InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkangel ❯ Waking Dreams ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

AN: Ahhh...other chapter...oi...more writing...more thinking...my brain's definitely gonna die soon...

Oh, and I am using the books for er "guides", because I couldn't possibly make all of this by myself. I'd have to be a absolute genius to be able to. And for all you people who've read the books: Do you think I should make a separate fic for the second book? Or should I keep on going under "Darkangel"?

Rei-Ayanami: Me? Brilliant? ...That's a new one...Are you sure about that?

AejavutheultimateIYlover: Funny. Most of your predictions are right. Oh, and...who's Lady Yume? If that's Inu-Yasha's mom then it's kinda too late to use her since I'm using Shinako (I hope that didn't spoil anything)

Dark Dragon of the Seven Hells: Ah, yes, my loyal reader...what are your questions today? Hmm...well, sorry I can't answer them because they'll spoil the story. Sorry! Hehe, I have to be very careful because it seems that I have a very bad habit of spoiling things...

Chri: Hee. ^^ My other loyal reader. Thank you so much for noticing those errors in my story. If you didn't notice those, most of the stuff probably wouldn't make any sense. I guess I should start proofreading my chapters. I can't wait for a review that'll say, "Good job, Renko! No mistakes!" Hm...I should stop dreaming...

PhoenixStorm: Yay! You're gonna stay! I feel happy. ^^

Oh, and I just want to verify this. This fic will NOT end like the trilogy. If that I did, well, it just wouldn't be a very good idea...and you guys would be out to hunt me and make sure I died a very slow and painful death...
Well, actually you can say the "ending" would be similar to the books...BUT NOT TO WORRY!!! I adding a sequel to the trilogy made up completely by me. So this whole Darkangel thing will be like a quartet thing, or maybe a five book series (what are those called?) if I feel like it. ^^ So I can assure you that the ending to this whole ficcie will have a happy ending.
Hehe, I can't wait for that part though...I have all these ideas...it's just I have to find a way to connect them....

Well in the sequel to the trilogy, some minor characters will get bigger parts and it's really so Naraku can be the big bad honcho and I'm going to shut up now so I don't spoil the whole thing for you.

Kagome awoke in the middle of the night to a sound she had never heard before. It was rather a kind of shouting, a series of painful cries and then silence again. Soon the wraiths started to moan and the gargoyles chattered and screamed as they had not done for days.

Kagome rose from her mat and slipped out into the hall. She descended the steps into the caverns under the castle and as she did, the cries began again, but they were nearer. She saw the duarough coming up the bank with a lamp in one hand.

"What is it?" she asked as she left the last step and onto the sandy shore.

Myouga came closer to her along the bank. "It's the vampyre," he said.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Kagome. "Is he hurt?"

"He's in great anguish," Myouga replied, "not pain. Your tales and stories have given him dreams."

"Dreams? But he doesn't sleep..."

"True, true," said the duarough, "he sleeps yearly, on his wedding night. But those are oblivion, devoid of dreams - a dead and dreamless sleep. No, Kagome, these are waking dreams."

Kagome felt cold and rubbed her arms. "He cries out as if he's afraid. But what's there to fear in dreams?"

The duarough sighed and took the lamp in his other hand. "Nothing for you and me," he said, "because we are living beings. But he is mostly dead, and he wished his mind to be dead to all things but what he himself chooses to think."

"How long will they last?" she asked softly.

Myouga shrugged. "They'll last as long as they do," he replied. "They'll come and go until they've run their course."

The cries doubled and Kagome shuddered. "There's nothing that can be done? He's suffering."

"Only sleep can cure dreams," he said. "But he has renounced that."

"If this is my fault," said Kagome, "then I have to go to him."

"That you can not," said Myouga, almost sharply.

"But there might be something I --"

"There's nothing you can do, Kagome."

"I might be able to comfort him."

"He'll kill you first," said Myouga. "Did you know that he's searching the castle for you right now?"

Kagome drew back with sudden alarm. Not since she had first come to the castle had she feared the darkangel - afraid to displease him maybe, but not for her life. Gradually, his casual threats didn't seem so scary anymore. Most of the time, he either treated her with mocking amusement, or just ignored her altogether.

When he first brought her to his castle, she had expected death. She didn't want it, but she was at least prepared. Now she was not. The wraiths and gargoyles depended on her. The duarough looked to her for company. Also, the possibility of undoing the vampyre now laid before her. Her life seemed suddenly important and she did not want to die at all.

