5 Scroll Three: Kikyou's Plan

flash back

"Whatdaya mean we need save another village?"

"It's for a good cause Inu Yasha."

"Absolutely not! We need to go look for the jewel, not help some dumb village people!"

"You're the most insesitive jerk I've ever met!"

"You're damn ri- Oi! are you crying? You know I hate it when you--"

"SUWARI!"

I hate it when she does that too. I must be the most hen-pecked man in all of Japan.

I swear. We really don't need to help anyone but ourselves right now. So what if there's a demon lord near where the latest jewel shard is? It's prob'ly just coincidence. Here we go again. If this has something to do with Naraku, I'm gonna rip that fake demon's ba--

"Get up Inu Yasha."

--s off. Hey stop poking with that stupid cane of yours Miroku! That's what I would say if I didn't have a mouthful of dirt at the moment. I pushed myself out of the crater Kagome had made for me. Ah man, she's pouting, that means she's either gonna get really pissed or start crying. I hate it when she cries. Don't know why, I guess it gives me an idea what Kikyou would look like if she would ever cry beyond tears of hate. And Kagome calls me insensitive. Feh! She can think all she wants, I don't care about her opinion. Not one bit.

"Are you going to apologize Inu Yasha?"

What? For what? What'd I do?

"For what?" I sneered. Kagome's eyes watered up again, she turned away, heading towards the Demon Lord's mountain. Ah hell, I did it again didn't I? Miroku shook his head, Sango ran to catch up with Kagome, giving a very dirty look while passing.

We walked. A very long time. At least it felt like it since Kagome is still refusing to talk to me at the moment. The sky is dark. Very strange. It should only be three hours pass noon. Beyond the silence, the air is also heavy. The wind moans as if to warn, and the trees seem to be trying to shoo us away. The base of the mountain grows closer, and as the villagers described it, there's a giant cave entrance gaping at us.

Miroku broke the silence, "Perhaps we should create a plan for entering this cave. We have no fire and the trees are too damp to start torches."

Sango nodded, "Inu Yasha and Kilala have the sharpest senses of all of us. They should lead." She looked over her shoulder at me, "Do you have any objections?" I'm not in the mood to object. I gave "Hmp." of my approval.

Miroku shifted his staff to his right hand, "Kagome should be between Sango and Inu Yasha since she can sense the jewels. I'll take up the rear." Sango stopped in her tracks. "You are not walking behind me." She snipped. Miroku sighed, "It's logical, the two strongest in the front and rear, you can keep an eye on Kagome, Kilala can signal if Inu Yasha needs help."

"You're not walking behind me houshi-hentai."

Kagome and I chuckled.

"Demo --"

"Iie houshi-hentai."

They continued like that until we reached the front of the cave.

And the wind screamed for us to leave.

"Kagome are you sure you can sense a shard in here?" "Yes Inu Yasha, it's strait forward like I've been telling you for an hour."

"I swear houshi, if your hand goes any lower. . . ."

"I'm just getting a better grip on your hair."

"Speaking of, who's bright idea was it to use our hair as ropes?"

"Oh quiet Inu Yasha, it was your idea to drop the real ropes since 'we shouldn't have to carry those useless weights around.'"

"Shippo, don't act smart."

Miroku: "Say, I keep forgetting he's here."

Kagome: "Do you have some kind of dissapearing trick Shippo? You seem to pop up randomly most the time."

"I feel loved. . ."

"Quiet kitsune-chan."

"If I were stronger Inu Yasha. . ."

"But you're not kitsune-chan."

"Please please, focus on navigating the cave Inu Yasha, Kilala is doing a better job than you." Kilala gave a small growl at Miroku for his comments.

Just like walking to this damn cave, we're arguing walking through it. I can't see a thing, and there are so many scents around here I can't focus on one. Kilala doesn't seem to be having a better time, and Shippo's of no help.

Strangely enough, the tunnel so far has been straight. A few turns here and there but no extra passage-ways. The general smell is damp, and I can feel all sorts of creepy crawlies around. No demons have jumped out to attack us like I would expect. I don't like it one bit. There's something aloof here I say.

"The jewel's power is getting stronger. . ." I heard Kagome mutter. Smells just got more confusing too. I think I can smell a human, or maybe it's just the others. . . Kilala suddenly barked.

"Yeah, you too Kilala?" I muttered. A soft chirp mixed growl left her throat.

"What is it Inu Yasha?" Sango asked.

"We're getting closer to something."

