InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fading ❯ Goodbye Kagome? ( Chapter 6 )

Yes, back again with another chappy of my first fic ever! *throws party* I guess I can't blame you ppl for not reviewing cuz I dunno if it's easy to find my story or not in the directory thing, but hey, whatcha gonna do? Anyway, I wanna thank those who have reviewed cuz it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ^_^ So thanks to Lady of the Ink (for not one, but TWO reviews!) Chiyo Yoshihiko, Pinayazngrl, InuGoddess, and Niku *hugs them all* Well, for any of you who are listening… er… reading, R&R!

Chapter Six: Goodbye Kagome?

At the sight of the beautiful woman standing in front of her house, arms crossed and shoulders squared as if to bar the way, Kagome's mind raced. How had Riyo known they were coming? Taro hadn't had time to send word, that much was certain. Things were just getting weirder by the minute.

"You're here to see me." It wasn't a question. So much for a friendly welcome, Kagome thought. She tried on her best smile.

"Hello, you must be Riyo. My name is Kagome, and these are my friends Inu Yasha, Sango, Mi-"

"I know who you are," the woman - Riyo? - interrupted. She didn't even seem surprised at Kagome's appearance. And why was she so angry?

"But… how?" Sango asked, stepping up beside Kagome.

"That is none of your concern. Now you will turn around and leave this village. Do not come back."

"Are you Riyo or not?" Inu Yasha asked roughly. His façade was ruined, however, as the woman's eyes slid to his and Kagome's twined fingers, causing the hanyou to blush bright red. Snatching his hand away from the girl's he repeated his question loudly.

"I am Riyo. And you are leaving." Miroku grinned and applauded, but his clapping faltered when everyone's gaze shifted to him.

"What? I thought it was a good joke," he said innocently. "Besides, Riyo is very-" His words were cut off by Sango's hand as she smiled up at Riyo. It was more like baring her teeth, but the effort was there.

"Please, ignore dear Miroku-kun," the exterminator said with seemingly forced affection. "He does tend to forget himself sometimes."

The monk moved Sango's hand enough to say, "Miroku-kun? Why, Sango, I never knew you cared!" Which, of course, only earned him a bruise and a headache.

Trying to get the conversation back under control, Kagome turned pleadingly to Riyo. "We really need to talk to you, Riyo. You see, I have this problem and-"

"I also know why you're here," Riyo cut in smoothly. "And I regret to inform you that I cannot help you."

"But-"

"No. Leave now. Please." At least she had added "please" on the end this time. Apparently this didn't count for much with Inu Yasha because he pushed past his companions to stand right in front of Riyo.

"Listen, wench, my Kagome needs help. You're help. And you will give it to her."

Yes, calling her "wench" is definitely going to change her mind, Kagome thought sarcastically. Then something Inu Yasha had said sunk in. Wait, did he just say HIS Kagome? What's that baka playing at now?

The hanyou didn't appear to notice his slip as he glared at Riyo, arms crossed to mirror her position. The woman merely gazed back at him, her face unreadable. She looked like a porcelain doll with her pretty clothes, smooth black hair, and ivory skin. The only difference was that a doll would break if you treated it roughly. Riyo looked as though she would break you if you even thought of harming her.

Inu Yasha, meanwhile, was having trouble keeping his face in it's look-at-me-I'm-so-tough pose. Gods, that woman could drill holes through rock with that stare. How does Taro deal with this? Inu Yasha thought, almost shivering as he imagined being married to a woman like Riyo. Maybe he's a masochist… And to think, he had been comparing her to Kagome. Those two are as different as night and day. Well, maybe as different as dawn and dusk, he amended, remembering Kagome's angry shouts of "Sit, boy!"

At that moment, Riyo seemed to come to a conclusion. With a small sigh, she unfolded her arms. "I… I guess you'd better come in. I might as well tell you why I can't help." She turned and walked into her house without looking back. Inu Yasha looked over his shoulder to grin smugly at Kagome before following Riyo into the house, quickly tailed by everyone else.

Riyo's home was large and tidy, thought quite plain in the old Japanese style. She led them to a comfortable room with a low wooden table in the middle and gestured for them to sit down, lowering herself to the ground gracefully and crossing her legs. When they were all seated, she swept her dark-eyed gaze once around the circle. "As I said before, I already know why you have come. And I cannot help you."

