Warning: violence and references to sexual assault
Chapter Thirty-Three
Running down that grassy hill, willingly enclosing herself in a hazy smog drifting up from the district, Kagome raised her spear to keep it level, arms tucked in close. Of all the times to leave her bow behind, it had to be now.
Panting hard- adrenaline, wrath and a pinprick of fear coursed through her veins.
"Appears they ambushed without warning," Miroku mused, running alongside her.
"We've got no choice but to help. Let's ensure the civilians flee safely while fighting off the men," Sango was muttering, sitting astride Kirara.
"I-I'm scared, but I know we gotta do this!" Shippo's weight felt achingly familiar on the miko's shoulder.
"Keh, damn it."
Kagome's heart tripped, squeezing hard as she glanced to her right, imagining a familiar presence of red and white.
"There's always somethin' to distract us from hunting jewel shards. Every damn time," Inuyasha griped, swinging Tetsusaiga down from one shoulder and smirking as he leapt into the air. "I'll finish this quickly!"
Kagome gripped the sturdy wood of her spear, tears pricking misty blue eyes. The phantoms fell away then, and it was just her loud breathing and rapid footfalls to keep her company.
Noticing a soldier stooped over a screaming woman at the back of a house beside a chicken coop, Kagome grit her teeth. Using the momentum from sprinting down the steep incline, she barrelled straight into him- blade first.
"Ach!"
The man coughed, eyes widening, body slamming back into the ground. Kagome panted, straddling his waist as she gripped the spear, having pummelled it straight into the space between his neck and shoulder.
I've never killed a human before, she thought dimly.
Feeling something hard press between her thighs, a sick feeling twisted her gut. The screaming woman collapsed into sobs, shoving her kimono down to cover herself. Cover up the blood and trail of his seed.
Somehow, the horrific sight made things easier. Solidified her resolve. Kagome stood, placing her foot on the man's chest and wrenching her blade out. He gasped, snarling, fumbling for his dagger. Thrusting the sharp end of her bloodied spear into his neck, she swiped madly across his jugular.
His body went still.
Kagome watched the light leave his eyes, yanking her weapon free shakily. She then turned to the sobbing woman.
"Run- hah-" she caught her breath, legs burning, heart thundering, "up that hill is a forest. I didn't see any men there. Find somewhere to hide. I'll try to send more people up to you."
The woman shook, reeling "my-my brother," she shuddered, "he's dead. He's dead…"
Kagome crouched before her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "He'd want you to survive. Please, hurry," she said quietly, voice near drowned out by other people's screams or the crack of a central beam giving way- the roof of a nearby house collapsing in a peacock tail of sparks and orange flickering flames.
The woman nodded sadly, stumbling in her haste, hurrying up the grassy hill.
Straightening, Kagome looked down the alleyway between two houses, watching soldiers ride through the central street on horseback. Even in her hasty state, she knew not to rush out blindly.
Hearing a commotion inside, she slinked closer to the back door of one house.
Two soldiers were inside, ransacking the place as flames licked at the front porch. Kagome thrust the blunt of her spear into one of their necks to stun them before swiping reiki into an axe, cutting an arc down his face. The second was more difficult, having lost the element of surprise. Kagome had to duck and weave, slipping beneath a table as he tried to grab her- sweeping his legs out and clumsily stabbing until she hit something vital.
It was nothing like how Sesshoumaru fought. The miko ran frantically as though possessed. She slipped into huts, houses and barns. Some not yet alight, some burning. She found children hiding in closets and stepped over bodies- directing whoever she could find to the hills and forest beyond.
"Wait!" she coughed, yelling after an old man. "Not that way!"
Running blind, the man bolted from his hiding spot- into the main street. Kagome chased him, hearing the sound of hooves. A soldier galloped by- and with the swing of a katana, the man's head was lopped off. Kagome skidded to a stop, noticing many eyes turn to her. The soldier on horseback looped around, heading straight for her.
Kagome backed up, panicking.
Which was it? Which was it? Ah! The Kagi yari!
Taking a knee, Kagome had no idea how to recreate the technique Jaken had mentioned about dismounting enemies but blindly guessed, thrusting her transformed spear up before his blade could reach her. The reiki curved into a hook, driving the man off his steed, falling hard to the ground.
"A miko?" the watching soldiers muttered amongst themselves, some of them amused. "Isn't it 'unclean' of her to kill men?"
"Heh, I didn't think they could use Holy Powers against humans."
