InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ The Life of Onigumo ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

The Life of Onigumo

Kagome lay in darkness for what appeared to be hours. Finally, she felt her powers regenerating and willed herself into reality. It was dark in the room and she was again with Naraku. She didn't know what had happened when he found out that she had protected Sesshoumaru. Instantly she felt Hitomi in the room. At first she thought it was due to her previous dream and then realized that the demoness was still there. She turned to face Naraku who was in a deep sleep.

Kagome didn't know why Hitomi would use Naraku but she tried to wake him. He barely responded to her. She looked to the door contemplating running from the castle but stopped herself. She had to know what Hitomi was up to. Besides when he woke he would be able to find her. She was marked as his and whether she liked it or not she had agreed to it. Kagome moved close to Naraku and set herself into his dream.

She was walking through a small village. The sound of children's laughter was all around her. It was a quaint village full of pleasant people. She continued on drawn to a small hut towards the edge of the village. She saw a beautiful woman standing just outside. She had dark hair and eyes. Kagome looked closely and was reminded very much of Kikyo; though the woman was slightly taller and leaner. Her face also held a much softer look than Kagome had ever seen Kikyo with. She called to the three children that were running around shouting and playing.

Two little girls and a boy came to her and she sent them to clean themselves. The woman then returned to the hut and went inside. Kagome stood looking around, not sure where she was, or who the woman was. Kagome heard the children return and again they were running wildly around the hut and yard.

Soon a man appeared and smiled at the children. He called them to him and asked them if they had been on their best behavior. All of the children smiled up at him and told them that they were good. He called to the woman inside. "Akako!" He said in a happy voice. The woman came out and smiled warmly. He went to her and pulled her into his arms. His hand quickly went to her hair as he kissed her. They then began to speak of their day and the children. Kagome quickly learned that the two girl's names were Aiko and Akina. And the boy, who was the youngest, was named Akiyama.

The family sat and ate dinner, all the while Kagome was trying desperately to figure out who the man was. She recognized his aura and presence but wasn't sure why. Soon the woman put the children to bed and returned to her husband. They spoke for awhile; Kagome could feel the love between them and knew that soon they would retire to their bed. Suddenly the woman spoke his name and it left Kagome feeling cold… "Onigumo." Her mind reeled as she looked at him. This was the thief that Kikyo nursed until the day he was to die, but instead called demons into him. This was the man that would eventually become Naraku.

Kagome got closer to him. Now recognizing his aura, though it was very different from Naraku's. She felt no evil in him, and again she was thrown into her thoughts. `What is going on? What turned this man from into a thief that would eventually call demon's into himself?'

Kagome felt herself wake and looked at Naraku. He held a soft look on his face now. She sat up and looked down at him, now feeling the soul of Onigumo in him. She brushed the hair from his face and sat confused, not understanding what was happening around her. She felt as though she had stepped into quick sand and ever moment she was going deeper and deeper. Hitomi's presence was still strong and she could now see a troubled look on Naraku's face. Kagome again tried to wake him but was unsuccessful. She grew concerned for him and decided to reenter his dream.

She was again at the small village. She returned to the small hut and found the two girls, Aiko and Akina, outside crying. Inside she heard shouting and she moved towards the two children.

Aiko was slightly older than her sibling, though neither was over ten years old. Akina was trembling and Aiko hugged her close. Kagome saw Akako flee the hut with Akiyama in her arms.

Both girls jumped to their feet and followed their mother into the nearby field. Kagome turned towards the hut and decided to go inside. Onigumo was there and had it was clear that something was different about him. Kagome could feel negative energy in his aura and quickly recognized Hitomi's presence there.

He then rushed from the building in the direction of his family. He was shouting at them, Akako put her son down and moved towards him. She turned to speak to her eldest daughter and Aiko quickly grabbed the two smaller children and pulled them into the nearby forest. When Onigumo got to Akako's side he grabbed her roughly and spoke in a threatening tone. Kagome then watched as he slapped her. Kagome's own memories of Naraku flashed before her. She was still surrounded by Hitomi's presence and she knew that Naraku too, was living this. She instinctively moved towards Akako, wanting to help the woman.

Kagome got close enough to again feel the aura of Onigumo. It wasn't right. She could feel something there. Kagome quickly realized that she felt a similar feeling that she had with Inutaisho. Hitomi was also controlling Onigumo. Her mind spun as she began putting pieces together. Hitomi had attacked Inutaisho and caused him to become hate filled, leading to the corruption of the shinju. Then she laid attack to Onigumo years later, to harden him into the bitter thief that would eventually meet Kikyo and take on the demon soul of Naraku. But why?