Chapter 15: Kagome's Sacred Barrier
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but the storyline is mine.
Author's Note: Ok…so I haven't updated as much as I would've hoped, but as always work has me busy as hell, so I'm always tired, yadayadayada…enough with that. But anyway, yeah, you might have noticed by now that some of the stuff the characters are doing is a bit OOC, but well, I have to make some adaptations, right? Right. : ) So….here's the new chapter! Yay:D Please review! I love hearing feedback, so anything you have to say will be of help. (Note: that doesn't include retarded flames that have no sort of constructive commentary. K? k.) Thanks for reading! azami
Last time: Kaede nodded, and Inuyasha smirked. "Good. Now it'll be easier to save you when you get yourself in trouble." He nudged Kagome's side, as to assure her that he was only being playful and she smirked back at him.
"Yeah well I'm sure there's gonna be a time or two that I'll hafta save your butt too, mister." Kaede shook her head as the two rose from their spots. "Thanks for clearing that up, Kaede. We'll leave you be now. Goodnight!" Kagome called, waving as they left the hut.
"Good night childe, and I pray to the kamis that you will have the strength to endure," Kaede said quietly, waving back at the young miko.
After speaking to Kaede, Inuyasha and Kagome attempted to grow more accustomed to their newfound ability to hear the other's thoughts. As Kaede said, it would take some time and patience for them to learn how to master the skill, and enable themselves with the ability to know when to do so. For the remainder of the day, after the little talk, there were multiple moments in which the others heard Kagome shouting "SIT!" and Inuyasha crashing into the ground.
"SIT! SIT! SIT!" Kagome voice screamed in the distance. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo all winced, knowing that the hanyou was now receiving punishment for things he more than likely hadn't even said out loud.
"Though Inuyasha is more than likely somewhat deserving of what he's receiving, I do hope that Kagome will soon learn to have more patience with his inaudible thoughts," Miroku said, shaking his head. "We can't very well have Inuyasha out of commission constantly due to a broken back."
Sango furrowed her brow, but nodded. "Yes…that is true. But perhaps he should also learn how to control his thoughts." Miroku smirked at her, and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
"Now now, my dear lovely Sango, surely you can't expect Inuyasha to never have an…uh…improper thought whilst around the woman he loves. I know that I have a hard time doing so," he said, grinning. The demon slayer narrowed her eyes at her future husband, but leaned into him as they nestled closer together.
"Yes well….still," she began, but her thoughts were intervened upon as Miroku softly pressed his lips to hers. "Miroku…not in front of Shippo…" she said, giggling slightly, her cheeks flush. Shippo shook his head, and turned away.
"Stupid grown-ups…c'mon Kirara. We can find better things to do than watching this mushy junk," he said, beckoning Kirara to follow him. Kirara mewed in agreement, prancing after the annoyed kitsune.
At Naraku's Castle….
Kikyo awoke to find herself laying in a lavish bed, but was unsure of exactly where she was. The room was dark, as night had already fallen. "Where am I?" she thought to herself, looking about the room. She attempted to lift herself into a sitting position, but faltered greatly. "I'm still so weak…I don't…I don't understand…" The dead miko attempted again to pull herself up, using the wall behind the bed to brace herself. This time she managed to hoist herself upright, and weakly flung one leg over the side of the bed. Her breathing had grown ragged as she struggled to move her body. Just then, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked up quickly as her head could move, and her eyes fell upon Kanna, Naraku's child-like incarnation.
"Hello…" Kikyo said quietly, but the girl showed no sign of response. "You're Kanna, aren't you?" The girl stared at Kikyo, her stoic face motionless. The both remained quiet. Kikyo eyed the peculiar girl, unsure of why she had stood staring for so long.
"Father asked me to inform him when you awoke," the girl said suddenly. Kanna then turned on her heels, and left the room before Kikyo could respond. Kikyo watched her go, and then tried again to hoist herself to her feet. Instead, she fell into a crumpled heap on the floor. She heard a dark chuckle come from the doorway, and she knew it was him.
"You know…you really do look quite lovely in such a subservient position," he said leering down at her. Kikyo forced her head to rise, looking up at his sneering face.
"Don't you dare speak of me in such a manner," she spat hoarsely. "You are nothing but filth and slime, Naraku."
