InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Stealing Shadows ❯ Living Hell ( Chapter 5 )

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

The pressure in the air around her was immense, causing her to feel short of breath and light headed. How much longer could she keep this up? Keeping the barrier around the women was trying enough. The reiki orb glowing brightly in her hand was barely keeping the oni restrained in the shadow cloaked edges around them. Her strength was beginning to waver. Kagome had a choice to make. Either keep the barrier up to protect the women or the orb to protect herself.

Gritting her teeth against the strain she fought for control over her powers. The soft moans of the women behind her were evidence that the purifying effects of her barrier was freeing them from the oni's grasp. They were still too far gone to be able to defend themselves against attacks. Their minds would likely be too fragile to withstand another mental push from the shadow oni. As a miko, her duty was to protect the innocent and so she would.

The orb in her hand flickered and failed as she steadied her grip on the katana. Somewhere in the black curtain that clung to the walls, she heard the menacing laughter of Chitose. Another hiss and chuckle echoed around her as the beast moved in the dark, a predator of stealth and deception.

“Kagome-sama! The orb! You must create the orb again!” Yume cried out behind her, worried for the safety of the young woman beyond the barrier.

“It will be alright Yume. I can not keep up both at the same time. You must concentrate on waking the women and preparing them to leave. If there is an opportunity to escape, I will be counting on you to get them out.” Kagome's voice was stern. Her eyes focused on the tiny movements at the limits of her vision; ears straining to pick up the position of her enemy.

Yume watched as the miko braced her legs in a defensive stance. She saw determination in the form and knew that the younger girl was serious in her bleak endeavor. Yume realized that she couldn't fail Kagome and so she began trying to stir the women from their slumber. Yume's thoughts turned to the pile of bindings she had cut from the women. It may not be much and even pointless but she had high hopes for the rags. Two women had come to and Yume made fast work of getting them on board with her plan. Soon they were tying the strips together, their skillful fingers weaving a strong rope. Yume hoped that it would be enough.

“Tasty!” A voice hissed. It was so close that Kagome could thought she felt a stirring of breath on her skin.

“Stop hiding in the shadows Chitose! Come out where I can see you!” Kagome demanded. Her mind couldn't take much more of this waiting game. She felt like a worm on a hook, baited and awaiting her unpleasant fate.

“Very well my precious.” This time the voice sounded more human, masculine and strong.

Kagome nearly gasped when Chitose emerged, his form faintly lit by the shimmering pink barrier behind her. He was not the creature of terror she had remembered from the ocean caves. His features were for the most part human. Strong facial structuring made him handsome, long blue black hair framing high cheekbones and bright green eyes. Tall and stoic, he could have been compared to regal nobility. His clothes were the only give away to his less than prosperous lifestyle. The dark cloth was stained with dirt and blood; tattered and torn from neglect. Was he a shape shifter as well? She remembered his red eyes and mouth full of teeth from before, not this beautiful man.

“I see you have been busy. It's not nice to take away someone's food.” He stepped closer.

“If you changed your diet I wouldn't have to be so rude.” Kagome's steely voice echoed loudly in the room. Her sword raised at the approaching oni.

“Hn. My 'diet' is none of your concern miko.” He grinned; the toothy smile was deadly as Kagome again witnessed row upon row of razor sharp teeth. Handsome and charming on the outside, his mouth was reminiscent of the jaws of the notorious great white.

“Your funeral.” Kagome shrugged as Chitose began his assault.

The oni launched, his movements flowing with the shadows. Kagome barely raised her katana up in time to block his attach. It happened so fast that she almost didn't see the sword he pulled from behind him. The metal had caught the faintest of reflections from the barrier still erected behind her. The pale pink reiki had shone briefly giving her an opportunity to defend herself.

Still shaking from the shock of the first attack she braced again for the blade. The clashing of metal resounded through the caverns, deafening in the silence that had filled the area before. Kagome wasn't making great strides at winning, hell she was barely hanging in there. Each blow of his blade against hers vibrated through her arms. Every time she countered, her muscles burned in protest.

The worst of it was that she knew Chitose was only playing with her. Wearing her down until he himself tired of the game. Time was running out. Kagome wasn't sure how long she could keep up this pace and maintain enough concentration to keep the barrier up around the women. Dodging and diving she held her ground, mindless of the cuts and bruises she was earning along the way.

