Love beyond the Western Lands

Chapter 11: A Dragon Youkai's Power and the Mystery Woman

Kikyou woke up in her sleeping bag. Her miko robes were quite loose. Sesshoumaru was next to her, sound asleep. She blushed intensely. "Did I cry myself to sleep?" she wondered. "I probably had a death grip on him." Kikyou got out of the sleeping bag and adjusted her robes.

With a small spark of fire and a bunch of sticks, she made a warm fire. It was almost sunrise. She went down to the river with a hunting spear. When she was at the edge of the river, she saw something glowing. "I wonder what this is?" she thought. "It is way too bright to be a Shikon shard."

Putting down her spear, she plunged her hands into the icy water and picked the glowing object up. She gasped when she saw sight of it. It had a symbol of a dragon on it. Suddenly, it spoke. "Do not be frightened," it said. Kikyou gasped and dropped the orb. "I will not harm you. I am merely the power of an elemental dragon youkai." "Why are you not within another youkai?" Kikyou asked. "She was about to be killed by a youkai of impurity, and did not want her power to be tainted," the orb said. "So, she chanted a spell right before she died, and I became this orb, concealing this power." "But, shouldn't you have been taken already?" "I only appear to one worthy of my power. So, generally, I look like a rock to those not qualified," it said. "You're the one whom is worthy. My power now belongs to you. Touch the orb…"

Kikyou hesitated: How will she know how to use the dragon powers? Will she kill people without knowing it? Will it possess her? "Don't worry," the orb said. "When you receive the power, you shall instantly know how to use it." Kikyou looked more confident now.

She moved her hand slowly towards the orb, which was glowing brighter and brighter. When she pricked it, the orb dissolved. The power split in all directions, like wandering souls. Suddenly, they merged together and jetted towards Kikyou's heart. She felt her world spinning around. She felt dizzy. It was painful. It felt like Inuyasha's betrayal to her all over again.

Suddenly, it was gone. "Arigato gozaimasu," an eerie voice echoed over the plains. Kikyou smiled and felt renewed strength, like a real youkai. Kikyou decided to hunt for her fish, but nearly screamed from her reflection in the water. Her face… Her forehead bore a blue crescent moon similar to that of Sesshoumaru's. Her cheeks had 3 blue streaks and on her forearms as well. Kikyou was sure that her legs were the same as well. Her ears looked normal. Her eyes were black, only that they have a hint of blue. Her hair was dark purple as always, but had a few blue highlights.

"I hope Sesshoumaru won't faint," Kikyou thought nervously as she caught a fish with her spear.

Kikyou walked back to Sesshoumaru. The sun was almost high in the sky. Sesshoumaru was already awake. "Good morning," Kikyou said timidly. "Good mor... aaaaaaaaaaaagh!" Sesshoumaru gasped. "I look a bit different, don't I?" Kikyou said, and began cooking the fish over the fire. "WH-what happened!" Sesshoumaru asked. Kikyou explained to Sesshoumaru what she found at the river, other than a fish.

"So, you're a full fledged youkai now, right?" Sesshoumaru said. "I suppose so," Kikyou said, splitting the cooked fish in half. "This won't make any difference in our relationship would it?" Kikyou said. "If he says yes, I will do suicide!" she thought to herself. "No," Sesshoumaru said, with a small smile. "It never will."

Kikyou sighed with relief. "Thank the heavens," she thought. "But, am I alive now?" Suddenly, she just found her answer: Another spirit eel dropped down something that looked like a soul, only it wasn't one. When Kikyou touched it, it showed something, like a foresight. A woman was lying behind a rocking, holding a baby, weeping.

When they finished breakfast, they put out their fire and moved on. When they were walking, Kikyou noticed Sesshoumaru was staring at her again, but not with lust, but with a look of confusion.

"What is it?" she asked when she couldn't take it anymore. "Nothing," he said, "You just look different." "Oh." With deep concentration, she changed her appearance into neutral Kikyou (It was her first day as a youkai, what can you expect?). She decided to leave the crescent moon on her forehead.

