Chapter 19: First Base
(NPOV)
I shot awake when I smelt something foul underneath my nose. My head started to spin as my vision was impaired. I closed my eyes and held my head for a minute. After everything seemed settled, I opened my eyes and saw everyone staring at me. "Thank goodness," I heard Kanna whisper. "Are you okay Naraku?"
"I'm better then I was before."
"Well it seems that if you two are anywhere near the Uyt Sword, your demon comes out," my grandfather said very casually.
"So you guys met Xiohu."
"Indeed we have. Compared to Gonju, Xiohu is the demon we really need to keep an eye on. Since you were cut by the weapon first Naraku, you got the worst bit of what was held within it. Onigumo received what was left inside the sword, but Gonju is nowhere as dangerous as Xiohu."
"What did he do?"
"He attacked grandma." This was from Onigumo.
"What?" I scuttled out of the bed that I was in only to have my legs collapse underneath me.
"Woah there Naraku." My grandfather helped me up back onto the bed. My heart was pounding. How dare that fiend attack my grandmother. "She is okay Naraku. She has a few wounds, but they are not lethal."
"Was my grandson worried about little ol' me?" I watched my grandmother limp into the room. I didn't care if my legs worked or not, I slipped out of the bed again and crawled towards her on my arms.
"Grandma, I am so sorry."
"Naraku." She gave me the warmest smile as I crawled towards her. I wrapped my arms around her ankles and cuddled against her like a cat as tears dropped down from my eyes. "Oh Naraku, please do not cry. I am okay."
"But that bitch attacked you. I can never forgive myself."
"Dear, can you help Naraku onto his feet?" I felt my grandfather's hands on my shoulders as he helped me onto my feet, half of my weight leaning on him since my legs were not working. "Naraku, it is not your fault. We were being careless and didn't think about what could happen. If I didn't know a few paralyzing spells, well, let's just leave the rest out." She chuckled but this was no laughing matter.
"What do I have to do to get rid him?"
"Well, it's the same as we have told you both before, find your true love..."
"But there is a twist in this one." I looked at my grandfather. He lead me back to the bed and I settled myself till I was comfortable. "In the myth, there was a prince who was slashed by this sword in battle. His wound had disfigured him severely that no woman wanted him, not even his bride to be. With the prince not able to find his future queen, his wound started to get worse by the day. The healers believed that he would die in a few months since the creature was eating him from the inside. The prince had given up hope and wished that his death would come sooner. One night, when he decided to explore the land outside the wall, he ran into a maiden who was bathing in the forest lake. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life, but he knew he should not show his face to her. As the maiden stepped out of the water, she heard the prince and asked who was there. The prince stepped out from his hiding place, shielding his eyes from her nudity. He told her he did not mean to watch her bathe but could no help himself.
"The maiden chuckled and asked him to come closer to her. He did not understand why she would want to be near him since he was not as handsome as he was before. He approached her, still shielding his eyes as she felt along his body, reaching for his face. She removed his hand and smoothed her fingertips across his features. He asked her, "How can you stand to touch and look at such a hideous face?" The girl chuckled again and asked him to look at her. He did and realized that she was blind. He was filled with joy and asked the girl to be his wife, only to be turned down. She said the only way she would marry him is if they fell in love. So every day and every night, the prince tried to have the maiden fall in love with him. He would meet her at the lake but one day, she did not show up. The prince waited at that lake for days, waiting for her to return. After two months, the prince gave up on his maiden. He returned to the lake one last time to leave a gift only to see that his maiden had returned.
"She laid across the wet grass in all of her nudity, waiting for the prince. The prince crumpled next to her and cried his eyes out. She apologized for not meeting him for the past two months. Her father had caught her going out and had her under his watch until she slipped him something in his food to knock him out. She told the prince she was going crazy not being able to be around or touch him. She told the prince that she loved him and wanted to make love to him. A few days later, the two were married. As time went by, the prince's scar started to heal, but his youth and beauty never returned to him.
