Fair Trade

Disclaimer: *sighs* I love my shoe…
Deal

She walked slowly and casually through the barrier and made her way through the thickly brushed path until she reached the cold stone steps that would lead her up and into darkness. She paused before she began to ascend the steps, and looked up to her destination. She lifted her hand to her chest and felt the unnatural cold of her skin. ‘It will always be cold and dark…’ A twinge of sadness griped her, but not for long. She will get what she wants. That is why she decided to come.

(flashback)

The soul carriers flew about her, around and up and down carrying spirits of women to keep her alive. They had no purpose now, they were just being held until Kikyou might have use for them. After all, a spirit can be broken even after death. And to stay among the living, she wouldn’t want that to happen, would she?

She laid her eyes on what lye ahead of her; a beautiful lake, shimmering in the moon light. ‘But not only the moon light makes the water sparkle as jewels do,’ she mused. ‘My soul carriers add to the beauty.’ She smiled at this as she saw the soft glow of the soul carrier’s dance across the unsettled water, casting bright and soft illuminations to be reflected back out to the world.

The wind shifted suddenly and unnaturally, changing its course and speed towards where Kikyou sat. The tree’s around her groaned from the unexpected embrace, and the water chased after the wind in hope of being able to leap higher than the soft breeze allowed it earlier. She kept her gaze over the lake as wisps of her hair danced in front of her, and her kimono rustled lightly. Kikyou herself could not actually enjoy the feeling of a breeze, or a gust of wind, for that matter, but now is not the time to ponder over her current predicament. She had company.

“What a lovely view, Kikyou.” Kagura held her gaze on the undead miko’s back, never blinking.

“What business do you have here? I wish to enjoy my evening in peace, and that means without you or your kin.” Kikyou answered her bitterly, knowing well that Kagura was merely taunting her for being unable to enjoy what she and other living beings could.

“Enjoy? I did not know you were capable of such a thing. You, not even owning half of your own soul, can feel hatred, pain, anger and sorrow. Not happiness, not joy, I’m not even sure you can be content,” she laughed slightly at her last statement. “But I did not come here to remind you of your pathetic state. Naraku requests your attendance…immediately.”

Kikyou listened patiently while Kagura spoke, noting Kagura’s sarcasm. ‘And now Naraku ‘requests’ me…he never could do anything for his self.’

Kagura knew she had the miko’s attention, and continued.

“You are to be there tomorrow, no later than tomorrow night. It is of greatest importance,” she said the last sentence in over exaggerated sarcasm, implying that everything he does is of “great importance…” 'Yeah right.'

Kikyou realized Kagura had yet to say what exactly it was he wanted of her, and decided to have a little fun with the Wind Witch. Kikyou knew of Kagura’s desperate want of freedom, and that Kagura wasn’t told anything about Naraku’s plan because she always tried to foil it.

“Tell me, Kagura, so I may have better judgment as to what I should do, what is it exactly that Naraku wants of me? He must have told you, knowing it would be difficult in persuading me to simply following through with his every whim. But of course, not only to help in persuading me, but also to keep you informed since you are so highly regarded.” With this said, she turned to give a cruel smile and watched her eyes narrow as she quickly pulled out her fan and covered half of her face, revealing from the bridge of her nose and up.

“Be there tomorrow, miko, and don’t be late. As usual, you know there is something in it for you.” She spat the words out at Kikyou, pleasing her at the anger the wind witch displayed, and watched as she pulled her feather out of her hair and disappeared without a second glance.

(end flashback)

Kikyou sighed before decisively ascending the steps. If he offered anything promising, she would not be wasting her time after all, if he didn’t offer anything promising…well, she might do it out of spite and sheer boredom.

Not before long she reached the darkened stone archway leading to the interior of the castle. She stopped just outside the entrance and looked into the black ahead of her. A small breeze disturbed her kimono in a way that seemed to urge her to enter. She obliged, and when she passed through the door, torches lit up the long tunnels that would lead her to wherever it was Naraku awaited.

