Within the Mind
written by: Madness
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A/N: I like the first chapter. I just hope I don't screw it up, that's all.
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Tasukete opened her eyes, but she did so hesitantly. In a way, she didn't want to wake up and see whatever was before her - she knew Naraku would do something to her, so it was just better if she didn't wake up. She wouldn't have to endure any torture. But then again, she also felt that she just *had* to get up, so she could escape from the twisted plans Naraku had in store for her and get even, eventually.
'I guess it would be hard to kill him if I died,' she mused, and shifted her thoughts to her surroundings. The thick fog faded slightly, but she still felt Naraku's ominous presence. In addition to that, she realized that she was no longer trapped by the branches of the youkai tree, no longer suspended in the air. Instead, she was sitting on the moist grass while leaning against the tree; in fact, nothing was preventing her from moving freely.
Without further thought, Tasukete tried to stand, but her legs felt extremely weak. Within seconds she fell forward and, as a reflex, shut her eyes abruptly. But she didn't fall - not completely, anyway. Someone suddenly appeared in front of her, as if awaiting the moment to catch her when she *did* fall.
Tasukete fell into the person's arms but kept her eyes shut. She couldn't perceive who the person was with her sense of smell -- the fog that was still present blocked out the scent somehow. Still, she recognized the texture of the clothing the person wore; the material felt soothing against Tasukete's touch...silky, smooth, and rather comfortable.
"Se...Sesshoumaru...?"
He didn't answer but she was convinced it was him. She opened her eyes and her suspicions were proved instantly.
'Sesshoumaru-sama!" she exclaimed, not able to hold back the excitement in her tone. "How...?"
"You ran into Naraku again." he said, his expression remaining as cold and emotionless as usual. There were times where Tasukete wished that he would smile for her, even for a second, or even shorter than that, but...
She sighed inwardly. 'Of course he wouldn't. What should I expect? Atleast he's here, right? So be thankful, baka!' she scolded herself. She really should stop hoping for the best of Sesshoumaru -- atleast he was there. That's all that really mattered at the moment anyway.
"Yeah, I did." she replied gloomily.
Sesshoumaru stood silent for a moment, then asked, "What did he do to you?"
Tasukete blinked. 'That's a first, he actually sounds like he *kinda* cares..'. "He was following me. He got me trapped, too, but...I don't remember what happened after that...." she rubbed the side of her head with one hand. "The last thing I remember was Naraku putting his hand on my forehead, and...I got dizzy...but that's all I know." Finally she got the strength to stand on her own.
Sesshoumaru didn't say anything. His eyes surveyed the surroundings carefully and he could sense nothing by scent. "If Naraku had his hands on you, I doubt he'd let you go that easily."
"That's what I thought!" she nodded in agreement. "But he's gone. I mean, I still feel that he's here...but..."
"Nani?"
"Oh...er...I don't know anymore."
Sesshoumaru looked at her oddly before heading off by himself again.
Tasukete wanted to run after him, to somehow make him realize that she cared for him deeply. But she knew better. She knew that he wouldn't be so comforting - so why bother? Why bother if he didn't love her all the same? 'I wish I could read his mind, read his soul...I just can't figure that youkai out.' she thought and saddened.
Turning swiftly, she headed in the opposite direction. She wanted to follow Sesshoumaru, but there was no need. She was almost getting to Inuyasha anyway. "I'm sure Inuyasha would try to help me!" she wanted to scream back at Sesshoumaru. Then again, she wondered why the hell she was so angry."This is just so stupid. I read into things way too easily! Argh, I'm such a..."
"Such a worrier, aren't you, Tasukete?"
Tasukete spun around to see Kagura standing a few feet away from her - her arms at her side casually and her face as calm as anything.
"Kagura!"
"Of course," Kagura sighed and took a step forward, "I've come to bring you a message from Naraku."
"Shimatta...why didn't he just tell me that short while ago?"
"Well, you weren't awake when he wanted to tell you that..."
"I don't want to hear it, Kagura." Tasukete flipped her orange hair back and began to walk by her. Kagura grabbed her shoulder before she could go.
"I think you should." she warned the youkai nonchallantly.
Tasukete let out an exhasperated sigh. "Fine. What is it?"
Kagura stared at her for a moment before telling her Naraku's message. "Naraku wants you to know that you can't hide from him anymore."
"How nice." Tasukete quipped. "And you might as well tell him that that's old news, considering he watches me all the time. Kagura, how the hell is that *news*?" she rolled her eyes and pushed Kagura's hand off her shoulder.
Tasukete continued to walk away from her, but she still felt Kagura's eyes on her; finally realizing what it all meant, she stopped in her tracks.
"There's more.....isn't there, Kagura?"
Kagura sighed loudly. "You remember what he did to you before you woke up alone?"
Tasukete kept her back to Kagura. "I'm listening."
"Naraku put his hand on your forehead. It gave him access to your thoughts."
Tasukete's eyes widened in both confusion and shock. "You don't mean...!"
Thus another voice entered her mind. ["Tasukete."] She grasped her head and tried to shake out that awful voice. "Stop it!"
["Tasukete. I told you...you can't hide from me anymore."]
"Kagura, what did that bastard do to me!?" she screamed as she turned to see Kagura, not realizing she had already left. "Kagura!!"
["You know what I did to you, don't you..."]
"Get out of my head!!" she squeezed her eyes shut and dropped to her knees, hoping that it was all just a bad dream. 'This is a nightmare, he is NOT hearing my thoughts...'
She heard the voice laugh, his dark tone making her shiver in fear. ["I can hear your thoughts. Not only that, but...I can look into your soul...your soul that very well belongs to me now."]
"And why is that!?" she asked frantically. "It doesn't mean you own me at all! I could just ignore you...yeah! I'll ignore you until you get tired of trying to get my attention!" It was much to real to be a dream, but of course, the nightmare was just beginning. The question was...why did he want to read her thoughts, and her *soul*, even?
["Tasukete. From now on, you should worry about where your mind will lead you. Sometimes you'll feel that you won't be able to control your own actions..."]
She knew what that meant. She knew what it meant without a doubt - he could control her at will, prying into her mind without mercy. Slowly, she asked through clenched teeth, "How can I drive you out of my mind?"
["I'm surprised you'd ask me that. Well....the only way you can be rid of me is for you to kill Sesshoumaru...or he has to kill you.]

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A/N: Well, not bad so far, eh? Thanks to Enchantress Tsurai and MoonKnight Maiden, the people who wrote reviews for me (made me feel special, it did)! ^__^  So...yeah, I'll be writing more soon.