Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome (Hinted Inuyasha/Kagome)
Prologue
9/23/06 – 9/24/06
Kagome darted nervous glances around the room as she discreetly turned her head to check the window for the umpteenth time that night. When her three friends suddenly stopped talking to shoot her similar looks of worry, Kagome was forced to realize how utterly ridiculous she was acting. Murmuring a small apology out loud, she mentally chided herself for being so paranoid.
"Are you feeling all right, Kagome?" Eri asked, frowning in worry.
"I'm sorry, guys. I guess I'm a little out of it today." Flushing slightly in apology, she quickly pressed her face into her pillow in an attempt to hide the dark-red blush staining her cheeks. "So, what were you guys talking about?"
Ayumi, brushing aside Kagome's attempt to change the subject, sharply asked, "Is this about your violent boyfriend again?" There was a slightly accusing tone in her voice that caused Kagome to cringe internally.
"N-No, of course not!" shouted Kagome, averting her eyes. Okay, maybe that wasn't exactly the whole truth, but what was she supposed to tell her friends? Yeah, I actually am thinking about Inuyasha. You know, the hanyou who repeatedly drags me back to the Feudal Era kicking and screaming? Yeah, that one! Anyway, I'm half-afraid that he'll suddenly jump out of nowhere and ambush me tonight because I was supposed to have gone back today after school...but didn't. Right, that'll go over real well. I'll probably land myself a first-class, priority trip to the asylum.
"Kagome – Hey, Kagome, you still there?" Yuka asked worriedly, waving her hand repeatedly back and forth in front of her friend's face. Back and forth…Back and forth…Back and…Kagome's eyes quickly snapped back into focus as she sheepishly asked her friend to repeat her question.
"She's really got it bad." murmured Ayumi, earning an agreeing nod from Eri and Yuka. "I don't know what you guys think of the situation, but I'm beginning to believe that Kagome's boyfriend may be a tad bit too possessive and dominating." After a slight pause, she softly whispered, "Do you think he's abusing Kagome?"
Yuka gasped in horror as Eri's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
A dark line creased Kagome's forehead as she suspiciously watched her friends softly whisper to one other in hushed undertones. What are they talking about, she silently wondered as she narrowed her eyes.Although a small part of her was slightly hurt that they were purposely leaving her out of the discussion, a larger part of had the sinking feeling that she was the topic of their discussion.
"That's horrible!" lamented Yuka, brimming with righteous anger.
"Kagome, you should have told us what was going on! We would have helped you." Eri murmured sympathetically, eyes shining with unshed tears.
What? When her friends continued to give her sympathizing and condoling glances, Kagome quickly decided that it may be better if she actually voiced her thoughts out loud. "What?"
"You don't have to keep it from us anymore." Yuka said brusquely.
Keep what?
"We already know all about it." Ayumi agreed, nodding her head.
Know about what?
"You should report this to the officials immediately. You can't keep silent about being abused, Kagome! It'll only get worse if you endure it." Eri whispered, honestly troubled by the dilemma.
Kagome's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she gaped openly at her friends. Wherever did they get the idea that I was…? I haven't even said anything! "Guys, guys, calm down. No one's abusing me. I promise!" How'd you guys even come up with such a silly notion?
"Kagome, you don't have to cover for your boyfriend. If he's abusing you, you should report him to the officials immediately." Yuka stated firmly, pursing her lips.
Kagome blinked as everything suddenly clicked into place. They think Inuyasha's abusing me? Her lips twitched as she tried to unsuccessfully hold back her laughter. Ha, I wonder what Inuyasha would think if he founds out my friends thought he was abusing me! Suddenly unable to hold back the hilarity of the matter, Kagome opened her mouth and laughed. She laughed so hard her stomach was beginning to hurt.
Her friends shared a confused glance.
"Kagome, are you…?" Ayumi began softly.
"You guys got it all wrong." smiled Kagome, propping her chin on her palm. "He's a little rough around the edges, but he'd never purposely hurt me." Emotionally? Maybe. Physically? Never.
"Oh." Yuka murmured, deflating slightly.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Ayumi quickly chirped, "This is a sleep over, right?" When everyone simultaneously nodded their heads in agreement, she excitedly grinned, "Well, then let's do something fun!"
"Truth or Dare?" suggested Yuka, grinning devilishly.
"NO!" Kagome shouted, immediately flushing a dark red when everyone shot her a questioning glance. "I mean, why don't we play something else…maybe?" Please don't play Truth of Dare! Anything but that! I'd rather not have a repeat of last time…
"Why don't we turn off the lights and tell ghost stories?" Eri suggested quietly.
Ayumi and Yuka beamed. "Great idea!"
