InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ To Blacken a Heart ( Chapter 7 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: emmaren 
Warning Character death in this chapter.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.05.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 343 | Status: Work In Progress
Warning Character death in this chapter.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.05.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 343 | Status: Work In Progress
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND COMPANY, NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ.
AN: Thank you to SleepingChickenNugget and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
****Warning: Character death.****
Chapter 7: To Blacken a Heart
It had been close to a week and a half since Sesshoumaru had last been in the Western Citadel. In others words, it had taken entirely too long to make the trip to the island. If he pushed, the entire party could reach the Citadel by the sunset of the following day. Their return trip needed to be accomplished with as much haste as possible.
The miko was in what appeared to be a catatonic state; with any luck, she would remain that way until they reached their destination.
His instincts were also forcing him to become far more protective of her than he wanted anyone seeing. This was proven when he nearly decapitated the kit for coming too close. In the kit’s defense, he had no idea what occurred in the cave. Tadashi had led the kit out as soon as it was apparent what his lord was going to do in order to bind the miko. The kit was attempting to understand the change in his new protector’s scent.
It was this reaction that caused Sesshoumaru to realize that he had waited far too long to produce offspring, if his baser self was telling him that a kit was a threat to his bitch. NO! Not bitch, breeder. That was her title until the pup was born. After that, he would figure it out.
He could not sell her into the servitude of one of the establishments. A youkai establishment would not take a filthy human whore, and a human establishment would kill her if they ever discovered she gave birth to a hanyou.
She was his until he found an honorable way to get rid of her.
Inuyasha. The malice associated with that name made the deepest ring of hell seem like a nice vacation spot. That hanyou was lucky he had proven himself worthy; otherwise, his older brother would truly be his executioner.
He needed more information on the one who would bare his heir. Damn, he hated societal rules. She was the first to carry his seed; therefore, it was her honor to bare him a male pup. If this one were not male, then he would shave his head and join a monastery. No, even better, he would go visit those barbarians of the far west for another six hundred years. Unfortunately, the miko would still be alive upon his return.
The same haunting tune that the shadow had sung in his study was starting up again. The miko stared up at him with listless eyes.
~_~_~_===+===_~_~_~
She was climbing out of the well again. The musky smell was never as strong as when she first returned from the past. There was a strange itch under her skin; the closer she got to the mouth of the well, the stronger the itch.
Sighing, Kagome opened the well house door. Home lay just across the courtyard, and she was going home, even if it was only for a few days.
This was not right. Why would her mother decorate the entire shrine grounds in yellow streamers? There were even more streamers as she came into the house.
“Mama? I’m back.”
Stillness.
“Mama?” She slipped off her shoes as she made her way past the kitchen to the living room.
Silence.
“Souta?”
The ticking of the grandfather clock.
“Grandpa? I brought back some things that you could sell in the gift shop.”
The soft padding of her feet was the only sound as she turned and headed back to the kitchen.
“Ma-“
Those weren’t yellow streamers in the courtyard. That wasn’t spilled wine on the kitchen floor. This wasn’t some horrible nightmare. Her chest was in too much pain. She bolted for the stairs.
Checking every room, she finally returned to the kitchen. There were only two outlines, not three.
“Souta….” It was a ghost of a whisper.
She moved towards the phone. “Souta….” Fumbling blindly, she picked it up, “I’ll find you, Souta.” Hearing the dial tone, she realized she had no clue who she should call.
“Who are you?”
Kagome spun around only to come face to face with a middle-aged man. Maybe he was not middle-aged, but he looked old and tired.
“Hig-Higurashi Kagome, sir.”
His face tightened slightly, then pinned her with his eyes. “Where have you been for the last sixteen hours?”
Nothing, no great alibi came to mind. “The well?”
His face softened slightly. “You’ve been hiding in the well the entire time? Why didn’t you come out when the police arrived?”
She looked at the kitchen floor and whimpered. They were gone. Home was gone. Souta….
