Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. I am just
borrowing them. ^_~
Author's Note: Okay minna, it gets more OOC from here on out. I'm really sorry, but I don't think I can keep them in character for what comes next. I mean, the entire story so far as been OOC! -_-;;; And also, I can access fanfiction.net again! *cheers* And congratulations to Mistress of time for being the 300th reviewer!
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thought
*___* = Special 'stuff'
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 11: Love and Hate
*One month later*
Summer had come and gone, fleeing fall's onslaught against the growth of life. Autumn sprinkled its confetti over the land, a brilliant display of red, orange, and gold.
In the midst of this seasonal splendor, a lone young woman dressed in priestess garb sat, stone-like, on a boulder by a withering field. Her arms were entwined about her knees, hugging them, a protective position, as if to shield her heart. She stared vacantly at the grass directly before the boulder, as if not seeing anything at all.
Sesshoumaru stood from afar, watching the teen with an intense stare, his aura well concealed. It had been nearly one month since it had happened. . . since the party. . . and the night that followed.
Ever since then, Kagome had been living _entirely_ in her room, shutting herself away from the rest of the inhabitants of the castle. She constantly guarded herself with a barrier of purification, even in sleep. She asked for her meals in her room, kept her door locked, and never spoke a single word. Often Sesshoumaru would watch from the tree outside her window, hidden, making doubly sure that she wouldn't know he was there to begin with. As the days passed, the castle grew unmistakably quieter; Rin was not as cheerful, and Sesshoumaru was irked by this fact. Kagome had created a niche in his life, and to have her absence was irritating him immensely. Not to mention the strange way he felt every time he thought of her. The indescribably despondent yearning that ached within his chest.
Today marked the first time had seen her since that incident when he had taken her. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure how to act towards her, especially since he had not seen her face nor spoken to her for one month. Therefore, he was somewhat nervous as he approached her, although he did not show it.
The one month's time spent locked in a room had taken its toll on the shrine maiden. Her face was pale, almost a deathly white, and there were slightly sunken, dark rings beneath her eyes. Her eyes themselves, along with her hair, had lost their vibrant luster. There was not spirit in those blue eyes. Her entire frame was thinner, weaker, more fragile and she trembled slightly in the autumn breezes.
Sesshoumaru crept forwards, towards her, his breath baited. Somehow she had sensed his proximity, for he could see the way she instantly tensed up. Her lip quivered, her jaw clenched, her already pale complexion blanched even more. He could almost taste the way her fear increased tenfold, rendering her frozen, like a statue. Her heart rate increased, as did her breath. The barrier that was constantly there increased in power. He resisted his urge to prey upon her, quashing his predatory urges. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to greet her.
"Why did you do it?" she asked, dully, hollowly, lifelessly. She did not turn to look at him.
Sesshoumaru stared, for once in his life at a loss for words. She looked so beaten, _broken_.
'Did I do this to you, Kagome? Did I really break you _that_ badly?' he thought, horrified at himself but again not showing anything.
When he realized that he was gaping, he started and felt a torrent of words begin to form on his lips.
"You don't have to tell me. I know already," she stated hollowly before a sound escaped his throat.
Sesshoumaru was once again rendered speechless. After clearing his throat, he managed to ask, "You do?"
"Yes," was the apathetic response.
"How?" he asked, allowing his voice to become softer, less stern.
Kagome's head tilted up, her vacant eyes staring somewhere on the horizon. "I got a glimpse into your mind."
'You did it because of your pride and honor, didn't you?' she asked him using her telepathy.
Sesshoumaru stiffened, caught in her truthful accusation.
'Let me explain,' he replied, his mental voice seeming to plead with her.
"Explain what? There is nothing to explain," she answered softly. It was this dull, apathetic tone of hers that pained Sesshoumaru most.
The demon lord took a deep breath. "What can I do to redeem myself? How can I prove to you that you can trust me again?" he asked softly, his eyes watching her every move.
She abruptly spun to face him. "Redeem yourself?" she gasped, slightly hysterical, "Redeem yourself! Could _you_ give me back the one thing I needed to continue being a miko? Could you give me back my _virginity_?!?" she screamed, her eyes flashing with fury.
