'When you come to the edge of all the light and are about to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen; there will be solid ground to stand on or you will be taught to fly.' ~Unknown~
Standard disclaimer applies
"Talking"
Thoughts
Ethereal Voices/Beasts/ Spirits
Apocalyptica:
Chapter 8
Reality is Nothing but a Dream
Modern day, Tokyo
To say Inuyasha was ticked off would have been an understatement, as he paced on the concrete outside the hospital entrance. His mother was taken to ICU to have her burns seen too and there has been no news on the recovery of his father. Being one of the strongest Youkai he had no doubt that the old man would survive. With a promise to his mother on the immediate delivery of news, he now waited for confirmation of his father's well being, and the well being of his best friend, all the while trying to piece together the happenings of last nights' events and his brothers cryptic words.
"You know you are going to wear a hole in the concrete if you do not stop your pacing." Came the voice of a very tired Miroku.
" Do not pester me monk, I am not in the mood for one of your lectures..."
A small smile broke out over the monks face again.
" I have no intention in lecturing you my friend. We are all just as puzzled by it as you are."
Inuyasha stopped his pacing to face the dishevelled man.
" How did that happen, and how on earth did she know about it?"
"That is a very good question my friend. The other question that comes to mind, how did your brother know that the explosion was going to happen, as you said, it was he that informed you of the need to evacuate the building, was it not?"
"Keh, something smells fishy around here and it ain't the pond Youkai..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome lay motionless, in her imaginative limbo, suspended in the air; well what she could assume was the air.
'Where the hell am I?' She thought. A growl was issued in the back of her mind, reminding her of her beast's constant presence.
' Or rather, where are we?' another growl was heard in acceptance of the preferred question.
Her surrounding, blank and vast, began to glow around her, and when the light dimmed, she found herself on a beach; she could feel the sand between her toes, rough and grainy. She squinted into the distance as the sound of the crashing waves against the shore, echoed in her sensitive ears.
'Well this is new? I-I mean, we have never been to the beach before...'
A short growl resonated in the back of her mind in agreeing with her.
"Yes, that is why I chose this place, Kagome..." The omnipresent voice spoke to her, scaring her half to death.
Kagome jumped at the sound of the ethereal voice that hung in the air.
"Who, who are you?"
" I am Benzaiten, you may know me as Benzai-tennyo."
Kagome's face paled at the information.
" What does the Kami of Love want with the likes of me?" She questioned in a small voice.
There was another blinding flash of light and laughter, like the tinkling of bells was heard as the Goddess took form in front of her.
Her beauty dwarfed that of anything Kagome had ever seen before, and as her smiling face came into Kagome's vision , she prostrated herself in an effort to show the supernatural being the proper respect.
Benzai-tennyo's pink and red Kimono flew around her as if moved by an invisible wind, her ink black hair cascaded around her form, dancing with the invisible wind as it moved. Her hair was brought into a loose pony tail, tied with a purple ribbon just beyond the nape of her neck.
Her chocolate brown eyes glowed an azure as light from her amusement danced in her orbs, and her crystal skin and perfect completion gave off an incandescent glow as she smiled at the young Youkai.
"Rise Kagome, there is no need to be so formal with me..."
A surprised look covered the young Youkai's features as she rose from her Kow-tow position on the sandy floor.
" You are very precious to us here in the realms of the Kami, Kagome", Benzai spoke. " We have been watching over you for quite some time..."
" Oh" Kagome addressed.
" You have improved on your articulation skills then?" The Love Kami jibed.
A blush overtook her cheeks at the comment.
" Umm well Benzai- sama, I don't really know what to say?"
Her bell like laughter was heard again.
"Call me Benzai, please Kagome."
Another blush shadowed the young Youkai's cheeks at the informal Kami.
" Okay, Benzai, if you call me Kagome..."
Her bell like laughter rang through the air.
"Yes I would imagine as such, however I come baring news of grave importance to you Kagome of the Bow..." Her tone switching from amusement to serious.
