InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elemental: A Feudal Soap Opera ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

It hadn't been terribly hard for Kagome to sneak away from Sango. In fact, Shippou had been her only obstacle, as she had to move him out of the way in order to leave her sleeping bag. She had feigned sleep, even though she had been so tired her head felt scrambled. Sango and Miroku hadn't even seemed to suspect. They were both in a bit of shock over the situation, too, she guessed. She had been awake the entire time the two had grilled Shippou, and she had heard everything. She had known that Inuyasha would react badly, but from what Shippou had said, he was even more upset than she had expected. Without much conscious thought, she had made the quick, desperate decision to leave. She couldn't bear to see him, at least not any time soon, and she had mentally repeated `I want to go home' so many times it was beginning to seem like a mantra. She knew that it was the coward's way out, but all of her courage had fled with the knowledge that he knew. How can I ever face him now?

 

So she had waited until Miroku had left camp and Shippou had went to sleep to plan her escape. She only had to lie there for a short while. Sango must have been exhausted from all of their travel, not to mention dealing with Kagome's problems, for she eventually dozed off. Once she detected the demon exterminator's steady breathing, Kagome carefully moved Shippou, taking care not to cause the sleeping bag to rustle overmuch, and climbed to her feet, replacing the kit in the spot warmed by her body heat. He twitched, and she froze, but he merely snuggled farther into her sleeping bag, eyes still closed. Kagome let out a soft sigh, and then, with one last look to assure herself that Sango hadn't awakened, crept into the darkness of the forest.

 

The moonlight didn't provide much illumination within the canopy of trees, so she had to stand still for just a moment and let her eyes adjust. Dimly, she realized that she should be afraid of the things that darkness could hide, but she just couldn't work up the capacity to care. She felt numb, almost as if she wasn't quite there inside of her body. She wondered briefly at this, but quickly pushed it to the back of her mind. Getting home was what was important right then. Once she was safely ensconced in her room she would take the time to think. Right now, though, she had to get her bearings. She squinted into the darkness, holding herself very still. Finally, she was able to detect the shadowy shapes of the trees and underbrush, and began to walk quietly away from camp. She didn't break into a jog until she was sure that she was far enough away to not be heard.

 

The nighttime sounds of the forest seemed unnaturally loud to her, and she picked up her pace, finally becoming a little frightened. She was so tense her gait was stiff and clumsy for few minutes, but, as her muscles warmed up, she was able to run with more ease. Unfortunately, this left her brain free to roam to other topics. Of course, her thoughts went straight to Inuyasha, and they were far from pleasant thoughts. He knows now, and he didn't come back. He might not come back. It's better if I leave. He hates me. I don't blame him. I'm starting to hate me, too. Kagome ran a little faster, her eyes beginning to burn with the familiar beginnings of tears. He hates me. She began to tear through the brush blindly, clumsily clambering over rocks and debris as she came to them. He hates me. She fell once, but quickly picked herself up and began running again, faster and faster, trying to escape her thoughts, but they just wouldn't leave her alone. Hehatesmehehatesmehehatesme.

 

Now Kagome was running as if Naraku himself was after her, blindly, without direction. She knew she was in danger of getting lost, but she couldn't stop. He knows. He knows what I've done, and he hates me for it. A blast of self-directed loathing hit her full force, intensified by the sharp pains in her overworked lungs, but she still did not slow down. I've ruined everything. Everything. Gods.

 

She knew, at the edge of her mind, that she wasn't thinking clearly, but she refused to even consider going back. She didn't want to know if Inuyasha returned on his own the next morning...and she had a terrible fear that he would not. All her overwrought brain would tell her, though, was run, so run she did. She was too far away to reach the well by morning, but that didn't stop her. She planned on putting as much distance between herself and Inuyasha as possible.

 

It was becoming difficult to continue. Her breathing was labored, and were it not for her overheated blood, she would have been freezing as the night air cooled the sweat on her skin. It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. She swiped quickly at her eyes and tried to go faster. She didn't notice the branches that tore at her clothes and skin, nor did she notice that the large log she pulled herself over had scales. When something whipped out at her leg, she thought she had tripped over a vine. Lifting her face out of the musty leaves and debris on the forest floor, she grumbled half-heartedly, then sat up. Even the forest hates me now. She gave a strangled little sob, but it was cut short when she looked up.

 

Waving before her, flicking its tongue not five meters from her face, was a huge reptilian head. It was covered in dark, lichen encrusted scales, and it's dull, black eyes promised death.

 

Belatedly, Kagome sensed what she should have felt long before she got this close to the creature: a Shikon shard. With this awareness she felt a sharp, almost crippling pain in her stomach that was gone almost as quickly as it had come. This scared her almost as much as the youkai in front of her, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Kagome had a sneaking suspicion that she was about to die in a very unpleasant manner. She didn't have room to draw her bow, so she did the only thing she could do.

