Chapter 11
Kagome let herself be pulled forward, so entranced in his voice, in the slide of his hand as he pushed it gently along her cheek, that when she found herself being drawn towards him, resisting was the last thing on her mind. The smell of pine, frost, and ionized air was surrounding her, his heady scent clouding her consciousness.
Shock came first. With all of the little intimacies that had taken place between the Lord of the West and the priestess, it was always his youkai that had gotten things started; be it licking her neck, the first soft brush of a kiss, cleaning her wound which lead to… more. But this, this was the first interest that Sesshoumaru himself had shown in her that hadn't progressed from something beyond his youkai's actions.
Kagome's blue eyes widened as his lips meshed against hers, feeling a soft tug on her bottom lip as he drew it slightly into his mouth, nipping with sharp fangs. The expanse of her vision was centered on the duel magenta brush strokes that layered his eyelids, rimmed with thick long eyelashes that casted dark shadows onto his cheeks.
Sesshoumaru shut his mind down, silencing the inner battle between his wants and his former – now very confused- ethics; the insecurities that slowly rose like the tide coming in whenever he was around her. All the questions the mortal brought with her, he tuned them all out; allowing himself to bask in the moment, enjoying the hot feel of her lips against his.
Somewhere between the first second and the fifth (though, of course, it felt so much longer), after a slew of other emotions, acceptance found Kagome, relaxing her into the kiss and provoking her to respond. She found herself tentatively swiping her tongue along his upper lip, the blood rushing to her face; half in embarrassment, the other half? Lust. The miko allowed her eyes to finally slide shut, but despite obstructing him from her sight, the scent of him around her had her seeing his form behind her eyelids. She allowed one of her hands to travel through his silken hair, resting at the back of his skull while slightly urging him with soft tugs.
Silly Sesshoumaru, after all you know of me you still think me capable of viewing you as weak? I think you are the strongest person I know… And while I still don't agree with everything that happened between us in the past – oh, like, the several times you attempted to kill me – I think I'm finally beginning to understand where your harsh tendencies stem from.
She felt him take control of the kiss, shoving his tongue deep into her mouth; the spicy taste that was purely him caused her to moan greedily and forget how to think. Oh how long had she wanted this? From the first time she'd felt that capable muscle slide down her neck beside the Bone Eaters well? Or was it stemmed from the first time she'd dreamt of having his lips on hers, dreamt of that strong body hovering over her.
Kagome allowed herself to be pushed back gently against the grass-softened ground, the hand disappearing from her head as she felt more than saw his form lean over her. His body warmth and metaphysical weight spurring on her lust as she grappled his shoulder with her free hand, wrapping it into the silk of his haori, pulling him closer to her. She wanted, no needed, to feel that delicious heaviness settling over her body, covering her completely; moaning at the anticipation.
Sesshoumaru swallowed the noise, his blood lit aflame to the mewling sounds she created deep in her throat, noises meant just for him… Caused be him.
Mine.
For once, the Daiyoukai agreed with the beast inside of him. He'd never hungered for anything like he hungered for this female mortal. Her taste flooded his tongue, egging him on; he moved to drag his hand along the curvature of her hips; pulling away from her lips long enough to connect their eyes. Her hazy glazed over eyes had him growling possessively. He wanted to be able to feel her warmth, his armour suddenly becoming an object that merely offended his person, stopped him from achieving his goal. Unacceptable.
What does… what does this mean for us? Kagome's lust-hazed mind began throwing her doubts around. She almost shook her head to dislodge them, but held back, suddenly coming back to herself. What did it mean for them?
She found herself vaguely wondering about the situation, strange thoughts flitting to and fro in her lust-filled head as she watched him deftly untie his obi, the silken material pooling in his lap before he unhooked his armour, pulling the boiled leather plates from his body. Only once did he ever break eye contact with her during his task and that was to lift his armour over his head; those twin golden suns that were burning her up inside were soon back on her, scalding her body with their heat.
