InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Sense ❯ The White Mountains ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story. These characters and all aspects of them are from InuYasha, created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi. The story itself is my own.

 

 

 

Demon Sense

By Ender_kb

 

Chapter 8: The White Mountains

 

Kagome stood in the massive library in the House of Inu gazing upon the massive amounts of books it held on its walls. She sighed multiple times wondering where she should start. She was not expecting this many books. She had been in there before on previous investigations, but she never paid attention to the number of books. Now that she had to actually look for certain ones it became overwhelming just to look upon them. Her time was limited, but she still stood in the same spot she had been standing in for almost 15 minutes. There were too many options, but she was wasting time.

 

`Which side should I start with?' she thought exasperated. The spine of the books held no titles so it was even more frustrating to look. She had to pull each book out individually to just see the title. This was going to take way too long.

 

She finally huffed and walked to the shelf straight in front of her. Just standing there worried was not going to do her any good or InuYasha for that matter. This was for him.

 

She pulled the first book out that she came to; A History of the Piano.

 

`What?! Why would anyone have that in their house?' She continued on; A History of the Harp, A History of the Harpsichord. `Okay, I must be in the music section.' She moved to the next shelf over.

 

Horse Riding for the Dedicated. Advanced Fishing. `Okay, next shelf.'

 

Recipes For the Family. Cooking Outdoors. `Next shelf.'

 

Psychology of the Inner Animal. The Demon Inside. `Nex-Wait.' She took the last book out completely and read the inside panel. This book was about inner demons and how they could control someone if they got aggressively strong. `Sango should read this. This seems like psychological stuff, but I'm getting closer.'

 

She moved to the next shelf and her sight immediately went to a book that looked as if it had been through hell and back. She touched its spine and it felt rough. The material wrapped around the cover had holes in it and seemed to crumble as soon as Kagome moved it. She took it off the shelf and turned the front towards her to read the title. There was none. Nothing. No title at all.

 

She opened the hard cover and the book cracked with displeasure. It had not been opened for many years. The first few pages had nothing on them. She finally got to a page that had words on it, but they were not typed. The words were written in, what looked like, a very old script. She could not read it.

 

It was in another language, one she did not recognize at all. She scanned the words for anything recognizable. She saw one word that sent chills up her spine. Demonicea. `Latin? No, I think that's “Dominae”.'

 

A voice startled Kagome and caused her to drop the ancient book. It made a loud thud and a puff of dust came out of it. She picked up the book quickly and then looked at who had spoken. It was the young girl she had seen in Sesshomaru's office before.

 

“I'm sorry?” Kagome said, not quite catching what she had said the first time.

 

“Why must you bother him so?” the girl asked again.

 

“What is your name?”

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

“I don't much care for answering people's questions until I know who I'm speaking with.”

 

The girl studied Kagome for a moment. “My name is Rin.”

 

“It's nice to meet you Rin. My name is Kagome.”

 

“I know who you are. Now, please.”

 

“Oh, yes, your question. I am not trying to bother him. I am simply trying to solve a mystery. It just happens to involve coming to this place very often.”

 

“And rummaging around in his Master's books?”

 

“Uh, yes. At least this time, anyway.” Kagome smiled. The girl did not blink and did not show emotion whatsoever. She was a statue. Was she a demon too? She must be. If Sesshomaru is then why would he keep company like this? Maybe she is unaware of what Sesshomaru is. How can that be though? She's here a lot and InuYasha said those charms are temporary. Kagome wracked over this in her mind while Rin stood before her unmoving.

 

“Well, I'm almost done here anyway. I should be out of your master's hair soon.”

 

Rin seemed to be satisfied with this statement for she bowed slightly and then left the library. Kagome sighed heavily. Kagome had to take this book with her and she couldn't necessarily do that with Rin there. The book was large and could barely fit into the satchel she had brought with her. She laid her sweater over the top of it so it did not look obvious.

 

Kagome walked out of the library and down the hallway. She then walked passed the door that led to the basement. She stopped a few steps after it. She glanced sideways so she could see the door in her peripheral vision. She listened to hear if anyone was nearby. Satisfied that no one would catch her she walked slowly backwards until she was inline with the door and placed her hand onto the door handle. She turned it slowly and silently and opened the door in the same manner and then slipped inside. The door shut softly behind her.

