Strangers and Secrets

Chapter 3

Bounding through the trees, following Kagome's scent, Inuyasha cursed himself for being a hundred kinds of a fool. He knew, somehow, that Hendomé was no good. Why didn't he just leave him there in the forest to die? An image of Kagome's pleading eyes flashed through his thoughts. He scowled. He knew why. Because all Kagome had to do was ask and he'd do anything for her. Lord, when did he become such a pushover?

'The moment you saw her standing in front of you, yelling, "The name's not Kikyo! It's Kagome! Ka-go-may! Got it?"'

Shaking his head, he bounded to another tree. He knew he should've killed her that day… 'Stupid!'

Looking down into a clearing, he saw Kagome. Her hands and legs were bound and a gag was over her mouth. She began wriggling wildly when she saw him, squeaking frantically. He jumped down, severed the bindings on her wrists and legs, then grasped her hands and pulled her up. Stumbling, she fell into his arms. He held her close, whispering to keep from being discovered, "Come on, stupid, let go of me long enough to take the gag off at least!"

Despite his harsh words, he held her tightly for a moment, muttering, "Geez, why did you run off like that? I told you that Hendomé was bad news, but you had to go all soft on me."

He started to pull away, but she held on.

"Come on, Kagome, let go so I can take off this gag. Kagome?" he asked when her arms held firm. He struggled harder, but she held on with inhuman strength. He looked at her face and saw tears running down her cheeks. It took a moment for things to click.

"Kagome, can you let me go?"

She shook her head.

"Are you trying?"

She nodded and even more tears flowed. His face darkened.

"Kagome, are you being controlled?"

She nodded once, and then pressed her face into his shirtfront as her shoulders began to heave with sobs. Not wanting to have her grip tighten even more, he merely held her, trying to comfort her as well as he could. He bent his arms, trying to reach the gag around her mouth, but to no avail.

"Kagome," he whispered, causing her to lean back and look at him with tearstained eyes, "Kagome, I have to take that gag off. Don't take this the wrong way, but I can't reach your head, so I'm gonna have to use my teeth, okay?"

Kagome just nodded, her eyes still full of tears. They widened a bit as he bent his head to meet hers. She felt his lips against her cheek, then his teeth as he worked to pry up the edge of the gag. One of his sharp canines dug a little too hard, causing her to emit a muffled whimper.

Latching on the edge of the cloth, Inuyasha bit right through it and tore away the strip. Grasping the wad of cloth that stuck out of her mouth, he tugged it out and spat it away. Kagome spluttered, gulping in lungfuls of clean air. He rested his head on top of hers comfortingly as her breaths became sobs.

"Inuyasha! You should've stayed away! I tried to warn you, but…" her voice broke and she sobbed harder. Sighing, Inuyasha just held her close.

A disembodied voice rang out.

"Ah, what a wonderfully tender sight. Come now Inuyasha, certainly you can't be serious? Why do you let that creature cling to you? More curious yet, why do you hold on to her? Surely you have not let yourself become attached to a mere mortal! Oh wait, I'd forgotten, you are a half demon, aren't you? Others have told stories about the tame half demon with the soft spot for human weaklings. Where are the others, Inuyasha? I heard you traveled with a whole entourage.

Grateful that Sango, Miroku and Shippo, their other traveling companions, had stayed behind with Kaede, Inuyasha snarled into the darkness.

"Show yourself, Hengomé, you coward!"

A vague form stepped out of the trees. "Stop calling me that. My name is Geillo! Hendomé was just a ridiculous ruse to entice your priestess into my trap. You are pathetic, Inuyasha. A real demon would've just broken the girl in two and freed itself by now. But, let's see how long you can wait."

The face that showed itself at last was only slightly familiar. The ice blue eyes were still there, and the long, black hair, but his handsome visage had faded, into a face so evil and unfeeling that it was almost…demonic. He was a demon! How had Inuyasha missed it? Geillo grinned vilely, disappearing into the darkness, and suddenly Inuyasha felt himself being held tighter. He relaxed so it wouldn't hurt Kagome or crush him. All of a sudden, Kagome's arms loosened slightly. Surprised, Inuyasha looked down at Kagome's face. Tears dripped down her cheeks. Then he smelled it. 'Blood.'

