Slowly, Mizoshi approached the tense form of the shape-shifting demon. "Naraku-sama?" she called out.
He spun around immediately, and she was immediately taken aback by the immense crimson fury in his eyes. When he saw her standing there, he smiled thinly. However, the burning redness within those unnatural orbs did not vanish. "Good morning Mizoshi. As you can see, Kagura and I are having a private conversation. Is there anything specific you needed?"
"Yes, if you do not mind, Naraku-sama. I require a bit of help preparing my morning meal. Perhaps Kagura can help." Mizoshi had once again resorted to addressing Naraku in the formal fashion. It seemed to be appropriate at such a hostile moment.
Naraku snorted. "Help? Very well. Kagura, accompany her. We'll finish our discussion later."
Scowling, the sorceress breezed past Mizoshi. Obviously, the youkai was below following her. Suddenly, a strong familiar hand seized her shoulder before she could take another step. "Mizoshi, I believe we need to continue an interlude we started last night for it was not altogether pleasurable on either part. Wouldn't you agree?" he purred in her ear.
There was little point in beating around the bush. "Where?" she asked simply.
She could almost see him smirk in her mind's eye. "I'll find you," he promised.
Breaking away from his clutches, Mizoshi met Kagura in the food preparing room. The demoness was currently glowering at her; arms crossed. "Is there a real emergency here? What is it? Couldn't you find the teapot?" she mocked.
"No. There's no emergency here, but there was out there," Mizoshi answered.
Kagura cruelly laughed. "You wanted to save me? From him?"
"I can't save you from him; I only wanted to buy some precious minutes."
"Well, now, isn't that cute?" Turning on her heel, Kagura calmly walked over to the table Mizoshi had eaten at. Bending lower, the sorceress inspected the bowl that sat upon its sable surface. "See? You're not a useless nothing. You can cook. Still, you are just as self-righteous as before."
"What are you talking about, Kagura?"
The wind sorceress spun around rather sharply. "First off, I don't need you intruding in my affairs. Second, mongrel, you are not my savior."
Mongrel. That word brought back terrible memories. It stung, but she wouldn't let the demoness notice. Inside, Mizoshi suddenly felt a wave of intense anger. It closed around her like a hot fog. Again, she had the keen sensation of something welling up inside that had been kept caged. No matter how frantically she searched, she couldn't produce the key. This caused more all the more frustration. And anger.
"Excuse me for helping you," Mizoshi intoned heatedly. "I merely tried to preserve the skin of your back out of the goodness of my heart. Yet it seems you can't appreciate one single favor. Next time, I won't bother."
The wind witch's eyes flashed confusedly. In understanding? Then, the tornado rose up. She leered irately. "Is that a threat?"
Mizsohi had had enough. "Are you making one?"
The wind witch stared at her a moment. She growled slightly and raised the fan she always carried with her. Mizoshi froze. She knew about that pink, innocent-looking weapon. Kagura had told her she could control the element of wind with a "flick of her wrist." There was no way she could block an elemental attack. Desperately, Mizoshi tried not to let fear smear her features. Kagura snarled, nearly baring her teeth in an unbecoming fashion before lowering the lethal fan. "You're not worth the effort," she hissed. "Besides, if I so much as mark you, you'll go running off to Naraku."
"You were really going to attack me?" Mizoshi demanded.
Kagura sneered. "Don't worry. I would never attack a helpless half-breed. You don't even possess one power to call your own."
Without another word, the witch walked off, presumably to clean up the shattered mess of porcelain—or worse. Slowly, Mizoshi let the air escape her lungs. It was over. The storm had passed. And yet, the fact remained. Kagura had been willing to attack, and maybe as far as to kill
Mizoshi could feel her lifespan being shortened in this castle. If Naraku chose to turn his back on her next, her fate was sealed.
I have to tell him, she thought. Tonight. I have to know…
Mizoshi sat alone in the enclosed garden. For memory's sake, she had slipped into her old chamber and had slid aside the connecting screen that led to the small percentage of nature she was allowed to touch. Naraku said he would find her.
Sadly, the garden had been ravaged by the cold. The peonies, roses, lavender, and sweet pea had died. Only a few sapphire blue blooms remained on the snapdragons. The stalks of freesia were wilted, but not entirely decrepit. The white flowers that were left showed starkly against the stone wall.
Quietly, she sat on the wooden bench; gazing at the slowly swimming koi fish in the chilly water of the tiled pool. Perhaps the koi would be left to freeze to death. Deep down, Mizoshi knew what Naraku was. He really didn't care for anything or anyone. But, this statement would be put to the test. Soon, she would discover the truth.
From behind her came a light rustling sound as fabric rushed smoothly across ground. Before she could make the slightest movement, a dark shape overcame her vision and soft lips were pressed against her flesh. She couldn't voice the slightest protest when he swept her off the bench and laid her in the dewy grass under the lone dogwood tree.
Naraku was clearly a being of considerable passions and obsessions. He hadn't left her alone for one night after their official "union." Already, the lust coursed through his body as her own body rapidly warmed. His hands roamed and explored every crevice, and shockingly, Mizoshi enjoyed it. It was not a proper arrangement, but what did a heathen hanyou know?
Kimono off at last, her smoldering skin was freely exposed to the cooling night air. Indescribable joy and ecstasy mounted when their individual "affections" were completed with Mizoshi screaming his name.
Sated, both half demons sank down on the grass; the waxing moon bearing witness to their deed. Automatically, the single trail of words escaped from Mizoshi's burning mouth. The trail of words she so desperately had to speak.
"I love you," she breathed.
Above her, the Spider froze.
Thanks guys; I appreciate and treasure every review! Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! The updates are slower now because of all the piled up homework I have, but the next chapter should be up by next Tuesday I would think.
Ganheim: Wow. That's really thorough! Thanks for the critiques; I always look for ways to improve my writing. Yeah, I missed a few things. Better proofread my work more carefully in the future. I'm glad I fixed the character problem though. Mizoshi does read more in character now.
Sarah Jackson: I'm taking Psychology, Sociology, Algebra (unfortunately) :(, Literature, and Spanish. Basically, they're all humanities courses.
Holly Hopkins: I'll guess the story will be around 50-60 chapters. (Since the chapters are kind of short.)