InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Torn ❯ Another attack ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

" " Speaking

[ ] Thoughts

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"Wake up Kagome, its morning," Inuyasha shook her shoulders a little. "Come on girl, wake up already."

Kagome whimpered, curling up tighter while one hand touched her neck. It still hurt like the very devil, but she could feel the sunlight on her face and knew she'd have to get up already. Yawning, another soft whimper escaped her at the pain of her sore throat. Opening her eyes, she blinked against the light for a second before feeling something move from around her.

Frowning a little in confusion, she turned her head and gasped when she realized where she was. Sitting back against the tree behind him, Inuyasha watched her closely, smirking inwardly at the blush that quickly spread over her cheeks. Watching her pull away, he was quick to grab onto her waist when she leaned back too far and almost fell off the branch.

"Watch it, you're gonna be sore enough as it is," he joked, seeing her wince when she touched her side.

"I am sore, he threw me into the tree I was dangling in front of," Kagome whispered, licking her parched lips.

Inuyasha frowned, "You wouldn't have gotten hurt if you'd stayed at the village, stupid."

Nodding, Kagome surprised him by turning to wrap her arms around his neck and lean her head on his shoulder. "Inuyasha, you wouldn't believe how much I've missed you and your cursing and your insults!"

"What?! Have you gone crazy? What the hell's the matter with you? How come you smell sick?" Inuyasha pushed her carefully back to sit facing him, her legs draped over one of his.

Kagome paled and looked up with troubled eyes, "You can smell sickness on me?"

He nodded, "How is she?"

"She?" Kagome gulped, "She who?"

Inuyasha sighed and crossed his arms, "Your mom, I guess she got worse?"

"You knew?!" Kagome's voice cracked and she swallowed thickly, "Y-You knew she was sick?! And you didn't SAY anything?!"

"I thought you did too!" Inuyasha defended himself, "Its been there since I met you, I figured it was something you didn't talk about like your dad."

"What about my dad?" Kagome asked, wrapping her arms across her chest tightly, "And how bad is the smell?"

"It wasn't as bad as it is now," Inuyasha leaned forward and took a stronger sniff off her shirt. "She's really sick isn't she?"

She covered her lips with her hands and nodded, tears welling in her eyes again as she realized just how bad her mom's condition was. Struggling to hold in her sobs, she finally gained control of her emotions and speak again. "I heard her talking to uncle Dai, the doctors said she's only got a few months left."

Understanding now the need for her to stay in her time, Inuyasha glanced away, unsure of how to act. She made the decision for him though, leaning against him again and curling up in his lap. Her voice was small and insecure when she asked him to just hold her and despite his natural awkwardness with people, he easily wrapped his arms back around her and held her close.

Kagome took comfort from his touch and sighed, "It still hasn't quite dawned on me yet, I can't imagine going home and not seeing her there, smiling at the door or in the kitchen. What am I going to do? How do I keep up this double life when Souta's going to need me there? And grandpa's getting older, he can't keep up with a kid his age."

"Things will work out Kagome, you'll see," Inuyasha gave her a pat to her back and wondered what to say. "I was worried you know."

That brought a small smile to her face, "Miroku told me and I'm sorry I had to seal the well, grandpa made me do it. He knew you'd go after me and drag me back and he needed my help, mom's gotten so weak recently and he's not all that strong either."

"I understand now," Inuyasha thought back to his own childhood, and having watched his own mother dying from sickness. Unlike Kagome, he'd done it all on his own, none of the human or youkai physicians wanted to tend to the woman who'd born a half-breed son.

When her small hands moved to cling to his haori, he tightened his hold and re-assured her, "You won't be alone in this Kagome, if you need us you know you can come back any time."

"Thank you," Resting her tired eyes, Kagome lay her head on his shoulder and fell asleep once again.

[Kami why this? Of all the people in the world, why Kagome's mom?] Looking down at the girl in his lap, Inuyasha realized just how difficult her life would be in the near future and silently vowed to help as best he could. [She'll have to tell the others soon, they'll figure out a way to help.]


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"There! Just above its hip!"

Kagome 'eeped' and jumped behind Kirara when the demon gave her a furious glare. Taking the opportunity while it was distracted, Inuyasha lashed out and managed to get a good hit to its side. Unfortunately the jewel shard was higher though, so it stayed in the demon while he ducked away from its attack.

