Disclaimer: Inuyasha's not mine, but if he were, I'd string him up by his
toenails and laugh at his pain. I'm so sadistic XD
A/N: This chapter is action-ish, and I apologize in advance to those of you who aren't into that sort of thing, but I assure you, it's necessary to the development of the story.
A few of you seem confused, and I completely understand. I'd be confused too if I weren't the authoress, but you have nothing to worry about. Everything'll be cleared up next chapter. In the meantime....
Chapter Four
The First Sign
The disembodied voice resounded throughout the clearing, and both Kagome and the obviously homicidal man whipped around to locate the owner of the mysterious sounds. They didn't have long to wait, for a mysterious figure clad in red leapt out before them momentarily, seething in fury.
"STEP AWAY FROM KIKYO!" he bellowed, his lip curled in fury and his fists clenching at his sides in utter animosity. Kagome stared up at him in awe, transfixed by his strange appearance, for it was unlike anything she'd ever laid eyes on. He was barefoot, for starters, and atop each neutrally gray toe sprouted a single claw, curved and sharp, and to Kagome, it appeared even sharper then the pointiest of knives. The same claws sprouted from his fingertips, which were currently curling in anger at the sight of the haughty attacker, and his, was it a uniform? Whatever it was, it stretched from the top of his neck to his ankle, and the gray was dark, almost pitch black, so Kagome assumed that, in her world, the suit would've been either brown or a deep crimson.
As he seemed to be shielding her with his body, she didn't have a distinct view of his face, but she could see the extensive white hair that trailed down his back and ended at his waist, each strand without a single split end or tangle. Though it was hardly the time for such frivolous thoughts, Kagome couldn't help but wonder what brand of shampoo he used, and how on the world could she get her hands on some? The other odd thing about his hair, she noticed, was that it seemed to point into two perfect triangles atop his skull, looking for all the world like animal ears, and Kagome was distinctly reminded of her former Calico cat, Buyo.
She was immediately drawn out of her thoughts when the man before her lunged at her attacker, and she honestly wasn't sure which one she should cheer on, as she wasn't confident whether the newest addition to the match was friend or foe, though she had her speculations.
The other man jumped back, his unkempt braid flipping toward the battle's newest competitor, and at the last moment Kagome realized that it wasn't hair at all that was shooting toward her mysterious rescuer, but rather minute, pointy knives sprouting from atop his head, all aiming for the mysterious gray fellow. His eyes widened in shock as he jumped aside, his flowing white hair barely grazing the foul strands as they curled back resentfully, accepting their failure.
"So Kikyo's her name, is it?" the man attatched to the razor-sharp knives laughed, a hauntingly cruel laugh, and Kagome found herself yearning for the ghostly laugh of Kanna. As creepy as it was; it didn't manage to send half as many frigid chills shooting up her spine as this man's did.
'Maybe I should run or something,' she contemplated to herself as the two men lunged at each other a second time, claws and hair (as odd as it sounded) outstretched. Both dodged one another's attacks, and from a spectator's point of view, it looked to be a moderately even match.
Panting, the cat-like man braced himself against the rough bark of a nearby tree, readying himself in typical battle stance. "You bastard-," he muttered under his breath, spitting at the musty dirt below as his bare feet slid backwards in the dust. "You'll pay for threatening Kikyo!"
Kagome glanced back and forth between the two men, and realization dawned upon her. 'They think I'm that Kikyo girl!' she gasped. 'And I thought it was just his battle cry or something; how dense am I?' she slapped a warm hand to her perspiring skull, shaking her head at her stupidity. 'Well, it may be better to keep up with the charade. After all, that man's only saving me because he thinks I'm this Kikyo person. If I lay low, he won't know the truth until after the fight's over,' she drew out of her thoughts just in time to see a body hurtling toward her, and on second inspection she saw it was that of her supposed "savior". His almond shaped eyes widened in shock as they focused upon her horror-stricken face, she suspected he was finally recognizing her true identity. She shrieked and, on impulse, rose her hands up to cover her features, turning to her side and bracing herself for the impact, which occurred only moments later as they collided full on, both figures tumbling back into the dirt and leaving a trail of dust in their wake.
'Guess it's too late for my little plan,' she coughed as she attempted to sit up, raising a hand to cup her forehead in an attempt to cease the dizzy feelings coursing through her brain. 'I hope he'll still help me,' she turned to glance at the gray-clad man, only to see that he was staring at her, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of understanding and fury.
