OoO CCTI: Chapter 6: Heart OoO
Slowly, Kagome pried her eyes open, waiting for the delectable smells of fresh toast, coffee and pancakes to waft into her waiting nose. It was a dream, but still she waited for the morning ritual of Souta and Grandpa arguing over some trivial matter and her mother to knock some sense into them. Her mother would then call her down to breakfast with a caress to her voice that Kagome never fully understood.
She sat up slowly and hung her head in exhaustion. She was just about spent, but she had enough strength left to finish her task at hand.
Carefully, Kagome folded the letter her mother had hastily written and put it in the lining of her bra, for she had no pockets, and slowly walked downstairs.
Though she'd eaten little to nothing in the past four days, she still had no appetite and decided on only toast and coffee.
I've got one choice to make. Once I've finished this, going back to the Feudal Era is my only option; I just wish that I knew how it would all turn out. But then again, not knowing is half the adventure, and who knows? Maybe we'll figure something out; we always seem to pull off the impossible right when things look their darkest…
Not realizing she'd spaced off, Kagome's mind quickly jumped back to the present as her hand was severely burned. She'd turned the hot water on and hadn't grabbed a cup when she went to retrieve the water. Pulling back sharply and changing the hot water to cold, she thrust her hand under it and sighed at the soothing sensation it brought upon her wound. Turning the water off, she looked at her hand, marveling at the reddened flesh.
Calluses… Though I played with scalding water and got hurt, this wound will soon turn into a hard, outer covering to protect me.
Like my heart, it needs to be protected until I can form that callus, but not until I've endured just a little bit more pain…
I can't run. I have to come out of the water.
Nodding to herself, Kagome hastily ate her thrown together breakfast. Done, she jumped up and walked briskly to the door, opened it, and grabbed the thick stack of mail and newspapers that had accumulated for the past five days.
Something as horrible as a family being slaughtered in a nice, quiet neighborhood like this has got to be front page news. I need the specifics…
Sifting through the newspapers, she found the one she needed, dating to the very day she returned, about four days ago and was about to begin reading it when something soft and warm brushed her leg.
"AHH!" Kagome screamed, jerking up and falling backward in surprise and fear; just what the hell had touched her?
"Meow..."
"Oh! Buyo!" Kagome cried, hefting the fat cat into her lap, stroking his fur in happiness to have a tiny piece of her family back. "Hey there, boy, I missed you!" She stroked his soft head, felt him purr, and then put him down after her heart had calmed down. She smiled, but turned back to the newspaper.
Tokyo Today
FAMILY FOUND BRUTALLY BURNED TO DEATH!
As she read the title, she sucked in her breath as her eyes raked over the large picture that accompanied the caption and article.
There was her family's car, totaled all to hell in a ditch, nothing more than a pile of debris with sharp, jagged pieces of metal jutting out haphazardly of what used to be a car. Around the contorted mass of destruction, bright yellow police tape was strewn everywhere, including a little area a few yards away from the car. People were crowded around the scene, and investigators were examining the junk for clues as the police kept people back.
As Kagome read more of the article, she grew increasingly angry.
TOKYO, JAPAN. By Kiriko Tsuno
Early yesterday morning, investigators got a call from Mrs. Yoko Koji and her husband, Umaki, that a tangled ball of metal was blocking the road and that a horrible stench was surrounding the area of their farm home about half a mile away. Responding quickly to the unusual phone call, police were dispatched to check the scene out, only to discover the conclusion of a horrible murder scene. Investigator Hideo Miyuki was the first on the scene, smelling the stench of "something horrible" before he actually saw the ball of metal, which would later be found to be a car. Apparently, a middle aged woman, her son and father were taking a drive in the country when something attacked the car, causing the car to flip violently many, many times. Once it stopped, it is hypothesized that the three occupants survived the crash and made it out of the car. What's got police baffled is what the investigators dug up about the whole thing. "We're not completely sure the family was taking a casual drive. When investigators checked the car's gas tank, as is mandatory procedure, we discovered it nearly empty and that the tires were almost non-existent, indicating the overuse of braking many times," says Miyuki. "Also, this family owned a shrine some ten miles away from here. It raises questions as to what they were doing here in the country when they had a business to run back home." What appeared to be a car crash turned out to be a triple homicide, as the three bodies of the old man, woman and child were found several yards away, reduced to nothing but bone and ash from the gas that had been ignited around them. "Another thing that confuses us is that fact that the bodies were burned to death. We believe they all survived the crash with minor injuries, and yet, we find all three dead, burned to death with gas that couldn't possibly have come from the car because the tank was nearly empty. Someone…had to have set the poor souls ablaze!" Were Miyuki's last comments as he broke off tearfully. "This is a cruel act of disgusting, sadistic behavior from one sick person!" One bystander commented. Police have yet to release the names of the murdered, but did reveal that one of the family was alive because they weren't with the family at the time of death, though this individual has yet to be found and questioned…
Continued on page 2A, "Murder"
Unable to read any more, for she had all the information she needed, Kagome threw down the paper and without a second glance behind her, ran out her door and to the spot where her family was killed, steeling herself for yet another blow to her broken heart.
