InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daybreak ❯ Return of the Spider ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: for those who don't know, hebi is Japanese for “snake”.

Huge thanks to Feulner for the fanart which I love as usual! And big thanks to Sovereignty for the review! I don't own Inuyasha.

 

 

 

Chapter 6- Return of the Spider

 

Hojo's conscious drifted in a sea of nothingness. He couldn't breathe, yet he didn't need to. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear. He couldn't feel.

 

What had happened?

 

That's right…

 

He had landed in the bottom of the well. The second he swung his legs over and jumped, he had felt the most amazing sensation. It was something holy… something ancient, powerful and warm. It sent tingles throughout his body. And then it had stopped when his feet touched the gravel at the bottom. He could feel the wind blowing again and looked up.

 

There was blue sky where the roof of the well house should have been…

 

Grabbing onto some vines, he pulled himself out and nearly passed out at the scenery before him. He was in the middle of a clearing. A clearing in what looked like the middle of a forest. In confusion, he had called out her name, Kagome's name, in hope of her answering. When he was met with nothing but the wild bird calls of the woods, he began to wander. Not far. He made sure to keep the well in his sight. He made sure to remember which trees and rocks he passed so he could find his way back. But when he turned around, the well, the clearing wasn't there. Despite his efforts, he had gotten lost.

 

He had tried to find his way back, tried to retrace his steps, but it seemed he only went deeper into the forest. Then the night had come. But he still kept going, hoping to find the well again. And then… what had happened next…?

 

Yes, then he was attacked by some hideous monster with sickly blue skin and fangs dripping in saliva. The thing had swiped at his back, ripping his shirt to shreds. In desperation he ran. He was weak from hunger. Drained and fatigued. He thought he was going to die. And then…

 

He met That Man.

 

The Man with the long black hair and dark eyes that seemed to glow.

 

He had fallen at The Man's feet in exhaustion. He could feel the monster coming from behind. Run! He had yelled at the man. Get away from here! The Man had simply stared down at him as the monster approached. Then something lashed out from The Man's back, completely severing the monster's head from its body. Everything went black. He must have fainted.

 

When he awoke again he was lying in a cave. At least it had seemed like one. Light from a small fire was flickering off the rocky walls. The Man was there. He spoke suddenly.

 

What is your name?

 

I-I am Hojo… And you?

 

The Man remained silent, his eyes glowing sinisterly. Hojo had cleared his throat nervously.

 

Um, would you happen to know a girl called Kagome…?

 

The man's eyes gleamed. You are a friend of Kagome…

 

Yes! So you do know her?

 

Yes… The Man smiled to himself. I know her…

 

Then The Man had asked all sorts of things. About his world. About his school. How he knew Kagome. He even asked about his birthmark on his back. It had been revealed from when his shirt was ripped apart by the monster. The Spider birthmark… Hojo had always hated it. Since he was born he had hated it. He had always kept it hidden away, ashamed.

 

Do you believe in reincarnation, Hojo?

 

He replied he hadn't ever thought about it, but had heard of it. The Man had smiled.

 

You're about to see if it's real.

 

The Man leaned over and pressed a finger to his head. Then darkness closed in.

 

There were now only flashes of reality that woke him from the dark prison of emptiness. The Man with the glowing eyes. Monster snakes with red tubes coming out of their mouths. Kagome's face smiling. The Inuyasha guy glaring. Kagome screaming his name in horror.

 

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

 

He once again drifted unconscious.

 

 

*****

 

 

Inuyasha and Kagome stared from the remains of the room at the young man standing before them.

 

I am Onigumo.

 

“No…” whispered Kagome as she desperately clutched Inuyasha's haori. “You can't… you can't be Hojo…”

 

The man with Hojo's face started laughing. “Didn't I just say that? Oh, Kagome, your horrified face is fantastic!” His eyes darkened with lust as the flickering orange light of the fires danced in shadows across his face. “Especially how your lips are hanging apart…”

 

Inuyasha snarled and pulled her tighter into his chest. Miroku and Sango, a few feet behind their comrades, crouched into their stances.

