Author's Note: Aw, everyone feels so bad for Miroku. Giving you guys a longer chapter this time around, there was no place to cut it off. Can't wait for you guys to get to the next few chapters, I'm so stoked for this story! Enjoy!
This chapter was written to Tape Recorder by Hammock
Disclaimer: I wrote my first Inuyasha fanfiction thirteen years ago. And still, I own none of the Inuyasha series or its characters. So sad.
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Chapter 16: The Release
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Kagome
Something inside of Kagome had snapped.
All the worrying, all the fear, all the wondering if she'd been spelled or not. She was sick of it.
Inuyasha, the infuriating hanyou, had gotten to her. But not in the way he thought. No. He'd gotten to her in a different way.
She was pissed.
Once she realized he wasn't going to kill them, at least not yet, she understood that she actually had some leverage over him. That there was more she could do than just sit back and quiver in her boots. She could see it in his eyes – he needed her alive. And that need of his she could work with.
Sango had protected Kagome, like some sort of freaking superhero, and dammit, she was going to repay the favor. She didn't know any kick-ass karate moves, but she had the one thing the evil creature in front of her needed. And she was going to use that knowledge to keep Sango and Kohaku safe.
Inuyasha sat across from her in Sango's room, in her desk chair, like he owned the place. His arms were crossed over his chest and he had a full-blown smirk on his face.
She hated that smirk. She would take his bloated, over-confident smile and rip it right off him.
She felt her body relax, knowing she had to play the one card she had. Something from within screamed at her not to find the jewel shards for him, like a warning. Danger! It screamed. Danger! So she there was just one last-ditch idea she had, one last rock she was going to throw at him.
Screw him and his bullying, intimidating youkai crap.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" She asked. "From what I can tell, you have about…" she glanced down to check the time. It was twenty-after-twelve in the morning. "Six hours until sunrise. Until you're sucked back into your little prison. And I can assure you, Inuyasha," she said, putting as much contempt behind his name as possible, "that I won't be letting you out again." She grinned at him, she couldn't help it. Once he was back in the mirror come morning time, she'd take the stupid cursed thing and bury it out in the middle of the woods, in the deepest hole she could dig. And she wouldn't feel bad about it, either. She wouldn't feel bad about him being trapped in the mirror, in the dark for all of eternity.
Or maybe she'd smash it first. Would he be forever stuck inside then? With no possible hope to be let out? Forever?
She tried not to shiver at the thought, especially since he might take it as reacting to the glare he was shooting her way.
"Six hours," he growled. "Six hours is a hell of a lot of time to cause havoc."
Crap. Crap, crap, he was right. Her idea had backfired. What if he went on a killing spree? No one would be able to stop him, not unless she agreed to help him.
No! The warning voice screamed inside her head.
He kept talking to her, kept his threat going. "Six hours is more than enough time to-" And then he stopped, frozen, eyes wide.
Confused for a second, Kagome wondered what face she'd made to get him to react like that, but then it hit her too. The air around her became prickly. The fine hair on her arms and the back of her neck stood on end, and she felt something vibrate in her chest, low and steady. Her mind reeled. What the-?
That same gentle gust of wind, the same sound of rustling fabric, it was like she'd been thrust back in the museum cave on that very first night. Those same hands that had ripped open her side, swept around her again, one closing over her throat.
She felt her body go rigid at the pressure against her neck, and her hands shot up to claw at the skin of his forearm. It was covered in that same thick, purple fabric, she couldn't do anything but tug at the arm, trying to get free. She couldn't turn to get a good look at him, but she knew, she just knew it was the same man.
Her eyes swept to Inuyasha, whose face mirrored her same shock. Then his brows drew together and he gripped the back of the desk chair with one hand, claws ripping into the fabric. He hissed. "Miroku."
She heard the deep, smooth voice of the man behind her. "Inuyasha," he said, "I hope you're not planning on killing any humans. Otherwise, Kikyou will be upset."