WITH KOGA...
"Hurry up you lazy pack of-!" Koga called behind him when he suddenly cut himself off and came to an abrupt halt. His pack was a good three miles behind him as he sniffed the air to get a better understanding of the surrounding area.
Kagome… He dreamily thought before inhaling deeper still, his eyes narrowing slightly. Dog-breath… What'd you do this time?! Her scent's almost completely gone! I think I'll pay you a little visit, seeing as you're so close and all.
An angry scowl on his face, Koga glanced behind him to see Hakaku and Ginta leading his pack, finally catching up to him. Waiting impatiently for them, Koga sat down and crossed his arms.
Making their way to their trusted leader, Hakaku and Ginta, along with the rest of the pack behind them, were panting and heaving, trying to fill their lungs with much needed air.
"Humph! About time, you lazy mutts!" Koga mumbled. "Alright... Hakaku, Ginta!" He barked.
"Yes…Koga?" They huffed in unison.
"Take care of the pack; I'll be back. Make sure everyone's rested!" Koga called over his back as he took off for Inuyasha's Forest, his trademark tornado following in his wake.
Waiting until Koga was completely out of sight, Hakaku and Ginta looked at each other and gave one another a conspiratorial glance, nodding their heads as the same thought crossed their minds.
Let's follow him!
Ginta called out to the next in charge to take care of the pack. Being a level below his two brothers, the lower wolf had no choice but to obey without question, even though Koga plainly told Hakaku and Ginta to take care of them.
That taken care of, Hakaku and Ginta took off after their beloved leader.
The rest of the pack gathered around their new but temporary leader as he mumbled, "Always spying on people they're not supposed to…" Before he sent out a search party for food for the night.
Once he breached the borderline of the Forest, Koga slowed his speed down to normal for once, not wanting to flaunt his sacred jewel shards and giving away his position to not only Inuyasha, but the other demons in the vicinity.
He scoffed. Fat chance of that happening, though. That hybrid couldn't find me unless I wanted him to anyway, and the demons have been way too quiet, quieter than when Naraku was around. We haven't been attacked for weeks now, and my instincts tell me something's going to happen soon.
Suddenly gasping, Koga skidded to a halt and hastily jumped up into a nearby tree, only moments before Inuyasha came bounding through the path at an alarmingly fast pace with a large yellow…thing on his back, not even throwing a second glance or sniff to his surroundings.
Watching him bound off, Koga narrowed his eyes again in suspicion. Why didn't Dog-turd smell me? Wonder what's up? Normally he would've noticed, but his mind seems to be elsewhere…
Making up his mind, Koga jumped down and expertly followed Inuyasha, keeping care to stay into the wind, though he probably wouldn't have noticed. Within a few minutes, he tailed Inuyasha to a little clearing with a well that he'd somehow overlooked.
Keeping within the safety of the trees, Koga just barely stifled a snicker of smug humor as he witnessed the idiot jump headfirst into the well without a second beat, not even slowing down!
Unable to suppress his laughter, Koga let loose and jumped out, revealing himself. "Hey mutt! What the hell do you think you're doing, you idiot?!"
He quickly sprinted to the rim of the well and looked down, ready for Inuyasha's retort and his own snide replies, before he noticed…the well was empty! No scent or body of the notorious half demon!
Sarcastic grin gone and replaced with one of perplexed confusion and curiosity, Koga glared down at the well's bottom.
What the hell?! Where is that bastard, and how did he cover up his scent? He was just here!
His curiosity growing to almost painful proportions, Koga tentatively jumped down the well, but instead of landing on the hard, cold ground, landing on something like a melting marshmallow, seeping through it. Gasping, Koga could only watch as he was swallowed into a brilliant, mesmerizing blue, being transported to the future after Inuyasha and unknown to him at the time, Kagome.
"Did you SEE that?! They both just...disappeared!" Ginta exclaimed excitedly as he shook the limp and unbreathing Hakaku.
"I…would if…you'd…let me…breath!" Hakaku gasped out.
Finally relinquishing his hold on him, Ginta ignored him and said, "Let's go and follow them! Who knows what or where they are right now!" And without waiting for his sibling, dashed to the well and jumped in, soon followed by Hakaku, expecting to be engulfed by the dazzling blue light like Koga and Inuyasha had, but instead, landing in a jumbled heap on the narrow bottom, Ginta landing haphazardly on Hakaku.
