JEALOUSY.
Kagura fumed as she tore thru the corridor of the mountain, her robes flying around her in a mess by the self made winds of frustration.
MATED!
That little wench had made herself mated to Sesshomaru!
How had this been allowed to happen?
Did Naraku not have some kind of attraction for the female?
Turning a corner, and realizing it was the wrong one, she let out a growl of annoyance and spun around.
What was wrong with that fool?!
How long was he to let the girl be with the yokai lord before he finally DID something about it?!
After taking a short break from her regular duties, Kagura had went to go see Sesshomaru this afternoon...
Only to find him in the arms of that woman, in broad daylight.
They had very clearly just gotten done making love to each other.
The site caught her breath and made her chest hurt at the same time.
It appeared that the male no longer cared if others knew of his affections for a mere human female.
That the great Sesshomaru had taken in a lowly creature for a mate.
He. Didn't. CARE.
Kagura could not take it much longer.
"Where the hell is he..." She mumbled.
This mountain was so twisty, with long tunnels that went on forever and could lead to absolutely nowhere.
What Naraku was doing at this place, deep inside a holy barrier, he still had yet to inform anyone.
It was annoying as hell to come and go from this place everyday.
Sure, once inside the place it was fine, but it was the pain of getting past the barrier that was annoying and painful.
Because sometimes Naraku 'forgot' to make sure it opened for her.
Finally, after nearly ten minutes of walking downwards in a tunnel nearly too dark to see save for a few torches, Kagura found him.
She heard his voice and followed, gaining momentum and nerve with each new step.
Kagura seen the door, and barged thru it with all her determination.
The bang echoed all thru the halls of the mountain, causing some dust to fall from the ceiling.
The two men inside jumped at the sound and the way the walls spilled dust and rocks to the floor.
Naraku was sitting on a mat in a large circular room, talking to Bankotsu.
This young and handsome male was leader of the Band of Seven, and despite his playful grin, he was completely bloodthirsty.
Both men paused to look over at her.
Suddenly feeling a tinge of regret for her outburst, she glanced away.
"What do you want?" Naraku said in a bored and bothered tone.
"Oh, hey there Kagura." Bankotsu said with a friendly wave.
How such a dangerous person could be so friendly baffled her mind.
And he always made sure to say hello to her even in mere passing.
"I need to talk to you." She said with uttermost importance.
Naraku rolled his eyes and went back to face the other male, pouring sake' for the both of them lazily.
"Speak." He stated.
Kagura frowned.
She really rather not speak of such things with an audience.
Bankotsu eyed her with a look of concern on his handsome face.
It took a second longer then it should for her to look away from his eyes.
One so cruel should not have such pure and playful eyes...
"Need me to go?" He offered.
"There is no need." Naraku scoffed with a wave of his hand, his fingers rolled in an annoyed way.
With the way he was acting, like she was a bother and whatever news she beheld would be of little importance, it refueled her inner fire.
Fine, who cares if some assassin finds out his little secret crush.
"She's mated to him." Kagura stated with a hint of smugness.
Yes she was pissed about it, but the feeling of rubbing it in his face just about made it worth it.
Naraku went completely stiff.
Even Bonkotsu eyed him with pure curiosity in his gaze.
Naraku then looked to her, eyes flashing that dangerous red he got when his mind went to dark places.
"You are certain of this?" His voice was calm, but it was fake.
Kagura nodded.
"I seen them... together. And heard a bit of the conversation afterwords. He calls her his mate."
"I see..." His eyes were on fire.
"So what ARE you going to do about it then? You took too long to act and she has completely forgotten you."
He glared at her, chills running thru her body as she feared he may punish her for that one.
Suddenly, Bankotsu raised his hand in a cute and curious manner.
"I didn't know you actual liked a girl! Who is she?" He teased.
"None of YOUR concern!" Naraku snapped before getting to his feet.
This only made the other male laugh.
"Hey, I get it. Calm down."
"Our business is done, you may go."
And with that, Naraku himself snatched the bottle of sake' and left without so much as a glance to her.
No doubt off to his room to sulk and get drunk, maybe get into one of his not so rare drunken rampages...
But she did not trust that he would actually take her from the man, even after hearing such a thing as this.
