InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Stealer ❯ Eight - Victimised ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Inuyasha fell to his knees�And then he felt it. His soul being torn away from his physical body � detachment� His body was slumping forward into Kagome�s arms� �Now� Who�s next?�

It's all over, isn't it? Kagome's heartbroken - what more can Callisto do to hurt her? Take away her baby perhaps... But can Miroku and Sango survive this battle - and can Kagome leave without Callisto targeting her as well?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.02.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 311 | Status: Completed

Soul Stealer
Chapter Eight - Victimised

Inuyasha fell to his knees…And then he felt it. His soul being torn away from his physical body - detachment… His body was slumping forward into Kagome's arms… “Now… Who's next?”

Kagome was aware of a few things after that. For instance, Callisto always sounded like she wanted to get a job over with - as if she were slowly getting bored. And not only that, but trapping Inuyasha's soul in a jar hadn't increased her mood - but had worsened it.

Miroku was standing up. His mouth was hanging open and Kagome wondered whether they were real tears in his eyes. Sango had one hand grasping the monk's hip. She was stammering a few words that Kagome couldn't hear.

The last thing she realised was that she felt she was being watched. Not by Callisto. By someone cowering behind a building.
She turned to her left, trying to make out the shape in the distance. Her eyes locked with two squinty green eyes that were filled to the brim with tears.

The crouching silhouette was Shippo. And he was staring at Inuyasha. Grieving.
Kagome looked down at the lifeless body in her arms. Her eyes refused to cry now that she'd used all her tears up. She rested the half-demon on the ground, and then stood up clumsily.

Her strength hadn't yet returned. She glared at Callisto with a mixture of fury, sorrow and pain.
Callisto's face brightened but her eyes still held that contrariness. That uncertainty. The grief…

This has happened to her, Kagome realised. What I'm feeling now. She's felt the same - she knows what I'm going through. But… how? How could she have ever loved anyone and whodid she love? Maybe I'll find out. If I can just talk to her…

“You want to join your lover, human?” Callisto asked quietly and steadily. Their eyes locked. Equal arguments on both side, battling away in each other's mind. Trying to make one another understand. Kagome was holding out.
She looked willowy and graceful - like a goddess or a fallen angel. Callisto looked exactly like what she was - a beautiful demoness.

Kagome was slowly buckling under Callisto's gaze. She stared at the hundreds of jars attached to Callisto's horse and took a deep breath. Her bottom lip wobbled.
But, without warning, Kagome raised her head high, sticking her chin out. “There's this look in your eye. I don't know who you are or what you are, but I wake up and you've killed a friend of mine. You've destroyed her home and then you break my heart,”

Kagome gestured to Inuyasha's body, her movements trembling and unsteady. Callisto seemed unsure.
Kagome carried on. “You killed the love of my life, just when I am pregnant with his baby. And I can tell by the look in your eye that something like this was done to you. Surely now that you know someone is hurting as you once were…”

Callisto's face was… sympathetic. Truly. Her eyes were becoming pink and she was screwing up her face in regret. Then she softened.
Miroku and Sango were blinking furiously. They were staring at Kagome in wonder. She's pregnant?

Callisto bowed her head. “You're right, human. But you're also oblivious.” She raised her head and held Kagome's gaze. “I used to love Hiten - the eldest Thunder Brother.”
Kagome realised now that she'd lost the fight. Inuyasha had killed Hiten. She remembered it all now - the ferocious Thunder Brother who'd orphaned Shippo and punched a hole through a woman's face.

Bile rose in Kagome's throat. She gulped.
Callisto was continuing. “Your lover there killed him. I simply returned the favour. However. I know how you are feeling, girl. I know the pain. I longed for my life to end so I could join Hiten. But not any more. Revenge is so much sweeter,”

Kagome realised that Callisto's tentacle had disappeared. And she'd also sheathed her blade.
Kagome relaxed slightly as Callisto continued.
“I'll let you and your unborn child go,”

Kagome took a deep breath and clutched her stomach tightly.
She really hadn't thought it would be that easy.

She sent a wistful glance at Miroku and Sango, and then turned to look at the hiding child behind the building. She nodded at Shippo - maybe she could get away with carting him along too.
Then she looked down at Inuyasha's body. She bent down and tried to pick him up, but it was useless for someone as weak as her.

Shippo stepped nervously over. “I'll help…” he managed to say, shakily.
He bent down and plucked at Inuyasha's trousers, trying to shift him. He couldn't manage it.
Kagome began sobbing without any tears.

She knelt down beside Shippo and tried to move Inuyasha too. She couldn't. She was too weak.
Callisto began watching with amusement. “Pathetic…” she whispered under her breath, glaring at the young demon and teenage human in distaste.