 

Kagome stood before the brick wall behind the stairwell. `InuYasha came from here somewhere.' She thought as she looked over the solid wall. She again placed her hand on the hard cold surface and moved it around looking for anything that felt different. Her hand ran into the loose brick that she had noticed before. She narrowed her eyes trying to see with the little light she had. She could not see anything inside of it. She moved the brick and jerked her hand back when she saw it keep moving by itself.

 

She saw a faint light from deeper under the stairs. She moved towards it and then saw a stairwell that led further down. She walked as silently as she could down the stairs. She knew that there were demons here, but she didn't know when she would run into them.

 

`Why am I doing this? This is suicide. InuYasha will kill me if he finds out I did this.' She kept walking despite her thoughts. She stopped suddenly when she heard low voices from the next bend in the hallway. Two men, er, demons she could tell. She inched forward wanting desperately to know what they were talking about. Was it InuYasha or the Lord? Kikyo? Shippo? She must find out.

 

“…there would be much better for you. You do not belong here.”

 

“But what if they find out where I've gone? They could get into trouble as well.”

 

“They left and they're just fine. I know. I've seen them. I've felt them. You'll be fine. Please Hachi, do this for me. You are the dearest friend I have. I only want the best for you.”

 

“I know, Miroku…” Kagome didn't hear what else was said because she was in shock.

 

She dared to step closer making sure it was really Miroku and not just some demon trick. She first saw a short fat raccoon looking creature that may have been this Hachi guy. Then she saw a tall handsome man in monk robes. She started to step forward more to get a better look through the darkness, but then heard Miroku hush the demon.

 

“Who's there!?” she heard Miroku yell. He started walking forward, but Kagome just stayed plastered against the wall, frightened for reasons she knew not. Miroku's staff swung at Kagome's neck, but stopped just before striking her. Kagome had her eyes squeezed tightly, bracing for the impact she knew would come, but didn't.

 

“Kagome?” Miroku said quietly. Kagome opened one eye slightly.

 

“H-Hi.” Kagome laughed timidly.

 

~

 

“Hachi knows these tunnels well. We've found many entrances to the Inu underground that others are not aware of.” Miroku explained once he got everyone back to his place after finding their way out of the underground. He served everyone tea to make them a bit more comfortable.

 

“Why were you so close to the House of Inu?” Kagome asked.

 

“Most of the demons are afraid of getting anywhere near that place anymore because of the frequent visits by the D.A.” Hachi said shyly.

 

“I see.”

 

“What, may I ask, were you doing down there, Miss Kagome?” Miroku asked with a suspicious eye.

 

Kagome rubbed the back of her neck and smiled, embarrassed. “I was curious as to what Sesshomaru kept in his second basement. I thought I could find something of use to the D.A.”

 

“Quit the cover-up Kagome. You know that I know you know. Fess up.”

 

Kagome sighed, “I wanted to see if I could find out more information for my friend.”

 

“You mean Shippo?” Miroku inquired.

 

“No not Ship---How do you know about Shippo?”

 

“Shippo's my friend. We hung out together when he was staying at the House of Inu.” Hachi answered with a smile.

 

“What information are you trying to find out?” Miroku probed further.

 

“Oh, nothing. Nothing important.”

 

“I find that very hard to believe. If it was nothing important then you wouldn't have risked going down into the Inu underground.” Miroku said logically.

 

“Alright, that's it! Why do you keep prying? How is it that I can't get anything passed you? Why do you seem to know everything?” Kagome yelled. “What do you know? Tell me.”

 

Miroku eyed Kagome for moment. The determined look never left her face. He eventually sighed, “I know many things, Kagome. I also know many people, humans and demons alike. It is because of this fact that my knowledge is vast. I know that it is not purely because of me that I survive this world.”

 

“How long have you known about the real world?”

 

“Ever since I knew about my power. I was too young to understand what it was that I was feeling, but I lived with people that were able to explain it to me. They were not influenced by the thinking of today. They knew what was evil and what wasn't and it wasn't due to what they were.”

 

“Intriguing.”

 

“What about you Kagome?”

 

“My family is descended from a long line of priests and priestesses. We've always known the truth of what exists in the world, but unlike you, some of my family members were influenced by the thoughts of today. I've just found out about the truth. I find it rather comforting.”

 

“Comforting knowing that demons walk among you?”

 

“Yes. Knowing that not all demons have ill intentions is a wonderful thought. This means that they can be reasoned with. We can make truces and work together to fight evil wherever it comes from. It's refreshing to know this.”

