InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ InuYasha: Into the Shadows ❯ Part 1 - Onigumo ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Agony.

Bur ning agony, and then darkness.

Adrift in a void, he had no perception of space or time. Just blackness, the lightless abyss extending infinitely around him. He had no body, no shape, no form. Just a mass of semi-consciousness adrift in this place between worlds.

A subtle change came over the featureless void, a seething malevolence, and the darkness grew even more so.

Enveloping.

Suffocating.

Onigumo.

He did not hear the voice, it was more like he felt it with the very essence of his being. He wanted to flee, to leave this place but he could not move. He was trapped. Surrounded by this primal, malevolent force.

“Where am I? Where is my body?” he cried out in anguish.

Your body has failed you Onigumo. You are dying.

“What…….how?”

Rasets u…

Yes, he remembered now. Rasetsu was the Oyabun of the Suehiro-gumi, a prosperous Yakuza located in the Shinjuku Free Zone. Onigumo had served as one of Rasetsu’s senior advisors, a saiko-komon. He had grown too ambitious, however, and sought to usurp Rasetsu as Oyabun. Rasetsu had discovered the betrayal and arranged to have Onigumo killed.

A car bomb.

As he left his home for the evening, his car exploded as he started the ignition. The blast did not immediately kill him, it threw him into the street. Rasetsu. He remembers Rasetsu standing over him, admonishing his betrayal as he lay writhing on the asphalt.

The pain. The burning agony. And now…

The Darkness.

“No!” his essence screamed, “I cannot die!”

You do not have to die, Onigumo. We can save you. Open your soul to us, Onigumo. Allow us to come in. We can rebuild your ravaged body.

No, he would not allow that to happen. He did not welcome death but he did not wish to accept aid from the venomous voice in the darkness.
The abyss around him came to life, descending upon him. Seething tendrils of blackness tore through his essence, inflicting countless agonies upon his non-corpeal form. Squeezing him. Suffocating him.

It is pointless to resist, Onigumo.

He raged against the assault, but the living blackness would not relent.

You merely prolong the agony, Onigumo. Allow us to help you. Let us make this pain end.

“NO!”

A light appeared above him, cutting through the darkness of the void. The shadowy tentacles enveloping him released their hold, retreating from the silvery glow of the light. Frantically, he willed his being towards the light. Anything to escape the dread voice in the darkness.

You cannot escape us, Onigumo. You will return to us in time.

An enchanting feminine voice beckoned him to the light, to return to the land of the living. In one final thrust, he forced himself into it’s comforting glow…

And back into the world of agony.

Burning agony.

He had returned to his charred body and the physical world of anguish and pain. He tried to scream, but all that came forth was an eruption of blood from what was left of his throat. Before he lost consciousness, he caught sight of his savior.

A beautiful young woman. A goddess it seemed. Her deep brown eyes looked upon him in a mixture of abject horror and sorrowful compassion.

“I am here to help you.” she said.


29 August 2039
Shinjuku Ward :Tokyo-to
Japanese Imperial State

Shinjuku is a troubled ward of the greater Tokyo area. In 2011, Tokyo was devastated by a major earthquake and Shinjuku suffered the brunt of the damage. The Imperial Government erected a temporary barricade around the area in order to better control traffic entering and leaving the ward while reconstruction attempts were underway.

The reconstruction efforts suffered numerous setbacks, and before long businesses and residents began to flee the shattered ward for more prosperous locations. This created even further problems for Shinjuku in the 2020’s, when metahumans fleeing the government’s forced relocation program began descending upon the depopulated area.

With an ever growing metahuman population and soaring crime rate, the Imperial Government faced a difficult decision as to what to do with Shinjuku. Eventually it was decided to make the barricade around the area permanent. Forces of the Imperial Army moved in and fortified the barricade, access into and out of the ward could only be accomplished through certain checkpoints and required a SIN, or System Identification Number, to pass.

Metahumans, lacking official citizenship to the Japanese Imperial State, did not have SIN’s and were effectively confined to the area within the barricade. Those attempting to cross the barricade away from the authorized checkpoints were regularly shot. Government forces maintained a presence within Shinjuku in an attempt to keep order but proved to be only marginally effective. The barricade created a stranglehold on the economy of the ward and violence escalated when thousands of starving citizens began rioting.

