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The Miko and the Daiyoukai
Chapter Four: Secret Plans
Fingers clutched around the yellow strap of Kagome's bag, so tight that the knuckles were beginning to turn white. Sango felt her heart in her stomach as she and Miroku rode on Kiara's back, following Inuyasha's lead. She had the feeling ever since they found Kagome's bag in a clearing only a short distance away from Kaede's village, four days ago. Sango felt Miroku place his hand on top of hers, rubbing the skin there gently to give her comfort. She took a deep breath to calm her frazzled nerves, but it didn't help.
Kagome had been kidnapped and Sango felt like she couldn't get to her fast enough. She couldn't shake the feeling that they wouldn't make it in time. She couldn't shake the feeling that Kagome would get hurt – if she wasn't hurt already.
And Sango was so afraid.
She was jostled out of her thoughts when she felt Kiara lowering to the ground towards an unmoving Inuyasha and Kikyou. Miroku helped her off of Kiara, Kagome's bag still gripped tightly in her hand. Her brown eyes took in the scene before her; Inuyasha was frozen with a petrified expression on his face and Kikyou stood behind him, the only hint of emotion being showed were the clenched hands at her sides and Sango felt her heart plummet to her feet. Brown eyes met violet, each reflecting a fear of their own.
"Sango, I'm scared…" Sango looked to the fox kit that was perched on top of Kiara still and bit her lip.
"I am too, Shippou." The small youkai jumped in her arms and buried his face in her shoulder and Sango held him tightly. She gave Miroku a pleading look and he nodded his understanding.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, his voice quiet but he knew Inuyasha could still hear him. The white haired hanyou didn't move as he answered, his bangs covering his eyes as he spoke.
"It's Kagome's – Kagome's blood…"
Sango felt like a dagger went through her heart. No, no, no, no. The mantra continued in her mind as slowly fell to her knees. She couldn't lose Kagome, not to death. Kagome was like a sister to her, besides Kohaku, Kagome was her only family left. If Kagome went back to her time, at least she was safe and alive, but death was something Sango couldn't take. Kagome didn't deserve to die.
She took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
Kagome was a fighter. This didn't mean that Kagome was dead. Sango wouldn't believe she was dead until there was no evidence of her being alive. With a determined set to her jaw, Sango stood, still holding the shaking kit. She glanced down at the small fox youkai that looked at Kagome as a mother and her determination set itself further into her heart.
She would make sure they found Kagome, no matter what it took.
Kagome's scent was fading until he got a whiff of her blood.
To say Inuyasha was scared would be an understatement, but once that fear set in his heart, something pushed it down. Hard. A pressure in his mind tightened until he was on his knees, clutching his head and gasping. But the fear was still there, lingering on the edges of his mind and heart. What if Kagome was severely hurt or dying? The fear grew and so did the pressure.
"Inuyasha!"
He didn't know who called his name or who helped him sit up, but the pressure faded and he opened his eyes to see Kikyou's brown gaze.
"Do not feat for my reincarnation, Inuyasha…" She spoke in low tones, low enough for only him to hear. "Fearing for her will not defeat Naraku." Inuyasha felt himself nod, but he still couldn't shake the fear that took root in his being. Something was wrong. The pressure was back full course and he groaned again, letting his head fall forward on her shoulder. "Inuyasha, do not fight it. It's for your own sake."
The white ears on top of his head twitched at the sound of her voice so close to them. He heard her, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what she was talking about. Did she know about the constant pressure in his mind? He lifted his head and rested his amber gaze on her. How could she know about that? Inuyasha opened his mouth to voice his question but the pressure was back, harsher than before. He squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. What was he supposed to ask her? He shook his head and stood, helping her to her feet as well.
"We have to keep looking for her."
Inuyasha looked towards Sango, who was standing with a shaking Shippou in her arms.
"Look for who?" Three pairs of eyes widened in shock.
"Kagome! We have to look for Kagome, the person we've been looking for, for the past four days!" Sango whispered harshly. Inuyasha's eyes widened and the smell of Kagome and blood filtered into his nose. His head gave a sharp pain and he winced.
"Right… right, l-let's go." Inuyasha took off before any of them, knowing that they would follow. He was confused. Every single time Kagome was brought up and he felt some emotion other than distaste or hate, it was like something tried to suppress it. But… why would he hate Kagome? He had no reason to.
