DIS: I want to thank Eternal Eyes, SweetyPieRin, and Myalieninvader for reviewing and now, on to the chapter.

X

Chapter Five, Kagura's hint and Kikyo's hint

So, Kagura thought, staring down at the massive trees that concealed the demons of the forest and the unfortunate travelers that were immediately caught in the demon's snare when stepping into the forest. Naraku has blackmailed Lord Sesshomaru. Interesting. All hope of Inu Yasha might be lost, but not so for Sesshomaru. Smiling to herself, Kagura, as always, thought of the possibility of freedom, of all the things that she could do when free from Naraku's grips. The only reason she was free now was because Naraku had told her to keep an eye on Sesshomaru and she would – with some additions. She knew too well that Inu Yasha wouldn't believe her if she told him about the location of Naraku's castle, but Sesshomaru just might, which made her hopes lift. Even if Sesshomaru was a ruthless demon, from what Naraku told her, he was desolate without his young consort. It seemed hard to believe that the possibility of Sesshomaru longing for the young girl, Rin. After all, she was just a young'n and had no mature body parts. What was it that the demon saw in the human, then? That was her question. However, until she located Sesshomaru and got him alone, she wouldn't be having that question answered anytime soon.

X

Sesshomaru's nose tingled with the scent of Naraku. He stiffened and his eyes slid along the trees. He had wandered from the village that Inu Yasha and his mortal friends were. He had ordered Jaken to keep watch for them while he left deep inside the forest's emerald plants and trees. His mind had been abuzz with thoughts, but now they had frozen in place and this demon was staring around, wondering if it was truly Naraku or one of his creations. He inhaled, the vile scent filling his nostrils. He turned and with his sword, slashed the tree down in an instant. As the vast tree fell to his left, he revealed the devious and seductive Kagura.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she addressed him with a smirk. "Naraku has sent me to keep an eye on you and your brother. I take it your journey is doing well?"

"My journey, as you put it, has increased my frustration with Naraku – and my brother, as well." Kagura smiled at him. That smile, the brief twitch of lips made Sesshomaru realize that Kagura wasn't here for idle chatter and was just watching him. She was there for another reason, which, he was sure, included himself. "What are you here for, Kagura? I haven't the patience for your head games."

"Sesshomaru," she paused, "I am willing to offer you the location of Naraku's castle." Despite the invitation that of which Sesshomaru longed for, wished for, wanted, he still felt suspicious of her sudden helpfulness. His eyes pierced her, trying to see into her soul. He touched it, for her eyes were showing longing – but for what?

"And why are you being so giving?" He inquired, keeping his face impassive. There was something about this "gift" that Sesshomaru didn't like. Knowing Kagura and how her mind worked (much like Naraku's), he was instantly wary of her intentions. For even a beautiful cobra such as Kagura would shoot venom into your veins if you were not careful. And that, Sesshomaru had concluded to himself, was the exact reason why trusting Kagura was not an option.

"I am Naraku's creation," she told him simply. "I have been ordered by him and he has always threatened to destroy me because I have often defied him. I wish to be free. Free like any other demon or mortal. But I cannot be free until Naraku is obliterated. I will never be free of his cursed clutches." She raised her gaze to Sesshomaru. "If I give you the location, you must promise that you will kill Naraku – or die trying to." He simply stared at her with bleak eyes, making her feel slightly uncomfortable.

"I will try," he decided, "but I cannot promise that he will die at my hands, nor I by his," he told her. "I have someone that I need to take care of, despite what you may believe or what Naraku has told you." She nodded.

"Yokohama. Deep in the mountains is where Naraku's castle lies. It's not far from here. You can see the ragged edges from outside the forest. But, be warned, the demons there will not let you pass through so easily." Kagura's caution meant noting to Sesshomaru. He knew that there would be demons wherever Naraku was present. Without a word of goodbye, he turned and strolled to the left, knowing that the exit was only a league or so away. Kagura watched him, her eyes dull.

