Lauren: I wrote this while I was babysitting and I've finally gotten around to reading over it and publishing it. I'm so tired right now that my notes might be a little shorter than normal. Sorry! I hope you like this chapter and please tell me what you think of it. I didn't plan for this story to be this long...but it just seems to be growing bigger in my mind. Don't worry though, it'll all work out/come together in due time. I'm so happy, I got my neat CD! "Simple Plan" They rock!
One question though: Should I leave the rating at PG-13 or should it be R for the violence and such?
Jupter's Light: That sucks about the guy. I can't believe he doesn't know! Hasn't he watched it yet if he owns it? I'd look into it a bit more before you buy it possibly.
T''Laren- Congratulations on being correct! You get a gold star!
Eike- Yeah, I guess they just make them for that too. It would be pretty cool though. I'd be careful about ordering it also. I got my movie for $13.95 at discount anime DVD but that's not including shipping and handling.
Ryu- Freaky! It's like a real-life Daemon! Wow...that is REALLY scary to think about. Evil! (hiss)!
Kawaii Bunny- Haha, I wouldn't mind if Inuyasha attacked me in my sleep.....!!!
Rekka's Angel: Congratulations on being correct also! You get a gold star too!
Majik- At the moment I have it planned that Daemon is a NOT a rebirth or a character from the series. He's original, at the moment. Unless I can think of some wonderful way for him to fit a past person...then he'll stay original.
Tori- Oh, hot guy with doggie ears. Sounds nice to me! Good luck with all your work and such. I know the feeling all too well. -.-;; Yeah, I foreshadow a lot or sometimes I do it just to screw with peoples minds! Wahahaha! Ok, done with scaring you guys for now.
Maiden of the flaming sandwich- I LOVE your pen name! Ok...and no, Daemon didn't die or anything. He just transported out of the alleyway somewhere else. Sorry if that was a bit unclear.
Aylee the Dragon- I love Chichiri also! But I adore Tasuki SO much! He's one of my favorite anime guys! ~glomps him~ Your welcome for the blue-haired hottie. Mind if I borrow your flame-thrower sometime? ^_~
Asilin- I love the plan, sounds great. But how do I get to Moscow? If I start digging a hole with a spoon, I might end up over there somehow!
Stephanie-chan- No, I got the name Daemon from my head. I wanted that to be his name because Daemon is like a demon and that's sort of what he is. He's like a shadow- a creature of the dark. And just so you know, I don't write lemon stories. Never have and I don't really plan to, that was just in there mainly to show that their relationship has REALLY deepened. I suppose when you get that bond, it only makes things between one another stronger but then again, I wouldn't know, at least, not from personal experience. I'd recommend the Inuyasha movie. They did the animation really well and it has good music. There are some funny scenes, some cute, gushy scenes that make you go "AWWWW" and a lot of fighting scenes. I thought it was great, all in all and I'd recommend it. If you need any reviews on anime, go to my web site, which you can get the link to on my author's page here and go under reviews. There I have listed all the anime I've seen or own and I can give you a review on any you ask for! ^_^ Hope that helps!
Ladyspice- I know, I've got that down as an idea. I've also got a funny, awesome thing for him to use to help him fight but that'll be a surprise for now.
Lyn/Lin- I'm the same way. I CAN'T stand to read cliffhangers but I LOVE to write them!
WarriorGL- I'm not THAT good! You're really talented! Thank you for the wonderful compliments though. I want to be a novelist one-day. That would so rock!
the hAPpiLyINsanE angeredfairy- How was you ghetto day? Hehe, that would be so gross. Roasting stuff over a fire of insides. Eww, the smoke would probably look really weird. I thought it'd end around 13 but then I got more ideas in my crazy little brain.
Aelinwen Elentari- You can see me laughing? Creepy! Yes, us writers are supposed to drive our readers crazy and laugh at the wonderful reviews! I love them! They brighten my day so much!
