Quicken, Question, Quantify

by Aura

Dropped into the middle of mountainous forests plagued with strange monsters, Kagome discovers her work as a purifier is never done. What does one do when they're a world away from home, trapped in a city doomed to fall victim, particularly when they gain the interest of a villainous mastermind that could rival Naraku? Kagome/Wesker. M for adult content/gore/dark themes.

7. Chapter 7

Warning: Lewd stuff happens this chapter.

Story: Quicken, Question, Quantify

Chapter Seven: Forge

"Hell has three gates: lust, anger and greed."

-Bhagavad Gita

July 17th – 18th, 1998 – New York City:

The city was deceptively quiet compared to what had happened in Racoon City. I sat scanning the dark roads broken by neon lights as I waited. Wesker, as I'd finally started to remember his name, was meeting with some random contact and had the habit of not bringing me along. His reasoning was good enough for me, he didn't want me to end up targeted, and I didn't want that either. I'd been several days since we'd driven away from Racoon City and the frightening events there. We'd fought off a small army of zombies after the doctor had attacked us. I'd watched him come back from death.

I shuttered at the memory.

I'd been certain he was dead. I held the body, frustrated at the way I'd even forgotten his name. Guilt and pain had fused through me, I'd lost another person largely just because my strange existence didn't let me have anyone. I'd been alone again; I'd caused his demise because he wouldn't have been down there if it wasn't for me. I didn't think much about the sirens or lights. I just cried. I'd felt forfeit in that moment, as though nothing I did would ever be enough. Then he'd taken a breath and sat up from my arms. What? His glasses had fallen when he'd been attacked, but I hadn't expected the bright red iris that looked at me. I'd been delighted but dismayed that he'd come back, worried I'd have to be the one to finish him if he turned into one of the monsters.

That hadn't happened, not in reality. Though in my nightmares his face often mutated to a grinning Naraku before I woke. The virus hadn't taken his mind like the other monsters, he knew he was, but he wasn't the same. I could see a miasma around him that didn't make my visions of him as my arch-nemesis any more comfortable. Beyond that, he'd been even more quiet. I knew it was probably a lot to take in, but I was nervous about these changes. About the miasma around him. It hadn't gotten worse, but it made me uncomfortable to be around. Yet, I was afraid to try to purify it. What if it just killed him?

That scared me more than the nightmares.

He'd barely slept on our trip here, or even after at the different hotels we kept jumping between. Tonight, we'd find another one. He didn't want to stay at the same place more than a day. Even then, he gets the rooms for me more than him. I hadn't seen him sleep more than a few hours since we'd left, and he hadn't on the drive here from Racoon City at all. He'd said the virus had altered his stamina and strength, but could it really do this much? I'd been exposed but nothing had happened with me beyond the nightmares.

A gunshot shattered my thoughts and I looked toward the building, scrambling to get my seat belt off. This was supposed to be just a meeting. Another three shots went off as I ran for the door he'd entered through, bow in hand. I shot a man that came out without hesitating, there'd been a gun in his hand. Light flickered back into my hand and two more men fell in short order. I hissed in pain as a shot grazed my shoulder, ducking behind a desk in the front area. Dammit, what was this?

"You should give up girl, your boyfriend is outnumbered, and they want you alive, so we won't hurt you if you surrender." A guy called, I could hear them reload and pursed my lips in annoyance, hand still over my arm where he'd grazed it. It wasn't bleeding but it was sore as hell. "Can't say the same for Wesker, he's an asshole."

They knew him? Had they planned this attack then? Were they working with Birkin? I scowled and pulled my bow, waiting to see someone step from the hall and shooting them in the foot from under the desk, a second arrow pausing them in their tracks. I hated using my powers against humans, but none of these people seemed innocent. Giving me ultimatums never went well either, as though I'd just give up. If these people were working for anyone that wanted to kidnap me, I wasn't going to hesitate to put arrows through them.

