Sorry this took so long to write. My beta, lovely person that she is, got it back to me ASAP. I hope you all enjoy it. The next chapter is in the works. Hope to have it up soon, though no promises.
Matchbox 20 – Bent
If I fall along the way
Pick me up and dust me off
And if I get too tired to make it
Be my breath so I can walk
If I need some other love
Give me more than I can stand
And when my smile gets old and faded
Wait around I'll smile again
Shouldn't be so complicated
Just hold me and then
Just hold me again
Can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
Get put back together
You're breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent
If I couldn't sleep could you sleep
Could you paint me better off
Could you sympathize with my needs
I know you think I need a lot
I started out clean but I'm jaded
Just phoning it in
Just breaking the skin
Can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
Get put back together
You're breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent
Start bending me
It's never enough
I feel all your pieces
Start bending me
Keep bending me until I'm completely broken in
Shouldn't be so complicated
Just touch me and then
Just touch me again
Can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
Get put back together
You're breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent
Can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
Get put back together
You're breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent
Kikyo, are you ready for this? Kagome asked Kikyo, and she could feel Kikyo's agreement. They were outside of Naraku's castle. It was time to put their plan in motion. Kagome had the feeling that this would be part of the events leading to the final battle. Kikyo was positioned at the front entrance to the castle. She would distract Naraku while Kagome, with the shinigami, would replace Kagura and Kanna's hearts with the ones that she and Kikyo had infused with jaki.
Wait a moment, Kikyo, we have a visitor.
Will he behave himself this time, Kagome?
I should be fine. I was given some lessons on how to deal with irritable taiyoukai. Kagome turned slightly, leaning against the tree she had been hiding behind.
"I do hope that you have come to apologize, Sesshoumaru." Kagome met the gaze of the taiyoukai with unflinching steadiness, ignoring the hatred that burned in his eyes.
"What gives you the delusion that this taiyoukai would apologize to a mere ningen."
"A few reasons actually. First, you know that as the miko of the shikon no tama, I, a mere ningen, outrank you. Secondly, I am not a youkai, as you take such pleasure in pointing out. Your treatment of me the other day was the way that you would punish an insolent youkai. You have no right to punish me because I am not one of your own. You erred and should I choose to bring it to the attention of the other taiyoukai then you would be disgraced among your peers, and they would never take your power seriously again." Kagome smiled slightly. "As I understand it I could demand retribution from you, and you would have no choice but to grant it. As it is all I wish for from you is an apology and an explanation as to what business you would possibly have here."
"I owe you nothing."
"Then you lie to yourself. Leave." Kagome turned her back to the taiyoukai, and she could feel his anger.
"It would be in your best interest, Sesshoumaru, to be a true leader and admit your mistake."
"What are you and the undead miko doing here at Nakaru's castle?"
"It is not your concern what I do." Kagome glanced to Sesshoumaru. "If you will not apologize I will take the action to have my honor restored and yours ruined. Is that not how things work in your world? The strongest survive? I outrank you, and in all actuality the safety of the only one capable of purifying the shikon no tama and restoring peace to these lands is far more important than the pride of a taiyoukai. That is part of why I outrank you, isn't it? Or is it that anyone can be a taiyoukai, while very specific and special people can be a shikon no miko? Only ningen females, actually."
"Do you intentionally taunt me, miko?"
"Taunting you is not my intent. I only meant to remind you of how you overstepped your bounds when you injured me and remind you why exactly it is that you owe me an apology." Kagome turned, her gaze was fierce. "I am not your play thing, Sesshoumaru. You cannot intimidate me like you do everyone else. If you cannot pay me the respect that I deserve, then I will make it known what you did to me." Kagome moved towards Sesshoumaru, and he noticed her hand had fallen to the dagger that was strapped to her side.
"Woman you will not threaten this Sesshoumaru." He stepped towards her with a growl, and she smirked.
"If that Sesshoumaru does not give me a reason to feel threatened, then I will not feel the need to protect myself from him. As it is I have all the reason in the world to distrust you." Kagome stared up at Sesshoumaru. "My apology?"
"You will never get one, miko." Sesshoumaru spun on his heel. "This Sesshoumaru will, however, consider what you have said, and he will ensure that the miko of the shikon no tama no longer has a reason to feel the need for retribution." Sesshoumaru disappeared in the trees and Kagome smiled.