"Ack! Ginta, get your fat ass off of me! I can't breathe…again!"
"Hey!" Ginta retorted, crossing his arms and not moving away just yet, "We both know you weigh more than me! Who was just last night stuffing their face with two whole rabbits?! Huh? Come on, I want to hear it!" And with that, he proceeded to wait for an answer.
"C-can't…breathe…!" Hakaku whimpered.
"Hmm?" Ginta prompted from above the poor demon.
Before he passed out, Hakaku brokenly whispered, "Me…ME!"
Nodding in approval, Ginta jumped out and waited a whole five minutes for Hakaku's blood to flow to his head again before he soon jumped out too, where he promptly tackled the smugger wolf to the ground.
Yipping in surprise, Ginta was thrust to the ground and pounded playfully by Hakaku, both failing to notice that a certain adorable fox friend of Inuyasha's was watching in both amusement and confusion as the two played and wrestled.
"Idiots," Shippo sighed in mock maturity as he sat on the well and waited for the unsuspecting wolves to notice him. He'd come to begin his daily routine of waiting for Kagome and now Inuyasha when he found the two.
Finally realizing they had an audience, Hakaku and Ginta quickly decided to act their own age as they hastily straightened up and pretended they were adult.
Clearing his throat, Hakaku said, "Hey, kitsune!"
"Yeah?" Shippo asked monotonously.
"Where'd Koga go?"
Shippo scoffed, very Inuyasha-like, and replied, "How am I supposed to know? I haven't seen him…" At this, he sniffed a little then looked at the well. A startled expression crossed his face as he asked, "Did he go in the well?"
"Uh… Yeah. He followed Inuyasha looking for Kagome, I guess," Ginta said. "So, where did they go?"
Incredulous, Shippo gasped, "He must have made it to the other side because of the jewel shards!"
"Umm, what?" Looking back at the two idiots with blank faces in front of him, Shippo sighed in exasperation and said, "Through this well is Kagome's home, the future. No one but Kagome and Inuyasha are supposed to use it!"
"Oh…" Hakaku and Ginta said in unison. Without waiting to see if they had any more questions, Shippo took off at a light sprint toward Kaede's village, leaving the two behind.
They watched the kit run off before looking at each other, then the well, then the forest, and back to each other, before nodding simultaneously again and following the retreating child.
BACK WITH INUYASHA AND NOW KOGA...
Hefting the overstuffed bag more securely over his shoulder, Inuyasha swiftly jumped out of the well and headed to the door, but stopped when he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
His breath involuntarily hitched as he began trembling, the aura surrounding the whole area tainted with malice and sadistic happenings.
W-What the hell?! Kagome, what happened here?! Where are you?! I swear you had better be safe!
Throwing open the door, Inuyasha was about to jump out to find his woman when a faint scent, steadily growing stronger, wafted to his nose. Turning abruptly and ignoring his uneasiness from being here, Inuyasha growled low and deep, hoping it was a trick as his face visibly flushed in anger. But oh no, it wasn't, as he watched almost as if in slow motion, the wolf demon prince jump out in much the same manner as him, landing less than a yard away from him.
"No…" Was all Inuyasha managed as he dropped Kagome's belongings, his mouth hanging open in shock.
As Koga stood up, he and Inuyasha had a face off that seemed to last forever before Koga smirked and said, "You know, InuTRASHa, if you stand there with your mouth open like that, you're going to attract flies with that bad breath of yours if you don't close it."
Snapping his jaws shut, Inuyasha glared murderously back at the arrogant wolf before snarling, "What…the FUCK…are you doing here?"
All Koga did was shrug carelessly and say, "I followed you to the well, knowing you were going after Kagome and jumped in after you. I got to say, though, Inuyasha, I had no idea this well did this! Is this where my woman liv-!" Koga was suddenly cut off when Inuyasha lunged at him, pinning him to the side of the well house, his razor sharp, extended claws piercing Koga's flawless skin, his eyes flashing red, and growling even lower and deeper than before that even Koga was beginning to wonder if he should have said that.
"She's mine, you got that, fuckhead?! Stop daydreaming and leave my woman alone!"
Koga struggled but was unable to move. Even though he had jewel shards, they were no match for Inuyasha's demonic strength, but like hell was he going to admit it!
"Oh?! And just why did she come home, anyway, huh?! You must have really done something stupid for Kagome's patience to wear thin enough for her to leave you! And just what the hell makes you so special anyway, you stupid mongrel! Why would she choose some asshole like you when she could have me? Someone that doesn't treat her like shit?! She'd be much better off with me!" His piece said, Koga closed his eyes and waited to be killed, willing to die a warrior's death.
