InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Side of the Moon ❯ You Are Not Alone. In Your Misery. ( Chapter 7 )

Meg: There's some…steamy stuff in here.

Muse: Why? God, why??? T__T

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Title: Dark Side of the Moon

Rating: R

Obsession: Inuyasha

Genre: Dark, angsty stuff. Lots of it. And a bit of romance.

Main characters: Kagome (duh!), Naraku, Miroku and Inuyasha (sort of). May be others later.

Summary: Check the first Chapter!

Feedback: Duh!!

Alright, since I've realized that I don't' have one and Fairyfli wants one, I'll put up a disclaimer. ^__^

Disclaimer:If I owned Inuyasha, you people wouldn't even know who Naraku is. Or possibly Inuyasha and Miroku. You know why? Because I would have them locked in my non-existent basement and never let them out to see the light of day. EVER.

Author's Note: You! Yes, you! All of you! You're the best any author could ask for!! Thanks to Fairyfli(^^;), Ana, Samanda Hime-Sama, HorridPorrid, Riomi, Lil Sesshi, Sakurakessho, and BlueSirrup, as well as everyone else that reviewed AGAIN! ^^ Responses are at the bottom!! Please enjoy the chapter!! I'm so sorry it took so long! I have this thing called school. I hate it, too. Y__Y If only I didn't need about 15 hours of sleep to function normally! @__@ LIME/CITRUS-Y WARNING!! I apologize if its not so good. I'm not a pro on the Lemon/Lime stuff. At least not when it counts.

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Dark Side of the Moon

By: Meg

Chapter 7

The air was thick and warm, and she was blind, seeing only blackness. The air was so thick that she couldn't get enough, even as she took in gasps of it. The temperature was humid, and still rising steadily, making everything thicker than before. She felt her skin burning up, much like a fever and the clothes she wore were getting uncomfortable, sticking against her skin with sweat. She clawed at her shirt, trying to remove it with haste. The collar was choking her and her skirt was getting in the way. In the way of what? She wondered.

She hurriedly flung off the rest of her clothing with possessed limbs, trying to escape the heat. Once they had been thrown aside, she felt something cool against her back. It was soft, and quelled some of the heat. It was then, as she brushed her hand against it that she realized she was lying down on her back, resting on silk sheets. Her vision began to return, slowly but surely. Eyes half lidded and foggy, she glanced around. There were no clear shapes, only red and black blurs that swirled and flew over her.

Her fingers sprung of their own accord, meeting a body above her; one with burning skin like her own. They roamed over sinewy muscles that became taut at her touch. Their fingers found her in turn, brushing her skin like feathers and roaming from shoulders to stomach with experienced grace. Her breathing became more erratic, the heat more intense and she reached out for more of him, but found him too distant. She gave out a whimper, ready to tackle him if he didn't come closer.

Kagome's vision was still shadowy and dazed, hiding many things from her senses. Touch was not faded; in fact, it seemed to be even more receptive than usual. When her vague sight saw a shadow fall over her, she pulled it towards her, craving more and more contact to indulge in. She drank in the overwhelming sensations he caused as he kissed her, sealing her into the blindness that stole her breath again. Urgency was felt through wordless speech, as each clung to the other. The kiss ended too quickly for her liking, his mouth leaving to explore her neck and shoulders. Kagome let out a gasp as his teeth found the lobe of her ear. Another mew sounded from her throat, ending in a low moan she didn't seem to know she was making. His fingers traced figures and shapes on her stomach, tickling her and sending warmth through her. They trailed upwards, finding the little bit of lace that remained to cover her feebly. Inching upward, a claw sliced through the delicate material, leaving her nearly naked.

She was nearly lost, swimming in sensations that were killing and reviving her again and again. Kagome knew she was due to explode any moment. His ministrations lowered down her neck until the marks were discovered. Kagome's mouth opened, shockwaves flowing through her at the miniscule contact. The air was gone, though her lungs tried vainly to find some. His warm mouth made her shiver uncontrollably and pulled at his shoulders to touch more, feel more. His teeth dragged across her skin and she grit her teeth together at the wonderful feeling, her eyes shutting forever. Quickly, before she was completely lost, he bit down on the scars, nearly making them new again. She arched upwards, grinding against him feverishly. Her dull nails dug into his skin and her head fell backwards.