"I come to warn you, you are part of the intricate pattern of life, and are a gift we as the Kami have bestowed on Human and Youkai kind to aid them in their hour of need."
Wonder and what could be disbelief flashed in Kagome's sapphire eyes as she listened intently to the Kami.
" Once human, now Youkai... you are the weapon that shall tip the scales in the final battle..." The Kami's voice laced with knowing as she foretold her message to Kagome.
Kagome's brows stitched together as she tried to comprehend the information being bestowed upon her.
" What does my transformation have to do with the end of the world, Benzai-sama?" She questioned the goddess.
Her bell like laughter rang throughout the realm again.
" It has everything to do with it, Kagome... with your human heart and your Youkai standing, you are the ultimate balance between both Youkai and Human... use your chosen form..." The goddess stated matter-of-factly at the now confused Youkai.
A frown marred Kagome's features as she gazed into the amused azure eyes of the Goddess before her.
" But, Benzai- san, what kind of Youkai am I?"
" You already know Kagome, trust in your beast to provide you the answers your conscious self seeks... but before I go, the prophecy that you, Kagome, are to fulfil..."
A complex understanding began to form in Kagome's mind as she focused on the Kami's words.
"The darkness of the past will dawn again and shadow the future, and so too will the light and when dark and light rise, in her, find the balance of power to end it all."
Quiet silence followed her words of warning, the Kami and Kagome seemed to stare at the distant shore.
"I have absolutely no idea what you expect me to do with that information Benzai-san..." Kagome stated whimsically.
A small smile graced the Kami's perfect lips.
" You will know when the time is right, Kagome, that is why I have given you a guide that shall help you, aid you and protect you in your journey." Benzai stated with a mischievous note in her voice.
Baffled again by the goddess's words, Kagome turned to the goddess.
" Who? What, what? A guide?"
The smile grew on the goddess's face.
" Yes, child, a guide, a protector. He will see to you and your safety, he already has. For now, I must return you to your physical form; this will hurt as you were in a bad accident. You shall not remember me, but you will also not forget... trust in your beast, she will heal you..."
Before Kagome could interject with the mountain of questions building in her already overloaded brain, the bright light shone once again, and Kagome found herself vertical, wracked in pain, her eyes bolted open, and she screamed as the agony twisted her form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru massaged his temples in an attempt to keep the looming headache at bay. He had been brought down to the morgue to help identify the deceased that had been pulled out of the rubble. He had just identified the Higurashi male; the head of the Higurashi house was partially decapitated by a beam that had swung from the ceiling. He and a couple of the Youkai council were struck by the deathly blow. His skin was burnt in places and singed to the bone over most of his face and neck. Something akin to guilt flashed over his face at the realization, having been the person who instigated the involvement of the Higurashi as backing to his business deal, the man was present at the podium by his doing.
The nurse then directed him to the last body. She peeled back the covered plastic and again Sesshoumaru was greeted by the smell of charred flesh.
"Father..." He breathed at the body before him on the steel table.
Sesshoumaru stared at what was once his great father, the Inu No Tashio. A moment of eerie silence passed through the morgue at the supernatural moment of the son and father suspended in time, one alive, one dead. Emotions flickered through Sesshoumaru's eyes, the only sign of emotion as his steely facade painted his face.
His mind went postal, calculating, whirling. The last conversation he had with his father and snippets of his father throughout his years of life passed through Sesshoumaru's mind in a montage of images. He was overwhelmed with emotion, sadness, grief, love, respect, pain, surprise. It all stormed above him in a heady mist that clouded his vision as he stared down at the remains of his dead father. The deathly blow from the podium beam had left a hollowed out chasm in the chest, right where the Dog General's heart was supposed to be.
'He'd tried to protect those behind him... fool.'
In a second of the storm arising, it vanished, pushed down but the conscious stronghold of Sesshoumaru's mentality.
