Thank you all for the awesome reviews! And Sesshomaru may seem out of character later on but as for his bluntness as of now, I see no reason why he wouldn't be blunt. The man likes to get what he wants....
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Such a sad, cruel, world.
Constellation of Blood - A Woman's Gift
Kagura's blood seemed to freeze as Sesshomaru held her against the giant tree. There was no pain for it was only skin touching skin. But that's what frightened the demoness. The fact that there was only mere molecules between them scared the living daylights out of her. Her clawed hands dug into the bark behind her as she bit back the scream she wanted to yelp out so badly.
"You wouldn't dare kill me..." She gasped as the demon prince laced his hand around her throat, his poison claw threatening her without words.
"Do you want to take the chance?" His grip loosened as he felt the bulge in Kagura's throat lift and then descend. "I didn't think so." The wind sorceress immediately fell back to her knees, trying her best to regain the air that was lost in the small struggle with Sesshomaru.
"So what is it that you want?", she asked while rubbing the bruised skin around her neck.
"I'm glad to see that you're ready to comply with me." Like the woman had a choice in the matter. She had just come face to face with death – again - and lived to tell about it. Kagura scowled as the demon lord turned away from her and faced the Western Lands that he occupied. "As of now, you know this much about the blood that runs through me – I am a dog demon, my half brother is a half breed, and our father was a very powerful demon who left the lands he watched over to me." Kagura rubbed her shoulder before proceeding.
"Tell me something I don't know..." There was a low, warning growl emitting from the prince's throat and the wind demon decided it best to just listen for the time being.
"As I was saying, you know that much about my family. But what you don't know is that there was another sibling in my soiled line of kinfolk. Another brother that Inuyasha does not even know about. "
"Another brother?" She mentally berated herself for asking what had already been said, but Sesshomaru paid no attention to it.
"He was an accident; an outcome of what alcohol does to a man. But yet my father still considered him part of the family and even went so far as to bestow a sword upon him as he did with Inuyasha and myself. My efforts to gain the Tetsusaiga have proved to end in Inuyasha's favor. It has come to my attention that this middle brother, Nigi, has received a sword much like Tetsusaiga, only more powerful. Rumor has it that the creation and the end of a universe lays in the hand of the one who wields this sword."
Crimson irises widened at what had just been told. Truly, was there such a sword capable of that much power? She had seen first hand just what the Tetsusaiga could do, and there was no doubt in her mind how powerful the Tenseiga was in such a demon's hands, but to destroy an entire universe? Kagura's mind had trouble digesting that bit of information, minus the fact that it was her help Sesshomaru wanted. Everything seemed to come together now.
"And what is it that you need my help with? Obviously this weapon is out of your reach and you've already proved you have more power than I, so what do you want with me?" Sesshomaru turned back towards her, an amusing glint shining in his eyes.
"It is widely known that Nigi has a soft spot for women. He senses estrogen and his mind becomes putty. I need you to lure him away from the sword long enough for me to seize the blade away from him while I am in his company for one week." The glare the demon lord had gained was indescribable. He wanted her to flirt with this ridiculous Nigi so that he could steal a knife?! Was he that desperate to have destruction at the tip of his fingers? Besides, Kagura had been around only a few men and had no expertise in the act of courting or flaunting. She had been a prisoner to her master; going where ever his mouth told her to. She was never taught social skills in the area of men. Yet, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sesshomaru had saved her life and if she didn't repay her debt, then the demon lord would surely kill her. Her train of thought was interrupted by the brisk breeze Sesshomaru created when he walked. It was now or never and Kagura preferred never.
Kagura gazed up in awe at the magnificent palace standing before her. It was made of what the good Mother Earth offered, yet it reeked of royalty and prestige. Power flowed from it like a giant waterfall, which let Kagura know that this was no ordinary demon. The guards at the front gate bowed in Sesshomaru's presence and opened up the giant bamboo gates at his request. Her throat was dry from lack of moisture and her body ached terribly. It wasn't very often that she was forced to travel a day after a serious injury. She had grown accustomed to that part of pampering. It wasn't until she took note of the numerous crests, that Kagura realized they were still in the Western Lands. But why did Nigi have the crests of what belonged to Sessshomaru?
"This Nigi seems quite wealthy. Possibly.....more wealthier than the great Sesshomaru?" He peered down at her for a second, considering what had just been said to him.
"Everything Nigi has was either given to him or stolen by his own hands. He has worked for nothing." Kagura could feel her eyebrow quiver with anger and curiosity. She had only seen two people be able to work their way underneath Sesshomaru's skin and this Nigi wasn't one of them.
"And you have?" They paused in front of a long corridor for a brief moment before another set of doors opened to reveal yet another silver haired, golden eyed man; the resemblance was uncanny. Perhaps the only difference was the fact that Nigi's hair was in a short braid, rather than flowing freely like his older brothers. There were no facial markings but laugh lines. THAT was something she hadn't seen on any of the brothers.
"Brother! Long time no see! What brings you to my palace on such short notice?" Sesshomaru pulled his eyes away from the demon and turned his attention to Kagura. She was doing absolutely nothing. Perhaps it was the fact that demon before her was completely different from the demon standing beside her. However, she still found Sesshomaru to be the more handsome of the two. "My, my, my.....who is this precious young thing?"
"May I introduce – "
"My name is Kagura, wind sorceress." She offered her hand, the flirtatious Nigi accepting with little or no hesitation. Out of the corner of her crimson eye, she could see a snarl curling at the corners of Sesshomaru's lips. She figured it was because she interrupted him and his little introduction. But she wasn't incompetent. She could very well say her name when asked what it was.
"Well Kagura, welcome to my humble home. I hope you enjoy your stay here." She giggled softly as Nigi gave a small peck on her hand and returned it to its owner.
"Well, if it's in your company, I'm sure my stay will be quite exciting."
"You've brought along a charming woman, Sesshomaru. I'm shocked. For the past century, you've brought only that stinky toad of a creature and recently that talkative child. Since when did you become so interested in beautiful things?" Sesshomaru looked unconcerned.
"Define beautiful. Kagura is simply keeping me company as a favor." Nigi tucked his hands behind his back and motioned for a couple of handmaidens to come forth.
"Well, you won't mind if your rooms are next door to each then? Nadia, Monika, show my brother and his friend to their rooms. If you'll excuse me, I have a social gathering I must attend to in a few hours." Nigi excused himself, leaving Sesshomaru and Kagura to the handmaidens.
As soon as the two woman left their presence, Kagura burst through the door to find a lounging Sesshomaru. She had did as told and flirted, yet he acted hostile towards both her and Nigi. Her multi patterned kimono hung limply off her shoulder as her heated rage got the best of her.
"Why you selfish, ungrateful pig! The least you could've done was agreed to the compliment your brother gave me!!" The great demon lord kept his closed as Kagura remained in a defensive position, her voice raising to deafening heights.
"Lower your voice, Kagura." She shook her head furiously, a few raven strands of hair working their way out of their tight restraints.
"I will not!! I refuse to work with an egotistical jerk like yourself!" Her breath caught in her throat as she was suddenly thrust upon the bed the demon prince had just been laying on. Her arms were in a solid grip above her head, the warmth of his anger radiating off his skin and onto her own flushed flesh.
"You forget, Kagura, you are working FOR me – not with me." His voice was cool and calm but his warning was crystal clear. She was treading on dangerous ground.