Captured and Trapped
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InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
30
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43,924
Reviews:
158
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
2
Category:
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
30
Views:
43,924
Reviews:
158
Recommended:
4
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter 18: Troubles in paradise
Hi!!
Hope everyone is fine! I apologize for my late update. This chapter almost killed me…literally! Lol It had been difficult but here is the result. I really hope that you will like… well, it took me two months so it better be good enough! >_<
As I warned you last time, if you didn’t hate Kikyo before then you will probably do now! I certainly do now! lol
Thanks to all of you guys, who had taken time to leave a review.
I thank deeply FRIZZ, my beta, for her hard work and god that I didn’t make it easy for her! You rock girl!
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Chapter 18 :
Troubles in paradise…
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Atop a hill, a dark castle stood over the dense and vast forest. The palace seemed deserted, without a living soul miles around. When you stepped inside those walls, an evil aura fell on you like a ton of bricks, so oppressing you found difficulties in even breathing. Those walls, when closely studied, were tainted with dark brown stains. If the rare visitors were curious enough to want to learn what those stains were, then they would discover that they were the blood of the previous and legitimate owner of said palace.
This was the latest castle acquired by the dark hanyou.
In the master bedroom, on a simple futon adorned with cushions, sat Naraku. The dark hanyou wasn’t wearing any clothes and was leaning back on the wall…but more importantly, he wasn’t alone. With a nod of his head, the woman who was with him, walked out on the balcony, wearing only a part of the sheets wrapped around her body.
Naraku then called out for Kanna. Almost instantly, the little white girl stepped in. The dark hanyou only half-heartily hid the lower part of his body to the impassible eyes of Kanna. The little girl didn’t even blink as her master, her father in a twisted way, exhibited himself freely in front of her. Her black eyes fixed an invisible point in front of her, her little fingers clenching her mirror as if her life depended of it. Kanna didn’t speak, didn’t move, waiting her orders.
The dark hanyou looked towards the white little girl. If he was to be honest, his first creation, without a soul, was one of the most useful of all his incarnations. She wasn’t really made to fight but her ability to spy everywhere without moving, if no barrier was present, had been a useful tool against his enemies. And what was the most important was that the fact that the girl hadn’t a soul, and so, hadn’t any urge for freedom. She would never betray him, she wouldn’t even have the idea to. If fact, Kanna would most assuredly be completely lost if no one was there to tell her what to do. It was at least, one less person to spy on to make sure that they were following his wishes.
“Show me that hanyou favorite of mine, Kanna.” Naraku said finally.
Kanna’s mirror lit up and in a flash, an image appeared. The calmed expression on Naraku’s face morphed in a snarl when he saw where Inuyasha and his group were at the moment.
With a flick of the hand, the dark hanyou dismissed the albino girl, who instantly disappeared back behind the rice paper screen that was the door of the bedroom. Naraku, was not happy and that was an understatement. He called out for the woman and reclined against the wall, waiting.
A moment later, the nude woman walked back in. She stepped closer to stand in front of Naraku but stayed on her guard. She knew the character of the hanyou and she didn’t particularly wish to be at the other hand of his anger.
“Kikyo.” Said the hanyou, gesturing for the woman in question to sit on the futon. Without any question, the undead miko complied and gazed coldly towards Naraku, waiting to know what he wanted to say.
Kikyo started to lose her patience when, after a few minutes, Naraku hadn’t said anything. The woman always felt uneasy in the presence of the hanyou, much like her shinigamis. The white snake-like youkai were frightened by Naraku and refused to come anywhere close to him. That’s why the undead Miko had to step out on the balcony to feed off souls. It was the closest the soul-collectors would come. At the same time, it was no wonder when, in their first meeting with the dark hanyou, he had snapped one in half and then absorbed it, in front of the others. It was clear that Naraku didn’t like the soul-collectors.
The undead miko started to fidget under the intense gaze of the hanyou. She always kept her cold composure in any situation but she couldn’t in front of Naraku. She couldn’t take it any longer.
“How your plan is going? Can I hope to receive my soul back soon?”
“Why, Kikyo, a little more straight to the point and I would think that you are impatient to see your reincarnation dead.” He said maliciously. “Have you no shame? To listen to you speaking that way, people would think that you have something against the girl. Do you hate her so much?”
The undead miko didn’t open her mouth and looked away, making the evil hanyou chuckled darkly.
“Don’t worry, I will honor my part of our pact and deliver her soul on a silver platter, however you will have to be a little more patient. The little Miko is more resistant than I thought and won’t break that easily. But she is still fun to play with. Her pain-filled screams are like music to my ears. But are you sure that you share the same soul? She is in every way your opposite. It had been so easy to make you lay down, legs spread.”
Kikyo snapped her head towards him, her eyes burning with her anger, her fear of Naraku all but forgotten at the instant.
“Look at what is coming out of your mouth, hanyou. Don’t ever compare me again to that useless piece of meat.”
Before she could react, Naraku’s hand was curled up around her throat, bringing her face nose to nose with him. Kikyo’s eyes wide in surprise and fright.
“You should be the one taking care of what comes out of your mouth, Kikyo. Don’t think of yourself as indispensable. I just keep you around because you amuse me, so don’t lose your worth. I can say whatever I want to anyone I want, keep that in mind or you could pay dearly. Personally, I can see some worth in this ‘piece of meat’ as you put it. She just needs some training to learn who is in charge and that no one will ever come to rescue her. Once done, I’m sure she will be delightful. But if you are so great then explain to me why InuYasha and his group are snooping around where they shouldn’t, hm?”
“A-are they close to f-finding her location?” She asked breathlessly.
Naraku relaxed his hold on her. “No, but they are in the right direction and I don’t like it. What will you do to straighten this situation?” He asked, one of his clawed fingers of his other hand trailing on her cheek.
“I will make them go back on the ‘right road’. It won’t be difficult to convince him that they are going of course.”
Naraku smirked, apparently pleased with her once more. “I knew that I was keeping you for a good reason. Now, what can I do to punish you for your earlier insubordination?”
Before she could answer, his mouth went crashing on hers. Without any resistance on her part, Naraku ripped off the sheets around her body and moved her to lay down on the futon with him…
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In the dark corridor, around the corner, a young boy observed. He didn’t know what was happening, but his master had been up to something for some time now. Whatever it was, it was something really big. So important that he wouldn’t let anyone in on the plan.
Kohaku hadn’t had the opportunity to get out from the castle for days. Naraku was planning something but he had no idea what. Since a few weeks ago when he charged him to kidnap some priests in the mountains, the evil hanyou hadn’t given him any instruction.
The young slayer observed as the albino creepy little girl, Kanna, stepped out of their master’s bedroom and stood still by the door, awaiting her next assignment apparently. The girl seemed to be the only one in the castle who knew what Naraku was plotting about this time. However, it was useless to try to pry information out of her. Kanna was blindly following Naraku’s orders and if the dark hanyou told her to keep it secret then nothing could be done to make the girl talk about it.
It wasn’t important for Kohaku anyways because he had no intention to speak with her. He couldn’t help it, the dark void of her eyes and impassible character was just too creepy for him. Still, he was curious to know what Naraku was up to this time.
“Did you see something interesting?” Came a sulfurous voice right behind him.
Kohaku jumped, feeling like if his heart was about to stop from the fright. He even had difficulties not letting out a startled scream. The young boy whirled around and came face to face with the piercing red eyes of the only other inhabitant of the castle who may hate Naraku more than him.
