InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lavender and Roses ❯ Death, Clay, and... Love? ( Chapter 3 )

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Lavender and Roses

By: Rini

Chapter 3: Death, Clay, and... Love?

It was early morning. The rays from the sunrise flitted through the leaves and chased the shadows of night away. The light slowly crept its way across the camp, inching past Kagome, Sango, and Miroku, who remained asleep. It slowly started to make its way up to the base of the willow tree. It started at Arioch's feet, and then her legs, up her torso, and finally her face.

Arioch, in one fluid motion jumped up with her whip poised out in a battle stance, her forehead slightly damp with sweat and her chest pounding for lack of air. Arioch shook her head and sat down back against the tree, looking up past the bright flowers and leaves of the great tree before her.

"I have to stop waking up like this," Arioch said as she wiped the sweat away from her forehead, "It's not befitting of a demoness, let alone a human."

Arioch stood up and looked to see if everyone was still asleep. She smiled when she saw that everyone was safe and that Shippo had somehow moved during the night and slept on his pillow next to her. She lightly ruffled the small fox's hair and looked up in the tree. Inuyasha sat sleeping with his arms in his sleeves and his sword next to his shoulder, a proud expression crossing his face even as he slept.

< Must run in the family. >

Arioch walked out of the camp and over to the riverside where she washed her face off.

"One thing I'll never get used to is this waking up at sunrise. I would have never have done this before I was in that Forest," Arioch said, looking down at her reflection.

Arioch stood up and pulled out her whip.

< Better get to training. >

Arioch closed her eyes and let the whip fall to the ground as she held the handle. She moved her arms across her chest and opened her eyes. She raised her arm up high in the air and swung the whip in a circle above her head and brought it down fast, notching a mark in a tree.

Then, she brought it above her head again and twirled it from one side to the side, alternating hands in the process. She continued practicing it with one hand to another, letting the slight turn in her wrist change its direction.

Kagome slowly opened her eyes as she heard something hitting a tree by the river. She sat up and looked up at the tree Inuyasha was in and saw he was still there. She then saw that everyone was still sleeping in the camp.

< Who could be making all that noise then? A demon? >

Suddenly, she heard a girl panting and groaning from working out. Kagome looked over at the base of the willow and saw she wasn't there.

< Arioch. >

Kagome stood to her feet and followed the sound of Arioch training. When she reached the river, her jaw dropped. Arioch was training on the side of the river. Her whip flowed around her as though it was a part of her body, another extension of herself. She saw how quickly she could change its direction and the moves she could pull. The most fascinating to Kagome was when she raised the whip above her head and, once it was moving fast enough, moved it down so it twirled around her body, encasing her in shiny metal that twirled so effortlessly.

< Even Inuyasha isn't that skilled. >

"Wow," Kagome uttered; not even realizing she said it out loud.

Arioch quickly spun around and threw the long chain out, imbedding the sharp tip in a tree, mere inches away from Kagome's head.

"It is only you Kagome," Arioch said while pulling the chain out from the tree, "I apoligize. I guess I'm not used to an auidence."

"How did you ever learn to do that?" Kagome asked astounded.

"Years and years of practice."

Arioch sat on the edge of the river and Kagome sat next to her, dipping her feet in the cool water.

"I bet Inuyasha couldn't even do that," Kagome said with mirth in her eyes.

"Surely not with a whip. Few can."

"He hasn't even fully mastered the Tetsaiga yet. He has recently learned how to use the Wind Scar when he wants, but that's about it."

"It takes time to master a weapon, even one as strong as the fabled Tetsaiga."

"Well where he gets better with his sword, my archery hasn't gotten much better."

"Well to compare archery to swordsman ship to using a whip is a very different change. One is even more different than the other."

"You think?"

"Using a sword requires great arm strength to lift and turn swiftly, while when I'm using my whip I need only to use my wrist. Although I have used my whip for many years and I don't require as mush strength to use it anymore."

Kagome splashed her feet in the water, " I wish I was as good a fighter as you."

Arioch sensed the sense of disappointment and sorrow in her voice.

