Amethyst Visions

Yay, another review! You guys make my day. Anyways, the K is for Kaiya and Kagome. In other words, it's going to get even more complicated as the story progresses. So far Kagome loves Inuyasha, Inuyasha loves Kaiya, Inuyasha has mixed and confused feelings for Kagome, Kaiya loves Inuyasha, Kaiya loves Sesshoumaru, and Sesshoumaru loves Kaiya. Kagome and Kaiya are becoming best friends, and Kaiya doesn't know Kagome loves Inuyasha. No one knows Sesshoumaru loves Kaiya, though a few insightful people might have an idea. And it's all going to get deeper, cause this story is going to get deeper and longer than I had originally anticipated. And lemons will be coming in the future. Probably a lot with a few different pairings. It's going to really develop because I want people to be divided in who they want together. And I want opinions who people want to get together. Who do you want with who? And it's possible your opinions could change in future chapters. So far, who do you guys want together?

Disclaimer: I own Kaiya, the muses own the twisted workings in my head, and and RK owns Inuyasha. Speaking of which, what is Sesshoumaru's fluffy thing? I've heard it's not supposed to be his tail, but if it's not, why does a warrior demon carry around a big boa?

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“What the hell are you talking about?” Inuyasha growled. Kikyo had always been a sore subject with him and reflexively his hands tightened around Kaiya’s legs and back as he walked. “Kagome was born with the jewel in her, she came back to this time as its protector, she’s a miko, she looks like Kikyo, even that hag Kaede said she’s Kikyo’s reincarnation. And she’s dead.” At the last statement, his voice deadpanned, becoming monotone. “She has to be.”

Caressing his face tenderly, Kaiya tried to comfort her brooding hanyou. She wasn’t sure why he would take this news so hard, but she knew she couldn’t allow this lie to continue. Kagome was giving her equally confused looks, and Kaiya knew she was even if she couldn’t see her face. “Aside from my nurse and father, Kikyo was the only one to come to the palace. She stumbled upon us and broke through the barrier. I’ve never seen my father so angry…”

*Flashback*

“And in the darkness of night the invader came, a whisper of death upon the wind the only indication that their world would never again be safe,” Kaiya read from the scroll, one of the many stories and poems she labored upon day after day in an effort to amuse herself. As always, she read aloud to her father while he lay upon his mat beside her, his red eyes intent upon her as he listened to her lyrical voice and let himself get lost in her imagination. “Summoning all his courage-“

Naraku quickly bolted upright, even the quick movement graceful for the half-demon. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he felt his barrier break. Kikyo. Normally he would be mildly amused at the situation, but an invasion of his private home put his daughter in danger, and that he would allow from no one, not even the one his human heart longed for. “Kaiya, into the other room. You presence is not to be known,” his voice left no room for argument and after a worried glance, the princess rose to her feet and padded barefoot out of the room, sliding the door shut behind her. She heard his mental order to the guards to let the woman through and felt, more than heard, as a presence entered the garden room where her father still sat in calm patience. Silently, Kaiya crept towards the door, pressing her ear against the thin paper to hear what stranger could possibly have intruded upon this sanctuary.

“You know why I have come,” the miko said in a cold, detached voice as she sat, her bow in her hand as she faced her enemy and ally.

“I grow tired of your antics and your intrusions, Kikyo. I become less than amused,” her father’s voice held a hard edge she had never heard, like an icy wind rushing down the mountains in winter. Careful to make no sound, she slid the door open a crack, one amethyst eye peering in to see the dark-haired woman. There was a stony arrogance, a dark air about the girl that disturbed Kaiya. Something was wrong with her…

“As I have grown tired of the interference of that ridiculous child. My reincarnation is proving most troublesome. She obstructs my goal, attempts to usurp the hanyou’s affections for me.”

“And you wish what of me, Kikyo? Many times you have attempted to destroy her and have failed. If you cannot control your own problems….” there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, a smirk upon his ruby lips as his words trailed off.

