InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkangel ❯ Tears of Blood ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: Kay, I'm tired of writing disclaimers on every single chapter, so this disclaimer will cover all the upcoming chapters until there's something I need to say. So I don't own anything...at the moment...

AN: HOA! An update in a week! This is a BIG improvement! Whoopie!!

I think this chapter will answer a lot of questions about who the darkangel is or clarify who the dude is. If you don't get it, then I must be a really really really bad author.

So now Kagome told the darkangel tales, fed his gargoyles, spun and wove for his wives, and fished with Myouga in the quiet cave pools as the days passed. She told the darkangel all the tales she could remember ever hearing from Kaede, or Renko, or anyone else she had ever known. The vampyre seemed to listen with only one ear, remarking now and then on some improbability in the tale. But he did listen and Kagome no longer found broken bats or maimed lizards in the garden.

As she began work on the last of the wraiths' garments, Kagome realized that she was running low on tales. She started to tell tales that Myouga told her but then those started to run short too.

Then came the day when she told him the tale of the king's son who had lived in a great palace called the Great Castle of Inu. It was a tale Chiyako had told her when Chiyako lived with the plains folk before she was taken as a slave. It was late afternoon in the vampyre's castle. Kagome sat on the floor in the warmth of the sunlight while the icarus stood by the window and picked a flower to pieces as she spoke.

"This is a story Chiyako once told me," Kagome began, "and it's the last one I know, too. I don't know if it's true or not, but I think she told it to me to scare me. Well, there was once a woman who was a handmaiden to the great king of the plains. This woman, Chiyako, had a child who was only a day old. It was the same that the king's wife bore him a son. But the queen fell ill so Chiyako's child was taken away from her so she could nurse the young prince.

"But Chiyako mourned the loss of her child and grew to hate the young prince. Although she was only a servant, she vowed vengeance against the king and bided her time. Now it was clear that the queen's fever had left the queen barren. So when the child was five years old, the queen and her train went on a pilgrimage across the desert to consult the priestesses of Toedawaki about her barrenness.

"After arriving to the city, the queen and her son stayed for a year. When all the prayers and rituals were finished, the queen started back home. They had almost reached their kingdom when a sandstorm kicked up; it was so thick that it hid the sky.

"They made camp and attempted to wait the storm out, but it blew all day and into the night. Then their water supply ran so low that they had to break camp and find the nearest oasis. The storm still blew strongly, causing them to wander far off course till the next day; yet the great wind still blew. They found themselves in a rocky place at the desert's edge, amid a maze of canyons on the shores of a great shallow lake.

"But something was amiss. The queen saw this immediately, for nothing grew along the lakes' banks or in it. A lonely howling, maybe of jackals, could be heard faintly from the canyons, yet not a single living creature could be seen. When the wind blew, not a ripple appeared on the lake's dark surface. It lay still as a mirror, and barren. The animals that had been allowed to drink sickened and died. At once, the queen ordered that no one was to drink from the lake. They would move on.

"They wandered for many hours in the gorges and canyons but they always ended up at the lake again. They entered the maze but found themselves at the lake in the end. Mutterings among the people were talk of witchcraft and sorcery.

"A council was held and it truly seemed that the gods were not at all happy. The priests performed spells and rituals but nothing seemed to work. By now, all the water had gone and the animals were dying. But no one dared to drink from the lake.

"No one drank, except for Chiyako. She became so thirsty that it overcame her fear. In the dark of the night, she crept down to the lake. It was cold - the water was colder than shadow, but she drank a handful. She was about to reach for another when she saw something in the water.

"It was a small creature, no bigger than a hen, with smooth, translucent skin that seemed purple in the starlight. At first, she thought it was a huge salamander or a toad. But then it spoke to her in a deep, gravel voice, 'What are you doing, trespassing on my mistress's land?'

"'What are you,' cried Chiyako, 'What do you want?'

