Disclaimer: I don't own Kagura, Sesshoumaru and the rest of the Inuyasha characters mentioned here. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi. But I do own Kagura's new identity.
A/N: OK, before I start, I would just like to point out some things about this story. I've received a review that was pointing out that many things in the story are farfetched, like Kagura being alive and outsmarting Naraku. My response- Yes. Many things are unlikely, but let me clear out my points:
1. This is fanfiction. There is freedom on what someone wants to write. It is indicated in the name: "fiction written by fans".
2. I know that Kagura will die in Inuyasha. But just like in number 1, this is fanfiction.
3. About Kagura being a ninja, it's a product of imagination. No matter how ridiculous some ideas are, as authors, we should respect them. And, also just like reasons 1 and 2, this is fanfiction. And…
4. Yes, there is NO way Kagura will outsmart Naraku, since he knows everything she does. But the story is not yet finished, and there will be more twists in future chapters, so it isn't right to jump to conclusions about the story. I will not deviate from the fact that Naraku knows all about what his detachments do. It may seem that Kagura "outsmarted" Naraku here, but if you read carefully the end of chapter 2, Naraku says that that Kagura "will die for real" next time they meet. Now, that's gotta be a major hint.
Okay, so that's it. That is my explanation about my story. I just took the review as constructive criticism, and I thank the reviewer for that, but next time, read between the lines more carefully.
It was getting dark in the Field of Ignorance. Sesshoumaru sat on a rock, looking off into the distance, while Jaken continued to nag Rin about picking flowers for Sesshoumaru.
"No! No! No! Sesshoumaru-sama will be mad!" Jaken said furiously. "He'll never wear a bunch of flowers on his head like that!"
"Maybe he'll like it!" Rin simply responded, as she continued to pick flowers. Sesshoumaru slightly looked over his shoulder and saw what has been happening between Rin and Jaken.
"…Jaken." Sesshoumaru uttered. The toad demon immediately jerked and did curtsies. "Leave the kid alone." Sesshoumaru said in his wintry voice. Jaken stopped badgering Rin and made faces scornfully at the little girl. Sesshoumaru on the other hand, kept on staring into the horizon. He seemed to be burdened with something really dire.
"Ahh…Jaken-san…Sesshoumaru-sama seems sad lately." Rin said observantly. Normally, Jaken would retort with some kind of contra response, but this time, he actually approved.
"…Hmm…Yes. I somehow see it in his eyes." Jaken said to Rin. Sesshoumaru's face may not look it, but inside, he really feels depressed. His usually unemotional face seemed to be showing tiny hints of woe. Sesshoumaru closed his golden eyes and stood up from the rock. He walked away from Rin and Jaken and went somewhere to be alone.
-o-o-o-o-
Sesshoumaru went into a clearing in a small forest patch in the Field of Ignorance. It has become dark, but there were no stars visible in the sky. He stood there, looking at some nearby flower bushes. Sesshoumaru walked over to one of them that had bluish-purple flowers.
"The iris…" Sesshoumaru said to himself. "…These were her favorite." He said, picking one of them with his only hand. He held the blossom gently in his hand, as if it was some kind of precious gem. Kagura… He thought, suddenly crushing the iris in his hand. The image of Kagura fading before his eyes stayed vividly in his mind. He was there, she was within his reach, but there was nothing he could do. He tried to save her from death, but the Tensaiga didn't work. Sesshoumaru shook off the mess the iris made on his hand and looked up in the sky. Still, there were no stars…very much opposite to when he had Kagura in his embrace. He remembered it so well, a starry night and it was just the two of them. It was as if they were away from the world…from everyone they knew. Sesshoumaru reminisced that scenario often…when he neared Kagura's face and met his lips with hers. He felt extraordinary warmth go inside of him as he held his beloved. But now, those days are gone. Kagura's gone. And all Sesshoumaru could think of lately was to destroy the one who tore him away from his lady.
"…Naraku." Sesshoumaru mumbled, clenching his only fist. "You don't know how much resentment I have for you now…" But then, Sesshoumaru heard a familiar little girl's scream.
Rin! He thought, immediately dashing forth to their campsite.
Meanwhile, in the Field of Ignorance's entrance,
"Phew! I made it!" Koeshi sighed in relief, wiping some sweat off her forehead. "Now to find that Sesshoumaru." Koeshi said. She then started to practice her "script" in her head, just to ensure a favorable response. But then…
"HELP! AAAAHHH!" Rin's voice rang in Koeshi's ears.
"That sounded like Rin!" Koeshi said to herself, and started to rush towards the direction of the scream. Koeshi arrived at the campsite and saw Rin and Jaken being attacked by a familiar villain.