“Kaja,” the horse stepped forward, whinnying. Callisto pointed at Kagome unemotionally. “Take the girl to the nearest village. And cart that damn body as well; it sickens me to look at it. Return to me when you're done,”

Kaja began trotting forward, Callisto holding onto her neck and coming along too. “Don't think I'm helping you, human.” Callisto grinned at Kagome. “Because I'm not. I'll be back - you'll see. As it is, I can't get to your child without killing you and I have nothing but sympathy for you.

“Any child of that half-breed deserves to die. Really, it's just logic.” She smiled devilishly and patted her horse's saddle. “I'm doing you a favour. I'll be along as soon as your baby's born. Take it off of your hands. Destroy it's father's blood… possibly destroy it completely in the process…”

“NO!” Kagome screamed, falling backwards.
Callisto grinned. “Careful, girl - if you take a tumble, your baby won't live long enough to greet me.”
She looked down at Shippo, and then grunted. “And you can take this little Kitsune with you, too.”

“Sango and Miroku…” Kagome looked over at her friends. They were in attacking stances, ready to run at Callisto with full force. They were barely injured - they could fight for a while longer.
Callisto scowled. “The others stay, girl - understand? I'm letting you off as it is.”

Callisto grabbed Inuyasha effortlessly and dumped him on the back of the horse. She wiped her hand on her trouser leg, disgusted, after touching him. Shippo jumped on to Kaja with little effort, sniffing. He poked Inuyasha - trying to wake him up.
Next, Kagome clambered on.

She didn't thank Callisto. Why should she? She'd have been happy to die with Inuyasha if it came to that. Her boyfriend's life had been thrown away - uselessly. And he'd had nothing but a terrible life.

To think… if we'd just completed the jewel. If we'd just defeated Naraku. We'd be married…
Kagome brushed at Inuyasha's hair, fondly. The way she had when he'd been alive and had been holding her. The last time he'd ever do so…
A tear rolled down her cheek.

“Kaja, go!” Callisto barked.
The horse reared up, and then began galloping away - with Shippo grasping hold of her mane and looking down at Inuyasha in grief.
Kagome ignored the two of them. She was being slowly engulfed by her thoughts.

“I'll get behind her while you cause a distraction,” Sango whispered in Miroku's ear as they watched the horse cart their friends away. She began manoeuvring away - trying to avoid Callisto's eyes and keep to the shadows.
Sango's heart was heavy. She didn't remember ever being so… so broken. So full of pain.

“Now,” Callisto turned to face the two she'd left earlier. Only to find Sango had disappeared. She scowled.
“Monk, where did the girl go?”

Miroku looked tired. He stared up at the demon, sleepy-eyed and careless. “She ran,”
Callisto ignored him for a second. Instead she looked around her - but never behind. “I don't see her or hear her, monk. You'd better not be lying…”

“NOW!” Sango cried. She raised her boomerang high in the air then sent it hurtling down at Callisto with all her weight behind the attack. Callisto turned, mouth open. Then dodged effortlessly. It was almost as if she'd teleported - she'd moved that fast.

Sango caught the boomerang and turned in her enemies' direction, frowning in concentration. Callisto frowned back at her. “I'm growing tired of this,” she sighed and tugged at her sword. It was in her hand and pointing at Sango's neck before Sango could even open her mouth to reply.

Miroku stepped forward, anticipating the attack.
Sango was breathing heavily. Her eyes were fixed on the sword before her. Then, slowly, she caved in. “So…” she murmured, hands clamped at her sides. Her boomerang dropped to the floor with a clatter. “… this is where it ends,”

Miroku held up his hands as if to say: don't say that. Callisto was panting. She glared at the girl before her. “It is,” she said.
Miroku felt a wrenching at his heart. “Sango…”

Callisto let out a bellowing laugh - sounding almost insane. “Oh, for God's sake, are you all just happy couples! Do I have to kill you all just to make you see! No one can know how I feel until they feel it for themselves!” she screamed. She was hysterical. Her sword was jittering up and down as her body trembled.

Her eyes were fierce and dark. Her fringe was dishevelled, her lips were parted. She looked afraid. Vulnerable.
Then, in an instant, she recovered. She straightened and her eyes glared at Sango.
“Goodbye,”

She raised her sword. Sango slammed her eyes shut. Miroku screamed out. And before he knew it, he was pulling the beads away from around his right wrist. Callisto began a war cry… and then her voice dissolved in the stream of rushing wind.

A horizontal tornado ripped through the chaos of the night. Miroku's face was screwed up, his eyes tightly shut. Sweat hovered on his forehead. Sango was stumbling backwards - away. Trying to escape the curse of his hand.

“Where… is… that… coming from?” Callisto roared. She was being dragged, unwillingly, towards Miroku's bare hand - and her eyes were dancing wildly. Her hair was like smoke - wild and uncontained, writhing in the air and billowing out like a cloak.

