InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Deify You ❯ Strange Places, Familiar Faces ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I sold my soul to the government, so I don't even own that. Happy?

 

Story Summary: Pairing: Eventual SK. Naraku's power is rising, Kagome finds herself between heaven and hell and all alone and abandoned by her 'friends'. For every shard Kagome purifies, she takes that much evil into her own soul. No energy can be gained or lost, so eventually, an equilibrium must be reached, and Kagome has become a center, globally attracting equilibrium point.

 

Chapter 3: Strange Places, Familiar Faces

 

Naraku was furious. She had been right there! Right there within reach! Then the pathetic bastard had to come and sweep her away like some fucking hero! The evil hanyou turned around and punched a hole in the wood paneled wall behind him, breaking the calm he kept close around him for a moment. “Fuck! Go! Leave me Kanna, before I fucking destroy something!” He turned his angry red eyes upon the ghostly white girl who looked up at him with bottomless black eyes. Every time he looked into them, he felt his soul being tugged. She could be very dangerous to him one day if she ever found the notion to rebel against him. Logging the thought away as the child apparition seemingly floated away, he turned his thoughts to the huge inconvenience he was now faced with. The bastard that had stolen his Kagome and his jewel was no laughing stock for an opponent. Naraku was not sure, not even with the help of the shards, that he could take him down. And this was the Naraku who held everything about himself in the highest confidence.

 

Kagome groaned as light fell upon her closed eyes, waking her from her unconscious state. Rolling over and pulling a pillow over her head in retaliation, she heard a muffled giggle from nearby. Then Kagome registered a few key facts. First, she was in a bed, which had not been her location when she last was conscious. Two, she knew no small female child that giggled like that, and third, her friends had abandoned her. Abandoned her to whatever that wrongness had been. Tears soon came, and they rolled down Kagome's cheeks with abandon. They had turned on her so easily. They had been duped so easily, just walking out the door on false promises of getting their heart's desire. Did no one get it anymore? You never get what you want in life. Kagome knew this all to well, for if she had her way, Inu Yasha would love her, not use her for shard hunting. Unknowingly, she had begun to sob out loud, curling in on herself in search of protection from the world.

Kagome then heard a soft whisper and felt a feather light touch upon her arm. “Pretty lady shouldn't cry. Rin-chan was told that crying is un-un…undignified and unladylike. Can Rin look at pretty lady's face again?” Kagome felt two miniscule hands lay upon the hand that was pressing the pillow down on her head. Sniffling, Kagome reluctantly let go of the pillow and forced herself to look up at the adorable little girl that was standing next to her futon. Kagome couldn't help the smile that broke out at the small girl's presence. She was too adorable with her toothy smile, side ponytail, and large trusting brown eyes. Wiping the tears off of her face, Kagome sat up and looked down at the little girl. “And who told Rin-chan that?” Rin grinned and gave a giggle. “He told Rin not to tell the pretty lady who he is. But if Pretty Lady needs a name to refer to, Rin was told to tell Pretty Lady that she may call him Haku.” Kagome's smile dimmed a bit. This was different… “Rin-chan, why does Haku not want me to know his name?” Rin was unphased by Kagome's question and immediately rebutted, tutting Kagome by shaking her forefinger back and forth. “He is Haku-sama. And he said that Pretty Lady needs rest and food before she needs any `portant information. Haku-sama put Rin in charge of Pretty Lady's needs. Are you hungry Pretty Lady?” Kagome's smile returned full force upon seeing the pride on the young girl's face at being put in charge of something so important. “Haku-sama must trust you a lot. And you don't need to call me Pretty Lady. Call me Kagome. And yes Rin-chan, I am hungry. Maybe you can show me around, hm?” She gave her brightest smile to the small child, delighting in the awe apparent on the girl's features. “Rin-chan will! First Pret -er, Kagome-san needs to get dressed. Kagome-san's kimono is much too inappropriate for Haku-sama's house.” Rin tugged on Kagome's hand, making the teen stand and be led over to a large cherry wood wardrobe. Rin dropped Kagome's hand and eagerly opened the wardrobe. “Haku-sama seems to like Kagome-san. He got her many pretty kimonos for use around the household.” Kagome's jaw practically hit the floor at the expensive display before her. Kimonos of silk and satin, of any designs and colors, all for her. Kagome looked down at Rin, shock apparent on her face. She pointed dumbfounded at the wardrobe. “Rin-chan, why so many?” Rin looked back into the wardrobe, then back up at Kagome. “Haku-sama was not sure what Kagome-san liked, so he got many. Rin helped him pick them out. Haku-sama is not very good at picking pretty things out.” Rin giggled. She reached out and tugged on Kagome's hand. “Kagome-san needs to pick out a kimono so Rin can help her into it and fix Kagome-san's hair! Then Rin can take Kagome-san to go eat! Then we can go and play in Haku-san's garden!” Rin was practically bouncing off the walls in her new found excitement. Kagome grinned and stepped forward to pick out a kimono for the day. As she sorted through them, she wondered why she was being given access to kimonos that were fit for a Lady in a House. Her eyes came to rest upon a large white kimono with black feathers and red sakura blossoms stitched into the sleeves and bottom. On the back, the outlines of large wings were set in relief with silver stitching. Carefully removing it from the wardrobe, she laid it out upon the futon, before returning to pick out an obi. Rin watched the whole ordeal with a grin on her face, enjoying the look of wonder on Kagome's face. After a couple of minutes, Kagome finally settled on a plain smoke grey obi. She returned to the futon with the long piece of material in hand. She looked down at Rin and grinned impishly at her. “Ready to play dress up Rin-chan?” Rin wasted no time in agreeing and threw herself headfirst into helping Kagome put on the complicated clothing. A half-hour later, Rin was putting the finishing touches on Kagome's hair and rechecking the obi to ensure that it was tied properly. “Rin is not very good at obis. Haku-sama tried to teach Rin, but Rin thought it was really hard. But Rin thinks Rin did very good! Kagome-san can look in the mirror now!” Rin dashed over to a corner of the large room where a mirror had gone undetected by Kagome until now. Cautiously Kagome walked over, trying not to trip over her long kimono. What she saw there in mirror left her speechless for a whole minute. She just sat there drinking in the figure that was in the mirror. Long blue-black hair was pulled up into a simple bun held up by decorated chopsticks and small, soft curls fell down to frame the woman's pale flawless face. She wore no makeup but looked so much better for that fact. She was regal, graceful, and slim. She was everything Kagome knew she was not. Kagome shakily reached out with a hand and saw the woman in the mirror do the same. Their grey-blue eyes were locked to one another's. As Kagome's fingertips met the polish surface, she jumped, having fully expected contact with a real person. “She's me…” she whispered in wonderment. Rin giggled next to Kagome. “Kagome-san's reflection is really Kagome-san. Kagome-san really is a pretty lady. Is Pretty Lady hungry now? `Cause Rin is hungry.” Kagome laughed softly and nodded her head to Rin. “Lead the way Rin-chan.” She needn't have said anything more, for Rin practically dragged Kagome out of the room.

