Disclaimer: Do I have to say it? I don't own Inuyasha, okay?
A/N: I'm sorry for not updating sooner. My mom's got an pneumonia and I've got the flu. But I've been getting on the computer as much as I can, either until I get a headache or until my dad tells me to get off since I'm not supposed to be on when I'm sick in the first place. BUT, here I am, writing like crazy until my dad gets home from work. Thanks again for the reviews, especially Bedard. I'm so excited to start working on the next chapter!
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Chapter 11 - Deep Within
Inuyasha just barely managed to dodge another one of Kagome's blows. "Dammit, snap out of it already!" Miroku and Sango were making no move to help, as at this point, there was really nothing they could do.
Sango watched helplessly as her friend delivered blow after blow to Inuyasha. Kagome was showing no expression whatsoever, her eyes masked over with a deep brown and her mouth set in a grim line. She leaned against the wall behind her for support. Her mind wasn't registering Miroku's hand resting on her shoulder, nor Shippou tugging on her hair to get her attention from her shoulder.
Inuyasha jumped away from another of Kagome's swings. When the sword was brought down for the umpteenth time, he grabbed the blade between his hands. There was a scorching heat in his palms. Kagome's power had been focused on the sword, and now it was burning Inuyasha's hands. "You think you could actually hurt me, Kagome?"
At this comment, Inuyasha let go of his grip on the sword and the searing heat disappeared. "I won't fight you. Swing at me all you want, I'm not moving." Sango stared wide-eyed at Inuyasha, deciding if she should do anything to hold Kagome back.
But Miroku grabbed onto her forearm. "I highly doubt Kagome-sama would actually harm Inuyasha. Naraku may have control, but she's still there, resisting as best she can." Sango merely nodded and leaned back against the wall.
"Is Kagome going to be okay?" Shippou inquired quietly.
Sango had to flash him a quick smile. "Kagome's a powerful miko, Shippou. She'll be just fine." The kit seemed to think this a good enough answer, and jumped off her shoulder to Kirara's back.
Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and let the scabbard fall to the floor. "If you want to, go ahead. You have a clear shot." He had a sense of grim determination, much to the confusion of Kagome's possessed form. "Are you afraid?"
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Kagome's sword was lowered to her side. Her expressionless face stared Inuyasha down, unmoving.
What are you doing, Kagome? Kill him!
Kagome watched in daft horror as Inuyasha dropped his scabbard to the ground. I can't fight him...I can't do this! She was still inwardly fighting for control over her body, but it was tiring work. If she wanted to win, she would have to have complete resistance. That seemed exhausting...Even if she did manage to take over, how long would it last?
Her legs weren't obeying her at all. Yet she brought up the fight again and tried to shut out the voices in her head. I won't hurt Inuyasha. Kagome fought with all she had. The other force, somewhere, seemed to back off a little. So when Kagome could just barely feel a numbness seep into her legs, she did the only thing she could do to keep from attacking Inuyasha. She turned and ran soundlessly down the hall.
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Inuyasha started to run after Kagome before Miroku let go of Sango's arm and grabbed onto Inuyasha's.
"Don't go after her. Not yet, anyway. We don't know where she's going. You still have her scent, right?" Miroku had come to stand on Inuyasha's side, watching as Kagome slid and skirted the next corner.
Inuyasha nodded and picked up his sheathe, stringing it back to his side. "Yeah. But what do you suppose we do while she runs loose in the castle?" His fists were clenching and unclenching involuntarily at his side, trying his best to hold back the urge to run after her.
Sango climbed on Kirara's back, situating herself behind Shippou. "We could look for Naraku. Who knows, maybe that's where Kagome-chan's headed." She was just as shocked as Inuyasha was when Kagome ran off. "Maybe she partly regained control and told herself to run. We don't know, Inuyasha, but we're bound to find out sometime." Sango shrugged halfheartedly and started stroking Kirara's fur, keeping her eyes locked on the back of Inuyasha's head until her turned around to look at her.
"Sango's right, Inuyasha. Kagome-sama's natural instincts wouldn't let her, even as she was possessed, hurt you." Miroku began fingering the prayer beads wrapped around his wrist and forearm. "But if she was about to bring the sword down, would you let her?"