"You're not Kikyo!" he huffed angrily, pushing himself to his feet without the slightest bit of effort and turning back toward her, an expression of displeasure taking over his entire being. "And to think I wasted my time here," he muttered, turning on his heel in an attempt to exit the clearing, leaving his dumbfounded opponent gaping after him.
"What a coward!" he jeered. "Running away from battle, are we?" he laughed maliciously, turning back to Kagome with a sadistic grin, who gulped in repulsion, scooting back against the scratchy bark of a nearby stump. Her strange cat-like rescuer whirled around at the accusations, baring his teeth for a few moments before deciding the whole ordeal certainly wasn't worth his time, and he strode confidently off, not once glancing back at the terrified Kagome or her malicious assailant.
"Leave me alone, you jerk!" her voice shook as she spoke in obviously feigned confidence. "I-I could beat you up, ya know!" she shook her delicate fist at him, groping behind her for a suitable ledge to assist in rising to her shaky feet. Her confidence increasing at his dumbfounded look, she grasped a branch and stumbled to her feet, attempting a vicious laugh as she steadily backed up against the tree, praying he wouldn't comprehend her plan. "THAT'S RIGHT, JERK! You're going down!" her foot slid across the dust as she glanced backwards momentarily to ensure her safety.
The man's cocky look restored in his bloodthirsty eyes in mere moments as they focused intently upon the girl before him. "Really," his eyes narrowed in mock curiosity. "And just how do you plan to do that?"
"By running. Really fast," she brought her foot forward hastily before turning in the direction she saw her former savior take earlier, her footsteps pounding on the grimy dirt as it parted for her rapid footpath. She glanced uneasily over her shoulder to check her attacker's progress and found he was suitably gaining on her. She swallowed in dread and attempted to quicken her pace, then sighed miserably when she realized she had reached her absolute limit.
'Oh shit, I don't wanna die!' rogue tears spewed from the once chocolate eyes of the terrified Kagome as she struggled to surpass the pace of her pursuer. 'Mom, Souta, Yuka, anybody! GET ME OUTTA HERE!' she glanced up ahead momentarily, clinging to the hope that somebody, anybody was coincidentally out for a stroll, but unfortunately, she saw naught but the majestic trees as they towered above the lands, appearing almost as tall as mountains. The sun's white light penetrated Kagome's eyes so much that it was growing increasingly more difficult for the girl to assess her surroundings, though she definitely strove for it. The wind tickled her nose as she made her way down her path of fate before proceeding to envelop her like a warm winter blanket, caressing her skin in the gentlest of ways. A rogue gray figure darted in and out of the chaos, and to Kagome, the figure appeared awfully similar to...
"Cat boy!" she shrieked, darting after the spot she'd seen him vacate only moments earlier. "Cat boy, come back, please! CAT BOY!" her sobs littered the air as she dashed, hopelessly lost, between the monstrous trunks daunting her path. Her eyes lit up as they focused upon the speck of gray, and she praised her good fortune when she saw it was moving increasingly closer.
Her hand, moving on its own accord, shot out and latched onto the silky gray material, pulling it back beside her with an accompanied groan of her captive. The man shot her an aggravated glare which she immediately returned with a sickly smile of her own before whipping back in the direction she saw her attacker thundering down only moments earlier. She tightened her hold on the gray fabric, praying that her "savior" wouldn't feel any need to wriggle out of her (she hoped) firm hold.
Instead of promising to aide her in her time of need, as she would've like, the man turned to her with an irritated scowl. "Let go of me, wench. I don't have time to play hero right now, all right?" his eyes flashed in annoyance as he glared pointedly down at his uniform, which was currently being pierced by Kagome's long nails, he supposed in utter terror.
"Please help," she muttered softly, gasping in horror as a whirlwind echoed throughout the clearing, signaling the arrival of her foe. "Don't desert me, please!" she yelped as he wrenched out of her grip, stumbling forward toward her attacker as she consequently backed up against the coarse bark of yet another tree, her hands twitching nervously against her sides.
"Who are you anyway?" he spat at the dirt in annoyance, leaving a minute damp circle upon the dusty ground. "What do you want with this girl?" he raised an eyebrow in seemingly livid curiosity, and her foe laughed villainously as he crept towards his prey, his braid swinging maliciously behind him and his dark eyes flashing in apprehension.
