InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Convention of Killers ❯ Chapter 10: Illusions ( Chapter 10 )

A/n: Here’s the next chapter of Convention of Killers. Sorry for the long delay. Unfortunately this is more a filler chapter than anything, I believe the next chapter will be more exciting! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho, Fushigi Yuugi, nor do I make any profit from this fanfiction.

*Convention of Killers*

By: Kage Otome (Shadow Maiden)

Chapter 10: Illusions

They moved on through the maze running into no complications over the next few hours, automatically raising their suspicions. Especially in Kagome’s case, it simply wasn’t like Sharan to give them time to ‘breathe’ so to speak, it was making her edgy. Her eyes zeroed in on a speck in the distance, it was too far away to tell what it was, even with her enhanced vision. Just as suddenly as it was there it was gone, Kagome’s eyes narrowed.

“Kagome-san?”

Blinking she turned to face the kitsune who’d called her name.

“Hai?”

“Is something wrong?” He asked, eyes more green than gold, signifying his human counterpart was close to the surface.

“Not yet.”

He didn’t like the sound of that.

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TheyR 17;d stopped for the night, it wouldn’t have been in their best interest to continue. After all their senses were dulled at night (at least the human’s) not to mention not one of them knew what types of ‘challenges’ they may have to face when venturing through the labyrinth at night. While everyone was settling in for the night, Kagome rose, gesturing Tomo over to her.

“We will begin training now. For one hour tonight, I do not wish to drain you.”

With that said she walked about 50 meters back and turned into the grove of tree’s they’d passed before deciding to rest for the night. Tomo followed almost hesitantly, before straightening his spine and following her, not showing a bit of the apprehension he felt. Kagome smirked, perhaps he had more backbone than she’d first thought.

“First of all show me what you know.”

Tomo proceeded to use his shin before Kagome stopped him, her hand catching his wrist. She shook her head. “I meant your physical skills, not your power.”

“I only know basics.”

Kagome nodded, “Attack me. I need to see how much work we have ahead of us.”

Tomo fell into a simple stance, waiting for Kagome to do the same. Kagome however remained motionless, simply narrowing her eyes at him. His eyes narrowed into slits as he rushed forward, once again proving his rash behavior. Kagome anticipating this easily side stepped, grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back as her other arm easily maneuvered it’s way around his shoulder and neck, clawed hands positioned over the jugular.

“First of all--do not act rashly, use that mask you have created to be or at the very least give the illusion you are unaffected, indifferent. All I had to do was look at your face to see your intent. “

Tomo’s face instantly transformed his face into that cold facade, he remembered this, he was a master of illusions and in his illusion he could be whoever he wanted to be. His act was perfect, but beneath that exterior there was something else. Kagome’s eyes narrowed slightly---he was indeed very good at playing a role, how he could transform from a hesitant person to this warrior and willful looking character was quite amazing. Nodding in satisfaction she motioned for him to try and attack her again.

He kept his indifferent mask on and stayed completely still for a few moments before circling her slowly and attacking when he was to the left of her, only to be blocked and once again subdued. She nodded her head seemingly to herself as if she’d just figured something out, his eyes narrowed.

“Tell me, do you have any other abilities besides the illusions?” Kagome questioned.

“I had the power of telekinesis however now that my headrest is broken I don’t have it anymore.”

“The headrest, what does that have to do with anything?”

“I used telekinesis through the two feathers on the side.” He said.

Kagome frowned.

Under normal circumstances power was not in objects, power was in people and people used objects to manipulate their own power as a sort of catalyst. That was probably the case with Tomo and his telekinesis. He probably didn’t know how to manipulate his power without the headrest, that simply wouldn’t do. He’d have to learn how to, and she would teach him.

“It is possible your telekinetic power simply lies dormant now because you have nothing to channel it through and you have never learned to use it without the headrest.”

“I still have my power?”

“Most likely. We shall see, won’t we?” Kagome paused, “Meditate first. Then we’ll be able to tell.”

Tomo nodded watching Kagome as she got into position before copying her.

“Clear your mind and focus.”

After attempting to meditate for 15 minutes Tomo became impatient, Kagome got up with a sigh and walked over to him to guide him through it. After another grueling 15 minutes (in his mind) he was able to get it right. He focused in on his power as she guided him it all seemed rather surreal and time seemed stilled. When he finally came upon his power source, it was a mixture of blue and gold. One for his illusions and one for his telekinesis. Kagome nodded before calling him back to ‘real time’.

“Your power is still with you, I’ll try to teach you to manipulate and call it out of it’s dormant state tomorrow. For now rest.”

“It’s only been 30 minutes!” He stood angry now she was backing out on her word.

“Check again,” she pointed toward the moon, “It has been two hours, we went over by an hour. Rest, you need to rejuvenate yourself.”

“ We can go longer, I’m not tired.”

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. “No.”

He grit his teeth, “I hate you.” And sent her flying back toward a tree which she kicked off and landed on her feet gracefully in front of him, looking at him a new light in her eye as his eye’s widened marginally in surprise, wondering what just happened.

“Then hate me, it may just get the job of teaching you done faster.” Kagome added in her mind, ‘Especially if that’s the reaction to your anger and hate, perhaps the trigger to his power is hate. Everyone has something that triggers their power to emerge, perhaps this is his...’

His jaw clenched before he stalked away muttering, “Fine,” just as a weak tree branch broke off from a nearby tree. Kagome took one step to the side as the tree branch hit the ground where she had just been standing.

“Interesting.” Kagome murmured softly, picking up the fallen branch.

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That, that woman.

