Chapter 9 – Nightmares
Every time she turned, she heard them. Every alley she ran down, they followed. Every tree she climbed, she could smell her own blood on the leaves. Every time she fell, she saw the shine of a knife. Every time she came to a house like home, she could taste the metallic fear, and turned back.
Kagome floated in and out of her own world. One minute in her home town, then running through Goshinboku park. Then she was at the school. The hospital. Her old house. Her old school. The town. Sango's car. Koga's den. Inuyasha's house…
"Please!" she cried soundlessly, terrified sobs ripping themselves from her chest. "Please! Please, somebody, anybody! Help me!"
She stumbled on, not looking where she was going. She didn't care anymore. Then…
Her foot struck something hard.
She fell to her knees, hands sightlessly groping the unseen obstruction. With trembling fingers, she wiped off the dust and filth covering the large stone.
Her heart stopped as a light flared.
Kagome Higurashi
1992-2008
Beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister and friend to many.
All those left behind wait to see her again.
"No," Kagome whispered. "No…"
"Yes," said a voice behind her. She felt something cold and sharp press itself against her back, sliding up under the material. "Just getting everything ready for you…"
Tears streamed down her cold face. "Help me!" she sobbed. "Inuyasha!"
…
Inuyasha cradled Kagome's soft body to him. She was frozen. So, she cold. The blood was beginning to clot over her cuts, and she was shivering. The blood from the slice on her face was a harsh red in contrast to the whiteness of her skin. Her dark hair was soaking and matted, and her clothes were ripped.
"What are we going to do with her?" Inutaisho said from where he was standing.
"Hospital," Miroku replied at once, looking at the man as if he were crazy. But Koga growled.
"No dice, monk. She hates hospitals. The last time, they had to give her a sedative just to get her through the door. How do you think she would feel, being rescued from one horror to wake up in a place she hates?!"
"Well we can't take her home," said Sango, exasperated. "Her mom, Souta and Jii-chan are out of town. She's meant to be staying with me and Kohaku. Besides, her room's a tip."
"Run that by me again?"
"Well, the mattress and bedding is on the floor, her litter bin and chest of drawers emptied, and SOMEONE," here she sent Miroku a dirty look, "emptied out her bathroom cabinet. Go figure."
"Well, she can stay with us," Koga declared.
"No chance, wolf," Inuyasha growled, without looking up from Kagome's sick face.
Koga bristled. "Look, mutt-face-"
"She's coming back to mine. I am not letting her out of my sight again, ya got that?"
Koga fell silent. Shocked. Everyone stared at Inuyasha. He didn't even bother to look up at them.
"Sesshomaru, start up the fucking car, she's frozen. I assume you lot are coming with us?"
…
She continued to run, hearing her pursuer behind her. He was speeding up, and she couldn't match his pace. Up ahead, she could see the steps leading up to the old shrine.
"Daddy!" she screamed. "Daddy, help me!" she ran up the steps, not daring to look behind her, terrified of slowing down. "Daddy!"
"Kagome?! Kagome!"
"Daddy!" she sobbed. "Daddy, they found me, daddy, daddy, he's behind me! Help me!"
"Kagome! Kagome, keep running! Go to Koga's house do you hear me?!"
"No! Daddy, where are you going?!"
"KAGOME, RUN!!!"
She sobbed, but didn't slow down. Koga… she had to get to Koga… he could help her…
"Koga!" she screamed. "Koga, he found me! He's after dad, he needs help!"
"Kagome?!" a teenage wolf demon with blue eyes stopped, and stared. "What are you doing here?"
"Koga, he found me!"
"Where is he?!" Koga grasped her arms. "Kagome, tell me where he is."
"At… at the shrine… dad… dad said to… to run…"
"Ayame!" Koga yelled. "Tell your grandfather to gather the wolves and get to the Shrine! Now!"
"What is it?!"
"Naraku and Kikyo found Kagome! They're after her!"
Kagome staggered. A blow, a physical blow had landed in her chest. She screamed as it ripped through the skin, and then she was on the ground, and Ayame was shaking her.
"Kagome? Kagome!"
"No…" Kagome said. She couldn't… not… "No… daddy… he's…"
Everything went black.
…
Inuyasha refused to leave Kagome's bedside. Not once in twenty-four hours had she so much has stirred. Inuyasha fell asleep with his head leaning against the bed.
