AN: For those who think Inuyasha is a little too OOC… well I have news for you. Duh! If he was IN character then he'd be completely sane and normal.

And here's a humorous story: I was looking around Mediaminer.org in the Inuyasha section and I came across an author by the name of 'Rozefire'. For a moment I was thinking that a cheeky little cow had stolen my name. But then I remembered (in true bimbo style) that she was me. So now I've gone and put one or two fics up in Mediaminer and since it can support fanart as well, you might like to now that I'll be putting fan art of Life Exchange/Soul Exchange as well. When I put it up I'll put up the link here so you can see it if you want (mind boggles at why though…) I swear I'm not that bad at drawing though… well, you can decide for yourselves ^_^

Life Exchange

Chapter 7

Casualties of War

It was the classical case scenario. Perfect. So wrong. Girl alone in the hot spring, naked, what else was he supposed to do? Walk away?

"Not likely." He mumbled to himself as he forced a tree and its roots up and out of the ground only to drop it on its side and flop down on it. From here he could look down at the grassy plateau with the two lakes and see the palace just before the rise of forest behind it heading towards the Southern coast cliffs.

He could also see a rather wet looking Kagome emerge from the forest, practically running with her hastily tied yukata and with his clothes, boots and cuffs in her arms. He stood and took a step towards her, debating on whether he should stop her and get back to what he'd been doing before he'd been interrupted. What had he been doing before anyway?

He frowned and his gaze slid sideways as he tried to remember. Nah… probably wasn't important anyway. With a slanted smile he looked back to where Kagome was quickly making tracks towards the palace, hesitantly looking around her for some sign of danger… probably looking out for him. Well he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of attacking her then.

For a moment he stopped and puzzled over that. Why would he attack her? He liked Kagome. He liked her legs… and from here he also got a great view of them seeing as she was one of those girls who liked to wear her yukata with the bottom hem tucked into her waist sash, allowing her to move freely and coolly in warm weather.

He laughed when he realised one big mistake he'd made. Kagome was carrying his cuffs… he'd dropped them… she'd picked them up… she was the new Queen. Well… actually it only applied to men. Whenever any man managed to obtain his cuffs from him by force or accident, they would automatically become the new King… until I took them back that was. But if he didn't?

Being King was boring any way…

He snorted and flopped back down on the tree he'd felled and laid back against the broad trunk, looking up at the thatch work of leaves above his head. He could make out the faces in the patterns and swatches of light that shone through… laughing at him…

"But it's not funny." He ground out and sat up sharply, glaring off at a young sapling to his right. A fleeting thought… maybe he should teach Kagome another lesson for picking up the cuffs, that conniving little bitch. For a moment he just glared… until it happened again… something fractured his consciousness… a thought or a feeling that made perfect sense and logic… and it turned his other thoughts to a jumbling mess all over again. He doubled over and pressed his knuckles against his forehead as if trying to even out the pressure.

I can't hurt Kagome…

The one simple coherent thought that sent him to his feet with a heavy snarl and swiped at the young sapling, cutting it clean in half. "You don't know!" he yelled, full of livid anger. "You don't KNOW!"

He stood for a moment, letting the anger wash over him, breathing hard and glaring at the top half of the sapling that lay beside the larger fallen tree. His hard expression slipped to a softer one and he crouched down to touch the smooth bark of the young tree's branches. "I made her cry… I shouldn't have touched her…" he lifted his right hand, the hand he'd violated her with and watched his fingers dubiously. "Oh yeah… now I remember…"

He laughed it off and stood up, turning to grip the low branches of a third tree. "But she's so much fun… she squirms… she cries…" he snickered cruelly and brought his right hand to his nose. "She smells good in every way… practically edible."

He dropped his hand and turned cynical eyes back towards the palace to see Kagome just passing through the gates in the distance. He didn't miss the way the guards took in her wet, scantily clad form… the anger threatened to boil up inside him again. His claws bit into the branches he clutched idly, releasing the sticky sap onto his fingers.

"Fucking flirt…" he ground out, ripping one of the branches off, half wishing it could have been her arm. "As soon as I turn my back…!"

He leaned his forehead against the tree and let the tattered branch fall to his feet. "Too sweet…" how many people had he threatened over the past three years to keep away from her? Nearly two dozen men… it was ridiculous… and even more so to have to fire two women for having the same base desire as the men. "Too tricky… she causes chaos… she's the reason why…"

He got distracted as he found himself scratching out random lines on the bark of the tree. "Shouldn't be mad… shouldn't be angry… she feels pain too, right?" he looked levelly at the tree and narrowed his eyes. "Though what would you know? You're just a tree."