 

She screamed.

 

The beast drew back to strike, and Kagome squeezed her eyes tightly shut, knowing that even is she ran, she didn't stand a chance. The demon was too close. Inuyasha, I'm so sorry. You'll have to find another shard detector. She waited to feel the pain of the beast's teeth sinking into her, but it never came.

 

Instead, she heard a familiar voice followed by a loud thwack. “Kagome, run!” It was Sango, and she had bought Kagome a precious few seconds, distracting the beast with her boomerang.

 

Grateful to the other girl and operating on adrenaline, she scrambled, skinning her hands and knees, to get out of the way. She looked briefly behind her, where she could see an avenue of escape through the trees, then turned back around. She would not leave Sango to fight alone. However, she had to get out of the range of the creature's swaying head if she wanted to use her bow. She quickly headed for a large, moss-covered boulder.

 

“Hiraikotsu,” she heard Sango cry. Kagome saw the demon-bone boomerang strike the big lizard right between its slitted eyes. Seemingly angered but unfazed, the youkai let out a rattling hiss, a foul-smelling steam pouring from his nostrils as he swung his head in Sango's direction.

 

Sango prepared to throw the boomerang again, focusing on the head of the beast.

 

Kagome was trying to notch an arrow with trembling hands when she saw something that made her stomach clench in alarm. The reptile youkai had worked its tail around the trees behind Sango, and was blocking her in. Kagome screamed a warning, but it did no good. Sango now stood stock still, seemingly entranced by the swinging head before her.

 

It's doing something to her with that steam. Realizing that she was Sango's only chance at salvation, she began to panic. She struggled with her bow with shaking hands, finally readying an arrow. She sighted it along her cheek, aiming for one of the creature's eyes. Fear for her friend made her tremble, but she savagely tamped it down, worried that she wouldn't get another chance. She took a deep breath. Please, don't let me miss. She pulled back the bowstring and let the arrow fly.

 

***

 

Inuyasha ran, conflicting emotions warring within him with every step. He was angry--with Kagome, with himself, and the entire world. He was worried, he was confused, and, on some subconscious level, he was glad. This realization made him even angrier, although he was unsure who, exactly, to blame for that particular feeling. Mostly, though, he was still reeling in shock. Kagome had always practically oozed innocence, and the thought that she might become the aggressor had never even occurred to him. He knew she cared for him--hell, he wasn't stupid or blind--but he had thought it was more of a young girl's infatuation. He certainly hadn't known that she thought of him that way. Not Kagome.

 

He flushed darkly. Not that I've never thought of her. Hell, it had taken him three days to completely recover after seeing her in the bath the last time, but he had always fiercely repressed such thinking. He knew Kagome was...untouchable. At least by him. He knew, but apparently, she did not. Feh. Kagome, you idiot. What have you done? He had to find her, the full implications of her actions torturing him, cursing him for leaving her alone. She didn't know. If she knew, she would be safely in camp right now, where she belongs. Damn it, if she had known, she would have never have let me touch her in the first place.

 

Unbidden, his mind flashed images from his dream...the dream that he now realized was actually memory.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Yours.”

 

Inuyasha ran faster, his face grim. She had to be close by now. He sniffed the air, but the scent he caught was neither Kagome's nor Sango's. Youkai. Inuyasha felt the blood chill underneath his skin, and nearly stumbled. It was the scent of a very powerful demon. As he got closer, Inuyasha could feel its dark aura surrounding him in stifling waves. He knew it was too much for Sango alone to handle, and Kagome...

 

Kagome wouldn't stand a chance. Not now.

 

He forced more speed into his legs, hoping he got to the two women before the youkai did.

 

His hopes were dashed when he heard the bloodcurdling scream shred the forest air.

 

“Kagome!” He shouted, still not close enough to see her. Fuck! Run!

 

***

 

Kagome watched in disbelief as her arrow bounced ineffectively off the demon's scaly eyelid. What just happened here? Her arrow should have at least caused some damage, but it hadn't even pierced the most vulnerable spot on the demon. Worse, Kagome had been unable to infuse the arrow with any of her Miko energy. She didn't know why. Maybe I didn't concentrate hard enough.

 

Fumbling with her quiver, she was gratified, at least, the she seemed to have taken the youkai's attention from her friend. One more shot. I can do this. She gritted her teeth, desperate determination filling her, and notched another arrow as the youkai began lumbering towards her, massive feet causing the earth to shake with each step. She held her ground, glad that Sango was temporarily safe, though still lying, seemingly unconscious, on the forest floor. Bracing herself, Kagome began to turn her focus inward, struggling to pull out her power, trying to direct it into the arrow, but something was wrong.

 

It hurt. Like when I first sensed the shard...

 

The harder she tried, the more agony she felt. It was as if someone were raking claws across her insides. She cried out, a thin, wailing sound, and sweat began pouring down her face, but she could not stop. The claws had too firm of a hold on her and wouldn't let her. They were turning her inside out.

