Title:
PURGATORIO
Part:
2 – Sealed in Time
Author:
Shun'u [ff.net ID: 61008]
Series:
Inuyasha
Genre:
Supernatural/Suspense
Rating:
PG-13
Disclaimer:
Inuyasha, its characters and original storyline are © to Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday, and subsequent parties. "Purgatorio" is an original fanfiction © to Shun'u [h_shunu@hotmail.com].
Posted:
January 2003
Author's Notes and Review Responses:
Hi again! ^_^ I'm so happy that this fic is being well received. Thanks again for the nice and long reviews. Helps a lot to know what readers like/dislike about the story and characters.
Shun'u
For early updates and teasers, please join my updates mailing list at:
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Feel free to email me anytime. I'll try to respond promptly… honest! ^_^v
In response to Celyia:
You're too kind! *^_^* Believe me when I say that I've been a fan of your stories for while. Whenever I hit writer's block it's usually your stories or Rymsie's or Deleria's that I read to get back into the groove of writing Inuyasha again. Glad to hear that you got a few laughs out of part 1. It's always fun to play around with the characters, isn't it?
In response to Cin of an Angel:
*grin* Poor Inuyasha is right. I almost feel guilty about being so mean to the poor guy all the time… heh. Hope to appease your curiosity about the spirits soon – not to mention having Sess show up. ;)
In response to Bishonen no Hime:
Thanks! I'll try to update soon. Maybe in a week? Cross your fingers (ignore the "hope to die" part… ew… how gruesome…). ^_^
In response to Lady Calliope:
Thanks for reviewing! ^_^ I'm sorry that the trilogy is taking so long in the making. Very difficult to find time (I sound like a broken record, don't I?) but I'm sure you understand how that is. Alas, I cannot answer your guess about my kitsune ghost. Hehe. Oh, and thank you for pointing out that typo. I'll fix that in a jiffy.
In response to Missy:
Glad to hear that you like it. Please check back again in a week or so. I'm doing my best to keep my New Year's resolutions of writing more and responding to reviews better.
In response to laura:
It's very hard to be original nowadays with the huge surge of Inuyasha fanfics hitting the net. Especially with the number of S/K fics out there… ^^; Anyhow, a lot of times I'd outline a fic only to find out that there's something similar already posted on ff.net. Usually I'll end up trashing my story (like my Kaede fic) and read the other person's story instead. Good to hear that you like this story. Sorry to hear that it brought up memories of your bad experience with the ouiji board. Can't say that I believe in them myself since I've avoided using one my whole life. However, I do believe in ghosts… Anyone who goes to the movies with me is practically guaranteed a scream if the movie involves ghosts. Except, of course, for that one movie with Patrick Swayze in it. ^_^
In response to Dark Star:
What you say about Shippou is very interesting. Hmm… Food for thought: would it matter whether you're killing a good or a bad person, when the end result is the same and you've "killed" someone? Don't answer that. ^^; I'm reading too much into what you wrote. But yes, the soul part will be interesting indeed. Unfortunately, I will not be killing Kikyou. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble out there… *L* Is anyone else hearing the little people from "The Wizard of Oz" chanting, "ding dong the wicked witch is dead!"
In response to Momiji:
"Kaede" also means "maple tree". If you've ever seen Blue Seed, the two sisters' names are Momiji (the main character) and Kaede (the sister Kusanagi used to protect before Momiji).
In response to Alyson Metallium:
Hehe. So I've got you hooked already, eh? Oho ho ho~ ^_~ Actually, while I was writing the ouiji board scene I was spooked myself. ^^; Don't laugh! I had goosebumps and everything while writing part one. This is going to sound so bizarre but I sometimes re-read my fics to refresh my memory of what has happened, and I'll end up laughing just as if it was someone else's story. Talk about off the wall.
In response to Alexiel:
…Oho! How perceptive! ^_~ (Let's see how many people backtrack to read your review to see what I mean by that. *grin*)
In response to Silver Dragonfly:
Thanks for reviewing!
In response to ChaosCat:
^_^ Happiness is good! Heh. Your review has me picturing a cat jumping off the walls after it's had one too many sniffs of catnip…
In response to j.:
The suspense! The suspense! =P Actually it's killing me too! ^^; I'm actually plotting and re-plotting while at work because I can't sit down to write…
In response to Slice:
Oh yes, the kitsune will play an important part. He's the catalyst to what's happening in both times.
In response to Elsie:
Thanks for reviewing. I hope to put out the next part soon.