Naraku chuckled darkly in response. "Tsk tsk tsk, Kikyo…really…you should watch your tone with me. After all, I have been more than hospitable, watching over you and all. I mean…really... you owe me quite a bit of thanks, don't you think?"
Kikyo narrowed her eyes at him, still positioned on all fours in front of him. "I owe you nothing," she hissed spitefully. Naraku laughed again, now picking her up and placing her back on the bed. Kikyo couldn't muster the strength to struggle out of his grasp, so she lay there, limp upon the top of the bed.
"Oh…but you do…and I'll have my penance, whether you agree to it or not," he said, his voice now showing no hint of amusement. His tone was cold, and unyielding. This struck a note of fear into Kikyo's being. She now stared up at him, her eyes wide.
"That's more like it…show me your fear…I enjoy seeing your fear and pain, my lovely Kikyo…," Naraku murmured, his voice almost unrecognizable. He moved closer to the bed, sitting beside her and brought a hand to her mid-section, and leaning forward to caress her cheek. "You need only obey me…and you will be spared. I have, after all, kept your fate dear in my heart."
Kikyo scoffed, jerking her face from his reach. "Your heart? You have no heart Naraku." Naraku's body stiffened.
"Ah…but that is my very problem, Kikyo. My body still posses the heart of Oni-Gumo…the heart that is still in love with you. This is what prevents me from killing you," Naraku said quietly, his tone now stoic. "But heed me…I will get what I want…by any means necessary." He then moved quickly, straddling her body. Kikyo stared back at him sternly, the resistance prominent in her eyes. She attempted to push him away, but was unsuccessful at mustering enough physical energy to do so. "Perhaps if you weren't so fixated on that half-breed dog, you might see things my way."
"Inuyasha is more of a man than you will ever be!" she hissed seethingly. Naraku laughed loudly.
"Oh look who's so appraising of the mutt now. Don't fool yourself, Kikyo. We both know that he wants the girl. He doesn't want his mate to be one of the walking dead. You're not better than I, and its time you realize that," he said, leaning in closer to her face. "And you will get what you deserve." With that he forcefully pressed his mouth to her. Kikyo cried out, but it was muffled by Naraku's kiss.
"Naraku, someone is approaching the barrier," a voice suddenly said from the doorway. Naraku and Kikyo both looked to the door and saw Kagura silhouetted again the light. Naraku sneered, climbing off Kikyo, and then left quickly.
Kagura entered the room, and approached the bed, looking down at Kikyo, smirking slightly. "Thank you…" Kikyo whispered. Kagura shrugged indifferently.
"Someone was approaching the barrier…though I wouldn't have wanted to be in the position you were in. But I have to ask…what was with defending Inuyasha? I'd gathered that you hated him." Kagura, looking down at the weak miko. Kikyo turned her gaze away from Kagura, looking as though she'd suddenly slipped into a trance of some sort.
"I hate that he has abandoned me for…her. His allegiance should be with me. He should be by MY side…it is his duty to go to hell with me…he swore that he would," Kikyo said, her tone harsh.
Kagura smirked to herself. "Well…with Naraku helping you, surely you'll get your revenge," she said, leaving the room, closing the door behind her. Once out of the door, Kagura laughed silently. "Little do you know, it'll be you and Naraku that suffer the downfall."
Back with Kagome…
Kagome walked along the riverside, arms crossed over her chest, and mumbling under her breath. "Sometimes he can be suck a JERK!"
Throughout the day, Kagome and Inuyasha had partaken in multiple rows that were a result of their newfound ability to read the other's thoughts. Kagome had SAT him so man times that Inuyasha was now feeling rather sore. After the last argument, they'd taken off in opposite directions in a huff while the others stood bye and watched them, shaking their heads. Kagome stopped at the river's edge and kneeled down, looking at her distorted reflection in the running water.
"You'd think he'd be even a LITTLE more courteous now that we're mates!" She sighed, frowning deeply. "Well…it's not as if he actually said those things…but he DID think them! But maybe I was a little unfair…" The young miko sighed again, feeling saddened by her argument with her mate. Suddenly, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as a intensely dark, evil ray of energy washed over her body.
