InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness in the Hearts of Light ❯ Crumbling ( Chapter 6 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Felan Silverchild 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Post-apocalyptic / Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 05.22.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.8K | Visits: 186 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Post-apocalyptic / Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 05.22.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.8K | Visits: 186 | Status: Completed
Chapter Six : Crumbling
As Kioshi slipped back into his body, the smell of smoldering flames and burnt meat pervaded his nostrils. It left him feeling horribly disoriented and nauseous.
“Jii-san?” Kioshi rubbed his eyes trying to regain his vision.
“Oh, so your finally back, huh?”
With his eyes clearing, Kioshi was astonished to find that the sun had long since set. Startled, he darted a glance to Kagome. She still lay sleeping with sweat pouring from her pale skin.
“How can it be so late? It felt like it had only been a little while.”
“Regardless, you’ve been gone, all day. I warned you about entering her mind while she is in such a fragile state, Kioshi. Let us hope you haven’t weakened her from the experience more than she can handle.”
“But.. but I didn’t do it this time. Grandfather, she touched me and drew me in! It was just like the waking world. Everything seemed so alive and real.” He turned and gently stroked the sweat from her brow with his thumb as he gazed softly into her face. “I’ve never had an experience like that before.”
“She.. drew you in? Strange.”
“Yes. We sat in this beautiful clearing where there was an old well. The whole of it was chiming with the sounds of real animals and I couldn’t feel mental boundaries anywhere. The expanse of it was so immense that I could barely keep a grip on what was real and what was a dream. I almost forgot where I really was, Jii-san.” He took his hand from her brow and slowly turned it over before his eyes to be sure it was really his own.
“Astonishing, Kioshi. It seems she has a great deal more power than just a normal miko. Although I’d say she already proved that with Raiju.” Haru crossed his arms and snorted. “Speaking of which, I told you not to go after him. You must realize that within his grasp are the very powers of lightening and thunder.”
“But, Grandfather, he was after Kagome’s life. You can’t expect me to just stand by and do nothing!” Kioshi stood and walked to the fire his Grandfather had built in the pit at the center of the small hut.
“What power she must have to be able to afflict damage like that to a youkai like Raiju, even while unconscious. We should be careful around her, Kioshi.”
“Hai,” he finally set himself down beside the old man. They sat for some time with no words passing between them as Kioshi ate the small charred bit of meat his grandfather had saved for him as his thoughts returned to Kagome’s inner world. He felt deeply connected to her now. It was a feeling he couldn’t explain or ignore.
“I believe that there is more to Raiju’s attack than he’s letting on. None of this seems like him.” The old man thought for a moment. “There must be something else behind it all.”
“Grandfather?” Kioshi swallowed the last bite and threw the remaining bones into the fire.
“Hmm?”
“Why,” Kioshi seemed a little withdrawn and cold as he spoke. “Why is it you seem to know this Raiju so well?” There was an unmistakable look in his blue eyes that sang of brewing anger.
“I wondered when this would come up.” The old man’s expression grew taunt as he thought. “It’s not an easy thing to remember, and its not because I’m an old man.” He happened a snide smile that was anything but real. “It seems so long ago now, but I knew him even when I was a child. It was around then that he had fallen in love with my sister. Of course she was human, but he had a kinder heart then.” Haru seemed to lose himself to his memories. “Well,” he finally brought his eyes back into focus and stared at Kioshi with a distant look still haunting his eyes, “to make a long story short, she was killed and he reaped his revenge. I was the only one to survive.”
Everything grew quiet. Kioshi hadn’t expected anything like this and felt ashamed for asking.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I never knew.” Kioshi bowed deeply and respectfully but was interrupted as he spoke.
“It was a long time ago.” The old man grunted as he stood up. “I just can’t shake the feeling that there is something else looming behind Raiju’s attempt on Kagome than simply getting her shards or removing a miko. I realize that she can apparently purify the jewel, but there are also others with a similar power that I feel certain he hasn’t touched. So why her?”
“Do you suppose.. that she did something to him that he wants revenge for? She seems to have the power to hurt him, or maybe he just sees her as an obstacle.” Kioshi sounded withdrawn as he spoke.
