Dark Kuuchuu
A/N: Alright people, sorry it took so long! I had some writer's block and got stuck right in the middle of the chapter. But to make up for it, the chapter is nice and long!
Listen, I modified the fourth chapter, so in case you haven't read the new version, I suggest you go read it again. I just really didn't like how little detail there was in the chapter, so I fixed it.
Well, I simply live for drama, and this chapter is full of it! So enjoy!
Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Inuyasha.
CHAPTER FIVE: Kanna's Escape and Kagome's Replacement
She hurried back into the cell to wake Kagura. She had to know what was going on. She had to escape with her.
"Kagura! Wake up!" Kanna hissed in a hurried panic. There were tears, real, actual tears in her pale eyes. She was afraid for Kagome, but she knew she had to escape, and she had to do it now. She knew she might never get another chance.
Kagura's ruby eyes slowly opened. She groaned slightly, rubbing her head. "Kanna…what's ha—" Kagura stopped short as she looked up at Kanna. Slowly Kagura sat up, staring at Kanna, her eyes wide. "Kanna…are you crying?" she asked, bewildered.
Kanna had no time to explain. "Kagura, the door is open! We must take this opportunity; it may never come again," Kanna said, pulling on Kagura's arm desperately.
Kagura's eyes widened even more at the open cell door. Naraku was nowhere in sight.
Kagura jumped up, grabbed Kanna's hand, and the two ran out of the cell. They hurried through the confusing corridors, running as fast as they could.
Kanna could hear the blood rushing in her ears, she could feel her breath catching in her chest, and the beating of her heart matched the pounding of their footsteps. Kanna was feeling her sixth emotion……fear.
They ran for what felt like hours; their throats and mouths dry, their legs aching; they could scarcely breathe by the time they finally reached the doors to the outside world.
Kagome let out a muffled scream as Naraku shut the door to another chamber; in this chamber, there was a small pool of black, impure water. Kagome's mind was blank with fear…was this really it? Was this really the end?
"You should know a little something about me, wench…" Naraku hissed in a deranged sort of tone, "I don't like it when people disobey me."
And suddenly, he picked Kagome up and threw her into the water, forcing her under, holding her there. He was going to drown her.
Kagome was too afraid to even think of holding her breath. She couldn't see; the water was all black. Bubbles poured from her mouth as she silently screamed Inuyasha's name, begging him to come and save her. She never got to tell him so many things, she never got to apologize for all the times she had yelled at him or called him a jerk, she never got to tell him how much she cared about him, how scared she became when Inuyasha was injured, how much she loved him.
She choked on the murky water, her lungs screaming for air as her head throbbed painfully. She could barely hear Naraku above her, laughing wickedly as she struggled to reach the surface. But Naraku was too strong; he held her down with both hands, and soon Kagome felt a sort of electric shock running through her body. Naraku squeezed her shoulders harder, and the pain of the shocking feeling doubled. Naraku was sending shots of pain throughout her body at his touch, and her lungs began to take in the water, trying so hard to breathe. Kagome's headache was worsening as well. She could barely see through the water. Her vision was dimming; she knew then that this would be the end.
He had caught Kagome's scent. It was mingled with blood and extremely strong waves of fear.
He had caught Naraku's scent. It was veiled in glee.
There had been no time to tell the others. The second Inuyasha had returned to Sengoku Jedai he had smelled Kagome's alarmingly terrified scent. He had also smelled a hint of death, which scared the hell out of him.
He's hurting her, Inuyasha thought in a panic as he raced through the forest, making twists and turns to follow the scents.
Dammit, why? First Naraku takes Kikyo away and now Kagome…..this can't be happening…I won't let her die!
"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed out, his voice echoing through the dark, cold woods.
The wind whipped through his silver hair as he ran. Although he didn't notice it, far above him two female demons were riding away on a feather, desperate to escape.
"Is this…right?" the girl asked timidly, her voice shaking. Her body was shaking as well from the cold, wintry wind that was whipping at her face.
"What do you mean, Kanna? We are escaping Naraku's enslavement, there's nothing wrong about it," Kagura told the girl shortly.
"I don't mean our escape…I'm talking about the miko, Kagome. We should have helped her…" Kanna said, her voice shaking still more violently. "We must go back, Kagura!" Kanna shouted suddenly.
"No! If we go back now, we will only be punished and imprisoned once again. What is more important to you, Kanna…your freedom or the life of one miko?" Kagura snapped, turning around to stare at Kanna.
Kanna's eyes widened, and she looked away. She stared down at the ground, so far below. Kagura turned back around to steer the feather as Kanna wept silently over the loss of Kagome…her…
…friend.
"Do you think Inuyasha was able to convince her to come back?" the taijiya asked nervously.
"It seems doubtful. Kagome was obviously very hurt at what she saw, and Inuyasha would have to make up an excellent excuse to get her to come back," the houshi replied, poking at the fire before him.