She looked up at him with a crazed, frantic look that both surprised and disturbed him. “Souta. Where is Souta? I have to find him. He has to be alright.” She rushed across the room to grab the investigator by the hands, “Where is Souta? Souta has to be alright.”
“He is fine. He is down at the station waiting for your aunt and uncle to pick him up. Come on, I’ll take you there myself.”
She nervously twitched and fidgeted the whole way there. When they arrived, he placed her in a quiet room by herself. She waited patiently just like she was told to. The itching had turned into a numbness she noted absently. She wondered if this was how Sango felt. No, Sango lost a whole village, not just her immediate family.
“Higurashi?”
“Hai.”
< br> “Before we let you see your brother, there are some questions we need to ask you.”
“O-okay.”
“What were you doing in the well house?”
“Looking for Buyo.”
“Who is Buyo?”
“The fat family cat.”
“What do you remember?”
“I heard the commotion outside. Then I heard what sounded like a gunshot, followed by a scream. I was scared so I jumped down into the well. I must have hit my head or something because the next thing I remember was waking up, only to finding the house covered in yellow streamers.”
The investigator was quickly writing down everything she said. He should know better than to give someone time to come up with a story.
“Higurashi, were you aware of the financial situation of the shrine?”
“No. Everything was fine. I mean money was always a little tight but it had been that way since my father died.”
“No. A little over two and half years ago the shrine started showing financial strain, bills not being paid in full, on time, etcetera. The government was going to step in. Apparently, your grandfather was fighting it because one of the stipulations was that the old dried up well be removed, making room for a large garden. Hm. Do you have any relatives that are well off? Financially, I mean.”
She shook her head in the negative. “Why?”
“There was a large influx of cash about three months ago. We are trying to figure out if it has anything to do with the murders. To tell you honestly, this has the Yakuza written all over it. If it was them, you should be careful. They might try to get you to pay off the debt. There are many things that a pretty young woman can be coerced into doing.” He rose and left her alone in the room once more again.
Kagome’s heart clenched more painfully than it ever had before. She was the cause of her family’s death. She couldn’t face Souta, knowing that he had to stand alone in this world. If only she had been less selfish. It was inexcusable for her not to realize that the shrine could not withstand the financial burden of supplying a traveling party across the Japanese countryside. In addition, they could not apply for financial help.
Oh Kami-sama, her grandfather could not go to the government because of the well. She was a horrible daughter. She had brought nothing but shame and strife to her family. Kagome was so lost in her inner turmoil that she did not notice the door open.
“O-oneechan?”
Her tear streaked face turned to him. He knew she was blaming herself, and it was not right.
“Souta, I am so sorry.”
“Kagome, I want to go home.”
There was no more ‘home’. “The shrine is no longer ours. Souta…” There was no way she could look at him and say this. “I have to go back.”
“No. No, you don’t! Your place is here, with ME!” His breathing started to calm. “Please. I can’t lose you, too.”
He was right, but she had a duty that had already claimed her grandfather and mother. She had to finish it. “I must. With Kikyou dead, there is no one left but me. I am sorry, but I have to.” Pulling him in a tight hug, she whispered to him, “Souta, be happy. You will live and have a family of your own, but always remember honor.”
She left him alone in that room, weeping. There was nothing to be done about it. She was not coming back. By the time they beat Naraku, there would be no well left in this era.
Kagome had always known that the day would come when she would not be coming back. The key to the well was not only the jewel; it was the jewel and the rosary around Inuyasha’s neck. She was unable to remove it in her timeline. That was when she realized that, if she wanted to ensure his safety she would have to remove it in the past. The only problem was that she would then be trapped there, in the past.
In her mind, she never glorified what would happen. There would be no proverbial ‘happy ending’ for herself and Inuyasha. Now she could only hope that someday, Souta would forgive her.
She boarded the bus to her house, making a mental list of all the things that she would need to take to the past. Tears streamed down her face as she prayed that she was strong enough to complete this duty, all the while silently doubting this was the last of her pain.
