It'll be a while before the next chapter is out... enjoy this one though!
Chapter 8: Midnight Raid
She was walking through that fog again, that oppressingly dense mist, with the strange voices echoing all around. However, this time a friend was with her.
"Come on, Kagome!" Came Miroku's voice from her left, "She's gotta be around here somewhere!" A damp hand grasped her own, dragging her forward in a pace almost impossible with the fog pressing against them like a blanket.
Just like the last time, a bright light flashed in front of her eyes, and she found herself at the entrance to a village surrounded by wooden walls. It was small, and not one thing stirred as she and Miroku stepped inside, the quiet ringing in their ears.
Miroku grumbled as they walked slowly on, muttering, "She i has /i to be here somewhere…"
Kagome looked around, a slight breeze picking up her hair and causing curtains in doorways to sway back and forth. It was eerily peaceful, and Kagome felt her skin crawl with wary anticipation.
They walked the whole length of the village, not saying a word, and not seeing a living thing. Miroku shook his head stubbornly, "She b has /b to be here!"
Unaware of the dark figure stalking them from the rooftops, they turned back and decided to explore the houses.
"You take that one over there Miroku." Kagome said, pointing to a house beside the one they were standing in front of. When Miroku nodded, she stepped into the doorway, cool air caressing her face as she lifted the curtain to allow her entrance. Wooden floor shining without dust underneath her feet, she kicked off shoes she didn't remember putting on, and stepped further in. It was sparsely decorated, with a small kitchen off to the left when she came in. There was the sitting room, with small, soft cushions inviting her to sit and take a rest. She shook off that feeling, and walked down the small hallway off of the living room. It was dark, perfect to hide anyone who didn't want her there, and she shivered, feeling like she was watched.
Kagome looked around, trying to pierce the darkness with her gaze and find who could be watching her. Finding nothing, she turned once more and slid the door to the bedroom open, feet padding silently into the dim room. A low futon lay in the middle, crisp white sheets adorning it with a pale, hand-woven rug underneath. Light filtered into the room from a small paper window at the back of the room, a dark dragon painted on it to fall across the bed. There was a small closet on the right side of the room, and she walked over to it, easing it open.
She gasped, beautiful silk kimono's shining from within the small room. "How beautiful…" She whispered, eyes wide as she let a hand caress the soft fabric. She smiled, wondering if she would be able to fit into one.
With MirokU
'Dearest Sango… How I have missed you…' Miroku thought as he opened the door to the small house in front of him. It slid open easily, and he warily stepped into the shadowed front room. Little did he know the dark figure from the rooftops stalked closely after.
"Saaango?" He called, peering into the kitchen and dining area, the stillness and quietness of the room causing shivers to trace their icy fingers up and down his spine. He then shook his head, and wandered down the hallway near to the kitchen, hearing only the faint whisper of his socks on the smooth floor.
He stopped at the bedroom door, not-so-innocent images flashing through his mind as the lecherous grin he's famous for plastered itself on his face. Chuckling, he opened the door, and stepped over the threshold, walking across to the futon, images of Sango screaming in the throes of passion induced by him teasing their way across his mind.
He was just about to turn around when he felt cold steel upon his neck. He tried to look behind him, but such a movement brought pain, and he felt warm liquid flow from thin line of frigid metal threatening him.
"W-who's there…?" He whispered, a panicked sweat springing up from the pores on his body.
The person leaned forward, lips parting slightly to let words seep through, warm breath caressing the back of his neck, causing goose bumps to raise themselves upon his skin. "My name is none of your concern. However, it's mine to know what business you have here, intruder."
Miroku thought quickly, and brought both his hands up at once, elbowing the man behind him with his left while he pushed the blade kissing his neck away. He rolled away to the side of the room, and kicked off the wall, reaching, groping for his predator. Eyes widened as he saw the man straighten, and grin, disappearing into thin air.
The monk slid to a stop, casting his gaze around, seeing nothing, and hearing even less apart from his own rapid heartbeat and strained breathing. A draft of cool air fluttered his robes from behind, and he turned around to see the man standing there, grinning maliciously at him, his smile the only thing he could see. Almost as if he was moving in slow motion, Miroku watched the man kick off of the floor, spinning rapidly towards him, eyes widening at the unavoidable doom rushing towards him. He closed his eyes, waiting for the blow that would rip his spirit from it's existence in the dream world away.
"Kohaku! Just i what /i do you think you are doing!" Came a woman's voice, and heard the whistle of steel pass by his face, missing it by inches.
"But sis… I was-" he started to say, but was cut off as Miroku opened his eyes.
