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Disclaimer: (Opens door, armed with frying pan and wooden spoon, wearing pot holders, and sporting a spaghetti strainer on head.) I do not own Inuyasha, I say! Begone you pesty press people! Oh! It's you guys. Heheh... Sorry about that, I thought you were channel four again. (Throws stuff somewhere behind her door.) Come in, come in, and enjoy the fic. (Kouga walks in behind you)
Kouga- What's the meaning of this? How come I'm not in your story when my beloved Kagome is in such danger!
Archangelina- Err...?
Chapter 8 "You Must Own"
"Sesshomaru is reentering his borders, and as far as I can tell," Kagura said resentfully. Naraku sat before her as he always did at council. "That might pose a problem for your precious little slave." She flicked her fan open and fanned herself feverishly, only to snap it back closed after four or five passes. "Honestly, Naraku, I can't believe you trust that pathetic human to such a task! How do you know she'll even return!" Naraku's eyes narrowed only slightly on her.
"You test my patience, Kagura," he responded cooly. Kagura was quiet then. It seemed Naraku got more and more aggravated in these councils, and she knew when to stop pushing her luck. The dark one sat in silence with her only for a second before speaking again. "She has no choice but to return." Just then, the council door was violently slid open, and a figure with a high ponytail stood in the threshold, panting, but composed. "Kahaku," the lord of the council surmised with aggravation.
"I apologize, my lord," he voiced, bowing quickly. "It's Kagome," he began again, looking left of the other side of the door. His eyes suddenly went wide, and his upper body lunged forward to catch something. Kagome fell, weakly, in his waiting arms. She could barely stand for her wounds. Naraku rose to his feet at the sight, his eyes wide for only one tenth of a second -not long enough for anyone to notice.
"Kohaku, you are not to interrupt my councils under any circumstance," he growled. "If you cannot understand that, your days will be cut short. Is that understood?" Kohaku swallowed, taking a step backward, but nodded thereafter. "Then get her out of here, now," Naraku commanded. The boy balanced Kagome in one arm and closed the council door.
"Not the same as he was the first time, is he?" Kagura asked lowly. Naraku refocused his attention on her and sat.
"He is not under my direct control like he was the first time," Naraku responded though his aggravation.
...x...
"I don't understand you, Kagome," Kohaku whispered as he removed splinters from her palms. "Why Naraku?" Kagome groaned in her sleeping state. "These are deep," he thought aloud as he pulled another bloody splinter. He worked silently thereafter, but couldn't help but obsess over what Kagome thought she had with Naraku. "He doesn't love you, Kagome. Why can't you see that?" At least, he didn't love her the way... No, Naraku just didn't love her.
...Did he?
Kagome stirred from her pain induced sleep, finding Kohaku -not her liege -assisting her with her splinters and wounds. She closed her eyes again, but only for a few seconds.
"Kohaku?" she murmured, wincing as he pulled free another splinter. The other was silent. "Kohaku, please," she whispered again. The boy, reluctant and annoyed, looked her in the eyes. "Where am I?" she asked, her rusty eyes turning brown. Kohaku started upon seeing the happening, and suddenly, his head hurt. He put a hand at his temple, dropping the splinters he pulled.
He didn't know. He had no idea where they were, or why they were there. For a moment, he forgot all of it. All he could recall was that night five and a half years ago. He was eating with his sister and Kagome and Miroku. He got sick...he ran outside...but there was something he was afraid of out there...and then...there was nothing.
There was nothing. Just a blank... A black space in his memory...
Kagome's eyes pressed closed and reopened. Then, Kohaku remembered. Remembered the death of his sister and her husband. The day at the field when he split Kagome's arrow. The day after when he witnessed Kagome and Naraku disappear into one of the sleeping chambers. A few minutes after that when Kagome stepped out without so much as a scratch on her.
He remembered everything other than what he remembered before. He refocused his attention on her, again, rusty red eyes.
