Chapter Fifteen: Those Three Little Words

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Kagome's head darted around to look at the men who closed in on her. She had nothing to defend herself with, and Inuyasha was not likely to be of any help. The leers on their faces told a story about their plans for her. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought she could have been a victim too...she couldn't even think of the word in her own mind. Panic began to rise, causing adrenaline to course through her veins.

"Inuyasha!" she called desperately. He wouldn't meet her eyes. She knew that was because he felt guilty for being caught up once again. Kagome wanted to be angry with him for allowing himself to be ruled by these freaks. "Inuyasha, please!" Why wouldn't he look at her? Why wouldn't he break away from this mob and do away with them? Kagome did not know what hold this gang of men held over his head. Inuyasha claimed to be a pawn for his masters, but that was long ago. Even when Naraku had masqueraded as Inuyasha's old master, he hadn't known the word of subjugation to control Inuyasha. How could this miscreant know it?

The squabble of men was upon her, and they had seemed to forget the world around them, focusing on Kagome alone. A brazen man stepped towards her and groped her breast through her hakui. Incensed, she raised a hand and slapped the man hard enough to leave her hand stinging. He raised a hand to his stinging cheek, eyes wide and outraged. His face contorted with fury, and before Kagome could register, her ears rang, and her jaw felt out of place. When her head stopped spinning, she found that the men had grown several feet taller - or she had shrunk - then she realized that the blow had knocked her to her knees. A lanky, greasy man grabbed her hair, forcing her head up. She grabbed his hand to relieve the tension and grimaced, "Ahh."

"Now I got 'er where I wants 'er," he said. He began to use his free hand to fondle himself and free it from his pants.

"Put that thing near me and I will bite it off!" she spat, revulsion spreading through her.

Despite her threats, nothing would deter these desperate men. Silent tears streamed down her face, but she refused to let them cow her. She would fight them to the end. He drew closer, and she closed her eyes when warm droplets sprayed her face. The grip on her hair pulled tighter, and she cried out in pain and disgust. Suddenly, the tension eased.

"Kagome," her name was whispered, and she opened her eyes to see Inuyasha kneeling before her. The dead man's severed hand still clasped the strands of her hair, and she quickly detangled it and threw it far away from her. Inuyasha pulled her up, and she saw the repugnant man's mangled body next to her. The other bandits had quickly retreated, convinced that the woman was not worth life or limb.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Inu?!" Genji exclaimed. He was livid to see that Inuyasha had disobeyed him. "Fine. You asked for it. Tokihanatsu!" he screamed loudly.

"No!" Inuyasha growled before dropping to his knees. Genji laughed maniacally. He stood alone now, his face contorted into a wild expression.

Kagome gasped and saw Inuyasha with his hands covering his ears as if trying to drown out a sound. He looked pained and began howling in intensity until he was nearly screaming. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder, "Inuyasha?" she asked tentatively. She tried to look at his face and saw his blood-red eye staring at her in what could only be described as fury. She gasped at the sight, her own eyes going wide. His eyes were red, but not the red of an irritated eye. Blood-red could not have been a more apt description. His teeth had always had an animalistic look, but now they resembled fangs more than the sharpened points she had been accustomed to. Certainly not least, there were stripes on his cheeks, ripping into his flesh with a color of bruised flesh.

His clawed hand came up and pushed her hard. She skidded several feet away, tearing at the fabric of her hakama. "Run," he growled in a clipped, deep voice.

Every inch of her instincts told her to run, screamed at her to get away and save herself. Her heart told her no, and Kagome picked herself back up to stand her ground. "Inuyasha!" She called again.

The bandit leader gave a menacing chuckle while he watched Inuyasha rise up. Inuyasha looked like a completely different person; unhinged, untamed, and volatile. Inuyasha turned towards her slowly, his red eyes glowing, with a smirk on his face. His fangs pressed deeply into his bottom lip enough to draw blood, but it did not phase him.

Kagome felt tears well up in her eyes. This is what he had been controlled with, she determined. She could feel the raw power emitting off his body in waves of yoki. "What-what did you do to him?" She demanded of the bandit.

He merely scoffed and stood calmly while the beast form of Inuyasha strode to his side. At this point, Kagome noticed that the lackey bandits had scattered. Maybe Inuyasha's warning had been to them as well.

