InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost of Love ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The light was blinding, intense and burning like a fiery halo around the girls. Inuyasha's eyes were fixated on the tiny miko who was emitting the bright glow. He had been astounded by the vast amount of power that was flowing from her. Had she really changed so much in the past year? Gained so much in the time she had spent on bloody battlefields tending to the wounded and dying?

He was brought from his thoughts by an abrupt flare in his brother's aura. Things were heating up. He tightened the grip on his sword when Sesshoumaru's chest rumbled in a deep and low growl. Inuyasha could only hope that Kagome could hurry through this before Sesshoumaru lost his composer.

Beside his brother he could hear Asami trying her best to calm her son. Her words would soon fall on deaf ears though. Inuyasha could see the blood red hue starting to tinge Sesshoumaru's eyes. His fangs and claws were beginning to lengthen too. Before much longer Sesshoumaru would be enraged and no amount of talking would be able to calm him.

A flare in light caused Inuyasha to snap back to Kagome. A shocked scream came from Sumire, causing Sesshoumaru to growl loudly in protest. The pair was too bright to look at now so Inuyasha had to guess that the process was nearing an end. The air around him was getting hot and tiny cracks and pops came from the reiki surrounding Kagome. Intense was far too small a description for what was going on in this room.

“Hurry up Kagome,” he muttered under his breath. Carefully he gauged his brother and the distance between himself and Kagome. Time would be of the essence when Sesshoumaru finally snapped so he needed to be able to reach Kagome as quickly as possible. Deciding that his current position was too limiting, he circled around so that he came to stand directly behind Kagome. From here he was closer to her and still had an excellent view of Sesshoumaru.

It happened in an instant. Sumire's voice broke through the light. A bone chilling scream that could have raised the very dead. Kagome's followed not even seconds later. A loud clap, like thunder shook the room as the light vanished and the pair fell to the ground. He was taken back at the sudden bone popping contortions Sumire's body broke into.

Time stood still as he watch Sesshoumaru lose control. His brother's blood thirsty gaze landing on the one closest to his injured mate. Kagome. It was her voice that spurred the hanyou into action.

“INUYASHA!”

Sesshoumaru dove at her, not even bothering to brandish his sword, deadly claws aimed directly for her throat. Inuyasha leapt clear over Kagome, his free hand pushing her down as he launched over. His strong hand caught Sesshoumaru by the neck, forcing him back and away from Kagome. Tetsaiga was still at his hip as he avoided the poison that was quickly flung his way. His sword would only be of use if Sesshoumaru drew his own.

Inuyasha had to keep Sesshoumaru's focus on himself. That was going to be difficult. Every attack from the Taiyoukai was meant to simply throw Inuyasha off so that he could resume his attention onto the miko at his mate's side. So far Inuyasha had dodged every blow but he knew Sesshoumaru wasn't going to mess around any longer. Sumire's screams would be too much for him to bear. He had complete understanding, for if it was Kagome's body that was experiencing such torture, he too would be on the brink of insanity.

Sesshoumaru dived again, this time connecting with Inuyasha's shoulder. Claws scraped him, landing just enough poison in the freshly ripped flesh to cause considerable pain. Time to draw on his new found strength, he thought, and without hesitation he released his youkai half. The air crackled around him as he felt the rush of blood in his body. He could hear his own heart beat in his ears. In one blink of an eye his vision flooded red. Just as it did, Sesshoumaru changed course and aimed his sights on Kagome once again.

“Like hell you will bastard!” Inuyasha roared as his fangs lengthened and claws extended. In one bound he closed the distance between them, pinning Sesshoumaru's arms with his own. It took considerable strength to keep the Taiyoukai's arms in a position where his claws were useless.

“Dammit Sesshoumaru, snap out of it!” Inuyasha cursed as he struggled with his brother. Even in his full blood form, it was a hell of a battle to keep Sesshoumaru under control. Despite his efforts, he wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. Inuyasha chanced a look at Kagome in hopes this would all be over soon.