She wasn't sure if she screamed or not, but he laughed at whatever reaction she had made, sending a warm breath to the sensitive marks, causing her to shiver deliciously with aftershocks. She knew that laugh; it was deep, and purposely made to make her tremble in his grasp. It had, after all, worked before.

A clawed hand slid between her thighs, parting them, and he slid over her like a blanket. Her eyes opened and she shook in delight, a red, lustful gaze there to meet her own.

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Kagome woke with a start, already upright when her senses returned. She panted for breath, pushing the covers away to cool her sweat bathed body as well as the fire running through her veins. Her wild, feverish eyes looked about the room, dark with shadows. Recognition calmed her, making her realize where she was and that she had been dreaming. When she remembered herself, her hands were trembling. She ran them both through her hair, pushing it away from her flushed face.

As she caught her breath, she cautiously glanced at the other bed nearby. She watched Miroku for long moments, looking for any sign of consciousness. His breathing was steady and rhythmic, proving that he still slept peacefully. Kagome silently thanked whatever Gods watching her that he hadn't woken up to see the after effects of her dream; the result would have been incredibly embarrassing.

Her heart began to pound at the memory. Things were still so vivid; she remembered the discomfort of her clothes and the lovely things boiling inside that radiated off her skin. Just the thought of it made heat pool in her stomach. Before she knew it, her breath was short.

This is wrong! Of all people to dream about, Naraku is the last person-if you could even call him that! -- I would ever think of! Especially like that!

He had to have put that in her head. It was the only explanation that made any sense. She most certainly wouldn't have ever come up with that herself. If there were anyone to think of that way, it would have to be someone she loved. Someone like Inuyasha…

She ground her teeth together. Her hatred for Naraku returned, surging through her. Her fingers dug into her own head, still threaded in her hair. Pain sprung up with her loathing and she hunched forward. Her heart bled again and bile rose in her throat. The illusionary Inuyasha wormed its way into the front of her mind from its recesses and the pain reinforced itself. Her head fell forward; her eyes shut themselves tightly, trying to hold in emotions. But the barriers were cracking and a small amount of despair caught up with her. How was it possible to accept so many changes so quickly? A lump formed in her throat, her breathing becoming inconsistent.

Then, suddenly, she heard a door opening. Slowly, she lifted her head. Through a veil of salt water and ebony, she found a door that was slowly opening itself on the wall to her back. This door did not lead outside, but rather into what seemed to be a dimly lit corridor. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her eyes were still watery, but not unclear. Should she go? Kagome knew very well that leaving that room meant finding Naraku.

She glanced at Miroku, who still seemed to be asleep, and then decided. She rose and composed herself as best she could before reaching the door. Stepping through the doorway, she noticed that her room was at the end of the hall. She turned to the right and heard the shoji screen door behind her close softly. As she walked, she passed many other doors that made her wonder where she was going and what was behind them. Her feet padded across the floor for a long distance before she found a pair of doors, one of which was open. She cautiously peered inside, finding an enormous bathing room. A large bath was drawn in the middle of the room, carved into the floor, but from what she could see no one was present. Cautiously, curiously, she stepped inside; the tatami mats became cold, dark marble that stung her feet. Inside, the door behind her abruptly shut itself, making her skip a heart beat. Kagome quickly turned, as though it were the first time she had seen the doors open and close themselves. Her eyes gazed at the doors, deciding not to try them, lest they be locked. She didn't want to think about what she'd do if they were.

Her vision was directed back to the rest of the room, studying it, expecting someone to be there. It was a large room, with a pair of closed doors on each wall; identical to the ones she had come through herself. The light was poor, and only slightly evolved by the numerous candles and oil lamps. They were scattered on tables, their flames flickering like many yellow eyes. She watched a few tables appear around the perimeter of the bath, and then covered by various bottles of different shape and color. The scent of chrysanthemums and lotuses devoured her senses; heavy and warm and sweet, like honey. Her feet moved forward of their own accord. Her sight greedily drinking up the darkness, discovering silk screens in the back corners of the large room that flanked the northern doors.

