Plea of a Fading Soul
I wanted to update quickly, as I'm bored waiting while I'm presumably one day away from my movie arriving. I had an idea for this chapter, despite the cliff-hanger ending of the last one, and I had to carry it through. Bear with me. And don't worry – I'll keep it clean.
Sometimes I'll say 'hai' instead of yes. I can just imagine Kagome saying it at appropriate times, and 'osuwari' in place of 'sit!'. You should know the rest of the Japanese words. Katana sword, hanyou half-demon, youkai demon, miko priestess.
Meiko and Kanuono belong to me, the rest belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Shounen Sunday.
Chapter Six
Lost In The Fog
Inuyasha folded his arms, his eyes narrowed against the sunlight as it ducked beneath the canopy of the forest trees – dying in a pool of its own blood-red light. Sunset.
His legs were tucked beneath him, Tessaiga resting across his lap as he looked out over the forest in front of him and watched Kagome wave some primitive form of a snakewood stick around, lunging at imaginary enemies.
Inuyasha would've mentally laughed had reality not dawned on him. It wasn't funny. He hadn't seen Kagome concentrate so much before despite when she was aiming her arrows. He'd never seen her hone another weapon besides a bow before – never even imagined it – but the stick seemed a part of her, something she could easily control like another appendage.
She wielded it well, her lunges swift and calculated. Her brown eyes were dark as she spun and held an imaginary trap in the air – locking the 'enemy's' weapon with hers. She was getting better and better at it, even if she had no intention of attacking Kanuono. It was to work up her confidence – to prove to herself that she was strong, no matter how afraid she was.
Inuyasha watched her with eyes the colour of the burning sun, flashing in the fading sunlight. She looked so beautiful.
Kagome pivoted on her left foot, bringing the stick down and jabbing the air, her teeth gritted in pretend fury. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes ablaze as her dark hair whipped around her like a banner of midnight. The scarlet of the sun's rays caught her full in the face, illuminating the burning determination in her eyes.
Inuyasha shivered. He had to stop thinking about her – for his sake and for hers. If he got too attracted to her, only to have her taken away… He clenched his fists. He'd been attracted to her long before this night, he knew, and it was stupid of him not to remember that. But he couldn't keep reopening the old wound if it were only going to be slashed open again.
"Kagome," he said softly. "Quit waving that twig around,"
Kagome turned to look at him, her face disgusted. She clutched tighter onto the stick, feeling the hard wood beneath her hands. "I've noticed something," she spat. "After all that I've been through, you seem to be getting a harder time. I seem to be getting better, whereas you are getting worse – I'm not the only one who's noticed. Forgive me if I haven't resigned myself to that fear just yet,"
She began hitting the air with the stick again, her lunges more impacting than before. He'd pissed her off.
Inuyasha scowled and stood up. "Me? Getting weaker? You're forgetting that I'm not afraid of anything,"
"That's a lie and you know it," Kagome snapped back without turning, jabbing the air.
The half-demon stepped over to her, his footsteps soft as he crossed the wet grass. He withdrew Tessaiga from its holster, leaving it in its rusty form. His eyes narrowed in challenge. "You think you're mastering that ditzy stick?" he grimaced.
Kagome stopped then, jerking her head in his direction. Her hair billowed around her before settling around her shoulders. Her eyes shone. "Maybe a little,"
The challenge had been set. Kagome smiled once before ducking from Inuyasha's sudden horizontal slash. She whirled behind him, raising her weapon to strike him on the head. The move was too obvious and she realised a little too late. The back of Tessaiga shot out from the space between Inuyasha's waist and arm. The hilt struck her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
Kagome gasped for breath, falling a few steps backwards before getting a better grip on her stick. She watched as Inuyasha turned, smiling devilishly. His own cheeks were flushed now, his eyes glittering like citrine crystal. "Come and get me wench," he grinned.
Kagome didn't obey his command. She sucked in air, dropping to the ground and clutching hold of her stomach in pain.
Inuyasha stepped over slowly, his eyes narrowed. "See what happens when you try a new style of fighting, Kagome? It's pointless, you–" he didn't get to finish.
That moment, Kagome jabbed her stick upwards, penetrating his guard and jabbing him in the bottom of the chin. The hanyou fell backwards with the force of the impact, dazed. His eyes were wide.