I heard more shots above me and a series of slams. Was Wesker okay? I didn't see more men coming at me, so I got up from behind the desk to pad toward the steps as quietly as possible. Thankfully he'd paused to get me a few sets of clothes so at least I wasn't running around in my school uniform. I had a bullet proof vest under this overlarge sweater. I appreciated that he'd insisted I wear it now, considering I was being shot at. I downed two men at the top of the steps then had to scramble back down as a few approached. How many were here?

"Wesker!" I called out, shooting more arrows at the men to keep them up the steps. I ducked lower when a rain of metal was my reply. So much for wanting me alive. There was more gunfire above me, and I saw a few bullets come through the ceiling and into the door. What were they doing upstairs? If there was still so much noise, then he was alive right? I shot one of the men below the desk again, but then the other two reopened fire and I had to roll behind another piece of furniture since the desk was swiftly disintegrating beneath the onslaught of bullets.

I managed to get a shot off, but it hit the wall, it was hard to aim from the floor. I got it together enough to shoot one of the bullets headed my way, wincing as I felt something bite into my left hip. I managed to shoot another one but the last had gotten close and shook his head at me.

"Stop." He was too close for me to get my shot off before his, so I let my bow slight along my arm as I put my hands up. My leg hurt like hell and I could feel sticky warmth bleeding into my new pants. "I don't really care if you are delivered dead. These people would still reward us. Don't try anyth..."
He flew sideways through the air as a dark blur slammed into him, the gun pulled so the shot went to the side. I blinked after the movement, noting that Wesker had relocated him with the impossibly fast movement. That had been akin to the way I'd seen Sesshomaru move. Was he that quick? He'd turned right back to the steps, gun pointed at them.

"You're hurt." It wasn't a question. "You need to put pressure on that."

"How aren't you?" I muttered, grunting as I pressed on my leg. Ouch.

"Why did you come in?" He shot another person dumb enough to come down the steps. He didn't even hesitate, and the man wouldn't survive, it had been cleanly in the head.

"Well, it sounded like you were in trouble." I commented, a little frustrated at how unfazed he was in the middle of all this. "All the gunshots and yelling."

"Negotiations went sideways." He stated, shrugging lightly. "I got the information I needed to follow up Birkin, though I expect he'll be alerted presently. You ready? I think I'll need to lift you again."

"Yeah, yes. Let's go." I hadn't even finished the statement and I was in the air, my neck he held as he pulled me with him at the heightened speed. I was in the passenger seat before I could really comprehend, we'd gotten out. He was already pulling away and I ducked when a few shots came from behind us.

"Fuck, this hurts…" I muttered, still trying to hold my leg where it was bleeding. "Can we go to a hospital?"

"I can take care of a wound like that." He answered, pulling around a corner and continuing to wherever he had in mind. He easily went through traffic, and I still hadn't gotten accustomed to the smooth way he could just react to other cars in this busy city. He pulled into a back alley and killed the lights, glancing behind him before leaning over to push my chair back. I muttered more unkind words as I was moved again. I was already lightheaded. Why was it I was always suffering from blood loss around this man?

"The bullet's still inside, I'll need to dig it out." He commented as he ripped the jeans around my upper leg with his bare hands. So yeah, his strength was useful sometimes. "You might pass out."

"I hope so." I returned, less than pleased with having been shot. For all the pain in my ankle last week, this was much worse. He had a first aid kit on hand and put on gloves. Handing me an extra belt from our clothes in the backseat.

"Put it between your teeth." He instructed and I did, glancing at him nervously.

I probably would have bitten my own tongue from the agony when he put his finger into the wound to try and find the offending projectile. I saw spots of black and let out a series of groans and whispers as he dug around with retractors a moment to get the metal out. It didn't matter how much you saw this on television, no acted-out pain could come close to what this was.

"You can scream if you like." He remarked, the sting of the needle he was using to close the wound twisting through my nerves. I let out several more groans, annoyed I couldn't yell at him. He could have told me he was possibly gonna be under attack. "Now, now. Miss Higurashi, such language."

"Fuck you, Wesker." I hissed when the belt fell out of my mouth. It wasn't like me, but neither was anything since I'd gotten here. He laughed at me.

"You'll probably want some sort of infusion. You've lost a lot of blood. Do you know your blood type?" He asked, leaning back from his quick stitching to nod at the work.