He pushed away and kicked the wood he'd cut down. "I don't blame you!" he sniffed and scratched his itchy nape, recklessly with his claws he tore his skin but he didn't care. Itch was gone now. He brought his hand forward again and dabbed the sticky red blood between his fingers playfully. "I bleed… she bleeds… we all bleed." He looked up at the tree with was still oozing sap from the lines he'd scratched out. "You bleed too…" he smirked.

But that smirk slowly faded as he looked at the patterns of his lines. He cocked his head and stepped closer to see the characters he'd drawn. "Skeleton… bones"

Kotsu… he'd written kotsu on the tree.

He laughed and drew away, stepped over the fallen tree and heading down the slope at a lazy pace. He ignored the warm trickle of blood that slid down his neck, pooling against the neckline of his scruffy white undershirt. He probably needed a bath… maybe he'd go find Kagome and take one with her? He smirked at the idea until he remembered with dismay that she'd already bathed in the spring.

"Dammit…" Well he'd keep an eye out in case she headed in the direction of the bathing rooms again.

That small nagging feeling tugged at his mind again and he shook his head and swept his hand up to brush against his bangs like he was batting away a pesky fly. He grimaced as he tried to ignore that little feeling… what was it…? Well it was annoying whatever it was… it kept messing up his train of thought…

He passed between the lakes and headed straight for the main gates where the two guards were stationed. He saw them look at him briefly, taking in his dishevelled appearance like they had Kagome's wet one. They didn't make anything of it. They just turned their eyes to stare straight ahead as though he wasn't approaching.

Time for some fun.

Well seeing as they liked having fun with Kagome, it was all fair in his book. He meandered towards the man on the left and stopped a few feet from him, staring him in the face. The guard didn't meet his gaze, but only kept staring straight ahead. He waited impassively until the man inched his eyes to meet Inuyasha's. "My lord?"

"Who said you could look at me?"

"I'm sorry, my lord." The man quickly ducked his gaze to the ground.

Too late for that pal…

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and was about to draw his fist back when his name was called.

"Lord Inuyasha."

He snapped an annoyed glare to where Bankotsu was hurriedly descending the palace steps with a few followers. He was holding some sort of script in his hand, but that wasn't important. What was important was that he'd been interrupted from exacting revenge on the guards.

"What?!" he snapped angrily as Bankotsu arrived before him.

"One of the sentries near the border," He shoved the paper before Inuyasha. "He was handed this notice by one of the Northern sentries. It's from the Northern ruler."

"Probably that surrender we were waiting for." Inuyasha smirked and opened it out to read.

There were a few moments silence before suddenly Inuyasha crumpled the paper with a grin and tossed it over his shoulder. "You, Bankotsu, are a fucking genius!" before the poor human could protest, he was tugged forward into a rather sudden, bold kiss. But he was released just as quickly and clapped around the head before being pushed aside so Inuyasha could head towards the palace. "Gear up lads, we're going to war!"

No one else seemed to share in his enthusiasm and Bankotsu kept his expression schooled. "Come on." He glanced briefly at the Inu Youkai around him. "Do as he says…"

^_^

"I can't believe you're all taking this in your stride!" Kagome cried at them all. Sango and Miroku exchanged glances as they often did whilst Lady Inu just pretended to be asleep.

"He's gone nuts! He assaulted me! He could have killed me – or worse!" Kagome ranted, beginning to pace along the end of Lady Inu's bed. "Has this happened before?! A-Am I missing something here? You all seem to think it's pretty ok for him to be insane!"

"He'll get better." Sango slipped in quietly, hands resting on her bump.

"When? After he's killed us all in our sleep?!" Kagome was bordering on hysterical now. The tears beginning to brim in her eyes. "After he attacks Sango? Or Miroku? Or Lady Inu?!"

"He's been attacking me for the past twenty years, no change there." The sick woman said flatly from the bed.

"I thought you were asleep?" Kagome scowled at her.

"I'm allowed to wake up, aren't I?"

Kagome went back to pacing. "I'm dead… I'm so dead! My dreams are coming true – he's going insane and he's going to kill me! Or take advantage of me!"

"I thought that's what you wanted?" Miroku commented innocently.

She shot him a withering glare. "I think I'd rather die than have him force himself on me whilst he's insane."

"Yes… I can see where that might become uncomfortable when he's sane again…" he trailed off under Sango's glare. "What? Why're you all looking at me like that?"

