InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in Guiding Darkness ❯ Curiosity ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I don't own it. I'm so sorry about that folks. Oh, and I don't know what happened to my disk, but the move damaged the one with the reviews. I'm really sorry about that too. Please forgive me!

_Chapter Six: Curiosity_

Kikyou glared at the black full length mirror in front of her, her gaze curious before she scowled and ran a frustrated hand through her dark hair. 'I don't understand,' she thought to herself as she frowned at the mirror's crystal surface. 'How did it happen? When did it happen? Why can't I get-'

"Kikyou…"

Kikyou grimaced unseen, then turned with a gracious and alluring smile. "Hello Naraku."

"Good evening my dear." He slowly crossed the room to her and enfolded her in his cold embrace. "You look troubled. Tell me what's wrong."

"I don't understand," Kikyou began as she gestured to the mirror. "There are things it won't show me."

"That's a pity," Naraku cooed as he gently pushed her head to his shoulder. "What won't it see? It can't be as bad as it appears."

"Inuyasha still searches for the girl-"

"Has she been found?" Naraku asked quickly, his excitement over finding her barely masked. Kikyou's frown deepened. "Not yet," she answered. Naraku slumped against her slightly, but motioned for her to continue. "I have her aura, but something about her keeps her from being seen by the mirror."

"It's her holy blood," Naraku answered as he looked over Kikyou's head to the mirror. "You will always see her aura, but you won't see her until I corrupt her."

Kikyou inwardly shivered but remained outwardly motionless as Naraku caressed her back through her hair. "The mirror won't show all of her aura either."

"That's to be expected. My mirror is nothing like Dracul's mirror. I suppose I'll have to have another made for you my dear. Now what else troubles you?"

Kikyou shook her head and turned back to the mirror, Naraku's hold on her relentless as always. "Inuyasha, and the aura of any other vampire and creature in this world or the next appear in some kind of way on this mirror. The Sun Sipper, however, does not."

"And that bothers you?" Naraku asked with a laugh. "The Aragon fellow is expected to have a few abilities that we are not aware of. I'll just have to find a way to keep track of him is all. Now stop worrying."

Kikyou gestured back to the mirror. "And then there is this…" Together they watched as the mirror's surface flickered then rippled like calm waters shattered by the careless toss of a pebble. Naraku's expression changed from jovial to curious, curious to disbelief and disbelief to rage before tossing Kikyou to the cold stone floor.

"You said he couldn't escape!" Naraku snarled above her. Kikyou frowned lightly, her discomfort not as evident as it should have been as she shoved her arm back into it's socket.

"He shouldn't have been able to," Kikyou responded back, her voice frigid and blank.

"It certainly doesn't look like it!" Naraku fumed as she stood up. "What happened? How in the HELL did he get free?!"

"I don't know," Kikyou admitted. "But he's been free for some time now. There's a shield around where he is now, and it prevents my minions from reaching him. I don't know what it is and I can't seem to break it."

"But you'll find a way," Naraku said more than asked, then smiled at her positive assurance. "Good. I have faith in you Kikyou. The taiyoukai won't be free for long. Now," he grasped Kikyou's wrists and tugged her toward the bed on the other side of the candlelit room. "Let's move on to something more pleasurable, shall we?" He tossed her to the bed and pounced seconds before she landed. He quickly began covering her neck with kisses and bites as Kikyou lay silent beneath him.

'We must endure it,' Kikyou's curse whispered as Naraku jerked her sheer gown off her body. 'It will all be worth it soon enough. Nothing can overshadow the joy we'll feel when this disgusting creature is dead and we rule the world.' Kikyou sighed and leaned her head to one side, granting Naraku better access to her.

'Just a little longer, then,' the curse laughed darkly in the deepest recesses of her mind. 'Then we will have the entire world as our plaything…'

><

She deftly flipped over the growling, snarling oni before her, her sword outstretched at her side as she landed on her feet and tumbled away from it's swift claws. 'What have I done to deserve this?' she wondered to herself as she ducked an enormous clawed hand and arched her sword to slice into it's wrist.

