Chapter 19: Cruel Intentions
"Stay away!" Kagome screamed. Kano grinned in return and stepped up to her crouched form. She fell backwards and scuttled away. He laughed mercilessly.
"Normally I would take my time enjoying your discomfort, but unlucky for you Im not in a very good mood." He stamped up to her and grabbed her by the collar. She kicked her legs wildy and pushed away with all her might.
"Let me go! What do you want with me?"
"Not much," he smiled heinously, "not much at all."
Kagomes face went pale as the breath caught in her throat. He pulled out his long shiny sword. The letters engraved in the metal gleamed in the scant dawn light.
Kagomes livid sienna eyes traveled down the polished surface. Suddenly her gaze left the sword and fell on something softly glowing deep inside his robes. She felt her mouth drop open and her eyes widen.
Thats!
A hissy laugh interrupted her thoughts. Her eyes fell back on Kano, but he was looking away...
"You're a quick one arent you?"
"Just what do you intend to do?" A voice came out of the entrance of the cave. The sun was just bobbing over the horizon. Kagome glanced behind her captor to see Kikyo standing behind them. Her face was masked in indifference and her eyes were cold empty pools.
Kagome watched the priestess. So she did come back...
"I'll do as I please," Kano finally answered. "And Ill start by killing Kagome." He turned around to face her. He set the sword to Kagomes neck. Kagome grit her teeth and pushed away. A scream of retaliation escaped her lips.
Kikyo did nothing. Kagomes eyes pinched shut.
"And what will that accomplish?" Kikyos voice was as cold and unfeeling as the stone walls around them.
"I'm sure you already know," he smiled at her. Kikyos eyes met his. A palpable tension drifted through the room.
Kikyo pulled her bow off her shoulder. Kanos grip tightened. Kagome sucked in a painful breath. She felt the sword begging to slice through the flesh of her neck. She bit down hard. She could see Kikyo pulling out her weapon, but didnt know if it would do any good.
Kanos fingernails slowly dug into Kagomes tender skin. His sword pressed harder against her skin and Kagome could feel the insatiable bloodlust of the cold steel on her neck. Shivers ran up and down her spine. Her breath came in short gulps.
"Kikyo," Kagome breathed.
Kikyo held up her bow.
"Don't even try," Kano glared at her and pulled Kagome closer as he held the blade farther up her neck. "You can't stop me now Kikyo," he chuckled. A fine line of blood leaked down her neck. She yelped. Kanos hands were cold and sweaty. She felt her forehead pounding and burning with fever. She couldnt think. She could barely breathe. Was she really going to die in a place like this? Would her body be found a bloody ruin crawling with insects among the corpses of Kagura and Kohaku? Her eyes met with those of the dead one more time.
Kikyo pulled the packet of arrows off her shoulder and tossed them to the ground at their feet with a clatter. The feathered tips spilled out of the quiver. Kagome gasped. Then Kikyos bow followed with a raw clank as it left her hand and met the hard ground.
Kagome stared in pure shock for a moment. Suddenly the binding grip constricting her body vanished. She fell to the ground. Then right before her eyes, Kano sprang toward the foot of the cave and intercepted Kikyo.
Kagome met Kikyos eyes before Kano reached her. She was staring straight into her. Something was written in her expression, something secretive. But then Kikyo was swept away, and Kano too. They were gone. Kagome stood up and yelled.
"Kikyo!!" She kept staring out of the cave for a long time. Why did she do that?
She slowly stepped to the foot of the cave and looked out. The sun hovered over the horizon marking the start of the new day. But Kagome could hardly believe this was only the beginning. She did recognize her surroundings. She hadnt noticed while shed been in the cave the previous day, but Kikyo did bring her to Onigumos cave, the one and only. That had to be quite a distance from where they started. But why stop here? If she bothered to bring me this close to Kaedes village, then why didnt she... Why didnt she just bring me there...? Unless... she didnt want to go in the village... because Inuyasha is there!?
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Snap!
"AAAAAAHHHH!!" Inuyasha sat up and grasped his chest. A blinding pain sent a shock wave through his body. The arrow lodged in his chest disappeared suddenly for some reason. He moaned and rolled over in pain. His afternoon nap was cut dramatically short.
Kaede rushed over to him and pushed him onto his back. She searched his chest for a sign of the arrow, but it was completely gone. She gasped. Shippo hurried over too.
"Inuyasha, whats the matter?" The fox tike peeped at him.
"The arrow is gone," Kaede said, "it just disappeared. How could it have done that?" Inuyasha groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He inspected the wound for himself. The wound felt like it was pounding. And the scar beneath it, Kikyos scar, it was bright red with blood flowing beneath it. He stared at it curiously.
"Inuyasha! Youre awake!" Miroku stepped into the hut closely followed by Sango.
"Are you alright?" The huntress looked down at him.
