All Change In Time

♥

The air smelt of ash and sulfur outside the perimeter of Naraku’s castle, but it could not deter the will of Inuyasha. He, Miroku, and Kirara had made no more stops since running into Jaken, and knew exactly where their epic would end. There was an insomnia of sorts, where all they could do was run. There was no pause for sleep…no pause for the weak and weary. In truth, the entire group was riddled with rips in their limbs and hitches in their lungs, but no one spoke of their private struggles. There was the will to run…the will to save Kagome. And this task left no room for petty fitness problems.

Inuyasha only stopped when a great stone wall forged from the fog, the wisps and tendrils of mild toxin coiling possessively about the manor. Miroku wheeled just behind, leaning on his staff in earnest, and a trailing Kirara, being a good sport, allowed the monk to fall dramatically on her back for a lift. She too was weary and worn thin on her paws, but she suffered a wee bit more, tossing her snout up proudly with a timid sigh.

Inuyasha looked to her a bit, concerned in her shy behavior, and knew that this castle was no distraction. Kirara’s fidgeting footfalls were proof that her mute voice was speaking of the dangerous aura emitted from the walls. And Inuyasha could feel it as well…pulsing whenever he placed one clawed hand on the stone’s surface. There was a lavish burning sensation on his palm upon contact, and he pulled his hand away with a hiss under his breath, eyeing the structure suspiciously. Yeah…no mistakes here. This was Naraku’s home.

He swallowed and managed to muster a grin, throwing his eyes over his shoulder at the solemn Miroku. One hand on his sword’s hilt, he jokingly said, “Honey…we’re home.” He tried desperately to keep his voice from shaking…but failed and paused a moment to gather his bearing before saying the rest of it in a clear manner. Miroku encouraged him with a small smile, although his face was pallid and thin from worry. Restlessly, Kirara moved from under the monk, and began trotting down the length of the wall, obviously searching for a proper entry. The rest followed…Miroku falling somewhat behind with a dragging pace. Inuyasha did not tease him at this time, impressed that the monk had managed to move his butt this far this fast without complaining. He made an idle note to thank his friend sincerely once they retrieved Kagome and made their precious way out of this palace from hell.

The doorway was lateral to an open hall, where heavy stones situated neatly into a cozy dome of sorts. It was most likely the place where his guards slept, for the armor of many different demon bodies lay in piles at the deepest and more secure corners. Inuyasha made a tsking noise under his breath, mumbling, “ What a great security system Naraku has going on for him here” as they proceeded through. But he still gripped the Tetsusaiga still, positive this were merely a coy move by Naraku, who was heeded by his power to lend a hand in insidious, tasteless traps. No guard of Naraku’s would be caught sleeping, lest he have a head he could spare to be removed. Maybe a section of their lower torso as well.

This thought made Inuyasha shudder visibly, insuring that Miroku would become more cautious than he already was. He held a few scrolls under his sleeve, as he rarely used them and knew it took much precision and perhaps a bit more practice (he was rusty after all) . He reasoned that he could not waste a single moment if something came crashing out of the shadows in order to fumble around his costume. The scene in his imagination played on the part of shocking the attacker into hesitating just long enough for Miroku to find his weapon, but he knew this was not likely to happen. Inuyasha would most likely turn his sword upon him for such games anyway.

They all made it to the grand doorway without any encounter from another living creature and Inuyasha peered at the entrance apprehensively, reaching a heightened sense of paranoia. He was uncertain of just way lay before him, but he was also unwilling to walk away knowing good and well that Kagome was locked somewhere in this labyrinth. He swallowed again, but this time there was no sarcastic comment to lighten the tension that haggard the three. It was time. With a great heave in his shoulders, Inuyasha moved fluidly to grab the door, push it open, and submit himself and his comrades to what would be remembered as their toughest trial yet.

♥

Kagome had screamed herself hoarse, and each vocal attempt rubbed the insides of her throat like a glove of glass, shifting painfully with each gasp of air. Now there were straining grunts coming from her, but these were exclaimed from her gut rather than her lips, and she sprawled as far back as her bonds would permit, straddling her ankles as they became trapped under her legs. They had managed to fold in this position at some point when she was trying to get out of her new foe’s reach, and she had discovered her predicament much too late. Now the blood was clotting at the tops of her thighs, and a Charlie Horse made her sag to the left in feeble hope that it would be eased somewhat. She was refused this luxury, and had to tough it out, her eyes squeezed shut as time extended itself.

She felt as though everyone was laughing at her for having such bad luck. Even Sesshomaru seemed to be, for his mouth was leering open and a strange, gurgling cough (she supposed it was a giggle from the insane) was bathing her ears with an acid terror. At least he had stopped groping for her, but his empty stare was enough to make her skin crawl. He had been silent for nearly 30 minutes now, just watching her, the angry slits of his eyes unblinking…undisturbed. She thought surely he was dead, but when her lips began to tremble and finally managed to rasp his name, he giggled again and leaned forward a bit, using his weight to tug at the tired chains holding him.