Arioch reached out and put her arm on her shoulder, " There are far too many fighters in this world. We need more people like you in this world or we will never shed our bloodlust."

Kagome looked at the demoness and saw something hiding in her voice, in her very violet eyes.

Arioch let her hand fall and looked out into the water, " There are those of us who are forced to fight for it is the only thing that keeps us alive. I pity those lives, but it is the only way they can learn to live. Given a choice, I would never raise my whip again, but I wasn't given that choice. So I must fight. Until I have fulfilled my duty. I have a debt that must be paid. I cannot stop until then."

Kagome's eyes welled up with unshed tears and her voice failed her.

Arioch put on her expressionless mask and stood up, " We should return to camp."

Arioch retreated into the trees and all Kagome found she could do was utter one word.

"Arioch."

"About time you came back," Inuyasha huffed, "I figured you'd taken the shards and left."

"Oh please, "Arioch grounded out, "Like I'm that pathetic."

"Was Kagome at the river also?" Miroku asked.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, "You kidnapped her didn't you?"

Arioch crossed her arms and glared at Inuyasha.

"Stop that Inuyasha," Kagome said as she appeared from a cluster of trees.

Inuyasha rushed over to Kagome, "She didn't hurt you did she?"

Kagome frowned," Inuyasha, don't be so mean to Arioch. She wasn't doing anything. She was already awake and by the river long before I even woke up."

"What were you doing awake at sunrise?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Thinking up places to bury your body after I kill you and take the shards," Arioch said with sarcasm.

"I knew she was out for the shards."

Sango put her hands on her hips, "Honestly Inuyasha. Calm down."

"I can't see how all of you trust her so willingly. I mean she appeared out of no where and told us some story about Naraku and you all believe it."

"Unlike you Inuyasha, we understand people and don't think everyone has a motive. Sometimes you can be such a jerk!" Kagome yelled.

Miroku rolled his eyes, "Seems Inuyasha, how does Kagome say, put his foot in his mouth again."

"I hope he doesn't chase her home again, "Shippo said while eating candy from Kagome's pack.

"Well if he does, he can go get her again," Sango stated matter of factly.

"Not with his arrogant pride."

Arioch raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, " Why does Inuyasha not trust anyone?"

Sango sat down and pulled out some ramen from Kagome's pack and handed one to Miroku and Arioch, "I guess it's because of the whole Kikyo incident."

"Whose that?" Arioch asked.

"No one that concerns you, "Inuyasha spoke low, "We'll be leaving shortly."

Arioch scoffed off his remark and relaxed against the tree and ate the mysterious food Sango gave her. Finding it to her liking, Arioch ate the rest and helped the others pack as they finished eating as well. After half an hour, they were once again on the road with Inuyasha in front, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku in center and Arioch in the back, with Shippo and Kilala in the basket once again.

They walked in silence. No one said a word after the whole fight and Sango's mention of this Kikyo person.

< Kikyo? This name sounds familiar. I wonder why Inuyasha reacted so weird once her name was mentioned. Does she hold some strange purpose? Is she aligned with Naraku as well? Why should I know that name? She better not pose a problem to me. >

Arioch looked up at the others and saw that Kagome still held that depressed look from the river when she had said she felt useless to the others.

< Kagome. Poor girl. She feels so lost in this whole thing. She's very different and unlike this world. Perhaps she really isn't from around here. I guess we all hold our own secrets. I can't complain any. She does remind me of someone though. Perhaps that's why I feel so strongly connected to her. She reminds me of me from long long ago. Before this whole mess started. >

"Arioch? Arioch!" Shippo yelled.

Arioch snapped out of her thoughts and looked around," Huh?"

"You seemed out of it."

"Just thinking pup."

Shippo was perched on her shoulder and leaning into her neck, " What's wrong Arioch?"

Arioch flashed a smile for the young fox, "Nothing pup. So where are we going to go next?"

"Inuyasha and the others can't decide. Kagome doesn't sense a jewel fragment nearby and we haven't sensed any demons either. I guess we go whichever way the wind blows," Shippo smiled.