“I-I don’t know what you are talking about.” The young boy said shakily, avoiding eye-contact.
Kagura just chuckled. She too observed his elder sister, waiting for their master’s orders.
“I’m still curious to know what that bastard is plotting about.” She said suddenly.
Kohaku looked at the wind witch a moment. He knew that the woman would give anything to finally find the freedom that she so craved for. However, the boy still had difficulties trusting her…even a little. He was sure that it was the same for her.
“I don’t know what is happening but apparently, it’s something big.”
Kagura hummed. “Is he alone right now?”
Kohaku shook his head at which the wind witch huffed. “Let me guess, the whoring corpse is here?” Asked Kagura, her face twisted in disgust.
As if to answer her question, noises started to come from the bedroom. Moans and grunts became louder and echoed in the almost empty castle.
“That…that, it’s just too much for me, I need to get out.” Said the red eyed incarnation, fighting against her gag reflex. Just with the sounds… if she was just to think about what was happening at the moment in the bedroom, Kagura was sure that she would throw up. It was just too disgusting to stand, even for her. It wasn’t like it was a secret. Everyone with ears or nose at Naraku’s service knew about this ‘special relationship’ between the dark hanyou and the undead miko. In two seconds, the woman disappeared with a ruffle of silk.
Kohaku turned to glance one more time towards Kanna. It was evident what was happening in the bedroom, but the little white girl wasn’t moving or didn’t seem even disturbed by that.
The young slayer lingered a second before walking away as well…
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Somewhere at the northern lands’ border…
Inuyasha’s group…
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The sun was brightly shining high in Feudal Japan’s sky. The famous mismatched pack of InuYasha’s was walking silently in the woods towards a new direction. They already tried to find a trail or leads that could have indicate where their missing companion was imprisoned at and who had captured her after planning so meticulously her kidnapping but found nothing. Gone were the happy thatching and the cheerful unstressed atmosphere that was usually animating the group. The moral was at its lowest. They already had passed ten days since they had learned about Kagome’s disappearance and they had yet to find anything. A morose and heavy ambiance had found the traveling companions since they had lost the young Miko.
To everyone’s surprise, Miroku hadn’t insisted more that day in his interrogation of InuYasha and had yet to even mention it again. When the young monk had seen the way the hanyou was reacting, he knew that he wouldn’t obtain any answer from the stubborn half-demon. So, Miroku had let the matter slide for the time being. They had covered the East for a long moment, but, as they hadn’t found any lead, they decided to change direction…
to the North.
Sango was glancing between the Monk and the hanyou, as she had often done during the last few days. Miroku hadn’t said more than two words, and only if necessary, to InuYasha since the ‘incident’ happened.
She too had been angry with InuYasha for his lack of answer but the monk wasn’t usually one to keep a grudge for long. That was why the demon slayer was so worried. More so, Sango felt lonely. For the first time since she discovered that her village and her people had been destroyed, the woman felt like she was truly alone.
Sango too was worried sick about Kagome, but the way the monk was reacting… was unusual. The slayer thought that maybe Miroku knew something but when she had tried to talk about it, he had refused and avoided the subject. It was confirmation that Miroku effectively knew something but just refused to tell any of them for the moment. That was really something she didn’t understand.
For the umpteenth time today, Sango sighed, defeated. Why wouldn’t Miroku talk to her? He had even almost entirely stopped groping her. It wasn’t like she was missing it, but she could count on one hand the numbers of time he did it since Kagome’s kidnapping and in itself prove to be atypical for the young lecherous monk. He was definitively hiding something and wouldn’t even say it to her.
Miroku glanced towards the demon slayer beside him by the corner of his eyes when he heard her sigh again. The younger member of the troop, Shippo, was absent. They had entrusted him to Kaede back at the village by the old well during their last visit. It wasn’t that they didn’t want him with them anymore, but it was for his own good.
Shippo had fought them, saying that he wanted to find Kagome but they all knew that it was better for him to stay in the village with the old Miko.
The little kitsune had cried every night since the young miko’s kidnapping and was so tired that he was unable to defend himself properly or avoid being attacked during the fights, almost costing him his life. It was the old miko who convinced him, saying that he was exhausted and needed some rest and that if something was to happen to him while she wasn’t there to protect him, Kagome would be heart-broken. With the promise that he would be allowed to go with them after their next visit, the young boy had accepted.
They were walking for like hours, when, suddenly, InuYasha stopped and went rigid. Fearing the worst, his companions tensed up, waiting for an upending attack. After a moment of nothing happening, Sango spoke up.
“InuYasha? What is it?” she asked, scanning the woods around them, trying to find what was wrong.
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Naraku’s castle…
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It had been quiet for a moment so Kohaku, pushed by his curiosity, went back around the corner, waiting to see what was happening. Kanna had long left her post by the door, probably gone to do some task for their master.
Finally, just at the moment he was about to give up, the screen of Naraku’s bedroom door slid open. The young slayer hid, not wishing to be caught spying. The undead Miko walked out, her posture always as proud as ever, even after what had just occurred between her and the dark hanyou.
She was almost out of sight when her head suddenly snapped towards the wall that Kohaku was hiding behind, and glared coldly. When she finally left, the young slayer released the breath he wasn’t even aware of holding.
Kohaku was still puzzled and had yet to discover anything that could explain what was going on. The only thing he was certain was that the undead Miko was part of the plot….
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Back in the forest…
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Sango was observing the half-demon, not understanding the reason of his sudden stop. She turned to Miroku and saw that he was staring intensely the woods ahead of them. She turned just in time to see a pale figure breaking thought the dense foliage.
“Kikyo…” InuYasha whispered almost reverently.
“InuYasha.” Said the undead Miko in question tonelessly.
The two of them stayed without moving, observing each other silently and forgetting even the presence of the others.
Kikyo had been trailing the group for two hours already, waiting for the right moment to make her appearance. She had to play it wisely; she didn’t have the right to mess it up. Her orders were still fresh in her mind…
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A few hours ago,
In Naraku’s bedroom…
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Slowly with a grace only attained by doing it all her life, Kikyo got back into her Miko garb. She could feel the eyes of the dark hanyou upon her form.
“I have a question for you, Kikyo.” Started Naraku. He waited until she was facing him before starting again.
“You understand what must be done about our little dog-eared friend, right?”
The undead Miko nodded. “I must make sure to distract him and that he and his rag-tag group doesn’t go to the North.” She said lifelessly.
“Good. Don’t let yourself be distracted from your objective. If they were to find the little troublesome miko’s hiding place now, everything would fall through and you can forget the idea of getting your soul back. We wouldn’t want that, right?”
“No.” She said more firmly as she was tying her hair in her traditional loose pony tail.
“Then you won’t have any problems with carrying out your orders?” He asked, playing distractedly with the sheets.
“I will definitely make them change their road. It won’t be a problem at all.”
“That’s good to hear. It is pointless for me to tell you that you wouldn’t like the consequence if you were to fail, isn’t it?”
Kikyo glared coldly at the relaxed form of the dark hanyou who was looking at her, a smirk upon his lips. She really despised him. But at the same time, she couldn’t stop herself from being drawn to his darkness. It was calling to her even now. It was like a drug. Plus, she needed him now if she wanted to get her soul back. She had tried but was unable to get it back by her own powers. She had no choice.
