InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Control. Infirmity. Defiance. ❯ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Crimson Tears

 

`Tears of blood?' Kagome's eyes widened as the villagers raised their hands joyously. She felt queasy. Sure, she'd seen a lot of blood throughout her time in the Sengoku Jidai. But this… it was horrible! They were celebrating as blood rolled down their cheeks, as though they felt no pain!

 

Even though the scene disgusted her, Kagome felt ripples of longing ripple through her. She wanted to feel that joy; she wanted her heart to feel whole again. The irritation in her chest grew and she rubbed it idly, wondering secretly if the flowers could ease her hurt…

 

Seeing the expression on her face morph into one of almost hunger, InuYasha grabbed Kagome by the shoulders and whirled her away from the door and to his chest. There was no way in hell she was going out there!

 

Strips of paper shot past him, latching into the villagers and sending them to the ground, released from the vines and breathing heavily. A glowing arrow followed, clearing the flowers in a wave of purity. InuYasha looked up, almost startled. He'd been so focused, so concerned about Kagome he hadn't heard Kikyou move to retrieve and knock her bow; hadn't noticed Miroku and Sango rising.

 

“It's not like we can just let this continue,” Miroku chided softly, deciding it was the wrong time to comment about the near-desperate grip InuYasha had on the younger miko. He noticed activity outside had ceased, though a cloud of darkness still hung over where the flowers had grown.

 

Kikyou moved past the group, stepping outside calmly. “We must tend to the villagers and dispatch the youkai threat here.”

 

“Does it have a shard?” Sango asked anxiously. Kikyou shook her head as she led the way outside.

 

Kagome wriggled out of InuYasha's grasp. “She's right,” she said, looking up at him. “We really should see if they're okay.” Kagome turned for her first aid kit and warned Shippou to stay inside with Kirara. She had almost made it through the doorway before InuYasha grabbed her shoulder again.

 

“Kagome,” he said seriously, staring her in the eye. “Stay with me. I don't want…” His lips thinned as he fell silent and looked over her shoulder at Kikyou. `I don't want to lose you…'

 

Her face fell as InuYasha stared past her; she knew, just knew he was looking at Kikyou and thinking that she couldn't handle herself like her pre-incarnation could. She stiffened. `I'll show him. I'll show them all!' This insistent need to prove herself was new… she couldn't remember feeling this way before. As much as she hated when InuYasha was injured on her behalf, she secretly loved playing the damsel-in-distress. And even though he'd gripe about "having to save her scrawny human ass" for weeks... she knew InuYasha loved playing the hero; loved being her hero.

 

But now… her lips thinned for a moment. Would it be worth it to give up his and her contentment just so she could prove herself capable? `Heck, yeah!'

 

She nodded, forcing a smile and ignoring his narrowed gaze. Shrugging off his hand, she turned to face Miroku, Sango, and even Kikyou, looking for support. They all stared at the ground. Well, she'd just think about those strange feeling later; after she showed them she was perfectly capable of... Kagome hid her grimace as she suddenly recalled she was basically incapable of utilizing her remaining spiritual power.

 

“The ground,” Sango said softly, “looks like people… do those plants eat people?”

 

“Of a sort.”

 

The entire group spun, only to be faced with a young man - obviously youkai - floating through the flowers toward them. He was dressed in a long kimono with long, flowing hair and as he came closer, they saw he was not floating through the flowers; they simply sprang up around him as he moved over the ground.

 

“What did you say, you bastard?” InuYasha challenged, brandishing Tetsusaiga threateningly.

 

“It is a nursery for the flowers,” the youkai said with a menacing smile. “What other soil would make them this happy?”

 

`This happy?' Sango wondered, staring at the flowers. `An earth or plant youkai… damn! They're weak but have great power with illusions.'

 

Kagome gazed around at the lumps on the ground; they looked like peaceful villagers had simply been swallowed by the Earth. `This happy? Is he talking about the villagers? They certainly don't look upset or frightened… if they were really turned into dirt.' The area in her chest tingled and she rubbed it absently, not noticing how the motion drew the youkai's sharp-eyed attention.

 

“Who the hell are you?” InuYasha yelled, placing himself between the youkai and Kagome and Kikyou. Kagome wasn't even armed!

