I'm back. Sorry for the long absence, I've been working all morning, and school the rest of the day. I am beat! But I haven't stopped working on this story, and I haven't given up. Thanks for your continued love and support. Don't forget to read and review! Nothing makes me happier than seeing your ideas for the story
They pulled into the parking lot, both tired and slightly disappointed. The sun had long set and the temperature was quickly dropping. Kagome hadn't been able to master more than randomly firing energy balls, and until she learned hand to hand combat with Sango, there was not more he could teach her. So they practiced that until Kagome was exhausted. They rested and talked. And eventually when Inuyasha's stomach started to growl, they decided to head back. Kagome couldn't help but feel frustrated with herself. She had the want but not the knowledge and it was starting to piss her off. They both exited the car and began walking on the busy sidewalk. Even at night the city was teeming with life. Inuyasha put his arm around Kagome's shoulder, and she huddled in for warmth. He never ran cold, she was learning. No matter how cold it was outside Inuyasha's temperature never seemed to change.
A girl shoulder checked Kagome and she looked up into neon green eyes. Kagome felt a shiver of fear run up her spine. Kagome quickly looked away and kept moving. She had no way of knowing what demons wanted to kill her. So she pretend she didn't see any of them. But Kagome was curious. As she looked around, her eyes occasionally found glimpses of negative auras. Kagome kept her head down and tried not to look too long. She looked up at Inuyasha whose ears were pulled back, and a slight snarl on his face. But he made no sounds as he kept moving, his pace brisk. They practically burst through the doors of the lobby.
They walked quickly to the elevator and Inuyasha pressed the button to close the door before pressing the button for the appropriate floor.
"Are there really that many demons here?" Kagome asked, breathless.
Inuyasha shook his head," They can feel your presence so they come. Good and bad ones."
"But they don't know what human it is right?" Kagome asked, fear creeping into her mind.
"No. Well, not yet."
Kagome didn't feel comforted.
You always die.
God, fuck Sango. Those words were starting to haunt her, plaguing her every decision, and her every inaction equally. As if everything she did, or didn't do was the reason she would be dead soon.
They finished the elevator ride quietly and Kagome began stripping off her layers of jackets and sweaters.
At least I'm warm.
The elevator dinged at the correct floor and they exited quickly. Inuyasha turned the lock on the door and waited while a demon on the inside opened it.
They crossed the threshold and the two demons locked it before putting their backs to it.
"Kagome, since you've been locked in your room you haven't seen the only normal room in this place."
Kagome laughed, she really hadn't. Every room was decorated in antiques and lavish furniture that Kagome felt out of place using. She followed him through the open sitting room area and into a smaller room. There was a beat up old sofa, and an arm chair. There she found Sango and Miroku playing video games, pizza boxes stacked up on the coffee table.
It felt almost normal. And as she watched them, for the first time since they she saw her father's face on the street outside her apartment, she wasn't afraid. Inuyasha sat on the sofa, grabbing an entire box of pizza for himself. Kagome decided to chance a slice, and was happy when it went down easily. She ate a second and a third before she felt full. Kagome sat in the arm chair by the window, her jacket draped over the back of the chair, knees pulled to her chest. She couldn't help but gaze out at all the people, and demons alike, milling about.
The city that never sleeps. Kagome almost hated herself for thinking that cliche.
But everything felt too normal, too peaceful, and she kept expecting to see her father on the streets below, there to ruin another moment of happiness she might be having. She listened while her friends laughed and talked. Yelling, as Sango beat Miroku in the video game. Kagome absently stared at the screen before looking back out the window
Kagome jumped when Sango tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"Hey, can we talk for a moment?"
Kagome nodded and slowly rose to follow the other girl out of the room.
They walked in silence a ways. It was hard living in a house full of demons, they could always hear, no matter how grossly gigantic your penthouse happens to be. They walked into a back area that was full of servants. All who, upon seeing them, made themselves scarce.
Kagome waited. She didn't have anything to say.
Sango sighed, "Are you okay?"
Kagome choked out a short angry laugh.
"Aren't you asking a little late?"
Sango looked down at the floor, "Well, I'm asking now."
"I'm fine, Sango."
Kagome answered angrily.
