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Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Chapter #15
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The sapphire sitting upon her hand glittered majestically in the moonlight. Youko admired it for a moment, temporarily transfixed by the tranquil blue stone. It really did look lovely on her . . . even lovelier when it sat on her wedding finger as it did now. His mouth curled into a soft smile at the thought. His eyes leaving her hand in favor of roaming the rest of her body.

Even while sleeping, she remained more beautiful than any geisha that had ever walked on Japanese soil. Covered only by the jade silk kimono he and ripped off of her only hours before, he marveled at the way the cloth hung on her body – scrunching up at the dip of her waste and smoothing out where her hips and breasts filled out the excess fabric. The width of the kimono only being enough to cover her up enough to keep her more private parts hidden, he admired the way her skin glowed despite the mornings darkness. Unable to resist any longer, he stroked the nape of her neck with the back of his hand, eager to feel her skin against his once more. Slowly, his fingertips traced her collar bone. And he found himself relishing the sigh he provoked from the sleeping girl. His mind eye immediately remembering the feel of her bare skin against his . . . the way her nails dug into his shoulders as she moaned beneath him . . . the way her lips parted as she screamed out to him . . .

He shook himself from the memory before he got himself in too deep. Though he couldn't help the quickening of his breath, or the way his chest tightened. Closing his eyes, he willed himself to calm down . . . surprisingly, it wasn't too difficult . . .

All he had to think about was the fact that his time was running out – only an hour or so left.

He winced, not bothering to hide it. He forced himself to look at her, making sure he memorized the curves of her body, the shape of her face . . . . the way her lips parted ever so slightly as she slept . . . The thought of never seeing her like this again made his heart ache in a way he never believed possible.

It hurt even more to know that their last moments together would be spent breaking each other's hearts . . .

He brushed a stray hair away from her face tenderly, unable to keep his mixed emotions from his features. Sorrow. Guilt. Bitterness . . . Sorrow because he wanted nothing more than to make her happy. Guilt because he knew that he would be the one to shatter her heart. And bitterness, because he knew that had it not been for Naraku or the jewel, he and his love could live in blissful happiness.

But it was not to be.

And for that last hour, he watched her as she slept. Stroking her face with his thumb, trying not to imagine the tears that would soon be flowing down it. And yet, at the same time, trying to prepare himself for the most important act he would ever put on . . . and the hardest.

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Her eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing hazy blue orbs. She propped herself up on her elbow before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Drawing her hand away from her face, she was delighted to she the man she loved watching over her.

She gave him a dazzling smile, a light blush staining her cheeks as she noticed that he was half naked. "I see you put some pants on." She smirked, her voice betraying her playfulness. Normally such a comment would leave her bumbling like an embarrassed idiot . . . but today things were different. Despite the storm clouds that seemed to have made themselves known as the sun steadily came up, Kagome was in a good mood. A blissfully happy mood in fact. After all, she was getting married! The very thought of it made her heart race with excitement. Youko was her husband . . . not officially of course, but in the feudal era the ceremony was as good as done. And with what happened last night . . . her face flushed with happiness. For the first time in her life . . . she felt whole. Complete.

Kagome felt absolutely invincible at that moment . . . which is why his reply brought her perfect world crashing down around her.

"Of course I am. I got what I wanted. Now it's time to get dressed and get a move on." His voice had a bite to it, a tone that Kagome had never heard from him. It struck her speechless.

Hugging the kimono closer to her body, as if it would protect her from his harsh words. "Y-Youko? Are you ok? I don't –"

"Didn't you hear me?!" His voice raised a notch, and his eyes seemed to burn in anger at her disobedience. "Get dressed!"

Kagome visibly jumped, his voice striking fear into her heart for the first time in months. She stood shakily, beginning to put her arms through the kimono sleeves before he snapped at her once more.

"What are you doing?! Don't wear that!" He picked up her, now dry, school uniform from the ground, throwing it at her. "Wear your clothes." He sneered, his nose wrinkling in disgust as he looked over her. "That kimono is far too good for you, and to think I let you ruin it."

Kagome blinked stupidly at him, her school clothes in hand. His harsh words failing to register for a moment as she slowly did as he said, slipping on her green and white uniform. However, as soon as she got over her shock, she felt anger over come her . . . it almost overrode her pain. "What the hell is your problem? You TOLD me to wear it!" She shook her head, tears beginning to leak out the sides of her eyes. For a moment she thought she saw an apology in his eyes, but then it was gone, replaced with his cold hard stare. She shook her head once more, not knowing what to believe. "What happened to you?" She whispered, emotional pain nearly choking her.

He scoffed at her, ignoring her tears. "You were pure then." He looked her over her naked body once more. "You aren't now . . . your not worthy for that kimono any more. So go back to your own damn clothes and then get the hell out of my face."

She stared unbelievingly at him. "What? Maybe you forgot, but you PROPOSED to me last night." She took deep breaths, trying to hold back her fear. "Youko . . . your my husband . . . I thought –" She choked on her words. "I thought you loved me!" Tears flowed from her eyes freely now, pooling at her chin. "Damn it Youko! Was it all just a lie!?"

