1Disclaimer: If I told you once, I told you eight times! (So here's the ninth) I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA! Thank you. (I own the moon demon tribe, though.)
Chapter 9 "To Own Her Soul" Part 1
"Where were you, when the sky fell down?
"I hold it all inside, the pain...
"To this degree I've fallen,
"Only to pick myself up once more...
"And I've cried alone each day,
"Waiting for you to care just this one time, and I,
"Refuse to forget what keeps me strong,
"The hope that one day you will return..."
"When the sky fell down, I was
"Waiting for you, but I was too foolish,
"To run from the storm that threatened on me...
"When you never came...
"And I've hoped so much each day,
"That maybe you would care just this once, and I,
"Refuse to let go of what keeps me holding on,
"The chance that one day you will return...to me," Kagome sang the words perfectly as she sat curled on her bed. The bandages on her hands itched a bunch and she was trying not to think about them. If she did, she may just end up scratching them, and that couldn't feel too good. Right? There was a light tap against her door frame. As she looked to it, the door slid open. Naraku stepped in and closed it behind him.
"Is it time to spar with Kohaku?" she asked, stretching her legs out before her. Naraku moved by her side and sat.
"You want to spar with Kohaku with your hands like this?" he asked, lifting one of her arms gently in his hands. Kagome looked at her hand as it lay in Naraku's.
"Isn't that part of my punishment?" Kagome asked lowly. Naraku undid the bandages on her right hand without answering. When her palm was bare, Naraku looked at the rawness of her skin.
"This looks worse than I remember," Naraku thought to himself. "I believe you were punished enough without having to be humiliated in a sparing session," he concluded, laying a hand on top of Kagome's palm. The injuries burned at first, but dissipated. He held her hand between his a moment longer than necessary. When he released it, he looked upon her gently. "Now give me your other hand, Kagome," Naraku commanded softly. She did so, and Naraku began to unwrap the bandages from that hand as well.
"My lord, I must apologize again for my behavior on yesterday," Kagome said under her breath, "and also for my performance at Sesshomaru's castle." Kagome felt the heat rise in her hand under Naraku's as her wounds started to heal. She winced.
"There are no more reasons for you to apologize, my Kagome," Naraku told her, still looking at her hand as he held it. He opened his hands gently and waited for her to withdraw. She did, and so he focused on her eyes. Rusty red... "You've more than paid for what you've done," he added. "I don't want to have to make you suffer any more." Kagome looked away from Naraku.
"I deserved it," she said more to herself than Naraku. Her captor guided her face with two fingers that he might look on her full on. Her eyes were ashamed.
"Kagome," he began softly, "You deserved only about half of what you endured. I never expected for you to come back with the moonstone." Kagome jumped very slightly at his words. "But you got your hands on it, didn't you?"
"Yes, my lord," she answered in her bewilderment.
"Then perhaps it is I who should be apologizing," he suggested. Kagome adverted her eyes, but Naraku turned her face back once more. "I will never hurt you again, my Kagome -not for anything like that." He rested his palm on her face. "I promise you."
Kagome's hand found Naraku's along her cheek. His eyes weren't so icy any more. This was strange, and Kagome was afraid by it.
"You have told me you are sincere in your promises, my lord," she said more to herself than him. Her voice was low, a whisper for only Naraku and herself to hear.
"I am," he confirmed gently. Kagome moved her hand from Naraku's hand to his face. "Now is not the time, my Kagome," he informed when he noticed the gentleness growing within Kagome's own eyes. But it is good I have you where I want you again, he thought to himself. "Let us not keep Kohaku waiting," Naraku added, withdrawing his hand from Kagome's face. Kagome withdrew as well and nodded.
...meanwhile...
"You told him what!" Yoshi winced at his sister's words.
"Would you rather him have the Shikon no tama?" he questioned in his defense. "There was no other way." The blue-white locks of his sister's long hair flickered the same red that resounded in her irises.
"You have damned the soul of an innocent human!" she fumed. Yoshi huffed. "Do you want to be ripped back into hell?"
"She didn't sound so innocent to me," he muttered.
"Yoshi whatever happens to this girl is your responsibility! It's your fault!" she shouted. Yoshi gritted his teeth.
"I think keeping an all powerful relic from the hands of an absolute evil is more important than the fate of a single female human!" he countered. Though he knew Suki, his sister, was probably right.
"When you make someone else take the fall, you must help them up afterward," Suki said matter-of-factly. "No matter how you justify it, you still owe her that much. She was already entranced with this 'Naraku,' and now you're making it worse." Yoshi ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"We came here to defend humans against demon's like Naraku, brother," she said more gently. "Have you already forgotten that?"
"I have not, and I will not," Yoshi responded softly. "As much as I hate to admit it, you're right. Whatever comes to pass for that girl is my doing." He looked out to the direction he last remembered Naraku traveling. "I must watch over her now, mustn't I?"
...x...
"Dark elves are said to have been borne of the fallen angels of hell. Characteristics vary by location. They are native to many parts of Europe and are rumored to also dwell in places of the orient. There is no evidence to back this up.
"Dark elves of France have red to mahogany shades of hair. The males are normally very muscular and the females are evenly curved. French darks are seldom seen any more.
"Dark elves of Italy have silky blonde hair. The males and females are both of slender build. Italian darks are said to all be gone.
"Dark elves of the Nordic regions have wild, blue-black hair. Males are of medium build, but tall of height with defined, but not bulky muscles. Females are also of medium build and tall height with thin hips. Nordic darks are very common, and are said to bring good luck to the domiciles they visit.
"All dark elves to date have crimson red eyes."
"Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked as she rested the open book on the desk. Sesshomaru looked down at her.
"Yes Rin?" he replied.
"Have you ever been to the orient?"
...x...
Kagome and Kohaku sat out in the field to talk again after practice. The air was nice that evening. Not too warm, not too cool.
"Kagome?" Kohaku asked bravely. Kagome continued looking out.
"Yes Kohaku?" she responded.
"Do you love Naraku-sama?" he forced. Kagome let a half smile slip.
"I think you already know the answer to that one, Kohaku," she replied. Kohaku sighed inwardly.
"But I've gotta hear it from you, Kagome," he insisted. Kagome looked at Kohaku. He seemed hurt.
"Kohaku," she started. "I am in love with Naraku-sama." Kohaku smiled weakly.
"Maybe if you get him to love you a little more," he joked shakily, "he won't hurt you again."
"He's already promised me," she informed, "he won't hurt me any more." Kohaku choked back something and looked back to the sky.
"I'm very happy to hear that, Kagome."
The air was still for a moment. The stars peaked out. The two friends sat silently beneath the canopy. It was as though they were both waiting for something to happen.
For the sky to fall, they thought at once, but neither knew what that stray thought meant. Kagome stood.
"It's probably time for me to get going to the bathhouse," she reasoned. Kohaku nodded.
"I'll be out here when you get back to say good-night," he said gently. Kagome half smiled, then she walked off.
...Author's note below...
AN: Review, sil vous plait. (Sil vous plait doesn't mean "please", it actually means "if it pleases you" or -even better -"if you please." Lol, but I guess please is close enough.) Why must I speak the French? (And seriously, why the parenthesis? Guess I've chatted online with my boyfriend too often. I'm beginning to pick up his habits.) I'm such a spaz! O.o