“You don’t have to threaten me, Naraku, I know what I must do for our plan to succeed.”
Without anymore words, Kikyo turned around and walked towards the screen.
“Kikyo.” The dark hanyou called back. “I have faith in your capabilities so don’t disappoint me. In the meanwhile, I have a little Miko that I’m sure craves for my presence.” With a wave and some of his dark purple miasma, a puppet appeared in the palm of his hand. Then, the dark hanyou pulled out a hair from his head and put it around the wooden puppet.
The undead Miko didn’t stop and walked out of the bedroom. She had seen him do it numerously so by just the shift of his aura, she knew what he was doing without looking back.
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Back in the woods,
With InuYasha and his group…
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When Kikyo had stepped out of the forest, she had seen the face of the demon slayer twisting in disgust. It wasn’t new and frankly, the feeling was mutual. If she had the choice, she wouldn’t be there either. But to the success of months of planning, it was a small price that the undead miko was ready to pay.
No, what really intrigued her was the reaction of the monk. However, she didn’t have much time to think about it when the young hanyou walked to her.
“Why did you seek me? Did something happen? Are you alright?” InuYasha said almost tenderly while stepping closer to the undead Miko.
Sango glared at the hanyou’s back. Really sometimes she really can’t stand him. How could he act so gently and carefully around the walking corpse of his old lover and be so abrupt and unfeeling when around a woman who had done and would do anything for him like Kagome? It was beyond her imagination! From the corner of her eyes, the demon slayer saw Miroku’s hand griping more forcefully his staff. Surely to contain his anger, much like herself with the straps of her faithful Hiraikotsu.
Kikyo had to resist the urge to smile at how easily it was for her to manipulate the young foolish hanyou.
Really, Kagome never stood a chance against her, not one snowball chance in Hell. Her eyes then swept upon Inuyasha’s companions. It was clear as day that they disliked and distrusted her. Well, they aren’t as stupid as they seemed to be and the feeling was mutual. She was still surprised by the hostility that the young monk was portraying though. In the past, he had always been so courteous and smiling, always trying the smooth things between everyone but now… now there he was wearing an unreadable expression on his face… the anger was evident, bordering on hate, if what she could read of his aura was accurate. What did brought out this change? Could he have some inkling? Kikyo thought uneasy but not alarmed. She would just have to keep an eye on things.
Finally, she impassively gazed back at the love-sick puppy.
“Where is my copy, InuYasha?” She asked tonelessly as if she had just noticed the absence of the other woman.
At her inquiry, Inuyasha’s ears dropped immediately on his head, his worry evident. The undead miko was sure that if it was still possible for her, she would be fighting the urge to throw up. However, she succeeded in hiding her disgust while pretending interest when the hanyou answered about the whereabouts of the girl.
“She was kidnapped days ago.” He said, his head low in shame. Then, his head snapped up, hope and trust shinning in his golden eyes. “Did you hear something? Or maybe have you an idea of where she could be?”
Kikyo observed the seemly submissive half-demon in from of her for a moment. So much trust in his gaze… InuYasha you truly is a fool. She thought, emotionlessly.
“She may have my soul, that doesn’t mean that I know where she could be.”
As soon as those words escaped her mouth, the hanyou’s head dropped. Kikyo then glanced at the tensed young monk before adding. “However…” she said, trailing off.
“If you know something then tell us!” Sango finally interfered. She couldn’t take much more. Seeing the two of them gazing at each other like that was sickening. It was as if Inuyasha’s brain was switching off each time that the former guardian of the Shikon Jewel appeared. And she, well the undead miko wasn’t expressing anything but it fell like she was well aware of her power over the half-demon.
“Sango!” Interjected said hanyou at the hostility her heard in the voice of the woman.
The undead miko didn’t seem even perturbed and answered.
“I’m not sure that it concerns her, slayer, but some activities had been detected in the South.”
“Do you think that there is a chance that she could be there, Kikyo?” Asked InuYasha, receiving a death-glare from Sango.
“I don’t know. It could be.” Answered the undead miko, not showing any concern that she wasn’t feeling anyway.
“Would you come with us to help in finding Kagome?” said InuYasha, taking the cold hand of the undead miko in his warm clawed hands.
“InuYasha!” exclaimed the mortified demon slayer. What was the hanyou doing?! If Kagome was to learn that Kikyo had joined them while she was away, it would break her heart, worst than it already was.
“What Sango?!” snapped the half-demon while turning around to face the slayer. Couldn’t she realize that they needed her help? That the situation was desperate?!
“We don’t have a clue of where Kagome is. No lead at all. Kikyo is the only one who can help us to find her!”
Sango closed her mouth in a click, stunned by the force of Inuyasha’s outburst.
The hanyou sighed. “I know what you are thinking, Sango, but it’s our only chance.”
The demon slayer glanced towards Miroku to have his opinion. She didn’t like having to resort to the undead miko to find Kagome but she was desperate. The days where fleeing rapidly and they still had no lead… But Miroku’s eyes were fixed only on Kikyo.
With the young Monk looking at her with such intensity and his body tense like that, the undead miko thought that maybe he knew something and just refused to communicate it for the moment. She would have to keep an eye on him.
Miroku decided against answering the silent question of the demon slayer. He will have to keep watch. He was almost certain that the sudden appearance of the undead miko wasn’t just a coincidence. Did it have any link with Kagome‘s disappearance?...
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Two days later…
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It had been two days now since Kikyo had joined their group and they still had no new lead. The atmosphere in the group of companions had only worsened since her arrival. Sango was starting to become desperate that they will ever find the young miko, and it was really breaking her heart.
Depressed already, she had to stop herself from being submerged by her darkest thoughts about the whereabouts of their missing friend. “Is she even still alive?” If she was to let this disturbing thought enter her mind even for a second, she might just collapse.
She was losing hope rapidly and the two men of the group weren’t helping either.
Sango had tried to question Kikyo, trying to pry some information from her but the former guardian of the Jewel had just looked at her impassively every time or ignored her altogether. If the slayer was to insist too much, InuYasha was immediately interfering, snapping at her to leave Kikyo alone.
Watching them side by side was more and more sickening. The hanyou was covering her as if she could break…well technically she could but it wasn’t like she was made of fine porcelain neither! By her comportment, Sango had some doubts that finding Kagome was really top priority in her agenda. Then there were moments where she would suddenly leave to feed off of the souls of innocent deceased maidens. It was just too much for the slayer taste and nerves.
Then, on another side, there was Miroku. The young Monk had become even more silent than before, always observing Kikyo’s every move without even blinking.
Sango, for the umpteenth time, tried to initiate a conversation with the unusually quiet monk. She then told him about her fears.
“Miroku-sama, do you think that Kagome is alright?”
The young monk sighed and answered without looking at her, feeling the distress of the young woman. “I don’t know for sure but what I know is that Kagome-sama is stronger than anyone imagine. We have to have faith in her.”
“But Miroku-sama, from this group, Kagome-chan is the most fragile so if she has been in the hands of Naraku all along, I’m afraid to think that she may be…”
Miroku stopped and whirled around to face the demon slayer. “If it is to say stupid things like that then it is better for you to stay silent, Sango.”
The demon slayer gasped, shocked by the venom she heard for the first time in the voice of the young monk while he was talking to her.
“Miroku-sama…?” she asked timidly.
