Blood Tastes So Much Sweeter
By: The Gifted Ten & DerrangedBlonde
Part Four: The Inner Demon
As sleep finally reached his weary mind, a landscape spread before him. The ground was cold and barren as he stood in the middle of a vast pool of nothingness. Shadows danced in and out of sight, as if they were specters about to attack as soon as he turned away. His eyes searched the dreamscape frantically. 'No....' Naraku panicked inwardly. 'I know this...' A breeze generated purely to frighten him wafted by, dragging fingers of ice across his skin, chilling him to the very bone with the slightest touch. He put his hands over his ears as the breeze whispered to him.
'You are unfit to live.... And you know it.... Don't you..?'
Naraku growled. 'Stop it!'
An eerie laughter filled the ominous silence after he had spoken. 'Stop it? Why on earth would I do a thing like that?' The breeze grew stronger, as if possessing a mind of its own.
Naraku forced himself not to shudder as the gentle caress became fierce.
'Everyday. you would wake up alone with the thought that you would always be alone. and you became embittered; taking pleasure in other's pain..'
Naraku felt as if a giant hand had closed around his frame, squeezing the life out of him as he cried out in pain.
'And now you're going soft; loving again... Want to see what will happen if you continue your ridiculous obsession?'
Naraku cried out once more as the pain, that icy pain became unbearable.
'Answer me!'
The kumo couldn't breathe, he mouthed the word "No," and the unseen enemy tightened his grip; the loud crack of bones could be heard as one of Naraku's ribs broke.
'If you will not watch willingly, then you shall be forced, and you will feel the pain of those in question as well..For love always ends in misery!'
Naraku collapsed and fell to the ground as the phantom released his hold. A blinding light filled the surrounding, (a scene Naraku remembered quite well). It was all so real.. He could feel grass beneath him, hear the birds sing, smell the scent of blood. 'Who's.' But he was cut off by a voice he had longed to forget.
"Die, Inuyasha!" The miko's eyes were narrowed in a deadly glare as blood streamed down her front. Naraku bit back a cry as his shoulder went ablaze with pain.
"Kikyo, no!" But the arrow had already sunken into the hanyou's chest, which sent more pain flaring through Naraku's heart. "Why? You.. betrayed me." The hanyou's eyes closed and the miko dropped to the ground. But the pain did not leave Naraku; it welled up, fueling the ache where his heart should be.
'Couldn't stop there, could you!?' The phantom shouted. 'Oh no. that'd be far too simple.'
The scene vanished, plunging Naraku into darkness once more. The next scene wasn't so bright. and the setting was Naraku's own palace.
"Kohaku!" The demon huntress turned and watched her brother stand there with lifeless eyes, chain sickle drenched in their father's blood. The siblings fought, each blow that was dealt caused Naraku to feel more unbearable pain.
"You!!" Sango shouted as she rounded up on the real kumo youkai. But the blade's sickle sank into her back before she could advance. Naraku cried out as the burn scar flared with pain.
"What have I?. Sango!" Kohaku called out.
"Shoot the crazed siblings!" The demon shouted, arrows went flying.
"Sango. I'm so scared."
Naraku took in shuddering breaths. 'I can't take anymore pain!' He shouted but no one could hear him.
"It'll be ok.Kohaku." And they fell to the ground..
'You could have stopped there. could have ended your pointless massacre. but did you, Kumo? No.. You destroyed the love between them all.. And you could not let it go.. For them all to suffer once, it wasn't enough for your greedy heart..' The scent of blood was so thick, he wanted to retch.
"And now you meet your fate, Inuyasha."
Naraku jerked his attention to witness himself, readying his claws to bring them down on the half alive hanyou.
"NO!!! Inuyasha!" Kagome lunged and took the blow, saving the hanyou from the poison claws.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted. "Naraku! What have you done?!" Inuyasha shouted as Kagome lay dying in his arms, tears streaming down his face.
The scene moved to elsewhere on the field, where the monk bit his lip hard in pain as he tried to hold back the wind tunnel. "Sango! Get back!" He shouted as the demon huntress rose on shaky legs. "You have a chance to live Sango. Get away!" But she smiled sadly and took his left hand. "Sango." Tears filled his eyes. "You can't.."
She shook her head. "Miroku. Even now I won't leave you."
The wind tunnel tore loose, Miroku fought hard to hold it away from her. "Sango please.. Don't do this." But she never let go. even as they were both destroyed by the curse Naraku had inflicted upon Miroku's family. Naraku could feel the tears of pain burning his face as his whole body was consumed by it. But it wasn't over.
"Naraku. You'll pay for this!!!" Inuyasha gently laid Kagome on the bloodstained soil.
"Something the matter, Inuyasha? I recall you saying you never felt anything for this woman, so I did you a favor and rid you of her..." Naraku watched himself smirk through teary eyes. He couldn't look away and he knew what was to come. The hanyou's eyes flashed red. His own laugh filled the air before he continued his sentence, "Just like I rid you of Kikyo over fifty years ago.." The pain inside his chest felt like it was going to make him burst as he watched himself proceed with cutting Inuyasha down, noting that Kikyo was watching in the distance.
'You loved the pain they felt. after all, at the time they were little more than toys to you.And now you feel the pain you caused.'
The scene faded, leaving him in darkness.
'You've proven that you cannot co-exist with love. And then that mongrel dug his claws into you; he ripped open your soul.. He allowed this pain to befall you, and you know it..'
