by
Anaphalis
Summary: Lost and lonely/ That's underground. Inuyasha X Labyrinth crossover. Romance/Drama. One Shot.
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Distribution: My site. All others please ask before taking.
Feedback: Much appreciated at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Shonen Jump. Labyrinth and associated characters and places belong to Jim Henson Productions. Brushes on this page courtesy of Pure Anodyne.
A/N: For Morganna - This is what happens when you give me two fandoms I'm actually familiar with- I get really carried away ;) Although this may be the first Inuyasha/Labyrinth cross that I've seen...
A/N2: Well I not only did a Labyrinth/Inuyasha crossover, I did a songfic Labyrinth/Inuyasha crossover using lyrics from the Labyrinth soundtrack. All ph33r my l33t skillz! Sectional lyrics are from "Underground" from the Labyrinth soundtrack.
For walking away
Kagome shifted uneasily, worrying at her shikon-pendant as the doorman looked over their invitations.
"You all right, sis?"
The doorman completely ignored them. Kagome had yet to meet someone who wasn't another Japanese tourist who could speak their language.
Other than their host.
"It's just... We don't really know this guy, Souta. And I've got a bad feeling about this."
Souta put his hand on her arm, as if to lighten the harshness of his words.
"You've had a bad feeling for two years."
Just because it was true didn't mean that it didn't hurt.
"Do you think that I made the wrong choice?"
Do you blame me for what happened?
"You'd finished your job and you didn't want to interfere in something that wasn't your decision to make."
You can't change what happened.
"That's not really an answer, Souta."
But do you blame me?
"You did what you needed to do."
Maybe. But that doesn't mean that I don't understand.
"Sir, madam- Do you wish to come with me?"
The doorman paused, seemingly waiting for a response.
Souta waved impatiently.
"Yes, yes- I wish to come with you."
"Ma'am?"
Kagome blinked.
"Yes- I wish to come with you as well."
And Kagome tried to suppress her shiver and the brief moment of vertigo as she stepped over the doorway into the house.
Too much rejection
No love injection
"Ah, the lovely Miss Higurashi and her charming brother. Delighted that you could make it!"
Kagome was still trying to adjust to the lighting of the house when their host swept up to them. As she blinked rapidly she could just make out his mismatched eyes twinkling above a Cheshire cat grin.
"Jerry! Thanks for inviting us- Kagome and I were really at loose ends for what to do tonight."
Jerry bowed low over her hand, raising it briefly to his lips. The intensity of his gaze made Kagome feel slightly trapped. "Oh believe me- the pleasure is all mine."
Souta laughed. "Hey! Keep your hands off my sister! I know that you're a smooth-talker but she's stronger than she looks and she's got a mean right hook."
Jerry just laughed and took Kagome's arm while shepherding them away from the entrance. He was animatedly talking to Souta about fencing or fish or something and it gave Kagome the chance to let her thoughts wander.
They'd met Jerry purely by chance on the first day of their trip. While walking out of their hotel, a powerful energy source had distracted Kagome badly enough that she'd tripped into the arms of a complete stranger.
It had been so good to hear someone who could speak Japanese that they wound up going to a restaurant together and he'd volunteered to be their guide for as long as they were in the area. Rich and bored, as he'd put it and they'd seemed interesting.
Somehow, over the next two months of their stay he'd ended up spending every day with them, showing them the little out of the way places that never showed up in the guidebooks and acting as an informal translator for their sometimes shaky English.
He was smooth and charming and funny and Kagome had felt better spending time with him and Souta than she'd felt in years. But they'd never been to his house before and he'd seldom talked about himself during their trips. And maybe Kagome was being paranoid, but she really wished that Souta wasn't quite as attached to Jerry as he was and that they weren't spending their last night at the house of a man who was basically a stranger.
Or maybe you're just upset because even though he flirts with everything in a skirt he's never made a real move on you.
As much as Kagome would have loved to argue with herself, she had to admit that it was at least partly true. She wondered, rather irritably, if there was something in her that repelled the men that she was interested in.
And then she saw the ballroom and all coherent thought died.
"You didn't tell us it was a masked ball!"
