InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daybreak ❯ The Pain of Separation ( Chapter 13 )

A/N: Once again, HUGE thanks to Lunabell, winggoddess916, Silver Dog of the Snow and Laur for your continuing support! The prancing was exquisite this time. I got out a tambourine… ok, not really :P

 

Lunabell- Yeah, Kouga is majorly irritating, but I still like him as a character! Hmm… maybe someone should put him in his place…!

 

Winggoddesss916- Miroku's a great character, isn't he? We desperately need him in sad chapters to break the tension!

 

Silver Dog of the Snow- No! I'm keeping an eye on that canary! And yes, I would like a chocolate chip cookie. *takes one* Thank you! ;)

 

Laur- Yay! Although addictions are usually classed as bad, I'm so happy! Thank you so much for your reviews and chocolate! Mmmm… Chocolate. Nothing better!

 

Don't own Inuyasha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 13- Pain of Separation

 

Naraku twisted the black glass jar in his fingers and listened to the jewel rolling around inside it.

 

It had worked perfectly. Kagome hadn't felt anything coming from the shikon no tama thanks to the youki covering fuyouheki jar. Remaining undetected had allowed him to watch the battle closely and pick the precise moment to intervene. Onigumo was furious afterwards when he realised he had merely been the distraction for Inuyasha and his friends, getting them to the point when they had their backs to the wall. He would have been more than satisfied with just killing them all and escaping with Kagome. The fool had his mind too much set on his own blood lust and desires. Of course, Naraku had seen this before he sent the newly made hanyou to do battle with them and used Onigumo's ruthlessness to his advantage. Now he was that much closer to achieving his main plan.

 

The time pearl.

 

Of course, any human would have been fine, but you might as well inflict as much damage on your way to power as possible. Namely, separating Inuyasha from Kagome. By taking someone from the group he could see how easy it would be to break them apart. But the best candidate was easily Kagome with her connection to the disgusting half breed. Not to mention her spiritual powers that would come in handy if he kept them under control. And that control came in the form of the threat of setting Onigumo out to kill off the rest of her group. And she knew it was possible. Naraku made sure she got a good look at the tenacity of the wild thief before he stopped him. She was in a checkmate and she had no choice but to follow his orders dutifully or her friends die. And no doubt her group was missing her, especially Inuyasha. The thought of having her near Onigumo must be sheer agony.

 

Naraku chuckled to himself and stopped to look at the jar before putting it back inside his robes. Thundering footsteps were echoing down the castle's hallway heading towards his room. Naraku got himself comfortable and looked to the door. It was time to mess with his other amusement that was in agony.

 

Onigumo roughly slid open the shouji screen and fell on his knees in front of Naraku. His blue hands were gripping his hakama so tightly, the material started to rip. The wild thief kept staring at the dark hanyou, drawing in deep breaths through his nose. Naraku watched pleasantly, enjoying the tense atmosphere. His guest finally opened his mouth.

 

“Naraku!” he hissed. “Why won't you let me near her?!”

 

Naraku did his best to hide his smile. He loved tormenting this man. “Because there is a time and a place for everything, Onigumo. Besides, I have my uses of her and I can't let your own selfishness get in the way of that.”

 

“Ugh, another plan, is it?” cried Onigumo exasperated. “You can never get straight into it, can you?”

 

Naraku laughed quietly. “No, there is an art to true torture I have all but mastered. And it requires patience. Something you do not have.”

 

“Hah!” scoffed Onigumo, out of breath. “You act like that's a bad thing!”

 

Naraku stared at the man quietly and waited. After realising his `companion' had nothing more to say, Onigumo leant forward, baring his fanged teeth. “Why won't you let me near her?!” he asked desperately.

 

Naraku made sure to show no sign of emotion, knowing it would send the thief crazy. “Right now I have my uses of her,” he said in a dark voice, his lips barely moving. “But how about this…” he leaned forward ever so slightly so that the tension between them thickened immeasurably. “The second I am done with her, she will be yours to do with as you wish.”

