Through Blood and Tears
Chapter 17: Life or Death
It was quiet. The dreaded echos from earlier had ceased, leaving silence to hang thick in the air. A single gun-shot and a scream ringed through the building before footsteps faded away. Anxious and concerned, Rin stood in the classroom with Sesshomaru and Hakkaku's injured form. She swallowed a lump in her throat, licking her dry lips in anticipation. Her eyes were glued to the closed door, her hands clasped together almost in prayer, and her heart pounded furiously in her chest.
Slams and thumps had been sounding through the school, causing her stomach to churn with nausea. But now the eerie stillness was much worse. Her ears rang and she could hear the air stir with each intake of breath. "Sesshomaru," she breathed, unable to form a complete sentence.
The dog demon seemed to glide across the floor and appeared beside her, his ears listening to the gasps and groans from the injured students. "Rin," he commanded in a hard tone, eyeing the girl. "Its safe."
She replied with a slight nod of her head before taking a glimpse at Hakkau. He had slipped into some sort of unconscious state, and although his pulse was faint, she was sure he would be alright for the time being. Taking a few steps forward, her hands shook with fear as she gripped the handle and slowly turned the knob, opening the door to reveal the dark passage beyond. Rin clenched her jaw and took a moment to get a hold of her emotions before making her way out into the hallway.
The dim emergency lights flickered overhead, some having gone out all together. Her anxiety dissipated as she felt Sesshomaru's presence behind her, giving her inner strength to continue in the direction her friends had taken off in. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air and she found dents in lockers as she proceeded through the darkness. A moan escaped from the right and she stopped. Her heart fluttered in her chest for a moment before she found courage and set her gaze on the body just beyond the next hallway.
Inuyasha was slumped against the wall, his arm bathed in blood as it covered his abdomen. The usual attentive white ears atop his head were drooped and his amber eyes were glazed over with pain. He coughed and spit up blood, moaning as he twisted his body the wrong way. Bones cracked and fell into place as he bit his lip, drawing crimson liquid as it trickled down his chin. "Damn it," he gasped, his breathing labored.
Rin stepped into the light, glancing over her injured friend. "Inuyasha?" she called hesitantly.
The half-demon's eyes startled and swiveled to stare at the petite girl before him. "Rin," he said softly, his voice almost relieved for her presence. "What are you doing here?"
"That's a silly question," she said calmly. She knelt down beside him and began assessing his wounds, trying to determine how serious they were. "Sesshomaru and I stayed back in the classroom. When it got quiet, I got worried." Her kind brown eyes found his and they seemed to plead for answers.
"Keh," he replied gruffly, leaning against the wall as he struggled to stand. "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."
The great dog demon stepped forward. "It seems as if you failed to kill him, little brother," he said.
A growl sounded from Inuyasha's throat. "Fuck off," he replied, stumbling forward. "I don't have time for you. I have to save Kagome." With a determined glint in his eye, he began walking in the direction the demon and Kagome had run off in.
"Inuyasha!" Rin yelled out, stopping him in his tracks. He turned around to face her. "Those are terrible wounds. You won't stand a chance. Let Sesshomaru go and protect Kagome."
"As if!" he spat, his face twisting into a look of disgust. "I would never put her in the hands of my brother. Ain't gonna happen!"
She sighed, knowing that there was no reasoning with him. "At least would you tell us what happened?"
He turned around once more, looking over his shoulder. "There isn't any time. Help the others. I have to save Kagome." With that, he ran off in a blur of silver.
"Hn," Sesshomaru grunted, watching his brother disappear around another corner. "Foolish half-breed."
Rin managed to locate the rest of her classmates and, with some desperate pleading, she convinced her demon companion to help her. They set about gathering the wounded and setting them along one wall. "Sango, Miroku," the small girl called, kneeling down to where her friends lay. "Wake up." She shook them gently, trying to pry them out of slumber.
"Oh," Miroku groaned, his hand wandering to the slender girl beside him. "Will you bear me a child, love?"