Hearing this and knowing it to be true, Inuyasha did the only thing he could; let Koga go, his claws siding out of his arms as Inuyasha stepped away and calmed his racing heart, beating and telling him to kill the prince, bringing pleasure to his demonic side, pride of destroying one who dared talk to him in such a tongue and even speak of taking what belonged to him!
What the hell…? Koga thought.
"Why the sudden change of heart, Inuyasha?"
Watching Inuyasha turn to face him, he sucked in his breath. Pain was evident in his golden orbs, and Koga would've felt sorry for the poor bastard had he not seen the immense guilt there as well, along with shame and sorrow.
His own dull blue eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms and demanded, "You really did do something to her, didn't you?" Seeing the pain increase even more, Koga knew he was right.
Stalking angrily over to the thickheaded half demon, Koga pulled his fist back and promptly punched Inuyasha, square in the nose, sending the said dog through the wall and sprawling several yards where he laid, waiting for the rest of the beating he knew he deserved.
Seeing this, Koga thought, Humph, the idiot didn't even make a move to stop it.
Calmly walking over to the heap that was Inuyasha, Koga stood over him.
Inuyasha, who felt that being down in the dirt was where he belonged, didn't move. No, wait, he belonged lower!
"Get up, mutt, and tell me what you did."
He remained silent.
Koga sighed and knelt down. As much as he hated to admit it, he did have a love/hate relationship with Inuyasha. They'd be willing to die for one another, damn near almost doing so in the past, and yet, the constant bickering was almost a requirement, something to pass the time between them. Plus, they did agree on one thing, if only one: Kagome's safety and happiness.
He snorted in disgust. "Gee, never thought I'd see you like this Inuyasha. You must have done something pretty stupid to get her this mad at you."
Bolting upright quickly, Inuyasha glared ruefully at Koga but offered no defense on his behalf.
"Keh! What do you know, you mangy wolf?" He muttered instead.
Without skipping a beat, Koga replied, "I know that if you're mad, Kagome's mad! If you're happy, she's happy, and when you're depressed and hurting, so is she! You idiot, she's like your other half! What one feels, the other feels as well. And from the look of things, you must have done something really dumb to have that much hurt and guilt in your eyes. What did you do?!"
Inuyasha growled again, this time in annoyance. Like hell he was going to tell Koga a damn thing about what transgressed between him and Kagome!
He gasped, suddenly realizing he was wasting precious time. Kagome! She needs me!
Sniffing and ignoring Koga, Inuyasha inhaled very deeply and found Kagome's scent mixed in with… "Hakudoushi?!" He murmured in a panic-stricken whisper.
Koga looked confused. "Who?"
Ignoring him, Inuyasha thought a second before jumping up and heading back into the now half destroyed well house. "Hey, Koga, come here."
Obliging, Koga stood in front of Inuyasha and asked gruffly, "What?"
"I need you to do me a…little favor…" Inuyasha drawled, all the while backing Koga up.
"Yeah? And what would that be?" What the hell?
"Heh… I need you to…" Inuyasha drawled, then lunged and was glad when he saw Koga jump back on instinct and begin falling back into the well. "GO AWAY!"
For Koga's part, he couldn't even get a smart-ass remark off before being eaten by the blue marshmallow back to the past.
Inuyasha quickly uprooted a rather large sapling of a tree near the well and forced the plant down it, cutting off any chance Koga may have had of coming back.
It worked once before, so it should work again. Inuyasha turned away and began seriously assessing the presence he'd sensed earlier.
Now that the wimpy wolf wasn't distracting him, his body once again began trembling as he deeply inhaled, Hakudoushi's aura clouding everything around him, filling all his senses. He'd never been this scared or worried, not even with Naraku. The only time he could think of that came close was when Kagome got kidnapped, or when her life was in danger.
Now, however, it was worse. He could smell fresh tears, not more than an hour old, along with a crushing depression with anger and sorrow from which he'd never experienced. Add to it a healthy dose of fear and just a hint of defeat, and you'd have one hell of a stew.
She's not only in great danger by being here, she's hurting, scared…and it's all because of me! His eyes clenched shut at the knowledge, his claws digging into his palms in anger at his stupidity, drawing blood that dropped gently down onto the soil in the littlest of droplets, steadily.
She came here looking for a reprieve from me, and now, it feels as if she's in worse turmoil than before! Because of me, because of me… He felt as though he couldn't breathe, his guilt rendering him helpless. His heart felt dead and heavy in his chest, weighing him down, feeling like a disease that was slowly dissipating into all his limbs, making them numb and just as useless, if not more so, than his heart.
