InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Obake's Prey ( Chapter 34 )

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

Chapter 34: Obake's Prey

Now that the cavern had been cleared and deemed safe, they made quick work of heading for the underground river that flowed through it before disappearing into the walls of the cavern and dropping off even deeper into the earth. The water was cold, and surprisingly clean, and they all gladly filled every available waterskin and plastic bottle that Kagome had.

Of course, cold or not, Kagome insisted on washing, meaning that Inuyasha had to escort her around some boulders that sat nearby, and allow her to bathe away from everyone else, but once she was done, she was much happier, and they were quickly on their way again.

As they traveled back towards the main cavern, Inuyasha moved a bit slower, heading for Miroku without giving his intent away - biding his time until they stopped for a small break, and he reached out and clapped a hand on the monk's back so hard that he almost face-planted into the ground.

"What are you doing, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, confused.

"Miroku knows exactly what I'm doing, don't you, lecher?" he asked.

"Yes, Inuyasha," he said sarcastically, "I know what you're doing."

"Good, then I won't have to do this again, will I? You will never let Kagome pull a stunt like that one again - if you can't stop her, then at the very least, you'll come and tell me, won't you?" he asked, thumping the monk again, as Kouga and his buddies snorted with laughter, and Sesshoumaru looked on, a slight smirk on his face.

Kagome, on the other hand, was not amused. "Inuyasha," she asked ominously, "since when do you think that Miroku has any say in what I do?"

"Maybe he doesn't, wench, but he shoulda told me, so that I could put a stop to it!"

She narrowed her eyes dangerously on him. "And what makes you think that you can stop me when I decide to do something?"

"Keh! What the hell do you mean by that, wench? I got the right to say what you can do because I'm your mate, that's why! When I put my foot down, Kagome, you'd better submit!" he snapped back, a look just as dangerous in his eyes as the one in hers, and everyone watched as they glared at each other.

What was that I was thinking about two equally stubborn people? Miroku thought. Boy, he rubbed his poor abused shoulder, was I right.

Sesshoumaru watched the battle between his brother and the little miko with a great deal of amusement. She certainly has a fire to her - despite her tiny size, she has the spirit of someone much bigger.

And then he frowned, as something malicious and tainted with hatred and disdain slithered across his senses, and he tried to reach out and pinpoint what he'd felt, only to have it disappear as fast as it had come.

He noticed immediately that the fight between the two mates had stopped, and glanced their way curiously, to find the miko staring blankly into the distance - just as he'd been doing a moment ago.

Does she feel it, too? he wondered, and decided to bring it up to her later.

Kagome shook her head and blinked, trying to rid herself of the disgusting feeling the touch of whatever it was had given her.

Dark... even darker than Naraku - and a lot older, too. It's been down here a long time, and we're all just so much fresh meat to it.

I'll have to keep a really close eye in this - we really don't need something that's even freakier than Naraku sneaking up on us.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as his mate stopped mid-rant and stared blankly ahead of her. Okay, what's up with the wench now?

"Kagome," he barked out, "what's wrong with you?"

She shook her head to clear it. "Huh?"

"You just stopped talkin', and looked like you were thinking about something bad. What's wrong?" he repeated.

"Oh! Nothing, don't worry about it. So," she looked around at the group, "anyone want something to eat?"

Kouga and the wolves answered in the affirmative, as did Inuyasha, of course. Everyone else claimed to be fine, so Kagome passed out some dried meats to those who wanted it, then packed everything back up as the group stood to travel again.

As they resumed moving back towards the split cavern, Kagome fell back a bit and walked with Kikyou - she wanted to find out if the older miko had picked up on the presence that she had - and if she knew what it was.

"Say, Kikyou," she started, and the miko looked over at her questioningly, "have you noticed another presence in these caves... something other than Naraku?"

Kikyou blinked, and then looked down at her feet, a thoughtful expression settling on her features.

"I have... sensed something, very vaguely - I wasn't certain it wasn't my imagination, but if you are also noticing it..." she trailed off.

