InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Speaking Through Dreams ❯ The Second Coming ( Chapter 5 )

Speaking Through Dreams

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. No profit is being made off of this story, so please don't sue me; I have no money.

 

Japanese Words in this Chapter:

Hiraikotsu: flying bone

Houshi: a low rank of Buddhist monk; often a wandering one, with combat training

Taijiya: demon slayer

Kazaana: air void or wind tunnel

Youki: the aura that youkai give off (like what Inuyasha sees when he first starts using the wind scar)

Kami: god, deity or a spirit of nature

 

Chapter 5: The Second Coming

 

Kagome bolted straight up and ran out of the cave she was in to find Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo. Wait, weren't you under a tree when you fell asleep? Oh well. You need to find the others! Kagome ran through the forest wondering how she could have gotten so far away from here friends. Though at the moment she didn't care; Inuyasha was alive somehow, somewhere, and he was contacting her through her dreams. And now she had proof!

 

The sun was setting low on the horizon, creating a brilliant display of fire red and orange. So beautiful, and yet no one could see it, for it was hidden behind the approaching storm. Dark clouds where forming, blocking out the sun and casting an omniscient feeling of impending doom and darkness upon the land. Evil seemed to be lurking behind every tree, under each rock, but Kagome didn't care or notice. She was too high on excitement to be prepared for what was about to happen.

 

Finally, after what seemed like hours, but were actually only a few minutes of running, Kagome could see her pack. They were all sitting around a campfire, in spite of the coming storm, and where watching Shippo amuse them with his fox-magic. Kagome let herself smile at his antics. After all, his smiles and laughter had been what was keeping her going for the past month. With the constant attacks and the supposed death of Inuyasha, there had been a cloud of despair and depression hanging over the group. Sango would clean and sharpen her Hiraikotsu, isolating herself from everyone. The depression of her master made Kirara sad and short tempered, and she ceased to be her normal cuddly self, letting only Sango touch her. Miroku had stopped being a lecher and stopped smiling and telling jokes. He would simply stare at the fire, or the sky, or some empty body and think, tuning out everything and everyone around him. Seeing the houshi with that far-off, depressed and sad look in his eyes tore at Kagome's heart. Kagome, when she wasn't defending, bandaging, or feeding the others, was brooding and thinking about what had happened to her; Inuyasha's death, her family's rejection of her, Kaede's death, the fact that her world seemed to be falling apart. Also affected by the mood was Shippo, but his child-like innocence and his antics never failed to put a smile on his friends' faces. Although they never told him, Shippo was the person who was keeping the others going and stopped everyone from caving in on themselves. Kagome couldn't imagine what they would do without him right now.

 

“Hey guys!” Kagome shouted now that she was within hearing range. Shippo stopped his trick and everyone turned to meet Kagome's approaching gaze. “Guess what I just found out! Inuyasha's still alive!” Four sets of dinner plate-shaped eyes met Kagome's, and she slowed down to a halt right in front of them. Kagome was certain that if she had a tail, it would be wagging right now.

 

“Kagome-sama, how is this possible? We all saw Inuyasha die. Unless he is a ghost or a specter of some sort, there is now way that you could have seen him.” Miroku reasoned. It sounded just too crazy to be true.

 

“Houshi-sama is right Kagome. It just isn't possible. You've been under a lot of stress and guilt lately; maybe you imagined it?” Sango stated. She looked to Miroku for his support, but before he could agree, Kagome spoke up.

 

“It's true! I just had a dream. In it, Inuyasha told me that he wasn't dead and gave me some prayer beads for support. Then when I woke up I still had them in my hands! See?” Kagome pulled out the beads and showed them to the others. Miroku and Sango glanced at each other, but Shippo was the first to say anything.

 

“What are you talking about Kagome? Those are the prayer beads you've always had.” Shippo said. Sango and Miroku nodded their heads and Kirara meowed in agreement. Kagome was starting to freak out. How could they say that? Was this some kind of sick joke of theirs? Her joy was quickly evaporating and doubt and fear were starting to replace it. As well as a felling of helpless confusion, the kind that makes you want to just curl up into yourself, plug your ears, and cry until it all went away. First the cave, now this! What was going on?!

