darkenedmoonlightflame
Hiten/Kagome/Bankotsu. I'll have polls up at the bottom in later chapters!
KxHxB. AU. Meet Kagome: serial man avoider slash klutz dancer. Meet Hiten: cold mercenary slash badass womanizing demon. Whoa, deja vu? One going in for the ultimate achievement, the other just trying to dance without getting punch dumped down her shirt. Each not noticing the world crashing and clashing around them, attractions brewing.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Inuyasha, or else all my stories would be weird branches off it. This story, idea, and writing is entirely mine, however.
(A/N: Ah, been forever since I updated, yes? Hmm… well, this is progressing nicely along. I know I've been saying this for the last three chapters, but hopefully new characters will be introduced! And if I feel like it, I'll even put up a poll. It's unlikely though, I'm not too sure I like polls. We'll see.
(Been busy with major advanced school projects, doodling in math class, having a fair share of good/bad luck. I feel inspired today. Maybe it's just because I had CANDY, but meh, you're lucky anyway. This could be considered my Christmas (Belated if this takes forever. HEHEH! I'm safe now.) present to you all! (Even if it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. I dunno, I might work it in somehow…
(So here ya have it. Dance, Dance, Koishii Part 6. Hnn, is that the formula for Fahrenheit into Celsius into Kelvin into Fahrenheit on my hand? (squints and laughs nervously) Um… I guess so. OO.)
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Dance, Dance, Koishii
Part Six
ELITE; bEtRaYal; JaKoTsU's IdEnTiTy… PaRt I() () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
Sometimes I feel like I have to remember to breathe, or else I'd be floating from world to world like a specter. Like if I forgot I'd somehow forsake my instincts and simply die. Sometimes I feel the urge to see what it's like, you know, when you're dead. But that's irrational.
According to her, I have work to do.
What this 'work' is, she won't tell me. I suspect it isn't pleasant at all. No, her side of me thirsts for danger, blood, adrenaline, anger. I feel lost among all that.
I've decided that she IS a part of me. She has to be, to be able to invade my mind like that. So I'll simply call her Kage Nagori, Shadow Memory. She seems to like that. That or Zetsumei Fukyuu, when that insatiable blood lust appears.
I can't decide. Am I losing my sanity? Perhaps.
But I do know I can't stay mad at Bankotsu for too long, or else my mind will become distracted, detached. Kage is slowly ebbing from my blood now, and I slow down to a brisk walk as I come upon the entrance to the mall.
The rain is still falling, but the clouds have begun to clear away, and I shade my eyes even as I slide through the automatic doors, halting at the fountain.
Sun is gleaming off of it, making the water glint like a trove of diamonds, pouring from the mouth of a serpent-dragon, which I hadn't noticed before. The rim is shining with moisture, slick from the overflow. A tingle arches up my spine, and my head flies up, focused into reality.
He's there.
Watching me. Those gorgeous bloodred eyes…
My eyes flicker back to the fountain, and within a millisecond, without a pause…
He's gone. Vanished from sight.
No sign he had ever been there.
I stare bleakly at the space he occupied, at a minute white box. Embellished with the word Kagome. I dart over, and flip open the lid. It was a clever paper box, now that I'm up close I see the swirling white designs upon it. Inside; a folded paper crane. Creases sharp, a vivid crimson color.
I can't help it; I smile. Even Kage's curiosity is spiked.
Hmm.
As carefully as I can, I cradle the box, and, sighing, wonder if that guy in the ice cream store has restocked the flavors yet. Feeling less adamant, without priorities, I stretch lazily like a cat. "What to do, what to do…?" I muse quietly.
My mind is decided, just as I spot Inuyasha whistling nonchalantly, in the process of flipping the CLOSED sign to one in green, saying OPEN on the video game arcade. I blink. Was I imagining it? Because he isn't there. And the sign says closed.
But it's twisting ever so slightly, a reminder of ancient momentum. He was there.
No longer doubtful, I pick myself up and stride briskly over to the small gap in the door. Holding my breath and sucking in my (hopefully ALREADY) thin waistline to slide though the crack, I'm rewarded with a world of paradise and the inventions of geeks.
"Now… where did you get to…?" I murmur, scanning the dimly lit room. The florescent lights are off, and only a thin bar of light emits from a locked door. I inch closer, not daring to breathe. It's like magic, keeping me spellbound.
"Oi, whatchya doin' here?" I, obviously, am startled. Which unfortunately leaves me tripping, stumbling, and pitching forward into the mini-bar's unforgiving ledge. I feel tears sting my eyes as I curl up into a ball, hands gently soothing the large bump on my skull.
A moment later, after probing for bruises, Inuyasha spins me around with ungodly speed. "You're not supposed to be here! If I find out you work for those yaroo of Rakurai-" He cuts himself off, looking guilty. Like he said too much. "Oh… Konnichiwa?"
"Anou… Hai. Konnichiwa, Inuyasha-sama."
"Kagome, ne?"
I nod slowly. "You invited me back to play the… game? Right?"
