InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Prophecy ❯ Chapter 17

17

“Kaede, what’s happening to me?” Kagome whispered, closing her eyes. The bouts of weakness would come and go. They varied in how long they lasted. Some were seconds, so little that she thought she imagined them, where at other times she couldn’t even open her eyes for minutes at a time. Whatever was happening was zapping her strength and then returning it but it left her blood cold, fear settling in her stomach at the truth behind it.

“You’re dying, child.”

Kaede tried to lessen the blow but Kagome felt it to her very soul. Even before she had asked the question she had known. She just didn’t know why. She was far from being sick, or she had been. She was terrified of dying. Not because she feared the afterlife but because she just did. No one wanted to die. She wanted to live.

The lingering weakness hadn’t completely left her body. She felt…different. She sat up and drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. “It’s the Jewel, isn’t it?” The Jewel. Killing her. Draining her of everything she was. Kaede nodded, unable to find the words to express her sorrow. Kagome stared across the small hut, her eyes fixing on the round crystal Jewel situated between two tables. It was void of the vibrant pink color that had suffused the inside. Now it was grey in color—just a normal Jewel like any other. But it was the only Jewel that could house the Power.

“Why, Kaede?” She didn’t remember the Prophecy saying she would die if it was broken, only that the Power would be transferred to another. And it had. She lifted her head when Kaede didn’t answer. Kaede was watching her, the look in her eyes searching, as if she wasn’t sure what to say. “Lady Kaede?”

“Because your Mate has not Claimed you.”

“Kaede, Sesshomaru…”

“He is not your Mate, child.” The words came easily—freely. Nothing stopped the flow of her tongue as Kaede spoke. Kaede realized the Prophecy left Kagome from of that small binding. While she could not tell Inuyasha the truth behind the Mating and who his Mate was, Kagome, she could tell all. It all came down to Inuyasha—that was why. Kagome could know who Inuyasha was, as her Mate, for all eternity, but it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t know it himself, if he didn’t fully claim her. The male was the one who had to make that Claim, to give that final mark on the female’s body.

“Kaede…”

“While you are not Sesshomaru’s Mate, he took you. Something in his blood matched yours. Something in his body that would match that of your true Mate.”

Her very world seemed to tilt at those words. Sesshomaru was not her Mate. The words echoed in her mind. Sesshomaru was not her Mate. It didn’t seem possible. It wasn’t possible. Her mind rushed at the thought, her ears roaring and she swallowed at the nausea rising, threatening to consume her. She felt dizzy.

Sesshomaru was not her Mate.

All the times he had taken Kagura—never truly faithful to her. She had never been satisfied even though she had wanted to be true to no one but him. But she had wanted more. She had always wanted what she had seen between Miroku and Sango. She had never wanted—needed—until she had seen Inuyasha.

Inuyasha.

Her eyes snapped open as the agonizing realization set in. Inuyasha was her Mate. No sooner had she realized the truth of that then she doubled over, her hand clamping over the Mating mark on her shoulder. She cried out as the mark burned, as if searing clear through her skin. She wanted it off. “Oh God, get it off.” Kagome whispered hoarsely—begging. She could feel Kaede beside her, on her knees and trying to reach her. Trying to soothe her—terrified for her.

“I can’t. Only Inuyasha can undo the damage.” Kaede whispered, stroking Kagome’s back. It wasn’t fair that Kagome had to suffer this. Her body, while having found its Mate, was rejecting the mark of another demon male’s mark on her body. The burn would fade but it would still cause her pain until—if—Inuyasha realized who and what he was. If Kagome had been any other human, her body would not react so. It only did this because she was compacted for the Protection of the Jewel—as well as Chosen to be the Mate of a half-demon. Her very soul was different from that of a human.

“Kaede…”

“Yes, child?”

“My chest hurts…I can’t…breathe…”

Kaede pulled back, confusion in her eyes. She bowed her head to see Kagome and sucked in a sharp breath. She laid Kagome down onto the make-shift bed and pressed her hand over Kagome’s lungs. She channeled healing energy into her body until the constriction in Kagome’s chest eased. Kagome’s eyes slid closed, sensual relief flooding her face. She felt…dizzyingly, tired weak…

“Now that you know, the Prophecy has given you even less time. I’m sorry, child…” Kaede whispered, sorrow in her voice.