 

“What are you talking about? I've never had any prayer beads before! Is this some sort of sick joke or something? Because if it is, it isn't funny.” Kagome said that with a voice shaking in fear and laced with confusion.

 

“No Kagome-chan,” Sango tried to comfort, “you have had those prayer beads for as long as I've known you. With all the fighting and worrying you've been doing lately, you must have forgotten about them.”

 

“But…I never…I mean, I don't remember…how could…what's…” Kagome started to tear up as her confusion got the better of her. Her body ached, she had a headache, she was tired, and she had an immense pain in her neck. Kagome slid to the ground in tears when a crash of thunder followed by a blow to her back made her scramble to her feet.

 

“Heh, heh, heh, you poor foolish girl. Don't you realize that your guilt for letting Inuyasha die has been driving you crazy? But I guess you do have every right to feel guilty, in fact you should feel guilty. After all, you did let him die. You failed him and now he's dead and so is Kaede, all because of you! It's all, your, fault.” The familiar venomous voice sent shivers down Kagome's and stung her heart.

 

Trying to stop the tears that were welling up in her eyes, Kagome turned around to see what the others had been staring at in shock and fear for the past few moments: Naraku, with a cold smile on his face.

 

“What's wrong? Aren't you all happy to see me? I know I'm just dieing to see you.” Naraku spoke with a cold, mocking voice.

 

CRASH!!!

 

A flash of lightening and Naraku had disappeared. Kagome's eyes widened in fear as she backed away from where Naraku had just been, along with the others. She didn't need to see the others to know that they were just as afraid as she was. The sent of fear was rolling off of them like water and she could hear their hearts racing and pounding against their chests. Shippo was whimpering in fear and Kirara transformed into her bigger self.

 

“HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!” Naraku's chilling, mocking laugh filled the air and seemed to come from everywhere in the forest at once. But try as they might, no one could find where the sinister demon was hiding.

 

Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Kirara made a circle, with their backs to the center and Shippo in the middle, and each one readied their attacks. Miroku gripped his prayer beads, Sango readied her Hiraikotsu, Kagome flexed her claws, and Kirara barred her fangs. There was no way Naraku would sneak up on them, even though they all were trembling in fear. There was an uneasy silence in the air.

 

CRASH!!!

 

The lightning made everyone jump, and right when the flash of light seceded one of Naraku's tentacles shot down from above the groups circle and grabbed Sango by the neck and hoisted her into the air. Pain was clearly written on her contorted face and all anyone could do was watch, frozen with fear and disbelief that this could be happening, as the tentacle strangled the taijiya. Kagome tried to move, but her the message from her brain wasn't reaching her legs; try as she might, Kagome couldn't move. With Sango's face turning a sickening pale-blue and her arms flailing about, desperately trying to defend herself against the Naraku, a second tentacle came from the right side of the surrounding woods. The new addition promptly wrapped around Sango's flailing arms and squeezed them together, until a sickening crack was heard and Sango let out a mumbled scream.

 

CRASH!!

 

Another flash of lightening and the second tentacle disappeared into nothing, just like Naraku had. Sango was once again tangling by her neck from the first tentacle, but now her arms were black and blue, and bent in several places besides the joints, at angles an arm was never meant to be bent. Sango let out another muffled cry and proceeded to cough up blood from her mouth. The tentacle then threw her away, where she hit her back against a tree, screamed in anguish and pain, and fell to the ground unconscious. The look on Sango's face snapped the others out of their shock. Blood was flowing in a stream out either side of her mouth, her neck was bruised all over, her arms lay at her side, limp, broken and bruised as before, and a look of uttermost pain and anguish filled her unconscious purple face. She didn't smell like death yet, so Kagome knew her life wasn't in danger, but now she was p.o.ed. `Anger! Rage!'

