Author's Notes: Hello, everyone...sorry for taking a little longer to get this out, all though I don't think I took THAT long. It's only been like twelve days or so, but I know how hard it is when you're waiting for another chapter so here it is. In case you're all wondering, it took me longer for two reasons; one, this chapter was just hard to put to paper for some reason, but the other reason is that I sort of had a melt down in regards to my shoulder last week, which made me put off a lot of things that didn't involve crying and dealing with my own personal issues.
Basically my shoulder flared up unexpectedly, and I had to go in for another shot yesterday...something I was thinking I wouldn't have to experience again, but did. This occurred because all the tendons are inflamed right now, and it's extremely painful, keeping me awake at night and limiting me to about 2-3 hours of sleep. I'm back on heavy pain meds right now, so that helps with sleep, but that leaves me very drowsy during the day, and also very discouraged. I'm sick of the pain, I'm sick of having to push through the day when I'm utterly exhausted, and so, yeah...that's my life right now. But I'm still loving writing, so I won't be abandoning this story any time soon by any stretch of the imagination, I promise.
On a happier note, I'm glad you're all liking the story so far. I think it's starting to progress now, and in this chapter we'll all get caught up, a little, with one of our favorite characters, and there will even be some fluff for those of you with a sweet tooth. However I don't feel this is one of my better chapters, so I apologize for that. Enjoy!
Orange Inuyasha: I wouldn't mind some tips from you about archery to help me keep Kagome's progress seem real. I have a friend who participates in an archery club at school, but she's not been around to give me advice much lately, so any help would be much appreciated! Thanks for the review!
Title: Impossible Dreams
Author: dolphingirl0113
Chapter: Sixteen
Rating: PG-13 (rated for language, violence, and implied sexual situations)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
DEDICATION: For Ted Dorsey, the greatest coach I will ever have, the most wonderful and patient mentor I will ever know, and the best friend I could have asked for. Thank you for everything you did for me in my life.
A hazy veil had fallen over the world, and as Kagome slowly returned to consciousness she was only aware of how heavy her body felt. Her eyes refused to open, her arms and legs felt detached, and her abdomen felt like it could sink right through the floor without much resistance. Her sense of smell and her hearing were the only things telling her what was going on, and as the fog slowly lifted she started picking out familiar voices, including that of an annoyed hanyou.
"You have a lot of nerve," Inuyasha's voice growled.
"Is it wrong that I should wish to be free, as you are?" The voice that responded was deep...just like the voice Kagome had heard before she'd passed out.
"Keh, you haven't changed one bit," Kagome could almost picture Inuyasha crossing his arms in frustration as she heard a rustle of clothing. "You still only ever think of yourself."
"How else does one survive in this world, Inuyasha?"
Kagome wished she could furrow her brow in confusion as she tried to understand why the owner of the strange voice was acting so familiar with Inuyasha. The two men were speaking as though they knew each other very well.
Without meaning to, a small whimper escaped from her lips, and Kagome felt someone immediately rush to her side and place a warm hand over her own as her eyes finally started to blink open...very slowly. She was met with a vision of amber full of worry, framed by silver hair, and her lips curved upward into a tiny, exhausted smile. "Inuyasha..."
"Kagome," His voice was soft and gentle, and she felt suddenly very warm and safe. It was the same tone of voice he'd had when he promised to always protect her.
"Where..." Her voice cracked, and she swallowed to moisten her vocal chords. "Where are we? What happened to me?"
"You fainted," he explained, "From an extreme loss of blood thanks to that no good bitch Kagura."
Blinking, Kagome shakily lifted her fingers and traced his jaw, feeling him shiver slightly at the contact. She couldn't help it...she had to make sure he was real and that she was awake. And he was so warm. "Fainted...?"
"Yeah," his voice was still soft, "You don't remember?"
"No, I do..." She furrowed her brow, recalling the feeling of sharp pain all over her body, along with the warm, sticky sensation of her own blood running over her skin. And she remembered Kagura smirking and lifting her fan, taunting them before she tried to kill them.
