InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Through The Eyes Of An Innocent ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Through The Eyes Of An Innocent: Chapter Seven

They had always said that life was always something to be cherished, valued, and placed above all other things. They had said that life should not be taken for granted - that people should accept all the bad things in life along with the good. They would tell her that if something bad were to happen she should appreciate it because it would make the good times in her life much more memorable.

They lied.

And that alone made her feel as though someone had ripped her heart out and cut it up into tiny pieces right in front of her. She felt like shoving her knuckles into her mouth to keep from screaming. She felt as though someone had stabbed a dull dagger into her skull just to see the searing reaction of pain that was to spread through her body. She had never felt pain such as the pain that she was feeling right then and there.

A selfish way to get back to all of those people for lying to her - for telling her that things would get better before they got worse would be to let them live her life - let them know what it would feel like to experience death for the first time, or let them be condemned. But she was wiser than that, she was stronger than that, and her pride would not allow her to. Because then - she would be wrong.

Selfishly wrong, and that was something that she would not want to experience. She would not want to have to live through life knowing that she was one who had caused so much pain to others who had cared - who had loved those whom had died. But that bitter resentment that she had felt -

'No one cared enough for me.'

It was something that she continually felt, that would continually spark up inside of her and not leave for a while. It was something that she would repeatedly have to suppress and deal with no matter how much she wanted to feel that way.

After all, there was no room for emotion anymore. She shouldn't have been feeling emotion because - she had died.

She had died the same day that her father died. It was a well-known fact to everyone. They could see it in her eyes, the way that she presented herself - and every single time they would see her with that emotionless, deadened look in her eyes, they would always tell her to smile - that everything would get better for her.

She didn't listen.

They continued to lie.

It would never get better, she would never be happy. Her soul had been shattered, her heart devoured, and her emotions cried away within that one single moment - the moment that she had seen his dead mangled and bloodied body - she knew that everything she had sacrificed, everything that she had done for her father was now worthless.

She had given up her happiness for another's personal well being - and he had ended up being taken away from her - wiped from existence.

It simply wasn't fair.

But what was she truly to expect - it was life after all. Simply because her father had been murdered did not mean that she was to dwell on the past - for she had to look towards her future. A future that would be forever engraved in stone with a man - the man who had brought this pain upon her. He had been the one to show her and -

She was feeling bitter once more. Kagome could not understand it at first. It was simply a random emotion, spreading it's talons through her body as it had once done - but it was stronger noticeable than it had been when every other person in the castle had dared to bring it up.

Things would get better.

Closing her eyes slowly, Kagome willed herself to believe that they would get better - that she could find herself being happy, living in harmony with the death of her father behind her but not forgotten. But it did not work.

It was an image that would forever remain etched into her mind with no hope of removal - her father, lifelessly slumped against a wall - dry crusted blood plastering the walls the floors, everywhere. That simple searing stab wound standing out against his normally pale skin - everything would forever remained etched in her brain and - tears spilled from her eyes simply thinking about it.

It wasn't supposed to have happened like it had but it did - and she couldn't change it. She couldn't simply turn back the hands of time and make sure that her father hadn't died, she couldn't stop her husband from taking her to go see his mangled body - she couldn't have stopped any of it.

She had never felt so helpless in her entire life.

And it made her believe that - life could not be cherished if it could be taken away so easily.

Her body shook with loud choked sobs as she pressed her white clammy hands to her face, trying her best to forget about everything that had happened to her. Her eyes had stung - burning with an intensity that even she knew not to exist - her face began to flush - her eyes grew red and puffy and she bit into her lip, trying to stifle the almost embarrassing sound, drawing blood as a result.

It was one of those times that she wished that there was a way out - out of the life that she had been so forcefully thrust into - but there wasn't. She could never escape. She could never be happy. And it was her fate to accept it.

Accept it.

Accept what, and why?

The hot blinding tears continued to stream down her face, even as the servant entered her chambers and told her that dinner was ready to be served.

_________________________________________

Inuyasha's golden eyes blinked up at the darkened sky.

