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How to Kill Me

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Not to Be that Cliché

"Like a gift from the Heavens, it was easy to tell. It was love from above that could save me from Hell."

-Into the Night, Santana ft. Chad Kroeger

I just–

I can't even–

Why the fuck does this shit always happen to me? Does the universe have some sort of Happy Meter, and when things are going good for me , some transient being starts panicking? 'Oh god, oh no. Kagome Higurashi is having an OK day. I repeat: an OK day. Deploy emergency measures. Operation: Kidnap Kagome Higurashi Using Psychotic, Mass Murdering Wolf Demon is a GO.'

My life. I can't justify it. Really.

And why the fuck am I in a cave? How are there caves in Pennsylvania ? Are there actually? Just how exactly can one explain a cave in goddamn Pennsylvania?

At least I was alone. The cave wasn't that large, but it certainly was cold. There was still daylight streaming through the entrance, making me look down at my shackled ankles with disdain. There was a chance I could get up, but a very small chance that I'd get anywhere. Where was the wolf demon anyways? I could hear him – a faint blip on the radar, close but not that close. I could try to escape but at what cost when I could barely waddle.

The only thoughts that started to cloud my mind was the speed to which the beeping in my mind changed. Kouga was fast. Many demons were fast – super-speed a seeming commonality with most of them, though not all – but this wolf demon blasted through all of those records. He moved as fast as a jet, probably ripping up soft earth wherever he went. That speed was decidedly dangerous, and remembering back to when we first fought him, it just proved how difficult taking him down would be.

It was hard to kill someone you couldn't properly aim at.

It wasn't long before the beeping grew louder, faster, and I leaned against the side of the cave, trying not to feel as awkward as I did. My arms were tied brutally behind my back with some sort of leather, my feet in a similar condition. I was hunched and aching, but my mind kept me out of those thoughts as Kouga neared.

I needed a plan to survive. There was no telling what would happen, especially with the fact that Kouga dragged me to some abandoned cave rather than just kill me on the spot. There had to be a reason, even if it was nothing more than him wanting to take his time with me. Talking was always the best option.

When the wolf demon arrived, I could sense him more than hear him. He was quiet, deadly and quick, and it wasn't until Kouga came into my line of sight that I actually had the first sense-driven signs of him there. He looked haggard; it was the first thought that crossed my mind as the brown-haired demon stalked towards me. There were dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders were so tense it was visible from here.

This didn't bode well for me, for obvious reasons.

"Did you get my message?" Kouga asked, stopping just inside of the cave's entrance.

"Loud and clear," I replied, letting the venom lace my tone. "You're a sick bastard, you know that?"

The wolf demon sneered, seemingly deciding to take in my position. More than pleased by it, Kouga cocked his hip out and crossed his arms, feigning nonchalance. This– It was shit like this that drove me insane. The games and the mind control and all the crap that demons loved to pull. I was tied up and pretty much defenceless, and all Kouga wanted to do was ignore me. What the fuck was that all about?

"So what, you're going to kill me in some cave where no one can find me?" I demanded, scoffing. "That's not exactly your style. Considering the body count you've been leaving in your wake, I'm surprised no one found my dead body at the gas station."

Kouga smiled at me then, very much looking every inch the predator that he was. This was certainly a game, but less cat-and-mouse and more like chess. One move and then another, until someone's king is cornered. Clearly, I was already without a queen and retreating one space at a time. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Really?" I asked, sarcasm evident. It was probably best to try and remain calm, to keep the half-demon talking, but I couldn't let him know I was biding my time. I'd have to walk a fine line in hopes that I could figure something out before Kouga decided enough was enough. "You're just going to keep me here then as your dirty little secret? Let me starve until I beg you to release me?"

"It'll hardly be that long." The demon looked outside of the cave entrance, grin still firmly in place. "Your pathetic dog demon is coming and you can't die until I force you to watch me tear him apart, bit by bit. Half-breed, isn't he?" Kouga laughed; a throaty, awful sound. "That only makes it easier."