 

There was another flash of lightening followed by the roar of thunder. Rain started to pour from the clouds and through the roof of the forest, and Naraku fell from the sky, laughing at the scene he saw before him. Shippo was crying on the ground, shaking in fear and sadness, Kirara was simultaneously trying to comfort the kitsune brat and comfort her defeated master, Kagome was growling with downcast eyes, and the houshi was shaking with rage, glaring at Naraku

 

Miroku took one look at Sango and went into a blind rage. He knew it wasn't wise to get angry in a battle with Naraku (it's what he wants) but right now he didn't care. All he knew right now was that Sango was hurt, and he would make Naraku pay with his life, even if it cost Miroku his.

 

As Naraku fell down through the trees, Miroku grabbed his prayer beads

 

“NARAKU!! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS, I SWEAR! DIE YOU BASTARD!!” Miroku yelled this with all the strength, anger, and sorrow in his heart, and opened his kazaana, just as Naraku was landing. A huge wind started to blow and suck everything towards Miroku's wind tunnel, including Naraku himself. Miroku watched with a smirk as Naraku disappeared into the depths of his kazaana, and when he had completely disappeared Miroku closed the curse with a smile. But as he was about to walk away, he felt an unfortunately familiar feeling of an electrical jolt and red hot fire spreading from his kazaana.

 

“What's the matter Houshi? Not feeling well?” Miroku froze in pain and fear. He turned around to see Naraku standing right in front of him! But that was impossible; he had just sucked Naraku up!! With fear and confusion in his heart and pain on his face, Miroku collapsed to the ground and fell unconscious from the poison in his hand.

 

“Kirara! Protect Shippo!” Kagome ordered.

 

She couldn't believe this! I only a few minutes Naraku had taken out two of the most vital members in her pack, mocked them while doing it, and to top it off, she didn't stop it either! She was letting it happen again! She couldn't let it happen again, she had to do something! Images of Inuyasha's bloody body lying on the ground and Kaede's death replayed over and over again in her mind as she clutched her head, trying to make it go away. Her emotions were running wild again: pain, sadness, anger, grief, confusion, horror, anger, pain, sorrow, and anger; anger at Naraku for hurting her pack, anger at her parents and the villagers for abandoning her, anger at Sango and Miroku for not being able to defend themselves, but most of all, anger at herself for being too weak to defend anyone. She wouldn't let it happen again. She couldn't let it happen again. With anger and determination in her heart, Kagome leapt toward the laughing figure of Naraku.

 

CRASH!!

 

Another bolt of lightening and Naraku disappeared, right as Kagome's claws would have struck him.

 

CRASH!!

 

Naraku was right behind her and attacking her with his arm-turned-tentacle. Kagome dodged to the right and swiped at it with her claws but the tentacle disappeared again!

 

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO DISSAPEAR LIKE THAT!! HOW DOES HE DO IT!?

 

Kagome looked around and sniffed the air, trying to find some clue as to where Naraku was hiding. If he's invisible then the rain should have an area where it doesn't hit the ground. Kagome looked around, but there was nowhere that was like that, nor could she smell him anywhere. It was like he had never even been there! Kagome was starting to get that feeling of fear again. That primal fear that makes you forget yourself and everything you are, and your only thought is how can you get away from it. Just like when she saw Kikyo in her world.

 

Kagome was getting cold from the rain and frustrated because of how much it was dulling her senses of smell and hearing. She looked around frantically, trying to find where he would strike from next. That coward isn't fighting me; he's playing hide-and-seek with me! Striking and running. Kagome's movements became more sharp and anxious as she twisted her head and body in every direction, frantically trying to find Naraku. She had to! She must, or else another one of her friends would die because of her!

 

CRASH!!

 

Kagome could feel a tentacle digging into her back. Electric jolts flowed up her spine as Naraku tore through nerves and muscles. She dove forward in an attempt to rip her body away from the source of her pain, but it flung her back and she remained captive of it. Finally Kagome moved the pain to the back of her mind, spun around in spite of the burning that it caused her, and ripped her claws through the tentacle, but it disappeared before she got the chance. Kagome collapsed to her hand and knees in the mud. The rain was stinging the hole in her back, but that wasn't what concerned her. When the tentacle had been in her back, she had felt her strength draining from her into the tentacle, almost like Naraku had been drinking her youki through a straw. And that stupid lightening! Every time Naraku attacked she couldn't defend herself as well because it both startled her and burned her ears. If she could at least predict when he would attack. WAIT! THAT'S IT! Naraku was attacking with the lightening!

