Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, still don't own Inuyasha.
Hey! Sorry this took so long, but it's lengthy to make up for the time. Hope ya like it.
*Warning*!!!!!- Attempted rape in this chapter. . . please note "ATTEMPTED" so don't hurt me!
If You Only Knew: Chapter 5
Naraku untied the girl's hands and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Upon returning to his "room," he pretty much threw her to the floor. Looking at his kimono, an expression of disgust crossed his face. 'I'm covered in that damn human's blood.' Smirking he realized it would infuriate Inuyasha further, and for that he would put up with it.
'Now it's time to continue with my plan.'
"Kagura! Kanna!"
Kagura scowled. 'What does he want now!' Erasing the frown from her face, she entered the room. Kanna soundlessly followed.
"What is it that you need now, Naraku." She nearly spat it at him.
"I want you to take Kanna and send a message to Inuyasha's love rival, I have a proposition for him." He proceeded to rip Kagome's shirt off her body, which was soaked in her blood. "If he needs persuasion, give him this."
Kagura stared at the piece of clothing as if it would bite her before finally taking it from his hand. 'I am so sick of doing his dirty work!'
"Very well. Kanna, let's go."
Kanna promptly nodded and turned to leave after the older detachment.
"And Kagura." Hearing the dangerous tint to his voice, she stopped, but didn't turn around. "Mind your tone. Do not forget that this Naraku holds your heart in his hand."
She swallowed hard, "Forgive me." 'Like you'd let me forget, you asshole.' And they left to carry out another of Naraku's deeds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sango finished cooking the ramen over the fire. After handing Miroku his serving, she got up to get Inuyasha.
'I hope he'll at least eat something. It's not like we really wanted to stop, but he too hard headed to understand.' Sighing, she glanced from treetop to treetop, but found no trace of their half demon friend.
"Inuyasha! Come down here and get some dinner!" When nothing but the crickets singing met her ears she thought, 'Hmph, he can't be that angry.'
"It's ramen!" She was almost positive that would've brought him running. 'That blasted boy! Where the hell is he! I'm not up to playing these games tonight.'
"Inuyasha! Get your butt over here, or I swear I'll find a way to make you do it!" There was still no answer, and she was beginning to worry.
Miroku concluded, "He's probably gone off ahead of us. You know Inuyasha- sama, he's too stubborn to listen to anyone."
"No kidding. I'm starting to think I should've hit him over the head with hiraikotsu and hog-tied him, so that he'd get the rest he needed."
The monk smiled at her, remembering every time that blasted boomerang made contact with his own skull, "That probably would've worked, however, can you blame him for not lying around while Kagome-chan's in trouble?"
She sighed, "I suppose not. He does love her, whether or not he wants to admit it." She shook her head and picked up her own ramen. 'He's got a horrible way of showing it, though.'
Miroku looked over at the sleeping kitsune and Kirara, who had also curled up in the sleeping bag after losing the warmth of Sango's lap. "We'll leave first thing in the morning and catch up to him. I hope, for Shippou's sake as well as everyone else's, that she's safe and sound when we get there."
Sango nodded, cleaning up her now finished dinner, and proceeded to get as comfortable as one possibly could in the middle of the woods. Before lying down to sleep she said, "Good night, houshi-sama."
Grinning he too lay down for the night, scooting as close to Sango as he could without getting smacked. "And pleasant dreams to you, Sango-chan." She turned over on her other side to hide the blush that was rushing into her cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kouga was nearly frozen in shock where he stood, looking at "his woman" lying unconscious on the floor. The smell of her blood swirled around him as he made his way to her side. But before he could make it there, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking his way.
"Naraku!" He growled, "What did you do to her? I'll kill you!" Kouga ran at him, only to be thrown back by an invisible barrier.
"Foolish wolf, your efforts are useless. Have you thought about my proposition?"
**********************************Flashback********************************* ********
Kouga was carrying home his kill, a wild boar, when a large gust of wind blew it from his grasp and into the nearby stream. Turning around, he snarled, "Kagura, you will pay for ruining my dinner!" He charged Naraku's minion, but she unfolded her fan and sent blades of wind flying at the wolf. He dodged the first half of them, but the last half cut deep into his skin. "What the hell do you want?!" Kouga snarled as he wiped blood from his face.
She threw the shirt at him with a smirk. 'This is Kagome's shirt, covered in. . . her blood' "I swear, if you harmed one . . ." He lost his words as he saw an image of Kagome in Kanna's mirror. She was hanging from the low ceiling of some dark place, blood running down her side, and she was apparently unconscious.
Kanna spoke in her emotionless, soft voice, "Naraku wishes for you to come with us." Kagura finished, "If you want to save her life, you will give the shards you wear in exchange."
"I will never give the shards to Naraku!"
"Not even for this girl's life? Inuyasha carelessly left her in the open for our attack, and the shards mean more to you than her? Then perhaps she should just die, if no one will miss her passing."
'Dog-face, you put Kagome in danger! I should've killed you a long time ago!' He sneered. 'I guess I have no choice.'
Kagura was getting impatient. She pulled the feather from her hair, and as she did Kouga spoke up, "Fine, I will go with you if it means saving Kagome."
"Pathetic. . ." She transformed the feather and carried the three of them to Naraku's home.
***********************************End Flashback************************************
Kouga growled. 'I don't think it's possible to defeat him with that damn barrier. What should I do?' He tried to clear his head to think clearly, but Kagome's scent was invading his senses. She was in heat, and it was calling to all of his youkai instincts.
'Ku ku ku, this wench being in heat is working to my advantage, as I thought. Soon I will have the shards, and Inuyasha will feel the loss of another love. I will be able to kill him swiftly. He picked the miko off the ground, pulled her head back, and put a dagger to her throat. "I could kill her now, and then you, and I will get the shards anyway, so make your decision." A thin line of blood appeared on her neck where the blade pressed against her skin.
