Chapter Ten

He needed to stop pretending.

Because nothing would be all right anymore.

His decision – it had been foolish callous and impulsive. He hadn't been thinking – no. He had allowed his lust – the overwhelming need to feel it corrupt him, leading him down a path that he probably would never be able to escape. And he had brought him along as well.

He had been foolish.

He knew that he should not have allowed him to come, he loved him too much, and he didn't want to lose him. No, he wanted to be able to hold him once again, to tell him that people's prejudices would disperse with it's help. He had allowed his lust to corrupt his mind.

He had allowed her purity to cloud his judgment.

He shouldn't have come.

Then, the one he loved so unconditionally would be safe, and they could continue to live, the prejudices merely being whispers of the wind – ignored by the both of him, his love and himself. They could merely ignore it but –

It was impossible.

The lust was too strong.

And he could feel it radiating off of her body as he held her, his sharpened finger nails digging into her hip.

It was stronger there.

That same beautiful and pure that power that drew him to her, that caused him to lust for that power, that caused him to put his loved ones life in danger.

His tightened painfully as his feet touched the ground, his fingers pushing further into her hip, attempting to grasp the power that still lingered there. And it called out to him, telling him that it was okay, that his lust was necessary. But the rational part of his mind knew that it was wrong. It was always wrong, because that lust was going to devour him and there would be no way to escape it. It would simply linger, tugging at every emotion in his body until it corrupted him completely, letting him know that there was no escape, that he would soon forget everything.

But it wasn't what he wanted.

He needed to stop pretending.

As soon as he had seen it, the glittering pool of silver on the ground, he knew that he had made a grave mistake, and that he was endangering the life of his brother – the only one he loved anymore. His bond with his younger brother and been forged so deep, he was almost certain that he had felt that lust as well. It radiated off of him in waves, letting him know that he couldn't escape.

His fingers burned.

And he pushed them further into her hip, puncturing her flesh.

He didn't even hear the whimper of slight pain that escaped her as he pushed further – deeper into her flesh, attempting to grasp the power, his lust overwhelming him.

It wouldn't go away.

And the girl – she was crying, inexperienced to the type of pain that he was inflicting on her. He felt the urge to lick her tears away; she was the source of his lust after all, her and the power that was calling out to him from her hip.

She was the reason he was being corrupted; she was the reason why he wanted to pretend.

And he – he could almost feel it licking at his finger tips as they were coated with her blood, his hand still burning with something indescribable.

"Hiten."

He remained silent, reaching further into her, attempting to find it – attempting to feel it.

He wanted it so badly.

He would pretend that he couldn't hear his brother anymore.

But he needed to stop pretending.

He could smell the salt of her tears.

He only wanted that purity more.

"Hiten," the voice was more demanding this time, not small and meek like before. It was still filled with pain however, an immeasurably pain that had been only too familiar. It was a pain that he gave to other because of their prejudices. This thought only made him want it more.

And then, as what seemed like hours slowly faded into seconds, he felt it, licking against his fingers in desire – a desire to be released – to be corrupted. It wanted to be tainted, impure. It lusted for that impurity, just as he had lusted for its power. He would do, as it wanted.

He would do whatever it wanted, just as long as he had it within his grasp.

His eyes narrowed slowly, as his brother whispered his name once more, walking up to place a hand on him when it happened.

The power – it had flowed into his hand, and he was ready – ready to absorb it into his body to feel the pleasure of his fulfilled lust but –

White electricity coursed through his arms, soon followed by searing ashen flames.

The lust died almost instantly.

~*~

Kagome writhed in pain, unsure of what to do.

She could see them, all staring at her hungrily, feeling her powers slowly seeping out of her wound. The only one who seemed immune to it however, was Manten, who stared at her pain with such disbelieving eyes.

There was also betrayal flickering behind his expression.

And she knew, his brother wasn't supposed to have hurt her until they had stuck a deal with Inutaisho. But he hadn't listened. Instead, during their descent to the ground he had impaled her, his fingers reaching through her hip, attempting to grasp something that wasn't there.

