InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Corrupted ❯ Desperation ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 6: Desperation

Sesshoumaru explained for the fourth time who he was and about the case he was on, and the newest complication about the case. He was about to tear the throats out of these imbeciles when he finally got somewhere. The computer finally pulled up his files, explaining who he was and the case he was on. His department head's name was included and the stupid police officer insisted on calling him. When he returned from the phone call he looked grim and apologetic.

"So is it the girl who was being abused that he kidnapped?" Sesshoumaru almost rang the idiot's neck. He had just told him four times that it was her brother that had been kidnapped. He sat forward to do just as he wanted, but Atsuko laid a hand on his shoulder, somehow calming him when it normally would have agitated him.

"No, my daughter is fine. It is my son that he kidnapped." She calmly informed him. Sesshoumaru was impressed. Now that she had gotten over her initial panic, this woman was now as calm as any woman could be in this situation. She stressed her words, but there was no panic in her voice, only a prodding to try to get them to do something.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do except look for anything suspicious and send out reports about the guys profile. You can provide a description of him, can't you?" Sesshoumaru suppressed a growl and carefully controlled his voice. He didn't ask why he was so angry, he just knew that the rapist had once again pulled a quick one on them and momentarily set them back.

"I have not seen him." He turned to Atsuko, who shook her head.

"I did not see him, I was blindfolded from behind and then tied up." She said almost apologetically. But then she brightened. "Kagome knows what he looks like." She implied. Sesshoumaru nodded. The police officer gave them both curious looks. Sesshoumaru once again felt the familiar surge of anger.

"Didn't you read the profile?" He spat out the words, making the guy shrink into himself and quickly flipped through it, finding the name Kagome and stopping to read. He was still reading when Sesshoumaru stood up ten minutes later. The officer looked up.

"Excuse me, but we need to ask a few more questions." He tried to look stern, but failed when Sesshoumaru wheeled to glare at him.

"It will get you nowhere, you incompetent idiots. You are disgustingly wasteful of time. I am going to go and get the girl who can describe Naraku for your artist. I expect that he will be ready for her when we return." His voice was deathly cold and made the hairs on the back of the officer's neck stand up. "Well?" Sesshoumaru snarled. The guy nodded nervously and watched as he went outside.

Sesshoumaru banged the door open, his barely controlled rage boiling his blood. Atsuko followed out behind him, a little nervous about the man her daughter was apparently falling for. Oh yes, she knew, the way her eyes found his, the affection in them, the way he watched her so quietly, and his obvious rage about her abuser. His actions and the things he didn't do spoke of his feelings for her, and vice versa. She watched as he stormed around, a little worried about his violent nature, but decided Kagome could handle herself, and if he had even thought about hurting her she certainly wouldn't act the way she did around him.

Sesshoumaru fumed some more, this time angry with himself. He had forgotten that Kagome had taken his car to get back home. Until she returned, he was stuck there. He stopped pacing and brought his hand to his face, forcing himself to calm and control himself. He took several deep breaths and finally felt his rage lessen slightly. He turned to look at Atsuko, her face thoughtful.

~**~

Kagome drove quite fast, much faster than she aught to, but she got home in seven minutes. She hopped out of the car and bounded up the steps, running up to her mother's room. She opened the door and stopped, shocked. Blood was painted across the wall, making her nauseous because of the amount of it. The smell was horrendous. She backed out and took several deep breaths before her stomach stopped churning. She went and got a handkerchief to hold over her nose and stood at the door, gathering her courage. She went in again, but this time the smell was very muted and did not bother her half so much. The blood still made her stomach turn, but she swallowed the bile that rose in her throat.

She turned from the bloodstained wall to find the rest of her mother's room in order, the bed neatly made, everything in its proper place. She went to grab the suitcase but stopped just as she was about to pick it up. `Lipstick.' The word stuck in her mind like a beacon and heralded in her head. Something was wrong with it, there was something wrong with her mother's room, and it had to do with the lipstick. Kagome didn't know how she knew this, she just did. She turned slowly to the dresser and walked over to it, looking at all the lipsticks, ten at least. She immediately identified the one that was bothering her; it was her mother's favorite. She reached for it hesitantly, touching it carefully.

