroku, is it? The villagers know that my mother was married to the lord. However, they did not know that she had two sons. They know about Yojikin because he took over Father's lands when he died. But until he assumed control, no one knew about either of his children. He was fearful that someone would attempt to use us as leverage, and so he never released the knowledge that he was a father. When I came to live here, the townspeople thought that I was an orphan, left behind from one of his...affairs."
"Ok, so what does any of this have to do with Kagome?" Inuyasha was growing edgy again, as he always did when the miko was absent.
"My brother picked up where Father left off, I'm afraid. Except he takes a more menacing approach to our father's old habits. He buys or, failing that, kidnaps strong-willed women from the surrounding villages. No one knows for sure what happens to them, only that they are never seen again. The villagers have come to call his fortress the Castle of Broken Souls; it is believed that my brother breaks his victim's spirits before he kills them"
Inuyasha leapt to his feet, anger reflected in his gold eyes. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go kill this creep and get Kagome back!"
Gishohu lifted one hand and motioned for the hanyou to sit back down. "It is not that easy, I'm afraid. Besides the small army that he surrounds himself with, my brother has somehow managed to seal his castle away so that no one can find it. Once, it stood atop the hills at the south end of the village; now it is gone, without a trace. The only evidence that it still exists are the raiding parties that he leads out to gather more women and pillage the local towns for food. Recently, his raiding parties have been sighted nearby, and so the village has mobilized in an effort to fight back and possibly find a way into his castle."
Shippo leapt onto Miroku's shoulder and tugged at the monk's hair. "Miroku, what if we helped them? If the rain has washed away Kagome's scent, we'll never find her on our own! Even Inuyasha's nose isn't that good!"
The hanyou's face turned an angry red as he balled his hands into fists. "How about I hurl you into the woods, you little brat? Who knows, maybe you'll hit the castle and give it away!"
Miroku and Sango sighed, knowing the routine between Inuyasha and the little fox demon. The monk decided to direct his attention back to Gishohu, knowing that chiding the pair would be a waste of breath. "Gishohu, I saw the layout of your defenses on the maps in the temple hall. Maybe we could assist you, in return for your help finding our friend?"
The lord thought the matter over for a moment before deciding. "Provided that your friend's," he said as he pointed to Inuyasha, "bark is bigger than his bite, we would be glad to accept your help."
"My what?" Inuyasha stood, glaring at Gishohu through narrowed amber eyes. "Listen, we don't need your help, all right? We'll be fine on our own!" he turned to the doorway, motioning for the others to follow. "Come on, we're leaving!"
"Inuyasha, wait!" Sango leapt in front of the door, blocking the stubborn hanyou. "We do need his help. Face it, we're stuck until this rain lets up, so we might as well do something useful and help these people! Besides," she continued, "these villagers will know the area better than us. They know where the castle isn't, so at least we'll have a starting point for our search. Kagome is in real trouble, Inuyasha. If we don't work quickly, we might never find her at all!"
The half demon glared at the slayer for a moment before looking away. "Feh. Fine, if you guys want to stay here, then go right ahead. But I'm going out there, with or without you." He pushed past the slayer, disappearing behind the blue curtain and back out into the temple.
Stupid hanyou...his heart's bigger than his brain. Sango thought as she turned back to Gishohu and the remainder of her companions.
Kagome slow opened her eyes, fully expecting to see a hanyou rooting through her backpack for Ramen. As her blurry eyes began to focus, however, she found that there was no backpack and no hanyou either. The only item that the girl could see was the tattered red cloth, still clutched in her small hands.
"Inuyasha, I hope you're okay." Her soft voice echoed through the small cell, and Kagome sat up to survey her tiny surroundings for what seemed to be the thousandth time. The cell was dimly lit by a miniature window about two feet above her head, where the stone and mortar wall met the ceiling. A thin ray of sunlight seeped through the barred hole, casting a faint light on her prison. The entire area was damp, covered in patches of a soft green moss that smelled strongly of lost hopes and decay. Kagome forced herself to stand, covering her delicate nose against the stench. Most of the foul odor was emanating from the pile of hay in the corner, and Kagome could not decide if it was supposed to be a bed or a bathroom.
"Ugh. I hope Inuyasha and the others find me soon. This place is gross!"
The sound of footsteps drew her attention away from the corner. Someone was coming.
"Inuyasha?" she whispered, hope dripping from the word as it echoed softly. No, it can't be...if it was him, wouldn't he running? She listened as the slow, measured steps came closer, and fear crept into her heart as she instinctively backed into one of the empty corners.
The footsteps grew silent just outside of her prison door, and there was the scrape of metal on metal as a key was inserted into the lock. The door swung open with a squeal born from years of rust and neglect, and Kagome shielded her eyes against the bright glare of a torch as its light flooded the cell.
