InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part II): Tortured Soul ❯ Marked ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

Marked

Miroku woke in the morning to see Sango up. She was watching him and became embarrassed when he looked at her. "Good morning Sango." He said to her and she blushed deeper. He sat up and looked around. "Where is InuYasha?" Sango looked towards the woods and replied "He left about ten minutes ago. He took Shippou down to the water. I think they were going to bathe." Miroku sat up "Shippou wasn't annoying InuYasha this morning was he?" Sango looked at the monk for a moment "No, why do you ask?" "I just wanted to make sure a bath was all InuYasha had in mind for Shippou." Sango smiled "InuYasha would never drown Shippou." She laughed slightly and Miroku smiled at her. "Nonetheless, I think I'll take a walk that direction and make sure they are doing alright." He got up and walked towards the water.

InuYasha was just getting dressed when Miroku arrived. Shippou was playing in the water. "Good morning, InuYasha." The half demon looked at Miroku and grunted. After a few moments the monk called to Shippou. "We need to get on our way, Shippou." The fox kit ran from the water and began to dry off. "I will wait with Shippou if you want to get back, InuYasha." The half demon headed back towards camp. Sango was sitting on the ground with a sad look on her face when he appeared. "Something wrong Sango?" She looked up to see InuYasha standing over her. "It's nothing. I just had a dream a couple nights ago." He sat across from her. "Kohaku again?"

She sat there for a moment and then looked up with tears in her eyes. "It was Kagome. I was walking near my village and she ran towards me. She told me that she had Kohaku with her. She said she healed him and was going to keep him safe." She was now crying. "It felt so real, I wish it were true. Having them both safe together." InuYasha sat there in silence and then moved to sit next to Sango. He put his hand on her shoulder awkwardly in an attempt to comfort her. She looked at him and smiled.

Just then Miroku and Shippou came trudging through the woods and came upon camp. The monk eyed the two up suspiciously. Seeing InuYasha sitting next to Sango with his hand placed on her shoulder made him feel a twinge of jealousy.

The other two stood and began gathering their things. As they began walking, Sango told Miroku of the dream she had. He held a troubled look on his face and Sango asked what was wrong. He glanced at both of his companions then to the fox cub and spoke "Kagome has been in my dreams too. Each time it has been very realistic. I'm not sure why, but I feel almost as if she is reaching out to us. Or perhaps Hitomi is using her image to get to us." They all walked in silence for a moment. The monk noticed that Sango had tears in her eyes. He sighed and took her hand. "Don't worry Sango, one day we'll get Kohaku back." She smiled at him and they continued on their way.

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Kagome sat holding Kohaku and Kilala all night, not sleeping for more than a few moments at a time. She saw sunlight begin coming through the small window in their prison and knew that someone would probably be here soon. She began stroking Kohaku's hair and he opened his eyes. "Good morning, Kohaku. Naraku's servant will probably be here soon to take you for your bath." He rubbed his eyes and sat up. "When will we get to leave Kagome?" She looked at him with sad eyes. "I don't know, but I promise we will."

They sat in silence for a few moments then Kagome reached for Kohaku's hand. "No matter what Kohaku, remember you can't take that band from your arm." He looked at her again and nodded. Kilala climbed into his lap and tears came to his eyes again. Kagome looked at him and sighed. `If only my powers could heal his emotional wounds.' She put her arm around him and pulled him to her, much like she imagined Sango would. She looked up as the door was opened. The demoness was there, quickly followed by Naraku. Kagome told Kohaku to go for his bath, and she watched Naraku. The boy followed the servant out and Naraku closed the door.

He then turned to Kagome and moved towards her slowly. "Your back is still in great pain, isn't it priestess?" She watched as he began to open his robe and then turned to show her his own back. She stared at the burn mark that resembled a spider. He then pulled his robe back onto his shoulders and came to her. "Stand" he said watching her. She moved to her feet slowly, doing her best to keep her clothes from rubbing her back.

"You were in enough pain to attempt to heal yourself, were you not?" She didn't answer, only looked away. "The mark I placed on you will never disappear. Neither your powers nor those of any other can take it away. Every demon you come across will recognize you as part of me. Even InuYasha will smell me every time you are near him." He smiled at her and then added, "I can take your pain away, all you have to do is ask." He reached out and touched her face again, then moved his hand to her hair.

"InuYasha will never want you now. Even though I have not officially marked you as my mate, I have ensured that InuYasha won't either. When you are near he will see Kikyo and smell the one who killed her." Kagome felt tears coming to her eyes and blinked them back. He continued to run his fingers through her hair. "Ask me to stop the pain." She tried to turn her head but he tightened his grasp on her hair, forcing her to look at him. "You are in agony, I can feel it. Your scent is pleasing to me when you are in pain."

He pulled her close to him and began to whisper in her ear. "You want the pain gone, so why don't you just ask me to take it away?" Kagome tried to pull back from him, but he placed his hand on her back. She lurched in pain and he inhaled her scent. Finally, she felt her back and arm numbing and she pulled away from him. He looked down at her. "Your back feels better now. Remember what I have done for you today." He turned and walked from the room. She slid to the floor and started crying. Shortly afterwards Kohaku was brought back, along with breakfast. He rushed to her side and the two ate together, feeding Kilala as well. The boy knew that Kagome had been crying and did his best to comfort her.

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Naraku left the priestess to find Hitomi waiting for him. "I know that you desire to have the young priestess as your own. However, as you know, I have the ability to see the future as well as delve into the past. You will receive the shinju, and if you do not claim the priestess as your mate she will return to you on her own accord in the near future." Naraku studied the demoness. When he had first came to her, she had told him of her abilities. Some of the things she told him had already come true. He gave thought to the priestess and his desire to have her.

"And if I do claim her as my mate?" The demoness's eyes narrowed. "If you do claim her as your mate, the demon lord will kill you." Naraku thought of Sesshoumaru, and then gave thought to the priestess again. He would listen to the demoness for now. His first desire was the shinju. Once he had that, he could claim the priestess. Now that she was marked, she couldn't get away from him if she tried.