Sesshoumaru could not find an answer to her questions. Silence followed. Kagome seemed to retreat back into herself and resumed gazing blankly at the horizon.
Sesshoumaru swallowed his pride as he thought about what he was about to do.
"You know," he stated in a sort of off-handed way, "I have allowed those I choose one wish after exactly six months have passed. It may be anything you want, jewelry, clothes, anything besides my death or possession of my lands."
He folded his arms across his chest and waited for her answer. In actuality he had never done such a thing, but something about her, Kagome, made him do it. It might have been her sadness, it might have been her easygoing spirit, but whatever it was, it most definitely affected the seemingly cold-hearted demon lord.
"I. . . I want to go home. . ." she mumbled.
The dog demon nodded curtly. 'Meet me at noon tomorrow at the front gates. I will take you to your village.'
Kagome gave no reply.
He glanced at his raised right fist as he fingered the slender silver chain entwined in his clawed fingers. Then he gazed back to the huddled form on the boulder. His thoughts were a melange of chaos.
'She should have liked it. All the previous ones did. . .'
His eyes traced the faint sphere of her barrier.
'I can give so much more than any worthless human can in their entire miserable existence. . . yet she still refuses to try anymore. . .'
He watched the afternoon sun glint off the dangling ends of the silver chain.
'But perhaps it is different for a miko. Considering that the necklace was specially created to stopper her purification abilities, was it uncomfortable for her?' His brow furrowed incrementally. 'But it _had_ to be done. She would have killed me if she didn't have it,' he thought, arguing with himself. 'Besides, I had promised myself it would be done.'
Yet he could not shake the feeling that it could have been different. As though, he could have undertaken the process in a totally distinct manner that could have made the results so much more pleasurable- for both him _and_ her.
He stifled a sigh and left the girl to herself, ambling back into the castle. He was too lost in his own thoughts to worry over her anyway.
So deep in his thoughts was he that demon lord did not notice the faint whisper of, 'Domo arigatou, Sesshoumaru,' in his mind.
Sesshoumaru settled down in his study. Yet as he tried to focus on the piles of scrolls before him, all he could concentrate on were the voices of his guests as they passed rumors behind his back, ones about his inability to control a human, much less a miko. He growled to himself as their words still sent prickles of anger through him.
'Such impudence. . . I allow them in my home, feed them, entertain them, and they _still_ talk behind my back. . .' His eyes hardened even more to resemble brittle amber stones as his fury burned within him.
He calmed down enough to once again slip on his mask of indifference as he settled down to working on the scrolls, yet his mind still hadn't focused enough for him to do much. He sat, staring blankly at the paper. . . it was so unlike him, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, to be. . . unfocused.
"It's all that damn girl's fault," he growled lowly, ignoring the twinges he felt when he thought of her.
A shrill scream shattered his mental fogginess. He shot up, eyes open, ears alert. His senses flared out; he detected Kagome, Rin, and Jaken along with some unknown demon.
"Intruder," he snarled. He swept out of his study and headed towards the demon.
*Back with Kagome*
Kagome, even with her barrier up, sensed a demon coming. She scanned the area, locating Rin with Jaken out in the meadows. The demon was swiftly headed directly for Rin.
"No," she whispered as she began racing to the meadow. She arrived in the meadow just as the towering black snake demon had wrapped Rin in its muscular, thick coils. Rin was struggling for breath. A quick glance at the ground near a few large rocks confirmed that Jaken was out.
Rin pried one eye open just enough to see Kagome standing there, accessing what she was dealing with.
"Ka. . . go. . . me. . . chan. . . help. . . me. . ." she gasped, her chest becoming more and more constricted with each breath.
"Rin-chan!" Kagome murmured before springing into action. She rushed at the demon, unsheathing her stiletto. She leapt up, landing lightly on the top coil gripping Rin.
"Miko!" hissed the snake. "Where is-s-s the S-s-shikon no Tama?"
Kagome made no reply; instead she just gathered her purification energy into the blade and slammed it into the snake's hide as deep as it would go. The snake shrieked in pain and dropped Rin. Kagome yanked the knife out and jumped after the girl.
"Rin! Hide behind those boulders!" she shouted as she faced off with the infuriated snake. "Hayaku!"
