Disclaimer: All things Inuyasha are not mine I just play with the characters and throw in some OC's so I can legally kill them of. (:
Author's note: *sigh* this story is coming to an end, with the gang all back together it's only a matter of chapters until the end. Just for the record this story is supposed to fit in with the manga and anime, I'm not sure exactly where, but it will, which mean it's more like one of the movies and I can't permanently kill off any characters or make drastic changes that would affect the plot of the original manga or anime, so please stop asking me to kill Naraku I'm not allowed and I could never make Naraku's death better then Rumiko Takahashi did, be content in his eternal confinement that was intended by the creator of Inuyasha.
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When Good Miko Go Bad
Chapter 22 Catching Up
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After gathering around the fire, which the miko hadn't bothered to put out in their rush to reach Kagome, and everyone giving a short synopsis of recent events, introductions were made; Inuyasha supplying whispered names to Kagome in a silent agreement to keep her memory lapse a secret. "So, that's everyone." Kagome finished happily; proud that she had at least remembered some vague detail about each of her old friends.
"Who's the blond bitch?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped reprimanding the hanyou, "you shouldn't say that, I know she's not very nice but that's rude."
Tari laughed from her place next to Sango, "Is that not hypocritical, Kagome? You yourself call her that." She laughed again at Kagome's pink cheeks and soft mutterings of something that sounded like, 'not the same thing'. Inuyasha gave her a smug look, perfectly content to enjoy her slight embarrassment.
In an attempt to redirect the conversation away from herself Kagome addressed Inuyasha's question, "Anyway the blond is Lady Marianne." Said priestess had slinked off after it appeared the new comers were no threat. "Have you found out anything more about the attack at the cliff?"
Miroku sighed heavily, "Naraku ordered it, that demon was another of his incarnations." Though she understood little of what that meant Kagome nodded making a note to ask Inuyasha to explain later. "It appears that you were their target." He grinned joyously, the expression tainted by lecherous thoughts, "It is most fortunate that you survived the attack Kagome-sama, Inuyasha was quite intolerable without your lovely figure around."
While the others all laughed at the hanyou's murder attempts Kagome pondered the first portions of Miroku's explanation. "I don't think it was fortunate at all." Inuyasha halted, his fist mere centimeters from the monk's already bruising face, and was about to protest that Kagome being alive 'sure as hell' was fortunate, when she held up a hand to indicate she had further explanations to her thought train, "What I mean is, I don't think the goal was to kill me." Everyone stared at her blankly, she sighed appealing to Tari, "Remember when I told you about my fall and how the demons slowed me down so I wasn't hurt?"
"Well of course I remember, but I would hardly say you were uninjured, you were unconscious for weeks, and immobile for a moon." Inuyasha's stomach churned guiltily at the thought of the damage that must have been inflicted to render Kagome to such a state.
"That's beside the point; I survived because they wanted me to, but what's the point of that?"
"Could it be possible that this Naraku could be working with the elders?" All eyes turned to Shiri as she blinked innocently at them all, "did I say something?"
Ruffling her hair Kagome smiled, "You are a genius." The little girl beamed brightly at the praise, "If Naraku's objective was to get me to the elders than their goal would be to…" Her mental train hit a road block, "I got nothing."
Tari and Shiri exchanged guilty looks, "We might know," admitted the former, "they could want to use your powers, most likely your unusually strong ability to purify, to become…human." Her eyes glued themselves to the ground as if expecting an explosion from her friend.
"Tari-chan, what are you talking about, human…aren't they?"
"No, they are demons, we all are." The young women's tone was apologetic.
Shiri stepped up to tug on Kagome's sleeve, "Can we tell you a story?" Kagome nodded mutely, and Shiri began. "Once there were three powerful sister miko, they were said to be just and hated all youkai without discrimination. These sisters were commissioned by a large village to protect them from a formidable demon that had long plagued their lands. In the end the miko lost and the demon seeing their hatred of his kind, went beyond defeating them, he cursed them to become the creatures they hated, and left the miko to their fate. The sister's resistance was strong and they retained their minds and miko powers, but they still possessed the desires and certain physical traits of youkai. They went on, for years acting as if nothing were amiss and continued fighting demons, but eventually they came across another priestess, she was young and dying, in a show of kindness they took her in and nursed her back to health. The girl stayed with them until she was grown, and then upon discovering their youkai nature requested to become one of them. Having grown attached to their charge the sisters agreed, infusing their cursed blood with that of the girl's, she too became a demon priestess. Over time the sister's following grew and they rescued more priestesses turning them all into demons and creating their own temple, hidden away from the world. This continued for generation as their life span had also been extended by the youkai blood within them and their followers. Eventually they began turning miko without their permission and gained power with each transformation. The demon who cursed them had not foreseen their ability to create more demon miko, or to take power from those they turned, but this gain had a side effect; each time they infused their blood with another priestess' they grew more beastly, until they came to point where they no longer resembled humans and had to cover their skin in shame. The damage didn't stop though, they worried they would lose their minds as well, and their bodies were growing sick and withering. To avoid death they wish to become human again." Shiri stopped and looked up at Kagome with tears brimming in her eyes. "Do you hate us now too?"
