InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgiven ❯ What Once Was Mine ( Chapter 3 )

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers for their great comments! I'm happy that you enjoy the story. Well haha I got a lot of complaints about the lack of Inuyasha/Kagome action last chapter. Don't worry, they have some good scenes together in this chapter! I try to keep character development even in this story, so I can't always cram every character into each chapter, even if I'd like to. The storyline focuses on a few different sets of people that interact- Inuyasha and Kagome, Miroku and Sango, Kagura and Naraku, Sesshomaru and Jaken, and then a mix of these. So, in terms of plot development, I'm moving gradually.

I'll try to keep everyone as satisfied as possible, you demanding readers, you! ; )

R&R Please!

"Unforgiven"

Chapter 3: What Once Was Mine

He was suffocating. The air was quickly rushing out of his lungs, as if drawn by some invisible vacuum in the space around him. It was dark and full of shadows, unnamed figures hunched over themselves skirted the edges of his sight, though he heard their voices, chanting blame upon him with brutal force.

Inuyasha whirled around in his asphyxiation, clutching at his throat in pain. He tried to cough, to speak. She was here somewhere. He could feel her presence looming. She whispered softly, so quiet that his ears barely caught the words.

"Why have you come? You are not allowed." The words, though quiet, were demanding of an answer.

Inuyasha struggled with his vocal chords, his lips, his mouth, to form words, but they wouldn't come. Wheezing painfully, his heart felt ready to burst. Is this the way he would die? If she was here he could take it. He would die for her sake alone.

And, before he collapsed, one word pushed past his lips.

"….Kikyo!"

Inuyasha woke in a violent way, a guttural sound splitting from his mouth. He was covered in cold sweat, and his heart was beating at an alarming pace. It was the same dream he had most nights, thought there were not always other shapes surrounding him and Kikyo. Sometimes he could see her, reproachful and saddened. Mostly, he only heard her voice. But the cold tone alone was enough to send shivers down his spine.

His eyes slowly began to adjust to his surroundings, as his body returned to a normal state. He slumped against the wall, completely drained. The first image his eyes saw was the girl that was sleeping just ten feet from him.

He frowned angrily, his horrific dream amplified by the fact that an exact replica of Kikyo was in his presence. No matter how hard he tried to defy Naraku, his clever plan was really beginning to take a toll on Inuyasha. He lifted a sleeve to rub the beads of sweat off his forehead, breathing out slowly.

The dark-haired girl mumbled something in her sleep, shifting a little. Inuyasha growled. He hadn't had much conversation with her over the days they had been locked up together, but he felt as if it was useless to try. He was convinced that even if she hadn't looked exactly like Kikyo, she still would be hell to live with.

Suddenly, the girl began toss a little, her mumblings turning into something more frantic. His brows furrowed once more over his eyes. It seemed as if she was plagued by nightmares like he was….but what hers were about, he did not know. She was turning more violently now, and a prick of worry began to well up in Inuyasha.

He shifted uncomfortably. It looked like her dreams were giving her so much pain. He couldn't bear to watch anymore, haunted by the mewling sounds she made. He made a sound of discontent, as he rolled forward onto the balls of his feet. Crossing over to her, swiftly, he sat back on his haunches. Tentatively, he reached out clawed fingers to shake her shoulder lightly.

It took a few seconds for her to calm down, as the dream began to clear. She awoke in almost the same fashion as him, her eyes glazed over slightly, and her breath coming in rapid gasps. Her shining eyes suddenly met his in the dark, and he was surprised as she shrunk back from Inuyasha in fear.

"It was a nightmare," he explained, abruptly, not knowing how to get her to calm down effectively. "I woke you up."

She nodded slowly, her eyes flying around to the corners of the jail cell. She finally relaxed her muscles, and pulled herself to a sitting position. Warily, Inuyasha slid back across to where he had sat before, and now they were facing each other.

They were silent, not knowing at all what to say to each other. But, there was no avoiding the situation. It was late at night, they were both completely wide awake, and neither wanted to close their eyes again, for fear of what laid for them in the realm of dreams. Inuyasha watched out of the corner of his eyes as she swept a layer of dust off her once-white tunic.

"Hey." His voice felt unbearably loud.

She glanced up quickly, her face a mute mix of exhaustion and shyness.

He looked away quickly, not wanting to seem as if he was too interested. "So, you don't know why you're here?" He didn't know why he was suddenly compelled to press for an answer…maybe her nightmares had intrigued him.

She was silent for a moment, and then she spoke quietly. Softly and more fearful than usual. "I told you, I don't know why Naraku put me here."

Inuyasha blew out an irritated sigh. "Yeah, you told me." His voice was scathing, and she flinched. "I meant, you haven't even figured out yet why they arrested you?"

Kagome shook her head dumbly, wondering what he was getting at.

Inuyasha leaned his head back against the wall, his eyes flickering closed for a second then opening back up. He was far more complacent than during the day- though still unbridled and impolite, he was speaking to her of his own accord once again. "Don't you get it? It's because you're a priestess."

Kagome's eyes widened. "Because I'm a priestess? Because I have holy power? How is that a crime? I should think Naraku would want my power on his side…."

Inuyasha snorted. "You obviously know nothing about him."

Kagome made a noise of frustration. "Then tell me- what do I not know? He is now my enemy as much as yours, whatever he has done to you. I have a right to know why I'm trapped here!"

"Naraku doesn't want holy power on his side…or, rather….even if he wanted it, he couldn't get it. He's too corrupt for priestesses….he orders around hordes of demons! Priestesses are the only ones who can effectively prevent him from killing thousands with those demons. Of course he doesn't want you running around!"

