InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Aftermath ❯ The Surfacing of the Beast ( Chapter 2 )

In the remains of a war-torn world, can four individuals find peace?

A/N:Hey, I'm back, even though I haven't received any reviews. Did you hear me? No reviews at all! That makes me very sad :(. When I get reviews, I write. When I don't, I don't have the motivation to.

Anyway, a bit of a warning. This violence in this chapter is graphic. You've been warned.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the songs contained within.

Songs are listed w/ copyrights and the like at the end of the fic.

_____The Aftermath_____

[music]

AC/DC - Highway to Hell

Living easy, loving free

Season ticket on a one-way ride

Asking nothing, leave me be

Taking everything in my stride

Don't need reason, don't need rhyme

Ain't nothing I would rather do

Going down, party time

My friends are gonna be there too

[/music]

Inuyasha was in the stereotypical smoky bar, playing a stereotypical game of pool. 'This is like some stupid movie... ah well, it doesn't matter'. He took a sip of his scotch, which had cost him a fortune. Things seemed to cost so much more, now that most of the world was living in ruins.

[music]

I'm on the highway to hell

[/music]

Inuyasha had soon realized that most of the world was in a similar state of being as his city. America had it worst, their major cities had all been nuked, and biological weapons were spreading though as well.

[music]

No stop signs, speed limit

Nobody's gonna slow me down

Like a wheel, gonna spin it

Nobody's gonna mess me round

Hey Satan, payed my dues

Playing in a rocking band

Hey Momma, look at me

I'm on my way to the promised land

[/music]

He finished his pool game, downed the rest of his drink, and put on his jacket. It was the stereotypical black leather trench coat you see in movies, and he got on his stereotypical black Harley.

[music]

I'm on the highway to hell

(Don't stop me)

And I'm going down, all the way down

I'm on the highway to hell

[/music]

He was trying to impress the owner of the bar, on words of advice from Kagome. His mind drifted back to that night, several days before.

~Flashback~

They were sitting in Kagome's living room, with the exception of Shippo. He was off doing something somewhere... Inuyasha didn't really care, so had forgotten where he had went.

"The city can't survive like this, guys. Kouga is doing a decent job of protecting everyone, but he's not paying any attention at all to the needs of the people beyond safety. Kagome can also attest that he's not doing very good at that, either. I also know that Kouga didn't have this big of a gang before, so where did all of his men come from?"

Kagome had the answer to that question. "A lot of smaller gangs joined his. It was like an avalanche. Once a few started, even more did. A lot joined completely, but some stayed independent, just working with him to the same goal."

Miroku furrowed his brow, thinking. 'There has to be a way to get into power in this city... and it sounds like joining with Kouga is the best...'

"Inuyasha, it seems that working with Kouga's gang would be the quickest way to power. We don't have enough people to take him on, and even if we did, while we were taking over, the infrastructure of the current security force would collapse, and we would have to completely rebuild it, and the people would be unsafe during the transition."

He seemed to consider this, and then continued with Miroku's train of thought. "Kagome, how would we come about being a gang, and getting noticed by Kouga? We could sign on as one of the independent groups. It would allow us to stay aloof, and not get sucked in, but by doing well, he would gain more trust in us."

She hesitated before speaking. "Well, you would start out as a crew, first, really. There's not enough of us at current to really be a gang." She let out a short giggle, after realizing what she was saying. 'Heh... Never through I would be talking about becoming a gang member...'. Inuyasha looked at her strangle before she continued, "But the first step would be having a hang-out. A place to meet, and brood, and luck sulky, to get the stereotypical image across. This building has a basement bar, but no one ever opened it. If you could get a bartender, and some people to work it, I have contacts that could supply the alcohol."

They sat, and thought over the idea for several minutes, until Sango voiced her idea, her first time speaking the entire meeting. "We would need a name... how about the Illuminati?"

Miroku nodded sagely, but Inuyasha gave out a snort. "What the hell does Illuminati mean?!"

Sango sighed, then began to explain, "Inuyasha, you're an IDIOT. The Illuminati are really a conspiracy theory, that a group of people rule the world, and pull all of the strings to make things happen. We would be a group of people, working to control Kouga to make things that we would want to happen, happen."

Inuyasha snorted again. "I knew that."

