InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleep Paralysis ❯ The Heartbeat Beneath the Floorboards ( Chapter 16 )

A/n: Oh, I'm evil. It clicked today, how to progress the story. *rubs hands together evilly* Dun dun dun… Anyway, I've been idly reading through fan fiction to pass my lazy days… does anyone have a really amazing fic they can think of? Hentai (as always, must be…), perhaps angst… Hm hm? If anyone can think of it, give me a shout and let me know. Cause I'm running out of ideas… (even though currently I'm reading over twenty fiction regularly x.x;. They're all on my favorites!) I'm psychotic. Agh.

 

Anyway, enjoy.

 

Warning: Torture (not extremely graphic… torture makes my stomach churn really bad…)

 

Chapter XVI: The Heartbeat Beneath the Floorboards

 

 

Kagome whimpered pathetically, keeping her eyes tightly shut. The overwhelming stench of corpses might not have been there, but she felt the bindings. She knew better, she knew what to expect… And she was just wishing she could find unconsciousness. Something to steal her away from this place, from this reality.

 

“You don't seem to find pleasure in this as much as I, do you?” She who it was that spoke to her… and she didn't satisfy him with an answer.

 

She heard him sigh sarcastically, and felt as he drew near to her, though he was almost completely silent as he walked. “I might think you were a mute, if you did not scream that half-breed's name so much.”

 

A cut across her chest caused her to cry out in pain, her eyes shooting open. Suddenly his hand snapped out and caught her chin between delicate fingers, holding her there firmly in place. “You know I hate it when you don't look at me, Kagome. Why don't you give me a nice smile?” Kagome felt the familiar sting of tears wash beneath her lids as she lowered her brows down, keeping her eyes closed.

 

Another stab, and Kagome's eyes opened wearily as she cried out yet again. She breathed heavily, her ribs concave from the shallow breaths she took. He lifted her chin so she could see his chin, and a thin set of lips above them.

 

They graced upward in a vicious smirk at the sight of her.

 

“That stupid half-breed hasn't even claimed you yet. Well, that's just fine because when I find you, I can make you mine, little Kagome.” Kagome's eyes narrowed slightly, trying to comprehend exactly what he meant by this. Her mind was so muted, such a whirl of so many thoughts that she couldn't make anything out properly. The pain dulled her understanding, and all she could really register was that his mouth was moving and there was something warm, a liquid, running down her body.

 

He moved to be near her, lowering his head down next to hers to speak in to her ear softly. “I have a special little secret just for you, and no one else can know… so you have to promise not to tell it to anyone, even that half-breed!” Kagome frowned a little more, wondering what the insane demon talking in her ear was even beginning to ramble about now… She then shuddered in revulsion at the realization he was that close to her.

 

“You see, I have this little thing here,” he lifted up what appeared to be a black marble, “and this thing here can grant me my wish. But to do that, I need it purified… that is why I need your help, my little Kagome.” Kagome's eyes drifted upward toward what he held above her… and as she caught sight of it, something within her snapped.

 

“GIVE THAT BACK!” she screamed out loud, and something inside of her lashed out at the demon and tightened around him. She watched the demon flinch, and the unmistakable sound of sizzling… burning flesh… surrounded her, and invaded her nose causing queasiness inside her. But no matter what, not the threats he was screaming at her, or the nausea, or the fear… She refused to let go on her own will.

 

A sudden pain rode over her senses, and caused her to black out momentarily. The demon before her reeled back, sprawling on his backside on the floor, holding himself in shock. Eyes widened at her, and Kagome caught absently that something akin to uncertainty seemed to be present in his eyes… and if she were bolder, she might even think he may actually be afraid. She couldn't help but smirk… it was about time either way that cocky, arrogant asshole got a taste of what it was like to feel so helpless.... so abused, even in the slightest…

 

But his wrath and hatred filled the room, something quite tangible to her… but she was at the point that she just couldn't care… she felt nothing but pain right then, and when the pain got so bad after a while you could block it out and feel nothing.

