Freak Attraction
Chapter 10: The Show-Stopper
Kagome awoke with a start, rubbing her eyes and looking around to try and find what had woken her. She had only meant to doze and couldn't be sure how long she'd been asleep, but from the light she could glimpse peaking under the tent flaps, she knew it must be just after dawn. She could make out the sleeping form of Sango across the room on a bed similar to hers, and not far on the floor of the tent was Miroku on a moth-eaten bedroll. Kirara slept between them in her transformed state, with Shippo nestled against her warm fur. At the way they were all huddled together and the feel of extra weight against Kagome's back, she guessed the circus performers had given her their extra blankets, and her heart warmed at the thought.
A sudden pulse of energy swept through her, and Kagome startled, realizing the pulse was what awoke her originally. The feeling was familiar… like the barriers she had learned to make, and her curiosity got the better of her. She lifted herself with a wince and sat up, stopping and waiting to see if her movement had alerted anyone else – no one moved. Gingerly she set her feet on the dusty floor and slowly shifted her weight onto them, testing the strength of her ankle. Deciding she could take the pressure for now, Kagome slipped off of the bed and shuffled softly towards the tent entrance, her injured foot making the faintest of scrapes against the grit.
A rolling purr froze her in place, and she glanced across the room to see Kirara watching her with half-lidded eyes. She held the fire-cat's gaze for a moment, silently pleading for Kirara not to wake the others, but the cat made no other move but to blink slowly and purr more softly. Kagome smiled, nodding at their unspoken agreement and ducked through the opening, happy to know she wouldn't be interrupted.
The moment she stepped outside she felt another pulse of energy, and after a moment to catch her bearings, realized it was coming from the direction of Inuyasha's cage. Her heart raced as her mind conjured all sorts of dark scenarios – had something happened to him? Moving forward as quickly as she could despite the pain and aching in her body, Kagome followed her senses to the source of the pulsing and the center of a strong demonic aura.
Kagome shivered as she finally approached the cluster of crates and boxes surrounding Inuyasha's cage; the frigid air of night was lingering in the early morning, chilling the sweat that had beaded on Kagome's skin from the strain on her ankle. The light linen shirt Sango had given her to wear was no protection at all against the cold, but she had no other choice but to endure it. She couldn't very well ask her friend for a warmer coat when she wasn't even supposed to be outside.
Rounding a corner, Kagome finally saw her caged friend, and her jaw dropped at the sight of him. The chains holding his shackles to the floor had been ripped up and were dangling and scraping against the floor as he reached carefully through the bars towards the ground. The pulses of energy she had felt earlier occurred each time his skin came into contact with the metal, and though he drew a hissing breath each time, he was undeterred. With each brush against the barrier a red welt appeared on his skin, only to disappear within seconds as his body healed itself, but she could tell the pain was taking its toll from the sweat running down his brow.
"Inuyasha, stop! What are you doing?" She took a few halting steps toward him, and his head shot up to face her, his red eyes surprised. 'He must have been so deep in concentration that he missed my scent.' Immediately he went on the defensive, curling back inside his cage and snarling at her, but she was unfazed. "Why are you hurting yourself?" Her soft, concerned voice took away some of the ferocity in his gaze, but he didn't look at her with any sort of recognition. Kagome sighed wearily, thinking sadly 'Guess we're back to square one.'
Her halting steps as she approached the cage had the same effect as last time: Inuyasha waited patiently, sizing her up, not seeing a threat. As she got closer to him she glanced down at the ground, wondering what had spurred his strange behavior, and her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of a red ribbon pooled in the dead grass. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees to pick it up, never noticing how close she was now to the angry demon. Examining the strip of fabric, she noticed that despite a dusting of dirt it was still relatively clean. There were a few snags and pulls in the weave, no doubt from Inuyasha's unruly claws, and she smiled to think that he must have been holding it for quite a while.
She was still smiling as she looked up towards the cage, but the smile vanished with a gasp and her eyes flew wide as she saw his red and blue eyes peering down at her from right up against the bars. He was sniffing intently, and with a grunt he lifted his arm, reaching slowly through the bars toward her. She sat still as stone, holding her breath as she waited to see what he'd do. No doubt he'd smelt the blood from the cuts on her back, but he wasn't reacting as Sango had feared he would, and that put Kagome at ease. She was slightly concerned by her own lack of fear, and she couldn't help pondering when she had come to trust this half-man so deeply. He could easily reach her at this point, whether to claw her to death or suffocate her, but she knew he wouldn't.
