A/N I do not own Inuyasha or the characters portrayed herein.
Note: Trigger Warning. Nonconsensual acts in this chapter.
Chapter 4
Just before he leapt upwards Kagome caught a glimpse of his white hair and golden eyes. Her snakes had caught the movement and she knew he had seen everything. Even in her damaged not seeing eyes, tears pooled. Was this the end of her happiness? Was this where she had to try to go somewhere else? But who would he tell? Was her secret going to be a secret tomorrow? Would everyone know about the monster in the apartment building? She felt the tears dripping rapidly and puddling on the floor. Her heart was breaking. She came to a big city hoping to be able to blend in. To hide in plain sight. Perhaps her mother had the right idea staying away from everyone, but she didn't want to find a hidden island and be alone for all eternity. She hadn't done anything wrong by existing! She hadn't asked to be born a hideous monster. Then she stopped. When she remembered her mother, she didn't see her as a hideous monster. She was beautiful. Even after Athena ruined her. She still had kind eyes and a sweet caring smile. At least for Kagome. She remembered her mother singing soft lullabies to her at night and helping her to harness her powers, especially during storms. She helped Kagome learn how to protect them from hurricanes, even as a young girl. If her mother was beautiful even when turned into a Gorgon, doesn't that mean so was she? No. She didn't dare to think something like that. The world would only ever look at her and see a monster.
She stood up and with a single thought, every tear she had allowed to fall rose from the floor, her cheeks, and even her towel and dripped into the bucket. She pulled all of the water from her snakes so they would remain warm, and that fell into the bucket as well. She then lifted her hand and all the water that was in the bucket rose in a giant orb and swished to the sink. She carried the empty bucket and placed it under the sink now that it was completely dry. She would have to see what happened tomorrow.
She went to bed and had a very fitful sleep thinking about where she might move to when he took away her other options. When she finally succumbed to sleep, even her dreams were mocking her, she remembered hiding as her mother instructed and watched that evil Perseus kill her mother. She woke up in a cold sweat, tears dripping down her face again. She felt one of the snakes nuzzle the side of her face and she sobbed. She sobbed until her chest begged for air and her head pounded. Her mother had suffered so greatly at the hands of so many. Two different all powerful beings, and then to top it off, the one who had taken away her humanity told a warrior how to kill her because she had become a monster. But it was her own fault. She changed her into something else hoping she would become a monster. And was angry when her plan worked. She sobbed for what felt like forever until she finally cried herself back to sleep.
When the sun rose and she woke up her head was throbbing more than when she had finally fallen back to sleep. She carefully walked to the en suite and had a nice cool glass of water. She turned on the hot water in the tub and filled it about halfway. She climbed in and took a soak for a bit allowing her powers to play in the water. Moving it to make beautiful shapes and designs. Anything to distract her from her terrible evening. After her hot bath she stood up and used her power to remove every drop of water so that she was completely dry and got dressed for the day. She checked her phone and had several missed text messages from Sango. She read through them all and sighed loudly.
Apparently Yash had apologized for being rude, and for 'ruining girls' night'. She wondered if he apologized for peeping in on her afterwards, but no she knew he had already left the bar if he was here. She wondered briefly how he had found her, but if the ears were any indication he might have had other dog senses too. There's no way he was able to catch up with her and still have had time to talk to Sango. That song had 3 minutes left at least when she had left. Plus if Sango checked the restrooms that added at least 2 minutes, she was already in the subway car. But he had found her. And apparently found her balcony as well. Then she realized, how in Mount Olympus had he managed to get onto her balcony? She was on the top floor! He must have more secrets than she knew as well. Maybe she was in more trouble than she had previously thought. He knew a lot more about her than she did about him. Most of her blackmail was minor in comparison.
Yash couldn't sleep, so he was doing research on his phone. It had been easy to discover what she was, but it made little to no sense. Gorgon. His phone had provided the answer easily. After doing research he had found that in ancient Greece there had been three of them. The one, Medusa, had been killed since she was the only one who wasn't immortal. There were varying stories about how she had become a Gorgon. Some were that she was born one of the three and they were all sisters, another was that she had fallen in love with Poseidon and broke her vow of celibacy to Athena and was cursed for it, and the last one he found struck him the harshest, she had been a priestess in Athena's temple and was raped by Poseidon, then since Athena couldn't hurt her brother she lashed out at the mortal instead. Devout followers of Athena said it was to protect her so no man could ever rape or hurt her again, but others just believed it was malicious. Her later actions led him to believe the malicious intent since she helped a warrior kill the Gorgon later, even though she lived on an island and if no one else had gone there, no one else would have ever been in danger.