"I owe you Darcy."
Kikyo, I am ready.
That took longer than I expected.
I am sorry, but it is not easy to talk a taiyoukai down from a conflict when he is wrong.
Kagome moved towards the castle. Just let me know when it is ok for me to let them in; they are a little anxious. And be careful. He will be suspicious.
Let me handle Naraku. I only need to keep him occupied long enough for you to accomplish your task.
I know.
Kagome moved silently through the trees, the shinigami following closely behind her, low to the ground. Kagura and Kanna had told them that the hearts were kept in the basement, while the throne room that Naraku occupied was on the second floor. When he sensed Kikyo on his grounds he would come out to meet her. That would give Kagome enough time to guide the shinigami into the castle. It was risky, but it was the only plan that was in the least bit feasible.
Kikyo kept her connection to Kagome open, allowing information to flow along the connections of their souls. Kagura and Kanna were in the front, on either side and a little to the front of Naraku. Kagome moved to the doorway inside. It was an outer exit to the basement area, the dungeons. The shinigami moved silently through the doorway and down the castle. Within their ethereal forms they each cradled a heart.
Kagome spread her senses out, feeling for anyone who might be in the area, but all she could feel were Kagura, Kana, Naraku and Kikyo. It would be a miracle if they could pull this off, and that seemed to be what was happened. The shinigami had reached the jars containing the hearts, and this is where Kagome had to do her thing. Extending her power like her lessons had taught her Kagome focused her awareness on the hearts. The shinigami has been instructed to release the hearts that they held into the jars when they felt Kagome's power flow through them. Kagome had to time it exactly. The hearts would be released into the jars the moment that Kagome masked the aura of the true hearts. The shinigami would then retrieve these hearts and bring them to Kagome. She gathered her power around her. This would take a dramatic thrust of her power at once, completely masking two youkai auras, but she knew she could do it. Kagome was tense as she released her powers, and almost instantaneously she could feel the shinigami release the hearts, picking up the ones that Kagome was shielding.
She could feel a brief lapse in the jaki, and she could feel Naraku startle. As he moved to investigate, leaving Kikyo at the entrance of the palace, Kagome, and the shinigami were back in the forest, hiding. Kikyo, with a brief nod and a smile to Kagura and Kanna, disappeared as well. She headed out of the forest in plain sight, the opposite direction of where Kagome hid, the hearts safely in her possession as the shinigami rejoined with Kikyo.
Kagome sagged against a tree, tired, with a smile, and frowned as she felt Sesshoumaru's presence.
Kikyo, there may be trouble. He is back.
Kagome struggled to stand before Sesshoumaru entered the clearing.
Do I need to come?
I think I will be fine. If you don't hear from me in five minutes then come.
Kagome did not speak as Sesshoumaru came up to her, noting her weakened state.
"Did your plan work?"
Kagome nodded, but tensed as Sesshoumaru moved towards her.
"Relax, miko of the shikon no tama. I will return you to your camp. Then, my debt to you will be paid." Sesshoumaru gathered Kagome in his arms and in a flash he was gone.
I am fine, Kikyo. Sesshoumaru is merely repaying a debt. I will see you back at the camp.
Kagome allowed herself to relax in Sesshoumaru's hold.
"I would have been fine."
"That is a possibility, but in case Naraku was a little overzealous in his patrols this evening, or in case he got suspicious that Kikyo came to have a conversation, you need to be far from his castle. The safety of the miko of the shikon no tama should be foremost, should it not?" Sesshoumaru smirked. "I will join you and defeat this half-breed. It needs to be done."
"Why, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome shifted so she looked at Sesshoumaru. He stopped near the camp and set Kagome on the ground.
"A request was made by the miko of the shikon no tama of the taiyoukai Sesshoumaru. Honor demands that I concede to her request." Sesshoumaru bowed slightly to Kagome. "I will return in the morning." Sesshoumaru walked off and Kagome watched him leave. Soon Kikyo came up beside her.
"Is everything alright?"
"I think so." Kagome cocked her head to the side. "Something has changed, and I don't know if it has to do with my words or something else." Kagome sighed. "I don't know if it was a good idea to talk about duty to Sesshoumaru, but for the moment there seems to be peace between us." Kagome sighed. "He will return in the morning. We should tell the others. I also need to call Kanna and Kagura to us, so that they might have their hearts back."
Kikyo nodded. "I will tell Inuyasha of the arrival of his brother. If you go to the hot spring Kanna and Kagura will be there soon." Kagome nodded and headed towards camp to gather her things and head towards the hot spring. After all, if she was going to be there she might as well bathe.
As they entered the camp Inuyasha glanced up, glaring.
"Did your errand go well?"
Kikyo nodded. "Things went exactly as we wished them to. With this accomplished we can attack Naraku in force. Several days from now should be perfect." Kikyo glanced at Kagome who nodded and headed out of camp. Inuyasha glanced after the young woman but Kikyo shook her head. Sango and Miroku had moved closer at the mention of attacking Naraku. "Kagome is just going to the hot spring, Inuyasha. She will be back soon. We all, however, need to discuss a few things." Kikyo waited until Kagome was out of site before she spoke.
"Sesshoumaru spoke with Kagome while we were out on our errand." Kikyo paused, formulating her words carefully. "Listen well—the taiyoukai of the Western lands is, at the request of the shikon no miko, coming to our aid so that we may defeat Naraku."
"What?" Sango gasped and paled, while Miroku looked on blankly.
"WHAT???" Inuyasha bellowed, gaping at Kikyo.
Kikyo glanced to Sango. "You realize then."
Sango nodded. "I didn't think that she knew, that she would…."
"It became necessary for her to know." Kikyo sighed. "Inuyasha, listen for a moment. As the miko of the shikon no tama, Kagome is the single most important person right now. If she makes a request of someone, by merit of her position, her request should be granted. She outranks everyone." Kikyo sighed. "She will not make a large issue of it, but when she has to she will pull rank. Sesshoumaru coming to this group, while useful, will cause some tension. It would be best, Inuyasha, if you refrained from calling Kagome names. Your brother might be forced to defend her against your comments, and if that were the case Kagome would be very unhappy."
"What do you mean defend her?"
"Inuyasha." Sango shifted in her place. "Kagome asked Sesshoumaru to join us, and he is in order to preserve his honor. While he is with us he also needs to protect her honor. While she is a human, she is also the miko of the shikon no tama. If you call her wench or anything else, Sesshoumaru might have to take action against you for insulting and harming the miko of the shikon no tama." Sango sighed. "I don't think that Kagome realized this when she was taught about her rank. I should tell her." Sango moved to go to the hot spring.
"Wait until she gets back, Sango. Kagome is completing some business that was left unfinished on our errand."
"But she is bathing." Inuyasha spat and Kikyo laughed.
"And that excludes the possibility that Kagome might have an errand to complete before or after her bath."
"Feh." Inuyasha jumped up into a tree, and Sango settled beside Kikyo. Shippo was asleep near Kirara and Sango watched the pair.
"Why did she invoke her status as the miko of the shikon no tama."
Kikyo leveled her gaze at Sango. "I will tell you, but you can take no action."
Sango frowned for a moment, before slowly nodding.
Kikyo began to speak, her voice the barest whisper. "Sesshoumaru tried to punish Kagome as he would an insubordinate youkai. Kagome would not yield to him. The ones who train her at home pointed out her rank in relation to him as a way to help deal with the issue. They told her only what she needed to know, I am sure." Kikyo sighed. "Kagome is traveling a hard road, and the wounds that Sesshoumaru inflicted were severe. He owes her retribution, should she claim it, for he has no dominion over her. She pointed that out to him this afternoon, among other things, and hence we have arrived at this unsteady truce."
"His reaction, while despicable, is to be expected." Sango sighed. "A strong woman challenging a taiyoukai can be taken as many things. I am sure that he made her aware of this, but that doesn't mean that Kagome will change. Evoking her rank will help protect her, and maybe if he gets to know her she won't need the rank as a shield any longer."
"Indeed." Kikyo mused. "We shall have to see."
Kagome sank into the hot spring with a sigh. Kagura and Kanna would come, so there was no reason that she could not enjoy the hot spring while she waited.
