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Memoirs of a Miko

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One Month Ago

"Are the preparations going well?" the young boy asked idly as he surveyed the various men who had arrived from across the Western lands, "My latest news is that the priests of Jokakkoji, Choenji , and Imakumano Kannon-ji have agreed to answer the call. The mikos at Okazaki Shrine too have agreed to send several members and are reaching out to neighboring shrines as well. With these numbers…"

"Hopefully, they won't be needed," the general interjected softly as he gave the boy an apologetic smile, "The new Chancellor has reached out recently informing us that he has drafted several propositions to reinstate and honor our treaties. At the moment, he is travelling to the North to deal with a drought that has been plaguing the area but upon his return…"

"And what of Kagome?" Sota interjected hotly, "Have you even mentioned her return as part of these negotiations?"

"I understand your frustration. Truly I do, but we have confirmed that this Chancellor has imprinted upon her. She couldn't be safer," the general sighed heavily, "Send a raven to her. Let her know you are present and surely she will agree to an audience. This demon is unlike his predecessor. I truly think…"

"You talk of demons as though they are capable of higher thought," Sota hissed angrily as he narrowed his eyes, "All they know is bloodlust and violence. Not one month ago you informed me that her mind was addled. That she had been tortured and raped. Now you speak as though that meant nothing at all."

"Kagome is under the protection of the Chancellor's household and he imprinted on her which is no small matter. Her treatment has been fair and just since that time. Besides, these aren't run of the mill demons we're dealing with in this battle. They're highly sophisticated with law and order," the general corrected as he set his jaw, "And while a choice few have indeed committed atrocities, it appears those non-guilty parties are attempting to rectify them and several have been punished. The procurement of women and men has ceased. My daughter and your sister being the last few to fall prey to such beasts. If this can be ended without more bloodshed, I am all for it and you should be also."

"So you refuse to avenge your daughter," Sota replied coldly as he shook with rage, "You refuse to honor her memory. These animals have no regard for human life. They are not…"

"Many men here have family who are gainfully employed by those demons in the palace," the general sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "And the Chancellor has promised to send us a proposal for our review upon his return. I will send men to retrieve it in person and meet with him or his agent in a few weeks time but until then, be patient."

"So he's in the North?" Sota asked slowly as he set his jaw, "Do you know the name of the closest shrine?"

"Boy, don't go doing something that will get men killed," the general warned angrily as he gripped the boy's chin tightly and forced Sota to look him in the eye, "Leave him be and let the adults handle these negotiations. I will send a letter with my men requesting Kagome send a reply but until then, I want you to stand down."

"Fine," Sota spat out acidly – roughly pushing the general's hand away, "Don't blame me when it all goes awry. You'll see I was right all along."

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One Month Ago

"Any news about the girl?" Sota asked impatiently as the serpentine demon eyed the boy with a suspicious eye, "It's a simple question. Yes or no."

"She still lives within the palace walls. Isolated. No harm has befallen her recently," the serpent responded wearily as he continued to appraise the boy before he added softly, "Your aura has changed."

"I beg your pardon?" Sota asked in a low, menacing tone, "What exactly are you implying?"

"That you are not yourself. I've quite enjoyed our intrigue but this, unfortunately, will be the last time we meet," the serpent replied as he slowly backed away, "I have no interest in being dragged to hell by some piddling human."

"So you've seen through my charade," a highly amused voice echoed from all around, "How is it that you and not countless other spiritual beings noticed?"

"Serpent demons are particularly good at reading auras," the demon hissed as he glanced over his shoulder before whipping his head back, "And your aura has grown far too dark in too short a span of time. I want no part of this. My objective…"

"Your objective?" the voice crooned as a dark purple orb began assembling overhead, "Your objective no longer matters. Not in the slightest but you will make an excellent pawn."

Before the demon had the time to turn and run, the orb rushed forward into his chest and after a few moments of horrific screams, the yellowing eyes glazed over, his muscles slack.

"Now," Sota chuckled, "Go kill as many humans as you can and be quick about it too."

Nodding once, the serpent turned and made him way into the forest. Smiling sadistically, the young boy stretched his arms above his head before casually making his way back to his horse and heading towards the north.

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One Month Ago

"We need to send someone for aide," an elderly demon huffed in frustration as he ran his withered hand over his bald head, "Too many have fallen ill overnight and the Chancellor arrives in two days. Someone needs to relay a message for him to turn back."

