InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkangel ❯ Enter Myouga, the Duarough ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Don't own Inu-Yasha...don't own the books...

AN: Sorry for taking such a lot time to update. I've been busy lately so it's hard to find time to write

Thanks for your reviews. ^^ I really appreciate them. Oh and uhm, to answer some of your questions...or er..comments.

RinRinXD - Yeah, Kagome in the beginning may seem a little weak but hey, she's been a slave as long as she remember. She's been beaten down all the time. And Renko was her only friend and she's protected Kagome as well. But don't worry, Kagome will get a lot of experience and stuff, and she'll become a strong person. ^^

Duke of Spades - Wow, long review...but good criticism. ^^ I appreciate it. Well, I guess Kagome would be 13 or 14?...I never really gave it much thought. ^^' But since Renko's all blooming into maidenhood and stuff, I guess that would make her 15 or 16? But you've brought up a good point. Age never really struck me while I was writing. Whether the vampyre is Inu-Yasha or Sesshomaru? Hehe, you'll just have to figure that out yourself. ^^ But I'll tried to make his personality show more so you'd be able to tell who he is. And yes, I know there are a lot of grammatical errors Chapter 2. I just wrote it and posted it without editing, so I'll edit it and repost it again. ^^ But thank you so much for critiquing. It was very helpful.

Darkangel - I'm so sorry :( I didn't know at all! The book I was basing it off of was called Darkangel, so please don't get mad at me. Sorry!

Okay, well the 2nd chapter has been edited. So hopefully, there are fewer mistakes in there. ^^

"Oh, those awful wraiths. They wail, did you know?

Worse than the gargoyles! I've tried talking to them,

once or twice - witless things.

I think their brainpans must be empty."

The Darkangel

By: Renko-chan

Chapter 3

"We won't hurt you." said one of the wraiths.

"We cannot," another one said. "Most of us are too weak to stand."

"It's because of the weight of these garments." said another one, or maybe it was the first one that spoke. They moved all around, constantly rocking and pacing, that Kagome couldn't keep her eyes on them all. Not only that, they all had the same face, save for the one that were more or less withered than the others.

"Our garments and our bones." another one told her.

"And the years."

"And the tears."

"The other girl wove us garments of what she said was seedsilk," said one of the wraiths, "but we were growing so thin that it was already dragging us down."

They started to moved close and Kagome stepped back until her back hit the wall. They had a musty fragrance around them, reminding her of ashes and root cellars. She watched the wraiths as they inched closer.

"You must weave us kimonos of finer stuff."

"Mouse - hair."

"Or feathers."

"Or birdsong."

"Or breath."

They all had hollows for eyes which they used to look at her. Some of them were nodding, agreeing with the wraiths who had spoke. Kagome shrank back.

"Which one of you is Renko-sama?" she whispered as she tried to steady her trembling voice.

"Oh, we have all lost our names by this time," said one of the wraiths.

Another nodded and said, "We have forgotten them long ago."

"Which one of you came here first?" asked Kagome.

The wraiths looked at each other in puzzlement. "We don't know." said one. "Our memories fade and come back again. None of us can remember back much farther than a day."

Kagome suppressed a shudder. "Why does he keep you here?"

"We keep ourselves," replied the wraiths. "If we wander out into this castle, we would surely get lost and there is little left of ourselves to lose."

Kagome grimaced at the wraith's closeness.

The wraiths noticed this and asked, "Why are you afraid of us?"

"What has he done to you?" Kagome cried softly. She could no longer keep in her revulsion. "Weren't you once women?"

"True," said one.

"We were like you."

"But prettier."

That was nice, Kagome thought sarcastically. She asked again, "What has he done to you?"

"Drunk up our blood."

"He has torn out our hearts and thrown them to the gargoyles."

Kagome cringed slightly, immediately regretting her question. She turned away from them, her hand groping for the door.

"Where are you going?" cried the wraiths.

"I-," Kagome began, finally finding the doorway.

"Do not leave us!"

"I...I have to find the garden."

"But we have no one to talk to," protested the wraiths.

"You can talk to each other," stammered Kagome, brushing away a slender, emaciated hand that had caught the end of her kimono and had tried to pull her back.

"Bu we are all almost the same," sighed one of the wraiths. "Talking to each other is like talking to ourselves."

"I-I must go," Kagome choked, pulling the ends of her kimono closer to her and away from the wraiths' hesitant outreaching hands.

"Go," they told her, 'but you must come back."

"I will come back," she heard herself promising - but anything to be gone. She slid the door open and ran.

* * *

The garden laid on the north face of the castle, above the cliffside. It had grown widly and looked like it hadn't been tended in years. There were only a few plants that she could recognize though; like the Nadesico flowers and the lilies.

