Author's Note: I got a little carried away… Yes, this chapter is very, very long, lol. It took me forever to write, and the carpal tunnel is starting to set in… ouch. shakes out wrist This is the longest chapter I have ever written for any of my stories on FF.net. I hope that you enjoy it! It'll prolly be horribly confusing, seeing as it's 1:30 AM and I'm tired as hell… but what else it new? At the end of this you'll be staring at the screen asking: "WTF??" But it'll all be explained in the epilogue, promise. Lol. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'm too tired to care. Refer to previous chapter if you want one that bad.
My Will
Chapter 14: Spell on You
"To control others is to have power, to control yourself is to know the way"
-- Lao Ma
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As Kagome stepped out of the room she had been kept in under lock and key for so very long, the first thing she noticed was that a certain white haired boy was missing. Her eyes frantically combed the shadows, searching for the telltale glint of amber eyes to reassure her. But all she found was the quiet darkness.
"Come on," The man said, stepping briskly down the hall. Kagome was forced to follow him. After all, she didn't have a chance of getting away in a straight jacket. Though her eyes continued to flick towards the dark corners, she held her tongue about the missing boy. If InuYasha had somehow gotten away, she didn't want to alert this man to that fact.
The man opened the large, metal door to the stairs soundlessly. Quickly, he slipped inside as if he had melted into the very shadows themselves. This took Kagome aback for a moment. In his brief absence, her mind screamed for her to run. But just as soon as she had turned towards the security guard, she felt something grab her by the back of the straight jacket. Someone pulled her backwards, causing the girl to loose her balance and tilt dangerously.
Just as Kagome felt as though she was going to fall to the floor, her back hit something rather solid. Quickly, she turned her head, but the Shadow Man met her gaze, for she had landed on his chest. Kagome gasped and tried to twist away from him, but his hands clasped themselves around her shoulders. She stood, gasping for air, feeling the heat of his breath on the back of her neck.
"Now, now… There will be no running away. If you try that again, I'll kill everyone in this place," He whispered the threat directly into her ear, causing Kagome to shudder with dread.
The man spun her around and shoved Kagome towards the door. She opened it with shaking fingers and walked through. She could feel the Shadow Man's malevolent presence enter the small landing after her.
Kagome sucked in air with a gasp as she felt the cold steel of a knife smooth along her neck. The man stood directly behind her, gripping her left arm tightly with his free hand as the other held steady the knife at her throat.
"Take me to his room," He said loudly, as they were no longer in danger of waking up the nurse on guard.
"Whose room?" Kagome asked, her voice shaking slightly. She swallowed hard as she felt the knife press harder against her skin.
"You know who I'm talking about. Don't be stupid, Kagome." He added her name, giving it a silky tone as he rubbed the blunt edge of the knife against her cheek. Kagome shuddered in disgust.
"Who?" She asked, "I don't know who you're talking about," She tried as best she could to stay calm, but it was becoming harder and harder as his body pressed closer to hers and the once steady hand that held the knife began to shake with anger.
"Don't toy with me, little girl," He hissed, "Or I'll be forced to get rid of you now and do the rest for myself." He brought the knife to her throat again, pushing it in deep enough to draw blood. Kagome's breath came in quick gasps as fear took control of her body.
"Wh… Why haven't you killed me already?" A stupid move, she knew well, but she needed to find out. Why was he using her like this? Why was he putting her through so much torment?
"Because, my dear Kagome…" He pulled the knife away from her throat and spun her around to face him, "If I'm to have a life after this… I can't be linked to a series of horrific murders at some mental institution, now can I? Afterwards, they need to find someone else's fingerprints on the murder weapon."
"After what?" Kagome demanded, her strength returning since the knife had left her throat.
"After I get the other half of the jewel," He replied, an evil smile on his face, "And become human once again. My soul lies in the other half of the Shikon No Tama, and I'm not about to leave unless I get it."
"You were never human to begin with," Kagome growled, trying to yank free of his grip on her arms, but he spun her around again, knife at her bleeding throat. Kagome stopped struggling immediately.
The man removed the knife and gave her a not so gentle push in the back, which, had she not kept her balance, would have sent her careening down the stairs.