In response to Thryraci:
I couldn't remember Kagome's friends' names so I made them up… ^^; Does anyone happen to know their names? It's not really important, since most of the time they're treated generically by the Takahashi herself, but it'd be good trivia to know. Thanks for the input about the mood in that scene. I was really curious to find out what people would think about it.
Purgatory
(as defined in Merriam-Webster)
1: an intermediate state after death for expiatory purification; specifically: a place or state of punishment wherein according to Roman Catholic doctrine the souls of those who die in God's grace may make satisfaction for past sins and so become fit for heaven.
2: a place or state of temporary suffering or misery.
P U R G A T O R I O
· |· Sequel to Full Circle · |·
An Inuyasha Fanfiction
By Shun'u
Miroku and Sango often found it wise to remain out of sight whenever Inuyasha got into one of his more… difficult moods. This was why presently they were indoors with Kaede and Shippou while Inuyasha remained stubbornly outside. The previous day Inuyasha had been contemplating going through the well to retrieve Kagome from her time. Miroku hadn't had the heart to argue with Inuyasha about it, however, Sango had no such reservations.
***Flashback***
"Well, good luck to you Inuyasha. I hope Kagome-sama's in a generous mood, for I fear that you will most definitely be hearing 'The Word' this night."
"Thanks so much for your vote of confidence."
"That's what friends are for," Miroku said, cheerfully ignoring Inuyasha's baleful glare.
Inuyasha felt the very uncharitable urge to wring his friend's neck.
"What are the two of you up to?"
"Sango-sama!" Miroku greeted the demon exterminator jovially. He didn't bat a single eyelash at Sango's wary glance at his hands. Although it was rather unfair of her to immediately suspect him of any wrongdoing. He was, after all, a religious man.
"How are you faring this day? We haven't seen you all morning. I daresay that the company has been rather dull without your beauteous presence."
Sango's eyebrow twitched not once, but twice before the flat of her palm made contact with Miroku's smooth cheek, therefore she considered it fair warning before her strike. Miroku quickly removed his wandering hand and rubbed at his newly acquired injury.
"I'm hurt, Sango-sama," he winced and sighed dramatically.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango fairly crackled with maidenly indignation. Miroku was so entranced by how anger made her cheeks flare with blushing color that he barely noted her words. "You- you-" she almost choked on her indignation. "I can't BELIEVE you! Argh!"
"Oi, Miroku," Inuyasha drawled lazily. "Why don't you just give it up already?"
He had been watching everything transpire from a safe distance. Sango was very efficient with her boomerang and for some reason unknown to Inuyasha and Miroku, her fury after one of Miroku's lecherous attempts was indiscriminate against all things male. In fact, the only male safe from her during those times was Shippou. But then, maybe that was because young Shippou was more intelligent than the average male when it came to understanding the fairer sex.
In response to Inuyasha's unwelcome suggestion, Miroku made a rude gesture with his finger from behind Sango's back at Inuyasha. Inuyasha twitched but Sango diverted his attention.
"Inuyasha," she said suspiciously, "you weren't planning on interrupting Kagome-chan's time with her family, were you?"
Inuyasha looked away guiltily. Sango had a manner of speaking that often made him feel about two inches tall, especially when the subject involved Kagome. Sure it wasn't as bad as how his brother made him feel – which was barely reaching one inch tall on one of Sesshoumaru's good days – but still, he would rather not risk the wrath of Sango.
"Feh," Inuyasha grumbled defensively. "Why would I want her back? She's nothing but trouble anyhow. Always needing someone to watch over her or rescue her from trouble."
"Oh really," Sango gave Inuyasha a cool, cutting glare, "then you wouldn't mind waiting and letting her spend quality time with her family, will you, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha winced when Sango smacked Miroku's searching hand in passing without bothering to look at the monk.
"Well…" Miroku said philosophically, "that went better than expected."
***End Flashback***
Which brought them to the present. It was nearing afternoon and there was still no sign of Kagome's return. This did not bother anyone that much. They were well aware that the girl spent more time with them than at home, and were sensitive to her needs. Except, of course, for Inuyasha. He was in a foul mood and didn't have the manners to not take it out on others. Instead he groused at any passing person no matter who they were or what reason they had for crossing his path.
Finally, Miroku and Sango went in search of their grumpy friend.
Inuyasha was sitting by the well. He painted a rather forlorn picture with both hands placed upon the rim of the well and ears drooping against his white head of hair as he rested it upon his folded hands. Sango felt a moment's pity for the hanyou and had to steel herself against it. Kagome-chan's recent months of unhappiness was Inuyasha's fault so far as she was concerned, and she would not feel sympathy for someone who would so carelessly toss aside the girl's devotion for someone like Kikyou.
