InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Delusions ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Author’s Notes: Hey all. Early chapter release since I won’t be in town tomorrow. Be advised that there are some definite mature themes below. This chapter is darker than it’s predecessors.  Also, this chapter is entirely flashback story, thus the italics. Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

Delusions Chapter Four Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language) Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Kagome looked back at Inuyasha in confusion. His arms still held out before him and Kikyō gave a sidelong glance at Kagome before she walked out and into his waiting arms where they embraced. Kagome’s heart dropped into her stomach. “Inuyasha...I don't….I don't understand. I thought…” “You thought what? That I'd actually choose you over Kikyō?” “But you said…” “He said what he had to and you were so gullible, so naive to actually believe that you could possibly replace me in his heart,” Kikyō interjected. She held him possessively and ran her hands up along his chest. Tears welled up in Kagome’s eyes. Looking to Inuyasha, “Why?” She choked out. “Naraku made an offer that we couldn't refuse. I get Inuyasha and Naraku gets you,” Kikyō answered for him. “Why would Naraku want me any way other than dead? He doesn’t care about me.” Kikyō rarely exhibited emotion beyond a hint of frustration. Now, a side of her mouth raised up into a smirk, clearly mocking Kagome’s pain, “Foolish girl.” Many emotions flooded through Kagome but she channeled her anger to keep her going. “Fine,” she yelled, her voice steady now, “You both deserve each other.” She turned back the way they had come and began to walk to camp. “Kagome,” Inuyasha called out, “It's not all that simple.” Kagome turned and looked back at Inuyasha. He had released Kikyō, but beside him now stood another figure, a man, or rather a Yōkai, with fair skin, long dark hair tied high in a ponytail, and purple eyes that seemed to peer right through her. The man nodded his head to Kagome, “I am Byakuya.” Kikyō, who still stood nearest to Inuyasha, touched him lightly upon the arm. “Please do hurry. I have other matters to attend to in the meantime.” Her soul collectors floated just beyond the glade, waiting for their mistress. Both Inuyasha and the newcomer, Byakuya, watched her as she left. ‘I’m not waiting around for this’, Kagome thought to herself and tried to quietly exit as the undead miko ceremoniously departed. Unfortunately, her departure had not gone as unnoticed as she’d hoped. Byakuya raised his arm up, palm up, and vines erupted from the ground and laced themselves around Kagome’s legs and arms, effectively holding her in place. She gasped, “What?! Let go of me!” Inuyasha at least had the decency to look concerned. He seemed to want to come forward as he fidgeted but ultimately convinced himself to stay put. Byakuya looked over at Inuyasha, confirming that the hanyō would not interfere. “Inuyasha!” Kagome yelled. “Please! Don’t let this be how it ends!” She struggled against her bonds, even though she knew they would not give way. “What about everything that we’ve been through? Everything that we shared?” she pleaded. Inuyasha did nothing but cross his arms and look away. Already, she could feel her heart breaking into pieces. Betrayed by the one she loved. At least her friends were not here to witness this. It would be hard enough to explain… Byakuya glanced over at Inuyasha, “Don’t you have things to attend to as well, Inuyasha?” The hanyō nodded at Byakuya and looked back at Kagome before returning his gaze to the Yōkai. “You did say that you would spare her…” “You care now?” Byakuya smiled. “It did not seem so before. In fact the disdain with which you spoke of the Lady Kagome would suggest that you only held contempt for her.” “Keh, do what you gotta do. Like you said, I have other things I have to do.” With that, Inuyasha jumped out of the glade, back in the direction of their campsite. Kagome blushed with shame to think that she actually loved him. She couldn’t help but wonder at how deep his scorn for her ran as he had seemed so earnest, so convincing to her and their friends. ‘I feel so used,’ she thought. ‘I can’t believe I was so stupid to believe that I could be anything more than what I am...a tool.’ Byakuya walked near to Kagome and the look on his face made her blood run cold. His painted lips lifted up into a sickening smile and was an unwelcome beacon for the unpleasant things she suspected were to come. She tried fidgeting against her bonds again. She was determined not to give up easily but the tension did not allow her to do anymore than squirm, which seemed to make the Yōkai happy; something Kagome did not strive to do at this moment. He walked behind Kagome and she turned her head to try and follow his movements but without the rest of her body she could not see him as he disappeared behind her. She felt a cold finger run along her shoulder which sent a shudder through her. Her reaction he solicited seemed to please him and he gave a dark chuckle. “What are you doing?!” “Hush little bird.” Byakuya shushed and continued to traced unknown patterns along the top of her back. Faintly, she heard the subtle rip of fabric and she felt the cool night air against skin that had recently been covered. Tears began to fall down her cheeks unbidden. She no longer felt a reason to try and pretend that this turn of events did not affect her. She did try to keep what little dignity she had and hardened herself for what she knew was about to happen. Suddenly, pain blossomed just below her neck and her eyes opened wide in shock and she jerked her head up. A gasp escaped her lips. She could feel warmth begin to flow down her chest and she looked to confirm the red of blood slowly slipping down the contours of her exposed body to pool into the remnants of her clothes. Not enough blood loss to kill her, though. She knew the wound was superficial, but humiliating and painful all the same. She felt his presence leave from behind her and he slowly walked to stand back in front of her, admiring his handy work as he did. His lips were now painted the color of blood rather than the rouge they had been. She could see a trickle of her blood stain his chin. He wasn’t bothering to be neat about this. Without words, he closed the gap between them and, restrained as she was, Kagome could only close her eyes. It seemed like an eternity had passed. Perhaps it had only been hours, or even moments, she could not be certain. Despite being stiff from inner pain, she realized that she was alone and that her restraints had been lifted, leaving her lying on the crumpled blades of grass. She did not have the energy to contemplate where her tormentor had gone or why he had left her alone, she just knew that she had to get away. The ground felt cold beneath her and she rose up as quickly as her sore body would allow and began to walk, her tattered clothes pasted to her skin with blood and dirt. Still in shock, she walked back into the woods, leaving the once serene and beautiful glade behind her. It had seemed so beautiful and inviting once before and now it was dark, empty, and tainted. She walked singlemindedly towards the campsite she had left her friends at. Her only thoughts were of reaching the safety and warmth of her friends. The shock of recent events leached all of the warmth from Kagome’s body and all she could feel was an empty numbness as she made her way through the darkness. Finally, she could see the light of camp in the distance. Slowly she trudged on. As she got closer she couldn’t help but to notice that the flames of the campfire seemed to be brighter than when she had left it. Perhaps her friends had stoked the fire in anticipation of her return. The smell that hit her as she drew closer made her heart sink into the pit of her stomach. The stench of blood, the stench of burning flesh and hair. Unmistakable smells. She picked up her pace and entered into the clearing of what was her and her friends’ campsite. Chaos had clearly been here and left. Numbly, she glanced around at the mayhem of the scene. The fire was larger as it consumed what she assumed to be was a body of one her friends. It was unclear which as it had been charred beyond recognition. She noticed a burning staff clasped in the hand of the corpse. ‘Miroku…’ Kagome stood in place and slowly turned her gaze upon the unseeing body the size of a child, ‘Shippō…’ She ran over and cradled his stiffening body. His eyes were open and glazed over. His tiny face was forever etched in shock and terror. She sobbed into his small frame and took a moment to try and close his eyes but too much time had passed for her to be able to complete this small task. Tears streaming down her face she looked around for her demon hunter friend, Sango. She would not have gone down without a fight. Kirara, either, for that matter and she did not see her remains anywhere. She gently put the small kitsune’s body down with as much reverence as she could muster. There was nothing she could do for him at the moment and she knew she had to find her friend first. She stood up and surveyed the scene to try and determine what path Sango and Kirara may have taken. But before she could take a step, Kikyō stepped into the clearing. Kikyō glanced at the carnage, her eyes not showing even a glint of emotion. “Pity they had to die,” she spoke softly. “They fought well once they knew that their end was upon them. The girl you are looking for, your friend, was swallowed by the