InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Taking the Shinju ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter Twenty

Taking the Shinju

Sesshoumaru held Kagome to him as he watched his brother walk away. He turned to see the monk staring at them with a soft smile grazing his face before he turned and put his arm around the demon exterminator and spoke to her. The two then turned and walked away, taking the children with him. Sesshoumaru nuzzled into Kagome's hair taking in her sweet scent, grateful that she had come back to him.

"I am sorry, Kagome, for all of the pain that I have caused you." She sighed and began running her fingers through his hair but said nothing. He released a soft growl at her affection. Another demon would recognize it as an apology and a way to ask for her forgiveness. To Kagome it just sounded like a purr, similar to Kilala's when she was content. Sesshoumaru realized that she didn't understand and found that he didn't care. She was human and he accepted that. He would care for her and protect her just the same.

Kagome spent the remainder of the day walking with Sesshoumaru in the fields. He could tell that something was bothering her but she refused to tell him what was consuming her mind. They came back near dusk and Kagome had dinner quickly before retiring to her room. She lay contemplating her actions and quickly got out of bed. She quietly moved down the corridor until she reached Miroku's room. She knocked softly and entered when he opened the door.

"Kagome, what are you doing here?" She quickly shushed him and closed the door behind her. "I am going to need your help tonight." He stared at her and then nodded, "Of course".

"I will need to bring you into my dream tonight and you need to do what I tell you, no questions asked." He watched her for a moment trying to figure out what she was planning. "Kagome, what are you going to do?" She looked around the room he was staying in before turning her eyes back to him.

"I will need you to bring the shinju out as soon as I give it to you. No matter what, you have to get it out. I will wake you as soon as you have it."

"What will you be doing, Kagome?" He asked with concern in his voice. "I will be dealing with Hitomi." She said it in a way that told Miroku that the conversation was over.

"Very well, I will do what you ask." She nodded and turned towards the door. "Kagome, why did you not ask Sesshoumaru? The shinju is his responsibility." She didn't face him as she said her next words.

"He would not approve of my means of dealing with Hitomi. Your only concern is the shinju." Miroku stood dumbfounded at the cold tone in Kagome's voice. She sounded very much like Sesshoumaru when she spoke those words. He wisely said nothing as she walked out of his room. He quickly went to his bed and waited for Kagome to pull him into sleep

Kagome moved down the corridor and into the small study. She quickly retrieved a dagger from the display on the mantel. They were all quite beautiful but this one was particularly sharp and easy to wield. She then went to her own room. She pulled the Shikon Jewel from her neck and placed it on the stand next to her bed where the others could easily find it.

She took one last look at the waking world and then let her consciousness evaporate around her. She was again in her dark world. She set her soul free and quickly found Hitomi. This time she had caught the demoness by surprise. They stood contemplating each other; Kagome knew instantly that the shinju was present. She gripped the dagger tightly, keeping it hidden in the sleeve of her kimono.

"I will become your servant." She stated simply. Hitomi eyed her up suspiciously and walked towards her. "What caused your change of heart, priestess?" Kagome stood silently, the blade in her hand feeling hot to her touch.

"I have no desire to continue as I've been. I wish to end this now. However, you have to give me your word that you will not harm my friends." The demoness stared at her for a long moment and then replied. "You have my word, priestess."

Hitomi moved towards her but Kagome took a step back.

"I do not wish to be a simple servant. I can bind my powers to you so that my body may be laid to rest. You will in essence have my powers, but my soul will be set free."

Hitomi thought about her words and nodded. Kagome gripped the dagger, hoping that she was right about what she had to do. Her soul would in fact, not be set free but would be bound to Hitomi's body. The very thing that the demoness had wanted all along.

Kagome knew that she couldn't kill Hitomi while she had the shinju, or the shinju would be destroyed, taking Sesshoumaru and InuYasha's demon blood with it. It also had to be Hitomi that gave up the shinju, no one could take it from her. Kagome stepped towards the demoness and began to concentrate. She soon felt her aura slipping away, melding into Hitomi.

She could feel every thought and feeling of Hitomi's. Suddenly, the demoness realized Kagome's intentions and began to fight her. However, it was too late. Kagome brought Miroku into the dream. He stood there in shock at Kagome's body, now lifeless on the ground. Kagome willed Hitomi's body forward, ripping the shinju from her and putting it in Miroku's hand. In the same instant she grabbed the dagger from the floor with the intention of killing Hitomi and effectively herself.

Miroku could see Kagome's aura in the demoness and realized what was happening. He shouted out for Kagome when he saw Hitomi's figure reach for the dagger that was lying next to Kagome's body. However, he was ripped back into consciousness before he could do anything to stop it.

He looked down at the black gem in his hand and then rushed to Kagome's room. He pulled her to him and tried to wake her. He began to cry as he held her now lifeless body. Even her breathing had stopped. He then turned and headed for Sesshoumaru's room, hoping that he could use the Tenseiga to save her.

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Kagome prepared to use the dagger but stopped short when she was pulled into her blackened world. They now both stood separately staring each other down. Kagome felt herself growing weaker. She didn't understand what was happening to her. Her powers seemed to be fighting her and she looked to Hitomi. The demoness too looked very weak and weary, as though she had been drained of her entire life force. Kagome felt a pain in her body and nearly fell to the ground. Suddenly, the dark world exploded in a blinding light. After the initial flash, the world shone a brilliant shade of white. Kagome felt her self growing weaker and knew she was slipping into consciousness.

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Sesshoumaru was standing over her body with the Tenseiga drawn. Miroku and Sango were both standing behind him with identical looks of terror, which quickly flooded to relief. Kagome sat up feeling odd. She looked around the room and began noticing things she hadn't before. She could sense the fear on her friends. She looked to Sesshoumaru who looked down at her with interest.

"Kagome, what just happened?" She shook her head and then stood. "Did you get the shinju?" Miroku simply nodded his head staring at her wide eyed.

Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru who took on a worried look. "You must reclaim it now." She said to him lightly. He simply nodded and turned to Miroku, who stepped towards them. Sesshoumaru quickly pulled Kagome to him and held her tightly. "I do not know what will happen when I take the shinju back." She simply nodded her head and watched as he took the gem.

Kagome's heart fell. The shinju did not purify as she hoped it would. Though she did feel a light pulse from the gem and the hate that it was drenched in seemed to lessen quite a lot in his hand. He held the shinju for several moments and then turned abruptly and left the room.

Kagome followed him slowly but knew it would be best if she left him alone. She turned to Sango and Miroku and inquired about InuYasha. He hadn't returned and she went to look for him. She was hit with the smell of blood when she left the castle. She called to InuYasha and sighed when he didn't answer.

"SIT!" Her voice echoed loudly. She heard a loud crash coming from the trees and moved in that direction. She found him cursing her, in his subdues position. She stood and waited patiently for the spell to wear off.

When he stood he prepared a tirade but stopped when he saw her. He leaned close and began to sniff her slightly.

"What the hell happened to you?" His eyes were wide and he backed away.

"What are you talking about?" He continued to back away from her.

"Kagome, what did you do?" She stood there not understanding what he was talking about. Finally he grabbed her around the waist and leapt towards the castle. He jumped into the window of the room she had been using and stood her in front of the mirror. She stood there dumbfounded. Her eyes were blue. Not just blue but crystal blue, nearly transparent.