Dark Angel Himeko- Ei! Please don't kick me! I already cut my leg today T_T! Hey, your first guess was right! Here's your gold star!
~*~ Where Did You Go? ~*~
~By: Lauren~
-Chapter 19-
"Life or Death; Heaven or Hell"
Inuyasha stumbled as he felt cold blood dribble down his leg. Five long cuts ran down across his chest diagonally. His white collared shirt was torn where each wound was and stained a dark crimson red from his torso down. He held Kagome close against his chest, sure that if she were awake she would be able to hear his irregular heartbeat and would worry. But Inuyasha didn't care about her worry or the constant throbbing pain he felt or the sharp convulsions that went through his body with every antagonizing step. Fear swept through his heart and shown on his face as he felt Kagome's body slowly grow cold.
Was she…?
Could she be…?
No. She would never leave him, not like this. Shaking the thought out of his head he picked up his pace, walking faster while his haunting panic loomed in the back of his mind.
Where had Daemon gone? Where had that demon-thing disappeared to? Inuyasha wasn't quite sure but he had a feeling that he would be back but next time…next time Inuyasha would be ready for him.
Finally, Inuyasha neared his destination. By now, his white shirt was stained a sickening red and he was sure his pants were clinging to him with dried blood. Gripping Kagome tighter, Inuyasha pushed open a black wrought iron gate and stumbled down a cement pathway that went weaving through green grass and bushes. He could faintly see a brown wooden door but his vision was beginning to blur. He reached the door, unconsciously kicking the 'welcome' mat into the bushes. He rose his hand to knock before he felt all of his strength begin to leave him, surprising himself that he had lasted this long without collapsing.
But, as if jinxing himself, he felt his knees tremble and go weak as he fell against the door, attempting to keep Kagome up safely. Suddenly, the door swung open and Inuyasha collapsed towards whomever was opening it.
Sango jumped back in shock, pulling her jacket tighter around herself as Miroku attempted to catch whatever drunk had knocked on his door again. Without the light on, he could see there were two that he was attempting to hold up.
"Stupid drunks…bugging me all the time…" Miroku grumbled, trying to figure out which arm was who's until Sango flicked on the lights. When he looked back down, his jaw dropped and his face paled.
It was Inuyasha and Kikyo. Wait…looking closely he noticed the woman wasn't Kikyo but be swore the two looked freakishly alike.
Sango screamed, jumping back and pointing at the pair as she noticed the immense amount of blood staining both of the people. Because Inuyasha had been holding Kagome against his chest, a lot of his blood had almost been absorbed into Kagome's clothing.
Miroku calmed down, trying to keep a cool head as he separated both of their bodies and spread them out, trying to figure out which one was injured. "Sango…call 911." He muttered, pulling carefully on Inuyasha's shirt and Kagome's also to find any kind of wound.
Inuyasha rolled his head from side to side, his eyes wearily opening only a bit. "No…don't c-call them…" He mumbled. "H-help…her…" He pointed to Kagome's limp body. "She was…poisoned…I think." Closing his eyes, he tried to take in steady breaths.
Slowly, Miroku began to understand exactly WHO Kagome was. "Wasn't she that patient of yours…? But I thought she was transferred to another clinic?" He questioned, pointing to Sango quickly. "Go bring me some gauze, boiled water, scissors and my first aid kit." He turned back to Inuyasha. "What happened and what are you doing with her?"
Sango nodded, running from the room to gather up the things.
Inuyasha snorted, even though the motion hurt him. "I could ask you the same thing…about why Sango's at your house…and why her clothing looks ruffled for the most part…"
Miroku laughed despite the seriousness of the situation. He leaned over Inuyasha. "This might hurt a bit…" He said as he unbuttoned Inuyasha's shirt and slowly pulled it off. Because of the dried blood, it was stuck to his skin and Inuyasha had to grit his teeth to keep from crying out.