A blue form slithered into the room, what appeared to be a small, flying snake. At her inaudible gasp, Kaiya’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle any sound. Within its grasp was a glowing orb, a human soul, and Kikyo reached out as the orb dropped into her hand, instantly being absorbed into her body. This creature was a soul stealer!

“Kill her, however you wish, and I will rid you of the hanyou. Your two greatest enemies will be gone. I will take him to hell with me, where he will pay in eternal loneliness and pain for his betrayal,” Kikyo’s voice had darkened, her soulless eyes slitting in hatred. Slowly she stood and began to walk serenely from the room, looking more of a dark specter than a spirit or person.

“Kikyo,” his voice made her pause, “Longing is a fleeting emotion. When next we meet, do not believe you will remain unscathed.” The threat was evident in his voice. Without a word, she walked out and Naraku threw up a stronger barrier with an angry growl. He would make sure the heart which yearned for Kikyo would be destroyed. Glancing up, his red eyes locked upon the stunned violet eyes peeking through the crack and he smiled, though there was darkness behind it. He would kill Kikyo when next he saw her…for his daughter’s sake.

*End Flashback*

Kaiya finished the account, her hands still caressing Inuyasha to ease his increasing agitation as the story had unfolded. Especially at the mention of Kikyo’s several attempts to dispose of her ‘reincarnation.’ “I never thought it was you she spoke of, Kagome, because you are in no way her reincarnation. Your souls are completely different.”

Kagome had listened intently to the story, her uncertainty growing with each passing step. She knew Kikyo had no lost feelings for her and had attempted to kill her, but did her hatred really go that deep that she would make a pact with her enemy to get rid of her? “She’s just that way because she was brought back to life missing most of her soul. It’s what made her corrupt, not herself.”

Kaiya shook her head in avid disagreement. “That’s not how souls work, especially pure souls and priestess souls. Though your personality might change slightly from one life to the next, your soul’s element will always remain the same. You’re a pure soul, Kagome, and all of your lives will have been.”

“Kikyo was pure when she was alive,” Inuyasha protested, a distrustful pout on his face, though he himself was beginning to doubt it. How she never trusted him, how cold and distant she was, how demanding of him she had been. Selfish…Kikyo had been selfish, though he had always hated to admit it. He had never been able to admit it until he realized how much Kagome contrasted the woman he once thought he loved.

“She’s a soul stealer,” Kaiya continued, trying to explain, as she turned about in her darkness to try to face the two voices. “That is a corrupt existence, it throws off all forms of balance because it’s unnatural. A pure soul like Kagome’s could never become a soul stealer no matter what atrocities or evil magic has been performed. The soul must be corrupt to begin with.” She turned to face Inuyasha, “And Kagome’s soul is pure, the strongest I’ve ever felt. If she learned to control her powers, she would be a true force to be reckoned with, not this fake corpse of a miko.”

For three years they had all assumed Kagome was Kikyo’s reincarnation and to try to wrap their minds around a different concept was confusing and would take time. “I, I mean-” did that mean she was stronger than Kikyo because she was pure? “That doesn’t explain how she is alive, though. She couldn’t have survived the miasma she was thrown into, and no one found her body washed down the river.”

Inuyasha remained silent, brooding at this information. Most of all, he hated himself when he heard that Kikyo had made several attempts to kill Kagome…and that Kagome had never told him. He pressed his face deeper into the caverns of Kaiya’s soft hands, seeking the warmth and pressure to calm his racing mind. This was too much at once.

“Demons can survive many things, and a demon she has become, dead or not.” With a sigh, she decided to explain a broader topic. “In the world there is a balance. Good and evil, dark and light all exist within it. Whether evil grows for a while or good overthrows for a while, it doesn’t matter so long as all within the world play their parts. If one side becomes too strong and seeks to obliterate its opposite, it can throw off the balance and throw the world into chaos. Even if good tries to completely overthrow all evil, only chaos will resound. Both must exist.” With a raggedy breath as her foot throbbed again, she took a few moments to continue, allowing the information to ferment within their minds.

