InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Circumstances ❯ Darkness and Light ( Chapter 5 )

At first there was pain, unbearable, excruciating pain. She felt the blades cut into her skin, felt and saw the blood that coated her hands before her world went black and then the pain stopped. For a long while there was nothing but black that passed by her eyes. She could hear nothing, smell nothing, sense nothing; she was void of any feeling. There was no sky above her and no ground below her; she could've said that she was falling, but then again, did she even know what falling felt like here? Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that this was somehow wrong, that she should be somewhere else, and that she had something important to finish, but for the life of her she could not imagine what.

 

She continued her fruitless search in the sea of blackness that surrounded her. She took it all in with indifference; there was no fear, no anger, no…anything. She was beginning to think that this was a dream, it just had to be, otherwise, what was she to make of this place? But if it were a dream, wouldn't she still feel the pain from earlier?

 

`What is going on here? Where am I? Di…did I…did I die?'

 

Try as she might, she couldn't feel upset about her new revelation. She looked around her once again, only this time she spotted something small in the distance. This, whatever it was, was glowing a strange blue-green color. As it approached she soon realized that there was more of its kind beside it. She wanted to be afraid, but couldn't. The things came closer to her and only stopped when they were a couple of feet in front of her. She tilted her head to the side in question as she looked upon the strange beings. They were no taller than her knees and they had beaks and large bulbous eyes. They reminded her of small toads; `similar to Jaken, Sesshoumaru's vassal' she thought absently. What looked to be the leader of the small group of creatures took a single step toward her and nodded slightly in her direction.

 

“Welcome Kagome, we've been expecting you,” stated the creature. Its voice was neither male nor female, though it was lower in pitch than what she would have expected.

 

“How do you know my name? Who are you?”

 

“I am called Yuichi, and we know all there is to know about you Kagome. My comrades and I are here to direct you home.”

 

“Home? What do you mean? Do you mean with mom, Souta, and grandpa?”

 

“Not exactly,” another one spoke up. “It seems that you sustained pretty nasty injuries recently; I'm afraid that your body was not able to handle the extent of the cuts.”

 

“Oh, I understand,” Kagome said with no emotion. “What if I choose to stay? Will I be able to?”

 

“I am afraid that will not be allowed Kagome,” a third stated. “We are here under strict orders to see you off.”

 

“Why would you choose to go back to that life anyways?” stated yet another. “What is there for you to go back to?”

 

“Inuyasha,” was her only answer.

“You would go back simply for someone who does not return your feelings?” a fourth creature asked. “Why would you put yourself through pain as such when you could come with us and never have to feel sorrow again?”

 

“You're wrong, he does care for me. I know he loves Kikyo, but he has feeling for me, too. I can't leave him when there might be a chance for us.”

 

“Foolish girl, there is no chance with him. You openly give your heart to someone who is incapable of giving his back. What are you expecting from him?” the last creature huffed.

 

Kagome slightly frowned at this. Something was not right about this whole situation; why were they pushing her so hard to follow them? She looked over at them for a minute, silently evaluating their motives. One of them shifted slightly under her silent critique, yes, something was definitely wrong.

 

“Uh, I don't think I want to go just yet, I would rather go back to my friends if you don't mind,” she stated.

 

The small beings glanced around at each other from the corners of their eyes. Things were not going as they planned. The council from the underworld told them that five would be enough to bring this girl's soul back with them, but she was proving to be quite stubborn. In this world between life and death, no one was able to feel such strong emotions as this girl was releasing. It was not usually such a difficult task to talk the souls into joining them in the afterlife. They were running out of options, it was time to take another approach.

 

“Kagome,” Yuichi started, “I know this may be difficult to understand, but your friend Inuyasha has already made his choice.”

 

“What do you mean?” she asked.

 

“This may be hard to hear, but you will see what I mean,” the creature stated.

 

The once quiet place that she and the creatures occupied soon filled with the voice of her love, Inuyasha. His voice carried with it a tortured sound, one filled with regret as well as finality.

