Chapter Eight

After the introduction of the Taiyoukais of the cardinal directions, the presentation fell into a lull, the host being the only creature who needed to pay attention to the introduction of the lesser lords and accept their gifts.

The lords who were already in presentation had their own attentions focused, indiscreetly or not, upon the leashed miko, who seemed oblivious of the notice she was drawing to herself. Kagome had her own concentration focused on the small warm aura of a little girl who had since moved away from her lord a bit. Being as they were the only two humans in the room, the small aura felt the need to approach Kagome, who was only to willing to accept her with open arms. She glided away from Naraku's entourage once she was bid to mingle, and approached the girl.

Rin, taking her etiquette lessons to heart, bowed respectfully to the miko. Her eyes slid innocently over the collar which bound the miko. "My name is Rin." She said softly, her voice sounding like tinkling bells. "It's a pleasure to meet your a...acquiant-quiantance." She said slowly, blushing as she stumbled over her hard learned introduction.

Kagome smiled warmly, returning the bow. "As am I, my lady. I am called Kagome of Naraku-sama's court." She replied formally, a teasing smirk gracing her lips.

Rin giggled at being called a lady. Most of the other "guests" she had met while being a ward of Sesshoumaru had been mean and stiff and so terribly formal. They were boring. Kagome seemed more playful. "Ne, onee-sama, can I call you Kagome?" Rin whispered confidentially.

"Of course my lady. What would you have me call you in return?"

"Rin wants Kagome-chan to call her Rin-chan!" The girl grinned wildly, dropping her hard-learned lessons in a heartbeat.

Kagome's lips curved upwards. She could see how Rin's innocent heart had been enough to call the crows. Rin's love, so deep and unconditional, had brought the dying Taiyoukai back to life. She hoped that the stoic lord was able to see the young girl's true value. "Then that is what I shall call you, Rin-chan." She replied affectionately. A slight tug at her throat alerted Kagome to the want of her master. Her eyes darkened momentarily, but regained their sparkle as Kagome continued to smile down upon the child. "Rin-chan, can you make me a promise?" Kagome asked, holding out her pinky. "Promise, never stop looking out for your lord. He's a very special person."

Rin nodded vigorously. "Sesshoumaru-sama is important. He saved Rin. He's the greatest youkai ever, and Rin will be there always." She swore solemly, linking her own pinky around Kagome's.

The smile on Kagome's lips widened then fluttered away as she was drawn back to the call of her master.

White hands reached out to her, drawing her closer to Naraku. He guided her kneel beside him, resting her head in his lap. He stroked her hair with his fine-boned fingers, smirking. He bent slightly, whispering in a voice only she could here. "There's something I'd like you to see, my lovely." He covered her eyes with one hand, tilting her face with the other.

The strangest sensation struck her then. Even though she was aware of the shield Naraku had placed around her, some odd energy penetrated the barrier. It raced up her spine, causing her to stiffen slightly, yet at the same time, warmth settled within her chest. It was familiar. She had the peculiar feeling of recognition, but she couldn't place it. The memory was too deeply buried within her mind to allow access, or perhaps, it had even been locked from her. She heard her master chuckle softly as she had instinctively twisted her head to lean closer to it.

"You wish to see, lovely? Alright then." He released her, lightening his binding spell at the same time. He wanted for her to see this procession. Already, the other lords had begun to sniff the air discreetly, or stare out of the corners of their eyes in the direction of the introductory hall. Something was coming, something that had not been allowed within the Seasonal Banquet for centuries. Humans…

The large double doors opened to a silent hall. Watchful eyes stared or glared at the small troupe of humans which marched dignified down the aisle. Kagome managed to pick out their distinctive auras. One of them wasn't entirely human, and as her vision began to clear, she could easily tell which of them carried the demonic aura, the red clad man with the white hair and white ears perched atop his head. They stopped at their respective places and bowed low toward the Taiyoukai of the West, all but the red clad man.

Kagome's eyes slid over the group of five. The red clad man must be a hanyou, she concluded, but why did he not bow toward their lord? He could have been killed for his insolence, yet she felt no animosity between the hanyou and Sesshoumaru. The woman within the group was simply clothed, but a large weapon was strapped to her back, and she carried the strong heart of a warrior. The monk held himself stoic, but Kagome sensed a growing darkness within him. His violet eyes shifted toward her master, and she felt the edge of hatred knifing through her. She trembled slightly. But beyond it, she could tell that the monk was a good man. A plain looking man had been positioned between them, their lord. He looked…familiar to Kagome, but she couldn't place him. However, when her eyes slid to the final member of their party, her breath caught.