Miroku breathed deeply, trying to calm down. “Sango, you are supposed to be the person who is the closest to Kagome-sama but if you make the same mistake as others and think that she is weak and you don’t trust her capability then I’m really disappointed in you.”
With that said, he resumed his walk and observation of the undead miko, leaving the dumbfounded and slightly hurt demon slayer behind.
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It had been two hours since the little altercation between Sango and Miroku and the two friends hadn’t said anything since then. The tension was suffocating.
The young monk had tried to keep quiet but it was becoming too much to bear. Finally, Miroku had had enough. He stopped abruptly. The demon slayer who was walking by his side stopped too when she saw that he wasn’t following anymore.
“Miroku-sama?” She questioned, immediately gaining the attention of the two who were leading the way.
The hanyou turned around when the undead miko only looked above her shoulder. He had felt the tension, he wasn’t blind but he didn’t know what the problem was.
“Oi, Bozo, what’s the problem?!”
But the monk ignored him completely.
“Hey! I asked why did you stop!?!” InuYasha said more forcefully while walking towards Miroku to stand in front of him. However, the half-demon realized rapidly that his friend wasn’t paying any attention to him, which further frustrated and ticked off InuYasha. In a show of temper, he grabbed Miroku by the front of his robes, shaking him. “Oy! I’m talking to you!!”
But the young monk’s attention was only on one person.
“Where are you leading us?” He finally asked said person.
That’s when InuYasha realized that Miroku was fixing his gaze on the back of undead miko.
“To find a lead to Kagome’s captors of course!” Yelled an even more exasperated InuYasha, answering for her.
Sango looked confused as one more time, Miroku ignored the half-demon.
“Is it true?” He asked flatly, his violet gaze still locked on Kikyo’s back who finally turned around.
“What are you implying, monk?” She asked tonelessly.
“I think you know perfectly well what I’m asking.” He retorted calmly, his eyes hardening.
“Oy, bastard! Stop ignoring me!!” Yelled InuYasha, his body trembling in rage.
But Miroku used his staff to make the half-demon finally release his robe.
“What do you mean?” Spoke up the demon slayer, who was ignored as Miroku took a step towards the undead Miko. Kikyo stayed silent, observing.
“Don’t act as though you don’t understand what I’m asking.” He said, anger finally apparent in his tone.
“Miroku.” Growled InuYasha when stepping between his friend and the undead miko, taking a stand to protect her.
Miroku only glanced for a second at InuYasha before looking back at Kikyo.
“You and I know perfectly well that you have no advantage in finding Kagome-sama. The question is, is there something more behind it?”
Kikyo finally reacted, narrowing her cold eyes at the hard expression on the face of the usually jovial monk.
“Teme! What are you accusing Kikyo of?!!”
Miroku looked at the half-demon dead in the eyes who surprisingly had difficulties to not flinch under such a stare.
“What I’m saying, InuYasha, is that she has never had any inclination in saving Kagome-sama in the past, ever. Quite the opposite in fact. She would certainly prefer seeing her dead. What I’m implying is that she is obviously leading us further from Kagome-sama’s location. What I am asking is if she is doing that on her own behalf or for someone else.”
“Are you saying…?” Sango started to say.
“That she must be working with the one who had kidnapped Kagome-sama? Yes. And if you are asking if I think of Naraku, then the answer is also yes.”
“Bastard!!” Yelled InuYasha, moving to slash through the monk with his claws, who stopped the attack with his staff.
“How can you accuse Kikyo like that! She is working to destroy Naraku like us, not working for him! She came to help us and you express your gratitude by insulting her!!”
“Are you really so sure, InuYasha? Or is it your feelings for her talking?” Said Miroku so coldly that the hanyou froze.
Seeing that everything wasn’t going as planned, Kikyo reacted.
“I came to help you in finding my copy and that’s how you repay me?”
“See? She is here to help us!” exclaimed the half-demon.
“ I will ask a question of my own too, monk. What is your real relationship with my reincarnation?”
Miroku took a step back, surprised by the question. Then, as if realizing what she was trying to do, his eyes narrowed.
“You are implying…?”
She had to suppress a smirk when she opened her mouth anew. “Nothing. It’s just that I find that you are really worried and anxious to find just a friend.”
“What?!?” InuYasha yelled, whirling around to face the monk.
From the corner of his eyes, Miroku saw Sango looking at him in surprise but in curiosity too. Hurt more than he was ready to admit, the young monk schooled his features.
“If you want to believe her lies, then so be it. I have nothing more to do here.” Miroku said, turning his back from his companions and walking away.
“Where do you think you are going?!”
“To find Kagome-sama.” Simply answered the young monk, walking in the direction of the East.
Sango hesitated. She could not imagine anything going on between the monk and the young miko but at the same time, she had seen that their relationship had evolved in the last months. But until a second ago, she had never thought, even for an instant that something like that could have been happening between her two closest friends.
The slayer was stirred out of her thoughts when her faithful neko friend, Kirara, jumped out of her shoulder and followed after the monk.
“Kirara?”
The neko youkai looked at her mistress. She then turned towards the undead miko. She let a hiss before flicking her tails in her direction and trotted to the monk side who had stopped at the borders of the woods, without looking back.
The hurt was evident on the demon slayer face when she saw her neko mew at the young monk feet.
“By the way, you can do what you want with this information but I just wanted to add that I’m not the one who had my aura tainted by Naraku’s miasma so thoughtfully. You should keep that in mind.”
With that said, Miroku and Kirara disappeared in the woods.
Sango was frozen on the spot, unable to process what happened. She couldn’t believe that Miroku and her best friend since she was little had abandoned her.
“What do you mean by aura tainted by miasma? Miroku get back here and explain yourself!”
When the young monk didn’t reappear, InuYasha let out a growl. “Fine! We don’t need you anyways! You will see, I will find Kagome! Let’s go Kikyo.” He said, going back on the road they have been following until the monk’s interruption.
The demon slayer numbly followed after the hanyou and the undead miko. But after a few minutes, Sango stopped, still deep in thought.
“Sango?” Called out the half-demon.
“I’m sorry InuYasha, I… I will go with Miroku-sama and Kirara.” With that said, Sango turned around and ran towards where the two had disappeared. She was berating herself to have so easily doubted the young monk genuine concerns about their common friend and to have been fooled so easily by the undead miko’s words.
“Sango!” Yelled after the demon slayer the half-demon. He had been able to keep his strong front when the monk had left so abruptly but now even the demon slayer had left him. His heart twisted in angst as Sango’s form disappeared too in the woods. He was alone. He hadn’t been alone since his awakening, when Kagome arrived in his time. His ears dropped on his head and he had to resist the urge to whimper.
“InuYasha.” Said toneless the undead miko as she put one of her cold hands on his arm.
The hanyou looked down at her and sighed. Then, without saying anything, he started to walk.
Kikyo stayed behind a moment. She glared coldly towards the woods. It would be more difficult to control where those fools were going now. The only thing that stopped her from following was the fact that they had taken the direction of the East. It wasn’t the right direction and she knew that they won’t be able to track Kagome’s position without the help of the hanyou. She was aware that even InuYasha couldn’t find the cave where was imprisoned her reincarnation but Naraku couldn’t risk all his hard-work on this assumption and so here she was, making certain he wouldn‘t find it. She would have her soul back, at all costs.
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End of the chapter 18.
