Disclaimers: I own Nothing
Authors Beginning Note: Oooh. You finally get to know the what happened in this spine tingling thriller-well untill the next one
I am sooooo sorry for this late update. Well, its earlier than last year, I waited a whole year almost. But anyway, there's another story for escaflowne I have planned out that I had wanted to type up but I thought maybe I should wrapp this up real nice and quick like.
So why I didn't update sooner, well, If I wasn't in school I was doing school work. I had next to nill time for myself to even think. School all day, work right after until late at nnight, and then study and homework until 3 in the morning. Just to start all over the next day. Even the weekends were crammed with work and homework and ect…
Hopefully with summer now I will have some time to continue. Cross your fingers!
Shout It Outs
DramaQueenABZ: It was, but as you recall, he stole the Shikon Jewel from Kagome, so that enhances his powers extending to day- he prefers the night though, b/c it takes less energy and he can do more without the observance of crowds.
I'm sorry you were confused. I'll try to explain it more in a later chapter.
Rayame325: Nah. Inu and Miroku were left behind. After all, Kagome adn Sango hadn't planned on staying so late so didn't see the necessity of bringing them.
Glad you liked it though!
Chapter 6
Bloody Message
Sango shook and trembled. As soon as the subway train stopped, she bolted. The red message played over and over again in her head. I've got to get to them…it has to be Naraku…only they can save her…
Sango cried. Never had she felt so helpless since,
Since…the time we thought Kohaku was going to die…when he was so sick…and we didn't know what was going on…It was then that our parents changed…devouting their lives to work…and when Kohaku finally did heal…they didn't know how to stop…but to what end…what will this change…
Sango shook her head in dread.
Kagome slept lightly, knowing everything that went on around her, yet nothing, and when she finally did awake, she found herself in a strange room. An old hut that could never really exist in the modern time. She sat up from the mat she was on. She still wore her shirt and skirt, and had the Haori wrapped in her arms.
"Where am I?" She whispered. A woman sat up and looked at her with the same red eyes as Naraku.
"You are a long way from home." Kagome stared at her pointed ears, the aristocratic stubborn face of a willful woman. She wore traditional robes of magenta, blue and white. Her hair was tied back in a bun, a feather graced her hair and a shell dropped from her ear.
"Who are you?"
"I am Kagura, the wind sorceress, and you are Kikyo's descendant, here to assume your rightful place to the throne." Kagome looked stunned for a moment. She stood up and moved to the door.
"I wouldn't suggest that." Kagome's finger was pricked by a strange electrical current. She jumped back. Kagura sighed. Kagome sat back on her mat and looked at the woman.
"Where am I?" Kagome repeated, more forcefully.
"You're a couple hundred years in the past. This, as you know it, is the Feudal Era. As of currently, Hojo is reigning Emperor, and until he can either choose an Empress, or the child that was stolen away from Kikyo by her Sister Keade-before her death- is recovered, the whole empire in this part of the country will collapse, and truly the feudal era will reach its bloodiest peak. Then the Meiji Era will set in, and demons alike will be wiped out. Only the truly strong will survive the shift of ages and adjust to the ways of the humans. Few however will. And eventually, we will dwindle out to a mere handful before we reach the time period you used to live in." Kagome was dumbstruck.
"How…"
"I know because I lived through it before being digested by Naraku." She spat his name venomously out.
"Then he in turn made me his incarnate. So don't get any fancy ideas. I'm bound to serve him."
"Then what am I doing here?"
"You are here to claim your place at the throne. You look the spitten image of that Empress witch, so I see no reason why you shouldn't be believed. And it is exactly 16 years after the babe has been missing, so you are the perfect candidate." Kagura said with oh so much love and joy.
"Don't forget the most important part Kagura. After she becomes Empress, then we are to wed, and I will become ruler." Kagura sneered as Naraku stepped to Kagome who stood ready to fight. He grinned in carnivorous approval.
"And with the Shikon Jewel in my hands, I will be twice as powerful." He let the ball and chain dangle from his sly fingers. Kagome lunged at it, but fell and hit the barrier keeping her in. She shook violently and fell forward, away from it. He watched her in amusement.
"Give that back! That was my mother's! She gave it to me!" Naraku twirled it in his fingers
"In all fairness, Kikyo should have chosen me as her significant other. If she had, than eventually this little trinket would have been mine. But Keade stole both the necklace and the babe. So now that I have it. I think I will keep it." Kagome spat at his feet.
"I will never marry you!" Her brown eyes blazed with fury and her hair seemed to coil. She stood ready to lunge at him.
"We'll see." He disappeared in a screen of smoke.
Kagome fell to her knees. Kagura handed her a bag.
"Here. Take it."
"What for?" She snorted at the once riled girl now reduced to a pitiful child.
"It's a sewing bag. It's what women do right? And your food. No one will be here for a few days. But don't try to escape. Naraku has powerful spies watching everywhere. I know." She said the last part in a hushed whisper Kagome knew was only meant for her. The barrier wavered for only a moment for the woman, before reasserting itself. Kagura leapt upon a feather and flew away.
