Well, this is the second last chapter, dudes! It's been a long road, but a great one, and I loved every minute! Lots of reviews this time, too, which gives me incentive to drop a hint that I'm writing a new story - whoops, did that slip out?!?! Lol!
Deds:
StercumAccidite - Hahaha, I know, I'm bad for that. Just the way the cookie crumbles!
Mystical Hanyou - Think so? I have a feeling but... nope, I ain't ginin' it away! You'll just have to read and find out!
cookiemonsterks - What's a V-card??? I find lemons a cinch, I just write about what I'd like to happen if it were me, lol! Really, I have no experience (yet), so I just use mon imagination!
Leesa - Thanks! Enjoy!
AldreaHart - You are forgiven, since I vaguely remeber what that's like (it's been a while). Hope you find time to relax and have a read!
Sweet Temptation
Kaede arrived home, only to find it empty. Sighing, she tried Kanna's phone again, but got the same message: the person she tried to call was unavailable.
Knowing that Kagura was safer at the Higurashi's, she made her way tiredly across the foyer toward the massive staircase. She spied some debris on the floor on her way by, and stopped to have a look. Picking up the pieces, she realised it was what was left of Kagura's cell phone, the deep pink hue of the plastic making that clear.
What was going on? She thought, sweeping up the pieces and disposing of them. Kagura loved her phone, had saved for months to buy it, having discarded the old red one her Father had paid for. Why was it laying here, shattered into a million pieces?
Kaede knew Kagura would never have done this herself, not on purpose, anyway. That left only Kanna, which was becoming the major problem. If she'd known the girl would be so much trouble, she'd have left her in England, she mused, but chastised herself for such thoughts. Kanna needed love, but had never received it from those she loved most. The poor girl was demented with her hatred, a lack of love in her young life to blame for all her schemes and designs on others. She suspected that Kanna was not a virgin, nor had been for a long time. A girl of her disposition and attitude would crave sex, hoping to find love, and look for it wherever she could, be it in the arms of a man or a boy. What she'd needed from her Father she sought from others, trying to fill a void in her heart that only Naraku could sooth, but never had; he'd feared her, and in his fear he had cast her off, seeing her as a threat to his own plans. In her he'd recognised an enemy, and had disposed of her post haste.
Kaede shook her head. If only he'd loved his girls, how different they'd be. Kagura used to be the same way; a spoiled, scheming brat whom no one liked and no one associated with, despite her Father's wealth. She and Kanna were more alike than they even knew, she thought, settling into bed and turning off the light.
But, in the past months, Kagura had blossomed into a beautiful, faithful, wonderful young woman, all thanks to the love and friendship of the Higurashi girls. In making friends with them, she had opened her eyes to a world in which love was sought, given, and a gift; where it was valued above all else, loyalty and honestly following closely on its heels.
Kaede closed her eyes and sighed. If only Kanna would let someone love her, someone she could love in return, she'd be much better off. But, she reasoned, dropping off into unconsciousness, old habits are hard to break.
S.T.
Kanna checked into the Best Western Hotel on East Street, booking a third floor room for herself. She was sick of looking like a homeless girl, wandering the streets and malls, dying her hair in public washrooms, which were disgusting. She didn't even want to remember touching the taps, then vigorously sanitising her hands afterward, her skin burning from the alcohol.
She settled into her room and unloaded her purse, making sure the Do Not Disturb sign was placed outside her door. She had a Sacred Jewel to gain possession of.
She lay back on the plush bed, and put her arms behind her head. She closed her eyes, and suddenly she began to reconsider her plans. Was the Jewel really worth it? Naraku had certainly thought so, and look where he'd ended up: six feet under. For some reason, after meeting Suikotsu, Kanna realised that throughout her entire life, she had never done one nice thing for someone else, and meant it. Usually when she did something for someone, it was designed to ultimately hurt them, and benefit her, and her alone. When she thought of Suikotsu, and his words about saving her from her fate, she realised what a horrible person she really was, and tears began to stream from her eyes. She hadn't even known him, but he'd gone out of his way to look after her well-being. It made her feel lower than a worm.
Was that why nothing in her life satisfied her? Was it her own stubborn hatred for everyone who was happy and had something she did not that spurred her to hurt them? No one deserved what she had done to them, she knew; she felt horrible for the first time in her fourteen years. Was the Kanna everyone loved to hate really her? She rolled onto her side, and thought, Why Daddy? Why did you hate me? Why did you love Kagura and send me away? Why?
