:;Swirly eyed:: Errr… bio tests….. ::Blinks:: anyway! Here's the latest
chapter and I hope everyone enjoys it. Taomaru shows up so all of his fans-
if any- should be happy. Also, if anyone is wondering who the hell he is
and what relation he has to anyone… pay attention from here on out. You're
going to get clues into his past and bits of the Dog Clan.
Chapter 10: Taomaru Takes Charge
The hanyou was about to tell the youkai where he could stick it when Kagome began coughing. Her temperature spiked and her skin paled; Sesshomaru was right, Kagome wasn't going to live much longer. "If you two are so well linked, why isn't your power healing her?" The hanyou demanded as he took Kagome's hand.
"Kagome is blocking me and I can't get through. Why don't you heal her?"
"I don't know how."
Sigh. "You deny her at every turn and still hope that she'll always be there beside you. You are such an idiot Inu Yasha. Use that thick head of yours and crack open those blocks in your mind." Sesshomaru left, cold air blowing into the hut in his wake.
Inu Yasha watched him leave, feeling extremely empty. He held Kagome's hand tight, as if he was her lifeline. Miroku and Sango took up seats by the bed, Shippo crawling under the covers and resting on Kagome's chest. The kitsune was crying, burying his face into the remains of Kagome's shirt. "Don't go, Kagome! Don't go!"
I deny her at every turn. Deny her what? Kagome never wanted anything; she only wanted to be near me, for me to be nice to her. She accepted me and I accepted her, didn't I? Kagome had never complained about blood and guts, about the violence they encountered when she visited. The only thing she insisted on was being able to go home and take her tests. Inu Yasha thought about all the times he'd tackled her when she ran for the well, how many times he had tried to smash it so she couldn't go home and would focus on finding the Shikon shards. She had always agreed to be back in a few days, trying to be on time or early. And Inu Yasha had always yelled at her, called her names, and been a jerk. He had fucked up royally and hadn't realized it until now.
Would it have killed him to be nice to her? To respect her feelings and decisions? To trust her as she trusted him? The last was a particularly hard pain to stomach; he had broken her trust and she had forgiven him long ago. But when his trust of her had been tested, he had believed the lie and attacked her, killing the very person he had sworn to protect. The hanyou closed his eyes and hung his head, listening to Kagome's labored breathing, the gurgling of blood as it slowly filled her lungs. There was nothing anyone could do for Kagome here- Here! Inu Yasha looked up sharply, an idea forming in his head. He silently tossed the wailing Shippo to the monk, picking Kagome up and holding her close to protect her from the chill air.
"Inu Yasha! What are you doing?" Kaede paced him as he strode to the door.
"No one can help Kagome here but maybe someone can help in Kagome's time."
"We're coming too." Shippo yelled, Miroku and Sango joining him at the door. From the looks on their faces, none of them would be swayed. The hanyou refused to argue with them and walked out the door. He dashed up an incline and disappeared into the forest that was his name sake, the others right behind him. The Bone Eater's well was in sight when the ground under his feet shifted.
Not now! We can't have an earthquake now! Inu Yasha tried to keep his feet, balancing Kagome as best as he could but in the end the hanyou fell on his ass and used his body to protect the injured girl. Sango used her bone boomerang as a support and Miroku followed suit with his staff, Shippo clinging to his shoulder. The ground continued to rumble, cracking and bucking underneath the party. The trees shook and swayed; Inu Yasha realized that they weren't moving because of the earth however, they were actually moving by them selves.
"Miroku, the trees!" Shippo squealed.
"Is it a youkai?" Sango yelled.
"I can only sense one youkai and it's Sesshomaru!"
At the mention of the dog youkai, the trees parted a few yards from the well and there, tied by vines and pinned by roots, was Sesshomaru in full dog form. The youkai was struggling to free himself but was not quaking with the earth. "Only the ground beneath us is moving!" Sango yelled because the wind was roaring now.
"Nothing," Inu Yasha growled and climbed to his feet with a limp Kagome held tightly in his arms. "Nothing is going to stop me from getting to that well!" The hanyou leaped into the trees being hit by branches and attacked by vines. It was if the very earth had turned against him, punishing him for his moment of anger. Not that I don't deserve it. Inu Yasha though grimly as he dodged another attack. He roared, clawing through the trees with all he had. The vines wrapped around Kagome's form and pulled her from his arms.
"No!" Inu Yasha screamed and made a grab for her. The vines and tree limbs wrapped around his body and jerked him away. He was slammed to the ground, right beside a struggling Sesshomaru, and was shortly joined by his traveling companions. When all were present, the ground quieted then stilled, smooth and green as if it hadn't been pitching for all it was worth moments before. The trees stood like silent sentinels, ready to attack if the party got free.