Kagome came to an abrupt realization that his sclera's were tinting red as he laid his body back against hers, finally granting her wish to feel his weight settled on her. She could clearly feel his erection pressing against her waist, the cotton of her PJ pants and the silk of his hakama did very little to disguise his arousal.
Is this it? After all of the time I waited for InuYasha… After such an abrupt change in my life… Is this how I'll become a… A woman?
The thought made her shiver; often she'd thought about it, dreamed of having sex with the hanyou on some many numerous occasions that she couldn't even count them all; but now, here… With Sesshoumaru.
This is what she wanted, right? What she craved? Dreaming of intercourse and having intercourse were two distinctly different scenarios.
"Miko… Kagome… Is this what you really want?" If was as if he'd read her mind, his half-lidded crimson and golden eyes searched hers for the truth, the scent of their arousal was over-powering the smell of her doubt, but he knew it was there. She shivered again, though his duel-toned voice was not the cause, fear at all was not the origin, but such… Want. Such pure, unbridled need coursed through her blood at the sound of his voice that she couldn't find her own. She could merely nod in agreement and watch the glint of acknowledgement flash behind his eyes, quickly darkening to lust and possession. Yet another shiver.
Sesshoumaru nudged his nose softly against her cheek, relishing in the creamy smoothness of her skin before drawing back onto his knees and surveying the captivating sight before him.
Kagome lay on her back, her raven hair spread along the ground beneath her, splaying out like shadows across the grass. Mistress night had turned his female's eyes from their azure blue to a murky grey; her half-lidded gaze laid her arousal so painfully bare to him, Sesshoumaru felt his heart thump. The cheek he'd just pushed his nose against - as well as the other - were both flushed a pretty pink, hidden to the human eye, but not the eyes of the youkai. She was wearing – what did she call it? A camisole? - Some flimsy piece of black material that clung in all the right places, two straps of lace arcing over her shoulders to hold the cloth up.
She was wearing red cotton pants, more finely crafted than he'd seen in their era, with a white drawstring laying untied at her waist; the two strings haphazardly splayed her legs. Sesshoumaru laid his hand on her chest, just below her collarbone on the flat expanse where her rib cage met, between her breasts. He heard and felt her breath hike sharply, felt a soft resistance; her body pushing against his hand, urging him to continue.
Kagome's skin felt so warm beneath his, his hand stilled, currently still splayed over her chest. He'd never thought himself to be overtly large before, feeling for a youkai his body was merely of average size; but to see his hand taking up so much of her small chest, another feeling rose to run alongside his lust.
He had to protect this fragile mortal. She was so small, so frail beneath his hand that he felt he would break her. Sesshoumaru realized he was almost afraid to move his arm, to caress down her body and explore the most amazing natural wonder he'd found in all his years; Kagome. His gaze flicked from his hand to the bandage encircling her shoulder; a strong reminder she was human… so slight… So delicate. She bled; sometimes that blood couldn't be stopped without help, sometimes her wounds didn't heal as his did. He could come back from the brink of death within a few days… she? She, again, couldn't.
Take her… Take her… Ours, all ours. She will make the most superb alpha… We have found well, take her now!
He felt more than heard the impatient rumblings of the youkai that was infused with him, keen to be there at the forefront when they took their 'mate'. The mortal's heart beat like butterfly wings beneath him.
I cannot… I do not think I am capable of it. She is so small, do you not see? Look at the size of her… She is mortal, she is not youkai; I am concerned we will hurt her… And she will not heal. She will fear us…
Fear is fine, fear is good. We will be her alpha, she should fear us. She is strong. Take her! Do not wait longer!
No! She does not understand the implications of mating… She is mortal! She does not know anything of demon heritage!
Take now, explain later; look at her! She wants us, I can hear our intended's moans, I can smell her arousal! Want! Need! TAKE. MATE. NOW!
