Fallen Souls 19/25

[paxbanana]

Cassandra's new fic is called Pave the Way in Light.


Fallen

BY: CASSANDRA


Chapter 19

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??????????? She watched him from the trees, a small smile forming on her face as he moved, as he flew through the air as if he owned it. Such beauty. Such unparallel grace. All lithe silver movement, flashing amber. It made her heart beat, made her soar. Made her hungry.

??????????? Does it make you happy? To see him suffer?

??????????? She hesitated, tilting her head a bit. ?Yes,? she answered the voice after a moment, answered the air, the never-ending night. ?It makes me happy because he shares my misery. Why should he be content when I suffer??

??????????? He made you suffer?

??????????? ?Yes,? she answered again even though it hadn?t been directed as a question. She hopped forward and was airborne for a moment, coming down silently on another branch. This was what it felt like for him, when he flew, when he sprang. Freedom of movement. Such freedom. She hated him for it. For always being able to but never knowing what it was like not to. Even during his period of humanity, when he withdrew from the world around him to be by himself, even then he knew what it was even if he couldn?t.

??????????? The Shikon no Tama allows you this movement. This freedom.

??????????? She did not reply, hopping forward once more to keep up with the hanyou as he led the group. The Shikon no Tama allowed this and much more. Now that she knew how to control this jewel she could do anything she wished. Anything.

??????????? Do you see what I can give you? What I can bring to you? Awareness, my Priestess. It is, as they say, that knowledge is power. And your knowledge is never-ending. Limitless?

??????????? His voice ended in a hiss in her ear and she found herself flyng ahead of the hanyou, suddenly wanting to be there before he was, to see his face. She wanted to hover beside him, invisible to him, and she wanted to see the tears slip down his face, the anger form.

??????????? She wanted to see the birth of his vengeance.

??????????? The world shifted under her, around her, and she was suddenly there, standing above on a tree branch. Looking down, she cocked her head and she slowly sat, one leg drawn in to her chest, the other dangling.

??????????? ?He will come for me now,? she whispered.

??????????? Yes.

??????????? ?And he?ll want to kill me for this. He?ll be so angry.? She leaned her head upon her knee, embracing her leg tightly and suddenly feeling so very cold.

??????????? You will have nothing to worry about. She deserved it, remember? He deserves this, and much more.

??????????? She heard noises far away, coming closer. Brush being shoved aside, the ground being trampled. She closed her eyes to listen to those sounds, to feel the beat of it, running through her like her own heart pounding.

??????????? She smiled faintly. Sadly. ?Hurry, my hanyou??

??????????? The wind whispered to her, in her ear, all around.

??????????? You are?afraid?

??????????? She inhaled deeply, tasting the world. Tasting the miko?s blood on the soft breeze and relishing it. ?I?m afraid to be alone. I don?t like being alone??

??????????? You are not alone. I am with you. I will be with you always. You and I?we will rule this world together.

??????????? Kagome smiled faintly once more, just as the hanyou broke out of the forest below her.

?

?

?

??????????? ?Kikyo!?

??????????? The cry ripped from him, hoarse and ragged. He paused, his form stiffening to the point of breaking apart and he didn?t want to see this again. Not like this.

??????????? The white priestess hung suspended from the trees, cords of vine and root holding her up in the moonlight and she bled dark blood, her uniform soaked through. Pale-skinned, she hung silently, her clothes ripped at the shoulder and he knew. He already knew.

??????????? ?My hanyou?my hanyou??

??????????? Trembling, he took a step and he ignored the arrival of Kirara bearing the group, Sango?s gasp and Miroku?s small sound of disbelief. All he knew was that he couldn?t seem to draw any closer. And yet he couldn?t bear for the rest of the group to see her like that.

??????????? Kagome did this-

??????????? On weak legs he moved toward the priestess. In the shadow, with her back to the brilliant moon, she was a pale blue, blood smudged across her cheeks. And she was silent. The world itself was silent. His breath began to quicken and as he lifted a clawed hand to her he realized he trembled violently. Holding back shaky breaths he tore at the vines holding her suspended, seeing a sudden vision of Kagome suspended the same way by him, when he had nearly had his way with her. And he felt hot tears rise in his eyes.