Kouga, finding it his only choice, removed the shards from his legs and threw them at Naraku's feet. They landed in a pool of Kagome's blood, and purple light exploded around them, blinding the two. Naraku jumped back away from the purifying haze.
Shielding his eyes from the light, Kouga blindly searched for the shards, upon touching them a bolt of energy engulfed his arm and he drew it back, gasping from the pain. Giving up and seeing it as his time to leave, he picked up Kagome and ran from the castle.
Naraku stepped forward, placing his hand in Kagome's blood. He let loose his miasma, and soon the glow faded and left behind two blackened shards. 'Inuyasha should be arriving soon.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'Hang on just a little longer, Kagome.' Inuyasha had been running full speed through the night and into the daylight hours. His body had now mostly healed from the battle with Gariyuga. As he passed a river, he stopped to get a drink of water. Looking down at his reflection he thought, 'What have I let this girl do to me? I look like hell!' It's not like he cared about his appearance or anything, it was just his expression that bothered him. How could he deny that he cared when it was written all over his face in worry, and worst of all, fear? Fear. . . plain as day, was etched into his features. He hit the water, sending ripples through his image. 'I'm not afraid of anything! I just need to get her back so we can find the remaining shards.' His thoughts seemed so out of place to him. Perhaps he could no longer lie to himself?
Inuyasha got up and walked back into the woods. Before he ascended into the trees, he spotted droplets of red scattered over a patch of grass. He squatted above it, lightly touching the blades. When his clawed finger grazed the blood, he pulled his hand back as if burnt by the contact. A bolt of pain shot through his right side, causing him to double over, holding his abdomen. 'What the hell?!' The aching soon faded, but the confusion still remained. 'My ribs are healed, what the hell is going on?!' Suddenly, a familiar scent reached his nose.
"You felt her pain just then."
Inuyasha looked to his left, there sitting against a tree's trunk was Kikyo, surrounded by her soul snatching youkai.
"Kikyo."
"Have you really gotten that close to my reincarnation?"
Inuyasha lowered his head and didn't answer. 'Have I gotten closer to Kagome? Even if that were true, what does she mean by I felt her pain?' Before he could look up and meet her gaze again, she was in front of him.
"Inuyasha. You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The feel of her embrace, which shouldn't have bothered him almost disgusted him. She felt so cold.
"Huh?" Inuyasha stiffened. "No, of course not." 'I can't keep standing around like this! Kagome needs me! But. . . it's Kikyo.' A slight shiver ran up his spine as he looked into her expressionless eyes. 'There is no light, no happiness, just a dead void. So much different than Kag. . .' He shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts from his mind. 'I'm in love with Kikyo, there's no need to compare the two.' He pulled away from the deceased miko.
Kikyo glared at him. 'That girl has taken too much of what rightfully belongs to me.' "Inuyasha?" She said this in a more seductive tone.
Inuyasha looked at her, but seemed to be avoiding direct eye contact. Kikyo brought her hand to his face, lightly rubbing his cheek. "Come with me, Inuyasha. Forget the girl and Naraku. Let us be together as we were supposed to many years ago."
He stepped back from her. "Forgive me, Kikyo. But, I will exact my revenge on Naraku and get the Shikon no Tama back in one piece. Most of all, I need to protect Kagome. I can't let her die by his hand anymore than I could you."
Kikyo was more than pissed. "Inuyasha, you are mine, and your life is mine! That girl is nothing but a copy of me, nor does she even belong here in this time."
Inuyasha wanted to tell her that she was wrong, and it took every ounce of resistance he had left (that he probably had to begin with:P) to keep control of his temper. A scream echoed through the woods, making his blood run cold. 'Kagome!'
"Kikyo, I cannot come with you now. I'm sorry." He took to the trees and disappeared in an instant.
Kikyo stood there, steaming. 'I will have what is mine and by any means necessary. She will die.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shippou was the first to wake. He had kicked his way out of the sleeping bag during the night, so the sunlight had pried at his little eyes. Rubbing them, he yawned. When he looked around the camp, he started to remember the day before. Seconds later the tears exploded from the little fox child, and he screamed, "KAGOME!" Sango and Miroku woke, both grabbing their weapons and stumbling into a fighting position. Kirara had screeched and ran behind her master. Noticing what the outburst was all about, Sango's eyebrow twitched in irritation. Miroku placed a hand on her shoulder, whispering "go get a chocolate bar from Kagome-sama's bag." She nodded, understanding his plan, and Miroku made his way over to the sobbing Shippou.
He stooped down to speak to him. "Shippou-chan, you must calm yourself." The kitsune only cried harder.
"Kag *sob* ome *sob* is *sob* GONE *wails*!"
Sango found the candy and handed it to the monk. "Shippou-chan, we can't leave to go find her if you keep crying like that. You'll attract the attention of youkai." He handed the bar to him, which caught Shippou's eye. He started to calm down. Miroku patted him on the head. "Now you be a good little fox and no more tears, OK?"
Shippou sniffled, but the majority of the waterworks seized. "OK *sniff*, but will Kagome *sniff* be alright?"
Miroku smiled. "Of course she will, Inuyasha already left ahead of us to find her." 'I hope he has.' Something he had forgot about came to mind. "Sango?"
"Yes houshi-sama?"
"Can Kirara track Kagome or Inuyasha's scent?" Kirara transformed into her bigger self and answered with a "Meow!"
"I can help, too!" Shippou cried. Sango chuckled, "I guess you can."
