InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ On The Night Of A Blood Red Moon ❯ Chapter 18

Title: On The Night Of A Blood Red Moon
Author: Ryukotsusei and Cyntinell
Disclaimer: We do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. We do however own the plot. Steal it and you shall face our wrath.

Warnings: This is a dark fic. It does have graphically detailed rape in it, as well as lemons in future chapters. It's likely to have major character deaths as well. Reviews are always appreciated, flames not tolerated. You are forewarned.

 

Author's Note: AHHHH Finally! This chapter is done, it was beginning to drive me absolutely insane. Hopefully it meets everyone's expectations, if not you have my apologies in advance. Sorry for the long wait, hopefully the next one will not take as long. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. They are always appreciated.

 

The golden Scepter was dormant, power no longer radiating from the stone as it lay on the throne of the skeletal warrior. If he had not felt the power for himself he would have believed the weapon to be harmless, however he knew differently. Ryuji fought to keep his eyes open, nearly giving in to the blanket of exhaustion that still cloaked his trembling body. Slowly he pushed himself up onto his knees and looked around. He was alone in the room, no traces of what had transpired mere hours before. Where had the Scepter's protector gone? Truthfully he had no desire to find out, he was merely relieved that he was nowhere to be found. Slowly he forced his hands towards the Scepter, hesitating when a dark mist began to gather around the stone. Before he had the chance to pull away it began to reach towards him, as if feeling out his aura to ensure that he was the one who had rightfully claimed it. Then, as soon as it formed the mist dissipated, revealing a bolt of black lightning adoring the golden orb.

Ryuji fell to his knees as his hand closed around the cool metal. The thin layer of dirt on the floor did little to cushion the blow his knees took and he gritted his teeth against the pain as he pulled himself into the throne that had once been occupied. He should have felt elated but that was one emotion that eluded him for the moment. He had succeeded in the first half of his mission. He had found and secured this lost treasure for Masakazu, though he had no intentions of letting the Crow use it as he wished. He stared in wonder at the object in his hand, knowing that it would only be a little while longer and he would have anything he had ever desired. But first he had the other half of his journey to accomplish, the journey home. He knew however that time was now on his side. No one knew exactly how long it would take for him to obtain the Scepter, he could afford to take his time making his way back. Regaining the strength that he had lost in the process of the ordeal. He had no desire to fight Masakazu in his current weakened condition. Instead, he had a perfect place to stay for as long as he needed. The only thing that would cut short his stay would be the eventual need for provision but that would be a few days off. Only when it became necessary would he once more brave the harsh winds of the wasteland that lay just outside the stone walls.

He groaned as his skin began to throb painfully from the treatment it had received earlier at the hands of the harsh winds. Multiple gashes littered his body caused by the flying debris that had struck him. His nose wrinkled in disgust at the stench of his body. He was in desperate need of a bath to keep his injuries from becoming infected. Already a few of them were oozing, the discharge causing his clothing to cling painfully to the cuts. Slowly he stripped off his clothing, the congealed blood making the garments stiff. He gasped for breath, every movement causing him an intense pain yet he knew he could not afford to rest just yet. He dragged himself to a shallow pool of water and dipped his hand into it. It was cold to the touch but he didn't care. He began to wash his injuries, taking care to scrub them thoroughly to remove the sand that was embedded in the flesh. He looked at his ruined clothing and decided that it wasn't worth attempting to salvage them. He had his provisions which included a change of clothing. Wearily he made his way over to the pack and pulled out a comfortable pair of pants choosing to forgo putting a shirt on just yet.

 

Nearly trembling with exhaustion he sank back down into the chair. He would rest for now, surely if he attempted to leave now he would perish before he reached the relative safety of the forest. He reflected back on the memories he had of this place, the image of watching him destroy himself burned into his mind. He had experienced so much pain in those brief moments and for the shortest of times he felt the pang of regret. He had been responsible for the death and destruction of hundreds over his lifetime yet just as quickly as it came the regret passed. Those deeds had been what created the demon that he was today, had he done anything different it could have changed things for him drastically. That would never do, he liked the way that he was. Greatness would be his and one day he would be the King of the Thieves and it would happen soon. Just as soon as Hiei and Masakazu destroyed each other.