And then she felt it pulsate.

Manten looked even more betrayed.

She was unaware of the way he had hissed his brother's name.

They loved each other.

They were family.

She had no one.

It was pulsating more now; demanding to be released, and she couldn't help but feel the desire that radiated off of it. It was surging through her veins, clenching and unclenching her heart, causing an ache so heavy – so burdened – that even she was surprised at the emotion.

Manten had hissed his brother's name again.

They really did care for one another.

Blue eyes twinkled in her mind.

And then, feeling something tighten in her chest, she clenched her eyes shut, a low whimper escaping her throat as he grasped it, whatever the strange power was in his hand – attempting to absorb it into him. And she felt a strange feeling of jealousy coursing through her veins.

That power was hers. He had no right to touch it.

And she wanted to – she wanted to decimate him.

He wasn't allowed to touch what belonged to her; he wasn't allowed to violate her in such a way. The strange power that lurked within her belonged to her and only to her, and no one else could have it. She felt the deep desire to protect it emerge rather quickly.

And without realizing or knowing how she did it – electricity surged through his arms and –

She encased it with hot smoldering white flames.

And the power – it seeped back into her, nestling diligently into her blood once more, the faint feeling of amusement running through her body.

Don't be jealous. I belong to only you.

Her jealously, her need to protect it came instantly as a shockwave rocked through her body, causing hot tears to form through her eyes.

She hadn't noticed it, for she had been too caught up in her emotions to realize what she had done.

It burned.

And she had been a fool.

In all of her hostility, she hadn't noticed that the flames had engulfed her as well.

Burning.

Searing.

Scorching.

She didn't know when the pain would go away.

~*~

Inuyasha stopped, his breath caught in his throat as he stared, unsure of what to do.

Everyone, they were staring at Kagome in wonderment as she glowed, the demons fingers lodged in her flesh, seeking something that only he could feel – that only he could see.

But then, as most of his fingers disappeared into her creamy white flesh, tearing her white yukata more thoroughly, it rocketed through the air, drowning all of the inu-youkai in a strange haze. And he recognized the feeling almost at once. He had experienced the feeling only once in his entire life and it caused an agonizing knot of pain to burn within his chest.

He had experienced this feeling when he claimed his mother's blood.

It was an animalistic urge to claim what he desired and – everyone else was feeling that same need too. The need to be released, to forget everything that was right and indulge in everything that wrong, not frightened nor guilty about anything that was to coincide.

He wouldn't let it get to him.

Inuyasha closed his eyes tightly, banishing the hungry feeling that rose within him, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. Despite the fact that he couldn't see Kagome, he could still see her. He could see her, hear her, taste her, and smell her.

The taste of her blood was strongest in the air.

And then, it was almost as though he could feel her burning beneath his fingertips.

My only friend.

He wouldn't let it control him.

His knuckles turned white as he opened his amber eyes, pushing past many Inu-youkai who were watching the scene before them with lust filled eyes. They didn't even look his way when he pushed them; they continued to stare hungrily, as though there had not been a disturbance.

And then, as he pushed past his father and his brother who both stood shock still, afraid of letting the feeling die within them, he darted forward, attempting to retract Kagome from the demons hands when –

They erupted in flames.

Inuyasha groaned inwardly, stabbing the tip of his sword into the Earth.

He couldn't touch it.

Otherwise he would be hurt beyond recognition.

And the demon with Kagome – he would probably die because – he was being purified, and Kagome didn't know what she was doing.

And because of that, she wouldn't be able to stop.

"Kagome," Inuyasha whispered, kneeling down as the two wrapped in flames fell to the ground, the demon letting out silent shrieks of pain. The goliath that had accompanied him, merely watched, his eyes reflecting betrayal.

And Kagome – she was screaming.

"Kagome," Inuyasha said more forcefully, watching as Kagome's body turned towards the source of the voice.

"Come on Kagome, get it to go away. If you purify him completely, you will kill yourself as well, make it stop."

I'm hers.

Inuyasha's heart grew cold.

Something wasn't right.