AN: Thank you to SleepingChickenNugget and ktshabatie for beta-ing.
****Warning: Character death.****
It had been close to a week and a half since Sesshoumaru had last been in the Western Citadel. In others words, it had taken entirely too long to make the trip to the island. If he pushed, the entire party could reach the Citadel by the sunset of the following day. Their return trip needed to be accomplished with as much haste as possible.
The miko was in what appeared to be a catatonic state; with any luck, she would remain that way until they reached their destination.
His instincts were also forcing him to become far more protective of her than he wanted anyone seeing. This was proven when he nearly decapitated the kit for coming too close. In the kit’s defense, he had no idea what occurred in the cave. Tadashi had led the kit out as soon as it was apparent what his lord was going to do in order to bind the miko. The kit was attempting to understand the change in his new protector’s scent.
It was this reaction that caused Sesshoumaru to realize that he had waited far too long to produce offspring, if his baser self was telling him that a kit was a threat to his bitch. NO! Not bitch, breeder. That was her title until the pup was born. After that, he would figure it out.
He could not sell her into the servitude of one of the establishments. A youkai establishment would not take a filthy human whore, and a human establishment would kill her if they ever discovered she gave birth to a hanyou.
She was his until he found an honorable way to get rid of her.
Inuyasha. The malice associated with that name made the deepest ring of hell seem like a nice vacation spot. That hanyou was lucky he had proven himself worthy; otherwise, his older brother would truly be his executioner.
He needed more information on the one who would bare his heir. Damn, he hated societal rules. She was the first to carry his seed; therefore, it was her honor to bare him a male pup. If this one were not male, then he would shave his head and join a monastery. No, even better, he would go visit those barbarians of the far west for another six hundred years. Unfortunately, the miko would still be alive upon his return.
The same haunting tune that the shadow had sung in his study was starting up again. The miko stared up at him with listless eyes.
She was climbing out of the well again. The musky smell was never as strong as when she first returned from the past. There was a strange itch under her skin; the closer she got to the mouth of the well, the stronger the itch.
Sighing, Kagome opened the well house door. Home lay just across the courtyard, and she was going home, even if it was only for a few days.
This was not right. Why would her mother decorate the entire shrine grounds in yellow streamers? There were even more streamers as she came into the house.
“Mama? I’m back.”
Stillness.
“Mama?” She slipped off her shoes as she made her way past the kitchen to the living room.
Silence.
“Souta?”
The ticking of the grandfather clock.
“Grandpa? I brought back some things that you could sell in the gift shop.”
The soft padding of her feet was the only sound as she turned and headed back to the kitchen.
“Ma-“
Those weren’t yellow streamers in the courtyard. That wasn’t spilled wine on the kitchen floor. This wasn’t some horrible nightmare. Her chest was in too much pain. She bolted for the stairs.
Checking every room, she finally returned to the kitchen. There were only two outlines, not three.
“Souta….” It was a ghost of a whisper.
She moved towards the phone. “Souta….” Fumbling blindly, she picked it up, “I’ll find you, Souta.” Hearing the dial tone, she realized she had no clue who she should call.
“Who are you?”
Kagome spun around only to come face to face with a middle-aged man. Maybe he was not middle-aged, but he looked old and tired.
“Hig-Higurashi Kagome, sir.”
His face tightened slightly, then pinned her with his eyes. “Where have you been for the last sixteen hours?”
Nothing, no great alibi came to mind. “The well?”
His face softened slightly. “You’ve been hiding in the well the entire time? Why didn’t you come out when the police arrived?”
She looked at the kitchen floor and whimpered. They were gone. Home was gone. Souta….
She looked up at him with a crazed, frantic look that both surprised and disturbed him. “Souta. Where is Souta? I have to find him. He has to be alright.” She rushed across the room to grab the investigator by the hands, “Where is Souta? Souta has to be alright.”