"Kagome, I'm sorry. It's just ever since Naraku showed up outside my house, things are different. This is all real. I'm sorry I wasn't comforting. But I have to think about what's best for you. It's hard to do that when you're telling me we're going to die and-"
Kagome cut her off, "But you're supposed to be my friend Sango. We agreed we would be friends first."
Sango let out a harsh breath.
"Well things are different now Kagome. I don't know how to be your friend and work for you." Sango practically spat the words.
Kagome physically recoiled. She let Sango's words sink in.
"So it's easier for you to look at our relationship as work. So, I'm just a job to you. Let's face it Sango, you can't quit. So tell me, is it easier just having a working relationship?"
Sango hesitated. Kagome waited impatiently, switching her weight from foot to foot to count the seconds. Five seconds passed before she had enough.
"That's fine, Sango." Kagome turned away from her.
"Kagome I-"
Kagome paused, glaring at her over her shoulder, " Kagome? Don't you think that's a little informal?"
Kagome walked away quickly, the halls twisting and contorting as tears clouded her sight. She walked blindly for a while. Unsure of where she was, and only barely trying to make it to her room. She looked behind her, Sango did not follow. Kagome gave up blinking away the tears she let herself slide down the wall till she was sitting, her shoulder leaning against a door frame. She wiped at the few tears that escaped, as she replayed the conversation in her head.
I'm just a job. An obligation. A task performed out of necessity..
Maybe it would be better for Sango this way, or safer at least. That way when she died, Sango wouldn't feel the weight of losing a friend as well. They had already jumped that hurdle. That thought made Kagome feel better. It might be easiest if they weren't friends.
But even with that thought, Kagome still helplessly swiped at tears. The door beside her opened, and she quickly looked up into the face of Sesshomaru. He reached down and pulled her to her feet before, roughly jerking her inside.
His bedroom was dark. She looked around confused. The room seemed to be in grayscale. Black furniture, grey walls, black tile floors. Kagome shivered. It was beautiful. The modern pieces accented the dark room with harsh lines and unconventional textures. The windows were without blinds or curtains and they sat from floor to ceiling. She wondered if this room looked less like a beautiful dungeon in the daytime and more like someone's bedroom. But from what she could see of the room, illuminated by a lonely lamp on the bedside table, it fit him. Dark and gorgeous.
"You will stop crying," He said firmly, as her on his bed.
Kagome frowned at him, "You can't just order someone to stop crying. It doesn't work like that."
He turned away from her, "Well, at least have the dignity to cry behind closed doors. You will not look weak."
God, I must look pathetic.
She felt another wave of tears coming, but these she was able hold back. She watched as Sesshomaru sat on the sofa, flipping through some papers. The dim light casting a hazy glow across the room.
"Sesshomaru, have the other Priestesses been able to have friends?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Sesshomaru looked at her, his gaze penetrating.
"For the same reason most powerful people cannot have friends. You will get your friends killed. That is how it's always been."
Kagome sat there quietly. She knew it was dangerous. Of course she knew all of this would be dangerous. But Sesshomaru hadn't held back.
It's not fair. She finally had friends, and she couldn't even keep them close. It wasn't fair that she was fated to live life alone, either pushing her friends away for their safety or letting them in and causing their death. Hot tears burned her eyes. Tears full of anger and hatred, hating the life she had been given. Hating the choices she and her friends were making, and the future that would only be harder.
Sesshomaru dropped his papers beside him, making a soft noise as he rose to his feet. Kagome blinked away her tears, watching him approach her. He sat beside her on the bed.
Kagome eyed him warily becoming too aware of his closeness and the clean smell the came off him in waves.
"Being the High Priestess is a lonely existence, as is mine. People of our stature must protect the people they care about from a distance."
Kagome nodded, eyes downcast, listening to his words and finding in them a sad truth.
He looked down at her, "But, if need be, we can find comfort in each other."
Kagome peered up at him, her eyes narrowed.
He leaned down toward her but Kagome stood her ground. Eyes still narrowed.
"You used to love our time together," He whispered in her ear, and a shiver travelled down her spine, "Night after night, you would find your way to my room. I am good company." His voice was low and seductive in her ear. For a moment Kagome let her mind wander, taking her to a place where she didn't dislike him so much. Her face flushed, turning bright red before she shoved him away from her. He let her push him, and leaned back. Kagome stood up, smoothing down her hair nervously. She didn't know what to say, so she faced away from Sesshomaru, and hurried through the dark toward the door
The light of the hallway washed over her, bringing her comfort and relief.