Something important had happened that afternoon, and she knew that she was missing the significance of it. If Kikyo and Sango did not have an answer then she would go home and find out. In fact she would probably go home that night. If the final battle was to be soon she wished to have one last talk with her friends, and to clarify with Sesshoumaru Darcy what had just happened. It was most likely a turning point of the relationship, but she knew that she had missed the significance of it. It was odd, having one Sesshoumaru lead her relationship to another to form the relationship that they had in the future. It made her head hurt; she didn't really like to think about it.
Kagome slipped further into the hot spring as she felt Kagura and Kanna approaching. Kagura settled at the side of the spring, tracing a finger in the water while Kanna settled onto a rock, her mirror cradled in her lap.
Kagome smiled at the pair. "Your hearts are with my things. You should recognize the aura in them. If you will get them I can finish the process. I will still keep them masked until the time is right, but you will have your own heart. We cannot have Naraku sense them, nor hear them beating." Kagome sighed. "I wish I could do more."
"You have done more than enough." Kagura gently clutched her heart to her chest. "This has been a dream, but we did not dare think it a reality." Kagura gasped as her heart sank back into her chest, and Kanna smiled as hers did the same.
"Naraku was suspicious, but he did not know why Kikyo came. He will attack soon, if you do not attack first." Kagura stood. "I must get back before we are missed." Kagura bowed. "We owe you a debt of honor, Kagome, miko of the shikon no tama. I pray that we live to repay it." Kagura pulled a feather from her hair, and in an instant she and Kanna were gone.
Kagome sighed. The last few days had been hell, and her visit home had not helped. Sango had explained what had just happened, and that had sent Kagome running home. Sesshoumaru Darcy had been waiting for her. Kagome had been less than patient in demanding an explanation from him, and when he had explained she had been speechless.
At first he hadn't answered her, merely grabbed her arm and gently guided her to an awaiting car. As they drove aimlessly around town Sesshoumaru explained.
"What the taiyoukai did is inexcusable. To try and force youkai laws and customs on you is an indication of the esteem that he holds you in, even if you do not yet see it. You scolded him for desiring you, and you are not far from the truth." Sesshoumaru sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "When you confronted him, you proclaimed your awareness of who you are and the status you hold in that time. You, by acknowledging the role you play, the title you hold, claim your position in the society of the time. Since you are aware of your rank, the taiyoukai can no longer push you around. Once you admit you know what he is doing is wrong, he can no longer continue on the current path, banking on your ignorance." Sesshoumaru Darcy sighed. "It is very hard to explain. Youkai society is very complex, but by claiming your position as the miko of the shikon no tama and informing Sesshoumaru that you are within your rights to claim retribution from him, you showed that you are worthy of the rank that you have been bestowed, and the honor that comes with it. Only one other has dared to use her title to claim equality and superiority of rank, and that was Midoriko."
Kagome merely nodded, her eyes wide as she took in all the information that she had been given.
"He is an ally, not a friend. Keep that in mind." Sesshoumaru did not look at Kagome. "You need to rest. These next few days will exhaust you."
"I know…" Her voice was soft, hesitant.
"You still doubt, Kagome?"
"I don't know the outcome. I don't know what I am supposed to do. For all I know I will die in this battle, and all that you have done is to ensure the victory that we all so desperately wish."
"Do you think I could sit here so impassively if I knew that you would see your end tomorrow? I know that things might change, and that the worst could happen, but Kagome, for you to think that I—"
"It isn't that I think that. It is that it is so unknown. What if I do something wrong, change something that I should not. Nothing will be the same again."
"We all have our roles to play, Kagome, and in training you we have been playing the roles that we have been given, to ensure the future that you are to have while protecting our own past and present. Trust us and trust yourself. You know that in all things, as a miko, if you do not believe in yourself and your ability to do something, then it cannot be done. That was the hardest obstacle that you had to overcome. You must believe." Sesshoumaru looked to Kagome, his eyes swirling with an array of emotions. "Go say hello to your mother, then go back and get as much rest as you can. We will be here waiting for you, when your tasks are complete." Sesshoumaru paused. "When you return I have something which I must discuss with you."
"I can stay here, if you want to talk now." Kagome ignored the door of the car opening, and the driver waiting for her to get out.
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "It can wait until your return." He smiled. "Take care and be safe. The prayers of all of us are with you."
Sesshoumaru watched Kagome leave the car, and his gaze did not stray from her form as she walked up the steps. It would be cliché to say that she was walking to meet her fate, but in a way, the purpose of her presence in the past would culminate in the actions that she would take in the next few days.