"I'll be fine," he shuddered. "Did you find her?" Inuyasha winced as he sat up again. The huntresss eyes clouded with unrest. Mirokus steady gaze did not waver from the half demon, but he didnt answer. Shippo peered anxiously at all their faces, his eyes flooded with fear.
"We looked all over," Sango finally admitted to his worried eyes, "but there was no trace of her. The shed was empty and there was no one in the surrounding area to even ask if theyd seen her. Its as though shes completely vanished..." Sango averted her eyes as they began to fill with salty tears.
"There is one thing," Miroku added. He revealed a bundle of wrinkled red cloth. He let it unfold before the half demon. "We found this on the bank of a nearby stream." It was Inuyashas kimono. The half demon stared at it. It was patched with dirt and blood.
"It cant be mine," he stared, "its impossible. I was still wearing the remnants of my kimono when I found you guys. This one is still whole. It cant be mine..."
"So whose is it?" Shippo peeped.
Silence settled among them.
"I dont know," Inuyasha finally said.
"And youre sure you don't remember anything?" Mirokus voice stressed the last word. Inuyasha shot him a nasty glare.
"I already told you, after Koga... I dont remember anything after he attacked me. I passed out. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the shack... in my demon form."
Miroku cringed again, even though this was the third time hed heard the story retold. The fact that Inuyasha couldnt remember anything at all from when he was transformed was a very bad sign. His worst fears may have been realized. The only thing that kept Mirokus hopes up was that they hadnt found Kagomes body.
Sango turned away as she felt one of her tears slip down her face. There had been so much blood in the shack. She could barely believe her own eyes. She didnt think anyone could survive long after losing that much blood. She was struggling to hold onto any hope that Kagome was alive. What if Naraku had taken her? What if he was torturing her right now?
"We have to go Miroku," Sango said in a shaky voice. "We cant waste anymore time."
"I agree," he took a step toward the door. Shippo watched them in silent shock.
"I'm going with you," Inuyasha stood slowly to his feet.
"Nay, Inuyasha," Kaede protested, "Ye be in no condition to step out the door."
"I have to," he growled at her. "Kagome is out there alone and injured. And,... it's all because of me. I cant just sit around knowing that."
Kaedes lips pursed.
"Kagome wouldnt want you to strain yourself, Inuyasha," Miroku reminded him. "If you push yourself now-"
"I dont care!"
Silence pierced their ears. Inuyashas eyes were more desperate than the monk had ever seen them. He looked ravaged. The last 24 hours had changed him.
Miroku knew there would be no arguing with him. But ever since they rejoined the half demon, Miroku hadnt been able to block out the image of Inuyasha as a full demon, naked, dried blood coating his arms, and an arrow lodged in his chest. It could only mean one thing.
"Lets get going, he grunted as he stood," leaning on his sword. He managed to amble outside in slow painful steps.
Inuyasha nearly lost his footing. His eyes widened and all he could do was stare. It was so bright outside that he thought he might be seeing things. He knew he wasnt when he heard her voice.
"Inuyasha..."
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The minute he landed outside the cave, Sesshomaru knew it had been a good idea to leave his followers behind. The musky stench of decay mixed with the metallic scent of blood creating a sick pungent aroma. He soundlessly entered the dark abode.
A dark patch on the earth emanated an ill foreboding aura. He stepped past it. Two bodies were on the floor. One of them shifted nauseously. When her eyes discovered him, she nearly fell backwards.
"Sesshomaru," Kagura gasped. He stared down at her wordlessly. Her mouth fumbled as if she wanted to say something. What are you doing here? Her eyes darted to the entrance of the cave, then back to him. "Naraku just left."
Sesshomarus eyes registered the news with interest. He turned to leave.
"Wait, Sesshomaru," Kagura lurched forward on her hands. He paused. "When we spoke before, I didnt know he wasnt dead." Sesshomarus golden eye lurked on her for a moment longer. He continued on out of the cave. Her eyes followed him out.
The morning air was cool. Sesshomaru could smell Inuyasha and his friends werent far away, but Narakus scent was harder to locate. He sped off after it. The putrid scent was becoming stronger, but it never gave away Narakus location. One thing he did notice though was that Narakus scent pattern followed another. The other scent wasnt as hidden. It was a demon.
Sesshomarus swift steps brought him in sight of the demon. He appeared to have deep blue hair and wore a black kimono. A suspicious sword hung off his hip. In his arms he carried a woman, a priestess. Sesshomaru thought he recognized this priestess.
Author's note: Well folks, it's been awhile, as seems to be the norm. I'm hoping now that it's summer, I'll finally get the rest of this one punched out. Unfortunately, I'm still floundering with it a bit. We'll see what happens. Let me know if you're interested or I won't bother. Oh ya, please forgive the horrible grammar; for some reason when I loaded it the punctuation went to hell.