*phew* this chapter tired me! Well I hope that you liked!
Ja ne!
Sweetest angel
Hope everyone is fine! I apologize for my late update. This chapter almost killed me…literally! Lol It had been difficult but here is the result. I really hope that you will like… well, it took me two months so it better be good enough! >_<
As I warned you last time, if you didn’t hate Kikyo before then you will probably do now! I certainly do now! lol
Thanks to all of you guys, who had taken time to leave a review.
I thank deeply FRIZZ, my beta, for her hard work and god that I didn’t make it easy for her! You rock girl!
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Chapter 18 :
Troubles in paradise…
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Atop a hill, a dark castle stood over the dense and vast forest. The palace seemed deserted, without a living soul miles around. When you stepped inside those walls, an evil aura fell on you like a ton of bricks, so oppressing you found difficulties in even breathing. Those walls, when closely studied, were tainted with dark brown stains. If the rare visitors were curious enough to want to learn what those stains were, then they would discover that they were the blood of the previous and legitimate owner of said palace.
This was the latest castle acquired by the dark hanyou.
In the master bedroom, on a simple futon adorned with cushions, sat Naraku. The dark hanyou wasn’t wearing any clothes and was leaning back on the wall…but more importantly, he wasn’t alone. With a nod of his head, the woman who was with him, walked out on the balcony, wearing only a part of the sheets wrapped around her body.
Naraku then called out for Kanna. Almost instantly, the little white girl stepped in. The dark hanyou only half-heartily hid the lower part of his body to the impassible eyes of Kanna. The little girl didn’t even blink as her master, her father in a twisted way, exhibited himself freely in front of her. Her black eyes fixed an invisible point in front of her, her little fingers clenching her mirror as if her life depended of it. Kanna didn’t speak, didn’t move, waiting her orders.
The dark hanyou looked towards the white little girl. If he was to be honest, his first creation, without a soul, was one of the most useful of all his incarnations. She wasn’t really made to fight but her ability to spy everywhere without moving, if no barrier was present, had been a useful tool against his enemies. And what was the most important was that the fact that the girl hadn’t a soul, and so, hadn’t any urge for freedom. She would never betray him, she wouldn’t even have the idea to. If fact, Kanna would most assuredly be completely lost if no one was there to tell her what to do. It was at least, one less person to spy on to make sure that they were following his wishes.
“Show me that hanyou favorite of mine, Kanna.” Naraku said finally.
Kanna’s mirror lit up and in a flash, an image appeared. The calmed expression on Naraku’s face morphed in a snarl when he saw where Inuyasha and his group were at the moment.
With a flick of the hand, the dark hanyou dismissed the albino girl, who instantly disappeared back behind the rice paper screen that was the door of the bedroom. Naraku, was not happy and that was an understatement. He called out for the woman and reclined against the wall, waiting.
A moment later, the nude woman walked back in. She stepped closer to stand in front of Naraku but stayed on her guard. She knew the character of the hanyou and she didn’t particularly wish to be at the other hand of his anger.
“Kikyo.” Said the hanyou, gesturing for the woman in question to sit on the futon. Without any question, the undead miko complied and gazed coldly towards Naraku, waiting to know what he wanted to say.
Kikyo started to lose her patience when, after a few minutes, Naraku hadn’t said anything. The woman always felt uneasy in the presence of the hanyou, much like her shinigamis. The white snake-like youkai were frightened by Naraku and refused to come anywhere close to him. That’s why the undead Miko had to step out on the balcony to feed off souls. It was the closest the soul-collectors would come. At the same time, it was no wonder when, in their first meeting with the dark hanyou, he had snapped one in half and then absorbed it, in front of the others. It was clear that Naraku didn’t like the soul-collectors.
The undead miko started to fidget under the intense gaze of the hanyou. She always kept her cold composure in any situation but she couldn’t in front of Naraku. She couldn’t take it any longer.
“How your plan is going? Can I hope to receive my soul back soon?”
“Why, Kikyo, a little more straight to the point and I would think that you are impatient to see your reincarnation dead.” He said maliciously. “Have you no shame? To listen to you speaking that way, people would think that you have something against the girl. Do you hate her so much?”
The undead miko didn’t open her mouth and looked away, making the evil hanyou chuckled darkly.
“Don’t worry, I will honor my part of our pact and deliver her soul on a silver platter, however you will have to be a little more patient. The little Miko is more resistant than I thought and won’t break that easily. But she is still fun to play with. Her pain-filled screams are like music to my ears. But are you sure that you share the same soul? She is in every way your opposite. It had been so easy to make you lay down, legs spread.”
Kikyo snapped her head towards him, her eyes burning with her anger, her fear of Naraku all but forgotten at the instant.
“Look at what is coming out of your mouth, hanyou. Don’t ever compare me again to that useless piece of meat.”
Before she could react, Naraku’s hand was curled up around her throat, bringing her face nose to nose with him. Kikyo’s eyes wide in surprise and fright.
“You should be the one taking care of what comes out of your mouth, Kikyo. Don’t think of yourself as indispensable. I just keep you around because you amuse me, so don’t lose your worth. I can say whatever I want to anyone I want, keep that in mind or you could pay dearly. Personally, I can see some worth in this ‘piece of meat’ as you put it. She just needs some training to learn who is in charge and that no one will ever come to rescue her. Once done, I’m sure she will be delightful. But if you are so great then explain to me why InuYasha and his group are snooping around where they shouldn’t, hm?”
“A-are they close to f-finding her location?” She asked breathlessly.
Naraku relaxed his hold on her. “No, but they are in the right direction and I don’t like it. What will you do to straighten this situation?” He asked, one of his clawed fingers of his other hand trailing on her cheek.
“I will make them go back on the ‘right road’. It won’t be difficult to convince him that they are going of course.”
Naraku smirked, apparently pleased with her once more. “I knew that I was keeping you for a good reason. Now, what can I do to punish you for your earlier insubordination?”
Before she could answer, his mouth went crashing on hers. Without any resistance on her part, Naraku ripped off the sheets around her body and moved her to lay down on the futon with him…
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In the dark corridor, around the corner, a young boy observed. He didn’t know what was happening, but his master had been up to something for some time now. Whatever it was, it was something really big. So important that he wouldn’t let anyone in on the plan.
Kohaku hadn’t had the opportunity to get out from the castle for days. Naraku was planning something but he had no idea what. Since a few weeks ago when he charged him to kidnap some priests in the mountains, the evil hanyou hadn’t given him any instruction.
The young slayer observed as the albino creepy little girl, Kanna, stepped out of their master’s bedroom and stood still by the door, awaiting her next assignment apparently. The girl seemed to be the only one in the castle who knew what Naraku was plotting about this time. However, it was useless to try to pry information out of her. Kanna was blindly following Naraku’s orders and if the dark hanyou told her to keep it secret then nothing could be done to make the girl talk about it.
It wasn’t important for Kohaku anyways because he had no intention to speak with her. He couldn’t help it, the dark void of her eyes and impassible character was just too creepy for him. Still, he was curious to know what Naraku was up to this time.
“Did you see something interesting?” Came a sulfurous voice right behind him.
Kohaku jumped, feeling like if his heart was about to stop from the fright. He even had difficulties not letting out a startled scream. The young boy whirled around and came face to face with the piercing red eyes of the only other inhabitant of the castle who may hate Naraku more than him.
