Disclaimer: Yes, I DO NOT own Inuyasha, the characters, or the series. This fanfic is based on the movie Swan Princess.
Recap: Kikyo's past (also, partially Onigumo's) and thoughts were openly revealed (to the readers) as she faltered to go through "with her plan" in accordance with Naraku. She disobeyed him…with the intention of saving Kagome (and Inuyasha…just because the girl loved him). It did not seem to do any good, as the damage had been done to Kagome who was left flying away quite literally to her death after hearing Inuyasha confess his love to the wrong woman. Inuyasha finally came back to his senses and ran after his beloved. Sesshomaru is busy (again) with a controlled Kagura while Miroku, Kikyo, Kirara and Kouga follow Inuyasha to help defeat the evil menace: Naraku.
Beauty? Is That It? – Chapter 28 (Omniscient)
"Time was of the essence." It was precious…and should not be wasted. The crisp cold wind meshed with the dropping tears of the sky. Countless water beads fell from above, soaking and coating everything and everyone not in shelter. The blistering iciness only strengthened Inuyasha's flaming determination. He felt as if he was running for a long time when, in actuality, it had only been some minutes so far.
Everything was dark and shadowed by the gloomy heavens, but that did not hinder his keen vision. His eyes glowed with shades of amber and gold, scanning for unusual movement through the shadowy and murky trees. As he got closer to the Valley, his heart ignited and he liked the feeling. He felt her once again. The connection…the bond. She was responding weakly.
His willpower and resilience overthrew any sense of guilt or shame. Sure, he felt guilty…but he was not thinking 'Oh shit…what have I done' or 'Woe is me…what can be done'. It did not ever help anyone to forever dwell on what had already happened. It did no good to only think about the past. His mind was set on doing what he can nowand that meantsaving her. There was hope. If there was none, he would create.
One thing he loved about being partially human: he was stubborn, maybe too much for his own good, but that alone did get him out of many tight situations. If it wasn't for that, he would not have been able to persevere. Of course, it can be thought the other way around. His stubbornness can make up for his lack of intelligence and comprehension in the ranks of Sesshomaru…but you did not hear that from the narrator.
Inuyasha's feet damply yet lightly patted the moist ground as he swiftly dashed from tree branch to tree roots. The drag from being soaked did not make him go any slower, but he was annoyed that his luscious luster hair lost its bounce and stuck to him. He was trying to get a view of Kagome. Sure enough, he saw a speck dragging through the sky ahead of him.
She was faltering, exhaustion seeped into every pore of her being…her body. Her wings grew heavier as she continued to flap. She had to get away from him. She had to at least reach the Valley. She felt his calling to her soul. She felt him: his warmth, his love, his sorrow.
Kohaku, Shippou and Jaken watched for any sign of her. Profusely, their eyes scanned when finally they saw her, but the happy and relieved feelings dropped and scattered like broken glass. They were able to see…that she was slipping away from this world. They prayed that she would reach them in time. As she descended to the ground, she struggled to stay buoyant in the sky for a softer landing. It did not work so well and she rolled towards the lake. She did not fall in; her body lay relaxed on the shore. Her webbed feet rippled in the water and her wings laid spread out. Her toil was over…
When she blundered into unconsciousness, the curse placed upon her deactivated. Glittering sparkles enveloped her body as feathers turned into flesh, as wings and webbed feet transformed into human limbs. As the shimmer faded, her raven hair cascaded down, partially covering her face. Her expression showed no indication of stress or frustration, no struggle of any kind. It was done, and she seemed to be as well.
The three males gazed at one another, daring the other to make the first step to help their fellow maiden. But then, one glance of the illustrious demon lord of the Valley stopped their movement and thinking. They did not dare cross now. In fact, they could not move even if they willed it.
