Kanojo Hisoka

Chapter Thirty Six

A Heartbeat Away

Dark, beady irises stared oddly at the preparations his partner was gathering for the upcoming ceremony. Kisame didn't understand the need for such dramatics, but he supposed Naraku wanted things to go off with a big finale. He personally thought the gold altar was a little too much. He voiced his opinion earlier and received a heavy glare from the dark haired man. Now that the altar was almost complete, Naraku was having red curtains drawn up to cover up the windows of the old castle they were in. There was numerous candle holders surrounding the spacious room along with chains bolted to the alter. He already knew who the two unfortunate beings were going to be chained up like a dog.

"I can't believe it," Kisame started with a large grin. "Things are finally looking up for us. We found the twins and things are almost done here. Only a week and a half to go until we get our wish." Kisame stated as Naraku continued to go about his business. "Do we really have to wait until the first quarter moon to do this? Why not any other night?" Kisame asked while admiring and picking his nails with bored eyes.

"Yes, it's been so long, which is why everything must be absolutely perfect." Naraku stressed with a raised brow and dark grin. The room was coming together rather nicely. It wouldn't be long until things were ready for the ceremony and the arrival of the twins. There was just one more thing he had to take care of before he got the ball rolling. He had to figure out a way to get rid of Orochimaru and the others. Those fools actually believed he would give up his own wish for theirs. Pathetic fools.

He actually had a plan to get rid of them while he conducted the ceremony. He would acquired the assistance of his special friends. A wicked grin spread across his lips. He wondered who would survive long enough to witness his rebirth and conquering of this world. He may have failed centuries ago, but this time things will be different. There will be no Midoriko around to stop his evil plans of immortality and limitless power.

"Uh, Naraku, are you alright over there? You didn't answer my question." Kisame's voice questioned oddly. Naraku brought his red irises to the blue skinned shinobi and deadpanned. "You just started laughing to yourself, it's creepy man." Kisame commented with narrowed irises that displayed his discomfort. Naraku almost let out a frustrated growl at the insult.

Couldn't he have a moment to himself to enjoy the unraveling of his plans?

"Never mind that, we have important matters to deal with. Leave the details to me. Also, what is the status on Kagome?" Naraku asked as he prepared to lay the gold blade on top of the wide altar. This will be the blade he will use on them. It is the very same blade Midoriko used all those years ago. He was fortunate to have recovered it. It would be difficult finding the exact location of the artifact, so he would have to search every inch of their bodies for it. He assumed Midoriko had hid a portion of the gem inside the twins' bodies, why else would she had them separated?

Kisame looked thoughtful as he pondered the question. "I suppose she's still in Konoha. I haven't received any word from my people on who has her yet." Kisame replied with a shrug. He didn't care who brought the girl, just as long as they delivered her on time. Naraku resisted the urge to roll his eyes. At least he didn't have to worry about the other twin. Orochimaru was diligent with his targets, so he knew he was keeping an extremely close eye on that one.

"Well, find out and report back to me. I don't want anything going wrong this close to the end." Naraku told him pointedly. Kisame sighed at the aspect of more work being piled upon him. It was all just very boring in his opinion.

"Fine, fine, I'll go check." He grunted out as he picked up his massive sword and left the ceremonial room.

Determined sky blue irises stared straight ahead to where their target group was. They had to be cautious on not getting caught trailing the orange haired shinobi's squad. It was unfortunate to have the girl side with them, but it was no dirt off their shoulders. They would have her with them soon enough and if they had to use force then so be it. He wasn't adverse to using his bombs.

"We're going to split up in about twenty kilometers. I want you to intercept them up ahead while I attack from behind." Sasori ordered as he ran besides Deidara. The blonde nodded in understanding. "I know I usually tell you to restrain yourself with your ridiculous bombs, but go crazy this time. We need as many distractions as possible." Sasori told him with a small grin, knowing it would please the young terrorist bomber.

"Now you are talking my language, Sasori, yeah!" Deidara nearly shouted, mindfully aware to keep his tone low enough.

"Alright, let's go!" Deidara exclaimed with a devious grin.

It was time to capture the girl!

~0~

Yahiko decided it was time to rest for the night and set up camp. He paused from his run and waited for the others to catch up to him. One by one his small group arrived and looked at him for directions. "We'll camp out here tonight and start up again in the morning. We should be in Rain by tomorrow afternoon." He told him with a nod. Konan and Nagato welcomed the break and retrieved some ration for their meal. It was too risky to build a fire this late at night and risked discovery.