"'I'm a mudlick,' said the hideous creature, 'and I want to know why you are trespassing here.'

"'I was thirsty,' said Chiyako. 'We're lost so--'

"'We?' the mudlick interrupted. 'There are more of you?'

"'Why, yes,' Chiyako told him. 'There's the whole queen's train. Haven't you seen them?'

"'No,' replied the mudlick. 'I can only see those who drink the water. You have drunk, therefore you can see me. You came because you were thirsty. What about the others?'

"'They - We wish to leave.'

"'That's not possible. You have chosen to trespass here and thus you must stay.'

"'But we didn't choose. A windstorm drove us here.'

"'That's not my fault.'

"'But you have to you let us go. You have to.'

"'That I won't,' said the mudlick firmly. He turned to swim away.

"'But we'll die,' cried Chiyako.

"'I guess you will.'

"'All of our water is gone.'

"'Don't care.' With that, the mudlick started to leave.

"'Oh, please,' Chiyako pleaded. 'I'll do anything you want! Just let us go.'

"'There's nothing you can do. I don't need anything from you.'

"'Don't go! Please don't go!' exclaimed Chiyako. 'Is there nothing that can be done to make you save us?'

"The mudlick shook his head and started to dice into the water when he abruptly stopped. He folded his hand across his slimy chest, deep in thought. He turned around.

"'Perhaps, there's one thing...'

"'What?' begged Chiyako. 'What is it?'

"'Well,' said the mudlick, 'my mistress is fond of young boys. Do you have any in your train?'

"'One, there is one.'

"'How old is he?'

"'He's seven.'

"'Hm, she likes him younger, babes if possible. But I suppose he'll do. Who's taking care of him?'

"' I am.'

"'Very well, then bring him down tot the water and drown then I'll let you go.'

"Chiyako drew back in surprise. 'His mother will never consent. She's the queen.'

"The mudlick shrugged. 'Fine. I'm only thinking of a task for you. I suppose he's too old anyways..."

"'I'll do it in secret," Chiyako said. 'I'll tell the queen the thirst fever took him and he fell into the lake.'

"'No, tell her the water witch took him. Then she'll think you have the fever too, and no one will blame you.'

"Then the mudlick swam off and Chiyako returned to camp. She slipped into the prince's tent where the white-haired boy lay sleeping. She woke him and told to come out to the lake for there was something great and wonderful to see. But they couldn't make any noise so they didn't wake the others. The young prince went with her willingly even though she was never very kind to him; she never gave him a reason to distrust her. The two stole out of the camp and down to the lake where the mudlick waited.

"'See?' said Chiyako, pointing. 'There it is.'

"'What?' asked the prince. 'I don't see anything.'

"'Lean closer," urged Chiyako. 'Now do you see?'

"'No. What am I looking for?'

"'Lean closer. Then you'll know when you see it.'

"'But I don't see anything,' said the prince, leaning so far forward that his face almost told the water.

"Then the nurse shoved him in, hard. Chiyako stood watching to see if he would come out to the surface, but the water closed over him with hardly a ripple.

"Then Chiyako ran back to camp and burst into the queen's tent, staring wildly and clutching her throat as if she couldn't breathe. It was a long time before they could get anything out of her. After a while, there was only wailing and shrieking, but finally between the tearing of the hair and cheeks, she began to babble and rave.

"Half the time, she told them the prince had slipped into the lake. The other half, she swore that a water witch kidnapped him. Finally she fainted at the queen's feet and could not be awakened.

"It's uncertain whether the queen believed either of the tales, but most people believed the one of the witch. They said that the witch. They said that the witch had claimed her tribute and they were now free to go. Camp was quickly packed up and the horses were loaded for travel. But the queen wasn't there. She gone to the lakeshore and wept for her son.

"When she returned, she saw the caravan read and said, 'Let's go. This place is full of evil.'