"I heard the story from my father and his father before him. He spoke if his beloved Inu, a half demon under the control of a trigger word," Genji explained. "I had always thought him to be a crazy, senile old geezer but when I saw Inu here today I knew the stories had to be true. You just can't make that shit up!"

"You're an idiot if you think he can be controlled! Look what he's done to your men!" Kagome warned.

Genji waved her off, "There hasn't been any trouble in controlling him for hundreds of years. Plus, who's to say he doesn't enjoy killing? It can be quite pleasurable. "

This man was demented, Kagome thought. "Your sick!" She voiced aloud. "How can you do this to your own men?"

"It's really not that hard. Here, let me show you." He laughed as if he had made the most hilarious joke. "You will be on the receiving end!"

Kagome knew there was no talking sense into this man. He was too far gone. Perhaps she would have better luck reasoning with a yokai who seemed more inclined to take a blood bath than listen to a human woman. Nevertheless, she decided to take her chances. "Inuyasha, listen to me. I know you're in there."

"Kill her," Genji said, not listening to anything she had to say. He knew he had the upper hand, controlling Inuyasha and all.

Inuyasha did not acknowledge the taller man but still stalked toward Kagome and began to circle her. Odd how similar this was to the time when Naraku had assumed the role of Boss.

"Chief, is it safe yet?" a shaky voice called. Inuyasha swiveled on his foot to see a pair of bandits peeking from behind a large tree trunk a distance away. A nefarious grin appeared on Inuyasha's face. The men caught sight of Inuyasha and ducked away, but running was the worst thing they could have done.

Inuyasha roared, "Get back here! You ain't getting away!" He dashed off to follow the fleeing men. Screams could be heard at first, followed by shrill yelps. One could only assume from the unnatural sounds that Inuyasha had caught his fleeing prey.

Kagome was left standing in the clearing with Genji. The bandit chief scratched his head and mumbled about idiots. This seemed the opportune moment to make a break for it, but as soon as Kagome had taken two steps, the man was upon her. He twisted her arm tightly behind her back, and she grunted. He pulled her around in the direction that Inuyasha had taken off towards. The screams of more men could be heard as Inuyasha quickly hunted them down one by one. His dark laughter could be heard even from where they stood.

Genji leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I wouldn't want you to miss all the fun. Think of it as a spoiler for what's to come."

Goosebumps broke out over her neck when he trailed his long fingers down over her exposed neck. Kagome shuddered and brought her shoulder close to her head to fend the probing touch off. "His killing your lackeys. Doesn't that bother you?" she asked and squirmed in his grasp.

"I can get new men," he said quickly. His hot breath could be felt next to her ear, and it made her squirm to get away even more. "With Inu as my dog, I can do whatever I want. I will become renowned throughout the land. But with this..." his hand trailed down to her chest and snatched out the Shikon Shard. Kagome tried to stop him with her free hand, but he twisted her captured arm, and she cried out in pain. "With this, I can do so much more."

"No!" she cried. Try as she might, she could not fight him, constrained as she was. Not even her spiritual powers could help against a mortal man.

"I've heard stories about the Shikon no Tama along with the stories about Inu. My grandfather was a fool to try and destroy it rather than use its powers when he had the chance." Kagome could not see the man's face, but she was confident from the tone of his voice that he wore a demented look. "I won't make the same mistake he did."

He brought the small shard up to assess it. "Shame it's such a tiny piece, but no matter. Now, what's the best way to wield the jewel's power? Speak woman."

Had he been facing her, she would have spit in his face, a show of rebellion. Instead, Genji twisted her arm again. "Ahh! How-how should I know! It doesn't work like that!" Her arm felt hot and swollen from being mishandled. Had he broken her arm? Kagome could take this no more and stomped her heel down hard on Genji's foot, and he hollered out, releasing her.

"You stupid bitch! If Inu weren't already going to kill you, I surely would. One lousy miko is not worth all this!" He took the jewel and placed it into his mouth, biting through the cord that held it on the throng, and swallowed.

Kagome looked on, dumbfounded. "Did you-did you just eat it?!"

"Heheh," he cackled. His lank hair fell over his eyes, and he bowed his head.

"You were wrong! Your grandfather wasn't as much a fool as you to eat the Shikon Jewel! At least he knew to leave well enough alone!" While she did not know what would happen to the man, she could deduce that it would be nothing good. The man held an evil soul, and evil tainted the jewel, corrupting it and lending unnatural power to whoever wielded it.