Apparently the gaze of a Gorgon could turn any mortal to stone, his mind drifted back to those horrific scars on her face. Was someone so afraid of her ability that they tried to scratch her eyes out? Were they really so scared of the beautiful woman he had dinner with? He remembered her beautiful laughter and couldn't reconcile the two. She seemed as if she didn't want to hurt anyone. Nothing about her seemed malicious. Hell her entire career choice involved helping others. She wanted to teach the children history. Then her words rang back in his head, "when I look through the history books they don't have everything right, but I hope we can tell the true story in ours." She did know the history books had it wrong, because she had been there. The last record of the Gorgons was at least 2000 years ago. He wasn't sure how an offspring came to be, unless there were others. The only three known were females, and all of their gazes could turn men into stone. How would they have been able to produce a child? Then his mind flashed back to the water glass, and the water swirling around her at the table.
"No fucking way." There was no way the ancient Grecian Gods really existed! There was no fucking way that she was the daughter of the God Posiedon, and the product of that event over 2300 years ago. But how else could he explain it? She had power over water, she was definitely at least part Gorgon. Now that he knew what could he possibly do? Nothing. He finally decided. He would leave it be. He wasn't likely to ever see her again, anyway. He would just put the whole thing out of his head. He was after all the son of a great Dog demon, who was he to argue what was normal? She could live her life in peace and he would continue on with his.
A few days had passed since his date night. Miroku was furious with him since Sango was pissed off at Miroku. He had just got out of work and was walking towards the subway when he smelled her. That sweet scent and the undertone of what he now knew were snakes. It wasn't a bad scent, especially now that he understood it. It smelled wild, and untamed. He glanced aroundu ntil his ears picked up the telltale clicking, he peeked around the corner and she was heading down the steps towards the subway. He almost thought he heard her gasp, but there were too many people to be sure it was her. He stayed near the edge of the building until she was out of sight and then waited up at the street for that train to leave so that he could catch the next one. It was just better to give her space and leave her alone. There was no reason to be near her, even though his instincts wanted him to follow her. He stomped those feelings down. It was just because he felt bad that he had spied on her. He found out something he shouldn't know is all. But he would make it up to her by staying out of her way and out of her life. She would be happier that way.
He caught the next train and headed home. The rest of his night was uneventful. The next day he woke up and made a pot of coffee, at least he tried. He had started the pot and went and got dressed and came back to the pot spluttering and trying but no coffee was made. He had an important meeting with a client today, he fucking needed that coffee. He said fuck it and left a few minutes early in order to stop at a little local cafe on his way to work. As soon as he entered he smelled her again, The universe was seriously fucking with him this week wasn't it? He glanced over and saw her sitting in the corner, her cheeks blushing and so fucking cute. Damn his guilty conscience. He got in line and studiously tried to ignore her. She stood up as soon as he turned away and walked out throwing her pastry and her coffee in the trash. He shrugged to himself, figuring she realized she was late. He ordered his coffee and drank it on the way to work arriving right on time.
That night instead of going directly home he went the other way. He had to go to the store. This time he just bumped into her before she made it to the subway. She had her cane out but was dragging her hand along one of the older buildings running her small dainty fingers across the outer wall roughened from the passage of time. He saw this cute wistful smile on her face but it seemed to vanish rather suddenly. He wanted to stay and see why, but he knew if he stayed too close he would do something stupid. He crossed the street and looked back and saw that any trace of the smile was gone, her head hung low and her hand no longer on the wall. She clicked her cane rhythmically as she went towards the subway they both got on yesterday. He waited until he knew she was gone and crossed the street again, her scent had changed to such a deep sadness, he couldn't figure it out. But such a strong part of him wanted to. He walked to the store to buy a new coffee pot then got on the subway to go home. His mind wouldn't leave her scent though. Why had she gotten so sad?
He woke up the next morning and had coffee at his house as usual, the new coffee pot wasn't bad, it had a lot of fancy options, but he just liked plain black coffee. He went to work and spent the day working on a case, trying to figure out how to help his client not lose as much money even though they were legally in the wrong. He really hated his job anymore. His day dragged by and he was so thrilled when it was time to go. He left a few minutes later hoping to avoid her completely. He waited until at least 2 trains had passed compared to the one he normally took, then headed out.
As he approached the subway he could smell her scent, fuck it was extremely recent. He walked down and she was standing in line. The second she was close enough to see clearly her head lowered. He could smell her sadness from here. This time there was a different scent with it, was that anxiety or fear? She stepped further away and went to a different line closer to the end of the platform. There were only a few people up that way. He stayed down this end and they both got in different cars. The scent continued to bother him, and why did it seem that everytime he was near she got sad? This woman was a fucking puzzle. He rode home in irritation, trying to figure her the fuck out.