Kagome thought for a long moment, taking in all these new thoughts. "So, he wants to rid the land of every priestess?"

"Yes."

"How do you know these things?"

"From experience."

He said the words ferociously, and Kagome didn't dare challenge him for a better answer.

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Sesshomaru stood in the shadows, his bright eyes flickering at his surroundings. The air around him was permeated by a strong evil energy. It seemed to come from all corners of the palace, all edges of the forest surrounding the kingdom. Someone, or something very powerful was lurking here. Sesshomaru brushed off the instinctual feeling of foreboding. It was not in his nature to worry about creatures or situations that didn't pertain to him.

He surveyed the door below him, a circle of lead and steel in the field of gravel. This had to have been the place where Inuyasha was being kept…it reeked of human flesh, human stink, blood, and torture…the strong scents rose up from the ground and sickened him. In that mix, he also sensed his brother's energy, deep from within the dark caverns below.

He knew immediately that the best way of approaching the situation was to attack it headlong, so with a swoop of a poisonous whip that extended from his claws, the door was split in two. Gracefully, Sesshomaru dropped through the hole, landing softly on his feet as if the 12-foot drop had been a few inches. He surveyed the dark area silently, taking in the terrible odors with a blank face.

Calculating fast that his brother was being kept at the level below, instead of in the main rows on the top, that were filled with prisoners. He moved towards the steep stairs nearest to the slate wall of the corridor.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?!" A loud, rough voice echoed down the hall to Sesshomaru.

Annoyance flitting across his pale features, Sesshomaru flung back a bright lash from his fingers. The demon guard wasn't even worth his time to kill. The unnamed figure sprawled against the opposite wall, knocked out cold. Not even spending the energy to turn and see his work, the dog demon began descending the steps below him, which were slippery with moss and gravel and trickling water.

The floor below was suffocating in its dankness and smell. Sesshomaru felt that Inuyasha was close, and knew that his brother could feel him too. Even with pitiful half demon senses, Sesshomaru's energy was too powerful to be ignored. The cells lining the walls were all empty. They had put Inuyasha alone on this floor…and with a human. He must have done something terrible to merit this kind of treatment. Not that it made any difference either way to Sesshomaru.

He soon heard a clipped growl arising from the cavern of a cell near the end of the way. This was where Inuyasha was. He had obviously been aware of the approaching demon for quite some time.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" The rasping, rough voice reverberated off the stone walls.

Sesshomaru waited to respond, taking his sweet time to reach the bars of the cell. He swept his eyes once over the scene, noticing the dark-haired girl with the holy powers looking confused in the corner, and seeing Inuyasha throwing his entire body weight against the bars, looking like a trapped wild animal.

"Isn't it so fitting of you to spend the rest of your days trapped with a human? Perhaps you two can create more vile half-breeds on your own. It's the side of father you inherited most of, is it not?" The voice was heavy with dry sarcasm and little caring.

Inuyasha spit at the tall demon's feet, baring his fangs in fury. "Shut the hell up! I'll kill you!" Sesshomaru sniffed in disdain.

"I've no need to listen to your whining anymore. I've only come for one reason."

Inuyasha's eyes glowed in rage. The girl in the cell stood slowly, moved forward to stand next to him. "Who is he?" She whispered.

Inuyasha shoved her back roughly. "Stay out of this! He won't hesitate to kill anyone that stands in his way!"

She shrunk back a little, alarmed by his reaction, feeling grateful that he thought enough to keep her out of harm.

"Why did you come here, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru took a small step forward, and Kagome was increasingly aware of the incredible force and power of his aura. It commanded obedience and fear, and awe was stirring within her.

"Where is the Tetsusaiga?"

Inuyasha growled louder than before, his voice emanating hatred and bitterness. "It's none of your business where that sword is! Father left it for me, and me alone. Either way, you couldn't touch it if it was right in front of you." He smirked, as if he had somehow upped the stakes measurably.

Father?! Inuyasha and this demon are….brothers? Sudden realization dawned on her. Kagome's eyes moved from one white-haired demon to the other, noticing the small similarities in their hair, eyes and facial features.

Sesshomaru's facial expression didn't budge as he stared back at his half brother. "So you obviously do not have it with you….that is why you are still stuck here….pitiful…" he droned, lazily.

The bars rattled slightly with Inuyasha's efforts. "I can tell you where the sword is, on one condition. You will let us free from this cell." Kagome's spirits rose. Would this be their token out?

A moment of silence made the air hang heavy in the dank space. Then, with deliberation, Sesshomaru turned on his heel and was disappearing into the shadows.

"Come back here, Sesshomaru, you coward!" Inuyasha was incensed beyond reason, his harsh voice echoing violently.

Sesshomaru's last words to Inuyasha floated back. "You gave yourself away, Brother. I now know the location of your sword. It has become apparent that this human ruler has it in his possession."

"There's still the barrier, you fool!" Inuyasha screamed, uselessly.

Sesshomaru moved up the staircase in silence, his lips tightening at the mention of the barrier. It was his last obstacle to getting his hands on the powerful weapon. The terrifyingly beautiful demon was soon out in the sea of moonlight, Jaken rushing to greet him with overzealous-ness. Yes, he would break the curse on the sword, and then the Tetsusaiga would be his.

The demon's countenance faded with the approaching fog, and he left no trace except for a demon guard with a very large headache.

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A/N: Shorter chapter than I'd like….hmmm…..can you guess who the guard is? (author's little secret).

Please tell me what you like, or hate! Complain if you'd like! Can't get better without feedback, y'know…. ; )