InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dusk Curse ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

 

~Jaffrey, NH

~9:02 PM June 2, 2000

 

Sesshoumaru looked at the clock. She had been gone exactly 13 and a half minutes. Anxiety filled him, made him stay on his feet, pacing back and forth. He wished she hadn't left and put him in this state. She could get hurt outside by herself. Hurt, or worse.

 

Dammit, he was going to kill her! He opened the door, his control lacking as the clock only registered that she had been gone 13 minutes and 49 seconds. Dammit, close enough.

 

He made certain the door was unlocked and flew down the hall and into the elevator. He pressed the ground floor and watched as the doors slowly shut. It seemed an eternity before the damn thing moved, and then even longer before it stopped again. He thought he heard a voice, a tuneless noise that resembled a scream in his ears. But in his restless state he might be imagining things. He waited right in front of the doors for it to open, about ready to bust out of them. Finally they opened and he burst into the lobby, looking wildly around. She wasn't there. Maybe she was outsi…

 

The noise in the room behind the lobby desk got his attention and he noticed the guy behind the desk was gone. He heard definite noise in there and crept toward it, listening. What he heard made anger and jealously boil inside him. Kagome, he knew the sound of her voice anywhere. And the guy behind the counter. His lips pealed back in a feral snarl. The whore… he was about to turn away when a shattering scream made the snarl disappear and pure terror to take jealousy's place.

 

“SESSHOUMARU!!!”

 

He acted without another thought, standing back and kicking the door as hard as he could. It fell right off its hinges and crashed to the floor. He didn't wait, but jumped right over it and came across the room so quickly he wasn't even sure he believed it. He grabbed the guy on Kagome and threw him across the room, watching as he landed hard against the far wall and hit his head. His eyes fluttered shut and stayed that way. He was about to go over and check to make sure the guy was out when something hit him hard in the chest, not real hard, but enough to make him step back to regain his balance. He looked down to see Kagome sobbing against his chest, her arms wrapped around him. He felt his anger with her dissolve and tender concern take its place.

 

“Are you hurt?” he asked. She shook her head back and forth and held onto him tighter. He could feel the quaking fear ebb through her. He hardened his mouth into a thin line and reached under her chin to make her look up at him. He looked her over, and from what he could discern, she seemed to be okay, just scared. He wrapped an arm around her and started to lead her out of the door, but her feet seemed wooden. He sighed and startled her by picking her up, swinging her legs up over his arm so they rested in the crook of his elbow. His other arm held her tightly around the waist. She attached herself to him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his neck. He tried to ignore the sweep of blood to his loins when he felt her hot breath tickle his neck.

 

He started out the door and then went to the elevator, thinking only of getting her calmed down. He realized he didn't have a free hand to press the button and instead redirected himself toward the stairs, making his way up them easily, even with her extra weight. The stairs took less time then that fucking elevator anyway. Soon, they were standing into front of the door. He set her down and opened it, but she was stuck to him again. He maneuvered her through the door, and then turned to shut it.

 

“Kagome, do you still have the key?” She took a few breaths and pulled back away from him, forcing herself to calm down. God, she had never been so scared in her life. She had felt so much safer in his arms, warm and secure. She dug the key out of her pocket and handed it to him, not moving while he locked the door. He turned back to her, his face unreadable, but his eyes told her he had been worried. He went around behind her and took her gently by the shoulders, directing her toward the bed. Once there, he turned her around and pressed down on her shoulders, forcing her to sit down. She allowed herself to be directed and sniffed while he sat down next to her. She tried to gather and compose herself, but it wasn't working well.

 

“Kagome.” His voice steadied her, and she looked up at him. “I need you to tell me what happened.” She gulped and shook her head. She couldn't, it was too fresh, she didn't want to.

 

He shifted closer to her and cupped her chin with his hand, forcing her eyes back to his. He had to know what happened. It was eating at him. Had He lured her in that room to take advantage of her? Or maybe she had even known what he wanted and only backed out of it when the guy couldn't -or wouldn't- stop. Looking into her eyes, he couldn't believe it. She wouldn't do that.

 

“Please. Tell me what happened. You went down the elevator, why did you feel the need to go for a walk?” He started for her, trying to make it easier. She took several breaths.

