DISCLAIMER: Don't own 'em. Sure wish I did though…
In the Blood
Ch. 1: Let the Games Begin
By: Lara Winner
Lights.
Shouting.
The smell of sweat mixing with adrenaline.
Inuyasha blinked, his gaze scanning the crush of spectators beyond the chain-link fence that sealed the circular, nine-foot fighting ring. It was hard to see, even his hanyou vision could not conquer the glare of the overhead spotlights. The stark contrast kept the sea of faces in a shroud of whispy darkness.
The white furry triangles atop his head twitched back and forth, swiveling to catch bits and piece of words and sentences amidst the roaring crowd. Not that he really gave a rat's ass about what the people watching had to say. He was here to fight. The craving for blood was swiftly gaining intensity as the excitement of the people surrounding him grew stronger.
He could smell their anticipation, distinct and invigorating as it called forth the primal urge to kill.
Cracking his knuckles, feeling each popping joint deep into his bones, Inuyasha let the surge of power settle over him. Vivid purple markings slowly appeared on his pale face followed by fangs that extended into razor-sharp points which protruded out and indented his bottom lip. Inuyasha's claws then elongated themselves curving into sleek, piercing talons designed for ripping flesh. The amber of his unearthly eyes bled until the white surrounding the pupil was blood red and the once gold irises darkened into deep blue slits.
The slight transformation sent the crowd to cheering even louder. The dull echo bouncing off the walls threatened to create a pulsing ache in the hanyou's temples. But he ignored the slight discomfort and instead focused his complete concentration on his unfortunate opponent.
Directly across the ring sat a young male inu-youkai on a rickety wooden stool. The rowdy audience held his attention as he smiled confidently but his gaze darted about the blurring faces nervously, a sure sign he would be over anxious and foolhardy when fighting. To the boy's advantage his build was slim and his muscles were in proportion with his medium frame disguising his true strength and fooling the untrained eye. Still…
This guy was a rookie fighter.
Inuyasha tested the air. The stench of wild dog drifted to where he crouched. Unlike in his own scent, there was no underlying human odor. His opponent was a demon through and through. The idea of going up against a hanyou had probably sounded like an easy victory.
Too bad Inuyasha was no rookie.
The fight would be over all to quickly, of that Inuyasha was certain. After spending most of his life inside the ring, fighting to stay alive, he was nearly as strong as an average full blood demon. But even though it gave him unexpected leverage, brute strength wound not do much good if he depended on that alone. In order to stay alive he'd been forced to develop skill. So far the combination had yet to let him down.
A growl, low and irritated, rumbled deep in his throat as he recalled what he had endured to be here. Days, months and years all blended into a monotony of blood and pain. This was his world. He knew nothing beyond the thrill of a fight and the rush of victory. This was his purpose. It was always about surviving and staying alive till the next match. There was no reward, except to be alive. There was no rest, except when pain drove him to unconsciousness. It was one never-ending cycle of torment.
These thoughts always came to the surface right before a fight. He didn't question why. He didn't need to remind himself that death was welcome, yet never an option. He was not trained to lose.
A movement out of the corner of his eye caught Inuyasha's attention. He turned his head and instinctively bristled at the man that stood to his right on the other side of the fence. Obediently he lowered his scarlet eyes setting his stare at the man's chin giving the proper respect for his dominant position.
The man laughed.
"Don't you think you are tapping into your reserves a little early Inuyasha?"
The hanyou's ears pressed flat against his scalp as the man's somber voice sent needle pricks of unease down his spine. "No sir."
"I would like an explanation."
At the oddly conversational tone used by his master, Inuyasha shifted on haunches uncomfortably. "You said win this match in two rounds. I'm trying for one."
The man smiled but it didn't reach his soulless eyes, "Good. I expect you will not disappoint me," then he turned away, vanishing into the darkness beyond the overhead lights.