"If you are all through," a voice said, drawing everyone's attention to a shallow gap in the tree trunks. A figure stepped out from the leafy gap, carrying Kagome's still unconscious form. Half in shadow, he held her close, as if he knew her and had every right to touch her. Inu Yasha growled then roared in anger.
"Let her go!" he yelled and pulled against his bonds. Several of them snapped and he got his hand free enough to take hold of Tetsusagia.
"Oh no you don't." the figure said. "I was warned about your fang." He made a cutting gesture and more vines wrapped around Inu Yasha until he was a mummy from the neck down. The hanyou saw Sesshomaru swing his massive head toward the concealed person, the youkai's eyes wide.
"If you hurt Kagome, I'll-" Inu Yasha began but was cut off by a sharp unhappy laugh. The figure stepped out of the shadows. Sesshomaru paled, if that was possible and scrambled until he could attempt a sorry excuse for a bow. The big dog's eyes were averted, his whole posture one of submission.
"What the hell?" Miroku asked, looking to Inu Yasha for an explanation.
"Who warned you about Inu Yasha's sword?" Sango demanded.
"Me? Hurt Kagome?" The green and gold robes figure asked, incredulous. "I think not." He shifted his hold on her, wrapping her legs around his front, her head on his shoulder. He used both arms, tucked under her rear, to keep her steady and comfortable. One red tinted bronze eye blazed at Inu Yasha- the other had claw marks over the socket where the eyeball had once rested. The figure's hair was chocolate brown, his tail matching the color. On the person's forehead was a mark resembling a tear drop, three stripes on each cheek were evident and he did look eerily like both Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha. He wore no jewelry, wore no shoes and looked more like he should be in a living room somewhere and laughing; that was what struck everyone first until they noticed his angry expression, the rage that made the air roil around him. He glared at Inu Yasha, his one eye boring into the hanyou until it shifted to Sango.
"Kagome told me, actually." He said. "You're Sango right?" He turned to each of the trio, startling and unsettling them all by naming them accurately. He smiled at them and the vines that held them released and withdrew. "I'm Taomaru, a friend of Kagome's." The wolf dog youkai grinned at their stunned expressions. "I'd shake hands but I they're full at the moment." His mirth vanished when he looked at the two dog demons.
Inu Yasha simply stared. "You can't be the Taomaru that Sesshomaru talked about- he's only seen in dreams."
Taomaru smiled but not like he was happy. "And until an hour ago I would have bet money that you would have never hurt Kagome. Even when you decided to help you caused damage. Did you bother to feel Kagome while you held her tightly?" The wolf dog youkai walked over to the hanyou and crouched in front of him, still holding Kagome in his arms. He freed one arm, taking Kagome's limp wrist in his fingers and holding it against Inu Yasha's ear.
"I don't have time for your stupid games!" Inu Yasha growled and fought against the vines. Taomaru frowned and a vine gagged the hanyou. "Shut up and listen very carefully, pup. Show me whose intelligence you inherited."
The hanyou glared angrily, his mouth trying to work around the vine, but listened to humor the obviously insane youkai. Inu Yasha listened then blinked. He stopped working at his gag and paled. He had every right to because Inu Yasha heard… nothing. At such a close range, his sensitive ears he should have heard Kagome's blood rushing through her veins but he didn't. He refocused his ears on Kagome's body held by Taomaru. The hanyou only heard one heartbeat. Oh, my God. The vine muffled his sob. His ears drooped and he hung his head feeling tears well up and then slide down his cheeks.
"Inu Yasha?" Shippo crawled closer, keeping a wary eye on Taomaru as he took back Kagome's hand. The kitsune froze when he saw the hanyou's face. "Inu Yasha, what's wrong?" Shippo began to shake, his mind putting the horrible reality together and refusing to accept it. The kitsune sensed the others draw near and look between the crying Inu Yasha and the still Kagome. Sesshomaru nudged his brother with his nose, whether to comfort or to make him stop crying no one knew.
"She's dead." Inu Yasha ground out around the vine, raising his eyes and looking at Taomaru in horror. The youkai nodded sadly and the vines loosened and receded. Sesshomaru was freed as well and crawled over to the group. Inu Yasha did not rise once free, he remained sitting, starring at nothing as tears fell. Shippo joined him, wailing miserably. Sango fell to her knees, picking up the kitsune as she cried quietly. "We did this." She said softly.
Taomaru stood and looked at the seemingly uncaring Sesshomaru. "No, mostly this is his fault. And when I have the time for it, he is going to pay. I give you my word." His voice alone promised worlds of pain. Sesshomaru bowed low, an interesting site on three legs. The youkai did not whine but awaited his fate with grace, and Taomaru smiled mentally. "Come nephews, we have much to do in the face of war."
