Summary: Having a blessing means that you will have a curse at another time in life. Protecting the jewel is no different. With the Curse of the Shikon No Tama- something unknown to those who haven't protected it -Kagome is starting to lose hope. If something isn't done soon, she may lose more than that... Sequel to The Games We Play
Rated M. Why? Because the first one was nasty and full of gore. This one is likely to be just as bad, maybe worse… Also because I have a twisted, sadistic mind…
"Talking" (duh)
'Thinking'
Dates Written:
August 23rd, 2006
August 29th, 2006
School starts tomorrow. Crap. My lovely days of being able to do NOTHING are coming to an end. In fact, as I type this, I am in horror that I only have nine hours of freedom. Once I hit the sack (at nine tonight), I will have to wake up and act like an adult again, or a kid. I'm still deciding which.
The story is almost to the point where I just want to hurry up and finish it. In fact, as soon as I hit chapter 10, I believe I'm going to rush to end it. Expect ten or eleven chapters. I'm in a hurry, now. And, I warn you, this will have a bittersweet ending Or, I want it to be that way, which would be sad and happy at the same time. Ooooh... I just got more ideas. Gotta use them, too. Okay, perhaps this will be 12 or 13 chapters. (I know I'm indecisive)
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The Hearts We Break
Chapter Eight: Upset and Disturbed
Edited By: InterwovenEmotions
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Sango groaned as someone knocked on the door. Thankfully, they hadn't ringed the doorbell. If they had, the two kids would have woken up and she wouldn't put that kind of hell on their shoulders. She slowly stood up, approaching the door slowly. If they were in a hurry, then she would be sure to slow them down.
She smiled at the sound of rain. It was becoming steadily louder as she approached the front door. She opened the door, almost dropping her jaw on the floor in the process. The person that had bothered to darken her doorstep was one that she didn't want to see, the one that she wasn't prepared to see.
"What are you doing here?" She found herself asking. Andrew pushed himself inside and began attempting to dry himself off. The rain outside hadn't let him get by without a few tons of water. Sango stared at him, her mouth still agape and the door still open. Andrew stared at her for a while, his eye beginning to twitch.
"Will you stop staring at me! Just close the door and sit!" He snapped. Sango wasted no time in doing so. After all, if a rapist just casually walked into your home, what would you do? 'Just listen to him and pray that he takes mercy on you...' Sango murmured in her thoughts. She took a cautious seat on her couch, her hands folded tentatively in her lap.
"Where's Kagome?" Andrew asked, breathing hard and fast. Sure, he was a demon, but rain was one of the few things that could exhaust him of his powers quicker than normal. Sango's face twisted in emotion before she lost her calm resolve.
"Who do you think you are? You can't walk into my house and ask me where Kagome is! I know what you've done to her! Why on Earth would I care to share that information with you!" She asked rudely. He growled, kneeling down beside her.
"Because someone is going to kill her. It's not me. The person who just fired me wants to get to her. He wants to kill her, to take the jewel from her... To make her suffer. I want to protect her so he won't be able to." Andrew couldn't believe that he had openly said all that. But, if it would lead him to Kagome's location, then he could reveal more.
After all, what was there for him to hide now?
"And you think I'd believe you? You're funny." Sango snapped rudely. Andrew couldn't suppress the violent growl that had suddenly erupted from his throat. Sango jumped back, the scent of fear overwhelming Andrew's senses. Slowly, his growl subsided and he straightened up.
"What would it take for you to believe me?" He asked curiously. Sango raised an eyebrow, biting her lip. She honestly didn't know what it would take. She wasn't sure if she would ever believe him. The dull 'thud' coming from the master bedroom distracted her. Soon, Miroku emerged, rubbing his head.
"Sango, I got called into work... I'll..." His sentence was forgotten as he looked at Andrew standing before him. His eyes darted from Sango to Andrew. He knew that she wouldn't cheat on him. She had standards set for him- why would she not go by those same standards? Slowly, Miroku's voice found him again. "Who's this?"
Sango cleared her throat, but Andrew cut her off. "My name is Andrew. I came to ask of Kagome's location. I'm concerned about her well-being right now, seeing as there is someone seeking her death." Miroku shot a quick glance to Sango, catching the look of 'Please-Shut-Up' in the process.
"Isn't Andrew...?"Miroku trailed off as Sango started nodding rapidly, answering his unspoken question.
"You two may come with me if you desire. Or the monk can place a spell on me to keep me from harming her." Andrew grinned at the shocked face on Miroku. "Oh, yes. I know things. It's the advantage and disadvantage to my one-eye blindness." He smiled in, what he hoped, was a reassuring way.
"Well..." Miroku bit his lip and looked at Sango.
- - -
It hadn't rained in a while. It was as if something was holding back for years. Kagome looked out her bedroom window with reddened eyes. The last time it had rained... She had been a little girl, still innocent and fresh to the country. She would have been happy and trying to learn English properly.
When it rained, her grandfather had initially gotten upset. He had started complaining that he couldn't do tours or tell stories during the rain. Tourists wouldn't come. The parents of children would worry for their health and keep them inside. Kagome couldn't help but smile at the memories of her old life. Life before she knew what a huge responsibility she had to carry.