"Follow me," Myouga said. "He will be down here shortly. I have to hide you."

Kagome stood unmoving. She felt as if all of her will and strength was drained from her. The cries were becoming louder. "He's calling me," she said, "I have to go to him."

"Nonsense," said the duarough. "You're barely under his power."

Kagome shook her head. "I don't want to but I have to obey him. I can't resist. His power's growing on me."

"Then I'll stuff wax in your ears," said Myouga, grabbing her hand. "Now come with me."

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"To the treasure room," he answered, pulling her after him. "I was hoping to get you deeper into the caves, but we don't have any time now. Don't worry. We'll be safe enough in the treasure room, only we have to hurry."

They splashed across the stream and clambered onto the opposite bank. Kagome could hear the cries of the vampyre drawing closer, and she was beginning to be able to distinguish some words. They were disconnected, made no sense, but their effect was hypnotic. She wanted to stop, listen, and try to catch their meaning. The duarough pulled her over to the ivory door and practically had to drag her through.

The door closed behind them and the sound of the words faltered. As they moved into the room itself, the noise lessened further. In the middle of the room burned a little fire of driftwood and Myouga led her to it. She sank down beside the fire, feeling suddenly very exhausted.

"I'm going to go fetch the wax now," said Myouga. "I'll be gone for a little while. He'll start calling you again, no doubt. Don't answer. Don't even listen. Cover your ears or something - just stay here."

The duarough turned away and left through a hidden door. Kagome lay down and laid her head on her arm. She listened to the soft, irregular snapping of driftwood as it burned. Then she heard the darkangel again; he was much closer now. She knew he had to be in the caves. He was calling to her. She covered her ears with her hands.

Lying on her side with her ears so close to the ground, she could hear his footsteps crunching back and forth on the sand. She he was pacing along the riverbank, searching for her. He called out again but her hands and the ground muffled the sound.

She heard a little splash, as though one of his feet had slipped into the water. She heard him cry out in the same moment and scramble back as if the touch of living water burned. There were no footsteps for a while, then they tramped off down the bank - irregular now, uneven; he was limping.

Kagome uncovered her ears and sat up. She glanced around her and saw that Myouga had returned with a lump of beeswax in one hand and a great musty book in the other. He seated himself by the fire and laid the book aside. Kagome looked at it curiously but did not ask any questions. He held the beeswax close to the fire to warm it. Kagome watched him bend and work it with his hands. They greyish wax was hard and translucent; and it softened slowly.

The vampyre's shout rang out so close and clear this time that Kagome jumped. She could tell by the sound of it that he was on the near side of the bank now. "He's back," she said, shaken. She did not expect him to back so soon.

Myouga nodded. "He's afraid to go deep into the caves."

Kagome looked at him, startled. "Afraid? But he's so strong and sure. I didn't think he could be afraid of anything."

The duarough shook his head and worked the wax. "Oh, he's a big coward. He's afraid of the dark and of his own dreams. He only comes down here now and then to search for-"

"Afraid of the dark?" interrupted Kagome. "But..."

Myouga laughed. "Yes, yes, I know. He's a creature of the dark, but the witch has not yet taught him to love the dark. And when she takes his dreams from him, he'll no longer fear them. It'll be the light that he'll shun."

"The witch?" said Kagome. "You mean the water witch, his mother?"

Myouga snorted, but said nothing. Kagome looked at him curiously. "She's not his mother," he said at last.

"What do you mean?" asked Kagome.

"The lorelai is barren," the duarough said, "All lorelai are. As are her "sons," the icari. They have forsaken like so they cannot create any. What children they call theirs are ones they have stolen at an early age-"

The vampyre started to call again. He was some way up the bank by this time, possibly even in the next room. Sitting up with her ears uncovered, Kagome could hear him perfectly.

"Where are you?" he cried. The dull echoes repeated the cry. "Answer me!"

His voice sounded ugly - angry and on edge. Kagome shuddered and tried not to listen. She watched the duarough, the fire, glanced around the room - anything to distract her. Suddenly, his voice became smooth, almost sweet.

"Come out," he called. "I promise I won't be angry. You didn't really make me mad, but I need to talk to you. Won't you come out?"

His words rang true and sincere. Kagome almost believed him when she heard them.

"You know, I'm very fond of you," the vampyre said; his voice sounded so pleasant now. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Please, come out."

