Chapter 23 – Pain
Hold on Kagome, Inuyasha snarled under his breath, running as if his life depended on it. I'm coming.
…
"Well, well," Naraku said. She could hear the smile in his voice. "I like my women at my feet. Gives me all sorts of ideas…"
He grasped her midnight hair and yanked her upright. Kagome clenched her teeth to hold in her shriek of pain. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that he had hurt her. He did not deserve it.
He inhaled as he ran the crook of his nose along her smooth neck. His hands wandered over her body, and she shivered as memories flooded her brain. She felt the cold metal of the knife running up her back, across her chest, against her face once again, and closed her eyes as she prayed that he would just end it. just there.
But it was not to be.
She felt him smile against his skin, felt the warm dampness of his teeth. "Watch this, my little whore," he purred to her.
He bit down on her mate mark. Hard.
She screamed. She couldn't help it. A burning agony filled her entire body, clawing through her skin, racing through her veins, quivering in every ounce of flesh. The pain was unbearable. She writhed in Naraku's arms, an inhuman noise coming from her mouth as she felt the flames run through her small body.
And he laughed.
…
Inuyasha stopped, his body freezing on him. Pain washed through him, the mark Kagome had given him on his shoulder throbbing, giving out a dull ache.
But it didn't… hurt.
It was more like the ghost of pain. He knew it should hurt, he knew it should hurt a lot, and he could feel the sensation, but it was… wrong.
It wasn't his pain.
They were hurting her.
And they wanted him to know.
He howled at the sky, to angry for human words.
They were killing her.
…
Her body was limp. Her treacherous arms wouldn't move to her command, and her legs couldn't support her weight. The aftermath of the pure agony she had been subjected to was overwhelming.
Naraku lifted her like a baby into his arms.
"You know," he whispered into her ear, "This gives me ideas."
A shudder ran involuntarily through her body.
"Naraku," came Kikyo's voice, "Put her down. You can play with her carcass later."
She felt her body impact with something hard. The ground. A strangled moan dragged itself out from her lips.
Something clattered down beside her.
"Get up," Kikyo said emotionlessly. "I know you can."
With an effort, Kagome raised her head. "Fuck you," she mumbled, before flopping down again.
Kikyo's voice came again. "Looks like you've been spending too much time around those demon's you're so fond of. Their foul language is beginning to rub off on you, my dear. Now, get up!"
Kagome's mouth shrieked as she felt a cold energy infuse her body, leaving her gasping.
She dragged herself to her knees.
Kikyo watched her with detached approval. "Much better," she nodded. "Now, take a look to your left. I believe you two know each other."
A bow.
The bow.
The means of her escape. Last time. Last time, she had fired an arrow. Just one. She had meant to fire it straight at Kikyo, but with her shaking hands and poor aim, she had missed. Instead, she had fired it straight into the brick wall above their heads. It had… it had exploded, and that was the means of her escape. Then again at school, she had fired, and missed the target.
Third time's the charm.
She attempted to pick up the bow, but her arms were still weak and mostly unresponsive.
Kikyo laughed.
"Come on," she cooed. "I know you can do better than that."
Kagome grit her teeth and once again grasped the bow handle. It was smooth and shiny, the wood cool to her fevered touch.
"That's it, little miko," Kikyo encouraged sardonically. "Now shoot."
She knew she couldn't.
"There there," Naraku smiled. "I'm sure it'll turn out alright, in the end. After all, the good guy always wins. Right?"
She felt warm tears running down her cheeks.
"Don't cry, little Kagome. When this is all over, and you have been stripped of your powers, you'll be able to see daddy again. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Don't mention my father!" the words came as a hiss, with such venom injected into her voice that even a snake would have recoiled.
Naraku laughed, throwing back his head with the thrill of it, enjoying some sick joke.
"Well that sparked a response," he chuckled. "Hear that, Kikyo? Seems that we found the little one's soft spot. Would you like to know how he died, Kagome?" he asked her, walking forwards. His footfall was heavy and even, the walk of a man confident and certain. Except he was no man. "I suppose you'd like to hear he died well, wouldn't you?" he continued in an undertone. "That he went down fighting, with a smile on his lips and an image of your family in his eyes. The truth is, he screamed when we touched him."