 

“I looked around the room, and I suddenly felt really claustrophobic. I had to get out. I went outside, and started to feel better. The air helped a lot. I don't know why I had the attack; I never have had claustrophobia before. Anyway, I was just thankfully breathing in the air when I heard the guy from behind the desk. He was being really weird, not quite openly flirting with me the way he was before.” She shivered and he wrapped his arm around her. She scooted closer to him and laid her head against his shoulder, feeling much better, much safer as she did.

 

“He said that he had given us the wrong price and that the room was only 40 bucks. I told him to keep the change and he said he couldn't, because the register would tally up wrong with what they had. I should have known then. Why wouldn't he just pocket the rest, rather then putting it into the register? But no, being the idiot I am, I followed him into the room behind the desk because he told me the money was back there. It took me until I got the middle of the room to wonder where in hell they put money in there. God I can be so dumb sometimes. I heard the click of the lock and I knew…” She stopped, taking a deep breath and burying herself further into Sesshoumaru's broad chest, her safety.

 

“He came toward me, he didn't say anything, but I could tell. I told him to let me out. I was backed up against the wall. And he was still coming closer to me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I tried to get away, but he grabbed me and pinned me against the wall, grabbing my hair and yanking every time I tried to move. He told me to stop fighting and that I would like it and that he wouldn't hurt me as long as I did what he said.” She shuttered, remembering the next part, and not wanting to say anything. But she needed to tell him. It was horrible reliving her terror this way, but telling it to him somehow made it better.

 

“He… he kissed me, and then went down to my neck. He was so close… and then I thought of you, and I screamed for you. He got mad and slapped me, and then the next thing I knew there was a loud crash and he was gone. And you were there. You heard me, and you saved me.” She stopped her speech to look up into his eyes. “Thank you.” She said softly, reaching up to kiss his jaw gently. Then she cuddled herself back against him, loving the way he felt around her. A thought insinuated itself into her mind and she felt the need to tell him.

 

“If I had listened to you, had we done as you said and gone to another hotel, that wouldn't have happened. I should have just complied with your suggestion. This never would have happened.” She felt tears of self-loathing and anger at herself well in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them flow, blinking quickly. She suddenly noticed how mussed her clothes were, how dirty she felt. She could feel his dried saliva on her neck. She got up off her savior and stood, albeit a bit unsteadily.

 

“I want to take a shower and scrub him off of me. I feel disgusting. I… I don't want to ask you for anything else…” She looked away. He stood next to her and tipped her chin up.

 

“What? Say it. I can only say no.” He reminded her. She smiled wanly at him.

 

“Would you stay by the bathroom door? I know, the room's door is locked, but… I don't know. Its stupid. It wouldn't make any difference if you were in front of the bathroom door or anywhere else in the room.” She shook her head but he forced her to look back into his eyes once again.

 

“It will make a difference to you, so yes, I'll stay by the door for you.” Her smile of thanks made what he said worth the effort. She seemed to want to say something else, but finally she just turned away and went over to her bag, opening it and taking out pajamas. He saw a flash of light blue, but that was all he could tell about it. She pulled out her shampoo and then started for the bathroom, checking to make sure he was coming over to the door. She went in and turned around to watch as he pulled up a chair close to the door. He faced her, holding the door. She was about to speak, but he cut her off.

 

“I'll be right here. Take your shower.” He ordered, and then shut the bathroom door. He sat down, planning on keeping his word. He heard water running a moment later, and then he heard her get into the shower. Immediately his mind captured the image of her surrounded by steam, water running down her naked body. He almost groaned aloud and tried to wipe the image from his mind, but it wouldn't be extinguished.

 

After almost eight minutes of struggling, he heard the water stop and her step out of the shower. He sighed relief, thanking god she hadn't taken one of those traditionally known as females showers; at least twenty minutes. He didn't know how long he could have held out before he would have gone into the bathroom and attacked her the same way that guy had. Another ten minutes passed and then he heard her voice.

 

“I'm coming out.” She told him. He moved away from the door and waited. It opened, letting out a mist of hot steam and Kagome walked through it, toweling her hair. She was wearing a large, light blue t-shirt.

