Skeletons in the Closet Chapter 22, an inuyasha fanfic

Chapter 22 – Fire

As she neared the top of the steps, the air grew colder and colder.

Step… step… step…

There was a figure, waiting, cross-legged, eyes closed, serene. She could have been meditating.

Step… step… step…

Kikyo. She was waiting for her. The picture of a shrine priestess, dressed in the traditional garb of a miko. White flowing shirt. Red heavy trousers.

Step… step… step…

Her long hair was secured behind her head, and her pale face looked as though it could have been carved from marble. So flawless. So beautiful. Belladonna.

Step… step… step…

Kikyo opened her eyes. Slowly. Slowly. Captivating Kagome within their tawny depths, her feet faltered with the sudden need to move faster, to answer the call.

Step… step… step…

She controlled herself with an effort. She knew that Kikyo was most definitely weaker than her, and she refused to be compelled by this pathetic little miko.

Step… step… step…

She wasn't going down without a fight.

Step… step… step…

And then it hit her.

Step… step… step…

She had come here to die.

Her foot slipped on the step of the shrine, and she fell forward, arms outstretched to catch herself. Her knee impacted on the lip of the step, the stone slicing through the skin, and Kagome let out a whimper of pain.

…

Inuyasha was… catatonic. That was the only way to describe it. He had been thrown into a desperate slump by the woman he loved.

She had left him. Ran away to die.

Oh God, he loved her. And it hurt him, it hurt him so much that he couldn't help her. If only she had spoken to him, told him, then he could have helped. He could have saved her. But she didn't open up to him. She threw herself into the deep end without knowing how to swim. And now…

God, she was going to die.

He didn't even have the strength to howl. He couldn't get angry. When… when Kagome… when she had left, she had taken him with her. All that was left was an empty shell. It looked like Inuyasha, it smelt like Inuyasha, but there was no spirit, no soul.

"Inuyasha?" Izayoi poked her head round the door. "Honey, your friends are here. They came to see how you were."

Inuyasha said nothing. He laid on his back, on his double king sized bed, and stared at the ceiling.

"I'm going to ask them to come up. Ok sweetie?"

He didn't respond. Just stared.

She pulled out of the door frame, closing the door silently.

They all traipsed in. One by one. Koga. Miroku. Ayame. Sango. He didn't even bother to look at them.

"I guess you heard," said Miroku, his voice coming from between his teeth.

No response.

"Did she leave you a letter?" Koga asked him, somewhat gently for the big wolf demon.

Inuyasha just closed his eyes, and turned away from them.

A shadow fell over his body. Somewhat deformed. When he opened his eyes, he discovered that the reason for this was because the shadow was, in fact, two people. Ayame was heavily supporting Sango, who was leaning on her, drained, with tears running down her face.

"Please, Inuyasha," Sango said, in a choked voice. "We need to know. She can't have just… left! Did she tell you where she was going? A hint? Anything?"

Slowly, he raised himself to look into the dark eyes of the demon slayer. And he shook his head.

"No!" Sango wailed, slumping to the floor, her body wracked with hiccupping sobs.

Ayame seemed to have lost all strength to hold Sango up. She merely stared at Inuyasha, her emerald eyes wide and her face full of shock. "I… I smell…" she murmured. She leaned her head in and inhaled deeply through her nose.

Her face crumpled.

"Oh, Inuyasha!" she cried to him, flinging her arms across his body. "Oh God, I'm so sorry."

He leant into her embrace, but didn't say anything. He couldn't. He didn't have the strength.

"How… how could she…" Ayame sobbed. "Your… your mate… how could she?!" she buried her head into her hands.

"Your mate?" Koga asked flatly. "You… you mated her? Sex, mark, everything?"

Inuyasha shrugged at the wolf demon.

"She… she told me…" Ayame said, in an anguished tone, "She told me to look after you all. All of you. Oh God, how could she?!"

Inuyasha didn't answer. It didn't matter anymore anyway.

Miroku stood, leaning against the wall, biting the inside of his cheek. His eyes were shining with unshed tears. Kagome, in the short time he had known her, had exploded like a comet in their small-town life. She had brought with her tears and pain, yes, but she had also brought happiness, and laughter. She had brought him and Sango together. She had told him to be happy… but how could he be happy when she had sliced off a part of his world? The bright, cheerful Kagome corner had been removed, and now all he had was a few dim photos and a letter.

Koga was in the centre of the room, his fists clenched and his muscles stretched taut. His baby sister. She had left to fight her own battles. No one to protect her. All alone. She was going to die alone. She had told him thank you for being there, but if she really meant it, then why was she shutting him out? She could have been so happy. If not for Naraku and Kikyo, she would be so happy. She had mated Inuyasha, a lifetime of love and happiness. And yet, she gave it up. To protect those who were close to her. Stupid, selfless bitch!

…

Inuyasha jerked upright, his eyes flashing red and letting out a low, guttural snarl.

