InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Power II: Running ❯ Redemption ( Chapter 9 )

AN: I was looking through my poems and saw one that I really liked, I made it up myself. Out of curiosity I checked through it again and thought it would do really well in this chapter. So I put it in, it's the <"italics"> Please tell me if you liked it or not. Should I take it out? Please read and review!

Chapter 9: Redemption

Kagome felt as if she was surrounded by something sinister, living and pulsing. It was trying to eat at her, but though her eyes were wide open she could not see anything except all-consuming blackness. Nothingness. It scared her more than anything else could.

<"Real intentions of yesterday come to life

The lie surfaces to disprove reality

You try to hold yourself tight

But it will not let go of me">

She shuttered and wrapped her arms around herself, enjoying that feeling. It was the only thing she had, nothing else seemed to touch her. It reminded her of traveling through the well, except this felt dark and bad, evil; where the well was a pleasant sensation of nothingness. This was horrible, it chilled her deep down and she floated in the harsh density around her, shaking uncontrollably.

<"Injured in spirit though we are

Inside we try repeatedly

To let go of these things that we are

And let freedom ring inside of me">

She had to do something, or else she might freeze to death. A warm spot inside of her; in the pit of her stomach, gave her an idea. She concentrated on it, making it grow and spread. It glowed within her and warmed her, making her feel alive again. Her power flowed through her entire body and then a flash of purple-white light filled the area around and outside of her. The gnawing, sinister aura left and she breathed easier, feeling it had been a close shave. When the light cleared and she could see again her eyes rested on a clock the size of a basketball ticking innocently.

<"Another day rolls behind unseeing eyes

Lightening goes without being watched

The sound reverberating through the eves

The beauty of the light is lost">

She stepped forward and studied it, trying to see if it was evil, or what it was doing there. She hesitated, but then carefully brushed her fingers against its edge, hoping it would not harm her. For a moment, nothing happened. Then she felt a jerk somewhere in the region on her shoulders and felt like she was being hurtled forward. Colors blurred and were impossible to make out. She shut her eyes and prayed she would not throw-up, her stomach was swooping with the sensation of being thrown forward. Finally it stopped and she landed hard on her feet, just barely keeping her balance. Shock waves cursed up her legs and through to her back, making her wince. The pain gradually receded and she took notice of the place she was in, startled to see it was Sesshoumaru's mansion. A noise alerted her that other people were there and she jumped and tried to find a place to hide, too late. A man walked around the corner and into the room, passing her by without a second thought. She frowned, was he ignoring her? She cleared her throat and still her did not look up at her, just sat at Sesshoumaru's desk and started to shuffle through papers. He paused and she saw that he was listening closely.

"What are you doing here?" The voice growled. Kagome couldn't believe he would ask her that! What was she doing there? What was she doing there? What about him! That asshole!!

"Excuse me? I think that I…" She started to say but was interrupted.

"I'm so sorry sir. I was coming to see you and thought I heard something and hid in the corner, because I thought you would be angry that I had come in here." The voice interrupted her and she spun around, surprised to see someone there, coming out of the shadows. A beautiful young woman with brown curly hair, Kagome thought she had a Spanish look. She had no accent, which probably mean she had grown up in Japan. Kagome wondered why she had not detected the woman's aura, but a thought occurred to her. She experimentally walked right up to the woman and waved her hand right in front of her face, who did nothing. The woman took a step forward, and should have bumped into Kagome, but instead went through her. Kagome gasped at the sensation of being invaded that way and quickly backed off, feeling violated somehow. It felt disgusting and wrong.

"I will let it go. This time." The man's voice was cold and evil, reminding her of Naraku's. "Go and check on the kitsune, make sure he's still alive. I want to talk to him." The woman nodded obediently and went out the door. Kagome was torn, which should she do? Should she remain here and make sure the guy didn't get into anything? Or, what if that was Shippou they were talking about? She had to go and make sure he was okay; she didn't see how she could do anything here anyway. She stealthily followed the brunette out of the room and down familiar halls, keeping close to her.

