I do not own Inuyasha or its characters, though I would LOVE to!
Birth Rite..ch22 Pity and Anger
Sharp white light ripped through her vision, a vast contrast to the darkness of the caves. Kagome struggled against Naraku's hold on her arms, her tears falling in a waterfall of loss and anger. He let her go suddenly, and she staggered to the rear of the cave where the exit used to be, her hands brushing across the rock grave her family now lay within.
She struggled to hear something- anything, but her ears met with silence, her anguished sobs the only sound penetrating her mind.
She fell to her knees, her body shaking beneath the sobs wracking through it. Inuyasha... She couldn't hear him, couldn't feel him.
Naraku's sadistic laughter filled her ears, his pleasure at her pain obvious.
" You'll never have that Dog again Kagome. He'll never touch you again."
" Why? Why are you doing this?" Kagome cried, her head turned toward him, his body showered in the sunlight that should have killed him.
He only sneered down at her, his eyes narrowing in anger, his hands curling into a tight fists
" You haven't spent centuries in the dark. " He spat. " You haven't endured hundreds of years not feeling the light of day on your flesh, or been unable to feel the pleasure of another's touch. I have!"
" You haven't always been this way?" Kagome questioned, her hand clutching the grass beside her knee.
Naraku laughed bitterly, his gaze riveting her to the ground. "Ah.. Such pity for someone like me little girl?
" You knew what the sunlight felt like before Midioriko?"
" Yes." He seethed. " I haven't always been this creature. You think centuries spent in the shadows has made this life bearable?" He laughed harshly, his hands falling to grasp her upper arms jerking her toward him.
" I was human once- so many years ago that I can't even remember the exact number. I lived, I breathed. It was a crazy old fool who created me only to die and leave me this...existence.
He died trying to make himself the same creature he made in me- died before giving me back my humanity. He sought immortality, and youth. He spent every moment of every day conjuring spells, and buying foreign herbs for potions he would try on the unsuspecting killing hundreds in his insane attempts.
And then he turned to me when he'd found it. I was his blood, his image. He wanted to see what would happen to him if he used it, so he used me as his test dummy. He was right- it did work.
He invited me for drinks. I didn't hesitate, I trusted him. He mixed his potion with my drink, and with it he took away my humanity! He made me this creature, and the bastard was so excited when it worked that his old heart gave out before he could drink his prized potion, and before he could make an antidote.
" Who was he?" She didn't care, her heart was locked within the crumbled ruins of the cave, and she'd voiced the question without thought.
His hands tightened around her arms, his claws tearing into her tender flesh. Naraku snorted in disgust, his eyes falling to the streams of blood coating her arms. His breath caressed her face stirring loose bits of her hair.
" My Father, both in humanity, and inhumanity." He sneered, his fangs glistening eerily in the sunlight.
" He took my ability to sustain the sunlight with him to the grave, along with my ability to stomach human foods. "
" Did you...?"
" Try to find a cure? Of curse I did! I spent more than a hundred years experimenting with potions and spells. Then I found Midioriko, and killed her before I realized just what her blood could do for me. "
He paused, his eyes studying her, and Kagome cringed at the hollowness in them.
" And now I've found you, only I KNOW what you possess. It seems nature has provided what my potions couldn't."
Naraku jerked her to him, her body colliding heavily against his chest.
" You're mine bitch. Don't ever forget that!"
She shuddered when his breath coated her skin, his tongue snaking out to taste the pounding pulse in her neck. She hissed in anger, her disgust fueling her already reckless nature, her mind busy searching for a way to get back to her family.
" I'd rather die than be used for your benefit!" she snarled.
Steeling her resolve, she pushed away from him, her strength startling him enough that he let her go again, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
" If my family can't have me Naraku, you won't either. " Kagome hissed, her hand raising swiftly, her fingernail sharpening into a claw in the breath of a second. Without a second thought to what she was doing, Kagome pressed her claw to her throat. With one swift motion she cut through the major artery in her neck; a nick, but without treatment it was enough to drain her slowly. She hoped it would be slow enough to give her the time she needed.
She could feel her blood's release from her body, felt it coat her skin with each beat of her heart. Focusing her strength, Kagome allowed her body to shift leaving only a mist where she once stood. It was only a matter of time before she lost her capacity to keep control, but it was time she would never let go of. Scattering her energy, she left a vague trail for Naraku to follow leading away from the caves.
She watched as Naraku surged forward, his hand closing around what would have been her throat, only to growl in anger when his claws closed around thin air. He snarled, his rage at losing her felt in the pulsing of the air around him, and she smiled. This would only last a bit longer, but it was the only way to get back to Inuyasha; it had to work!
She watched Naraku track her scent. She lead him further away hoping to guarantee the time she'd need to search for the others.