 

Onigumo swallowed subtly, but kept his glare focused on the dark hanyou.

 

“Give this to Kagome and bring her here,” Naraku ordered quietly, holding out a parcel.

 

Onigumo smiled sarcastically. “What? You're letting me see her?”

 

Naraku smiled back. “You know the stakes if you misbehave. Don't forget, I am the one in control.”

 

Onigumo breathed heavily in quiet anger and snatched the parcel out of Naraku's hand before turning away and storming to the screen.

 

“I know you're not used to living under another person's control, Onigumo,” said Naraku lazily. Onigumo stopped with his hand on the door. “But here's a little motivation for you; the sooner the plan has been completed, the sooner you can have Kagome all to yourself.”

 

 

*****

 

 

Kagome looked around the beautifully decorated room for what felt like the millionth time. Delicate gold and black scrolls hung around the walls, matching the pottery settled on the cabinet on the far side of the room that boasted a beautiful flower arrangement. For a second, she felt like she was back in Hojo's - no - Onigumo's castle. Kagome shifted her legs on the tatami mat and looked out the window. Sure enough the huge, endless, rocky mountains were still there. Immense, dark and foreboding. It had been three days since she had been here and the second she woke, she could tell how high up they were in the mountains. The air was significantly thinner here.

 

Kagome looked away from the depressing sight of the dark ranges. Three days. She had been stuck in this room for three days. She had no idea why she was here. It didn't make any sense. Naraku hadn't even taken away her shikon shards yet! She tucked her knees under her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs as her mind filled with the same worries she had had repeatedly for the past few days. Was Inuyasha and the others alright? Shippou had been hit pretty hard… Were they worried? Was Inuyasha mad? Kagome put a hand to her forehead. No doubt he would be furious…

 

Kagome shook her head and slapped her cheeks. No! She couldn't think about that! She knew her decision was going to hurt him before, so she couldn't keep feeling guilty about it! What else was she supposed to do in that situation? Just say no and let Onigumo or Naraku kill him?! What else could he expect her to do?! Stupid Inuyasha!

 

Kagome's angry thoughts were interrupted by her shouji screen sliding open. She looked up to see Onigumo close the screen behind him, some sort of package under his arm. He never took his eyes off her. Kagome tensed. She had been dreading him coming. Especially since she didn't have her bow or arrows with her in case she needed to defend herself.

 

“Here, a special delivery,” said Onigumo as he threw the parcel on her lap. It felt soft, like there were clothes inside. She looked up, confused. Her clothes were perfectly fine apart from a few tears here and there.

 

Onigumo caught her look and smiled mockingly. “Naraku wants you to help him. That was the deal wasn't it? Or he sets me on your weak hanyou again…”

 

Kagome cringed as she thought back to the horrific beating Onigumo gave Inuyasha. She knew he healed fast as a hanyou, but with those wounds? It had only been three days and she doubted he would have recovered fully from that fight yet. If Onigumo went after him now, there was no way Inuyasha would be able stop him.

 

Kagome looked down at the parcel of clothes and then back up to the mismatched hanyou. Already his face was becoming further and further away from Hojo's. The body was becoming his completely. Onigumo had his arms crossed and looked down at her expectantly. Kagome's eyes narrowed.

 

“I'm not getting changed in front of you!”

 

“Well, it was worth a shot,” he grinned, baring his fangs. “Don't worry,” he said as he walked to the wall in front of her and knelt down, resting his back against it. “I'm not gonna touch you. At least not yet.”

 

Kagome crossed her arms and glared at him. “What do you want?”

 

“We're not allowed to sit in each other's presence?” Onigumo asked innocently. “I already told you I'm not gonna do anything. Besides…” He paused, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply through his nose. “Since I became a hanyou I noticed what an intriguing smell you have. I haven't smelt it for three days, so I'm just going to stay here for a bit.”

 

Kagome continued to stare angrily at him as he sat with his head against the wall, breathing slowly. She had been so cautious before, she hadn't noticed his erratic breathing up until now. His breaths finally slowed down.