He didn't see her the next few days since he was appearing in court and didn't go to his regular office building or even at his regular times. He won the case easily. There were a million technicalities and he fucking hated exploiting them all. But that was his job, and if he wanted to remain a part of the business he would do what his asshole brother wanted him to. He went home and felt almost sad that he hadn't seen her. Which, once he realized that's what that feeling was, he was more pissed off at himself than he had been in a long time. What the fuck did he care if he didn't see her? She didn't even fucking like him! He took a very hot shower to wash away the irritation, to no avail, and sat on the couch listening to his favorite blues station. After a few hours he went to bed.
The next morning he went back to the office and it was business as usual. His brother was happy since his client was very happy. A nice lunch was provided to thank him for taking care of the huge corporation. He worked out his day taking care of other paperwork and planning other cases, and the day seemed to fly by. He waited until his usual train left and then went to catch the subway home. He almost felt sad that he didn't see her while going down to the platform, but upon getting on the car he smelled her instantly. His eyes found her quickly, sitting near the far door to this car. It was almost as if she saw him too, because a light pink dusted her cheeks, and she looked down to her feet. After he entered she stood carefully and went to the intersecting doors. She quietly exited the car for the next one.
His heart was pounding, she knew he was there. There wasn't a doubt in his mind now. She knew he was there. She had purposefully been avoiding him. She really did hate him. He grabbed one of the handles and his ears drooped low on his head. The train started moving and he ignored the world. After a few minutes or so passed a man came out of the car she had gone into, "That's fucking sick, why would you do that in public? Can't keep your fucking dick in your pants." His ears trained on the car for a second when he heard a slight whimper. Then he smelled it. Blood. He was moving before he even realized it. He made it to the door before he registered he had started moving. The sight he saw when he got to the door had his blood boiling.
Monday the school was closed for an event that was happening the next day so Kagome and Sango went shopping downtown. They hit up several stores and Sango looked at nice dresses for her date this weekend. Then Sango had to go get ready for dinner with her little brother. She had been invited but Kagome hadn't wanted to intrude, so she stayed and took herself for a small bite to eat. As she was getting on the subway she was keeping an eye out everywhere and happened to notice the Adonis coming around the corner and she gasped a little. But it seemed the second he spotted her, he disappeared. 'He really does hate me. Who can blame him? I am the monster from the great myth. For all he knows I am Medusa, and I have killed hundreds if not thousands of souls. It doesn't matter, at least he hasn't demanded I leave and he hasn't told anyone else what I am as far as I know. Not yet at least. I guess I will just wait it out.' She took the subway to her stop and went home alone. Her sleep was fitful and she woke feeling more tired than when she went to bed. But she couldn't bring herself to stay in bed.
Kagome didn't have to go to the school at her normal time Tuesday as they were finishing up with the event from the previous day. She took her extra time off in stride, and decided to hit up this coffee shop she had heard wonderful things about, that was too busy to go to the day before. She went in and it smelled delicious. She ordered a coffee with a little milk and 2 sugars, along with a flaky pastry filled with apples. She sat in the corner watching all the people come in and out for their morning coffees. That is until The Sexy Adonis walked in again. Why was he so sexy? She couldn't help but blush. Then he looked away, and her head fell. What Gods were angry at her now? She stood up, threw her coffee and pastry away and left. She needed to get away from him. She got on the subway and went to school.
Her day went quickly, especially since she found out her afternoon classes were cancelled too. She decided to go back downtown. Sango had been looking at a beautiful dress, but chose not to buy it. Since her friend's birthday was coming up, she figured she could surprise her. She arrived at the store from the previous day and found the dress. She and Sango wore the same size except that Sango was a little taller. Once she was sure the dress would fit her friend she purchased it with cash and placed the bag into her satchel.
She found herself walking by a building that had stone the same color as the stone on her island. She reached out tentatively and the cool rock reminded her of her first home. Her only home for well over a century. She couldn't help but smile, huddled in the small cave with the roaring ocean the only music she had ever heard. She remembered sitting in her mother's arms and the smile changed a bit. She could feel the pain. It didn't matter that over 2 millennia had passed. She would always miss her mother. Especially since she had not since known someone who could love her. What a lonely existence. Once again she questioned whether being alive was worth it. But her mother had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her. She shook her head slightly to herself then she remembered she was in public. She began walking again and when she straightened up she saw him again. She was going to kill the fates. They loved to toy with the lives of the mortals, even if that didn't quite include her. Then he crossed the street. Was he afraid of her? What a foolish question, of course he was. Her head hung low and her hand fell from the wall. She used her cane to find her way to the subway while her snakes watched the Silver haired Adonis a little longer.
