Miko... Kitsune?

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha... if you didn't know that, you really haven't been paying much attention.The only things that are mine are the original characters, and if you can't tell who they are.... well then... you just don't watch the show at all!

Chapter 17: Naraku's Deception

Time meant nothing, day fell into night, a season changed, yet none of this was noticed by the vacant-eyed monk that sat beside her bed. None dared to venture inside, save one tiger youkai. Her body had been healed through Kagome, but still she did not wake. She lay there, on her bed of grey silk. Her long, flowing sapphire locks covered her pillow and hung over the sides of the bed. Her frail, pale body was swathed in a simple, white yukata, making her appear as though a ghost.

Renshi entered the dimly lit bedroom, his eyes saddened as he placed a tray beside the monk and brushed her brow gently. “Nothing today?” he asked.

Miroku looked up, his violet eyes overwhelmed with grief. “Nothing,” his voice whispered, as though he feared to speak any louder.

“I brought you food. She would not want you ill,” Renshi mentioned as he tilted his eyes at the tray.

Miroku nodded, and, mechanically, began to eat what lay before him.

“Kagome was standing outside earlier, but did not enter,” Renshi mentioned.

Miroku nodded. “I could sense her aura. She is with child.”

Renshi’s eyes widened. “You could sense that?”

The monk nodded. “Hai.”

The tiger youkai smiled to the monk. “You truly are a powerful monk.”

Miroku shook his head. “Not powerful enough.”

~*~*~*~

Tsaisuki stood amongst a field of shadow and mist. Her untied hair flew about her as wind pushed at her from the west. Her yukata was too thin, making her feel cold in this land of winds. ‘Where am I?’ she wondered to herself.

“You are within the spirit realm, sorceress,” a dark voice called.

Tsaisuki spun about, her eye catching a familiar cloak of white baboon fur. “Naraku!” she hissed.

His malevolent chuckle resounded through the field. “Hai, did you think it so easy to destroy me? As long as my heart lives, my spirit goes on. I can no longer control my ‘offspring’ nor can I command my armies, but as long as I remain, I can return.”

Tsaisuki shook her head. “Iie! I will not allow this!”

His laugh echoed again. “Ah, but you cannot do a thing. Like me, your spirit and body have been separated and, though I cannot take your body, I can prevent you from returning to the material realm.”

Tsaisuki shook her head again, this time with a smile on her lips. “Ah, but while you have no power here, my powers are perfectly accessible to me,” she teased the hanyou.

Naraku’s laugh ceased as he pushed his hood back. Half of his face was that of a handsome man, the other covered with the burns of Onigumo, long black hair tumbled over his shoulders as red eyes glared at the kitsune. “Powers or none, lady. You cannot help yourself. Only those that have love for you can see you in their dreams. You have pushed all away from your true self. None will hear you.”

Tsaisuki’s grin widened. “I know of four males that know my true self, and that love me. I have thwarted you again, Naraku.”

Naraku snorted. “It matters not. They will never find Onigumo’s heart, and as long as my spirit lives, you cannot return to your body.”

Tsaisuki’s smile faded. “This is true. I feel the magic now that binds me to this realm. You laced that foul arrow with it. I see now that, without your true demise, I cannot be free.”

“Then, together, we can spend eternity keeping the other company,” Naraku laughed.

Tssaisuki nodded and sat before the hanyou. “Fine then, tell me of Onigumo’s tale and how you, as Naraku, came into being.”

~*~*~*~

Renshi sighed as he walked through the gardens of the East. Still, Tsaisuki had not wakened, and it seemed the monk had lost his will to live without her. The lands felt… quiet. No birds sang, even the wind seemed to fall, it was as though a magical presence was frightening them away.

“I always knew that you were intelligent,” a soft voice called.

Renshi turned, his golden eyes widening on the kitsune female before him. “Tsaisuki?” he questioned.

The blue-haired female nodded. “Hai, my dear Renshi.”

The tiger youkai moved forward and attempted to embrace the female, only to pass through her. “Wh-what?” he gasped in fear. “Are you a specter? Has your body died?” he questioned.

Tsaisuki shook her head. “No, my friend. Naraku has trapped me in the spirit realm.”

“But that is not possible! The hanyou is gone! His spell should have lifted.”

Tsaisuki shook her head again. “Nay, my dear. As long as Onigumo’s heart remains, Naraku’s spirit will live on. He too is trapped in the spirit realm, but is incapable of doing anything to me or any of those I love,” she said as a pale, almost translucent hand cupped the tiger’s face.

“Can you be returned to us?” he asked softly, wishing he could feel her hand against his skin.