"Kikyou can fucking shove it." He growled, his face contorted in anger.
There was a pause, and for a moment, she thought the man called Miroku and Inuyasha might start to fight. She readied herself to grab Kohaku and Sango and get the hell outta dodge if that happened.
But then the man spoke again. "Excuse us." He said.
Kagome watched Inuyasha's eyes go wide, watched him launch himself from his seat, his clawed hand reaching out towards her.
"No!" He shouted, before everything around her blurred, like motion lines in a photograph. Faster and faster the world moved around her. Kagome thought she might be sick. Her stomach flipped and the wind kicked up and howled around them, whipping her hair around her face.
Suddenly everything became solid, too solid too fast, and Kagome felt the unmistakable acidic rise of vomit forcing it's way up her esophagus. Wrenching herself out of the man's arms, she fell to her hands and knees and threw up. It kept coming until everything was out of her stomach, and she continued to dry-heave, the smell of her own discharge burning in her nose.
"Typical."
Kagome pulled herself together enough to peek up through her hair. The priestess stood in front of her, just as beautiful and cold as she remembered. Her nose upturned at the mess Kagome had made on the floor.
Kagome struggled to her feet, embarrassed. She attempted to smooth her tangled, wind-blown hair out of her face and look somewhat presentable, trying to ignore the vomit. "S-sorry." Was all she could manage to say.
Kikyou smiled, ignoring her and turning to the man. "Did you lose him, Miroku?"
Miroku shrugged. "Possibly. I sifted all over the place. If anything, it will take him a few minutes to reach us."
She nodded before acknowledging Kagome again. "Don't mind the mess, sifting doesn't settle well with humans."
Kagome shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Wasn't Kikyou a human? She certainly wasn't a youkai, although granted, Kagome only knew the one, so it wasn't like she was an expert on picking them out from the crowd. But Kikyou talked like humans were an entirely different species.
"Where… where am I?" Kagome asked, glancing around. It was a house, she was sure of it, but it was old, the wallpaper torn, the wooden floor rotting through. They were in the upper level of the house because the ceiling slanted up on both sides and came together in the shape of a roof. She wondered why she'd been brought here of all places, wondered what was in store for her. Inuyasha had implied many times that Kikyou would be furious, would right out kill her if she caught her. But so far, Kikyou simply looked calm and collected. She didn't seem furious. And she was making no move to kill Kagome. …Not yet anyway.
Kikyou waved her hand at Kagome's question. "An abandoned structure not far from where Miroku found you." She said, boredom ringing in her tone. Or was it simple disinterest? "I'm so sorry that I had to pull you away from your friend like that. But I had to speak with you alone."
The words were right, but the tone was off. Kagome got the sneaking suspicion that Kikyou was far from sorry. She clenched her jaw together, refusing to give in and lash out. She wouldn't let her fear get the best of her.
The priestess smiled again when she didn't reply and continued on. "Little doppelganger." She shook her head, as if the term were endearing, as if Kagome was a cute little pet. "When we last met I thought I made it pretty clear that I didn't want you coming back for Inuyasha."
"You didn't say that." Kagome mentally smacked herself for opening her mouth.
"The simple fact that I had your memories erased should have tipped you off." Her polite smile turned cold, and Kagome shivered. "I'm curious how you got close enough to break my spell, though. You should have been terrified. Tell me. How did you find the nerve to go back?"
Kagome shrugged. "I don't know. I just went back." No way would she admit that she'd been so scared she'd nearly wet herself.
Kikyou brought her hand up to her chin, a speculative look in her eyes. She started to pace, slowly, in a circular pattern around Kagome, giving her wide berth. Still, Kagome tensed up, just in case.
"You know," the priestess said, "you're the first one to go back for him. The very few others who tried to release him stayed far, far away. But then again, you are my reincarnation."
Kagome sucked in a sharp breath. "….I am?" She asked. It sounded strange, having her confirm what Inuyasha had guessed at.