He opened his eyes, but kept his claws firmly in his palms, knowing he deserved the slight pain, probably more. After a few more minutes of self-torture, he unclenched his fists.
Sensing no presence in the house, which was also odd, Inuyasha shook his head and concentrated on finding Kagome's scent, which he found and, after dropping the backpack, without a second glance behind him, bounded down the street.
Why would he be here? How is that even possible? He can't possibly know about the well, can he? Grr… That freaky kid… Why would he come after Kagome, anyway? Wouldn't it be smarter to go after me? The strongest and most threatening in the group? Argh! I just don't know! Please, please Kagome, be all right when I find you!
BACK IN THE FEUDAL ERA...
A mighty roar could be heard echoing throughout the small clearing as the owner of the voice leaped out of the notorious well and quickly crouched into an offensive stance once he was back on solid ground. Sniffing and looking around with narrowed eyes, Koga straightened his spine and let his cautious glare dissolve into burning anger at Inuyasha, his face reddening in embarrassment from being deceived so easily.
How could he have been so stupid as to believe that piece of trash?! He was seething at two things at the moment: His own stupidity and Inuyasha.
That dog shit tricked me into leaving! I'll kill him for sure this time!
Gritting his teeth, Koga immediately spun around and jumped, this time, feet first into the well. Almost instantly, his ever present and trustworthy instincts kicked in, alerting him. He braced his legs, and landed gracefully on his feet at the bottom of the well. For some reason, he wasn't all that surprised he couldn't get through.
I knew dog breath wouldn't let me back! Might as well get back to my own business. What a waste of my time…or was it? At least now I know how to find Kagome when shithead isn't around!
He jumped back out of the Bone Eater's Well and was about to run off in the direction of the cliff that he'd left his pack when he caught a whiff of three familiar scents, all conveniently located behind him on the edge of the well. Bending down slightly, he closed his eyes to enhance his senses and inhaled, finally recognizing them.
Ginta, Hakaku, and that brat traveling with Inuyasha, the one that's always hanging off Kagome. They're fairly recent ones, too. Those two idiots must've followed me, even after I gave them direct orders to watch the pack! Hmm, guess I'll just have to thrash them when I find 'em.
Glancing around, he concluded his companions had followed Inuyasha's in the general direction of what he believed to be Kagome's village.
With his impressive speed, he made it there in just under a minute and, knowing where that old priestess's hut was, made a beeline for it, not even hesitating as he walked in, unannounced.
The quiet, serious conversation that had been going on inside immediately ceased.
Of course, Koga noticed none of this and continued on towards his two companions, who sat in the corner, and plopped himself down like the ignorant fool he was. The gang, minus Kagome and Inuyasha, plus Hakaku, and Ginta, all let out a simultaneous, collective sigh, not at all happy to have been so rudely interrupted from what, they thought, was one of the most important talks they've had to date.
"So…what's up?" Koga questioned the seven occupants around him. His answer was silence. Finally realizing something was up, Koga sat up straighter and gazed around the room at everyone, noting their expressions.
Miroku sat with his arm around Sango's waist to his left, both looking pensive and just a tad bit miserable, Kilala curled up in her mistress's lap with her head up, also looking thoughtful. Also in Sango's lap was a certain young kitsune, sleeping, and clutching almost desperately to Sango's kimono, barely visible. Kaede sat opposite the two lovers to Koga's left, her one good eye closed, arms crossed, and brow furrowed in very deep thought. None of them looked like they even cared Koga, Hakaku and Ginta were in the room; they were so involved in whatever it was that they were thinking of. Finally, Koga raked his eyes over his own companions on either side of him. Ginta was picking his nose in boredom and Hakaku was trying not to fall asleep on his brother.
"What exactly is going on here? Why's everyone so…gloomy?" Koga finally asked, serious.
Having the silence broken brought everyone out of whatever reveries he or she may've been having as they turned their necks and looked at the one who talked.
Kaede was the first to speak up. "Ye can pass through well, correct?"
Koga nodded.
"Do ye know why or where that well leads to where it does?"
"I think I know why; Kagome's real home is on the other side, isn't it? Was I able to get through because of the Jewel Shards?"
Kaede nodded. "Aye, it has everything to do with your Sacred Jewel shards. We were all discussing a few current problems that need to be dealt with. We knew Kagome could travel through the well; she's a priestess and was in possession of the Sacred Jewel when she was first brought here. However, once the jewel was shattered, she couldn't get back home unless she had a sacred jewel shard with her."
