Itachi – Hey everyone! I'm alive and after months on hiatus, I've escaped the writers block!
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Joker… Chapter 9
"Wander into the woods at night, and he will steal your heart." That had been told to wanderers to keep them from the surrounding wooded area, but, when a lone girl finds herself lost and in the midst of a storm, she stumbles upon an empty castle, staying for just the night, she soon learns the legend had been real…for the acceptation of his utter laziness.
…The 'New Deal' (Part II)...
'Remake my new life, and I'll set him free…'
I read and re-read the letter countless times, and yet it was the very last line that caused me to worry. To re-make Touga's life…and if I did, he's set Sesshomaru free, but…how…how would I go about remaking his life? What did he mean by that at all? But, if I didn't figure some way to somehow figure out what he meant, then Sesshomaru would be left alone once again, alone as the Night Walker – forever stalking into the shadowed darkness to take a life and obtain a heart to keep my own beating. I had to stop this ever going cycle, and this seemed like the only sure choice aside from Sesshomaru finding an answer. But the question still remains…exactly what does Touga mean by this?!
"Kagome," I heard Sesshomaru beacon my name, "For now, at least try to get some rest, in the morning, we may be able to find the answer to his strange riddles," I knew he only wanted to calm me with his words, but in all honesty, I felt I was against time. Who knew how long it would take to find the answer to what he asked of me and how long he would actually wait? "I'm sure he will soon show himself once more to explain what he truly means by this," Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, almost threating the seemingly blank paper, "..For I know he hides a motive within these words…"
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…Joker…
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Seemingly, all had retired to separate rooms. Kagome and Sesshomaru in their own, Inuyasha across the hall. All three of them finding a sluggishly restless sleep on that night of the full moon. Not a single living being stalked the castle, for all of the living were resting in the nightmare of not knowing what to do with the strange notice given to Kagome by Touga, it was a stressfully quite night for all.
And every living creature was surely sleeping.
All while bright red eyes slipped silently down the darkened hallways, its cascade of blending hair seeming like ravens fluttering on its back. As the red eyes reached a single lit candle, the face of Naraku made itself known, a smirk worn happily on his face as he continued on, walking silently through the blackened corridors of the Black Castle, passing the light once more as he stepped pass a window where the bright silver moon slowly slipped into ruby red.
"It seems as if none where ever weary of me entering to the castle," Naraku spoke quietly to no one as he silently led himself down, "Aside from the two golden eyed fellows, well, they were smart enough to at least watch me as they spoke of that letter – It took me time to get the stubborn dog to write the darn thing, but it was time well spent for a good twist to the story," He walked past an unlit torch, grabbing hold of it and setting a fire to life upon its perch, "I say, I must applaud myself! A play such as this has yet to finally reach its climax!" He reached for the handle, easily pulling open the heavy wooden door, slipping into the night.
"And as everything is, keeping those who are watching waiting with such a horrid suspense as to what will happen is droolish, boorish and utterly unpleasing!" The raven haired man exclaimed quite loudly, only mere steps into the forest did he hear the sounds of the large black door creaking open – quickly, he hid behind a stray bush. Out stepped Sesshomaru, dressed in his usual attire, "Oh? What's this? – wait…That's right! It's time for his daily sacrifice isn't it?" As Sesshomaru disappeared into the night in an opposite direction, Naraku's mind started to work, ticking through every scenario, seeking the perfect knot in the story.
Not too later did he find one. An ideal squeeze to get the tale of the Night Walker frantically throughout the hearts of the people everywhere – through their fear, he'd make a story like no other.
"A tale of love, loss, and utter disappointment," Naraku sighed, "Honestly, what could be better?" Naraku walked on in the direction of the small town, "Time to rise the flags, and start the chaos!" …All while Inuyasha watched secretively from the top floor.
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…Joker…
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Sesshomaru was the Night Walker once more.