Meanwhile, an astonished Kagome stared at the battle before her. She couldn't believe she was still alive. When Sesshoumaru's eyes had locked onto hers, she had felt for certain those moments where her last. It had taken a minute for her to realize that Inuyasha had intervened, successfully stealing her away from death's door.

Sumire's throaty screams had drawn her back to reality. Quickly she pulled forth what remaining power she had to aid the pain ridden youkai. Exhaustion was threatening her though and regrettably she had only the strength to take the edge off the pain.

“Dammit!” Kagome cursed, tears blurring her vision. With every convulsion of Sumire's body she cursed the fact that she could do no more to help this woman. Every bone pop and muscle spasm made her sick to her stomach.

“You're doing well miko, just a little longer.” Asami suddenly appeared at Kagome's side, a delicate pale hand reaching out to stroke Sumire's head. A motherly gesture towards an injured child.

“Can't we knock her out or something?” Kagome half questioned, half pleaded.

“No. Unfortunately this is necessary. Her pain has awakened Sesshoumaru's claim on her. It was the only way to force the remaining binding. This is the rest of the ceremony. Just take what suffering you can from her Kagome-sama.” Asami's eyes never left the form of her daughter-in-law.

Finding new strength from the fact that Sumire was forced into this, Kagome pushed through her own exhaustion and found the energy to lessen the girl's pain even more. Once Sumire's convulsing slowed and her screams lessened to moans, Kagome's eyes sought out Inuyasha. If she could focus on him she was certain she could keep up the momentum.

What she saw was nothing like she expected. He had reverted to his youkai form. Something she hadn't seen in a very long time. The strange thing was that Tetsaiga was still at his side. The blade had always kept his youkai from surfacing, so why was he in the state he was in now?

He was different.

Not a mindless killing machine like he had always become before as a full youkai. He danced gracefully around Sesshoumaru, matching the taiyoukai spar for spar. This version of Inuyasha was very much in control.

“Inuyasha...” she whispered.

Beside her she could hear Asami, but the words were becoming distorted. Her head was pounding, making everything around her seem out of sorts. As she watched Inuyasha, it began to look like a slow motion movie. She turned her head to look at Asami who was still talking to her. Her eyes could only make out a blurry form beside her.

“Pardon me,” Kagome asked as she tried to take in what Asami was trying to say, but it was getting difficult. She felt like she was in a trance. The reiki flowing through her was beginning to have a numbing effect. Inuyasha was beginning to blur as he leaped around the room.

Kami, her head was pounding so much. Closing her eyes she tried to keep things under control. The pressure behind her temples was getting worse. She inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly. Repeating the process she tried to calm herself. The headache did not let up. It was becoming incredibly difficult to keep her control over Sumire's pain.

Kagome felt chilled yet she could feel the sweat running from her brow. Nausea suddenly shook her to her core and the room began to swim. Reluctantly she let her hands fall to her side. She could only hope that Sumire was past the worst of her transformation.

Her head had been hurting for so long...

Sesshoumaru was beginning to come around to his senses and Inuyasha knew he had Kagome to thank. Somehow she had managed to lessen Sumire's pain and silence the girl's unnatural screams. Eliminating those screams had been like working a miracle on the Taiyoukai.

“Time to stop this Sesshoumaru. Kagome is only trying to help Sumire through the pain. She's not the one hurting her.” Inuyasha attempted to talk some sense into his brother. He watched carefully as those red eyes that had been fixed on him turned their attention to the girls. Relief poured into him when Sesshoumaru reined in his youki and his eyes returned to their cold and usual amber colour.

Inuyasha allowed his own youki to settle deep inside himself once more. Not fulling trusting Sesshoumaru yet, he made the first step towards Kagome. Turning just in time to watch her crumple to the ground.

“Kagome!” Two more bounds and he was beside her in an instant. He cursed to himself over and over as he pulled her limp form into his arms. Her heartbeat was steady, as was her breathing, so he felt some relief knowing she had likely collapsed from exhaustion. With any luck and some well deserved sleep she would be fine.