"YAY!" He hopped up on Kirara and waited until the other two joined him. When they did, they continued on the track Inuyasha had taken the evening before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inuyasha ran faster than he ever had in his life, or at least he'd hoped he did. 'Don't get yourself killed wench!' Her scent suddenly stopped, and so did he, as he hit the barrier surrounding what must be Naraku's castle. 'Hmph, this is nothing!' He transformed tetsusaiga and the fang turned red.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" The energy wave slashed through the barrier, causing it to dissipate. 'What the hell? I smell that wimpy wolf! What is he doing here?' Inuyasha ran forward, checking his surroundings and yelling, "NARAKU! Stop hiding and come out you fucking bastard!" As if on cue, a swarm of youkai came out of the sky, heading straight for him.
"This shit is starting to get old!" He swung his sword, killing them off in one swipe. "You're in my fucking way!" He cut them one after another, as pieces of centipede, worm, and praying mantis fell all around him. From behind Inuyasha, a boomerang shot through the air, slicing a youkai, and returned back to its owner. He turned around to see his companions joining in the fray.
"It's about time you guys got here!"
"Hey! You left in the night but seem to have just gotten started! I don't want to hear it!" Sango shouted. He didn't say anything. Explaining about Kikyo wasn't his top priority at the moment.
The last of the youkai were finished off, and Shippou ran, jumping up on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Where's Kagome? Is she alright?" Inuyasha sheathed the fang.
Inuyasha growled at the kitsune and shook him off. "I haven't found her yet, squirt, now get out of the way!" He stepped forward, ready to kill. "Naraku! It's time to do your own dirty work! Show yourself you fucking coward!"
"Ku ku ku, so you have at last made it to my home. It's too bad you're too late to save the miko, but you're right on time for your own deaths."
They all turned around to see him standing behind them. Inuyasha jolted past Sango and Miroku, glaring at Naraku. "Where the hell is Kagome?!
"She is not here, if that is what you want to know."
"The fuck she isn't! I can smell her blood all over you!" Inuyasha was snarling, showing his fangs.
Shippou demanded, "What did you do to Kagome?" Miroku pulled the kit back by his tail, pushing him behind them.
Naraku smirked, "I gave her to someone who could make use of the girl, in her current state at least, in exchange for two shards. Such a low price to whore her out, don't you think?"
Sango and Miroku gasped. "Inuyasha, what does he mean her current state?"
Inuyasha's temper flared. 'He gave her to that fucking wolf. Gods. . . she's in heat.' "You will die for hurting her you bastard!" He rushed at him. Naraku transformed into his demon self (that octopus-spider looking thingy), laughing at Inuyasha. "You will not be able to defeat me, you half-breed. Today, you die!"
His tentacles (that's what we'll call them, k?) crashed into the ground where Inuyasha had been standing before he dodged the attack.
"Are you forgetting you're a hanyou too?" Inuyasha snarled. "SANKONTESSOU!"(1) His claws slashed through Naraku's limbs, severing them. However, the masses of flesh merely returned to whence they came. 'Damn it, he's regenerating!' (Big surprise, they all do!)
Naraku came again, and Inuyasha avoided most of the attacks until three of the tentacles pierced into his abdomen.
"Ahhhh!" He was slammed to the ground as his enemy prepared to impale him. Grunting, he clawed his way free of the limbs. "Not so fast!" He dug his hands into his wounds and pulled them out, dripping with his own blood. "HIJINGETSUSOU!"(2) Crimson blades flew through the air, ripping into Naraku.
"Pathetic. Is that all you can do?" He taunted Inuyasha as his body healed itself.
'Damn it! Every hit I make does nothing!'
"Inuyasha-sama! Remember Musou? Aim for the spider!" Miroku yelled.
'That's right. It's his heart.' Inuyasha unsheathed tetsusaiga.
"Ku ku ku. Don't think you will be able to dispose of me that easily." Naraku gathered his miasma (3), sending it at Inuyasha.
'This is my chance!' "Bakuryuu!"(4) He aimed for the spider-shaped scar on Naraku's torso.
"Wha..Noooooo!" The blast of energy mixed with Naraku's own and reversed both upon the enemy. Swirling tornadoes of light engulfed him, and his screaming stopped as parts of him went flying in every direction. A started cry was heard from behind him, as Kagura came running out of a house.
"This. . . this shouldn't be happening! I should be free when he's dead. What is happening?" She stared down at her hands as her skin began to melt. The others watched as the wind user burst into flames and then disappeared into ashes amongst the breeze.
Inuyasha replaced his sword in its sheath.
"Inuyasha, what did Naraku mean by giving her to someone who could use her in her current state?" Sango asked, fearing the answer. "Whoring?" Her voice caught in her throat.
The hanyou said in a low voice, "Go to Kaede's village. I will bring her back."
"I'm going with you!" Shippou jumped on his shoulder.
Inuyasha picked him up and threw him towards the exterminator and monk. "Go!"
"Hey! You don't have to be such a jerk! I'm going too. . .mph mph." Miroku put his hand over Shippou's mouth.
"Bring her back safe, Inuyasha-sama, we will be waiting for you at the village." Sango nodded, and Inuyasha turned and leapt into the forest.
"Houshi-sama, do you think it's Kouga?"
He nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
"He wouldn't do anything bad to her, would he?"
Miroku sighed. "I don't know, you know of youkai instincts and mating. I do know that when Inuyasha finds him, I doubt Kouga will live through it. That's whether or not he's harmed Kagome." He turned to look at Sango, but noticed she was no longer there. Instead, she was kneeling over the unmoving figure of a small boy, seemingly in tears.
'Sango-chan. . .'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kagome awoke, her side aching relentlessly, and realized she was staring at the ground going by rather quickly. The grasp on her waist was too tight for comfort. Looking up, she noted a fur bandana, and. a brown ponytail? "Kouga-kun?"