"No," Kagome whimpered.
"He was begging for death as we moved closer."
"Please stop."
"He tried to run."
"Please."
"Your father was a coward, Kagome."
"No."
"Oh yes," Naraku said, and this time a smile stretched his lips. "You didn't want to hear the truth about your beloved papa, now did you Kagome? You wanted to hear that he gave himself to protect you. Well, it obviously didn't work, did it?"
He stopped in front of her. With the toe of his boot, he lifted her tear-streaked face. "Your father was a coward. He died alone and afraid. You seem to be just like him. That's what you wanted, right? You came here, in an act of noble self-sacrifice, to save your friends and remaining family. Said you didn't want anything else to happen to them because of you. Well, it worked. But now you're going to die, just like that? Is that what you really want? What happened to the fire I felt inside you? The defiance, the passion? Are you going to just lay down and wait for the light to leave your eyes? Are you really that much of a coward?"
"No," she whispered. "No. I'm not a coward. I don't want to die."
"So prove it then," Naraku stepped back, his lecherous smile still eating away at his features. "Shoot the arrow!"
She pulled herself up, so she was standing on two feet once again. Her eyes met the gaze of Kikyo, stretching her lips into that empty grin, waiting for her. They wanted her to fight back for them. They wanted her to show them what she was made of, so they didn't have to kill her cold. They wanted her to feel real defeat as they cut her down.
She notched the arrow into the bow, a determined look on her face. This was for her father, and her Jii-chan, and everyone else who had died because of her and her curse.
Trembling, she raised it to her sightline. She had one shot. And only one shot.
…
The Shrine.
For some strange reason, he felt a strange… connection to this place. It was like… like he had been here before.
It must be Kagome. Her familiarity to this place made it feel like a part of him.
She had had to leave, he realised. This was her home. It felt like her home. It felt right. And she had had to leave because of the people who were after her.
She called it her curse. She was wrong. Her powers were not a curse to her. They were a gift. A gift given by whoever was up there. The only real curse she had was the doubt she had in herself, and the constant fear she lived in. But she was a good person. Such an amazing person, who deserved such amazing things. And he was going to give that to her.
And as the realization hit, it grew stronger and stronger within him.
He would not let her die here.
…
"Well, child?" Kikyo asked, her empty eyes surveying her coldly. "What are you waiting for? I hardly think that we will die of old age before you do, so that hope is nonexistent."
"You're already dead anyway." Kagome spoke with confidence, certain she knew what she was talking about. Kikyo had always felt so cold, and her magic was… wrong. It was not the magic of a priestess. Rather, it was an infusion of bitter hatred, a hatred she felt for everything living thing.
Kikyo smiled at her. "Pert," she noted. "You are, of course, correct. I am no longer living, and I have Naraku to thank for bringing me back to life. But, unfortunately, I will not be alive again. I will never eat, nor will I ever drink, nor experience emotions. Not until I have something strong enough to bring me back to life. And I have found it."
"That's what you want my magic for," Kagome said.
"Again, you are correct."
"But Naraku doesn't stand with you," Kagome continued, flickering her gaze towards the angry demon. "He plans to kill you and take the power for himself."
"Oh, I am well aware of that," Kikyo replied. "And I plan to cross that bridge when I come to it."
"I'm bored," Naraku said. "I would be very much obliged if you would shoot at us now, my dear."
Kagome drew in a breath. So much for stalling.
She pulled back on the bow, the string stretched tight.
Come on, she told herself. Come on. For dad.
But… her father wouldn't have wanted her to become a killer.
She lowered the bow.
Naraku raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing, girl?"
"I am not going to shoot you," Kagome said quietly. She felt drained.
"Oh? And why not?
