June 30-July 1 and July 3, 2004
Nube by Goddess of Anime
Disclaimer: I am insane enough to attempt to make my own onion rings but not crazy enough to believe I own Inu-Yasha.
Insperation: 'The Boys Of Summer', '(So Much For) My Happy Ending', and 'Slide Along Side' (don't own any).
RFC (chapter 4): ForteXD = I really don't know why it's not more popular. And thanks for liking how I write the characters. For a while now I was thinking that I messed them up. Glad to know I've done good. And just what IS my writing style anyhow?
A/N: I am waaayyyy too nice to you guys. Maybe I should just abandon it, no? Heh. I'm just kidding! I would never do that to Nube.... Just to let you guys know I didn't check over the last chapter so I apoligize for all mistakes and am apoligizing in advance for this one.
WARNING: Lots of violence.... Leave if you are sensitive.
Scroll 15: The Castle
Moaning, she opened her eyes and expected to see the pure morning light. Instead she was greeted by a raging inferno. To her disgust and dissapointed the rat had burned and was nothing more than a charred skeleton.
It wasn't a bad dream, she thought bitterly. She closed her eyes again and tried to remember the sound of Inu-Yasha insulting her but it refused to show, it just faded. She sniffed and tried to convince herself that she shouldn't cry because of her mascara. But she knew that she wasn't wearing any and gave herself into defeat. Everything that was happening to her was a disaster just waiting to happen.
The door was still open but the fire didn't exit the room, it just milled about her protectively. Kagome tried to look to see if here was anyone and her eyes caught Kagura's. She clenched her teeth and tried not to cry out in disgust. She had to admit that there was something different about Kagura though. Her eyes seemed to be a darker shade of red that contained flecks of light purple. Her skin had a little more colour to it and maybe she was hallucinating but her ears looked a bit rounded.
"What the hell are you gawking at?" Kagura snapped, whatever little patience she had withering. Kagome gulped and put on a bored demeanor.
"Just at the face of a whore," Kagome replied coolly, mentally wincing. She could be wrong about this but it seemed like Naraku couldn't see much in her. She looked at Kagura and saw a fierce glare being aimed at her.
"Shut your little mouth. Don't pry into business that isn't any of your concern," Kagura hissed.
"So am I right?"
"Stop acting like you're so damn brave. Anyone with half a brain can tell you're scared shitless and your only hope is that you will be saved. Anyone can also tell you that you aren't going to be saved. Inu-Yasha never cared for to begin with. All you could ever hope is to have at least a one night stand with him."
"You're wrong," Kagome snarled savagely.
"Like hell! You know I'm right."
"Go to hell!"
"You are no position to be yelling obcenities so shut up."
"Make me, SLUT!"
Both stopped abruptly, breathing heavily and shocked. Kagura opened her fan and swept the fire so as to clear a path. Walking calmly she ended up in front of Kagome. Kagome glared at the marionette and before she could get out another word a sharp crack could be heard.
Tears welled in her eyes as the sting in her left cheek intensified. Kagura lifted her hand again and struck Kagome on the right cheek, repeatedly smacking her on each one.
"What the hell's the matter with you, bitch?! When you got whipped you didn't shed a tear and now you're sobbing like there's no tomorrow. This can't hurt more.... This can't hurt more than being broken and afraid. You don't know pain!" Kagura shrieked. She punched Kagome in the stomach several times and smashed her head against the wall, allowing it to loll around before yanking it up by the hair, making Kagome's eyes meet hers.
"I know," Kagome breathed, moaning in pain. Her cuts had opened up again and she was sure that the hot wetness on the back of her head was blood. Kagura howled in anger and then shoved Kagome's head against the wall and ran out of the cell, thrusting the door closed behind her.
As much as Kagome hated to admit she had given up hope. She was sure that by now Kouga had a lead and Inu-Yasha was stupid enough to not listen. Black lace crept over her eyes as she thought, Don't let me die.
When did he gain so much control? she asked herself as she pressed herself against the wall. Zane was towering over her, his hand raised. "Bitch. Tell me. Where were you?" he asked. "This is your last chance to tell me or else you shall regret keeping it from me." Silence was all that filled the room until a sharp snap rang out.
Unbelieving, she raised her hand to her cheek and winced. Never had he been violent towards her, and for no reason as well. Her disbelief was written all over her face as she turned to face him. He grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them next to her. He growled, "The smell demon is strong on you. I am not supposed to smell it." He lips brushed against hers and he scowled. "I'm not supposed to taste it either."
Virisa looked at him blankly. She didn't have a clue about what was going on. Never had she been close enough to a demon so that Zane could TASTE it. His body trembled as he reached the cresendo of his anger. Quietly, she braced herself but nothing came. She opened one eye and saw a calmer Zane.
