Cursed

CHAPTER 16


Akane moaned, slowly regaining consciousness. Her head was aching and she tasted blood in her mouth. Gingerly, the girl raised both hands to her face and felt the beginnings of a monster lump on her forehead. “What hit me?” she whispered painfully.

Her eyes snapped open when a fist buried itself in front of her shirt and Akane found herself being unceremoniously hauled upright and hoisted into the air by that single hand. She stared into furious golden eyes and felt her body trembling with a sudden terror. Sesshomaru shook her hard, making fireworks of pain snap behind her eyes. “Who did this?”

“I…I…I…” she babbled, clutching desperately at his arm. “Human, you will tell me who is responsible. I will know who slaughtered my people.”

“S…slaughter?” Akane asked weakly. She twisted in his grasp, trying to ease the pain in her neck. His hand had tightened around her collar and she could hear the blood pounding painfully in her ears. She was going to pass out again, she just knew it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she croaked.

Disgusted, he dropped her hard on the ground. He stoverover her, glaring with a terrible anger in his eyes. “Where is my brother, you bitch? Speak or I will force the words out of you with pain.”

“Leave her alone, Sesshomaru,” Miroku said softly, pulling himself off the ground. “She doesn’t know what happened.” Akane stared at the monk, his face was badly bruised and blood caked the side of his head. The demon lord stared imposingly at him and Miroku leaned on his staff, hoping his skull hadn’t been cracked by Ranma’s kick. “We were attacked. Namichi and her men tried to defend us but they were no match for them. I’m sorry they died.”

“Your sorrow means little to me, human,” Sesshomaru said in a soft vicious tone. “I ask you again, where is Inuyasha? Where is that other demon? Did they abandon you before the fight or during?”

Miroku ignored the angry youkai and turned to check on Sango, she was still unconscious and he made sure she was breathing okay. He himself wasn’t feeling any too swift and definitely not up to trading insults with the likes of Sesshomaru. Inuyasha’s brother stood waiting, insulted by the fact of asking for information from mere humans. Finally the monk looked up. “I don’t know where Inuyasha and Ranma are, they disappeared before this happened. Before we met Namichi. She was trying to help us find them.”

“You lie,” Sesshomaru said coldly. “Namichi would not help humans or defend them. What game is this? I don’t have time for your ridiculous stories.”

“They attacked us,” Akane breathed. She hadn’t seen it, she’d been knocked out before they’d seen who was after them. Somehow, in a dark, cold place in heart, she knew who’d killed Namichi and her men, she knew who’d viciously attacked them. “Oh Miroku, please say it wasn’t them.”

He put a gentle hand on her shoulder as he helped her to her feet. “I’m sorry, Akane. I almost couldn’t recognize them but there was no doubt about it. Inuyasha and Ranma were the ones who did this.”

“Oh god,” she whispered, putting her hands to her face and crying. Miroku patted her back soothingly. Sesshomaru looked annoyed at her tears. “Are you saying my brother is responsible for this? I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s the truth,” Miroku said quietly. “They acted like they didn’t know who we were, like they’d never seen us before. Naraku is behind this, Sesshomaru.”

Akane was still crying, she found she couldn’t stop herself and the more Miroku tried to soothe, the harder she wanted to sob. “Not Ranma, why would he do such a thing to us, to me?”

“You didn’t expect the demon to turn on you?” Sesshomaru sneered. His eyes glittered at her when she turned to look at him. “Foolish, pathetic mortals, how could you not know he’d betray you?”

Angry, the girl spun around and faced the youkai lord. “Ranma would never betray anyone, he’d never turn on us! Weren’t you listening? It has to be this Naraku guy, he did something to them!”

He considered snapping her neck for her insolence, but the urge passed as he knew it was hardly worth his time. “The fact remains that he is responsible for the deaths of my people. I will not allow such an act to go unpunished.”

“You don’t care about why they did it?” she snapped, planting her hands on her hips and her eyes sparkling with anger. “It doesn’t mean anything to you that your own brother might be controlled by some evil monster? You should want to rescue him, not punish him!”