Surely Chitose had to have another weakness. He was sensitive to light, but in their current location there were plenty of dark corners for him to hide in. Tempting as it was, the bright reiki orb she was capable of producing was only a bandage for the problem and not a solution. Kagome's mind raced as she desperately tried to come up with an answer. So lost in her thoughts she missed Chitose's lightning fast attack. Her tired body could not move quick enough. Blinding heat seared her thigh, the dampness of her blood drawing her awareness to her wound. Kagome cried out upon realization that her enemies blade had cut cleanly through the dragon leather hidden beneath her robes and sliced deeply through her flesh. Instinctively her hand dropped to her thigh, clutching tightly to the dripping wound.

“Kagome!” Yume screamed helplessly behind the wavering pink barrier.

The miko dropped to her knees, fumbling as she tried to slow the bleeding. Her eyes were wide as she watched her enemy in the shadows. Finding it difficult to retain her composure and fending off panic, Kagome tried to focus on the oni that lurked in the blackness beyond her.

“You blood has the taste of purity and power. Such a wonderful combination. Pity I don't plan on eating you.” Chitose paused as he emerged from the ominous cloud of dark. One finger trailed down the tip of his bloodied blade as he sampled her for a second time. “At least, I won't eat you quite yet.”

“What is it you want beast!” Kagome spat.

“Isn't it obvious?” He smiled pulling his finger from his mouth; all traces of her blood licked clean from the appendage.

“If it was so obvious I wouldn't have asked.” Kagome growled. Her hand pressed roughly against her leg. Her ability to call upon her reiki was failing. She found she couldn't use her powers to heal her wound. Her eyes flicked to where the women were. She had been surprised to see that every villager had been revived. Scared eyes were fixed on her, waiting to see what would become of her. What would become of them all. More importantly though, she had been disheartened to see the barrier beginning to wane, faltering ever so slightly with every drop of blood she lost.

“I require a heir.” He stated matter-of-factly.

“Your point?” She huffed, more concerned about her weakened state and the welfare of her charges than the longevity of the oni's family line.

“I fear that neither youkai nor human has been able to carry my child to birth. Repeated experiments have all ended in disappointment. Combining my seed with youkai proved unsuccessful. The mixed blood always produced a fetus that was far too dark; it always devoured the youkai female from the inside out.”

Kagome paled at the newly learned information. Her eyes sought out Yume and found the woman clutching her womb in fear. There had been two other women right? What had happened to them? Had Chitose impregnated them as well?

“And humans?” Kagome asked carefully, unsure as to whether or not she wished to hear the answer.

“They all abort before their bellies start to swell.” His smile this time was directed at Yume. “Humans are after all insignificant creatures. I don't know why I bothered with them.”

“You do realize that I am human.” Kagome hadn't liked the way he had so easily disregarded humans. Her heart was telling her that the fate of the other two women was likely bleak. If they had already been impregnated and aborted, they were likely dead. Chitose didn't look like the type to deal with failure all that well. She could only pray that Yume was free of such a burden.

“Ah yes. A minor set back. You however, have the most unique of gifts. A miko. Something rare and beautiful in this world. I have big plans for you my dear.”

Kagome shuddered at the thought. It was best she never witnessed those plans for her. Closing her eyes tightly for a minute, she prayed that Inuyasha would find her soon. Staying alive until he got to her was fast becoming her main objective.

“Miko–Yes, you could call me that. I still fail to see how I could possibly be of use to you.” Kagome was trying to buy some time. Keep him talking in hopes of sparing her life and the lives of the villagers.

“Miko possess the ability to purify and heal. You would be able to carry my child to full term by healing yourself and keeping the fetus from becoming pure evil.” The shadow oni leaned against a large stone. He looked deep in thought as he weighed the possibilities of such a union.

“Aren't you afraid that I would simply purify it?”

“I chose you for a reason. Though you possess great power, it is clearly evident that you lack in training and self discipline. You are barely able to maintain your barrier while you fight. I highly doubt you could train you reiki to purify a living, breathing baby within your womb.” Sheathing his sword he sat down. Seated he was at the same eye level as her. “Besides, a miko would have a hard time killing her own child.”

It was true. Even if she found herself carrying the seed of evil herself, Kagome knew she couldn't be so heartless. A child was still a child, no matter who or what it was. She believed that there was good in everyone, why should Chitose's child be any different.