Scattering bits of energy in all directions, she watched Naraku begin searching frantically before masking her scent and redirecting her energy to the caves. Closing her eyes, she let her heart guide her, ancient memories and instincts clashing for control. She could feel her body weakening, but she had to know if they were alive. She had to know! If they were gone, she'd die of blood loss at their sides, and in the arms of the man she would love forever.
Kagome moved toward what was once a small opening in the rock wall, hoping by some miracle her family still lived and breathed beyond its collapsed walls.
Touching the rock she closed her eyes, her hand trailing against the shattered dwelling trying to find where the opening had been. She floated past the solid foundation, the rock and soil accepting her entrance without any disturbance.
She could feel the cool stone grate past her shapeless form. It was odd- the sensation of solid rock and dirt passing through her slender frame. In a strange way it felt oddly comforting- like returning from a long trip, and being held in the arms of the one person you loved without thought, without reservation, and without remorse. It was like coming home.
She could feel the Earth's heart beat thrumming through her, echoing in her head, its arms held open to guide her through each passageway, each twist and turn in the darkness.
Kagome pushed further, her body growing weaker with each passing moment. She bent and twisted, her body filtering easily through the rubble until finally recognizing the rocks she and the others had stacked against the outlying walls. She realized that might have saved her family. Those rocks had allowed for a shallow tunnel, kept enough space to hold some oxygen. She began sifting through the dirt, realizing after a few moments that searching as mist would get her nowhere in a quick hurry.
With the last of her energy she allowed her body its physical form, her hands tearing away the dirt as she called out each family member's name.
She nearly choked in excitement when she heard an almost inaudible growl to her right.
Digging frantically, she nearly cried when she found Miroku, his body lying atop an unconscious, but breathing Sango.
" Kagome?" Miroku questioned, trying to focus on the woman above him. He caught sight of her face, its paleness alerting him to another more frightening fact. He could smell her blood, a lot of it.
Reaching to check Sango, and finding her alive, Miroku then reached for Kagome, only to have his hand pushed gently away. Kagome moved past him, her hand reaching to touch Sango's cheek, and she smiled when Sango's eyes opened, a pained moan sliding past her lips.
" Where are the othe...KAGOME! You're bleeding!" Sango hissed, her eyes widening.
" I'll be fine- just help me find the others." Kagome whispered. " It won't be long before Narkau realizes just what I've done. I...we don't have much time."
Even her voice sounded weak.
" Let me help you Kagome. " Miroku's voice caught in his throat when he caught sight of her wound. " We have to close that Kagome! You'll bleed to death if we don't!"
" There's no time Miroku. We have to get the others out. It won't be long before Naraku comes looking."
"You won't do anyone any good dead, Kagome! Do you want Inuyasha left without his mate because you wouldn't accept help? He'll die without you Kagome! Is that what you want?
"NEVER!" Kagome swore, her mind grasping what Miroku was telling her. Without her by his side, Inuyasha would lose his hold on reality. He'd die a shadow of the great demon he was, and she wouldn't be responsible for that.
Miroku's right Kagome. Let him help. I'll start looking for the others." Sango murmured, her body moving uneasily as she began searching.
" What do we do?"
Miroku eyed the gash at Kagome's throat realizing her need for blood to restore what was lost. He reached for her, and his heart dropped when she fell into his arms, her body beginning to succumb to the lack of blood. Her eyes seemed unfocused at best, and with a gentleness born of the love he held for his sister, he bent forward, his mouth closing gently over the wound at her throat. He only hoped his saliva would heal her quickly enough.
Her breath ripped through his ears, her body jerking as if in pain, her mate mark glowing defiantly in the darkness. His was a foreign touch, and he hoped that her body would recognize his as being part of her pack. It would save her the burning pain her mate mark would set on her flesh in response to another male's intimate touch. He hoped Inuyasha would understand what was happening. Pulling away from her gently, his head spinning from the effect her blood had on him, Miroku reached to guide her closer.
" Take what you need, Kagome." Miroku murmured tipping his head slightly and coaxing her head to his throat.
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Forgive the abrupt ending. I split this chapter into 2 parts, and this seemed as good a place as any to stop... I had thought to post it as a single chapter, but my curiosity got the better of me and I simply had to know how many of you were still out there reading this.
I am sorry this has taken so long to post, life just isn't slowing down, but I was determined to get some of it up today as a Christmas Eve present for all you who have stood by me.
I hope you are all well and happy, and that the holidays have given everyone their heart's desires.
I shall post again very soon since the next chapter is as ready as it can be given my time limits. I would absolutely LOVE to hear from all of you again.
Please let me know what you think so far. Without you this story would fail horribly. Thank you all for your undying support, encouragement and friendship. Without you I wouldn't have given this writing thing much more than a passing curiosity, but you all are what keeps me on this site, and are my primary motivation in getting back on the computer to write something I always pray you will enjoy.
I'd love to hear from you all again.
Happy Holidays all. I have met so many wonderful people on this site, and I am very, very thankful to have you all. I shall post again soon, depending on your desire for more...lol
Until then...Neisha