Nightingale

Nightingale

Chapter Six – Stars

…

“So you’re basically gonna use her?”

“Call it whatever you wish.”

Inuyasha balled his fist, turning his back on his brother. “Then what makes you so different from Naraku?” But before he could defend himself from Sesshoumaru’s dramatic flare of jyaki and dizzying speed, he was already pinned to the trunk of a snow-covered tree, fighting for breath.

“Everything! Don’t dare compare me to that despicable abomination ever again.”

“Then stop being a fucking heartless bastard! Using her to lure him out is just as low.”

Sesshoumaru released him, began to walk away. “At this point Inuyasha, it is the only way to draw him out…to end it all. Her value to him will be used to our advantage. Can you think of a better alternative?”

And the truth was…he couldn’t.

…

Sesshoumaru silently watched as Kagome, as this mysterious woman they’d plucked from the snow, quickly worked her way into the hearts of his men. She’d sit with them, talk with them and smile. She’d laugh sometimes and her blue eyes would sparkle, capture all their attentions as they continued to amuse her. And always she would ask more, want to learn more of everything and it didn’t matter what, whether it was about fighting or about their families, she wasn’t averse to anything his men had to say. On occasion she would even help Sango and Kikyo with applying fresh bandages on the wounded. Though a bit clumsy at first, she quickly picked up the skill. But she was such a curiosity that it was frustrating.

They were still one day away from his home, having decided to delay today’s journey for the recuperating wounded. Those he commanded sat around the large fire blazing red hot, and Sesshoumaru…he stood a ways away, illuminated by the light of the moon.

He glanced at her, didn’t miss the hidden layer of sadness nor the fact that sometimes when she smiled or laughed it didn’t quite reach her eyes. So when Kagome stood up and made an almost unnoticeable departure from the large group surrounding the fire, he followed.

He knew where she was going. He too often traveled this way to get away from it all, to clear his thoughts when they became too much to handle. The destination overlooked the winding river far beneath them and the view was breathtaking in its simplicity. She stopped just shy of the edge of the cliff and took a deep breath, looking up into the indigo sky dotted with the brightest neon stars.

“There is no escape.” Sesshoumaru said, stepping out of the shadows that surrounded them.

Kagome looked over her shoulder, hugging the fur pelt closer to her body and gave him a barely there smile. “I know. I just wanted to look at the stars tonight.”

He stepped closer and closer still until he stood beside her. Gold eyes then traveled from the top of her head, down the side of her face and along the curve of her neck. And once again he felt the pulse of his blood quicken, react to her nearness, to that ever present pure power just beneath her skin. Sesshoumaru blinked and the moment was gone, replaced by the softness of her voice.

“I was ten when I became something I had no choice in, when I lost everything. At sixteen I was caged like some pretty little bird and at twenty, here I am, looking at the stars, breathing in the cool night air, and in the company of you, the inuyoukai who attacked all that I’d known for ten years.” Kagome lifted her head to stare at Sesshoumaru wonderingly. “Naraku took something precious from you too didn’t he?”

He didn’t reply, chose instead to look out into the great distance, the far reaching horizon.

She hadn’t really expected this dangerously strong and intriguing demon to answer her question. His silence was proof enough. Curiously, Kagome followed his gaze, wanting to see what he saw, what he was looking for in the vastness before them.

After a moment or two, compelled to share, she whispered her thoughts. “I know that I’m being kept to draw out Naraku…and it’s okay because in the end, there’s no other way. I don’t blame you Sesshoumaru…I won’t blame you for doing what needs to be done.”

He glanced at her, quietly marveled at her seemingly easy acceptance of her situation, how she had just sealed her fate with an unwavering voice and conviction. But in reality he could tell it wasn’t what she wanted, but what she needed to do in order to get what she wanted. A life all her own…a life free from cages…

“I want to thank you though…for everything.” For saving me…for allowing me to be a part of your life, however fleeting it may be…

…

Kagome was jerked awake by a rough hand and she recognized it as belonging to Sesshoumaru’s younger brother Inuyasha. “What’s—”

Footsteps pounding in the snow and the harsh beat of wings drew her attention.