 

“Kaou-sama-” one of the elderly men interrupted, waking up from where he'd fallen, broken from the trance by Miroku's sutra. He brought himself to his knees, prostrating for a moment before rising to his feet.

 

Kaou smiled a wicked grin before forcing his face to adopt a glimmer of concern. InuYasha snarled at the byplay. “Are you all right, my villagers? That was a horrible thing you had to experience.” The false distress in his voice rippled like oil; human and hanyou alike cringed at the youki that infused the dramatically crooned statement; suddenly very aware of how the youkai had gained the complete trust and devotion of the villagers.

 

One man nodded that he was fine; another, studying the ground, spoke up. “Those who became soil were damaged,” he mourned.

 

Kikyou's eyes narrowed. `Became soil?' She looked around, realizing the flowers had diminished, and the youki along with it. “You're a youkai, aren't you? How is it you can mask your youki like this?”

 

The villagers murmured behind them anxiously before running to their huts. Miroku shifted, doing some quick thinking. `She's right. I didn't feel youki when we entered the village, though it grew throughout the evening. I could feel it in his voice, but don't feel it now.' He was about to speak up when Kaou responded.

 

“Youki? What you people are sensing now must be contentment.” His smirk grew as the flowers began to open again.

 

InuYasha growled as the scent picked up. “Everybody! Don't smell this stuff!”

 

Kagome immediately clamped her hands over her nose, too used to doing what InuYasha said in that tone of voice to think about it. Kikyou, like InuYasha, began breathing through her sleeve. Miroku and Sango, however, were on the outskirts of the purified section and the flowers bloomed right below them. They slumped to the ground; the vines beginning to curl up their legs.

 

“Poor girl,” Kaou said with false sincerity. “Her heart aches over the continuous loss of her brother. The monk fears taking you all with him in his inevitable death…”

 

Kagome gaped, hands slipping slightly as she stared at the youkai. `How does he know about Kohaku and the kazaana?'

 

“They need just to entrust their bodies to the flowers,” Kaou continued. “They will do that and become happy.”

 

Kagome's eyes widened and her hands slid a little further down, entranced by the idea and ignoring that tinny voice in the back of her head telling her to stop. `Happy? I… I want to be happy. Will my heart feel lighter, less itchy?'

 

Kikyou looked torn between succumbing to the pollen and shooting back the vines now creeping toward them or keeping her arm up. She was made of ash, bones and clay… `Perhaps I will not be as grievously affected.'

 

It was InuYasha, though, horrified by the intrigued light shining in Kagome's eyes and seeing the way her hands had begun inching down her face, who acted. “Fuck you, you bastard! Kaze no Kizu!” He unleashed his fang's power straight for the youkai, wiping out the nearby flowers and with little regard for the human-shaped Earth.

 

When Kagome unclenched her eyes, Kaou had vanished.

 

“Damn it,” InuYasha swore, kicking at the empty ground. “He's gone!”

 

Kikyou pointed at a red splatter, “You drew blood. He is injured.” She spun on the ball of her foot and knelt to tend to Sango and Miroku, eyeing the nearby flowers with suspicion. “The flowers remain; he is not dead. Kagome and I will remain here and protect these two.”

 

“I'll follow the scent of blood,” InuYasha finished, sheathing his sword and turning to look at Kagome. “Wait here, Kagome.”

 

Kagome shook her head, as though shaking thoughts away, before meeting his eyes. “No, wait! Let me come with you!”

 

InuYasha set his jaw. “Not fuckin' likely! Keh, against that measly youkai, just me will be enough!”

 

She worried her bottom lip. “What if it's not? You need somebody to watch your back for those freaky flower vine things!”

 

His temper broke through the dam he had built. “And what the fuck are you going to do about it? Kikyou has your miko powers; I can't take care of you and him at the same time!” Seeing the depths of pain in her eyes, InuYasha moved closer to her; close enough that she was forced to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact... close enough for her extremely weak spiritual sense to feel the spike in his youki as his eyes almost flickered red and his voice deepened to a near growl. "I'm serious, bitch. Do NOT disobey me on this."