Pushing aside the unsettling thoughts of forced motherhood, Kagome saw the opportunity she was searching for. If Chitose only wanted her, perhaps she could work out a deal with him. Trade the freedom of the women for her cooperation. First she would negotiate the release of the captives and then worry about her own hide.

“Baby talk aside, we find ourselves at stand still. I'll agree to consider carrying your child if, and only if, you set these women free.” Kagome focused on keeping her voice strong and even. This had to be the craziest thing she had ever done. A decision that could prove fatal. What could she possibly be thinking?

“Kagome! You can't agree to this!” Yume shouted behind her, panicking at the thought of the fate that awaited the miko.

“Yume, this is the only way to get you and the others out.” Kagome shouted, her eyes never leaving the smiling face of the shadow oni.

“Then what of my food? Do you intend to fill that void as well?”

“What do you mean?” Kagome was confused. Hadn't the men been his source of sustenance.

“I'm using the women for my daily dinner. Inducing nightmares creates the most delicious of screams. I specifically chose these caverns for their amplification and channeling properties. You see my sweet, each one of these wonderful sounds vibrate in these walls and flow straight down to my chamber.” His predatory grin sent shivers down Kagome's spine.

“Then the men...” Kagome was at a loss for words. The horrors she had seen had been perfectly and purposely orchestrated. Each wound had been methodically inflicted to produce a response that both thrilled and sustained the oni. What kind of beast was she up against? Kagome suddenly felt as if she was about to sell her soul to Satan himself.

“I had been resting for a very long period of time. I required–an energy boost. The village provided a way to fulfill all my needs. These caverns were close by, the village isolated and a bounty of nourishment. I can still feel the way each one of their screams excited me. The look on their faces when they were strung up; begging for me to stop, begging for death. You saw them didn't you. Tell me miko, was the artistic beauty of death still etched into their features?

Horrified, Kagome could only recoil. The images of those stark faces sprung back to life, sending her mind reeling into darkness once more. Lifeless eyes, cold black blood and the unmistakable scent of death suddenly seemed so fresh. It was as if she was suddenly standing in front of that hut once again. Gone was the cavern, replaced by the still village. What was going on?

“What's it like miko?” The voice in the darkness called out and Kagome found herself once again positioned on the cold stone in the cave. A cold hand was pressed against her waist. Chitose had moved beside her, his arm wrapped around her.

“You're repulsive!” Kagome spat, pushing away from his embrace.

“Your choice miko. The women's freedom and your damnation, or your own freedom.” His hand gestured towards to shaking forms of the villagers.

Could she handle it? Blue eyes rested on the strained faces of the others. Hadn't they suffered just as much and survived? Wasn't it her duty to protect and serve the people? All she had to do was survive. Weakened as she was, there was no hope of escape at the moment. She had depleted her reiki to almost nothing. The barrier that barely surrounded the women threatened to give out at any minute.

“Release the women immediately! When they are safe beyond the walls of this cave I will negotiate the terms of my commitment with you.” Kagome had to turn away from the sorrowful look in Yume's eyes.

“Very well.” Chitose waved his hand. The movement caused the walls of the cavern to moan and crackle. A hole opened up revealing the moonlit forest outside.

Kagome was exhausted and last of her energy gave way, the shimmering pink barrier dissolved into nothing.

“Leave!” The growl echoed in the room and jump starting the women into action. Only Yume hesitated, giving one more worried glance before disappearing into the black outline of the forest.

All too suddenly Kagome found herself trapped alone with a creature from her worst nightmares. Panic swelled within making her heart race and breathing labored. Where was Inuyasha when she needed him the most? Hell, right about now she wished herself locked up with Naraku. At least he had only wanted her to detect jewel shards.

Now she faced the possibility of rape and endless night terrors. What would seem like an eternity of being used both physically and mentally was becoming all too close to reality. Kagome was beat, exhausted and at the mercy of the beast in front of her. The wound on her leg had slowed it's bleeding but she had lost enough blood to leave her light headed. Any attempt to escape would be futile and likely fatal. Physically she was unable to fight any longer. Mentally she was losing as well.

With no chance of utilizing her powers as a miko she had to stall the best she could. Her only hope lay in the hands of her amber eyed hanyou.

