I know you guys probably hate me, and never want to talk, er, review to me again, and I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but all I can say is that I was hit by the mother of all writer's blocks. I started doing drabbles to break it, but even that didn't work. I've been trying and trying to come up with a good chapter, but everything I wrote was either complete crap, or gave away too much. This is my fifth or sixth attempt at this chapter, and it's the best I've managed so far, so I'm praying it'll be good. I'm starting on the next chapter as soon as I upload this one, so with nay luck it will be up sometime on the weekend. Please forgive this humble authoress, she means well.
Disclaimer: The anime is not mine. The plot and several O.C.'s however, are.
Inferno
The more you fight it, the brighter it burns.
Chapter 11: Stirring the Embers
The storm was here.
Rain splattered against the windows and left streaks on the clean glass, differing from the blood streaming from her arm only by its clarity.
Hissing in pain, she darted forward and began to search for the bandages that always lay scattered around her room. The jagged, quick flash of lightning outside slashed the sky in two, lighting her room up for a fraction of an instant. A bed stood against the back wall, covered in a thick, plush green sheet. A lamp stood fixed on the bedside table, its gold base and neck twisted in an intriquet design, ending in the jade coloured lamp shade that hid the bulb and threw the room into a haze of green. Swearing violently under breath, she darted forward when a second flash illuminated the bandages, thrown carelessly into a corner after their last use. Hissing unpleasant invitations to the Powers That Be, she deftly wrapped the bandages around her cut arm and shot a glance across the room.
In an unattended corner, by the window, sat a bowl.
Kanji inscriptions around it were lit up by yet another flash of lightning. The gently crafted clay of the bowl had long ago hardened to a creamy colour, the glaze finish making it shine in the pale light.
And the light it itself emitted.
Smirking slightly as she finished with her arm, the young woman strode lazily over to the bowl, her face covered by a black hoodie. The only exposed part, the pink lips curled into a knowing smirk, shifted to a slight frown as she observed the content of the bowl.
The silvery water of the surface, which danced and spun of its own accord, seemed to sense her staring down at it and emitted several splashes.
" Stop it." She murmured and the playful nature of the strange water stopped instantly.
" Now show me the story."
At the sound of her calm, commanding voice, the ripples and waves disappeared from the surface of the water, leaving it as smooth as a mirror. The silver, glass-like texture reflected the face of the girl back into her eyes from one moment, before, by no means other than itself, a ripple began, starting in the dead center of the bowl. It spread out faster and faster, grown bigger. As it travel, the surface pf the water became blurry with colour and features. Shifting shapes, passing colours blended together slowly as the water's surface gave way to a picture.
Of two people, one a black-haired girl in a Japanese school-girl uniform and the other a red headed male in a black kimono that would no have been out of place in history text book, passionately kissing by an old well.
The girl's lips flickered with a smile, before turning downwards in an unmistakable frown.
" They're moving too fast. They need to slow down." Biting her lip, she shook her head. The surface of the image rippled lightly, distorting it for a moment, as if a silent question had been asked.
" Yes, I know she's happy, and God only knows she deserves it, what with that bastard of a protector, but if they keep accelerating at this rate, the events will go too fast, and I may not be able to intervene when needed."
Again, the surface rippled, faster, harder, almost as if something was trembling.
" I'm scared too, but there's nothing we can really do about it now. I'll see if I can't rig something with the cards, keep her out of the way, but for now, we are in observation mode." The sides of the bowl were dampened as the water splashed up a little, almost as if in annoyance.
" Don't do that, you'll wreck the carpet. And anyway, it's all we can do." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Now, is the protector," her sarcasm was thick, " in pursuit? We can only hope the Lost One has done her job."
The water's surface rippled once more, but this time, the blur of colour and shapes returned. The image shifted and changed, melding into a whole new scene. The girl looking on smirked coldly as she observed the red clad figure running at top speed, his silver hair blown out behind him, his golden eyes flashing dangerously in the sun overhead.
' Give it up, Protector. Your hold on dear Kagome's heart is fading much faster than you could ever run.'
>
Smirking smugly to herself, Sango continued on, congratulation herself on loosing Miroku.
It had taken some time, involving many swift turns and tricky paths, but she was at last rid of the perverted holy man, and free to do as she wished.
Looking down at her dirty clothes, stained with the dirt and mud she encountered on her quest, she wrinkled her nose.
