Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Anything For You ❯ Nightmarish Doubts ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or Inuyasha!

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Nightmarish Doubts

"I…I didn't mean to!" Kagome protested as she stumbled backwards. Ami's carefully manicured claws missed her face by mere inches; bringing a startled yelp from Kagome. "Leave me alone! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" she cried as Ami's eyes flashed a crimson hue. "It was an accident! What do you want me to do? I apologized already!"

"Human," Ami snarled as her friend joined her side.

"You wear our patience." Kesi finished while flexing her claws. "Our blood calls for your blood. Our claw calls for your flesh. The metallic taste of your blood will be sweet on my lips." A delighted smile rested on the duo's rosy, thin lips.

"You drink blood?" Kagome asked in disbelief. "That is gross!" she added in a disgusted tone. "How can you just drink someone's blood and think it tastes good? You're nothing but beasts!"

"You dare call us beasts?" Ami sneered.

"If you have forgotten so quickly, YOU are the one who is dying. It's YOUR blood that we will find sweet. Youkai of high class, like us, would usually not lower ourselves to drinking human blood." Kesi explained with an air of arrogance and pride. "We're making an exception for you. You should feel honored."

"You two are insane!" Kagome protested as her fearful eyes darted frantically around the room, searching for an escape route.

"We've wasted enough time with you, human." they announced in unison as a predatory look entered their blood-red eyes.

H-Help!" Kagome squeaked, her voice suddenly dry. "Where's my voice when I need it?"

"Save your breath. Youko-sama would never bother saving a worthless human, like you." Ami snarled, her lips curling back, revealing razor-sharp fangs. "Did you really think you ever stood a chance? Did you think, somehow in that stupid mind of yours, that Youko-sama would really care for you? If you did, then you are truly idiotic."

"Ah, uh, uh," Kesi interrupted with a malicious grin. "You're forgetting she's a human."

"Yes, you're right. Stupidity is what humans are known for." Ami full-heatedly agreed. "We're doing this world a favor by diminishing your parasitic race. Your race is worth less than the scum on my shoe. Have you ever smelled the human stench? If not, trying sniffing yourself for once. You reek of death and manure. This is only one of thousand of reasons for human inferiority."

"This is enough," a cold voice interrupted Kesi, who had just opened her mouth to continue to her best friend's philosophy about disgusting humans. A gush of cold wind filtered into the room as the thick flap of animal skin was pushed aside by a young, village youkai. Relief flooded through Kagome's system when she spotted Youko, who was preceded by several youkai guards.

However, her relief was short lived when she took into account the silver kitsune's countenance. "Kagome," That single word alone sent a shiver of fear running down every occupant's spine. Youko was definitely not pleased.

"Y-Yes?" squeaked Kagome, keeping her eyes idly trained on the ground, purposely avoiding the kitsune's piercing gaze. She knew she had caused Youko unnecessary trouble, which he would more than likely punish her for. "I-I'm sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn't have done what I done and said what I said." she admitted after gathering what little courage she had left.

"I did not ask for you to speak." Youko interjected. Kagome immediately clamped her mouth closed. As the silence ticked on without as much as a single display of emotion from Youko (not even anger), Kagome began to fidget. She subconsciously willed herself to shrink from existence, hoping to save herself from further embarrassment. Much to her disappointment, it didn't work. She was still there, in the room, waiting for Youko's impending judgment. "Bound those two," Youko finally broke the silence, his golden eyes trained on the two female youkai.

"Youko-sama, it was the girl's fault!" Ami immediately accused as her arms were twisted into an unnatural angle behind her. "Kesi and I did nothing wrong! If you don't believe me, just look! Look, she even wounded me!" she frantically added as her hands were tightly bound by thick, gnarled ropes. "If that human had not wounded or lorded over me with her position as your companion, I would not have attacked her! If it was not to uphold my honor, I would never taint my claws with her disgusting human blood!"

"She will be punished accordingly, but so will you two, for disobeying a direct order. I placed her safety in your hands and you failed to protect her from yourselves." Youko replied with a bored look firmly etched in his blemish-free face. "Kagome," he beckoned, his attention switching from the two youkai women to his charge. Kagome took a tentative step toward the emotionless kitsune after what seemed like an eternity of hesitation. Several thoughts and uncertain questions raced through her mind within the brief lapse of hesitation - the most prominent one being: Will he make me go back to my village? Each step she took towards him felt like walking on egg shells - the closer she got to her destination, the thinner the shell.

