InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty Hero ❯ Change of Plan ( Chapter 54 )

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

Greetings, one and all!  I have returned from the dead with another chapter.  Huzzah.  No, this time I have a very good excuse for the slow update.  As some of you may know, I used to work two jobs.  One in retail, and one in food service.  Well, through God's grace, I somehow got the incredible opportunity to go down to one job in the world of insurance.  Which means making a heckuva lot more money working several hours less a week.  Plus some nice time off, good benefits... Yeah, it was an amazing opportunity.  However, I know absolutely nothing about insurance.  Thus, my brain has been on overload every day for the past 2 weeks.  And before that, I was scrambling around preparing for the change.  Getting everything settled at the old jobs, having two very tearful good-byes...  It's been hectic.

So frankly, I don't know how I managed to get this chapter done.  I just did. :D

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, plus the couple of people who sent me pms telling me to get off my ass and write (not exactly in those words, mind you).  Thanks to your encouragement, this chapter has been completed.  I thank you. :)

All right, onward with chapter 53!  

Guilty Hero

Chapter 53:  Change of Plan


Despite the various noises that echoed softly throughout the near-empty lobby of HQ, Sessho-maru's focus did not waver.  From his place in an armchair across from the entrance, he stared evenly at the glass doors before him.  The only other soul in the room was Rin, and she was one of the precious few whose presence he tolerated explicitly.  And she, being the smart woman she was, knew he was not to be disturbed.  She was currently amusing herself with a crossword from the morning's paper.  While he was aware that her inquisitive nature was desperate to pepper him with questions, she was instead restraining herself and putting her curiosity to use with the puzzle.

He was glad for the silence, as he had much to mull over.

After feigning anger with Higurashi and pretending to leave, he slowly doubled back to follow her.  He had to keep a great deal of distance between them so she wouldn't be alerted to his presence, but once his dolt of a half-brother had staggered pathetically onto the scene, Kagome's attention was gone.  He was able to sneak closer at that point, but the results he espied were far less than satisfactory.

A sneer briefly curled his lip as he thought back to that moment.  

He viewed their heated exchange with mounting frustration.  All the effort he, Sango, and Miroku had put into this plan was shot from the moment Higurashi opened her mouth.  Inu-Yasha had been the catalyst required to pull the cork out of the bottle, and apparently Higurashi had kept the cork tight against a slew of emotions for far too long.  While the ailing hanyou sat dumbly on the bench, she unleashed her fury on his frail frame.  He did not even respond to the powerful blow she delivered to his cheek.

As she strode briskly away, Sessho-maru opted to keep watch over his half-brother a while longer rather than chase after an emotionally distraught woman.  As he was not permitted to witness Higurashi’s meeting with the boy Kohaku, he would glean no more information from her.  Instead, he settled to see what move Inu-Yasha would make next.  What was his brother going to do with the truth Kagome had shoved in his face?

Sessho-maru was, ultimately, to be disappointed.

For several moments Inu-Yasha had remained stationary on the bench.  His head hung in utter dejection.  Sessho-maru’s keen eyes were able to see a purpling bruise on the half-demon’s cheek and terrible tremors wracking his limbs.  From those shakes alone, the demon knew Inu-Yasha wasn’t going to last much longer.  The liquor was too close, and Kagome was too far.

At last, just as Sessho-maru grew irritated with the lack of reaction, Inu-Yasha moved.  A particularly violent jerk of his arms broke him from his trance, and he let out an audible grunt of pain.  Slowly, he threaded his trembling fingers through his hair, grabbing large fistfuls and rocking forward.  Sessho-maru listened to the strangled moans drifting up to his hiding place, and pondered whether this odd behavior was due to guilt, remorse, or physical discomfort.  All three were distractions he never trifled with, but his brother had clearly not learned this ability.

Inu-Yasha remained in that position for nearly a full minute, enduring the withdrawal pangs with a tenacity that left Sessho-maru mildly impressed.  However, the hanyou had at last reached his breaking point.  The groan he emitted grew in volume and intensity, until he threw his head back and howled long and loud.

To a mere human, the cry would have merely resembled that of a wild animal.  It was, perhaps, enough to turn a few heads, though none would really pay attention.  But to a demon, that single emission was enough to stop them cold.  Even Sessho-maru, whose frigid façade was a source of pride, felt a chill travel the length of his spine when that mournful note hit his ears.  The sound was haunting and eerie, making his skin crawl at the pitch.  While he did not always comprehend human emotions, there was no mistaking the story put into that cry.  It resonated deep within his bones, and revealed only one message: regret.

From that sound alone, Sessho-maru suddenly understood his brother’s plight.  How great his desire for Kagome was.  How badly he yearned to run after her.  And how deep the anger at himself went since he could not follow.

Watching his brother with a touch more respect than a few seconds prior, Sessho-maru was unsurprised when Inu-Yasha heaved his useless body off the bench and clawed his way to the convenience store.  He very nearly did not make it, greeting the concrete with his face more than once.  However, through a sheer tenacity inherited from their father, Inu-Yasha finally disappeared behind the glass doors and into the arms of the only relief he had left.

For the first time in several minutes, Sessho-maru shifted position in the armchair and shut his eyes.  Rin glanced quickly at him, curiosity sparking, but she remained quiet.  He would explain if he desired.

“Rin, what time is it?”  While he was breaking the silence he preferred, he required a distraction at this moment.  The problem with his brother was one that he currently had no solution for.  Failure was something he was unaccustomed to, and did not wish to dwell on it for long.  However, there was another pressing issue that he could perhaps, resolve.

