November
2002
Elysium had to, always, be
somewhere in the corner of her mind, and when she was on duty, it had to be the
only thing on her mind. Then
again, Elysium could not be referred to as a ‘thing’. No, Elysium had to be addressed with proper respect, as did
everyone whom spoke of Its residents.
The deities were each chosen, born into this world, for a specific
reason. And that reason was to take his
or her place among the sacred spirits of Elysium, the heavenly kingdom of gods
and goddesses. The goddess Kagome
sighed as she strode towards the Celestial Chamber, the place in which the
balance gods and their counterparts stood ‘on duty’ assuring, with their
energy, the path of the future, present, and past.
As she neared the great gates of
the courtyard of chambers, her counterpart Naraku strode gracefully to and fell
in step with her. Their loose silk
kimonos flowed carelessly behind them, running over the flawless white ground
like water. Elysium was all that it was
imagined to be. The sky took night and
day as it did in the living world.
Thin, wispy clouds supported their feet and kingdom. Flowers and trees were abundant, but the
season never changed, which made it, in a way, dull. No fungus or animal could feast on the lush vegetation of
Elysium. After all, the land was
sacred; so by all means, damn those who would dare mar the perfection of such a
place.
In order to actually enter the
Celestial Chamber, the balance gods would have to enter at the same time with
the same breath on the same step.
Strict? Yes. It would have to be so in order for
everything to remain constant. This was
the way Elysium worked. Every deity, be
he man or woman, knew his place and followed the rules without protest. After all, they got everything they
wanted. What were they to complain for?
Kagome cast a glance at her
companion, tall and handsome, but not necessarily dark, quite the contrary,
actually…in a way. His complexion was a
creamy pale color, but his manner and mood could very possibly be considered
dark. Nature had to have balance, and
therefore, had to have good and bad. In
short, Kagome was the good, and Naraku was, so to speak, the bad. Naraku was, indeed, not bad-looking at
all. Appearances can be deceiving,
Kagome warned herself, setting her gaze to her path once again. She quieted her breathing, listening for
Naraku’s. As the steady rhythm began to
ring in her ears, she synchronized her breathing with his. Their steps were already in sync, and all
there was left to do, now, was enter at the precise same moment. Kagome had done this a million times over
already, ever since she was a child, but the fluttering butterflies in her
stomach had never quite worn off. She
had been warned, as a young one, that if ever she failed to enter the chamber
correctly, Fate would slip from Elysium’s hands. When it would return was up to the power and will of the
deities. Once Fate was restored into
their care, the sacred ones would have to replay everything in dream sequence,
erasing the solid memories of the days of free Fate. Then, they would replay the days, as they wished them to be. Elysium was a place for order, most
definitely.
Waterfalls spilled from either
side of the immortals. Each of the
walls of liquid was a door to a different chamber. There was no mark of identification on any of the curtains of
water; gods were left to identify them for themselves. In any case, usually, they only used two or
three, but nonetheless, they were born with a mental map of the entire heavenly
kingdom; they would never get lost.
The pair turned a corner
smoothly and walked through a curtain of water. Kagome remained calm, delighting in the cool, silky sensation
that caressed her flesh whenever she ventured through one of the enchanting doorways.
Another pair stood in the center
of the vast chamber, eyes closed and an orb of energy floating between open
hands. One of the deities, a female,
had dark, wavy hair and a posture to challenge that of a redwood. When her eyes were closed, she definitely
fit the description of goddess, a serene expression resting on her beautiful
face. Dark lashes fluttered open,
staring, first, at the dark orb of energy floating between slender fingers, and
then across to her counterpart.
The light-brown haired man, too,
opened his dark eyes and glanced at his lightly colored orb before looking
across to the goddess. Smiling warmly,
he brought his hands down slowly in sync with hers. The energy crystals flashed simultaneously before disappearing
between their dropped hands. For about
five minutes, the positions did not have to be changed.
