InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou and Miko ❯ Suoh's Murder ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha so stop asking for his autograph.

 

Chapter 16: Suoh's Murder

 

InuYasha had a lot on his mind. The appearance of the lecher-monk and exterminator had interfered greatly with his plans. After they broke camp, he had volunteered to hunt something down for dinner. He took his time, rambling through the forest, thinking to himself. Stupid monk. He though back to that moment and a smirk came upon his lips. She was gonna let me kiss her… Then he let out a deep, angry growl. STUPID LECHER-MONK! I really ought to kill him… Maybe Kagome did have the same feelings for him as he did for her. Maybe… After all she had never called him a half-breed, or worthless, although she had used the word `baka' plenty of times, but no more than he really deserved and she really never meant it out of hate. She was always trying to take care of InuYasha, even when he swore he didn't need it. Why did he always let his pride get the better of him? He rather loved it when Kagome would baby him, but would never let her because the others stand around them, especially that lecher of a monk.

 

Then he thought of the Shikon no tama. Nearly complete, he did not care. He couldn't care less about what became of the jewel now. All he cared about was Kagome's decision. What will she do when the jewel was complete? The plan had been from the beginning that she would go back to her own time as soon as the jewel was complete, and get on with her life there. Will she still want that? Will she still leave his time and never see him again? InuYasha couldn't bare the thought of losing Kagome that way, but would he force her to stay just for him? She was safer in her own time, he knew that. He had already tried to get her to stay there, back when he was just falling for her. Now he would never be able to do that to her. He felt selfish; he wanted Kagome with him always, not sharing her with the people on the other side of an old well. Lost in his own thoughts, paying no attention to where he was going, InuYasha found himself well out of range of their camp. He turned to head back with the more-than-enough game he had managed to track down.

 

“All alone, hanyou?” InuYasha dropped the extra weight and turned around sharply, his momentum caused him to fall to the ground. The owner of the voice let out a deep, soft cackle.

 

“Keh, what's it to you?!” he was quick getting back to his feet, placing his hands firmly on Tetsusaiga. But the unknown enemy was quicker. In a flash he had is own claws drawn, slashing at InuYasha's throat. InuYasha managed to pull away, losing his grip on Tetsusaiga in the process. His father's fang fell to the ground at the feet of a dragon-youkai: Suoh. His skin was gray, and tattooed in small scales everywhere but his face. His flame-red hair was long, going down nearly to the ground and pulled back with a tie. His eyes were completely black, showing no emotion what so ever. On his hands were claws that were more like talons, razor sharp and slightly curved on the ends. Suoh's ears were pointed on the side of his head, twitching in different directions.

 

“The first time you got away from me. This time will be different.”

 

“Suoh.”

 

“I see you did your researching rather well. Yes, I am Suoh. And, I'm afraid, I must destroy you before I can get to that miko of yours.”

 

“Kagome… You stay away from her!” he leaped at the youkai in a full-fledged rage. His claws met flesh, digging as deep as they would allow. The youkai attacked back, using his reptilian tail to toss the hanyou into the dirt. InuYasha gasped as the air was knocked out of his lungs. He quickly regained control and looked to the youkai. Blood was already seeping through his lips. “I won't let you near her.”

 

“Temper, temper. Don't you think I know that? I am no fool, half-breed. I know that as long as you live I will not be able to get near that human pet of yours. That's why I will see to it you're dead and out of my way before I turn my claws upon her.”

 

“What do you want with her?!” InuYasha was still gasping for breath. It was obvious to him Suoh's tail-whip had broken a few of his ribs, if not every single one of them, and that was only one blow. He had let his anger and rage get hold on him, and had acted to rationally, attacking without thinking first.

 

“I promise, I will tell all before I watch you die.” Again he attacked. InuYasha managed to block the incoming claws and tail, the dragon-youkai relentlessly throwing blow after blow without falter. He's not even breaking a sweat! How can he have that much power?! He looked around. Tetsusaiga was lying just a few feet away now, he could almost reach it. Suoh came in for another attack. InuYasha dove for Tetsusaiga, Suoh counter-reacting by sending InuYasha flying with a swipe of his immense tail. InuYasha landed hard, sending a streak of pain flowing through his entire body, but his maneuver had worked. Tetsusaiga was back in his grasp.

 

The pain InuYasha could deal with, but his lungs were quickly filling up with his own blood. He knew his broken ribs had punctured it, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. He pushed that in the back of his mind, swinging Tetsusaiga and nicking off the tip of Suoh's tail. The dragon-youkai's lip curled in anger, the wound little more than an annoyance. Suoh used the remaining portion of his reptilian tail to grab hold of InuYasha's leg, pulling him down to the ground, and slamming his tail back down on top of the hanyou again and again, cracking bone after bone.