His thoughts were scattered as he sat out in the Gardens, briefly letting his mind realize that he was going to end up getting soaked soon. But that was the least of his worries. At the moment he was thinking about how Kikyou would react to the news. He knew that without a doubt she would be somewhat angry at the fact that the man she had set out to kill was dead and then -

Inuyasha growled, suddenly reminding him self that he was not going to help her in any way possible. After all Kanna had told him of her plans to harm the Empress, and already that thought was completely out of the question.

He actually had a chance to speak to the disgruntled Empress earlier in the week, although it had been a rather clipped and chaste conversation, it was still a conversation nonetheless. Within that conversation she had spilled out her heart to him - of what was left of it at least. She had reported to him that her father had died - that he was stabbed by some unknown offender and her husband had taken her to see his bloodied body.

That was as far as she had gotten before she broke out in tears. At first Inuyasha had half a mind to think that Rin was the one who had killed Lord Higurashi, after all she was a rebel but - he had to remember that Rin was still a child and Higurashi was a full grown adult and there was no way that she would have been able to kill him. After all she was nothing more than a simple correspondent.

But as the Empress cried Inuyasha just mumbled something before walking away, leaving her to wallop in her sorrows. He didn't care. They weren't his problems, but - that smile that she had given him, it made his heart wrench. He had never seen someone look like that before - so completely and utterly miserable and helpless, as though trapped in a never-ending hell.

He felt somewhat sorry for her, but it wasn't his life, so he had no right to meddle. After all he was simply in the Northern Lands for one thing alone - to spy. He had to figure out why the Northerners found the Djinni so enthralling that they praised them - exactly what type of powers that they held, and whether or not the Emperor was thinking of expanding East. If so then he would have to return to the Southern Lands and let his brother know.

He suddenly started growling at the thought of his brother. Of course he cared for the older demon on some sort of level - although he would never admit it, but he never liked working for him much. And even Sango had said that he was simply doing dirty work for his brother.

"Stupid wench." He grumbled, continuing to stare up that the blackening sky.

"My apologies - are you speaking to me?" A soft voice said from behind him. Inuyasha immediately bolted upright, turning to look at the woman standing behind him.

Of all people….

"No Empress, I was simply thinking about my idiot sister." Inuyasha grumbled, somewhat distraught at the fact that his thoughts had been interrupted. The Empress smiled warmly (although it was rather strained) before sitting down next to him on the wet dewy grass.

Inuyasha wanted to simply tell her to go away, to let him mull over his thoughts in silence, but as soon as she had sat down a deadened look entered her eyes and he soon found himself realizing that - she wouldn't care. The look on her face almost made it seem like she did not care about anything anymore but - Inuyasha fought the urge to continue staring at her before glancing around the beautiful Gardens, trying to think of something to think about.

The silence that passed between the two was tense and uncomfortable, and Inuyasha felt as though he were practically suffocating in the air around them. He had wanted to say something - anything just to get her to speak so that he would feel less inhibited.

"I'm curious," Kagome said suddenly, causing Inuyasha to whip his gaze around to hers, noticing how dimly gray her eyes looked.

Odd.

"What?" Inuyasha asked gruffly.

"Why was it that you left me by myself to cry? Normally people would have tried to comfort me, but you just left me there. It was most unnatural." Kagome explained, never taking her eyes away from his.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, surprised at the question. He had expected something more demanding, but instead she had asked why he had not comforted her. It was strange to say the least. But Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly, looking back towards the sky.

"If it ain't my problem I really don't give a damn." Inuyasha stated nonchalantly, ignoring the questioning gaze that she had sent his way. Of course it wasn't his problem; it wasn't his business. So why was she looking at him like that? Almost as though a hint of recognition was flashing behind her deadened gray hues.

"What?!" He snapped irritably, finally annoyed at the fact that she continued to stare at him. Kagome merely allowed a smirk appear on her face before turning her eyes away and staring at some unknown figure in front of her.

"Your accent - it's foreign. Where are you from?" She asked quietly, doing her best to ignore the startled look that she received from Inuyasha. She knew that it was probably nosy of her but - she was the Empress, and she had every right to know. After all he looked foreign enough. His skin was beautifully tanned; he had long silver locks, and two cute furry ears atop of his head. Then his eyes - his amber eyes were absolutely enchanting.