“He is fine. He is down at the station waiting for your aunt and uncle to pick him up. Come on, I’ll take you there myself.”
She nervously twitched and fidgeted the whole way there. When they arrived, he placed her in a quiet room by herself. She waited patiently just like she was told to. The itching had turned into a numbness she noted absently. She wondered if this was how Sango felt. No, Sango lost a whole village, not just her immediate family.
“Higurashi?”
“Hai.”
< br> “Before we let you see your brother, there are some questions we need to ask you.”
“O-okay.”
“What were you doing in the well house?”
“Looking for Buyo.”
“Who is Buyo?”
“The fat family cat.”
“What do you remember?”
“I heard the commotion outside. Then I heard what sounded like a gunshot, followed by a scream. I was scared so I jumped down into the well. I must have hit my head or something because the next thing I remember was waking up, only to finding the house covered in yellow streamers.”
The investigator was quickly writing down everything she said. He should know better than to give someone time to come up with a story.
“Higurashi, were you aware of the financial situation of the shrine?”
“No. Everything was fine. I mean money was always a little tight but it had been that way since my father died.”
“No. A little over two and half years ago the shrine started showing financial strain, bills not being paid in full, on time, etcetera. The government was going to step in. Apparently, your grandfather was fighting it because one of the stipulations was that the old dried up well be removed, making room for a large garden. Hm. Do you have any relatives that are well off? Financially, I mean.”
She shook her head in the negative. “Why?”
“There was a large influx of cash about three months ago. We are trying to figure out if it has anything to do with the murders. To tell you honestly, this has the Yakuza written all over it. If it was them, you should be careful. They might try to get you to pay off the debt. There are many things that a pretty young woman can be coerced into doing.” He rose and left her alone in the room once more again.
Kagome’s heart clenched more painfully than it ever had before. She was the cause of her family’s death. She couldn’t face Souta, knowing that he had to stand alone in this world. If only she had been less selfish. It was inexcusable for her not to realize that the shrine could not withstand the financial burden of supplying a traveling party across the Japanese countryside. In addition, they could not apply for financial help.
Oh Kami-sama, her grandfather could not go to the government because of the well. She was a horrible daughter. She had brought nothing but shame and strife to her family. Kagome was so lost in her inner turmoil that she did not notice the door open.
“O-oneechan?”
Her tear streaked face turned to him. He knew she was blaming herself, and it was not right.
“Souta, I am so sorry.”
“Kagome, I want to go home.”
There was no more ‘home’. “The shrine is no longer ours. Souta…” There was no way she could look at him and say this. “I have to go back.”
“No. No, you don’t! Your place is here, with ME!” His breathing started to calm. “Please. I can’t lose you, too.”
He was right, but she had a duty that had already claimed her grandfather and mother. She had to finish it. “I must. With Kikyou dead, there is no one left but me. I am sorry, but I have to.” Pulling him in a tight hug, she whispered to him, “Souta, be happy. You will live and have a family of your own, but always remember honor.”
She left him alone in that room, weeping. There was nothing to be done about it. She was not coming back. By the time they beat Naraku, there would be no well left in this era.
Kagome had always known that the day would come when she would not be coming back. The key to the well was not only the jewel; it was the jewel and the rosary around Inuyasha’s neck. She was unable to remove it in her timeline. That was when she realized that, if she wanted to ensure his safety she would have to remove it in the past. The only problem was that she would then be trapped there, in the past.
In her mind, she never glorified what would happen. There would be no proverbial ‘happy ending’ for herself and Inuyasha. Now she could only hope that someday, Souta would forgive her.
She boarded the bus to her house, making a mental list of all the things that she would need to take to the past. Tears streamed down her face as she prayed that she was strong enough to complete this duty, all the while silently doubting this was the last of her pain.
Inuyasha came running into the clearing followed by Sango, Miroku, and Shippo. Shaking her head, she just walked over to him and pulled the rosary from his neck. She dropped it into the well, where it was transported beyond anyone’s reach.
“Wha… Kagome?”