He just looked at her, stared at her with out any feeling. Just stared – before he began to laugh. A cruel, sadistic laugh that spewed from his throat. "You foolish girl! You foolish, foolish girl!" He began to circle her, his eyes glinting in malicious amusement. "You really don't get it, do you?" At her silence he laughed harder. "It was all a lie! The grave site, the meadow . . . that lovely ring on your finger! All of it! A complete lie!"

She stood, petrified. His words echoing echoing in her head. 'All a lie.' She tried to keep her voice steady, to be strong . . . but the pain was too much, and her voice cracked. "Why?"

His laughter continued. "Why? WHY?!" He walked up behind her, bringing his mouth so close to her ear that she could feel the heat of his breath as he whispered the one thing that would break the tie between them.

"Because I, my dear Kagome, am Naraku's humble servant . . . you opened your heart to the enemy."

Her eyes widened and she felt her heart shatter. For a moment she couldn't move, the pain and shock numbing her. 'The whole time . . . he was the enemy . . .' The thought went through her mind, and yet, it didn't seem to register . . . not until her mind cleared enough for the one, most devastating part of his speech hit her.

'All a lie . . . he doesn't love me.'

And then, she did the only thing she could do. She ran. Never looking back at the man she had given herself to . . . never seeing the pained look on his face as he watched her get further and further away from him. Too distressed to sense his aura weave through the trees, bidding them to point her to the path of the bone eater's well. And too full of pain to notice that a part of her was missing – for in her lover's hand lay the Shikon no Tama . . . jewel of four souls.

And the rain came down.

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Inuyasha slid Tetsuaiga into it's sheath, mentally thanking the gods for being alive. Looking around the battle field through the sheet of rain, he was glad to find that Miroku, Sango, and Kirara were still standing among the sea of dead bodies. Despite their apparent wear and tear, none of them were too badly injured . . . most of the demon blood that covered them washing off in the rain. Even so, they all looked ready to topple over if given the lightest push . . . had the battle raged any longer their human bodies wouldn't have been able to keep up. . .

The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"You guys all right?" He called out, his voice lacking it's normal gruff edge.

Miroku nodded for all of them, leaning on his staff for support as he struggled to regain his breath. "Yes, I'm fine . . . though I could do for warm sake right about now." He joked halfheartedly. Drawing a small chuckle from the group.

"I could do for a nice dip in the hot springs." Sango stated, hardly able to keep her glazed eyes from fluttering closed. " . . . I can't think of the last time Kagome and me have been able to soak . . ."

The mention of the priestesses name drew a moment of silence from the group. Any of the lightheartedness that had once been present soon washing away as their thoughts turned to their missing friend. Youko would have brought her back by now . . . wouldn't he? Or maybe they were just waiting the storm out in some cave some where . . .

Inuyasha was the first to break the tense silence, looking down at the muddy ground emotionless eyes. "We should find Shippo . . . " He gave an annoyed grunt in hopes of reviving his gruff appearance. "Stupid kit probably got himself lost." With out looking back, he began his way across the bloody battle field and to the edge of the forest, where Shippo had disappeared . . . not even Inuyasha could've sensed that the young kit was much closer than he thought. And as Inuyasha got closer the line of trees, he watched as the child launched himself at his form.

Latching himself onto Inuyasha's wet leg, he tried to smother his tears into the fire rat fabric. With twigs entangled in his coppery hair, and dirt smudged over his face, Inuyasha pulled the kit off of him by the back of his blue haori. Lifting the hysterical kit to his eye level he took a few whiffs of his scent – surprised to find that there was no blood. "Feh, why are you crying? The battles over, no one died." The hanyou scowled, annoyed at the fact that the fox had actually worried him for a moment.

When the kit didn't answer quick enough, Inuyasha shook him, his patience being too thin to test. "What the hell are you crying for!?" His voice came out harsher than it should have, but with the Kagome missing and the entire group being at it's weakest, stress weighed heavily on him.

Had it not been for Sango's comforting hand on his shoulder, the dog demon would have probably thrown the kit to the ground when he only cried harder. Instead, he grumbled under his breath, pushing the kitsune into Sango's arms. "I don't have time for this." He growled under his breath continuing his way to the forest edge – fully intent on continuing the search for his lost miko.

"I-I found Ka-Kagome!" Shippo mumbled out, trying his best to keep his tears from choking him. "S-Something's wrong with her!" He wailed, burying himself into Sango's chest. Desperate for comfort, the poor child would receive none.

His statement sent Inuyasha reeling, and immediately he grabbed the kit back by the tail. "What's wrong with Kagome!?"

Shippo wiped away his tears with a tiny fist, trying his best to be strong. "I-I found her by the well and I tried to talk to her, b-but she wouldn't answer me. Somethings wrong with her Inuyasha!" He wailed, new tears springing from his eyes. "She wouldn't even look at me!"

