A/N: And we're back. How fun. Happy birthday to me! I'm finally fifteen! I can't think of another rhyme for this song! So we'll just get the disclaimer and move along!
Me: Seeing as it's my birthday, I get to be special today and do EVERYTHING! I heard Neji-kun was throwing a party that's supposed to be a surprise that I'm not supposed to know about, but anyways, (clears throat) I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto, I own only my characters and this story and this story's predecessor. Anyways, being the old hag I am now, let's get this show on the road before I get arthritis in my fingers or something like that. So now, chapter sixteen!
Chapter Sixteen: The Book of Fate
Kyo turned from his cousin without saying a word. Reika seemed to understand and extended her right arm and disappeared in her usual swirl of ashes.
"Come on…" The Ryuuyoukai boy said rather half-heartedly.
"Kyoshi-kun? What's wrong? What did she tell you?" Mei Lhi asked concernedly, latching onto his arm.
"It's nothing Mei…don't worry about it."
The boy forced a reassuring smile, a gesture that sickened him on the inside. The hanyou girl studied his face for a few seconds before she sighed as well, simply nodding in response.
In truth, Kyo had never felt so much pain in his life than he did at that moment. Those words which Reika had said to him with such ease, with no hesitation at all, not even an apology, those words had all but shattered his inner self in a matter of seconds.
'"About Mei? Tell me!"
"Kyo, she is going to die. Her name is in my book."
"N-nani? How…? Why?"
"She's going to die, Kyo. As for how, that is not your concern. And as for why, it is fate's wish. I must obey."
"How…how much time does she have left…?"
"A little over eight months. Just truly enjoy the time you two have left."
"Can't you do anything to stop it? Can't you just delay it a little longer? Please…"
"I'm sorry. But I can't do that. I am ruled by the fates, whatever their wish is, I must be the one to grant it to them. I am their tool. Besides, even if I don't kill her for them, they will have someone else finish the job. Whatever I try will be useless."
"You're just going to do nothing?"
"I will do my duty! Don't insult me so!"
"I thought you always had control over who and what you killed! You can't take her from me!"
"Foolish Kyo. There will always be a higher force. I answer to them. And I can and will take her from you. It is what I am to do. It's part of me being this…plague…that I am."
"Reika! You know you can stop it! You're just too scared! You coward, Reika!"
"You idiot, Kyo! It doesn't matter if I defy fate or not, someone else will take my place at the deliverance of the death and she'll die anyway no matter what I try or hope to do! So don't blame me for something I can't control! You may call me a coward, but I call you a fool. A fool who refuses to allow fate to do what it must. Now take a moment to look at yourself, Kyo. If anyone is the coward here, it is you. You're so afraid to lose that woman, so afraid to let fate work its ways, so afraid to let fate have anything to do with you and that girl."'
And that was when he had turned away, refusing to believe any of it. But, he knew she was right. And that thought alone was enough to torment him until his own dying day, and give fire to the inner agony he already felt.
He shook his head, attempting to rid his mind of the impeding thought. He couldn't think of that. Not now. Not when the wounds were so fresh in his heart. He walked on in silence, feeling his hand in grip of a smaller one, and from the corner of his eye he saw her, the very person that he was going to lose, the one person who meant everything to him, smiling softly, encouragingly, almost as if to say, "Don't think about what she told you, Kyoshi-kun. The words have been said, there's no need to brood on it. It can't have been so terrible that you aren't able to put those thoughts aside and save them for later, right?"
He sighed. If only she knew. Then, he thought with a grimace, then she wouldn't be smiling. She probably would never smile again if she knew. And so, he walked on…
-
Mei Lhi fell back onto the pillows of the bed, her breathing heavy and ragged. Every breath she took seemed forced, almost as if she were gasping for the precious oxygen, praying for it to fill her hollow lungs.
Her eyes fluttered slowly. Once, twice. And then they were still.
Blank golden orbs stared skyward, and the sound of her rushing blood began to fade. She took another gasping breath, forcing out speech in her exhale. A name, a goodbye? Her words were lost. The beating of her heart slowed and the sound dulled.
B-Bmp.
B-Bmp…
…B-Bmp…
…B…bmp…
And then, it stopped. There was silence.
-
Reika pulled herself up from the floor in the hallway where she had collapsed. Her breathing was hard and she had beads of sweat upon her brow.
Steadying herself with the wall, she stumbled back to her room.
A familiar looking boy with blonde hair approached her as her knees buckled once again.
