Fateful Night

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha (cries)

Chapter 1

Kagome stalked down the street fuming, soaked from head to toe. Her raven hair hung down her back in dripping tendrils and her bangs were plastered to her face.

‘He forgot! I can’t believe this!’ Kagome screamed mentally as she tried to dash some of the water off her black evening dress as she walked toward her temple home.

‘It’s only the most important day of the year and HE FORGOT!’

Stomping around the corner, Kagome didn’t notice the man walking her way, as she again pulled her dress into place from where it had again twisted around her slim frame due to the rain.

Running straight into someone’s chest she felt strong arms wrap around her keeping her form falling to the wet pavement.

In a moment of panic she pushed away form his embrace and brought back her purse ready to swing it at her would be attacker.

“Kagome?” a familiar voice questioned, “Please don’t hit me. I’m sorry I’m late.” it pleaded.
Finally looking at her assailant Kagome recognized the object of her anger standing in front of her, tentatively holding her by the shoulders.

“HOJO! Where have you been? I waited for an hour at the restaurant hopping you’d come.” Stormy eyes flashing Kagome took a step closer to him rising up on her tiptoes in an attempt to lessen the difference of height as she continued. “I can’t believe you! Don’t you know what today is?! Why didn’t you call me? I’ve been calling your cell phone and your office for the last 30 minutes!”

When she finally paused for a breath Hojo hurriedly tried to explain.
“Kagome-chan calm down. I didn’t forget, I got stuck in a meeting. I’m sorry I didn’t call. Mr. Kusinagi pulled me into his office just as I was leaving the building, I couldn’t help it.”

“You still should have called.” Kagome retorted hotly scowling up at Hojo irritated about their broken date.
“Why didn’t you tell Mr. Kusinagi that you had to go?” she questioned.

Hearing the slight whine in her dejected voice Hojo pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry Ka-chan I should have said something. I know how important today is to you, but…”

“But, what!” she yelled pushing out of his embrace once again. “Isn’t this an important day to you too?” cocking her head to the side she glared up at him dangerously.

“No…no that’s not what I meant…Kagome I just…” he stammered waving his hand in front of him trying to ward off her anger.

“Just; What!” she yelled again fighting back the tears that had been threatening to fall all evening. “Do you even remember what tonight is?” she whispered brokenly.

Hojo leaned closer to Kagome trying to hear her trembling voice. Brows furrowed he looked down on her bowed head, noticing for the first time that she was drenched.

“Of course I remember.” He assured her as he pulled off his coat. Draping it around her shivering shoulders Hojo moved to her side pulling her in close to his body trying to give her a little of his own warmth.

“It’s the night before your last finals. You’ll be a collage graduate by the end of the week Kagome. Just think about it Ka-chan by this time next Saturday you’ll have a degree in Asian History. I’m so proud of you; I’m sorry I messed up our date; I was hoping you could forget about your finals for a night and relax. I guess I blew it huh? Don’t worry I’ll make it up to y…” stumbling Hojo looked down as Kagome violently tore herself from his embrace.

Her face flushed with anger she rounded on him.

Kagome couldn’t believe what she heard. Hojo stood there his arm casually draped across her shoulder babbling on about her finals.
FINALS!
He thought tonight was a break from studying (sure she did hate to study but…)

Finals! Jerking away from him Kagome spun on her heel and slapped Hojo across the face as hard as she could.
Tears streaming down her face her voice cracked as she screamed at him,
“FINALS? You wanted to take me out for one last fling before FINALS! You inconsiderate jerk! I can’t believe you! How could you forget?!” she ranted tearing off his coat as if it harnedrned her she threw it on the ground tuning she took off running as fast as she could.

Kagome could hardly see as she bolted away from Hojo. Sobs racked her body making her lungs burn as she gasped for air as she ran.

Turning into a small park Kagome tried to swipe at her eyes desperate to see as her heels twisted dangerously in the loose gravel. ‘God dam it why did I wear these stupid things. I hate heels!’ She yelled at herself.

“Kagome! Wait for me please!”