"A demonic aura…" she whispered to herself. Kagome jumped to her feet at once, swinging her body around, scanning the area around her. She instinctively grabbed for her bow, but then remembered that they rested against the wall of Kaede's hut, where she'd last left them. "Dammit," she muttered.
"Now what am I gonna do?" The aura's direction shifted, and this told her that demon was now moving about the bushes, stalking her every moment. Kagome turned and began to sprint in the direction opposite the village. As she weaved her way through the trees, she found that she was able to more far more quickly than she could in the past. It also seemed as though her vision had improved. Her sense smell had become keener, allowing her to pick up scents of things not in her immediate area. Without much time to think on these things, Kagome simply attempted to stay ahead of the demon that was now tracking her through the forest. Feeling the aura grow somewhat weaker, Kagome took this as a moment to catch her breath and figure out what her next move would be. She stopped by a large tree, ducking behind its wide trunk. Her chest heaved as she attempted to catch her breath, and her mind raced, searching for a possible escape from this demon's path. She knew that it was in search of the jewels that hang from the vile on a chain around her neck. She clutched the jewel chards and furrowed her brow. Suddenly something dropped from the tree, landing directly in front of her.
"Now I have you, pretty little wench," the creature sneered, cackling. "Now hand over those shards of the Shikhon jewel before I devour you!" The large, grotesquely shaped bear demon lunged out a clawed hand, attempted to snatch the shards, but was deflected when Kagome threw up her arms to stop him.
"Inuyaasshaa! Please! Help me," Kagome screamed within her thoughts. Keeping her arms up, she stood perfecting still, caring only about protecting the shards from this demon. And then, as if out of nowhere, someone came crashing through the trees.
"IRON REEVER SOUL STEALER!" called out the voice of Inuyasha as he ripped through the body of the bear demon with his bare claws, turning it to dust. Kagome felt her body shaking as she lowered her arms, and saw the face of her beloved mate.
"Inuyasha!" she cried out, tears streaming from her eyes. She stepped toward him but stumbled. Inuyasha was quick to her side, catching her before she fell to the ground. She quickly fainted away, falling against him.
"Kagome! Are you okay? Kagome?" he asked hurriedly, quickly bringing himself to the ground and pulling her into his lap. "Kagome!"
Kagome's eyes fluttered opened, and her gaze connected with Inuyasha's. "You came…" she said, smiling faintly.
"Of course I did. I heard you screaming…" he replied, staring firmly into her eyes. "I came as fast as I could…and when I got here…" His voice dropped off, and he looked as though he had suddenly slipped deeply into thought, his eyes glazed over slightly.
"Inuyasha? What is it?" Kagome asked, concerned. She brought her hand to his cheek, sending a wave of warmth over his body. He shook his head, as if attempting to bring himself out of a trance. His gaze shifted to her face, studying her for a moment.
"Kagome…when I first saw you, as I came through the trees…there was this strange glow around you….it almost looked…it almost looked like a barrier.." he said, rattling the words off, staring down at her. "And it was the same color your arrows…a kinda pale rosy pink color…and it was keeping the demon from getting to you…" Now a confused look spread to Kagome's face.
"A…barrier? The same color as my sacred arrows? But…that can't be… I can't create a barrier…" Kagome sputtered, growing more confused. "Can I?" She looked at him, searching for an answer.
Inuyasha shrugged. "Well...I guess you can, really. I mean…you're a reincarnated miko…and Ki-well… Kaede can produce a barrier can't she?" Kagome frowned slightly, thinking on what he was saying. It was true that Kaede could produce a sacred barrier as a measure of protection…Kikyo could as well…and it was Kikyo that she was reincarnated from, after all.
"Well…I guess I might possess the ability, but it doesn't mean I know how to do it," Kagome said, shaking her head. Inuyasha then rose to his feet, pulling her up with him, cradling her in his arms.
"Are you feelin ok though? That's my main concern," he asked her, searching her face.
"Yeah, I think so…I just feel really tired for some reason…like all my energy is sapped…" she said in a wearied tone.
"Well, I'm gonna take you to Kaede so she can check you out and make sure," Inuyasha said firmly, then taking off in the direction of the village.
They arrived in the village quickly, and upon their entrance, Sango and Miroku noticed that Inuyasha was carrying Kagome in his arms. "Inuyasha! Kagome! Is everything alright!" Sango called out, rushing toward them.
