I'm too tired to check over this before I post it, but I do have a few things to address. ^_~ First off, sorry this took so long, but I'm having MAJOR blockage with this chapter. I have/ had no idea how to connect the chapter with them camping and the one that will HOPEFULLY be next. Secondly, this is probably not going to be that great of a chapter because of this (and the fact that it's late and I'm tired.~_~), but I'll work on the next one and try and have it up tomorrow (today depending on when I post this). That one I have been looking forward to for a little while.^_^ It has demon fighting and Fluffy and... um... stuff! And, if it isn't too long already, it might have an explanation for the bite.^_~! Yay! Lol But yeah, so I apologize in advance okay? Please forgive me!^_^;
Oh, and replies, yay!^_^
crispy muffin- I bet he feeds on blood and sorrow right?
Damned straight!
please answer the bite thing in the next chapter.
Actually, you may have to wait another chapter, two at absolute most, promise. Heh, I figured that I'd make the best out of the explanation and have a certain someone embarrass them with the answer. Heh.
StDogbert- Wait.should Kohaku be there? He's not dead, he's just NEAR death...
Heh, yeah, but no worries, I love pointing out plot holes so this has been avoided.^_~ Notice how only the ones that come in contact with them can speak, the rest can not? There is a difference between them, and you'll find out what it is here! Hey, good eye by the way.^_~ I love all your questions!^_^ Now, if I could only figure out a way to bring Kirara back into this...I kind of forgot about her.^_^;;; lol
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol
Oh, and as always,
_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech
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Memories of the Present
Chapter 18: More Filler! Dementia and the Snake Demon
" Inu Yasha, Shippou, there you are!"
I turned and darted towards Kagome's voice. She'd been missing for a while now; I had almost begun to worry.
Feh, almost?, my thoughts prodded me.
Shut up.
As I rounded the corner, there, before me, was a light in the darkness. She stood about halfway across the village from where I was, over by the gates. A flood of relief washed over me, almost knocking me over with its force.
I'm just glad she didn't get herself killed She began to run across the square, slowly closing the distance between us. And, to my, not all that unhappy, surprise, she was...
She's... waving? She bolted across the dirt and laughed cheerfully, apparently completely unaware of what was behind her. I jerked stopped and stepped back a second, heart catching in my throat.
In a painful effort to swallow, I did the best thing I could think of, "Oi, Kagome, what the hell are you doing?! Get out of the way!" I stuck my foot in my mouth
A look of confusion crossed her face and she turned around quickly, probably looking for signs of danger. My jaw dropped; she did nothing! She just turned back, shrugged, and looked at me questioningly. What could I do? I braced myself and grabbed the Tetssusaiga, preparing to guard her with my life.
What in the seven hells is she THINKING?
I snarled, ears laid back against my skull, almost eagerly awaiting the fight to protect her, but it didn't budge. The creature was buried in the shadows of a hut just behind Kagome. It watched the scene with hollow eyes, taking in every minute detail of what was going on. Other than its eyes, every other feature was carefully masked within the darkness; it was silent, unseen, but I knew it was there. I could feel it.
Kagome began running again, her body movements seeming to portray no more worry than had been there before. As she neared, I couldn't help but gasp. Smelling the blood on her, I quickly identified it as being from a deep gash on her leg. (it was a small wound when you saw her.^_~) Blood seemed to seep from every pore, but she wasn't affected at all; she was still running as if she hadn't even noticed its presence. The closer she came, the more I could see, and the further my mind begged to leave this god-forsaken place. The wound had become slightly infected, and the skin around it seemed to have changed to represent the heat it was giving off. The creamy flesh, once pure and soft, was now red, flaking and falling in chunks, spreading the gash and the sickness even further with every step she took. It blistered slightly, making a pattern of almost scale-like welts all along her outer thigh. I cringed at the sight and tried to focus on her beautiful smile instead.