He knew where she was. His mate. She was in danger, she was in pain. She was… she was in…

"Inuyasha!" Koga yelled, pulling out of his silent reverie and slamming into Inuyasha's quivering body, wrestling him down onto the floor. "Inuyasha, dude, calm down! Miroku, get Sesshomaru!"

"No," Inuyasha growled. "Let me go! I have to save her!"

Silence.

Inuyasha's eyes faded back to their usual molten gold. He shook himself and stood, running out the door at youkai speed, snatching up the Tetsuaiga on his way out the door.

He could save her. He would save her. And if not, then she wouldn't be alone, at least.

She wasn't dead yet.

…

"Hello, child," said Kikyo in an emotionless voice.

Kagome just stood there. Too terrified to speak.

"Are you through playing games with us?" Kikyo continued, setting her unblinking gaze upon Kagome. "I should dearly hope so. The loss of your grandfather too much for you to handle? Your beloved Jii-chan. Dead. Afraid I would do it again?" a smirk began settling on her lips.

Kagome's hands curled into fists. How dare she? How dare she?!

"Of course," Kikyo carried on as if nothing of consequence had been said, "That's why you're here, isn't it? A noble act of self-sacrifice, hoping that if I killed you, I would spare your little friends?"

"And you say I like to play with my food," Naraku's voice drawled from behind Kagome. She froze as she heard his heavy footfall up the stairs, leading to her, to stop right behind.

She felt his hot breath on her ear, and shuddered in revulsion. His hands ran up her arms, stopping at her shoulders. She squirmed away at his cold, damp touch, but he held her fast.

"Did you miss me?" he whispered to her, smelling her hair.

"No," she gasped in reply.

Naraku's touch on her froze solid. Everything stopped… until he laughed.

"Well, well, my dear Kikyo," he said, his mouth open wide in a sadistic grin. "It seems our little miko Kagome has been keeping things from us. Would you look at this?"

He grasped her collar and flung her forward, up the last few steps, to collide harshly with the ground at Kikyo's feet with a sharp gasp.

Kikyo lifted two frigid fingers and gently ran the pale digits over the soft skin of Kagome's neck. "Interesting," she said, seemingly delighted. "Poor, innocent little Kagome has been shacking up with a demon. Who would have thought it? A pure little priestess, contaminated by a filthy youkai."

"He's a hanyou, and he's far from filthy!" Kagome snapped, an intense anger bubbling inside her. "He is the kindest, sweetest, strongest being that ever lived, and if you dare say a word about him-"

Slap.

"My, my," said Kikyo mildly. "But you do need a lesson in manners. Don't fret, my dear," she said, reaching down to pat Kagome's scarlet cheek condescendingly, "We have plenty of time for that. I'm sure that Naraku will take it upon himself to assist in that area, will you not?"

She could hear the lecherous grin in his voice. "I look forward to it."

She closed her eyes. "Please, why won't you just kill me?" she begged, her tone cracked. "Why do you have to torment me? The longer you wait, the more chance there is that someone will come after me."

"Ah, but Kagome," Kikyo smiled. "That's half the fun. Besides," she leant down to whisper into Kagome's ear, her tone hissing out like that of a deadly poisonous snake, "I want you hurt. I want to break you. I want to prove to you that your powers are not powerful enough to defeat me. I want you to know that fact as you lie, squirming on the floor, praying for mercy. I want you to scream in agony. You are not as good as me. You never can be. And you never will win. Because I am stronger, my dear. And I will kill you. But I will beat you first."

Kagome raised her head, and met the eyes of Kikyo staring at her, and she was terrified what she saw in the depths of her tawny orbs.

Nothing.

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Ok, this was a bit more of a development than the last chapter. Can I just say, Kikyo is an absolute bitch in this story?!

P.s I'm kinda pleased with this chapter. What are your thoughts?

coolcat103 - Here ya go, please enjoy!
myInuYasha15 - Lol, thank you! All updated and everything!
Mistyfire - I know, I cringed when I was writing it! Lol, don't worry bout it xx
BlackMagicWhiteMagic - Thanks, I'm so glad you liked it, considering I didn't! I hope this is ok for you too!
Sassybratt - :D Thank you so much! Your reviews always give me confidence, lol! Please enjoy this one!
Xalainu - Wait and see... lol!
King Stephen IV - I know, I feel so sorry for her! Enjoy!
kouga's older woman - Aww, I'm sorry! Didn't mean to make you cry, lol! All updated, but still cliffhanger-ing... sorry!
Shichinintai's girl - I think it's definitely closing... but not just yet... lol! All updated! Have fun!
Namike - Thanks, I'm so glad! I was a bit dubious about the technique, but I'm glad to see it works out! Here ya go!
tazzels - Lol, that was my favourite letter too! Along with her brother's... Hope this didn't disappoint!
completeandtotalrandomness - Welcome, sorry, it's another bout of cliffhangerishness!
brinaalee - Thanks! :D Hope this doesn't disappoint!

Please enjoy, all!

Libra Sorceress xx