Dark Curse

A/N: Tsubaki is summoned by Naraku to drive a wedge between Inuyasha and Kagome. She concocts a spell to poison Kagome’s mind and make the young woman despise the man that she loves.

Deep in the heart of the Northern lands in the furthest recesses of the Okanami Forest sat a hut. This was the home of Tsubaki, the legendary dark priestess. Kagura, Naraku’s servant glided down towards Tsubaki’s hut as it came into view. She crept up to the door and was about to knock when the door was suddenly flung open. Kagura jumped back and flicked out her fan to defend herself. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“My name is Kagura and my master Naraku ordered me to summon you. You are the dark priestess Tsubaki are you not?”

“I am, why do you wish to know?”

“Naraku wishes for you to help him with something.”

“Such as?”

“Placing a curse on an enemy of his.”

“And why would I want to help this Naraku?”

“Do you still hold a grudge against the priestess Kikyo?” She watched as Tsubaki’s blue green eyes narrowed hatefully.

“What do you know about Kiky

“I know that she is your sworn enemy and that you would give anything to finish what you began over half a century ago.”

“And what does my agreeing to help Naraku have to do with me exacting my revenge on Kikyo?”

“Naraku can help you get your revenge on Kikyo.” Tsubaki smiled deviously at the thought of repaying Kikyo for what she had done to her all those years ago.

“Very well, take me to this Naraku.” Kagura plucked her feather from her head and tossed it into the air. It transformed immediately and she gestured for Tsubaki to climb up onto it. They arrived at Naraku’s dark fortress that was surrounded by a thick nearly impenetrable cloud of toxic miasma. Tsubaki covered her mouth with the sleeve of her black priestess robes. “Naraku surrounds himself with a very thick cloud of miasma.”

Kagura nodded as they descended towards the ominous looking castle. She led Tsubaki into the castle and straight to Naraku’s chambers. “Are you the dark priestess they call Tsubaki?”

“That depends, do you plan on helping me to finish that worthless wretch Kioff?off?” Naraku smiled a sinister grin as he beckoned for Tsubaki to come closer.

“I can help you kill the priestess Kikyo, but I have a favor to ask.”

“What favor is that?”

“That you place one of your dark curses on the girl known as Kagome.”

“Why is this Kagome girl so important?”

“She is rumored to be Kikyo’s reincarnation.” Tsubaki’s blue green eyes widened.

“Kikyo’s soul reincarnated?”

“That’s right, the girl possesses Kikyo’s strong purifying powers.”

“What kind of curse did you have in mind?” Naraku grinned devilishly.

“Well since Kagome is Kikyo’s reincarnation she has followed in Kikyo’s footsteps.”

“How so?”

“By falling in love with the half deknowknown as Inuyasha.”

“Yes I remember Kikyo having feelings for the half demon.”

“So perhaps it would be rather entertaining to watch Inuyasha suffer through his worst nightmare.”

“Which would be?”

“The woman he loves trying to kill him just as Kikyo did over fifty years ago.”

“You’re certain that the hanyou is in love with this Kagome girl?”

“Yes he loves her, there’s no question about that. So will you help me Tsub”

“I will, in exchange for Kikyo’s life.”

“That can be arranged.” Tsubaki immediately summoned forth her serpent like demon and sent it to collect some of Kagome’s blood. Naraku grinned maliciously as he watched the serpent slither in Kagome’s direction.

Hundreds of miles away in a clearing the group was setting up camp for the night. Kagome had just gotten back and had decided to take a bath in the nearby hot spring. She quickly undressed and eased her aching body into the warm bubbling water. Kagome rested against a smooth flat boulder that was partially submerged underneath the swirling water. She was so caught up in thinking about all the make up work that she had to do in order to get caught up in school that she failed to detect the presence of Tsubaki’s serpent.

It slithered into the hot spring and swam toward Kagome. The serpent opened it’s mouth and sank it’s sharp fangs into Kagome’s ankle. Kagome yelped in pain and then looked around to see what had bitten her. Seeing nothing she shrugged and decided to finish her bath. Kagome climbed out of the water and wrapped a towel around her wet naked body quickly. She scooped up her clothes and was about to head back to camp when she felt light headed.

Kagome’s vision went blurry and she fell forward onto the cool earth beneath her, her clothes being scattered a couple of inches from her. Inuyasha sensed that something wasn’t quite right and he hurried to the hot spring. He found his precious Kagome sprawled out on the ground by the hot spring. “Kagome!” He rushed to her side and scooped her up. “Kagome? Answer me!” He gently shook her and her blue gray eyes fluttered open.

“Inu....Yasha? What happened?”

“I found you lying by the hot springs. What happened Kagome?”