“Vultures. We have to go.” He tugged her up before she could protest and hoisted her onto his back, immediately breaking into a swift run out of the cave and down the path.

“Where?! What about Sesshoumaru? Sango and Miroku? Kikyo?” She said breathlessly, holding on tight around his shoulders.

“To the House of the Moon. We’ll all meet up there or at least plan to.”

Kagome looked behind her and her eyes widened upon seeing dozens of vulture demons descending onto their camp, swooping down like black shadows against the dull gray of early morning. Screeches and hisses of metal against claws tore through the air and colored the snow in heavy drops of crimson.

“Shit.” Inuyasha swore as he felt two coming straight for them, one ahead and the other behind. Unsheathing his sword, he skidded to a halt, making sure not to drop Kagome. “Hold on.” He told her and leaped into the air.

Both enemy demons rocketed upward in pursuit but before each could react, Inuyasha cut one down mid air with a powerful downward strike, tearing through thick feathers and skin. Using the dead falling vulture as a springboard, he propelled himself and a half dazed Kagome towards the other, effortlessly sliding his blade through the surprised demon’s chest and puncturing his heart.

They fell to the blood splattered ground, Inuyasha landing awkwardly with the added weight on his back. But just as soon as they regained themselves, a sudden whirlwind swept all around them. Unexpectedly, Kagome was grasped by the shoulders, razor sharp claws biting ruthlessly into her skin as she was ripped painfully from his back.

“Inuyasha!” She felt him grab hold of her leg, watched in horror as several more vultures sped by and attacked him, throwing him to the ground and far away from her.

Kagome struggled against the powerful grip and hissed when the enemy’s claws dug further into her skin. She could feel her blood trail down her back and hear all the chaos around her as she was carried further and further upward.

“Naraku will be pleased.” The vulture leered down at her, coal black eyes sinister and triumphant.

Naraku. So he had sent his minions to retrieve her. Biting her bottom lip until it bled, she fought him with a renewed vigor, kicking and scratching at his legs, ignoring the intense pain and the fresh blood spilling forth from where he gripped her.

“Stupid bitch!” He hissed angrily, his flight now becoming unsteady with her struggles.

Her blood pulsed erratically before the air around her vibrated in powerful ripples. Just a little bit. And screeching in agony was all the vulture could do before white light veined throughout his body and he shattered into dust all around her. Her breath came short and her vision unfocused as she fell the distance to the snow. Landing in a crumpled, bloody heap, the air knocked out of her, Kagome nearly passed out from all the pain.

It was only moments later when Sesshoumaru was finally able to get to her, having seen everything from where he was as he fought a horde of the enemy demons. He bent down, gently placed his arm underneath her head and held her, scanned her injuries as blood seeped from the deep punctures and onto his sleeve. Looking around them, the inuyoukai quickly searched for his brother, saw him finish off the last of the vultures and head their way in a flurry of red.

“You were supposed to get her away.” Sesshoumaru said, voice like cold hard steel.

“You try fending off a dozen fucking birds at the same time!” Inuyasha yelled, dropping to his knees and looking her over.

“I’m fine...” She breathed.

“Like hell you are!”

Kagome tried to smile, reassure him that she was indeed fine, but winced instead. “Really…I am.”

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” Sango ran over in a rush, concern and specks of blood marring her features. “Is Kagome—” She suddenly froze, hardly believing her eyes.

“…see…” Kagome murmured, glancing weakly at Sesshoumaru as her deep wounds slowly sealed, healed over until only a dull redness was left.

And it was then that Sesshoumaru knew what she was, why her power seemed so familiar and why Naraku wanted her with such a fierce passion. He locked gazes with her, saw through the layers and dived into her secret abyss, drowned for but a moment in her blue eyes as Kagome let only him see into her soul.

‘There is no escape…’

‘I know…’


…to be continued…