I must say, I am quite disappointed. I only got one review on chapter 33 (Thank you NekoGuyFan!) And only two reviews on Gaia (Thank you #1KeybladeWielder and Anoria) Where did all my readers go? Oh well… here is chapter 34.
Chapter 34: The Answers In Naraku's Castle"Aun, go faster," Hanako ordered. The demon let out a loud moan, but quickened its pace. Hanako closed her eyes, letting the cool air blow through her hair. It was getting darker and darker, and her nervousness only grew more and more.
She wanted to know why Naraku had taken her herself, but was afraid of what she would find. She wished she knew what lay ahead of her in the castle he supposedly lived in. And what would Sesshomaru do to her once he found out she had acted against his wishes and came anyway? She also feared being whipped or beaten by him. With his strength, it would most likely be the worst beating she would ever have; but also, she would have to be beaten by him, which would cause her aching heart more pain than the physical pain itself. She almost wanted to turn back, but kept on going onward, ignoring her inner requests.
The sky before her was black, and hovered above a castle that loomed in the distance. The air suddenly became solid and thick, making it hard to breathe. She began to regret disobeying Sesshomaru.
What am I getting myself into… this is the strongest evil presence I have ever felt…(…)
Sesshomaru stood at the castle doors, tall and lonely by themselves; two doors that led into his castle. He knew Naraku had obviously wanted to lead someone here by letting down his castles' barriers and allowing others to sniff it out. He peered around him at the dead bodies of other demons that had tried to enter.
Something is protecting the outside, he thought, Why is it that whatever it is has not yet attacked me?
He figured it was one of Naraku's little traps again, which did not worry him in the least bit. Whatever he was plotting, he could easily get himself out of. No one, especially him, could stand in his way.
"Naraku's castle…" Jaken said, for some reason in awe of its large size, "Are you to enter it?" He scurried next to Sesshomaru, determined to stay at his side during the battle he would most likely fight with Naraku.
"Of course," Sesshomaru said, pushing open the doors with full strength.
They both waited for something to pop out in front of them to fight, but nothing happened. Sesshomaru gazed about curiously, and walked on into the castle, Naraku's disgusting scent filling his nose. Jaken shrugged and followed him into the darkened room.
What is this? Kagura thought, observing silently from behind a bush, Hanako is not with him? Then how am I supposed to take her?
She crouched silently, unsure of what to do next.
(…)
Aun landed on the dry grass. Hanako eyed the castle with fear, surprised at how creepy it looked. She had expected a luxurious and beautiful manor, quite like the one that her hated previous lord used to have. She remembered long ago that she had once stayed in the worst room of the house there, but it was still so lovely. But this was nothing like that. It was a cold and towering structure that seemed to just scream evil. She held onto Aun's reins tightly and jumped off. Aun let out another cry, as if warning her to get away from this place, and fast.
"Hush, Aun," she said, her voice shaking, "I'll be okay… I hope…" She began to walk closer to it, the evil aura constricting her lungs. "Go back to Rin. I don't want her to be by herself. Go on."
Aun flew up into the sky on command, leaving Hanako by herself. She shivered. There was no turning back now.
She kicked away dead demons with disgust and walked toward the tall doors that seemed as if they would fall and crush her any moment now. She reached out her hand to open them…
Someone grabbed her from behind. She struggled to break free, but it was no use. This person was far stronger than she was. Her eyes were covered, she could not see. She was being carried away, and no scream or cry for help could escape her quivering mouth.
The person kicked open a door and she felt herself enter a small room. She was thrown onto the ground and her arms and legs were bound with ropes. A blindfold was removed from her face. She found herself staring into the crimson red eyes of a woman.
"Wh-what's going on? Wh-what do you want from me…? What did I do?" Her voice shook with terrible fear. Sesshomaru was right: she should have stayed with Rin. Naraku was far too dangerous to talk with.
"I am Kagura, the wind witch," she said, looking down at her, "You know me, you just don't remember."
Hanako's eyes widened and she gasped. This woman Kagura also knew what Naraku knew? "I know you? But how? Please tell me!"
Kagura smirked. "You have come here seeking information, hm? Well sorry, but I can't tell you anything." She turned away from her. "They are my orders from Naraku."
Hanako looked at her with disappointment.
Kagura eyed the young girl she had just abducted. A weak and frail thing she was, and she still looked exactly the same as she used to; young and innocent. Even now Hanako stared up at her with her innocent eyes. It seemed almost impossible that such a girl could hold such an unimaginable power.
Hanako suddenly remembered the knife that was hidden in her shirt. She struggled with her wrists behind her back. If I could only get just one hand free…
She stretched and pulled at the ropes, but all attempts failed. The dry ropes scraped against her skin, causing a burning sensation.
Kagura chuckled. "Don't even try to escape," she said, "I'm looking right at you."
Hanako glared at her. She felt like saying something back in her own defense. "You… just wait till m'lord finds out that you have taken me!"
