InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cannot Be Broken ❯ But What You Are ( Chapter 20 )

Kagome blinked. You are not who you think you are. Too many questions arose from that comment alone. All wanted to spew forth but no words could emote what she was feeling right then. Only one sound could possibly ask it all. “Huh?”

 

Kikyo turned to Sesshomaru. “He knows of her already.”

 

Sesshomaru watched Kagome intently. “How?”

 

“I am not sure. I had created the rosary to act as the siphon. He should not have found her as he did.” Kikyo shook her head.

 

“Can she still use them?”

 

“I only witnessed her force field. But it has gotten stronger. She also purified the head with a touch of her hands without channelling.”

 

“And of the auras?”

 

“I cannot tell.”

 

Sesshomaru's eyes never left Kagome. “Tell me. Since the rosary was placed, had the auras occurred?”

 

Kagome was numbed. She wasn't even listening to the conversation now. You are not who you think you are. They knew she progressed in powers. They did not seem surprised. They knew what to ask. They knew what they were looking for. They knew how they happened. Why? Who are they then? If she was not who she thought she was, they were not who she thought they were either. Fear, anger, mystification…. Too many emotions, not just from her, but from InuYasha as well. She needed to shut them out. If it was at all possible she felt hollow and devoid of emotion and at the same time she felt overwhelmed with them. She cast her eyes up at her father, watching him mouth words, but did not hear them.

 

“Kagome.” Sesshomaru stated.

 

She blinked at him and her eyes drew into focus.

 

Sesshomaru looked at her sternly. He hated to ask again.

 

“Yes, she has.”

 

All eyes but Kagome's focused on the hanyou beside her.

 

“What?” The demon lord asked and his eyes narrowed.

 

“Yes, she has.” InuYasha looked hard at his brother. “Or actually, I had.”

 

Kagome tilted her head towards him.

 

“Explain.” Kikyo frowned, eyeing him with distain.

 

InuYasha scowled. “On our way here. We were together and I saw these colours. I also felt them. I know what she speaks of.” He looked at Kagome from the corner of his eye. “She was touching the necklace though.”

 

Kikyo nodded. She faced the younger girl. “Kagome? Please, listen. All will be revealed to you momentarily. But first, we must know if you can channel these powers with the rosary in place.”

 

Kagome looked up her mentor. She nodded slowly and dully, her mind was spinning and she felt like she was losing control. “Yes, now by my will. I channelled a tree's aura while on our journey here... and I swayed InuYasha's aura.”

 

“Swayed his aura?” Kikyo asked surprised.

 

Kagome nodded. “I… uh… I felt his emotions and I channelled the one I wanted him to feel.”

 

All looked at her stunned. InuYasha's mind spun so much it made her dizzy and she was quickly becoming overwhelmed and anxious. She wanted this over with, she wanted….

 

Sesshomaru nodded. “I see. Then they cannot be contained any longer. We need to make other measures for her safety. Kikyo I need you to….”

 

“Enough.” Kagome's head shot up and glared at the demon lord.

 

Sesshomaru's eyes grew fierce. “You do not know whom you speak.”

 

Kagome's face grew cold. “I know exactly whom I speak.”

 

Sesshomaru growled in domination.

 

Kagome shook her head. “No. I am sorry, Father, but I have been patient long enough. Now you will answer to me.”

 

Again the demon lord growled, trying to force his control.

 

Kagome's eyes shot to look into his own, her hands fisted, and his growls stopped in a slight choke. “If I have the power to subdue the Demon Lord of the Western Territory, even without the knowledge of how, then you WILL find it prudent to answer me.”

 

She released her aura's hold on her father. He raised his head slightly in shock. She sighed. “Please forgive me, father. But if you fear for my safety as you seem, then you must explain why my safety must be feared. Especially now with these powers you seem to know of.”

 

Kikyo did not look at her Lord. Instead, she closed her eyes and cast her head down. “We had hoped this would never come.”

 

Sesshomaru turned his head away, his face expressionless.

 

Kikyo nodded and lifted her gaze to the girl. “It all has to do with the creature you encountered on the way here. But that will not make sense to you unless you know where it all began.” Kikyo moved to seat herself across from Kagome. “What do you remember of your village?”

 

“My village?” Kagome frowned. “It was destroyed.” She flicked her eyes at InuYasha. “I don't know how it was destroyed, but the creature blamed InuYasha. But I knew it was a lie. I knew when it spoke, for some reason, it was that creature that was involved.”