Seeing a good chance to get a shot in, Kagome stood from her kneeling position and grabbed an arrow, notching it on her bow and taking aim. [Wait for it... watch for Inuyasha too... NOW! ]

Letting loose, the arrow sped towards the demon charged with her miko energy and to her surprise, hit it dead center in its back. With a howl, the demon burst into flames and dissapeared, the jewel shard falling to the ground to be caught easily by Inuyasha.

"Wow Kagome that was great!" Shippo congratulated her happily.

"Very good work indeed Kagome-sama," Miroku agreed heartily.

Smiling her thanks, Kagome saw Inuyasha nod and beamed, "That's the fourth shard we've gotten in a week and a half!"

Sango laughed, "Maybe we should let you go home for long periods more often Kagome-chan, you've been so focused these past few days. Inuyasha couldn't dare complain about lost time now."

"Keh, shows what you know," Inuyasha muttered, looking towards the direction of the well. "We should head back tomorrow."

"So soon?" Miroku frowned a little, confused by the hanyou's sudden interest in going back to Kaede's. It was completely unlike him to offer to return, especially when their hunting was going so well.

"Kagome needs to go home in two days time, we'll barely be able to get back," Inuyasha sat below a tree and rested against it comfortably.

"You're leaving again?" Shippo pouted.

Kagome nodded sadly, "I have to go home, I'm needed there."

Miroku and Sango shared a look, knowing their comrades were keeping something big from them if Inuyasha was willing to let her leave without a fight. "Forgive my intrusion Kagome-sama but is there something going on in your time that we should know of?"

Kagome bit her lip, having known she'd have to explain but dreading it for some reason. Inuyasha did her the favor of explaining however, easing her worries a bit, "Her mother's ill, she needs Kagome to help with her brother now that he's on break from school."

"I could go play with him!" Shippo offered, eager to see the world his surrogate mother came from.

Kagome shook her head, "Gomen but that wouldn't be wise Shippo, my uncle Daisuke is with the family and he doesn't know about any of this."

"Couldn't he help with your brother?" Sango asked

"Mama gave me two weeks to come back," Kagome explained, "I have to go back to find out how her trip is going and how she's feeling."

"We've agreed that she won't seal up the well," Inuyasha explained, "And I'll only go on an emergency basis."

When his stomach growled suddenly, he broke the peace by ordering for dinner to be served, thus turning the group's focus on setting up for the night.

Two days later they wished her luck and watched as Inuyasha led her to the well. Sitting at the edge, Kagome sighed and looked down at the grass beneath her feet.

"I'll be there three days from now," Inuyasha crossed his arms and watched her nod, "We'll decide then how to go on with things."

"Sounds fine with me," Kagome bit her lip for a moment before an idea came to mind, "I'll leave you some clothes from my time beside the well, in case you come in the daytime or uncle Dai wants to meet you."

"Fine," Turning away, Inuyasha glanced back at her while she jumped in before sitting in his tree to sulk. Lifting tired eyes to the stars above, he sighed and shook his head. [Three days Kagome - the well had better not be sealed this time]


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"Tadaima!"

Kagome slipped off her shoes and dropped her backpack beside the kitchen door. Loud laughter could be heard from the living room and she heard unfamiliar voices there, which caused her to hurry over to see who was in her home.

Sitting with a group of friends, Daisuke held a lady on his lap and was laughing at some joke they'd told when she popped her head into the living room. Realizing that they were all rather older and strangers, Kagome slipped away and up the stairs to her room. Moving to open the window by her bed, she jumped when her uncle entered and came over to greet her with a hug.

"Welcome home Kagome! I was expecting you earlier," Kissing her temple, he pulled back and turned her in his arms, "Souta's at a friend's house and I took the opportunity to invite some friends over, but they brought extra guests along with them. You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not uncle Dai, this is your home," Kagome smiled brightly.

Daisuke grinned and turned to the bed, "I found a gift for you while you were gone, I hope you like it."

Handing her a box, he watched her open it and smile despite her slightly unsure gaze as she pulled out the outfit. It was a red tank top shirt with a low-cut v-neck and the word 'playmate' on it in silver. Beneath that lay a black skirt, a bit shorter than her school ones (which were short enough) with a silver belt hanging from small loops at the hips.