<"Wretched spirits command the dark

Unearthly sounds rule the night

Poison arrows hit their mark

Ghosts drift in the pale moonlight">

Kagome went down the stairs quietly, though they would not be able to hear her anyway. They went down into the Dungeons and into the wing Kagome had never been into. The first door on the right was where the woman stopped and opened the door, poking her head in. She shut it before Kagome could get a look and then locked it carefully. The pale moonlight filtering through the window revealed how frightened the woman was of being near the demon. Kagome sighed sorrowfully as the woman left her standing in front of the door. Wait; if she could go through people could she go through walls? She took a large breath and walked straight at the door, closing her eyes and preparing for impact. When she took two more steps and nothing happened, she opened her eyes and was startled to find herself in the room.

She surveyed it quickly, noting the barred window in the corner high enough up that she would not be able to reach it without jumping. Below was a still form, a familiar body. She rushed forward and tried to turn him over, to find that her hands went right through him. He groaned, at least he was alive. Anxiety gripped her heart and she watched as he turned over slowly and stared, unseeing, right at her. `Dammit, why can't I be seen? I have to get him out of here!' Tears poured down her face, her fingers reached up to try and wipe a lock of hair out of his face, but her fingers could not touch it. There was dried blood on the top of Shippou's head, mingling in his red hair, almost invisible. More blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, his fangs resting on his lips. She choked and rose, determined to do something. She went to the door, but she passed through it, and could not unlock it. She rushed back inside, glanced at Shippou, and tried again. Still it did not work.

"NO! I have to do something!" She cried out in desperation. Her tears were blinding her, and then suddenly she felt as if something had grabbed her from behind. `NO! I have to help Shippou!' But the feeling of being pulled backward would not be disregarded. Again she felt as if she was hurtling, except this time she was going backwards. Her body would not obey commands, she was being forced back. Her face felt hot from the warm tears cursing down it relentlessly. She landed on her back with a thud and it jarred her, making her bite her tongue painfully. The coppery taste of her own blood filled her mouth, but she ignored it.

<"Nevermore is repeated sorrowfully

It takes over our fevered minds completely

And then we awaken from the frightful dream

Just to end up in our own horrid reality">

She opened her eyes but could only see gold through her blurrily blinking eyes. When they cleared the source of the gold was clear, as the face of her mate came into focus. He was looking down at her with worry, angling closer to try and see what was wrong. A strangled cry came from her throat and she clutched at him, sobbing.

`I failed, Shippou had needed me and I left him.' She cried silently.

Sesshoumaru held her close and stroked her hair, waiting patiently to see what was wrong, still worried. His patience was rewarded when she pulled back and then suddenly got up, her new youkai speed coming into play.

"We have to go back and get Shippou. Oh god." She sobbed. "He's hurt. He's in the dungeons in your castle, Sesshoumaru. We have to go and get him." She desperately pulled him up and started toward the edge of the barrier headed toward the well, pulling him along.

"Wait, Kagome, we need to wake the others and tell them what's going on. Then you need to tell us exactly what happened." Her face screwed up in rage and worry.

"Don't you get it?" She screamed. "We have no TIME! We have to go NOW!" She tried to force upon him, but then collapsed crying. He rushed to her and picked her up, bringing her back up to where the others were.

"What's going on?" Riasha asked gently, quietly, having awoken from all the screaming.

"Yeah, what's Kagome screaming about?" Jerry said in a louder voice. Sesshoumaru glared at him and his arrogant face toned down a few notches.

"I'm not sure. Kagome's had one of her dreams, I believe." He told them. Kagome took a few shuddering breaths and then finally faced them, calming herself, acknowledging that panic would not help Shippou any.

"I did have a dream." Everyone focused their attention on her, looking worried, or in Jerry's case interested. He did not know Shippou, or have prior knowledge of what Kagome's dreams usually meant, and did not know he should be worried. Kagome explained what she had seen, for some reason leaving out the part at the beginning with the clock, not really wanting to share that with all of them. She forced herself to stay calm and tell the whole thing, fidgeting when she finished. There was total silence for many moments, and then Jerry spoke up.

"So, you had a nightmare, what's the big deal?" Kagome stared at him for many moments, not remembering that he would not know. Thankfully Riasha saw the problem.

"You see, Kagome's dreams aren't normal dreams. She sees things that actually happened or are happening. Which means Shippou really is locked in a dungeon floating in and out of consciousness in the mansion." Riasha stared at Jerry and saw when it clicked and he got it. He stood.

"So what are we all doing here on our asses? Shouldn't we be doing something?" Sesshoumaru gave him an annoyed look.