"AB." I hissed.

"Just have to be difficult." He observed, given it was one of the hardest types to get blood for. "I have O, but I don't think I'd be a good idea."

"A hospital would have been a great plan." I returned.

"We can't do a hospital…hey, stay awake." He moved my seat back up, the pain making me wince, but I didn't pass out. "You are even paler than usual."

He was watching me critically. I could never tell what his feelings were. He'd been kind over the last few days, but respectful. Even now he was much the same…but he had run downstairs and saved me from gunpoint when he'd clearly been threatened himself.

"I don't know if your blood will be much help." I commented.

"I could just break into a hospital blood bank." He started the car and I stopped him. I was a bit nervous he'd pull someone into this that didn't need to be if he was caught. He perked a brow at me.

"It's fine. You do it then. You know how right? I didn't react to the virus before, I shouldn't now." I reasoned, a bit nervous but his virus was controlled, and it was my job to purify such things. If I had to have blood, then I could purify it once I rested. If it did anything at all.

"It was an observation. I wasn't serious. I should find somewhere to steal the blood. You can wait a bit if you can still talk…" He had had more to say but I'd pulled his sleeve open and he paused to watch me. I'd confused him, but it worked well enough. I shivered lightly and let my eyes close. I'd been fighting to stay awake even until now. I could tell he shook me, but it was too much trouble to open them again.

It felt a little like floating, the blood so low it pulled at my consciousness leaving me somewhere between the oblivion of sleep and the vague sense of stuff happening around me. The darkness around me flickering over my skin as it drew me further from my sense of self. I felt that nightmarish sense of aloneness, but it wasn't as merciless as before. The black seemed to embrace me, as opposed to leave me devoid. I felt it curl not just around me, but through me.

"Kagome." My name pulled me slowly back toward the light. I slowly opened my eyes to see the pale blue gaze of Wesker nearby. I'd seen a few colors now for his gaze, though they seemed even more grey than before. He was staring at me critically, closer than he usually did. "Can you understand me?"

"MmmHmm." I murmured, tired but not uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"

"Other than being shot and needing a direct transfusion?" He asked, and I only stared a moment before remembering the events leading to my taking a bullet to the leg. I glanced down; the skin of my leg bare but discolored with blood and a few small stitches. I was aware of discomfort but not the wild pain before I'd lost sense of what was happening. I had a plastic line that was going from his arm to a bag and then continuing to my arm. I blinked at him; he'd really done it. Given me blood himself. I was a bit fearful I'd get sick…

"I…don't really feel different." I remarked aloud. Was this how he'd felt? A general sense of odd wellness? I could make him out fairly clearly despite the darkness, he hadn't turned on the lights in the car. Had I picked up his better senses too then? "I mean, I do, but I still feel like myself."

"Oh?" He leaned forward to adjust the bag slightly, keeping an eye on what was happening with it. "Your wound already looks better than it was. It seems some of my regenerative properties shifted with the blood."

"I can see better too." I admitted. "I feel pretty good, my leg only is sore now. You can stop if you want. Isn't this sort of transfer hard on a person?"

"It generally is, but as mentioned I heal very fast. I don't mind giving it another moment with all the blood you've left at the scene and in the car." He commented, reaching over to adjust my arm lightly when I moved it. I blushed slightly at the contact, realizing he was rather close. He'd pushed up the center console in the front of the car and was near enough that his knee was pressed into mine to make space in the close quarters of the car. I took a slow breath, a little confused at the sudden tightness in my abdomen and dryness in my throat. I needed help. This wasn't the time for being attracted to him.

"You still have to drive." I managed, hoping he'd stop it and pull away since this sort of reaction was making me uncomfortable. What was this? Was it the odd virus he carried, that I might carry now? Ugh. That had been a bad idea to tell him to do this.

"All right." He stated after a second, staring at me a long moment before making the comment. His eyes flickered through a yellowed, almost amber color before a crimson glow colored them. Then he turned his attention to resolving the wire in his arm first. What was that? The look had been much more passionate than I'd ever seen, from him or anyone. Did he give those expressions when the glasses were on? Is that why he wore them? He wasn't wearing them now, but I wondered if he'd looked at me like that before just now. It didn't make my sudden case of cotton mouth any easier to deal with. Had he felt the same moment I did?