In all truth, Kagome had never seen a man as beautiful as him - save her husband, but her husband had a cold aura that surrounded him, whereas this creature besides her - he held emotion so strong - Kagome had never witnessed it before. Each time she had allowed herself to look in his eyes she could see emotion so deep, so strong that she was amazed.

She had grown up with people with little or no emotion, it was strange to see someone else with such charisma that she used to possess.

Charisma that I used to possess, Kagome chuckled darkly, shaking her head slightly. Kagome was aware of the fact that she had changed but - she knew she had to; otherwise she would not make for a very good Empress. She knew that somewhere in her life she had to care for something, and the only thing that she would be able to care about would be running the nation. It was all she had time for. She couldn't let her emotions for others run her life - she couldn't be naïve any longer.

When she was younger, she wouldn't have believed it if someone told her that in order to be a lady she would have to be cold and calculating - that she would have to act dead. But now that she was experiencing it - the thought of having changed so drastically caused her to chuckle out loud once more.

"I don't get it," Inuyasha said suddenly, receiving a mere glance from Kagome, "why are you letting one simple death get you down? My mother died when I was child, my father died when I was only 12 summers old. And yet, I did not let it get me down. I kept my head up and kept on with life."

"I don't think I understand what you mean," Kagome replied listlessly, mildly surprised that he would tell her so much about himself when they had only just met days ago.

"Keh. Everyone around the castle has been acting all 'woe is me'. The guy is dead, get over it and move on with your life. It's not like you're dead, so just be glad for at least that."

"You don't understand how I feel!" Kagome snapped suddenly, allowing her anger to resurface. The nerve of this guy!

"You seem to be forgetting the fact that I lost my entire family when I was younger than you. The guy is dead damn it, he ain't comin' back."

"But-"

"And it's not like grieving is going to bring him back. He's dead. He isn't coming back." Inuyasha snapped, turning away from the Empress.

Kagome merely moved her mouth attempting to think of something, anything to say to him for being so - incompetent. But she knew that he was right. Her father wasn't coming back - he was dead and he would remain dead. But - the writing - it didn't say that he was supposed to die.

"No!" Kagome yelled, tears streaming from her eyes as she jumped up, " He wasn't supposed to die! It was supposed to be me! The last line of the prophecy, it said - it said -" Kagome finally found herself unable to speak. Her voice died within her throat and she felt a surge of emotion so strong it was indefinable.

Inuyasha gazed levelly at her; his amber eyes searching for something - anything - that would let him know what exactly she was talking about.

"Prophecy?" Inuyasha asked, moving towards her slightly. Kagome, however, did not hear him. Her thoughts, her mind was drifting farther and farther away from her - from reality. The things that she was feeling, so much knowledge - so much experience - it was so foreign and new. Kagome felt exhilarated.

Something inside of her snapped and she felt as though she were falling, farther and farther away from what seemed like her life - her soul and - something bright loomed in front of her, shining so brightly it was almost blinding. Kagome, curious as to what it was, reached a hand out to touch it - her creamy white fingers brushing against the warm calming surface of the ball of light.

It was so calming and yet so exhilarating, Kagome couldn't help but allow herself to float inside of it, allowing it to consume her entire being. A familiar feeling of being burned and yet frozen at the same time suddenly passed over her body and she could feel the energy being pulled from her body - weakening it considerably.

And then - they came. The visions - the dreams - they all came back to her, flashing through her mind quickly, reminding her of what was to come.

The life, the death, the love, the hate, the anger, the happiness, and the sorrow - it all came flooding back to her, threatening to drown her in what was to come. But then one image came back to her, stronger than ever before.

"You - you will have to die with me." His thick deep voice reached her ears, startling her out of her reverie. Her face paled considerably and she looked up at him, fear apparent in her eyes. She did not want to die.

"No, please no." She whispered, ignoring how his arms tightened forcefully around her. The air around them seemed to grow thick, smoke entering her lungs as she inhaled, the scent of blood assaulting her nostrils.

