InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou no kokoro no naka de; Within the Heart of the Half-Demon ❯ The Years Following ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, we all know that I do not own Inuyasha…yay for the Inu mastermind Rumiko Takahashi!

 

A/N: Hello! Here we go with chapter 2! I don't think this chapter will be very long, but the next one sure will! (Remember that at the beginning of this, Kagome is only eight!)

 

Update: Fixing of grammar mistakes. Content added. Working on rewriting every chapter.

 

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åŠã‚ˆã†ã®å ¿ƒã®ä¸­ã§; Within the Heart of the Half-Demon

 

Chapter 2

 

The Years Following

 

 

 

“King Higurashi and the Parliament of the royal castle ruling over the lands of the Shikon Kingdom, do hereby proclaim that all living youkai within the vicinity of the Shikon Kingdom, and all lands surrounding, are to be exiled from this point forward. Because of reoccurring incidents, all creatures of youkai blood are to no longer be allowed, under any circumstances, into the lands in or around the villages and forests within the kingdom. A youkai refuge has been ordered by his majesty to be established in the desert lands to the west for any homeless youkai this proclamation does hereby create. Along with…”

 

The announcer's voice faded off in Kagome's mind. She sat atop a rock wall that surrounded a garden outside the castle. Tons of people from all over had come to hear the king's proclamation. Sitting up high, the young Kagome was able to see over the crowds to the large man who was making the declaration to the people. He stood atop a tall pillar, wearing fancy robes and holding the scroll in front of his face. His round belly jiggled when he bellowed his voice as he was doing, causing Kagome to giggle slightly. He was a funny old man with grayed hair, looking something like the way the princess had always pictured Saint Nicolas in the old story books.

 

Kagome half jumped, half slid off the top of the stone wall, being careful not to hurt her back that was wrapped up in bandages. She could not remember exactly how that injury had come about; something about a youkai that was now being exiled, so she had no need to worry, or so her mother had told her that morning. She had never really worried about it, the youkai did not scare her, and, if asked, she would not have been able to tell what the youkai looked like that had scratched her. She simply did not remember.

 

People moved aside as she pushed her way through the crowd. As she reached the front of the mass of people, she looked up at the Santa Claus man, hearing none of the fancy words he was saying.

 

“No more interesting here than it was back in the gardens,” she said disappointed. “What an exciting thing to listen to on my first day back in the village,” she sighed, turning back and working her way out of the crowd.

 

Kagome had been in bed for the past three days with a severe headache and her back had hurt pretty badly up until that morning. After staying in her room for so long, she had felt extremely lonely and thought that there might be some value in walking among the village people again. It was not as fun as she thought she remembered it. I always seemed to have so much more fun out here with the people of the village, she thought. So much fun… her thoughts trailed off. With nothing more to do, and her need for company not satisfied, the princess left the noisy crowd and walked alone toward the castle. Suddenly, she remembered something her mom had said to her before she left that morning:

 

“Come on back before noon, your father and I are going to have a surprise for you!”

 

Kagome looked up at the clock on the tower of the castle. 11:45.

 

“Alright then!” she chirped, “I'll go see what surprise momma and dad have for me! I hope it's worthwhile!”

 

She skipped all the way to the steps that led to the entrance of her castle. There were a lot, and Kagome often had to stop and rest about half way up. There were 264. She had counted.

 

The large door creaked open as Kagome entered the throne room of the castle. She stopped, puzzled to find a large group of people gathered around her parents and some of the castle guards. She walked up closer, finding she had no clue who any of the people were. They all seemed to be wearing armor of some sort, very tight fitting and the plates of the uniform very small, unlike that of a soldier. Most of the guests appeared to be older men and women, with the exception of only a few children. After waiting for what seemed like forever, Kagome made eye contact with her father.

 

“Kagome, sweetie, come over here. There's some one I want you to meet.”

 

Kagome quickly obeyed the king's orders. She walked through the throng of armor-wearing people until she reached him. He put one arm around her and reached other one out, beckoning someone over to him. Kagome watched as a small girl, about the same age as herself, probably about nine, emerged from the crowd. Her head was downcast slightly, and she had her hands folded neatly in front of her. Kagome liked this girls armor the best out of everyone's; it was pink.

 

“Kagome, this is Sango,” her father said kindly. “She and her family are moving into the castle as the royal demon slayers. They told me they had a daughter about your age and thought that you would like to be friends.”

 

Kagome left her father's arm and stepped toward Sango, who seemed shy, seeing as how she had not much lifted her eyes. Kagome reached out a hand in greeting, a huge smile on her face.

 

“Hajimemashite, Sango-chan. My name's Kagome.”

