Chapter 19

Into Despair & Out to the Light

WARNING: EXTREME VIOLENCE AND GORE

Blood dripped slowly from her back as she lay on black sheets in a dark room, unable to remember how she had gotten there. She then remembered, and began to cry. Cry to the shadows in the dark room. Fear swept through her, what had she done. How could she possibly say that to Sesshomaru. Not a word of it was true, he had to know that. Or had he some doubt in the back of his mind that ate at him?

Kagome's eyes flickered to the darkest corner of the room, as a figure emerged from it slowly off the ground, Naraku.

"Miko, you should stop the bleeding you know." he smiled crookedly, advancing toward her. Kagome backed slowly, pain struck through her making her shake and stop her movements. She tried to yell at him, but all that came out was a desperate cry of pain and despair. Why was everything like this happening to her, and nobody else?

"I will heal your wounds, it's the least I can do." he offered, sitting beside her and touching the wound lightly with his cold finger making her shudder. She gave him a weak glare, and her eyes widened as his grin grew wide, and he licked blood that had apparently come from her back off of his finger.

"Monster…" she managed. "You're a bloody monster…"

"Oh, now that isn't nice since I'm going to heal your wounds." he laughed. "Besides, with that jewel shard still within you, your wounds won't take long to heal. Although, it will be slightly… Agonizing. But you should be able to handle that."

Kagome looked at him weakly, unable to respond, much less control her blurred vision.

"Miko, you can't pass out yet." he gave her a pouting face. "We need to do a little… surgery. We're going to place another jewel into your back. I wish to see how powerful you can become, miko. And under my control."

"You're sick." she whispered, much less choked.

"Did I mention this is going to be severely painful?" he whispered into her ear, breathing heavily on her neck. Before she could respond, she was being pushed lightly onto her back; her school top bloodstained. He lifted the top and heard her make a whimpering noise. This amused him. He trailed his hands along the wound, and pulled a shard from the pocket of his kimono.

"Don't move." he whispered gently, but at the same time his grin widened. She inserted the shard in her back, right beside her spine.

Kagome's eyes widened and she let out a deafening scream. Tears flowed from her eyes, and the movement she made caused more blood to pour from her back, almost beginning to show on the black sheets that were almost invisible in the dark room. Suddenly, more pain occurred. Agonizing. Her wounds began to heal immediately after the jewel had been inserted, covering the wounds and healing her. Every ounce of pain disappeared with the wound, and her blurred vision returned. She noticed Naraku's figure move from the bed and opened a door allowing the light to come in. He picked an object from the ground, which appeared to be a mirror. He brought the mirror to her, and held it in front of her face.

"Aren't your eyes beautiful?" he smirked, with a sick pleasure to the new appearance.

"M-My eyes." she whispered, almost inaudible. "They're…Gold?" she thought about it, and it reminded her of Sesshomaru. She looked down from the mirror, and pondered the result of the jewel shard. Then she realized. The shard, it was tainted. Effects were bound to happen to her, being human.

"Perfect." Naraku went into laughter, and then traced his hand along Kagome's cheek.

"D-Don't touch me, ass hole!" She shrieked.

"That's no way to speak to your master, now is it?" He smiled crookedly. "Since the jewel shard is having such a wonderful effect, you'll have to use those wings once again, it will be less painful since you appear to be… a half breed should I say?"

"Humph." she turned from him.

"Now Now, do as I say. We don't want any trouble, do we?" he chuckled, grabbing her wrist.

"Do as I say, I am your master. Now go, go and attack Inuyasha. And make Kikyo pay, I've seen her hanging around him often now that you're gone. Aren't you mad?" he commanded her.

"Yes, master." her eyes were blank, black like coal. She turned and ran with lightning speed out of the room and into the forest.

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Inuyasha sat close to Kikyo who had dropped by. The sight of that wench made Sesshomaru even angrier. She looked like Kagome, but rotted of the dead. Thinking of death, brought him back to Kagome. He couldn't get her off of his mind, he wanted her back, he promised her safety and that promise was now broken. And she had officially turned her back to him, the painful words she spoke the other day still rang through him like it had just happened. He was beginning to think he would die a pathetic death like his father, he was just as pathetic as his father, there was nothing more to it. He was disgusted with himself.

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru's cold eyes struck him when he looked up.

"What?" Inuyasha snapped, obviously wanting to spend as much time with Kikyo as possible.

"Get that wench out of here, or I'll kill her." he demanded.

"Keh, go away Sesshomaru, didn't you break a promise to the one you love?" he hissed.