The person in question stopped, pulling the girl down to eye level. "Ah, Kagome, so you have awakened."
"Kouga-kun, please put me down, you're hurting my side." She asked as politely as she could, trying to keep the whine out of her voice. 'Something just doesn't seem right about him. about this whole situation.'
"You'd walk to slow. We have to get to my den before nightfall." His voice was deeper than usual. He pushed her back over his shoulder.
"Ouch! Don't be so rough! What is wrong with you?" She had a million questions going through her head at the moment. 'What happened that she was with him instead of that dank place of Naraku's? Where is Naraku? Where are her friends?'
"What happened? How did I get away from Naraku?"
"I gave him my Shikon shards in return for your life. Since dog-turd couldn't take good enough care of you, it's time you became my woman. You belong to me now." He said it so matter-of-factly that she wanted to slap him. 'Who gave him the right to. . .Ugh!'
"You gave your shards away?" She almost couldn't believe it.
"Not like I wanted to, but I had no choice."
"I see. . ." She'd had enough. "Put me down," she demanded in a threatening tone.
"Don't start with me woman." Kouga was definitely not being himself.
'What is going on here?!'
"What is wrong with you?! I said, put me down. . . *knees him in the stomach*. . . and I meant it!" He dropped her on the ground at the motion of all the air escaping his lungs. Kagome cried in pain as she hit the ground on her bad side.
"Take me back to Inuyasha right now!" She was thrilled to have the upper hand over his winded form. Or she thought before he came back up, grabbing her by her sides, and yanked her under his arm.
"Kyaaaaa!" Pain shot up and down her body when his claws had dug into her wound. 'Why is that everyone's favorite spot to touch me?!' Kagome started pounding on his back, yelling at him to put her down. Kouga growled at her, and she stopped hitting him. Now she was scared. This wasn't at all like him. 'What did Naraku do to him? Why is he acting so hostile?'
He finally reached the den and moved towards the back. Kouga unceremoniously dropped her on the ground. "Umph." The fall knocked the wind out of her so she couldn't cry out when more pain exploded from her torso.
"What did he do to you, Kouga-kun? Whatever it was, let me help you."
"No one did anything to me. However, you can help me." Kouga responded slyly, and moved to her so fast that she didn't have time to react before he was on top of her.
"Get off me!" Kagome was once again pounding away on the wolf. He easily grabbed her hands, pulling them above her head. His grasp was too tight, and his claws were digging into the tender flesh of her wrists. She winced in the pain, and she gasped in shock when she realized she was missing her shirt. 'When. . .' She couldn't finish the thought before she felt his breath on her throat. 'Oh, no, not again.'
"Please, Kouga-kun, let me go." She was struggling under him and trying to wrench her hands free. He nipped at her neck, causing her to cry out. Pleading was not working, and she sure as hell wasn't strong enough to fight him. To make matters worse, every time her injury was hit, more blood loss occurred. Kagome was praying she wouldn't lose consciousness. When she felt something hard press up against her thigh, she used all her strength to get her leg loose in order to catch him in the groin. He yelped in pain, backing off of her just enough for her to sit up and move to the corner.
"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!" Her scream echoed off the walls. She didn't know if he'd hear her, but maybe someone would.
"INUYASHA! INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!! INUYA. . ." Kagome was slammed up against the wall by the youkai.
"I was going to be gentle, but if you keep screaming his name, I'm going to tear you apart."
"You jerk! Get your hands off me! Don't touch me! INUYASHA!" She was smacking him each time she said something, leaving red marks all over his face and chest. 'When did he get naked from the waist up?'
Kouga smirked at her. There was a glint in his eye that made Kagome wish she could black out right there and then. He'd lost his mind to his instincts, and her fighting back was making him want her more and more. He grabbed her by the hair, ripping her head back. She let out a startled cry, but was cut short as his fangs scraped her throat, leaving thin red lines. One clawed hand moved up her right side, scratching the small gash there, and covering his fingertips in her blood. He licked a single blood- tipped claw, and then traced a line from her collarbone to her breast with the rest, leaving a crimson trail. His hand rested upon her left breast before he squeezed it. She gasped as his claws dug into her skin, drawing blood.
He shoved her to the stone ground, letting his hands rest on her hips, pressing her down. He brought his mouth down to hers, but she spat in his face and attempted to push him away. "How could you do this to me?!!" Kouga growled at her. He brought his hand up and smacked her hard across her face. She could feel the blood run down her lips as her nose bled from the hit.
"Don't talk back to me!" His voice was nothing of the normal Kouga's now. It expressed nothing but lust and anger. In one hand he held her hair, keeping her head to the ground, with the other he forced open her legs. He ran his claws up and down her flesh, getting more heated with every tremble of her body.
Kagome couldn't see straight, nor could she really comprehend much of what was going on. All that she knew was she was in a lot of pain, and that she was about to experience something that would crush her soul. As much as she had struggled to keep awake, she found that she was now wishing for the darkness to take her. Maybe forever. 'Inuyasha. . .' She felt the tears running down her face. They gave her a weird sense of warmth when she felt so cold. 'Inuyasha, I wanted you to be. . . my first.' Her tears turned into sobs, and she tried to shut out the feeling of Kouga's hands on her thighs. Her body trembled under his touch. She was ready to welcome unconsciousness, but before she did, she screamed out his name.
"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!" A peaceful darkness took her where the world could not touch her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(a/n) Okay, I know this was cruel. Another cliffhanger and it was a bit violent. I promise I wouldn't let anything too devastating happen to our favorite miko. The next chapter should be up in a day or so. Keep reading! It gets better! BTW sorry Kouga fans!
Soul-ripping iron claw (Inu attack) Claws of blood (Inu attack using his own blood) Evil, noxious energy Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack using the enemy's energy against them
Hey! Sorry this took so long, but it's lengthy to make up for the time. Hope ya like it.