She was screaming. Sango had managed to reach a tree standing idly in the town square and was grabbing hold of it - not letting go.
Callisto was looking around fiercely. And she knew, without understanding why, that if Miroku managed to suck her up then she'd never see Hiten again - not in the after-place.

And tears were brought to her eyes at that thought. It was too late to fight. There was no escape for her. She, who had brought death to so many others, was going to die herself.
She, who'd made women widows and children victims, was being victimised herself.

She opened her mouth and wailed at the top of her lungs. “H-Hiten…!”
And then she was gone. Sucked into the wormhole in Miroku's right hand. No trace of her existed. She'd vanished. Disappeared.

“There's the village!” Shippo cried - his voice hoarse, his eyes still raining tears. Kagome looked up. They were reaching a town teeming with people. Most of them were evacuees that had fled Kaede's village.
Kagome lowered her eyes. They had to be told their priestess was dead…

And what then? Who would be their priestess? I will, Kagome realised with a jolt. Her heart leapt wildly into her throat, but then she calmed.
Some men were standing with bows poised, aiming at Kagome. But when they saw her they lowered their weapons.

“Lady Kagome!” a few villagers called, upon remembering that she was the reincarnation of their priestess's sister.
Kagome smiled slightly, but only just.
The men ran forward. “We thought you were the Soul Stealer. Why are you atop her horse?”

They were close now, at the side of the horse. And they saw Inuyasha's limp body. Their expressions wavered. They looked confused, then sympathetic. They turned back to Kagome. “And what of our priestess?”

Kagome sighed painfully. “Lady Kaede is no longer with us,”
The men's faces whitened. Then they trudged slowly back to the town they had been evacuated to.
Kaja whinnied, and kept walking on until they were in the town.

Kagome wondered how Kaja was recognised as Callisto's horse. She looked just like any other. Her mane was a darker brown in contrast to her body, and she didn't seem to have a dark aura or anything.

It's the saddle, Kagome realised. She looked down. Beneath her it shone black with mauve and pink lace - sewn into a jar emblem. The logo that was Callisto's trade.
“Lady Kagome, would you like us to carry him?”

“Huh?” Kagome looked up. Kaja had stopped by the market. And standing around her was a crowd of Kaede's villagers. Some had dreamy expressions on their faces, others looked calm and collected, whilst some looked sad and withdrawn.
They were all staring at Inuyasha as if he were a hero.

Slowly, Kagome nodded. A woman came and helped her down off of Kaja. Where upon Shippo jumped down too. Kaja didn't leave. She didn't buck Inuyasha's body off. She stood there and whinnied, her brown eyes glinting.

Kagome swallowed and watched as the villagers carried Inuyasha's body away.
And then she stared harder. She stared until she was squinting.

Wait. Wh… Where are his ears? It was true, they were gone. His cute puppy-dog ears were no longer poking out the top of his head. And as the crowd moved like a giant wave, rippling up and down, his hair shook out. And Kagome saw where they had gone.

He had human ears - at the side of his face. And the tips of his white hair were blackening. As if they were being dipped in oil. His ear-tails either side of his face were almost completely black after a few seconds.

None of the crowd noticed. They were trudging along, looking down at the floor. They were carrying him above their heads - arms raised high.

“Hey! Hey, wait a minute!” Kagome cried, running after them. Inuyasha… is he? He is! H-He's transforming…

“Sango? Sango, are you all right…?” Miroku slowly made his way over. His body ached; it had been hard on him to absorb Callisto. Now he stared at the girl he loved with sad eyes.
Sango looked up at him and smiled shakily.

“You saved me,” she croaked, grinning.
Miroku nodded. “I had too. I couldn't just let her… well…”
Sango sat up and raised an eyebrow. She'd been reduced to lying on the floor, hugging the tree for all she was worth. But now the threat had disappeared, she'd let go.

“Even if it meant killing someone as beautiful as her?” she jeered. I've got him there… she thought, smiling wryly. But she hadn't.
Miroku sighed and sat down next to her. “Not-” he took a deep breath, then brushed the back of his hand against Sango's cheek. She stiffened, ready to slap him, then… didn't.

“Not as beautiful as you,” Miroku whispered. He leaned in, shutting his eyes - getting ready to kiss her….
SLAP!
“Hooouuuusssshhhhiiii-ssssaaaammmaaa!” Sango cried.
Miroku fell backwards, rubbing his cheek. “Ow,”

Sango looked hurt. “How can you act like this when… when one of our friends - no, make that two - have just died!” She was wringing her hands in frustration, glaring at Miroku.
He opened his mouth to argue back, then didn't. He sighed.
“You're right,” He looked away.

For a while they sat there, looking at the devastation around them. Sango's lip wobbled. “What now?” she whispered, and reached for Miroku's hand. She found it, and held it tightly.
Miroku glanced at her, and then turned back. An unsure smile crept across his face. “We wait,”