'I just want to find Kagome, to know that she's ok. I don't want to lose the only family I have left.'

"You seem distracted huntress," the oni rumbled mockingly. "Nothing like the fierce warrior I've heard so much about. Maybe those stories are nothing more than mere fabrication."

"That's what you think, you foul creature," she responded as she dropped into a low crouch. "Believe what you will, but remove yourself from my path."

"And pass up such a delicious morsel?" The oni chuckled darkly, the sinister jovialness freezing her blood. "I've not had a woman for a long time. Perhaps I'll have my way with you before I eat you."

She refused to be baited by the vile offer, only lowering herself closer to the ground with her narrowed eyes locked to the creature in front of her. The oni shrugged. "No response eh? Well, permit me to decide for you!" He charged toward her again, this time anticipating her attempt to dodge to the left. She swiftly brought her sword up between them, the sharp blade slicing off the tip of it's right index claw and creating a deep slit through it's right nostril.

The oni howled in agony, it's eyes snapped shut as it clamped its paws over it's nose and retreated to the other side of the clearing. Blood squirted from between it's claws, and she decided that now would be a good time to try to escape. No sooner had she began to creep away did something warm, slimy and sticky cover her with a loud splosh.

"Ew," she grimaced as she attempted to wipe away the slimy stuff. "What is this?"

"Do you like it?" the oni grinned at her, the blood from his slit nose still pouring down his chin to drip on the red earth below. "It's my special poison."

'Poison?!' She froze in terror, the worst clearly written on her face. The oni only laughed harder. "No, silly human. It won't kill you. It will only hold you still for a while. It is I who shall end your life." He stalked toward her slowly as the poison took effect. Her limbs felt stiff and heavy, and the ground seemed to literally drag her toward it. She groaned as she finally sank to her hands and knees, her sword clenched tightly in her right hand. 'No,' she thought as the oni stopped walking and finally started running toward her.

"I will not die here, not now." She struggled with her right arm, willing the rest of her strength into the appendage as she spurred herself on. "Kagome needs me. She's defenseless without me. I won't let her down."

The oni attacked swiftly, his giant jaws widening to accept her body whole.

Her head snapped up at the last second, and so did her arm as the oni impaled itself on her sword. The blade sank though its chest to it's heart, the tainted blood squirting from the wound in bursts timed with it's heartbeat as it stared down at her in disbelief.

"What…how?" he croaked out. She glared up at it, her cinnamon brown eyes glaring hatefully as she leaned heavily on the sword.

"You should have let me leave. Now, enjoy eternity in Hell." She gave the sword a brutal three-quarter twist, then jerked it out. The momentum send her tumbling backward, the oni quickly following her as the last bit of life extinguished from it's eyes. It fell heavily beside her, it's clawed hand falling on top of her and blocking out the rest of the world as the poison finally took over the last of her strength. The hand created a cage around her, the tips of the razor sharp claws embedded in the ground a few inches around her.

'It's not wise to stay here,' she thought to herself as the oni bled out beside her. 'Creatures far and wide will smell the death in the air and come running…but I still cannot move. I-' she sighed and closed her eyes, noting with dismay that they too seemed to be taken over by the poison. 'have not choice but to stay. I only hope that this will keep the other predators at bay.'

She gave an ear-splitting yawn, then relented to the weary demand of her overtaxed muscles.

><

Inuyasha landed in the darkness surrounding the village, his nose twitching slightly as he sniffed the passing breeze. His nose didn't find what he was looking for, but found something interesting all the same. He followed it to the village and the flimsy wooden gate surrounding it. He nimbly leaped over the gate and, making sure his ears were covered with his hair and his hands in his pockets, he began to stroll the deserted streets of the village.