Panting, Kagome felt her arms burn. Inching back from their hungry gazes, she glared. "It's not unclean if all I'm doing is fighting evil, same as always! What you've done here is unforgivable!"
A thin solider ran towards one of the men, panting. "Captain, Daichi and the others you sent to the southern houses have been found dead. I-I think she's responsible."
The Captain hummed, scratching the scruff on his chin as he looked Kagome up and down.
"Well, well. The little girl knows how to handle a weapon, huh?"
Stiffening, Kagome braced herself as he stepped forward, shaking out a long whip. "But you look a little stiff with it. Here, lemme loosen you up!"
Blue eyes widened. She lunged to the left as he lashed it at her feet. Kagome panted, dodging once more as he weaved it expertly, striking down. Tactics drained away, body weakening, knees shaking. It became clear the Captain was merely toying with her. Gritting her teeth and making a last-ditch effort, Kagome bolted towards him, reiki gathered on her spear- thrusting it out as he struck- only for pain to lash at her hands.
The whip knocked her weapon clean out of shaking fingers. She stumbled back, flesh burning.
"Come ere'!"
Gasping in pain, Kagome felt fingers drag hard over her scalp, making a fist in her hair. A random soldier turned her to face him, grinning. He then forced her down onto the street, his weight combining with hard, unforgiving armour- pressing down on wheezing lungs. Kagome fought to breathe, squirming as best she could.
"Get off me!"
A heavy fist swung down, and then the agony hit. Kagome fell stunned, blinding, aching sensation bursting from her right eye. He swung again, and her vision sealed off, leaving her half-blind. She became aware of her mouth straining wide, the screams now belonging to her. He swung once more, and she felt an explosion at her nose, searing. Wetness leaked from her bloodied nostril, coating her lip. It tasted like iron.
Rough hands were yanking at her zipper, but the miko felt too dazed to care. She floated, as though detached from her own body.
"You wear odd clothing, priestess," the man was grunting.
He ripped the jacket open, prying the folds of her kosode apart and stilling.
"Hey, Saito!" he called. "Come look. This woman's bindings are fucking weird."
Kagome tried to focus on breathing through her mouth. The ashen sky looked so distant, embers floating on a gentle breeze now that the rain had stopped. She wished lightning would return, strike her down so she wouldn't have to experience the three men gawking at her blue bra like she was a spectacle.
"Must be French. Looks French."
"Fancy too, maybe she's nobility? Don't kill this one. Might be worth something. We'll give her to the Captain to decide."
"Can I have a turn with her once you're done?"
"Use her mouth for all I care."
The air felt cool on her exposed breasts as her bra was shoved up. Horror churned her stomach, but she lay in a stunned haze.
"Oi, look. Expensive comb too," the one atop her was muttering, picking it out from her inner folds.
Life renewed, Kagome jolted, bellowing out an enraged snarl. She struggled like a hellcat, snatching the comb and swiping madly. Reiki blazed to life on the prongs, sharpening into points. Slashing at the man's wrist, blood flew free.
"AHH! You bitch!" He wailed, gripping his injured wrist. Humiliation darkened his face- readying his fist for another strike.
Two sharp nails burst through his neck. He jolted, gasping, choking with a gurgling noise. The claws sank deeper, hooking up to hold his chin.
"What's this?" a deceptively soft voice purred. "My blade appears to have been badly chipped."
Kagome watched as something mercifully lifted the weight off her chest; the man's body flung aside, landing somewhere heavily.
Sesshoumaru languidly flicked crimson off his claws. His right sleeve had been burned off, flesh red, damaged at the bicep. Kagome dimly wondered what had happened.
Fierce, hooded eyes gave off their own glow even as his face remained perfectly calm, looking at the remaining two men.
"Tell me, are you responsible for making her bleed?"
They scrambled to say something. "I-it was Hikari! Y-you just killed him- we didn't-"
A poison whip flew out, decapitating their heads simultaneously. Sesshoumaru lowered his hand, features apathetic. He then gazed down at Kagome's fallen state. When his weight settled over her in order to slide an arm under her waist, it was a welcome one.
"Can you stand?"
"Yes," she croaked, holding onto him as they slowly found their feet. His voice rumbled low, control shaky in her ear. "We will discuss this later," he uttered, just as more soldiers pointed their weapons at him- running towards their deaths.
Kagome said nothing, clinging tight around his shoulders with what little strength she had left, face buried in his neck. Occasionally, she felt Sesshoumaru dip his regal nose into her dark hair and the suggestion of sharp teeth upon her neck as golden eyes bled crimson, taking deep breaths during the following bloodshed.