InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Night ❯ Haunted Nights ( Chapter 15 )

Disclamer: nope I don't own it.

 

A/N I will TRY to write today I will force my way out of this depressing writers block. I will continue this fic because I want to know what happens in the end too.

Flash back will be @@@ Italics @@@

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Chapter 15

Haunted Nights

 

 

“Inuyasha SIT!!!!”

 

 

The crashing sound of hanyou meeting earth echoed through the forest around them bouncing off the giant evergreen sentinels. An ebony haired woman clambered out of the Inu shaped depression in the ground and dashed into the near by underbrush.

 

 

“What the hell did you do that for wench?!” yelled the outraged half demon as he finally crawled from the crater. Growling low, he stomped after the woman who had crawled off his back minutes before.

 

 

“Don't come over here Inuyasha!” she warned from the behind a bush.

 

 

“Too bad I am coming over there wench and when I get there your going to...”

 

“Sit,sit,sit,sit!”

 

“AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHH!!”

 

 

Kirara landed near the depression that now dipped the earth in the small clearing amid the trees and let her passengers slid off her back before she transformed in a burst of flames. Shaking herself to resettle her fur, she hopped into the waiting arms of Sango.

 

 

“Where did they go?” the taijiya asked the monk who was grinning down at the hole to his left. Before he could say anything, outraged yelling behind them sounded the answer.

 

 

“Woman I'm going to…!” Inuyasha bellowed as he rose a second time spitting dirt from his mouth only to feel the words freeze in his throat when he looked up to find a furious Kagome standing in front of him.

 

 

Her wind blown hair tumbled around her face as she glared, balled up fists planted on her green clad hips. Inuyasha took an involuntary step back when she advanced on him. Scowling at his own action he glared back at her. Opening his mouth to yell at her again he was interrupted before he could say a word.

 

 

“I told you I needed to get down! I asked you five times to land. All you had to do was let me off your back, but NO you had to just ignore me and keep leaping around the forest oblivious to the rest of the damn world.”

 

 

Inuyasha stared down at her as she yelled at him occasionally poking him in the chest for emphasis. When she took a breath he grabbed for her wrist trapping the prodding appendage against his chest. “You didn't have to sit me.” He pouted

 

 

“You wouldn't land!” she countered tugging on her hand.

 

 

“I would have… eventually.” He grouched keeping his hold on her.

 

 

“I needed to use the facilities.”

 

 

“The facila…whats?” cocking his head to the left his brows nit together. “And why did you sit me again when I followed you?

 

Placing her other hand against his chest she pushed at him trying to free her wrist. Snapping her head up she glared at him. “I had to use the little girl's room!” She snapped finally freeing her hand and stumbling back.

 

 

“What are you talking about wench were in the middle of the forest. There aren't any rooms out here.” Confusion and irritation jumbled around in his head as he tried to make sense of what Kagome was saying.

 

 

“Argh! Never mind!” Kagome growled stalking past the baffled hanyou back towards the small clearing they had `landed' in. grumbling under her breath she did not notice Inuyasha had moved until she bumped into him. Shocked she nearly fell as she ricocheted off his chest. Strong hands wrapped around her arms steadying her. “What room are you talking about woman!” he snapped again letting her go.

 

 

Blushing furiously Kagome glared back at him. “I had to PEE Inuyasha!!!!!” she yelled

 

 

“What?! Gross why did you tell me that, that's disgusting.” Inuyasha made a disgusted face not noticing the twitching eyebrow of the woman standing before him.

 

 

“Inuyasha?” he glanced up at the honey sweet tone a shiver running down his spine.

 

“What?”

 

“SIT!”

 

 

Kagome stomped into the clearing face blazing crimson. Noticing Sango and Miroku standing to one side of the clearing she angled over to stand near them. When she reached the pair she held out her hand to scratch the dozing Kirara in Sango's arms.

 

 

“Kagome sama are you ok? We heard a ruckus in the forest.” Miroku asked.

 

 

Glaring at the monk Kagome grumbled about nosy men and stalked off to sit on a nearby boulder.