"Inuyasha."
"What?" Inuyasha didn't bother to turn around. He already knew by their scents who was approaching from the village.
Miroku sighed and traded glances with Sango. They came to a silent, mutual understanding.
"Don't you think you should find out if Kagome-sama's all right?" the monk asked diplomatically.
Inuyasha's ears instantly perked up. He looked at them over his shoulder. "You won't try to stop me?"
The question was meant more for Sango than for Miroku, so she answered with a negative shake of her head. Then, as a precaution, she added, "Just don't make her upset, Inuyasha."
The hanyou gave them a quick boyish grin before he leaped over the well in a nimble acrobatic feat. The monk and demon exterminator made to leave, positive that their friends would return soon if history were anything to go by. Or they would have, if a loud, expressive curse hadn't stopped them in their tracks. Inuyasha's yell rang out from the bottom of the well.
Looking in, they found that he was pounding on the bottom of the well with his closed fist. Nothing came of his angry actions but for dust particles kicking up in the dry well to form small beige mushroom clouds.
Miroku called down, "What happened?"
Inuyasha hopped up to his feet and kicked at the dirt. He swore again before answering. "It's not working!"
Sango peered over Miroku's shoulder. "The well isn't working? How can this be? It's always worked for you before."
"I know!" Inuyasha almost howled in frustration and, Miroku realized, fear. "The only time it doesn't work is if someone seals it," he said. "But Kagome never seals the well."
He didn't say it out loud but they all knew about the time that Inuyasha had sealed the well by stuffing a tree into its depths to keep Kagome trapped in her era. The thought was written all over Inuyasha's expressive face for them to see.
Miroku said what they were all thinking, "Who else would seal the well?"
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed dangerously. Miroku and Sango stepped back just in time to avoid being barreled over by him as the hanyou rushed out of the well in a burst of power.
"Where are you going, Inuyasha?" Sango called after the rapidly disappearing figure. She and Miroku gathered up their weapons and followed.
"To find out who's responsible for this!" Inuyasha snarled back.
Part II: Sealed in Time
He reminded her of Shippou. That single thought was somehow stuck in her mind and refused to let go. Kagome had been thinking the same thing all night and had even gone so far as to dream about the mysterious apparition with the woodland forest eyes and thick auburn mane of hair.
In her dream she had been running blindly through unfamiliar woods. Underbrush tangled up her feet. Impeding her. Detaining her. She remembered thinking in her dream that the trees and plants had come alive, had developed a mind and will of their own, and were angry with her.
The trees, some tall and slim, others stout, and even more gnarled and twisted, were shrieking, screaming something that was unintelligible to her human ears. Something of great importance… but she could not for the life of her understand them. No matter how hard she strained her ears, she could not grasp what they so desperately wanted her to know. And because she was unable to understand them, the trees grew in their fury. Branches swept low to trip and roots rose out of the earth to scratch and make her limbs clumsy.
Kagome gasped when one branch slammed into the side of her head, and fell hard to her knees. Knowing that it was all a dream did not lessen the pain of her fall, nor did it ease the ringing in her ears from the heavy impact. Her hands closed and drew moist crumbling dirt into her fists. By will power alone Kagome shoved to her feet and moved once more to escape the malevolent forest and its animate vegetation.
However, escape was not to be found, for every which way she turned there was yet another obstacle. Whether it was brush, root or branch, something stood in her way. Soon even these identifiable things changed their nature and Kagome began to see woodland eyes in the dark. Watching her, assessing her ability to fight, weighing her threat as an enemy. Kagome screamed when she felt that selfsame callused hand from the night before touch her elbow.
Her miko senses were telling her that shards were nearby again. She whipped about just in time to see laughing green eyes disappear into shadowed woods. That ghostly presence fading away once more with the shards. On and off during the course of her flight he would appear – one second to taunt her, the next to vanish into thin air.
It felt like she had been running forever when the dream changed of its own volition. One moment running, the next she was halfway into a spacious, circular, white-marble chamber that reached high into the endless night sky. Kagome stumbled to a halt, breath ragged and a stitch causing spasms of pain to lance up her side. She turned to look back to where she had come from and saw the forest. Turning back she once again was in the starry chamber of marble walls.
