Tainted Halo

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha


Chapter 4

The wind blew the bangs off Shamira’s forehead. She glared at the wind in annoyance, as she sat above the small camp made by five humanoids and a feline with two tails. Nothing had happened for the past two weeks, and both Shamira and a certain half demon were feeling the affects. Inuyasha, however, had opportunities to release some of his energy on fishing or hunting. Shamira, unfortunately, could only watch.

For two weeks the little group traveled from village to village, helping the residents within. Sometimes they really didn’t need any help, but the monk made up a strange story about an ominous cloud floating over the finest house in the village. He “helps” them and in exchange they get a roof over their heads and a warm meal in their tummies. Shamira learned a lot about the group during this down time. She discovered that the monk is a pervert and likes pretty faces; the exterminator hates that and abuses him. Shippo likes to bother the half-demon and views Kagome as a mother figure. Kagome is always the one willing to help someone in need and fancies the half-demon but he seem to be clueless and grumbles about doing useless things instead of going after this person named Naraku. All in all it had been a very boring two weeks and she was itching for a fight.

“Please let something happen,” she moaned. A glimmer of silver white flashed in the corner of her eye. She tried to distinguish the creature gliding through the air.

“ A serpent? A flying serpent?” She frowned. The serpent creature had an insect like head that appeared to be holding a glowing white orb. Shamira glanced down at the group. Inuyasha appeared to have notice the said creature. He first expressed surprise, which quickly switched to a frown. He glanced at Kagome over his shoulder. Who appeared not to have noticed the serpent like creature or at least she gave no sign that she did. She just sat there staring into her cup as if in deep thought. Inuyasha’s ears flattened against his head as he turned away from her.

“We have a long way to go tomorrow and your weak human bodies need rest. He spoke the statement toward the trees. No one moved.

“Keh.” He jumped up to the branch right below Shamira. He leaned against the tree bark with his sword in his lap and glanced at Kagome’s still form. A soft sigh escaped from his lips. His bangs covered his eyes but one could still see his face was etched slightly with a frown.

Shamira lowered herself to Inuyasha’s branch and slowly inched toward him. She squatted before him to get a better view of his face hidden under his silver bangs. He looked troubled and far from sleeping.

Curiosity started to move Shamira’s hand; it itched to touch his head. Slowly, slowly it moved. She could feel the heat radiating from his scalp. She was mere centimeters away. She hesitated. Movement from below caught the corner of her eyes.

Kagome started to spread out her sleeping bag. Everyone else watched her with solemn looks. She glanced at Inuyasha’s silent form sitting in the tree. Her eyes looked like wet glass as she looked up at the half-demon. The wind blew her hair in front of her. She sighed and shut her eyes, turning her back toward the half-demon.

“Come on Shippo lets go to bed.” Inuyasha’s ear twitched. The wind carried Kagome’s scent which was accompanied by a slight salty smell. He wrinkled his nose and slightly opened his eyes. There shining in his golden orbs was regret. Shamira couldn’t hold back her curiosity. She lurched forward her hand connected with his thoughts. His sadness and regret flowed from him into her. The sense of being torn started eating at her skin. It was so overwhelming she had to jump back.

“So he has other feelings besides anger and impatience,” she mumbled to herself.

The group below had already taken their positions for the night. Shippo cuddled up with Kirara in front of Kagome’s sleeping bag. The monk was positioned against the tree adjacent to Inuyasha. The demon exterminator laid on a bed mat in the opposite side of Kagome; the campfire between them. The flames played with the shadows of the figures around it as everyone slowly drifted off into sleep.

Shamira glided toward Kagome. Who pretended to be asleep. Shamira’s thoughts went to the half-demon in the tree.

If those were his feelings, what are hers? She knelt beside Kagome’s head and gently placed her hand on Kagome’s crown. The feeling of heartache flowed through Shamira’s arm and into her body causing her heart to tighten.

