InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time Goes By; Life Goes On ❯ The Beginning of the End ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18
Sesshomaru and Rin led the despondent group inside to dry off and plan their next move. As they entered the door, everyone except Rin took a seat around the table. Even Inuyasha could think of nothing better to do than sit and wait for his beast to calm down a bit.
Rin paced the length of the counter as the coffee brewed. Her nerves were shot and her heart broke for Inuyasha and his friends. The percolating coffee filled the room with bittersweet smells of mint and raspberry and though it was odd, she was thankful for the smell. It seemed to calm her nerves and those around her. Even Inuyasha seemed to relax with the aroma wafting in the room. The markings on his cheeks faded, and the blood red that filled his eyes turned a pale pink signifying his return to normal.
Turning her back to the group Rin reached for some mugs in the upper cabinets and proceeded to pour the hot and bitter liquid for the tired group. It had been a terribly long night already and she was not sure how much more they could handle.
Inuyasha watched Rin’s back as she completed her task, so he would not have to face the rest of the group. Fisting his hands under the table and worrying his bottom lip Inuyasha asked the question burning his tongue, “What is the plan, Sesshomaru? We can’t leave her in the hands of Naraku to long or her life is in danger.” Turning to face his brother at the head of the table Inuyasha blinked away the unshed tears.
“I know little brother. However, her fate rests in our actions, and if we were to barge in now Naraku would likely kill her without a second thought, and then there is the fate of Isamu we have to contend with. I believe a surprise attack would be in our and your family’s best interest.”
“A surprise attack?” Sango asked, snapping her red-rimmed eyes to him. “He knows we are coming Sesshomaru whether it be tonight or next week. No matter what we plan he will be expecting us.”
“Sango's right, we need to act and we need to act now. Surprise or not her life is in peril. Not to mention tomorrow is the night of the new moon,” Said Miroku.
“Fuck!” Inuyasha growled, “I totally forgot.”
Inuyasha lowered his head into his hands and let the tears fall freely. ‘How could I have forgotten?’ Inuyasha thought, standing up. Anger flaring, fists clenched he began pacing the kitchen. His eyes red and bloodshot, cheeks tear stained and the only thing he could think about was what a failure he was.
Sesshomaru stood and moved slowly across the kitchen. Unhurriedly he closed the gap between him and Inuyasha and with a delicate yet firm hand, he gripped Inuyasha's shoulder. He felt the hanyou slump in his grasp before soul wrenching sobs took control.
Nodding to Miroku and Sango, Sesshomaru stood and made his way back to the table to let them handle Inuyasha. He was just not the type of person to deal with crying, especially his brother.
“Here’s the plan,” Sesshomaru began, looking at the clock, “it’s now six-thirty am, and in two hours we will make our way to Naraku's hideout and look for any weaknesses. And once we find the best point of entrance we will proceed ready to fight.”
Picking himself up off the floor and wiping his wet cheeks, Inuyasha made his way to the table, “Sesshomaru, two hours is simply too long. He could have killed her by then. Why can’t we go now?”
“Because, dear brother we can’t just rush into this. We have to proceed with the utmost precaution if you want your ‘mate’ and child back.”
Realizing defeat, Inuyasha made his way toward the stairs before turning to face the solemn group below him, “If anything happens to her before we get there I WILL kill you!” And with that, he rounded the corner and went to Kagome's room.
After Inuyasha was out of sight and he hoped out of hearing range, Miroku turned his speculative gaze on Sesshomaru, “I understand your reasoning to want to wait, but don’t you think two hours is a bit long?”
“No monk I do not. If we were to leave, now Inuyasha would surely barge in with blind fury and Naraku will feed off that weakness. There is no doubt he knows we are coming but if we can have a small element of surprise, we will have the upper hand. However, if Inuyasha were to do things his way he would just barge in and then what do you think will happen.”
“You conceited bastard, how do you think this is affecting him?” Sango said, never looking up from the floor. “In the state he is in right now nothing will stop him from barging in.”
The silence that followed was almost deafening and the remaining group stared at everything but each other. The raging war between good and evil has begun to take its toll and they were growing weary. If things did not turn out for the best all the battles they have fought, all the narrow escapes, and all the pain would have been in vain.
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Kagome groaned as her eyes fluttered open. Her body stiff and sore from the uncomfortable, torturous position Naraku had bound her. Hands were numb from the lack of circulation, shoulders screaming against the assault and her legs felt like lead. ‘If only my feet could touch the ground,’ She thought. Even if flexed her feet she could not touch the ground looming three inches from her.
Creaking from behind her pulled her from the pain. She only needed one guess to know who was approaching, however, that was one guess he was not going to give her.
“So you have finally waked?” Naraku sneered, closing the gap between him and his captive.
“Fuck you!” Kagome spat. She was tired of being the helpless damsel but at the same time, she knew Inuyasha would come to rescue her as he always does. But that did not stop the need to be strong on her own.