I reached for the water in my door, taking a drink. What in the world was I doing? I let him finish unhooking it all. Rubbing my arm lightly where he pressed the bandage on. It was a whim more than anything, I leaned forward to kiss his cheek as he finished. He glanced at me for the gesture, eyes wider as they flashed red. "I uh…thank you."

He pressed his lips into mine, a hand snaking around my neck to pull me closer. I froze a second, then relaxed slightly into the insistent embrace. My insides seeming to melt even as my skin goose bumped at the small moan he let out. I pushed back slightly into the pressure; I hadn't had a kiss like this before. Most of my embraces had been quite short lived. It was as though there was a flow of electricity between us neither wanted to break from. Eventually we paused and I opened my eyes, not sure when I'd let them shut, bright eyes staring back at me. Each searching the other as we both caught our breath. For permission or reciprocated feelings or something else entirely I wasn't sure.

It felt like a long time we stared, but it wasn't more than a few long seconds before he pulled me in again, tugging my entire body closer across the cab into his lap as he deepened the new kiss. His hands tracing down my sides. I drew back when his tongue touched my lips, blinking in surprise at his directness. "Wesker…"

"Mmm…" He offered the noncommittal sound, lips trailing along the side of my face when I pulled back nibbling at my ear. Fingers gripping slightly when I'd spoken his name before continuing to explore. I tried to orientate myself from the unexpected embrace, not completely convinced I wanted to stop even while trying to pump the breaks.

"Too fast…" I managed to say, pushing back a bit more when his teeth grazed my neck. My breath was unsteady, my lips and skin tingling in loss from the brief contact. This wasn't right, I loved Inuyasha, this was just…wanting. Then, I'd never felt wanted back as much as I did right now. He'd stopped but the way his eyes were dilatated even as his attention was solely on me. His breath had grown uneven as well, and I was very aware of how warm he was. Those eyes, in this moment it seemed as if he had forgotten the rest of our plan and only desired to consume me here and now. He'd let me pull back, but his thumbs still made light circles over my hips where they'd ended up. If we'd been somewhere else, I might not have stopped, but I wasn't experienced in any of this. It scared me a little, how much I'd suddenly wanted this. How much I still did. How much he did.

"Kagome…" I could feel the rumble of his chest beneath my fingers. My breathed name was perhaps the most passionate I'd ever heard him. I wasn't certain I'd ever wanted anything so much as I wanted this man right now. I leaned back in as he pressed my waist against his hips, the taste of him driving me to raise my hands into his hair. It was slicked back, as he often kept it, a bit rough to touch but he didn't seem to mind me running my fingers through it all the same. This could last forever, and it wouldn't be enough.

We didn't get anywhere near forever, a knock on the windows of the driver's side shattered the heated moment. I heard Wesker let out a low mutter that I expected wasn't positive as I slipped into my seat, a bit embarrassed at the idea of being caught like this. He reached back to his holster, releasing the snap so he could easily pull the gun.

"Hey, what are you two kids doing here? Go find somewhere else to make out." A female voice reached us from outside as she pounded on the door again. "I got a delivery soon, you gotta move."

Wesker started the car instead of lowering the window. The figure outside backed up and he pulled back out of the alley. Rolling his shoulder and neck slightly before turning back onto one of the main roads. Mortified barely covered it, how could I have let myself get that carried away? What had I planned to do exactly? It wasn't as if I'd ever, done almost any of this. He was double my age; he'd probably had a lot more experience in physical relationships. Particularly judging by the way every move he'd made inspired me to forget everything but him…

What had gotten into me? I'd started it by kissing his cheek. We'd devolved from there. I couldn't really look at him. I sensed he was also frustrated at the strange exchange. We'd maintained a pseudo friendship thus far, we each had mutual reason to hunt down Birkin. This wasn't what I'd had in mind…was it because I'd told him to use his blood? I didn't feel strange minus my abdomen doing jumping jacks at the thought of him pulling me close. That wasn't normal…was it a part of him giving me the blood then? Was it related to the virus? Was I just a pervert looking for excuses?

