Hey everyone! Here is another chapter. Things are moving slow because I'm trying to organize things for the holidays and register for classes and write because I have once again caught up to what I have written out! Reviewer responses are after the last chapter.
Some of you have been making some very good guesses about how things are going to proceed, but remember, this is already set up and outlined! Everything happens a certain way for a reason!
The was a concern that Kagome wouldn't be the type to commit any type of spiritual suicide-I think she would. She would do it for everyone else if her death would save them. She knows that Naraku would destroy everything if he had the complete jewel. Countless lives would be lost. Somehow, I could see her taking her own life before she would willingly cause harm to others by letting him get the jewel. Somehow, self-sacrifice might be a better term, but it amounts to the same thing.
Kanna's absorption leaves the mirror unattended. The mirror is full of Kagome's miko purifying powers. And it will play a part in the upcoming events.
This story is taking so much longer then I expected it to and it will take a while to finish, so I'll keep writing and posting and one day, it will be completed! Then I can edit and add the pieces that I took out and maybe spice it up some!??!
There have been several people asking about an e-mail to tell them that I have updated...so I'm gonna get to making a list of people who want me to do this and create an e-mail account just for that. If you want to be informed, let me know!
Well, anyway, on to the story
sylvannastar
Parting Ways
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Naraku spent the remaining part of that day brooding over the prone form of the Miko from the future. Her occasional power flares were weakened now and posed little threat, but after her earlier explosion of purifying energy, he remained a cautious distance from where she dangled senselessly from the manacles.
Time and neglect were taking its toll on her human body too quickly for him to really have the time to break her the way he wanted to. He frowned harshly at the girl and hated the mortal weakness she represented. The mortal weakness inside of him...
"Kagura!" he said, calling to the wind user he had formed soon after Kanna, she was his second detachment. Unlike the quiet albino, Kagura was dark, dark and disobedient. The only reason she served him at all was because he held her heart, and any move on her part that he disagreed with was quickly punished.
With the threat of her death hung so readily over her head, Kagura was forced to do Naraku's dirty work. Her slavery was a bitter concoction that she fought with her subtle rebellions, wanting nothing more then for the bastard to die.
She swept into the door way and silently waited for his next command, seething inside about her forced compliance. Her bright red eyes surveyed the damaged human in carefully hidden awe.
Naraku was afraid of this human girl, and that was a feeling only the Demon Lord of the West had ever forced from the human turned Hanyou. Sure, Naraku was wary of the others, especially Inuyasha, but he was not afraid.
Kagura almost wanted to cheer the girl on and congratulate her, but knew any sign of her personal appreciation would bring her only more grief and pain when he took her heart in his hands and so refrained from giving Naraku any reason to torture her more. He would see this as a blatant act of defiance.
"Yes, Naraku?" she asked, intentionally leaving off any honorific. She had no respect for the bastard other then for his strength and cunning, and he knew it. To act in any other way would only elicit suspicion in his already cautious attitude.
"Watch over the girl," he told her as he started to walk out of the room.
"What? Me? Why can't Kanna do it?" she insisted.
"Kanna proved...unreliable."
Kagura blinked at the beasts fading back before turning back to the silent figure breathing irregularly from the other side of the room. "Unreliable?" she spotted the mirror glowing with massive amounts of energy where it sizzled uncomfortably on the floor. "Shit, she got purified, huh?" Kagura assumed Kanna's destruction came from the Miko's prone form and dedicated herself to staying as far from the girl as she could without disobeying orders.
Suddenly she grinned. "And it scared Naraku...Perhaps I should have a little talk with the Miko..."she stared hard at the unmoving girl, willing her awake so she could plot the bastard's demise with someone who might be able to accomplish it!
She smirked in satisfaction when the girl began to stir in her bonds, as if her will alone had woken her. The familiar blue of the girl's eyes raised in defiance to look around the room and landed on Kagura's still form.
"Kagura," the miko greeted her softly.
The wind user contemplated the hollow nature of that sound on the woman's lips. There was no hatred there, no trust either, but is was apparent that she was listening. The human was not stupid...
"Kagome..." she answered just as quietly.
Red eyes were held by silvery blue as they judged the other. A silent understanding cut through the lingering tension in the air, giving them both a chance to breath a sigh of relief.
"So?" Kagome began, prompting the demon woman into beginning.
Kagura's blood red lips lifted in a graceful arch as she smiled a genuine smile of hope though her eyes were still hardened by past despair.