The woman of his dreams stood in the doorway, light framing her slight yet powerful figure; his angel of salvation. Eyes blazing in fury, Sango stared down her younger brother, sending him cowering into the corner.
"No buts, mister. I'm going to have to have a talk with you later about this. You. Better. Believe. It!" She said, venomous intentions dripping from every word.
"Sango…" Miroku croaked out as his voice began to work again.
She turned her gaze upon him, hard resin eyes softening to a soft amber as she whispered, "Miroku…"
Totally forgotten, Kohaku shook his head and tiptoed out of the room, shaking his head at his lovesick sister.
They met halfway, Sango jumping up and landing in his arms, crying from happiness. Smiling softly, Miroku wrapped his arms around her waist, breathing in her comforting scent as he let tears of his own adorn her hair. Her arms tightened around his neck, pushing him to her in her happiness.
She drew back after a time, smiling brightly up at him through her tears, and whispered, "I missed you…"
The lecherous part of him banished to the corner of his mind, Miroku raised a trembling hand to her face, and wiped away her tears, smiling gently. "I missed you too… Sango…"
Without warning, she pushed his hand aside, raised her own to his face and crushed her lips to his, the heat of her longing and banished misery burning into his. His eyes went wide with surprise, but kissed her back tentatively, giving the soft lips what they were looking for. Not a hand strayed while they stood there, Sango's sweet mouth moving against his. He licked her lips teasingly, and she rose to the bait, opening them and letting her own surge forward to taste him.
After a few moments, Sango slowly drew away, smiling happily. "I've always wanted to do that." She confessed, blushing slightly.
"You have no idea…" Miroku said, grinning sheepishly at her in the waning light.
"I thought… you were gone… forever…" Sango said, tears springing up in her eyes once more.
"Shush, don't cry…" Miroku said, pulling her towards him, hands itching to venture lower. 'I can't do that!' He chided himself. 'I want to remember this fondly, no pain attached.'
"We're together again, no more tears ok?" He added, kissing her forehead.
"Hai, we are…" Sango said, and heaved a happy sigh, as if a tremendous weight was taken off of her shoulders.
"We should go find Kagome, she's been looking for you too." He said, drawing back slightly to watch Sango.
"What? Kagome's i here /i !" Sango said excitedly, but then her face became grave. "Did she…?"
Miroku shook his head quickly, saying, "She's not dead, she needs the Jewel. You still have your part don't you?"
Sango nodded, pulling a small chain of silver from underneath her shirt; upon it a glittering piece of the Shikon Jewel.
"Good, lets go and find her." Miroku said, taking Sango's hand, entwining his fingers with hers. He led her out of the house, the blood red sun twinkling at them. "She was in this house earlier…" He thought out loud, and was surprised when Sango ran ahead, opening the door with a bang, and ran inside.
She rushed through the house, eager to see her best friend. "Kagome?" She called, listening intently for a reply.
"…Sango? Is that you?" Came Kagome's voice from the back of the house.
Sango grinned, and ran back there at full speed, slipping with every step on the polished floor. "Kago-"
Kagome stood at the doorway, a kimono of deep sea blue adorning her, silver embroidery sparkling and lighting up her eyes. She smiled at her dearest friend, the corners of her eyes wrinkling in joy. "Sango-chan!"
"Kagome, you look beautiful!" Sango exclaimed, hugging her companion to her, feeling tears of joy flow down her face.
Kagome laughed, and held her out at arms length. "You look well, Sango-chan. I'm so glad we found you, Miroku's missed you a lot."
Sango blushed at this, and muttered, "Yea, he showed me…"
Kagome just chuckled, and looked down the hallway to see Miroku standing there, smiling at the both of them.
"I have something for you Kagome-chan." Sango said, and held out her hand, fist closed. Nodding, Kagome held out her own and watched as the piece of jewel fell into her palm, disappearing in a swirl of pink light.
Kagome smiled, and waved Miroku down the hall, and they all sat there for what seemed like hours, catching up on what's been happening and altogether enjoying each others presence. After a while Kohaku came back, and joined them after Sango gave him a gentle smile and a nod.
Sesshoumaru carried her back to his home, the sleeping miko shivering slightly in his arms. She curled up on herself and settled deeper into his embrace, smiling slightly. 'Why… is she smiling?' Sesshoumaru wondered, staring intently at her. 'Why is she so relaxed around me? Have I become so weak as to not intimidate humans any longer? Perhaps I made a mistake accepting her friendship…'
Entering his palace, the demon lord strode purposefully towards the closest room with a bed. 'Tonight… Tonight Rin will be free…' He made up his mind. 'I'll give Kagome a few more blessed hours of sleep, but then she'll help me get my Rin back.'