The goddess, now with her eyes
open, looked much more like a statue than anything. Her cold expression could almost freeze the flowing water of the
doorway. Kikyo, she was called, and she
was not one to mess with. The harsh
reality of her gaze landed on Naraku, and she nodded to him in a girlish
way. Kagome shifted nervously;
conversation was never easy between the two pairs. It was strange. Though
not entirely known to the four immortals, most of them didn’t want to be with
their destined spouses. In the rules of
Elysium, you had to unite with your counterpart, in due time, of course.
“Kagome!”
Hojo, the light-haired god, hailed her.
“Hojo,”
Kagome answered, smiling amiably, “all’s going well?”
“Hai,
it is!” he answered cheerily, sweeping towards her in the flowing kimono of
dark green. “And you?”
“As
it always is,” she answered, rolling her eyes slightly before smiling again.
“Therefore,
I assume everything’s going well!” he laughed, eyes twinkling merrily.
Really, you couldn’t tell much
by his antics, but Hojo definitely wanted Kagome rather than Kikyo. Yet, the rules were set, and he was to
follow. But who was to say he couldn’t
be extra nice?
“Naraku-sama,”
Kikyo called smoothly, brushing past Hojo to stand at Naraku’s side. “How have you been?”
“Fine,”
he answered bluntly, glaring slightly at Hojo.
Now, maybe, from this scene, you
could tell that Kikyo wanted Naraku and not so much Hojo. But, Naraku was spiteful of Hojo for his
flirtatious attitude towards Kagome; Kagome was Naraku’s by law, after all.
“We
should get to work, ne?” Kagome suggested good-naturedly, turning to face
Naraku. “Lest the universe fall into
imbalance.”
Kagome seemed to be the mediator
of it all. She neither Naraku nor Hojo
and wasn’t too partial to Kikyo, either.
Of course, she was unaware of all the attention she was being given, but
maybe it was all for the better? Still,
she was smart enough to realize there was tension about something
between Naraku and Hojo, so she didn’t keep them in the same place very
long. Dismissively, she waved a hand at
Hojo and smiled assuringly at Naraku before striding towards the beams of light
erecting from the ground, where Kikyo and Hojo had once stood.
Naraku, reassured by her warm
smile, also walked towards the beams of light and took his place in the center
of one of them. Staring across at the
beautiful Kagome, garbed in a pale, pale blue kimono, he smiled disarmingly and
raised his arms with hers. They stood
across from each other, moving like reflections. Slowly, they elevated off the floor and closed their eyes,
lifting an orb of energy, exactly like the ones before them, into the air
between their hands. A fourth of the
way up to their destination, Naraku stole a glance at his counterpart. She was absolutely stunning. The excess cloth of her kimono fell
elegantly below her feet, face set in serene concentration as black tresses
flowed down her back and shoulders.
Dark lashes kissed pale skin; deep red lips were parted slightly,
teasing him with their mere existence.
It was absolute torture. But
soon, they would be united…it was only a matter of time before the elaborate
ceremony, of which Naraku was sure Kagome did not know of. Then, finally, she would be his and his
alone. The thought was a comfort to
him, and he, too, let his dark eyes flutter shut as they neared the halfway
point of the ascent.
Kikyo watched disdainfully as
Naraku shot curious glances to Kagome. What
does she have that I haven’t got?
The vain goddess sniffed arrogantly as a frown carved itself in her
proud features. Turning to Hojo, she
shot him a command with her piercing ice-blue eyes before whirling to leave.
“Hey
Kikyo!” a boy called cheerily, teasingly.
The goddess faltered in step,
and the raucous shot startled the ascending balance deities, causing them to
plunge from their heights. It was the
God of Mischief’s job to cause disarray, was it not? From their crumpled positions on the ground, the two immortals
glared venomously at Inuyasha, God of Mischief. He, in turn, smirked at all present before mentally complimenting
himself for a job well done. He had actually
managed to catch Kikyo off guard! That,
if anything, was a major accomplishment.
You would leave it to him to find some kind of kink in the working of
the chambers and somehow, manage to slip in unnoticed. Of course, his accomplishment came with a
price. Since the deities had already
been ascending in the light, then the transfer had already officially begun
only to be broken by this white-haired disturbance. And what that meant was the whole of the universe was to be
un-handled until Elysium could regain control.