This time the growl that ripped past Inuyasha's throat was a vicious, bloodcurdling snarl. It bared his teeth and reflexively curled his claws into the mat causing the material to shred. Something stronger than anger and deeper than hatred blossomed inside Inuyasha. Only here, inside the ring, was he free to let it out.
The bell chimed hailing the start of round one. The crowd was thrown into a frenzy of cheering and shouting. Riding the rush, Inuyasha sprang forward and the world beyond the ring drifted away in a bloody red haze.
Getting into the trucker's bar had been easy, almost too easy.
The bar itself was an old building, one that had seen better days and possibly withstood a fire or two, that shared grounds with a truck stop. Set away from the parked rigs and the pitiful excuse for a public restroom, the bar was situated at the far end of the parking lot adjacent to the brush that marked the beginning of the wooded area that spanned nearly a hundred miles in all four directions. For truck drivers on the open road, some for weeks at a time, this place was an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
Unless compared to the cab of an eighteen-wheeler, at first glance the bar was an eye sore. Sadly, the same could be said the bar's occupants also. It was not the type of place someone would expect to find a fifteen-year-old girl. But to Kagome Higurashi, this place was exactly what she was looking for.
Not that it had been her life long dream to end up at a roadside dump sleeping in the rusted out shell of a car…
On the bright side, the abandoned car was shelter and it kept her invisible. It was hidden close enough in the trees that she could see the parking lot but it was far enough away to be over looked by almost everyone. It kept her hidden from people who might recognize her. That was all she really needed
But Kagome knew she was barely surviving. The last of her money had run out over a week ago. Food was scarce, sleep was even harder to come by, and she desperately needed a bath. The urge to give up was nearly overwhelming but pride and fear would not allow her to feel defeated. After hiding in the cramped car for the better part of two days, the prospect of physical movement had a chorus of angels singing its praises.
Under the cover of darkness Kagome had become a nameless shadow as she crept from the stripped and abandoned vehicle. It seemed that no one paid much attention to the young girl as she picked her way between trucks passing the occasional driver and the more flamboyant prostitute. She had held her breath all the way to the bar's entrance, then bowed her head so that her long ebony tresses partially hid her face. There was no identification required. No one had even asked her name.
Without sparking any attention, Kagome was allowed in.
The aroma of food had been teasing her for the better part of two days. But with so few people in the bar she knew it would be quite conspicuous had she entered and tried to pick someone's pocket in order to buy food. Tonight, however, the broken-down building was quite literally packed. With so many people coming and going Kagome knew this was her chance to blend in and find herself something to eat.
How long had it been since she had eaten? Three… maybe four days. That seemed about right. Her last meal, if it could be called that, was when the kind, pot-bellied man she'd hitched a ride with had given her a bag of potato chips. It was a nice attempt but it hadn't made a dent in her hunger. Now she was downright starving.
In fear of being recognized, Kagome had held out as long as possible but there was nowhere else to find food. The small building with the half burned out neon lights and the seedy characters traversing in and out was the only stop between Nigri, the last major city in the southern province, and Cathice, the small coastal town located on the shore of the Migihara ocean. It was a good hundred and fifty miles to Cathice but from there it was only two hundred miles to the northern border.
The Northern Border…
For Kagome those words were the very sound of freedom. If only she could make it to the northern border then she would be safe. Once in the northern province she could disappear, start her life over, maybe forget the miko power in her blood…
Kagome shook her head to clear the thought away as she elbowed her way through the crowd. There was no point in thinking about the things that led her here. Food, that was okay to think about and the smell of grilled burgers and homemade chili had her stomach growling.
Sometimes it didn't pay to be petite and short and Kagome was once again learning that lesson as she was forced to move with the flow of people. Her plan was to keep moving, scope out a likely drunkard to borrow money from- borrowing sounded so much better- and eventually make her way to the bar. But then something unexpected brought her to an abrupt halt chasing all thoughts of food and hunger right out of her mind.