“The other way to throw off the balance of the world is when something unnatural occurs. When people die, their souls escape. They go to heaven, they go to hell, they await their chance to be born again.” In her mind’s eye she could see the events playing out, the beauty and intricacy of how every person, every tree, every river affected infinite others. A soft smile tilted her lips before a frown marred her features to replace it. “When a soul is prevented from reaching its destination, balance tilts. When several souls are prevented, the balance thrums like a broken limb. All the souls Kikyo has stolen have thrown many things into chaos.” Her amethyst eyes closed, as if she was sensing something in the air. “Had she died, those souls would have been released, and the balance restored.” She inhaled deeply, still seeming to search for something only she could feel. “The world still hurts, it’s not balanced. She still traps those souls, therefore she cannot be dead.”

Kagome’s voice was a whisper as she watched. “How do you know? How can you feel this balance?”

Kaiya smiled as she opened her eyes, turning in the direction of Kagome. “My nurse taught me, and I will teach you. It will help you.”

“Thank you,” Kagome sought her friend’s hand, clasping it as the three entered the clearing where they had left Sango, Miroku, and Kirara.

Sango had been sitting on a log, staring lost into space. Noticing the arrivals, she quickly stood, her eyes asking forgiveness from her friends, especially when her eyes trailed down to the wrapped foot and painful expression on the princess’ face. Cautiously she stepped forward as if afraid they would attack her for getting close. “Kaiya? I’m sorry, I really am. I should never have implied…I should never have said such things. I was just angry, and you were the easiest target. Please…please forgive me.” Tears of shame welled in her eyes as she watched the girl for her decision.

Her sincerity was obvious, and Kaiya knew she couldn’t hold a grudge. They had all done and said things in the past they probably wish had remained unsaid. “It’s alright, Sango. It’s nothing, just a sprain.” The soft crunch of leaves alerted her that another approached, and she knew it was Sesshoumaru. His absence last night and today had felt like a bruise in her heart, hurting as much as her injury did now.

The look in Sesshoumaru’s golden eyes stopped any questions the group had as to his whereabouts, any chastisement or insults. With all his regal grace he approached Inuyasha who held the delicate beauty in his arms. He seemed different, as if each movement was tightly controlled, like he could break at any moment. He swallowed inaudibly, his beautiful eyes unfathomable. His arms reached out for her silently, and Kaiya allowed him to pull her into his body. More surprisingly, Inuyasha allowed him to take her.

Kagome tugged on Inuyasha’s arm, trying to break the standoff the brothers seemed to be in, though there seemed no hostility only…confusion, and understanding. “Come on, we should tell the others what we know now.”

Snapping his fiery orbs at her, Inuyasha frowned. So much information so quickly…. His eyes narrowed and he flexed his jaw. “Yeah, like why you didn’t tell me Kikyo attacked you several times!”

“You wouldn’t have believed me! You worshipped her!” Kagome protested, crossing her arms defensively at the hanyou’s anger. “Maybe if you had wanted to see her for what she really was instead of the ideal image you had of her, you would have noticed when she kept doing it!”

Sango and Miroku glanced at one another, their confusion comically evident. “Um…perhaps you would care to inform us of this matter?”

Sesshoumaru walked into the woods with his precious bundle, careful not to move her much, or cause her further discomfort. He had not held her since…there was no use in such thoughts. Setting his stony face once more, he continued until there was privacy between them. Tenderly he set her upon a boulder, using a tree stump to elevate her injured foot. When he finally did speak, his voice was soft, torn, not the strong arrogant voice of a lord of demons. “I failed you. I promised never to let you fall.” He knelt before her, burying his face in her lap as his clawed hands clutched at her robes.