 

“Kaou is likely using the pain and suffering from people's hearts as nourishment,” Kikyou interjected, causing both Kagome and InuYasha to jump back about three steps. “Kagome, the way you are right now…”

 

InuYasha took off quickly, while Kikyou was speaking to the younger miko. “Hey!” he heard her shout, but refused to look back. `I'm sorry Kagome, but I won't let you put yourself in danger like that.' He was gone in just moments.

 

Ignoring Kikyou's words, Kagome took off after him, calling over her shoulder, “Please take care of Sango, Miroku and the others.”

 

**********

 

Sango smiled, tossing a small stick in the air and watching as Kohaku handily sliced it lengthways.

 

“Great job, little brother! You've grown skilled with your chain scythe!” She winced as she saw the familiar darkness spread across his face, though his eyes remained clear. He averted his gaze, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Sango rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him. “Oh, Kohaku…”

 

“The things he made me do,” Kohaku moaned, words garbled as he began to shake in her embrace. “I didn't want to- I didn't think I could-” His breath hitched and the young man began to sob, heedless of who could see or hear.

 

Sango ran her hand along his head soothingly, humming softly. The humming was accented with rumbling purrs from Kirara, who had jumped on Kohaku's shoulder and was now rubbing his face with her cheek.

 

“I… I don't th-think I can d-do this…”Kohaku hiccupped, pulling back suddenly to wipe his eyes and taking a deep breath. Sango waited, refusing to push him but wanting him to know she would support him. “I don't want to be a taijya,” Kohaku admitted. “I may have grown in skill, but each time I-”

 

One of Sango's fingers came to rest on his lips as two hands placed themselves on his shoulders. Looking over his shoulder, Kohaku's eyes met those the color of twilight. “It's fine, Kohaku,” Miroku said. “We'll support you in whatever you decide.”

 

Sango smiled as Kohaku turned back to her, wide-eyed. She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. “Did you know you're going to be an uncle, Kohaku?”

 

The young man shook his head, eyes focused on the hand resting on his sister's stomach.

 

“You are, and I'm sure you'll be a fabulous one,” Sango said. Kirara agreed with a happy `mew'. “We're going to rebuild our family, bit by bit. No matter what you do, you'll be terrific at it. And we'll be with you every step of the way.”

 

**********

 

Kagome climbed the steps to the castle slowly and quietly. The hair on the back of her neck was standing on end.

 

“Gods damn it all, bitch!” InuYasha landed in front of her suddenly, earning a shriek and a withering glare. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

 

Kagome huffed, trying to push past him. “I'm not letting you take on some crazy flower-psycho by yourself!”

 

InuYasha rolled his eyes, masking his concern with frustration. “My body's stronger than a human's. It'll take more than a bit of disgusting pollen to take me down,” he boasted, pushing his way in front of her. If she was going to insist on putting herself in danger, he was going to make sure he took any hits meant for her! “Make sure you cover your face, wench; the place reeks of pollen.”

 

“The grounds are covered in flowers, too,” Kagome gasped, gazing around at the seemingly-lush landscape. InuYasha growled at her from behind his sleeve to cover her face. She did so with one hand, leaving the other on his shoulder.

 

`Is she looking for support or trying to support me?' InuYasha wondered vaguely, looking around the courtyard for any sign other than the flowers that Kaou was here.

 

“Welcome to my castle,” Kaou called, stepping out from the shadows.

 

“Keh!” InuYasha snorted, drawing Tetsusaiga. “You're hurt already, this'll be a snap.”

 

Kaou blinked and then smiled. “Oh, never mind that violence from earlier. I wasn't injured. It was an invitation.”

 

“You were intending to lure me here?” InuYasha snarled, calling up the wind around his blade. He didn't like the look in the youkai's eyes…

 

“Not you,” Kaou confirmed, shifting his glance to where Kagome stood behind InuYasha. “Her. Because her heart is crying.”

 

“Kagome!” InuYasha whirled and lunged toward the girl; the flowers around her had been stained red as if with blood. He bounced back as though he had hit a brick wall.

 

Kagome gasped. `I can't move!' She tried to call out to InuYasha but was silenced. `I can't even talk!' Vines began curling up her legs, brushing against her bare thighs and wrapping around her wrists.

 

“You fuckin' let her go now!” InuYasha warned, taking aim at the youkai.