He had gone soft.
Because of that stupid girl.
Both he AND Sesshomaru had lost something since meeting her.
Kagura watched Bankotsu get to his feet in a slow and lazy fashion.
Acting unfased by what had just transpired before him.
He stretched and glanced at her.
"Your awful pretty for a lady made from that guy." He stated for no reason she could think of.
For some reason, she felt her face heat at his words, and she blinked.
What an odd man...
However, with those words, an idea hit her so quickly, it nearly made her laugh at how simple it was.
Yes, she was an attractive woman...
Without responding to him, she turned and left him standing there.
"Was it something I said?" She heard him say in a puzzled tone.
It took some time, most of the day to be honest, but she found them.
Well, HIM.
The one she needed.
The only one she could use for this.
There was another member of the Band of Seven that was always trying to make a move on her, and she had just decided to make use of that...
Kagura watched from above as the two members in charge of guarding the barrier lazed about.
Jekotsu was stretched out on a rock, sunbathing with his arms behind him.
His armor and clothing removed aside from his pants, smiling like he had not a care in the world.
Suikotsu leaned against a tree, sharpening his claws with a bored look as he listened to his companion chatter away.
"Do you think Inuyasha will like me better with a tan?" Jakotsu asked.
The other man snorted, but that was the only answer given.
"I think he would." Jakotsu went on.
"Maybe if I kill that woman that is always whining, he'll thank me!"
"Are you that stupid?" Suikotsu said under his breath.
"How cruel, brother! I heard that!"
Kagura rolled her red eyes and decided it was time to make herself known.
"Oh bother, it's that feather woman again..." Jakotsu sighed once her seen her, then placed an arm over his face.
Suikotsu, however, perked up at the sight of her, a smile on his face.
Just the reaction she was hoping for...
Kagura gave him a coy smile as she landed by his side.
"Hey little lady." He grinned, leaning against the tree in a pose to show off his flexing arm muscles.
It took all she had not to snort at him.
Men.
All the same.
"There is something I need you to do for me, and if you agree..." She leaned closer to him, looking him up and down with a sexy smile.
"If you agree, there will be payment."
While his eyes flashed, the other male let out a long groan of disgust.
"Why do you gotta get all nasty with me around?" He whined.
Suikotsu growled at him before turning to her again with a smile.
It gave Kagura chills.
And those chills increased as he moved to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
"What kind of payment?" He crooned.
A blade in your gut, she thought.
"Whatever you can think of."
"Oh dear LORD..." Jakotsu moaned.
"What do you need little lady?" The other said with interest.
She smiled at his serious tone.
This could work.
Why had she not done this already?
"There is a golden haired girl that I need you to kill. A human who is very much a vexing problem to me. She travels with Lord Sesshomaru and-"
"NO!" Jakotsu cut in, waving his hands in an over dramatic way as he sat up on the rock so fast he fell off it.
"Big brother said that we have direct orders from Naraku to leave that guy and his people alone. No killing."
"Shut up already!" Suikotsu snapped.
Kagura watched the man ponder her request while Jakotsu quietly protested from behind the rock.
"So you just need this other woman to have an accident when we encounter that Sesshomaru person?"
"A DEADLY accident." She persisted.
"B-but, what about-" Jakotsu tried to cut in again, but was silenced by yet another growl that made him flinch.
Suikotsu held her even closer as he glared over at his brother.
"I know what big brother said okay? But even if given orders to not kill them, if they were to attach us things could get... out of hand." Suikotsu said that last part with a evil smile.
Kagura wiggled from his grip and faced him with a fake flirty expression, fixing the robes he had been so sly to try and undo while she was in his arms.
"Is that a deal I hear?" She purred.
He bowed to her, racking his claws down the side of the tree.
"Indeed we do, little lady."
She could not keep the wicked smile off her face at the thought of that woman finally out of the way.
Suikotsu laughed deeply before crossing his arms to look her over.
"I love that look in your eyes woman."
Kagura paused and turned from him. For some reason, hearing that from HIM made her shudder.
For a moment, only half a second, she wondered if her desire for Sesshomaru was turning her into something just as bad as Naraku... maybe worse.
But she shook the thought and took to the skies, needing to return before any could figure where she had went.