??????????? Kagome didn?t do this. I did this. I made her into this-

??????????? Kikyo came loose, slipping into his arms and he embraced her to him for a moment, his mouth pressed to her shoulder as he furiously blinked away his tears. Her blood was a potent stench and he had to swallow a few times to keep from vomiting. She was limp, her limbs hanging heavily, her head resting on his shoulder.

??????????? And slowly, he lowered her to the ground, cradling her as if she was made of porcelain. She resembled it in the cool moonlight, the blood much too brilliant on her white cheeks. Kneeling beside her he hesitated, his clawed fist pressed to his mouth as he merely gazed at her. The same slash to the shoulder. The same ending. He inhaled to calm his trembling, to even out his breath.

??????????? And Kikyo?s eyes came open.

??????????? Inuyasha gasped, recoiling a bit. Her eyes had glazed over a bit and she grimaced, gazing up at the moon with narrowed eyes. Her vision focused slowly and she turned her eyes away from the moonlight, wincing. ?Oh??

??????????? ?Kikyo?? Inuyasha leaned toward her, afraid to touch her.

??????????? She turned her head to look at him upon hearing his voice and she focused on him, swallowing. Her breathing was raspy, her form slowly beginning to tremble, and she sighed as he reached out and placed a hand to her cheek. ?Inuyasha??

??????????? ?I?m here, Kikyo,? he said to her quietly, fighting the tremor in his voice.

??????????? She nodded faintly and as she gazed at him tears rose in her eyes. ?An eye for an eye,? she murmured. ?A claw for a stab?? and her voice shook with her tears. ?Inuyasha?she?s so angry??

??????????? Inuyasha shushed her, reaching out with his other hand as well. ?It?s all right now, Kikyo. It?s over-?

??????????? ?I knew what she would become,? Kikyo whispered to him. ?I felt the Shikon no Tama turning black and she?called to me??

??????????? Inuyasha frowned, lips parting as he tried to understand.

??????????? ?She called for me?and I came,? the miko said and her voice sounded distant. ?She?s been fighting for so long, how could I say no..? And so I went and I tried to kill her. Before she turned-?

??????????? Inuyasha gazed at her, eyebrows drawn low over his eyes. And he let her speak, lifting her gently to cradle her in his lap.

??????????? ?But I didn?t finish it. I went prepared, knowing?knowing that I would have to do everything I could to retrieve the Shikon no Tama. But you wouldn?t allow me?? she stared at him, a tear running down her cheek, ?and I knew it would hurt you??

??????????? Something rustled close by, leaves fluttering.

??????????? ?But I did it anyway?? Kikyo closed her eyes, inhaling shakily. Almost wheezing. ?Oh?this wretched body??

??????????? Inuyasha?s eyes shifted down to her stained clothes, to the weak frame underneath the layers and he felt his heart tighten, icy pain washing through him. But his expression softened tenderly and he nodded to her. ?It isn?t yours, Kikyo. Your real form passed a long time ago. It?s all right to let go of this one as well??

??????????? She hesitated, gazing at him tearfully. And then, faintly, she smiled. A pure, beautiful smile like the one she used to smile so many years before. It stole his breath from him to see it once more.

??????????? ?I?m destined to be with you, Inuyasha?? she whispered, and she slowly, painfully, lifted a hand to his face, her fingers grazing his skin. He closed his eyes, pushing his cheek into her palm and her look was soft. ?My Inuyasha. No matter what form, our souls are destined??

??????????? He swallowed. ?They are?aren?t they?? he questioned distantly.

??????????? Kikyo?s smile softened, and her hand fell away from his face. ?Yes,? she replied quietly. ?In whatever form, this piece of a soul that was once mine??

??????????? Inuyasha?s eyes opened slowly.

??????????? ?Let it be carried to her. Reunited with hers. This form no longer has use for it??

??????????? ?Kikyo,? he said in a breath, stiffening. And he cupped her face trembling, ?Kikyo-? as she turned her face away. ?Kikyo!?