Chapter 10: Taomaru Takes Charge
The hanyou was about to tell the youkai where he could stick it when Kagome began coughing. Her temperature spiked and her skin paled; Sesshomaru was right, Kagome wasn't going to live much longer. "If you two are so well linked, why isn't your power healing her?" The hanyou demanded as he took Kagome's hand.
"Kagome is blocking me and I can't get through. Why don't you heal her?"
"I don't know how."
Sigh. "You deny her at every turn and still hope that she'll always be there beside you. You are such an idiot Inu Yasha. Use that thick head of yours and crack open those blocks in your mind." Sesshomaru left, cold air blowing into the hut in his wake.
Inu Yasha watched him leave, feeling extremely empty. He held Kagome's hand tight, as if he was her lifeline. Miroku and Sango took up seats by the bed, Shippo crawling under the covers and resting on Kagome's chest. The kitsune was crying, burying his face into the remains of Kagome's shirt. "Don't go, Kagome! Don't go!"
I deny her at every turn. Deny her what? Kagome never wanted anything; she only wanted to be near me, for me to be nice to her. She accepted me and I accepted her, didn't I? Kagome had never complained about blood and guts, about the violence they encountered when she visited. The only thing she insisted on was being able to go home and take her tests. Inu Yasha thought about all the times he'd tackled her when she ran for the well, how many times he had tried to smash it so she couldn't go home and would focus on finding the Shikon shards. She had always agreed to be back in a few days, trying to be on time or early. And Inu Yasha had always yelled at her, called her names, and been a jerk. He had fucked up royally and hadn't realized it until now.
Would it have killed him to be nice to her? To respect her feelings and decisions? To trust her as she trusted him? The last was a particularly hard pain to stomach; he had broken her trust and she had forgiven him long ago. But when his trust of her had been tested, he had believed the lie and attacked her, killing the very person he had sworn to protect. The hanyou closed his eyes and hung his head, listening to Kagome's labored breathing, the gurgling of blood as it slowly filled her lungs. There was nothing anyone could do for Kagome here- Here! Inu Yasha looked up sharply, an idea forming in his head. He silently tossed the wailing Shippo to the monk, picking Kagome up and holding her close to protect her from the chill air.
"Inu Yasha! What are you doing?" Kaede paced him as he strode to the door.
"No one can help Kagome here but maybe someone can help in Kagome's time."
"We're coming too." Shippo yelled, Miroku and Sango joining him at the door. From the looks on their faces, none of them would be swayed. The hanyou refused to argue with them and walked out the door. He dashed up an incline and disappeared into the forest that was his name sake, the others right behind him. The Bone Eater's well was in sight when the ground under his feet shifted.
Not now! We can't have an earthquake now! Inu Yasha tried to keep his feet, balancing Kagome as best as he could but in the end the hanyou fell on his ass and used his body to protect the injured girl. Sango used her bone boomerang as a support and Miroku followed suit with his staff, Shippo clinging to his shoulder. The ground continued to rumble, cracking and bucking underneath the party. The trees shook and swayed; Inu Yasha realized that they weren't moving because of the earth however, they were actually moving by them selves.
"Miroku, the trees!" Shippo squealed.
"Is it a youkai?" Sango yelled.
"I can only sense one youkai and it's Sesshomaru!"
At the mention of the dog youkai, the trees parted a few yards from the well and there, tied by vines and pinned by roots, was Sesshomaru in full dog form. The youkai was struggling to free himself but was not quaking with the earth. "Only the ground beneath us is moving!" Sango yelled because the wind was roaring now.
"Nothing," Inu Yasha growled and climbed to his feet with a limp Kagome held tightly in his arms. "Nothing is going to stop me from getting to that well!" The hanyou leaped into the trees being hit by branches and attacked by vines. It was if the very earth had turned against him, punishing him for his moment of anger. Not that I don't deserve it. Inu Yasha though grimly as he dodged another attack. He roared, clawing through the trees with all he had. The vines wrapped around Kagome's form and pulled her from his arms.
"No!" Inu Yasha screamed and made a grab for her. The vines and tree limbs wrapped around his body and jerked him away. He was slammed to the ground, right beside a struggling Sesshomaru, and was shortly joined by his traveling companions. When all were present, the ground quieted then stilled, smooth and green as if it hadn't been pitching for all it was worth moments before. The trees stood like silent sentinels, ready to attack if the party got free.