 

Suoh left him no time for recovery, slicing InuYasha across his chest and stomach with his claws. The sweet smell of his own blood invaded InuYasha's senses. He tried to fight back, he tried to stand to his feet, but his own energy was faltering. Kneeling with one hand holding his stomach and one holding Tetsusaiga on the ground, he desperately tried to summon the strength to attack again. You should have sensed him coming. You should have been able to do something! Now you let Kagome down, again. You can't let this monster win! You can't let him get to Kagome!

 

His mind and heart were willing, but his body was fading fast. No energy, no strength, InuYasha found himself being gripped by the throat by Suoh. He struggled with his hands, trying to pry the offending pain away from him to no avail. He looked up, Suoh looking down upon him. Blood poured out of InuYasha's wounds, across his eyes making his vision blurry, the metallic taste on his tongue as even more of his own blood seeped out from the corners of his mouth.

 

“Now filth, now you will die. Now you will leave the world you should have never been born into. But, as I promised, I'll tell all before you die. It will make your suffering more grand.” His grip once again tightened. InuYasha struggled, getting lightheaded. “Your miko holds a considerable amount of energy, even more after she makes a wish on that jewel. You see, if a pure wish is made on the jewel by a miko, most likely Midoriku, the jewel's creator, will pass on her remaining energy to your human.”

 

“What do you care!? She'll never use the jewel anyway!” InuYasha choked out.

 

“Oh, but I have seen to that, using you. The miko will wish you back. After all, she is in love with you.” InuYasha stopped struggling at the words. Suoh chuckled. “Yes, hanyou, though I do not see why, but Nishi's curse saw to that. As stupid and arrogant at that wench was, Nishi did her job superbly. It was you the miko dreamed of in the Kaasu joujin-shinpou, it is you she loves, and so it is you that must die.”

 

“If she's just going to wish me back, then why bother?!” InuYasha continued his struggling to no avail.

 

“Here's the bottom line, since you seem in such a hurry to die.” He looked at the blood running down the length of his arm. “Magnificent, isn't it? Blood. Some youkai's blood has nothing special except to keep their pathetic lives longer than humans'. Others are poison. Mine, however, has the ability to drain energy.” InuYasha's eyes widened. “Yes, little dog, my blood covers me as well as you. The more of my blood on you, the more of your strength I received in return. And your miko…” He drew his face nose to nose with the struggling-to-breath hanyou.

 

“Her energy is going to taste sweet, I expect. Of course, there is one more thing.” The corners of his lips rose. “That miko wouldn't do with half a soul, now would she?”

 

InuYasha managed a growl. “Kikyo…”

 

“Yes, the dead miko of yours. Really, I don't know why you get yourself mixed in with filthy humans. But, as the saying goes, do as one is. Surely you were wondering where the dead miko was, neh? Well, for quite some time now she has been a welcomed guest at my castle. It does get a little lonely there, though. So, after I am finished here I intend to take the new miko there too. That way, neither of them will be lonely.”

 

“What did you do with her?!”

 

“Nothing, for now. But after the miko's get together, well, her job will be complete.” He chuckled. “And now, it's time for me to go. Your mikos will be joining you soon enough.”

 

He raised his claws to InuYasha once more, bearing them down on his flesh…

 

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Kagome sighed. InuYasha had been gone for the better half of an hour. It usually didn't take him too long to catch a few rabbits and be back to camp. It was starting to get dark, and Kagome was getting worried… and hungry. She smiled, thinking back to the morning. She remembered being awoken by the hanyou covering her with his haori, like he had done so many times before. It was a feeling that she had learned to welcome. Then, just as she was about to tell InuYasha to `sit', his body covered hers. She had to admit, she was holding her breath the entire time. Kagome was so hopeful, so willing, so wanting. But at that time Miroku and Sango had to show up. After that, of course, InuYasha was back to his old self, barely noticing Kagome was even there.

 

He loves Kikyou. She kept telling herself afterward. That's how it seemed to her. InuYasha would have no problems running up to Kikyou and rubbing all up against her. Kagome had seen that enough to know. He never seemed to mind if Miroku or Sango, or even Kagome was watching when he was with Kikyou. But those few intimate time she had with InuYasha, as soon as someone showed up he had pulled away, and the rest of the day ignored her. Was it just a moment of weakness, when InuYasha saw Kikyou hidden inside Kagome, that he had acted so…loving? So caring?

 

She looked to the sky. The first stars were coming out. Now she was past being worried, she was scared. It wasn't like InuYasha at all to leave them for so long. Kagome got to her feet; with a few looks from Sango and Miroku she grabbed her bow and arrows and started walking into the forest.

