InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Damaged Soul ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own these series

 

A Damaged Soul

 

Chapter 1

 

Kagome trudged along the road, wearily. Her feet were killing her. Her head was killing her. Her back was killing her. She stopped for a second and threw her head back, groaning. What was the point, every part of her body was killing her.

 

“Hurry up wench! We ain't got all day!”

 

She sighed, adjusted her backpack and walked on. Beside her, Shippou gave her a concerned look, “Kagome, you alright?”

 

She smiled, making sure not to reveal her emotions to the little fox demon, “I'm fine Shippou.”

 

Shippou just nodded, not believing her. From behind them came Miroku's cheerful voice, “I do believe that it's time to set up camp. Kagome looks tired. I don't believe she should be walking, not with her injuries.”

 

Kagome closed her eyes, knowing what was going to happen next.

 

Inuyasha's angry voice snapped, “Well she should think about that before she scattered the damn jewel again!”

 

Sango immediately got defensive, “It wasn't her fault Inuyasha! If Kikyou hadn't-“

 

“SHUT UP!”

 

Inuyasha was suddenly standing in front of Sango, his teeth bared threateningly, “Kikyou knew what she was doing. If this little bitch hadn't interfered, she would still be alive!”

 

Miroku, placed his staff, between the hanyou and his beloved. His voice was light but there was a slight hardness somewhere inside, “That is enough Inuyasha. Kagome will collapse any moment. She's alive. Kikyou was already dead.”

 

Before Inuyasha could speak, Kagome stepped in, with a smile for Miroku, “It's allright you guys. My injuries aren't that bad. They're better, believe me.” She placed a gentle hand on Inuyasha's arm, “Don't be mad at them Iuyasha!”

 

Inuyasha jerked his arm from under her hand, “Don't touch me. And don't tell me what to do.” Kagome reared back as if she had been slapped. Her voice remained steady, “Of course. I'm sorry Inuyasha.”

 

He just sent her a disgusted look and walked past her. Kagome just stared at the ground blindly, her heart numb. She should be used to this.

 

He's just grieving. He's just grieving. She kept telling herself that as she smiled at the pitying look on her friends' faces.

 

She turned and started walking again, her head bent. Her heart was dark and heavy and her chest felt stifled. She breathed in slowly trying to get rid of whatever that was blocking her chest.

 

She smiled bitterly at the hanyou's back. I was stupid to hope that he would change. I should have known. Unbeknownst to her, the edge of the shards around her neck darkened slightly.

 

Her back was still not healed and the gash against her shoulder was hurting her. She wanted to cry, she wanted to crawl into a dark corner, away from everybody, everything.

Instead, she just straightened her shoulders, smiled cheerfully, and walked on.

 

Smile. It seemed that was all she did. Smile day and night. No matter what the situation, she always wore a smile. When Inuyasha insulted her, she smiled and laughed. Sometimes she couldn't. Sometimes, she just nodded politely, but she felt that by smiling everything would be alright. Not that it would but that smile was her only barrier against the pain, the misery.. She held onto the belief that maybe, just maybe, if she kept smiling, everything would be alright with her world again. Inuyasha would be himself, but somewhere inside her, a part of her knew that it wasn't going to happen. And that part of her was slowly poisoning her soul. She struggled against it but sometimes she wondered why she couldn't just give up. Wouldn't it be easier that way? She could go home, seal the well, and forget anything ever happened.

 

But she knew she couldn't do it. What would happen to Inuyasha, to Miroku and Sango, to Shippou? If they didn't find the shards and defeat Naraku, Miroku's wind tunnel would destroy him and Sango would lose another important figure in her life. Her pup would be alone and unprotected.

 

She now knew that Inuyasha wasn't going to protect her. He had told her that very clearly after Kikyou died. It wasn't her fault. Why couldn't he see that?

 

Inuyasha howled as his beloved turned to dust in his arms and Kagome's trapped soul returned to her.

 

“Inuyasha?” she ventured softly.

 

He turned to her, getting to his feet. She gasped as she read the cold fury and hatred in his eyes. Before she could say anything, she was backhanded into the wall. Whimpering, she tried to speak once again, but as she raised her head, she saw something that she had never believed she would see in her life. He had raised his hand and he before she could blink, he swiped.

