InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Let the Rain Come Down ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 14: Let the Rain Come Down

"What the fuck, Myouga?! You knew we were heading here, so why the hell did you run?" Inuyasha stared at his tiny retainer as he adjusted his clothes and sat down in his palm, arms crossed.

"All the fighting was wasting time, my Lord. Why did I need to stay and watch you battle when I could come on ahead and speak to Bokuseno on your behalf?"

Shippo rolled his eyes as the others snickered and Inuyasha sighed in irritation. "In other words, you ran away... again. Must suck to be a flea - always having to run and hide."

Myouga looked away, but before he could give any more excuses, a deep chuckle was heard, and all those in the clearing turned to look at the source.

Bokuseno lifted a brow in his ancient face, staring right back at the odd group that followed his Master's youngest son.

"The taijiya, the monk, the fox kit, and of course, the young Lord, Inuyasha. I am Bokuseno." He stared pointedly at Inuyasha's hand, then back at the young half-demons face. "I very much doubt you woke me to yell at Myouga there, since you can do that at any time, so what is it that I can help you with?"

Keh." He stared with a bit of mistrust at the ancient tree. "So ya gonna play dumb, then, eh? I know Myouga already spilled the beans about why I'm here. You gonna help willingly, or not?"

"Threats, young Lord, will get you nowhere. There is naught you can do to one such as I should I choose not to help you." He rattled his branches a bit, and the mood in the little forest glade immediately became dark, haunted. "T'would perhaps do you better to ask, rather than threaten."

Inuyasha scowled as the group looked around uneasily, then sighed. "Fine. I wanna know how to bring someone back from the dead. That blunt enough for ya?"

"And what would you do if I said I did not know of a way to circumvent death?" he asked, curiously.

"I'd find another way. There's got to be one - after all, anything is possible, it's just not always probable," he said. As the others stared at him funny, he shrugged. "Kagome told me that once."

"Ah. The one you wish to bring back."

"Yeah... her. So?"

Bokuseno allowed the light to filter back into the glade, lessening the threatening feeling of the forest, and the group breathed sighs of relief. He smiled at their lightened countenances.

"Tell me, Lord Inuyasha, did the miko ever promise you something - something that she didn't fulfill?"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed suspiciously on the tree. Keh - I bet he already knows the answer and is trying to lead me to it... what's his angle?

"I'm pretty sure you already know the answer to that, but yeah, she did. She said she'd stay by my side as long as I wanted her to - and if you've noticed, she ain't here. I didn't tell her she could get out of her promise, either."

"And I see that you carry the Tensaiga."

"Yeah... the fluffy bastard left it to me when he went and got himself killed. So, you sayin' I need it?"

"You do. You will be calling her back through her unfulfilled oath, and the Tensaiga is part of the spell." He sighed, then. "There are... consequences, however, young Lord. Everything, after all, has a price. Are you willing for it to be paid?"

He shrugged, not really caring what would happen beyond bringing her back. Obviously, it wouldn't be him having to die or anything, because then, she still wouldn't be able to fulfill her oath, since he'd be dead instead of her.

"Feh. Whatever. Just tell me what I need to do."

Bokuseno closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and opened them again. "Very well. There is not much to it - but be prepared. I am aware of who the miko travels with in that realm, and if he's given her an oath of his own, it could have... dire consequences for you. It may be enough to return him to this realm, as well."

"Oh, fuck no! I want her away from that icy bastard! What do I do if he starts to follow her?"

"That I cannot tell you. I merely thought to warn you that it is something that could happen."

"Damn." He looked down for a minute, frowning, then back up. "Fine. I'll deal with that if it comes to it, but for now..." he trailed off and looked expectantly at the elder demon.

"Then this is what you need do, young Lord."

Miroku and Sango, who'd stood by silently all this time, exchanged uneasy glances.

They both had the feeling that things were going to get very complicated - very soon.

---wWw---

Sesshoumaru glanced at the female at his side, and groaned internally. Did she have any clue what she was doing to him?

Apparently, that kiss, which had certainly kicked his need for her into high gear, as it was the first time he'd ever tasted her, had also started certain thoughts in her mind. Being a virgin, she probably hadn't really ever concentrated on anything of a sexual nature for any length of time - but now, oh gods, now...