The great Lord Sesshomaru...truly is a demon of enormity, Kagura thought to herself, before she left as well.

X

So Kagura has betrayed me, Naraku thought, his eyes fixed on Kohaku and Rin, both playing in the garden. I should have expected as much, however, he told himself bitterly. After all, why wouldn't she? She wants to be free of me, while I wish to keep her tightly close to me...She is an object, nothing more, yet she seems to not understand that. He growled and slammed his fist into the wooden floor, the splinters flying up from his pale fist. Why, Kagura, do you seem to wish to anger me more and more? He removed his hand from the wooden shards and lapped the wood up from his hand, before standing and going to a jar, taking out a beating heart. I hope you become in pain, Kagura, he hissed in his mind, squeezing the red object tightly. He heard a thump outside and gasping.

"Kagura, you have returned?" He asked, dropping the heart in the jar and covering it with the lid.

"...I have," she whispered, literally dragging herself into the room, gasping painfully. "You had no reason to punish me, Naraku."

"I need no reason, Kagura," he reminded her, "I am your creator and I may do as I please – hurt you, destroy you, anything." She merely swallowed, her hand clutched at her breast. "What have you found out?"

"The Lord Sesshomaru knows of our location," she murmured, breathing roughly. Kagura knew the reason of her punishment, but would not openly admit it. That would only show how much weaker she was and that, she discovered, was also to be punished for.

"Does he? Well, then let him come," he fingered the sword he had finished a mere week or so ago. He turned it in his hands, remembering Rin's question. He glanced at Kagura and jerked the sword, the blade cutting cleanly on her cheek. She closed her eyes, her eyebrow twitching as blood seeped down her skin. "It had been only less than a month, Kagura. I already know that you told him, but I am not too concerned." He gave a nasty smile.

"What...?"

"I will be able to eliminate Inu Yasha and his mortal friends sooner and also get their Shikon shards." She merely stared at him. "You disagree?"

"No," she stumbled to her feet, her hand still clenched above on her breast. "Can I go?"

"Yes," he set the sword down, "leave."

X

Kikyo, with her soul collectors trailing behind her, touched the leaf of a plant and peered through the trees, only to jerk back in surprise. She was amazed to find Inu Yasha's older brother so close to him. The demon glanced her way without interest, before he returned to staring at the village with what appeared to be revulsion on his face. Impatience made his body tense and the priestess wondered slightly what it was that made him so.

"Milord?" Jaken teetered over to his master, looking uncomfortable if anything. "You look stressed, milord, is there anything amiss?" Sesshomaru's eyes moved to the corner of his eye as he stared at Jaken with annoyance. The gall of his servant!

"Jaken," the demon murmured so low that the other had to lean a bit forward to hear. Kikyo scowled, realizing that she wouldn't be able to hear and her ex-love's brother was well aware that she was present and wasn't about to speak so that she could hear.

Don't you worry, Sesshomaru, she thought, I am leaving so that you can speak forwardly with you toad of a servant. At that, she moved forward towards the village to find Inu Yasha, her soul collectors drifting off for the time being.

Sesshomaru watched her warily, before, when she vanished into the village, he turned back to Jaken. "What do you know of the mountains of Yokohama?"

"Yokohama, milord?" His response was a dirty look, so he hastened to reply, "Ah! Not much, milord. All I know is that the terrain of the mountains are very ragged and it is difficult for a mere human to travel on them. Some say that many demons and mortal criminals take refuge in the mountains because no one ever dares to cross them." Sesshomaru said nothing, merely slung his arm on his knee, staring at the village contemplatively.

"I see," the demon said at last. "Jaken, go find what that abominable priestess is up to."

"Priestess?"

"Kikyo, Jaken."

"Er...Yes...Milord?"

"She went in the village," he told him simply, feeling like he was speaking with a moron.