The silence was broken as the ever faithful retainer kappa Youkai walked through the morgue doors uttering something about Emergency staff and being small in stature. Carrying with him in his hands was the oversized sword that his Lord has sent him to obtain. Tensaiga.
Approaching the Lord, the Kappa addressed him.
"Milord, I brought the sword as you have asked..." His huge bulbous eyes drifted towards the body lying on the table and if his huge green eyes could have popped and rolled out of his sockets and across the floor they would have.
" Inu No Tashio! NOOO how is it the Great General is DEAD?"
" Silence, fool, have respect for the dead..." Came the steely voice of the now Western Lord in reprimand for the screeching of his retainer.
Overwhelmed by despair, the Kappa flung himself over his Lords feet.
" Forgive this lowly servant Milord, I, I-" he was silenced as Sesshoumaru unsheathed the heirloom left to him by his father.
A quiet moment passed and the Kappa looked on in awe as the Sword of Heaven pulsed in the hands of the Western Lord.
It seemed to speak to its wielder as it emitted an eerie blue light.
"Hnnnn." Was the Taiyoukai's reply before he struck the body of his deceased father with the blade.
He waited, the pole bearers of the underworld did not appear as was expected by the Young Lord. Again he swiped the sword, and again, nothing happened. The sword pulsed once more before fading to the dull sheen of the swords blade.
A frown overtook the Lords face as he sheathed the sword once again and left the morgue, the little Kappa following on the heels of his Master.
'It appears, Father, that fate does not want you back in the realm of the living...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am here outside Mercy hospital in the heart of Tokyo as an explosion earlier this night wracked the Grand Plaza where the Inaugural Ball was taking place between the Singapore Four Tigers company and the Tashio enterprise. Ambulances in the dozen are still pulling up to the emergency gate as they ferry the wounded from the event. We are still waiting on confirmation as the well being of the Prime Minister and the Tashio family. We have gotten word that the Higurashi's, seen earlier arriving at the even have also been admitted to the hospital. The casualty list keeps climbing as we wait here for any sign of life from the Four heads of Youkai council and..."
Hiten hit the mute button on his remote as he gazed at the small TV in his office. Manten gazed over at his brother, from his perch on the corner of his desk.
"It appears Naraku and the Onigumo family have made their move, brother..." Manten stated to his now deep in thought older brother.
" Yes, send a squad car out, I want to know where Naraku and the older Onigumo are..."
~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pain, she was drowning in a sea of it, gasping for breath as she opened and closed her blue eyes, trying to make out the faces and shouting that appeared in her dizzying vision.
" Give her two more cc's of adrenaline..."
" Doctor, she's failing on us again..."
" Get the defibulator in here, I want a check on her vitals, stat..."
" 180 over 220, Doctor..."
" Oh no... she's siezuring again, hold her tongue down..."
" Its flat lined... charged, ok... clear"
"... Again..."
" Clear..."
Kagome's world went black.
" Excuse me, sir, you are not allowed to be here... Get him out..."
" You're in my way, Ningen..."
Silence...
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep...
"Vitals stabilizing Doctor..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inuyasha and Miroku had made their way over to the second floor where they were treating Izayoi and Sango and members of the council. Inuyasha had taken a seat in the hall way, while Miroku went in search of a coffee machine.
The lift pinged, and the heavy doors slid open to reveal a battered and exhausted Sesshoumaru. He ran his hand through his hair and offered a small sigh before he stepped out of the lift, heading for his brother's seated form.
Inuyasha looked up from his seat at the sense of his brother's Youki.
" Father?" Inuyasha whispered, emotion lacing his voice and the turmoil swimming in his copper eyes. His ears, alert and forward.
Sesshoumaru looked down on his brother.
" He has departed this world..."
Inuyasha took in the information his brother offered him, his eyes clouding over as he looked down, his white ears now pinned to the back of his head.
He suddenly looked up, hope shining through as he asked. " Tensaiga?"
His brother shook his head, " He is to remain as such..."