“If that were true, then my feelings that there is something more sinister on the horizon would be confirmed. But what that could be.. I just don’t know.”
Kagome stirred, trying to sit up despite the pain it cause her and took a harried breath. If only she could find the strength to make it outside. She was beginning to feel like her flesh had caught fire and desperately wanted the cool night air to sooth her burning skin.
With her arm cradled tightly against her and sweat pouring over her pale skin, she gingerly slid her feet to the floor. At least the flooring was cool to the touch but it wasn’t enough. She absolutely had to make it outside.
It was strange, though, how weak she felt. She hadn’t realized how many bruises she had till now either. It felt like every joint in her body ached and then some. She had to make it to the door, though. It was just a few steps away after all, and she could already feel the wafting breeze coming through the cracks there.
“Come on, Kagome. Pull yourself together. You can do this.” She whispered the pep-talk to herself as her vision started to blur. “Just a few measly steps.”
She slid one foot forward and could suddenly feel even more of those bruises from her fall. They ached horribly but it still wasn’t enough to deter her. She was desperate for the cool air outside, anything to quench the heat of her fever. It didn’t help either that the sheet was still wrapped around her as she staggered, dragging it through the dust.
Kagome forced herself to take another step forward, and then another until her hand was finally within reaching distance of the doorframe. One more step and she would be outside, but her vision was beginning to fade fast and her breathing was becoming more and more difficult. She felt like she was suffocating but she had to make it.. out into the fresh air.
With her good arm, she pushed aside the door covering and leaned against the wall as she passed through it and out. Exasperated, Kagome was overwhelmed as the cool night air caressed her sweat soaked body and swooned deeply into the sensation. It was far more than she could bear.
Somewhere, in the mottled world outside of her range of grasp, she thought she could hear Kioshi yelling her name. It sounded strange and oddly strained. Kagome couldn’t help thinking how out of place it was in the middle of the forest at night.
Detached. That’s what it was. So then, maybe it wasn’t real after all. Another dream that was more real than she wanted. She was starting to worry that she couldn’t tell the difference anymore. Everything seemed to be flowing through the cracks and she couldn’t find the plug. Not to mention how painfully hot it was!
There was something else, though. Through the heat of her fever, she could feel strong arms lifting her and was reminded of.. someone.
“Inu.. yasha!”
That was when it happened. His vision blurred and he began to feel disoriented. It was a nauseating sensation he had felt only once before. She was somehow tapping into his power again. With the state she was in now, though, he feared what this kind of strain could be causing her and how it might affect him in turn, but he couldn’t pull away.
Suddenly, the haze began to clear and he found himself lying in the grass somewhere he still couldn’t recognize. Everything around him was so real he feared for a moment that he wasn’t entwined with Kagome’s soul after all.
Kioshi rolled to his feet with a fair bit of ease and peered around him. He couldn’t see Kagome anywhere. It was strange, the way this place felt. It seemed like he should know this forest but he was sure that he had never stepped on these grounds before. Of course it wasn’t real itself, but for some reason he was certain it did exist somewhere.
“Kagome!?” Kioshi’s voice echoed through the trees. The birds that had been singing suddenly fell silent. For a dream the details were far beyond thorough. He had never seen anything like this before; it was even more powerful than the last time he found himself touching her soul. It seemed everything here truly had a life force of its own and he found himself wondering what Kagome really was all over again.
A warm sensation slowly began to trickle through him, calming his mind and heart.. as if he was being purified. Kioshi turned. There, he could just barely sense it.. Kagome, it had to be her. And she was close.
He pushed through the undergrowth and the darkness that seemed to be slowly gathering overhead. It was almost tangible, like some kind of black fog. Suddenly, Kioshi felt like he was walking blind. Except for a pale light ahead, he could only grope his way through the forest as the power that had been summoning him moments ago began to quickly fade.
The feeling of another presence filled the air unexpectedly.
“Kagome?!” Kioshi called out desperately as the pale light seemed to stretch so much further away. He stumbled and just barely managed to catch himself against a tree. As he looked up, there in a barely lit clearing he hadn’t noticed before, stood Kagome.