 

“You bastard,” rumbled Inuyasha. “How did you get out? Naraku trying to get rid of you again?”

 

Hojo's face turned to look at Inuyasha with disdain. “Hm. Something like that. Mind you it's more beneficial for me than him. Well, that's my opinion at least.”

 

“Onigumo…” murmured Miroku. “How is this possible?”

 

Onigumo ran a hand through his hair and sat down on a smooth boulder, smirking.

“How is it possible? Well, it's all possible thanks to my reincarnation.”

 

Sango gripped her hiraikotsu with a sweaty hand. “That boy… Hojo… is your reincarnation?”

 

“What happened to Hojo-kun?!” cried Kagome. Inuyasha felt a small twinge of irritation in his chest, but ignored it.

 

Onigumo picked up a small mirror, a large crack down its middle, and began investigating the large bruise developing on his forehead. The remnants from Inuyasha's head butting. “Like I said before. He's no longer in control.”

 

They watched as he recoiled from pressing too hard on the lump. “There you were Kagome, standing on top of the shrine stairs with your hands on your hips, sitting that jerk-off, Inuyasha. And Hojo was thinking to himself, how frighteningly pretty you look when you're angry.”

 

Onigumo rested his eyes on her. “He was so determined to return the shard to you, he even crept into your shrine to find you. But he didn't find you, did he? Instead he found an empty well.” He chuckled. “The Shikon no Tama is an amazing device to even allow time travel.”

 

He looked up at the four of them, pleased with the attention his audience was giving. “So anyway, he's running from a mountain oni after walking for who knows how long and who should he run into but Naraku in the flesh. That's when I came in.”

 

He flicked the mirror around in thought before throwing it to the far side of the rubble, shattering it to pieces. Snake youkai slithered into view from behind the bushes and rocks to leer at the four of them. The saimyoushou buzzed quietly in the sky above them. Inuyasha glanced at the creatures out of the corner of his eye before returning his attention to the young lord. Sango and Miroku turned to face the youkai standing stationary behind them.

 

“We're surrounded!” gritted Sango. Inuyasha could feel Kagome's hand tightening on his haori.

 

“Don't worry,” said Onigumo, almost bored. “They won't attack unless they're told to.”

 

The hanyou narrowed his eyes. “So you sent the youkai. I'll bet Naraku gave you a castle and youkai to control just for this. This was all planned!”

 

“Of course. The castle being under attack by my hebi-youkai was all part of the strategy to get you guys out here.” He closed his eyes and dropped his head back enjoying a cool breeze that swept through the wreckage. “Ah, it's good to be alive again.”

 

“What has happened to Hojo-kun, Onimgumo?!” asked Kagome bravely.

 

Hojo's eye cracked open a little to look at her. “There's only room for one controlling force in one mind.”

 

“But doesn't Naraku need you as an anchor to hold all his youkai powers together? How did he get rid of you?” demanded Miroku.

 

Their nemesis frowned. “Hmph. It's not like I know everything. He and I still don't like each other, if you get what I mean.” Onigumo lowered his eyes and grumbled. “If that Naraku bastard had told me about Inuyasha's ability to break barriers, I would have already got what I came for by now…”

 

“You're despicable!” spat Sango. “You wanted the Shikon shards and thought to attack Kagome-chan just because she was there?!”

 

“Stupid,” said Onigumo looking at the demon slayer. “You've got it the wrong way around.”

 

Kagome stared at him in confusion. Inuyasha stood rooted to the ground. His shoulders sagged as the young lord's words slowly sunk in.

 

“So all this…” he started shaking. “To get…”

 

Hojo's face grinned as he brought up his hand to casually scratch the back of his head. “Yeah, that's right. I figure, if I couldn't have Kikyou in the past, I should at least be entitled to her in another form.”

 

“But I'm not Kikyou!” screamed Kagome.

