Dark Curse
Naraku Summons Shiki Kami
Chapter 8: Naraku Summons Shiki Kami
A/N: Naraku summons Tsubaki’s serpent demon Shiki Kami and tries to revive the curse that had been placed on Kagome. Will he succeed? Hope you enjoy the newest chapter! I still do not own Inuyasha, duh!
Inside Naraku’s fortress the evil half demon was planning the next step of his devious plot.ura ura knelt before her lord in the dark throne room. “You sent for me Naraku?”
“Yes Kagura, I have a job for you.”
“And that would be?”
“To take control of Tsubaki’s serpent Shiki Kami.”
“How shall I do that Naraku?”
“Simple. I’ve already placed the serpent under my control. Now all you have to do is unleash Shiki Kami on Inuyasha and Kagome.”
“What do you wish for me to have Shiki Kami do to them?”
“Make Inuyasha suffer of course.”
“How so?”
“By killing the woman he loves. Order Shiki Kami to kill Kagome.”
“As you wish Naraku.” Kagura immediately took Shiki Kami and headed out in search of Inuyasha.
Kagome fought the urge to keep herself from vomiting as she caught the smell of fish that was coming from a large barrel that belonged to the village fisherman. They were walking through the village market to gather food for dinner. She placed a hand on her stomach and began rubbing small circles across it to soothe her upset stomach. Miroku watched Kagome warily from the corner of his eye. Something was not right with the young woman but he didn’t know what it was.
Kagome was pale and had not eaten much since mid afternoon the previous day. He quickly lunged forward and caught Kagome as she stumbled. “Kagome, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you Miroku.”
“No Kagome, I think something is wrong with you. Why don’t you let me take you back to Kaede’s?”
“Okay.” Miroku scooped Kagome up into his arms and carried her back to Kaede’s hut. He laid Kagome down on her sleeping bag and knelt down beside her.
“Kagome you’re very pale and you haven’t hardly eaten anything.”
“I have been feeling quite ill since after lunchtime yesterday.” Kaede entered the hut to finrokuroku hovering over Kagome.
“Is something wrong Miroku?”
“Yes Kaede, it’s Kagome, she’s feeling ill. She’s pale and dizzy and feeling sick to her stomach.” Kaede knelt down beside Miroku and placed her hand on Kagome’s forehead.
“Have ye been feeling tired Kagome?”
“Yes, no matter how much sleep I get I’m exhausted.” Kaede held out her other hand and placed it gently on Kagome’s stomach.
“Ye are pregnant Kagome, that is why ye feel so strange.”
“I’m pregnant? But when....how?”
“Well ye and Inuyasha have mated have ye not?”
“Yes.”
“When was the last time ye laid with Inuyasha?”
“A little over a week.”
“Aye child, ye are with child then.”
“But that can’t be, Inuyasha and I cannot have a child right now! It’s too dangerous!”
“I’m very sorry Kagome, but Inuyasha’s child has already begrowgrowing inside ye.” Kagome got to her feet and walked to the door.
“Please excuse me, I need to be alone for a little while.” Miroku and Kaede nodded as Kagome walked out of the hut. Kagome walked until she came to the Goshinboku tree and sat underneath it. This was where she and Inuyasha had conceived their child. Inuyasha had been out roaming the forest in search of wild game for dinner when he picked up Kagome’s scent.
He followed it to where she sat beneath the Goshinboku tree. “Kagome?” Inuyasha frowned when he smelled her salty tears. “Why are you crying Kagome?”
“Oh Inuyasha.....I didn’t hear you walk up.” He sat down next to his mate.
“Who upset you koi?”
“No one.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Inuyasha, you know my scent don’t you?”
“Of course I do, why?”
“Then you can smell when it changes?”
“Yes. Kagome, what’s going on?”
“Smell me and tell me if you notice anything different.”
“Okay.” Inuyasha leaned in and breathed in his mate’s scent. His amber eyes widened when he caught the scent of their unborn pup. “Kagome, you’re pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Wdid did you find out?”
“Today. Are you angry?”
“No, of course not! I just have to protect you even better now.”
“How?”
“You’re going to stay with Sesshomaru. Naraku won’t think to look for you there.”
“Are you sure Sesshomaru won’t care?”
“He’ll keep you safe Kagome.”
“Okay, if that’s what you think is best then let’s go now.” Inuyasha scooped Kagome up and headed in the direction of his brother’s territory.
Kagura arrived at Kaede’s hut with Shiki Kami draped over her shoulders loosely. “Alright Shiki Kami, kill Kagome!” The serpent bared it’s razor sharp fangs and let out a low hiss. It unwound itself from Kagura’s body and slithered quickly into Kaede’s hut as the wind sorceress watched from outside.
Shiki Kami was quickly sensed by Miroku as it entered the hut. He jumped to his feet and grabbed his staff. “Sango! Kaede! It’s Tsubaki’s serpent Shiki Kami!” Sango grabbed her hiraikotsu and ran over to where Miroku stood.
“What is Shiki Kami doing here if Tsubaki is dead?”
“Naraku must be behind this Sango. Who else would send another to do their dirty work?”
“You’re right.” Kagura smiled as the monk and demon exterminator chased Shiki Kami out of the hut. Miroku stopped short when he saw the wind sorceress.
“What in Kami’s name are you doing here Kagura?”
“Not happy to see me monk?”
“Not in the least you witch!”