Sesshoumaru's outward expression belied none of the conversation he was having mentally; his inner youkai sounding more like a child than the relentless killing force it was.
I like you more when you're a silent presence, He hissed back in his mind; his eyes still locked onto his hand over her… So small…
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Her hesitant voice brought him out of his reverie, he could see the lust draining from her eyes, filling with uncertainty and insecurity,
"Is there some… Something I'm doing wrong? Something I'm not doing, and should be?"
His demon purred in his mind, apparently very pleased by the fact their intended was worried she was doing something incorrect, wanting to pleasure him too; the thought alone made his cock jump in anticipation,
"No Kagome… This one was merely lost in his mind, my apologies…"
Kagome blinked, a little of that doubt fading, but not all of it. Sesshoumaru kept his eyes locked with her as he swirled his hand from her chest to the side of her ribcage, intentionally just brushing against the side of her breast, watching the heat rise in her expression again. He drug his hand down the plain of her stomach, coming to rest on one protruding hip, a guiding beacon; giving it a sharp squeeze.
Kagome gasped as his hand changed direction, sliding up slowly, travelling beneath her shirt, the warmth of his flesh on hers made her shudder. She'd never known lust so unhindered, such pure want that coursed through her virgin body; thinking of all the possible outcomes this night brought.
The feel of her skin against his burned, it was like touching his hand to an open flame; but this burn was good. It simmered, and bubbled; blistering his veins as his blood began to heat. Sesshoumaru smoothed his hand back down the valley of her abdomen, hooking a thumb on the thin material of her shirt, pulling it back to visually reveal the heat he'd felt, the thin material bunching where his index and thumb met.
Kagome lifted her hips forward, before curling up, making the task of removing her shirt all the more easy. Sesshoumaru had never seen the odd piece of clothing that covered her breasts, did not know the purpose but knew it by how provocative it was that it was not meant to be seen by others - besides a lover.
The priestess reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, watching how Sesshoumaru's eyes followed her movements assiduously. Kagome couldn't help but think about how unreal all of this felt; here she was, sitting in feudal japan, about to lose her virginity to the most beautiful youkai she'd ever laid eyes on. And the strongest. Yep, she definitely had to be dreaming.
She swallowed the cotton in her mouth and let the black material – the only barrier left between her bare skin and his burning eyes – drop away. Kagome couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but something almost… feral shifted behind the Daiyoukai's red-hazed eyes; suddenly making her feel very naked in his presence.
"Well?" Her voice caused his eyes to flick up to hers, "Aren't you going to undress too? I don't want to be the only one bare here."
Sesshoumaru could hear past the mocking tone to her uncertainty, "I'd rather you undress me."
Kagome flushed a deep crimson at the blunt statement. If she'd tried to speak she knew her voice would falter and her tongue would stutter; so she opted to give a gentle nod. The miko was suddenly acutely aware of her half-clothed body as she reached a hand forward, lifting her back from the ground to reach for his hakama strings; his haori tucked underneath the folds of material. Her eyes flicked to his obi and armour at their sides before back to his face; immediately dropping from the heat she saw there.
Her fingers suddenly felt numb and swollen, the difficulty it took to untie one side had her blushing even deeper, wondering if he was mentally making fun of her inexperience. Probably, she thought, those damned insecurities rising again, It's not like a gorgeous demon such as him, who has lived likely over a couple hundred years, has never laid with a woman before… He's probably internally laughing at me right now…
Sesshoumaru could feel her anxiety flowing off of her in waves, her doubts and mental battles waging. Gold and red eyes narrowed slightly, his hand coming up to touch the bottom of her chin, raising her surprised face to his. The Daiyoukai examined those uncertain murky eyes before once again capturing her lips softly, her fingers still tangled in one side of his pants.
"Do not make that expression."
Kagome opened her eyes, her lips plump and swollen, "What do you mean?"
"I do not want to see you think of anything but pleasure."