When she was finally standing directly before Youko, a sudden flare of jaki sent her crumbling to her knees. A quick glance around the room assured Kagome that she was not imagining the change of atmosphere. Though being the only human, she was affected the most. "Ugh," Kagome groaned as she clutched her pounding heart. She curled into a small ball as she tried to ward off the suffocating jaki surrounding her small frame. "I…I can't breath." she realized after attempting to calm her heart by taking a few, large gulps of air. A look of helplessness entered her eyes as she drifted in and out of consciousness. "Am I really going to die? Is Youko-sama finally fed up with an annoying girl like me? If he really does not want me with him anymore, then death might be a blessing for me."

"Never challenge a youkai or assume you are superior to them." Youko's voice slashed through her clouded mind. "The next time this happens, the consequences will be severe." he warned without the slightest hint of emotion. "Get up; you'll survive through this small punishment." As soon as he finished his short lecture, the suffocating jaki dispersed, allowing her to fill her deprived lungs with oxygen. Kagome weakly picked herself off the ground before a wave of dizziness attacked her, causing the room to spin in nonstop circles.

She leaned heavily against the hut's wall for support as she tried to regain her bearings. Her attempt to stay in the conscious world failed when the edges of her eyes began to cloud with dark spots. The last thing she witnessed was Youko barking orders to the lesser youkais within the small confines of the hut. "I'm sorry for being so weak. I wish I wasn't human." she silently cried before embracing the darkness.

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I softly padded down the never-ending twists of roads. My eyes trained on the object of my obsession, the one demon that saved me from the pain my own family inflicted on me - family who shares my blood. If my destiny was to suffer at the hands of my family, then spend the remainder of my life near him, it would be worth it.

I panicked slightly when he picked up pace, leaving a trail of dust in his wake as he disappeared from my line of vision and into the thick foliage of the forest. "Please, stop, wait for me!" I desperately cried, but he paid me no heed. He was gone…not even a backward glance. I dropped to my knees and willed my fresh tears, which began to form near the edges of my eyes, to go away.

"Why did you save me, only to leave me?" I whispered, grabbing a fistful of dirt. "Why didn't you just let me die? Why? Why save me, only to discard me later? Is it because I'm a human?"

When I finally lifted my head, I noticed the blue sky had turned crimson red. I was slightly startled when the forest surrounding me erupted into flames. The road beneath me disappeared, only to be replaced by a stream of molten lava a split second later. What's going on? Why is this happening? What does it mean? But does it really matter what happens anymore?

This place is warm. No, hot, almost to the degree of burning. I watched through half-lidded eyes as my surrounding crumbled into heaps of ashes. The destruction and desolation that followed…brought a wry grin to my lips. The fire…the burning sensation…the pain…the destruction…I embraced it.

After all, what is there to lose? What can one lose when they had nothing to begin with? Rich men guard their homes for fear of being robbed, but poor men do not for there is nothing to lose. The same application falls on me…what is there to lose, when I have never gained to begin with? All I have is my life, which has no worth…Nothing matters, he left me. He didn't care for me anymore. Did he EVER care for me? That question struck a nerve and the fire around me blazed wildly into life.

Reality struck me hard as I realized…he had never cared.

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"Ow," Kagome grumbled as she gingerly rubbed the purple bruise that was beginning to form on her forehead from accidentally ramming her head into the wall. She panted slightly as she attempted to cool her overheated body. Her kimono clung to her body as large beads of sweat rolled down her brow like a waterfall. When quiet footfalls reached her ears, her eyes immediately darted around the room, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.

"I'm glad you are awake." a female kitsune kindly smiled as she walked closer towards the human girl. "From the looks of it, I guess you just had a nightmare, right?" Kagome dumbly nodded as she regarded the beautiful and regal kitsune before her. "How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name is Rose; I am the daughter of this village's elder. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Uh…" Kagome paused, unsure of how to address the kitsune before her. Her uncertainty ended when Youko's warning, "Never challenge a youkai or assume you are superior to them," resounded loudly in her mind. "It's an honor to meet you, m-milady." Kagome chocked over her words. A dark flush crossed her cheeks when the kitsune giggled heartily.

"There is no need to address me so formally," she managed to utter between her laughing, "Especially from one who is under the care and protection of Youko-sama. This fact alone elevates your position above many youkai in this village."

"I am only human," Kagome reminded while averting her gaze. "Youko-sama would be furious if he found ever found out that I disrespected a youkai, especially his future mate."