 

“This is good to know. It is hard to change people's minds about this kind of thing when they've believed in something for so long. Speaking of changing people's minds; How do you feel about me Kagome?”

 

The question Miroku posed caught Kagome off guard. What did he mean by it? “I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean?”

 

“I always had the feeling that you were guarded around me. Like you suspected me an enemy. I am wondering how you feel now.”

 

“You were right. I am pretty sure that I can trust you now, though.”

 

“I hope that in time, that “pretty sure” will be taken out of that sentence.” Miroku smiled, and Kagome gladly returned it.

 

“Then allow me to start testing that trust. You wanted to know what I was doing at the House of Inu?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I need to find out some information. Since you seem to have that, I'd like to ask; Do you know anything about Lord Onigumo?”

 

Both Hachi and Miroku choked on their tea.

 

~

 

“Where have you been?!”

 

Kagome knew that this was coming as soon as she returned home. She calmly stood in front of InuYasha and allowed him to rant about how he was so worried and that she should have contacted him somehow. When he was finally out of breath she opened her mouth.

 

“I'm sorry and thank you.”

 

“Huh?” both InuYasha and Shippo voiced.

 

“I'm sorry that I worried you and thank you for caring.”

 

“Keh.” InuYasha crossed his arms.

 

“What happened, Kagome? Did you find anything?” Shippo asked.

 

Kagome smiled broadly, “You bet I did. Miroku was a big help.”

 

“Miroku?! What did I tell you about him?” Inuyasha yelled.

 

“It's okay. I talked to him and he's friends with a very nice demon. I think you know him Shippo. His name's Hachi.”

 

“Oh yeah! Hachi! He's a little coward, but he's cool to hang out with.” Shippo said.

 

“Ya, right. More like he's cool to play tricks on.” InuYasha cut in.

 

“Hey! I only did that twice.”

 

“Ya, whatever.”

 

“Anyways!” Kagome interrupted the bickering. “I found this at the mansion.” Kagome placed the old book onto a small table. It has a lot of information in it.

 

“What is it?” InuYasha asked with a funny look on his face.

 

“It's a book of course.”

 

“I know that, but it's so…old.”

 

“It's probably one of the oldest books known on earth and your brother had it.” Kagome opened it to a random page to display the script.”

 

“What does it say?” Shippo asked curiously, standing on his tippy toes to see inside the book.

 

“It has a lot of demon legends and myths in it, but the most important one is the lullaby; The Seeker Lord. It explains in detail the story you two were telling me about Lord Onigumo. The script is the ancient writing of the demon goddess Deumos. I'm surprised you don't know it. Miroku said almost all demons know of her.”

 

“Ya, well, I wasn't one to hang out with demons much.” InuYasha commented, looking at the floor.

 

“And I'm too young.” Shippo chimed.

 

Kagome mentally kicked herself. “Well, the cool thing is that it explains the story as well as tells it.”

 

“How do you know this? You can't read that.”

 

“Miroku knows the language.” InuYasha glared at the mention of the monk's name for the nth time. “He gave me a translation. That's what took so long.”

 

`Lord Onigumo, the controller of inanimate things. He can be everywhere without being anywhere. His servants were controlled by force. He held power, but not enough to get the world that he wanted. He knew of one that could stop him. He knew of one that could overpower him, but always escaped his sight. He was unlike any other demon. He ran with the humans, but they did not know it. In order to overpower this foe, he had to catch him first and then consume him. By doing this he would gain the demons inherent powers and they would fuel his desire to get the world. No one else would stop him for no one else could.

The Lord waited in his castle beyond the mist for the one demon to make himself known. The mist held his secret and made sure that when an unwanted being left it, they would not remember what it held.'

 

Kagome read the passage aloud and the two demons before her listened intently. The information that this book held was vast. They would surely be able to find this Lord Onigumo easily enough.

 

Reading this again brought the same feelings she had felt before upon her. Fear and sadness. Kagome was afraid that this demon the Lord searched for was InuYasha. She was sure of it, actually. Sadness because she knew that InuYasha would want to leave. He would want to find this person and put an end to his running. She knew that all he wanted to do was live a normal life. She wanted him to have that. She would let him go if she had to.

 

A voice broke into her thoughts.

 

“Huh?” she asked, shaking her head into reality.

 

“The White Mountains.” InuYasha said again, agitated.