“I-I don’t know what you are talking about.” The young boy said shakily, avoiding eye-contact.
Kagura just chuckled. She too observed his elder sister, waiting for their master’s orders.
“I’m still curious to know what that bastard is plotting about.” She said suddenly.
Kohaku looked at the wind witch a moment. He knew that the woman would give anything to finally find the freedom that she so craved for. However, the boy still had difficulties trusting her…even a little. He was sure that it was the same for her.
“I don’t know what is happening but apparently, it’s something big.”
Kagura hummed. “Is he alone right now?”
Kohaku shook his head at which the wind witch huffed. “Let me guess, the whoring corpse is here?” Asked Kagura, her face twisted in disgust.
As if to answer her question, noises started to come from the bedroom. Moans and grunts became louder and echoed in the almost empty castle.
“That…that, it’s just too much for me, I need to get out.” Said the red eyed incarnation, fighting against her gag reflex. Just with the sounds… if she was just to think about what was happening at the moment in the bedroom, Kagura was sure that she would throw up. It was just too disgusting to stand, even for her. It wasn’t like it was a secret. Everyone with ears or nose at Naraku’s service knew about this ‘special relationship’ between the dark hanyou and the undead miko. In two seconds, the woman disappeared with a ruffle of silk.
Kohaku turned to glance one more time towards Kanna. It was evident what was happening in the bedroom, but the little white girl wasn’t moving or didn’t seem even disturbed by that.
The young slayer lingered a second before walking away as well…
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Somewhere at the northern lands’ border…
Inuyasha’s group…
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The sun was brightly shining high in Feudal Japan’s sky. The famous mismatched pack of InuYasha’s was walking silently in the woods towards a new direction. They already tried to find a trail or leads that could have indicate where their missing companion was imprisoned at and who had captured her after planning so meticulously her kidnapping but found nothing. Gone were the happy thatching and the cheerful unstressed atmosphere that was usually animating the group. The moral was at its lowest. They already had passed ten days since they had learned about Kagome’s disappearance and they had yet to find anything. A morose and heavy ambiance had found the traveling companions since they had lost the young Miko.
To everyone’s surprise, Miroku hadn’t insisted more that day in his interrogation of InuYasha and had yet to even mention it again. When the young monk had seen the way the hanyou was reacting, he knew that he wouldn’t obtain any answer from the stubborn half-demon. So, Miroku had let the matter slide for the time being. They had covered the East for a long moment, but, as they hadn’t found any lead, they decided to change direction…
to the North.
Sango was glancing between the Monk and the hanyou, as she had often done during the last few days. Miroku hadn’t said more than two words, and only if necessary, to InuYasha since the ‘incident’ happened.
She too had been angry with InuYasha for his lack of answer but the monk wasn’t usually one to keep a grudge for long. That was why the demon slayer was so worried. More so, Sango felt lonely. For the first time since she discovered that her village and her people had been destroyed, the woman felt like she was truly alone.
Sango too was worried sick about Kagome, but the way the monk was reacting… was unusual. The slayer thought that maybe Miroku knew something but when she had tried to talk about it, he had refused and avoided the subject. It was confirmation that Miroku effectively knew something but just refused to tell any of them for the moment. That was really something she didn’t understand.
For the umpteenth time today, Sango sighed, defeated. Why wouldn’t Miroku talk to her? He had even almost entirely stopped groping her. It wasn’t like she was missing it, but she could count on one hand the numbers of time he did it since Kagome’s kidnapping and in itself prove to be atypical for the young lecherous monk. He was definitively hiding something and wouldn’t even say it to her.
Miroku glanced towards the demon slayer beside him by the corner of his eyes when he heard her sigh again. The younger member of the troop, Shippo, was absent. They had entrusted him to Kaede back at the village by the old well during their last visit. It wasn’t that they didn’t want him with them anymore, but it was for his own good.
Shippo had fought them, saying that he wanted to find Kagome but they all knew that it was better for him to stay in the village with the old Miko.
The little kitsune had cried every night since the young miko’s kidnapping and was so tired that he was unable to defend himself properly or avoid being attacked during the fights, almost costing him his life. It was the old miko who convinced him, saying that he was exhausted and needed some rest and that if something was to happen to him while she wasn’t there to protect him, Kagome would be heart-broken. With the promise that he would be allowed to go with them after their next visit, the young boy had accepted.
They were walking for like hours, when, suddenly, InuYasha stopped and went rigid. Fearing the worst, his companions tensed up, waiting for an upending attack. After a moment of nothing happening, Sango spoke up.
“InuYasha? What is it?” she asked, scanning the woods around them, trying to find what was wrong.
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Naraku’s castle…
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It had been quiet for a moment so Kohaku, pushed by his curiosity, went back around the corner, waiting to see what was happening. Kanna had long left her post by the door, probably gone to do some task for their master.
Finally, just at the moment he was about to give up, the screen of Naraku’s bedroom door slid open. The young slayer hid, not wishing to be caught spying. The undead Miko walked out, her posture always as proud as ever, even after what had just occurred between her and the dark hanyou.
She was almost out of sight when her head suddenly snapped towards the wall that Kohaku was hiding behind, and glared coldly. When she finally left, the young slayer released the breath he wasn’t even aware of holding.
Kohaku was still puzzled and had yet to discover anything that could explain what was going on. The only thing he was certain was that the undead Miko was part of the plot….
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Back in the forest…
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Sango was observing the half-demon, not understanding the reason of his sudden stop. She turned to Miroku and saw that he was staring intensely the woods ahead of them. She turned just in time to see a pale figure breaking thought the dense foliage.
“Kikyo…” InuYasha whispered almost reverently.
“InuYasha.” Said the undead Miko in question tonelessly.
The two of them stayed without moving, observing each other silently and forgetting even the presence of the others.
Kikyo had been trailing the group for two hours already, waiting for the right moment to make her appearance. She had to play it wisely; she didn’t have the right to mess it up. Her orders were still fresh in her mind…
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A few hours ago,
In Naraku’s bedroom…
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Slowly with a grace only attained by doing it all her life, Kikyo got back into her Miko garb. She could feel the eyes of the dark hanyou upon her form.
“I have a question for you, Kikyo.” Started Naraku. He waited until she was facing him before starting again.
“You understand what must be done about our little dog-eared friend, right?”
The undead Miko nodded. “I must make sure to distract him and that he and his rag-tag group doesn’t go to the North.” She said lifelessly.
“Good. Don’t let yourself be distracted from your objective. If they were to find the little troublesome miko’s hiding place now, everything would fall through and you can forget the idea of getting your soul back. We wouldn’t want that, right?”
“No.” She said more firmly as she was tying her hair in her traditional loose pony tail.
“Then you won’t have any problems with carrying out your orders?” He asked, playing distractedly with the sheets.
“I will definitely make them change their road. It won’t be a problem at all.”
“That’s good to hear. It is pointless for me to tell you that you wouldn’t like the consequence if you were to fail, isn’t it?”
Kikyo glared coldly at the relaxed form of the dark hanyou who was looking at her, a smirk upon his lips. She really despised him. But at the same time, she couldn’t stop herself from being drawn to his darkness. It was calling to her even now. It was like a drug. Plus, she needed him now if she wanted to get her soul back. She had tried but was unable to get it back by her own powers. She had no choice.
“You don’t have to threaten me, Naraku, I know what I must do for our plan to succeed.”