*Warning*!!!!!- Attempted rape in this chapter. . . please note "ATTEMPTED" so don't hurt me!
If You Only Knew: Chapter 5
Naraku untied the girl's hands and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Upon returning to his "room," he pretty much threw her to the floor. Looking at his kimono, an expression of disgust crossed his face. 'I'm covered in that damn human's blood.' Smirking he realized it would infuriate Inuyasha further, and for that he would put up with it.
'Now it's time to continue with my plan.'
"Kagura! Kanna!"
Kagura scowled. 'What does he want now!' Erasing the frown from her face, she entered the room. Kanna soundlessly followed.
"What is it that you need now, Naraku." She nearly spat it at him.
"I want you to take Kanna and send a message to Inuyasha's love rival, I have a proposition for him." He proceeded to rip Kagome's shirt off her body, which was soaked in her blood. "If he needs persuasion, give him this."
Kagura stared at the piece of clothing as if it would bite her before finally taking it from his hand. 'I am so sick of doing his dirty work!'
"Very well. Kanna, let's go."
Kanna promptly nodded and turned to leave after the older detachment.
"And Kagura." Hearing the dangerous tint to his voice, she stopped, but didn't turn around. "Mind your tone. Do not forget that this Naraku holds your heart in his hand."
She swallowed hard, "Forgive me." 'Like you'd let me forget, you asshole.' And they left to carry out another of Naraku's deeds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sango finished cooking the ramen over the fire. After handing Miroku his serving, she got up to get Inuyasha.
'I hope he'll at least eat something. It's not like we really wanted to stop, but he too hard headed to understand.' Sighing, she glanced from treetop to treetop, but found no trace of their half demon friend.
"Inuyasha! Come down here and get some dinner!" When nothing but the crickets singing met her ears she thought, 'Hmph, he can't be that angry.'
"It's ramen!" She was almost positive that would've brought him running. 'That blasted boy! Where the hell is he! I'm not up to playing these games tonight.'
"Inuyasha! Get your butt over here, or I swear I'll find a way to make you do it!" There was still no answer, and she was beginning to worry.
Miroku concluded, "He's probably gone off ahead of us. You know Inuyasha- sama, he's too stubborn to listen to anyone."
"No kidding. I'm starting to think I should've hit him over the head with hiraikotsu and hog-tied him, so that he'd get the rest he needed."
The monk smiled at her, remembering every time that blasted boomerang made contact with his own skull, "That probably would've worked, however, can you blame him for not lying around while Kagome-chan's in trouble?"
She sighed, "I suppose not. He does love her, whether or not he wants to admit it." She shook her head and picked up her own ramen. 'He's got a horrible way of showing it, though.'
Miroku looked over at the sleeping kitsune and Kirara, who had also curled up in the sleeping bag after losing the warmth of Sango's lap. "We'll leave first thing in the morning and catch up to him. I hope, for Shippou's sake as well as everyone else's, that she's safe and sound when we get there."
Sango nodded, cleaning up her now finished dinner, and proceeded to get as comfortable as one possibly could in the middle of the woods. Before lying down to sleep she said, "Good night, houshi-sama."
Grinning he too lay down for the night, scooting as close to Sango as he could without getting smacked. "And pleasant dreams to you, Sango-chan." She turned over on her other side to hide the blush that was rushing into her cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kouga was nearly frozen in shock where he stood, looking at "his woman" lying unconscious on the floor. The smell of her blood swirled around him as he made his way to her side. But before he could make it there, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking his way.
"Naraku!" He growled, "What did you do to her? I'll kill you!" Kouga ran at him, only to be thrown back by an invisible barrier.
"Foolish wolf, your efforts are useless. Have you thought about my proposition?"
**********************************Flashback********************************* ********
Kouga was carrying home his kill, a wild boar, when a large gust of wind blew it from his grasp and into the nearby stream. Turning around, he snarled, "Kagura, you will pay for ruining my dinner!" He charged Naraku's minion, but she unfolded her fan and sent blades of wind flying at the wolf. He dodged the first half of them, but the last half cut deep into his skin. "What the hell do you want?!" Kouga snarled as he wiped blood from his face.
She threw the shirt at him with a smirk. 'This is Kagome's shirt, covered in. . . her blood' "I swear, if you harmed one . . ." He lost his words as he saw an image of Kagome in Kanna's mirror. She was hanging from the low ceiling of some dark place, blood running down her side, and she was apparently unconscious.
Kanna spoke in her emotionless, soft voice, "Naraku wishes for you to come with us." Kagura finished, "If you want to save her life, you will give the shards you wear in exchange."
"I will never give the shards to Naraku!"
"Not even for this girl's life? Inuyasha carelessly left her in the open for our attack, and the shards mean more to you than her? Then perhaps she should just die, if no one will miss her passing."
'Dog-face, you put Kagome in danger! I should've killed you a long time ago!' He sneered. 'I guess I have no choice.'
Kagura was getting impatient. She pulled the feather from her hair, and as she did Kouga spoke up, "Fine, I will go with you if it means saving Kagome."
"Pathetic. . ." She transformed the feather and carried the three of them to Naraku's home.
***********************************End Flashback************************************
Kouga growled. 'I don't think it's possible to defeat him with that damn barrier. What should I do?' He tried to clear his head to think clearly, but Kagome's scent was invading his senses. She was in heat, and it was calling to all of his youkai instincts.
'Ku ku ku, this wench being in heat is working to my advantage, as I thought. Soon I will have the shards, and Inuyasha will feel the loss of another love. I will be able to kill him swiftly. He picked the miko off the ground, pulled her head back, and put a dagger to her throat. "I could kill her now, and then you, and I will get the shards anyway, so make your decision." A thin line of blood appeared on her neck where the blade pressed against her skin.