"Most certainly. It's why the jewel was inside of you. You see, when I died, it burned with me, passed on with me." She frowned. "Although I had expected to keep it with me always, I hadn't counted on it passing along to my next life."
"Ah," Kagome spoke up, curiosity getting the better of her, "that doesn't make any sense, because you're still alive…?" She had meant it as a statement, but it came out sounding more like a question.
She grinned. "Yes, yes. Technically you could say that I am alive. I do breath, I do have a heart, and it does pump blood through me. I feel things. Anger. Pain. Desire." She locked eyes with Kagome on that last word, and she knew what she was implying.
"You were in love…" Kagome muttered, hating the way her voice sounded, "with Inuyasha?"
Kikyou sighed, loud and heavy, continuing her slow, walking pattern. "Yes, Inuyasha and I… cared about each other."
"So then why entrap him in a mirror?"
That creepy, cold smile was back on her lips. "Sometimes, caring about someone isn't enough. Especially when that someone works so hard to undo everything you've worked for." She paused, but Kagome stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. "Inuyasha was not willing to save himself. I did what I had to do. For humanity."
"For humanity," Kagome repeated, not understanding her one bit.
"For humanity," she nodded. She stopped walking, quirking her head to the side, as if Kagome were a child that didn't understand grownup talk. "Why do you think youkai aren't running around freely in your world today, doppelganger? Why do you think humans are masters of the earth? Why is it that although youkai are stronger and faster, the physically superior race, they're not ruling humans?"
"It makes sense, doesn't it?" She continued. "That youkai would be the more advanced race? That, if they were able to, they'd run wild and free? Humans are, for the most part, food to these creatures after all."
"Youkai eat people?"
"Some do. Most do. So why haven't they shown themselves? Why haven't they come forward?"
Kagome shrugged, keeping her mouth shut.
"Me. They haven't because of me."
Of course, Kagome thought dryly, typical crazy person with a typical ego.
"Inuyasha is youkai, and because he is youkai he is where he needs to be: In the mirror. That's the only option for him other than death, But let's get back to the point. You are simply my copy, doppelganger. I let you free, gave you back your life. However, I can't have you running amok, breaking my spells and setting Inuyasha free. Why should I let you loose again, when you have proven to be such a nuisance to me?" She waited for Kagome to reply.
Swallowing her fear, at least as much as possible, Kagome crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, it's not like I was purposely going back to free Inuyasha, I had a school assignment to complete. I never would have forced myself back in there if I didn't need to get my report done."
"You still went in, and you still released him. And that, I'm afraid, my dear copy, is why I cannot allow you to leave this time."
Dread washed over Kagome. Kikyou's face had contorted into something evil. She barely looked human.
"Grab her," the priestess said, and those same hands wrapped around Kagome's arms again. This was just the same as before, and the panic really started to eat at her. Kikyou stepped closer as Kagome struggled.
"What are you going to do, lock me in a mirror too?" she asked out of desperation, frantic to try and keep her talking.
She let out a sharp bark of laughter. "No. Inuyasha is in the mirror for a reason. His hanyou aura sustains the spell, which in turn sustains me. You would just be a little girl, stuck in a piece of glass." She continued to walk forward, reaching her arms out as her minion kept Kagome in place. "Don't make me spell you still, dear. Stay where you are."
"S-stop, don't come near me!" The dread in her gut bubbled over, and she kicked out behind her, catching shin with her heel. The man grunted, but his grip held firm.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way, truly I am," Kikyou continued as she drew near. "Believe me when I tell you that I am trying to help your species. Your death will be for the greater good. At least leave with that comforting thought."
Comforting thought? That thought wasn't freaking comforting! She shrunk back as best she could, away from the priestess. Inuyasha had been right, she was a crazy, evil bitch! Kagome was terrified, way more terrified than when she had opened Sango's door and Inuyasha had stood there, glowering down at her, way more terrified than when Inuyasha had shoved Sango up against the wall by her throat. At this point, she'd rather be facing death by the hanyou's claws then by this creepy, cold, somehow-dead-but-still-breathing witch-priestess!
