Hello there again, all! Last time I waited long between updates, because no
one was reviewing, which saddened me greatly. But when I checked my reviews
after the second chapter, I was thrilled! Honestly, I' not sure how to
describe how great it felt to know people enjoyed my story.. *looks
wistful* Anyway, notes to reviewers at the end.. I love you all, and I'll
love you even more if you continue to review! lol. But, if you must flame
me, feel free to.. *sigh* And I expect to get at least one flamer on this
chapter. Know how I said this story would be a bit angsty? Well, I figured
it was time for the angst. Enjoy.
Ok, ok, here it goes again. I do not own Inu-Yasha. I do not own Kagome. I do not own Miroku, or Sango, or Kikyo, or Shippo, or Sesshomarau. Guh. No, I don't own any of them, or anyone else I mention in this chapter. Rumiko Takahashi does. So there.
Inu-Yasha climbed out of the well silently, reveling in the feel of Kagome's warm body limp in his arms, head resting on his shoulder with a faint smile. He didn't speak because he knew she could use the sleep, but also because he feared if he spoke, his words would break the unaccustomed peace that had seemed to have settled on them with Inu-Yasha's plea for her to go back through the well with him. When Inu-Yasha reached the village, it was if nothing had changed, as if the small group were still back in the times where they had been searching and fighting for jewel shards. With surprise Inu-Yasha could feel his heart sadden.. he would miss such good friends, the unspoken love that had grown between them, binding them so tight that it would feel like a knife once they all separated. Miroku and Sango sat on the ground, cross legged, neither sleeping. Inu-Yasha smiled faintly to see how entranced Sango seemed just to listen to the monk, and how happy the monk was to just be basking in her presence. So far they hadn't noticed him. Inu-Yasha quickly sat Kagome down, leaning her against the wall of a small hut, not wanting the two to see how comfortable he looked with Kagome resting in his arms. Softly he sat beside the sleeping girl, content just to spend the rest of the night surrounded by his friends, ones he valued almost more than life itself. Would he be able to give up this happiness for Kikyo? Sadly he thought, 'it doesn't matter if I want to or not. When the time comes, I'll have to hold true to my promise, or I really will have betrayed my Kikyo..'
Sometime in the morning Kagome woke, confused. But her muddled thoughts soon cleared up, and she smiled, eyes shining, as she remembered the night before. A quick check told her that Miroku and Sango were asleep in Kaede's hut, but Inu-Yasha was gone. She quickly walked off into the woods, sure she would find him there, heart light as a feather. If only this happiness would last.
He could smell her sickly sweet scent, laced with a power so strong that it stung his delicate nose. Oh yes, she was near. His half-brother's witch was around, and with her she carried the sacred jewel that he sought. With it, he could become even stronger than his foolish father and the frighteningly strong Inu-Yasha. She was coming nearer. Trailing after Inu- Yasha, no doubt. He had come past, but had been too deep in thought to notice the ever-watching Sesshomarau. The demon smiled wickedly. Not that it really mattered. After he killed the disgusting human girl, and mastered the jewel, he would come after Inu-Yasha. He would then kill him, replace his arm with his half-brothers, and gain ultimate control of the Tetsusaiga and all Western lands. It was his destiny, to follow after but also tower over the memory of his father. Sesshomarau shrunk back into the foliage when he caught sight of Kagome. The early rays of dawn sparkled off of her ink-black hair, and her solemn brown eyes were brighter than ever before, alive with some sort of joy that confused Sesshomarau. He knew how Inu- Yasha had rejected the girl for Kikyo. what right had she to be happy? She, too, was deep in thought as had been his brother. Quietly and swiftly Inu- Yasha's evil brother snuck up behind Kagome, mouth almost watering at the power he would wield, at the pain and suffering he would inflict upon his brother by destroying this pitiful human girl. It wouldn't be half as satisfying as it would have been had Kagome been Kikyo this one time, but Sesshomarau would take what he could get.
Inu-Yasha could hear the scream not more than half a mile away from his perch in the tree. Kagome.?