"Kagome, stop, he'll hurt you!"

"Inuyasha, I can hold for a minute! Get out quickly!"

He snarled, this time from frustration, "Not without you!"

Looking around, Inuyasha could barely think. Smelling Kagome's blood made him crazy with anger! Wait, blood! That was it!

"Kagome, let him pull your arms tighter!"

"What?"

Her eyes were wide, incredulous. Glaring, he growled, "Just hold me closer, would you?" Seeing that she still didn't believe him, he remembered what she had said.

'Honey, not vinegar.'

Forcing a smile, he muttered, "Just trust me…" he swallowed, "Please."

'Well, he's got me with that line,' Kagome thought ruefully. Still unsure, she tightened her arms around him, bringing her hands further around to his sides. With little grunts of concentration, Inuyasha twisted his arms up and around. Barely reaching her wrists, he wiped the blood from the cuts.

Again, Geillo's cruel voice cut through the night.

"So, instead of taking an opportunity to escape, you soothe the human's cuts. Oh, Inuyasha, you really are sad."

Inuyasha just smirked.

"You talk too much."

Opening bloodstained claws, he cried, "Blades of blood!" The fierce red arcs flew off to each side, connecting with the slim invisible wires holding Kagome's wrists and severing them. Suddenly loose, Kagome fell forward as her captor stumbled back.

Expecting her to fall, Inuyasha wrapped her in his arms again and steadied her on her feet. Then he turned back to Geillo…But something was happening.

The cruel faced demon stood facing Inuyasha, his sword already drawn. As they watched, a white mist poured from the tip, hardening into an all-too-familiar shape.

"Oh, no," Kagome gasped, watching the winged serpent uncoil from its resting place within the sword. "The demon from the other day!" She whirled on the man holding the sword. "You! You tricked us! This whole thing was your plan from the beginning. I'll bet you even faked your injuries, just to get close to us! I trusted you!" She flushed, thinking just how much she had trusted him…Shaking her head, she yelled, "I didn't even tell Inuyasha that you have a jewel shard! How could you?"

Inuyasha howled, "You didn't tell me he had a jewel shard? Stupid girl, what the heck were you thinking?"

"Inuyasha, watch out!" Kagome screamed, pointing behind him. The half-demon whirled, baring fangs and claws at the approaching serpent. The snake-thing faded left, using the same tactics from the last battle. But this time, Inuyasha had gotten ahead of him. Jumping on the serpent's back, he slid beneath and scored the creature's soft under flesh with his sharp claws. Writhing in pain, the creature dumped him on the ground. Kagome watched then as Geillo's sword pulsed and the serpent began to heal! Then, she saw a pink glow at the sword's hilt.

"Inuyasha!" she called, "The sword! That's where the jewel shard is! It's controlling the demon!"

Eyes flaring, Inuyasha turned on Geillo, who fled into the forest shadows. Making a tremendous leap into the air, he landed on Geillo's back, rending him with his claws. Grabbing the sword from the dying figure, he broke it over his knee, anger, frustration and pent up fury lending him strength. The blade broke apart cleanly at the hilt, and a single jewel shard flew into the air. The flying snake faded into an insubstantial mist and floated away harmlessly above the treetops.

Kagome staggered over to the jewel shard. Picking it up with two fingers, she chased away the shadows swirling inside it, leaving it shining with a bright, pinkish light. Standing, she faced Inuyasha over the pieces of the broken sword, all that was left of their "stranger."

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Author's Note: Well, from here on out, you have a choice. The first ending is what I imagined the show would end like on T.V. The second was a concession to the hopeless romantic in me. Choose which you want to read, or read them both and let me know which is better. One warning: The 2nd ending may get a little out of character. I'll try to keep them, but Inuyasha can be so gauche sometimes! He'll be a little more romantic than usual, just because…well, because I want him to be! Hope you enjoy the rest of "Strangers and Secrets."