InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Someone To Watch Over Me ❯ Touch of Darkness ( Chapter 7 )

**Chapter 7**

~*~*~*~*Touch of Darkness~*~*~*~*

 

 

Thump…Thump…Thump…Thump…

 

Miroku sat with his back against the wall across from the door Inuyasha was currently pacing in front of. Bracing his staff against the floor, he grasped it tightly and stood. Crossing his feet at the ankles, the monk leaned casually against the wall behind him, his staff leaning into his right shoulder, his arms crossed inside the sleeves of his kimono.

 

“She's not alone in there you know,” Miroku pointed out reasonably.

 

Miroku sighed at the growl and menacing glare that answered him. At least it got Inuyasha to stop pacing. Thump…Thump…Thump…Miroku dropped his head and heaved an exasperated sigh. Taking in a deep breath, he lifted his head slowly and prayed silently for patience.

 

“Inuyasha, Sango is in the room with Kagome and the healer. Once there is an answer as to why Lady Kagome is not waking up they will tell us,” he said and shook his head as the hanyou continued pacing and growling. “I'm sure that - ”

 

Whatever Miroku was about to say was abruptly cut off when the door opened and Sango stepped into the hall. She closed the door behind her and took in a deep breath before facing the irritated and impatient hanyou. Her brown eyes were dark, heavy with doubt, self-recrimination, and sorrow. When her eyes met Miroku's he felt the uncontrolled need to take her into his arms, to shelter her from this and cast the darkness from her spirit. Miroku's muscles tensed, and he began to move, intent on giving into his need to shelter Sango; one look from Inuyasha stayed him.

 

“Speak, Sango,” the hanyou commanded her.

 

The woman nodded, and when she spoke her voice was raspy and quiet, full of anguish.

 

“There's this…this dark spot on her left shoulder,” she began slowly. “We - Kagome and I,” she clarified, “we both thought it was just - just a bruise…Kagome said something about a dark sweater that she had worn without washing and rain…”

 

“The healer?” Miroku asked, hating to see Sango like this, timid almost. He ignored Inuyasha's growl as he took a few steps forward, leaving his staff leaning against the wall.

 

“She said the dark spot…that it's a `touch of darkness'.”

 

Sango paused, determined to gather her thoughts and gain control over her rapidly escalating emotions. She should've known, shouldn't she? She was a taijya; she should've recognized that mark for what it was. Sango didn't see the slight nod of Inuyasha's head; she didn't notice Miroku moving toward her until she was enveloped in his arms, cocooned within the folds of his kimono.

 

“What is it?” Inuyasha asked of Miroku, giving no more than an absent nod of his head when the healer left from the room and turned down the hall.

 

The monk looked up from the woman in his arms, her face buried in his chest. Stroking her hair, his violet eyes met Inuyasha's amber orbs.

 

“A `touch of darkness' is a mark left behind by one who practices the dark magics.”

 

“You mean a dark miko?” the hanyou asked, his brows furrowed. It wasn't often that they dealt with a dark miko, and he felt ill prepared for whatever fight that may lay ahead.

 

“Or a sorcerer,” Miroku released a deep breath, quietly shushing the woman in his arms as he kissed her hair. “It's what happens when one of darkness tries to take over one of light. Lady Kagome is strong, her spirit is pure; we've all seen proof enough of that when she purifies the youkai we fight. However, this mark, the darkness of the sorcerer is attacking her very soul. It explains why she's become so sick. If she is unable to fight this darkness - unable to purify it - it will eventually kill her.”

 

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

 

 

 

The warmth that surrounded her cosseted her and left her reluctant to open her eyes and let go of the last vestiges of sleep. She could feel the quiet strength of the arms around her, the promise of protection they held even as they held her. Cuddling deeper in to the chest that pillowed her cheek, her hand moved, her fingers rubbing up and down in the vale of the bare chest beneath her.