" I need a bath." Sango said to no one in particular, throwing her head back, and humming slightly under her breath. It was a song that she barely knew, Kagome having been the one who let her hear it on those strange, ear-covering devices called headphones. The words were foreign, unfamiliar, and Sango could not even begin to replicate them. Still, the melody itself was addicting, and she hummed it to herself as she briskly walked along, trying to find a stream or river of some kind.
As she walked, the sound of rushing water overcame her own voice. Pausing in mid step, she listened to it, trying to find its origin.
' Inuyasha did say there was supposed to be a river around here…' She thought to herself as she strode from the foliage. Walking quickly, she came round a corner and found her water source.
A magnificent waterfall towered above her, spilling its contents over an overhang of sharp rocks, and ending in a splashing rain over smoother rocks at its base. The spray from the water moistened her face and she couldn't help but smile. It was perfect! The water may be cool, but she was a taijiya, what did she care for the temperature when she had gone for days without bathing? (Something she tried not to think about.) Smiling and resuming her humming, she began to strip in her place, first placing Hiraikotsu gently to the ground. Her blue scarf, containing her poison shielding mask, slipped to the ground, followed closely by her green wrap cloth. She was just undoing the tie of her pink kimono when there was a gasp and the sound of things being dropped reached her ears.
She whipped around, pulling her kimono close to her body out of a natural urge to protect her modesty, and came face to face with a young villager.
" Please, don't kill me!" He screamed, his face tinged pink even as he turned from her. " I swear, Maiden, I saw nothing, I was merely gathering firewood and I came to the pool to quench my thirst and saw your lovely form and-"
" What on Earth are you talking about?" Sango asked, unable to keep the blush from tinting her cheeks at the words 'lovely form'. The stuttering man stopped, and looked more fully at her. Sango was struck by his piercing blue eyes, so unlike any of the other eyes she saw everyday. His black hair tumbled into them gracefully, and, quite unexpectedly, she found herself thinking what a handsome man he was. Immediately, though, her face flushed at the thought.
" You…You mean you are not a celestial maiden form heaven, come to bathe in this spring?" The man asked in disbelief.
" No." Sango said in surprise. " Why would you think that?"
" I thought there could be no other explanation." The man turned bright red. " You are so beautiful…" He trailed off, averting his eyes, and rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
" I'm not beautiful!" Sango said quickly, hiking the kimono up higher on her body as it began to slip down.
" Yes, you are!" The stranger's head shoot up and his eyes looked into hers earnestly, before he realized what he said, and turned away, blushing once more. " I-I mean…my, this is awkward."
" Then let's make it less awkward." Sango said gentle, trying to stop the fluttering of her heart. It had sped up rapidly as the man insisted on her beauty, and now refused to slow down again. How was it that a few innocently made comments could make her feel so flustered?
" My name is Sango." She smiled, holding the kimono firmly in place on her body. Oink still just barely grazing his cheeks, the man smiled as well.
" I am honoured to make your acquaintance, Sango. My name is Sagi."
>
In the secluded corner of her room, Kanna sat smirking at her mirror.
The white demon, bored with nothing to do, had playfully picked up her mirror, and toyed with it to see just what it would show her. And she was rather pleased with the results. Her little toy began to show her scenes of Kagome, and all the young miko's high jinx.
The girl was not as sweet and innocent as Inuyasha liked to believe. She was devious and conniving as any demon may one day hope to be. She was a wonderful actress, tricking Inuyasha like that, and Kanna had to admit it, she was impressed. Never before had any mortal won her approval like that. Kanna, though coveting their ability to feel, had little love for humans, who destroyed and took far too much from the Earth. But this mortal, this little human who possessed the spiritual powers that could be her end, was by far the most fascinating creature she had ever met.
She sat by the mirror for hours, watching all the little details of Kagome it showed her. She smirked to herself as a plan took root in her mind. Perhaps Kagome could play a part in her-
Hello, what was this?
Her black eyes widened at the sight before her.
Smirking once more, Kanna fixated her eyes at her mirror, as it showed her Inuyasha's enraged face as he stared down Moeru-shi…
>
Inuyasha wasn't mad.
No, no of course not.
He was furious beyond all rational reason.
" Oh, hello." The fire demon's calm tone and casual mannerisms infuriated the hanyou. Had this abrupt creature no idea of what he was dealing with? Didn't he know that with one well-placed swing of Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha could obliterate this guy? Apparently, the fire demon knew nothing. So it was up to the red clad halfling to teach him a few things.