The inu hanyou immediately handed him back to Sango, allowing him to continue his crying with in Sango's comforting arms. With utmost seriousness and urgency he looked at his companions. "Stay here, I'll find her."

Miroku nodded solemnly, his wet bangs plastered against his skin. "Of course Inuyasha, Sango and myself will take Shippo to Kaede's village . . . with this weather there is no doubt we will come down with sickness with out her shelter."

Inuyasha nodded his approval before turning his attention back to the crying kit once more. "Don't worry Shippo . . . I'll bring her back." With those final words said he left, sprinting towards the Bone Eater's Well as fast has his legs could take him. It didn't take long for him to find her . . . but when he did he was forced to do a double take.

Kagome, the bright cheerful girl from the future, looked nothing like herself. Once bright eyes were now glossed over, red and swollen from the tears he could still smell on her. But what scared him most was the truth in young Shippo's words – even though he knelt eye to eye with her, she looked through him as if he wasn't there at all. He gently cupped her cheek, "Kagome?"

He didn't know if it was his touch, or the worry in his voice that brought her back to him, neither did he care. As her eyes cleared and the tears started fall once more, all he could do was hold her. Stroking her back comfortingly he rocked her, just as his mother would rock him when he was a child. It was then that he noticed the difference in her scent – how it was no longer just her own. Intwined with her distinct feminine scent was that of a males . . . a kitsune male.

Suddenly it clicked and he grabbed her by the shoulders in a panic. "Kagome, what did he do to you?" When she didn't answer right away he gave her a small shake, his panic quickly turning into anger as possible scenarios ran through his head. "Kagome! Answer me!"

She couldn't even look him in the eye. All the shame, all the sorry . . . it was simply too much for her. So she only launched herself back at him, crying in the crook of his neck before whispering against the flesh there. "He betrayed me Inuyasha . . . it was all a lie. All a lie." She shook her head, unable to stop the sobs that racked her body, disabling her voice.

Inuyasha held her closely, silently rubbing her back as the anger boiled with in him – rising to a degree that had never before been reached. Kagome. His Kagome. Was hurting.

He crushed her against his chest, growling with his teeth bared. "He won't get away with this Kagome – I won't let him."

When she only cried harder he stood up, cradling her in front of him as he carried her to the well and to her home. When her family came rushing to her side with worried faces she refused to talk, and refused to let go of hanyou's neck. At that moment, Inuyasha silently swore to stay by her side as long as she needed him to . . . and avenge her as soon as she didn't.

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It had been done.

He broke her heart, took her body, and would haunt her memory. And his own heart cried because of it. Yet, he knew it had to be done. No matter what happened next, she would be safe – she was out of Naraku's reach, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.

He looked down at the jewel fragments in his hand, studying them for a moment before closing his fingers around them. Not surprised when he sensed Naraku's distinct aura appear behind him. He gave a fake smirk, turning around to greet him, dangling the vial of shards in front of him. "I suppose you want these?"

Naraku smirked in return, holding out his hand to receive the glittering shards. "You did well. I doubt the wench will be coming back to these parts any time soon. Now just give me shards and your burden will be lifted."

Youko only chuckled calmly, closing his hand around the vial. "Actually, I would like to deliver it to Naraku personally. I think I deserve a thank you from the real thing at least – not from a puppet."

Naraku's puppet seemed unsure of the idea, a light frown tugging on it's lips. "I suppose . . . but I will only give you a week to bring it all the way back to my palace."

Now it was Youko's turn to frown. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask for two. I need to stop by my home to pick up a few things. Besides, I believe the wench may have left a shard there . . . I'm only counting seven in the vial and I'm more than positive that there were eight in the beginning."

The puppet only waved it off with a pelted hand. "I shall have one of the minions pick it up–"

"And have them trash my home?" Youko scoffed. "I don't think so. Naraku can wait another two weeks, if even. I shall probably make an earlier appearance."

Naraku didn't like it, but he conceded. "Fine. But any later than two weeks and it will be your tail." He warned him before walking back into the forest and out of sight.

Youko watched him go, making sure he was completely gone before turning back to the shards in his hand.

"Only a few more scenes to play before the act is ended . . . and the curtain is dropped."

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Ya, took an EXTREMELY long time I know. But summer is finally here and I actually have time!!! Woot! This chapter was extremely short I know – only 8 pages. But ending the chapter this way would just make it flow SO much smoother. So I am expecting one more, much longer, chapter. And hopefully I'll have that out to you guys in the next one to two weeks =).

Oh, and btw. The reason I was taking so long wasn't that I didn't get a hundred reviews . school, finals, and county fair had simply made my life hectic. Not to mention the AP exam .. So ya . . . I would NEVER with hold a chapter simply for more reviews. That's just plain mean =P. (btw, last chapter had a record of 60 reviews XD)

Well, only one last thing to say . . . I don't own Inuyasha or YuYu Hakusho . . . now. But in the future . . . jk. Love you guys! (R&R!)

Ja!