Rin simply took off, too frightened to speak. She ducked behind a rock and peered around, worried for Kagome's safety. "Be careful, Kagome-chan!" she cried out towards the priestess.
"I will!" replied Kagome, a look of determination on her face.
"Foolis-s-s-sh wretch! Do not think that your deeds-s-s will come unpunis- s-s-shed," it hissed savagely. The demon's blood spurted out of the wound, unable to heal because of Kagome's purification powers.
"I'd like to see you try," she retorted. Kagome wished she had a bow and some arrows with her; the demon was within shooting range. If she could only shoot at its eyes! They were a bright green, like the color of newly grown leaves- a color that contrasted sharply with the snake's long ebony body.
The snake struck, and Kagome had a good view of its cavernous mouth before she dodged, its clear poison dripping from its twin fangs. She could feel the air stir behind her feet as those enormous jaws snapped shut behind her.
'I need to be more alert. If I don't, this snake could easily kill me,' she thought as she rolled away from the snake, planting herself on her feet with her dagger drawn. The demon and the priestess stared each other down for a moment before the battle pursued.
The snake seemed to sense that the little girl was the key to the priestess' weak spot. So instead of going for the shrine maiden that dodged its every move, it lashed out directly at the little girl half hiding behind the rocks.
Kagome sensed what the snake was about to do mere milliseconds before its body snapped into action.
"Rin!" she cried, running towards the girl in an attempt to head the snake off. She launched herself in the air just as the snake opened its jaws wide. Rin screamed.
'You can do this, Kag,' she thought to herself. She focussed all of her purifying powers in an outstretched hand directed at the snake while her other hand shoved Rin out of harm's way. She fired the energy ball directly into the black throat of the snake just as it slammed its jaws shut. One long, slender fang sliced through her ribcage before both she and the snake were blown in opposite directions from the force of the energy.
The snake writhed in agony as it was purified from the inside out. Kagome rolled in the grass, the section of the fang within her shattering upon her jarring impact with the ground, the ends protruding out of her chest breaking off.
Kagome groaned as the poison began spreading. It was as if there was fire within her very veins, white-hot fire that burned like the worst acid. Even with her blurry vision and some of her hair covering her face, she could make out the form of Rin running up and kneeling before her. Small, gentle hands brushed away the hair from her visage and wiped the beads of perspiration from her brow. Salty droplets splashing on her face indicated that the girl was crying.
"Kagome-chan. . ." she repeated over and over despairingly.
"Rin-chan," Kagome said softly, every breath sending stabbing pains along her entire body. "I'm going to sleep for a while, Rin-chan." Each word cost her no small amount of pain. She could still sense Sesshoumaru nearby, no doubt watching with pleasure as the poison took its toll on her body. "Take care of Sesshoumaru-sama as I sleep, okay?" she forced herself to say. She did not have the heart to belittle Rin's only parental figure and idol.
Rin nodded. "Okay, Kagome-chan. I will."
"Arigatou, Rin-chan," Kagome breathed, smiling a little. "You are just like a little sister to me, Rin-chan. I love you a lot. . . never forget that. . ."
"I love you too, Kagome-chan," Rin replied softly as Kagome's eyes fluttered to a close and her breath stopped. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Rin collapsed on Kagome's body and cried broken- heartedly.
Sesshoumaru had arrived just as the snake closed its jaws on the priestess, while the shrine maiden fired an astonishingly large sphere of purification powers into the demon's gullet. He was frozen to the spot, horrified at the scene that had unfolded right before him. His eyes followed the path the priestess took as she was blown back by the force of her own power. He closed his eyes to block out the sight but could not hide from the sounds of her anguished moans as she hit the ground, the shattering of bone, the rustle of grass as she rolled.
He opened his eyes to see her on her side, her head towards him and bleeding heavily; Rin was knelt beside her wiping sweat off her face. He heard the entire exchange between them and bowed his head in silent mourning when her last feeble heartbeat reached his ears.
He gazed up, and to his utmost surprise, saw Kagome's spirit rise out of her body. It was not the usual pearly translucent sphere, but one in her exact likeness. The only change in her ghostly appearance was the addition of plumed white wings on her back, something he'd only seen on the spirits of priestesses. She stood up and gazed down at Rin. Kneeling, she gently lifted the girl's head up. Rin looked extremely confused and tense since she could not see Kagome's spirit at all, but she relaxed a little as she felt a feathery touch on her forehead. Kagome had given Rin a feathery kiss. Moving her lips to Rin's ear, she whispered, "I love you."
