Chapter 13 – The Dark Side of the Moon
"How much longer?" Naraku asked irritably, never relinquishing his endless pacing.
Kikyo didn't open her eyes from where she sat, meditating. "Not much."
"Do you think you could be even a bit more cryptic? That would make this whole thing so much more fun!" Naraku fumed.
"Patience is a virtue,"
"Fuck off."
He stormed to the other side of the tiny room.
He could still taste the metallic tang of her blood on his lips. Her skin had been so cold… such pale, perfect flesh. It had yielded so easily under the biting metal of his knife. She knew the instrument by now. She must do. After all, it had only been used on one person. The two must recognise each other. His lips curved into a smile. She had been so perfect. He couldn't wait to finish what he'd started. To taste her fear, to feel her heart thrumming under his hands. And he couldn't wait to hear her beg. To hear her plead. To hear her screaming for mercy, crying for death before the end…
Because only when he was satisfied, only when he had gotten what he wanted, would he grant the sweet release.
Kikyo was working. Searching deep within herself she sought the core of her power. But it wasn't strong enough. She knew what she needed.
The girl.
She held a power as yet unknown by any other in the history of this world. A title which Kikyo had once held, and now dearly wished to hold again. Because she knew the secret to the little witch's success.
And she would laugh as she tore it out of her chest.
Three times. Three times had she been down this same road. But each time, something stopped them. The wolf demon's infuriating input was what had started the needless hunt. When her business was finished, she would take great pleasure in leeching the life out of every last one. Because thanks to the wolf demons, Kagome's power was now on lockdown. She only used the bare minimum of her strength. The grief that had been caused by her father's tragic demise had left her bereft to the full extent of her powers. Powers that were now only unlocked for one day of the year.
The anniversary of her father's death.
If that pathetic Koga hadn't interfered, they could have been done with the business on that day. It could have all been over. But no, it had all gone wrong, and now she was protected. Her own subconscious had locked up the source of her power within herself, and the only trigger seemed to be her father.
And now Kikyo sat, deep within her own head, sending out her power.
A dream.
Yes. A dream…
…
"Mama, I promise I will be fine," Kagome said earnestly to her mother, throwing her overnight bag over her shoulder.
"I know you will, dear. I'm just worried, is all."
"Why?"
"Well, you were very sick, Kagome. Can't a mother be anxious over the welfare of her only daughter?"
Kagome laughed. "I love you mama."
"I know you do, dear. I love you too. And be careful at Inuyasha's, alright?"
"Promise."
"You… I know I sound silly dear, but you won't be there on your own, will you? Sango and Miroku and Koga and Ayame will definitely be staying too?"
Kagome stood there, confusion written across her face. "Ye-es… oh! Yeah, mama." She was blushing profusely. "Trust me."
Her mother laughed and stooped to catch her in a warm hug. "I'm sorry if I'm being patronising, sweetheart, but I still think of you as my baby girl."
"I understand mum."
A honk came from outside. Kagome broke from her mom's embrace, a grin spreading across her face. "That's Sango! I'd better be off."
"Alright. What time will you be back tomorrow?"
"Err… no idea, I'll give you a ring."
She pecked her mum's cheek and ran out of the house.
'My little girl's all growing up,' her mum thought sadly. She glanced at a photo on the mantelpiece. 'Oh Kyo, I wish you were here to see your baby all grown up. You would be so proud of her.'
…
Kagome leaned back into the headrest, closing her eyes. As long as she didn't have to see the speedometer, she would be fine, and she could kid herself that Sango's driving was perfectly safe and rational.
Hold on. She was sitting on a fabric seat. Hadn't they been leather…?
"Sango, did you get a new car?"
"Err… yeah," said Sango uncomfortably.
Kagome raised her eyebrows at her, opening her eyes. "I thought you had only had the other one for a few months."
"Err… yeah," Sango said evasively, keeping her eyes (mercifully) on the road.
"So why the change?"
"Err… well, I kinda… sorta… crashed my car… a little bit."
Silence. Then…
"YOU CRASHED YOUR CAR!!"
"Who knew that idiot was gonna come onto this road at that roundabout!"
"THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO AT ROUNDABOUTS!"
"Oh, relax, Kags. You're making it sound so ridiculous. It's only the third time, after all-"
"YOU'VE CRASHED YOUR CAR THREE TIMES??!!"
"Well, two, because the other one was all his fault-"
"THREE TIMES??!!"
"Quit overreacting! You make it sound so dangerous!"
"PULL OVER! NOW! THIS SECOND! YOU'RE A HAZARD, WOMAN!"
"Haven't we had this discussion before?"
Ten minutes later, Sango was in the passenger seat, with Kagome driving. Thank God.
"So, what's going on with you and Miroku?" Kagome asked, keeping her eyes on the road.
Sango shifted uncomfortably. "Err… nothing…"
"Don't lie to me, Sango."
"I'm not!"
"Liar."
"We kissed!" Sango blurted. Then she blushed. "I kissed him, and… oh God, it was so perfect. So perfect. But then… then you went missing, and in all the excitement… I think he forgot."
Kagome said nothing, keeping her eyes on the road.
Then she laughed.
"Are you kidding me, babe? The guy is head over heels for you! He hasn't forgotten, he's probably on tenterhooks because he thinks you've forgotten about him."
Sango couldn't help the excitement in her voice. "You really think he likes me?"
Kagome laughed her clear, silvery laugh. "God, Sango, you are so blind! Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy loves you!"
"But he keeps grabbing all the girls!"
"Have you noticed that you complain about that a lot, but he never really does it to anyone but you?"
"I…"
"Talk to him. Kiss him. Go out, get married, have children, name me at your tenth anniversary as the person that got you two together, let me babysit, and I'll be happy."
"Err… that flew by quite fast."
"Whatever. Carpe diem!"
…
"Why, why, why, why, why, why, WHY did we have to watch Panic Room??!!"
"Feh."
"Crap, are all the windows and doors locked?"
"Yep."
"Really? There's no way anyone can get in?"
"Do you really think that Fluffy would put the safety of his wife and child at risk?"
"Oh, that's right. Well, I just wanted to make sure!"
"It was a film, Kagome. Not real."
"Are you sure?"
"Err…"
"See! You're not sure!"
"Don't you think you're going a bit over the top?"
"NO! I think I am very nicely on top, thank you!"
"On top?" Miroku injected slyly.
"LECHER!" Both Kagome and Inuyasha yelled.
Miroku shrank back behind Sango. "Scary people."
Ayame stepped between Kagome and Inuyasha. "Ok, well, the boys chose a scary movie," she said, casting Kagome a Look, "So why don't we choose the next movie?"
Kagome caught Sango's eye and grinned. "Why, I think that's a very good idea, Ayame," she said sweetly. Sweet like deadly nightshade.
…
"AH! THE HORROR! MAKE IT STOP, MAKE IT STOP!" Miroku screamed, cowering into Sango.
Sango tutted. "What's wrong with it?"
"You are a truly evil woman, Sango! Making a man face up to his worst fears!"
Koga just sat, staring at the screen without blinking. "Must be over… must survive…" he muttered over and over to himself, rocking backwards and forwards slightly.
Inuyasha was hiding behind a pillow.
Kagome tutted. "Now, come on boys," she said, scolding," What's so scary about Mamma Mia?"
…
She walked along the pathway. She recognised this place. She had visited it so many times before.
The sun was low in the horizon, painting her world a sinister red. The mist hovered in the distance, an ominous cloud waiting to envelope her in its cold embrace. The smooth pathway was familiar under her feet, as she walked the route she knew so well. There were no trees. There was no grass. There were no flowers. There was no life. There never was in this barren landscape of concrete and pain. The only thing that held even a semblance of life was her. And even she had died. Life, time, happiness, sadness, it was all an illusion. An illusion which was lost in this cold world of endless twilight.
She continued to walk the course, knowing what she would find at the end.
And there it was.
A door.
Unremarkable. Heavy ebony wood, with a brass doorknob. There was a picture, set in the plaque upon the door. Her heart ached as she looked upon it. She raised a heavy hand, and traced the faces.