Kouga, finding it his only choice, removed the shards from his legs and threw them at Naraku's feet. They landed in a pool of Kagome's blood, and purple light exploded around them, blinding the two. Naraku jumped back away from the purifying haze.
Shielding his eyes from the light, Kouga blindly searched for the shards, upon touching them a bolt of energy engulfed his arm and he drew it back, gasping from the pain. Giving up and seeing it as his time to leave, he picked up Kagome and ran from the castle.
Naraku stepped forward, placing his hand in Kagome's blood. He let loose his miasma, and soon the glow faded and left behind two blackened shards. 'Inuyasha should be arriving soon.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'Hang on just a little longer, Kagome.' Inuyasha had been running full speed through the night and into the daylight hours. His body had now mostly healed from the battle with Gariyuga. As he passed a river, he stopped to get a drink of water. Looking down at his reflection he thought, 'What have I let this girl do to me? I look like hell!' It's not like he cared about his appearance or anything, it was just his expression that bothered him. How could he deny that he cared when it was written all over his face in worry, and worst of all, fear? Fear. . . plain as day, was etched into his features. He hit the water, sending ripples through his image. 'I'm not afraid of anything! I just need to get her back so we can find the remaining shards.' His thoughts seemed so out of place to him. Perhaps he could no longer lie to himself?
Inuyasha got up and walked back into the woods. Before he ascended into the trees, he spotted droplets of red scattered over a patch of grass. He squatted above it, lightly touching the blades. When his clawed finger grazed the blood, he pulled his hand back as if burnt by the contact. A bolt of pain shot through his right side, causing him to double over, holding his abdomen. 'What the hell?!' The aching soon faded, but the confusion still remained. 'My ribs are healed, what the hell is going on?!' Suddenly, a familiar scent reached his nose.
"You felt her pain just then."
Inuyasha looked to his left, there sitting against a tree's trunk was Kikyo, surrounded by her soul snatching youkai.
"Kikyo."
"Have you really gotten that close to my reincarnation?"
Inuyasha lowered his head and didn't answer. 'Have I gotten closer to Kagome? Even if that were true, what does she mean by I felt her pain?' Before he could look up and meet her gaze again, she was in front of him.
"Inuyasha. You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The feel of her embrace, which shouldn't have bothered him almost disgusted him. She felt so cold.
"Huh?" Inuyasha stiffened. "No, of course not." 'I can't keep standing around like this! Kagome needs me! But. . . it's Kikyo.' A slight shiver ran up his spine as he looked into her expressionless eyes. 'There is no light, no happiness, just a dead void. So much different than Kag. . .' He shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts from his mind. 'I'm in love with Kikyo, there's no need to compare the two.' He pulled away from the deceased miko.
Kikyo glared at him. 'That girl has taken too much of what rightfully belongs to me.' "Inuyasha?" She said this in a more seductive tone.
Inuyasha looked at her, but seemed to be avoiding direct eye contact. Kikyo brought her hand to his face, lightly rubbing his cheek. "Come with me, Inuyasha. Forget the girl and Naraku. Let us be together as we were supposed to many years ago."
He stepped back from her. "Forgive me, Kikyo. But, I will exact my revenge on Naraku and get the Shikon no Tama back in one piece. Most of all, I need to protect Kagome. I can't let her die by his hand anymore than I could you."
Kikyo was more than pissed. "Inuyasha, you are mine, and your life is mine! That girl is nothing but a copy of me, nor does she even belong here in this time."
Inuyasha wanted to tell her that she was wrong, and it took every ounce of resistance he had left (that he probably had to begin with:P) to keep control of his temper. A scream echoed through the woods, making his blood run cold. 'Kagome!'
"Kikyo, I cannot come with you now. I'm sorry." He took to the trees and disappeared in an instant.
Kikyo stood there, steaming. 'I will have what is mine and by any means necessary. She will die.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shippou was the first to wake. He had kicked his way out of the sleeping bag during the night, so the sunlight had pried at his little eyes. Rubbing them, he yawned. When he looked around the camp, he started to remember the day before. Seconds later the tears exploded from the little fox child, and he screamed, "KAGOME!" Sango and Miroku woke, both grabbing their weapons and stumbling into a fighting position. Kirara had screeched and ran behind her master. Noticing what the outburst was all about, Sango's eyebrow twitched in irritation. Miroku placed a hand on her shoulder, whispering "go get a chocolate bar from Kagome-sama's bag." She nodded, understanding his plan, and Miroku made his way over to the sobbing Shippou.
He stooped down to speak to him. "Shippou-chan, you must calm yourself." The kitsune only cried harder.
"Kag *sob* ome *sob* is *sob* GONE *wails*!"
Sango found the candy and handed it to the monk. "Shippou-chan, we can't leave to go find her if you keep crying like that. You'll attract the attention of youkai." He handed the bar to him, which caught Shippou's eye. He started to calm down. Miroku patted him on the head. "Now you be a good little fox and no more tears, OK?"
Shippou sniffled, but the majority of the waterworks seized. "OK *sniff*, but will Kagome *sniff* be alright?"
Miroku smiled. "Of course she will, Inuyasha already left ahead of us to find her." 'I hope he has.' Something he had forgot about came to mind. "Sango?"
"Yes houshi-sama?"
"Can Kirara track Kagome or Inuyasha's scent?" Kirara transformed into her bigger self and answered with a "Meow!"
"I can help, too!" Shippou cried. Sango chuckled, "I guess you can."