 

And by the looks of it, nothing else. He turned away, this was too much.

 

“Put something else on.” He ordered. He could feel her confusion behind him.

 

“Why?” Her voice quivered. He turned back around, glaring at her for all he was worth.

 

“Because your not the only one in this room, dammit. And no matter how safe you feel with me, I'm no different than that guy who was going to rape you.” She flushed, but she didn't go into her bag. Instead she stepped toward him, closer, only feet away now.

 

“How are you like him?” She tipped her head up to look him in the eye. His hand whisked out to grab hers and he brought it to his zipper. She could clearly feel the bulge there, ramrod hard. She trembled, but didn't pull out of his grasp.

 

“That's how.” He let go of her hand, throwing it back at her. And she inched closer to him.

 

“Do you plan to grab my hair and yank it? Threaten me? Force me?” She asked him, her voice high and louder then she intended it to be. She was so close now she could feel the heat from his body. God how she wanted to touch him. But she didn't.

 

“No, I don't plan to. I don't want to, but I'm goddamned close to doing it.” She could feel it too, his control was quickly evaporating. Finally she dropped her eyes and stepped away, backing away and to the other side of the bed, where her clothes were. She pulled out a pair of comfortable shorts and went into the bathroom, pulling them on. They were long, and they just barely showed up under the long hem of the shirt. The shirt was huge, going just above her knees, like a short dress would. She sighed, not understanding, but supposing it had to do with knowing there was nothing under there rather than seeing.

 

She came out of the bathroom and went straight up to him. “Is this better?”

 

He scrutinized her, shaking his head, she was close enough that he couldn't see the shorts and she lifted up the shirt, showing him. Some of the tension lines in his face relaxed, but not all of them. She felt like a young girl going out on a date, her parents checking her clothing to make sure it didn't show too much of her body. She laughed at the thought.

 

“What?” Sesshoumaru asked gruffly. So she told him, watching as his manner smoothed some and his eyes sparkled with amusement.

 

“I don't know why I thought of that.” She concluded. She smiled shyly at him. “Now I know why they wouldn't let me out of the house with certain clothes though. Imagine if they had…” Immediately her mannered sobered, and so did his. They were both thinking that if she had gone out in those kinds of clothes, things like what happened downstairs might've happened again. She frowned, and decided to change the subject, blinking tiredly.

 

“I think I'm ready for bed.” She said quietly. Immediately, she ran into a dilemma. She didn't want to make Sesshoumaru sleep on the couch, but she really didn't want to either. She wondered if maybe, well, the bed was really huge… But he would never agree to it. Maybe if she…

 

She lay down on one side of the bed and wrapped the covers around her. Sesshoumaru went around to the other side and grabbed the pillow, and then the extra blanket on the end of the bed. He reached to turn the light off but she caught his hand.

 

“No, please. I… I wont be able to sleep.” She claimed. She made her voice as frightened as she could. He looked surprised, but let his hand fall to his side. “I… I imagine you won't be able to sleep with it on.” He looked down at her, and slowly nodded his head. She tried to keep her breathing under control. “Then, we seem to have a real problem here, don't we? Either way, one of us doesn't sleep.”

 

He lifted an eyebrow. “It seems that way. I could go sleep in the car.” He suggested. Kagome felt fear just about paralyze her.

 

“No!” Panic seized her. “No… don't. Please.” This time, there was real terror in her voice. She couldn't imagine staying in this strange room, all alone. She shivered and sat up.

 

“Shit. This isn't going to work. Well, we could…” She stopped, trying to sound convincingly unsure.

 

“What? Remember, the worse thing I can do is say no.” He reminded her. She smiled up at him.

 

“Well, oh I don't think it will work.” She stopped again. This time she knew she had his interest.

 

“Just say it.” He commanded.

 

So she did. “What if we both stayed on the bed? I mean, there's plenty of room. I would feel safe with the light off since you were there, and then you could sleep as well.” She tried to make herself sound logical. The bed was quite large.

 

He looked at first like he wanted to flat out refuse. His mind seemed to be working. She watched and waited for an answer. But she didn't get it, not yet.