Even Sango, who was in top physical condition, had to stop running at one point. She felt like she would die. Her heart pounded severly, breaths came in forced paineful gasp, her chest shuddered, her muscles trembled, and she stood leaning against a wall, trying not to faint. The fear was still embedded into her that there was a chance that she was followed.
Kagome…how could I have let this happen…I was right there…I was…right next to you…and I was too busy sleeping…
She slowly moved at a gentle walk.
What will I tell Ms. Higurashi…If I just show up alone…she'll know something is up…I can't tell her what actually happened…and I can't tell her Kagome is missing…
Her thoughts were scrambled as she turned the corner and walked up the thousands of steps. Her legs were burning, but she could live with that. She saw a lone figure at the top of the steps wrapped in a shawl, a bright smile on her face. Sango's stomach fell. She put on a cheery face and hugged the poor woman.
"Sango, is something the matter? Where's Kagome?" Sango stepped back and shook her head.
"No, just a long stiff night. Kagome was feeling a bit energetic so she decided to grab something to eat in town and practice her archery. I told her I'd be here, and would bring her some lunch later and practice too." Ms. Higurashi tilted her head but smiled.
It must be a boy…ah…I remember how hard it was for me and some of my friends…when a boy came along…awkward at first…
"Okay. Why don't you go upstairs and rest in Kagome's room a bit. I'll wake you up before noon time." Sango felt relief flood her. A trembling welled up inside and she had the sudden urge to sob into her warm motherly arms.
I remember…when we were a close family…my mom was just as wonderful…I always loved to talk to her…and she was always patient and understanding…
Instead she stood up tall, and buried her emotions, not wanting to burden this woman who was as dear to her as Kagome herself was, and followed her inside.
She found Miroku and Inuyasha, both in a sitting situation as if they were leaning against a wall on Kagome's dresser. Inuyasha's red Haori missing and Miroku's outer robe gone as well. Sango looked at it in her arms and saw that perspiration had dripped on it in places, and it needed a good washing anyways.
"Ms. Higurashi?" Sango stepped downstairs.
"Yes Sango?"
"Do you think you could wash this for me?" She held it out and it looked nothing more than a violet sheet. Ms. Higurashi took it and smiled.
"Of course dear." Sango nodded and was greatfull when her head rested on the soft pillows of Kagome's bed. Her eyes moved to the dolls and back to the book.
"Kagome. Please be alive. Where ever you are." Those words were like a parting to the conscious world. Sango fell into sweet clouded darkness.
Kagome sat there. She spread out the haori and needle and thread. Slowly, patiently, and with care she began to patch the much needed tending to cloth. It's the least I can do in thanks…he did save my life…and Miroku too…
Slowly, as her hands gained rhythem, she was able to concentrate less on her work and more on how to escape.
I can't go through the door…and there are no windows…could I dig…no…there's nothing I could use…and my nails…oh how I wish I didn't have the habit of chewing nails…I don't think I can scoop out enough dirt with my raw hands…I guess that just leaves opportunity…grab it when I see it and hope all goes well…
She made a start as she pricked her finger. A blood droplet quickly formed and descended. Kagome licked the wound and went back to the task set before her.
I can see why woman used to do this…its almost soothing…and you can think…you have all the time in the world to think…
When Sango woke up, it was later in the afternoon than she had wanted it to be. She ventured downstairs and saw a note pinned on the fridge.
'Sango,
Went shopping with Grandfather. Souta is with a few friends. We'll be back around 4:30. I hope Kagome likes the lunches I prepared for you. They're in the fridge. And have fun with your practice. Call if you think you're going to be late.
Ms. Higurashi'
Sango shook her head. How was she supposed to be home early with Kagome if she wouldn't know where Kagome was until after midnight.
Sango went upstairs and dressed in her practice uniform, and slipped in some clothes over that. She found the robes sitting on the dresser along with both dolls. She slid them all into a small back pack and put that over her shoulder. With expertise controle, she also slid Hiraikotsu on her back and stepped outside. She looked out upon the city and then behind her to the forest. A narrow path could be made out.
Funny…I've never been down that path before…I don't think Kagome's mentioned it either…come to think of it though…I've seen her Grandfather walk there and come out…once or twice…I wonder…it couldn't possibly hurt…
She followed it. It was a narrow winding path, peaceful and quiet. Sango's nerves were still and she felt like she had walked into a piece of tranquility. She stopped at the clearing at looked at the interesting shrine building. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing dark about it. But something strange and magical.
Ofudas littered the ground and Sango picked one up. She looked at the screen door and shrugged.
"They must have fallen off or the wind blew them away." A slight breeze palyed with heer long chestnut hair in its proud ponytail. She stepped forward and pushed the screen door aside. She let out a sigh of disappointment.
"A well. Just a well." A small balcony wrapped around the walls in a square, and small steps decended five feet down only to be greeted by a wooden well. The floor was packed dirt. Sango leaned up against the wall, a foot pushed up against a bar on the balcony railing. Hiraikotsu lay only a hand away.