Then the pain was back, so harsh that he had to stop mid run and depend on the support of a nearby tree to keep him up. The pain lasted for what seemed like an eternity and when it finally passed, he opened his eyes and stared ahead of him as he gathered his thoughts.
They were looking for that wench, Kagome.
Inuyasha's lips curled into an angry snarl.
The body had been dead for a little over a day, but somehow, the soul still lingered there, holding on to the earth by sheer willpower. It was fascinating… What could possibly make this youkai hover in the plane after life and before death, holding on to a life that was already over? Naraku, covered in his baboon pelt, studied the decapitated body lying in front of him. He could feel the hateful aura, though it was extremely faint, surrounding the body and smiled.
"Kanna, do you feel that?" He looked down at his first incarnation's expressionless face. The white haired girl stared at the body and nodded.
"Yes. What do you plan on doing with it?" Naraku grinned and looked back to the dead body, stepping forward purposefully.
"Perhaps he will make a good addition to our little family?" He squatted down and picked up the head by the short brown hair and walked over the body. "With all of this hate in his heart, he might be a worthy addition." Using only a minute amount of his miasma, he secured the head back to the body, leaving a crude mark where it had once been detached. Naraku then looked expectantly upon his incarnation and she stepped forward and drew the soul that still lingered into her mirror, before expelling it back into the body.
Black eyes opened and met red.
"I want revenge." The revived youkai spoke lowly, his voice determined and full of malice.
Naraku smiled. "Against who, my friend?" Yuro sat up and looked around, a low snarl emitting from his chest.
"Lord Sesshomaru and the miko bitch who has denied me," Black eyes met red once again and Naraku's smile grew wider. He had an idea of who the miko could be and getting those two out of the picture would ensure his victory against Inuyasha and his band of heroes.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" Yuro's eyes narrowed.
"Why would you help me? Why have you put my soul back into my body?"
Naraku stood. "You see, my friend, the Western Lord has been a pain in my side for a long time... And as for the miko, if we speak of the same one," his smile became feral, "I wouldn't mind giving her to you to do with as you please," Naraku then held his hand out to the youkai, "If you agree to help me kill the Lord, I will give you the miko and power that will make lesser demons tremble at the mention of your name…"
Yuro eyed the hand in front of him skeptically. "What is this power that you speak of?" The interested that coated his words made Naraku laugh inwardly.
"Join me and you shall see."
Yuro's clawed hand grasped Naraku's and the hanyou smiled. Not only did he get another jewel shard, but he obtained something even better.
Someone he can manipulate into doing his bidding.
He chuckled. What a good day it is.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Sesshomaru-sama!"
The inu lord inwardly rolled his eyes when the annoying voice of his retainer reached his ears, even before the imp burst through the door to his study. He returned to his ancestral home not even a full day with the miko before there was small uproar in his home.
Caused mostly by the imp barreling into his study presently.
"What do you want, Jaken?" His lips titled downward, showing his displeasure as he glared over the small mountain of paperwork on his desk. The ugly youkai pressed his forehead into the floor beneath him and spoke entirely too fast for the inu to understand. "Jaken, I do not know what you are saying." The imp took a deep breath and rose.
"Sesshomaru-sama! The human wench that you've brought here has awakened and she's screaming and purifying the staff!" The imp planted his face back into the floor. "I am so sorry, Sesshomaru-sama! I am deserving of any punishment you give this Jaken!"
So the miko has finally woke from her sleep? Sesshomaru rose from his seat and walked out of the study toward the guest wing of his home. He still couldn't figure out why he brought the ningen here. After he killed the youkai that held the onna captive, he gathered the miko into his arms and was shocked when she began to cry her heart out into his haori. She cried until she fell fast asleep against his tear covered chest. He recalled looking down at her and considering leaving her there for his hanyou brother to find, but something inside of him negated the thought, driving him to bring the miko back to his palace.
Sesshomaru didn't want to think about what that something could be.
Jasmine and vanilla crisp with rage reached his nose as he approached the room she was staying in, just as the sound of her screaming reached his ears.
"I swear I'll purify the next son of a bitch to walk into this room into dust! Try me if you want to!"