"Kagome!" He shouted, recognizing her voice. It had been a scream of pain and anger, but also he could sense fear and desperation in it. He jumped down from the tree, face twisted in rage. He could recognize the scent of her attacker. Shaking his head he ran towards the source of the scream. He paled, but didn't slow when he smelled blood.
"Kagome! I'm coming!"
Sesshomarau's eyes held Kagome's locked in place, as if daring her to scream again. When he had first come upon her she had just stared at him confusedly until he had reached for her. that was when she had screamed. The second the sound left her mouth, however, he had her by one shoulder, lifting her up into the air. Normally it would have been hard to lift someone like that, but the girl's lightness and the demon's claws hooked deep within her shoulder made it easy. Kagome bit her paling lip, refusing to cry from the pain. She would be tough to break, but he, Sesshomarau could do it. A cold grin spread across his face as he dug his claws in deeper, feeling bone. Kagome whimpered, in too much pain to try to resist natural reactions. 'This might just end up being more fun than I had thought,' Sesshomarau decided, flinging the stricken miko to the ground.
"Well, well. What should I do with you now?" The youkai questioned Kagome in his cool, emotionless voice. She tried to sit up, but Sesshomarau pushed her back down. "You know, you really should not try to fight me anymore. The longer you make this last, the more chance Inu-Yasha shows up. Do you really want to see him in such pain?"
"What do you want with me?" She cried, agonizingly. Sesshomarau chuckled softly, about to answer, but he could sense Inu-Yasha coming their way- fast. Quickly he pulled her to her feet, a plan already developing. He clasped her close to his chest, waiting for to hanyou to show up. Which he did at that very moment. Disbelief was etched into his face when he saw Kagome's condition. He halted when his brother tapped a sharp, thin claw on Kagome's neck meaningfully.
"You. you bastard! What did you do to her?" Inu-Yasha choked out, clenching his fists. Kagome looked up, tears in her eyes, pleading.
"Oh, not much. by the time this is finally over," he said, forcing Kagome to turn so that the wounds in her shoulder were visible, "these scratches here will not mean a thing, brother." Inu-Yasha tensed, ready to attack. "I wouldn't. She would die before you could reach me." He stepped forward, pushing the girl ahead of him. Kagome's limbs were weak and unresponsive from blood loss. The small shove caused her to loose her balance, and she fell to her knees, hair hanging loosely in front of her face as she sat slumped to the ground, defeated and exhausted. It was all Inu-Yasha needed, the small opening he was waiting for. Now that Kagome's life wasn't in direct danger he could attack, with all the rage he felt behind his searing claws. Once, twice, he struck, ribbons of crimson appearing on Sesshomarau's shoulder and face. The demon took it all coolly, though shocked at the speed Inu-Yasha had seemed to have suddenly acquired. Inu-Yasha was moving faster than ever, but Sesshomarau could see that his brain was clouded by his fury. rage made him clumsy. He was attacking, always attacking, but he made no move to defend himself. In an instant Sesshomarau had Inu-Yasha pinned against a tree, one hand wrapped around his throat. Grinning coolly he slid his free hand to Inu-Yasha's waist, and just as coolly detached the sheathed Tetsusaiga, gripping it tightly. And then, Sesshomarau's universe consisted only of pain.
Kagome fell to the ground, gasping as her shoulder throbbed dully. Her bow fell from her trembling grip, and her quiver lay on the ground, arrows scattered about. She had had just enough energy to shoot the one arrow that was now protruding from between Sesshomarau's shoulder blades. The demon's eyes tightened with pain as he dropped his brother to the forest floor, but he did not fall himself. Deliberately he sidled up behind Kagome, voice still emotionless as ever, strong arms pulling her off of the ground.
"That was not smart, girl, not smart at all." He paused, waiting to be sure Inu-Yasha knew what was happening, but also because of the burning within his back. The girl's spelled arrow hurt him more than he would admit. The amber eyes of his brother lifted to his own, cold with anger and helplessness. "And now, brother, I want you to feel pain." With that he lightly punctured the skin of Kagome's neck with one poisoned claw, sliding it along in her skin, causing beads of blood to well up in the shallow scratch. It didn't seem like much, but the wisps of green smoke that issued from the slight wound told Inu-Yasha all he needed to know.