Suikotsu watched her go, thoughts of his payment playing in his mind.
Meanwhile, Jakotsu was eyeing them both from his rock, biting his lip.
"Not good. So not good. Going against big brothers orders..."
"If your so worried about it, then YOU keep the man busy while I do the rest. That way you don't do anything wrong and if big brother finds out it's on me and only me." Suikotsu said calmly as he went back to sharpening his claws.
Jakotsu pondered this deeply as he placed his clothing back on.
"Hmmm. It's Inuyasha's brother, yes?"
"No shit."
"Do you think he's hot?!"
"Why the hell would I care..."
"I hope he's hot."
"So are you in or what?"
"He better be a little hot..."
"Whatever."
HOURS PASS.
It was into the evening when Naraku emerged from his room, fully drunk and unsure of just what it was he was truly feeling at the moment.
He leaned against the door frame, dizzy, and only then noticed how late it must be. Too late.
Even stupid Kagura had to be sleeping.
Stupid Kagura and her stupid spying.
He didn't want to know Akane had...
Mating involved sex right?
Duh, it had to.
Akane had S.E.X with that dog.
Granted, he was a beautiful dog...
Well, no, he had never actually SEEN him as a dog to know that part, but when the dog was a MAN he was most certainly a beautiful man.
But THAT didn't matter!
Groaning, he held the side of his throbbing head.
This was just so STUPID!
Stupid Kagura.
Stupid beautiful male.
STUPID little dragon!
"Why do I want to talk to her?" He said aloud as he slid down the door frame to sit on the not spinning floor.
And he did too.
He wanted to go and ask Akane what he was feeling right now.
He didn't know.
But how could he even want to SEE her after hearing that she...
That she and he...
"Ack!" He smacked his head against the door frame twice.
In truth, at first, he had been enraged.
He had moved thru the castle like a small whirlwind of chaos.
Breaking and destroying anything he passed on the way to his room.
The rage had lasted long after what few things he had were tossed, kicked, and otherwise broken.
His bed was in shreds now that he was looking at it. Table broken, lamps shattered, a single flame remained.
There had not been enough sake'.
Looking at his mess, he could all but hear his little dragon's voice.
"Seriously Naru? You went and had a fit just like a child! Look at your bed for fuck's sake! How are you going to get any sleep on THAT?! How many times do I have to say 'Think first'?."
Naraku let out a groan and waved away the phantom woman.
"It's not MY fault you went and-"
"That is no reason to act like a fit throwing toddler."
Growling, he glared up at her.
"You had SEX with him Akane!"
She was not there, even in his dizziness he knew this, and yet she was there all the same.
Looking down at him with sad blue eyes that tore thru him.
"I know that. But, did you think I would not react if he returned my affections? I loved him from the start you know."
"I know..." He sighed, and got the feeling he might actually get sick this time from his drinking.
She was by his side then, a hand he could not feel on his arm.
"Go get some air, Naru-honey. You have had way too much tonight."
"Go AWAY!" He hissed and went to shove her, only his hand hit nothing and he fell over.
But it had worked.
The phantom was gone.
Getting to his feet, Naraku managed his way to one of the few openings to the outside world.
But since it was so high up on the mountain, there had been no reason to close it off, at least not yet.
It was another moon like the one that had been in the sky the night the two of them had officialy met.
He sat at the edge, his legs dangling over into the vastness below.
He was drunk that night too...
Naraku sighed, running both hands thru his hair before leaning back to look up at the sky.
"Even when she's not here she's right, the air is helping..." He mumbled.
They had visited many times since that first one. Many, many, days together until he had gotten to busy.
They all ran thru his head, and he snatched at one of his favorites to replay in detail.
It was the only time he had seen her after they had kissed, before she and Sesshomaru had vanished and returned as some kind of couple...
FLASHBACK.
He was hot.
It should not be so hot given the fact it was not summer, and yet this day was the hottest one of the year.
Kagura must be almost back.
Back with Akane.
Naraku smiled at the thought.
He had not seen the little dragon since the kiss, but it was not that long ago.
They were using a small cave in a mountain wall for a place to stay for now, and he was sprawled on his back wishing more air would come thru.
Just then, Kagura was at the entrance and Akane hopped inside.
