InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Path You Follow ❯ Despair of the Dark Blossom ( Chapter 7 )

The Path You Follow

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Author's note: Sorry about the ending of chapter six, on ff.net it came out all messed up for some reason unbeknownst to me. It looks perfectly fine on MS word, but every time I upload it to ff.net the ending gets all scrunched together. In fact I'm going to see if I can get it to work now. Thanks for everyone who told me about the formatting problem. Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review!

Last time: "The real Sesshoumaru would never stay in bed all morning. He'd never neglect his responsibilities like that, and definitely no one would let us stay in bed till this late. Someone would have woken us by now."

Just as the first one did, this illusion faded and Kagome was once again thrown into darkness.

Chapter 7: Despair of the Dark Blossom

~Kagome~

A familiar pain gathered in her chest, it was deep within her heart. It ate at her, making her heart feel heavy so that she found it hard to breath. In fact, she was not sure her heart was beating at all. There were no memories or visions of the future, just the all-consuming despair of the moment. She didn't know from where it had originated and it didn't matter because that was all she knew. Internally, her heart cried out at the injustice of life. It was an intense sadness that did not allow her to do anything but lay still, her body numb. She could not cry, although she wanted to, it felt as if the tears were just out of reach. They lingered in her closed eyes and refused to fall, the feeling of desolation so complete that she was beyond tears and existing in a higher level of mourning that she did not know of until now.

There was another presence there, some dark malicious force that hovered around her. Stubbornly, she kept her eyes shut. Not caring what happened to her anymore, she bid the foul being to do whatever it wished. Take her life because now she had nothing, her mind was blank except for the heavy depression weighing on her. Perhaps death was to come, but obviously there was to be pain first. No quick, easy death for her. She felt something cold and hard against her arm, metal. It traced a line from her shoulder down to her elbow, igniting fire in its path. She felt the trickle of blood falling down her arm.

When she did not respond the blade was placed on her abdomen, and with light pressure it was pulled across her skin. Still, she remained silent and unmoving. Her tormentor said nothing and continued to carve patterns onto her skin. In the back of Kagome's mind she registered the fact that she was bare, her clothing having disappeared with her memories.

They had created a pattern, the cold blade pressing against her skin, the heat of pain as the edge cut into her, and the warm trickle of blood that followed. It happened over and over again, on her arms, chest, abdomen and legs, but not her face, not yet. The physical pain was almost welcome; it distracted her from the hopeless despair imbedded in her heart.

She wanted to cry for both the physical pain and the mental anguish, she begged for the tears to come. Anything would be better than the cold, stunned ache in her chest. If only she could cry. . . It didn't make any sense, what would crying accomplish? Would something happen if she could grasp those fleeting emotions? She wasn't sure anymore.

Arm, sticky blood flowed over her skin. An incision was made on her inner thigh. It was everywhere now, the smell of blood was thick in the air. Her body hurt all over, the sting of her perspiration finding its way to her shallow wounds adding to it all.

It was nothing though, the pain of her flesh was just a quiet background for the hurt within her. It was maddening, the thought that somewhere along the way she had lost everything. Try as she might she could remember nothing save for her own name. For a moment her tormenter was still, the blade was not upon her and continued to lay motionless.

Then it was once against pressed against her skin. The blade was warm now, heated from her blood. Its tip was touching just below her left eye. Slowly, ever so slowly it was pulled down her cheek with just enough pressure to cut. It stopped at her chin.

`The path of tears,' Kagome thought. `But real tears won't come so he creates tears of blood to stream down my face.'

When the sharp tip grazed her bottom lip, she finally opened her eyes. The gaze that met her blue orbs was the color of gold. There was something familiar about those eyes and although they were the eyes of her torturer she could not bring herself to hate those deep, golden pools. Something about them tugged at her mind, trying unsuccessfully to uproot some hidden memory. The blade traced just below her lip and her tongue darted out. She could taste the metallic flavor of her blood and finally, she was able to scream.

~*~

All was silent as the two youkai faced one another. Golden eyes met with deep blue ones as they crouched into their battle stances. Sesshoumaru drew Toukijin. Kouga's eyes widened momentarily as he was able to sense the swords malicious ki. But against his own senses, he remained where he was.