Nothing particularly interested him, and he quickly became bored after passing so many shops and huts. He contemplated taking his search for a meal to another village when he heard a soft humming and footsteps coming toward him. Inuyasha quickly ducked into a dark alleyway and waited for whoever it was to walk past.

She walked past slowly, humming a happy tune to herself as Inuyasha watched. She carried a full bucket of water, having no doubt left the local well. Inuyasha sniffed the air eagerly, ignoring the scent of dirt that clung to her to the sweetness of her blood. His hand shot from the darkness in seconds, found purchase on her shoulder and quickly jerked the woman into his waiting arms. She gasped in fright, wide brown eyes frightful as she dropped her bucket and began to struggle.

"None of that," he whispered seductively, his cold lips brushing against the back of her neck as he held her still. "You'll only make this painful." He sank his fangs into her jugular without another word.

The warmth of her blood coated his tongue, his taste buds practically leaping at the metallic twist. One hand rested on her hip possessively while the other wrapped itself in her hair. He brutally jerked down, her head snapping to the side with a slight whimper on her behalf. He growled deep within his chest, the sound vibrating from him to her and back again before his ears twitched instinctively. Inuyasha's eyes snapped open, crimson orbs glittering in the dark shadows as the sounds of footsteps approached them.

He snarled in annoyance and, with one last draught of her blood, broke her neck and took to the skies above. Villagers arrived with torches as he hovered above, his eyes narrowed hatefully at the gathering below.

'I could destroy them all,' he thought angrily as he flexed his claws. 'Wipe out this entire village and completely satisfy my hunger. How dare they interrupt my meal.'

'There are more important matters than hunger,' his curse whispered to him from the dark recesses of his mind. 'We are supposed to be in search of that damned Day Walker. We cannot allow him to find the girl. He will feast on her blood before us.'

'What's so special about her blood?'

'Holy blood is especially sweet,' his curse tempted. 'Think of it. Pure, holy, virgin miko blood. It is a great delicacy in this time and would be solely yours.'

'What of Naraku?' Inuyasha asked as he quit the village for the skies overhead.

'What of him? He'll never know. He just wants the girl. A few…sips won't make much difference. But we must keep prevent the Day Walker from finding her!'

'Yes…' Inuyasha hissed, then paused as the mournful wails of the village reached his ears. 'So,' he thought with a smile. 'Her name way Myra was it. What a beautiful name for such a lovely meal.'

><

It traversed still, this time over the foamy waves of the blue ocean below. The closer it came, the more of her it felt. Her emotions surged around it, her feelings of wonderment and joy granted it a joyful flight, but her times of fear-

Her fear…

She was in danger, it realized. It picked up speed, the blinding pace nearly as frantic as the young girl it sought.

><

Kagome rarely glanced behind her, her entire being reduced to nothing but another frightened animal with death on it's heels. She ran blindly, barely able to discern the trees she darted through as she fled. The laughter followed her everywhere and just when she thought she would get away another one of those lethal silver balls would descend in front of her, it's sharp blades spinning like deadly fans.

Kagome eeped and jerked around once again when another of the accursed balls dropped in front of her. She spun on her heels and ran again with Raphael as her voice of direction.

'Please mistress,' he pleaded as she continued to run. 'Find yourself quickly and stop! You are doing yourself more harm than good this way!'

"I can't," Kagome huffed as she ducked a low tree branch. She screamed when something collided with her stomach, the impact throwing her off her feet and into a nearby tree. Her back crashed into the hard, unforgiving trunk and knocked the breath from Kagome's lungs. Kagome stood shakily, too stunned to breathe. She opened her eyes just as the silver balls flew toward her, a scream escaping her throat as they wound around her. Tight, but invisible string wrapped around her. They tied her to the trunk of the tree, the blades of the silver balls embedding themselves deep into the wood on either side of her head as a figure shrouded in black appeared in front of her.

Kagome's eyes snapped shut instantly as he pounced on her, something sharp and pointy pressed to her throat as she struggled to breathe. "Please," she whispered hoarsely. "I d-don't have any m-m-money."

