InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dashed Hopes ❯ The Ledge ( Chapter 18 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Fay-of-Faerie 
The final fight between Naraku, Kagome, Inuyasha, and Kagura finally begins...and a bit too close to the ledge for comfort.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Drama / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.13.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 657 | Status: Completed
The final fight between Naraku, Kagome, Inuyasha, and Kagura finally begins...and a bit too close to the ledge for comfort.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Drama / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.13.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 657 | Status: Completed
The less I say, the faster we can carry on with the chapter, ‘kay? ‘Kay.
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Disclaimer: I don’t own him. (True.) And I don’t want to! (False.)
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Dashed Hopes
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--- Last Chapter ---
The man leaned down and his hot breath tickled her ear but sent warning chills down her spine.
“Guess who.”
--- End of Last Chapter ---
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Chapter 18: The Ledge
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Kagome couldn’t move. No matter how much she willed her frozen legs to move, she couldn’t. Her feet stayed in one spot, as if glued to the floor.
And Naraku stood behind her, smirking.
How Kagome hated that smirk. She used to see it as charming and coy, now it just disgusted her.
Sure, she blamed herself for this mess, but even a person with half a brain would blame Naraku too. And Kagome, lucky for her, had an entire brain. And at that moment, it was registering the fact that she was screwed.
“Kagome,” Naraku whispered, again close to her ear. “Would you rather be with Inuyasha than me?” Kagome could just hear the pout in his dark voice.
She couldn’t stop herself. Apparently hanging around with Inu had taught her something, and that ‘something’ was to speak without thinking first. Way to go, Inuyasha!
“Of course,” she spat. “I’d rather be with a man-eating tiger than in here with you!”
Naraku scowled and growled low in his voice. “We’ll let that one slide, Kag. I know its just because you’re surprised to see me.” He pretended not to notice the indignant growl that sounded from the petite woman in his arms. “You don’t have to be scared Kagome.”
Kagome almost snorted at that one.
“I’m not too mad. You’ll come back with me, give me the Shikon no Tama, and we’ll be happy again. I want you back Kagome. I know you want to come back, too.”
That unfroze Kagome. Throwing his arms off of her, she whipped around to glare at the man. Taking a few cautious steps backward, putting the desk between them.
“No, Naraku. It’s not yours! How could you? You killed them for this.” Here she made the mistake to whip the jewel out from under her tank top. “And they’re dead! How could you just act like everything was normal?!”
Naraku eyed the jewel carefully. “It looks beautiful on you Kagome.”
“That’s not the point,” Kagome sneered. She liked it when Inuyasha told her that, not when Naraku said it.
Naraku sighed darkly. “No, its not. You’re right. I need to sell that jewel. But in order to do that, I have to actually have it.” The man took a step forward.
Kagome stepped backwards to brace herself against the window. She looked the man up and down.
He was strongly built, always had been. Naraku stood a good foot and a half taller than her, even taller than Inuyasha. It irked her. She peered upwards, into his crimson eyes, and that’s when she saw it.
Not only was lust and desire in the red orbs, but some kind of glint of malice, of evil, of insanity.
Naraku was different.
Kagome leaned forward slightly for a better look. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips were slightly discolored. His breathing was heavy and his skin pale. Something was wrong.
Kagome gasped as realization struck her.
Naraku had been practicing his ‘hobby’. He had been taking drugs! Cocaine or something else, doesn’t matter, he did it. And it looked like he’d taken too much. Way too much.
Naraku was even more unstable than usual, and violent. A lot more violent.
Kagome began to get nervous and shifted her glance around the room. She had to find a way out! How’d she get into another mess? This time it was different, she was alone. No family to take comfort in, no Inuyasha to scare the bastard off, no one at all.
Naraku watched as his girlfriend’s eyes brightened.
Kagome had seen it, her way out! Naraku must have been way too high if he made the same mistake twice.
He’d left the office door open.
Again, just like last time. And just like last time, too, she took the chance and bolted for the open space, easily stretching out of the grasping hands.
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Inuyasha looked the woman up and down.
Kagura smirked at his lavender gaze. “See something you like?”
Inuyasha shuddered and made a disgusted face. “You’re not my type.”
Kagura chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’re not mine either,” she told him coldly. “No offense of course.”
Inuyasha raised an interested eyebrow. “None taken.”