"He doesn't understand. He's just a man." Lady Inu admonished.

"I resent that."

"What about your powers?" Sango asked. "Can't you use them to defend yourself if you're alone."

"Tried. Not strong enough." She looked sullenly at the floor. "Not strong like Kikyo."

"Maybe…" Sango started slowly. "Maybe we should lock him in his room with some ofuda charms. That'll keep him in."

"For how long?" Kagome frowned anxiously.

"Until he's sane I guess."

"And how long would that be?" Kagome asked again.

"Like I should know." Sango shrugged defensively. "A few weeks… months?"

Kagome rubbed her face with despair. "We can't lock him up that long. He'd hurt himself – like he always does when he gets locked up. Last time we locked him up when he wasn't himself, he nearly chewed his hand off."

"Don't remind me." Lady Inu turned over and buried her head under her pillow.

Miroku sighed and stood up to pat Kagome's shoulder compassionately. "We'll think of something. But for now, just heed our advice and stay away from the crazy Inu Youkai. It's probably the best advice you'll hear in your life."

"He's right." Sango stood up as well, slowly since she was still burdened by extra weight. "Stay away from him."

"That's all well and good – but he's the one who usually comes to me." Kagome fidgeted nervously. "We'll bump into him eventually."

"Not if he's going to war." Miroku said suddenly.

"What?" all three women turned to look at where he was stood by the window. Sango and Kagome went to join him to see what he was looking at.

Beneath the window in the courtyard were many, many lines of warriors lining up… all looking suspiciously like they were getting ready to leave. Kagome frowned. "Where are they going?"

"Best guess…?" Miroku sighed. "How much do you want to bet the mad old King has just decided to head off to war with someone. A better guess? I'd say it's with the Northern Kingdom."

Sango cursed in a very unlady like way. Kagome watched for a moment before turning wordlessly and all but running from the room.

^_^

He heard her door slam shut and his ears perked up at the sharp sound. Footsteps could be heard moving across the room behind him, and out of curiosity, and inclination for some fun, he pushed away from the balcony rail and slipped through her window, into her room.

Her back was turned to him as she rummaged around hastily through the contents of one of her desk drawers. She didn't even hear him coming as she was bent double, tossing stray objects in her hurry. He smirked to himself. She was just too tempting.

He must have been within a few feet when she suddenly froze and straightened slightly. He was sure he was silent… she couldn't have heard him. But it didn't surprise him when she suddenly bolted for the door, he had plenty of time to reach out, grab her hand, and use her momentum to swing her back to face him.

"I should have known you liked to dance." He cajoled, pulling her up against him.

Kagome refused to meet his gaze as she struggled valiantly with a grimace. "Let me go, Inuyasha!"

"Why? Don't we have fun together?"

"No!" Kagome cried, but suddenly kicked herself when his hands tightened painfully around his hip and wrist. "I mean – not anymore! We used to… but not like this…!"

"Oh that'll have to change." He said darkly, ignoring how she tried to lean away when he ran a finger lightly down the smooth curves of her face. "Maybe we can finish what we started earlier?"

"No!" Kagome strained hotly, determined to be stronger than he was so she could break free. It wasn't happening. "What happened was wrong!"

"Mm." He nodded patiently with a thoughtful expression. "Yes. Very wrong."

She stopped struggling to shoot him a bemused look. He regretted it. "You think so?"

"Yes." He said seriously. "Wrong because I didn't finish it."

She renewed her efforts to get away.

"But then you cried." He sighed heavily and started walking her across the room towards the bed, dragging her with him like she was a doll. "Baby Kagome cried because she was hurt and upset." He looked back down at her despairing face, noticing how her lips trembled ever so slightly. "Looks like she's about to go again."

His callous remark sent her over the edge and she started to shake silently with small sobs, closing her eyes tight to try and stem the tears. "Why…"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this… why me?"

"Because you're beautiful." He said sweetly. This only seemed to drag her further into misery as her sobs began wracking her frame and her legs could no longer support her. She slumped against him. "I'm not a post, Kag." He said rudely, dropping her on the bed. Despite her expectations, he didn't climb on top of her. Instead he moved off to her armchair where she'd dumped his clothes from the spring, including his boots and cuffs. "Good thing you left them here, or I would have killed you for them."

Kagome managed to calm herself enough to speak. "You're leaving." She stated, her voice wavering weakly.

"Do you think I'll come back?" he looked up at the ceiling. "God I fucking well hope not. This place is a wreck."

"Who… who are you fighting?"