"Well, that's all fine and dandy, but if that's true, how come Inuyasha can pass through the well? I thought Kagome kept all the jewel shards you guys gathered." Koga commented. At this, Hakaku and Ginta stopped doing their current 'activities' and perked up to listen better.
"Ahem," Miroku interjected before Kaede could say anything. He looked at her for the 'ok.' She nodded and he continued. "We believe - and keep in mind, we have no real substantial proof to support this hypothesis - that, although we have never tried for fear of hurting ourselves, that I, Sango, and the others are unable to pass through that well. Since Kagome can, given that she has a jewel shard with her, it is apparent that she is part of both our worlds. Inuyasha, on the other hand, is a mystery in and of himself. Here's where our guessing comes into play. Inuyasha is able to pass through the well without jewel shards, leading us to the same conclusion as Kagome: He is both a part of our world as he is a part of hers."
Miroku looked at Koga, Hakaku and Ginta, only to receive two blank looks and one slightly annoyed one.
"Why didn't you just say that last part instead of prattling on the way you were?" Koga demanded to know.
Miroku sighed. "Because I thought someone like you," Miroku emphasized in disgust, for it was common knowledge that Koga could be rather…dumb, "would need a few facts before hearing your answer."
Humph! Koga thought, crossing his arms. "And just what is that supposed to mean, monk?"
Miroku glared back, saying in a deadpan tone, "Exactly how it sounds…wolf."
Koga growled, but a sudden thought struck him, exciting him, making him forget the impudent monk before him. "Hey! I went to Kagome's time! Does that mean I'm a part of the future as well?!"
More importantly, Kagome's!
Just the littlest inkling that he was a part of Kagome's future made him ecstatic.
"Anything's possible," Kaede volunteered, though with no real conviction, "But like we said, we don't really know for sure. For all we know, we could be wrong."
There was a slight pause, an awkward silence between the occupants, before Sango finally decided to something to their conversation. "Now that we've discussed that, I think there are more…urgent matters to address."
Miroku eyed her with his peripheral vision, noting her tensed up shoulders and narrowed eyes, eyes that were full of pent up anger and revenge gone unsatisfied. He tightened his hold around her fragile figure and said, "Yes, you're right love," all the while trying to relieve some of her tension by messaging her shoulders in little circular motions, bending down to whisper sweet nothings into her ear.
"Aye, 'tis true," Kaede said.
"Like what?" Koga asked.
"Like how there aren't any demons in this forest, or how if there are demons somewhere, they're doing a good job of keeping a low profile, considering most of them eat humans. Surely you've noticed, Koga?" Sango inquired.
Koga nodded and looked at his comrades, who really just sat there, looking as bored as they had when he'd first arrived. "Why don't you two go back to the pack?" Koga asked…well, rather demanded. Luckily, the two busybodies took the underlying hint and got up, walked out, and quickly made their way back to their brothers and sisters.
Once the two were gone, Koga turned to Sango and replied to her earlier question, "Of course I've noticed. Besides my own pack, along with Ayame and her pack, Sesshoumaru and his crew and you guys, I haven't seen hide nor hair of any other demons, and neither have they, from what I can gather."
Sango nodded, seeming to confirm her suspicions, looking at Miroku as they both thought the same thing: We talked about this yesterday.
Looking back to Koga, Sango continued, "I knew it. I thought everything that's been happening, ever since Kagome went home, was being cleverly planned…" And there she broke off, for his name need not be uttered, for everyone in the room could fill in the blank.
Naraku.
"The only question is…what's his plan? It obviously has something to do with his most recent incarnation, seeing as he released the abomination shortly before all this started happening." Miroku thought out loud, his arm still around Sango, still comforting her.
Yet another prolonged silenced ensued, which was broken this time by Kaede, who'd been quiet throughout their musings.
"I hate to be the bringer of worse bearings, but… If Koga here was able to get through the well with his own jewel shards, do you think it possible that-?"
"-that Naraku could send someone or something through the well to get Kagome if he knew about its powers…" Shippo finished Kaede's sentence, his awakening going unnoticed by the adults.
They were left to ponder this, worrying over what may be happening in the future right now, or maybe, just maybe, what may have already happened…
BACK IN MODERN JAPAN...
Keep going… Don't…stop yet… Kagome's mind screamed as her chest heaved, the lungs it contained straining, expanding and contracting rapidly as she ran along the gravel road to the scene of the murder. Her arms were beginning to hurt as they swayed along with her body. It felt as though she couldn't breathe, her legs wanting to give out on her.
Why am I so…weak? Kagome thought, slowing down the more she pushed herself.