I knew right away what this was all about, and a sick feeling washed over me. "Ayame was her name, right?"

A ferocious growl echoed in the cave, bouncing around my skull. Suddenly my head was slammed into the hard, rock ground, making dots line my vision. I could still see the startling blue of Kouga's eyes though and the pain that laced through them. "You don't say her name!" he yelled. This was a man on the edge, someone who was about to implode. There was crazy in Kouga's eyes, his arms trembling even as they pinned me. I couldn't push too hard or he'd snap me in half.

"Killing Inuyasha won't bring her back," I gasped out, his hands now around my neck, holding me down. My hands were tied behind my back, making my abilities useless.

"No, but I'll have the satisfaction of watching you suffer the way I suffered. One lover for another," Kouga spat.

I stared at him in shock for only a moment before coughing, trying for a distraction. It didn't work.

"Oh please," the wolf demon started. "His scent is all over you and it's not just from proximity." Kouga loosened his grip on my neck, standing up. "It's only a matter of time before he comes."

And Inuyasha would too. "He doesn't go down easy. You won't beat him. Last time you caught a break only because he was human."

Kouga shook his head and by now I couldn't see his expression, his head turned towards the cave's entrance. "I don't have a choice. Everyone's dead now, all because of you and your fucking half-breed. All of them murdered for blood."

My head was screaming at me, trying to reconcile the words and the rage. "All of who?"

"My pack!" Kouga screamed. This time, he stayed away though his fists clenched in anger. "All of them killed by some demon-sucking monster. I wasn't there to protect them because I lost–" He cut himself off, abruptly snarling. "It doesn't matter now."

"It does," I said, loud enough to make the wolf demon look at me. "The man that killed your pack, was his name Naraku?"

Kouga growled, and before I could say more he punched the rock wall. Tiny clusters of stone fell, cracks evident when the wolf demon pulled back to glare at me. "Is he another one of your friends?"

"I'm out to kill him," I answered, trying to convey every shred determination I had. "Naraku's the top of my hit list. I want out of Heaven's deal and killing him is the only way to do it." The dark-haired demon hesitated for only a moment before shaking his head, stalking outside. I couldn't lose him, not like this. I had to try to reason with him, for if Naraku had killed his pack – his demon allies – then there was common ground. There was a way to get out of this, to gain leverage. "Kouga, you have to listen to me. I am the only one that can kill him. He has the Shikon no Tama, you have to know this or sense it. I am the only one that can defeat him."

Another loud snarl, but Kouga didn't reappear. I cursed, because fuck I needed to work fast. Inuyasha surely would find me soon and then I'd be stuck here watching the two of them battle it out. As much as I told Kouga he wouldn't win, I had absolutely no guarantees. Kouga was a demon driven with nothing to lose, and that was a very powerful drive.

There was a sudden laugh and I knew right away – not because of my internal radar but because of pure gut instinct – Inuyasha was here. Kouga was finding this far too amusing and Inuyasha's growl could be heard from anywhere. I tried not to wince at the sound of it because I'd heard him angry before but this– This was Inuyasha hell-bent.

"You fucking wolf, come here!" Inuyasha yelled.

I twisted with my binds, trying to move forwards but to no avail. I couldn't see either of the demons, not from my position here. They were fighting already goddamn it, and I was stuck helpless like some fucking damsel. "Inuyasha!" I struggled against the bonds, wishing that my powers could magically become laser beam powers. Or leather melting powers. Or you know, anything else. "Inuyasha!"

There was growling, louder this time. The radar in my head kept track of the wolf demon, movements shifty and sporadic until suddenly there was…nothing. A constant, steady rhythm echoed in my skull; there was no motion at all.

"Inuyasha!" I tried again. I hadn't heard anything but Kouga's still body could mean either of them were down. The wolf demon could simply be savouring the bloody view.