Rin heard it and looked about her as if the wind had given her a secret, sacred message. "I love you, too."
Kagome stood up and allowed her eyes to fall upon Sesshoumaru. He knew it was time for him to speak with her.
"Rin," he called, forcefully restraining his emotions. "Go back inside."
Rin looked, teary eyed, at Sesshoumaru. His face showed there was no room for argument, and any complaint she had about staying with Kagome died on her tongue.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," she said dejectedly as she trotted back towards the castle.
Sesshoumaru waited until Rin was safely in the castle before he spoke. "So you leave this way?"
Kagome tilted her head. "You can see me?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I believe it is the Tenseiga's doing," he replied smoothly, glancing down to where the sword hung from his sash. He looked back up to the dead priestess.
She gazed back at him with a look of long suffering. "You know, there was a time I would have given the world to be with you," she murmured softly.
"Would you now?" he asked, curious.
Her stare turned stony. "No. Everything's changed. And it's all because of you," she spat.
"I can revive you," he offered.
Her face clouded in fury. "Why? So you can have me roll in your bed again?" she snapped. "What do you not understand? I hate you! I died hating you! I can never forgive you! _Never_!"
The moment those words escaped her lips the ground upon which she and the demon lord were standing began to tremble and groan ominously. A gaping fissure opened behind Kagome, heat, soot, and smoke billowing out of it. Two chains sprung out of the crack, wrapping themselves around Kagome's wings and crushing them before disintegrating themselves. She gasped in shock.
Another chain streaked upwards and wrapped itself about her left arm and began dragging her towards the abyss. She struggled against the chain, but its pull was inexorable. Two more chains sprung out from the crevice and wrapped around her ankles, effectively pulling her feet from beneath her. She cried out as she fell on her side and was dragged unceremoniously towards the rift.
Sesshoumaru watched, horror stricken, unable to move. She was being dragged to Hell right before his very eyes, yet why could he not move?!? She was towed to the edge of the gap and disappeared. Her fingers gripped tightly to the edge, the only part of her that Sesshoumaru could still see. Suddenly he sped towards her, his heart suddenly clenched tightly in his chest as a thought crept into his head: 'I am going to lose her. . . for good.'
He, Sesshoumaru, couldn't, _wouldn't_ allow it! He grasped her wrist just as her fingers slipped. She gasped.
"Hold on," he said, his facial expression calm. But Kagome could see the worry in his eyes as she gazed into them.
"Why?" she demanded hotly, still angry with him, even in her situation.
"Because," he whispered, pleading now threading into his voice, "I just want another chance. . ."
"No!" she replied, shaking her head viciously. "You had your chance and you ruined it!"
"Please, Kagome," he implored, now desperate as his grip on her wrist was beginning to slip. "Just give me one more chance!" His brows began to knit together in worry and frustration.
Kagome looked up into his eyes once more and saw he was being sincere about what he said. Could she give him the chance? Would her broken heart allow it? She ducked her head as she debated the issue.
Sesshoumaru gazed worriedly at her. Did she believe him?
'Please say you will,' he thought.
Kagome looked up, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. "I'll give you one more chance, Sesshoumaru," she said quietly.
As she said those words, the chains loosened and fell downwards, and Sesshoumaru gracefully pulled her up.
"Domo arigatou," he murmured as he hugged her, "For giving me this chance. . ."
They stayed that way for a while, before Sesshoumaru broke it and said, "It is time to revive you." And so saying, the dog demon unsheathed the Tenseiga.
~*~*~*~
FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! This will probably be the last update before school, so it will be even slower on updates if I actually have the time! Y_Y
Sesshoumaru: I'll revive her, right?
FT: Of course, Sesshy!
Kagome: Good! I don't want to be dead for the rest of the story!
FT: *snickers*
Sesshoumaru and Kagome: Nani?
FT: Oh, nothing, nothing. . .
Sesshoumaru and Kagome: *eyes FT suspiciously*
FT: *sweatdrop* Anyways, drop a review for me, ne?