 

“It is as I suspected,” Kaou said as though there were not a sword pointed at him. “Your soul is fractured, crying in pain. The vines tell me this, you know. You wish you had died, don't you?”

 

InuYasha reeled as though struck, eyes seeking out Kagome's for a confirmation.

 

“Or that she had,” Kaou continued. “You just want the pain, the emptiness to end. There's only one person in the world you want,” he taunted again, “and you fear you'll never have him. Allow me, little would-be miko, to give you what you wish for.”

 

“N-no,” Kagome choked out, though InuYasha couldn't figure out if she was denying Kaou's words or refusing to accept his offer.

 

“Your soul, broken as it is, will taste exquisite,” Kaou murmured. With that, the vines tightened and pulled Kagome underground. Kaou vanished as Kagome did.

 

InuYasha leapt to where she had disappeared. “NO! KAGOME!”

 

**********

 

“Congratulations on graduating high school! How does it feel to be top in your class?” Family members and friends gathered around as Kagome thanked them all happily. She grinned up at InuYasha, who stood closest, dressed in casual slacks and a dark shirt, a matching cap covering his ears.

 

“Keh, guess ya' did good, wench,” he teased, bending over and tapping her on the nose with his finger. “Oi. We goin' back yet?” he groused, though there was little heat behind it.

 

Kagome nodded, whispering, “Meet me back there? I'm just going to say good-bye to my friends. Then I'll come home.”

 

InuYasha smirked. “You'd better… though I could think of plenty of ways to punish you if you don't keep your word.” The suggestion in his voice brought a flush - whether from embarrassment or pleasure, Kagome wasn't sure - to her face. Kissing her on the forehead, InuYasha motioned to Souta and led the young teen out.

 

Finally taking leave of her friends thirty minutes later, Kagome found herself kissing her mother good-bye, waving at Souta and her Jii-chan and leaping through the well. Blue light caressed her, taking her home, to him.

 

She'd barely touched down when a clawed hand slipped in front of her. She gripped it and was hauled bodily out of the well. Standing on the edge, she was transfixed by the look of love, of contentment, of absolute adoration in his eyes. Even better, Kagome knew he was seeing Kagome, not her pre-incarnation.

 

“InuYasha, I'm sorry… were you waiting?”

 

InuYasha smirked at her. “You idiot, what have you been up to?” He hauled her into his arms, obviously taking in her scent.

 

“Kami, Kagome.” He lowered his lips to hers, starting the kiss light but adding pressure until it ignited. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gasped as he nipped her lower lip.

 

Passion spiraled between the two; InuYasha growled against her mouth as he hitched her leg up against his hip. “Gods, what you do to me, wench,” he muttered as they came up for air.

 

Kagome giggled, pressing a short kiss to the bottom of his jaw. “It's nothing compared to what you do to me,” she admitted softly.

 

“Keh.” He tapped her nose, smirking cockily. “I can tell, bitch, I have a fuckin' nose.” He made an exaggerated smell at her neck, and then groaned audibly. “And you smell absolutely delicious. You want me,” he announced matter-of-factly, looking her in the eye again and looking far too pleased with himself at this revelation.

 

He sat her down at the well, slowly slicing through the thin tank top she'd changed into, when white soul-stealers suddenly flitted past. InuYasha looked up, glared at the youkai, then continued in his task.

 

“InuYasha,” Kagome groaned. “She needs you…” She wondered why she'd bring up such a subject when his lips and tongue were creating quite a distracting tempo on her collarbone.

 

“But you want me,” he moaned. “Fuck her anyway.” He grinned and looked up. “Or not- I'd rather fuck you.”

 

**********

 

InuYasha turned to the castle, unleashing a sankon-tetsusou on the nearby flowers and vines before racing into the castle - and charging headlong into a barrier.

 

“Son of a bitch!” He whipped out his sword, using a Kaze no Kizu to clear the air and destroy the nearby flowers. He then turned to the barrier, willing the red barrier-breaking ability alive. “Kagome!” He swiped but was repelled, flinging him backwards again.

 

“Kagome! Where are you?” He cursed the pollen; he couldn't track Kagome's scent. He swung at the barrier again but didn't make a dent.

