A/N: Alright, here it is! Yes, this chapter took me an incredibly long time to write, but I had a lot of fun! Sorry it took so long to update…but I got…erm…sidetracked last week writing a songfic/oneshot based on a dream I had! If you're eagerly awaiting my next chapter, I suggest you read/review it until I update. All constructive comments are welcome! It is called: In the Arms of an Angel … and yes it does have a sad ending!

Okay, enough chatter…I'll shut up now…I promise. Oh yeah, one more thing. Please send some love! (In other words, review and let me know what you think of this chapter!) Chow for now.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I don't even own this computer (as my parents keep reminding me… -sigh)

These Hands: Broken (Chapter 4)

Inuyasha ran swiftly through the forest, his silver hair gently floating over the girl who lay sleeping on his back. Her head rested softly on his shoulder, rolling to each side with his movements. Inuyasha slowed his pace, trying not to wake the young priestess. A lot had happened in the past night, and she needed her rest.

The sun loomed over the horizon, ready to begin the day. It cast an orange glow over the land, shadowing the forests and the mountains. It was almost dawn. Inuyasha's ears twitched with sounds of the morning and Kagome's light breathing; the sound of it sent a calming feeling throughout his entire body. He smiled slightly and let her rhythmic breathing entwine his mind and soul. The small, sentimental smile grew as the past night came into realization; he had finally done it. Everything was going to be okay, as long as he had Kagome.

The sun grew stronger, signaling a new day had begun. Inuyasha knew that the others were probably wondering where they both had been. He grimaced, imagining what ideas must have gone through that monk's perverted mind. 'That lecher', Inuyasha thought. 'He'll never learn.'

Inuyasha had often wondered what Sango saw in that lecherous monk. Kagome was convinced that they loved each other, but Inuyasha never saw it himself. Any time there was even a hint of a sentimental moment; Miroku's hand would somehow find its way to Sango's behind, promoting a hardy slap. Inuyasha himself had lost count how many times the monk had received a red mark at the hands of Sango. Inuyasha sighed, closing his eyes in thought, 'I don't see why Sango endures it. If I were her, I would just beat him senseless.'

Kagome stirred, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck for security. Inuyasha gasped slightly at her movement; he had almost completely forgotten about her presence. He glanced back at her with soft eyes, 'Kagome…she looks so peaceful…she looks-' A sudden gasp escaped his lips as a thought came to the front of his mind. He turned his head quickly, eyes focused on the ground, 'Kikyou…shit. What am I going to do about Kikyou?' His eyes became hidden beneath his bangs, 'I owe her my life, after all.'

"Inu…yasha." Kagome spoke softly, eyes clenched tightly together. Her hands grasped his fire-rat shirt firmly. Inuyasha stopped walking and turned his head. Kagome had begun to shake slightly; her knuckles turning white from the strain on her hands.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha became worried. 'Is she having a bad dream?' He grasped her legs and shook her slightly, trying to wake her up. "Hey…Kagome."

Kagome opened her eyes slowly. The world slowly began to take shape in front of her as she lifted her head from his back. She yawned, focusing on the half-demon. "Oh, Inuyasha its you." Her hands found their way from around his neck to rub her eyes. She yawned once again, stretching her arms above her head. "Mmm…that was nice. I really needed it, too."

Inuyasha scanned her with his golden eyes, his brow furrowed.

"What? What's with that look?" Kagome's arms dropped to her hips.

He blinked, "Uhh…Kagome you were-"

"I was…what?" She raised one eyebrow.

Inuyasha opened his mouth to respond, but stopped when a familiar scent reached his nose. He sniffed the air again, verifying his suspicions. His eyes filled with anger and loathing as he bared his teeth. This was definitely Naraku's scent. "Kagome, stay here." He said firmly, setting her down lightly. His arm drifted towards his Tetsusaiga as he turned to leave.

Kagome frowned and grabbed his arm quickly, "Oh no, you're not leaving me again-" She stopped, seeing the fear etched into Inuyasha's face alongside the hatred. "Inuyasha…what is it?"

Inuyasha turned and grasped Kagome's shoulders firmly with his hands. "Listen to me, Kagome. You cannot follow me, aright? I mean it this time." He spoke firmly, tightening his grip on her shoulders. "I just need to check some things out, you go ahead to Kaede's."

