Hey all, I am back. My friend, who has cancer, is doing well. There was a bit of an emergency that happened a while ago, but she's recovering well so I'm happy about that! (^_^) On the downside, work has gotten me so tired that updating seems like a hassle to do sometimes as my boss gives me weird shifts to work and most times, it's the crappiest hours where I can't do anything in the morning and when I get off work, I'm too tired and its late enough for there to be nothing for me to do but sleep, maybe read a little… but I'm trying, hence, this chapter.

Anyway, next chapter is up. It's short, but it'll have to do for now. Read and enjoy!


Snow Pearl

Chapter Twenty Eight

By: PhoenixBlade


I held two pieces of paper in my hands. One with the insignia of Sesshoumaru on it and the other was a note from that damn hanyou Naraku.

Weighing between the two, I couldn't decide which one to read first… for a few moments before tearing open the one that smelled faintly of Naraku.

Though Naraku was a growing threat, Sesshoumaru was still at the forefront of my mind. Letters sent by Sesshoumaru were not a matter that required dilly-dallying after being read; hence Naraku's letter would be read first. Though Sesshoumaru was still the target, Naraku was a petty distraction that needed to be dealt with first… though petty was too small a word to describe all his recent activities with me.

I growled angrily at the memory of Naraku's skillful fingers pumping inside me and the way his tongue worked its way to making me cum. Taking his note, I tore it open.

...

Kagome-chan,

Last night was a pleasurable evening in which I would like to enjoy with you sometime in the near future, though it would be more pleasant if you willingly came to me. I am saddened by the fact that the first time I took you was during a fit of depression that you had fallen into, and last night when I drugged you. I am hoping that you will eagerly join in next time I take you.

On another note, one of the Shichinitai intercepted the attached letter from Sesshoumaru's domain to his generals. This is one of many which have been sent out.

Till then, my dear.

Naraku

...

I felt my face burn in anger, but quickly brushed it aside as I opened the other letter… to see that it was a summons. Before reading, I noticed the unusual writing style that wasn't Sesshoumaru's. Even the paper itself was something that Sesshoumaru would never use… and he never sent letters out to find me. I'd be given an indefinite amount of time to finish my task and I'd always return on my own.

Strangely enough, a strange smell seemed to be emanating from the note. It didn't smell like Naraku, nor did it smell of Sesshoumaru or Hiten… more like it had beebn added in… but perhaps it was nothing at all.

Finally set on the fact that the letter wasn't from Sesshoumaru, I read it… carefully.

...

Subjects of Sesshoumaru-sama,

If you should find the Shikon no Tama, direct her towards the Moon. Tell her to make haste.

General Hiten

...

Short and simple, very Hiten-ish. Though intelligent, the youkai hated writing letters.

Yet why would he write to summon me? He detested me, hated the very thought of my existence, considering I took the position which he deemed had rightfully belonged to him, at Sesshoumaru's side. The youkai hated being around me, yet now; he would ask me to return to the castle? Whatever for? And where was Sesshoumaru in all this?

Re-reading the letter, I felt that there was no dark intentions behind it, rather, it sounded somewhat… desperate? Perhaps there was a matter concerning Sesshoumaru in which I had to be part of…? Thought whatever the matter was, I knew not. It was possible that someone was invading the Western Lands… though that idea was highly unlikely, considering Sesshoumaru would have left nothing left of them after a few swipes of his poisonous claws.

Closing my eyes, I sighed in frustration. I would have to go. Should the matter prove to be a trap for me, I would overcome it. Should it concern my plans coming to fruition, I would lay waste to the obstacles prohibiting me from completing them… However, should Sesshoumaru truly be in some sort of danger, it was only fitting that I go and put an end to his miserable life. The youkai was a tactician, calculating and highly intelligent. If something were to happen to him in which he could not overcome, my revenge would be pointless.

…Yet this was Sesshoumaru, he would not sit idly by and be destroyed… except by me.

Burning both pieces of paper in my hands, I coughed as I accidentally breathed in an odd bit of smoke. Not thinking too much about it, I summoned my miko energies to feel a large mass of youkai energies thousands of miles away towards the west. Although I needed to head back to Inuyasha before he started looking for me, he would have to be put on hold. I sped off towards the Western Lands.