Kagome laughed as she straightened up. "Psyche,"
Inuyasha was confused for a moment before he growled and pulled himself up from the floor. "Cheater," he hissed, pointing the rusty blade of Tessaiga in her face. Kagome's stick clashed with the sword, her eyes glittering. Then without warning, she knocked the katana to the side and jabbed Inuyasha in the chest.
He, too, got the wind knocked out of him. He took a few startled steps backwards, before narrowing his eyes in near-satisfaction. "So it's that game, is it?"
"All's fair in love and war," Kagome shrugged, crouching in a defensive stance.
Inuyasha tensed up after hearing the first part, then let it go. "Whatever,"
The next instant, Tessaiga was a gleaming fang. "All's fair," he smiled.
Kagome pouted before ducking his wild jab. She knew he was deliberately not aiming directly at her, and he knew she knew. That made it harder on him. But what was he supposed to do? He couldn't actually hit her, despite the fact that Tessaiga wouldn't harm a human.
The sparring session was getting out of hand. He had started it and now he was sure he wanted to finish it. But what was the way to do it? Walk away like a man, or crush her will completely? "Kagome, I–"
Her stick connected with Tessaiga, a shockwave running up his arm and throughout his body. Stunned, he stared at his sword in confusion. He regretted it instantly.
Kagome spun her stick before pointing it downwards and lunging, putting all her weight behind it. It connected satisfactorily, catching the half-demon in the spot between his legs. His eyes widened for an instant before he let go of Tessaiga, falling to the floor with a whine. He curled up into a ball, squealing in pain. "Bitch!" he howled, rocking back and forth.
Kagome smiled playfully. "Looks like I'm the last one standing," she noted. She watched as the half-demon let out a cry of pain on the floor, writhing in agony. Maybe she had hit him a little too hard.
"Kagome,"
She turned to see a withered face staring at her, two beady black eyes analysing the situation. A slow smile appeared on the woman's face. Kagome lowered her stick, smiling back. "Kaede," she grinned. "We're… uh… having a sparring match, is all,"
Inuyasha groaned on the floor, rolling away from both of their prying eyes. He was whining like a dog, and Kagome couldn't contain the snicker beginning to rise in her throat. She focused on the old woman, brushing her hair back. "I… aheh, caught a sensitive spot,"
"'Caught' it my ass! You aimed, bitch!" Inuyasha screamed, trying to pull himself up into a sitting position.
Kagome scowled, shooting daggers with her eyes. "Call me bitch again and I swear, Inuyasha, I'll…"
"Bitch!"
"Osuwari!"
Kaede chuckled. "It's nice to see you two are back to normal. After last week's event I wasn't so sure,"
A week…? Has it really been a week already? Kagome wondered, putting a hand up to her head. Inuyasha was silently simmering, his face pressed into the ground.
Kagome noticed that Kaede was carrying a basket full of herbs. She looked up. "What was it you wanted, Kaede?" she asked, dropping her stick.
Kaede sighed. "I be making a spell to ward off evil spirits – for your benefit, child. There is but one ingredient left, and I was hoping that you would accompany me,"
Kagome was silent a moment before turning back to Inuyasha. "Is it okay if I go?" she asked.
He sniffed, pulling himself out of the ground. "Get out of my sight," he said.
Kagome looked pleading. "But Shadow Man…"
"I told you to get out of my sight!" Inuyasha snapped, whirling around. "I'm in agony thanks to you! Just… Just go!"
Kagome sighed, turning back to Kaede. "Hai…"
She followed the old woman out of the clearing, glancing back once before resigning herself to herb-hunting. She was sure Inuyasha would be fine – he seemed to have his old attitude back, and maybe he could handle Kanuono now he was back to normal. Maybe.
She sighed and crossed her fingers, shutting her eyes for an instant. Please. Please let him be safe…
Inuyasha sat up, wincing in pain as he moved. Kagome, you bitch…
He couldn't believe her movements had been so unpredictable – he had thought that she would still be fearful after Shadow Man's influence and this would make her weak. Defeating her was supposed to make him feel better, supposed to make him feel stronger and make her feel weaker. That way he could go back to his normal role of protecting her, making him feel even more superior. Back on top.