She said nothing, averting her gaze to the ground as anger filled her body, 'Who does he think he is? My mother? Does he not realize I'm worried about him?'

"Kagome…?" He lifted a clawed finger under her chin, positioning her face so she was looking at him with her chocolate eyes. The angry, yet sad look upon her beautiful face caught him off guard. He gulped, trying to stay firm. "Will you promise me?"

She stared at him for a moment, eyes scanning his features. 'Why is he doing this again? He's so stubborn sometimes. Why would he not want me to go with him?'

"Kagome…promise me."

She turned and bit her lip; a nod was the only answer she could muster. Inuyasha quickly pulled her into his embrace, holding her close into his chest. "Don't worry. I'll be back by sundown for sure. I'm sure Sango and the others are wondering what happened to you." He rested his cheek on her head, feeling the sensation of her raven hair on his face; her scent was overwhelming.

She sighed heavily into his chest, knowing she would never be able to convince the stubborn half-demon.

Inuyasha, sensing her feelings, broke the hug, and turned to leave before he had a chance to reconsider. There was no way he was going to get Kagome involved. There was no way he was going to let her get hurt.

"Inuyasha?" Her voice sounded softly behind him.

He stopped and slowly turned to look back at her, "What is it?"

"Please, be careful."

Inuyasha's usual smirk appeared on his face. "Keh, don't worry about it. I'll be fine." He turned back around and began running towards the scent he had smelt only moments ago. The sleeves of his red shirt fluttered in the wind as he gained speed, leaving the sight of Kagome once again. His mind buzzed as he ran swiftly, the golden sun reflecting off his silver hair. 'Naraku… I'm certain that this voice has something to do with you...and there's no way I'm letting you get away with it.'


Naraku stood leaning against a tree, his baboon outfit draped over his shoulders. "Only a matter of time," he said, chuckling. "That half-demon should be here at any moment, following my scent." Smirking, he ran his fingers over the sacred jewel. "It's only a matter of time..."

The moon nowhung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the land. The trees shadowed the clearing in which Naraku stood, each casting its own imprint on the cold ground. All was silent, not even the crickets' dared to chirp.

Naraku walked slowly over to the sacred tree, which stood in the middle of clearing, and placed his hand upon the decaying bark. 'This is the tree that once held Inuyasha...' His hand began to glow as a smile spread across his face, "Inuyasha…this is the very spot where your love was destroyed fifty years ago…" Naraku chuckled, "…and this is the spot where it will be slashed apart once again."

-

Hukaro exhaled deeply, closing her eyes, "Naraku…ye truly wish this fate upon the half-demon and the priestess? For, once I strengthen the locket, there will be no turning back."

"I am quite certain, Lady Hukaro," Naraku scoffed. "Now tell me what it is I must do to subdue the half-demon and gain control of his mind." He spoke sternly; impatient with all the visits he had made to the witch in order to complete his plan. The smell of her hut disgusted him.

She readied a pot in the middle of the hut, and began tossing morsels of ingredients into it as she spoke, "I will strengthen the locket, Lord, thereby making it easier to gain control of his mind. However, this demon has proved to be highly resistant, because…he has someone not only to protect, but to love."

Naraku scoffed. "Love…a pointless emotion."

Hukaro continued, ignoring his interjection. "All you must do, Lord, is find the part of his heart which still holds onto the pain of betrayal. Find the part of his heart that holds darkness and hatred towards love. You see, Lord Naraku, you will only be able to control him once you can destroy his love of love." She cast her hand over the pot, causing the smoke, which had been rising from the pot, to cease. She sighed, "There, it is done. Now…go, and do as you wish."

Naraku turned, taking his last glance at the miserable witch before departing her hut, a smile on his face.

-

"WIND SCAR!"

Naraku jumped, escaping Inuyasha's attack easily. He landed, facing the enraged half-demon, on the other side of the clearing. "So, you've come." He smirked, taking off his baboon hood. His long black hair floated down his back in waves, "I am glad...but wait, no Kagome? How disheartening."

"Shuddup Naraku, you have nothing to be happy about!" Inuyasha yelled, raising his Tetsusaiga to eye level. He began to charge, "Today's the day I take you down for good!"