"I got it for you from California but I found it after you'd left," he saw her smile and waved away her polite thanks. "I'll only accept your thanks if you wear them tonight."

"Tonight?" Kagome blinked, watching him nod and move over to the door, calling out to a lady who screamed his name up the stairs.

"Be right there Mol!" Turning with a grin to his niece again, Daisuke shrugged, "I've got a bit of a handful downstairs so I figured you'd be able to help me entertain my guests. Alexei is here, he was looking forward to seeing you tonight."

Kagome smiled, "Ok, give me a minute to change and I'll be right down."

Ten minutes later, Kagome was heading down the stairs in her new skirt and shirt, blushing at the fact that the shirt was much smaller than she'd thought and came barely to mid-tummy and the skirt fell to well below her navel, exposing most of her stomach and back. Wearing her hair up in a twist with a bit of black eye-liner, mascara and red lip gloss, she saw Alexei exit the kitchen and smiled shyly.

"Salve! Bella ninfa!" Alexei surprised her by coming over and planting a hearty kiss to her cheek.

"Hello to you too," Kagome fought down a blush, "I believe that's what you said."

"I was saying, hello beautiful nymph, that's to be my pet name for you," Alexei grinned, "You look stunning tonight cara... hmm... you know, I believe I prefer cara."

"I'm not quite used to clothes like this actually," Kagome stood at the doorway of the living room with him and crossed her arms in front of her.

Setting down his cup on a side table, Alexei tsked and shook his his head, "No, if you are to get used to such clothes, you must not cross your arms. A true nymph would have one on her hip and the other around a glass."

"A glass?" Kagome placed her hand on her hip as directed and was surprised by his placing his cup in the other.

"Don't worry, its just a brandy," Alexei glanced around and felt annoyed to see Daisuke's guest of honor, Stanley Judd, ogling the girl beside him. [Damn Daisuke and his pact with Hans]

"Kagome come meet a friend of mine," Daisuke called out, waving her over.

Excusing herself, Kagome did as told, feeling nervous under the scrutiny of the people in the room as she made her way over. Stopping next to her uncle, she was directly in front of an american man in his forties, with a slight belly and a wide, rather unnerving smile on his features.

"Stanley I'd like to present to you my niece Kagome," Daisuke watched her bow politely and the man's eyes focus on the neckline of her shirt, "Dear, this is Stanley Judd, a friend visiting from the U.S."

"Pleased to meet you Judd-san," Kagome bowed respectfully and was startled when his hand reached out and took a hold of hers, tugging it up to his lips.

"She certainly is a looker Higurashi," Kagome recognized the lecherous look in his eyes and involuntarily shivered at his touch.

One of the few women in the group stood and jokingly demanded a tour of the shrine from Daisuke, which he readily agreed to give. As the group stood and headed outside, Kagome moved to follow them and was surprised when her uncle asked her to stay and entertain Mr. Judd.

"But he won't be going along on the tour?" Kagome asked, glancing back at the man joking with one of the ladies.

"Didn't you notice the cane beside him? He was in a car accident and was left with a bad foot, he's lucky to have made it up the stairs," Daisuke explained.

Alexei joined them and gave her a re-assuring grin, "Just smile and be polite cara mia, make sure to keep him drinking as well."

"He needs to finish his glass," Daisuke agreed, "All of it, understood?"

"Ready to go niños?" An elegant woman in a short black dress joined them, giving Kagome a small smile.

"Of course Selene," nodding to his niece, Daisuke excused them from Judd and led the group outside.

Swallowing thickly, Kagome turned to give her guest a smile, surprised to see him watching her closely. "Will you be in Japan for very long Judd-san?"

"Call me Stanley pet, and no, I'm only here for the week and then its back to New York for me," he waved her over and patted the sofa beside him.

Seeing no way to refuse without being rude, Kagome crossed the room and sat, again crossing her arms across her stomach, Alexei's glass forgotten on a table beside her. Seeing him frown a bit, she was about to ask what was the matter when he leaned over and cupped her chin, turning her face this way and that to see it from different angles.

"You're really his niece?" Stanley asked softly.

"Hai," Kagome nodded, fighting down panic at their proximity.

Licking his lips, he released her chin to slide his hand down her neck, stopping in surprise when she lifted his glass to his mouth. "Thirsty?"

