Nocturne - An Inuyasha Fanfic

Chapter Thirteen: Embrace of Darkness

Nocturne - Chapter Thirteen: Embrace of Darkness

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

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The pain was insurmountable. Nothing that Kagome had ever felt before. How could Sango do this? Willingly?!

Most women had the opportunity to prepare for this moment. After nearly ten months of carrying a growing child that pushed and prodded the innards was enough to make any woman bear whatever pain was involved in getting the precious invader to vacate. The time had been stolen from her, and she was not ready. Her body was not prepared, but the child was.

Kagome had a tiny moment of reprieve, with the pain subsiding and the contraction easing up. Attempting to relax was another thing altogether. Her accommodations were less than accommodating. The forest was quiet, affording her groans of pain to echo loudly, and the tree she had leaned up against was digging through her hakui anytime she moved, not to mention the ground moist from a combination of blood and dewy condensation. There was nothing to be done for it now as weakness had wracked her body; each contraction was draining her shallow stores of energy.

The blood seemed to have finally stopped, and Kagome idly thought she might be okay. That was until the pain began to blossom in her belly and radiate down to her core. Reaching behind herself, she gripped the sodden bits of grass and raked her fingers into the loamy earth. She barely had the strength to cry out anymore, but she did, screaming for anyone within miles to hear.

Her head swam with dizziness now, and she struggled to stay awake. She had to stay awake, but sleep seemed so inviting. Darkness was calling to her.

Her eyelids were heavy now. The pain didn't seem so bad at this moment that she could get some well-deserved rest. Maybe if she closed her eyes for a second, she would feel better? Her eyelids drooped, and her breathing became shallow.

Another contraction gripped her, but it didn't hurt so much this time, only causing her to grimace and grunt. See? Sleep was her friend. She did not want to do this alone anyway. Why was she alone? Wasn't 'he' supposed to be here?

A bright light shone in front of her, pulling her forcefully out from the darkness. It shook her and called out her name. Kagome did not want to open her eyes and leave the comfort and pain-free darkness that surrounded her within its embrace.

"Kagome! Wake up!"

No.

"Wake up, dammit!"

Not yet.

A sharp sting across her cheek made her eyes fly open. Kagome gasped, and her eyes flew open from the shock.

"Sango! What the fuck?!" an angry voice berated.

"She has to wake up. It was the only way!"

Kagome's vision was blurry, and her head still swam. All she could see was silver hair and golden eyes. A smile broke on her face, and she reached a shaky hand to touch the apparition before her. Had he come for her? He'd heard her cry out and come.

"Se-" she began but was shushed.

"Hush, Kagome," Sango whispered. "We are here. Inuyasha is with me." The taijiya was crouched next to her, supporting the back of her head. "Kagome, listen to me now," she commanded in a reassuring but authoritative tone.