The hanyou watched in horror as Kagome fell bodily to the floor. Bursting with a sorrow so deep Inu-Yasha almost choked, he ripped open his own arm with sharp fangs, hastily arming himself with the spatters of blood. His hoarse shout of, "Blades of Blood!" had been unheard by Sesshomarau, who had been preoccupied watching Kagome die. The five dark stripes cut cleanly through his back, severing his sword belt, emerging through the front in a shower of hot blood. Sesshomarau gasped, fell to his knees, then-disappeared. Again, he had gotten away.
"Damn it!!!" Inu-Yasha howled, rushing over to Kagome. He tripped on something, but was too distracted to look and see what it was. Kagome's eyes flickered briefly when Inu-Yasha cradled her head in his arms, then she was still. Kagome was gone, and it was his fault. He had convinced her to come back, promising to protect her. Yet he had failed, and she had paid the price. Inu-Yasha slumped over her body, and cried shamelessly. Kagome was dead.
A/N: Ahhhh, I know you all hate me right now! That was such an evil, bad bad thing to do. But keep reading; please don't stop cos I did something bad! I could just put this as the end of the chapter, but then you wouldn't read on. So no cliffies for today, I suppose. but really, you'll understand what I did if you don't leave this unread. *sniff*
He didn't know how long he stayed there, but when he looked up, the sky was dark, and Kagome was ice cold. Blinking Inu-Yasha stared blankly, not really knowing what he was looking for, then he saw it, and dawning hit him. Of course!
Purple flowers swirled dizzyingly around stars that exploded and sprinkled down upon a far off world that was quickly drawing nearer, and voices that hurt to listen to sung in long forgotten words about long forgotten people, places, and times. Then there was a black stretch. Across from it was her father. Tears sprang to her eyes. When she could see again, it was. Inu-Yasha's mother? And then, the pictures began to swim together. The whole scene was obliterated by red. Pain seared through her stiff body. Faces swayed around her, then slowly came into focus. Kagome coughed, feeling cold and achy all over.
"What. where." She began, voice thick and tongue clumsy. She was silenced when a voice warm with tears spoke softly to her.
"Hush now. You're safe. You'll be all right." Kagome blinked groggily, seeing Sango bending over her, face gaunt and pale with worry. Kagome struggled to sit up, then giggled woozily.
"Of course I'm safe! Except. I think I remember." She looked around. "Hey! Where'd your mom go, Inu-Yasha?" She inquired, forgetting that it had only been a dream. Inu-Yasha didn't answer. His eyes were rimmed with red, he had dried blood streaked all over his face and one arm, and an unfamiliar sword clenched in his right hand. Realization flooded Kagome, knocking her breathless.
"Hey, I'm dead!" Miroku coughed at her trembling statement.
"Not dead. You, well, you were, but Inu-Yasha. he has his brother's sword. He brought you back, Kagome." Inu-Yasha dropped the sword, seemingly coming out of his dazed state. He stepped forward slowly, then fell to his knees, hands splayed on the floor to keep him from collapsing.
"Kagome, don't ever leave me like that again!" He cried, voice breaking, such was the force of his emotion. He scooped her up in his arms, heedless of the others around them. His hands gripped the back of her shirt, as if scared to let go, for fear she would disappear. Kagome's eyes widened, then fell heavy with tears as she comforted him with soft words and soft hands.
"Oh, Inu-Yasha. I will never leave you, not for the world."
A/N: Sooo. how was it? I think it was a rather long chapter.. Hope that isn't a bad thing? I just couldn't stop once I was started, even though it sucks. Dunno, had to add some dramatic tension, ne? Hope you didn't hate it so much. Actually, it started off a lot longer, cos this is a story I've already written and am now typing up. But originally, I had Sesshomarau ten times eviler and more Naraku-ish (it was bad, man) but it was so out of character for him, I just had to change it. Sorry it took so long to get this up! Like I said, I've been sick, and there's been some major editing going on with this chapter. So please, review! Flamers are accepted, also. Though I must admit, kind reviews are much more heartily welcome. Sorry the description was a bit off till the end, I wasn't really feeling it as much, I'm better at the fluff. So, later!