The air was calm and still around him. No birds and no bugs. This had to be the spot. He could feel the ominous aura that filtered through the darkness. Subtle as it was, his acute senses picked up on the ebb and flow in the energy around him. Inuyasha was close. His youkai eyes glowing in the dark, focused and searching for his prey.

Tetsusaiga vibrated at his hip, calling out to his human half. Kagome was somewhere nearby. Inuyasha was about to move forward when he felt the sudden shift in the air around him.

'A barrier?' He mouthed.

Reaching out his hand he felt for the invisible wall. Electricity surged from the wall, the force strong enough to throw him back. The blast only served to fuel the rage that was growing within him. A feral growl ripped from his throat as he unsheathed Tetsusaiga. The blade made no protest to the youki coursing through his very being. Instead it pulsed in time with it and soon the blade was glowing as red as Inuyasha's eyes.

Poised to strike, he had to suddenly refrain as again he felt a shift and the barrier dropped with no attack. His nose instantly detected the scent of humans. Before him, women began to rush from the void, wild eyed and frantic. The moment they spotted him they froze. By this time the group was past the barrier. The moment the last foot crossed the line, the energy flared and the barrier was back.

“You smell like him!” Inuyasha growled, his sensitive nose picking up on the thick stench that clung to their clothes. As he studied each of the terrified faces he became aware of just who this pathetic group could be. He took a ragged breath before he spoke again. Perhaps he could get some much needed information from them. He only hoped he hadn't scared them too much with his youkai appearance.

“You are the women from the village, right?” He tried to project his voice in the most calming matter he could, the rough edge was still underlying in it.

No responses came from the pale skin and wide eyes that stared back at him. Not until a timid voice from behind the group floated on the breeze.

“Hai.”

“The oni, he took you from your homes. I search only for him and mean you know harm.” He knew the words would mean little to these traumatized beings. How could he project a safe and trusting persona when he knew full well what he looked like. Red rimmed eyes searched the small crowd for the bravest of the women who had somehow found her voice to answer him the first time.

“Does he have a miko?” Inuyasha tried again after moments of silence.

Then he saw her, a tiny young woman that was fidgeting in the back. He could tell that she knew something. He could sense her apprehension and confusion as it rolled off her in waves. He had to reach her somehow, get her to trust him enough to give him the little bit of information he sought.

“Kagome. I am here to protect the miko known as Kagome.” He spoke her name slowly, carefully watching for any kind of response from the fidgeting girl. It was there. A spark in her eyes when the name rolled of his tongue.

Softly he advanced, the women bolting as he approached. He let them all pass, his eyes never leaving the desperate brown eyes of the young woman at the edge of the barrier. Soon it was only him and her. She hadn't fled when the rest had. Now he stood before her, the red Tetsusaiga vibrating as it drew closer to the barrier.

“Please,” he pleaded, “I need to find her. She means everything to me.”

Those scared brown orbs misted and her lip began to quake. Yume didn't understand how a youkai could come to have such deep feelings for a miko. Two mortal enemies should never have any form of a bond. She could feel his sincerity. Somehow knew that he was not lying. This beautiful yet terrifying creature was likely just as deadly as Chitose but she was going to trust him. Kagome had no other options.

“She has sacrificed so much for us.” Yume sobbed, breaking under the immense strain on her mental well being. Sinking to her knees she began to let it all go. Hurriedly she began to tell the youkai before him the story of her ordeal from the moment of her capture until the last moments within the dark caves. She spared no detail as she rattled off her tale, barely breathing between sentence. She was half certain that he couldn't understand her between her tears and sore throat. She didn't stop though until the last word of the completed story had left her lips.

Inuyasha listened carefully, not missing any of the haunting words that the girl half sobbed, half whispered. His rage renewed with her testimony of what she had been forced through. His mind reeling with the possibilities of what the beast was doing to his precious miko at this very moment.

Unable to take the mental picture his mind had conjured up, he threw back his head and let loose a fierce roar.

“Get back!” He snarled at the woman in front of him.

Yume shook with fear as the youkai in front of her seemed to snap. She shuffled out of harms way, hiding behind a boulder. Her eyes met his as he raised his glowing sword high above his head.

“I will kill him for what he has done, but I will torture him if he has harmed her. Your nightmare ends now.”