 

“Kikyo, I've never stopped thinking about you, you know that! I do care for Kagome, but Kikyo, I promised my life to you. You are the one that holds my heart, my life, in your hands,” came the thoughts of Inuyasha. `When all of this is over, I'm going to follow Kikyo to hell, it's the least I could do for her, I owe her my life. There would be no sense in leading Kagome on; not when I can't promise to be there for her.'

 

“How do I know this is real? How do I know that you aren't tricking me into hearing something that you've created?” she asked.

 

“You do not. However, I assure you these thoughts are Inuyasha's own. He spoke them no more than two months ago,” said one of the creatures.

 

“Two months ago? That's just before he started acting weird; before he started to become distant,” she admitted to herself dejectedly.

 

“You see girl, that world holds nothing but pain for you. Unrequited love can take its toll on a heart such as yours; why subject yourself to such?” asked Yuichi.

 

The five little creatures looked to themselves and then Kagome with knowing smiles on their faces; they were getting to her, she was slowly breaking and they would soon be able to take her soul to the underworld. These beings were not malevolent; they were not sent to wreak havoc on the souls of the recently departed. It was only their job to do what was necessary to lead the souls into the afterlife. The `pallbearers of the underworld' is what they called themselves. Creatures of secret, they are not seen on the outside world. To the living, they are invisible, hovering around the body of the recently deceased. The pallbearers try to make the transition into the afterlife as easy as possible, giving the souls encouragement and reasons to follow them. The promise of a painless world is what typically draws the souls in, although there are times where promises of their heart's more simple desires captivate them into passing.

 

Failure to escort the soul into the netherworld was not something to be taken lightly. It was a job, and it was expected to be carried out. The pallbearers themselves were once lost souls that were trapped between the worlds. The council of the underworld was at a loss of what to do with the meandering souls and decided to take it upon themselves to initiate them as pallbearers. To live the life as a pallbearer was a bit more rewarding than waiting out your time in the netherworld for your rebirth. With this status came a bit more respect from other souls and also a more comfortable transition. For this reason, most of the wandering souls opted for this duty. However, although being a pallbearer was indeed rewarding if the `missions' were successful, failure in their job led to immediate decent into hell; that was the deal.

 

Failure to bring back a soul into the underworld was not something that happened very often; in fact, there were so few accounts of it happening that one was able to count it on one hand. The most recent report of this happening was only a couple of years ago; a situation with a young girl with dark hair and eyes. The event made the creatures shiver in remembrance; it had not been a pretty sight to see when their comrades had been sucked into hell over this small girl. None of the pallbearers that were there were able to retell the event, each so battered that they could not speak. Because of this, the incident was still a mystery and it left a slight unease among the remaining pallbearers.

 

Kagome stood there with her shoulders slumped. She was so sure that things between her and Inuyasha could progress, but after hearing his inner thoughts, she couldn't help but feel rejected. Her trips to the feudal era were made tolerable because she knew she was coming back to him; how would she deal with it now? Her feelings for him ran so deep, she couldn't just forget them, or forget him. For two years she had been following Inuyasha to collect the jewel shards and right the wrong that she had caused by accidentally shattering the Sacred Jewel. She stayed by his side with the hope of one day evolving their friendship into something more, and even when Kikyo was brought back from the dead, she still held onto her wishful thinking. What was she to do now? Inuyasha had made his choice and she wasn't going to take that away from him, if she even could.

 

She was slowly brought out of her inner torment as she felt her limbs starting to numb as if she had none. She held her arms out in front of her and noticed a soft glow starting to envelope her. The feeling was warm and she felt her first sense of any feeling since she had been here; she felt comfortable. She closed her eyes to let the feeling embrace her; she could feel it surrounding her, making her entire body relax. She could feel peace as the pallbearers reached out to take her hand and lead her into the afterlife, this felt right. She slowly opened her eyes with a slight smile on her face, feeling better than she had ever felt before; it was intoxicating.

 

Upon opening her eyes she looked off into the vast darkness only to see a bright white light streaking towards her at an incredible pace. The small creatures around her stilled their movements and looked at the light in confusion. They had never seen such a thing in this realm, sure there was talk amongst the living that they were to head towards the light after passing, but that was just a silly rumor. Yuichi, the supposed leader of the group of pallbearers, stepped forward to meet whatever this, thing, was. He narrowed his eyes in hopes of getting a clearer view, but then opened them wide in terror just as he was cut down. The other pallbearers looked on in horror at their leader, but they all soon met the same fate, each one of them disappearing into the darkness.