His arm paused just shy of her, his palm open and inviting, and with a start she realized what he wanted – the ribbon! She was only too glad to hand it to him, hoping the gesture meant some of his old-self was surfacing. Just as she was about to place it in his hand however he moved, and she gasped loudly as his long fingers suddenly wrapped around her wrist. Her eyes shot up to meet his, the fiery red and cool blue revealing nothing, but she didn't look away. Inuyasha gently tugged on her arm, and she wordlessly followed, allowing him to ever so slowly pull her hand through the bars and into the cage. With her other hand she grasped the metal, her breathing shaky as she stared into his hypnotic eyes. Her whole arm was in the cage before he finally looked away, gazing at the ribbon she still held before leaning in to take a long whiff. Her heartbeat sped up and her breath caught as she felt his nose, cold and wet like a dogs, gently bumping against her fingers as he sniffed her too.
"Inuyasha…" It was barely more than a whisper, but suddenly his eyes turned to hers again, his irises bright gold instead of teal. "Oh Inuyasha!" she exclaimed dropping the ribbon to lay her palm against the purple stripe adorning his cheek, "You do still remember me!" His eyes closed as he turned slightly to nuzzle into her hand, and Kagome couldn't help but laugh happily as she reached in with her other hand to brush through his matted hair, quickly finding his ear and rubbing it. A rumbling growl followed the action as he pushed his head further against her fingers, and she smiled as a wave of nostalgia swept over her. "Isn't this familiar Inuyasha?" She said softly, "It's just like when we first met, and I found you in a cage. I rubbed your ears then too." Her tone turned morose as his eyes opened to reveal blue and red once again. He may have remembered her, but his reactions to her were more like a house dog greeting its master than a man. "I suppose just remembering isn't enough… what's it going to take to bring you back to me?" He stared at her through the bars, unable to respond, and she sighed heavily, her heart weighed down. "I'll find a way… just hang in there. I'll save you again."
She stayed for a few more minutes, softly petting his ears and gazing into his demon eyes, but as the sun crested the hills she knew it was time to go. Her hands slipped from his hair as she took a step back, and as though he'd been woken from a dream Inuyasha lunged forward, reaching through the bars for her and snarling as the barrier propelled him backwards. His head hung low for a moment as he caught his breath, and when he raised his eyes to hers his pitiful expression made her pause. His ears drooped into his hair as a distinctly canine whine escaped his throat, and it took all of Kagome's will not to rush back to his side.
"I'll be back" she urged, holding her arms around her for warmth – she had forgotten how cold it was. She had felt so warm only moments ago. "Please, be patient. I'll come back as soon as I can." He didn't look anymore mollified though, and she wondered if he could even understand her. In all the time she'd been visiting his cage, he'd never once spoken. Her heart ached to think he might never speak again.
Before she could be taken in by his downtrodden eyes she turned the corner around the boxes, willing her ankle to hold out until she could make it back to Sango's tent. As she cleared the storage boxes, she passed by the black exterior of the circus tent, and her shuffling walk sped up. There was a strange ringing in her ear, and she tried to ignore it, but it persisted and steadily became worse. It was no longer just a tuneless hum, but the soft humming of a voice to music. She cursed her injured foot and hurried away as fast as she could; perhaps if she got away from the circus tent, it would stop. Her ankle was burning and shooting pain up her leg, and before she could clear the structure she found herself suddenly unable to move.
Her brow furrowed in confusion, and she tried again to move her limbs only to be met with resistance. It wasn't until she noticed a white glint out of the corner of her eye that she began to worry; a woman's voice sang in her head "Kagome, Kagome" and then she heard the Ringmaster's chuckle.
"Now, what have I caught in my web?"
At her panicked jerking against the demon spider webs, Naraku's voice took on a falsely concerned tone as he said "You shouldn't be out here in your condition priestess. You certainly shouldn't struggle like that. It'd be better if you just stayed still."
Kagome cried out as her body was suddenly squeezed in a vice-like grip, more spider-webs wrapping around her to keep her immobile. The cuts along her back and arms stung at the pressure, and from the conflicting warmth and chills she was experiencing along her skin, she guessed the old wounds were bleeding again.