 

“Your really still not afraid I might take advantage of you?” His tone was as incredulous as it could get which for him was slightly disbelieving. She decided to give him a small truth.

 

“You would never do anything that would really scare me.” And it was truthful. Something like what happened with that guy downstairs wouldn't happen between them. She didn't think she'd want to stop him if he did do anything even remotely like that to her. And beside the point, she didn't think he'd let his control run out, she didn't think he would hurt her. Not after the way he had come and saved her, breaking down a damn door. He did care about her, she just knew now, somehow. She'd had plenty of doubts before, but between the incident during the sunset and the one downstairs, she was putting two and two together and finally coming up with four, instead of three or five. It felt right.

 

She saw the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips when she had said that, as if he knew something she didn't. Finally he nodded and went to the bathroom, bringing something from his bag with him. She heard water running, and settled back into the bed. Closing her eyes and snuggling into the bed, she tried to empty her mind for sleep. She almost sat bolt upright when she realized she was alone. She stared into the bathroom but all she could see was the toilet at the far end. He was behind the corner, out of her sight, but he was right there. She didn't know why she was being to stupid all of the sudden.

 

Just the same, she sat back up in the bed and waited nervously for him to come out and be close to her, where she'd feel safe again. She almost choked with relief when he stepped out, wearing sweatpants. He caught one look at her face and stopped, his eyes concerned.

 

“What's wrong?” he asked. She was annoyed with herself. Was she truly that transparent?

 

“Nothing,” she muttered, angry with herself. He could tell, and he walked to the bed.

 

“Tell me.” He implored. She shrugged it off, but he stared at her until she answered.

 

“Its just me being stupid. That's all.” He looked surprised at her answer. He glanced at the bathroom doorway.

 

“You were nervous? Even for just that few minutes? I wasn't far.” His voice was so much softer than normal, trying to be gentle, but she burrowed farther into the bed. How did he know her so well?

 

“Okay. Yeah, I was. I know, its so freakin' stupid. I'm not usually that weak.” Her breath shuddered in her lungs. “I hate it.” Her last sentence came out a tear filled whisper. Before he could analyze his actions, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, gently taking a hold of her and wrapping his arms around her. She settled against him with a shaky sigh. Her hair was tickling his bare chest, he could smell it, right under his nose, and she used some kind of scented watermelon shampoo. He could feel her crying silently, angrily. But more then that, she was scared, and she needed him.

 

They stayed like that for a long time. After her tears stopped, she turned a bit to look at him.

 

“I want to lay down.” She said gently, soft. He started to let go of her, but her arms tightened around him.

 

“No. Please, don't let go.” For some odd reason that request seemed like she was asking him to save her. She was pleading with him, but god knew he wanted to save her. If he could. He lay down on the blankets next to her, his arms still around her. She turned so her back was to him and then rested her right arm over his where it draped across her side. He gently moved her hair, smoothing it, and placing in over her shoulder so he wouldn't accidentally lie on it or something during the night.

 

She shifted until she could feel his body comfortingly against hers and let her eyelids droop. She felt so warm, so protected. And it was all thanks to him. She smiled lightly as she drifted off, thankfully not thinking of the rest of her day, but only how comfortable she was and how happy she was.

 

Sesshoumaru propped himself up on his left elbow and watched her for a while. She was truly beautiful, and her scent was wonderful, exotic, and clean. He watched her for a long time until he felt the vestiges of exhaustion tug at him and he too slept.

 

~**~

 

~Jaffrey, NH

~10:30 AM, June 3, 2000

 

Sesshoumaru awoke on his back and realized his vision was blurred. It took him a minute to realize it was Kagome's hair across his face that was making it hard to see. He went to move his left arm but stopped as he felt weight on it, on his whole left side. She was snuggled up against him, her leg draped over his, her arm flung across his chest. He desperately wanted to get up, all the while wanting to savor this moment for as long as he could.

 

After a few moments he realized he aught to try and shower before she awoke so she would not know she had been alone. He didn't want her to be afraid, not ever. He didn't understand what difference it made whether he was in the room with her or in the next room over, but apparently it bothered her. It was like as long as he was near, she was safe, but if she couldn't see him, she wasn't. He didn't understand why she had chosen him, or why she trusted him so completely. Maybe the fact that he had saved her from being raped had something to do with that. He guessed in her eyes, he was her savior. She would probably be better today, after she had a chance to think clearly about it.