 

“How did you do it?” she demanded abruptly. He cracked open an eye at her and raised an eyebrow. A silent signal for her to elaborate.

 

“How did you become a hanyou?” she continued, hoping the answer wasn't what she thought it was. Onigumo chuckled smugly.

 

“Like I said back at the village; desire. If you have enough desire you can bind any pieces of youkai to you. I'm not the same as Naraku. I'm made slightly differently in the fact that I haven't swallowed whole youkai. I've taken the strongest pieces and bound them to my cravings, to Hojo's cravings-”

 

“Hojo-kun isn't the type to have cravings,” said Kagome darkly.

 

“True, he is surprisingly innocent. You know, the furthest he ever got thinking about you was how plump your lips were. He was always too embarrassed to go any further than that, even in his mind!” Onigumo snickered, lost in his own thoughts. Kagome blushed, a little surprised, a little guilty. She had thought about worse things than Inuyasha's lips. Like his chest, his smouldering eyes, his thick masculine arms…

 

“So because he was so innocent in his desire,” Onigumo continued, bringing an embarrassed Kagome out of her shameful daydream. “When I got control of his soul and thoughts, I had to twist them a little darker. Like Naraku when he bound the youkai together to my original soul because it had that unrelenting, burning desire for Kikyou, I've done the same with my reincarnation's soul.”

 

He lifted up his blue arm and flexed it. “Mind you, my way is better. Only adding pieces of youkai still keeps you in control of it all. Not allowing yourself to be consumed completely. That was a mistake I learnt from last time.”

 

Kagome sat silently watching him as he looked up and smiled. “So you see Kagome, all I had to do was bind the youkai to the gaping, yearning desire of mine and Hojo's.”

 

“Hojo-kun is not the same as you,” she hissed.

 

“And yet we are born of the same soul. How ironic…”

 

Kagome looked down, lost in her thoughts. How could it be that Hojo was born from Onigumo's horrible soul? Well, it wasn't like she and Kikyou were the same person. Opposites at that. So perhaps it didn't matter what person you were in your past life. When you are reborn, the slate is wiped clean.

 

“So, do you have any other questions?”

 

Kagome jumped and looked to Onigumo. “What?”

 

“Don't you wanna know why he's keeping you alive?” he asked, looking at her almost bored. “Naraku's still the one calling the shots. Even if I've become a hanyou, I'm still no match for that bastard.” His eyes darkened and he bared his fangs in a sneer. “But don't worry. I plan on changing that. I was never meant to take orders from some pain in the ass self-made hanyou. I'm meant to live freely like I did when I was alive.”

 

Kagome glared and kept silent, although all she wanted to do was point out that way of thinking landed him burnt and paralysed in Kikyou's care. Instead, she shrugged her shoulders. “He must have some plan for me, that's all I can think of.”

 

“Heh, him and his fucking plans…” cursed Onigumo quietly. He sat staring into space for a moment before standing up and heading for the door.

 

“He wants you to put them on and go see him. Kanna will take you.” His hand stopped on the screen as he turned around.

 

“You smell good enough to eat, you know that?” With a flash of a fanged smile, he was gone, leaving Kagome absent-mindedly looking down at her package.

 

`Inuyasha…'

 

 

*****

 

 

“Inuyasha, I've been thinking, I wouldn't worry about Kagome-sama. Naraku usually fears her powers and wouldn't take her away alive unless he has some use for her. Besides, she is a mysteriously powerful young woman and I'm sure she could defend herself if need be.”

 

Inuyasha stared straight ahead and continued his fast pace, sniffing the air around him. Miroku sighed to himself. It was hard to tell if his words had any effect on the hanyou who seemed hell bent on sniffing the entire province by nightfall. They had been going at break neck speed for the past four hours (since they had finished lunch), and Miroku wondered if there was a way to get him to stop some time soon. He glanced at Sango who was walking briskly along his side. She caught his eyes and smiled grimly.