Her fingers touched smooth, solid stone before she realized it and her hand dipped into the warm water. The warmth caused her to look downward, into the bath, where many lavender lotus blossoms drifted, afloat in the water. Her fingers touched the soft petals, which instantly caused the delicate blossoms to turn to dust and dissolve into the water.

Miasma.

She looked about the room, half expecting to find Naraku leering at her from a doorway, but there was nothing different than last she checked. She looked back at the water; miasma flowers still dotted the surface, innocent looking. The bath seemed like it was for her, but was it? Her eyes looked about again, still checking for spies in the walls. No one was here, she reasoned, and she hadn't bathed in at least a day…

Kagome shed her stale clothes and slipped into the water, the flowers crumbling and fading. As she submerged herself, she realized that her bath could easily fit another person. Kagome wondered if it was a practical luxury or not. Pushing the question from her mind, she began to bathe with the various scented things provided for her.

She found solace as she bathed until she found something that made her pause. She looked at the various bottles and the newly appeared towels beside her. She hadn't requested any of this. No command had been given by her through her mind, which meant that someone else did. No one was capable of doing so except for Naraku and Miroku. Miroku had been asleep last she checked. Quickly, she stood, a few forgotten suds dripping from her hair and down her back. She crawled out of the bath, trying not to slip, while still trying to cover herself efficiently. Once she was out, she concealed herself as much as possible with a large, white towel. With cold, bare feet, she stood, the floor soon becoming wet and slippery. She watched kimonos appear in place of the perfumes for her bath before a satisfied chuckle rang in her ears. Her vision snapped to a now better-illuminated corner. A shadow was cast on the silk screen, making her heart pound. It was he, and his shadow seemed to be shrugging off clothing. Her eyes grew wide, panic making her shaky and modesty making her blush. Her hands fumbled with the towel, trying to secure it further than needed. Naraku emerged from behind the screen, shadows still lingering around him.

"Leaving so soon?"

She didn't say anything. With her eyes wide, blush burning her cheeks, and fear knotting her stomach, Kagome felt rational speech elude her. He seemed so like a nobleman, outwardly at least, and as so, she hadn't come to expect any type of disarray. Not far enough from her now, he stood half naked. He seemed keen on taking even more off eventually, as the hakama he wore was half untied and his feet were bare. Even his hair was completely unbound and looked unkempt.

She watched his mouth twist into a smile, making her realize how long she had been looking at him. Kagome watched his face. Shadows still lingered there, which meant he hadn't been sleeping as much as he would have liked. What could possibly trouble him so? Especially now that he had the Jewel? His eyes silently questioned her, but she couldn't quite remember what he had asked her. Before she could stop herself, words leapt from her mouth, out of her grasp, along with her dignity; " I-I'm sorry. I didn't-"

" You were supposed to come here." His voice was soft, calm and collected.

She felt her face burn brighter. Was he…? Who did he think he was?

She felt some dignity return once she had control of her speech again, as well as rage. " I prefer to bathe alone, thank you," her hand clutching the towel around her more tightly.

He looked amused and laughed, though it more resembled a low, rumbling growl. It made the hair on her neck stand up. Naraku took a few more steps towards her, making her unease grow stronger. She felt herself shrink a little, her vision pasted on him as he neared. His eyes were embers, half lidded as they took her in. He was close enough, but did not actually touch her. She wanted to glare at him, but somehow his presence felt more intimidating in that moment and their eyes did not see one another. She saw him move and flinched. His fingers went to her dripping hair. " Did you sleep well?" He purred.

Some of her bravery revisited and Kagome clenched her fists as best she could with only one free hand. He had violated her mind, planted thoughts there. There were things felt in dreams, too many things. She had felt the wrong one. Her eyes finally connected to his, finding him closer now. She glared regardless, and with no less fury in her eyes. "You put that in my head," she said, the words bitter in her mouth.