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Youko's makeshift portal spit him and Hiei out near his human half's home. They ran to the girl's shrine house, intent on rescuing the girl and ignoring the massive amount of rules they would probably be breaking in the process. They ran in silence, seeming to flicker in and out of focus due to the speed they were traveling.
They arrived at the well house only seconds before Boton and Inuyasha stumbled onto the ground from Boton's more precise portal. Inuyasha wasted no time in grabbing Boton's hand and jumping into the dark hole. Youko barely spared them a glance before he leapt in to greet the blue light.
Hiei had a few unvoiced worries that the portal would refuse him. It was obvious that he cared for Kagome as he did for Yukina, but the bond of blood was not there and his interest in her was nothing like Youko's obsession. He had no link to the jewel so he had to trust that his brotherly affection would be enough to allow him to travel through the portal. He followed the others and was gratified to find the blue sky above him. In a moment, he joined the fox at the outer rim of the well. With his feet again planted firmly on the surface of the world, Hiei took in the feudal age in seconds. It was the Makia...just wilder and sparsely populated with humans. One of which was pointing a huge boomerang at him. He decided to give the human a warning.
"Hn." Certain that was enough to suffice, Hiei took to ignoring everyone in favor of carefully watching Youko.
Sango adjusted her grip on the bone boomerang and stared expressionlessly at the two demons that appeared unexpectedly behind Inuyasha and Boton. What the hell is "Hn" supposed to mean? She wondered briefly even as she assessed the threat they could pose should they prove to be enemies rather than allies. The erratic jumping in their aura's set her nerves on edge. Sango clenched her teeth and considered the strange energy radiating off the two demons when she recognized one to be a silver fox..."Kurama?" she asked confused.
The demon turned his hard gold eyes on her in recognition of his name and she suddenly shuddered at his look. Youko Kurama's expression was full of vengeance and anger and barely controlled power. This couldn't be the same red-headed man Kagome had introduced her to, could it?
"Sango, Miroku," he greeted them in return with out a moment's hesitation. That solidified Sango's assumption of who he was. She was only too glad that Kohaku was resting quietly with Kaeda and the other villagers that had recently returned from where they had been hiding in the shrine. He did not need to see this side of world any more then he already had.
Youko let his eyes slip from the familiar figures of the exterminator and monk to settle on the other occupants of the clearing. He narrowed his eyes at the Dog Demon patiently watching over the entire scene. He growled, a natural warning to the other that clearly said "mess with me and die a horrible death."
Sesshoumaru ignored the threat and answered the challenge with an indifferent expression. "So,
he said softly so only those with enhanced senses could hear his words, "it is you who has claimed the girl..."
Youko tensed, the fur on his tails puffing out. "She is mine," he agreed just as quietly, waiting for the powerful dog to challenge his claim.
"As you say," Sesshoumaru replied easily, giving in to the silver fox's words.
"Hn," Hiei commented on the exchange.
"How the HELL do you work this thing!?" Inuyasha yelled in frustration, shaking Yusuke's demon compass vigorously. He effectively ended the tense staring contest the full blooded demons where currently engaged in with his loud outburst and violent treatment of the tool.
Boton snatched it form his clawed hands with a scowl. "Don't do that!" she admonished and carefully set the device. After a moment's careful consideration, she pointed east. "The largest body of Miko energy is that way..."
They wasted no time in moving out, even dispensing with introductions and explanations. They all knew that every moment counted against them in getting the young miko back unharmed.
Miroku and Sango effortlessly rejoined the healed Kirara and Inuyasha once again settling behind Boton on the oar. Sango nudged Miroku and pointed. Miroku stared in disbelief at the pair and began laughing.
Youko quickly took offense and grabbed the helpless monk from his seat behind the exterminator. "And what," he growled, " do you think is so funny?"
"Just the thought of Inuyasha getting so chummy with that woman so quickly...I used to think that he was immune to the charms of the opposite sex," he rasped.
"Stupid Monk!" Inuyasha snorted, hearing the hasty explanation.
"And this amuses you?!" Youko grumbled incredulously.
"Kagome could always find something to smile about, even in the darkest moments..." Sango said softly, watching the fox carefully. "Miroku meant no disrespect to Kagome's plight. But, she has taught us to find our happy moments when and where we can."
"You are right," Youko agreed after a long pause, putting the shaking monk back on his feet. "She would find the humor in this," he sighed. Worry etched itself across his features, supplanting the rage with a calmer determination.
