"Looks like she's staying with me. What a shame. For you." Dante smirked lightly while Defoe growled.
"Grier, suits, get the girl! I'll handle Vale!" Defoe ordered and the Organisation group attacked.
Kagome dodged the oncoming claws of some Redcap titans, darting further away as Dante headed in the opposite direction away from Kagome to avoid being hit by Defoe's attacks. Kagome moved quickly, ducking and moving according to the blows being directed at her.
A male suit went to grab her until she flipped over him with ease. Her hand rested over his head for leverage, helping her do a one-handed cartwheel over him. She landed on her feet only to have her eyes widen at the sight of Grier who darted forward to attack her. Quickly, she hurried towards him and not a moment too late, she fell to her knees and slid past his legs. Kagome got to her feet once behind him and blasted him with some of her priestess energy. The blue light caused him to fly back and hit a couple of other suits in the process. Grier landed with a thud and groaned. He slowly sat up, pulling out his amulet with a determined expression.
"Breaker!" He called, the large bear titan being brought forth. It set its eyes on Kagome immediately.
"Oh, crap." Kagome thought, eyes widening at the sight of the huge beast. She reached up to grab her amulet when a set of claws (no doubt belonging to a Redcap) scratched themselves against her back. The material of her shirt ripped and the string of her amulet was cut. The artefact clattered to the floor, Kagome following in an ungraceful manner. Her body hit the ground and she grunted in pain as blood leaked from the wounds in her back. Kagome shakily got to her hands and knees, crawling towards the amulet as Breaker got closer.
"Caliban!" Dante's rough voice hit her ears and a warrior-like titan appeared, getting Breaker's attention and taking it away from Kagome. Kagome grabbed her amulet and forced herself up, ignoring the pain she felt. She sent Grier a glare and rose her hand, another shot of energy hitting him and some other suits.
Dante busied himself with Defoe who, as normal, tried to trash talk him. Dante moved out of the way of some of his blasts while keeping a sharp eye on Kagome. He sent Caliban out to help her when he watched what had happened with the Redcap attacking her. When he saw that happen, Dante felt angry. Angrier than he had ever felt before. Maybe it was because he seemed to be one of the only people who knew about what she had to go through, both physically and mentally. Dante directed his attention to Defoe while releasing a spell of Touchram towards the man who had a vendetta against him.
"You know we'll win!" Defoe stated smugly. "She'll come to our side. And there's nothing you can do about it." Dante chuckled at that.
"That's where you're wrong, Defoe." He called. "Kagome is a strong, intelligent and kind young woman who knows better than to side with the likes of you." Dante continued while Defoe gritted his teeth. "Her and her titan won't bow down to the evil Organisation when they both, indeed, are holy beings themselves. I understand where I've seen her amulet before. And there's no way it is going to give itself up to you." Dante grinned at the furious look on Defoe's face.
"Enough of this! Kreutalk!" Defoe summoned the manta ray-like titan which let out a horried screech. Defoe ordered it to use its acid and it complied easily, aiming for Dante. Dante reached for his amulets but he was a bit too late. He covered his face, shutting his eyes when he felt... nothing. Dante opened his eyes to see Kagome standing in front of him with a blue barrier up. It seemed like she had forgotten that she had seeker powers since she was using her miko ki instead. Kagome clutched her amulet and brought her barrier down. She raised the intricate pendant up into the sky and glared at Defoe. A warmth spread through her body and she yelled out loudly.
"Holy being of the Shikon Jewel! I call upon you! Midoriko!" She declared, the warrior-like female titan appearing in a flash of light. It was at that moment Caliban got rid of the last suit's titan before driving his sword into Breaker, causing it to go back to its owner. Midoriko's hardened warrior stare glared at Defoe and his titan, some Redcaps and Mind Drones behind him. Kagome moved to stand by her titan. Despite only using her a couple of times, everything felt natural. Especially since Midoriko was a being from Kagome's past. Kagome lifted her hand, the fingertips starting to glow. "Boltflare!" She cried, the light forming. It just grew brighter and brighter, temporarily blinding the Organisation members and Midoriko took this chance, Caliban following her lead. The two titans quietly disposed of the other titans, Kagome squinting under the bright light. Dante covered his eyes from the light as he got up, moving to stand next to her.