A flash of light and though hit her so hard she jerked her hand back and was blinded. It faded as soon as her fingers left the lipstick. She had seen a flash of, something. Black hair. And somehow she knew, it was Naraku's hair. Her hand shook as she reached out to it again and grasped it, holding it tightly. She screamed as the light invaded her brain with thoughts and pictures that were mostly not her own. Flashes of memories she didn't have whipped through her mind. Some of them seemed familiar.

Black hair, red eyes, glowing fiercely.

A white house.

Her brother, screaming, but alive, his hand in view, cut across the vein.

A hand guiding a bloody one across her mother's wall, putting blood all over it.

The lipstick container, being painstakingly opened.

Ropes being wound around her mother's legs.

A street sign.

A piece of white clothe being folded.

The lipstick drawing a straight line on the wall, over the blood.

Souta's screaming filled her ears.

The smell of blood permeated her nose.

Pleasant, the word on the sign, being whacked, it swayed back and forth.

Evil laughter.

The lipstick.

Her mother being gagged with white clothe.

Flashing red eyes.

Another long line of red the exact shade of the lipstick, but not on her mother's wall.

Stairs, the smell of smoke.

Her mother's desperate crying.

His eyes.

Being slammed to the floor.

Screaming.

A mirror.

Kagome could not hear her own screams as she dropped the container and collapsed to the floor, crying silent tears. Her chest heaved, her eyes flashed with the memories, but they were not distinct like they had been when she was holding the lipstick. She felt her cheeks and noticed they were wet with her tears, her mouth feeling salty from the ones that had run across her lips. She felt her sobs slowly stop and her breathing return to close to normal.

She shook her head to rid herself of the memories, but it was pointless. Her hands shook uncontrollably as she reached up to the dresser to try and stand. Her knees felt weak; her whole body ached. With a sudden insight as the images again assaulted her, she headed to her room, going up the stairs and into her own room. She flung the door open, knowing what she would see. Her mirror glared back at her, red words obscuring her reflection. She strided purposefully across the room, reading the messy lipstick writing the best she could. At first it didn't make sense.

~WHERE THE FUN BEGAN AT 4:20~

That's all that was written on the mirror. Kagome stood there, confused. `Where The Fun began at 4:20?' What did that mean? What the hell was he talking about? Her eyes strained to refill, but her desolation was too much for tears, for feeling. She had failed. She didn't know how to find her brother. Naraku had given her a blatant clue, and she didn't know what he was talking about. Dammit!

Her hand found the Shikon for reassurance and it glowed slightly, filling her with quiet power. Hope was restored within her, making her stop and think. If she really concentrated she could figure this out. Now, first she aught to remember all possible meanings of this sentence. Okay, well, 4:20 stood for smoking pot, in school and stuff. There was no other reason she could think of, other than the time, and that just didn't make sense. She blew out a breath, okay, try again. Fun. Fun for him would be to do something terrible to her. 4:20. A sudden flashback from her first time being raped came into mind.

~

`Kagome was laughing right along with everyone else. They were in her Uncle's old Mansion that he never used, smoking pot, as usual. She was higher than the Eiffel tower and enjoying every moment of it. She took another hit off the bong before passing it to someone else.

Suddenly she was alone, cleaning the house out by herself, trying to air it out, for it smelled strongly of smoke. She grinned but had decided that would be the last time she smoked pot, she always had to clean up all by herself. Thank god she was still high.

She was thrown to the floor, rolled over, a gun in her face. She blinked up at it confused, not really comprehending in her stoned state. The gun was pulled back and she was pulled up by her hair, making her protest in pain. He yanked her to her feet and dragged her up the stairs, throwing her onto the bed.

"Who are you?" She screamed. He jumped on the bed over her, his face inches from hers, his knees digging painfully into her stomach.

"You have it, the fabled Shikon No Tama. If you give it to me I shall not hurt you further." He smiled maliciously, holding the gun to her temple.

"I… I don't have it! I don't even know what it is!!" She whimpered. He laughed evilly.

