Spiraling into the Realm of Hatred
Chapter Six
The foul breath of the demon upon Kagome blew into her face in great hot waves, choking her . . . it smelled of rotten flesh as the pinchers clamped and released and clamped again as she tried to hold it back . . .
But it was so heavy . . .
The hand that held the bow trembled with the weight and she dare not let it go . . . but she had no arrow to use . . . what is a bow without an arrow? She began to panic, the beast lunged at her again, its pointy insect legs driving into the mud around her, churning up the soaked humid earth . . .
With a great effort, Kagome kicked the millipede from her, not watching as it splattered into the muck and struggled to her feet . . .
The quiver of bows peeked from behind the remains of the dead warrior, she reached out for it, but slipped in the mess of the pounding rain, blinded by the mud and driven down by the demon that had regained its footing . . . she squealed in pain as one of its claws forced itself into her flesh . . .
Blood oozed from her body, but she still continued to reach for the arrows . . .
The dark feathers that ended the shaft beckoned just beyond her reach, tattered with age and sagging with moisture, they teased her . . .
The demon pulled her back through the mud . . .
Its claw still imbedded in her side, she could feel it within her body, writhing to get a better grip . . .
A deadlier grip . . .
She winced in agony, twisted in pain as she tried to pull herself free. The claw emerged with a geyser of blood behind it, but she forced herself not to watch . . .
The demon howled and roared, thirsting for more of her blood . . .
Itching for the jewel around her neck . . .
Kagome turned away as the jagged mouth-parts of the giant millipede clapped shut within a hairs breath from her cheek, she pushed away with her hands under its heavy body, trying in vain to kick it away again . . .
The arrows were so close . . .
Never had she fought so long like this . . . usually Inu-Yasha was there to save her . . .
But he wasn't there now . . .
It was all her . . .
She would prove to him that she could defend the jewel on her own!
But . . . she thought sadly to herself, if it were not for the cursed jewel . . . she would not have cared to fight back . . .
She cried out as she felt her foot strike the belly scales of the beast and again it was thrown aside . . .
This time she was quicker, throwing her weight forward and finally felt the blessed tickle of the wet feathers at the tip of her fingers as she grabbed at the arrows . . . the bow tight in her other hand . . .
The demon lurched at her again, launching itself from a nearby tree with a sickening roar . . .
Kagome whirled around onto her back as the vile shadow crossed over her, its eyes glinting savagely in the light of the moon . . . she pulled back upon the string of her bow, rain stinging her eyes, and released the arrow where it made a moist and heavy cracking thud . . .
The demon cried out, its mandibles opened and closed, drool exploded in frothy fervor as it felt its own life slip from its body and landed upon the girl . . .
The jewel shard was so close . . .
Kagome pushed it away from her as it lay dying, twitching its deadly legs and lashing its mouth-parts to the air as its eyes flickered with its last bit of life . . .
Then, it died.
She tightened her hand around the bow as she forced herself not to tremble . . .
The demon was slain by her . . . not by Inu-Yasha – she thought proudly to herself. She had protected the jewel . . .
All by herself . . .
As if by second thought, Kagome reached down to the dead warrior's quiver, cringing at its decay and smell as she realized what she was doing . . . yet she grabbed another arrow and stood in the rain . . .
Silent . . .
Thoughtful . . . as if she were waiting . . .
But she could not think of what she could have been waiting for. Another demon, perhaps?
"K . . . Kagome?"
Her name stuttered through the darkness and gloom, sending a dagger through her pained heart as she turned . . .
Inu-Yasha stood at the edge of the churned clearing, his face pale and his eyes clear with fright . . . stunned . . . watching her . . .
Shaking . . .
Kagome frowned. "What are you doing here, Inu-Yasha?"
He took a step forward. "K . . . Kagome . . . are you . . . alright?"
"Why do you care?" she growled, stepping back defensively. "The jewel's safe."
It was a long moment before the hanyou spoke again, his words so unsure and small. "I . . . I don't care how the jewel is. I only care about . . ."
But he couldn't finish his thoughts . . .
He choked . . .
Kagome felt her heart flutter, but pushed those foolish feelings aside. They've only gotten her hurt . . . "huh, whatever."
"No, seriously. Are you okay?" he took another tentative step forward and grimaced when she stepped away from him, thrusting the bow and loading the decrepit arrow upon the string . . . but she kept it towards the ground. "Please . . ."
"Don't come near me!" she ordered.
Inu-Yasha froze. "Listen . . . I'm . . ."
"Shut up!"
"But . . . Kagome . . . you're not yourself . . ."
Kagome cringed and lifted her weapon, eying down the shaft of the arrow aimed directly for the hanyou's heart. "I said, don't come near me!"
Inu-Yasha paled. "But. . . K . . . Kag . . . you . . . you're hurt . . ."
"DIE INU-YASHA!!!"
**Awwww – poooor Inu-Yashaaaaa. Please review and let me know what you think! I wonder if he can get through to her!! Or perhaps she has delved to deeply within the realm of hatred that she has sunk into to get out? sigh I don't know. Bitterness is not exactly an easy emotion to overcome. We'll just have to see. Let me know what you think eeeeeeevil grin and I will just have to think about how it's gonna go another evil grin bwuahahahahaha!*** okay, enough of my goofing around. Do let me know what you all think!!!! Reviews are goooooooooooooood!!!***