“There’s no place like home.” Whispering into the abyss that was the Bone Eater’s Well, she dried her face before turning to her friends. “I will not be going back anymore.”
“Of course not, stupid. You threw the rosary into the well. Did your brains leak out or something? Hey, wench, don’t you walk away from me! Kagome, I’m talkin’ to you. Kagome!” Inuyasha’s face was matching his Fire Rat robe as his ire rose.
Kagome had already started towards the village. Kohaku met her at the edge of the clearing, and when their eyes connected he instantly pulled her into a strong embrace. Kagome absently noted how much he had grown in the last year and a half.
“It is not your fault. The thing to do now is live remembering the good times.”
Only Inuyasha heard Kohaku’s whispered message. The gears began to grind and he finally understood what had greeted Kagome on the other side. Why didn’t he go with her this time? He was supposed to be her protector.
“Kagome.” Inuyasha was standing right behind her. She turned and burrowed into his chest.
The sobs that she had denied herself since seeing the blood on the kitchen floor broke through. Absently, she wondered how it was possible to be numb and pained at the same time. If it was a gift from the Kami, they could take it and shove it.
“Wha… Kagome?”
“There’s no place like home.” Whispering into the abyss that was the Bone Eater’s Well, she dried her face before turning to her friends. “I will not be going back anymore.”
“Of course not, stupid. You threw the rosary into the well. Did your brains leak out or something? Hey, wench, don’t you walk away from me! Kagome, I’m talkin’ to you. Kagome!” Inuyasha’s face was matching his Fire Rat robe as his ire rose.
Kagome had already started towards the village. Kohaku met her at the edge of the clearing, and when their eyes connected he instantly pulled her into a strong embrace. Kagome absently noted how much he had grown in the last year and a half.
“It is not your fault. The thing to do now is live remembering the good times.”
Only Inuyasha heard Kohaku’s whispered message. The gears began to grind and he finally understood what had greeted Kagome on the other side. Why didn’t he go with her this time? He was supposed to be her protector.
“Kagome.” Inuyasha was standing right behind her. She turned and burrowed into his chest.
The sobs that she had denied herself since seeing the blood on the kitchen floor broke through. Absently, she wondered how it was possible to be numb and pained at the same time. If it was a gift from the Kami, they could take it and shove it.
One week. It had been one week, and no one had any clue what had happened on the other side of the well. Inuyasha was cursing any one that came within shouting distance of him. Miroku had taken up watching the once spitfire of a woman wander through the darkness of her mind. Sango decided that Kohaku did not need to see her wallowing, so she took her younger brother out into the forest to improve his skills as a trapper. Shippo just wanted to be as close to Kagome as he could get, so he remained snuggled into the crook of her neck or on her lap.
Kagome woke in the middle of the night of the new moon. That would be nice because she wanted to say goodbye without a hanyou breathing down her neck. Stealthily, she slipped from the hut, and then followed the dark path to the Goshinboku.
Kneeling in the mass of knotted roots, she pressed her forehead to the back of her hands. Kagome’s hands clapped three times and she sent her prayer for forgiveness to the Kami, bowing there before the scared tree. It was a prayer that would go unanswered, for the Kami never grant forgiveness to those who cannot absolve themselves first.
The weight of what she had done to her younger brother was drowning her beneath the depths of guilt. If she had been smarter, stronger, just a bit better, then Souta would not have the responsibility of burying their mother and grandfather alone. Tears did nothing to relieve the pressure in her chest. If she did not find a light in the darkness soon, she would undoubtedly fail at the duty she put before her brother.
“Mama, please guide him to happiness.”
The air around her changed and she was no longer alone. Looking over to her left, there was Sango kneeling beside her. Kagome knew that Sango had been upset when she refused to answer any questions about what happened. The anger and betrayal was still swirling in Sango’s aura. Well, now was the time to disappoint her friends. Kagome moved to stand, but was stopped when Sango’s hand grasped firmly onto her arm.