The miko flushed again, Sesshoumaru had a way of stating very blunt and obvious things while negating the normal embarrassment that went along with saying such things. Kagome looked into his impassive expression as one side of his hakama suddenly fell away from him ministrations. For a flicker of a second, she saw InuYasha above her, cocky half-lidded eyes trained onto hers - and then he was gone. Abruptly Kagome thought about pain, about youkai nature and wondered was it the same as humans when it came to intercourse. What was 'rough' for an inhumanly strong demon? Oh how easily lust gave way to fear.
Sesshoumaru froze, his face betraying nothing as her anxiety began washing away the scent of arousal. He could feel his youkai pacing; feel his own uncertainty at her fluctuating attitude.
We will wait… she is not ready for this step. It is too soon.
He expected complaints, demands, some sort of fit; but got the opposite. The words surprised him more so than anything else.
She will not understand if we draw back. She will force herself to comply with our wants. She will be hurt…
If he were honest, he didn't want to pull back – didn't know if he could; he'd never had even considered another's feelings before a coupling, and now it seemed he couldn't get past it. Sesshoumaru covered her trembling, fumbling hands with his as she tangled them into the strings on his left side, leaning his face down to hers to place a chaste kiss on her lips. He spoke softly against her mouth, sending little waves of tingles through the nerves in both of their flesh,
"Miko. Tonight, let me enjoy you."
The silence surrounding them was captivating; soul-searching and destructive. InuYasha sighed gently, a soft whisper that sounded as loud as a scream. Amber eyes flicked to the side, landing on the beautiful women beside him. As always, she stole his breath away.
Her sleek hair trailed down her back, pulled into a loose ponytail near the base of her neck; signature locks hanging forward on either side of her face. Straight-cut black bangs rested against porcelain skin, contrasting more beautifully than InuYasha could put into words. Doe eyes slowly turned to rest on his, brightly reflecting the moon like the surface of still water. Their depths pooled with nothingness, an endless void he felt he could sink into.
She is dead. A soft voice floated through his mind, shaking her beauty from his mind, forcing him to concentrate, She is dead, and this is what you gave Kagome up for.
InuYasha struggled against the urge to tuck his ears tightly against his skull; this internal conversation had not been the first of it's kind over the last few days since he'd damaged his relationship with Kagome beyond repair, but he was shamed with each one.
The wind tugged a lock of hair over Kikyou's shoulder, resting it softly over her stark white miko haori. The hanyou reached a hand up to tangle his fingers into that tempting hair, fisting it and bringing his hand to his lips. Even in death, she captivated him, tugged at all the right heart strings. Their tragic past caused him to be unable to let go; to have their relationship now, after she'd been stolen maliciously from his side, was their retribution; the salve on their wounds. So many wounds.
Kikyou smiled gently at him, dull eyes lighting a bit more. She closed her eyes allowing dark shadows to dance across her cheeks from her eye lashes as she place one of her hands over his,
"Is there something you wish to talk about, InuYasha?"
"No, why?"
Her smile widened, a hint of bitterness displayed in the slightest way. She could feel his flesh beneath the cold skin of her hand, the magic that reanimated her did not force blood through her veins; therefore she felt not heat or cold. The widening and constriction of blood vessels was no longer necessary for her necrotic body. Kikyou lived, yes; but she did not live. Her being did not belong on this plain of existence any more than the kami themselves. Even now there was always a soft nagging feeling; something telling her there was something wrong, something off.
Yes, there was. Her. She, herself, was wrong. Kikyou opened her dark eyes slowly, down casting them to the ground at her knees, "You only ever get that expression when you think of her. I merely wondered if you should want to voice your thoughts aloud, is all."
"I-I! I was not!
Another soft smile; InuYasha growled softly and huffed, casting his own eyes away to the side stubbornly. He knew the she was aware of his lie; his white ears sagged softly, "I don't mean to… think of her."