 

Slamming Tetsusaiga back in its sheath, he attempted to claw through the barrier, growing more frantic. “KAGOME!”

 

InuYasha slumped to the ground, panting, occasionally flicking his wrist to decapitate flower vines. `What the fuck do I do now? I can't get through this barrier! Damn it!' He slammed a fist to the ground. He could go get Kikyou… but he'd be leaving Kagome in danger!

 

“Fucking hell!” he shouted, “Wait for me, Kagome! Don't you fucking give in to him!” The mental image of Kagome wrapped in soil, as though buried, like she was- he shook his head as it nearly brought him to his knees. `No! She's not gonna die; she said she'd stay by my side and she fucking meant it!'

 

Seeing the hut the villagers had offered them, InuYasha picked up his pace and nearly closed his eyes in relief when he saw Sango and Miroku standing and well clear of the deadly plants. As he landed, he absently noted the air around the pair crackling whenever the vines tried to reach them.

 

Kikyou rose to her feet swiftly as InuYasha ran up. “Where is Kagome?”

 

“Why the fuck did you let her follow me?” InuYasha demanded. Before Kikyou could answer, he grabbed her arm. “Fuck that, you can explain on the way.” Kikyou gasped as he threw her on his back. She bit her lip to keep from her immediate reaction upon being manhandled: purification.

 

“The youkai has my reincarnation,” Kikyou surmised quietly, knowing he would hear even over the rush of wind in his ears. She clenched her eyes shut, hoping the pell-mell dash would end shortly.

 

InuYasha choked back a curse as his leaping up the stairs prompted Kikyou to tug sharply on his hair. Her legs barely grazed his sides, dangling almost uselessly; but he feared purification should he even move toward grabbing her thighs to support her as he did for Kagome. 'Kagome... fuck, I want to be carrying her!'

 

“Yes, he fuckin' has her,” InuYasha said, letting Kikyou slip down. She immediately backed out of his reach, as though she feared he'd grab her again. “Kagome!”

 

**********

 

“Kagome!” His body began to shake. She been so thrilled InuYasha had stayed with her - had ignored her pre-incarnation's summons - that she'd been brazen enough to put his pleasure first.

 

He'd complained until her lips hit his erection. The only thing he'd managed to say afterward had been various curses, moans… and her name.

 

She reveled in it, in the feeling of being the center of his world, in knowing she pleasured him physically, mentally, emotionally…

 

Kagome stood against a post, wrapped with vines until they were like a second skin. Tears of blood poured down her face, leaving a trail of crimson in their wake.

 

“What a beautiful face,” Kaou said softly. “Don't hold yourself back. It's fine to cry even more.”

 

Kagome had only a moment to wipe her mouth before he hauled her off her knees to kiss him. He groaned into the kiss at the taste of his release on her tongue.

 

“Kagome!”

 

How was he shouting her name if he was kissing her? `InuYasha?'

 

“Step aside.”

 

No, he'd ignored the summons. Even Kikyou could take a hint, right? So why would she be there now? Kagome kept her eyes shut, certain she'd see the miko behind them. Was that it? Was he going to hell with her, and just wanted one last time for his memories? No… he'd said he wouldn't leave her after the encounter with Naraku's baby. `I won't go! I won't leave your side again!' Sure, he'd gone off, like she expected, but…

 

“Kagome!”

 

`InuYasha?'

 

“It's too late. She is shedding plentiful, peaceful tears. Soon she will become happy soil.”

 

`That's right! The flower youkai!' Kagome eyes snapped open. “InuYasha!”

 

An arrow zipped into the room, barely missing Kaou as he flung himself to the side. “Why?” he snarled at Kagome as InuYasha and Kikyou entered the room. “I merely showed you the dream you wished for!”

 

Kagome began to writhe in the flowers' grip, afraid the pollen would suck her under again. A second arrow, glowing pink, embedded itself in the wood near her side. The flowers exploded into fireworks of flutter petals and the vines reared back, flailing with pain from the purifying light.

 

Kagome looked up as she hit the ground. “InuYasha!” It looked like he'd attempted to hit Kaou and been sucked in up to the arm; vines like so many noodles snuck around, attempting to dig into the hanyou's chest.

 

“It's all right. If I cannot have the girl, I shall have your heart instead!”