She nodded. “Hai. Destroy Onigumo’s heart, and I shall be freed from this realm. I cannot tell you where it is, because I do not know. But… the two sisters, born of Naraku’s flesh, may. I have little time left with you, my dear Renshi.”

Golden eyes widened. “No! Do not leave!” he begged.

A sad smile was suddenly on her face. “I cannot stay. You are waking.”

Renshi nodded. “This is a dream, isn’t it?” at her nod he sighed. “Since it is a dream, I can tell you that I love you, Tsaisuki. I always have. If you would ask it of me, I would become your youkai consort.”

Tsaisuki smiled. “I would like that, my dear Renshi. Take care of Miroku for me, I fear for him.”

The tiger general nodded. “Hai, I shall.”

Tsaisuki smiled again. “I have visited Sessho and Yasha this night already. They know of my predicament and shall assist you. Only Miroku, I cannot reach.”

Renshi nodded. “That is because he does not sleep. He is ever watchful over your body, my love.”

“I see. Then you must tell him what I have told you, and that I love him.”

Renshi smiled. “I shall.”

Tsaisuki’s body began to fade. “Know that I hold you too in my heart, Renshi. And that I accept you as my youkai consort. I will see you again.”

Renshi nodded. “Hai, and when you do, I will be able to hold you in my arms.”

Tsaisuki smiled as she faded more. “I will dream of that day, my dear Renshi.”

~*~*~*~

Kagura breathed heavily as she tossed and turned on her bed. Her brow coated in a light sheen of sweat. Kanna sat in silence beside her sister's unconscious form, her once dead eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. She nibbled on her bottom lip with worry as she twisted her hands in her lap. Kagura had fallen to this illness two days after Naraku's demise and had remained so for over a season. She worried that her beloved sister would be lost to her if she could not find the cure.

The sound of a sliding door opening and closing behind her turned her dark eyes towards the one that had been caring for herself and her sister since Kagura had fallen. The woman was beautiful, with almond-shaped eyes the color of amethyst and skin pale as snow. Her white hair hung down loose, reaching her knees. Her pink lips were full and in a soft smile as she knelt beside the ailing wind youkai. Her silver kimono of the purest silk pooled beneath her graceful body as black-clawed, delicate hands brushed away strands of the wind sorceress' bangs from her brow.

"Ume-dono?" the small, white haired child inquired softly.

The dark clad woman looked to the void youkai and cast her a kind smile. "Worry not, dear one, your beloved sister is only struggling because she fights the poison within her system. Naraku has trapped her soul within the spirit realm to keep the true location of his heart from becoming known. The poison will soon be gone, and all that we must do is find those that seek the heart and assist them as best we can."

"The one's that seek the heart?" Kanna asked.

Ume nodded, her eyes filled with a distant sorrow. "My niece has been trapped within the spirit realm, soon, my daughter and her mate, as well as his brother and my niece's mates shall find us."

Kanna's eyes widened. "You're daughter is Lady Kagome of the West?" she gasped.

Ume nodded. "Hai, young one, she is. Tsaisuki has been imprisoned along with your sister and Naraku. I fear that Kagura is trapped within another part of the spirit realm, so she does not tell my niece of the heart's location. This is why I think she was poisoned. But my treatments have been of good use."

Kanna smiled suddenly. "I cannot help but see it now. Kagome looks as beautiful as you."

Ume grinned back. "Arigato, my dear."

The door was suddenly wrenched open. "Ume!" a harsh growl resounded.

Ume cringed suddenly as she looked to the newcomer. "Hai, Ryuzi-sama?"

Kanna turned to gaze upon the intimidating youkai that kept Ume hostage. He was a dragon youkai with reptilian eyes the color of blood and hair the color of gold. His skin was as grey as stone and covered with fine scales. His taloned hand reached out and grasped the pale colored kitsune female and pulled her forward. “You have brought the get of Naraku into my house, and I allow it because helping them keeps you contented. My father wished you to be his bride, yet you chose that fool, Inari and bore him a child. Because of you, my mother was not appreciated by him and I was thought of as unworthy of his blood. I have kept you here these past years so Inari could know the pain of your loss and your daughter would know what it would be like to have no mother. Much like I did.”

Ume closed her lavender eyes and looked away. “It is by no fault of mine that Zin committed seppuku. Nor is it mine that Ryukousei desired me and, in retaliation, shunned you and Zin. Onegi, Ryuzi. Do not make his mistake by letting obsession destroy yourself.”