 

Kagome sunk to her knees as the numb feeling left her. She cast half-lidded eyes to the place where just a moment ago, five small creatures had been. She felt as if she had been drugged, every movement her body made was sluggish. With some difficulty, she raised her head to find where the white light had gone, only to stare into a pair of amber colored eyes.

 

“Inuyasha?” she asked, still dazed.

 

“Human, do not insult my being my mistaking me for my half-brother, it is intolerable,” came a cold baritone reply.

 

“Sesshoumaru? What are you doing here?” she asked weakly.

 

“Why is it that you were allowing yourself to be led to the afterlife?” he asked, sidestepping her question.

 

“Why not, there is nothing left for me out there, Inuyasha chose Kikyo,” she replied with a strained, hurt-filled voice.

 

“So, my half-brother has chosen the clay pot? I cannot say that I am surprised, although I rather thought he would have done so sooner.”

 

“Why do you say that?”

 

“Inuyasha is a feeble mind. To give his loyalties blindly to a woman who attempts to end his life has more than proven such as truth. It is suffice to say that I expected him to follow the abomination into the depths of hell the moment she asked. That he did not was surprising.”

 

“He's not as weak as you think he is Sesshoumaru; you of all people, er, demons, should know that by now.”

 

“I do not believe you are one to judge what makes one weak. You were blindly following pallbearers into the afterlife. Tell me, were you always as weak minded as my brother?”

 

“What are you talking about?! I am NOT weak-minded!” she screamed

 

“No? So am I to deny what I observed with my own eyes?”

 

“Well, no, not exactly. You don't know everything okay! Just lay off will ya?!”

 

“Hn.”

 

“What do you mean by `hn'? I gave myself so completely to Inuyasha, I was just waiting on him to realize that it was me he wanted, not Kikyo!”

 

“So, all of this over the half-breed. I dare say you have disappointed this Sesshoumaru, miko.”

 

Kagome was stunned. Not only had she just realized that she had been holding conversation with Sesshoumaru, someone who has tried to kill her on multiple occasions, but then he says that `she disappointed' him? Since when did he hold standards on her?

 

“What…why…how did I disappoint you Sesshoumaru?” she stuttered truly confused.

 

“Tell me, miko, why it is you believe that your desire for my brother is the only ties you have amongst the world of the living.”

 

“He is everything to me. I fought so hard for him and now…now…”

 

“Pathetic.”

 

“What?! How dare you call me pathetic! You don't know anything about my situation!”

 

“I know that while you pine for him, he desires another, yet you still follow knowing that he will never see you in such a way that you wish. For something such as this breaking you is pathetic.”

 

Kagome had no idea what to say, she was absolutely furious! How dare he tell her she was pathetic, she just had her heart broken for kami's sake! Someone that she has loved deeply for two years just chose another, the pain from that was outstanding. She glared at the demon in front of her with nothing but contempt in her eyes. As usual, he stood there with an utter look of boredom on his face; does anything get to this guy? This made her even madder, he was the one to instigate conversation and now he had the nerve to look bored?! Kagome mustered up her best death glare in his direction, this look always worked on Souta and Inuyasha; surely it would have some effect on the demon lord.

 

Keeping up with appearances, Sesshoumaru's face remained ever impassive. Although, he did have to admit, that death glare the young woman was sending his way had his hackles rising. This small snip of a girl was threatening him, which he found highly entertaining. He looked at her and quirked one of his eyebrows in amusement and watched as her lips pursed in her annoyance. This was too easy. Sesshoumaru had his own agenda in mind when he chose to help the miko, that agenda being Naraku. As much as Sesshoumaru would like to relish in the desire of being the sole destroyer of the foul half-breed, he relinquished to the fact that the young miko in front of him would be a key player in the downfall as well. This is why he decided to bring her back to life after seeing her comatose body in the courtyard at Naraku's castle.