"We're in your chamber at Naraku-sama's castle," he answered at last, his headache fading. "You were hurt when you went on your reconnaissance mission." Kagome sat up weakly, looking at her palms.
"The necklace," Kagome said under her breath. "That youkai...who was he?" Kohaku furrowed his brow.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Kagome," Kohaku whispered. Kagome looked him in the eyes with a sad expression.
"I didn't make it out with the moonstone," Kagome breathed. She looked down at her hands and then back to Kohaku, saying more clearly: "I got into a fight with a Youkai there and I lost." She stared at her hands again. "He took it from me." Kohaku put a hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"Kagome..." he trailed.
"Leave, Kohaku," came Naraku's voice from the door. The boy looked again at Kagome and left. Naraku watched the teen as he made his way past before kneeling by Kagome.
"My lord," Kagome whispered, ashamed of her failure. Naraku sat on his knees and took one of Kagome's arms in his hands. He looked carefully over the wounds.
"I heard all that you said to Kohaku, my Kagome," Naraku said cryptically, a tinge of warning in his tone. "So, you have failed me," he concluded. His eyes narrowed on Kagome's own, fear-filled ones. "What reason is there for this?"
"I was overpowered, my lord," Kagome stammered.
"And who overpowered you?" Naraku asked through subliminal aggravation. "Who could have possibly been there?"
"He was a servant, I think," Kagome admitted weakly. Naraku's eyes narrowed on her, and he moved his left hand from her arm, keeping his right in place.
"A servant?" Naraku asked cooly, though inside he was outraged. "You were overcome by a simple, low-level servant?" Kagome's face grew grim.
"Naraku-sama, I-"
"No excuses, Kagome," interrupted Naraku. He clutched her arm very tightly in his right hand, causing the wounds to weep and Kagome to squirm. He un-narrowed his eyes to see the small punctures on her palm. "This," he began as Kagome cried out, "is what you got out with? You are very lucky, but why were you harmed at all?"
"I panicked, my lord, I made errors in judgment. Had I stayed, I would have died," Kagome cried in pain. "It won't happen again." Naraku's eyes narrowed and found hers.
"No, it will not," he cooed, tightening his hand still more about her wrist. The woman screamed out in her pain, squirming to free herself from his iron grip. Naraku grew restless at her squirming, and twisted her wrist. Kagome screamed still louder. "It is well you knew when to retreat, but if you interrupt another of my conferences, the pain will be exceedingly more unbearable." Kagome squinted her eyes closed and opened them again to look at her lord defiantly...
...Through her brown eyes.
"Get your hands off'a me!" she suddenly exclaimed. Kagome lifted her free hand and, balancing on one of her legs, balled it into a fist to strike Naraku. Her will had completely changed just a split second after throwing the punch, however, and even though she pulled it, it was too late to stop the blow. Her heart felt pangs like none she had ever experienced as the one she loved caught her fist with little effort at all. Naraku looked with surprise -no matter how little -at his prisoner.
"Are you issuing a challenge to me, Kagome?" Naraku growled lowly. Kagome blinked and adverted her eyes from him, the irises swirling to red once more. He saw this. "Are you?" he repeated to mask his hesitation.
"I don't know what came over me," she pleaded, her eyes watering over. "I am sorry, Naraku-sama!" Naraku looked at her limp fist in his palm for a second, then back to Kagome. As his eyes pierced into hers, he crushed down on her fist with his hand. Kagome screamed.
"Don't think your tears will save you, Kagome," Naraku advised. No matter how amusing they are.
...meanwhile...
"Kai-dono?" Rin asked as she opened the library doors. Surely enough, she found Kai there, writing out one of his many translations. She walked toward him, thinking that since his back was turned she still might be able to sneak up on him. Kai felt Rin's hands over his eyes and smiled. The leopard youkai put down his writing quill.
"Ah, what is it today, Rin?" he asked, Rin's hands still over his eyes. He put his hands on top of hers and moved them away so that he could turn to face her. He leaned on the back of the chair, awaiting Rin's response. "Lord Sesshomaru returned today, didn't he?"