Fingers gently combed through her hair as she pled for her life, yet she received nothing more than the same laughter. "P-please," Kagome stammered as her lower lip began to quiver. "D-don't kill me."

"Kill you?" There was a pause for a moment, then the laughter began anew, this time more lively and warm than the last. Kagome stood confused as he guffawed. His body shook against her, and it was then she realized how close he really was.

"Kill you? Why, I'm not going to kill you," he said once his laughter expended.

"Then…what are you going to do to me?"

"I merely wish to know if you're anything like the other one. If you are, then I'll take you back."

"What other one?"

He sighed and she felt him shrug. "That doesn't matter. Open your eyes."

Kagome did so hesitantly and gasped when she found crystal blue eyes staring back at her. 'A vampire?! In broad daylight? How?'

He too seemed to be stunned into silence, his glacier eyes widening before darkening back to their original emerald green. 'My word,' he thought as he gazed into soulful, dual colored eyes. "You're nothing like her at all, are you?"

"Like who?" Kagome asked. He shook his head again. His thoughts seemed a hundred thousand miles away from her as Kagome squirmed against her bindings. Kagome finally stopped squirming when her attempts proved futile and glared at the vampire. "Hey, I asked you a question!"

He blinked in surprise, then smiled back at her. Kagome cringed at the fanged smile, but somehow didn't feel the malice she felt radiating from him earlier. Kagome took a closer look at him and noticed the slight accent in his speech. "Who are you?"

"Who I am does not matter," he replied thoughtfully. He removed his claws from her neck and sat down on the grass below her. Kagome watched as he fiddled with loops of string wrapped around the middle fingers of both hands.

"Are you going to let me go?" Kagome asked. He thought a minute more, then nodded and stood up. "Yes, that's just what I'm going to do my little Chorizon."

"Who?" Kagome asked as he reached inside his vest. He pulled out an onyx talisman, lifted the heavy pendant to his face and sliced off one of the small onyx stones surrounding the largest one. "Here," he said as he dropped the stone down the cut out of her kimono. "You will need this. There are those that search for you Little Chorizon, and you are not masking your tracks well." He leaned down, kissed her cheek and, with a twitch of his fingers, tugged the silver balls from the tree and freed her from her bindings.

Kagome fell forward on her hands and knees, her dark hair falling around her as she glanced up at him. He smiled at her again and this time the smile wasn't as threatening as she first thought. He nodded toward her and took to the skies with a single crystal flash of his eyes.

Kagome breathed in…

…breathed out…

…and collapsed on the ground below her, her muscles going slack with relief.

'My lady,' Raphael whispered as Kagome clutched at her heart. 'Please tell me you're ok.'

"I'm fine Raphael," Kagome assured him as she sat up and looked around her. Her pack, which had flown from her back unnoticed, lay in a pile of leaves nearest her on her right. Kagome stood to retrieve it when she felt movement in her top. She reached inside and found the onyx stone.

"What's this?" Kagome asked as she held it up to the light. The stone shone a deep, endless black, and looked as if to suck up the sunshine around it entirely.

'Keep it Kagome,' Raphael instructed. 'It is a useful item. It would not do to lose it.'

><

Sesshoumaru watched as she nodded in acceptance. There was no doubt in his mind as to whom she was speaking to, but he was still confused all the same. When the attack began, and her flight first started, he felt a strange tightening in his chest. It hurt to breathe (if he breathed) and he felt something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

His first instinct was to go to her, to protect her. It frustrated him that he couldn't but it…disturbed him to see her so frightened. Sesshoumaru snorted in aggravation and returned Kanna her mirror.

"What is it my lord?" Kanna asked as he moved to stand at the edge of the platform. "Is something on your mind?"

"You would know," Sesshoumaru answered. His back was to her and his arms were folded across his chest, a clear sign that he was brooding over something.

"Yes, you're right. I would know. Would you like for me to answer it for you?"