"What do you remember?"
"Kagura," she whispered, her voice still extremely faint. "And you fighting with her." She closed her eyes momentarily. "And Miroku, with his cursed hand, trying to protect us..." Her eyes flew open as she recalled the former monk falling to his side in pain as Kagura released a ball of poison into the hole in his hand. "Miroku!"
She tried to rise, but was easily pushed back against the rough mattress once more by Inuyasha's strong hands. "He's fine, Kagome," the hanyou soothed, again surprising her with his kindness and patience. "He's been awake for three days now."
"Three days...?" Had she been asleep for that long? Or even longer? The thought caused her to shiver involuntarily.
The sound of confident footsteps caused Inuyasha's ears to flick behind him and Kagome to roll her head to the side to see a tall man dressed in white staring at her with neither compassion or disgust...it was the most neutral expression she had ever seen.
"So," the man spoke, and Kagome instantly recognized him as the man who had arrived just before she'd passed out, and who Inuyasha had been speaking to before she'd woken up. "You are the woman who can purify the diamond shards and free a demon's powers." He cocked his head to the side as though thinking. "You don't seem that impressive..."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Inuyasha snapped, his voice quickly reverting back to his usual short tempered tone.
The man didn't move an inch as he responded. "If she were as strong as I've been told it would not have taken her nearly a week to recover from such a minimal attack."
"A week!" So that's how long she had been out of it?
Neither man seemed to hear her, as Inuyasha plunged ahead. "She's human, Sesshoumaru, not a hanyou or a demon."
"And yet she displays the abilities of a priestess, including that of the purity arrow...why would this be?" It didn't seem to be a question the strange man wanted answered, but that he was merely thinking out loud.
Kagome observed him carefully, noting his tall frame complete with slender but well defined muscles. His posture was erect and proud, nothing like the personality of a slave, and yet he wore the black diamond that told her he was restrained just as Inuyasha and Kouga had been. His hair was the same color as Inuyasha's and was, surprisingly, even longer, falling down practically to the ground. His eyes were similar to the hanyou's, though they seemed more inclined towards yellow whereas Inuyasha's were more amber, and his face was pale with blue stripes on his cheeks. But what really caught her attention was the fact that his left arm was missing. He seemed so strong...so what could have brought that about?
"Who are you?" She asked suddenly, her voice gaining strength, and both men glanced at her as though suddenly remembering she was even there.
The tall man remained silent, so Inuyasha huffed and chose to answer instead. "This is Sesshoumaru," he replied in a gruff voice. "He's...my brother."
"He's your what?" Kagome blinked stupidly.
"Half-brother," the silver-haired man interjected in the same monotone voice he'd been using since she'd woken up.
Shaking her head, Kagome insisted on sitting up at that point, and after several minutes managed to get herself propped up thanks to Inuyasha's support. "I..." She shook her head again, trying to remember if he'd ever told her that before. Her brain was muddy, so if he had, she couldn't remember. "I didn't know you had a brother."
At that the taller man chuckled slightly, though it was a chilling sound...nothing like Inuyasha's laugh (when he chose to laugh, that is). "So brother, you are leading others to believe that you are the sole heir to father's lands? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...you always did seem upset that he favored me as his firstborn, pure-bred son."
Inuyasha growled. "Shut up, baka...and to think I had actually been glad to see you!"
"Heir?" Kagome was again blindly asking stupid questions. "Heir to what? And what does he mean by pure-bred?"
The hanyou grumbled something inaudible before turning and facing her, his mouth set in a grim line as he spoke, his voice gruff. "Sesshoumaru's my half brother. His mother was a full demon, like my father, whereas my mother was a human, meaning..."
"You're a hanyou." She said it with such ease that even Sesshoumaru couldn't help but raise his eyebrows curiously. He'd never heard a human accept a hanyou so easily before...and he had certainly not expected it from this girl, who, it was said, had once been the daughter of a slave owner.