She looked odd. Her form was unmoving and stood almost limp in the shafts of light that scarcely glittered through the forest canopy. Her head hung limply, as well as both arms, giving the impression she might have been sleeping despite standing.
As Kioshi started into the clearing, the other presence he had felt only moments before appeared on the opposite side of kagome and the clearing. It was a young man with silvery white hair and red clothing. He was immediately recognizable. Kioshi had seen him in her dreams once before.
“Inuyasha.” He whispered as he remembered the name.
Kagome stood directly between them still unmoving.
“Kagome!” Kioshi could hear the hanyou call painfully for her. His own heart wrenched at the thought of the white haired boy taking her away from him. Without a passing word, they both rushed towards her, but it became quickly apparent that the hanyou was hastening to step protectively between Kagome and Kioshi.
The two men came to a stand still as their eyes met. A strange force was beginning to crackle around them as Kioshi could feel anger rising in him. He wanted nothing more than to have Kagome all to himself. This Inuyasha was just a hanyou after all, and Kioshi.. he had power too.
A soft, elderly voice whispered with an intensity that was far from spoken and seemed even farther away. Kioshi couldn’t understand what was said but he suddenly felt like he was being ripped away against his will and thrust through a wall before being slammed back into his body again. The last thing he remembered seeing was the heated gaze of golden eyes before he passed out.
“What is it, Houshi-sama?” The tips of Sango’s chopsticks rested on her delicate lips as she looked suspiciously at him.
“I sense it too, and it feels ominous.”
“Kaede, what do you think it is?” Miroku looked down at her as she poured the last of the soup into her own bowl. He couldn’t help but be a little irritated by it.
“I cannot say, but I feel a strange familiarity from it. This doesn’t bode well, however, as I can also feel whatever power this is reaching beyond our planes. I have a dark feeling about this.” Kaede paused as she sipped a bit from the edge of her bowl. “Perhaps you should find Inuyasha and search it out. Though I’d be surprised if he went along without a fuss.” She narrowed her eyes with an annoyed expression.
“Other.. planes?” Sango looked a bit taken aback, after all, she hadn’t felt a thing.
“Yes, it is believed that there are other levels of existence outside of our own with their own creatures and powers. Some are known in old stories to have tried to reach our own plane, knowing that our weapons cannot destroy them. It gives them a great advantage over us.” Miroku settled himself back onto the floor pensively as he closed his eyes in thought, listening quietly to Kaede’s speech.
“But, then how could they get here?” Sango was watching Miroku in his thoughtfulness. She had to admit, there was something charming about him when he was acting serious. She suddenly found that her cheeks were growing a bit warm and looked sharply away.
“I truly have no idea. But I think we just felt the first gateway opening.” As she spoke, the solemn tones in Kaede’s voice added weight to their meaning.
“Then we will have to do something about it. Naraku is enough to worry about on his own.” Miroku rubbed the back of his cursed hand as he looked towards Sango. If only touching her was a cure, he would have long been saved. A guilty smile happened over his lips.
“Do you suppose Naraku has something to do with this himself?”
“Let’s hope not, Sango.” Miroku was suddenly beside her with his hand in its most favorite spot of all.
“Of all the timing!” Sango’s hackles shot up as she reared back and struck the houshi. The force of it left a trail of bright red, pulsing skin in the shape of a hand-print across his swollen cheek.
“What’s going on?” Shippo stirred and looked up at the two with sleepy eyes.
“Miroku-san, really now.” Kaede sipped the last of her broth down and shook her head. “I hope it was worth it.”
Miroku’s eyes spun in his head as he slipped backwards unconscious.
“Jeez, Sango. How hard did you hit him anyway?” Shippo rubbed his eyes sleepily as he sat upright.
“He deserved it!” She hollered defensively. “Maybe it was a little more than I meant to do, though.” The last of it was almost a whisper as she slunk a few paces further away from the lecherous monk, just in case.
“In any event, we have more serious concerns to worry about now.” Kaede sighed darkly and stared off into the fire.
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As Kioshi slipped back into his body, the smell of smoldering flames and burnt meat pervaded his nostrils. It left him feeling horribly disoriented and nauseous.