At least I know that she desires me as I desire her - if her scent spiked any higher I'd never be able to stop myself. I can barely keep my sanity as it is.

He chuckled ruefully inside.

Gods know she smells good enough at any given time, let alone with those thoughts running through her mind.

Kagome could feel the blood rushing into her face and she kept her head down as thoughts of the gorgeous male next to her ran through her mind - thoughts she'd never have believed herself capable of. These thoughts weren't sweet and naive, virginal, they were hot-blooded and passionate - visions of all the naughty and lusty things the demon Lord could perpetrate on her overly willing flesh.

It was, in a way, frightening how single-minded she'd become as soon as he'd touched her. She was a virgin, and while she had at times wondered what her first time would be like, mostly with Inuyasha, she'd never really thought about it.

Now, she couldn't think about anything else.

And it was driving her absolutely insane.

She'd always thought he was beautiful, from the first time she'd seen him. But there was one time... one time she'd seen him, that no one knew about. In that instant, his otherworldly beauty had made her entire being ache - it was a night she'd never forgotten.

Thinking back on it now, she realized that that memory was as clear now as it had been then - it had not faded at all.

She'd been upset with Inuyasha. They'd had some fight over Kikyou again, and she'd gone off for a walk to calm down. She'd been so lost in thought, that she hadn't realized how long she'd been gone... and on the way back, as the fates would have it, she'd stumbled on none other than Inuyasha - and Kikyou.

It didn't take much watching to know what was going on, and she'd left, as silently as she'd come, heading in a different direction. She'd needed to get far away - she'd needed to think, without any interruptions. And she'd done so, walking for hours, bow and quiver over her shoulder. Thankfully, she'd not been interrupted by any demons after her or the shards, which now that she thought about it, was rather odd.

She'd eventually come to the edge of the forest, and looking up, rather absently, she'd stilled, and lost every bit of breath in her body. There, standing on the edge of a cliff above her position, stood the Western Lord in all his glory.

Caressed by moonlight, glowing, and ethereal he'd been, and something inside her had clenched - but it hadn't been fear.

What was I thinking, back then? He could have killed me, although now I know that he wouldn't have, since that was well after all the things he's shown me. But still... all I could do was stand and stare. And him? There's no way, now that I think about it, that he didn't know I was there...

She glanced at him, sitting beside her calmly as they looked out over the field of flowers he'd led her to, and began to wonder...

"Sesshoumaru?"

Her voice pulled him from his own thoughts, lustful as they were, and he glanced at her, then away. "Yes?"

"I was wondering," she asked hesitantly, "when it was that you decided that you... well... had an interest in... me?"

So... she wants to know when I realized that I loved her. Even now, she cannot say it... as though she cannot believe it. I must have done a better job than I thought in convincing the rest of the world that I have no emotions - although, in this instance, it's becoming a nuisance.

"You wish to know when my emotions became involved?" he asked, voice still and calm, deep, like the quiet waters of a lake.

Still waters....

"Uh... yeah, that," she said, her voice hushed, faint with embarrassment and the fear of rejection.

How long will it take, I wonder, to get her to understand and accept what she is to me?

He was silent for a while before he answered. "I cannot say when exactly it happened, but I can tell you when I realized it."

"O-okay."

"It was just after the battle with Sou'unga. Inuyasha had fought with Takemaru - there were things he said that made me think, especially when he defeated the possessed human even though he held that devil sword." His voice lowered, becoming contemplative.

"He spoke of protecting something... and how, because of that, he could never give up. I realized immediately that he spoke of you - and it angered me, then. I realized that I wanted to be the one protecting you. That is the reason I protected Inuyasha from Sou'unga, when we fought him." He flicked a glance at her, brow raising at her astounded and confused expression.

"Because he protected you as I could not at that time. And I grew angry at myself for wanting to protect you, so after the battle, I left. I refused to understand the words of my father when he asked if I had something to protect - and yet, I still acted on them - for you."

She smiled shyly at him, a light blush filtering across her cheeks. "I... never knew."