"If you are all through," a voice said, drawing everyone's attention to a shallow gap in the tree trunks. A figure stepped out from the leafy gap, carrying Kagome's still unconscious form. Half in shadow, he held her close, as if he knew her and had every right to touch her. Inu Yasha growled then roared in anger.
"Let her go!" he yelled and pulled against his bonds. Several of them snapped and he got his hand free enough to take hold of Tetsusagia.
"Oh no you don't." the figure said. "I was warned about your fang." He made a cutting gesture and more vines wrapped around Inu Yasha until he was a mummy from the neck down. The hanyou saw Sesshomaru swing his massive head toward the concealed person, the youkai's eyes wide.
"If you hurt Kagome, I'll-" Inu Yasha began but was cut off by a sharp unhappy laugh. The figure stepped out of the shadows. Sesshomaru paled, if that was possible and scrambled until he could attempt a sorry excuse for a bow. The big dog's eyes were averted, his whole posture one of submission.
"What the hell?" Miroku asked, looking to Inu Yasha for an explanation.
"Who warned you about Inu Yasha's sword?" Sango demanded.
"Me? Hurt Kagome?" The green and gold robes figure asked, incredulous. "I think not." He shifted his hold on her, wrapping her legs around his front, her head on his shoulder. He used both arms, tucked under her rear, to keep her steady and comfortable. One red tinted bronze eye blazed at Inu Yasha- the other had claw marks over the socket where the eyeball had once rested. The figure's hair was chocolate brown, his tail matching the color. On the person's forehead was a mark resembling a tear drop, three stripes on each cheek were evident and he did look eerily like both Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha. He wore no jewelry, wore no shoes and looked more like he should be in a living room somewhere and laughing; that was what struck everyone first until they noticed his angry expression, the rage that made the air roil around him. He glared at Inu Yasha, his one eye boring into the hanyou until it shifted to Sango.
"Kagome told me, actually." He said. "You're Sango right?" He turned to each of the trio, startling and unsettling them all by naming them accurately. He smiled at them and the vines that held them released and withdrew. "I'm Taomaru, a friend of Kagome's." The wolf dog youkai grinned at their stunned expressions. "I'd shake hands but I they're full at the moment." His mirth vanished when he looked at the two dog demons.
Inu Yasha simply stared. "You can't be the Taomaru that Sesshomaru talked about- he's only seen in dreams."
Taomaru smiled but not like he was happy. "And until an hour ago I would have bet money that you would have never hurt Kagome. Even when you decided to help you caused damage. Did you bother to feel Kagome while you held her tightly?" The wolf dog youkai walked over to the hanyou and crouched in front of him, still holding Kagome in his arms. He freed one arm, taking Kagome's limp wrist in his fingers and holding it against Inu Yasha's ear.
"I don't have time for your stupid games!" Inu Yasha growled and fought against the vines. Taomaru frowned and a vine gagged the hanyou. "Shut up and listen very carefully, pup. Show me whose intelligence you inherited."
The hanyou glared angrily, his mouth trying to work around the vine, but listened to humor the obviously insane youkai. Inu Yasha listened then blinked. He stopped working at his gag and paled. He had every right to because Inu Yasha heard… nothing. At such a close range, his sensitive ears he should have heard Kagome's blood rushing through her veins but he didn't. He refocused his ears on Kagome's body held by Taomaru. The hanyou only heard one heartbeat. Oh, my God. The vine muffled his sob. His ears drooped and he hung his head feeling tears well up and then slide down his cheeks.
"Inu Yasha?" Shippo crawled closer, keeping a wary eye on Taomaru as he took back Kagome's hand. The kitsune froze when he saw the hanyou's face. "Inu Yasha, what's wrong?" Shippo began to shake, his mind putting the horrible reality together and refusing to accept it. The kitsune sensed the others draw near and look between the crying Inu Yasha and the still Kagome. Sesshomaru nudged his brother with his nose, whether to comfort or to make him stop crying no one knew.
"She's dead." Inu Yasha ground out around the vine, raising his eyes and looking at Taomaru in horror. The youkai nodded sadly and the vines loosened and receded. Sesshomaru was freed as well and crawled over to the group. Inu Yasha did not rise once free, he remained sitting, starring at nothing as tears fell. Shippo joined him, wailing miserably. Sango fell to her knees, picking up the kitsune as she cried quietly. "We did this." She said softly.
Taomaru stood and looked at the seemingly uncaring Sesshomaru. "No, mostly this is his fault. And when I have the time for it, he is going to pay. I give you my word." His voice alone promised worlds of pain. Sesshomaru bowed low, an interesting site on three legs. The youkai did not whine but awaited his fate with grace, and Taomaru smiled mentally. "Come nephews, we have much to do in the face of war."