“Rescue Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru murmured. The very idea gave him a sense of dark amusement. Miroku cleared his throat, subtly placing his body between Akane and the demon. “There’s a few things you don’t understand,” he said, looking down at her face.

Akane shook her head. “I understand you’re upset by the death of your friends. It must hurt a lot.” He raised an eyebrow at that, she was obviously attributing human feelings to his bior.ior. How very entertaining. The girl continued, ignoring Miroku’s slightly queasy expression as she tried to reach the chill demon. “Ranma and Inuyasha need your help. We’ve got to find them before something else terrible happens.”

Sesshomaru had a faint smile that made shivers go up Miroku’s spine. “Girl, are you asking for my help in finding your friends?”

She nodded firmly, hands clasped tightly before her. “Yes, we need you, demon-sama. Won’t you please help us?”

“I would be delighted,” he said softly. Miroku put his hands on Akane’s shoulders, pulling the girl away from Sesshomaru. She didn’t understand, but he knew the demon well enough by now to know he never agreed to anything that nicely. Akane looked pleased. “You mean it?”

“Indeed. I will help you find Ranma and Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru was actually smiling at them, showing way too much fang in Miroku’s expert opinion. The demon lord turned away with a dramatic sweep of silk and soft white fur. “When I find them, I’m going to personally rip their hearts out. If you can follow me, you might even get the privilege of watching me do it.”

Akane stared after him. “Oh…shit.”

“I tried to tell you,” Miroku murmured. “Sesshomaru’s not the kind of person you ask for help.”

*****

Kagome sat huddled against the wall, trying to convince herself that she really wasn’t too scared to move. It was difficult, her mind quailed in fear when she thought about the look in his eyes before he left. She couldn’t believe it, something had happened to Inuyasha and he not odidndidn’t recognize her, he really wanted to hurt her. He’d kissed her brutally, without any tenderness only a cruel covetous desire. It hurt her heart seeing him so vicious. When his demon side had taken him over, she’d always been able to convince herself that it wasn’t the real Inuyasha. It was a monster that lived inside him, one with red eyes and long fangs that didn’t care who they shredded as long as the taste of blood never ended. This wasn’t the same. His eyes were the same gold that she’d fallen in love with. Even if Naraku had blocked Inuyasha’s memories of her, what could have transformed him into something so cruel and sadistic?

He had almost raped her.

Kagome started ng dng deep breaths again, striving to hold off panic and hyperventilation. It didn’t happen. She had scratches under her skirt on her hips and thighs, but that’s as far as he got. Her body hadn’t been violated, it was her heart that felt like it had been torn apart. Naraku, she thought, focus on Naraku. He did this for some reason, he brought me here for some reason. What’s he trying to do? Why did he have them bring me here?

Well, there was one obvious answer. Jewel shards, it had to bet het he wanted her for something regarding the Shikon no Tama. Was he close to completing it? Kagome chewed her lip nervously. She knew there couldn’t be many more shards out there. Kohaku had one. Koga had two. It had been some time since they’d encountered an unclaimed shard. Now Inuyasha and Ranma both seemed perfectly content to assist Naraku in his evil. She shuddered convulsively. The idea of them set loose on the world made her cringe.

Enough of this, girl, she told herself sternly. Kagome made her legs unlock and stood up with a minimum of trembling. The only way she was going to find out what Naraku wanted was to ask him herself. She wasn’t going to sit helplessly and wait for them to come back. Resolute, she reached for the door and slid it open. Kohaku was sitting on the floor, looking right at her. She started, for some reason she hadn’t been expecting the first person she saw to be Sango’s little brother. “Kohaku-kun,” she breathed. “Why are you here?”

The boy didn’t answer, just looked at her expressionlessly. Kagome nervously shifted from foot to foot, wondering if he was there to stop her from leaving the room. “Are you guarding me?” she asked in a tiny voice.

Kohaku nodded slowly. Kagome took a deep breath. It made sense, Kohaku was human, she was human, better it be him keeping an eye on her than Inuyasha. “Are you supposed to keep me in there?”

The boy shook his head. “No,” he said in a soft, inflectionless voice. “I’m supposed to keep them out. I am supposed to protect you if they come back and try to harm you.”

