I've left all you good people waiting for a long enough time, so, without any further adieu, here it is…
"Blahblah" speech
'Blahblah' thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own it…
Chapter Eleven: The Hunted
Sighing as she adjusted her hair for the millionth time, she willed herself to turn away from the mirror and leave. She was due to meet Sesshomaru at the restaurant in an hour's time, and it took quite a while to drive to the end of the city it was located in.
Snatching her purse from the bed, she slid into her silver, strappy heels and made for the front door. Making sure everything was turned off, she locked up and slipped into the hall, being careful not to make too much noise.
The walk from the apartment doors to her car, which was parked in the underground lot beneath the building, was an uneasy one. Something just didn't seem right. She went over everything she needed to bring, finding she hadn't left anything out.
There wasn't anyone else in the lot, which bothered her slightly, making her pick up her pace a little more. She could feel the aura's of a few people farther off, most of which she assumed were residents of the apartment building.
Shaking off the feeling, she took out her keys and sucked in a deep breath. Just as she moved around to the driver's side, two very threatening aura's became noticeable. They were still rather far off, but they were both undoubtedly youkai, and she didn't like the way they seemed to radiate malice.
Fingers shaking as she attempted to unlock her car door, she cursed slightly at her sudden shakiness, wanting nothing more than to be in the safety of her vehicle.
The aura's were moving, at an alarmingly fast pace, and she was certain they were currently heading her way. Crying out in desperation, she finally managed to shove the key into the lock, but had no time to open the door as the two mystery youkai appeared directly behind her.
Before she could scream, or turn around for that matter, a prick of pain surged through the base of her neck. Vision blurring, she felt her hands fall limply to her sides, purse falling to the ground with a soft 'thud'. When she fell back, she felt a large set of arms encase her. Eyes sliding shut, she managed to whisper one last thing before she passed out.
"Sesshomaru."
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Growling as he checked his watch yet again, Sesshomaru shifted a little in his seat. She was late. The mere thought filled him with unease. It was true, she was only three minutes late, but he had been checking his Rolex every ten seconds. She wasn't a tardy person, he knew that much.
Had she got caught in traffic? It was a possibility.
Had she given him the cold shoulder? He hoped not. From what he gathered she liked him an awful lot, he could smell it in her scent whenever she was near; the adoration, the respect, the giddiness. So… that left out that option.
Had something happened to her?
His heart froze at the thought. He hoped nothing of ill intent had befallen his little angel. Breathing deeply, he forced himself to remain seated and hoped it was simply traffic.
'I'm being ridiculous,' he murmured, 'she is only… four minutes late and I'm acting as though I haven't seen her in years.'
Calming himself, he called a waiter over and ordered a bottle of white whine, recalling that Kagome wasn't particularly fond of red whine.
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Groaning as a thrumming pain laced her skull, Kagome peered through half lidded eyes as she became conscious once more. When she attempted to bring a hand to her head to sooth the agonizing pulse, she found her hands to be immobile, secured at her sides. Tugging at whatever bound her wrists to what she assumed was a wall, she hissed when the sting of a fresh wound sent a frisson of pain up her spine.
Eyes slowly adjusting to her dim surroundings, she found that almost nothing was visible in the dark room she was currently being held captive in. All she could make out was the wall she was currently bound to and the floor that dangled a few inches from her toes. Her ankles were secured as well, legs spread to about shoulder width.
Whimpering in fright, she gave up on trying to see who might be there with her and relied on her miko senses. There were three aura's present, all in which were familiar. Two of them were the ones who had grabbed her in the parking lot. The other wasn't an aura she had felt in the short time she had been using her powers, but it felt eerily familiar all the same. Unlike the other two, this one radiated malice, hatred, malevolence, and pure, sadistic evil.
Swallowing the bile that had risen in her throat, she managed to call out shakily, "Who… who are you? What do you want?"
A round of chuckles could be heard within the confines of the room, and two figures slowly emerged from the shadows.
One was shorter than the other, and rather burly. He was devoid of hair, save a small, black braid at the base of his skull. His appearance was not at all human, and she thought he resembled some form of lizard like creature. His long, protruding snout curved into a sinister grin, one full of tiny, needle like teeth.
The other was tall and human in appearance, save his demonic traits. His ears, fangs and claws were all something that she was familiar with, considering she had many demon friends. His eyes, however, were a vibrant red, like hot embers. He was handsome, in a roguish way, and had thick, black hair tied into a long braid.