 

The hanyou beside her shifted slightly. She could sense relief and bitterness, but it was growing faint. Why was it…?

 

Kikyo sighed. “Initially, yes.”

 

“Initially?” The younger woman asked, focusing her attention to the miko.

 

“I don't know if you remember. You used to have nightmares of that day.” Kikyo sighed.

 

Kagome nodded stoically and looked away at the far wall. Her stomach churned as images flowed in her mind's eye. “Yes. I remember it. There was a fire and my mother was trying to save me from it. Demons took me from her arms and killed her in front of me. I… I don't like to remember.” She lowered her head. “You both found me and brought me here. You raised me as your own.” She felt a wash of shame over the fact she had just attacked her father. “I had almost forgotten about the dreams.”

 

InuYasha's head turned towards her. He never knew. But then again, what did he know of her? He sat back to listen.

 

“Yes. You used to dream of that day for many months. But you also said you heard a voice.” The miko replied.

 

Kagome's head shot up. A voice?!

 

“At first we believed it was just a repercussion of the nightmares. Until you could remember what it said.”

 

“Where are you, Midoriko?” Kagome whispered.

 

“Yes.”

 

“It was he… that creature?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How… why?” Kagome looked up from Kikyo to Sesshomaru and back.

 

“It all comes back to the destruction of your village. And the legend of the Shikon no Tama.” Kikyo halted, not at all quite sure how to continue.

 

InuYasha broke the silence. “That thing attacked her village to get the jewel?”

 

Sesshomaru's head shot towards the half demon. “How do you know of the jewel?”

 

InuYasha glowered. “Because that shit has been going around slaughtering villages and pinning it against us. But I would know his stench anywhere. I managed to get out of him what I could. He was searching for some Shikon no Tama because he believed the fairy tale was true.”

 

“It is.” Sesshomaru replied.

 

“What?” The hanyou gawped.

 

“That creature goes by the name Naraku. And he has been searching for that jewel ever since Kagome was a small child.” His brother replied.

 

“What does Kagome have to do with any of this? Is it because she is a miko?”

 

“No.” Kikyo answered. “Because she is the miko.”

 

InuYasha growled. “This is getting more confusing with every word you say.”

 

“Then I suggest you shut up and listen.” Sesshomaru growled. “And know what you have bound yourself to.”

 

InuYasha was about to argue but then closed his mouth. His expression was that of suspicion.

 

“Naraku was searching for the jewel and the first village he struck was Kagome's.” Kikyo began. “Her village was where the legend began.”

 

“You mean Kagome's village is where the jewel was in the legend?” InuYasha's ears flicked back and forth.

 

Sesshomaru's patience was thinning. “Yes. Now listen.”

 

Kikyo frowned. “Naraku is no ordinary demon. We have come to find he is an abomination. A conglomeration of many demons in one.”

 

“How is that possible?” InuYasha barked.

 

Sesshomaru growled a warning.

 

“InuYasha….” Kagome's eyes flashed in annoyance, and for some reason she couldn't tell what he was feeling or have him feel patience. She assumed it had to do with the level of emotion in the room since all this began.

 

InuYasha's mouth shut tight, but he growled slightly in aggravation. He could tell her patience was wearing thin and he did not want to be on the receiving line of her powers, whatever they were turning out to be.

 

Kikyo sighed, her face turned to one of pained tolerance. “InuYasha, do you know of the legend?”

 

The hanyou growled. “Yeah. Miko had a jewel and some demon wanted it. They fought and then she killed it but she died. The jewel disappeared and everyone was happy.”

 

Kikyo's head dropped and Sesshomaru's face fell slightly.

 

“Never before have I heard it told so base and so erroneous.” The miko said.

 

“What the fuck's the matter. It's just a story!” InuYasha growled in embarrassment.

 

“That story is the reason behind all our problems now.” Kikyo fumed.

 

“No, the fucker Naraku is.” InuYasha crossed his arms.

 

Kikyo's hands gripped upwards, willing her aura to strangle the hanyou if it could, but Sesshomaru beat her to the punch.

 

“You ignorant fool. How you survived as long as you have is beyond me.”

 

“Well you weren't any help, you bastard!” InuYasha leapt up from his chair.

 

“INUYASHA!! SIT!” Kagome's aura plummeted him to the ground, his face plastered to the hard stone floor. Her eyes widened. “Oh shit, sorry, I didn't mean to force it so hard.”