Kagome wandered amid the flowers and the foilage. Every now and then, she would stick her head near a bush, looking for a fruit, seed, nut, or something edible. But there were none. Kagome then spotted a large flower tree.

It was the most beautiful tree she had ever seen.

She walked up to it and looked at it with curiousity. She plucked off a thin branch and pondered at it closely. It was covered with many pink little blossoms. Kagome searched her mind for what these blossoms were called. But it she couldn't because she had never seen them before.

Kagome sighed in exasperation and decided not to think about it. She leaned her back against the tree, remembering the last time she had eaten. Kagome was hungry, and the nectarine scents of the flowers weren't helping. Her throat grew dry and close.

She stood drowsily and wandered down the footpath, thinking about how she would like to eat a nice big roasted duck right then.. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a statue in the sunlight, not too long far away from her. It was a little man about two feet tall, maybe a little smaller. He had a quizzical face with little whiskers sticking out the sides of his face and two sets of arms; two on each side. As she approached the stone figure, she discovered he was not a statue. Once her shadow fell across him, he slowly blinked, then pursed his lips and stretched.

"Well, Merciful Darkness, girl," he sighed. "I thought you'd never - don't move!" he cried as Kagome leapt back in surprise. He jumped with her so that he remained in her shadow. "Now calm down, girl," he said quickly. "I couldn't hurt you if I wanted. But I could help you if you let me."

"Who are you?" asked Kagome hesitantly, now more intrigued than frightened.

"You may call me, Myouga," said the little man with a bow, still careful to remain in her shadow. "It's not my real name, but then, you must be careful who you giver your name out to these days. And who may I ask, are you?"

"My name is Kagome," she replied with uncertainty in her tone. "I come from the land of Kyoto."

"That far?" squeaked the little man. "Well, he must've brought you then. You're not one of his new brides, I hope? No, wait, you're not wasted enough, and it's too soon anyways. May we stand out of the sun, Kagome-san?" Myouga's tone grew petulant. "It's rather awkward to stand here in your shadow when you keep bending and cocking you head to look at me. Perhaps that statue of the song-miko over there...?"

[AN: In case you're wondering, a song-miko, or priestess of song or whatever you want to call it, is basically a miko who can sing. If she is ever caught without her weapons, a song-miko can purify demons by singing. But you have to have a really good voice in order for the purification to work. Not only that, it takes a lot of energy so mikos usually prefer to rely on their weapons. This is something that I've completely made up so no taking without my permission. XP]

He gesured and Kagome nodded. They walked carefully yet awkwardly to the shade of the leafy song-miko and sat down on the grassy rocks.

"I suppose you're his new maid," said Myouga, straightening the sleeves of his robe. The air around him smelled like old scrolls and herbs.

"Hai, I'm to spin for his wives," said Kagome.

"Oh, "said Myouga with some distaste in his tone, "Those awful wraiths. They wail, you know? Worse than the gargoyles! I've tried talking to them once or twice. Witless things...I think their brainpans must be empty."

Kagome looked at him. "I think they're pitiful," she said, trying hard to put down her repulsion. She had promised to go back. "Grotesque, perhaps, but it's not their fault."

"Oh yes, without a doubt, I know," the little man agreed, "but not much of a company."

Kagome gave him a curious look. "Who...I mean, what are you?" she asked, "Where do you come from?"

The little man's eyebrows rose. "I'm a duarough!" he cried, almost indignant. "Can't you tell? I come form the ground, from the caves under the ground, from the great caves, from the jeweled caverns. I was the treasurer and advisor to the late kind in my time. I kept the vast storehouses full with jewels - well, they're empty now. There is lime crystal left in the cave though that is quite lovely too..." His voive trailed off and his eyes grew moist remembering.

"What were you doing in the garden?" Kagome asked him when he did not continue. "Why were you standing so still?" She had to admit that she had taken him for a statue.

"Eh?" said Myouga, coming out of his thoughts. "Oh, yes, well like I said, I'm a duarough. Are you sure you haven't heard of us? We can walk about as we please in the dark, or by starlight, or earthligh, or even lamplight. But the sunlight blinds us - halts us in midstep and turns us to stone; and we can't look away." He stretched again and yawned. "I came out early this morning for a bit of fresh air. I guess I dozed off and the sunrise caught me. But thank Kami [God], I was sure glad when you came along! I thought I was going to have to stay there all day long until sunset."

Kagome started to feel her stomach rumble. "Um, you said that you could help me?"