From the entrance the fenced cage off to the left had looked like the kind of platform a topless dancer would perform on. Kagome hadn't given it much thought until a bell sounded and a second later the cage came to life with the ferocious sound of animals fighting. The sudden surging of the crowd pushed her forward and soon she found herself thrust to the front only to gape in fascinated horror.
Kagome had never seen a youkai fight up close before. Like most people she had seen the professional league on television. It was a celebrated sport but to Kagome it had always come across as fake and unrealistic. It was tame in comparison to what she was witnessing now.
Right before her very eyes two youkai, young boys hardly older than herself, were attacking each other viciously. Teeth were bared and claws were tearing as they struggled, locked together both aiming for the other's throat.
A started cry tore from Kagome's lips as blood, such a deep crimson it was nearly black, splattered sending a few warm drops landing on her face. She would have wiped it away but she couldn't bring herself to breathe, much less move. She was mesmerized with her eyes fixed on one youkai in particular.
The boy's white hair was matted with blood and sweat. What was left of his shirt hung in bloody tatters off of his shoulders accentuating the angry gashes across his back and chest. His muscles flexed, moving beneath his skin with subtle grace that was even more pronounced by the fine sheen of sweat that covered his flesh.
He was a magnificent creature. Even in this violent frenzy there was an air of control about him, as if something truly dangerous were being leashed. That feeling was only strengthened by the cold, cunning look in his scarlet eyes.
Kagome wanted to look away. Nausea crashed over in strong waves, twisting her stomach inside out. There was so much blood. The entire ring was covered with it. It was like a scene from her worst nightmare… her very own memories…
She'd seen enough blood to last two lifetimes and with blood often came death.
Kagome was unaware her hands were shaking. An icy numbness was taking hold of her, blurring the sight before her with past images she had hoped to one day forget. There was no looking away.
It happened so fast. One moment the boys were circling each other in a macabre dance and then there was a flash of claws and suddenly the fight was over. The exotic boy with pale hair was victorious. His opponent slumped to the ground in a lifeless heap. A puddle of crimson formed around the dead youkai's head where half of his throat had been ripped out.
Slowly the pale boy fell to his knees, blood loss causing his muscles give away under the strain. Kagome's eyes widened even more as the youki he radiated lessened and a human aura took shape around him. The question forming in her mind was answered before it was even asked. He was a hanyou. No wonder he looked different than most average youkai when in human form.
The ice surrounding Kagome's heart began to melt. He was cursed. He didn't belong with youkai because he was not one of them and humans wouldn't understand him because… they never did. She knew what it was like to be caught in between, never knowing which way to go and never truly belonging anywhere…
As if Kagome's melancholy was felt by the hanyou, he lifted his head and pinned her with eyes that were no longer scarlet but the most beautiful shade of amber she had ever seen. Instantly her human heart squeezed in compassion for the creature. But there was no time for empathy. The hanyou's youki continued to roll off of him in dark waves and a cold fear filled her as she realized it was going to collide with her own violet energy.
Bracing herself, Kagome forgot to breathe. Then there was nothing but pain, not superficial physical pain but something that bore down into her soul and obliterated all else. It burned like a hot iron placed in her chest and she instinctively clutched at her heart. She had been afraid of purifying him but instead his energy was corrupting her own. No not corrupting, more like communicating…
But before Kagome could grasp what was happening, the golden eyes fixed on her own flashed with fear before narrowing in anger. As quickly as the link was made it was broken when the hanyou reared back in an attempt get away from her. He scuttled across the ring, crouching low as a warning growl rumbled in his throat.
What had she almost done?
"No powers…" she whispered the words unconsciously but hearing them against the roar of applause brought forth a surge of panic.
She had to get away.
The scent of vomit over powered the tiny restroom as Kagome's flushed the toilet and made her way to the sink. Gripping the counter, dragging in deep breaths to calm her racing heart, Kagome lifted her gaze to the small mirror and felt her stomach turn once again as she took note of the drops of dried blood that had spattered across her face like well-placed freckles.
Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes. The need to release them began to burn her throat but she refused to give in to the weakness and instead bit her lip until the metallic flavor of her own blood mixed with the after taste of bile still in her mouth. She turned on the tap and cupped her palms under the cold water and then splashed it on her face to wash the blood away.
It wasn't long till the icy water had her skin tingling. Raking her trembling fingers down her face, she lifted her head and looked into mirror.
Not for the first time Kagome felt as if she were staring at the reflection of a stranger. It wasn't that her face was unfamiliar. She still had the same midnight hair and sliver-gray eyes. Her face was still heart-shaped, though her cheek bones were slightly more prominent from missing meals and her skin was a very unhealthy shade of white.
Ignoring the rivulets of water the trickled down her chilled skin, Kagome pressed her palms to her cheeks. Why did she barely recognize herself anymore? It hadn't always been this way. She hadn't always felt so empty… so lost.
As Kagome stared something flickered inside her eyes, a violet sparkle that shimmered across the gray making them come alive with an inner fire, the sort of flame that could warm her to her very soul-
"NO!" She gasped, shutting her eyes tightly and stumbling back a step. "I can't let the power out…"
Kagome's whisper trailed off weakly as the tears she had fought began to prickle against her closed eyelids. It would feel so good to cry, to let the pain wash away in the flood of grief but now was not the time or the place. Tears would not solve her plight nor would they bring her to safety and there was always the fear that once she started crying she'd never be able to stop.
"Why…" she asked the still silence, "Why give me this curse?
As always the answer remained a mystery known to only fate and it's cruel sense of humor. And on the heels of needing to know why came the easily directed anger that because of this curse she was forever cut off from the word around her in fear of letting these uncontrollable powers slip out.
If it had happened before then it would happen again.
"But only if I let it." she said firmly, opening her eyes to glare accusingly at her reflection. "It's all your fault, always your fault! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"
Letting the anger take control Kagome banged her fist against the counter ignoring the pain that shot though her wrist. Watching the youkai fight had opened a floodgate inside her and somehow her miko energy was pulled forth along with the intense horror she'd felt. To the human eye she was nothing more than a kid about to faint in shock but to the youkai in the crowd… her energy would have been a bright as a beacon and just as threatening. It was a wonder no one had attempted to attack her, in fact she was more surprised they hadn't.
Why had her powers come to the surface like that?
And to think she was actually proud of herself for containing them these past weeks… Kagome frowned. It was all that boy's fault. He did something to her. He made her feel so strongly that she lost herself in the moment, in the feeling of sympathy.
Even as the thought crossed Kagome's mind, her frown eased away to a bemused smile. So she had a soft spot for half-breeds like herself. It wasn't like it was bad thing, just very dangerous sometimes. Especially when they were half demon. She knew he'd felt the sting of her purifying energy, that was why he had backed away in fear, her power was the one thing he couldn't fight off with his claws. And she could be quite lethal…
Kagome forced the thought away turning her attention to the sudden rumbling in her seriously empty stomach. Since no one and come hunting her down yet then perhaps she could still pull off her original plan. It was worth a try.
Giving her reflection another once over, Kagome grudgingly admitted that she didn't look half-bad for being on her own for nearly a month. Wetting her fingers, she smoothed her hair into a semblance of order. A brush would have been a true luxury but it wasn't part of the clothing on her back so it had been left behind when she had fled…
Kagome blinked. Food, it was time to think about food. She gave her refection a forced smile. "Remember, nimble fingers and a full tummy. Nothing to it."
With that tiny boost of confidence, Kagome sauntered from the bathroom alert and on the prowl.
A diamond in the rough
To find such a rare gem so unexpectedly was a boon any hanyou, youkai or even human would kill for. And to have this precious gift fall into his hands was almost too good to be true. But unlike those weaklings that possessed a conscience, he felt absolutely no hesitation in exploiting this good fortune.