Suddenly a phantom hand reached out to grasp the ankle and foot still planted in the forested dream world. Kagome uttered a startled scream and tried in vain to pull her foot away. Whatever was detaining her would not let go despite her fierce struggles. Then, on her other side, from within the chamber came the creak of hinges, the sound of a heavy door opening. And the hauntingly familiar sensation of security and warmth blanketed her being. Kagome almost fainted dead away from relief.
"Sesshoumaru-san."
He walked, but it did not look like walking. Kagome watched as the youkai lord glided over flawless stone until he stood within arm's reach of her. His eyes absorbed the dim light and reflected back the richness of aged gold.
"Must you disrupt my dreams, little miko?"
Kagome didn't answer that obviously rhetorical comment, but pointed a finger at her trapped foot instead. "Help me!" she demanded.
Sesshoumaru gazed disinterestedly at the appendage in question. He looked back at her face, flushed with impatience. There was stillness in his own.
"And what am I, Sesshoumaru, supposed to do?"
Kagome released a half-screech half-groan of frustration. She covered her face and took a moment to compose herself. Apparently the months since their last encounter had been sufficient time for the youkai lord to restore his self-important attitude.
She said through gritted teeth, "I'm stuck, Sesshoumaru." Kagome paused and tapped her free foot on the marble floor to make it clear that she thought this should have been obvious to him from the beginning. "Could you please help to free my foot?"
Then, abruptly, his face transformed from the haughty and bored indifference to amusement. Kagome's nostrils flared as she realized that he had been playing with her. The nerve! Ooh, I am SO going to get him for this! Kagome broke out of her violent thoughts to find a smirk on Sesshoumaru's face. Her hands fisted and her glare promised retribution.
Before she erupted into her next rant, he said calmly, "Kagome, this is only a dream. Nothing can harm you in your dreams."
"The hell nothing can hurt me!" Kagome exploded. "Say that to the trees that just tried to beat me into a bloody pulp before burying me in that forest. Hah!" She huffed and crossed her arms. "And what about the fact that the forest is screaming at me like I'm its enemy or something?"
Sesshoumaru tilted his head towards the woods. A curiously intent expression making him appear to be almost asleep as his eyes were mere slits beneath half-mast eyelids.
"What are-"
"Shh." He placed his fingers over her lips in an absent fashion, effectively silencing her. "Listen. Do you hear them?"
Kagome stared at him wide-eyed. She spoke around his fingers. "Hear what?"
"The cries…"
"No." Kagome shook her head in confusion. "It sounds like screaming to me…"
His voice was hushed as he said, "The spirits are not screaming, little miko. They are crying." His attention transferred from the forest to her. "They are confused and angry. Something is happening to them. It frightens them. Makes them restless."
Kagome had a sudden recollection of the ghost that had appeared during last night's séance. Prickling chills ran crab-like up her spine. "Wh- what's happening to them?"
Worry flashed across his face before it was concealed so quickly beneath his perpetual icy mask of stillness that she almost thought that it was her imagination. But Kagome had seen it. And anything that could evoke concern in the youkai lord was enough to petrify her.
"They are disappearing," he murmured absently. Obviously still listening to whatever voices only he could hear.
"Where?"
He blinked and suddenly snapped out of the partial trance that his thoughts had put him in. "They do not know. All I hear is, 'lost in time.' Does that make any sense to you?"
A spasmodic tremor made Kagome clutch her arms and rub them vigorously to restore warmth in her cold limbs. Sesshoumaru's gaze narrowed, making Kagome search the area for an enemy.
"What is it?" she asked.
He sighed. "It is time for you to awaken."
Kagome blinked. "What?" She grabbed his arm when he took a step back. "Wait! What about-"
"There is no time." He brushed his long tapered fingers over her brow, swept blue-black hair over the crest of her left ear. "Wake up," he ordered.
**********
"Wake up, Oneechan!" Souta gently shook his sister's shoulder.
Kagome's eyes suddenly shot open, causing Souta to leap backwards and yelp in surprise. Souta clutched a small hand to his rapidly beating heart, quite relieved that it hadn't stopped altogether from the fright that she had given him. As it were, he was breathing a little heavily.
"Sheesh! Oneechan, you almost scared me to death," he exclaimed.
Kagome tried to rub the lingering sleepiness from her eyes. "Eh? What? Oh," she finally saw how her little brother's eyes were wide and unblinking, definite signs of a recent scare. "Souta, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?"
Souta blushed and took great interest in his shoes. "Nah~ you didn't scare me."
"Hmm…" Kagome smiled, recognizing her brother's embarrassment, and ruffled his thick, dark hair affectionately.