Surprised to hear the stoic demon speak, Rin peered at the clock on her computer.  “Two a.m.”  Carefully watching Sessho-maru, the only reaction she received was him opening his eyes.  “What time was Miss Kagome supposed to meet you here?”

He waited for a beat of time to respond.  “We were to rendezvous at one.  She was to have one hour with the boy, and one hour to make her way here.”  Slowly, he climbed to his feet and pulled a cell phone from his pocket.  “I was attempting to give her time, but the hour grows too late.”

Punching in a familiar number, the demon only had to wait through a single ring before his call was received.

There was a touch of panic in Miroku’s voice.  He had clearly been expecting this call.

“Higurashi remains absent.  I am going to search for her.  It has been long enough to venture to their rendezvous point without detection.”

The curse was uttered out of distress and frustration.Every word was steeped in tension.  “

Knowing perfectly well that Kagome was more than capable of handling most demon attacks, Sessho-maru merely grunted in consent and ended the call.

“Stay here, Rin,” he commanded, slipping his phone away.  “Should Higurashi return here, inform me immediately.”

“Absolutely!  Take care of yourself out there, all right?”

Since Rin was the only human who could make such a warm comment to him and not get mauled, she received a single nod before he disappeared from the lobby.

“Ohh…”  A horrible pounding forced Kagome to regain consciousness, and it took very little time to realize the awful sensation was coming from her temples.  Slowly, she pushed her body upright with a groan.  It took a few seconds, but her foggy brain was beginning to shake off the effects of her kidnapping.  Soon she was attempting to bring herself up to date on her current situation.

“Okay,” she murmured hoarsely, rubbing her aching head.  “Sessho-maru and I were on patrol… Then there was--”  Her breath hitched at Inu-Yasha’s name.  She opted to gloss over it.  “My meeting with Kohaku happened after that.  I think he might possibly have drugged me.”  There was more than a touch of sarcasm in her voice while she massaged her forehead once again.  “And now… where did he take me?”

For one thing, it was dark.  Very dark.  In fact, she was completely blind, or so she discovered after waving her hand before her face to no avail.  The air was cold and damp, causing droplets of moisture to cling to her jacket and allowing the cold to penetrate all the way to her skin.  She also noted that it felt as though she was sitting on stone.  It was chilly and hard, and when she felt around her legs, bits of rock and debris stuck to the palms of her hands.



Trying to prevent panic from setting in, she chose instead to find out if she was alone.  With a deep breath, she shut her eyes and reached out with her senses, using them as sonar to take stock of her situation.

One second later, she gasped in shock and her eyes flew open again.

If her holy powers were correct, and they always were, she was currently surrounded by several hundred demons with varying levels of powers.  However, there was one beast whose strength was so vast, whose power dwarfed all others by comparison, whose energy was so purely evil that it stole her breath away.

A sheet of cold sweat coated her body as she struggled to intake air.  Drawing up her knees, she wrapped her arms around them and buried her face behind them.  The reality of her situation was now crashing down.

It seemed that Naraku was at last making his move.  Everything was falling into place.  He must have somehow learned of their plan, which meant that alone was unnerving enough as it meant HQ was no longer secure.  Kohaku had kidnapped her, which meant he had either switched sides or was under Naraku’s control.  Either way, the Order had lost a powerful ally.  And Naraku, by snatching away the Order’s most powerful weapon and his greatest fear, had single-handedly removed any possibility of his demise.  

Now Kagome was in the clutches of a vengeful demon that possessed the completed Shikon Jewel as well as a large chip on his shoulder.  She was left without weapons, companions, or communication with the outside world.  Utterly defenseless, she was, quite possibly, sitting in her tomb.

With a shudder, she smothered a sob and curled up tighter, wishing to make her body as small as possible.  For the first time in several weeks, she felt completely alone.  There was no Sessho-maru to glare at her when her sarcastic tongue would mock him.  Sango wasn’t around to approach for another assignment.  Miroku couldn’t be reached if she needed advice.  She had no one.

As these thoughts weighed heavier and heavier on her, she couldn’t help but wistfully recall the feeling of Inu-Yasha wrapping his arms around her thin shoulders.  How he was able to treat her with such gentleness in that embrace, but give her a sense of strength behind it.  How he would always be there not just to protect her, but to empower her as well.  That was the Inu-Yasha she missed.  That was the Inu-Yasha she so desperately wanted right now.

Slowly, as her thoughts came to rest on the tragic situation concerning the hanyou, her trembling came to a stop.  The fear was ebbing away.  Opening her eyes, she lifted her head and stared into the darkness before her.

Curiously enough, they were currently in similar situations.  They were both trapped; she by an all-powerful demon, and he by the iron-clad grip of addiction.  They were both alone, although the loneliness was forced upon her.  For Inu-Yasha, it was a choice.  And, what was possibly the most disturbing likeness was the fact that they were both potentially on their deathbeds.  Kagome had no idea what Naraku had planned for her, but she really didn’t foresee herself surviving for long.  And, judging from what Inu-Yasha had looked like a few hours ago, it wouldn’t take too long for his beloved whiskey to claim him.

It was these similarities, while deeply worrisome, that allowed Kagome to shake off her fears and regain some courage.  Unlike Inu-Yasha, she wasn’t a slave to her captor’s whims.  Naraku may have ideas for her, but he could not and would not make her yield to him.  She still had her wits and her spirit.  Inu-Yasha had lost his long ago.  He had succumbed to his fate.  Kagome was determined to choose hers.