Naraku shook his head frantically. "NO!" he shouted. "He. didn't.. He wouldn't!"
A vicious laugh filled the dark. 'He said it himself.. He told you he was going to kill you.. What better way than from the inside out.?'
"Liar! He said he loved me.. Half demon or no. I am his.." Naraku glared, tears still falling from his eyes. "You're lying to me! When I'm with him.. I don't feel this pain! There is no suffering!"
'Don't delude yourself. Haven't you ever wondered why that is? It is solely because when you are with him, he's fulfilling his own needs. he can't have you in pain during then now can he? Sesshoumaru is the source of your ache. it is he who has a firm grasp around your heart.. It is he who is killing you off slowly." The shadows gathered from all around, bringing to life the voice that haunted him so. "Believe in me." The phantom stepped into Naraku's line of sight. "Because I am you.. I am who you used to be." The phantom smirked. He was the exact image of Naraku before he was aware he was capable of love. His eyes glowed red, his face free of the marks Sesshoumaru had given to the present Naraku. "...before your soul was ripped from you."
"No.. If you are me than your words are worthless." Naraku spat at his feet, forcing himself to rise and face his opponent, eye to eye.
"You will sorely regret those words leaving you mouth." The phantom narrowed his eyes and shot out the branch like appendages, which coiled around Naraku before he could even blink. The vicious apparition raised Naraku high above the ground, so even if he did escape, he would plunge to his death. "When you weaken.. My power grows!" The appendages tightened as Naraku's energy was drained from him. Cruel laughter rang throughout his ears as Naraku shouted in pain..
He awoke before the act was complete.. He always awoke before the process was finished. His hands flew to his chest as he started coughing violently, blood seeping out of the corner of his lip. But the restraining feeling was still there. He felt two arms firmly locked around him and he struggled, shoving them away. "Stop it!"
Sesshoumaru woke with a start as Naraku's coughing and thrashing about and screaming at him to 'stop it' jerked his mind from its slumber. His eyes shot open and he tried to analyze the situation: Naraku had apparently woken from another nightmare. He smelled the blood before he saw it, 'This one must have been even more intense than the last,' he concluded as Naraku desperately tried to free himself from Sesshoumaru's embrace. He let go and the youkai rolled away from him, still hugging his chest and choking on some blood. Sesshoumaru sat up and propped himself on an elbow. "Naraku, what is it? Was it the nightmare?" He slowly leaned over closer, arm extended to touch the kumo's shoulder, "Naraku, you can tell me. I--"
"NO! Stay away from me!" He shouted, covering his ears before he burst into a coughing fit, blood splattering the floor.
The words stung a little, but he tried again, "Naraku, it's me. You must tell me why this is continuing to happen; I do now wish to see you this way." He didn't attempt to touch him; however, he also didn't lower his arm. "Naraku, please talk to me!"
(The phantom wasn't going to let his prey get away so easily. He had succeeded in taking away much of Naraku's original power, thus giving him access to manipulate a portion of the kumo's senses. He seized control of Naraku's right eye and ear, allowing him to filter in what the kumo heard and saw to a certain extent.)
Naraku's eyes widened in shock and horror as he heard Sesshoumaru say: "Naraku, it's me. Must you continue this way; I do not wish to see you." He shook his head, his breathing labored. "Naraku, please talk to me!" "NO!!" He shouted, shaking his head violently.
Seeing his partner is such distress did not bode well with him. Sesshoumaru scooted closer and put his hands on the kumo's bare shoulders. "Naraku, you are worrying me! Won't you tell me what's wrong?!" He looked at the kumo's balled fists that were crossed over his chest as he struggled to breathe. "It's the Jewel, isn't it? Damnit, Naraku, take it out!" Not thinking, he reached for the clenched fists to relax them.
He was so confused! He was hearing Sesshoumaru but the words seemed to be overlapping as he heard the inu say: "Naraku, you are worrying me! Won't you tell me what's wrong with the jewel?", and then the inu reached for his chest as he heard the words: "Damnit, Naraku, give it out to me!" He couldn't be hearing this right! "Stop toying with my head!" He shouted, trying to move away from Sesshoumaru; he was becoming frantic... he couldn't let Sesshoumaru have the jewel!
The inu narrowed his eyes. 'So...there must be something inside him that is causing this behavior... I must find out what it is..' His grip on the kumo's shoulders tightened as he demanded full attention. "Naraku." The youkai wouldn't look at him. "Naraku! Naraku, look at me!" Slowly, as if that simple action required great amounts of strength, Naraku turned his head around to face him, and their eyes momentarily locked. Sesshoumaru gasped at what he saw in the kumo's eyes, or rather, what he saw in his right eye. It looked as if it had been cut from glass as it stared back at him with a kind of sadistic malice. When the inu tried to look deeper, he sensed a dark presence behind the amethyst orb and it echoed cruel laughter in his mind before it was cut off as Naraku broke eye contact. He unconsciously relaxed his hold and the kumo immediately twisted free and scrambled to his feet as he put distance between them.
He looked at the floor, only the sound of his breathing reaching his ears for the time being. Desperately, he tried to gather his thoughts. And when he was about to speak, he saw Sesshoumaru lunge at him from the corner of his eye. Blindly, Naraku swung only to find the inu had never left his place. "What!?" He said breathlessly. His eyes weren't agreeing with each other. When he covered his right eye, he saw Sesshoumaru sitting there, confusion and concern written all over his features. But when he covered his left, he saw Sesshoumaru crouch down, ready to pounce and claw him to shreds. "What's...." A hoarse whisper reached his ear:
'Oh, you can't get rid of me that easily, Naraku.... And as you can plainly "see", now you have no sanctuary from me!'