Her expression was one of pure joy, and yet it made my heart stop. Her eyes, her beautiful chocolate-brown eyes were vacant, glittering pools of blackened ooze eating away at her soul. They were no longer depthless, and now showed nothing aside from the way the ooze flowed back and forth, bubbling within her sockets, wiggling and jiggling at even the slightest movement. Her sweet fragrance had a slightly musty tinge to it mixed in with the scent of her blood and the infection; it was stale and reeked of sickness. My nose burned and I took a step back. What hadn't I smelled this before?! Come to think of it, there were no scents there when I came. How had I not noticed? What was going on? The answer was right in front of me; the demon was still behind her, probably masking their scents as not to arouse suspicion. I hadn't even noticed that she had reached me until she was inches from my face, looking pleadingly into my eyes.
"Ka...Kagome?" Why was she looking at me like that? She almost looked... confused?
"Inu Yasha," she gently tugged on my arm, "why are you looking at me like that?"
Looking down into those lifeless orbs, I felt all confidence being sucked away, and I reached out to grab her. "Kagome, what the fuck is going on?" Instead of being angry or yelling, she simply stared at me as if I were crazy. I didn't like that look; it chilled me to the bone.
Shrugging it off, she smiled at me and pulled on the arm already within her grasp, "You know, if I wasn't in such a good mood I'd say the word, but I have something more important to show you! Come on Inu Yasha, you too Shippou!"
Shit, I had forgotten about Shippou! No longer in my hand, the kitsune cub lay unconscious on the ground. His hair was mussed, face frozen with a look of utter shock and terror. His little clothes were covered from head to toe with dust and soot. A small black droplet fell onto his cheek, forging its way across his skin and flowing down his face. Kagome was crying.
Shocked, I looked to see what was wrong and found her still standing in front of me, though a little closer now. Her shoulders shook and she gripped her head in her hands tightly. Her face was lowered, bangs covering her expression, yet showing enough that I could see her cringing. "Wha...Kagome, what's wrong?!"
Idiot, what's *right* with this picture?!, my mind screamed, but I tried to ignore it; Kagome needed me.
"Shi...," she muttered weakly. I leaned closer, "Shippou...Inu Yasha,...h... help..." Shaking her shoulders, I raised her face and she jumped as if she had been pricked. Her eyes immediately burst open and she looked up into mine, causing me to shiver. Those eyes, it felt as if I were being draw in, sucked into an empty, ageless void of darkness and sorrow. I shuddered again and pushed her back to arm's length; I couldn't stand the intense glaze from those pits and longer.
As if nothing had happened, she picked Shippou up off of the ground and smiled brightly, holding him in her arms, "That's better Shippou! You'll be so happy when you see!" A swirl of red appeared for a second deep within the pools, and a small section of her hand blazed with an unholy ruby light.
Turning her hand over in mine, I realized that that wasn't the only red section there. The entire underside of her arm was infused with a red vein, glowing brightly against her pale flesh. I followed the vein, getting a surprised squeak from Kagome, but I didn't care. I had to find out what was happening to her! I could only follow it as high as her shoulder when she ripped herself away from me, pulling my arm once again, and running back to where she had first been. I escaped her grasp, and she ran off with Shippou.
"Shit." I had to follow her.
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It's close now...
"Rin, stay here. Practice your painting."
"Yes Sesshoumaru-sama!" The dark-haired little girl plucks a few painting supplies out of An and Un's leather saddle bag. Turning, she finds the nearest tree stump and, making sure it isn't too tall for her, spreads the supplies upon it. "Can I paint you?"
"No Rin. I have to go now; stay here and take care of An and Un until I return."
" Yes Fluffy!" Sesshoumaru cringes slightly, eye twitching. He soon recovers and strolls off, leaving little Rin to fend for herself.
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Now, where is it coming from? The youkai concentrates, pinpointing the source of his prey. He corners the disturbance in the area towards the north. Turning to leave, he is taken back when a scream pierces through the air. With a jolt, all trees in the area begin to sway fiercely, as if assaulted by an unseen wind. Glimmering white hair flows behind as he dashes through the forest with a speed that only a demon could muster.