"I know I am missing a part, but somehow his wife is able to see and takes a look at her husband. Ashamed, the prince just looks away from her and told her it was okay if she left him because of the way he looked. His wife smiled and turns his face towards her, kissing him. She told him, "I fell in love with while I was blind, not knowing how you looked. I am still in love with you. If anything I love you even more now that I know what you look like." The prince was overwhelmed with joy that he died in her arms, only to be reborn again as his true self before he was disfigured by the Uyt Sword. With his youth and new found strength, the prince went after the man that had wounded him. The prince managed to kill the man, with the Uyt Sword itself. With the original holder dead the sword was said to be gulfed back into the depths of hell it came from. And that is the story, but who would have thought the sword actually exist."
"How do you know it's the Uyt Sword?" Onigumo asked.
"We have a drawing of the sword from ancient times."
"Okay. Interesting myth, but what is the twist?" I asked as I brought everyone's attention back.
"Since Onigumo already has his true love, Gonju is settle compared to Xiohu. When Gonju came out, all he did was sit and stare. He barely spoke since Kaguya was next to him. The only reason why he was able to come out now was because the sword was calling out to him. Xiohu says that Gonju is of no use to him anymore and said that he will come to his full potential without him somehow."
"Kaguya still wants to be with me even though she saw me... change. She loves me for me, even with Gonju inside," Onigumo said with a smile on his face.
"So, if I am getting this straight, I have to have Kagome fall in love with me. That doesn't sound like a problem."
"Well, this is the twist," my grandmother said nervously. "According to the myth, it took the prince about three months for the maiden to fall in love with him. Not only that but to also give up her virginity to him."
"So, I have to have Kagome fall in love with me and have sex with me... on the same day she says that she loves me?" My grandparents nodded. "Fuck."
"Exactly. If for some reason this girl does not fall in love with you then and...makes love with you...then –
"Xiohu will take full control of my body."
"But we will make sure that does not happen. We will help all we can to have her fall in love with you Naraku. You do not have much time left. Xihou said that in three months he will awaken. If Kagome does not fall in love with you by the end of August –
"I get it. I will try my best to get her to fall in love with me. Boyfriend or not, I will not let anyone get in my way."
"You should start as soon as possible."
"I plan to when I get back home."
"That's my boy."
"This is going to be hard."
"No it won't be Naraku." Onigumo came to stand next to my bed, Kaguya on his arm. "It's not like Kagome has forgotten about you. And I am pretty sure she still has feelings for you. It may not be love, but it's something."
"Maybe. Just, ever since she came back she didn't seem herself. The Kagome that is here now is not the Kagome I was with."
"Do you think Rin might have something on her?" Kaguya threw in.
"I don't think so, but it would explain why she left me the way she did."
"Everything will be okay Naraku. Besides," my grandmother came close to the bed and handed me a cup. It smelt like jasmine's. "if you drink this, it will sustain Xiohu so you won't have any interruptions or be dragged down into the abyss."
"Thanks." I placed the cup onto my lips, preparing for the worst as I chugged it down. Surprisingly, it tasted how it smelt. "That was delicious."
"That should keep him down till the end of August. Till then, we will guard the Uyt sword with our lives. We are sure the owners will turn up to retrieve it back but they will have a tough time getting it. If we follow the myth and kill them with the sword then it should disappear from the face of the planet." My grandmother chuckled and I couldn't help but laugh with her.
"So, how long until my legs are back in order."
"Not until tomorrow morning."
"What? But I wanted to talk to Kagome tonight."
"I will take you home Naraku," Kanna said happily.
"And I will drive your car over," Onigumo said with a smile.
"The first and last time you will ever drive my car." His smile got bigger. "Alright, let's go. Feel better grandma."
"You too dear, and be careful."