"Miss! Are you alright? Is it your wound? Has it worsened? Please, speak to me!" he exclaimed worriedly, rushing over to the fallen girl.
"What…what day is it?" Reika asked.
"Near the end of May, miss. Summer is just about here." Toji replied.
"I'm glad…"
'There's still time…' she thought.
Reika fell forward, cold blackness engulfing her vision.
-
"Oh you're back. We've been wondering when you'd get here. It's rather late." Hana said to the group from the top of the gate.
Night had fallen and the stars were out, twinkling merrily in the obsidian sky. The gate opened, and softly Kyo and the others walked through. Mei Lhi slept soundly in Kyo's arms, quite undisturbed. The journey back to the West had been long and tiring. It was no surprise that all everyone wanted to do the moment they walked inside the castle was go to their rooms and sleep.
And so, silence settled upon the Western Lands once again, the gauzy veil of sleep draped about its walls.
-
"Miss? Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Reika opened her eyes, blurred images swimming into her line of sight.
"Miss…?"
The girl's vision cleared and the blurred flashes of color refocused themselves and took shape. Reika moaned lightly vigorously rubbing her head, attempting to relieve the throbbing sensation in her temples.
"Miss, are you alright?" Toji asked again, his face worried, while his voice was full of concern.
"My…my head hurts…" Reika replied quietly, the pain in her head causing her to forget to speak in Ryuuyoukai for the boy's safety.
Toji's eyes widened slightly upon hearing the girl's voice for the first time. "You…can speak, miss?"
Reika nodded slowly. "Yes…but just a little…I can't keep it up for long, or else I'll hurt you without wanting to…"
"You can't hurt me. Don't worry. I'm stronger than you think. You should always speak, miss. I never knew you had such a lovely voice…"
Reika turned away from him. "Please…don't say such things."
"Why not, miss?"
"There can be nothing pretty or glamorous about me. I am a plague, nothing more than dirt. Something like me, so vile and wretched, could never be beautiful…"
"Miss…please, do me this favor…"
Toji turned to stare intently at the girl. Reika turned slightly to face him, peering at him from behind her midnight-black colored hair with her amethyst colored eyes, a questioning look upon her face.
"I want for you to not say such things. They aren't true and never should be allowed even a moment to be considered."
"But…do you even know what I am?"
"I know who you are. It doesn't matter."
Slowly, Toji reached out, lightly brushing away the hair that obscured the girl's face. Reika turned her head away from him, as if to hide herself, her eyes clamping shut.
"You're the first to say such things…"
At this, Toji smiled slightly. "Rest now, miss…"
Reika obeyed, her eyelids shutting out the world, once again falling into darkness.
-
It was nearly mid-afternoon of the next day, the sun was high in the sky and all were up and about in the Western Lands, except for one.
"Hana-chan, I'm worried. Mei's been sleeping since we got here." Kyo said to the miko-youkai exasperatedly.
"What exactly is troubling you, Kyo? I heard you encountered your cousin on the return journey. According to Tenshi-chan, you spoke with her and whatever words you exchanged you didn't like." Hana replied, studying the boy.
"It…was nothing."
Hana sighed. "I won't force you to speak. But I know you're not telling the truth. It almost scares me that I know you so well…sometimes even better than your own mother does…When you are ready, Kyo…I will be waiting…" Hana stood and headed for the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Kyo, I have things to do today. If you notice any change in Mei Lhi, alert me at once."
Kyo nodded glumly. Now in complete silence, the only occupant in the room being the hanyou girl, who still slept on, undisturbed, Kyo found many displeasing thoughts drifting across his mind. Was Mei already starting to die? Was she going to gradually get sicker and finally die from the illness? The Ryuuyoukai boy mentally cursed his cousin for not giving him much more information.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Who is it?" Kyo asked gloomily.
"Just me." Inuyasha's voice replied.
The door slid open, and the hanyou stepped inside, cocking an eyebrow as he observed the room.
"She's still asleep?" he asked, his voice sounding very surprised.
"Is there a problem with that?" Mei Lhi asked, her voice still slightly doused in heavy slumber.
"About time, Imouto-chan. It only took you long enough."
"Shut up, Nii-chan. You're giving me a headache…I'm already dizzy as it is…"
"Keh. You've been sitting still for so long you think the world is moving when you do."
"You honestly are not helping me, you know that, right?"
"Feh! Like I care."
A low angered growl escaped the hanyou girl, making Inuyasha flinch slightly. Man, she was really scary when she was mad.
"Ugh…so dizzy…" The hanyou girl grumbled to herself, rubbing her head, trying to make the spinning stop.