Sesshomaru gave him a sharp coldness that immediately made him snap. Sesshomaru stood, "Oh, is that so half-breed? Wasn't this wench the one who put you to sleep for fifty years, and weren't you the one that caused her death?"

Inuyasha growled in fury, he couldn't do anything else. He was out of things to come back with. The two glared at each other until finally Sesshomaru pinned Inuyasha against a tree by his neck, digging his poison claws into his neck making Inuyasha flinch and let out an agonizing cry.

"Unlike you, I will not allow the one I love to die. Now remove your wench from here, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru hissed, throwing him to the ground and walking over to where he had previously been sitting.

Inuyasha finally got a grip and stood from the ground. He growled and then grabbed Kikyo, running off.

"What are we doing, Inuyasha?" Kikyo asked in a voice that hardly held emotion.

"Stay here. I'll be back." he demanded, walking into the forest further. He knew that scent, he could smell Kagome. But something was different, something smelled like a Youkai. So he wanted to investigate. As he walked, he came upon a figure. He could see blood dripping down their arms, he could smell it for certain. He could see wings, and the figure was slim. The figure held a katana in one hand, and wasn't moving. It was Kagome, that blood he was so used to smelling in the midst of battle so long ago; it was her.

"Kagome! Are you alright?" He asked, running to her. But he had to stop when her entire figure came into view. There she stood. Naraku had given her a fire red kimono, and a sharp katana. She had wings coming from her back, making her back area bleed but she didn't seem to notice. Maybe it was only blood stains, just maybe.

"Inuyasha." Kagome hissed, although in her mind she was screaming bloody murder, no, it couldn't happen. Not her friend. "You will die by my hand. Followed by the woman you always left me behind for, Kikyo." she hissed the name. She had even less control than before, since she had some hate in her being for Kikyo.

"K-Kagome! Don't talk like that. Come here, Sesshomaru misses you." he stepped forward slightly.

"He will die soon enough as well, by himself, or by my hand!" She yelled, charging at him. He immediately drew the Tessaiga on instinct and blocked her attack.

"Kagome, enough!" he yelled.

"No, you must die!" she continued.

"I'm sorry, Kagome. I always loved you. Forgive me, don't fight me!" He demanded.

"No, you will die! I cannot forgive!" Kagome hissed, finding a weak spot and impaling him in the side with her katana. She watched as his eyes widened, and she pulled the sword from his side slowly and licked the blood from it as she stared at him intensely.

"Your eyes…You've…" he coughed up blood, as he stared into her now golden eyes.

"I'm sorry, I cannot control myself." she whispered almost inaudibly, tearing his limbs off with her katana, and stabbing him in the heart, twisting the sword as it was still in him, making him scream in agony as he collapsed beside her.

"It appears, I have broken your heart just as you mine." Kagome said emotionlessly, and walked passed him, his blood covering her pale arms.

"Kikyo." Kagome called, "Where are you, wench? I smell you." she smiled slyly as Kikyo came around the corner.

"Kagome, what happened to you?" she asked, looking at the blood that covered her.

"He's dead. I know it, and now you know it." Kagome said, sounding not-so-sane.

"What?" Kikyo asked, unaware of the situation.

"Inuyasha, I've killed him. And now you." she gave an insane laugh, and then eyed Kikyo.

"You…Well, I wanted my soul back anyways. So it appears I do get to kill you after all, Kagome." Kikyo once again, had no emotion in her voice.

Just as Kikyo prepared to attack, she couldn't tell what happened. Within a moment, she had her sword impaling Kikyo through her back, and she dragged her sword downward, cutting it open. Kagome decided as a prize token, she would take her spine. Kagome pulled the spine from her very body, making her scream agonizingly, and blood pour all over Kagome, drenching her. In her mind she was losing sanity. Never had she seen so much blood, ever. She picked up the body and threw it over her shoulder, and went off to grab Inuyasha's. When she arrived, she heard someone in the distance with her new slightly sensitive hearing.

She turned to meet Sesshomaru, who was a little surprised. His eyes were cold; but Kagome knew better. Behind that was the soft gentleness only for her. She screamed out inside of her head, hoping she wouldn't be forced to kill him.

"Kagome, that's enough." he demanded.

"I thought I had told you I wanted nothing to do with you? Did I not?" Kagome dropped Kikyo's deceased body, that had a few souls leaving it.

"Kagome…" Sesshomaru whispered, just loud enough for her hearing to catch. "Your eyes are beautiful." he stated.

"Don't change the subject." she laughed.

"Kagome…" he walked slowly toward her.

"Don't come near me, I'll kill you." she hissed.

"I'm sure you wont, I'm certain you don't mean what you're saying. It cannot be so." he stated, reaching a hand out for her.