Naraku's hands flew to his head. "NO!!!" He shouted. "Get out of my head!" The right side of his mouth seemed to twitch, as if he were going to smile and laugh. But the malicious laughter never left his lips; it only echoed in his head over and over. He felt his body wanting to tear itself in two; every nerve ending flared with pain. And right as he thought the phantom in him would succeed, he felt a sharp blow to the back of his neck and his whole world went black as he was plunged into an all too familiar landscape.
Sesshoumaru caught Naraku in his arms before the youkai fell to the floor. "Sorry," he whispered. Kneeling, he gently set Naraku down and retrieved their clothes-which he'd noticed were neatly folded in the corner of the room-before he returned to the kumo's side. He dressed himself first, and then carefully fit Naraku in his usual outfit. 'There,' he thought, 'Now we shall see who is on the other side of that eye..' He forced Naraku's right eye open and plunged his mind into past its barriers, bracing himself for anything he might find in its icy depths.
The phantom smirked as he gave a sharp kick to Naraku's side. "Still won't give in!?" He shouted. Naraku gasped when he saw someone who shouldn't have been seeing this... any of this! The phantom's eyes slowly followed Naraku's line of sight and fell upon Sesshoumaru. "Aw, would you look at that, Naraku.... your tormentor has finally come to watch you rot from the inside out. How touching."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed to slits. "Get away from him." He raised his poisoned claws to add to the threat. He walked closer and momentarily averted his gaze to the figure on the ground, his eyes softened. "Are you alright, Naraku?"
The phantom laughed maniacally before Naraku could respond. "Listen to him; he's trying to play with your mind! After all.... he is the reason your body is in pain.... he is why you are growing steadily weaker, Naraku. He tore your soul loose! And now he's trying to pin the blame on someone else. Tsk, tsk. Such a foolish one you are, Sesshoumaru." the phantom said with a large sneer across his face, claws at the ready to attack at any given moment and eradicate the last obstacle in his path.
The inu youkai pinned the phantom with a deathly glare. "So I take it you are the one whom I saw behind Naraku's eye. You are the one plaguing his sleep and raping his mind while he's awake... Who are you?"
"I am... Naraku, before you corrupted his sound mind. I have done nothing but show him what will become of him if he continues to love you. Because I speak the truth when I say you are the cause of all his pain and suffering." The phantom fixed Sesshoumaru with his own glare. "And don't you even deny it. "A low chuckle escaped his throat. The inu couldn't worm his way out of that one.
"I have done nothing to harm him. It is you who lies! It is you who is killing him!!" His anger was rising. He lunged at the false Naraku, barely missing his smirking face as he disappeared into thin air.
The phantom spoke from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Tsk, tsk.. Sesshoumaru.... So slow; so naive!" A loud, malicious laughter echoed around them from all sides, ringing in their ears as if to declare its malicious intents. "Even you cannot defeat me! I will regain control once more." The phantom appeared behind Sesshoumaru and whispered, "And you will perish by the hands of your former love."
The inu's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned around with lightning speed and decapitated the phantom, but it was futile, as the body evaporated into a black smoke and dispersed.
More laughter rang out. "Are you deaf!? You cannot win! Not when I control his subconscious." The phantom appeared, sneering and chuckling as he hand wrapped around Sesshoumaru's throat before he could react, claws piercing and digging into his skin. "Die...."
Sesshoumaru tried to claw at the hand round his neck, but he was steadily becoming weaker. It was only until his body began to fade and he felt himself being pulled back into his physical body that he realized something on the other side had to be affecting his connection...
Sesshoumaru blinked and was thrown back into his material body. He was on his back and his lungs struggled to fill with air and he gasped for breath that wouldn't come. He reached up to his neck to find that someone's hands were there, choking him, and they only squeezed tighter as he tried in vain to dislodge them. His eyes shot open and locked gazes with Naraku, only it wasn't his mate that stared back at him. The kumo's left eye covered by hair, it was the right eye, the phantom's eye, which looked back at him with satisfaction as the color drained out of him. Sesshoumaru coughed and gasped for air, and the corner of Naraku's mouth rose in a smirk.
"Oh that look of pain on your face," he chuckled, tightening his grasp, "How I love it so!" The smirk grew as he saw Sesshoumaru wince and bite back a yelp of pain when the phantom sank Naraku's claws deeper into the pale flesh of Sesshoumaru's throat.
Coughing and fighting to stay alive, Sesshoumaru hoarsely called out to his mate, "Nara..ku!," he was beginning to lose consciousness as he whispered, "Naraku...wake up..." His vision went black and his eyes slid to the back of his skull as his breath drew short and his hands fell away from the claws at his neck.
The phantom smirked as he increased his grasp and the life fled from the inu youkai. "Heh. too easy."
"What have you done.?" Naraku whispered quietly.
"Be quiet you insolent fool! I've done you a favor and rid you of your pain.. Now I can take over."
"No! I will never let you take over! I'll do the world a favor and kill us both off!" Naraku's left hand flew to his throat, catching it in a deathly grip.
In a strangled voice, the phantom spoke. "You. lack the courage.. to carry through with it!" The right hand released Sesshoumaru and tried to pry Naraku's hand from his throat. "Go. back to wallowing. in your self pity!" He tore the hand free from their throat, panting.
