Disclaimers: I own Nothing
Authors Beginning Note: At this moment in time I would like to thank all of my loly readers/reviewers for all of your support. I've been lack with my resposes, but I want you all to know that I greatly appreciate you putting in the effort of reading and responding. >me bowing humbly before you
The Christmas Dolls
Chapter 12
Silver Tipped Arrows
Kagome slid past thousands of bodies. It was eerie, being one of the few to speak. She could hear the priests' voices echoing in the grand hall. She stepped out into an open hallway and began walking quickly.
I have to get to the armory…a bow…and arrow…if I can kill Naraku…I can't let him kill that man…or Shippo…or destroy this country…
Images of Shippo, then the little girl who had first given her a flower on the street and the joyous people.
Footsteps. She heard footsteps. Instead of turning around she quickened her pace. Left turn. Walking even faster she took another turn.
What if its Naraku…or Kagura…I have to do something…Pulling out a weighted fan, often used as a weapon, especially favored for its easy to conceal form, Kagome threw it with barely trained skill and ran, but before she could get very far, she tripped on her kimono and it ripped all the way up to her knee this time.
Footsteps came closer and closer.
Oh no…oh no…this is it…I'm going to die…"Damn clumsy wench. Watch where you throw your garbage next time." Her head shot up. Instead of the dark maroon eyes, she was met by golden orbs of molten amber. Her heart stopped.
"Inuyasha?" He lifted her up off the ground, roughly by the arm.
"Feh." They stood there, Kagome couldn't help but stare at Inuyasha's transformation, but something caught her eye that she just couldn't resist.
"Are you just gonna keep staring, or…what are you doing?" Kagome reached up and gently began to rub his ears.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't touch those!" He backed up suddenly. Kagome giggled.
"Sorry. I couldn't help it. They're cute."
"Stupid girl. Wasting time. Lets go."
"Wait! I have something for you."
"What now?" Kagome began to take off her Kimono and Inuyasha quickly turned, clearly embarrassed.
"Um, I really don't think now is the time…"
"Here." His red Haori hit him in the head. Turning around, he saw the torn Kimono on the floor, and Kagome stood dressed in her school uniform.
"I'm sorry I had to wear it. Kagura stole it from me, I didn't want her to take it back so I kept it with me." Inuyasha looked it over, noticing the stitching and the clearly feminine smell it now wore, it warme dhim, reminding him of his mother. He, however wouldn't let her know how much he liked it.
"Great. Now it smells like sweat."
"Well sorry! What a Jerk." Kagome stormed past him down the hallway, muttering about how rude, inconsiderate, and insensitive Inuyasha was.
"What did I do?"
"I'm not talking to you!" Something hit Inuyasha, a smell. It made him growl from the back of his throat.
"Kagome stop." She turned, sensing a change in his behavior. He stood in front of her and brought out Tetsusaiga, who was impossibly large and shiny.
"Stand behind me." She did just as he said, afraid of what might happen.
"Okay."
"Well now, it seems we have an intruder and an escapee. Naraku won't be pleased." Kagura stepped out from the shadows, sizing up the competition.
"You must be Inuyasha the half-demon."
"Shut up!"
"How rude. Fortunately I did come to fight with you."
"What do you want?" Inuyahsa demanded. Kagura's nose flared just a bit, and her eyes shone with deadly anger, instead of answering him, she ignored his presence and looked directly at Kagome as she spoke.
"Kagome. You know what I want. Go down this passage and up three flights of stairs. There is a room, that's locked. Find the silver shafted arrows and long bow."
"But…"
"You want to protect that Kitsune of yours? To go home? I suggest you hurry." The word barely escaped before she began to pant and her body shudder. She fell to one knee, grasping her chest. Her eyes were wide and unregistering, she bit her lip, unwilling to let any cry ofagony to escape.
"Kagura." Kagome went to aid her, but the moment of understanding had slipped by.
"I don't need help! Especially not yours!" Kagome was pusheddirectly into Inuyasha's chestby Kagura who violently stood.
Kagura waved her fan and sickles that sliced everything in their path came directly at them, as Inuyasha gathered Kagome, ran and turned sharply the way they had come from, before pulling her to the ground with him, using himself as a shield should the attack move at them.
A moment went by, and the blades had all deceased. They got up and Kagura was gone, as was the hallway and roof above them.
"Now how are we supposed to get there?"
"Get on my back."
"Huh?" She looked at him as he lowered himself to the ground.
"You heard me, now just do it!"
"Well, okay." Tentatively she got on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, inhaling his warm smell. With a squeal, Inuyasha leapt into the air and on top of the roof, where he leapt and took off running at an incredible speed. Things blurred and her heart leapt in fear and thrilled excitement.
"Your so fast!" Kagome tried to say over the wind, to her, the words were lost completely, but she quickly found that that was not so for Inuyasha.
"Not so loud! It hurts my ears!"
"Sorry." She said at a considerably quieter level. He seemed to nod, before jumping up on a wooden balcony and landing gracefully. Kagome gently slipped off of his back and turned to the only the door that was visible and slid it open with ease.
"It…its awful…" Kagome stepped back, and Inuyasha stepped past her.
"It was Kikyo's room." He said solomly.Kagome swallowed a lump in her throatbefore entered. It was a grand and illustrious room, but held heavy emotions of fear and bitterness. To the one wall, a bed mattress, and messy sheets covered red stains that was openly visible through the slashed gossamer curtains. It looked as Kagome had imagined it to be from reading, and the tellings- a murder sight. Besides that, were old lamps, a chest and mirror on the other side of the wall, pictures hanging, vases of long since dead flowers, a fireplace of old reaking ashes, and wooden board floors. The room smelled of old incense and dust.
It must have been very beautiful…especially to live in it…Kagome watched as Inuyasha hesitated in front of the mirror. He touched his reflection, but as the small claws tapped the glass, he balled his hands into a fist and determinedly looked away.
Its what I wanted…for now…better than a human…but still…a half-demon…someday though…He was surprised when Kagome touched his shoulder.
"What do you see…when you look in the mirror?" He jerked his shoulder from under her hand.
"None of your damn business."
"You know what I see?"
"Do I care?"
"I see a boy, a little older than me, who's tall, and arrogant, who's always wearing a smug look on his face that makes me just want to step on his toes." Inuyasha snorted. Kagome sat on a chest as she went on.
"But he has sad eyes."
"Just like a girl. Going all mushy."
"Like he's been hurt one too many times, and doesn't really trust anyone any more. Not even himself." He stopped and turned.
A large blast was heard, that made the room shake, and some of the boards to creak dangerously. Kagome stumbled forward, and the chest also rocked, and its contents dumped to the ground. From her new view on the floor, at the opened chest, Kagome could see a quiver, with silver tipped arrows imbedded inside that had landed only a little ways from her. Right beside it, closer to the chest, a long bow slipped fully to the ground.
"I found it!"
"Kagome, wait…" She crawled to the quiver and bow. Right as she grabbed her possessions, the floor gave out.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha grabbed her flailing hand just in time. She dangled in air, as she looked down at a few of the other floors that had caved in. He quickly pulled her up and away from danger, and she fell to her bum, looking at the black abyss. She clutched her new possesions with tightness, now in both hands, gaining her breath back.
"Lets go." Kagome gave a nod of confirmation, stoodand got back on his back, trying not to let her wobblyness show. Just as Inuyasha seemingly flew through the air, the old abandoned part of the castle collapsed in upon itself.