InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey of the Half-Immortal ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kagome and Inuyasha are plauged by dreams about Aniu. What happens in their dreams? Are they just dreams?...Aniu is plauged by a devasating dream of her love but will it kill her soul? Aniu travels outside the cave to hear a howl. Aniu recognizes the sound of Kouga, Wolf-Prince. She transforms but before she can even help the wolf she is shot. With what? Sesshoumaru and Kouga come to stand above and are confronted by Naraku and forced to fight the demons he set upon them. Will Sesshoumaru kill Kouga by accident or will the two demons create enough power to save Aniu with Kikyo's aid?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy | Type: Fanfiction Sequel | Uploaded On: 08.16.2007 | Updated On: 08.16.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 245 | Status: Work In Progress

Chapter Fourteen

Inuyasha spun around in the darkness but it wasn't really all that dark. There were stars surrounding the crescent moon in the night sky. Inuyasha had only glanced at the sky before he was staring at two figures standing on the edge of a cliff.

Purple beams shot through the body that had its back to the edge. The body flew over the edge and Inuyasha's breath caught in his chest.

The spill of golden hair, the moonlight glinting off of claws and fangs as the body fell into the dark depths of the chasm that lie below the cliff.

Aniu.

Aniu reached out for Inuyasha with a clawed hand.

Help me!

Her voice rolled through his mind and he didn't have time to think about what he was doing as he leapt for Aniu's hand. She was over the edge before he grasped her hand in his.

A menacing laugh came from behind him a moment before another purple beam slashed though his back and out his stomach. He cried out and released Aniu's hand.

Aniu screamed as she fell in to the dark chasm, until only silence radiated from the darkness.

“Aniu!” Inuyasha screamed.

The person behind him laughed as he pulled the beam out of Inuyasha's body and Inuyasha grunted. The mysterious person behind him grabbed a fistful of hair and lifted Inuyasha's head so Inuyasha could see him.

Naraku.

Yes.

You bastard!

Naraku laughed. Don't blame me. I wasn't the one who was too late.

Inuyasha growled.

Listen closely Inuyasha. You were late now and you will be late the next time too. You won't stop me and Aniu will die because you failed to protect her. Just like Kikyo.

“NO!”

Inuyasha felt someone straddling his waist and holding his arms down. He felt two more people struggling to hold down his legs. He twisted and turned with all his strength to get up. Someone was screaming at him but their voice was like a distant buzz in his head.

He turned his neck and struggled more as pain surged through his weakened body. He turned his head back and opened his eyes. As everything came into focus his body went still and he could see someone leaning over him.

“Kagome,” he breathed his voice barely a whisper.

Kagome smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. She leaned down and looked him in the eyes.

“Inuyasha? How are you feeling?”

“Neck hurts. What happened?”

She shook her head. “Forget about it right now and rest, Inuyasha.”

“Kagome,” he said quietly.

She leaned down and kissed him softly. “Rest, Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha closed his eyes remembering the feel of her lips against his but this time he wasn't plagued by nightmares. Just a deep, peaceful sleep the likes of which he never had before.

* * * * *

“Ow.”

“Sorry but I have to clean this wound,” Kagome explained. She moved the alcohol covered cloth back to Inuyasha's neck. Inuyasha grabbed her wrist and started to get up.

The movement was jerky and Kagome could tell he was still in pain. She laid her hand on his bare chest and pushed him back.

“Inuyasha stay still. You need to rest.”

“I can't. Aniu is in trouble.”

“What are you talking about,” Kagome asked. Inuyasha let her push him back onto the mat. He took his hand off her wrist and she started cleaning his wound again.

“Aniu…on the cliff…Naraku,” he winced between words and Kagome stopped.

“What?”

“Aniu was pushed…off the cliff by Naraku and I couldn't… couldn't save her,” he explained.

“What are you talking about? What cliff?”

“I don't know but it was tall and had a dark chasm underneath. Aniu…Aniu…It was my fault.” Tears brimmed Inuyasha's eyes. “I failed her just like I failed Kikyo.”

“But you didn't fail her Inuyasha,” Kagome said as she rubbed his cheek. “She is still alive. I know you would never let anything happen to her, nor would Sesshoumaru.” She turned her head away from him. “You are both strong and I'm sure you can keep her safe…after all you keep me safe everyday.”

“Kagome…”

“I wouldn't be here today if you hadn't saved me. I wouldn't be here today if you hadn't insisted I stuck around. I wouldn't be here today if I thought I didn't love you.” Kagome stopped and sat very still, eyes wide as she thought about what she just said.