The inu youkai's eyes were red and he was barely able to withstand his will to transform into his full demon form. Kouga lunged at his enemy just as another demon presence entered the clearing.

"Damn it you wimpy wolf, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Inuyasha yelled as he slammed into Kouga's side. Both Inuyasha and the wolf youkai tumbled to the ground as Sesshoumaru swung toukijin. The wave of jaki went past them.

Before any words could be spoken, Inuyasha was at Kagome's side.

"What the hell were you two thinking? Couldn't you smell it?"

Sesshoumaru barely heard his half brother. His anger was still there and he was fighting his urge to kill the wolf youkai. Taking deep breaths, he closed his eyes and willed himself to stay calm. The red receded from his eyes and then it hit him. The smell of ningen blood was floating through the air, Kagome's blood.

The taiyoukai kneeled at Kagome's side; next to him were Inuyasha and then Kouga. Her robes were stained red, the smell of blood overpowering at the close proximity. She remained silent and still, her face was unmarked. Sesshoumaru put his hand against her cheek to discover that her skin was still cold.

"Leave us," Sesshoumaru stated, his voice giving nothing away although Inuyasha could see some foreign emotion flicker in his brother's eyes.

Inuyasha stood as Sesshoumaru began to undo the ties of Kagome's robe. But Kouga intervened, moving towards the inu youkai.

"Oi, what are you gonna do to my woman?"

Sesshoumaru didn't even spare him a glance. He simply stood, grabbed the wolf youkai by the neck and flung him across the clearing where his head made contact with a tree.

"Inuyasha, I suggest you keep that idiot away from me."

"Feh!" was Inuyasha's only answer, but he did approach Kouga, who was now sitting against a tree with a hand held to his head.

"He won't hurt her, ya wimpy wolf. So just leave him alone before you get yourself killed."

Kouga said nothing as he continued to study the youkai hovering around Kagome. He couldn't see the miko herself since Sesshoumaru's body was big enough to block his view of the ningen girl.

Sesshoumaru parted her robes, gently removing the bloodstained garment from her body. The only thing she wore was the red hakama, but he his mind was not on her current state of undress. Instead, he was studying the multitude of cuts that adorned her pale skin. They were everywhere, lining her arms and abdomen. Most likely on her legs as well although he did not check. Some of them were lined with dry blood; others seemed fresher, the crimson liquid still leaking from them. They were thin, clean slices, made with careful precision.

Behind him there was a gasp. He turned to find the taijiyaa looking over his shoulder. Occupied with studying the extent of Kagome's injuries he had not sensed the entrance of the other ningens.

"What happened to her?" Sango asked, kneeling next to her friend and carefully covering her with the discarded robe.

"I do not know what caused this. She was fine before the wolf showed up and nothing came near her. The injuries just appeared there."

"We should get her cleaned up," Yukiko said from Sango's side, her eyes shifted from gray to blue and back again.

Sesshoumaru nodded, for the first time glad of the two women's' presence. He did not know how to deal with ningen injuries and in this situation they were best suited to care for Kagome.

"Inuyasha, are there any rivers around here?" Miroku asked, carefully keeping his eyes away from the half-dressed miko. For once he didn't feel like getting slapped for his lecherous ways.

Just as Sesshoumaru was leaning over to pick Kagome up, a hand flew up and made contact with his cheek. The unconscious woman began to scream and writhe on the ground. Where before her face had been left unmarked, there was now a slice going from below her left eye to her chin. Blood fell from another cut below her bottom lip.

Her cries echoed throughout the forest and Sesshoumaru stepped away from her to avoid being hit again. The others gathered around to see what was the matter. Kagome continued to scream as her limbs flailed wildly, her movements causing her robe to fall away again.

Glaring at the others, Sesshoumaru moved forward to cover her. Her movements would not allow him to dress her in the robe properly so he wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides. His legs straddled hers and held them still. As for her screaming, there was nothing he could do about that but try his best to ignore it.

~Kagome~

She couldn't move. After her outburst a couple of seconds ago something had grabbed her, preventing her from moving. Yet, she couldn't see anything. There was no physical sign of her being tied or of anyone holding her down.