Kikyo cursed under her breath, a very unholy thing to do in her
position.
“You
fool!” Naraku reprimanded harshly, lifting himself up to stand, “Do you have any
idea of what you have DONE?!”
“Yeah!”
Inuyasha answered, smiling like a child having been given cotton candy, “I just
surprised Kikyo and the rest of you!”
Naraku
growled in frustration and started towards the demonic Inuyasha, golden eyes
dancing as he stood tall in his fiery red kimono. White, furry ears stood atop his fair head, twitching every so
often to a sound around him. The boy’s
appearance was strange, not quite suitable to his personality. He looked, obviously, formal and handsome
(with the exception of his cute dog-like ears) but in all actuality, you would
describe him as anything but that.
“WE HAVE LOST CONTROL OF FATE!!!!
CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU IMBECILE?!?!?!?!?!?!” Naraku exploded.
“That,
too,” Inuyasha said thoughtfully, stepping over to Kagome, whom he had taken a
fancy for. “How’s it goin’, Kagome?”
“Fine
until now,” she said warily, pushing herself off the ground.
She stood behind Naraku, placing
a hand on his shoulder. His enraged
state left him almost immediately, his tense body relaxing under her soothing
touch. It was one of the reasons he
wanted her to himself so much: her kindness and understanding. She also, shown now, had the ability to calm
him in an instant. The simple facts
amazed him to no ends. Perhaps, though,
she could do a little bit without so much kindness from her. If she were less kind, maybe she wouldn’t be
so positive towards others? Then, he
would have her to himself. But, it made
her who she was, so he couldn’t really do anything about it. Sighing softly, he unclenched his fists and
folded his arms.
“We
should tell the Higher Lords,” Naraku said firmly, an icy glare set on
Inuyasha.
“Hai,
let’s go,” Kagome said, throwing a look of contempt at the God of Mischief
before exiting the Celestial Chamber.
Kikyo and Hojo, also angered by
Inuyasha’s foolish antics, similarly left the chamber. Inuyasha, now left alone, was in a bit of a
plight.
“Hey!”
he called, running to the doorway that would not let him leave. “I don’t know how to get out! Wait!!!”
Grumbling incoherent phrases, he
slid down the wall and sat on the floor.
Just have to wait until they come back then… Letting his head fall in his hand, he
pondered a way to squirm his way out of this mess.
November
2002
Inside, she was exploding, much like a volcano if you could compare. On the exterior, she was cool and calm, maybe a little grim, but still the same old Kagome. The change in attitude was quite noticeable to Naraku, walking beside the goddess. It caused him to anger a bit, adding to the aggravation he already felt towards the mischief god. Looking to his counterpart, he regretted the creation of Inuyasha. His sweet Kagome had a cool façade, almost grim, actually, and her posture was stiff, jaws clenched in frustration. Of course, it would be completely below her to actually vent her anger physically. Weighing out the possibilities in his mind first, he then draped an arm across her shoulders.
Kagome’s angry thoughts were ceased when she was startled
by Naraku’s comforting gesture. She
faltered slightly in step, turning to gaze at her companion curiously. Her breath caught for a split second when he
smiled warmly at her. Naraku, she had
never noticed, was drop-dead gorgeous.
Really, she probably should have been lucky that she was paired with
such a god, but it had never occurred to her before, so she couldn’t say much
on that matter.
Love. She hadn’t
thought about it before now…but the unity ceremonies would not be far from
now… Kagome blinked and smiled back at
Naraku before continuing on their way to the Upper Kingdoms of the Higher
Lords. But really, she was 20 years of
age by human standards, soon to be 21, and that would mark her officially
ready, by Elysian law, for marriage…and her mate would be Naraku,
doubtlessly. I guess it wouldn’t be so
bad…
Glancing sideways to Naraku, still with his arm draped
over her shoulder, she studied him scantly.
Striking dark, almost black, eyes lined in long, thick lashes gazed out
from an elegant face. High cheekbones
straddled an aristocratic nose.