Kagura tilted her head as she studied the young man before her. Could he do it? She wasn’t sure. “What can I do for you Mr. Youkai?”
“You can let me pass,” he growled, while ‘threateningly’ cracking his knuckles.
Kagura smirked. “Down boy! Naraku’s orders were just to ‘stop’ you, he said nothing about not allowing you to pass after a period of time.” The edges of her lips turned down in a deep scowl. “I’ve done my duty, I owe nothing more to the bastard, and I can leave.” Kagura stepped sideways and the path up the stairs cleared.
Inuyasha glared at her. “What are you playing at? An attack to an opponent with their back turned is a cowardly way to fight.”
Kagura looked pissed. “You jackass!” Inuyasha smirked at the ‘compliment’. “I may not have the cleanest record, but I fight fairly! How dare you accuse me of such a trick,” she hissed.
“Again, what do you want?”
Kagura’s face softened. “Hurt him. Hurt the bastard to get payback for her. Kagome is too gentle, even in her worst mood; she’d never be able to do anything that would be bad enough to dent him. I may not know Kagome very well, but I remember her. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s put up with him and didn’t do anything for what he did to her. What she did with the jewel took guts, I respect her for that.”
Inu looked at the tall woman disbelieving. She was going to just let him pass? She worked for Naraku, helped track down Kagome, and had been a part of this mess for ages!
Kagura looked him straight in the eye with the most serious face possible. “Help her. I tried to save her before but she was too thickheaded to heed my warning. When Naraku sent his plan into motion tonight, I was unprepared to stop it and had to go along with it. Now that you are here, go save her, and I’ll get you help. The police, I’ll call them.”
“Thank you,” the man told her grudgingly. He believed her. Nodding resolutely, he bounded past her and up the endless flights of stairs.
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Kagome threw the door to the stair well open and lunged inside. Turning her nose toward the path downward, she suddenly faultered.
She could hear steps. Loud, echoing steps of someone heading up the stairs toward her.
‘SHIT’ she silently screamed.
Maybe Naraku wasn’t being as idiotic in his drug induced brain-dead moment as she thought. Apparently there was more than just him here, and she had no way to go. Down the steps was probably a large enemy and behind her was an even larger one.
Tilting her head upwards, she found her only way out. The roof. There was nowhere else to go.
Sprinting up the steps she kicked the heavy door open.
Skidding out onto the gravel, she slid across the flat level of building. Looking wildly around, she saw no way out. No matter how close the buildings were, which happened to be pretty close, she couldn’t make the jump.
“BITCH!”
Whipping around she faced a panting, angry, high Naraku. In his drugged state, instead of exhaustion of the body, he had excess energy.
Chewing her lip, Kagome faced her problem head on. There was no way she'd run now.
No place to run, either, for that matter.
She had no choice.
“NARAKU!”
Naraku smirked. “Baby, don’t worry, we’ll get out of this. Give me the jewel and you can come back home. Everything will go back to normal.”
Kagome glared at the man. “No,” she hissed. “You’re in deep, Naraku, you can’t get out this time. Too many things have happened! The cops should be keeping a watch on you. I stumbled across a few of your ‘secrets’ while I was here doing filing work. You’ve done a lot for a twenty six year old.”
Naraku ignored her comments. “You cant be serious, my sweet. Are you saying that you enjoy being here with these people? Happy to be Kagome Shashu? Don’t you want to go home and stay Kagome Higurashi?”
“I have friends here Naraku! Sango and Miroku and Inuyasha are all here for me! I have a job and a life; I’m able to go where I want, when I want, no one to stop me! I *am* happy, and I like being here!”
Naraku frowned. “Miroku Houshi? He’s the son of a famous detective; he could live an entire life off his father’s fame and never have to worry about money. His kind aren’t good for you!”
Kagome glared at him. “Miroku is a good man, I’d miss him dearly.”
Naraku carried on as though he hadn’t heard her. “And Sango Taijai? She’s rolling in money. She’s happy without you Kagome!” Kagome’s eyes began to tear up at the thought. “She has her brother. After her parents’ death in that fire, she doesn’t want to get close to anyone. She doesn’t want you around screwing up her life.” He told her coldly.