" I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting yet." Behind him, Kagome gave a tiny snort of amusement, quite different from her normal, tinkling laugh. " I'm Moeru-shi."
" I don't give a damn what your name is." Inuyasha snarled through clenched teeth. " Nobody touches Kagome like that and gets away with it!"
Without waiting for the fire demon's response, Inuyasha darted forward, swing his massive fang swiftly out before him. The intruder, a mild look of surprise on his face, merely sidestepped the sword, the wind off the blade making his bangs dance. Inuyasha, now filled with a rage he didn't know existed until now, lunged forward once more, swinging Tetsusaiga out in front sloppily, desperate to hit the fireling. He had no such luck.
Moeru-shi, despite his calm manner, proved to be good in a fight. He dodged with relative ease, ducking under and around the blade and looking all the while as though it were merely a nuisance.
" Stand and fight, you bastard!" Inuyasha snarled, furious and irrational. This demon had touched Kagome. Touched her in ways Kagome should never be touched. He had come upon them, entangled and intertwined, too wrapped up in each other to notice much else. The sight of Kagome willingly caught up in another man's arms and he plundered her virgin mouth, the sound of her loud throaty moans that were broken versions of another man's name, it was too much, far too much. He had sprung forward, and torn the demon from her. As he had yanked her form behind his for protection, he had been treated to the sight of a very happy, very aroused, very thoroughly kissed Kagome, her lips red and swollen, her cheeks flushed and pink, and her breathing ragged and laboured. For a wild moment, he had been viciously aroused by the sight of her, her entire aura that of a woman ready to be taken. His demon had awoken with a jolt and howled with insane lust, and he had used all his will power not to throw her to the ground and have her right there.
Then he recalled why she was in that state, and his near untamed fury came rushing back.
He swung once more, barely even nicking the black haori decorated with flames, not unlike the ones that cautious danced around the trio. Moeru-shi took a great leap over the stunned hanyou, and landed beside the rather ravished Kagome, who looked up at him in neither fear nor alarm.
" It seems your guardian doesn't want to share you." The fire demon said playfully, but with a dark glint in his eyes. " Such a shame. But I can see why. You're very beautiful, my little Kagome."
He wrapped and uninvited arm around her waist and pulled her close, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Inuyasha's face flushed in rage as he saw the angry red mark that rose up on her pale skin. That hadn't been there yesterday.
" Such a lovely thing." Moeru-shi murmured against her skin. " And so responsive." He licked the column of Kagome's throat, and was rewarded with her strangled gasp for air as a moan tore from her throat. Inuyasha saw red.
" Get the fucking hell away from her!" He screamed, his eyes shifting from gold to red for the briefest of moments. The demon in him shrieked and howled, clawing desperately to get out, because someone was touching their mate, their beautiful, precious mate! Tearing forward like a mad man, Inuyasha reached for a Kagome, but she was yanked back with the demon as he jumped.
" Come now Inuyasha, surely you won't mind if I keep her for just a little while?" The demon taunted. " I mean, from what I've heard she's just your shard detector."
For the briefest of instants, Kagome's brown eyes clouded over in pain, and Inuyasha felt his heart begin to tear up.
" So that's what this is about, huh?" He smirked. " You want her to find the shards for you!"
He saw Kagome's face pale, and smiled sadly inwardly.
' He doesn't love you Kagome, he loves your powers! He'll hurt you, not like me. He'll abandon you once he has what he wants, but I wouldn't do that, never!'
" Wrong, my dear hanyou. I have no need for the Shikon no kakera." The fireling's grip tightened on Kagome's waist, and he turned from the dog to stare into her eyes, so passionately and lovingly that Inuyasha began to snarl with a murderous intent.
" All I want is this woman. All I want is Kagome. Why chase after pretty little shards when I have such a beautiful gem right here?" He darted forward and pressed his lips softly against hers, and Inuyasha's vision bled into crimson.
" GET AWAY FROM HER!" He snarled violently, dropping Tetsusaiga and darting forward, his claws held out and his intent deadly. He forgot about fighting styles, he forgot about his sword, he forgot his own name. All he knew was that there was someone touching what was his…
…and there would be Hell to pay.
>
Never, in all her seventeen year, had Kagome known such tenderness as when Moeru-shi made his declaration, and then pressed his lips to hers. Her entire body seized up under his lips, and all the world ceased to exist. All there was, all there could ever be was him, and her, and the sickeningly wonderful feeling of the fire on her skin.
