Blazing Hearts

Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Inuyasha or company; I merely toy with them for my own twisted amusement.

AN: Shoot me now, for I deserve it. I know I said I'm as tired of offering these excuses as you all are of reading them, but in my final semesters at college I have been swamped with work and homework. But the latter shall no longer be an issue: I graduate with my Bachelor June 9th ! Anyway, I know I said that this chapter was to be the last chapter but it's gotten longer than I had expected it to get so I split it up because those of you who haven't already deleted this story from their alerts/favorites deserve to have something new to read immediately.

Chapter Thirty-Three

"I just don't know… what do you think I should do?" Rin asked, her large brown eyes begging him for the answer that would solve everything and end her worry and heartache.

Sesshomaru looked intently at his doe-eyed human. He tried to think of a way to soothe her, to come up with the solution she sought. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru did not like to intrude on the problems of others. And although he cared deeply for his brother and Rin, this Suikotsu was not his problem. If Inuyasha needed or wanted his help, he would ask him. And only then would Sesshomaru offer his assistance in the matter.

The other issue Sesshomaru found himself having trouble with was explaining that to his emotionally fragile girlfriend. The demon was never good at comforting others. He was no good with feelings; a flaw of his that he'd never felt was a true flaw until he found himself in love with this female.

With as much sensitivity as the stoic demon could muster, he told her, "Inuyasha is capable enough to handle this Suikotsu. Your friend is in no danger with him guarding her." Although there was confidence in his words, he knew the emotion he attempted had failed.

Rin smiled lightly up at him and he was thankful that she could still find the comfort she sought in his words. She seemed to understand his heart even though he couldn't readily lay it out for her. She snuggled closely to him and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her closer.

Closing her eyes, she rested her head against his chest. "You're right, he won't let anything happen to her," she said as she let out a breath. She then told him, very quietly, "I love you."

He gently tightened his grip on her but stayed silent.

She knew he loved her too.

There was clawing in his head; scratching, cutting, scraping in his brain.

Suikotsu clenched and unclenched his fists as he walked, anger boiling in his veins. He was in pain and the demon within him was leading him to the one responsible for his turmoil; leading him to the one responsible for the loss of his love, his dignity, and his sanity.

In his lucid moments, he felt that this wasn't normal. He felt that what had happened to him wasn't natural. There was no history of mental illness in his family. He didn't care what the psychiatrists said… his condition couldn't be found in any textbook. He knew that.

When lucid, he was him, but when he wasn't… it was as though something was controlling—taking over—his body. But then, he could also argue that feeling with himself too. Every other person in his diagnosis probably felt the exact same. They probably believed about themselves what he believed about himself. But then… it was what his demon insisted as well…

There were times that Suikotsu could almost communicate with the blood-lusting creature within him. Not with his words though… but with feelings… and sometimes even memories. With dreams that were too real and too vivid to be anything but memories. He knew these memories couldn't be his own and there was irritation at being stuck sharing a human body. This demon—he knew it was a demon—had once lived in the Feudal Era, it ate humans and destroyed other demons. There was no name, no family; all he knew of the demon were flashes of memories.

It seemed to know what Suikotsu believed and it was becoming increasingly upset and sharing the pediatrician's body.

At this point, Suikotsu found himself in that familiar feeling of being in between lucidity and losing control. While the demon was leading him somewhere, he was fully aware of himself. He simply wasn't too sure of where he was going; he just knew that the demon was taking him to whoever was responsible for this… if Suikotsu was right in his belief.

Of all the things he expected to see. Of every possible outcome he could imagine, he hadn't expected to be led into an alley outside of a rotting, windowless building... and to an old homeless woman warming her hands by a small fire of burning leaves and twigs in front of her. Turquoise eyes looked up at him and she grinned, "Is there something you need of me, dear?" she asked.

The slashing and clawing feeling returned with intensity. He held his head and attempted to keep in control, he answered her, "I'm not really sure."

The old woman stood up and stepped on the miniscule fire. "I thought one day you would seek me out. You are Suikotsu. The Slasher," she laughed, "of all the ridiculous and unoriginal titles. You must be quite outraged for such a moniker, my cursed one."

Suikotsu frowned in confusion, "You… you do know me? Do you know what happened to me?"

The elderly woman slyly eyed him and nodded, "We've never met… but I do know you. And I've been waiting for you. Follow me," she beckoned as she began to walked inside the abandoned building.