"Yeah," Inuyasha continued, "So our father obviously chose Sesshoumaru to be his heir when he died, however," he smirked, "What my dear brother might forget to mention is the fact that our father never married his mother, whereas he married and died protecting mine." His eyes softened as he was clearly lost in his memories. "That has to count for something."
"Don't delude yourself, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru interjected calmly but forcefully. "Our father died protecting his lands from Naraku and his demon army. He no more died solely for your mother then he died for you or I."
"Oh yeah?" Inuyasha whirled around, causing Kagome to collapse on the ground, her head snapping back.
"Ouch!"
"Kagome!" It was like he wore two masks, because his voice once more went soft as he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. If she wasn't so faint and dizzy, Kagome would have laughed at his strange behavior. "I'm sorry...are you okay?"
In all honesty, no, but at that moment the fact that she was in his arms, her cheek to his chest in a way she had come to cherish, made her nod her head and smile, desperate to wipe the guilt from his eyes. "I'm fine, Inuyasha, but...I'm still really confused..."
"About what?"
"What did you mean when you said your father died protecting his lands?"
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "So you're stupid as well as weak, woman?"
"Shut up, baka!" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "I told you not to insult her!"
The older man shrugged. "Clearly she is unable to put two and two together, Inuyasha, if she doesn't understand what we're talking about."
Kagome felt her temper flare at the implication that she was stupid. Without thinking, she stiffened her back and snapped, "Perhaps I'd be able to put two and two together, as you say, if someone would tell me what the hell you're talking about first! Background information is nice, after all, since I don't know anything about Inuyasha's parents, and I sure as hell didn't know about you until a moment ago!"
"Didn't know...?" Sesshoumaru genuinely looked puzzled as he glanced at his brother. "You haven't told her who you are?"
"Keh, should I have?"
Now Kagome was starting to feel more then just upset, she was feeling like they were treating her as though she were two years old. "What's going on?" She asked again, now just sounding tired. "Why won't people just be honest with me?"
"You want the truth, girl?" Sesshoumaru looked at her steadily, and in spite of herself she shuddered under his cold stare. "The truth is that Inuyasha is the second son of Inutaisho, lord of the Western Lands."
"Former Lord," Inuyasha snapped.
"You dare insult him?"
"Well he sure as hell didn't protect us like he said he would, did he? Thanks to his failures I've spent the last seven years of my life in hell!"
Sesshoumaru seemed to lose control, and his eyes began to glow red. "And you think I haven't? You think I've enjoyed being trampled on as though I was born of a lowly human woman, like you?" He spat the implication like it were poison, and Kagome was sure if Inuyasha had fur it would be standing on end at that moment.
"Inuyasha...his eyes," Kagome whispered, "They're glowing red." She shivered.
"What?" The hanyou looked at his brother and then at Kagome's fearful face before rolling his eyes. "Keh, don't worry about that, Kagome, he's just trying to scare you. He did that to me all the time growing up...he won't hurt you because he needs you to release him from the spell of the diamond shard. In fact," Inuyasha chuckled, "I don't know why we're even afraid...he may be able to change his eye color still, but he can't really transform at this point. He has no demon powers...how does that feel, big brother?"
"I'll kill you, you whelp," Sesshoumaru hissed, his eyes returning to normal, and Kagome took that moment to stand up and move between the brothers, feeling her head spin from dizziness.
"Will the two of you just stop? I have some questions, and I want answers...after that you two can kill each other as many times as you want, fair enough? Now," she exhaled, trying to steady her balance. "Just to clarify, we are talking about the self-same Inutaisho, right? The lord of the Western Lands who ruled over the country for over three-hundred years?"
"Yes," Both brothers answered in unison.
"Okay," Her voice had risen slightly at the thought that Inuyasha was a prince, and had been all along. And not just any prince, but second in line to the throne of the entire country! She had been so disrespectful, so...
"Are you planning on asking any more questions, Kagome?" The hanyou snapped, and at that Kagome felt her guilt vanish. Screw it; he'd deserved every rude comment, and more.
