Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha or Red Lantern. DUH!
Red Lantern
Chapter 11: Death
Author's Notes:
Yay! Finally almost done with the movie plot! In fact, it does finish this chapter! HAPPY! It'll just be a little while before Sango and Miroku come in! This is, however going to have a bit of anguish in it, along with the death of two characters. Hope you all will enjoy this chapter anyway!
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Author's POV~
Kagome woke with a groan. Her head was pounding like a drum, making even the smallest noise sound like a clang. She closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of the pain.
Suddenly, from somewhere outside, someone screamed. Someone feminine.
'Who in the seven hells?'
"Kaede!" Kagome weakly called.
A maid, one that Kagome was not familiar with, instantly came to her aid.
"Lady Kagome? How may I help you?"
Kagome moaned at the voice. "Who is it, screaming like that?" She opened her eyes just a little sliver.
The maid looked startled. "L-lady Kagome, it's Lady K-kagura…"
Kagome's eyes flew open. "Kagura? What happened? Why is she screaming?"
"Y-you mean you don't remember, Lady Kagome? When you were drunk, you called out that Lady Kagura was having an affair with Doctor Kouga. Lady Kikyo took some men with her and set out to find them. This she did, and when she did, I heard that they were still in bed together!" The maid said the last part in a whisper.
Memories rushed into Kagome. She remembered the Sake and… Inu Yasha?
Kagome jumped out of bed. Her head still hurt like hell, but she had to see what was going to happen to Kagura. 'The two women committed adultery… And were hanged! I have to try to help Kagura!'
"You're dismissed," she muttered to the maid, who quickly scuttled away. Kagome drew up her coat, as it was once again snowing and put on her shoes.
Like a deer, Kagome quietly slipped through the courtyard. She gasped, suddenly spotting Kagura.
She was gagged and tied. Her normally beautiful hair was in disarray. She was in pink silk robes, and one of her slippers had fallen off. Although four men carried her, she was still struggling like a fish caught in a net.
Tears rose to Kagome's eyes. 'I'm causing this. If only… If only I had not wallowed in self-pity and gotten drunk! Now Kagura… Now Kagura is going to be hanged!'
The men were steadily advancing towards the hangman's hut. Kagome, who was more than 10 feet away, tucked behind a statue, could hear Kagura's screams.
One of the men unlocked the chain of the hut. It fell to the snow-covered ground with a clank.
They dragged Kagura inside.
Kagome waited, ten minutes, then twenty. The snow fell steadily, covering Kagome's ebony hair.
Finally, the men came out. Kagura was not with them. One of the closed the doors and re-locked the chain.
Kagome wanted to open her mouth to scream. Opening her mouth, she saw that she could not.
'M-maybe Kagura's not dead! Maybe they just tied her up to scare her! Maybe she collapsed in there!' she thought wishfully.
Carefully, she crept up to the hut. Looking around for any remaining men, she pushed the door to a crack.
But when she did, she was sorry. She saw Kagura's mangled body, on the floor, her neck tilted at an abstract angle and her eyes blank. Dead. Kagura, the third wife of Naraku, was dead. She would never sing, never dance ever again.
Kagome took a deep, shuddering breath, and fell to the floor, tired and feeling sick.
The last thing she remembered seeing was Kagura's black eyes, staring lifelessly from the floor.
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Author's POV~
"Kaede, is she going to be alright?" Inu Yasha asked, thoroughly worried about the limb and pale bundle lying on the silken bed.
Kaede bit her lip, not looking at her future Master's face. "I don't know," she offered.
Inu Yasha stared. "What do you mean, I don't know? Kagome can't die!"
"Master Inu Yasha, please, calm down!"
"I am calm, dammit! How. Is. Kagome?"
Kaede brought herself to look at Inu Yasha. "Master Inu Yasha, I'm not sure about Lady Kagome. She was lying in snow for more than an hour, fainted like she did. She has fever, and it could be pneumonia. I would take her to the hospital."
Inu Yasha nodded. He blamed himself for this. For not watching Kagome, when she so needed his help.
Kagome coughed weakly, interrupting them.