After it had rained for two days, her mother was complaining that the plants had been destroyed. They had too much water and were drowning. But the God tree... That was something else. The two days of constant rain had given it an extra something and it had bloomed. Kagome's grandfather said that it bloomed very rarely. Old trees shouldn't bloom quickly, he'd always say.
That was so long ago. Ten years? Perhaps sometime less than that. Back home- in Japan -Kagome would have thought a drought occurred. But, in America, there was no difference in how much water she was able to use. It was strange how the distance had changed the perspective of her and those around her.
A raindrop hit Kagome's eye. Kagome reflexively jerked her head away from the window, blinking a time or two to get the excess water spread out. She looked around the room, her eyes traveling from her bed to the door to the dresser, where they finally rested on one object.
She loved the idea of having a single wish to make your dreams come true. She loved that idea as much as the next person did. But she had to keep other people from having it. She had to keep others from taking their selfish desires and wishing upon them. That was hard. Anyone who went after it had enough strength and determination to give her a run for her money...
Kagome angrily swatted the jewel off of her desk. ''That stupid pink marble! Why did I have to be the one to protect it? I would have been just as happy without any powers and having an ordinary life!' Kagome thought angrily. She watched in satisfaction as the jewel bounced off the walls a few times. Finally, it rested in the center of her room.
Kagome walked over to the jewel, using her thumb and middle finger to flick it against the wall repeatedly. Inside of her, she could feel Kedamono stirring. It felt like he had just woken up. Of course, he was awake just as long as she was. Perhaps it was his anger that had been awakened.
'Don't you dare call that jewel stupid. That jewel holds the soul of my beloved Midoriko. You curse it, and I will erase the concealing spell you have on the jewel.' Kedamono's voice hissed throughout her head. Kagome shivered and looked at the jewel as it rebounded off the wall and rolled back to her. Suddenly, something came to mind.
"What was she like? Midoriko, I mean..." Kagome spoke out loud, knowing that Kedamono would hear her and respond. Not like anyone was around to think that she had lost her mind. Speaking of losing her mind... Everything had suddenly fallen silent inside of her. Had she caught Kedamono off guard with that question?
'Midoriko... She was powerful and beautiful. Her eyes... They always looked sad and tired, but that was merely because she was a solemn person. She didn't do anything unless she saw the need for it to be done. She valued the life of a few complete strangers above her own...' Kedamono's voice was softer now. Of course, almost everything sounded the same when it was echoing through her head.
"You still love her..." It was a question, not a statement. Kagome didn't receive an answer, but the warmth that suddenly filled her heart implied that he did.
"What would happen if someone wished on the jewel?" Kagome found herself asking. Not like she would wish on it, of course.
'If it is a wish of dark or selfish nature, then Midoriko will lose the battle. The demon and its minions will win, causing the world to be thrown into chaos. I have seen images of it. That is what spurs me on to keep people from using it... But... If a wish of light or selfless nature is made on it... Midoriko will win the battle. The jewel will lose its powers, and the two of us will finally be able to pass out of this world.'
Kagome smiled, stopping and looking at the small pink jewel. The beast inside of her loved the woman who had created the jewel. He wanted to protect her- to help the battle she had been fighting for so long. Keeping the jewel safe from the darkest of demons was the least he could do. And, silently, Kagome developed a new type of respect for the two of them. For Kedamono and Midoriko.
Kagome put the jewel back around her neck where it belonged- on the necklace that hung around her neck. She stood up and raised her arms above her head in attempt to stretch. However, the sudden sound of the doorbell started her. She took one last glance at the rain-filled sky and walked to the front door. As soon as it was open, her body froze up and her heart slowed down.
"Kagome..." Sango grasped her heart, exhausted from trying to keep up with Andrew the entire way. Miroku was behind her, breathing hard- but not hard enough to need to breathe through his mouth. Beside him stood Andrew. His eyes had changed appearance.
Kagome didn't know if she should be scared, angry, or joyous at the fact that they were here. She was scared of Andrew- not like she would willingly let him know it. She was angry at him for all he had done. He had broken her heart and spirit. He had forced her to break the heart of the man she loved.
"Why... Why did you two bring him here? Why did you let him through the barrier I had placed?" Kagome asked, her voice quivering as Andrew stepped in. Miroku followed, helping Sango as she attempted to control her breathing.
"Because I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to keep Naraku from killing you." Andrew said, acting as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Kagome glared at him as harshly as she could. He had just forced her to move away from Sesshoumaru and now he was saying that he was on her side?
"If you're on my side of this battle, then let me see Sesshoumaru." She hissed. Naraku shook his head rapidly.
"You don't want to do that. Naraku has poison chambers all around this place. They go off if a full demon enters." Andrew explained. Sango and Miroku looked at each other, then at Andrew.
"Then why haven't they gone off?" Sango questioned.