Naraku smiled, watching the half-demon charge towards him blindly. He held out his arm, his palm pointed towards Inuyasha. "Inuyasha…you are too hotheaded for your own good." A blue light shot out of his hand, hitting Inuyasha squarely in the chest.

Inuyashagasped at the impact. The feeling of numbness crept over his entire body as he slowed and became suspended in the air. 'I can't move my arms!' Inuyasha struggled to move his limbs with no success. 'Damn it…what has he done to me?'

"Inuyasha, what is wrong?" Naraku mocked him, laughing. "Are you finding it hard to move?"

Inuyasha clenched his teeth together, baring his fangs at Naraku. He growled, "You coward! You'll pay for everything you've done. Once I'm free…"

Naraku approached him, placing a cold finger under Inuyasha's chin. "Poor little half-demon…now that you're frozen…your mouth is your only weapon." He laughed, removing his hand from his face and placing it on his chest. "Ahh, I can feel your heart. This is going to be easier than I thought." A red light radiated from Naraku's hand and into Inuyasha's chest.

Inuyasha gasped, feeling his body begin to pulse as the red light swept through his veins and muscles. His eyes widened, feeling a presence tightly grasping his heart.

"I can feel it. I can feel your pain…your love." Naraku closed his eyes, his smirk growing wider. "Now tell me Inuyasha…do you remember that day your love betrayed you? Do you remember that day fifty years ago…"

Images of the day when he had been sealed to the tree filled Inuyasha's mind. He saw himself, stealing the jewel and setting the village on fire...

Naraku's cold voice echoed in his head. "Remember Kikyou…the women you loved. She betrayed you Inuyasha."

Inuyasha saw Kikyou in his mind, shouting his name and releasing an arrow, which sped towards his heart. It pinned him to the tree, causing him to drop the jewel.

"Remember how hurt you felt, Inuyasha. She sealed you…without any second thought."

'You're wrong!' Inuyasha's mind fought back. 'You were the one who tricked us into hating each other!'

"Am I wrong, Inuyasha?" His cold voice continued, mocking him. "If your love was so pure…so strong…then how could you both be deceived be easily? I laugh at your 'true love' Inuyasha. She never loved you…how could anyone love you? You're just a half-breed."

Inuyasha lowered his gaze, feeling the pain of his childhood return. Naraku's words echoed in his mind.

She never loved you…how could anyone love you?

You're just a half-breed.

His body began to shake, anger filling every inch of him. 'You're wrong! Kagome…Kagome loves me!' His mind continued to fight back.

"Does she, Inuyasha?" Naraku emitted a purple light from his hand into Inuyasha's chest. "Look into your heart, Inuyasha…see the future."

Inuyasha's mind became hazed with a scene. He saw himself, standing next to the well, hanging onto Kagome's arm. She was fighting him…

"Inuyasha…let me go!" The Kagome yelled, trying to pull her arm away. "I'm going home! I can't stay with you anymore…I have to go to college, I have to get a job!"

"No! You're staying with me! I don't give a shit about this college or job you talk about, I need you to stay with me!" Inuyasha saw himself, fighting to remain hold of the Kagome's arm. "I love you!"

"Inuyasha…you know it will never work between us!" Tears began to run down her face as she looked at him sternly. "I'll grow old and die, and you won't even look a dayolder! We come from different times…I-I can't be with you." The Kagome managed to pull free of him and threw herself down the well, sealing it behind her. "Goodbye, Inuyasha."

"You see, Inuyasha? She will leave you…this is what will become of your 'love'. You were never intended to love or be loved. You're just a lowly half-breed! You don't deserve love!"

With that final word, Naraku let go of Inuyasha's chest and backed away, admiring his work.

The half-demon's head was bowed, his eyes hidden beneath his bangs. His heart and mind no longer continued to fight; the images of his broken past and future replayed over and over. His soul was broken.

"Good, now you will hear my voice…" Naraku released the spell that bound Inuyasha in the air. He fell, crumpled on the ground, unconscious. Naraku smiled, and began to fade slowly into the night sky. "Now you will be in my control." His laugh echoed through the night as he disappeared into the darkness.

Inuyasha remained; alone in the middle of the clearing, broken.


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