Chapter 18: The Search Part II
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.
A/N: Okay, I'm sorry about my breakdown in my new fanfic, but it's not true. I was just venting my feelings out of everything in sight. Hope you enjoy my fanfic!
With InuYasha and the others
"This scrying book had better work," Kikyo grumbled as she read the book in the faint light Miroku had provided for her in Sesshomaru's dark car. Along with the book there had also been the tools she needed to find such things. Now the girl sat squinting at the instructions page.
"Um, wench, you have to hold the mirror this way," InuYasha grabbed the tiny, oval shaped mirror in Kikyo's hand and rotated it slightly. "And you have to hold the needle like this."
"How would YOU know? I'm reading the book," Kikyo objected, taking the objects away from the hanyou.
"Well, I'm reading the book as well!" came InuYasha's retort. "You think I'd actually speak without thinking?"
"Actually, yes," Kikyo's voice had become excited. "I've found Naraku's castle. It's to the north of this place, behind the first mountain we see when heading north."
"Um…okay," Sango said. "Isn't that the Haina-Opua Mountain?"
"Right," Kikyo absent-mindedly agreed. "And, according to the map, there's even a car road leading there! Let's go!"
And, feeling full of hope, the group sped off towards the mountain.
With Kirale
Everything was quiet. My master and his other strange woman servant had gone away, and all that could be heard was my silent breathing as I slept and thought at the same time. I wanted to get away from this spell that voice had mentioned to me, but I didn't know how. Besides, what if I didn't have enough will-power?
Apparently to Kagome, I was an intruder. I had been forced into Kagome's body and been kept in there, and the original owner had been pushed to the back of her brain. My master had put a binding spell on me so as to prevent me from running away, which was exactly what I felt like doing now. But I probably wasn't fast enough.
"And if you are?" Kagome had come back again. I gritted my teeth, telling myself to be patient. I suppose my companion was a form of entertainment.
"Well then, I'd get away, but since I don't even know my abilities, I can't judge. If I tried to get away now, only to find that I'm too slow, then I'd receive a punishment for nothing!" I reasoned out with my second self.
"Come on, I know for a fact that your master won't kill you. He NEEDS you. Why do you think he chose your soul from the mirror in the first place?" Kagome was trying again, and I knew, somehow, that she was right. My master must have reasons for doing what he did.
"You're sure about this, right?" I asked Kagome.
"Of course. Think positive."
"Okay, but if we get caught, you're the one to blame," I told my friend, hoping for the first time that I could get away from this hellhole.
"First of all, however, test your arms and legs. Find out if anything's pulling you down in any way," Kagome instructed.
Doing so, I realized that my hands were bound tightly by strong ropes, but strangely enough, my legs were free. This I quickly reported to my new instructor, who I could practically see nod and shift in a seat I had created for her in my mind.
"Okay...do you suppose you can move your arms as far as to reach down to your legs and untie your bonds…without Kagura seeing you?"
We both knew that, although our bodyguard was gone, Kagura was still watching us through her supposed sister's mirror. Kagome had told me all about it.
"Um…that's very unlikely," I felt like laughing. That idea was so obvious even a half-blind fool could tell that I was up to something.
"Oh," Kagome had fallen silent, and I could now imagine her brain working a way for both of us to escape. "Do you suppose you could…um…take a risk?"
"I could, but Kagura can catch me right away and come here in a flash," I objected.
"Well, I remember something about her hinting that she wanted to be free," my second self replied, and I thought in wonder. Didn't Kagura lead a comfortable enough life? So comfortable that she would never want to leave her master's side?
"If were lucky, then Kagura won't inform Naraku about what we're doing. In a worst case scenario, Kagura would inform Naraku. We'd be caught if you're too slow, and Kagura will make sure that we are tortured real bad-"
"Okay okay, that's enough imagining!" I was wishing that Kagome hadn't voiced that out right now. "I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. And remember, if we get caught, I'M the one who suffers."
"Ah, but remember, it's MY body that Kagura's inflicting pain on," Kagome replied smoothly with a hint of fear in her tone.
"But I might have to stay in your body forever," I reminded my friend. "If my master succeeds in harming your other friends."
There was a silence. And then…
"Kirale, you don't have a true body right now. Would you keep mine if you had the chance?"
I froze. How could Kagome come up with such a thought? "Of course I won't," I replied angrily. "I don't take what's not mine. I was forced into this body, so don't you worry. You'll have your body back as soon as Lord Naraku's dead."
"Thanks," I could feel Kagome smiling weakly.
"No problem," I replied, feeling warmer.
With InuYasha and the others
"Well, we're here," Sesshomaru's voice cut through the air like a knife through butter. Everyone moaned. The journey had been long, and had therefore led everybody into an uneasy sleep.
Koga yawned and opened his eyes, only to shut them tightly. Though Koga was used to big, grand-looking places, he had had yet to experience a scary castle-until he'd seen Naraku's. Well, I'm going to BUST it down, Koga couldn't help grinning at his own optimism. Miroku, sensing the positive vibes, quickly put them out with a pessimistic remark. Unfortunately, however, Koga was feeling too confident for that.
"At least I have some positive vibes about me," he retorted angrily. "Let's get going."
"Wait! Koga, you don't want to run head-first into the castle! What if Naraku's got some evil, strong weapon in there?" Sango cried, holding the angry wolf demon back.
"Well then, I'm going to defeat Naraku and his evil, strong weapon!" Koga snorted, pulling away from Sango. "Lemme in there!"
"Koga, you need a plan," Kikyo said knowingly. "And I think I've got one, because I know that Kagome's not one to sit around and wait for her friends to come to her all day…"
With Kagome
So I had gained Kirale's trust and confidence, and best of all, the reassurance that she would never try to take my body away from me. Untying the leg ropes in right in front of Kagura was risky enough, but the next part of the plan was hardest. Kirale was going to have to get to the entrance of the castle without a map. Kagome could tell that Naraku's hiding place was huge, judging by the way people's voices echoed through the corridor when shouting.
"Remember, Kagome," Kirale was talking now, and I turned my attention to her. "If we get caught in this, you're to blame."
"Please have confidence, Kirale," I replied as calm as I could. "You're making me nervous."
As Kirale untied the bonds that held her down with difficulty, the only thing I could do was to curl up into the tiniest ball I could curl up into and hope that everything would go out as planned.
With Naraku
"Kagura, you are sure that the captives will not attempt to escape?" Naraku asked his servant for the seventh time that day.
Kagura sighed. "Of course, master, your binding spell and the ropes are everything that make up the perfect escape proof solution."
"Sister, look at this," Kagura could hear Kanna whispering silently to her, and the female youkai's heart began to beat faster.
"The two are untying the bonds that hold them down, and with amazing strength," Kanna whispered to her younger sister.
Kagura shrugged, knowing that the time had come. "Let it be," was all she said before returning to Naraku's side.
A/N: Once again, I apologize most sincerely for losing my temper and patience, and therefore I ask you forgiveness by REVIEWING to show your appreciation for my efforts. I apologize once more and to ask you to review.