Yura: Slovenly Woman

It had been five exact days since Yura's arrival- not that Kikyo was counting. Her welcome was exhausted the moment she arrived; five grueling days with her was enough to kill. She didn't do much; not for Kikyo at least. But for Naraku...for Naraku she'd bend over backwards- both metaphorically and physically.

She was a pestering juvenile- literately to the fullest extent of the word infantile. Short black hair, skin as white as milk; she looked like a child in unsavory shreds. She wore black gloves with the finger tips cut off and leg warmers of the same style. Her black dress barely reached mid thigh and sported two revealing slits on either sides of her legs with a plunging back and neck line. The only thing that seemed to be holding the so called dress together was a small leopard print belt.

Why Naraku kept her around was quite obvious. Kikyo wondered if it was just a tactic to annoy her. The peculiar thing was that Yura wasn't a guest but more of an overnight visitor. At sundown, Kikyo would watch Yura enter Naraku's dorm. She recalled the visitations had started the day she 'went out for a walk' with Kohaku. Later that day she had returned with her formal miko dress; upsetting Naraku to the fullest.

He erratically marched out of his room and confronted her with his sword drawn. She stood still as the tip of the blade enrolled into her robe through the V-shaped slit. The metal was soothingly fresh against her chest and he twisted it back, damaging her garment.

"What are you wearing? You're not a priestess." He hissed and pressed the blade between the middle of her bosom.

"You wouldn't dare." She smirked and as expected, he didn't say a word until later that night.

She never bathed in the sunlight. Like a secretive ritual, every other night she'd sneak out into the yard and take a dip into the hot spring behind the castle. But first, she'd kneel on her knees and splash buckets of water on her back while still clothed. She'd then slowly squirm out of her garments and carefully ease her body into the water. Naraku wasn't known to be a degenerate; but he always enjoyed watching her cleanse. Kikyo didn't mind, as long as he kept his distance.

But that night was different; both he and her were. Instead of concealing himself in the shadows he bluntly walked up to the spring and stood behind her, waiting for her to react. Kikyo slowly, and if he didn't know any better, seductively immersed her full frame in the water and as she surfaced, turned around and faced him- full frontal. Like any other man, his eyes automatically locked on her ample bosom staring back at him and his mouth began to water. She watched him clear his throat and forced himself to look at her face.

"Naraku." She was quite chesty- no pun intended; almost like she was challenging him. How far would he go...

There was a flowering Dogwood above the spring. Some of the white flowers that bloomed had fallen into the spring and Naraku noticed one of the white buds clinging to her chest. If she was challenging him then so be it; he'd play along. He stepped closer and stretched his arm out, causing her to flinch slightly. Naraku delicately took the bud and flicked it away.

"I don't want you wearing those priestess robes." He smirked, having petrified her for a second.

"I told you; I don't like taking orders. I'm keeping them." Kikyo badgered and turned around. She was about to plunge herself in the water again when Naraku suddenly pulled her by the hair.

He growled and drew hard, causing her to twirl around and stumble into his arms. He caught her, pressing her nude frame against him and his simmering growl was replaced by an arrogant chuckle. She angrily looked up at him, yet remained still. He leaned into her face, brushing past her cheek and whispered in her ear.

"I know where you went today; don't let me catch you there again."

It was at that moment that their coalition took a turn...Kikyo shivered and unexpectedly felt his member harden against her stomach. Wide eyed, she pushed back and turned around, clutching her breast. Naraku exhaled and quickly retreated; he too abashed by their close encounter and the next day Kikyo awoke to Yura's squeamish conduct...

-----

"Why do you keep her around?" Kikyo cradled the child and nonchalantly looked at Naraku sitting beside her.

"Why do you think?" There was a twinge of mischief in his voice that bubbled Kikyo's anger. He was testing her, she knew that, but he was a fool to think she'd ever become jealous of Yura.

Instead, she simply clicked her tongue and pulled the blanket away from the child's face. His eyes were an eerie shade of violet, his skin was white as milk, and his hair...silver- like a peculiar dog demon. It made her uncomfortable, though she couldn't deny the child's needs.

"This infant; you never told me where it came from."

"You don't want it?" Naraku misinterpreted the question and Kikyo lightly sighed. "You'll be a good mother." He nipped his tongue the second he let the comment slip and stiffened his posture. He had accidentally praised her; how would she respond?

To his relief, she lightly nodded and he relaxed. Then, from the corner of his eye he watched her rub her stomach and there was nauseating pinch in his own abdomen. He turned and fully faced her and silently stared at her for a couple of seconds. His hand slithered into her smaller one and the child began to murmur- his heart was wildly palpitating.

"Naraku!" Came a squeamish wail from outside the barrier.

Kikyo's eyes narrowed and Naraku stood up. Yura dramatically stepped through the roadblock and pouted.

"You have something for me." It was more of a statement than a question, and it made Naraku smirk.

He looked at Kikyo and then at Yura; observing her full structure. He tilted his head and motioned Yura to go inside; Kikyo already aware of what he had in mind.

-----

They had been 'talking' for quite a while now and Kikyo decided to take action. She stood outside Naraku's room and impatiently crossed her arms. She could hear Yura's ludicrous taunts and it sickened her to say the least. Moments later, the door slid open. Yura stepped out and gleamed at her. Kikyo dismissed the immature pomp ass and walked in, closing the door behind her.

"Had a good discussion?"

Naraku was immensely anti-social, but the more Yura clung to him, the more uncomfortable Kikyo grew. There was something in her eyes that he liked. They were disturbed and narrowed, watching Yura like a hawk. Her vigilance excited him.

"A very good discussion...something wrong?"

"...No."

Naraku cocked an eyebrow and pulled his sleeve down. "Do I detect a hint of envy?"

"Hardly...I'm going after Inuyasha myself."

"You will do no such thing."

"Why not?"

"Because I just sent Yura after him."

Kikyo's ebony orbs narrowed. "What? Why?"

"We've been planning it for some time now. She's been spying on him for the past couple of days. In return, I keep supplying her with shards of the Shikon Jewel."

Kikyo gawked. "Is that why she's been reporting to you late at night?" She exclaimed. "I thought you were-" She held her tongue and Naraku laughed.

"I never said anything about that; you just assumed."

"I'm going after her." Kikyo announced and turned around.

Naraku quickly held her by the shoulders and spun her around. She retaliated by grabbing his arms and as she did so, his flesh began to incinerate. He stepped back and held his burnt arm; not that she had done much harm- his flesh began to rejuvenate itself.

"We had a deal; we agreed that I'd kill him with my own hands!" Kikyo accused and Naraku shook his head.

"You're not going near him."

"Why not? What are you afraid of?"

Naraku jerked his head and sternly looked into her eyes. There was a rumble in his throat and his voice was deeper. "You know something. What did that old wench tell you?"

Kikyo gulped. Indeed, he was talking about her sister Kaede. She did in fact pay her a visit; where else would she find the same miko robe. She had an interesting conversation with her sister-not that she'd mention any of it to Naraku.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Naraku grunted and back handedly slapped her. "Don't underestimate me, Kikyo." He towered over her as she held her sore cheek. "You'll obey my every order."

-----

Yura cheerfully pranced around with a red comb in one hand and a small pouch in the other.

"All the jewels I want and all I have to do is spy on Inuyasha?" She giggled. "He's so cute."

She continued to walk until she heard light whispering to her right, beyond a thread of bushes. She poked her head through and smiled. Inuyasha was comfortably laying on the ground with his arms folded behind his head. He appeared to be sleeping; whispering something inaudible and it gave Yura the jitters all the more. By the luggage beside him it was obvious that he didn't travel alone but where his companions were she had no clue; they were no where near in sight.

"Poor doggy, did they abandon you?" Yura stepped closer and sat beside Inuyasha, taming his long silver hair.

He flinched for a second and then continued to slumber. Yura sighed and took out her sword. "No more spying, tonight, that lovely hair of yours is mine."

She grinned and swung her sword when suddenly...

WHOOOSH!

A metallic arrow flew directly at her, hitting her sword and knocking it out of her hand.

"Don't lay a finger on him!"

Inuyasha awoke in a fright and quickly stood up. The devious Yura picked up her sword and Kikyo walked closer, already aiming.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha shouted and Kikyo gave no response.

She didn't even dare to look at him. Her eyes were locked on Yura. "Leave him alone or I swear this next arrow will go through your heart."

Yura huffed and folded her arms. "No fair, what did I do to you?" She carelessly shrugged her shoulders and looked at Inuyasha. "Naraku's orders; he has to die."

Kikyo shot the arrow and Yura plunged out of the way. "Why are you defending him?"

All the while, Inuyasha remained a frozen statue and couldn't keep his eyes of Kikyo. A seismic wave of relief washed over him; she was defending him. He smiled until Kikyo retorted.

"He will not die by the likes of you; he will perish in my own hands."

"Kikyo?" Inuyasha frowned and walked closer to the miko.

Surprised, Kikyo retracted her aim from Yura to Inuyasha and in that split second, Yura attacked. Kikyo quickly switched targets and delivered the blow. Her arrow permeated Yura's flesh, coming into direct contact with something concrete within her. Her body began to dissolve, leaving only a cracked red skull she must have concealed in her body.

"Noooo!" Were here parting words and Inuyasha quickly dismissed her.

"You still want to kill me?" He pleadingly looked at Kikyo who didn't utter a word.

He continued to take baby steps toward her so as not to surprise her and it seemed to work. She remained still until a light rustle in the tree made her wince. She then picked her bow up and aimed an arrow at him.

"Die..." Her voice cracked and Inuyasha noticed the baboon cloak in the tree.

"Naraku!"

The baboon cloak drifted out of the branch and majestically sprouted wooden tentacles resembling a tree trunk. Not bothering to even come near Inuyasha, their destination relied on the priestess. They slithered around her legs and up her body.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha shouted and ran to his mistress but was delayed buy a wall of poisonous insects.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

He clawed his way through the bug barrier but Naraku and Kikyo were already gone.

"Kikyo!"

-----

That night, he locked her in a cage made of his own bone. He remained concealed in the darkness as his body had not yet recuperated from the Sacred Arrow she had struck him with earlier to escape.

"I'm going to ask you one last time. What did Kaede tell you?"

Kikyo stubbornly sat within the bone cage and glared at Naraku's shadow. "I don't have to tell you anything."

"If you don't; I'll kill Inuyasha."

"If you really had the ability to do so he would have already been dead by now."

"You're on his side now?"

"...No, but I'm no more on your side either."

Naraku chuckled. "So she did tell you."

This time, it was Kikyo's turn to laugh. "You don't scare me, Onigumo."

TBC