InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nefarious ❯ The Struggle ( Chapter 2 )

The last chapter seemed very OOC, you say? Well, flippertygiggit. Maybe you just write them wrong yourself.

 

And to those nice folks, Danke! I really appreciate the feedback; so much so, I'm tossing in random words from other languages. Oh noes.

 

And hey, I think I'm getting a plot idea. Yay.

 

Nefarious

 

A deal struck between enemies isn't much of a deal at all.

 

“I can't.”

 

Kagome felt the weight settle in her stomach. Her arms throbbed, twisted in his harsh grip. Maybe she could stall, Inuyasha was on his way. He would save her.

 

“Your half-breed will not come,” Sesshoumaru said quietly. Kagome flinched. She didn't want to think about the analytical thoughts whirring inside that collected demeanor. Or, God forbid, the bloody-thirst demon lurking beneath his bones.

 

She stared at the ground, furious. “Let go of me.”

 

His hold tightened. “I seem unable to ascertain what makes you feel so brave, little miko.”

 

Twilight settled around them. Her back pressed so tightly against the uncomfortable armor of his chest, and yet, she could feel the strange freezing warmth that radiated from him.

 

Kagome pressed her luck, and jerked forward. Her arms protested, the muscles drawn out at odd angles. The tips of his claws licked her flesh, and she swore under her breath. “Inuyasha…”

 

“Pathetic,” he pulled her to the edge of the well. “Relying on others to save you.”

 

“You're wrong!” Kagome cried out, resisting his tow. The heat and rage rolled and swelled in waves. “I don't need anyone.”

 

The demon's lips twitched in amusement. The palm of his hand began to burn where he touched her.

 

“I don't need saving,” she continued, livid. And he wondered if she noticed the way the wind picked up around them. “I've dealt with much worse than you,” Kagome spat. Her brow furrowed as she twisted her arms away from him.

 

“I don't need anyone!” The words were choked, angry, bitter. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in shock. He released her, the skin on his fingers burned black, the energy rolling off of her shattering his own. The demon leapt back, his flesh crawling. Kagome turned, slowly, his view of her almost lost in the strange whir of mists that encircled her.

 

The blood was warm. Sticky and wet on his cheeks as she walked towards him. Unhurriedly. Her scent was different, lingering beneath the fiery power that consumed her now. He knew then, she was gone. This was not the miko. The hate snapping around her form made his blood run cold. She would try to kill him.

 

“Demon.”

 

The word resonated with an echo.

 

This voice, he thought, he recognized. Somewhere, this voice, he had heard… and it made his eyes bleed. The chaos around him swam, erupted when his yuki burned in his veins. The energies clashed, circling, swirling around them.

 

Kagome was grinning. An empty smile with empty eyes as she raised her hands, taking aim with a bow and arrow he failed to recall.

 

And through the blood and the red and the heat he couldn't see-

 

But he knew she was there, and he could feel the dark around him, and he knew-

 

The arrow was on fire, freezing, blazing. Sesshoumaru launched himself, and the arrow dug itself into leg. But it was too late, now. He was on her, claws cutting into her shoulder blades, and he tore the strangled scream from her.

 

And he was on fire.

 

She was crying, ragged echoing sobs that he couldn't discern. He snarled, he couldn't see, couldn't feel.

 

And the pain.

 

She was on her knees, he knew, pushing him. Away. Pushing him -

 

No.

 

He was falling.

 

:----:

 

Something heavy was on top of her. Kagome tried to shift from beneath the weight, but hissed in pain. She ached. Everywhere. Her head was pounding. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and was met by the dimly lit walls of her well. I'm in the present.

 

She strained her neck, lifting her head to see what was pinning her to the ground. And she choked a startled gasp. His face, turned towards her own, Sesshoumaru!

 

He was covered in dried blood; the rust color stained his pristine robes. Their legs were intertwined, and it was his armored torso thrown across her chest that held her down. And his face. He looked serene, if not for the blood. Eyes closed lightly, lips parted. She could feel the cool, shallow breaths on her cheek. His hair was everywhere, shining in the dark, covering them.