He had ran all night, leaving the group far behind until his rage had calmed. Slowly he had returned, staying a far enough distance behind the group for he still did not trust his instincts or the new emotions coursing through him. But his ears had heard everything…every accusation, every tear; he could taste her pain upon the wind. She was human and would never be good enough…good enough for him, she didn’t finish, but he knew that is what she meant. To hear her say it…his anger had broken, he himself had broken at the agonized words. This goddess on earth, this strong woman who had defied him, had beaten him, and had made his blood boil with all-consuming passion thought that she was inadequate. And because of his pride, he would never be able to tell her how wrong she was. And she had run from them all because of it. She had fallen, injured herself, because his pride said that to chase after her would show her the emotions he desperately tried to hide behind his icy mask of indifference.

Kaiya was unsure what to do when the demon lord humbled himself before her. He wanted forgiveness, he wanted her. But really there was nothing to forgive. He hadn’t abandoned her, not really. And they both could not separate their thoughts from their heart. To yearn for someone so desperately it became painful, yet you try to stop it, to hide it in the darkest corner of your mind because you knew in the end it would bring only pain. Because it was wrong, it had to be. How could she condemn him for what she too was ailing?

Her hands moved while her eyes shut as she imagined the silver strands of silken hair twining around her fingers. Feather-light caresses across his skin, running the pad of her finger across his soft lips as he tilted his head up to look at her and to see the acceptance in those unique swirling eyes of mist and beauty.

A tear slid down her cheek and he raised himself so his face inched towards her. Tenderly his tongue flickered out, slowly running up her cheek to wipe away the sadness, the longing so pure in one small drop. He cupped her face in his hands. Sesshoumaru was uncertain, fearful of what one small act would mean. With one kiss she would steal his soul. With a soft breath, his decision was made and he closed the distance between them. His lips pressed lovingly into hers, her luscious rosebuds opening like the delicate birth in spring. As their breaths mingled, their tongues gently caressing in an act much more sensual than raw lust, it seemed as if their souls did merge where the two bodies touched. Willingly Sesshoumaru gave his soul, his heart to the innocent beauty, and as tears slid down her cheeks at the emotional intensity of the moment, he realized the wetness upon his cheeks were not merely hers. A single tear had slid from his own amber eye to mingle with hers and drip silently onto the forest floor. As he pulled away, pressing his forehead to hers to look at the ground, at the small pool where their pain had mixed with their wonder and joy, forever joined and he knew he would carry that sorrow within his heart forever; for while Kaiya would forever possess his heart and soul…she would never know.

With hesitation he withdrew, not wanting to break contact but knowing he had to. His arms spread around her form, lifting her into his chest as he took in a lingering breath to surround himself with sakura and jasmine. Sesshoumaru would not leave her again, he would protect her no matter the cost. “Tell me,” his deep voice resounded in the forest, sounding slightly out of place amongst the passionate silence of before, “when we first met how did you know your feeble kick would wound me?”

Kaiya laughed, rich and loud at the memory. At the time she had despised his arrogance, and he had not thought highly of her either considering he tried to choke her for her ‘insolence’. “Youkai or not, you are still a man, and no man is immune to such an injury,” her amusement was evident.

Sesshoumaru raised a perfect silver eyebrow. “Are you calling me weak?” he half-heartedly growled.

“I’m calling you a man. It’s a compliment.” Not long ago she had felt exactly how man he was as he had pressed his silken shaft against her, a hard throbbing creature that the mere memory of stained her cheeks crimson and caused her heart to flutter unsteadily within her breast.

Glancing at her, hearing her heartbeat, Sesshoumaru knew instantly her thoughts. Her blatant desire for him had his beast roaring and the man within him hardening painfully at the thought of burying himself deep within her wanting body. With trembling breath his eyes closed and he trailed his nose against her heated skin. To slake his desire, to lose himself and all his pretentious duties within her would be too easy…he would never wish to remove himself. Forcibly reining in his desires, he pulled away, staring straight ahead with hardened eyes. He could never lose himself in such a way. He could not be weak.