 

“What about them?”

 

“'A castle beyond the mist', Kagome. That's gotta mean The White Mountains. There are all kinds of stories about people going up there and getting lost for days. They never seem to remember anything from what had happened. People just say it was from the shock of being out there for so long.”

 

Realization hit Kagome and everything fell into place. “The White Mountains. That's where his castle is. Lord Onigumo is real. He's searching for the demon that's supposed to give him the power to rule the world. It's you, InuYasha. He wants you. That's why they're after you. He's going through the D.A. somehow to get to you. You're unique; a half-demon. You live among humans and they don't know it.” Kagome stared at the book. “What do we do now?”

 

“We find him and destroy him.” Kagome flinched at InuYasha's words.

 

“But you're the one he wants. You can't just go to him. It'll make it too easy for him to consume you, InuYasha.” Shippo cried.

 

“Hey, pipsqueak, you're talkin' like he'd be able to beat me. Ain't gonna happen!”

 

Kagome sat on a paint spattered stool next to the table the book lay on. She gazed at the floor while the two demons argued. Her heart ached, knowing that InuYasha would leave soon. What if Lord Onigumo did defeat InuYasha? What would happen?

 

“Kagome!” the two demons yelled, forcing her out of her thoughts.

 

“Hm?”

 

“Would you tell Shippo that no one can beat me?” Inuyasha yelled.

 

Kagome just smiled at them both and walked to the stairs to leave the studio.

 

“See? She doesn't have the heart to tell you that you can't fight at all.” Shippo said.

 

The two were too distracted with their arguments to notice Kagome was acting strange. She could still hear their arguments floating through the air outside of the shed. She walked across the dark courtyard into the house. She was just about to walk up the stairs to her bedroom when she heard her grandpa moving about.

 

“Kagome?” her grandpa said.

 

“Ya?”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“I'm fine. Just tired. I'm gonna head off to bed.”

 

“Kagome, why don't you sit and talk with me a minute?”

 

“Um, okay. I guess I can stand to be awake a bit longer.” She went to the couch across from where her grandpa now sat.

 

“You've been so preoccupied lately that I haven't been able to talk with you at all. What's been going on?”

 

“Nothing much. Just classes. They're going well.”

 

“What about your friends? They haven't been over to visit lately. They used to come all of the time.”

 

“Grandpa, we're in college now. It's not easy to find free time to spend with friends.”

 

“I suppose you're right. What about boys?”

 

“Grandpa!”

 

“What? You're a young intelligent pretty woman. There should be tons of boys coming to our doorstep, but I haven't seen a one.”

 

“Grandpa, I don't have time for friends, let alone boys. What does it matter anyway?”

 

He sighed and leaned back more in his chair. “Kagome, I just worry about your health. Your social health to be specific. You seem to worry so much about your work more than anything these days. School has always been your priority, then your friends, but now even your school is second on the list. At least you're still painting. I always see you in there all the time.”

 

Kagome rested her head on her hand and listened. Her grandpa was right. What had changed that shifted her priorities so? That was obvious. InuYasha.

 

“I know that we are aware of the world that most people don't know about. I'm glad we do and I love that you participate in helping out with the D.A., but I want you to have a normal life too. Is there something that you want to talk about? Anything that's caused you to take this route in your life?”

 

“Well,” Kagome started, knowing that saying what she was about to was taking a chance. “There is this one guy. He actually works along with the D.A., unofficially.”

 

“Ah, so there is a boy.”

 

“It's nothing serious yet, Grandpa. That's kind of why I've been working with them so much.”

 

“Is that young fellow that was over here a few days ago? You know, the one with the monk robes?”

 

“Miroku? Oh no. Not him. I think he's actually into Sango, but no. You haven't met him.”

 

“Will I be meeting him soon?”

 

“I don't know, Grandpa.” Kagome said shortly after hearing a creak from the kitchen.

 

“Sorry. Didn't mean to eavesdrop, dear.” Kagome's mom stood in the doorway with a hot cup of tea in her hand.

 

“Oh, mom.”

 

“Well, that's enough chit chat for tonight. I'll be off to bed.” With that, Kagome's grandpa headed up the stairs.

 

“Night Grandpa.”

 

“Did I hear right, dear? You're interested in a boy at the D.A.?” Her mom sat in the chair previously occupied by her grandpa.

