{The Path to the Heart}
{chapter 2 - shattered souls}
Inuyasha nuzzled Kagome's neck gently, breathing in her scent. She smelled just like she did before...only unhappier. She was so sad about something. "Kagome?" he murmured. "You're awake; tell me what's wrong. Tell my why you're so sad."
Damn, Kagome thought. And here I thought I had him fooled. Time to own up. "Did you ever hear of the Shikon no Tama?" she asked quietly.
Inuyasha blinked. "The what of what?"
"Shikon no Tama. It's a powerful jewel that boosts the power of youkai."
"Is that why you're upset? Stupid reason."
"There's more. I used to guard the jewel...before...you know. Anyway, the Shikon no Tama has been shattered, into innumerable pieces, and I have to go collect all the shards before a power-hungry youkai or something gets their hands on it. And...I wanted to know if you would go with me."
"Of course I will! You'd get yourself killed if I let you go alone!"
"Somthing else, too." Kagome winced. This was the hard part, telling him that he could become a true youkai.
"What?"
"With the full power of the jewel...you could become a true youkai. Or a human. And it would be perfectly legal and everything." She closed her eyes, not wanting to see his reaction.
Softly, he pressed his lips against her forehead. "We'll worry about that later," he said huskily, amazed at how he managed to keep his voice from breaking.
Slowly, Kagome's eyes slid open. "I love you, you know that? Only you...always."
Inuyasha went back to nuzzling her throat. "I know. You're mine, forever. As I am yours."
It was good to be loved...
If a certain ex-taiji-ya were a youkai, specifically a dog or wolf youkai, she would be growling. But, alas, she was a mere human, and therefore had to settle for simply scowling as angrily as she could.
"I hate you," she informed her master, crossing her arms over her chest, trying to hide her breasts from the pervert.
"So I've heard." Miroku reached out to unfold her arms, smirking at her furious expression. "Maybe I should just make you walk around naked..."
This time, Sango growled. It was more of a snarl than anything, but the sound displayed her emotions easily. "Try and I swear I'll kill myself."
Miroku faked a pout. "Oh, that's no good. Perhaps you should just wear a pair of hakama and forget about covering your chest?" Sango's scowl deepened. Miroku chuckled. "I'll take that as a no, then. I don't understand why you have to be so difficult."
"Because I refuse to be that kind of a slave! I'm not a whore, dammit!"
Miroku shrugged. "You are what I want you to be."
Tsuraiuta rolled her eyes. Now look at the happy couple, she thought sullenly. Sango, you're luckier than you think... Of course, she would have given everything and anything just to be the one Miroku chased around. Suddenly, she froze. "Miroku-sama, wait a minute...I smell something dangerous."
"What is it?" Miroku asked, his previous teasing demeanor gone. He slid in front of Sango, holding a small piece of paper in his hand.
"I don't know," Tsuraiuta said fretfully. "All I can tell is that it's a youkai, and it's powerful. It's either a Prophet, or a General. It can't be a Dancer; the magic scent isn't strong enough."
"But couldn't a Dancer hid its magic scent from a youkai?" Sango mused aloud.
"Not from another Dancer," Tsuraiuta answered, distracted. "I'd be able to tell if this...thing were a true Dancer."
"You're a Dancer?!" Sango yelped. "Why were you acting as a slave!?"
"My job was to protect Inuyasha-sama until he found his life-mate. And I didn't mind working. That's what the Acadamy was like; everybody had chores, and lots of them. I had hoped I wouldn't have to revive my Summons, but it looks like we've got a high-class Dancer on our hands. And it's not friendly."
"You just said a Dancer couldn't hide its magic from another Dancer." Miroku said, his brows knitting in confusion.
"Yeah, well, this thing isn't a true Dancer. It's a fake of some sort, that only has one element. And no Summons, either."
"Well guessed, Tsuraiuta." A gust of wind, then there stood a woman in an expensive kimono, her hair tied up and a fan in her hand. "I'm Kagura...and my job is to kill you."
"Doubtful," Tsuraiuta spat. "the only way one Dancer can kill another is by using a powerful Summon - and you don't have any Jewels, so you can't kill me."
Kagura smirked. "You can be so dense. My job is to kill the priest and the taiji-ya; it doesn't matter what happens to you."