 

The only other person privilege to Tensaiga's healing powers under Sesshoumaru's ownership was his ward, the little girl named Rin. The one wielding the sword properly had the ability to gaze upon the pallbearers of the underworld, as well as the capability to strike them down, rendering them useless in order to bring the person back to life. Once inside the realm between worlds, Sesshoumaru was able to converse with the spirit of the dead he wished to revive. Although it may seem as though much time had passed within the realm, life went on at its usual pace outside, making the observer none the wiser as to the proceedings within.

 

“Miko, I do not intend to waste more time here than necessary. You will be coming back with this Sesshoumaru.”

 

“The name's Kagome, Ka-go-me, quit calling me miko. And who says I wanna go back, huh? It could be pretty easy getting used to a painless lifestyle, who knows, I could come back as a model.” Oh who was she kidding, she wanted to go back.

 

“I tire of these games miko, the hanyou Naraku has an appointment with the end of my Tokijin, and I expect to keep to my punctuality.”

 

“Why are you helping me?”

 

“You are the protector of the Shikon no Tama are you not?” he asked.

 

“Well, yes I suppose I am.”

 

“Then your assistance is needed.”

 

“Just get Kikyo to help,” she spat, “she's probably more qualified anyway,” she mumbled the last bit.

 

This was getting frustrating. How could someone so stubborn be so daft at the same time? Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, something he hasn't had to fight in a long while.

 

“Miko-”

 

“Kagome,” she interrupted.

 

“Wench,” he bit out, “I have yet to lose my patience with you; however, I warn you it is getting thin. I typically do not humor such a blatant disregard to my status, I have given you fair warning.”

 

Kagome opened her mouth to retort, but saw the promise of pain in his eyes and promptly clamped her mouth shut. By this time her conscience decided to finally make itself heard and remind her that Sesshoumaru was here, in the realm between worlds, offering to bring her back to the living. `Grrreat Kagome, mock the person who has the power to bring you back to life, fantastic.'

 

“Forgive me Lord Sesshoumaru, I'm just a little stressed out here. I mean, first I'm taken by Naraku, then I'm struck down by Kagura's wind blades, only to find myself being dragged off into the netherworld by creepy toad looking things. Just tell me what you need me to do and I'll do it.”

 

Well, that was unexpected. He raised his delicate eyebrow yet again at her quick change in moods. To say that he was intrigued would have been an understatement. He knew very well that humans paraded their feelings, but to actually watch as the young miko's many emotions crossed over her eyes in less time that it took him to wrap his claws around an unsuspecting throat was a bit perplexing.

 

“Very well. Although your training as a miko is abysmal, you still house an adequate amount of power to incapacitate Naraku.”

 

“Gee, thanks,” she spat sarcastically. The narrowing of his eyes made her mumble a quick apology.

 

“As I was saying, your miko powers are not a complete waste. When we return you must know that there is a battle ensuing that you will promptly be placed in. I expect you to follow my orders with no questions asked once we return. Is this understood?”

 

“Yes, but um, what about Inuyasha and the others?”

 

“They are present as well. Now, if you are quite finished here…” he said as he shifted his stance.

 

“Yeah, I gotcha, I'm ready to go.”

 

“Hn.”

 

With no other acknowledgement to his departure, the demon lord reverted once again to his light orb and sped away back the way he came, leaving Kagome once again alone in the darkness. She huffed a little and slumped her shoulders. `Now what?' What was she expecting, some miraculous return with bright flashing lights, and the songs of cherubim sounding while she enjoys a weightless experience in a pretty little white mist? Well, yeah, sort of. That, however, was not how she was to make her triumphant return.

 

She shook her head to rid herself of her less than beneficial thoughts and started to walk towards where she assumed Sesshoumaru had made his departure. She had not walked more than five steps before she sucked in a deep breath as pain shot through her body. She quickly brought her hand up to her neck as that was where she felt it first. When she brought her hand down for inspection, she found it once again covered in blood. Another quick stab of pain brought her to her knees as she clenched her teeth to try and hold back the scream that was threatening to spill out of her mouth. She didn't think that being brought to life was supposed to hurt more than being killed, but hey, she was new at this whole thing. She grabbed at her chest above her heart and a sob escaped her, before she was once again unconscious.