The smallest of smiles crossed his elegant features, he had always known that he was destined for greatness. It was in his blood, who he was. The Dragon clan would once more reign supreme, it had been much too long. The time was now, no more would he stand in the shadows of another demon. He would make his move and take his rightful place as the leader. The Seer had promised him great things to come after the current events ran their course. He would use any means necessary to claim what was his. He knew that his usefulness to Masakazu was over when the Scepter was placed within the Crow's hands. For that, there needed to be a backup plan in place. "He will destroy those that would rival him in power and by default, that will place my neck in the noose. He will use my execution as an example to others." Ryuji was under no illusions that he was safe from the madness. "The play is nearing it's final act and the ending has yet to be written." He would enjoy seeing death as it lingered in Masakazu's eyes, the Crow's lifeblood spilling upon the floor. It was to that pleasing image that his eyes drifted closed, unable to remain awake any longer. Sleep finally claimed him, carrying the Dragon into the realm of dreams.

It was some time later when Ryuji's eyes finally opened. He had no idea of how much time had passed for him but he suspected it had been at least three days justing by how his body ached from not moving. His stomach began to protest the lack of food but he ignored it choosing instead to scan his body and take an inventory of his injuries. He realized that he was healing albeit slowly. It was a shame that a healer of his considerable skills and strength could not heal the wounds of his own body. He had no choice but to suffer with the pains that continued to throb deep within his own body yet he was grateful that he was even still alive considering everything that had happened. Pulling himself to his feet he grasped the Scepter and secured it to his pack, the object glowing in the dim light. It was as if it could sense the upcoming journey it was about to undertake and was eager for the chance to escape the confines of the cave. That suited him just fine, it was time for him to move onward and begin to make his way home. He would take his time, allowing his strength to return fully all the while plotting his revenge on the one who had held him back for so long.

He reached the entrance of the cavern, taking note that the barrier was still firmly in place shielding the interior from the harsh winds that he could hear waiting for him. The call was the same as before, unchanging, demanding his submission yet he had the strength to resist that he lacked so greatly before. He suspected that it was due to the Scepter in his possession. Whatever the reason he was not going to question his good fortune. He would need every bit of the advantage he had to be strong enough to cross the wasteland a second time. Once that was accomplished he could rest easy and heal. Time would be the one thing that was for once that was on his side. Masakazu would of course be waiting for him to return but what he would not be expecting was the dagger he planned to embed in the Crows heart. He could almost feel the sticky blood flowing over his fingers and he gave in to the smile that wanted to break free.

Slowly Ryuji raised a hand and laid it upon the cold shell of the barrier, waiting to see if it would allow him passage. At first he felt the faint resistance as it attempted to keep him within its confines however Ryuji would not be stopped. He pushed onward, allowing the icy feel of the magic to wash over hims as it shrieked in protest of his actions. Abruptly there was a tugging sensation on his body before the barrier burst apart in a show of light, the fragments drifting harmlessly to the floor and disappearing. Sunlight streamed into the cavern illuminating the interior. Ryuji cast one final glance at the place which could have been his tomb before taking a step outside. It was then that he noticed that with the destruction of the barrier, the winds were gone as well. He waited, anticipating this was some sort of trap yet nothing happened. The heat only intensified around him as there was no movement of the wind. Particles of sand drifted down, coming to rest once more. No longer were the voices calling to him, all was deathly silent. The spell that had held this place for so many centuries was gone, never to be invoked again.

 

"The price has been paid." Those words echoed through his mind before all was silent once more. Indeed it had been, it had been paid for in blood and Ryuji couldn't bring himself to regret the actions that had transpired. Feeling stronger than he had since he had entered the cave he stepped forward to make his way across the still wasteland. The only sounds that reached his ears was the crunch his boots made as brittle bones snapped beneath his feet. Crossing this time took less than half the time it had before with nothing impeding his progress. At last he had reached the end and climbed upwards into the sanctuary of the tree line. He made his way to the previous camp and found the few packs he had left behind. It was fortunate that they were still there, had someone come across them they would have likely taken his provisions thinking that he was yet another victim to the storm below. He began to shoulder the packs but then changed his mind, allowing them to drop to the ground once more. It was still early in the day, just past noon judging by the position of the sun but he was in no hurry to leave just yet. Ryuji set about had known he would still need to find rest and heal naturally and just beyond the waste was as good a place as any.