Sango returned to the room, dropping everything onto the floor except for the water. "Why'd they come here? Not to the hospital?" She questioned, quickly pouring some bacteria killing liquid over Inuyasha's wounds to stop them from being infected. "And how'd you get that?" She pointed at the cuts, ignoring Inuyasha's cry of pain over the stinging of the cleaner.
"Work now, question later." Miroku ordered, pointing to Inuyasha. Turning to Kagome, he gently rolled her on her back. "He probably brought her here since he knows my mother used to make me study herbal medicines, especially for poisons and antidotes." Turning back to Kagome, he began to search her body for any kind of abrasion or cut while Sango kept her eye on him, being sure that he didn't grope her. Miroku frowned at the coldness of Kagome's skin and the pale color her face had.
Sango frowned at Kagome's appearance also but proceeded to clean Inuyasha's wounds much to his cries of painful protest. "How in the world did you get these…" She mumbled to herself as she pressed gauze tightly around the cuts, trying to stop its faint bleeding. She then continued to wrap medical tape around his chest as tight as she could to put as much press as possible on his cuts.
"Inuyasha…I'm afraid she's…." Miroku sighed, a downcast look on his face as he tried to find a pulse on her hand. "She's…"
"NO!!!!! KEEP WORKING ON HER! SHE IS NOT DEAD!!" Inuyasha screamed, slamming his fist into the ground as hard as he could.
Miroku sighed, dropping her hand back down before he noticed something. There was a small cut in the center of her palm. Eyeing it suspiciously, he leaned forward and touched it with his finger. He jumped back as something like…electricity…shocked his finger. He honestly had no idea what to do but the look Inuyasha kept giving him told him not to stop trying. And not only that…for some odd reason he felt as if he HAD to help this girl. He could NOT let her die, no matter what. He sat back, pondering over what to do while Sango finished up bandaging Inuyasha. At the moment, she was helping him drink a glass of water. Lucky, his friend had only sustained injuries to his skin and it didn't go deep enough to puncture anything vital. The only problem was Inuyasha had lost a lot of blood. Right now the most important thing for him would be to sleep and get plenty of rest, and no quick movements but did the man listen to Miroku?
No.
He jumped up quickly to Kagome's side as soon as Sango tied his bandage. Ignoring the throbbing ache he received from the sudden movement, he pulled Kagome's head up onto his lap. It limply lulled to the side. "Miroku, do something!! Kagome, hang on!" He cried, trying to figure out something to do frantically.
"It's up to her will to live." Miroku solemnly stated, sighing softly to himself.
"Don't give me that shit! Make her better now!" Inuyasha demanded, glaring daggers at Miroku.
Knowing if he didn't do anything he would pay for it, Miroku tilted Kagome's head back and kissed her, breathing air into her lungs.
"GET OFF OF MY KAGOME!!!" Inuyasha wailed, shoving Miroku onto his rear end.
"It's called CPR. You want her to live, don't you?" Miroku smirked, knowing the narrowing of Inuyasha's eyes were his stubborn way of giving him permission to continue. Leaning down again, the black-haired man breathed into Kagome's mouth and then sat up, placed his hands below her collarbone to where her heart was about, and began to press down in quick, sharp, hard motions. He sat up again, giving her more air before he pressed again. He repeated this over and over again, sweat dripping down his brow.
~*~
Kagome sighed. Where was she now? Glancing at her surrounds, she took in what she saw in complete awe. She was standing in between the thresholds of two places. To her left, she saw hot flames rising into the air, licking everything it touched like the tongue of a serpent. Its sky was a dark black with a blood-red tint to it. To her right, she saw a serene field of wildflowers, each one a different unique color and style. Nothing stirred the air except for an occasional butterfly. Then there was the area where she was standing. The ground was a plain gray-brown color and it was smooth. Above her, the sky was crystal clear except for an occasional gray colored cloud. A slight breeze rustled her hair, causing her to shiver. She glanced at the field of flowers and the temptation to wander out into it swelled in her chest. She wanted to smell the sweet aroma of the flowers, she wanted to bask in the golden sunlight and forget all the troubles she had faced. She turned her back to the hot flames that caused her skin to flush up and turn her pale color into a deep shade of red.