 

The body beneath her trembled, a quiet chuckle breaking the early morning stillness. A warm hand combed into her short hair, and she smiled at the gentle brush of claws against her scalp. Full masculine lips pressed a gentle kiss upon her brow, and she sighed happily. The woman turned her face up to his, arching her neck invitingly as she placed a chaste kiss on the underside of his jaw.

 

“Good morning, Kina.”

 

Kina breathed in deeply, a pseudo yawn, as she stretched her body, rubbing along the length of his. His arms tightened around her, his hands splayed across her back, loving the feel of her sinewy muscles contracting and relaxing. The feel of the soft sweater covering her, his sweater, his scent upon her played mad havoc with his senses. A blush stole across his cheeks as he felt himself harden, his breath shortening and coming in quiet gasps as a near violent tremor rippled through his muscles. A wave of electricity spiraled up his spine to tingle just under his scalp at the back of his head.

 

He wanted her - badly. One deep intake of breath brought her scent to him with the knowledge that she wanted him as well. Ginta nearly whined with the effort it took not to act on his desires. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep, steadying breath and bit the inside of his cheek.

 

`She wants us, baka! Just like she did way back then!' his youkai fairly growled at him.

 

`It's too soon,' he told his youkai blood, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth when his fangs punctured the flesh of his cheek. `She's not ready yet…and I don't know that I'm ready yet, either.'

 

`We wait?' his youkai asked, starting to understand.

 

`We wait,' Ginta affirmed.

 

`Don't fuck it up like last time,' his youkai warned angrily. `She belongs with us - she's our mate damnit. She should've been with us all this time, but you had to screw it all up so that she could be with that human.'

 

`Hey! She had to be with him…Kagome had to be born.'

 

`So you finally admit that she's ours now?' his youkai asked, beginning to calm.

 

`Yes. And this time I intend to keep her - forever.'

 

Ginta could feel himself relax, his muscles lose their tension. A soft touch on his face, fingers tracing the lines of his jaw and cheekbone drew his attention. His eyes opened, a soft light held within them as he looked at the woman lying next to him. She was propped up on her elbow, her cheek resting on the backs of her fingers, her hand held loose and open.

 

“I haven't seen you this serious since the day you made me go on that date with Benjiro,” Kina mused, brushing his hair from his temple with the tips of the fingers of her free hand.

 

He captured her hand, kissed her knuckles. He stared at her reverently. Whereas other youkai and hanyou would have surely died from such a long separation from their mate, he had lived; he had waited for her. For those youkai and hanyou though, they would've suffered from the rejection of their mate - Kina, Kina had never rejected him. She had waited for him as well.

 

“I've missed you,” he confessed, his voice quiet and choked with emotion.

 

“So have I,” she admitted, stroking her fingers through the gray hair at his temples. “I always thought you'd come for me after Ben died, but you didn't. Not like I imagined you would.”

 

Ginta sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently tugging her down to lie on his chest once again. He still hadn't told her the story, shared with her his earliest memories of Kagome. She'd been here with him for little over a day now and surprisingly had slept most of that time. Even Kina hadn't realized that she was that tired. Kissing her forehead, he looked to his left and opened the drawer of his bedside table. Contorting his arm to reach inside the drawer, he slipped his fingers inside the corner of a well-worn envelope and pulled it out before bumping the drawer closed with his elbow.

 

“What is this?” Kina asked, taking the envelope he handed to her and sitting up against the headboard.

 

“You need to look through those,” Ginta said as he sat up next to her.

 

Kina gasped, her fingers fanning over her lips as she stared at the picture of her sixteen year old daughter standing with Ginta dressed in his furs beside a group of people. The only one in the picture that she recognized besides Ginta and her daughter was Inuyasha, who appeared to be fighting with another man - youkai - who was dressed in furs as well. The youkai's hair was long, hanging down his back from the confines of a ponytail, a fur band wrapped around his head.

