There was a murmur of voices by the time I came to, but at the same time my body felt drugged. I couldn't find the strength to open my eyes, let alone move my limbs. Along with that, there was a throbbing pain with the rhythm of my pulse at my neck. It felt similar as if a child was sitting beside me, carrying a stick, and continuously probing the end of it in an open wound. It wouldn't go away no matter where I shifted my thoughts to and the pain was nagging, always pulling my senses like dozens of fingers grasping onto me. I wanted to shout out and lash out at them, forcing the pain away, but the thought alone was futile. Trying to move my arm, I figured that was useless as well. In fact, my whole body felt like a corpse and I wasn't in control of it anymore. It made me wonder if I had really died and I was just a lingering spirit.
Then I remembered the events prior to waking up. I could see the petals of roses cascading down like snow, filling my vision of their beauties and then the angelic woman standing before me. Her mocking smile and dark crimson orbs which glowed with the intensity of evil, perhaps even amusement. Her dark hair sprawled around her perfect frame, sticking to her blood slick body and painted kimono. Her face, so hauntingly beautiful. I felt my stomach lurch at the thought of her. Her image flashed through my mind shortly after, making me remember her teeth digging into my flesh with hungered desire. I could suddenly feel the warm blood rushing down my frame, her fingernails digging into my skin as she threatened to pull me apart. And then, there was nothing but darkness as my last image were those beautiful golden orbs as well as the figure of a man my heart yearned for.
That's right, I thought, still lost in the darkness of my conscious and barely awake. I had fainted with the thought that I was dying. There were warm arms around me when I fell back, almost cradling me ever so close. Then red, gold, silver. Ears? That's right, I thought again, Inuyasha had caught my descending body into his. Sesshoumaru had fled the scene in hopes of reuniting with that Demoness, leaving me with his half brother. Come back for me... Those were the words I had spoken to him just before losing my conscious.
Finally, I lifted my eyelids, letting the world witness the emerald hue of my eyes. It took me a moment to register where I was, but even so, I was clueless. The last I remembered was inspecting that village which was recently devoured and destroyed by that woman. Blood filled the ground along with limbs and whatever was left of the bodies. Now, the scent of cooking herbs entered my nostrils and my sight was upon a smoothly created ceiling. It reminded me of a cottage and must have been a good one too, for it to be finely crafted. I couldn't sit up yet, due to the pulsating pain in my neck, but I let the other senses be my witness. Obviously, I wasn't alone. The murmur I was hearing was slowing coming into focus. One was a male voice, it having a pinch of sarcasm. Inuyasha, I figured, whereas the other was probably Kagome due to her distinct tone. There was a sigh to my right, which also sounded feminine. That was probably Sango and tending the cooking herbs, I assumed.
"Ugh..." I let out a horrid moan, lifting my arm but an inch. That, too, was sore and took a lot of strength to endure. What the hell really happened?! I cursed in my mind, too tired to really express my thoughts. Did I come back from the fucking dead? And perhaps I had, with how stiff and sore my body felt. Perhaps what really happened was me falling right down a cliff! I sighed out again and soon noticed that the room fell silent.
"Are you alright, Misuzu?" Sango's voice rang in my ear to the right. I didn't say anything back, but turned my pupils to the side. Her expression was etched with worry, her dark black hair falling in strands before her, and some falling just above the pillow of her breasts. The rest of it was held back in a low ponytail, which rested gently on the back of her multicolored kimono. There wasn't a trace of her gigantic boomerang, but Kirara did take place at her side. The tiny demon companion let out a mew of attention, flopping her tails back and forth with elegance.
"Oh, Misuzu!" Kagome was on the other side of me and shifted my gaze to her. She held the exact worried expression on her face, her eyebrows furrowed as if she were about the cry. I wanted to open my mouth and tell her I was alright, but one, I wasn't alright, and two, I felt like I'd just fell from a skyscraper. Behind the modern day girl stood the red kimono wearing Hanyou, his perky ears almost hidden on either side of his head in the depths of his silver flowing hair. It reminded me of Sesshoumaru, but the thought wasn't surprising. They were brothers after all. The half demon had his arms crossed over his chest with his wide golden eyes locked on my emeralds. "We were all so worried about you, Misuzu! You've been out for three days, hadn't moved since." The green and white clad woman explained.
Parting my lips, I sighed once more, this time closing my eyes and blocking them from the people around me. According to Kagome, I hadn't woke for days. It was no wonder I could hardly move my body, let alone speak. I was drained. And the image of the crimson eyed lass repeated itself in my mind, feasting on my flesh. Drained from energy and blood, I concluded.