It was a picture she knew well. It had been lost in the fire, the night that he had died. A picture of them all together, as a family. Underneath the picture, the words were always there. She knew this part.
Her hand would always trace the familiar lettering. It was the door. It was what always happened. She didn't know what was hidden behind the door. She had never been able to open it. But the words.
She traced them with a single, delicate finger. It was her own personal message, a final goodbye. His face would fade within the dim workings of her mind, in time, but never here. Never in this world.
Kyo Higurashi
1968-2005
I'm so sorry daddy. I love you. Please forgive me.
It was the way with this dream. It was the way it always worked, the way it had always worked. She knew what she would do next.
Her hand traced down the door to grasp the cool metal of the doorknob. Again, she tugged it, as always, and, as always, it remained closed.
But this time was different.
She grabbed the doorknob and it didn't open.
That was the same.
The sun was low in the sky, the mist obscuring what was hidden behind the door.
That was the same.
She could hear, loudly, the sound of her heartbeat.
That was the same.
But this time…
There was a flash of purple light as she touched the door knob. And the picture went dark.
The words… the message to her father…
They changed.
Poor, sweet, innocent Kagome.
Did you really think we'd let you get away?
Not this time.
She opened her mouth.
And screamed…
….
"KAGOME! KAGOME, WAKE UP!"
She jerked her body upwards. There was the sound of someone, someone was talking to her, but the screaming continued.
The screaming was coming from her own mouth.
She closed it, and great, heaving sobs ripped from her chest.
"Kagome? Kagome, baby, tell me what happened!" Inuyasha said, looking over her frantically, looking for any sign of injury. His hands grasped her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears which streamed down her cheeks.
"They're coming back," she gasped, and she leant into his warm, comforting, strong body. "They're coming back for me."
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100 REVIEWS! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU ALL! MWAHAHA!
Sassybratt - Thank you! I was really nervous writing this scene, because I never seem to be able to make it quite right... but I'm so glad it went well! Thank you! I hope that their relationship is ok in this one... it'a a bit of an explanatory chapter, to tie up loose ends, but I think that the end bit showed them alright... Thanks for your review! :D
kk1994 - It is! Thanks, and I'm glad that it was fluffy enough! :D
darkangel0212 - Thanks, I hope this holds up the fort!
mkblackrose - Thanks! XD, yeah, I based this on my mornings!! Please enjoy!
dangitsesshomaru - DUM DUM DUM! Hehehe, just wait...
kouga's older woman - I know! Love rocks! XD
bumblezee - Aww, thank you! I know, it's awkward... meeting the parents... UHH! I'm just about to start reading your fanfic! He's... gah! XD HOW COLD??? Wow, I admire you! i think my toes would have frozen off! mind you, the snow would be cool! if absolutely freezing. i love snow, but we don't get all that much... but we got two days off school laast time, it was so icy! lol XD. mary king's court is this place they uncovered in 2001, and it's like all these evels where people used to live underground in 15/1600! It's amazing, and absolutely terrifying! if you liked the tower of london, you would love that! it has loads of history to it... ghost stories, the great plague etc... the richer you were, the higher level you lived on! omg, i was terrified, and it was so interesting! tower of london also rocks! brilliant, aso creepy though, when you think of all the stuff that happened there... *shiver* xx
myInuYasha15 - Thanks! I know, they are SO cute together in the manga/anime, it took me ages to do it justice!
phoebe4448 - Updated! Hope you enjoy!
Mistyfire - I know! Took them long enough! Lol! Just you wait... mwahaha!
King Stephen IV - I know what you mean, I'm incredibly dippy, lol XD. Ah, thank you! I loved the fluffy bit, but yeah, I really enjoyed writing the Koga/Ayame part. Hope this didn't disappoint!
Syrenna - Thanks! Hope that this part was what you were hoping for!
On a sadder note, my drama festival went badly... BECAUSE THE ADJUDICATOR STOPPED ME!! GAH! But my AMAZING friends did really well - first and second, with 89 and 88%!!
Thanks again for your 100 reviews guys! I owe you all!
Libra Sorceress xx