A heavy silence filled the air as Kagura pulled herself slowly to her feet. Her jaw was swollen, her body bleeding Naraku's assault. Despite her pain, however, she managed to walk very slowly over to the bed, gasping in horror as her eyes looked over Nyoko's body. Deep, ugly gashes marred the miko's porcelain skin, her blood running in crimson rivers over her flesh and pooling underneath lifeless form. Dark bruises were beginning to form on her legs, hips and shoulders, and her face was covered in scratches. The wind witch collapsed on the bed, causing Nyoko to stir only slightly and wimper in pain.
Kagura smoothed back the miko's dishevled hair, pushing it out of her face, and cupped her swollen cheek gently in her palm. Nyoko winced and pulled her face away, her eyes fluttering open in terror.
"N...no more...N...Naraku..." she whispered, shaking her head, tears streaming down her face.
"Shh...Nyoko...he's gone," said Kagura, fighting to push her own pain and fear out of her voice. "It's me...Kagura. I won't let him hurt you anymore."
Nyoko's eyes locked with Kagura's, and she let out a heart wrenching sob. The wind witch slid her arm underneath the miko's back, lifting her gently to rest in her lap. Nyoko's body was shaking violently, and she cried out in agony at the movement. Kagura leaned in and kissed her lips gently, doing her best to soothe the miko's pain.
"Nyoko, I am so sorry. I didn't think he would go so far as to push you to death's door like this. I tried to stop him, but he..." her voice broke, and she held her miko close, her eyes scanning over the many wounds Naraku had inflicted. "Everything will be alright."
"K..Kagura please...I can't..I can't do this anymore. It hurts so badly..." Nyoko squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, pressing her legs together tightly almost as if she was still trying to fight off Naraku's advances. When she opened them once again, a startled gasp escaped from her throat. "What did he...do to you?" she asked, raising her hand slowly to caress Kagura's swollen cheek. The miko noticed the bite mark on the wind witch's neck, and began to sob once again.
The youkai shook her head. "Don't worry about me, miko. My body will heal quickly, and the memories of what he did to me will fade, with time. The scars will fade..." She closed her eyes, a frown flashing across her features. If Naraku's words were true..."I will not have to bear a constant reminder of his torture, as you will." She brought her hand up to rest on the miko's stomach gently.
"Can you...can you tell already?" Nyoko whispered, a look of panic flooding her eyes. She knew that there was little chance that Naraku had not been successful in what he had set out to do, but until it was confirmed, the miko held out some hope.
Kagura shook her head. "No, it will be a few weeks before I know for sure. But for your sake, I hope that you are carrying Naraku's child, because if you're not..." The wind witch held the miko tightly in her arms, unable to finish the sentence, and Nyoko simply nodded, her eyes wide with understanding. Kagura leaned down and brushed her lips against Nyoko's cheek gently. "I am sure that Naraku didn't fail, miko. And even if he did, I will not let him touch you again."
Nyoko brought her legs up to her chest, resting her head against Kagura's chest. "If I am not pregnant, I will kill myself. I can't endure that again..." She paused, looking up into Kagura's blood red eyes. "Promise me, Kagura...promise me that you will help me to die if I am not carrying his child. To have him rape me again would be worse than death, and I refuse to go through that again!"
Kagura opened her mouth to reply, but a sharp, shrill cry from the miko cut her off. Nyoko's eyes closed, tears flowing down her cheeks in rivers. Blood was still running from her wounds, turning the the silken sheets underneath the pair from ivory to a bright crimson. The miko's breathing slowed, coming in shallow rasps for a few moments before stopping completely, and Kagura felt herself begin to panic. The wind witch pressed her fingers gently the Nyoko's pulse, barely able to feel her heart beating.
"No..Nyoko...you can't give up, you just can't! Dammit, miko!" Kagura was starting to lose control, and she shook Nyoko's lifeless body. "I have never let anyone get this close to me, never felt anything for anyone! And I am falling in love with you! Don't leave me!" The wind witch's own wounds were healing quickly, the scratches and bruises left by Naraku's torture barely visible now. Kagura did the only thing she could think of, taking one of her own nails and trailing it down her arm, letting her blood flow onto the gashes which covered Nyoko's body. "Please...Nyoko...fight for yourself, fight for me...don't let him win..."
The seconds passed by slowly, dragging on into what felt to Kagura like an eternity, and finally Nyoko drew in a sharp breath, gasping in pain. The wind witch sighed with relief, watching in awe as the miko's wounds began to heal before her very eyes. Nyoko's eyes remained closed, and she wimpered softly, pressing her body close to Kagura's, clinging to her even in her sleep. A soft, sad smile spread over the wind witch's face and she carefully laid them both down on the bed, wrapping her arms tightly around the miko, holding her protectively while she rested after her horrifying ordeal. "He will never touch you again, my koi..." she whispered, one single tear falling down her cheek. Kagura planted a soft kiss on Nyoko's forehead and pulled the covers up over them, listening to the miko breathe for a long while before finally allowing sleep to claim her as well.