She felt like she might vomit again. But there was something else happening inside her. It started in her chest at is spread. Heat. Uncontrollable, uncomfortable heat boiled at the core of her body, like compressed rage and a severe sunburn all rolled into one. Kikyou stepped near, arms outstretched, a crazy, murderous gleam in her eye, and Kagome felt that heat shoot out from her chest and down her arms, just as she brought her hands up to protect her face.
It was blinding, the light that shot out of her hands. She heard screaming and smelled cooking, sizzling meat. The hands gripping her arms were gone, and she felt engulfed in warmth. It reminded her of when she was little and had wet the bed, and her mother had drawn a bath at two in the morning and put her in, still half asleep and drowsy. It was that same protected, glowing feeling, and it radiated from deep inside.
What was happening to her? She felt as if there were something new inside her, space within her chest that hadn't been there before. She felt expanded, bigger than her body.
The screams continued.
Searing heat on her palms now. The pain brought Kagome back to herself. Her hands were wrapped around Kikyou's arms, and they were burning her. Kagome's wrists all the way to the tips of her fingers glowed white-hot. Horrified, she tried to pull away, but she was stuck, welded to her as Kikyou's flesh sizzled and bubbled around her hands.
Kagome screamed, and the light expanded again. There was a loud popping sound, and she was ripped free of Kikyou's arms. The priestess was flung back. Her body slammed against the far wall and then fell in a heap to the ground.
Tears poured from Kagome's eyes, scared out of her mind. What's happening? She screamed inside her head, what have I done? What am I?
The light faded away into a dull, faded pink glow, centered in her chest. She lifted her shaking hands, expecting to see severe charring, or third-degree burns, but they were smooth and perfect. Whipping around in a circle, she caught movement to her right. The man who had taken her from Sango's house, who had ripped her side open days before, slowly rolled onto his stomach. He groaned loudly, hands coming up to hold his head.
"What the fuck?"
Kagome whipped around again, eyes going wide as Inuyasha appeared out of thin air, and the relief hit her like a ton of bricks.
"What the hell happened?" Inuyasha exclaimed, eyes darting around the worn down room.
"I-I don't know." Kagome cried. She tried to calm her rapid breathing, but her breath kept hitching. "She-she came after me, she was trying… trying to kill me. I brought my h-hands up and then… then…"
He was at her side then, gripping her upper arm. Kagome winced at the sudden movement.
"Then what?" He gave her a little shake when she didn't answer right away. "Then what?"
"Th-then I don't know! There was this light! This light coming from my hands and… and…"
"You purified them?"
"I- what?" She felt sluggish, like her brain had slowed down. The urge to vomit had passed, despite the smell of burnt flesh filling the room, but now she was dizzy, and weak, like all the energy her body produced during the day had run out. She felt her legs give out beneath her.
"Hey, what the-!" Inuyasha reached out and caught her, she could feel the muscles bunching in his arms as he dragged her to him. She let herself collapse against him. No way could she stand on her own right now.
The man called Miroku was getting up, Kagome could see him out of the corner of her eye. She felt Inuyasha's chest rumble as he released a growl.
"Inuyasha," Miroku said, standing at full height now, hand still rubbing at his head.
"Fucking monk," Inuyasha spat. "Still letting the bitch control you I see."
Miroku frowned, glancing over at the unconscious woman lying still on the floor. "It's not like I have much of a choice in the matter," he said dully, hand finally moving away from his temple. "I do what I'm told. Just like you've been doing until now."
"Not anymore."
"Apparently not."
"And you're fucking thick if you think I'll be letting you just take the doppelganger from me again. She's mine."
Kagome blinked, not sure if she heard him correctly or not. She raised her head to see his face through her hazy vision. His jaw was set and his eyes were locked on the monk.