 

Sango smiled and gave Kagome her hand, the princess's friendliness apparently giving the slayer confidence. It was obvious she had not much been in the presence of royalty. As an awkward silence followed the girl's introduction, Sango marveled to herself over how beautiful the princess's kimono was. It was a bright blue summer kimono, the edges infringed in gold. Gold-woven and pearl flowers decorating the blue, making the whole outfit shine.

 

“Well, Kagome,” her father said, standing up straight. “Why don't you show Sango her brother Kohaku around the castle?”

 

Kagome looked up at her father and nodded. “Would you like to go see the castle, Sango-chan?”

 

The girl smiled gleefully, very flattered by the princess's request to show her around. “I would love it very much!” she replied, trying to partially contain her excitement.

 

A young boy, younger than Sango, emerged from the crowd standing next to his sister. “I'm Kohaku!” he said, giving a hand to the princess.

 

Kagome smiled, to young to understand that he should not have so openly introduced himself to royalty. She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, too, Kohaku.”

 

The three children gave the adults a quick look before Kagome led them away, out of the throne room and into the hallways, showing them around their new home.

 

 

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The morning dawned bright and early. Kagome woke up to a beam of young sunlight that shined on her face from the window between the curtains that had not been completely closed the night before. There was suddenly a loud knock at her door. Kagome twitched in a sleepy surprise, rubbing one eye lazily while stretching her arm.

 

It's too early… she moaned in her head. She dropped her arm and roughly turned her back to the window from which the sun shone.

 

Without Kagome's answer the door swung open.

 

“Ohayo gozaimasu, Kagome-san!” Sango exclaimed, running to her bedside.

 

“Sa…ngo-chan? Why?” she mumbled, stuffing her head under her pillow.

 

“Get up, lazy bum! Today's your birthday!”

 

“Yeah…that's what they all say.”

 

Sango pulled the covers back, leaving Kagome curled in a ball, freezing in only her pajamas. Sango laughed at her friend's lousy mourning attitude, grabbing her arm and practically dragging her to her feet.

 

“Your parents are downstairs waiting! Let's go! The servants will be here any minute to get you dressed! You don't want to go to your birthday celebration looking like that do you?” Sango said, shoving the still half-asleep Kagome in front of a mirror.

 

Kagome sighed, picking up a brush and running it through her tangled black hair.

 

“So…” Sango inquired, “How does it feel to be the big 1-2?”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Seriously…” she put down the brush and got ready to brush her teeth. “There's nothing big about it. Twelve means like, nothing at all. I don't get to do anything as a princess until I'm eighteen anyway…besides, you're already thirteen, quit asking me how something you've already experienced feels.”

 

“That's a lot of words for you this early in the morning, Kagome-san,” Sango said with a smile that made the half-asleep princess want to pounce on her and rip the smile right off, and she might have considered such a notion, had she had the energy.

 

Kagome glared at Sango for a moment before arrogantly stuffed the toothbrush in her mouth and scrubbed, probably much harder than necessary. Sango chuckled as she began making the princess's bed. Just then, a knock came from the door. Sango called out and two maids came in, carrying a dress, no doubt Kagome's birthday dress. It was a light blue, the top was beaded in a gorgeous, detailed pattern, each bead shining like a star. The sleeves long and tight, and at the waste, the dress spread out like a bell, sparkling and dazzling in the sunlight.

 

“Is Kagome-sama here?” one asked.

 

Sango gasped and her face lit up at the sight of the dress. “Oh, Kami-sama! Kagome-san, come and see this dress! It's beautiful!”

 

Kagome popped her head out of the bathroom door. She gasped as well, and ran to the maids, taking the huge dress into her arms.

 

“Oh yes it is! It's wonderful!”

 

“His majesty picked it out for you, Kagome-sama. He hoped that it would elicit such joy.”

 

Kagome, lost for words, just smiled and nodded, still hugging tight to the dress.

 

“If you like, we should hurry and get you dressed, his and her majesty are awaiting your arrival in the dining hall,” one of the maids suggested.

 

Sango offered to help the other two as they dressed Kagome for her birthday party. Within a half hour, the twelve-year-old was ready to make her birthday debut.

 

The party was wonderful. The caterer made excellent food, including a huge cake, chocolate covered strawberries, a strawberry cheesecake, and the best castle-made strawberry ice cream ever made. (If you have yet to guess, strawberry would be Kagome's favorite fruit.)

 

Later that day:

 

“Thank you for the wonderful birthday, father,” Kagome said with a bow.

 

“Anything for you, my Kagome.”

 

Kagome's mother gave her a big hug. “Happy Birthday, Kagome.”

 

“Thanks, mom.”

 

Kagome walked away, turning back one more time just to smile at her parents. Then she ran to Sango, who was waiting for her by the door. They turned down the hall together and headed for the princess's bedroom.