"Such a shame that you force me to take such measures" he said in a low voice uncomfortably close to her ear, "if only you were more cooperative, I might have let you live a little longer."
Though her body was stuck, she was still able to move her head, and turned a fearsome glare at the Ringmaster who stood close beside her. "If you wanted me dead, you would have killed me already."
Naraku only laughed at her show of bravery, stepping forward to face her as he said "How clever of you to notice. But you're missing the point – I only need you alive for a little while longer. How long that is depends on whether or not you cooperate. Now… where did you run off to so early in the day?"
Kagome's glare deepened, but she didn't say a word. She knew the wretched man was well aware of where she had spent her morning… and with whom. His grin was full of scorn and malice as he goaded "You really think you can save him, don't you? Pathetic fool. You've been lucky – he may find your scent appealing, but I'm sure he'd like your taste better. You haven't seen him in the arena."
Kagome flinched, but didn't respond. He was baiting her, and she knew it.
"He's merciless" Naraku stated, beginning to circle. Kagome wondered how he managed such free movement with spider webs now surrounding them both. "It's sad really, how soon the matches are over. I have to create several incarnations a night to ensure the performance lasts long enough to please the crowds." Kagome shut her eyes to block out the view of his sinister red eyes watching her face, but she couldn't block out his voice. "He goes right for the throat with most of them, but some of them he takes longer… lets the suffering linger. I think he enjoys those most." She could hear the Ringmaster chuckling, and her aura crackled in anger around her. "Most of the time however he just can't help himself – he craves blood. He's never sated." He trailed off, and suddenly she could feel him beside her as he breathed out next to her ear "He's a monster."
Kagome's aura exploded, disintegrating the webs holding her back and creating a shockwave of dirt and debris. Naraku stood beside her, smirking, a purple barrier surrounding him protectively. Her chest was heaving as she fought off her exhaustion, but her eyes held fire as she yelled hoarsely "Don't you DARE call him a monster!"
His smirk fell sharply, and his expression turned to annoyance as he spat out "He's a demon, Priestess, or had you forgotten?" Naraku turned abruptly and began to walk away, saying scornfully over his shoulder "You'll have your reminder soon enough. Until then, sleep well Little Bird, and hope that I don't have need of you soon."
"Wait! Just what… do you…." Her face tensed as her body faltered, and she stumbled as she tried to follow after him. Her head swam, and suddenly she was on the ground, too fatigued even to feel the pain of impact. Her vision grew fuzzy, but she thought she saw a little cream and black cat bounding towards her before her world went dark.
The days that followed her encounter with the Ringmaster were slow and dismal. She had not been required to perform since the crows, allowing time for her wounds to heal and broken ankle to repair, but instead of feeling relieved Kagome felt even more on edge. She knew Naraku wasn't actually concerned about her well-being, and she found her hours bed-ridden in her friend's tent filled with theorizing over what he could possibly have in store for her. None of her ideas were encouraging.
Sometimes Shippo would keep her company, or Sango, and even Miroku would sit with her from time to time and they would discuss deep, philosophical subjects. But her friends were often busy and sometimes purposefully kept away, always leaving Kirara to stand guard over her, and so her mind had ample time to fill with distressing worries and tender thoughts of home. They were painful topics to dwell on, but they were distracting, and that was what Kagome wanted. Anything was better than thinking about Inuyasha.
After she had returned to the tent that morning, slung unconscious over Kirara's back and covered in blood from her reopened wounds, she hadn't been allowed out again. Sango had expressly forbidden it, and the others had agreed that for now it would be for the best. Kagome understood their reasons – Sango worried over her like a sister, and Shippo and Miroku cared for her as well. Even Kirara and Hachi looked out for her, and she was grateful to all of them for their kindness.
And truth be told, Kagome had begun to worry herself. Had she pushed her luck too far with that last visit? Would Naraku have left her alone if she hadn't gone to see Inuyasha so soon? …Was Inuyasha now paying the price for her disobedience? She had forgotten for a moment that the Ringmaster held the half-demon's fate in the palm of his hand, and Kagome would never forgive herself if he died because of her stubbornness.
She missed him though. She missed him badly. She'd only known him for little over a month, but during that time she'd shared everything with him, and felt like she'd come to know him better than she knew anyone. Every time she thought about him, the emptiness she felt at not having him near was almost tangible. She wanted to be beside him, and have him beside her. She could still remember his words from the night they were trapped by Takemaru – the night of the New Moon, and they haunted her. "I would have been happy to wander with you forever", he had said. Sometimes, when there was nothing else to think about and she couldn't keep the thoughts back any longer, she let herself dream of what that might have been like.
