Friendly Persuasion
Trading Graves
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“Let me get this straight,” Miroku began, “your brother was
killed, and you were being hunted down, so you assumed his identity and told
everyone that you had died rather than he?”
“That is correct, Lord Miroku.” Leota answered, feeling very much like she had just committed a
murder and was being put to trial where the outcome was guaranteed to be life
in prison.
“And how long have you lived on in your brother’s likenessp>
p>
“Five years.”
Miroku quirked an eyebrow, “But you told Lady Kagome that you
had been dead for six years.”
“It shall be six years this upcoming month.”
direction. She had kept her eyes and
head down during this entire interrogation, feeling she was not worthy enough
to look them in the eye.
Kaede spoke, “I wish to know more about this ‘Changeling’
spell that you used.”
“And might I ask what you wish to know of it?”
“Everything.”
Leota took a deep breath and sighed, “The ‘Changeling’ spell allows
the user to take the appearance and some of the abilities of a premeditated
target. An example is that my brother
was a healer, and could heal others with a finger. This is contrary to my own healing, which I may only do to
myself. While I was in his likeness, I
had the ability to heal not only myself, but others as well.”
Everyone was very interested in this spell, for the like had
never been heard of in the Feudal Era, “So you could take the likeness of
anyone here?”
“Yes.”
“Show us.” Inu-Yasha
challenged.
Leota nodded, still not raising her eyes, “Whose likeness do
you wish me to assume? Mind you that I
can only look like people I have already seen.
I don’t need to see anything more than their face, but it helps to have
seen them as a whole.”
“So if your person had scars that you had never before seen,
when you took their identity, the scars would be present?”
“Yes, and I would be yelling at that person for not telling
me about scars I had to see in the mirror rather than on the original.”
“All right, then I would like to see you take the appearance
of Sango-san.”
At this Leota did raise her eyes, “So have you said, so shall
it be.”
Leota immediately lowered her eyes, not seeing the look of
surprise from Kaede, or the confused look of Inu-Yasha and Sango.
look of mischief in the eyes of Miroku.
“Will you be needing anything for this spell?”
Hiraikotsu.
“Just something to write with, please.”
Kaede gave Leota a piece of charcoal.
on her upper right arm: ïð.
“That’s it?” Inu-Yasha asked, “That’s all it takes for a
person to become someone else?”
“Shinkirou, Sango!”
Leota exclaimed, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood as a dark blue
aura began to surround her.
every beat of her heart. After a minute
or two the light disappeared, leaving another Sango where Leota had just been
kneeling. She looked up at all present
with her brown eyes, her expression unreadable.
“Uh...” This was
Shippo, whom was very confused. He
looked from one Sango to the other.
“I can only see one thing wrong with this spell,” Kaede said,
“one could spy on another whilst acting as a trusted friend.”
All eyes turned to the second Sango.
“You are correct, one could do that, except that there
is one word one must think that few know of, and it is because I know this
third word that I can be me and not become the person fully.
the original’s clone. This word
protects me and all those around me so that if one actually knew either myself
or the person I was imitating, they would know I were a fraud.”
“And just what is this safe word?”
“I cannot tell you unless you are properly trained in the
management of this spell.”
“I see, well,” Miroku began, an odd light dancing in his
eyes, “now for the test.”
“Test?” Sango and her
look alike asked.
“Yes, test. Lady
Leota, if you would kindly turn around and pull down your kimono, we shall see
if this spell is as accurate as you claimed.”
Leota quirked an eyebrow, “Pardon?”
The real Sango was glaring daggers at Miroku.
rendering him stunned for a few minutes.
Then Sango turned her glare to Inu-Yasha.
To rescue him from Sango’s evil glare, Leota spoke,
“Inu-Yasha, I claim not t thy thy superior in any way, but if Kagome is so
upset about my true identity and demands an explanation, why is she not here to
hear my explanation? After all, she is
the reason I’m even having to show all of this. Why do you not try to find and console her?”
By no means an idiot, Inu-Yasha recognized a rescue when he heard
one, and he stiffly nodded his thanks as he got up and left with a huff.
Kaede smiled and nodded at Leota, who stood, turned, and
pulled down her kimono to expose her back.
Only to reveal a scar identical to the one Sango’s brother
Kohaku had given her.
A/N: by the way…
*Shinkirou= mirage