Naraku was hard pressed not to smile.
To say his little diamond stood out amongst the rather distasteful species surrounding him was a vast understatement. Even if he were to be human and oblivious to the aura she had radiated, she still would have caught his attention for the simple fact that she was quite pleasant to look upon.
The girl, still a child really, was a bit young for Naraku's taste. Yet despite that small set back she was naturally pretty. Soft features, pouting lips and a slim body that would be exquisite once she filled out. The drab condition of her white t-shirt and faded jeans was s bit daunting but could be remedied easily enough. With a little work she would make a fine addition to his collection.
However, it was the power concealed in the child's blood that made her priceless.
Naraku Modegi knew a golden opportunity when he was presented with one. Any logical, reasonably intelligent youkai would understand the advantage of having a miko at their disposal. In this struggling society where leverage was not only critical but necessary, her abilities could easily secure his position in the tribal council- not to mention the many other ways he could put her to good use.
This little girl was a very valuable concession. She appeared to be skilled in suppressing all traces of her energy and had Naraku missed that brief release of her power he would have quite possibly overlooked her because of her age. Child or not, she was still a sound investment.
And every child has to grow up some time…
Naraku's mind was already formulating the plans of a very productive future. It was time to take the diamond for himself.
With a keen eye on her every move, Naraku watched as the young girl purposely bumped into a stout raccoon demon, deftly plucking the wallet from his back pocket as she apologized profusely. The sloshed demon merely brushed her off and continued on to the bar, his focus on gaining more alcohol. The young girl smirked at her victory and moved away to a place further down the full bar.
Taking the advantage presented him, Naraku approached the raccoon that was now patting himself in various places for his wallet. "Missing something?"
The irritated demon spared him a withering glance. "My wallet is gone."
"Might I suggest you can retrieve it from the young woman over there." He offered with a poisonous smile as he pointed to where the young miko was talking to the bartender. A bit of gleeful excitement filled him as the raccoon demon stared for a moment, then upon recognized the situation stormed toward the hapless girl.
Naraku followed the angry demon at a leisurely pace letting the scene play out before him. Waiting till opportune moment was a crucial factor in strategic manipulation. To ensnare his prey according to plan required he pull the strings very carefully. It would not do to arrive until the little lady was in dire need. That would be his cue.
Playing his cards accurately, Naraku refrained of stepping in until the raccoon demon grasped the young miko by the arm. His grip was strong and, by the expression on the girl's face, was inflicting a lot of pain. If Naraku was to gain her acquiescence then it was best to appear as her savior. It was the most effective way to develop trust.
Grasping the raccoon's shoulder in a bruising grip, Naraku sent a silent message to the youkai. The creature released his hold on the miko, albeit reluctantly. The stench of whiskey was overwhelming as the youkai snarled, "That bitch took my money! She needs a lesson in respect!"
"And you must sober up my friend," Naraku quipped with an easy smile that failed to reach his obsidian eyes, "before you find yourself in the cage to vent your aggression on someone more evenly matched to your strength."
"You can't do that to me!" Cried the raccoon indignantly.
Naraku's brow rose at the challenge. "Oh but I can and I will."
With money came prestige and with prestige came control. For Naraku, he was blessed with all three in abundance and nothing pleased him more than flaunting that fact. If the obnoxious fool needed proof of this then Naraku was willing to oblige. All it took was a simple signal to his henchmen and before the inebriated youkai could protest further, two armed guards materialized at the creature's side prepared to forcibly escort him to the ring. The raccoon demon froze in fear and it was the reaction Naraku was striving for.
"Perhaps you wish to reconsider?"
The raccoon demon nodded enthusiastically nearly pissing on himself in relief. Naraku was barely able to hide his revulsion for the simpleton. This creature was an utter waste which consequently rendered it expendable. There was nothing more bothersome than a living being with no purpose. Giving a nod to his guards, Naraku sighed, "Show the gentleman out and make sure he has a place to rest, undisturbed."