Her heart ached as Kanna cried, letting out all her sorrows and bottled-up emotions. She looked at the gun in her hand, her named written in the bright pink ink, glaring up at her from the palm of her hand. The suicidal thoughts entered her mind without her even noticing; she realised that they'd always been there, hovering around in the background, never far away. Suddenly the white pistol began to look very friendly, and the fact that it was white made it even more benign, like an angel's gun. A black gun would only have made her evil thoughts fester, but the bright sheen on the matte paint of her weapon reassured her, eased her, comforted her. With one gentle pull her misery would end, and she doubted she would be missed. She had done nothing worth remembering anyway.
Getting up, she used the hotel pen and stationary to write a note, making several drafts and crumpling them up, throwing them into the wastebasket. Finally, she'd composed a note to her satisfaction, and sighed. Satisfaction. So this is what it felt like. It was nice.
Standing before the window, she watched the sun rise on this warm, Sunday morning, and made her peace with the world. Raising the gun to her temple, she took her last breath and smiled. Maybe she'd get into Heaven after all. Suicides went to Hell as a rule, but maybe she'd get lucky.
The sound of a bullet exiting the chamber of a semi-automatic handgun bounced off the walls, now sprayed with blood.
A fourteen-year-old girl lay in a puddle of blood on white carpet, a serene look frozen on her face.
A white gun lay limp in her hand, reddened by her sanguine life-force, which faded and died as the sun rose, gilding the room in liquid gold.
A girl had done her first selfless deed, at the end of her life.
S.T.
Early Monday morning Kaede received a phone call from the police, asking if she would please come to the crime lab.
She phoned Kagome, who'd reassured her that Kagura was alright. When she hung up, Suikotsu came out of Kikyou's room, his sleeves rolled up and his face tired.
"Her fever's broken. She'll be alright. I'm going to give her a prescription for antibiotics, they should clear everything up."
He wanted to ask Kagome so badly what the girl's last name was, when Sesshoumaru came out and said, "She's awake, finally."
"Great," he said, heading back in.
Kagura sat up in the bed, her hair a mess and her skin damp, but she was cognizant, and asking for something to eat. Suikotsu took her hand in his.
Kagura looked at their hands and then at him. "Doctor?"
"You look awfully familiar, Miss Kagura," he remarked, and her cheeks flushed at his formal address. "You remind me of a girl I fostered last night."
"I do?"
"Yes, her name was Kanna."
Kagura's eyes widened and she whispered, "Kanna? Kanna Onigumo?"
He smiled. "Yes, that was her name. Sad, lonely girl. I got the impression she'd had a hard life, poor thing." He had not found the gun buried at the bottom of her purse when he'd tried to put a name to her lovely, pale face.
Kagura shook her head. Was she still delirious, or did this doctor meet her sister and actually survive to tell the tale?
"I'm sorry sir, but it must have been someone else. My sister is not someone you would want to meet. She is vindictive, spiteful, and did all this to me," she told him, holding her hand up last. He frowned.
"She did?"
"Yes, sir. She hates everybody. I doubt it was her you met."
"Hmm," he replied, deep in thought. Maybe this young woman was right. But they looked so similar…
"Are you sure?" he persisted. "You look so much like her, only… different," he finished lamely.
She shook her head. "I'm told I look like my Mother, sir. She was fair, and my Father dark."
"Well, you're probably right," he said, getting up. Handing her a slip of paper and explaining the dosage to her, Suikotsu left Kagura, and grabbed his coat and medical bag, getting ready to leave.
Kagome caught him before he left, opening her wallet, but he held up a hand, stopping her. "No payment necessary," he told her, and waved off her protests to the contrary. "Saving one more life is payment enough, Miss Higurashi. You keep taking folic acid tablets and go easy. I'll see you at your next appointment."
And then he was gone.
S.T.
Monday morning at school was awkward. The Higurashi girls and the Taisho boys stuck close together, and wondered why everyone kept looking at them so oddly.
Dispersing to go to their lockers, Inuyasha pulled Kikyou back and kissed her mouth, right there in the hall in front of everybody, and whispered, "I'll see you at lunch."
She smiled, and replied, "Sure thing." He grinned and walked away, his hands in his pockets.
Kikyou went to homeroom, as did everybody else, and sat down to listen to announcements. She tuned them out until the last one came over the P.A System.