"Where's Kaede? I want her to check out Kagome," Inuyasha said, ignoring Sango's question. Miroku nodded and went off to find the old miko. Inuyasha then headed into Kaede's hut, with Sango following closely after him.
Once inside the hut, Inuyasha gently lowered Kagome onto the nearest bed mat. "Kagome? Are you okay?" Sango asked, breathing heavily from trying to keep up with Inuyasha.
Kagome smiled weakly, "Yeah I'm okay Sango…just a little tired I guess…" The girl lowered herself into a laying position, closing her eyes. Her voice was faint and tired, and Sango knew this to be very unlike Kagome. Sango eyed her friend with great concern and then shifted her gaze to Inuyasha.
"What happened to her," Sango demanded, her fists clenched, but the hanyou's eyes were fixed on his mate. After a seemingly long period of silence, Inuyasha spoke.
"She was being attacked by a bear demon who was after the shards," Inuyasha said absently. His eyes did now leave from the now sleeping form of Kagome. "When I got there, she was holding it off with a barrier." Sango's eyes grew wide, and Inuyasha finally looked at her.
"A barrier? But how…" Sango said, trying to comprehend what Inuyasha had just said.
"I dunno…but I'm hoping Kaede can explain," he said, shrugging, and then shifted his gaze back to Kagome.
A few moments later, Kaede rushed in looking flushed, followed by Miroku. "Inuyasha! What has happened to Kagome? Were ye two attacked?"
"I'm fine Kaede, but Kagome is feeling strangely tired. She was being attacked by a bear demon, and I heard her screaming and I went to save her. But when I got there, she had somehow put a barrier up around herself." Inuyasha explained.
"Hmm…a barrier ye say? Interesting…" Kaede murmured, now kneeling beside the girl, looking over her. "Alright, now I just check Kagome over, so all of ye need to leave for the time being." Sango and Miroku both nodded, and turned to leave; however, Inuyasha stayed where he stood.
"I'm not goin anywhere. She's my mate and I'm stayin," he said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. The old miko looked up at him and saw the determination on his face. Knowing that youkai were extremely protective of their mates, she knew better than to attempt to make him leave.
"Very well," Kaede said, nodding.
Kaede quickly examined Kagome, finding that she had no offending bruises or cuts to her flesh, but she easily sensed that the girl had grown somewhat weak. She placed a cool compress on the girl's head, and covered her with a blanket. "So is she alright or what?" Inuyasha said impatiently, still watching Kagome. It made him nervous that she'd been passed out for so long. She'd sounded so weak…
Kaede nodded, "Yes, she shall be fine. Right now she needs a good amount of rest, and when she wakes, something to eat. Until then, ye must let her sleep." She rose to her feet, and began to approach the door.
"Right…but…Kaede…how was Kagome able to produce a barrier around herself?" Inuyasha asked, still watching the sleeping Kagome.
Kaede turned and looked at him, her expression serious. "As I mentioned to ye previously, now that the destined bond is in tact, ye both will experience a growth in the power which ye possess. Kagome was able to produce a barrier of protection most undoubtedly due to an increase in the potency of her spiritual powers. At this stage, her ability to do so is most comparable to when ye experience turning into a full blood demon when ye are in danger and without the Tetsaiga," she explained.
"So now Kagome can do what…well she can use her spiritual powers to do stuff like form barriers?" Inuyasha asked, trying to figure out what exactly was happening to his mate.
"Yes, that is one of the abilities it seems she has developed, but I shall discuss it further with ye when Kagome awakens. I'm sure that she will have more to share with us when she is able." With that, Kaede left the hut. Inuyasha then lowered himself to the ground, pulling Kagome closer into him. He wrapped his arms around her protectively, nuzzling her with great affection.
"You're gonna be fine, Kagome…I'll make sure of it. And whatever's going on…we're in this together…" he thought.
So Kagome's down for the count again…but she can now produce a sacred barrier. This could come in handy….meanwhile, what's up with Naraku's creepy and odd behavior toward Kikyo? It seems that Kikyo is getting more than she bargained for. Is Kikyo simply yet another pawn in his plan to bring down Inuyasha and the others! Guess you'll have to read next time to find out! PLEASSSSSSEEEEE REVIEW! Thanks! ;) azami