 

InuYasha twitched slightly as he lifted his body from the floor. He glared up at her. “Apologies don't keep me from tasting the back of my head, bitch!”

 

She glared down at him. “What did you call me?”

 

His eyes widened and he sat in a chair away from her. He kept his mouth shut from then on and refused to look at her.

 

Kikyo watched them both in quiet frustration. Finally she spoke. “The story matters so you must pay attention.” She shot the hanyou a hard glare before continuing. “The miko was no ordinary miko. She was very powerful and because of her power, she was the target of many demons since she could purge them of their youkai energy. One demon in particular had the power to combine his aura with others and whether he did it by force or by reasoning, he had joined with many demons to become one. With the combined strength he attacked the miko. They fought for many days, until the miko used the last of her divinity to banish the demon. But it seems that he was not banished for long.”

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome asked.

 

“Lord Sesshomaru and I had come to believe this demon has come back, and is now in the form of Naraku, and he again searches for the miko.”

 

“But the miko is dead.” Kagome paled.

 

Kikyo nodded. “Yes, who she was died, but what she was did not. You see, the miko was the Shikon no Tama, not a physical jewel, but a person of phenomenal miko energy, energy that had become born again.”

 

“So Naraku destroyed my village, all of those villages, looking for a miko.” Kagome said sadly.

 

“Yes.” Kikyo replied.

 

“For what purpose?”

 

“We believe he wishes to meld with the power of the miko to become the most feared demon our world has ever known.”

 

Kagome nodded. “So Naraku thinks I'm this Shikon no Tama.”

 

Kikyo looked over at Sesshomaru. “No, Naraku now knows you are the Shikon no Tama.”

 

Kagome's head shot up. “What?! How is this possible?”

 

“The miko in the legend was capable of many things no ordinary miko could accomplish. Powers that you had developed when you turned three. Like you, she could sense life's auras, heal with a touch of her hand, subdue negativity, and coerce emotion where ever and to whom ever she chose.”

 

“But these powers. They are not developed. They only came to me recently. And as for my other powers… Kikyo, you trained me how to use them like you used yours….”

 

Kikyo shook her head. “No, you have always had them. I do not. And as for these new developments, you just never knew of them until recently.”

 

“Why?” Kagome's face paled.

 

“Because I would not allow it.” Sesshomaru finally spoke.

 

“Otou…?”

 

“Kagome,” Kikyo looked up at Sesshomaru then back to her, “we had found you in the village after it was destroyed. We had suspicions of your powers, but believed they were just highly developed spiritual miasma. It was not until your dreams manifested did we know that you were the miko of legend.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “How…?”

 

“The Miko of legend had a name… Midoriko.”

 

Kagome's voice quivered. “The voice in my dreams….”

 

“Yes.” Kikyo nodded. “We had found out he was channelling his connection to find you, by searching for you in your most vulnerable time. He would search for you in your dreams. It was then that we decided you cannot be found, and to do so, we had to subdue your powers. Lord Sesshomaru had taught you to subdue your aura and thus many of your powers in the process. For the powers he could not contain within you, we had trained you to believe were normal miko abilities that should never be used without dire need.”

 

“But… why?” Kagome looked at her father. “Why didn't you ever tell me?”

 

Sesshomaru remained quiet, but his eyes never left her face.

 

“Kagome. There was one difference between your village and the others that Naraku destroyed.” Kikyo paled. “Your village not only harboured the dead of your people, but the dead of Naraku's army. Naraku may have attacked your village and murdered your mother, but it was you who killed them all.”

 

Kagome reeled in her chair and gripped hard on the table. Her voice shook and she felt sick. “What?”

 

Kikyo moved to sit beside her and held onto Kagome's hand. “Your last memory of your village was watching your mother die in front of you. What child could possibly withstand such a sight? You had just turned three and your powers had finally manifested. Naraku knew you were in that village. He had sought you out, killed your mother in front of you. You were terrified. And somehow your powers drained the life out of everyone around you.”

 

Kagome's voice hitched in her throat. “No… I can't… I couldn't….”

 

“It couldn't be helped, Kagome. It just happened. You couldn't have controlled it even if you wanted to.” Kikyo tried to reason.

 

Kagome shook her head furiously, trying to keep back tears and the growing nausea.

 

“With that kind of power, with that kind of knowledge, did you honestly think we could tell you, or even teach you? We cannot even fathom your abilities let alone train you. You are the Shikon no Tama, Kagome. And Naraku knows you exist. We had to protect you at any cost.” Kikyo replied softly, stroking the girl's hand. “Even if it meant giving you away.”

