InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Confessions of a Broken Heart ❯ Chapter Eleven ( Chapter 12 )

****Though not described in detail, this story does deal with rape so be warned if that sort of topic bothers you****

 

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Title: Confessions of a Broken Heart

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Eleven

 

Rating: PG-13 (rated for violence, language, and implied sexual situations)

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

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Kagome felt her chest compress more and more the closer they became to the source of Kikyou's scream, as though some invisible string were slowly being tightened around her heart. An immense guilt was coursing through her veins, knowing that, even though Inuyasha had, at long last confessed that he loved her, Kikyou had been put in danger while he wasn't watching out for her. If he hadn't been with her, then perhaps the miko would be okay now.

 

Kagome assumed that Inuyasha had told his former lover about his feelings, or else he wouldn't have been so willing to voice his thoughts to her, and so she had no doubt that Kikyou was now probably feeling broken inside beyond repair, and that Inuyasha was feeling guilty for having told her at all. It caused Kagome's stomach to clench painfully, and she had the slight urge to vomit right then and there.

 

“It's just ahead, Inuyasha,” She whispered from her vantage point atop his back, able to sense the dark energy that was Naraku, along with the large number of jewel shards, and Inuyasha nodded, not responding as he kept running as fast as he could. She buried her head in the hanyou's shoulder and prepared for the moment when he would burst into the clearing and apologize loudly to Kikyou, telling her he was wrong in what he said, and that he still loved her.

 

Inuyasha could feel the girl on his back clutch him tighter, and knew that she was feeling very insecure at that moment. It was strange that normally he couldn't read her any better than he could read Latin and yet, at that moment, he was so attuned to her needs and emotions that he could almost predict how she would react. Unfortunately, what he didn't know was how to respond. He knew she was looking for some reassurance, but wasn't sure what he needed to say to make her feel better. He knew he still loved her; that was not debatable, and he had no regrets about telling either her or Kikyou. It was just an unfortunate coincidence that this had all happened at the same time.

 

“It's going to be alright, Kagome,” he finally whispered, his voice kind, and Kagome blinked in surprise, but felt herself smile just the same. He was trying to make her feel better, and it felt good just knowing he was so conscious of what she was feeling.

 

“Thank you, Inuyasha.”

 

They ran straight into a clearing, the wind whipping through Inuyasha's long silver hair and causing it to fly about madly, but his confident posture instantly recoiled at the suddenly dense atmosphere, thick with negative energy and evil. As Kagome climbed down from his back he let out a low growl, and she readied her bow and arrows in preparation for what was to come, willing herself to be strong.

 

Naraku stood before them holding an unconscious Kikyou by the throat, her face twisted in a grimace, her eyes closed, and he smirked at the new arrivals as though it were nothing more than a casual get together of friends. “Kikyou said you wouldn't come, Inuyasha,” he cooed. “But I knew better.”

 

Kagome felt the familiar sense of insecurity return at the sound of his voice, so like the one of her rapist, but tried to swallow it down with an obvious gulp, desperately trying to ignore it and think instead of everything that Julie had taught her about self defense and confidence. Even Kikyou's voice reverberated throughout her mind, and Kagome hardened her gaze, determined to keep calm, and tightened her grip on her bow, the smooth wood comforting.

 

“Let her go, Naraku,” Inuyasha hissed.

 

The demon merely chuckled. “Now where's the fun in that, Inuyasah?” He cocked his head to the side as though it were obvious. “Why would I go to all the trouble of finally catching the one woman who could destroy me…and then let her go simply because you say so?”

 

Kagome heard something in his voice; something familiar…it was cool, calculating, and cruel. He was toying with them, just as her rapist had toyed with her that night, and the thought made her sick as she recalled the other man's weight atop her body, the smell of his sweat in her nose, his knife to her throat. But it also caused her to realize something else she hadn't thought of before; Naraku wasn't after Kikyou this time.

 

“What do you want from us?” She ground out suddenly, and both men turned to look at her.

 

“Kagome?” Inuyasha sounded confused, but Naraku simply smirked again. Obviously the girl was smarter than she looked, and it only made the game more interesting. What a pity Kagome was so good…though once he was done with her perhaps she wouldn't be any longer.

 

For her part, Kagome simply continued to stand her ground, placing her hands on her hips in a posture she often assumed when fighting with Inuyasha. “You obviously don't plan to kill Kikyou,” she rationalized simply, “or else you would have done it already. So now that we have fallen into your trap…once again…what do you want of us?”

 

The demon smiled. “You're smarter than you look, girl,” He cooed, and Inuyasha whirled around to look at his enemy once more, not liking his tone at all. Naraku glanced at the hanyou and suddenly acquired an annoyed expression. “Here Inuyasha, take your dead woman…she no longer interests me.”