"I'm Hiten, descendant of the all powerful miko Midoriko," he ignored the gasp emitted from his foe's lips as he strolled toward the girl. "And I came here today to claim my prize. In all rights, she does belong to me," he licked his lips in anticipation, which caused Kagome to shudder in revulsion as he drew closer, sending a pleading glance over to her savior, who she'd dubbed "cat boy" in her mindset.
All of the sudden, something snapped in "cat boy" and he seemed to switch from "uninterested hero" mode to "superman" in mere instants. He leaped in front of Kagome, once again shielding her body with his own as he had done when he still believed her to be Kikyo, whoever she happened to be. A deep growl rumbled menacingly within his throat, and Kagome fought the urge to laugh, despite the dire situation. It wasn't every day that she partook in the pleasures of listening to a growling cat.
"If you're not dicking around here, and this is really Midoriko's choice, then you've just signed your death certificate. You're not laying a HAND on her!" he flexed his claws threateningly before him, cackling as he watched the man before him's gaze alter from arrogant to, it seemed, slightly worried, before reverting back to its cocky state in mere instants, though both Kagome and "cat-boy" could see through his façade.
"What'cha gonna do about it, doggy twerp?" he jeered. Kagome gave him a puzzling glance at the nickname, trying to make out whether he looked more dog or cat. She came to the conclusion that her stray thoughts weren't of the slightest importance as a figure hurtled toward her, though she couldn't make out whom. The impact sent them both careening head on into the bark of a particularly rough tree, dust swirling around them, almost as if the ground were shaking in laughter at their plight.
After glancing up, Kagome determined that (thank god) the figure draping over her was "Cat-boy" and not her attacker, which she was incredibly grateful for. This was not a suitable position she'd want to be in with anybody, but right now, this Hiten fellow was at the bottom of her list.
"Cat-boy" rose to his feet, brushing off his pant legs as he did so and shooting Hiten an infuriated glare. "Bastard!" he swore angrily, rushing forward, seemingly attempting another head on collision with her aggressor. Hiten, anticipating the move, easily dodged the attack and sped over to Kagome, who was currently cowering in horror against the bark of yet another tree, her fingers digging into the scratchy surface. She shrieked in terror as Hiten grew closer, shielding her face with her arms on impulse as she felt Hiten's arm snake around her waist, rendering any attack of hers useless as he pulled her into his grasp.
"NO!" she heard the resilient shout echo throughout the clearing, she assumed it was that of her rescuer, though her mind hadn't the time to contemplate such matters. She glanced up at her assailant in a mixture of terror and loathing, attempting with all her might to wrench out of his grasp as his legs whipped over the ground like butter, carrying her farther and farther away to the only hope she still clung to: "Cat-boy".
"Let go of me you jerk!" she kicked at him, hoping to hit a certain tender spot, and she held back a shriek of victory when she felt her leg collide with her goal. He released her momentarily, and she seized the opportunity to charge back through the dense forest, barely missing a head on collision with "Cat-boy", who was currently thundering in the opposite direction, she assumed to pursue her.
"Woah there," she heard him mumble, almost incoherently, as he grabbed a hold of her now exceedingly filthy blouse, though neither had the capacity to think of such things during such a pressing time. He tightened his hold on her as Hiten came stampeding towards them, his clothed arm outstretched as he grasped Kagome's other arm, and the two proceeded to pull her into opposite directions, causing Kagome to shriek in anguish as she felt herself being jerked in two opposite directions, and the strain it was inflicting on her arms was enough to provoke her to a whole new level of confidence.
"Let go of me! Both of you!" she screeched, obviously infuriated as her patent leather shoes kicked wildly at the air in an attempt to free her from her grasp. Her raven black hair shook in the agony of the pressure, and a stifled scream lodged itself in her throat as she thrashed about wildly, attempting everything in her power to free her tortured figure.
Suddenly the immense pressure lessened as she felt herself hurtling towards the right and straight into Hiten's (though she hated to admit it) muscular chest. She groaned in fury, attempting to repeat her previous endeavors, when she found her legs being subdued as clumps of hair twisted painfully around her skin, causing Kagome's mouth to run dry in apprehension.