~Present Time~

Inuyasha snorted. He obviously hadn't known it, and everyone there knew it. 'I wonder why I always have to be like that? Ah well, I don't give a fuck.'

[music]

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast

I lived alone

My mind was blank

I needed time to get the memories from my mind

What did I see

Can I believe

That what I saw that night was real and not just fantasy

Just what I saw

In my own dreams

Were they reflections of my warped mind staring back at me

[/music]

He kicked up the stand that held the bike in place, and twisted the handle. He sped down the streets, going around what little traffic there was. The streets, for the most part, were deserted. It was 4'am in the morning, and the majority of sane people were asleep.

[music]

Cause in my dreams

It's always there

The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair

The night was black

Was no use holding back

Cause I just had to see

Was someone watching me

In the mist

Dark figures move and twist

Was all this for real or some kind of hell

666

The Number of the Beast

Hell and fire was spawned to be released

[/music]

His eyes tracked to the right... Something was glowing orange in the distance. He sped down the street, turning in that direction. As he got closer, he realized it was a fire, in the middle of one of the old parks.

[music]

Torches blazed

And sacred chants were praised

As they start to cry

Hands held to the sky

In the night

The fires burning bright

The ritual has begun

Satan's work is done

666

The Number of the Beast

Sacrifice is going on tonight

[/music]

The park was just as badly destroyed as the rest of the city, and whoever was running this event was taking use of the craters.

The sight was sickening. People were nailed up onto mock crosses, crucified for their deeds, whatever they were. They were on fire, great bonfires beneath them. Others were just being tossed into the inferno, being saved the pain of the crucifixion.

He left his bike in an alley, and began to wretch in the corner. After reliving his dinner, he walked into the crowd of onlookers.

'I don't know what's more sickening... the fact that this is happening, or the fact that people are watching," he let out a gasp as the sounds the crowd was making registered with him, '... and cheering...'

His hand slid down to his gun, and he pushed his way to the front of the crowd.

[music]

This can't go on

I must inform the law

Can this be real

Or some crazy dream

but I feel drawn

towards the chanting hordes

they seem to mesmerize

Can't avoid their eyes

666

The Number of the Beast

666

The one for you and me

[/music]

"What the FUCK is going on here?" No one seemed to notice, so he pulled out his pistol, and fired it up into the air. "I said, WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!"

The crowd fell silent, except for several screams, and in his peripheral vision, he saw some people run off. 'Cowards...'

One of the men finished throwing a person into the fire, and then walked over to Inuyasha.

"We're burning people alive, idiot. What does it look like?"

"Yea, I got the burning alive part, but why is it happening? What did they do?"

"They spoke out against us. We're the Wolfpack, and you mess with us, you burn. You want to join them?"

Rage burned through Inuyasha's veins, and his eyes began to glow red. "Fuckers gotta pay, right?"

The man in front of him edged back when he saw the red eyes, but nodded.

"Right. You won't mind when I do this, then, will you?"

Inuyasha put his gun to the mans forehead, and pulled the trigger. The man hadn't had time to react, but the others did.

[music]

I'm coming back

I will return

And I'll possess your body

And I'll make you burn

I have the fire

I have the force

I have the power to make my evil take its course

[/music]

One of the gang members behind the man was sprayed in blood, and bits of brain... though most of the brain had exploded into liquid anyway.

The top of the mans head had exploded into a pink cloud, with pieces of bone shattering. The majority of his face above his mouth was completely gone.

Inuyasha took a step forward, and planted his foot on what remained of the mans face.

"Anyone else feel like burning people alive?"

Most ran. Some tried to fight. They soon were in similar conditions as the first.

~_~

From her position on the other side of the street, Kagome could barely see Inuyasha, but she had seen what he had done, and what had been happening.

She supposed she should feel disgusted, or happy that he had set things right, or at least something... But all she felt was emptiness.

Inuyasha released those what would have been thrown in soon, and ended the pain for those who had no hope of surviving after their torture placed on them.

After that, all he did was collapse into a sitting position, and place his head in his hands.

The crowd was long since gone, and Kagome hesitantly walked over to him, and was surprised to see that he was crying.