 

She didn't even cringe as the demon stormed over to her and smacked her right across the face.

 

“So, something in you lives, doesn't it? Well, well… we'll just have to kill that, won't we?” the demon spat at her in absolute rage, crimson eyes flaring like an inferno.

 

He exited the room like he was hellfire, and was ready to murder the very one who held throne of Hades.

 

Tears rolled down Kagome's cheeks, and she found herself chuckling… laughing, insanely. It would never end… would it?

 

No, perhaps not…

 

When another demon came in, alone… this one a female, with striking ruby eyes and black hair pinned up, Kagome looked at her. She just laughed and cried, her madness overtaking her as she stared at the demoness. The woman looked upon her with what appeared to almost sympathy, but Kagome just laughed harder at this, unable to contain it within her.

 

“What, are you going to hurt me? What else do I have left, demon? DOES IT MATTER? Ha… ha, I think it doesn't really. Besides, sometimes it's just so lovely, isn't it? By the way, I adore your eyes… they're gorgeous… I wish mine were as lovely as that. You're a real picture of beauty, aren't you?” Kagome spoke to her, a large and completely fake smile plastered on her lips.

 

“It does matter,” was what the reply came as. This caused Kagome's heart to stop.

 

“…what?”

 

The demoness shifted uncomfortably, and she spoke softly again, “It does matter… because you have things left in this world.” Hot tears flowed over her cheeks unmercifully, emotional pain threatening to betray her. She screamed at the stupid, insignificant girl who didn't know what the fuck she was talking about. How could she? What the fuck did she know?

 

“AAAH! Haha, I'm fucking alone, you fucking goddamn bitch! What the fuck do I have?! Tell me that, enlighten me, because I'm sure I could use that as one good fucking laugh!”

 

Then the statuesque demon glided forward, opening a fan as she frowned at her, as a mother might… one who is disappointed in her child. “For one, the half-breed. I figured that might be something rather important to you…”

 

Kagome's laughter stop at those words, and the smile fell from her face. Her eyes widened considerably, and they began to shine in pain.

 

“…Inu…yasha?” the broken whisper left Kagome's cracked lips, dried out from blood loss… her lips trembled, and Kagome felt an agonized horror take a hold of her… Why would they be interested in Inuyasha, anyway…?

 

The woman before her sneered slightly, as if she was left standing alone and it made her bitter…

 

“Yes. The half-breed. And then, you have those two stupid friends of yours… last, you have that stupid jewel…”

 

Kagome's heart clenched at each one of these words… some part of her wished the woman almost just kept her mouth shut… and had not reminded her of the things she did in fact hold precious. She couldn't involve those things in her mind… she couldn't associate…

 

Especially not Inuyasha…

 

“Look, girl, I do not wish to do this… but because you did something stupid, I have to. Got it?” the woman's eyes glinted in the dim light, and Kagome… was almost sure… she saw something like regret shining there.

 

But it was lost to her as arcs of light came toward her and sliced her body to pieces, over and over, and her screams for Inuyasha were lost in the small room… where no one could hear her, no matter how loud she cried.

 

