Striking A Deal

A/N:Well, I am nearing the end of this little fic of mine. I have one vote for my M/F/M and it is for Sesshomaru to be with Kagome and Kouga. I will wait until later on tonight to begin writing my little masterpiece. I am afraid that my hentai closet is a bit overstuffed and keeps wanting to burst. So, I will let you guys offer up some more suggestions, but will make my decision around 9 pm tonight. I would like you guys to please review after you read, and I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed. It means alot. I am also thinking of extending my "bar buddies" from a one shot to maybe another chapter to show what happens to Inu Yasha after he finds out that Kagome is no longer his to cheat on.
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Naraku sat in his castle. Bodies of his guards littered his hallways, and the stench of blood hung heavily in the air. He smiled to himself as he surveyed his work. His claws flexed and his fangs shone in the candlelight as he thought about how it would feel to sink his teeth into that tender little miko that his hated nemesis protected. How it would feel to caress her body as he tore at the delicate flesh of her neck. It was clear, even to him that he was too far gone to go back to the way he used to be. The fact that he discarded his incarnates was proof enough that he believed that the end was near. However, one incarnate escaped him, but he felt that she was not anything to worry about. After all, what could a little girl like her do to him?
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The group neared the area where Kanna had shown them that the palace should be. Sesshomaru, Kouga, and Inu Yasha began to growl as they neared the small valley that held their enemy.

"This is it. The little girl was telling us the truth. I can smell the hanyou's barrier magic, it is close." Sesshomaru said.

Miroku looked around. "I can't see the barrier, but it is here. I can feel the evil aura that surrounds it. Lady Kagome, are you ready to make that barrier fall?" He asked.

Kagome nodded. "Let's do it. I am tired of all this fighting, and I just want to go back to the palace and rest."

"Are you alright, Kagome?" Sango asked, in a worried tone.

"Yeah, I am fine, just achy." Kagome told her.

Kouga looked around, he sniffed the air and then walked forward at a very slow pace. He came to a stop after a few paces and then put his hand out. All of a sudden, the sound of crackling filled the air, and Kouga was thrown back several feet. His hand was slightly burned and the scent of burned hair hit everyone's noses.

"Well, I think we can safely say that we found where the barrier is." Kouga said, shaking his hand.

Kagome walked over to where the wolf sat and took his hand in hers. She looked at the burn and then called for Jaken to bring her the pack. When the toad handed her pack to her, Kagome pulled out her first aid kit and preceded to clean and bandage the burn. When she was done, she gave Kouga a brilliant smile and patted his shoulder.

"Well, I think that you will live to see another day, Kouga." She joked, bringing a smile to everyone's faces. The anxiety that had filled the group faded a bit as they laughed, easing the tension.

After examining the area where Kouga had been burned, Kagome stepped forward and allowed her miko powers to surround her hands. She closed her eyes and stepped forward, her hands out in front of her, and she allowed them to come in contact with the barrier.

While Kagome attempted to weaken the barrier, Inu Yasha stepped a few yards away and unsheathed the tetsaiga. Within a minute, he had the sword up and was calling his attack.

"WIND SCAR." Inu Yasha shouted, sending his powerful attack to the unseen barrier and between his attack and Kagome, the barrier shattered.

The group cheered. They quickly made their way into the forest that separated them from their goal, Naraku. It would not be long until he lay at their feet, drenched in his own blood, and dead before their eyes.

Kouga and Sesshomaru decided that it would be best if the pups stayed with Jaken in the forest, surrounded by a barrier that Miroku offered to put up, ensuring their complete safety. So, when they got to a place that held a stream so that Jaken could have water, they left him and the pup with Ah-Un, and began their final journey to meet the monster.
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Kanna and Kikyo watched the group move toward the palace. Kanna's face almost held a serene look, but it was quickly lost when Kikyo looked at her.

"What are you smiling for, Kanna?" Kikyo demanded.

"We are going to go and provide help." Kanna whispered.

"Help? Who, Naraku?" Kikyo asked, clearly confused.

Kanna shook her head slightly. "No, we are going to help the lords and your reincarnation. This nightmare must end."

Kikyo gave a bitter laugh. "Well, you can do whatever you want, bitch. I am not helping in anyway, especially to benefit that little bitch."

Kanna regarded the dead miko coolly. "I had a feeling you might feel that way. I know for a fact that your reincarnation needs her full soul in order to call upon her full potential. You will provide her with what she needs."

Kikyo smirked. "And how do you propose to get my little piece of soul? I dare you to try, bitch. I'll purify you if you touch me, and don't think I won't."

While she was ranting, Kikyo didn't notice that Kanna had lifted her mirror towards her, and then the child called out, asking for the corpse's attention.

When Kikyo looked at her, Kanna allowed her mirror to work its magic. Within seconds, Kikyo realized what Kanna meant to do, and it spelled her doom. She screamed and tried to back away, but felt that her feet were stuck to the ground. Kanna's mirror began to emit a white light, surrounding the undead miko and taking back from her what had been stolen.

When the light faded, Kanna looked at the ground. Kikyo was as she had been before the ogress stole Kagome's soul"¦an empty husk. Kanna knew that there was nothing left in the shell worth protecting, so she took a burning stick from their fire, and brought it over to the shell, igniting it by catching the husk's clothing on fire. It would not take very long to be reduced to ashes. Without a backwards glance, Kanna made her way to the forest, and towards the group. She would gladly help the small group; after all, her desired peace was at stake.
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Inu Yasha stopped walking. He looked behind him, his ears flattening on his head.