“Jii-san?” Kioshi rubbed his eyes trying to regain his vision.
“Oh, so your finally back, huh?”
With his eyes clearing, Kioshi was astonished to find that the sun had long since set. Startled, he darted a glance to Kagome. She still lay sleeping with sweat pouring from her pale skin.
“How can it be so late? It felt like it had only been a little while.”
“Regardless, you’ve been gone, all day. I warned you about entering her mind while she is in such a fragile state, Kioshi. Let us hope you haven’t weakened her from the experience more than she can handle.”
“But.. but I didn’t do it this time. Grandfather, she touched me and drew me in! It was just like the waking world. Everything seemed so alive and real.” He turned and gently stroked the sweat from her brow with his thumb as he gazed softly into her face. “I’ve never had an experience like that before.”
“She.. drew you in? Strange.”
“Yes. We sat in this beautiful clearing where there was an old well. The whole of it was chiming with the sounds of real animals and I couldn’t feel mental boundaries anywhere. The expanse of it was so immense that I could barely keep a grip on what was real and what was a dream. I almost forgot where I really was, Jii-san.” He took his hand from her brow and slowly turned it over before his eyes to be sure it was really his own.
“Astonishing, Kioshi. It seems she has a great deal more power than just a normal miko. Although I’d say she already proved that with Raiju.” Haru crossed his arms and snorted. “Speaking of which, I told you not to go after him. You must realize that within his grasp are the very powers of lightening and thunder.”
“But, Grandfather, he was after Kagome’s life. You can’t expect me to just stand by and do nothing!” Kioshi stood and walked to the fire his Grandfather had built in the pit at the center of the small hut.
“What power she must have to be able to afflict damage like that to a youkai like Raiju, even while unconscious. We should be careful around her, Kioshi.”
“Hai,” he finally set himself down beside the old man. They sat for some time with no words passing between them as Kioshi ate the small charred bit of meat his grandfather had saved for him as his thoughts returned to Kagome’s inner world. He felt deeply connected to her now. It was a feeling he couldn’t explain or ignore.
“I believe that there is more to Raiju’s attack than he’s letting on. None of this seems like him.” The old man thought for a moment. “There must be something else behind it all.”
“Grandfather?” Kioshi swallowed the last bite and threw the remaining bones into the fire.
“Hmm?”
“Why,” Kioshi seemed a little withdrawn and cold as he spoke. “Why is it you seem to know this Raiju so well?” There was an unmistakable look in his blue eyes that sang of brewing anger.
“I wondered when this would come up.” The old man’s expression grew taunt as he thought. “It’s not an easy thing to remember, and its not because I’m an old man.” He happened a snide smile that was anything but real. “It seems so long ago now, but I knew him even when I was a child. It was around then that he had fallen in love with my sister. Of course she was human, but he had a kinder heart then.” Haru seemed to lose himself to his memories. “Well,” he finally brought his eyes back into focus and stared at Kioshi with a distant look still haunting his eyes, “to make a long story short, she was killed and he reaped his revenge. I was the only one to survive.”
Everything grew quiet. Kioshi hadn’t expected anything like this and felt ashamed for asking.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I never knew.” Kioshi bowed deeply and respectfully but was interrupted as he spoke.
“It was a long time ago.” The old man grunted as he stood up. “I just can’t shake the feeling that there is something else looming behind Raiju’s attempt on Kagome than simply getting her shards or removing a miko. I realize that she can apparently purify the jewel, but there are also others with a similar power that I feel certain he hasn’t touched. So why her?”
“Do you suppose.. that she did something to him that he wants revenge for? She seems to have the power to hurt him, or maybe he just sees her as an obstacle.” Kioshi sounded withdrawn as he spoke.
“If that were true, then my feelings that there is something more sinister on the horizon would be confirmed. But what that could be.. I just don’t know.”
~~~~~~***~~~~~~
It was dark in the old shack and she could faintly hear the sounds of night drifting in from just beyond the old mildewed walls. Thank goodness. Night meant cool air.Kagome stirred, trying to sit up despite the pain it cause her and took a harried breath. If only she could find the strength to make it outside. She was beginning to feel like her flesh had caught fire and desperately wanted the cool night air to sooth her burning skin.