His smirk lit up and then died, the intensity soaked up by his eyes, which burned back into hers. " And you enjoyed it, didn't you?" A small amount of satisfaction leaked out of his voice.

She broke eye contact before she realized it, and then rebuilt it again. " No," she said indignantly.

He chuckled again. " You are a very bad liar. We will have to fix that."

We? What we? She barely kept her thoughts inside. He seemed to know what she was thinking. Whether it was by telepathy or not, she wasn't sure. " How dare you-"

" I can very well do as I please. That is, unless you would like to stop me yourself?"

She gained more constraint as she realized he wanted her to stop him. His eyes gave himself away. " I once destroyed your body with an arrow. I can do it again."

Before she even took her next breath, she felt claws digging into her skin. He was holding her, nearly pulling her into an embrace. " Do not test me. I know who you are. You are the reincarnation of Kikyo, but also something more than that. You kept the jewel in your very body, did you not?"

She did not answer. Kagome became increasingly concerned with his proximity. The claws were painful, digging into her upper arms, but the larger problem was that the way he latched onto her was making the towel loosen itself. She felt it slide down her back a little, making her even more rigid than she already was.

"You are more than yourself, just as I am. You are more than your soul's past, more than Kikyo; you are Kagome. You are Kikyo and yet still something entirely different."

His hold loosened, but he didn't let go just yet. His eyes roamed over her, shrinking her again until she realized her own hands were resting on his chest, pushing him away subtly. She watched where her fingers rested. She tensed and a jagged shiver ran down the back of her neck. It burned its way down slowly, delightful and horrible at the same time. The pain in her upper arms, where he held onto her, grew numb. Her eyes couldn't move, wouldn't move, from where her sight landed on her fingers, but she knew he was watching her. She could feel it. It was just like the dream! He was holding her! It was not the affectionate, tender way she imagined with one she loved; he was a powerful, dominant force.

Confusion bombarded her with blurred shades of grey. She hated it; hated herself and her body. Tears welled in her eyes, bolder than ever before. They threatened to fall down her face without mercy, until something slid around her throat. The marks on her neck burned her and she felt the prick of claws on her skin.

" Stop it," He scolded her.

His claws dug into her skin a little harder, warning her. She blinked, brought out of her stupor. She looked up at him only because he made her. He was frowning at her, looking down on what she could only guess was the pitiful expression on her face. She blinked her watery eyes again, a tear or two leaking from each of her eyes against her will.

" Don't dare to cry. Unless you are even more pathetic than I thought."

She tried to glare at him, but her expression morphed itself into an anguished look instead. His frown grew worse, and finally reached his eyes. Her own eyes, tear-rimmed, widened as the pressure increased. Still and silent, she waited, for anything.

A moment passed uneventfully, until he finally let go and stepped away from her in one smooth movement. She still didn't dare to move, until he spoke," Get dressed, and leave. I cannot stand the sight of you."

Naraku turned away from her and returned behind the screen. His shadow disappeared as the light behind it was snuffed out. Kagome did not wait for very long. Once the light was out, she dressed herself behind the other screen, still sniffling.

Afterwards, she left, returning to the room she shared with Miroku. As she shut the door behind her, she heard him speak, startling her. " Where did you go?"

She saw him sitting up, drinking tea. He looked back at her, patient, waiting, rested. The emotions she had discovered in the bath were momentarily forgotten. As she looked him over, something felt wrong. She couldn't name what it was, exactly, but there was something amiss. Kagome pushed the thought away quickly; after all, he wasn't even supposed to be alive. " I went to bathe," she replied softly, shortly. The memory of Naraku's claws on her neck caught up with her before she could push it away.

She moved from the door, and knelt beside him. His eyes grew gentler, and lost. " Are you alright, Miroku?"

" Why did you come back, Kagome? I know that you must hate it here," his voice sounded broken, different. His head stared into his lap, where his hands rested.

She smiled faintly, contemplating whether or not to reach out and touch him. "I came back for you. I don't think that I would have ever been completely happy in my era again."

