InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Addiction ❯ Numb ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: All right, I know I haven't updated in a while. It's just that…a lot of things have been happening, keeping me from making this update. It's just been really, really hard for me lately. Still, I apologize for delaying in writing this. I hope you can forgive me for it. Anyway, this chapter should be an interesting one, and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy it.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this story, except for Kagome's father… But he's up for grabs, if anyone wants him.

 

Chapter 6: Numb

 

Every coherent thought had vanished from Kagome's mind in that instant. Her heart seemed to be in an endless competition with itself, each beat occurring faster than the one before. Her arms were quaking restlessly against the soft, white material of the hospital bed as she stared at her father in horror, her mouth ajar and her eyes wide. How had he known where to find her? Why did he even want to? She shook her head, choking back a fearful cry.

 

“Isn't it convenient that they put you in a room without any windows?” he said, his lips curling in amusement as he stepped forward, gun clasped firmly in his hand. He tossed his head, letting his matted, black hair swing out of his gaunt face as he shot a grin in InuYasha's direction. “What are you waiting for?” he hissed jeeringly, a forced laugh sputtering through his teeth. “Just get it done!”

 

“I…” InuYasha shook his head, his golden orbs fixated on the syringe, shrouded with a strange distance. His hand shook vigorously, rattling against the bed as his fangs began to penetrate his lips, deep, red blood emerging from the wound. “I…I can't…” he said, his shoulders hunched, a sharp gasp quickly emanating from his mouth in what seemed like a shadowed whisper. “Kagome…”

 

Her heart lurched forward, threatening to burst, as it seemed to press itself fully against her chest. She moved back slightly, her fear-rendered gaze concentrated on InuYasha's perturbed expression as her breathing shook lightly. Every part of her wanted to believe he wouldn't break—that he wouldn't invoke any form of harm; but that was a thought she couldn't even begin to reach. Her face softened as she watched his seizing body, her brows furrowed in concern. She moved a hand slowly in front of him, quivering slightly as she swallowed the uneasiness that was quickly expanding in her throat.

 

“Please… Let me have that,” she cooed softly, letting each word lull for a moment before slipping it gingerly off her lips. A frown crossed her features as she eyed his shattering, reluctant features, his body tilting back opposite of her direction. “I really need you to do this for me,” she pressed, jerking her hand in impatience. “Please InuYasha?”

 

“No…” His clouded eyes landed on her, prying past her determined exterior. He snatched her wrist, pulling it toward him, his claws converging with her pale flesh. “I…have to…do…this,” he slurred out, his grip tightening sharply. “You need it, and I…”

 

“Stop!” Kagome shook her head harshly, tears peeking from the corners of her clenched eyes as she moved back, grimacing. A deep pain shot through her shoulder, sprinting down her arm. “You have to let me go, InuYasha! You can't do this!” She let out a staggered breath, her eyes darting toward her father, narrowing at the conniving grin on his face. “Why are you doing this?” she asked him, choking on a whimper that seemed to be coming dangerously close to surfacing.

 

His smirk only spread further as he laughed gruffly, his form seeming to vibrate. “And here I thought you had already realized it, Kagome,” he said mockingly, his hand clutching the gun tighter as he waved it deftly. “I need you back in the business.”

 

Kagome felt her heart stop. The business… She let out a strained, forced cry, lowering her gaze to the white, glassy tile as her mind began to comprehend exactly what he was asking of her, her eyes slowly drifting shut. A pawn—that's what he wanted her to be—his own token for exchange…as she had been before.

 

A thirteen-year-old Kagome watched the gravel dance with the wind, swirling around in shifting dirt-devils, staining her blank face. She clutched the frail material of her dark skirt, her eyes glancing around the area, the chilling evening's presence taking its foreboding effect. As she stepped back slightly, she could hear her father's protesting grunt as he threw her a warning, sideways look. He was talking to someone—a man, his skin a ghastly white, and his face whiskered and weary. Kagome could see him grinning her way, curled lips accenting his crooked nose.

 

“You've got yourself a deal, Higurashi,” the man said, moving to slink a skinny arm around Kagome's shoulder, grasping it tightly with his hand. “She'll be a real treat.” He lowered his head to her ear, flicking his tongue inside of it, a light growl emanating from the back of his throat.