Suddenly, they came onto a cliff. "Can you fly?" Sesshoumaru asked. "Only for one," Kikyou said with a smirk. They both floated across the cliff and landed gracefully on the other side.

As they continued on, they heard weeping. "It's coming from over there!" Kikyou pointed at a boulder. Kikyou pulled out her katana and Sesshoumaru unsheathed Toukijin. Kikyou just realized that the blade and sheath had kanjis on them: The katana had a name. It was called the Ni Hon (I forgot what that meant, so I'll have to look that up, heh. ")

Kikyou leapt over the boulder and flipped to face the huge rock. Kikyou relaxed her grip. It was just a weeping woman and her baby! Her black hair waved about her snow white face. Her amber eyes shined with tears. Sesshoumaru whizzed right next to Kikyou. Suddenly, the woman screamed. "Who are you?" She shrieked. "What is a ningen (human, if I didn't mention it in the previous chapters) like you doing with a youkai?" "Please, madam," Kikyou said calmly. "We don't wish to hurt you…" "No!" she screamed. "Get away from me! Do not hurt my baby! I have a stick!"

She brandished a crooked walking stick. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru exchanged glances. With a simple wave, they sliced the stick into thirds. The woman screamed and threw her chopped up stick aside as Kikyou put sheathed her katana. "What is your name?" Kikyou asked. "Get away!" The woman screamed again. Suddenly, she starts running, holding her baby close to her chest.

Kikyou and Sesshoumaru sped after her. Sesshoumaru paused and sheathed Toukijin before continuing. "This woman must be a runaway!" Kikyou thought. With his Whip of Light, Sesshoumaru stung her ankle. She winced in pain, but nevertheless, she didn't slow down. With a successful wave, he caught the woman and held her in the air. She screamed. Suddenly, her baby began to roll out of its tangle of cloth. "MY BABY!" she screamed, trying to grab her child, but it was too late. Fortunately, Kikyou was still running on the ground and with her outstretched hands, she caught child and fell onto the icy floor and began skidding towards over another cliff. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" the woman screamed again.

With one arm holding the baby, Kikyou flipped over the cliff and gripped the edge. Kikyou looked down: An icy roaring ocean was right below her. Suddenly, her grip began to slip. Panicking, she screamed. "SESSHOUMARU! HELP ME!"

Sesshoumaru's heart pounded. "I'm coming Kikyou!" he called. He would have tied the woman to a tree, but he knows she would get her baby back before leaving.

"SESSHOUMARU!" Kikyou screamed again. Sesshoumaru began to run towards the cliff. Holding a real whip (Like Indiana Jones' whip) in his hand, he held it down the cliff like a rope, but it was too late. Kikyou fell to her doom. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIGH!" she screamed, holding her arm up trying to grasp the whip. "KIKYOU, NOOOOOO!" Sesshoumaru screamed. Suddenly, he leapt after her. He swished his whip and it wrapped around Kikyou's forearm and Kikyou grasped it tightly.

Pulling her up, Sesshoumaru flew back up to up and over the cliff. The woman ran over to Kikyou. "Oh, arigato, arigato, ARIGATO!" she shrieked, retrieving her baby back into her arms.

It was night time, and all three of them, Kikyou, Sesshoumaru and the mystery woman, set up camp together near the cliff. Kikyou helped wrap the blanket around the baby, while Sesshoumaru mended the woman's ankle. "Ah, arigato the both of you," the woman said with relief, rubbing her healed ankle. Kikyou handed the baby back to the woman. "You still haven't told us your name," Kikyou said as she roasted their 3 fish on the camp fire.

"My name?" the woman said. She scoffed. "I don't have a permanent name. But the one that stuck to me was Miyako." Kikyou smiled. "What a pretty name." "Arigato," Miyako replied.

"Why have you bore this baby?" Sesshoumaru asked. Miyako suddenly looked as if she wanted to rather eat a squid alive than to answer that question. Miyako held the baby close to her and rocked her back and forth. "Akyo was by accident," she said. "By 'accident'?" Kikyou said, turning the stick of fish over. "How was she 'by accident'?"

