Chapter Six: First Battle

Chapter Six: Failure

“Kaede? Could I ask you something?” I bit my lip, rubbing my hands nervously over the smooth brown bowl. We were washing the dishes; the hot water scalded my fingers and felt marvelously good.

“Of course, child, ask away.”

“Um…have you ever…been…” I trailed off. It was kind of a personal question, and though I was more comfortable with Kaede now – she was sort of a mother to me, however odd that was – it was still something I wasn’t sure I wanted to say out loud.

“It is all right, Kagome. Tell me what is on your mind.” She looked at me with a kindly smile, setting down a plate.

“Well…I wanted to know if…you’ve ever been in love.” My voice trailed down to a whisper on the last two words, and I couldn’t help glancing sideways at her.

There was a long silence. I scrubbed more viciously over the already-clean surface than was absolutely necessary.

“That is an interesting question,” she finally murmured, watching me carefully out of her good eye. “Yes, Kagome. I have been in love.”

“What was it like?” I burst out. “What happened to him? How did you know you were in love? Was it scary? Did you –”

“One at a time, child, one at a time,” she interrupted with a gravelly laugh. “Yes, Kagome, it was very scary sometimes. Ye are never quite prepared for it. It comes as a bolt out of the blue.” She smiled kindly at me. “It does not promise a happy ending, but ye can be sure it is worth all the pain.”

I returned the smile gratefully. “Okay. Thanks, Kaede.”

“May I ask who ye are thinking of?”

I jumped, turning bright red all too soon; no point in lying now. Golden eyes and dog ears flickered in my mind. “Um…wait! Hang on a second!” I closed my eyes and concentrated, using my miko powers to discern the Taisho brothers’ whereabouts. Sesshomaru was fooling around with some old blades – probably trying to figure out why the Fang didn’t become the Fang for him – and InuYasha was lounging in his favorite tree, trying to ignore the curious kitsune Shippo, who was currently pulling at his ears. “Okay, all clear.”

The old priestess laughed faintly. “Locating any eavesdroppers, I see?”

I flushed. “Yeah, well, the jerks would just use it as blackmail later, anyways.”

“I see.”

She waited.

I scraped the very last speck of imaginary dust off my (now glittering) bowl and gave up on stalling. “It’s InuYasha.”

“I suspected as much.” Her rough voice, while still resonating with ancient wisdom, was tainted with amusement.

“How could you know that?” It came out sharper than I intended, and I flinched at my own tone. “Sorry. It’s just…I haven’t had much experience with…boys…and from what I have, it wasn’t pleasant.” The last few words dropped to a whisper. A stillness settled over us. I knew we were both remembering Koga’s brashness, Naraku’s insatiable lust and jealousy, Kikyo’s lover, Taro, and his soft voice – and the great tragedy that had ended us all.

Except me.

Because somehow, against all odds, I was still here. And according to Sesshomaru, we were going to bring back Kikyo.

“Oi! Wench!”

I leapt up in surprise, sending my beautifully cleaned dish tumbling to the floor. A spider web of cracks spread across its center. I tensed, clenching my hands into fists. “Yes, InuYasha?”

“I’m hungry,” he complained, entering the hut. He lounged against the doorway, folding his arms.

Even in my angered state, I could appreciate how strong he was, how his lovely silver hair trickled down his back, how…

…He was insulting me. “I am not your personal chef.”

He snickered. “You may not be mine, but you are Sesshomaru’s for the next week.”

I growled. “Get out of my hut.”

“Nah.”

“InuYasha. Go. Now.”

“But I’m still hungry!”

“Do I look like I care?”

“Wench! Feed me!”

That. Was. It. I could practically hear Koga’s possessive voice, and it was killing me. “SIT!” I screeched, swirling to face him. “InuYasha, I am not a maid! I don’t care what most people believe – I am not most people, and I will not bend to your ridiculous prejudices! SIT!”

“Uh nah quedudiced.”