“I love Sango like a sister, and she knows it! She’s not like that; you don’t even know her! Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”
Naraku cocked his head to one side, a slow malicious smile spreading across his handsome face. “And Inuyasha? He doesn’t care for you, in any way at all. Ever since his mother and father died he’s refused to get close to anyone at all. I’ve seen the way he eyes you, Kagome, you’re just something he’d use and throw away.”
Kagome shook her head violently as if to get rid of the vile words. “Inuyasha is a friend! Don’t speak of him like that!”
Naraku decided to take a different route and started to walk forward slowly, taking one step at a time. “Kagome, I love you. Come back home!”
Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as tears threatened to find their way out of her stormy eyes. “NO! My home is the shrine, not with you!”
Kagome’s eyes opened and they flashed dangerously. “And you don’t love me,” she growled.
Naraku’s smirk stayed in place as he came increasingly closer to his girl and his jewel, acting as if he never heard the words. “Kagome, come back. I promise I won’t hit you anymore. I never will again. You love me Kagome, you can't stay away.”
Kagome growled, doing a very good imitation of Inuyasha. “NO NARAKU! I DON’T LOVE YOU AND I NEVER HAVE! I WILL NEVER COME BACK TO YOU!”
Inuyasha, who happened to be the person heading up stairs that Kagome heard, arrived just in time to hear those words. He smirked. Oh how he wished he were beside Kagome at the moment so that he could see the look on Naraku’s face.
“Kagome!”
Kagome took her eyes off her boyfriend and looked towards Inuyasha and gave him a small smile. “’Bout time jackass! I came all the way here to see you, and you weren’t here to meet me!” she scolded half-heartedly. He smiled back at her, glad she was all right.
Naraku didn’t like her attention being off of him. “Kagome, this bastard has been planting ideas in your brain! Don’t you see? You do love me, he, and those others, are just trying to keep you away from me!”
“That was the whole idea, except for the loving part,” Inuyasha spat. “Leave Kagome alone. Don’t you ever come near her again!”
Kagome ignored the men’s bickering. Naraku turned back to her and gazed longingly at the jewel around her neck.
Taking a few more steps forward, Kagome had no choice other than to back away to keep from coming too close.
Naraku took one step forward. Kagome took one backward.
One forward. One backward.
One forward. One backward.
One forward. One backward.
Her tennis shoe scuffed something and Kagome hissed as she regained her balance. Risking a glance behind her, she cried out, softly.
There was no more room to step backwards. She was at the very edge of the roof, the short ledge. The dizzying lights of cars swirled up at her from forty stories down. The velvety black night pressed in around her.
Naraku smirked and stepped forward again and watch her shuffle back as far as possible. “Kagome, come back.”
“No Naraku, never!” she glared at him, blue eyes full of hatred and blame.
Naraku’s slow mind calculated as he stepped forward one last time. He was now nose to nose with the woman he did actually love. “Last chance,” he hissed.
Kagome eyed him, tears pooling in the murky depths of her eyes. This was the man she had lived with for four years. Who had taken away her friends, and family, and her freedom. He had beaten her and hunted her down without mercy. She’d never want to be near him again. “Never.”
Naraku’s smirk flickered and died and a scowl easily replaced it. Reaching forward, he gently picked up the jewel.
Inuyasha’s eyes widened, his feet had been frozen until then, and his mind paused with the only thought of Kagome being all right. Nothing else had mattered. But now, Naraku was too close for comfort.
Naraku rolled the sphere between his figures while Kagome eyed him with no idea what to do. All she knew was that she’d do anything never to have to go back to her life with him.
Naraku placed the palm of his free hand on her chest and he looked into her eyes. Time slowed as he pushed forward and her body slowly tilted backwards. In her momentum, the chain of the necklace broke and left Naraku with his prize.
Inuyasha ran forward, screaming, and Kagome spread her arms and her eyes widened in terror. Her shoes lifted and left the edge of the building and her body leveled out so that she was almost horizontal.
She shifted her glance from Naraku’s eyes to Inuyasha’s and stared into them deeply.
As her small, frail body was brought down by gravity, Inu rushed as quickly as possible, but was too late.
With one last, small, sorrow filled smile, Kagome was gone.
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Naraku stood stunned as he watched his love tumble from the roof of the tall building.
Inuyasha stood dazed near the edge. He had been too late. He hadn’t made it. Kagome was gone because of his inability to protect her.
Naraku had pushed her. He had sent her to her death.
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Time remained in its slowed state. Thoughts whirled around his mind as Inuyasha turned, snarling, to the older man.