Sensuous lips contrasted with the pale smooth skin, which in turn
contrasted with the jet-black hair that flowed languidly down to narrow
hips. Yup, he was definitely a
perfect dictionary definition of drop-dead gorgeous. Blushing, Kagome looked away when Naraku noticed her staring.
So, she’s studying me? Naraku thought,
amused. His dark eyes flickered over
her face, watching for emotion.
Embarrassment was definitely present, belied by the rosy blush on her
cheeks. Attraction, perhaps? Amazement?
He was not sure. Smirking
lightly, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. At first she started at the abrupt gesture
but didn’t move away from him.
“It’s
okay,” Naraku said suddenly, “I’ve been studying you, too.”
Kagome blushed even harder. How did he know I was specifically studying?! She thought curiously. He was studying me? If possible, her cheeks reddened more. And then even more when she found herself
enjoying his touch. They had never
really had any physical contact before now, it seems. Kagome, of course, couldn’t remember. Years in Elysium seemed to be stretched, as was time. Then again, to be counterparts, they had to
have been together as youths, their whole lives in fact. But…she couldn’t ever recall being with
Naraku before a couple years ago…now that she thought about it, there seemed to
be someone else. The mystery man came
up as a blank in her mind’s eye.
Briefly, an image of the stars and the moon flashed by before
dissipating completely. I must have
been close to him… She shook her
head dismissively, deciding to think about it later.
Could she be remembering him??? Naraku thought, distressed. No!
She can’t remember! I won’t
allow it!!! His temper flared
momentarily, tainted with jealousy and spite.
Never would he allow for Kagome to remember the one before him.
“I’m
surprised that you have,” Kagome finally answered.
Naraku
blinked, unaware of what she was saying before recalling his former
response. Smiling he pulled her a bit
closer before responding, “Who could resist such a goddess?”
Kagome nudged him
playfully. “Such flattery.”
“Anything
to win a lady’s favor,” answered he, giving her a peck on the cheek.
Kagome started, gazing at him wondrously. Looking away, she blushed sheepishly. Wow…did he just…I mean…he did…but…and… It seemed her mind was in a state of
disarray for a moment. Amazing that
Naraku could do such a thing with so simple an action. Collecting her thoughts, Kagome took a
breath and smiled at him. Staring
straight ahead, she leaned into him slightly and continued walking.
“Marriage
is fast-approaching, is it not, Naraku?” she said softly.
She
knew? “Hai, it is.”
Milky white pavement gradually melded into golden
walkways, lined by sakura trees encircled with clear spiraling fountains. Surreal castles were appearing on the
horizons, shrouded by swirling blue mists.
Twilight was making itself known in Elysium, and the sky was turning a
blue-violet tinge as the stars emerged from the dark expanse.
“Do you
think you would be happy with me?” Kagome asked tentatively, wrapping her arms
around his.
Why is
she asking me this? Naraku didn’t
answer for a second, and Kagome thought he had bluntly refused her. “I would be more than happy.”
Kagome stopped and turned to her companion, a mild confusion shining brightly in her luminous blue-gray eyes. “You would?” Hadn’t Naraku been just a friend, a counterpart, a companion, and nothing more? When did this turn of events start?
“Yes,” he
affirmed, placing a slender hand on the side of her face, “I would.”
The distance between them was closing fast; Kagome seemed to
be frozen…she couldn’t stop herself.
Would Naraku really…? He had
every right to, after all. Kagome was
his by law, whether she liked it or not.
Their lips were half a centimeter away from touching. Naraku would be happy with me…so why
can’t I seem to accept it?
A bright flash ensued, and Kagome pulled away, startled by
the sudden light. Frowning, Naraku
stepped back, staring into the flash.
“There is a
problem with the Balance?” a deep voice rumbled, a body taking shape before
them.
“Of course
there is, that’s why we were summoned,” a female voice answered, also taking
shape.
Kagome and Naraku both gasped, falling elegantly to one
knee and bringing an arm across their chest to their shoulder.
“Inutaisho-sama,
Higurashi-sama,” acknowledged the kneeling figures simultaneously.