Naraku looked over at Sesshoumaru's limp body on the floor next to him and became outraged, a surge of power flowing through him.
"What are you doing!?" The phantom yelled.
Naraku focused all of his energy into ridding himself of the phantom's presence. "Getting rid of you." Naraku said coldly, anger still coursing through his veins. He glanced over his shoulder once more and took in a sharp breath and raised his fist, bringing it down hard onto the floor, making a small crater. "I killed him." He whispered quietly.
The phantom was gone for the moment, banished back into the dark place of Naraku's subconscious. But the kumo had no idea when he'd be back. He rose to his feet shakily, just regaining control over his entire body back, and walked drunkenly to Sesshoumaru's side. He dropped to his knees and scooped Sesshoumaru up, clutching him to his chest. "I'm sorry." He stroked the cold skin of Sesshoumaru's face, fighting back the tears that welled in his eyes.
A blue-black light caught his eye; he turned his head slowly and saw the glow was coming from a sword. Sesshoumaru's sword. He looked down at the cold, lifeless body of his love and set him down on the floor gently. Once more, he rose on shaky legs and staggered to the sword leaning against the wall. He reached out and clutched the hilt with one hand and the sheath with his other. He turned and went back to Sesshoumaru. He knew the sword could heal him, but he didn't know exactly how to do it. Slowly, he drew it from its sheath looked at the blade as the glow intensified. He closed his eyes as he brought it over his head and then down into Sesshoumaru's unmoving chest before dropping to his knees once more.
A blinding light filled the room, and Naraku shielded his eyes and waited. He heard the clattering of the sword as it dropped to the ground from Sesshoumaru's chest. Naraku looked up hopefully, praying to anyone that would listen for Sesshoumaru's life to return, but the inu didn't move. "No." he whispered and gathered Sesshoumaru into his arms once more. His eyes flew opened and widened in shock as the sounds he had longed to hear reached his ears; the sound of Sesshoumaru breathing once more..of his heart beating steadily in his chest.
He could feel himself...alive...again. But, hadn't he died? He remembered the phantom Naraku on top of him, choking him until he couldn't breathe or think...and he remembered slipping away as he called out to Naraku. He heard a familiar voice saying his name, and his eyes fluttered open as he gazed into amethyst eyes that were bright with tears. "Na..Naraku..?"
Naraku smiled. "Sesshoumaru!" He pulled him close in an awkward hug. "I'm sorry... I ... couldn't stop him and... Oh I'm so happy you're alive!" He pressed his lips to Sesshoumaru's for a short-lived kiss. He could feel the tears that had welled up, and burn his cheeks as they fell down his face.
Sesshoumaru reached up and wiped away the streaks that stained his love's pretty face. "Why do you cry? A demon like me doesn't deserve tears; give me a smirk like you always do." He gave a half smile.
Naraku smiled, shaking his head, tears still falling from his eyes. "Sesshoumaru..." He cupped Sesshoumaru's cheek, thumb rubbing the warm skin beneath it. "I'm sorry..." His hand went to his throat, glad the ugly purple bruises were gone. "I couldn't stop him..."
This time, Sesshoumaru leaned up and silenced him with a slightly longer- lived kiss. "I know..." He tried to sit up straighter, "I know it wasn't you...Do not blame yourself." Still feeling a little dizzy, he stopped trying to regain his posture and just leaned against Naraku, needing his support. "So...what do we do now?"
"I can't stay...." he whispered. "I have him under control now... but how long I can manage it is a mystery.... What if he..." Naraku shook his head, not wanting to finish his sentence. "I'm too much of a danger... I don't want to lose you again and watch helplessly as the act is committed..."
Not knowing what to say, the inu simply didn't say anything. He looked down and let his eyes go out of focus.
He winced as the jewel started acting up again. "Sesshoumaru.... I have to leave...soon." He tilted the inu's face upwards and kissed him lightly before setting him down on the floor.
"Wait, where are you going?" He got up and faced him, 'I will not lose you to that monster again..'
Naraku averted his gaze, not wanting to meet the inu's eyes. "I don't know, but you can't follow me. Next time... I don't think I'll be able to stop him. Please... don't" he turned to leave.
"Stop! What do you plan to do?"
He paused, closing his eyes before continuing towards the door.
Sesshoumaru grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him. "I... I will not let you just walk away from me like that!" He pulled him into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Because...because I..." shutting his eyes, he rested his head against the youkai's hair and whispered, "..I love you..."
Naraku wanted to sink back into that touch and feel safe and.... loved. "I... I love you too..." He took in a few shuddering breaths. "But I don't want to hurt you...." He clenched his teeth and pulled away. ''Even if it means I'll never see you again... You have to be safe..." he whispered, resuming his determined walk to the door.
His eyes welled up as he watched his love open the door and walk out of the room. "Please come back to me.." he whispered.
Naraku paused one last time. He looked down at the ground, taking a deep breath as he forced himself to leave; the image of his hand wrapped around Sesshoumaru's throat was the only thing that drove him forward as he left his love behind.....