 

During the three days Inuyasha was unconscious they had made the decision not to tell him about Kagome's bargain with Naraku. Thankfully (well, not exactly thankfully), Inuyasha had been completely knocked out by the time Naraku came to offer Kagome the deal: To come with him quietly, or Inuyasha dies. Miroku cringed at the memory and looked at the back of the busy hanyou. If Inuyasha found out about the sacrifice Kagome made to guarantee his safety, the guilt would eat away at him, even more than it was now.

 

Inuyasha stopped and lifted his head to sniff the wind.

 

“THERE!!” he shouted as he bolted off into the trees.

 

“Quickly, Houshi-sama!” cried Sango, hopping onto the transformed Kirara. Making sure Shippou was holding onto his back tightly, the monk jumped onto the cat behind the taijiya. Kirara followed after the red blur and together they streaked their way through the forest.

 

“Inuyasha!” called Miroku. “What do you smell?”

 

“Naraku!” he answered. “It's faint, but it's definitely him!”

 

Before they could exclaim their surprise, Inuyasha sprinted ahead of them entering a clearing. He stood in the middle and looked around sniffing the air. Miroku and the others came up beside him. The monk looked the hanyou up and down.

 

If he hadn't been travelling with him for so long, he wouldn't have thought anything was wrong. But Inuyasha was standing just a little too hunched over and he was breathing heavier. Miroku saw sweat beginning to form on the sides of his head beneath his snow white hair. `He still isn't recovered' he thought, irritated. He was always pushing himself.

 

“Naraku, you say?” asked Sango. “He's here?”

 

“I can't sense any strong youki,” said Miroku shaking his head. He felt Shippou tug on his shoulder.

 

“Miroku, that bush is trying to get away,” the kitsune said pointing.

 

Everyone turned to see a little bush with stubby legs slowly waddle towards the edge of the clearing. Inuyasha took three swift steps and slammed his fist through the top of the bush. There was a gurgled sort of cry as the hanyou lifted his hand out of the leaves, revealing his hand enclosed around the throat of a strange looking animal.

 

“You! How did you see through my disguise?!” the little creature wheezed.

 

“You actually thought you would get away like that?” said Miroku surprised.

 

“You actually thought that was a disguise?” asked Sango.

 

“You stink like Naraku!” growled Inuyasha holding the creature up to his nose. “Who are you?”

 

“I-I am but a humble itachi, sir! Nothing more!” he cried.

 

“A weasel youkai?” murmured Sango as she hopped off of Kirara's back.

 

“Please O Great Master Inuyasha-sama!” said the itachi placing his hands together, begging. “I have done nothing wrong! Please put me down!”

 

“Hey! How do you know who I am?!” yelled Inuyasha. The weasel squeaked.

 

“I- I know everyone! With you is the monk with a hole in his hand,” he said nodding towards Miroku. “As well as a taijiya and her cat youkai,” looking towards Sango. He pointed to Shippou. “And the little fox who lost his father. You're also supposed to have a miko with strange clothing, but she's not here…”

 

Inuyasha shook the youkai angrily. “How do you know about us?!”

 

“I-I know everything I can learn!” he chocked. “That's what weasel youkai do! We gather as much information as possible!”

 

“Of course!” exclaimed Sango. `Itachi youkai are famous for their wily ways of gathering gossip for their own purposes. Their techniques allow them to eavesdrop on your conversations without you noticing you're being watched.”

 

“Let him down, Inuyasha,” said Miroku raising his hand calmly. “He might be able to help us.”

 

Inuyasha sniffed and roughly threw the weasel to the ground.

 

“How dare you!” the little weasel huffed, rubbing his behind. “I, the most informed of all itachi youkai and who knows everything and everyone of the youkai kingdom, should not be treated like this!”

 

Inuyasha lowered his voice. “You wanna be treated by my fist?”

 

The weasel squeaked and became silent. Inuyasha narrowed his eyebrows. “Why do you smell like Naraku?”

