Authoress' Notes: Hey, cool I got a pretty good response to the start of this… now this part's a little short, but it was great cut-off. Don't worry I'll post the third part soon!
*Taylor comes out of the refrigerator and nods* That's right I'll keep her on track.
T.A.: Why were you in the fridge?
Taylor: Sorry. Classified information.
T.A.: What have you been up to?
Taylor: If I told ya…
T.A.: I know you'd have to kill me.
Taylor: Why would I do that?
T.A.: Never mind. *Sighs* Anyone, want a muse?
Taylor: You can't get rid of me. I'm yours FOREVER!!! *laughs evilly*
T.A.: That's it. I'm getting a male character to balance you out.
Taylor: Can I play with Miroku?
T.A.: NO!!!!! *Looks at the audience* Hee. Hee. Hee. Why don't you all enjoy the show. ^_~ I hope you like this part. Thanks for the reviews. I may or may not do 'responses,' it just depends on my level of energy.
" I understand that the more evil the jewel absorbs the more evil it becomes. Outstanding."
-Onigumo from "Despicable Villain; the Secret of Onigumo"
Cost: Part 2
Naraku leaned against the wall of the castle staring at the broken jewel his malevolent eyes narrowing as his impatience grew. He did not like to wait. He hated his plans being delayed by Inuyasha and the cursed people traveling with him.
The door slid open and Kohaku entered the room, dropping to his knees instantly in front of the hanyou.
" Kohaku, where is the puppet I sent with you?"
" It was taken Master Naraku."
" You mean it was destroyed."
" No, Master Naraku, it was taken."
" Kohaku, come here." Naraku held out his hand to the lifeless boy and touch his forehead. He had sent Kohaku and a puppet to frighten Miroku's relative and scare the monk into stopping his quest, but it seemed that something else had happened. Through Kohaku's eyes he saw everything, including the puppet walking away from Kohaku.
Naraku had assumed he had lost the connection with the puppet because it had been destroyed, but he had been wrong. Something else was bothering him about these images; why had the child become a target?
" Kohaku, why did you use the demon crow to go after the child?"
" I did not, Master Naraku."
" Did the puppet find the crow and give it the orders to attack the child?"
" Yes, Master Naraku."
" Interesting. I assume it still has the jewel shard."
" Yes, Master Naraku."
***
The child was laid flat on her back; her hands tied over her head and her feet tied together. Her right arm was swollen and bleeding. She whimpered and tried to break away from the ropes that were cutting into her skin.
A dark shadow covered the child as a blade dug into her throat, drawing blood.
***
"NO!" Michi sat up screeching, clutching her chest. She rubbed her eyes trying to rid herself of the vision of her child's death.
" Mommy?" Tanaya called out from the other side of the room.
Michi took several deep breaths and calmed herself down as she moved over to where her daughter was curled against the temple beam. " Tanaya, what are doing over there?"
" The stealer is out there again." Tanaya yawned and crawled into her mother's lap. " The stealer wants my soul."
" Now, Tanaya, Angel, we talked about that. The stealer is just a bad dream. Just like the bad dream mommy had. They go away as soon as we wake up." Michi rubbed her daughter's back. " Just go back to sleep. I'm here and I won't let anything hurt you."
" Why hasn't Miko written back yet? It's been almost three moons since you sent him a letter."
" Miko must be busy trying to find Naraku."
" Will Naraku, come and get us?" Tanaya looked up at her mother, needing an answer.
Michi smiled and brushed back her daughter's hair. " No, Angel. Naraku doesn't know where we are. Now, get some sleep."
Tanaya buried her face into her mother and tried to ignore the sounds of the stealer scratching against the temple's spiritual barrier.
***
Miroku ground his teeth together as the group made its way through Kyoto. If he was lucky they could find the jewel shard, before any unfortunate encounters; unfortunate encounters, such as, meeting either of his cousins or any of the lords that knew him or his grandfather.
Sango looked at the city wide-eyed, awestruck at the size of the city and the amount of people. Kagome seemed to be just as curious, but far less impressed. Inuyasha kept sniffing the air as the breeze brought different smells from different restaurants. Shippou was looked from side-to-side, but he hadn't left the safety of Kagome's arms. Kirara trotted along behind the group, uninterested, but aware of what was going on around her.
Miroku couldn't blame them so being so enthralled. The first time he visited, Kyoto he didn't wanted to sleep, for fear he'd miss something. He had traveled to Kyoto with Moushin and Michi to visit their other cousins and collect scrolls from a temple there. Michi and Moushin weren't much for crowds, but he had enjoyed the din. He had not however, enjoyed Michiko and Nori's company, though Michiko wasn't as bad as Nori, by any regard. He hadn't really known those two from growing up, they moved to Kyoto shortly after he was born. His relationship with them was mostly formal; they treated him with respect because he was heir of the clan they'd been born to.
So far no one had really reacted to his companions, but that wouldn't last. Inuyasha was starting to get noisier, Kagome still hadn't located the jewel shard and Shippou was getting over his initial fears. Miroku bit his lip, as he spotted a geisha out of the corner of his eye. She was going to start screaming about demons; any moment now, he just knew it. He winced awaiting the coming chaos, when a hand touched his shoulder.
He turned to look at the woman who had touched him. " Mi…?"
She touched a single finger to his lips. " Amarante, dearest cousin, Miroku-san. You've been out of Kyoto so long you've forgotten my name."
" How silly of me. It's nice to see you, Amarante." Miroku took her hands as he greeted her.
Her gentle smile matching her appearance perfectly: a geisha. Her face was painted pale, but her dark lower lip drew immediate attention. Her kimono was ornate: decorated with all manner of embroidery and showed the perfect amount of cleavage, as to not appearance vulgar, yet still inviting. Her hair was pulled up in an elegant style, but a length of it covered the back of her neck. Her gray/blue eyes darted to his companions, then back to him.
" Miroku-san it is always a pleasure to see you. What has brought you to Kyoto? You know better than to travel here, without purpose."
Miroku recognized that last statement, it was a warning that he better come up with an excuse quick. " Well you see…"
" As I live, Miroku-sama is that you?" An older gentleman walked up to Miroku inspecting him carefully, before catching sight of the geisha next him. " And Amarante-san? Do you know the young lord?"
" Eto-sama, Miroku-san is the lord of the clan I was born too." She batted her eyelashes, drew a hair stick from her sleeve and deftly put up the loose length of hair.
" I see. Miroku-sama, what brings you to Kyoto? I hope nothing ails you." Eto was more focused on Amarante, then the monk.
" No, of course not. I came to Kyoto seeking…" Miroku began to explain the situation, but was cut off quickly.
" A bride I imagine. My family still owes yours a great debt, I could arrange something for you." Eto grinned happily.
Miroku chocked on the air he tried to breathe and was so stunned he couldn't speak.
Amarante seemed to notice his plight and seemly innocent interrupted the impeding marriage arrangement. " Eto-sama, you've interrupted my meeting with my cousin far too soon. For he came to Kyoto to announce his marriage, and you snuck up on us so quickly that I have yet to learn his pretty bride's name." Her fast, polite explanation ended with her fingers on Sango's chin. " Isn't she just darling?"
*Ducks flying objects* Sorry, sorry! It just looked so cool in my mind's eye! I'll update soon, I promise.