Genji ignored her and began looking at his body for any pronounced changes. Kagome could not tell what was happening below the surface, but she could feel an evil aura around him. She had to get the jewel back! She'd already lost most of it to Naraku. She could not lose it to this scheming, power-hungry man. Shortly after the aura appeared, the man's body began to contort. Bulking muscle began to ripple down his tall but thin frame. Whether he cried out in surprise, pain, or both, she did not know, but the laughter he began to cackle told her that it had not phased him.

"I feel it...coursing through me!" he exclaimed. His face twisted into some demonic expression that was frightening to behold. "More! I neeeeeed MORE!"

Kagome gasped when he turned towards her and began to stomp in her direction. "Where is thhhheeeee rest?! I need morrreeeee power! The complete Jewel!" Genji started to look at his arm, still rippling with transformation.

While he was distracted by himself, she found it was the opportune moment to run. Her lungs were burning in just a few short strides, and her arm pained her terribly, but she had to get away from that monster while she could figure out how to get the jewel back. Her life was worth that much, at least.

Screams still echoed through the woods, but they sounded far away. Inuyasha seemed to be hunting down each of the bandits one by one, and Kagome's mind raced with what to do. She couldn't leave Inuyasha, and she couldn't leave the crazed gang leader with the Shikon Shard. Her weapon was back at the camp, and she had no idea where that was. She had been unconscious when the men dragged her to this current location. But it couldn't be far, she speculated. Still, it wouldn't help her at this moment. Plus, she knew she did not truly need the bow. Kagome steeled herself and set down upon her course of action.

It was not difficult to locate Inuyasha. Though the screams died away, the smell of carnage and aura of yoki was unmistakable enough. Flashes of Inuyasha's red clothing could be seen through the foliage. Kagome knew it was useless to try and sneak up on him, enhanced senses and all, but she did her best to come upon him silently.

She half expected him to turn and assault her upon noticing her arrival; however, he barely acknowledged her emerging presence. The scene before her made her pull up short. Inuyasha stood with his back towards her, surrounded by the bodies of two men. Their remains were - to put it mildly - not intact. Kagome settled her breathing. The menacing bandits likely deserved punishment but this? She pushed the thoughts from her head as surely as she pushed forward to face Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha?" she called out tentatively. He still did not move as she circled around, but his voice was loud and deep enough to cause her to stop.

"Stay back!" he snapped.

She paused for a second before taking the final few steps to look him in the eyes. They were still sanguine and large, seemingly full of warring emotions that appeared to overwhelm his usual nature. Her eyes flicked down to see his elongated claws dripping with wet, red droplets. Just the thought of the atrocities those claws had committed made her stomach turn, but there was no time to turn back. She took another tentative step, careful not to set him off. A low growl rumbled from him, and he let out a yell that sounded more like a bark.

"I WILL kill you!" he shouted and jumped backward. "I will enjoy every second of it," he told her darkly. "I don't want to, but I do…." his eyes flashed.

Many of Kagome's instincts screamed at her to heed his advice and turn tail, but a deeper part of her steeled her. "No you won't," she retorted.

It seemed another person had taken control of Inuyasha. A primal side that was raw and unbridled rage, carnage, and passion was in his usual place. "Stupid bitch! It won't even be difficult. You humans are all the same, like lambs to the slaughter," the heavy words tumbled from his fanged lips in a deeper voice.

"If I'm so easy to kill, why haven't you done so yet?" Kagome snapped. If he was truly going to cause her harm, he wouldn't hesitate. Inuyasha was still there, somewhere. She had stopped again and debated on her next course of action. Shaking unsure thoughts from her head, she took more steady steps toward him, and all the while, he threw threats her way.

"You welcome death, wench? Your skin will peel to ribbons beneath my touch," he called to her callously. His eyes shined with malice, but Kagome could sense something beyond the curtain of blood lust. This may be her last chance before she lost her nerve, and Kagome feigned a step and then lunged forward as fast as she could. His eyes widened in surprise, and his claws came out. Still undeterred, she threw herself against him. This had worked before, and Kagome prayed to whoever listened that it would work now.

Warm, heavy arms enveloped her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. 'It worked,' she thought in triumph. She looked up to find Inuyasha's golden gaze still a murderous red. A smirk crept onto his face, and she felt hot lancets of pain erupt into her back. She stiffened, and panic crept through her.

"Gullible bitch," he purred into her ear. "Scream for me."

His claws pulled into the muscles of her back, and she obeyed, screaming out.

"NOOOOO!" another voice cut through the area, snapping Inuyasha to attention.

Kagome whimpered a bit from the pain that lanced through her nerve endings.

"You musn't kill her, Inu!" the voice pled out. Kagome could not see, her head resting against Inuyasha's chest, the strength sapped out of her. Even without seeing, she knew it was the bandit leader, Genji. His lust for more of the Shikon Jewel overwhelmed his senses.

"Why shouldn't I?" he questioned. Inuyasha pulled his claws from her back, and she grunted. He turned her around, held an arm around her chest, holding her in place, and placed a clawed hand near her throat.

"I need her! You will obey me, Inu!" Genji called out.

Kagome saw that the man's body had swelled with corded muscles that threatened to rip through the skin. In fact, it had jagged stripes that resembled bloody stretchmarks. His head looked nearly too small for his enlarged body, and his face was contorted in a grim expression.

"Keh, you unleashed me and I will have my way with this wench or I can have my way with you!" Inuyasha threatened.

Genji cackled, "Fair point Inu, but I promise that if you release her I will supply you all of the pain and carnage you could possibly dream of!"

"I can have that now," Inuyasha retorted casually.

"Fool, with the power I have amassed, I can assure you the greatest pleasures your simple mind has ever fathomed," the man assured. His beady, yellow eyes held a pleading look to them. "Have your way with the girl, just leave her alive," Genji said in an aloof tone.

Inuyasha seemed to consider for a moment and nodded his assent. He put his head down to her ear and whispered, "Let's have some fun, wench?"

Kagome whimpered, but it was one of pain rather than fear. "Inuyasha," she said, mustering her strength, "Please don't do this!"

"Don't waste your breath," he laughed.

"This...this isn't you," she tried to reason. "You are my...friend...Friends don't do this!"

"I don't know the meaning of the word," he said in a low, angry voice. His head turned slightly away from her.

"Yes, you do! I would do anything for you, Inuyasha!" she wrestled in his grasp a bit. His hand clamped to her throat in a lightning-quick move. His finger moved delicately down her throat, the point of his claw easily breaking the skin. She could feel his warm breath against her ear again.

"Would you die for me, wench?" he teased.

Kagome's breath caught, and she stilled, considering her response. Of course, she would! He had protected her, thrown himself in harm's way, and nearly died enough for her to easily repay the gesture. But, when she thought about it, there was more. "Inuyasha...I…" she stopped.

"When faced with death, even a bitch mortal like you can't be bothered to care for a half-breed," he spewed with disgust. "Never enough for any of you lot. But I am more than enough now!"

"No!" Kagome squeaked, her throat being squeezed by his hand. "P-please…" she sputtered out.

"Don't waste your breath wench. You're just like all of the others," he said callously and squeezed tighter.

Darkness began to come for her, settling upon her eyes like weights, and fog rolled through her mind, causing her to drift. Out in the nothingness of her subconscious, a light shone in front of her and beckoned to her. In her haze, she thought it might be the light often spoken of by those at death's door. This light seemed different. It did not feel warm and welcoming as she had imagined. Rather it felt tempered as if it was just behind a veil that, once lifted, would blind her with its intensity. It felt raw and powerful, and beautiful. Internally she reached out and touched the veil. It rippled beneath her fingertips, and the light became even brighter. Suddenly, she knew and took a breath.

Her eyes snapped open. Kagome placed a hand on Inuyasha's arm that held her. Looking up at him, she smiled. "Inuyasha...I... I'm sorry…"

He sneered, and his elongated fangs seemed to pierce the flesh of his lip. He glanced down at her hand, and his eyes widened at the light erupted from her touch. With a gasp, he growled and squeezed tighter on her throat, the tips of his claws drawing blood. "Inuyasha, I love you," she sobbed, and the light shone brighter. Inuyasha let out a hollow scream and thrust Kagome away. She crumbled to her knees in a heap of weakness.

Inuyasha had withdrawn into himself, blasted away by her spiritual powers. She'd been hesitant to purify his demonic side, fearing she might kill him. His hair still shown silver, and the ears were still evident on his head, assuring her that he still held onto his own yoki. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Her relief was short-lived as she was dragged up by the arm, her body lifted into the air. The movement caused her to cry out in pain, the wounds in her back still fresh.