"Nor did I, at that time. But a few weeks later, I found you - in the forest. You were upset, and not paying attention to your surroundings. You had just seen the half-breed and dead miko, so I suppose I understood why, even then, you didn't notice the several demons that attempted to harm you."

Kagome's eyes were wide at that. Could that possibly be the same time as I was thinking of? It was after Sou'unga...

When she didn't speak, he continued. "After a while, I left, needing to think, when I was sure that there was nothing around that would further threaten you... but I ended up in the same area, and I noticed you then, standing just under the treeline. It was as if I was drawn to where you were. You stared at me, for so long... and that's when I finally admitted to myself how I felt." He tilted his head back, staring into the sky. "I hid myself away for weeks after that, horrified at what I had discovered. I had finally found a weakness - or so I thought of it as, at that time."

He fell silent, and Kagome stared straight ahead, astounded at the vagaries of fate. Because, while he was busy admitting to himself how he felt, she was beginning the long journey that would lead her here - to this particular moment in time. She hadn't been in love with him, that night... but that night had marked the first tentative steps towards that eventual destination.

That night was the first time that she'd looked at him, and seen him - separate and apart from Inuyasha, or any of their problems.

Destiny was truly ironic, sometimes.

He chuckled, then, and Kagome was startled at the sound of it.

"If I had been paying attention, I would have known before then." He looked at her, although his eyes seemed far away. "When I killed that poison master - I did it solely because he had lusted after you." His hand tightened into a fist at the memory. "I have never felt such rage as then, when I realized what he was planning."

"I was more afraid of him, than I have been of anything else since I was sent through the well," she said, her voice low, and slightly shaky, as she was sucked back into the memory. "When I saw you standing there - I thought I was hallucinating, at first."

He heard the remnants of the fear in her voice, and reached over, taking her hand in one of his.

"There is no need to fear any longer, Kagome. He will never harm you - nor will anyone else. I will always protect you... here - or there."

She knew immediately what he meant, and she squeezed his hand almost desperately, a fey, foreboding feeling shooting through her as a phantom breeze seemed to kick up. She shivered.

"Thank you."

---cCc---

Sango looked up, letting the rain wash across her face, and felt sadness echo across her mind - she was not happy about what Inuyasha was about to do. She'd been going over and over the dream she'd had - the one Kagome had sent her, and that, coupled with the way Kagome had changed after Sesshoumaru's death, made her think that there was more between the two than just a friendship.

All in all, she was positive Kagome was not going to be happy to be pulled from his side - but she knew of no way to change Inuyasha's mind. He wouldn't listen to anyone - not even those much older and wiser.

He wanted Kagome back, and that was what he was going to have.

No matter what.

The only thing she could do was stand beside her sister once it was over, and she was among the living again.

With a solemn glance at Inuyasha, she sighed, and turned her gaze away. He was about to be dealt a great deal of pain, she was sure of it, and he had no idea of what he was heading for. In his mind, Kagome had always loved him - and she always would.

It never occurred to him that she might have moved on...

She chuckled humorlessly then, as the rain dripped from her lashes like tears.

What a perfect day to bring her back - even the heavens cry out for her - against what he's doing.

If only he'd listen. I find it funny that he, who always complains about our weak human senses, can't hear the world mourn for Kagome - and for what he's about to do to her - and Sesshoumaru.

With a sigh, she focused on Inuyasha, as had everyone else in the clearing. He had taken Tensaiga and plunged it into the earth near the base of the demon tree, and at Bokuseno's instructions, opened the flesh of his hand, letting the blood pour over the blade. The clearing rapidly became uncomfortable for all those within it, as a keening wind rose, shifting higher and higher as more blood was sucked into the blade.

As the air became dense, Bokuseno himself began to chant, speaking in words none now living could understand, and everyone shivered at the sound of it - it left a person's soul shuddering, and Sango could only hope that Kagome wouldn't remember it if it did affect her the same way. As his chanting became louder, the blade of Tensaiga began to glow with a bloody light, casting red shadows all over the clearing.

When the blood dried from Inuyasha's hand, Bokuseno yelled out above the now screaming winds, "Call her, young Lord! Call her name!"