It did not take long to arrive in his chamber, which was good because the sound of her footsteps echoing in the emptiness was about to drive her mad.

Naraku was seated in a chair, comparable to a throne, at the opposite end of the room Kikyou had entered at. The torches continued in an even spaced line around the circular room, with two on either side of where he sat. The chamber was void of any kind of decoration, just Naraku’s look. A red carpet accented the orange yellow glow of the fires as they flicked against the black stones, creating a cozy look, if you were into death and despair anyway.

“Kikyou, I have been expecting you.” His voice broke through the still cold of the air making it colder and even less inviting

‘I’m sure you have,’ she thought with disgust. No need to speak, he would begin on his own. The arrogance in his voice made it quite clear that whatever he had up his sleeve was going to work, and there was no way that she could refuse him.

He watched her for a moment. ‘So beautiful for being dead,’ he mused. ‘I’ll have to thank the old witch that brought her back. I could not destroy Inuyasha without her being so full of hate.’

“Perfect,” he said, more to himself than to her, so it was just barely audible. His finger tips came together in front of his smile as he thought about how to introduce the plan to her.

“Tell me, Kikyou, exactly how do you feel about Kagome and Inuyasha? What would like to do about that reincarnation of yours?”

* * * * * *

He stood on one of his many balconies, following the direction in which unnatural wind blew to make sure it was not going to return. Satisfied that it was gone, for tonight at least, he turned and walked back into his bed chamber then made his way to the library.

He tossed the letter recently received on a desk before making his way to some old scrolls and various writings on the fangs his father left behind for his sons. Even after understanding that the Tetsusaiga kept his brother’s youkai blood in control, it was still a shame it went to a hanyou, and that he received a sword that gave life…the Tensaiga.

*knock*

He turned from his thoughts to the door and tried to pick up the scent of whoever it was…

“Come in, Rin.”

The door opened just a crack as Rin peeked in before throwing the door open and grinning at him.

“I wanted to say good night before sleep.” She stood in the middle of the doorway, still smiling at him.

Sesshoumaru sat patiently and studied the girl.

“Goodnight, Sesshoumaru!!” With that she turned and shut the door behind her. Her footsteps could be heard growing fainter as she ran excitedly down the halls to her room. ‘So simple,’ he mused.

He collected all of his reading materials and placed them back on their shelves. Finally satisfied that everything was where it was supposed to be, he began to take his leave, when he remembered the ‘letter’ he was given earlier. He walked to the desk he had tossed it onto, picked it up and walked back to his chambers.

After pondering over what he would like to do next, he slipped off the top part of his kimono then walked into his bathing room. It was a large indoor spring, with a special kind of moss to pad the sides and a miniature waterfall at one end. The spring was always hot, and steam rose just inches off of the water before disappearing into the air. He walked around the pool to a desk of many small drawers where he picked out the scent of his preference, along with whatever bathing material he fancied at the moment, and slipped off the rest of his clothing before entering the spring.

This was probably his second or third favorite room to be in through out the whole castle. It was a toss up between his training room, bed room, and here. No, wait…there was the library, too, if you consider the amount of time spent it one room favoritism. After getting comfortable, he poured in the scented contents into the spring and within seconds the relaxing smell of jasmine made its way into the air with the steam. Thank Kami the smell would not cling to him after he left, for he always found the scent, though relaxing, some what comforting in a feminine way. Why or how it came to be is beyond him, and these questions often plagued his thoughts.

He let his mind settle before reaching over to the letter setting on a stone next to him. The last thing he would need is to be distracted by the origin of the scent, other than the bathing room, while trying to decide on what to do with the letter in question. He held it for a minute before opening it, disgusted it was even created with the intent of being in his presence.

(flashback)

Sesshoumaru was out on his grounds surveying the lands when he caught the scent of her. ‘Why,’ he thought,’ would she be coming here? Does she have a death wish? I’d gladly grant it.’ He felt the hot tingle of his poison in his fingertips. He did not wish to use it yet, so it just resided under his nails, pricking him with anticipation.

