Chapter 12 :
Still Hidden
|
Inuyasha cut in, once again rudely presenting himself and his thoughts aloud. "Wait a minute! If Naraku didn't have possession of the jewel until he stole from us, then how the hell did he put jewel shards in your throat ten years ago?!" Jade turned her gaze from Kagome to the arrogant male hanyou who still played an annoyed expression across his face.
"You pay attention rather well when you decide to...Naraku had many allies fifty years ago, before he had betrayed and destroyed them, absorbing their evil strength and power. One of these allies was quite gifted in creating demonic objects and so Naraku demanded a stone which would act as the source of torment and revulsion he so desperately wished to have since he had not yet gained grasp of the Sacred Jewel. For many years people and demons alike throughout the land believed this stone to be the Sacred Jewel, until word spread this stone was not nearly powerful enough to serve Naraku's whims, although it did possess the power to control few chores, including my unbalance of eating, prolonged wounds, and prohibitance of using my voice. This is the stone I spoke of, unfortunately after Naraku gained possession of the true Sacred Jewel he quickly exchanged the false stone shards and placed the actual jewel pieces into my throat, furthering the deafening affects of the previous shards."
After Jade had spoken Inuyasha simply scoffed at her, realizing she was truthful in her explanation. Suddenly Sango began to gasp.
"Jade...your back..its..its glowing!" Jade quickly glanced behind her, knowing what was occurring. A red glow was eluding from her lower back which was seeping around her, giving site to all who surrounded. "Pay no attention, it is nothing to be alarmed of." Miroku was questionable at Jade's remark, unsure if she was or was not being sarcastic.
"You mean to tell me that this affect happens often?" Jade grinned slightly, these people were so unorthodox, "Yes....daily, it is an affect of Naraku's love mark." The group before Jade replaced their intent expressions with puzzlety . Finally, Shippo decided to speak out his confusion.
"What's a love mark?" Jade shot the young fox demon a rattled look, and then the male hanyou, seeing if he too did not understand what she spoke of.
"You mean to tell me none of you, even you Inuyasha, have no knowledge of what a love mark is?" The collection of friends simultaneously shook their heads in a negative response. Jade slightly laughed at the reply of the companions, amused that a male, half demon teenager had no comprehension of this subject.
"A love mark is a harsh bite, which will eventually form into a scar, given to a demon by his or her mate. It is a symbolic mark upon the skin that will remain until the demon that imprinted it no longer loves this other, particular demon. This mark gives perfect site to the size and shape of a demon's fangs and mouth, it acts as a wedding ring for youkai ." Kagome nodded, believing she somewhat understood Jade's explanation.
"So if Naraku gave you this love mark, why does it generate a red glow?" Jade again grinned at the naivety of this odd bunch.
"Naraku did not imprint me with this bite because of a symbolic love; he gave me his bite to brand me. Many times the true, justifiable reason of the love mark is ignored by evil, lustfully greedience demons. Naraku gave me his bite to mark me as his property, to let all men know that my body belonged to his own. The bite eludes a glow whenever he lusts after me, allowing me to know he "misses" my company. He had given me the mark the first night he ravaged me, ten years ago, on my lower back, and it has glowed each night since that first."
Sango revealed yet another question that now preyed on her mind. "You say this mark was imprinted on your lower back...but when Kagome and I dressed you had a large bite on your chest, is this just another wound Naraku had given you?" Jade opened her eyes wide, not knowing these young women had known of her first, further aged love bite. "No. That was a true love mark, given to me by my previous mate, the father of my dead son."
----------------------------------------
<<previous chapter | next chapter >>