With her arm cradled tightly against her and sweat pouring over her pale skin, she gingerly slid her feet to the floor. At least the flooring was cool to the touch but it wasn’t enough. She absolutely had to make it outside.
It was strange, though, how weak she felt. She hadn’t realized how many bruises she had till now either. It felt like every joint in her body ached and then some. She had to make it to the door, though. It was just a few steps away after all, and she could already feel the wafting breeze coming through the cracks there.
“Come on, Kagome. Pull yourself together. You can do this.” She whispered the pep-talk to herself as her vision started to blur. “Just a few measly steps.”
She slid one foot forward and could suddenly feel even more of those bruises from her fall. They ached horribly but it still wasn’t enough to deter her. She was desperate for the cool air outside, anything to quench the heat of her fever. It didn’t help either that the sheet was still wrapped around her as she staggered, dragging it through the dust.
Kagome forced herself to take another step forward, and then another until her hand was finally within reaching distance of the doorframe. One more step and she would be outside, but her vision was beginning to fade fast and her breathing was becoming more and more difficult. She felt like she was suffocating but she had to make it.. out into the fresh air.
With her good arm, she pushed aside the door covering and leaned against the wall as she passed through it and out. Exasperated, Kagome was overwhelmed as the cool night air caressed her sweat soaked body and swooned deeply into the sensation. It was far more than she could bear.
Somewhere, in the mottled world outside of her range of grasp, she thought she could hear Kioshi yelling her name. It sounded strange and oddly strained. Kagome couldn’t help thinking how out of place it was in the middle of the forest at night.
Detached. That’s what it was. So then, maybe it wasn’t real after all. Another dream that was more real than she wanted. She was starting to worry that she couldn’t tell the difference anymore. Everything seemed to be flowing through the cracks and she couldn’t find the plug. Not to mention how painfully hot it was!
There was something else, though. Through the heat of her fever, she could feel strong arms lifting her and was reminded of.. someone.
“Inu.. yasha!”
~~~~~~***~~~~~~
Kioshi had been stroking the dark strands of hair from Kagome’s sweat soaked brow as he held her in his arms when she spoke the name he was beginning to hate.That was when it happened. His vision blurred and he began to feel disoriented. It was a nauseating sensation he had felt only once before. She was somehow tapping into his power again. With the state she was in now, though, he feared what this kind of strain could be causing her and how it might affect him in turn, but he couldn’t pull away.
Suddenly, the haze began to clear and he found himself lying in the grass somewhere he still couldn’t recognize. Everything around him was so real he feared for a moment that he wasn’t entwined with Kagome’s soul after all.
Kioshi rolled to his feet with a fair bit of ease and peered around him. He couldn’t see Kagome anywhere. It was strange, the way this place felt. It seemed like he should know this forest but he was sure that he had never stepped on these grounds before. Of course it wasn’t real itself, but for some reason he was certain it did exist somewhere.
“Kagome!?” Kioshi’s voice echoed through the trees. The birds that had been singing suddenly fell silent. For a dream the details were far beyond thorough. He had never seen anything like this before; it was even more powerful than the last time he found himself touching her soul. It seemed everything here truly had a life force of its own and he found himself wondering what Kagome really was all over again.
A warm sensation slowly began to trickle through him, calming his mind and heart.. as if he was being purified. Kioshi turned. There, he could just barely sense it.. Kagome, it had to be her. And she was close.
He pushed through the undergrowth and the darkness that seemed to be slowly gathering overhead. It was almost tangible, like some kind of black fog. Suddenly, Kioshi felt like he was walking blind. Except for a pale light ahead, he could only grope his way through the forest as the power that had been summoning him moments ago began to quickly fade.
The feeling of another presence filled the air unexpectedly.
“Kagome?!” Kioshi called out desperately as the pale light seemed to stretch so much further away. He stumbled and just barely managed to catch himself against a tree. As he looked up, there in a barely lit clearing he hadn’t noticed before, stood Kagome.
