InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part II): Tortured Soul ❯ A New Friend ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

A New Friend

Sesshoumaru woke and looked around him. He then got up from his bed and went to check on Rin. She was sleeping peacefully and he went back to his own room. He believed that the priestess had really contacted him. He knew that was a power that she had gained control of. He thought back to his dream. She had injuries on her face, but appeared to be in decent health. He knew the demon's presence was real enough; he was able to sense him. He then thought back to her words. Naraku intended to harm Rin. A rush of anger surged through the demon. No one would harm her, especially not some half breed demon.

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Kagome quivered slightly as Naraku stood in the doorway holding the dagger. "How dare you disobey me?" He walked towards her slowly, a look of hatred in his eyes. "You will learn your place, woman!" She glanced at Kilala and then turned her eyes back to him. He ordered her to stand and she did so. "Remove that kimono." He stood there staring at her, while she cringed at his request. Finally she did as she was told and stood before him in her undergarments. She closed her eyes as he pulled the dagger, anticipating the pain that would follow.

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As Sango's eyes opened she saw Miroku sitting near the fire, again wide awake. She sat up and moved to sit beside him. "You really need to sleep; you are beginning to become fatigued." He turned to look at her. She was really surprised by what she saw. There was a pain in his eyes, which were usually held a positive aura. He had dark circles under them and his skin had grown pale. She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked back at the fire and began speaking in a defeated tone.

"Every time I close my eyes, I have to relive my father's death. Every time I wake up, I am faced with my own fate." He looked down at his own hand and then back to Sango. "Those barriers put much strain on my body and that includes my wind tunnel. I fear it spread slightly, and inevitably shortened my life." There were tears in Sango's eyes as she listened to him. She wished she could help him, even if that meant her reliving nightmares herself in order to stop his.

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Naraku stared down at Kagome. She was lying on the floor holding her hands over her side. "Heal yourself, woman, I left you enough energy for that." She continued to lay there ignoring his words, bleeding profusely.

"Do as I have told you, heal yourself!" He growled at her. She looked up at him with a vacant expression. "Why don't you just let me die, Naraku?" He glared down at her. "I have no intention of letting you die, priestess. Now heal your wound." She continued to refuse his order. She then removed her hands from the wound and it bled quickly with no pressure there to stop it. "You may not intend to kill me, but you can't force me to save my own life."

He glared down at her and then left the room. He was back moments later, but not alone. He shoved Kohaku into the room. Apparently he too, was being held captive here. "What should I do to him first?" Naraku said in a threatening tone. Kohaku's expression was vacant until Naraku laid a hand on his shoulder. Suddenly the boy dropped to his knees sobbing. He was no longer just a shell of a human, but he was Sango's brother. Naraku stared at Kagome, who was now sitting up watching the boy. Naraku looked on as the wound stopped bleeding and partially healed and then he smiled. He grabbed for Kohaku but as he did, she put a barrier around him.

"Release him now!" He said and stepped towards her menacingly. She glared at him "No, you leave him here with me." Naraku grabbed her hair and pulled her from the ground. Again she was slapped, but she did not drop the barrier around Kohaku. She glanced at the boy. Apparently as long as her barrier was up, Naraku could not turn him back into a puppet. He shoved her into the wall, and brought his hand to her throat. "Release the boy, now." He growled. She continued to defy him. He released her throat and moved his hand to her hair, yanking her head back. "Drop the barrier!"

Finally Kagome spoke. "Leave Kohaku with me unharmed and I will consider helping you." He released her hair and looked into her eyes considering her words. "Very well, the boy will remain here for now. But I will not wait long, my patience are growing thin." He turned abruptly and left the room, locking the door.

Kagome fell the ground and crawled to Kohaku. She released the barrier and pulled him into her arms. "Oh Kohaku, Sango misses you so much. Are you okay?" The boy looked up at her with absolute anguish in his eyes. "Is Sango okay?" Kagome gave him a smile. "Yes, Sango is just fine. She just wants you to come home." Kohaku began crying again as Kagome held him. She noticed that he held a sacred jewel shard in his back. "Kohaku, please hold still for a moment." She brought her hands to the boys back and began healing him, then removed the jewel shard from him. He looked up at her as she was doing this. She then pulled him into the corner and she held the boy and Kilala the rest of the night.

When Kagome woke in the morning, she still had Kohaku in her arms. She saw that the boy was asleep and made no attempt to move. Her side was throbbing, and her legs were both asleep. Finally he began to stir and looked up at her.

"You are Sango's friend?" He asked with some trepidation. She gave him a warm smile and nodded. "She has missed you so much, Kohaku. We will get out of here, and I promise you that I will get you to her." He hugged Kagome again and jumped when the door was opened. Naraku stood there watching the two, then his eyes narrowed as he focused on Kohaku. He noted that the boy was no longer being kept alive by the jewel shard.

"So you lied to me about your healing abilities. I see that you had no trouble healing the boy and removing the shard from his back." Kagome glared up at him, prepared to create a barrier if he stepped towards them. Kohaku stared up at Naraku with fear in his eyes. Finally Naraku ordered her to give him the shard; she looked at Kohaku and then brought the shard to Naraku. A short time later his servant came up with food and some clothing for Kagome. Again Kagome checked over all of the food before she allowed any of them to eat. Finally, she and Kohaku sat back and she began to tell him about Sango. The boy fell asleep in her arms, worn out from his troubling time with Naraku.