"Well we'll see about that."

Arioch jumped up and landed in the road ahead of Inuyasha, who was farther ahead than the others. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her demon powers. Her ears didn't pick up any unusual sounds and her nose didn't pick up any strange scents. She opened her eyes and looked out into the horizon, still nothing different.

" Well we can either go deeper into the forest or into the mountains," Inuyasha said coming up behind Arioch.

"I don't sense any demons nearby. That seems a little strange."

"Neither do I and Kagome doesn't sense any jewel shards."

"Well going into the forest is easier, so let's take on the mountain."

Inuyasha grinned, "Sounds like fun to me."

Suddenly, the scent of dried earth and clay permeated in the air. It drifted in the breeze from deep within the forest. It smelled of decay and the irreplacable aroma of death. Arioch wrinkled her nose to try to rid herself of the scent, but it seemed to just linger and refused to depart. Arioch turned to ask Inuyasha what it was, but the look on his face stopped her. His golden eyes were large and he frantically searched amongst the trees to find its source.

"Inuyasha?" Arioch questioned.

Inuyasha just looked deeper into the forest, praying for a glimpse.

"Inuyasha," Arioch replied with more force.

"Huh?"

"The mountains."

"Actually, I think it would be easier for Kagome and the others to go into the forest instead."

Inuyasha rushed back to the others and quickly ushered them forward.

"What was that about?"

"Can't you smell it?" Shippo asked.

"The clay?"

"The death."

"Just what is going on? A demon?"

"I wish," Shippo replied as he jumped down and ran to Kagome.

It was near sundown before the group stopped. Sango had complained that Inuyasha was pushing too much and that everyone needed rest. Miroku gladly agreed with her and went with her to scout a clear area. Inuyasha was still edgy and wanted to keep moving, but everyone had overruled him and they sat down to rest up. The scent of death and dirt still lingered in the air, bothering Arioch more than words.

"I'm going to scout the forest to make sure everything is safe," Inuyasha said as he dashed off into the woods.

"What's he so worked up about?" Miroku asked.

"Only things that makes him go like that are jewel shards and Kikyo," Shippo said while nibbling on a chocolate piece.

Kagome shrank back and Sango pat Shippo's head gently, " Don't mention that."

Shippo frowned and sat on Kagome's lap and cuddled with her, "I'm so sorry Kagome."

"It's alright," a teary eyed Kagome said.

"Kikyo huh?" Arioch said.

"You don't know who she is, do you?" Sango asked.

"Not entirely."

"It's a long story. Sure you want to hear it?" Kagome asked.

Arioch nodded.

"Kikyo was the guardian of the Sacred Jewel. She was a powerful priestess who defeated many demons who tried to take the jewel. Inuyasha also tried to take the jewel, but Kikyo always stopped him, though she never killed him like the others. Inuyasha was intrigued at why Kikyo would never finish him. So he started to follow her.

He watched her as she did her chores, played with the children, and fight off the jewel. They both started to grow fond of each other. After a while, Kikyo asked Inuyasha to join her instead of just watching her. Inuyasha was always by her side. They started to really grow to like each other, until it turned from like to love.

Kikyo would talk to Inuyasha and said how if the jewel was purified she could be a normal woman. Inuyasha, who wanted the jewel to be a full demon, learned if he wished to be human he could purify the jewel and live with Kikyo forever. So he decided to be human to live with Kikyo.

But Naraku wanted the jewel instead. He followed Kikyo to where Inuyasha and her were supposed to meet and disguised himself as Inuyasha and attacked her. Kikyo was badly wounded and believed she was betrayed by her love.

In the mean time, Inuyasha went to the village and took the Sacred Jewel while Kikyo was away. When he was leaving, Kikyo shot him with a sacred arrow and he was pinned to the God Tree. It was there that he was enchanted for 50 years.

After Kikyo fired the arrow, she died from the wound that Naraku had inflicted. She had believed that Inuyasha betrayed her and vowed to hate him and drag him to hell with her. Inuyasha said he never did anything like that to her. I know he still loves her and wants to be with her," Kagome told everyone.

