InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Past, Hidden Self ❯ The Curse ( Chapter 25 )

I do not own any of the InuYasha characters mentioned in this fanfic. I do however own my OCs (Kane-Sakura, Setsuna, Trowa, Ren-Tao) and my friends own their OCs. Steph owns Mika and Nakura, Nicky owns Michi and Ori, and Danielle owns Yuki and Myrako.

 

Hello all loyal fans! Sorry this is taking so long to update and stuff, but I only have 24 hours in a day and the teachers at my high school think I have 25. Once school is out, I may be able to update once a week again, only there may be more interference. I'm trying out for another musical for another Community Theater only a few miles from where I live, I'm going to start training as a cook on the weekdays, and I have a trip planned at the end of August. I have to see how things go, so hopefully I'll be able to update more often than before, but less than last summer.

 

Chapter 25: The Curse

 

The young man settled beside a small campfire. His white hair and green eyes shimmered in the flames as he stared into them. They reminded him too much of his raging desire, and how he'd almost lost control. He groaned as he lay on his back, his legs getting warmth from the inferno.

 

`I miss her already. There's got to be a way for me to forget about her.' He rolled onto his side, his back facing the fire, as memories came flooding back. In agony, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately to close off the recollections of the past day. `I really screwed up this time Kane. I don't blame you for getting so upset with me.' Setsuna finally sat up again but was too exhausted and weary to eat what little prey he had caught and cooked. He lay down again, facing the blaze head on. He closed his eyes and succumbed to restless sleep for his tired body and spirit.

 

From behind the sleeping Neko, a pair of revengeful red eyes flickered in the firelight. They moved with a grace so swift and silent that Setsuna's ears didn't even twitch. The figure moved into the light, his identity clearly shown in the diminishing inferno's light. His thin lips turned up in a smile as he moved forward with precise footing planned two steps ahead.

 

A glint came from behind the character's back, hidden by a long black braid of hair. The silver dagger glimmered even more in the firelight and the metal hilt shone just as equally; its shape was of vines intertwined to form a heart on the top and a beautiful yet deadly curvature by the blade. He held the dagger with intent of more than just mere murder; he had other plans for this boy. For on that blade was an awful curse, one he'd learned from Naraku after absorbing his powers. And there was no way known to lift this torturing curse.

 

With the precision and stealth of a viper striking its food, he lunged onto the boy, rolling him onto his back and making him wake with a start. As Setsuna struggled, the man raised the dagger directly over his heart and released his venom into his victim. Setsuna grunted, already beginning to feel the effects of the curse. He felt the sword pulse and tried to pull it out, but the man only tsked.

 

“My dear boy, if you pull that sword out you'll die for sure. That curse is what keeps you alive.”

 

“Yeah, well maybe I'd rather die now than live with this torture.” Setsuna tried again to pull out the blade, but a picture flashed through his mind. “Kane...” He muttered out loud.

 

He snickered. “Your lover will pay dearly for trying to kill me twice now. Maybe you'll see her one last time before I kill you both.”

 

“Ren-Tao, you wouldn't dare! Leave her out of this!” Setsuna tried to move, but found his limbs immobile. “Nani?!”

 

“You can't move now can you? You're my bait; you'll lure her here and then she will die before your very eyes.” Ren-Tao vanished into thin air, leaving Setsuna lying on the ground in agony.

 

The pain was like nothing he'd ever felt before. It made him feel like screaming at the top of his lungs in pure anguish, but he wouldn't let this monster see his torture. He kept his mouth closed and prayed that Kane wouldn't fall so easily into Ren-Tao's trap as he thought.

 

***

 

A dense fog made things difficult for Kane and the rest to see or even smell where they were going. “InuYasha, where did all of this fog come from?”

 

“And I'm supposed to know that how?”

 

“I'm desperate okay?” Tears welled in her eyes. “What if he's in danger?”

 

Mika's back stiffened and the hair on her tail stood on end to make her tail twice the size it was before. “Everybody, be on your guard. I smell Ren-Tao...”

 

“Ren-Tao? Oh God, we need to find Setsuna before he gets discovered by him!” Kane started to run forward into the fog, but was stopped by a disturbing scent in the fog. “Set...Setsuna?”

 

“Kane, what's wrong?” Michi asked as she caught up.

 

Her eyes glittered in anger. “I smell his blood...and it's strong.” Kane turned to the rest of the group. “Ren-Tao's responsible for this, I just know it! He will not get away with this!”

 

“And if he does, what will you do?” A voice said from around the group.

 

“Ren-Tao, where's Setsuna?!” Kane called out. “Show me now and I'll spare your life for the few moments you have left!”

 

The fog lifted and when Kane looked at the ground, she saw him, only a few yards away. The blade pulsated with the curse brand as it stuck out of his chest.

 

“No...” She whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “He's been cursed.” She locked her gaze with Ren-Tao's red eyes as he approached from the brush. “How could you?! He's not the one you're after; I am!”

 

He smiled. “While that's true, I have ways of manipulating feelings.” The demon reached down to touch the blade with his fingertips, admiring his work. “You love him, do you not?”

 

“That still doesn't mean you should have him involved! Remove that curse immediately!” She marched forward, but InuYasha stopped her, grabbing her arm gently yet firmly.

 

“Kane, let me handle this, you get Setsuna and try to remove the curse.” He whispered reassuringly.

 

She nodded as the group charged at Ren-Tao. Once they were all past her, she ran towards the Neko demon and knelt down to him. “Setsuna, can you hear me? Open your eyes.”

 

The curse pulsated once more as he opened his eyes to look into her golden orbs. “Kane, wha...”

 

“Can you stand?” She sat him up, but he cried out in pain.

