InuYasha Fan Fiction / Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ A Wolf's Cry ❯ Aftermath ( Chapter 16 )

“As if to be purified,

 

the world will be encased in ice

 

so that it can return to the beginning once more.

 

Paradise is a world that is opened by someone...”

 

 

 

A Wolf's Cry

 

Chapter Sixteen- Aftermath

 

 

It's so black here…there's nothing.

 

She couldn't feel any part of her body and the familiar feeling of fear sprouted in her stomach. She felt so paralyzed.

 

 

“What happened?” she asked herself softly.

 

`Am I…dead?'

 

She tried opening her eyes but found her eyelids wouldn't move as well.

 

`I guess it really happened…' and with this, Kagome fell into the realm of unconsciousness.

000

 

“Get up.”

 

It was an unexpected and harsh command that was unrecognizable which Kagome heard as she was coming to a semi-conscious state. Her eyes only fluttered open halfway, too tired to open them fully. All of her strength had vanished, leaving her like a puppet.

 

 

An image of a wolf flashed and she heard the command again, “Get up.”

 

She still could feel nothing, nor could she do anything. “I-I cant!” A tear slid down her face. “I can't feel anything!”

 

Unbeknownst to her, she began to shiver uncontrollably.

 

“I wont let you die.”

The remark seized Kagome's whole being in an instant. What was it talking about? `I must have really died. Or maybe I'm in the realm between.'

 

Ignoring it, she let her eyes close completely. If she were to die in only moments, then she would let herself go. She didn't know why though, was it because of her failure? Or, was it because she really wanted to she her family again? Kagome didn't even bother contemplating; she had no desire to think much of anything at the moment.

 

She was about to drift off when a sudden caress of a feathery light touch gave her goose bumps, rousing her before she could fall asleep. She sighed, enjoying the feeling but...

 

Why could she feel this? Couldn't she not feel anything only a few seconds ago? This place…something just wasn't right about it.

 

“I still have plans for you yet.” The caress drifted at her neck, the feel of a hand moving around her throat before it leisurely moved over her heart to rest. “Come back to me.”

 

There was suddenly an immense pressure on her chest, causing Kagome to shriek loudly before she started to cough up blood. “Stop it! Stop it!” she screamed, wishing she could claw away at the pressure.

Out of nowhere appeared a white light. It was unmoving for a few agonizing seconds. She felt a strong force lift her up, arms and legs dangling as her chest was forced upward. The pressure was abruptly gone and Kagome was able to take a deep breath. At first she was unaware that her fingers began to twitch, but after a few moments, she found herself flexing them until she was able to make a fist.

 

`I can move now.' Kagome opened her eyes slowly, but immediately closed them. The bright light that surrounded her was unyielding. Trying again, she took her time to let her eyes adjust to the brilliance before they opened all the way. `It's all white.'

 

Her hair was all around her in motionless waves as she floated in the mass of white, feeling nothing. Flexing her hand again, she brought it up to her face to examine it.

 

Red. It covered her hand and laggardly dripped onto her face. Where had this come from? Swiftly bringing her left hand up to join its partner, her eyes widened. Again, the color red covered her hand and dripped soundlessly onto her face. Where had all this blood come from?

 

`What did I-' and then she remembered. The fight, the blood…and that animal. Her body pulsed heavily before pain consumed her and her body jerked forward. The pain only increased from this action and Kagome had the strong need to rip herself apart so it would end. Instead, she hugged her blood soaked body and watched as the red liquid sprayed everywhere. “Why is this happening?! Make it stop! Anyone! Please!” She screamed so loudly she thought her ears would burst.

 

The feeling of her blood leaving her body made her feel sick. Her hands kept slipping from her arms because of how soaked they were. She was going to go crazy if this didn't stop. Feeling how slippery her skin was and knowing why made Kagome gag. Was this how her mother and brother felt before they died?

 

“Get up!”

 

Without notice, something shocked her and all the white disappeared, replaced by a brown leafed ceiling illuminated by firelight. She tried to sit up straight but she felt a searing hotness that prevented her. She gasped a few times before she was able to take in large breaths so she could calm down her heart rate. Her body began to pulse uncomfortably and for a second or two she felt paralyzed again before she was able to move again. She moved her hand in front of her face as she had done before to examine it. She blinked a few times before her hand came into full view and watched her fingers move slightly.

 

 

There were cuts and bruises everywhere. Her eyes traveled up her arm only to rest on a bandaged upper arm. “What…” she stared unfocused at the bandages. `What happened to me?' Looking around, all she saw were trees. She heard something snap and an image of a gun appeared in the blink of an eye but disappeared just as quickly as it had come. Forgetting how much it hurt the first time she tried to sit up, she tried it again but failed miserably, and with a yelp her upper body fell to the ground. She gritted her teeth, hissing from the sting of pain. Quick footsteps caught her interest and she could hear them coming closer until they stopped right by her side.

 

“Kagome are you okay?” asked Toboe worriedly.

 

“It hurts so bad!” Kagome said, shaking her head violently. She tried to move her right arm but sadly she couldn't. Glancing down she saw it resting in a sling, wrapped tightly in bandages.

 

“Hold on Kagome, I'll go get Cheza!” without another word Toboe got up and ran into the woods.