 

“That's Kouga,” Ginta tapped a claw gently on the youkai fighting with Inuyasha. “He always used to say that Kagome was his mate…”

 

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

 

 

Arms crossed over a well-defined chest covered in furs, long raven hair, caught up in a tight and high ponytail, lifted and danced with the breeze blowing from behind him. Sharp blue eyes looked out over the land as pointed ears strained to pick up every sound, no matter how small. His nostrils flared as his nose twitched. He'd woken up before the sun had even risen, knowing without a doubt that something was wrong. Danger seemed to looming just over the next rise.

 

Kouga had sent Ginta and Hakkaku out just after dawn telling them to look out for anything unusual and report back at midday. He'd never tell either of them, but he was glad they tended to be more level headed than he was; it was why he trusted them so much. Kouga felt antsy, angry; itching for a fight; always one to react first and think later, he hated having to wait for the news from his comrades. It was well past midday, and it took all he had to stay where he was and not go out in search of them.

 

“Kouga!”

 

His head snapped to the side as his blue eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. He could smell Ginta but only because of the direction of the wind at his back. Hakkaku was the one calling for him and there was another scent with them that kept playing a maddening game of hide-and-go-seek with the changing direction of the wind.

 

Hakkaku called for him again as he and Ginta broke through the thick brush on the edge of the forest. They were followed by a tall red haired youkai - a kitsune his nose told him as he finally got a whiff of his scent. Neither of the wolf youkai seemed to be in danger or fearful of the fox following them. In fact, it seemed to him that they were leading him back to the caves.

 

Kouga was shocked by the depth of seriousness in Ginta's gaze. Normally the sensitive and more soft-spoken of the duo and the first to instigate play, to see him so serious was unsettling. Kouga waited restlessly as his wolves and the kitsune that followed them approached him.

 

“Have somewhere you need to be, Ginta?” Kouga asked, his tone bored, his eyes fierce, penetrating.

 

“Sister Kagome is in danger,” Ginta said, his voice tight with equal amounts of worry and anger, his eyes holding a seriousness that dared not be questioned. “Tell him,” he snarled at Kanaye.

 

Kouga was taken aback by Ginta's tone. Sure, he'd battled beside the wolf before, but never had he heard Ginta growl like that. He'd never heard him so angry and ready for a fight.

 

“Go,” Kouga commanded Ginta. “Take one of the wolves with you,” he said and waited as one of the thickly furred animals went to Ginta's side. “Stay with her once you find her and send the wolf back to me.”

 

Ginta nodded once and then turned to Kanaye, repeating his command before sprinting away. Kouga's eyes followed Ginta until he disappeared into the trees. Blue eyes, sharp and calculating, turned to study the kitsune. He already knew that the fox was one of Sesshoumaru's, his scent told him that much.

 

“So talk,” Kouga commanded, his tone carefree.

 

 

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

 

 

“Sango, you mustn't blame yourself,” Miroku said as he sat down beside her in the grass under the light of the moon.

 

The woman in question shook her head as she stared at the ground under her left hand, absently listening to the jingling of the monk's staff as he laid it down at his side. Blades of the soft grass tickled her skin when she flexed her fingers.

 

“I should've known, Miroku,” Sango said, her voice quiet and sad. Her tone reminded Miroku of when she spoke of her brother - the self blame, the doubt and sadness. “Even though I didn't know, I still should've said something.”

 

She closed her eyes as she tried to deny the stinging behind them and in her nose. She didn't want to cry, didn't think she had the right to when she believed Kagome's condition to be her fault. She felt Miroku slip his arm around her shoulders and leaned into his side as the first tear fell.

 

“Oh, Sango,” he said sadly.

 

Her face was wet with tears she couldn't fight when the first painful sob tore from within her. It hurt so much to think that another person she cared for was once again in danger because of her. The difference was that this time - this time there was no battle, nothing and no one they could fight together; this time the evil was inside of Kagome.

 

Miroku held her securely in his arms as she cried into his robes. When her tears caused her to shake so much he thought she might shatter, he lifted her only to settle her in his lap as he wrapped her more securely in his embrace. Sango's arms snaked around his waist, her hands slipping up his back to grasp desperately onto the cloth between his shoulders.