I blinked, the strains of my anger sliding away. “What? Your face is kinda in the dirt – I can’t hear you.”

He muttered something else – though this was probably just cursing – and heaved himself up. I felt a pang of guilt. That probably hadn’t required a sit – it really wasn’t his fault how many unpleasant memories his words had sparked.

“I said, I’m not prejudiced,” he repeated more clearly this time. “I…just…don’t know…how to cook.”

A low chuckle resonated around the tiny area as the elder brother entered. “No, Kagome, please feed him to shut him up. Unless, of course, you would rather he burned down the village attempting to heat up the ramen.”

The hair stood up on the back of my neck. I felt a headache building behind my eyes. I didn’t want to remember, I didn’t want –

“You traitor!” Kikyo shrieked. Her black hair was snarled and her clothes ragged as she glared at me with hatred in her eyes. Flames raged behind her. I flinched at the sight of our lovely home going up in smoke. “I hate you, Kagome – how could you do this?!”

“I didn’t betray you – or her, whoever you are!” I screamed back, preparing to send the wicked demon to his demise. “I never betrayed my sister! Now – die, Naraku!” I could only hope I wasn’t killing my real friend as I bound her…

“KAGOME! You WILL die for this!” she screeched. My hands faltered – this was truly my sister. I recognized the true power of a miko as she began to chant.

“Wait – Kik, stop! I’m sorry – I didn’t know! Stop!”

“Oh, now you want my help!” She was hysterical. “Now you need me! Too late, Kagome! You killed him – and you’re killing me!” Red tendrils of light snaked across her throat.

I let out one desperate cry, releasing all of my energy at once – allowing her to bind me without a fight so that I could save her life. “Kik – please – I didn’t…” It was getting hard to speak. A fog began to cover my eyes. “Kikyo…I didn’t…betray…”

“I HATE YOU, KAGOME!!”

“Kagome? Kagome!” Rough hands grabbed at my face, brushing my hair back. “Kagome, can you hear me?”

“Yes,” I breathed, pulling away from InuYasha’s grasp. My vision blurred. I blinked vehemently until I could see his concerned face, golden eyes guilt stricken.

“You don’t have to feed me anymore,” he mumbled, even as his stomach growled loudly.

I laughed shakily. “Who says I was going to anyways?”

“Hey!”

I laughed again, avoiding looking at Sesshomaru and Kaede (who were eyeing me with far too much concern and anxiety, in my opinion). “Well, I think I’ll turn in early – good night!” My voice was filled with false brightness.

“But it’s not even lunch yet!” InuYasha complained. “What am I going to eat for dinner?”

“Roots. Dirt. Starve. Yes, please starve!”

“Miko, apologize to my brother,” Sesshomaru commanded.

I scowled – before my eyes lit up with an idea. Oh, loopholes, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! “Sesshomaru’s ignorant, awful, idiotic, condescending, can’t-cook, doggy-eared, prejudiced, unworthy-of-my-time brother, I deeply, most humbly, and insincerely apologize.”

A soft chuckle escaped the youkai’s lips. “Apology accepted.”

I tried to take a step forward, but my feet wouldn’t respond. I looked at them inquiringly for a moment before raising my eyebrows at Sesshomaru. “Yes, O Great Jerk? And InuYasha, where’s Shippo?”

“I left the brat with Kaito. He’s teaching him to fish.”

“Hmm,” I mused. “I suppose that’s all right… Anyways, what do you want with me, Fluffy?”

His eyes narrowed. “Do not press your luck, Kagome.”

I saluted him mockingly. “Yessir!”

InuYasha laughed. Sesshomaru’s lips became a thin line – I knew him well enough to guess at the smile behind them. “I believe that falls under the category of luck-pressing.”

“Nah.” I shrugged. “Depends on how you take it. That could have been a very respectful acknowledgement of your dom –” I cut off the word, freezing suddenly.

“My dominance? But it wasn’t,” the elder demon pointed out.

