Moonlight Rose
Chapter 52: Blast From the Past!
"I don't think you understand just how much I hate you." Saseko coughed to Kagome.
Kagome smirked. "Oh I understand. But I can't say the feeling is mutual. It is beneath me to hate you. I feel nothing for you. I am indifferent to your existence." Kagome turned and walked away. She'd visited Saseko again that morning on a mere hunch that she had. She was right. Saseko had been trying with all her might to break free of the chains that were binding her. "You'll never get free."
"Whatever bitch. You will die on this day." Saseko smiled with her dry, cracked lips.
"I doubt that." Kagome turned and left. She'd only had Saseko as a prisoner for a few hours, but her powers were draining as if she'd had her there for months. Was this the work of the goddess? Kagome's answer was given to her in the sound of tinkling laughter. She smiled and shook her head. –Of course. -
"Why did you go down there alone?" Sesshomaru asked Kagome when he saw her in the hallways.
"Because she can't hurt me. She is losing her power faster than I can say 'good golly Miss Dolly'." Kagome giggled at her own corny joke, then her face turned serious. "Naraku is planning to strike today. We must be prepared." Kagome called a meeting with every man in Sesshomaru's army inside of the dojo. "I need you all to listen. The vile Naraku is planning his strike today. He is ready for all of this to end, and quite frankly, so am I. I only want the best and the strongest out there on the battlefield today. And I'm gonna be honest, we're probably going to lose some of you, but I will do my very best to make sure that doesn't happen. It's imperative that you stay alert, do not let anything trick you. You can't believe everything you see with Naraku. He is a master of disguise and he loves to toy with people's emotions, bringing up your past in a way that he know will throw you off. So we should go out here expecting the best outcome, but preparing for the worst possible things that could happen. Are you ready men?!" Kagome yelled her question out to the multitude of colorful eyes looking back at her.
"Yes!" They all answered back with a force so loudly it actually shook the dojo.
Kagome smiled. "That's what I like to hear. Prepare to head out for battle!"
If anyone was skeptical about Kagome being the Lady of the House, all doubts had been washed from their minds during the past month. Many of the staff had taken to her immediately, but there was one weasel or to who didn't take well to one with human blood being their Lady. But Kagome had shown great promise in the time she'd been at the castle. They knew with her as the Lady, the Western Lands would rule greatly.
"That was a great speech you gave Milady." One of the men in the army said. Kagome hadn't really noticed him before, because he'd always been so shy. Sure she had seen him a couple of times, but they never really interacted like she had with the more forward men in the army.
Kagome smiled brightly. "Thank you Haku." Though they hadn't talked, Kagome made it her duty to know the names of everyone who either worked in the house, or served under the Western lord in any type of way. It had taken her a while, but she was sure she'd learned everyone's name. Kagome paused. He was much too timid to go into battle, and she was sure they were going to put him on the front line. "Would you like to do something special for me?"
Haku's eyes brightened at the idea of serving his Lady. "Oh yes Lady Kagome-sama! Anything for you!"
"Alright. I want you and about three other men to stay here and protect the castle. You can pick out the three that are going to be on your team. Can you do that for me?" Kagome asked carefully, making sure she wasn't hurting his feelings in any way.
Haku smiled. He was thankful that his Lady was smart enough to realize that he was nowhere near ready to go into battle. "I thank you so much. You are truly one kind lady." Haku bent at the waist, bowing to her and showing her his gratitude.
"There is no need to thank me. I simply have the best interest of the castle at heart. Please, rise." Kagome said with a bright smile.
The young demon hand-picked three more soldiers that he knew weren't ready for war, but were still strong enough to protect and serve. Kagome left the dojo with Sesshomaru right behind her.
"He would have been in the first wave that was sent out, why didn't you let him stay?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Because he's not suited for war. It's just not his forte. So there's no point in sending him out there only to get killed. He's better in spells than he would be in battle, and he can erect a barrier that can ward off other demons." Kagome was a strategist. She knew what she wanted, and exactly how to get it done.
Sesshomaru smirked. He was proud of his woman, she was a force to be reckoned with. Kagome stiffened when she felt a strange aura outside of the castle. "That's impossible." She whispered.
"What is…" Sesshomaru didn't finish his question because he felt the same aura she did.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called. "What the hell is going on?!"
"I don't know. But I'm sure as hell about to find out." Kagome vanished and reappeared at the front gates of the House of the West. Her fears were confirmed when she saw Kikyo standing there.
"You thought you'd gotten rid of me, didn't you?" She asked with a smirk.
Kagome narrowed her eyes. She felt the power of a horribly tainted jewel shard where Kikyo's heart was supposed to be. "You reek worse than before."
Kikyo snorted. "I smell like your worst nightmare."
"No, even my nightmares smell better than you." Kagome also smelled Naraku and Tsubaki on Kikyo. "I thought Naraku hated Tsubaki."
"It appears that she can sometimes be useful."Kikyo shrugged. "But you should be prepared to die now."
Kagome shook her head. "I've been there once, you've been there twice. I guess the third time's the charm for you. I'll be happy to kill you again." It was then that Kagome noticed that she hadn't been followed outside. She turned around and saw that they were no longer standing before her home. "Where the hell are we?"
"We are in the Underworld."
"No true miko should be able to enter the Underworld. Though I shouldn't be surprised that you can, since you lost your purification powers long ago." Kagome said, taking in her surroundings without taking her eye off the enemy. She was anxious to get back to her friends and family.
"Do not worry. Naraku will not strike until I say so. He is waiting on me to kill you before he goes after your precious little family." Kikyo said.
"Actually, Kikyo, I do believe I'm done with this. I do not wish to be in the Underworld. Goodbye." Kagome said, closing her eyes and leaving Kikyo in the Underworld.
"You have failed yet again Kikyo." Kikyo heard Naraku's voice in her head. "No matter. I knew Kagome wouldn't fight you in the Underworld. Come to me."
Kagome reappeared in front of her home, where Sesshomaru and the others were waiting on her. "Miko, what happened?" Sesshomaru hid the worry from his voice, but Kagome could see it in his eyes.
"Kikyo is back. She is being controlled by Naraku." Kagome said, careful not to look at Inuyasha.
Setsuki, on the other hand, looked Inuyasha in the eyes. She had to know how he took the news. His eyes showed his pain, but Setsuki could tell that he didn't want to go after Kikyo. She saw that he only wanted her at peace. The blue eyed woman smiled. Maybe he was finally hers.
"So what now?" Inuyasha asked.
"I can sense her tainted shard. It isn't very far from here. Koga is also headed that way with his shards, and Kohaku is very close. His shard is very…bright." Kagome said.
"Bright?" Sango asked.
"Yes. Most jewel shards have a natural purity to them, unless the owner has impure intentions at heart. Kohaku's heart is pure, which is why his shard shines bright. Koga's shards are fairly pure, though he wants to kill Naraku." Kagome explained. She felt a huge horde of demons going towards Naraku. "It is time for us to be on our way. Naraku is sending demons here as well, but they mustn't enter the castle."
"That's what we are here for Milady." The army general was a blonde haired tiger demon named Riku.
Kagome smiled. "I am sure you won't let me down. Move out!" Kagome and the gang headed towards Naraku's hideous aura. They knew that this was the end. And they were all prepared.