“What’s the
problem?” asked the male, Inutaisho, striking moon-white hair falling silkily
down to his waist. Truly, the Higher
Lord must have been the most handsome man in Elysium.
“My senses
tell me Inuyasha has caused a problem,” Higurashi said matter-of-factly, her
wavy cropped black hair contrasting with his moon-white. Her dark eyes were glimmering with a kind
wisdom, respected by all Elysians.
Inutaisho
raised an eyebrow at his mate. “And
what does that have to do with Balance?”
“Well,
husband-dear, I do not have all the answers to your questions,”
Higurashi said irritably. “You will
have to ask our wonderful Balance counterparts, will you not?”
“I suppose
so,” Inutaisho sighed. “So, how goes
the universe, dear god and goddess?”
Kagome
glanced at Naraku, and he took the hint.
“The God of Mischief interfered with the transfer between Balance
counterparts. We had lost our focus and
fallen from the beams,” said he, a bit angry that he had not been able to
finish his little ‘interaction’ with Kagome.
Inutaisho’s
expression hardened. “And you allowed
your focus to waver by such an insignificant action?”
The two balance gods did not answer.
“And where
is Inuyasha?” Higurashi asked gently.
“In the Celestial
Chamber,” Kagome answered curtly.
“Then let
us go to him,” the High Goddess suggested, opening her arms and closing her
eyes.
By the time Kagome had finished a confused blink, they
were in the Celestial Chamber, staring at a slumped form of Inuyasha. Wow…talk about fast… Looking over to Naraku, she found him
standing, so she rose as well. Inuyasha
had just become aware of their presence and was already in a kneeling bow,
similar to the one Kagome and Naraku had performed earlier. Casting a quick glance to Inutaisho, Kagome
found his expression quite unreadable, but irritated if anything.
“Inuyasha,
may I ask how you entered this sacred chamber?” Inutaisho demanded.
Fidgeting
under the High Lord’s gaze, Inuyasha scoured his mind for a ‘good’ answer. Finding none, he sighed defeatedly and
nodded. “There was a flaw in the system
at the time. I got in while it wasn’t
fixed.”
“And you
failed to report the flaw to us, first?” Inutaisho accused.
“Be a
little more forgiving, Inutaisho,” his mate scolded, “The boy’s job is, after
all, to wreak havoc.”
“But not
havoc so great as this,” he shot back.
“He is still held accountable for his foolhardy actions.”
Inuyasha’s shoulders slumped a bit, as did his ears.
“As are
you, Kagome,” Inutaisho bit out.
Blinking,
Kagome said the most direct thing she could think of. “What?”
“For your
lack of focus, you have also played a part in the disarray of the universe.”
“I”
“I did as
well, didn’t I?” Naraku asked desperately.
“You are
not to blame,” Inutaisho said bluntly, “Besides, there must be one of
the Balance Gods still present in Elysium.”
“Are you
saying that Kagome will have to leave?” Naraku inquired.
“Yes. As punishment for the loss of control over
Fate, Kagome, Goddess of Balance, and Inuyasha, God of Mischief, will be exiled
to planet Earth for a period of one to two months. This is hereby decreed by Inutaisho and Higurashi, Higher Lords
of Elysium.”
“Don’t you
think that’s a bit harsh?” Higurashi asked, gazing pleadingly at her mate.
“Not until
they learn self-control.”
Both Inuyasha and Kagome stood dumbly, mouths gaping. ONE MONTH?! MAYBE MORE?!?!?!?!?! Kagome
suppressed a scream. Weren’t humans
those strange beings who were nosy, dirty, and rude? Weren’t they those disgusting creatures that would kill and cause
harm to their own kind? Weren’t they
the things that were dumb and created weapons to destroy themselves? AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND A MONTH WITH
THEM?! Had she not been a more
controlled and refined being, she would have fainted right then and there. But she didn’t. Being a Balance Goddess, she nodded grimly and bowed once more,
Inuyasha following her lead.
“We humbly
accept our punishment of exile, Inutaisho-sama,” they said in unison.
Poor Naraku couldn’t think of anything to do. His Kagome was leaving (probably) sometime
tomorrow with INUYASHA! And he, for
once in his life, couldn’t do anything about it!