"Hahaha! Coming here was a great idea!" The assailant laughed. Rin and Jaken were pierced through their clothes and were hanging on the villain's arms. "After that stupid ninja escaped with my lunch, I've worked up a big appetite for dinner! And now I have a tasty little kid and a little frog morsel! At last, I, Akuha, can finally have some food!"
"Oh come on, not you again!" Koeshi said mockingly. "Why can't you just stop picking on little kids?" Akuha quickly turned around and saw the ninja up on a small hill, overlooking him, Rin and Jaken.
"Arrgh! The foolish ninja!" Akuha snorted furiously. "I had just about had enough of your meddling! This time, I'm going to make sure you'll never live a day again!" The demon shot his blade arms, still piercing Rin and Jaken, onto a nearby tree and pinning the two on the trunk. Akuha then regenerated another set of blade arms, replacing the lost ones.
"Watch out! He can turn his limbs into deadly blades!" Jaken shrieked at Koeshi.
"Yeah…I know that. And he also makes a very annoying noise…" Koeshi said, drawing her katana.
"Grr…and what is that?" Akuha growled.
"Your voice." Koeshi taunted, jumping forth and geared up for a helm breaker in mid-air. Koeshi darted down and attempted to slash Akuha, but the demon parried her attack, and sent Koeshi flying back.
"Wahahaha!" Akuha laughed triumphantly. Koeshi did a breakfall and regained her momentum. And once more, she charged for the demon. But then, Rin saw some objects slightly protruding from the ground…and Koeshi was headed straight for them.
"Wait! Don't rush him!" Rin shouted to Koeshi. "There are stuff coming out of the ground!" But Koeshi didn't seem to notice or hear Rin saying something and continued to rush in. The demon had a sly smile on his face and raised one of his arms. Suddenly, to Koeshi's surprise, stalagmite-like turrets of blades shot from the ground, trying to impale Koeshi.
"Oh god!" Koeshi said in between gritted teeth. She managed to dodge two of the blades, and jumped a third one. She continued to dodge the blades coming out from the ground…until she has a clear shot of Akuha.
"You are so dead!" Koeshi screamed, getting her attack stance ready while running. But then, Akuha still had this smile on his face. There must be something wrong. Oh no! A thought darted in Koeshi's mind. The ninja was going too fast to stop, when a whole patch of earth sprouted with numerous turrets of blades.
"Gahahahaha! Blahahahahaha!" Akuha laughed menacingly. It was too late. Koeshi couldn't get out of the perimeter when all of the turrets emerged.
"Aaaaaagghhh! Nooooo!" Koeshi shouted in pain, as the blades pierced through her body, impaling her to death. Rin and Jaken watched in horror as the blades went through the ninja's body, mangling it viciously.
"Wahahaha! That is what you get for going against me!" Akuha said victoriously. He then directed his attention to Jaken and Rin. "Now…where was I?"
"You were just about to get your butt kicked."
No…it can't be… Akuha's eyes widened in disbelief, as he turned around to see…Koeshi! Akuha looked at the patch of ground where Koeshi was pierced by the blades, and found no body…but an illusion tag, ripped right in the middle. Rin and Jaken had a spark of relief to see the ninja alive.
"You…you're supposed to be dead!" Akuha protested, looking back and forth from the real Koeshi to the ripped illusion tag. Koeshi jumped, and with one mighty swing of her katana, she cleaved smoothly into Akuha's head, cutting him in two. The demon screamed in agony, as he dispelled into black dust.
"Well, that's just too bad for you, isn't it?" Koeshi uttered, putting the katana away. Rin and Jaken both heaved sighs of relief.
"Yay! We are saved!" Rin said, happily. Koeshi walked over to the two and freed them from being pinned on the tree. Jaken dusted himself, while Rin kept on jumping for joy.
"Why weren't you able to defend yourselves? You have a weapon, don't you?" Koeshi asked Jaken, pointing at his Two-headed Staff, which was lying on a nearby bush. Jaken scampered towards it and reproved Koeshi angrily.
"Are you blind? That demon came before I had the chance to attack!" Jaken hissed. "Foolish ninja." Koeshi rolled her ruby eyes and looked around. Rin and Jaken were here, but no Sesshoumaru. Just then, some rustling were heard from the trees. Koeshi put her hand on the katana's hilt again. Jaken readied his staff for an attack, while Rin just watched. Suddenly, jumping out of the rustling came Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken and Rin said in chorus. Sesshoumaru looked at Rin, then at Jaken and finally at Koeshi. Hmm…they seem to be alright. Did I miss something?
"Jaken." Sesshoumaru called. Jaken quickly muddled towards Sesshoumaru. "What happened?"