They both reeked of power and haughty arrogance, though the handsome one seemed to hold a bit more of the latter. He was the first to speak.
"Well, well, well… quite a lovely one, she is. Wouldn't you say, Manten?"
Chortling in a deep, animalistic way, the reptilian male nodded once in agreement, his tiny eyes raking over her form in scrutiny. "Indeed Hiten, she looks good enough to eat."
The taller of the two approached her and lifted a clawed hand to her face. Grasping her chin roughly, he jerked her head from side to side in inspection. "Flawless; quite the gem. I see now why you had us bring her to you."
By the end of his second sentence, he had released her face and turned to address the third party, who was obviously in charge judging by his massive amount of power. It was unlike anything Kagome had ever felt. She had sensed demons and human who were ruled by hatred before, but never had she come across someone whose very power seemed to root from their loathing.
"Indeed," a voice from the shadows remarked idly.
Kagome shuddered at the all too familiar voice. It simply couldn't be, could it? He wouldn't go to such drastic lengths would he?
Her fears were realized when he stepped forth from the back of the room, into a range where her human eyes could make out his figure. His perfectly pressed suit clung to his relaxed body with such precision, his hair falling over his shoulders like waves of shadow. His eyes gleamed at her with unspoken promises; promises that were dark, tainted, and impure. Their eerie crimson depths swirled in a hypnotizing manner, his stark white pupils making him look evil. He flashed her a fanged grin.
'Of course he's a hanyou,' Kagome groused, 'it would just be too damn easy if he was a human, and heaven forbid anything in my life would be easy.'
"Well," Hiten clipped, arms crossed over his broad chest, "we've done our part, Naraku. It's time for you to pay up."
Naraku, however, refused to reply, but simply continued to stare at his prey, stalking closer with long, even steps, his hands clenched behind his back as though he were admiring a piece of artwork.
Growling, the elder of the two men stepped forward and barked, "Look, pay up and we'll leave. Then you can spend all the time in the world gawking at her. The Thunder Brothers do have a schedule, you know!"
Again Naraku said nothing, his eyes fastened to the squirming onna before him. Lips curving into a malicious smirk, he growled lowly in his chest, flicking his tongue out to lick his lips in a sensual and suggestive manner.
Having had enough, the burlier of the two, Manten, stalked forward, fury written across his bizarre features as he bellowed, "No one ignores my brother!"
In a movement too fast for the human eye, the fat reptilian youkai had been decapitated, the only proof of who had done it was the fact that Naraku's hand was extended to the side, coated in blood.
Kagome could do naught but yelp in disgust and turn away, her eyes clenched shut in fear.
Naraku, however, hadn't taken his eyes off of Kagome.
Howling in sorrow as his younger brother was slaughtered before his very eyes, Hiten sunk to his knees next to the carcass of Manten, sobbing quietly, "Dear brother, do not fret, for even in death we will always be together."
Kagome, who had opened her eyes after the initial shock had worn off, was mortified to watch as the handsome youkai sunk his fangs into his brother's flesh and sucked him dry. Biting back the urge to vomit, she turned her head away again.
Standing once he had absorbed his fallen brother's energy, Hiten manifested a ball of cracking lightning at his fingertips and charged his foe, sending a blinding attack in his general direction.
Satisfied when he saw his attack hit his enemy full force, he skidded to a halt and grinned when the smoke cleared. In the spot where Naraku had once stood, nothing but a black blot stood out against the otherwise grey floor.
Kagome looked confusedly at the spot on the floor in front of her. Was that it? Was he gone? No… she could still sense his aura.
The other demon, Hiten, didn't seem to notice it, for he was currently approaching her.
Strolling up to the beautiful young maiden chained to the wall, the thunder demon grinned wickedly and skimmed over her form with hungry eyes. "It would be such a waste to leave such a fine little thing here all alone. I went through the trouble of capturing you, so by all rights I should at least get to sample you. After all, now that Naraku is… out of commission, there's no need for you to stay here, is there my dazzling sapphire?"
Paling at his words, she shook her head and tugged against her binds, whining when she felt them scratch her skin. Horror overtook her features as he lifted a hand to her face, clawed tips grazing the tender skin of her cheek.
Chuckling wickedly, he raked a claw across the strap of her gown, that thin material giving way and making the neckline droop without the support. Eyeing the newly exposed flesh, he growled hungrily and took another step toward her, so that there were no more than a few inches of space between them.
Cerulean orbs transfixed on the cruel ruby ones that skimmed her body, Kagome could do naught but shiver as he lifted his hand to touch her again. Clenching her eyes closed, she awaited the unwanted caress of his fingers against her bare tops of her breasts.