 

Ryuji quickly scouted the area and made a kill, dragging the carcass back to his camp once he cleaned it. It was a large enough animal to provide him with decent food for a couple of days. He waited in anticipation as the meat slowly cooked, the smell teasing his senses. By the time it had finished roasting the sun was beginning to set, the cool breeze easing away the last of his aches. Eagerly he removed a portion of the meat from the spit and began to enjoy his meal. He reflected on how delicious it tasted, at the moment it was better than any of the feasts he had been privy to when a raid turned out successful. It was amazing how hunger could flavor a meal. He tossed the bones over his shoulder once they were picked clean, unconcerned that they would draw any wild animals. Those foolish enough to attack him deserved the death that would swiftly come. As the stars began to show themselves in the darkening sky Ryuji decided it was time for him to sleep once more. Eventually however he grew bored with the unchanging scenery and broke camp. He traveled at a leisurely pace, not caring about the passage of time. Though he had not traveled this area frequently he knew enough about the area that he made a detour from his intended path, pushing aside the lush vegetation that inhabited the area due to the plentiful amounts of water. A dull roar was making itself known as he worked his way deeper into the forest, the vegetation clearing abruptly allowing him to view the magnificent waterfall before him. A small smile graced his face as he dropped his packs onto a soft patch of grass. This place would suit his needs nicely he thought as he made his way to the waters edge.


Slowly he began to strip off his tunic, fully intent on enjoying a swim when his senses picked up on the presence of other youkai. He whirled around, drawing his blade as he did so. He immediately sought out the smallest sound of a twig snapping. Every sense was on alert as he waited for the attack, knowing that there was more than one demon, but their scent was masked making it difficult to determine just how many there was. Moments later the underbrush parted to reveal three wolves staring at him with malice in their eyes. He relaxed slightly, knowing that he could handle three wolves. If this had been a full pack then he would have had cause to worry.

 

With a casual disregard he sheathed his sword and waited for the attack. As they began to move forward he allowed the daggers strapped to his wrists to come free, the moonlight glinting along the razors edge. Once they were within range he threw them through the air with deadly accuracy. He knew that this would only take two of them out but he was confident in his skills, he could handle one lone wolf in hand to hand combat. Ryuji moved quickly to engage the third wolf when he realized a terrible truth, there had been no cry of pain that would indicate his blades had found their target.

He stopped suddenly, once more seeking the wolves out. They had all but disappeared with an ease that would have made Masakazu envious. His daggers laid harmlessly on the ground not far from where his targets had once stood. Cautiously he went to retrieve his weapons, scanning the shadows the entire time. As he picked the blades up he examined them carefully. They were perfectly clean aside from the earth they had picked up from lying discarded upon the ground. He sighed heavily and scanned the area once more. Perhaps they had realized just how dangerous he was and had left while they still had the chance.

 

Ryuji relaxed much too soon and never noticed the demoness that stood next to him. It wasn't until she slammed her foot deeply into his side that he took notice of her as he crashed into a nearby tree, the sound of cracking wood and bone filling the air. Ryuji dropped to one knee and glared at his attacker, preparing to fight. He knew that several of his ribs had shattered under the impact and his breathing was becoming difficult. He tried to stand but another kick drove him onto his back before he was pinned to the ground. He glared up at her and prepared to slice his claws deeply into her leg when she pressed her foot down firmly into his ribs.

The wolf demoness snarled at him, making sure he knew his place. She would not be denied her answers. "Where is the Priestess?" She smirked as she watched the Dragon's eyes widen in recognition. This was good, he knew exactly who he was dealing with now and that his life would be forfeit if he failed to give her what she wanted. However she could tell that he was going to try denying knowing anything about the girl, that would never do. "Do not lie to me, I will kill you where you lay and leave your corpse to rot like you and your group did to my mate. Now I will ask one final time. Where is the bitch? I can smell her all over you."