Though he loathed leaving Kagome while she slept, he felt it better to go without her knowing, so she wouldn't hate herself any more than she had to, and so she wouldn't scare away from him so early, "Ah, it seems I found one early tonight, I'd best make this quick," With heavy steps that seemed too light to hear, the Night Walker aligned himself within the darkness and made to stalk his prey. It was a young women, her back was turned to him as she shifted on her way home from the wheat fields, carrying a bundle of chopped wood on her back. She moved slowly and carefully, stepping over rocks and dead logs with her elderly sandals, humming a soft tune that would soon cease once he found the right time to attack.
Though, on the inside, something was telling Sesshomaru not to. Something in his gut told him to look for other prey, to spare this easy catch and go for another, What twisted logic, huh…no matter, I will end this quickly, painlessly… As she stepped over yet another dead log, the Night Walker wasted no time – skidding into the clearing, striking his claws, and ending the evil deed.
On the pitch black earth lay a corpse. In the Night Walkers hand, a bloody heart that had yet to turn cold. Without hesitation, did he swallow the organ whole, not bothering to wipe the blood trickling down his chin to drop and join the steady pool of red forming from the gaping wound in the dead body… by then, he would have turned to leave, forcing the image of the dead out of his thoughts, but the case was different. He took a sniff and regretted killing the women, for the bundle on her back was not wood, it was a child. A small, small, baby who was sound asleep next to the body and covered in its mother's blood.
The scene panged at his heart. He felt helpless. Horrible. Looking to the corpse once more, he imaged Kagome. What if it was her who would end up as nothing but a bloody corpse?! He held the poor sleeping child in his arms-
Bang!
The sudden sound of a firearm and a foreign pain in his shoulder.
A familiar raven haired man holding a torch in one hand, and a gun in the other.
"I just thought the story could use a little spice!" It was Naraku. Sesshomaru only glared icily, his face still hidden in the darkness, "I just thought about what would liven up the storyline, and boom! The perfect antagonist came to mind! I could just as easily use myself! Do tell me what you think about the idea; doesn't it make for a great twist?"
"Though I am surprised by your actions, do not think that you have completely fooled me," Sesshomaru took a moment to breath as the wound on his shoulder spit out the bullet and made to heal, "I knew from the time you stepped foot into the Black Castle what you were and what you were doing, Naraku…Or should I say, Naraku the Spider Demon of Old Country, better known as-"
"Jester, the Story Teller of Misfortunes," Inuyasha made his way out into the clearing, "In the little time that'd we'd spent while getting' ta da castle, I had da' creepin' feeling that you were some sorta demon, keh! Cursed by a fire Fairy my ass!"
"I thought you'd never stop following me, Inuyasha," Naraku politely smiled, "It's nice to see your doing well."
"Why do you follow us, Jester?" Spoke Sesshomaru, still carrying the sleeping child, "I want to hear why you find messing with our lives; as if it were some sort of fairy tale, so amusing."
"Messin' with our lives?" The younger brothers' ears twitched from under the messy brush of hair, popping with a small rustle, "You mean…that he…"
"Caused all of the misfortunes you've met so far?" Naraku interrupted, "Everything after Sesshomaru caused the death of his mother, meeting your love and your father's stubbornness to remove your curse, why yes, it was indeed myself!"
Before Inuyasha had the chance to speak anything rash to the man, Sesshomaru once again intervened, "So what you're saying would be that you've messed around with people's heads and forced them to take routes in which they usually would not?"
"Precisely my dear friend!" Naraku exclaimed, "Though not directly, I've made it so your father makes it ever harder for you to truly get forgiveness, adding Kouga to the brew made it even better – for it easily reminded Touga of what a horrible, unforgivable act you've played. As you've found out, I am indeed 'Jester'; the Storyteller of Misfortunes, I do this all simply to create what seems to be the best tale I've made! Hope lying in utter despair is the story that I'd found from you, Night Walker, and only I could bring the story to an end, as long as I'm around, the show must go on!"