 

“Hey, why don't you stay with me tonight, Sango? It could be like a slumber party!”

 

Sango smiled and nodded, “Sure!”

 

The two girls went up and after hours of talking and giggling, they fell asleep.

 

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What's that? Who's there? Who ever you are, leave me alone…I'm trying to sleep.

 

Kagome held her eyes closed tighter, turning over, pulling most of the covers off of her friend.

 

--Pr…ince…ess…--

 

No…go away! Leave me alone… Kagome thought. What was it that was calling her? I want to sleep, please to away…

 

--Kaaaa…goooo…meeeee--

 

She finally woke up and sprang out of her bed. She glanced over at Sango who was still fast asleep. She still felt the essence of someone (or something…) in the castle that seemed to be calling for her. She squinted her still half asleep eyes and looked at the door, from underneath she could see a glowing purple, what kind of looked like, a cloud. She pulled back the covers and put her feet on the cold marble floor, slipping on house shoes and a robe to warm up. She walked around her bed and toward the ominous glowing purple cloud shining from underneath her door.

 

--Come, miko princess…come--

 

Miko princess? Who's a miko princess? Pause Me? As she reached for the door handle, she glanced back at Sango to ensure that she was still asleep. “Stay here, Sango-chan.” She whispered, “I'll be back before long.” With that, she slowly opened the large door, entering the hallway, and shutting the door behind her. The inevitable boom the huge door made when it closed echoed down the hallway.

 

The floor in every direction was covered with a layer of the floating purple clouds. Kagome looked down to find herself standing up to her knees in it, yet unable to feel it at all.

 

--Kaaaa…gooooo…meeeee--

 

She glanced down the hall in the direction of the voices she heard, and began walking towards them. She follows the clouds that line the floors around a corner, down three flights of stairs, down another hallway, down two more flights of stairs, and lead her to a place she knows she has never been before. This hallway looked so different from any others in the castle. She gulped as the strange voices continued and she walked deeper into this unknown place. She knew she was at least two stories under ground, in a basement she wondered if her parents even knew existed.

 

Up ahead, Kagome saw a glowing purple wall. It was translucent, but gave off a horrendous foreboding aura. Kagome plugged her nose (she wasn't sure why…) and walked closer to it. She touched it, and it seemed to ripple around her touch.

 

A barrier…

 

She closed her eyes and pushed through, as if it held her no resistance whatsoever. The aura purified and disappeared.

 

Okay…that's strange. And she continued walking.

 

Suddenly, the purple glowing clouds stopped in front of a large wooden door, lined with spikes. Looks just like castles in old fairy tale books. I wonder if there's a dungeon behind this door. She halfway joked.

 

She put her hand on the door handle, breathing deeply several times and saying a quick prayer before gathering up enough courage to even think about opening the door. Finally, without putting too much thought into her actions, Kagome turned the handle and pushed the heavy door open with all her might. She gathered her balance and opened her eyes.

 

“Wench!” a deep voice yelled.

 

Kagome found the room full of pulsing demon bodies. She screamed louder than she ever knew she could. Suddenly, she saw a bright red demonic youki flying straight for her. The energy struck her body and she collapsed to her knees, still screaming, this time, in pain.

 

“You idiot! What are you doing here!”

 

Still in pain and surrounded by the youki, she looked up, looking for the source of the voice, one she vaguely recognized. She fell to the ground because of the amount of power she was using to try and keep the evil youki from entering her body. Finally, the demon energy fell from around her, exiting the room through the door that she had left open.

 

“FOOL!” the voice screamed again.

 

She weakly stood, hurting and scared, but finally found the owner of the voice.

 

She gasped. “Na…Naraku…”

 

The face looked like Naraku alright, but that was about all there was. His long, curly black hair, fell around him, drooping around the youkai body parts that sat all around him.

 

He chuckled, “Hai, you've guess right, my dear princess.”

 

“Wha---What are you doing? What's wrong with you!”

 

“Kagome-sama…”

 

“You're a demon!” In a matter of seconds, the princess put many puzzle pieces together in her head. “You trader!” she cried, “It was you that advised my father to banish all the youkai in the first place and you…” she couldn't seem to get any more words out.

 

“It is true that I am part demon, Kagome-sama. I am a hanyou.”

 

“You…” unexpectedly, Kagome collapsed to the floor, out of strength to stand any longer. She looked up at him, and gasped as she saw a dark purple ball in one of his grimy hands. “The…The Shikon no Tama…” she paused, then suddenly screaming with all her might, “YOU STOLE IT! YOU STOLE THE JEWEL FROM MY FATHER!”

