Putting the Damage On
Chapter 08 :: Heart and Soul
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Author's Note: Chapter 08! Whoo! I figured since I'm updating with a new story and another chapter of A Feudal Fairytale Retold, it would only be fair to update this story too! I hope you enjoy it! I was rather pleased with it myself!
Warning: Same as always, so you've been warned.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but I sure wish I did because I'd kick Kagome back into the future and plop Sango right into the place of main female star!
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Naraku blinked in surprise when Kikyo stood before him, her expressionless eyes narrowed. He raised one eye brow and crossed his arms.
"And what honor brings the Lady Kikyo to my bedroom?" Naraku said in a slow, mocking voice.
"Naraku, I am well aware of your growing attachment to the taijiya." Kikyo began, "And I can see that it's not just some mere perverted lust, but there really are feelings behind your actions. Or should I say Prince Kagewaki's actions?"
Naraku's malicious humor dropped from his face and he narrowed his eyes, furious that she had even suggested something so utterly foolish. But the slight twitch of the corner of his mouth spoke differently. "You dare suggest that I am losing control of Kagewaki's soul? The taijiya means nothing to me. She is merely my plaything. When I tire of her, I shall kill her myself."
"Really? I don't believe it. Just this morning you could have used the girl for I know you wished to, but the look of utter resentment in her eyes made you stop. Funny that you should even have noticed something in a worthless plaything." Kikyo said cruelly, "Throw out the woman who awakens him inside of you. This will only bring trouble, Naraku."
Naraku clenched his fist, "Go Kikyo, before I rid myself of a troublesome miko rather than a taijiya."
Kikyo not-smiled at Naraku and stepped pass him, "You could no more rid yourself of me than you can of the taijiya." Her hand brushed lightly across his cheek, barely touching his skin. And then she was gone.
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"So tell me Kagura... why do you stay with Naraku? It's obvious that you loathe him..." Sango said, raising chop sticks to her mouth. Kagura narrowed her eyes and looked away.
"Let's just say I'm here against my will. He has possession of certain assets that I can not abandon, and so I'm stuck here until I can either kill him or steal them back." Kagura said and then she looked at Sango, "Sort of like Kohaku."
Sango looked down, "I see..."
"Say Taijiya," Kagura said, changing the subject, "Have you see that creepy bitch lately?"
"Kikyo?" Sango asked, blinking.
Kagura nodded, sipping her wine.
"No. I don't think so. I passed her once, but that was it. She didn't speak to me." Sango answered, "Why?"
"Curious is all. I'm not quite sure what to consider her, friend or foe? What's your take on her loyalties?"
"Well, I don't know... she stole many Shikon shards from Kagome once and gave them to Naraku, but Inuyasha told us that Kikyo plans to destroy Naraku with the jewel by purifying it. "Her voice had gotten low, "He says that Naraku can not kill her because of the thief Onigumo, whose heart is within Naraku."
"Like the former lord of the castle," Kagura shook her head in disgust, "Naraku never gets tired of the same old tricks." There was a bitter tone in Kagura's velvety voice but Sango paid little attention to it, because the content of Kagura's words had caught her attention.
"Lord of this castle?" Sango blinked, "You mean Prince Kagewaki? But... Naraku once told me he killed the prince, and merely took his physical form...."
"Well, the Prince is dead if you look at it that way, just as Onigumo is. But Naraku still houses both hearts and both souls, as far I know. He is not yet strong enough to cast them out." Kagura said, her voice dropping to a secretive whisper.
The two blinked whenever Kanna walked into the room. The little youkai sat beside Kagura and filled her bowl with rice. She began to eat in silence. Sango and Kagura both glanced at each other, and continued to eat.
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Inuyasha ran his arm across his forehead, "Damn. Naraku hasn't sent a batch that big in a long time, has he Miroku?"
The houshi shook his head, "He hasn't. Come Inuyasha, we need to continue with Kagura's instructions. We have wasted a lot time."
"You're right." Inuyasha sheathed his sword and grabbed Shippo by the tail, "Let's go."