Ok, ok, here it goes again. I do not own Inu-Yasha. I do not own Kagome. I do not own Miroku, or Sango, or Kikyo, or Shippo, or Sesshomarau. Guh. No, I don't own any of them, or anyone else I mention in this chapter. Rumiko Takahashi does. So there.
Inu-Yasha climbed out of the well silently, reveling in the feel of Kagome's warm body limp in his arms, head resting on his shoulder with a faint smile. He didn't speak because he knew she could use the sleep, but also because he feared if he spoke, his words would break the unaccustomed peace that had seemed to have settled on them with Inu-Yasha's plea for her to go back through the well with him. When Inu-Yasha reached the village, it was if nothing had changed, as if the small group were still back in the times where they had been searching and fighting for jewel shards. With surprise Inu-Yasha could feel his heart sadden.. he would miss such good friends, the unspoken love that had grown between them, binding them so tight that it would feel like a knife once they all separated. Miroku and Sango sat on the ground, cross legged, neither sleeping. Inu-Yasha smiled faintly to see how entranced Sango seemed just to listen to the monk, and how happy the monk was to just be basking in her presence. So far they hadn't noticed him. Inu-Yasha quickly sat Kagome down, leaning her against the wall of a small hut, not wanting the two to see how comfortable he looked with Kagome resting in his arms. Softly he sat beside the sleeping girl, content just to spend the rest of the night surrounded by his friends, ones he valued almost more than life itself. Would he be able to give up this happiness for Kikyo? Sadly he thought, 'it doesn't matter if I want to or not. When the time comes, I'll have to hold true to my promise, or I really will have betrayed my Kikyo..'
Sometime in the morning Kagome woke, confused. But her muddled thoughts soon cleared up, and she smiled, eyes shining, as she remembered the night before. A quick check told her that Miroku and Sango were asleep in Kaede's hut, but Inu-Yasha was gone. She quickly walked off into the woods, sure she would find him there, heart light as a feather. If only this happiness would last.
He could smell her sickly sweet scent, laced with a power so strong that it stung his delicate nose. Oh yes, she was near. His half-brother's witch was around, and with her she carried the sacred jewel that he sought. With it, he could become even stronger than his foolish father and the frighteningly strong Inu-Yasha. She was coming nearer. Trailing after Inu- Yasha, no doubt. He had come past, but had been too deep in thought to notice the ever-watching Sesshomarau. The demon smiled wickedly. Not that it really mattered. After he killed the disgusting human girl, and mastered the jewel, he would come after Inu-Yasha. He would then kill him, replace his arm with his half-brothers, and gain ultimate control of the Tetsusaiga and all Western lands. It was his destiny, to follow after but also tower over the memory of his father. Sesshomarau shrunk back into the foliage when he caught sight of Kagome. The early rays of dawn sparkled off of her ink-black hair, and her solemn brown eyes were brighter than ever before, alive with some sort of joy that confused Sesshomarau. He knew how Inu- Yasha had rejected the girl for Kikyo. what right had she to be happy? She, too, was deep in thought as had been his brother. Quietly and swiftly Inu- Yasha's evil brother snuck up behind Kagome, mouth almost watering at the power he would wield, at the pain and suffering he would inflict upon his brother by destroying this pitiful human girl. It wouldn't be half as satisfying as it would have been had Kagome been Kikyo this one time, but Sesshomarau would take what he could get.
Inu-Yasha could hear the scream not more than half a mile away from his perch in the tree. Kagome.?
"Kagome!" He shouted, recognizing her voice. It had been a scream of pain and anger, but also he could sense fear and desperation in it. He jumped down from the tree, face twisted in rage. He could recognize the scent of her attacker. Shaking his head he ran towards the source of the scream. He paled, but didn't slow when he smelled blood.