"Stupid, naïve, little girl," He muttered, "Now take me to that boy's room."
As they began the long trek down the stairs, all was silent except for the light tapping of their feet on the concrete stairs. Kagome was ready to go mad if she didn't say something soon.
"What's you're name?" She asked innocently enough, but not really expecting an answer.
"Naraku," Came the smooth reply. Kagome paused on the stairs and blinked in surprise. Images flitted across her mind, "You… you were the one on the rock, I remember now! I had a dream where you… you…" Her voice trailed off as she remembered the horrific images that had plagued her dreams a few days after her encounter with the mysterious man on the rock. The sedatives that the doctors had given her must have caused her to forget some of these details, or else she would have put it together sooner.
She could hear Naraku chuckle behind her as he gave her another hard shove to get her going again. "… Just another wanderer on one of life's journey's," He recalled a bit more of the memory for her, "I wondered how long it would take you to recognize me."
"I wonder how long it'll take you to piece it all together," His voice rang in her mind. Kagome continued to walk down the stairs, trying to shut out the voice, but he continued, "You probably never will, seeing how you won't live long enough."
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Kagome's legs were shaking by the time they reached the floor she had once stayed on. Not because of fatigue, but due to sheer terror. Her wide eyes searched the shadows once more for InuYasha, but still found nothing.
"Where's his room, Kagome?" Naraku asked.
By this time, Kagome had figured out exactly whom the man was talking about. After a slight hesitation, she began walking in the direction of InuYasha's room, heedless of the cameras. Naraku followed her, content in the fact that he had slipped poison in the security guard's coffees. They would not interfere tonight.
Kagome stopped at the doorway, sighing in relief. InuYasha wasn't there, which meant that he was safe somewhere else in the hospital. At least, she hoped.
Naraku pushed past her. He walked into the room as if he had done so everyday of his life, and went straight for the dresser. Kagome gasped as he pulled out the first drawer and dumped its contents onto the floor, kicking his foot through the clothes to find his prize.
Kagome watched in horror and amazement as Naraku ransacked the room. He had just gotten to the nightstand when the girl felt a light tap on her shoulder and the heat of breath near her ear.
"Come on," InuYasha's voice whispered to her. Kagome turned towards him quietly, relief washing through her. She watched as InuYasha put a finger to his lips to keep her quiet. Gently he tugged on the loose fabric at the arm of her straight jacket, pulling her away from the doorway. Turning her around, he swiftly untied the arms of the straight jacket, pulling it off of her and tossing it to the floor.
"Let's go," He said just as quietly, grabbing her hand and leading her in the direction of the elevator.
"InuYasha, thank you," She whispered to him. He turned as they ran and smiled at her warmly.
"It's all gonna be alright, Kagome—"
"KAGOME!
The poor girl never heard the rest of InuYasha's words as she collapsed on the floor. A headache overpowered her senses, driving her to the brink of insanity. InuYasha bent down next to her as she put her hands to her head and began to rock back and forth. Naraku's yells pierced through her mind, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Kagome, get away from him and come to me, girl! Come to me!"
Kagome felt her body obeying his commands. She tried to stop it, but only succeeded in bringing forth tears that ran down her cheeks.
"Kagome, don't!" InuYasha's voice seemed far away, but she could feel his arms clutching her, trying to pull her back. Her eyes seemed to fail her, as all she could see was black with the occasion flash of a bright light every time Naraku screamed in her
mind.
Suddenly, InuYasha's hands left her. She walked blindly forward, groping for something, anything. Her fingers finally caught the soft material of an old, worn shirt. She tangled her fingers into the material and held on for dear life.
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"You see, you poor fool?" The Shadow Man looked up at InuYasha with an evil smile playing across his face, "She came to me. She is mine to control." The man looked down at the girl, who leaned against him in false security, gripping his shirt tightly in her small, innocent hands. Tears streamed down her face as she leaned her head against his chest, unaware of her surroundings.
InuYasha stared on in shock. He could not even begin to understand what was going on. "Kagome…" He whispered pleadingly. The man would kill her for sure… why had she gone to him?
"I can make her do whatever I wish," the man said, patting her shiny black hair with his hand, "She is under my spell, so to speak," He chuckled at his own poor joke.
