Disclaimer: I don't own these series
A Damaged Soul
Chapter 6
"Kagome! Kagome!"
The two children rushed up to the miko and held out dozens of colorful flowers in their hands. Kagome smiled at their eager and muddy faces and knelt down to wipe their cheeks with the sleeve of her black and white kimono. She had asked Seshomaru to stop near a village so that she could go and purchase a new kimono. The inuyoukai had just looked at her attire and gave a small nod.
So the next day whilst Jaken had been making camp, Kagome had taken the children with her after their insistence took in with her and got the children little trinkets with the small purse of coins that Seshoumaru had dropped by her side the previous night. Then she had proceeded to purchase two black kimonos with white flower trailing on their border. She had changed behind a bush before making their way back to camp.
Seshoumaru had raised a brow at her attire but had said nothing. However when Rin had run up to him to show the new golden ribbon she had gotten 'because it matched Lord Seshomaru's eyes', he had nodded approvingly and let the girl chatter as she walked alongside him.
Kagome accepted the flowers and let the two children decorate her hair with it. Her heart felt frozen now. Ever since she had woken up and seen the two children lying by her side, their lashes still glistening with tears, she had felt ashamed. Her problems should not be harmful influence on those two. So, she had apologized and hugged them and lathered them with attention till they felt their world was right again and they had left her side to play.
And now, as they ran to get more flowers, her smile slipped away and she looked up to find the stoic inuyoukai watching her. She looked back at him, wondering at this sudden tug she felt towards him now, like a gravitational pull. Her loyalty was with him and she knew it even if she couldn't find a reason for it.
So, she inclined her head and then got up to put on the fire. It was getting dark. She felt his eyes on her as she worked and ignored it. His presence was soothing, like a balm.
During dinner as she handed out the portion of food to Shippou and Rin, Kagome's eye fell on a small silver flicker in her bag. Leaning forward out of curiosity, she glanced down and realized she was staring at her own reflection. She then remembered the mirror she had packed with her, to give to Sango as a gift. She felt a pang in her heart but pushed it back, refusing to let the grief take hold of her.
She examined her image and noticed the loss of weight reflecting on her cheeks. She said nothing and went back to eating the fish.
That night as Kagome slept, Seshoumaru stayed awake, looking at the miko that he had taken under his protection.
Her indifferent attitude had started changing and she seemed to be changing for the better. Seemed to be. Her smiles while she played with the children would fade as soon as their backs were towards her. Her portions of food had become tinier. She was somber, quiet. She spoke when spoken to or when she had something of import to say. He found her company calming. A few times when she had been unable to sleep, they had both sat awake by the fire, in companionable silence. He preferred this quieter, more demure side of the miko. And yet, he knew she was burying the pain she felt.
Her aura was unsettled, her reiki wild and unrestrained. She was still losing weight rapidly. And sometimes, when she thought no one was looking, her eyes would look haunted and she would wrap her arms around herself as if to hold herself together. Her nights were horrible. She would twist and turn and sometimes cry out in her sleep. Her eyes would furrow and she would curl into a small ball as if to protect herself.
The first night this had happened, Seshoumaru had been studied her, as she wouldn't awaken, no matter how many times he prodded her with his foot. The second night, he had lost his patience and had cast his aura over her, annoyed.
To his surprise instead of awakening in fear, she had responded by relaxing, as whatever plagued her seemed to leave her. Her forehead cleared and she slipped into a blissful sleep.
Since that night, Seshoumaru would spread his aura over her when she slept. He refused to admit to himself that he was concerned about the little miko. She was just so small and delicate at times that she reminded him of Rin.
He glowered into the dancing flames as he recalled the night he had found her next to the hot springs sobbing wretchedly. He had scented the faintest smell of youkai, yet aside from her mental torment, she had seemed uninjured. So he had carried her to camp and laid her in her bedding, unclothed. Her little kit had covered her, both he and Rin had curled up next to the miko trying to offer what comfort they could, their small faces covered in their own tears displaying their sadness and helplessness.
The miko had held them close to her, trying to comfort them. When the children had finally fallen asleep, the miko had looked at Seshoumaru as he too stared back at her. Her gaze was devoid of any emotion as he tried to read her eyes but could not. The next morning, she had seemed fine, better.
The black kimono was something new. To Seshoumaru's knowledge, only in grief were black kimono's worn, but Kagome still smiled. She managed to look very beautiful in the simple black, with her hair tied in a simple knot. Her face was full of smiles for the children, but alone, her eyes held traces of defeat and listlessness. He did not know what to do with that. It felt strange at times to see the young loud, laughing girl she had been evolved into this serious, quiet elegant woman, trying to hold herself together, piece by piece.
Because a certain grace had become her now.
He gaze was fixed on Kagome's face as he pondered over the words Kagura had thrown at her on their encounter. He recalled the blank shock frozen on the girl's face as whatever the wind witch spat out hit home.
