The Path of Pins | By : girltype Category: InuYasha > General Views: 7418 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story. |
AN: So this has been a somewhat traumatic week for me. And what better way to relive grief and other unpleasantness then to write? So here you all go. And just to inform you writing update soon twenty million times does nothing to inspire me…really its very annoying. Actually writing only "update soon" is pretty annoying in and of itself. I appreciate that you are taking the time to review. I do. I really really do. But that’s really very useless and does nothing to make me want to write more. The review is your opportunity to tell me if I’m missing something or to tell me where I went wrong or right with the chapter, it’s a tool to get what you want. If you take the time to press the review button at least take the time to write something else in there too. And my replies to your comments are as follows:
O.O: Thank you! I’m really glad you like it. I’m trying to not have horrible time periods between my updates but I’m also trying to stretch out the chapters and my muse is fickle so that’s a bit hard to control. But thank you again.
Alemap: I appreciate you taking the time to review then. And my life goal is to be published…it was to play with chris’ hair but he cut it and suddenly I had to find a new one. * grin * don’t mind me. But thank you again. And if you happen to see somewhere I could improve I would worship. O. Ok maybe not but I would come close.
Darkness: see author’s note
Madfan: thank you
Alaina: of course he’s nice. He wants something. Naraku can be very nice when it can get him something, and he won’t get anything if kagome hates his guts. So we get to see a fatherly Naraku.
Ok, not for the reason you’re here…the story! Yay!
The Path of Pins
Chapter 3
~*~
I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas, they’ve gone through me and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.
-Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
~*~
"Tell me, Kagome, what you know of the Shikon no Tama?" We were in his study, a room that I had spent precious little time in, it held the only entrance into his rooms save for a door that led to the outside. I fought excitement just sitting there taking in the sights of artifacts that I could scarcely imagine the use of.
But when his words registered my brows drew together and I looked up into his face. "Child tales, my lord?"
He looked down at me in amusement and tipped his head to the side. "Are you so sure? Tell me."
I thought for a moment before I began. "Its name means the jewel of four souls, said to hold great power. Humans and demons alike wish to possess it. Its greatest attribute and most dangerous is that it is a jewel of dreams; of wishes. It has the power to grant them but it can also pervert them through it possessor. For the jewel was created in the heat of battle by a Miko, in desperation she placed her heart, her very life force into it but also her opponent, a demon who had tried to swallow the world. So forever good fights evil to be tipped one way or the other by the wielders heart. The power can fluctuate either way turning the owner of the jewel bad. Sometimes, though not often true, it can also turn them good."
Naraku smiled at me and toyed with a strand of my hair, the ebony stark against the pale pale skin. "Well done." I was young and beamed under his praise. He sighed and let the hair drop. "Save for the opening. The jewel is real."
"But that means…"
"The one who wields it possesses infinite power."
"But, my lord, the jewel is dangerous."
"So they say. But it was broken its shards passed out as trinkets to the lords of this land. Broken its power is diminished and can to some extent be controlled…there is in existence eight shards. I, myself, possess two."
My eyes scanned the room before I realized what it was I was doing, they were drawn to the door that led to his room and I could just barely feel…
"Are they on a pedestal to the right of your bed, my lord?" I raised my arm and pointed to where I could see a faint glowing.
He froze and blinked at me, I could not then understand the shock that washed across his face nor the pleasure that came after. He slipped through the door and came back a moment later, his hand glowing a faint pink. "How did you know?"
"It-it glows."
I had sensed it, perhaps for most of my life, but I had not known its significance or thought upon it. It had been like a dull throb in the back of my mind, pushed away easily without any thought.
"You can sense the jewel shards." He whispered the words softly staring at the ones in his hand and a smile slowly turned up the corners of his lips and he chuckled. The sound sent a shiver of apprehension up my spine. "This will make your task mush easier.
"My lord?"
"Bring them to me," he said simply. "Find them and take them. Bring them back to me." I stared, my mouth falling open as I tried to understand. What could be done with such power?
What peace could he bring?
This was Naraku, my master and caretaker. Had he not shown me infinite mercy and patience? Had he not taken in a child that the rest of the world had not wanted, even her own parents?
And then the thought insinuated itself into my mind, a snake slipping through the grass not disturbing a blade but seemingly darkening the sky anyway.
What destruction could he create to shake a land already in turmoil?
I pushed it aside, ignored the glint in his eyes, the way his hands clenched, and the knuckles turned white as he watched me. So I held that last thought away and nodded. "They will be yours, my lord." I whispered the words anwed wed my head, hearing the soft sigh leaving his lips.
"I believe then it is time for your coming out. Countless lords have asked me for a glimpse of you. I think a party is in order."
I looked up at the sound of that heavy voice and beamed. His own lips stretched in response and he patted my head indulgently. "Send me Kagura, we have plans to make."
In a display of both my excitement and my complete lack of modesty I was running out the door laughing and calling to my teacher with reckless abandon, able to think only one word: finally.
The next weeks were hard. Naraku and Kagura were working so closely together, putting in place pieces of a party that would eclipse all others. My first appearance had to be perfect.