Kagura gently lifted her brother-in-law's head and laid it back against the chair he was sitting on, smoothing back his hair as she did so. Inuyasha mumbled, and moved into her hand. Kagura half-smiled, before turning to the pale girl on the bed.
She walked over to feel Kagome's temperature. It had sky-rocketed. Her skin was red-hot, but her hands were frozen. She twitched and mumbled restlessly under Kagura's gentle ministrations.
The woman sighed. Poor girl. If something like this had ever happened to Rin, or Sesshomaru… she understood how Inuyasha felt. It was like having something ripped out of her body, the mere thought of this kind of torture on someone near and dear to her. Lifting back the bed covers, she hissed at the sight of the red wound prominent on Kagome's chest. It looked long, and deep, and the raw smell of the blood emanating from it spoke openly of the maliciousness with which it had been caused. Quietly, she reached over to the other side of the bed. Doctor Suikotsu had told her to clean and re-dress the wound every three hours. It was caused with a rain-soaked knife, and there was ever chance it would infect. Humming quietly to herself, Kagura gently applied the antiseptic cream. Kagome winced. It must hurt her, even in her sleep. She let out a small whimper.
Kagura reached and stroked her hair softly. "Shh, little one," she crooned. "Shh."
"How is she?" Sango whispered from the doorway.
Kagura looked up, and shrugged. "About the same. Have you called her mother?"
Sango nodded. "She's coming home in two days. I didn't tell her what happened; I said that her car ran out of petrol, and she got lost trying to look for help. I hope she bought it."
Kagura nodded, returning her attention to Kagome. Once finished, she stood and began to walk out, past Sango. But a hand on her wrist stopped her.
"Wait, Kagura. Thank you."
Kagura smiled at her. "It's alright. It was the least I could do. I should have gone with Sesshomaru earlier; I'm sure the talents of a wind sorceress could have been helpful."
"Even so, I'd like to repay you. I'll take Rin to the zoo, if you like?"
Kagura let out a small, silver laugh. "Isn't it a coincidence that the repayment has the colouring of you wanting to spend time with my adorable six-year-old daughter?"
Sango grinned at her. "Funny, I didn't notice."
"I'm sure Rin would love that – as would Sesshomaru. He loves her, but she has him completely wrapped around her little finger."
"Ooh, the girl who can control Sesshomaru – now there's a scary thought."
Kagura smiled.
Then a scream came from the bed.
In a second, Inuyasha was at Kagome's side as she sweated and writhed and moaned. Kagura and Sango ran into the room.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagura yelled. "Call Suikotsu! Her fever's spiked!"
On the bed, Kagome continued to thrash.
…
She had been plunged into freezing cold water. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't move. She struggled forwards sluggishly, terrified of the all-consuming silence.
"Help me!" she cried out. "Somebody help me!"
And then…
Nothing.
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I hope you like it! I tried to end it nice and finally... but don't worry! This isn't the end! I actually have the next chapter written, and it's killing me to not just put it straight up!
xXHisLilLoverGirlXx - Thanks, I'm really enjoying this, so I don't see it ending particularly soon... can't wait!
nahia2008 - I'm SO glad you liked it! I hope you continue to read it!
dangitsesshomaru - :D I'm happy! Yeah, Naraku wants Kagome for a variety of reasons... read on to find out! Hopefully it'll be good, because I still haven't decided how I'm gonna end it! Lol
kk1994 - I certainly shall! Thanks for your continuing support!
sassybratt - Thank you for all your AMAZINGLY positive feedback! I'm glad I can throw out something unexpected for you! :P
brinaalee - Mwahaha! Thanks, I love cliffhangers too! They're so much fun! xx
myInuYasha15 - Yeah, it is kinda obvious, but hey. I hope I can add a new twist to his character you'll enjoy! =)
completeandtotalrandomness - Thanks! Yeah, I'm trying to make them like the evil pair... so Kikyo in particular is probably gonna be a bit OC... :P
mkblackrose - :D I'm really glad! I hope it's ok... not too early... but hey, what's been done and all that... XD
coolcat103 - Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the rest as much!!
Mistyfire - Yeah, Kikyo's a wee bit OC... just think of her as a different character as in the manga/anime... but I hope it's a good twist on her! I know, movie 2 is my favourite too! It's so sweet... and when she took the arrow for him... *sigh*
kouga's older woman - I'm vair vair happy you liked it once you found it! Hope the rest is as good as in your opinion... :D
Hope you all continue to enjoy this!
Libra Sorceress xx