It felt like a bad hangover, only worse, somehow.
"Kyoshi-kun, help me up…"
The Ryuuyoukai boy was at her side in an instant, gently helping the girl to her feet. The hanyou girl's knees gave way, unable to support her own weight. She fell, pulling Kyo with her. Inuyasha scowled upon seeing the position they landed in, his expression rather disapproving.
"Can you two at least wait for me to leave the god damn room before you do that?" The hanyou growled.
"Oh for the love of Kami-sama, Inuyasha! Get out!" Mei Lhi said bitterly.
With a huff, Inuyasha turned and slammed the door shut. Kyo sat up, easing his mate into an equally comfortable sitting position at the same time.
The hanyou girl seethed silently. Her brother was really, really pushing his luck. Her anger melted as Kyo's arms wrapped around her comfortingly. She sighed contentedly, the negative thoughts far from her mind. It was then she realized how tired she was. She had slept for quite a while, but all of a sudden she just felt so mentally and physically drained, as if something was literally sucking all the life out of her. Her eyes slowly began to close, and shortly after her eyes shut, Kyo's did as well.
-
'Why is it so hot? It can't be this hot this time of year. It's too early for that…'
Kyo opened his eyes a crack and noticed that he still held Mei Lhi in his arms. It took him quite a while to realize that the intense amount of heat was coming from the girl. Immediately, his instincts told him something was wrong. He touched the hanyou girl's skin and felt that it was fire-hot, yet she shuddered from cold. His eyes widened with fear.
With a gentle haste he lifted the girl into his arms and started to run.
"Hana-chan! Okaa-san! It's Mei!" he yelled halfway down the hallway where the two women resided.
Megumi threw open the door and ushered her son inside, while Hana cleared away the tea the two had been enjoying over a discussion. In mere moments, two Ryuuyoukai and an Inuyoukai were all rushing about, commands being thrown left and right.
"Kyo, we'll need you to leave the room now." Megumi instructed.
"But I can't just leave her!" The boy began to protest.
"You know full well that we won't hurt her. You can trust us. But I need you to run an errand for me, my son. Bring Reika. She should know something of this. Also, find the boy Toji; he will also be quite useful. Go quickly my son. I don't know how much time we have before Mei Lhi's condition worsens."
"Hai, Okaa-san."
Kyo excused himself out of the room, at the same time making a silent promise to his beloved.
'I'll be back as soon as I can, Mei. I won't let Reika take you from me. I need you…'
-
A pure white dragon was seen streaking across the skies that day. Upon reaching the cavernous kingdom of the North, he did not even stop to return to his human form to open the front gate.
He flew in through the stone entryway, many of the clan members caught off-guard at the sight. It was pretty rare for transformed Ryuuyoukai to fly in unexpectedly.
As Kyo flew through the many tunnels, his eyes searched for even the slightest hint of his cousin in every possible direction.
It wasn't long before he found her. He landed abruptly, causing the floor to rumble slightly. He glowered fiercely at the girl, who stared unflinchingly back at him.
"I assume she's taken ill?" Reika said calmly.
The sound of howling wind filled the passage.
"What did you do?" Kyo demanded angrily, now in his human form.
"I did nothing."
"Liar! You're already killing her! Aren't you?"
"I am doing no such thing! It's too soon to do such things anyway. So you shouldn't be alarmed. I won't get involved until she's closest to her end."
"Miss, what's going on?" A blonde Ryuuyoukai asked.
"Nothing. My cousin, Kyo, is having a fit."
"Who are you?" Kyo asked, turning to the other boy.
"I am Adachi Toji, it's an honor to meet the son of Ryouji-sama." Toji replied.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Reika asked sharply.
"My mother asked me to bring both of you back to the Western Lands to help Mei." Kyo said, attempting to keep his voice from shaking.
"So…I was right. She is ill."
"She's ill because of you!"
"Silence! Don't accuse me! I could kill you for saying that!"
"But you won't. I'm family."
"There's no difference. I kill whoever is written in my book. No matter their relation to me."
"Miss, I don't mean to interrupt, but we are wasting valuable time, are we not? And it will take some time for us to get to the West." Toji interceded.
"Oh please! I can get us there in seconds. And seeing that we're all so insistent…"
Reika grabbed both boys' arms and placed their hands on her shoulders. Her right arm extended, while her left had made motions similar to that which she had made when she had returned Kyo and Mei Lhi to the West so long ago.
