Chapter Nineteen
Visions of Betrayal
Sesshoumaru felt like dying and at the same time he had a strong will to carry on, but something was nagging inside pulling at his soul. He had a mission to complete. A mission to save the very soul of the woman he loved. Everything else was unnecessary and trivial, all that mattered was brining back his Kagome, he didn't understand why she had reacted the way she did moments ago. To him it seemed like everything was going quite well, in the mountain cave she said for him to find her when he was ready to tell her what he had to say and he had done so. When he confessed his love she had seemed content, but then it all changed.
"Why, was it not enough for her?"
'It wasn't enough for Kurayami or Kagome, both sides wanted more than just words, Inuyasha had used words against her and that led to his betrayal so she simply couldn't go on just your word she needs more, something she'll know to be truly real. Realize her doubt!'
Sesshoumaru's inner voice told him and as he thought the answer came to him, he knew exactly what to do.
THE LONELY FOUR
Sango stood in a foggy mist of her dream as something foreboding stretched through the fog like a ghost. There were twisted trees and a small lake, however the decrepit trees were ghastly darkened and the surface of the lake was pitch-black like liquid coal. Sango felt herself being pulled towards this 'lake.' She stared down into the murky depth of the water. She saw her own faint reflection and as she did this something, what looked like a face, began to rise out of the water. First the nose then the lips and chin and forehead, it was a woman covered in this black tar like substance. Sango backed away and stared in awe and a tinge of fear, the woman was naked from what Sango could tell as she raised completely out of the water. Sango could not make out the woman's facial features but she felt like she knew her. The figure floated to shore and landed softly on her hands and knees.
"What is this" Sango spoke aloud.
"A look into my tortured soul" a hardened but feminine voice vibrated through the mist.
Sango's eyes immediately went wide from shock; this dark figure couldn't be Kagome could it.
"Kagome is that you?" Sango strained to see clearer
The woman stood with her eyes open the whites were bright against the black ooze that covered her skin but her eyes were as dark and cold as the lake.
"Yes my dear friend" her voice was emotionless.
"What happened to you and why, how can you be in my dream" Sango wanted to run and hug her but something screamed at her not to.
"I have reached a higher state of power Sango, I have become what I should have been a…long... time…ago."
Suddenly two black bat wings sprang from her back, she grabbed Sango and took to the sky. Kagome was flying faster and faster and soon all the trees below turned to a blur and then they were at the coast.
"Sango do not be afraid I need to show you something, the very thing that started all of this"
"But what is here, there is nothing but water, tons and tons of water I don't understand Kagome" Sango looked up at Kagome and was graced with a pair of bleeding red orbs which terrified her.
"You Will!" Kagome let go of Sango and watched as she plummeted towards the water, she hit the rising waves with a painful crash.
Sango hadn't been able to catch her breath and as she swam to the surface to gasp for air she was pulled under. She felt a cold tentacle wrap around her waist causing a sharp pain as it pulled her deeper soon she was breathless and face to face with a sea youkai. Her faced had small spikes on her cheeks and brow line, her teeth were like that of a shark and her hair was similar to seaweed. Sango couldn't decipher her skin color but her eyes burned a bright green and her lower body was that of an octopus but more sinister, instead of suction cups, small bones in the shape of needles all over Sango could feel the cold sharp needles digging into her flesh. But what bothered her most was that this youkai had Kagome's face.
To say the least this creature frightened and amazed her, Sango had never seen or heard of anything like it but this was after all a dream. Sango fought the youkai's hold but the no avail. The youkai reached out and grabbed both sides of Sango's face with webbed hands and pulled her close so that the creature was eye to eye with her. As Sango stared at the youkai its eyes softened and Sango calmed a little until the beast opened its mouth and shot its sharp tongue into Sango's forehead. Sango felt so much pain that she blacked out.
"Are you listening Sango? Good…I want to make sure you see everything I show you, so do not I repeat…DO NOT BLINK!" Kagome's voiced sounded around her.
Sango watched the blackness until a battlefield was revealed, dead youkai and poisonous bees lay about and then Inuyasha came into view he was swinging his sword like a mad man and making progress against Naraku. The evil hanyou was bleeding badly as his huge body writhed about. Kagome was in the background with her katanas and arrows fighting the remaining demons. Naraku's tentacles and scorpion claws that whipped and thrashed about and after a few minutes of intense hits and misses Inuyasha swung the Tetsusaiga downward as an arrow of pure light went right through Naraku's heart.
Sango watched in awe and smiled at the bravery and strength her adopted sister had shown in battle. "I knew you always had it in you, the strength to be a warrior."