That man, she should know him. She felt it in her heart. His appearance hardly mattered, but his aura…She closed her eyes, allowing the familiar sensation to wash over her. This was the power that had so easily penetrated Naraku's aura. She shivered. That man, she knew him. She knew it.

"We are honored by you invitation, Sesshoumaru-sama, High Taiyoukai of the West." The human lord began formally. "We introduce ourselves before you. I am Hojou Akimichi of the Western Province. With me are the Taijiya, Sango and the revered Houshi, Miroko-dono." He gave a small cough. "I also present…" He faltered slightly, as if unsure. "Lord Inuyasha, of the Western Youkai Court. Younger brother of your esteemed Tai."

The hanyou snorted at the formality, but gave his brother a nod.

"As well as the representative of Higuarashi Shrine," Houjo continued, oblivious to Inuyasha, "Higurashi Souta."

Kagome's vision darkened, as well as the rest of the room.

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Naraku could only grin. The power his little treasure possessed. Oh, she was a fearsome little thing. He adored it. His grip tightened about the chain, tugging it toward him. He felt the lithe body of his darling slide toward him. He gathered her into his arms. Her body thrummed with energy. She had absorbed the youkai aura of the room, all of it. He could feel it reverberating against his body. He closed his eyes, silently relishing the feeling of such power. It had negated the room, leaving behind only a vacuous presense, nothingness. Only he and Kanna seemed to unaffected. The rest had fallen into darkness.

She would be so easy to command once she was fully bound, once she was truly his. Ah, but good things come to he who waits…

He bent down, nudging at Kagome with his nose, his hands full of the filmy material of her kimono. "Time to wake up, my lovely." He murmured.

Her eyes fluttered, a soft moan escaping her lips. "N-Naraku-sama?" She asked tremulously. She couldn't quite remember what had just happened, but she felt…a bit funny. Almost like she was full, but, she didn't feel weighed down at all. She felt lighter, actually.

He smiled. Leaning down, he captured her lips in gentle kiss, slipping is tongue between her soft lips. He inhaled deeply, then broke the kiss abruptly.

Suddenly tired, Kagome fell limply against him. He wound his arms tighter around her. "Release them." he commanded softly. Without even realizing how, Kagome expelled the energy she had taken in and the room instantly brightened once more.

Around them, the lords, youkai, and humans, stared at them in shock, horror, and a tinge of fear. How was it possible for such a being to exist that had the power to negate them all to nothingness? It was terrifying.

Naraku smirked, his eyes focused only upon the Western Lord. He gave the lord a small nod, the silent message understood instantly between them. This was only a sample of the power I hold. There is a deal I wish to make with you.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes in acknowledgement.

Naraku's smirk broadened.

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Shiroi couldn't believe it. What was that woman. He had half a mind to approach her then and there, but with the Spider Lord literally chaining her to him, he did not dare. She was a dangerous entity, but he was drawn to her. She emitted the aura of Karasu so strongly that he couldn't help it. His dove-like guard also seemed to have difficulty in retraining himself.

It had been so long, that even in youkai history it had become lore, but once there had been a detailed record of the Era of Karasu. The dark youkai had ruled over the realm of the North, when the landscape had been even more frigid than his current home. He had been the Tori representative of the Youkai Lords, but at that time, the Tori had been the most powerful. It had been due to a brand of magic, created and perfected by Karasu himself, and it had fallen into legend that any of his followers also carried with them a streak of his power.

Karasu had the ability to raise the dead. Not just a simple spell of summoning, or to raise a freshly killed body, but to actually draw the soul from the underworld, and back to the living within their original body. It was unlike any other form of resurrection and it was based solely on the will of the deceased person. However, with such a spell, it had also unlocked an insurmountable amount of energy. More than the power to raise the dead, Karasu's magic was revered for the sheer amount of energy it could produce. It could power the lowest of youkai to Taiyoukai level magic.

But something had happened in the ages past, and Karasu, as well as the bulk of his followers had all disappeared, and the Tori Nation had fallen under the power of the Beast Youkai when the Tai Touga had taken full reign of that Country. It made Shiroi edgy that there was so much unknown about Karasu, and yet, a being existed that seemed to have the abilities of Karasu.

Ages later, the Summoning of Karasu spell had been created, and it had allowed the caster to summon a follower of Karasu, a crow with the abilities imbued to it by its master. Alone, that single crow could have wrought untold devastation. Shiroi had originally thought that Naraku had been attempting this, but having such dark power of such magnitude made it impossible. A single crow, even if sealed within the miko as a vessel, could not have negated the power of Taiyoukai's so easily. No, this was much worse.