"Who among us could really go?" a younger demon asked nervously, "We're all exposed and that traveling healer told us none should leave. He said…"

"I don't trust him," the elderly demon cut off the younger, "There was something wrong there. In his aura and…and his eyes. There was something cruel and almost glad that we were suffering. No. Take the women and children who haven't been infected. Take them far away from this place. And you…warn the Chancellor."

"But elder, I…" the boy began before he turned a sickly shade of green and deflated visibly. For a moment, the elder's eyes widened in horror before the boy hurled all over the floor. Several screams of fright and the sound of retching echoed throughout their small village. Then, oh and then, the faint stench of death began creeping into their scents. This was escalating far too quickly. This was no plague….

This was a curse.

"I must warn the Chancellor," the elder breathed anxiously as he staggered to his feet and began rifling about for some parchment, "That healer was right about one thing and one thing only. We shouldn't leave. It's too late for us."

Little did he know that the Chancellor was running far ahead of schedule and had already stepped foot inside the cursed village while an angry vengeful spirit watched on with a wicked grin.

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One Month Ago

It was amusing to watch the half-demon stumble across the mud to empty his stomach like the animal he truly was. Even more so because of what he had done to their sister. The trap had worked splendidly and brilliantly the villagers that knew the truth had already expired. Oh, he would most certainly be quarantined and isolated. Unable to negotiate any deals. Within a fortnight he'd be dead and nothing would tie Kagome to anyone in that wretched place. With nowhere to go and no one to protect her, she'd come running back to them. It wasn't as though she could actually love such a vile beast, regardless of whether he 'imprinted' on her or not. It was especially delicious that he had been ushered out without explanation. No way to know what truly caused his demise.

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Present Day

"Lay down, Inuyasha," Kagome huffed in exasperation as she tried to force him down and he watched her with a dumb grin on his face, "You're human. It's not like I can purify you like this. I just want to try it."

"I may be sick and human but ain't no way I'm letting you blast whatever demonic powers I might have right now to hell," Inuyasha snorted – his amusement at her attempts to force him to lay down beyond hilarious, "Plus I'm already feeling a little better. Enough to thwart your pathetic efforts."

"Watch yourself," Kagome huffed as she narrowed her eyes, "Or one day I'm gunna find something that'll send you slamming down to the ground with a single word."

"That's not a thing," Inuyasha cackled before blanching and complying with her request as she raised a single eyebrow in challenge, "Fine. Fine. I'll lay down. Just don't fry my ass to oblivion, okay? That's all I ask."

"Now there's a good boy," Kagome teased lightly – reaching up to tweak a single earlobe before straddling his lower back and rubbing her hands together, "It's not like I haven't done this before anyway."

"Wait, what?!" Inuyasha protested frantically before the most fantastic sensation began radiating down his back. Eyes drifting closed, Inuyasha wheezed happily before mumbling in a tired voice, "So when did ya try to purify me before this?"

"Last time I gave you a massage," Kagome admitted sheepishly as began working the muscles in his left shoulder, "That's why I kept asking if it hurt."

"Huh," was the only reply she got as he sighed in relief. Whatever the hell she was doing made a hell of a difference. It felt like the illness was bleeding straight out of him. A strange wetness on his stomach had his eyes flying open as one hand flew to his chest while he scrambled to sit up – knocking Kagome off in his haste. When he retracted his fingers and glanced down, his eyes widened in horror while Kagome gasped.

Sludge, black as pitch, was oozing from his chest, just over his heart.

"What the fuck is this?" Inuyasha asked hysterically as he looked wildly at Kagome whose mouth had fallen open in shock, "Kagome?! Is this normal?"

"You haven't been sick," Kagome whispered in awe as she reached out and touched the black goop that dissolved under her touch, "You were cursed."

"That doesn't answer what the hell this shit is!" Inuyasha hissed as he ran his hands over his now flawless – if not boney – chest, "I mean, is it blood or…or is that my demonic energy?! What is it?"

"What I was doing was purging the curse from you," Kagome murmured before a brilliant grin lit up her face, "Oh my god! I can heal you! Lay back down!"

"How do I know that…" Inuyasha began before stopping himself and laughing as he laid back down, "Wait. No, okay, I know I can trust you. I'm an idiot. Keeping doing what you were doing and get this shit outta me."