InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fractured ❯ Chapter 2

“Your left, Kikyo!” He shouted, running towards the demon. The beast was enormous. They had been tracking it for miles, the miko having sensed the shard nearby. But every time they seemed to get close, it would take off at top speed, and Inuyasha had had trouble catching up. By the time that they had found him, his adrenaline was already working over time.

There was a part of him that wanted the kill; it called to his demon half, the primal urge to dominate and prove that he was the stronger one, the alpha male. He had to drive to protect, no sense of comradery. He just had the desire to use his base instincts.

“This is your last chance to surrender the jewel, demon!” She spoke, her tone firm, sizing the creature up. It resembled something of an ox, but its size was so warped and mutated it hardly seemed to resemble its origins. Was it the jewel or genetics that caused such a monstrosity?

The demon laughed.

“Surrender, to the likes of you?” he scoffed. “I will slaughter you with one stroke!”

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles as he gave a crooked smile. He was in the mood for a fight.

There was very little that made sense to him right now; even his reasons for hunting down demons for these tainted shards didn't exactly add up. But the fight or flight feeling- that made sense. It was what he lived his life on.

“At least this will be interesting.”

As the demon made his move, Inuyasha lunged forward, using his claws to swipe at his opponent, leaving him severely injured. The ox used his own to attack at the hanyou, fresh blood spilling from his side. Kikyo prepared to fight. She readied her bow, knocking the arrow back, just as Inuyasha was out of her eyeline. A pink light burst from where the arrow hit, and with a loud cry, the demon fell to the ground, his flesh burnt and blackened.

The miko walked over to the mass, calm and collected. She stepped over the limbs, walked through the blood to where the shard called to her. Reaching down, digging through the beasts arm, she retrieved the black shard. She closed it in the palm of her hand as she closed her eyes, focusing her energy on restoring it to its pure state.

Kikyo turned her head, focusing on the hanyou. She walked over to him to assess the damage.

“Did you do it?” He grunted

“Of course. Its an easy matter to purify it, and keep it so.”

“Can I see it?” he asked, curiosity piqued. “I still cant believe the jewel was smashed into bits.”

She looked at him, distrust written all over her features.

“I'd rather you didn't. While only part, you still have demon blood. The jewel calls to you, and there is always the possibility that it may overcome you.”

“Feh. I don't think im so weak.”

“You craved the jewel once before.”

“But then-“ Inuyasha snapped his mouth closed quickly.

“It is just better to be on the safe side.” She said, tucking the jewel away with the others.

Inuyasha took the time to inspect his wounds.

“Why did you not use your sword?” She asked.

“Feh, that piece of garbage? What the hell could that thing do?” He said, staggering over to a tree.

“Do you not find it sufficient?”

“Its just a rusted piece of junk. I don't know why Im even carrying it around.” He took a deep breath, wriggling around to find a comfortable spot. He needed to sit, just for a moment. The ox had hit him harder than he expected.

“…Do you know where it came from, Kikyo?”

“The sword?” She asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah. I- I don't remember it. I didn't have it before I met you, so I must have gotten it while we were together.”

She was quite for a moment before answering.

“I am not sure of its origins, but I believe it to be an heirloom of your fathers.”

“My fathers?” He asked skeptically.

“Yes. I believe you carry it for sentimental reasons.”

“Youre sure about that?” He raised a brow, before leaning his head back.

“There had been talk that it… transforms… but- Inuyasha, let us save this for another time. Your wounds are more pressing.”

“Feh. Im not a weak human. Ill be fine in a few hours.”

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't exactly the truth either. He felt terrible.

She leaned over him, reaching out her hand to inspect his side. Quickly, his hand shot up to grab hers.

“I don't need to be looked at-“

“I don't need to be looked at wench!”

It was as if a shock went through his body. He was holding Kikyo, but as if in a flash, he saw himself holding someone else's dainty wrist.

She removed her hand from him.

But it stayed.

The other wrist. The vision, it didn't let go.

She flung her hand out of his clawed grasp.

“I don't care what you say, Inuyasha but Im going to look at your wounds, and Im going to bandage them up!” The voice said, determination pouring out of her.

“I keep telling you, time after gods damn time, that I don't need your freaking help!” He yelled.