 

~~~*~~~

 

 

Inuyasha was getting furious… nothing he did would wake Kagome… and there was only one other time this had happened, and it was not good.

 

“C'mon Kags…”

 

The girl groaned and tossed in her sleep, her head thrashing. She was whimpering, whining in ways that tugged at his heartstrings. Her distress was driving him up the wall, and he was groping around in the dark for some way to help her. His hopes sank further and further every passing hour that Kagome would wake up and it would only be a simple nightmare…

 

I'm the world's biggest asshole…

 

Punching the bed solidly, Inuyasha banged his head against the wall in absolute fury. Why hadn't he listened to her?! She was trying to tell him something important just last night, and he was too nervous to listen! He was in denial that something really bad might happen to her, and he had reassured himself over and over that no matter what happened, he could protect her.

 

And now look where his stupidity got him…

 

Already, he could smell the blood.

 

And when that registered, he lost it.

 

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he let his eyes slide close as he tapped into a deep recess he hardly ever let himself go. There he found what he needed, and wrapped it around Kagome… and pulled her violently toward him.

 

When he heard her intake a sharp breath, he opened his eyes and leaned down over her to examine her carefully. Her eyes weren't focusing on anything in particular, traveling from place to place… before they landed on him. Her vacant stare terrified him deeply, and he let his overwhelming concern mar his facial features.

 

“…yasha…” it was so broken, barely a whisper. And his heart dropped into his stomach, shattering to pieces at the bottom of his torn soul.

 

“Kags…” he spoke to her, his voice sounding strained, even to his own ears.

 

Tears threatened the corners of his eyes, as he gathered her up in to his arms. He needed to wake her up, get her conscious. But when he pulled her to his body, he felt something warm seep in to his white tank. His face wound up, and he hoisted her up in to his arms as he moved as quickly as he dared to his bathroom. Setting her down gently on the floor, her back against his toilet, he turned and started a cold bath for her.

 

Looking down at his hands, his own movements seemed foreign… his hands were shaking, and they were ghost white as he reached for her. As he slid her top over her head, and revealed her naked chest, his breath hitched in his throat. It was barricaded by the lump that was forming there, and shock mulled over in his mind, paralyzing him to the spot.

 

She looked as if she had been ripped to shreds… cuts laid all over her body, and he was shaking hard. He didn't know what to do… there was so much blood… so much blood…

 

Kagome's blood…

 

Get a grip! You fucking lose it, she may die, asshole! Get a move on!

 

He stood, and made a mad dash back to his bedroom. There, he grabbed an armful of old t-shirts, and raced downstairs. There, he grabbed the first aid kit and the hydrogen peroxide. Absently, he also grabbed a bottle of scotch and ran back to the bathroom.

 

There, he saw Kagome shaking. She looked as if she was convulsing, and her eyes were rolling in the back of her head.

 

He freaked out, and stood rooted to the spot.

 

I can't loose her… I can't loose her… this can't be happening.

 

“SESSHOMARU!” Was all Inuyasha could think of to do.

 

 

~~~*~~~

 

 

Sesshomaru sighed, closing his eyes momentarily as he fought off the exhaustion. Carefully, he was stitching up every cut that was on Kagome's body.

 

Luckily, Inuyasha's mother had been a midwife and taught him some medical techniques… and with the shape Kagome was in, there was no way they could get her to the hospital without raising some very suspicious questions.

 

He had been able to stop the seizures with a special tea Izayoi had also taught him… so long ago. It was a miracle he had remembered how to make it… Amazingly those billion-year-old herbs had still been in the pantry.

 

As he was finishing up the last of them, he chanced a look at his brother… Inuyasha himself looked like a ghost. His skin was pale, and he was covered from torso to knees in Kagome's blood. It had caked on to his long black hair, his skin, and his clothes… He could see from here, his little brother was also quivering…

 

But now that Sesshomaru was sure Kagome would be fine, he turned to Inuyasha. He had to calm his nerves, or the boy might loose it himself. “Inuyasha, Kagome will be fine. Go upstairs, and take a shower… and gather all the bloody things in a big bundle, and put them in a trash bag… okay?”

 

Sesshomaru gently began to sit Kagome up, and started the tedious process of wrapping her upper body in bandages they had made out of recently-washed sheets.

 

Sesshomaru took notice of the way Inuyasha still stood there, his look transfixed on Kagome. As of yet, he had to move. But Sesshomaru was a patient man, and he waited a lengthy bit of time before he inquired Inuyasha to move again.

 

“Inuyasha… she's okay. She's breathing, and her heartbeat is normal… she will be fine. I promise… Now go take a shower, little brother, and do as I've told you.”

 

Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha nodded numbly, and turned around to make his way upstairs… he moved as if he were in a trance, in a state of disbelief… and Sesshomaru could not blame him. He himself knew with strong conviction that Inuyasha would never touch a hair on Kagome's head in any threatening manner… so what had happened?