"Yes. You have to die with me. It is your duty after all." His cold chilling voice washed over her body, causing trepidation to seep into every pore of her body. She shook her head vigorously; deciding that then and now would be the only time she would be able to escape him.

She immediately jerked her body away; a hot searing sensation working it's way through her arms as she tried to fight him. Tears rolled out of her eyes as he started shouting at her, but everything seemed to turn to fuzz when it reached her ears. Her body jerked around violently, that same burning sensation soaring throughout her body, trapping her in a never-ending flame.

And then - it stopped. Kagome blinked and glanced around her as the flames continued to grow larger - burning others around her - causing an uncomfortable heat to rise around her being. It felt like a sauna only … she wasn't being burned.

Glancing down around her, Kagome noticed that something large and red had been draped around her being, covering the pale blue cloak that she wore. Strange, Kagome didn't remember wearing it before.

Suddenly two strong arms wrapped around her waist and hefted her up into the air, above the flames, above the burning bodies, and above all the death and hate. She could feel a comfortable calm floating over her being, warming her body as she soared above all of the destruction towards something unknown.

But as soon as the feeling of calm entered her body, she was dropped to the ground unceremoniously and the large red cloak that had covered her disappeared, causing a wave of cold to wash over her body. Sitting up quickly, Kagome brushed herself up and looked towards her savior, ready to offer him a steady thanks but -

She was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. And then -

Kagome was suddenly snapped from her reverie as a firm hand landed on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. Kagome's eyes whipped around to face the man next to her - the vision quickly fading from her mind.

"You feelin' all right?" Inuyasha asked, placing a hand against her forehead. Kagome blinked, surprised at his casual demeanor before pulling away slowly and fixing him with a calculating stare.

"You know, if my husband saw you he would kill you." Kagome replied, a small trace of a smile forming on her lips. Inuyasha merely shrugged before sitting down on the soft grass and motioning for Kagome to sit as well. Kagome did so obediently, smoothing out her dress as she sat down and stared at the stone palace walls.

"Let him try, I could probably fight better than him anyways." Inuyasha stated, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly. Kagome glanced at him, her blue eyes dancing with amusement.

"Who said anything about fighting? I meant that he would have you executed. Technically, no other man is supposed to touch what rightfully belongs to him. You know, I would be committing adultery and all of that fun stuff." Kagome replied blithely, grinning at the eyebrow that Inuyasha raised.

"Adultery from touching your forehead?"

"Don't sound so shocked. The laws here - well they are stricter than need be and you would have known that if you weren't a foreigner. So, do you mind telling me what region you are from?" Kagome asked, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Inuyasha, however, merely watched her skeptically, as though afraid to tell her. After all, she was the Empress and she would be among the first to know that the South and the North were walking on eggshells with one another.

The need to expand was growing quickly, as each region became more populated and - Inuyasha could not risk telling her that he was from the South. But if he did not tell her there was still the slightest chance that she would punish him for being disobedient, and he was absolutely sure that his case would be brought in front of the Emperor. And if his accusations were correct the Emperor would know that he was a prince of the Southern Lands and -

"Are you all right? You look rather pale." Kagome said suddenly, leaning towards Inuyasha to get a better look at his face. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as he scooted away from the overtly curious Empress, his thoughts straying on what his reasons for being in the castle were.

He needed to get information, and to assist in killing the Empress and her father. But - Lord Higurashi was already dead, which meant that the brunt of their rebellion would be taken out on the Empress.

Inuyasha couldn't not help but chuckle darkly.

He was befriending not only an enemy, but also someone whom he was supposed to spy on and kill. It was simply too ironic and - he did not know if he would be able to do it. Perhaps Rin would be able to do it - but she was still just a child, and if she were found out as well she would be tried for treason. And yet, Rin was still a child.

"Hey."

Inuyasha blinked, snapping his attention back towards the Empress who was watching him with an odd expression. Inuyasha coughed, embarrassed that he had allowed himself to get caught up in his thoughts and turned away from her, fixing his attention on a random shrub.

"You know, you still haven't answered my question." Kagome said quietly, ignoring the fact that the servant would not look at her.

