Naraku // Onigumo

[She fights with herself for close to an hour before, finally, giving him an answer. It's an unsteady one at best.]

...what happened, Onigumo?

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It's... it's Sunday, Kikyo. I believe they've... the Animus...

I can't control it... I can't...

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Give me your coordinates.

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[ He sighs, and presses the button. ]

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Feeling! Be specific or not at all, man.

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I feel... alone.

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[Without saying another word, Kikyo turns off her PCD and...

Reaches for her bow.

Yet...

Why should she take it with her? Somehow it didn't seem right.

Shaking her head, she decides to leave her only weapons behind. It isn't like her and it might just lead to her death, but -]

They're not necessary. [Kikyo busies her hands, drawing her long hair into a loose ponytail.] He won't attack me. [She has no choice but to give in to the odd certainty propelling her closer to Naraku. No.

Onigumo.

Rising to her feet, she leaves her home and uses her PCD to find the Half-Demon. Upon arriving, she forces herself to stop (despite her desire to walk right up to him).]

I'm here. [Her voice is softer and, somehow, kinder.] Talk to me.

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[ Naraku's sitting in a crumpled heap at the far end of the room. There's light traces of miasma in the air, as well as Saimyosho eggs in some of the corners. This is clearly his haunt. He weakly raises his eyes to look at her, and there are streaks underneath them. This event really hit him hard. ]

Come closer.

[ He says weakly, almost broken. ]

I need to see your face in the light.

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[Swallowing a sudden rush of nerves, Kikyo straightens and walks slowly towards him. When she is standing in a beam of light, she takes a moment to look at him closely.]

You don't look well.

[Kneeling down, she uses some of her power to Purify his miasma - but not enough to harm him.]

What do you need?

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Now buddy-boy, don't think like that, you gotta keep it cool! What's got ya all worked up?

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[ He raises one of his hands, but they only manage to clutch at her dress. ]

They... the Animus... it had to have been them...

[ He chokes on his words, but he can't hold them back. ]

K-Kikyo... please don't leave me...

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[ Normally your condescending tone would involve him hunting you down, but... he's pretty messed up right now. ]

I... don't know...

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[The last of her resolve to be cautious disintegrates at his plea. She has never been able to deny someone aid - especially someone who is under the control of some demonic entity.]

I'm not going anywhere, Onigumo. [Surely it's him?] You're frightened. You don't need to be. [She touches his hand lightly.] Tell me what frightens you.

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I'll clue you in, buddy boy, The Cat style: on the house, no charges, no sweat 'cause I'm that nice. If it's some gal makin' you feel low, then ditch her, no ifs ands ors or buts, got it?

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[ He grimaces at that name. It's not entirely Onigumo, Kikyo. The demons are still there. But he's going to allow you to call him that. ]

I... can't... [ he breathes hoarsely, his hand trembling at her touch. ]

I wanted to resist... to deny that I loved you, Kikyo... but I can't. Not anymore. Not...

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I ... can't.

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I...see. [Her features soften and she moves to sit beside him, holding his hand between her hands.] Is it so horrible? Most humans long for love.

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[ He didn't want to talk about this. But... he had to. He needed her now, more than ever. Damn you, Animus! ]

I hated you because my love for you made me weak. It brought me -- us -- pain to know we could never have you. That's why I wanted the Shikon no Tama. To erase that feeling. That pain...

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That's one hooked dude. What did she do to ya?

You gotta take my advice, buddy boy, you just gotta let it go.

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She... saved my life.

[ Sort of. ]

Edited Date: 2011-09-25 06:03 am (UTC)

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[The human emotions weren't just on the surface or something that could be chalked up to lust. No, they were deep - much deeper than she had originally considered. But it made a strange sort of sense.

Without hope, anyone - human or demon - could easily go mad.]

The Shikon no Tama is composed of both good and evil. Perhaps one side would have understood your feelings, but I can guarantee you that the other side would not. It would find a way to bring you to an even more wretched state.

[So many were mistaken about the Jewel.]

I was its protector because I had no desire to acquire it. [And she had the power to calm it into dormancy.] I...didn't want anyone to obtain it and use it wrongly. It's...inevitable that you would forget yourself if you used it. The power would overwhelm you and you would forget how to feel anything for anyone.

[Kikyo releases his hand and gazes at her palms.]

I'm...fragile now. I know I am. But I don't want to see you or anyone else fall prey to its sick desires.

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[ Naraku's eyes were clamped shut as she spoke. What the Animus had done to him... he felt so... so... ]

It was all I could ever think about. I would have given anything to be free of that torment. I knew your heart belonged to InuYasha, even if he had chosen Kagome. You could never love a... a monster.

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Onigumo -

Naraku. [Yes, his aura remains. She should address both of them.] You were only a monster when you listened to monsters. I hated them for what they did to you and...to me.

But I see the truth now. You're there. [A small smile touches her lips.] I thought you were lost.

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The demons knew what he felt for you, Kikyo. So they made me. He was a broken man, a husk who was better off dead. He gave his body to demons so that he could take a form you loved. But I... I hated those emotions. I hated them because I knew they could never be returned. It made me weak. It brought us so much pain...

[ Naraku buried his head in his arms, propped up by his knees. ]

So I saw the Shikon no Tama. I thought it was the only way I could ever forget what I felt for you. But... here we are. In this world. This hell.

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