Before Kagura could even dismount her feather she was greeted by a clearly annoyed, though desirable, voice.

“Would it please you to die tonight by my hand? Or do you simply like to flirt with death?”

She placed her feather back among her locks of hair and looked up to meet the Demon Lord’s threatening gaze. ‘Is death your new name, Lord?’ She smiled inwardly to herself, ‘If only you knew…’ He always appeared powerful, his threats were even slightly seductive, but the fact that her life was in constant danger around him never let her get comfortable enough in pursuing the idea of him as a partner.

“I did not come here by choice. Naraku has sent me-“

“So he wants me to kill you as well? It is a fool’s mission to come here, especially after what he has done,” he gave a disturbing smirk that suggested he would have no problem killing either of them.

Kagura’s stomach flipped just enough to make her hesitation noticeable for him. ‘Definitely not good, as if he didn’t have the upper hand at the start, he would definitely have it, and be aware of it, now,’ she mentally scolded herself. That hesitation was all Sesshoumaru needed, and with swiftness even the wind could not outrun he had her pinned on her back against the ground. He was crouching next to her, hand tight around her throat as her face flushed from the lack of air…and something else.

“Excited, Kagura?” He was teasing her, feeding off of her humiliation. His expression was wicked, and this made her blush furiously, out of anger and humiliation. Her eyes narrowed and she let a low growl escape as she reached up and clawed at his hand to release her.

Anger quickly replaced any emotion previous, and in a matter of seconds Kagura was dangling in the air with all but Sesshoumaru’s hand around her throat to keep her there.

“That was not wise, you pathetic excuse for a demon,” he tossed her away like a rag doll and watched as she quickly stood up and removed a scroll from her sash. “You should have felt honored that I would get even that close to you, let alone touch you. This Sesshoumaru will not forget what you have done.”

Kagura dropped the scroll where she stood and removed her feather once again for means of transportation. Sesshoumaru walked over to collect the scroll and turned back to his castle, where he headed for a balcony to make sure she was gone.

(end flashback)

‘Why didn’t I kill her?’

He stared into the water fall as though it would tell him everything that could be known, all the secrets of the world. He watched as the water fell through the gaps of rock at the top and pummel down to the pool with smooth splashes, all with grace. Unwillingly, he turned his attention from the beautiful cascade of crystal to the letter again, feeling even more annoyed.


Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands~

This letter is brought to order with intent to be read by the Lord and Ruler of this country’s Western Lands, Sesshoumaru, son of former Lord and Ruler of this country’s Western Lands, as a proposal and agreement in acceptance of apologies for past insults or wrong doings considered, by this humble author, Naraku. Thus, your presence is requested within this author’s house at the specified date of the day which would be seven from this day the letter received. Upon this specified day , the gift of your previous father’s second fang, namely the Tetsaiga, is promised to be within the Lord and Ruler of the Western Land’s hands. To deny this letters intent is to reject this author’s purpose and pose insult upon this author’s house, as well as open possible future hostilities upon this letters intent’s lands.

This Humble Author Naraku

He tossed the letter back onto the rock as he contemplated its contents. Naturally, he knew Naraku was doing something for his own interests, and was giving this gift to him merely as left-overs, but the promise of the Tetsaiga was tempting.

The letter itself was insulting and pathetic in its attempt to make Sesshoumaru believe he would receive something worth value. Sesshoumaru would not be fooled that easily, but as the plans looked so far, though this “gift” of his would be raped of all it’s value save obtaining the Tetsaiga, it would still help him get what he wanted. Payback for Naraku’s insolence would inevitably come later. With a sigh, he decided he would go, 7 days from now to see if he would waste time or not. ‘If not, being rid of Naraku and that damned Kagura will be easy to accomplish; if so, I will have to remain patient.’


* * * * * *