Instead of the brush of claws she had expected, something wet sprayed against her chest, accompanied by a disgusting squelching sound. Eyes flying open, she gagged at the sight that met her. Hiten was still there, in front of her, a clawed hand now protruding from his gut.
Sucking in shaky wafts of air, he looked first at the hand that he was skewered on and then to the person who had assaulted him. Naraku stood behind him, a bored expression written across his features.
"Did you actually believe that such a low level attack could finish me?" he shook his head mockingly and tore his arm from its place lodged within Hiten's stomach.
Stumbling backward in disbelief, the elder Thunder Brother shook his head in denial, not willing to believe that his devastating attack hadn't harmed the man before him. Hell, he wasn't even full youkai, how was it possible for him to house so much power?
Chuckling darkly, Naraku examined his claws and chided, "A weak little being such as your self couldn't even hope to scathe me, never mind bring me physical harm."
Quivering as he was pinned with a look that promised pain, Hiten threw a hand up and stammered, "Now, Naraku, let's be reasonable. I'll leave, right now, and you'll never hear form me again. Don't worry about the money… this one's on the house."
Sniffling lightly, he lifted a jet black brow and quipped jadedly, "You bore me. Game over."
The scream she attempted to let lose became lodged in her throat as she watched Naraku rip the man's heart straight from his chest. The pulsing, bloody organ spewed crimson, beating a few times before stilling completely. Kagome whimpered soundly as he tossed the useless piece of flesh over his shoulder and turned to her, completely disregarding the corpse on the floor. Drawing in a shaky breath, she whispered, "Why?"
Sighing, the crimson eyed psychopath came to a stop only a foot from her, looking up into her tear stained face with a relaxed expression. "If only you knew what you do to me… you would know why. You see, my dear, I've been around a long time, and no other female has ever caught my attention as you have. This Naraku always gets what he wants, by any means necessary, it's as simple as that."
Blinking the tears from her eyes, she snapped, "Even if it means taking someone against their will!"
Nodding once, he affirmed, "Even if it means taking someone against their will. You will come to appreciate me in time, Kagome. You will come to adore me… as I do you."
"No… this isn't right and you know it. Please… why are you doing this?"
Eyes hardening, he stepped closer to her and growled, "I saw him touch you… that disgusting dog. You let him touch you. You belong to me, Kagome."
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He couldn't wait any longer. She was over a half an hour late. Something was definitely amiss. Standing, he set a wad of cash on the table and darted from the restaurant with lightning speed, not bothering to take his vehicle as he sped toward Kagome's apartment.
His youkai was flaring wildly within him, and he vowed that, should anything happen to his angel, he would see to it that whoever had caused her harm would suffer.
Ducking down a back alley, he used his demonic strength to leap up onto the rooftops, continuing the remainder of his trek by leaping from building to building.
His lungs throbbed with every breath, his heart constricting painfully in his chest. Something was wrong… his angel was in danger. Barrier falling, he allowed his claws to lengthen, fangs protruding from his mouth in a feral, animalistic manner.
The cool night air whipped around him as he sped toward his destination, throwing his long, silky mane into a platinum whirlwind. He didn't pay any mind to the icy chill that nipped at his skin, turning his cheeks a pale rouge.
Leg muscles bunched and released as he surged forward, his breath coming out in small, steam motes. Crouching low, he leapt high into the air, eyes scanning the area below for her apartment building. Spying it, he pointed his feet downward, arms lifted to his sides for balance.
Landing with ease and unmatched grace, he decided it was best to make sure her vehicle was still there. Dematerializing, he sped into the deserted lot, his keen golden gaze seeking out her Sentra. When he found it, his ardent eyes picked up another, much more disturbing piece of evidence.
Her purse lay near the driver's side of the car, proving that she had indeed be there. Appearing next to the fallen accessory, he scented the air, his delicate nostrils flaring wildly as he picked up two other scents; both male, both youkai. They had taken her.
Eyes bleeding pure red, his pale lips curled into a snarl as he tossed his head back and howled an enraged proclamation to that heavens. His terrifying roar stated clearly that whosoever had abducted his precious tenshi would be found, and blood would be shed. Tonight, the beast would hunt.
Oh, Sesshomaru is pissed…O.O
What will become of our dear Kagome?
What does Naraku have planned for her?
Will her knight in shining armor get to her before its too late?
Oh God the suspense!
Review and you'll find out soon enough.