Inu glared at the man.
Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all. Not the police who’d arrive at any moment. It had been less than three minutes since Kagura'd left to call them; they’d be minutes too late.
Lunging at the crimson-eyed man, Inuyasha brought his fist into contact with Naraku’s jaw. Using his momentum from the movement, Inu brought his knee crashing into Naraku’s chest.
Jumping backwards Inuyasha watched with sick amusement as the man fell to the ground and spit up blood.
Smirking, Inuyasha did a low kick and his booted foot slammed into Naraku’s head and the man flew a few feet.
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Getting to his knees, Naraku pushed off with the balls of his feet and reached out with an outstretched hand.
Inuyasha took a stumbling step backwards, but Naraku was still able to wrap his long fingers around Inu’s neck. Lifting the lavender-eyed man into the air one handed, Naraku sneered at him.
Inu scrunched up his nose as he looked down at the crimson-eyed bastard. Bringing up a hand he scraped and clawed at offending appendage around his neck that was cutting off his air supply. Managing to pry the fingers off, Inuyasha fell in a lump at Naraku’s feet, panting wildly.
Naraku snarled as he kicked Inu in the side, sending the man who was on his hands and knees onto his back. Naraku stood over his opponent, and brought a foot down onto Inu’s chest and put his weight into it.
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Inu winced as he felt something crack. Reaching up, he shoved his fingernails into Naraku’s lower leg. With the right amount of pressure he felt the skin break.
Yelping the older male leapt back in instinct. Inu struggled up and began to bring his fists mercilessly into Naraku’s top half, effectively bruising and battering him.
With a well-aimed kick, Naraku went flying off onto the rock-covered roof. Sharp, jagged pieces of gravel sliced and nicked unprotected skin.
Inu stalked over to his ‘victim’ and lifted the asshole by the shoulders so that he could stand on his own.
Inuyasha snarled at Naraku as he took a step backward. Once the man could stand on his own and prepared to hit Inu again, Inuyasha continued.
With a rather rough right hook, the pair of males heard a sickening crack.
Blood poured down Naraku’s pale skin.
Inuyasha could just picture Naraku hurting Kagome in this way, breaking her nose, and anger fueled him again. Bringing his knee up quickly, Inu listened as Naraku grunted and crumpled to his knees.
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But Naraku refused to be easy prey. He’d always been strong and was able to beat anyone. He wasn’t going to allow this upstart to get him!
Standing in a flash, he sent his body careening forward and tackled the younger male around the middle. Inuyasha had to chew the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out in pain as his back collided with the solid roof.
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Using his weight, Inuyasha rolled Naraku over and sat on the worse off man’s chest while he pounded his fist into him over and over again.
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Naraku reached up and grabbed Inu’s shoulders and shoved the lavender-eyed man backwards. Bolting upright, Naraku backed away.
Grounding his teeth together, Inuyasha stood up, wrapping an arm around his aching body. Panting, he looked at the crimson-eyed man with disgust.
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“Naraku,” he hissed, “You hurt her! You made her believe she loved you and deserved anything she got! You made her believe all your mistakes were her fault! You fucking asshole!”
Naraku scowled.
“You made her see things that no one deserved to see and dragged her into a mess that had murder, stealing, and drugs involved! You took away her life with her family and friends! You made her run away in fright, like a scared child, and hunted her down!”
Naraku snarled, “I wanted her back! Can you blame me? She was always there and was always helping me. And I didn’t mistreat her. She did deserve anything she got!”
“You bastard!” Inuyasha ran forward and grabbed Naraku around the neck.
Naraku pushed him off before taking a step backwards...
...into thin air.
Inuyasha watched in horror as the second person that night went over the ledge of the building where he worked.
Naraku’s eyes widened in realization as his body went careening backwards over the edge. His arms thrown forward, his hand outstretched, something slid out.
A milky purple colored orb flew out of his hand and landed with a soft ting on the gravel and Naraku watched it as time continued to stay slowed.
His face twisting into a fearful, angry, disturbing smirk, his body fell completely away from the building.
Inuyasha watched with angry, sad eyes as Naraku was sucked downward.
His mouth opened and a cry so terrifying fell from his lips as he came closer to the ground.
With a muffled thump, he landed in a bloody heap on the streets of Tokyo.