Kagome awkwardly stood to the sideline as the trio sat near each other. She didn't know what to do with herself at the moment. The group seemed nice enough and she trusted them to a certain degree, but she didn't think she could actually become friends with these people. It made her slightly homesick and that heavy feeling swirled within her belly.

She didn't have a village to return to anymore.

"Here, catch." The soft voice of Konan reached her ears and she instinctively caught the ration pouch in her hand. Kagome stared at it with curious irises. She didn't particularly like rations, but she couldn't really complain in her current situation. She was a missing nin and life will only get harder from here on out. The only reprieve she held with her was the reunion with her sister.

Kagome took a seat on the ground and brought tentative eyes to the orange haired man. "Um, do you think you could tell me a little bit about that night?" Kagome asked with slight uncertainty. She knew he said he would tell her the truth once they reached Rain, but she figured now was just as good.

Yahiko's brows rose at the question and he nodded in agreement. "Of course, that night was very strange. After we were sent to retrieve you, I did some recon missions on my own and that night wasn't any different. You were talking to that pink haired kunoichi and suddenly things got hostile between you two. You had this strange and terrifying power that I've never seen before." Yahiko began with an awe expression. "You didn't seem like yourself. I know that for sure. You looked like you were possessed more than anything." He told her truthfully with furrowed brows. He had to keep an eye on her in case it were to happen again, so far nothing was out of the ordinary.

Kagome took in the information with a disturbed look on her face. It was scary to think that she was possessed, but by what? It couldn't have been Magatsuhi. He was the one who helped her escape.

"I'm just glad you're with us now. No one deserved to be treated like that." Yahiko told her with an off smile. He was thankful for an entirely different meaning, but grateful all the same. Kagome was their answer to saving their village.

Kagome nodded her head in agreement, but her eyes were downcast in thought.

"So much has happened..." Kagome began with a tired sigh. She still wasn't at full capacity and all she wanted to do was sleep. "But, thank you all for helping me. I don't know how to repay you all." Kagome told them with a warm, sincere smile.

Each member of team Yahiko felt their hearts constrict at her smile and words of gratitude. It was so misplaced that they felt the slight twinges of guilt stirred within their souls. The girl didn't know their real motives, but it was necessary to save their village. "I'm sure there's a way to repay us back, but don't worry about it now." Yahiko muttered out with some discomfort. She would be repaying them as soon as they reach Demon Country.

Kagome nodded and finished off her ration.

A strange sensation traveled the length of Kagome's spine as she ate and her face scrunched up in slight confusion. Something felt off about the area all of a sudden; she had the strangest sensation that something was approaching them. Before she could react, a medium size bird appeared in the center of their small camp. It stared straight at her. Kagome blinked in surprise at the oddly white bird hovering in front of her. It looked so strange, almost like a moving inanimate toy.

She titled her head to the side to admire it closely when it suddenly ended up exploding in an impressive blast that knocked her backwards several feet.

Kagome's swift reflexes allowed her to shield her face from the explosion as her body flew backwards. Her ears rang painfully due to the close proximity of the bomb going off and a trickle of blood poured out from her right ear. Kagome gritted her teeth as healing chakra immediately went to heal her ruptured ear drum.

Kagome could see Yahiko and the others fighting off more bomb birds going off in several different directions. She scanned the area for the shinobi unleashing these bombs and saw nothing but gray smoke.

Run away, now!

Kagome's eyes widen at the sound of Magatsuhi's voice fluttering through her mind. "I can't run away, they need my help." Kagome protested as she took off to help the team.

Forget about them, you made me a promise first, remember?

Kagome grunted out as she dodged another bird bomb. "Yes, I know, but I just can't abandon them after they've helped me." Kagome argued as she assessed the situation. Nagato's arm was laying limp by his side while Konan was performing a paper jutsu. Yahiko was nowhere to be seen. She was growing worried by his absence.

"Where's Yahiko?" Kagome questioned with wide eyes. Just as Konan was about to answer her question she swiftly disappeared and blocked the puppet aiming for Kagome's back. The sound of constant clatter of their wooden teeth filled the area eerily. A dark silhouette emerged from the forest and Kagome recognized the man from before.

"Get out of my way before I kill you." Sasori warned the blue haired kunoichi as his puppet swiped its blade once more. One cut from his sword and she would be dead within a minute from his perfectly manufactured poisons. Sasori brought his apathetic gaze to his target.