"Can you walk?" Kagome was used to Kagura's curt tones, though she noticed the woman's expression looked a bit grimmer than normal that evening.
A whole week of recovering had passed before Kagura finally came to get her. It was already night and the show had started, and although she hadn't practiced or been given warning, Kagome wasn't surprised.
"No better than usual" Kagome muttered, lifting herself off of her sleeping mat and onto her feet. After a week the scratches and cuts had healed, but her ankle hadn't been faring well. Sango and Miroku had set it as best they could, but they had gotten to it too late, and it didn't quite move like it used to. She guessed it probably never would.
"Wear this" Kagura said, holding out a black Happi Coat with the circus insignia embroidered in cheap thread. Kagome scrunched her nose at the smell of demons and blood; no doubt Naraku had prepared it special just to torment her. There was no use fighting it though, and in the bitter cold of the winter night, she would take whatever cover she could get. Slipping the coat on over her old white blouse, Kagome followed Kagura out of the tent and into the frigid night air. She wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered not only from the temperature but from a sudden fear; there was something in Kagura's silence and the impromptu nature of the performance that set her on edge, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking towards her own death.
The demon crowd was still cheering and roaring as the two women approached the tent, and they stopped just outside, waiting for the previous act to clear. Pulling a short length of rope from her belt, Kagura bound the girl's wrists lightly – it was just for show, and Kagome was used to it, but something in Kagura's manner made it seem unusual. The Wind Demon turned suddenly to Kagome, her lips pursed and eyes narrowed in a look that bordered on pity. "I would wish you luck out there" Kagura began, and Kagome could only stare blankly at the sentiment "but you're gonna need a miracle." With that she grabbed Kagome's bound wrists and dragged her through the tent opening and into the bright glow of the gas-fires.
"Here she is, our grand finale this evening: The Captured Priestess!" Gatenmaru's excited narration swept through the arena, and Kagome craned her neck to glare up at him, hiding amongst the tent supports. 'I wouldn't mind facing him in the arena someday' she thought sourly, as he continued his announcing. "After a close call with some demon crows, the little caged bird has finally recovered! But will she recover from her next opponent? Will she even make it out alive?!"
The crowd erupted in shouts of excitement, evidently knowing something Kagome didn't. Once they reached the center of the ring, Kagura unbound the ropes, her hard gaze unreadable as she hurried away. Kagome's anxiousness increased, and suddenly she felt very vulnerable, despite her powers. She was in perfect range to hear Gatenmaru's quips, and she fought the urge to cover her ears. "Don't forget to place your bets! How long will she last against the monster? Will he go for the throat? Or maybe he'll rip out her pretty heart and eat it! Rumor has it he hasn't had a decent meal all week, and that just might hit the spot!" From the ruckus the demon circus-goers were making, it seemed to Kagome that they would likely kill her before her opponent ever arrived. Just what was she facing tonight?
As she stood in the center of the dirt floor, she began to feel a new aura brushing up against her spiritual energy, different from the hundreds of auras of the crowd. She couldn't decipher what it was but didn't have long to wait, for soon snarling met her ears as a cage on rusty wheels was rolled in behind her. Kagome felt her heart stop, and she didn't know what to feel. Dread, probably. If he was anything like Naraku had said he was during acts, she would be dead in minutes. But despite the Ringmaster's taunts, all she could really feel was relief. 'He's here….'
"Demons, it's the act you've been waiting for: The Halfbreed!"
Kagome turned just in time to see the barrier expand out from his cage, and then the metal burst, flying in all directions as he broke free. Her barrier was already up to protect from the iron shrapnel, and it turned out to be just in time, as Inuyasha collided with her barrier from above in a brilliant array of sparks. He jumped back into the dirt, and Kagome barely caught a glimpse of his bared fangs and bright red eyes before he charged her again. Her barrier shuddered with the impact of his claws, but she willed it stronger, determined to stay alive. He was almost too fast, but she was honed in on his aura, pivoting to and fro to keep up with him, always maintaining a view of his face.