"Inuyasha should just forget about his pride and admit he has feelings for Kagome! He's already made it more than obvious!" the kitsune said irritably, petting the neko-demon Kirara.
"We all know that Inuyasha has feelings for Kagome, but he also seems to still have feelings for Kikyo as well," Miroku replied wisely. "I have told Inuyasha many times that he needs to choose, and his excuse is that he doesn't want to."
"But he needs to. This whole situation is hurting Kagome more than anyone else," Sango said sympathetically. She knew how it felt to love someone when they didn't love you back.
"If Inuyasha doesn't do anything soon, Kagome might just get so upset that she'll leave us forever!" Shippo pouted, still stroking the sleeping Kirara.
"She might have already done so," Miroku replied softly, looking in the direction of the well. The others looked as well…only to feel a dark presence approaching, and the scent of clay and gravedirt carried on the wind.
They landed softly on the grass, where they were miles away from the castle.
"This is where we part, Kanna. I must seek shelter, and I believe I know who to go to…" Kagura said, thinking of Sesshomaru.
"Kagome asked me to deliver this piece of the jewel to Inuyasha," Kanna said softly, holding up the jewel.
"Well, you are near to the village where that old miko Kaede lives. Kaede knows Inuyasha, and she will surely tell you where to find him. But do you really think it is wise to give Inuyasha such a large fragment of the jewel?" Kagura asked the girl, raising a brow.
"Whether it is wise or foolish, it was Kagome's last wish, and I will carry it out for her," Kanna said in a soft, distant voice.
Kagura nodded respectfully and she prepared to toss out her feather. "Farewell, Kanna," she said quietly, and with that, she threw the feather and it grew large enough to seat her. She leapt on and flew off into the sky, where the sun was setting.
"Farewell…….Kagura…" Kanna replied softly, pausing to look up at the sky and watch Kagura's silhouette until it vanished.
"So…you'll always be there to protect her, will you?" the woman asked in a voice of deadly calm. Her voice shook and her eyes were shining with tears.
"Please I—I didn't—I mean I…she just—" he stuttered nervously, desperately trying to find the right words. His throat kept getting tighter and tighter, and his eyes were burning with tears.
"You gave me your word! You promised me you would protect my little girl!" the woman cried, tears falling down her cheeks as her voice cracked. She turned away from him and began to cry into her hands.
"No, no! I—I couldn't! She j-just…I…p-please…I-I'm sorry…but—she…" he couldn't bring himself to finish. Nothing he could say would change anything. His throat felt as though it had closed completely. His chest ached with so much pain…guilt…
"What you have done is…is…unforgivable. Leave my house," the woman choked out.
"Please! J-just hear me out—she r-ran and—I didn't know!" he cried desperately.
"LEAVE, INUYASHA! DON'T EVER COME BACK TO THIS PLACE!" the woman turned to face him as she shouted at him.
Far away, he could hear her screaming for him…he could see her blood, he could smell it…and it was all his fault…she had trusted him…they all had trusted him…
"INUYASHA, HELP ME! PLEASE!" she screamed. Her cries echoed in his head until he got so dizzy that he was sure he was going to throw up. His whole body began to shake as he began to cry. She was screaming so loudly…the scent of blood was so strong…
"LEAVE, INUYASHA!" Ms. Higurashi screeched, her eyes red and blotchy from crying.
"Inuyasha…help…m-me…" she was gasping for breath now…
Her blood was everywhere…all over the Higurashi home, all over him…it was his fault…it was his fault…
"KAGOME!"
Inuyasha shot up from the ground and looked around wildly. What the hell happened? his mind screamed.
He could feel his eyes still itching with tears from his dream. He also felt a trickle of something warm on his forehead…
He placed a finger to his forehead and stared, stunned, at the blood. He let out another anguished yell before he realized it was his own blood, not Kagome's.
He looked to the left to see a very large rock with a spot of blood on it. Finally, he remembered what had happened…he had been so lost in his worry for Kagome that he had tripped over the rock and fallen to the ground, unconscious.
His breathing suddenly became much heavier. He had lost Kagome's scent, Naraku's scent……he had lost all possible leads…panic overtook him.
What if…the dream… he wondered frantically. His eyes widened and his heart raced. He could scarcely breathe, he was so afraid.
"No, she'll be fine!" Inuyasha shouted loudly to no one. But he knew it wasn't true…he had lost their scents…he had let her slip through his fingers again.
With another cry of agony, Inuyasha fell to the ground, leaning heavily on a tree. He whimpered. What was he going to tell the others? They were going to kill him…
But more importantly…what was he going to do? Kagome was in danger, and he was sitting against a tree…lost and helpless.