"The North. Who else? Gonna kick their asses to." He fastened the last cuff firmly and moved to stand above her, looking down at her with a slightly condescending look. "Full blown battle. Winner takes all. So I reckon I'll soon become ruler of the entire island after this. Finally I can move up north out of this horrible prickly heat."

"Just like the dream…" she whispered more to herself.

"Dreams…" He grimaced and turned away, clutching his head. "Dreams… full of metal… claws… blood… always so much blood… dreams… dreams…"

Kagome did her best to ignore his rambling as her own thoughts raced. Inuyasha… Inuyasha with the sheared hair and bloodstained clothes… ruler of the North and in possession of Toukijin. Everything was falling into line with her dream, piece by piece… and she was powerless to prevent it.

"Don't go…" She said quietly. He didn't hear her as he angrily batted at his head, and growled at his thoughts. "Don't go." She called again, louder that time. "What if you get hurt? Like last time?"

"I got killed last time." He calmed at once and glanced back at her with a blank expression. "Do you know what it's like to die?"

"N-no." she sniffled, not liking his tone.

"It's nothing. It's easy. Slightly relaxing actually." He smiled faintly and walked back towards her. She inched back slowly along the bed, but he only grabbed her by the front of her Kimono and dragged her to her feet again.

"Inuyasha!" she struggled to break free again, his free hand moved to encircle her neck lightly. "Sango?! Miroku?! ANYONE?!"

"No use calling them. They won't hear." He said coldly.

"You didn't… k-kill them?" she trembled.

"God no. They're all eating lunch by now. Haven't you ever noticed that when you chew crunchy stuff, you can't hear much over the crunching. I noticed that this morning." He said conversationally, his hand caressing the curve of her neck lightly. "Anyway I was telling you what it's like to die?"

"Please let me go!"

"It's nice. You'd like it." He said quietly. "The pain leaves and the moment seems to last for eternity. It's like… the moment before you fall asleep after a really long, tiring day. It just consumes you. And do you know what happens next?"

"W-what?" she was afraid to ask.

"Shit happens." He snorted and released her, much to her relief. "It's all black like a sleep with no dreams. No heaven, no hell. Just nothing. And then you wake up and you thank the fucking lord that you have a second chance to relish life."

"So don't go and throw it away like this!" she rubbed her throat as she tried to edge around him, subtly towards the door.

"No – cause you see, if I stayed here and did nothing, he will come to me and then everyone will suffer. Women, children, you… you'll all experience what it's like to die. You know dying… is a bit like this…"

His hand flashed out before she had time to register or gasp. He tapped her lightly against the temple and watched her slide bonelessly to the floor, her breathing deep and steady at least.

He clicked his tongue and leaned down to poke her cheek. "At least you're not crying anymore. I hate to see you cry." He swiped his finger across the damp tear trails down that cheek and licked it absently as he straightened and headed for the door. "Like salt…"

^_^

The battlefield was set to the usual place battles took place. The same meadow plane that had served as the battlefield for Sesshomaru's forces when they'd engaged the South in a battle for the same stakes as this upcoming battle. Last time it had been a slaughter, nothing more. The south, led by a new, inexperienced King, had literally marched to its death in that field. The Southern army had been weak. After all, who needed a strong army when their leader had been a rather powerful Inu Youkai who no one dared argue with.

But when he'd died… the kingdom had suddenly found itself with a much weaker leader. Something Sesshomaru hadn't hesitated to act upon.

Over half the men in the Southern army had been killed that day, along with Inuyasha. Only Sesshomaru's sword, Tenseiga, had brought them all back to life, stating the battle would be postponed for another day when there was less rain.

That had been three years ago. Inuyasha was no longer the amateur King with a sword he could barely control. The army had grown to become a fair match for the North and using Tessaiga was child's play. They were all pretty confident that their odds were better today than before.

But then again, their King was insane right then. That put a dampener on some spirits.

Actually, as Bankotsu looked further up the lines to where Inuyasha rode on the up front horse, he saw that the King looked less insane and more like he had a headache. "Something the matter, my lord?"

"Nothing." Was the bitten retort. Inuyasha kept his eyes closed in a usual scowl with a hand braced lightly against his head.

Bankotsu shrugged and turned back to their path through the trees. Then he saw it. "Over that ridge!" he called to the men. "That's where they'll be waiting."

"Yay." Inuyasha said flatly.

"You're lack of enthusiasm contradicts your earlier feeling, your highness." Bankotsu pointed out.