I didn't come back to my place till late. I was pretty sure I would have to wait till tomorrow to talk to Kagome. Since I could not use my legs, my grandparents loaned me a wheelchair. Kanna rolled the chair near me so I could transfer myself. It felt weird not being able to use my legs. Onigumo parked my car and left with Kanna as I rolled myself towards the elevator to get on my floor. Arriving on my level I rolled out of the elevator and glided myself towards my room. Rounding the corner, I saw Kagome leaning on the rail once again, looking out into the night sky. Since it was becoming one of those summer nights, she wore very short shorts with a loose tank top. She seemed to be in her own world. I slowly led myself towards her, not catching her attention until I was five feet away. She slowly turned those big brown eyes my way, causing me to stop. It seemed as if she was crying since her eyes were red and puffy.
"Naraku?" She wiped the remaining tears on her cheeks away. Looking at me once again, I tried my best and gave her a smirk. "Naraku what happened to you!" She started to make a dash to me but stopped. She bit her lip, looking away. I just shook my head lightly as I met her the rest of the way. She cleared her throat before saying, "What happened to your legs?"
"My grandmother happened."
"She put you in a wheelchair?" Kagome couldn't help keep the shock on her face. "How did she do that?"
"A lot has happened to me when you were gone Kagome," I said softly.
"You were walking yesterday."
"Yes, but because of what is happening to me is the reason why I am in a wheelchair now."
"Are you going to be able to walk again?"
"Oh, is Kagome worried about me now?" I chuckled.
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to." I smiled softly at her. She just looked at me with her teary eyes. "Why were you crying Kagome?"
"Don't worry about it. You do not need to concern yourself with me."
"On the contrary, I do. Kagome, I know you said it was over between us, but I don't want it to be."
"Naraku –
"Will you just listen to me, please?" Kagome gave me her full attention. I took both of her hands in mine. I forgot how soft her skin was and I wanted to feel them along my scar again. I took a deep breath before I continued. "Kagome, the time you were gone, I needed you the most. I have something, dark, inside me and I am trying my hardest to keep him contained."
"Is that the Naraku I saw last night?"
I nodded my head. "I'm sorry I let myself get like that but I was just really upset that you refused to talk to me. And after I had left, something inside me broke. The hold that I had on the beast collapsed and he came to the surface. I managed to get control back, but he is not going to make it easy for me. When I was with you, none of this happened."
"Naraku, I can't. My boyfriend is here and –
"Do you think I care? You are mine."
"You do not own me Naraku."
I bit down my tongue. I was not going to win this if I fought with her. "Give me three months."
"Three months of what?"
"To make you fall in love with me." She made a 'pfft' noise. "I am serious. Just give me three months. If you are not in love with me by the end of August you will never see me again, I can promise you that."
"My heart already belongs to someone else. I'm sorry but I can't accept your 'challenge,' Naraku." Kagome slipped her hands from mine and started to head back to her place.
"Why won't you just give me another chance?"
"I just can't. I'm sorry Naraku." I was not going to give up that easy. It hurt to know that she would not give me a second chance. I knew she was lying when she said her heart belonged to someone else. Kagome was hiding something and I was going to get it out sooner or later. Before she could reach the door, I caught up to her, grabbing her wrist. She spun around to slap me but I caught her other wrist and brought her down to meet my face. "Let me go."
"I do not know what is up with you Kagome, but I will get to the bottom of it," I said with a growl. "I am not going to give up on you because I lo... like you a lot. Until my three month period is up and I do not have you then, you will not have to worry about me. With or without your permission, I will pursue you. I miss you Kagome, more then I have ever missed a woman in my life. I can tell by the way you look at me that you miss me too."
"I do not miss –
I could not stand to hear her say that she did want anything of me. I pulled her down further and placed my lips upon hers. Kagome struggled to get away but I just made the kiss stronger. Pulling away I said softly, "I will tell you how I got my scar. Maybe then you will understand more." Kagome was flustered but nodded her head softly.
"Kagome?" She turned quickly, her wrists slipping from my grip. "Are you going to come to bed?"