Beside him Sumire whined and whimpered in pain. For now it seemed the worst had passed. Her body had stretched and developed into that of an adult. His heart clenched at the sight before him. She looked horrible. Covered in sweat and deathly pale she appeared so pitiful lying there. When she cried out and fresh tears fell from her tightly shut eyes, he reached out to wipe them away. A mistake on his part, for he soon found himself at the end of Sesshoumaru's grasp. A shaking hand had clenched tightly around his throat.

“Enough Sesshoumaru,” Asami's voice came from behind Inuyasha. “Your brother means her no harm Sesshoumaru. Sumire needs you now. Stop this senseless fighting and tend to your mate.”

Inuyasha could honestly say he was glad for the bitch's presence. When Sesshoumaru gave him a meaningful look but none the less dropped his hand, Inuyasha offered up an apology. “Sorry Sesshoumaru. Sumire didn't deserve to go through this. I hope Kagome was able to shield her from the worst of it.”

Sesshoumaru only stared coldly back at him before gathering the still crying Sumire up in his arms. In a seemingly effortless motion he stood with her and turned to leave. The Taiyoukai paused with his back to Inuyasha. “Take the miko to the springs when she wakes up.”

It was issued like a command but Inuyasha had to smile at his brother. Despite the two of them trying to tear the throats out of each other moments before, somehow they had come to an understanding. With a cooler head, Sesshoumaru had instantly grasped an understanding of the situation. Inuyasha knew that no explanation was needed. The look Sesshoumaru had given him, his hand and deadly claws still locked around Inuyasha's throat, had held a multitude of messages.

Those cold eyes had told Inuyasha that his brother had come to understand why Sumire had been put through so much suffering. Why Kagome had been called upon to break the seal and why it had been Inuyasha to fight him tonight. It hadn't taken long for the keen and calculating mind of Sesshoumaru to put it all together once he had calmed down.

Inuyasha knew that his brother had accepted his calling as husband. Those eyes now held the tiny flicker of warmth in them. Somehow this barbaric ritual had worked. Sumire's screams had pierced Sesshoumaru's soul, forcing him to accept her into his protection. Once placed under that protection, she would never have to worry again.

Sesshoumaru's offer of the spring for Kagome was one of forgiveness and sufferance. After tonight he would harbour no ill will towards her. That came as a great relief to Inuyasha. Tonight was not something he wished to do again. Fighting Sesshoumaru had been terrifying. Only his love for Kagome had kept him from failure. That and his father's blood that ran in his veins. He was finally starting to think that being hanyou wasn't half that bad.

When Sesshoumaru's form vanished through the doorway, Inuyasha found himself alone with Kagome. Well, almost alone except for Asami who still knelt beside him. He gave her an impatient look as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Your father would have been red in the face to see you two boys trying to tear each other apart.” Her amber eyes looked almost misty at the remembrance of his father. “Inuyasha, you did well tonight. Your little miko was very commendable as well. For the longest time I never understood what your father saw in humans. Little by little though I am beginning to see just how interesting they are. First with Rin and now her.”

“Feh, your point.” Inuyasha was tired and didn't feel like shooting the shit with the hag right now. Frankly, he just didn't care what her opinions regarding him or Kagome were.

“No point.”

Inuyasha didn't like how her eyes twinkled, as if some unknown mirth was amidst them. She left things at that, standing and then disappearing out the door herself. Just what was with that woman? She had been a ball of mystery since they had arrived. He was beginning to have a hard time deciding just how to take her.

Ultimately he decide that she didn't really matter in the present and he might as well take Kagome to bed. His miko would rest far better on a futon and under blankets than in this room. She deserved nothing less and so he lifted his precious package up and followed the same path the two taiyoukai had taken not long before.


A/N: Another big shout out to my wonderful readers and the fantastic reviews you leave for me. Mucho Gracias! As always, big hugs to my beta Kokoronagomu.