The grotesque face of Genji snarled at her. "Stupid woman, can't have you disabling my dog now." He brought her, dangling, close to his too-small head and mismatched eyes. The breath he expelled with each word was putrid and stung her nostrils. The pain was enough to cause her to black out, but she could not allow this facade of a man to use her.

The pain shot through her nerves like fire. Sucking in air through her gritted teeth, she put her free hand against Genji's massive gullet. It, too, rippled with muscle rather than showed as distended. The man had not been portly before ingesting the Shikon Shard, and his swollen muscles bulged against his skin in corded knots. Kagome could feel a dark taint coursing through his veins. It was as if he were drunk on evil and pushed through him, feeding more and more evil. It was crazy how one small shard could do so much to one man. She dared not think of the crazed bandit getting his hands on more. Instead, she focused her powers into her hand and issued a purifying blast.

Genji barely registered Kagome placing a hand upon his gut. It was the bright light that got his attention. He looked down to see the light beginning to encompass his entire being. Not knowing what else to do, he cried out in surprise and released Kagome's captured hand. She fell to her knees but placed her second hand on Genji's center, doubling her efforts. The light from her purifying blast was bright enough to blind any onlookers but had no ill effect on her vision. She saw everything as the Shikon Shard inside Genij's belly was purified of its evil. The bandit leader's eyes rolled up into his head. His grotesquely enlarged muscles reduced in size, leaving his already tattered clothes in strips that draped from his gangly form. Finally, he toppled over like a log, unconscious.

Kagome collapsed within herself and took several deep breaths. She looked up to see Genji's peacefully sleeping form. He slumbered and looked oddly cherubic with a near glow. The Shikon Shard inside him had been purified and would remain so as long as he was unconscious and not tainting the jewel piece with his evil thoughts. Perhaps she would have hours, but more likely, she would have moments before he woke. There was still the issue of the shard, which rested dutifully in his gut. He would have to pass it naturally or have it removed. Kagome briefly pondered the latter option before shaking the thought from her head. There had been enough bloodshed today.

Kagome tried to push herself up and instantly regretted it. She would need to allow her muscles to heal before using them much. Instead, she gathered her weight under her legs and stood. Wobbly but reliable, her legs held her up while she looked to find Inuyasha. He was nowhere to be found, and her breath caught in her throat. Had he run off after seeing what he'd done? She could not turn her head to look over her shoulder without pain, but she knew from the cold, sticky fabric sticking to her back that blood had ruined her white hakui. It wouldn't be difficult to piece together where the wound had come from. If he even forgot what had happened in that pure rage form, but she doubted that was the case. Something told her he remembered everything, which is why he'd always seemed so tormented.

Part of her wanted to cry, and another wanted to be angry. Both sides seemed to equal tears, and they poured silently down her face. He'd left...the revelation weighed upon her, and she sunk down. Her fear of the bandit waking up was in a distant place. At this moment, she was no longer a miko tasked with protecting a village of people. Now she was just a mortal woman, wounded and alone. Kagome knew she couldn't let herself be overwhelmed, but it was all too easy to let the torrential flow of emotion drag her somewhere deep within herself.

A deep sob racked through her. Everything was painful, moving, crying, and breathing. The sounds of footsteps approaching her brought her out of her reverie, and she snapped around. The movement was excruciating, but she could not let Genji catch her unaware. The man still lay in a contorted position, unconscious, leaving Kagome puzzled until a pair of hands scooped her up. She gasped in response.

"Kagome," he said gently, tentatively. Despite holding her in his arms, Inuyasha seemed fearful that she would try and flee.

"Why did you leave?!" Kagome demanded. Now that he had returned, irritation flooded her.

His eyes widened in surprise. "I thought you wouldn't want to see me again after what I…." he trailed off.

"You idiot! I literally threw myself at you knowing what could happen," she berated. She took a breath to continue, but he placed a hand over her mouth, muffling her following words. Shock must have crossed her features briefly, and his features were heavy with uncertainty.

"Is it true?" he asked. Afraid to hear the words, he did not remove his hand immediately, but he could feel a smile form under his grasp. Slowly, he pulled his hand away and waited. 'So, he'd heard,' she thought. Kagome did smile softly and gave a nod.