InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Confusion ( Chapter 15 )

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sorry it's been so long, guys. First my story was stolen then someone reported me at ff.net and got my entire account removed. I had to open a new one and rewrite some stuff…and it's just been frustrating. Not to mention, I don't have an abundance of time to write as it is. But alas, I'm posting not one…but two chapters today for my readers today. This chapter is supposed to have a "foggy" feel to it. It's told from the point of view of two characters that don't know exactly what's going on. So bear with the confusion. The next chapter helps pull it together. So for now, enjoy!

 

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Chapter Thirteen

Confusion

 

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Kagome woke late into the night. Her room was still dark and it took her eyes a few moments to adjust to her surroundings.

 

`I sense the Shikon Jewel, a big piece of it. It's moving away from here,' she thought to herself.

 

The girl quickly got out of bed and pulled on a robe then went to the window. No doubt about it, the jewel was quickly moving away from the castle. She continued to focus outside, trying to determine exactly where he was going with the jewel.

 

`Where is he going in the middle of the night?' She pondered then shrugged. Nothing she could do about it right now. He probably had something he was dealing with and clearly didn't intend to tell her about it. Kagome slowly walked over to the door and peered into the dark corridor. Something didn't feel right. She contemplated going to his room to see if he was there before rolling her eyes.

 

`Of course he's not there. Who would be running off with the jewel in the middle of the night?' She knew that Naraku would kill anyone that even thought about going near that jewel and she was almost certain that included herself.

 

She quietly closed her door before hanging her robe up and climbing back into bed. Again her thoughts went to her friends and how she could explain what had happened with Naraku. It didn't take long before sleep once again embraced her troubled mind.

 

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The moment the sun was up he knew. He knew the jewel was gone and the searing pain pulsing through his body was enough to bring put Onigumo's memories to shame. Naraku focused around the room. His first thoughts were of the priestess. Would she dare to take the jewel from him? No, he couldn't sense her anywhere. Not that his senses were doing him much good. His vision was beginning to blur and his body was weakening quickly.

 

“Is something wrong, Naraku?” Kagura's bitter voice quickly told him enough. He stood there, knowing that attempting to move would take him to the floor and he would never allow himself to show that kind of weakness to her.

 

“Kagura…” He managed to utter while narrowing his eyes. He could barely speak that simple word. She smirked and stepped closer to him.

 

“You have been poisoned with the venom of a serpent demon. I have the antidote. Give me my freedom and I will give it to you. If you don't, we both die.” The wind demoness stood her ground. She couldn't live this life anymore. She couldn't live as a part of another being. Naraku was weak and would give in to her. Of this she was certain.

 

The dark lord simply glared at her. How he despised her. He should have destroyed her the first time she proved herself untrustworthy. Rather than dignify her blackmail with any sort of answer he simply focused on his breathing which was becoming painful.

 

“You won't be able to stand this much longer, Naraku. You'll give into me like the coward you are.” The demoness watched him then turned to the door.

 

“I'll give you a few minutes to think it over. But don't wait too long; soon it will be too late.”

 

Naraku held himself upright until she walked out the door then dropped to his knees. The pain he was in was nearly unbearable. His muscles were beginning to spasm and he his chest felt as though it was being squeezed until no more air was able to enter into his lungs.

 

After what felt like an eternity, Naraku made it to a futon that was in the room and nearly collapsed onto it. Though his thoughts were becoming hazy but he recognized the priestess when she knelt over him. He couldn't focus on her words or actions and the last thing he remembered was a flash of light before all went dark.

 

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Kagome woke again when the sun began to pour through the window in her room. She sat up and stretched then looked around. Again she felt as though there was something wrong. She focused and was unable to detect the jewel nearby. Though there had been other times she had been unable to detect it when Naraku was near her.

 

She quickly sat up and went to grab her robe when she got a feeling that someone was in pain. Kagome pulled her robe on and went to her door before slowly making her way down the hall towards Naraku's room.

 

`He's probably already up, unless he really did leave last night.' The girl thought as she turned from his empty room.

 

For nearly a full minute she simply stood in the corridor while a strange feeling was tugging at her mind. She then walked to the room Naraku always seemed to favor so much. She had found him there the last night they had been together before he sent her back to InuYasha. As soon as she slid the door open she was engulfed in miasma. She hadn't experienced his miasma while with him and assumed it was because he hadn't wanted her too. Now she was being overwhelmed by it. Clearly, he had been here.