"You lie, and for that you will pay. But, I shall let you live, give you one last chance to redeem yourself and give it to me, next time. For now, your punishment shall ensue." He got off her and stood up next to the bed. "Get up." She dumbly stood and his eyes swept over her, looking disgustingly pleased.

"Undress." He commanded. That, even stoned, she would not comply with. She stood there and stared half-lidded at him while he waited. When he realized she was defying him, he backhanded her and sent her sprawling onto the bed. She cried out and then he was on top of her, ripping off her clothes, scratching her. She flinched but did not cry out again, it was the last time he would hear her scream.

She fought him, but she was weak, and her mind altered by the drug. He easily overpowered her and soon she was lying naked between his thighs, gritting her teeth to keep from crying. His rough hands trailed harshly across her sensitive skin, and then he plunged into her. Despite her earlier resolve not to cry out, a scream tore from her throat, ringing in her ears. Pain drifted like waves from her insides, making her continue screaming as he drove hard into her. Every thrust caused more and more pain, she could not stop from jerking away from him, driving his frenzy higher, making him thrust even harder. Her eyes burned, she couldn't breath.

Finally he pulled out of her, leaning to the side, spent. He was breathing hard, a look of deep satisfaction in his eyes. He smiled at her and ran a finger down her face, but she hardly noticed as the pain distorted her thoughts. She could feel herself bleeding heavily. He got up and pulled up his pants, rebelting them.

"I didn't know you were still virtuous. What a pleasant surprise. You should know the name of your first man, the one who made you a woman. I am Naraku. Don't forget it." He smirked and left, leaving her crying and bleeding on the bed.

~

Kagome winced at that memory, feeling her rage toward Naraku sharpening even more, becoming an obsession. She knew what was going on now; he was taking her back to where he had first forcibly taken her, to where they used to smoke up. Where it began.

4:20.

She checked the time, it was 3:45. Kagome clenched her fist and whirled around, taking the steps two at a time. She grabbed her uncle's mansion's key off the hook and threw open the front door. She jumped into the car without opening the door and started it up. She was backing up before she had even finished putting it into gear. She pulled right out in front of another car and heard the squeal of tires, but did not care. She quickly shifted into a forward moving gear and roared away, music from the radio coming on. She shifted and sped up, shifted again and pressed even harder on the accelerator. She was going 60, shift, then 70, and then 80. She swerved through traffic like she would on the highway, except she was on a two-lane road.

She pulled into the police station, hardly slowing enough to make the turn, and squealed to a stop. Sesshoumaru was there, as well as her mother, rushing toward her. She didn't bother to get out. She knew she could not do this alone; she would need Sesshoumaru's help.

"Get in!" She ordered. Sesshoumaru eyed her wearily, having never seen her with such a commanding and authoritive aura before. He grudgingly realized it must be important and jumped into the passenger side. Atsuko made to get in.

"No, mother, I refuse to risk your life as well. You stay here, we'll bring Souta back." Her mother opened her mouth to argue, not liking how her own daughter took a powerful tone with her. She had not seen her this focused before, but was afraid for her safety. Before she could say a word, Kagome was throwing the car into drive. Atsuko rushed forward to thwart her, but Kagome drove off, spinning the tires. Atsuko stared after her, worry etched in every line of her face.

Kagome drove far too recklessly, but she didn't care. Even stolid Sesshoumaru was clenching his teeth when they rounded a corner almost on two wheels, or just missed hitting or being hit by another car. Kagome finally realized killing herself and Sesshoumaru was not the way to save Souta. She slowed down enough so that she was only a little above the speed limit and tried to relax. The radio clock now read 4:00. Sesshoumaru sending her speculating glances.

"Naraku left a message on the mirror of my room." She decided to leave out the other details. He might not believe her. Hell, she didn't know if she believed herself.

"What did it say?"

"'Where the Fun began at 4:20'." She replied cryptically. She saw him throw a sharp look at her and she sighed, realizing she would have to explain.

"And?" he asked.