 

He held her there in his lap; one arm wrapped around her back, the other hand cupping the back of her head as she cried. His fingers combed gently into her hair, dislodging the band that held it tightly bound, raven locks spilling over his hand in a silken wave. He shushed her gently, whispered to her words of comfort that he forgot as soon as he spoke. She leaned into him slightly, and he could sense the growing exhaustion that was pulling at her.

 

Leaning her back into the crook of his arm, he smoothed the tear dampened hair off her cheek and brushed the backs of his fingers under her eyes, wiping away the still falling tears. She looked up at him, her dark eyes full of a vulnerability that tore at him and made him hurt to see in someone who was usually so strong. Cradling her in his arms, he bent over her and nuzzled her cheek with his for a moment before kissing her damp salty lips slowly only once.

 

“Let me take care of you, Sango,” he requested of her as he stared into her eyes, his brow resting upon her own. “Just for tonight, let me take care of you.”

 

She sniffled, swallowed back her tears and nodded. She couldn't remember having ever seen such concern and sincerity in his gaze before. Her eyes felt heavy, her mind slowing to an aching crawl as her eyes fell closed only to slowly open again. Her body felt lead weighted, and it took too much effort to lift her hand. Miroku gave a gentle and disarming half smile as he caught her hand in his and kissed her palm.

 

“Go to sleep, Sango,” Miroku told her gently. “I'll watch over you.”

 

Sango gave a small, sleep heavy smile as she shivered and snuggled closer to his warmth. Miroku watched as her eyes closed and felt her silent sigh as sleep claimed her. He couldn't take his eyes off her face, was helpless but to watch as her face relaxed in sleep. He marveled at how young and peaceful she looked.

 

Red cloth appeared before his eyes, and Miroku looked up to see Inuyasha crouching in front of him. The hanyou was quiet as he studied the woman sleeping in the monk's arms, her face damp and fevered from her tears, her eyes red and softly swollen.

 

“Don't let her blame herself for Kagome,” Inuyasha said, his voice soft. “Can you get up with her?” he asked, lifting his head to stare at Miroku.

 

“No,” the man said and eased his hold on her as Inuyasha lifted her into his arms.

 

Sango stirred slightly, whimpered quietly at the change of position as she searched for Miroku in her sleep. Inuyasha let a low, soothing growl rumble quietly to her and she sighed as she fell deeper into the dreamless sleep. He studied her face for a moment, a frown marring his brow. They'd been traveling together so long now that it was an odd feeling to know that it would be the monk he would have to let protect her. Sango was a female of the pack, and as such, under his protection - as they all were, but if Miroku played his cards right she would soon be his mate.

 

“Don't let your hands get away from you tonight, monk,” Inuyasha warned him gruffly. “Just let her sleep.”

 

“I won't,” he promised as he took Sango once more into his arms and nodded gratefully when the hanyou snatched up his staff. Miroku sighed. “I don't know how to make her see that this wasn't her fault,” he confessed.

 

“Just keep telling her it isn't until she believes you,” Inuyasha said simply as they walked into the house and down the hall into their rooms.

 

“I don't think that will work this time,” Miroku said, nodding his head in thanks as Inuyasha opened the bedroom door for him. “You and I both know that she blames herself for her brother falling into Naraku's hands and even more when one of us is hurt because of him. Hush, Sango, sleep,” he soothed her when she stirred as he laid her down on the cold futon and covered her with the blanket.

 

Inuyasha stepped further into the room and looked down at Sango with a curious frown on his face. Crouching down next to her, he lifted her hand and put his nose to the inside of her wrist, sniffing at her.

 

“Inuyasha?” Miroku asked, keeping his voice soft. “What is it?”

 

Inuyasha shook his head slightly, uncertain as to why her scent was bothering him so much. He could feel the monk's eyes watching him, but paid no heed to his attention. Dragging his tongue over her skin, tasting her pulse, he was no closer to an answer than before. Placing her hand down on her stomach, he stood and walked over to the pile of her neatly folded slayer clothing that lay near the covered window.