“Kagome…”

She turned to him and found a hand on the back of her head pushing her towards him. Soon she found her lips brushing with his. Her eyes widened as he tried to deepen the kiss. Giving into him she opened her lips and his tongue shot through her mouth. He moaned as he tasted her and she started to kiss him back with equal force. Kagome cradled his face in her hands as they kissed deeper and deeper. She rubbed her tongue on the edge of his fangs and accidentally nicked herself.

Inuyasha moaned as her sweet, metallic blood flooded his mouth. His hands traveled from her neck to her hair. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he felt the silky smoothness of her hair in his palms. He broke off the kiss, both of them breathing heavy. She smiled at him, her eyes a little unfocused. He gave her a light kiss and then let her hair go. His hands slid down her arms slowly until he reached her wrists. He pulled her hands gently off his face and set them lightly on his chest.

Kagome could feel his heart beating under her hands. Her pulse quickened with his and she gasped. Inuyasha smiled and let go of her wrists. She kept one hand on his chest and used the other one to push back the stray strands of hair on his face. She leaned over and kissed his forehead, lingering just a little.

When she pulled back he whimpered but she only said, “Rest Inuyasha.”

He closed his eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Without a soul, my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold. Until you find it there and lead it back home…

* * * * *

Kagome stood on the hill watching the sunset in the feudal era. They had been chasing Naraku for two years now. Naraku had all the jewel shards except for the two in Kouga's legs, the one in Kohaku's back and the two that Aniu kept safe for Kagome. Good thing their little group had managed to keep at least one jewel shard that they had found.

Kagome pulled out the jewel shard and looked at the tiny crystal. So much pain and suffering caused over such a little thing. The Shikon No Tama has only caused suffering even for those who try to use it for good. So why do people still pursue it even if they know that?

She didn't have time to answer her question because a miasma began spilling around her feet.

Kagome covered her mouth and started coughing. An evil laugh came from behind her, deep in the miasma that was threatening to poison her. She turned and reached for her bow and arrows only to find that they were not there.

The figure stepped clear of the miasma, a barrier surrounding its body protecting it from the deadly poison. Kagome's eyes were starting to blur but she saw clearly who the person was.

Naraku.

He chuckled. Yes, my dear Kagome. Give me the Sacred Jewel Shard and become my servant and I shall let you live.

Never, Naraku. I will never abandon my friends, even if it costs me my life.

Very well, then perish in my miasma.

The miasma swirled around Kagome. It seeped through her skin and started coursing through her veins. She gasped as her body started burning from the poison.

A light pierced through the darkness of the miasma. Kagome looked to see a light beam heading straight for her but it wasn't after her it was after the jewel shard in her hand. She turned and hit something. She looked up and saw the spill of golden hair, the claws and the fangs glinting with a forest green glow.

Aniu looked down at Kagome and held out her hand. Kagome take the jewel shards and run. I'll cover you.

Kagome looked at the jewel shards then back up at the half-immortal. No Aniu. He will kill you. I can't let you do this to Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru.

I will die if I have to. I was sent here to protect you all not the other way around.

But if you die then Naraku wins.

I won't die.

Aniu…

Kagome take the shards and go.

The kind hearted Kagome gave Aniu conflicted eyes but Aniu ignored them and shoved the jewel shards at Kagome. Kagome was startled by the action but caught the jewel shards before they fell to the ground. She ran to the nearby forest and took cover behind a few trees. She turned back to the scene she had left.

Aniu stood across from Naraku, the miasma swirling around her ankles. Aniu raised her arm until it was straight out in front of her. The miasma swirled up and twirled around her arm. When it reached Aniu's shoulder the miasma began to purify until it was gone.

Let's finish this Naraku.

It is already done.

Aniu leaped at Naraku, faster than most humans could blink, she was on him tearing at his barrier with her glowing claws. The barrier broke in two sweeps of her deadly claws. Then everything happened so fast Kagome almost missed it.

Naraku struck out with his tentacle but Aniu swiped it away and came closer to Naraku. Another tentacle hit her in the back and passed through her body. Aniu let out a cry and Kagome almost went to help her. Naraku clamped his hand on Aniu's throat. Poison gas came from his finger tips and sprayed around Aniu until he was sure she had breathed some of it in.

Naraku didn't let her go but stopped the poison gas. Any last words before your tragic demise.

No. Aniu coughed.

Then die Aniu.

Naraku pulled back his other hand and struck Aniu in the chest. His hand came out the other side with her still beating heart in it. Aniu screamed as her heart was slowly crushed inch by inch until there was nothing left but a lump of crimson flesh. Aniu's body withered away in the wind at Naraku's feet. That was all Kagome could take and she ran out of the forest to where Aniu used to be.

