Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
.•º| |º•.
Oleander
Beware
.•º| |º•.
Trees swayed as strong winds whipped across the mountainous countryside. Horses snorting, they tossed and tugged at their reins.
"Have there been any signs of her?" the rider asked, stroking his steed's dappled neck. They'd ridden all over their section of Echizen [1], following any leads of a lone miko wandering about. Wringing chilled hands, he attempted to rub warmth back into his fingertips. "There are so many poor shrines, there are wandering miko everywhere. We may have better luck in a brothel."
His companion grunted. "Perhaps, Sawamura-dono. I'm sure we all know where you would rather spend your time." He looked watched their third companion - a woman with dark hair and red eyes questioning an elderly couple - and turned his attention skyward. "Apparently, there was a miko spotted in the village. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if Goshinki has already found them."
"He always was over-eager," Sawamura spat.
The second rider nodded. "Black hair, blue eyes. Odd coloring and not much to go on, but it's better than nothing." Rubbing at the scar on his cheek, he continued. "Ryukotsusei-sama's efforts are worth it. He would not waste his time with frivolity."
Sawamura scowled. "No doubt, Asahi-dono. Our lord is impressive. And with General Naraku leading his forces, I'm certain our lord could conquer any number of provinces. But chasing a girl for a trinket…"
"It seems foolish, no?"
The pair looked up as the woman approached, toying with the feather in her hair. She smirked, eyes narrowing with menace. Mounting her steed in a flourish, she wrested control and turned her horse towards the mountains. "Come. It seems Goshinki already spoke to this couple. I know where he went."
Galloping towards the mountain, they followed an overgrown path that led to a set of worn stairs and abandoned temple that hid amongst the trees.
The first thing they noticed was the smell.
"Blood, Kagura-sama!" Sawamura barked.
A curse slithered through her teeth as her horse skidded to a halt.
The first body was sprawled across the dilapidated steps. The second lay face down, a hole in his throat. And Goshinki…
"That fool," Kagura grumbled, cutting his hair with a small knife. She tucked it into her sleeve as she carefully surveyed the damage. There were not many who could best her sibling. "What an unexpected turn of events."
Asahi nodded. "A skilled swordsman, based on these wounds."
"Sawamura, send a note to the general," Kagura scowled. "It seems our miko has help."
.•º| |º•.
Kagome woke to chilled air, and her toes scrunched inside her thin tabi. Tightening the shabby blanket around her body, she burrowed deeper for warmth. Even so, sleep eluded her. And with a listless flutter, blue eyes cracked open.
Aside from herself, the storage room was empty.
I guess that's that. It left a strange pit in her gut. She hadn't expected the ronin to jump at the chance to help her, but she thought… I don't know what I thought. Everyone talks about a samurai's honor. Guess that doesn't apply to ronin. And after she had spent so much time with him yesterday, tending to his wounds, she thought he would eventually change his mind. Few words were spoken following that initial conversation, but she had hoped...
Stretching, Kagome tossed aside the blanket. She still had some dried fish left over, and then she would have to set out again.
"The full moon is in five days. It's about a… four day's journey to Tsukuba, faster if by horse," she muttered as she repacked her satchel. She combed her fingers through her hair, tying it back with a strip of washi. Retucking her juban and straightening the folds of her haori, she smoothed her hands over her hakama. Briefly, she double-checked for the wrapped komainu, just in case. Arrows accounted for and bow slung over her shoulder, Kagome took one last look around the room. She didn't want to leave any trace behind.
Sliding the panel aside, Kagome froze. "You're… still here?"
Pausing in looping a long white cloth under the horse's belly, Sesshoumaru eyed her critically. "This is why traveling with a woman is a pain," he scoffed. Returning to his task, he tucked, tied, and threaded the cloth through a pair of stirrups. "You buried the other saddle. It needed a replacement."
She dared to hope. "Does that mean…?"
"Hn. I expect to be paid when we get to Tsukuba."
Sesshoumaru didn't want to admit that he'd had a change of heart. His reasons were his own. He had no obligation to explain himself to her. And he took no pleasure in her vibrant expression of joy, throwing her a glare to warn off her incoming enthusiastic embrace.
"Ah! Miko-sama! Samurai-san! You're looking much better!" came a voice from above. The pair looked up just at the owner of the hut exited - a squat, older man with a thinning topknot. "A lovely day, no?"
Kagome smiled. "Yes, absolutely."
The man gave her a wrinkled grin. He descended the stairs with an obvious hobble, hefting a basket of daikon securely on his back. "Well, I'm off to sell these in the village. Hopefully, I'll get a decent price. The daimyo keeps changing the currency, it's hard for an old man to get by these days."
As Kagome watched the elder totter down the road, Sesshoumaru took a seat by the door and occasionally stirred a boiling pot.
"Breakfast?" she teased. "It doesn't look like much."
He raised a brow. "These are not for eating."
"No kidding! They smell horrid!"
Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose. "It will dissipate soon." Instead, he lifted a paper-wrapped bundle from his side and held it out to her. At her hesitance, he grunted and practically shoved it under her nose.
"You… got something for me?" Kagome gently lifted it from his grasp. Tugging at the strings, paper fell away to reveal the folded pattern of a komon and gray umanori-hakama. She blinked, confused. "Thank you, but what's all this for?"