 

He admitted to himself he had quite a bit of a fright when he saw all the blood, and he could not hold it back when he thought his little sister might be in jeopardy. But now she seemed to just be sleeping… and a while ago the bleeding had stopped. He found that only two of the wounds were really serious… the rest were just enough to cut the surface, and cause bleeding. But what caused such a problem was that there were so many, and they overlaid one another so many times it caused much more damage than was probably intended…

 

Sesshomaru frowned, knowing it sounded odd… But the quality of the wounds made no sense. And part of him was truly nervous to find out what kind of person would have done this to Kagome… and for what reason? How? She was in Inuyasha room…

 

The thought process was not only confusing, it was infuriating. It made Sesshomaru want to hunt down whoever did this and kill them without a second thought…

 

But his first priority right now was both his little brother and little sister. Neither could live without the other… they were inseparable. He could only guess what kind of harm would be had if Kagome had died…

 

Shaking his head, Sesshomaru refused to imagine it. Right now, he just had to concentrate on his task.

 

So, he lowered himself to carefully bind up his little sister, wary not to undo the stitches he so meticulously made.

 

 

 

~~~*~~~

 

 

Inuyasha groaned, rolling over and throwing an arm over his head to block out the sunlight that had filtered in to his room. He felt like he had a hangover from hell… he felt so weak, so drained, and every little thing stabbed through his head like it was trying to rip his brains out.

 

Now I remember why I don't use my energy…

 

Whining softly, he tried to cover his head with a pillow.

 

He knew Sesshomaru would probably bitch about him being late for school… but he just couldn't care. He felt like shit. He felt like he had the worst night of his life last night… like something really bad… happened…

 

His eyes snapped open and he shot up stiffly, looking around the room quietly with only one word on his lips…

 

“K'gome…”

 

A soft moan beside him drew his attention to that spot. Kagome laid there, dressed in a long sleeved t-shirt and an overly large pair of sweat pants. He sat there watching her for a long time, ignoring the throbbing pain in his head. He heard her soft breathing…

 

In… out… in… out…

 

Unconsciously, he was mimicking her own breath. And he found he never heard such a beautiful sound in all his life, no matter how quiet it was…

 

Some time later, Inuyasha wasn't sure if it was minutes or hours by then… she groaned… and opened her eyes. The sunlight danced in her hair, causing ripples of light to streak across it and reveal all the colors true black had… it was a myriad, a rainbow… a brilliant burst that could not be ignored, and one Inuyasha had never noticed before. Brilliant blue eyes peaked out at him, and she reflexively smiled… gifted him in such a way he was sure she didn't even remember what had happened.

 

His heart stopped.

 

He couldn't keep the tears from falling out of his eyes.

 

Kagome seemed to smile all that much wider, so loving, so gentle… and reached up in spite of the pain she felt, and brushed his tears away…

 

“You've never cried in front of me stupid… why are you crying now?” she spoke barely above a whisper, her voice imprinting in his memory for all time. He refused to take her for granted again… he would never make the mistake of letting go of her, eve again…

 

“Keh… I'm not crying, wench…” he spoke gently back, and his voice held no anger… it was only silent affection that was weaved through his words, and he knew she understood them very clearly.

 

He watched as her eyes slid close behind her lids, and her loving smile never faded.

 

In the sunlight… she seemed to glow…

 

“You're such a bad liar, Inuyasha…” she spoke, and reached for his wrist, tugging in an unspoken request.

 

He complied, unwilling to deny her anything as he returned to laying down beside her, watching her as he finally replied.

 

“…I know, Kagome…”

 

And he didn't bother to stop her as she wiped more of his tears away again, and it was likewise for her as he leaned in to kiss her in such a way that both knew… they would never let go of each other again.

 

 

A/n: Ahhh! Angsty, waffy goodness…Long chapter… Sadness… oh wow… I was actually nearly crying when I wrote this… maybe it's the hormonal, tiredness? I don't know… reviews, reviews… Review or you die? No. No… of course not, I love you guys. *sharpens a knife* :D Hope you liked it.