STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: Inuyasha and all its characters do not belong to me. They belong to their rightful owner, Rumiko Takahashi. This is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Title: The Nexus of Satisfaction
Author: Gladiel
Series: Inuyasha
Genre: General
Rating: PG
Word-count: 336
Summary: Darkness is an ongoing circle; but that doesn't mean you have to travel it alone.

THE NEXUS OF SATISFACTION
chapter sixteen
oblivion.


A surreal darkness engulfed her; it tore her body into tiny shards that brought her pain. Glass bit into her, drawing out blood that seemed to flow endlessly. She gasped, seeking air that would suffice for a badly-worn body. For every second that passed, it became more than a mere trial for her to take in that unseen substance she needed to survive.

Voices were shouting, drowning in the wind; their words were garbled sounds she could not understand. She tried to move both arms and legs but they refused to budge, even for an inch or so. Finally, she managed to scratch the dusty ground, proving once again that she was master of her body. Blinded by an unexplainable darkness she couldn't understand, she failed to see anything.

Kagome felt the growing power of fear. The ugly sensation followed her, a faithful dog to its owner. What? Why? Questions rolled unanswered. She was left in the dark. Who? Where? Things she wanted to know—needed to know—she had forgotten, and there were no information volunteered.

She feared it: the sudden attack of dread and the state of loneliness, the sudden realization that nobody was in the dark with her. Alone she stood at the middle of a wooden bridge, ancient strings keeping the boards together. Below her was an empty abyss covered with mist that made it impossible for a mere human to identify its mysterious contents.

Where will it end?

Soon, there was nothing but an unwelcome numbness. She faced the starless sky, deprived of having the comfort of vision.

She became aware of someone lifting her up as an arm felt warm against her cold skin. She recognized the overpowering odor of blood as she was held close to whoever took her.

The act of being lifted made her question: was she going to be saved from this dark nothingness? Was she also going to be lifted from this state of unwanted isolation?

Bordering at the state of oblivion, she herself couldn't answer.

chapter sixteen end.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: theme #18: black; entitled 'Oblivion'. Please review.