"Yeah," she jabbed her finger into his chest, "Why didn't you tell me who you were before this, baka? Did you just get a kick out of me insulting you? Or have you been secretly keeping a tab of everything I've said so that you can behead me for treason or something once we've defeated Naraku?"
Without meaning to, Inuyasha felt a smile spread across his face. Here Kagome was, weak as a newborn baby from her loss of blood, her little body something he or Sesshoumaru could snap in an instant, and yet she was glaring at first him, and then his brother, as though she were the strongest woman in the universe. Did she fear nothing? He liked the thought.
"What are you smirking about?" She snapped, although she also sounded somewhat wary.
He chuckled. "I just thought that was an excellent suggestion."
"What was?"
"About keeping tabs and then executing you when this is all said and done."
She gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"
He allowed a stern look to come over his face, for some strange reason feeling very playful, even with his glowering brother two feet away. "Perhaps I would...you have, after all, been very disrespectful, Miss Higurashi."
Gaping for several long seconds, Kagome finally found her voice and smacked him on the shoulder. "If you even try to kill me, you can be sure I'll take you along for the ride."
"Oh you will?" He chuckled again. "How exactly would you do that?"
She raised her chin and a look of defiance he'd come to admire filled her eyes. "If I had to drag you onto the executioners block myself, I would Inuyasha...and don't you think I wouldn't." She jabbed him again to accent her point.
The great thing about it was he believed her...every word. But before he could say anything else Sesshoumaru chose that moment to groan in disgust and turn away.
"The fact that you let her speak to you that way is disgusting...I see you've adopted our father's shameful love of humans, Inuyasha," He muttered, and now Kagome whirled on him.
"What did you say?"
The demon lord chose not to answer, and Inuyasha, without thinking, put his arm around Kagome's waist protectively, as though to shield her from the hurtful comments sent by his brother. "Ignore him, Kagome...he just has a problem with humans. He always has...that's why he hated my mother so much."
"I cared little whether that woman lived or died," he snapped back, and Inuyasha stiffened.
"And yet I remember you cowering behind her just like I was."
Sesshoumaru turned around and glared. "I was trying to keep you quiet, runt, nothing more. In fact, it was probably your whining that led Naraku to us in the first place, which would mean," he smirked, "That you are responsible for her death."
Kagome found herself flying towards the ground as Inuyasha threw her away from him and charged, Sesshoumaru not even standing a chance since he was still bound by the jewel.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, seeing the hanyou with his clawed hands tightly around his brother's neck, squeezing for all he was worth. "Inuyasha let him go!"
"You take that back, bastard," Inuyasha hissed, seemingly unaware of Kagome.
"Inuyasha, please...let him go!" Kagome's voice came out in a sob as she watched Sesshoumaru punch his brother in the face, causing the younger man to let go and step back slightly. But he was quick to retaliate, and the two went at it, Sesshoumaru surprisingly holding his own despite the diamond shard around his neck.
A sudden dark pulse caused Kagome to shudder violently and turn in time to see Inuyasha's eyes go red, marks appearing on his face, his teeth growing into fangs that overlapped his lower lip, his nails lengthening into sharpened claws. She gasped, and suddenly, for the first time, felt very afraid of him. "Inuyasha..."
Sesshoumaru, for his part, just smirked as his brother continued to launch at him, his claws and teeth bared. "So you still can't control yourself, brother? You still rely on father's sword?" He chuckled as he dodged a fist meant for his face. "I knew you couldn't acquire such control without the tetsusaiga...you're merely a hanyou. An inferior. A weakling."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha shouted, his voice entirely changed, darker and more sinister, and lunged again, but this time, in his rage, he didn't see Sesshoumaru's counter attack, and ended up flying backwards and into the cot where Kagome had been lying only a short while ago, causing it, and him, to crash to the floor.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome ran to him and fell to her knees, but when she reached out to touch him he snarled, and she retracted her fingers as quickly as she had offered them. "Inuyasha?" This time her voice was full of confusion and hurt.
