Through Blood and Tears

Chapter 18: Heartbeat

Sesshomaru stepped through the doorway, his face contorted into its usual placid self. His cold eyes glanced about the room, taking notice of his brother's mangled form. "I see you are incapable of handling battle, Inuyasha. It is a pity, but I suppose it is because of your human blood that you are unable to defeat them."

"Shut up, Sesshomaru!" he yelled in protest, rising to his feet with slight difficulty. "What the hell are you doing here?"

His gaze left him and traveled to Kagome. "It seems Rin would be inconsolable if that human girl were to die."

Taken aback by his brother's statement, Inuyasha gaped at him. "You intend ... to help us?" he asked softly, almost hesitant.

The great demon lord glared at him. "I do not give charity. I simply can not have Rin upset." Inuyasha watched as his elder brother strode towards their enemies, who had been watching the exchange.

Kagome's father smirked. "So, the great Lord Sesshomaru intends to fight?" he asked, slipping his hands into his pockets in a relaxed manner. "You do not have the power to defeat us. Isn't the fall of your father's kingdom proof enough?"

Sesshomaru didn't make a motion towards the man's words. "My father was a coward, giving his life for a lowly human, only to have her die as well. Do not compare me to such a weakling." Naraku sneered at him, his sickening smile irritating him.

He glared at the dark-haired demon, his golden eyes narrowing to slits. Naraku seemed uneffected, only enraging Sesshomaru further. "I suggest you wipe that smirk off your face," he warned.

"Is that a threat?" his opponent asked, seemingly calm in spite of facing a much stronger demon.

Suddenly, Naraku was thrust against the wall, Sesshomaru gripping his throat as his nails dug into his flesh. The pinned man had no time to counteract the attack as he was forcefully thrown across the room, colliding into a table before falling onto the floor.

With elegant moves, Sesshomaru gracefully stepped towards the enemy before disappearing. Moments later, he was spotted behind Kagome's father, his claws swiping down towards the man's head.

Detecting the movement, he sidestepped the attack and landed a kick backwards in hopes to strike his opponent. The silver-haired demon managed to avoid the strike unscathed, but had not accounted for Naraku's persistence. He had managed to rise from his place on the floor and charged the teenager's back, leaving him defenseless.

"Oh no you don't!" Inuyasha yelled, jumping in to help his brother. Naraku turned to face him, his blood red eyes flaring with vengeance, as he dodged the young demon's fist. The brothers paired off in their opponents, battling for the life of a single human girl and for those already lost to death.

Sesshomaru glared at his younger brother, his eyes narrowed. "I shall be the one to defeat them. This is none of your concern." He ducked a kick from Kagome's father before swiping at the man once more.

"Keh," Inuyasha responded, slicing Naraku across the cheek. "You think I'm going to stand by and watch you fail? I don't think so!" The half-demon jumped backwards and retreated some, standing back to back with his brother. "How about we just get this over with, then I can kill you myself."

"I highly doubt that. You are too reckless and brash to have a chance at defeating me." They separated and rejoined their respectful enemies, each expertly avoiding certain death.

Kagome's father evaded another attack from Sesshomaru's claws and took a few steps back towards Kagome's body. "Hmm ... brothers fighting each other in the mist of battle. How foolish can one be?" He took a relaxed position, slipping his hand into his pockets once more.

Sesshomaru glared at him, ignoring the sounds of Inuyasha's battle behind him. "Half-breeds are not worthy of life. Do not insinuate that this Sesshomaru has any desire in preserving him. I have no wish to help him nor that human girl."

"Ah, but it is another that you are worried about," he responded with a smirk. "You see, even a cold hearted demon such as yourself can fall in love with a mere human. I found that I, too, could not resist the temptation."

A dangerous growl reverberated in Sesshomaru's throat. "Do not compare me with scum such as you." Without another word, the great demon lord pushed off from the ground and prepared to bring his enemy to his death.

Something metal glinted in the sunlight as Sesshomaru quickly narrowed his eyes and stopped his assault, expertly dodging as a loud bang sounded through the small house. Inuyasha and Naraku ceased their quarrel as they separated. "What the hell?" Inuyasha yelled, panting heavily as the blood continued to pool from his wound.

The ever knowing smirk that seemed to always occupy Naraku's features, fell from his lips. A groan of pain escaped his throat, grabbing the attention of both dog demons. He glanced down at his chest, noticing the red stain appear on his shirt, spreading through the fabric with each second that passed.

Sesshomaru glanced back at him from the corner of his eye before directing his attention to his enemy once more. "It seems you do not have the skill to handle a gun."

He merely smiled, watching his son fall to bended knee. Taking the opportunity, Inuyasha punched Naraku's cheek, hearing a resounding crunch as his head hit the wall, before Naraku slumped to the ground unconscious. Wiping a smear of blood from his lips, the half-demon turned around to glare at Kagome's father. "You shot your own son? How low can you be?" he snarled before the flames of hatred ignited in his eyes.

"Naraku was holding me back. He was unable to defeat a mere half-demon nor kill a few humans." He swiveled his eyes to the stairs, his ears picking up soft heartbeats from Kagome's room. "Why is it that when you want something done, you have to do it yourself?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he listened to the noises from upstairs. Two of Kagome's family members were still alive, however faint, but they were alive none the less. It didn't matter at the moment. The people he cared for were dying and there was little he could do about it. "You bastard," he growled dangerously, pushing the balls of his shoes into the floor, readying himself to attack.

"Don't be a fool," Sesshomaru warned, his eyes never leaving his enemy. "If you are not eager to meet your death, then I suggest you stay back."