"I am aware," Kikyou spoke softly, though she gave his hand a soft squeeze to encourage him, "One does not just forget all that transpired in the last four years in the blink of an eye. I am not angered, InuYasha."
Now it was his turn to look down, in shame this time. How blessed he was to have her; to have been able to keep one at all was pure luck. His affections had changed directions more times than he'd seen the seasons change, and yet he'd still managed to have Kikyou stay by his side in the end. Now he needed to devote himself to her to keep her; that much he knew.
"I can only hope for the ending to sway in my favor; to win your heart."
Her words had his gaze shooting to her face, wide and disbelieving. She looked back with a saddened smile; shaking her head softly and placing a smooth finger against his lips when he went to protest, "Nay, InuYasha. Do not dispute that which is true."
InuYasha settled back looking rather morose, a familiar shame burning through his veins.
Darkness shrouded the room, unnaturally clinging in the corners like tangible nightmares. A hanyou of another kind sat, contemplating his latest iniquitous plan, a bright glint flaring in his red eyes.
A slow grin tugged the corner of his lips into a thin line as he chuckled darkly, "Oh yes… Prepare yourself InuYasha… Sesshoumaru… I will draw you ever-closer into my web…"
Naraku stood, sharply turning on his heel and walking towards the shoji; his narrowed eyes reflected the star-brightened night as he stepped outside, the inky waterfall of black hair cascading down his back swayed with each step, "Yes. It will all begin soon."
The wind pushed gently at him, soft fingers brushing over his body as the malicious glint in his eyes intensified,
"Go."
Hordes of demons flew past him, conjured almost seemingly from thin air. Armies of them taking to the skies; filling the air with the beat of wings and cries of war. Naraku's smile widened as the wind whipped around him in dangerous torrents; stirring leaves and dust in their wake.
Kagome swallowed sharply at the most intense look of possession mixed with lust that she'd ever seen. Something flashed behind his feral eyes; what? She couldn't tell. It was there and then gone, as if whatever he'd thought had never taken place.
A sharp snap rang out somewhere behind them causing Kagome to jump, her hand automatically flying to cover her breasts. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed dangerously, a hint of red still apparent as he moved to stand while Kagome scrambled to struggle into her shirt that had been discarded carelessly at her side. She quickly shoved her bra into the waistband of her pants having nowhere else to put it and no time to put it on.
The miko was very conscious of her nipples pushing gently at the smooth cloth of her camisole as Rin stumbled into the clearing, her brown eyes wide and full of anxiety landing on her.
"Rin."
Sesshoumaru's tone drew the young girl's frantic dark eyes to his face; the miko and youkai watched as her expression crumbled and fat tear drops gathered, her voice breaking,
"Lord Se-Sesshoumaru… Ka-go-omeee!"
Modesty forgotten, Kagome pushed to her feet and past the youkai's side to gather Rin into her body, feeling the child's small arms encircle her waist as Rin began to hiccough and silently sob; her small shoulders shaking with the effort to keep in her voice.
"Rin, oh sweetheart, what's the matter?" Kagome asked softly, entangling one hand comfortingly into Rin's dark hair.
For a moment it was silent besides the girls soft gasps and the soft of Kagome's hand rubbing circles into the back of Rin's yukata. When Rin spoke her tone was thick with tears, her voice shaking,
"I w-woke up and you were bo-oth gone… And I th-thought maybe… In…InuYasha had… taken you a-again…"
Kagome's soft eyes sought Sesshoumaru's, his were locked onto the crying child, expression eternally unreadable. The miko noticed the side of his hakama she'd manage to untie was done up again and his obi tied around his waist;
When did he manage that? And how didn't I see him?
Sesshoumaru flicked his eyes to hers before looking away, reaching down to grab onto the pauldron of his armour and obi; turning to walk the way Rin had come,
"Rin. Do not worry yourself over trivial matters such as InuYasha. Were this Sesshoumaru here the first time, he would have been unsuccessful in his abduction and your injury."