 

Another arrow whizzed over InuYasha's shoulder, decapitating Kaou and pushing back the creepers that had begun to snake into InuYasha's chest and upper arm. The moment he was free, he turned and ran to Kagome, grabbing her by the upper arms.

 

“Kagome! Are you all right?” The copper stench of her blood stank in his nose and he growled. “Are you injured anywhere else?” He ached to find out what she had seen but knew now was not the time.

 

Kagome gasped. “I'm okay. I just- Kikyou!”

 

Choking from behind them made InuYasha curse and spin; seeing Kikyou in the vines' clutches made him snarl. With a lingering glance at Kagome, he ran to Kikyou in the doorway, slicing the vines away.

 

“That woman's soul…” The voice echoed again from the darkness and InuYasha glanced about, supporting Kikyou, who had slipped unconscious after the vines' attack.

 

“Where are you, you bastard?” InuYasha shouted, still unable to scent his prey over the sickening stench of the flowers.

 

“Her soul is just as wounded as the girl's,” Kaou continued. “What a wonderful flavor… they look so similar but I never guessed they'd both taste so delicious.”

 

InuYasha let out a feral growl. “Kagome, get your ass over here,” he demanded, unsure of where the enemy would strike from but wanting both his charges in the same spot. Kagome moved until she was standing behind him, outside the room decorated with flowers.

 

Kaou's voice rang from the shadows of the room. “Do you know the cause of their pain, hanyou? Why their souls are in such appetizing agony? The cause of their pain is-”

 

Kikyou started in InuYasha's arms, silencing his snarl. “Silence, youkai!” She commanded, hand clenching on her bow as she pushed herself to standing.

 

“Kikyou,” InuYasha motioned to halt her but stopped as she drew an arrow and stepped further through the doorway. “He is silent, which means he knows my thoughts. Prepare yourself!” She let fly an arrow, glowing much brighter than before. It hit the wall with the sound of gunfire.

 

InuYasha gaped. `The flowers are gone… is Kaou dead?'

 

Kagome looked around the room. “Where is he?”

 

Kikyou's eyes, narrowed in thought, took in the now-destroyed wall. “The vile creature must have escaped. There are no flowers for him to hide in.”

 

Kagome made a sound of agreement, which quickly turned into a shriek as Kaou rose up directly behind her. InuYasha moved to leap to her side but, like Kikyou, was quickly wrapped in vines. Kikyou radiated purifying energy but had little to spare, having put so much into her arrows. She began to sink again into the vision.

 

InuYasha writhed, growling, eyes beginning to bleed red as his youkai blood burned against the pollen being injected into his body through the flowers. The more he struggled, the harder the plants gripped him. The harder they held him, the more his blood rose, until purple crest began to carve themselves high on his cheeks.

 

“I will have you!” Kaou, a large head on a mass of vines, leaned open-mouthed toward Kagome.

 

Kagome screamed and turned her head, “NO!”

 

“Descend with me into the world of dreams,” he ordered, “where you shall have your heart's desire and forever feed my beautiful flowers!”

 

“No!” Kagome shouted again, seeing InuYasha in the throes of a transformation. Something in her broke, painfully, but flooded her body with determination and… hope? Love, that was for sure.

 

Looking at her body, Kagome realized she was emitting a bright white light - just barely pink-tinged, like the jewel had been a day after it was torn from her body. It washed over the area in waves, causing the flowers to shrink back and waking Kikyou, who began to glow pink steadily. It flowed over InuYasha, whose eyes began to flicker gold as his crests started to fade. The light was warm to the touch, though Kaou drew back, hissing angrily. `Could this be-'

 

“With that power,” Kaou sneered, “my vines will thrive for centuries! Come and dream with me!”

 

“Never!” Kagome snapped, turning her attention to the youkai in front of her. “My dreams are my own, and I will not share them! Whatever it is that's wounding me… there's no unhappiness for you to devour!” The light rushed over Kaou like water and he began to scream in pain.

 

The glow flashed once, twice, then pulled back into Kagome's body, leaving Kikyou and InuYasha standing free, the area cleared of youkai plants. The dust, all that was left of Kaou's purified body, blew away on the breeze.