"You are more and more like my brother with everything you say." He sneered. Jerry looked highly affronted and turned away with a loud, "Feh." Sesshoumaru went to Kagome and helped her stand, holding her close to him. "We have to formulate some sort of plan." He said in his authoritive voice.

"Do you think we could Cross into the dungeon and then come out with him?" Jax suggested. Sesshoumaru was about to say it was a probable idea when Kagome spoke in an urgent voice.

"No, It won't work. I'll go. I'll be right back." Before he could say anything, she was out of the barrier going a speed even he couldn't compete with and down the well.

"Kagome, no! I…" He broke off, knowing she couldn't hear him. "Damn Woman!" He paced the barrier floor next to where Jax and Riasha were watching him anxiously. Not hardly a minute later she was back, with Shippou in her arms. His weight would have been impossible before, but the blood she received from Sesshoumaru gave an extra strength she would not have possessed before. Jerry watched curiously as she set Shippou onto the ground at the foot of the tree they had decided was the best. He hadn't seen Shippou before and wanted to see what a kitsune looked like.

"What the hell were you thinking? You could have been hurt, or killed!" Sesshoumaru roared. Kagome ignored him, checking Shippou's wounds, trying to figure out the extent of them. Sesshoumaru went over to the other side of the barrier to calm down, knowing that she had to take care of Shippou right now.

Kagome looked him over carefully, feeling for broken bones. There didn't seem to be any major ones, but then she felt his ribs and realized that at least one of his ribs were broken. His head was bleeding again and he might have internal injuries, from the blood trickling out of his mouth and the way his belly was bloated and tender. His right leg was broken, but it was not the most important thing of the moment. It was not poking through the skin, which meant no bleeding, and since he was a demon, once set right it would do no permanent damage. She motioned Riasha over, who got the idea right off and knelt next to her to try and help heal him.

"Okay, we have to concentrate on his internal injuries first, they are most likely to kill him. I think his lung is punctured, and maybe his stomach too. He's filling up with blood and will suffocate, so that is first, got that?" Kagome ticked them off on her hand and then stared into Riasha's eyes seriously, trying to make real the severity of the situation. She went on. "His ribs are broken, they have to be healed, then the lacerations in his organs." Riasha nodded and then shut her eyes, concentrating on her power with all of her energy. Kagome also concentrated, her eyes glowing light purple, her whole body pulsing with power. They both placed their hands on Shippou's stomach, letting their power flow through their arms and into him, trying to heal him. He glowed briefly and they both backed off simultaneously, their power fading to a dull glow.

"Did it…?" Riasha whispered. Kagome nodded and she blew out a breath, relaxing a little.

"Is he, okay?" Jax asked carefully. Kagome looked up.

"His internal injuries are healed, as long as he awakens in a little while. But his head is still bleeding profusely and he needs to have his leg healed. I'll take care of that, can you take Riasha over to the other tree and let her rest?" She asked Jax. He nodded and picked up his mate, leading her protesting over to the other tree.

"I can help you, Kagome. I'm not that tired." She told her. Kagome smiled up at her tired face, her eyes tracing every line and the shadows on her face. She shook her head.

"No, I've got it, you need to go and rest." She said. Riasha looked ready to object again but closed her mouth at the serious look on Kagome's face. She passively followed her mate over and sat on his lap, falling asleep quickly.

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome work over Shippou, patching up his arm where it seemed to have a wound, and then she went to his broken leg. She felt it and grimaced. He wanted to ask her what he could do, but he didn't want to disturb her. She left his leg and kneeled next to his head, covering the wound with her hands. Her power expanded once again and seemed to run into Shippou. When she removed her hands, all traces of blood were gone, and the wound closed up. She sighed and sat back on her heels, her breath coming fast.

"Sesshoumaru, I need you to go to a Pharmacy and obtain some very strong pain relievers, ya know, the stuff they don't sell over the counter? Even with the healing, he is going to have one hell of a headache and his whole body is going to be intensely painful. I also need some ice." She ordered. He opened his mouth but she looked up at him with grievous eyes.

"Don't get yourself hurt, okay? Please? We all will take our revenge after Shippou is all set. Make sure no one sees you, okay?" She pleaded. He said nothing for many moments and she felt like her heart was waiting on his answer. "Promise me, Sesshoumaru." She said seriously. He bent down next to her.