Taking a hesitant step forward, she edged closer to the field.
She wanted to forget the pain. She wanted to escape from it all. She wanted to leave behind the sorrows of the world and to forget her duty. She wanted to forget the job she had to do, she wanted to forget Daemon, she wanted to forget the voices that would never leave her alone and most importantly, she wanted to forget her job of protecting the Shikon no Tama.
But did she want to forget Inuyasha?
Never. She shook her head, pausing as she stepped backwards a second. No. She didn't want to forget Inuyasha. Was he okay? Hadn't he been hurt? What if he needed her? No. She couldn't forget Miroku, Sango, Shippo- none of them. She never could, even if she wanted to because they were a part of her. They were a part of her heart, of who she was.
But the want- the temptation to rest- still remained stubbornly in her heart. She tried to fight it but it was so hard.
"KAGOME!! KAGOME! WAKE UP!!" A voice shouted to her.
Kagome spun on her heel, her eyes darting all about her for the source of the voice but she found none. Strangely…it sounded very familiar. It sounded like the voice of Inuyasha.
"WAKE UP KAGOME! COME BACK TO ME! WE'VE GOT A FAMILY TO START! WE'VE GOT A WHOLE LIFE TO START- TOGETHER! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME NOW!!" It cried out to her.
He was in pain. Inuyasha- her Inuyasha- was hurting because she was trying to leave him. Cursing her weakness, she turned her back to the field of flowers. She turned her back to the flames and ran down between them, searching for a way out.
She kept running, feeling the heat of the flames on one side and the cool air on the other. "I want to live! I don't want to die yet!" Kagome cried loudly and then…she was falling. There was no ground anymore, no field or flames. She was falling through blackness, tumbling forever it seemed.
And then there was bluish-black electricity swirling about her and every once in a while a bolt would strike her, causing her entire body to shake wildly and fill with a horrible, horrible pain.
But that didn't matter to Kagome. Her only desire- her one goal- was to get to Inuyasha and make him happy again. She couldn't stand to see him suffering. She had to fight it all. Pushing away the dark emotions from her heart, Kagome knew she had to do so, so that then Daemon's poison would weaken. She focused on Inuyasha and her friends. She focused on their happy times together and the good feelings she had felt with them. She focused on her silly little brother and her annoying mom.
Slowly…the electricity faded until it completely disappeared and she stared up into a pair of familiar…purple eyes? The face was suddenly shoved away and amber eyes looked down at her. Kagome couldn't even take in another breath before she was pressed against Inuyasha's bandaged chest. He hugged her to him tightly, pulling her up onto his lap safely.
Kagome coughed wildly, sucking in air as she tried to fill up her lungs with the molecules that were vital for life. Inuyasha patted her back tenderly, giving her room to breathe while he didn't let go of her. Finally, after Kagome had calmed down and was able to breathe again regularly, Inuyasha yanked her tightly against himself. He made a nest almost, holding her with his legs and arms while she desperately clung to him. Kagome wanted to shiver apart. She wanted to clutch at Inuyasha, ask him like a child to make it all go away, tell him it was going to be all right. She didn't think there was anyone alive who could make her believe that...but she so badly wished there were.
Miroku began to lean forward to tap Kagome's shoulder gently, for he and Sango were now FULL of questions but he froze as Inuyasha glared at him and growled. Deciding it could wait until later, he finally relaxed, his tense muscles now calming down. Sango smiled down at him warmly. "Good job doctor Miroku." She chuckled softly.
Miroku chuckled. "Thanks." He ran his hand down her back…further….further….
SMACK!!
Sango smiled at the handprint she had left on his face.
"Hey, I wasn't injured before…and when those two show up, I get slapped?" He questioned her, a hypocritical look on his face.