 

The sensation of shock numbed her from the immediate pain, she felt as the gashes on her shoulder spurted blood. Had he just attacked her? He grabbed her hair, and smashed her face into the wall, a part of him controlled, aware that he could not kill his shard detector. Oh, but he could certainly hurt her.

 

She had backed away like a cornered animal, her breath escaping in short, shallow pants, her eyes filled with fear, pain and most of all denial. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered why she couldn't say anything. It was like her heart had stopped. She cried out as he hit her but she couldn't understand why. She couldn't even use her voice except for the gasps of pains and the cries.

 

He kicked her in her stomach and her abdomen. Her mouth pooled with blood as she started losing consciousness. Thank God! Was her only thought, as she had blacked out.

 

When she awoke, her first aid kit was tossed near her. She could feel his presence near the mouth of the cave. She lay in her pool of blood, only semi-aware of her surroundings. Why had he attacked her? Was this the same half demon that she was in love with. Her eyes fell upon the jewel encrusted dagger lying a few feet from her body.

 

Was that hers?

 

She giggled and dragged herself up trying to fix whatever she could of her injuries.

 

It was very dark when Inuyasha finally stopped to set camp. Kagome immediately picked up her supplies and smiled, “I'm going to take a bath.”

 

Sango looked at her, “Do you want me to come with you Kagome?”

 

Kagome shook her head, “No, you can finish whatever you're doing. I'll be awhile.”

 

She turned around, knowing that Inuyasha had not moved an inch, nor had his ears flicked in her direction. Her smile remained on her face even though she was alone now. She just couldn't get rid of it.

 

She reached the springs and took of her clothes. The moonlight reflected her raw wounds in the water, and her smile vanished, she her heartbeat fastened. She lowered herself into the water, crying out in pain as her the rawness stung sharply.

 

Finally submerged in the water, she just stood there, her mind blank. Her smile was now replaced with a blank look, her anguish eating her up from the inside, yet it was like she did not know how to react to it. So she just stood there.

 

******************

Lord Sseshoumaru walked through the forest, his mind occupied by his ward. She was growing up and asking strange questions everyday. Questions he refused to answer as they were a female's job. He wondered whether the half breed's miko would assist him. She had been kind to Rin the few times she met her.

 

The miko was indeed an enigma. He had never known someone so pure in his life. She held his fascination and he had observed her from time to time. Her behavior was strange, even more so her clothes. She dressed like a harlot, yet she didn't act like one, and called herself a priestess.

 

The sudden scent of jasmine halted him in his tracks. It couldn't be. She was here in the forest. He sniffed again. The halfbreed was not with her but a bear youkai hovered close by. Too close by. He frowned in distaste. Inuyasha had left the girl alone. He changed direction, knowing that he would have to get rid of the youkai. He needed the girl alive for Rin. Maybe he could save her and demand her service as payment. Not dishonorable.

 

*********************

 

Kagome had been rinsing her hair when she sensed it. A bear youkai. Stiffening she turned around slowly and saw it standing a few feet from her. The hungry gleam in it's eyes paralyzed her. At once, her mind screamed DANGER! RUN!, but she remained where she was. She didn't scream because she knew Inuyasha wouldn't come. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe it would only be painful for a few minutes.

 

She stared at it and it stared back at her. She wondered whether death was painful when she saw it move slightly. Slightly puzzled, she wondered why it wasn't attacking. She cocked her head and in the back of her mind, she wondered whether she was insane, contemplating death as she would the weather.

 

Then it pounced. It slashed its claws against her chest and she gave a small cry of pain. She fell back into the water, her mind surprisingly clear. The youkai, bit down on her shoulder and then the pain started making itself aware. Tears escaped her eyes but she still didn't scream. Instead she smiled as her life force ebbed from her body.

 

Then she saw a flash of white and the bear youkai was flung several metres from her. She was now floating in the water, her blood mixing in the clear stream.

 

“Miko.”

 

She smiled and closed her eyes, exhausted.

 

Seshoumaru.

 

An elegant brow was raised as he saw her embrace death like a long lost friend. Then she was gone. He would never admit it, but in the slivery moonlight, her body, which was floating gently on the water, looked beautiful Her dark hair, was spread out, giving her the appearance of an angel.

 

Maybe this is what is called the beauty of death, he wondered.

 

Then he unsheathed the Tensiaga. His amber eyes furrowed in concentration, he slashed once, over the still body, killing the imps from hell.

 

And a breath escaped her body once more. Satisfied, yet oddly irritated, he picked her up and turned around. Placing her on the ground, he stared at her nude body, without much interest. She was truly beautiful, but he had seen much beauty. It was her pure heart that truly held his interest. She was probably the first human of his acquaintance that was so pure. Her self sacrificing was, although admirable feat, yet still strange. But right now, he hadn't seen the miko who would stand up and yell at him. Instead, what he had seen was a lone woman, weary of life and wanting a quick release. What had his brother done? Maybe he should ask him.

 

“Half breed.”

 

“Bastard.”

 

Inuyasha stepped from among the trees, his eyes cold.

 

“Why did you not defend your woman?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged, “She killed my woman. And no matter how much she wishes, she's not gonna take her place.”

 

Oddly, the hanyou did not seem in any mood to fight. Seshoumaru recalled the only time, he had seen Inuyasha's eye turn this cold. When the villagers had slaughtered his mother.

 

“You blame her for killing the undead priestess?”

 

“Keh.”

 

Seshoumaru looked at Kagome lying on the ground, vulnerable, “Interesting. I always knew you were slow witted, but not to this extent.”

 

The quick flash of rage was all he saw before Inuyasha composed his features, and gritted through his teeth, his tone a complete contrast to his calm and schooled expression “What the hell are you talking about, bastard?”

 

“This Seshoumaru recalls that the undead priestess was working with Naraku.”

 

At that Inuyasha's rage erupted, “Kikyou never betrayed me!”

 

“Are you sure, Inuyasha? Or are you only trying to convince yourself of this? You hurt the priestess that is alive to convince yourself that the one who is dead, never betrayed you?”

 

He picked up Kagome in his arms, and covered her body with the garments strewn on the ground. Turning around, he said in a quiet voice, “From what I remember, this is the same human that has not only accepted you for what you are, but defends you when you are not present. You have truly disgraced our father.”

 

With that, he left Inuyasha, turning into a ball of pure energy, and rushing towards the camp. Inuyasha stood their, his head bowed with anger and confusion, his hands fisted tightly and his claws pricking into his skin.

 

Back at the camp, Sango and Miroku were startled when Sesoumaru appeared with a very nude Kagome. He walked over to the demon slayer and laid Kagome at her feet, “You will dress her.” He commanded.

 

Sango rushed to Kagome's side, “What happened to her?”

 

Seshoumaru retreated to sit beneath a tree, “She was attacked.”

 

Miroku was tanding as he asked, “You saved her?”

 

Ina flat voice, Seshoyumaru corrected, “She died. This Seshoumaru revived her.”

 

Sango's hands shook violently when she heard that, but she didn't say anything and dressed Kagome's wounds, tears pouring down her face. Her sister was going to be scarred for life, just like she was.

 

She dressed Kagome and Seshoumaru got up and before she could blink, Kagome was cradled in his arms.

 

Sango got to her feet as Miroku raised his staff threateningly, “Just what the hell do you think you are doing?”

 

He simply raised a brow, “I require the miko's assistance. The half breed is now unable to take care of her, so will now be under my protection. Her life belongs to me now.”

 

Sniffing out the items with Kagome's scent on it, he picked them up, and glanced at the fox demon who was nearly in tears, “I believe the miko would want you to be with her when she awakens.”

 

Shippou looked at him and nodded bravely. Gently, he climbed onto Kagome's uninjured arm and the three of them disappeared due to the inuyoukai's speed.

 

Kagome just collapsed on the floor unable to believe what had just happened.

 

Just then Inuyasha charged in, “Where the hell is that bastard and Kagome!?”

 

They stared at him.

 

 

 

A.N: It's not over yet. I need reviews people. Lots and lots of reviews.