"Quite," drinking it down in one gulp, he set the empty glass down behind her and used the opportunity to rest his hand on her lower back and kneed the muscles there. "So soft pet."

Gasping in surprise, Kagome tried to pull away and was mortified that he simply held her in place and slid his hand up her shirt. Raising her hands to his shoulders to push him off, Kagome opened her mouth to scream for help when, to her horror, the man was suddenly crushing her down onto the sofa, his lips frantic over hers. With her legs off to the side and her arms pinned between them, Kagome was helpless and screamed, tears pouring from her eyes when the man's tongue touched the roof of her mouth.

Just as she thought she'd faint from the terror, the arms that had been supporting him over her gave out, his body falling limply atop hers. Finally managing to turn her head away, Kagome lay panting and gagging when a large man came and lifted Judd off her. Blinking in surprise and gratitude, she watched him and another carry Judd's sturdy form out of the living room and out of her sight.

[Who are these men? What are they doing in our shrine?]

Moments later a familiar face appeared and Kagome let out a sob of relief, sitting up to cling to Alexei, who promptly pulled her into his arms and carried her up to her room. On the way, Kagome glanced over his shoulder and saw a young woman meet with the man who'd taken Judd off her and follow him down the hallway towards Daisuke's room.

"Poveri innocente," Alexei sighed and held her close, sitting on her bed and gently rocking the horrified girl, "Calma dolce cara, calma..."

"W-What are you saying?" Kagome whispered, sniffling and wiping her nose.

"I said poor innocent and calm sweet dear, calm," Alexei gently kissed the top of her head and frowned when she shivered.

"That man wanted to... he..." Kagome felt nausea roll over her and moaned, closing her eyes and lifting a hand to her mouth. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Momento," rushing to the bathroom, Alexei lowered her beside the toilet and held her hair from her face while she gagged into the bowl. Once she was done, he helped her wash her face and rinse her mouth before gently lifting her again and taking her to her room.

Leaving the light off so as not to be noticed, he tucked her into bed and watched her clutching the blankets around her. Feeling disgusted by the thought of the man who'd kissed her, Kagome closed her eyes and curled herself into a ball. She felt Alexei soothing her hair back and whimpered.

"What is it cara?" Alexei whispered.

"I want Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, wishing with all her might that the hanyou were there. "Did you know that man was a pig? How could he even think that..."

"You'll grow accustomed to men soon enough," Daisuke intervened. "You did an excellent job tonight 'Gome, a very good job."

Alexei and Kagome both looked up and watched him close the door behind him, explaining quickly "Sele took over entertaining everyone for a moment."

"Who's with Judd now?" Alexei asked, still rubbing Kagome's back soothingly.

"Miwa's taking care of him," Daisuke looked to his niece and felt a stab of guilt at the tear marks on her face. "I'm sorry for the shock Kagome, we'll talk about this tomorrow though."

Kagome sniffled and nodded, "I-Is he leaving uncle Dai?"

"Not yet, probably not until morning," Daisuke watched her shudder and frowned, "You won't see him when he goes, now I'm counting on you Alexei, to keep the other guests entertained while I see to Judd."

"I can't go back down there," Kagome sat up, pulling the blanket up with her, "I couldn't unlce Dai, what if I do run into him?"

Daisuke nodded, "You just get some rest now, we'll talk in the morning."

Turning and exiting the room, he gave Alexei a pointed glance before going. Smiling at the girl as she lay back, Alexei shook his head sadly and tucked her into bed. "Get some sleep cara and try not to think on your unfortunate experience."

"Arigato," Kagome smiled back gratefully, "Will you be here in the morning?"

Alexei nodded, "Now go to sleep, I've got to get back downstairs."

Heading to the door, he stopped halfway out and glanced back, surprised when she asked him to lock the door behind him, "I wouldn't worry about him coming upstairs ninfa, but its better to be safe than sorry correct?"

"Hai," Yawning as the day's events caught up to her, Kagome watched him lock the door and sighed, forcing herself to ignore thinking of earlier like Alexei had advised. Having traveled almost all day to get home, she fell asleep quickly enough, her last waking thought of Inuyasha and his warm arms holding her that night she'd been attacked.

[Thank Kami he wasn't here for this, he would have killed the man... but it would be nice to be held tightly against him again.]


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- Here comes the trouble. Don't worry there'll be an explanation next chapter over breakfast.

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See ya later!