InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon Should Act Like A Demon ❯ The Bitch Will Play... ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and friends were created and lovingly brought to life by Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: The glossary and responses to reviews immediately follow the story. Text in `__' are thought expressions. _^,,^_ I've added a teaser for the next chapter. Please read and review! Arigatou! Tried to send this last night, but both ff.net and mm.org had service maintenances.

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A Demon Should Act Like A Demon

By Ericedwyn

Chapter Eight: The Bitch Will Play…

~* In the Realm of In-Between *~

Juuki found Inuyasha in front of the Window of Time and Place. Inuyasha has been watching Kagome since the dream. The Kitsune glanced at the viewer to see Kagome sleeping, before turning his attention to the Hanyou. "Inuyasha, we need to talk."

Inuyasha let go of his intent and watched the image of Kagome dissolve. He turned his back on it, and then looked down at his feet. His heart felt like it was wrenched, twisted, and shoved back into his chest ever since he had watched Kagome cry in front of the shrine. Even in sleep she looked like she was in pain. He has never felt this bad in all his life or even after death. `I hurt her again. I made her cry!'

"Inuyasha…"

"Hai, Juuki." He replied dejectedly without looking at his guide.

"My guide, Rumiko, wanted me to convey to you that you are no longer allowed to go into Kagome's dream unless Kagome herself calls to you. Also, what happened in her last dream cannot ever happen again."

"I messed up again, didn't I?" Inuyasha shut his eyes tightly.

"It is very hard to let go of someone you love, Inuyasha. You are both lonely and afraid. But right now, you and Kagome cannot be. Trying to be together will only make things worse since you are supposed to be helping her come to terms with your wish." Juuki placed a comforting hand on the Hanyou's shoulder.

Inuyasha raised his head to look at Juuki. "I shouldn't have made the wish, Juuki. I should have stayed with her."

Juuki sighed as he dropped his hand to his side. "You cannot change what has already come to pass, Inuyasha. You can only look forward. That is what we need you to do. That is what Kagome needs to do as well." Juuki turned to leave. "You need to help her move on, before you can."

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~* At Sesshoumaru's Fortress, Day Five, an hour before dawn*~

Kagome awoke wedged between two warm bodies. She looked at either side of her and saw the top of the heads of the children. Her lips turned slightly upwards as she combed her fingers through their hair affectionally. `How sweet.'

"How are you feeling, Kagome-sama?" A soft voice whispered somewhere in the room.

Kagome peered through the semi-darkness of the room to the sound. "Well, I think."

"We need to talk, Kagome-sama? Will you come with me to the other room?" Tsumi asked in a persistent whisper.

"Hai, Tsumi-san." Kagome whispered back as she disentangled herself and crept out of bed without disturbing the children. She followed Tsumi to the bathing room.

"I'm worried about you, Kagome-sama. The children too. They have been by your side since yesterday and would not leave. They even ate on your bed. Please tell me what is wrong."

"There is nothing to tell, Tsumi-san." Kagome forced a smile on her lips. "I'm fine."

"You are not, Kagome-sama. I have watched you drift away from yourself for days. You have not been eating well. Please tell me what is wrong." The old woman begged.

Kagome turned away and sat on the bench by the furo.

"I watched you as you cried in front of Inuyasha's shrine, My Lady. I took you back to your room when you fell asleep. It has been over 24 hours since you were last awake."

"I'm dealing with it, Tsumi-san." Kagome looked up angrily.

"Are you?" Tsumi pulled a small hishu from her obi and placed it in Kagome's hands. Kagome looked at it in confusion. "You have been living like a shell, Kagome-sama. You have worried us to no end. End your life now if you do not want to live. Save us the pain of watching you waste your life." Tsumi didn't mean for the words to come out so harshly, but they did. She watched the woman face intently for her reaction.

Kagome locked her gaze with Tsumi's before holding the dagger with the handle outstretched to her. "I have no intention of committing seppuku, Tsumi."

"Then please, Kagome-sama, stop living your life as if you are dead." Tsumi took the dagger back and placed it back inside her obi. "I know this is not the kind of life you have wished for yourself, but for the sake of those who care about you, please try to be happy. I cannot bear to see you like this, and poor Shippou, he must be scared that he will lose you like his parents."

"I'm sorry, Tsumi-san. I just feel so alone inside. I mean, I know you guys are here, but inside I feel very empty. I feel like a big part of me is missing. Plus, I'm really scared of being a demon. I'm scared of changing even more." Kagome started to weep. "I'm becoming scared of myself."

Tsumi sat on the bench beside Kagome and wrapped an arm on the young woman's shoulders. "You are not alone, Kagome-sama. You will always be who you are. The youkai blood is strong, but it can never change who you truly are inside. Look at me, Shippou, or Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked disbelievingly.

"Hai, Kagome-sama." She smiled warmly at Kagome. "I have known him all his life. He might look cold and distant, but inside the icy exterior beats a warm heart."

"I don't know about that, but I don't want you all to worry about me anymore, Tsumi-san. I'll try to be happy." Kagome wiped her tears away, before giving the older woman a hug. "I'll really try."

"Arigatou, Kagome-sama," Tsumi said as she returned the hug. "We will be beside you every step of the way."

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"Tsumi-san, do you have something looser I can wear? I want to explore outside the fortress and I can't do it wearing a kimono." Kagome asked expectantly, as she looked inside her armoire full of kimonos.

"I do not think it is a good idea to go exploring without Sesshoumaru-sama nearby." Tsumi's eyebrows knotted at the middle as she frowned.

"I won't go very far, and I won't be alone. The children want to go too. I only want to see what's immediately beyond the barrier." Kagome pleaded, "Onegaishimasu? I'm trying to live, Tsumi! This is me. Onegai?"

"Alright, Kagome-sama, but only nearby. If anything happens at all, you must all come back right away." Tsumi agreed reluctantly. "I can get you an haori and hakama."

"Can Rin have a set too?" Kagome asked.

"I will see what I can do." Tsumi said as she gave in. Kagome grinned at her.

Fifteen minutes later, Tsumi returned with the garments draped in one arm and carrying a bow with a quiver of arrows in another. "I think these will fit you and Rin, My Lady. The little Masters used to wear these when they were younger," as she handed the bigger size to Kagome. "I also brought you a weapon just in case."

"Thank you, Tsumi-san! I'll go and change." Kagome said excitedly.

At this moment, Tsumi would have allowed her to explore the Western Lands all by herself, after hearing the excitement in the young woman's voice. "I'll take these to Rin." She left the room to find Rin.

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Fifteen minutes later, Kagome, Rin, and Shippou, clad in more fitting attire, were standing in front of the barrier. Tsumi still had some misgivings about letting them step foot outside the barrier, but she placed her hand each on Shippou and Kagome as she chanted an ancient spell that will allow the two to pass through the barrier. When she was done, she reminded them to be carefully. "Don't stray too far, and be in constant alert. If there is anything remotely dangerous out there, come back through the barrier immediately."

"Yes, MOM." Kagome giggled. "We'll be fine. Don't worry, Tsumi-san."

"I will worry, Kagome-sama, until you are all back inside the barrier. I will give you half an hour, before I drag you all back."

"Hai! Half and hour, Tsumi-san." Kagome shifted the quiver and bow on her shoulder before grabbing hold of each of the children's hand. They passed through the barrier to an open field.

Ten minutes later they came across some farm lands and a forest clearing. Kagome thought she heard a muffled sound coming from some trees beyond the clearing, so she let go of the children's hands. "Wait here for a minute, Shippou, Rin. I'm just going to check something." Shippou took Rin's hand as he sniffed the air.

Kagome started to walk forward and smelled both a youkai and a human, before hearing a muffled scream.

"I smell a youkai nearby, Okaasan." Shippou squeaked.

"Hai, me too." Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver and readied her bow. "Shippou, Rin...run back to the fortress now!"

"But Tsumi-san said..." Rin began…

"NOW!" Kagome barked as she began to walk towards the clearing. She heard the children run away behind her.

With her arrow at the ready, she listened for movements in front of her, and saw something greenish-brown and white behind some trees ahead. She heard a scream again and ran the rest of the way to investigate.

Her heart began to race, but she gripped her bow tighter to calm herself and stay in control. Kagome came upon a nine-foot high komodo dragon-like youkai, who stood upright like a human, clutching a young woman by the neck with a clawed hand.

"Hey you!" Kagome shouted to get the youkai's attention. Both the youkai and the scared woman looked at her, before Kagome fired an arrow at the youkai's massive tail. The youkai dropped the woman he held in his hand to the ground as he twirled his body around to the other side of the tree. The arrow missed and hit the ground in front of the youkai's intended victim.

He drooled on his claws to cover them with his bacteria laden saliva as he stared boldly at her. Then the youkai grinned slowly, his sharp teeth glistening with wetness. "Another prey for me?" His tongue snaked out to smell the air. "A dog-demon too. This is my lucky day!"

Kagome took another arrow from her quiver and aimed at the youkai. "Get out of here!" She said to the other woman, but she didn't move from the ground. Instead, the captive watched them in shock. `Shit! Why doesn't she leave?'