Kagome found herself rising to her feet. She had always obeyed him. The compulsion to do so was strong.

"I won't hurt you," the icarus said.

"He's lying," said Myouga. "He'll kill you the first chance he gets."

"Listen to me," the darkangel called. "You shouldn't stay down here in these twisting caves or you'll lose your way. Come out now. If you don't, I'll be angry."

Myouga held her eyes with his and would not let them go. Kagome backed away from him, towards the door. Her mind was tell her to go and obey; to go and meet the darkangel. But a small voice inside of her was telling her to ignore him and that his only intention was to kill her.

"All I want," cried the vampyre, "is for you to promise not to tell me any more of those stories. Then we can be friends again. Okay? Why aren't you answering me?"

Since when were you a friend to anyone, the voice inside of her said bitterly. But her mind was crying for her to go.

The duarough stood up. Kagome subconsciously moved for the door. "Kagome," he said, "don't go to him."

"I can't help it," cried Kagome softly. "I know he's lying, but I can't disobey him."

"You have to try. You are only a very little under his power, child. You can still free yourself, but you have to want to."

"But I can't. I feel like I have to go to him. Like I have to spend all my life in his service. I feel like I have to die for him."

"Once you wanted to kill him," said Myouga.

Kagome closed her eyes and said nothing. What he said was true.

"And would you leave the wraiths to their fate of death?" asked Myouga.

Kagome shook her head. "No."

"Then you can not let him take you."

"Listen," cried the vampyre, frustration beginning to override the sweetness in his tone. "You don't have to be scare about the bats and the lizards. I won't catch them anymore if you don't want me to ..." His voice broke suddenly with rage and he shouted, "Where are you, you worthless little bitch?! Come out right now so I can kill you! Why aren't you obeying? Obey!"

Kagome was shaking and she couldn't stop, but she didn't move a step.

"Why?" the darkangel roared. His voice rose and trembled. "Why did you do this to me? Telling me stories, sending me dreams - lies! They're all lies! Don't tell them to me anymore..."

He broke off suddenly. The timbre of his voice changed and grew frantic. He was not speaking to her anymore.

"No, go away. Go away!" he said in a frightened whisper. "I don't want to think about you anymore. I left you a long time ago in the past. Why are you coming back? Go away!"

Then there was silence. For a moment, all Kagome could hear was the fire snapping and her own uneven breathing.

"What is it?" she whispered.

"His dreams," said Myouga, softly.

"Don't come near me!" shrieked the vampyre. "Don't look at me! Don't touch me! I am the master here. You have to obey me. Obey me..."

His voice trailed off. Kagome was shaking so hard she could hardly speak.

"I," she whispered. "I did this to him."

Myouga shook his head. "He did this to himself."

"I have to go to him," she said.

"Don't," he said sharply. "Even now he is treacherous and dangerous."

"But he's crying," said Kagome.

The duarough shook his head.

"I can hear him," she insisted.

"He has no blood," said Myouga, "he can't cry. He's baiting you."

Kagome shook her head. "No, you're wrong. I think he's really suffering."

"That may be true," he told her. "But he'll recover."

Kagome listened to the vampyre's dry sobbing.

"Leave me alone. Go away. Why are you haunting me? I don't want any more dreams. Please..."

Kagome put her hands to her ears and sank down to the ground. "I can't stand this anymore. Put the wax in."

Myouga stepped forward with the beeswax in hand. The wax was hot and soft in her ear. Before all the sound could be drained away, she heard the darkangel's last cry. His voice shook as he tried to sound pleasant.

"Where are you?" he cried. "Please, come out. There's nothing to be scare of..."

Then the duarough covered her other ear, drowning out everything so everything was silent.

Kagome had no idea how long she had slept. But when she woke up, Myouga was taking the wax from her ears. The big book from earlier lay opened on the sand across from her. Its pages were covered with many rows of runes and an illuminated picture of a great snowy heron. The small white fire flickered.

"It it safe?" she asked, sitting up after the duarough had finished taking out the wax. Her mind was clear now and no longer under the darkangel's spell. She felt stronger and more confident.

"Enough for the moment, I think," the duarough replied. "He went upstream into the higher caves. I closed some passages and opened others to confuse him. I think he'll be lost up there for a while. Are you hungry? Here, eat this."