Naraku's words were innocent enough to veil their meaning from the youkai and the young girl. The miserable whelp of a demon would be disposed of properly and befitting the manor of unproductive waste. But the young woman need not know that. It would only make her weary of him. Which she already was, he realized as he turned face her.
To catch her off guard he dazzled her with a charming smile. "Pardon my intrusion but it looked as if you were in need of assistance."
"I… was, I guess." Her voice wavered as she eyed his crisp suit and well-groomed appearance giving him a thorough evaluation that could only have been described as a rude stare. Then she seemed to remember herself, flashing him a genuine smile. "Thank you for helping me out."
"My pleasure." He breathed, making a point to stare deep into her eyes. She blushed, looking away and he used the distraction to lean in closer, his breath tickling her ear as he advised, " As a general rule you will have better luck with humans."
"You saw?" She gasped, pulling away fearfully as her gaze darted about. When she realized that no one was paying them attention, she asked defensively, "You're not going to get me in trouble are you?"
"I hardly think I would have bothered to save you from a rather nasty beating if I were going to hand you over to officials." When she remained skeptical, he laughed. "I can keep a secret and in return all I ask is your name."
She offered him a sheepish grin. "My name is Kagome."
"Kagome…?"
"Just Kagome." She insisted.
"Well Kagome, my name is Naraku Modegi and I am honored to make you're acquaintance." To add the right amount of impact to his performance, he grasped her hand brought it to his lips. Kagome's blush deepened and her heart beat increased, he could her it loud and clear.
The relaxing of her tense muscles was almost imperceptible but Naraku caught it and fought the urge to smirk in triumph.
Being a hanyou had its advantages. Like the little miko could conceal her purifying aura, he could do the same with his youki. She had felt him, tried to sense anything more than a human bio-rhythm coming from him and she had found nothing. Naturally, she assumed he was human and it made her that much more trusting.
Toying with the child was amusing but now it was time to go in for the kill.
Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a plump wad of hundred dollar bills. He peeling off five bills and held them out to Kagome waiting for her reaction. Either she would eagerly take the money allowing him to issue conditions or she would refuse the money giving him the chance to negotiate an understanding.
Kagome, to her credit, floundered for a coherent response looking much like a fish out of water. She was surprised at his generosity and completely caught off guard. She was uncertain and disarmed leaving her vulnerable and in no condition to make such an important decision. This once again gave Naraku the upper hand.
"I would like to help you," he amended sweetly, though lacking sincerity. "Take the money."
Kagome was tempted, it was quite obvious, but she hesitated. Pride prompted her to lift her chin and ignore his outstretched hand. "I can't accept it. I've got no way to replay you."
So it was the humility approach. The easiest to exploit…
"Then this poses a problem. I'd like you to accept the money, if only to spare you further trouble." He feigned the contemplation of a solution, waiting just long enough to have her glance at the money before saying, "Since you will not take it then perhaps we can come to an agreement that will benefit us both."
"Are you suggesting I sleep with you!?!" Kagome burst out, her cheeks turning cherry red.
Naraku tried to look appalled, he truly did, and came close to pulling it off. Fortunately Kagome was too shocked to notice the wicked sparkle in his dark eyes. "No Kagome. I am not suggesting you sleep with me."
However, careful wording played a big part in his future plans for the girl… but Naraku was getting ahead of himself. He needed to possess the diamond first. It would be helpful to have Kagome come to him willingly but if force was necessary then it could be employed very easily. It was hard to keep his poker face when he had her in his grip.
The child visibly relaxed and it was Naraku's moment to play the final ace hidden up his sleeve.
"How about we discuss this over something to eat?" He offered, reeling her in with the promise of a hot meal.
Kagome took the bait without a second thought.
A.N. – This is the first Inuyasha AU I've attempted so we'll see how this goes. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. So what will Naraku do? The next chapter should clear a few things up…
Thanks for reading! hugs