"It would be wise to stay away from him, woman," Sesshoumaru growled, once more standing still at his full height. "He doesn't know what he's doing. In that form he is nothing more then a mindless killer with a thirst for blood."
Kagome shot a glare at the man she hardly knew. "He's not a monster...don't you ever call him that! He's not attacking me, is he?"
Sesshoumaru was matter-of-fact in his answer. "That's because he wants my blood at the moment. But trust me when I say that after he'd kill me he'd go after you as well."
"No!" Kagome shouted, "I don't believe you!" And as though to accent her point she threw her arms around Inuyasha's waist and held him tightly, as though she thought he would disappear. The hanyou lurched backward on instinct, but then went strangely still. "He would never hurt me," she whispered furiously, burying her head in his chest.
Strangely, Sesshoumaru watched as his younger brother slowly began to change back, his nails shortening, his eyes returning to their normal color, the marks on his cheeks fading into nothing. How did this girl have such an affect on Inuyasha? He'd never seen such a thing before. It was as though their father's sword, the tetsusaiga, was in his hands.
There was a long pause before Kagome felt a shaky hand touch the top of her head, and when she looked up she found herself gazing into a familiar pair of amber eyes, currently very confused. "Kagome...?"
She laughed, feeling tears of relief in her eyes, and squeezed him tighter, burying her face in his red jacket and inhaling his smell, recalling how it had felt to wear it that night after her bath in the stream. "Inuyasha! Oh, I was so afraid! But you're okay now!"
"Afraid...?" He blinked. "Of me? But why...?"
"Why do you think, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru goaded coldly, and the hanyou suddenly paled.
He hadn't, had he? "Did I...did I just transform?"
"Of course you did, just like you always did when you'd lose your temper." The older demon man grunted. "That will get you in trouble some day, brother, you'll see." He flicked his gaze down towards Kagome, who was still nuzzling her hanyou with all her might. "One day it might cost you all that you hold dear."
Inuyasha shuddered and felt his arms go around the woman at his chest protectively, squeezing her tightly. "I would never harm her."
"You snarled at her just now, and she was afraid."
He winced. "I would never truly harm her."
"Hn," Sesshoumaru grunted, "We shall see." He then focused his gaze once more on the back of Kagome's head and frowned even more, if that were possible. "Well woman, are you going to free me of this shard or not?"
"What?" She pulled away from Inuyasha, feeling faint again now that the adrenaline rush was gone.
Inuyasha growled. "How do I know you won't try to kill her or I after she frees you?"
Sesshoumaru gave an almost imperceptible shrug. "You'll just have to trust me I suppose, brother."
"Keh," Inuyasha looked away with a scowl, not liking the idea at all, but to his surprise Kagome pulled away from him and rose to her feet. "Kagome?"
She moved over to stand before the tall, powerful demon prince with her face towards the ground even as she spoke, suddenly shy and somewhat afraid. "I trust that you won't harm us," she whispered, "Because you already brought me here and kept me safe...wherever here is."
"This is where I have been kept as a slave since I was taken away from my home," Sesshoumaru offered in a cold voice.
"Oh," Kagome nodded, trying to act like she was having a casual conversation. But for the first time she felt a twinge of doubt as she started to reach for the diamond shard, glowing black, around his neck. Would he betray them? Was she wrong to trust him? He and Inuyasha certainly didn't seem to be on very good terms...and if a man could say and do such things to his own brother, then what would he do to others?
Sesshoumaru, for his part, just grunted again. "I see you're not as trusting as you claim, woman."
He was mocking her, she knew it, and, damn him, it worked, because Kagome felt her hands instantly steady as she finished the distance to his chest and wrapped her fingers tightly around his diamond shard.
A sharp pain ran up her arm, and Kagome winced, a sharp intake of breath filling her lungs before rushing out of her again in a soft whimper. None of the shards thus far had been nearly so tainted...this demon lord must have been extremely powerful to warrant such control. The thought didn't help her confidence any.