'Shit! If I so much as move, the knives will cut me! There's got to be some way out of here,' she glanced around nervously, yearning with all her being for some unidentified miracle to spring out of the musty air and spare her life, though even she knew how unlikely the prospect was.
"GIRL! YOU HAVE TO UNSEAL THE BARRIER!" she closed her eyes in aggravation as she attempted to concentrate on the voice, her eyes fluttering open immediately to comprehend what 'Cat-boy' was insinuating. She gasped in a mixture of awe and fright as she noticed black flames (or what she assumed to be flames) springing up around them like wildfire, each appearing more menacing then its processor. She drew back subconsciously, not wanting to get tinged by the wrath of the growing blaze.
"Unseal it! DO SOMETHING, DAMNIT!" the voice grew more urgent and impatient, as if it were his life on the line instead of her own. She shook her head in annoyance as the inferno heightened; she knew better then to stroke them no matter what 'cat-boy' insisted.
'Unseal it? Surely he doesn't mean for me to touch them!' her thoughts ceased as she attempted to complete the task at hand on wits alone, knowing that all the logic in the world wouldn't aide her now. As Hiten's hair draped tighter around her skin, she could feel her warm blood trickling down her ankles and settling painfully on the ground beneath her feet, barely uttering a single sound. The knives continued to prick at her delicate skin, and she could feel the pain sear throughout her body, as if electric jolts were coursing through her veins and itching to escape from their prison and discharge their immense powers into the lands beyond.
"But that's not pain," she muttered softly as the immense power within her seemed to strengthen as she drew herself out of her thoughts. "That's... that's something else!" realization grew within her, and without knowing how or why, her hands shot out to meet the blue flames, ramming against them with all the brute strength she could muster as she closed her eyes, concentrating on the sheer intensity of the task at hand.
"AUUGHH!" she forced out in an attempt to ease the immense pressure that pushed heavily against her small frame, threatening to overcome her entire being as her hand drew tighter against the flames, almost appearing to mold into the sinister blackness.
"YES!" a disembodied voice rang out through the clearing at Kagome's efforts. 'So the dumb girl has figured it out. Now's my chance,' he drew back with a vicious laugh as he watched the shadowy flames which were once blacker then night itself mold into a deep, unfaltering brown. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt nimbly into the faltering chaos.
A/N: This chapter is action-ish, and I apologize in advance to those of you who aren't into that sort of thing, but I assure you, it's necessary to the development of the story.
A few of you seem confused, and I completely understand. I'd be confused too if I weren't the authoress, but you have nothing to worry about. Everything'll be cleared up next chapter. In the meantime....
Chapter Four
The First Sign
The disembodied voice resounded throughout the clearing, and both Kagome and the obviously homicidal man whipped around to locate the owner of the mysterious sounds. They didn't have long to wait, for a mysterious figure clad in red leapt out before them momentarily, seething in fury.
"STEP AWAY FROM KIKYO!" he bellowed, his lip curled in fury and his fists clenching at his sides in utter animosity. Kagome stared up at him in awe, transfixed by his strange appearance, for it was unlike anything she'd ever laid eyes on. He was barefoot, for starters, and atop each neutrally gray toe sprouted a single claw, curved and sharp, and to Kagome, it appeared even sharper then the pointiest of knives. The same claws sprouted from his fingertips, which were currently curling in anger at the sight of the haughty attacker, and his, was it a uniform? Whatever it was, it stretched from the top of his neck to his ankle, and the gray was dark, almost pitch black, so Kagome assumed that, in her world, the suit would've been either brown or a deep crimson.
As he seemed to be shielding her with his body, she didn't have a distinct view of his face, but she could see the extensive white hair that trailed down his back and ended at his waist, each strand without a single split end or tangle. Though it was hardly the time for such frivolous thoughts, Kagome couldn't help but wonder what brand of shampoo he used, and how on the world could she get her hands on some? The other odd thing about his hair, she noticed, was that it seemed to point into two perfect triangles atop his skull, looking for all the world like animal ears, and Kagome was distinctly reminded of her former Calico cat, Buyo.
She was immediately drawn out of her thoughts when the man before her lunged at her attacker, and she honestly wasn't sure which one she should cheer on, as she wasn't confident whether the newest addition to the match was friend or foe, though she had her speculations.