He produced from one of his many hidden pockets a loaf of bread. Kagome took it gladly. Surprisingly it was very filling. Myouga went back over to the fire and knelt beside his book. Kagome gazed at the illuminated picture of the heron as she ate, wondering what it signified.

"I did some reading while you slept," he said, "and made something for you. Come and I'll show it to you."

He rose and walked past her. Kagome followed hesitantly, half-expecting the vampyre to stand concealed just beyond the corner, ready to snatch them the moment they emerged. But there was no one. They came through the door and walked down to the water. Kagome saw moored to a stake driven in the sand a tiny skiff made of something pearly and translucent like a horn or a shell. The head was dipped and its wings outspread; carved as a figurehead upon its prow. The small boat had a single tiny sail, so light that the slight cave wind swelled it so the craft danced in the water like an eager horse.

"She's beautiful," said Kagome in awe. She knelt and laid her hand upon its slender prow. The little vessel bobbed and rubbed her hand like a pony. "What's her name?"

"Wind on Water," answered Myouga, "in hope that she will carry you swiftly as her name.

"Carry me?" said Kagome. "I'm not going..."

"But you must, Kagome. Don't you see? The vampyre will kill you if you stay."

Kagome shook her head. "I can't leave here. I promised to save the wraiths."

"He won't let you," said the duarough. "Believe me. Your only hope lies in going now and doing what I tell you to do."

Kagome stared at him for a moment. She was unsure in what to do.

"You're not sending to safety, then."

Myouga shook his head. "No safety lies in this departure, Kagome."

"You have something for me to do, don't you?"

He nodded. "You must sail downriver through all the caves and under the plains till come to the gorge where the river emerges. This will put you miles from the castle and far from the eyes of the gargoyles. Oh yes, Kagome, they'll raise the alarm if you leave their sight even if you've fed them. When you come to the gorge, you must leave the boat and go across the plains and the sanded desert."

He paused for a moment and took a breath in order to collect himself. His words were hurried. Kagome listened.

"It'll be a long journey," he told her. "I don't know how long it'll take you. But you have to walk over the dunes and look for the starhorse. Bring back what you can of him, for it's by the hoof of the starhorse that the darkangel will fall. Alright, now that's settle. Now recite the rime to me again so I know that you still remember it."

Kagome recited it perfectly to him. It was clear in her mind as if she knew since her childhood. The little man folded his arms and nodded when she finished.

"Good. Now don't forget it." He unfolded his arms. "Again, I don't know how long this journey will take you. I'll try to delay the vampyre and I'll send someone to help you if I can. Oh, I almost forgot."

He reached into one of his many hidden pockets and pulled out a little sack of black velvet, drawn together at the top with drawstring. He handed it to her.

"I put some provisions in there for your journey," he said.

Kagome stared at the bag, perplexed. It lay light and limp in her hand. "But it's empty," she said.

Myouga smiled. "Not quite. Pull it open and look inside."

Kagome did so but the interior was black and nothing was inside.

"Now close your eyes and reach inside," the duarough instructed.

Kagome obeyed. She felt something smooth and round in her hand. She pulled out a pale golden fruit.

"Reach in again," the duarough told her.

This time, Kagome pulled out an oyster. She did it again and again; for each time she pulled out a different kind of food. She stared at Myouga in amazement. He smiled modestly, blushing a trace.

"Yes, I'm a bit of a magician. One can't help but learn a thing or two in - "

A shout interrupted him, and then a crash far upstream. It sounded as though some heavy door had been thrown aside. Kagome gasped and Myouga blanched.

"By the Pendarlon," he murmured, "he's found the way out already. I guess I'm not half the magician I thought I was. Quick, Kagome, into the boat!"

Kagome had no time to think or even to say a word. The duarough was hurrying her into the little boat, which hardly dipped when she stepped into it.

Myouga freed the mooring from the stake and the skiff leapt away from shore. Kagome turned and would have called out a good bye but Myouga put his finger to his lips and gestured back upstream where the vampyre must be, though they heard no noise.

Kagome had just raised her hand to wave, when Wind on Water sped through the archway into the next room and the little man on the shore disappeared. Kagome turned and sat motionless. She felt suddenly abandoned and alone. After a moment, she sighed and looked ahead to see where the river led.

End of Chapter 7

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AN: WHEEE!!! Another fast update! *hugs herself* I'm so proud of myself...Heehee...Okay, well remember to review. Next chapter: "Narrow Escape."

~Renko-chan