"You all right?" He finally asked, his voice had returned to normal. Though I felt a pang of regret at the lack of sultry tone after the way he's said my name earlier. Would I even get to hear him say it again, or was I stuck as 'Miss Higurashi' from here on in?

"Yeah, uh…I'm sorry about that. I'm not sure why I ah…" I felt more embarrassed at having to say it aloud. "Kissed you. It just seemed like the thing to do…and I did it. Then you did it back…and um, it was a lot. I ah…it wasn't bad I mean…just not what I'm used to."

Shit. I needed to stop rambling, but it kept coming out…

"I never really…uh…kissed like that before. I just, it was nice but…it was awkward. No, I mean, this is awkward now, then it was good. But, just…too much. I need to just shut up." I pressed my eyes shut, kicking myself for the weird remarks. I was probably just making it worse. I didn't feel any better. He was probably reminding himself now about the difference between us, age and experience wise.

"I'd say it was more than 'nice'." He didn't sound nearly as nervous or rushed as I did. "Putting aside finding proper adjectives, it was out of character. I apologize as well."

"No, it's okay. I think we were mutually involved in it." I raised my hands a bit, finally glancing toward him for the first time. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one that found it odd."

"I should have stolen you uncontaminated blood." He remarked, apparently having come to the same conclusion I had. "After you went unconscious, I wasn't sure how much time I had. It seems my donation did more than offer you some regeneration."

"No, you shouldn't feel bad for that. You were helping me. I would have probably died if you tried to steal some blood for me. "I refused to believe it was bad just because it'd inspired a bit of lewd behavior. "I feel fine now, good even. Normal blood wouldn't have done that. Where we headed? Where did Birkin go?"

I wanted to get back to the important topic at hand.

"Birkin probably hasn't left yet but he'll be traveling to an Umbrella facility in the south pacific. I'll need to find us passage on a plane. You ever used a parachute before?" He picked up my desire to change topic, and did so, but this wasn't much better.

"No, I have never had a need for it." I answered, frowning at the idea. "You want me to go with you?"

"You managed yourself tonight…."

"I got shot." I interrupted, a little annoyed at how he was okay with that.

"…and if we're dealing with Birkin you'll be as useful as I am, if not more." He continued without pausing for my annoyance. "I can guess what he's looking into, he separated from his family. I have another contact looking for them."

"His family? Why?" I didn't argue that I was better against the monsters, because I knew my abilities were suited to this.

"One doesn't come to the poker table without any chips to play." He shrugged again, turning again. Winding through the city with an ease most locals would struggle for. "He did all of this for his family, having them in custody could bring him to a pause."
"I'd rather not use hostages." The idea left a sour taste in my mouth. I did not want to sink to the level of the bad guy. "We should be able to get him without that."

"Perhaps, but whose to say how many could get hurt first. That's if Ada even manages to find them." He commented with another shrug. Far less concerned about the morality involved than I was. He was quite comfortable with this being on the run chasing someone thing. He'd said on the way up to New York that he'd been a mercenary for a while, and it was clear he hadn't lost that skill. I didn't like the mentality, but I wasn't the one at risk if this man was left alive. Everyone else was. Was it so bad to take a hostage or two compared to the rest of the world?

"I'll arrange us passage, probably in the morning at this rate. I'll drop you at the hotel. Are you accustomed to the plan?" He was back to normal. As if we hadn't just about torn each other's clothes off a few minutes ago. I nodded though, hoping to pretend the same. We'd done this several days now, pay cash, pay a bit extra to not have to worry about a deposit. He'd offered me a lot of cash when this all started, and I still had quite a bit in my wallet. I'd rented several rooms this way already, so I got out when he dropped me off. I'd text him the room number two to the right of ours. Or left if there weren't that many to the right. It wasn't fancy, but it would get the job done. It looked clean enough, so I rented a room and went inside, pausing immediately to turn around and go back to the front.

"I asked for a double queen." I stated. "Not a single king."