Jerry just smiled, removing his arm to open a small box on the table by the entrance.
"You're on vacation- I didn't want you to have to go to the trouble."
"For you, an Arlequino-" And he handed Souta a half-checkered mask.
"And you." Kagome looked at the mask in her hand, unsure of its significance.
"Does this mask have a name?"
And he smiled that strange grin again. "It's referred to as 'the Orpheus'. But come! I promised you a traditional celebration. Let's drink and dance!"
Kagome felt guilty. Maybe she was just being paranoid again. Between the distancing from her family and her own painful rejection, she was probably far too eager to push people away. This trip had been a last ditch effort to mend some of her ties with Souta. While it had been at least partially successful, it had also made her painfully aware that this world, this time wasn't where she belonged.
Not that she could do anything about it anyways.
Jerry had been the first person who had actually made her feel happy to be around. She couldn't let her own fears ruin what was probably her last chance to see him. Filled with new purpose, she strode into the ballroom determined to enjoy herself.
But down in the underground
You'll find someone true (down underground)
Half an hour and three drinks later, Kagome had dropped the mask, all but given up on enjoying herself by dancing, and was instead working on getting a pleasant buzz.
Jerry's friends were strange and, speaking as someone who had seen a whole lot of strange, that was really something. Kagome was a lot happier sitting in a corner and nursing a drink while watching Souta flirt with his masked partners.
She knew, even half-drunk, even without turning around, when Jerry appeared behind her. She was trying very hard not to look too closely at the reasons for her awareness. She fought off the openness of her less-than-sober mind by asking the first question that popped into her head.
"Why aren't you wearing a mask?"
Jerry gave one of his smooth, spine-caressing laughs.
"Who's to say that I'm not?"
His breath was hot on the shell of her ear.
"How do you know that this is my real face?"
Slightly flustered, even with the relaxation of the alcohol, Kagome gulped back another shot in an attempt to avoid conversation. Unfortunately, all it did was make her feel even more light-headed.
"Come on, light-weight, come sit here with me and tell me some more about yourself. Your brother mentioned some old boyfriend problems have been bothering you."
And that was all it took. A teetering Kagome was soon plopped in Jerry's lap, curled up against his shirt and feeling safer and more comfortable than she'd maybe ever felt. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the gentle way that Jerry was stroking her hair. But Kagome soon found herself telling him everything about her life, about the Sengoku Jidai, things that even Souta and Mom didn't know. She had no idea why Jerry would even believe her, but he didn't seem remotely shocked. He just sat there and held her, pressing light kisses to her head during the difficult parts.
And it was so smooth, so easy, she didn't even notice when she finally reached the part that had destroyed her.
Life can be easy
It's not always swell
"I didn't mean to desert them!" She clutched at Jerry's shirt, willing him to understand.
"Shhh... I know..."
"I just wanted to give him some time to make his decision about whether he was going with Kikyou or not. I went home and... I- I couldn't get back again!"
"It wasn't just the jewel that let me pass- it was Inuyasha. And when I couldn't pass back through..."
She dimly realized that she was shaking, being gently rocked by the man holding her.
"I never gave him a choice. I never told him, not really. Maybe if I'd told him-"
And Jerry's smile spoke of unpleasant things. "Maybe he'd have still rejected you. And maybe you would have been left there. Alone. Even if you offered him the world..."
And then his face was wiped as clean and smooth as if he'd never had an unpleasant thought in his life.
"But this jewel you spoke of... Is it this one?"
And his fingers caressed her pendant, brushing lightly over the hollow of her throat.
The pleasant, warm haze in Kagome's mind was stripped as suddenly as if he'd stabbed her. She pushed backwards with far more coordination than her drunkenness should have allowed.
"You! You were the power I felt!"
His strange, half-mocking smile made her sick to her stomach.
"Very good, little girl. And what are you going to do now?"
Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl
'Cause it hurts like hell
Kagome stared at Jerry in a combination of shock and horror.
"I felt you the minute you got off that plane. I'm surprised that none of my Asian counterparts has tried for you."
Drunk, surrounded by enemies... Kagome had no intention of giving up without a fight.