“Kagome, what happened over there? What happened to you?”
“Not yet-“
Sango’s anger rose as she cut her younger sister off. “You will tell me now!”
Sighing, Kagome looked the other girl in the eyes, “I will tell you all at the same time. Please understand, I don’t think that I am strong enough to tell it more than once.”
Sango nodded sharply; she was tired of Kagome keeping secrets.
Kagome woke in the middle of the night of the new moon. That would be nice because she wanted to say goodbye without a hanyou breathing down her neck. Stealthily, she slipped from the hut, and then followed the dark path to the Goshinboku.
Kneeling in the mass of knotted roots, she pressed her forehead to the back of her hands. Kagome’s hands clapped three times and she sent her prayer for forgiveness to the Kami, bowing there before the scared tree. It was a prayer that would go unanswered, for the Kami never grant forgiveness to those who cannot absolve themselves first.
The weight of what she had done to her younger brother was drowning her beneath the depths of guilt. If she had been smarter, stronger, just a bit better, then Souta would not have the responsibility of burying their mother and grandfather alone. Tears did nothing to relieve the pressure in her chest. If she did not find a light in the darkness soon, she would undoubtedly fail at the duty she put before her brother.
“Mama, please guide him to happiness.”
The air around her changed and she was no longer alone. Looking over to her left, there was Sango kneeling beside her. Kagome knew that Sango had been upset when she refused to answer any questions about what happened. The anger and betrayal was still swirling in Sango’s aura. Well, now was the time to disappoint her friends. Kagome moved to stand, but was stopped when Sango’s hand grasped firmly onto her arm.
“Kagome, what happened over there? What happened to you?”
“Not yet-“
Sango’s anger rose as she cut her younger sister off. “You will tell me now!”
Sighing, Kagome looked the other girl in the eyes, “I will tell you all at the same time. Please understand, I don’t think that I am strong enough to tell it more than once.”
Sango nodded sharply; she was tired of Kagome keeping secrets.
Miroku had stopped both Inuyasha and Shippo from following Kagome. He knew that she was close to letting them back in. However, if she did not find closure with whatever happened, then no one would be able to help.
An hour after Kagome’s departure, Kohaku walked in the hut. Nodding his head, he sat and focused his eyes on the door. It took only a few more minutes for Sango to enter, Kagome following.
Kagome sat and made eye contact with each of them. Her head shook negatively as Shippo tried to approach her. She knew it was her time to stand judgment, and she had to stand on her own. So, she began her tale of what occurred beyond the well, her throat almost closing in on itself when she explained how much of the burden of their fate rested on her shoulders. When she was done, she finally allowed her eyes focus on the only family she had left.
It took Shippo less than a second to barrel across the hut and into her arms. He had to sooth her pain. He knew the pain of losing a parent because you were not strong enough to help them. Kagome did not let him face that pain alone. No, Kagome would not face it alone either. Kagome started to feel the pressure lessen.
“So you left him there on his own?” Sango’s voice cut through the silence. She had not meant it to sound so harsh, but it angered her that Kagome was here getting their sympathy while she abandoned her brother on the other side.
“Hai.”
“Did you even think about what that would do to him?” Her anger was rising again. ‘Does the girl not even feel remorse for her actions?’
“Hai.”
“How? How could you do such a thing?” Sango began to feel as if she did not know the girl sitting across from her.
“I am the only one that we know of, who can purify the jewel. If the jewel is not purified, then there is no hope of beating Naraku. We have tried for the last twenty months to locate Naraku’s heart to no avail. I cannot place even my brother before this duty. If Naraku is not defeated, then there is a good chance that there will be no Souta to stay with.” Kagome’s eyes were harder than anyone had ever seen them. “I am one of the few that understands; I have a purpose, a duty, an honor, a destiny. This will be finished. If I live after it has reached completion, only then will I search for a way to return to my brother.”