Sesshoumaru watched them hurry ahead, rooted to the spot near the well.
"Are you coming or not?" Inuyasha yelled at him.
He quirked and eyebrow at the hanyou. "Avidly seeking my company now, are you? He sniffed the air carefully. "No. I will check on the children first. She will want to know that her kit is well. I shall catch up."
"Feh! Whatever."
Sesshoumaru calmly watched them go before he allowed his exhaustion to show on his handsome features. If Naraku was abusing the Miko the way that he feared, she would be in a state that just may require the presence of her kit to pull her out of it. Somehow, he did not believe that Naraku would willingly let her go with her spirit intact...Shippo's need for her may be the thing that would save her from what ever that spider hanyou had planned.
With that concern planted firmly in his mind, Sesshoumaru considered what that implied about his debt to the girl. Instead of erasing his debt to her, he feared his involvement with these people would only embroil him further into their lives. Already his responsibility to the miko had turned into concern, implying a certain amount of emotional involvement with the mortal. And, it was hard to let go of the long held belief that emotions where nothing but unnecessary distractions. Now, he saw the strength that feelings gave to the others around him...he was quickly coming to realize that this was no weakness at all...but an untapped strength that he never knew existed...
It seemed he had another stunning revelation to thank the Miko for. He sighed and left the well, deep in thought, but hiding the turmoil behind his cold mask. It would do him no good to fight this new path his destiny was leading him down, but he could still take the changes in gradually. There was much to consider...
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They followed the compass loyally for that first day, but it seemed as if there was no progress. After the fourth simple village Miko was identified as the compasses target, Youko lost his temper.
"Fool!" he yelled at the hanyou carrying the modern device. "This is leading us no where!"
"Shut up, Fox boy! We're doing the best we can! I'd follow her scent if that bastard hadn't tainted everything with Miasma. If you think you can do better, feel free to take your issues elsewhere. I'm gonna find Kagome!"
"Youko," Hiei warned the growling silver fox and stepped in front of his friend. "She doesn't have time for this!"
"I know that! What do you think I am trying to tell the mutt over there?!"
"Quit yelling!" Boton yelled.
"Where does it point to now?" Sango ignored them all for moving on.
"That way, now," Boton said pointing to their left. "The next pooling of Miko powers is over there."
"Let's go," Sango urged Kirara. The fire cat snorted in agreement and took the lead.
Youko stood very still as the others started to move again. This method of searching was proving worthless. He sniffed the air hopefully, but there was no trace of his love's scent. He bent all his thought to her, her smile, her face, the way she lit up when she saw the beauty of the world around her...his fear that he would never see that again coiled in a nervous twist in his stomach.
Then, a light tug on his senses made him turn and face south. A nagging urgency seemed to be whispering to him, drawing him away. Youko frowned and shut his eyes so he could focus on this sensation completely. It was almost like a physical pull...there was something out there that was calling to him.
"Are you going to help us, or just stand around all day?" Youko snapped his eyes back open when Inuyasha sniffed this at him. "Hurry up, we got to keep looking."
"Hn," Hiei agreed and disappeared to scout ahead.
"I think we need to go that way," Youko spoke confidently.
"What? Why?" Boton blinked in confusion.
"It just feels right," the silver fox said.
"Feels right?!" Inuyasha sputtered.
Youko ignored then in favor of examining the sensation that told him to move south. It was definitely a calling, and it was growing stronger. It seemed almost an instinctual presence that he could not ignore.
Are you sure about this, Youko? Shuuichii asked.
Certain. She is there...and she is still alive.
Then we must go after her. Kurama's over lapping tones prodded the fox demon into moving.
"Youko!" Boton cried out. "Where are you going?!"
"I told you, she is that way. I am going to rescue Kagome." He glanced at Boton's worried face. "Follow or don't." In a flash of silver, he had disappeared into the untamed forests of feudal Japan.
"Youko!" Boton protested, but he was already gone.
"Feh! Good riddance. That fox is a nuisance!" Inuyasha huffed. "Always thinking that he can do better. Thinks that he's right all the time!"
Boton looked off to the forest. "But that's just it..." Boton whispered. "I've never known him to be wrong..."
"Come on. Let's keep moving," Sango called out.
Kirara obliged and Boton reluctantly followed.
