InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets of Salvation ❯ The things that destroy ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

As will always be the case, I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the characters contained in this story.

Severe pain. Inuyasha was going to inflict pain so bad that Kouga would beg for death. He wouldn't kill him because then Kagome might cry, and he hated it when she cried. Still, he could make Kouga hurt. He could make Kouga suffer more if he kept him alive. He had always wondered how fast Kouga would be without his shards, and now he knew the answer. Not fast enough. He was going to catch Kouga before he could reach the clearing, before Kagome could interfere.

He reached out toward Kouga’s back with one hand and … suddenly he heard that word. The word he often dreaded but secretly, very rarely, he loved. At this moment however, he hated that word.

“OSWARI!!”

He barely had time to resist. His grin disappeared as it made contact with the dirt. The air was knocked out of him as his chest followed suit, and finally his entire body was slammed into the ground. He snarled as he fought to raise his head and what he saw didn’t improve his mood. As he was able to focus on the scene before him he saw Kouga’s bent form enter the clearing and then he saw a look on Kagome’s face that he had never seen directed at him before. Disgust. Kagome looked at him as though he was some deranged animal. Part of him didn’t want to know why she was looking at him that way, but the other part of him already had his body moving toward Kagome.

“Kouga!” Inuyasha’s ears flattened against his head at hearing Kagome utter the skinny wolf’s name so urgently and full of concern. Inuyasha followed her gaze and found what she was looking at. Blood was oozing down Kouga’s legs and dripping onto the dirt. Kagome placed one hand gently on Kouga’s shoulder as she stepped behind him to find out where the blood was coming from. Inuyasha heard her gasp and as she stepped to the side he saw what she had seen. Four gashes ran down the length of Kouga’s back. Inuyasha then looked to his own hand and saw it dripping with dark blood. He must have done it as he was reaching for Kouga when he hit the ground. Then he looked to Kagome and she was glaring at him, her eyes full of angry tears.

Kagome couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She took Kouga’s hands and led him to a shady place where she urged him to a sitting position. She quickly grabbed her backpack and dug out her first aid kit. Then she began to remove the remaining shreds of Kouga’s clothing from his back and placed a towel over his angry looking wounds. She dabbed at them gingerly and Kouga marveled at how gentle she was. It barely even hurt.

Inuyasha approached them slowly and when he was within seven feet of them Kagome’s head whirled in his direction. “Don’t come any closer Inuyasha. I have no trust for someone who would attack a fleeing enemy so ruthlessly.” Inuyasha’s breath caught in his chest. ‘No trust?’ He thought. Those words continued to ring in his mind as he began to make his plea.

“Kagome, he wasn’t just fleeing. He was going to attack again and I-“

“I don’t want to hear it Inuyasha. There isn’t even a scratch on you.” Kouga didn’t exactly like the way this was going, but it was just the opportunity he needed. He hated having to look weak in front of Kagome, and he knew the injury he’d gotten from Inuyasha wouldn’t have kept him from continuing the fight. Still, this couldn’t have played out much more perfectly if he planned it, so he went with it.

“Kagome I didn’t-“ Inuyasha began to protest but Kagome silenced him once again.

“I’m tired of listening to your excuses Inuyasha. You have excuses for everything. I already told you I don’t want to hear it. Get away from us Inuyasha.” Then Kagome turned away from him and went back to tending to Kouga’s wounds. Inuyasha sputtered for a moment and then he regained his anger, which never took very long.

“Fine! It’s not as though I’d want to spend any more time around you or that mangy wolf anyway. Let the wench fuss over the wimp. That’s the way it should be.” Still, he didn’t move for a few moments. He was hoping Kagome would yell at him some more. That she would get her anger out so they could get past this. He always preferred her to yell at him rather than ignore him, and usually she did yell. But this time… she didn’t look away from the task at hand. Inuyasha saw the beads of perspiration all over her face and she bit her lip fiercely, but she didn’t look at him or speak to him. He finally stomped away and ignored the questioning looks from his friends.

When he disappeared from sight Kagome let out a sigh. “I thought he’d never leave.” She said as she shook her head. Sango’s eyebrows rose at that comment but she kept her mouth shut, which is more than could be said for the monk.

“Kagome-sama, don’t you think you should have heard Inuyasha out. After all, they both agreed to the fight-“

“No, Miroku. I’m tired of hearing him out. He can’t just keeping doing things and then apologizing and knowing I’ll forgive him, and then go back and do the same things again. He has to change and I’m beginning to think he never will. He’ll never learn from his mistakes and he’ll never think things through. He’ll just rely on my forgiveness and I’m not strong enough to do it anymore. Besides… I have other things to worry about.” Kagome’s voice was filled with decision and conviction but Miroku thought he noticed something in her eyes that betrayed her words. Why did it seem like Kagome’s words and actions didn’t seem sincere as of late? Miroku wondered if Kagome was losing it, or if he was.

‘She’s right.’ Inuyasha thought to himself as he watched the scene unfold from a nearby tree. ‘She’s the only person I’ve ever known to be so forgiving, and I’ve taken advantage of that. I guess I really haven’t changed at all.’ Well, that was the voice of reason talking and once again Inuyasha decided to quickly put reason in it’s place. Out of his brain. ‘What am I thinking? Of course I’ve changed. She should appreciate all the things I’ve done for her. All the things I could have killed but didn’t, all the things I could have said but bit my tongue. The fact that I apologize at all should make her happy. Stupid wench.’