"Why?" Inu Yasha demanded. "All we need is for you and Taro to get back together. I mean, the guy's practically out of his mind worrying about whether you're angry at him or not."

Not exactly the most tactful reply, Kagome thought, giving Inu Yasha exasperated looks out of the corner of her eye. Riyo's stare turned icy at the mention of Taro's name.

"I will not 'get back together' with Taro," she said bluntly. "It was not meant to be."

Inu Yasha snorted. "Spare us the drama. He worships you, and you repay him by walking off?"

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome hissed. Smiling apologetically at Riyo, she clamped a hand over the hanyou's mouth, much like Sango had done earlier to Miroku. "You'll have to forgive Inu Yasha. It's just his way of talking - he never meant to be rude. But if you'll just let us explain-"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I already know?" Riyo asked impatiently. "No! Let me explain, and then maybe you'll understand."

"Finally," Inu Yasha muttered. Miroku poked him with the end of his staff and the half demon fell silent as Riyo began speaking.

"I was born many years ago in this same village. My mother was a miko, though she died before my… gift… was discovered. My father… he was a demon." Gasps greeted this announcement. A miko and a demon?

"But… you look human," Inu Yasha said, puzzled. "You even smell human."

Riyo shot him a look. "I wasn't finished. Now, I'm not exactly sure why my body is the way it is - maybe it has to do with my mother being a miko, maybe not - but, unlike most half demons, one day a month I turn completely demon, while the rest of the time I am human. Granted, I do not change into my true-form like full demons are able to, but my blood changes and I become wild and uncontrollable. The rest of the time, I am as you see me. A mortal, albeit one with miko powers."

"That's… incredible," Kagome said slowly. "But there are a few things I don't understand. First of all, how could your mother be a miko and your father a demon? Wouldn't her purifying powers have… well, purified the demon?"

Riyo smiled crookedly. "My mother loved my father, and in order to be with him she allowed her soul to become corrupted. It was the only way. I guess you would call me, her offspring, a dark miko."

"A dark miko…" Kagome let her mind absorb this knowledge before asking her next question. "That still doesn't explain how you knew who we were and why we're here."

"Oh. That is the gift I mentioned before. I believe both mikos and demons refer to it as 'foretelling'. Sometimes I have glimpses of the future, sometimes of the present, though usually of the present in a far off place. I think that it is a trait of dragon youkai, which is what my father was."

"But why does this prevent you from helping Kagome?" Miroku asked, his face serious as he looked at Riyo.

"Don't you see? I'm a danger to everyone I have contact with! Not only do I have miko powers, I'm also half dragon youkai, and I'm sure you know that hanyous are shunned and despised by both demons and humans. I'm not even a natural half demon, the way my body transforms every month. My soul is corrupt and I have no control over the dark energy within me combined with my demon blood. I thought at first that I could change, for Taro. But now I know - even he fears me. I can smell it whenever we're close. I may be corrupt, but I will not sentence anyone to a life chained to one such as I." Riyo's calm mask had slipped, and flashes of the demon within her showed in the way her fingernails scratched the wood of the table and her eyes flashed with green fire.

The poor woman, Kagome thought, staring in a kind of fascinated horror as Riyo tried to keep her demon side in check. How will I ever solve my problem now? Despair filled the girl as she saw her hopes burn to ashes in the green fire that now showed clearly in Riyo's eyes. I'm fading. And there's nothing I can do.

With that last thought, all the life went out of Kagome. Her body, already barely visible, shimmered for a second before winking out like a flame in a rainstorm.

"KAGOME!" Inu Yasha howled, his eyes flaring red and his fangs bared in a soundless snarl. But there was nothing he could do, either. Kagome was gone.

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And I think I'll end it right there for now. Bwahahaha! Yes, I know, another short chappy, but that ending was too perfect to ignore. So, what now? Kagome's gone and Taro's girlfriend is a freak of nature! Oh, the tragedy and drama that I inflict on you all ^_^ Don't worry, all will be explained in the end. R&R if you want me to continue with this idea! lol

~SilverMyste~