Sango rolled her eyes and sauntered out of the room to change out of her now-dirty clothing and to bring some food and drinks for the two guests.
Kagome smiled at the two, happy to be around familiar, friendly people whom she loved. People who had helped save her life.
After a few minutes of sitting in the blissful silence, Sango wandered in with a tray of water. "Let's move this into the living room…and then…you both can explain this all to us."
Inuyasha sighed. "It's a long story." He suddenly felt very tired. His eyelids slowly began to droop.
Kagome chuckled quietly, "Here, why don't you go to sleep Inuyasha…" She trailed off, "And I'll tell them the WHOLE story."
Inuyasha would have refused her deal but his eyes were already closed and he was softly snoring.
~*~
"Holy crap…" Miroku and Sango both muttered, their jaws slack and their eyes wide.
Kagome burst into laughter at their expressions. She fought the urge to sleep as her sore body sank back into her chair. "I don't think crap can be holy…" She blinked, smirking.
"Strangely though….as totally weird and crazy as your story sounds…it almost…makes sense…" Sango stammered, gulping.
"Are you saying you believe her crazy tale?" Miroku blinked skeptically.
"Well…sort of….I don't know…I've just got this weird feeling that she's not lying…that I can believe her…and that it's true…as odd as that sounds…" Sango trailed off, frowning.
Miroku seemed to sigh almost. "Good…I thought I was the only one with that feeling."
"Are you saying you believe me?!" Kagome jumped up to her feet despite her creaking muscles. Shock was clear all over her face.
"Well….some of it." Miroku replied. "It's pretty far fetched but…after what we just saw, Inuyasha's wounds and your poison…it's not too hard to believe. Not only that…but the feeling of familiarity and how you knew all about us…it…FITS." He finished, not sure how to explain himself. Sango nodded vigorously next to him.
"Damn…" Inuyasha stumbled into the room, collapsing onto the couch next to Kagome. He was rubbing his tired eyes. "I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck…." He grumbled.
Kagome snorted at this, reaching out and taking his hand. She squeezed it lightly. "That's what you get for chasing after me. I could have handled it." She teased, attempting to see how he felt about the whole situation. She tried to joke and to be truthful, she would have rather she handled it herself. Now everyone was going to be dragged into the situation and Inuyasha had ALREADY been injured.
"I'm never letting you out of my sight again." Inuyasha whispered quietly to her. "Why'd you do that? What would you have done if...?" He shot back, and Kagome was struck by emotion. His eyes, his voice...she never thought it was possible for eyes to be ragged, but his were. His voice was in shreds, his melodic tones gone...he was fragmenting before her very eyes. "What would you have done? What would you do if you knew you might-" He stopped, shaking his head. He tried to be angry with Kagome…but…when he saw the look of regret in her eyes, he knew he couldn't be mad anymore.
"I'm sorry." Kagome murmured, finding her hands very interesting suddenly. She couldn't look at Inuyasha, not when he was this upset with her. It hurt her too much. She felt terrible about running off. Suddenly, she felt a hand rest against her cheek. Inuyasha brought his other hand to her face and pushed her bangs out of her face. His touch was so soft that Kagome thought she was dreaming. If it was a dream, she was sure she didn't want to wake up.
"Is her story true? About the well, the past and everything?" Sango questioned Inuyasha.
Inuyasha nodded yes.
"Then we believe you, Kagome." Miroku and Sango both said.
Tears brimmed her eyes at their words. "Why?" She mouthed, unable to speak.
"Because…Inuyasha never lies. Or at least, when he tries to, it's obvious." Miroku smiled, crossing his arms over his chest while he ignored Inuyasha's grunt of annoyance.
The tears freely flowed as Kagome reached forward and brought Sango and Miroku into a tight embrace. "It's nice to have you both back…" She whispered but her words were lost as she said them into their shirts for she was clinging to them as if for dear life.
Sango smacked Miroku's hand as it began to head for Kagome's backside.