They descended and then suddenly ascended, finding themselves outside a closed door where an obviously great amount of movement was taking place behind. Reika shrugged off both boys' hands, before sliding the door open and slipping silently into the room, Kyo and Toji following.
Megumi looked up, relief spreading across her features. "Reika, I need you to help me. Mei Lhi is very sick and I just want to ask you if you know what's wrong with her." The woman said calmly.
"There's nothing wrong with her."
"There must be, though. Or she wouldn't have this fever and chills."
"It's just a slight change in her body. That is all."
"What kind of change, Reika? I need to know so that way I can help her."
"Is it not obvious?"
"I'm not sure of what you mean, my dear."
Reika sighed.
"Hana…"
The miko-youkai looked up.
"Yes, Reika-sama?" she replied.
"You…have known this girl for quite some time, correct?"
Hana nodded. "I have. What about it, Reika-sama?"
"Perhaps it will become clear to you now. The girl is currently experiencing an ailment which you have also experienced. But it is not so much of a sickness than it is…what would you call it? A blessing of sorts…"
"Enough with riddles, Reika!" Kyo said impatiently. "What's happened to Mei?"
"Kyo, please understand that I do not hold your impaired judgment against you. Your instincts are most likely doing the talking for you, so I forgive you for that. It is, only natural to be this way. And I must talk in riddles…it is only a riddle to you. But it is an answer to a woman. Only a woman would understand…"
"What's that supposed to mean!"
"I will ask for you and Toji to leave the room now."
Toji nodded and politely excused himself from the room. Kyo scowled before following shortly after.
"I will require that you translate for me, Megumi-oba-san."
Megumi nodded in understanding.
(A/N: No that earlier text I didn't forget the italics to represent Ryuuyoukai speech. There's a reason behind it. And if anyone can guess they get a treat. XD Anyways…continuing with the story…oh and this next part, Reika's going to be talking with Hana for a bit, and like it says below, Megumi's translating. But when Hana's lines follow directly after Reika's, just know that Megumi has already explained everything. It's a bit ridiculous to have to constantly type "Megumi translated/explained/clarified etc.")
"Now I'm sure that you, Megumi-oba-san and Hana both know what the cause for all this sickness is, correct?"
Reika waited while Megumi explained what was said to Hana. Both women nodded.
"Should he know?" Hana asked quietly.
"It would be wise. But then I fear the knowledge would only hurt him more…"
"What do you mean?"
"As I'm sure you're suspicious of what I told Kyo, it is that information which is causing him a great deal of pain. Now, fortunately, he can't hear us. But as I was saying, I am unsure of introducing this information to him. I knew this information at the time I told him the former news. But I am uncertain if this will drive him further into despair, or give him a much greater excuse of wanting to kill me."
"What did you tell him, Reika-sama?"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot answer that question. I am leaving the choice up to you and Megumi whether or not to tell him. Make your decision quickly."
The women nodded and summoned Kyo back into the room.
"What were you talking about?" Kyo asked.
"Patience my son, we will tell you. Reika, perhaps it would be best if you left." Megumi replied.
The girl nodded, vacating the room.
"Sit down, Kyo." Hana instructed.
The boy did so.
"We've determined the reason for Mei Lhi's illness…" Megumi began.
"What is it?" Kyo asked worriedly.
"Don't be alarmed, she's perfectly fine. Her body is simply trying to adjust itself for a new arrival. Her fever has already broken and she's much better now. So the adjustment process is more or less complete."
"Nani? I-I don't understand."
"My son, you are going to be a father."
A/N: Yes, this chapter is longer than Ch. 15, so yay! I know it's late, but on the 23rd, I was away from my house all afternoon and nearly all night so I was unable to finish the chapter. My mom and I were celebrating. She bought me very beautiful pearl earrings on Friday, and she got me a new purse yesterday. But I was also out nearly all day and night yesterday as well. Today I finally have a free day. (Today being Sept. 25th) And another thing…
THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE CHAPTER! I AM MESSING WITH YOUR MIND. SCROLL DOWN AND FINISH AFTER THE FOLLOWING SHORT MESSAGE. XD
Anyways, as you can see by the nice message above, because I know you'll kill me for such an evil cliffy, and the angsty delays and such, I've written more. So…keep going and enjoy!
Kyo gasped in shock. "N-nani?" he choked out.
"Congratulations, my son. I will be a happy baa-chan." Megumi said warmly, with a soft smile.
"Mei-chan will be fine now, just take care of her now." Hana said with a wink.
The two women left the room, grinning broadly.
Kyo took his mate into his arms, holding her gently. The girl's eyes fluttered open and she smiled happily.