What did he mean I used to like it?
She hadn't been thinking or she would have asked him then, but she wouldn't, couldn't, go back in there now. It was too humiliating.
Kagome felt too warm now. Sweating and humiliated. She rushed back to the front door. The demons watching the doors, held the door open for her. They glanced at her quickly before turning away.
For the first time she was glad of her status. No one would question her. She jabbed the button for the elevator pacing as the doors opened. She got in and her finger hovered over the button for the lobby, she thought better and quickly pressed the button one floor above the one she was currently on. The roof.
It was all too much.
If Sesshomaru is the only person I can rely on-
Kagome didn't finish that thought. Her mind went back to the conversation she had with Sango, and as it replayed in her mind, the elevator became suffocating. Too small to contain her. Kagome flew through the doors once they opened. She didn't spare even a glance around her as she ran through the short hall to the door labeled Roof Access, trying to quell the feeling of panic rising in her. She hit the door and pushed her way out to the fresh air. But she doesn't stop there, she keeps running until her hands hit the edge of the roof. She gasped for air. Her lungs expanded painfully, as if they had been unused for many years. The air was cold, and chilled Kagome from the inside out. But she couldn't feel it.
There was a high brick wall that surrounded the edge of building, giving something for Kagome to lean against as she gasped for air. Tears pricked her eyes and Kagome let a few fall before she swiped at them angrily with the sleeve of her shirt. Kagome heard movement behind her and whipped around quickly.
A man stood in front of her, facing the door Kagome had just come out of. He was twitching every once in a while. She studied the dirty trousers he wore and grimey white shirt. There appeared to be blood soaking his collar.
Kagome wiped the rest of the tears out her eyes, "Sir, Are you okay?"
His head snapped up at the sound of her voice. He turned to face her. He moved disjointedly, as if his bones had been removed and put back in the wrong place.
Kagome felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. The man's face looked almost fearful as he hobbled toward her.
"Stop!" Kagome yelled.
But he moved slowly toward her, his mouth opening to speak.
"Pleaaasseee, run. I- don't want tooo," His face twisted in pain before his face changed, an evil smile slipped across his face. His voice was deep, and seemed to vibrate through the ground.
"High Priestesssss. I'm so happy I found you first. Narakuuuu will be pleasssed with me."
A demon?
Kagome felt frozen with fear. Was this poor man possesed?
"Sir? Do you need help?"
"Heeee can't hear youu."
The man's eyes were gaping, wide with sheer terror, as him mouth curled into a smile. He continued to move toward her, slowly making his way across the wide roof. Kagome made a move toward the door, and the man in front of her moved faster than she thought he could. Before she could even take a step he was in front of her, his rancid breath on her face. He grabbed her firmly and lifted her off the ground, Kagome could feel his joints creaking as he did. Kagome began kicking before she could stop herself, pushing against his face and thrashing in his hold. His grip didn't loosen.
I need to calm down. I just have to calm down.
She couldn't, the panic and fear was overwhelming. She was choking on it, and it was filling her thoughts.
This is how I die. I will die here.
"You always die.."
The man slammed her on the ground, and she hit her head hard on the concrete. She laid there stunned and in pain, and the man leaned over her. She watched as he brushed her hair, and his fingers came away red with blood. A crooked smile crossed his face, as he licked her blood off his fingers slowly, the eyes, once wide in terror, closed.
"I never thought I would feaaasssst on your blood, It is powerful Priestess."
Kagome, tried to move, but he sat heavily on her chest, his head tilted back in ecstasy.
The man looked down at her again and she could see tears in his eyes. Kagome's heart stopped. In that look she could feel his pain. She could feel he was sorry. This wasn't him.
He's still in there.
He leaned down, his face next to hers, "You, will make a great meal."
His tongue snaking out to lick her blood soaked hair.
Kagome closed her eyes, ignoring the bile rising in her throat. She felt the fear, and panic melt away and all that was left was the buzz of adrenaline and power.
Kagome pulled gently on her hand, then harder, she just needed to free her hand. She could do this.
She pulled even harder, tears pricking her eyes as she all but yanked her arm free.
The demon sat up straight now, licking his lips clean.
Kagome reached for his forehead and placed her fingers there.
"Be gone."
Kagome closed her eyes, as the blinding light she had become all too familiar with lit the night sky.