“Hasn’t anyone told you it’s rude to poke around people’s heads?” She jumped up snatching her hand away from Kagome. She spun around to face the intruder. The figure slowly stepped out from the shadows of the tree. First the dark blue robes were seen then a light blue ponytail appeared and disappeared behind the figure’s thigh. When he was fully visible he smiled. Orange eyes collided with blue-violet

“Amos?” She whispered.

“ Long time no see Shamira.”

“What. . . What are you doing here?”

“ Well, isn’t it obvious? I was looking for you.” He grinned.

Shamira scowled. “For what purpose?”

“Tsk, Tsk. After everything we’ve been through together and you treat me like this. Are you saying I just can’t come and visit someone who is very dear to me?”

“WAS very dear! You lost me when you betrayed us.”

“Come now, Mira. How have I betrayed you?”

“You betrayed me when you betrayed our father and don’t you dare call me Mira.” Her voice spat venom with each word.

Amos looked hurt. “Was what I did that awful to deserve such treatment from you?”

Shamira snarled and reached for her hairpin.

He frowned, “You were very close to becoming one of us, remember.”

She paused but didn’t answer.

Amos looked away. “ Have I ever done anything to hurt you?

Shamira’s shoulders drooped a half-inch in thought.

“I protected you, played with you, and loved you. I loved you like a brother loved a sister. We were a family.

Shamira shoulder drooped a little more as her hand came slowly back to her side.

“We went through injuries together, spared together and caused mischief together.”

A smiled cracked on her face as the memories passed by her thoughts.

“I helped you to become a better warrior. Not to mention how many times I got you out of trouble.” He turned his back. “I never harmed you even when you placed your blade against my throat. And now you treat me like I tried to murder you.

Guilt came in the form of water in Shamira’s eyes.

“I would really like us to be the way we once were.” He spoke softly.

Her guilt flowed over onto her cheeks. She reached out to grab the back of his robe. He spun around and seized her hand. A big smile plastered on his face, as he hugged her.

“All is forgiven.” He humorously whispered in her ear.

Shamira’s face turned from surprise to anger to acceptance.

“I hate you.”

He laughed.

“You never changed.” She sighed.

They stood embracing for a little longer.

“I really did miss you,” he whispered before letting go.

She smiled up at him. “I missed you too. It’s boring over there without you.”

“I could imagine.” He smiled.

A movement in the tress caught their attention. Inuyasha was staring down at the group. Looking from person to person. Moving his ears in their direction to hear them breathing. When he was satisfied he jumped down quietly from the tree and began to leap in the direction the silver serpent like creature went.

“I wonder what he is up to?”

“How about we find out?”

Shamira looked at Amos surprisingly.

“I can’t leave Kagome unattended.”

“Then persuade her to follow as well.” Amos walked up to Kagome’s head

“Can we do that?”

“Of course, how do you suppose we do things here?”

She shrugged.

“In essence, if a person has a hint of a thought or feeling we feed it and cause it to grow until they follow through on it.

“That seems a little... immoral.”

“Does it? Keep in mind the person has a choice to act on the impulse or not.”

Shamira frowned and thought. He’s right. She heard stories of several people who didn’t act on the impulse or on the temptations that was presented to them by—

“If we don’t act now we’ll lose him.” Amos stated snapping her out of her thoughts.

“But…she’s sleeping.”

Amos touched Kagome’s head. Her eyes flung open.

“Not anymore.”

Kagome got out of her sleeping bag. She looked around her before she silently tiptoed out of the campsite. When she made it just out of the firelight she sprinted in the same direction Inuyasha went. Amos and Shamira followed suit.

Shamira jumped up into the trees to follow Kagome from above. “How did you do that?” She shouted down from the trees. Amos jumped up next to her and fell into step.

“It is easy once you get the hang of it. I’ll show you when we reach our destination.” The two soared from tree to tree keeping up with the sprinting teenager.

Kagome began to slow down when a white glow became visible through the trees. As they approached the clearing, Inuyasha’s red jacket could be seen as he faced a large tree. A woman became visible as they walked closer. She wore a white bell arm top with equally bellowing red pants. Her hair was pulled loosely at her nape. She closely resembled Kagome, except she looked older and cold.