"Kikyou wants her dead."
"That's fucking obvious," he growled. "Just stay back while I finish the witch off, and we'll be out of your way." Then he turned, dragging Kagome with him, pinning her to his side as took two steps towards the fallen priestess.
Miroku leapt in front of them, blocking their way. Inuyasha reared back sharply.
"Get out of the way, monk."
"I can't do that."
"Keh. You make me fucking sick." He took another step forward.
Kagome gazed at the man though her weakened eyes, barely making out his movements. He swiftly removed the prayer beads from around his hand, then opened his fingers just a little.
The wind kicked up around them, but it was different from the wind she had felt while sifting with Miroku. This wind was brutal. She could feel herself being pulled forward, ever so slightly along with Inuyasha.
"Fuck!" He cursed, pulling Kagome tighter to him. "Don't think this is the last of it, monk!" He shouted over the wind. Then he cursed again.
"Let the doppelganger know there's a little present waiting for her at home!" Miroku shouted back, but before Kagome could open her mouth to ask what he meant, the edges of her vision blurred, and she was being pulled back, away from Miroku and the insane priestess. Away from the abandoned, rotting house.
They hit solid ground.
Kagome fell to her knees.
She threw up.
Which was weird, because she thought she'd gotten everything out of her stomach the first time. Apparently not.
"Shit, are you kidding me?" Inuyasha cried, reaching down to pull her to her feet once she'd emptied her stomach again. Kagome whimpered, exhausted.
"Ugh," was all she could manage.
"Keh. I forgot that you humans don't handle instantaneous transportation well." He smirked in reply to her glare. "Don't vomit on my feet," he added.
Shivering, feeling that she had reached her limit, Kagome weakly shoved him off of her. "Just, get away from me," she said, willing her legs to stop wobbling around. They were in the middle of the street right in front of Sango's house. The porch light was on, but it was quiet inside. Kagome struggled to take each step. If she could only get inside, get to the couch, and pass out. She was so tired.
"Whoa, now," Inuyasha said, catching her for the second time that night. She hadn't even realized her legs had given out again. She looked up at him.
He had come for her. She remembered the panicked look on his face when Miroku had taken her. She's mine, he'd said, after he'd followed the trail. She wasn't silly enough to think that he'd meant anything other than he needed her to track down the jewel. But the small twinge of her heart hadn't been imagined. She pushed those feelings deep, deep down and tried to lock them away.
"Get off of me," she reinforced, struggling to get free of his grasp.
"Hey," he said. He released her, arms folding over his chest. "I just saved your ass. The least you could do is show some fucking gratitude, no matter how much my youkai side disgusts you."
"Ugh!" She said again, but this time out of anger instead of nausea. "You are so thick! I'm not disgusted by your youkai side. I don't know where you got the idea of me being any sort of racist, but I'm not, so stop accusing me of it."
"Keh. Whatever, wench, you were so disgusted you wouldn't even look at me."
"Look," she snapped. She was starting to get a headache. "You're right, I wouldn't look at you, but it wasn't because I was disgusted."
"…Whatever." He repeated as he slowly followed her up the front steps. "You don't have to like me, but maybe a 'thanks' for getting you back is in order."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "You just saved me because I can get your stupid jewel for you. Don't think this means I owe you."
"Hell yes you owe me!" He exclaimed. "You'd be dead back there otherwise. Miroku would have swallowed you whole with his wind-tunnel."
What the hell was a wind-tunnel? No wait, she didn't want to know, she just wanted to sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep. So she ignored his taunting, reaching the front door, and knocking. Once, twice, three times.
She couldn't help herself as she turned to Inuyasha and held up her hands. You purified them! He had said.
"Something tells me I would have been fine."
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Okay, so not much of a cliffhanger, but whoo~! Another chapter done!
Please remember to review, I'm serious about my writing and my stories, and if you have anything to comment about or anything to mention or anything to say, I would love to hear it.
~SugarRos