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome looked into Hiei's eyes, trying to determine whether or not he had suffered any ill effects from waiting so long for his release. She reached out to touch him but hesitated when he flinched away from her, shame filling his eyes. Even now his body trembled yet somehow she knew that it had nothing to do with the effects of his cycle. Steeling herself for his rejection she went ahead and touched him. Did the thought of what he had just done repulse him that much? Had he truly not thought of her in such a way and now felt that he had degraded himself by laying with her? She didn't know the answers yet she was afraid to ask him. He had tried to keep her from knowing what was wrong with him, surely there had to be a reason and at the moment she was not sure how much her heart could take if he were to turn her away now. She knew in her heart that had he come to her with his problem before this had started that the outcome would have been the same. She couldn't bear to see him suffer if she could in any way prevent it. She had given herself to him of her own free will, and during their joining she realized that somehow she had also given him the only other thing that she possessed, her heart.

Hiei stared right at her yet his mind was in too much turmoil to see the look of concern or the hurt that fleshed across her face. 'What have I done?' It echoed through his mind over and over, refusing to give him peace. The strain had eased from his body yet he would give anything to have it back and away from this place yet he could not escape the horrible truth that he had indeed done the one thing he swore he would never do. There was no pretending that it had not happened, the scent of their rutting hung heavily in the air. What was worse was he could feel the slow build of desire once more the longer he stayed near her. There was every likelihood that he would take her again regardless of what he wanted anymore. Anger filled him knowing that he was weak, too weak to control the desires of his cursed body and the one being he cared for was the one that would have to suffer. It didn't matter that she had offered herself willingly, he should have been able to resist the temptation. He doubted that she would have been so willing had there not been the chance of him losing complete control and just taking what he wanted.

 

The touch of her hand on the side of his face jerked him out of his thoughts and he focused on her. Abruptly pulled himself away from her, he didn't deserve to be touched with such kindness. He had betrayed her, it was unforgivable. This time he did see the hurt look she gave him but it was unavoidable. Better a small amount of pain now compared to what would come if he continued to be close to her.

Kagome sighed and pulled her hand back away from him unsure of what to do. 'He really does hate me.' She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, knowing that if he was disgusted by her before then a display of weakness such as crying would only make it worse. A glint of gold flashing in the wavering light of the room caught her eye. Kagome bit her lip as she slowly reached a trembling hand to pick up the tiny metal ring that laid innocently on the floor. The enormity of what this meant hit her hard, she had not realized that he had removed the symbol Masakazu had branded her with. Her hand clenched around it tightly, not caring how the catch dug into her palm drawing blood. She turned her back to Hiei as she realized she couldn't stop the tears from falling. She was afraid, more afraid than she had been in a long time since coming here. It wasn't only fear for herself but also for Hiei because surely once Masakazu had seen that it had been removed he would be infuriated. There was no telling to what extent he would make his displeasure known when he found out.

Hiei smelled her tears and looked down at the floor. He was the cause of them, though he didn't know the exact reason why. Instead of asking he assumed that it had to do with how he had touched her, she had every right to be upset with him. He pulled himself to his feet and slowly walked to the bars. He would give her as much space as he could, he could at least do that much for the girl who had asked nothing of him. He knew that things would never be the same between them and for that he mourned. He had never expected to feel what was coursing through every fiber of his being, the desire to hold her and apologize. He wished that he could take it back, believing that any chance he ever had of having a relationship with her had been destroyed. 'I am forbidden, I'm not meant to love. Once we get out of here I'll make sure that she gets somewhere safe. Safe from him and safe from me.' Perhaps then she could find the happiness he believed that she was entitled to. However the thought that they would soon be separated brought a heavy ache to his heart, one he wasn't sure how to bear. He longed to tell her how he felt but feared she wouldn't listen, refusing to hear of his emotions. How he hated them right now, he felt so damned weak and powerless.

Kagome had heard him getting up, convinced he wanted as much distance between them as possible. She turned to watch him leave and wondered whether or not she should attempt to bridge the distance that had appeared between them. He seemed lost in his thoughts, not focusing on anything around him which was unusual. Before he had seemed hyper aware of everything around him, including her. She made her decision when his stance took on one of defeat, his entire aura screaming of despair and dejection. 'He can't be mad at himself can he?' When he turned to look at her she stared in surprise at the look of longing in his eyes. She knew there was something different about this look, it didn't have the feel of lust in them like before. No, this was something much more complicated. She didn't dare to raise her hopes though that he felt anything for her. Yet she wasn't going to stand by and watch him beat himself up for something that wasn't his fault.