"Kagome?"

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, shoulders sagging with relief. "I'm here," I called out, listening to the faint sounds coming from outside. Suddenly the half-demon appeared in front of the cave entrance, black hair highlighted by the setting sun and those golden eyes taking me in. Not to be a cliché with the whole "damsel in distress falling for her saviour" thing, but seriously. I love him.

Dear lord, it's actually happened.

"You look hilarious," Inuyasha said, jumping over to untie me.

Hilarious? "Ex–" And I just thought of how much I loved him. Fantastic. "Hilarious?" I exclaimed, finally catching my voice and turning when my wrists were free. I glared at him, hard. What was funny about me being fucking tied up? But it was then I saw the look in his eyes – worried and scared – and oh god. I'm totally done for. Totally, totally done for. This was beyond ridiculous and treading into the Land of Fluffy Rainbows and Glowing Hearts.

For fuck's sake.

"Thank you," I whispered, rubbing at my raw wrists. At least leather wasn't as bad as rope. "Did you take him out?"

"You have to do the honours, but he's unconscious," Inuyasha murmured, still staring at me like that. How was I supposed to be functional and–

"Get down!" But it was too late, far too late. Kouga was there, snarling and tackling Inuyasha into the rocky cave wall. I twisted, feet still bound, goddamn it. Inuyasha was grabbed again, forced face first into the ground but struggling. Kouga grinned at me from on top of him. "Told you I'd make you watch."

And that was it.

Hands free, I reached out, anger fuelling me as I grabbed his black heart. The connection was instant, amazingly strong, and I gave it the lightest of tugs to get the wolf demon's attention.

Kouga's eyes went wide, startled, and it was all Inuyasha needed to throw his elbow back. Hit right in the face, Kouga snarled as Inuyasha kicked back, flipping them over. The half-demon had the upper hand, tugging the wolf demon's neck back.

"Do it!" Inuyasha yelled. "Come on, now!"

But there was a plan already in my head, forming and whirling around. This could be Plan B. There was always a Plan B. "Knock him out."

"Kag–"

"Knock him out!" I yelled. Inuyasha no longer hesitated, pulling his arm back and punching the wolf demon right in the face.

"You what?" Inuyasha asked me, eyes impossibly wide. "Run that by me again, please."

Rubbing at my newly freed ankles, I sighed. Of course nothing could be easy. "Naraku killed his pack of…demon followers, I guess. He slaughtered them for his sick ritual. We need allies against him, Inuyasha. Naraku's stronger now, pretty damn close to reaching his quota and we have nothing."

"You're stronger," Inuyasha argued. "We can do this."

I needed a new tactic. This wasn't working. "Naraku is a powerful, powerful future demon and it's just you and me. He has friends, doesn't he? Other demons of Hell to do his bidding, just like Belphegor. Who do we have? Potentially Astaroth, but I seriously doubt it. We need allies in this. You have to see the sense in that."

"Sesshomaru will fight with us." Inuyasha crossed his arms and then grimaced. "Probably."

"Fantastic, three against how many?" I raised my brow, looking for answers. "We don't know what we'll be walking into when we find Naraku. The more prepared we are, the better. Kouga is angry and he's bound to have other contacts, especially if he had a pack. He could work."

Inuyasha's growling was a clear indicator that I was failing at this. He ran a hand through his hair, the silver roots showing horribly. I still needed to take care of that. "So what, we just let him go now and hope he'll come when we call?"

"He'll come, if he agrees to help," I answered. "There's always Plan B if he refuses."

"And that is?"

"Kill him." I shrugged, looking over at the subdued wolf demon. He had only been lightly knocked out last time, but he'd been passed out for an hour now. I didn't particularly have fond feelings for the cave, but it was as good as any to try and get Kouga on our side. "Look, he says yes and he's bound by revenge and bloodshed, just like you were. He's attacking me now out of desperation and pain. The minute this battle is over and Naraku is dead, he's someone else's problem."

