InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Unforeseen Flame ❯ Kagome Caught in Utsuro's Grasp ( Chapter 21 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: Hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.

Kagome ground her teeth in frustration as she listened to Jaken's interminable squawking. Did he ever stop complaining? The priestess doubted it.

She really had just wanted to be alone. It was bad enough that his shrill voice was exacerbating her headache, but he was interrupting what was supposed to be her alone time. Sometimes a girl just needed break from the people around her, but no one here seemed to realize that.

"I don't understand why Lord Sesshomaru leaves me in the company of humans all the time. He used to take me with him wherever he went, and now I'm stuck foraging for herbs," the vexing imp wailed miserably.

"I'm sure it's because he expects you to protect us, Jaken," Kagome offered in a consoling tone. She had a more biting remark in the back of her mind, but she couldn't stand to hear any more whining. "He needs someone he can trust to keep us weak, pathetic humans safe."

Kagome hoped it sounded convincing. She had managed not to roll her eyes at least. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him perk up a bit.

"You're right! He does trust me enough for such an important task! Although, I don't understand why the lives of mere humans are so important, but if Lord Sesshomaru wills it, than it must be so," he exclaimed, his ugly face twisting into cheerful smile.

"Well, then little imp, protect the human," a baritone voice called mockingly as a tall man stepped out from behind the bushes behind the pair. Jaken jumped and whirled around to face him, and Kagome contorted her body to observe from where she was kneeling.

Kagome immediately tensed as she studied the man standing before them. He was broad-shouldered and modestly dressed, with long, stick-straight hair that was as black as coal. Behind his black eyes, she saw nothing; no joy, no hate, no fear. Instinctively she knew that this man was a demon, and that he was pure evil. But it was strange…He had no demonic aura. Shouldn't she have sensed his presence? She should have at least sensed that something was wrong. Generally her intuition was pretty good.

Frantically, she realized that she had become complacent in her travels with Sesshomaru and company. Kagome dropped the herbs she had been clutching in her filthy hands and rose to her disoriented feet, knowing full well she had left her bow and arrows back at the encampment. She was exposed, caught off guard and without weaponry. She really would have to rely on the imp for protection. She fervently hoped he could offer a sufficient amount.

Jaken had taken up his staff immediately after hearing the stranger's derisive voice. Like Kagome, he could not sense a demonic aura emanating from the creature standing before him. The man didn't even have a scent. It was as if he wasn't even real.

"Who are you?" Jaken demanded, trying to keep his strident voice even. He was terrified, but he dared not show it. Sesshomaru had left him to protect the woman, and that was what he would do. But, this demon was unlike any he had ever come across. There was a strange blackness about him, and he almost seemed to be draining the life from the surrounding forest, as if he was empty and trying to fill himself with anything that he could.

"I am Utsuro," the demon replied monotonously, bowing gracefully. His hair cascaded gracefully over his shoulders, the tips of it tickling the ground. Kagome gasped with horror as she noticed every green spot those wicked strands touched turning brown instantly. "I am yet another of Naraku's incarnations, and I am here to capture the woman and take her to his castle."

"What does Naraku want with me?" Kagome inquired shakily, panic rising from deep within in her chest. He was being so casual about the situation, just laying it out in the open. It was as if he knew there was no way he would fail at his task. His confidence was unnerving.

Utsuro did not deign to reply. Instead his arms began to grow longer as he reached out for the priestess. She backed away, slowly at first, before she turned around and began to run as fast as she could toward the encampment. If she could just get her bow, maybe she could purify this strange creature.

"You will not take her!" Jaken screeched as thunderously as he could. He called upon his Staff of Two-Heads and flame burst forth from the wizened face of the old man sitting atop the staff. It appeared to Jaken that he was thoroughly encasing the demon in flame, but an unsettling peal of empty laughter sent chills through his entire being.

"Little imp, your flames will not harm a hollow man," Utsuro remarked once the blaze had disappeared. To Jaken's dismay, the demon looked bigger somehow, and his chest was puffed out as though he were holding his breath.

Panting heavily, Kagome looked behind her to see the demon blowing fire out of his mouth, his chest deflating as the flames enveloped the diminutive vassal that had always followed Sesshomaru so loyally. The only thing left where Jaken had been standing was blackened scar upon the forest floor, the imp's staff lying next to his final resting place unceremoniously.

"Jaken!" the woman cried out, grieved by what she had just witnessed. As grating as Jaken could be, Kagome would never wish his fate upon anyone. Rin would be heartbroken, and she imagined Sesshomaru would not be pleased with the news either.

