InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 7 )

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

Jaken had obtained the most stunning cape for Rin, made of the choicest fox fur, and lined lavishly with heavy, oily silk. Sesshomaru bespelled the cape, giving it protective powers in addition to its great warmth. They were due to reach Edo with her gift the next day. The nights were steadily growing colder, the wind whispering through the tops of the trees. Sesshomaru left Jaken by the fire in a snug cave, resting his brittle old bones. Ever vigilant, Sesshomaru patrolled through the night, stopping suddenly when he detected the scent of his human boy, Kohaku. Kohaku had been ranging far and wide of late, growing strong in the ways of the warrior. He would make an adequate mate for Little Rin. Another scent was borne to Sesshomaru on the wind. Was Rin accompanying Kohaku in his travels? As he neared the source of the scent, he changed his mind. The scent was similar, but not the same. Inuyasha’s human wife. Kagome. His golden eyes widened with shock when he came within sight of the camp. Kohaku lay with his body curled around Kagome’s, shielding her from the cold of the night. There was no sign of his brother, Inuyasha. Kagome’s scent was off, tainted by some foreign substance.

Kohaku’s eyes flew open. He detected a great demonic presence, and it was close by. He stealthily separated himself from the sleeping Kagome, searching the surrounding shadows for the demon he sensed. When he saw his lord, his first feeling was that of relief, followed in very short order by dread. How was he to explain about this mess. Rin and Inuyasha and Kagome… and him.

Kagome’s miko powers were screaming for her to wake up, but she felt so weak and tired. She was unable to swim though the layers of sleep to achieve consciousness. It was as if her mind was far away from her body, held by just the merest thread. She felt like a helium balloon, if the thread broke she would float away. Vaguely, she recognized the feeling of nausea threatening to overwhelm her, and she felt hot and cold and shaky all at the same time.

From a great distance, she heard the voice of an angel. “What have you DONE, boy?”

Even as he asked Kohaku the question, it was becoming clear to Sesshomaru what he had done. In the dark days when Naraku’s still existed, the vile half-breed had kept the boy’s memories of killing his family and destroying several innocent villages at bay, at least most of the time. Kohaku had functioned in a state of partial amnesia for years. It was amazing that he managed to cope as well as he did after his return, but he was plagued by night terrors, and lived his days in a fog of misery and shame. Using a scroll from his father’s library, Sesshomaru had devised a potion to help Kohaku cope with his emotions. It was obvious that, for whatever reason, Kohaku had poisoned Kagome with an overdose of psychoactive tea. “When,” he growled softly at the young human.

“She was fine last night. I’ve given her the potion four times. I guess I gave her too much.”

“You may have killed the girl, Kohaku. Later you will tell this Sesshomaru why you have done such a thing. For now, we must get her someplace warm. It is too late to purge the poison from her body. You will follow as best you can.”

The great lord cradled the girl against his chest, curtains of his flaxen hair falling around both of them. As he stood, her pale hand dropped limply to the side, and she whimpered faintly in distress at being moved. Sesshomaru deemed it best to proceed slowly. His orb would put more stress on her weak constitution. He summoned his mystic cloud, and gently carried the girl to the warm cave where Jaken waited with Ah-Uhn.