"Yes, yes. I can," said Myouga, "I tried to help the girl before you, but she wouldn't listen. At first, she was of good heart and happy; but the days grew long and she began to look weary as the wraiths - hollow-cheeked and hollow-eyed." The little man sighed and shook his head. "She knew that she shouldn't run away, but she kept straying to the steps of the cliff face that lead down to the plains. One day, she took them, poor thing. She didn't get very far. The gargoyles saw her escaping and raised the alarm." Myouga looked at Kagome. "I guess that's why he has brought you here, to replace her."

Usually, Kagome would have given more thought to what the little man had said, but she was feeling faint from the lack of food.

"Is there any food in this garden?" she asked.

"Food? Oh, food!" cried Myouga, as if suddenly remembering. "No, no. There's no food in this place. But if you follow me, I'll take you to my caves. There's plently of food there."

* * *

The caverns were vast, great hollows in the bedrock on which the castle stood. There was a gleaming river that ran out of the endless chain of caverns through the high - ceilinged natural hall which Myouga and Kagome were emerging into. Kagome could hear the water's splashing echoing back thorugh a myriad of long vaulted chambers.

"Where does the river lead to?" asked Kagome.

"Oh, miles and miles," replied Myouga. "I've never actually had the time to follow it - all the way to eternity for all I know." He hopped off the last step of the tunnel of stairs. "Now come along," he said, "We'll have to wade through the water."

He stepped out onto the sandy bank and Kagome followed. The sand felt smooth and white yet at the same time, soft and gritty under her feet. Kagome gasped as she stepped into the water. It was soothingly warm and the current was swift but not treacherous. Kagome then realized that its light was not only the reflection of the duarough's torch, but the actual property of the river. She stopped in midstream, cupped her hands into the water and brought it to her lips. The taste settled her stomach and steadied her. She scooped up more water to drink then followed Myouga to the opposite bank.

He lead her along cavern walls of smooth white limestone that sprang up only a pace or two from the riverbank. They stopped at a place where the shadow of a narrow niche was an ivory door. It was invisible until Myouga pushed it aside.

After going down a few steps, a great chamber of white limestone emerged. It was deprived of nothing but a small heap of sticks in the middle that burned happily and leapt in white flame.

"Come here, girl," said the little man. "Sit by the fire while I fetch us some food."

He hobbled off across the room and disappeared through a door in the wall. Like the other doors, Kagome noticed that the door was concealed by the shadows and the unevenness of the wall. She sat by the fire, watching the pungent smoke rise to the ceiling in a thin, white line. She watched in fascination; she had never seen a wood fire before. In her village, the people burned oil in lamps and jars, or candles.

The duarough came back with his arms full with fruits and berries. He knelt down beside the fire and started to spread them out. Kagome sat staring at the quantity and variety of them all.

"Well, eat," said Myouga. "And you better eat quickly or I will eat it all myself."

Kagome looked down in the pile and saw lemons, citrons, pearl nuts, and mushrooms. There were fish, too, dead ones. Kagome was astonished.

"You eat them?" she asked. "The fish?"

"Well, of course," the little man replied, offering her some. "That is what they are there for."

Kagome bit into the moist soft flesh of the fish. It was warm and tender on her tongue.

"Where does all of this come from?" asked Kagome when they were done eating.

"The food? From the caves, from the stream," he said, looking up from cleaning up the leftovers of their meal. "There's life here."

"What about the water?" asked Kagome, eager to know. "The water's warm. Where does it come from?"

"Why, from the ground, young one, from the earth."

Kagome frowned. "But the water's warm," she said, "Water out of the ground is cold."

Myouga nodded. "Yes, still water, dead water is cold. But this real water, Kagome-san. It runs and bubbles with life."

"Amazing..." breathed Kagome.

"Ah, if only you could have seen the caves in my childhood." he sighed. "Water still from the sky in my youth, and swelled the rivers, We called it rain."

"From the sky?" inquired Kagome in wonder. "How long ago was it during your days of your youth?"

The duarough sighed again. "A very long time ago," he said and fell silent for awhile. "Well, the water comes from underground, daughter, underground. Here is life."

Kagome smiled a little, timidly, and said nothing.

"Come," said the duarough, "I want to show you the rest of the caves."

* * *

"Now this," said Myouga, dusting off the backside of his robe, then his hands. "This used to be the Great Treasure room. Well, it's quite empty now. The Queen and her people took everything with them when they moved to Nagoya. All except the Tetsusaiga, which was lost in these caverns long ago. He still comes down here looking for it sometimes."

"Who?" asked Kagome.