"Yeah. It's far off, but I can feel it fairly well at times, and then at others it fades." She frowned, an uneasy look in her eye, and Kikyou became concerned as she noted the look.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's just... whatever it is, it's evil, Kikyou - this thing is older, and darker, even than Naraku. And much, much more dangerous."

Kikyou was taken aback. "You... felt that much from it?" I can barely even tell something's there...

Kagome shuddered, and brought her hand up to her chest, pressing it against her heart. "Unfortunately. It was really disturbing - even as little as I got, it made me feel dark, and dirty... and afraid."

This is not good - something like she describes will only feed off Naraku - especially since he is not in his right mind.

"That concerns me, Kagome. Please, keep your senses open - if you feel anything else, tell me."

Kagome looked at Kikyou searchingly as she spoke. "Do you... know what it is?" she asked quietly.

"Not for sure - there are many things it could be. But... if it is as you have described, one creature stands out in my mind..." she trailed off and rubbed suddenly cold hands together. "Obake..."

Eyes widening, Kagome's head shot up as she looked at the other miko with a truly horrified look on her face.

"Obake," she breathed. "Oh, kami, no..."

Kikyou didn't respond... she didn't have to. Kagome's reaction said everything that needed saying.

The creature once known as Naraku hissed, feral red eyes glowing in the all-encompassing darkness of the hole within a hole that he'd crawled into.

He could feel the presence of another predator somewhere in that darkness - and it was hunting him.

Clawed hands scrabbling almost silently amongst the small stones that littered the ground of his hiding place, he moved further back into the comforting walls of his niche, and then went still again as he waited, all his senses pointed towards the entrance to his little hole.

Big ugly wants to eat the spider... but he won't catch me so easily, no he won't. Thinks I'm stupid, to lock myself in a hole with only one door... not me, not me.

With a tiny, almost inaudible sniff, he took in the air currents inside the snug little cubby hole, and his red eyes darted to the front of the hole; the creature that stalked him was close, and coming in from the left. Moving as silently as only a spider can, he shifted, and moved towards the right side of the hole, near the back, getting into position to dart out of the little hole if it was needed.

He'd already scouted the area around the second entrance - it lay in the cave wall, and was a tiny hall into another cavern entirely. He wasn't sure that there wasn't another way into said cave, although the air currents suggested that there might be, but at the very least, that would give him more time to find another place to hide.

Somewhere in his still malfunctioning mind, the spider was aware that he needed to stop running, and turn this hunt around - continuing to be the prey here would only eventually lead to his own death, and that was not something that he wanted to contemplate... he had vengeance to take against his enemies - they are here, too, hunting me, always hunting me - so survival was essential.

Another discreet sniff, and a slight sound from the entrance gave away the place of the hunter, and Naraku darted to his right, out into the other cavern, and then quickly and efficiently scooped several rocks that he'd placed there just for the purpose into place, blocking the former entrance.

Listening intently for several long minutes, and tasting the sluggish, occasional movement of air in the cavern, he relaxed just a tiny bit when he realized that there was nothing around.

Time to find another hole, he chortled silently, and then spin a beautiful web. Turning his face up, he considered moving in that direction, hiding on the ceiling, away up high, spider spinning, spinning, catch a little fly...

Grinning to himself, he moved to the side of the cavern, and began climbing, easily traversing the walls, keeping track of every place that could come to be useful for hiding or spinning and stretching his web.

Come to me, come to me... a tiny little scree sound echoed around the immediate area as the spider hanyou crooned to himself gleefully.

The obake laughed within his own mind as he watched the spider from afar... what easy prey - but I will let him spin his web.

I haven't had this much amusement in centuries... and this is just the beginning.

Sesshoumaru came to a halt, and flicked a strand of hair over his shoulder almost idly, his senses caught up in something else - something far ahead.

He noted, once again, that the miko seemed to sense the same thing, and oddly enough, so did the older miko - and Inuyasha, though the latter two didn't seem to be too sure of what they were feeling.