The other man jumped back, his unkempt braid flipping toward the battle's newest competitor, and at the last moment Kagome realized that it wasn't hair at all that was shooting toward her mysterious rescuer, but rather minute, pointy knives sprouting from atop his head, all aiming for the mysterious gray fellow. His eyes widened in shock as he jumped aside, his flowing white hair barely grazing the foul strands as they curled back resentfully, accepting their failure.
"So Kikyo's her name, is it?" the man attatched to the razor-sharp knives laughed, a hauntingly cruel laugh, and Kagome found herself yearning for the ghostly laugh of Kanna. As creepy as it was; it didn't manage to send half as many frigid chills shooting up her spine as this man's did.
'Maybe I should run or something,' she contemplated to herself as the two men lunged at each other a second time, claws and hair (as odd as it sounded) outstretched. Both dodged one another's attacks, and from a spectator's point of view, it looked to be a moderately even match.
Panting, the cat-like man braced himself against the rough bark of a nearby tree, readying himself in typical battle stance. "You bastard-," he muttered under his breath, spitting at the musty dirt below as his bare feet slid backwards in the dust. "You'll pay for threatening Kikyo!"
Kagome glanced back and forth between the two men, and realization dawned upon her. 'They think I'm that Kikyo girl!' she gasped. 'And I thought it was just his battle cry or something; how dense am I?' she slapped a warm hand to her perspiring skull, shaking her head at her stupidity. 'Well, it may be better to keep up with the charade. After all, that man's only saving me because he thinks I'm this Kikyo person. If I lay low, he won't know the truth until after the fight's over,' she drew out of her thoughts just in time to see a body hurtling toward her, and on second inspection she saw it was that of her supposed "savior". His almond shaped eyes widened in shock as they focused upon her horror-stricken face, she suspected he was finally recognizing her true identity. She shrieked and, on impulse, rose her hands up to cover her features, turning to her side and bracing herself for the impact, which occurred only moments later as they collided full on, both figures tumbling back into the dirt and leaving a trail of dust in their wake.
'Guess it's too late for my little plan,' she coughed as she attempted to sit up, raising a hand to cup her forehead in an attempt to cease the dizzy feelings coursing through her brain. 'I hope he'll still help me,' she turned to glance at the gray-clad man, only to see that he was staring at her, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of understanding and fury.
"You're not Kikyo!" he huffed angrily, pushing himself to his feet without the slightest bit of effort and turning back toward her, an expression of displeasure taking over his entire being. "And to think I wasted my time here," he muttered, turning on his heel in an attempt to exit the clearing, leaving his dumbfounded opponent gaping after him.
"What a coward!" he jeered. "Running away from battle, are we?" he laughed maliciously, turning back to Kagome with a sadistic grin, who gulped in repulsion, scooting back against the scratchy bark of a nearby stump. Her strange cat-like rescuer whirled around at the accusations, baring his teeth for a few moments before deciding the whole ordeal certainly wasn't worth his time, and he strode confidently off, not once glancing back at the terrified Kagome or her malicious assailant.
"Leave me alone, you jerk!" her voice shook as she spoke in obviously feigned confidence. "I-I could beat you up, ya know!" she shook her delicate fist at him, groping behind her for a suitable ledge to assist in rising to her shaky feet. Her confidence increasing at his dumbfounded look, she grasped a branch and stumbled to her feet, attempting a vicious laugh as she steadily backed up against the tree, praying he wouldn't comprehend her plan. "THAT'S RIGHT, JERK! You're going down!" her foot slid across the dust as she glanced backwards momentarily to ensure her safety.
The man's cocky look restored in his bloodthirsty eyes in mere moments as they focused intently upon the girl before him. "Really," his eyes narrowed in mock curiosity. "And just how do you plan to do that?"
"By running. Really fast," she brought her foot forward hastily before turning in the direction she saw her former savior take earlier, her footsteps pounding on the grimy dirt as it parted for her rapid footpath. She glanced uneasily over her shoulder to check her attacker's progress and found he was suitably gaining on her. She swallowed in dread and attempted to quicken her pace, then sighed miserably when she realized she had reached her absolute limit.