"Hello." The hanyou girl said brightly.
"Hi." Kyo replied with a small grin.
"I'm feeling better now, Kyoshi-kun."
"That's good, Mei. I have something to tell you…"
Kyo whispered in the girl's velvety-soft inu ears. At first the girl appeared shocked, but that expression melted away moments later into one of joy.
The two held one another closely, unable to shake the overwhelming feeling of happiness that swelled within them.
Kyo felt peace within himself. Thoughts of Reika's warnings were driven far from his mind. All that mattered to him was that moment right there, with Mei in his arms.
-
"Congratulations, class of 1998!" The principal announced.
Hundreds of caps flew into the sky, like a flock of birds taking flight. The entire school courtyard was filled with multiple flashes of bright, white light from cameras, as picture after picture was taken, while tears of joy streamed from the eyes of very proud parents, and smiles shone brightly on the faces of the new graduates. Applause and cheers of all sorts rang out everywhere, the celebration already beginning.
"Kagome, over here!" Higurashi-san called as she snapped a photo of her daughter.
Kagome rushed over, grinning broadly. Higurashi-san pulled the girl into her tight embrace, Souta, Mei Lhi, Kyo, Inuyasha, and Higurashi-jichan all looked on blankly, eyebrows quirked a bit.
"Inuyasha, stand next to Kagome, I want to get a picture of you two together."
The miko girl linked her arm with the hanyou's and pulled him within camera range. Higurashi-san was temporarily hidden from view by the bright flash that followed a few seconds later. Inuyasha was blinking furiously, slightly blind from the flash which he still had yet to get used to.
"Kagome-chan, can we get a picture with you?" Eri asked, Ayumi and Yuka in tow.
"Oh hai! Mama, do you mind?" Kagome replied.
Higurashi-san smiled and took the camera the girls were sharing and snapped a quick photo.
"Arigatou! We'll see you later Kagome-chan!"
Kagome waved as her friends retreated into the massive sea of graduates and parents, disappearing from view.
-
"Oh…I'm so tired…" Kagome yawned, stretching as she walked, her cap and gown slung over her shoulder nonchalantly.
"You did have a big day, Kagome-chan." Tenshi said.
"Hai, I did. I'm sure Miroku-sama and Sango-chan will love to hear about everything."
"Of course they will. I bet they're waiting on the other side of the well right now."
"I brought something for Shippou-chan from the graduation party. I'm sure he'll love it."
Kagome dug into her pocket and pulled out an uninflated balloon and some ribbon.
"You're going to blow that up for him? What happens when it starts to get old?"
"Hm…perhaps you're right, Tenshi-chan…"
"Honestly, I don't think you need an excuse to see your friends. You should just go to just see them for the sake of seeing them. There's no reason that you have to come always bearing gifts for them all the time."
Kagome looked at the Yamainu youkai girl with bewilderment. "I never knew you were so wise, Tenshi-chan."
"Well, I'm older than I look…"
"Hai, I guess you are…gomen, I tend to forget…"
"It's ok…I get it all the time really."
"You've been quiet Inuyasha. Is there something wrong?" Higurashi-san asked, peering at him as if to magically determine his illness, if there was one.
"Eh? Nani? Nothing, Higurashi-san." The hanyou replied.
"You are being very uncharacteristically quiet; I just assumed something might be wrong, dear."
"Keh. It's nothing. My eyes are still hurting from all those lights."
"Oh, the cameras?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, those…ka-me-ras."
"Oi, Inuyasha…" Tenshi called.
"Nan?"
"Where's Mei-chan? She should've been here, shouldn't she? After all, it was Kagome-chan's graduation."
"She didn't feel like coming."
"Why not?"
"She said she didn't feel well."
"And why wouldn't she?"
"You ask too many questions, wolf brat!"
"Well that's what happens when you live with Kouga for so long. You start to pick up his personality."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and scoffed, continuing onward down the road, with Kagome on his arm.
A/N: Ok, now it's over. Sorry for the ridiculously long, almost 2 month delay. I've just been very busy and for the longest time I've been blocked and unable to write. Rather, I just haven't felt like writing anything at all. And today is now November 6, 2005 and this chapter's finally done. I hope you enjoyed it, I am just glad that it's finally over. Anyways, please review, and if you have any good stories that you know of, please leave me the author's name and fic title, for this will help with my inspiration levels for each chapter. It will hopefully increase the output of new chapters. Thanks for sticking with me and putting up with my lack of updates. Ja ne until next time!
