Chapter 25: The Power to Devour
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"Relax, pretty girl. It's not your body that I need"
His words didn't make sense to her at first, then, her eyes landed on his exposed chest.
Her gasp echoed off the tall ceiling.
Naraku's chest resembled the broken surface of a lava pit, the skin there, dark, and cracking.
Two crater-like gauges marred his chest, one on his shoulder, and another in the center of his chest.
Kagome's eyes flew up to his with her recognition; the gun, those bullets.
This was their true power, the rawness of it, mixed with the thought that this would've been Inuyasha's fate.
It made for a sobering moment.
"That's right-" he spoke as if he could read her mind "this is the true power of my Shikoshi-no-shi. Designed to be used for malice and destruction. Yet, you?"
Naraku paused to chuckle to himself, "You, an insignificant Insect. You were able to wield my weapon and turn it against me no less."
There was nothing more she could do but watch, unable to look away when his fingers traced his once sculpted chest, the flesh that was churned, broke away as his fingers traveled above it. Like ash, it crumbled; he was showing her the magnitude of his injury.
Still incased within, Kagome wailed when the water rushed around her, bringing her closer to the ground. Not enough to have her feet touch the concrete floor, but enough to where she was now able to peer up into his sinical gaze.
"Now, girl. I shall make you take responsibility for the damage you have evoked."
Her breath caught in her throat, the trembling of her body was back, and when the whimper sat at the bottom of her throat, Kagome allowed the cry to come forth.
'Inuyasha... where are you?!'
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The girl looked between his face and his ashen body, the parts of her that were exposed, quivered with her fear. Any other time, Naraku would have delighted in her terror.
But he could feel the weakness crawling back into his body, the pain of his collapsing insides, growing with the promise of daylight. Making Naraku an impatient man.
"Well? Go on then, fix this!"
When the girl continued to stare on, his annoyance grew to a volatile point.
Rising his hand above him, he preparade to strike her once more, but then she had flinched and whimpered out-
"No! Please! I- I don't know what you're talking about."
His hand hung suspended in mid-air, making her think for a second, he would show mercy.
But the impact of this blow had doubled, the sound of his hand connecting with her cheek sounded off, carrying her cry of pain to the corners of the building.
Kagome bit her inner cheek just to keep the wail back, but now, the bitter metal taste of her own blood brought tears to her eyes. Those, she could not fight back, they streamed freely down her cheeks in response to the biting sting of her abused flesh.
However, this pain was far better than when he cupped her face.
He cradled her head within his cold hands, bringing her gaze back to his mocking stare; he crooned at her, gently tracing the red mark his palm had left behind.
"Shhh, don't cry little one. You see, I loathe liars but cries even more so."
Swallowing her next cry, Kagome tried to steady her hiccupped words, "I s-swear, I'm not-"
"I would highly advice against lying, Miss Higurashi, you will find rather quickly it will not help you here."
Naraku seemed to think about this, taking her hand in his, he moved them closer together one at a time, the water allowing for any movement he wished possible. Holding both wrists in one hand, while keeping the other hand, softly over her bruised jaw.
He pressed her palms against his dry flesh, the skin crumbled under her fingers, startling Kagome into curling her hands into fists. "You will heal me girl, even if it means taking this pain onto yourself, you will repair what you broke."
"H-heal... you?"
The sudden realization as to what he wanted rammed into her, Kagome's frightened eyes snapped from his chest, back to gaze at those dark eyes.
Somehow, Kagome managed to pull her face away, sickened to the core by this man, who knew something he should have never known. "I can't... please, believe me, I can't."
His hand fell away from her face, and for a moment, Kagome thought she had convinced him.
The fist that hit her side drew the air from her lungs, never had she been punched before, and this was not how she wanted that experience to come. There was no energy left in her to even whimper, the pain had taken that from her, and left her with just a few rolling tears.
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Kagome found herself held tightly by her jaw, he tugged her face forward just to snarl his warning, "You healed the hanyou mutt, you will heal me as well, or be tossed aside like the rubble that you are!"
Naraku's hissed warning had the opposite reaction, her ocean eyes brightened in recognition. Her whole being gained strength, as her mind repeated his name like a saving grace.
There was someone out there, right now, looking for her. And he would not stop until she was found, all Kagome had to do was hold out long enough for him to arrive.
So that when Naraku took her hands back in his, she had half a plan made up in her mind.
"What's it going to be, girl?"
Attempting to look resigned, Kagome sighed heavily, as she peered up at him from her long lashes. A look her kid brother would give her, and hopefully, would have the same result on him as it did on her.
"Okay, okay. You win, I'll heal you, just please don't hurt me."
His corrupt smile widened to show a pair of pristine teeth, but when he made to place her hands back on his person, she had instinctively flinched away, wiping the smile clear from his face.
Seeing the anger bubbling, Kagome quickly gave reason for her involuntary movements.
"W-wait! I just need to move around, I'm all cramped up, what did you expect?"
Naraku eyed her suspiciously, his stare was unsettling, but she met his gaze straight on either way. Putting as much conviction into her eyes to better sell it, he said nothing. Then the water moved.