~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Okay minna, it gets more OOC from here on out. I'm really sorry, but I don't think I can keep them in character for what comes next. I mean, the entire story so far as been OOC! -_-;;; And also, I can access fanfiction.net again! *cheers* And congratulations to Mistress of time for being the 300th reviewer!
"___" = Dialogue
'___' = Thought
*___* = Special 'stuff'
Conflicting Desires
By Forsaken Tenshi
Chapter 11: Love and Hate
*One month later*
Summer had come and gone, fleeing fall's onslaught against the growth of life. Autumn sprinkled its confetti over the land, a brilliant display of red, orange, and gold.
In the midst of this seasonal splendor, a lone young woman dressed in priestess garb sat, stone-like, on a boulder by a withering field. Her arms were entwined about her knees, hugging them, a protective position, as if to shield her heart. She stared vacantly at the grass directly before the boulder, as if not seeing anything at all.
Sesshoumaru stood from afar, watching the teen with an intense stare, his aura well concealed. It had been nearly one month since it had happened. . . since the party. . . and the night that followed.
Ever since then, Kagome had been living _entirely_ in her room, shutting herself away from the rest of the inhabitants of the castle. She constantly guarded herself with a barrier of purification, even in sleep. She asked for her meals in her room, kept her door locked, and never spoke a single word. Often Sesshoumaru would watch from the tree outside her window, hidden, making doubly sure that she wouldn't know he was there to begin with. As the days passed, the castle grew unmistakably quieter; Rin was not as cheerful, and Sesshoumaru was irked by this fact. Kagome had created a niche in his life, and to have her absence was irritating him immensely. Not to mention the strange way he felt every time he thought of her. The indescribably despondent yearning that ached within his chest.
Today marked the first time had seen her since that incident when he had taken her. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure how to act towards her, especially since he had not seen her face nor spoken to her for one month. Therefore, he was somewhat nervous as he approached her, although he did not show it.
The one month's time spent locked in a room had taken its toll on the shrine maiden. Her face was pale, almost a deathly white, and there were slightly sunken, dark rings beneath her eyes. Her eyes themselves, along with her hair, had lost their vibrant luster. There was not spirit in those blue eyes. Her entire frame was thinner, weaker, more fragile and she trembled slightly in the autumn breezes.
Sesshoumaru crept forwards, towards her, his breath baited. Somehow she had sensed his proximity, for he could see the way she instantly tensed up. Her lip quivered, her jaw clenched, her already pale complexion blanched even more. He could almost taste the way her fear increased tenfold, rendering her frozen, like a statue. Her heart rate increased, as did her breath. The barrier that was constantly there increased in power. He resisted his urge to prey upon her, quashing his predatory urges. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to greet her.
"Why did you do it?" she asked, dully, hollowly, lifelessly. She did not turn to look at him.
Sesshoumaru stared, for once in his life at a loss for words. She looked so beaten, _broken_.
'Did I do this to you, Kagome? Did I really break you _that_ badly?' he thought, horrified at himself but again not showing anything.
When he realized that he was gaping, he started and felt a torrent of words begin to form on his lips.
"You don't have to tell me. I know already," she stated hollowly before a sound escaped his throat.
Sesshoumaru was once again rendered speechless. After clearing his throat, he managed to ask, "You do?"
"Yes," was the apathetic response.
"How?" he asked, allowing his voice to become softer, less stern.
Kagome's head tilted up, her vacant eyes staring somewhere on the horizon. "I got a glimpse into your mind."
'You did it because of your pride and honor, didn't you?' she asked him using her telepathy.
Sesshoumaru stiffened, caught in her truthful accusation.
'Let me explain,' he replied, his mental voice seeming to plead with her.
"Explain what? There is nothing to explain," she answered softly. It was this dull, apathetic tone of hers that pained Sesshoumaru most.
The demon lord took a deep breath. "What can I do to redeem myself? How can I prove to you that you can trust me again?" he asked softly, his eyes watching her every move.
She abruptly spun to face him. "Redeem yourself?" she gasped, slightly hysterical, "Redeem yourself! Could _you_ give me back the one thing I needed to continue being a miko? Could you give me back my _virginity_?!?" she screamed, her eyes flashing with fury.
Sesshoumaru could not find an answer to her questions. Silence followed. Kagome seemed to retreat back into herself and resumed gazing blankly at the horizon.