A finely arched brow rose at her choice of words as he rounded the corner and came upon her room. There were three youkai servants standing in front of her, terrified expressions of their faces and their backs against the wall. Her reiki was dangerously high, Sesshomaru felt it pushing against his youki in defiance, and he even felt it against his skin. Ice cold and dangerous for someone such as himself. Then his gaze fell upon the one causing this havoc. The miko was definitely raging. Her brow was furrowed, her lips were set in a tight line and her eyes were bright with her anger. Her hair were mused, spilling over her shoulder in wild curls and falling down her back while her face flushed with her rage.
The onna was definitely a sight to behold.
"Miko." Those bright blue eyes turned to him, and for a moment she seemed to calm before her anger flared back to life.
She turned her body fully to him, her sleeping gown tied loosely around her small waist. "You! Where the hell am I?"
"You will watch your tone when speaking to this Sesshomaru, ningen."
"I will do no such thing! Not until you tell where I am and how I got here!"
Sesshomaru refrained from growling at the girl and turned towards the staff that were still cowering in fear. He almost rolled his eyes at their behavior. He had to get braver youkai in this place.
"Leave us." They immediately scattered away, but he knew that they would still be listening. Sesshomaru let his gaze land back on the angry onna who was frowning up at him. "You are in the Western Palace, my ancestral home. I have brought you here." Momentarily, Sesshomaru wondered who this small, human woman thought she was. She screamed and glared at him as if he couldn't kill her faster than she could blink. But, this wasn't new for her, was it? This wasn't the first time she ran towards the danger instead of away. Does she not realize that he is the danger?
He heard her sigh and he brought his attention back to her. "I have questions to ask you, will you answer them?" She was calmer when she spoke now, but her reiki was still undulating in an aggravated manner.
He turned away from her. "I shall answer your questions when you are properly dressed. Meet me in the gardens and do not keep this Sesshomaru waiting longer than necessary." Sesshomaru could feel her glare heating up the back of his head and almost smiled in amusement.
Kagome was practically growling in her frustration.
Looking for a daiyoukai in a garden that was almost as big as Tokyo was hard. Almost impossible, actually. She sighed and sat in the grass, promptly giving up. She leaned back and stared up at the clear, summer's sky, feeling the breeze as it caressed her face and played with her hair, taking the frustration out of her on its way. As her thoughts wandered, Kagome's mind reluctantly remembered Yuro and it sent a chill down her spine. The most haunting memory she had of the youkai was his eyes.
Those deep, soulless eyes…
Those few days spent with Yuro were the worst days she's ever spent in the Feudal Era, she was filled with so much terror. The backs of her eyes stung with her coming tears and she took a deep breath to calm herself. The scariest part of it all was when Yuro threatened to mate with her. She knew what it was, to mate with a youkai… She just always thought that she would mate with Inuyasha, but it's been a while since she thought like that. Another breeze played with her hair before she felt a familiar youki coming closer to her. She turned her head and met the golden eyes of the Lord of the West.
"Miko, I told you not to have this Sesshomaru waiting." His face was expressionless, as always, but she could see the hint of anger in his eyes and she wasn't scared. Maybe she finally lost it? If she wasn't scared of the daiyoukai standing in front of her, then maybe she lost her mind.
"I couldn't find you, so I waited for you to find me." Kagome turned her gaze back up to the sky.
"Could you have not simply sensed this Sesshomaru's demonic aura?" He asked with an arched brow. Kagome chuckled nervously.
"Um… I don't really know how to sense demonic auras from a distance… They have to close by for me to feel them…"
"How close would that be?" His tone was indifferent and it successfully made Kagome more nervous than she already was.
"Probably no more than a few feet…" She refused to look at him. He already thought she was weak because she was human. The sound of rustling silk drew her eyes to him on their own accord and she watched as he settled himself on the ground beside her.
"You have no training as a priestess, then?"
Kagome huffed and looked away from him. "No, I don't." She glanced at him, "But I'm the one who's supposed to be asking the questions here."
"Hn."
Taking his response as a yes, Kagome resumed her sky gazing position. "Why did you save me, Sesshomaru-sama?"
There was a pause. A long pause that had her questioning if he was even going to answer her, because she knew he heard her. Without moving from her position, she turned her head towards him once again and found him staring at something behind her.
"You were saved because this Sesshomaru protects his lands."