Shaking off her brief moment of hopelessness, she was able to notice that Naraku was nearing her prison.  While his incredible aura grew in power and intensity each step closer he came, she refused to crumble under it.  “Inu-Yasha may live in fear,” she muttered through gritted teeth as she climbed to her feet.  “But I’m not going to.”  Dwelling on the hanyou made her chest ache with worry, longing, and anger.  However, she used those emotions to keep her fright in check.  While her will was strong, she was about to come face to face with a crazed monster, and worry still had a home in her mind.  But if Inu-Yasha wouldn’t face Naraku, someone had to.  She may as well step up to the plate.

Straightening her back, she crossed her arms and haughtily raised her chin.  Even though she couldn’t see, she was going to face her jailer with a proper display of confidence and disapproval.  Naraku didn’t need to know of her fears, only her contempt.

It was for a few more moments that she stood in pitch blackness, awaiting his arrival.  By now, the weight of his demonic energy was so powerful that she could hardly tell the difference as he neared her.  However, the moment he stepped into her cave, his immense aura suddenly burst upon her and nearly threw her to her knees in surprise and confusion.

Gasping for air at the shock, she fought to smooth her breathing.  It was a struggle, but she stayed upright and kept her back stiff.  Terror was seeping through her veins like ice water, but a mental image of Inu-Yasha when she had last seen him kept her from losing control.  She needed to stay strong.

“That was a neat little trick,” she said with only a tiny quaver in her voice.  She wasn’t about to let Naraku have the first word in the conversation.  “Were you able to convince Kohaku to join of his own volition, or did you have to turn him into your puppet?”

There was a beat of silence, and then a deep chuckle rolled out of the darkness.  Kagome started involuntarily at the sound.  

“Humans are quite predictable, Miss Higurashi.  Your silly game of sending him to join with me was… amusing.  But also very transparent.  He was useful for a time, but I presume you will be pleased to know that he remained foolishly loyal the entire time he retained control of himself.”  There was an annoying tone of glee in his words.  “That time, however, has passed.”

There was the slight rustling of cloth running over the ground, which Kagome took to mean that Naraku was probably circling her.  Repressing a shudder, she stayed facing forward.

“As for you, Miss Higurashi…”  This time, his voice came from right by her ear.  Just as she turned her head in that direction, there was a soft snapping noise, followed by a   A globe of light appeared above them, nearly blinding her with its sudden appearance.  But even with spots filling her vision, there was no mistaking Naraku’s cold features inches away from her face.  She automatically jerked backward, a shriek catching in her throat.

A sneer twisting his pale lips, he continued to speak.  “You might consider acting with a bit more caution in the future.  Distrust is the key to survival, after all.”

Swallowing hard, she snapped in reply, “I seriously doubt that distrust alone will get me out of here.  And frankly, I question the fact that you see the word ‘survival’ in my future at all.”

He stepped back to regard her.  She was unnerved by the smile on his face and the icy chill in his eyes.  The two features did not mix together.

“It would seem that you are a realist.”

“No necessarily.  I just like having my facts straight.”

“Hm.”  He nodded, as though he were actually considering what she had said.  

Honestly, Kagome couldn’t tell what he was thinking.  She couldn’t see past the steel-walled façade he had in place, carefully concealing his innermost thoughts.  Everything he said and did was an act; he was merely performing right now, waiting for the right moment to reveal his true intentions.  It left Kagome wondering if she was dealing with a mad man or a genius.  Either way, she was ill-prepared.

“You say you like having the facts, hm?  Well, perhaps I can enlighten you on your current situation.”  He proceeded to pace leisurely in front of her, his white fur pelt hanging loosely off his shoulders and dragging over the rubble on the stone floor.

“You currently have two courses of action open to you, Miss Higurashi.”  His tone was one that someone might use when discussing a business transaction.  “You may join forces with me now, of your own free will, and enjoy the intoxicating and seductive feeling of absolute power over all living creatures.  You would be my right hand.  Together, our powers would be more than capable of razing this city and all who oppose my regime.  And from this city we would grow, and we would enact a hostile takeover of this entire nation.  We could create a wondrous demon empire, enslaving all of humanity and putting them in their rightful place at our feet.”  He paused to stare at her, his purple eyes alight with sadistic pleasure at the very thought.

She met his look with a wry one of her own.  Standing with her arms crossed, she shifted her weight to one leg and raised an eyebrow in his direction.  “And this should sound appealing to me because…?”

Ignoring her sarcastic inquiry, Naraku approached her.  “If you choose to reject my most generous offer, as I suspect you will, then you are submitting yourself to a most cruel form of torture that I take considerable pleasure in.”

He took a step closer, his tone growing icy.  “I will break you from the inside out.”

He closed the distance between them.  “I will take each thought, each pathetic scrap of hope you so desperately cling to, and I will  it.”  The word ‘crush’ was spoken with a powerful snarl.  The small globe of light flickered and darkened as his control wavered.

His face was now a mere inch away from Kagome’s.  “I will take every pleasant memory you possess, and I will twist it.  I will create a new reality, one far more cruel than you could ever imagine.  It will make your current reality seem positively ”  He whispered the last word as though he were speaking to a lover.

“Every thought, every emotion, every idea you ever had will become warped.  You will no longer have a concept of what is real, and what is a dream.  And you will never escape.”  He took a step back and smiled demurely at her, raising his hands in mock helplessness.  “Ever.”

As she stood in a terrified stupor, swayed by his unusual powers, he chuckled and began to stroll in a slow circle around her.  “Make your choice, Kagome.  The facts are laid out clear before you.  You can either live—and working for me.  Or...”  He paused to stare into her wide eyes.  His purple orbs were piercing into her, seeing straight through.