"You will come with us to Demon Country." He told her bluntly. "We won't relinquish our opportunity for a wish to be wasted on these fools. At least we have the decency to reveal our true intentions to you." He informed her with a bored gaze.

Kagome's eyes widen at his words and confusion was rapidly settling inside her mind. "W-what, what do you mean?" Kagome demanded as she wearily eyed Konan and Nagato from afar. The grin on Sasori's mouth spread further.

"Did you honestly think these fools were sent to save you? Please, I thought you were a kunoichi, but apparently you aren't one of the brightest ones." He insulted sharply with narrowed irises at her naivety.

"Shinobi like us, especially rouge shinobi, do not do things for free or without something in return. Your life is worth more than you realize." Sasori stated as he brought his hands up, moving his digits with precision to launch another attack. Stunned, Kagome swiftly dodged the puppet's blade from aiming at her chest. She angrily brought a chakra infused fish through its abdomen and was satisfied when it collapsed, causing pieces of wood to splintered off everywhere.

Despite taking out one of his puppets, she was surprised to find another one replacing it soon after. She wondered just how many this guy actually had control over. Kagome charged and did her best to fight them off, cautious of their blades which dripped heavily with poison. Sweat beaded all over her body as she panted slightly.

Another explosion erupted nearby them and a strong hot gale of wind whipped around their bodies. Kagome shut her eyes on instinct to prevent debris from blinding her, but ended up stiffening upon the feel of a sharp blade being pressed against her throat. The blade was taunt against her skin. Her turquoise colored irises widen in dismay at the realization of one of the shinobi's puppets standing behind her.

Konan and Nagato were not too far behind with their own problems. They were both held at knife point by Sasori's other puppets. "I won't waste time here." Sasori told him with an aloof expression as he twitched his digits once more. The two puppets automatically stabbed Konan and Nagato with their blades, effectively wounding and poisoning them. Their painful grunts reached Kagome's ears as she watched helplessly. She was about to push against the puppet's blade when Konan's voice shouted out to her, "Don't, he's known for lacing his blades with incurable poisons that he's created. Once you're infected that is it."

Kagome gritted her teeth at the news and glared angrily at the red head. "Don't kill them!" Kagome pleaded with sincere eyes. Her face was full of distress as she anxiously watched Nagato collapsed to his knees from the effects of the poison. "Too late, like she said there is no cure." Sasori teased lightly with a raised brow.

"I don't understand how you can concern yourself with them after they lied to you. They were going to trade your life in exchange for a wish. After all, you are Kanojo Hisoka, don't you realize how much your life is worth?" Sasori stated with a raised brow.

Kagome's eyes widen at the familiar words. Kisame had told her the very same thing long ago. The feelings of betrayal filled her heart as she saw the guilty expressions on their faces. So it was true then.

They had been lying about saving her and helping her find her sister. They were leading her to her demise and she stupidly fell for it.

Kagome shook her head and let out a humorless laugh at her misfortune. "Well, at least I escaped Konoha thanks to you all, but from here on out I'm on my own." Kagome told them sternly as she concentrated the dark energy into her palms. She was going to destroy this entire area and everyone in it. She didn't care anymore. She was done being foolish. Magatsuhi had been right earlier. She should have ran away.

Sasori's brows furrowed and he swiftly wrapped her arms to the sides of her body with chakra strings. He was prepared for any retaliation she would unleash. He remembered the destruction she caused back in Konoha. "Not today." Sasori gritted out as he began to choke her enough for her to lose consciousness.

The defiance in Kagome's eyes shone brightly as a strange red tint began to appear within her irises. A wicked laugh erupted from her lips as she forced her way out of the chakra strings restraining her. She flexed her arms and fists before bringing her gaze to Sasori. "Finally, I'm back in control." Kagome sighed out, her pitch dropping to a low monotone.

Sasori gritted his teeth at this new development. He wasn't sure what was going on. All he knew was that this girl just broke through his chakra strings like it was nothing. The girl's entire demeanor seemed to change like a flip of a coin.

"By all means, don't just stand there with that dumb look on your face. Let's fight." Kagome gritted out with an amused grin before charging forward in frightening speed towards the puppet master.

A/N: Things are heating up and Magatsuhi returns yet again! Naraku is nearly done with his grand finale and you already know that he is going to make it big. I always pictured Naraku to be one for dramatics. He's going to be pissed once he finds out Kikyo is actually not where she is suppose to be. Will Sasori be a match against Magatsuhi or will Kikyo be able to repress the dark entity in time?

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Lady Manami