"He means the house it all began in, the first time he… The first time I saw him. This was before I even knew about the jewel. It wasn't until the next day when my grandfather was on his deathbed that I learned what the Shikon No Tama was and why Naraku wanted it. 4:20 is the time, it coincides with what we used to do in that house." She said this all coolly, making him wonder.

"What you used to do?" he echoed. She gave him a quick glance.

"You don't know what 4:20 means? Being a cop and all?"

"I am not a cop. I am a detective, a private detective. Don't mistake me for those foolish idiots." She raised her eyebrows in surprise but said nothing pertaining to that matter.

"Its smoking pot. We use to call it our 4:20 house; it's my Uncle's mansion that he does nothing with. Its empty and he leaves it unlocked for some odd reason. We used to smoke in it. But I quit after that last time…" She stopped, but she didn't have to elaborate. He knew. "He's going to… it will happen at 4:20." She finished. He was looking at her funny, and she couldn't help but notice.

"What?" She asked.

"You still haven't told me how you figured all of this out. How did you know to look into your room? If you were in your mother's room to pick up her bag, what made you go to your room?" he asked it so casually, but there was no casual answer. Could she lie to him? No, he would know. She took a deep breath.

"The house smelled of blood. Mama's room had blood all across the walls, it was disgusting. I was picking up her bags when I had the urge to pick up her lipstick. I'm not sure why, but something told me to. When I held it in my hand, memories, images that I had never seen before snapped in front of my eyes. It was so weird. I saw Naraku cutting Souta's hand and smudging blood all over it. I heard his laughter, and my brother screaming, and Mama too. I saw him write on the walls and on my mirror. I saw other things too, from the first time he… the first time he…" She gulped, but determinedly plowed on. "The first time he raped me." She swallowed. "I saw the street sign of where the house was, right on pleasant street. I saw the white house." She was visibly shaking. Sesshoumaru could not help himself when he took her free hand in his, caressing her hand with his thumb. She gave him a grateful smile, her shaking slowly stopping, her grip on the steering wheel relaxing.

"So I figured out where I had seen him writing, on my mirror, and when I went up, there it was, done in Mama's red lipstick. I just figured it out from there." He nodded acceptance of this version, making her heart leap. He believed her?

"You… you don't think I'm crazy?" She asked. He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"After seeing that jewel around your neck purify and fix everything in the kitchen, I am obligated to believe in such powers. Besides, your not lying, and there's no other plausible answer to my question." He gave her a wry smile, but a smile nonetheless, and she returned it, squeezing his hand with hers. She turned her attention back on the road, taking a side road and slowing down when she saw the sign, Pleasant Street. The white house lurked behind it, sending chills down her spine. She hadn't been here since that day… and that was probably why he brought her here, because he knew it would be painful. That asshole, she would make him pay.

She turned into the house's driveway and reached for her seatbelt, only to remember that she had never put it on. She opened the door and got out of the car, checking the radio clock before she shut the door.

4:12.

She looked up at the grand old mansion and cursed silently. Once again this house would be defiled, despite her efforts to clean it. She had kept it locked after that day to keep the potheads out, somehow not wanting anyone in there ever again to dirty it with their unclean actions. Kagome did not claim to be a saint, but she did none of the things some people did, at least not anymore.

She started wearily for the house, anticipating some sort of trap. Sesshoumaru's hand went automatically for the gun at his waist and she glanced his way, trying to silently communicate her unease. He nodded in understanding. She quietly slipped her key out of her pocket and unlocked the door, going in slowly. Still nothing happened, which totally unnerved her. The deathly quietness of the house made her heart beat faster than a drum and put her already fried nerves on edge. Sesshoumaru slid in right behind her and carefully drew his gun.

Kagome started hesitantly toward the stairs, touching the banister lightly. Shock waves of somehow `knowing' slid through her and she gasped aloud. Sesshoumaru was at her side in an instant. He gazed at her seriously, not needing to ask the question on the tip of his tongue.

"I'm fine, they're up there, in that room…" She didn't elaborate, but shakingly started up the stairs, keeping away from the banister. Her footsteps echoed on the wooden stairs, despite how softly she strode up them. Sesshoumaru was like a cat behind her, silent, yet quick. She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to think, not to breath. She was trembling and despite how she tried, could not help but see the worst.