Kazaana.” Dread washed over Kagome, “You saw it happen?” “I felt the demonic presence and arrived as this all played out. As I said, it is unfortunate for they did not have to die.” Kagome stared hard at the miko, “What do you mean, they did not have to die. Clearly they did not have a choice! Shippō was just a child!” The miko lowered her gaze to the small form of the young kitsune. “Yes, I am rather unpleased with the results. Inuyasha has never had the neatest style, yet I would have expected more restraint from him when it came to his allies.” “Inuyasha did this? I...I don’t believe it,” she said quietly. Yet, she felt doubt worm its way into her mind. ‘After what he allowed to happen to me, the woman he claimed to love, why wouldn’t he be able to do this to his friends.’ “Why?” Kagome keened. “It is all part of the deal that was made. You all out of the way and we are allowed to live together, in peace.” “You should know better than anyone that with Naraku, there is no peace!” Kikyō paid her reincarnation no mind, now looking stoically at flames. “Believe what you want, girl.” Kagome suddenly felt a flash of pain below her neck and winced audibly, kneeling to the ground. Kikyō looked over to her, “It seems as though your new master beckons.” “Master?” Kagome absentmindedly reached to her wound. It throbbed with a dull pain now instead of a searing hot stab. She could feel a dark presence closing in and the now all too familiar feeling hit her again. Kiko turned to leave and glanced over her shoulder, “I never did thank you for bringing us back together. Thank you.” She turned her head and took her leave; presumably to rejoin the murderous hanyō. Kagome had no intention of sticking around and waiting for what Kikyō called her Master. Whether that be Naraku or...she shuddered...Byakuya. Miraculously her pack and bow had survived the disaster and sat where she left it, against a tree away from the campfire. She ran over to it and shouldered the items. She ran to the edge of the clearing but spared one last look at those she was leaving behind. Guilt flooded her as she did not have the time to give them a proper burial, but the urge to flee overtook her. She had to get away from here and fast. She had only gotten about a mile away from the campsite before she felt a demonic presence again. She stopped, threw her pack down, grabbed her bow, and nocked an arrow while twisting around and aiming. She heard a low growl and the transformed nekomata walked towards her. “Kirara!” Kagome lowered her bow and returned the arrow before slinging the weapon over her shoulder and running up to Kirara. She reached up and scratched behind her ear. Kirara purred with delight. She found it odd that the nekomata did not look battle worn, but perhaps she had fled; Kagome wasn’t sure. Suddenly, a voice sounded that Kagome had recently become all too familiar with, “Where are you going little bird?” She glanced around in panic, but there was no one there. There was only one place that Kagome could think to run to where no one could get her. “Kirara, take me to the well...please.” Kirara roared and knelt down so that Kagome could climb upon her back. She quickly grabbed her pack and jumped onto Kirara’s back before she was launched into the air. The nekomata seemed to sense her urgency and flew towards the direction of the Bone-Eater’s Well. Kagome could again hear the voice calling out to her, “Don’t try to run little bird.” It only took a couple of hours with Kirara’s flight to reach the sacred well and once they had arrived, Kirara landed and Kagome slid off. She ran over to the well and looked around, her need to be gone from this place strong. She paused though and a soft “mew” beckoned to her and she felt a softness rub against her leg.  She looked down to see Kirara in her smaller form and knelt to pick her up. Holding her to her chest briefly, she stroked her soft fur. “Goodbye, Kirara. Thank you for everything. Please take care of everyone that is left.” Kagome set the small cat down and looked one last time at the Feudal Era that she had come to love. Kirara sat down and stared at Kagome quizzically. Kagome slid over the lip of the well and spared one last wave before jumping back into the well….one last time.

Next time on Delusions…… ....Monday morning at junior high. Amaya wasn't like some of her friends and actually enjoyed school, but today she wished she could have stayed in bed. The school day had not officially started yet, so she and her classmates were mostly socializing while they could at each other's desks. She had felt fine this morning getting ready for school and even on the way, but now, sitting at her desk in homeroom with her friends chatting around her, she had begun to feel strange. It was as if waves of nausea were hitting her sporadically…..