Love beyond the Western Lands

Chapter 16: Naraku's New Addition and Riko's Farewell

Aoi woke up, chained and shackled like Miyako. She looked straight in front of her and held her tongue from screaming: She saw Miyako's scratched and branded body (In this form of branded, it means Miyako's body was burned and singed in some areas). Her torn kimono was soaked in blood and was still dripping. "Oh my goodness!" Aoi thought. "And she's still alive!" Miyako's leg shifted from time to time. Her black hair was matted with perspiration and hardly had any movement to it.

"Good, you're awake," Kagura's mischievous voice said. "You!" Aoi said rather rudely. "What happened to this girl? What happened to this poor soul?" Kagura chuckled softly. She opened her fan and fanned herself lightly. "She used to be one of us…" Kayorei said, walking out of the shadows, holding a sheathed tanto. "…however, due to her oath and her foolishness, her power was taken and is now just a mere dummy. We are to torment her for 7 months….. After that... heh… we can do what ever we want to her…" "Kanna," Kagura said. "Can you please bring me the shard?"

Kanna walked out of the shadows and held her mirror as a tray. On it was a little opal black shard, glowing the darkest of black and purple. Kayorei picked it up and walked up to Aoi. "W… what are you going to do with that?" Aoi said. "Try to control me with it?" Kayorei smirked and scoffed. "This is not a Shikon shard," Kayorei said. "It is the power of a celestial youkai… well, at least some of it… heh…. it's not even a youkai… A little bit of it was taken from Kikyou, whose katana emitted a celestial glow. I gave in a hint of my psychic power in as well as a little bit of Kagura's wind powers and Kanna's nihility blood. It was sucked into the little sphere Naraku gave you. Naraku also gave in a little bit of his blood so you may have his scent… hmph... at least that's what he told me… I think the real reason is that if you fail or betray us, he can suck you into his body (Once again, for the gazillion, fufilionth time, lots of made up stuff!)."

Aoi thrashed, but unsuccessfully did so, due to the heaviness of the chains and shackles of the chains on her legs. "It appears you won't be coming quietly…" Kayorei said. She slid the shard and tanto in her obi and picked up more chains that are TWICE her weight and laid some on Aoi's shoulders, legs and arms. Aoi groaned.

"Now, if you won't stop thrashing, I will heat these chains up," Kayorei said. "Ughhh……" Aoi winced. "D...do whatever you want! I will not let you insert that shard in my body! I… egh! I will d-die before you can even get that NEAR ME!" "I see…" Kagura removed the heavy chains and threw them into a furnace, where it burned white-hot. Kayorei removed layers from Aoi's kimono until only one layer was left. Kayorei walked over to the furnace and held her hands out, which were glowing white. The chains floated out of the furnace. They unraveled while Kagura and Kanna lowered the chains that clutched Aoi's wrists. The chains began to coil around Aoi like an anaconda. Suddenly, Kayorei clapped her hands together and the coils closed in on Aoi.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Aoi screamed. The pain felt like daggers shooting through her heart. Her skin sizzled as the chains cooled. Kayorei opened her hands and dropped them in the well; the chains unraveled and fell in the wide well. Aoi thrashed no longer. Nor did she shot glares of defiance. She just hung limp like a tangled marionette. "Good, she is tired out," Kayorei said. She took the shard out again opened her kimono. After finding Aoi's heart, she took the shard and stabbed it right in. "UGH!" Aoi groaned. Now, Aoi's whole body glowed black and purple.

"Now we just have to wait for her to take form," Kagura said. "Hai," Kayorei said. "How long will that be?" Kanna asked. "It will take time," Kayorei said. "But Naraku estimated it will take at least 1 full week." "Let's go tell Naraku we are done, shall we?" Kagura said. The three girls, hearts filled with evil, traipsed up the dank stairs, leaving the damp and gloomy dungeon.

Kikyou dove under the warm water in Riko's bath, which was outside in her backyard. It was quite large. Things were going well during those days. Riko was willing to travel with Kikyou and Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru's wounds were healing faster than ever and Rin was learning defense skills by using Jaken as a practice dummy.

Kikyou rose up to the surface for a gasp of air. "I can not believe it was Inuyasha who had Aoi to come get my shards," Kikyou thought.

Flashback

Kikyou held the Ni Hon below Aoi's chin. "WHO sent you!" Kikyou said, holding the Ni Hon higher, making Aoi wince. "I… I am not at liberty to say." "Who… sent… you?" Kikyou said, angered. She held the Ni Hon even higher. Aoi's chin began to drip some blood. "I… INUYASHA!" Aoi screamed.

End flashback

Kikyou smacked the water with her fist. "RRRGH!" She raged. Kikyou dove underwater again. She had a picture of Inuyasha commanding Aoi to go to her. She almost choked on the water. She floated back up to the surface, coughing. "Augh, time to get out," she said softly. She swam to the side where her towel was as well as her black miko outfit. She dried herself quickly due to the cold and dressed fast. She took a black strip this time and tied her hair up in the usual fashion. She then shut her eyes and her stripes reappeared on her once again.

After she left the bath, both Sesshoumaru and Riko were ready. Riko packed a small bag which hung at her waist and had a katana through her belt as well as a bow and a quiver of arrows. "Well? Are you ready?" Riko said. "Yes, almost," Kikyou said smiling. "Be right back." She walked back in the hut and she found her bow, arrows, katana and tanto on her futon. She slung her bow and arrows on her back and slid the katana in her belt. She slid the tanto in a pocket behind her back on her belt. Kikyou walked out again. People were crowded around Riko, weeping and wailing.

"Why must you leave?" A woman said, tears streaming down her face. "I'm afraid I must leave on important matters," Riko said. "But fret not. My best student, Kirei, will be the new village doctor and miko." she said, indicating a navy-haired girl. She bowed and looked up, her eyes shining the brightest blues. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru walked to the exit where there was a big red cherrywood arch and waited patiently. Snow fell from the sky lightly (due to Kikyou's mood) and wind blew once again, swirling the snow in spirals.

"It appears she is well respected in the village…" Kikyou said. "Yes, it does," Sesshoumaru said. Kikyou smiled, but then something soon struck her. "That student of hers…" Kikyou thought. "Why am I sensing a light jaki (evil energy) around her? And her katana…" "Hmm…" Kikyou said aloud. "Something wrong?" Sesshoumaru said. Kikyou smiled. "No, nothing is wrong." Riko walked towards the two, but then turned around. "Farewell," she said to the village. "And you, Kirei, good luck to you!" Kirei bowed again. "Arigato," she said. "Well," Riko said, half smiling, "let's get going shall we?" Sesshoumaru and Kikyou smiled and began walking. But when Kikyou turned around to look at the village arch once more, she saw Kirei shooting eyes of daggers at her.

To be continued.