The fifth addition to 'The Bound Youkai Series'
Title: The Being Naraku
Author: Kiba/KibaSin
Warning: Language
(I can't think of another warning… how about your mind being fried with my detailed fantasy?)
Summary: Kikyo, Kagome's elder sister, is not only jealous that she's beginning to fall for the taiyoukai, Sesshoumaru, and he her, but also because of her power. Wanting to get rid of her she gets a deal that will lead to her fate, and everyone elses.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters.
Rating: PG-13/T
Genre: General
The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together. The figures on the game board were being set into motion. Fate had begun to turn, placing the players within its game onto their paths. Each played an important role; each would step up in the end to complete what needed to be done; each were being played by a miko, once of great power and great responsibility, as she decided where they would go, what they would do, and how they would moved upon the game board. True, those higher in status, the gods, did not agree with her decision, but it needed to be done in order to bring together the two pieces of one powerful soul, while she severed her own from them. It needed to be done in order to destroy a powerful jewel that should have never fallen from the realm of Heaven. However, before she died another had decided to play fates game, and when she died the Shikon no Tama was allowed to fall to the Earth through her body. Now, she was trying to right that person's wrong, even if she had bound a demoness who had wanted nothing more than love, something that many wanted and needed in order to live.
Many souls watched her as she moved the small golden piece that symbolized a woman named Kikyo. The piece, however, had been turning black with taint for many years after her younger sister, the other half of the soul she'd split apart, decided to be born. True, she'd moved together the silver dog that symbolized the mighty Touga's son, Sesshoumaru, and the solid pink bow that symbolized the miko Kagome, but that would not be enough to save the woman named Kikyo. No, for already the taint was becoming to strong, and soon she would walk down the path of evil, seeking out the new piece upon her board, one that was a pure black baboon mask. She had many other pieces, and once in a while she would merely sit back and allow the pieces to move themselves, but right now was a very important time and if they wanted the Shikon no Tama to be returned to Takamagahara then they would need to allow her to play the game as she wished to play it.
Allowing a soft smile to appear on her lips, Midoriko glanced up at the golden glow of the gods as they circled around her Game of Fate. Not many who weren't born from the original three gods born in Takamagahara were allowed to play with the board, but they had decided that she could because she'd not only split her souls three ways in order to have her plan work, but because she had been a large reason as to why the Shikon no Tama ended up on Earth in the first place. The original three gods of Nihon, Taka-mi-musubi, Ame-no-Minaka-nushi, and Kami-mi-musubi, were ashamed that they had allowed the event to even take place, but even the gods make mistakes. She knew that they were hoping that by allowing her, a split miko soul who'd played with fate before, to play the game that the Shikon would be returned to their mighty hands. After all, the game was unpredictable, and if not watched carefully could turn to chaos, or merely cause a normal soul to go insane before they stood, throwing the game away from them, causing the pieces to scatter everywhere. That would not happen to her, though, for a piece of her was inside the demoness Kagome, a piece inside the miko Kagome, and the rest where she was now.
Her plan was full proof! She would not lose this game, no matter how many times they whispered into her ear that she would. True, they were in the highest plain of Heaven, but even the souls there could be cruel when it came to those purer than they could ever be. After all, it was like the demoness Kagome continued to think, no one was perfect. No one went through life without making mistakes. No one should be imprisoned they way she was. She agreed with her there, but she could not release her back into the world until this new evil by the name of Naraku made his move. Not until the final battle came into play and they needed both halves of Kagome's soul together as one. After all, she was like the hidden weapon that no one would ever see. That was why she never allowed the half of Sai she didn't lock away to go into the place the demoness Kagome resided. No, for that would have ruined everything that she'd worked so hard to gain.
True, many creatures upon the Earth thought that fate was nothing more than what happened to them, but it was quite fun to see their faces when they learned that they were merely small pieces upon the boards that the gods used. True, some were merely left alone unless someone wished to play with someone's fate when they began trying to do something they weren't destined to do, but other than that the boards were allowed to continue with their unpredictable ways. Hers, however, would not be that way. No, she would continue to move her pieces as they should be moved, before finally flipping not only the new evil off the board, but also the symbol that continued to float above it. The Shikon no Tama—The Jewel of Four Souls, an item that needed to be taken away from the Earth, but without one of the gods stepping foot on the land and completely changing everything that might, or should happen. Gods, after all, could have major impacts upon the land.
Giving a small shake of her head, however, Midoriko leaned her chin into her hand attached to her arm settled on her leg. She watched the board closely, knowing that the gods would drag her away at any slip up she made. True, the pieces would continue to move of their own accord, but in order to make the future the way they needed it she needed to be on full alert, and make sure that everything went according to plan. Every piece needed to fall into place, or she had to come up with a sudden plan for when another piece decided to take a wrong turn; kind of like the miko Kikyo's piece currently was. When it came to those situations she needed to think quickly in order to find a solution to her problem. She wouldn't have any problems as long as her main three pieces continued on their path. One would not move, for the black phoenix could not move, and the silver dog, and pink bow would not separate unless they needed to be apart.
Yes, everything was going according to plan.
oOo
"Kagome," was shouted once more, louder this time as the two figures walked the same path the miko Kagome had walked to get to the clearing she had obtained the herbs she carried now. She was still slightly shaken from the attack of the youkai, whatever kind it had been, but her eyes glanced shyly toward the taiyoukai at her side. Why he had offered to help her with Suni was beyond her mortal mind, but she was grateful to him at the moment. Besides, her heart trembled at his mere beauty, and she, without much thought, slipped a rock from beneath her sandal, causing it to skip into the air, before it hit a certain imp following them.
