Chapter 19: Bloody moments and collecting the herb

Inuyasha shot forward with a gigantic grin and aimed a clawed hand at the youkai's head. Kagome's eyes widened in surprise seeing how fast the youkai dodged and Inuyasha fumbled to keep his ground. The purple youkai grinned and belted out, "I am Goshinki, and Inuyasha—these are your last moments. Isn't that right, Kikyo, my love?"

Kagome turned to stare at the emotionless Kikyo—who had slowly stood and was smirking with her arms crossed. "Goshinki," she purred. "You've come to save me!" She licked her lips with anticipation and Goshinki seemed to grin. "I'm baaack!" he crooned. Kagome felt sick and immediately sprang at Goshinki. He was like a blur and he gently picked up Kikyo and placed her on his enormous back. "I don't know what to do with you, eat you or fuck you love."

Kagome's mind was a muddled mess. "What the—how are you dodging me?" Inuyasha meanwhile was sneaking around Goshinki's back and he sprang at him again. Goshinki shot up and laughed, "Fools! I can read your thoughts!" Kagome gasped and looked at Inuyasha. Goshinki in a sing-song voice said, "Oh, I hope Inuyasha doesn't get hurt! I love him too much to have something bad happened to him!" Inuyasha looked startled and Goshinki—in that annoying voice—carolled, "This is freakin' amazing! Kagome is so beautiful and smart, and I want her to be with me!"

Kagome and Inuyasha blushed and Goshinki shot forward and slammed Kagome into the ground. She tried to dodge him, but he read her thoughts and followed with her. Kikyo was clinging tightly to him, giggling happily. Inuyasha was pissed off and he saw red when Kagome tried to get up and Goshinki stepped on her and let Kikyo get off and kick dirt in her face. He swung tetsusaiga at Goshinki; Goshinki turned and caught the blade in his mouth. With a fierce grin, he snapped tetusaiga in to bits and dropped it in front of Inuyasha.

Without hesitation he swiped at Inuyasha's shocked face and sent him sprawling. With a bloodied face Inuyasha rose unsteadily and went at him again. Goshinki laughed harshly and shot a claw thru Inuyasha's arm and stomach. Inuyasha fell and slumped to the ground.

All he could hear was a dull booming in his ears as his blood poured from open wounds and scratches all over his body. He managed to look up once and what he saw made the red already spiking his eyes flare and his body burst with buried energy. Kikyo was aiming a perfectly notched arrow at Kagome's head and smiling smugly.

The red in his eyes burned and Inuyasha was pushed back into his mind as something far more feral and dangerous was unleashed—something hidden and meant to be hidden forever. Goshinki backed away uncertainly and roared, "Why have your thoughts changed?!" Inuyasha stood swiftly and went at it. He was almost invisible he moved so fast, his shots were cruel and quick and when he dropped down Goshinki's head dropped with him.

Kikyo gasped and Kagome saw Goshinki's body move to strike Inuyasha's unprotected back; quickly she dodged Kikyo and pounced forward; her hand aimed straight for his heart. A blur appeared before her and her hand was suddenly buried in Kikyo's stomach.

Moments passed as Inuyasha stood immobile and breathing hoarsely; Kikyo gasped as she began to die and Kagome's astonishment receded and horror was finally unleashed so she finally yanked her hand free. "Oh dear kami!" she whimpered. Inuyasha's ex-lover was dying because of her! Kaede fainted and Inuyasha moved slowly towards them. Kikyo—somehow—got a grip on her bow and aimed an arrow at Kagome's face. "If I die, I'm taking you with me..." she whispered. Pulling back the bow and shuddering for air with agonizing slowness Kikyo smiled and released. Kagome closed her eyes and tensed—waiting for the arrow to strike. All she could smell was blood, warmth, something like the forest yet masculine before she opened her eyes.

Inuyasha stood before her with arrow in hand and murder screaming from his nerves. He looked disdainfully down at Kikyo and ripped her to shreds before Kagome's eyes. Kagome turned and vomited, face pale and lines of pain and worry etched fully into her face. Inuyasha turned and Kagome gasped.

His innocent face was gone—replaced now by insane cold red eyes and contracting blue pinpricks amidst the red; his fangs had grown and were slightly protruding against a sneering mouth; marking had appeared on his soft tanned skin and his claws and body were stained with blood.

Kagome stepped back and made a weak attempt at a run when she was yanked roughly and rudely to the ground. Inuyasha's hands travelled from her arms to stroke her face and touch her hair. "Kagome..." he mumbled and leaned forward to lick and nip at her neck. Kagome shivered from fear and pleasure before she steeled herself and realized he had transformed into a full-youkai. She tried to push him away but he growled once and straddled her brusquely before she tried to calculate another escape option. She could fully unleash her youki, but that might result in further injury for Inuyasha and possible death to those around them, or she could...

Kagome ran her hands up his firm stomach and whimpered sadly when her hand connected to a sticky patch on his arm and stomach. She rubbed her face against Inuyasha's cheek and purred lovingly. Inuyasha growled appreciatively and licked at her wounds. Kagome sighed with relief; she had distracted him for the moment. Tend to wounds first and then whatever he was thinking would be postponed until later, and she would already be gone.

As he applied his saliva to Kagome's injuries, Kagome carefully looked at his with one hand while the other groped for a rock to brain him with. Her hand connected instead with a slim piece of the broken tetsusaiga, Inuyasha noticed her movements and roughly grabbed the broken katana from Kagome's hand. His eyes melted to gold and his markings disappeared and he slumped forward to rest on Kagome's heaving chest. "Can't! Breathe! Augh!" her muffled cry pleaded.

Sango finally arrived and took in the scene before her with dismay and revulsion. She heard Kagome's plea and pulled Inuyasha off her. "Kagome what—?" Kagome jumped forward and cried into Sango's shoulder miserably. She pulled away to look at Inuyasha's wounds and ordered briskly, "Help me get him back quickly." Sango quickly agreed but not before Kagome went to Goshinki's head and pulled away a small black plant from his mouth. Kaede had woken and gone to get villagers to help out and was crying sorrowfully as she watched them leave and her sister's remains barely recognizable save for a flash of red cloth and black hair.

They had gotten the herb alright, but they had left disaster behind them.

Whew! That was gruesome! Erm... guys, sorry if you didn't like this chapter too much. Kikyo haters probably relished it but, meh. This will be the last chapter before a long period of updating. I am moving and will have no computer. whimper How will I survive? I will try to keep going, I love you guys too much to let this story stop. sesshygirl3, I am so sorry about you getting booted off. IF THE PERSON WHO REPORTED HER UNFAIRLY IS READING THIS: YOU HAD NO RIGHT!! sniffle Ciao.