"So what? My head didn't hurt before? Now it does. Get off my case." His captain blinked in surprise. Earlier he'd acted strange, deluded and slightly irrational… at that moment, he seemed unusually 'with it'.

The air of tense anticipation mounted as they neared the ridge. The challenge had promised that the Northern army led by their 'mysterious' new leader, would be waiting in the meadow for them. They were only moments away…

The first line of soldiers crested the ridge and stopped dead to look on at the meadow. Everyone sucked in a sudden gasp of air – save for Inuyasha who still hadn't bothered opening his eyes yet and still grumbled about the pain.

The meadow was no longer fit to be called a meadow. It was just a barren stretched of earth that had been churned up those three years ago, so it no longer resembled anything like a grassy plane. It was still barren, the ground dry, hard and even… around the edges, the first signs of new life were beginning to breathe… wild flowers, grass, ferns…

But there was nothing else in that field. No Inu Youkai. No horses. No weapons. Nothing.

"My lord." Bankotsu contrived to pull a cautious frown on his face. "I think you should open you eyes now."

Inuyasha sighed moodily and cracked open one eye. Then snapped the other open in surprise. "Where'd they go?"

"I doubt they were ever here." Bankotsu replied evenly. He should have been a crowned actor.

At once a few annoyed, wondering whispers broke out amongst the soldiers as the tension passed to be replaced with confusion.

"Could we have come to the wrong place?" someone suggested.

"Maybe they were afraid and stood us up."

"This isn't a date. It's a battle!"

"What should we do?"

Bankotsu turned back to Inuyasha who seemed to be frowning, deep in thought. "I suggest we wait here. They may be late."

"No…" Inuyasha said slowly, frowning deeper. "There's something wrong-"

He broke up suddenly as his head snapped open and he's eyes widened. "Shit!" At once he jerked the reins of his horse and turned. "Get out of the way!" Fortunately they obliged him as he started to urge his horse in a gallop, back the way they'd come.

"Where are you going?!" Bankotsu yelled after him with a scowl.

"It's a distraction! They're targeting the palace!" Inuyasha yelled back without a break in his gallop. He left them to debate that bit of information as he urged the horse impossibly faster. How could he have been so stupid?! The entire army had been coaxed away with a little note of challenge, while the Northern forces sneakily attacked the defenceless palace! It was so obvious!

Strangely… the nearer he got to the palace, the less his head started to hurt and the more familiar feeling of mindless carelessness started to dawn on him. He did his best to ignore it as he sped on, determined to keep his mind on the matter at hand. The palace… his family, his friends were in danger.

He soon burst out into the grassy plateau before the palace sooner than he'd anticipated, but didn't argue as he charged at break neck speed for the gates. As he neared them, he could see the guards by the entrance were slumped on the floor.

Bad time to take a nap, he thought anxiously. Chances were they weren't asleep either…

He paid them no more heed as he shot through the gates, dismounting while the horse was still mid-run. He ran for the stairs leading into the palace, noting how they'd been carelessly left open… and noting how staff and servants lay unmoving around the floor.

A silver tray lay on the floor at the foot of the stairs leading onto the upper floors of the palace. For a moment he was distracted and amused by his warped reflection in the metal.

No… the apathy was beginning to set in again. Something was wrong here… what was it?

He looked about and he realised the situation again. Everyone was unconscious… or dead, he didn't have time to check. But he could hear the raspy, easy breathing of the men and women and knew they had to be alive.

But then why could he smell blood. And not just a little blood. But a strong pungent metallic smell that nearly made him gag as he neared the throne room. He almost feared what he would find when he opened the door.

The fear annoyed him. It wasn't just apprehension or nerves. It was full blown, terrified fear. He's knees were weak and his hands shook as he reached to push the door back. He swallowed hard… he knew that smell of blood… he had smelt it before a few times. Times when she'd accidentally cut her finger in the kitchens, or when she'd carelessly pricked herself on the thorn of the flowers she tended to while she laughed and talked with him.

Her eyes always laughed and danced when he was near. She loved him dearly…

He pushed the door back and saw her eyes. No love… no life… no laughter of sparkle. Just a horrified stare, fixed in terror at the moment of her death. His heart broke and with it, his body.

"NO!" He screamed and fell with a jarred motion to his knees. It must have been the madness clouding his mind, or some other incredibly strong force… but for once… for the first time in years… decades… his pain and fear consumed him in one fell swoop. He broke down, covering his face with his hands as dry sobs shook him. "No… Kagome… god no…"

AN: Chapter's getting long so I'll have to end it here. Sorry… Next chapter – 'Relief' – the bad kind.