 

 

Sango glanced at the now silent Miroku and nearly laughed at his paper white face. He stood frozen to the spot eyes wide and mouth open in an `Oh' shape. Covering her mouth with one hand Sango jogged over to Kagome giggling quietly. When she neared the scowling woman she watched Kagome look up at her a small smile on her face in greeting.

 

 

“I think you scared Miroku.” Sango teased pointing over at the motionless houshi.

 

 

“Humph'

 

 

 

Raising a brow at the woman's answer she sat next to Kagome and stoked Kirara's back.

 

“Well I think this will make a good camp for tonight Kagome I'm glad you made Inuyasha stop. Kirara was getting tired and we lost Kouga about a half hour ago. His pack sent a message to him and he said he'd catch up with us at camp.” Sango continued to chat watching as the tension eased away from the woman beside her.

 

 

From the corner of her eye, she saw Inuyasha stalk into the clearing. He paused just outside the tree line and stared at Kagome warily before turning and heading over to the recovering houshi.

 

 

“I noticed a hot spring about five hundred meters back along the stream running across the edge of this clearing from Kirara's back. Why don't we go wash the grime of the last few days off and let the boy's set up camp?” Sango grinned as she watched Kagome's eyes light up at the mention of a bath.

 

 

Standing she grabbed Kagome's hand and hauled the woman to her feet. Looking over her shoulder at the two males who were still avoiding Kagome, Sango called to them, “Hey we're going to go clean up a bit. Why don't you two get camp arranged?”

 

 

“WHAT!?” Inuyasha surged to his feet “It not even sunset yet. We should keep moving until dark. You wimpy girls can bathe…”

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome questioned sweetly.

 

Eyes wide Inuyasha backed away from the two women across the clearing his hands raised as if to ward them off. “Go then!” he stammered.

 

 

Turning the pair started walking towards the small stream that led to the hot spring along its banks. As they reached the edge of the forest, Inuyasha spoke up again.

 

 

“Just don't forget to use the fajilitys `before' you come back.”

 

 

Confused Sango looked back at the smirking hanyou only to see a look of fear flash across his golden eyes. Beside her, she could feel Kagome trembling with rage. Glancing at the woman, she watched her take a step forward.

 

 

“SIT!!!!!” the woman bellowed bending slightly at the waist with the furry of her scream sending Inuyasha crashing to the ground with earth shaking force. Sango watched eyes wide as Kagome clenched her hands in the skirt of the kimono she wore panting with anger.

 

 

Spinning Kagome stomped off into the forest following the stream she grumbled and kicked at the moss lined banks. When her anger cooled slightly she finally looked up and around realizing, she had no idea where the hot spring was. Sheepishly she turned to the silent taijiya behind her and grinned.

 

“Um Sango are we going the right way?”

 

Sango just laughed and walked around the shuffling Kagome.

 

“Just follow me we are almost there.”

 

 

OooOooOooOooOoooOooOooOooO

 

Sighing Miroku started to gather the larger rocks across the clearing placing them in a circle for a fire pit. Glancing over at the new crater still sporting a red clad half demon he shook his head and rearranged a few rocks so that none of them would shift. Loose grass and pine needles flew into the air around him making him shield his eyes.

 

 

When the miniature cyclone settled down again he dropped his arm to see Kouga standing in the clearing. Miroku's eyebrows shot up to his hairline when he realized Kouga was standing on top of Inuyasha.

 

 

“Where's Kagome?” the wolf prince asked glancing around for the missing woman.

 

 

“GAAAAA get off of me you mangy wolf!” Inuyasha bellowed surging out of the depression he had made as the spell wore off.

 

 

“Oh was that you Inuyasha I though I was standing on an old trash mound.”

 

 

“Why you….”

 

 

“Will you stop? Both of you!” Miroku sighed realizing it was useless as the sound of flesh connecting on flesh met his ears. Looking back up he watched transfixed as the two canine youkai rolled across the clearing kicking punching and…biting? Shaking his head he mumbled

 

 

“He didn't even exchange the normal rounds of insults first Inuyasha must be frustrated.” Grinning at that thought, he glanced in the direction the girls had gone and stood up. “Now I can't let my self fall into such a state as these two now can I?” Chuckling he jauntily strolled into the forest deserting the preparations for the night.