Without anymore words, Kikyo turned around and walked towards the screen.
“Kikyo.” The dark hanyou called back. “I have faith in your capabilities so don’t disappoint me. In the meanwhile, I have a little Miko that I’m sure craves for my presence.” With a wave and some of his dark purple miasma, a puppet appeared in the palm of his hand. Then, the dark hanyou pulled out a hair from his head and put it around the wooden puppet.
The undead Miko didn’t stop and walked out of the bedroom. She had seen him do it numerously so by just the shift of his aura, she knew what he was doing without looking back.
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Back in the woods,
With InuYasha and his group…
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When Kikyo had stepped out of the forest, she had seen the face of the demon slayer twisting in disgust. It wasn’t new and frankly, the feeling was mutual. If she had the choice, she wouldn’t be there either. But to the success of months of planning, it was a small price that the undead miko was ready to pay.
No, what really intrigued her was the reaction of the monk. However, she didn’t have much time to think about it when the young hanyou walked to her.
“Why did you seek me? Did something happen? Are you alright?” InuYasha said almost tenderly while stepping closer to the undead Miko.
Sango glared at the hanyou’s back. Really sometimes she really can’t stand him. How could he act so gently and carefully around the walking corpse of his old lover and be so abrupt and unfeeling when around a woman who had done and would do anything for him like Kagome? It was beyond her imagination! From the corner of her eyes, the demon slayer saw Miroku’s hand griping more forcefully his staff. Surely to contain his anger, much like herself with the straps of her faithful Hiraikotsu.
Kikyo had to resist the urge to smile at how easily it was for her to manipulate the young foolish hanyou.
Really, Kagome never stood a chance against her, not one snowball chance in Hell. Her eyes then swept upon Inuyasha’s companions. It was clear as day that they disliked and distrusted her. Well, they aren’t as stupid as they seemed to be and the feeling was mutual. She was still surprised by the hostility that the young monk was portraying though. In the past, he had always been so courteous and smiling, always trying the smooth things between everyone but now… now there he was wearing an unreadable expression on his face… the anger was evident, bordering on hate, if what she could read of his aura was accurate. What did brought out this change? Could he have some inkling? Kikyo thought uneasy but not alarmed. She would just have to keep an eye on things.
Finally, she impassively gazed back at the love-sick puppy.
“Where is my copy, InuYasha?” She asked tonelessly as if she had just noticed the absence of the other woman.
At her inquiry, Inuyasha’s ears dropped immediately on his head, his worry evident. The undead miko was sure that if it was still possible for her, she would be fighting the urge to throw up. However, she succeeded in hiding her disgust while pretending interest when the hanyou answered about the whereabouts of the girl.
“She was kidnapped days ago.” He said, his head low in shame. Then, his head snapped up, hope and trust shinning in his golden eyes. “Did you hear something? Or maybe have you an idea of where she could be?”
Kikyo observed the seemly submissive half-demon in from of her for a moment. So much trust in his gaze… InuYasha you truly is a fool. She thought, emotionlessly.
“She may have my soul, that doesn’t mean that I know where she could be.”
As soon as those words escaped her mouth, the hanyou’s head dropped. Kikyo then glanced at the tensed young monk before adding. “However…” she said, trailing off.
“If you know something then tell us!” Sango finally interfered. She couldn’t take much more. Seeing the two of them gazing at each other like that was sickening. It was as if Inuyasha’s brain was switching off each time that the former guardian of the Shikon Jewel appeared. And she, well the undead miko wasn’t expressing anything but it fell like she was well aware of her power over the half-demon.
“Sango!” Interjected said hanyou at the hostility her heard in the voice of the woman.
The undead miko didn’t seem even perturbed and answered.
“I’m not sure that it concerns her, slayer, but some activities had been detected in the South.”
“Do you think that there is a chance that she could be there, Kikyo?” Asked InuYasha, receiving a death-glare from Sango.
“I don’t know. It could be.” Answered the undead miko, not showing any concern that she wasn’t feeling anyway.
“Would you come with us to help in finding Kagome?” said InuYasha, taking the cold hand of the undead miko in his warm clawed hands.
“InuYasha!” exclaimed the mortified demon slayer. What was the hanyou doing?! If Kagome was to learn that Kikyo had joined them while she was away, it would break her heart, worst than it already was.
“What Sango?!” snapped the half-demon while turning around to face the slayer. Couldn’t she realize that they needed her help? That the situation was desperate?!
“We don’t have a clue of where Kagome is. No lead at all. Kikyo is the only one who can help us to find her!”
Sango closed her mouth in a click, stunned by the force of Inuyasha’s outburst.
The hanyou sighed. “I know what you are thinking, Sango, but it’s our only chance.”
The demon slayer glanced towards Miroku to have his opinion. She didn’t like having to resort to the undead miko to find Kagome but she was desperate. The days where fleeing rapidly and they still had no lead… But Miroku’s eyes were fixed only on Kikyo.
With the young Monk looking at her with such intensity and his body tense like that, the undead miko thought that maybe he knew something and just refused to communicate it for the moment. She would have to keep an eye on him.
Miroku decided against answering the silent question of the demon slayer. He will have to keep watch. He was almost certain that the sudden appearance of the undead miko wasn’t just a coincidence. Did it have any link with Kagome‘s disappearance?...
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Two days later…
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It had been two days now since Kikyo had joined their group and they still had no new lead. The atmosphere in the group of companions had only worsened since her arrival. Sango was starting to become desperate that they will ever find the young miko, and it was really breaking her heart.
Depressed already, she had to stop herself from being submerged by her darkest thoughts about the whereabouts of their missing friend. “Is she even still alive?” If she was to let this disturbing thought enter her mind even for a second, she might just collapse.
She was losing hope rapidly and the two men of the group weren’t helping either.
Sango had tried to question Kikyo, trying to pry some information from her but the former guardian of the Jewel had just looked at her impassively every time or ignored her altogether. If the slayer was to insist too much, InuYasha was immediately interfering, snapping at her to leave Kikyo alone.
Watching them side by side was more and more sickening. The hanyou was covering her as if she could break…well technically she could but it wasn’t like she was made of fine porcelain neither! By her comportment, Sango had some doubts that finding Kagome was really top priority in her agenda. Then there were moments where she would suddenly leave to feed off of the souls of innocent deceased maidens. It was just too much for the slayer taste and nerves.
Then, on another side, there was Miroku. The young Monk had become even more silent than before, always observing Kikyo’s every move without even blinking.
Sango, for the umpteenth time, tried to initiate a conversation with the unusually quiet monk. She then told him about her fears.
“Miroku-sama, do you think that Kagome is alright?”
The young monk sighed and answered without looking at her, feeling the distress of the young woman. “I don’t know for sure but what I know is that Kagome-sama is stronger than anyone imagine. We have to have faith in her.”
“But Miroku-sama, from this group, Kagome-chan is the most fragile so if she has been in the hands of Naraku all along, I’m afraid to think that she may be…”
Miroku stopped and whirled around to face the demon slayer. “If it is to say stupid things like that then it is better for you to stay silent, Sango.”
The demon slayer gasped, shocked by the venom she heard for the first time in the voice of the young monk while he was talking to her.
“Miroku-sama…?” she asked timidly.