 

She nearly turned to leave when she caught site of a futon in the corner and felt her blood run cold. He was laying half way on the small piece of furniture and not moving. There was definitely something wrong. She tried to ignore the burning in her lungs as she moved to his side and knelt over him.

 

“Naraku?” The girl looked him over. He was horribly pale and felt clammy, not at all like she had ever seen any demon.

 

“What happened? Where's the jewel?” She couldn't even begin to fathom what kind of creature must have done this to him and was able to get the Shikon jewel away. She watched as he appeared to try to focus on her then took another labored breath.

 

A million thoughts seemed to hit her at once. If he died right now, Miroku's curse would be gone. Her friends would never know of what had happened between the two of them, not to mention justice would be served for the many things he had done. But could she just sit by and watch someone suffer and then die? She had seen many mindless demons be defeated before and had always imagined that she would see Naraku's death…but not like this. She could tell he was in severe pain. Could she even do anything to save him? She didn't even know what had caused this, let alone a way to help.

 

Finally, Kagome forgot her thoughts and rationalizations. No matter who it was, she couldn't just sit there and do nothing. It wasn't in her nature or the nature of a priestess to ignore someone's suffering. She looked over his neck and arms then began to open his kimono, hoping to see some sort of bite or injury that she could treat.

 

`Oh god, he's burning up.' His skin was so hot she nearly had to pull her hands away but continued on. Without any warning she felt energy rush through herself followed by a bright flash of light. The force of it nearly left her stunned.

 

Immediately, she felt as though she had spent hours in the water and could barely keep herself afloat. The lingering miasma was becoming almost suffocating as she sat there beside the futon. She realized she had to get out of the room to get some fresh air and slowly rose onto shaky legs.

 

Her body trembled, barely able to hold her weight while she tried desperately to ignore the burning pain in her hands. It felt as though she had put them onto a hot stove. Nearly halfway across the room she had to stop to take a breath, though the air was still thick with miasma. Her last thought where of her friends, just before her weakened body gave out from beneath her.

 

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Naraku's eyes opened slowly and focused on the ceiling. He was alive? His thoughts and memories were jumbled. He knew he had regenerated his body and there were brief memories of Kagura and the priestess along with unforgettable amounts of pain. After another moment he sat up, letting his mind mull over what had happened. The last thing he remembered was Kagome. She had seemed concerned and there was little doubt in his mind that she had realized he no longer held possession of the Shikon Jewel.

 

Kagura had mentioned a serpent demon. Surely wasn't referring to the demon by the name Hebiakui. Naraku had tried more than once to gain that demon's shards and Kagura knew that he was a worthy adversary to him. In his weakened state he didn't stand a chance against such a demon.

 

His eyes narrowed at the realization that Kagura had to have been planning this for quite some time. She had to have known that he wouldn't stand for such treachery and would have killed her after giving her back her heart.

 

`She had no intention of letting me survive.' The dark Lord nearly growled inwardly at such an audacious plan.

 

`How is it that I am still alive?' The sudden realization hit him.

 

`It was the priestess…' Her concerned face played in his mind again. She had found him before he lost consciousness. She had spoken, but her words had gone unheard. He then got to his feet, with every intention of finding the girl. He wished to know what she had done to him. It was not often a priestess spared the life of a demon, especially a demon such as himself. Before he got half way across the room he saw her, lying nearly lifelessly on the ground not far from the door.

 

“The miasma…” He stepped closer to her, thinking he would find her dead but saw her body still struggling for every breath it took.

 

`Why could I not detect her in this room? Even now I cannot detect her presence or scent.' The sudden awareness of his lost senses was pushed out of his mind when the young girl moaned softly.

 

`She will no doubt be dead soon if she remains here.' Naraku quickly slid one arm under the girl's legs and the other behind her back and lifted her up. He needed to know what she had done to stop the venom, though he acknowledged that he had no real desire to leave her to die regardless.

 

He walked to his own room and placed her on the bed, knowing there was little that could be done for her besides allowing her fresh air and rest. Most humans would not have survived as long as she did.

 

`Her powers are strong.' He continued to gaze down at her, feeling oddly vulnerable. Seeing her lying there in pain caused a strange feeling to overtake him and he quickly pushed it aside then turned from to leave the room. The girl needed to rest and he needed time to reflect on what had happened.