He tucked her loosely into the futon, watching her thin eyelids flutter and settle down again, revealing not the cerulean within. He turned to leave, breathing in deeply as to settle her scent deep within him.
He heard her stir behind him, a stifled yawn rising from her curled form, as well as the scent of new power. Confused, Sesshoumaru turned back, and his muscles tensed up with surprise. 'She's… she's twice as powerful as before! How is this possible…?' He padded back over to where she lay and accessed her closely with his keen vision. 'She doesn't look any different, but she's definitely become stronger… I must ask her about this later…'
Shaking his head, he left the room and headed towards the kitchen, the remnants of the barely eaten breakfast littered across the table and dirty pans piled in the wash basin. Having nothing better to do, he made quick work of this, scouring the dishes with precise movements. He then scooped out some rice from an open bag on another table. He nodded with satisfaction, finding no bugs infesting the cup, and threw it in a pot of water, and placed it on the stove, which he immediately lit.
An hour and a half later, Sesshoumaru entered the room where Kagome lay. In his hands were a bowl of rice as well as a bowl of fruit and another of steamed vegetables. The scent alone seemed to rouse her, her eyes flickering open with a smile and yawning widely as her stomach greeted the eagerly awaited food.
Sesshoumaru placed the bowls on the floor beside the bed, saying, "Eat up, we're leaving in half an hour."
Kagome cocked her head at him, reaching down for the bowls. Finding one, she asked, "Where are we going?" As she dug in, fresh fruit juice dribbling down her chin as she closed her eyes in pleasure.
"To Naraku's. I'm getting Rin back tonight, and you will have your revenge. I'm going to get you your clothes for tonight, I'll be back in fifteen."
Kagome nodded and listened to him walk out of the room once more, finishing the fruit with a sigh and then starting on the rice, which disappeared almost instantly. She reached for the third and final bowl when Sesshoumaru reentered, and she heard the unmistakable swish of silk.
He waited patiently for her to finish the vegetables. Once she was done, she placed the bowls one on top of the other and put them gently down on the ground.
"So we're raiding Naraku's tonight?" Kagome asked, standing up and brushing off her hands and mouth.
"Hai, we are." He said, and held out the cloth bundle in his arms. "These are your garments. I'll wait outside until you've finished dressing."
"Ok, Sesshoumaru." Kagome said, feeling for his hands and taking the soft bundle from his arms. "Before you leave though, can you tell me what it is?"
"It's a tight fitting black silk outfit. There is also a hair tie in there, I can help you with that if the need be. Please hurry, we leave at the peak of the new moon." He said quickly, striding purposefully out of the room, though Kagome could feel him hovering behind the closed door like a dog about to be set loose.
She pulled off the kosode wrapped around her, and set about dressing herself, feeling carefully for seams and sleeves to make sure she didn't try to put the pants on her head. 'This really i is /i tight fitting…' She grumbled to herself, thinking of how skanky she'd look if she could see herself. The smallest piece of fabric she assumed to be the hair tie.
Kagome pulled her hair up into a hasty yet tight bun as she exited the room, feeling Sesshoumaru immediately by her side. He was quivering with anticipation, anticipation of bloodshed and flesh rending pleasure that awaited him at Naraku's castle.
"Ready?" He asked, barely containing his blood lust, his eyes still betraying him.
Kagome nodded, and together they hurried out of his home, only to be met with Taioset once they got outside.
"Thinking about leaving me here?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Sesshoumaru growled a little, still not trusting the one who rent his side to shreds.
Kagome, on the other hand, smiled at him and replied, "Of course not! We could use all the help we can get."
Taioset smiled a little, but still looked to Sesshoumaru for permission, not wanting to cause the demon lord to go over the edge.
Sesshoumaru just stared at him, and said quickly, "Just hurry." And took off through the forest.
Taioset took off after him, and Kagome soon after that, summoning the pure winds about herself, lifting her off the ground and carrying her off at a dizzying pace, locked onto Sesshoumaru's aura. A feeling of dread grew within her breast, and she sped onward, cold wind whipping her face and whirling around throughout her clothes.
"Father…" A small voice called to him, entwining its way in and out of his head until he cracked open an annoyed, crimson eye.
"What is it, Kanna?" Naraku asked, flexing his arms and sitting up.
"They're coming…" The pale girl whispered, stepping from the shadows, a small mirror held in front of her. An image of Sesshoumaru, blood rage evident in his eyes, and Kagome, sparkling winds swirling about her, rushed towards his castle. A shadow trailing them caught his eye, and focusing in on it he saw a demon from the south trailing them.