The miasma appeared again before she could get to her destination. She started choking on the miasma, feeling it slowly poison her body. A presence told her Naraku was behind her a moment before a tentacle passed through her body. Kagome let out a gasp as he pulled the tentacle out of her. The miasma seeped into her wound and the poison started to spread throughout her body. Kagome dropped the jewel shards as she fell to her knees.

Naraku bent in front of her and picked up the shards then moved Kagome's chin up so she could look him face to face.

Now Kagome, you will lose your life along with Aniu and you can only blame yourself for being so naïve. How can you ever live with yourself knowing that you killed Aniu? He laughed. Well at least you helped one person. Thank you for the jewel shards.

“NO!” Kagome screamed.

“Kagome…” said a soft, male voice.

Kagome opened her eyes and found herself staring into Inuyasha's concerned face.

“Are you alright Kagome? You were screaming.”

Kagome was taking in breaths at short, fast intervals. “No…Aniu…Naraku. He killed…her. It was…all my…fault…Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha took Kagome into his arms and held her close to him and murmured softly in her ears.

“It's ok Kagome. Be quiet. It wasn't your fault.”

Kagome clung to him and cried into his chest. Inuyasha rocked her back and forth like a father to his weeping daughter. When she settled down some, Inuyasha laid down with her still cradled to his chest. They both fell asleep in the comfort of each other's arms, sleeping peacefully throughout the rest of the night.

Without the mask, Where will you hide? Can't find yourself, Lost in your lies…
* * * * *

Aniu sat up gasping and shaking, only hearing the roar of her blood pounding through her veins. She took deep, shaky breath's until she could finally hear past her pulse. All she could hear was the light breathing from Rin, the heavy snores of Jaken, and the slow deep breaths coming from Sesshoumaru.

Her gaze drifted over Sesshoumaru's sleeping form that was cuddled against her body. His pale upper body gleamed in her night vision. His silver hair was like a torn blanket draped over his body from head to ankle.

She reached out her hand and smoothed some of his hair behind his elf-like ear. Aniu glided her finger from the point of his ear to where it connected with his head. When she came to the magenta marks, she used both fingers to trace where they met at his ear, to where they ended in the middle of his cheek. After they ended, her fingers slid down the rest of his cheek to his half-parted lips-where she traced the velvet smoothness of them.

A single tear fell onto Sesshoumaru's forehead. Aniu wiped it away with her thumb before he had a chance to stir.

She could have sworn she just saw this face pale, cold and retorted in pain. This face splattered in blood, never to wake again.

Shaking her head Aniu stood up and walked out of the cave until she stood in the cool night air.

Why did she even care if he lived or died? He had betrayed her more than once but then again, he had said he loved her. She loved him too but deep down there was a seed of doubt, a seed of fear. She was afraid that if she became too attached to him he would break her heart into as many pieces as there are scared jewel shards.

Tears bordered the edge of her eyes. That could never happen, could it? Naraku had turned Inuyasha and Kikyo's love into an everlasting hatred by the tiniest bit of doubt. Could it be possible for her and Sesshoumaru too? Could this doubt in her heart turn them against each other?

Her emotional quarrel was interrupted by a high pitched howl that was followed shortly after by an angry yell.

Kouga.

Aniu had met Kouga when she was traveling with Inuyasha. Apparently he had some big crush on Kagome. It was actually funny watching the wolf-youkai and hanyou fight over her.

There was no time for laughing now.

Aniu leapt into the air and her body started to shine with a luminescent green glow.

Bones popped and slid out of place then grew and slid back into place. Her golden hair melted into her skin, turning her skin into fur and then spreading across the rest of her body. In minutes she was on four legs standing in a golden after-glow.

The wolf had gold fur like Aniu's hair and the dark green of her eyes. The green stripes were lengthened on her muzzle and the vertical line of the cross reached from between her ears to her nose and the horizontal line reached from eye to eye but everything else was foreign compared to her human form.

What separated the wolf from natural ones was; her hair and eye color of course, but also her sheer size. She was the size of a small pony at least.

Aniu shook her wolf body and sent clear goop-that had helped with the transformation-everywhere. When most of it was off she pointed her muzzle skyward and took in a deep breath.

Blood, the smell of wolves and… Naraku.

Of course he had to be here, Aniu growled with disgust.

There was nothing she could do about it at the moment, so she gathered herself and jumped.

She was at the height of her jump-about five or six feet-when an arrow pierced her throat.