Sesshoumaru swallowed his pride as he thought about what he was about to do.
"You know," he stated in a sort of off-handed way, "I have allowed those I choose one wish after exactly six months have passed. It may be anything you want, jewelry, clothes, anything besides my death or possession of my lands."
He folded his arms across his chest and waited for her answer. In actuality he had never done such a thing, but something about her, Kagome, made him do it. It might have been her sadness, it might have been her easygoing spirit, but whatever it was, it most definitely affected the seemingly cold-hearted demon lord.
"I. . . I want to go home. . ." she mumbled.
The dog demon nodded curtly. 'Meet me at noon tomorrow at the front gates. I will take you to your village.'
Kagome gave no reply.
He glanced at his raised right fist as he fingered the slender silver chain entwined in his clawed fingers. Then he gazed back to the huddled form on the boulder. His thoughts were a melange of chaos.
'She should have liked it. All the previous ones did. . .'
His eyes traced the faint sphere of her barrier.
'I can give so much more than any worthless human can in their entire miserable existence. . . yet she still refuses to try anymore. . .'
He watched the afternoon sun glint off the dangling ends of the silver chain.
'But perhaps it is different for a miko. Considering that the necklace was specially created to stopper her purification abilities, was it uncomfortable for her?' His brow furrowed incrementally. 'But it _had_ to be done. She would have killed me if she didn't have it,' he thought, arguing with himself. 'Besides, I had promised myself it would be done.'
Yet he could not shake the feeling that it could have been different. As though, he could have undertaken the process in a totally distinct manner that could have made the results so much more pleasurable- for both him _and_ her.
He stifled a sigh and left the girl to herself, ambling back into the castle. He was too lost in his own thoughts to worry over her anyway.
So deep in his thoughts was he that demon lord did not notice the faint whisper of, 'Domo arigatou, Sesshoumaru,' in his mind.
Sesshoumaru settled down in his study. Yet as he tried to focus on the piles of scrolls before him, all he could concentrate on were the voices of his guests as they passed rumors behind his back, ones about his inability to control a human, much less a miko. He growled to himself as their words still sent prickles of anger through him.
'Such impudence. . . I allow them in my home, feed them, entertain them, and they _still_ talk behind my back. . .' His eyes hardened even more to resemble brittle amber stones as his fury burned within him.
He calmed down enough to once again slip on his mask of indifference as he settled down to working on the scrolls, yet his mind still hadn't focused enough for him to do much. He sat, staring blankly at the paper. . . it was so unlike him, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, to be. . . unfocused.
"It's all that damn girl's fault," he growled lowly, ignoring the twinges he felt when he thought of her.
A shrill scream shattered his mental fogginess. He shot up, eyes open, ears alert. His senses flared out; he detected Kagome, Rin, and Jaken along with some unknown demon.
"Intruder," he snarled. He swept out of his study and headed towards the demon.
*Back with Kagome*
Kagome, even with her barrier up, sensed a demon coming. She scanned the area, locating Rin with Jaken out in the meadows. The demon was swiftly headed directly for Rin.
"No," she whispered as she began racing to the meadow. She arrived in the meadow just as the towering black snake demon had wrapped Rin in its muscular, thick coils. Rin was struggling for breath. A quick glance at the ground near a few large rocks confirmed that Jaken was out.
Rin pried one eye open just enough to see Kagome standing there, accessing what she was dealing with.
"Ka. . . go. . . me. . . chan. . . help. . . me. . ." she gasped, her chest becoming more and more constricted with each breath.
"Rin-chan!" Kagome murmured before springing into action. She rushed at the demon, unsheathing her stiletto. She leapt up, landing lightly on the top coil gripping Rin.
"Miko!" hissed the snake. "Where is-s-s the S-s-shikon no Tama?"
Kagome made no reply; instead she just gathered her purification energy into the blade and slammed it into the snake's hide as deep as it would go. The snake shrieked in pain and dropped Rin. Kagome yanked the knife out and jumped after the girl.
"Rin! Hide behind those boulders!" she shouted as she faced off with the infuriated snake. "Hayaku!"
Rin simply took off, too frightened to speak. She ducked behind a rock and peered around, worried for Kagome's safety. "Be careful, Kagome-chan!" she cried out towards the priestess.