Kagome glanced at the dining room is sheer wonder. It was huge, with a black-veined white marble floor, high ceilings, a humongous table that could sit sixty people easily, and paintings of beautiful landscapes on the walls. Kagome whistled to herself. Haku-sama must be daimyo or something to have place like this…Kagome's study of the room was cut short by the delicious smell of the food waiting for her at the table along with Rin's eager calls to her. Kagome walked over, smiling at Rin before seating herself at one of the settings, her legs tuck neatly underneath her. She looked over at Rin and grinned. “Itadakimasu.” Rin nodded and they both began to feast upon the veritable cornucopia of food. After a few minutes of eating in contented silence, Rin looked up at Kagome. “Rin-chan wants to show Kagome-san Haku-sama's pretty flower garden. Then Kagome-san can meet Haku-sama! Haku-sama told Rin that Rin was to bring Kagome-san to him when Rin thought Kagome-san was relaxed and calm. Rin thinks Kagome-san is more than ready, but Rin wants to show her the flower gardens first!” Kagome laughed at Rin's excitement and eagerness. “Alright, alright Rin. Remember to breathe first. I'm done eating, how about you?” Rin nodded her head. Both stood and Rin quietly led Kagome out of the dining room through a dizzyingly large amount of twisting hallways. By the time they reached the door that led to the outdoor gardens, Kagome was positive she didn't know up from down. When Rin opened the door and they both stepped through, Kagome gasped, her breath once again taken away by this fabulous place. Before her stretched about fifteen acres of nothing but gorgeous greenery that was set off by the colors of a setting sun. Kagome hadn't realized that it was that late. Different sections seemed to have their own theme. Rin was walking straight for small area that was nothing but wildflowers that grew rampant and of their own volition, no sign of meticulous grooming to be had. Rin turned and looked up at Kagome. “This is Rin's favorite place. Haku-sama made it `specially for Rin.” Kagome knelt down next to Rin and smiled. “And it fits you perfectly Rin. Haku-sama must be very kind to have made this for you.” Rin nodded. “Haku-sama is very nice. He saved Rin's life when Rin was dead. Then he kept Rin and takes very good care of Rin. Though Rin does not like the…the ed-edu-education he makes Rin do. It's boring and Rin's teacher is not very nice. Rin likes to steal his staff and hit him over the head with it.” Kagome chuckled. Rin walked in front of Kagome, and then looked surprised as she glanced behind Kagome's kneeling for. “Oh. It looks like Rin doesn't halfta take you to Haku-sama. Rin must go now! Have a good night Kagome-san!” Rin immediately skipped off to the middle of the garden, humming some song or another of her own creation. Kagome sighed happily as she watched Rin go off. Then she stiffened as she suddenly felt the enormity of power that was sitting behind her. It had been masking itself, but the demonic force had let itself loose, bring her attention to it. But…what was a human doing here if this palace belonged to a youkai? “Miko,” a deep, luxurious voice spoke from behind her. Kagome stiffened even more, fear slowly creeping into her. She knew that voice. Her head snapped to the side and her eyes widened in terror. “Sesshoumaru…”

 

A/N: Bwah! I'm sure I spelled some terms in there wrong. Oh well. Read, enjoy, then review! Ja ne!