 

Somehow she had to find the right words to ease his troubled state of mind. Slowly she forced herself up and walked over to him. Tentatively placed both of her hands on his shoulders, feeling the muscles dance under her fingertips. She waited for him to push her away, to tell her to never come near him again yet it never came. Instead he continued to stare at her with the same haunting look in his eyes.

 

"Hiei." His name came out as a mere whisper as she pulled him closer to her, uncaring about their nudity. Her arms wrapped around his thin body as they both sank to the floor in a comforting embrace. "Please tell me what's wrong. If you're upset over what happened don't be. None of this is your fault, if nothing else it's mine for not seeing the problem sooner. I only wish you had told me sooner, I could have helped and spared you the torment." Kagome felt him tremble once more yet he did not pull away and for that she was thankful, maybe he didn't hate her if he wasn't fighting to get away.

Instead he had buried his face in the thick mass of her hair that had spilled over her shoulder. He breathed in her comforting scent, so mixed with his own. He desperately wanted to believe her words yet he was afraid to look into her eyes to see the truth. He heard the pain in her voice, he couldn't bear to see it in her eyes. They had gotten close yes but he knew that there was no way that she had been ready to give herself to him like that. And now for her to speak of it like it was nothing was hard for him to believe. She had to be trying to ease his mind, there was no other explanation. He knew that was the type of person that she was. The silence dragged out for a time and he realized that she was waiting for some sort of response. To shut her out completely would hurt her, something he had already done enough of. "Thank you ." He whispered knowing that she would hear him easily enough.

She was slightly surprised that he would thank her, knowing that it wasn't in his nature just as apologizing was a foreign concept to him. She pulled back slightly, noticing how it was reluctance that he let go of her and stared down at the floor. "Why won't you look at me Hiei?" She was beginning to see the problem, he was ashamed of himself for touching her. Now as to what his reasoning was for that shame she wasn't certain but she didn't like it. She felt no shame or regret for giving herself to him and dammit he shouldn't either.

He finally raised his head and gave her what she asked for. He didn't know the words that would right the wrong that he had done. He saw her uncertainty and to some degree of fear yet he knew that it wasn't his touch that caused it for she still had her hands upon his body. Realization dawned in him, it was his current behavior that was eating away at her, not what had happened earlier. He cursed himself yet again for his foolishness, he wasn't used to dealing with these emotions and he hated them even as he wanted to pull them closer and hold onto them. It was time for him to lay his feelings out before her as well as what he had almost done. He would accept any judgment she gave him, knowing full well that if she were to condemn him he deserved it.

 

Kagome could feel him distancing himself from her even though he had given into her request and looked at her. She had done everything she possibly could to help him, she could only hope that he wouldn't push her away. He might not like what had happened but it had been necessary. She'd do it again if need be without a seconds hesitation. His behavior had her completely confused, they had to get to the bottom of this.

"Kagome." He could barely force her name out, knowing that with what he was about to tell her she would most likely hate him for the rest of her life. "I... Before the bastard brought me here." His eyes dropped to the floor, unable to look at her as he spoke. " I was trying to leave, he knew this would happen and he stopped me right at the door. I was going to leave until it was over. We both knew I wouldn't be strong enough to stop this from happening and I tried to run. She was right, the fucking bitch was right and I was too blind to see the truth!" He began to tremble in rage, furious with himself for even thinking of abandoning her even if it had been for her own good. He had betrayed her not once but twice.

Kagome flinched as if burned by his confession leaving her speechless. 'He was going to leave me here? Alone?' Her mind screamed that he was lying, he had promised he would never leave her. That they would make it out together or not at all. This couldn't be, he had to be saying this to make her hate him for what he had done. He wouldn't possibly leave her there. Yet when she looked at him again she could see that it was the truth by the shame that burned in his eyes. His words played over and over again in her head, how could he be willing to do such a thing. Didn't he know that she would have done anything to have stopped him from hurting? Yet he was going to leave her here alone with the damned crow. But try as she might to be upset with what he said, she couldn't bring herself to hate him for it. He had said 'until it was over.' That meant he had planned on coming back, risking certain death at Masakazu's hands. Had he been doing it to try and protect her from himself? It was the only possible excuse that she could see, and she could understand. But what was she suppose to say to him now? The one that she loved was bearing his soul to her, laying his shame out in front of her and waiting for her to lash out at him.