"I will!" replied Kagome, a look of determination on her face.
"Foolis-s-s-sh wretch! Do not think that your deeds-s-s will come unpunis- s-s-shed," it hissed savagely. The demon's blood spurted out of the wound, unable to heal because of Kagome's purification powers.
"I'd like to see you try," she retorted. Kagome wished she had a bow and some arrows with her; the demon was within shooting range. If she could only shoot at its eyes! They were a bright green, like the color of newly grown leaves- a color that contrasted sharply with the snake's long ebony body.
The snake struck, and Kagome had a good view of its cavernous mouth before she dodged, its clear poison dripping from its twin fangs. She could feel the air stir behind her feet as those enormous jaws snapped shut behind her.
'I need to be more alert. If I don't, this snake could easily kill me,' she thought as she rolled away from the snake, planting herself on her feet with her dagger drawn. The demon and the priestess stared each other down for a moment before the battle pursued.
The snake seemed to sense that the little girl was the key to the priestess' weak spot. So instead of going for the shrine maiden that dodged its every move, it lashed out directly at the little girl half hiding behind the rocks.
Kagome sensed what the snake was about to do mere milliseconds before its body snapped into action.
"Rin!" she cried, running towards the girl in an attempt to head the snake off. She launched herself in the air just as the snake opened its jaws wide. Rin screamed.
'You can do this, Kag,' she thought to herself. She focussed all of her purifying powers in an outstretched hand directed at the snake while her other hand shoved Rin out of harm's way. She fired the energy ball directly into the black throat of the snake just as it slammed its jaws shut. One long, slender fang sliced through her ribcage before both she and the snake were blown in opposite directions from the force of the energy.
The snake writhed in agony as it was purified from the inside out. Kagome rolled in the grass, the section of the fang within her shattering upon her jarring impact with the ground, the ends protruding out of her chest breaking off.
Kagome groaned as the poison began spreading. It was as if there was fire within her very veins, white-hot fire that burned like the worst acid. Even with her blurry vision and some of her hair covering her face, she could make out the form of Rin running up and kneeling before her. Small, gentle hands brushed away the hair from her visage and wiped the beads of perspiration from her brow. Salty droplets splashing on her face indicated that the girl was crying.
"Kagome-chan. . ." she repeated over and over despairingly.
"Rin-chan," Kagome said softly, every breath sending stabbing pains along her entire body. "I'm going to sleep for a while, Rin-chan." Each word cost her no small amount of pain. She could still sense Sesshoumaru nearby, no doubt watching with pleasure as the poison took its toll on her body. "Take care of Sesshoumaru-sama as I sleep, okay?" she forced herself to say. She did not have the heart to belittle Rin's only parental figure and idol.
Rin nodded. "Okay, Kagome-chan. I will."
"Arigatou, Rin-chan," Kagome breathed, smiling a little. "You are just like a little sister to me, Rin-chan. I love you a lot. . . never forget that. . ."
"I love you too, Kagome-chan," Rin replied softly as Kagome's eyes fluttered to a close and her breath stopped. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Rin collapsed on Kagome's body and cried broken- heartedly.
Sesshoumaru had arrived just as the snake closed its jaws on the priestess, while the shrine maiden fired an astonishingly large sphere of purification powers into the demon's gullet. He was frozen to the spot, horrified at the scene that had unfolded right before him. His eyes followed the path the priestess took as she was blown back by the force of her own power. He closed his eyes to block out the sight but could not hide from the sounds of her anguished moans as she hit the ground, the shattering of bone, the rustle of grass as she rolled.
He opened his eyes to see her on her side, her head towards him and bleeding heavily; Rin was knelt beside her wiping sweat off her face. He heard the entire exchange between them and bowed his head in silent mourning when her last feeble heartbeat reached his ears.
He gazed up, and to his utmost surprise, saw Kagome's spirit rise out of her body. It was not the usual pearly translucent sphere, but one in her exact likeness. The only change in her ghostly appearance was the addition of plumed white wings on her back, something he'd only seen on the spirits of priestesses. She stood up and gazed down at Rin. Kneeling, she gently lifted the girl's head up. Rin looked extremely confused and tense since she could not see Kagome's spirit at all, but she relaxed a little as she felt a feathery touch on her forehead. Kagome had given Rin a feathery kiss. Moving her lips to Rin's ear, she whispered, "I love you."