"YAY!" He hopped up on Kirara and waited until the other two joined him. When they did, they continued on the track Inuyasha had taken the evening before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inuyasha ran faster than he ever had in his life, or at least he'd hoped he did. 'Don't get yourself killed wench!' Her scent suddenly stopped, and so did he, as he hit the barrier surrounding what must be Naraku's castle. 'Hmph, this is nothing!' He transformed tetsusaiga and the fang turned red.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" The energy wave slashed through the barrier, causing it to dissipate. 'What the hell? I smell that wimpy wolf! What is he doing here?' Inuyasha ran forward, checking his surroundings and yelling, "NARAKU! Stop hiding and come out you fucking bastard!" As if on cue, a swarm of youkai came out of the sky, heading straight for him.
"This shit is starting to get old!" He swung his sword, killing them off in one swipe. "You're in my fucking way!" He cut them one after another, as pieces of centipede, worm, and praying mantis fell all around him. From behind Inuyasha, a boomerang shot through the air, slicing a youkai, and returned back to its owner. He turned around to see his companions joining in the fray.
"It's about time you guys got here!"
"Hey! You left in the night but seem to have just gotten started! I don't want to hear it!" Sango shouted. He didn't say anything. Explaining about Kikyo wasn't his top priority at the moment.
The last of the youkai were finished off, and Shippou ran, jumping up on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Where's Kagome? Is she alright?" Inuyasha sheathed the fang.
Inuyasha growled at the kitsune and shook him off. "I haven't found her yet, squirt, now get out of the way!" He stepped forward, ready to kill. "Naraku! It's time to do your own dirty work! Show yourself you fucking coward!"
"Ku ku ku, so you have at last made it to my home. It's too bad you're too late to save the miko, but you're right on time for your own deaths."
They all turned around to see him standing behind them. Inuyasha jolted past Sango and Miroku, glaring at Naraku. "Where the hell is Kagome?!
"She is not here, if that is what you want to know."
"The fuck she isn't! I can smell her blood all over you!" Inuyasha was snarling, showing his fangs.
Shippou demanded, "What did you do to Kagome?" Miroku pulled the kit back by his tail, pushing him behind them.
Naraku smirked, "I gave her to someone who could make use of the girl, in her current state at least, in exchange for two shards. Such a low price to whore her out, don't you think?"
Sango and Miroku gasped. "Inuyasha, what does he mean her current state?"
Inuyasha's temper flared. 'He gave her to that fucking wolf. Gods. . . she's in heat.' "You will die for hurting her you bastard!" He rushed at him. Naraku transformed into his demon self (that octopus-spider looking thingy), laughing at Inuyasha. "You will not be able to defeat me, you half-breed. Today, you die!"
His tentacles (that's what we'll call them, k?) crashed into the ground where Inuyasha had been standing before he dodged the attack.
"Are you forgetting you're a hanyou too?" Inuyasha snarled. "SANKONTESSOU!"(1) His claws slashed through Naraku's limbs, severing them. However, the masses of flesh merely returned to whence they came. 'Damn it, he's regenerating!' (Big surprise, they all do!)
Naraku came again, and Inuyasha avoided most of the attacks until three of the tentacles pierced into his abdomen.
"Ahhhh!" He was slammed to the ground as his enemy prepared to impale him. Grunting, he clawed his way free of the limbs. "Not so fast!" He dug his hands into his wounds and pulled them out, dripping with his own blood. "HIJINGETSUSOU!"(2) Crimson blades flew through the air, ripping into Naraku.
"Pathetic. Is that all you can do?" He taunted Inuyasha as his body healed itself.
'Damn it! Every hit I make does nothing!'
"Inuyasha-sama! Remember Musou? Aim for the spider!" Miroku yelled.
'That's right. It's his heart.' Inuyasha unsheathed tetsusaiga.
"Ku ku ku. Don't think you will be able to dispose of me that easily." Naraku gathered his miasma (3), sending it at Inuyasha.
'This is my chance!' "Bakuryuu!"(4) He aimed for the spider-shaped scar on Naraku's torso.
"Wha..Noooooo!" The blast of energy mixed with Naraku's own and reversed both upon the enemy. Swirling tornadoes of light engulfed him, and his screaming stopped as parts of him went flying in every direction. A started cry was heard from behind him, as Kagura came running out of a house.
"This. . . this shouldn't be happening! I should be free when he's dead. What is happening?" She stared down at her hands as her skin began to melt. The others watched as the wind user burst into flames and then disappeared into ashes amongst the breeze.
Inuyasha replaced his sword in its sheath.
"Inuyasha, what did Naraku mean by giving her to someone who could use her in her current state?" Sango asked, fearing the answer. "Whoring?" Her voice caught in her throat.
The hanyou said in a low voice, "Go to Kaede's village. I will bring her back."
"I'm going with you!" Shippou jumped on his shoulder.
Inuyasha picked him up and threw him towards the exterminator and monk. "Go!"
"Hey! You don't have to be such a jerk! I'm going too. . .mph mph." Miroku put his hand over Shippou's mouth.
"Bring her back safe, Inuyasha-sama, we will be waiting for you at the village." Sango nodded, and Inuyasha turned and leapt into the forest.
"Houshi-sama, do you think it's Kouga?"
He nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
"He wouldn't do anything bad to her, would he?"
Miroku sighed. "I don't know, you know of youkai instincts and mating. I do know that when Inuyasha finds him, I doubt Kouga will live through it. That's whether or not he's harmed Kagome." He turned to look at Sango, but noticed she was no longer there. Instead, she was kneeling over the unmoving figure of a small boy, seemingly in tears.
'Sango-chan. . .'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kagome awoke, her side aching relentlessly, and realized she was staring at the ground going by rather quickly. The grasp on her waist was too tight for comfort. Looking up, she noted a fur bandana, and. a brown ponytail? "Kouga-kun?"