I had no lessons to pass the time. Besides, I had learned my trade well, no thing more could be taught me, except the real thing. I was sixteen and restless, ready beyond all belief to take that next step. So tempting it was to practice on some unsuspecting man.
Kohaku, my junior by a year, was the most tempting. Long of limb and dark of hair he was strong and beautiful. And beyond even that, I trusted him, knew the meaning behind the dark light in his eyes when they fell on our master. He was no mystery to me and I loved him. I wanted him; wanted to run my hands through his hair to feel the texture and run my tongue along his skin to taste the flavor.
It was a trial not to, and knowing that he would have been more then wiling to let me had made it even harder.
Kohaku watched me with wide brown eyes, following the movements of a hand and the sway of a hip as though they would reveal the secrets of the gods.
And my own eyes followed him. Training to fight he had muscles that glistened magnificently as he moved through exercises day in and day out. His weapons gleaming like stars as he sent them flying through the air with graceful precision.
Though little time was left to us for our old games of make believe we still managed to sneak away to the kitchens to steal a pastry or two. Still stayed up into the early hours of morning talking quietly in whispers. Sometimes we would bring Kanna along, still so young. Even then, though, we were watched closely, guarded against a folly we would not have committed even with our desire.
He was my friend and he was to be my protector. I would do anything to keep him with me and such an act would surely have lost him.
So the weeks passed agonizingly slow and I paced like an animal in a cage and waited for my bonds to be loosened. Soon I would be allowed the freedom of society and, even more enticing, the freedom of the bedroom. Beyond that, even, was the chance that I would have at freedom of a different kind.
It was customary for a patron gift from those that would enjoy the pleasures I had to offer. Money, jewels, and trinkets of infinite worth we to be expected if I was good at my craft. With those gifts I could buy my freedom. I would no longer be a slave and I could stay in my master’s home as a part of his household in my own right, by my own choice.
So the weeks went by agonizingly slow and then the day came. The day Naraku finally let my secret out.
My clothes had been picked out with careful precision, each color each cloth, expensive and soft. How they laid across my skin was planned to the smallest fold. It seemed to take hours for the clothes alone. Kagura and two servants dressed me, put the white make-up on my face and pulled my hair into an elaborate coif that I could not have duplicated on myself in a million years.
Kagura left us when the party started, her place on Naraku’s arm waited, my entrance wouldn’t be ‘til later.
After the feast.
I was, in essence, a bit of dessert.
When my time came I was led to the great hall and waited outside its doors for my cue. I knew there would be both men and demons, and one of them would be my first patron, soon my waiting would be over. My hands shook, so I folded them in my dresses sleeves.
The music stopped.
I took a deep breath and entered.
Most eyes were turned towards the door and such was the rumor of my existence that all talking stopped and those not looking turned to see why silence had suddenly fallen. I watched as a few whispered into the ears of those closest to them.
This is where a normal and obedient woman would lower her head and walk sedately to her lord. But I am not normal and if they wanted obedience they could go home to their wives. Part of my appeal would be the spice of the unusual and in that moment I cultivated the image. So with head high and a smile gracing my lips I walked slowly to my Lord Naraku.
He lifted one dark eyebrow and smiled "My lady Kagome, how good of you to join us."
"My Lord, forgive me for my lateness," I pitched my voice so that in the quiet of the room I was perfectly heard.
"No mind, you’re here now." His eyes twinkled and I saw Kagura smile before she turned her head away discreetly. He did not introduce me, how does one introduce a whore? No, not even Naraku would do that. But he had dropped hints throughout my childhood, had wetted the appetites of every man in this room with the rumor of my training, my beauty.
I needed no introduction.
So when I took the place at his side the eyes that watched me were hungry and I could hear their thoughts. Thoughts wondering how I would taste, what was the feel of my skin, what was it I could do with this lithe and supple body.
For a moment I was scared, the sensation of so many eyes new. I had spent my life in seclusion, Naraku’s household all I had ever known. My eyes strayed to where Kohaku leaned against a wall, arms crossed and eyes flitting through the crowd and the fear passed.
I laughed at myself and the sound sent a ripple through the crowd as conversations started once again. I could feel Naraku’s approval like a weight at my side and watched as a man with brown hair and red eyes approached us.
"Hiten," Naraku called to him softly. "How are you enjoying the festivities?"
Hiten grinned, flashing pointed fangs as his eyes traveled up my form. "I am enjoying them very much." He turned to nod to Kagura, the gold earrings hanging from his pointed ears jingling softly, showing the long black braid that fell down the center of his back. Eyes the color of flames turned to me then, "Kagome was it?"
I felt my lips stretch slowly, felt desire creeping up my spine. "Yes, you heard correctly." I tilted my head slightly, showing the graceful curve of my neck and watched as he swallowed. This man was one of mine, to do with as I wished. I moved away from Naraku and slid my fingertips up Hiten’s arm to his elbow. "This is my first fete, maybe you could escort me a bit?"
He liked his lips slowly and I watched through my lashes and then a smirk quirked the edge of his lips. "I could. Why do we not get you a drink?"
"I would like that." He nodded to Naraku as he led me away. I would be getting a bid for my services within the week.
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