Miroku breathed deeply, trying to calm down. “Sango, you are supposed to be the person who is the closest to Kagome-sama but if you make the same mistake as others and think that she is weak and you don’t trust her capability then I’m really disappointed in you.”
With that said, he resumed his walk and observation of the undead miko, leaving the dumbfounded and slightly hurt demon slayer behind.
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It had been two hours since the little altercation between Sango and Miroku and the two friends hadn’t said anything since then. The tension was suffocating.
The young monk had tried to keep quiet but it was becoming too much to bear. Finally, Miroku had had enough. He stopped abruptly. The demon slayer who was walking by his side stopped too when she saw that he wasn’t following anymore.
“Miroku-sama?” She questioned, immediately gaining the attention of the two who were leading the way.
The hanyou turned around when the undead miko only looked above her shoulder. He had felt the tension, he wasn’t blind but he didn’t know what the problem was.
“Oi, Bozo, what’s the problem?!”
But the monk ignored him completely.
“Hey! I asked why did you stop!?!” InuYasha said more forcefully while walking towards Miroku to stand in front of him. However, the half-demon realized rapidly that his friend wasn’t paying any attention to him, which further frustrated and ticked off InuYasha. In a show of temper, he grabbed Miroku by the front of his robes, shaking him. “Oy! I’m talking to you!!”
But the young monk’s attention was only on one person.
“Where are you leading us?” He finally asked said person.
That’s when InuYasha realized that Miroku was fixing his gaze on the back of undead miko.
“To find a lead to Kagome’s captors of course!” Yelled an even more exasperated InuYasha, answering for her.
Sango looked confused as one more time, Miroku ignored the half-demon.
“Is it true?” He asked flatly, his violet gaze still locked on Kikyo’s back who finally turned around.
“What are you implying, monk?” She asked tonelessly.
“I think you know perfectly well what I’m asking.” He retorted calmly, his eyes hardening.
“Oy, bastard! Stop ignoring me!!” Yelled InuYasha, his body trembling in rage.
But Miroku used his staff to make the half-demon finally release his robe.
“What do you mean?” Spoke up the demon slayer, who was ignored as Miroku took a step towards the undead Miko. Kikyo stayed silent, observing.
“Don’t act as though you don’t understand what I’m asking.” He said, anger finally apparent in his tone.
“Miroku.” Growled InuYasha when stepping between his friend and the undead miko, taking a stand to protect her.
Miroku only glanced for a second at InuYasha before looking back at Kikyo.
“You and I know perfectly well that you have no advantage in finding Kagome-sama. The question is, is there something more behind it?”
Kikyo finally reacted, narrowing her cold eyes at the hard expression on the face of the usually jovial monk.
“Teme! What are you accusing Kikyo of?!!”
Miroku looked at the half-demon dead in the eyes who surprisingly had difficulties to not flinch under such a stare.
“What I’m saying, InuYasha, is that she has never had any inclination in saving Kagome-sama in the past, ever. Quite the opposite in fact. She would certainly prefer seeing her dead. What I’m implying is that she is obviously leading us further from Kagome-sama’s location. What I am asking is if she is doing that on her own behalf or for someone else.”
“Are you saying…?” Sango started to say.
“That she must be working with the one who had kidnapped Kagome-sama? Yes. And if you are asking if I think of Naraku, then the answer is also yes.”
“Bastard!!” Yelled InuYasha, moving to slash through the monk with his claws, who stopped the attack with his staff.
“How can you accuse Kikyo like that! She is working to destroy Naraku like us, not working for him! She came to help us and you express your gratitude by insulting her!!”
“Are you really so sure, InuYasha? Or is it your feelings for her talking?” Said Miroku so coldly that the hanyou froze.
Seeing that everything wasn’t going as planned, Kikyo reacted.
“I came to help you in finding my copy and that’s how you repay me?”
“See? She is here to help us!” exclaimed the half-demon.
“ I will ask a question of my own too, monk. What is your real relationship with my reincarnation?”
Miroku took a step back, surprised by the question. Then, as if realizing what she was trying to do, his eyes narrowed.
“You are implying…?”
She had to suppress a smirk when she opened her mouth anew. “Nothing. It’s just that I find that you are really worried and anxious to find just a friend.”
“What?!?” InuYasha yelled, whirling around to face the monk.
From the corner of his eyes, Miroku saw Sango looking at him in surprise but in curiosity too. Hurt more than he was ready to admit, the young monk schooled his features.
“If you want to believe her lies, then so be it. I have nothing more to do here.” Miroku said, turning his back from his companions and walking away.
“Where do you think you are going?!”
“To find Kagome-sama.” Simply answered the young monk, walking in the direction of the East.
Sango hesitated. She could not imagine anything going on between the monk and the young miko but at the same time, she had seen that their relationship had evolved in the last months. But until a second ago, she had never thought, even for an instant that something like that could have been happening between her two closest friends.
The slayer was stirred out of her thoughts when her faithful neko friend, Kirara, jumped out of her shoulder and followed after the monk.
“Kirara?”
The neko youkai looked at her mistress. She then turned towards the undead miko. She let a hiss before flicking her tails in her direction and trotted to the monk side who had stopped at the borders of the woods, without looking back.
The hurt was evident on the demon slayer face when she saw her neko mew at the young monk feet.
“By the way, you can do what you want with this information but I just wanted to add that I’m not the one who had my aura tainted by Naraku’s miasma so thoughtfully. You should keep that in mind.”
With that said, Miroku and Kirara disappeared in the woods.
Sango was frozen on the spot, unable to process what happened. She couldn’t believe that Miroku and her best friend since she was little had abandoned her.
“What do you mean by aura tainted by miasma? Miroku get back here and explain yourself!”
When the young monk didn’t reappear, InuYasha let out a growl. “Fine! We don’t need you anyways! You will see, I will find Kagome! Let’s go Kikyo.” He said, going back on the road they have been following until the monk’s interruption.
The demon slayer numbly followed after the hanyou and the undead miko. But after a few minutes, Sango stopped, still deep in thought.
“Sango?” Called out the half-demon.
“I’m sorry InuYasha, I… I will go with Miroku-sama and Kirara.” With that said, Sango turned around and ran towards where the two had disappeared. She was berating herself to have so easily doubted the young monk genuine concerns about their common friend and to have been fooled so easily by the undead miko’s words.
“Sango!” Yelled after the demon slayer the half-demon. He had been able to keep his strong front when the monk had left so abruptly but now even the demon slayer had left him. His heart twisted in angst as Sango’s form disappeared too in the woods. He was alone. He hadn’t been alone since his awakening, when Kagome arrived in his time. His ears dropped on his head and he had to resist the urge to whimper.
“InuYasha.” Said toneless the undead miko as she put one of her cold hands on his arm.
The hanyou looked down at her and sighed. Then, without saying anything, he started to walk.
Kikyo stayed behind a moment. She glared coldly towards the woods. It would be more difficult to control where those fools were going now. The only thing that stopped her from following was the fact that they had taken the direction of the East. It wasn’t the right direction and she knew that they won’t be able to track Kagome’s position without the help of the hanyou. She was aware that even InuYasha couldn’t find the cave where was imprisoned her reincarnation but Naraku couldn’t risk all his hard-work on this assumption and so here she was, making certain he wouldn‘t find it. She would have her soul back, at all costs.
….
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End of the chapter 18.
*phew* this chapter tired me! Well I hope that you liked!
Ja ne!
Sweetest angel