She looked odd. Her form was unmoving and stood almost limp in the shafts of light that scarcely glittered through the forest canopy. Her head hung limply, as well as both arms, giving the impression she might have been sleeping despite standing.
As Kioshi started into the clearing, the other presence he had felt only moments before appeared on the opposite side of kagome and the clearing. It was a young man with silvery white hair and red clothing. He was immediately recognizable. Kioshi had seen him in her dreams once before.
“Inuyasha.” He whispered as he remembered the name.
Kagome stood directly between them still unmoving.
“Kagome!” Kioshi could hear the hanyou call painfully for her. His own heart wrenched at the thought of the white haired boy taking her away from him. Without a passing word, they both rushed towards her, but it became quickly apparent that the hanyou was hastening to step protectively between Kagome and Kioshi.
The two men came to a stand still as their eyes met. A strange force was beginning to crackle around them as Kioshi could feel anger rising in him. He wanted nothing more than to have Kagome all to himself. This Inuyasha was just a hanyou after all, and Kioshi.. he had power too.
A soft, elderly voice whispered with an intensity that was far from spoken and seemed even farther away. Kioshi couldn’t understand what was said but he suddenly felt like he was being ripped away against his will and thrust through a wall before being slammed back into his body again. The last thing he remembered seeing was the heated gaze of golden eyes before he passed out.
~~~~~~***~~~~~~
Miroku suddenly stood and looked towards the door of Kaede’s humble home.“What is it, Houshi-sama?” The tips of Sango’s chopsticks rested on her delicate lips as she looked suspiciously at him.
“I sense it too, and it feels ominous.”
“Kaede, what do you think it is?” Miroku looked down at her as she poured the last of the soup into her own bowl. He couldn’t help but be a little irritated by it.
“I cannot say, but I feel a strange familiarity from it. This doesn’t bode well, however, as I can also feel whatever power this is reaching beyond our planes. I have a dark feeling about this.” Kaede paused as she sipped a bit from the edge of her bowl. “Perhaps you should find Inuyasha and search it out. Though I’d be surprised if he went along without a fuss.” She narrowed her eyes with an annoyed expression.
“Other.. planes?” Sango looked a bit taken aback, after all, she hadn’t felt a thing.
“Yes, it is believed that there are other levels of existence outside of our own with their own creatures and powers. Some are known in old stories to have tried to reach our own plane, knowing that our weapons cannot destroy them. It gives them a great advantage over us.” Miroku settled himself back onto the floor pensively as he closed his eyes in thought, listening quietly to Kaede’s speech.
“But, then how could they get here?” Sango was watching Miroku in his thoughtfulness. She had to admit, there was something charming about him when he was acting serious. She suddenly found that her cheeks were growing a bit warm and looked sharply away.
“I truly have no idea. But I think we just felt the first gateway opening.” As she spoke, the solemn tones in Kaede’s voice added weight to their meaning.
“Then we will have to do something about it. Naraku is enough to worry about on his own.” Miroku rubbed the back of his cursed hand as he looked towards Sango. If only touching her was a cure, he would have long been saved. A guilty smile happened over his lips.
“Do you suppose Naraku has something to do with this himself?”
“Let’s hope not, Sango.” Miroku was suddenly beside her with his hand in its most favorite spot of all.
“Of all the timing!” Sango’s hackles shot up as she reared back and struck the houshi. The force of it left a trail of bright red, pulsing skin in the shape of a hand-print across his swollen cheek.
“What’s going on?” Shippo stirred and looked up at the two with sleepy eyes.
“Miroku-san, really now.” Kaede sipped the last of her broth down and shook her head. “I hope it was worth it.”
Miroku’s eyes spun in his head as he slipped backwards unconscious.
“Jeez, Sango. How hard did you hit him anyway?” Shippo rubbed his eyes sleepily as he sat upright.
“He deserved it!” She hollered defensively. “Maybe it was a little more than I meant to do, though.” The last of it was almost a whisper as she slunk a few paces further away from the lecherous monk, just in case.
“In any event, we have more serious concerns to worry about now.” Kaede sighed darkly and stared off into the fire.
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