At last, Inuyasha arrived at the Valley's barrier, which had grown thicker since the last time he was there. The musty atmosphere created by the miasma grew clammier, making it very difficult to breathe. Sure, Naraku said that he was allowed to see Kagome again…but he never mentioned that it would be easy. In fact, Inuyasha was surprised that Naraku did not create any obstacles on his way there. It made him wonder; an anxious feeling crept and billowed at the pit of his stomach. What did Naraku have in mind?
Inuyasha swiped out Tessaiga. The feeble blade shinned into a mighty fang. The hanyou put a hand to the sharp end of the demon sword, flinching as he slid a finger across it and opening a small wound. Crimson drops leaked onto the blade and Tessaiga absorbed the red wonder tonic, pumping and throbbing as it turned ruby.
He slammed Tessaiga to the ground with a rumble and a red wave sliced smoothly through the miasmic barrier like a good knife to bread. The harsh weather outside had no effect on the area enclosed within the barricade. The air was calm. Nature was at peace. It was too bad people could not feel the same way, thought Inuyasha. As the dark miasma sealed him in, he trotted to the lake. Halfway, he got on all fours, shook and wagged himself dry of the rainwater from outside…like a dog. The human way was too inefficient.
When he saw her, his composure fell. During his voyage to save her again, he had been trying to prepare himself for what he might encounter. He thought he was keen on justifying his actions at the ball. He thought he was ready to accept her rejection of their loving bond. He thought that he was set to beg on his knees for forgiveness. He thought that he was prepared to face any emotional state when he at long last got to see her again. But…in the end, he dropped Tessaiga, dawdled clumsily to her side and held her tightly as tears dripped down his somber face. He was kneeling, cradling the upper half of her body within his arms. She wasn't dead…she couldn't be. Inuyasha refused to believe that.
All of his intentions got spieled together:
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! Please forgive me. This wasn't supposed to happen. I swear it," mumbled Inuyasha as he cried into her hair, "The vow I made was for you. I said 'Kagome'…and that's you! You are Kagome. I made the vow to you. It doesn't matter whom I was looking at. I was addressing my vow and professing my love to you in front of everyone!"
He sobbed and lightly kissed her cheek, "I was thinking about you. I have been doing so…every waking moment of my life ever since you were taken all those months ago. It feels like years since…"
She was still slightly breathing as she weakly spoke, "Inuyasha…"
Inuyasha abruptly detached his face from her lovely hair. He shushed her as he tenderly kissed her forehead, her nose and her lips. "You don't need to say anything, 'Gome. Save your strength."
She puckered her lips a bit, silently asking for another kiss. He gladly granted the soundless request, planting his lips on hers. He pulled one of her hands into his as he angled his head to deepen the kiss. Her back was supported by his other arm. When she feebly attempted to tug away, he only got closer and captured her lips again. Each kiss developed less in impact, but grew more in zeal. After many moments, they ended with three pecks and the last being the longest as if to emphasize "I" "love" "you".
"I can't…" she whimpered out, but could not seem to finish her sentence. She wanted to resist him, to get away from the hurt. However, it turned out that she was hurt more in being apart from him. But when she felt his grasp, his warm arms and tender words, she dropped her initial plan. She had to say what was on her mind before she could not any longer. While he was making his small speech, she had been struggling to say anything. She only got more frustrated when all she could muster was his name. She tried to squeeze all that she felt and wanted to say within the syllables of her beloved's name. She knew he did not get it all. He was just like that. He was simple-headed, but was so complicated everywhere else.
"Inuyasha…I know-I knew that…the vow was for me, but…it still hurts…It…made me think that maybe… we – our connection – was not strong enough. You could not see that…the woman you were holding, caressing…was not me."
He could not believe what he was hearing. His heart wrenched as he watched her great efforts to speak. The pauses between her words were excruciating to him. He was upset that he was not able to hear her through their bond as they used to. It wasn't that their bond was any weaker…she was in a frail state. She would not be able to handle the pressure in her mind at that moment. He was even more upset that she could not see how it really was in the ballroom.
"Kagome! I wasn't myself –"
"I could see that."
"I was under a spell –!"