She looked over to him, those blue eyes going wide at his topless state.
Akane herself was most certainly less hot then he, given her dress.
What she called a T-shirt, tight and black, then there was that garment that had to be illegal...
Shorts, she called them.
Pale blue, and very...short.
"What ARE you doing?" She asked with a hint of amusement.
"At the moment? Melting." He stated.
She rolled her eyes. "Drama queen."
Naraku frowned at the saying.
It was something he never heard.
Akane walked over to him slowly, like she feared he may bite.
He could tell that the kiss was playing in her mind, and she wanted to know if he intended to do it again.
But forcing her was not an option.
"So, she said you needed me?" Akane asked as she knelt beside him.
"Indeed I do. Because I've never done it before, but need to." He said in a very dire tone.
She frowned, worried.
"Shoot. What do you want?"
So cute when puzzled.
He tossed his arm over his face in a dramatic way and groaned.
"First you must agree to DO it. I fear that I will not survive this day if it can not be done soon." He stated.
Peeking out from under his arm, he was a tad shocked to see her looking at him like she didn't buy a word of it.
A smirk was on her face, cheek in one hand as she watched him.
"For a bad guy, you suck at acting."
That insulted him.
Naraku sat up with a gasp of disbelief.
"I most certainly AM a good actor!"
"Mhmmm..." She blinked at him.
"I am!" He repeated, feeling silly for trying to convince her.
Waving her free hand at him, she nodded lightly.
"Sure, sure. Now are you going to tell me why you wanted me here?"
Flopping back onto the floor, he blew his hair out of his face.
"Your no fun." He whined.
"And your adorable." She laughed.
He felt his face heat, and when he glanced at her, it was very hard not to reach out and pull her down to him.
"So?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
He blinked. "So?"
Akane laughed and playfully smacked his bare shoulder.
"So what did you want?"
"Oh, that."
In truth, her not playing along had all but made him forget.
"I want you to cut my hair." He stated.
She lost her balance and fell to the side, giving him a nice view of her backside cupped in those things she called shorts.
"YOU WHAT?!" Akane yelped in a volume he did not know she possessed.
Still sprawled on the floor, he stared over at her, puzzled.
"It's so HOT and this hair is so THICK and kinky and just all out annoying in the summer to be honest. So cut it for me, because I've never done it and I don't trust Kagura with a knife."
The wind witch, who had been in the doorway this whole time, had the nerve to roll her eyes. But he would let it pass because Akane seemed to not like it when he punished her...
Akane, meanwhile, was still gaping.
"Again, dragon or fish?" He teased.
Mouth now shut, Akane reached out played with one of his curls.
"Why not just take the form of someone with short hair for a while?"
"Because it does not last, would be a waist of power, and why are you so against this?" He asked.
Truly, she acted like it was a crime for him to even want to.
How odd.
"So, you want to cut it because your hot right now?" She asked in an odd tone of voice he didn't know.
Frowning, he nodded.
Suddenly she was going thru her pack.
Digging thru it with her tongue sticking out one side of her mouth in a look the was unbelievably cute.
Right when he was going to ask what she was doing, he was suddenly hit with ice cold water to the chest.
An inhuman yelp escaped him as he bolted upwards to a sitting position.
The water on his skin running downwards, soaking the top of his pants in the still cool liquid.
"What the HELL was that!" He gasped.
Akane was holding a container of some kind in her hand, an evil and most beautiful smile on her face.
"Are you still hot?" She batted her eyes at him innocently.
Without warning, he dove for the thing in her hand, making her squeal with laughter as he dripped on her.
She turned the thing and somehow sprayed more ice water down his back, making yet another sound escape him that was embarassing.
He managed to take it, and made her nearly as wet as himself before the thing went empty.
Both laughing, and both completely and utterly soaked.
They both froze when they realized he was on top of her, her hands pressing up against his chest.
Naraku could tell by her eyes that she was feeling torn again.
"What did I say last time?" He asked with only a hint of annoyance.
Eyes finally locking on his, her breathing calmed.
"Only you." She said firmly.
Smiling, he leaned closer to her.
Yes.
When with him, thoughts of the other were not allowed.
"Just me." He agreed a second before he kissed her neck.