“This certainly complicates things,” Miroku calmly stated as Kaiya and Sesshoumaru emerged from the forest onto the path. “If Kikyo is still alive and consumed with the idea of killing you, we must be on alert.”

Inuyasha was still pouting, brooding as he eyed the arrivals with suspicious golden eyes, taking into account how flustered Kaiya was. “I would have done a lot of things differently if I had known what she really was.”

“If she doesn’t wish to be found, she won’t be found,” Sango interrupted. “Are we just supposed to wait for her to come after us? It seems all we do is wait to be found by our enemies.”

“What about Kaede? Do you think Kikyo will go after her and the village?” Kagome fretted. Shippou….

“She’s never gone after them before, it would be useless for her to now,” Miroku reasoned.

“You can find her, Kagome,” Kaiya’s voice broke through the group’s attention, causing them all to be silent. A playfully wicked grin crossed her features. “I’ll teach you.”

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With a glance at the princess who lay curled asleep within her sleeping bag, Inuyasha lightly crept towards the edge of camp where Kagome sat with her legs pulled up to her chest, her chin resting upon them and mild contemplation on her face. He sat beside her, his arms wrapping within his haori. When she didn’t speak he grunted out softly, “I’m sorry…that I didn’t see what she really was.” He turned to look in her dark eyes before glancing once more into the distance. “I never would have forgiven myself if she had succeeded.”

Kagome turned to face him, her brown eyes hopeful as tears gathered in their corners. She knew it took a lot for the hanyou to ever apologize and it meant…that he cared. “Thank you,” she whispered softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

He jumped, casting a surprised look at her before a timid smile graced his lips. Uncomfortable, he let the smile slip and frowned at her. “Look, after a while it was never about love with her. I just felt like it was my fault she became a monster, I felt I had to make up for it. I didn’t….it wasn’t out of love, just obligation.” He snorted as he turned his attention to the darkness again. “I bet most people don’t think I’m capable of love.”

“That’s not true,” Kagome protested, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “I think you’re capable of a lot more than you give yourself credit for.”

His golden eyes held an odd look within their depths as he turned to her. “Like you?”

Taken aback, she stammered, releasing her hold on him. “What do you mean?”

“It’s like Kaiya said, you’re capable of being the strongest miko ever…you’re just afraid to admit it.”

“Kaiya,” Kagome turned to stare off into the distance, her dark eyes searching for something and nothing. In the end, everything would always come back to Kaiya. Was there more of a role the princess was meant to play in this war? Is there more she's meant to be to all of them? “She’s got more faith in us than we do. She spent all afternoon trying to teach me what her nurse taught her, to make me stronger. And in the end we’re going to use that faith to destroy her father.” She bit her lips, looking down at the ground as she bent her head against her knees once more. “It doesn’t seem right to hurt her like that. Even if it’s something we have to do.”

“What else can we do? Let him get away with what he’s done, to continue to hurt people? To let Miroku’s void destroy him? To let Kohaku die at that bastard’s mercy?” his voice lost its fire as he glanced behind them at the delicate figure curled in restless sleep and regret flickered across his face. “All we can do is be there for her when it happens. I’ll be there for her, no matter what,” his final statement was barely a whisper and Kagome turned her head away from him with a heavy sigh.

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Kagome peeked through a slit in her eye at the girl sitting across from her. They both sat in lotus positions, and despite the painfully injured foot, Kaiya was the picture of serenity as she meditated. “Stop looking at me and concentrate,” Kaiya teased.

Startled, Kagome’s eyes snapped shut before one slid open again. “How did you know?”

