Broken Talisman Hakari: “Wha-what are you talking about?!” Inu Yasha: “You know perfectly well what I’m talking about!” Hakari: “No! NO! I have no idea! You have to believe me!” Sango: *Leans in close and looks at Hakari. * “Hmmm, well maybe she really doesn’t know.” Inu Yasha: “Humph! Don’t let her tricks fool you! She’s probably working under cover for that Kanisha woman or something.” Miroku: “Hmmm. No, I think Sango might be right.” *Leans in close to Hakari and stares at a spot on her chest. * Kagome and Sango: “Grrrr…Miroku! What do you think you’re doing?!” *Keeps on staring* “So that’s the source of the illusion. There’s something else… it appears to be maintaining something more than the illusion. Very well, I shall leave that in place for now, I shall simply remove the illusion. ” *Reaches for Hakari’s chest. * Sango, Kagome, Inu Yasha: “!” Sango: “Gah, Miroku you god damned pervert!” *Swings the blunt end of her sword at Miroku’s head* Miroku: “ No, Sango,” *Blocks the blow with his staff* Fx wood hitting metal: Tonk! “It’s not like that.” Miroku reaches out and grabs the gold chain from around Hakari’s neck. He pulls it until a small red talisman with a large dog with ruby eyes on it is exposed. He grabs this between his index finger and thumb. Miroku closes his eyes and a bright light flashes. Half of the talisman has disappeared. Hakari” “OH NO! What have you done! Now….now…AAAHHH!” Hakari hunches over and clasps her head in her hands; she buries her fingers in her hair and shudders. She turns her back towards the group. Her face is in shadows and she sits there and begins staring avidly at her hands. Hakari: “Wha-what’s happening to me!? AAAHH!” *Shudders* Inu Yasha: “Hey? What’s wrong with you?” *Reaches his hand out toward her* “Hello?!” Hakari: “Don’t touch me!” Hakari lashes out at him with her hand. Inu Yasha: “AAHH!” She stands up swiftly and stumbles off into the woods again. Kagome: “Inu Yasha! Inu Yasha! Are you okay?” Inu Yasha: “My…arm. How?” Everyone looks down at his arm. It has three long cuts that are bleeding slowly but steadily. Sango: “Your arm! But, only something with claws could do that!” Kagome: “But, she was human! Wasn’t she?” Hakari: “What…the hell…just happened?” She looks down at her hand and sees she has sprouted claws in place of normal length fingernails. “No, no. None of this is happening! This place isn’t real. I just fell asleep on the couch after way to much soda and junk food. Yeah, that’s it! There’s no way this all happened.” A small voice in her mind tells her otherwise “But the pain? What about that huh? Where’s your explanation for that one eh?” “No! Stop it!” “But it’s true, and you know it. You remember what your foster father always told you…” “He-he said, not to take off my necklace, not ever.” “Yes, and why? Why did he tell you that?” “I-I don’t know…!” “Liar. What do you think? Look at yourself. Take a good look.” Hakari stops now. She realizes that she is by a river. On the other side of the river is a village. Hakari looks down into the water at her reflection. Fx Hakari: Gasp! Her reflection shows herself not only with claws, but fangs and golden eyes. Most surprising though are her ears, they’re not human anymore…they look like a dogs. Hakari: “What the hell. There is no way this is really happening. Is there? Is this all real?” Hakari turns to walk away but finds herself to weak to keep going. She falls over backward and lies there, staring at the stars, thinking to herself. She closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. Inu Yasha: “There’s that stupid little wretch of a demon. Shame I have to bring her back unharmed, I’d just love to give her a good whack or two.” “Hey you!” Hakari doesn’t move. “Huh? Doesn’t she hear me? Is she sleeping?” InuYasha sneaks over quietly and crouches by her. He falls backwards in surprise at her transformation. Inu Yasha: *Shouts* “A HALF DEMON!” Inu Yasha claps his hands over his mouth and looks to see if Hakari woke up. She stirs, groans and turns over onto her side, snoring lightly. Inu Yasha takes his hands off of his mouth and looks down at her face. Inu Yasha: “She’s been crying, I can smell the salt of her tears. Maybe I was wrong, maybe she really didn’t know. She’s a half demon, a half-breed dog demon. Funny, I’ve never seen another half demon before, well besides Jininji anyway.” Hakari opens her eyes and looks over at Inu Yasha. Not surprised at all. Hakari: “If you’re gonna kill me or something, then let me say something first. I’m sorry, but when I woke up I was lost and confused. Well actually I suppose I still am, but whatever. I didn’t mean any of it. Okay, you can kill me now, I’m done.” Inu Yasha: “Wow, she’s not in the least bit afraid of me, or dying. Amazing…” He then bursts out laughing. Hakari looks at him, thoroughly surprised. “Kill you! Why would I do that?!” Inu Yasha stands up and brushes himself off. “Look kid, I’m not one much for cold blooded killing, it’s not my style.” He offers Hakari his hand and she takes it. He pulls her off the ground and she stands up. “I’m Inu Yasha.” Hakari: “And I’m Hakari.” Inu Yasha: “Come on, let’s go.” Hakari: “Where to?” Inu Yasha: “Back to the hut, it’s over there, in the village.” Inu Yasha starts off, leaving Hakari behind him with a look of confusion on her face. She shrugs her shoulders and follows along behind him. CH.5 CH.6 Back to IY fics