A/N: SEE THAT DREAM SEQUENCE?! I had to write it all by myself! Lol And I had to rewrite some parts like 6 times! So you'd better enjoy this fic and gimme lotsa reviews! Sorry it took me sooo long to update. this ch was actually finished a while ago. Hehehe * hides from any items that might be thrown * well I'll update soon
~ DB ~
By: The Gifted Ten & DerrangedBlonde
Part Four: The Inner Demon
As sleep finally reached his weary mind, a landscape spread before him. The ground was cold and barren as he stood in the middle of a vast pool of nothingness. Shadows danced in and out of sight, as if they were specters about to attack as soon as he turned away. His eyes searched the dreamscape frantically. 'No....' Naraku panicked inwardly. 'I know this...' A breeze generated purely to frighten him wafted by, dragging fingers of ice across his skin, chilling him to the very bone with the slightest touch. He put his hands over his ears as the breeze whispered to him.
'You are unfit to live.... And you know it.... Don't you..?'
Naraku growled. 'Stop it!'
An eerie laughter filled the ominous silence after he had spoken. 'Stop it? Why on earth would I do a thing like that?' The breeze grew stronger, as if possessing a mind of its own.
Naraku forced himself not to shudder as the gentle caress became fierce.
'Everyday. you would wake up alone with the thought that you would always be alone. and you became embittered; taking pleasure in other's pain..'
Naraku felt as if a giant hand had closed around his frame, squeezing the life out of him as he cried out in pain.
'And now you're going soft; loving again... Want to see what will happen if you continue your ridiculous obsession?'
Naraku cried out once more as the pain, that icy pain became unbearable.
'Answer me!'
The kumo couldn't breathe, he mouthed the word "No," and the unseen enemy tightened his grip; the loud crack of bones could be heard as one of Naraku's ribs broke.
'If you will not watch willingly, then you shall be forced, and you will feel the pain of those in question as well..For love always ends in misery!'
Naraku collapsed and fell to the ground as the phantom released his hold. A blinding light filled the surrounding, (a scene Naraku remembered quite well). It was all so real.. He could feel grass beneath him, hear the birds sing, smell the scent of blood. 'Who's.' But he was cut off by a voice he had longed to forget.
"Die, Inuyasha!" The miko's eyes were narrowed in a deadly glare as blood streamed down her front. Naraku bit back a cry as his shoulder went ablaze with pain.
"Kikyo, no!" But the arrow had already sunken into the hanyou's chest, which sent more pain flaring through Naraku's heart. "Why? You.. betrayed me." The hanyou's eyes closed and the miko dropped to the ground. But the pain did not leave Naraku; it welled up, fueling the ache where his heart should be.
'Couldn't stop there, could you!?' The phantom shouted. 'Oh no. that'd be far too simple.'
The scene vanished, plunging Naraku into darkness once more. The next scene wasn't so bright. and the setting was Naraku's own palace.
"Kohaku!" The demon huntress turned and watched her brother stand there with lifeless eyes, chain sickle drenched in their father's blood. The siblings fought, each blow that was dealt caused Naraku to feel more unbearable pain.
"You!!" Sango shouted as she rounded up on the real kumo youkai. But the blade's sickle sank into her back before she could advance. Naraku cried out as the burn scar flared with pain.
"What have I?. Sango!" Kohaku called out.
"Shoot the crazed siblings!" The demon shouted, arrows went flying.
"Sango. I'm so scared."
Naraku took in shuddering breaths. 'I can't take anymore pain!' He shouted but no one could hear him.
"It'll be ok.Kohaku." And they fell to the ground..
'You could have stopped there. could have ended your pointless massacre. but did you, Kumo? No.. You destroyed the love between them all.. And you could not let it go.. For them all to suffer once, it wasn't enough for your greedy heart..' The scent of blood was so thick, he wanted to retch.
"And now you meet your fate, Inuyasha."
Naraku jerked his attention to witness himself, readying his claws to bring them down on the half alive hanyou.
"NO!!! Inuyasha!" Kagome lunged and took the blow, saving the hanyou from the poison claws.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted. "Naraku! What have you done?!" Inuyasha shouted as Kagome lay dying in his arms, tears streaming down his face.
The scene moved to elsewhere on the field, where the monk bit his lip hard in pain as he tried to hold back the wind tunnel. "Sango! Get back!" He shouted as the demon huntress rose on shaky legs. "You have a chance to live Sango. Get away!" But she smiled sadly and took his left hand. "Sango." Tears filled his eyes. "You can't.."
She shook her head. "Miroku. Even now I won't leave you."
The wind tunnel tore loose, Miroku fought hard to hold it away from her. "Sango please.. Don't do this." But she never let go. even as they were both destroyed by the curse Naraku had inflicted upon Miroku's family. Naraku could feel the tears of pain burning his face as his whole body was consumed by it. But it wasn't over.
"Naraku. You'll pay for this!!!" Inuyasha gently laid Kagome on the bloodstained soil.
"Something the matter, Inuyasha? I recall you saying you never felt anything for this woman, so I did you a favor and rid you of her..." Naraku watched himself smirk through teary eyes. He couldn't look away and he knew what was to come. The hanyou's eyes flashed red. His own laugh filled the air before he continued his sentence, "Just like I rid you of Kikyo over fifty years ago.." The pain inside his chest felt like it was going to make him burst as he watched himself proceed with cutting Inuyasha down, noting that Kikyo was watching in the distance.
'You loved the pain they felt. after all, at the time they were little more than toys to you.And now you feel the pain you caused.'
The scene faded, leaving him in darkness.
'You've proven that you cannot co-exist with love. And then that mongrel dug his claws into you; he ripped open your soul.. He allowed this pain to befall you, and you know it..'