Kagome could feel her strength coming back but she was weaker than she had been before. And she knew it would do that each time. Return her strength but with less and less. The burn in her shoulder was already fading but she wanted the mark off. The pain was a dull, throbbing ache. It explained everything. Her unexplainable attraction to him, the need that coursed through her body when she saw him, the way her heart clenched…

Inuyasha was her Mate.

A sob rose up and then the damn inside her broke. She couldn’t hold it back. It didn’t make sense that she was crying but she was. “Oh God, Kaede.” She had always looked on Kaede as if she were her mother and in that sense, Kaede was the mother she’d never had.

“Shh, child. It will be alright.” Kaede murmured soothingly but she could only hope her words were true. That didn’t stop the tears from coming though. They tore at Kaede’s heart and she prayed that Inuyasha would realize his tie to Kagome before it was too late. For the sake of the world and their lives but more than that, for Kagome.

“Oh, Kaede, I love him.” The words were torn from her on a hoarse, tear stained whisper.

“There’s nothing wrong in that, Kagome. Love comes in different ways. It can take time and at others, it can happen in the blink of an eye. With Mates…it is spontaneous.” Kaede hadn’t expected to hear those words but Kagome had finally found true love. Her Mate. That would only make the pain worse. Only hasten her to her death. Inuyasha had to hurry.

~*~

“Fuck.” Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He was beyond pissed. Having Sesshomaru near him wasn’t making things easier, either. He was such a fuck up sometimes, he wouldn’t deny that. It had been utter idiocy to fall for Naraku’s crap. Inuyasha didn’t know how Naraku had known about Kikyo but he had known that he and Kikyo had a past, no matter how gruesome it had been.

“Shit…dammit!” He cursed again. His emotions were a wreck and he could only attest that to his human side. It was going haywire and that just didn’t sit well with him. What. The. Fuck.

“You’re feeling her emotions.”

Inuyasha lifted his head, staring at Sesshomaru’s back. “What?”

“What you’re feeling are her emotions. You’re tied to her as I am.” And Sesshomaru didn’t sound the least bit happy about that.

Well, how about that? One big happy fucked up family. He was agitated and these emotions weren’t helping. Knowing they were Kagome’s almost drove him over the edge. Why was she near tears? “I didn’t ask for it.” He muttered.

“I warned you.”

Inuyasha hadn’t asked for it but like hell if he regretted it. There was nothing about Kagome that he regretted. Even if she had ripped his dick off, he probably would have thanked her afterwards. What was up with that? He snorted and crossed his arms. Something was seriously wrong with him, something that involved Kagome.

“Sesshomaru?”

“What?”

“This Prophecy thing, there are four Chosen, right?” Which meant there were four men who would be after the Jewel and then Kagome. Inuyasha wasn’t so sure he liked that. Oh yea, something was seriously wrong with him.

“Yes.”

“Then who’s the fourth?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean ‘you don’t know’?” Inuyasha muttered. “You’re supposed to know all this shit.”

“I know all I need to.” Sesshomaru stopped then and half turned, the look on his face unerringly calm—unreadable. “Know this, Inuyasha; if she dies her death will be at your hands. Then I will kill you.”

Inuyasha snorted. As if. But there was that phrase again. Why the hell were they trying to put the blame off on him? Yes, he was one of the Chosen but that didn’t mean he would willingly kill her. He cared for her. He wanted her desperately just like he would a Ma—

His head jerked up, his senses flaring. “Over there.” He felt the Power of the Jewel. It wasn’t the essence but it was part of the energy of the Jewel. So it wasn’t Naraku…He flew past Sesshomaru, running over the ground so fast he was a blur. Someone else was with the Energy—and it was equal to it—a Chosen. The Fourth. Someone powerful. His blood chilled as he stopped, his feet digging in the ground as he skidded, cursing as he stared at the man across the field. The Fourth Chosen. He heard Sesshomaru behind him, felt the same tension gripping Sesshomaru that had taken him.

He watched as the man held the floating energy in his palm. “Hello, Sesshomaru. Inuyasha…”

“Fuck.” Inuyasha whispered, disbelief filtering through him. Things had gone from bad to worse. The man before them was tall with flowing white hair. He was a demon—a powerful one.

Their Father. Inutaisho.

~*~

(OH! I hope this chapter met standards! I really, REALLY enjoyed writing the last part…just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Hehehe)

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