Her imagination took over, seeing Souta bleeding terribly, his body sprawled at odd angles on the floor. His eyes accusing, bloody, blaming her. His throat slit, the blood running across the floor toward her, trying to stain her. His face blank, his head turning slowly toward her as he took his last breath…

She shook her head hard and grabbed it in between her hands, trying to rid herself of the visions. A warm hand on her shoulder and worried golden eyes steadied her. She wrapped her fingers around the Shikon, taking a deep breath as its power flooded her. She topped the landing, turning right and staring at the door of that room. She silently swore at Naraku for making her reenter it, staring at the door hatefully. She reached for the knob, her hand missing it, finally grasping it, and then flung it open.

At first she saw nothing, the darkness of the room intense enough that her eyes could not adjust. Blinding light greeted her eyes and she winced and shut them automatically. She brought her arm up and peered beneath it, seeing two pairs of feet. She removed her arm quickly and saw Naraku standing there, her brother shielding him. He was grinning at them delightfully.

"Welcome, all, to my wonderful party." His face made her want to hit him, anywhere, hard. Her body shook with her hatred of him, all of her previous fear seemed to dissipate. She wanted more than anything to kill him, to draw out his death painfully. This was the only person who deserved it. His grinning face disgusted her.

"I see no need for violence, here. Please release your gun and then move away from it." His voice sounded jovial, like he was asking them if he could take their coats. Sesshoumaru set his gun slowly on the dresser before moving to the other side of the room, taking the frozen Kagome with him. She knew he would not risk her brother's death.

A slightly rusty, metallic taste invaded her mouth, her lip was bleeding. She had been biting it hard to keep from moving. Her fingernails were digging painfully into her hand, her whole body hurt with the effort to keep still.

"Well, now that everybody is here, and right on time may I add, it is time for the party to begin." He hauled Souta up a little higher, and she finally noticed the state her little brother was in as he cried out. He was bleeding from the wound in his hand, his eyes hidden from view with a blindfold. Naraku was holding him up to keep Sesshoumaru from attacking him, a gun pointed at Souta's head. She knew he would not hesitate to use it. There was a bruise on his head, just above his temple. His bare legs below the shorts had small scratches and bruises. The site angered her more and more.

"Well now, what's a party without some fun?" Naraku grinned at them, edging around the bed toward her. She held her ground, watching him, her eyes stony. He came close, making Sesshoumaru growl in anger. He ran a slender finger down her face.

"How about a trade-off? I will let Souta go free and take you instead, my dear sweet Kagome." Kagome lifted her chin higher, glaring at him, but did not answer. "That's what I like about you, dear. Your spirit." He turned to look at Sesshoumaru, his grin widening. "That first time, that was the best. I suppose you know though, don't you? You've had her. She has so much spunk, so much fight. And her scream is musical." He chuckled maliciously. Sesshoumaru was shaking, he looked murderous. Kagome would not have him killed, she had to move before he did something, or Naraku said more.

"I agree to the trade." She announced, making Sesshoumaru glance at her in surprise and fear.

"Kagome, don't…" But she was already moving determinedly toward Naraku, her steps even and sure.

"I agree to it." She repeated. Naraku smiled softy.

"I knew you would." He threw Souta to the side, making Kagome wince as his head hit the desk and he landed on the floor. Naraku grabbed Kagome and held the gun beneath her chin. Sesshoumaru went to help Souta, but Naraku snarled.

"Don't touch him, or she will die." He cocked the pistol to prove his point and Sesshoumaru froze, anger written in every line of his face. Kagome smirked.

"Don't listen to him, he lies. He can't kill me until he finds out what the Shikon No Tama is, not to mention where it is." Her voice was clear and gloating. Naraku's cheery façade dropped and he hit her hard on the side of the head.

"Wench!" he snarled. Kagome saw stars for many moments, her vision distorted by the swift and painful punishment. Naraku had his gun trained on her.

"You want to mock me, fine." He grabbed her up again, and pointed the gun at Sesshoumaru. "I will punish you for your behavior." Kagome panicked and her eyes flashed in terror.