Her chuckles turned into laughs. "First of all, wait till he finds out you came here by yourself without his permission. And second, by the time he finds out where you are, you'll be long gone."
Hanako became more fearful. "What is that supposed to mean…?"
Kagura just laughed at her even more. Hanako lowered her gaze away from her. She did not like to be laughed at.
Its simply amazing, Kagura thought, this is the very room she was born in, and she doesn't remember a thing… and she doesn't remember me either. This fact angered her slightly. Hanako had made her a promise long ago, to set her free when the day came that she became powerful. That day was coming, but she did not remember that promise. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts. Why had she taken such a stupid promise so seriously?
Hanako lowered her head. This wind witch was right: wait till he finds out that she came here on her own, and by the time he does find out, perhaps she would already be dead. And would he even come to save her? Was that petty little argument the last conversation she would have with Sesshomaru?
If only I had stayed home…she thought mournfully. Tears fell from her eyes. She didn't know why, but just that thought made her so sad.
Kagura eyed her with confusion.
"Kagura," a deep voice called from beyond a door. It was a familiar voice. "Bring her out."
"Yes," she said back, taking Hanako's ropes around her wrists and dragging her out the door.
"Where are you taking me!" Hanako shrieked, "Let me GO!"
Kagura threw her back on the ground. Her body hit the hard, cold floor with a bang. She lifted her head slightly to see where she was.
She was in a large, empty, dark room. She glanced upward. There stood a man with long dark hair: Naraku. She continued to stare at him for long moments, unsure of what to say. He stared back.
"Hanako." He spoke with a cold, but for some reason friendly gaze. "You did not come to me, so I had to make you come. I hope you didn't mind being taken so rudely from my castle doors."
She said nothing. There was nothing to say to that…
"Good," he said, accepting her silence as a worthy response. He pulled her up by the ropes around her wrists. He held her in place at his side. She did not fight him.
"He's coming," Naraku said, gazing at the door. He knew he had to act quickly. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the red bead from it. He pressed his fingers against it, silently giving it commands.
"Who is coming…?" Hanako asked. Her mind suddenly went blank. She felt energy come from within her and surround her and Naraku. She blinked, and her mind came back under her control.
"Very good," Naraku said, smirking at her, "You have put up your barrier."
She gazed at him for a long period of time. It was true. He knew all about her; he knew everything that she wanted to know. There were so many things that she wanted to ask, so many questions she wanted answered, but there were no words to express them coming from her. She was speechless.
"You have once more led me here again, I see."
Naraku and Hanako both looked up. Sesshomaru stood before them at the doors, Jaken at his side.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Hanako shouted to him suddenly finding her voice.
Sesshomaru at last took notice at what Naraku held close to him in ropes. His eyes widened for a moment. Naraku somehow had Hanako. He regained his senses and remained calm, showing no sign of caring about the situation. He thought about it for a few moments, remembering that Hanako had been with Rin. Where was she if Hanako was here?
"Jaken," he said, still with a blank expression, "Go to Rin."
Jaken was about to say something but Hanako cut him off.
"No," she said bravely, "Do not worry about Rin-chan, Lord Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru stared at her, a bit angered that she had said that he was worried for her.
She bowed her head low in shame. "Please, I beg of you to forgive me, Lord Sesshomaru… I acted on my own!" She glanced up at him to see if his facial expression had changed at all. He just stared at her with a confused look.
"I took Aun and came here by myself… and left Rin-chan alone…" She bowed her head lower. "Please do not be angry!"
Sesshomaru became quite surprised. The last thing he had expected was for her to disobey him. That meant that Rin was safe with Aun far away from here, so he had no need to think of her safety any longer.
"You FOOL!" Jaken shouted at her, "You did not listen to your orders! And look where it got you: tied up in ropes! Why, Lord Sesshomaru should have you beaten and sold to some poor villager who can barely afford food! You are not worthy of us!"
Hanako burst out in tears at Jaken's hateful words. No… I don't want to be sold… please don't sell me… no!
Sesshomaru sent Jaken a dirty look. Jaken went silent at once, realizing that he had spoke too much.
"If you are done terrorizing her now," Naraku began, "Maybe you can set your sights on your opponent."
Sesshomaru glared at him and drew his sword. He ran swiftly up to Naraku and swung it.
A pale light surrounded Naraku and Hanako. Hanako suddenly screamed out in pain and fell to the floor trembling. Sesshomaru backed away. A barrier, but it was not Naraku's.
"So," Naraku said, staring at Hanako quivering with pain, "Making barriers does hurt you after all…" He lifted her back up again. "You can do it, just not well. When struck, your barriers cause you pain."
Hanako regained her consciousness from the unbearable blow. It was the worst pain she had ever felt. She shivered close to Naraku, almost feeling that he was to protect her.