"Come on Kagome, get up and get out. I can't go in there otherwise I would have dragged your ass out already, so come on." Inuyasha replied snappishly, his annoyance getting the better of him.

I belong to only her.

His heart clenched even more, a small wave of pain coursing through his body.

And she belongs to me as well.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, his voice unusually throaty.

There is no room for you. You don't belong.

"Damn it Kagome, get the hell out of there!" Inuyasha was becoming more and more frantic.

You can never have her as your friend. She belongs to only me.

"Kagome! Get your wimpy ass out here right now you stupid wench!"

And – Kagome was snapped out of her strange reverie and, she blinked, the flames dying down almost instantly.

You can never have her.

Inuyasha kneeled beside Kagome, who blinked up at him lazily, a strange smile on her face.

You will never have her.

"Are you all right?" Inuyasha asked as the strange voice faded away from the contours of his mind.

She was still smiling lazily.

The demon next to her released a small moan of pain.

A terse moment of silence passed between them.

"Friends," Kagome said suddenly, wrapping her fingers around his own, ignoring the blood that was seeping through her yukata. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed.

There was only one other time she had said that to him, and he had been too depressed to even want to be around her because – because his dad had told her of his mothers death.

"They are like a breath of fresh air."

"I'm going to kill you," Inuyasha said angrily, although he knew that he wouldn't go through with the heinous act.

"They are always willing to help you no matter how they might feel inside."

"And then I am going to kill you again."

"I want to sleep."

"I might kill you."

Kagome smiled lazily.

And a moment passed by slowly as the two just stared at each other, Kagome with exhaustion apparent in her features as Inuyasha eyed her angrily.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly, slumping forward slightly.

"I'm still going to kill you."

"I was so frightened, I forgot to block."

Inuyasha's heart clenched painfully.

"Inuyasha?"

"Hmmm?" He asked absently as Kagome's eyes began to drift closed.

"I'm going to murder you."

The training incident was still very much fresh within Kagome's mind, and as soon as she got some proper rest, she knew that without a doubt she was going to decimate him in the only way she knew how.

Crying.

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards.

"You can't kill me."

"And why not?"

"Because I'll kill you first."

Kagome merely placed her head against his shoulder and placed a hand to his chest, a smirk appearing over her features.

"You can never have me."

And Inuyasha froze, his eyes wide with shock, as he looked down at the exhausted girl, confused at what to say because – her voice, it sounded strangely different, colder and darker – distant.

Detached.

"Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked down at her, an eyebrow raised in question as she curled her fingers tighter around his, her eyes opened as she stared at their intertwined fingers.

"Without you I wouldn't have been able to stop it, I would have killed him and me in the process. Thank – "

"Shut-up and go to sleep."

Kagome chuckled tiredly, her eyes drifting closed gently.

Sleep took her immediately.

And Inuyasha sat in silence for a moment, unsure of what to do. The two demons were still beside her, the goliath watching the sleeping one almost painfully. The inu-youkai, from what Inuyasha could see were still standing shock still, as though they continued to dwell in their lust induced reverie. Even the females had fallen so shamelessly into it, for the strange power that was radiating from open wound had been so powerful; it simply overlapped any and all senses that they previously possessed.

"I will leave."

Inuyasha looked up at the goliath, who had lifted his brother onto his shoulder.

"What?"

"It wasn't supposed to be like that," the goliath started, shaking his head slowly, "he was supposed to propose a deal to get the Shikon no Tama in exchange for the miko, but he let her purity corrupt him. It wasn't supposed to be like that."

Inuyasha sighed inwardly, running his hands through his silver hair.

"You attacked something that was under the protection of this clan. I'm afraid I can not let you leave."

The goliath merely looked at him expressionlessly, his crimson eyes glittering emptily.

"There is no honor in that."

"I know," Inuyasha said in exasperation, "but my father would kill me."

"Your father is still dazed. Let my brother regain his strength, fight a fair fight with him, I am certain someone like yourself will have no trouble."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as the goliath placed his brother on the gray cloud, watching him intently.

"What do you mean 'someone like myself'?"