With no effort he sliced through the invisible wall and Yume watched in silent awe until she could no longer see his fiery red robes in the blackness beyond her. Had she heard right? Did that youkai actually think to seek revenge on Chitose for her? Could he bring to an end the creature that had designed such anguish? Yume prayed for Kagome's sake that he was able. For she understood that the miko's fate now lay in his hands. A miko that had defied evil itself and subjected her own soul to eternal despair, all to save a group of lives that were already lost to the darkness. A woman who was willing to submit and be subject to the most vile of abuses for the charity of the villagers. Yume owed her life to Kagome, a being of light and purity, who was being defiled by darkness.

Oxygen. She focused on the word, trying to force her ribs and lungs to expand despite the weight on her chest. Keeping her mind trained on a simple breathing exercise was better than concentrating on the rough hands that pushed at her. She had kept a relative calm until she heard the fabric of her robes rip. Panic rose in her throat. Even though she had agreed to this she knew that she couldn't accept it. A frantic scream tore from her. Every fiber in her demanded her to use her reiki but she despaired when she hadn't the energy to so much as singe her assailant.

His breath felt like acid on his skin and she cried when his hips ground greedily into hers. She kept her eyes shut tightly to avoid having the image of his lust filled eyes engraved in her memory forever. Chitose whispered words of endearment, mixing in phrases of insult and terror. Seemingly gratifying himself with the casual mix of love and hate. Kagome whimpered when a knee forced itself between her legs and a hand clutched at her breast painfully.

The miko heard the shadow oni curse when his hand fumbled beneath her robe only to find his progress halted by the tough dragon hide of Sango's creation. Kagome silently thanked her taijiya friend for the extra layer of protection between the beast upon her and her body.

“Don't worry my sweet. A few nibbles and you will be mine.” Chitose grin, flashing his razor sharp smile at the unyielding woman beneath him. He was both excited and angered with his newest discovery. Too him, it was not unlike unwrapping a present that one had been anticipating for a very long time.

Kagome had barely had time to register his words when blind heat shot through her shoulder. Thousands of teeth pierced through her skin, effectively cutting the heavy leather that covered her slender form. Not even the dragon hide could contend with the powerful oni's jaws. Kagome felt the blessed rush of shock. She prayed that she passed out before Chitose achieved his goal.

Hot lips crushed hers and the taste of copper invade her mouth. The bastard had bit her and then forced his lips, dripping with her own blood upon hers. Nausea threatened to overcome her. Searing tears trailed down her dirty skin when he stopped his assault on her mouth, his interest once again trained on removing her clothing.

When she thought she could bare no more, a growl ripped through the air around her and suddenly the weight and punishing hands were gone. Her eyes flew open when she heard the menacing voice.

“You will die a slow death bastard. The girl is MINE!”

A/N: Thank you Kokoronagomu for the wonderful work as usual!

KyriaHitomi: Hope this chapter doesn't keep you up at night!
Mysteriousmoon30: So glad you jumped on board with my latest story! Thanks for the multiple reviews and I really hope that you enjoy this chapter just as much as the rest!
Mayu28: Thank you. A little late with this chapter but I got it done nonetheless.
Kmoaton: Confrontation!!!! Kagome held her ground as best she could.
Surfy: I'm thrilled that you like my story. Sorry it took so long to update!
Vampirelover2009: Thanks for the review! Hopefully the next chapter won't take so long.
Kdec: Inuyasha too the rescue!!!
little25victor: Creepy... scary... yeah, I wouldn't want to meet Chitose in some dark alley!
Catlover260: Don't worry about Inuyasha feeling unneeded. Kagome is still only human and bound by our limitations of strength. Hope this chapter delivered!
IXIWineIXI: Thank you. I have never read their work – I guess I will now. You have inspired me to seek out new stories! I hope you find this next installment just as interesting as the last.
Angel-up-above-heaven: Poor Kags just isn't quite a match for such a powerful and nasty oni. Good thing Inuyasha has arrived.
Unistar: Some of your questions were answered but I likely left you with more. Sorry! *grins *
Psyco_chick32: Happy to read your reviews! Makes me feel really guilty. I still have for chapter of Pack law to finish. But I will have you know that I tend to save the stories I like best for when I really need a mood booster. Yours fits the bill very well. So I like to ration myself! Hope you are doing well.