 

Lifting the pieces of cloth, he buried his nose first in the shirt near the collar and then again along the torso.

 

Damnit! Why can't I figure out what it is about her scent that bothers me?! Inuyasha snarled

 

I think she's getting sick, his youkai answered him, just as unable to get a good grasp of her scent.

 

Feh! We don't need both of them sick.

 

Of course we don't. Just make sure Miroku takes care of her. She's gonna be his mate anyway, right?

 

Please, those two have been dancing around each other for months now.

 

So you're not as dense as I thought you were.

 

Shut up. I'm you, remember?

 

I still maintain that I'm the better half.

 

Keh, you would.

 

Dropping the clothes back down to the floor, Inuyasha stood from his crouch and turned to Miroku, his expression fierce.

 

“You come get me at the first sign she's getting sick,” the hanyou demanded roughly.

 

“You believe she will?” Miroku asked, casting a worried glance at the woman who lay sleeping.

 

“I don't know,” Inuyasha said as he studied Sango. “Her scent is off and I can't figure out why.”

 

Miroku nodded and watched Inuyasha leave the room, closing the door silently behind him as he left. Toeing off his sandals, Miroku slipped onto the futon with Sango, pulling the blankets up over them both. Wrapping Sango in his arms, he cocooned her in the copious folds of his kimono and was surprised when she whimpered and rolled toward him, tucking herself against his chest. Kissing the top of her head, the corners of his mouth tilted up into a faint smile as he listened to her soft contented sigh and he felt her arms slip around him.

 

“I'm here, Sango,” he promised her as he fell asleep with her in his arms.

 

 

 

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

 

 

The watery silver light of the moon filtered in through the window and cast the sleeping girl's face in a myriad of light and dark shadows. Her chest heaved, her breath coming out in rasping gasps, an air of panic rising around her. She whimpered, cried out but didn't wake. A low pitiful whine sounded next to her as a long fingered clawed hand gently wiped the cool beaded sweat from her brow.

 

White puppy ears covered in short silken fur folded back, flattening against hair so white the beams of moonlight disappeared into it seamlessly. Golden eyes bright with tears too painful to be denied looked down upon the small cold hand held in his own much larger one. Her skin was so pale, so cold that it scared him beyond all measure. A single hand reached out, fingers curled under to hide sharp claws as he drew the backs of his fingers over her delicate cheekbone.

 

The girl whimpered again, her eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids. Her breath whistled out of her as she suddenly sat up screaming for him - only for him.

 

“INUYASHA!!!!”

 

He didn't see her eyes open as he wrapped her in his arms, her face buried in his chest. Arms that had been limp at her sides lifted slowly and wrapped around him, clutching handfuls of thick silver hair and fire rat fur. Inuyasha grew instantly still when he felt Kagome's hands on his back, in his hair. He pulled away quickly, just far enough to cup her face in his hands. He searched her eyes, the intensity of his stare - his silence unnerving her.

 

“Inu…yasha?” his name was soft and slow upon her lips, her brow furrowed with a frown of uncertainty.

 

Kagome gave a soft cry of surprise when he suddenly crushed her against his chest, his arms in a vice grip around her as he clung to her and struggled to get a hold on his emotions.

 

“Don't you ever, ever scare me like that again,” he growled at her, his words fierce but his voice soft and choked with emotion.

 

Kagome curled closer to him, shivered as she tried to tuck herself seemingly inside his fire rat haori. Inuyasha looked down at the girl curiously, one brow raised in question.

 

“Wench,” he combed his hand into her hair behind her ear when she turned her face up to him, “what are you doing?”

 

“I'm cold,” she whined as she slipped her fingers through the folds of his haori and tugged at the fire rat fur. “And you're so warm.”