"Even so…"
"I – wait, what?" Inuyasha stared at her in confusion. "'Even so'?"
"Hai…'Yasha, all the explanation in the world…won't change the fact that…I am in agony. In all that time…I got stabbed…in the heart, every time you spoke to her…even when you were referring to me."
He opened his mouth to further retaliate, but is stopped by her soft hand. "No…stop. Listen, one other thing did not change…although I tried so hard to think otherwise."
Inuyasha tilted his head in acknowledgment. Kagome smiled as a tear slipped down her face. He was just too cute with his face looking so innocent like a curious child with her palm still over his mouth.
She signaled for him to get closer as she whispered, "Inuyasha, I love you…" and caressed his cheek.
Inuyasha closed his eyes and sighed, loving those words fluttering out of her sweet mouth. They countered those words of rejection that she spurted out some time ago. He only found out later that she had tried to trick him because she was trying to protect him.
He rested his forehead on hers, "I know…and I love you too. Truly…"
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. Inuyasha felt the depression of wind and opened his eyes to stare at Kagome. Her aura was nearly gone and she looked as if she wasn't breathing anymore. He became frantic, "Hey…hey! C'mon, this isn't funny."
Then a maniacal laugh billowed. It echoed throughout the lake like a ghost sweeping through. Inuyasha recognized it and his temper flared. The sound of amusement halted instantly as he countered it, offsetting the air in a swirling vortex. Boy, he was mad.
Finally, Naraku materialized on top of the lake in the center. Inuyasha turned his head, glaring daggers back at the partial demon. Another deep chuckle escaped Naraku as he stared amusingly at the shabby couple. Gosh, they were so entertaining. They even amazed him once or twice. What was a perfect story without some surprises? 'Love' this…'love' that. These frail creatures knew nothing! Love didn't exist, but he wasn't sure if he believed that last one. Naraku growled and mentally kicked himself. He had to get rid of them.
"Don't let her die!"
Naraku raised an eyebrow and rested his hands on his hips. He was unfazed by the cutting wind that was piercing his clothes. He smirked cheekly, "Is that a threat, half-demon?"
Inuyasha snarled, "Don't you fuckin' dare let her die, you conniving bastard!" He had picked up Tessaiga and was currently holding it on its side in a fighting stance ready to gruesomely cut Naraku into itty-bitty pieces.
"You are so low! Instead of doing anything yourself, you make others do the work for you. You did it with Kagome, Kikyo –"
"Don't forget that you did the crucial punch…the finishing touch to the perfect story," added Naraku, loving where the conversation was heading. He saw Inuyasha's eyes shimmer in skepticism. "Oh, so you haven't figured it out."
"I don't fuckin' need to! You are a fucktard and I'm going to fuckin' kill you!"
"Tsk, tsk! You have such a crude mouth…"
Inuyasha's silver locks swished with the turbulent air. Thick howling wind coiled Tessaiga as it glowed transparently yellow. A small hum emitted from the fang. Tessaiga was the personification of Inuyasha's might and power and Naraku was really looking forward to this. Seeing the aggression and valor emanating from the hanyou's body got him excited.
"Hm, threats won't get you anywhere," Naraku responded while nonchalantly brushing his fingers through his bangs, "How about you back it up?"
The hanyou smirked and grinned cruelly with his fangs baring out. On cue, Inuyasha sprinted at top speed to the side of the lake and slammed swirling Tessaiga to the lake shore. "Wind Scar!"
He assumed since Naraku would have to turn his head that he would not have enough time to react, especially since he had worked on perfecting Tessaiga's first attack for quite some time. He had no idea how incorrect he was until he almost did not see Naraku completely evading his assault and sailing right passed him. Immediately when he turned his head, he caught Naraku smirking right back as he backhanded Inuyasha across the lake and into the trees on the other side.