A smack resounded through the hallway, gaining an annoyed glance from Sesshomaru as he shifted Kouga's unconscious form into a sitting position. "You lecher!" Sango screamed, suddenly awake and glaring at the man who held her heart. Immediately following her blurted statement came a yelp as pain flooded into her muscles. She fell against the lockers, clutching her stomach and gasping for breath.
Miroku, noticing his girlfriend's injuries, became cautious of his own and moved to a more comfortable position. "Sango, are you alright?" he asked, cupping his palm against her cheek. She smiled in reassurance, but he did not miss the pain that passed through her eyes. He frowned.
"You've been out for a bit," Rin provided, knowing they were seeking answers. "I'm not sure exactly what happened, but Inuyasha ran off to save Kagome."
"That's right," Miroku replied gravely, glancing around the bloodied hallway and his injured friends. "We tried to fend off Kagome's father, but we were no match for a demon with such strength." His violet eyes stared at Rin for a moment, an unseen conversation passing through their gazes. "He was greatly injured when he took off, wasn't he?"
She nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. He told me to look after you guys. Do you think you'd be able to help me?"
"Of course," Sango said, grimacing in pain. "Me and Miroku will go get help. You stay here and tend to the wounded."
Miroku helped her stand, slinging her arm over his shoulder. "But who will stay with Rin while we're gone?"
A soft smile blessed Rin's lips. "Sesshy will stay. He can help." The stotic demon lord seemed to eye her a moment at the nickname, but he paid it no heed, rather he decided to let it pass for the time being. After all, even he knew there was a time and place.
Miroku picked up the flashlight that had fallen out of his grasp during the battle and placed it in her hands. "Be safe," he cautioned. She nodded and watched as the couple shuffled by.
"Sesshomaru," Sango said as they passed him. "You better not let anything happen to her, or I will personally see to your death." Her glare did little to stir him, but he raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Is that a threat?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, that's a promise." Before any more words could be exchanged between them, Miroku led his injured girlfriend away, taking out his cellphone in the process. Although they could get no service in the building, they might have some luck outside. Stealing a final glance over his shoulder at the group of classmates, he hoped they would all pull through, knowing some would have to receive miracles in order for that to happen. He sighed and continued to drag them towards the dull exit sign.
Rin turned away from Miroku and Sango's retreating figures and back to the mess at hand. They had managed to seat Kouga against the wall alongside Ayame, who was passed out when they arrived. Naraku was nowhere in sight and the only remaining figures were Kikyo and Kagura's bodies. Rin knelt beside them and, with a closer look, she realized the two were dead. "Kagura?" she whispered, hoping to bring her back from the darkness of death. Tears stung her eyes and slipped through her crescent-moon eyelashes. Using the back of her hand, she brush away the tears, knowing she had to stay strong for her friends' sakes.
A ragged cough sounded beside her and she whipped her head in that direction. Kikyo's body shook with the involuntary muscles spasms as her lungs gasped for breath. "Kikyo?" she called, hope lacing her tone.
"Rin?" she asked, her eyes searching her dulled vision.
"Yeah, I'm right here," she replied, taking the girl's hand in her own. Kikyo's palm was cold as ice, evident from the close proximity she was to death. "You're going to be fine." Her words were a lie, she was sure, but she had to do something to bring hope amongst them.
Kikyo swallowed, her throat dry and aching. "I'm ... so-sorry ... " she said, her voice cracking. "I did ... didn't mean to .... get us de-deten-tion." She smiled weakly, sweat dripping down her forehead and coating her skin.
"Don't be silly," Rin assured, returning the smile. "We all got ourselves in trouble. Maybe if we had all grown up sooner, this would have never happened."
The dying girl beside her attempted to laugh, but only managed to choke instead. "Yeah, well I guess f-fate had something else in ... store for us." A gasp escaped her lips just then, her body convulsing into a fit of coughs. She wheezed as it subsided, setting her arm on the hole in her stomach. "I j-just wish I had m-more time."
Rin's eyes hardened. "Don't you speak like that, Kikyo. You're going to pull through, I just know it." Her grip tightened around her patient's hand. "You stay with me, Kikyo. Do you hear me? You keep breathing!"