"Anou…" He glanced out of the corner of his eyes at the door, as if checking to see if it was alright. "I suppose it's okay. Just keep it on mute. Yeah…"
I nod again, like an idiot. Kage is about ready to burst out and tear the door from its hinges in a moment or two if I don't get some information soon…
I allow her to take over, but carefully restrain her blood.
"So, why so tense?" Kage is an excellent master of deception. She took such an… out of reach (for me) un-casual subject, and made it sound like 'how's the weather?'. It never will cease to amaze me.
"Keh, not important." I can practically feel my eyes sparkle along with hers. We love a challenge. This must be very important if he says THAT without provocation.
"Oh." She drops it. I am shocked. "Well, how about a smoothie, then?"
"Hai." He immediately un-tenses. I see now. Smart. "What flavor?"
"Anou…"She seems so undeceive, just like me. "What flavors ARE there?"
Inuyasha squints at a spidery scrawl on a board behind him before sighing. "One sec." He ducks under the ledge, fishing for a neatly typed menu. "Here ya go."
Berry. Ugh.
Cherry. Worse.
Watermelon. Okay, but not suiting the mood.
Hawaiian Punch. Too… Hawaiian for December.
Lemon. Nah, I'll have them on the side.
Mango. The ice cream is good, but it's just not my smoothie type of thing…
"Anou…?" He prompts.
"Hai, hai!" I scan faster and faster, Kage's speed lending me darting eyes. "PEACH! With lemons on the side and only a little bit of ice! OOOOOOHHHH! Can I get a mini-umbrella thingy too? Nanitozo?" I blurt at last, excited. Kage retreats for a moment.
Inuyasha stands there for a moment, blinking. Then in a blur, he's whipping around, whirring, shaking, and suddenly there it is. My peach smoothie, minimal ice, WITH lemons on the side.
"Wow. You ARE good." I dig in happily while he grins devilishly at the compliment. Today he's adorned in a red striped button-up, with a white tee shirt and normal old blue jeans to boot. Speaking of boot, I just have to say, "Nice cowboy boots, Tex. Shoot 'em up!"
There, now I've made even more of an idiot of myself.
To my surprise, he chuckles heartily, and pulls up a chair next to me after fixing himself a nasty-smelling brew of… something. I had no idea what it was. I consulted Kage.
'Crystallized hounoki tea,' she told me, certain.
That sounded good.
'It just looks like kuso,' Kage added wryly. I winced at the language.
'Isn't there a filter ANYWHERE between your brain and mouth?' I chide hotly, my face a bit redder than planned.
'Sheesh, what's next?' I see a flash of her rolling her eyes, ''Have you no shame?'' Her tone is playful, but mocking.
"OI, did you just roll your eyes at me?" I hear Inuyasha shout crabbily.
Oops, looks like whatever she does, I do too.
"Gomen nasai, I didn't mean to, Inuyasha-sama."
"Uh, no need for horrific! I mean, honorific. Keh. Same thing basically." He chortles, choking on his magnolia tea. Seems I'm not the only one with hazard-to-myself issues.
"Okay. How's Inuyasha-chan?"
"OI, I'm NOT a girl!"
So much for that. "Hai, gomen nasai-"
"What did I say…?"
"Fine, fine. GOMEN, Inuyasha-sa-" I stop. Take a deep breath. "Inuyasha?"
"Good!" I feel like an over-inspected pupil now. So that's not really GOOD at all. "I think you need tokens, right?"
"Iie, yen, I think."
He shrugs. He doesn't really know his chosen place of employment terribly well. I shrug too. Kage is extremely annoyed as I walk away. The urge to knock down the door and see what's behind it over comes me. I see my eyes flash violet-crimson in a dark passing game screen.
I contort my hand, and am surprised at it gives a particularly loud, intimidating crack. Reminding me of Bankotsu, and whose shirt I'm wearing. I sigh, and avert my gaze from the screen, focusing instead on my destination.
The game.
ALIEN INVASION.
Its curved, mysterious slanted writing beckons to me, inviting, winking. I officially shut off my brain, and walk over to grip the plastic red piece, and shove a ten-yen bill into the slot. That should keep me alive for a bit. It slurps it up happily.
I focus, choosing Tokyo as the city, easy as the starter level. Hey, I haven't played in a while. Besides, I've forgotten how to hold the simple gun. It feels unfamiliar to me.
Soon the introduction to the game plays. I stare, fascinated. I also, in a stroke of brilliance, forget to actually play when the game starts.
Result…
I die before the first alien even has time to call its ugly little friends.
Loud laughter rings out behind me. Inuyasha. I glare at the screen as it starts to reset.
'Try harder.' Kage commands brusquely.
I nod minutely, and get into a 'ready' stance.
I do better this time. I last until the fourth or fifth alien appears. Then…
I die.
Again.
The laughter is louder now.
I inhale sharply, and Kage reprimands, 'FOCUS. Lock your eyes on the targets. Kill efficiently. And RELOAD, for Kami's sake. Are you me or are you some weird alien yourself?' She threatens, 'Don't make me play it for you.'
'Okay, okay.'
"Nani? You say something, Kagome?"
"Iie."