 

 

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

 

Kagome leaned against the edge of the spring and curled her legs up next to her. The rough basin of rock filled with steaming mineral rich water was small and roughly, crescent shaped. Each girl sat in opposite tips of the spring and still they could have reached out and touched fingers had they tried.

 

 

Closing her eyes Kagome thought back over the last three weeks. They had left Kaede's village and headed deep into Inuyasha's forest. Nearly immediately, she has sensed a jewel shard to the north and the group had sped that direction. They found the shard embedded into the bark of a tree. Kagome pointed out the location and had watched in shock as Inuyasha strode over to remove it.

 

 

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Tangled roots tore out of the ground rearing up like angry serpents whose heads were razor sharp points. A near solid wall of roots flicked and lashed around the tree forming a barrier of lethal vegetation around itself and Inuyasha. The group stood stunned as three hissing bark covered snakeing roots shot out blindly quick. Kagome stifled a scream when the deadly shoots wrapped themselves around Inuyasha's wrists and neck. “Get back wench!” Inuyasha screamed at her as the shock wore off. Kagome stood frozen as a fifth root shot towards Inuyasha's heart.

 

 

“No!!” she cried out just as strong arms pulled her away. Screaming she struggled out of Kouga's arms fighting against the blurring image of the wolf that shifted and changed as panic folded over her. Inuyasha's enraged cry of Sankon Tetsusou tore her attention off Kouga. One root still dangled from his right wrist she watched him rip the wood free and toss it away a look of scorn on his face. Turning to the tree Inuyasha leapt and cried out once more.

 

 

Blinking at him, standing amid the wood chips Kagome had walked over to the tiny glowing shard and plucked it from the splinter of wood he held out to her. It had tingled in her hands for a moment before she dropped it into the small leather pouch Kaede had given her to wear around her neck.

 

 

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A giant bear youkai charged out of the forest straight towards her. Its massive body uprooting trees as it blundered over them. Drawing back the string of her new bow Kagome struggled to keep the arrow notched and pointing at the demon.

 

Inuyasha landed beside her and barked “Wench leave this thrash to me.”

 

Causing her to yelp and loose the arrow. The bolt flew across the field she was standing in to thud harmlessly in a clod of dirt a hundred meters away.

 

“Feh good thing I'm here.” Inuyasha drawled and leapt towards the demon.

 

Sighing Kagome grumbled under her breath glaring at the bow in her hands. “Stupid bow.”

 

Above her she heard Sango release Hiraikotsu looking up at the taijiya riding Kirara. The large bone weapon buzzed through the air and ripped across the spine of the bear youkai. The massive beast howled in pain and outrage raising its head to snap at the flying feline. Yelling Inuyasha leapt towards the youkai his sword transforming in his hand to a large curved blade.

 

 

The giant head crashed to the ground and Kagome dashed across the broken ground of the field. Shuddering only slightly she clambered across the things cheek and drove her hand into the thick reeking fur wrapping her fingers around the shard she saw tangled in the mass of hair she tore the glowing fragment of the Shikon no Tama from the youkai before the body could reattached to the head she crouched on.

 

 

Instantly the whole beast dissolved into dust causing her to fall to the ground with a startled squawk. Rubbing her bottom she deposited the jewel into the pouch at her neck where is tinkled as it hit the four shards already occupying the leather bag.

 

 

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“You reek wench!” the white haired male before her yelled.

 

 

Kagome turned on her heel to glare at him.

 

“No shit Inuyasha I'm covered with spider blood!” she snapped back irritable and sticky. The disgusting slime matted her hair to her head and smeared across her arms and face. She had hit the damn youkai with a lucky shot.

 

The arrow had split the thing in half drenching her in its gore as it dangled lifeless above her by its webbing. Wiping at the sticky fluid she glared up at the hanyou holding his nose.

 

“Well then tell me where the nearest hot spring is if I offend your senses so much!” she snapped.