 

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Kagome sat up slowly when she heard her door opening. She expected to see Sachi coming in or possibly Kagura but was slightly shocked to see Naraku enter the room and look at her as though he had something he wanted to say.

 

`He looks fine. But the last time I saw him, he was almost dead.' She tried to think back to what had happened when she woke up and went to look for him but found her memory was hazy.

 

She attempted to speak but could barely get out more than a few audible syllables.

 

“You have inhaled a significant amount of miasma. My servant will be bringing you water, so that you may talk to me. I have questions for you, Kagome.”

 

She stared into his eyes, unsure of the emotion that was playing in them. There was a tone in his voice that told her he was very angry…and yet there was something about the way he was looking at her that said there was more to it.

 

Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a light knock at the door followed quickly by Sachi entering, carrying a glass of water. The servant nearly stopped, seeing Naraku there, and then quickly made her way to Kagome, bowed and turned to the dark lord.

 

“Will there be anything else, My Lord?”

 

“Yes, if you see Kagura, come for me.” The servant nodded and hurried from the room. Kagome heard the warning in Naraku's voice and silently drank the water she had been given.

 

The dark lord stood watching her, causing her heart rate to rise, before taking a step closer to her bed.

 

“Tell me about your powers.”

 

“My powers?” She had to force what little voice she could just to answer him.

 

“You are Kikyo's reincarnation. I am sure you have learned of your abilities by now.” He watched her closely. How could she spend so much time with InuYasha and the old Priestess, Kaede, and not know of the powers that had been passed onto her?

 

She shook her head trying to tell him she hadn't learned much. Then began speaking painfully when his eyes narrowed.

 

“I...have to find…shards.” He nodded slightly, understanding what she was saying. It was no secret that InuYasha was impatient and became ill tempered when Kikyo or merely talk of Kikyo was involved. The girl probably had little idea of the amount of power that lie within her.

 

“As a priestess you hold the power of purification.” He watched as she nodded and continued to stare up at him. She was afraid. He didn't need to smell it, he could see it.

 

“Do you want me dead, Kagome?” The words sent a cold chill down her spine. Was he going to hurt her? She nearly began trembling as he moved to the bed and took hold of her wrist and stared down at the palm of her hand.

 

“Do you know what caused this?” She let her eyes leave his and slowly look at her hand. It was red and burned, though appeared to be healing already. She shook her head then looked back up at him. His own thoughts were strained. She really didn't know what had happened. He released her hand then opened his robe slightly, never taking his eyes off of her. She let out a slight gasp at the sight. There were two burn marks there, slightly resembling the shape of hands.

 

“Did…I do…that?” Her question confirmed what he had believed. Her actions had been instinctual and the fact that he was still alive led him to believe her intentions had not been to kill him.

 

“Yes, you did. Much like InuYasha, I have a night of vulnerability. Kagura attempted to use this to blackmail me.” His eyes darkened again, causing Kagome to remain silent.

 

“A serpent demon poisoned me while my body was regenerating. When I awoke the venom was already infecting many of the demons in my body.” He paused and watched her again causing her to grow uncomfortable.

 

“You purified those demons.” The words left a bitter taste in his mouth. He despised being a half breed and now he held much more human blood than demon. Until he became strong enough to regenerate again, he would be forced to live in this weakened state. He would see that Kagura suffered dearly for this disgrace.

 

“At least you're…okay.” The words pulled Naraku back out of his dark thoughts. He gazed down at her; weakened from using powers she couldn't yet control, in pain from the miasma she had inhaled and burns that would no doubt be a reminder of the ordeal for several days to come. Yet he could detect no regret in her voice or demeanor. This human girl suffering on his behalf; who could have died saving him, showing no sign of regret or disappointment for what she had done.

 

He felt his chest tighten slightly before hardening himself. He could not allow human emotion to overtake him merely because he had lost much of his demon blood. However, as angry as he was at Kagura and this serpent for what had happened, he could not bring himself to lash out at Kagome. Rather he turned and walked back to the door.

 

“I will return later. It would be wise for you to rest or you will not be well enough to return to your comrades.”

 

He quietly closed the door behind him and went to find Kanna. He needed to know where Kagura and this serpent demon had gone before they collected more of the jewel. But first he would need to find out just how badly his loss of demon aura would affect him and his underlings.