He felt worse. Running a hand through his hair, he frowned. She'd gotten a lot of training down in the week since she'd 'died'. Inuyasha had seriously thought that after hearing the same trick had been pulled on him that had been pulled on her, she would be afraid. But she wasn't afraid, she was building up her confidence – whereas he was crawling deeper and deeper into the corner of his mind, cowering.
What if it happened all over again? For real? What if he lost Kagome permanently? Would he be able to cope?
He didn't know why he had been so easily broken that day last week, how Kanuono had gotten under his skin so easily and so fast. He'd just pushed all the right buttons. He'd mentioned Kagome dying and living on with Kikyo in the same sentence – anybody saying that to him would make him feel raw. Worse than raw, guilty. The thought was too painful.
And how had Kanuono even held Tessaiga? If he was a demon then he should have been repelled by Tessaiga's barrier, but it hadn't affected him. It hadn't been in its fang form, so that meant he couldn't wield Tessaiga, but it still sent shivers through Inuyasha's body when he thought of Shadow Man holding onto his father's sword like that. He snarled.
"Kagome… you better be back soon," he thought aloud, frowning.
Kagome bent down to examine a fourth patch of mushroom-like fungi, poking it tentatively. She looked over her shoulder in Kaede's direction for some kind of instruction, but the old woman shook her head. "They be poisonous, child." She said. "Let's continue."
Kagome rolled her eyes and stood up, watching Kaede head through the trees before following.
She looked around, scowling. A fog had descended on the forest not long since they had ventured inside, and it was getting thicker. Kagome didn't like it and by the way Kaede was hurrying, neither did the priestess. "Kaede, don't you think this mist is becoming a problem?" Kagome asked, ducking beneath an overhanging branch.
The priestess nodded. "Yes, we should hurry,"
Their pace quickened but it didn't seem enough. The fog was like ghostly fingers prying at Kagome as she went passed, clawing at her and exposing her soul – her fear. Her heart pounded somewhere in her throat, her blood roaring in her ears. Tendrils of fear were enveloping her heart, a cold shiver running down her spine.
Inuyasha… I need you…
Her foot snagged on a tree root and she tumbled to the ground, letting out a sharp cry before covering her head with her hands. Kaede didn't seem to notice – she was disappearing in the fog.
"Kaede! Kaede, I think I've twisted my ankle!" Kagome called, hating the stupid cliché of it. Girl in misty woods, girl trips and sprains ankle, girl gets lost… girl gets killed. Bile rose in the back of her throat.
"Kaede!"
There was no reply. It was as if the miko had vanished. Kagome began shaking, hyperventilating. The grass was cold beneath her body, her shirt riding up to expose her belly-button. Her stomach was slick with moisture. She tried to move, but found it too painful to lift her foot. She let out a gasp of pain.
The fog was so thick she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Shadows were everywhere. Everything was strangely dark, yet illuminated by the fog. A silver mist that shone like moonlight. The world was black and white. Silent. Like an old movie.
Kagome sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. It's okay… it's just fog – it'll be okay… But she couldn't help thinking that Shadow Man had something to do with this.
Being alone in the mist, lost, wasn't exactly her worst nightmare but it was scary enough. She hated feeling alone. Clutching onto a tuft of grass, she pulled herself up. She opened her mouth to call for Kaede again – for someone to help her. She doubted her voice would carry as far as Inuyasha. As she opened her mouth to cry out, she saw a figure in the distance. The fog seemed to disperse around her, fading into nothingness. The person was thin and tall, almost willowy, with long hair running down their back in waves.
Kagome's heart thumped in relief. Inuyasha.
She reached her hand out in his direction as he got closer, but when he was only a few feet away, she knew she had been naïve. At first she thought it was Kikyo, but she wasn't so sure. True, the woman was dressed as a miko, with the red trousers and white kimono, but her hair was long and golden. Her eyes were the same as Naraku's.
Kagome knew, by just one glance, that she wasn't here to help – because Shadow Man was standing just behind her.
"Oh, Kanuono, let me play with her…" the woman purred, bending down. Kagome tried to crawl away, but found she was paralysed. She let out a whimper.
The woman was beautiful, and reminded her of Kaguya despite seeming about nineteen in age. She was a youkai, Kagome could tell at a glance.