The cry still echoed in Inu’s ears, the death cry of a dying man. One so sadly sung out that any that heard it would be forever marked by the notes of death.
And Naraku, the cause of all of Kagome’s pain, was no more.
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O.O;
Until the next chapter of Dashed Hopes (No, its not over), Ja ne!
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Disclaimer: I don’t own him. (True.) And I don’t want to! (False.)
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Dashed Hopes
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--- Last Chapter ---
The man leaned down and his hot breath tickled her ear but sent warning chills down her spine.
“Guess who.”
--- End of Last Chapter ---
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Chapter 18: The Ledge
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Kagome couldn’t move. No matter how much she willed her frozen legs to move, she couldn’t. Her feet stayed in one spot, as if glued to the floor.
And Naraku stood behind her, smirking.
How Kagome hated that smirk. She used to see it as charming and coy, now it just disgusted her.
Sure, she blamed herself for this mess, but even a person with half a brain would blame Naraku too. And Kagome, lucky for her, had an entire brain. And at that moment, it was registering the fact that she was screwed.
“Kagome,” Naraku whispered, again close to her ear. “Would you rather be with Inuyasha than me?” Kagome could just hear the pout in his dark voice.
She couldn’t stop herself. Apparently hanging around with Inu had taught her something, and that ‘something’ was to speak without thinking first. Way to go, Inuyasha!
“Of course,” she spat. “I’d rather be with a man-eating tiger than in here with you!”
Naraku scowled and growled low in his voice. “We’ll let that one slide, Kag. I know its just because you’re surprised to see me.” He pretended not to notice the indignant growl that sounded from the petite woman in his arms. “You don’t have to be scared Kagome.”
Kagome almost snorted at that one.
“I’m not too mad. You’ll come back with me, give me the Shikon no Tama, and we’ll be happy again. I want you back Kagome. I know you want to come back, too.”
That unfroze Kagome. Throwing his arms off of her, she whipped around to glare at the man. Taking a few cautious steps backward, putting the desk between them.
“No, Naraku. It’s not yours! How could you? You killed them for this.” Here she made the mistake to whip the jewel out from under her tank top. “And they’re dead! How could you just act like everything was normal?!”
Naraku eyed the jewel carefully. “It looks beautiful on you Kagome.”
“That’s not the point,” Kagome sneered. She liked it when Inuyasha told her that, not when Naraku said it.
Naraku sighed darkly. “No, its not. You’re right. I need to sell that jewel. But in order to do that, I have to actually have it.” The man took a step forward.
Kagome stepped backwards to brace herself against the window. She looked the man up and down.
He was strongly built, always had been. Naraku stood a good foot and a half taller than her, even taller than Inuyasha. It irked her. She peered upwards, into his crimson eyes, and that’s when she saw it.
Not only was lust and desire in the red orbs, but some kind of glint of malice, of evil, of insanity.
Naraku was different.
Kagome leaned forward slightly for a better look. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips were slightly discolored. His breathing was heavy and his skin pale. Something was wrong.
Kagome gasped as realization struck her.
Naraku had been practicing his ‘hobby’. He had been taking drugs! Cocaine or something else, doesn’t matter, he did it. And it looked like he’d taken too much. Way too much.
Naraku was even more unstable than usual, and violent. A lot more violent.
Kagome began to get nervous and shifted her glance around the room. She had to find a way out! How’d she get into another mess? This time it was different, she was alone. No family to take comfort in, no Inuyasha to scare the bastard off, no one at all.
Naraku watched as his girlfriend’s eyes brightened.
Kagome had seen it, her way out! Naraku must have been way too high if he made the same mistake twice.
He’d left the office door open.
Again, just like last time. And just like last time, too, she took the chance and bolted for the open space, easily stretching out of the grasping hands.
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Inuyasha looked the woman up and down.
Kagura smirked at his lavender gaze. “See something you like?”
Inuyasha shuddered and made a disgusted face. “You’re not my type.”
Kagura chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’re not mine either,” she told him coldly. “No offense of course.”
Inuyasha raised an interested eyebrow. “None taken.”
Kagura tilted her head as she studied the young man before her. Could he do it? She wasn’t sure. “What can I do for you Mr. Youkai?”
“You can let me pass,” he growled, while ‘threateningly’ cracking his knuckles.