Inuyasha's eyes seemed to darken momentarily, then he sighed. His hand was running nervously through his hair. "I don't know. Part of me strongly refused to think that Kagome would ever deliberately hurt someone. But I said I wouldn't move, and I meant it."
Sango nodded and decided there was no need to press on further. "Can you sense Naraku anywhere are here, Inuyasha?"
Well, of course he could sense him, it was Naraku's castle. He just didn't know where.
"Not right here. I can't pick anything up strong enough to lead us to him. His damn stench is all over the place." Just for good measure, Inuyasha lifted his head in the air and began sniffing. "But I wonder where that mangy wolf is. I thought he'd at least be able to sense the change in Kagome's scent." He smirked widely, despite the current situation.
"Damn right I could sense it, mutt face. Where is she?"
All heads turned to the end of the hallway at the sound of Kouga's familiar gruff voice. Nobody had to ask who the 'she' was. Hakkaku and Ginta were shortly behind him, albeit panting heavily.
"Ah...she ran off," Miroku cut in, giving Inuyasha no time for a heated response. "She came after Inuyasha, but ran before she could deliver the death blow." Sango frowned at Miroku and urged Kirara to stand by his side so she could smack the houshi upside the head.
She ignored the "What was that for?!" and turned her attention to Kouga, who was having a growling face off with Inuyasha. "Kagome was possessed by Naraku again, but we're guessing she regained control of part of her body before she could do any serious damage." Sango looked sideways at Inuyasha, who's face was covered with minor scratches. Skin was showing where his robes were torn slightly. "Inuyasha didn't fight her."
Kouga grunted and turned the other way, arms crossed proudly over his chest. "Do you know where she is now?" he asked over his shoulder, refusing to face Inuyasha. "This is the second time in one night, mutt."
Inuyasha peeled his lips back to reveal a snarl. "No, I don't know! And what are you talking about, the second damn time in one night?" He held two fists in front of him, prepared for a fight if Kouga wanted to give one. Miroku watched in pure amusement as Sango desperately tried to figure out a way to keep them from leaping at each other's throats.
Kouga still didn't turn around. "I mean that's the second time you let Kagome go. So much for a protector. I bet you didn't have the guts to go after her." He smirked in triumph as he listened to a growl start low in Inuyasha's throat, becoming louder by the second.
Sango clamped a hand over Inuyasha's mouth to keep him from responding. "Inuyasha tried to go after her, but we held him back, Kouga-kun. You can't blame Inuyasha for Kagome-chan running away." When she was sure Inuyasha wouldn't protest, she slowly lowered her hand from his mouth.
Inuyasha was glaring angrily from Kouga to Sango, deciding which one to pummel first. But when he turned to Shippou, that worried look in his green eyes, he knew that he had to find Naraku. "Yeah, whatever. We have to find Naraku before Kagome does." He sniffed the air profoundly, but Kagome's scent had become too faint to lead them to her.
Sango nodded as Miroku jumped on Kirara behind her. "Kouga-kun, what are you going to do?" The wolf hadn't mentioned what his intentions were, and Hakkaku and Ginta hadn't said a word.
Kouga seemed to think about it for a moment. "I'm going with you. There's no way I'm gonna let mutt face here let Kagome get away again. Besides, if we find Naraku, I have a few things to say to 'im." With swift movements, he cracked his knuckles and pushed past Inuyasha. He had his arms crossed over his chest and that I-don't-care-what-you-say-cause-I'm-gonna-do-what-I-want look set on his face.
Inuyasha 'keh'd" and decided it was high time to go find Kagome. "Just stay out of my way, wolf." He began running down the hall, feet landing softly on the wood floor with every step. When he was at the end, he turned his head to frown at the others. "Are you guys comin' or not?" The shout echoed across the walls, and soon Kirara and Kouga were running after him. "'Bout time."
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Kagome rested her hand against the wall, the other hand on her knee. She was bent over, panting heavily, hesitantly waiting to hear if there was footsteps behind her. But it was quiet. With trembling movements, she held one hand to her neck and the other to her chest. She had finally regained her breath, but the tingling in her neck wouldn't stop.