'Oh shit, I don't wanna die!' rogue tears spewed from the once chocolate eyes of the terrified Kagome as she struggled to surpass the pace of her pursuer. 'Mom, Souta, Yuka, anybody! GET ME OUTTA HERE!' she glanced up ahead momentarily, clinging to the hope that somebody, anybody was coincidentally out for a stroll, but unfortunately, she saw naught but the majestic trees as they towered above the lands, appearing almost as tall as mountains. The sun's white light penetrated Kagome's eyes so much that it was growing increasingly more difficult for the girl to assess her surroundings, though she definitely strove for it. The wind tickled her nose as she made her way down her path of fate before proceeding to envelop her like a warm winter blanket, caressing her skin in the gentlest of ways. A rogue gray figure darted in and out of the chaos, and to Kagome, the figure appeared awfully similar to...
"Cat boy!" she shrieked, darting after the spot she'd seen him vacate only moments earlier. "Cat boy, come back, please! CAT BOY!" her sobs littered the air as she dashed, hopelessly lost, between the monstrous trunks daunting her path. Her eyes lit up as they focused upon the speck of gray, and she praised her good fortune when she saw it was moving increasingly closer.
Her hand, moving on its own accord, shot out and latched onto the silky gray material, pulling it back beside her with an accompanied groan of her captive. The man shot her an aggravated glare which she immediately returned with a sickly smile of her own before whipping back in the direction she saw her attacker thundering down only moments earlier. She tightened her hold on the gray fabric, praying that her "savior" wouldn't feel any need to wriggle out of her (she hoped) firm hold.
Instead of promising to aide her in her time of need, as she would've like, the man turned to her with an irritated scowl. "Let go of me, wench. I don't have time to play hero right now, all right?" his eyes flashed in annoyance as he glared pointedly down at his uniform, which was currently being pierced by Kagome's long nails, he supposed in utter terror.
"Please help," she muttered softly, gasping in horror as a whirlwind echoed throughout the clearing, signaling the arrival of her foe. "Don't desert me, please!" she yelped as he wrenched out of her grip, stumbling forward toward her attacker as she consequently backed up against the coarse bark of yet another tree, her hands twitching nervously against her sides.
"Who are you anyway?" he spat at the dirt in annoyance, leaving a minute damp circle upon the dusty ground. "What do you want with this girl?" he raised an eyebrow in seemingly livid curiosity, and her foe laughed villainously as he crept towards his prey, his braid swinging maliciously behind him and his dark eyes flashing in apprehension.
"I'm Hiten, descendant of the all powerful miko Midoriko," he ignored the gasp emitted from his foe's lips as he strolled toward the girl. "And I came here today to claim my prize. In all rights, she does belong to me," he licked his lips in anticipation, which caused Kagome to shudder in revulsion as he drew closer, sending a pleading glance over to her savior, who she'd dubbed "cat boy" in her mindset.
All of the sudden, something snapped in "cat boy" and he seemed to switch from "uninterested hero" mode to "superman" in mere instants. He leaped in front of Kagome, once again shielding her body with his own as he had done when he still believed her to be Kikyo, whoever she happened to be. A deep growl rumbled menacingly within his throat, and Kagome fought the urge to laugh, despite the dire situation. It wasn't every day that she partook in the pleasures of listening to a growling cat.
"If you're not dicking around here, and this is really Midoriko's choice, then you've just signed your death certificate. You're not laying a HAND on her!" he flexed his claws threateningly before him, cackling as he watched the man before him's gaze alter from arrogant to, it seemed, slightly worried, before reverting back to its cocky state in mere instants, though both Kagome and "cat-boy" could see through his façade.
"What'cha gonna do about it, doggy twerp?" he jeered. Kagome gave him a puzzling glance at the nickname, trying to make out whether he looked more dog or cat. She came to the conclusion that her stray thoughts weren't of the slightest importance as a figure hurtled toward her, though she couldn't make out whom. The impact sent them both careening head on into the bark of a particularly rough tree, dust swirling around them, almost as if the ground were shaking in laughter at their plight.
After glancing up, Kagome determined that (thank god) the figure draping over her was "Cat-boy" and not her attacker, which she was incredibly grateful for. This was not a suitable position she'd want to be in with anybody, but right now, this Hiten fellow was at the bottom of her list.
"Cat-boy" rose to his feet, brushing off his pant legs as he did so and shooting Hiten an infuriated glare. "Bastard!" he swore angrily, rushing forward, seemingly attempting another head on collision with her aggressor. Hiten, anticipating the move, easily dodged the attack and sped over to Kagome, who was currently cowering in horror against the bark of yet another tree, her fingers digging into the scratchy surface. She shrieked in terror as Hiten grew closer, shielding her face with her arms on impulse as she felt Hiten's arm snake around her waist, rendering any attack of hers useless as he pulled her into his grasp.