"Shhh, Kagome!" Sango scolded the girl and then I felt her warm hand over my forehead. Strands of my own brown hair tickled my skin as she brushed them to the side. Miraculously, I was starting to feel comfortable by just the loving touch of another. "Misuzu, there is no hurry for you to regain your strength. You should sleep some more and then we'll all talk again" The woman assured and I could just picture the warm smile plastered on her lips. With that image in my mind, I could drift off into another slumber.
--
It was dark, cold, and lonely. I felt alone. I wanted to cry out, scream until my vocal cords broke into a bleed. I wanted to lash out at everyone and weep. I wanted to sob like an infant and be nurtured my loving hands. That longing was only a wish as I was enveloped with loneliness and sorrow. My chest heaved in a silent and tearless cry, utterly helpless to anything. Weak.
When I opened my eyes, I couldn't see anything. I even thought that perhaps my muscles weren't working, that I never did open my eyes. But they were, and only black surrounded me as if I was suddenly dunked into a vial of ink. Shut up from the world. Fear etched through my body, radiated off of my burning skin, and panic arose in my chest. I opened my mouth the scream, but no voice escaped, as if I were mute. Frantic, I ran my hands across the ground, searching for an opening. Searching for anything that I could touch. My fingertips trailed along a surface that had no texture, just a smooth everlasting bottom. I tried to scream again, but my throat trembled as silence mocked my straining ears.
My skin began to burn as if flames were licking up slowly from my fingertips to my arms. The tingling pain crept up further, making my body shudder against the pain. I collapsed on the endlessly flat ground and whimpered a silent and tearless cry. I shrieked a silent scream yet again as my body convulsed. I couldn't think as every possible thought was on the burning pain that enveloped me. I was standing in the pit of a fire, or so that's what I thought and what my mind had interpreted.
Don't let me die, Don't let me die, Don't let me die...
I wanted to plead for my death, yearned to say 'let me die', but the only words that did cross my mind were of the opposite. Where did they come from? I hadn't a clue as they began to continuously run through my mind over the pain. I concentrated on the sorrow of the words, making me want to cry out yet again. Then, suddenly, the fire had died out. I lay helpless on the ground too tired and exhausted to move. Don't let me die, I thought, I don't want to die.
"Why didn't you save yourself?" A familiar dark voice invaded my thoughts of pleading. I knew that voice, it haunted me and I wanted to reach out a strangle that voice, kill the bearer of it. Naraku, I knew at last. Anger came over the sorrow, but I had no control over my body.
"S-saved... myself?" I heard myself say, my own voice leaving my lips at last. I was confused and I hadn't a clue what was happening. The conversation continued like this, the words leaving my mouth against my will. The words I wanted to say were still on mute as well as the longing to move my body. I felt like a puppet enslaved by the strings that controlled me.
"What is your name?"
"Naraku."
"Save me, Naraku." And my arms reached up for him.
--
I bolted upright in a high pitched scream, my limbs thrashing around as reached out for something, anything I could get a grip on. My hair fell over my face, around me, and I continued to thrash around, crawling, pushing my way anywhere. My screams were frantic and became even louder as panic filled my chest as if it were about to burst. Then, warm arms clutched around me, nails digging into my skin. I kicked and punched, arching my back and turning my head from this way to that. I had to leave, I had to get out. I had to scream. And my mouth was open again, letting out another horrid wail.
"Misuzu!" A male's voice, full of confusion and fear entered my brain. That same voice left because I didn't understand his single word. It sounded foreign to my ears and I screamed again, jerking my elbow behind me and struggling to be free from his death like grasp. "Misuzu! Calm down!" His grip was tighter.
I sobbed, tears streaking down my cheeks. They cascaded in rivers until drop after drop fell to the ground. My body ached and I slumped my back against the man that held me hostage. A low wail left my mouth as I sunk lower to the floor, my chest heaving as I wept. My mind was coming back to me and Inuyasha's words were finally making sense.
"Misuzu... calm down..." He breathed the words against me, his grip loosening a bit. In cue, I fell limp, like a suddenly lifeless doll. The half demon took advantage to this and I felt him lifting my body into the air, secured in his arms. The next, I could feel the familiar comfort of a futon as he gently laid me down. The tears finally stopped and soon I was just sniffing every other second, trying to be rid of the boulder sized lump lodged in my throat.
"I-Inuyasha...?" I finally spoke up through a shaky voice. The silence was almost unbearable and it made my weak voice louder than what it was, making me slightly self conscious.
