Kagome saw it all in a rush—
Ikiryou growling at the proffered food. Kaede hacking up blood. Rin doubled-over retching.
I couldn’t keep it down…I’m sorry, Kagome-chan…it tasted like—
Kagome’s jaw clenched as she ripped back the door of the tent, bitter tears boiling from the corners of her eyes. It was night. Kanako had been sleeping, but at the sound, at the sight of Kagome looming above her, she bolted upright.
“Kagome-sama—”
Exhaling a choked, angry breath, Kagome threw the remains of the teacup in Kanako’s blinking face. “Kanako-chan…how could you…”
Kanako shrank back, her wide eyes flitting to the fragments briefly before locking on Kagome again. “K-Kagome-sama, I don’t—”
“Don’t you fucking lie to me!” Kagome seethed, lunging for her. “Don’t you dare!”
Kanako squeaked as Kagome bore down upon her, grabbing her yukata in fistfuls. Hauled up by the collar, the waif paled in fright, her thin lips quivering.
“You killed her,” Kagome said, the tears stinging down her cheeks as she gave Kanako a vicious shake. “You killed Kaede-baa-chan. She was kind to you, and you poisoned her. How could you do it…how could you do such a terrible thing?”
“S-she defied you, Kagome-sama,” Kanako whimpered out, the huge whites of her eyes roving desperately over Kagome’s thunderous expression. “That day at the gates, you said to me—”
“Don’t you dare try to pin this on me!” Kagome yelled as she shoved Kanako back down to the bedroll, beside herself with grief and fury. “I never wanted her dead, and you knew it. She was my mentor, my friend. We disagreed, but I loved her. I loved her and you…”
Kagome’s voice caught, useless, in her throat. There were no words to convey what she felt in this moment. Only a low keening sob, smothered and wretched, escaped her as she glared down at Kanako through the blur of her tears. In her hazy vision, Kagome saw double—two Kanakos, the girl and the ghost.
Is this because I failed you? she asked the poor torn wraith who hovered between them. Is this your vengeance, Kanako?
“I loved her, that’s why you did it,” Kagome murmured. “That’s why you tried to get rid of them, too—Ikiryou, Rin-chan. When the poison didn’t work, you turned to other ways. Did you drive Ikiryou out of Edo? Did you convince Rin-chan to marry Ren? That stunt you pulled outside the watchtower—you caused a scene so Kohaku would go after Sesshoumaru, didn’t you? Did you hope that Kohaku would slay him? Did you?”
Spidery fingers scrabbled, grasping at Kagome’s white-knuckled fists. “Everything I have done, Kagome-sama—I have done it out of devotion to you. That mad dog, that spoiled girl, that wicked demon—what are they but burdens upon you? Stumbling blocks in your holy path. What have they done, except cause you trouble?—what have they ever suffered for your sake? If I have sinned in your eyes it is only because you cannot see that I have loved you best.”
Bile churned in Kagome’s stomach, and she could see it. This perversion of feeling. She could see how love could twist a person to do unspeakable things. She could feel this twisting in herself.
“I pitied you. I took you in,” Kagome spoke thickly through the pain. Her trembling hands unclenched, only to wrap around Kanako’s spindly neck. “I relied on you, but you’re a menace. Even if you killed everyone else on earth, I still wouldn’t love you, Kanako-chan. You are dead to me—dead.”
Beneath her, Kanako went slack, lifeless as a gutted fish. Her bloodless fingers fell to her sides.
“Kill me, Kagome-sama,” the waif whispered hoarsely. “Please.”
Kagome’s coiled fingers tensed with a jerk. “I should kill you,” she whispered back, strangled and dark. “It’s what you deserve. It’s what we both deserve.”
“Kagome-sama,” the waif said faintly, gasping as Kagome broke her hold on Kanako’s throat and seized her by the arm instead. “Kagome-sama…!”
Dragging Kanako up after her, Kagome stalked to the entrance of the tent and shouldered through the flap.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Just in case I don’t post tomorrow (will try, since I know this is an evil cliffy 😅) – Happy Holidays! 💕❄🎄
Tbh I’m glad you didn’t draw out the revelations about Kanako’s treachery. We all knew she was twisted and obsessive—the only question was to what extent. I hope she can be dealt with quickly and cleanly. Will she have her strung up and fed to the crows like the woman who spoke ill of Meyuri? But then, Edo has perhaps seen enough death. It seems vain to banish her from Edo when it is already a molten ruin.
“She could see how love could twist a person to do unspeakable things. She could feel this twisting in herself.”—is that personal growth I see on the horizon 👀? I imagine Kagome’s treatment of Kanako will be a harbinger for her treatment of the others who have acted out of twisted devotion (ie pretty much everyone in this universe).
My mind is spinning trying to come up with a way this could all lead to a HEA for Sesshoumaru and Kagome. I think it’s possible—now that we know that he didn’t scheme to murder Inuyasha and intended to revive him. It is hard to countenance murder, but (as Sesshoumaru and Hirokin are constantly reminding us) demons think differently and are distinct beings from humans. I’m not saying that excuses it, but Kagome seems to be growing more perceptive and amenable to this distinction. When Sesshoumaru returns from wherever the hell he’s been for the last 20 years, perhaps they can actually speak to each other—communicate across cultural barriers, as it were.
Thanks for writing, Char! Happy holidays to you and yours!
“I imagine Kagome’s treatment of Kanako will be a harbinger for her treatment of the others who have acted out of twisted devotion (ie pretty much everyone in this universe).” XD it’s so true…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these latest developments, Alex! And thank you for the well wishes <3
Hope you had a wonderful holiday, too! <3
Interesting parallel between Kanako & Hirokin telling Kagome that they “love her best”
Oooh this is true! <3
How is it that everyone that thinks they deserve Kagome ends up being nothing but a disappointment to her? Sesshoumaru, Ren, Kohaku, Kanako… the list is just growing and growing. Now Kanako is probably going to try and kill Kagome since she can’t have her and end up getting herself killed. Smdh. She’s gone too far now.
“She’s gone too far now.” – that’s for sure… D:
Thanks for sharing, Blackberry! <3
Goddamit I really hope this is your side gig where you come to play and in your daily life someone is handing you stacks of cash and writing is your vocation. You are just too good. On the other hand if you’re a professional writer in disguise I kind of hate you because that would mean there’s more of your work our there that I haven’t devoured yet. Does that make me a kanako? FUCK
Hahaha <3
Nope, not a professional, just a hobbyist 🙂 But thank you so much for the encouragement!! If I ever do write something non-fanfic, I'll be sure to announce it here <3
Thanks again!