With every attack she caught sight of the feral look on his face, the expression chipping away at her willpower. There was nothing left of the gentle demon who had let her scratch his ears only a week ago. Perhaps it had been too long… perhaps his demon blood had grown stronger in her absence, and had finally taken over his heart. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she courageously held them in. She knew she should have gone to see him, and now it was too late. She couldn't change the past.
Clearing her mind, Kagome concentrated on her barrier. As long as she focused her energy here, perhaps he would wear out, or maybe she'd get lucky and the demons would get bored and call it a draw. At any rate, she wouldn't waste energy firing at him. Hurting him was out of the question.
This wasn't his fault.
But what could she do? Her last performance she had stumbled upon a new use for her powers by shooting through the bars without damaging them to hit her real target. What good would it do her here though? Her only target was Inuyasha, and there was nothing through or around or behind him that would win her the fight, were she to hit it. No… a barrier was her only weapon, and she'd just have to remain strong.
Focusing on her pure energy, she was startled when a dark presence began to seep into her mind like ink; there was a new aura in the arena, and it made the hair on the back of her neck stand. Keeping half her attention on the barrier, she searched for the source of the dark feeling, afraid that her captors were growing bored and had decided to sick a new opponent on her. When she found the source however, her mood turned to frustration.
Through her powers she could see Ringmaster Naraku hiding in the shadows on the beams at the roof of the tent, his baboon-mask covering his face. She glowered at him, her attention turning away from her demon attacker, when suddenly an idea struck her. Inuyasha wasn't her target, but maybe the Ringmaster could be! If she were able to destroy him, she'd no longer have to worry about him harming Inuyasha. They could escape! There was no guarantee that destroying Naraku would bring her half-demon back to himself, but it was worth trying! The barrier shuddered around her as Inuyasha lunged again, and her resolve became set.
Barrier shaky but still holding, she turned and raised her hands to the man in the fur pelt, her burst of spiritual power sailing through the protective enchantment without a hitch and exploding around the Ringmaster. She waited with bated breath to see if she had hit him, but as the dust cleared her stomach dropped to see that purple barrier surrounding the man once again.
The demon spectators roared, happy to finally see a bit of action, and Kagome winced at the noise they made. But all thoughts of their clatter washed from her head as a voice she hated rang in her mind. "Nice try, Little Bird." She glanced over her shoulder to see if the Ringmaster was behind her or even above the ring still, but he was nowhere to be seen. His voice sounded again in her ear though, leaving her no time to worry over how it was there. "You've held up longer than expected, but the crowd is growing bored, and frankly, so am I." His tone became mocking as he continued "I warned you before, didn't I? About what would happen if you crossed me? I've reunited you with your beloved mutt, just like I said I would. And now I'll let him rip out your beating heart."
A shudder went through Kagome, and she fell to her knees as dizziness swept over her. She heard Naraku laughing inside her mind as he said with one final taunt "I'll just take what I need, and leave the scraps to the dog."
As suddenly as it had appeared, her dizzy-spell vanished, and she managed to make it to her feet just as Inuyasha leapt into the air for another attack. She held her hands before her to will another barrier… but nothing happened. Her heart caught in her throat as the dog-demon came down on her, and in her shock she fell backwards, his deadly claws missing her chest by inches, her heart beating frantically at its near save. His talons caught her leg in his downward stroke though, and she screamed as they ripped through her green hakama and tore into her skin. She couldn't tell how deep the wounds were, but the searing pain was promptly cutting off all other thought. With what little presence of mind she had left, she willed all of her energy into creating a barrier… and again nothing formed. The usual surge of spiritual power was gone completely, as if her powers had never been there at all. Did… did Naraku take them? Was that what he had meant? How… how was he able to do that? And why would he do it now?
In her musings, her attention was drawn away from the dog-man, and as such she didn't notice him pause. He had stalked away with a smirk after finally injuring his prey, and had knelt in the dirt preparing to spring again. But something stopped him. If Kagome had had strength to look, she would have seen him pause and lift a hand to his face. Her blood clung to his claws, and he took a deep whiff, testing the taste of it with his tongue. If she had looked a moment sooner she would have seen his red eyes flash to fire-light yellow, but she looked too late. All she could see as he came at her, crawling swiftly on all fours, was his angry red eyes and snarling face.