At last, after several minutes, in which time the brothers both watched her carefully, one with concern and the other with indifference, Kagome felt the tingling go away to be replaced by a gentle warmth, and removed her hand to reveal a glowing, healthy pink shard.
Holding out her hand, she gave Sesshoumaru a tentative look. "I'll, um...I'll need that." He raised an eyebrow, and she gulped. Damn it all, but that man had a presence and a cold demeanor. "If it stays on you for too long, it will revert back to what it was before."
Nodding slightly, Sesshoumaru removed the shard from around his neck and handed it to her, taking in a deep breath as though smelling fresh air for the first time in years once it was finally out of his grasp. As for the shard itself, it immediately melded together with the others around her wrist, making the collective shard just that much bigger, and Kagome again marveled at the process, wondering what the connection was to all the shards, and what would happen when they were all put together. At that point, no one seemed to have the answers.
Stretching like an animal preparing to run, Sesshoumaru suddenly had a look of pure joy on his face...if one could call it that. To Kagome it looked more like a combination of malice and sinister power, but what did she know, anyway? Maybe he had always been like that.
Finally, as though remembering he was not alone, he went still once more and looked at Kagome. "You should rest some more," he commanded, and Kagome turned to look at the smashed cot.
"And where do you suggest I do that?"
"I don't care."
"Oh, well that's certainly a grateful statement for the woman who just freed you," Kagome snapped, feeling a moment of boldness as she crossed her arms.
"I'm sure the mattress is still usable, even if it is no longer elevated off the ground," Sesshoumaru replied coldly and then, without another word, turned on his heel and walked away.
After several seconds Kagome shivered comically and rubbed her arms to accent her point. "What a frigid personality, eh?" She smiled at Inuyasha, and the hanyou couldn't help but smile back.
"Why don't you get some rest," he finally paralleled his brother's command, though his came out as a request, and she nodded, feeling very tired at that.
But as she curled up on the extremely thin straw mattress, lying on her side with her hands under her cheek, she met Inuyasha's gaze curiously. "You still didn't answer my question."
"About what?"
"Why you never told me you were one of the princes who was enslaved. I mean, everyone knew about you...it was just that no one knew what had happened to you after Naraku came, just that you were enslaved, like the rest of us."
Inuyasha stared at the floor for a moment, looking pensive, before finally shrugging. "I guess I figured it didn't matter."
"Why?"
"I don't know...why should it matter?"
Kagome looked away, her voice lowering. "I guess it just would have been nice to know more about you, that's all."
"Why would you want to know more about me?"
"Because..." Why did she want to know? She decided to be honest. "Because I care about you."
"You do?"
"Yes!" She wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or hit him over the head. "Of course I do...how could you think I don't?"
He stiffened. "Well excuse me, Kagome, but I don't exactly hear that very often, so you can't blame me for assuming the worst until I'm told otherwise."
Kagome lowered her gaze and felt her heart sink. "I..." Her voice was low and, she knew it, pitiful. "I thought you trusted me more then that, Inuyasha."
"I..." He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. How exactly did he respond to that, anyway? "I do trust you, Kagome."
"Then why are you so surprised to find out that I care about you?"
"I'm not...I just..." He looked away and down, suddenly feeling very ashamed. He didn't want to hurt her, but...how did he explain all those years of hurt? How could he make her understand what it felt like to be persecuted for what he was his entire life, and even more so once he was a slave and didn't have his mother, or his title, to shield him?
Finally, after several long, uncomfortable moments he felt a warm hand close over his, and looked up to see Kagome with a soft smile in place. "It's alright, Inuyasha...I forgive you."
"You do?"
"Yes. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I don't feel sad at the idea that you don't trust me, but...at the same time, how can I expect you to trust me with your whole life's story when we still know each other so little?"