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Kagome sighed and slid deeper under the water of the small spring. Two months had passed since she had killed the spider demon. Each day she tried hard to wear herself out concentrating only on finding the jewel shards. Kagome trained herself in the bow until the mussels of her arms and back screamed.

 

 

Each morning before they broke camp she asked Miroku to teach her how to control and use her Miko powers. The houshi did his best trying to remember what he knew of Miko abilities. Kagome prayed every night that she would be able to fall into and exhausted dreamless sleep. She prayed for a sleep that held nothing but darkness, because the alternative made her dread the setting of the sun. The dreams that haunted her always grew worse through the night each variation truing on itself depicting increasingly more gruesome versions of Hojo's death.

 

 

A quiet sob escaped her as tears flowed down her face. Swirling water heralded Sango's approach and then Kagome found herself wrapped in the older woman's arms.

 

“Oh Kagome don't cry. Please do not cry. You've been so strong lately I wish…”

Kagome hugged Sango back and shook her head.

 

“Sango it hurts so much. Every day I feel like my heart is being ripped apart. Even after four months, I can't imagine his face with out watching him die again. I try to forget I really do but then I don't want to forget. How can I forget him? I loved him; I should never forget that love.”

 

 

Sango held her friend as Kagome vented her sorrow and twisted logic. She knew it was unhealthy for Kagome to force herself to remember so vividly only the painful memories of her lost fiancé but she had no way of convincing her to move past them.

 

“Kagome you need to focus on the good times. Remember Hojo when he was happy. He wouldn't want you to continue to torture yourself like this.”

 

“Sango I can't!” Kagome wailed before pulling back.

 

Sango watched as she struggled for composure before she heard Kagome whisper

 

“I just can't.”

 

She sat in the heated pool as her friend exited, dried herself and redressed.

 

“I'm going to head back now Sango, I'll see you in camp”

 

The dejected tone of Kagome's voice tore at Sango's heart as she watched the woman walk away. Sighing she turned to the left and tossed a softball sized rock at the peeping tom hiding behind the bushes.

 

 

“Miroku if you don't want the next one to be the size of Kirara go walk Kagome back to camp!” She yelled before turning her back on the be-lumped monk and sinking once more into the warm waters.

 

 

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

 

Inuyasha and Kouga sat glaring at each other over the flames of a snapping fire. Soft growling filled the clearing as the male youkai rearranged their rumbled clothing and disheveled hair.

 

 

The tussle that had started with Kouga posing on Inuyasha's back had ended when Kagome escorted by the purple clad houshi emerged from the forest. Inuyasha had Kouga's arm in his mouth when the wolf bit down on his ear. His howl of pain had sent Kagome bolting across the clearing and into the middle of their fight. Both of them had nearly hit her in their attempt to do harm to the other only pulling back at that last moment at the expense of some severely strained muscles.

 

 

The shouting match that started between Inuyasha and Kagome ended with another crater in the clearing and a fuming Kagome snapping sticks to feed to the fire until they had a small bond fire roaring in the circle of rocks.

 

 

Shaking his head at the grumpy lot Miroku rotated the rabbits Sango had returned with as they roasted near the diminished fire. Eyeing the rabbits once more, he glanced back up at Sango who was talking quietly to Kagome. They sat on a boulder that lay near the center of the clearing.

 

 

Kagome had retreated to that spot after she had run out of sticks small enough for her to break and refused to return to the fire. A series of indentions marked Inuyasha's attempts to approach the girl who had spent the rest of the evening staring up into the darkening sky.

 

 

Another growl filled the air causing both Inuyasha and Kouga to stare at Miroku. Scratching the back of his head with a grin Miroku looked back and shrugged.

 

“I'm hungry.”

 

Sighing he rotated the four rabbits once again and worried about their disbursal. He was ravenous and he knew that both the youkai in the group would be as well. Their heightened abilities also meant higher food intake. He also knew form experience never to come between Sango and her food. The powerful taijiya ate nearly as much as Kouga.