"No this cannot be, I was so close!" Naraku stared at the beautiful archer as his huge body began to split in two. His tentacles bulged and bubbled and suddenly a huge concussion swept over the field knocking Kagome and Inuyasha off their feet. When Kagome opened her eyes the form of Naraku had been reduced to ash, and as the midnight fog set in and the ash cleared a bright but dark light floated down to her. It was the corrupted Shikon No Tama, Kagome lay on her side exhausted from battle still she found the strength to raise her hand to catch the Shikon.
"All this time, and now it's finally over" Kagome let a single tears run down her cheek creating a clean streak through the grime. Kagome removed the little bottle from her pocket that held her three shards placing the Shikon and the shards in her hand she stood and stared at the rising moon.
"Finally" she whispered to the sky as a bright pinkish white light engulfed her. Inuyasha approached as the light faded and Kagome knelt then collapsed all of her energy was gone for the moment. The Shikon lay in her hand glowing with a luminous pink radiance. Inuyasha leaned down and stared at Kagome, his face emotionless. From behind the fog a lone figure stood in the distance waiting patiently.
"Who is that, and why is Inuyasha so blank in the face, what is going on?" Sango continued to watch the scene unfold before her.
"This is where it all started Sango, this is the reason why I turned into what I am now…Watch!" Kagome whispered to Sango from within the darkness.
Suddenly Inuyasha snatched the Shikon from Kagome's hand and a wickedly crazed smile graced his lips as the light of the Shikon reflected in his eyes. He then again looked down at the young priestess with a lustful glare, she still lay unmoved upon the ground. Inuyasha took his hand and ran it from Kagome navel to in between her breast then moving to the left to grasp her firm mound. Kagome made a soft sound while in her unconsciousness state but suddenly a cold feminine voice resounded causing Inuyasha to flinch.
"Tsk Tsk, Inuyasha you never could keep those hentai hands to yourself" her voice was cold and malicious…it was Kikyo.
"Just having a little fun before the girl wakes up" Inuyasha turned to the undead miko smiling proudly. Kikyo wrapped her arms around the hanyou's neck and kissed him passionately. Just then Kagome began to stir Kikyo took it as her cue to leave.
Sango felt the rage and hate bubbling inside her she wanted to rip the hanyou limb from limb. How could he betray her after all they had been through and let alone she grow as a warrior just for him so he won't have to worrying about her in battle, everything she had done she did for Inuyasha and he repaid her with betrayal. Sango wanted to ease her comrade's distress but she was helpless as she stared into the painful vision.
Sango watched as Kagome awoke and realized what was happening, she heard the hurtful words that flowed from Inuyasha's lips. She watched as Kagome's heart broke when Kikyo came into view and was angered when Inuyasha came after Kagome with the intention to kill her. However Sango didn't understand why Kagome allowed the hanyou to live. Everything else after that whizzed by in rushed images finally everything went black and when Sango opened her eyes she was by the black lake again.
Kagome stood in all her dark glory before her kneeling friend. Kagome reached out a hand to her, Sango grasped her hand and stood. When Kagome made eye contact with her, she was taken back by all the tears that poured from Sango's eyes. Sango wept so hard that she collapsed back to the ground shaking. Kagome knelt before her and pulled her into a warm embrace.
"It's alright Sango"
"How can you say that it's not I should have been there to help, I should have went with you, I never thought he could hurt you in such a way but I should have been there to stop him, We all should have been there. Kagome I'm so sorry how can you ever forgive me?" Sango's sobs shook her body as she continued to cry.
"I'm glad you weren't there Sango he could have used you as a hostage or worse killed you. That would have destroyed me to know that I caused your death" Kagome wiped away her friend's tears and looked deep into her eyes.
"Do not despair Sango I will have my revenge" Kagome then turned into a raven and flew off into the night. As Sango watched her fly she noticed that Kagome flew west of the Yamainu Mountains.
Sango awoke with a gasp it was nearly dawn and the morning dew had settled on her skin, Miroku was already awake and looking worried. Shippo was still asleep next to a full-sized Kirara.
"What's wrong Miroku" Sango rubbed her eyes.
"I'm afraid we are going in the wrong direction Sango" He stared out into the wilderness.
"I know…We must go west of the mountains instead of North" Sango began to wrap up her mat Miroku turned to her with a confused look on his face.
"How do you know this Sango" Miroku stood and began to pack as well.
"Kagome came to me in a dream and she showed me everything, I know what happened the night of the battle and Inuyasha's disgusting betrayal…. Should have beat it out of him the liar…and that undead bitch oh I can't wait to turn her into dust" Sango murmured on.
"Sango…Sango! What are you talking about?"
Shippo and Kirara awoke from all the noise.
"Hey what's going on?" Shippo yawned out.
"I'll let you all know on the way hurry time is of the essence" Sango picked up Shippo, as Kirara stood ready to fly. Nwalme watched as they took to the skies he decided it would be best to follow the group on foot.