Swerving away from the sound of Hojo’s pursuing voice, Kagome veered off the path and onto the wet grass. One of her heels sunk into the moist earth and it was sucked away from her as she continued to run.
Stumbling from the sudden yank on her foot Kagome toppled towards the lawn. Throwing out her hands in an attempt to break her fall she landed on her forearms and knees sliding across the slick grass she came to a stop her breath knocked from her.

Gasping for air Kagome didn’t hear Hojo kneel down beside her. When he leaned over and pulled her onto his lap she struggled trying to escape his arms.

Hojo watched her stumble as she turned onto the grassy area of the park and winced as she hit the ground in front of him.
Quickening his pace he rushed to her gasping form and gently reached for her. When she started to fight him he just pulled her closer.

Holding her against his chest he tried to sooth her angry tears, stroking her dripping hair and murmuring quietly to her. Finally her struggles calmed, and she turned her face into his neck and sobbed.

He held her small shivering form close to him as he furiously searched his brain for a reason why his sweet Kagome had gone into such a rage.

“Kagome what is wrong? Please tell me, I’m so sorry.” Hojo cajoled desperately trying to remember why tonight was so important to her if it wasn’t Kagome’s uing ing graduation.

Around them the rain continued to soften the outlines of the surrounding trees and playground equipment. The muffled sounds of distant traffic and Kagome’s ragged sobs were all Hojo could hear. As he focused on the shaking, damp bundle in his lap Hojo failed to see the four men approaching them.

The thugs grinned as they advanced on the oblivious couple who had found their way into the gang’s territory. As they surrounded the pair the group looked to their leader for a signal, it came when the burly man pulled his lips back in a predatory smile revealing gleaming white fangs.

In a flash two of the thugs rushed the couple. A large man with scars crisscrossing his arms grabbed Hojo by the shoulder and yanked him to his feet.

As Kagome was tumbled out of Hojo’s lap a wiry teen ht hht her around the waist pulling her tightly against his chest the teen clamped his other hand over Kagome’s mouth.

Hojo spun around trying to see what was happening as he was flung to the ground away form Kagome. What he saw made the blood drain from his face.

A man held Kagome around the waist, leering down at her as he covered her mouth to keep her form screaming. Hojo could see her eyes wide in fear as she hung in his arms. Hojo stumbled back to his feet as the man who had grabbed him earlier stepped in front of him blocking his view of Kagome.

“Not so fast boy’oh.” the brut rumbled. Looking up at him Hojo’s eyes widened, the man’s arms were as big around as his thighs, and scars ran across them from the backs of his hands up under the sleeves of this T-shirt.

Massive bowed legs bulged u his his jeans, that seemed about to burst under the strain of the mammoth muscles under them.
Looking into his face Hojo was further uneasy when he noticed the man’s wide mouth which was open in a grin displaying a row of large flat teeth; his nose was oddly misshapen from numerous untreated breaks.

Visibly paling Hojo took a step back and ran into the third member of the gang. Spinning around Hojo quickly took in the features of this new threat.

Tall and gangly the man slouched down putting his sunken eyes level with the top of Hojo’s head. His nose seemed more like a pair of vertical slits ans ths thin lips didn’t even cover the tips of very slender and sharp looking canines.


Kagome struggled against the hold the man had on her as she watched two gang members surround Hojo.

One huge man stalked closer to Hojo as he was staring at the skeletally thin man he had bumped into.

Desperate to warn him of the danger behind him, Kagome bit down hard on the hand pressed tightly against her mouth.

Blood filled her mouth coating her tongue in its bitter taste. With a yelp the man threw her away from him as he grabbed at his injured hand. Kagome fell to her knees, spiting the burning stuff out of her mouth as she looked over to Hojo.

“HOJO! Behi….” Searing pain lanced across her face, interrupted her as a fist sent electric pain arching a path across her eye and up to her temple, she was roughly hauled to her feet and came face to face with a nightmare.

Kenji watched as the woman bit into Kusanagi’s hand, when his subordinate threw the wench away from him Kenji dashed forward and struck out at her before she could warn her lover.