When he followed her inside, he was surprised—no, shaken—at what he saw. No longer was there a horrifying, nearly crippled, old woman, but a beautiful young woman with long white hair and stunning turquoise eyes. "I didn't realize you were a demon… why would you choose to look like an old human?"

She laughed at his question, "My name is Tsubaki and I'm no demon. Some call me a witch, but I'm neither that. I am a dark priestess and there are many I wouldn't want to find me easily," she smiled a smile that combined sinister with sympathy, a combination that shook Suikotsu to his core. Interrupting any question that he might have had, "But that isn't what you want to know is it, my cursed one?"

"Why do you call me that?"

She looked at him, losing her smile, a slight flash of regret—if it truly was that—flashed in her eyes, "Because you are cursed. And I was the one cursed you, therefore you are mine. My cursed one." she told him with a soft smile. Looking at him, his face one of shock and little else; she knew that he must have suspected as such but never believed that he would ever hear it validated—not with everyone convincing him that he was merely sick and delusional.

"You… you're the one who did this to me?" he asked her angrily, his body shaking with fury and hatred. Still he didn't allow the demon within him to come out, he wanted to be himself for now, and he wanted an explanation… he wanted a cure… "Why tell me now?" he shouted, "Can you remove it?"

She looked at him calmly, "It was what I was hired to do; it was nothing personal—not between you and I, that is. And I always knew that you would find me without even realizing that you were looking for me. All of my cursed ones find me, just as you have. I tell you the truth now, because there is no reason to lie to you. And of all my cursed ones… you were most innocent. Your only fault being in love with a woman whom another desires."

He frowned in confusion, "Desires? Who hired you?" he demanded.

"Naraku, you know him, don't you?"

He blinked. He never did care for the demon, but he was Kagome's friend and he'd accepted that… but to do something like this just because he wanted his fiancé. It was simply monstrous… "Can you remove it?"

"I can."

"Will you remove it?"

She cocked her head in a way that would have been cute if he wasn't already aware of the fact that she was little more than a devious witch. Her status in his tormented mind meant little to her and she spoke, "You've noticed that your Kagome is with another now," she looked at him, his face told her that he knew well of this fact and he wasn't happy at all with it. She continued, "Naraku isn't any happier for this than you and that's why he ordered your release. He intends for you to kill his new rival. He's unaware, however, that when I first cursed you I tied your curse to him. I tire of Naraku, he is dull—his plots are embarrassingly uncreative these days and none of them have succeeded in bringing him closer to his goals. I suspected him of this uselessness long ago."

"This is all very interesting, but you haven't answered me." The clawing, the scratching, they were being meant with screams that refused silencing. His ability to stay in control was slipping away. Still he held on as well as he could for the answers he desperately needed.

"But I have, Suikotsu. Don't you see? Kill Naraku. And you will be freed," she laughed. "The fool is oblivious that by releasing you, he's signed his own death certificate. It's delicious!"

Tsubaki then sobered and eyed him, "You have your cure. Once Naraku leaves this world, so will the demon that I placed within you and as long as Naraku lives, so will your demon. It is simple and now it is within your hands. The choice is yours and our business is done."

As she left, Suikotsu was nearly frozen at her final admission. All he had to do was kill one more person—just a vile, evil, heartless, soulless demon who was after his beautiful, innocent Kagome. And then he would be free of his own demon… he could do that. But then… what of Kagome? She had that half-breed now. Had she completely gotten over Suikotsu? Would she come back to himself now or stay with him?

He'd just have to find that out later. First he had to deal with Naraku.

Kagome's heart pounded when Inuyasha stopped. As much as she'd wanted this closure and as much as she wanted it to end, the thought of facing Suikotsu still made her want to run and hide. It was only Inuyasha's presence that held her from flight.

His strength was what fed her own.

She frowned and looked at the large house… she remembered this house from years ago, when Kagura lived here… "This is Naraku's home," she told Inuyasha in confusion.

"Suikotsu's here."

"Oh no," dread filled her gut and she ran inside as horrific images of what might have happened to her friend at the hands of the man she once loved. 'Naraku is a demon though and Suikotsu is still just a man, he'll be okay, he'll be okay,' she thought frantically and knocked roughly on the door.

Inuyasha didn't wait for an answer or for Kagome to knock again. He broke the door down.

Okay, with that, the next chapter will be up soon enough. I promise you! Cross my heart! I have fewer things on my plate now, so time management won't be an issue. Thank you, for those who kept up with me despite my failures.

"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results." - Albert Einstein