Tomo fumed, hands clenched as he stalked away from the clearing and that infuriating woman. He was stronger than that--he could’ve gone on for at least another three hours! She presumed him weak, that he couldn’t take the training she could dish out. Meditating! Psh. Like that was enough to drain him. A frown decorated his features, drawing his brow down in a furrow, his lips compressed into a thin down turned line.

She was so...unaffected. So different from any woman he’d ever met. Not even Soi had managed to look so intimidating while appearing equally delicate. She just didn’t look like a warrior, she looked like a princess in a fairy tale as corny as that sounded, but something about her, the way she held herself and the way she felt . She gave off an air of strength and she intimidated him. He wasn’t sure why and that frustrated him beyond belief. And there was also the fact she didn’t seem to care about any of them beyond that of companions, if even that.

Unnoticeably he slowed his pace.

She didn’t seem to be attracted to any of them like many women would have been, but she was compassionate, and understanding, she even helped him. So he had to grudgingly give her some respect, or at least appreciation. And...She helped Nakago during his challenge, seemed to understand him in a way that he couldn’t . Tomo frowned. Nakago gravitated toward her when she was the only one who didn’t really treat him any different after his trial. Yet... Tomo sighed. He just didn’t understand her. Most women threw themselves at Nakago, but she seemed to kind of ignore him, almost dismiss him, unless Nakago called for her attention. Maybe she was just weird? Or...maybe she didn’t like men?

Tomo paused for a second before shaking his head.

It wasn’t any of his business as long as she didn’t try to take Nakago.

He frowned again. This was so frustrating. He blew out a breath, his face still flushed with his frustration and anger. Seeing he was near the camp he carefully masked his emotions and strolled into camp, belying a calm he didn’t feel, hoping to pass off the redness as a flush from exertion and not anger.

After all he was the master of illusions.

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Nak ago watched as Tomo reentered the camp site, it would’ve been difficult for anyone to tell just how pissed off Tomo was, however Nakago had known him for a long time and could see past the cold, cocky and arrogant facade that Tomo was known for having. And he was pissed-- and pouting. ‘I suppose the training session didn’t go well.’ Nakago thought to himself watching as Tomo settled into his sleeping ‘spot’ about a yard away from himself and mumbled what sounded like ‘night’ before turning his back to everyone murmuring something unintelligible, that sounded like ‘confusing, annoying, know-it-all bitch’ Nakago’s eyebrow hitched higher, curiosity piqued.

Not many things angered Tomo. While it was no secret that he did not like women, he could simply ignore them and dismissed them with ease on most occasion. However there were a select few that could make him angry like this, though he never saw Tomo’s face quite that shade of red before. If he hadn’t known better he’d say Tomo liked her. Of course it was unlikely--Tomo didn’t like women--at all.

Moments later Kagome entered the ‘camp’ they’d set up for the night and made her way toward the only unoccupied edge of the clearing left, coincidentally about five feet away from the area that Nakago and Tomo were located. Nakago noted she didn’t even glance at them, seemingly lost in thought. Standing Nakago made to place a hand on her shoulder when she abruptly turned and caught his wrist before he could make contact. He blinked in surprise.

“Yes?” She released his wrist, leaning back against the large hedges that made up most of the ‘walls’ of this clearing. The other’s seemed cautious to believe this area was a good choice to stay in, being there was only one entrance that someone could be watching at all times, it was enclosed and relatively safe. Not that anyone was completely sold on that idea considering no one knew what to expect and one entrance also only meant one exit. But it was better than sleeping out in the open.

Kagome cleared her throat to regain his attention before repeating herself.

“Yes, did you need something?”

“What happened?” Nakago asked bluntly, not bothering to play word games.

Kagome offered him a blank stare.

“Tomo was angered when he returned.” Nakago elaborated.

Kagome shrugged her shoulders in a motion that was entirely to graceful and delicate looking than he expected.

“He is a very...interesting character. He is a good actor, he pretends that he’s a cold-hearted asshole, but he’s not. It’s just a matter of looking beneath the surface. He intrigues me, what he hides behind these characters he plays. It is most interesting.” Kagome mused to herself more than Nakago. “It’s almost as if he looks for certain cue’s so he knows what part to play...like he’s not sure how to be just himself, if he even knows who he really is. I wonder--if sometimes he forgets, he only plays the part of those characters and isn’t really them.”

Nakago blinked, “What do you mean?”

“He is a performer isn’t he? The headrest and paint...some kind of actor, yes?” Kagome questioned silvery blue eyes peering deeply into Nakago’s own blue orbs.

“He was.”

“He must’ve had a most difficult childhood.”

“What makes you say that?” Nakago asked intrigued by the way Kagome’s mind worked.

“Because, it’s usually those that have a hard time showing what they really feel, growing up knowing only the cold harsh realities of life and not the joys, the love, and warmth of family, of being protected and encompassed by love.” She sounded sad now, like she hadn’t experienced it either. “It’s no wonder that he doesn’t know who he is, that he falls so deeply into his role as these characters. At the end of the day, it’s all he has--his masks and these characters he pretends to be.”

Kagome glanced at Tomo’s still form.

“It’s a very empty feeling when all you have is illusions of what you want to be, of what you could be--but even more of what you are not.” Kagome murmured softly her eyes closed, hiding the shadows that passed through them.

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A/n: Aah...Like I said filler chapter-ish. The next chapter will have more of what I’m sure your all interested in reading. Hopefully it will come out soon. You can expect another ‘challenge’ from Sharan in the next one to two chapters, I’m not quite sure if it will be the next chapter but there will be a fight scene and banter between the characters that was missing from this chapter. I have to get back into the flow of writing. Please forgive lack of a great chapter, it will get better as I get back into the kick of things so to speak.