"You�ll have to kill me to get the jewel- and I'll make sure you regret ever going after it!"
"You think I want the jewel!"
He looked genuinely shocked.
"If not the jewel then why-"
For a brief second, something that may have been pity flashed in his eyes. "Your power was what alerted me to your presence, but I have more than enough power of my own. I admit that I was curious, but I wouldn't have spent more than a few minutes away from my realm if I hadn't found you... intriguing. Did your lover hurt you that badly that you cannot recognize when a man wants you for yourself?"
Kagome had no answer for that.
"I can taste your guilt, you know. But why are you feeling guilty for a man who didn't give you a choice? A man who could have come back to let you know his decision, but was too cowardly or too selfish to let you find out about it until after the fact?"
And he turned her world upside down.
It wasn't even that Kagome necessarily thought that Inuyasha was selfish, it was that she, and her mother, and her hero-worshipping brother had spent the past two years blaming her, at least indirectly, for Inuyasha's death.
But he had also had a choice.
"Kagome?"
She fell limply back into Jerry's lap. It didn't matter who or what he was- she needed comfort right now.
"It's true... But it still hurts..."
Jerry gently brushed the hair back from her face.
"If it makes you feel better- Sarah rejected me outright."
"Can you tell me about her?"
And he did. Holding her, stroking her hair, his voice even and smooth he walked through the story of the girl who had defeated the Labyrinth... and Jerry.
"Oh Jerry..."
His soft laughter went right through her body.
"It's in the past. And we're here now."
Heard about a place today
Nothing never hurts again
"Where exactly is 'here'?"
"My home- the castle in the Labyrinth. When you made your wish at the door it gave me the authority to bring you Underground. That front door will only lead back to your world if I choose it to."
Kagome suddenly no longer felt at ease on Jerry's lap. There had to be a reason that only he could open the front door again. She suddenly had a horrible sinking suspicion that she would have plenty of time to figure out what exactly the Underground was.
"And exactly what or who are you?"
"Jareth, the Goblin King."
So she was probably dealing with the Western equivalent of a youkai lord. This was not promising-
"What is that?"
Jareth was rolling a small glass ball around between his fingers. It hadn't occurred to Kagome when she'd first seen him in the old-fashioned clothing, but the older style of dress suited him. With the clothes and the ball and his suddenly wild mop of hair he no longer bore much resemblance to their friendly, harmless, lecherous summer guide.
"This, my girl, is the key to my realm. With the proper use of one of these I can give you your dreams, take away your pain, make you happy. All I ask in return is that you love me, fear me-"
"Fear isn�t love."
"That's very similar to what she said."
"Who?"
"Sarah."
Oh dear gods no. Not another one.
It hadn't even occurred to her at the time of the story, but she was also a slender black-haired woman. Yet another replacement. The part of her that had been drawn by Jareth's words almost instantly hardened.
"I don't know what you're doing or what you want, but I need to get back to the hotel with Souta to get ready for our flight. It's been a fun summer and it's nice to meet someone else with power, but I really need to go now."
"That's alright. I'll walk you to the door."
Kagome didn't understand the brief surge of disappointment.
"I'll just get Souta then-"
"I don't recall anything about your brother needing to leave."
And she was caught.
Daddy, daddy, get me out of here
I'm, I'm underground
Kagome stood, trembling with anger- she refused to face him sitting down.
"What do you want, Jareth?"
He lazily rolled a crystal between his fingers.
"Isn't it obvious?"
And Kagome knew that she had to say the words.
"I will stay here in exchange for my brother's release, you bastard. But I don't think that my family is going to be too happy when I disappear off the face of the earth."
And Jareth was behind her, his hands on her hips, his head bent over her neck.
"You'll be able to write letters. I'll get them delivered."
"But Souta knows that we aren't involved."
"A tiny mental suggestion and he'll think that we've been involved almost since the beginning. As we should have been."
"He's looking for you- he needs to go now if he wants to get ready in time to catch the plane. There isn't much time, Kagome. What is your decision?"
His hands on her hips, burning where they touched.
Kagome tried to think, to concentrate.