Miroku had been agitated by Sango’s questions; it seemed that ever since Kohaku had been given back his life, Sango had held something against Kagome. Now, however, was not the time to ponder this development, “Kagome-sama, why did you seal the well?”
“The government is going to take over the shrine. In another two to four weeks, the well will be gone on that side. It is no longer a possible way home; it became the hot air balloon.” A slight smile crossed her face as she realized none of her friends understood her reference to the Wizard of Oz. “Besides, I didn’t seal it. What I did was place Inuyasha’s rosary beyond the reach of any enemy. While it is true that it would be difficult to tap into the ancient magic of it, it is not impossible. I will not have the responsibility of another’s death on my shoulders.” Kagome gave Shippo a hug as she said this. She began to notice that the itch was beneath her skin again. “Whenever you guys are ready to resume our quest, I am as well.”
An hour after Kagome’s departure, Kohaku walked in the hut. Nodding his head, he sat and focused his eyes on the door. It took only a few more minutes for Sango to enter, Kagome following.
Kagome sat and made eye contact with each of them. Her head shook negatively as Shippo tried to approach her. She knew it was her time to stand judgment, and she had to stand on her own. So, she began her tale of what occurred beyond the well, her throat almost closing in on itself when she explained how much of the burden of their fate rested on her shoulders. When she was done, she finally allowed her eyes focus on the only family she had left.
It took Shippo less than a second to barrel across the hut and into her arms. He had to sooth her pain. He knew the pain of losing a parent because you were not strong enough to help them. Kagome did not let him face that pain alone. No, Kagome would not face it alone either. Kagome started to feel the pressure lessen.
“So you left him there on his own?” Sango’s voice cut through the silence. She had not meant it to sound so harsh, but it angered her that Kagome was here getting their sympathy while she abandoned her brother on the other side.
“Hai.”
“Did you even think about what that would do to him?” Her anger was rising again. ‘Does the girl not even feel remorse for her actions?’
“Hai.”
“How? How could you do such a thing?” Sango began to feel as if she did not know the girl sitting across from her.
“I am the only one that we know of, who can purify the jewel. If the jewel is not purified, then there is no hope of beating Naraku. We have tried for the last twenty months to locate Naraku’s heart to no avail. I cannot place even my brother before this duty. If Naraku is not defeated, then there is a good chance that there will be no Souta to stay with.” Kagome’s eyes were harder than anyone had ever seen them. “I am one of the few that understands; I have a purpose, a duty, an honor, a destiny. This will be finished. If I live after it has reached completion, only then will I search for a way to return to my brother.”
Miroku had been agitated by Sango’s questions; it seemed that ever since Kohaku had been given back his life, Sango had held something against Kagome. Now, however, was not the time to ponder this development, “Kagome-sama, why did you seal the well?”
“The government is going to take over the shrine. In another two to four weeks, the well will be gone on that side. It is no longer a possible way home; it became the hot air balloon.” A slight smile crossed her face as she realized none of her friends understood her reference to the Wizard of Oz. “Besides, I didn’t seal it. What I did was place Inuyasha’s rosary beyond the reach of any enemy. While it is true that it would be difficult to tap into the ancient magic of it, it is not impossible. I will not have the responsibility of another’s death on my shoulders.” Kagome gave Shippo a hug as she said this. She began to notice that the itch was beneath her skin again. “Whenever you guys are ready to resume our quest, I am as well.”
Kagome gradually became aware that she was laying on a futon, not the forest floor. Opening her eyes, she knew she was back at the Western Citadel. These, however, were not her quarters. She attempted to stand, but the pain between her legs forced her to cease all movement.
Dread fill her entire body, as she began to remember pieces of what happened. Had she upset Sesshoumaru so much? More importantly, what was to become of her? Was she now, truly, a whore?
*+*+*+*+*+*
AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily
Dread fill her entire body, as she began to remember pieces of what happened. Had she upset Sesshoumaru so much? More importantly, what was to become of her? Was she now, truly, a whore?
AN: Thank you for reading, please review.
Emily