"Kagura...I am surprised at you. Surely you know that I absolutely hate for you to fear me." Kagura sensed the mock politeness that Naraku emitted. He used it like a mask. That was one of the things she hated most about her master.
"I know you dislike my fear of you. But let me tell you, Naraku, you will never defeat Inuyasha with that kind of shield." Kagura turned to leave, her eyes fixing Naraku in one last, steely glare.
Naraku did not seem mocked by Kagura's attitude. He was rather pleased, actually. The more reason to give her heart more pain! After all, she was born from Naraku's very ribs. If Kagura were to defy him and leave Naraku in betrayal, why, that would make him very happy! He would destroy her, and show her exactly what it means to betray her own flesh and blood.
"She can reflect on it in hell," he whispered, and sat by his low, wooden cot with woven platforms of string. Outside, the giant soul collectors seemed to moan slowly and quietly. They clamored and mourned, as though they too wanted a life far away from Naraku and his coterie.
On a similar hillside, a young woman walked through tall blades of grass that tickled her knees. Kikyo stood, overlooking the small, humid village of Kaede, her younger sister from 50 years before. Kikyo had seen her sister a few times before, who had aged rapidly since Kikyo's death long ago.
Kikyo had died for love. She had taken to Inuyasha, the half-demon with a short temper and dog-like features. Kikyo was a regular Shinto priestess, and would often stay by Inuyasha's side. One day, Naraku had cast an illusion of Inuyasha to steal the Shikon Jewel that Kikyo had protected. Naraku had wanted the Jewel for his own purposes, and made the whole incident look like the Inuyasha that Kikyo once knew had betrayed her.
Kikyo had gotten the wrong idea, and pinned Inuyasha to a tree for fifty years with a powerful arrow that emitted sacred power. Kikyo had died in front of Kaede, and was cremated with the Shikon Jewel in her hands. Later, Kikyo had been resurrected from a witch Urasue, and was re-created from the earth's clay and soil.
Ever since that day, Kikyo had been living off of the souls of dead girls. She feared her body would not last out of hatred alone. Kikyo had resented every living creature since the day of her resurrection, especially Kagome. Kagome was Kikyo's supposed reincarnation after the Jewel escaped from her body. The two young women looked extraordinarily alike, but Kagome was a skinny schoolgirl from the modern times.
How dare she mock Kikyo in such an informal fashion! The odd way Kagome was dressed, the way she stood by Inuyasha's Inuyasha have a new love? Kikyo assumed this was so.
Now she lived wherever her body would take her. She was filled with new emotions, and wandered about to continue her unfinished business in the world of the living.
Kikyo stared across the top of the hill shortly before departing. Her soul collectors followed loyally, twisting themselves about her shoulders and legs. They blinked their demonic red eyes and gave off a low, painful moan, as though their lives once reflected misery as well.
The young woman walked a long and dangerous path, cutting past shadowy trees and deep, unfriendly ponds with demonic frogs and snakes. She did not show any sign of fear, for she knew that somewhere, someone would be watching. Kikyo had been treated like vermin, being hunted as though she was a thief on the run. Was there a capture reward as well? Would they take her dead or alive? To Kikyo, neither mattered.
"This is all Kagome's fault," Kikyo muttered, turning her head toward the blue evening sky. "Why did she steal Inuyasha from me? Does he truly care for her more than me?" The soul collectors moaned again as Kikyo dropped to her knees. "I am truly exhausted. Not just from the journey. Kagome has been in my way for too long! Too damn long! Thank the heavens for my wandering power."
Back at Naraku's castle, tension seemed to drift among the lonely walls and battered screens. Old armor with faces of samurai seemed to frown, as though they hated the pungent interior of the castle that held so many false emotions.
"Kagura...tell me, why have you arrived so late? Is it because you still cower in fear of me?" Naraku asked, not caring whether his words provoked her.
Kagura chose to ignore the question with a tip of her fan. "You don't understand, do you? I have waited for this moment! I spent my time trying to ward off Inuyasha and his lowly, human friends. It is such a difficult business, especially if you sent me alone."
Naraku raised his eyebrows. His long, nimble fingers curled over one another in his lap.
"Is that any excuse to leave me here alone?" Kagura stood there, waving her fan about her face, as though trying to hide her nervousness.
"You...you're not alone. You have Kanna, and Kohaku." Naraku sighed and leaned against a shelf-like crack in the red, polished screen.
"Kanna and Kohaku are nothing but powerless against you. You were my first incarnation, after all. Besides, even if they are here, you still can't leave me. You will return eventually...because I have your heart in my own two hands."
Kagura scoffed, being pushed further in conversation by her confidence. "You don't have to be so lonely, you know." Naraku looked up at Kagura, who headed toward the dark doorway.
"You don't have to be so lonely...after all, you are a demon."