Shadow Man chuckled. "Play with her all you want, Meiko, but the hanyou is mine,"
Kagome let out a tangled scream before Meiko's hand shot out, clutching onto her hair. "Sweet dreams," she whispered, before everything went black.
Inuyasha was relieved when he saw Kagome step out of the forest, but the relief soon vanished when he saw she was swaying, her eyes dim and lifeless. She looked pained.
"Kagome?" he rushed over, forgetting what he was going to shout at her – forgetting to yell after she had hurt him earlier. She's hurt, she must be hurt…
Kagome looked up then and saw him, her mouth opening almost in a moan. Then she just collapsed, falling into his arms.
"W-What the–?" Inuyasha gaped down at her, staring. Her head tilted up to his, her eyes filling with warmth. Her cheeks had been pale, but now they flushed with colour. Her lips puckered in anticipation.
"Inuyasha…" she breathed, leaning her face into his. She looked drunk.
The hanyou pulled away, shocked. His eyes widened as her fingers curled around his bangs. She wrapped the silver strands around her fingers, smiling softly against his chest. "Inuyasha…"
He tried to push her away but couldn't, she held fast – one hand on his shoulder and the other making its way through his hair. She looked half-asleep, yet flirtatious. Longing.
Inuyasha gulped, terrified, yet he let her push him to the floor. He let her straddle him and caress his left ear while whispering his name. Oh, he let her do all those things. And he let her do a whole lot more.
"I want you," she breathed, her hand slipping beneath his kimono and running along his chest, affectionately.
He was choking on the very air he breathed. He had no idea where this had come from. He felt dazed, just watching her.
She licked the side of his face once before raining kisses along his cheek and down his neck, helping him remove his haori.
But it was his hands that fought at the folds, trying to remove it. It was also his hands that were tangling in her hair, pulling her closer to him. "Kagome…" he said against her lips before they kissed, his tongue sliding into her mouth. His body shuddered with ecstasy.
Kagome kissed fiercely back, her hands forcefully pulling his kimono apart. Her hands slipped down and fought to untie the bow on his trousers. He put his hands on hers, helping her with the loops while he lay there – afraid yet willing.
As soon as the knot on the bow was untied, Kagome seemed to freeze up as she came to. The kiss ended, and her eyes snapped open. The spell that had been placed on her had vanished, and she was left panting and confused. She lay motionless on top of Inuyasha, her tongue still in his mouth. Their lips were still locked. She blinked furiously and stared down at the hanyou, pulling their mouths apart.
His eyes were shut as he tried to claw on to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Don't stop…" he whispered, daring to lean in for another kiss.
Kagome let out a hoarse cry of disbelief and she jumped off of him, looking down in shock. Inuyasha's haori was beneath him, his kimono opened and the bow of his trousers undone. His legs were slightly open from where she had straddled him, and he was trembling. His hair was mussed and his face was pink with both shock and excitement.
His eyes fluttered open.
"K-Kagome?" he seemed to focus on her a moment, before realising that her expression was one of repulsion. He sat up slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. He said her name again, softer this time.
She didn't answer. She looked like she was about to vomit. Tears filled her eyes and she covered her mouth with her hand before shutting her eyes and turning on her heel – running away.
"Kagome? Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed, standing up and attempting to run after her. He was confused – worse than confused, he was in a state of shock. Kagome had forced herself on him, hadn't she? So why was she running away now? Why was it that she seemed to regret it now? What the hell was going on?
"Kagome! Kagome, wait!" But it wasn't enough. She was already gone. He stopped, staring at the spot where she had disappeared amongst the trees. Before, her eyes had been so… dull. Almost possess–. He didn't get to finish the thought properly. He felt the contents of his stomach rise up in his mouth. He was throwing up before he realised what he was even doing.
Possessed. Kagome had been possessed. What else could explain it? And he had taken advantage of her – he had gone along with it. He had let his feelings for her blind him to the fact that she wouldn't normally do that, wouldn't be like that in her right mind.
He'd ruined everything.
Don't stop…
Inuyasha punched the ground, letting out a howl of anger. He screamed louder than he had in his whole life, louder than he had when Kagome had 'died'. Because she would never forgive him… ever.
How was it?
Poor Kagome, poor Inuyasha...
Review please!