The little miko, on the other hand, actually paled - which meant that she could feel the same things he could feel. Looking around, he located a small outcropping of rock, and motioned the group to follow him over to it.

"I suggest we all take a rest - it has been many hours since we started walking. Perhaps we should eat as well," he finished, and he glanced at Kagome, who nodded, setting her pack down and silently going through, handing out rations as she went.

With a few grumbles, Inuyasha found a spot near his mate and plopped down, taking the food and water she offered him and quickly setting into his food. Within minutes, the group were all occupied with their meals, and it wasn't until they were all done, and beginning to relax just a bit, that the daiyoukai spoke again.

"Tell me, miko," he pinned Kagome with a golden glance, leaving everyone in no doubt as to who he was addressing, "what your impression is of the other that is down here with us - the one that is not Naraku."

Kagome's eyes shot open, as surprised cries came from the rest of the group - only Inuyasha and Kikyou not seeming quite so shocked.

"Oi, what other are ya talking about?" snapped Kouga, and Sesshoumaru shot him an icy glance.

"Be silent, wolf, and mayhap you will find out, since it seems your youkai senses are weak - even the hanyou has noticed the presence of another in these caves... and yet, you have not," he sneered.

The wolf flushed hotly, but wisely refrained from saying anything, and finally Kagome spoke.

"So you noticed it, too. Guess I can't say I'm surprised, really. And to answer your question... Kikyou and I discussed it earlier," she broke off, glancing at the priestess nervously, "and it was her thought that only one creature fit the description I gave her... Obake."

Sesshoumaru's facial expression did not change, but for those who were sensitive, his aura did, flaring as thought to combat a threat, and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he took in her words.

The rest of the group heard her words with dismay... if their opponent was indeed that legendary creature, then they were in a great deal of trouble.

There was a reason that the name 'obake' was so feared...

The creature that that word had come to describe was a culmination - an amalgamation of every negative thing - every hate, murder, every drop of blood ever spilled, every insanity ever perpetrated against the living - and the dead.

It was death, and destruction, rape and torture - all rolled into one powerful being that fed on all the evil that lurked in the souls of humans and youkai alike - none were immune to it's power.

The only thing it feared was pure love - an emotion so opposite of everything it was created of was anathema to it...

Fortunately for it, pure love was extremely hard to come by...

Sesshoumaru's gaze landed on Kagome once again, and he tilted his head in consideration...

Love...

Perhaps, there is a way, he thought, as his eyes narrowed, and he glanced at his brother.

It is unfortunate that Naraku chose this particular place to hide... though I wonder now - did he really choose this place... or did it choose him?

"Obake," he finally said aloud. "And you both," he flicked a glance at Kikyou, "believe this to be true?"

Kikyou nodded immediately, though Kagome hesitated, but after a moment, she also nodded. "Hai... the description of the creature from myths I've heard in my own time fit," she finished with reluctance.

The group all exchanged disturbed glances. If this was true, it seriously undermined their chances of defeating the spider... with prey like Naraku, the Obake would only grow immeasurably stronger.

Things had just gotten immensely more difficult.

Kaede lifted her head and stared into the horizon with her one good eye, and then closed it, looking instead with her reiki as she faced into the freshening breeze - and suddenly, she shivered.

Opening her eye once again, she bowed her head, and prayed to the kami.

The darkness is trying to swallow them, she thought.

She really had no idea just how right she was.

Deep in the belly of the earth, dark eyes snapped open, and a wicked grin split a heavily fanged mouth.

Looking up, Obake inhaled, taking in the scent of its favorite negative emotions, hatred, and fear.

It's time to feed, he thought, and silently, he shot towards the distant, warm, living thing desperately clinging to the ceiling of the cavern - and the hope that it could outwit him.

Fool. No one outwits the Obake.

There was no one there to hear the screams - and no light to see the drops of blood that fell to the floor of the cavern...

No one to witness the death of the one known as Naraku.

But the Obake crouched, fat and bloated, in the web that it's newest part had created - and waited for the rest of its meal to find their way into his trap.

It would not be long.

Just a few more days...