“You can suffer in agony until the moment I allow death to carry you away.”

Walking back toward the entrance of the cavern, he said pleasantly, “I'm not entirely cruel-hearted.  I am giving you precisely 24 hours to make your decision.  But know that if you have not chosen within the time I have allotted, I will be forced--”

“I've already made my choice.”  Kagome's voice, thin but strong, broke into Naraku's.

He paused in the entryway.  Slowly, he turned back to face her.  In the dim glow of the orb, his gaunt face looked ghost-like against his shock of jet black hair.  “And?”  The pressure in the room increased with that single word.

She met his chilly gaze with a level one of her own.  “You have no control over me, Naraku.  Your control lies in the fear you instill in people.  If there is no fear, there is no control.  And from you, well…” She uttered a short, mirthless laugh.  “I have nothing to fear.  I accept your so-called ‘punishment’.  Let’s see what you can do to me.”

“Mm…”  Gathering the white fur up higher around his neck, the demon spanned the distance between them in a few steps.  A broad, alarming smile broke his chiseled features.  He seemed to move with more energy than before, and there was the spark of excitement in his eyes.  “You have confidence, Kagome.  Mm, yes…  Much like Inu-Yasha.”  He chuckled, the sound causing a shiver to shoot down Kagome’s spine.  “Of course, we all know how he ended up.”

A flash of worry flickered across Kagome’s face, and Naraku seized the moment of distraction.  Before she could twitch in surprise, two thick, flesh-colored tentacles shot out from under his robes and wrapped themselves around her waist.  Her arms were pinned in his vice-like grip.

“Mmm, yes!” he said again, his tone reaching near hysterical heights as Kagome cried out and struggled against him to no avail.  “Hahaha!  You really wish to know what I can do, do you?!”  His eyes were bulging in their sockets, the whites visible around the entire iris.  A third tentacle emerged from his pelt and wriggled up to Kagome’s neck.  She screamed again, desperate for some unknown savior to hear her pleas for help, but was quickly silenced when the appendage curled around her cheeks and mouth.

“Hehehehe… Ah, here we are…”  Never taking his eyes off her, Naraku raised his hand right in front of Kagome’s flushed face.  From the flesh of his palm two amethyst-colored spiders rose.  Neither were larger than a quarter, but they each had a streak of red down their bodies that glowed ominously.  “Here, Miss Higurashi!  A gift for you!"

Tears leaking continuously down her cheeks, Kagome squealed as the vermin skittered toward her.  She shoved as hard as she could against Naraku with her legs, fighting against him tooth and nail.  However, his might was far too great to counter.

“Yes, Higurashi!  Try to fight back!  You’ll only entice the spiders closer and closer!”  He began to cackle, higher and higher until his laughter reached a near hysterical level.  Kagome wriggled vainly in the tentacles, fighting with all her power to break free and screeching all the while.  The noise level in the tiny cavern had reached a chaotic level, adding to the panic permeating the air.

Suddenly, the room went silent.  Kagome’s body went limp, and Naraku’s cackling died away.  Peering at the body he still clutched, he spotted the two purple arachnids latched onto Kagome’s temples.  As he stared in utter fascination, the spiders’ bodies pulsed occasionally and their glow brightened for a brief moment.

“Ahh.  Perfect.”  Withdrawing his tentacles from their binds, he rested Kagome on the stone floor and backed away.  “Sweet dreams, Kagome.”

He spun on his heel and strode out of the cavern, leaving a cruel laugh to echo menacingly in the darkness.

“Will you quit pacing?” Sango snapped from behind her desk.  Her partner had been wearing a path in the carpet for the better part of an hour.  She, while just as anxious, preferred to show her nerves in other ways.  “You're not helping the situation.”

“Are you certain we shouldn't be out there?” Miroku asked, completely ignoring her request.  “I'd feel so much better if we could get out of here and search.”  He spun on his heel for the hundredth time, glancing at the phone on his desk as he passed.

Sighing, Sango leaned back and rubbed her forehead.  “You know we can't just as well as I,” she replied.  “Not only does somebody have to stay here for when the agents return, but we wouldn't do much good on the field.  Kagome has dozens of wolf demons searching for her, as well as Sessho-maru.  And despite the fact that he's an ass, he's worth more than all those wolves combined.  What else could  do?”

With a groan of frustration, Miroku flung himself on their battered couch.  “You're right, dear.  As usual.  I just feel so useless being here.  We are quite possibly about to lose our  chance at winning this damn war, and all we can do is sit around and wait for the phone to ring!”

“As Kagome would say, don't jump ahead of yourself.  You can't doom us yet.”  Her tone was dry with irony.

“Hmph.”  Crossing his arms, Miroku leaned his head back and shut his eyes.  “Perhaps, what makes this worse is the fact that, well...  We haven't heard anything about Inu-Yasha yet.  I'd like to reserve judgment on that topic and hold onto the hope for some good news, but my gut tells me otherwise.  If Sessho-maru hasn’t said anything yet, I get the feeling things did not turn out as we had hoped.”

Sango was quiet for several moments before resting her elbows and on her desk and hanging her head.  “Dammit, but I agree with you.”  She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.  “This is getting to be too much, Miroku.”

He could only stare sadly at her in response.  What else was there to say?  He no longer had any magic words to make her feel better, no clever saying to give her hope.  Hell, he couldn’t even dredge up an inappropriate comment that would spark her fire and earn him a well-deserved slap on the cheek.  For the first time in a long while, he was at a loss for words.