 

“Your courage may be your death, wench, I suggest you hold that tongue.” He snapped. She stopped her yelling, and waited for his explanation. “I had no intention on stealing the Shikon no Tama from your family or the mikos that guard it,” he explained. At least no yet… “You have heard, I am sure, of the history of the Shikon no Tama?”

 

Kagome nodded. “Hai, enough.”

 

“Then you know of a powerful youkai that possessed the jewel for centuries?”

 

“Yes. He terrorized the world over using the power of the Shikon no Tama for over 200 years. He was defeated by a powerful inu youkai. No one has seen him since then.”

 

“Only part way true, Kagome-sama. It is true the demon was beat by the ruler of the western lands, but he did not perish as the story goes. Iie, without the power of the jewel, the youkai returned to his original form. A hanyou.”

 

Kagome sat in silence, still processing all this information. Heck…what a way for a girl to spend her twelfth birthday…

 

“I, Kagome-sama, was that hanyou.”

 

“You?”

 

“Hai. And since that son-of-a-bitch inu youkai stole it from me centuries ago, no one, not even the most powerful mikos have been have been able to completely purify the jewel. The curse that existed since that day has continued to dwell deep within the jewel. I, as the curse's creator, live on nights like this one off of the incredible dark power.”

 

“You're—you're evil.”

 

Naraku chuckled. “You are correct again, Kagome-sama.”

 

“You rid the kingdom of the very thing that you are…you monster!”

 

“A lady such as yourself might do well to heed my advice. Hold your tongue or lose it.”

 

Kagome drew back a bit, having no doubt that he would hold true to his word, that one at least. Suddenly, from behind her, the arm of a huge demon grabbed her. She opened her mouth to scream, but it covered her mouth, drawing her nearer to Naraku's face. She struggled for only a moment, before going limp in the demon's grasp.

 

“Now Kagome-sama, hows you say that you never mention our little encounter to anyone, lest you wish for death to yourself and all within the boundary of the kingdom. If so, save yourself the trouble and let me end your life here and now.”

 

Kagome violently shook her head. She looked at Naraku a moment, and then raised her arm into the air as a child would to ask a question in school.

 

“What?”

 

The demon's grasp loosened and uncovered her mouth.

 

“The demonic youki that struck me earlier…what—what was it?”

 

Naraku looked at her for just a moment, laughed, then said, “That demonic energy did not come for me. No, you see, you opened the door and broke the barrier that had sealed the power of jewel inside. Your miko powers released that youki from within the jewel itself.”

 

“Which means…?”

 

“That energy was part of the curse that lived inside the jewel.”

 

“The—curse?”

 

Naraku nodded and smiled evilly, “Hai. Now, thanks to you, the curse has been released into the kingdom.”

 

Kagome's imaginative head filled with ideas of horrible consequences and a deadly fear came over her body. “What—does that mean?” she squeaked.

 

He continued his malevolent smile, “It seems to have already entered your own body, Kagome-sama. But as for your question…” he paused for dramatics, “you'll have to figure that part out yourself.”

 

The demon that had held Kagome in the air released her and she fell to the ground with a thud. She winced at the pain, and looked up to find Naraku and jewel gone. In panic, she looked around, but found the room completely empty.

 

She stood and walked toward the still open door, thinking over the events she was pretty sure really just took place. He placed a hand on her hot forehead, breathing heavily as she reached a flight of stairs.

 

“A curse? A real one? Am I crazy?”

 

Kagome reached the top and continued down the hallway, not sure of where she was going, or how to get back to her room. Suddenly, she heard the sound of Naraku's deep chuckle echo down the hallway. She quickly glanced around, but saw him nowhere. The evil laughing ceased, and Kagome stood still for just a moment. Then the voice continued in her head as she walked toward her room.

 

--And now, because of you, others will suffer. Because of you, the ones who are dearest to you will be filled with fear and anguish, unable to truly forget those horrid memories; memories that only exist because of you.--

 

Kagome opened her eyes to find herself standing at the edge of her bed, Sango still asleep where she had left her. Had that really just happened? She laid down, and the voice of Naraku still echoed in her head as she fell asleep. There's no way I'm that crazy…it really did happen! Naraku really is a…a hanyou. I have to tell my father! No…no. Bad idea. I can't tell a soul. Naraku would surly end my life. So does that mean I have to - just sit back and watch? She swallowed the sudden desire to cry and Naraku's words echoed again through her head as she fell asleep.

 

Because of you—fear and anguish—unable to forget—memories that only exist…

 

Because of you.

 

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A/N: yay for cliffhangers! Mwahahahahaha! Have no fear, the next chapter should be up in the next day or so. I'm on spring break, so my life now has time for story writing! More reviews=me happy=faster updates.