Ryuzi scowled, his fangs appearing as he threw her into the opposite wall. Kanna stood with anger in her eyes. “Yammate! Don’t hurt Ume-dono!” she growled.

Ryuzi snorted at the small girl. “Stay out of this girl. Be glad I do not shred you and your disgusting sister here and now.”

Kanna looked away from the dragon youkai. She knew now that she and Kagura were his prisoners. All for what they had done under Naraku’s control, now they were in the claws of another youkai that wished to cause malice. “Gomen nasai, Ryuzi-sama.”

The dragon smirked. “That’s better. Know this, Ume, if I catch scent of your brat and her friends here, I will kill these two and their blood will be on your hands,” he stated as he turned and left, his gold spine-covered tail trailing behind him.

Kanna rushed to Ume’s side and helped the older youkai to her knees. “Ume-sama!”

“I am fine, Kanna,” Ume placated. “This is neither the first nor the last time that Ryuzi has harmed me. I am fine. Let us hope that my Kagome and her friends and mate can stop Ryuzi.”

~*~*~*~

Kagura stood alone in the misty wasteland of the spirit realm, garbed in a thin, white, sleeping yukata. She could see the blackness of the poison draining from her body. She knew where she was, how she could stop Naraku, but had no one to seek out for help. No one knew her truly and cared for her. She was alone in the world, save for Kanna. But Kanna did not sleep, she never needed to. Kagura was trapped.

Suddenly, and image appeared before her, a person , well, a youkai that she didn’t expect. Her crimson eyes widened as she approached him.

He turned to her and his own icy-blue eyes grew wide. “Kagura!”

“I need.... I need to tell you. Naraku is not yet gone. As long as his heart lives, he remains here,” she said hurriedly.

“Naraku’s still alive?” he gasped. “Is he the one that keeps Tsaisuki trapped in the spirit realm?”

Kagura seemed shocked. “Tsaisuki is here?”

“Here? Are we in the spirit realm?” he asked.

Kagura nodded. “Why is it that you can see me?” she asked. “Only those that love one trapped in the spirit realm can see them. Someone who knows the trapped.”

He blushed then. “Well... I...”

She then turned a pretty pink. “Do you... I mean.... do you?” she asked.

He nodded, his black ponytail bobbing along with his head as a bare foot dug into the ground. “Yeah... I kinda do.”

Kagura smiled. “Then you must help InuYasha and the others find the heart. A dragon youkai called Ryuzi holds it as well as my body and my sister captive.”

“Ryuzi?” he asked.

“Be careful. He’s the son of Ryukoutsei and more powerful than Naraku was. He has to be destroyed,” she warned.

He smiled egotistically. “I wouldn’t worry! I’ll get that stupid lizard and destroy the heart of Naraku myself.”

Kagura sighed and her eyebrow twitched. “Sometimes I forget how stupid you can be. You’re lucky you’re so pretty or else you’d be lost. Just in case, tell the others about the heart, please?” he asked.

He frowned at her comment but nodded. “And I almost forgot how much of a bitch you can be. Fine, I’ll tell InuTrasha and the others. Don’t worry, soon, you and Tsaisuki will be free of this imprisonment. Then we won’t have to worry about anything ever again. I’ll swear to protect you forever.”

Kagura giggled and blushed prettily again. “I think I’d like that.”

He began to fade as his body woke up. “I swear upon my honor that Naraku’s heart will be destroyed and you’ll be free from him finally.”

She smiled. “I’ll hold you to that, wolf.”

~*~*~*~
Levii: I'll give you all three guesses who Kagura was talking to!
Sess: It is obvious.
Levii: I know that! I was making a joke. You know, humor?
Inu: Don't try, he wouldn't know humor if it bit him on the ass.
Sess: *Raises brow* Is that so, little brother? Then why is it that I am constantly able to mock you?
Inu: Well... I... Hey!
Levii: Lord, here they go again! If I didn't have my foot in a cast, I'd be slapping the both of you!
Inu: Well you do, so nah!
Levii: Kagome!
Kagome: *offstage* SIT BOY!
*Inu plummets into the stage*
Levii: What was that again?
Inu:*mumbles his apology into the ground*
Levii: That's what I thought. *Turns to audience* Anyways, the reason I haven't updated lately is 'cause 1-I had surgery on my foot. 2-I've been on some wonderful painkillers lately. And 3-Getting to the computer when you can't put weight on your right foot is difficult. But, not to worry, my beloved readers, I've got my guys and my younger siblings taking care of me here so I can churn out more chapters for you, my readers. Please remember to review, 'cause without them, I am not inspired to wake up the muse and write. (He sleeps more than my cats!) Ja ne everybody!