The person in question stopped, pulling the girl down to eye level. "Ah, Kagome, so you have awakened."
"Kouga-kun, please put me down, you're hurting my side." She asked as politely as she could, trying to keep the whine out of her voice. 'Something just doesn't seem right about him. about this whole situation.'
"You'd walk to slow. We have to get to my den before nightfall." His voice was deeper than usual. He pushed her back over his shoulder.
"Ouch! Don't be so rough! What is wrong with you?" She had a million questions going through her head at the moment. 'What happened that she was with him instead of that dank place of Naraku's? Where is Naraku? Where are her friends?'
"What happened? How did I get away from Naraku?"
"I gave him my Shikon shards in return for your life. Since dog-turd couldn't take good enough care of you, it's time you became my woman. You belong to me now." He said it so matter-of-factly that she wanted to slap him. 'Who gave him the right to. . .Ugh!'
"You gave your shards away?" She almost couldn't believe it.
"Not like I wanted to, but I had no choice."
"I see. . ." She'd had enough. "Put me down," she demanded in a threatening tone.
"Don't start with me woman." Kouga was definitely not being himself.
'What is going on here?!'
"What is wrong with you?! I said, put me down. . . *knees him in the stomach*. . . and I meant it!" He dropped her on the ground at the motion of all the air escaping his lungs. Kagome cried in pain as she hit the ground on her bad side.
"Take me back to Inuyasha right now!" She was thrilled to have the upper hand over his winded form. Or she thought before he came back up, grabbing her by her sides, and yanked her under his arm.
"Kyaaaaa!" Pain shot up and down her body when his claws had dug into her wound. 'Why is that everyone's favorite spot to touch me?!' Kagome started pounding on his back, yelling at him to put her down. Kouga growled at her, and she stopped hitting him. Now she was scared. This wasn't at all like him. 'What did Naraku do to him? Why is he acting so hostile?'
He finally reached the den and moved towards the back. Kouga unceremoniously dropped her on the ground. "Umph." The fall knocked the wind out of her so she couldn't cry out when more pain exploded from her torso.
"What did he do to you, Kouga-kun? Whatever it was, let me help you."
"No one did anything to me. However, you can help me." Kouga responded slyly, and moved to her so fast that she didn't have time to react before he was on top of her.
"Get off me!" Kagome was once again pounding away on the wolf. He easily grabbed her hands, pulling them above her head. His grasp was too tight, and his claws were digging into the tender flesh of her wrists. She winced in the pain, and she gasped in shock when she realized she was missing her shirt. 'When. . .' She couldn't finish the thought before she felt his breath on her throat. 'Oh, no, not again.'
"Please, Kouga-kun, let me go." She was struggling under him and trying to wrench her hands free. He nipped at her neck, causing her to cry out. Pleading was not working, and she sure as hell wasn't strong enough to fight him. To make matters worse, every time her injury was hit, more blood loss occurred. Kagome was praying she wouldn't lose consciousness. When she felt something hard press up against her thigh, she used all her strength to get her leg loose in order to catch him in the groin. He yelped in pain, backing off of her just enough for her to sit up and move to the corner.
"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!" Her scream echoed off the walls. She didn't know if he'd hear her, but maybe someone would.
"INUYASHA! INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!! INUYA. . ." Kagome was slammed up against the wall by the youkai.
"I was going to be gentle, but if you keep screaming his name, I'm going to tear you apart."
"You jerk! Get your hands off me! Don't touch me! INUYASHA!" She was smacking him each time she said something, leaving red marks all over his face and chest. 'When did he get naked from the waist up?'
Kouga smirked at her. There was a glint in his eye that made Kagome wish she could black out right there and then. He'd lost his mind to his instincts, and her fighting back was making him want her more and more. He grabbed her by the hair, ripping her head back. She let out a startled cry, but was cut short as his fangs scraped her throat, leaving thin red lines. One clawed hand moved up her right side, scratching the small gash there, and covering his fingertips in her blood. He licked a single blood- tipped claw, and then traced a line from her collarbone to her breast with the rest, leaving a crimson trail. His hand rested upon her left breast before he squeezed it. She gasped as his claws dug into her skin, drawing blood.
He shoved her to the stone ground, letting his hands rest on her hips, pressing her down. He brought his mouth down to hers, but she spat in his face and attempted to push him away. "How could you do this to me?!!" Kouga growled at her. He brought his hand up and smacked her hard across her face. She could feel the blood run down her lips as her nose bled from the hit.
"Don't talk back to me!" His voice was nothing of the normal Kouga's now. It expressed nothing but lust and anger. In one hand he held her hair, keeping her head to the ground, with the other he forced open her legs. He ran his claws up and down her flesh, getting more heated with every tremble of her body.
Kagome couldn't see straight, nor could she really comprehend much of what was going on. All that she knew was she was in a lot of pain, and that she was about to experience something that would crush her soul. As much as she had struggled to keep awake, she found that she was now wishing for the darkness to take her. Maybe forever. 'Inuyasha. . .' She felt the tears running down her face. They gave her a weird sense of warmth when she felt so cold. 'Inuyasha, I wanted you to be. . . my first.' Her tears turned into sobs, and she tried to shut out the feeling of Kouga's hands on her thighs. Her body trembled under his touch. She was ready to welcome unconsciousness, but before she did, she screamed out his name.
"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!" A peaceful darkness took her where the world could not touch her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(a/n) Okay, I know this was cruel. Another cliffhanger and it was a bit violent. I promise I wouldn't let anything too devastating happen to our favorite miko. The next chapter should be up in a day or so. Keep reading! It gets better! BTW sorry Kouga fans!
Soul-ripping iron claw (Inu attack) Claws of blood (Inu attack using his own blood) Evil, noxious energy Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack using the enemy's energy against them