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and made a show of grumbling as he pushed gently on her shoulders and sat her back just enough so that he could undo the knot that held his haori closed. Fully intending to remove the fire rat robe and wrap it around her shoulders, he was caught off guard when she simply scooted forward from where she sat straddling his thighs and tucked herself into his chest as soon as the robe was open.

 

“Wench,” he huffed at her shaking his head both at her and the soft blush that rose quickly to dust his cheeks.

 

Wrapping the fire rat robe closed around her, enclosing her inside of it against his chest, he dropped his chin to her head and nuzzled her hair. Kagome released a deep sigh and gave a soft hum of contentment as she wrapped her arms around his back tucked, inside of his clothing.

 

“Inuyasha,” Kagome called out to him softly as she tucked her head beneath his chin and nuzzled her cheek against his collarbone.

 

“Hm?” He stroked her hair, turned his head and rested his cheek on her hair.

 

“Don't - don't let me fall asleep again,” she asked of him her voice tired, timid, almost childlike with fears that were all too real to her, but left unseen to others.

 

“You need your rest,” he argued as he turned and braced his feet against the floor, her body falling to rest on the quickly cooling wood floor between his legs.

 

Inuyasha moved her to the side, growled low, the sound soothing her as he curled his arm behind her knees and around her back. She tried to cuddle closer to him, and he shushed her, cradling her in his arms as he walked out of their room and down the hall to the enclosed hot spring. Sniffing at the door and knowing without a doubt that the room was empty; he nudged the door open with his foot and set her gently on her feet. Draping his fire rat robe over her shoulders, he turned her to face into the room and backed away, intending to sit outside the room while she soaked in the hot mineral rich waters.

 

“Go on,” he said gently, jerking his chin at the hot spring, the warm moist heat fanning upon them both welcomingly.

 

Kagome shook her head and backed away from the open door slowly until she was standing in front of him. He looked down at her incredulously as she tucked herself against his chest and arched a black brow.

 

Just what the hell is she doing?

 

She's scared baka.

 

I know that. But why is she scared? She loves taking baths.

 

“It's just a bath,” he said to her, wrapping his arms around her with a forced sigh.

 

“Not alone,” she said, the words almost a whimper as she kept her pale face hidden from him.

 

“Why are you crying?” he asked her almost angrily as she turned her face to him, and he curled his finger beneath her chin, tipping her face up to meet her eyes. “What are you afraid of?” he asked her as he brushed away her tears with the pads of his thumbs.

 

“When I'm alone…” she began slowly, her voice trembling as she leaned into the warm clawed hand that cupped her cheek. “When I'm alone, he's there.”

 

“Who's there?” His barely contained snarl actually comforting her. He was always so quick to defend her - protect her.

 

“I don't know.” She sniffled delicately as she shuffled closer and tucked herself against him. “Just these eyes…these faceless eyes that stare up at me from the water when I'm alone…only when I'm alone…”

 

Inuyasha breathed in deeply and swept her up into his arms when she shivered and carried her into the bathing chamber, kicking the door closed with his foot. He set her down slowly, her body almost sliding against his until her feet hit the warm stone floor. He could smell her exhaustion, the pull of sleep that beckoned her, still. As much as he was afraid she might fall, he took one step away from her and turned his back.

 

“Undress,” he commanded softly. “When did this - apparition start appearing?” he asked after a long moment, the sound of her clothing shifting, falling off, making his ears twitch.

 

“A month or two ago, I think,” she confessed, hissing at the heat of the water as she slipped into the welcome warmth of the water. “Maybe a little longer.”

 

“Kagome,” he turned halfway toward her to see her out of the corner of his eye, “how long has your uncle been back?”

 

“…almost three months I think,” she said, her last words elongating as she yawned.

 

Stripping off his own clothes and slipping into the water behind the girl, he gathered her into his arms and gave a small little half smile when she gave a soft happy whine and tucked herself into his chest, pillowing her cheek against his pectoral muscle and listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. Kissing her wet hair, he hugged her close and leaned back against the spring's edge behind him.

 

“Go to sleep, Kagome.”

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*