[music]

Iron Maiden - Como Estais Amigos

Como esta amigo

For the death of those we don't know

Shall we kneel and say a prayer

They will never know we care

Shall we keep the fires burning

Shall we keep the flames alight

Shall we try to remember

What is wrong and what is right

No more tears, no more tears

If we live for a hundred years

Amigos no more tears

[/music]

She tentatively placed an arm over his shoulders, and he froze. He looked at her, straightened up, and tried to regain his composure. After a second of trying, all he could do was slump back into his previous posture.

[music]

If we do forget them and

The sacrafice they made

Will the wickedness and

Sadness come to visit us again

Shall we dance the dance in sunlight

Shall we drink the wine of peace

Shall our tears be of joy

Shall we keep at bay the beast

[/music]

"What did I do? I could have solved that without killing them... But all I could do was feel the need to see them lying in a pool of blood... Why did I do that? God damnit, what the fuck happened to me?!"

She stared at him for a second before answering. "I don't know Inuyasha... I don't know. I haven't known you for more than a few weeks... but that wasn't like you... I don't know what happened."

"Are you disgusted of me?"

"What?! Why would I be disgusted of you?"

"Who wouldn't be? I just mercilessly killed people, I blew their brains out, and I could have solved it without killing them. They were SCUM, and they deserved it... But I didn't feel anything but joy and lust as I did it... I don't even really remember what happened... just the feeling."

She suppressed a shudder, and was instantly disgusted of herself. 'I just told him that I wasn't disgusted of him, and I almost shutter. NO. He needs help, and obviously didn't consciously want to do this. It wasn't his fault.'

"C'mon Inuyasha... let's go home. I was on my way to go get you, but I saw the fires, so I came here... I don't feel like walking all the way back, so I need you to give me a ride."

He nodded, mind slightly off of what he had done, absorbed in the task she had given him. In the back of his mind, he knew she was doing it to get him to do something besides sit there and brood, and was thankful for it.

~Time Break~

When they arrived back at her apartment, Inuyasha became silent again, and went over to the couch, sat in it, and then sagged.

"...Kagome... I have to ask you something very serious... Were my eyes red when I... did... that?"

She thought for a second, then remembered that they were glowing red... at the time, she had thought it was a reflection from the fires.

"...Yes... I think they were..."

He nodded. "I think I'm going to get some sleep.

[music]

Sonata Arctica - Black Sheep

In love with the maiden

The flower of winter

Lowbrow children

in grove of the inland
How many times heart's gone thru the grinder

wherever you look there's a painful reminder

Singing a love song

words of a stranger

The howling miller

never to face her

Temple of the evil

Temple of the weak

no one knows how bad he feels

Late-night innuendo

tempetation of the key

"Live with the Blacksheep, live with me"

Insanity

blessing for those born to hate you

Burned by the embers of love

It is so cruel

Howling the night

For sun of the midnight

Serving the people

Condemned you in the eternal night

Of the lost song

words of the stranger

The howling miller

Never to face her

Temple of the evil

Temple of the weak

No one knows how bad he feels

Late-night innuendo

Tempetation of the key

"Live with the Blacksheep, live with me"

[/music]

As Kagome awoke the next morning, she went into the living room to find Inuyasha's things not in their usual place. A cold feeling entered her gut, and she quickly looked over the apartment to find his things, and him, gone.

She ran out her door, and as she closed it, she noticed a note on it.

~~

Dear Kagome,

I'm sorry that I have to leave, but it's for your protection, along with the others. I thought I had it beaten, but apparently not.

As you know, I'm a half-demon... but when I reach a certain point of anger or dismay, I lose my conscious will, and fall prey to the darkest of demon desires.

If I stay, I'll be endangering you, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and everyone around me.

Wench, don't come looking after me. I'll be fine. Keep the others safe, even that pervert.

Inuyasha

~~

She read the note several times, then leaned against the door. She red it once again, and then slid down it. She wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested her head on her knees.

'Inuyasha...'

[/chapter]

A cliffhanger.... whoops. Oh well, you guys shouldn't have to wait too long. I've started on CH3, so it shouldn't be that far off. I f I actually get reviews this time, it'll come even faster.

Random tidbit: Tom Clancy is a good author. Go check his stuff out.

-_Credits_-

AC/DC - Highway to Hell (Epitome of Rock n' Roll.)

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast (I thought it fit well with Inuyasha going full demon)

Iron Maiden - Como Estais Amigos (One during Blaze's time in IM, but still good)

Sonata Arctica - Black Sheep (A good song, though a bit hard to understand)