She'd been running half an hour at least, slowing down with each step she forced her weakened and drained body to take. The article in the magazine had said it had happened roughly ten miles away from the Sunset Shrine, and she'd already run eight. Sure, she was used to running long distances like this, what, with being chased by demons and keeping up with the rugged pace certain silver-haired half demons set. She was just used to running like this in smaller doses, and on much more energy.
Finally giving in to her body's limits, she stopped for only a minute to catch her breath, and then continued on for the last two miles at a brisk, walking pace.
It's been almost a week, five days now, since it happened. I'm sure the police have finished their investigation… What if I'm doing all this for nothing and just prolonging something that just can't be changed?
She was met with nothing but the sound of her light footsteps, though she really didn't need an answer; she was there.
The mass of metal she'd known as her mother's car was, of course, nowhere to be found. The road was open to traffic, and there was no yellow police tape, no car or bodies… She gasped.
The bodies!
She kept walking, though it was getting harder to see; it was getting dark, fast. After a few minutes of searching, Kagome found the beginning of what it was she was looking for: brake and skid marks, all over the road, most off of it. She gulped and clasped the vile around her slender neck.
W-Well girl, this is what you wanted, isn't it? It's too late now; you can't back out now that you've come this far. See it through to the end.
Kagome took a deep breath and continued on down the road, walking slowly so she could see everything in the dimming light. The marks went this way and that, little breaks in between some of them, and no breaks at all in others. Finally, she reached a place that, in the ditch, the dirt was badly turned up.
Most definitely caused by our car. Kagome thought as she followed the marks that led straight to the ditch and upturned soil.
She just kind of stood there, looking at it before she remembered the rest of the newspaper article.
The bodies… They were burned a short distance away…
She shivered, not only from the cold that night usually brought with it, but also from the slowly growing aura that had only become too familiar to her, though this time, it was less terrifying, almost nonexistent.
That's strange… You'd think his aura would be even worse here, seeing as this is where he did them in, but I can hardly sense him at all…
Deciding to ponder this at a later date, Kagome, full of trepidation, had only to look, like the newspaper had said, a few yards away to find the scene of the live cremation of the only family she'd had left. The light from the sun, now completely gone and replaced with dim moon and star light, cast an eerie and ominous glow upon the three, heavily burned and charred marks, all in a nice line. They were on the road, the same road that had witnessed the death of three innocent souls, watched the hellish flames take their lives. They were lined up from the largest to the smallest, most likely from the oldest to the youngest.
Tentatively, Kagome walked over and stood on the smallest burn mark, positive this was where her adorable, loving younger brother had been burned alive.
Now, Kagome was completely at a loss for what she was supposed to do. She looked around, hoping a bright green neon sign would pop up explaining just what it was she was supposed to do, explain why some force had driven her here. She did a complete three-sixty before sitting down, legs crossed beneath her with her hands in her lap, just sitting and staring at Souta's burn.
She was shaken out of her glazed expression by an enormous, almost violent trembling in her lower abdominal. Looking down and putting her right hand on her stomach, Kagome understood that the piece of toast she'd eaten about an hour ago was causing her stomach to riot for more food. She thought back.
I ate a little bit of that picnic before I came back, and besides my little breakfast this afternoon, I've eaten nothing for almost five days now! I can't believe I ran all the way here with no mental or physical energy! No wonder I was so tired… Come to think of it, I haven't showered or changed clothes, either…
She began laughing, almost maniacally.
I must look like a psychotic fruit loop! OH! And let us not forget the fact that I'm in the middle of the country, sitting in the middle of the road, where I could get hit by a car, on top of my brother's grave!
She had a nice visual image of getting hit by a car while she was laughing like an idiot in the middle of the road and grimaced. She rested her upper body by putting her hands behind her, letting her weight rest on her hands.
As soon as her hands touched the cement, however, her laughter was cut off abruptly, the little light that the night had provided for her vanishing, darkness obscuring her vision once more in the same eerie feeling she'd experienced yesterday. Her body went rigid as she fell back, her spirit gone to wherever the vision whisked her away to, and then lay motionless. She was once again hurled into darkness, only this time, she kept falling, never stopping at the strange doorway of light from before. She closed her eyes, then quickly opened them again, surprised to see that she was no longer falling. No, in fact, she had stopped and was standing in the same spot on the road that she'd been sitting on before she was thrown back into this vision.
Though she was in the same spot, there were many things, she noted, that were different. The brake, skid and burn marks were gone, as was the upturned earth in the ditch, the dirt untouched. The sun was also back, casting a bright light on everything. All she had to do was look up to see that it was still early in the afternoon on this deserted and rarely used roadway.
Confused, Kagome looked around and wondered why she was there, but didn't have to wait for very long as she looked down the road. She saw a familiar looking car when she looked down the road, skidding, trying to dodge some unseen force. As it drew closer, Kagome discovered the car was trying to avoid contact with a grown up, levitating Hakudoushi, who was sporting a spear, jabbing at the car.