" You came back for Inuyasha," he corrected.

" I would have come back for you, too."

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes frosted with anger. " Would you? Would you have really come back? Even if you knew it was a lie?"

Miroku's violet eyes grew anguished before he bowed his head again. Kagome rested her hand on his shoulder, offering what comfort she could without hurting his pride.

" I would have come back, Miroku. It wouldn't matter whom for. I would have come back!" She persisted without even raising her voice.

He took hold of her other hand, which rested in her lap. She squeezed his hand back for reassurance, even though he didn't look at her. " Why are we here?"

" I don't know," she replied, just as softly as he.

" Did you find anything?"

" No."

It wasn't a complete lie. She had no idea where Naraku's castle was, nor where he had gone to after he disappeared in the bath room. It isn't really lying, she told herself.

" You are a bad liar, Kagome," he told her, releasing her hand and shrugging off the other from his shoulder.

Kagome didn't look at him; she didn't need to. He was angry with her and she didn't blame him. It was frustrating for her as well. Movement caught her eye, proving to her that he was turning away from her. " I'm sorry," she apologized.

Her eyes lifted themselves to watch the back he had turned to her. His head was up in anger, and he looked at her briefly over his shoulder. " You won't tell me anything!"

" I can't," she pleaded with him.

Miroku didn't reply, but she heard the sound of his beads, rattling like a chain on his right arm. He was fumbling with something in his lap, she realized. She tried to crane her neck to see, but unless she went to him, she couldn't see anything. His silence made her nervous as it wore on, and she recoiled when he finally moved. Kagome flinched again when he stood, and offered his right palm towards her. She had backed up a foot before she realized nothing had happened. Gazing up at him, she found his right hand was sealed. She stared, wide-eyed and bewildered like a child at the scar that remained.

She stood on her knees again and went to him, looking closely at the closed wind tunnel. It's gone? How?

" Is he dead, Kagome?" he asked, demanded.

She looked up at him for a short moment before she sat back down and folded her hands in her lap. Eyes looking but not seeing, she bowed her head, hiding behind a curtain of damp hair.

" The curse is lifted when either Naraku is destroyed, or I am. Is he dead?" His voice rose a little, pleading with her to answer.

Sight became clear and she met his eyes with her own. Hope drifted along with desperation, mixing to create the color violet. He wanted her to say yes, but she couldn't. He would know if she was lying again…

" He…is alive," she said slowly, carefully, as though it would affect him less.

She watched his eyes shatter like glass. Kagome could no longer hold his gaze, but the memory burned itself into her mind. An even greater sadness than before burst inside of her. The sorrow broke her as well. " I'm sorry," she said, whispering.

He sat down again, in front of her. She watched his face once she found the courage to do so. The disappointment and despair rinsed from his face, but lingered in his eyes. The rest of him seemed to become numb. His vision was turned inward and she could guess what his thoughts considered. His loss suddenly felt like her loss. Guilt tortured her, even if logic didn't make it rational. She reached out to touch him again, her hand resting on his. He flinched from the contact and his eyes saw her; the sorrow broke through better than before.

Kagome held his hand, willing to offer any consolation he would allow. " I'm so sorry," she apologized again.

It was wrong that either of them was there. It shouldn't have ended this way. Perhaps she, like him, wasn't even supposed to be alive. It was obvious at that moment that neither of them wanted to be. Silently, as she stole a glance at her only remaining companion, that she vowed that she would make things right again.

Her thumb rubbed the back of his palm when he squeezed her hand back and she forgot whom she was trying to soothe.

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Responses:

Evil Bunny: YES, THE EVIL BUNNY!! LAMO! I love "Forest for the Trees"!! Go Here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-11-12&res=l

Kitsune-Balloon: YAY! I'm on the Must-Read's!! *Does Happy Dance * I love the new layout too! Shippou's so cute. My Best Friend still hasn't forgiven me for killing him…*sigh *

FairyFli: I have a disclaimer! YAY! Please don't sue! ^^;

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Review…Because I love you. *__*