“N-Naraku…?” the weasel repeated. “I have no idea who you're talking about…”

 

“But didn't you just say you know everything and everyone of the youkai kingdom?” pointed out Shippou.

 

The weasel began to laugh nervously. “Ahahaha… well, you see…”

 

Inuyasha, with a vein popping out the side of his head, smashed his fist against the weasel's skull again. “Tell us what you were doing together!” he shouted.

 

“Eep! Alright! Alright! He was looking for some information!!” cried the itachi rubbing his head. “He was rough about it too…”

 

“What sort of information, Itachi-sama?” asked Miroku, kneeling down beside him politely. The weasel sighed.

 

“He wanted information about some sort of pearl.”

 

Miroku's eyes widened. It had to be the time pearl! Was it possible this youkai knew something else about it they didn't?

 

“The time pearl?” he asked, wanting to be sure. The weasel looked at him and nodded.

 

“What did you tell him?” asked Inuyasha gruffly, his arms crossed.

 

“I-I told him that there's only one left… a-and that the size of the pearl determines how far back in the past you go and for how long… and, um… youkai can't touch the pearls without being transported…”

 

Miroku stopped him. “You said `youkai can't touch the pearl'. What about humans?”

The itachi looked around nervously and continued in hushed voice. “I've heard rumours that humans aren't affected by the pearl's youkai power.”

 

“Meaning?” urged Miroku. The weasel youkai licked his lips.

 

“Meaning humans can touch the pearl and not get transported back in time.”

 

Miroku was pretty sure everyone's hearts stopped at the same time. This was it. This was the missing piece to Kagome's abduction! Miroku turned to meet Inuyasha's furious, widened eyes.

 

“He took Kagome-sama to get the pearl,” he whispered.

 

“Does he have the time pearl yet?!” demanded Inuyasha.

 

“No-! No one knows where it-!” The weasel froze in mid sentence and clutched his heart. Suddenly, he was guttering and convulsing. His body shook on the ground as he loudly chocked up foam from his mouth. Everyone stood back in horror as the flesh bulged around his shoulder, like something was crawling under his skin. With a horrific tearing sound, a sickly yellow poisonous wasp burst out from the youkai and flew away into the sky. Miroku looked down at the weasel's body, a large gaping hole spreading over most of his chest.

 

“He said… weasels weren't the… only things… that were… sneaky…” choked the weasel before his eyes locked in place and his breathing stopped. His body slowly started to disintegrate. Miroku bowed his head and gave a quick prayer. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Inuyasha trembling with - what seemed to be- rage.

 

“It seems Naraku is trying to cover all his bases,” said Miroku grimly.

 

“So he laid an egg inside him…” whispered Sango.

 

Inuyasha swung his fist to collide it with a tree trunk. Bits of wood splintered off.

 

“That bastard!” spat Inuyasha shaking. “He's always doing stuff like this! Always messing with people for his enjoyment!”

 

“As horrible as it was,” said Miroku. “At least we know why he took Kagome-sama; he needs her to get the pearl and to keep it until he is ready to use it.”

 

“But surely any human would have been fine!” cried Sango.

 

“No,” said Inuyasha, his back to them. “He likes messing with his enemies, us, the most. Besides…”

 

He didn't finish his sentence. Everyone was thinking the same thing. `Besides, she is the human Onigumo wants. Two birds with one stone.'

 

They stood silent for a minute letting their heads get around the new information.

 

“Well!” said Miroku stretching his back. “At least now we know what our next step is!”

 

Everyone turned and looked at him inquisitively.

 

“What's that?” asked Shippou, still hanging over his shoulder. Miroku smiled heartily the first time in three days.

 

“We get that time pearl before Naraku does and we're bound to run into him and Kagome-sama!” Miroku raised his fist in excitement.

 

“I think it's time we visit our friend Housenki-dono again.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: And so our heroes are getting back on their feet. And Kagome is temporarily safe from the maniac! Yay!

 

Hassle me if I'm not writing fast enough!

 

And again, to everyone who read this chappie: thank you!

 

xx GoldenDust