This led to the formation of the Shinjuku Free Zone. Inside of the western edge of the ward a free market was established. The Free Zone acted as a buffer between the rest of the ward and the greater Tokyo megaplex allowing the flow of goods both into and out of Shinjuku. To encourage the formation of a market, the government decreed all sales within the Free Zone would be tax free.

In 2037 something strange occurred in the ward. The Shinjuku Imperial Gardens, formerly the Shinjuku Gyoen Park, underwent a change overnight. The plants and trees there experienced an abnormal growth, creating a thick, bramble-filled forest. The growth even extended outside of the original confines of the park, enveloping outlying buildings in thick vines and moss. Several teams of Imperial troops were sent into the newly wooded area to investigate. None ever returned. In 2038 they attempted to burn the forest, but the attempt failed and provoked a massive magical backlash from something within. The Imperial government has since declared the area off limits. Residents of the sprawl now simply refer to the area as The Green and never go past its outer ring of trees.

Once a thriving business area, Shinjuku has devolved into a dangerous sprawl where might makes right. A true urban jungle where survival of the fittest is an every day fact of life. Not every region of this troubled ward is so bleak however. In some areas, the residents have banded together in close communities of mutual protection and aid. The neighborhood surrounding the Sunset Shrine is one such area.

“That man you brought back. Is he going to be alright?” Kaede asked.

Kikyou looked down at her young sister. At the age of seven she had already seen her share of hardship living within Shinjuku.

“No. Probably not,” she spoke softly as she used a finger to place a stray strand of hair behind the little girl’s ear.

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know, Kaede. Just another victim of the times,” she spoke. “Which reminds me, I must go and check his bandages.”

Giving her sister a slight smile as she left, Kikyou walked down the steps of the shrine and out into the street.

Kikyou was the miko of the Sunset Shrine and guardian of the Shikon no Tama, a sacred jewel of incredible powers. In addition to housing the Shikon jewel, the shrine also served as the focal point of its surrounding neighborhood. Residents in the district needed all the hope they could get. Kikyou and the shrine helped give it to them.

Their neighborhood existed along the edge of the Green. That fact gave the residents of the area no small amount of concern, however it appeared that the urban woodland had halted it’s outward expansion. At least for now. Kikyou had found the burned stranger near those gnarled trees as she made her daily walk through their small community.

He was wrapped in a bloody blanket, his entire body covered by horrific burns. It surprised her to discover slight signs of life when she came across his battered form. Using her healing magic she was able to stabilize him and move him to an abandoned building across from the shrine.

As she made her way across the street she wondered if he was even still alive. It had been three days since she found him and still he had not regained consciousness. It didn’t surprise her however, she never truly expected the man to live. She just hoped to make his last moments comfortable. She paused as she walked, sorrow briefly touching her fine features. Yes, yet another victim.


Onigumo…

His mind stirred at the prodding of the seething voice.

Onigumo…

His eyes opened wide, scanning his surroundings fearfully. A dim bulb hung from the ceiling above him, bathing the small, featureless room in a weak yellow light.

Yes Onigumo. Awaken.

He tried to speak but could not find his voice. Frantically he tried to sit up, but his body would not obey his commands.

We told you Onigumo. Your body has failed you.

He moved his eyes downwards, taking in his immobile form. Bloodied bandages covered the entirety of it. In some places the bandages sunk in, as if chunks of flesh beneath them were missing.

His breathing grew rapid.

We can save you Onigumo. We can rebuild your broken body.

Shadowy tendrils slowly coiled out of a darkened corner, writhing their way towards him. He wanted to scream, to call out for aid but his ravaged form would not permit it.

Let us help you Onigumo.

The serpentine tentacles came to a halt, he could feel the voice give a guttural hiss. As quickly as they came they began go retreat, disappearing back into the darkness. His heart leapt as he heard the sound of an opening door.

His eyes darted from place to place. What was going on?

“I see you have awakened,” came the melodic voice.

That voice. That sweet, pure voice.

He recognized it immediately. It was the voice that had drawn him from the darkness, the one that delivered him from the seething blackness of the void.

He could see her approaching now. What manner of woman was this? She seemed so out of place, so far removed from this world. Even her clothing was from another era. She was dressed in the traditional garb of a miko from Japan’s distant past. She almost looked like a figure from the old paintings in the Oyabun’s office.

