Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. Don't tempt me! X_X
A/N: New story! I don't *think* I've seen anyone else with this kind of plot, but since it doesn't really emerge until Chapter I, we'll just have to wait and see.
Oasis
Prologue
Blood and Tears
She was dead.
He didn't remember much of it, only the sickening horror when he realized that he'd attacked the illusion instead of the demon. And then she'd screamed, her voice filled with anguish and pain, and he just lost it. He had lashed out, not even bothering to use the Kaze no Kizu, just flailing wildly at almost anything that moved until the youkai was dead as well. It was a kitsune, he remembered distantly, that had been driven insane by a particularly large shard, according to Kagome.
Kagome...
Bile rose into his throat as he shoved Tetsusaiga into the ground, gripping its handle tightly in one fist while he heaved onto the bloodied ground.
Kagome was dead. And it was his fault.
He couldn't look at her. He knew she was there somewhere behind him on the ground, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. He couldn't even look at Sango or Miroku, or even the baby kit who was sobbing hysterically into Kirara's fur. He'd failed her again, for the last time. Behind him, the demon exterminator clenched her fists, fighting back the tears that gathered at the corners of her eyes. Hiraikotsu lay near her feet, its smooth, polished shape snapped cleanly in half. Miroku took a few halting steps towards the hanyou crouched on the ground near his sword.
"Stay away from me!" Inuyasha snarled violently. "Leave me the hell alone."
"Inuyasha, we must bury Kagome-sama. I know how you feel, but--"
"Don't you dare touch her, bouzu! And don't try that condescending crap on me, you know shit about how I feel," Inuyasha snapped, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Damn it, Inuyasha! I know what you're thinking, but it's NOT YOUR FAULT! You cannot blame yourself for Ka--"
"I can do whatever the hell I want! You don't understand, it WAS my fault! It was my fault that I couldn't even tell the youkai from the damn illusion! It was my fault that I couldn't even protect her! Don't you get it?! She's dead because of ME." He clawed furiously at the ground, staining his hands a thick, reddish-brown that reeked of the one smell he hated most--Kagome's blood.
Shippou's distressed wailing permeated the air as he pounded his tiny fists helplessly against Kirara's larger form. His tears formed clear rivulets down his dirt-smudged face before landing endlessly on the fire-cat's thick fur. Sango knelt down beside the bawling kit, trying in vain to soothe him.
"Shippou-chan..." she whispered, stroking his fur softly. "Come, stop crying now. Kagome-chan wouldn't have wanted you to cry. She wouldn't have wanted to be the cause of your sadness..." The taijiya's words only served to fuel his cries.
"She's gone! She's gone and I'll never get to see her again! Kagome…!" Shippou suddenly leapt up, his small body slamming into Sango's embrace. His hands clutched the dark fabric of the girl's outfit. Sango wrapped her arms around him, her own tears beginning to flow silently from her burgundy eyes. Kagome had been her best friend, not to mention a surrogate mother to Shippou. And if that horrible tearing feeling in her heart was anything to judge by, then she could only imagine how Inuyasha felt. Despite his insults and attitude towards the girl from the future, it was obvious to everyone except maybe Kagome herself that he cared deeply for her.
Just outside the clearing where the forest had been decimated by the recent battle, a figure watched the events unfolding before them silently. "So... The girl is dead." The face remained an emotionless mask, eyes trained on Inuyasha's still form.
Shoving Tetsusaiga to the side, the hanyou finally rose. His bare feet shuffled quietly against the sodden ground, taking him to Kagome's side. Her face was completely clear, no longer riddled with the myriad of emotions that had graced her features when she'd been alive. He hated it. It made her look so much like Kikyou, and the very thought sent another painful wrench to his heart. He knelt down slowly beside her and awkwardly pulled her unmoving upper body into his lap. He clenched his eyes shut, willing the scene before him to not be real. Her body was starting to feel unnervingly cold, and the scent of death seemed permanently weaved into the air.
When he opened his eyes once again, she had not moved. Her skin hadn't lost the pale hue of death, and no breath escaped her parted lips. Her clear, gray-blue eyes were caught between being open and closed, reflecting the sky that, despite the gravity of the moment, remained a bright, warm blue.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, as unmoving as the body he clutched tightly to him, but he could still hear the rest of his companions somewhere off to his side. Shippou had cried himself into a fitful sleep, still wrapped in the taijiya's arms as she knelt on the earth, her eyes blinking back her last tears. Miroku stood beside them, one hand resting on Sango's shoulder in a small gesture of comfort.
Suddenly, another smell tingled at the edge of his senses, and a dark shadow fell over Inuyasha and the dead girl in his arms.
~*~
The Demon Lord of the Western Lands stalked regally through the forest, a small toad youkai and a child on a two-headed dragon trailing behind him. The taller demon came to an abrupt stop, his face just barely turned upwards to catch the breeze, and then changed directions. His followers scrambled after him, surprised at his rapid change of pace.
"Se-Sesshoumaru-sama! Where are we going? Why have we changed directions?" the small imp-like creature pressed. He was answered by an indifferent stare from the inu-youkai. "Ah! Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama! I-It was not my place to question you! Forgive me!" With frantic haste, Jaken groveled at the feet of his master. He looked up tentatively and realized that the other members of their small band had already passed him by. "W-Wait for me, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
The little girl craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the silver-haired man from atop Ah-Un. "Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Without giving any indication that he'd heard, the demon lord spoke. "I smell that half-breed."
"Ano... Inuyasha-kun?" Rin questioned quietly. Sesshoumaru gave a slight movement of his head in affirmative.
"And that wench who always travels with him. I smell her blood," he continued, more to himself than to the girl behind him. He continued towards the source, his companions following closely behind him.
The forest seemed to thin out after a while, for no apparent reason except... "He's getting closer," Sesshoumaru thought silently. They reached what appeared to be the edge of the clearing as another scent reached his sharp nose.
"Her." It was barely a low rumble, not even enough to alert his half-brother to him. Deciding to ignore her presence for now, he turned to Jaken and Rin.
"Stay with Rin. Do not move from this spot," he ordered the small toad.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," was the automatic obedient reply.
"Sesshoumaru-sama? Are you going to save the pretty lady? The one who stays with Inuyasha-kun?" The little girl peered innocently over the battlefield and then back to her Sesshoumaru-sama. He did not answer her at all, merely turned and walked towards the center of the large unforested area, long hair rippling slightly in the breeze.
Sesshoumaru walked over to where Inuyasha crouched in silent strides, his hand coming up to rest on the hilt of his sword. He thought with disdain that his even his pathetic half-breed brother should have been able to smell him by now. Too bad. In a few seconds it wouldn't matter. The other humans in his pack took no notice of him either as he approached. He stepped directly behind Inuyasha and raised his sword.
~*~
----tsudzuku----
A/N: Whoo! Here we go! Prologue done, and the only thing that really happens here is the lead female's death. _;;;; Well, it gets better later. Sort of. Kind of short, I know, but it's just the prologue so be patient! ^_^ Hehe... Well, R&R! Flames are allowed [not that I could stop you anyway...] but constructive criticism is preferred! *hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink* See ya next chapter!