Attack? Inuyasha attacked the miko? He spilled her blood? What would drive him to such an extent?
He suddenly realized that his fists were clenched tightly. Brow furrowing, he relaxed his posture.
The miko shifted in her sleep, clearly uneasy. Seshoumaru enveloped her with his aura, but she continued to twist and turn in her sleep.
Seshoumaru stared at her with concern, and finally she relaxed. She turned her back to him and he remembered the long and deep cuts on her back, that the slayer had bandaged. Could they have been caused by the half breed, himself?
Suddenly his line of thoughts were interrupted, as Kagome let loose a cry of pain and started writhing in pain. Her tiny form was wracked with shudders as she cried out. Her aura became laced with something dark.
Seshoumaru immediately jumped to his feet and flinched when she screamed. It was a blood curling scream which grated on his ears.
The demon lord watched with flickers of horror as cuts began to appear on Kagome's body and blood started pouring out.
The children, having been roused out of their sleep, now sat huddled behind Seshoumaru. Jaken stood in front of them protectively, not letting them go to Kagome.
Seshoumaru schooled his expression and stood there watching the miko's aura flickering from dark black to light pink, back and froth. It was as if something was attacking her and she was struggling, trying to fight back.
The children cried out as she let out another scream of pain, her writhing form, now convulsing on the hard ground. Her hands went to her face, as she tried to tear out something with her blunt human nails.
In a flash, Seshoumaru was by her side, holding her hands in one fist. The he smelled it. It was the faintest smell, but he could recognize that scent anywhere.
He bared and teeth and growled.
Naraku!
Inuyasha stared at the sky, his heart hollow. They had been traveling for days and none of them talked much. It was as if without Kagome, nothing mattered. They were not friends, they were just travelers heading in the same direction.
Miroku and Sango had stayed at a nearby village tonight and he had opted for the trees. His mind shifted to Kagome as his heart ached. He could still remember the way she had looked. So hopeless, so nothing. It was like she had been empty. And it hurt even more to realize that he was the cause of that blank face.
Why had he done that? He had loved Kagome. He had just wanted to save Kikyou. Why had he attacked Kagome. The more he tried to think about it, the more hazy his memories would get. He had felt such cold fury when he had entered the cave, and saw Kikyou dying. Kagome's horrified look, the cuts on her hadn't mattered.
He had wanted to rip her heart out, to make her suffer. He had very nearly killed her but something had stopped him. He had wanted to torment her.
He raked his claws over the branch he was sitting on.
But why?
Kikyou had started travelling with them a few weeks before, he remembered. His memories had started becoming hazy from then. Why had he done this?
The wind stirred his tresses as he leaned back against the branch. His beast had been quiet for days. It had not responded to anything. It seemed to be in mourning. The only thing that it would respond to was if he thought of Kagome. Then his beast would whimper hopefully, "Mate?"
And Inuyasha would fight back tears as his human side would yearn for Kagome's smiles, Kagome's laughter.
He had not eaten for days. His companions had noticed and when they had expressed some concern, he had snarled at them and they had left the subject alone, letting him do as he pleased.
The wind changed direction and he smelled a scent he had not smelled in days. However the scent was covered by a heavy scent of pain and fear.
His beast took charge. Coming out of hiding, it took full control over Inuyasha, and rushed towards the source of the scent, only one thing on its mind, as it snarled fiercely,
`Mate, hurt!'
He rushed forward, and after a few minutes, broke into a clearing. Heads turned towards him, except for that of Seshoumaru's. His elder half brother, was holding his mate in his arms and she was screaming in pain.
Inuyasha rushed forward and was backhanded against a tree.
"You will not hurt the miko again!"
As his vision cleared, he saw Seshoumaru standing up, with Kagome still writhing and crying out in pain. To the demon Inuyasha's amazement, his brother's eyes were bleeding red. He had allowed his demon to take over.
"The miko is this Inuyasha's mate! What have you done to our mate!?"
The last sentence was howled out in anguish as the blood kept pouring out of Kagome's cuts and more cuts appeared.
Sensing Inuyasha's fury and pain, Seshoumaru withdrew his beast and stared at his brother who had gotten to his feet. Anybody with eyes could see the tremendous loss of weight. His cheeks were hollow, his clothes barely hanging on to him, his body was trembling but his eyes still held fire.
It was then that Seshoumaru noticed something else.
Inuyasha was full demon.
A.N: For all those who have read this chapter on mediaminer, please reread. TOO. MANY. CHANGES.
Also, I was rereading Chapter 4 that I uploaded and I found this:
-Kagome thinking deep thoguths and then falling asleep.
-Meanwhile Naraku : 'So the miko left Inuyasha. Interseting.'
Interseting.
I need to sit down. My spellcheck is going to hell.