Miyako looked at Kikyou. "Let me tell you about 2 months back then…"

Flashback

"I was lost then," her voice narrated. "I didn't know any better." Miyako wandered around the forest, hungry and tired. She just wore a black silk kimono (It looked like a miko's robes). Her only defense was a tanto. It was twilight already, and the animals of the night began to emerge. "Are you lost, miss?" said a voice. She spun around pulling out her tanto as she went scared, scared. Standing there was a man, with red eyes and black wavy hair.

Miyako drooped her tanto down a little bit, but did not put it away.

"Are you lost, miss?" he said again with a small smile. "Um, well," she began. "I was on my way to a village…" "Mmm… I'm afraid you're way off course, and I fear I can't take you to the village," He said. "Oh…" she said.

"But, if you'd like," he said quickly, "you can stay with me." Miyako's head perked up. "Really!" she said, excited. "You'd do that?" "Of course!" he said. "I cannot allow a beautiful maiden like you get stranded out here. Now, sheath your tanto and follow me closely."

They walked for many long minutes, silently. Finally, when Miyako couldn't take it anymore, she said, "Um, good sir," she began, "You still have not told me your name." "My name is Naraku," he said with a smile. "You have not told me yours either." "My name's Miyako," she said. "A pretty name matches a pretty shoujo," Naraku said.

When they reached their destination, Miyako gasped. A large castle was right before her eyes. "It's so beautiful!" she gasped. "Is it yours alone!" "Well, I share it with a few companions." They both walked in. "Come with me and I'll show you your room." Miyako followed Naraku. They reached a door with a picture of cherry blossoms painted on it. "You'll be staying here," Naraku said when Miyako didn't say anything. "O-Okay," she stuttered.

"That was only the beginning," she said again. "I did not know he was coming onto me, until one day, while I was helping him cook dinner when he cooked the day before, he was leering at me."

Miyako scattered garlic on the fish and a bit more oil and turned it around a few times in the skillet. "It will be ready in a few minutes, Naraku!" she called. When she turned around to get some pepper, she noticed Naraku staring at her with lust. Miyako pretended not to notice. "Why is he staring at me like that?" she thought.

"That night, he forced himself on me as I slept."

Miyako returned to her room after dinner. "He's been staring at me like that since I was cooking dinner!" she thought, frightened. "What got into him?"

She heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said. Naraku walked in. "Well, I just came to say sorry for my behavior today," he said. "It's alright," Miyako said, smiling. Naraku walked up to Miyako. "And the way you cooked the fish, it was delicious!" "Arigato! It's a family's old recipe." "Wow." Suddenly, Naraku took off his clothes. "What are you doing!" Miyako squealed, blushing. Naraku smirked, but did not say anything.

"Oh my…" she gasped. Miyako ran for the door, but Naraku caught her wrist. Miyako was too scared to do anything. With a strong tug, Miyako's kimono was ripped off. She ran in the corner, trying to hide her body, but it didn't work. With a strong grip from Naraku, she was flipped on the bed, and the night that followed.

End flashback

She looked petrified. "I couldn't believe it," she said, shuddering. "The man, who I thought I could trust, was a backstabber…"

Then, she turned her attention to Sesshoumaru. "So," Miyako said in a slow, soft would-be sexy voice (A voice where a prostitute would use. O.O), "Lord Sesshoumaru, you own the western lands do you not?" She put her arm around his neck. A pang hit Kikyou in the stomach. "What is she DOING?" she thought. Kikyou pretended to check if the fish was cooked, but she was distinctively listening. Sesshoumaru himself didn't look very comfortable. "Um, yes," he said uneasily. "I met Kikyou one day, and she was traveling all over Japan, collecting the Shikon jewel fragments."

Naraku sat in his usual spot in the dark living room, watching the activities of Sesshoumaru and Kikyou in his crystal ball. "Ah, yes," he uttered. "Good work, Miyako. It appears you have memorized our plan by heart. I would have taken Kayorei to do the job but she's immobilized."

"Sir?" said a voice. Kayorei walked out of the shadows towards Naraku and sat next to him.