"I...I almost killed Inuyasha." Dark realization slapped her in the face as she stumbled under the heavy weight of guilt. "I almost killed Inuyasha," she whispered again to herself. "I remember fighting him, but I knew I didn't want to. Then he dropped his sword and..." her voice broke and she wiped at her eyes, dabbing away the tears that had formed from nowhere. "And I ran."
Part of her was glad that she ran. She didn't seriously injure Inuyasha, or anyone else for that matter. But the other part was mad, furious even, that she wasn't able to hold back Naraku any longer. She ran a tentative hand through her hair, groaning as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."
When she had herself under control, she forced herself to stand. It still felt like she was having an inward battle with herself, but it seemed the possessed side had backed down for the moment. She rubbed her neck furtively, trying to ease the tingling sensation that had settled there. Her eyes wandered aimlessly around the hall she had turned in to, trying to figure out exactly where she was.
Kagome sighed absently and turned her head to stare down both ends of the halls. "That's what you get for not paying attention to where you run. I wonder if Inuyasha and the others are looking for me..." She was deciding what to do.
She could stay there and sooner or later, Inuyasha would catch her scent and be able to find her. Then again, in that time the jewel shards could take over again.
Or she could start walking and try to find them while fighting off Naraku with what strength she had left.
Neither of these options sounded like a particularly good one, and there were many flaws. What if Naraku or even Shiori found her while she was wandering around, especially now in her weakened state? Or if the jewel shards took over and she completely lost control? It seemed like there was too much going on at once. Would it be too much to ask to just find a comfortable spot and sleep?
Kagome hitched up the kimono she was wearing in order to walk properly. Her legs were shaky and unbalanced, causing her to stumble a few times. By the time she reached the end of the hall, she was frustrated and had a pain in her ankle from tripping and bending it at an awkward angle. Since she was still able to walk, she didn't take the pain into much consideration.
With tentative movements, Kagome peered down the next hall, and to her delight, saw a plain-looking door that probably led into a plain-looking room. There might be a futon inside, or at least a place to rest for a little bit. There couldn't be any harm in that, could there?
Kagome sucked in a deep breath as she started her trek to the door. One thing at a time...and right now her objective was making it to the door. Soon, though, she forgot all about her ankle and was running. Her patience was wearing thin and when she was done running she could rest.
When she made it to the door, she was a little hesitant to open it. There could be anything inside. Right now she couldn't sense anything at all. But what if the tainted aura of the jewel shards somehow dulled her miko powers? She shook her head again, promising herself to think about it another time. Maybe when she got out of here she could even talk to Kaede about it.
Another few moments or so of preparation and Kagome finally slid the door open. She was right - there was nothing ominous or even slightly suspicious inside. A futon laying near the middle...and that was all she was really looking that. The wanting feeling to just lay down and fall asleep right there, letting all of her troubles go, was overwhelming.
She debated for what seemed a long time over this, standing stock-still in the doorway, all the time staring at the futon. What if Naraku came while she was sleeping? What if Inuyasha, or even Kouga, came after they caught her scent? What if she was possessed again?
'Too many what ifs,' Kagome thought patronizingly to herself. With an annoyed sigh at herself, she walked steadily towards the futon and practically threw herself on it. Her bed at home was softer, but still. After that one thought, her mind drifted back to when she was home last. She had been so excited to come back and see Inuyasha...and now, here she was. Trapped in Naraku's castle with tainted jewel shards jammed in her neck, threatening her sanity and Inuyasha's life. With another sigh, she propped her head on her arms and stared at the closed door. Inside, she was hoping that at any moment, Inuyasha would come bursting through that door along with Sango, Miroku, and Shippou. But it wasn't Inuyasha who came bursting through the door, only a few moments after she had found peace and almost drifted off to sleep.
It was Shiori.
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A/N: Oooh, I am evil! I'm sorry to all of you that hate cliffies, but I had to do this! My dad's going to be home in a few minutes. SO, I have to get going. But please review, I want to know what people thought of this chapter. I'll update as soon as I can!
Next Chapter - Battle Inside