 

Beautiful.

 

Kagome slapped herself. Or, she would have, if she could. The bitter anger twisted inside her. She remembered him holding her, something he said making her angry…

 

He could have knocked her out and jumped into the well. But why all the blood?

 

Oh, great. Kagome groaned. If she moved, would he wake up and kill her? And - oh my God - what would he do when he realized where they were?

 

Hesitantly, she began to inch herself out from under him, wincing with the pain and effort. Damn, someone needs a diet, Kagome thought wryly. She managed to free one of her legs, and started to work on shifting her middle out from under him. The spikes on his chest place pressed into her stomach.

 

The girl managed to free an arm, and reached over to slowly lift his arm from its position - slung across her neck. He growled, making her jump. Kagome lay still for a long time, afraid, but when he didn't move she continued her endeavor. She wasn't sure how many hours it took to wriggle free, but finally, panting, she pressed her back against the well wall.

 

In the dim - moonlight? - and shadows, she examined the small cuts and lacerations littering her body. She hissed when she tried raising her arms, feeling the deep wounds in her shoulders. The bottom of her sufuku was badly torn, revealing in places - she noticed with a deep blush - her blue and green striped undergarments, and the right sleeve was missing.

 

Slowly, Kagome turned her attention to Sesshoumaru. He continued to lie like deadweight. He seemed, if possible, to be in a worse state than her. His left leg was soaked in blood, the bright red still oozing from a deep gash mid-calve, the cloth torn and gone. His hair was matted in places, and she quietly observed where his skin had been burned.

 

“What happened?” She whispered beneath a breath.

 

The miko made several attempts to stand before she managed without her legs giving out. Clinging tightly to the wooden latter, Kagome glanced back down at the demon, as she began to climb.

 

The house was quiet in the night. She stumbled to the door, slipping silently into the house and hurrying to her bedroom, careful not to wake anyone. In the bathroom she stripped, submerged herself in a tub she had filled halfway with warm water. Kagome hissed. The water made her many cuts sting. And grabbing a few washcloths, she began to clean her cuts, quickly, methodically; terrified the unconscious daiyoukai would come to.

 

The girl dressed what wounds she could, biting her lip and trying to ignore the pain. Gathering what she thought she'd need, Kagome snuck from the house and hurried back down the well.

 

Sesshoumaru seemed in the same state she had left him. She stood a long time, watching him. And then, hesitantly, Kagome knelt and began to clean the caked blood away. A weird feeling of guilt settled in the pit of her stomach when she cut away pieces of his hakama to reach to wounds. It took two rolls of gauze, and a bottle of antiseptic. (Just in case, really, she wasn't sure how demon healing really worked.)

 

Finally, the miko turned her attention to his leg. It was a puncture wound, and not a clean one. She wiped away from blood, and frowned. She knew this wound. An arrow?

 

Kagome placed her fingertips around the gash. She pressed his skin lightly, embarrassed for some reason. Trying to focus her energy in the palms of her hands, she marveled at the way the skin knit itself back together beneath her touch.

 

As Kagome worked, she couldn't find a reason for what she was doing. Trying to help him. It didn't make sense. She should want him dead. He was a threat. He had -

 

Taken the jewel shards.

 

I'm such a twit! Kagome moved her gaze to the fold in his kimono. She crawled to his chest, hovering over him without a word. And then she bent forward, slipping her hands through the opening in the cloth. I don't sense them… but I saw him, I know they're here -

 

Her cheeks flamed red, fingers brushing the naked skin beneath the final layer of silk. Get it together, Kagome! You were just putting your hands all over his leg, this isn't any different!

 

The shards weren't there. I can't go back. She realized. Unless Inuyasha brings them to me…

 

But he hadn't come to save her.

 

Taking a deep breath, Kagome pulled back, and gasped when his hand shot out to grab her tightly around the wrist. She jerked away, but he pulled her forward. The miko fell hard against the chest plate, knocking the wind out of her.

 

Blue eyes met smoldering gold, and she froze.

 

“Sesshoumaru…”