He lifted his head and met her gaze directly, feeling like he needed to say something to assure her that she had a special place in his heart...a place no woman had ever gone before, save for his mother, but even now, that was still different. "But you do know me, Kagome," he finally whispered, as though afraid he would startle her or break the intimate moment. "You know me better then most people...and you understand me better then anyone I've ever met."
Their faces had moved closer together without their knowledge so that now their noses were practically touching, their breath mingling and tickling each other's cheeks. Kagome swallowed. "Thank you for that, Inuyasha...it makes me so happy to hear that."
Finally, without warning, she smiled and moved her body so that her head was resting in his lap, which caused him to blush. "What are you doing?" He asked nervously, his body having gone rigid.
She looked up at him innocently, and he could see she had no hidden motive in her action. "You know how you once told me I smelled nice, Inuyasha?" He nodded and blushed at the memory. "Well, you do too..." Her voice drifted off and he watched as her eyes closed, her body relaxing completely and her breathing evening out into a steady rhythm.
He smiled. "Kagome..."
He was so lucky to have come across a treasure such as her. Who would have ever thought that being cast into slavery would bring any good into his life...but it had. It had brought him to Kagome, a woman with such a kind heart and positive outlook on life that he couldn't help but want to be happy too. Her smile was contagious, and even when they were arguing he felt elated in a way he'd never known before, as though she were purifying his very soul, and not just the diamond shard that had once been around his neck.
And she thinks I smell nice, he added silently, repeating her words in his head as his eyes softened. Without thinking, he raised a hand and placed it on her head, running his fingers over her soft ebony tresses. Maneuvering his body so that he was leaning against the wall behind him, he allowed his head to fall back and soon joined Kagome in her world of dreams.
Gazing out the window high up in the castle, Kagura had a beautiful view of the plains that went on for miles in the form of gently rolling hills, ending, eventually, at a steep mountain range that seemed to surround the entire area, if you went far enough away. There was a strong wind that evening, and she leaned her head against the stone wall, feeling her hair rustle slightly at her ears.
"Kanna?" Her voice was soft and gentle, completely different then the assassin who had so recently attacked Inuyasha and the others.
"Yes, sister?" It was a response that had once been beautiful and full of love, but now held nothing, and it caused the wind sorceress to wince momentarily.
Looking down at the white child clutching the mirror, she placed her hand atop Kanna's head, her fingers trembling slightly at the familiar feel of the downy soft hair. "Show him to me again," she practically whispered, an intrigued half-smile on her face.
Without saying a word Kanna nodded and, a few seconds later, Kagura watched as her reflection in the mirror faded away, melding into a different image, this time of a man. He had long silver hair and pointed ears, his face tattooed much like his father had been. His features were strong, his jaw locked in a firm scowl, and his yellow-gold eyes were full of wisdom, pain, and anger.
"Sesshoumaru..." His name rolled off her tongue like a refreshing sip of tea, and for the first time in her life Kagura felt both her body and mind respond to a man.
He was intriguing, to say the least. She'd never met him, but had heard his voice just after she'd flown away, and caught her first glimpse of the man that, she could tell already, would be her undoing. Since that moment she'd been using Kanna's mirror to follow him, observing his mannerisms and habits, which basically consisted of standing still and saying nothing. She liked that, for some strange reason...
He was every inch a demon lord's son, his body radiating strength and an inner confidence that not even seven years of slavery could break. At times it seemed he could set the earth rumbling with just a look, and his missing left arm only made him seem more formidable.
Without even realizing what she was doing, Kagura let out a long sigh as she continued to gaze into the mirror, watching as the prince moved about the plantation where he was a slave, frequently followed by a short green man who always seemed to be talking, though she couldn't make out the words.
But something was missing this time...something was wrong. And then it hit her, and she gasped, her silent, dreamy revelry broken as she realized Sesshoumaru was no longer wearing his diamond shard. That meant two things: one, the sons of Inutaisho had just upped their chances of succeeding in open rebellion, and two, Kagome had survived after all, because only she could purify the shards.
