InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daybreak ❯ The Race Begins ( Chapter 15 )

A/N: BAD NEWS. Uni has started so the chapters will probably take longer than usual to update. I'm really sorry, but I'm sure you guys understand as we all have lives of our own. But don't worry; there is no way in hell I'm giving up on this story! It's just that waiting periods may increase for you lovely readers (I heart you all <3). But I'll try to get faster once I get used to the new routine.

 

My eternal gratitude to Angel At Risk (thank you!), Ryan99 (new reviewer! YAY!), Laur (I could never leave you!) and Lunabell (I hope he gets her back soon too!). You guys are all so awesome!

 

Inuyasha no mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15- The Race Begins

 

 

He was going to die. Oh God, was he going to die. Despite everything he'd faced in his life (dealing with the impending doom of the air rip, fighting off giant praying mantises, enduring the excruciatingly painful experience of Naraku's shouki) Miroku was sure that this was scarier than anything life had managed to throw at him so far. Well, apart from an angry pre-menstrual Sango (which, in some strange perverted way, he didn't mind too much).

 

The monk kept his eyes lowered to the red hakama sitting a few feet in front of him, hoping this was not one of his last moments on earth. He felt a shiver go down his spine when he heard the quiet rumbling stirring in the hanyou's chest. Strange how it had suddenly become the most threatening, terrifying sound he could possibly imagine right now.

 

He, Sango, Shippou and Kirara sheepishly sat in a straight line opposite their red-clad friend (well he hoped he could still call him `friend') as Inuyasha silently stared at them from under his bangs. Miroku saw Totosai, Myouga and Housenki sitting on the other side of the grassy hill out of the corner of his eye, away from their personal meeting. However, the word `personal' could hardly be used to describe the situation. What with the three old youkai eagerly leaning in, watching, waiting for when the hanyou would erupt.

 

But still it was totally silent.

 

Miroku thought he would risk checking to see if Inuyasha was still glaring at them with murderous intent, but instantly gulped and glued his eyes back on the red hakama when he met furious, humourless, topaz eyes. Miroku felt sweat trickle down the back of his neck. How much more of this silence could he take?!

 

“A deal,” rumbled Inuyasha. His lips barely moved. Miroku almost wept with relief until another thrill of fear reached his stomach from the hard tone of the hanyou's voice.

 

“Yes,” he nodded back.

 

“Naraku came and made a deal with Kagome,” spoke Inuyasha, low and raspy, saying each word slowly and carefully. “That if she didn't go with him, he'd let Onigumo kill me.”

 

Miroku couldn't think of anything else to say but “Yes.”

 

Inuyasha sat in silence, breathing heavily through his nose for another painfully long moment. They could feel him about to snap. `Oh God, here it comes' grimaced Miroku as he closed his eyes for the sudden explosion of fury. Inuyasha suddenly sprung to his feet and twisted himself around to face the wide green field.

 

“KAGOME YOU STUPID BITCH!! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!!?!”

 

The monk stared at the fuming hanyou's back for a second before he registered the outburst wasn't directed at him. “Calm down Inuyasha, it wasn't her fault!” he said sternly as he rose to his feet.

 

“And you!” shouted Inuyasha as he rounded on the monk. “Why didn't you tell me earlier?!”

 

“Because Kagome didn't want us to!”

 

Inuyasha's head snapped towards Sango who jumped at his expression and awkwardly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she stuttered on. “Well, we didn't know this at first; we just went on our gut feeling that she wouldn't want you to know. But here today, she shook her head at us! She never wanted you to find out because she knew how much it would hurt you and worry you!”

 

“Yeah!” agreed Shippou quickly who had yet to say anything. Of course, he was quickly shut up from the death glare Inuyasha sent at him.

 

“Hurt and worry me! Keh!” Inuyasha scoffed. “How stupid! I'm already fucking-!” He suddenly froze as he stopped mid-sentence. “Stupid bitch…” he mumbled as he turned away from them. Miroku sighed and looked to Sango who gave him a sad face in return. Suddenly, Inuyasha flicked his head back around to face them with renewed tenacity.