She trembled as he cupped her chin with his rough, calloused hand. The fire underneath them blazed and shook with her, and she was irresistibly reminded of it. The addiction, the sweet, terrifying addiction to the dancing columns of heat flooded up into her blood, burning just beneath her skin. The warm, tantalizing taste of burnt cedar she had come to associate with Moeru-shi ensnared her senses, and she found herself quite unable to think or speak or do much anything, besides breathe and sink deeper and deeper into this feeling.
She had always cherished the flames, always. They were like a drug for her, a terrifying and hot drug that just kept coming back and coming back until she couldn't live without them. Beneath her façade of sweetness and kindness, her obsessions burned and blazed and took her over from the inside out, and she found her way to express those fiery urges in Moeru-shi, whose very touch set her aflame. The raw, untamed passion with which he kissed, held and spoke to her made him just as addicting as the fires she so longingly wanted to set free.
He was as much in her blood as the flames.
But this new way he held her, it scared her worse than anything. It was as though he was reaching down and tenderly caressing her maimed and mutilated soul, stroking it and trying to piece it back together. The softness with which he claimed her lips with his was unlike anything she had ever experienced, save for the long off embraces of her father, half-forgot in a hazy memory.
Their bodies warm and so close she could feel the heat off his skin she trembled in fear, in anxiety, in anticipation. Inuyasha dissolved away to nothing; the world vanished into a hollow void, because all that matter was the raw emotion pouring from his soul through his lips and into hers. The stirrings of attraction she felt for Inuyasha paled and shriveled up in comparison to the shaking of her body and the yearning in her soul that Moeru-shi invoked with one simple kiss.
" Kagome." He whispered against her lips.
" Well, isn't this a pleasant picture?" A cold, hard voice asked, the tone sickeningly amused. Kagome flew from Moeru-shi's lips, to stare into the cruel red eyes of her nemesis.
" Inuyasha, Kagome, how nice it is to see you both again." Naraku said with a smirk, taking in the scene before him. His eyes darted up from the raging Inuyasha, to the flustered and confused Kagome, and finally upon the stunned fire demon, whose burning coal eyes darkened with shame.
And Kagome felt herself go numb with disbelief and agony and Naraku smiled coldly down at her and gestured to the man who had been kissing her so sweetly only seconds before.
" I trust you've met my latest incarnation, Moeru-shi?"
A single, crystalline tear ran down Kagome's cheek before her vision bled to scarlet and all she knew was the roar of the flames.
>
So, there we go. I hope you all like it, and review. Adn cookies to who can tell me what Sagi's name means. And here's a preview of the next chapter:
The flames spun faster adn faster around her body. She twisted and turned her form, seeking any familiar shape in the ever twisting heat cyclone that surrounded her, but her efforts were in vain, for the flames gave no hint to the outside world, save for the distant voices that called her name.
Faster now, nothing but a blur of reds and oranges and heat, blazing burning heat. It swallowed her up, her mind and body no match for the power of the ragged fires which held her captive. Her breath was short and her expression wild, unable to choose between terror and ecstasy at her fiery prison. Gulping in the feverish air, she parted her plush lips and threw back her head.
" Help me." she murmured to the spinning flames. " Help me beat them."
Curling around her outstretched arms, the fires ate at her white shirt, dissolving it to mere shreds that clung to her ample body. She laughed, wildly and insanely, as the flames dug deeper and deeper into her skin, until they were in her, twisting and dancing inside her blood. She ran her long fingers down her body, trembling in anticipation at the feel of the heat that radiated from her skin.
" Are you mine?" She asked the dancing fires. " Do you belong to me?"
Her only answer was the roar of the fire as it blazed up, higher and higher until she was sure it could devour the world in its heated wave. The inferno lurched and dove for her,and she stood still, waiting for it. The raw heat, raw power, raw feel of an untamed force of nature onher skin sent her intopassionate throws, her breath shallow and the strangle cries of her delight hoarse. The infernobroke over her like awave over the shores, and she felt it, felt it in ways she didn't know possible, dive into her skin and merge with her blood.
" Is thisParadise?"She asked, her face flushed and her eyes dilated andfeverishly alive.
The only answer she was given was the flashing image of blazing, bright coal-red eyes.
Look for chapter 12- Temptress in the Flames, coming soon!
MoS