 

“Either way, it doesn't matter,” said Onigumo smiling coldly. “Why? Because I now have every thought of Hojo's in my head. I've seen his desires, why he likes you, what he thinks of you. Every memory, every thought he has had of you is now mine. In other words…”

 

He paused, looking her up and down slowly as he stood up. “The second I took over my reincarnation's body, I started wanting you, Kagome…”

 

Inuyasha's nostrils flared.

 

“DON'T EVEN FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT!!” He shouted as he pushed Kagome behind him and raised the tessaiga.

 

“KAZE NO KIZU!!”

 

He barely heard Kagome yell out his name as the blades of light dug into the ground towards his hated enemy. Suddenly streaks of green and red launched themselves from around the group to land in the wake of the attack. The wall of snake youkai were ripped to pieces whilst their master remained untouched behind them. Hojo's eyes gleamed.

 

“What…? They shielded him!” gaped Miroku.

 

“Hah!” sneered Inuyasha. “Despite you having a new body, you're still just a weak fucking human. The only thing you got going for you are those hebi youkai, and they were all just slashed to pieces!”

 

Onigumo glared at the exalted hanyou. “Yes, I don't have those youkai abilities like I did the last time I was released.”

 

“And now, you ain't got anything else but those flying bugs to fight with!” grinned Inuyasha victoriously. He raised his sword above his head.

 

“Prepare to fucking die, Onigumo!”

 

“Inuyasha, NO!!”

 

He felt the fragile arms of Kagome wrap around his waist as she tried to hold him back. “You can't kill him! You can't hurt Hojo-kun's body! He's still in there!”

 

“Kagome! Let go!” he shouted. “Hojo is dead!”

 

“Actually, he's somewhere back here,” said Onigumo pointing to the back of his head. “He's sealed away. Sleeping. So feel free to kill me, Inuyasha, if you're alright killing one of Kagome's dear friends.”

 

Inuyasha glowered as his hands shook with the tessaiga over his head. His fangs dug into his lips, drawing blood. He wanted to kill him. Oh God, he wanted to murder the bastard. This man was the cause for everything horrible in his life and those around him. Why couldn't Kagome see this was for her own protection?! The blood trickled down his chin. But if that Hojo guy was still alive in there… If he wasn't such a bad guy like Kagome had said…

 

Would she ever forgive him?

 

“Please, Inuyasha…” begged Kagome into his back.

 

Seemingly satisfied with Inuyasha's inner torment, Onigumo snapped his fingers. The insects descended on him.

 

“Well, it's been fun, but I'll have to call it a night. Besides, I need to grow more of my army after that wonderful attack of yours, Inuyasha,” he said as the bugs lifted him off the ground.

 

“Where're you running off to, coward?” yelled Inuyasha.

 

Onigumo sniffed. “I'm not being a coward. This is a necessary withdrawal. Considering I need to plan how to kill you, Inuyasha, when the next chance comes. Unfortunately I didn't get what I came for, so there's no need to tell you we'll be meeting again.” His eyes darkened as they landed on the young girl clutching at the hanyou's side. “Especially you Kagome. I'm not about to let another woman I want get away.”

 

“And don't worry!” he called over his shoulders as they flew off into the black of the night sky. “I'll take good care of Hojo-kun's body!”

 

 

*****

 

 

Kagome sat on a rock, her arm wrapped around her knees, as she watched the others dig the final grave.

 

She gazed at Inuyasha as he spaded more soil out of the grave. The pink morning sunlight seemed to glow off his silver white hair. She saw the occasional flash of his thick toned forearms come into view with every sway of his sleeves. His eyebrows were knotted together. He still looked angry from last night.

 

Kagome hugged her knees tighter. She had never seen Inuyasha look so angry. When he came tearing through the roof, his face was so distorted with murderous rage, she was half afraid of him turning into his youkai self. That was how livid he had looked.

 

Kagome tried to wipe the uncomfortable memory away. It wasn't because she was attacked (she surprisingly wasn't upset at all about that), but because of the position Inuyasha saw her in. Flat on her back with a man lying on top of her, trying to untie her clothes. At first she was frightened he wouldn't want to look at her again, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect, much to her relief.