And even worse…what if she was—
"NO." Inuyasha barked sternly, although his voice shook. He sniffed the air fiercely, desperately trying to pick up her scent, wishing more than anything that he could just catch the sweet scent of ichigos and banira on the wind.
But there was nothing.
He leaned against the tree, his heart throbbing excruciatingly hard, and quietly allowed himself to cry.
There was a knock at the door.
The old miko rose up from her seat on the floor and went to open the door. She let out a startled cry.
"You wicked demon! What business have ye here?" Kaede cried, staring at Kanna angrily.
"I bring you no harm, Lady Kaede. I only wish to find Inuyasha," Kanna said softly and as gently as she could.
"Oh? And what do ye want with him?" Kaede questioned, still suspicious.
"Please, I promise you that I am not here for a fight. I am only here on…Kagome's wishes…" Kanna added slowly, looking away.
"Ye know the whereabouts of Kagome?" Kaede gasped.
"I do, but by now it…it won't matter. I must find Inuyasha," Kanna added quickly as she felt her eyes sting.
"Of course it will matter! Where is Kagome?" Kaede asked anxiously. She certainly found it strange that Kanna would do a favor for anyone…but there was definitely a different sort of aura around Kanna at the moment. It was almost kind.
"She…she is in Naraku's castle. But by now I fear that any attempts at rescuing her will be…t-too late…" Kanna stammered, swallowing hard.
"What do ye mean, child?" Kaede asked, her eyes widening with worry.
"I fear that…Naraku has already…" Kanna shut her eyes tightly, trying to compose herself. She tried to continue, but she simply couldn't, so instead she said, "Please, I must know where Inuyasha is!"
"He is out looking for Kagome! What did Kagome wish for ye to do with him?" Kaede asked gently. Kaede felt sure Kanna was trying to say that Naraku had killed Kagome…but why? What had Kagome done to him?
"She asked me to bring him the shards of the jewel. …Where was the last place he searched for Kagome?" Kanna asked uneasily.
Kaede gave Kanna a strange look. Kanna had not performed any treacherous acts; she was innocently trying to deliver the shikon jewel to Inuyasha. This was definitely a first for Kanna.
"I last saw him at the Bone-Eater's Well," Kaede replied softly.
"Thank you," Kanna said, bowing slightly, and she quickly left in search for Inuyasha.
Kaede knew she had to hurry and tell the others what had happened.
"Kikyo, what are you doing here?" Miroku asked, raising a brow at the woman of clay.
"I have heard about what has happened. I know of Kagome's capture," Kikyo replied.
"W-what are you talking about? Inuyasha went to get Kagome a while ago!" Shippo piped up, his eyes wide.
"Then he has not yet found her. He probably won't, either. Kagome is being held captive in Naraku's castle," Kikyo told them coldly.
Sango jumped up immediately. "Then we have to go and help Inuyasha find her!" Sango cried in alarm.
"It is pointless. Naraku has hidden his castle extremely well. I doubt Inuyasha has found it," Kikyo told her calmly.
Sango was about to protest about the pointlessness of the matter, but Kikyo cut her off.
"Kagome is more than likely dead, and therefore, I wish to take her place among you as jewel seeker."
"KAEDE!" Inuyasha cried, running towards her. He had decided that the best thing to do would be to tell the others what had happened, and just then he saw Kaede crossing his path.
"Kaede, Kagome is—" Inuyasha began breathlessly, but Kaede cut him off.
"I know. There is no time to waste. We must tell the others immediately and see if anything can be done," Kaede said in a hurried voice.
Inuyasha bent down and Kaede got on his back, and off they hurried to the others. Inuyasha's heart was still pounding fiercely in his chest. His breathing was labored, as though icicles of fear had stabbed through his chest.
"Kikyo, you cannot replace Kagome. I know for a fact Inuyasha would not allow it," Miroku snapped at the clay doll.
"Why don't we ask him? Here he comes now…" Kikyo said loftily as Inuyasha leapt out of the forest and into view.
"INUYASHA! KAGOME DIDN'T GO HOME, SHE'S BEEN—"
"DAMNIT, I KNOW!" Inuyasha shouted at Shippo before he could finish. He skidded to a halt in front of the group and let Kaede off his back.
"Kikyo, what the fuck are you doing here?" Inuyasha growled at her. He was too nervous and afraid right now to have to deal with her.
"I am Kagome's replacement," she answered simply as she began to approach Inuyasha.
He glared at her. Suddenly he felt more hate for her than he had ever felt in his life. Who the fuck does she think she is, trying to replace Kagome? Kagome's not even dead…is she?
Kikyo was face to face with Inuyasha now, and she looked as though she were about to kiss him.
Full of anger, hate, fear and sorrow, Inuyasha pulled his arm back…
…and struck Kikyo in the face.
A/N: That was the longest chapter I've ever written for any story ever. BE GRATEFUL. And review, of course!