 

“So he's using me to hold her to ransom?!!”

 

“He's using all of us Inuyasha! If Onigumo comes he will kill all of us off too! I'm sure Kagome is also keeping that in mind!” cried Miroku. Although he was sure this was true (to some extent), he knew Kagome was thinking only of Inuyasha when she made the deal with Naraku. Still, best to try and share the idea of being burdens to Kagome, instead of Inuyasha shouldering it on his own. At least it would lessen Inuyasha's guilt a tiny jot, if anything.

 

Inuyasha's shoulders slumped forward as he looked helplessly to the ground. “She's gone to him…” he murmured quietly. “… put herself in that bastard, Onigumo's hands… because… SHE THINKS I CAN'T HANDLE HIM?!” he roared at the end.

 

Miroku sighed. Okay. So the guilt wasn't showing itself just yet. Right now, he was just pissed. At least he could handle that.

 

“Inuyasha, she was only thinking of the best way to protect you,” argued Sango.

 

“So you don't think I can handle him either?!” he shouted at her, cracking his knuckles dangerously. “Next time we meet, I'll fucking rip that guy apart!!”

 

Totosai's ears perked up from his position away from the scene. “Oh, will you now? It was my understanding you were brutally bashed half to death the last time you saw Onigumo.”

 

“Shut the fuck up and stay the fuck out of it, old man!!” shouted Inuyasha.

 

Totosai shrugged and stretched out his stiff shoulders. “Alright, fine, you go run head-on into battle, but it was that attitude that got Kagome kidnapped, you know.”

 

Inuyasha suddenly stilled, mouth half open as Totosai's words hit him. The fiery anger died in the hanyou's eyes instantly, replaced with a guilty, longing expression. Inuyasha looked away in shame, his trembling hands in fists.

 

“Totosai-dono!” cried Sango, exasperated.

 

“What? It's the truth!” said Totosai simply as he picked wax out of his ear. There was a short pause as everyone tried to think of something to say. Finally Myouga broke the tense atmosphere.

 

“So… Inuyasha-sama, where shall you go now?”

 

“I think that's obvious,” muttered Inuyasha quietly after a while, still looking away from the group's watchful eyes. “We're gonna scour the lands to find that castle ruin. Housenki,” he said, finally raising his head to face the jewel making youkai. “You said the ruins were a long way to the west from your home?”

 

Housenki nodded. “Yes. A long way to the west. That I do remember.”

 

“Then we'll head to your home first and get our bearings from there. Miroku! Can you call Hachi for us to meet us there?”

 

Miroku opened his mouth in surprise at the sudden change of attitude in the hanyou before stuttering out his answer. “Uh, y-yes. That I can do.”

 

“Good. Totosai!” he barked. “Give us your supplies, old man.”

 

“What! That's not fair!” Totosai whined.

 

“It's the least you can do for being such an ass all the time!” shouted Inuyasha.

 

As they continued bickering over the senile old man's selfishness and the young half-demon's non-existent manners, Miroku felt a small smile grow on his lips. Realising he was being watched, the monk turned his head to meet with the kitsune's concerned eyes.

 

“What's so funny, Miroku?” he asked, sitting on the monk's shoulders. Miroku shook his head, the grin widening.

 

“Oh, nothing. Just glad to see the fighting spirit back in Inuyasha. You saw for yourself these past few days what being away from Kagome does to him.”

 

“Mmhmm,' agreed Sango as she came up beside Miroku. “He's been so down lately. But as hard as it must have been, it seems that seeing Kagome was good for him. It has given his strength back.”

 

Shippou cocked his head to the side. “Strength? He's just become obnoxious again! Honestly, he's more of a kid than I am!” The little fox was cut off with a loud `oof!' as Inuyasha gave him a healthy whack across the skull.

 

“Who's the obnoxious one, huh? You little brat…”

 

“So Inuyasha, are we ready to leave soon?” asked Sango as she slung her hiraikotsu across her shoulder. The hanyou shrugged and walked pass them down the hill.