A firm rap on the door caused both of them to start in surprise.  Before Sango even had the chance to rise from her chair, Miroku had leaped to his feet and bounded across the room.  With his hand on the doorknob, he cast a meaningful glance over his shoulder at her.  “Let’s hope this is some good news, for once.”  And then he swung the door open.

Sessho-maru strode into the room, his face as stoic as ever.  Neither Sango nor Miroku could glean anything from his expression.  Koga, however, was a different story.  His hands were balled into fists, his jaw was clenched, and his tail was bristling.  He grabbed the door from Miroku and slammed it shut.

“That asshole’s got her,” he ground out before a question could be thrown his way.

Sessho-maru glanced at the wolf, his mouth curling with distaste.  “It would appear that Higurashi has been kidnapped,” he stated, his deep tones far calmer than Koga’s.  “I was able to track her scent all the way to the quarry.  There is no mistaking it.”

“ tracked her scent to the quarry,” Koga growled, glaring back at Sessho-maru.  Frankly, it looked a dog getting angry with a brick wall, but Miroku felt no urge to laugh.  “The only reason we didn’t follow her in there is because we wouldn’t have been able to come back out again.  That Naraku… he is one powerful bastard.”  If possible, Koga’s tail seemed to puff up even more at the thought.

“Mm, yes.  So you and your whelps ran back home with your tails between your legs.”  Disdain was clearly evident in Sessho-maru’s tone.

Koga’s hands balled into fists.  “I didn’t see you stickin’ around, either!”

Giving the wolf a withering glare, Sessho-maru decided he was no longer worth the attention, and turned to Sango and Miroku instead.  “Naraku’s power has grown vastly, just as predicted.  No doubt he has Kagome under heavy protection.  I felt there would be a more prudent time to retrieve her.  Perhaps when he has left his lair to seek vengeance on the city.”

“But that is when we’ll need Kagome the most,” Miroku replied, fighting to keep the distress from his voice.  “Our entire plan revolved around her.  Neither Kaede nor myself have the power to purify the jewel.  That ability belongs to Kagome, and Kagome alone.”

“H-how was she even kidnapped?”  When Sango spoke up, there was a tremor in her words.  Clearly there was something aside from the kidnapping that was bothering her.

Both Koga and Sessho-maru looked at her.  The quaver had not gone unnoticed.

“It would seem…” Sessho-maru began slowly, “…that she was lured into a trap by Kohaku.”

Sango’s face paled.

“Yeah, if you think about it, that’s the only solution.”  Koga seemed a little hesitant, but continued to speak.  “I mean, she would have sensed if anyone with a demonic aura was there.  And she would have been able to take out anyone who tried to kidnap her.  Except Naraku, probably, but we all would have felt his presence, that’s for damn sure.”  He shuddered.  “But Kohaku, she would have trusted.  It would have been all too easy for him to take her.  Frankly, we’re all dumbasses, not realizing this was a trap.”

Quickly putting an arm around Sango’s shoulders as she bristled, Miroku cut in.  “No, Koga.  We’re just desperate, and Naraku knows this.  Desperation makes people do foolish things.”  Giving Sango’s arm a squeeze, as she had been about to open her mouth once again, he addressed the room.

“This means we have reached a critical point in the war.  It is time to take action.  We may have lost our ace in the hole, but there is still plenty of work to be done.  Koga!”

The wolf straightened, his expression serious.
“Send your wolves out to all our allies.  Tell them to prepare for battle.  We don’t know when Naraku will rise, but now that he has Kagome, it could be at any moment.  We have to be ready.  And once you have done that, go inform Kaede of the developments.  We will need her guidance in a very short while.”

“You got it, boss man.”  Apparently, having a task to do helped to smooth Koga’s ruffled fur.  He dashed off with only a parting growl at Sessho-maru, who ignored it in kind.

“And Sessho-maru…”  Although Miroku knew the demon detested being given orders, it was past the time to worry about such things.  So, he ignored the faint sneer he was being given and pressed on.  I need you and Shippo to scour the city.  Keep a sharp on the demon population.  Take out what you can, and report hourly.  I’m sure now that Naraku has all the pieces he needed, he won’t take very long to make his appearance.  We need to know the moment it happens.”

His stiff posture reflecting the loathing he felt toward Miroku, Sessho-maru turned on his heel and headed for the door.  However, he paused in the entryway, his back to the pair.

“It would seem…” he said slowly, “…that the bond between Inu-Yasha and Higurashi could not be repaired with a single meeting.  It will require more effort.”

Miroku hung his head.  “Damn it.”  He pounded his fist on the desk, if only to relieve the frustration.  “There is just no end to the bad news today, is there?  What do you suggest we do, Sessho-maru?  Kagome is gone.  And Inu-Yasha is… well, where is Inu-Yasha?  Do we even know?”

“In a place where he isn’t supposed to be,” Sessho-maru replied flatly, still not turning to look at the human.

“Damn it,” Miroku cursed again.  “Then what can we do?  Kagome is kidnapped, and we don’t even know if she’s dead or alive at this point.  Inu-Yasha is god knows where, in god knows what kind of condition!  And now, I..."  He paused and took a deep breath.  His voice had caught in his throat, as what he had been about to say was incredibly difficult.  “I-I can’t spare anyone to help Inu-Yasha right now.  We’re about to come to a head with our enemies, Sessho-maru.  And I cannot be in two places at once.  I have to do what is best for this city.  Inu-Yasha has made his choice, and I have made…m-mine.”