The goliath smirked.

"You – no one understands you, just as no one understands me. You are the son of Inutaisho no? Well, if you weren't his son these full-blooded youkai would not hesitate to kill you in a second, after all you are a hanyou. And your hands are tainted with blood. Which also means you are a murderer. No one could understand that."

Inuyasha released a soft sigh as he watched the goliath began to step onto the cloud. And normally, Inuyasha would have done something but –

The goliath's words rang true in his ears. He wasn't understood, and he had no friends. He merely had people who obeyed his orders, but even gave him difficulty with that. But he was a commander of Inutaisho's army, there was no way that they would be able to hate him but – that was the only reason why they listened to him. He was his father's son, and to kill the son of a Lord was uncouth and dishonorable. The Inu-youkai simply did not want to risk it.

"Leave."

"Thank you, you are truly honorable." The goliath said kindly, sitting on the edge of the cloud casually.

"What's your name?"

"Manten."

"I'm going to have kill you eventually, Manten."

"I know."

"Now leave."

Inuyasha didn't have to say it twice, for Manten had already directed the cloud into the sky, and disappeared into oblivion.

Friends. They're like a breath of fresh air.

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome, who had managed to snuggle closer to him and snorted somewhat angrily.

Stupid girl.

He was going to maim her.

He didn't want to be her friend but –

He did.

And he already was.

And a cold elation clenched his heart and burned his lungs as he looked down at her sleeping form, ignoring the sounds of the inu-youkai coming awake once again.

You can never have me.

Those words continued to run through his mind as he stared at her, his amber eyes hardening as sort of denied realization struck his nerves.

'I never wanted you; I never wanted to be your friend. But I am, and I can't change that. When did it happen? I hate you and yet – I like you. No matter how much I want to hate you I can't. Stupid wench, I should just kill you,' Inuyasha thought bitterly.

And despite how much he did want to hate her, despite how much he did want to kill her – he just couldn't, because they were –

"Friends." Inuyasha whispered, allowing his fingers to wrap more tightly around hers.

Oh, how he hated her.

But on the bright side, Inuyasha started wickedly as he picked her up and made his way to the citadel, passing all of the inu-youkai who were still suffering from their lust induced reverie, I still get to train you.

Kagome shifted in his arms uncomfortably.

~*~

Sango and Miroku froze sending each other uneasy glances.

They could feel it, the strange power radiating over them, stretching over the expanses of the land. It was stirring something within them, that had never experienced and – it was so strong and so powerful.

"Sango?" Miroku asked, his voice quite and unsure.

Sango attempted to glance at Miroku, blinking in confusion, for she had never heard Miroku sound so – frightened. "Yeah?"

"Look."

And Sango did.

And what met her eyes had caught her completely off guard because all around her, the youkai were sitting completely still, staring ahead of them, eyes twinkling with an unknown emotion.

But the harder Sango looked, the more she recognized the glitter of anticipation behind their eyes. Because it was a look that she encountered all to often. It was a look that Miroku would give her only – this look was violent. Their eyes were filled with blood lust, and it was almost as if they would kill anyone who attempted to get in their way of achieving their goal.

The power continued to stretch farther.

And Miroku was eying Sango cheekily.

"What?" Sango snapped unintentionally, feeling his eyes lingering on her.

"Lady Sango," Miroku started smoothly, ignoring the tone of her voice, "they are all dazed. Perhaps it would be in our best interest if we were to slip away while they are distracted."

Sango frowned.

"We're tied to a tree."

"They are distracted."

"We are still tied to a tree."

Miroku eyed Sango's katana dreamily.

"Sango, you are a warrior, I am a monk. I know for certain that with both of our skills we should be able to make it out of this predicament fairly easily."

"We are still tied to a tree."

"Sango, are you trying to make a point?" Miroku's patience was running short rather quickly.

"We have no weapons. My wrists are bleeding. I'm tired, and once again we are tied to a tree. And rather tightly at that. And my wrists are still bleeding, and we are still tied to a tree."