"Uh, yeah, I will be there soon baby." I looked behind her to see a guy in the doorway. He was tall but but not as tall as me. He had short brown hair, brown eyes and fair skin. He was wearing only boxers and I did not like the idea of Kagome sleeping with him.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, this is my –
"I am her boss, Naraku Taka." I extended my hand to the man. He froze for a moment but took my hand and shook. His grip was very loose. If I didn't know any better, I would say that this guy found me intimating. Good. "I was just telling Kagome to be in for work tomorrow since we are re-opening the restaurant."
"Oh, well if you do not mind, Mr, Taka, I will be taking my girlfriend back to bed with me."
"Hojo!"
"I do not mean to keep her away. I just have one more thing to address to Ms. Higurashi before I take my leave." The man named Hojo just stared at me. "Privately if you do not mind."
"Go inside Hojo." He nodded his head and went back inside, glancing back at me before closing the door. I couldn't help but let out a laugh. "What is so funny?"
"The punk that you have as a 'boyfriend.'"
Kagome just rolled her eyes as she folded her arms underneath her breast. "What else was it that you needed to tell me Naraku?"
"I said all that I needed to say. I know you are still curious as into how I got my scar." She nodded her head lightly. "Help me close up the restaurant tomorrow and I will give you the story. The true story."
"Alright."
I gave her a short smile. "Thank you for just that much." I started to head towards my place before I stopped and said, "The kiss was nice Kagome." I turned my head and saw her face flush. I giggled. "You will fall in love with me, I am sure of it."
"Before, it sounded like you were going to say that you were in love with me. Are you?"
"That is for you to decide." I gave her a small smirk before rolling away.
"That is not a fair answer Naraku!" I just kept laughing till I got inside my place. I was glad I only had to be in this wheelchair for the night. I rolled into my room and parked the wheelchair near my bed. I pushed myself up and onto the bed and started to get myself comfortable. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. I was not looking forward to telling Kagome the true story. I wouldn't know how she would react to it. I would just have to wait and see. I cuddled my head into the pillow as the sheets wrapped around my body. I thought back to the kiss I planted on Kagome's lips and drifted off into a sweet dream.
I had no idea so many people had missed our business. At our re-opening there was a line in front of the door that went down for miles. We were going to be very busy. So far, it was going well. All of our waiters were doing a good job keeping our customers happy; loyal and new ones. Onigumo and I felt really good about ourselves. We knew our food tasted good but we had no idea so many people loved it. I was surprised Kagura even came into work today. I didn't even know she still worked here. She gave me a smile when I looked her way. I guess she was not mad at me anymore. I watched Kagome do her round of tables. She had asked me if I was in love with her. I am not sure if it's love, but I just know I need her in my life. Every time I looked at the clock, it seemed that time was going by slow. I wanted to get the truth out soon as possible, but time was not on my side tonight.
I went to the bar and asked Kagura to fix me one of her specialties. "So how are you doin' Naraku?"
"I am doing alright. How about you?"
"Not too bad. I am racking in a ton of tips, so I can't complain."
"I thought you would have quit."
"Why? Because you broke up with me?" She chuckled. "I'm not going to quit just because our relationship or fling fell through."
"Glad to know that you do not fall so easily."
"Yup." She handed me her famous drink and it tasted delicious. "So how are you and Kagome?"
"She left me."
"What? Why? You guys seemed fine."
"Well, when she came back from trying to console her friend she dumped me. She was acting funny towards me while she was away and when she came back, laid it on me. But, I am not giving up on her, not yet."
"Oooh. She must really mean something to you if you're chasing after her."
"She is," I said softly as I watched her walk by.
"I hope I find someone like that."
"I am sure you will. Whelp, I better go walk around and see how our customers are doing.
"Alright Naraku. I will talk to you later."
All of our customers were satisfied with their food along with the service. Today was lookin' up. Hopefully tonight would be the same.