 

“I can't feel or move anything.” He was laid back down with help from Kane. “But don't worry about me, get out of here while you still can.”

 

“Iie! I care about you Setsuna. I almost lost you once, I'm not going to let it happen again.”

 

“But...what about last night?”

 

“I forgive you. And I'm sorry I said all of those hateful words. I was just upset and confused...”

 

“Kane,” Setsuna looked up at her, his eyes glazing over. “I lost control, I almost raped you.”

 

InuYasha was nearby, listening in on their conversation as he fought. `He...almost what?!' He turned and looked at the couple as they talked. `If he lives through this...'

 

Ren-Tao saw the unguarded hanyou and three-quarters and smiled. Kane's back was to him, and he decided to seize the chance and attack. He glowed a bright purple and released a deadly tentacle of miasma at her heart.

 

Her instincts kicked in and she unsheathed her sword and blocked the attack. “Ren-Tao, release this curse from Setsuna!”

 

She had surprised him once again. `She's still too strong for me to defeat. Even overcome with grief, she's no match for me.' He turned away, planning to leave. `I'll find another time, Kane-Sakura. A time when you're at your weakest.'

 

Kagome shot an arrow at him, which glided over his shoulder. “You're just as bad as Naraku!”

 

He laughed. “I practically am Naraku.” He turned back to the group. “I absorbed his powers and killed him; he's dead.”

 

Michi uncovered her Kazaana to find that it was still there. “If he's gone, why isn't my Wind Tunnel gone too?”

 

“I have control over all the curses Naraku has ever set or knew.” He pointed at Setsuna. “The one I placed on him was originally intended for InuYasha, but I have different enemies.”

 

“What is it doing to him?!” Kane demanded.

 

“Why, it's killing him slowly. That curse will send his soul to depths of hell at sunrise, leaving him to experience unimaginable pain and agony.” He turned away and as he disappeared he added, “And leaving you without your lover.”

 

The tears streamed down her face. Dropping her sword, Kane collapsed onto the forest floor on her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. “NO!! There has to be a way to save him!”

 

“Let me try.” Kagome stated. “I can purify cursed shards from Naraku, maybe I can lift this one too.” But when she reached out, the sword's aura repelled her hands. “Or maybe not.”

 

Yuki approached from behind Kane. “We should take him away from here before he dies. You know, somewhere respectable.”

 

“You're just giving up hope?”

 

“There's no other way we can save him. In this situation, it's hopeless.” Mika said somberly as she walked over the now unconscious cat demon.

 

Kane nodded, but there was no way she had given up hope. There just had to be a way to save him.

 

***

 

The sky in the east was already lightening by the time the group had found a quiet place for Setsuna to die. The area had a placid lake in the middle of a meadow filled with wild flowers. Kane sat by the lakeside with Setsuna's head in her lap. Her fingers smoothed out his long white hair as she thought, `This is the last time we'll be together, the last time forever.' She took his right hand in hers and stroked the mark on it.

 

His hand squeezed hers. “Kane-Sakura, I'm so sorry about all that happened.” He said softly.

 

She smiled through the tears. “Don't apologize. I forgave you a long time ago.”

 

The sun rose higher in the east, the sky pinking with the glorious rays of the morning sun. Kane knew she was running out of time; Setsuna's breathing was becoming shallow and his skin pale and cold.

 

“Would...you like me to sing to you?” Kane asked.

 

He managed a slight nod of his head.

 

Dearest

Third InuYasha Ending

 

It would be nice if we could put away and throw out

everything except what really mattered, but

reality is just cruel.

 

In such times,

I see you laughing

whenever I close my eyes.

 

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

that smiling face will

have to stay with me without fail.

 

People are all sad, so

they go and forget, but—

 

For that which I should love,

For that which gives me love, I will do what I can.

 

Back then, when we met,

it was all awkward.

We went the long way, didn't we?

We got hurt, didn't we?

 

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

that smiling face will

have to stay with me without fail.

 

Back then, when we met,

it was all awkward.

We went the long way, didn't we?

We got there in the end.

 

 

During the song, Setsuna closed his eyes and concentrated on Kane's voice. As the sun rose higher in the sky, Kane closed her eyes as well, too fearful to watch him die as she sang her song of sadness.

 

Mika, Michi, and Yuki were watching them as Setsuna came closer and closer to dying. “Poor Kane, her heart's breaking...” She cried silently.

 

“At least she was able to apologize to him.” Yuki wiped away a solitary tear and crossed her arms.

 

Mika watched intently, not saying anything. But when the two demi-demons started glowing, her eyes almost popped out of her head. “Hey look at them!”

 

The whole group, including Nakura, Ori, InuYasha and Kagome, huddled together and watched as they became enveloped in a pure white light.

 

“Do you hear that?” Kagome pointed out. “It sounds like singing.”

 

“Kane must be purifying the cursed sword with her voice!” Yuki exclaimed.

 

As Kane neared the end of her song, she opened her eyes. Setsuna had reopened his eyes and was staring at the dagger. Kane slowly turned her head to gaze at the blade and saw that her singing was making it dissipate. In a sudden burst of light and energy, it vanished from sight. Kane looked down at Setsuna, seeing he had renewed strength from having the curse removed.

 

“Ka-Kane, the curse...”

 

“Oh Setsuna!” She hugged his neck and head into her chest, tears of relief and joy running into his hair. But when he cringed, she pulled away. His hand covered the spot where the sword had once been. He lifted it again and it was stained with his blood. “Kagome, we need some help over here!” Kane yelled as she covered the wound with her own hands.

 

“We're coming!” Kagome grabbed her pack and ran over with the rest of the gang. Only one member stayed behind, and that was the hanyou's older brother, InuYasha.

 

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