" Oh." Inuyasha answered, hope dying as quickly as it arose. Just then there was a flurry of activity in the hall, nurses and two doctors bee lined it to one of the rooms.
Inuyasha stood at all the activity.
Miroku, cups of coffee in hand, rounded the corner as he saw three nurses zoom past him.
" What's happening?" He questioned as he handed the other cup of coffee to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha, staring down the hall, answered the monk.
" I don't know, but that's Kagome's room..." Fuelled by the foreboding tone in Inuyasha's voice the three ran to the doorway of her room.
" What's happening in there?" Miroku questioned one of the Youkai nurses, holding some kind of tubing device just before she entered the room.
" She awoke from her coma and is going into cardiac arrest..." the nurse stated before she made her way inside.
" Oh shit... Kagome..." commented Inuyasha, the Styrofoam cup of coffee in his hand now crushed from his worry and its contents spilling all over his hand and onto the floor.
" Do you think she will die?" Questioned Miroku from his place between the two brothers.
" No on my watch..." The hanyou stated, making a move to go inside the room.
" Move..." Came the command from his brother, as he pushed the hanyou into the wall and entered the room himself.
Both Miroku and Inuyasha, too stunned to do anything else, watched from the room window in the hall as Sesshoumaru marched into the room, his face a mask of determination.
Weather he was spurred by guilt at the knowledge of the girls deceased father, or his previous encounter with the female, he could not explain his sudden need to be in the room with Kagome, and his burning need to not let her die.
He marched into the room and was stopped by one of the human nurses.
" Excuse me, sir, you are not allowed to be here... Get him out..."
" You're in my way, Ningen..." Sesshoumaru stated, cold lacing his voice as he shoved the nurse aside. He made his way over to the side of the bed. His aura flaring as a result of his ire, it filled the room and all the doctors and nurses seized their movements as they waited to see what he was going to do.
Sesshoumaru's aura filled the room, his power crackling around him in a storm of energy. An invisible wind picked his hair up and made it dance around his form as he approached the still Youkai in the bed. His eyes bled red as he reached a hand out and touched the girl on her forehead. A bright flash of light flowed from the Inu into the girl, her form shook with the power of the blast. Her own eyes flew open, blood red and her mouth widened in a silent scream.
The deafening silence that filled the room before was broken as the heart monitor began to beep regularly again, displaying Kagome's heartbeat.
All the nurses watched in silent awe as Sesshoumaru, aura now intact, made his way out the room, only to pause at the door and face his brother.
"What happened between you two in the rubble?" Questioned Inuyasha, before a small groan came from inside the room, drawing all their attention back to the girl in the bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The little Kappa was ferrying the Sword of Heaven back to the mansion as was instructed by his Master. The Tensaiga lay forgotten on the back seat of the Mercedes as the Kappa drove it home.
Jaken, too wrapped up in his own grief failed to notice the gentle blue light that shone from the blade as it vibrated gently against the plush leather of the seat for just a moment, before it went dead again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome groaned as her vision swam one again, she blinked her crystal blue eyes, red seeping from them. She lifted her hand to cradle her now aching head.
" Kagome?" Came the very familiar voice of someone next to her, Kagome looked to where the voice was coming from. She blinked, and as her vision cleared, she saw the twin cerulean orbs, drowning in sorrow and worry.
Her brows drew together as she internalised her situation. She could feel her beast on the edge of her subconscious, eager to communicate with her, but she ignored it, the eyes before her were more important. The same pair of eyes swam in her memory of hours before, as she tried to remember what had happened.
She remembered being in the dining hall in the Grand Plaza, her meeting with Kagura, and then her need to do something, she remembered pain, and a white light, then, the two golden pools of warmth, coaxing her, guiding her and the pain stopped. But they weren't the same pairs of eyes that were staring at her now... where they? Her beast ghosted along her subconscious at the question.