Rin, I'm coming.
A snake demon, still in human form, sat where Rin had once been. The clearing was scattered with various brushes and ink paintings, but there was no sign of his charge. Looking at the satisfied smile growing on the demon's face, it was evident what had occurred. Sesshoumaru snarls, a deep growl building within his throat. They DARE hurt *his* Rin?! In one smooth motion, his whip is out, and the demon's head on the ground. Pulling up his sleeves, he thrusts his hand deeply within its body using his poison claw to disintegrate the tissue before it can even touch his skin. Careful not to hurt Rin, he digs lower, carefully vaporizing the flesh around her small form. The clawed hand returns to normal, and he grabs the girl by the collar of her checkered kimono, pulling her out of harm's way. With the same, dull, lifeless expression he cradles the girl and pats her back. She bolts upright, coughing and sputtering, and quickly grabs hold of his haori with all of her strength.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin was so scared!"
"Did you practice?"
"What? Oh, yes Sesshoumaru-sama! Look at this one!" She runs and grabs one of the paintings from the edge of the clearing, surprised that she had let something like that make her forget about her picture for the demon lord. She quickly returns, smiling innocently, as only a child could, and produces her picture for him to see, "See, that is Flu...Sesshoumaru-sama, and that is Rin, and that," she points excitedly towards a small, groveling blob, " is Jaken. He's walking with An and Un and begging your forgiveness! "
An intrigued eyebrow makes itself known as he stares down upon the little girl, "And why is he groveling Rin?"
"Because," she says matter-of-factly, "if he's not begging he's flattering you, and Rin did not do a good enough job on Sesshoumaru-sama to be flattered."
"Hmmm... indeed. Come Rin, we must leave."
"Yes Sess-chan!"
"Sess-chan?"
"Well, Seshoumaru-sama does not want to be called Fluffy right?
"No."
"Then you'll be Sess-chan!"
Why does she keep giving me nicknames? It's not like I, the great Sesshoumaru, could have a better name than the one I have now. Well, at least it's better than Fluffy.
"Very well, come Rin."
"Hai!"
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"There you are! It's about time you showed up!"
A hanyou in red had just entered a barren area near the gates. His flowing white was hair blazed behind him, slightly tangled with a black substance, and his eyes glistened with determination and poorly-concealed worry. A scowl that had been etched into his features was in its rightful place, and his clawed hand lightly, but steadily, grazed against the sword at his side. Before him stood Kagome with Shippou, a fully awake and smiling Shippou.
"Come on Inu Yasha! Kagome has been waiting for you! Come, meet her father! He's so nice!"
He was momentarily taken back, "F...father?"
Out of nowhere, a tall man stepped from behind the young miko. He was about a head taller than Inu Yasha, and had medium-length black hair, the same color as Kagome's. His eyes were blue and sparkled brightly as he strode forward confidently, wearing an extremely expensive business suit, clothing that the hanyou had never seen in his time. The man smiled devilishly and patted Kagome on the head gently, getting an excited squeal of admiration and a hug from his "daughter". "And who's this sweetheart?"
The pools of sludge widened and she smiled brightly, "Daddy, this is Inu Yasha. Behind him are Miroku, Sango, and Kouga. They're my best friends and traveling companions."
Miroku... Sango... and Kouga?
As if knowing what he was thinking, Kagome spoke in a soft, honeyed tone, "Yes Inu Yasha, they're all here." She walked up to him slowly placing Shippou by her "father's" feet. Eyes half closed, she leaned her head against his shoulder and cradled his face within her hand. He grimaced as her heated flesh touched him; the smell of sickness was almost over-powering. "We're all here, so why don't you join us? I know of at least one more person who'll be happy to see you." Removing her hand from his face, she gestured to where she had just stood, the wall now resembling shaken gelatin more than anything else.