“Hush,” I hissed. “There’s something out there. A powerful demon with…” I broke off in shock for a moment. My mouth worked wordlessly until I finally managed to gasp, “I sense the Shikon Jewel!”

Both brothers became very still. InuYasha tensed. Sesshomaru swiveled silently towards the exit of the hut. Kaede touched her arrows. I strung my bow. “Sess, Inu…this is no Shippo.”

As if I had summoned him, the kitsune himself suddenly streaked towards me out of the bushes, Kaito hot on his heels. “KAGOME! Kagome-Kagome-Kagome-Kagome-Kagomeeeee!” He flung himself into my arms.

I felt bare and unprotected as I released my weapon in order to hold him. “Shippo! Honey, are you all right? What happened?”

The tiny fox was trembling. “I’m scared, Kagome! They’re here! The Thunder Brothers!”

“Thunder Brothers?” I echoed, staring at him curiously. “Who…who are they?”

“Two brother demons,” he explained, eyes wide and terrified. His voice dropped to a whisper. “They killed my father.”

“They…what?”

“Killed him.” Two fat tears escaped his wide green eyes and slipped down his cheeks. “I have to avenge his death! I have to kill them!”

“No.”

I turned in surprise. InuYasha’s voice was stern. His arms were folded angrily and he glowered at the kit. “Leave the killing to us. You and Kagome get out of here and go somewhere safe.”

I frowned. “I appreciate your sudden and thoroughly unexpected concern for my safety, but it’s unnecessary. I’ve faced down far more demons than you have – I’ll be fine. Let me fight.”

He shook his head vehemently. “No. Stay back. Keep the kid somewhere out of the way.”

I pursed my lips. “InuYa – oof!” Sesshomaru had suddenly blurred forward, pushing me backwards.

“Arm yourself, Kagome. And then please, try not to die. It would make life much less entertaining.” His tone left no room for argument – not that I could have anyways, with the spell in effect.

I scowled, watching as my hands moved of their own accord to set Shippo down and string an arrow. “Yes, Master.”

He sighed. “We can argue this later. Just protect Shippo.”

That was one order I was willing to obey. I nodded eagerly, pleased. It would certainly be interesting to watch how they handled themselves in a battle, anyways. I wasn’t worried; neither brother gave up easily.

“Let’s go outside,” InuYasha suggested to his brother in a low voice. The demon nodded, glanced quickly at me, jerking his head towards the exit, and led the way.

I followed silently, Shippo at my heels. Sesshomaru, InuYasha, and I stood back to back, forming a protective circle around the little boy at the center. I couldn’t help but notice how both brothers inclined slightly away from each other and towards me – it was so astonishingly protective. For all their talk, it couldn’t have been clearer that they didn’t want me to get hurt.

The sky went black. A low laugh echoed around us. “Well, well, well, what have we here? A fox demon, perhaps? And maybe even the son of the last one!” Another wicked chuckle made me shiver. “Ah, aren’t the fates good to us, Maten?”

“Very good, Hiten! Very good indeed!” This voice was lower, gruffer – it made me want to puke.

I swallowed against the nausea and spoke in a loud, clear, commanding voice: “Are you the Thunder Brothers? Show yourselves, cowardly demons!”

“Oh, and a maiden, I see! And a priestess too!” the first voice – Hiten – exclaimed. “Maybe we will – but what is she doing with a vile half-breed?”

I bristled. “I said, show yourselves!” An idea lit in the back of my mind. “Or are you afraid this ‘half-breed’ will beat you?”

“As if,” Hiten scoffed.

It worked, though, despite his confident words. A section of the swirling grey-black clouds separated from the rest, coming down to hover above us. A…thing, with an almost whale-like head, was sitting on it. He – it – was clothed in armor, a bright orange pelt wrapped around his waist.

“Daddy,” Shippo whispered.

My hand tightened around my bow in fury.

Beside the hideous creature was a demon who more resembled man, something that was not quite so disgusting. Three brightly colored jewels were placed artfully in the center of his forehead.