Naraku shook his head frantically. "NO!" he shouted. "He. didn't.. He wouldn't!"
A vicious laugh filled the dark. 'He said it himself.. He told you he was going to kill you.. What better way than from the inside out.?'
"Liar! He said he loved me.. Half demon or no. I am his.." Naraku glared, tears still falling from his eyes. "You're lying to me! When I'm with him.. I don't feel this pain! There is no suffering!"
'Don't delude yourself. Haven't you ever wondered why that is? It is solely because when you are with him, he's fulfilling his own needs. he can't have you in pain during then now can he? Sesshoumaru is the source of your ache. it is he who has a firm grasp around your heart.. It is he who is killing you off slowly." The shadows gathered from all around, bringing to life the voice that haunted him so. "Believe in me." The phantom stepped into Naraku's line of sight. "Because I am you.. I am who you used to be." The phantom smirked. He was the exact image of Naraku before he was aware he was capable of love. His eyes glowed red, his face free of the marks Sesshoumaru had given to the present Naraku. "...before your soul was ripped from you."
"No.. If you are me than your words are worthless." Naraku spat at his feet, forcing himself to rise and face his opponent, eye to eye.
"You will sorely regret those words leaving you mouth." The phantom narrowed his eyes and shot out the branch like appendages, which coiled around Naraku before he could even blink. The vicious apparition raised Naraku high above the ground, so even if he did escape, he would plunge to his death. "When you weaken.. My power grows!" The appendages tightened as Naraku's energy was drained from him. Cruel laughter rang throughout his ears as Naraku shouted in pain..
He awoke before the act was complete.. He always awoke before the process was finished. His hands flew to his chest as he started coughing violently, blood seeping out of the corner of his lip. But the restraining feeling was still there. He felt two arms firmly locked around him and he struggled, shoving them away. "Stop it!"
Sesshoumaru woke with a start as Naraku's coughing and thrashing about and screaming at him to 'stop it' jerked his mind from its slumber. His eyes shot open and he tried to analyze the situation: Naraku had apparently woken from another nightmare. He smelled the blood before he saw it, 'This one must have been even more intense than the last,' he concluded as Naraku desperately tried to free himself from Sesshoumaru's embrace. He let go and the youkai rolled away from him, still hugging his chest and choking on some blood. Sesshoumaru sat up and propped himself on an elbow. "Naraku, what is it? Was it the nightmare?" He slowly leaned over closer, arm extended to touch the kumo's shoulder, "Naraku, you can tell me. I--"
"NO! Stay away from me!" He shouted, covering his ears before he burst into a coughing fit, blood splattering the floor.
The words stung a little, but he tried again, "Naraku, it's me. You must tell me why this is continuing to happen; I do now wish to see you this way." He didn't attempt to touch him; however, he also didn't lower his arm. "Naraku, please talk to me!"
(The phantom wasn't going to let his prey get away so easily. He had succeeded in taking away much of Naraku's original power, thus giving him access to manipulate a portion of the kumo's senses. He seized control of Naraku's right eye and ear, allowing him to filter in what the kumo heard and saw to a certain extent.)
Naraku's eyes widened in shock and horror as he heard Sesshoumaru say: "Naraku, it's me. Must you continue this way; I do not wish to see you." He shook his head, his breathing labored. "Naraku, please talk to me!" "NO!!" He shouted, shaking his head violently.
Seeing his partner is such distress did not bode well with him. Sesshoumaru scooted closer and put his hands on the kumo's bare shoulders. "Naraku, you are worrying me! Won't you tell me what's wrong?!" He looked at the kumo's balled fists that were crossed over his chest as he struggled to breathe. "It's the Jewel, isn't it? Damnit, Naraku, take it out!" Not thinking, he reached for the clenched fists to relax them.
He was so confused! He was hearing Sesshoumaru but the words seemed to be overlapping as he heard the inu say: "Naraku, you are worrying me! Won't you tell me what's wrong with the jewel?", and then the inu reached for his chest as he heard the words: "Damnit, Naraku, give it out to me!" He couldn't be hearing this right! "Stop toying with my head!" He shouted, trying to move away from Sesshoumaru; he was becoming frantic... he couldn't let Sesshoumaru have the jewel!
The inu narrowed his eyes. 'So...there must be something inside him that is causing this behavior... I must find out what it is..' His grip on the kumo's shoulders tightened as he demanded full attention. "Naraku." The youkai wouldn't look at him. "Naraku! Naraku, look at me!" Slowly, as if that simple action required great amounts of strength, Naraku turned his head around to face him, and their eyes momentarily locked. Sesshoumaru gasped at what he saw in the kumo's eyes, or rather, what he saw in his right eye. It looked as if it had been cut from glass as it stared back at him with a kind of sadistic malice. When the inu tried to look deeper, he sensed a dark presence behind the amethyst orb and it echoed cruel laughter in his mind before it was cut off as Naraku broke eye contact. He unconsciously relaxed his hold and the kumo immediately twisted free and scrambled to his feet as he put distance between them.
He looked at the floor, only the sound of his breathing reaching his ears for the time being. Desperately, he tried to gather his thoughts. And when he was about to speak, he saw Sesshoumaru lunge at him from the corner of his eye. Blindly, Naraku swung only to find the inu had never left his place. "What!?" He said breathlessly. His eyes weren't agreeing with each other. When he covered his right eye, he saw Sesshoumaru sitting there, confusion and concern written all over his features. But when he covered his left, he saw Sesshoumaru crouch down, ready to pounce and claw him to shreds. "What's...." A hoarse whisper reached his ear:
'Oh, you can't get rid of me that easily, Naraku.... And as you can plainly "see", now you have no sanctuary from me!'