Yanking her from the ground by the elbow he turned her to face him. Leaning down he snarled,
“Give me what I want and I’ll let him go.”

As he spoke Kenji watched her face pale. Smirking he gave her a jerk making sure his claws dug into her arm. Barring his fangs he sneered as two red splashes spread across her cheeks.

Fire flashed in her eyes as she spat at him and tried again to pull away.

“Get the Hell away from me!” Kagome shrieked. Terrified she tried to jerk her arm out of his painful grip desperately trying to look over her shoulder for Hojo.

Bracing her feet she leaned back away from the cruelly smiling man and gasped as she watched the giant man grab Hojo from behind.

Hojo was pulled out of his shocked observation of the man’s face as he felt arms wrap around his chest. Belatedly trying to twist out of the punishing hold, Hojo groaned as the air was squeezed from his lungs.

Gasping Hojo pounded on the thick scard arms holding him. Suddenly fire lashed across his face.
Shocked he shot his gaze back to the gaunt man to see him licking blood off the tip of a striped whip. Hojo felt warm liquid mixing with the rain slide down his cheek. Raising a hand to his injured face Hojo felt the slice that ran from the corner of his eye to the back of his jaw.

Mouth gaping he again struggled in the arms of the giant as his accomplice advanced on him. Fear thundered though Hojo as he watched the man with the whip raise his arm.

Trying to kick at the man holding him Hojo’s world began to shrink in around him, the edges of this vision blearing with a thick fog.

‘Impossible!’ his mind screamed at him as he watched the inconceivably thin man in front of him flicker between shapes.
Snake…
Man…the arm holding the whip jerked forward and another lash of fire erupted across Hojo’s chest.
Snake…
Man…
Snake…the front of Hojo’s shirt hung open as a striped tail streaked towards him.
Man…
Snake…Panic flickered at the edges of his brain threatening to blacken his sight completely as Hojo desperately tried to stop the flickering forms his eyes were showing him.

Suddenly a piercing scream tore the advancing darkness from Hojo’s brain. Twisting in the arms of the man behind him Hojo strained to find Kagome, his heart contracting in sudden pain for forgetting her even an instant.

Squinting through the thickening rain he searched for her.
‘There!’ she was pinned against a tree by a large man.

The man’s hair stood out around his head seeming to ignore the pounding rain, Kagome’s small frame was dwarfed by the man’s leering bulk her hair plastered to her face nec neck by the rain she looked tiny in his hands.

“Kagome!” Hojo called roughly “Stay away from her you ass hole!”

The man ignored him and leaned in closer to Kagome’s.
Hojo could see the fear in Kagome’s eyes as the man spoke to her, and then she started struggling against her captor.

Hojo winced as he watched the man slammed Kagome into the tree again.

Kagome screamed as she watched Hojo take another blow from the man with the whip.

She spun around toward the man holding her wrist as she heard him growl. Grabbing her by the shoulders with a quick movement, he slammed her against a tree.

The bark of the tree pinched her back as he pushed her harder against its trunk. Panting in fear Kagome could only stare at the man’s face.

Two golden stripes ran across his cheeks just under both eyes which glowed blazingly green. His canines lengthened into fangs as she watched, and she could feel his claws pierce her skin as he hissed,
“Give me what I want; Miko, and I might just my my men from killing your lover.”

Eyes wide Kagome again tried to escape the man in front of her.

‘He’s insane! I’m not a Miko!’ she silently screamed confused. She couldn’t think of any thing she had that he would want.
‘He’s going to rape you.’
her mind screamed back at her.
This thought made her struggle harder against him. The pain of being slammed roughly against the tree brought her mind back from the edge of panic as she stared up at the wild haired man who sneered at her.

“Don’t you want him alive little Miko? I thought you were a couple.”
Looking over at the struggling man still trapped in Kenai’s arms a slow malicious grin spread over his face.

Turning back to the woman he had pinned to a tree he amended “Then again maybe you don’t. Humm…I do recall you were running from him earlier, you seemed quite upset. Miko, did this man harm you?” Kenji asked with false concern.