The Sting Dragon was a big hit tonight. Onigumo and I couldn't have been happier. We made more then we ever did in one day. I didn't think Kagome would have stayed to help me close up, but she did. Her curiosity about my scar was really high. With everyone gone the place was quiet. The only thing that needed to be done was to push a few chairs in and to clean a few glasses. I did the glasses while Kagome pushed the chairs in. Before I knew it, she was done before I even had the chance to start cleaning. She came by the bar and sat on the stool in front of me.
"So..."
"So..."
"How did you get the scar Naraku?"
"Straight to the point aren't we." I chuckled and I actually managed to get a smile from her. "Well, it happened six years ago. I was fifteen when it happened; a few months before I turned sixteen. My brother and I were walking back from practice. I from football and him from basketball. We took the long way home because it was a nice evening. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary but we were wrong. We turned a corner and my brother and I were jumped. We were dragged down an alley way. Whoever they were held my brother back while four others held me down. Their faces were covered by mask, so I had no idea who they were. I just remember seeing something gleam in the light before they stuck it into my stomach and dragged it up to my neck. The pain was excruciating. I had no idea why this was being done to me. My brother was screaming and struggling against the guys that were holding him back from me. I heard one of them say to cut the other side. The next thing I know I see my brother attack the guy with the what he cut me with. Everyone jumped on Onigumo and he was cut up his back. I had lost a lot of blood and tried to reach my brother. Before I blacked out I heard screams everywhere and felt blood splatter across my face.
"When I awoke I was in my grandparents house. My great grandmother Yuki had stitched up our wounds. They knew the wounds that we had were not normal wounds. Whatever was in that...sword... was –
"You were cut by a sword?"
"Yeah. My cousin managed to find the weapon they used on us." I took a deep breath before I continued. "Whatever was in that sword had implanted something inside our bodies. The wound took a long time to heal. Every now and then it would ooze this purple liquid that smelled of a rotting body. Because of this scar, I have had a rough life. All the relationships I have been in found it disgusting. Some girls even shunned me away because of it. It hurt to know that I would never be loved, never be able to have a woman accept me, flaw and all. I told one woman, Kikyo, the truth about my scar and it just scared her even more. To know that some, demon, was inside me frightened her. We didn't know when it will awaken." I paused. "Lucky for my brother, he already has his true love."
"What do you mean?"
"He has someone that loves him, regardless of the demon inside of him. Kaguya is willing to stay with him day in and day out. Even when she met the demon she stayed."
"Did... your demon come out?" I nodded. "When?"
"While you were away. When I had called you that day and told you I needed you more then ever and you pushed me out, saying that Rin's problem was bigger then mine, did you know how much that hurt? I felt like I was unimportant to you." I felt my anger back from that day rise again. "And then you come back and throw it in my face that we were done? That you got back with an old ex?"
"Naraku... I'm sorry –
"You broke me Kagome. Because of you, the demon took control of me and he is getting stronger by the fuckin minute!" The glass that was in my hand shattered as I let my anger get the better of me. "Fuck." I started to pick the pieces of glass that were in my palm. I felt another hand grip mine and saw Kagome next to me.
"...Let me help you..." I watched as she cleaned the rest of the glass out of my hand. She rinsed my hand underneath some water to clean the bit of blood away. "Do you need a bandage?"
"No, thanks."
"Naraku, I am so sorry. I had no idea I had hurt you so much."
"Well, now you do."
"I can also understand why you did not want to tell anyone about how you got the scar. That is such an awful thing you went through."
"It's fine, but, I just want to try it...one last time with you."
"Naraku –
"I'm not asking for much Kagome. All I ask is for you to give me three months to fall in love with me. If you don't I will just leave you alone. I just feel that you are the one for me and I don't wanna pass that up. I don't give a damn if you are with that Hojo guy."
"I don't know. Hojo won't like it."
"Who said he had to know." Kagome's eyes lit up. "I am sure that our relationship would have lasted longer if you never left. Like I said, I can still tell that you want me by the way you look at me. Even now I can see your eyes trace over my features and my scar like you used to. You wanna touch my scar, don't you?" She remained quiet and drifted her eyes elsewhere. A tiny smile crept along my lips. I tugged on my shirt and lifted it off my chest.