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Hiei stopped abruptly when he felt Youko's energy split apart from the group. "Damn it!" he hissed. He tried to lock down on his friend's aura, but he was moving too fast and with such practiced ease and stealth, he couldn't keep a fix on the fox spirit. "Damn fox,"he snapped out loud. "Doesn't he know better then to argue now?" Hiei gritted his teeth in annoyance and decided to wait for the others to catch up. Youko's abandonment could only mean that he had found an alternative way to find his mate.
As the others approached, Hiei sensed a strong presence moving to intercept them. The creature was very fast and had an aura strangely reminiscent of Kagome. Hiei raced away to face the potential threat and work off some excess energy and frustration on the individual who was running at them.
He stopped abruptly in an deserted clearing and waited patiently for the source of youki to emerge from the forest around him. A small whirlwind of dust was kicked up where the figure was passing. Hiei quirked an eye at the sight. Could it possibly make a more obvious trail? He wondered snidely.
The thing burst into view and stopped so suddenly it left twin furrows plowed into the hard earth. "You're not a silver fox!" it exclaimed.
Hiei snorted and stared with hard eyes at the youkai blinking at him in surprise.
"You! Why do you smell like Kagome?!" The wolf youkai growled, anger pushing the surprise away.
Hiei's eyes narrowed at the reference to the young woman. He took no pains to temper down his arrogant tone. "What is your business here, wolf?"
He was answered by another feral growl. Hiei then smirked, a dangerous glint appeared in his ruby eyes. Finally, some action, he thought and followed the wolf's smooth movements thoughtfully.
"You touched her!" the wolf yelled angrily. "I can smell her scent on you!"
"Hn," Hiei answered in a deliberately taunting manner.
With a snarl, the wolf launched himself at the smaller demon and aimed a kick at his head. To his surprise, the man was faster then he thought. He missed by more then a little bit. The demon had simply stepped out of the way so quickly, Kouga hadn't seen him move.
Hiei grinned and decided that the wolf was quick enough to pose at least a potential challenge. "Hn," he said again. He also decided not to use a weapon since the wolf seemed to have none. He stepped aside again and stuck out an arm. The wolf ran right into the fire demon's muscled forearm and landed hard on his back. He barely jumped up in time to miss the quick fist that would have crushed his chest if it had connected.
The wolf crouched and watched the smaller demon with wary care. He scented the air and gauged the distance between him and his original quarry. "Dog turd..." he murmured.
Hiei sensed the others long before they joined him in the clearing. When they were standing with him, looking hesitantly at the wolf in front of them, he released a long suffering sigh. "You've ruined my exercise," he muttered to Boton.
She grimaced and stared at the wolf youkai.
"You again!" the wolf shouted at the blue haired girl.
"Get out of the way, wimpy wolf!" Inuyasha hollered at the full demon.
"Hey, Dog breath! You lied to me! That is no silver fox! Kagome could still be mine!"
Huh?" Inuyasha looked strangely at the dark demon calmly watching the whole affair thought glowing crimson eyes. "Of course he's not a silver fox! That other guy took off the other way..."
"That 'other guy' is Youko," Boton rolled her eyes. "And he is the silver fox. Hiei is a friend..." she clarified and pointed at the bored koorime. "Youko is looking for Kagome that way," she waved a hand southward.
"Looking for Kagome?"
"Yeah, Naraku took her..."
"What!?" he yelled. "And where was her mate to allow such a thing!?"
"In another time," Sango interupted drily. "Kouga, we have to go, please move."
"I'm coming too!" he announced.
"What?!" Inuyasha hissed.
"Obviously you need my help," the wolf crossed his arms defiantly. "You need a leader on this kind of mission."
"Why you!" Inuyasha sighed.
Boton blinked, "Wow."
"I know," Miroku sighed. "I envy his confidence in himself..."
"Hn," Hiei argued.
"I was coming to find Kagome anyway."
"I thought I told you," Inuyasha grumbled in frustration, "she has-"
"I know," Kouga sniffed. " I heard you the first time. How could I forget?" he admitted. "But I can still hope!"
"It would be pointless," Hiei finally spoke up, annoyed with the wasted time.
"She loves Kurama," Boton gently said.
"Does she?" Kouga questioned. "I have to know from her. I have to see her."
"That won't happen if we don't rescue her!" Inuyasha snarled at them all. "Let's go then."
The other's quickly fell back into step and they continued on their search.
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Okay, Sorry it took so long to post again! But, move on to the next chapter and you'll find some more Youko to dream about, all you crazy fox fans! I have some fan art that I want to post for this story that I have sketched out and you can find it at Kinky Usagi's xover site which is also a neat place to go for YYH and IY xover lovers!