"Do you hear that, Sesshomaru?" Naraku called out to him, "You cannot win. Every blow to this barrier causes the girl unimaginable pain. Is that what you want?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Naraku. How he detested him; using Hanako as a shield. "You expect me to care about that?"
"You answer your own question. You have not struck another blow." He held Hanako's quivering body outward. "Just look at that face. Do you really want to hurt this female?"
Hanako looked at Sesshomaru with deep agony. "I'm so sorry, Lord Sesshomaru… This is my entire fault… I'm so sorry…Please do not give up because of me…" she wept.
Sesshomaru lowered his gaze to the ground. He wanted to slash through the barrier. He could do it too, it was quite weak. But he could not find it in himself. He could not hurt Hanako. He could not hear her scream like that again. He said nothing in response.
"Do it," Hanako said to him, "Its all the pain I deserve for not listening to you."
"Do not tell me what to do, Hanako. I believe you have done enough already…"
She looked away.
Naraku smirked. All was going as planned. Now, to take what was rightfully his. He undid Hanako's ropes. She turned around in complete surprise.
"I know why you came here," he said to her, trying his hardest to make his voice sound soothing and kind, "You came to find out about your past… you came because I know."
She looked straight into his eyes. How did he know this?
"How do I know this?" he said with a smirk, "Why, I know all about you. Everything there is to know, in fact. Your past, and your present. I know them"
She gasped. Her eyes widened. How?
"How?" he said, reading her every thought through the mystic bead he now clenched in his pocket, "Because you are mine. My property. My possession."
Sesshomaru became angered with Naraku's babbling. "She is my possession. I bought her at a slave traders. You do not own her."
Naraku cackled. "Correction: You took her."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened. How did he know this? No one had been there, no one had been watching. Or had they? He became confused. Naraku had tried to drown Hanako in a pond. Why was he now acting so possessive of her? It disgusted him. She belonged to him and no one else.
"I've been keeping a close eye on you," Naraku said, "I have seen everything you've done. I have watched your every move"
She backed away from him. She was terrified. She wanted to run to Sesshomaru, but something deep inside her stopped her. It was unexplainable.
His voice faded off into a cold whisper. "You wake up each night from nightmares of those who tortured you for so many years. You think about going to your Lord Sesshomaru for help, but figure he wouldn't care and don't want to bother him, and so you cry yourself back to sleep…"
Her entire body began trembling and tears streamed from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Her chest ached. It was true, all so very true.
Sesshomaru looked at her, his eyes becoming large. She was still tormented by those memories even though he had killed the men? He felt a deep sadness that she had dismissed the thought of going to him.
He took her arm and brought her wrist to her face. "You plan to leave us all when your lord grows tired of you."
Hanako gasped. He even knew about her plans for suicide.
"No!" she shrieked. It's as if you run through my thoughts…
A wide smirk spread across his mouth. She was now beginning to understand.
"Just remember this Hanako," he said, still holding her wrist, "Go down the road, not across the street."
Sesshomaru became outraged, almost slamming through the barrier, but stopping himself. "Get your hands OFF of her NOW!"
Hanako turned to him. He appeared angered and stressed. "Lord Sesshomaru…" she said softly.
Naraku whispered in her ear. "I even know about your deepest sin… you are in love with him, aren't you? You lust after him… don't you? You want to spend the rest of your life with him."
Hanako's mouth fell ajar. She had never even spoken these words once. Had it been so clear in her actions? She trembled more. She had not expected him to know so much.
"Well let me tell you something:" he began, still whispering to her, "He doesn't care about you at all. He doesn't even like you."
She looked at the ground, and then to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru growled. "Don't listen to his words, Hanako," he said, trying to regain his calm disposition. Jaken stared at him and Naraku and Hanako with confusion, wondering how much he had missed.
Naraku backed away from her ear. "And I'll tell you another thing," he began once more, "This is your barrier. You can leave it too of your own free will, but no one can enter it."
He pushed her toward Sesshomaru. "Go with him, and continue your little lonely nightmare-filled life." He came up closer behind her. "Or, you can come with me and I will tell you everything. Everything that you have ever desired to know."
Kagura's eyes widened. She had not been allowed to tell her anything because it might fool with her progression in her power. No… what if he is lying to her…?
Hanako looked at him carefully, studying his gaze, examining his eyes. He nodded to her.
"Make your choice."
She gazed at Sesshomaru.
He doesn't care about you. He doesn't even like you.
"Hanako," his voice boomed, "Come here now!" His heart pounded out of his chest. What was Naraku doing with her? Playing with her mind? What had he been whispering to her earlier?
She took a step toward him and stopped. He felt relief wash over him. She wasn't as dumb as Naraku thought.
She looked at him for savored moments. He appeared more stressed and angered than usual. He looked back at her. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from him. "I'm so sorry, Lord Sesshomaru, but I cannot continue in your services."
She turned around again and began to walk toward Naraku. Sesshomaru nearly fell backward.
Naraku smirked. Just as he had thought…