"Yeah?" He replied, calmer than a moment before. Opening my eyes, I turned my gaze to him without moving my neck. During my episode, I had injured it again, and pain went through my body once more. In return, Inuyasha began to undress it in an objective to redo it.
"I feel... unbearably sad." As the words left my mouth, a whole new set of warm tears trickled down my cheek. The half demon frowned and wiped the flow away, in attempt of keeping it from my open wound. "I feel... like I am trapped and cannot get out."
"It'll be okay." He replied and I wanted to hit him. The dream felt so real, but already it was beginning to fade from my knowledge. I let it slide and closed my eyes again, trying to focus on ceasing my tears.
"Inuyasha?"
"Hmm?"
"Where is everyone?" I asked through a wince.
"Out for now." He replied to my question as he wrapped a new and clean bandage around my neck. The material was probably brought from Kagome. Back in the world that I was born in.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah?"
"Where is Sesshoumaru?" The golden eyed demon entered my thoughts and I let out a little breath. Where was he? I thought, Where was my beloved? My mate?
"To hell if I know." He sneered some, bringing back his usual attitude. I let out a sigh in response. Sesshoumaru was probably still chasing after that woman, or battling her. Another single tear left the corner of my eye and I bit my bottom lip.
"He'll come back for you." Inuyasha spat out, finishing the bandage on my wound. With that, he retreated and I fell asleep.
--
By the time I awoke again, I felt my strength finally returning to my body. Without a hesitation, I lifted my body up from the mattress and let out a yawn. The pain in my neck had ceased to almost a dull ache and I stretched my arms out. To my surprise, I wasn't alone. In fact, the whole gang was there in the cottage and they were all staring at me with smiles. There was Miroku by Sango, probably whispering sweet nothings in her ear, Kirara at her side along with Shippo whom seemed more interested in Kagome. Kagome, herself, was busying her hands into making a soup over the fire and then finally, Inuyasha was by the entrance, leaning against the opening with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
"Good morning, Misuzu." Sango greeting happily in rhythm to everyone else. "Do you feel any better?"
"Yes, thank you." I told her, bringing my hand up to the bandage on my neck. It still hurt, but it looked well dressed. In all, it really deserved a thank you. After all, I was healthy yet again and had gained some strength. "The food smells wonderful, Kagome. I could use some." I said after with an energetic grin.
The girl turned to me and giggled, taking a bowl that was at her side and filled it up half way. "Doesn't it? Here you are, enjoy it slowly, Misuzu. I heard about what happened a few days ago..." Her voice trailed and I reached out for the bowl. So I was asleep for a couple more days, I thought as my gaze turned from the soup to the entrance where Inuyasha lingered. And then I let out a sigh. No trace of Sesshoumaru. "He hasn't come back yet." Kagome announced as if reading my mind and I jolted my gaze back at her. I forced a smile.
"I see..." Taking the bowl to my side, I blew into it.
"Guess your stuck with us, Misuzu." Miroku teased with a wide grin. Sango let out a sigh and playfully smacked him along with a glare. All the while, I let out a laugh, taking a sip of the soup and let out a moan of pleasure.
"Mmmm, this is delicious." I complimented. "I guess... you will all have to just put up with me, than." With a chuckle, I turned toward Miroku with a wink. The atmosphere boosted up to a light mood and everyone ate with a laughter that I missed. It brought me back to the days in Modern time, reminding me of my friend. I thought back on our first days of school together, laughing and spending the night, sharing secrets, and lingering at malls. The thoughts alone made me feel nostalgic.
"We have to leave by noon." Inuyasha interrupted our time of jokes and we all turned toward him. He stared back at the lot of us and pushed himself off from the doorway. "We've been here too long and now that Misuzu is in better health, we should get back on track." I looked down as he said this, placing a hand over my bandaged neck.
"Inuyasha," Kagome began with a pouting tone. "We should wait a couple more days, Misuzu just now started to recover!" The brown eyed lass complained.
"Kagome," I interrupted with a hand and smiled at her. "No, it's all right. I don't want to hold you all back. You're looking for Naraku, right?" The name alone sent a stab to my stomach, an image of a woman raising her arms up to his harsh grin... "We are, too. Sesshoumaru and I. So let's leave at noon, together." He will find me along the way, I finished in my mind. Come back for me, I had told him. Come back for me, and I knew he would. As to when, I could only hope.
Wow it's been months since I last updated! I have to greatly apologize, I didn't mean to take such an absence. In any case, here was my latest update, more to come I'm sure. Although, I didn't expect this series to be so long. I'm not even close to the middle of it! Oh well, Let's all hope I don't speed things up on accident. Please review, and more shall come. So, Stay tuned for more!