Rin pulled her face back from Kagome's shirt, giving a smile past her wet cheeks she responded happily,
"Yes, M'Lord!"
And that was that. Kagome blinked, astounded. Sesshoumaru had barely said two sentences and he reduced a child in tears to a smile. She felt Rin's hand envelope into hers and peeked down to see her face smiling up at her,
"Let's go, Kagome!"
Well… So much for that… Kagome thought to herself, her azure eyes glued to Sesshoumaru's retreating back, feeling her sex throbbing with each heartbeat between her legs. We were actually making a lot of progress today… What… What would he have done?
Kagome flushed a deep red in the night, unnoticed by her two companions. She had laid her chest bare to him (not that she hadn't before, but that was for him to tend to her wounds), allowed his hand to roam her skin creating hot paths where his fingers touched. He'd stared down at her with such a… burning expression…
And… Kiss… He… Youkai, even in her mind she couldn't full form her sentences when she thought back, picturing the first gentle-turned-passionate kiss he'd captured her lips with.
Please don't think me weak. Is this what you really want? I'd rather you undress me. I do not want you to think of anything but pleasure. Miko. Tonight let me enjoy you.
His voice repeated over and over in her mind, her thoughts so close to the gutter she could pretty much taste the puddled rain water as she pictured his carnal eyes. What did this mean for them? If she were to take his words out of context, it almost sounded like he was admitting he liked her.
She made him distracted, lose control of himself; to care and want… But what did that mean? Did it mean that he cared for her, or of her? Was she just a responsibility, a ward as Rin was? Did she merely attract him? Kagome frowned slightly, her eyes still locked worryingly on Sesshoumaru's shoulders.
The trio was arriving at the door of the cabin when Sesshoumaru froze, completing a hundred and eighty degree pivot before severing the air in front of his face, the youkai's glowing nails forming his acid whip that lashed across the space between them.
Kagome and Rin both froze as the glowing whip bypassed them and tore into the demons that seemingly appeared in the sky behind them. Growls and gurgles could be heard bubbling behind them as Kagome tore her gaze away from the vicious look in Sesshoumaru's eyes.
Adrenaline pumped through the young priestess as Rin screamed, ducking her head as a flying worm-looking youkai dove for her, merely to meet it's end at the hand of the Lord of the West. She heard Sesshoumaru growl deep, low in his throat, his eyes beginning to bleed into red. Kagome glanced behind her, feeling helpless without her bow which was – aggravatingly – five metres in front of her in the cabin; though she didn't dare leave Rin's side to attempt to retrieve them.
"Rin! Stay down!" Kagome commanded; azure eyes flashing as she shifted, the wind suddenly very cold on her bared shoulders. The miko had to admit that she was at least a little prideful that she'd stopped jumping every time the glowing whip lashed past her.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin's frantic tone reached Kagome's ears just as she felt the young child's hand ripped away from her own.
"RIN!"
A spider youkai had shot a web-silk line and entrapped Rin's leg, dragging her away from the other two. Kagome dashed forward, determination brightening her eyes,
"GET OFF OF HER!"
Rin slid further from her reach, causing Kagome to dive for her – only to be caught in mid-air by a hawk youkai; the strong beat of wings and brush of feathers over her skin caused her to shudder, her blue eyes wide as she struggled, "RIN, NO!"
Sesshoumaru dashed forward, drawing Tokijin in one smooth motion; his feral yellow eyes glaring as he bared his teeth in anger, cutting down all that stood in his way.
But the demons kept coming, more and more, slowly pulling the girls opposite ways despite Sesshoumaru's best efforts. A dark chuckle rang through the air, causing the inu youkai to pause and, in all his self-righteous anger, pivot, turning to face a tall figure in a white baboon pelt.