“I have other senses, Kagome. Besides, I know you too well,” Kaiya grinned. They had made it to the river and both sat upon boulders at the side, the tranquility of the scenery to aid concentration. Inuyasha had been hovering behind her like a mother hen the whole afternoon and even now he was standing behind her, leaning over her head and getting in the way.

“Kaiya,” Kagome broke the silence again, “if Naraku cut out his heart so he wouldn’t long for Kikyo, how is it he can still love you?” The question had been nagging at her for days.

“True love doesn’t come from the heart,” her eyes flickered open and it seemed to Kagome as if the girl could see her as clearly as Kagome could see her friend. “You love with your soul. Pure lust or longing without love is an impure emotion, and that is what lies in the heart. Without true love to bind it to you, you can will away such emotions...or cut it out as he felt he had to do.” Inuyasha huffed with impatience from behind her, still leaning over to observe the two, his arms crossed over his chest. With a hard shove, Kaiya pushed him off the boulder behind her and he landed in the water sputtering obscenities. “Like I said, Inuyasha, I have other senses,” she laughed. Wet arms wrapped around her waist and began to pull her into the water. “No! You’ll get the bandages wet!” she protested.

“We have more,” Inuyasha devilishly grinned as he hoisted her over his shoulder and splashed his way deeper into the river. With a yelp, she was airborne as he tossed her into the water with a loud splash.

Sesshoumaru silently came up behind Kagome, watching with narrowed golden eyes. “You should not be so careless with her, Inuyasha,” he growled, though his face remained expressionless.

“Shut up, Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha tossed back with a glare. “It’s none of your fucki-”

While his attention was diverted, Kaiya had hobbled on one foot through the water into the shallow area where Inuyasha stood yelling. Grabbing his leg she yanked, sending him sprawling into the water once more and effectively silencing his tirade.

Any amusement in his eyes left as Sesshoumaru caught wind of an unwelcome scent. Tilting his head, he turned his head to find the source. “We are not alone,” his voice rumbled as his hand moved to the hilt of toukijin.

Inuyasha splashed to his feet, kicking up water as he moved closer to the shore, his eyes darting wildly about. “Kikyo,” he growled, his eyes moving to Kagome’s worried figure still perched on her rock. Her bow and arrows were back at camp, and if Kikyo had come for her….

An arrow shot out of nowhere, landing on the shore of the river. Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed before they widened in surprise. Suddenly a glow surrounded the arrow and shot out, its purifying pink exploding outward and knocking the demon and his half-brother on their backs instantly unconscious. A loud splash overwhelemed the silence as Inuyasha crashed into the water and Sesshoumaru’s hand still grasped the hilt of his sword from where he lay on the bank.

Kagome gasped, her eyes darting about as the graceful figure slowly emerged from the trees, a smirk on her cold face. Slowly staggering to her feet, Kaiya cautiously moved closer to shore, her hands brushing against the water to find Inuyasha’s body to pull him out of the water. If he truly was unconscious, he could drown even in shallow water. “Kagome, run. Find Sango and Miroku,” she instructed, feeling panic for her friends well inside her chest. She couldn’t find Inuyasha and what of Sesshoumaru? Was he alright? Her breaths became uneven, panicked as she fell to her knees in the shallow water to find his body.

Kikyo’s voice was cold, detached, but an underlying tone of delight laced her words. “I haven’t come for you, reincarnation…yet.”

With a horrified gasp Kagome understood and whirled around as the glow of soul stealers slid out of the forest. They wrapped around the petite form of the princess and lifted her from the water. Kaiya cried out, her amethyst eyes wild. “No!” she screamed fighting against their hold to no avail.

She was joined by the dead priestess, a triumphant leer upon her face as the soul stealers began to fly off with the two women in their grasps. “You should be happy, Kagome,” she taunted, “Naraku will finally get what’s coming to him. We'll see if he feels anything when he finds his daughter in pieces.”

Horrified, Kagome was unable to stop her as the two disappeared into the distance. “Kaiya,” she whispered, tears sliding down her face.