 

Kagome's lips trembled. She stared at the table in numbed shock. “What do you mean?”

 

Kikyo turned her head to Sesshomaru. “Amazingly, Naraku escaped the village after it was destroyed. It would take a long time for him to rally enough force like he had before he had encountered you. When he did, he came to the Western Territory and sought out Lord Sesshomaru.”

 

“How do you know all this?” Kagome cast her eyes around the room, not really seeing anything in particular, swallowing hard.

 

“Lord Sesshomaru and I were on an offensive against InuYasha during the war. Upon a reconnaissance, a white baboon cloaked figure appeared. He had told Lord Sesshomaru of great power and advantage he would have in the war should Lord Sesshomaru allow Naraku to find the jewel. Lord Sesshomaru already knew you were the jewel and had fought him. He destroyed the puppet, very much like the one you had encountered. We had believed we had destroyed him, only for him to resurface time and again, each time after a village had been destroyed. Flags of the hanyou were often laid out in order for the villagers to rally against each other, to keep the war going. But we had known they were the cause of Naraku. He was using the war as a distraction, in order to search you out. He made it such that the villagers would blame the deaths on whichever Lord was the enemy of the territory, intensifying our war, and our need for his cooperation once our resources had run out. We had realized early on his motivation, but what we could not understand was how he knew of these villages, where to avoid our scouts and where Lord Sesshomaru was at all times in order to find him. We concluded there was a spy in our midst.”

 

“Who?” Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru.

 

“Jaken.” Kikyo scowled. “That impudent toad demon was selling information because he had come to believe our Lord had become weak with his association with humans. We were unaware until recently who this spy was, but we knew you were no longer safe in the western lands, not when someone was actively looking for you here.” Kikyo grimaced. “I apologise, Kagome, for what I have to tell you now.”

 

Kagome shook her head slightly. “Nothing can top what I've heard so far.” She said meekly.

 

Kikyo shook her head. “We had no way of protecting you or hiding you any longer. So we planned for you to enter InuYasha's domain in search for red clover. It was unfortunate that Lady Rin should happen to fall ill, but fortuitous for there to be a reason for you to go without suspicion.” Kikyo stalled. “We had thought that the hanyou would find you, since I had instructed you to go where he often inhabits, and take you as prisoner. As his prisoner, you would be out of the Western Territory and away from Naraku. We had not thought he would find you and claim you for his mate.”

 

InuYasha growled. “Let me get this straight. You allowed her to come to my territory under the idea that I would take her as a hostage?”

 

Kikyo nodded. “We had come to realize that there was no sway in this war, and the threat of Naraku was more a threat than you ever were. We believed that under your charge she would be safe until we discovered the spy.”

 

“If that was your intention, why the fuck did you allow her to be mated to me?” InuYasha's mind spun.

 

Kikyo gave him a stony glance. “Two problems had to be remedied: our war and Naraku. With your joining, our conflict would be void since our resources would be combined, and Kagome would be safe, especially with your dominance of the Tetsusaiga. Your meeting had proven to be serendipitous for us all.” Kikyo smiled slightly.

 

InuYasha shook his head. “I can't believe I played a pawn in this… FUCK!” He leapt up from the table and run his claws through his hair and down to the rosary. “If things worked out so great, then what was the point of this!?”

 

Sesshomaru growled and Kikyo scowled.

 

“We had found out about Jaken only recently. Let's just say he was very eager to tell of his transgressions. Other than mentioning all that you now know, he did state that Naraku had again channelled Kagome's dreams, though she may not have been aware of it. He could also feel her powers progressing and it was a matter of time before he sought her out in the Eastern territory. We felt it wise to withhold what we knew of Kagome's powers in case power hungry individuals got word of her, yet she still needed to be subdued. I had come up with the rosary.” Kikyo tilted her head down.

 

“You did this?!” InuYasha growled and his claws flexed in anger. “Whatever your reasons, I don't give a shit. Take it off me now!”

 

Kikyo shook her head. “I cannot.”

 

“Why?!” He barked.

 

“Because it would kill you both. The link between you is unnatural….”

 

“Unnatural?! If you knew this then why did you make it?!” InuYasha charged up to the miko.

 

Sesshomaru growled a warning. “Because when it comes to my daughter's life, I would sacrifice any to save her. She is more important than you realize.”

 

InuYasha watched his brother intently and shook his head in denial. He turned away from them to face the fire, crossing his arms in defiance.