Kagura smirked. “Down boy! Naraku’s orders were just to ‘stop’ you, he said nothing about not allowing you to pass after a period of time.” The edges of her lips turned down in a deep scowl. “I’ve done my duty, I owe nothing more to the bastard, and I can leave.” Kagura stepped sideways and the path up the stairs cleared.
Inuyasha glared at her. “What are you playing at? An attack to an opponent with their back turned is a cowardly way to fight.”
Kagura looked pissed. “You jackass!” Inuyasha smirked at the ‘compliment’. “I may not have the cleanest record, but I fight fairly! How dare you accuse me of such a trick,” she hissed.
“Again, what do you want?”
Kagura’s face softened. “Hurt him. Hurt the bastard to get payback for her. Kagome is too gentle, even in her worst mood; she’d never be able to do anything that would be bad enough to dent him. I may not know Kagome very well, but I remember her. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s put up with him and didn’t do anything for what he did to her. What she did with the jewel took guts, I respect her for that.”
Inu looked at the tall woman disbelieving. She was going to just let him pass? She worked for Naraku, helped track down Kagome, and had been a part of this mess for ages!
Kagura looked him straight in the eye with the most serious face possible. “Help her. I tried to save her before but she was too thickheaded to heed my warning. When Naraku sent his plan into motion tonight, I was unprepared to stop it and had to go along with it. Now that you are here, go save her, and I’ll get you help. The police, I’ll call them.”
“Thank you,” the man told her grudgingly. He believed her. Nodding resolutely, he bounded past her and up the endless flights of stairs.
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Kagome threw the door to the stair well open and lunged inside. Turning her nose toward the path downward, she suddenly faultered.
She could hear steps. Loud, echoing steps of someone heading up the stairs toward her.
‘SHIT’ she silently screamed.
Maybe Naraku wasn’t being as idiotic in his drug induced brain-dead moment as she thought. Apparently there was more than just him here, and she had no way to go. Down the steps was probably a large enemy and behind her was an even larger one.
Tilting her head upwards, she found her only way out. The roof. There was nowhere else to go.
Sprinting up the steps she kicked the heavy door open.
Skidding out onto the gravel, she slid across the flat level of building. Looking wildly around, she saw no way out. No matter how close the buildings were, which happened to be pretty close, she couldn’t make the jump.
“BITCH!”
Whipping around she faced a panting, angry, high Naraku. In his drugged state, instead of exhaustion of the body, he had excess energy.
Chewing her lip, Kagome faced her problem head on. There was no way she'd run now.
No place to run, either, for that matter.
She had no choice.
“NARAKU!”
Naraku smirked. “Baby, don’t worry, we’ll get out of this. Give me the jewel and you can come back home. Everything will go back to normal.”
Kagome glared at the man. “No,” she hissed. “You’re in deep, Naraku, you can’t get out this time. Too many things have happened! The cops should be keeping a watch on you. I stumbled across a few of your ‘secrets’ while I was here doing filing work. You’ve done a lot for a twenty six year old.”
Naraku ignored her comments. “You cant be serious, my sweet. Are you saying that you enjoy being here with these people? Happy to be Kagome Shashu? Don’t you want to go home and stay Kagome Higurashi?”
“I have friends here Naraku! Sango and Miroku and Inuyasha are all here for me! I have a job and a life; I’m able to go where I want, when I want, no one to stop me! I *am* happy, and I like being here!”
Naraku frowned. “Miroku Houshi? He’s the son of a famous detective; he could live an entire life off his father’s fame and never have to worry about money. His kind aren’t good for you!”
Kagome glared at him. “Miroku is a good man, I’d miss him dearly.”
Naraku carried on as though he hadn’t heard her. “And Sango Taijai? She’s rolling in money. She’s happy without you Kagome!” Kagome’s eyes began to tear up at the thought. “She has her brother. After her parents’ death in that fire, she doesn’t want to get close to anyone. She doesn’t want you around screwing up her life.” He told her coldly.
“I love Sango like a sister, and she knows it! She’s not like that; you don’t even know her! Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”
Naraku cocked his head to one side, a slow malicious smile spreading across his handsome face. “And Inuyasha? He doesn’t care for you, in any way at all. Ever since his mother and father died he’s refused to get close to anyone at all. I’ve seen the way he eyes you, Kagome, you’re just something he’d use and throw away.”
Kagome shook her head violently as if to get rid of the vile words. “Inuyasha is a friend! Don’t speak of him like that!”
