Summary: A grim fairytale of love and hate. Two people find one another in the dead of night, knowing that this chance meeting was the beginning of an extraordinarily… deadly game. Sess/Kag; AU
Author's Note: I've always wanted to write a story like this… I hope you guys will like it. Try to guess which fairy tale it's based off! This is my first fic, so please be honest about it in your reviews.
Happily Never After
Chapter Three: A semblance to a new beginning…
Kagura looked around, feigning confusion. "I'm not sure what my name is, I can't even remember my life before now…"
Kagome listened intently as Kagura lied to her, determined to keep her identity a secret. Since the shorter girl didn't seem to know exactly who she was, Kagura would use this to her advantage. Kagura took this moment to observe Kagome. She was a pretty little thing; long raven black hair, wide and honest eyes, full red lips, and pale, smooth skin. The girl had a childlike innocence about her, but the beauty was definitely there.
"That's so sad…" Kagome looked up at Kagura with sympathy in her eyes. "Well, what should we call you while you stay here?"
"I can stay?"
"Of course," Kagome screeched happily as she too Kagura's hands in her own, "We can't just cast you out without a clue to who you really are. Stay here as long as you want. Our home is your home!"
Kagura forced a smile onto her face as she felt slightly irked that Kagome would accept her so readily. She had no clue who she was, and yet she was inviting her to stay as long as she liked. Even though she wouldn't pass off the offer, Kagura couldn't help but feel that the young girl was too trusting.
The kid from earlier, however, wasn't as trusting. Upon hearing her story, he immediately interjected into their conversation.
"You're lying! I know who you are! YOU know who you are! Stop it!" He stamped his foot impatiently against the floor, refusing to remain unheard. The younger brother stood by with his hands out, trying to pacify his brother with cool words. "NO! She's lying to you! I'm telling you, she's lying! She's Naraku's spawn! She's the wind witch, Kagura!"
Kagura was a little taken back by the child's outburst, somewhat surprised that he had recognized her when the others hadn't. Kagura lifted her hands as if to defend herself. She opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by the girl besides her.
"Hikaru! How could you say that? What would your mother say if she heard you?"
The kid that Kagura now knew as Hikaru hung his head down in shame, as if he didn't wish to face them any longer. A low murmur from his downtrodden form, however, caught Kagura's ears. It was too low and soft for the humans in the room to hear, but to Kagura's demonic ears she could clearly hear it, "It doesn't matter… she's dead now."
Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly in acknowledgment, smirking inside at knowing that this kid was much wiser and perceptive than the girl who had just defended her. This kid could easily be the wisest within the household. It was amazing to Kagura that this kid was the only one there with such a benediction. Hikaru's head snapped up in arrogance as he eyed Kagura with angry eyes. Kagura mentally dismissed the look, but outwardly she grasped her hands over her chest.
"What does he mean?"
Kagome glanced over at Kagura, who had a supposedly confused and lost expression on her face. "Don't listen to what he said…" Kagome seemed to gulp and struggle to swallow a growing lump in her throat. "His parents were killed by Naraku's spawn, Kagura. He just holds a grudge against her. Whenever a woman who has some semblance of her, albeit hair or ears or eyes, he'll immediately accuse her." Kagome looked down and force a laugh. It was hard talking about such a thing as death and revenge, "He once accused me of being Kagura."
Kagura forced a tiny chuckle, trying her hardest to tolerate the ignorant and naïve girl besides her. No matter what, Kagura could not lose the trust that the girl seemed to hold for her. If she wanted to survive, hide, and be free, she had to tolerate the hardships that she would face. The loud and arrogant man, Inu-Yasha, the air-headed girl Kagome, and the child who hated her so much were the obstacles that she had to overcome.
Kouga was wandering in the forest, reminiscing about his life and the past. Finally, the happy memories led to the one destructive event that had scarred him forever. It had been a surprise attack by Naraku, and by the time he was dressed and out of his tent, still a little tired and sluggish from the previous passionate moment he had shared with some random girl minutes before, his tribe lay in ruins. Half the men were dead and the women were screaming. A strong gust of wind knocked him off his feet, causing him to hit his head on the knee of a dead comrade next to him. His vision blurred, but one thing stuck out in his mind: the menacing laughter and the brilliant red eyes.
Since then, Kouga has been a wanderer, refusing to settle down till he found that demon. Kouga fisted his hands in his clothes, as he clenched his eyes shut; it was just too painful thinking how he had failed his people.
"Damn."
Kouga was woken up by his reverie when that harsh voice echoed in the silence. Kouga, slowly and curiously, followed the noise, unsure of what to find. The voice had obviously been a woman, but that didn't provide much insight to what kind of woman. Kouga heard some shuffling, followed by a string of curses. He brushed the bush away and found the woman trying to gather her torn skirt. He watched as she awkwardly pushed forwards, her limbs tangled in the flowing cloth. He finally moved from his seeming trance as he watched her topple over.
"Are you okay?"
The girl seemed visibly shaken to have heard his voice.
"I'm fine. Leave me alone…" she didn't even bother to turn to him to reply, she just slowly pulled herself up and dusted off her clothes before falling down again.
Kouga laughed to himself as he moved forwards to help her, "You don't seem to be fine." He pulled her up with little strength, noting how light she had felt. She fell limp in his arms as she couldn't regain her footing, falling against his chest as he instinctively pulled her towards his chest. The girl seemed angered by their closeness and pulled away.
"How dare you!" She screeched as she jumped away from him, only succeeding in tripping over her clothing once more.
"I didn't do anything!" Kouga retorted, his temper slightly flaring up. Inwardly, Kouga still wondered at her surreal lightness and her wind-like scent. It was so hard to identify and understand, how could anyone smell like the wind? Suddenly, Kouga's eyes narrowed as he tried to place where he had encountered this smell before. It was so familiar, like a faint memory forever etched in his mind, but it was also so distant, like a word on the tip of his tongue.
Kouga noticed that the girl held her head low, as if unable to look him in the face. He felt a compelling urge to tilt her head upwards and see what she was trying to ineffectively hide, but each time he approached, she backed away.
"I'm Kouga…" He called out to her, somewhat uncomfortable with the silence, "I'm new around here. Actually, I've been wandering around lately, so I have no idea where I am."
"I'm just as lost as you are, but I'm currently residing with a family nearby." The girl shied away once more from Kouga's advances and quickly walked around him and into the thicket behind. Kouga watched as she disappeared into the trees. He was about to shrug the experience away and move on, when a small white feather caught his attention. He bent over and picked it up, bringing it to his face to sniff it for some hint as to who the owner might be (although, he was pretty certain who it was). The smell confirmed it. It smelt just like her, just like the wind.
TBC…
Yeah, this was a short chapter too… I tried my hardest to make it as interesting as possible, but to no avail. The fairytale I had in mind won't really be obvious till a lot later, so don't strain your minds over it. I'm still trying (desperately) to keep to my promise of once a month… Maybe I should start twice a month… Oh well.
Toejora