 

Moving carefully she wrapped her arms around him once more and buried her head in his neck, inhaling his unique scent. She could feel his hesitation at her touch but he did not pull away. She tightened her grip, trying to pour all the love and forgiveness she had in him into the embrace. “What's done is done Hiei. You were going to come back, I forgive you. Please don't torture yourself over this anymore.”

Hearing those words fall from her lips destroyed any thoughts that he had of trying to pull away. Instead he returned it, holding her gently to his chest. 'What did I ever do to deserve her?' He couldn't believe that she was willing to overlook everything that had happened, and to the point that she still wanted to be near him. They sat in silence for a long time, not bothering to move even when the door opened and a servant came in to check on them. No doubt he would report to Masakazu on what he had found but at the moment it didn't matter. He had her in his arms and he never wanted to let go. Yet he knew that this would soon come to an end, the nearness of her was once more sparking the fire that would burn through his veins demanding that he take her again.

 

Reluctantly he pulled away from her, seeing the questioning look on her face. His cycle was no where near finished and he was not foolish enough to think that he would not take her again if they remained together. Yet he was not going to force this on her any more than necessary. She would be the one to dictate the frequency of their joining, he would control himself as best as he could until she made the decision. His blood beast snarled in rage as he pulled away from her, immediately missing the warmth of her body. “My cycle is at it's peak making it difficult to control my desires. It's not safe for you to touch me right now.”

Kagome nodded in understanding moved a small distance away from him. She would grant him his space, but if he thought that she would allow himself to return to the state that he was in when Masakazu brought him here he was sadly mistaken. If he needed her then he would have her, she wouldn't watch him suffer like that again. But for now, this was a good time for them to talk. He had said something earlier that had been nagging at her at the back of her mind. This was a good opportunity for her to get the answers she wanted. She needed to understand what was going on in his mind. "Earlier you said that 'she' was right. Who were you speaking of Hiei?”

"That bitch Midoriko." Hiei growled her name out, his distaste for the spirit evident in his voice. "She came to me in a dream not long ago and she said that this would come to pass. I didn't believe her, I said that I was stronger then that." Shame filled him once more replacing the hate he felt for the ancient Priestess. She may have been right, but this was still completely her fault. If she had not brought Kagome here in the first place this would have never happened. He looked at Kagome, taking note of the surprise on her face and wondered if he should have said anything. It was too late now, it was all out in the open and he couldn't take it back. It was no matter, he now knew that he could never tell her no to anything she asked for. How could he? After everything she had done for him he could give her no less.

Kagome suddenly smiled in understanding, since Midoriko had done the same to her though she had been much more vague. The next time she spoke to her she was going to get a piece of her mind for not being more direct. So much of this could have been avoided if only she had said what was to happen. "Don't you see Hiei? This was something that neither of us could have avoided. She had visited me too, and had said that I would need to sacrifice myself once again. I didn't understand what she meant then but I do now. This was supposed to happen, you can't blame yourself." Kagome felt as if a huge weight had lifted from her shoulders. She had learned a long time ago that you could not fight fate. You could only hope that things would work out for the best in the end. She felt better knowing this, now the only thing that was bothering her was her feelings for the Apparition staring at her. If all of this was predestined then what about her feelings? She knew she loved him but would it have happened any other way or was this some necessity for what was to come in the future?

She decided that it didn't matter. What was done was done and he had found his way into her heart. She hoped that he felt the same for her but refused to ask. He would tell her on his own if that was indeed the case, though she had her suspicions if the look in his eyes was anything to go by. She could still see the shame there but it had lessened considerably to be replaced by a softness she had never seen there before. She never would have believed it if someone had told her who Destiny had determined she would be with. A Fire Apparition that was too proud to let everything go to fate with a stubbornness that matched her own. This time she made the move on her own, knowing what was likely to happen but needing to feel close to him anyway. She needed the reassurance that only he could give her, that he wanted her around and that he didn't fault her for what she had done. As she slid her arms around his waist and her head came to rest upon his chest she allowed the three little words to be spoken, the ones he had never thought that he would ever hear directed towards him. “I love you Hiei.”