"Kagome! I'm coming!"
Sesshomarau's eyes held Kagome's locked in place, as if daring her to scream again. When he had first come upon her she had just stared at him confusedly until he had reached for her. that was when she had screamed. The second the sound left her mouth, however, he had her by one shoulder, lifting her up into the air. Normally it would have been hard to lift someone like that, but the girl's lightness and the demon's claws hooked deep within her shoulder made it easy. Kagome bit her paling lip, refusing to cry from the pain. She would be tough to break, but he, Sesshomarau could do it. A cold grin spread across his face as he dug his claws in deeper, feeling bone. Kagome whimpered, in too much pain to try to resist natural reactions. 'This might just end up being more fun than I had thought,' Sesshomarau decided, flinging the stricken miko to the ground.
"Well, well. What should I do with you now?" The youkai questioned Kagome in his cool, emotionless voice. She tried to sit up, but Sesshomarau pushed her back down. "You know, you really should not try to fight me anymore. The longer you make this last, the more chance Inu-Yasha shows up. Do you really want to see him in such pain?"
"What do you want with me?" She cried, agonizingly. Sesshomarau chuckled softly, about to answer, but he could sense Inu-Yasha coming their way- fast. Quickly he pulled her to her feet, a plan already developing. He clasped her close to his chest, waiting for to hanyou to show up. Which he did at that very moment. Disbelief was etched into his face when he saw Kagome's condition. He halted when his brother tapped a sharp, thin claw on Kagome's neck meaningfully.
"You. you bastard! What did you do to her?" Inu-Yasha choked out, clenching his fists. Kagome looked up, tears in her eyes, pleading.
"Oh, not much. by the time this is finally over," he said, forcing Kagome to turn so that the wounds in her shoulder were visible, "these scratches here will not mean a thing, brother." Inu-Yasha tensed, ready to attack. "I wouldn't. She would die before you could reach me." He stepped forward, pushing the girl ahead of him. Kagome's limbs were weak and unresponsive from blood loss. The small shove caused her to loose her balance, and she fell to her knees, hair hanging loosely in front of her face as she sat slumped to the ground, defeated and exhausted. It was all Inu-Yasha needed, the small opening he was waiting for. Now that Kagome's life wasn't in direct danger he could attack, with all the rage he felt behind his searing claws. Once, twice, he struck, ribbons of crimson appearing on Sesshomarau's shoulder and face. The demon took it all coolly, though shocked at the speed Inu-Yasha had seemed to have suddenly acquired. Inu-Yasha was moving faster than ever, but Sesshomarau could see that his brain was clouded by his fury. rage made him clumsy. He was attacking, always attacking, but he made no move to defend himself. In an instant Sesshomarau had Inu-Yasha pinned against a tree, one hand wrapped around his throat. Grinning coolly he slid his free hand to Inu-Yasha's waist, and just as coolly detached the sheathed Tetsusaiga, gripping it tightly. And then, Sesshomarau's universe consisted only of pain.
Kagome fell to the ground, gasping as her shoulder throbbed dully. Her bow fell from her trembling grip, and her quiver lay on the ground, arrows scattered about. She had had just enough energy to shoot the one arrow that was now protruding from between Sesshomarau's shoulder blades. The demon's eyes tightened with pain as he dropped his brother to the forest floor, but he did not fall himself. Deliberately he sidled up behind Kagome, voice still emotionless as ever, strong arms pulling her off of the ground.
"That was not smart, girl, not smart at all." He paused, waiting to be sure Inu-Yasha knew what was happening, but also because of the burning within his back. The girl's spelled arrow hurt him more than he would admit. The amber eyes of his brother lifted to his own, cold with anger and helplessness. "And now, brother, I want you to feel pain." With that he lightly punctured the skin of Kagome's neck with one poisoned claw, sliding it along in her skin, causing beads of blood to well up in the shallow scratch. It didn't seem like much, but the wisps of green smoke that issued from the slight wound told Inu-Yasha all he needed to know.