 

“Yeah, the old man ain't handing anything over, the selfish bastard…” he muttered. The group ignored Totosai shouting something that sounded like “See if I ever help you again, you little ingrate!” on the other side of the hill as they readied themselves to leave. Miroku bowed deeply to the three youkai.

 

“We thank you most gratefully for the information, gentlemen. And rest assured Housenki-dono, we will find and return with the time pearl before Naraku manages to get his hands on it.”

 

Housenki waved away the monk's words. “The pearl isn't as important as finding Kagome-san. Even if you just return with her that will be enough to ease the guilt.”

 

Smiling and nodding, the monk waved one more time before turning his back and treading down to the flat ground of the field where his half demon friend waited. As Sango, Kirara and Shippou came down to stand beside them, Miroku turned to Inuyasha.

 

“Well, Inuyasha, let's go get Kagome.”

 

Inuyasha didn't blink, but nodded once and began running towards the jewel youkai's lake as his companions followed behind, riding on Kirara's back.

 

 

*****

 

 

Kikyou frowned at the strange aura emanating from beyond the trees.

 

It had been a while since she had detected the odd feeling, resulting in her taking a detour from her planned journey. Walking silently through the trees, the dead miko kept her eyes focused on the foliage ahead, keen for any movement or noise as she neared her point of interest. The aura was intriguing. It almost felt like she knew it. Like she had felt it before. Except it was, in a way… different. She was at a loss of words to describe the unsettling feeling properly. The Shinidama-chuu floated close by her side as she paused mid-step.

 

“…doing here?”

 

Kikyou stared expressionless (though her mind worked furiously) as she caught the end of someone's sentence.

 

“Just came to see how you doing. You can't honestly say I'm not allowed to check in on things, can you?”

 

Kikyou's eyebrows pulled together in mild confusion. A man? Something about that voice of his… She quietly took the few remaining steps to hide behind a large tree, her back to the trunk. Peering over her shoulder she could finally see the two people having the conversation. Well, perhaps not people. They weren't human, judging from their auras.

 

Kikyou's eyes landed upon a woman with red eyes and instantly recognised her as the incarnate youkai Naraku made. She was the wind sorceress wasn't she? Kagura…

 

“Having you `check' on us isn't going to do anything but slow the plan down. And we know you aren't checking on us for Naraku's sake. Can't you just hang back at the castle like a good little boy?” spat the wind youkai. Kikyou's eyes darted over to the other side of the clearing to see the man facing the Kagura woman.

 

He would have looked a handsome young man if it were not for the strange youkai features he bore. He had muscular, bright blue arms that looked far too big for his slim physique. Odd, sickly green scales lined his chest and sharp, alien-looking spikes protruded viciously from the boy's back. And yet he didn't seem a boy. His juvenescent round eyes seemed to dull with black menace. The kind of eyes that had seen and done all the horrors of the world… and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

His aura… This was the aura that had drawn her here. This nostalgic, yet unfamiliar presence of his. It was dark, foreboding, and radiated nothing but malice. The male youkai's eyes gleamed as he spoke.

 

“You know perfectly well Naraku and I are running different parties here, Kagura, so of course I don't need to check on you for Naraku's sake. Besides, shouldn't you show more respect? After all, you wouldn't be here if it weren't for me …”

 

The dead miko frowned again. He had some close connection to Naraku. How surprising. And yet they were working separately. But for the same purpose, by the sound of it…

 

“Hm!” scoffed Kagura, holding her fan up to her chin. “Why should I show some lowly hanyou-wannabe my respect when Naraku doesn't even get it?”

 

So the man was a hanyou. …like Naraku?

 

The hanyou chuckled to himself, baring his long fangs. “My, Kagura, always one to pick fights aren't we? I merely came to check on you, see if I can offer any assistance, and you want to rip out my throat.”