Now there was no escaping, no way to fight away her captor. Pain flared within and without her body. It was a constant, intense assault upon everything she was and she screamed until she imagined Kami himself could hear her. But if the deity did indeed hear her cries, he made no move to help end her suffering. Still, there were the golden eyes that called to things, perhaps memories, lying deep within her.

Her entire body ached and her heart was still heavy and dormant within her chest, her breathing was labored and her throat was raw from her screams. Still, it was all somehow bearable. Or at least it was until she felt the heat, real heat this time, not from her wounds; the heat of an actual flame. It surrounded her and she still was unable to move, her scream took on an entirely new pitch. It didn't just sound like someone in pain, it tore at the eardrums, bringing agony to the listener.

The thought had not occurred to her the entire time she was being tortured, but now the realization hit her. She was going to die.

~*~

He had to release her from his arms, the screaming had intensified and with it his need to cover his sensitive ears. It was one long, shriek of agony that made a person's ears want to bleed and made the heart want to cry out in sympathy. There was nothing anyone could do to help her. She was lost somewhere in a curse, within her own mind. Sesshoumaru's claws pierced the skin around his ears as he blocked out the sound. A lot of emotions coursed through him, though he tried to keep them hidden. He felt guilty at being unable to protect Kagome, worry for her condition and anger that anyone should even want to harm her. The screaming came to an end. She lay perfectly still at his feet, face pale and almost serene.

Everyone watched her for a moment. No sounds or movements were made by anyone, least of all Kagome. Not even the rise and fall of her breathing.

Though later he would never admit it, Sesshoumaru's hands shook as he kneeled at his ningen lover's side. Gently placing his claws upon her chest, his eyes began to go red. Nothing, there was no heartbeat, no breathing. He clenched his jaws in order to hold back the keening howl that wanted to escape his lungs. Everyone, ningens, youkai and hanyou alike all looked away from the mournful sight. They didn't need to ask or even investigate the fact for themselves; Sesshoumaru's quivering body said it all. Their friend was gone, departed for the spirit world.

Tenseiga was drawn; prayers and mantras were repeated over and over again in each person's mind. The taiyoukai held the blade poised over the recently deceased miko's body. He did not move.

`I can't see them,' he thought, `the servants of death. They are hidden from my view.'

If he could not see the demons that collected the souls of the dead, then the sword would not revive her. He had seen them before, the first time he had used the sword to save her and when he had revived both Rin and Jaken. But now, they were no where in sight. There was no way for her to come back to him.

For the first time in history, Sesshoumaru lost all control. His eyes burned blood red, his face elongated, his features becoming sharp. He willed the change, wanting his true youkai nature to take over, wanting anything but the harsh truth of their current situation. Inuyasha and the others backed out of the clearing, leaving him room for his huge inu form.

The first thing his crimson colored eyes met was the wolf youkai, without a moment's hesitation he attacked.

~*~

There was light as memories came flooding back into her mind. Sesshoumaru, her mother, Inuyasha, Shippou, Jii-chan, Rin, Souta, Sango, Miroku and Yukiko. The bone-eaters well, the shrine, Sesshoumaru's castle, Inuyasha's forest everything came back to her in that instant. Kagome's eyes were closed and all around her she felt a soft warmth that caressed her skin and soothed her spirit.

It was wonderful, inviting and she reveled in it. The pain of a few seconds ago completely forgotten. She could almost imagine she was in Sesshoumaru's arms right now, even though she knew she wasn't. But at the moment she was content to rest, she felt so tired as if her very life force had been drained from her.

Curling up into a ball, she began to drift into sleep when a voice, calm and friendly, called to her.

"Kagome, Kagome, wake up. You mustn't sleep in this place."

The voice was oddly familiar, but she waved it off with a snort.

"I'm sooo tired, just let me rest for one minute, alright?"

There was a feeling of peace and tranquility in this place that made her feel safe. Nothing would harm her here, of that fact she was absolutely certain. Her mind was foggy with weariness that clouded her judgment. But she had always been a sharp, quick thinking person so she was able to find the flaw. Yes, she was safe in her current location, but where exactly was she?

Slowly, almost warily, Kagome's eyes opened. Everything was pink, or perhaps nothing was pink. It felt like she was boxed in by the light, purifying color and yet she could move freely as if the very itself was tinted pink. Holding her arms out in front of her, she noticed that her skin had a faint glow to it that covered her entire body.