'You dare say 'no' to me?' Kage mocks hotly.
'No, I meant-'
"Nani? Kagome…?"
"ARGH! Just shut up and let me concentrate!"
With that said, the game starts. I shock myself. I am deadly, honing in, predicting. It's so easy to see through these aliens. Right, left, left, feign duck, flying toward me, left, left, under, under-up left, under right, up, up, kill it before the civilian dies! And so that's how it progresses, until I am sentenced…
To defeat…
Some… manticore thingy?
It appears. Oh. I see.
'Let me take over now! Nanitozo, nanitozo!' Kage begs, eager.
"No, you said I could do it!" I tease.
"Anou… Are you talking to yourself, Kagome?" Inuyasha. I forgot about him…
"Ah… HAI! Moral support!" I beam a healthy grin at him, and continue.
I actually defeat the thingy. The game mentions it's moving up to medium level now, and needs two more yen. I feed it another ten, and continue playing, focused, taking Kage's advice. It's strange. Like I'm myself. But I'm not. I'm so fluid, graceful. I haven't even hurt anyone yet.
Not even myself.
Plus it seems so natural.
Like it's buried instinct.
"I should do this again…" I announce as I finish beating the medium level in only two tries, and more to hard.
It's become a pulse. A rhythm. Shoot, shoot, shoot, reload, duck, duck, feign, shuffle, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, reload, shoot, shoot. Inuyasha's laugh is gone. He's immersed in me, my motions.
I finish the level. I am the new high score person. I feel great.
'See, I told you we were each other.' Kagome says smugly.
'Hai, you're right. We are.' It seems easier to believe now… So easy…
"I know this sounds so weird, but it seems like we've met before. I've only seen one other person with those moves. But it was a really long time ago… Well, keh, ignore me. Finish your smoothie."
I obey. Soon I feel doubly happy, full of lemon and peach, and ready to wait. I check the clock.
12:00.
Sango will be here soon. I've been here a very long time.
Hnn.
Time flies.
"Well, nice to see you again, Inuyasha." I remember to kill the suffix. He grins broadly.
"Same. See you around at school, ne?"
"Hai." I make to stand. Unfortunately, that isn't what happens. To Kage's delight, I careen off the seat, trip on the long spindly wooden legs, smash into the door, sending it slamming open.
At first I don't look up, simply red from embarrassment, blurting out a million, "Gomen nasai!"s. Then Kage takes away the painful humiliation, allowing it to ebb away. She looks up, our orbs glinting in the darkness.
'You are ready to know.' Is all she says, before suddenly the wind is knocked out of my lungs, and I sit there, gasping like a fish on land. Coughing at last, I look up, and can instinctively feel my eyes are azure. It's so strange. My senses are heightened.
I can sense… thirteen others in the arcade with me, each a warm presence, different ki levels. The air crackles with abilities, and in an instant I can pick out any one individual in the darkness.
"Gomen nasai." I say for the last time. My voice is odd… it isn't as high-pitched. It's more alto-ish now. Smooth, calm, almost arctic. Three shiver. One freezes. The others are interested.
I can feel it now. Familiar personas, surrounding me. I say nothing. My eyes narrow dangerously, and I am enraged. My blood is pumping furiously through my veins, hammering in my head. I contain it, but I can feel the switch between us. My eyes, my appearances.
"K-Kag-"
"Urusai. I have nothing to say to you. Any of you."
"…" Sango is stunned to shocked silence. Miroku and Bankotsu bow their heads in repentance in the corner.
"Other than this: I hate you all, you heartless murderers." Stiffly, I brush past Inuyasha, standing there in awed silence, making sure to smack into him sturdily. He is nearly pushed over because of it, and looks even more surprised. I don't even stop to look back.
Instead, I reflect on my memories.
Who I am.
What they've done.
And, most importantly…
What I've done.
'Excellent.' Kage approves, 'Now that that is out of the way, it is to eliminate them once and for all…'
And for once, my mind filled with spiteful memories, I agree with her.
A/N: Not as good as I planned, so hopeful since this is early I'll have a better one out next time… In fact, I really didn't like it. If I ever revamp this, that'll be first to burn. Well, I've outlined the stage for some drama, and the new characters… All that's left is to UPDATE AGAIN!
Goal: update by Christmas.
So, in order to help that work, this'll be a rushed A/N.
VOCAB:
Koishii (can't believe I didn't think of putting this!)- beloved, love, darling
Kage Nagori- Shadow Memory
Zetsumei Fukyuu- Death Eternal
Oi- hey
-sama- respectful add-on
yaroo- bastard/s
Rakurai- NOT TELLING YOU WHO THEY ARE! Or where they come into play. HINT- means thunder and lightning
Anou- erm…, well…, er…
Hai- yes
-ne?- add-on to question for emphasis. Kinda like 'eh?' EX: Inuyasha sure loves ramen, eh?
Nanitozo- please
Hounoki- magnolia
Kuso- shit
Gomen nasai- formal, I'm sorry
Iie- no
Yen- Japanese currency
Kami- god
Nani- what
Ki-energy, chi, etc.
Urusai- shut up