"The vampyre, of course," the little man replied. "Do you not know the prophecy? No? Dear Kami! Where have you been all your life, child? The prophecy said that only by the hoof of the starhorse and the Tetsusaiga may he [the darkangel] be undone, and his six brothers with him. They were invunerable to mortal blades, but the Tetsusaiga was not forged in this world of mortals, but by the Ancestors, the Ancients, the Heaven - born of Oceanus."

He eyed Kagome closely and she gazed back at him with a frown of puzzlement.

"You've never heard of the Heaven - born?"

Kagome shook her head. "Only in prayers and oaths," she answered.

"Not heard of the Heaven - born?" the little man snorted. "Why, they are the ones who gave life to this land. This planet was a dead world before they came. They brought out the hidden water from the ground and created air to breathe. With their own herbs, they created new plants for this world." He gestured about him as to take in the whole planet. "They brought animals, newly created for this world and us." He folded his arms and shook his head. "They themselves lived in domed cities in the desert because the air was too thin for them to breathe long and live." He signed. "They were our creators and our guides because they were very wise people. But they're all gone now. Great wars on their homeland destroyed them."

Kagome stared at him, marveling at his knowledge. His shoulders rose to shrug and he smiled.

"Perhaps we have yet to see them again." He sighed. "Alright, enough of this. Come with me into the caves."

Kagome followed Myouga through a long tunnel of chambers. They all have been, like Myouga had said, storehouses of great treasure unknown to everyone except the king and the queen of the castle and their treasurer. Always on their left as they walked, was the sound of running water.

"If you ever get lost in these caves," said Myouga, "just follow the water and you'll find your way out."

They slip through a door and emerged onto a sandy bank of the river, upstream from where they had been. Kagome turned and started down the bank to the stairs that lead up to the garden, but the duarough stopped her.

"Come this way," he said, "There's a way closer than that."

She turned around and followed him obediently. "Is it alright if I could come here every now and then?" she inquired. "This place seems far more comfortable than the icarus' castle..."

"I should say," replied Myouga. "Here, there is life and that cold shack up there holds only death, death, and more death. And of course you can come here. I mean, you'll have to if you want to eat. I'll welcome you. I haven't been able to talk to anyone for ages." They waded across the stream. "The other maid, the one before you," the duarough continued, "she stopped talking after awhile. I bet those loathsome wraiths did it to her. Drove her crazy as they were. Ah, here we are."

He reached the narrow stairway and motioned her up the stair ahead of him.

"Where does this lead?" asked Kagome.

"Up in the castle," he replied. "It opens into the corridor by the servants' quarters. There are some nice rooms there. You might like to choose them for one of your own. It's away from the noise of the gargoyles and the wraiths when they decide to start moaning...Oh, I almost forgot."

Kagome halted on the stairs and half-turned to the little man who was rummaging through the many pockets of his robe.

"Ah," he said, and drew from his pocket a small object of gold. "You'll need this if you intend to spin for the wraiths," he said and handed it to her. "You spindle."

It was a spindle, alright. It was tiny enough to cup in her hand, but it weighed heavy as lead.

"One of the few trinkets the queen left behind," Myouga informed her.

Kagome frowned. "But what would I use to spin it with?"

"Well, you're not going to find anything in the garden or the castle. There's nothing there. No, what you spin must be of yourself..."

Kagome looked at him with a confused look. "B-But, I...I don't --"

The duarough laughed - a surprisingly deep-throated laugh for such a little man.

"I see that you are not accustomed to the properties of this golden spindle," he said. "You must spin from the heart, Kagome-san - joy, sorrow, anger, hate. Whatever you feel in your heart, this spindle will spin. The maid before you spun pity and loathing. But that was all she could handle in the company of those dreadful wraiths. I can't really blame her though. But those kind of garments fall to pieces in a short time and they're too heavy for the wraiths to wear. But I think you will figure it out soon." He gestured up the stairs. "Go along now. The door to the castle is only a few stairs up."

"Wait," said Kagome, "I don't understand. How am I suppose to make thread of my heart's feeling - any feeling - at all?"

But the duarough had already started down the steps. "Oh, I have no idea," he called over his shoulder. "We duaroughs are miners and scholars, not spinners. You must learn in your own way and in your own time how to use it, as well as what to spin."

Kagome was left standing, quite bewildered, with the small golden spindle in one hand. She stood there until she realized that she should leave and find the door into the castle quickly before the duarough and his torch receded too far down the steps.

>>>End of Chapter 3

AN: Ok, well this chapter is fresh from the....well I guess... computer. So they're probably a bunch of errors in this chapter. If they're noticable, just tell me and I'll edit it when I find the time.

And I'm sorry for taking so long to update. I'll try to update sooner for the next chapter.

Okie, well, until next time!

~Renko-chan