"It doesn't matter where I am from all right." Inuyasha snapped, folding his arms over his chest. Kagome's eyes darkened suddenly as she turned away from him and gazed up at the gloomy blue sky. A tense moment of silence passed between the two, as they both remained trapped within their thoughts, trying their best not to be the one to break the silence.

"You know-"

"I'm not telling you where I am from!" Inuyasha ground out, turning towards Kagome to give her a level glare only to find that she was glaring right back at him.

"You know, you shouldn't speak like that lest someone hears you. "

"Like I said before, I can fight just fine."

"It's not about the fighting." Kagome mumbled, burying her head in her hands. Inuyasha merely shook his head before standing up and brushing off his pants.

"It is about the fighting when you are stuck in a world filled with hate, war, and destruction. Now, if you'll excuse me I have work to do." Inuyasha stated, a bitter sound filling his voice. Kagome blinked, gazing at him with an elated expression before standing up and following him back towards the castle.

"You know," Kagome started, ignoring the annoyed expression that Inuyasha sent her way, " you never did tell me you name."

"That's because you never asked."

"I shouldn't have to." Kagome remarked steadily, grinning victoriously as Inuyasha stopped walking and turned to face her. His amber eyes were relaying his annoyance as he gazed at her, his lips turned down into a scowl.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" He inquired through clenched teeth causing Kagome's grin to widen.

"In case you haven't noticed foreigner, I am the Empress, I should not and do not have to ask for anything. But, I will anyways. Would it be at all possible if you could give me your name?" Kagome curtsied respectfully, smiling kindly at the man in front of her. Inuyasha merely huffed before looking towards the castle doors and back at her.

"My name is Inuyasha, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance your highness." Inuyasha said quietly, bowing in respect. Kagome smiled brightly, clapping her hands together as her eyes twinkled in joviality.

"My name is Kagome, however you must address me by Empress Yokoshima or Lady Yokoshima. But truth be told, I would prefer Lady Higurashi." Inuyasha nodded, looking around himself distractedly before turning to face the Empress.

"Well your Grace, I must -"

"Kagome." The cold calculating voice that suddenly spoke caused Kagome to stiffen, a chill running up her spine. She turned slightly, her face schooled into a stoic expression. Inuyasha blinked, turning towards the speaker of the voice as well, as his eyebrow rose with question.

He was greeted with nothing more than a glare.

Naraku stood before them, his blood red robes tied loosely around his frame, his long ebony black wavy cascading over his shoulders, and his arms crossed firmly over his chest as he watched the two with a look of distaste upon his face. He allowed his eyes to travel over Inuyasha's slightly smaller frame before snorting in distaste and turning towards his wife.

"I expected better of you," he replied calmly, fixing his cold burgundy eyes on Kagome's livelier blue ones. Kagome blinked, confused at what he was talking about before a malicious smirk threatened to spread across her husbands face.

"I expect you to be in my sight at all time," he said as though reading her mind, "and not flirting with other men."

"I wasn't flirting!" Kagome yelped indignantly, forgetting that Inuyasha was still standing with her.

"And with a servant no less. This calls for punishment." Naraku's eyes darkened considerably before he strode over to Kagome and gripped her arm tightly. Kagome winced, her eyes closing tightly before she looked up at her husband her eyes flashing with anger.

"Let - me - go." Naraku merely smirked before yanking her away from Inuyasha, his grip bruising.

"I will not have my wife committing adultery with other men, let alone a servant. You will be in by my side at all times and you will only leave when you have my permission. Do I make myself clear?" He asked, not noticing the pleading look that Kagome sent over her shoulder to Inuyasha.

But Inuyasha couldn't do anything. He was nothing more than a servant and if he did try something he would be executed, and that was something that he didn't need to risk. After all, he couldn't allow himself to be killed and leave Sango all by herself. She wouldn't be able to get into the castle and it would be suspicious if Rin brought someone else within the castle looking for a job. So Inuyasha bowed respectfully before turning and leaving to the servant's quarters, leaving Kagome to face the wrath of her husband.

After all, there was nothing he could do, even if he wanted to.

They were married.