Chapter 12: Mikos from different sides of the same coin (2)

I had explained to Sesshomaru exactly why we had come here. He left a while ago and said he would find out what he could. For that I was grateful. Coming to the west was a shot in the dark, so it was nice to have his help. So, for now, it was just Shippo and me. I was reading but I felt someone staring at me. I looked up at Shippo and he was sitting there and staring me, but he was not saying anything.

"Is something wrong? Do you need something?"

"You look very comfortable," he said gesturing to me.

I looked down at myself.

"What do you mean?"

"You are laying down in his hakama and Hatori?"

I sat up and shrugged. "What? They're comfortable, and it wouldn't be the first time."

His eye narrowed at me. "I see. You two are in that kind of relationship."

I could feel my face get hot. I knew I was blushing. "We are just friends! I do not have that kind of relationship with anyone, thank you very much."

"I see. How well do you know him? You seem very comfortable with him, so your friendship with him must be longstanding."

"I have known him for a few years now, and I would say that I know him well enough. So yes, I am very comfortable with him."

"I see. You seem more friendly with him than you do the half-breed, and I assume you have known him longer."

I sighed. "You know, you really should stop calling him that, and yes we are close and I am that comfortable with him. When Inuyasha and I were dealing with things… Kikyo-related things. Sesshomaru was there. He listened to me go on and on about him for hours. About any and everything. He never once complained. He would comfort me. He isn't as mean as he seems. He is very kind. He even has a human ward. She lives in the same village as Kaede. He visits her from time to time."

Shippo scoffed, and I smiled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought that that was an offensive sound."

"For a lady to make, yes." he'd said.

"Sure, whatever you say." I went over to him and pinched his cheek. "Awe, are you jealous Shippo? Do you want to be my only friend?"

He swatted my hand away. "I have no reason to be jealous."

"You're being very protective for some reason."

"I do not know what you mean."

I smiled. "I never pegged you for a liar Shippo. First Inuyasha isn't good enough for me, which you aren't wrong about. Now, you're worried about me wearing another man's clothes. You're acting like my little brother."

"No, you are lounging about when that woman is on these very lands skulling about somewhere. He has the information we need and you are not pushing hard enough!"

"Shippo I told him what we were here for and he said he would be right back. I cannot force him to do anything and I can't make him move any faster."

"You are so dense."

With that, he stormed off.

"What the hell was that about?"

Moments later Sesshomaru returned, and he notice me sulking. He sat across from me.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes." I lied.

"Hn."

"Did you find anything out?" I asked.

"There have been reports of a dark Miko making rounds through the villages on the outskirts. She has not caused any trouble. So, I did not deem her a threat. White hair, dark clothes, her snake companion. Is this the woman you are looking for?"

I nodded. "She has been collecting sheds of her own. She was probably looking to see if there are any here."

"What do you wish to do?"

"The only way is to lure her out."

He raised a brow. "How will you go about that?"

"I have to go out tonight, with this," I said touching the jewel. "She will be drawn to it."

"You will need a new bow and a quiver of arrows before you go. You left them out there along with your bike." He'd said.

I nodded. "I'm surprised that you aren't trying to stop me."

"You once threw yourself between Inuyasha and I. While we were in the heat of battle. There is nothing that could stop you."

I smiled. "Alright," I said looking out the window. "The sun will set soon. Dark Miko's are partial to the night, let's go."

I gripped the bow in my hand. I held an arrow between my fingers. Waiting just in case. I had been walking for quite some time. I didn't need to do much. These were Sesshomaru's lands. Other demons wouldn't dare come here. Even if it was for the jewel, so I did not have to worry about that. Tsubaki would come, I was sure of it. I heard a twig snap. I stopped abruptly. I didn't need to look to know she was here. I could feel her energy. It was overwhelming. It drifted in, in waves. Surrounding you so you have nowhere to run. If I was a regular person I surely would have fainted from the pressure. I turned to face her. She stepped out of the grove, stepping into the moonlight. That white-horned snake draped around her neck. It hissed at me the moment it had laid those slit eyes on me.

"The Shikon No Tama Preistess." She purred. "What are you doing all the way out here? And so far away from your pet." She said with a wicked smile.

I just stared at her. I didn't want to be the one to make the first move.

"Or, maybe you've decided to finally join me? My offer still stands. We would be very powerful together… we could kill Kikyo once and for all."

I scowled. This was what they did. Try to appeal to what they think is your heart's deepest darkest desires, and turn you into one of them, but I wasn't going to fold that quick and she knew that. So what game was she playing? My eyes moved from her face to her neck. I sucked in a breath. She had collected a small portion of the jewel and it was pitch black. Just having a few shards was dangerous enough, but having a piece that large. There was no telling what she could do with all of that power.

"You seem to be very interested in my jewel."

"It does not belong to you Tsubaki."

She laughed. "Aha, so it can speak! It does belong to me my dear, it is in my possession and I stole these shards fare and square. Therefore it is mine." She grinned like mad, her eyes going wide. "If you want it you're just going to have to come and take it from me."