Even though Sessho-maru was not facing the man, Miroku’s pain was evident in his struggles to speak.  And for the second time that evening, he found himself gaining a modicum of respect for someone who he considered beneath him.  

He stood in silence for a moment, contemplating the implications of Miroku’s decision.  At last, he replied softly, “In battle, there must always be a sacrifice.  It seems you have chosen yours.”  And then he slipped out of the room, leaving Sango and Miroku alone.

The couple remained standing together for a moment, absorbing what all had transpired.  But soon, Miroku sank into the chair at Sango’s desk and buried his face in his hands.  Sango, who had been struggling to hold back tears since the moment it was confirmed that her brother was no longer on her side, knelt down next to him.

Placing a hand on his knee, she said shakily, “E-everything will work out, Miroku.”
He took a shuddering breath.  Crying did not come as easily to him as it did to Sango, but he was clearly fighting back sobs.  “I feel like I’ve b-betrayed him,” he whispered.  “We’ve done some crummy things to him in the past, Sango, but this…  This is by far the worst.  But what else could I do?”

“You did what you felt was best,” she said, trying to be soothing but not doing very well in the attempt.  “It’s just like what you said.  We’re on a two-way street.  Inu-Yasha made his choices.  We had to make ours.  I’m sure, if he were in his right mind, Inu-Yasha would agree with that.”  The statement didn’t seem to make Miroku feel better.

“Besides,” she continued, her voice gaining strength as she spoke.  “If we survive the battle, we can devote all our time to helping him.  We could quit this place, and do nothing but drag that stupid half-demon out of the hole he’s got himself into.”

Slowly pulling his hands down and looking a Sango, he gave her a weary half-smile.  They both knew there was a lot more to it than what she was saying.  ‘If’ they survived the battle was definitely in question.  And more importantly, if Inu-Yasha survived.  Not only did Naraku have a score to settle with the hanyou, but it was questionable if Inu-Yasha himself was going to live that long.  If he was going to continue on the incredibly destructive path he had wandered the past two months, it was unlikely he would live much longer.  Sango and Miroku were no doctors, but they didn’t need to be to see they myriad of dangerous health problems that were going unchecked.

“Listen to you,” he murmured, gripping her hand in his.  “Trying to comfort me, when I should be doing that for you.”

Sango shrugged.  “You almost always do that for me.  I figured it was my turn.”

Giving her fingers a gentle squeeze, he said seriously, “I have no doubt we can rescue Kohaku.  If Naraku has taken control of him, as I am nearly certain he has, there is always a way to undo it.  Whether by defeating Naraku himself, or having Kaede or myself attempt to purify him…  We can ensure his safety.”

“Don’t say that,” she argued, her voice soft but firm.  “With Naraku, nothing is certain.  Only chaos.”

Before Miroku had a chance to make a retort, the telephone rang.  With a sigh, he got to his feet.  “I’m sure that’s Kaede.  It would seem our work has begun.”

“Well, I just want you to know that I’m with you, Miroku.  One hundred percent.”  Sango stood as well and hugged him tightly.

Blinking, Miroku tried to hold back a smile.  “That’s wonderful, Sango.  Truly, it is.  However, you make it sound like we’re going into battle.  I’m just answering the phone.”

Her cheeks flushing, she quickly released him.  “You’d better pick up.  Kaede will kick your ass if you don’t.”

As he lifted the receiver and was greeted by Kaede’s worry-filled voice, he couldn’t help but allow a surge of relief to wash over him.  For a moment he was about to be overcome with grief and despair, but Sango’s touching bit of humor broke that black cloud.  Yes, the city was in dire straits.  Yes, Naraku’s return was imminent.  Yes, getting their friend back to his old self was an impossibly long way off.  But as long as Sango was with him, he would keep on going.

Kagome was running.  She didn’t know where she was running.  She didn’t know why she was running.  All she knew was that her legs were carrying her as fast as they could.  A sense of urgency was pushing her, forcing her to beat a faster and faster rhythm on the asphalt.  Was she rushing toward something important?  Or was she fleeing an unknown peril?

The answer soon made itself clear.  The howls and snarls of a hundred wolves soon roared up behind her. Still sprinting, she turned to look over her shoulder and shrieked with fear.  Koga’s wolf pack was hot on her heels.  Not only that, but the wolves were multiplying by the second.  Dozens became hundreds, and hundreds grew into thousands.  They swarmed over the buildings and cars like waves of brown, shaggy fur, snapping and snarling at her.  Every last one had glowing red eyes and was foaming at the mouth.

There was one wolf in particular that was a good deal faster than all the rest.  As he bounded up beside her, his flesh morphed and stretched.  In a moment, Koga was jogging backwards next to her.  He ogled her with frightening red eyes, and his spittle-covered mouth was leering horribly.

he snarled, his voice distorted and garbled.  

Too distracted by Koga’s hideous visage, Kagome tripped over a fallen telephone pole and crashed into the cracked road.  A scream flew from her lips as the sea of beasts swept over her.  She could only see masses of fur, could only hear dreadful growls, and could only feel the horrible pain of claws and razor sharp teeth.

She didn’t know how long the siege continued.  But when she at last regained her senses, she was in total darkness.  And she was alone.

For several moments she sat in silence.  Every sound she tried to make was muffled.  She could see nothing but her pale body and never-ending darkness, stretching out in all directions.  Quivering uncontrollably, she pulled her knees up to her chest and kept a watchful eye around her.

She sat for what felt like an eternity.  Only her heartbeat could be heard.  But the longer she sat, the louder and faster it beat.  At last, just as she felt she could bear it no longer, the noise suddenly stopped.