I felt Kagome's grip tighten on my hair, "Is that a light?"

Sure enough, a faint but sure glare shown near the end of the tunnel. I could feel fresh air drifting down, hear soft chanting.

"This is spooky." Shippo squeaked.

"Who is that?" Kagome whispered.

. . . shoukin . . .

"I don't know but it sounds like a woman." I hissed over my shoulder.

. . . seikyo . . .

"That voice sounds familiar." Miroku commented.

. . . no . . .

"I'm agreeing with Shippo, this is all to weird." Sango muttered.

. . . Inu Yasha . . .

I felt Kagome tense at the sound of my name. Kilala began growling softly, I could hear Sango shifting her boomerang and Miroku's staff changing to his left hand. Shippo jumped from Kagome's shoulder to mine. "You're a regular Myoga." I snarled. "Don't compare me to that coward." Shippo sniffed.

The chanting grew louder, the words were "Inu Yasha no seikyo en wa shoukin"

Sometimes they were spoken, sometimes sung, whispered, cried, shouted, said joyfully, and said joylessly. I could feel something pulling at my heart to these words, and I knew it wasn't because of the jewel.

There was a sudden gust of fresh air, as compared to the dank smell of the cave, and a flash of light before we stepped out into a round clearing covered with grass and flowers, with a single bonsai tree in the center.

Kagome gasped, "I didn't realize this was an old volcano."

I didn't hear her. Sitting against the tree was, did you guess? Kikyou. Her legs were crossed to one side, her eyes closed, mouth moving with the words to her chant. She lifted an arm, in her hand one arrow whose tip glowed bright green. She twirled the tip in a small circle, creating a green and white vortex in the air. She stood. Her arms opened in a welcoming manner.

"I knew you would come if I called Inu Yasha." She purred.

I withdrew the Testsaiga, "What the hell are you talking about witch? We came because of the jewel shard."

"Do you think that demon came about the shard by itself?" Kikyou pulled out a large section of the jewel from her kimono. "I placed it there knowing you fools would come, I also knew my reincarnation would want to destroy the 'demon lord' living in the mountain." She chuckled lightly.

I could feel the rage beginning to burn through me. Why did she never call Kagome by her name? I searched desperately for the wind scar, knowing I wouldn't find it against a human. A ghost human if that much.

Kikyou laughed again, "And what are you planning to do with that sword Inu Yasha? Kill me?"

"Enough talk!" I began to run forward, to be stopped by Miroku's chastising hand.

"Stop Inu Yasha, you know as well as I do that she won't be affected by a demon's weapon." He said easily.

"Ahhh, so the houshi is not much a baka, so much a sukeibe." She sneered, "Very good. I found another way to take you with me Inu Yasha." She carelessly tossed the violet gem into the vortex. Green suddenly flashed wildly and sparks flew through the air. A violent pulse waved itself across the field.

I could feel my body being sucked in, glancing over my shoulder, the others seemed to be pushed backwards. I could see them struggle to walk forward, while I tried to walk to them. Kikyou glided through the turmoil like a sword through butter. "Relax Inu Yasha," She said pressing herself against me, "In exactly two minutes the jewel will increase with power, three worlds will have touched the jewel at once." She purred. "And what does that have to do with me?" I snarled.

"The portle will suck you in with me. After all, Your death is my redemption Inu Yasha."

Kagome's voice sounded through out the volcano, "LIKE HELL HE WILL!!"

An arrow flew past Kikyou's ear, strait into the green swirling thing.

Kagome reached for another arrow, "Darn, I missed her face."

A panicked expression overtook Kikyou, "YOU FOOL GIRL!! YOU RUINED IT!"

The jewel dropping harmlessly to the ground, the portal disappeared. Kikyou moaned, collapsing as I ran. Kagome picked up the segment of the jewel.

"Had'better keep this for safe keeping." She grinned. Shippo jumped onto her shoulder for a closer look. "That was quite some aiming there." Sango laughed, clasping a hand to Kagome's other shoulder. "I'd say. . ." I said wearily. "I still missed her." Kagome pouted.

Suddenly her face contorted. "MIROKU!!" Miroku looked shocked, "Oh, I thought that was Sango, sorry." "GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!!" I screamed, leaping for Miroku's throat.

My fingers had just gotten to him, when I felt my body flying helplessly. I couldn't see, but I heard Kikyou's distant voice:

"Not what I was planning, but a suitable punishment. . . "

END FLASHBACK