It fell in a shower around her, feeling like hailing coins around the parts of her that could still feel. She gasped, crumbling to the ground as her legs were practically useless, leaving her kneeling before this foul man.
He crouched down to meet her eye to eye, his hand reaching once more for her.
Kagome's first reaction had been to move away, and it took all of her will just to keep still. His hand cupped her face softly, helping her to her feet as if he were just some kindhearted stranger, aiding a young clumsy girl.
Kagome smiled weakly, her insides churning at his touch, still she played the part. Moving with him as he placed them under the hanging light's direct glare, there, she could see his face as clear as day. It looked older, even now, it seemed as if he was aging before her very eyes.
"Now girl, do not mistake my courtesy for foolishness. It would give me too much joy to wash my hands in your blood, let us not reach our climax so soon, Eh?"
He took a step, and she inherently took one back, holding her hands out in front of her, a silent plea for the demon to keep his cool. When his eyes narrowed, it took all her will to keep her posture relaxed; calm in the face of this volatile man.
"I-I'm too tired now, you've worn me out with all the waterworks, ya'know. I just need a break; can we take 5?"
"Don't- push your luck. I do not have time to play with you, insect. The sun is nearly on us, and I am done waiting for you."
When his hand grabbed hers, his intention became clear. Kagome gave but a single fruitless tug against his hold, her fear spiking when his eyes glowed, and thin lips hardened.
Naraku jerked her forward, placing both her hands flat against his cold chest, and waited.
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Kagome's heart was racing too fast for its own good, giving its own fretful lurch at the unavoidable; there would be no healing, because she could not heal.
Kagome's 'talents' as her grandfather had called them, were nothing more than smoke and mirrors, she could take away aches and bruises, but when it really counted...
Images of Inuyasha's broken and battered body surfaced, he could have died in her childhood bed, and she hadn't been able to do a thing about it. It had been a miracle he had survived, most of which she suspected had been his own doing, Inuyasha healed fast and that had been his saving grace.
She had just been the idiot that cut him up and fed him pain medication from her local pharmacy that hadn't blinked twice when she had asked for all kinds of medical supplies. Her grandfather's lies had come in handy, and they had wrongfully assumed she had relapsed in her health.
Kagome had cried that night over her own uselessness, fresh tears springing forward with the memory, she refused to let them fall and just tried again to tug her hands free.
He never budged, his grip tightening to the point where she feared her bones would snap.
"What are you waiting for?! Do it! Do it now!"
Kagome sobbed with dry tears, almost coming clean to him, wanting to scream her worthlessness to this creature who would no doubt kill her upon hearing it.
Naraku's grip tightened, pressing her hands harder upon his chest, but she could do no more than flex her fingers hopelessly.
His eyes were becoming more and more wild, the dark force around him doubled, a dark haze that made him look like he was incased in purple translucent flames.
"Do it now or I'll end your miserable-insignificant life!"
Kagome sucked in a breath, a scream just at the tip of her tongue; for before her very eyes, Naraku began to vibrate in a sense, the same as it had been that night. Except now, now there was no magic gun she could protect herself with.
Behind him large tentacles sprung forth, the parts of his chest that weren't burned black, shifted; flesh breaking to accommodate for the growing bones. Like thorns, the bones morphed into deadly peaks, all but the parts directly underneath her hands.
Her fear sucked her in, his evil a force she could not reckon with; just as she was preparing to shout the truth, admit her incompetence, something inside her heated.
Suddenly she could see so clearly, the red substance that seemed to lie somewhere within the crevasses of his bullet holes, glowing bright in time with every breath the demon took.
And by some strange miracle; she wasn't afraid.
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Naraku paused in his transformation, his black orbs fading back to their clear purple as his gaze dropped down to their combined hands.
Faint as it was, he could see the pink light that began to flicker to life.
"About damn time" he sneered, tugging the girl closer, he snapped down at her- "Get on with it, daylight is but minutes away."
Kagome didn't hear him, as it were she stopped being aware of the man that held her; her focus entirely on the spread of hot liquid that ran through her veins, ending at the tips of her fingers.
This was no tingle, no gentle wash of warmth, the heat was reaching scalding temperatures and she was numb to it.
Transfixed in the small pink light that centered around her palms, Kagome watched with disbelieving eyes as the flesh beneath her lightened.
The cracks mended, smaller and smaller still, until the hole in his chest was but a quarter of its original size.
It was Naraku's bursting laugh, that finally drew her eyes away from the glow, rising to meet the deranged look that had broken clear across his face.
Naraku felt younger, and by the look of surprise that crossed her pretty face, he looked younger as well. His hair lifted in waves around him, the once dark purple aura- now a vibrant violet that pulsed with his power.
"Yeeeessss, yes! I can feel the poison turning, keep going girl!"
The circles under his eyes disappeared, the greys from his hair darkened; and at long last, Naraku stood in all his original glory. His young body feeling spry and ready, looking down at the girl, he studied her and the work she was doing. The black mass on his shoulder still pained him, but the place where her hands met his flesh was as good as new.
"Ah, that's it. My powers are nearly replenished, and once you've finished, hunting down the dog will be my guilty pleasure."