"That is true," Rose mused, "but the lesser youkai are still beneath you, because of Youko-sama's status and your obvious connection to Youko-sama. Of course, if you were a youkai, then all the youkai will be under your command. Anyway, let's not discuss such a menial subject. What I really want to know is why Youko-sama, who had never shown any interest in humans before, would suddenly care for one."

"I-I don't know." Kagome truthfully answered. "Where is Youko-sama now?" she suddenly blurted, causing Rose to blink rapidly in confusion. "Sorry."

"Oh, Youko-sama just left a while ago. I think he took the trail into the forest." the kitsune answered, a thoughtful look entering her sea-green eyes. "Of course, he didn't go alone. Not that he's incapable of defending himself." Rose murmured to herself.

"He left me. He wouldn't stop for me. He left me in the forest. The sky turned crimson, the forest was ablaze, and the ground became molten lava. I was all alone. No one wanted me…Youko-sama had never cared for me…he had left." the nightmare she had just a while ago repeated itself over and over again in Kagome's mind, nearly driving her insane with the repeated images of rejection and pain.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rose asked while gently shaking Kagome's shoulders. The kitsune stumbled backwards at the icy glare that was thrown at her. Kagome's lips were quivering as she sprinted out of the hut and towards the expense of wilderness lying on the other side of the youkai village. She ran…away from the youkai village, away from her nightmare, and away from Youko. Unbeknownst to her, the flame mark above her shoulder blade blazed to life, sending a surge of unidentified energy into her body.

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"Not to question your decisions or anything, Youko-sama," a hawk youkai began as he soared above the forest, "but why do you keep that annoying, human pest with you? She can't be worth your precious time. After all, I believe Rose would make a much better mate…beauty, integrity, and power wise. Not that I'm saying you're making a bad choice…just not the BEST choice."

"You assume too much when you know so little," Youko coldly replied, keeping his eyes on his game.

"But…"

"Quit making so much noise. You'll alert my position."

"Sorry Youko-sama! Not that, that low-life beast can escape your speed and power!" the hawk youkai replied with sugar-coated flattery. "Not that I see why…" the youkai's sentence was cut short when he felt an onslaught of pain in his chest.

"Insolent," Youko whispered with his eyes still trained on his prey.

"Why?" the hawk gasped as his eyes traveled from the vine spearing his heart to the cold and merciless kitsune, who was still not paying him any attention, even in his last moments.

"You irritate me with you mundane chatter." Youko simply replied before pursuing his game and restarting his hunt.

"You…" the hawk whispered before pummeling towards the ground head first. Blood and guts splattered across the forest floor as soon as his body made compact with the solid ground. There was no cushioned landing…

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The youkai males who had followed Youko on the hunt became extremely jumpy and paranoid after learning of the fatal incident their fellow companion had the misfortune of encountering. Though the youkais were eager to talk to one another, not one dared to speak, much less discuss the topic. Everyone kept their mouths tightly clamped shut unless they were spoken to first.

Eagerness flooded all the youkai when their village came into view. Most of the youkai hurried back to their individual huts to tell the events of their hunt to their families as soon as they were dismissed. Only a select few were chosen to remain as guards for Youko (not that he needed any). After cleansing off the blood from the hunt in a hot spring, Youko commanded Ami and Kesi to be released from their punishment.

It was well past midnight before Youko ventured to Rose's hut to check on his charge. "Where is she?" he demanded, a cold glint in his voice after he quickly scanned the room for her presence. Rose bit her lips and shook her head from side to side.

"I-I don't know." she lamely replied. "She suddenly ran off into the wilderness not long after you left to go hunting. I was too shocked to follow at first, but when I regained my bearings to follow, I could not find her. I hadn't suspected a human could run so fast."

"Why did you not follow her scent?" Youko nearly growled, causing Rose to drop to her knees.

"I really tried to! Honest!" she cried, keeping her eyes trained on the ground. "I found it easily enough at first…but her scent just abruptly ended a little ways from the village." she continued. "Though, I did discover another scent where Kagome's scent left off. I fear that…"

Rose lifted her head when she heard the flap of the skin covering the entrance of her hut being angrily shoved aside. When she tried to look for the male kitsune, he was no longer there. The hut was empty and dead silent, save for her labored breathing. "He really does care for her, doesn't he? What lengths will he go to find her? What will he do if she really is gone?"

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TBC~

Hope it wasn't too bad… ;)