"Well, well, quite the predicament, is it not, Sesshoumaru?" Naraku's voice trickled out of the demon puppet that stood in front of them. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed sharply, remaining silent while a hurricane of emotions roiled around in his head,
"I'm interested to know… who will you choose, great Lord of the West? For when you choose one, I will take the other."
Kagome sucked in a breath, throwing the Naraku-look-alike a glare and snarling,
"Don't you fucking touch her, you bastard!"
Naraku met her anger with a guffaw, throwing his head back merrily while that wretched sound echoed through the air,
"Touchy, touchy, Priestess. Keep that up and I may just need to take it upon myself to teach you some manners."
Sesshoumaru watched a shudder make its way down the young girl's spine. Hatred filled the dog demon, the emotion pushing against his body, feeling wrong to be trapped in a body so small while it was seemingly so large.
"You know Sesshoumaru; I think it's rather quite generous of me to even give you a choice… Perhaps I shall take them both? I would make your decision with due haste before I change my mind."
Kagome could just picture Naraku's slimey grin behind that godforsaken mast; her voice pushing past her pain-constricted voice as the clawed feet of the hawk youkai tightened on her upper arms, pinching skin and squeezing hard enough to bruise,
"Leave Rin, take me. I'm making the choice for him!"
The mask turned towards her, and despite not being able to see them, she knew his eyes locked onto hers as she gritted her teeth, Naraku letting out a huff of a laugh,
"Well… I'll honour your choice, Priestess; but acknowledge this… I'll also make you regret it. Do you still wish to sacrifice yourself?"
Kagome's azure eyes flicked to Rin, who seemed to be unconscious in the arms of a particularly grotesque youkai; determination flickering to life once more as she locked gazes with the mask,
"Yes."
Sesshoumaru's hand tightened on the hilt of his blade as he took a running leap forward, raising his blade,
"You. Will. Get. Neither!"
He shoved his sword deep into the baboon-pelted body, driving it straight to the hilt before tearing the blade sideways; snagging on several unmentionable things in its body. One would have expected blood, and lots of it, when Sesshoumaru tore his blade free of the body; yet there was none. The body nearly disintegrated into dirt with a wooden figure laying on top that abruptly snapped in half.
Eyes blinking red, Sesshoumaru slashed through the nearest demons, aware of the fact they were succeeding in moving the two girls further apart.
"SESSHOUMARU! SAVE RIN!" Kagome bellowed, wincing as the hawk transferred her to a snake youkai who spun around her body, constricting. Red and blue eyes flicked towards her, narrowing,
"Trust me! I-… Nngh, I'll be… Fine!"
He hesitated, his movements jerking to a stop as he waged an internal fight with himself over who to save first. He knew he couldn't risk a range attack lest he hit her, therefore he'd need to be up close and demon when fighting. But while he fought for one, they would disappear with the other; as far as the situation stood now, he would lose them both if he didn't choose. Clearly he was not convinced she'd be fine, the miko growled out,
"Go. Now!"
A deep growl filtered through the air before a curt nod after which he flashed off into the forest on the further side of the clearing. The youkai transferred her again to another flying beast that took to the air, blood seeping from her now re-opened wound as she stared unflinchingly into the night-darkened forests, now and then catching what looked to be lightening.
Good… Save Rin… Make sure she's fine… I'll be okay, Kagome thought to herself, her eyes pinching into a scowl, And… I will maim that bastard half-demon…
The miko bit the inside of her cheek to keep from uttering a noise as a thick appendage wrapped around her chest and stomach, squeezing. So tight, pushing the air from her lungs in a pain-filled gasp; no air, too constricted. She couldn't pull air in if she wanted.