"I'm sorry." His breath tickled her ear. "I shouldn't have struck you like that." He gave her a fleeting kiss on the forehead and backed away, stalking out of the room with what looked like a looked like the face of shame.
Gulping down a breath of air she gave quick glances to the other door and croaked, "You amy come out, Shippou. I know you're there so don't pretend." She stared at the door until he came out, looking disturbed and dazed.
"Shippou?" she said, resting a hand on his arm. "Do you know to which demon the scent belongs to?" She looked into his eyes, searching frantically for some truth. After a moment he replied to her.
"Yes. It belongs to Sesshou-maru, lord of the western planes. Do you know of him?"
Confusion crossed her lovely features. She frowned and shook her head. "I am sorry but I have never so much as heard the name. But I thank you for your honesty." Virisa gave him a warm smiled and then it turned cold. "Tomorrow you are going with Zane. It is the last battle so go to bed and rest. Can't have you tired and stumbling everywhere. Good night."
Shippou watched her leave the room. Something was wrong with her. Her hair was wild and she had reappeared in clothing that was several sizes to big for her that obviously belonged to someone else. She smelled sick. The scent of it faintly wafted from her head, overly sweet with a sour layer beneath it.
Despite the tense and sad air hovering aorund them the sun was shining down on them as if reassuring them that they would find Kagome. Or maybe it was just happy to see that they were miserable. Without as much as a glance Inu-Yasha announced boredly, "Kouga's coming."
Sango looked over shoulder and Miroku scanned what he could in front of him. Squinting, Sango noticed a gust of dirt coming at them at an incredible pace. Her mind blanked for a moment and she was trying to remember where she saw that before....
"Oh. Hi, Kouga," Sango said, close to bashing herself over the head for forgetting. Kouga smiled birefly and then frowned. Shippou wasn't there and neither was Kagome. "What happened to Kagome?" he demanded, his voice cold yet possesive. He glared at Inu-Yasha, like as if it was all his fault. Well, both sure hell felt like it was.
"Naraku," Sango replied quietly for Inu-Yasha. With a howl of anger Kouga leapt at Inu-Yasha, who barely jumped out of the way of the wolf demon.
"How could you let him take her?!" he snarled, lashing out and jumping back as they fought.
"It was one of Naraku's minions! AND I DIDN'T LET HER TAKE KAGOME!" he shouted fiercly, slashing Koga across the shoulder. "Do you think that I would let someone take Kagome away from me willingly?! Oh, there's a real conversation. The minion would say, 'I've come to take Kagome.' and I would say, 'Go ahead.' and Kagome would cheer, 'Yay!'!"
Angrily Sango yanked the boomerang off her back and thrust it at the two fighting demons. "Shut the fuck up you two! If you don't grow up now we'll never get Kagome back! Are you two ready to be civil now?" She glanced icily from boy to boy until she got a mumble of agreement from both of them.
Without warmth in her voice she asked Kouga, "Do you or anyone else you know have a lead on where Naraku's castle is?" Gulping, Kouga nodded, not wanting to face the wrath of this female. Sango's brow furrowed in frusted. "Well? Why don't you go ahead and tell us?" she snapped.
"F-For a couple days now the air would -on and off- reek of him. If we're lucky we could probably find him and...."
He trailed off when a mist settled over them when a boy and a girl appeared in front of them. They didn't recognize the girl but the boy was-
"Kohaku!" Sango breathed. Behind her Inu-Yasha growled. The young girl raised her eyes to meet theirs, causing them to shiver when they saw the severe lack of emotion and soul behind them.
She was soft-spoken and pronounced her words clearly, like a proper lady would. But she wasn't human. "Lord Naraku summons you to the castle. He has been expecting you."
Kohaku cut in, sounding just as emtionless as the girl. "You will be able to find the castle as of now." When the last word left his lips the mist thickened and then was whisked away, leaving behind no trace of the conversation except for four shell-shocked people.
Inu-Yasha sniffed the air, his eyes widening. "It's that way!" he announced, taking a step sixty degrees to his left. Kouga stood next to him and nodded in agreement. Miroku and Sango exchanged glances but didn't doubt the duo's word.
"I'll go get my pack and meet you up there. You're going to need all the help you can get," Kouga shouted over his shoulder. Before running off he added, "Good luck!"
They watched him run until they could barely see him. As a gesture of friendship Inu-Yasha offered to carry Sango on his back, which she readily agreed. They went apace to getting to the castle, filled with renewed hope. The trio braced themselves for the worst as they found themselves getting closer to their greatest enemy.
Guess what?! Three mor chapters and then part on is done! [shrieks with joy] I am sooo proud of myself right now! Please review! Even if you want to send a death threat I don't care. I just want to hear from you guys. Happy fourth of July!