“And I keep telling you, that you can whine and complain all you want, but you have an open wound and Im going to treat you whether you like it or not!” She screamed back.

He took a few steadying breaths, filling his nostrils with her scent.

“Inuyasha,” she started, her voice calmer, gentle. “Please, let me do this.”

“Im not some weak human who cant-“

“It doesn't matter if you're a demon or a human. If your bleeding it hurts, right? It doesn't matter that it will only take you a day to bounce back. In that day, you'll still be in pain.” She reached her small hand out to touch his cheek. “Please, Inuyasha.”

He let out a jagged breath.

“Do whatever you want, wench.” He ground out.

She smiled, he could tell that much. Most of her face was shadowed, darkened, but he could see the up turn of her lips, the grace of her smile.

He was glad.

She went to work stripping him of his fire rat, working loose his layers.

He heard her breath catch as she laid her eyes on the gaping hole in his stomach. He had to admit, the bastard had got him good.

“Oh, Inuyasha…” She bit her lip instinctively. Tears? He could smell the salt. She must be holding them back. She gently laid her hand on the hard plains of his stomach, causing him to quiver. She shook slightly, pulling herself together.

“All right. Im going to disinfect it first. It might sting.”

“Like some medicine is going to hurt me.”

“Just a warning.”

“I know by now what your damn medicine is like. You make me do this crap every time.”

“That's because I want you to heal better.”

“I don't need help for that.”

“And here we are again. It's a circle. Can we agree to disagree?”

“Feh.”

He turned her head, watching her from the corner of his eyes as she diligently cleaned and bandaged his stomach.

“Finished.” She said, running her hand lightly over the bandages.

“Still a waste of time.” He muttered. “But… thanks…”

He could see her smile kindly.

“I hate that you get hurt…” She said, her voice trailing as she gently rubbed where the bandage met his bare skin.

“O-oi. Its not like I try too. It just cant be helped sometimes.”

“I- I know… but still…” She seemed to hesitate, holding back what she wanted to say.

She leaned down, pressing her lips against the crisp white bandages. Her hair- black hair- fell around her.

“K-K-“ He breathed out, trying to find words.

“To help you heal faster.” She said, embarrassment evident in her voice.

He reached a clawed hand out to stroke the sides of her face. He watched as her blurred image leaned into his palm, cupping her own dainty hand over his large, dangerous one.

“Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat.” Her sweet voice said.

“Not yet.” He replied simply. He just wanted her to stay. It occurred to him that if he had these moments alone with her, he'd gladly take the hit.

“Okay.” She said, reaching over to a canister of water and a towel. She wet the cloth, then leaned over him, making a move to clean him.

“You don't have to do that.” He said quickly. “Im not a kid. Im not disabled.”

“I know youre not, Inuyasha. I want to. The others are back at the slayer village. It's just us… let me take care of you…”

The memory went blank momentarily, as he closed his eyes and nodded his head in agreement.

She gently began to wipe his face, the sweat from battle, the blood that had splattered on him from the demons defeat.

She was straddling him now, cleaning him with such care and compassion. He reached up, moving her thick black hair over her shoulder.

“Inuyasha?” She asked, her voice breathless.

He sat up, wincing slightly in pain. He moved closer to her, the view of her blurred, but her lips… were so crystal clear… so close…

The hanyou shook his head as he was pulled back from the memory. Kikyo hand moved her hand from his grasp.

“As you say, Inuyasha.” She said, dropping her hand. He watched as she walked away.

He ran his hands through his hair, his entire body shaking.

What the hell was that? Who the hell was that?

The memory felt warm and comfortable. He- he was about to kiss that woman, wasn't he?

The woman who had come to him so suddenly… she had cared for him. That much was obvious.

What was even clearer was that this mystery person was, was not Kikyo.

He had never in his life acted that was with the priestess… Had he?

With his memories missing, he couldn't be sure. But from the way they acted now, they were not as familiar as the blurred figure.

But who was she? Where was she now?

The hanyou felt a pain in his chest as he tried to recall her face. His demon raged, encouraging him, pushing him.

It felt like a bolt of lightning to his head; it hurt so damn much it almost brought tears to his eyes. He had to stop, just for now. He had to focus on healing his open wounds before he worked on decoding his memories.