The hanyou watched in horror as Kagome fell bodily to the floor. Bursting with a sorrow so deep Inu-Yasha almost choked, he ripped open his own arm with sharp fangs, hastily arming himself with the spatters of blood. His hoarse shout of, "Blades of Blood!" had been unheard by Sesshomarau, who had been preoccupied watching Kagome die. The five dark stripes cut cleanly through his back, severing his sword belt, emerging through the front in a shower of hot blood. Sesshomarau gasped, fell to his knees, then-disappeared. Again, he had gotten away.
"Damn it!!!" Inu-Yasha howled, rushing over to Kagome. He tripped on something, but was too distracted to look and see what it was. Kagome's eyes flickered briefly when Inu-Yasha cradled her head in his arms, then she was still. Kagome was gone, and it was his fault. He had convinced her to come back, promising to protect her. Yet he had failed, and she had paid the price. Inu-Yasha slumped over her body, and cried shamelessly. Kagome was dead.
A/N: Ahhhh, I know you all hate me right now! That was such an evil, bad bad thing to do. But keep reading; please don't stop cos I did something bad! I could just put this as the end of the chapter, but then you wouldn't read on. So no cliffies for today, I suppose. but really, you'll understand what I did if you don't leave this unread. *sniff*
He didn't know how long he stayed there, but when he looked up, the sky was dark, and Kagome was ice cold. Blinking Inu-Yasha stared blankly, not really knowing what he was looking for, then he saw it, and dawning hit him. Of course!
Purple flowers swirled dizzyingly around stars that exploded and sprinkled down upon a far off world that was quickly drawing nearer, and voices that hurt to listen to sung in long forgotten words about long forgotten people, places, and times. Then there was a black stretch. Across from it was her father. Tears sprang to her eyes. When she could see again, it was. Inu-Yasha's mother? And then, the pictures began to swim together. The whole scene was obliterated by red. Pain seared through her stiff body. Faces swayed around her, then slowly came into focus. Kagome coughed, feeling cold and achy all over.
"What. where." She began, voice thick and tongue clumsy. She was silenced when a voice warm with tears spoke softly to her.
"Hush now. You're safe. You'll be all right." Kagome blinked groggily, seeing Sango bending over her, face gaunt and pale with worry. Kagome struggled to sit up, then giggled woozily.
"Of course I'm safe! Except. I think I remember." She looked around. "Hey! Where'd your mom go, Inu-Yasha?" She inquired, forgetting that it had only been a dream. Inu-Yasha didn't answer. His eyes were rimmed with red, he had dried blood streaked all over his face and one arm, and an unfamiliar sword clenched in his right hand. Realization flooded Kagome, knocking her breathless.
"Hey, I'm dead!" Miroku coughed at her trembling statement.
"Not dead. You, well, you were, but Inu-Yasha. he has his brother's sword. He brought you back, Kagome." Inu-Yasha dropped the sword, seemingly coming out of his dazed state. He stepped forward slowly, then fell to his knees, hands splayed on the floor to keep him from collapsing.
"Kagome, don't ever leave me like that again!" He cried, voice breaking, such was the force of his emotion. He scooped her up in his arms, heedless of the others around them. His hands gripped the back of her shirt, as if scared to let go, for fear she would disappear. Kagome's eyes widened, then fell heavy with tears as she comforted him with soft words and soft hands.
"Oh, Inu-Yasha. I will never leave you, not for the world."
A/N: Sooo. how was it? I think it was a rather long chapter.. Hope that isn't a bad thing? I just couldn't stop once I was started, even though it sucks. Dunno, had to add some dramatic tension, ne? Hope you didn't hate it so much. Actually, it started off a lot longer, cos this is a story I've already written and am now typing up. But originally, I had Sesshomarau ten times eviler and more Naraku-ish (it was bad, man) but it was so out of character for him, I just had to change it. Sorry it took so long to get this up! Like I said, I've been sick, and there's been some major editing going on with this chapter. So please, review! Flamers are accepted, also. Though I must admit, kind reviews are much more heartily welcome. Sorry the description was a bit off till the end, I wasn't really feeling it as much, I'm better at the fluff. So, later!