 

That would also mean that she wouldn't need him, but he would have to live with that.

 

He carefully removed her arm from his chest and slowly shifted her leg over, until she was lying mostly by herself. He shifted away from her, regretting it as he did so, and then climbed silently off the bed.

 

She slept on, oblivious to his departure. Well, what did he expect? Her to jump awake and cling to him? He shook his head in slow disdain. He grabbed some stuff out of his suitcase and went into the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind him.

 

~**~

 

~Same Place, 7 minutes later.

 

Kagome awoke suddenly in a panic. Her body was shaking, her eyes darting around in terror. She was all alone, the room was shadowed, the doors closed. Silence greeted her ears, a suspicious silence that raised every hair on her neck. The room felt huge and empty, like she was the very last creature on earth, abandoned.

 

Running water resounded quietly from the bathroom. He was near, he was only in the next room. A huge breath of air rushed out of her lungs, but the hair on her neck still prickled, and the lump of fear in her chest did not loosen. Why the hell was she so damned afraid? It wasn't like that guy was going to come busting in here and…

 

She didn't finish the thought, but climbed to her feet and found them taking herself to the door of the bathroom. Her hand reached up to knock of its own accord. She immediately wanted to take it back. Dammit, why the hell had she done that, she started to turn away, disgusted with herself, but still shaking.

 

Sesshoumaru wiped shampoo out of his eyes and whipped his head around when he heard the knock. He sure as hell hadn't expected her to wake up.

 

“What?” He projected his voice over the sound of the water, so she heard it through the door.

 

“Your not… Can…” He didn't hear her well; she wasn't speaking loud enough with the water running, pounding on his hair. He stuck his head out of the shower.

 

“Say that again. I couldn't hear you over the shower.” He paused to wait for her answer.

 

“Could I…” There was a short pause. “Oh fuck it. Never mind.” Her voice sounded angry as hell. What could be her problem?

 

“I'll be out in a second.” He said loud enough to be sure she heard it. He quickly rinsed the rest of the shampoo off his hair and body before turning the water off and stepping out. (0.0 -> Sesshoumaru naked. Hmmm) All the while his mind was going over their latest, very small conversation. What was going on now, he wondered? He dressed quickly and brushed his hair back before opening the door. When he saw her his mind blanked.

 

“Jesus.”

 

She was sitting in the edge of the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She looked like she was trying to make herself as small as possible. Her chin was resting on her knees, and her eyes were wide and searching, terrified. She was still scared?

 

He strode over and stood in front of her, on the side of the bed. Her eyes jumped up and locked with his, haunted.

 

“What's wrong with me?” Her voice was barely a whisper; as if she was trying to make sure she wasn't heard by anyone else but him. His heart jumped in his chest and thumped painfully. He didn't like seeing her like this, not at all. He sat down next to her and found himself smoothing her hair on her back, trying to comfort her. How had he come to be in this position, caring about her, trying to comfort her? TOUCHING her? He drew his hand away.

 

“I believe you may be suffering from some type of Post-traumatic disorder. I'm not sure why exactly, but maybe…” He shrugged.

 

“It might have been triggered from something in your past. It may have been lying dormant until now, eating at you, and that guy coming at you made it come up and show itself.” He hesitated and then figured that since he had passed his High school psychology with flying colors, he might be able to shed some light on why she was so frightened. “Why are you scared when you're alone?”

 

Kagome froze.

 

“Scared when you're alone…” Her vision was going fuzzy and fear was eating its way up her spine.

 

`Your alone…' She shuddered and held herself tighter. Oh no…

 

`Alone…'

 

Her vision cleared and she was sitting in a familiar room, the room she grew up in. She was sitting on her purple bed, shaking, for there was a figure in the room. He was standing in the doorway, staring at her. She tugged at her large t-shirt.

 

“Your mom left hun, so now we're all alone.” He stepped farther into her room, closing the door. Cold shivers went down her spine again, and she whimpered.

 

`Scared.'

 

`All alone.'