 

“He doesn't work for the D.A. He just kind of helps them out, but rarely. Kind of like me. Except I help them more.” Kagome said clumsily. Nervousness started to set in.

 

“Have I met him?”

 

“Uh, actually, yes. You remember the night you went to pick Grandpa up?”

 

“Oh yes. The boy with the long black hair. What was his name? Inu-InuYasha was it?”

 

“Ya, that's him.” Kagome answered, smiling nervously.

“Well, we'd love to see him at dinner sometime. I don't like seeing you so isolated so much.” Kagome's mom got up and went off to bed as well.

 

`What are they talking about? I have plenty of friends and I se them all the time. In fact I seem to be making more friends everyday. They're just not the kind of friends that my family might approve of.' Kagome sighed as she thought about everything she was keeping from her family and her other friends. Her family and Sango especially would be quite surprised to learn of the friends she had now.

 

Kagome finally went up to her room to slip into bed. As she finished her nightly routine and lay in bed she exhaled long and slow. Her life was changing and it seemed her family saw it as a turn for the worse. Kagome didn't see it that way. So many good things were happening along with some bad. She was learning so much though. Meeting new people and seeing knew perspectives. Getting closer to InuYasha…

 

“Kagome.”

 

“What?” She couldn't see. It was too dark in the room.

 

“Do you trust me?”

 

“Of course.” She turned, but still couldn't see him.

 

“It's near. You need to run.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“A demon. Don't you feel it?”

 

As soon as he said it she felt the pull in her stomach. “Yes. Where is it?”

 

“It's too close. Run Kagome.”

 

“Where is it?”

 

“Here.”

 

Kagome screamed and sat up in bed. Two eyes stared back at her. Kagome freaked and gasped as she scrambled up against the wall behind her.

 

“Kagome, it's me.”

 

She was out of sorts. It took her a minute before she recognized the voice and the eyes. Those dumb human eyes.

 

“InuYasha.”

 

“You okay?”

 

Kagome looked at her clock. She had only been asleep for a few minutes. “Ya. What are you doing here?”

 

“You looked kinda weird when you left so I thought I'd see if you wanted to talk.” InuYasha tilted his head down, probably to hide a blush even though it was dark.

 

“Oh.”

 

“So, are you okay?”

 

“Um, ya.”

 

“Liar. Something's wrong.” InuYasha looked into her eyes. Kagome's eyes were adjusted to the dark now. She could see him well. He really did look worried about her.

 

“I-I don't want you to go.”

 

“I have to. You know that.”

 

“I do.” There was silence for a bit. Kagome was still leaning against the wall while InuYasha was sitting on his knees next to her bed. He started to fidget and look uncomfortable so Kagome scooted over and patted the spot next to her. InuYasha didn't hesitate. He sat down on the bed next to her and Kagome leaned her head on his shoulder.

 

“When will you go?”

 

“I don't know yet. I think we still need more information to be prepared.”

 

“Wow.”

 

“What?”

 

“You actually want to be prepared for something?” Kagome inquired, lifting her head with a raised brow.

 

“Keh.” Kagome giggled.

 

“InuYasha, I want to go with you.” She said, looking at the side of his face.

 

“Out of the question.” He said after turning his face towards her.

 

“InuYasha.”

 

“…” InuYasha didn't speak though he opened his mouth. He was reading her eyes. Her eyes were different this time. They were not determined. She held something else in them, but Kagome knew he wasn't sure what it was.

 

He drew closer, their eyes not leaving the other's. He paused at a hair's width away from Kagome's lips. His human eyes faded and morphed into his gold demon spheres. Kagome gasped when she felt the pull; the nightmare still fresh in her head. InuYasha was taken aback. His brow furrowed.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“I'm sorry. It's not what you think.” She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him tightly so he would not leave hastily.

 

“What's wrong?” He placed a hand upon her head.

 

“I-I've been having nightmares.”

 

“About what?”

 

“…”

 

What was she supposed to say? The truth? What would he think if he knew that she was dreaming about him hurting her?

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

 

 

Yes, I brought this chapter to you a little sooner than you expected, huh? I really want to get these out faster. I'm trying my best. School is getting a little heavier the further I get in.

 

I did do some research on the whole demon goddess thing. I didn't just make up that name. I'm also pretty sure that's the correct form of the word `demon' in Latin that I used.

 

R&R!! It fuels me! Thanks for all those staying with me.

 

`Til next time!

 

Ender