Inuyasha groaned as he unstuck his back from one of the tree trunks and shaking his head to take off some of the debris to no avail. Sticks, leaves and dirt decorated his lavishing hair. Before he could recall, he felt sudden impact on the side of his head, causing him to plunge into the lake ten feet away. Panicking, he tried to breathe, only to gulp water. He struggled to not get flustered further and swam up with Tessaiga still in hand. When he finally surfaced, he coughed and caught sight of Naraku hovering over his previous landing. He guessed that Naraku had flown over at high speed again and kicked him into the water. The Shikon necklace glossed around his neck. If only he could get that thing off somehow.
"What's wrong, hanyou? Can't keep up?" Naraku taunted. He summoned more of the Shikon's power and his feet morphed into giant dark talons. He zoomed over Inuyasha, picked him up and swung him back and forth. Inuyasha cried out as the nails dug into his shoulders, blood seeping out and soaking his clothing. The rocking only served to produce more pain. "Yes, cry out and let me hear you suffer!"
Right then, Inuyasha closed his mouth and clenched his teeth together. His fangs punctured his lips and those too started to bleed. He endeavored to focus on the pond below so as to lessen the amount of twinge and sting he felt. He watched his blood drip down. Each drop would plummet into the water and immediately disperse, creating a pink tint.
Suddenly, he was thrown into another part of the forest. He yelled every time he scraped alongside a tree trunk, tearing some of the bark away, every time he collided with a branch, breaking it off. Irrevocably, he crashed into a hefty boulder and fell over. He was lying on his stomach and groaned. He could not feel his body anymore. It wouldn't respond; he could not move. He could not even feel himself breathe, indicating how shallow his breathing was. One eye refused to open all the way, implying that it was swollen. His blood was trickling onto the ground, a lot of it apparently as he observed the red liquid pooling underneath him. The battle was only minutes in and he was almost already done. Everything throbbed. He had lost Tessaiga somewhere. It didn't make sense. All that training! He even felt Naraku grow antsy back then. Was that only for show?
"Did all that 'training' go to waste? Why do those others even bother with a half-demon like you?" Naraku took his time floating to him. After all, he wasn't going anywhere. His words make it seem as if he could read Inuyasha's mind. "Pathetic as always, hanyou. As always."
He gripped Inuyasha's collar and yanked him up, hurling the half-demon against the boulder at arm's length. Inuyasha hissed; he could feel that many of his ribs were damaged. He felt sticky, his blood already clotting and drying on his skin.
"Gah!" Inuyasha shuddered when Naraku licked his face. He flinched as Naraku licked his lips, apparently savoring the taste of his blood…at least, he hoped it was the blood. It would have been more sickening to find out that it was his flesh instead. Pick the lesser of two evils, pick the lesser of two evils, thought Inuyasha.
Naraku cocked an eyebrow, "Fool, I'm savoring your defeat. Now, I will make you die ever so slowly."
"No, you don't!" A tornado spun close and jolted Naraku away, skidding against the ground to a stop. Naraku tumbled along the hard surface. When the whirlwind dissolved, Kouga appeared to replace it. He squatted near Inuyasha, scanning for the degree of damage. "Damn! If I had known you'd be so screwed up so soon, I would have brought some meds."
Inuyasha glared tiredly, "Feh! Can it, you dopey wolf!" He balked as he tried to move a fist to punch his smartass face. He would never admit it, but he felt better because he had a friend there…and that friend was Kouga. The hanyou felt powerless, but Kouga brought on a sight of the hope Inuyasha had seen earlier.
Kouga sighed amusingly, "Geez, you still have energy to insult me. At least that means you aren't too beat up…although, that's actually a big understatement."
Naraku scuffled to his feet, holding his cheek and actually surprised to see the wolf-demon there. The wolf was obviously weaker than the half-demon. It wasn't possible for him to even make it in by himself. "How the hell did you get in?"
Kouga stood upright and stared at Naraku as if he was asking why the sky was blue. His answer would have been, "It just is. Get over it" (1). Of course, his real answer was not too far off, "Through the miasmic barrier, duh!" When no response came, he continued, "Used my legs like a fan to blow away the miasma and I kicked my way past the barrier. It was easy."