 

His voice had turned cold as he threw Kikyou's body, the miko's figure flying through the air as though it were a mere rag doll, and Inuyasha found himself flying backwards from the impact before he could even guess what was happening, his body plastered flat on the ground.

 

The impact was enough to shake the woman, because Kikyou groaned as she came slowly back to consciousness, oxygen once more returning to her lungs. “Inuyasha…” she mumbled, her voice a mere whisper.

 

He looked up from where he was pinned to the ground, only to find Kikyou staring at him with half-closed eyes full of pain. But there was still fire in her depths, and intelligence, and he could see that she would pull through because she was strong. But then the scent of blood caught his attention, and he looked down to see a large gash in her side. “Kikyou…” He hadn't even realized she could bleed any more.

 

She just sighed, exhausted. “Protect Kagome…”

 

His eyes flew open in surprise, never having expected such a selfless request to come from the miko's lips, but then managed to smile for her sake. “I know,” he said, his voice gentle as he rolled to his side slowly, taking the injured woman in his arms to move her somewhere else. He didn't love her any more, it was true, but that didn't mean he wanted to see her suffer.

 

Naraku just laughed at the scene and turned back to Kagome, who was trying valiantly to look away from the tender scene, instead aiming an arrow for the demon's heart, her eyes narrowed dangerously. She wouldn't look…she wouldn't look…

 

Confession or no, it was still painful to see the two former lovers together, and Kagome felt the old insecurity return again in force, despite her attempts to push it away. Would he still leave her in the end, even after all that they'd said to one another?

 

Kagome caught the corner of Naraku's eye, and realized that was exactly what he wanted her to think. He wanted her to doubt Inuyasha's loyalty to her, just as Kikyou had done fifty years before, and the thought caused her to boil with anger. Once again he was hoping she was just like Kikyou…well damn it all, she wasn't! And she would prove it once and for all!

 

Growling low in her throat, wishing desperately that it could sound as intimidating as when Inuyasha made the sound, she swore silently that she would not meet the same fate as her incarnation. “You've hurt them too much,” she hissed, and with that released the arrow.

 

Naraku was surprised but appeared unconcerned as he watched the arrow surround itself in a pink halo, flying towards him. He waited until it was barely a foot away, and flicked his hand, Kanna magically appearing at his side, her mirror absorbing the arrow without a second thought. He smirked again in triumph.

 

Kagome took a step back in surprise, not having realized the white haired girl was anywhere nearby. What more was Naraku intending to do? Her sudden uncertainty was enough to bring back the fears she was trying so hard to avoid thinking about.

 

“Inuyasha?” Like a coward, his name escaped her lips, and she found herself desperately wishing he was at her side. Where was he? She felt suddenly vulnerable not knowing if he was nearby.

 

In her moment of weakness, Kanna turned her head sharply to the right and caught Kagome unawares, locking her in the haunting girl's gaze, unable to look away. Naraku smiled as he watched the scene unfold, knowing his plan was working flawlessly, everyone reacting exactly as he had forseen.

 

Kagome felt helpless, like her body was no longer her own. Kanna's gaze was unflinching…unwavering…and pulled her away from reality, pulling her deep down into a dark world of silence. And as the forest around her faded into a haze of green and brown, Kagome noted mentally that the girl was capturing her soul.

 

“No…” She whispered, trying to break the spell, but was unable to do anything but be frozen in place. She realized, painfully, that she was still just as weak as she had been before…that all her work had been for nothing. Her body sagged in disappointment.

 

Inuyasha, having set Kikyou down in the safety of some shrubbery nearby, leaning her body against a large stone, ran at Naraku with tetsusaiga drawn and at the ready. He didn't notice Kagome, the demon noted with pleasure, and he wanted to keep it that way…for the moment.

 

“Naraku, you bastard! You'll pay for what you did to her!” Inuyasha swung the tetsusaiga down, and a beam of energy rushed the demon, only to be deflected by a small barrier surrounding his body.

 

He smirked. “Do you honestly never learn from our encounters, Inuyasha?”

 

But Inuyasha smiled as well. “I do, and I've learned a few new tricks.” The blade of the sword grew red, and swirls of energy surrounded it, causing Naraku to take a step back, for once unsure of what his opponent was about to do. He'd never seen this technique before.

 

With a swipe of the blade, a new attack rushed him, only this time his barrier did not deflect it, instead disintegrating into nothing. He was surprised, but tried to hide it well with a small laugh. “Indeed, you are smarter than I've given you credit for.” He sensed something behind him, and looked over to see Kagome locked in Kanna's gaze, her soul slowly being drawn from her body and towards the mirror, where he planned to keep it, and Kagome, under his control. She would do well for him as one of his minions.