"He did!" Rin exclaimed happily. "But he's in his room right now. Rin thinks Lord Sesshomaru wants to change into something clean." Kai frowned comically.
"You always stop saying "I" just when Sesshomaru-sama returns," Kai sighed. Rin giggled.
"Rin thinks 'Rin' is much better than 'I,'" she explained. Kai grinned and shook his head.
"So I've noticed," he chuckled, "but I think Sesshomaru-sama would prefer you use 'I' and 'me' instead." The girl frowned at Kai.
"But that's no fun!" she protested. Kai stood up from his chair and pushed it under his desk.
"You'll get used to it. I promise," he assured. Rin furrowed her brow.
"I don't know," Rin mumbled, only to slap her hands over her mouth. Kai smiled wide, shaking his head in a new realization.
"You have gotten used to it!" he surmised. "You're actually trying not to use 'I' and 'me!'" Rin shook her head.
"No I'm not!" she argued, cupping her hands over her mouth again. Kai laughed in his disbelief.
"You little!" he exclaimed, lurching forward and tucking the 4'8" girl under one arm. Rin laughed hysterically as Kai carted her about in small, fast circles.
"Okay!" she laughed, "Alright! I admit it!" Kai stopped and put Rin down. The dizzy girl took a few steps forward and landed hard on her bottom, letting out a huge giggle. Kai chuckled as well.
"Kai," came a voice from the doorway. The servant turned to see his sister, Kaira, in the doorway. "Lord Sesshomaru requires your presence in his office," she said lowly, fear outlining her voice, "right now." Kai looked down at Rin, who was suddenly a bit afraid herself, and smiled reassuringly.
"Rin, go to your garden with Kaira," he instructed. "I have to go tell Sesshomaru about the wind from a few days ago, okay?" Rin nodded and ran to Kaira. As the two left the room, the yasha looked over her shoulder to her brother. His expression was serious, but he nodded once to her and half smiled. Kai walked out of the library shortly after, though in the opposite direction.
...x...
"You did well to repair the damage in my quarters, Kai," Sesshomaru acknowledged as Kai entered and closed the door behind him. "I would have known nothing, but in this note you left:" he started, and grabbed the scrap of parchment from his sleeve pocket, "you let me know everything."
"I thought it appropriate for you to know," Kai responded professionally. Sesshomaru put his hand atop the parchment on his desk.
"What I wonder is how this particular occurrence happened without the north wing knowing," Sesshomaru puzzled aloud. "Surely the first would have smelled her and awakened."
"It was strange, my lord, but the intruder was not present long," Kai assured. Sesshomaru checked Kai silently.
"And Rin," he began, "does she know what happened? Was she harmed?" Kai shook his head.
"No, my lord," he assured. "She was asleep when I heard the intruder. I locked her door when I passed by." Kai paused. "I would never let anything hurt her." Sesshomaru rose from his desk and looked out the window to the garden where Kaira and Rin were.
"That had better be how it stays," Sesshomaru warily. "Otherwise, I will kill you." Kai never saw eye-to-eye with Sesshomaru, and somewhat resented him, but he did respect him very much. Just about every youkai and yasha did. So he never let his spite out toward Sesshomaru, though even if he did, Rin would not be the subject of it. He cared very much for the strange little human.
"That will never be necessary," Kai declared strongly. Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder to the leopard youkai.
"You are dismissed," he allowed.
...An hour or so later, back at Naraku's Castle...
Kagome walked out of the bath house with her wet hair pulled tightly in a bun. Her head ached, and she was a little dizzy from all the tears of pain she shed, but she presently felt no resent toward Naraku. She knew what was to come had she failed, and it probably wouldn't have been as bad had Kohaku not barged into his council.