Opening her mouth, the wind sorceress started to call for her master, to inform him of this new development, but then paused, wondering if it would be such a bad thing to keep Naraku in the dark for a while. Perhaps, if he didn't know, she could go to Sesshoumaru and ask for his help. He seemed strong enough. Perhaps she could then be free...free to choose her own life...to love...
Kanna coughed lightly, and Kagura came crashing back to reality as she remembered that, if Naraku failed, Kanna would die. Lowering her head to the floor in despair, she knew then that she couldn't ever be free...at least, not in the way she desired. In a sense, she was free since she chose every day to stay in order to protect Kanna, but...did that really count as freedom? She saw it more as an example of blackmail.
"Naraku," she bellowed in a suddenly loud, low voice that echoed throughout the halls. A few moments later the sound of footsteps came to her ears, and Kagura watched as first the silhouette, and then the actual figure, of the man she hated more then anything in the world, came into view.
He eyed her suspiciously, one of his eyebrows raised in an arrogant expression. "What is it, Kagura? You know I don't appreciate being summoned by you."
She bristled at the comment, but brushed it aside as she indicated the image of Sesshoumaru still in the mirror. "The older demon brother no longer wears his diamond shard," she replied brusquely. "Which means..."
"That Kagome is still alive," He interrupted, finishing her train of thought.
Kagura blinked in surprise. "I would have expected you to be alarmed at the prospect of the two brothers now completely free of restraint, their powers fully available."
Naraku eyed her again before glancing at Kanna and waving his hand, causing the girl to shiver slightly before the image in her mirror changed again, this time to reveal Kagome, asleep in Inuyasha's lap, both of them looking peaceful.
He remained silent for so long that Kagura began to grow nervous, and finally took a step forward. "Master? What do you plan to do?"
Without taking his eyes from the image of Kagome's face, Naraku smirked. "I think it is now in our favor that the girl with the strange abilities has survived."
"You can't be serious!" Kagura was appalled.
"Oh but I am," he shot a glance at his deadly servant. "Just think of our potential to gain power, Kagura, if she can merge all the shards of the jewel together."
This sparked her curiosity. "Does something important happen when the shards are put together?"
"Yes, they form a jewel called the Shikon no Tama."
"The jewel of four souls?"
"Yes. Long ago the jewel was whole and a source of immense power, but by the time it came into my possession it had already been shattered, and while the pieces were collected, I could not put them together because they were too filled with darkness. You see, they can only be put together once they're purified, and since Kagome can do that, well..." He trailed off, but his meaning was clear.
"She'll never do it willingly," Kagura retorted, trying to regain her confidence in this conversation. She hated not understanding what was going on.
Naraku chuckled. "She'll have no choice. All she has to do is touch the shards and they are purified."
She was still skeptical. "But in order to obtain the shards you would first have to free the demons you have enslaved. That would not be wise, Naraku." She shook her head to enforce her point.
At this her master just turned and looked at her. "I have no intention of freeing them, Kagura," He replied casually, as though discussing the weather.
"Then how..." She closed her mouth suddenly, a dark, cold ball forming in the pit of her stomach as she understood exactly what he meant. Sweat appeared on her forehead, and Kagura felt like she would be sick.
Naraku just stared at her steadily before turning and walking away, calling over his shoulder, "When I tell you the time is right, you will bring Kagome to me. In the mean time I want you to start collecting the shards," he turned over his shoulder and sent her a warning in his eyes, "And make sure that all the current owners are dead when you're done, Kagura."
He disappeared into the shadows once more, and Kagura felt herself fall back against the wall for support, her legs suddenly weak.
More death...
More murder...
How could her conscience handle it? How could she ever hope to return to a normal life if Naraku was eventually destroyed?
A desolate smile came to her face as she understood the silent answer to her question. "There is no going back," she whispered aloud and, standing, turned to face the now empty hallway, knowing he could no longer see or hear her, but bowing low and pulling out her fan to cover her face as she did so. "As you wish, master."