"I will."
"Master Inu Yasha, please be careful with Lady Kagome. She is delicate, not like the rest. She got sick from lying in snow for an hour, while it took Sayo six or seven."
Inu Yasha stared at Kaede before bending down quickly. He gently cupped the sleeping form of Kagome, blankets and all.
Kaede walked in front of him, calling for the driver of Inu Yasha's carriage.
Inu Yasha tenderly held Kagome against him chest. He could feel her shallow, shuddering breaths.
'Don't die on me, Kagome. Don't!'
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Author's POV~
"Doctor, how is she?" Inu Yasha asked.
The tall, young doctor with light brown hair did not smiled. "She's not doing so well, Mr. Hitoki. It is not just a simple pneumonia. It seems like Lady Kagome is sick, not only physically, but also mentally."
Inu Yasha growled. He had a natural dislike for the smiling doctor that took more than enough looks at Kagome. "Are you calling her crazy?"
"N-no! Of course not, Mr. Hitoki! It seems that Lady Kagome has given up. Her will to live might have something to do with this. For most patients, they make themselves better because they want to live. It seems not the case with Lady Kagome. She hardly wakes now."
Inu Yasha nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulped. 'I knew she was sad, but has it really gotten to this? Is she really this… depressed?' "Is there anything, anything at all, that we can do, Dr. Hojo?"
Hojo looked, once again, at Kagome's pale, sickly face. "It's been two days. She has shone no sign whatsoever of improvement. I'm not sure it there is anything that can help her. Although… There might be…"
"What?" Inu Yasha asked, almost jumping.
"The Shikon no Tama. When ground up, it is supposed to have amazing healing powers, but unfortunately, it is in Japan. Besides, it's more myth than reality."
"But it could help her?"
"Possibly. Mr. Hitoki, you're not seriously thinking about going to Japan and actually try to find the Jewel of Four Souls, are you? Like I said, it probably wouldn't work!"
Inu Yasha's face was set and determined. "If it can help Kagome, then I'll do it!"
Hojo nodded. "If you think that's what's best, Mr. Hitoki, then I wish you luck. I will give you a pack of herbal medicine, for Lady Kagome, as she is going with you."
"W-with me?"
"Of course you'll take her with you, Mr. Hitoki! You are her last chance, at this mortal life, at least. And who knows? Maybe you can keep her from dying?"
"Yes… I'll make sure Kagome gets better!"
'You have to get better, Kagome. You have to.'
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Alright, alright! It was a cheesy chapter, but what can I do? Yes, Kouga and Kagura are dead. Kouga was shot on the spot, so yeah. And what do you guys think about the Dr. Hojo thing? He was always so interested in herbs and stuff! Hitoki means, "Die", or "To kill" in Japanese, by the way. In the movie, it ends when Kagome sees Kagura's dead body and, thus traumatized, becomes crazy. Horrible, right? Anyway, I'm done rambling. If anything else is confusing, ask me! Hope you enjoyed it! Next Chapter, "Back to School"!
Responses to Reviews:
AnimeObessionFantasy: Kikyo is bad! Glad you liked it! Will update soon for you!
Sesshoumaruwuzhere: I'm going to read your story right now! Yes, Kagome was drunk. Very bad! Thanks for reviewing everything! I'll IM you soon!
AnimeKittyCat: Yes, I'm holding Kagome and Inu back until later, but it will be pretty good! I'm glad you approve of my story! Thanks for everything! You're the best!
Fire Phoenix: Wow! More brownies and sugar! Yum…! *eyes turn starry* Must write more to make nice reviewer happy!
DiaBlo2: Inu's back! Did you like this chapter? The title gives it away, but oh well! Thanks for the review!
CrissyKitty: Who does like the idea of Kagome marrying Naraku? Well, at least I can tell you there's a happy ending!
Kiawatha Amara: You have school already? Poor you! I don't have it until the 25th… Glad you like everything! I'll update as fast as I can!
BoOkWoRm145: I'll think about the piranhas… Well, lets just say that their 'end' will have water involved! That's all I'm saying!