'That's the one thing to do when you want Naraku-kun aggravated,' she thought to herself. Of course, something puzzled her. She wondered what was happening with her these last two or three days. First she forgets what she was doing at Sesshomaru's place. Then, she doesn't recognize her own room, and that last stunt she pulled topped it all! Had she actually tried to strike Naraku? 'Just what is wrong with me?' she wondered as she looked down at her bruised knuckles and tiny puncture wounds.
"How did it go, Kagome?" asked Kohaku shyly from his sitting place on the field. He saw Kagome's wounds un-healed and knew. "Did you at least have a nice bath?" Kagome folded her hands in front of herself and nodded silently. "Where's Naraku-sama?" Kagome walked over to Kohaku and sat beside him.
"I'm not sure," she admitted. The other's eyes went wide. Kagome ignored Kohaku's surprise and looked out among the clouded aura that surrounded Naraku's castle. "Do you always sit out here?" she asked quietly. Kohaku shook off his shock and looked out as well.
"Most of the time," he replied truthfully. "When I feel like I don't belong here, anyway." Kagome didn't look at Kohaku.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said quietly. "Of course you belong here." Kohaku looked at Kagome's profile for a moment. Then, he looked back to the sky.
"Are you really so sure either of us do?" Kohaku pressed. Now it was Kagome's turn to look at her companion. Kohaku looked over his shoulder and met her rusty eyes without contestation for the first time. "Is this really where we're supposed to be?"
"Kohaku, this is our home now," she affirmed. "This is where we belong." She looked away from Kohaku and back to the sky yet again. "There is no where else." Kohaku's sight floated, as well, to the sky.
"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" he whispered.
...x...
"How would you know what I am or am not?" the moon demon asked Naraku. The darker stared at him in response.
"It is my business to know, Yoshi," he said cryptically. "Now you will tell me what you know." The mother-of-peal haired youth allowed his red eyes to narrow on Naraku.
"My people were born of hell, that much is true," he informed wryly, "and we do know well the secrets of the Shikon no Tama. That is also true." Yoshi crossed his arms over his chest. "But being borne of the chasm gives us no reason to work with you." Naraku narrowed his eyes on the young youkai.
"You fool," he growled. "I am hell." Yoshi let out a chuckle.
"Fine," he allowed, not believing for a moment Naraku's words. "I can tell you that the one called Kagome cannot create a Shikon no Tama." Naraku gritted his teeth.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked smoothly. Yoshi half-smiled.
"Your wickedness has tainted her soul," he answered simply. "It is by your hand she cannot create what you seek." He thought a moment. "However, she may be able to create it's opposite. Though in order to do that, she'd have to die trying to taint someone with a strong, pure heart."
"Is that all?" Naraku asked slyly. A half smile spreading across his face.
"No, it isn't," Yoshi answered matter-of-factly. "She may be too tainted to create a Shikon no tama for you, but she is also still too pure to create it's twin."
"I'm not sure if I don't like where you're going with this," Naraku responded cooly. Yoshi looked up into the branches of a nearby tree and jumped into them. Stopping on a mid branch, he called down to Naraku.
"You must own her soul to use it," Yoshi advised. "How you get to it is your own call."
...Author's Note Below...
Author's note: Ah! My longest chappie yet! I threw in a little more Kai for you guys to love and now that Kouga finally left I can warn you all he may not be in the story anymore. Sorry Kouga lovers, but I have too many characters to work with. (We can't all be as professional as Takahashi Rumiko.)
Anyway you can go browse more stories now if you like. Also, you can leave me a review! I like reviews! Even if you just wanna flame me, it's cool! Thanks again for reading. ;)
Note to the Reader: If you have read my reviews you may or may not have noticed a flame by another user. This flame seemed to imply that I hold no value to my readers' opinions. Know now that I am a truly dedicated writer. I love to write. I do value your opinions, all of them, but I don't think that should be my motivation to write. After all, I don't exactly write congratulation letters to my favorite authors after reading one of their novels. They know people like their books by the amount of copies they're selling. I know that you guys like my writing just by my hit counter. (994 last I checked.) And as far as I'm concerned being added to an alert or favorites list is ten times better than a review.
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