Cocking his head to the side he looked down at Kagome
“Yes...yes, I think we must have saved you from an attacker.
Kenai, bring that scoundrel over here, so I can decide what to do to him.” Smirking, Kenji glanced over at the man who was now being carried over to him.

Bending near the frightened woman he held against the tree he whispered.
“If you want him to live you will give me the item of power you possess, little Miko.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Kagome shouted “Just let us go. Please we don’t have anything to steal.”

Hojo was unceremoniously carried over to the man who held Kagome pinned.

As his captor neared them Hojo heard Kagome’s plea for release. He watched as the leader of the gang tuned on her and releasing one of her shoulders and backhanded her hard across the face.
Her head whipped to the side from the impact and she nearly fell to the ground despite the man’s hold on her.

Stunned Hojo yelled outraged at the man.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Let her go for Kami’s sake.”

At his outburst the giant holding him tightened his arms forcing all the air form his abused lungs. Slumping forward across the man’s arms, Hojo watched as a pair of clawed bare feet came into view below him.

His hair was grabbed roughly as the leader of the gang jerked his head up. Before he could react, a crushing blow to his jaw rocked his head back, pulling most of the hair the man held, from his scalp.

When the man in Kenai’s arms yelled at him Kenji tossed the girl to Kusanagi.

As Kenai squeezed the breath from the man he grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked the man up swinging his fist as hard as he could.

He felt his jaw crack under his fist and grinned cruelly as the man’s head lolled back against Kenai’s chest.

Behind him the woman shrieked as Kenji tossed a fistful of her lover’s hair to the ground.
Turning back to the Miko, Kenji revealed his teeth in a gloating smile.
“We can do this all night if you like, or you can just give me what I want. It’s up to you Miko.”

Grabbing her face Kenji caressed her cheek tenderly. “I know you have it, I could sense it before you even entered the park.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kagome insisted her voice cracking as tears rolled down her already soaked face.
Glancing at Hojo she noticed him murmuring as he slowly regained consciousness.

Sighing in relief her eyes suddenly jerked back to the man clutching her face as he again caressed her cheek.

“Now now you really should pay more attention to someone when they are trying to talk to you little Miko. It’s very rude to make a person compete for your attention. Maybe I should get rid of my competition humm?” Kenji spoke to the Miko in Kusanagi’s arms as he gently caressed her cheek.

As her eyes returned to his, Kenji flicked his w sli slicing a thin line down the Miko’s jaw with his claw.
With a gasp the woman jerked her head to the side in an attempt to avoid him as the tiny wound dripped blood down her neck.

“Now that I have your attention,” he drawled, running a finger across the cut and licking the blood from it.
“I want the item of power, I can feel it in you. Right about here I think.” Placing his hand just below her ribs Kenji slashed though the black fabric of her dress.

“Will you release it from your body or should I “ruff” up your boyfriend here?” he taunted leaning even closer to the Miko.

“Don’t you lay a finger on her you filthy son of a bitch!” screamed Hojo as he came-to and watched Kenji wrap his hand around the back of Kagome’s neck and lean in, licking the blood from her chin.

At Hojo’s cry Kenji slowly looked up to Kagome’s frightened eyes and smiled.

“The hard way then, my little Miko?”
Spinning to face Hojo, Kenji lashed out at him ripping four jagged lines down the front of his chest crossing the earlier mark from Kohako’s whip.

Behind him the Miko’s scream rang like music in his ears as her lover jerked in Kenai’s arms.

Gapping down at his chest, Hojo cried out as the scorching pain registered.
He didn’t even hear Kagome scream as the large man advanced on him.

“You don’t know how much that last comment of your is NOT an insult.”
Laughing as he turned awaym Hom Hojo, stepping back to the furiously struggling Miko.

“Let go of me! HOJO! Oh Kami please save him. Please leave us alone. Let me go to him. Take what ever you want, just leave him alone!” Kagome screamed at the green eyed man as he turned back to her.