"NO!" She screamed, flailing. Naraku just held her tighter.

"No, you say? You mean, you don't want your lover to die?" He asked her. Tears of fear rolled down her face. He shook her. "Answer me." She shook her head quickly and he grinned. She felt all of her iciness, all of her resolve to stand firm against him dissolve.

"Please don't." She whispered. She shivered when his hands carefully removed her hair from her neck, pulling it to one side. His breath made her want to choke.

"You will do as I say?" She nodded again. His hand ran down her shoulder, across her hip to her thigh, then back up again, running over her breast. Sesshoumaru's pained expression hurt to see, she closed her eyes. She would not let him die, he would not die. If she had to give Naraku the Shikon, she would not let him kill Sesshoumaru. The feel of his hands on her disgusted her, the feel of his arousal against her back repulsed her. She had to concentrate hard to not move away from him. His hand slid down the front of her body and in between her thighs, urging them apart. She clenched her jaw.

"Don't resist me." He pointed the gun at Sesshoumaru again. Tears slid out of her tightly closed eyes as she parted her legs and felt him play with her. When his hand dived into her pants she let out a small sob. He slid a finger into her dry opening, making her clench her teeth as a small stinging sensation gripped her. Soon the feeling faded as she numbed to it, her tears drying as she slipped back into the old ways, unfeeling. He noticed this and pulled his hand out of her jeans, displeased. She blinked.

"Why don't you make this easier and remove those clothes?" She stood, unseeing, and he pointed the gun at Souta. "Hear me or I will…" her fingers went to the edge of her shirt, but she could not make herself pull it up, no matter how she tried. Her vision cleared, Naraku standing there, waiting, her brother crumpled on the floor, but alive. Sesshoumaru standing there; anger and hurt written on his features. Her eyes stared pleadingly into his, begging him to understand.

A gunshot brought her reality down around her ears, the loud noise reverberating on her eardrums unpleasantly. She slowly turned to look at Naraku, seeing his gun smoking. Her head snapped to Sesshoumaru, but he stood, unharmed. His eyes held deep remorse. The truth of who had taken the shot shook her, she denied it. She was afraid to look, afraid of what she would see. But look she did, turning slowly around to see a new bloody hole in her brother, in his temple. The red seepage seemed unreal, impossible. She staggered a step closer to him, ultimately putting her closer to Naraku. His gun turned to point at Sesshoumaru.

"Move another step and it will be his turn. But hell, what's one more death on your head? After all, if you had just given me the Shikon No Tama, Inuyasha and Souta would still be alive. What's one more to you?" He chuckled again, a noise she could stand no longer. Fire blazed in her eyes, her blood pumped hotly.

"NO!!" She screamed. Her chest heaved. "Naraku, you will die for that! I swear, you will die now!" Her anger overpowered her; instinct was wielding her actions and words. Instead of reaching for him or his gun, her hand sought the Shikon, gripping it in both of her hands. She ripped it from her neck, putting her heart and soul into it. White light blasted from between her fingers, but she did not close her eyes. Her eyes, glowing white, were reflected in the mirror briefly, a face that was not hers grinning maliciously. The power exploded in her hands, making the room glow white and everyone except herself to become blinded. A shot went blindly toward her, but missed by feet. Or perhaps it did hit her, she would never know.

A scream of horrible pain reached her ears, a scream she had never heard before, but had anticipated for a long time. She smiled. The power flooding her was slowly lessening and reducing the glow in the room. Slowly, the white before her eyes dimmed and black took its stead. Her thoughts were disoriented. All she could remember after was thinking she had gone blind.

"I'm free. Damn you, Naraku, I'm free of you." She whispered to absolutely no one.

Soon everything turned black; her body never felt the impact of hitting the floor.

~**~

THIS IS NOT THE END!! There is at LEAST one more chapter! YAY!! I hope you all liked this story, please review and tell me what you thought of it. PLEASE!!! I welcome flames, I think they are interesting to read, so have fun people!!

I thank all you people who have reviewed, and I urge you to continue. Questions?

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I can be reached at angelyoukai@hotmail.com

RyuuAngel

Aka: Riasha