The Oyabun….Rasetsu….

The anger began to return as he remembered what that bastard had done. Rasetsu would pay for…

Pain.

Agonizing. Burning. Pain.

“Relax.” she spoke softly, “I‘m here to change your bandages. You have no need to fear me.”

Her voice calmed him. Made him feel safe. Looking up at her she seemed to him a goddess. Her face so refined, a flowery scent wafting off of her clothes.

“ I thought we were going to lose you,” she spoke as she changed his bandages.

As she worked over him he wished he could reach out and feel her skin. To see if it was as soft as it looked. He had always been popular with the women so to take his mind off the pain, he imagined what it would be like to lay with such a beauty as her.

When she was finished, she crouched next to his head. As he looked into her deep, penetrating eyes he yearned for the ability to throw her to the floor and have his way with her.

“I have to go now,” she said. “But I’ll return later. Perhaps with some soup, it has been a few days since you’ve been able to eat.”

With that she began to leave.

As he watched her walk towards the door, the shadows in the corner began writhing again.

‘No!’ he cried out in his mind. ‘Don’t you leave me here!’

Unable to hear his mental pleas she left, closing the door behind her. The very air of the room grew more oppressive.

‘Don’t you leave me alone you bitch!’ he raged.


As he finished the last spoonful of broth, Kikyou set down the bowl and wiped his mouth. He watched her intently as she did so; something in his eyes gave her an uneasy feeling. She had seen similar looks from other men when they gazed upon her, but with the stranger it just seemed unclean.

A voice jarred her from her thoughts, startling her.

“What’cha doin’ Kikyou?”

She turned quickly and there he was, crouched on the windowsill. The elf grinned at the realization that he had startled her.

“You shouldn’t be here!” she admonished.

“C’mon Kikyou. He don’t look like he’s gonna tell anyone.” He nodded towards the stranger.

“InuYasha! You shouldn‘t…”

“What? I’m just saying that...”

“InuYasha! Please!”

He squinted his eyes. “Fine. I’ll see you later at our usual spot?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “Just please, go.”

With a nod he was gone as quick as he had come.

As she turned back to the injured stranger his eyes darted from the window to her. His gaze made her feel uncomfortable and her face grew warm in embarassment.

He knew better than to visit her here. It was not proper for a shrine maiden to court the attention of a young man, let alone a metahuman. But still, she was glad to see him. Things had been busy around the shrine and it had been awhile since they had an opportunity for one of their meetings.

As she crouched to pick up the bowl the stranger’s eyes regarded her almost accusingly. Suppressing a frown she stood and turned towards the door.

“I’ll be back to check on you later. You will probably need another bandage change.”

Without looking back she left.

“Watch it you stupid bastard!” he sneered at the large ork that inadvertently bumped him as they were walking across the market.

The ork turned with a snarl, fixing his angry eyes on the elf.

“What? You want some of me?” he continued to berate the creature.

“InuYasha…” Kikyou called as she continued to walk.

Looking over his shoulder he saw her continuing on without him.

“Fuck,” he growled underneath his breath.

The ork just shook his head and turned to walk away.

“Yeah that’s right...” he called before hurrying to catch up with Kikyou.

“The nerve of some people.” he muttered as he caught up with her.

She just chuckled softly as they continued on.

“I know you weren’t thinking about getting into a fight while you were with me.”

He grimaced but kept silent.

“I see you got yourself a new coat,” she changed the subject.

He ran his hands along the red, ankle length trench coat.

“Pretty nice huh?”

“Very.”

“Armored. It’s flame resistant, too. The guy said it’s lined with the hide of a fire rat,” he said proudly.

Kikyou laughed. “A fire rat? I’ve never heard of such a creature.”

He scowled. “Well, that’s what he said.”

“Then it must be true,” she smiled. “It looks nice on you, too.”

“Thanks,” he muttered as they continued their walk.

She grinned to herself. Even with all of his faults, he still managed to stir something in her heart. It was a strange feeling, a guilty pleasure…



You are a fool, Onigumo.

He didn’t react. He had grown accustomed to the taunting voice coming to him whenever Kikyou left him alone.

You think she could have feelings for you? Look at yourself, your broken body.