Her shouts were unheard because although Kikyo could see her lips moving and feel her hand around her own, the words were muffled. "Okay ... " she finally responded, her eyes drooping. "Okay ... "
Inuyasha barreled out of the school, dashing through the shattered window Kagome had escaped from moments earlier. He ignored the sting in his abdomen as his feet seemed to fly across the concrete. The world around him became a blur as he propelled himself to move faster, dread seeping into his thoughts.
Memories of his time with Kagome flashed through his mind. He couldn't lose her. She had been his only true friend since before he could remember and he would be damned to see her death because of his foolish actions. If only he hadn't fought Kouga in the cafeteria, if only he hadn't been jealous of Kouga's love for Kagome, if only ... if only he had told her how much he cared for her earlier ... then maybe none of this would have happened.
He felt the sidewalk gravel crunch beneath his steps as he veered around a corner, following the scent of Kagome's blood. She had been injured no doubt, most likely from the bullet. Inuyasha could only hope that it hadn't been a fatal shot. And even if it wasn't, who's to say that her father didn't tear her to shreds?
"Kagome ... " he growled, feeling as if he couldn't move fast enough. "Don't you die on me!"
It seemed as if hours had passed before he reached the entrance to the Higurashi shrine. In one leap, he bounded up the long flight of steps and straight towards the house where the scent seemed to linger. Someone was standing outside the door and Inuyasha was quick to dive behind a tree. He gripped his stomach as the pain finally caught up to him and a low groan escaped in the process.
Luckily, the figure at the doorway hadn't heard him and the half-demon trained his senses upon the man. When he noticed it was Kagome's father, smirk and all, he felt anger boil within him. Not only had the bastard injured Kagome, but he was smiling about it.
Inuyasha pressed the balls of his shoes into the ground, readying himself to attack him, but a sound coming from inside the house stopped him. "Don't you see, Kagome," the demon was saying, as if he were talking through the door. "You are powerless to stop fate. You are meant to die here, just like my son is meant to kill you."
Confusion flashed through the silver-haired man, wondering who this 'son' could be. Did Kagome have another brother other than Souta? His ears zeroed in on the sounds beyond the closed door, straining to hear the girl's response. "Na ... Naraku?" he heard her say softly, surprise in her voice. Without another thought, Inuyasha bared his fangs and began creeping through the trees. If he were to attack Kagome's father now, he wouldn't have the time nor the strength to save Kagome. And her safety came first. "What ... what are you doing?"
Golden spheres glowed in the approaching dawn. Slipping up against the side of the house, he pressed his back against the wall, wincing as another twinge of pain shot through his stomach. "You aren't as slow as you look," he heard Naraku say, the words clearer now that he was in close proximity. "I didn't think I would have enough time to get here and take the life of your beloved mother. You should have been here when I killed her. The screams of pain rising from her throat as she desperately tried to protect her son. And that old man ... those sacred sutras couldn't hurt a fly." Inuyasha detected the amusement in Naraku's voice and he could no longer hold back his desire to kill.
How could someone put a woman as kind as Kagome through so much pain? "Why?" his beloved asked, her tone deflated of hope. Did she really believe that Inuyasha wouldn't come to her aid? The half-demon peeked his head around the corner, eyeing up the situation. If he were to knock down Kagome's father, he may have a chance to break down the door. But at what cost? In the process he could risk injuring her along with having two strong enemies to fight at once. There was a fine line between courage and suicidal.
"You just don't understand, do you Kagome?" Naraku said, cocking what sounded like a gun. "Your mother betrayed us. She pretended to love my father and I, pretended to have feelings for us both. But in her eyes, we weren't worthy of human love. Now, you shall pay the price for her mistakes."
Growling, Inuyasha could no longer sit by and wait for her death. Without another moment of hesitation, he jumped through the front window as the glass shattered to pieces, his fangs and claws barred. A gun shot sounded as his feet hit the floor and he tackled Naraku to the ground. Caught off-guard with the sudden attack, the gun flew from Naraku's hand and slid across the floor. He immediately placed his arms in front of his face and tried to block the punches Inuyasha threw at him. The half-demon's eyes flickered between red and gold for each hit that made contact.