The dragon youkai sped at her, and Kagome was taken aback by his speed. He came at her like a blur of green and brown.

She released a purity arrow, but it appeared to only graze his side. She jumped back, her heart pounding in her chest, before getting caught in the stomach by four sharp claws. She stumbled backwards falling hard on the ground. Something inside her told her to fight and tear the youkai to pieces. She felt the adrenalin build up inside.

The youkai stopped in front of her and laughed down at her. His saliva drooled down his jaw. "How boring! You're such an easy prey!" He leaned forward, bending at the waist, and licked the air. "And in heat too?" He grinned down at her evilly. "Maybe I can have some fun before I tear you apart. What do you say?"

Kagome wiped at the painful wounds on her stomach and brought her bloody fingers to her nose. As she took in the metallic scent, she began to smile darkly as her eyes began to turn blood red. "Oh no, I think I'll be the one having some fun." She kicked the youkai in the stomach as hard as she could before flipping backwards to land on her feet.

She felt her claws extend as she ran towards the youkai. When he was at arms length, she swiped her claws across his face, and then slashed his chest with the other. But she didn't stop there. She continued to attack, each slashing making deeper gashes than before. She didn't stop until he was sprawled unmoving, bloody and disemboweled on the ground…dead.

A sparrowhawk landed a short distance behind Kagome and transformed into a woman. She watched the dog demon intently.

Kagome smiled down at her handy work, only looking up at the sound of a scream.

"You… you're a monster too!" The young woman by the tree yelled before running away.

"Wa…wait!" Kagome began to shout as the red of her eyes began to lighten in color and revert back to normal. "I'm not…" She said quietly as she fell down on her knees before the dead lizard youkai. She gazed down at her sharp claws and hands covered in blood. `Maybe I am…'

Tsumi walked towards Kagome slowly and lifted her up to her feet. "Let's go home, Kagome-sama." She said calmly.

"I…I'm a monster, Tsumi-san. Lo…look what I…I did." Kagome began to shake.

Tsumi gripped the girl's shoulders firmly. "You saved the girl's life and your own. You are not a monster. You did what you had to do to survive."

"But…"

"Iie, Kagome-sama! You are hurt and need to be treated before the toxins from that youkai's saliva begins its damage." The Hanyou said firmly.

Kagome said nothing more, but what she did and the scent of the youkai's blood disturbed her. She still shook as Tsumi helped her through the barrier. She felt cold, then hot, and back again. Her step faltered as she answered the darkness that called to her.

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~* At Sesshoumaru's Fortress, Day Six *~

Tsumi wiped the perspiration off of Kagome's forehead with a wet, cool cloth. Kagome murmured incoherently in her feverish sleep. She caught "Inuyasha" and "Mom" a few times. She loosened the yukata she changed Kagome into when they returned to the fortress and sniffed. She can still smell some toxins faintly.

She heard a giggle and looked down on the floor near the writing table. Shippou and Rin were creating "get well" scrolls for Kagome using those "colored sticks". She tried to get them out of the room, but they wouldn't leave.

She turned her attention towards her patient once more. Tsumi unwrapped the bandages around Kagome's stomach, examined it, before wiping off the herbs she placed a few hours ago with a cloth. She took a bowl of paste she made from the same healing herbs from the bed and wiped half of the contents on Kagome's gash wounds, before wrapping fresh bandages around her middle. She folded the yukata closed, before laying her hand on Kagome's forehead to check her temperature.

She placed the cloth she had used to wipe her down with into a wooden pail of cool water, and then squeezed it dry with her hands. She folded it in half before wiping the woman's forehead again.

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~* At Sesshoumaru's Fortress, Day Seven *~

Sesshoumaru returned to the fortress just before high noon with Jaken trailing behind him. When he entered into the hall, he expected Tsumi to greet him, but she wasn't there. He told a nearby servant to bring him water for his bath as he walked to his room.

Once he entered the room, directly across from Rin's, he paused at the sound coming from the next room. He sniffed slightly and caught Kagome's and Tsumi's scent. He wondered why he could hear only one of their movements. He removed his armor and laid them on the floor. He took a key dangling from a hook on the wall and unlocked the connecting door. He walked inside Kagome's room.

Tsumi look up as he entered and bowed her head to him before returning her attention to treating Kagome's wound.

His eyes fell on Kagome's exposed breasts. Something stirred in his loins, but he squelched it as he diverted his eyes to the gashes Tsumi has not yet covered. "What happened?"

Tsumi did not fail to pick up the slight change in the demon Lord's scent before speaking. "Kagome-sama battled a komodo dragon-youkai outside of the barrier, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"And her wound?" Sesshoumaru asked dispassionately.

