InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Dreams ❯ Youkai's Secret ( Chapter 21 )

Broken Dreams

 

This chapter just poured out of me. Well, early update guys!

 

Chapter 21

 

Youkai's Secret

 

“Hold still.” Kagome warned. Youkai nodded, and Kagome leaned the bowl in her hands forward, and poured a small stream of hot water down Youkai's back. Youkai`s head reared back with a growl as the water scorched it's way down his back and into the various lacerations the neko-youkai had gouged.

“More.” Youkai gasped. Kagome bit her lip, but nodded, and poured the water again. Youkai's back was practically a sea of flesh and blood stripes. Twin trails, three claw marks each, ran down his back, dried blood smearing on the edges. Had the wound been on a human, Kagome doubted they would have lived. As Youkai's back grew red and raw from the blood and water, Kagome reached down and picked up a roll of bandages.

“Why did you come back?” Youkai asked suddenly. Kagome froze and the bandages fell from her hand. She cursed under her breath and bent down to pick them up again. “Well?”

“Toga talked to me.” Kagome said softly. Youkai turned slightly to look at the miko over his shoulder. His cloak was in shreds along his back, and he had torn the entire back of so Kagome could clean his wounds. His cloak was more of a tunic now, with only his mask and the front of his cloak still in place. With the cloak torn, Kagome could see a makeshift pair of baggy hakama hanging from around his legs.

“He said a few things that made me think.” Kagome continued. “I…I'm not going back to Kouga.” Youkai pondered her words and nodded after a moment.

“So why did you come back to me then?” He asked. Kagome froze as the bandages wound a third of the way up Youkai's torso.

“I…I'm not sure.” Kagome stammered. She actually wasn't sure. All she knew was that when she picked up the bow Toga had given her, her first thought was to find Youkai. “I guess…I wanted to say goodbye. You've been a good friend, and I didn't get to say it when you left the village.” Youkai grunted as Kagome started bandaging again.

“Oh.” He said. “Where are you going you going to go?” He asked. Kagome shrugged.

“I'm not sure. I've never really had to travel around by myself before…I guess I'll just try to keep tracking down the Shikon-no-Camera and trying to unite the jewel.” She replied. Youkai nodded.

“Good luck. I sincerely hope that you stay safe from Kouga.” He said. Kagome smiled.

“Thank you. And good luck with your trading.” She said. The bandaging was almost done. Kagome started to wind the bandages around the shoulder, and stopped as a pulse started under her hand. It wasn't like a heartbeat. It was like a low hum, a sort of warmth. Kagome's senses tingled, earning a gasp from the miko. No…it couldn't be…

“Youkai.” Kagome started. “What's wrong with your shoulder.” Kagome reached up and gently probed around the muscle with two fingers, trying to pinpoint the all-too familiar feeling. Youkai frowned.

“What do you mean?” He asked. Kagome fingered an area near the top of one of the cuts, and stopped. There, right in the path of the right-most cut, the humming was strongest.

“There's something warm here.” Kagome murmured. Youkai reached back and held out his hand.

“Show me.” Kagome took Youkai's hand and placed it directly above the humming sensation. Youkai sighed. “Remember how I told you sometimes I start to remember, then forget again? Well, when that happens, that place…hurts.” Kagome peered into the wound.

“I think there's something there, but I can't…” Youkai took his hand back and with a snap, broke off one of his nails, holding it out to Kagome.

“Here, whatever it is, get it out. I don't want it infected.” He said. Kagome nodded and carefully took the nail from Youkai. Reaching into the cut, Kagome carefully probed with the makeshift scalpel until she felt something move. Flicking out the nail, something hard and small flew out of the cut and landed on the floor at Kagome's feet. Kagome gasped and picked up the small object.

“Youkai…” She whispered. Then, Youkai cried out, and Kagome jumped back. Youkai started to writhe and shake violently as the blood started to leak into his bandages. He fell out of the bed onto his back and kept shaking. Then, his muscles went stiff, and Youkai let out a piercing scream before collapsing. Kagome carefully knelt down and shook Youkai by the shoulder. But it was no use. Youkai was out cold. Kagome bit her lip and stared at her former caretaker for a moment, before her gaze slid to her hand, and the tiny purple Jewel Shard that had been imbedded in Youkai's back.

 

It's time…next chapter…Youkai…is unmasked…

 

CAN YOU FEEL THE TENSION!?!?!?!?!