They were glowing.

My heart dropped into my stomach, and I felt suddenly nauseous. No. No. How could this have happened? The Jewel! And only part of it! It was…shattered.

“Sesshomaru.” I kept my voice low. If I spoke even the slightest bit louder for InuYasha to hear, so would Hiten – the one with the more human appearance. Sesshomaru’s hearing had that extra edge; he could hear every sound I made.

His head tilted slightly in my direction to show he was listening.

“There are…fragments…of the Shikon Jewel in his forehead. And those wheels by his feet? …I think he can fly.”

A tiny nod was all the recognition I got, but it was honestly more than I expected.

“You must be the cursed priestess Kagome.” Hiten’s voice was hard and mocking.

“Cursed?” InuYasha cut a sideways glance at me.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “I’ll explain later.”

“You aren’t a curse.”

I smiled briefly at the half-demon, grateful for his support, before shouting up at Hiten: “I’ve heard it all before, demon. Cursed or not, this priestess is gonna kick your butt!”

“I’m sure. Aren’t you the human girl in charge of protecting the Shikon Jewel?”

My breath caught in my throat.

InuYasha jumped in the instant he realized I wasn’t going to answer. I didn’t meet Sesshomaru’s gaze – he was staring at me with an expression I didn’t want to decipher.

“Yeah? What of it?” InuYasha demanded.

“You’re a failure, priestess.” Hiten’s whisper drove into my heart, rending me.

I steeled my mind against more darts he was sure to spit out. He’s a demon, Kagome, I told myself fiercely. Don’t listen to him.

Kikyo’s voice broke past my barriers: “I HATE YOU KAGOME!!” If I wasn’t a failure, how could I have let that happened? Skilled, successful priestesses did not mix up their sisters and their enemies! They did not get bound to a tree for fifty years! They did not lose the Jewel!

Was Hiten truly right?

“Kagome!” Sesshomaru hissed. “Do not listen to him!”

Hiten smelled blood. “He doesn’t know, does he? Kagome the Cursed.”

“I am not…” But my voice faltered.

“Then why is the Jewel shattered? Why is Kikyo, your so-called ‘great’ sister, imprisoned?”

“Because…”

“Kagome!” InuYasha whirled around, grabbing my arms. “You. Are. Not. A. Failure. Not many priestesses could stand up to me or Sesshomaru! They couldn’t have taken in Kaito or Shippo! They couldn’t have done what you have!”

“Failure,” Hiten cooed, and Maten laughed.

“No,” InuYasha whispered.

I pulled free of him. “Neither of you know the entire story.”

“Kaito told us,” Sesshomaru reminded me. “We know about Kikyo, Koga, and Naraku. We know about the Jewel.”

“But you don’t know the worst part.” I pointed up at Hiten. “In his forehead? Those shards? I was supposed to protect those. Now look what they’re going to! It’s because of me. In the wrong hands, the Jewel could destroy all of Japan. And it would be all my fault.”

Sesshomaru looked at me like I was being idiotic (more so than usual, at least). “Then we find the shards before they do.”

A pause. I digested this.

“You’re not a failure, Kagome,” InuYasha reminded me.

“You are, too,” Hiten said.

My rage and self-righteousness boiled up within me. I raised a trembling arrow.

The demons seemed to take the shaking as fear. “Scared, dear miko?”

“You wish,” I growled.

And shot.

&:0:&

A/N: I am disgusted with myself – probably more so than you are. I can’t believe it’s been this long since my last update – and I promised you sooner, too. –growls at self- All I can say in my defense is that I’m exhausted. I’ve been gone a lot, my internet’s even moodier than I am, and I’m going through a difficult time. But I’m sorry.

Multiply that by about one thousand.

Love you all. Thank you for your constant reviews and support! Please, keep it up – if you don’t, I don’t know what will happen to this story, even though I personally love it.

So sorry –

- MadeNew