 

Kagome gasped, her heart now thudding in an unsteady rhythm that increased with each passing second. What was going on? What deal had her father made? She could feel trepidation begin to take its deadly course through her body, nearly paralyzing her with its chilling sense. Her mind began to linger on forthcoming occurrences, her arms quivering in anticipation as she felt herself being pulled backward, darkness now setting itself over her. As she was moved further, her father's form becoming a shapeless wisp, she reached for him. He'd help her, wouldn't he—take her from this man's clutches? But as she was continually dragged, her bare feet scraping against the cold, stone ground, she knew that she was wishing in vain.

 

Her father had changed. His once warm and tender soul had become tainted, mutilated by the use of a vile substance, creating a silent darkness that was quickly spreading throughout him. With a small intake of breath, Kagome came to an abrupt realization—a feeling that such an obscurity lie within her as well. Had she become unfeeling and distant as he had? It was at that moment she realized just how dark she was, her heart seeming to barely beat as the man's hands began to roam her body, his tongue lapping at her neck. She didn't fight—didn't care. She was…numb.

 

“Damn it, wench… Why aren't you resisting? You're supposed to be fun…” The man spoke through gritted, clenched teeth as he jerked on her shirt collar, pulling her forward, her face mere centimeters away from his. “I traded all my dope for this!”

 

Kagome wanted to laugh at his petty complaint—his foolish existence. “I traded everything I knew for this,” she wanted to say, but only a pitiful whimper would emerge as she felt herself being pinned against a bitter brick wall, her head slamming onto it. And for the first time…she knew she didn't want to be a part of “the business” any longer.

 

Kagome's eyes snapped open, a pressure growing above her elbow, tightening with each breath she took. She wanted to move—everything in her heart told her to—but she couldn't find the strength. Her eyes wavered to her side, lowering to gaze at her arm. A band was wrapped around it, tied and sealed like a promise, unable to be broken easily. Her stomach shook, mimicking her rattling breath in sharp movements. InuYasha's deep, amber eyes were fixated on her face in an intense stare, unwavering. There was something hidden within those shrouded depths, screaming at her to make sense of it.

 

“InuYasha,” she whispered softly, her lips barely touching one another as she stole another sharp breath. “What…what are you doing?” She watched incredulously as he held up a syringe with no hesitance in his features, his unquestioning showering onto her. He set the tip of it on her arm, below her elbow, shaking his head slightly.

 

“I promised…I wouldn't let you get hurt, Kagome,” he said with painful strain as he pressured the needle to penetrate her skin, keeping her wrist held firmly with his other hand. A meek grin crossed over his face. “This will help you.”

 

“Don't do this!” Kagome let a cry exceed past her closed mouth, trying to pull from his unrelenting hold, gasping as her fears were waved in front of her, slowly taking that nightmarish metamorphosis into reality. “Please…I…” She trailed off as she watched the liquid disappear from the syringe, her eyes becoming wide, and her breathing coming to a sudden halt. The world around her quickly became a blur of clashing white lights, enveloping her with their strict hold of mesmerizing beauty, only drawing her closer to them. She couldn't think—she didn't care. For this moment, she was being rained on by pleasure, and nothing else mattered…until everything became black.

 

(0000000000000000000)

 

“Three nurses have been shot!”

 

“Can we get some help over here?”

 

“He's seizing! Someone please!”

 

Voices were echoing, reverberating off walls that couldn't be seen in the surrounding darkness, resounding inside of Kagome's mind as she felt her throat rumble in an aching groan. She couldn't see anything as she felt a heaviness begin to press against her body, crushing it underneath its deadly weight. What was happening? There were screams so shrill that the deaf could hear them—so immense that they could reach past clouds. Footsteps were pounding around her in loud intervals that seemed to shorten as each moment passed. She let her eyes slowly peek open, light rapidly infusing the previous blackness.

 

“She's coming to!” a young, female voice cried out, the sound muffled and deep to Kagome's altered hearing.

 

“Wha…” She coughed violently as color became visible, outlining motionless shapes that seemed to be looming above her. There were two women—nurses. She was sure of it. “What's going on?” she rasped out, her voice hushed and raw as the blurred shapes began to emit clarity, quickly merging into a single form. It was a young nurse, her body covered in a slightly wrinkled, blue uniform that hung loosely on her. She was watching Kagome intently with a pair of dark irises, her slick, black hair pulled neatly into a bun on the back of her head.