“I was bathing and something bit me but I didn’t see what it was. Then I fainted when I got out of the water.” Inuyasha’s amber eyes scanned the visible areas of Kagome’s exposed flesh. He stopped whensaw saw two small puncture like wounds on her right ankle. It looked as if she had been bitten by something but he didn’t know what.

“Do you feel okay Kagome?”

“Yes I feel fine now.” He took his outer kimono off and wrapped it around Kagome’s small body.

“Let’s get you back to camp.” She nodded and allowed him to carry her. Inuyasha sat Kagome down on her sleepbag bag and then crouched down next to her.

“Inuyasha, you don’t have to baby sit me you know.”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay.” She blushed at his concern for her.

Back at Naraku’s castle Tsubaki’s serpent had finally returned. Tsubaki held out her arm for the long white serpent to wrap itself around it. “ I trust you collected the girl’s blood?”

The serpent opened it’s mouth and Tsubaki grinned when she saw the deep crimson of Kagome’s blood as it formed into tiny beads at the end of the serpent’s fangs. “Very good. May I have the sacred jewel now Naraku?”

“With pleasure Tsubaki.” He placed the nearly complete jewel into Tsubaki’s palm. The dark priestess gently placed the jewel into a small box and commanded the serpent to release Kagome’s blood onto the jewel. Naraku watched with a malicious grin on his face as the jewel turned from it’s normal pale pink to a dark black as Kagome’s blood trickled onto it.

Tsubaki chanted a few words and then the jewel began to cast an eerie glow. Back in their small make shift camp Kagome had curled up close to Inuyasha’s side and fallen asleep. She was suddenly jerked awake as her entire body pulsed. Inuyasha watched her like a hawk. “What was that? Inuyasha, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” Suddenly the container of jewel fragments was lifted from Kagome’s bag and it drifted over to where she sat.

“What the hell? My jewel shards!” The small glass bottle burst into tiny pieces and the jewel shards turned solid black. They were drawn into Kagome’s body quickly causing her to fall back. Inuyasha grabbed her around her waist and pulled her back up.

“Kagome!”

“Inuyasha, what’s happening?”

“I don’t know Kagome, but don’t worry I’ll protect you.” Kagome began to feel like all the energy was being sucked right out of her body as she lay there in Inuyasha’s arms. She could feel the beads of sweat beginning to form on her already nearly naked body.

Suddenly her body pulsed again and she heard a strange voice echo in her mind. “KILL HIM!”

“Who?”

“KILL HIM!”

“Kill who?”

“KILL INUYASHA NOW KAGOME!”

“No I can’t!” Tsubaki frowned at Kagome’s reluctance to submit.

“Defiant little wretch! Why won’t you obey me?”

Naraku spoke up. “I warn you Tsubaki, Kagome is not easy to control. She has a strong mind just as Kikyo did.”

“Damn that strong willed wretch Kikyo!” Kagome thrashed about in Inuyasha’s arms until he finally released her. Sango and Miroku cautiously approached them.

“Inuyasha, what is wrong with Kagome?”

“I don’t know Sango, she said that something bit her down at the hot spring and she’s been acting strange ever since.”

“Sango and I did feel a demonic aura earlier, perhaps it is what attacked Kagome?” Inuyasha shrugged.

“Get Kagome to Kaede’s while Miroku and I search for the source of the evil aura.”

“Right.” He watched as Sango and Miroku climbed onto Kirara’s back and headed towards the demonic aura. Inuyasha scooped up Kagome and her things and took off for Kaede’s.

A pale blue barrier surrounded Naraku’s fortress and could be seen from miles away as Tsubaki’s curse began to take root in Kagome’s heart. A short distance away Kikyo saw the strange aura emanating from the east of her. “A barrier? What could cause such a huge barrier to be formed?” The undead miko slung her bow and satchel of arrows over her right shoulder as she turned and headed towards the evil aura. To the west the barrier could be seen as plain as day and on the mountain marking the outskirts of his territory Sesshomaru looked at it curiously.

“What could form such an enormous barrier? Could it be Naraku?” The demon lord took to the skies and headed towards the ominous looking barrier. He had to know what the wretched half demon Naraku was up to. Ever since Sesshomaru had been in a sense double crossed by the black hearted hanyou he was incredibly suspicious of everything around him. Inuyasha watched Kagome as he sat by the door in Kaede’s hut. She was pale and sweating and had begun thrashing on the futon that she laid on.

It looked as if Kagome were fighting a battle inside herself and it didn’t look as if she would be able to hold out much longer. “I wish Sango and Miroku would hurry up because Kagome’s getting worse!” Kaede nodded her head and remained silent as the two of them kept watch over the young woman.