"You don't know that for sure," Sango comforted.

"How did she come back?" Arioch asked.

"A demon stole Kikyo's ashes and soil from her burial ground and made a clay body for her. Kikyo still couldn't move and act on her own since her soul had reborn. I am Kikyo's reincarnation. So the demon kidnapped me and used my soul to revive the clay doll. My soul refused to stay inside her and returned back to me, but Kikyo kept a part of my soul. In order to survive, she needs other souls to sustain her body."

< A clay body? Death? It's her I smelled. It's Kikyo Inuyasha's after. >

Bright lights drifted off into the sky, looking like stars falling from the heavens.

"Soul Collectors?" Miroku questioned.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said with tears in her eyes.

Arioch stood up, "No one will taint love again!"

Arioch ran off into the forest after the clay scent. When she finally smelled the scent the strongest, she noticed she was in a thicket of trees. Soul collectors were pouring down from the sky carrying fresh souls, the lights traveling to a woman with white and red priestess robes on. Inuyasha and this woman were staring deep into each other's eyes, one displaying hate and the other compassion.

"Kikyo," Inuyasha breathed.

"Stay back demon," Kikyo spat.

"Kikyo, I-," Inuyasha began.

"Save it. I don't care to hear your cheap declarations of love. I don't care about you Inuyasha. I hate you and I will drag you to hell with me, should I or Naraku drag you there first."

"Kikyo, please."

Inuyasha reached out and hugged her tightly. He pinned her in between the tree and himself. He held her so tightly, Arioch was afraid she'd crumble. Kikyo hesitated at first, but held him in return.

"Inuyasha," Kikyo sighed.

"Yes my Kikyo?"

"I just... I just wanted to say your name."

"I will always protect you Kikyo. Only I can."

Arioch stumbled back and felt her heart sink, the first time in many, many years. Arioch walked back to the campground and saw that everyone had drifted off to sleep. Sango and Kagome were leaning against a tree together, Sango's head on Kagome's shoulder.

Arioch tip toed past them and went to jump into a tree when a voice stopped her.

"She was there wasn't she?"

Kagome's eyes seemed slightly lined in red and were still full with unshed tears, picking up the stray light from the stars above. Her voice was broken and seemed heavier than usual.

"I have neither the heart nor the will to answer."

"So she was. I know. I can feel it. I guess I just feel the missing piece of my soul."

"You mean the part Kikyo has or the part Inuyasha has?"

Kagome leaned her head back against the tree and looked up at the sky, silent pained tears falling down endlessly.

Arioch had found words failed her and old memories were being drug up.

Kagome started when a hand shot out in front of her.

"I have something to show you," Arioch said.

Kagome took Arioch's hand and was lifted onto her back much like Inuyasha had. Arioch jumped from tree branch to tree branch and climbed the highest tree in the camp. Arioch stopped when she reached the very tip of the tree and laid back against the trunk with Kagome at her side.

"It's beautiful," Kagome sighed.

The clear starry filled sky was breathtaking. It was deep blue in the highest reaches, but then slowly became lighter as it reached the ground. It was truly amazing and simplistic in nature that it could only be described with inaduible phrases. The full moon hung high up in the sky, like an untouchable boundary no one could dare to reach.

"I find the best way to cure heartache, is to view the truly simple things in life."

"Arioch."

"Nothing can ever tarnish the beauty of the heavens. Not even in these lost days. Remember that Kagome."

Kagome had laid her head on Arioch's shoulder and fallen into a deep, tired sleep. Arioch felt overly protective of her, something quite unlike the great killer demoness she was.

"Kagome, you are much like the old me that I am slowly forgetting as each day moves on. The parts of me I need to hold on to are fading away into oblivion, but now I find them in you. I will never lose sight of what I must do as long as I gaze upon you. I shall protect you and save you where I have failed. No one will ever hurt you."

< Not like He did me. >

With that, Arioch relaxed and watched the stars hoping that for a young girl, the dawn would never come.