He just stood there leering down at her. ‘What does he want? What the hell are these people?’ her mind battered ‘This can’t be happening. I don’t have any items of power. Oh Kami please help me wake up.’

Kagome was startled out of her thoughts as the leaders face filled her vision. He stood so close to her their noses almost touched.

“What ever I want Miko? Are you sure?” Kenji asked in a honeyed voice.
“Do you even realize what I’m after?” Kenji had begun to wonder if this woman was a Miko.

She had yet to even try to fight back against him and his pack.
Was she even capable of using her powers?
Yet he could sense the power within her, not just the item she carried, which shone as brightly as a small sun to his senses. The girl her self almost crackled with power.

‘Imposable of course; she’s a Miko how else would she be able to carry such a powerful item’ he thought as he asked her. “Tell me Miko, what do I want?”

“You’re…you’re going to rape me aren’t you?” Kagome stammered fear clouding her vision as she glanced around at the men surrounding her and Hojo. ‘Oh Kami why? Why? Why was everything turning out so horrible tonight?’

The man in front of her laughed snapping her vision back from the brink of darkness.

“Oh Miko you amuse me. I wonder do you truly believe that, or are you afraid to reveal yourself to your lover? Does he not like the old customs? Please don’t be shy on our account.” Kenji sneered tiring of Kagome’s refusal to admit her knowledge of the situation.
“Here why don’t we put you at ease? Boys show the lady your true form so she feels more comfortable about letting her boyfriend here know she’s a Miko.” At his worhe mhe men around them turned into monsters.

“Yokai.” Hojo whispered as the man leaning over Kagome transformed before his eyes.

His ears became slender and pointed and a large brindled tail swung from side to side behind him.

The eyes of the man holding Kagome, shone in the dim park lamps like the lenses of an insect.

Kagome screamed as the men around them changed into creatures she had only learned about in her studies. It was too much to take in, on top of all the horrors of the night.

She felt herself falling way from the world around her, as the darkness again faded the edges of her vision. Kagome welcomed the darkness wishing for it to take her away from this nightmare.

Kenji saw the girl begin to black out and grabbed her away from Kusanagi. Gripping her arms he sank his claws into her biceps to shock her out of the stupor.

When that didn’t work he shook her. Yelling at her and slapping her hard across her already bruised face.

As her eyes fluttered open Kenji snarled at her,
“No you don’t little Miko, we have unfinished business.” Tossing her back to Kusanagi, he walked back over to Hojo and grabbed him by the neck plunging his claws deep into his throat.

“Tell your woman to give me what I want boy, and I’ll kill you quickly. If you don’t, not only will your death be slow, but I’ll keep you alive long enough to watch as we use her delicate little body till you can follow her to hell.”

Hojo could hear Kagome screaming behind the demon holding his throat.
The pain burning through him narrowed his vision, so that all he could see was the demon’s eyes burning a hellish green tinged in red.

As the demon threatened Kagome, Hojo became enraged. He tried to jerk away from the demon as he yelled,
“I’ll kill you if you so much as lay another finger on her you filthy…”
suddenly Hojo’s vision grayed as a roaring swamped his hearing then he hung limp in the arms of the scard giant.

Kenji released the man when he jerked in his hand.
‘Baka.’ He thought as he watched Hojo’s eyes glaze over.

When the man collapsed in Kenai’s arms he knew he was right.
‘The dam baka cut is own throat.’
Kenji signaled Kenai to drop the dyeing man who had just sliced his own jugular on Kenji’s claw.

A sudden flash of blinding pink light behind him caused Kenji to spin around. What he saw was terrifying.

The Miko who had been screaming since he had grabbed her lover was glowing.

As Kenji finished turning a blast of pink energy flashed around her, instantly incinerating Kusanagi.
Taking a step back Kenji watched as the Miko, still glowing,
began to float above the ground surrounded by a crackling aura of purple and pink lightning.

Slowly the Miko turned her eyes to Kohako, pointing at him, Kenji watched as an arrow of pure energy lanced from the Miko’s hand.
As it struck Kohako the snake yokai vanished.