She would be her own savior this time and she would be the one that destroyed the hanyou that has put her and her group through utter hell. The perky, kindhearted girl died the day Naraku terrorized her mother and took her son, and for that, he would pay dearly. If only she could escape his hellish grip could she defeat him.
“Kagome there is no use trying to escape your bounds,” Naraku hissed, stepping within arm’s reach. He could see the glint of hate in her honey orbs and planned to use that against the man she loved.
Kagome wanted to slap the smug look off his face, her hands fisted above her head, and her body tightened with just the thought. And if it wasn’t for the damn binds she would have clawed his face off, but the more she clenched her fists the more the bounds contracted against the sensitive skin of her wrist.
“Let me go Naraku!” her voice was nothing more than a whisper. She was tired. Her body failing her.
“Why would I do that? You are nothing more than bait,” he said, leaning closer to see the malice in her eyes. Oh how he wanted to torture her. To make her beg for mercy. However, that had to wait. Inuyasha hadn’t arrived yet and he wanted to make sure they both suffered.
“You jerk!” her body recoiled from the closeness of his. His ruby eyes searing her with some kind of spell to keep her immobilized. All she could do was watch as he inched closer to her before she reacted. Spitting in his face seemed like a good idea, because she would rather spit on him than look at him.
Naraku's eyes widened as the warm liquid sprayed his face. Eyes narrowed, body stiffened. And before Kagome knew it, his open palm landed across her cheek. Her head snapped to the left, the sting surprised her. She knew it would bruise leaving her with his mark for days, perhaps weeks to come.
“You bitch!” he growled, turning his back to her. “You will pay for that!” storming to the far corner, he turned to face her. Eyes flashing in the darkness he bent over and swiftly picked up a terrified infant and ran his hand over the baby’s throat, “Just you wait!” With another growl, he all but dropped Isamu to the ground and stormed off in the direction he had previously arrived.
Kagome watched as he stormed toward her then out of sight. Her face stung from the slap, her eyes burning with unshed tears, the dust settling in the room caused her body to spasm. All the pent up frustration, stress sent her miko powers into overdrive. Body burning with power, eyes flashing with anger her powers surged breaking her bounds sending her crashing to the floor.
She groaned as her ankle rolled, pain shooting through her foot. At first she couldn’t move, as the pain was unbearable, crying from the exertion and immense pain, she laid on the dust-covered floor for what seemed like hours.
Remembering where she was, Kagome sat up and touched her ankle tenderly. Thankfully it wasn’t broken, just sprained, and worst case scenario she had torn the ligaments. But she was alive, out of her binds.
Daring a look, she turned to face the way Naraku had disappeared. The dark warehouse hid everything in its shadows and she wasn’t sure if he was there or not. She started to turn her attention toward her ankle once more when a strangled sound caught her attention on the other side of the room.
A determination took hold of her and she hoisted herself up on her one good foot and made her way toward the sound. Stumbling over felled rafters, she lost her balance and landed in the dust once again. Coughing she got to her feet again, moving with care she finally made it to the other corner and found the source of the sound.
‘Kagura!?’
Kagome wanted to yell and scream at the wind sorceress for all of this, but upon closer inspection, she could tell Kagura was bound just as she had been moments before.
“Kagura… Kagura are you alright?” she said, reaching a hand toward the bounds on Kagura's wrists.
“Feh, I’ve been better. How did you get free?”
“My powers purified the bounds. Hang on a sec I will see if I can do the same for yours,” Kagome said, reaching deep within herself and pulling at the power she held. The wind around Kagome picked up sending her hair, and the settled dust flying about. Before she could touch a single bound on Kagura, the wind died as did her power. “Dammit! I’m too exhausted.”
Turning her attention toward the flower Kagome felt tears spill down her cheeks, “I’m sorry Kagura.”
“Don’t be Kagome; I will be alright just go to your son. He needs you more than I do right now.”
“Kay,” she said turning her attention to the tiny sound caught her attention. A sound only a mother would know.
The small cries of her son came from a far corner. With all the strength she had, she stood on unsure legs and wobbled her way toward him. At least, she had one thing to keep her going and that was the life of her son.
The near blackness made the short journey a treacherous one. The fallen rafters hindered any clear path to her baby and after many stumbles, a few curses, she found him. A tiny ray of hope shone in the form of Isamu. As tiny as it was, it was there.
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Time seemed to stand still as they disgruntled group waited to leave. If only they could have talked Sesshomaru into leaving earlier, they would already be there. Of course, the controlling demon would not relent on his previous decision.
And as the final hour grew to a close, the remaining group gathered their weapons and prepared for the final battle: Sango with her hiraikotsu, Miroku with his staff, and Inuyasha wielding his tessiga. Sesshomaru watched with respect and awe as the fierce group made their way down the shrine steps to the awaiting car.
Without a word, Inuyasha regarded those behind him with a look that spoke volumes as it said, “The fucker is mine”. Everyone including the impassive Demon lord nodded their understanding before getting in the car.
As Sesshomaru started the car, everyone prayed for Patience, courage, and above all else strength.