She knew he was playing a game…bidding his time until he grew hungry. He wanted to eat her. She licked her chapped lips and was brought nearly to tears, but she was distracted when Sesshomaru suddenly lifted his head and stared past her, focusing on the wall to her far left. It was positioned behind her, so she could not turn and see just what had rescued her from this beast’s gaze, but Sesshomaru made no sound to confirm it either. Instead, he made a deep, throaty grunt, and then looked at her. But there was a different stare now…it flickered uncertainly. A drop of water from the moist ceiling dripped on the tip of his nose, but he didn’t seem to feel it. “ Kagome.”

It wasn’t a question this time. Instead, it was attached with a faint curtain of emotion, and then it was gone again as Sesshomaru ground his jaw and gaze a blind snap to his right, severing the air with the deadly quickness. Silver hair sprayed his face, sticking to the drying scabs, but he said nothing more, making Kagome’s heart ache for him. It likely Naraku had crushed his once cool head until his thoughts bled into an obscure world. She really thought that Sesshomaru had been driven insane by the hands of Naraku.

Suddenly Kagome knew hate. She had felt a tinge of it before, but this was a full drapery of it, filling her head with its essence. It made her mouth taste salty and had a bitter metallic flavor, but she embraced it, even though she had no free hands to hold it with. This was something that could not be taken from her with jealous and rough gestures…this was hers. She hated Naraku! She’d kill Naraku!

“ Let me free, you mangy hag!” Sesshomaru’s voice came out of nowhere, jarring Kagome into the real world, where Sesshomaru was staring just past her again. His glances were listless…almost without any intelligent bearings. But he spoke again, his teeth flashing. “ Tick tock! Tick tock! Time is running! Bleeding into my hands like your flesh!” Kagome tried to see…but could not. There was no voice responding, so she smiled at Sesshomaru sadly, vowing to avenge this sad event. Sesshomaru looked at her, but didn’t say her name this time. Instead he grinned, a hungry expression, then rolled his eyes and snapped at the air again, this time in both left and right directions. “ No touching! I didn’t say you could touch me!”

Now there was an answer for the weary Sesshomaru. A robust, cheerful sound that made Kagome’s eyes water with the swell of her emotion. Hatred, that is. Naraku’s sleek face tunneled from the black corner of the room, hovering near Sesshomaru, before he stroked the Lord’s hair gently, combing his fingers into the fine texture. “ I will touch whatever I want. Whether it is your precious Rin, yourself, or…” his eyes roamed to the raven-haired girl at the floor, a smile twisting his face into a mask of sick pleasure “ Kagome.” Sesshomaru whine deep in his chest, but he did not snap at Naraku. Instead, he seemed to wilt away from the Lord, his weak arms making little impression of strength.

“ Kagome,” Naraku said as he stepped from the quivering demon, “ I want you to come with me. I have a task for you.” He reached down to hoist her to her feet, but drew back his hand quickly, blood smitten on his fingertips. Her teeth were naked like Sesshomaru’s, but she had all the sanity that she had when she first came here. Deep bruises blemished her throat and face, but her gaze glittered with untainted malice, directing all her hurt and troubles toward this frightening “gentleman” that beckoned her.

Naraku grinned, but he did not strike her. “I see…so this is how you accept an invitation. Just be glad I don’t bite back, my pretty maiden. At least, not for the moment. I need you strong…verbal.” He leaned down and picked her up, this time holding her head back by palming her forehead, and forcing her neck back until she sobbed for air. She kicked out one leg, the other still not having feeling from being pinned, but he laughed and nuzzled the side of her face, elated by the way she snarled at him. “ No worries, Love! You are not accompanying me to my bedroom, although that might be arranged later. No no…you have company. I believe you would like to see him.”

Kagome was suddenly still, staring at her assailant with a dumbfounded blink. Inuyasha? Her eyes brimmed with tears, her heart immediately stirring with all the love and affection she had held for this halfling, until she closed her eyes, praying that this would not be something she assumed. Maybe it wasn’t Inuyasha at all…but merely an imposter of a man who she did not want to see at all. Maybe she was being sold out like some common whore, and this would be her master for the eve.

One longing stare at Sesshomaru was all she had left as she was toted out of the room and down the hall, becoming gagged sloppily as Naraku carried her. She had no idea where she was going…what was to happen. But she would not give up. She’d never give up.

[Writer] Sorry this chapter is so short, I just wanted to get what little update I could up. I'm writing more as we speak (well...read anyway) so I'll probably crop a bit more up by the end of tonight. I say...2/3 hours. I'll try and edit the chapter (clean up typos and grammer errors) ASAP! Thank you everyone for your input and support! I'll try and do the best I can! -waves- [End Writer]