 

She had changed back into her uniform as soon as she had returned to her room with Sango to made sure Shippou and Kirara were alright. She wasn't too surprised to see Myouga sticking his head warily out of Shippou's tail, arguing he was only making sure the child was safe in case the danger came to them. The five of them had returned to the remains of the silent grounds and saw the men had begun to dig graves for the dead soldiers and maids.

 

Kagome had offered to help fill in the holes of the deceased, but Inuyasha had refused, saying she shouldn't do anything too strenuous for her. She had frowned and said she would go look for some flowers instead to pay respect to them. The hanyou was even more against that, telling her he refused to let her out of his sight in case Onigumo attacked again. Highly doubting that, she had shrugged her shoulders in frustration and said she would head back to the castle to find some food. They had remained awake all night and with the soft light glowing from the horizon, she figured she should at least find them breakfast.

 

She had nearly sat her beloved idiot to kingdom come when he tried to stop her doing that. Luckily, Sango agreed to accompany Kagome, along with Kirara and Shippou to search the castle. Inuyasha had reluctantly agreed, finally. Kagome was relieved to find sacks upon sacks of rice and roasted seaweed in the storehouse around the back of the main building. They had all eaten ravenously around a small campfire as they took a break from the burying.

 

Now she watched quietly, exhausted from the lack of sleep and the events of the night, while the other three laid the last body in the hole. Kagome was replaying everything she learnt last night. She still couldn't believe that Hojo was the reincarnation of Onigumo. What were the chances of that? And now Hojo's body had become completely overtaken by the wild thief.

 

Hojo…

 

She always knew Hojo liked her. She had just never felt the same way. But did he really have those sorts of thoughts about her? Kagome frowned at herself. Of course, he didn't! Hojo was a good person. He had a crush on her, she knew that, but he would never have those evil thoughts about her. It was all Onigumo. She knew it was. Only Onigumo could think of something like that and then act upon it.

 

She looked up to see the others walking back to her while Miroku finished blessing the final grave. She stood up eagerly. It was time to be helpful!

 

“Would you guys like some tea? We found heaps of dried leaves in the storehouse.”

 

“That sounds good, Kagome-chan,” agreed Sango.

 

“Can we trust that stuff?” asked Inuyasha, eyeing off the packets of tea Kagome was preparing. “You don't know what that guy might have done to it.”

 

“Sniff it and see,” she suggested.

 

Inuyasha's face turned pink. “Why you-! I'm not a dog!!”

 

“Yeah, he's half dog,” reminded Shippou as he sucked on his lollypop.

“Shaddup, runt!”

 

“I'm impressed we're all still this spirited in the morning,” commented the monk as he sat down to join them.

 

“All this fuss over tea,” sighed Sango.

 

“Miroku-sama, are you all done?” asked Kagome as she watched the water boil over the fire.

 

“Yes, everyone's been properly seen off to the otherworld,” he answered. “But after we finish our tea, I think it would be best if we head off. The villagers from down the hill might be coming to see their lord soon.”

 

“So,” started Inuyasha. “What do you say we should do next?”

 

“First,” said the monk. “I'd like to find out how Naraku has managed to sever Onigumo from his body.”

 

“Perhaps he's found a new technique?” offered Shippou.

 

“Technique?” echoed Kagome.

 

“Well, remember how Naraku managed to find a way to separate his heart from his body at Mt Hakurei?” said Sango. “Maybe he's found a new technique to separate his soul as well. The baby, his heart and Onigumo, his soul.”

 

Miroku shook his head and took the mug Kagome offered him. “Thank you Kagome-sama. No, I had thought of that, but I don't think so” he said. “That's what he tried before and it failed. Even with the Shikon no Tama, he couldn't do it. Muso -what Onigumo called himself then- had to be reabsorbed to prevent Naraku from falling apart.”

 

“I have a theory,” announced the little flea on Kagome's shoulder.