Kagome's eyes widened and she looked into the gardens ahead of her. "We were in the West?" They crossed the country in only a few days? It didn't even feel like they traveled a few miles, that was how often she had to fight Yuro off. It seemed like every few minutes he was attacking her, trying to force himself on her. She shivered though there was no chill in the air.
"Yes, ningen." Kagome felt his cold gaze on her.
"Why did you bring me here?" Another pause, longer than the last. This time, Kagome waited.
"It would have been dishonorable to leave you there in the state you were in." Kagome nodded. So she was brought here because of his honor as Lord.
"I would be able to leave then?" She asked. She knew the daiyoukai beside her wanted her gone sooner rather than later, with her being human and all and she felt no reason not to give him that. Besides, she had no purpose here in this time any longer with Kikyou filling her position and all.
"This Sesshomaru will not hold you here if you feel as though you are in well enough condition to leave. However, will you travel alone and get yourself killed? If so, then you have wasted my time."
Kagome's head snapped towards him and her eyes narrowed. "You think that helping someone is a waste of time? I didn't ask you to save me!"
An elegant brow rose and he met her heated gaze. "You would've defeated the youkai on your own then?" Kagome's face flushed and she looked away from him. Silence befell them as Kagome lost herself in her thoughts. Unfortunately, the inu had a point. If she did leave here, she would have to go to Edo by herself and she doubted she could travel for that long without getting attacked. She could fight off a few youkai, but it would be more than a few attacking her and she knew it. Her mind shifted to the memory of Kiara defending her against Yuro. If only she could harness her powers! Kagome doubted she was as strong as Kikyou, but if she knew how to control her powers, she wouldn't have to depend on others to rescue her like she was some type of damsel in distress.
A thought crossed her mind and she risked a glance at the inu Lord. "Sesshomaru-sama… Do you…" Kagome hesitated, her eyes still trained on the scenery in front her instead of the demon beside her, "Do you think you could… train me? Teach me how to defend myself?"
"No."
Kagome tightened her hands into fists and fixed a glare on the stoic youkai. "And why not? You said it would be a waste of time if I got myself killed. If you teach me how to fight then it won't be!"
"I do not have the patience to teach you how to fight, miko," A breeze came a toyed with his long, silver hair and Kagome found herself watching the long tresses and they rode the wind, "And there is a chance that I will kill you."
Kagome sighed, "I do not want to have something like… that happen to me again… I don't want to depend on others any longer…" I don't want to be useless… or helpless…
There was a long silence before Sesshomaru spoke again, "Rin is coming this way." Just as he said the words, the little girl came running into view. A bright smile was on her face and she had a fistful of flowers in her hand.
"Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan!" Kagome sat up and positioned herself to rest on her knees as Rin grew close. The little girl threw herself at the miko and Kagome laughed as she returned the embrace.
"Hello, Rin-chan. I've missed you." Rin pulled out of her embrace and beamed up at her.
"This Rin has missed you too! Will you play with me?" Kagome returned her smile and glanced at Sesshomaru. He was watching them with casual indifference on his face. He met her gaze and nodded.
"We will continue this conversation at a later time, miko." Kagome pursed her lips and nodded once before allowing herself to be dragged away by an excited Rin.
Sesshomaru watched as his ward pulled the miko away and ran through the garden, looking for more flowers.
The miko wanted to be trained in the art of battle? He could smell the determination in her scent and feel it in her aura when she expressed this desire. It was an interesting thought, yet he was honest in his answer, he couldn't teach her how to fight because she was too fragile and he, too impatient. But, perhaps he could find someone to help her hone her reiki? In their short conversation, her reiki spiked more than a few times, pushing against his youki. Challenging him and she wasn't even aware of it. Sesshomaru wondered briefly how his brother managed to travel with the miko without getting purified by pure accident.
She was an interesting human, this… Kagome. She was in house hold with a majority of the population being youkai, yet she threatened instead of cowered, as other humans would've done.
He watched as she chased after Rin, lifting the soft blue kimono she wore slightly so she wouldn't trip. Her face was bright with laughter as the wind danced with her tar colored tresses, bringing her jasmine and vanilla fragrance to his nose. He focused on Rin, who was definitely happy to see the miko once again.
Since the ningen brought his ward such happiness, he would find someone to train her in the ways of the priestess, so Rin could spend more time with her.
Not because he was becoming intrigued with the small onna.
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