"Oh Shiri," Her arms flew to embrace the girl, pulling the child into her lap as she girl cried, clinging to Kagome's shirt, where only minutes ago Shippou had done the same, "I could never hate you, don't be silly."
"We were all forbidden to speak of it outside the compound," Tari explained, "And after you came the elders gave orders that you were not to know either, I am sorry we should have told you, especially after we realized they were targeting you." Tari bowed deeply, "Gomen nasi."
A small 'oh' left her lips as Kagome pulled her down into the embrace, "You are both idiots, why would I care, half my friends are demons, and one's even a half demon, I don't care what you are, you're still my friends." She released them and looked around at all her friends, and Gamamochi(who'd been silent the entire time), gathered around her. "Right, and if all our theories are even close to being right then Naraku was the one controlling Gamamochi this morning and we can find him. All we have to do is follow the threads back, one should still be pinned the tree I hit with my arrow."
Miroku the voice of reason returned, "As wonderful as that plan sounds Kagome-sama, you are in no condition to fight, and tracking Naraku in the dark would be near impossible even with the thread to lead us."
"I'm fine and as soon as we get close I'll be able to sense all Naraku's jewel shards, so easy fix there."
"The pervert's right Kagome, you need to heal." Being overprotective when it came to Kagome was nothing new to Inuyasha, but the no arguing tone caught Kagome off guard.
She deliberately ignored the tone anyway, "Not a chance, I'm totally fine, and besides if we wait for morning it could be too late."
He stared her down, liquid steal in his eyes, "Doesn't matter." She glared at him. "Feh, get used to it, you're not gettin' hurt again." He was practically yelling and she returned his words with equal vigor, both lost in their own adjoined world as the others looked on with wide eyes their heads watching the exchange like a tennis match. "I said you're not going."
"Like I'm letting you go without me, I can help. I've taken down plenty of demons without getting killed."
"I never said you couldn't I said you're injured so stop being so stubborn and rest."
"I'm fine it was just a scratch."
"You need rest, I saw the blood, that was no scratch."
"I said I'm fine, stop telling me what to do."
"I'll stop tellin' you what to do when you do what you should."
"I should be out tracking down Naraku."
"You should be resting."
"Says you,"
"Yeah and I'm right."
"You don't own me Inuyasha."
"Well maybe I should."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
"uh I … uh…nothing…" A sweatdrop trickled down from his temple.
Seeing his distress Kagome yielded, "Fine we'll wait until morning." And walked off to make up the bed rolls without another word, a soft smile playing at her lips.
Sango, Miroku, Tari, Shippou, and Kirara exchanged looks. "I could be mistaken but," Tari voiced their thoughts, "did Kagome win the fight and then give back her victory?" All those present nodded.
Shiri blinked up at Sango, "Is that not how they used to act around each other?"
Instead of Sango answering her Shippou spoke up. "Well usually she just sits him."
Shiri have a huff, "I was not asking you, fox." And she too stormed off in a fair imitation of Kagome.
Miroku chuckled and whispered into Sango's ear, "Seems as if little Shippou has a new girlfriend."
"I heard that monk." Yelled the kitsune, sounding way too much like Inuyasha.
Hiding a giggle behind her hand Sango whispered back, "I think you might be right." Which effectively caused the little orange-haired demon to storm off as well. "Just like old times, huh?"
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A grey and withered hand with the same texture as leather shook slightly as it grasped at the owner's last chance of life. "Finally we shall be whole once more." A dark purple glow emanated from her hand as fresh skin replaced the leather.
"Do not forget us sister." Two voices chorused from behind.
The first chuckled, "Naturally." With her renewed flesh the woman pressed an object to each of her sister's hands, the dark light seeping into their thick skin. "Now for our end of the deal."