Fear filled Kenji’s mind as the enraged Miko turned her glowing eyes to him.

Just as she raised her hand the man bleeding on the ground spoke her name, turning her attention away from Kenji.

“Kagome…”Hojo coughed trying to find her. “Kagome where are you…my beloved? Please…”

As suddenly as it had appeared the light surrounding Kagome vanished, and she dropped to the ground half running half crawling over to Hojo.

Tears streamed down her face as she gently pulled his head into her lap.
“Oh my love my love shhh…shhh I’m here, I’m here.” she soothed, stoking the hair off his forehead.
“Please Hojo, please your OK. Your going to be OK my love.” Pleading with him Kagome didn’t notice the two Yokai standing in shock behind her.

Kenai had quickly moved away from the Miko when she had come to her lover’s side and now stood with his leader. They watched not quite sure what to do as the Miko comforted the dieing man.

“Kagome…be…beloved. …you ‘K?” Hojo gasped as his blood ran down Kagome’s legs andled led in the wet grass beside them.

“I’m OK Hojo, please rest. Don’t try to talk I’ll find help. You’ll be OK my love, please be OK.” Kagome sobbed pressing her hand over the flow of blood pulsing from his neck.

It wasn’t stopping! ‘Oh Kami help me, I can’t make it stop! He’s going to die! NO! Please Kami help me!’ she raged silently as she cradled Hojo’s head in her lap.

“Kagome, I love you Kagome. Be safe please.” Hojo gasped as he watched her face dim.
“I’m so sorry I forgot, beloved so sorry…”

“Hojo! No don’t go, fight it please!” screaming at him Kagome rocked back and forth.

“So dark Kagome I can’t see you…”he whispered as his vision slid away.
An then slowly he could see her face as a pink light brightened around her.

Hojo noticed the rain shimmering on the edges of the pink light.
‘It can’t get through’ he thought as he looked back at Kagome, her eyes were so sad. Reaching up Hojo cupped her cheek with a bloody hand.

Kenji had started back towards the Miko intent on ripping her form the dieing man and forcing her to hand over her item of power when the pink glow returned.
He watched as it spread around her reaching out towards him.
As it came, Kenji noticed the rain stop as the light touched it.

Too late he turned to escape the light. The last thing he saw was Kenai frozen with one arm stretched out as if to grab him. Then blinding light!

All Kagome could see was Hojo as the world around her grew brighter and brighter, small flashes of blue light flickered around the edges of her vision. Ignoring them she held Hojo closer trying to focus her spinning mind on her love. Her whole body felt on fire as she held Hojo in her lap .
His breath was coming in small gasps now and she refused to believe he was dieing.
As blood began trickling from the corner of his mouth Kagome dabbed at it with the hem of her skirt.
Her mind treatened to swil out of control as flashes of light wared with her vision. Dashing her arm across her eyes trying she tried to banish the pink blur so she could see Hojo . She felt like she was spiraling down into a bottomless well of light.

Hojo’s voice broke through to her and she grabbed hold of it trying to pull her focus back from the brink of madness.

“Kagome I’m so sorry.” He said weakly as even the blue streaked light which now seemed to swirl around Kagome began to fade.

“Shhh there’s nothing to be sorry about my love?” Kagome whispered

“Yes yes there is….” Hojo struggled to continue. “I for…forgot the mos….most important…day. I’m sorry Kagome, for forgetting.”

“Please my love it’s OK.” Kagome pleaded feeling her heart contract as his face completely drained of color.
Slowly his eyes closed and as his breathing became so slow she couldn’t see his chest move Kagome threw her self on top of him.

She could just barely feel his chest rise under her.

Her tears mingled with his blood as she wrapped her arms around his neck and softly cried into his hair.

Pain ripped though Kagome’s heart sending her spiraling into the depth of the well of blinding light as Hojo’s last breath carried his dying words to her ears.

“I’m sorry I forgot the anniversary of our engagement beloved”


A/N please be kind to me. This is my first fic and I’m still trying to figure out how to make it look good when I transfer it to the web.