 

Turning, Kagome managed to partially extend one hand, "Inu...Yasha...?"

Kagome fainted.

 

**********

 

Kagome's eyes fluttered open as InuYasha walked them into the hut. Very tiredly, she insisted on dressing InuYasha's injuries first. “After all,” she said softly, painfully, “it was my fault you have them in the first place.”

 

“The fuck it is!” InuYasha moved to grab her arm, noticed all his friends staring, and settled for slamming his fist into the floor. “If you didn't notice, wench, you took the damn youkai out yourself!” In fact, InuYasha sounded very put upon at this fact, and Kagome forced a smile for his benefit. Anybody watching could notice, though, that Kagome's thoughts were miles away as she wrapped bandages around his chest.

 

`I can't feel anything inside me,' she pondered. `What was that light? Was that what Kikyou and Kaede talked about? If it was, why can't I find it now?' She huffed, frustrated. `Kaou was right when he called me a “would-be miko.” I may have killed him but I don't know how I did it…'

 

“Kagome!” Startled, she looked up into InuYasha's eyes, which were boring a hole through her head. “I said, are you all right?”

 

“Y-yeah,” she stammered, looking at the floor. “I was unprepared for him to come up from below me like that. Sorry.”

 

The group looked taken aback at her apology, which made her feel even worse. `Why would they be so surprised I apologized? Have I been that awful?' Tears began to build in her eyes at the look in his… so full of… she didn't want to put an emotion to the look, or she knew it would break her heart. It was like in her dream. She looked away. “Your voice… yours and Kikyou's… they brought me to my senses.”

 

InuYasha glared at each member of the group in turn, strongly encouraging them to busy themselves with their own tasks, before he gently pushed the now silent girl through the open doorway.

 

Once outside and away from prying eyes, InuYasha cupped Kagome's face; brushing his thumbs softly over her cheeks. Her beautifully clear tears, crawling slowly from her eyes, had begun to wash away the tracks of blood remaining there. For the first time, he was thankful for the scent of salt: it overwhelmed the lingering coppery smell that had clung to her.

 

“Kagome,” he whispered, “tell me what he made you see.” His voice was soft but intense; she shivered as it washed over her.

 

Her breath hitched as his hands moved to her shoulders. “You have to tell me,” he insisted. “I can't protect you from stuff if I don't know what I'm supposed to be protecting you from!”

 

`Oh, InuYasha,' Kagome mourned, `how can you protect me from my heart? From you? It's too late now…' She didn't want, no, couldn't tell him that. He'd only feel guilty and she'd feel as though she was forcing his hand to make a decision. It wasn't her choice to make, no matter how much it killed her.

 

She raised her head to the sky to avoid his penetrating eyes, taking in the sliver of moon that hung there. `He'll be human tomorrow night,' she mused.

 

“Kagome!” He'd apparently had it with nice words. “Damn it, wench!” His hands clenched on her shoulders. `She killed that youkai without a second thought and I don't know how she did it. It wasn't like her miko powers.' He growled under his breath. He didn't like being in the dark about anything concerning the girl, and there were far too many unanswered questions this night. “Tell me!”

 

Kagome waved her hands. “It- it's nothing you can fix.” `At least, nothing you want to fix,' she finished mentally.

 

InuYasha's eyes narrowed on the girl; she refused to meet his eyes as she stood and moved to go into the hut. He often played the “idiot” card but it was plain to even him that the girl was upset about something… and if she couldn't stand to look at him, it probably involved him.

 

Kaou's words echoed in his head. `There's only one person in the world you want, and you fear you'll never have him. Allow me, little would-be miko, to give you what you wish for.' InuYasha's fists clenched and he gazed over his shoulder to where he knew Kagome was brushing her hair, preparing for sleep. `Fucking hell, Kagome… don't you know anything?'

 

 

 

This chapter corresponds with the manga chapters 472: “Kaou”, 473: “Tears Of Blood”, 474: “Wounded Heart”

 

“Sankon-tetsusou” - Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer

 

As always, my sincere gratitude and love go out to my beta, angelica_incarnate, for her much-needed help reining in my severely overwhelming tidal wave of plot bunnies.

I'M DROWNING IN BUNNY FUR!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any other characters from the anime/manga. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.