 

She felt the steam from the demon envelop her, saturating her lungs and clouding her mind, but she could no longer see. Dimly, as if from the other end of a long tunnel, she heard someone calling her name. She thought the voice sounded familiar, but she was having difficulty concentrating and could not recognize it. I...I...

 

Her bow dropped from her limp fingers and fell to the boulder with a clatter. She had one last, clear thought as her knees buckled beneath her.

 

Inu...yasha...

 

Kagome's world went black.

 

***

 

Finally. Shit! Inuyasha could see her. She was standing atop a large rock, her back straight, hair billowing against her face as she readied an arrow and pointed it at a gargantuan youkai that was steadily moving toward her. He would have appreciated the picture she presented if the situation had not been so dire. Damn it, little girl. Get off that rock and run. He raced toward her as she pulled the bowstring back and closed her eyes.

 

No! “Kagome, run! Run!” Drop the damned useless arrows and run!

 

Still, she stood with the bow by her cheek, eyes closed. Her face looked strained, even from this distance. Something is wrong. Is she hurt? His eyes raked her, but he could see no visible injuries. However, what he did see caused him just as much concern. Her hair had begun to whip wildly about her face even though there was no wind, and Inuyasha could see her hand shake as it held the arrow. He felt the air around him begin to crackle, and underneath the damp smell of the forest and the cloying scent coming from the youkai, he could detect a different odor. It smelled like burning flesh, and it was coming from Kagome.

 

What the hell? His vision of Kagome began to waver and ripple, like a reflection in water that has been disturbed. Shit! What was that? Inuyasha was as scared as he had ever been, but he ruthlessly subdued his fear and confusion, concentrating instead on the immediate threat of the youkai that was preparing to attack the girl he was supposed to protect. Thick steam was already coming from the reptile's nostrils, surrounding her, and, to his stunned surprise, her aura flared red for a moment, answered by a matching red light in the demon's forehead. The youkai jerked back from her, seemingly in pain, then the red light faded from both of them. What...it's got a goddamned shikon shard. This must be the one we were after. Damn it. But why... He shook off his thoughts. He didn't have time for that right now. He'd ask questions after he saved Kagome.

 

He shouted her name as he ran, but she did not hear him. He was still too far away to catch her when she crumpled to the boulder, arrow unfired. Feeling a rage so powerful that it nearly made him mindless, he flung his body up and forward in a desperate leap, coming to land between the unconscious girl and the approaching demon. She was alive, but her appearance alarmed him. She was drenched in sweat, and so pale that it hurt him to look at her. Inuyasha growled, protective instincts flaring. Covering his nose and mouth with one sleeve to block out the noxious vapors swirling around them, he turned to face the creature.

 

He absently noted that Sango was lying far enough away to be temporarily safe. He spared a moment for the passing hope that Miroku had followed him and would see to her, but his mind was soon focused on the youkai that had dared to threaten what was his. He pulled Tetsusaiga from its sheath, holding it in front of him in a defensive posture as he rapidly calculated the best place to make his first strike. The other demon was a lumberous creature, and this gave him a few precious seconds to consider and plan. He needed to daze it and goad it into focusing on him, rather than the girls, then he could finish it off, safely away from them, and retrieve the shard before it could regenerate. He hastily looked it over with a critical eye. It was heavily scaled, but it had a rather long neck, and the scales looked a bit thinner on the underside...right...there...

 

Wasting no more time, Inuyasha leapt up and swung Tetsusaiga with all his might, baring his fangs in a grimace of satisfaction as he felt the blade slip past scales to bite demon flesh. He hit the ground rolling, coming up quickly behind the slower demon.

 

Come on, you bastard...

 

Inuyasha was rewarded when the beast made its move, twisting and lunging toward the hanyou with a vicious hiss. It was what Inuyasha had been waiting for. Stretching out with his senses, he found the crack where his youki met with that of the creature.

 

“Wind scar,” he shouted, bringing Tetsusaiga down and striking the ground. The sizzling blasts of energy emitted by the sword cut a path through the demon, leaving nothing behind but smoking chunks of flesh and several deep ruts in the earth. He hacked at the bits remaining, hurrying lest he had to fight the thing all over again, until he found the shard. He cleaned it off quickly, wearing a look of extreme distaste, then scrambled to where Kagome still lay. Checking her over, he saw that she was breathing, but shallowly, and she still hadn't regained consciousness. He gently hoisted her into his arms and turned, greeted by the welcome sight of Miroku and Shippou crashing into the clearing.

 

“Monk,” he shouted, inclining his head in the direction Sango lay. “See to her.” He made sure that Miroku had heard him, then sprinted into the trees, clutching his burden to him.

 

He had to get Kagome to Kaede. The old woman would know what to do.

 

***

 

-to be continued-