"Because I'm not entirely demon. When I had taken Souta's powers, I lost some of my demon edge and got some miko to me. I'm most demon and part miko; not full demon." He explained. Kagome's eyes began to tear up. Andrew didn't know why, but a searing pain shot through him suddenly. What was it from?
Once you went from the side that killed for pleasure to the side that was losing, you quickly developed a conscious. And his was now starting to chide him on everything that he had done. But the things that stuck out the most were the things that he had done to Kagome and the ones she loved.
Without thinking, Andrew leaned forward, hugging Kagome. He knew that she didn't want to be touched by him. He knew exactly why her body tensed up immediately. And he knew why she was avoiding having most parts of his anatomy touch her. That only rubbed salt into the newfound wound.
In attempt to reassure Kagome that he didn't have bad intentions, he kept his hands around her shoulders. After a few moments, he pulled away and glanced at the other two. No one was quite sure what to believe. Miroku seemed confident that Andrew wouldn't harm Kagome again. Sango and Kagome were both wary of him.
"It'll take us a while to deactivate the traps with poison in them. We should get started now that way Sesshoumaru can come over. Once he's around, I'll leave. I just want to make sure that you have a demon to protect you..." Andrew's voice was low, as if thinking. The poison traps were hidden in so many places, he wasn't sure if he could remember.
"How long will it take us to get rid of the poison?" Kagome meekly asked.
"At least a few days. There are a lot of them and they are very sensitive. One trap, alone, might take several hours to deactivate. Then we'll have to remove it. If the others go off, then that one- even if deactivated -can go off as well." Andrew explained.
"Let's get started." Miroku's voice left no room for arguments. They were going to get this done as soon as possible and finish things up.
- - -
Naraku hissed as Kanna's mirror failed to show anything to him once more. Why wouldn't it work? He stood up and began walking around, anger coursing through his body and lacing itself with his scent. He couldn't believe that Andrew had gotten there that fast. Andrew didn't know where the house was. The heavy rain had washed out the scent- even though Andrew's sense of smell wasn't the best anyway.
So how'd he get there?
No doubt, he was telling them to move out. That would be stupid. If Kagome left, the poison traps on the room would go off. They were set up to detect her aura- not one of a demon. Andrew hadn't been around when those had been set up. Or had he? It was hard to remember what he helped with nowadays.
Perhaps he would call Sesshoumaru and try to turn him against the woman he loved. The idea sounded nice- like the bad ending to a fairy tale. But he knew that damn dog would never go against Kagome. As much as dog-demons got angry with those who broke their heart, he knew that Sesshoumaru never got mad unless he deemed it necessary.
'Damn his intelligence. So much like his father.' Naraku's mind hissed. He looked at Kanna's mirror once again, in hopes of being able to see what was going on in that damn house. Or what Andrew was doing. The image started appearing through the fog, but the fog engulfed the entire image before he could see anything.
"Kanna, why does the haze remain over my vision?" Naraku asked in a sneer. Kanna didn't flinch, but spoke. Her voice was also drowned out by the sounds of silence.
"I do not know, master." Her voice soon faded out and her eyes looked down at her mirror. Naraku growled and looked at the door. Kagura came from the other side, sighing and looking at him in hatred. Oh, how she desired to go against Naraku. But as long as she was a product of him, there was nothing she could do.
"Kagura, explain why I can't see anything in Kanna's mirror." Naraku commanded. Kagura nodded, walking over to the mirror and looking as the same thing happened once more.
'Too spoiled to figure it out himself, most likely.' She thought in angst.
"Miko powers. It's a barrier that will rebound anything that tries to enter. Including your vision." Kagura murmured.
"Kagome is smarter than I've given her credit for." Naraku hissed, throwing something out the window and shattering the delicate glass.
O o O o O o O o O oO
I can't go on like this. I can't go on trying to protect the jewel from all the bad people. There are times I think of giving up. Perhaps I'll give up the jewel. Or maybe I'll give up hope. Being a hallow shell sounds nicer than having to live with the pain of knowing I can't be with the ones I love...
O o O o O o O o O o O
Review Replies:
Decedi- I hope that the ending has some kind of positive effect on you. Even if it doesn't 'wow' you, I hope you are still surprised. To be quite honest, I have never read a story with the ending that mine will have. (Okay, I read one, but that was on another site and wasn't done out of consent) Nevertheless, thank you very much for reviewing!
RaspberrySorbet- Heh. I guess I would have to re-read the kidnap chapter to see the heebie-jeebies effect of it. Funny, when I write things, I don't realize the emotion or intensity of it. When I go back and read it (for whatever reasons), I get scared of how I make it sound.
Sesshomaru's-Shadow284- I think that you're better at writing than you give yourself credit for. I believe that I can't write to save my life- even though I have all you wonderful reviewers saying the opposite. Judging by the way you talked in your review... I'd say you have potential; you just need to get an idea that you are truly passionate about to see how great of a writer you can be.
Your Gothic Lover- Ha! That quote is wonderful! Everyone I have read that to has laughed at it! Although, I have to admit, now I'm terrified of being fired.
Next Chapter: Severing The Ties
Reviews Needed: 160
- Lonely Bird