She hadn't planned to go downtown but realized she had dropped her wallet at the restaurant. She called them and they did tell her they had it and would be open by 11. So after work she went back downtown. She tried to get in and out, she really did but the smell from the cafe enticed her too much and she ordered a quick cup of coffee to go. By the time she had her coffee and got to the subway it was later than usual and she breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, the Adonis had apparently been trying to avoid her too. She saw him walk down the steps and her head drooped low.
What or who had she angered enough to torment her like this? Unless he was actively seeking her out to keep tabs on her. Her heartbeat sped up, was he trying to scare her away? Was this his way of telling her she wasn't welcome? She decided to move away from him, and hope that somehow although she didn't believe in coincidences, that this was all one big coincidence. She walked to the first car where there weren't as many people and got on, he got on further towards the end of the train. She rode home alone. She was after all always alone. Being alone was best for her anyway.
She had stayed away from downtown for a few days, but Sango had wanted to go out for lunch. She wasn't ready to go back to her large and empty apartment so she told Sango goodbye and walked around the park for a few hours. She was walking to the subway again and checked the time, it was the same time she kept seeing the Adonis come here to catch the subway. She walked a few blocks extra to a different subway entrance and took that train instead. She sat down near the door closest to the front of the car and tried to slow her heart rate. Her snakes' eyes roamed passively and she held back an audible sigh at the sight of him getting on the train after a couple stops. She couldn't catch a break.
She stood up and walked to the intersection between this car and the next and went through the door. This one was rather empty. Only two people were in this car, one was a younger man; tall and lanky. The other was a short, chubby fellow who was bald; he was watching her enter with great interest. It made her skin crawl the way he was looking at her. She chose a seat close to the door and away from both of them, curling in on herself a bit trying to make herself look smaller. She wished her disguise spell could just make her invisible. His eyes remained on her for a couple minutes until he got up to approach. She was hoping he was just coming towards the door, but as usual the Gods were not on her side.
His eyes staring at her made her feel dirty like the hottest shower would do nothing to wash off the grime. However, that was nothing compared to the greasy quality of his voice.
"Why hello there, little one. How fortunate that you have chosen to come to me."
She visibly shuddered at his words for a second before he continued.
"It does make my job much easier, you know. I have been following you for a couple weeks now; but I had never imagined you would make your capture so easy, Medusa."
Her head snapped towards him. How could she even begin to convince him he was wrong? Her mouth opened to begin to try but before any words could come out he spoke again.
"Luckily, the man who hired me didn't say I couldn't have a little fun. So why not make this easy and I'll be gentle."
She could feel tears springing forth as she analyzed the situation. She could feel a fluid on him, but it wasn't water. As she continued to try to find a source of water to help her, she felt him lean in close. She tried to move away, his arm snaked around her back to pull her towards him. His mouth was on hers kissing her hard before she could open her mouth to scream. And his hand latched onto her arm to prevent her from escaping. His one arm moved from her back to wrap around her waist to prevent her from escaping, with his other hand grabbing her breast and squeezing harshly.
The younger man stood up and walked towards the door. She could hear him grumbling about how inappropriate they were being, before leaving the train car they were in for the one she had left. Her mind was panicking. She was all alone with this pervert, who for all she knew was after her dead mother. She had to get away. The more she panicked the more aggravated the snakes seemed to get. Finally, one snapped out and bit the man hard on the neck. The man released her for a second and clamped his hand over his now bleeding neck. But the wicked smile on his face was absolutely terrifying. It only took a second for her to realize her snake was now lying limp against her shoulder. What had he done to her?
"Little one, I asked you to make this easy. Now my toxin will soon be entering your system. I will be able to do anything I want, anyway."
His arm that had been wrapped around her waist slipped into her pants. She wanted to scream but she had no control over her body. She could already feel her heart pounding slower, the world around her was getting fuzzier. She had to focus.
"Who are you, and what do you want from me?"
He smiled viciously, "my name is Muikotsu. I was hired to capture the Great Gorgon Medusa."
Her head shook and she almost squeaked from the movement. "I'm not Medusa, my mother was, she was killed by Perseus. I am no one. Please, just let me go."
She couldn't help but reflect on how pathetic she sounded. She heard him tsk before she fell off the seat to the floor. The train felt like it was spinning so fast around her.
She was trying so hard to get control of the situation, that she didn't hear the door open. She didn't see Yash enter the car, or hear the growl coming from him. After a few more seconds of struggling her world went dark.