A terse moment passed between the two, a strange tension overlapping the odd power that continued to stretch throughout the expanse of the lands.

"What's your idea?"

Sango was the first to cave, and Miroku smiled. It made him feel good to know that the huntress was so easily submissive.

"Untie the knot."

"Problem."

"And what is that?"

"My wrists are bound, as are my legs."

Miroku sighed.

"You are a warrior. Think of something."

Sango's eyes narrowed as she attempted to glare at Miroku through the tree, ready to throttle him.

"We are still tied to a tree."

"Point taken."

"Idiot."

Miroku grinned, and Sango – she merely frowned, watching the inu-youkai with glittering burgundy eyes. Because she knew that soon, as the strange power drew back to it's power source, the demons would break out of their reverie, and continue to watch them, taunting them with the weapons that they no longer possessed. And Sango hated it, because they made her feel so completely inferior and worthless. She despised the feeling, for she had to experience that one too many times at her village.

The men there, with the exception of her father brother and Miroku, all looked down upon her as though she were nothing but a woman, someone who needed to be punished and kept in line at all times. They didn't appreciate the fact that she was as strong as any man or that her father allowed her to become as strong as any man. They thought that it was a form of dishonor, to act as strong as a man and to train like one, but they simply didn't understand that it was something that made Sango feel complete. It made her feel stronger and equal to those who would normally looked down on her. Miroku was the only one who understood that.

"Sango?"

Sango blinked, turning her head towards the monk voice, not sure of what he wanted to say.

"Yeah?"

"It was not my intention to upset."

"Miroku," Sango started with exasperation, "you worry too much. But I just think that it would be safer for us to stick with these demons. After all I don't want them to kill Kirara, who I might add, was injured beyond belief. I mean look," Sango said motioning towards the injured yellow cat, "if they can do that to a full-blooded demon just think of what they could do to us."

"Yes I understand. They could make our wrists bleed."

"Bastard," Sango snapped, trying her best to ignore the sarcasm that was dripping from his voice. It seemed that his patience had worn thin during the time that they had been walking under the sun, the rope scratching and flaking against his wrists until they bled.

The ropes were already stained a dark crimson red.

~*~

She snapped her fan closed, ignoring the look that her master gave her.

She didn't feel like dealing with him at the moment. She had gone through with his orders, executing the plan with expert precision. Not even a priestess came within range of their attack, somewhat afraid of what was going to await them if they did. Priestesses had never encountered beings such as them, ones that can manipulate the wind and steal endless souls.

Her master glared.

"Kagura."

The ebony haired woman turned to man, her fan placed to her chin as she watched him in question.

"When the sun sets, I expect it to be finished."

"And then?" Kagura asked, an eyebrow raised with interest.

"You may leave."

"Hn," Kagura grunted impassively, turning to walk towards her chambers, her fan tapping her chin in thought. His response, it hadn't been what she was expecting. She had thought that he would have wanted her to go and retrieve the woman he had been looking for but – that had not been the case. Was he really going to let her go? Somehow she found that preposterous, but she still could not help but feel a strange twinge of hope stirring within her heartless body.

And though, as if sensing her siblings rising emotions, her elder sister stepped out from the shadows, clutching her petit mirror loosely in her arms.

And Kagura stopped, watching her sister impassively.

"Yes Kanna?"

Her emotionless blue eyes twinkled emptily.

"You can never be free," and with that Kanna disappeared into the shadows once more. And Kagura couldn't help but frown, her grip tightening dangerously on the fan because –

Kanna was right.

She would never be free.

And she knew without a doubt that her elder sister would not lie to her about something as important as her freedom.

There was no reason to.

But still, Kagura couldn't help but dream about being free, to become one with the winds that she so easily corrupted.

But that's all those miniscule fantasies were.

Dreams.

And within a world filled with so much hate and war, dreams meant nothing.

Her dreams meant nothing.

But one day, they would be.

And until that day, she would continue to wait, until her dreams were recognized, until they were fulfilled. She would be free, living among the winds with no worries and no sense of constraint.

You can never be free.

But she was the wind, and one day, she would be.