Kagome wasn't naturally one to despair. She had had more moments of pain and suffering and anguish in the past month than she'd had through the whole rest of her life, but through it all she had held onto a glimmer of hope. Things would turn out. It would be alright in the end. Inuyasha was with her. She'd be safe with him around. Yet as she watched him approach, she felt her last flame of hope go out as the source of that flame, the one who swore to protect her, came closer with murder in his eyes. Her own eyes closed as hot tears made their way down her cheeks, the fight gone from her as she waited for death at the hands of the man she'd grown to love.
Time seemed to stop as Kagome braced herself for his claws… but as the moments stretched on and nothing happened, she opened her eyes in confusion. Lifting herself slightly onto her elbows, Kagome looked to her feet where Inuyasha sat crouched. His expression looked pained, and there was something insistent in his growls. Kagome heard him sniff the air, his face contorting at the scents he took in, and she held her breath. Perhaps it wasn't too late to hope after all….
He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, his hands gripping the dirt, his stance an odd mix of coiling to spring and self-restraint. His bare chest and arms were caked with sweat and dust from the ring, but she could still see his muscles flexing underneath, tensing with each move. What was holding him back?
With a burst of courage Kagome sat up, leaning forward as far as he stinging, bloodied leg would allow. Inuyasha snarled at her, but still refused to move. It was as if he were torn between two desires, and Kagome couldn't be sure what those desires were. His eyes were wide and wild, his fangs bared and nostrils flaring, but despite his predatory actions, he looked almost… confused. Kagome found herself wishing for a way to snap him out of it, as she'd done when he smelled her hand, and then as if a switch was flipped, Kagome understood.
She wasted no time in ridding herself of the black circus coat, tossing it and its stench of demon blood as far away as she could before stretching her hands out to Inuyasha in a peaceful gesture. "Here – smell me. I'm not a demon." Demon-Inuyasha took a quick whiff of the air, and suddenly he was advancing on her on his hands and feet, sniffing as he went. He lingered at her bloody leg before continuing upward, and Kagome felt herself falling backwards in instinctive nervousness at the proximity of his lethal claws and teeth. Before she knew it she was flat in the dirt, Inuyasha's bulk hovering over her as he crouched. Still continuing his investigation, he dipped his head to her chest, his nose lingering where her sweat collected between her breasts. Kagome felt her face heat, but stayed as neutral as possible while his cold nose traveled up her neck. Suddenly his face was above hers, his bright eyes staring down into her darker ones, and Kagome smiled. His irises were gold.
"Inuyasha" she whispered, and his movement stalled. He was breathing hard, and Kagome could tell that he was struggling for control. Her eagerness to get him back brought his words to mind; words she'd been cherishing when it seemed there was nothing left to hope for. "Inuyasha, do you remember what you said?" Hesitantly, Kagome lifted her hand and let it brush the half-demon's arm. As his only response was a slight shudder, she let her hand continue further up. "Remember on the night of the New Moon, when you said you wanted to stay with me?" Laying her hand against his feverish cheek, she lightly brushed his demon markings and brushing away some dirt as she continued "I meant what I said then. I want to stay with you too. No matter what. Even if you were to never come back… even if all I ever saw were glimpses of the real you, that would be worth it… because you're worth it."
He hadn't made any other moves, but his eyes were so focused that she was sure he understood her; and the thought gave her courage. "You're not a freak, you're not a monster; you're something special. Your mother thought so when she gave up everything to have you. Kikyo thought so when she offered you safety in her village. And… I thought so when I first decided to set you free." Her other hand came up to rest on the opposite cheek, and as she looked into his pained eyes, her own gaze filled with fire. "I won't lose you now. I know you're in there. I know you're fighting this… and I know you can win."
His golden eyes trimmed with red grew wide, and he growled loudly. His frame shook and he opened his mouth, and it only took Kagome a moment to realize that his ragged breaths were attempts to form words. "K…..K…." His eyes were like fire as he gazed down at her with a softer expression than she'd seen in weeks as he finally managed to croak "K-Kagome". Her heart threatened to beat right out of her chest as relief and love like she'd never known washed over her, and she couldn't think of words to respond. She quickly decided she didn't need them anyways.
Gripping his face, she pulled him down to meet her lips, her eyes closing in bliss as she kissed him for the first time. He was still growling softly, but at the pressure he was putting against her mouth, she knew better than to worry. Inuyasha was strong; he had fought his way back, and he wouldn't lose control now. Tilting his head slightly to better reach his lips, Kagome smiled into the kiss as she felt his wet nose against her cheek and tasted the salt of grit and sweat clinging to his skin. It was nowhere close to what she'd pictured a first kiss would be, pinned as she was with dirt at her back and blood soaking her leg, but as Inuyasha's hands gripped her shoulders and he returned her kiss with force, she couldn't be bothered to care.