Chapter Three: Recurring Screams
February 2003
Kagome sat at the edge of her bed in her vast
chambers. In front of her, a mirror
flashed with vivid images of bustling people on crowded city streets. Greenery was sparse, and signs of modernization
were abundant. Her blue-gray eyes
swirled with a slight recognition, yearning to remember something lost to her
so long ago. When she blinked, there
was the barest of flashes in her mind, depicting a shining golden color. Opening her eyes again, she forgot it
completely, evoking a sigh from her frowning mouth.
Her kimono, which changed colors with her mood, had begun to take on a darker tinge with the onset of depression. Why did she have to go? True, it had been partially her fault that Fate had fallen, but more of it had gone to the fact that Inuyasha broke into the Celestial Chamber. The downward pull of her frown stretched further, marring her exquisite features.
There was a trickle of water and then the gliss of chimes
before a figure stepped out from the cloak of starlight that composed her
walls. Jet-black hair contrasted with
soft gray silk as her counterpart moved to sit next to her. Kagome shifted nervously with Naraku’s
presence beside her. Sparkling dark
eyes regarded her with longing.
“You’re
leaving,” he voiced, watching her fidget.
She nodded, eyes downcast. Naraku, too, turned to stare at the mirror, the window to the
mortal world. He had one in his
chambers as well. It would be used, he
knew, to keep watch over Kagome while she resided in the living world.
Now that all of the beings here were actually in
Elysium, none of them except the Higher Lords Inutaisho and Higurashi recalled
their lives on Earth. He knew, though,
unlike all the other deities, that each of them had a past life. They ascended to Elysium for their own
characteristics. And almost everyone
knew of Kagome’s situation except her.
Although everything was to be forgotten upon arrival here,
she had remembered every detail of her tragic life. And, uniquely, she had come at her age of death, eighteen. He remembered the Higher Lords hovering
above her, magically bound to float in air.
Memories of her weeping screeches tore through his mind. His eyes had widened considerably with the
realization that she was his counterpart; he would finally be able to play a
place in Elysium’s system. Naraku had
been amazed, as had everyone else, that her past life was remembered. In all actuality, the girl should have
restarted her life from the beginning, as an infant. Instead, she came full-grown and quite knowledgeable of life’s
curses.
His jaw clenched in anger upon the recurring screams in
his mind. Even then, his possessiveness
washed over him with the calls of a former lover, so assumed. The name rang over and over again in his
mind. Kagome belonged to him, now, so
it didn’t matter. It had been after an
extended period of time that Higurashi had succeeded in erasing all of her
memories. Then, Kagome turned into what
she was now: sweet, kind, and caring with a dash of timidity mixed in.
Beside him, Kagome’s own memories were beginning to flash
in a repetitive sequence. First, gold
would glimmer, and then silver.
Finally, crimson would stain her whole mind, and pain stabbed her being.
“I have to
go now,” she murmured, rising.
Naraku nodded grimly, slowly pulling her wrist down until
their faces were level. With unyielding
strength, he purposefully kissed her before releasing her wrist. Her startled expression pleased him, but he
didn’t dwell on it. He, too, rose, and,
with a nudge to her shoulder, pushed her out of the chamber. Shooting a disdainful glance to her mirror,
he exited the chamber as well, one thought plaguing his mind through the
echoing cries. Whoever you are,
Sesshoumaru, you will never have Kagome again.
Chapter Four: Descent to Earth
April 2003
The sky, once painted a vivid peach, glimmered with
diamond-like stars. Twilight had fallen
on Elysium, and the ceremony to descend had begun. Both the Balance Goddess and the God of Mischief were down on
bended knee, each receiving a necklace of security, one gold, and the other
silver. Their heads were bent low in
shame, silently accepting their just punishment.
“These, deities,”
the Higher Lord explained grimly, “are your connections to one another. Should one of you fall into peril, the other
will be aware and obliged to respond accordingly.”
Inutaisho
stepped back in order for Higurashi to come forth. “Dear guardians, I gift you with the knowledge requisite for
living on Earth,” she murmured, placing two fingers on their foreheads. “Use it well.”