"They found their way out of the canyons and were in the desert again. They found clear water again and eventually found their way home. But the pilgrimage proved in vain, for the queen was still barren. Her husband was obliged to but her aside and she moved across the Sea of Dust to Esternesse.

"The king remarried twice but both died quickly and neither conceived. Blight came to the land, killing livestock and crops. People began to say that the house of the kind was cursed, and drifted away. The king grew old and died without an heir by a plaque that struck down most of the remaining people.

"Those who were left fled. There was no one to succeed the king, and no one left to rule over. The servants took what goods were left from the palace and left. The place guard rounded up those who were left to sell for slaves. Chiyako was one of them. She was going blind. Ever since she had drunk from that dark lake, her sight worsened. Both of her eyes were covered with a white film and she could no longer see. She was sold to the satrap of Osaka, who gave her along with others who weave and spins as a gift to his half-sister when she wed the syndic of my village. Chiyako told me this tale. I think this tale was meant to scare me so I'm not sure whether this tale is true or not..."

* * *

Kagome fell silent and sat in the sun, waiting for the vampyre to say something; but he didn't make a sound. She looked up and saw him staring across the room with a slight frown on his face.

"Did you like the story?" she asked at last.

No expression touched his eyes, but his frown deepened a bit. "When did this story take place?" he asked. His voice was oddly strained.

"Years ago," she answered. "Before I was born, I guess."

"And where did the king rule?"

"Far over the plains of Avaric."

"In what quarter?" the darkangel demanded, his voice tight.

"In the west...wait, northwest, I think."

The vampyre began to pace. His shadow glided back and forth over Kagome as she sat in the light of the setting sun.

"What was the king's name?" asked the icarus, pacing and not looking at her. His one hand was a fist, while the other gripped and wrung his wrist, as though he was trying to work some shackle free.

Kagome hesitated. "I-I don't know. I can't remember."

"Then you don't know the tale very well, do you?" snapped the darkangel.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm telling the tale the best I can."

"The queen. What was the queen's name?"

Kagome thought for a moment. "Shinako," she said finally. "I think it was Shinako."

"No," said the icarus, his voice suddenly was harsh and loud. "You're not remembering it right. It wasn't Shinako. It couldn't..."

Kagome said nothing; she just watched him, confused. The vampyre's voice had fallen to a mutter. He whirled at her abruptly, toying with his necklace as if it was too tight around his neck.

"Why are you sitting there so quiet?!" he demanded. "Say it! It wasn't Shinako. Right? Say it wasn't!"

"Okay!" Kagome managed to squeak out, unsure why he was so upset. "It wasn't." As the dull clinking of the leaden vials seemed louder, Kagome held her breath.

But the darkangel nodded and half-turned away. His hand dropped from his throat and leaned against the windowsill. "The boy," he murmured. "What was his name?"

Kagome was afraid to answer but was also afraid not to. "I-I don't remember," she whispered, her voice trembling.

But the icarus hardly seemed to hear. He was staring down the length of the chamber's windowed wall. Kagome cautiously stood up.

"You said his nurse pushed him in?" he asked.

Kagome nodded, doubting that he even saw.

"His mother went down to the bank and wept for him?"

"Yes. Wept tears of blood..."

The icarus said nothing and his face grew deep and dark.

"Inu-Yasha," said Kagome. "I remember now. The prince's name was Inu-Yasha."

The vampyre shuddered and shook his head. "You're wrong," he whispered. There was a frightening quietness to his voice. "It wasn't. It can't..."

Beyond him, through the window, the sun shone in white glory, illuminating his handsome features. Kagome stood waiting, unsure if she should go or not.

"Go," the darkangel said, not looking at her. "Don't come back again."

Kagome said nothing - not knowing what to say was more like it - and quickly left the room

>>>End of Chapter 5

AN: *dances around excitedly* YAY! And update in a week...I'm so happy! Okay, I'm overreacting, but who cares? ^^

Okie, well Chapter 5 is done and remember to push that blue little button down there when you're done.

~Renko-chan

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