 

“The rosary was created to suit two purposes.” Kikyo began.

 

“Yeah, yeah… to meld our auras or some shit. Tell me something I don't know.” InuYasha seethed.

 

Kikyo cringed. “There are two reasons, then, as to why we though it necessary to meld your auras. The first was to have your youkai subdue Kagome's powers. The other was to have Kagome's powers subdue your youkai.”

 

“And what is the fucking point of that?!” InuYasha snarled, flicking his head back at them.

 

“Because, dear brother, when you are without the Tetsusaiga, you lose control of your youkai. I could not have my daughter protected by a feral creature that could not handle her or any other that came after her while he fought himself. And as for Kagome's powers. You know our reasoning behind that.” Sesshomaru glared at the hanyou.

 

InuYasha's eyes narrowed. “How do you know of the Tetsusaiga's domination of my youkai?”

 

Sesshomaru smirked slightly. “I, too, have sources. It is how I have come to know what has been happening to my charge since she has been gone.”

 

InuYasha's face turned cold and he swung around to face the demon lord. “There is a spy in my land? Who is it?!”

 

Sesshomaru remained impassive.

 

InuYasha growled relentlessly. “If you knew of this, then why did you still try to take the sword from me all these years?”

 

“You know of my reasons for our war. But with knowledge of Kagome's gift's, and the powers to sustain them, my motives had changed.” The lord replied.

 

“So, what, you're saying you don't want Tetsusaiga anymore?” InuYasha's ears flicked back and forth in confusion.

 

Sesshomaru tipped an eyebrow. “No.”

 

InuYasha looked doubly confused.

 

“Otou….”

 

Sesshomaru looked at his adopted daughter. She looked deathly pale and shaken.

 

“If the rosary was suited to protect me from Naraku by hiding my powers… without me knowing… then why doesn't it work?” Kagome looked over at InuYasha. “I mean, we do feel each other's auras now, but….”

 

“But?” Kikyo asked.

 

“But we do not subdue each other. Instead, we… I don't know… share powers?”

 

Kikyo frowned. “Yes, that has concerned me. It was not the intention. It seems that your auras have taken upon each other to protect each other. For reasons I cannot comprehend. You even now share each other's physical, not just spiritual, sensations.”

 

“Keh. I don't feel anything physical from her.” InuYasha crossed his arms. He still refused to look at Kagome.

 

“No? Without Kagome, you would be dead right now, InuYasha.” Kikyo smirked.

 

“What?”

 

“While you suffered the brunt of the attack from Naraku, it was Kagome who absorbed your pain and your youkai force. You became a full demon while still retaining your mind. Kagome had taken your pain for you to be able to fight and then heal, while she still had her health to allow herself to do so.” Kikyo scowled. “Kagome, on the other hand, had her powers masked by your youkai, though it did her little good. Naraku had discovered her.”

 

“How do you know this?” InuYasha flicked his ears at Kikyo.

 

“I had witnessed your fight before I was able to purify the demon. I just did not know how to fight him until I heard Kagome speak of the chest….” Kikyo replied.

 

“Not that, wench! But thanks for explaining your uselessness. I mean about Naraku finding out who she was.” InuYasha fumed.

 

“I… did it.” A soft voice spoke beside him.

 

InuYasha flicked his ears at her but cast his gaze to the wall.

 

“I did it. I said he was the voice in my dreams. He heard me.” Kagome whispered.

 

InuYasha growled. “And another piece of the Kagome puzzle comes forth! Why didn't you tell me of these dreams too?”

 

Kagome shook her head feebly. “I didn't remember them. Not until I heard him speak… then… I knew.”

 

“Naraku now knows of her existence. He will stop at nothing to get her. Even now with the rosary binding your powers into one, there is nothing we can do now to hide Kagome from him.” Kikyo shook her head solemnly.

 

InuYasha closed his eyes. “Whatever, I don't care.”

 

Kagome cast her gaze at him, confused. It was like he put up a wall. She could feel nothing from him, almost nothing….

 

InuYasha sighed and turned his head slightly to Kagome, looking at her in the corner of his eye. “I am honour bound to you. I made an oath to honour and protect. I still don't know what it is I'm protecting, but I will not go back on my oath. But that is all I will do. If that is all there is left of this shit, I'm leaving.” He turned and walked out of the room without looking back.

 

Kagome stumbled back slightly. His emotions were cut off. He was subduing his aura from her. But the little she could feel made her heart clench hard. He hated… he hated her.