Naraku was appalled by the last statement. He couldn't be getting weaker. He had the Shikon jewel on his side. That wolf didn't know what he was talking about. He could not believe he was actually just standing there, listening to this inferior being speak as if what he said mattered.
Naraku laughed at himself aloud and the cackle only got louder. Kouga eyed him but could not acknowledge anything since his bangs were overshadowing his face. He really didn't see what was so funny.
"Do you believe you stand a chance against me?" dared Naraku.
Kouga stared in astonishment, turned his head to the side and sighed. Damnit, everyone thought he was so stupid. He knew when he would be beat. C'mon! He saw with his own two eyes what Naraku could do. Look at Inuyasha! Inuyasha got his ass kicked in a matter of the time it took for Kouga to get there. Considering Kouga's speed, a fact usually symbolized as a whirlwind of dust and debris kicked up as he ran, that was pretty damn fast.
"No, 'course not, but I guess the muttface rubbed off on me," grinned the wolf youkai as he went straight for Naraku. He swung his fists, attempting to crush the other's smug and taunting face. Naraku coolly dodged every single punch until one skidded across his cheek. He was donned with a tiny scar through which diminutive blood leaked, decorating. Naraku was infuriated and, deciding not to play easy any longer, punched back. Right on the mark, it hit Kouga's stomach, catching the wolf totally off-guard. He lurched forward, vomiting. Before he could finish, as if he had a choice, the fractional demon slammed his other fist into his face. Kouga flew and rolled into a tree 15 feet away.
Kouga fell onto his side and buckled, struggling to breathe as he cradled his stomach. He was hyperventilating. Unknown to him, he was suffering from temporary shock. The throwing up was not expected at all. That should not have happened. The hit felt like a normal blow, but in the next second, it was overwhelming in magnitude and churned the contents within his belly out of him. Although Naraku's hand rammed his face, his whole head pounded. Kouga grunted and weakly spat out what was left of the vomit, only to see blood. Fuck, I must have thrown up blood too. Not surprising since that hit might have permanently damaged my stomach. I hope I don't have internal bleeding…
The wolf demon was as disabled as Inuyasha. All he was able to do…was watch. Watch as his slight superior and friend go through torture.
"It's not possible…no matter how stubborn. You cannot win," Naraku scoffed, wiping the blood from his wound with a finger and licking it off. He then zapped away some of the vomit from his boots. His talons disappeared. He was satisfied with his work thus far. Now, he could pay full attention to Inuyasha who was still against the boulder. The half-demon panicked, but could not move anywhere; his body refused to cooperate.
Naraku cupped Inuyasha's face with one hand, forcing him to look directly at him. Inuyasha was unable to do otherwise. He tried to turn his eyes away, a desperate and futile attempt. He held Kouga's stare, quietly yet loudly begging (which rarely occurred) for his aid, fully knowing that the wolf could not do anything further. Naraku caught the hanyou's gaze and the irises of his eyes glowed with the luster of black pearls. The mixing and swirling of the color entranced Inuyasha. He was being pulled out, only to be yanked in. Time seemed so long, yet it had only been some minutes. Then, he was lost.
TBC…
Change of tense…not sure whether I should change it back or to change every chapter before this one. I hope that did not throw everyone off too much. I've somewhat rushed it since it's 6:05am and I'll be leaving for Seattle later this early morning. I didn't want people to have to wait until I could FIND a computer...and I'm driving, so it takes about 2 days to get to Washington state. Btw, I haven't slept since 4:30am...I woke up and decided to be nice and update, haha...
Please give me feedback. I need to know if I should reedit. The end is near…
(1) – shows you how smart he is xD.
Thank you Archerelf, Clouds of the Sky, Ayjah, XBlackRoseX909, raina, and kouji for reviewing last chapter. Thank you! You don't know how much I appreciate you taking time to review. I should really use the reply button. The people with ff. net SNs should be getting one soon...even though it's late.