 

“I'm going to look for him.” She stated, walking past the two.

 

“Wait, Kagome. We'll come with you.” They stood and caught up to her, walking fast to keep up with her stride.

 

Kagome had a sickening feeling in her heart, one that made her stomach turn.

 

“It really isn't like him to be gone for so long.” Sango put a hand on Kagome's shoulder.

 

“INUYASHA!” Kagome listened, waiting for an answer that was not returned. “INUYASHA!” still no answer.

 

“Maybe you should try `sit'ing him.” Sango turned to give Miroku an evil gaze. He waved his hands in front of him as if to wave the notion out from his mind. “It was merely a suggestion. If he is just evading us for some reason, he would surely come to his senses if Kagome `sat' him.”

 

“No Miroku. Something's not right about this. Something's happened to him!”

 

“Kagome, stay calm. We can't afford having you panic on us. InuYasha has pulled stunts like this before, I'm sure he's fine.” Kagome wasn't convinced. She quickened her pace, looking for any sign of InuYasha, stopping ever so often to scream out his name, receiving no answers. She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes as she broke into a sprint, letting her senses guide her.

 

“Kagome! Wait up!” She ignored her friends desperate plea, leading herself further away from their calls. InuYasha, please be okay…

 

She stopped. He was near. She opened her eyes, the bit of moonlight shining down on her surroundings. Kagome spotted a lump of red and silver lying on the ground. She gasped.

 

“InuYasha!” in a flash she was at his side, cradling his head on her lap.

 

“InuYasha, wake up!” she gently slapped at his cheek, trying to coax him awake. She put her hand to his chest, feeling for a heart beat. It was faint, but it was still beating, and he was still alive.

 

“InuYasha…… InuYasha…… wake up. Please.” She looked him over. Her hands were already covered with the blood from his wounds. Her eyes filled with tears. She pushed his haori out of the way to inspect them. His usually white undershirt was just as crimson as his haori. Kagome pulled that back also. She gasped at the sight. His flesh was torn to bits, deep gauges traced along straight down to his stomach. She couldn't fix that much damage. There was no way she could.

 

“K'gome…” his hand twitched under hers. She held it close to herself.

 

“InuYasha…”

 

“Oh no, InuYasha!” Sango and Miroku appeared beside Kagome. Sango dropped Hiraikotsu and knelt by his side. InuYasha opened his eyes, looking to Kagome. He struggled to speak.

 

“What happened?” Miroku took his place beside Sango.

 

“Youkai… Suoh.” He took a deep, slurred breath. “Miroku, protect… Kagome.”

 

“I promise InuYasha, but she needs you more.” Miroku replied. InuYasha turned his head and nodded, then looked back to Kagome.

 

“No! InuYasha, no! Don't go saying your goodbyes, not yet, you are not going to die. You promised me! You promised to protect me, and you can't do that if you die!” InuYasha raised one shaky hand and cupped Kagome's cheek. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears flowing down from her eyes, and smiled at her.

 

“… K'gome… sorry.” His eyes closed and his hand fell away.

 

“InuYasha? Don't go…” her voice was almost a childish plea. She moved one of her hands to rub his ear, the other still held on tightly to his other hand. “InuYasha!” she yelled out losing herself to her sorrow, followed by uncontrollable sobs. She was on her knees with her head lying across his shoulder, hands around her stomach and knees drawn tightly against her.

 

“No InuYasha!” she started beating the chest of the unmoving hanyou. “Don't you dare leave me! Don't go, please!” She screamed his name over and over, trying to call him back.

 

“Kagome? He-he's gone. There's nothing we can do now.” Sango tried to coax her friend.

 

“No! He's going to be okay, he can make it, you'll see. He just needs to wake up, that's all.” She rubbed at his ears. “Wake up InuYasha! I need you here, please!” Miroku went to her side and stood her on her feet. Then she ran behind a group of shrubs, sickness taking over her. After she had finished being sick, Sango lifted Kagome to her feet, leading her away from the clearing. She shakily followed. Kagome turned back only once, seeing Miroku saying prayers over the body. Sango sat her down after they reached the campsite, holding her close and Kilala curling up at her feet.

 

 

 

A/N: Ooo… such a bad cliffie. You have no idea how hard it was for me to finish this chapter. I think I actually started to cry…maybe…a little. But it had to be done. You'll realize what's going on soon enough.

 

Thanks to all my reviews! You guys are awesome!!

 

turante- I didn't really mean to make InuYasha seem dumb with his thoughts, I just wanted to emphasize that when Kagome rubs his ears he forgets everything but that.

 

SweetInuLover- I love overenthusiastic readers!!

 

secretshadows- thank you very much!!