" Inuyasha?" She questioned in a broken voice. Relief flooded the wary eyes before her, and before she knew it, her upper half was swept into his arms, cradling her head and whispering promises of her safety. His scent surrounded her as she breathed him in, taking refuge in his form. She closed her eyes, ignoring the niggling feeling of her beast at the back of her mind. She clamped down on the annoyance it was casing her and fell into the relief that was welcomed by her friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~
In another room down the hall in the hospital, twin heart monitors beeped almost in rhythm with one another. Hana Higurashi was lying in the hospital bed, a sonogram cord wrapped around her stomach to monitor the baby. The happy rhythm that drummed out of both mother and child was a peaceful sound to Izayoi's ears. She had found refuge in the small room, sitting in one of the chairs beside the bed that Hana occupied, her hand encased in a vice like grip of her friend. Izayoi's tears had made rivulets down her cheeks as she mourned her loss. No one had come to tell her of the state of her mate, but judging by the bond that they shared, he was always a conscious presence within her mind. That conscious presence was no more. It left her feeling hollow and empty, a shell of what she once was. Her heart squeezed as the pain in her chest had blossomed at her first recognition of what it had meant when she felt his presence vacate her. Now as the feeling spread and encompassed her form, she had automatically sought out Hana in salvation from the reality of the situation.
Now she sat eager for her friend to wake, as to share the burden of guilt and sorrow with a spirit she knew would understand. Her throat had closed with her pain and grief, not allowing her the cries of anguish she wish to expel from her shattered body. So she sat there, tears streaming down her face and her lower lip slightly quivering, waiting. For what she was not sure, but something had to happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sango was having a hard time arguing with the doctor about her bed ridden state. He seemed convinced that her broken arm was enough to stop her from going to find her best friend, the only family she had besides her brother... and the monk . So now, as the painkillers had yet to kick in and the adrenaline still rushing through her, Sango closed her eyes from her perch on the bed, and tried to count to ten to let ease her boiling anger at the buffoon in front of her.
" Miss Tayjia, please, you cannot get out of the bed just yet, your cast has only just set and we still need to keep you here for more observation and-"
Sango's eyes flew open at the mention of her name again, the vein in the side of her temple almost ready to pop.
" No, listen here, you stupid Quack! My best friend is dying somewhere in this mental asylum you call a hospital, and while I do have a broken arm, IM NOT DYING! So, if you do not take me to her... then by Kami, you better get out of the bloody way Pops..." Her breath escaped her as she interrupted the Doctors attempt at reasoning with her.
The Doctors lips formed a thin line as he listened to her threats, dealing with these kind of patients all the time, he tried one last time to reason with her, pulling out his trump card.
" Now, Miss Tayjia, I understand your concern over your friend's well being and I shall notify you myself when we have word on Miss Higurashi's state, but you are in no condition to go to her side..."
" Don't test me, Pop's. ..." Sango warned, her voice as cold as ice.
" Miss Tayjia, if you continue this behaviour, I will be forced to sedate you for your own safety..." The Doctor threatened, taking out the needle from within the medical draws on the side of the room.
That sent her over the edge, her nerves until now had been on razors edge, having the whole nights events finally catching up to her, and the more she kept quizzing everyone on the well being of everybody, the more they told her to mind her own business. And now this stupid Quack thinks he is going to put her to sleep for being a concerned friend he had another thing coming... As the Doctor turned around, Sango gave the man one clean upper cut using her good hand. She planted him right under the chin, sending both the Doctor and the needle flying. As the he stumbled backwards, surprised at the show of power behind the blow, he hit his head on the draws and passed out from the impact. Sango cradled her hand in her broken arm.
"Messy, but effective... Sorry Pop's..." With that she ushered her IV drip out the door and headed down the hall to find out what was going on, the needle left forgotten.
~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hana's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times to clear her vision.
"Hana?" Came the choked sob from Izayoi.