"Yes, milord!" Jaken scuttled off, leaving his lord to his thoughts. He narrowed his eyes, wondering himself what it was that Kikyo wanted his brother for. Brother, Sesshomaru thought in disgust, sickened by the fact that Inu Yasha had fallen in love with a mortal and here he was, doing it again, fighting against a wolf demon to get her. He, Sesshomaru, didn't need an excuse for loving Rin. He had brought her back to life; therefore, he was responsible for her. He knew that he was fooling himself with that excuse of a story, but he wasn't one to admit to his faults, least of all, that. Sesshomaru refused to believe that he was turning into Inu Yasha, or picking up one of his habits.

X

Jaken followed the Lady Kikyo, repulsion burying deep within his gut. He hated this soul-sucking wench. Her beauty concealed her malice and bitterness. She pined after Inu Yasha, even though she claimed that she felt nothing for him. Snorting to himself, he continued to stalk her with an anger bubbling within him. He also heard that she had given a hunk of the Shikon jewel to Naraku, who was now his and his lord's enemy. The woman, he believed, should just accept that she was not of the world and should return to Hell, where she belonged. The demons inside him reared their ugly heads and he calmed himself, realizing that his angry thoughts would bring him to his demise if he continued to think that way. Kikyo might not appear much, but he was aware that she could – and would for that matter – obliterate him and his Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't be there to protect him.

Inu Yasha and the others were off the outskirts of the town and as Kikyo approached them, Jaken saw something cross the half-demon's face. Was it love? He wasn't sure and thought that he would be a fool to find out. Oh, that would go well, Jaken thought wryly. I'll just go up to Inu Yasha and ask, "Inu Yasha, are you in love with that accursed wench, Kikyo?" Well, that just blow up in my face – and probably literally. His sword would most likely demolish me in an instant. With that last thought, Jaken watched – and listened – closely as Kikyo approached Inu Yasha.

"Inu Yasha," she said lowly, making Jaken strain to hear, "I must speak with you privately."

"What? Okay." Jaken saw Sango, Miroku, and Shippo exchanged a look. Kagome stood, watching them with what he assumed was pain in her dark eyes. Poor Kagome, he thought sympathetically, being tossed away for that witch!

"Inu Yasha," Kikyo repeated, "I know that you are searching for Naraku and I know the location of him. I shall tell it to you – for a price."

"A price?"

"I want...to travel with you, Inu Yasha."

Damn it all! He'll say yes! Jaken thought with fury.

"Of course!" He exclaimed. "Where is Naraku?"

"Mount Fujiyama," she replied. He swore.

"That's a few days walk from here...All right, you can come with us, Kikyo." She nodded and Inu Yasha hurried to tell his friends of the news, but Jaken, as he watched the priestess, saw a hint of mischief in her eyes and he had a feeling that the information was false. I think I had better return to milord...

X

Sesshomaru heard the faintest of noises, his eyes snapping open. Jaken yelped, jumping up in surprise. He gulped then bowed. The demon's eyes scrutinized him closely, before he blinked once, then twice to get the sleep from his mind shaken off.

"Milord...The priestess has told Inu Yasha the location of Naraku is on Mount Fujiyama," Jaken explained to him, "but I doubt her word, because – well, pardon me – she looked malicious, almost as though she told him the information out of spite." Sesshomaru stared at him for a long time, before giving a slightly audible nod.

Kagura told me that Naraku in the mountains of Yokohama and she provided information to back it up and Jaken's information fit it too. Kikyo, however, has nothing to help her thoughts. Why would Naraku be at Mount Fujiyama? There are priests and other holy people on there, but Inu Yasha wouldn't know that...And he would trust anything that corpse would say. The demon's eyes narrowed and he stood up.

"Come, Jaken," he murmured and the servant followed "Mr. Fluffy" eagerly, wondering what he was going to do.

X

Miroku stared at Kikyo throughout the time they walked in the village, towards the exit. She must have lied. He knew that she did. Underneath all that beauty, she was an incarnation of the devil. He knew that hatred was one of the three roots of evil in Buddhism (which is very true!), but he couldn't help but feel it towards her. She had stolen the Shikon shards from Kagome and what was more, given them to Naraku, he utmost enemy! But there was something else that remained in his mind: why did she lie to Inu Yasha? Why did she want them to go to Mount Fujiyama? He had yet to find out.