He simply stared at the ceiling.

You disgust her. Can you not see the horror with which she looks at you?

Nothing.

No, she does not look at you with the same eyes she gives the elf…

His nostrils flared in anger. That metahuman loving cunt…

The shadows rapidly retreated. That could only mean one thing.

The door to his room opened. She stood there watching him a moment before coming closer. Despite himself, he could not suppress the slight thrill of excitement he felt when she drew near. She was so beautiful. If only he could…

Her eyes met his briefly before she averted her gaze. Was that….shame?

A spasm tore through his body as he suppressed a laugh. Yes, bitch. I know your secret, he thought. What would everyone think if they knew their beloved miko was debasing herself with a filthy elf?

“Your bandages look good,” she spoke. “I’m not having to change them near as often.”

Her voice was sweetly intoxicating. She didn’t speak to him as often now, though. Not since he had seen her with that wretched elf.

“Oni…gumo,” he rasped. The effort setting his throat on fire.

She tilted her head curiously, “What?”

“Onigumo….my…name,” his body erupted in spasms at the effort.

She smiled at him politely.

“Rest then, Onigumo. Do not tax yourself too much, I’ll return later with your meal.”

With that, she left him.

He could feel his lips crack as he smiled to himself. She had spoken his name, how sweet it sounded on the lips of that treacherous whore.



Kikyou sat on the steps of the shrine, staring up into the night sky. She could hear the distant sound of sporadic gunfire. The predators of Shinjuku always came out at night. Kaede joined her as she sat, lost in her own thoughts.

“He’s not a nice man, is he?” the girl asked.

Puzzled by the question Kikyou responded. “Who?”

“That man…Onigumo.”

She fixed a stern gaze on her sister. “I thought I told you to stay away from him.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…I was playing in the street and I thought I heard him screaming inside. You were busy, so I thought I’d go check on him. It sounded like he was talking to someone in there, and I went in to see.”

Kikyou nodded as she listened to her sister.

“He was by himself. He asked who I was, so I told him I was your sister.”

Tears filled Kaede’s eyes as she took a moment to try and calm herself.

“He said awful things about you, Kikyou and as I ran out he just started laughing.”

Kikyou pulled her close and wrapped her sister in an embrace.

“What sort of things did he say?”

“He called you all manner of filthy names and said you were self righteous. He told me it would give him pleasure if he could see you suffer.”

“Did he…say anything else?” she gently prodded.

“No.”

Kikyou felt a small measure of relief. For a moment, she feared he might have spoke of InuYasha. Not even her sister was aware of her secret meetings with the elf.

“Pay him no mind, Kaede, he is a wretch. His injuries are great, making it unlikely that he’ll ever be able to move again. It has poisoned his heart.”

Giving her sister a kiss on the head, she stood and made her way towards the building where Onigumo was staying. As she entered, she moved to stand over him.

“Priestess,” his voice grated, “It does me good to be graced by your presence again.”

She stared at him coldly. “Spare me. I care little of what a wretch like you may think of me, but you will never again upset my sister.”

He gave a rasping chuckle.

“Self-righteous bitch. You call me a wretch while all the while you carry on the facade that you are some pillar of virtue? No miko, you spare me. You, a shrine maiden, put on airs of being pure and beyond reproach. Yes, you know I speak the truth. You deceive everyone you know by hiding the lust in your heart for a beast, that dirty elf, InuYasha. Who is truly the wretch, my dear Kikyou?”

As he finished, a fit of painful coughs tore through his body.

She stared at him in silence before storming out of the building.


Pity.

Even after what he had said she did not look at him with either anger or rage. There was pity in that smug bitch’s eyes. Pity at his impotence. Pity for what he had become.

He screamed in anger.

Let us help you, Onigumo.

The inky tendrils descended from the shadows, coiling around him hungrily.

“How dare she think herself better than me!” he said, his voice taking on a feral tone.

Let us in, Onigumo. We can return your strength. We can make her pay.

A coldness filled his heart. Yes, he would make her pay. The tendrils writhed in excitement.

Open your heart to us, Onigumo. Open it and let us in.

“Take me demons!” he shouted, “Feast upon my flesh and make it your own!”

In unison, the tendrils descended with a predatory snarl.

His screams filled the night air as the building began to fill with flames.