Kagome could not sleep that night, but with a battle looming that was to be expected. She thought it would be safe to postulate that no one had slept much that night, but she wasn't certain. When she had returned to the feudal era the walk back to Kaede's village had been eerily quiet. Shippo and Rin were just inside the village, playing quietly, and Kikyo and Inuyasha were no where to be seen. Sango and Miroku were talking quietly by a tree, and for once Miroku was behaving himself, his hands folded in his lap as he played with the prayer beads, the symbol of his curse. With a soft sigh Kagome had made her way towards Kaede's hut and began to polish her weapons and armor, working out restless energy.
That had been hours ago, before the group had settled down for the evening, each trying in their own way to achieve sleep. Sesshoumaru had slipped into the camp that night, and no one stirred as he entered the hut.
In the morning Kagome once again began to polish her weapons, musing over each one that she had been given. She could feel Sesshoumaru's gaze on her as she did so, but she did not acknowledge the heaviness of his gaze as she took inventory of her weapons.
Bow and arrow
Knifes both for throwing and for defense
A short sword
She was unsure if she should take the sword into battle with her, but since it had been given, she thought it would be unwise for her to leave the sword at Kaede's. Both the knives and the sword could fit beneath her armor, seamless incorporated into the armor, so unless you saw Kagome put the armor on you could not tell how much she was armed. She did not want to give Naraku knowledge of her new abilities and skills. Surprise was key, and she was the weapon.
"How shall we go about this?" Kikyo settled next to Kagome, already dressed for the day. All the others settled around Kagome, and she could see the briefest flicker of irritation cross Sesshoumaru's visage. She knew that he was not used to following, but that was the role he was to play this day.
"Our biggest element will be that of surprise." Kagome drew in a breath, trying to steady her voice. She had thought a lot about this, trying to figure out how the battle would go, and she thought that she had an answer.
"Kikyo, Naraku knows that you are with us, and given your appearance yesterday he is expecting you to come. You are the only miko that Naraku will feel threatened by." She smiled. "He will expect you and Inuyasha to attack head on, while Sango, Kirara and Miroku follow. I am expected to lag behind, hiding in the shadows of the protection of the forest with Shippo and Rin. We shall give him what he expects." Kagome smiled. "I would suggest that Sesshoumaru join Kikyo and Inuyasha at the front of the battle, and I will do what needs to be done. I know what part I have to play; I know what I have been trained for. It is surprise that we need, and I cannot use that element if I am at the front of the battle." Kagome sighed. "I need to lure Naraku to me."
She could see the surprise in the gazes of all as she spoke.
"This is unacceptable." Sesshoumaru's voice was low. "This Sesshoumaru is not a diversion to occupy Naraku."
"It doesn't matter what you desire, Sesshoumaru. The request was that you come to the aid of the shikon no miko in this battle. In doing as I say you will be aiding. All that is required of you is that you fight alongside Inuyasha and Kikyo." Kagome locked gazes with the taiyoukai. "I am here to meet my fate, to do what I need to do to make sure that we all make it through this battle, and the shikon no tama be restored and protected, and that Naraku is defeated. I will not allow you to compromise this because you feel that your lordly self would be better suited doing something else." Kagome drew in a deep breath. "In agreeing to come to my aid in this, you agreed to take my orders, Sesshoumaru. If you have issues with it you can leave."
Kagome fixed her gaze on Kikyo, who nodded.
"Kagome-sama, forgive me for saying this, but are you certain that the training that you have undergone has prepared you for this?"
"All I have done has been guided by those here, my training sculpted by those who knew what abilities that I would need." She could see that she caught Sesshoumaru's attention with her words. "I have been trained by mikos of all ages, from now through to my time, and by those guardians assigned to help me." Kagome smiled at Kikyo, whose eyes widened. "I am grateful for what all of you have done to contribute to my readiness for this battle. You will have to trust me, and trust that you all have prepared me properly for this." Kagome stood, gathering her armor, clothing and weapons in her hands.
"I am the last one who needs to get ready. Once I am changed we will leave. Shippo, I am leaving you here to look after Rin. You have the amulet that I gave you, and Rin has been given one as well. If anything happens, I know that you will be brave and protect Rin. I will come as soon as I can." Shippo nodded and shifted closer to Rin, who stared at Kagome with wide eyes.
"You will come back, Kagome?" Her voice shook and Kagome nodded.
"Of course." She smiled at Rin. "I will make sure that your Sesshoumaru-sama makes it back as well." Kagome laughed as Rin beamed at her, and chuckled as she felt Sesshoumaru's irritation.
It seemed that Naraku was expecting them, for the forest around his castle was quiet. They were unsure what force of resistance to expect from Naraku.
Kagura and Kanna had been contacted, their secret still safe between Kagome and Kikyo. They had been informed by Kanna that Naraku had a surprise for them, and Kagura had sounded apologetic as she announced it.
You will know when the moment is right, Kagura, when you and Kanna will be free. I hope that you will help us fight, but if you choose to flee we will not hold it against you.
Kagome focused her gaze on Naraku's castle, and stiffened as she felt his miasma begin to permeate the area.
"Kikyo, will you take care of it?" Kagome's voice was soft, and Kikyo nodded. She cleared the air around them, so they could move unhindered though the forest. It was odd to think that this group of six was to defeat Naraku. As they neared the gate to the castle the group paused.
Kikyo turned to Kagome, her voice cold.
"It would be best if you stayed here, reincarnation. Your presence in this battle would only hinder us." Kikyo made sure her voice carried to the castle. "I will not let you get in the way. The destruction of Naraku is mine, and a mere reincarnation is worthless." Kikyo spun on her heel and walked into the castle grounds. Sesshoumaru sneered.
"A worthless ningen female like you can do nothing." He followed Kikyo into the palace grounds.
"Feh." Inuyasha followed Kikyo, though Kagome could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
"You are the one with the shikon shards. It is probably best if you stay here, Kagome-sama." Miroku's voice was level. "Leave the fighting to us." Miroku laid a hand on grown firecat Kirara's shoulder, and guided Kirara and Sango into the palace grounds.
"But…" Kagome's voice trailed off, and she clutched her bow uselessly.
"Naraku, we have come to defeat you." Kikyo's voice rang out in the palace courtyard, and his laughter echoed through the palace grounds. Everyone's eyes shifted to the roof as the baboon covered visage of Naraku appeared on the roof.
"I did not think that your presence the other day was merely a scouting episode, Kikyo." The hanyou laughed. "You surprise me. I had hoped that you would be convinced to take my offer of being my mate and companion, but it seems that you remain too human for my tastes. He sneered. Death seems to have tainted your purity." He smiled, the baboon cape falling off to reveal a sneer.
"Your death will reunite your soul with Kagome's and then I shall have what I truly desire. The purity of the shikon miko and the completed shikon no tama." As he spoke demons began to swarm forth from his body and from the palace, quickly surrounding the group.
Kagura and Kanna appeared at his side, and tossed to the feet of Naraku was the bound, unconscious figure of a wolf youkai.
"Kouga…" Kagome's gasp was soft, and she could tell that the others had not yet noticed Kouga in their haste to protect themselves.
Kikyo, Naraku has Kouga. He is bound and injured on the roof.
Kagome watched the battle unfold, making sure to have erected a barrier around herself. It wasn't to protect herself, but to let her know if anything came within 50 feet of her person.
Kagome waited, watching. Kikyo and Inuyasha fought back to back, Kikyo's arrows glowing with her miko powers, killing all those in the path of her arrows. Inuyasha, in typical Inuyasha fashion was shouting attacks as he wildly swung his sword. He was taking out parts of the castle with his actions, and Naraku seemed irritated at this, if the snarl that crossed his face as bits of his castle was destroyed was any indication of his mood.
Miroku used his staff to knock youkai away, while Sango used her Hiraikotsu to destroy all those in her path. Kirara fought by the side of her mistress and all were covered in blood and guts, seemingly all from the youkai that they fought. None of the youkai were challenging, if the bored expression on Sesshoumaru's face was any indication, and Kagome wondered when the real show of force would come.
Kagome saw Naraku speak to Kanna and Kagura, and knew that what was to come next could not be good. She stiffened as she saw them disappear, and when she felt their presence behind her, she finished the spells that she needed to so that their hearts were all their own. She could see that Naraku was still in the room of the palace, and knew that no puppet simulacrum had been sent with the two youkai.