Kagome finished cleaning and wrapping Kouga’s wounds, and Inuyasha had to look away and suppress his growling as he watched Kagome’s arms brush Kouga’s chest in her attempt to wrap the bandages all the way around his torso. Then Kagome helped Kouga to his feet and she ducked under his arm to help him walk. Kouga leaned on her a bit more than was necessary. Actually he didn’t need her help at all, but he was no fool. He wasn’t going to give up a chance to be near Kagome.

“Kouga, do you think we can make it back to your pack tonight?” That sparked something inside Inuyahsa. Without thinking he dropped down from his perch and landed directly in front of the pair.

“What do you mean we!?” He bellowed. Kagome bit her lip and stared him down.

“Kouga,” She began again without taking her glare from Inuyasha. She spoke every word with sparkling clarity, and every word was like a sparkling dagger going into Inuyasha’s heart. “Can we make it back to your pack tonight?”

“Kagome, I’ll can make it back tonight, but I don’t want to trouble you.” Finally Kagome’s eyes left Inuyasha and in the time it took them to fall upon Kouga her expression had changed completely. She smiled softly at him and shook her head.

“It’s no trouble Kouga. I want to go with you, if that’s okay.”

“Okay?” Kouga asked in surprise. “It’s more than okay Kagome. You’re always welcome.” He smiled back at her and he was so happy that he could almost forget that Kagome wasn’t the only reason his heart was fluttering. He could almost ignore that he was actually a little afraid of the look in Inuyasha’s eyes right now.

“Kagome-sama, if you’re set on doing this, and if I know you at all I know you’ve made up your mind, then at least let us accompany you. With an injured wimpy wolf as your only protection it might be a bit dangerous.” Kagome turned a steely glare on him and Sango made sure that her elbow met with his ribs. He held his hands up in defense. “I’m sorry, really. It just seems so natural to hear it. It just slipped out. Really.”

“Even though he found the worst possible way to say it, houshi-sama does have a point.” Sango said. “I don’t think it’s safe.” Kouga was cursing mentally. He would never get her alone at this rate.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. We’ll protect each other.” Then she turned a smile on Kouga that was so bright and so warm that he wanted to dance in circles… on Inuyasha’s head, just to rub it in.

“Well, why don’t you at least ride on Kirara, and then she’ll come back when you’re safely with Kouga’s pack.” Kagome was shaking her head before Sango even finished her sentence.

“We’ll be fine Sango. Really. I don’t want any help.”

“Stop trying to help the stubborn wench. She and her lover boy will be fine. Even demons would be too grossed out to come any where near them.” Then he turned on his heel and jumped up into the nearest tree. “Hurry up and get out of my forest.” He called down. Kagome looked stricken for a moment and then her look hardened and she left Kouga’s side to go and retrieve her bag.

“Kagome, how are you going to carry your pack and help Kouga?” Shippo asked, tears already pooling in his eyes.

“Don’t worry Shippo. I’m leaving this here for you. All I need is my bow and I’ll be fine.” She slung her bow and arrows over her arm and then scooped Shippo up. “I’ll be back to visit soon. I’ll miss you until then.” Then she hugged him tightly and placed him on the ground. She returned to Kouga’s side and he replaced his arm across her shoulders.

“I’ll visit as soon as I can. That is… if he will allow me back in his forest.”

“We won’t let him stop you Kagome. This is our home too now and you’re always welcome where we are.” Sango said with the best smile she could muster. Miroku nodded his agreement and then said,

“Do be careful Kagome-sama.” Kagome smiled and nodded back.

“Oh, and tell Kaede that I’m okay and I’ll talk to her soon.” Miroku nodded again and then Kagome and Kouga left the clearing.

As Inuyasha watched Kagome walk away from him he felt like he was choking. He couldn’t breathe and he didn’t notice the blood dripping from his clenched fists.

“That was a bit strange.” Sango said suddenly, as they all stared after the pair.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Miroku said.

“Well, just to be safe I’m going have Kirara follow them, at least until they meet up with Kouga’s pack and we know she’s safe.”

“Don’t bother.” Inuyasha said as he dropped to the ground, breathing heavily but trying to act nonchalant.

“Inuyasha, just because you’re angry with her that’s no reason to leave her in danger. I expected more from-“ Sango was cut off by an angry snarl.

“I’ll follow them myself. If Naraku really does need her to complete the jewel we can’t leave her unprotected.” He didn’t take his eyes from the path Kagome and Kouga had taken. Sango didn’t notice the hurt look in his eye.

“Whatever you say Inuyasha.” She said as she folded her arms and stalked off toward Kaede’s hut. Shippo jumped up onto Inuyasha’s shoulder and without even looking at him Inuyasha said,

“Do you want to yell at me too runt?” Shippo sighed and patted Inuyasha on the head.

“I feel bad for you Inuyasha. You try so hard to turn everyone against you and it finally worked on the one person who I thought would never leave you. The one person you needed the most.” Then he jumped down and ran after Sango.

“Wise words from one so young.” Miroku said as he rubbed his temple. “But even so, Inuyasha I think-“

“I know what you think. You think I deserve this and that she should be with someone who can admit… things. But just because she doesn’t care about me anymore, doesn’t mean I don’t care about what happens to her.” Then he took off at a run and sprang into the trees to begin his search. Miroku watched the red and silver figure streak away as he said,

“Well, that’s not what I was going to say… it works just the same I suppose. Still, I think something is amiss here. And, at the same time, I think it may be a hard lesson that Inuyasha needs to learn. I just hope… I just hope it doesn’t destroy him.”

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It didn’t take Inuyasha long to catch up to Kouga and Kagome, and each moment he watched them he screamed louder and louder inside himself. Each moment Inuyasha’s distress grew Naraku’s smile grew wider.
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