It had been eight long years of training before I was deemed 'finished'. I was hardened. Strong. Dangerous. A force to be reckoned with.
Naraku said that it had taken so long since I could only wield a bow and arrow and had had a kind nature to begin with when I had first come to him. He had laughed, a cold ruthless laugh, and I wanted to stab him. But what kind of a servant would I be if I stabbed my master? What kind of a servant would I be if I stabbed my lord?
I started, staring out across the landscape. I had begun to doze off… Stupid me. I stood up, fanning myself in the summer heat. Stupid weather… stupid sun… stupid trees not giving off enough shade… stupid me for calling everything stupid!
Sighing again, I fell back, lifting my head to the sky. Why was I out here again? Oh, yes. Naraku wanted to see how well I fought by fighting that half demon… what was his name again? How would I know? By fighting that half demon and his troupe.
My toe found a stone and I played with it, lifting it out of the ground and watching it fall to one side. Had Naraku even told me this half demon's name? No… I don't rightly think so. No, I decided. No, he didn't. Why not!?
Another sigh came from me and I tilted my head, gazing down that the ground. I was clad a simple dress. My quiver of arrows clung to my back, and my bow felt light. I didn't know why, but I despised the weight of a sword. At first, I just couldn't get the hang of the thing, but soon, I had perfected my fighting technique until I had been able to fight against Naraku himself and tied with him. He had been very pleased.
I was ripped from my thoughts by the sound of footsteps rapidly reaching me. I stood, brushing some dirt from myself and I looked strait. The footsteps stopped. They were behind me.
The wind pulled my hair to one side, and I breathed in the scent of the world. A growl came from behind me and I could almost see some faceless nameless being narrow it's red eyes at me. "Who the hell are you?" asked a voice from my past.
I started within myself, but kept my body still. That voice…
flashback
The man looked in surprise at Naraku. "I… I…" He appeared to try and justify something, but what.
He looked at the floor, then at me, breathing heavily. "I'm so sorry Kagome… I'm so sorry…" I bit my lip and shook my head in uncertainty. Sorry for what? What had he done? Did he kill me? Had I died? If so… then what was I now?
Tears pricked my eyes and slowly slid down my cheeks. My heart race sped up and I wanted to struggle as Naraku slowly encircled me within an arm and crushed me against his chest, a barrier circling us. He carried me away from the man and I leaned forward, wanting to see him, talk to him… at least ask him why he was sorry or say good bye.
"KAGOME!!!!!!"
I shivered as the man screamed my name. I fought against Naraku, finally breaking contact with him and falling through the barrier. I felt the wind press up around me and looked down. The ground rushed up with frightening speed. I looked to the side quickly and saw the man. I could feel his eyes follow me and I heard him call my name once more. "NO! KAGOME, NO!!!" My heart broke with the fear and sadness that coated his voice, but soon, my heart would not be the only thing broken.
My eyes closed, accepting my death, but I didn't land on the ground, my body being destroyed. No. I landed on something soft and I felt it slightly give way to my weight.
Fear engulfed me before I opened my eyes of what I'd see. But, when I did crack one eye open, I gasped in amazement. I had landed on a giant feather… Looking up quickly, I saw a beautiful woman at the sharp end of the feather, making it take off. Her hair was up in a bun and she wore two kimonos, one over the other.
"Close your mouth girl. You'll catch flies within that gaping hole in your face," the woman growled at me, eyeing those narrow orbs of hers, and I clamped my mouth shut. Who was she?
As though she had red my mind, she hissed, "Stop looking at me like that! I'm Kagura. That's all you need to know, so shut up and leave me alone."
I flinched at her harsh tone, and looked over the side of the feather at the man who stared up at me. I could feel his amber eyes searing through me. A name popped up in my head. 'Inu-Yasha…' I blinked. Who? What? Was… was HE Inu-Yasha? I shook my head. Did it really matter? I tried to forget the subject. I tried to forget the name. I tried to forget him. I couldn't.
end of flashback
I realized that I hadn't spoken when Inu-Yasha growled again and hissed, "Answer me!"
My head turned slightly to look at him through the sides of my eyes. I didn't say a word, but felt the sun touch my cheeks, letting him see my face.
He gasped and took a step back. "Kagome…" he whispered, his eyes wide. Inu-Yasha shook his head. "Kagome… You're alive!? You escaped Naraku? But how? How did you-"
I laughed bitterly and turned to face him head on, my heart pounding. "Escape? Why would I wish to escape Naraku? He has treated me well. He had kept me alive for eight years. He has trained me. He has-" It was my turn to be cut off by and angry half demon.
"Shut up!" Inu-Yasha howled, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me like a rag doll. "Just shut up, Kagome! This isn't you talking, is it? It's Naraku! What has that bastard done to you? Tell me Kagome! Tell me!!"
Worry dripped off of his voice and I pushed him away, drawing an arrow and knocking it to my bow. I aimed it at Inu-Yasha, closing one eye so as to concentrate. "Kagome… this isn't you… This isn't the you I remember…"
Was there a me he could remember? I felt his eyes search my face and I got the notion he was looking for an old me. The old me. The old Kagome. His Kagome.
My breath was forced from me and I stumbled forward as a staff was brought down onto my back. It shattered my quiver of arrows, and I turned quickly shooting wildly to get back at whoever had hit me. I was met with large purple calf eyes. They were full of rage, but then full of surprise. "Ka… Kagome Sama?" came a deep voice before he fell back, having to dodge my arrow. "HOSHI SAMA!!!" I too had to duck as a large boomerang swooshed over my head. I looked up through long raven bangs to see a dark brown haired woman kneel beside the monk. She looked up angrily and caught her boomerang, but then blinked and looked at me with the same surprise Inu-Yasha and the monk had looked at me with. "Kagome Ch-chan?" she stuttered, standing and taking a step back.