They? Kagome’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Then it became clear. “Inuyasha and Ranma?” Kohaku didn’t answer, but fingered the sickle-blade he held. “He doesn’t control them, does he?”

Kohaku slowly stood up. “No.”

“Of course he doesn’t control them,” a voice said bitterly. Kagome jumped and whirled around to see Kagura standing just behind her. The wind demon was scowling. “Unlike myself and Kohaku, those two are free to go where they please. They’re only hanging around Naraku because they haven’t figured out he’s using them. As long as he keeps giving them things to kill, they’re entertained.”

“Things to kill?” Kagome squeaked. Kagura gave her a pitying look. “Mainly lower youkai and oni, anything Naraku chooses to call. It keeps them out of trouble while he’s getting his plans together.”

“What is his plan?” Kagome asked. She shivered involuntarily, thinking of all the destruction Naraku would wage with a pair of perfect killing tools like Inuyasha and Ranma.

Kagura smiled, a wry twist of her mouth. “Like he tells me his plans. I don’t know what he’s plotting to do this time. I think he’d expected them to be more biddable. Inuyoukai are so stubborn, I guess even Naraku didn’t forsee that.”

The wind demon looked down at Kohaku. “Are you supposed to let her wander around?”

The boy’s expression was perfectly placid. “He didn’t say to keep her in. Only to make sure she isn’t injured.”

Kagura sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Wonderful. I wish I knew what that bastard was up to.” Kagome agreed with her statement and stood still as Kagura drifted away. Naraku’s incarnation was unpleasant and cruel, but Kagome had always pitied her just the same. Just like Kohaku, she was also a slave.

Turning away, Kagome went down the corridor and grimaced at the dirt and bloodstains that were everywhere. “Doesn’t Naraku have anyone to clean this place?” she shuddered. It was horrifying, how many people had he murdered here. Dozens, it seemed by the looks of the place. It sickened her, Naraku seemed to thrive on suffering and pain like some kind of psychic vampire, delighting in new ways to torture and torment other beings. Now he had his claws into her friends. Poor Ranma, she thought miserably. It’s all my fault, I never should have brought you here. I should have known that someone like Naraku would find a way to use you. She had to find a way to fight him, rescue her friends. She hoped Miroku and Sango were okay, and poor Akane. If any of them were injured or killed, she’d never rest until she tore Naraku apart with her bare hands.

Kagome came to an opening in the wall, a doorless exit to a balcony that wrapped around the outside of the building. This must have been a beautiful place once, she thought, looking at the carving on the doorway. Now it was scratched, gouged and filthy. She stepped outside and immediately felt the presence of a barrier. She could stand there, but not move forward, not lean over the side of the railing to look down. She put up her hand and felt the sizzle of the barrier against her skin, unpleasantly tingling.

“Don’t think about trying to escape. Without the barrier, the miasma around this structure is fatal to humans.”

Kagome spun around and found herself face to face with the horror himself. “Naraku. Why did you bring me here?”

The dark haired demon smiled pleasantly. His human form was that of a handsome young man, noble and regal in appearance. Only the eyes were wrong, crimson red like old bloodstains on glass. There was no pity in them, only a needful hunger for pain. “My dear young priestess, are you not pleased I have reunited you with Inuyasha?”

“What did you do to them?” she whispered. She was afraid, oh yes, Naraku scared the hell out of her, but she’d be damned herself before she’d let him see her cower. “You turned them into monsters.”

He smiled. “I did no such thing. They are exactly as they should be naturally. No interference from human emotions like love and compassion. Just the pure perfection of their demon blood. Look…” he said, pointing a sharp finger outside. “Aren’t they magnificient?”