Kagome, after giving it much thought, had concluded that these were events of the past that could not be changed, and made the decision to move off the road and into the ditch as she watched with a dead expression plastered to her face.
As she watched, she was surprised her mother could keep up with Hakudoushi's quick reflexes and inhuman speed, though she also had a sick feeling that Hakudoushi was playing with them.
As she watched the car come closer, Kagome winced in surprise and fright as the car swerved just a little bit too sharply and flipped once, twice, thrice, and finally four times before smashing front first, upside down, into the ditch, in exactly the same spot that she'd seen earlier. The car's occupants screamed in terror, the car jolting them and their cries to a sickening halt.
Kagome whimpered in remorse, but consoled herself it was hopefully going to end soon, for she already knew the outcome.
Hakudoushi, no longer bursting with sadistic glee, but rather spiteful revenge for crimes someone had yet to commit, allowed his trusty spear to disintegrate into nothing. He walked over to the debris that was once a car.
Not standing all that far away, Kagome ran the few yards so she was nearly side by side her family's murderer. Her family was obviously unconscious, hanging upside down by their seat belts as Hakudoushi knelt down by the car.
Then, he did something so unheard of that Kagome had to do a double take to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing. She watched the bastard gently carry her family members, one by one, to the exact same spot on the road where there would soon be three burn marks, charred with ash and decomposing flesh, though that wasn't what caught her attention. No, what caught her attention was the little fact that when he had the bodies arranged the way he wanted, he knelt down and put his hands together…
He was praying.
Incredulous, Kagome raged. For WHAT?!A peaceful death by fire?! A safe passage to Heaven after they experience Hell?! She would've gone on, but her roaring was cut short as she heard him whisper.
"Higurashi family, nearly the last of your lineage… You are about to become innocent bystanders, casualties in a feud that was not yours. Please, stay unconscious, while I do what must be done… Do what was done to my-!" His voice cracked as he broke off, reaching for the gas to do the unforgivable.
Kagome looked away as she clenched both her eyes and fists closed, covering her ears with her closed fists, thinking brokenly.
What's going on? I need more answers! I am not satisfied with this! Why is he doing this in the first place? Sure, he's Naraku's incarnation, and yeah, he doesn't have a heart, but why now, here? It… It doesn't make any sense at all!
He's sad he's about to murder helpless people? Why kill them, then, huh?! Why is he showing remorse for what he's about to do, why?! If he doesn't want to kill them, why does he choose to anyway?
Hakudoushi, why are you doing this?!
WHY?
Everything revolved around that one simple, but intricate one word question that was always usually so difficult to answer, no matter what it was you were questioning, for the answer could be one of thousands.
Kagome peeked her eyes open briefly and saw Hakudoushi begin lighting a match. She watched in slow motion as he threw it onto the gasoline soaked bodies before him. Before the match hit them, she squeezed her eyes closed again, mentally screaming.
Someone, anyone, please… Wake me up! I've seen what I needed! Wake up! Wake me up, before I go completely insane, please, please!
WITH INUYASHA...
Good. Her scent's getting stronger… But…something's not right…Grr… Inuyasha growled. I just can't believe that bastard has the audacity to come here like this, and after Kagome, too! I'm going to kill him! Hakudoushi…
He turned onto the road that the scent was coming from, noticing the chill that wretched through him at the all too familiar aura, laced with malice. But what surprised him was that regret and hatred were also there as well.
Huh… That's weird… Why would that literally heartless bastard be having feelings like that? I thought Hakudoushi didn't have a heart…
He shook his head, and then almost stumbled as the most disgusting stench he'd ever smelled invaded his keen nose.
Burned flesh?! And it's fairly fresh, too… What the fuck is going on, here?!
Night had completely fallen as Inuyasha finally slowed his vigorous pace to an almost casual walk. His sharp eyes had already adjusted, and as he searched for Kagome, he heard her before he saw her.
"…please… Wake me up!"
Inuyasha finally found her! Kneeling down, he gently lifted her head, shaking her oh so slightly, hoping she'd come to.
"Wake up! Wake me up, please, please!"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried, willing her to open her eyes.
Immediately, her eyes flew open and gazed blindly up at him. Before he could utter another word, he faintly heard her whisper, "Take me home, Inuyasha… Take me home."
OoO
Yay, Inuyasha and Kagome finally got back together! Tell me how I'm doing please; I'm not getting enough reviews to keep me motivated!
Check out my other stories, too; they are feeling neglected as well!
Thank you for all you do.
Keruseyu32691