I narrowed my eyes and drew my sword, aiming a well practiced swing from her head, but she blocked it with the boomerang. "KAGOME CHAN! SNAP OUT OF IT!" the woman shouted. A name came to me. Sango Chan… Miroku Sama… Who did they belong to?
A groan came from me as I was knocked to the side due to my lack of attention. I skidded, breathing heavily and faked unconsciousness. These people seemed concerned for my well fare… then why not trick them?
"Kagome Chan!" the woman cried and I felt her warmth by me. I leapt up and pressed my sword against her throat. She cried out, but held still, staring into my eyes. Why won't she look away… or act normal and plead for her life? Why doesn't she fall back? Why does she just sit there, waiting for her death?
"Sango…" I said, wholly unlike the one I usually don escaped my lips and I gasped slightly. "Sango Chan…" I fell back, dropping my sword. "Miroku Sama… Inu-Yasha… I'm so sorry…"
I cried out and clutched my arms. Pain engulfed my body and I fell to my knees, tears streaking my cheeks. Inu-Yasha, Miroku, and Sango cried out and I could tell they surrounded me. My friends. They-
I cried out in pain again and heard a voice in my ears. "Kagome… Dear Kagome… Sweet Kagome… Stupid Kagome… You have condemned your friends…"
My eyes shot over and an evil grin crossed my face. What the heck was going on?
I jumped up, slashing Miroku across the chest. He fell back, his voice turning into a death rattle. Sango cried out and bent to Miroku, but and slashed her back too. Her body went limp and she collapsed onto Miroku's body, their blood mixing together.
Tears slowly slipped down my cheeks and I shook my head, taking a step back. A clawed hand was placed on my shoulder and a voice full of pain echoed my thoughts. "Kagome… what did you do?" "I… I don't know…" I said, my voice pained. Then, I realized what was going on. "Inu-Yasha… run away!"
My head turned towards him and he narrowed his eyes, unsure what I meant. "What?" His eyes widened as I stabbed him.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" I couldn't control my body. Naraku… he had taken over me…
"Ka…go…me…" Inu-Yasha said, his breathing harsh as he fell back, covering a large wound in his robe. I fell back, shaking my head. "No…" I whispered, but my body wouldn't listen. I raised my sword and Inu-Yasha cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight, but dipped his head, his white bangs covering his eyes. 'He can't fight me…' I thought, using every bit of energy to keep from killing him. "Inu-Yasha… Fight back. Kill me… Kill me, NOW!" I cried, my body trembling. Inu-Yasha looked up and shook his head. "I can't… I love you…"
Pain erupted in my chest and I thought my heart was breaking. But no… Naraku had killed me.
My body slumped to the ground and my head hit the grass, almost sightless eyes staring at the dirt. I heard Inu-Yasha's voice from what felt like far off… He was calling my name… crying. I heard him swear and slash at Naraku. Then, I saw Naraku slash Inu-Yasha, and Inu-Yasha fall, his blood mixing with the grass. My will had returned.
Sitting up, I grabbed the special thing Naraku had given me.
flashback
"M'lord…" I whispered, dipping my head in respect to Naraku. He placed a hand on my head and smiled.
"Kagome… You have trained eight long years, and so, I entrust this to you. Guard it well and protect it with your life."
The weight of the thing made my hands dip slightly as Naraku dropped whatever it was in my hands. What responsibility had he given me? What had he given me?
I closed my eyes to him and dipped my head even more. "I am honored, lord."
end flashback
I shivered at the memory. "You… made me kill… Sango Chan and Miroku Sama… You killed Inu-Yasha… BASTARD!!! I HATE YOU!!!!" I screamed, tears slipping down my cheeks. Then, I threw the heart to the ground. He had given me his heart…
I grabbed one of my sacred arrows that had fallen from when Miroku had broken my quiver. I closed my eyes and stabbed it. His dieing shriek echoed in my head as I fell to the earth. My face was turned towards the sky and rain clouds slowly formed over my head. The first rain drop made me shiver, but I soon adjusted, welcoming the rain to wash away the scent of my friend's blood. Of Naraku's blood. Of the only man I had ever loved… Of his blood.
I saw a man before me. I groaned. Who was it? Then, my eyes flew open. Papa?
He bent beside me and smiled. "Kagome, darling. You… You will survive, but your friends won't." "NO!" I cried, trying to sit up, but pain rippling down my back. "No Papa… It isn't fair. I… I lead them to this death… They shouldn't have to die…"
My father bent his head over me and smiled. "They… they can be allowed to live… but you will have to die…" I started and looked at Miroku and Sango, in each other's embrace. They should've been allowed to have children. Miroku should've been allowed to see his wind tunnel disappear, and Sango should've been allowed to hug Kohaku. I turned and saw the slumped body of Inu-Yasha and felt my blood go cold. "Inu-Yasha…" He should've been allowed to see Kikyo again. To say good bye. He loved her… He loves her… Not me… I wouldn't truly ever be missed, except by my friends and family… no by a man who loved me…
I turned back to my father and took a deep breath, pain erupting in my lungs. "Just… please, let me say good bye." My father shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, darling, but no."
My eyes closed and I nodded. "I understand. Arigato, father."