Naraku watched from the sidelines with grudging
acceptance. The ritual commenced, both
beings lifting serenely into the air, clasping fingers together. As both faces lifted northward, into the
Elysian twilight, a luminous writhing mist enveloped them. And they disappeared. Naraku’s flowing robes swept the starlit
floor as he swiftly turned to seek his chambers.
~*~*~*~*~
Kagome had no idea why the Higher Lords were concerning
themselves over this hasty punishment instead of capturing Fate again. After all, that must take priority over this
silly mistake. The goddess floated in a
stream of stardust, awaiting the imminent moment when she and her partner would
melt into existence on Earth. They had
never been informed of where exactly they would land. Given all the knowledge of the world, they didn’t need to know
their location. Already, they could
speak all the languages of the world and dress as the population dressed. There was no need to worry.
“Hey!”
Kagome turned to the sound of his voice. A look of contempt marred her features as
she glared at him coldly.
“Yes?”
She observed him carefully. Floating freely in the presence of nothing at all, he had been
adorning a red and white kimono. The
bright glaring look suited him, although she wasn’t about to say that
aloud. His golden eyes, sharp with
irritation, were fixed on her as his mouth twitched downward in a frown. The god’s stance, rigid and unforgiving,
portrayed his obvious arrogance. As her
gaze fell to the ears atop his head, an eyebrow twitched upward. How was he to hide his ears in human
public?
“What are
you staring at?” he demanded obnoxiously, folding his slim arms.
“I
apologize; I did not mean to.”
“Yea, well
when are we going to get to this planet?”
“We will
arrive when we do. Just be patient.”
Patient! Kagome knew
fair well that patience was a virtue Inuyasha did not possess; she would be
quite taken aback if he exhibited any of the trait. However, he didn’t, so she was left to wish for a very soon
arrival.
“Why do we
have to go to Earth? Of all places, Earth!”
he whined. “You and that bastard Naraku
should have kept your guard up. What’s
barging in supposed to do? You’re
supposed to be focused! Feh!”
A jolt ran through his body, and he disintegrated before
her eyes. A gasp escaped her lips
before she too felt the jolt, and fell out of the in-between dimension in which
they had resided.
Rumbling noises abused her ears. As she felt her feet touch some sort of ground, Kagome glanced
frantically around for Inuyasha. Were
they on Earth already? A few more
seconds, and a coolness spread through her body. My name is Kagome Higurashi.
I attend Tokyo University with my twin brother Inuyasha. I am a straight-A student with many hobbies
including archery and theatre. I am 20
years of age with no standing relationships.
My whole family has passed away except for my brother. I have been going to college for two years
already; this is my third at Tokyo U. I
have a group of friends not very close to me but friends nonetheless. As all this personal information engrained
itself in my mind, I looked down at myself.
Clad in black pants and a light blue sweater, I was dressed rightly for
the autumn chill that blew through the city of Tokyo. A tap on my shoulder led me to spin on the heel of my ankle boot.
“Sister,”
said Inuyasha with a smirk.
“I can’t
believe this,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Where is Tokyo U?” As soon as
the question was asked, the answer came to me.
I looked over the heads of citizens on the crowded
sidewalks. Turn right at the fifth
intersection. Walk for another
half-mile. I started, glancing over
at Inuyasha and seeing the same expression on his face. This was absolutely amazing. Over my shoulder was slung a purse,
dark-colored and light in weight.
Inside, I knew I had money, a pocketbook, pens, and tissues. Now, I was supposed to go to the university
campus with my brother to set up the apartment we were to share. Not bothering to acknowledge him, I began to
make my way towards the fifth intersection.
I sighed.
~*~*~*~*~
The tip of his finger barely
touched the mirror, but its depths swirled violently and revealed to him the
blurred image of his counterpart. Kagome… Naraku’s dark eyes traced her form-fitting
attire, hugging every curve of her body.
The shimmering light of his chambers dimmed as his more sinister side
took over. I will be watching you,
Kagome. He smirked. Nothing will escape this Naraku.
[To Be Continued…]