“Kikyo.” The name escaped Kagome’s lips before stopping at the edge of the clearing. Everything but the wind went still.

“What would you like to happen, Mira?”

Shamira looked curiously at Amos.“What do you mean?”

“I mean you might be able to control this situation.”

“How?”

“The same way I persuaded Kagome.”

Shamira glanced at Kagome.

“Go on.”

She reached out and placed a hand on the back of Kagome’s head. The emotions came to her in waves causing Shamira to close her eyes.

“What do you feel?” Amos whispered in her ear.

“I feel . . . great sadness, grief, and heartache.”

“Those emotions are only on the surface. Dig deeper, search for a way out.”

Shamira concentrated, moving herself within Kagome’s emotions, looking for an opening of a sort. She found it; a sigh of relief escaped her lips.

“I see you found it. Tell me what do you feel now.”

“I feel regret, confusion, and indecisiveness.”

“Concentrate on the indecisiveness. Grab it with your mind, reach into it and find out what she is indecisive about.”

Shamira searched. “She . . . She’s not sure if she should stay here or leave and pretend this never happened.”

“What do YOU want?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, if she leaves, you won’t know what is happening here.”

Shamira hesitated. She looked toward the couple near the tree, and decided she would like to stay. Her mind grabbed Kagome’s thought of staying and brought it forward.

Kagome moved to hide behind a bush, not too close and not too far from the couple.

“What else would you like to happen?” Amos stepped up next to Shamira.

“I don’t understand.”

“I mean that if you wish you could control what goes on here.”

She hesitated once again. She looked toward the couple that looked to be in a deep conversation. Her curiosity got the best of her, and her feet seem to carry her over to stand directly behind, Inuyasha.

“Kikyo I . . .” Inuyasha began but looked toward the ground. His ears flatten against his head. Shamira placed her hands on Inuyasha’s silver head. She began to search through the sadness of his mind. A wave of regret hit her followed by guilt. She searched deeper and that same sense of being torn appeared. He was torn between a sense of duty and what his heart truly desires. For which woman he had these feelings toward was unclear to her. Before she could explore any deeper, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She peered over Inuyasha’s shoulder and discovered that the woman, named Kikyo, was staring at her.

Shamira’s mouth dropped open and she instantly let go of Inuyasha’s head. Kikyo’s eyes narrowed. Shamira nervously stepped back, and quickly retreated to the brushes where Kagome was hiding.

“She saw me!” She looked at Amos with big eyes. “She looked right at me.”

Amos looked up thoughtfully. “Well, she is dead.”

She stared at him in shock. “What do you mean dead?”

“I mean dead, no breath, no pulse, no heart, nor any blood to keep her warm.”

“But . . . she’s standing over there ... glaring at me.”

“Well, she’s the walking dead.”

“The walking dead! And when were you going to tell me about this?” She fumed.

“When the opportunity appeared.” He grinned. “Look at the bright side. Due to her … state she can barely hear us.”

She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but was interrupted by Kikyo’s loud declaration.

“We must end our conversation here, Inuyasha. For it seems that we have company.

Kagome visibly tensed as she saw Kikyo glare in her direction.

Inuyasha turned around. “Kagome?” She sprung up from her hiding place. The sense of awkwardness filled the air. The only ones not affected by it were Kikyo, with her cold eyes, and Amos, with his large grin.

Kagome looked toward the ground as she mumbled an apology and ran off.

“That went well.” Amos chimed.

“How could you say that? That was not how I wanted it to go.

“How DID you want it to go, Shamira?”

Shamira paused and thought. “I don’t know.”

“This went to plan because you did not have a plan. So… it went, well.”

Shamira looked dejected.

“Next time, have a plan.”

“I’m not much of a strategist, remember.” She pouted.

“Indeed. That was more my expertise.” He smiled. “However, I’m still surprised that neither you nor the boy have gone after her.”

Shamira’s head shot up. She quickly leaped into the direction that Kagome ran off to, leaving a smiling Amos behind. He chuckled as Shamira’s form disappeared into the distant trees.