"This morning at eleven, there will be a memorial service for Kanna Onigumo in the auditorium."
Kikyou's eyes snapped open, as did everyone else's who'd known her. Tsubaki, in her senior science class, leaned over to her best friend and whispered, "She's dead? What happened there?"
By the time eleven o'clock rolled around, Kikyou was frantic. Had Kanna faked her death and gotten to Kagome while it was just her and Kagura at the house? She hadn't had any more visions; was that a sign, too?
When she finally found Inuyasha and her sisters she was panicking, and told them so.
Sango whipped out her phone. "I'm gonna make sure they're okay." She turned away from the noise of the crowd, and came back a moment later, shoving her phone back in her pocket. "She said she's fine, and that the Home called for you, Kikyou. They want you to work tonight." Ever since this whole ordeal with the Jewel, the girls had taken a leave of absence from their jobs to protect their sister, but, it appeared that their protection was no longer necessary. Still, she didn't feel like working.
Kikyou sighed in relief, then, her eyes flew open once more. "So it's true? She's dead?"
"We're about to find out," Kouga observed as the Principal walked to the podium onstage and began to clear his throat into the microphone.
He began his speech in earnest.
"Kanna Onigumo was a new addition to this school, relocating to Tokyo from an exclusive boarding school in England just after the death of her Father, a very short time ago. She was younger sister to Kagura Onigumo, whom many of you know; she was a bright young woman, born on August thirty-first, nineteen-ninety-three. A few of you may have gotten to know her, but she was here for so short a time it would surprise me if she was able to leave much of an impression on anyone."
She left an impression, alright, Inuyasha was thinking, and from the way Kikyou stiffened next to him, he knew she was thinking the same thing.
"Kanna was a debate major at her previous school, captain of the dance team, and a member of several other clubs and committees. Her life was tragically cut short yesterday morning, and I hope you will all join me in observing a moment of silence to commemorate her life."
The auditorium fell silent, and Kikyou could not help the relief that flooded her heart now that Kanna was really gone, though she'd not truly believe that until she saw a gravestone, or heard from Kaede herself. She knew how devious Kanna could be, and would not put faking her own death past her. If it would help further her purposes, she'd do it, at the drop of a hat, Kikyou knew. So she remained suspicious, though she observed the proprieties like everyone else.
After the moment of silence the Principal finished his speech.
"Kanna's family has asked that donations be given in lieu of condolences to the Tokyo Hospital Donation Fund, and that they be left in peace at this time."
Everyone began to leave for lunch after a slideshow of pictures from Kanna's childhood and her days at boarding school.
Meeting outside, the two families sat together in the grass to eat their lunch on the hill behind the school.
Sango was the first to break the silence. "Wow," was all she could say, and Inuyasha added, "Yeah. Heavy."
Then, they saw Kaede leaving the school, a manila folder in her hand, her face red.
Kikyou waved her over, and she sat down among them, slowly, carefully.
"Doubtless you are wondering what happened to her," Kaede assumed, and they all nodded, mute.
"Well, I received a call this morning from the police, asking me to identify a body. The papers had gotten to her even before I could. She-" Kaede had been fond of the vicious girl, despite her villainous ways.
"What, Kaede? What happened? Please tell us! Does Kagura know yet?"
Kaede shook her head. "Not unless Kagome's told her."
Kikyou thought she probably would. If it was in the papers it would be on the news, which Kagome watched sometimes. If she hadn't seen it on television Sesshoumaru had likely heard it from someone at work and called her, though there was a chance she still might not know.
Kaede continued. "She… she took her own life. They found her at a hotel downtown, dead in her room. She'd shot herself."
Kaede began to cry now, and they all gathered close to offer comfort. She sniffed, and kept speaking.
"Oh, she was so pale on that steel table, my children. She was almost unrecognisable, the bullet blew off the left side of her face on its way out..."
Rin thought she'd puke, and Shippo looked pretty green. Kouga had no expression on his face, and Ayame's features were sad. Sango looked righteous, as if justice had been served, but a tear could be seen in her right eye. Miroku appeared deep in thought, his hand on his chin, while Inuyasha frowned deeply. Kikyou began to cry, quietly.
They sat quiet for a while, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Kouga spoke up.
"It took guts to do what she did, you know. Do you think she did it because she had a change of heart?"
They all felt that was unlikely, but Rin commented, "Stranger things have happened."
They all nodded in agreement. Kaede sighed. Kouga's guess was very close to the truth, though she kept these thoughts to herself.
"I'm going to go to Kagura. She needs to know."
Kikyou nodded. "We're coming too, Kaede. You shouldn't be alone right now."
Kaede smiled at her. She really was a very thoughtful young woman, someone she knew Kagura greatly admired. Yes, she was right, she shouldn't be alone. Friends and family were the best things for her and Kagura, and she was not going to pass them up.
They all headed for the parking lot, when, behind them, Inuyasha heard someone call his name.
Juuromaru caught up, out of breath from running. Stopping before them, he gasped, "I heard. Are you going to see Kagura?"
Inuyasha replied, "Yeah. You coming?"
"You bet." He grinned, but it faded quickly. "Any of you need a ride?"
Kikyou said, "Rin, Shippo, why don't you go with Juuromaru?" and they nodded, following him across the lot to his black Maserati.
When they all got home, and poured into the house, Kagome came to meet them at the door. "Why are you guys home so early"
"So you don't know?" Kaede asked, astounded.
"Know what?"
"Kanna's gone," Kikyou said, and Kagome frowned. "What do you mean, she's gone? Where did she go?"
"Castle in the sky," Miroku mumbled, and Sango elbowed his rib, making him grunt.
"She committed suicide yesterday morning," Kaede informed her, and Kagome's mouth formed an 'O' but no sound came out.
Juuromaru edged his way up front. "Where is Kagura? Is she alright?"
Kagome smiled a little. This must be the young man Kagura was telling her about over breakfast in Kikyou's bed.
"Yes, she's fine. She's eating, and has been watching movies in your room all morning," she said, looking from Juuromaru to Kikyou.
"I'll tell her the news," Kaede said, shuffling through the living room toward the hallway and bedrooms. The rest of them waited in the living room, patiently.
Kaede pulled Kanna's note from her purse before entering Kikyou's room. She had not told the others about it because she felt Kagura should be the first to read it, it being addressed to her, after all.
Kagura sat back against the headboard, her breakfast tray empty of food next to her, and a bottle of water in one hand, a remote in the other as she watched Pirates of the Caribbean.
Kaede quietly closed the door behind her and Kagura heard it, and turned her head, grinning. "Kaede! I hoped you would come back today. Have you found Kanna yet?"
Kaede ignored her question for the moment and replied, "You look much better. How are you feeling?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, and felt Kagura's smooth forehead. Her temperature was perfect.
"Great. What's that?" She gestured to the note in Kaede's hand.
Wordlessly, Kaede forfeited the note to her.
Kagura took it, and unfolded the stationary, smoothing it out on her lap. The Best Western Hotel logo was printed across the top. She began to read her sister's spidery writing.
Kagura,
Well, what can I say to you that will make you believe I'm sorry? I know I haven't been the best sister (in fact, I'm probably the world's worst sister), but at any rate I wanted you to know a few things about why I am the way I am.
Dad loved you. What was that like? He sent me away because he hated me, Kagura, and as much as I hated him for that, I let my rage move on to you, because he kept you; I know it was wrong of me, and I can never take it all back, but if I could have prevented my own conception, I would have done it. You and your friends did nothing to deserve my contempt, and I'm very sorry for all the trouble I caused, especially between Kikyou and Inuyasha. Please tell them I'm sorry for that, too.
Kagome is no longer in danger from me. I have given up my quest for the Sacred Jewel. I met a man last night who saved me, even though I didn't know his name. He saved me from myself, and from making any more grievous mistakes. You see, I killed a man yesterday, and felt no remorse. But when I woke up next to Suikotsu, all that changed, and so did I. Please, if you ever meet him, give him my sincerest thanks. He's a doctor.
Lastly (I know, how could there possibly be more?), I want to apologise for anything malicious I ever did to any of your friends, Kaede, and you, Kagura. You were my only sister, and I treated you like shit, and I cannot fix what I have ruined. An apology is not nearly good enough to make up for my indiscretions, so I'm probably doing you a favour by ending this. I hope your life with Juuromaru is a good one, and the lives of your friends as well.
Although I never wanted to admit it, I love you, Kagura, and hope this note reaches you, and gives you a measure of comfort to know that you are safe from me.
All my love, Kanna
P.S. All the shoes I took from you are in my room, and the six-inch heels are Kagome's. Curse my weakness for shoes!
P.P.S. Please tell Kikyou that Inuyasha called her name the entire time he was with me. I think she'd want to know that. She's a very lucky girl. I hope they're happy together.
Kagura's face was moist with her tears as she re-read Kanna's suicide note one more time.
"He didn't love me, either," she murmured, before dropping the note and covering her face with her hands. As much as she'd hated Kanna, that hatred died with her.
Kaede picked up the note and read it, a sad smile touching her lips. Kanna may have taken her life, but in the end, she'd done the right thing. There was a shred of good in her, after all.
When Kagura had collected herself, she let Kaede guide her out into the living room, where several faces turned to greet her. Her eyes went to Kikyou first, who smiled sadly, then straight to Juuromaru, who motioned for her to sit next to him on the end of the couch.
He took her hands in his when she was seated and asked her, "How are you?"
She smiled. "As good as can be expected, I guess."
He grinned, and leaned into her face, whispering, "Can I kiss you?"
She responded by darting her lips forward to peck his own, before turning her attention to the others.
Kaede made herself comfortable in an easy chair vacated by Inuyasha, who currently searched the cupboards in the kitchen for a snack.
Handing Kagome the note, she said, "Kanna left this note near her body. I think you should all get a chance to read it."
The room was comfortably silent as the note made its way from one person to the next, reaching Kikyou's hands last.
When she read it, she began to cry, and said, "You see? There was a little bit of good in Kanna, even if it took someone else to bring it out of her. If only she had had a change of heart sooner, we could have saved her life, too."
Inuyasha sat down next to her on the carpet and tugged her close. "She wouldn't have let you save her, Kikki," he said, rubbing her arm. "She had too much hate in her heart, and by the time any of us could come upon her, it would have been too late. Besides, if it hadn't been for this Suikotsu guy, we'd be here yet, worrying for your sister's life all the same."
She nodded, agreeing, but not liking it.
Kagura spoke up. "You guys, I can't thank you enough for putting up with me and Kanna. I know she was a pain, but she was my sister, and I just wanted to thank you guys for respecting that and not casting me away. I'm so sorry all this had to happen. Kikyou, I'm sorry it had to be my sister who tried to destroy your relationship with Inuyasha; Kagome, I'm sorry it had to be my sister who wanted to take your life over some silly bauble; Sesshoumaru, I'm sorry I used to be just like her."
Then, she turned to Juuromaru. " Juuromaru, I'm even more sorry that you had to put up with us as well. I'm sorry you had to know her when she was like that. Honestly, she never used to be that way. When we were little…" she trailed off, her emotions forcing her to stop and let them out. Juuromaru tugged her closer and stroked her hair, tucking her under his chin and shushing her sobs.
"No need to apologise, Kagura," he said, with forced cheerfulness. "Despite your sister, I'd have pursued you anyway."
She smiled, and sniffled, turning her face into the warm wall of his chest.
Kagome put her hands together and stood up. "Well, if this isn't a pity party, I must be blind. What do you guys say we have a drink and toast Kanna's life? Rin, Shippo, you too," she said, beckoning to her sister. "Sesshoumaru, what have we got?"
Gettong up, Sesshoumaru went into the wine cooler next to the fridge and pulled out an expensive bottle of Pinot Noir, a gift to him from his Father. "How about the Noir? I think it suits her memory," he said, popping the cork as Kikyou got up and opened a top cupboard, gathering several crystal wine glasses.
When everyone had their wine, Kaede held up her glass and said, "To Kanna: may your peace be granted."
"Cheers."
Kikyou raised her glass. "To good friends, and love, may we always be so fortunate to have both in such abundance."
"Cheers."
Finally, Kagura stood up, and Kagome said, "Make a toast, Kagura. You deserve a kick at the cat."
Kagura smiled, and held up her glass. Her companions followed suit.
"To love, and life," she toasted, looking fondly at the lilac-haired boy next to her. "May you rest in peace, Kanna, and those of us you left behind never forget your memory, or your spirit. You live on in our hearts and our minds, and I, for one, will never forget you."
The whole room clinked their glasses together and shouted, "Cheers!"
S.T.
Omg dudes, just the Epilogue left! Cry! Oh, I'm glad it's over though, so I can soon start posting chapters from my new story. It's a total riot, I love it so much! Sweet Temptation has been my baby; I've never written a story so long, not in my life, and I must say, it's overwhelming. I'm so proud of me!! Yay! I love you guys, cuz you make it all worthwhile. Drop me a line, because the fun's almost over, and I want to hear from you all again before it's over. You guys rock!!!