"NO!" she heard the resilient shout echo throughout the clearing, she assumed it was that of her rescuer, though her mind hadn't the time to contemplate such matters. She glanced up at her assailant in a mixture of terror and loathing, attempting with all her might to wrench out of his grasp as his legs whipped over the ground like butter, carrying her farther and farther away to the only hope she still clung to: "Cat-boy".
"Let go of me you jerk!" she kicked at him, hoping to hit a certain tender spot, and she held back a shriek of victory when she felt her leg collide with her goal. He released her momentarily, and she seized the opportunity to charge back through the dense forest, barely missing a head on collision with "Cat-boy", who was currently thundering in the opposite direction, she assumed to pursue her.
"Woah there," she heard him mumble, almost incoherently, as he grabbed a hold of her now exceedingly filthy blouse, though neither had the capacity to think of such things during such a pressing time. He tightened his hold on her as Hiten came stampeding towards them, his clothed arm outstretched as he grasped Kagome's other arm, and the two proceeded to pull her into opposite directions, causing Kagome to shriek in anguish as she felt herself being jerked in two opposite directions, and the strain it was inflicting on her arms was enough to provoke her to a whole new level of confidence.
"Let go of me! Both of you!" she screeched, obviously infuriated as her patent leather shoes kicked wildly at the air in an attempt to free her from her grasp. Her raven black hair shook in the agony of the pressure, and a stifled scream lodged itself in her throat as she thrashed about wildly, attempting everything in her power to free her tortured figure.
Suddenly the immense pressure lessened as she felt herself hurtling towards the right and straight into Hiten's (though she hated to admit it) muscular chest. She groaned in fury, attempting to repeat her previous endeavors, when she found her legs being subdued as clumps of hair twisted painfully around her skin, causing Kagome's mouth to run dry in apprehension.
'Shit! If I so much as move, the knives will cut me! There's got to be some way out of here,' she glanced around nervously, yearning with all her being for some unidentified miracle to spring out of the musty air and spare her life, though even she knew how unlikely the prospect was.
"GIRL! YOU HAVE TO UNSEAL THE BARRIER!" she closed her eyes in aggravation as she attempted to concentrate on the voice, her eyes fluttering open immediately to comprehend what 'Cat-boy' was insinuating. She gasped in a mixture of awe and fright as she noticed black flames (or what she assumed to be flames) springing up around them like wildfire, each appearing more menacing then its processor. She drew back subconsciously, not wanting to get tinged by the wrath of the growing blaze.
"Unseal it! DO SOMETHING, DAMNIT!" the voice grew more urgent and impatient, as if it were his life on the line instead of her own. She shook her head in annoyance as the inferno heightened; she knew better then to stroke them no matter what 'cat-boy' insisted.
'Unseal it? Surely he doesn't mean for me to touch them!' her thoughts ceased as she attempted to complete the task at hand on wits alone, knowing that all the logic in the world wouldn't aide her now. As Hiten's hair draped tighter around her skin, she could feel her warm blood trickling down her ankles and settling painfully on the ground beneath her feet, barely uttering a single sound. The knives continued to prick at her delicate skin, and she could feel the pain sear throughout her body, as if electric jolts were coursing through her veins and itching to escape from their prison and discharge their immense powers into the lands beyond.
"But that's not pain," she muttered softly as the immense power within her seemed to strengthen as she drew herself out of her thoughts. "That's... that's something else!" realization grew within her, and without knowing how or why, her hands shot out to meet the blue flames, ramming against them with all the brute strength she could muster as she closed her eyes, concentrating on the sheer intensity of the task at hand.
"AUUGHH!" she forced out in an attempt to ease the immense pressure that pushed heavily against her small frame, threatening to overcome her entire being as her hand drew tighter against the flames, almost appearing to mold into the sinister blackness.
"YES!" a disembodied voice rang out through the clearing at Kagome's efforts. 'So the dumb girl has figured it out. Now's my chance,' he drew back with a vicious laugh as he watched the shadowy flames which were once blacker then night itself mold into a deep, unfaltering brown. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt nimbly into the faltering chaos.