"Which means that we can't kill you, or it will continue eternally, is that right?"
"Right you are again Sesshomaru!" Naraku seemed to be laughing, "This is just what I would expect from the Joker of my best play!"
"The…Joker?" Inuyasha questioned while scratching his ears.
"Precisely! The Joker, the hero, the lead, the reason why the story itself exist!" Naraku threw his hands into the air, "That Joker is you, Night Walker!"
"It's almost funny how you think it's amusing," Sesshomaru smiled, showing off bloody fangs, "Not everything you want to happen initially 'happens' – Much like with Kouga, you expected him to stay alive, did you not? And yet, he is dead, you expected Inuyasha to never return, and yet here he is, you expect me to kill Kagome, and yet, she lives."
A silence ran through the passing breeze. Narku put his hands down.
"…The show must go on, for only I am the key to ending this story-"
"And if I am able to find a good reason, or find a way to 'remake' his life, the story will be ended by me," Sesshomaru gazed down darkly at the red eyed demon, "By the very Joker you thought you had in your hands."
With a swoosh of the wind did he and Inuyasha leave.
The cold corpse of the women still lay in the dirt.
"I will be the ending of this story, foolish 'Joker'," Naraku mumbled, "For I carry the key to the change…for I am the storyteller, and you a mere emotional demon, with eyes set on…Kagome…" The inner workings of his mind started to click once more as a new edit sprung to life, "That's it…Kagome!"
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…Joker…
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"So, whattda gonna do about that lil' guy?" Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sat quietly in the living quarters of the Black Castle, Sesshomaru still had the young child in hand with no clue as to why he took it along in the first place, simply, he shrugged his shoulders, sighing lightly in the process while taking a good look at the still sleeping baby. Inuyasha moved closer to further inspect the small bundle, "Heh, it's definitely a girl, she's kinda cute."
At that moment, Sesshomaru could care less about the gender or how the baby looked.
All he worried about was Kagome's reaction. He was scared. Scared that she would fear him and run along to somewhere, leaving him to rot eternally alone in the horribly empty Black Castle. He killed a young mother – who's to say that he wouldn't kill her?! Who's to say that he wouldn't kill the young bundle sleeping so soundly in his arms? Wrapped dangerously close to his claws, the very claws that drew blood from its mother.
Inuyasha quickly caught on, "Listen up, lemmie take care of da' kid," Sesshomaru didn't spare a glace to the younger brother, "Huhh…You shouldn't go on hatin' yourself so much, you had to do what you had to, it's not like you knew she was a-"
"And what about the others, Inuyasha?" The elder simply looked at the small bundle, "What about the other countless victims that these hands have taken life from? They too could have been mothers, they too could have had mothers at home waiting for their return, they all had lives…and I've stolen them. I've stolen the happiness from the humans and only gave them pain, and I-"
"You'll have to leave it all in da' past sooner or later," Inuyasha cut in before his brother could blame himself any further, "You've made your decision, so follow it all out! I'll take care of the kid, and you focus on Kagome!"
Right when the child was passed from Sesshomaru to Inuyasha, the door to the castle opened.
Steps echoing briefly, shadows bending slowly, and silver hair gliding without a sound.
Before the two stood their father. None beckoned a word as to why he was there, only rushing up the steps to the room where Kagome slept, "Disappointing children, have you not noticed a thing? I suggest you check on your 'love', my eldest."
Opening the door only to see her gone.
And Naraku instead, sitting comfortably on the bed, he smirked, "Didn't I tell you, Joker? As long as I'm here, the show must go on! I will be the one ending this story, by any means I so wish."
Joker… Chapter 9
End
T.B.C
Itachi – I was gone for sooooooo long because of a terrible case of writers block, trust me, it was horrible! I'd open this story up type two words and then go mind blank. But it's gone! So expect regular updates again! I'm soo very sorry for the wait! T-T