 

“What's a matter sweetie, you aren't scared of me, are you now?” She refrained from answering, trying not to shake, not understanding. Why was she so afraid of this man? Maybe it was the gleam in his eyes, the way they seemed to rove over her body, as if imagining things she didn't want to know of. Shivers of intense, raw fear passed through her frame.

 

`Alone.'

 

When he stepped toward her, she had to fight the urge to run. Run where? She thought.

 

“Come on, sweetie, you know the drill, get off that bed and stand right here.” He was referring to the spot in front of him in the middle of the room. Despite that fact that she had no intentions of moving from the bed, her legs were carrying her over there, and she could see herself in the mirror behind him on the door.

 

She was shocked to see a young girl, about the age of seven, standing there, looking pale and afraid. It was her! It was her, when she was seven. Oh god, and the man was…

 

“Come on now hun, you know what to do. Don't make daddy impatient.” His words came out so gentle, and she felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Her motor skills were out of her control, her fingers were at the hem of the big t-shirt, and then she was pulling it over her head. In the mirror, she saw a young body, immature. There was a bruise below her collarbone, and another on her upper thigh.

 

She couldn't look at the mirror anymore, because her daddy's body was blocking it, coming closer to her. She was shaking uncontrollably. She felt a big, calloused hand touch her cheek, her lips, and then her jaw. It kept going lower, over her breastbone, her immature breasts, and down further. She squeezed her thighs together for all she was worth.

 

“Kagome, I told you not to resist!” His voice came out harsh, hoarse. She found herself picked up roughly and flung onto the bed, on her back. She squeezed her eyes shut and hoped to god he didn't follow her.

 

God was an asshole, she decided, as she felt her father's weight make the bed dip on her left side. His hand was resting heavily on her knee, and then it was slowly going up her leg, on the inside.

 

“No daddy, please.” She whispered, her legs still clamped together. A sudden slap stunned her.

 

“I told you not to resist! Now behave! You know better than this!” And she did, daddy had taught her to always do as he said, no matter how much she hadn't liked it. Tears were leaking like rivers down her cheeks and she let her thighs part. She could feel his hand exploring places it shouldn't be, rubbing and touching. When he put his fingers inside her she sobbed aloud. It hurt.

 

`Alone.'

 

The sound of her name being yelled made her snap her eyes open.

 

“Mommy!”

 

But it wasn't mommy that was there. Amber eyes filled her gaze. Amber…

 

“Sesshoumaru…” His name came out a sob and she lunged at him, hugging him to her with all of her strength. Tremors shook through her, if his arms had not been holding her tightly, she would have shook right off the bed.

 

Sesshoumaru held her as of he was holding onto her for dear life. He was so worried about her, she had been so afraid, and then her eyes had rolled back in her head and she had gone totally limp. He thought she was dying or something. But her heartbeat was strong. She was breathing fine. She just seemed to have passed out. He tried slapping her face, something, anything to rouse her. When that failed he'd called her name, hoping to god she would wake up.

 

And she had, her eyes crazy with fear, and then she had grabbed a hold of him like he was the last creature on earth to help her. And he had felt compelled to do whatever necessary to get rid of the fears that plagued her eyes. Her voice was now mumbling incoherently.

 

“Sesshou… In my room, he was there… I was so scared.” She buried her face into his chest. “It was me. I saw myself. And he told me… oh god.” She sobbed and then tried again. “He told me to do it. And then he hurt me… he touched me…” And again she stopped, trembling, her breaths coming in heaves.

 

“Shhh, its okay now. He can't hurt you. Shhh.” He tried to stop her, but she ignored him and kept going.

 

“Threw me… on the bed. I was bad, and he kept touching me. Then… my mommy.” She suddenly pulled away from him, looking him in the eyes.

 

“Mommy finally caught him.” She said clearly.

 

~**~

 

Ohhh. Nother one, all done. Hope you liked. I know, Sesshou is OOC as hell, but my muse controls me, and he wanted it to be like this. Blame him.

 

 

RyuuYoukai@hotmail.com

 

I hope you enjoy my efforts. Please feel free to email me with anything, questions, comments, and/or ideas. I hope to hear from you.

 

RyuuAngel

 

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