 

 

Looking over at Kagome and Sango again, he sighed. Kagome hardly ate anything and was growing too thin because of it. He made it a point each day to manage to get Kagome to eat at least one decent meal.

 

 

“Don't worry about it monk I'll make sure she eats tonight.” Inuyasha's gruff voice broke into his thoughts causing him to glance at the hanyou. Inuyasha was staring at the raven haired woman as she gazed up at the night sky.

 

 

“Ha! How are you going to get close enough to do that dog boy?” Kouga sneered grabbing the rabbit furthest form the flame. He bit into the still bloody meat frowning at the false warmth in the meat he hated cooked meat.

 

 

Glaring at the wolf youkai Inuyasha stood up and moved over to Miroku. “Hand me two rabbits Miroku I'll take Sango hers' and share mine with Kagome. Sango won't let her meal be dragged to the ground with me so I should make it to her this time.”

 

 

Miroku locked eyes with Inuyasha and saw the deep concern shinning in his yellow gaze. Sighing he handed the cooked meat to the hanyou and took the remaining rabbit for himself. As he watched Inuyasha cautiously approach the women he waited not touching the rabbit until he made sure Sango got her food. He would go hungry himself before allowing her to do so.

 

 

As Inuyasha walked towards Kagome and Sango he cleared his throat to get their attention. A flicker of apprehension skittered across his mind as Kagome frowned at him. “I'm bringing food, don't sit me.” He watched Sango place a hand on Kagome's arm and grinned to himself slightly at the woman's reaction to food. Handing the fighter her rabbit he turned to Kagome and offered her the last one.

 

 

Sango wandered away from them back to the fire. Hopping up onto the boulder next to Kagome Inuyasha crouched hands and feet resting on the top of the boulder while he watched her look down at the meat.

 

 

“Eat it.” He said softly. At her frown, he took the roasted animal from her and tore off a chunk. “At least eat this much. You need to eat.”

 

“I'm not hungry.”

 

“Your never hungry”

 

“So?”

 

“So, you need to eat.”

 

“If I'm not hungry? I'm not hungry!”

 

“Kagome, EAT it.” He growled. Seeing her frown deepen he placed his fingers under her chin rising her eyes to his.

 

“Fine.” She sighed and lifted the haunch of meat.

 

Inuyasha watched as she made quick work of the meat. When she tossed the bones away from her he grinned at her and handed her another chunk of meat. For three days, she had barely eaten anything. Seeing her finally eat made him forget about his own growling stomach. `Feh' I can always go hunting tonight after she falls asleep if I need to' he thought as he held out a third section of rabbit to Kagome who was licking her fingers and eyeing the remaining rabbit in his hands.

 

 

By the time Kagome had, had enough Inuyasha held less than half a rabbit. Grinning down at her he quickly devoured the rest and then walked her back to the fire where she quickly dozed off in the warmth. Wrapping her in her blanket Inuyasha carried Kagome over to the bedroll Sango had laid out for her. Placing her on the thin futon Inuyasha watched Kagome open her eyes.

 

“Shhh go to sleep now.” He whispered.

 

Her small hand reached out from the blanket to rest against his cheek for a moment before she turned on her side and fell asleep once more.

 

“Your welcome Kagome.” He said before jumping into the tree to his left. Settling down in its branches, he watched the sleeping woman until he knew she was not likely to wake till morning. Leaning back against the trunk of the tree he watched the stars spin above him until the grumblings of his stomach grew too bothersome. Jumping lightly to the ground, he shook Miroku awake.

 

“Stand watch for an hour while I hunt Miroku.” He whispered. At the monks nod he bound into the forest.

 

 

Crouched behind a bush Inuyasha watched through narrow golden slits as the large rabbit nibbled gingerly at the edge of the meadow. Its long paper-thin ears rotated around its head constantly checking for danger. Grinning Inuyasha crept silently closer to his prey. Parting the bush in front of him, he darted into the clearing toward the animal. Freedom of the hunt surged through his veins as the small furred creature dashed to the side in a flurry of motion.