Kagome scowled as her vision began to darken, gossamer threads forming in front of her pupils. She wasn't sure, but she thought she may have just expelled the last of the air in her lungs as her head drooped down, her eyelids closing of their own accord. She ceased to feel the air on her face or the thick coiling body wrapped over hers. Was that a roar she just heard? It sounded so far away… So far…
"WIND SCAR!" InuYasha swung the Tetsusaiga, unleashing its power to destroy a chunk of the horde of youkai no doubt sent after them by Naraku. Golden eyes burned in the night, seeking Kikyou behind him; watching as she drew back a slim arrow that looked to be harmless against their foe. Power suffused the air, crackling little static shocks against the hanyou's flesh. A pink sheen of holy power engulfed the arrow as the miko let it fly, her brown gaze hardened as she watched the beasts disintegrate.
"You okay, Kikyou?"
She nodded at him, gaze only flickering to him from them in quick succession before she knocked another arrow,
"I'm running out of arrows."
They'd been fighting for at least twenty minutes straight with no end in sight; swarms of youkai crowded the air around them, diving in at all angles; swivelling from the trees and dive-bombing from the air.
InuYasha wiped the sweat from his eyes as he pivoted, hefting the enlarged Tetsusaiga as he let out a roar of prostration, his limbs feeling heavier every moment he continued.
Dammit, InuYasha thought viciously, baring his teeth as he slashed through another demon, his muscles burning, I don't know how much longer I can keep this going… Fuck! What is their aim?
InuYasha heard the priestess cry out from behind him,
"InuYasha! Watch out!"
His golden eyes turned and locked onto a dragon demon a mere split second before it pummelled straight into the side of his head and he knew no more.
Dark… It was so dark… and sweet smelling. That kind of sweet smell caused by still water and damp stone over time. Kagome shook her head, coming back to herself as she lifted a weighted wrist to rub at her face, jerking her arm back at the feel of something hard and cold against her cheek.
Chains… I'm actually chained… That bastard, Kagome thought darkly, giving an experimental tug, listening to the links chink together. The miko closed her eyes, out of the fray now she tried to search deep within herself to find her miko powers, hoping they would be of some use.
"I … I can't sense them…" She spoke aloud, too surprised to even notice the far corner darkened with another figure.
Kagome held back a scream as she heard the scrape of metal against rock, the same rattling of chains, and a groan come from across the room. Her wide azure eyes locked onto the slightly darker spot – dammit! Why couldn't there be even a sliver of light? – her heart speeding of a fraction; yet there was something… familiar about that noise.
Silence buffeted her ears, as she stared, the moving having stopped. She heard a soft intake of breath, her ears straining, then the soft swish of fabric.
"…Ka…Kagome?"
She nearly hissed through her teeth, her pupils shrinking in a spike of adrenalin as her eyes widened,
InuYasha…
"Kagome? That's… That's you right?"
Her hands trembled slightly, fear seeping off of her in an almost tangible wave. She hadn't seen him since… since the incident. She swallowed the cotton in her mouth, her jaw dropping and closing several times, the words refusing to leave her tongue.
"Kagome… Kagome, I'm so sorry…"
He sounded broken, even to her. It was almost painful to hear after the past they'd shared, all of the joy, sorrow, and… fear. She shifted, fitting herself into the corner as tight as she could, squeezing her eyes shut and fisting her palms.
"Kagome… Please… Please talk to me…"
InuYasha's voice cracked, the links on his chains clinked sharply.
"Y-Yes…" Her tongue felt swollen in her mouth, like trying to talk past a marshmallow – only, this wasn't the Chubby Bunny game, and she wasn't laughing.
"Kagome! Oh thank the Gods, you're okay," relief was almost palpable, his words gushing past his lips so fast they almost slurred together,
"Are you okay? Are you hurt at all? I can smell blood."
The miko blinked, finding it a slight relief that talking to him wasn't as hard as she thought it would be; she wondered just how far their chains reached, and shamefully hoped he couldn't reach her,
"N-No…I'm okay, I th-think."
"Good, that's good! Do you know what that bastard Naraku is planning?"
"No… Unfortunately," Good job girl, getting easier with every word, she congratulated herself. She could hear footsteps coming towards them, her heartbeat picking up a bit once more,
"But I have a feeling we're about to find out…"