"You said you'd like a double queen but would take what we have." The kid at the counter retorted without looking up from whatever he was doing on his phone. "We're full up on doubles so that's what you get. You already paid so there isn't a refund."

Crap…that had been part of the statement Wesker had me using. Until now it hadn't been an issue. I scowled all the way back to the room, closing the door hard enough I knew the brat at the front heard it. What a mess. Of all nights, this was the one they didn't give us a second bed. I shivered at the memory of him pulling me close, his lips parting mine with his tongue…

I animatedly shook my head, digging out my phone to text him the room number two away and then sitting on the edge of the bed. He'd be back later, normally I'd sleep ahead of him though this time I wasn't as tired as I should be despite the hour. I flipped on the television hoping for a distraction but the image of two people making out popped into view and I turned it. Eventually settling on a news channel. I hadn't seen anything about what had happened at Racoon City, so I hoped they'd managed to contain the problem there.

"Tonight, we'll discuss the local growing issues with feral cats in New York, as well as the ongoing election. Then we'll be covering more about yesterday's stories involving a new anti-cancer drug as well as the possible use of an old banned sedative in relation to aiding with leprosy." The announcer was explaining quietly. "This is July 17th, 1998 and welcome to York News Tonight with Vincent Kleft."

…

"What? Did he just say it's 1998?" I pulled up the channel list, blinking at the date on the older style tv-guide that rolled through the various listings. It matched the date the man had given on the news. Was this serious? Was I really in yet another time period?

I had noticed things seemed a little old fashioned, but I figured that had to do with just cultural differences in America. It was 98? Was I alive in Japan too then? It would have been a couple years before I first went back in time. That's confusing, very confusing. Did I exist in two places on earth at once? Or was this an alternate earth? Perhaps the future earth from the feudal times I'd seen with Inuyasha? I'd always thought the lack of demons or magic in my time was strange, but maybe it wasn't just a different time but a different world. I wanted to call home more than ever now, I'd largely avoided it but this time I wanted to hear if my family was at the shrine. If I called would I pick up on myself? Could I talk? What could I say? Wasn't that always the bad thing to do that would destroy the universe in movies?

Then, if Wesker was right and they wanted me, it was a matter of time before they found the younger version of me wasn't it? But there were other Kagome's…probably even Kagome Higurashi's. Would they make that connection? I resisted the urge to lift up the phone. It would be very pricy in this time, and cost aside if it was somehow tracked to me, I'd be pointing them in the direction I didn't want them. This wasn't really helpful, in general I guess it didn't matter that it was another time and two of me could exist. It was still something I had to deal with if it landed my family in danger.

Ugh. I should start just always using some sort of fake name. Wesker could probably help me come up with one. Even get me the papers I'd imagine. He had done so thus far. The papers he'd had me forged for us to get around safely looked quite legitimate. I'd be putting the passport to the test sooner than I liked considering what he said about Birkin's position. I sighed and leaned back, covering my face. We'd have to keep being in close quarters and I knew I wasn't ready for that. His reaction to our make out session was collected but I was still embarrassed.

Was our attraction just the virus? I knew I'd sort of liked him prior, but not to crawl in your lap and let you feel me up level. How would the virus have caused that? It had what? Made me desire him as opposed to turn into a massive mindless zombie? Those things weren't even mildly related. Then, none of this really made sense, people didn't just turn into monsters after they were already dead either. I wasn't in charted territory. Maybe it was just the first moment…it'd been a charged evening, I'd been shot. I'd had a live transfusion. Maybe all the excitement prompted other types of excitement. Perhaps we'd be back to normal now that the moment had passed.

When I closed my eyes I could picture my name on his lips, hear it as his breath tickled my neck.

I groaned and got back up. I needed a lukewarm shower, this was absurd.

End Chapter

So, things got a bit heavier finally. I dunno. I'd say I have a plan, but I don't really. That's the point of just sort of 'going with the flow' writing. Poor Kagome. RIP that poor lady that interrupted them in the alley. She's probably on a short list of people to throw into testing after that.

-Aura

P.S. Next chapter it'll be lewd but by Wesker's perspective. I expect that to involve writing in ways I'm not always comfortable with, but building horizons?