Inuyasha sighed, the first real sign that I was getting to him. "And the people he kills in the meanwhile?"

The question hit me hard, mostly because there was nothing to say to that. If Kouga killed anyone before Naraku, I couldn't do anything. After Naraku was defeated I'd be free of Heaven and…I wouldn't do this anymore. What if no one caught him? What if– I blinked hard, squinted my eyes and tried to focus.

Fuck. Fuck fucking fuck.

Before I could answer, a low growl echoed through the cave. Kouga was finally waking up and now was the moment of truth – Plan A or Plan B. Because that's all there was. I can't save everyone, no matter how badly I want to. Sparing Kouga may result in more human deaths, but could help to defeat Naraku who would ultimately kill everyone anyways if I were to lose. Killing Kouga would result with less human deaths now, but could I defeat Naraku? And if I failed… Shit. I couldn't think this through, not without making myself sick over it.

There was no good answer, and there certainly wasn't an easy one.

Inuyasha went up to the wolf demon and kicked him in the stomach, just for a friendly hello. I glared at him, trying to stave off the claws that I knew the half-demon wanted to sink into Kouga's stomach. The wolf demon was already bound by the same leather straps that had been on me, but it was my powers that I used to keep him in place, to warn him about what would happen if he dared to move.

"Kouga, we need to discuss something," I started, watching as blue eyes blinked hazily and then looked at me. He was wincing, probably from the recent kick. "I need you to pay attention."

"Call off your fucking dog and then maybe," Kouga replied, shooting Inuyasha a dirty look. It was justified, although I was leaning towards my half-demon on this one.

"Inuyasha does what he wants," I replied. "But you making me happy doesn't hurt your chances. You know of Naraku, correct? He slaughtered your…pack?" Kouga growled at the name, or maybe just at me in general, but the acknowledgement was there. "I told you before that it's my duty to kill him. I won't get into the gory details, but I'll never be free if Naraku isn't dead. He's my target. His name is originally Onigumo, a human who dabbled in dark magic. The ritual is his namesake, and the process will conclude with him turning into a full demon." I paused, taking a few steps closer despite Inuyasha tensing by my side. "He killed your friends because he needed them to complete the ritual. He needs one thousand demons, and he's close to it. Naraku's rebirth will mean the destruction of this planet, and the corruption of Hell."

Kouga stared on, disinterested. "I've heard of his plans, but what the fuck am I going to do about it? I'd kill him as soon as see him, but the bastard's hiding. I lost his trail almost immediately, so if you're looking for that I ain't got shit."

"I have others working on a location," I answered, thinking of Astaroth with disdain. "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about you helping me, along with any allies you have, when I find him. I will find him."

The wolf demon shook his head then, slow at first before he started laughing. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and kicked him in the stomach again, abruptly ending the chortling voice. I sighed. Maybe I should just stick with Plan B, for all this is doing for me. "So what, I help in the future and you'll let me go now?"

"That's the plan," Inuyasha muttered sarcastically, clearly displeased.

He was not helping. "I'll be keeping tabs. I have friends too, and they'll know where you are. You promise to help me and I'll spare your life. When the battle is over, it's fair game again."

"Friends?" Kouga asked, raising a brow.

"A Duke of Hell and his future-telling sidekick," I responded lightly. "I can ask his sidekick if you plan on double-crossing me too. Either way, you commit to this or you die. Pick."

"Those aren't real fucking options!" Kouga yelled, snarling the moment Inuyasha got closer again to kick him. For a second I swore he was going to run, so I tightened my grip, pulled the strings connecting me to his heart. The wolf demon growled louder but bowed his head, wincing. "Fuck you," he snapped, pissed off. "You killed her!"

"She was going to kill me," I responded matter-of-factly. It wouldn't help, but anything I said now wasn't going to. "It's about survival. I won."