Almost a week later, I came to the Western Lands. Although I would have reached here earlier, the many youkai that had entered Sesshoumaru's services or wished to be around the youkai lord and his lands were terrorizing and killing any ningen that came onto his lands. Not knowing who I was, the youkai sought to add me to their pile of dead ningen, but I decapitated them before they could even touch me. Noone had the right to touch me, or the intent to. Only Sesshoumaru was allowed that, though I did not welcome it. Naraku was another story altogether and one that I didn't want to be near me again.

Needless to say, I had been delayed by the many youkai I had passed and killed or left mortally wounded. Some had to live, they would need to help Sesshoumaru and in turn, it would help my plans as well. However, not wanting to be delayed any further, I cut through the Western Lands through Sesshoumaru's own personal lands, in which no other youkai were allowed in as he often hunted there.

Before I had come into his life, he had often times roamed the land, away from the Western Lands, in search of challenges and entertainment. Hence, that was how he came across my village. Destroying my village had been somewhat of a sport for him, or rather, more for his soldiers. At the time, Sesshoumaru had been suffering from the need to rut and I was the unfortunate lass to bear the brunt of his desires for the female flesh. After he had taken me in, he returned to the Western Lands and stayed there, training and fucking me at the same time.

As I was considered weak back then, he had decided to clear a large expanse of the Western Lands to make it his own personal space where he could run in his inu form and hunt all he wanted. It was this very same forest in which I had also been trained in, and was currently passing through. Others were not allowed to set foot into his personal lands. I had gone through this same forest many times before and Sesshoumaru hadn't minded. Others… were not so lucky… or alive.

A sudden sharp stab gripped onto my leg and I stopped. It wasn't painful, but I seemed to have completely lost control of both my legs before I went catapulting to the ground floor.

"What the hell…" I grunted.

I tried forcing my legs to move, but they refused to listen. Not happy with my current predicament, I swore and began dragging myself forward… until my hands and arms suddenly fell limp, along with the rest of my body. I was… paralyzed! A thousand thoughts ran through my head as I thought of reasons why I had been paralyzed. I had been poisoned for sure, perhaps due to the smoke I had inhaled earlier from burning the letters. Aside from Sesshoumaru who knew poisons like the back of his hand, there was one other I knew who was a poison expert…and had also given me the same concoction that I had used on Onigumo prior to speaking with the Shinigami.

I was stuck on the forest floor for a short while before I heard shuffling footsteps in the bushes nearby. A pair of straw sandals came into view. I recognized them, along with the aura and the poisonous smell of the person.

"Mukotsu!" I snarled at him, "You've betrayed me!"

The bastard chuckled. He swore loyalty to me, why betray me now?

"My lady, I have never betrayed you…" he chuckled.

I could not turn my head to look at him, and could only see his straw sandals.

Then his voice turned dark, "But you have betrayed my love for you by going to that… that creature you serve… and for that, I will make sure you will love no one else but me!"

Fuck.


Ok ok, suggestions... Well, for any Bleach readers who are fans of the couple Ulquiorra and Orihime (which I am a BIG fan of!), might I suggest Muse by PrincessKitty1 here at fanfiction(dot)net? It's a pretty damn good read and even if you're not familiar with Bleach, it's still AU enough that one might be able to read it without knowing much about series at all. The story goes that Orihime is a prostitute, forced into the role from when she was a child by her own father and teachers as well as fellow students. She passes out one drunken night to be "saved" by Ulquiorra, a mysterious man whom has lost his inspiration for music.

The romance doesn't start until much later, but there are hints here and there. It starts out dark, pretty sad and all, but then the story picks up and there's quite a bit of comedy throughout the whole thing and its quite fun to read. Unfortunately (but fortunately for me), its M-rated (cause of the dark and sex themes) so it might be a bit of a heavy read for those looking for something lighter, but all in all, it's a VERY good fanfic.

Anyway, you guys know about the books called Chicken Soup for the Soul? Well, for writers like moi, reviews are also good for the soul… *hint hint* (^_~) Laters!