InuYasha stayed rooted to his spot, staring on in disbelief.
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"Kagome, take the knife from my pocket," the voice spoke soothingly now, gently guiding her to do it's bidding. Kagome complied, reaching her small hand into the closest pocket and grasping it around the base of a knife. She pulled it out slowly, holding it next to her body.
"Go kill him, Kagome. He's a bad man."
Kagome turned around, brandishing the knife in front of her. She saw nothing, only black. But somehow, her body knew exactly what to do. She began walking forward.
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"Kagome, no!" InuYasha yelled, taking a step back. His wide eyes met the man's across the room. They stayed locked on each other's gaze.
Suddenly, the boy took a bold step forward a with an angry snarl, "YOU!" He yelled, pointing a shaking finger at the man, "You killed my family!" It was as if something had suddenly clicked in InuYasha's brain. The eyes… he had recognized those wild eyes with the lust for killing.
Naraku looked smug as he folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, "So? You'll be joining them soon."
InuYasha looked over to Kagome just in time to dodge her first swing. He ducked and dodged until he was standing directly behind her, ready to grab the knife from her hands. But Kagome twisted around, her empty eyes staring off into space as she came closer to slashing the boy.
"Stop this! Stop doing this to her!" InuYasha demanded of Naraku as he dodged yet another swing. This time, he used all the speed he possessed, spinning around and grabbing the girl's arm that held the knife.
"Kagome!" He pleaded into her empty gaze, "Don't let him do this to you! Fight it!"
Kagome struggled in his tight grasp, still intent on killing him.
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Kagome's sight was becoming hazy. She could make out dark shapes moving around her. Though her body still seemed to move of it's own accord, she focused the rest of her energy on trying to see.
Suddenly, a new voice broke through her mind.
"Fight it!"
It was someone she knew, someone who cared for her greatly, judging by how pained his voice seemed. Suddenly, she was being restrained.
"Kill him, Kagome. Kill him now."
But those words were far away and dim. Her mind began to swim with thoughts of her own, her motor skills slowly returned to her.
"InuYasha!" She finally managed to yelled, falling into his arms, the knife clattering to the floor next to her.
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"Shit," Naraku muttered to himself, watching as the boy in front of him picked the sobbing Kagome up in his arms, "The power's worn off."
InuYasha glared at the man with hatred gleaming in his amber depths. Slowly, he placed Kagome in a corner. She had slipped into a state of unconsciousness, and it looked as though she was sleeping peacefully.
InuYasha bent down and picked the knife off the floor. His hands shook with rage, but his angry gaze remained steady. He took a few steps towards Naraku, who did not so much as flinch.
"Do anything, and I'll torture her." Naraku said quietly, his gaze flicking towards Kagome. She began to writhe in her corner, her eyes squeezing shut tightly as tears streamed down. "Just because I don't have the power to control her anymore, doesn't mean I can't still get into her mind."
A feral growl sprang from deep in InuYasha's throat, but he stopped his advance all the same. "What do you want?" He spat.
"The jewel. Give me the jewel."
InuYasha, startled by this, took a step back. "What?"
"I want the broken pink jewel. Give it to me and I'll go," Naraku said evenly, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
InuYasha's hand instinctively went to his pocket. He rolled the small jewel between his fingers, but did not bring it out. "And let you kill more people? I don't think so," He snarled, pulling his hand out.
"Do it or the girl dies as well as you," Naraku shot back. Kagome screamed from her corner and writhed. Slowly, she opened her eyes and reached a hand out longingly towards the boy.
"InuYasha…" Her voice was feeble and forced. InuYasha walked backwards towards her, keeping one eye on Naraku at all times.
"I'm here, Kagome," He said quietly, taking one of her hands in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze. Naraku watched, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"InuYasha, get my backpack… Get the bottle…" She fainted once again.
InuYasha had little time to think, as Naraku had walked passed them and stepped into the waiting elevator.
"Where are you going?" InuYasha asked, standing up straight and holding the knife up.
"To get something to kill you with," The man answered simply as the elevator doors closed.
InuYasha watched the elevator for a few moments before bending down and picking Kagome up off the floor. He knew where the nurses had put Kagome's backpack, as they had been gossiping about her and Nurse Kikyo's murder for weeks. It was on the same floor, down the hall in a small supply closet.