Sesshoumaru gave a slight shrug. Kanna sighed in annoyance. "It was fear, Sesshoumaru-sama. It's a feeling those that have stared down your wrath know well."

"It cannot be," Sesshoumaru disagreed. "Not for a humam."

"She's not just another human," Kanna reprimanded softly. "She's coming for you. It's only natural that you would fear for her safety."

'Yes,' Sesshoumaru agreed as he stared out at the canyon and the platform ahead. 'Of course I would be concerned about her. How else am I to be free of this place?'

Kanna shook her head as she listened to Sesshoumaru's thoughts, cursing to herself the arrogance of taiyoukais. 'He is just as stubborn as I thought,' Kanna said as she too watched the plains on the other side of the canyon. The devils continued watching them, watching HIM as he walked seemingly unaware.

'His concern is not born of selfishness. He does not realize that the Fates have married them, joined them together. The longer he knows of her, the more he will want to know about her until…' Kanna chuckled softly to herself, imagining what lay in the taiyoukai's future before returning to the strengthening of her barriers.

"Kanna?"

"Yes, my lord?" Kanna answered with a slight smile.

"What does 'Chorizon' mean?"

"It means 'mystery', Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Hm," she heard Sesshoumaru mumble as he stared out at the red darkness around them. "That fits her perfectly…"

><

He watched as she retrieved her pack and began her journey anew, her petite frame shaking slightly as she pressed on away from him. He could see the curiosity in her eyes as she stared down at the little black stone and almost breathed a sigh of relief when she tucked it back in her top and continued on her way.

'This little creature is different than the other,' Aragon thought as Kagome disappeared in the woods with a final flash of silver. 'but their power levels are nearly the same. Just as one leveled Tepes, this one shall be the cause of Naraku's downfall.'

He jumped down from the tree, the fluttering of his coattails the only sound in the darkening, silent forest. 'It would seem,' he mused as he began what would have been a leisurely sunset stroll. 'that in order for me to have my revenge, I need you…Miss Higurashi.' Aragon grinned to himself as darkness finally settled around him.

"How many mortals can claim to have a vampire as a guardian?"

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Silver Fox: This story is confusing.

SF: {::petting Shippou's tail::} How so?

Silver Fox: It switches points of view too much. No one gives a rip about what's going on with Kikyou, Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru. They only want to know about Kagome.

Sesshou: Of course the other parts are important to the story.

Inu-chan: Yeah! No one wants to hear about Kagome's stuffy ass all day.

Kagome: Sit!

>THUD!!<

SF: Well, that was expected.

Sesshou: To move from character to character helps to create suspense, and to give glimpses into what's happening to other characters while Kagome does whatever it is the story demands her to do. You certainly are dimwitted today kitsune.

SF: I think a box fell on his head.

Sango: So what? I've always thought that. Anyway, if you think Kagome's out of the woods, you're sadly mistaken.

Shippou: Three new characters are introduced in the next chapter-

Miroku: and on top of that, Kagome's guardian seems to have come to a crossroads of a sort-

Rin: Who's that following Kagome-onee-chan?

Sango: You'll see come the next chapter. Next time on 'A Light in Guiding Darkness'

Chapter Seven: A Thief in Broad Daylight and Raphael's Indecision!

Responses:

Row, Defafaeth Mechqua, bloodbunny, lily1121, & Sango Twin: Thanks so much you guys! Another update's in the works!

Tokia: Question one: Kagome's time in this story is 500 years after the Feudal Era. In the canon universe, this would be the year 1999 to present day. The technology here is different however. The vampires have allowed the humans to improve on some things, but not everything. Things such as space technology and cars are frivolous to them, so they haven't been invented. Showers however are essential so they allow those and other bits of technology that benefit them. It's kinda like the technology for 'The Mummy'. Contrary to popular belief, youkai don't rule in this story. The story behind that (and why everything is the way it is) will be revealed later on. You're right about Raphael though. It is just that simple.