"Fuck you," the wolf demon repeated again, only this time he sounded small, worn out. He looked up, blue eyes daring and fierce. "I will help you, but only so that when it's all over I can kill you."

Chances were I wasn't going to make it out anyways. "Fantastic. You'll get revenge for your pack and revenge for your murdering wife." I twisted my hand, toying with the strings. "I'm serious Kouga. If you dare to cross me I will kill you in a second. I'm not even touching you right now, and I can send you right back into the pit. I also have this one," I said, motioning with my head towards Inuyasha, "who wants you dead anyways. I don't have anything to worry about, but you sure as hell fucking do. I'm giving you three seconds to run, and you better be gone."

Kouga was livid, eyes narrowing. "You didn't see me coming the first time."

"You're right," I replied, nodding my head slightly. "I won't underestimate you again, thanks for that." Tapping my head, I ended the connection, freeing him. "My radar will let me know you're gone, so I'd start running."

Inuyasha growled at my side, the ever faithful companion, and my hand twitched with the urge to touch him. Even if I stopped slaying demons when this was all over, I was pretty sure Inuyasha was going to rip the wolf demon apart anyways.

Kouga ran, as expected. It didn't take long for the beeping to fade out, the furthest of blips. I slowly let the tension drain from my shoulders, turning to face the half-demon that was glaring at me expectantly.

"What?" I asked, tired. My afterglow had been ruined, I had been kidnapped and bashed into a wall, and I had made a rocky alliance with a wolf demon that wouldn't rest until I was dead. So far today was less than stellar.

"You're a fucking moron," Inuyasha snapped, clearly pissed off. "I think you are dumb as rocks for letting him help you, and I'm furious you didn't let me at least stab him. He took you and it scared me and fuck you, why are you so calm right now?"

I closed my eyes. Seriously? "Can we just go to the car now, please?"

Inuyasha opened his mouth, undoubtedly to yell at me more but instead he just scooped me up and started to run.

"I'm still pissed off at you," Inuyasha whispered, biting just under my jaw. "You're infuriating as fuck."

After grabbing quick and tasteless food, the first hotel room we could find I stopped at, letting Inuyasha get the room key while I tried to arrange our stuff in the new Acura. Our duffle bags had been in a serious need for reordering and cleaning, but I had dragged them anyways to our room.

Inuyasha had been on me since the moment the door started to swing shut. And now, writhing on the bed with my hands in his hair and his lips on my collarbone, I tried to let the day fade away. The room was dark and filled with shadows, the sun having set. We hadn't even turned on the lights before we collapsed into the bed. The half-demon was filling my mind, ridding my senses of the things that were solidly lodged in the past. Here and now it was just us, just this tiny hotel room where we could hide in the dark and pretend that no one was looking for us, no one was after us.

"Come on," I whispered, tugging off his sweater and shirt with difficulty as he tried to undo his jeans. It was a rush to undress, to feel skin on skin and the slick slide of heated mouths. Inuyasha was on top of me, cradling me in his arms and boxing me out from the world. It was like he was hiding me and I couldn't repress the shiver as his hands skirted down my sides, tore at my clothes and left them somewhere forgotten on the floor.

There was no time for foreplay, no time to drag it out and memorize bodies. This was fast and quick and desperate, the need building even as my legs wrapped around his body, pulled him closer to me. Inuyasha slid inside with no pretence, no teasing. His cock filled me up, ended words that were left incoherent and stumbling. There were whispers and promises, things said in the dark that may never be repeated, never remembered.

It was with his arms wrapped around me tight, hands cradling my head that I came, a sigh that was wrecked and needy and pleading all at once. I clung to him, held on for dear life as Inuyasha continued to push inside, rocking our bodies together. It was shallow and jolting, ins and outs that had me gasping and begging for him, keeping him close so that he'd never go away. With my name on his lips, the half-demon shuddered and fell, nuzzling into my neck with words that I'd never hear or question.

