InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part II): Tortured Soul ❯ Naraku's Torture ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three

Naraku's Torture

Sesshoumaru woke in the early morning hours. He could feel the presence of a demon near by. He quickly recognized the presence as the demoness that had taken his memories. She was not here anymore, but she had been. He quickly went to check on Rin, who was sleeping peacefully. Then for some reason he didn't understand he gave thought to the young human he had been traveling with. He imagined Naraku would allow her to leave once he realized she was of no use to him. He quickly pushed all thoughts of her from his mind.

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Just after the sun came up, the servant again appeared and took Kagome to bathe. After Kagome was dressed, Naraku showed up.

"Allow me to escort her back to her quarters." The servant just nodded and left the room. Naraku grabbed Kagome's arm roughly and pulled her with him. He took her back to the small room, and began speaking with her.

"I am growing tired of your impertinence. I am going to give you one last chance to obey me." He stared down at her with a look that told her she should say yes if she knew what was good for her. She just stood there in silence and then he shoved her to the ground. "Very well, I will return shortly. If you have any sense you will have changed your mind by then." He walked out of the room and she looked at Kilala. The cat's collar had begun to radiate energy and she could barely move.

Moments later Naraku returned. In his hand he carried a small dagger. She eyed it up fearfully, but still refused to help him. Her thoughts flew to Kilala, and what he might do to her. But he walked right to Kagome and again asked her if she had changed her mind. She stared him down, putting as much hate in her eyes as she could. He ordered her to stand and she did so.

He reached down and pulled up her dress revealing her stomach. He thrust the dagger into her side, the very spot where the sacred jewel had been. The dagger began to glow slightly. She could feel him drainer her powers, apparently they were being pulled into the blade. The pain was agonizing and she had grown too weak to move. Finally he pulled the blade from her and she dropped to her knees. "I have left you enough power to heal yourself." She glared up at him and held her hand over the wound. He had missed all of her organs and not done as much damage as she had first thought.

He looked at the dagger which still glowed brightly. "Eventually priestess, you will break. Save yourself the unnecessary pain." Her blood was coming through her dress now, and she began to focus her breathing so that the pain would be lessened. He then walked out and she focused some of her energy on the wound. Once the bleeding stopped she sat back and tried to ignore the pain. She wasn't sure how far he would go to make her obey him, but she knew she couldn't help him get the shinju.

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That night InuYasha was again chasing Kagome. His only desire was her blood. He leapt in front of her and she grabbed him tightly. He then found himself surrounded by darkness. He was no longer in his demon form. He looked down and Kagome was embracing him, crying. He put his arms around her and looked around. There was nothing here but blackness. He could smell blood on her and asked what happened. She just continued to cling to him. He again went to speak to her and suddenly he awoke and looked around him.

He could still smell her blood on him. The scent was beginning to make him nauseous. He felt a wave of sadness wash over him. Never had Kagome clung to him like that before. She had been very upset about something. He sighed and wondered how she was doing. It then hit him that Sesshoumaru would now be himself again if his memories had returned. Kagome would probably be in danger with him. He looked to the monk and figured he already gave thought to that. They would have to hurry and get to her. She still had Kilala with her, but that didn't guarantee her safety.

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Kagome woke up crying. She needed to see InuYasha, and was glad she did. It felt good to be held, if only for a moment. She turned over on her side, trying to get comfortable and not cause anymore pain to herself. Her dress was stiff and she could smell blood in the room. She pulled Kilala close to her and began speaking to her softly, hoping to stay awake now. She had used most of her power to reach InuYasha. She knew if she fell into dreams again, she would be at Hitomi's mercy.

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At first light, InuYasha and Miroku woke Sango and the three of them hurried off, Shippou again sitting on InuYasha's shoulder. InuYasha told the monk that he thought Kagome would be in danger if they didn't get her away from Sesshoumaru. Miroku looked at him knowingly and dredged on, wishing they could get there faster.

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Hitomi was growing angry with the human girl. Even in her weakened state she was interfering with her illusions. She had intervened the night she was in the monk's dream and then a second time with the half demon. Again the human priestess had moved her friend to a place that Hitomi could not reach. This is something she had never experienced before and was interested to know exactly where it was that the human was taking them.

She had watched the girl cling to the half demon crying. This made a smile cross her face. She was in pain and would eventually give in. The demoness knew that Naraku would continue to drain her powers until she gave him what he wanted. Hitomi was also puzzled by the Demon Lord Sesshoumaru. On more than one occasion she had attempted to enter his dreams, but he sensed her presence and woke up before she could. It was important that she get to his dreams.

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Again the door opened at day break, only this time it was Naraku himself who entered. "Get up, you will bathe now." She sat there staring at him and once again he grabbed her hair and pulled her to her feet. He shoved her to the door, noting that she had not fully healed herself and was limping on one of her legs. "Why did you not heal yourself?" She didn't answer him, only walked on. He followed closely behind her and decided it didn't matter how close he stayed, she would not be able to run off. He wondered why she didn't agree to help him. Most humans would have given in by now. `Soon…she won't be able to hold out forever.'

Once they got to the baths, he stood there watching her. She refused to get undressed in front of him and finally he turned and left the room. She winced once she got into the water. The wound on her side burned terribly. Her breath caught for a moment and then she tried to relax her body. Moments later Naraku was standing over her. She covered herself as he brought his hand to her hair. "Such a beautiful girl, it's a shame you always make me hurt you." His eyes wondered to her leg which held a large bruise near her knee. He then looked into her eyes. "Are you yet willing to do what I have asked of you?"

She sat there unmoving for a moment and then replied "I would rather die than help you." He contemplated her for a moment, and then shoved her head under the water, holding her there. She struggled for a moment then relaxed herself so that she wouldn't go unconscious. He finally moved his hand and she came up gasping for air. "Is death really what you want, woman?" She continued to breathe hard, and he ordered her to get out of the bath. She refused and he grabbed her and began dragging her out. She quickly grabbed the towel that was lying on a chair and covered her self.

Her wound had opened up again and the towel was soaking up her blood. He stood there and smiled at her. "Get dressed, and then you will go back to your room." She began to put pressure on her side and finally realized she would need to use some of her powers to stop the bleeding. He stood there, refusing to move and she finally focused her energy on the wound and the bleeding stopped. "Very good, I wouldn't want you bleeding to death." He continued to stand there and finally she grabbed the dress that he had brought her. It was just as uncomfortable as the one before. She pulled it on, and then removed the towel from her body. She walked to the door and he followed her, taking in her scent.