Naraku felt her shudder under him.
He kissed those lips lightly.
If she really wanted him off, he would stop and move.
Akane let him kiss her, but her response was not as strong as the first time.
"You want to stop?" He asked.
"I'm just worried that if this doesn't work out I'll lose a good friend."
This caused him pause.
So it wasn't Sesshomaru she was thinking about then?
"I don't want to lose you, Naru. But when two friends try stuff like this, it can mess up everything..."
The things this woman thinks about.
Was this something HE should be thinking about too?
Naraku got off her, and helped her to a sitting position next to him.
Silence filled the room.
But it wasn't a bad silence really.
Which was odd.
"So, I take it you don't want me to cut my hair huh?" He said as he leaned back on his elbows.
She looked at him, a smile on her face as she shook her head at him.
"Nope. Naraku without his curls just would not be even half as intimidating a presence. I mean, really, you should be thanking me for refusing to cut it off." She said in such a serious voice he laughed at her.
"You think so, do you?" He grinned.
"Yup, yup! Gotta keep 'em."
Shaking his head, he reached out and yanked her to lay down with him.
"Fine. The hair stays, but if I die in the heat of summer..."
She snorted. "Yeah, the SUN will be what kills you. I believe it."
"So cruel, little dragon."
Akane let out a sigh and placed her head on his arm.
"There it is..."
"What is?" He asked, puzzled.
"Been waiting for you to call me that since I got here." She admitted.
Oh really?
She liked his name for her that much?
"What does he call you?"
What the hell?!
Why did I just ask THAT?
Naraku mentally slapped himself as he felt her body tense up.
"... ... I think the least insulting thing would be 'Strange Human'. I think that it might actually BE his attempt at a pet name. Funny huh?"
"Kinda..."
Why did he have to bring the dog up when it was HIS OWN RULE not too?
Akane glanced up at him.
"You seem like you wanna know a bit about him sometimes." She said.
He swallowed.
He didn't know WHY he wanted to.
It's just that she was with him all the time, and Naraku wanted to know what kept her by his side.
"I don't think you hate him then, not if you want to know about him."
"I don't?" He scoffed.
Of course he hated the dog.
The mutt had Akane's affections.
She sat up and smiled down at him.
"The fact that YOU braught him up, and we're talking about him without you getting all upset is a good sign."
He frowned up at her.
"Enough about him. Want to take a walk with me before you go?"
Rolling her eyes, she got to her feet.
"Sure, sure, as long as you don't get all sulky on me."
Naraku took her outstretched hand.
"I don't get sulky." He protested.
"Only when HE gets talked about." She said with a smirk.
Unable to argue that point, he changed the subject as the two left the cave, leaving Kagura alone.
END OF FLASHBACK.
The moon shined into the cave opening, a light soft enough that it did not hurt the eyes of the drunk man sitting on the edge.
Naraku sighed.
And once again, as he replayed that day in his mind, Akane was right.
Even now, after hearing what had happened...
He did not HATE Sesshomaru.
That wasn't it.
So what WAS it then?
Why had the idea of the dog taking care of her in his place been okay?
How was it that even NOW after the white haired male had Akane his MATE of all things...
Why was it somehow okay?
Was it because his plan to make her his own once the Jewel became his was so absolutely perfect?
Because he would simply erase everything that is taking place?
Kagura had, over and over again, asked him why he did not take her from Sesshomaru.
Akane would not be safe with him until the entire Jewel was his alone.
Only then could he...
A sound caught his attention.
Turning, he found Kanna.
The white child was watching him.
For how long, he did not know.
Of all his creations, she was by far his favorite one.
A child of void, she seemed empty.
You had to know her to see the little things that gave away the fact she did indeed feel things.
"Yes?" He said, trying not to slur.
"You have nearly fell...twice." The child said in that whispery tone.
"Ah, I see. I've been so lost in thought that I may have passed out at some point." He said with a small laugh.
"You should... come inside."
He smiled to himself.
His childs odd way of showing concern was about as strange at his own.
Getting to his feet, Naraku paused and looked at the child.
Why did I make her?
One so young and small...
"You want a family, so you keep making more to be by your side."
Naraku turned around too fast, and the moment he seen the phantom of his woman again, he finally passed out.