??????????? But she did not respond, her form limp, her eyes closed peacefully.

??????????? He gazed at her, his lips parted, his entire frame going cold. And all around it was quiet. So quiet. His entire world had been quiet that day as well, had been quiet for fifty years after. And now it was silent once more. He shook her roughly, making a small sound and cringing inwardly as her head lolled.

??????????? Please, it can?t be this quiet again. It can?t-

??????????? A leaf fluttered by and he turned his attention to it dumbly, clutching the dead priestess in a painful grasp. Everything was suddenly wrong. The air had no taste and this world of silence nauseated him. He looked back down at Kikyo, trembling, and in his arms she seemed nothing more than a child. A dead child.

??????????? With a snarl he rose, flinging her corpse to the ground and he whirled, furiously. ?Kagome!?

??????????? Behind him were Miroku and Sango, the exterminator holding a hand clasped over her mouth, tears in her eyes. ?Inuyasha-? she whispered.

??????????? ?Kagome!? he shouted once more, amber eyes narrowed into slits. ?Show yourself!?

??????????? ?Inuyasha!? Miroku also said, his face pinched. He lifted a hand out to calm the hanyou.

??????????? ?Does it hurt?? came the voice then, floating upon a breeze. It echoed eerily, seeming to come from the trees, the ground, the sky, even Kikyo herself. Inuyasha straightened, looking around and she slowly came into being, standing only a few feet away.

??????????? They all stared at her.

??????????? ?I said?? she whispered, coming closer, ?does it hurt??

??????????? Inuyasha faced her, his entire form shaking, and he slowly pointed to the dead miko, his amber gaze caught on Kagome. And tears rose in those amber eyes, those pained eyes. ?Why her and not me??

??????????? Kagome stared at him for a moment silently.

??????????? ?Answer me!? he shouted wrathfully, causing the entire group to jump at the sound of his voice.

??????????? Kagome clenched her jaw. ?This is you, Inuyasha,? she replied. ?I am coming after you. Through everyone else. She was just the first. The prize.?

??????????? Inuyasha stared at her in disbelief, his hand dropping limply at his side.

??????????? ?Do you think this is over?? she questioned. ?Do you think her death makes it complete?? she shook her head, eyes cold. ?No, hanyou. Not even close??

??????????? Inuyasha took a step toward her, firm. ?Then who else, Kagome? If you want me to hurt, make me hurt. But you come after me, no one else-?

??????????? The girl practically rolled her eyes. ?Stupid animal,? she murmured. ?I would get tired of hurting just you. I have a feeling you wouldn?t even give me a small yelp if I tortured you. Where is the fun in that..??

??????????? Miroku glanced at Inuyasha.

??????????? ?We?re nowhere near done. I still have many shards to collect to make this jewel whole again.? She lifted her hand and cradled in her palm was the black Shikon no Tama. ?Until then I will see you all again.?

??????????? And she turned, already growing transparent.

??????????? ?Kagome!? Inuyasha cried after her.

??????????? But she disappeared upon a breeze, fading into the black night.

??????????? Inuyasha took a senseless step after her but Miroku called to him, his face dark. ?Inuyasha.? The hanyou paused and looked at him and he said quietly, ?She?s done for the night. But she is growing stronger. With the jewel complete we won?t be able to stop her-?

??????????? ?Which means she?ll go after Naraku,? Inuyasha murmured and he glanced quickly at Sango.

??????????? ?Kohaku!? she gasped in sudden realization.

??????????? ?And Kouga,? Miroku added with an apprehensive look.

??????????? Inuyasha nodded. And he turned away. ?If you aren?t up to it, don?t follow. But I?m going after Kouga. Now.? His face turned cold. ?He and I have a little chat overdue anyway. And she?ll leave off the strongest enemy for when she has the most shards.?

??????????? ?We?ll follow,? Sango said quickly and as Miroku nodded she ushered him back toward Kirara.


To be continued...

[luved_by_bishie_duelistch]

ooo. this is getting weirder & weirder by the second, but i'm enjoying every minute of it! i love it so far!

[Kaili Charmer]

oh geez, this is intense...off to read another chapter :razz: