InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Part One: Downfall ❯ Shadow ( Chapter 14 )

WOW 10 pages…Oh my friggin god, I can't believe I finally finished that damned chapter! I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS! Finally it has been completed!!!!! Life has been a bitch to me and I needed a vacation so here's chapter 14! As always read, enjoy, and review if you feel the need. Until next time… hopefully in the near future!

Chapter 14: Shadow

The sun was high in the sky when Kagome awoke. Judging from the way the sun slanted in through the cracks in the boards, it looked to be a little bit after noon. Sitting up slowly, she blinked to allow her eyes to adjust and stretched in a very cat-like manner. Sighing softly as joints popped back into place. Looking around the hut, she realized that no one was around and began to panic slightly. `It was all a dream!?' she thought in a terror filled haze. Desperately she looked around for any type of sign, but all she saw was the charred remains of what was a fire in the pit in the middle of the hut.

When her panic reach its' peak, the flap opened, blinding Kagome with the outside light. Shielding her eyes, she sighed in relief when the person entered the hut and closed the flap.

"Ah, Kagome," Miroku said, "We thought you'd never wake up!" When her eyes had fully adjusted, Kagome rubbed them for good measure to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. When she was proved wrong, she flung herself at Miroku, a strangled cry leaving her throat.

"I thought it was all just a dream!" she wailed as she attached herself to his waist like a leech. From the sheer force of the impact, Miroku went down taking her with him. He stumbled backwards, out the door before landing flat on his back. The fall only gave Kagome a better advantage as she straddled him and proceeded to kiss him. A cough stopped her attack on her now starry eyed friend, but only caused a momentary pause. Kagome looked up, her eyes filled with tears as they lit up in relief and joy. The sight of Sango sent Kagome barreling towards her, who managed to catch her weight. Both stood rooted to the spot for several minutes hugging each other and crying.

Finally, after several minutes, both girls separated and walked over to the still starry eyed monk. As they kneeled over him, they both stiffened when they felt the caress of `the wandering hands'. There was a timeless pause as both sat there shocked, with a wide eyed look gracing their features. Then in unison they both burst into action and proceeded to beat the poor monk into unconsciousness. When both were satisfied Sango grabbed Miroku by his ankles and dragged him back into Kaede's hut.

~X~

The sun was setting when Miroku finally woke up. Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Kaede sat around a hearty fire, eating their dinner when Miroku brought up what Kagome had told him the night before. Sighing Kagome looked at her second family and began her tale.

"The first thing you should all know, is that I am not what you think I am," Kagome began.

"How do you mean?" Sango asked.

Sighing, she continued, "I am the last surviving member of the Legendary Pheonix clan."

"I thought they were merely myths!" Sango gasped.

"Quite the contrary, Sango. They were very much real until about 300 years ago when the Dragon clans declared war upon our clan. The Pheonix clan won, but barely. Weakened as we were, other youkai began to take advantage of the fact and began hunting our kind down. The remainders of our clan went into hiding. My parents where the last two survivors, and had somehow managed to stay in hiding undiscovered for three centuries. --."

"I thought you were from the future, Kagome," Miroku commented, somewhat perplexed.

"I was just getting to that Miroku," Kagome replied. "When my mother became pregnant with me, they were discovered and had to run again. Six years after I was born the Shadow clan was breathing down our necks at our every turn. That's when my father came across the Bone Eaters Well. - Now that I think about it, that was fourteen years ago; Inuyasha was still pinned to the goshinboku. -- Anyways, he was a rare breed of Pheonix youkai, my father was. He had the power to create portals to other dimensions and even through time itself. We were cornered at the well, when he turned to my mother and me and pushed us down it. The next thing I know I'm at the bottom of the well looking up at a roof. Before we had fallen she had sustained mortal wounds. Somehow she managed to get us out of the well and towards the main house of the shrine. I still remember it like it was yesturday."

~X~

//I was six years old//

"Mommy! Daddy!" cried a young ink haired girl as she pranced around a small clearing that held a dry well in the center. "Watch me!"

Both parents who had been scouting the immediate vicinity paused in their inspection to watch their only child. Pride shone brightly in both parents' eyes as they watched their daughter form an exact replica of her self out of their campfire. The older version of the young girl ran to her daughter, swinging her up into her arms and spinning her around. Both laughed and shrieked happily, but the laughter quickly turned to screams as a large shadow loomed over the young girl's father.

From the shadows burst forth a figure that twirled and spun with a blade in its hands. The black figure came to a halt before the male phoenix and thrust the gleaming blade into his shoulder. All of which happened in a matter of seconds in which the father of the small family had no time to move.

"Munashii!" the mother cried as she cradled her precious cargo to her chest.

Looking at his family out of the corner of his eye, he felt a trill of fear run through him at the sight that met his eyes.

They were surrounded.

`Kyouki!' he called. It was times like this he thanked the gods above for his telepathy. It was something he cursed in his youth, because it made him that much more rare. Not only was he telepathic, he could create portals to different dimensions and through time. It had made him highly sought after. `Stay near the well!'

//When my parents went away//

`What are you planning, Munashii?' Kyouki thought as she rushed to the well. Once there she set her daughter down and took up a fighting stance, pulling out her short swords. With a grace of a ballet dancer she fought off her attackers, but not without sustaining damage. Though she was a trained fighter, her opponents her faster and stronger than she was. Not to mention she was greatly out numbered.

//I was stuck inside a broken life//

All the while the young girl looked on in horror as her parents fought for their lives. "Mayoke!" she barely registered her mother call to her, " Stay there!" Really there wasn't anywhere else she could go, so she complied. She watched in awe as her mother twirled gracefully with her twin blades. With her movements her flowing crimson hair snapped around her like a whip hitting several of her opponents in the face. So enraptured was Mayoke in watching her mother, she was caught off guard when her father took on his ture spirit form in a conflagration. With wide eyes she witnessed for the first time the true shape that was her heritage.

Before her stood a giant flaming bird, inky black in color, that was the size of a large oak. Those that were unlucky enough to be standing near the flaming creature were scorched and those too close were burned to death. With deadly precision the great bird swatted and stomped its prey until from the shadows of the tree line burst forth a great dragon that attacked from behind.

//I couldn't wish away//

"Munashii!" Kyouki cried as the great bird was sent flying from a blow to the head and quickly transformed back into his humanoid shape. During the distraction one of her assailants managed to get in a hit, the sword hitting her just under her left arm, shattering her armor. With a great cry of pain, she pulled the sword from her side and vanquished her would be murderer.

At that moment in time, Munashii was just recovering from the cheap shot he was delivered. Pushing himself up, he shook his head slightly to clear it then looked over just in time to watch in horror as his love was pierced with a blade. With a roar of outrage, he flew back into the fray gallantly fighting. It wouldn't be enough.

//She was beautiful
She had everything and more//

Somehow he made his way back to his family and stood before them. Curtly he ordered Kyouki to their daughter and took up a fighting stance. Behind him, Kyouki went to Mayoke, gathering her in her arms to watch the outcome of the battle. Both knew it would not be good. Neither noticed the steady flow of blood that came from Kyouki's most recent wound either. Both stood silently and watched as the only man in their lives prepared to fight to the death for them.

//And my escape was hiding out

And running for the door//

Time slowed as they both watched as Munashii turned towards them and sprinted towards the well. Neither saw the great flash of blue that indicated his spell had worked. When he was half way to them, time resumed its normal pace and both looked on in wide-eyed understanding as they fell down the well. A comforting blue light surrounded them before it eventually faded leaving them in utter darkness. Kyouki screamed in rage and anguish.

//Somebody listen please
It used to be so hard being me//

Deftly Kyouki jumped out of the well, but once she touched the ground outside it she cried out in pain and clutched her side. Her vision began to blur and she could feel her life's energy slipping away.

She was bleeding to death.

"Mommy!" Mayoke cried.

"I'm ok, baby," her mother replied. At the comforting words, Mayoke snuggled into her mother causing her to hiss in pain. Mayoke began to cry softly. She knew her mother was dieing. A few moments passed, mother holding daughter before the door to the well house slammed open.

"Kagome!?" a mother cried frantically, tears streaming down her face. At the sight of the pair kneeling in the growing puddle of blood, the woman gasped. Both looked on wide-eyed. "Who are you? Why are you with my daughter?" she asked. "What happened to you?" she continued. No answers were forth coming, and the human woman was becoming upset.

Mayoke looked human save for her pointed ears. Her wings had yet to sprout, and even if they had, they would have been hidden under a strong spell to hide her heritage. Both mothers stared each other down before the human realized something. "You're not Kagome," she whispered her chin trembling.

//Living in the shadow//

"But she can be," Kyouki whispered.

"What?"

"My daughter could pass as yours correct?"

"Well… yes," she said, very unsure as to what the woman before her was trying to get at.

"In a few moments time, I shall leave this world forever and my daughter shall be left with no one. You are missing your daughter, correct?"

"Yes," the other woman whispered.

"Then please, take mine. Give her the life and happiness I could never give her without my love. Love her, as I love her."

The other woman hesitated before she slowly nodded. She could never replace Kagome fully, but she could help to close the gap. Both women shared an understanding gaze before Kyouki called Mayoke to her.

//Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me//

"Mayoke," Kyouki said, her voice breaking due to the intense emotions. "Know that your father and I both love you very much. Be a good girl for us," she said before she kissed her daughter softly on the forehead, sealing away most of her memories demon traits and blood, leaving her virtually human.

//Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep//

The young girl collapsed as her mother's last breath left her. Her body disappeared in a blaze of ethereal flames and a small blood red ruby appeared in the small girl's hand. The human woman stood, amazed at what she had just witnessed, before she gathered the small girl that so resembled her daughter and placed her in Kagome's room. She would now be Kagome.

//But now that I am wide awake
My chains are finally free
Don't feel sorry for me//

~X~

//All the days collided
One less perfect than the next//

"I remember I spent almost a month in bed crying. I had tried several times to get back through the well, but I didn't know why. My dreams haunted by a beautiful woman with crimson hair, but I didn't know who she was. It was only about a year ago that my memories came back to me, but I could never call out my demon blood," Mayoke otherwise known as Kagome said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

//I was stuck inside someone else's life and always second best//

"The Higurashi family took me in, but I could tell they wished I was their real daughter. I was just a replacement, but eventually they accepted me and loved me. Even now, though, I can see a passing look that said they wished I were someone else."

//Oh, I love you now 'cause now I realize//

"Don't get me wrong, they love me in their own respect, but they would rather have their Kagome as opposed to me. I love them, but I don't belong there anymore," she concluded.

//That it's safe outside to come alive in my identity//

"Kag.. Mayoke…? I'm sorry I really don't know what to call you," Sango said as she recovered from her shocked state.

Kagome looked down at the flooring of the hut. The fire cast eerie shadows across her face, leaving her expression unseen. "Mayoke died with her mother," she said in a low tone as she slowly lifted her head. "I am no one. I have no name. But if you must, you may call me by my human name. You may call me Kagome."

With out further ado, Kagome rose and made her way out of the hut. Her last few statements rang in the hearts of the dazed occupants of the hut. It wasn't long, however, before Sango shook the cobwebs from her head and gave chase to the retreating phoenix.

"Kagome!" she called, hoping she would stop and wait. Stop she did, but she did not turn to face her friend. "Where are you going?" she asked slightly hurt.

//So if you're listening
There's so much more to me you haven't seen//

"I have to leave," she replied, her voice choked with tears. "My powers are untrained and they are still hunting me."

"Who?"

"Inuyasha and Kikyou."

Sango uttered a small gasp before she recomposed herself. "At least stay the night!" she begged. Slowly Kagome turned to face her friend. Tears flowed freely down her face. Several managed to find their way to the ground where flowers immediately sprung forth. Sango watched entranced.

"So that's how they survived," Kaede whispered in awe, everyone else was too encumbered with shock to say anything. They all watched in wonderment as her tears continued to fall, and flowers continued to sprout.

//Living in the shadow//

With a sigh, Kagome turned from them and began walking once more. She continued walking with her head down, a trail of flowers in her wake when something, or rather someone stopped her.

"Kagome," Miroku said. "I know of a place where you could go, where you could train yourself."

//Of someone else's dream

Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me//

Kagome froze momentarily, before she turned around, sighing in resignation and headed back towards her friends. "I will leave in the morning," she whispered before entering the hut.

//Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep//

Inside the hut, Kagome curled up and slept. That night her dreams were not haunted by specters, but rather haunted by a time long passed and people long dead. She would leave in the morning, but with an altered mission for a different reason than she had originally decided upon before her eyes shut.

//But now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally be
Don't feel sorry-//

~X~

//Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now//

That night Kagome visited her real mother in her dreams. She had not seen her since that day, but her image was as clear as day. "Mother," she said as she slowly approached her. "Are you happy now?"

"Yes, Mayoke. We are happy now."

"Good."

"Mayoke, how have you been all this time?"

"I'm home! I don't know how, but I finally made it back home!" she cried flying into her mother's arms. "Oh mama! Everything was going so good for so long!"

"I know, baby, I know," Kyouki soothed. " But trust me, things will get better."

"How do you know?!" the girl snapped.

//Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now//

"Just trust me," she whispered.

Sighing the young firebird withdrew from her mother and kissed her on the cheek. Her mother returned the gesture.

"Before you go, Mayoke, I want you to meet someone."

From behind Kyouki came a little girl of about ten. At the sight of the little girl, the living phoenix gasped. "Rin," she whispered.

"You must find her," Kyouki said. "She is your sister."

"But how?" she questioned, flabbergasted.

"I was pregnant when I died, Mayoke. She died with me, but the gods gave her another chance. She knows nothing of who or what she is. No one does. The knowledge is there but she must help her unlock it."

"How?"

"From the outside, she looks like aught but an ordinary human, but locked deep within her is her true heritage, you must hit her with your power in order to unlock it. It will be painful, but it's for the best. She must know who she is."

//Oh, my life is good
I've got more than anyone should//

"I understand, mother," she replied.

"Good, I thought you would. Now, go. It's time for you to wake up."

"Mother?"

"Hmm?"

"Goodbye, mother," she said. "I love you," she whispered just before she faded from the dreamscape.

//Oh, my life is good
And the past in the past//

~X~

//I was living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream//

At a large castle, a young girl frolicked and played, happily picking flowers. Unbeknownst to her two specters stood by, smiling happily as they watched her play. They would guard her, even in death. She was their youngest child, unaware of what was about to hit her, but they would be there for her. Even further in the distance stood a white figure. Though he watched from a distance, in more ways than one, he would guard her with his life. Of that, the two parents were sure. Otherwise, they never would have placed her in his care.

~X~

//Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
I'm living in a new day//

As the sun shone through the cracks in the boarding of the hut, Kagome awoke. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She had finally been able to say goodbye. Sighing, she closed her eyes as allowed the mediocre light to was over her. That nightmare had finally ended. But a new one has already begun.

//I'm living it for me
And now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally be
Don't feel sorry for me//