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Naraku sat in the dark of his room. Kikyo's words were still ringing in his ears. The miko was right. Kagewaki's soul was becoming just as strong as Onigumo's with the taijiya his prisoner. He knew that he must cast her off, though he also knew that killing her was not an option, for he was not nearly strong enough for that yet. Naraku clenched his fist. He needed to meditate for a while and regain control of his body. If he could only force the soul back down, he would regain all that he needed and still be able to keep her for a little longer.
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"I've come to tell you that Naraku will not be visiting you for a few days." Kagura said, the smile on her face evident. Sango's eyes widened and a large smile spread across her features.
"That's... the best news I've heard in a long time..." Sango sniffed, holding back tears. Kagura raised one eye brow, but said nothing.
"You should bathe." Kagura said before exiting the room, "Kanna's already prepared hot water."
"Oh, thanks." Sango smiled as Kagura walked out of the room. The taijiya stretched and laughed.
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After bathing, Sango decided to go for a walk. What was the point in staying locked up whenever she had practically the entire castle to explore? And maybe she'd find a way to escape she had overlooked before. Sango smiled with new determination.
She'd been exploring for little over an hour, but there was nothing very interesting inside of the castle. Just old skeletons, who Sango figured must have been the guards and servants of Prince Kagewaki. Sango thought back to Kagura's words. Kagewaki's soul was inside of Naraku? Sango tried to remember the briefs meeting she had with the Prince. He had been kind, his features (now hardened and ugly because of Naraku's evil) had been pleasing, and he had asked for her to return. Could... could this be similar to the situation with Naraku and Kikyo and Onigumo's heart? Had the Prince longed for her, and so now Naraku did as well? Was the longing as strong as it the longing for Kikyo? If so, it could be used to her advantage...
Sango stopped when she noticed a room towards the end of the hall. She could feel the evil emanating from it. It was almost tangible. Sango's face screwed up into a grimace. It made her feel nauseous. She ran a hand across her forehead and moved forward. She had to see what was inside. The room seemed to pull her towards it. Sango coughed once, her eyes beginning to water.
A hand grabbed her arm.
It was cold and dry.
Sango almost screamed, but instead she looked over her should and gasped.
Kikyo.
"I don't believe you want to see what's on the other side of that door, girl." Kikyo spoke in her deadly calm voice. It was chilling. "Return to where you should be."
"What's in there?" Sango asked, her voice sounded tired.
"Naraku's true form," Kikyo said, and then she slightly smirked, "And Kagura's wretched heart and Kanna's soul."
Sango gasped, "Kag... Kagura's heart?"
Kikyo nodded once, "Now go."
Sango turned without a word and hurried from the hall and out into the open grounds. It had started to rain and the sky was cloudy. Sango slipped and landed in a forming puddle of water. She cringed.
Naraku had possession of Kagura's heart!
Here she had been so absorbed in her own pain believing it to be the worst because he had possession of her body! Sango shuddered, blocking out the thought of Naraku having her heart. And the she felt a terrible sadness for both of Naraku's detachments. He owned their heart and soul.
Kohaku.
He was her soul. She had to get him back and she had to get Kagura's heart and Kanna's soul! Sango shook her head, rain drops falling all around, causing ripples in the puddle. She stood up, clenching her fists. Sango started to walk back to her rooms, when she saw a fleeting image of a boy in a taijiya's suit, racing along the roof tops.
"Kohaku!" Sango cried, reaching her arm outwards. Then she slowly let it fall back down. He had vanished.
Sango slid to her knees and cried.
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I'm pleased with this chapter.
Well now we all know why Naraku was acting kinda strange in the other chapters. Kikyo meant good (for Sango and co.) when she told him of his growing attachments, but Naraku's a very clever guy and he's selfish, so he's going to try everything possible before giving up his new possession. ::shakes head:: What a bastard.
Sorry about how little Inuyasha and Miroku are in the story. Some of you must be wondering, "How is this ever gong to turn into a romance if the top two candidates are taking a year and a day to get to Naraku's castle?" Well, just keep reading and find out, because I'm not telling!! P
And Kagome, when is she going to show herself? Sooner or later. ( ---- Not a big Kagome fan) ::bows head:: Eh, sorry Kagome fans!
Hope you enjoyed! Oh and review too! : )
-Taijiya