Kagome sighed in resignation as Ayumi quickly switched off the bedroom light and flicked on the nightlights. After a moment of shuffling, everyone settled back into a comfortable position.
"I'll go first!" Yuka volunteered, grinning from ear to ear. "All right, here's how it starts. There was once a young girl who…"
Yawning slightly, Kagome tiredly sank into her pillow as she half-heartedly listened to Yuka's 'horror' story. The only horror in this story is how horrifyingly cheesy the whole plot sounds. Drifting lazily in and out of sleep, Kagome vaguely noted that a thunderstorm was beginning to brew outside. Hm, I wonder what Inuyasha and the others are doing right now. Well, Inuyasha's probably fuming and sulking because I didn't go back like I promised.
"…Gome. Kagome!" shouted Ayumi, sounding slightly exasperated. "Are you even paying attention?"
"Of course!" answered Kagome. Not.
"Do you have a 'horror' story you want to share?" Yuka asked slyly.
Kagome blinked. Was Yuka trying to insinuate something? If she was, none of it was clicking. I'm too tired to think.
"Actually, I have a story." Eri smiled, raising her hand as if she was still in class. "It's not exactly a horror story, per se, but it's really…intriguing."
"Oh?" asked Ayumi, interest piqued. "Come on, tell us the story then!"
"All right, all right!" laughed Eri, holding up her hands.
Kagome sighed slightly as she allowed her eyes to drift back to the window. I wonder if it's raining in Edo.
"This story took place about five thousand years ago." Eri patiently began, taking on a serious expression. "Although some claim this legend to be a myth, others believe it to be a true account."
"Just tell the story already, Eri!" urged Yuka, growing impatient.
"Sorry," Eri murmured sheepishly, flushing a light pink. "Anyway, according to legend, there lived a lovely miko in the village of..."
Kagome's eyes slowly fluttered shut, catching small snippets of Eri's tale. It didn't seem too interesting…Beautiful miko…yada, yada, yada…guarded an important relic…blah, blah, blah…met a handsome inu-hanyou who fell in love with her. Kagome's eyes quickly snapped opened. This story is hitting a little too close to home. Could Eri have gotten the time wrong? Maybe this is…this is Kikyou and Inuyasha's story!
"On the way home from a neighboring village one day, the miko was ambushed and raped by a youkai. After raping her, the youkai left her to die. Thankfully, the inu-hanyou, who had become restless due of the miko's prolonged absence, came to look for her. By luck, he was able to find her in time to nurse her back to health.
"While the miko was recovering, the two mutually agreed to forget the memory and never speak of it again. However, the miko never forgot the incident. Instead, she grew bitter and prejudiced against youkais. In an attempt to appease her bloodlust, the miko ruthlessly slaughtered every youkai who crossed her path – regardless of age. Even though the inu-hanyou did not agree with her actions, he faithfully stood by her side and protected her.
"Consequently, as time passed, the lesser youkais became alarmed and grew restless. They feared the vicious miko, who would slaughter them without question or reason. When word of the miko finally reached the youkai lords, they were displeased with what they heard. The miko – a creature previously unworthy of their attention – was causing unnecessary distress in their lands. As a result, they sought to rectify the problem by killing the miko. However, all the assassins sent to end her life immediately met their own demise at the hands of the inu-hanyou, who guarded the miko possessively.
"Learning of the numerous failed assassination attempts, a powerful inu-youkai – the strongest of the ten ruling lords – personally sought out the miko. He found her on the outskirts of the village, collecting herbs – alone. The inu-youkai, impressed by her skill and knowledge, immediately fell in love with her."
Kagome, after realizing that the story was completely unrelated to Inuyasha, quietly listened to the myth with apt interest. While she was pleased to find the story decently entertaining, she was also equally irritated that it lacked concrete facts. For one, she knew it was downright impossible for an inu-youkai (or any youkai, for that matter) to simply fall in love with a human miko at first sight. But, since it was a story, she decided that she could ignore logic for the moment.
"Although the miko despised the youkai at first, she slowly grew to tolerate him. As they spent their days together, watching the sunset and discussing the political advantages of uniting the divided lands, the miko gradually grew to trust and care for the handsome inu-youkai. However, just as the miko was beginning to realize her feelings for the youkai, the inu-youkai was forced to return to his lands because of an uprising at the borders of his home.
"He left and didn't return until three years later when he learned that the miko was promised to wed the inu-hanyou. Consequently, the inu-youkai's reappearance caused the miko to doubt her choice…and she began to spend more time with the youkai lord. Days before the miko's marriage to the inu-hanyou, the inu-youkai confessed his love. Swayed by the youkai's confession, the miko called off her engagement to the inu-hanyou and left with the youkai lord."