 

“Almost there,” he whispered to himself as he returned his attention to Inuyasha, who was rushing him for another attack, still oblivious to what was happening to the girl he loved. Though he had become smarter, he was still obviously just as simple minded as always, only able to focus on one thing at a time.

 

But Kikyou had noticed the demon's momentary shift in focus, and followed his gaze to see Kagome. She gasped in horror, knowing Inuyasha did not see what was happening to the girl, and did the only thing she could think of to get his attention shifted to something other than Naraku. “Inuyasha!” She cried, but her voice was still raspy from where her windpipe had been cut off in Naraku's hands, and she sighed in frustration.

 

Thankfully the hanyou had sharp ears, and stopped short of cutting Naraku in two at the sound of her voice, leaving himself open to be attacked. Naraku took advantage of this and sent a wave of energy in his direction, knocking him back against a tree, pain searing down his neck and over his shoulders at the impact. “Kikyou…” he whispered, wondering if she was in trouble again.

 

But then he realized something…or rather, noticed the absence of someone. Where was Kagome? He cursed, realizing that, yet again, he had put his concern for Kikyou above the woman he loved, even now after confessing his feelings and sharing that kiss by the stream. He could have kicked himself. What the hell was wrong with him, anyway?

He wildly tossed his head from side to side, desperate to find her, but the impact had made his vision go hazy, and seeing anything was a monumental effort. Where was she? What was going on?

 

“Kikyou?” He called out again, sounding like a lost little child, and this time all he wanted was a comforting presence to assure him that everything would be okay. Why he called her name, he did not know…perhaps it was just some primal instinct that had not yet completely buried itself within his soul.

 

A blur of red and white moved toward him, swaying in and out of his eye sight, and then Inuyasha felt a comforting hand, though it was cold, land on his shoulder as the miko fell to her knees beside him, breathing heavily from the exertion of moving herself. “Inuyasha,” her voice cracked as she whispered. “Kagome…you have to help her.”

 

There was a strong amount of fear in her voice, and he could smell it on her body too, and that only managed to further fuel the fire burning in his belly. Inuyasha felt a deep sense of foreboding, and wanted to hit something…anything…if it would make his vision return to normal again. He had to know what was going on! Where was Kagome? And why the hell was it taking so long for him to recover his sight?

 

“Where is Kagome?” He growled, desperation in his tone, and as he spoke Kikyou's face, at last, slowly came into focus, sharpening the worry evident in her eyes as she looked at him.

 

“She is…”

 

Naraku laughed, interrupting her words, and the former lovers turned as one to look over at their mutual enemy. Inuyasha growled, and Kikyou stiffened. “So tell me Kikyou, how does it feel to watch your own soul die again by my hands?”

 

Kikyou frowned, but then gasped, unwilling to believe what she was seeing. Inuyasha followed the dead miko's gaze, his own eyes finally back to normal, and jumped instantly to his feet, ignoring the fact that his spine felt as though it were having to physically restack itself as he stood up thanks to the impact he'd had a few moments earlier with the trunk of the tree. The voice that was ripped from his throat was hoarse and desperate. “Kagome!”

 

Her soul, pure and white, was currently headed for Kanna's mirror, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He watched, helpless, as the woman he loved became more and more a lifeless doll, her eyes clouding over and her pupils fading away, gazing into some space none of them could see as though unaware that there was nothing wrong…that her very life was being sucked away.

 

“Kagome!” He screamed again, trying to move forward as he drew his sword, feeling the sudden adrenaline in his veins propelling him towards his love and erasing the pain in his body. “Stupid wench! Fight back!” He searched for some sign that she had heard him, and was rewarded when she turned her head slightly in his direction. It caused his heart to soar.

 

For her part, Kagome was vaguely aware of the man she loved calling to her, but it was as though he was now far away, on a distant isle separated by a sea of fog. She tried to find him, to reach out to him, to hold on to that voice that made her feel so warm. But she couldn't…she was still weak, and everything was going cold as though she had been dropped in a pit of snow.

 

Her final thought, before passing into the world of darkness, was that this had been Naraku's plan from the start…to capture her…just like her rapist had. To capture her and then wound her very soul.

 

It did always come back to that night, she realized then with a tragic sob. She would never escape it.

 

“Inu…yasha…” She whispered, seeing a faint outline of his body, his hair, his ears, his strong figure, before her eyes went dark. The outline of his ears perked up slightly, ever sensitive to the voice of his love, hoping she was fighting back and returning to him. But this time, for the first time, her words brought him no comfort. She could not return to him. Not this time. “I'm…sorry…” And then she collapsed.

 

“Kagome!!!!” Inuyasha's scream filled the forest, wrenching at the heart of any living creature within a five mile radius as he rushed to her side, catching her just before she hit the ground.