Inuyasha called out in a thunderous voice, "KAGOME!!"

At that instant, the winds in the glade coalesced into a whirlwind, holding tightly in one spot just behind where the Tensaiga pulsed in the bloodied soil, and they raged, funneling higher and higher for endless seconds.

In that moment, they could all feel not only Kagome's aura begin to bleed through the winds, but also a heavy youki - and suddenly, Inuyasha screamed in rage. He knew exactly who it was, and he did the only thing he could think of in that instant.

He swore an oath of his own to Kagome... tying himself to her as her oath had tied her to him, and as he did so, the power backlashed, then flared, exploding outward with the force of a bomb - one that was barely contained by the barrier that Bokuseno had erected.

There was dead silence for a minute...

And then a devastated scream echoed through the clearing, as a newly returned Kagome knelt in a widening puddle of blood, and the rain mixed with the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"SESSHOUMARU!!!!"

---wWw---

After that one horrible sound from Kagome, shocked silence descended, and Inuyasha stared at her, speechless for endless moments. How could she be screaming for that bastard? Maybe she was just confused... He stepped forward, holding out a hand to help her up.

"Kagome?" he asked, softly, as Bokuseno dropped the barrier, and the others looked on. He would never forget the moment she looked at him then, as long as he lived it would haunt him.

She looked like she hated him.

Ignoring his hand, she stood, shakily, hair now saturated as well as her clothes. Voice soft, but diamond hard and deadly, she stalked towards him and asked, "What the hell have you done, Inuyasha? What the fuck were you thinking!?"

He flinched as she cursed at him, confused as to why she was so angry. "What do ya mean what did I do? I called you back, wench, just like I said I would!"

"And I told you I didn't want to come back! You've messed everything up, you selfish bastard! Gods, you'd better get the hell out of my sight, Inuyasha, because if you don't, I might kill you!"

She turned her back on him as his mouth dropped open in shock, and glared at the demon tree before her. She knew full well who he was.

"Where is Sesshoumaru? Why isn't he here with me?" She was enraged, but also very nearly hysterical, and everybody in the clearing stepped back from her.

Bokuseno stared at her for a moment, then sighed. "Calm down, young miko. He has also been returned to this realm - as he said he would be were you to be called back. He will never willingly leave you again. But when Inuyasha felt his presence as well as yours, he reciprocated your vow to him, drawing power down in the middle of the spell - which caused him to be flung to another location."

Kagome's eyes widened in shock, and she spun around, staring at Inuyasha, who hadn't left the clearing as she'd told him to do.

"After all this time," she said, rage pouring into her, "now you decide to promise to stay by my side?! What if I don't want you there, Inuyasha, hmm? Now what?!"

She cast him a scathing glare, then turned back to Bokuseno. "Where is he?"

"That I cannot tell you. But know this - even now, he is searching for you. He is not one to let anything stand in the way of what he wants - and what he wants is you, Shikon Miko."

Kagome blushed, but before she could speak again, Inuyasha interrupted.

"I don't give a fuck if you're pissed at me, Kagome, but I ain't about to let that prick touch you! If he knows whats good for him, he'll stay the fuck away!" he roared, eyes tinting red.

As the rest of the shell-shocked group stared, Kagome walked up to the enraged half-demon, and slapped him right across the face. In the silence that followed, she turned and began to walk away.

"You have no say in the matter, Inuyasha. And I," she glanced back, voice vicious, "am going to search for him. Neither you, nor anyone else, will keep me from him, you bastard - so don't even try. I'll purify you straight to hell if you do."

She walked away, then, leaving behind a completely stunned group of people.

And, all unnoticed, the rain kept pouring down.

---wWw---

A/N: Well. Inuyasha wasn't expecting that, let me tell you! And there's more hurt for him to come as he starts getting the message that she isn't his anymore. Bokuseno was right - he's getting this chance to basically kiss his chances with her goodbye. And pay heed - Inuyasha thrust that vow at her in the middle of said spell... but she didn't accept it. She did, however, accept Sesshoumaru's vow - as he accepted hers. That's the key.

Also, the title of this chapter, and the next, come from the Celine Dion song, A New Day - and as always, I do not own!

Amber