"Hold on, Kagome. We're almost there,' He whispered to her limp and un-responding form.
When they reached it, InuYasha swiftly kicked the door in; knocking it right off its hinges. He pulled the cord for the hanging light bulb and laid Kagome gently onto the floor.
The yellow backpack was hard to miss. InuYasha kneeled down next to it, un-zippering the front part as he began to search for something, though he hadn't the faintest clue what.
His fingers clasped around a small stone at the bottom of the bag. Next to it lay a tiny pink bottle. He pulled both out, laying them on the floor. The stone had a strange engraving on it. The bottle was filled with strong smelling crystals.
Pocketing the stone, InuYasha crawled over to Kagome, shaking her shoulders to rouse her. Her gray eyes opened dreamily and she blinked a few times.
"InuYasha…" She whispered, "Did you get it?"
He nodded, holding up the bottle for her to see. The girl took it in her weak hand, opening it carefully. Slowly, she brought it to her nose, breathing in deeply.
"Kagome?" InuYasha questioned as she handed the bottle back to him. She breathed a sigh of relief, enjoying the silence in her mind.
She turned towards him with a smile, "Smelling salts. A gift from a friend back home… They help clear the mind."
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Naraku easily broke the lock on the kitchen door, and found it even easier to find the knives. He pulled out the largest one and pocketed a second for good measure. Quickly, he stole out of the room and went back for the elevator. He'd kill them yet. After all, it wasn't as if they had anywhere to hide.
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InuYasha and Kagome made their way towards the stairs.
"InuYasha, you can't carry me all the way downstairs…" Kagome whispered to him, her voice still weak. But he knew well not to put her down, as she would certainly fall.
"I can manage. Besides, Naraku has control of the elevator." He replied, shifting Kagome a bit to make her easier to carry. Sure enough, as they turned the corner and the elevator loomed in the distance, the faint sounds of a bell could be heard alerting them to the fact that it was climbing floors.
"Run!" Kagome managed to choke out. She grasped InuYasha tightly around the neck as he began to run down the long hallway towards the stairs, trying desperately to make it before the elevator.
They passed the doors as the elevator was still two floors below them. InuYasha sighed with relief and threw open the metal door to the stairs.
A flash of pain struck his arm and he fell back a few paces, nearly dropping Kagome on the spot. Looking up, InuYasha's gaze once again fell on Naraku, who stood at the top of the stairs brandishing a freshly bloodied butcher knife.
"I thought you'd still be here," The man smiled. The elevator finally reached their floor, the doors opening with a soft ding and revealing that there was no one inside.
"Now hand over that jewel or I will kill you now," He began to walk towards them. InuYasha clutched Kagome tighter and walked backwards until his back pressed against the wall on the other side of the hallway. His eyes flickered towards the elevator, but the doors were closing. They were trapped. Kagome looked down. She watched as blood pored from the deep gash in InuYasha's arm. Shuddering, she looked away, burring her face in his chest.
Naraku continued to walk forward. A dozen things ran through InuYasha's mind. Finally, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small rock.
Kagome looked up and screamed as Naraku raised his knife. The dim light in the hallway caused his blood lust filled eyes to shine maliciously.
Without hesitation, InuYasha threw the rock at the shadow man as hard as he could.
Suddenly, a sharp curse met their ears. They watched as the man staggered back a few paces, clutching his head in his hands. The knife clattered to the floor. In less then a second, the man's shining eyes were gone from view. Instead, he lay, crumpled in a heap on the floor in front of them.
There was nothing to be heard besides labored breathing of two very frightened and confused people. Kagome finally spoke after catching her breath, "Wha—what happened?"
InuYasha shook his head, his throat suddenly dry, "I have no idea." He edged towards the button on the wall for the elevator, and pressed it. The doors flew open with a cheerful little ding, the bright light inside welcoming them. InuYasha quickly stepped in, the doors closing behind him. After hitting the button for the ground floor, he fell against the side and slid down, panting heavily. He sat Kagome next to him. She sighed and rested her weary head on his shoulder, taking his hand and intertwining her fingers with his.
-
"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
-- Carl Jung
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