Naraku decided to take a different route and started to walk forward slowly, taking one step at a time. “Kagome, I love you. Come back home!”
Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as tears threatened to find their way out of her stormy eyes. “NO! My home is the shrine, not with you!”
Kagome’s eyes opened and they flashed dangerously. “And you don’t love me,” she growled.
Naraku’s smirk stayed in place as he came increasingly closer to his girl and his jewel, acting as if he never heard the words. “Kagome, come back. I promise I won’t hit you anymore. I never will again. You love me Kagome, you can't stay away.”
Kagome growled, doing a very good imitation of Inuyasha. “NO NARAKU! I DON’T LOVE YOU AND I NEVER HAVE! I WILL NEVER COME BACK TO YOU!”
Inuyasha, who happened to be the person heading up stairs that Kagome heard, arrived just in time to hear those words. He smirked. Oh how he wished he were beside Kagome at the moment so that he could see the look on Naraku’s face.
“Kagome!”
Kagome took her eyes off her boyfriend and looked towards Inuyasha and gave him a small smile. “’Bout time jackass! I came all the way here to see you, and you weren’t here to meet me!” she scolded half-heartedly. He smiled back at her, glad she was all right.
Naraku didn’t like her attention being off of him. “Kagome, this bastard has been planting ideas in your brain! Don’t you see? You do love me, he, and those others, are just trying to keep you away from me!”
“That was the whole idea, except for the loving part,” Inuyasha spat. “Leave Kagome alone. Don’t you ever come near her again!”
Kagome ignored the men’s bickering. Naraku turned back to her and gazed longingly at the jewel around her neck.
Taking a few more steps forward, Kagome had no choice other than to back away to keep from coming too close.
Naraku took one step forward. Kagome took one backward.
One forward. One backward.
One forward. One backward.
One forward. One backward.
Her tennis shoe scuffed something and Kagome hissed as she regained her balance. Risking a glance behind her, she cried out, softly.
There was no more room to step backwards. She was at the very edge of the roof, the short ledge. The dizzying lights of cars swirled up at her from forty stories down. The velvety black night pressed in around her.
Naraku smirked and stepped forward again and watch her shuffle back as far as possible. “Kagome, come back.”
“No Naraku, never!” she glared at him, blue eyes full of hatred and blame.
Naraku’s slow mind calculated as he stepped forward one last time. He was now nose to nose with the woman he did actually love. “Last chance,” he hissed.
Kagome eyed him, tears pooling in the murky depths of her eyes. This was the man she had lived with for four years. Who had taken away her friends, and family, and her freedom. He had beaten her and hunted her down without mercy. She’d never want to be near him again. “Never.”
Naraku’s smirk flickered and died and a scowl easily replaced it. Reaching forward, he gently picked up the jewel.
Inuyasha’s eyes widened, his feet had been frozen until then, and his mind paused with the only thought of Kagome being all right. Nothing else had mattered. But now, Naraku was too close for comfort.
Naraku rolled the sphere between his figures while Kagome eyed him with no idea what to do. All she knew was that she’d do anything never to have to go back to her life with him.
Naraku placed the palm of his free hand on her chest and he looked into her eyes. Time slowed as he pushed forward and her body slowly tilted backwards. In her momentum, the chain of the necklace broke and left Naraku with his prize.
Inuyasha ran forward, screaming, and Kagome spread her arms and her eyes widened in terror. Her shoes lifted and left the edge of the building and her body leveled out so that she was almost horizontal.
She shifted her glance from Naraku’s eyes to Inuyasha’s and stared into them deeply.
As her small, frail body was brought down by gravity, Inu rushed as quickly as possible, but was too late.
With one last, small, sorrow filled smile, Kagome was gone.
.
Naraku stood stunned as he watched his love tumble from the roof of the tall building.
Inuyasha stood dazed near the edge. He had been too late. He hadn’t made it. Kagome was gone because of his inability to protect her.
Naraku had pushed her. He had sent her to her death.
.
Time remained in its slowed state. Thoughts whirled around his mind as Inuyasha turned, snarling, to the older man.
Inu glared at the man.
Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all. Not the police who’d arrive at any moment. It had been less than three minutes since Kagura'd left to call them; they’d be minutes too late.