"Thanks for the save." He glanced at her, eyes squinting. Kagome glanced at him.
"No problem." She smiled. Her stomach then lurched violently. Kagome grunted, her hand dropping. This caused Boltflare to diffuse and she gripped at her stomach. Just at that moment, Defoe looked up only to see Kreutalk get pierced. The titan retreated back to him and he growled. Kagome looked around curiously. Was everything supposed to look so fuzzy? Defoe went to take a step forward when Midoriko and Caliban stood before him intimidatingly.
"We will be back for her, Dante! Just you wait!" He declared. The group then retreated. Kagome felt her head swim even more, the pain in her stomach growing. She collapsed against Dante.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" He asked, quickly grabbing onto her. Her body swayed.
"My stomach... my head... my back..." Kagome started to mumble incoherently. Her blood stained Dante's clothing, the wounds from earlier finally taking their toll on her. "It hurts."
"You're injured, Kagome. We've got to get you back to the house." Dante tried to help her walk but her legs seemed a bit too weak. The man quickly thought of something else to do, taking off his coat and giving it to Kagome to hide her bloodied back from the winds. Kagome brought Midoriko back into her amulet and leaned against Dante for more support. "Caliban, take her to the house. You'll be quicker." The titan nodded, picking her up bridal style. Kagome flinched at the sudden movement, blinking to clear the sudden haze in her eyes. Dante pressed a hand against her head. "I'll see you on a bit, okay?" Dante received a nod and Caliban took off, taking to the rooftops so they weren't spotted. Dante made a run for the streets, not as fast as them but fast enough to reach the house a bit after them. Upon entering, Sophie furiously stomped her way towards Dante.
"What happened out there? Why is she BLEEDING?!" She exclaimed angrily. "Dante, you were supposed to PROTECT her! What happened?!"
"The Organisation happened. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't plan to let that happen to her." Dante looked around. "Where is she?"
"Zhalia's looking over her with Cherit and Lok. And you need to tell me exactly what happened so I can figure out what to do." Sophie crossed her arms.
"I'm not so sure myself. I mean, she was attacked by a Redcap titan annd I sent Caliban to help her against Breaker since her amulet was cut from her neck. Then Defoe tried to kill me-"
"What a surprise." Sophie commented. Dante continued.
"And she cut in. With a barrier-like structure made from her priestess powers. Midoriko and Caliban started attacking the other titans while Kagome used Boltflare. Successfully, might I add. But then she started gripping at her stomach and I don't know why." Dante explained. Sophie hummed, thinking deeply. Something clicked on her mind and she sprinted towards Kagome's given room. Dante hurried after her and the two entered the room to see Kagome sitting up in her bed, Dante's jacket draped over a chair. Zhalia gently touched her forehead.
"You're burning up." She mumbled.
"Get your hands off her." Sophie demanded, glaring at Zhalia. Zhalia pulled her hand back quickly like she was burnt. Sophie knelt beside her friend lightly and grabbed her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay. Could be a lot better." Kagome joked light-heartedly until her stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch. Kagome sighed.
"You still need to get those wounds patched up." Lok spoke up.
"I can do it."
"Not a chance." Sophie glared at Zhalia. "I still don't trust you so think twice before you try and lay a finger on her."
"Then who else can patch up these kinds of wounds?" Zhalia asked, hands on her hips. "The only other person who can do it is Dante and he's a man. Sure, he's a trustworthy one but do you really want your female friend to be examined by a male?" Sophie rolled her eyes. Yes, they were opposite genders but she just didn't like Zhalia.
"I'd trust him over you any day! Dante, you clean her wounds and we'll try and figure out what's going on. Cherit, stay here. You might be needed." Sophie commanded. When it came to her friends, Sophie was like a momma bear.
"Fine." Zhalia crossed her arms and her, Lok and Sophie trailed out of the room. Kagome covered her mouth and laughed.