"Because I am not like you," she told him. "I will not kill you simply because I believe I have the chance to. I may have the chance, but I don't have the right. I will not come down to your level. I will not sully myself with the thought of harming another creature, and believing that I simply had to do it. I take no pleasure in it. I will not accomplish anything by it, and therefore I do not have to do it. And I will not. You can kill me. You can maim me. You can break me. You can take all I have and destroy all I care for. But you can never defeat me. I will not fight back in cold blood simply for your entertainment. Because that's all this is to you, isn't it?" she continued, staring, not at Naraku, but at Kikyo. "A game. A game you are so confident of winning, you feel gracious in giving me the chance. But guess what?" she smiled a humourless smile. "I have won."
Kikyo walked forwards and slapped her hard across the face. "You bitch!" she hissed at her. "You bitch!"
And Kagome smiled at her.
"Get out of the way, Kikyo," Naraku said in bored tones. "I think it is time for me employ my own methods."
Kikyo released her and stepped back, the temporary anger in her face replaced, once again, by her cold mask.
Naraku stepped forwards, and rubbed his hands together.
"Since you are so keen on not fighting back," he told her, "This will be easier." And he pulled out a knife. The knife. The one she knew so well.
She turned her head away as he advanced, knowing what was coming.
Third time's the charm.
"KAGOME!"
She turned her head back, and her eyes flew open. Her mouth dropped.
There, standing in all his glory, silver hair flowing and amber eyes blazing, sword drawn out and gleaming in its majesty, and a wild look on his face, was…
Inuyasha.
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Woo, Inuyasha! Now they just have to... err... do everything. Lol, sorry I'm in a good mood. It is 1:15 am here...
Sassybratt - Thanks! Lol, I completely agree! Time for her to have a break! Hope this is good for you!
Xalainu - Lol! Yeah, it would be funny! That's not quite what happens though... lol :D
darkangel0212 - Thank you, please enjoy!
words unheard - Thanks! Hope I updated soon enough for you!
Namike - Yeah, go Tetsusaiga! I know, blades of blood does rock - my favourite is 'iron reaver soul stealer', lol! it's a classic! enjoy!
BlackMagicWhitMagic - lol, i hear ya! thanks, sorry there was a bit of a delay this time, but i hope this is good!
Strawberry-Ringo - don't worry bout it, just really glad you reviewed! thanks! i know, mean kagome! please enjoy!
katara Y.O.U. - thanks! pretty intense, lol! keep writing! :D
dangitsesshomaru - thank you! i always worry about the emotional parts, and i'm glad they came off well! thanks, that's so sweet of you! i've been toying with ideas, and i might try it... thanks, and i hope this is good! :D
Shichinintai's girl - thanks! i agree, she should... all updated, enjoy! lol!
brinaalee - lol, glad you liked it! hope this is good too!
peaceful dragon rose - thanks, enjoy this one too!
kouga's older woman - dum dum dum! he's here, but more is to come... lol enjoy!
mkblackrose - lol, eek! have fun!
Black And White Kirara - thanks! taking this as a good compliment :D thanks! lol, i had to force various people to watch mamma mia with a barge pole! please enjoy!
cherrichan13 - thanks! i know, poor inu! :D enjoy!
bumblezee - kanbanwa, oh flying monkey of the sun high in the sky on the afternoon of the chocolate picking! lol, i missed your reviews XD
lol, any good? eek, never been anywhere that small! gawd, you must be shattered! i love kids, but a week with a 3 year old just about kills me! bet that was easy... but a good experience, right? hope it went ok! :D
never had raklette! what is it? never had snails though... did once have a spider, but that was by accident... lol!
think it's great! he's pretty ooc here too, but as long as that's what you wanted him to be like, that's ok, right?
:D good. never been to switzerland! hope to go one day...
lol, i see a resemblance...
film any good? lol, thanks for staying up! appreciate it! lol, big brother moment! XD
the letters are kinda cheery 'cause she doesn't want people too feel to bad that she's running away to die :( i admire her courage, lol! XD
i know, she is a bit? she's pretty damn ooc, but it makes her easier to hate... lol XD
all updated! was halfway through writing this chapter when i got your review! XD
love libra
xx
Ok, and now it' 1:40 and i should probably go to bed...
LOL, ENJOY!
Libra Sorceress xx