Lunging at the crimson-eyed man, Inuyasha brought his fist into contact with Naraku’s jaw. Using his momentum from the movement, Inu brought his knee crashing into Naraku’s chest.
Jumping backwards Inuyasha watched with sick amusement as the man fell to the ground and spit up blood.
Smirking, Inuyasha did a low kick and his booted foot slammed into Naraku’s head and the man flew a few feet.
.
Getting to his knees, Naraku pushed off with the balls of his feet and reached out with an outstretched hand.
Inuyasha took a stumbling step backwards, but Naraku was still able to wrap his long fingers around Inu’s neck. Lifting the lavender-eyed man into the air one handed, Naraku sneered at him.
Inu scrunched up his nose as he looked down at the crimson-eyed bastard. Bringing up a hand he scraped and clawed at offending appendage around his neck that was cutting off his air supply. Managing to pry the fingers off, Inuyasha fell in a lump at Naraku’s feet, panting wildly.
Naraku snarled as he kicked Inu in the side, sending the man who was on his hands and knees onto his back. Naraku stood over his opponent, and brought a foot down onto Inu’s chest and put his weight into it.
.
Inu winced as he felt something crack. Reaching up, he shoved his fingernails into Naraku’s lower leg. With the right amount of pressure he felt the skin break.
Yelping the older male leapt back in instinct. Inu struggled up and began to bring his fists mercilessly into Naraku’s top half, effectively bruising and battering him.
With a well-aimed kick, Naraku went flying off onto the rock-covered roof. Sharp, jagged pieces of gravel sliced and nicked unprotected skin.
Inu stalked over to his ‘victim’ and lifted the asshole by the shoulders so that he could stand on his own.
Inuyasha snarled at Naraku as he took a step backward. Once the man could stand on his own and prepared to hit Inu again, Inuyasha continued.
With a rather rough right hook, the pair of males heard a sickening crack.
Blood poured down Naraku’s pale skin.
Inuyasha could just picture Naraku hurting Kagome in this way, breaking her nose, and anger fueled him again. Bringing his knee up quickly, Inu listened as Naraku grunted and crumpled to his knees.
.
But Naraku refused to be easy prey. He’d always been strong and was able to beat anyone. He wasn’t going to allow this upstart to get him!
Standing in a flash, he sent his body careening forward and tackled the younger male around the middle. Inuyasha had to chew the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out in pain as his back collided with the solid roof.
.
Using his weight, Inuyasha rolled Naraku over and sat on the worse off man’s chest while he pounded his fist into him over and over again.
.
Naraku reached up and grabbed Inu’s shoulders and shoved the lavender-eyed man backwards. Bolting upright, Naraku backed away.
Grounding his teeth together, Inuyasha stood up, wrapping an arm around his aching body. Panting, he looked at the crimson-eyed man with disgust.
.
“Naraku,” he hissed, “You hurt her! You made her believe she loved you and deserved anything she got! You made her believe all your mistakes were her fault! You fucking asshole!”
Naraku scowled.
“You made her see things that no one deserved to see and dragged her into a mess that had murder, stealing, and drugs involved! You took away her life with her family and friends! You made her run away in fright, like a scared child, and hunted her down!”
Naraku snarled, “I wanted her back! Can you blame me? She was always there and was always helping me. And I didn’t mistreat her. She did deserve anything she got!”
“You bastard!” Inuyasha ran forward and grabbed Naraku around the neck.
Naraku pushed him off before taking a step backwards...
...into thin air.
Inuyasha watched in horror as the second person that night went over the ledge of the building where he worked.
Naraku’s eyes widened in realization as his body went careening backwards over the edge. His arms thrown forward, his hand outstretched, something slid out.
A milky purple colored orb flew out of his hand and landed with a soft ting on the gravel and Naraku watched it as time continued to stay slowed.
His face twisting into a fearful, angry, disturbing smirk, his body fell completely away from the building.
Inuyasha watched with angry, sad eyes as Naraku was sucked downward.
His mouth opened and a cry so terrifying fell from his lips as he came closer to the ground.
With a muffled thump, he landed in a bloody heap on the streets of Tokyo.
The cry still echoed in Inu’s ears, the death cry of a dying man. One so sadly sung out that any that heard it would be forever marked by the notes of death.
And Naraku, the cause of all of Kagome’s pain, was no more.
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O.O;
Until the next chapter of Dashed Hopes (No, its not over), Ja ne!