Naraku's hands flew to his head. "NO!!!" He shouted. "Get out of my head!" The right side of his mouth seemed to twitch, as if he were going to smile and laugh. But the malicious laughter never left his lips; it only echoed in his head over and over. He felt his body wanting to tear itself in two; every nerve ending flared with pain. And right as he thought the phantom in him would succeed, he felt a sharp blow to the back of his neck and his whole world went black as he was plunged into an all too familiar landscape.
Sesshoumaru caught Naraku in his arms before the youkai fell to the floor. "Sorry," he whispered. Kneeling, he gently set Naraku down and retrieved their clothes-which he'd noticed were neatly folded in the corner of the room-before he returned to the kumo's side. He dressed himself first, and then carefully fit Naraku in his usual outfit. 'There,' he thought, 'Now we shall see who is on the other side of that eye..' He forced Naraku's right eye open and plunged his mind into past its barriers, bracing himself for anything he might find in its icy depths.
The phantom smirked as he gave a sharp kick to Naraku's side. "Still won't give in!?" He shouted. Naraku gasped when he saw someone who shouldn't have been seeing this... any of this! The phantom's eyes slowly followed Naraku's line of sight and fell upon Sesshoumaru. "Aw, would you look at that, Naraku.... your tormentor has finally come to watch you rot from the inside out. How touching."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed to slits. "Get away from him." He raised his poisoned claws to add to the threat. He walked closer and momentarily averted his gaze to the figure on the ground, his eyes softened. "Are you alright, Naraku?"
The phantom laughed maniacally before Naraku could respond. "Listen to him; he's trying to play with your mind! After all.... he is the reason your body is in pain.... he is why you are growing steadily weaker, Naraku. He tore your soul loose! And now he's trying to pin the blame on someone else. Tsk, tsk. Such a foolish one you are, Sesshoumaru." the phantom said with a large sneer across his face, claws at the ready to attack at any given moment and eradicate the last obstacle in his path.
The inu youkai pinned the phantom with a deathly glare. "So I take it you are the one whom I saw behind Naraku's eye. You are the one plaguing his sleep and raping his mind while he's awake... Who are you?"
"I am... Naraku, before you corrupted his sound mind. I have done nothing but show him what will become of him if he continues to love you. Because I speak the truth when I say you are the cause of all his pain and suffering." The phantom fixed Sesshoumaru with his own glare. "And don't you even deny it. "A low chuckle escaped his throat. The inu couldn't worm his way out of that one.
"I have done nothing to harm him. It is you who lies! It is you who is killing him!!" His anger was rising. He lunged at the false Naraku, barely missing his smirking face as he disappeared into thin air.
The phantom spoke from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Tsk, tsk.. Sesshoumaru.... So slow; so naive!" A loud, malicious laughter echoed around them from all sides, ringing in their ears as if to declare its malicious intents. "Even you cannot defeat me! I will regain control once more." The phantom appeared behind Sesshoumaru and whispered, "And you will perish by the hands of your former love."
The inu's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned around with lightning speed and decapitated the phantom, but it was futile, as the body evaporated into a black smoke and dispersed.
More laughter rang out. "Are you deaf!? You cannot win! Not when I control his subconscious." The phantom appeared, sneering and chuckling as he hand wrapped around Sesshoumaru's throat before he could react, claws piercing and digging into his skin. "Die...."
Sesshoumaru tried to claw at the hand round his neck, but he was steadily becoming weaker. It was only until his body began to fade and he felt himself being pulled back into his physical body that he realized something on the other side had to be affecting his connection...
Sesshoumaru blinked and was thrown back into his material body. He was on his back and his lungs struggled to fill with air and he gasped for breath that wouldn't come. He reached up to his neck to find that someone's hands were there, choking him, and they only squeezed tighter as he tried in vain to dislodge them. His eyes shot open and locked gazes with Naraku, only it wasn't his mate that stared back at him. The kumo's left eye covered by hair, it was the right eye, the phantom's eye, which looked back at him with satisfaction as the color drained out of him. Sesshoumaru coughed and gasped for air, and the corner of Naraku's mouth rose in a smirk.
"Oh that look of pain on your face," he chuckled, tightening his grasp, "How I love it so!" The smirk grew as he saw Sesshoumaru wince and bite back a yelp of pain when the phantom sank Naraku's claws deeper into the pale flesh of Sesshoumaru's throat.
Coughing and fighting to stay alive, Sesshoumaru hoarsely called out to his mate, "Nara..ku!," he was beginning to lose consciousness as he whispered, "Naraku...wake up..." His vision went black and his eyes slid to the back of his skull as his breath drew short and his hands fell away from the claws at his neck.
The phantom smirked as he increased his grasp and the life fled from the inu youkai. "Heh. too easy."
"What have you done.?" Naraku whispered quietly.
"Be quiet you insolent fool! I've done you a favor and rid you of your pain.. Now I can take over."
"No! I will never let you take over! I'll do the world a favor and kill us both off!" Naraku's left hand flew to his throat, catching it in a deathly grip.
In a strangled voice, the phantom spoke. "You. lack the courage.. to carry through with it!" The right hand released Sesshoumaru and tried to pry Naraku's hand from his throat. "Go. back to wallowing. in your self pity!" He tore the hand free from their throat, panting.