There were no words spoken as someone entered and approached the girl. She tried to back farther into the wall, but the cold stone lent her no escape. The figure reached out and grabbed her arm roughly, forcing her toward the door.
"Let go of me!" She cried in vain as the guard drug her into the hallway.
Three other guards waited for them, and one reached forward to tie the girl's wrists together with a small length of rope. She struggled, but her efforts earned her a sharp slap across the cheek and she fell silent once more. After tying the girl securely, the man placed a blindfold across her brown eyes. The entire time not one word was spoken. Even as the strange group proceeded down the dark passage, there were no other sounds than the echo of their collective footsteps and the scratching of small rodents as they scurried away from the torchlight.
Kagome lost track of the time as the guards led her away from her cell. It seemed as though an eternity had passed before they stopped her and opened another door. Through the blindfold, she could sense the change from darkness to light as they emerged from the prisons.
Still her captors pushed her along in silence, navigating her through several twists and turns that must have been hallways. At one point, Kagome was certain that she was being led through a courtyard, as the sound of birds chirping reached her ears.
It was shortly beyond the courtyard that their destination lie and the guards brought Kagome to a halt once more. She felt a hand touch her face, removing the blindfold.
Kagome blinked her brown eyes against the light. It only took a few seconds for her sight to adjust to her new surroundings, and she quickly took in the area around her. She stood in a decorated hallway, with tapestries and ornate furniture scattered about. There were three guards, but she could tell nothing about them; each wore identical uniforms, which included facemasks. One of the guards pulled aside the bamboo curtain that spread in front of her, and the girl felt a hand press against her back for a moment before one of the men shoved her into the room.
Kagome fell through the curtain, landing on her knees on the hard wooden floor. A gasp escaped her ruby lips as pain shot through her body. Her hands were still behind her back, and, unable to reach out and support her body, Kagome toppled over. She lay on her side for a moment, trying hard to ignore the pain in her knees. Where am I? she thought as she tried to catch a glimpse of the room. Well, wherever I am, I had better find a way out of these ropes!
As Kagome began to work at the bonds securing her wrists, she became aware of another presence in the room. Using her elbows, Kagome managed to roll herself over so that she was laying on her left side. Her eyes first met with a pair of sandaled feet, and slowly worked their way up the richly robed body to the steely blue eyes of her captor.
Yojikin wasted no time, reaching down to haul his captive to her feet. He reached into his robes and drew forth a small glass bottle. Kagome recognized the bottle, and its contents, instantly.
Oh no, the jewel shards!
"Where did you get these?" the lord asked, his breath harsh against her face as he shook her slightly.
"Oh, those?" Kagome asked, trying her best to sound nonchalant. "Those are...good luck charms, from my grandfather..."
Before she could complete her hurried explanation, Yojikin had her by the throat. One muscular hand held her in the air, leaving her feet dangling helplessly as she struggled to breath.
"Do not toy with me, woman!" Yojikin screamed as he tightened his grip on Kagome's neck. The lord shook with sudden rage as he hoisted the miko higher into the air. "I know what they are, now tell me where you got them!"
Kagome struggled to breathe as the lord tightened his angry grip. Stars were beginning to appear at the edges of her vision, and the girl knew that if she could not find a way to free herself she would black out. Instinct took over, and Kagome brought one of her bruised knees up in a desperate attempt to break her captor's hold.
The blow connected solidly with the lord's groin. With a grunt, he dropped Kagome, who began choking as her air passage was freed. She immediately curled into a fetal position, afraid of the consequences of her actions.
"You bitch!" Yojikin managed to squeak out as he brought his hands to the injured area. Kagome took the opportunity to work at her bonds some more, hoping that she could free herself before the lord recovered. Unfortunately for Kagome, only seconds had passed before he was standing over her once more.
Though her back was turned to Yojikin, she could hear his breath exhaling in angry gasps directly above her. She curled into and even tighter ball, trying to protect her body from the abuse she knew was coming. Yojikin did not disappoint her.
Blinding pain tore through her exposed lower back as the lord began his assault on her body. He rained a series of kicks to the area surrounding her kidneys, and soon tears streaked Kagome's face as the pain grew worse. The girl bit her lip to keep from crying out, and the coppery taste of her own blood quickly filled her mouth. Her silence seemed to incite Yojikin further, and he doubled his efforts, refusing to back away until he had had the satisfaction of hearing her break down. As the attack grew fiercer, Kagome simply could not hold back any longer. Her bloodied lips parted, and she screamed as Yojikin landed a solid blow to her spine.
The sound of her cry seemed to break the spell of madness and rage that had consumed the man. The beating ceased, and Yojikin called to the men who waited just outside the curtained door. Kagome could not hear the exchange, nor did she notice when the guards roughly pried her out of her fetal position and carried her back to her cell. All the young miko could do was cry as the pain of her injuries stabbed through her battered body.
Once alone, Kagome forced herself to work past the excruciating pain. She focused her thoughts on one simple fact, and the enormity of the situation that she now found herself in.
He has my shards...I have to do something! she repeated the thought like a mantra, focusing the last of her fading energy into sitting up. She noted that someone had removed the bonds from her wrists, which were now red and slightly swollen. With her newfound freedom, Kagome attempted to untangle her arms from underneath her abdomen.
The movement, even as small as it was, turned out to be a big mistake.
Kagome collapsed back onto her stomach as a wave of pain rocked her slim form. The intensity of it was terrifying, and the miko almost wretched at the force of it. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly, and Kagome whimpered as the breath left her body.
Inuyasha.... Kagome looked toward the thick door of her cell, half-hoping that the hanyou would be standing there, ready to whisk her away to safety. But no one was waiting, and Kagome found herself trapped in this lonely world of pain and misery. She shut her eyes against that world, her concentration devoted now to staying conscious.
"Not another one..."
Kagome's eyes snapped open at the sound of a woman's voice, and instinctively she tried to back away. The movement only caused more pain, and this time Kagome could not stop the bile that forced its way up her throat.
"Ye poor thing, hold still before ye hurt yourself even more," the voice said in a soft, gentle tone.
Kagome forced her eyes to focus, which was becoming increasingly difficult with each passing moment. There was a darkness lurking on the edges of her vision which threatened to overtake the girl, but she fought against it and soon her sight cleared. As she blinked away the last of the blackness, the figure of a woman came into focus. "Keade?" she managed to ask through clenched teeth. She hadn't even heard the creak of the old door...
"Hush, child. I am a friend; that is all ye can know for now. Now lie still." Kagome obeyed the mysterious woman, knowing that she wasn't in any shape to attempt anything else. Since fleeing was no longer an option, Kagome decided to take a closer look at this strange person. She was about Kagome's height, and her slim body was covered by crimson silk robes. Her face held a hint of age, which lay in the soft lines around her mouth and her sad brown eyes. She seems so sad...is she a prisoner too?
The woman crouched next to Kagome and reached out a pale hand to lift the girl's chin. Kagome flinched slightly as a finger trailed over the bruises forming on her cheek; results from the blows she had received earlier. Then the hand moved slowly from her cheek to her back. Kagome stiffened against the touch, but the woman's large eyes offered no threat as they locked with her own. Something in the woman's gaze kept the young miko from moving, and Kagome nodded, letting her continue with the examination.
The moment that the small hand reached her back, Kagome screamed. The pain tore through her, nearly splitting her in half with its force and intensity. At her scream, the woman withdrew her hand and shifted her weight so that she rested on her knees.
"Ye are badly hurt, child," the woman said in a soothing, dulcet voice. She shook her head sadly, then moved once more to place a hand on the miko's injured kidneys. "This will only hurt ye for a moment."
Kagome steeled herself against the pain, but as the woman again laid her hand on the bruised area, the miko felt none of the blinding hurt from before. There was a slight warm sensation, and then the pain faded to a dull ache.
For a moment, Kagome simply sat there. Then she moved slightly, testing the results of the woman's ministrations. Kagome was able to twist her body with little discomfort, and her wrists and throat felt as though the attack had taken place days ago, not mere moments.
Disbelief shone in her brown eyes as she rubbed at her lower back. "How...how did you do this? Who are you?"
The woman stood, offering a slender hand to the young miko. A small smile graced her ruby lips as she began to speak. "I am Aniko, the woman of this castle. I am in charge of caring for all of the lost souls that wander these desolate halls." The smile faded, replaced by a forlorn look that made Kagome's heart ache. "There are lessons that ye must learn, child. First, please do not anger the lord. He has taken mercy on ye this day, but I doubt that such kindness will last in the times to come. Whatever request he makes of ye, ye must obey without argument. If ye do not obey the lord, even my power will not be enough to heal the wounds he will give ye."
"Why are you doing this? Aren't you afraid that you'll be caught helping me?"
Years later, in the silence of the deepest nights, Kagome would forever be haunted by the look that the woman gave her now. The brown eyes hinted at an unspeakable sadness and horror that Kagome hoped she would never understand. "Ye have no need to worry about me. I will not be discovered."
The two woman stared at each other for a moment, one lost in private memory, the other slightly puzzled. Finally, the older woman stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on Kagome's forehead. The girl immediately felt her eyelids begin to close, and she fought against the sleep that was threatening to overtake her. She crumpled to the ground, unable to resist the effects of the woman's spell.
"Sleep now, child, and listen to these words of advice that I leave with thee. Do not argue with the master, and remember that you will not be alone." Kagome struggled to say something, anything, to keep the woman from leaving, but sleep overcame her and carried her away into darkness.