His thoughts slowly changed to acknowledge the girl in his hands, her usefulness, her connections, her raw beauty. Suddenly the idea of killing her seemed like an awful waste.
Naraku released one of her wrists, pleased that it stayed in place, his hand came up to smooth a wayward strand of her raven hair, tucking it back into place. When she didn't flinch away, his smile softened in response, reaching around with his fingers to cup her cheek, if simply to test how far she would allow his touch.
Just as his fingers curled around her jaw, the pain came in an unbearable magnitude.
It rippled through him in sharp waves, to where Naraku could do nothing more than reach for the girl's hands, in a vain attempt to rip her away from him.
Every step backwards he took, Kagome took two, keeping herself pressed against him. Or more specifically, keeping her hands on his turning flesh.
"W-What are you... AWCK!"
Kagome shut her eyes, shutting out his pained scream, closing herself off to everything but this wonderous heat that promised to put an end to this.
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It had been his own doing, the moment he had threatened Inuyasha...
The thought of this man, this Monster, going forth to hunt and bring Inuyasha down.
Inuyasha, the man that saved her, that kept her safely hidden. The man that she was coming to know as 'All bark' no 'Bite.' The no-nonsense, nut-job that had kidnapped her, just so this man wouldn't do it first.
The heat had grown, a scorching heat that had almost forced her to stop, almost. Now, with very little ease, Kagome could feel the light as if it were an extension of herself. It no longer felt like a strange entity, but a part of herself, as natural as cells pumping blood throughout her body.
While the first two shots had failed to bring this man down, now, now she would be the one to put the final nail on his overdue coffin.
She pressed on, the light coming forth clearly now, a radiant glow that illuminated the dark building.
Kagome could save herself. She would save herself; she would protect Inuyasha, and she would do what many others had failed to do.
Kagome Higurashi would be the one to kill Naraku.
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Naraku's sudden dark laugh interrupted her thoughts, his hands had shot out to grip her arms now; surprising her when instead of pushing her away, Naraku pulled her in tighter against his person.
The warehouse filled with the angry hums of those things, they flew low, angrily buzzing around her head.
"Ah-hahaha, I nearly forgot... it's been so long" Kagome gasped when he looked down at her, his face was awash with fascination and something more, something she wasn't sure she wanted to identify.
"It's been decades since I've felt the work of such pure spiritual energy; had I been a younger demon, your weak attempts to purify me might've worked."
His hands dug into her arms, the sharp pain came, his nails broke her skin and her light dimmed because of it.
"But with time- yes. I can see it now... With time and a- firm hand, even an insect like you could be deemed useful."
Kagome saw herself reflected in those neon-purple eyes; in there she saw herself as he did, small, weak. Too easy of a target, scared and out of her wits, he found her to be easily manipulated.
Somewhere in the back of her consciousness, her anger spiked to an all new high, Kagome knew this to be her defense mechanism; always had been, in the face of danger, she somehow managed to help dig her own grave.
The girl's entire composure changed, the weariness that dulled her blue eyes faded, to be replaced with a look of utter defiance.
Kagome steeled herself, digging deep and grabbing a hold of the heat source inside her; she brought it forward, channeled it to flow into her palms in stronger waves now.
"Stop that, it's futile. You're only succeeding in angering me."
His fingers dug deeper, she felt as though his nails were growing inside of her, piercing her insides. Still, Kagome held strong to the heat, allowed it to flow freely inside of her now.
Naraku hissed low in pain, the flesh under her hands felt as though it were boiling. Yet, he could see it well intact under her child-like hands. The once ashen surface was back to the chiseled masterpiece it once had been; and though her job was done, the heat kept building.
"Enough; this stops, now!"
Kagome glared up at him, his tentacles were all around them now; and inside she felt the thorns of his nails slicing through layers of muscles. Her blood spilled on the floor, and there was no doubt in her mind it was only the first drops of many to come.
Yet, even knowing that if she tried, he'd take her down with him, it did not crack at her resolve.
"I will kill you with my bare hands! Do you hear me, Insect?"
"Kagome-" she managed to wheeze out, sweat had begun to build on her brow, the heat affecting even her now. "My name- my name is- Kagome! Not- insect, or girl. You'd think- demons would have- a better memory."
Naraku gasped, she was purifying more than the poison now; even the bullet hole on his shoulder drained in its darkness, without her even touching it.
"You'd also think- that someone as evil- and corrupt- and over all- a giant Asshole. Would know better- than to think- for a second- I'd ever- join- you."
Each word was more strained than the last, the inferno rose to new heights, feeling as though she were standing in the ring of fire. It went on until all Kagome could do was lock her knees and keep her arms straight in front of her. Demon claws or not.
"I'll Kill you!" He snapped, the angry hive above them grew in agitation, responding to Naraku's distress. The demon bees flew down but stopped, just inches from her body, either unwilling or unable to withstand the heat the two were sharing.
More determined than ever, Kagome bore the full force of his darkening pulse, clenched her teeth against her raising pain.
"I guess... we'll see... who kills... who."
With that her light grew, as did their rising screams; the end nearly within reach.