Naraku looked over at Sesshoumaru's limp body on the floor next to him and became outraged, a surge of power flowing through him.
"What are you doing!?" The phantom yelled.
Naraku focused all of his energy into ridding himself of the phantom's presence. "Getting rid of you." Naraku said coldly, anger still coursing through his veins. He glanced over his shoulder once more and took in a sharp breath and raised his fist, bringing it down hard onto the floor, making a small crater. "I killed him." He whispered quietly.
The phantom was gone for the moment, banished back into the dark place of Naraku's subconscious. But the kumo had no idea when he'd be back. He rose to his feet shakily, just regaining control over his entire body back, and walked drunkenly to Sesshoumaru's side. He dropped to his knees and scooped Sesshoumaru up, clutching him to his chest. "I'm sorry." He stroked the cold skin of Sesshoumaru's face, fighting back the tears that welled in his eyes.
A blue-black light caught his eye; he turned his head slowly and saw the glow was coming from a sword. Sesshoumaru's sword. He looked down at the cold, lifeless body of his love and set him down on the floor gently. Once more, he rose on shaky legs and staggered to the sword leaning against the wall. He reached out and clutched the hilt with one hand and the sheath with his other. He turned and went back to Sesshoumaru. He knew the sword could heal him, but he didn't know exactly how to do it. Slowly, he drew it from its sheath looked at the blade as the glow intensified. He closed his eyes as he brought it over his head and then down into Sesshoumaru's unmoving chest before dropping to his knees once more.
A blinding light filled the room, and Naraku shielded his eyes and waited. He heard the clattering of the sword as it dropped to the ground from Sesshoumaru's chest. Naraku looked up hopefully, praying to anyone that would listen for Sesshoumaru's life to return, but the inu didn't move. "No." he whispered and gathered Sesshoumaru into his arms once more. His eyes flew opened and widened in shock as the sounds he had longed to hear reached his ears; the sound of Sesshoumaru breathing once more..of his heart beating steadily in his chest.
He could feel himself...alive...again. But, hadn't he died? He remembered the phantom Naraku on top of him, choking him until he couldn't breathe or think...and he remembered slipping away as he called out to Naraku. He heard a familiar voice saying his name, and his eyes fluttered open as he gazed into amethyst eyes that were bright with tears. "Na..Naraku..?"
Naraku smiled. "Sesshoumaru!" He pulled him close in an awkward hug. "I'm sorry... I ... couldn't stop him and... Oh I'm so happy you're alive!" He pressed his lips to Sesshoumaru's for a short-lived kiss. He could feel the tears that had welled up, and burn his cheeks as they fell down his face.
Sesshoumaru reached up and wiped away the streaks that stained his love's pretty face. "Why do you cry? A demon like me doesn't deserve tears; give me a smirk like you always do." He gave a half smile.
Naraku smiled, shaking his head, tears still falling from his eyes. "Sesshoumaru..." He cupped Sesshoumaru's cheek, thumb rubbing the warm skin beneath it. "I'm sorry..." His hand went to his throat, glad the ugly purple bruises were gone. "I couldn't stop him..."
This time, Sesshoumaru leaned up and silenced him with a slightly longer- lived kiss. "I know..." He tried to sit up straighter, "I know it wasn't you...Do not blame yourself." Still feeling a little dizzy, he stopped trying to regain his posture and just leaned against Naraku, needing his support. "So...what do we do now?"
"I can't stay...." he whispered. "I have him under control now... but how long I can manage it is a mystery.... What if he..." Naraku shook his head, not wanting to finish his sentence. "I'm too much of a danger... I don't want to lose you again and watch helplessly as the act is committed..."
Not knowing what to say, the inu simply didn't say anything. He looked down and let his eyes go out of focus.
He winced as the jewel started acting up again. "Sesshoumaru.... I have to leave...soon." He tilted the inu's face upwards and kissed him lightly before setting him down on the floor.
"Wait, where are you going?" He got up and faced him, 'I will not lose you to that monster again..'
Naraku averted his gaze, not wanting to meet the inu's eyes. "I don't know, but you can't follow me. Next time... I don't think I'll be able to stop him. Please... don't" he turned to leave.
"Stop! What do you plan to do?"
He paused, closing his eyes before continuing towards the door.
Sesshoumaru grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him. "I... I will not let you just walk away from me like that!" He pulled him into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Because...because I..." shutting his eyes, he rested his head against the youkai's hair and whispered, "..I love you..."
Naraku wanted to sink back into that touch and feel safe and.... loved. "I... I love you too..." He took in a few shuddering breaths. "But I don't want to hurt you...." He clenched his teeth and pulled away. ''Even if it means I'll never see you again... You have to be safe..." he whispered, resuming his determined walk to the door.
His eyes welled up as he watched his love open the door and walk out of the room. "Please come back to me.." he whispered.
Naraku paused one last time. He looked down at the ground, taking a deep breath as he forced himself to leave; the image of his hand wrapped around Sesshoumaru's throat was the only thing that drove him forward as he left his love behind.....
A/N: SEE THAT DREAM SEQUENCE?! I had to write it all by myself! Lol And I had to rewrite some parts like 6 times! So you'd better enjoy this fic and gimme lotsa reviews! Sorry it took me sooo long to update. this ch was actually finished a while ago. Hehehe * hides from any items that might be thrown * well I'll update soon
~ DB ~