Shiroi had to talk to this 'Kagome'. Slowly, his eyes slid toward the window. A single crow stared back at him. He held himself still. He knew, that there would be dozens more perched on the branches of the trees within the Western Citadel. They were reacting to something, and he was sure, that it was linked to the miko that Naraku had bound and chained.

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Kagome felt exhausted. So strange…she couldn't remember. She had met Rin and then…darkness? She closed her eyes. She wished Kireto was with her. He would be able to calm her, but Naraku had sent her to the room, barricading it from the crow's access. She lay alone in the room, resting on her bed. She was sure that Naraku would return soon to finish…

She couldn't remember.

Something was off about everything. Yet, she felt no fear, only uncertainty. Her master would tell her what to do, and she derived comfort from his control. There was little she had to worry about. She had been in Naraku's care for so long. She had lived within his darkness. She found that she cared deeply for her master and she trusted him. He had always looked out for her, and she knew that she could rely on him for whatever reason, even if he was just using her. She found that she truly did not mind it at all. Even if it made her a terrible person, she would do as he bid. He always seemed to know better. All she could offer was the guidance of what a person's soul told her, and what knowledge Kireto could impart onto her.

She missed Kireto. His presence was soothing.

She roused at the soft knock on her door. Feeling no malicious aura, she lifted the guards placed on the door and heard the sound of a latch turning.

A small, dark head poked in. "Kagome-nee-chan?" Rin asked softly. She tip-toed in.

Kagome smiled, levering herself up slightly to accommodate the young girl when she moved in for a hug. Gingerly, she lifted Sesshoumaru's ward onto the bed, perching her on the edge.

"Are you okay?" Rin asked, staring at Kagome innocently with wide eyes.

Kagome nodded, smiling.

Rin beamed. "Great! 'cause I wanted to say that Kagome-chan is amazing!" Her hands clasped together under her chin. "Kagome-chan made everything go dark, and then light. And Rin was a little afraid because she was all alone, but she knew that Sesshoumaru-sama was around, so she wasn't afraid. And then we were back, and Rin could see Kagome-chan! Rin knows that Kagome brought Rin back. It was like when Sesshoumaru-sama brought Rin back, only not as scary!" She gushed, grinning toothily.

It took Kagome a moment to process the childish account before her eyes widened in realization. She had done that? But…without Kireto…she had hardly any abilities at all. And how had it happened? She couldn't remember. What…what did she do? She managed an inward sigh of relief at the fact that everyone appeared unharmed. But it was a little frightening to know that she had some something like that…That she had been capable of it. If only Naraku or Kireto were with her. Hakudoushi, Kanna, or Kagura…anyone to confide in. Things were becoming too strange too rapidly.

Instead, she smiled back at Rin, hiding her own insecurities. Naraku would return, and everything would be fine. "It is amazing, Rin-chan. But it wasn't just me. Within me, I hold the power of many entities." She said quietly, remembering what Naraku had told her in the past. "When they work together, amazing things happen. It's never just one thing."

Rin nodded in understanding. "That's good, Kagome-chan. Sesshoumaru-sama always tells Rin that power should never be held by one person. It collapses them!" She grinned.

Kagome smiled back. "'Corrupts' them maybe?" She offered.

"Yeah, that! It corrupts them. Then Sesshoumaru-sama has to punish them."

Kagome closed her eyes. The Western Lord was a good being, she could feel it. He deserved the deep, unconditional love of his ward. But soon, his debt to her master would be called in. The contract with Kireto had to be fulfilled. She felt the tugging of her chain begin. Soon…

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SM: Jimminy Christmas, it's been too long since I updated anything, much less this fic. What a surprise to see that the first thing I update this time is this fic! Jeez. I doubted that anyone actually read this, until I got reviews for it. WOW! That was a shocker. Yeah, and the fact that the writing in this fic, I actually dislike. I write weird...and here, it's like worse. I write like a third grader...well, an exceedingly smart third-grader. Man, that'd be one awesome third-grader. Hahahaha.

So, here's an insanely late update. It's unbeta'd and hurried, but what else can you expect from me. Hahaha. A shout out to those that actually read and review this piece of crap. If it's inconsistent at all (and I'm sure it is in many places), it's cuz it's been too long since I read or did anything with it, and I probably forgot a lot of what I wanted to do. But it's moving in the correct, general direction. And yet, even after all that, plus the incredibly long wait inbetween updates, I have yet to make any sort of point with this. Hahahah.

PS: I'll be revising this soon since I don't like how I switched from First Person to Third Person in the second chapter. Probably, I'll just end up leaving the First chapter in First Person, and then changing the Second chapter...meh, when I get around to it...