Hanna Looked over at the broken women and immediately a sense of dread filled the pregnant women. Her hand automatically went to her abdomen, where she felt the swell of her baby. A small moment of relief filled her before the past events of the night came flashing back into her mind.
" Oh Izayoi..." She cried, tears forming in her own eyes. That broke the damn, a choked sob came from Izayoi's throat and she moved onto the bed. Both women cradled each other, both wailing at their losses, clinging to each other for hope and comfort.
~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Kagome, your alright?" Came Sango's voice from the door of the hospital room. Three sets of eyes turned towards her as she moved into the small space, IV drip following behind her.
" My butterfly? What are you doing out of bed? You know you should be-" Miroku immediately got up from his seat next to the bed and made his way over to the injured girl.
" Can it mother hen... I'm fine..." Came the reply from Sango. Her words soft and a small smile playing on her lips as Miroku embraced her, mindful of her broken arm.
Kagome's eyes lit up at the presence of one of her best friends. After she had woken up, Inuyasha tried to let her go to go and call the nurse to check on her, but Kagome had gripped him like her last link to this world, refusing to let him leave. Thus the Hanyou had made himself comfortable on the bed behind her and made her lie back on his chest, eager for her comfort as much as she was for his.
Sango made her way over to the bed, ushered by Miroku, she sat down in his chair and they both turned to Kagome.
" I'm fine Sango, how are you?" Kagome asked, gesturing to her arm.
" Heh, a minor inconvenience. Should leave an awesome scar..." Sango answered, a smile gracing her face. Kagome smiled back in return. Miroku beaming at the strength of his girl.
" How's your Mom?" she asked . Kagome looked to Inuyasha.
" Hana is fine, my Mom is in there with her now..." Came his reply.
" And Kei and Mr Tashio?"
Inuyasha shook his head; a grave silence filled the room after that. Inuyasha gave Kagome an extra squeeze as a small tear leaked out and made its way down her face. Sango rested on Miroku. They sat there for a while, each lost in their own grief and sorrow at the losses, but equally as relived that all of them were still alive.
~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a couple of days later when they were discharged from the hospital. Kagome had seen her mother and spend a good hour crying with her over the loss of her father. Inuyasha had seen to his mother, eager to ease her pain in any way possible. Izayoi had become a walking version of herself, zombie like and quiet. Every now and then she would be caught whispering words to herself, talking to her now deceased love. Hana had decided that it would be best if they both recovered together, thus Kagome and her mother would move into the Tashio estate. Nobody had said a word in disagreement. Thus, they now found Hana and Izayoi in the back of the SUV that was taking them back to the estate. Kagome had said good bye to Sango and Miroku with promises to see them again very soon.
Inuyasha now pushed Kagome in wheel chair to the waiting black SUV, Kagome had put up quite a fight over the wheel chair, but the stubborn Hanyou had insisted that she use the darn contraption.
" Inu, I really can walk... these things are for old people..." Kagome stated as he wheeled the contraption into the room.
"Nonsense, you are still weak from your ordeal and you need to take it easy..."
" But seriously I can walk just fine, it's just to the car..."
" No, you can't, your where hurt and you almost died and... Dammit woman, just get your ass into the chair!"
Taken aback by his outburst, Kagome then walked over to him and wrapped her arms around the hanyou. He immediately returned the affection, eager to protect her.
Kagome then got into the wheel chair and allowed him to wheel her out. His hand came to rest of her shoulder where he gave her a small squeeze. And without even saying anything, Kagome knew that this was his way of saying thank you. She knew that he had lost his father, just as she had lost hers, and they both needed the guarantee of protection and reassurance that nothing else was going to happen. Exiting the hospital, Kagome then voiced a thought that had been nagging at her since her mother had informed her of the decision to live at the Tashio estate until Izayoi was better.
" Inuyasha?" She questioned...
" Hn?" He replied.
"How are we going to tell Sesshoumaru?"
" Keh" was the hanyou's answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End
Benzaiten~ Goddess of Love in Japanese Mythology
Ningen~ Human