 

“What is it, Myouga Jii-chan?” asked Kagome.

 

“As far as we know, it's not like Naraku had to get rid of any pieces of flesh this time. It is possible he merely transferred the conscious of Onigumo into Hojo's body, while keeping Onigumo's soul inside his own.”

 

“Transferred the conscious?” asked Shippou.

 

“Go on,” encouraged Miroku.

 

The flea crossed both pairs of arms and looked down in thought. “There are two souls of Onigumo in this era. One in Hojo's body -the reincarnation- and one in Naraku's body -the original. Naraku must have been able to transfer the conscious -the mind- of Onigumo into Hojo's body while keeping the original soul to himself. Now Hojo's body, with Onigumo's reincarnated soul, has two consciouses; Hojo's and Onigumo's.”

 

“So you're saying the two consciouses are surviving on one soul alone?” asked Sango.

 

“Not surviving,” said Inuyasha, looking towards the direction Onigumo disappeared. “Did you hear what he said? Onigumo is the one controlling everything. That Hojo loser is too weak to fight back. He's been stored away. He ain't living at the moment.”

 

Kagome looked miserably into her tea. How could this have happened? Poor Hojo. He got involved because of her! She swallowed a lump in her throat. No, Inuyasha will save him. They will all find a way to get Hojo back.

 

“So no wonder Onigumo knew everything about our past together,” she said. “He has Hojo's mind.”

 

“Yes,” said Myouga gravely. “Onigumo has every thought, every memory of Hojo's. And now the two consciouses are fusing together. He wants what Hojo wants.”

 

 

*****

 

 

What Hojo wants…

 

Inuyasha watched Kagome sling on her backpack. She was chatting away cheerfully to the little kit walking by her feet. Inuyasha lent back on the side of the castle gates and looked up. The sun was now high up in the morning sky. Hachi was transformed behind him and Sango was helping Miroku strap on extra sacks of rice they found in the storehouse.

 

“We are sharing these with the villagers, aren't we Houshi-sama?”

 

“Of course, Sango! That was my intention all along!”

 

Of course, he wasn't paying any attention to the monk's and slayer's conversation. Inuyasha's mind was working in a blur as it churned over all the new information. So that's why he never liked that Hojo guy. He was Onigumo reincarnated! He was practically Naraku in another form! And now the real Onigumo was back and was after Kagome. Not because she was Kikyou, but because she was Kagome. Because that wussy little punk had those thoughts about her! That just made it all the more worse!

 

He thought his heart was going to burst in two when he saw the bastard on top of her. He had never felt any sort of rage like that. He wanted to rip the little fucker to shreds! He had a whirl of shocking images in his head the split second before he released the Cutting Wind. Images of him pulling the bastard apart with his bare claws, leaving only his head remaining so he could hear him scream until the end. He could almost feel his foot crushing the asshole's head under his heel and hear in the satisfying sound of his skull breaking. But he had held back for her. Mind you, he did try to hit the little shit with his Cutting Wind.

 

And the worst part of it all was… he had failed her. He knew there was something evil going on. Onigumo had practically told him that with that sneer at dinner. And the second he took his eyes off of her, she was put in danger! It was way too close for comfort.

 

Never again.

 

Kagome had arrived next to him and smiled. A smile he didn't deserve.

 

“Ready to go, Inuyasha?”

 

He flicked his head away. “Keh! Been ready for ages. Let's go!”

 

He lifted her up onto the yellow body of their transporter, enjoying the whiff of her scent in the wind. They watched solemnly at the castle disappearing among the green forest as they took to the sky. Inuyasha looked at the human girl beside him. His home. He clenched his fists and gazed back at the blue sky.

 

He would protect her.

 

Even if it cost him his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: I'm so sorry it took me longer than usual to get this chapter out. It's just there was so much information I had to assemble so that it made sense and was still entertaining enough. Anyway, I hope it's alright and thanks for being so patient. So the stage is set. I got heaps more ideas for this fic so let's enjoy the ride!

 

 

GoldenDust