 

“Offering assistance?” asked Kagura dryly. “There's no need to be that generous. We have an idea of where it is and were on our way over there when you interrupted us to satisfy your curiosity. So if that's all you came for, we'll be on our way, your highness.”

 

“I'm hurt, Kagura!” smirked the strange hanyou. “You think I just wanted an update on the plan? No, I care about you ladies too. Besides, I just wanted to make sure my lovely woman was coping fine on her first mission.”

 

Kikyou saw his eyes move to someone standing behind Kagura, but the wind sorceress was blocking them from the dead miko's view. The hanyou stared at the person beside the wind youkai for a moment before speaking again.

 

“How is everything going, Kagome-chan?”

 

Kikyou had to stop herself from jerking her head in the direction of the hanyou's sight in case her sudden movement caught their attention. Were she breathing, she was sure she would have stopped in that one second. The dead miko watched as the wind youkai shifted restlessly, taking a few steps forward, revealing her companion to Kikyou's shocked eyes.

 

Her reincarnation stood motionless, staring at the hanyou with a subtle look of anger, pity and repulsion. Despite the girl's unwavering gaze, her discomfort was evident through her slightly hunched shoulders, clad in the white material of a miko's uniform. Kikyou's eyes darkened as she took in the red hakama, the bow strung over the girl's shoulder and the shikon shards glittering in the vial around her neck.

 

Why was Kagome here? She was… with Naraku?

 

“Is Naraku treating you well? He's not working you too hard?” continued the hanyou man as if the long silence hadn't occurred.

 

“He's treating me fine,” replied Kagome blankly.

 

With those words of clarification, an intense surge of anger coursed its way through the dead miko's body; a feeling she had rarely felt before as she continued to listen.

 

“Such cold eyes!” sighed the man over-exaggeratedly. “But I'm being earnest with my concerns; I don't want him to wear you out by the time I get my alone time with you.”

 

“If you've got anything else to talk about apart from your sex drive, please tell. If not, get the hell outta here and let us get on with our job.”

 

Kikyou's mind drifted away from the conversation as she digested the information. Kagome was working for Naraku… What she heard just now showed Kagome was indeed working on Naraku's side!

 

But there was no way Naraku would have her working for him if she ran the risk of purifying him! He knew better than anyone what the girl could do. But her words…. Their conversation… Kagome had turned to the other side! Then, to have her working under the dark hanyou, Kagome's heart must have become tainted. Which must mean…

 

She had lost her purification powers, allowing her to become a pawn of Naraku's.

 

Kikyou's eyes narrowed at the girl as she felt disgust squirming in her throat. How dare she? The new protector of the Shikon no Tama had let herself become tainted. And there was no way that could have happened without her wanting to become contaminated. Her reincarnation was too strong for that! Had she no honour for duty? And turning to Naraku of all people!

 

Deciding to retreat before the meeting of her enemies dispersed, Kikyou silently turned away from the scene and headed back from the direction she came from. If Kagome was now working for Naraku, she would most likely pose as a threat to the purity of the Shikon no Tama. The vision of the shikon shards in the glass vial around Kagome's neck suddenly formed in Kikyou's mind, causing her to pause in her thoughts.

 

Kagome still had the shards. If she had come in contact with Naraku, why did she still have them? If she was now Naraku's underling, why were the shards not tainted?

 

Kikyou's eyebrows furrowed. Of course… the tainting process might be extremely slow. Yet it would only be a matter of time, especially under Naraku's watch, before their purity would be overcome with evil. It was then the miko reached her resolve.

 

Since Kagome had failed in her duty to protect the Shikon no Tama, then she, Kikyou, the original and rightful protector, would step in and do what was right. Namely, eliminating all dangers to the Shikon no Tama. Kikyou glanced over her shoulder in the direction of where she last saw her reincarnation. A twinge of apprehension struck at her heart before she pushed it away and continued on, her mind set firmly on her duty.

 

Yes. As the guardian of the Shikon no Tama, she would eliminate all threats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: One last apology for taking so long: sorry.

 

Until next time! xx