 

Kagome closed her eyes and listened intently. She used her youkai senses to pick up the electrical charge in the earth and sky. She could feel the positives and negatives building up and tensed her muscles.

 

CRASH!!

 

Kagome leapt to the left and started running behind her, right as Naraku's tentacle shot by her.

 

“HA! Got you, you bastard!” Kagome laughed in triumph as she sped toward the direction of the tentacles source.

 

“Hm hm hm hm hmm. Is that so?” Naraku's venomous voice mocked, “If you have me, then what do I have?”

 

Kagome halted her movement and looked back to see where the tentacle had gone. Shaking in fear, Kagome followed it with her eyes to see that at the end of Naraku's tentacle, he had speared both Kirara and Shippo.

 

“NO!! KIRARA! SHIPPO! Oh Kami, no! NO!! Kagome's eyes filled up with tears as she raced towards her two friends. Please no, Please no, Please no! Don't let this be happening! Oh Kami, don't let them die! Please! Don't let me be too late. But in spite her worst fears and best efforts, she couldn't reach them in time. Not to save their lives, but to save them from Naraku. As Kagome sped forward, she watched in horror as the tentacle spread over them, enveloping them into Naraku.

 

Kagome slowed to a halt and sunk to her knees when she saw the tentacle that contained her friends slowly drain their life-force and youki. She couldn't believe it. She had failed them. Shock and disbelief were permanently glued to her face, and her mind went to pieces. All she could was kneel there, with the rain pouring over her body, staring at where Shippo and Kirara were a moment ago. She was too sad to cry, to shocked to think, and too weak to move.

 

“Mmmm, that was a delicious snack” Naraku said smugly in victory. Then he shot another tentacle into Kagome's back again. “But I think that you will be much better.”

 

Kagome could feel her energy and life draining away from her body, but she didn't care anymore. She had failed everyone. She didn't want to go on anymore, she didn't want to fight. In that moment, Kagome had lost the will to live. Living was too hard anyways. Living meant fighting, meant loosing friends and family, giving up your boyfriend, being forced to gather pieces of a jewel that had broken because you were too careless. It meant leaving your old life behind to pursue a new and dangerous (not to mention gross) one, then loosing it all when your best friend dies on you. Living was just too hard without a friend to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, a person to confide in, to live with, to laugh with, to love with. Kagome didn't have that anymore, so she just gave up. It was just too hard.

 

But as Kagome slipped into darkness, her barely-working senses picked up a familiar sent.”

 

“Get you hands offa my Kagome! Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!!”

 

A/N: Well, it took you guys long enough to review. I don't know it there were technical difficulties or what, but I meant what I said about not updating until I had at least one review for the chapter. But, someone reviewed, so you got this chapter! And just to give the other 28 people who read the last chapter and but didn't review some added incentive, here's a preview of the next chapter.

Chapter Preview-Off the Edge of Despair:

Kagome walked over to Inuyasha's grave and examined it. It looks so different. Like something has been moving around in there. But once again she didn't care. Kagome carefully dug up Inuyasha's grave and pulled his body out. Funny, after over a month in the ground he still looks like he's alive. Silver hair and all. Wait, didn't he turn full human when he died? Oh well.

With that, Kagome stuck the jewel shard into Inuyasha's neck and, reaching into the pool of power she once again stored, used the jewel as both an amplifier for her power and an anchor for his soul, attempting to revive Inuyasha. If Naraku can do it, then so can you! With a final burst of energy and pink light, Kagome watched as a white glowing orb flew into Inuyasha, and was rewarded by hearing his first breath.

“Ka…go…me?” Inuyasha pushed out breathily.

Tyashaay14: Thank you so VERY much for reviewing. I'm enthralled that you are liking my story. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate it, so I'll simply reward you with the chapter you just read (I was going to wait until I had two more reviews for the last chapter, but I digress). I hope you liked this chapter, and I'd just like you to know that it's people like you who make writing fanfics a pleasure.

 

Until next time,

Akuhonou Ryuu