He loathed to explain himself, but he wanted her to understand. "You stand out too much. You will change when we get to the hot spring." He gestured to a second lidded pot. "Start rice. We'll depart once you've eaten."
Ignoring his command, she visibly brightened. "Hot spring?"
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes with a sigh. This will be troublesome.
.•º| |º•.
"General, I have word from Kagura that Goshinki was killed," announced a boy with ash-white hair. He held a strip of paper in an outstretched hand, and a large hawk perched on his opposite forearm.
Sitting up, Naraku took the note and read carefully. "Seems the miko had help." Scrubbing a hand across his chin, he held the message over a nearby candle. Flecks of black ash drifted in the air. "Lord Ryukotsusei will want to know."
"General?"
Rising, he waved. "Come, Hakudoshi."
His residence adjacent to the lord's quarters, Naraku passed easily through the gates from the first court to the main domicile. They wove through the maze of intricate shoji paneling, polished wood, and slatted archways before finally kneeling in front of the last set of sliding screens. Through the door to the lord's receiving chambers, Naraku announced their presence. "Ryukotsusei-sama, I bring news of the girl."
"Enter."
Door sliding aside, the pair entered and bowed.
On the far end of the room, a large mural of a dragon arching across the sky - devouring panther, wolf, and dog - encompassed the entire wall. Seated before them in a place of honor, Ryukotsusei sneered at their appearance. Ember candlelight flickered shadows across his angular features. The remains of his mangled left arm were tucked into the folds of his kimono. A thin dish in his good hand, a small tray of sake laid to his right.
"Tell me," Ryukotsusei began. "What is our progress in Shimōsa?"
Naraku grinned. "It goes well, my lord. Byakuya has sent word that he has captured the castle of the Hōjō clan." [2]
"Good. And what of the miko?" he rumbled, a glare kindling in his one good eye.
The General smirked, undaunted. "It seems she is fleeing Echizen and headed east, my lord. She has assistance. Most likely a samurai."
"And your men are on her trail?"
"Yes, my lord. Kagura is not far behind."
Ryukotsusei snorted, tipping the dish to his lips. He held it out once more, and a woman slipped from the shadows to refill it. "That is good news," he began, swirling the clear liquid. Once, twice, and returned his gaze to the General. "You have served me well, Naraku. As expected, I knew your service would be worthy of my cause."
The General dipped his head. "I aim to please, my lord."
"I know it," he started. The lord's reply was smooth, slithering through thinned lips. "Do not think to play me as you did Kirishima." He waved his hand. "Keep me apprised of the girl's whereabouts. You are dismissed."
The pair bowed and tacitly exited. The return march to the General's quarters was silent, and not an utterance passed between the two until the door slid shut behind them. A small contingent of his most trusted warriors knelt within. Hakudoshi eyed his master, patiently waiting.
"Kanna," Naraku started softly. A pale girl shuffled forward with a hushed shift of cloth. "See to it that we are not disturbed."
Nodding, she vanished.
He'd come too far. Sacrificed too much to continue to scrape and bow. Research and study brought him to the Kirishima's doorstep, and in gaining their trust, he had earned his place. But ever he wanted more. And in exchange for knowledge - castle fortifications, troop movements, and any manner of clan secrets - he won the Dragon of the East's regard. But the Dragon was ever watchful. Distrusting. And rightfully so. Sneering, Naraku issued his next command. "Onigumo."
A dark haired man shifted, bowing. "General."
"How is our little bird holding up?"
"She lives, sir." His perverse smirk was poorly concealed. "She has sung beautifully many times. I know where the miko is headed."
Grinning, Naraku propped his chin on his knuckles. "Wonderful. We shall inform Kagura of our next step. Soon, we will make our move. I'm sure our lordship would like to be there for such a momentous occasion."
.•º| |º•.
The cacophony grew as the crowd gathered. Erected beside a raised platform, a wooden sign displayed hastily scrawled kanji. Villagers muttered and milled about, while others looked on with mild interest.
Heavy footsteps interrupted the chatter.
Mounting the platform, a woman with feathered ornaments and crimson eyes stared across the sea of ruddy faces. Two samurai stood at her back, each with a hand resting on the hilt of their katana.
"Your attention," she began, her fan snapping open at her side. "Lord Ryukotsusei calls upon the citizens to aid him in the search for a fugitive miko. She stole something from your lord, and it is suspected that she is accompanied by a swordsman. The miko has blue eyes and black hair. If you have any news on their whereabouts, please report them to myself or any of his lordship's soldiers immediately." A deadly sneer twisted across her lips. "And if you are caught harboring the fugitive, you will also be severely punished."
A murmur swept over the crowd, and Kagura smiled wickedly behind her fan as the gathering dispersed.
All save one elderly man with a basket of daikon.
.•º| |º•.
End Note: Thank you, Kaity for beta'ing these early chapters!
[1] Echizen is the province where our fic began. In modern context, it would be located in present-day northern Fukui prefecture. It was best known for making traditionally-produced paper called washi.
[2] During the Sengoku Era, the Shimōsa Province was held by the Later Hojo Clan. It would be located in present-day Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures.