Song: Lily's Theme - Harry Potter OST

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Memoirs of a Miko

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With a huff of frustration, Sota crossed off another village on the much work map he'd purchased to help narrow down the places she might be. Luckily, quite a sum had been given to his, uh, sperm donor when he'd sold off his two sisters like their lives meant nothing. Shortly after he'd slain his father, word had reached him that his mother had flung herself off a cliff and perished in the sea below. The only living family he now possessed was Kagome and she too was lost to him. Taking a shuddering sigh, he lovingly rolled up the map before exiting the inn and finding his horse. He needed to stop searching human villages. Such a waste of time. A fools hope that his sources were mistaken and she wasn't at the mercy of demons - although human men were more than capable of being just as evil.

As he left yet another village, he took a moment to admire the countryside that stretched before him like a great quilt of golden, brown and green squares. Fall was on the horizon. She'd been taken in the late winter. Snow fell on their village week after she left, after Kikyo left this world for, he could only hope, a better place. The bastard had been struck down in early spring - he could rot in hell for all the boy cared. Mother killed herself beginning of the summer. And still no sign of Kagome. Not a single person who'd seen anyone matching her description or knew where to even begin looking.

"You there," came a soft hiss from the shadows cast by on overhanging thatch roof, "You said you're looking for a girl? Taken by demons?"

"Yes," Sōta began slowly as he narrowed his eyes and registered a faint demonic aura, "Aren't you a demon?"

"Don't say it so loud asshole!" came another hiss before a scaly hand beckoned his closer, "My brother was killed by a great demon lord after he'd gone on a journey to procure a certain lady who came from a fisherman's village. Two technically, two mikos but the sister was struck down. That matches your story. I want to help."

"Why should I trust anything you have to say?" Sota clipped back as he narrowed his eyes, "Why help me?"

"I want to see that palace burned to the ground," the man hissed back - the pupils in his yellow serpentine eyes narrowing into barely visible slits, "The half-demon who owns her killed my uncle and my brother is dead. All over some lousy piece of ass. I'm done."

"As you can see, I have no army and no way to burn a demon palace to the ground," Sota huffed in frustration, "What would you have me do?"

"I'll be a spy of course," the demon hissed as he rolled his eyes, "Convey whether or not the girl's alive. Where she's being held. As for an army, if you travel three days towards the mountains, you'll find one. They're planning to storm the fortress in several months time. Humans tired of living under Western demonic rule. The general's daughter has been taken like your sister. Killed in a gruesome way. Split clean in half when she was impaled on a spike. Tell him your story. That she might be alive and he'll do it for free. All I want for payment is to bring an end to their pathetic regime."

"What does this half-demon look like?" Sōta asked after a moment, "The one who keeps her?"

"Wears red a lot," the serpentine demon hissed with a wicked smile, "Silver hair, gold eyes, dog ears. Rumor is he's imprinted on her."

"Imprinted?" Sōta repeated dumbly, "What the hell is that?"

"Basically when a demon claims someone as their property," the snake lied seamlessly, "That the woman is theirs to plunder and theirs alone. He's quite vicious. It will be hard to take her away from him."

"I owe her at least an attempt to do so," Sōta replied coldly as he nodded once in appreciation, "I hope your story holds water."

"Of course it does, fool boy!" The snake hissed before huffing in frustration, "If you'll excuse me I need to get out of here before someone sees me. I'm no good to you if I'm dead."

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The mountain path ahead was loose rock, each one washed smooth by the river that once ran freely over them. Sōta braced his feet, attempting to guard against the inevitable rolling in random directions, but his ankles tumbled left and right regardless. His horse was tied down some distance below but the rumor was this army was just over the ridge and he wanted a good look at it before he approached. For all he knew, they were bandits who he'd rather die than allow them to even lay eyes on his sister.

Dark green boughs arched over the path from each side, competing for the light. Under their dappled shade the harshness of the midday sun was muted but it did little to make the steep incline any easier. As he arrived on the ledge, he took a moment to catch his breath before glancing over the edge. There they were. A respectable army. Flags of the various villages and fortresses he'd come across on his way here flying proudly as men walked to and fro. Taking a steadying breath, the boy made his way back down before mounting his horse and making his way towards them. It didn't take long for a scout to spot him.

"You there! What business do you have here?" a middle aged man bellowed as he nocked an arrow and aimed, "Be quick about it lest you be a half-wit."

"My sister was taken to a demon fortress," Sōta answered in kind as he held his head up proudly, "I have come to join your ranks."

"How you know they have her?" the man asked suspiciously- the arrow still nocked at the ready, "Where did you get that information?"

"A silver haired demon has imprinted on my sister," Sota bellowed back as he huffed in frustration, "And my source was a demon who lives in the palace. He too wanted them gone. Told me where to find you."

"They know we're here," the man asked shakily as he lowered the bow and slid down the rock face, "Come. You must tell us everything."

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Leaning back, the general ran his hand over his face before sighing heavily, "One thing you should be grateful for is that he imprinted on her, if indeed that is the case. Hopefully, that mitigated some of the real atrocities she might have faced otherwise."

"I was told imprinting meant she was his property," Sota scoffed indignantly as he threw his hands up in frustration, "Why should I be grateful for that!?"

"Quite the contrary," the general laughed humorlessly, "If the stories are true, if anyone is property of the other, he's hers and hers alone. That being said, to be loved by a demon is hell enough in itself. Their kind have very different ideas on love."

"So what happens if she doesn't love him back?!" Sota hissed angrily - the knowledge that Kagome's circumstances might not be quite as dire as he imagined initially taking some of the bite out of his tone, "What would happen then?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure. Perhaps he would force himself on her or perhaps he would let her be. There's no way to predict it. Not much is known on the phenomenon," the general admitted with a heavy sigh, "You must understand. Demons live by a different set of customs. One thing is true. She's probably beyond saving."

As Sota let out a shuddering breath and clenched his eyes shut, the General continued, "Our people have lived within the domain of the Western lands for millennia. Typically they've left us alone but over the past several decades, they've been abducting more and more of our women. Instead of the food stipends that were traditionally given, no food has been delivered in over fifty years. Their protection is non-existent and we have been plagued by lesser demons not under their control who raid and pillage our villages. Despite all this, they still demand payment of taxes merely for being part of the Western Lands. It is time for us to rid ourselves of their supposed reign over us. It is time we fight or die for our independence and enter a new age. Join us."

"What of my sister?" Sota asked wearily, "If I join you, will you allow me to retrieve her? To at least attempt to save her?"

"The story needs to be verified," the general responded with a bob of his head, "We have several human spies within the castle walls. We shall inquire as to the conditions she faced upon arrival and consider your proposal from there. If it is determined that she has chosen to love one of their kind, her fate will be the same as theirs."

Letting out a shuddering breath, Sota nodded once before asking quietly, "What can I do to assist?"

"Travel across the western lands, perhaps," the general mused as he sent the boy a curious look, "We need someone to spread our message. Searching for your sister would be a perfect excuse to meet with headmen and present our position."

"When do we move?" Sota sighed as he made his way to his feet, "So I know when to return."

"In three months' time," the general informed him, "The height of harvest. A time when they will least expect resistance."

Nodding numbly, Sota got to his feet, bowed and made his way to the stables.

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"So, I have a present for you," Sango mumbled as she handed Kagome a very poorly wrapped bundle that looked like a blind child had been assigned the task. No, that would be an insult to blind children everywhere. It looked like a man had wrapped it.

"What is it?" Kagome asked hoarsely as she accepted the oddly shaped bundle and pulled at the twine holding the mass of haphazardly folded fabric together. As the cloth fell away, there in the center lay a beautiful conch shell - a lovely pearl color blending into a soft pink as it curled inwards. Picking it up, Kagome smiled sadly as she ran her finger across one of the smooth edges, "It's a seashell."

"It is indeed a seashell," Sango repeated awkwardly before visibly something clicked in her mind and she laughed as though it just occurred to her, "Because you used to live by the sea."

Sending her friend an amused glance, Kagome shakily held the shell up to her ear and closed her eyes in bliss. There it was. The gentle ebb and flow of the tide. Not exactly but it was enough to be a balm against her ragged nerves.

"I love it," Kagome hummed happily as she placed the shell lovingly back into the hot mess from whence it came, "Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it," Sango replied with a relieved sigh as she sat down next to her friend and gently rubbed small circles on her back, "You seem to be doing much better. You're recovering well."

"I'm getting there," Kagome chuckled lightly before her face fell and she averted her eyes, "I hope I am anyway. Some days are definitely better than others."

"Perhaps some fresh air would help," Sango offered casually, "I would offer to take you but I am just so busy. If only there was someone who would be willing to escort you. A tall, strong man perhaps."

"I see what you're doing there," Kagome laughed shakily as she rolled her eyes, "I'll think about it. After all, I should probably thank Inuyasha for his gift in person."

"What?" Sango gasped in a falsely offended tone as she place a hand over her heart, "Whatever do you mean?"

For a moment the two woman looked at each other - clearly trying to keep from laughing before they both devolved into a fit of giggles.