"So where am I?" she asked, hoping the voice had not been a figment of her imagination. She had experienced more than enough illusions as of late. A relieved sigh escaped her when the voice spoke.

"What do you remember, miko?"

Kagome thought about her answer for a second before voicing it.

"Everything, I suppose. I remember Koridomi, the curse, everything thing that I hallucinated. Now answer my question."

"You are within the Shikon no tama," this said as if it were the simplest thing in the world, like offering a cookie to a child.

"NANI? How is that possible?"

"You are not physically within the jewel."

Kagome again looked down at herself, she was bare of any clothing. She pinched herself and found that it stung a bit. The voice interrupted just as she began to protest.

"Your form is just a manifestation I created to keep your spirit separate from the souls within the Shikon. You were upon death, and so I lured your essence into the jewel. As you are the protector of the Shikon no tama, it is also linked to you and can help you in extreme times of need."

"This is the voice of Midoriko, isn't it? But what about the-"

"Hai, when I was a ningen I was known as Midoriko. Now, no more questions. It will suffice to say that I have saved the core of your being from succumbing to the final stage of the curse. While you are a powerful miko, you had given into `despair' the fourth stage of the kuroi miko's curse. I was surprised that you were able to get through the first three stages so easily."

"I don't understand," Kagome said, her mind was spinning and she her eyelids felt heavy with fatigue.

"There are five stages to the curse the kuroi miko laid upon you," the voice explained. "The last you will have to accomplish on your own when your spirit is put back into your body."

"What is it I'm supposed to do?"

There was silence and Kagome was not sure if she was being ignored or had not been heard. But after a minute there was an answer.

"If you fail to destroy the kuroi miko within two weeks, both you and the other girl who bares the mark of the dark blossom will be under her control. But I do not think your friend will last long, her body is already weak with the strain from the spirits residing within her."

"How will I-," the young miko yawned in the middle of her question, her eyelids drooping.

"We have no more time, Kagome. If you stay here any longer you will become trapped in the jewel. I must send you back into your body, your mind will still be stuck within the fourth curse stage, but this time your memories should be in tact. Use your memories as a focus point and draw power from the Shikon no tama."

Before Kagome could speak, she was thrown back into her own body. The force of it left her feeling breathless, but she no longer felt tired as a multitude of aches stung at her skin and heat surrounded her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reviewer Responses

Aira^o^: I'm glad you like the story and I agree that anyone who reads this story without reading `bliss' would be thoroughly confused. But somehow this story just feels different to me then when I was writing `bliss'. I love both of the stories but I think `bliss' will always be my greatest accomplishment, maybe because it's the first semi-long story I wrote seriously and completed. Anyways I'll stop babbling, as always, thanks for the review!

Tessa3: Hah, my hard work paid off you were almost fooled by Kagome's little dream/curse thing!. . .So sorry for the terrible formatting mistake at the end of the chapter. Laughing is good for the soul, everyone should laugh more often, ne? Besides if you laugh like a lunatic people don't bother you as much. ^_~ Thanks for your review.

Helen: No internet connection? Ouch. . . That must suck. I'd be bored out of my mind without the internet. . . Or maybe I'd just get off my lazy butt and find something to do. . . hard to tell with me. Don't worry about the late review, I just love getting reviews so I'm always happy to see them no matter when they come. Awwww! I love all my reviewers who are concerned about me not getting tons of reviews. But I assure you that I will finish this fic. I'm too in love with the ideas I have for it to stop, so as long as I know I have people reading it, no matter how small the number, I will continue! Glad you liked the curse description, I had fun thinking about what kind of curse it would be. Thanks for warning me about the messed up formatting at the end. Yes, Kouga has finally found his way into the story and now he's in trouble! But I love Kouga's sweet/slightly oblivious to the world, attitude so he's relatively safe. . . Arigato for the review!

sweecenck: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long for this update ^_~.

Aido: Thanks for the review, I will definitely keep writing more because . . . I LOVE INUYASHAAAAAAA. He he he okie dae.

Spirit element: I know, the song is so kawaii. . . I love it! Yes, Kagome figured it out, she's smarter then your average. . . uhh. . . miko. Heh, well thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!