"You two are free to go. If Naraku wants me he will have to come get me himself." Kagome smiled as Kanna and Kagura moved to stand beside her. "How did he capture Kouga? What does he plan to do with him?"
"We do not know what is planned, just that we were to capture the ookami in exchange for lives of his remaining tribe members." Kanna's voice was soft.
"I would gather that he will attempt to get your acquiescence to his plans for you in exchange for the life of the ookami."
"If I let you bring me to Naraku would we be able to rescue Kouga. You could then bring the both of us back here and flee."
Kagura nodded. "It is a risk, but the world does not deserve what Naraku has had us to do his tribe and his people. Kanna was to have captured your soul in her mirror. If you act subdued then we can bring you to him. Once we are on the roof I will place you near the ookami. Kanna and I will be on either side, and with a feather we will be gone. He will then know of our treachery, but he should blame it on Kikyo, not you."
"It will put her in danger." Kagome mused then nodded. "I will do it, and let Kikyo know of the backlash to follow.
Kagome had wondered why she had been trained to put herself into a partial meditative state, one that she knew brought an empty look to her face, but now she understood. She felt herself being placed on Kagura's feather, and she saw Kanna clutch her mirror in a way that would indicate that she had captured a soul.
Flying on the feather was enjoyable, and Kagome wished that she was more aware to enjoy the sensation, but she had a role to play, and they had an ookami to rescue.
Kagome could hear the shouts of her companions as they were carried towards Naraku, having been captured by Kagura and Kanna. Kagome ignored it all though, focused on staying in her meditative state. She could hear Naraku laugh as Kagura settled the trio onto the roof of the palace, and she could see Kouga stir slightly.
"I have all that I need right now." Naraku sneered down at Inuyasha and the others. "There is nothing that you can do about it." Naraku stepped towards Kagome, gripping her face in his hand. Leaning in close to her he smiled against her cheek.
"You will be mine, little miko, and I shall enjoy the purity that you possess. You will be a rare treat, but one that I will enjoy." Naraku stepped away from Kagome, turning back towards the group.
He could see the rage on Sesshoumaru's face, and the horror on Inuyasha. He paused, when he saw the puzzled expression of Kikyo's face.
"Surprised, Kikyo?" Naraku stepped closer to the roof, and it was at that moment that Kagome lunged for Kouga. As she grabbed him, her arms barely able to span his chest to drag him to her she could feel them rising in the air, Kagura's feather beneath them.
Naraku turned with a strangled howl, rage covering his face.
"I will kill you. I have your hearts that you will die for this!"
Kagura tipped her head towards Naraku with a smile as she floated off into the distance, away from the battle, and she could hear the strangled howl of rage as Naraku discovered the treachery that had been planned against him.
Landing far from the castle Kagura helped Kagome place Kouga against a tree. In his semi-conscious state he struggled against the assistance from the wind youkai, but was too disoriented to truly resist.
"Kagura, Kanna, thank you so much for your help. I need to return to the battle, my role is not yet done." Kagome looked to Kouga. "Thank you for helping me rescue him. I will make sure to explain to him what you have done for him. It will take him a long time to accept what has happened, but I know that it will come to pass. Take care of yourselves, I hope to see you again." Kagome strode back towards the castle, and she was surprised to hear Kagura and Kanna fall into step behind her.
"The ookami will be fine where he is. We owe you our lives, we cannot abandon you now." Kanna spoke with an emotion to her voice that Kagome had never heard, and it gave Kagome pause.
"We will see this through to the end with you, no matter the cost. That is our vow." Kagura gripped her fan in her hand, her expression grim. "I have a score to settle with Naraku as well, we both do…unspeakable things we had to endure, unspeakable tasks we were forced to perform."
Kanna nodded her agreement. "Kohaku is still there. The demon slayer will be distracted. That is part of his plan, his desire to cause pain and chaos. Kohaku deserves the rest so long denied to him."
"This will end today, and then we can all begin to heal." Kagome glanced back over her shoulder, focusing her gaze on Kouga. He had come to during the conversation, and his gaze, leveled in the trio, was troubled.
"You owe them your life, Kouga. Think on what you have heard, we will talk when the battle is over. If you feel well enough they need your help at the main castle." Kagome disappeared into the forest with her two companions, and the ookami stared after them in the silence of the forest, the sounds of battle and screams of pain carrying to him from a distance.
