InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fading ❯ What It Is To Be Betrayed ( Chapter 12 )

Hello hello, everyone… *echoes around empty room* Well, talking to myself is just as fun I guess *sigh* lol anyways, I'm sorry if by putting the names of my reviewers in the last chappy I made anyone upset - I swear I didn't do it on purpose! From now on I'll just say, thanks to anyone who's reading this, even if you don't review (*cough* though that would be nice *cough*). Oh, and also... enjoy chapter twelve ^_~

Disclaimer: I have recently realized that I've possibly been forgetting to put disclaimers in my chapters o_O Don't sue me anyone! I swear it was an accident, just as the occurrence of anything as brilliant as Inu Yasha coming out of my warped mind would be! So, just to be certain you have nothing to blackmail me with, I DON'T OWN INU YASHA! Happy?

Chapter Twelve: What It Is To Be Betrayed

Inu Yasha hunched deeper into his fire-rat clothing while trying not to make it obvious that he was cold. The unnatural chill was affecting him even worse than the humidity from the impending storm had been. This in itself wouldn't have been quite as bad if he could just see where it was coming from. Damn it! Inu Yasha cursed silently. Was fate never going to tire of tormenting him?

The hanyou glanced over at the rest of his companions huddling together - they weren't embarrassed to admit the cold was getting to them. Why did he have to be the one stuck with a pride the size of his appetite? Inu Yasha flexed cold, stiff fingers and continued to search for the elusive intruder and the source of all this damn frozen air.

Despite the frigid temperature, the sky still remained dark with brooding storm clouds and occasionally flashes of lightning would flare, followed by the faint rumble of thunder. The brief wind that had brought the cold was gone, the air once again motionless. Ice hung around them, unseen but felt nonetheless.

And one other presence, more tangible than even the feel of his clothes under his fingers and yet just as elusive as the mysterious intruder, could be felt. Inu Yasha could sense it all around him, hear it whisper in his ear, smell the empty scent of nothingness, taste the fear it evoked on his tongue. He could practically see it swirling in the still air, a darkness that was at the same time blinding. The hanyou was sure he had always known this presence was there, but had never really thought about it before.

Then again, isn't destiny always with us?

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Taro trudged along wearily, the strap on his satchel of belongings chafing against his shoulder. He was almost regretting coming along and leaving his cozy farmhouse. The dark-haired man gave Riyo a sideways glance and smiled. Almost.

Unbeknownst to Taro, Riyo was also sneaking glances out of the corner of her eye. A few days ago - Kami, has it only been a few days? - she had convinced herself that she was better off alone.

There is no other match more absurd than ours,Riyo mused as she stalked along beside Taro. Maybe that is why our fates are intertwined. The universe does love irony.

So lost in her thoughts was Riyo that she jumped when Taro suddenly gave a gasp and clutched his head. She whirled around to look at him but her vision was oddly blurry, and objects swam circles before her eyes. What the…? An enormous wave of pressure hit her and Riyo fell to her knees. She couldn't focus her thoughts - they were drowning in the black water that filled her mind. The dark miko could feel blood trickle across her lips as the mounting pressure in the air caused her nose to bleed. Beside her, Taro was also on the ground, having been hit by the strange force a split second before Riyo. He was now unconscious, his body limp.

Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the pressure vanished. Riyo's vision cleared, although her nose continued to gush blood. She couldn't repress the demonic urge to lick the crimson liquid as it touched her lips, and the metallic taste made her youkai blood boil. Fighting the demon inside her, Riyo crawled over to Taro. She felt like something had been taken from her and then replaced with something else. Already, memories were fading and she couldn't hold onto them. Within seconds, the old Riyo was gone.

"Taro," the black miko said urgently. "Taro, wake up!"

The farmer stirred, groaning slightly as his head throbbed painfully. Riyo bit her lip in worry - was her husband alright? Husband? For a second this thought puzzled her as she tried - and failed - to grasp a thought that lingered on the edge of her mind. Then it was gone, and Riyo smiled. Of course he was her husband. He had proposed to her out of nowhere that day by the lake and they had been married not soon after. The beautiful woman shook Taro's shoulder slightly. "Taro!"

Taro's eyes slowly opened. Putting a hand to his head, he sat up. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure," Riyo said. "I think it was some sort of earthquake."

Taro nodded, wincing at the pounding in his head. "But… what are we doing out here?" Riyo frowned, having just realized where they were. Another vague thought hovered just out of reach and she snatched at it, managing to grasp it before it disappeared with the others.

"I had a foretelling," the black miko said gradually. "One that could mean life or death for many people. Both you and I were part of the foretelling, and we needed to be somewhere over there." She waved a flawless hand loosely in the direction in front of them.

"A foretelling," Taro repeated. "I have never known your visions to be wrong. We should continue on."

Riyo nodded, helping him to his feet. Taro smiled as he noticed the lily necklace he had given her hanging around her neck. Throwing her a mischievous smile he grabbed her satchel of supplies and began jogging in the direction she had indicated, calling over his shoulder, "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can save the world. Isn't that right… my wife?"

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Kagome took an unconscious step backwards, stumbling a little in her haste. Her mind seemed to be frozen, just like the air, by the fate-sealer. Inu Yasha! she cried out in her mind. But he was no longer there to save her from the monsters. Trembling, unable to move, Kagome gazed with undisguised terror at the being before her.

It wasn't that the fate-sealer was particularly frightening in appearance. It was tall, yes - at least twice as tall as Kai, who was not a short man by any account - but its presence made it loom higher even than the mountains in the distance. It was cloaked in what looked like mist or maybe smoke, the kind that your breath makes when you exhale in cold air. But this mist didn't dissipate in seconds. It had form and substance and trailed out behind the fate-sealer like a shimmering silver river. The mist covered a form that was vaguely man-like, but almost no details could be seen. Its face was hidden within a hood spun of shadows and it appeared to hover above the ground, defying gravity. The only part of its body that was clear was one hand, which was at the same time not a hand. It had fingers, yes, and skin that was as smooth and pale as marble, but it lacked the realness that you sense when looking at another living thing.

It isn't living, Kagome's numb mind told her. Nothing like that could ever live among us. Her fear-sharpened senses were relaying images and impressions to her brain at twice their normal speed. She could smell something that came from beyond the grave. She could hear something that sounded like eternity. She could feel her own body, like she had been able to when she was fading, and right now she had never been more aware of her mortality. Kagome licked dry lips and tasted her terror. And she knew with unwavering certainty that she was looking at destiny.

With her mind full of this knowledge, Kagome allowed her gaze to slide down to the fate-sealer's outstretched hand. Her body gave a jolt. It was holding a single thread between its fingers, a single colour-less thread. But what did that have to do with anything? As if reading her thoughts, the fate-sealer suddenly tugged on the string. Kagome only had time to glimpse a massive, never-ending web of threads suddenly appear, connected to everything, before she felt a jerk from deep within her body and her surroundings went black.

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Kai watched, struggling to keep his face impassive, as the fate-sealer appeared. He had somehow known it would come to this one day, some hidden sixth sense that shouted to him that destiny would not let him off so easy. But it's one thing to know something will happen and an entirely different matter to watch the event unfold.

The kitsune's back went rigid with the effort of holding himself still. The urge to turn and run was almost overwhelming. How ironic, he thought, hands curling into fists. This is the universe's representation of how humans and demons - and nearly every other living creature - is born with the instinct to run from their fate.

Kai could hear Kagome stumble backwards - she had no qualms about obeying the little voice that said "run" inside her. Well, at least she'll be safe if it comes to battle, the fox youkai thought. Then he smiled crookedly. He doubted it would. The fate-sealer prefers to toy with your mind rather than your body. Kai's demon-enhanced senses were being assaulted by the presence of the towering creature. He ignored them as he had his fear, tail lashing as he watched the fate-sealer sharply.

For a second, the mist-cloaked being simply hovered there, allowing its aura to insinuate itself into their minds. Then, so suddenly that Kai barely saw the movement, it tugged on its single thread. The kitsune felt something wrench inside himself and his breath escaped in a surprised hiss from between clenched fangs.

Then the blackness came.

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Kagome was floating, suspended in a void that was darker than anything she had ever seen before. Where had the ground gone? And the trees and grass and sky?

"Kai?" she tried to whisper, but all that came out was a death rattle. Frightened, Kagome shut her mouth and huddled in on herself. She floated there for what felt like years with nothing but disembodied voices from her past to keep her company. They had started soon after her attempt at speech, and hadn't ceased since.

"Kagome," came her mother's voice. "Kagome, where are you? You haven't been home in so long. Have you forgotten us?"

No! Kagome cried inside her mind, wishing fervently that she could talk. No, I would never forget you!

"Maybe Inu Yasha could come live with us," her brother suggested. "Then you wouldn't be away so much…"

At the voicing of one of her most secret wishes Kagome felt all the longing of the past years within her rise up, threatening to sweep her away with its intensity. Inu Yasha would never come back with you, Kagome told herself. You're not even sure he feels the same way you do.

"It's true then," Souta said, his bodiless voice sounding hurt. "You don't want to come home."

Souta, no! It's not! I… But her little brother's voice had already fled, sobbing.