As she slept, Nyoko's mind played horrible tricks on her. At first, she dreamt that she was back at home in her village, and it was her wedding night. Senichi was there, telling her how he couldn't wait to start their life together. She could feel her heart beating fast in her chest as he took her hand, leading her to the room they were to share on their first night as husband and wife. The miko was nervous, but very excited about their first time together. He was very gentle, kissing away all of her fears before pulling her onto the bed with him. Very carefully, he untied her kimono, pushing it off of her shoulders and revealed her breasts, causing her to shiver slightly. Senichi smiled, tracing his fingers over her ample mounds and kissing the miko's neck. Nyoko smiled at him and nodded, letting him know that it was alright to continue. Without hesitation, he pulled her garments aside, casting them to the floor, quickly undressing himself as well. He kissed his way down her body, pausing at each breast for a moment before continuing on down to her stomach. Small moans of pleasure escaped the mikos lips as his hands caressed her inner thighs, spreading her legs apart slightly. He captured her lips in his, kissing her passionately as he gently slide two fingers inside of her, causing her to jump with both pleasure and surprise. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him in close to her and pushing her hips up to meet his hand. He moaned in response, positioning himself over her and removing his fingers from her folds, preparing to enter her fully. Without warning, he thrust forward, breaking her and sending a sharp pain coursing through her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, crying out and holding very still, waiting for the agony to subside.
But it didn't stop. Now her chest and legs were burning, and she could feel hot blood running over her skin. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she begged him to stop, but got no response. Nyoko forced her eyes open and came face to face not with Senichi, the man she had once loved, but Naraku, the man whose torture and wanton disregard for human life had left her broken and half dead. She let out a loud, terrified scream, and tried to struggle away from him but he continued to pound into her mercilessly, tearing her apart form the inside out. He glared down at her, laughing when he saw the tears streaming down her face, her agony exiting him greatly. She felt sick, and tried to turn away from him but he grabbed her face in his hand, forcing her to watch as he raped he over and over again. Suddenly he growled, loud and deep, and she felt him come inside of her, his seed burning her core as if it were molten lava. She felt sick, and closed her eyes, only to feel him kiss her, sliding his tongue into her mouth. Then a sharp pain over took her senses as he raked his claws down her body, tearing her flesh apart...
Nyoko's eyes flew open, and she looked around the room in confusion. Where was she, and what was happening? Why did her body ache so? She felt a strong pair of arms wrapped tightly around her back, and turned herself over to stare at Kagura. A smile formed on her face, momentarily, before the memory of her dream and it's sickening reality came rushing back to her in waves. In a panic, she scrambled away from the wind witch's embrace, screaming in despair.
The miko's movement and scream shocked Kagura out of her slumber, and she quickly reached out for Nyoko, whispering soothingly. "Nyoko...what happened? Why do you look so scared?" She pulled the miko's trembling form to her chest, and gently ran her fingers through Nyoko's hair, trying to calm her.
Nyoko was sobbing, and unable to form words. Her muscles ached, and there was a sharp pain in her stomach. She felt sick, wishing that the world would simply fade away to black and free her from this nightmare. Helplessly, she clung to Kagura, her tears soaking the youkai's hair.
Kagura felt a wave of sadness pass through her mind and body; it pained her to see Nyoko suffering so. Just a few hours before the wind witch had felt dead inside, surely unable to love or care about anyone or anything, even herself. Every since Nyoko had come into her life, a part of her had been awakened, and as much pleasure as it brought her, heartbreak and agony came with it. She gently kissed the miko's forehead, and rubbed her back softly, soothingly.
"Sweet miko...do not waste your tears on that monster any longer. I will never let him hurt you again, this I promise you. Please..." She pulled Nyoko into a tight embrace. "You have no reason to trust me, but I am asking you to take a chance. I will protect you, Nyoko..."
"Why? Why do you want to protect me now? The damage has been done, Kagura. I will never be the same, never again." Nyoko laid her head against the youkai woman's chest, and sighed deeply.
Kagura didn't know what to say. This had happened because of her, because she brought Nyoko to Naraku. Slowly, she pulled away from the miko, staring into her eyes. "Nyoko...I am truly sorry that I brought you here, that I allowed you to be hurt. If I had known then what I know now, I never would have taken you as my prisoner. Never. I don't expect you to ever forgive me..." She slowly rose to her feet, grabbing a blanket from the floor and draping it over the miko's body. "Stay here and rest. I have things to do." Then, without a word she turned and left the room. All Nyoko could do was stare after her.