"Get the hell away!" she hissed. "Sesshomaru! Get away!" her voice said in agony; swinging her katana wildly in front of her fighting for control.

"You don't need to do this, stop this." Sesshomaru spoke softly to her. "I can--" he coughed out blood, looking down to notice that the katana had been shoved through his stomach and quickly removed.

"S-Sesshomaru…" her eyes watered. "Get away!"

"I love you." he said tenderly. "No matter what you do, I will be foolish enough to follow you. Foolish enough. Always, no matter how much I try to prevent myself, I am in love with you and only you."

Kagome's eyes watered, and her control seemed to be back. She fell to her knees, and finally screamed.

"Blood! It's everywhere! I-I'm drenched in blood!" She screamed and cried, rocking back and forth, shaking. "It's all over me. I want it off! It's Inuyasha's blood! Get it off!" she screamed even more.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her. "It will be okay, trust me. I will not break another promise, I will keep you safe; on my life."

Kagome became calm, and Sesshomaru picked her up, running toward a hot spring where her friends had just arrived to.

"What on earth?!" Miroku, Sango, and Shippo yelled all at once.

"Inuyasha and Kikyo are dead, I'll explain later. For now, all of you help her. And you monk, don't get any ideas while she bathes. It'll be your funeral." Sesshomaru commanded them all, and they immediately did as told.

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"Well that's not very exciting." Naraku groaned, displeased. "It appears we need a few more jewel shards next time. Maybe I should put the entire thing in her? That would be very amusing to see something so powerful under my control…"

"Would you like me to call Kagura?" Kanna asked, her mirror still held in front of Naraku.

"That wont be necessary, I will get her myself later. Better let the fact that she murdered two people sink in." he laughed maniacally.

"Kanna. Don't inform Kagura of what has happened, I have a strong feeling she will try to ruin my plans, which will be a bother." Naraku yawned, leaning back against the wall watching Kagome in Kanna's mirror contently.

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"I see. Unbelievable…" Miroku trailed off, after hearing from Sesshomaru what had happened. "So, they're dead I see. This is just horrible."

"Hn." Sesshomaru responded simply.

"Kagome still looks freaked out, maybe you should speak to her." Sango whispered to Sesshomaru, watching as he gave her a slight nod and walked over to Kagome who was wrapped in a kimono that Sango had as extra.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru whispered, sitting beside her. Kagome's face hardly moved, but she made a small 'Hm?' noise to show that she was listening.

"You will be alright, I promise you. This promise I will not break, on my life." he told her, in a soothing tone. "Trust me."

"Promise." she repeated emotionlessly. "Everyone breaks promises they make with me. Do you hate me?"

"I love you. I wouldn't be able to hate you even if I wished to; which I don't." he spoke tenderly, putting a hand on hers; which appeared to have blood stained to her hand.

"I'm a murderer." she whispered to him, lifelessly.

"No, you aren't. You had no choice. I bet Inuyasha knew that." he comforted her, with his best attempts. But it didn't seem to be working.

"I still think I'm a murderer." she looked up at him, her eyes lifeless, her face pale, her eyes were an endless pit of self torture.

"Cheer up, for the rest of us. Your friends aren't very happy either. They do not blame you; only Naraku." he told her. Kagome shuddered, that name. That name, that being. The one who took everything from her, and made her take the lives of people she loved. She couldn't handle it, she no longer felt a need to live. She felt… dead.

"Kagome. Be strong, it wasn't your fault. Believe in me." Sesshomaru insisted, hurt hinting in his voice, making Kagome feel bad.

"I'll try." she said, with a little enthusiasm. "I suppose I'll save the crying for when this is all over." she stood up, rubbing her eyes.

They all sat silently around a fire they had built as the sun slowly began to set, Kagome was still full of sorrow, all but Sesshomaru were upset of Inuyasha and Kikyo's deaths. Though not one blamed Kagome. They were all ready to kill Naraku; fight to the death. Shippo, Miroku, Sango and Kirara. Each of them was filled with sadness and anger. They wanted payback, especially Sesshomaru; he wanted to pull out every ounce of pain from Kagome and run away with her where nobody could find them, just run until they were safe together.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru whispered, watching her carefully as she lifted her head up from her sulking position.

"Yes?" she asked.

"You may lay on my lap." he told her, seeing as she looked cold and was far from him. He knew that she must have thought he would be upset with her, but he wasn't. Not even the slightest. He loved her no matter what happened, no matter what she said or did.

"Okay…" she crawled toward him, and rested her head on his lap, and he tangled his fingers in her hair humming very quietly.