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From the scene at their camp no one would have guessed they were being hunted. The reunited friends and new ones seemed to congregate around Kagome as the center point, curled up in the curve of arm was Shippou and Kiara sat purring quietly on her chest, while Shiri, not to be outdone by the other small companions of her Kagome-sama snuggled up against the woman's side. Kagome herself seemed completely unconcerned by or unaware of the pile of little friends sleeping with her. The group slept in a kind of circle, their heads at the center so they could speak to one another with ease. Lying on either side of the children and Kagome was Sango and Tari, with Miroku, much to his delight, in between them. With no intention of sleeping or letting Kagome out of his sight Inuyasha had abandoned his preferred lookout post in a tree in favor of sitting crossed legged at next Kagome and the rest of the group, observing her fondly once he was sure everyone had fallen into blissful slumber (or in Miroku's case, been knocked unconscious by an livid taijiya).
Even after all the time apart, Kagome looked just as he remembered, her hair maybe a little longer, and the clothes defiantly weren't hers, but still; everything about her was succinctly Kagome. Her scent remained unchanged, still the same clean mixture of honeysuckle and something he had yet to identify further than some kind of herb. In his scrutiny Inuyasha could see the faint traces of scars on her ebony skin, the irritating rawness of fresh wounds, and the new maturity she had gained during her travels without him. It irritated him slightly that Kagome had fared so well without him, not that he wasn't glad she was okay, he was still thanking Kami for that, but to know she didn't need him around was a deafening blow. Ever since she'd pulled the arrow out of his chest Inuyasha had stayed by her side, thought at first he insisted it was only because of the jewel and then later the rosary as well, he couldn't help but wonder what he would have done had neither of those been a factor. Whether he would have stayed with Kagome or not didn't really matter, though he would have liked to think he hadn't been stupid enough to let her go that easily. Feh probably woulda kept 'er 'round just fer the smell.
His eyes softened as Kagome shifted in her sleep, tendrils of black hair falling across her face. Tentatively, without thinking Inuyasha reached out, one claw delicately brushing them into place. As he withdrew Kagome's free hand grabbed onto his, bringing blood rushing to his face, Kagome however showed no signs of embarrassment, and only latched on tighter, squeezing lightly. Throwing a wary glance around the camp Inuyasha forced down the redness in his cheeks and, convinced he wasn't being spied on returned the pressure.
At the very opposite edge of camp Marianne lay in bed roll, waiting anxiously for the last of the witnesses to fall asleep.
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In the morning Marianne was the first to rise, having been waiting for a reasonable time to 'wake up' after realizing that Inuyasha was not going to sleep, at all. Without saying a word or even sparring the hanyou a glance she headed off into the tree line. Inuyasha watched her departure with a raised eyebrow, noting to ask Kagome who shoved the pole up the girl's ass.
About an hour later Kagome began to stir, shifting and mumbling a groan of complaint at the sun for having the nerve to rise so early. "Mornin', how's the back?" he asked as she opened her eyes, squinting against the morning light.
Smirking back at him tersely she answered, "Like I said yesterday, fine, but I don't expect you to believe that until you decide I'm better." Inuyasha 'Fehed' and turned his back stubbornly. A few silent moments passed until meekly Kagome broke it, "um…Inuyasha?" He grunted that he was listening. "Could you…ah…give me a hand?" Opening a single eye he twisted enough to get a glimpse of her situation, she hadn't moved.
"With what?" In place of explanation Kagome threw a significant glance at the three forms lying on top of her. "Oh right." Inuyasha moved back over to her lifting Shippou and Kirara easily without disturbing them and letting Kagome extract herself from the young miko. "Better?" He couldn't help sneak an appreciative look at Kagome's body as she stretched, cursing silently as his 'mental Miroku' started making dirty suggestions, some of which he secretly wished he could try.
"Much." Chirped Kagome. "How'd you sleep?"
With enough experience dealing with Kagome Inuyasha knew that telling her he hadn't would just start up an argument and lying would get her angry so he avoided both. "I was fine." He didn't say he'd spelt fine. "Should we wake the others and head out?"