“Don’t worry, I’m not here for you. Where is Kagome?”
“What do you want with Kagome?”
“I have been given orders to kill the girl and Shiki Kami is to carry out those orders!”
“You won’t lay a hand on Kagome you witch!”
“Fine, then I guess I shall just have to kill you and your demon exterminator companion as well.” Both Miroku and Sango took their battle stances as they prepared to fight against Kagura.
Across Inuy’s F’s Forest Inuyasha had nearly made it to his brother’s territory. Kagome rested her head against Inuyasha’s chest as they sprinted across the cool ground beneath them. Inuyasha allowed a brief smile to grace his normally gruff features as Sesshomaru’s large white stone palace came into view. He picked up speed and approached the castle estate quickly. Inha rha ran up to the front gates and scaled them using only one arm since he was holding Kagome with the other. He scurried across the courtyard and came up to the large front door.
Banging on it frantically he waited impatiently for someone to answer. A servant answered the door and stared at Inuyasha questioningly. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I need to speak with Sesshomaru.”
“And you are?”
“I’m his brother now let me in you idiot!” The servant immediately stepped aside to allow the hanyou to come inside. Inuyasha carried Kagome into the sitting room and laid her on the sofa.
“Why have you come here little brother?”
“I need your help.”
“With what?”
“Protecting Kagome.”
“Is she in danger?”
“No but she will be if I don’t keep her away from Naraku.”
“Why have you brought her here?”
“Sesshomaru, Kagome is pregnant and she needs to stay hidden.”
“She’s pregnant? Is the child yours?”
“Of course the child is mine!”
“Kagome is unmarked and pregnant, how disgraceful.”
“You’re wrong Sesshomaru, Kagome is marked, she’s my mate.”
“Well at least you’ve done the honorable thing and made the woman your mate.”
“Kagome was my mate before she got pregnant. I made her my mate because I love her.”
“So you wish for me to protect your pregnant mate then?”
“Please Sesshomaru? Keep her safe, please don’t let anything happen to her?”
“Of course I’ll keep her safe, she’s family now. I would not allow her to be put in harm’s way. Besides she’s pregnant and I would never allow an innocent child to be harmed.”
“Thank you Sesshomaru.”
“Indeed. Are you staying?”
“No. I’ve got to make the others believe that Kagome went back home to her time.”
“Well do not worry about Kagome, she will be fine.”
“Thank you again Sesshomaru.”
“Yes.” Inuyasha quickly left before Kagome had the chance to wake up from the nap that she had been lulled into during their journey to Sesshomaru’s palace. He felt awful about leaving his mate behind but it was for her own protection and he knew she would understand.
Sesshomaru carefully scooped Kagome up off the sofa and carried her upstairs. Kikyo wastingting for him at the top of the staircase. Her eyes narrowed upon seeing Kagome in Sesshomaru’s arms. “What is she doing here?”
“Inuyasha has asked me to keep Kagome safe.”
“Why is that your responsibility?”
“Because Naraku is trying to kill Kagome.”
“So? Let Inuyasha handle it.”
“It’s not that simple anymore Kikyo.”
“Why? What’s changed?”
“Kagome’s relationship to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Inuyasha has made Kagome his mate so that makes her my family.” He noticed the fleeting flicker of sadness that flashed in Kikyo’s brown eyes momentarily.
“So Inuyasha has made Kagome his wife? That cannot be the only reason he has brought her here. There’s something you’re not telling me Sesshomaru.”
“Kagome is pregnant and that is why Inuyasha brought her here.” Kikyo’s eyes watered and she turned her back to the demon lord quickly.
“Please excuse me Sesshomaru, I’m feeling quite ill all of a sudden. I’m going to retire to my chambers.” Sesshomaru watched as Kikyo ran down the hall to her chambers. She slammed the door loudly the sound echoing off the stone walls of the palace.
‘Damn her for being so hung up on Inuyasha still! Why can’t she just let him go and open her heart to me?’ Sesshomaru carried Kagome into the room on the left of his own chambers. He placed her gently onto the large wrought irour pur poster bed. Kagome stirred but did not open her eyes.
She murmured something so softly that Sesshomaru would not have heard had his hearing not been as keen as it was. “Inu....Yasha.” Sesshomaru could not stop the smile that crept onto his face.
“You must truly love my brother if you think about him even as you sleep.” Pulling the thick burgundy blanket up over the young woman’s body he turned to leave. Her voice stopped him before he could leave the room.
“Sesshomaru?” The demon lord turned back around to face his brother’s mate.
“Yes Kagome?”
“Where is Inuyasha?”
“He left to make the other’s believe that you went back home to your time.”
“So he left me here alone?” Sesshomaru noticed the fear that laced her voice.
“Kagome, do not worry, you’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Outside the door Kikyo listened to Sesshomaru’s kind words of reassurance to her reincarnation. She narrowed her brown eyes hatefully and clenched her fists.
Kikyo then crept back to her chambers before she was found eavesdropping. “That little wench! Why did Inuyasha have to bring her here for Sesshomaru to keep safe? She ruins everything! First she steals Inuyasha from me and now she will make Sesshomaru forget about me as well! Well that won’t happen! I’ll make sure that Kagome is out of the picture permanently!” Kikyo smiled maliciously as she began pondering how she could get rid of her reincarnation but still make it look like it was an accident. Perhaps she could make Naraku aware of Kagome’s whereabouts and he would dispose of the annoying little wretch for her.