InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 72

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Jak felt like he was lying on his back in the soft muck at the bottom of a very deep lake.  He heard voices that seemed to be coming from very far away.  They were calling out to him, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.  This was unusual for Jak, who normally welcomed attention.  Right now, he did not want to be bothered, and the voices were a pesky annoyance.  He seemed to be able to feel hands, pulling on his arms and legs, cradling his head, tugging at his clothes.  He realized that all this touching hurt, but he really did not care.  He imagined his new outfit was ruined, he could feel the silk being cut from his body, but he could not bring himself to care much about that, either.  While he did not care about anything, he found that he could think with perfect clarity.  This was unusual for Jak, whose mind was always cluttered with things.  At any given moment, he needed to worry about his hair and makeup and clothes, what other people thought of him, who he could subjugate and kill, and where Bankotsu was and whether he was all right.  Now, none of these things mattered in the least, and his mind was functioning with a sharp, well-oiled precision he had never experienced before.

He wanted to move, but did not know how to do so.  Since he felt as though he were under water, he thought that he should try to swim.  In some part of his mind that could see even though his eyes were closed, he saw a light and felt that he needed to move toward it.  Somehow, he was able to will himself to move toward the light.  He had no ability to move his arms and legs, but he did feel as though he were traveling toward something, some goal he needed to reach.  Then between him and the light, something seemed to be taking shape in his mind’s eye.  It was a humanoid form.  It was small and bright.  He had a sudden realization that the form was that of his sister, Aiko.  He knew it was her with perfect certainty.  As he had wanted to use his arms and legs to swim, he also wanted to use his voice to call out to Aiko, but he couldn’t.  If he succeeded in using his voice, or his arms and legs, he would be drawn back into his body, which was not what he wanted.  

“Jak!”  Was that someone in the external world calling out to him, or was it Aiko?   Angrily, he wished that the people who were touching his physical body would just stop, and that they would shut up, so he could focus on his sister.  It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he wanted to find out if she could talk to him.

“Jak.  Listen to the people who are calling you.  It’s not too late, you don’t have to die again!”  It was his sister’s voice.  Unfortunately, what she had to say was just as annoying as the babble of voices from the distant people.  Apparently, they all wanted the same thing, for him to return to his body.

“Why, Aiko?  I’ve finally found you.   We can be together now.”

“No, Jak.  There are things you need to do.  You’ve been given a great gift.  You can continue to live.  You can make a difference, help people, save lives.  There’s a young girl.  Her name is Rin.  She needs you.  You need to help her.  Go back to your body, and help her.”

“I’m tired, Aiko.”  

“Remember all the things we used to talk about doing when we got away from the village?  It’s not too late.  You can still do them, and more.  This girl, Rin.  She’s like us, Jak.  People have done bad things to her, she’s made mistakes.  But you can give her a second chance, just like you’ve been given.”

“She’s made mistakes all right, Aiko.  I’ve crossed paths with that little bitch before.  She’s just like mother.  Pure poison.  The only way to help her is a blade between the ribs.  She’s made my friend’s life a living hell, and she’s at the top of my to-do list.”

Aiko shook her head.  She had been watching over her brother, and knew all about his involvement with Kagome.  She also knew that Kagome was totally lacking in a thirst for vengeance.  Kagome had enough problems, without the guilt she would suffer if Rin were to die for her sins against her.  “Kagome would never have left Inuyasha, Jak.  She was tied to him, and severing that tie was going to hurt, no matter who did it or how it was done.  Kagome belongs with Sesshomaru, not Inuyasha.  She’s had to suffer at the hands of Kikyo and Rin, but she’s finally with the one who has truly chosen her over all others.”

Jak realized that this was true.  Kagome was dead loyal to Inuyasha.  She had proven it over and over again.  The idea that Rin had done Kagome a favor was hard to digest, but impossible to deny.

“Even if I don’t take vengeance for what she did to Kagome, why does she need to be saved, Aiko?  Let nature take its course.  What goes around comes around.  All that.”

“You’re way more than human.  You know that.  You’ve always been tough, and in your present form, you’re hard to kill.  You were resurrected by Inutaisho to be part of his army because you were a mercenary, Jak.  Is that what you want to be, a tool?  If you fight beside Kagome and Sesshomaru, you can be way more than that, and make up for all the bad things that people have done to us.  You’ll be an individual, not just something to be used and thrown away.  But to serve Kagome and Sesshomaru, you need to do what’s right, and right now that is saving Rin.  I promise you, Jak, Kagome does not want her to be punished.  That’s your idea, not hers.”

“I’m not going to be a saint, Aiko.  But you are right, Kagome would want me to save Rin, and I will do it for you, and for Kagome.  So, how will I find her?”

“Return to your body.  When the time comes, what you need to do will be clear.  I love you, Jak, never forget that.  And I know that Kagome loves you too.  Go, and be happy.”

Jak allowed himself to focus on the people who were attempting to summon him back.  He knew he was getting closer as their voices became clearer and clearer, and the pain he felt became sharper and more pronounced.  He could feel their hands on his skin, the sharp pain of his broken bones, the wet moisture of his bodily fluids.

“He’s back, Ken!”