"Monk, are you okay?" Sango murmured lowly.

"No," he replied. "I fear that Kikyo has lied to us, Sango."

"Lied?" She whispered. "About the location of Naraku?"

"Yes," he sighed, turning his eyes to her. "Mount Fujiyama is for holy people and it is said that Buddha himself put up a shield on Mount Fujiyama (False) so it repels and purifies any evil on...the mountain..." He stared in realization.

"What is it, Miroku?"

"Kikyo wants to purify Inu Yasha, I think...But I cannot be sure." She nodded mutely.

As they exited the village, Sesshomaru was waiting expectantly for them. His eyes narrowed at Kikyo in malice and suspicion. He, just as Jaken, knew of what she did for Naraku and was sickened with her just as much. His eyes moved to Inu Yasha and realized that this was going to be the hard part: convincing his brother that he was right and his lover was wrong.

"Inu Yasha, I have some very interesting news," he told his brother.

"So do I," he replied. "The location of Naraku is at Mount Fujiyama."

"And where did you get this information from?"

"Kikyo," Inu Yasha told him. "She's going to travel there with us."

"We won't be able to enter without burning into obliteration," Sesshomaru pointed out with an impassive face. If he was going to take Kikyo down, he wanted her to not only look like a deceiving bitch, but also someone who is leading another to their demise.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mount Fujiyama is that of holy Buddhists. There is a barrier around it, Inu Yasha, that repels all evil with demon in their blood or those with a black heart. The barrier "cleanses" all that try to enter it. They will be turned to dust in an instant. Only devoted Buddhists, priests, and priestesses are allowed to be in Mount Fujiyama. So even if Naraku was there, he would be disintegrated and I have not yet sensed Naraku being taken from this world yet, so...Kikyo's information was very false indeed."

"I bet she was sent from Naraku to have us destroyed," Jaken piped up from Sesshomaru's side. "She was leading us to our death! How foolish of you, Inu Yasha. You should be grateful that Lord Sesshomaru was here. Ah, love is deceiving – just like her." He jerked his chin to Kikyo, who was staring coldly at the two of them, her body rigid.

"Kikyo..." Inu Yasha began, but she simply turned and hurried off into the woods with a flurry of anger, her soul collectors going to her side once more. "Kikyo!"

"Inu Yasha, let her be," Miroku advised. "She was trying to kill us, it's best if we leave her." The half-demon nodded mutely. His brother had been harsh when telling him the information, not that he had expected less, but he didn't even know Kikyo! – Did he?

"As I was saying," Sesshomaru intercepted, a cruel grin twisting his lips, "I know the true location of Naraku. The mountains of Yokohama."

"Yokohama?" Sango repeated. "But how will we be able to climb it? It's too ragged!"

"Kirara can get us up there and I'm sure you'll have no problem, will you Inu Yasha?" Miroku turned to his companion, who nodded. "And Sesshomaru?"

"Of course my lord cross the mountains!" Jaken spoke, scowling at Miroku. "What do you take him for? He's not as weak as Inu Yasha!" A growl erupted in Inu Yasha's throat and he quickly hid behind his lord. Sesshomaru didn't even glance at him.

"It's a two day travel from here, I think we'll make good time if we start now," he told his brother, who just glowered, muttering under his breath. Don't sulk because you're lover betrayed you, Inu Yasha. What did you expect of a woman who once took care of Onigumo? At that, Sesshomaru followed them on the path, keeping in back as always, a certain satisfaction swelling in his gut.

X

DIS: I'm quite pleased with this chapter. The first time I tried it, it wasn't nearly as good, but then again, I wasn't putting that much effort into it. Just a reminder, this is a short little chapter fic so that I could get used to Inu Yasha. I think I'm pretty much attached to it all ready. I haven't barely missed even an episode of it! Well, please review, and ciao.