The half-demon stared wide-eyed at his brother. Is he ... protecting me? There was no time to ponder it, however, as sirens echoed in the distance.

Kagome's father narrowed his eyes, his ears picking up the sound of police cars just north of the Higurashi shrine. "Hm, it appears we'll have to cut this short." He grinned menacingly, keeping his eyes trained on the two dog demons, before turning around and pointing the gun at Kagome's dying form. "Now, she shall die."

"Don't you dare!" Inuyasha yelled, no longer caring about his own life or what the outcome of his hasty decision might be. His thoughts only consisted of Kagome. "Go to hell!"

In only a few seconds time, the half-demon charged towards the assailant as a gunshot sounded, echoing off the walls and ceilings of the house. Inuyasha stopped his actions, his eyes widening at the noise. "It seems as if fate was not on my side," Kagome's father mumbled, lowering his weapon to his side before it fell from his grasp. A pool of blood began to form beneath him from the bullet that had lodged into his side. With a soft grunt and a smirk upon his lips, the dark man fell to his knees. His eyes glanced upward, as if to ask for forgiveness. Slowly, his body fell forward and splattered into the crimson puddle.

Silence seemed to enshroud the area except for Inuyasha's heavy breathing. His hands shook and his heart thundered in his chest. Slowly, his amber eyes peered to the right to see where the shot had originated from. "Miroku?" The name whispered off of Inuyasha's lips, relief flooding through every part of his body.

The dark-haired student gave a crooked smile and leaned against the wall for support. "Hey," he drawled, placing the gun at his side. It was apparent that he had snuck through the shattered window and found the gun Naraku had dropped when Inuyasha attacked him. "Need some help?"

Sesshomaru seemed to visibly relax ever so slightly, although there was no other indication that he had tired from the battle. Inuyasha sighed and fell to his knees to catch his breath. "Kagome," he mumbled softly, his vision wavering from blood loss. His entire body felt weak and useless. None the less, he found his hands crawling to where she lay, keeping his ears trained on her weak heartbeat and labored breathing.

His silver mane touched the blood surrounding her pale frame. He cupped his hand against her cheek, rubbing the pad of his thumb against her satin skin. "Kagome," he whispered again, hope lacing his tone. The girl made no sound and any attempt to see her eyes flutter open was lost.

Thump ... thump ... thump ...

Sounds around him muffled, his eyes solely focused on Kagome's heartbeat, the steady rhythm failing, stuttering every few moments. "Please," he begged, his voice breaking as he lowered his forehead to hers, feeling the cool sweat caressing her skin. "Don't leave me."

Thump ... th-thump ...

Inuyasha's hands shook as he felt her body, rubbing her skin in an attempt to warm it. Her fingers were ice, her skin pale, and her lips a sickening blue.

... Thump ...

Tears stung his eyes, clouding his vision. Voices could be heard in the background, dampened, almost mute, for his attention did not concentrate on the slur of words from Miroku's mouth. The echoes of the sirens came closer, footsteps pounded across the shrine ground, and he faintly heard the front door slam open and a hoard of people rushed in.

... Thu-mp ...

Arms grabbed him, trying to pull him away from the dying girl. His body was numb, he couldn't breathe, couldn't resist the tug on his shoulders.

... ...

A group of uniformed police officers pulled him away before returning to the girl. Two men sat beside her, an AED kit in their hands.

"No pulse," one said, placing his fingers to Kagome's throat.

"No heartbeat," the other stated, lowering his ear to her chest.

Inuyasha slumped against the wall. He watched one of the men place his hands against Kagome's chest, pushing down a few times before turning to breathe air into her lungs. Her head was tilted back and her mouth went slack.

"No pulse."

"Breathe, damn it!"

"Get the kit ready!" the man said, ripping open the girl's shirt, exposing her skin.

Inuyasha slid down to the floor, folding his knees. His amber spheres didn't dare leave Kagome's face. His hands, covered in her blood, rested at his sides. The faint sounds of struggle were heard as the officers took Naraku and Kagome's father into custody. A slur of curse words escaped their lips, but they fell on deaf ears.

"Charge," the second medic said, grasping the paddles in his hand. The cool metal was placed upon her flesh, sending electric waves to her heart.

Inuyasha watched as Kagome's body jerked upward as the electricity surged through her, before she fell to the floor once more.

The medic gave her CPR a second time. "No pulse. No heartbeat." He breathed air into her lungs. "Again!"

Kagome's body hitched forward once more, her blank eyes gazing at the ceiling above, her limbs tightening at the jolts. A tear slid down Inuyasha's cheek as he watched the one he loved being jerked again and again, failing to come back from death.

His vision blurred, the voices around him sounded as if coming through a long tunnel, and he desperately tried to keep conscious. He faintly recalled a police officer coming to his aid. "Are you alright?" he asked, shaking Inuyasha slightly. "This man needs medical attention," he called, signaling to a third medic.

Everything seemed to fade away: the medic, the police officers, the echoes of sirens, the voice of Miroku as he was questioned, the grunted sounds of his enemies as they were dragged away, the smell of death blanketing Kagome's body.

He wanted to forget.

He wanted to remember.

He just wanted to let go.

Inuyasha closed his eyes and gave into the darkness.

A/N: Well there you go. I'm thinking only a few chapters left. Sorry if anything was confusing in this chapter. It was a bit difficult to write, but I hope I did it some justice. Unfortunately for you guys, you have to wait until I come back from vacation for the next update. I know, I'm evil. But you're lucky I was able to get this out. Anyways, do you think this story will be able to make it to 200 reviews before its done? How about you give it a try and please review!