Kagome frowned as she listened to the story with increasing frustration. Although a romantic story in itself, the myth was filled with numerous plot holes. For instance, if the miko was so powerful, then why didn't she defend herself against the youkai who raped her? And, if the miko hated youkai so much, then why did she abandon her hanyou lover for an inu-youkai lord? Personally, I think this story sounds like some sick parody of my own problems…except not. Although I have no doubt that Inuyasha would leave me if it meant getting Kikyou back.
"However, the relationship between the miko and the inu-youkai quickly turned sour. Not only was their union looked down upon by youkai and human alike, but the youkai lord already possessed a lover – a powerful and beautiful youkai sorceress. In an unexplainable twist of events, the miko accidentally walked in on the two while they were sharing an intimate moment. In a fit of rage, the miko left.
"The youkai lord, learning of her departure, pursued her in an attempt to explain the situation. However, she refused to listen. She had seen everything with her own eyes! There was nothing to explain. After a particularly nasty parting, the miko left, leaving behind nothing but the promise to seek revenge on the inu-youkai who had betrayed her.
"Although the inu-youkai searched for his miko endlessly, he was eventually forced to give up. Pressured by the growing need to sire an heir, he promised to mate the youkai sorceress. However, on the day of their mating ceremony, he heard alarming news concerning the miko. Worried about the miko's safety, the inu-youkai quickly turned and left, leaving the youkai sorceress standing in the middle of their mating ceremony – alone. Humiliated and betrayed, the youkai sorceress pursued the inu-youkai in hopes of regaining her tarnished honor.
"The inu-youkai, fueled by his desire to see the miko, quickly arrived at the scene…only to find the miko dead – killed by her jealous hanyou lover. In a fit of rage, the inu-youkai attacked the hanyou, but the hanyou simply closed his eyes in acceptance. Without the miko he loved, he had lost all desire to live.
"After slaying the hanyou, the inu-youkai knelt beside the miko and pulled her dead body into his embrace. Tracing his claws gently over her beautiful face, he swore that he would find her in the next life. However, his promise was overheard by the youkai sorceress, who had arrived shortly thereafter. Envious and bitter, the sorceress recklessly sacrificed her own soul to curse the lovers to never find peace.
"First, she cursed their broken souls, binding them to the earth as homeless sprits. Then, she cursed their existence, forcing them to relive their experience of heartache and betrayal time and time again throughout history. Finally, she cursed their love – dooming it for all eternity.
"Even till this day, these three curses still holds true. Every 500 years, a cast of players are chosen to host the souls of these ancient lovers…and each time, the same events occur. The female chosen to house the spirit of the miko is doomed each and every single time to die at the hands of inu-hanyou, who in turn, is fated to die at the hands of the inu-youkai. In this fashion, a never-ending cycle of pain, betrayal, and unrequited love formed."
Silence pervaded the room as Eri quietly finished her tale.
Sniffling softly, Ayumi quietly wailed. "T-That's so sad."
Yuka shot Ayumi an incredulous glance. "Personally, I'm more worried that…" Here, she lowered her voice. "That there spirits are right here in this room. What happens if one of us gets chosen to become the next hostess for the miko's soul?"
Kagome rolled her eyes as she quietly turned her head away from her friends. Sometimes they were so childish…
"If the story were true, then there's actually a really good chance of it happening." Eri answered light-heartedly. "According to legend and what my calculations reveal, the next set of 'players' should be chosen tonight. By midnight tonight, it'll be exactly 500 years since when the last curse took place."
Yuka squeaked in fright as she buried her face into her pillow.
"Of course, it's only a myth." Eri continued soothingly. "None of it is true."
"Eri's right," Kagome gently added, yawning slightly. "These myths are never…"
A loud clash of thunder interrupted her sentence, sending Yuka jumping three feet into the air.
"Come on Yuka, it's only a…" Kagome quietly trailed off when she saw a flash of movement outside the window. Scrunching her forehead, she squinted her eyes a little to get a better look. There was nothing there now, but she was positive she had seen something – something…red.
"Hey, Kagome, are you feeling all right?" Ayumi asked worriedly when Kagome suddenly lapsed into silence.
"Yeah I'm…" Kagome began, but quickly stopped when a flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the dark night outside. There, standing at the window, basking in the afterglow of the lightning, was a bloodied face that seemed to have been shredded, and then carelessly pieced together again. Her eyes – or lack thereof – were hollow sockets that streamed with blood, spilling down her torn and rotting cheeks in rivers.
She opened her mouth, revealing a set of half-rotten teeth, and then promptly closed it again. After a slight pause, the disfigured image stepped through the wall and into the room.
She glided towards them…
…and Kagome screamed.
TBC