As it morphed, it bulged and shrank to fit its destined shape. It soon took its final form, the form of a woman, one a little taller than he. Silky raven tresses cascaded down her shoulders, slightly pressed against her chin. She was covered in layers upon layers of pinks, blues, and reds, flowing graciously over her feminine body. Eyes sparkling with unshed tears, she reached out, extending her arms to her "son". She was as beautiful as he remembered.
"Keh, she's not my mother."
Shocked, Kagome recoiled and glared at the hanyou, "Inu Yasha, how could you?!"
Snorting, Inu Yasha responded dryly, voice void of any emotion. "My mother's been dead a long time, and so has your father." He turned towards the shadows, "Come out youkai, I know you're there."
"Perceptive little pain aren't you?," a fiendish voice hissed; the words almost seemed to slither out of is mouth.
Inu Yasha grinned smugly, "I try." In an instant he was airborne, swiping fiercely at Kagome's "father". "Sankon Tessou!"
A shrill cry cut through the air, and a high pitched squawk was released as the man was slashed to bits, sending Kagome flying to the ground. She was caught abruptly, yet still no more conscious than when she had collapsed. Looking down at her, his heart swelled slightly; the ooze was fleeing hastily from atop her face, safely and reassuringly dripping into a newly formed puddle in the dirt next to them.
"Ugnnn...I...Inu...Yasha? That you?" She sat up, cupping her face in her hands.
"Keh, well," he looked away, smirking and blushing deeply, "who'd you expect?" He stood her up, and helped her regain her balance. Sniffing curiously, the hanyou circled her, causing her to clamp down on her skirt and blush, jumping back a few centimeters in the process.
"What do you think you're doing?! You look like a hawk!"
Considering the demon in front of them (you'll see what I mean next chapter), a reference was subconsciously made and his anger flared. "I'm just making sure you're not... well, that you're back to normal! You should be thanking me!"
"Thanking you?! It's your fault for ditching me in the first place!"
"WHAT?! You're the one who ditched us!"
"Kagome..." Even as the man walked to face them, the once sweet, vibrant green grass faded into a blackened mud and all of the flowers shriveled and died at their feet. The trees faded, becoming nothing more than old, burned stumps, and the air was choked with the smoke, which seemed to pour from this man's mouth.
Maneuvering his way in between them, Inu Yasha draws the Tetssusaiga and points its glimmering mass intently upon its target. "Kagome, stay away from him. He is not your father, just as that is not my mother."
"So you little half-demon whelp, you think you know how to defeat me? You may know how to break the spell, but you're out of your league. Leave the woman and run. Maybe then I'll let you live."
Inu Yasha's focus remained forward, but his words echoed back, "Kagome, run."
"What?!"
"You arrows," he whispered, still not taking his eyes off of the enemy, "They're still at the mansion. Get them and hurry back. I need you to free the others while I'm busy."
Free the others? Looking behind her, Kagome's legs threatened to give way. The sight of her friends like that filled her with an unbearable urge to slaughter who ever had hurt them, but there was no time for that; Inu Yasha was right. She had to get a weapon before she could fight.
"Right." She nodded and looked around. Scooting away from them subtly, she took off for the mansion at top speed, only to fall half of the way across the clearing, pain shooting up her leg. What's that?!
The wound, once a small scratch, now covered her leg entirely. It had grown a great deal since Inu Yasha had noticed it, and, though her connection with the youkai was cut off, it did little more than slow down the decay. Every time she moved it ached, spreading the scale-like welts that now covered half of her thigh. Groaning softly, she tried to get up and stumbled, tearing a gash across the back of her knee in the fall and hitting her head on one of the many stones on the path. Blood began to seep from the wounds in amazing doses, causing the world to spin and, as her consciousness was ebbed away, the blackness began to come once again. The tendons wounded, there was no way she'd be going anywhere now; Inu Yasha was on his own.
(I know I'm repeating myself and picking on her a lot, sorry, but she's there and it would be too convenient for her to make it to her quiver and arrows so easily.^_^; I had to think of something!^_^;;; lol)