Kagome threw a look over her shoulder at the sleeping group, "Na give them a while its still early, and this way we can come up with a plan without getting side tracked." He nodded absently, his oddly Mirokuish thoughts giving him very detailed and creative ways to 'side track' them. "I'll show you the strings that were controlling Gamamochi maybe you can make more sense of them than me, see if they're a tool Naraku uses that I don't know about." Inuyasha, though he approved of checking out those strings, didn't have any desire to return to that place that reeked of Kagome's blood. Kagome must have been having similar thought patterns, "I need to clean up back there anyway, don't want to make tracking us any easier than it has to be." She cleared her throat nervously; scribbling a note to the others should they wake up before they could return. "Ready." She squeaked when that was done, apparently as uneasy about their task as he was or maybe she too was worried about them being alone.
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My Lady what will you have me do? Pleaded Marianne.
Cease your whining you have your orders. Snapped the other voice.
I do not have the strength for it.
Then gain strength enough to dispatch yourself if you can't be useful.
M-mm-my Lady,
Stop your sniveling we shall not tolerate weakness.
Relenting shakily Marianne replied I-I shall make the preparations.
And the girl. The elder prompted.
Shall become one of us.
Or…
Or die.
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"Inuyasha? What's wrong?" They had hardly entered the bloodied clearing when Inuyasha had spun around, a snarl ripping from his throat as he crushed Kagome protectively to him.
"Naraku, that bastard." The hanyou spat, drawing tetsegia from its sheath. "Show yourself you bastard!" He yelled into the trees.
All was silent, the wind blowing gently in mockery, "Inuyasha, no one else is here." Kagome made no move to extract herself from his grasp but pushed back enough to look into his face. "I don't sense anything." Still tense he lowered tetsegia but did not sheath it, nor fully release Kagome. "There," she pointed from his side, her finger indicating the arrow shaft embedded half way up a tree trunk. They moved closer Kagome taking the lead to pull out her arrow and what was ensnared by it.
Momentarily releasing his hold on Kagome Inuyasha reached around her to extract the arrow from the bark, while Kagome grabbed what he assumed was thread he could not see. "Nice shot." He commented.
She smiled shyly at the undisguised compliment. "Do you recognize it?" She held out her seemingly empty hands.
"Nah, can't even see the thing, but you've seen stuff I can't before." She shifted her hands pulling the string so it could catch the light, Inuyasha nodded as the faint trail became more visible. "Nothing I've seen Naraku use. Closest thing I can think of would be Yura's hair, she controlled villagers, but they were unconscious, dunno how the bastard'd be able to influence a demon's mind."
Blinking up at him apologetically Kagome asked, "Who's Yura?"
"Oh right, I keep forgettin'" he scratched the back of his head nervously.
Smiling Kagome couldn't help but joke feebly, "Isn't that my line."
They both laughed, more out of awkwardness than humor, but it helped ease the tension of their location. The smell automatically had Inuyasha's senses on high alert. "Ah Yura's someone we fought just after we met, used hair only you could see as a weapon." He explained nervously.
Kagome's eyebrows knitted together, "Sounds kinda familiar, skulls, and a red comb, am I close?
He nodded, "Getting some of it back, huh?"
She gave a shrug, "having you here helps," she leaned against his arm playfully, completely unaware of the reaction they'd have. Gold eyes locked onto brown ones, each holding countless thoughts to be conveyed. He leaned closer, entranced. Her eyes wavered of a moment and he halted, "Inuysaha," she breathed tenderly, "sit."
By the time it took his eyes to widen he'd already been slammed face first into the ground, getting a face full of upturned dirt and dried blood. The knowledge of who the second belonged to made him partly nauseous and greatly angered. All he could smell was that horrible scent, her beautiful fragrance mixed with that metallic warning. Am I insane or did it just get stronger. Inuyasha struggled against the magic of the rosary, only succeeding in raising his head enough to see he was lying at Kagome's feet. As the magical increase of gravity faded somewhat, he struggled to look up at her face, intent on telling her off, but the words died before they reached his tongue. There; just below the mounds of her breasts, was a glowing arrow.
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AN Dunt dun du… Yes I left you with another cliffy, I would have saved this last scene for the next chapter but I thought you'd all had enough filler only chapters so I threw in some action. Now the real fight begins: Who shot Kagome? What will Inuyasha do? (Keep in mind he never put away tetsegai) Is Kagome's wound fatal? Has Naraku finally made a move? Are the elders going to betray Naraku? Will I ever be able to update in time?...Review and I just might.
PS. Sorry about the melodramatic AN I've been reading WAY too much Shakespeare, but seriously review if you ask nicely I might give you spoilers, or a virtual dessert of your choice. *cheesily gives the thumbs up*