"Kagome." It was her grandfather now. "This is the chance for you to study your history! Your heritage! Don't throw it away and come home. Think of the things you would learn and see. You shouldn't come home."

Do you not want me there? Kagome thought.

"No! Come home, Kagome!" her mother's voice suddenly cried.

"Stay!" her grandpa ordered just as quickly.

"Come!"

"Stay!"

"Come!"

"Stay!"

Kagome thought she was going to explode if this didn't stop. The voices rang in her ears, howled around inside her brain until her thoughts couldn't be heard above the din. She opened her mouth to scream but again only the ominous death rattle emerged.

And then… merciful quiet. The two voices faded away, still arguing, just as Souta's had. Kagome silently sighed in relief. Now that the voices were gone, it was easier to convince herself that they weren't real. But her reprieve didn't last long.

"Miko," Riyo said, her voice echoing around the black void. "Why are you here? You have fallen into the darkness as I have. How will you purify the sacred jewel now that your soul has been corrupted?" And as the woman's voice spoke Kagome thought she could feel her soul becoming tainted, imaginary maggots chewing holes through the goodness and replacing it with black gloom. Oh Kami, no!

"Kagome," shouted Taro. "Kagome where are you? I can't see you!" I'm not going invisible again! Kagome thought in sudden panic. I can't be! Shadowy figures moved at the edge of her vision. Kagome felt tears slide down her cheeks. She knew what was coming next.

One by one her friends and companions from feudal Japanappeared, spoke to her, and left. Shippou pleaded with her to come back and stay with them in the past, Sango stared at her with eyes as blank as Kohaku's had been and accused her of abandoning them, and Miroku gazed at her solemnly before shaking his head and walking away. Kirara's appearance followed Miroku's, but the cat only stared at her, eyes like red flame, before hissing and turning to follow the others. Even Kikyo appeared, quiet and full of pointless hate which she lashed out with at Kagome.

The black-haired girl fell to her knees, her immobility shattered by her grief. She covered her face with her hands and tears made streaks on her face. Please let this be the end, she prayed. Don't let him come. I don't want him to come. But again came the tug, the one that went deeper and felt different than the one that had pulled at her heart, and Kagome knew she would have no mercy. She staggered to her feet, tears still streaming down her cheeks, and lifted her hazel eyes.

There he was, striking and formidable as ever with his white hair and red haori. He had his back to her. Kagome felt her resolve to withstand this new angle of mental abuse crumble to dust. She couldn't pretend that he didn't exist. She didn't have the will to.

Inu Yasha turned slowly to face her. His golden eyes seemed haunted and betrayed. "Why did you do this?"

Do what? Kagome shouted silently. What have I done to you that could possibly be worse than this?

"You left me. You said you would always be there for me, but you left. Like my father. Like my mother. Like Kikyo." Inu Yasha's voice grew dangerous, as if his hold on sanity was barely there. "You left me just when I was beginning to change for the better. But that doesn't matter now. I have what I've always wanted." In one clawed hand he held up the Shikon no Tama, whole and tainted.

But I have half of the jewel! Kagome thought desperately. She reached up to her neck where the shards had been dangling, only to find them gone. No!

As the girl watched, Inu Yasha slowly drew Tetsusaiga. Deliberately, methodically, he gripped it in both hands and brought it down over his knee. The snap and splintering of metal resounded throughout the void, ringing in Kagome's ears like a death toll. Inu Yasha flashed her a sardonic grin and pulled out the jewel again. It flared once, a pink glow tinted with black, before disappearing. Then her beloved hanyou's body began to change.

His fangs grew longer and sharper, pushing past his bottom lip and creating thin tracks of blood where they scraped against his chin. His dog ears slid down the sides of his head and molded into the pointed ears of a full demon. His claws grew longer also, deadly points shining faintly despite the lack of light. Jagged stripes appeared on his cheeks and a white dog's tail jutted out behind him. And when his eyes raised to look into hers, they were the colour of new blood.

"This is what I was meant for," the now-fully-demon Inu Yasha snarled. "This is who I really am."

And as Kagome watched, too shocked and drained to move, he lunged for her with claws raised.

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Uh oh, looks like our heroine has a small problem on her hands - small being the understatement of the year ^_~ Well? What do you all think? Yes, I know it took me a long time, and I know my story hasn't had much good old blood-and-gore yet so I think I'll add some in next chappy. Oh, and just so you'll squirm until I update, maybe I'll throw in a bit of Kai's history too, huh? We all know the Thunder Brothers killed him, but do we know how? Hopefully not, cuz that's wut I'm gonna explain to you! ^_^ Alright then, R&R everyone!

~SilverMyste~