"Momma bear." She commented, making Dante laugh. The man ducked under the bed and grabbed a first aid kit beneath it. He set it on the bed by her. Kagome turned so her legs dangled over the edge of the bed and Dante got on behind her. She took off her shirt, holding back a blush. It was better than what happened in the feudal era with people walking in on her bathing. She pulled a pillow to her chest. Dante's eyes widened at the sight of old battle scars littering her body.
"Are these from what you told us before?" He questioned, touching the particularly nasty one at her hip. Kagome jolted. It was the first one she got. When that centipede demon pulled the jewel from her body.
"Y-yeah." She mumbled quietly. Kagome hissed when a stinging came from her wounds. Dante cleansed them with a disinfectant as gently as he could and Kagome gripped the pillow, trying not to cry out in pain. Dante muttered an apology when a quiet grunt escaped part her lips.
"Those scars are amazing. All from your battles." Cherit muttered in awe. "This must be where the centipede demon bit you on the start of your journey." He nudged at the scar at her hip and Kagome nodded, signalling that he was indeed correct.
"So. Falling in love with someone not part of your time. That must've been hard." Dante brought up. Kagome nodded, frowning.
"Difficult letting go. Easy falling in love. There was a woman years before that time who looked a lot like me. My incarnation. He kept on calling me Kikyo, the name of the woman before me. She was his lover then. I guess because her and I were similar, that's what made us have a connection." Kagome trailed off. Dante pulled back after cleaning the wounds.
"Stitches aren't needed. I'll have to bandage them, though. And you'll have to remove your bra." Dante was a grown up and mature man, knowing that Kagome, still being rather young, would be embarrassed. Kagome sighed and nodded.
"You wrap from the back, I'll wrap from the front?" She suggested. Dante agreed and grabbed the bandages from the kit. Kagome bit her lip at the pain in her stomach and shut her eyes. It wouldn't be easy to reach back to undo her bra. "Could you help with... you know. It's a bit painful for me to reach back." Dante chuckled and went to help only to realise that there wasn't a clasp.
"There's no clasp?"
"Oh." Kagome hit her head lightly. "Whoops. This ones at the front." She mumbled, pulling the pillow back and unclipping it. Dante rolled his eyes at her forgetful mind and before she could pull the pillow down, he stopped her.
"Hold on." He muttered, ripping off part of the bandages and blindfolding himself. "Okay." Kagome stared up at him and smiled. He really was a gentleman. She moved the pillow away as Cherit flew behind them so he couldn't see. Dante started to wrap the bandages around her, Kagome lacing them at the front before handing them back so he could do the back. This continued until they were done. The bandages started at the top of her chest and finished half way down her stomach. She put her shirt back on and Dante unblindfolded himself.
"You really are a gentleman, you know?" Kagome smiled up at him.
"It's only the right thing to do." Kagome grunted at the pain in her stomach and wrapped her arms around her abdomen. Dante hovered his hands near her body in worry. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah. Kinda hurts." Kagome huffed out a heavy breath and turned her body, leaning back into the pillows.
"I'll get Sophie." Dante went to get up but Kagome placed her hand on his arm.
"No. You've seen how she reacts. It's really not wise. Just get me some paracetamol?" She sent him a pleading look and Dante nodded. He headed out of the room, Cherit following.
"Tell me you didn't try anything." Sophie commanded immediately, folding her arms. Dante looked shocked that she would even think that. Before he could say something, Cherit spoke up.
"On the contrary! Dante was a true gentleman." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"She just needs some rest and we'll be able to leave in a few days. Did you get her a ticket?" Dante questioned, walking past to grab the medicine and a glass of water.
"Well, yes, I did, but..." Sophie trailed off, watching Dante collect the items before heading back into the room and giving them to Kagome. Sophie crossed her arms with a frown.
"Someone's a bit jealous." Lok smirked.
"I am not!" Sophie sent him a glare.
()
RIGHT! I shall be at a camp sunday and next week and I might be pretty tired. BUT I will try and write the next chapter on my phone and if its successful than I'll upload it as soon as I get internet. But I might not get the chance since I'll be super super busy. Lmao I hope to get some reviews while I'm away or something :') Sorry for any typos! And I hope you guys enjoyed this weird, awkward, cringy chapter!