"What are you doing Naraku, put your shirt back on." Kagome turned her back to me.
"Kagome, look at me. I know you want to." She shook her head. "Just trace along it. I just wanna feel your touch again. I promise you, I won't get hard." Kagome sighed softly before she turned around. Her eyes became wide as she stared at my chest. "What?"
"Have you been working out?"
"No, why?"
"You just seem more... ripped." I just gave her a confused look. "Look." Kagome grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom. She turned on the light and led me to the mirror. "See." She was right. My body did develop more muscle. I guess there was a good side of this demon being inside me but it didn't make it any better. I made different poses in the mirror. I heard Kagome chuckle.
"You find this funny?"
"Yup. Just as much as I enjoy this." Kagome wrapped her arms around my chest, tracing her fingertips lightly against my scar. I shuddered underneath her seductive touch.
"Oh...God..." I closed my eyes and placed my hands on the counter to steady myself. "Fuck this feels so good." She pressed a little deeper onto the cut and a soft moan escaped my lips. "K-Kagome..."
"You like how that feels Naraku?"
"If you keep touching me like that I will take you here and now." Kagome stopped rubbing my scar as I started taking deep breaths to calm myself down. It remained quiet between the two of us before Kagome spoke out.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"I will try for you Naraku."
"You will agree to let me win your heart in three months?" She nodded her head. I couldn't help express the joy I had in me. I picked up Kagome and swung her around. "You have no idea how happy you have made me."
"I think I have an idea. But, I call the shots."
"What do you mean?" I could feel my happiness drain.
"No sex, at all. It's bad enough I agreed to do this, but I am not going to have sex with both you and Hojo."
"Why? Because you know I can fuck you better then he can."
"Besides that." I smiled. "Stop smiling. The reason is unless you actually have me fall in love with you before the end of August, I will have sex with you then."
"So, you will have sex with me the day you say you love me?" She nodded her head. Weird. I didn't even tell her the myth behind the Uyt Sword and she was on point. I refuse to tell her that Xiohu would appear at the end of August. I didn't want her to think I was using her, cause I was not. Even if he was not on his way so quickly, I would still pursue her. "Can I still kiss you?"
"No."
"Why?"
"You said you wanted to win my heart right?" I nodded. "You have to make you like you again."
"You don't like me now?"
"I do, but as a friend." Ouch. I placed Kagome back onto her feet and leaned against the counter, my arms folded against my chest. "Something wrong?"
"I didn't think you had lost all feelings for me so quickly. Well, this is a challenge and I accept it."
"Good. Now, put your shirt back on –
"Kagome?" Kagome fell silent when she heard her name.
"Who is that?"
"That's Hojo. I asked him to pick me up after work."
"Well, don't keep him waiting. He might think something is up."
"You're right. I hope you like this challenge Naraku, because it will be a doozy."
"You will fall in love with me Kagome." She gave me a soft smile before she walked out of the bathroom. I took a heavy sigh and leaned my head back. I was so confident before, but now I was not sure. I heard the bathroom door re-open to see Kagome rush back in. Before I had time to react, she placed her lips onto mine, giving me a sweet kiss. I fall into that kiss, wrapping my arms around her waist, bringing her closer to me. I wanted to explore her mouth with my tongue, but I knew I would be pushing it if I did. I let Kagome go as we parted. She headed back towards the door giving me that sexy smile of hers.
"See you later, Naraku." With that she was gone. I have no idea where that came from but I was not going to question it. I had Kagome back, sort of, and I was going to fight tooth and nail. I chuckled as I left the bathroom, placing my shirt back on. I finished up the rest of the glasses and locked up the restaurant, feeling better about myself then I did. Things just might fall through for me.
I am on a roll today. Just one day and I have the next chapter up. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be up soon. Happy reading.