InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Naraku's Pain ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine

Naraku's Pain

Kagome stood watching the scene between Onigumo and Akako. Suddenly she was lurched into a new memory. Onigumo was lying in a cave, badly burned and couldn't move. Kikyo was leaning over him speaking to him softly. Kagome too knelt next to him and could see that he held few of his memories from his life. He had indeed become a thief, though Kagome didn't believe he remembered anything about his life with his family.

She then focused on Kikyo. She could feel her own soul in Kikyo's body. Kikyo herself held a positive aura, unlike the incarnation that now roamed the earth. Kagome could easily see why Onigumo had come to desire Kikyo. She greatly resembled Akako, and somewhere in his shattered mind he must have known that.

Soon Kikyo left and Onigumo lay there near death. Kagome watched as he called to the demons and they willingly entered his body. She became frightened at the scene but soon found herself watching the half-demon, Naraku. He was heading for the village where Onigumo had lived. It was late at night and Kagome was interested to know what exactly he was doing.

She found out soon enough. Naraku entered into the small hut and in moments Akako, Aiko, Akina, and Akiyama were dead. Killed by his very own hands. Kagome choked back her tears as she stood near the hut. Naraku had fled but the ominous presence remained. She couldn't bring herself to enter the hut and see the bodies of the children. She quickly dropped to the ground in front of the hut and said a prayer; much like Miroku would do when they had to bury an unfortunate soul who had died at the hands of a demon.

Moments later she woke with tears streaming down her face. She quickly sat up and looked down at Naraku. He was still asleep but she could feel an immense pain radiating from him. She gently touched him and said his name. This time his eyes opened and they were no longer red but a dull brown color. He looked at her for a long moment and then he sat up. He appeared to be in shock and she spoke his name softly.

"Naraku…" He looked at her again with a look that told her he now remembered everything. He knew of his life as Onigumo. He remembered his wife and children and he remembered their deaths that he so callously brought to them.

He looked down at his claws in disgust. Kagome too looked and realized that must have been what he used to kill his family. He sat there unable to speak, unable to think. She could feel him trembling slightly now. Kagome knew she should hate him. He had done things to her that she would never be able to forget, things that would forever haunt her. Yet having just seen his life his very own memories…and knowing that he too had been used by Hitomi she couldn't make herself hate him.

Kagome reached out for him and again said his name hoping to snap him back into rational thoughts. Finally she crawled to her knees and sat in front of him.

"Naraku, please say something." He looked at her again as though he didn't know who she was and Kagome pulled him into an embrace. Never would she have pictured herself doing this. Touching him still made her cringe, but she couldn't bring herself to deny someone that was in so much pain. Even if that someone had done horrific things to her.

Suddenly his arms tightened around her body and she felt him begin to sob. He buried his face in her hair and all she could hear him say was "I'm sorry". She held to him tightly realizing that she was now holding Onigumo and not Naraku.

She held him for nearly half an hour before he finally released her. She could feel a difference in his aura and now didn't believe he would harm her. He sat back and looked at her closely taking her in.

"I killed them." He said in a defeated tone. "I killed my own wife and children." She could see tears in his eyes again. She moved to sit beside him and pulled him down next to her, holding him to her chest while he trembled still in shock. Again Kagome wondered why Hitomi had done these things. Who could she have been working for? Surely if she wanted the shinju for herself she would have taken it by now.

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InuYasha could finally see Sesshoumaru's castle. He gave thought to his brother and hoped that he had gotten to Kagome. He rushed forward; when he neared he saw Rin and Shippou playing together in the garden. Miroku stood watching them with Kohaku close at his side. Sango was sitting near the castle with a small smile on her face as she watched the scene in front of her.

InuYasha called to the monk and Miroku turned with a look of surprise. He then ran towards InuYasha at first with a smile on his face. He looked over InuYasha's shoulder waiting for Kagome and Sesshoumaru to appear and then turned a quizzical look to his friend.

"InuYasha, where are Kagome and Sesshoumaru?" InuYasha didn't reply, he simply grabbed Miroku's right hand and looked at it. It no longer held his prayer bead or cloths. InuYasha felt tears sting his eyes, "Kagome" he whispered slightly and looked up at Miroku.

Miroku looked at his hand and then back at his friend. "InuYasha, what happened? We assumed you found a way to stop Naraku." InuYasha shook his head slightly and lowered it in defeated way.

"Kagome went with Naraku to save you." Miroku stood there stunned for a moment and he remembered back to the sight of Kagome when she had brought Kohaku and Kilala to him. He realized that she had put herself in great danger to save him.

"InuYasha, where is Sesshoumaru?" The monk watched InuYasha closely. When he looked up his eyes shone slightly with tears.

"He woke from a dream one night very angry. He told me to come here to get you guys and he took off for Naraku." Again the monk's heart tightened. Whatever Sesshoumaru saw must have been bad and it was his fault that Kagome was in danger.

"That's not the worst of it. We have to leave now. Kilala and Shippou have to stay here." Miroku glanced worriedly at his friend and InuYasha began to tell him of Toshi's prediction.