 

 

Fangs bared in a feral grin he leapt drawing back a lethal clawed hand ready for the kill. A blinding slash of his claws and the animal lay limp in his grasp. Crouching with his kill Inuyasha used one bloody claw to slit the animal open discarding the offal. Striding over to a nearby stream to wash the blood off his, hands Inuyasha stopped mid step mind blanking as blinding panic flooded his mind.

 

 

Dropping to one knee, he pressed a bloody hand to his forehead. Growling loudly he struggled to rise clamping down on his emotions. As soon as the moon lit meadow came into focus again Inuyasha sprang into the air dropping the rabbit in his rush through the tree tops.

 

 

Leaping from branch to branch he raced back towards the camp growling deep in his throat once more when the panic was shredded by the consuming fear that threatened to swamp his vision. Narrowing his eyes against the feelings flooding his mind he tired again to block them out. Gaining some control over the influx of alien emotions Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief. Just as the last of the intruding emotions faded from his mind, he felt them shift once more.

 

 

Even behind the wall hastily thrown up between them he could feel Kagome slip into the darkness of despair. The lagging sense of abandoned loneliness that flavored that last taste of her shifting nightmare shone in his mind. A low moan escaped him as he raced towards her. Resisting the urge to tear down the barrier separating him from those emotions and prove to her that she was not alone, he concentrated on speeding through the forest. Sliding into the clearing, he stood panting slightly eyes riveted on the scene before him.

 

 

Kagome stood backed against tree hands glowing with faint violet light. Miroku lay sprawled at her feet blinking up at her as Sango held him half in her lap. Kouga was straining towards her blistered hands held before him Inuyasha heard him trying to sooth the frightened woman his voice cajoling.

 

“Kagome, please its ok. Your safe here its ok.”

 

As the sent of her fear, spiked Inuyasha felt her panic batter against the wall he valiantly held between them. Tears streamed down her face as Kagome tossed her head from side to side.

 

Snarling he crossed the open space between the edge of the forest and the group.

 

“Get away from her wolf!” he yelled and grabbed Kouga. Flinging the youkai away from Kagome, he ignored his enraged protest. Turning back to Kagome he hardly noticed the wall separating his emotions from hers eroding as the woman before him cowered away from him. Pain fisted around his heart as he cautiously stepped towards her softly calling her name.

 

“Kagome? Wake up Kagome your ok. Your not alone, wake up.”

 

Another step and burning pain flared across his cheek as he encountered her violet aura. Hissing at the sensation, he faltered back a step before moving forward once more. Ignoring the burning across his exposed skin he reached out.

 

 

Kagome's eyes cleared as the vision of the green-eyed wolf reseeded replaced by a golden gaze framed in white. The feel of fingers resting gently against her collarbone filtered through her mind. Choking out a sob, she felt her knees collapse beneath her as she fell. Strong warm arms wrapped around her and carried her over to the sleepy fire still dancing in the ring of stones. Looking up at Inuyasha, she started to apologize for her hysterics when she noticed the blood on his forehead.

 

“Are you ok? I didn't…”

 

“Its not mine.” He said pulling her head back to rest on his shoulder.

 

“Go back to sleep and no dreaming.”

 

Inuyasha frowned at her sad sigh but only leaned against the tree to his back and closed his eyes until he heard her whisper.

 

“I wish I could stop.”

 

Shifting her closer he stared down at Kagome as she drifted off to sleep. Closing his eyes again he soon followed her not even noticing the others shuffle over to them in differing states of confusion.

 

“Well that was odd.” Miroku grumbled rubbing the lump he'd received on the back of his head when Kagome flung him away from her.

 

“Odd doesn't begin to explain it monk.” Kouga snapped limping over to the fire to glare at the sleeping pair.

 

Sango ignored the others her cheeks tinted rosy from the prolonged contact with the houshi and crawled back under her blankets.

 

 

 

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A/N: yet another half-assed chapter. My apologies for the tardiness it's the best I can manage still in the grips of a surprisingly bad case of depression. Hopefully I'll be able to kick it and get back to writing because I really enjoy it so much. Sorry again and I hope you enjoy even if I'm horrible about updating.