"What's wrong, Inu Yasha?" Miroku asked, coming over to the hanyou.

"It's Kikyo. I think that she may be dead." Inu Yasha said.

Kouga snorted. "I hate to tell you this, mutt. That bitch was dead, has been dead, and is dead. She is a walking corpse, and nothing more." He sneered.

Inu Yasha glared at the wolf. "No shit, moron. I am saying that I felt her pass on. I guess it is because of my mating mark that I put on her, but I am sure that she is no more."

Kagome looked at Sesshomaru. "So, if she is dead, does that mean the piece of my soul that she held will come back to me?" She asked, hopefully.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "I am not sure, my love. It is possible that the piece of your soul that she held died along with her undead body. Only time will tell."

Kagome sighed. She nodded and felt Sesshomaru nudge her, telling her that it was time to keep moving.

The small group walked through the forest, killing off the threats that Naraku had obviously placed for them to fight, delaying the inevitable in their minds. It was well into the night before anyone caught sight of the faint flicker of light beyond the trees.

"I think that we are almost at the palace." Kouga said, his voice in a loud whisper. "I can see some light, so Naraku will be nearby."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Everyone keep your guard up. I want to find the hanyou and kill him before breakfast."

The companions nodded, and readied themselves. Too bad that they didn't know that they were walking into a trap.
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Naraku had been well aware of the group's progress into his forest. He grinned, and looked at his new guests. The two little pups sat on the floor, chains around their feet, and they were whimpering. Their fear and cries were almost like an aphrodisiac, calling to his senses and begging for a release. He grinned as he approached the little girl. She cowered from him, curling up into a small ball. He reached out and stroked her hair, making sure that he did not injure her. Killing her would be a mistake, it would cause the parents of the pups to fight harder to ensure his death and he would not give them reason to lose their temper, at least, not yet.

"Don't touch Rin, you filth!" Squeaked the toad, who was hanging upside down, his kimono falling over his head, and revealing to his captor his goods.

"I will touch anything that I want, toad. You forget, you are MY prisoner, and I will do with you and the pups as I see fit. Now, shut up and you might live to see morning. Of course, I can't promise that you will see the noon, but who knows, I might feel generous, but then again, I might not." Naraku hissed, swiping at the toad and sending the creature into uncontrollable shakes.

Jaken swallowed nervously. He watched, as he yanked his kimono back into its place only to have it fall back in his face, Naraku look at the pups again and a smile spread across his face. The hanyou turned on his heel and strode out of the room. Jaken looked back at the pups and said, "I want both of you to listen to me right now. We will be ok, just do what you are told and he won't hurt you. Do you two understand?"

Rin and Shippo nodded. They looked at each other and then put their arms around each other. They were so scared. All they wanted was their mama and father.
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The group finally reached the end of the forest, and saw before them a gloomy palace, silent and still. They cautiously approached the structure, making sure that they were aware of all their surroundings. They went through the main gate, and came into a deserted courtyard. The sight of bodies greeted them and so did the stench of their blood. Kagome and Sango both gagged, and looked away from the sight. Sesshomaru brought his mate into his arms and allowed her to bury her face in his kimono, allowing his scent to override the stench.

Kouga and Inu Yasha sniffed the air. They could smell Naraku, but could not pinpoint their location.

Sesshomaru also took in a deep breath. His eyes widened in alarm. "˜No, it can't be.' He thought.

Kagome noticed his sudden alarm and asked, "What? What is wrong, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru looked down at his beloved mate. He did not want to tell her that he had picked up the scents of their pups and her new handmaid. So, he did what he thought best. He shook his head, indicating that nothing was wrong.

Even though she did not believe him, Kagome let it go. She looked around, and finally saw where Naraku was hiding, and he had his half of the jewel with him. She notched an arrow in her bow and let it fly, destroying his hiding place and revealing his form for the group to see.

"Well, I see that I have visitors. How nice. Now, would you be so kind as to hand over your shards? I do believe that you don't want to refuse me this request." Naraku said, smirking.

"And why would we not want to refuse?" Inu Yasha asked, his curiosity perked.

"I have something very valuable to the lord and lady of the western lands, and I do believe that the lord knows what it is." Naraku said, his eyes trained on the demon lord.

Kagome looked at her mate in confusion. "What does he have, Sesshomaru? Tell me what you know." She demanded.

"Naraku has the pups. He must have broken through the barrier the monk placed and taken them." Sesshomaru said, avoiding Kagome's eyes.

Kagome let out a hiss of anger. She whirled around and looked at Naraku. "Give me my pups, now."

"Now, now. Let's keep that temper in check, little one. I would not want to become upset and take my anger out of the children. So, shall we begin again?" Naraku asked, his eyes narrowing as he allowed his lips to smirk. He could not believe that he was actually winning.
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Kanna had made it to the palace's main gate. She knew that Naraku had engaged the group that held her hope for long lasting peace, and she decided that it was time to lend her support. She pulled up her mirror and looked into it, to see exactly where they were and what was going on. What she saw was Sesshomaru's statement that Naraku had his pups. Well, she would just have to fix Naraku's advantage, wouldn't she. For the first time in her existence, Kanna smiled. However, it faded as she went to the secret assess passageway on the side of the palace. Slipping into it, she knew it would take her directly to Naraku's private chamber and more than likely, the holding place of his captives.