"You can be mad at me all you want," I whispered to him finally, when we were lying together side by side, mess taken care of and ready for sleep. "I can't change."

"I know." Inuyasha sighed in my hair, scratching lightly along my arm. "I really didn't expect anything different."

"Is that…bad?" I winced at the sound of my words, because yeah, maybe it was bad. I didn't know. I hadn't had a solid relationship since…well, not really ever. When Inuyasha didn't respond, I propped myself up on my elbow, staring down into his golden eyes. "Inuyasha–"

He silenced me with a kiss that was chaste, hand pressing me back down into the mattress. "Don't be stupid," he mumbled. "I already told you."

You're human and it's the most beautiful thing about you.

I shivered and wrapped myself around him. This was us, in this dark and random place. He was furious and I was broken, but in the end we would make it out alive. We should make it out, at least.

We had to make it out.

Comments to Acknowledge

Anonymous (there are two of you, but the replies are self-explanatory to which is which): THANK YOU SO MUCH :D You are the sweetest thing. And I'm honoured, really, that you would say something like that. So thank you. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Anonymous: Thank you! I'm very aware of the problem - my profile feed of random crap and rants probably answers that - but I am making my own website instead of moving to another archive. It's simpler for me and less hassle for the readers (well, I think so, maybe not). I appreciate the heads up anyways.

Pabeikez: Haha well this couple can't have a happy moment. It's just not them, sad to say. Umm...Jakotsu isn't really integral - at all - in this story, so I haven't determined his sexual orientation. Possibly? I don't even remember the chapter when I wrote him - although I have a vague sense he said a few things. So right now it's up to you and if he becomes a bigger character to this, I'll write it as I see it. Thank you :)

Nicole: HAHA YES. At first I read your comment and was so confused, but YES she is back. The Corvette, sadly, didn't make it. But she's back ;) Thank you!

MsikGirl: I can't PM you back, FYI, so that's why I always respond here! I promise not to collapse into a puddle of goo when meeting Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, although I may not be able to guarantee that promise. Thank you darling though, for the lovely comment :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Cole: You read it straight through? You're as bad as I am ahaha. I do that too with long fics, so I'm delighted that you found this worth your time. Thank you very much hun :D

Dae: AW! I'm so AWKWARD with lemons. They HATE me. I'm trying to write a separate PWP and it HATES MEEEE. But, ahem, that's totally off topic. Thank you, really, because I truly appreciate that. Since I have a hard time with them, I'm glad you think they don't utterly suck. It makes my day :D Sorry if I made you wait too long though!

LadySparrow: You are so dear to my heart, seriously. Morning afters are just not possible here. MAYBE ONE DAY :D Maybe... The ending is near too, don't remind me! All of my stories are ending and it's sad. So I'm absolutely pleased that you enjoyed the last chapter, hope you liked this one too!

IrishIndy: Thank you darling! I'm delighted you liked it. The story is wrapping up soon - getting there at least. Some days I think it'll never end haha. I sincerely hope you liked this one too!

MidniteOni: ...*peeks out from rock* HI? Haha, thank you so much darling. I think it's still kidnapped, because Shippo is still a child with a really good fake. But! If Inuyasha got kidnapped then maybe it could be man-napped (?) *ponders* I do apologize for how long this took :( I really want to be faster.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A TECHNOLOGY THAT CONNECTS TO YOUR BRAIN SO THAT YOU CAN THINK OF A STORY AND IT WILL WRITE ITSELF. YES. DO THAT SOMEONE.

...I'm sorry. But if this was real, I'd write a full story like every two days. With one-shots in there for fun every other hour. MY GOD.

And now I need to sleep because I'm tired and itchy from the plane ride. So goodnight everyone. Again, sorry for a) the lack of editing and b) my poor updating skills. *sigh*

Feedback is love, and really, I love you all.