InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mark ❯ Running Blind ( Chapter 1 )

Kagome walked slowly down the path, enjoying the feel of the night wind against her damp skin. The full moon peeked through the overhanging branches and splashed across her pale face. She glanced up and smiled. It was a beautiful night, a night for lovers. She shook her head and picked up her pace. She had no lover. A strange prickling sensation ran down her neck. Someone was watching her, someone with youkai blood. She did not speed up or reach for her bow. She did not want whoever was watching to know she could sense them. Closing her eyes for a moment she sent a silent prayer that it was Inuyasha and not some malevolent youkai that thought she looked like an easy meal.

Crashing sounded through the forest and she whirled. Pain shot through her shoulders and the back of her head and she realized that she was pinned against a tree. Sharp claws dug into her skin. Gasping softly she tried to see her attacker. Silver hair and golden eyes, dog ears, Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha?"

He leaned close his face less than an inch from hers. He began to sniff. He rubbed his cheek against hers and pressed his face against the skin of her neck. She gasped softly as his tongue ran over her skin. She tried to push him off of her and he growled, his claws digging into her skin. She could feel blood trickle down her arms and chest. Tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Why was he doing this?

"Inuyasha, sit!"

He slammed into the ground, his claws tearing her shirt and skin as he fell. She slipped away from the tree and backed away from his prone form slowly. He growled as he tried to push himself up. His eyes met hers and she whimpered softly. This was not her Inuyasha. He snarled again and she saw that the spell was wearing off.

"SIT!"

Before she could even hear the thump she turned and ran. Her feet pounded on the ground, but the noise was drowned out by the pounding of her heart. What was wrong with him? She could hear crashing behind her.

"SIT!"

She rounded a corner and came to a skidding stop at the sight of Shippou coming down the path.

"Kagome-kaasan, Inuyasha ran off and Sango thought he might come to spy on you while you were bathing. She sent me to warn you."

He grinned, but the grin soon faltered at the look of pure terror on her face and the sight of blood on her chest. She scooped him up and began to sprint again. The forest crashed around them and she could hear Inuyasha roar.

"SIT!"

Shippou buried his face in her chest and began to cry. "Okaasan, what's happening?"

"I don't know. SIT! I wish I did."

She was gasping for breath, and she had a painful stitch in her side she stumbled but kept going. She had to get back to Miroku and Sango. They were strong enough to fight him, to knock him out. Suddenly there was a flash of red on the path ahead of them. Inuyasha stood there, panting and growling he advanced. Kagome backed away very slowly, unsure what to do now.

"Bitch. You will submit."

"Stop it, Inuyasha. You're scaring me."

Shippou whimpered and clung to her even harder, he snarled at the pup. "Let her go!"

He dove, his hand reaching for the kitsune. "SIT! SIT! SIT!"

She turned off the path and began running through the forest. The sound of moving water reached her ears and she burst from the undergrowth to land knee deep in a river. Kicking off her shoes and discarding her bow and quiver she pushed off the bottom and swam for the middle where the current was strongest. She rolled over on her back and stuck her feet out in front of her and began to float. Hugging Shippou to her she tried to track how far they were along the shore.

"Hold onto me, Shippou, don't let go."

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know, but we have to get back to Kaede. She might know what's wrong with Inuyasha."

"He was scary."

"Yes, I know."

After letting the current pull her for almost half an hour she began to kick toward the opposite shore. She pulled herself up on dry land and collapsed on a section of soft grass. She was tired, cold, and hurting but they couldn't stop yet. Ahead in the distance she could see a light. Picking up the equally exhausted pup she began to make her way toward what soon appeared to be a village. A guard rushed forward when he saw her and stopped a few feet in front of her.

"State your business."

She fell down on her knees. "Please, I need warm clothes for my son."

He looked at her pale shivering. Her lips were blue from the cold and her hair and clothes were plastered to her frail form. "Your son is not the only one who needs clothes and food."

He helped her stand and guided her to the village head man. She and Shippou were given clothes and a place next to the fire. Kagome pulled Shippou against her, unwilling to release the child and fell into a fitful sleep. She awoke as the false dawn lit the sky. Pushing herself up, she looked around. The family was still asleep. She rose and began to go through her ruined uniform. The only real things of value she had were a gold necklace and the bag with the Shikon shards. She pulled the necklace over her head and laid it on the mat next to the head man as payment. She grabbed a bow and a quiver, picked up the still sleeping kitsune, and slipped silently out of the house.

She walked slowly in the morning mist. Inuyasha was probably still hunting them. She could not let these innocent people get hurt because of her. The kimono she had borrowed was an old threadbare cast off that did not stop the morning chill. She shivered to keep warm and increased her pace. The sun rose and the temperature began to as well. Shippou stirred in her arms.

"Kagome-kaasan, where are we going?"

"We can't stay in the village, Shippou-chan."

"Because of Inuyasha?"

"Yes, because of Inuyasha."

He climbed up on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her neck. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

"That's ok, you gave me the strength to keep running."

"I did?"

"Yes, you're my hero, Shippou-chan."

"I love you."

She patted him gently. "I love you too."

They walked all day, passing by villagers that waved friendly greetings. There were even several shouted invitations, but Kagome ignored them. She could not stop, not yet. She had no idea where she was, but she kept walking. It was almost evening when she heard it, the sound of a young girl laughing. They walked into a flowering field and smiled at the young girl that ran circles, her arms waving trying to capture the butterflies that surrounded her. Kagome set Shippou down. The little girl giggled when she saw him and ran over.

"My name is Rin, what's yours?"

"I'm Shippou, and this is my Okaasan, Kagome."

"Can you play?"

Shippou looked up at her and she nodded. The two children took off across the field. She sat down and watched them as they played. Twilight set in and she pushed herself to her feet.

"Rin, where is your home?"

"Far away, we are going there, but Jaken-sama sent me to play."

Kagome felt her heart skip a beat. "Jaken? You mean Sesshomaru-san's retainer?"

"Sesshomaru-SAMA."

As if on cue, Jaken and Ah-Un emerged from the forest. "Human, Sesshomaru-sama is most vexed with you. You were to return at sunset."

Kagome and Shippou backed slowly away from the approaching two. She stretched her senses, trying to find Sesshomaru. She could feel them suddenly, there had to be almost a hundred. She gasped softly and picked up Shippou, running toward Jaken, Rin, and Ah-Un. She handed Shippou to Jaken.

"Protect my pup."

Before anyone could protest she threw up a shield around them and ran to the middle of the field. She notched an arrow and waited. It was only a few seconds before the first of the demons emerged and charged. She cursed softly. They must have been drawn to the shards. She drew and fired. The purified arrow slew them four or five at a time, but it was not enough. For every one she slew, two more took its place and she was rapidly running out of arrows. She felt tears sting her face. If she died, her shield would not hold for very long.