Rin heard it and looked about her as if the wind had given her a secret, sacred message. "I love you, too."
Kagome stood up and allowed her eyes to fall upon Sesshoumaru. He knew it was time for him to speak with her.
"Rin," he called, forcefully restraining his emotions. "Go back inside."
Rin looked, teary eyed, at Sesshoumaru. His face showed there was no room for argument, and any complaint she had about staying with Kagome died on her tongue.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," she said dejectedly as she trotted back towards the castle.
Sesshoumaru waited until Rin was safely in the castle before he spoke. "So you leave this way?"
Kagome tilted her head. "You can see me?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I believe it is the Tenseiga's doing," he replied smoothly, glancing down to where the sword hung from his sash. He looked back up to the dead priestess.
She gazed back at him with a look of long suffering. "You know, there was a time I would have given the world to be with you," she murmured softly.
"Would you now?" he asked, curious.
Her stare turned stony. "No. Everything's changed. And it's all because of you," she spat.
"I can revive you," he offered.
Her face clouded in fury. "Why? So you can have me roll in your bed again?" she snapped. "What do you not understand? I hate you! I died hating you! I can never forgive you! _Never_!"
The moment those words escaped her lips the ground upon which she and the demon lord were standing began to tremble and groan ominously. A gaping fissure opened behind Kagome, heat, soot, and smoke billowing out of it. Two chains sprung out of the crack, wrapping themselves around Kagome's wings and crushing them before disintegrating themselves. She gasped in shock.
Another chain streaked upwards and wrapped itself about her left arm and began dragging her towards the abyss. She struggled against the chain, but its pull was inexorable. Two more chains sprung out from the crevice and wrapped around her ankles, effectively pulling her feet from beneath her. She cried out as she fell on her side and was dragged unceremoniously towards the rift.
Sesshoumaru watched, horror stricken, unable to move. She was being dragged to Hell right before his very eyes, yet why could he not move?!? She was towed to the edge of the gap and disappeared. Her fingers gripped tightly to the edge, the only part of her that Sesshoumaru could still see. Suddenly he sped towards her, his heart suddenly clenched tightly in his chest as a thought crept into his head: 'I am going to lose her. . . for good.'
He, Sesshoumaru, couldn't, _wouldn't_ allow it! He grasped her wrist just as her fingers slipped. She gasped.
"Hold on," he said, his facial expression calm. But Kagome could see the worry in his eyes as she gazed into them.
"Why?" she demanded hotly, still angry with him, even in her situation.
"Because," he whispered, pleading now threading into his voice, "I just want another chance. . ."
"No!" she replied, shaking her head viciously. "You had your chance and you ruined it!"
"Please, Kagome," he implored, now desperate as his grip on her wrist was beginning to slip. "Just give me one more chance!" His brows began to knit together in worry and frustration.
Kagome looked up into his eyes once more and saw he was being sincere about what he said. Could she give him the chance? Would her broken heart allow it? She ducked her head as she debated the issue.
Sesshoumaru gazed worriedly at her. Did she believe him?
'Please say you will,' he thought.
Kagome looked up, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. "I'll give you one more chance, Sesshoumaru," she said quietly.
As she said those words, the chains loosened and fell downwards, and Sesshoumaru gracefully pulled her up.
"Domo arigatou," he murmured as he hugged her, "For giving me this chance. . ."
They stayed that way for a while, before Sesshoumaru broke it and said, "It is time to revive you." And so saying, the dog demon unsheathed the Tenseiga.
~*~*~*~
FT: Konnichiwa, minna-san! This will probably be the last update before school, so it will be even slower on updates if I actually have the time! Y_Y
Sesshoumaru: I'll revive her, right?
FT: Of course, Sesshy!
Kagome: Good! I don't want to be dead for the rest of the story!
FT: *snickers*
Sesshoumaru and Kagome: Nani?
FT: Oh, nothing, nothing. . .
Sesshoumaru and Kagome: *eyes FT suspiciously*
FT: *sweatdrop* Anyways, drop a review for me, ne?
~*~*~*~