Crying out in surprise, Kagome whirled around.  Immediately behind her stood Sango and Miroku.  However, there was something very wrong with them.  Their eyes were totally white, with no irises or pupils to be seen.  They stood strangely stiff and straight, like wooden boards.  And the way they spoke in a unison monotone made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

She tried desperately to speak, to ask them why she was here, but no sound came out of her mouth.  Even when Miroku lunged forward and wrapped both his hands around her neck, she did not make a sound, try as she might.

 Their unison voices made it seem like both of their voices were coming out of one mouth.  

Struggling against Miroku’s iron-grip, she tried to scream once again to no avail.  Miroku was glaring at her, which that alone was unnatural.  But with his milky white eyes and distorted features, his face was positively horrific.

Just as she thought she was going to pass out from asphyxiation, a noise shattered the silence.  Before Kagome could blink, a bullet ripped through Miroku’s chest and into hers.  In another second, it became clear Sango had fired Hiraikotsu, because the bullet, living up to its name, came back through Kagome’s right shoulder blade and exploded through Miroku a second time.

His grip on her neck never wavered.  He didn’t even flinch.  All he did was sneer at her.  Sango’s crazed laughter was heard from behind him, but Kagome’s vision was starting to fade.  Pain soon overtook her senses, and she drifted into darkness once again.

This time, once she regained consciousness, she woke up on the couch in Inu-Yasha’s apartment.  Breathing heavily, she slowly rose up on her elbows, staring around the room.  Everything looked normal.  The carpet was its usual faded tan.  The battered coffee table was sitting just slightly askew in front of the couch, as it always had.  There was even an overflowing ashtray on it, as there always was.  The television was flickering softly in the background, and there were a few sounds of somebody moving about in the kitchen.  Presumably, Inu-Yasha.

Swinging her legs off the tattered sofa cushions, Kagome shakily felt her chest.  No bullet holes.  Her fingers gingerly touched her neck, but there was no pain from bruises.  Rubbing her arms and legs, she felt no wounds or scars from the wolves’ teeth.

“A…dream?” she whispered, testing to see if her voice would work.  And it did.  It was soft and shaky, but audible.  “Oh, thank goodness.”  Laughing aloud in relief, she rested against the cushions.  That was undoubtedly the worst nightmare she had suffered.  It would haunt her for a while, certainly, but for now she was gloriously awake.

After giving herself a couple moments to recover, she at last decided that the best way to shake off the remnants of her nightmare was to get up and start her day.  She could take a shower, or fix some breakfast.  Inu-Yasha was certain to need some attention, as he always did.  She couldn’t help but smile fondly at the thought.  So, with a deep breath, she got to her feet and stretched as high as she could reach.  Once all the kinks were popped out of her back, she padded her way into the kitchen.

Blinking a little from the bright lights, her smile faltered once she could see the sight before her.  Inu-Yasha was at the kitchen table, slumped over a bottle of whiskey and a glass tumbler.  Two more bottles were scattered haphazardly on the table top, each totally devoid of their contents.

“Oh, Inu-Yasha…” she sighed, resting against the doorframe.  “Really?  You pulled  over-nighter?”

His ears flicked once, twice in her direction before he slowly leaned back in his chair.  “K’gome…” he slurred, peering hazily at her.  A lazy smile drifted across his face.  “Y-yer awake… I missed ya.”

Shaking her head, she walked over and stood next to his chair.  “Sorry, Inu-Yasha.  You can’t sweet talk your way into my good graces today.  You know you’re not supposed to do this.”

Grinning up at her, he groped for her shirt sleeve and tugged her down to his level, where he planted a surprisingly chaste kiss on her lips.  It lasted for a few seconds, which was far too short in Kagome’s opinion.  When they parted, she could only smile sheepishly at him.  “Good morning to you, too.”

He beamed at her, which only made him more endearing.  But the fact of the matter was that he was totally plastered, and he wasn’t supposed to be.  She couldn’t be a pushover just for a goofy grin and a rather expertly delivered kiss.

“Come on, Inu-Yasha.  You need to go to bed.”  She gripped him under his arms and tugged up, signaling that it was time for him to stand.  He sort of complied, rising out of the chair and then promptly sagging into her.

“G-go t’ bed?” he repeated fuzzily.  “You wanna join me?”

“Inu-Yasha!” she chided, lifting one of his arms over her shoulders.  “You need to , not, well, er—you just need to sleep.”

“Mm, yeah.  Sleep…”  Apparently, the idea was not a horrible one to him.  He cooperated with her as they stumbled out of the kitchen, and they even made it down most of the hallway.  However, just before reaching his bedroom door, all of his weight suddenly crushed against her.  Letting out a cry of surprise, they fell against the wall in the hallway.

“I-Inu-Yasha!” she scolded, trying to push him off her.  “You should have told me if you were getting dizzy!  You know I would have--”  She was cut off when Inu-Yasha planted his lips over hers, sealing her voice away.

While the kiss in the kitchen had been soft and gently, this one was different.  Inu-Yasha kissed her hungrily, almost desperately.  He had one arm pinned above her head and was pressing her to the wall with his body.  When he at last pulled his lips away, Kagome could tell from the look on his face that he had not ‘gotten dizzy’ at all.  He knew exactly what he was doing.

“No.”  Her tone was firm as she turned her head away to avoid another kiss.  “We aren’t going to do this, Inu-Yasha.  We’ve been over this.”

“I don’ care,” he muttered, opting to graze his fangs along her neck instead.  “Yer mine, K’gome.  An’ nobody else’s.”