“You have a lot to learn, Mira.” He whispered in the wind.

Kikyo moved to Inuyasha’s side. Amos turned around to face her and bowed. She did not respond.

“You should go after her Inuyasha. The shards she’s carrying may draw unwanted attention.”

Inuyasha cursed under his breath before he too leaped off in Kagome’s direction.
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Shamira began to panic. She had no idea where Kagome could have gone. She didn’t return to the camp like Shamira originally thought she would. She thought of returning to Inuyasha to compel him to use his nose to find her. A scream was heard and Shamira sprinted toward it. As she soared from tree to tree she pulled out a pin from her hair. The pin turned into a sword of white light.

She quickly reached the location of the scream. Kagome was running from a large lizard creature chasing her on two legs.

“Give me the Shikon shards,” he hissed. Kagome tripped. Claws lurched forward, but were stopped. Kagome quickly got up and began to run again. This time the beast tripped in his pursuit.

Shamira smirked at the beast trying to get up with the injured ankle that she inflected on him. She quickly glanced around to see if Inuyasha would show up. She didn’t see any red or silver coming in their direction. She frowned. A sound of something slamming into a tree caused her to swing around. The beast got up faster than she expected and slammed Kagome into a tree. Kagome’s head bobbed as her eyes went in and out of focus. The creature’s claws went into the air preparing for the last blow. Shamira jumped in front and blocked it. He staggered back. He roared and tried to swing from the side. Shamira blocked him again. He gave a frustrated roar and stretched his arm further back for a more powerful blow. Shamira blocked it once more and was pushed back a little. She realized that Inuyasha might not make it in time to finish this off. She swore under her breath and glanced back. Kagome’s eyes appeared out of focus as she began to lose consciousness. Shamira looked back at the beast and smiled. It’s time to finish this. She shoved aside the clawed hand that came toward her causing the creature to falter back. Her sword went into the air as she prepared for her final blow. She slashed her sword down and watched the white light that flew from it, slicing the beast in half.

Kagome lost consciousness before the beast hit the floor, but not before she saw a glimpse of her savior.

Shamira sighed. “Well, I did ask for something to happen.” She let out a little chuckle as she replaced her morphing pin back into her hair. Something white caught her eye. She quickly turned. Standing in the distance, staring at her was Sesshoumaru. They made eye contact for a moment then he turned and walked away. Who do you remind me of? Before Shamira could think further, the red clad half-demon jumped into the scene.

“What happened here?” He looked at the dead beast as he walked past it. He saw a figure hunched over a root of a tree. “Kagome!” He ran over to her and slowly lifted her head. He saw that she was still breathing. “Kagome?” She didn’t respond. He gently picked her up and quickly made his way back to camp. Shamira followed.

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Two beings walk along the edge of a battlefield, one with light gray hair, and the other with light blue.

“I see that you’ve made progress with your war, Master.” Amos articulated over the clashing of swords and screams.

“Indeed. And how are you progressing with Shamira?” The gray haired man paused to see Amos reaction.

“Everything is moving along perfectly.

The gray haired man smiled. “Does she have that sword?”

“She has not only one but all six.”

The Master’s eye lit up. “Now we really must have her.”

“She has already used our method of persuasion.”

The Master let out a dark chuckle. “She is still curious in nature?”

“Most definitely.”

“Then we should have her on our side in no time.”

“Perhaps.”

His smile faded. “What do you mean perhaps.”

“What I mean, Master, is that her purpose here is different from what I had originally assumed."

His light gray brows rose. “And what IS her purpose here?”

“I am not sure yet, Master, but it was confirmed that she is fair game.”

The light gray haired man frowned.

“Worry not, I have everything under control. I must leave you now, Master.” Amos bowed before walking away from the battlefield. Leaving his Master in black robes to watch the blood shed of many people.

. . . TBC

A.N. -Well it took some time but there you have it, Chapter 4. Although, it doesn't seem like anyone cares. *tear*