The world around her had ceased to exist the moment he'd said her name, but reality came crashing down on her in a wave as a rumbling over the ground and a deafening clamor in her ears reminded her that she was still in the middle of an arena at a demon circus. As if suddenly aware of his surroundings as well, Inuyasha pulled away from her lips, letting go of her arms and leaning back on his haunches. Kagome's eyes opened to see Inuyasha's old smirk, his eyes white and amber as they were supposed to be, his cheeks free of markings. His name left her throat in a breath, and he smiled as he responded "Kagom-" but her name left off in a choke as suddenly he was gone.
Kagome blinked at the sudden loss of his weight, and looked up just in time to see as he was pulled sharply up to the rafters by thick spider webs wound about his torso. Before she could even think to react she found herself being dragged away through the dirt, webs suddenly wrapped around her arms as well. Her horrified eyes caught one final glimpse of Inuyasha being hung upside down and wrapped in a cocoon from head to foot before she was dragged out of the tent and into the night.
Shippo shook atop Miroku's shoulder, his tail wrapped around his face as if to hide from the world around him. He held in his tears bravely, but inside he was falling apart. At the announcement of what the Priestess would be facing that night, Miroku had whisked Shippo away the moment their own act was done, confining him to their tent. Sango and Kirara stayed behind to watch and wait, ready to swoop in and save their new friend if needed. They sent Shippo away in case they weren't able to.
Miroku tensed as he heard the little fox sniffling, and with a sigh the monk opened his eyes, deciding meditation wasn't going to do the trick. Reaching carefully for the whimpering kit, Miroku plucked him from his shoulder and held him to his chest. Shippo quickly latched on to the purple fabric of Miroku's robes, burying his face against his friend and trying to be strong. Kagome had told him before that Inuyasha had recognized her and stopped himself from injuring her, but what if this time he didn't stop? What if he hurt her before he realized who she was? And what if she was forced to hurt him?
Shippo had been alone for so long, and it seemed a cruel fate to suddenly have the family members he'd only just gained ripped away from him in such a painful way. At least he had Sango and Miroku, but for how long? How long would it be before either of them fell prey to the Ringmaster's tricks, or were finally attacked by man-eating demons? Would he be trapped here for the rest of his life, like Inuyasha?
He shivered again and Miroku tightened his hold, but the sound of running footsteps from outside broke the quiet as they looked up to see Sango burst through the tent flaps, the unconscious form of Kohaku cradled in her arms. Miroku jumped to his feet, Shippo scrambling back to his shoulder as they went to the demon tamer currently catching her breath. "Sango! What happened? How did you get Kohaku?"
Hurrying to one of the bed rolls, Sango gently set her brother down, wiping sweat from her forehead as she gasped out 'K-Kagura! She… she brought him to me!"
"What?!" Miroku's mouth hung open in shock. He knew Kagura had purposefully left the keys to Kagome's cage where Sango would find them, but they had both assumed it was by Naraku's orders since he seemed to be aware of their activities. But Naraku never would have allowed Kohaku to be returned to Sango in one piece; he was collateral. Now… now they could escape. But first "what… what happened to Kagome?" Sango's bright eyes met his, a look of surprise evident on her features, but from what, he wasn't sure. "Is… is she…."
"She's alive" Sango said, the evenness in her voice returning. "But… Naraku's got her."
Shippo gasped, and Miroku's expression went grim. "We've got to find her then, and save her. Then we'll get out of this place for good."
Sango nodded, a small smile on her lips, but after a pause she stood quietly and said "There's one more thing though…."
Before Miroku could question her further, the transformed Kirara entered the tent with Inuyasha sprawled unconscious across her back and trailing spider webs, his claws still flaked with blood but his face devoid of demon markings.
Kagome struggled against the webs pulling her away, but it was no use as she was dragged through the empty alleys of the circus. Dirt and rocks grated painfully against her back, tearing at her blouse, and she grit her teeth against the pain, knowing it would eventually come to an end.