His breath on the back of her neck, warm. The heat of his body- sexual, but safe. Even now.
"Yes."
"For your brother," he whispered as his fingers trailed over her stomach.
"Yes. For Souta."
Even she could taste the lie.
Sister, sister, please take me down
I'm, I'm underground
"You're going to stay with Jerry?"
And Kagome used every ounce of talent that she had to put a smile on her face.
"He makes me feel so happy, Souta."
Which was strangely true. Other than tonight.
"And safe."
Also true. Except when he was blackmailing her into offering herself in place of her little brother.
"I need a clean break from what's happened- a chance to start over."
Wow. This acting thing seemed to involve a lot of truth.
"Jerry will take care of all the details. And I'll write to you and Mom. It will be easier for both of you- you know that."
She could see him conflicted but weakening- all without a single lie. And she couldn't hate him for the brief flash of relief in his eyes.
"If you're sure..."
Kagome reached up to kiss him �her last kiss- and gave him a quick hug.
"It'll be fine- I already brought my stuff over earlier. You just go back and catch your flight and don't worry."
A sudden look of comprehension crossed Souta's face. "So this is why you were so nervous! You were afraid that I wouldn't approve! Don't worry sis- Jerry's a great guy and I'm sure that you'll be happy. I'm just mad that you're going to leave me to deal with Mom."
And that was how she saw him leave- laughing and waving and happy. She waited until the door closed before she allowed a few silent tears to make their way down her cheeks.
It's only forever
Not long at all
"Why are you crying?"
When Kagome turned around a suddenly empty ballroom was directly behind her, Jared leaning against the entrance.
"I'm never going to see my family again and I'm being held against my will in a different world for the rest of my life!"
Jareth looked puzzled.
"I thought that you wanted to stay with me."
And even though she'd never said the words, Kagome couldn't deny that it was at least partially true. It didn't stop her anger.
"But you didn't give me a choice. It's like what you said about Inuyasha- he could have chosen to come back to tell me before he made his decision, but he didn't. He never gave me a choice. Not only that but you both love someone else. I'll stay with you but I refuse to be another replacement! I refuse to give myself to someone who wants someone else!"
Jareth's smile was bitter.
"Oh I wanted the mortal girl. But you are mistaken Kagome, it wasn't love- it was obsession. But it opened me to something that my people cannot feel. And with you, these two months, I know that I lo-"
And Jareth gave a low, wild laugh. He had never looked more alien or more dangerous.
"But that doesn't matter to you does it? Even though it is no longer Sarah I want, it doesn't make any difference- it's just an excuse in the end. All you want is the man who deserted you."
He loomed over her, and suddenly Kagome felt the full strength of his power rolling off of him in furious waves. He truly did not need the jewel. Without any conscious thought, she cringed backwards from his anger.
Jareth pulled back as if burnt.
Lost and lonely
That's underground
"You can go home now."
He sat down heavily on a low seat, avoiding her eyes.
Kagome stood frozen, stunned.
"What do you mean?"
"I won't keep you- you can go back and meet with your brother. I-" And here he lifted his head to give something that may have been a parody of a smile. "I have had my amusement- I certainly don't need your power and I'm bored of this game. It was fun, but it's time for you to leave now."
"Go."
He didn't seem alien or dangerous anymore- just a broken, tired man, his head resting in his hands.
"Just go, Kagome."
And she didn't entirely understand why she turned and walked back towards him.
His voice held an edge of desperation. "You want someone else."
"Not anymore." And it was true- her heartbreak had slowly become a dull ache over the last few months, largely due to this man. And it was this man who had finally taken away her burden of guilt- intentionally or not. Inuyasha would always have a place in her heart, but it wasn't his touch that she wanted right now.
When she ran her hand over his cheek, his involuntary arch into her touch made her feel more in control than she had felt for years. She felt even more powerful at the soft, vulnerable note in that silk smooth voice.
"You don't know me."
"That doesn't mean that I don't want to."
Her mouth was close enough that she could taste his breath.
"You'll be kept here."
"Who said that I wanted to leave?"
His lips tasted of soil and death and shadows.
And she was happy.
Underground
-End-
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