 

000

 

It seemed like an eternity had passed before Kagome felt the feathery soft touch caress her being. It was that same warm touch that overpowered the pulsating pain like it always had on previous occasions. Slowly opening her eyes, Kagome looked up and was met with Cheza's smiling face. It was the same Cheza she had been traveling with, but Kagome noticed a few scratches marred her pretty face.

 

“Are you alright?” asked the Flower Maiden delicately. Kagome nodded with a slight grin. “This one knew you would be okay!” said Cheza happily before standing up.

 

“But are you okay Cheza?” Kagome asked desperately. Kagome's eyes reflected an immense sadness, she felt so bad. Cheza had been hurt…because of her.

 

Without notice, she felt someone help her sit up. “Here Kagome, let me help you get up,” she heard Toboe say. She obliged, but very slowly. She pushed herself up with her left leg, but when she tried to put pressure on her right, it gave out. Before she could fall, Toboe tightened his grip around her so she wouldn't hurt herself. Kagome looked down and saw many layers of bandages wrapped around her right thigh. It was the place where the bullet had grazed her. Pushing away the thought of that moment in time, she used her left leg once again to lift herself with the help of Toboe.

 

It was surprising how he wasn't getting the least bit frustrated with her. It was…a nice change.

 

When Kagome finally stood up, Toboe took her left arm and tenderly put it around his shoulder so he could wrap his arms around her for support.

 

 

They slowly began to walk over to a tree that had a very big trunk that was sort of in the shape of a cocoon that was just meant for her. When they finally made it to the tree, Toboe helped Kagome sit down against the tree without wincing in pain before he himself sat in from of her so she could see him. Cheza meanwhile, sat right next to her so she could soothe her from the pain.

 

Kagome smiled at them before it turned into a slight frown. Noticing the change in Kagome's mood, Toboe asked, “Are you alright?”

 

She raised her eyes to his and stared for a few moments examining. He looked concerned.

 

Deciding not to delay any longer Kagome spoke up, “What happened after I blacked out? What happened to the old man with the gun? And the dog?” She watched as his expression changed unexpectedly to one of excitement.

 

He seemed to take his time remembering all the details before he began. “Well after Tsume and I heard you scream, we went out to find you. It took a few minutes to finally reach you, but Tsume managed to stop the old man before he was able to shoot.” She watched as Toboe brought his fisted hands up in suspense as he continued, “Tsume grabbed the gun before it went off and smashed it in two with his teeth. It was so cool! Then he knocked the old man out and then picked you up while I got Cheza. We ran really far before we found this place.”

 

So that was what happened. It had been Tsume and Toboe who had saved her. Kagome would have thought…

 

 

“What happened to Kiba?”

 

The excitement drained from his face. “He…he seems to be doing okay now, but he was pretty beat up before.”

 

Kagome eyes narrowed. “Why is he so beat up?” She knew it was a stupid question, since she had seen him fighting before she left, but she wanted to know anyway.

 

Toboe's eyes wandered from hers. “Well when we passed him on our way to get you, he told us he would fight them until you and Cheza were far away.”

 

Lowering her head Kagome closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, held it, then released with some ease. “Where is he now?” she asked.

 

“Well,” Toboe paused. He seemed to be mesmerized by his pointer fingers that he kept tapping against each other. “He's not far from here, but he's resting.”

 

There was a long pause.

 

`I want to see him…'

 

“This one can take you to him,” said Cheza, bringing Kagome out of her thoughts.

 

 

Snapping her head in the Flower Maiden's direction, Kagome looked at her with pleading eyes. “You can?”

 

With a nod, Cheza stood and helped Kagome tenderheartedly up with her.

 

The two began to make their way into the woods when they heard Toboe yell, “Just make sure you tell Kiba when he wakes up that I didn't bring you!”

 

Smiling at his remark, Kagome silently thanked him before they disappeared.

 

000

 

They stood silently next to one another and in that time, Kagome was able to get a good look at him. He was lying there, motionless and covered in bandages. Kagome's heart lurched in her chest. He looked…awful. Before she could let the tears fall, she looked at Cheza and said, “thank you.”

 

Slowly taking her arm off of Cheza's shoulder, Kagome found her balance without the support of the Flower Maiden.

 

She stepped forward only to stop. “Can you leave us?” it wasn't a command, but rather a plea.

 

Cheza said nothing and Kagome could feel Cheza's presence dissipate before it was completely gone. Once Kagome knew they were alone, she let the stream of tears fall down her face as she began walking to Kiba.

 

These tears were for Kiba, but they were also from the extreme pain she felt and the thought of him going through the same pain.

 

When Kagome finally made it to Kiba's side, not without stumbling a few times mind you, she lowered herself with great pain, mostly from her right leg, to lay down next to Kiba. Why did those people have to come? Why did he choose to fight alone? Where had Hige been? Why did they want the Flower Maiden so much? Why? WHY?

 

“I'm so sorry.”

 

Paying no attention to her right arm, Kagome turned on her side and rested her left arm on Kiba's chest touching his face delicately. “I'm so sorry” she whispered. She was somewhat able to wrap herself around him to keep him warm and as close to him as possible.

 

That night she had cried herself to sleep.

 

 

000000000

 

HAPPY EASTER!

 

Sorry for the long awaited chapter! I thought I would have had it out yesterday but I worked on it right up until 8:00pm and then went to watch Naruto :P

 

I hope you like it, so tell me what you thought!

 

Much love, Dark Paine

 

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