Kagome333: Kagome's sister will catch up to her in a few chapters, two or three more to be exact. There are a few more characters to introduce and some other things that need explaining. Aragon's change is slow, but trust me when I say it's coming.

LittleBlackAngel: I asked for you guys to guess it because of one of the clues. That clue was: One of his associates was mentioned in Jeffs story. See, in the vampire world in KWAY, Michael and his sword are mentioned on the second or third day on the world. I really wasn't expecting anyone to guess his name, (even if Raphael means 'healer') but I kinda figured that due to that one clue it would be easier. I'm glad I stumped you though. That means you were surprised! I like surprises, don't you?

Fire Phoenix: Oh, you've asked a very interesting question. I was wondering when someone would ask this. I can't necessarily say (because even I don't exactly know) but look for any chapter named 'Higher'.

acrimsonnight: Question One: Jinichi meant that there would be others that would have the option to join her, but all that would depend on their first meeting. Kagome is already aware of Sesshoumaru, and its pretty much a given that he's going to travel with her at some point in time, but there are others that might decide to help her along. Each person is connected to Kagome in some way, but it's a temporary connection. If the person decides to go on their separate way the connection fades. Question Two: Kikyou is not Kagome's sister. Kikyou and Kagome just happen to look alike. Kagome's sister is someone else. Question Three: The wing-like energy that protected her was Raphael, who protects her when she cannot protect herself. I like Raphael too. He's so cool…but Aragon's my heart!

KouseiJL: I thought you'd be mad cause they didn't blow up, but it's good to see that you're cool about it. Thanks for the chocolate and the hug. Hey, don't hesitate to tell me what you think now! I want to know! Oh and trust me (holds up cattle prod and grins when it crackles with electricity), I keep Sess in line just fine! {Hey, what do you think those silver balls are exactly? I bet you can't guess…}

migele: Unfortunately, Tenseiga is late for this one. Don't worry though, because it'll be there when Kagome needs it most.

Kagome: Poor Sesshoumaru. Hey, make sure that you take the weights off once you catch him. You could hurt him. What good is he then? Then again (gets a really great picture of Sesshoumaru helpless in bed and grins) never mind. You go right ahead and do what you do.

Gopher2806: Raphael is an angel. However, Miroku is here somewhere along with a few other people.

Father Malvado: So sorry, but Silver is like that all the time. What can I say? I know you hate cliffies, but sometimes they're necessary. Kagome's sister isn't Sango, even though Sango's here somewhere in the story. Kagome's sister's armor isn't like Sango's. (I most likely did a horrid job of describing it) It's more like the chain armor tunics Roman gladiators used to wear. She has a cape and helmet too, I just don't mention it. Of course Sesshoumaru has to stay protected but I never said a word about him actually staying in there, nor that someone couldn't get in. Remember, Kanna controls the barrier and what she says goes. Goths aren't supposed to wear make-up? Oh. I know at least eight from high school that did it completely wrong.

Dark Neko-chan: You know, I forgot about that. I don't have time to look up what the colors mean, so could you let me slip on this one? Please…? (puppy dog eyed look here)

BelleDayNight: Yup, that was Michael. Cool huh? Kagome's sister isn't an OC, nor is it Sango. Sango's in the next chapter, I think, and so is Miroku. As for Kagome's age when she meets Sesshoumaru….(bows) you're wish is my command. I believe it'll take at least a year to get to him anyway. The mysteries will all be told soon. I can't wait to tell them!

Guardian of Life: Very nice! I knew someone would get that! Welcome to the story by the way!

tessa3: You know, you're the reason Kikyou calls him that in this chapter. I knew you'd like it so…well, you know. That was me that mentioned something about angel wings. I thought it would be good to do something different for a change. I won't forget about the rest of the fics, promise. I'm in serious consideration for pausing one or two of them.

Mediaminer:

Kikyou372: Thanks so much! I truly appreciate it! Another update should be coming soon.

Akuma_River: Yup, you've got him right. I intend on using as many of them as I remember.