Kagome looked and saw Inuyasha and Ranma standing not far from the building. They were…laughing. Inuyasha was holding some strange twisted form of oni in his claws, slowly torturing it to death. They were too far away for her to hear, but she could still see the creature’s agony as it writhed and struggled for escape. Ranma moved closer and slit the beast from end to end, causing blood and entrails to pour out of its body as it died. Her hands went to her mouth involuntarily, disgusted and horrified. Just as Inuyasha dropped the dead monster, a large pack descended on the amused dog demons. Ranma moved like a graceful whirlwind, stabbing, punching and clawing at his leisure, demon body parts flying around him like a shower of gore. She caught her breath and silently agreed with Naraku. Whatever he was, it was magnificent in its pure deadliness. The young demon was shouting with laughter, his face alight with joy, the hard muscles of his bare arms twisting as he struck again and again. Human, Ranma had been skilled and amazing, a true martial artist in every sense of the word. Now a full demon, he moved with unearthly precision and effortless grace.

Inuyasha wasn’t much different, the billowing black of this clothing made him look like a dark cloud of destruction. The sadistic glee in his smile made Kagome cringe. His claws struck again and again, ripping anything they touched with inhuman power and speed. Self consciously, she put her hands where those claws had scratched her and felt her stomach turn into a knotted ball of ice.

Naraku felt her reaction and smiled. The difficult woman had ruined his plans on so many occasions, he couldn’t help but delight in her horror. She obviously was immune to the beauty of what they’d become, no doubt pining for her weak and pitiful friends to return. He moved closer, threatening her by his very nearness. To him she was the pathetic reincarnation of Kikyo. The priestess never would have worn such a hurt and distressed expression, she would have remained the immovable mountain of pride. Still, their resemblance was enough to make him enjoy this moment even more.

“You don’t like what you see, Kagome?” he murmured, very close to her ear. She flinched and he smirked. u shu should have seen what they did to a human village I set them on. Even I was impressed by their capacity for cruelty in their amusement.”

She caught her breath and backed away from him. “You absolute monster! Why did you do that, does it give you a thrill to watch innocent, defenseless people be slaughtered?”

“Yes,” he hissed. “It amuses me because Inuyasha and Ranma never would have done such a thing if they had even a shred of their human souls intact. I did it to test for just that reaction and let me assure you, dear Kagome. There was nothing human about what they did to that village or its inhabitants.”

Kagome closed her eyes, fighting against the nausea that rose in her throat. “What do you want from me?” she muttered, her hands closing into tight fists of anger.

Oh she was a delight, such capacity for horror and she was still trying to comprehend his plan. “It’s very simple,” he said softly. “You work for me now. I want you to track down the remaining jewel shards for me and assist me in restoring the Shikon no Tama.”

Her breath caught. “And what makes you think I’d help you?”

Naraku gestured outside, catching the gaze of both Ranma and Inuyasha. They approached coming to stand just outside the barrier, miasma swirling around their feet. Kagome swallowed hard and looked back at them. Ranma wore the same helplessly happy grin that she’d first seen when she met him. Only the darkness in his eyes belied that there was nothing like the cocky boy she’d known in high school left in him. Inuyasha wasn’t smiling, his eyes were burning at her, sinister and lustful. Kagome suddenly felt exposed, wanting to duck behind Naraku so that the hanyou couldn’t see her. It was just so wrong she couldn’t stand it.

Naraku’s hand on her shoulder made her flinch. “If you do not help me, I’ll have to give you over to them. I’ll make my instructions simple. They will kill you, as long as it’s painful and humilitating, they can satisfy every twisted desire they have on your unwilling flesh. When they’ve finished, when they’ve exhausted the life from you and you’re nothing more than a bloody mess on the floor, I’ll make sure to restore their memories. Do you think either of them could stand living with what they did to you, or how much they enjoyed your last moments? My personal guess is that the knowledge would drive them both completely insane.”

Kagome caught her breath. She did not want to cry in front of Naraku, but tears started to leak out of her eyes anyway. His finger brushed against her cheek, wiping up the salty drop and bringing it to his lips. Her pain was exquisite and he sighed in contentment as she acknowledged her defeat.

“I’ll do what you want,” she said dully. Behind her defeat, Kagome’s mind was working to come up with a better answer. I’m not giving up on them, you son of a bitch. If I have to pretend to go along with this monster to get time to figure a way to save Ranma and Inuyasha, I can do it. Miroku and Sango are still alive, they won’t stop looking for us. Don’t you worry, you bastard. I’ll beat you yet.

End Chapter Sixteen