"Then it's time to get serious," Tsuraiuta said grimly. "Miroku-sama, Sango, don't do anything unless I tell you to." She began fishing around the large bag slung over her shoulders. Finding what she needed, she extracted a rough-looking green stone. She tossed it up into the air. "SHIRUDO!" Tsuraiuta roared. The stone exploded, transforming into a huge hulking catlike animal, its glassy-white eyes glowing before enfulging Sango and Miroku in a bubble of white smoke. After performing its job, Shirudo reverted back into the green stone, though it was now surrounded by a wispy shadow of clear smoke.
"Impressive, Kagura. But can you keep track of two Summoned Magics at once?" She laughed. "You're one of the best the Acadamy had, but you've been inactive for at least a hundred years. Do you still have the skills you once did? Let's find out! Fuujin no Mai!"
At the last second before the lightning-quick wind blades reached her, Tsuraiuta jumped up, high above the battle. Her hand returned to her bag, though this time, it emerged with a rose-shaped pale blue stone. "WATAA!" Once more, the stone exploded, turning into a small nymphlike child with the same glowing silvery eyes as Shirudo. She stood up on air, then pulled a flower from her head. Wataa tossed it at Kagura, watching it stick to the strange woman, covering her with a thick layer of ice. After she was done, the small nymph curtsied towards Tsuraiuta, then, with a flash of deep blue light, became a rose again. Tsuraita dropped it back into the bag, then once more pulled out Shirudo's stone.
"Set them free..." she whispered softly. The white mist disappeared, letting Miroku and Sango free. Kagura struggled within her icy cage. "Hurry!" Tsuraiuta called out. "We need to go!"
"Why don't you finish her?" Sango panted out as she and Miroku hopped onto Tsuraiuta's back, while she began to transform to her true shape.
/Because I couldn't keep up Shirudo while Summoning another Magic strong enough to kill her. Magic is harder than it appears to be; and far more draining./
"But thank you for saving us." Miroku added, looping his arms around Sango's waist, pulling her up against his body.
/It was nothing./
"Saving a life is never nothing, Tsuraiuta."
/Well, there's going to be a lot more of it soon, 'cause I doubt that Kagura will give up just because Wataa doesn't like her. She won't give up till either you both or she lay dead./
It was a dark and stormy night. Well, not really. But what author trying to write a spooky/creepy/foreshadowing scene DOESN'T use, or at least WANT to use that line?
Ahem. Anyway.
Deep in the heart of an evil forest, a black fire burned, casting eerie bloodred shadows on the trees and the "guests" of the forest. Naraku chuckled slightly as he poked the fire. Soon, soon, my dear Tsuraiuta, you will be out of the way... but will you even be a problem in the first place, what with you hating to meddle? Will you obey the damned Acadamy's rules, or will you dare to defy them in order to protect the one you love? Curiouser and curiouser...
He cackled. "Oh, what a fine game this is shaping up to be! The Shikon no Tama shattered, with my worst enemies and the woman I want more than anything tangled up in it! Cruel fate was my teacher, and now it becomes theirs!"
"You sent me there to test her!" Kagura screeched as she landed next to Naraku. "You knew she would summon a Magic to help her! You knew, you sadistic bastard!"
Naraku observed her calmly, his humor gone. "So I did. Really, though, she's not so much to worry about if she summoned Wataa, and you managed to escape."
"She had Shirudo blocking that stupid priest and his whore, you idiot!"
"Calm down or I'll be forced to make you," Naraku said threatingly. "I hold your heart, remember that."
"Of course," she shot back, venom in her voice. "I'll be a good little dollie. Can I go now?"
"Get out of my sight, until I need you again."
"I hear and obey. Happily." Kagura tossed a feather out, sat on it, and flew off.
Naraku resumed his cackling.
Well...sorry it took so long...but...yeah. It was actually ready December 24, but then my we had to go to the Vigil Mass with the children, and then my friend came over and my parents got drunk and then we went to my grandparents, who live in Santa Maria, and we didn't get back until midnight last night and I was dead tired so I couldn't upload it. Gomen, gomen. And I know Naraku's out of character, but you'll live. I hope.
And a special note to Dee-chan, if she's reading this, I picked up my "meeps" from a friend of mine who also meeps...it's an invasion of meeps!
Anyway, review as always and I'll love you forever. ^^;;;
-Katra Winner