"Ah, Kayorei," Naraku said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Are you well again?" "Yes, arigato for asking. Is that Miyako?" "Yes, she's helping us carry out our plan since you could not do so." "Ah, I see. What is the plan?" "She is to get close to the two and kill them when they are most vulnerable."

They were silent for a moment.

"Did you really take her?" Kayorei asked. "No, of course not!" Naraku said, with the "How can you say that to me?" tone. Kayorei looked relieved. "Oh, and what that of Kanna and Kagura?" Kayorei asked, snuggling herself against Naraku. "Now that you reminded me…" he said and got up. "Kayorei, would you be such a darling to oversee Kikyou and Sesshoumaru's activities?" "Of course."

Naraku smiled and whipped out of sight. He when downstairs to where Kanna and Kagura where held. "Well, ladies," Naraku said. "I won't do away with you…." Kanna and Kagura sighed with relief. "…just yet." Kanna and Kagura's head perked up with fear. "I will soon release you… when you're to do another job," he added when they sighed again. "If you fail this one, you will surely perish."

And he whipped out of sight.

Kikyou finished cooking her fish and pulled them off the stick and handed them to Sesshoumaru and Miyako. Miyako thanked Kikyou quietly and ate her fish quickly. Sesshoumaru swallowed it whole bones and all. "So, Sesshoumaru," Miyako said in her falsely sexy voice, "It is true you have a castle?" "Why, yes," Sesshoumaru said, hiding a little bit aggravation. "I AM a lord after all." "Yes, yes," Miyako said, putting her arm around his shoulder and rubbed his chest with her other hand. "I see…"

When Kikyou couldn't take it anymore, she decided to "talk" to Sesshoumaru (Telepathy if you didn't know what I meant). "SESSHOUMARU!" Kikyou yelled in her head to Sesshoumaru, making him jump. "Yes?" he said back. "What is she DOING?" Kikyou hissed. "How the hell should I know?" "I have a bad feeling about her, Sesshoumaru!" Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "Kikyou, I can take care of myself! Nothing will happen."

Kikyou transformed a roar of frustration into a little grunt. "I don't mean it THAT way. I am saying that I can sense Naraku's aura around her! You go on! Sniff her scent!"

Sesshoumaru looked taken aback, but he did so anyway. "You're right. She IS cloaked in Naraku's scent, but wouldn't because Naraku stole her virginity?" Kikyou gave the -. - look. "Don't you think it would have faded! I'm also POSITIVE she's another detachment," she said. "Maybe," Sesshoumaru thought.

Kikyou finished up her fish and got up. "Sesshoumaru, Miyako," she began. "I'm going to go for a short stroll. I'll be back soon." "Follow me right after I leave, Sesshoumaru!" Kikyou shot the message through Sesshoumaru's head. Sesshoumaru nodded to say he understood.

Kikyou walked through the bushes and waited for Sesshoumaru. After a few moments, Sesshoumaru walked in. "About time!" Kikyou said.

"Alright," Sesshoumaru said. "You might be right. First of all, she smells like Naraku, and I just noticed her ears are pointed, so she must be a youkai." "Right," Kikyou said, nodding. She handed him a stick of berries. "Eat these. They'll protect from evil auras."

Sesshoumaru chewed them down. "Let's go back and sleep now." When they both got back, Miyako was already asleep, with her baby next to her.

Kikyou crept into her sleeping bag and fell asleep. Sesshoumaru sat and stared at the fire and when he could not take the boredom anymore, he slipped into the sleeping bag next to Kikyou and fell asleep.

…But Kikyou did not sleep long, for she was curious if Miyako were to kill her or Sesshoumaru, so she stayed awake, keeping her eyes closed, pretending to sleep.

Later that night, Kikyou's prediction came true: Miyako awoke. Kikyou's new 6th sense (Sort of like Spider-Man's Spidey-Sense) told her that Miyako was taking out a tanto. Her heart pounded as she got closer and closer, tanto at ready.

She raised her blade to strike Sesshoumaru…

To be continued…