"I promise as long as you promise not to overdo it yourself and overuse you power like you did earlier." He whispered. She nodded and turned to kiss him, making it brief and perfunctory. He stood straight and looked directly at Jerry, who had been able to hear what Sesshoumaru had said to Kagome.

"I am trusting you to make sure she keeps her promise." He said emotionlessly. Jerry looked surprised but nodded, understanding this moment. Sesshoumaru's eyes seemed to soften for a short moment and then he turned and left in a streak of white.

Kagome rewrapped Shippou's arm, not finding any dire need to heal that with her powers. If she used them for every cut and bruise on him, she wouldn't be alive after, having used too much power. Healing took more energy than anything else; she had to be careful with it. Shippou groaned, his consciousness trying to pull him back, but remained out. She had to hurry, in a few minutes he would awaken and then she would have to physically put him back out.

"Jerry, come here, I need your help." She said pressingly. He hesitantly walked over and stood next to her looking down unsurely. He didn't see what he could do to help her. She moved around to his leg and felt around it again, finding what she was looking for. His bones were at an odd angle, and would not heal properly unless set. Kagome knew that she should not heal it with her powers, at least not until they were replenished.

"I want you to take his shoulders and hold him steady while I pull on his leg. I have to realign the bone and set it so that tonight I can heal it while it is straight. Right now I can't, I'll probably faint in the middle of it if I do." Jerry gulped and nodded nervously. He kneeled down behind Shippou and grabbed his shoulders, holding him tightly. Kagome found the right grip and then sunk her fingers into his leg, his flesh giving to her fingers.

"Ready?" Jerry nodded and she started to pull. Slowly she pulled it down and felt it slip into place, his leg bone aligning as she twisted it just so to make sure it was straight. She slowly released it and the nodded to Jerry, wiping her sweaty brow.

"Thanks, now could you go and grab two strong and straight tree branches, about the length of his leg? I need them to use as a splint. Thanks." She said without even looking up. He was about to say something sarcastic, but shut his mouth as she wiped the sweat that had formed on her upper lip. He went to find two matching branches, about the same length. It was easy enough, since they were right in the middle of a forest. He came back quickly and handed them to her.

Kagome smiled at him gratefully, taking them and eying them closely. "Yes, these will work." She mumbled. Without a second thought she flicked out a claw and sliced them off so they were exactly even. She shaved off any knots that would irritate his tender muscles and then set them on either side of his legs, wrapping them tightly to keep his bones securely in place. She sat back on her heels again and surveyed her work, checking to make sure the bandage on his arm was still fresh enough. The bleeding must have slowed, because the bandage was almost clean still. She blew her bangs out of her eyes and them smiled. He was going to be okay, she hadn't let him down. She breathed normally again, feeling her head swim. She put out a hand, feeling as though she was losing her balance. Strong arms caught her and kept her from tipping over. Her vision cleared and golden eyes in a familiar face swam into view.

"Are you okay?" Jerry asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, I just need to rest because of all the power I used. Could I ask you one more favor?" He furrowed his brow and nodded. Now that he could look at her clearly, he could see the tiredness in her features.

"Yeah, what?" he replied. She smiled gratefully up at him.

"Could you take me to that tree right there so I can rest? And keep an eye on Shippou, if he wakes up, I need to know." She fainted before he could say anything and he panicked. Was she okay? He sure as hell hoped so, that Sesshoumaru guy would have his head if she wasn't. He picked her up and gently brought her over to the tree that over-looked Shippou. He set her down carefully and propped her up against it. He brushed her hair tenderly out of her face before sitting next to her to wait for Sesshoumaru to return or the wounded kitsune to awaken.

~**~

THERE WE ARE! And that is that! I hope everyone enjoyed that, Man is Shippou going to be in a lot of pain. Did anyone like my poem? I made that up a long time ago and had the urge to put it in here, during her dream. So I did. It kind of went with what I was writing, So I put it in! Did you like it? Or should I have left it out?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I'm sorry that I don't put up a review response or email you. I'm so sorry, but I barely get these chapters out! Please don't be mad at me, I have absolutely no time. Anyway, please review me so I feel I'm doing something worthwhile. (I want to know what you thought of my poem too) It feels so good to see reviews, and I do try to email when I can. That is, if you leave an addy.

RyuuAngel

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MOMENT: NIGHT IS THE TIME FOR THE REAL CREATURES TO EMERGE.