"All the traces of toxin have been removed and her body is beginning to heal itself quickly." Tsumi replied.

Sesshoumaru noted the sound of relief in her response and shoved it to the back of his mind. Something purple caught his eyes and walked towards it. It looked like bound paper. He picked it up from the floor and opened it. He saw the words "My Diary" and closed it immediately. He set it on the writing table by the window. When he turned towards the women, Tsumi had already finished her ministering and had tucked Kagome in.

"There is something else, Sesshoumaru-sama." Tsumi began. "Kagome has been very depressed lately, enough so to scare me. She reminded me of your dear departed mother." Tsumi choked as she held back suppressed tears.

Tsumi proceeded to tell him what happened with the youkai. Sesshoumaru listened without any color of emotion on his stoic face, but he remembered the day his mother had killed herself. The muscle of his jaw tightened.

"What happened with the youkai disturbed her when she let go of her instinct to survive, Sesshoumaru-sama. That along with her depression may become a deadly combination, and I am afraid that she will meet the same fate as the late mistress."

"Arigatou, Tsumi, for telling me. Go and take care of yourself. I'll watch her." Sessoumaru directed as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama. The children are in the kitchen. I will see to them first." Tsumi bowed before leaving the room, sliding the door shut.

Sesshoumaru moved closer to Kagome, and brushed away the tendrils of hair that slightly covered her face. He gazed down at her pale face before placing his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. `No fever. Good,' he thought.

Without thinking, he swept her bangs off her forehead before lightly brushing his lips over the blue crescent on her forehead. "You won't leave me, Kagome," the Taiyoukai whispered. "I won't let you."

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Glossary: (For new Japanese terms only. Please see the previous chapters for other terms used in this chapter. Arigatou!)

Hishu - Dagger

Onegaishimasu - Please

Seppuku - Suicide by disembowelment

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Next chapter summary teaser: Inuyasha reflects on the consequences of his wish.

(A/N: The next chapter will be short, but you will understand why.)

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Responses to Reviews: Arigatou gozaimazu, minna-san! Thank you for taking the time to review my work! I really appreciate and enjoy reading them. They literally make me work harder! _^,,^_

MM.org Reviews:

Megumi: Thank you for your e-mail. Hoped you enjoyed chapter 8.

Miss_Marilyn: I really appreciate your reviews! Thank you for taking the time! I'm glad you liked chapter 7 even though it was sad.

Duo no Tsuin: I was going to post the next chapter last night, but couldn't. When I logged in and saw your review, I couldn't believe the size of it! Wow! You win the longest review contest! ::giggles:: I think I'll send you a chapter earlier than the others. What do you think? Yup, she is still in heat but over the middle stages. I think women deal with physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects during sex. Hope you enjoy the next chapter! I think you'd be proud! Thank you for LOVING my story!! I was going to add ANGST yesterday, but couldn't. GMTA! :)

FF.net Reviews:

Mala: Thank you again for reviewing my work! I hope you have a great week!

Kitten Kisses: Thank you for loving my story even though it's a Sess/Kag romance! I'm touched!

Ann: I promise not to stop writing! :D

Laura: Thank you for your wonderful review! Well, you know, Inuyasha… he has a tendency to act first before thinking. That's what he did when he made the wish. I hope you enjoyed all the chapters so far!

Riinuka: Thank you for helping me with the terms. I use an online Japanese-English bidirectional dictionary and have done some research on Kimonos. I'll go over my terms though to make sure I used them right! I'll be sure to watch for your story!

Nankinmai: That's good because I might accidentally give out more information than I want to share right now. Things are going to heat up soon. Keep reading, I promise not to disappoint! :)

Vegito044: Inuyasha has to come back to help Kagome come to terms with the wish he made, but I'm sorry to disappoint you by saying that this is a Sess/Kag romance. But I hope this won't deter you from reading my fan fic. I promise, Inuyasha will not become a bad guy in my story. He is still playing a major role. Incidentally, I'm starting a new fic though that is not a Sess/Kag romance. I'll place a note in the A/N section of future chapters when my new fan fic is up.

Me..: Thank you for your chapter reviews! Wow! I can't put the pairing in the summary, I ran out of space. :( I went to look at the picture of Japanese birds for chapter 4 and liked the sparrowhawk. I was trying to be so careful with "tetsusaiga," too. Thanks! I'm trying to figure out what's instinct and not as I go. I find it kind of hard. You're chapter name is very close. Hope you like the chapter 8's title and story! Yup, they did it. Had to cut a PG-13 version for ff.net. Inu-chan will reincarnate. This is a Sess/Kag romance. Thanks for taking the time to review my work. I really appreciate all your reviews.