She yelped when she hit the ground rolling until she came to lie on her side. The arrow was making it hard to breathe but not impossible.

“Aniu!”

Two male voices resonated from each side of the field. One belonged to Sesshoumaru and the other…Kouga.

The two came into view and started growling above her. She gave a couple whimpers, Sesshoumaru, Kouga.

They looked down at her and the arrow in her throat disintegrated into a miasma. The miasma tore at her throat, taking her breath away in a painful sigh and entered her blood stream before the two men could even register what was happening.

A chuckle came from the woods and the men turned towards the sound. With all the strength she had, Aniu turned her head slowly until her eyes were where everyone else's was.

Aniu saw Naraku standing at the edge of the forest with hundreds of youkai behind him. Waiting for his signal. Then the world went black.

* * * * *

Kouga snarled at Naraku-who was standing there looking smug behind his barrier, a bow in one hand, the arrows at his feet and the various youkai behind him. Bastard.

Naraku laughed at Kouga then turned away from him as if he weren't a threat. He turned to Sesshoumaru-who was kneeling by Aniu's still form but his eyes were all for Naraku.

Naraku clapped with a mocking smile all for Sesshoumaru. “Congratulations, Lord Sesshoumaru. You succeeded in killing a half-breed.”

“What?” Sesshoumaru snarled.

“Isn't your goal in life to fight the strongest youkai then build your empire and destroy all half-breed and humans? Or am I incorrect?” Naraku said his tone completely filled with amusement.

That was what Sesshoumaru had wanted and he still wanted it but not at the cost of Aniu's life. He didn't want to lose her just for power. Emotions flew across his face before he hid it behind that cold, empty mask of his. But not before Naraku had a glimpse.

“Your heart becomes soft and betrays you. Maybe this is your wake up call to how far you have fallen.” He smiled and gave a small nod of his head.

The youkai started for the threesome. Kouga-who had been standing quietly for the whole talk-began attacking the youkai, keeping them at bay. Naraku laughed and headed into the forest.

Sesshoumaru was standing in a blur of speed. “Ah…you fool. Don't think you can run from me.” His voice had gone octaves lower until it was like a growl. His eyes turned red and the marks on his cheeks widened, his aura glowed red around his body.

Naraku's voice came echoing through the field, “Instead of changing form and hunting me down, shouldn't you be trying to save Aniu?”

Sesshoumaru stopped the change abruptly. He saw Kouga fighting youkai in front of him and youkai flying at him and Aniu.

Tokijin was extracted from the belt at his waist. He didn't warn Kouga or anything at all before his dragon strike hit the hoard of youkai. Before the bright blue light dissipated and the screams of the youkai stopped, he knelt beside Aniu.

She wasn't in wolf form anymore and she was as naked now as she was clothed before. Sometimes during the shift, the clothes were shredded and never came back.

Her body was curled into a loose ball. The golden spill of hair plastered to her body made her look as though she had just gone for a swim. Aniu's nakedness was covered by the spill of hair, like the moon covered by the light of the sun.

Sesshoumaru moved some of the hair away from Aniu's face and neck. When his hand came back it was full of a clear, sticky substance. Since he didn't have a shirt on, he wiped the goop on his pants then looked back at the oh-so-still figure.

He was examining the wound on her neck when he was hit in the back of the head. Not hard enough to knock him out but to at least stagger him.

“Watch where the hell you aim that thing, dog-boy.”

It was a familiar voice but Sesshoumaru was convinced that he didn't know the owner.

Sesshoumaru turned around then had to look up to see a wolf-youkai towering over him.

His hair was black and pulled back into a ponytail that ended near the middle of his shoulder blades. He was very tan but it wasn't as dark as the brown wolf skin he wore around his waist. Armor covered his chest and a sword hung at his side. A tail twitched from behind him but what were most amazing were his eyes. They were so blue. They were as blue as Sesshoumaru's were amber.

Sesshoumaru remembered that Aniu had whimpered another name when she was in wolf form. Was this Kouga?

He thought about it for a moment and remembered seeing a wolf just like him before. Yep his name had been Kouga.

“Sesshoumaru,” Kouga asked, utterly confused.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “We don't have time for this.”

“I agree,” Kouga said. “We need to find someone that can help Aniu.” He paused. “By the way, what happened? My brain didn't quite calculate what happened at the time.”

Sesshoumaru looked back at Aniu's still body as he said, “My understanding is that the arrow was made out of crystallized miasma that melted into her blood stream. I—“

“We need to get it out and fast,” Kouga said a little too quickly.

Sesshoumaru glanced at him and the look on his face made him turn the rest of his head to look at the wolf-youkai. Kouga's eyes were wide enough that white showed. There was a fine tremble in his body and goose bumps were scattered across his tanned hide. Sesshoumaru's pulse sped up when he tasted Kouga's fear.

“What? What is it?” Sesshoumaru asked. He could feel the panic in him building.

Kouga kept his gaze on Aniu. “I know the effects. If it were her arm or her leg then we would have to cut it off. But it isn't. We need someone with spiritual powers and we need to get her to breathe.”

Sesshoumaru nodded and turned back to Aniu. If she wasn't breathing, she was dead. She had told him that once. She wasn't breathing now but he knew she was alive, like a weight at the back of his mind that told him she was alive. No, not dead, not yet.

* * * * *

Soul collectors flew around the corpse that once belonged to Kikyo, as she made her way through the forest. She slowed her steps until she came to a stand still.

“A scared jewel shard and two demonic auras,” Kikyo said. “Interesting…”

Kikyo started walking again except she wasn't going deeper into the forest. Instead she headed to the edge.

The trees thinned out until she came to a field. There were slaughtered youkai everywhere but Kikyo didn't concern herself with them. Her gaze was at the top of the hill where there were two youkai kneeling over something in gold.

Kikyo walked through the remains of the youkai and came to the top of the hill.

The youkai jumped to their feet and took defense positions over the figure at their feet. There was a half-naked, white dog-youkai and a tan-brown, wolf-youkai. Kikyo looked a little around the youkai and saw a woman with golden hair plastered to her body. There was something about the golden hair or just the fact that it was a woman that made Kikyo want to protect her.

“What have you done to that girl,” Kikyo asked.

“Why do you smell of corpses and graveyard soil,” Sesshoumaru snarled. Her scent made him uneasy.

“She's dead,” Kouga said.

Kikyo looked at the wolf-youkai. He was familiar. Now she remembered-he was Kagome's friend. She nodded to him. “Yes Kouga.”

Kouga smiled. “So you remember me.”

Kikyo nodded again. “Now I ask again, what did you do to that woman?”

Kouga glanced back at the figure but Sesshoumaru kept his gaze on the strange smelling woman.

Kouga kept his eyes on the girl as he said, “Aniu was attacked by Naraku. He shot a crystallized demonic aura arrow into her throat. The arrow dissolved into her bloodstream. We need to purify it.” He turned back to Kikyo as he said the last.

“Did you say `Aniu'?” Kikyo asked.

Kouga nodded.

No wonder such power is leaking from her. Her body seems to be trying to purify the miasma with its own power. If we add more power…

Kikyo looked at Kouga and saw red, hot, angry power flowing around him. She looked at Sesshoumaru to see blue, cold, seething power rolling off him in waves. Her head turned to look at Aniu only to find gold, middle-temp, neutral power.

The perfect threesome of emotion, power and character.

The power swirling around them would touch all three at a time, sending sparks of energy outward. Kikyo had an idea.

“Touch her,” she said.

“What,” the youkai replied together.

“Touch her.”

“But what will that do,” Sesshoumaru asked.

“I'm not sure for certain. Just do it before Aniu dies,” Kikyo said matter-of-factly.

Sesshoumaru growled but turned around to Aniu. Kouga was already kneeling by her with his hand on her shoulder. Sesshoumaru knelt by her head and reached out his hand.

Kikyo could see that Kouga and Aniu's power combined looked like an orange cloud floating around them. When the powers started to intermingle with Sesshoumaru's it turned a dark green and left sparks of energy everywhere.

Sesshoumaru touched Aniu's hair and it was like a circuit being completed. The power had all turned dark green and because of all the energy it made a sort of humming sound. Sesshoumaru and Kouga gritted their teeth as they felt the power enter their bodies. It moved through them to Aniu until only she glowed with the dark green energy.

The two youkai took their hands off Aniu and backed away on their hands and knees. Only Kikyo could see the aura of the power but all three of them could see when Aniu's side moved up and down.

Sesshoumaru didn't know what happened and didn't care so long as Aniu was alive and well. He crawled forward until his knees touched her head. He picked her up and laid her on her back putting her head on his knees.

Another shallow breath came and went but no sign of her becoming conscious. Sesshoumaru was about to turn his head away when Aniu's eyes fluttered. His head snapped back as her eyes began to slowly open.

Her eyes were almost open when she began looking around. “Sesshoumaru…Kouga…Kikyo,” her voice was soft and sounded distant to her.

Sesshoumaru caught her gaze and his mouth moved but Aniu heard nothing. Her eyes fluttered shut on the world once more.

* * * * *