Energy pulsed around her and she realized she had been dragged outside the barrier of the circus, and although it was dark, the addition of roots and pinecones under her back told her she was inside the forest. Her eyes went wide, wondering why she'd been taken here, so far away from everyone, when suddenly she found herself hoisted up against a tree, the webs sticking her securely to its bark.
The forest which had been pitch-black around her suddenly lit up in eerie purple as the Ringmaster approached, his baboon hood off his face and red eyes shining maliciously. "You never cease to cause trouble, do you?" He approached her, looking her over carefully, sizing her up. "I thought you were weak, but I suppose that was a hasty assumption. Your powers have grown substantially these past few weeks." He smirked, and Kagome forced herself to glare, despite numbness setting into her body from the pain and cold. "I thought your powers alone would be enough for the ceremony, but I was mistaken. I'm lucky you seduced the halfbreed into letting you live – otherwise, where would I be now?"
His tone was without sympathy or remorse, and Kagome struggled to figure out what it was he wanted of her. He had captured her, forced her to fight, pushed her to her limits, and then taken away the power he had been making her develop! And now he was saying he was glad she had lived when he himself had set the board for her to be killed? In desperation she struggled to speak as the webs squeezed her lungs, wheezing out "Why… why'd you do it?"
He didn't answer her at first, staring at her with his eyes dark like dried blood, and then with a smirk, he removed his baboon-fur cloak. A disgusted, horrified gasp caught in Kagome's throat as she saw that the inside of the pelt was lined with bones, sewn into the fabric in the pattern of a human skeleton. He held it up before her, looking down on it proudly as he said in a deep voice "Impressive, isn't it? It's taken me so long to gather all of these, but at last I finally have them all." He looked back at her in amusement, continuing "Here I'd thought spiritual energy would be enough to unleash the true power in these bones, but after so many monks and priests and priestesses failed to measure up, I figured it would take more than just average abilities. When I felt your power, I knew you were more than a mere priestess – these bones sang to me when the reincarnation of their former being was finally so close."
Kagome was silent, her mind working overtime as she finally realized just whose bones those were, the pieces of the puzzle fitting together in her head.
"Again I thought that mere spiritual power would be enough to awaken her; a mistake which almost cost me all my hard work." Kagome fumed to hear this man speak so casually of his grave robbery and multitude of heinous acts, but her focus shifted as he unexpectedly stepped away. In the light put off by the barrier, Kagome could just make out a shallow ditch dug into the ground, just long enough and wide enough to fit a human. Naraku approached the impression and carelessly tossed the hooded cloak over it, the bones stitched into the white pelt looking for all the world like a grave dug up in the snow.
Kagome shook; at this rate, such a grave could be her own.
She heard Naraku speaking off to the side of her "These bones need their soul to live again, and lucky enough, you happen to have the very soul I need." Then, as if he'd heard her unspoken fears and chosen to grant the wish she didn't want, Kagome was ripped from the tree and thrown into the pit of fur and bones.
She struggled to get away, but suddenly the bones beneath and around her glowed brightly, and the chanting of "Kagome Kagome" was louder than it had ever been before. Kagome screamed as it drowned her mind; she felt as though with every verse she lost more control of her body, until she was helpless to do anything but watch as the bones glowed brighter and her eyes filled with light. Everything was so bright, and she wondered briefly if she would go blind. She could just make out the pink swirls of spiritual energy snaking into the air above her, coalescing into a shape… the shape of a human. The bleary outline of a woman took form, and although Kagome could make out the blackness of the woman's long hair and the red of her old-fashioned hakama, she could tell that this person was just an apparition. Unable to use her voice, Kagome called out to the woman in her mind, hoping their shared soul would carry her message.
'Kikyo… please… help me.'
The ghost had her back to her, but Kagome thought she saw the shadowy figure tense. Slowly Kikyo's ghost turned to look down at the helpless girl, and Kagome froze as her eyes met a face that, although sadder and more mature, so closely mirrored her own.
Their eyes locked, Kagome gazing hopefully at the woman's ghost, but Kikyo's expression only grew melancholy as she whispered to Kagome's mind 'I'm sorry' before the last bit of the living girl's soul slipped from her body.
*Author's Note:
Oh man was this fun to write. Which seems cruel cuz lots of bad stuff happens, but… meh, it was fun nonetheless.
There are probably like… two or three more chapters to go now. Cross your fingers that I get this finished before New Year's… or at least before the new semester starts. :P