Sango sat with Shippo in her arms, as he cried silently. Miroku hung his head, with his fists clenched. Kirara laid between Sango and Miroku, fast asleep. Things would probably only get rougher, but Sango had a feeling it would all soon be over one way or another. Death or victory, she knew everyone hoped to avenge the deaths of their friends. They all sat around the campfire for what seemed hours before the sun went down, finally setting, the stars beginning to show slowly, and so many of them there were. Kagome saw a shooting star, and decided to make a wish.

I wish Inuyasha and Kikyo were back. She wished, and soon fell asleep, tears dry and stained on her skin. The others too soon fell asleep; all but Sesshomaru who was wide awake, never seeming to sleep. He was on guard, keeping his love safe. He would never let her go again, ever. Not even Naraku would get in his way of protecting her now, he was certain of this. He would kill Naraku, and win Kagome's happiness in return. Everything would turn out okay, he promised himself and the others this on his life, especially Kagome.

Morning came all too soon, Kagome woke to a fresh start, feeling slightly better since Sesshomaru hadn't left her side for even the slightest moment when she was sleeping. She was still on his lap when she awoke. Sango and Miroku were stretching, Shippo was eating a fish that Miroku helped him catch earlier. Sesshomaru was staring concernedly at Kagome, never removing his eyes from her. Kirara, was at Sango's side as always. It seemed calm, but they all knew what was missing. Inuyasha.

"Kagome. We must fight. Today, we will attack." Sesshomaru explained. "We must, this has dragged on far too long."

"That is fine." Kagome agreed, sorrow still in her tone.

"Yes, for Inuyasha and Kikyo." Miroku piped in, before trying to get a feel of Sango's butt, followed by a hand to the face.

"This isn't the time." Sango roared.

"I know, I know. I couldn't resist." Miroku sighed, rubbing his cheek which now was red with a hand mark. He then looked up to Sesshomaru who was still by Kagome.

"When are we leaving?" he asked.

"Soon enough. Once you are all ready." Sesshomaru told him, caressing Kagome's cheek as he spoke. He didn't want anything to happen to her, much less, he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"I'm ready." Kagome stated, getting off of Sesshomaru's lap. "Let's get this over with." she looked at each of her friends, and they all nodded in response. Kagome grabbed the katana used to slay Inuyasha and Kikyo, and sighed in pain. She attached the hilt to her side, and nodded to her friends.

"Shall we?" Miroku asked.

"Yes." Sango and Kagome said at once, ready to leave. Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome's hand, and squeezed it lightly.

"Hm?" Kagome looked up at him.

"I will not allow you out of my sight. Or to be harmed." he told her, certain he was able to protect her at all costs. His heart lifted when Kagome flashed a smile at him, and squeezed his hand lightly. She pulled him along until he too began walking, Sango and others following along with them. They walked for around ten minutes, until they came to a stop. A few demons attacked them, but they were lesser so Sesshomaru had no issue ridding themselves of them. As they continued to walk, Kagome began to hum very quietly, still holding onto Sesshomaru's hand. Kagome was happy with her new sense of hearing, she was also more graceful and fast. It was easier to catch up, but it still made her slightly sad to know it was all the results of Naraku's tainted jewel shards. Finally, Kagome came across the familiar field that allowed her through quite often, now that she had those tainted shards.

"It's…" Kagome stopped, hand still in Sesshomaru's.

"Hn?" Sesshomaru looked down at her.

"The…castle. It's the barrier to the castle." She sighed. "It allows me through, so let's go." she took a deep breath, and grabbed her friends hands; going into the barrier in a chain-like form. Once they were in, Sesshomaru immediately smelled Naraku.

"He's near. He's even drawing closer." Sesshomaru hissed, squeezing Kagome's hand tightly, but just light enough for her not to flinch.

"Kagome. Are you ready." he asked.

"Yes. I am. Sango, Miroku, Shippo?" Kagome turned.

"We're ready anytime you are." They all responded at once, bracing themselves for what was about to happen here. A massive battle was going to occur, and they knew it. Sesshomaru wanted revenge, and so did the others.

"Greetings. Oh Kagome have you come back to me, my dearest miko." Naraku laughed in a velvety tone. His expression was only of sheer pleasure.

"You will not be touching her, you are filth." Sesshomaru growled, standing in front of Kagome, still holding her hand.

"Oh how cute, it almost sickens me. Prepare for your funerals." Naraku chuckled, raising into the air and preparing to attack Sesshomaru, of course he was secretly going to aim for Kagome. Within a second, he launched his attack.

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Woo, 6 pages. My gosh.

Reviews please! We're almost done!