She threw her legs over the side of the western style bed and sat up. A yawn escaped before she had time to politely cover her mouth. The dream remained vivid in her mind, not dissipating as her dreams normally would. She wondered if it was a portent of some kind, not truly believing that she had met Sesshoumaru in her dreams as they had not encountered him for the last couple of months. Not since the summer, to be precise, and now it was nearing mid-autumn.
"It's time for lunch," Souta was saying animatedly. His coffee brown eyes, a perfect match for his glossy hair, were bright with suppressed excitement. "Mama made your favorite today – Oden. She said that she even made extra for you to take back for Inuyasha-niichan."
Kagome didn't know what to make of that comment – it sounded much too domestic to her ears –so she changed the subject.
"How come nobody woke me up sooner?" she asked.
"Mama said to let you rest since it's Sunday and you've been studying so hard," Souta replied. His dark eyes suddenly took on an expression well beyond his 10 years. "You should rest more, Oneechan."
For some unaccountable reason Souta's quiet, concerned suggestion had the effect of bringing tears to his sister's eyes. Kagome blinked rapidly to push back the heavy, salty droplets. She placed her hands on Souta's narrow shoulders and pulled him in close for an impulsive hug.
"I'm okay, Souta. Don't worry about me."
A tiny sniffle reached her ears as Souta wormed his arms around her and held on tight. His face pressed against the crook of her neck and shoulder. The warm wetness of his tears and the burden of guilt weighed equally heavy upon her shoulders. So many times she had neglected her family. Was the quest worth it? Was any of it worth her little brother's precious tears?
"I got straight A's last term." Souta's voice was muffled against her neck. "My teachers say that if I keep up with the good work that I'd be able to get into the top schools." Happiness and pride for his achievements warred with remorse for not being there to witness each and every one of his successes. "Last week we had sports day at school and I won first place in the 50m and 100m dash."
Kagome swallowed, knowing what was coming next and hating herself for it.
Souta whispered, "I wish you were there when they handed me the 1st place ribbons."
Kagome bit her lip hard and squeezed Souta tight. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice thick and watery. "I'm so sorry, Souta, for not being there. I'm sure that you did wonderfully."
She gently disengaged their arms and held Souta by his shoulders once more. Looking and seeing all of the changes time had wrought in her absence. He was taller and a little leaner, the growth spurts leaving no time for baby fat to accumulate. His face looked less like their mother's and a little more like their father's each day. The masculine traits clearly delineated in his sharp cheekbones and square jaw. Kagome was overcome with emotions that she so carefully kept locked away while in the past with Inuyasha and her other friends and allies.
When she spoke her voice took on a solemnity that captured Souta's immediate attention and held it. "I'm going to promise you something, Souta, and I want you to listen carefully. No matter what happens in the past, no matter how difficult it may be to accomplish, I will always be there for you."
She carefully extracted a small sliver of the Shikon Jewel from the tiny glass vial she kept looped on a leather cord around her neck. Reaching behind her pillow, Kagome pulled out a small cloth covered jewel box, the kind that young girls kept for their trinkets and keepsakes. From this Kagome withdrew a delicate white-gold filigree locket shaped in a circle and etched with the image of a crescent moon upon its surface.
Inside were two opposing pictures: one of her and one of Souta. These were taken recently because she always made sure to put new ones in on each of their birthdays; the chain and locket had been a gift from her father long ago. Using her pinky to lift his picture, Kagome placed the shard inside and replaced the tiny photograph. She silently prayed that the necklace and Souta would be protected from harm as she secured the chain around his neck.
Just as Kagome released the clasp a spark of electricity shot up her hands and around the necklace to light up the locket, startling both siblings with its brilliancy. Souta picked up the locket to find that it was warm to the touch. He smiled.
"Thank you, Oneechan," he said with all of the sincerity in his heart. "I'll never take this off," he promised.
Kagome returned his smile and then ushered him downstairs to where their mother and grandfather were waiting to begin lunch, proclaiming a need to get dressed. Alone, she wondered if he would even be able to remove the chain. Somehow she felt confident that Souta would never come to harm. She made a mental note to ask Kaede about spells of protection once she returned to Sengoku Jidai later that afternoon.
End Part 2
*****************************************************************************
Oops… seems like I didn't get around to Kikyou this time. Next chapter will be Kikyou, Kaede, Shippou, and more! Hope you liked how I portrayed Souta. He's just the most adorable little boy! Along with Shippou, of course. ^_^ Please review and let me know what you think.
Shun'u