"Ah…ahh…we were-" Jaken was then cut off by an excited Rin. The toad demon was annoyed.
"You missed it, Sesshoumaru-sama! This big blade-monster-thingy came out from nowhere and threatened to eat me and Jaken-san!" Rin recollected eagerly. "But then, Ms. Ninja-girl here saved us! She jumped from that hill over there and hacked at the evil demon!" Rin added, pointing at the small hill and Koeshi. Sesshoumaru's blunt expression didn't change as he slightly turned his head to look at the ninja. Rin then continued.
"Then, the evil demon made these blades come out of the ground and then they went through Ninja-girl!" Rin said, raising her arms high. "We thought Ninja-girl was dead, but then, she only used an illusion to trick the monster and with one final blow, she saved us! Isn't she great, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked happily. Sesshoumaru said nothing to Rin and faced Koeshi. A slight feeling of apprehension got to Koeshi. Sesshoumaru's glinting gold eyes focused on her steadily. Koeshi looked at him just the same. The youkai lord walked closer to her.
"…" Sesshoumaru kept silent for a while. "You smell like…" Sesshoumaru eyed the ninja suspiciously. Koeshi breathed heavily, feeling a little nervous. Oh no! Is the Amulet not working? Does Sesshoumaru still smell Naraku's essence?
"Dirt." Sesshoumaru said, as he gazed into Koeshi's glimmering crimson eyes. Koeshi heaved a small sigh. But within Sesshoumaru's mind, he was thinking of something critically. This ninja…She looks like…no. It can't be. Sesshoumaru's dull expression had a very tiny hint of surprise and reminiscence. He turned his back on Koeshi and didn't even thank her.
"Humph…Rin. Jaken. Let's go." Sesshoumaru murmured. Jaken scuttled over to Sesshoumaru and walked alongside of him, while Rin did the same. Koeshi was left standing there, looking at the three of them walk off. Rin, on the other hand, looked back on Koeshi with her big dark eyes. The little girl wanted to tell Sesshoumaru something, but was sort of unsure.
"Airhead." Koeshi muttered and sat down and looked down on the grass. "Well…I came here for nothing. He just keeps on being his haughty self…(sigh)…"
That ninja…she…she seems familiar. She looks like…her. Sesshoumaru pondered while walking. …But it really can't be…I saw her fade…
"Ah…Sesshoumaru-sama…I think she deserves some kind of reward." Rin finally managed to say, looking back on Koeshi.
"Silly girl! Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't care about that ninja! She'll only slow him down!" Jaken screeched. Upon hearing all of these, Sesshoumaru stopped and turned around.
-o-o-o-o-
Koeshi stood up from the grass and looked dismayed. She thought coming here to get Sesshoumaru to help was the perfect plan, but since she wasn't recognizable to Sesshoumaru, all of that work- getting to the Field of Ignorance, meeting Yosaku and Chiba, learning about the Amulet of Negation and getting it- seemed to have gone down the drain.
"Damn! Damn! Damn it all!" Koeshi cursed, standing up. She then finally reconciled with herself that she now has no way to defeat Naraku…and that she now also has no way to be with Sesshoumaru again. Just then, a familiar voice was heard.
"You. Come here." Sesshoumaru called her. Koeshi stopped and turned around. A spark of hope emerged within Koeshi, as she went to Sesshoumaru. Rin and Jaken were also there. The little girl had a very pleased expression on her face while the toad demon had a irate look towards her.
"Y-yes, Milord?" Koeshi addressed formally. Sesshoumaru turned his back on her and said,
"Tag along." Sesshoumaru commanded. Koeshi just nodded. "I am…going for a walk. Rin, stay here in camp. You, too." Sesshoumaru said to Rin and Koeshi.
"Jaken, let's go." With that Sesshoumaru walked off, Jaken- as usual- scurrying behind him. The spark of hope in Koeshi soon flared up in a wild, roaring fire. Rin looked at her with sparkling big eyes.
"What's wrong?" Koeshi asked her. Rin thought.
"Hmm…you know, Ms. Ninja-girl, you look like someone really close to Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin said. Koeshi's eyes widened in surprise. "…You look like Kagura-san. But you probably wouldn't know her." Rin then sat on the grass.
"Really?" Asked Koeshi, playing dumb and had a pleased smile on her face. Rin merely nodded. She was only moments away from killing Naraku…and only mere inches away from the man she loved.
As for Sesshoumaru, he had a small turmoil brewing within his cold heart. The ninja looked like the woman he loves…the woman Naraku killed. From beneath his kimono, he clenched his only fist.
I swear…I will avenge Kagura… It is just a bit sad, for Sesshoumaru doesn't know that the woman he longs to hold again is just very near to him now.