"How interesting that Sesshoumaru let the assassin live…" Naraku muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Kanna, leave me and alert Kagura. I must get ready to greet our guests. Wake up little Rin as well, her Sess-chan will want to see her."
Naraku smirked in pleasure as Kanna bowed her way out of his room, sliding the door silently shut behind her. "Kagome, I will soon teach you the very meaning of pain…"
"Sesshoumaru… We're close…" Kagome called out to him softly, projecting her voice so that the lord in front of her could catch the words in the rapid winds.
"Hush, woman. We have to be silent." Sesshoumaru called back to her in a feral growl. "We have to rescue Rin at all costs."
She nodded silently, speeding up and catching his tail in the palm of her hand and squeezing the fluff slightly in reassurance.
Another minute passed by, the air becoming steadily thicker with thick fog. Kagome could feel Taioset somewhere behind them, and the apprehension in her gut told her that Naraku's castle was somewhere ahead of them, and they were steadily growing closer.
Like in her dreams, they emerged into a pocket of clean air, though she could not see it Kagome knew that they were there; they had arrived at Naraku's castle…
"Tell us the way, Kagome. Only you have been here before." Sesshoumaru ordered quietly, placing a clawed hand on her shoulder.
Kagome nodded, gulping and wiping cold sweat from her brow. She took a hesitant step forward, and another, and another, her silent footfalls seeming to echo up the many steps leading to the gaping entrance. Sesshoumaru stepped in time with her, she felt his hand move slightly with every inch they walked, and she could feel Taioset right behind her.
A small wind picked up, and Kagome turned around quickly, almost sending Taioset toppling down the steep stairs. She sent her power out, and gasped as she felt a wall of pure miasma blocking their only exit. 'I guess there's no turning back now…' She thought, shaking her head and turned around, taking the last few steps at a run.
"There should be a lever on the right." She told Taioset, nodding in the general direction. "Pull it for me please."
The elegant doors creaked slowly open, and a small trickle of miasma started to flow down the steps. Each of them covering their noses, Kagome led the way inside, Sesshoumaru by her side and Taioset behind them both.
The doors closed slowly behind them, unnoticed until a loud click resounded from them, preventing any retreat whatsoever.
A soft whistle of metal hissed through the air, as well as the sound of muffled feet pounding on cobblestone.
"It's an ambush!" Kagome cried, ducking as a katana barely missed her neck. "Be careful!"
She drew her powers into her hands, lashing out at all who came within striking distance. Howls of agony echoed into the darkness, and she felt adrenaline begin to pump through her veins.
"Go, I'll keep them busy!" Came Taiosets voice from behind her.
Kagome was about to take off when she felt a clawed hand snake its way around her waist. "It'll be faster this way." Sesshoumaru said, and she felt her hair fly around behind her as they picked up speed.
The clashes of battle receding quickly behind them, the demon lord said quickly, "I will not be able to find my way through here without your help…"
Kagome called upon the memories of her escape, guiding Sesshoumaru through the winding corridors with quiet words and barely felt nudges. She could feel him shaking against her body, quivering from anticipation or apprehension, she could not tell. Screams from further within the castle were getting louder with each turn of the hallways.
The demon lord of the west stopped suddenly, turned towards the doorway from which the screams were emanating. "Rin…" He whispered, setting the miko in his arms down on the dark wood flooring. "I'm coming…"
He raised up a clawed hand, and threw open the door, his eyes turning blood red at the sight beheld to him.
The smell of fear and arousal permeated the room with their thick odors. Rin was there, tied down to the bed, writhing in pain from the many tiny cuts on her naked body. She was facing the opposite side of the room, so Sesshoumaru's arrival went unnoticed to her. Naraku, however, was a different story. Clad in only a pale cream towel, he grinned sadistically at the demon paralyzed in the doorway. Meeting his eyes, the hanyou bent down and pressed his tongue to Rin's inner thigh. He licked his way up her body, ending at the curve of an ear.
Whispering loud enough for Sesshoumaru to hear as well, Naraku said maliciously, "Scream for your Sesshoumaru-sama." He bit down viciously at her neck, marking her as his own as he took away the most precious thing she had, her innocence.
End Chapter 8
Don't hurt meee….. ;-; I know I'm evil… This had to happen though, Sesshoumaru needs to be pushed past the edge of sanity for the next chapter. Sorry that it took so long to update, but hopefully, since it's summer break, the next one will be out soon!
Read, rate and review!
Ja
Albalannae