 

“Try to be calm,” she said hurriedly, her arms fidgeting as she leaned back on her heels, biting her bottom lip. “There's been a few incidents, and we're going to need your help.” She paused, rocking flat on her feet. “There was a man in here with you… He was dressed in black… Do you know who he is or where he lives?”

 

Kagome cringed as she began to push her body up, resting her back against the bed's headboard with a grimace plastered on her face. Was the nurse talking bout her father?

 

“Please, ma'am… I need you to answer my question, if you can…”

 

“I don't know where he is!” She spat out hastily, drowsiness taking her into its arms. Her hands sat limp against the cold, white sheets that covered her. Something was missing. Her heart longed for it with every beat it made. She glanced up at the woman in front of her with weak, droopy eyes. She was turned around, her arms flailing about senselessly. But Kagome heard nothing but a strange, howling wind—the wind of pain. And in that instant…everything came barreling down on top of her.

 

“Kagome…”

 

Her name rang clearly in her ear, even among the pandemonium that filled the room. A man was calling to her, his voice radiating trepidation, each syllable it uttered shaking with an unstoppable force. It was crying, burdened by need and hurt.

 

“Kagome,” it said again, a loud moan following after it.

 

“InuYasha!” Kagome jerked her head forward, her eyes darting around the room, streaks of blue passing over her gaze as doctors and nurses began to flood the room, circling around an area in front of the bright, white wall, two navy chairs settled in each corner of it. “What's happening?” she screamed, a cry breaking her voice lightly. “I have to know!” She pushed herself forward, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, ignoring her throbbing arm.

 

“Please lay back down!” The nursed rushed to her side, placing two hands on her shoulders, forcing Kagome back slightly with little force. “I need you to just be calm! We'll get everything worked out! Just lay down and relax!”

 

“I think he's had an overdose!” a male voice called out, kneeling down, and moving further into the circle. “We're going to need to move him fast!”

 

As the man's words began to sink into Kagome's mind, all thoughts dispersed elsewhere—all pain was abruptly alleviated. There was no one around… No one, but InuYasha… She rose to her feet, moving forward, her head in a complete and unceasing daze. InuYasha was just lying there, his body spastic, cloaked with a bluish hue that sent chills coursing through her. His once golden eyes now seemed colorless, terror engulfing them as his lip quivered. She gasped, seeing blood pooling from his chest in quick thuds, his breathing shallow and labored, and chest barely moving. He'd been shot.

 

“Oh…” She fell onto her knees next to him, her hand moving to stroke his cheek tenderly as tears streamed down her pale face. “InuYasha… What happened to you? Did he… I mean…” She couldn't say it—reality couldn't be uttered.

 

A smile slowly coiled onto InuYasha's quaking lips as he gasped for a breath. “Shut-up, wench,” he said. “You know that…I had to…protect you.” He nodded, his eyes drifting shut as his breathing continued to weaken.

 

“No…” Kagome shook her head forcefully, leaning closer to him, slamming her fists onto the tile. “Keep your eyes open!” she cried. “You have to stay with me! Please! I can't…I can't lose you like this!”

 

“I'm sorry…” he breathed with a vicious cough, blood spurting from his throat, dripping down his lip as he inhaled deeply, releasing a raspy, intolerable sound. A feeble laugh escaped him. “…For everything…”

 

Kagome felt a hand grab her shoulder, hauling her backward as she reached out for InuYasha.

 

“Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” a man said from behind her, tugging on her insistently. “I don't think there's anything we can do. You're going to have to let him go.” He paused for moment, sighing. “Just let him go…”

 

She didn't want to hear it—to face what he was telling her. “He can't leave like this! It's not fair!” she screeched, her throat emanating a strained whimper. “I won't let his happen! Please, InuYasha! You have to stay alive for me!” She craned her back, hovering over him, her arms shaking. The moment he stopped breathing was the moment she lost it.

 

A/N: Okay, that's the chapter. Please don't hate me. Everything in here has a purpose, and you never know what I might do next, so keep reading. Again, I'm sorry for taking so long. Like I said, I had really good reasons for being so late with this. Anyway, reviews are very much adored. I would also like to take this moment to say that laughing at this story is unacceptable. This isn't a funny issue, and I don't appreciate comments talking about the hilarity of the situation. There's nothing funny about it. Thank you.