"Inuyasha ... " Kagome called, a quiver in her tone. Startled by her voice, he stopped his assault on his enemy and glanced up. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she stared at him. Blood stained her shirt and hands as she desperately tried to stop the flow. Stumbling back, she slammed into the door and slid down to the floor, unable to hold her slim frame up. A trail of crimson liquid colored the door as it followed her descent.
"Kagome!" he shouted in concern, having all but forgotten the enemy pinned beneath him.
Using the girl as a distraction, Naraku flung Inuyasha off of him, throwing him across the room and into a wall. He immediately rose to his feet and began to chase down the silver-haired half-demon. "So, you think you can kill me?" the dark man asked, a smirk flitting across his lips.
Inuyasha struggled to his hands and knees, coughing up blood in the process. If only he didn't have a hole in his gut, then maybe he would have stood a chance. For the time-being, he already knew the battle had been lost, but with Kagome's life on the line, he was far from giving up. "You bastard," he growled, watching his enemy come closer.
Naraku's blood-red eyes glared at the helpless student. "Such a pity. If you had only left the girl to die, I might have spared your life." He stepped closer to him and pressed his heel into Inuyasha's hand, receiving a yelp from the injured boy's throat. "Should I kill you now? Or should I force you to watch the girl's death?"
Their eyes swiveled to glance at the dying girl near the door. She seemed to have become unconscious, but the blood continued to pool onto the floor with no signs of stopping. "Kagome ... " Inuyasha mumbled, trying to think of a way to save her life. All odds seemed to be against him.
A piece of glass fell from the shattered window, alerting the twosome to a fourth party. "I see you have found him." Kagome's father came around the corner, his eyes glowing in the semi-darkness. "He had always been a troublemaker, haven't you, Inuyasha?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" the silver-haired man asked, fury lacing his tone. Sizing up his enemy, he could only hope that help would come for them in time.
The demon chuckled, taking a step forward and slipping his hands into his pockets. "Don't worry, we've never met. You hadn't yet befriended her when I was taken away. But watching you these past few hours, I determined that you would be quite the nuisance. And indeed I was correct."
As the man spoke, Inuyasha's gaze was focused solely on Kagome. His ears concentrated on her body, listening to the shallow breaths escaping her throat. A low thump in her chest proved she was still alive. And that was all the motivation he needed. Suddenly, he felt a spark of strength. Watching his opponents exchange words with one another, he swiped his claws against Naraku's leg.
The dark-haired man howled in pain, retracting his foot and taking a few steps back. Using the opportunity, Inuyasha shoved off from the floor and jumped backwards, putting distance between them. He stood still for a moment, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He wanted to dash over to Kagome's body and get her help, but his enemies stood between them. "You insolent half-breed!" Naraku yelled, anger replacing his smirk.
"Half-breed, huh?" Inuyasha taunted, placing a hand over his wounded stomach. "Well, this half-breed is going to kick your ass."
His words only seemed to fuel the man's hatred. "It is time to die," he replied, walking swiftly towards him.
Taking a step back, the injured student fell to bended knee, unable to support his weight any longer. He was losing strength fast and soon he wouldn't be able to hold his own anymore. "Burn in hell," were his words as Naraku's foot connected with his jaw, throwing him into the wall. The plaster cracked under his weight as he slid to the ground in a heap.
"Such a simpleminded boy," Kagome's father said. He took his hands out of his pockets and turned away, preparing to finish off his daughter, but was stopped by the jolt of a strong aura coming towards the house. His red eyes peered about the room. "Do you feel that?"
Naraku came up beside him, his gaze matching his father's. He smiled. "Seems as if we have a problem on our hands."
"No matter, we can handle him." Glass crunched beneath his boot as he took another step forward, preparing to fight his next opponent.
"Wait," Inuyasha groaned, struggling to sit up. He glanced up at his retreating enemies, wincing in pain.
The young demon turned to face him. "So, you're still alive, Inuyasha?" Naraku asked.
As if on cue, glass shattered in a nearby room, alerting them to someone's presence. The demon's eyes narrowed. "He's here."
A/N: I was going to make it longer, but then it would be too long and rushed a bit. So it will have to wait. Hope you liked this one, I'll start working on the next chapter right away, promise! Please review!