Pushing his face away with her free hand, she wrenched her other arm free and brought it to her chest.  “What is wrong with you?!  You only tried a stupid stunt like this once before, and I think I made myself pretty clear then!”

He frowned at her.  “Don’ stop me,” he growled, placing a hand on the wall on either side of her head.  “I want you, K’gome.  Now.”

She was now legitimately frightened.  With a pointed kick at his shin, which made him grunt in pain and lurch backward, she quickly ducked away and ran a few steps down the hallway.  “I’m warning you,” she snapped, pointing a shaky finger at him.  “Keep away from me.  Just… Just get to bed!  We’ll discuss this when you’re sober.”

“Don’ you get it?” he growled, staggering toward her.  There was no longer even a trace of that adorable, loving puppy that had been so excited to see her moments prior.  His face was contorted into a snarl that marred his normally pleasant features.  “I won’ ever get sober.  I’m always jus’ gonna be a drunk.  An’ you can’t do anythin’ about it.”

“That’s not true!” she cried in reply, absolutely horrified at the thought.  “There’s hope for you, Inu-Yasha.  There always has been.”

They were now well into the living room.  In fact, Kagome had backed up almost to the front door.  Inu-Yasha paused a few steps away, eying her with a mean look in his glazed eyes.  He slowly dragged his gaze to the end table that was at his side.  On it was a new bottle of whiskey that Kagome was certain hadn’t been there before.  With a satisfied grunt, Inu-Yasha removed the cap with practiced ease and swallowed several mouthfuls.

“No!”  Absolutely fed up with his outlandish behavior, Kagome dove forward and grabbed the bottle.  While she was unable to wrench it from his grasp, she did at least get it away from his mouth.  The liquor slopped all down his front, but he hardly seemed to notice.  He was too busy glaring furiously at her.

“How  you…” he breathed.  “What th’ hell d’you think you’re doin’?”

“You don’t need any more!” she pleaded, still trying to tug the bottle out of his incredibly firm grip.  “Just set it down, Inu-Yasha.  We can talk about this--”

“No more talk.”  His left hand snaked out of nowhere and grabbed her shirt collar.  With a strength he had rarely displayed, he flung her against the opposite wall, hard enough that she cracked the drywall.

Woozy and shocked from the blow, she struggled to her feet.  “Don’t drink any more, Inu-Yasha,” she begged, pleading as he staggered a couple steps toward her.  “It’s making you crazy.”

As though to merely defy her, he took another long gulp from the bottle.  “I can’t stop,” he growled, watching as she tugged at the bottle once again.  “An’ you can’t make me.  Don’ you get it?  I  this.”  

Now thoroughly annoyed as Kagome continued to try and wrestle the bottle from his grasp and weep in the process, he let out a beastly snarl.  Before Kagome could react, she suddenly had four gaping claw marks sliced out of her arm.  As she stumbled back in shock, he flung the bottle at her and hit her straight in the chest.  It was lobbed with such force that it broke on impact.

“Get away from me, Kagome!” he roared furiously.  “Get away, or I  kill you!”

Screaming in sheer terror as he lunged at her with his bloody claws raised, she could only flinch and fling her hands up in a useless defense.  However, the moment she shut her eyes everything went quiet.  She could no longer hear Inu-Yasha’s horrifying growls, or the beat of his sneakers on the carpet as he bounded toward her.  There was only the sound of her labored breathing.

Slowly, hesitantly, she opened her eyes.  And once again, she was surrounded by darkness.  This time, however, there was a soft purple glow coming from her left.  Fearful of what resided next to her but unable to look away, she slowly rolled onto her side.

Naraku sat comfortably on the rock floor, his white pelt slightly fallen from his shoulder.  He was smiling coldly at her, as though he had a dirty little secret that he was desperate to tell.  The mysterious orb of light was floating silently over their heads, casting that gentle glow that held only a modicum of comfort in such a horrible place.

“N-Naraku…?” Kagome stammered, suddenly very aware of her surroundings.  She felt incredibly cold, and yet she was coated in a fine layer of sweat.  Her temples ached with a terrible ferocity.  Naraku’s tentacular bonds had been replaced with ones made of chains, which were so tight that they bit into her flesh.  But despite the strange surroundings, she was certain this was no nightmare.  Rather, it was a very hellish reality.

“Good morning, Kagome,” Naraku said pleasantly, the phrase seeming quite strange in a pitch black room.  “And how did you like your little dream world?  Was it everything I promised it would be?”

Kagome began to quiver at the mere thought of her dreams.  But were they really dreams?  They had been so vivid, so .  The pain had been real.  The anguish had been real.  Why weren’t the visions real, then?

“Mm, yes.  It would seem you haven’t quite fallen prey.  At least, not yet.”  He chuckled, and Kagome trembled harder at the sound.  “Ah, yes.  You grow to fear me.  Quite wise, Miss Higurashi.  But also, far too late.”

His smile broadened into a venomous grin.  “You still defy me, even with your fright.  I think it’s time you return to the dream world.  I will have you with me, whether your mind is whole… or in pieces.”

As the spiders on her forehead began to glow once again, Kagome’s petrified screams and Naraku’s maniacal laughter echoed in the dank cavern.

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And so ends, chapter 53.  To be honest, I had another huge scene I wanted to tack on the end, but this monstrosity was already long enough.  But the good news is that I already have two pages of the next chapter written.  Hooray, right?  Eh, whatever.  Please, leave a review with your thoughts.  I love reading them.  It's shameless, I know. :D