Rin! The girl's cheery face suddenly invaded Kagome's mind. She couldn't run back to their encampment. If Rin was back from her fishing trip with Ah-Un, she would be putting the girl in serious danger. That was something Sesshomaru would never forgive and Kagome would never allow. Panting, she changed her route, the strange elastic-y arms of Utsuro still following behind her.

Sweat beaded on her brow as she ran, panting heavily. She was out of shape from lazing about with Rin all day. He legs were beginning to feel like jell-o, and her strides were becoming wobbly. A painful stitch in her side began to throb uncontrollably, threatening to cause her to double over. But, her overwhelming desire for self-preservation overruled her pain, and she continued to run as fast as her legs would carry her.

Fearfully she looked behind her to see if she was still being followed. She could see the arms, wound through the greenery of the thick groupings of trees, stretching interminably. As she looked back, her foot snagged a knobby tree root, sticking high out of the ground, and she collapsed out of breath, realizing that there was no escape. She would be Naraku's prisoner. Kagome shuddered at the thought, wondering if being dead would be better.

She screamed as she felt the arms close around her tightly, and she began to struggle as forcefully as she could manage. They were neither warm nor cold, and she soon understood why there was nothing discernible about the demon whatsoever. As she felt herself being drawn into Utsuro's body, she realized that he was completely hollow.

She grasped the root of the tree she had tripped over, trying to pull herself away from the demon. As she continued to struggle, she thought about Rin. Would the little girl be all right without Kagome there? Would she find what was left of Jaken? Kagome fervently hoped she wouldn't worry too much, but she had a feeling that, without Jaken or herself around to reassure the girl, there would be nothing else for Rin to do.

She gave up on trying to pull herself out of the flesh that was encasing her body, and instead twisted around and began to punch at it as hard as could. She could hear Utsuro laughing the futility of her actions. He was up passed her waist now. Soon she would be completely covered, and he would be on his way back to his master.

Hot tears were now streaming freely down Kagome's face as she attacked the demon absorbing her body into his. She clawed at him desperately, but it was to no avail. Her only hope now was that Sesshomaru would not be caught up in whatever trap Naraku had laid for them. She prayed that he would be safe, no matter what happened to her.

Sesshomaru hadn't moved from the spot from which he had been observing the goings on at Naraku's castle. He had seen more movement on this day than he had the entire week he had been watching. Earlier that morning, a wolf demon and two of his tribesmen had gallivanted brashly through Naraku's weakened barrier. Shortly thereafter, his half-brother and human companions followed, also running through the barrier toward the castle, not even pausing to consider the possibility of a trap. He could hear the distant battle that now ensued.

For a moment, Sesshomaru toyed around with the idea of aiding in the battle now taking place inside Naraku's castle. It was unlikely that he, Sesshomaru, would become so easily embroiled in a trap set for his inept brother, and it might even get him a chance to slay Naraku once and for all. But then again, how did he know if Naraku was actually there at his castle. His incarnations all possessed the same scent, and it could be pointless for him to rush headlong into a battle that wasn't even his.

Plus, he desperately missed Kagome. His longing to see her had grown a considerable amount. He missed her cheery companionship and the sweet taste of her lips. He also missed his ward, and he was certain both the woman and the young girl were yearning to see him as well.

He had almost settled upon leaving when his delicate nose caught a whiff of a scent remarkably like Kagome's, catching him completely off guard. He sniffed the air again. The scent was faint, but there was no doubt, it was Kagome's. Completely alert, he scanned the area surrounding the castle, his keen eyes honing in on every minute bit of movement he saw.

Finally, he spotted something. A tall, dark-haired man was moving rapidly out of the dense forest and toward Naraku's castle. Strangely, the man had no aura, nor did he seem to have any scent or sign of life whatsoever. It was quite an anomaly.

Suspiciously, Sesshomaru observed the man intently. There seemed to be nothing of import about him, except for the speed to which he was traveling toward Naraku's castle. But then, for a brief second, Sesshomaru caught a glimpse of a dainty hand protruding from the man's chest, before it was absorbed back into his chest. Kagome's scent filled the area for a moment and then disappeared as quickly as the hand had vanished.

That man had taken Kagome captive. His Kagome. He had taken her captive, and now he was delivering her to Naraku. Sesshomaru now understood Naraku's plans.

The conniving hanyou had lured him away from Kagome's side, and he had gone off without thinking and left her without adequate protection. Now she was in Naraku's grasp. He could feel himself seething with feral rage as he flew toward the castle with unmatched speed.

Naraku would pay for his indiscretions. He would pay with his life, and Sesshomaru would be the one to take it. The Kami help anyone who tried to stop him.