Jaken, feeling the small rock hit him in the forehead, began screaming in his low voice, running in a circle. "Ah… AH… AH… Lord Sesshoumaru, help this lowly servant! The ningen miko attacked this Jaken with her numerous weapons! Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord SESSHOUMARU!" He continued to run around, never noticing that said demon lord had turned his golden eyes to glare at him, his claws ready to rip him to pieces.
Folding her arms into her haori sleeves, her basket hanging on her arm, she blinked in confusion at the small youkai. A small giggle formed in her throat when Sesshoumaru growled in warning toward the gami, instantly stopping his yelling, but not his current circling path, the staff he carried swinging around in a wild frenzy. She managed to hold off the giggle until Sesshoumaru's boot clad foot knocked the gami to the ground, stopping his small rampage that would have craved a possibly small circular hole in the ground if he continued. Still, the giggled escaped her throat, and she wondered for a moment why she, as a miko, felt humor at the pain of the small youkai. Maybe it was because the pain had come from the taiyoukai at her side, or maybe it was because it was merely funny. She didn't know, but she continued to listen to her sister's calling of her name from deeper within the forest –
- It was obvious Kikyo cared so much. Hell, if it had been her, she'd be running, searching for Kikyo like a madwoman, her feet carrying her deeper and deeper into the dangerous forest until she found her. No, Kikyo was the calm one, thinking that she would be alive when she arrived, walking calmly, merely shouting her name around. Really, sometimes Kagome couldn't help but wondered if her sister wished to find her dead one day, or if she wanted to call numerous amounts of youkai to the area and sick them upon her. Shaking her head, Kagome sighed, thinking, man, and I can actually see that happening. It was true, she could easily see Kikyo talking with some wild youkai, each starving but keeping their distance because of her sizzling power, before suddenly shooting off in the direction she was when Kikyo pointed, while her sister merely turned away, walking back to the village to tell them of her unfortunate death.
Sesshoumaru glanced down at the small miko as they continued forward, his back slightly hunched over to keep the large neko in place on his back. However, he tilted his head to the side in wonder, before saying, "Are you not going to call out to her, Kagome?" He did not know what made him say her name, since only people he respected should have that honor, but perhaps it was the memory of the demoness Kagome biting his head off. He could still hear it, her words creating a continuous hurricane of thoughts within his mind. After all, after hearing, "…My name is Kagome; Ka-go-me. Too many times have I been called a wench, along with many others names you men decide I am! You should know these, Sesshoumaru: whore, slut, cock sucking hag… oh, or perhaps you'd be more accustomed to this term, dog, youkai bitch…" well, he had a new found respect for the female race, especially after she pulled her strange magic together, and held him in place. He believed now that she would have trouble doing so, but then again, it was her domain, her home, as she'd called it.
He listened, as the miko merely said, "No, she will get here when she gets here; she's probably waiting for me to come running to her anyway, since your aura nearly fills the entire forest. She will not get that satisfaction." Perhaps they were having some type of sibling rivalry, or they might simply hate each other like he hated his bastard half-brother, Inuyasha. Then again, the slight longing in her voice told him that she longed for the person calling her to rush through the trees, worry not only in her voice, but her aura, as she pushed her behind her to protect her. However, her words told him that would not be the case.
"Besides, Kikyo doesn't like me," Kagome sighed, her head bowing down. She'd known it to be true, always, but it was just something she had not wanted to believe. All the times Kikyo merely called out her name, never once rushing to make sure she was all right, however, told her one thing, and one thing only. Her elder sister hated her.
"Why?" Sesshoumaru questioned. He saw her shake her head in her own confusion, and decided to leave it at that. The neko on his back was beginning to awaken, its neck stretching a little further over his shoulder, its breath coming out a little rougher then it had in its sleep. The female did not make any moves to escape him, or claw him, and for that he was grateful, since the neko would probably reopen her wounds if she did. Kagome wouldn't like that, and something inside him wanted to make her happy, to ravish her with gifts that she deserved.
Kikyo stepped through the tree line, her eyes narrowing further when she caught sight of not just that stupid neko-youkai Kagome continued to allow around the village, but three. The smallest she determined as a weak thing, but the one standing at Kagome's side was in humanoid form. Only powerful youkai had the ability to morph from their animal like appearance to a human one. Gritting her teeth, she said the first thing that came to mind, "Kagome, come to my side." Her arm shifted out to the side, as she said, "I will not allow my only sister to be enslaved by such tainted blood."
Kagome giggled again, before saying, "Enslaved, Kikyo? Lord Sesshoumaru is not enslaving me; he is helping me take Suni back to the village. She was hurt when another youkai attacked."
Kikyo growled, saying, "Tell me, Kagome, was it he who attacked you in the first place. Did an animal like youkai come upon you, only for moments later this creature to have saved you, stealing your heart from underneath your nose?"
Kagome shook her head, before saying, "No, Kikyo. It was an ugly beast. Besides, I'm sure that that youkai was not an inuyoukai like Lord Sesshoumaru."
"You continue to call him lord, Kagome," Kikyo hissed, her lips setting into a snarl. "No creature of tainted blood deserves that title."
"Foolish ningen, Lord Sesshoumaru shall slice your head from your shoulders for your insults," Jaken cried. "No ningen bitch will disgrace the Lord of the Western Lands!"
Kikyo silenced the gami with a single glare, her hatred burning deep within her eyes. How could her sister be so blind? These creatures would do nothing but harm her! These youkai would enslave her, and use her as nothing but a concubine, before they decided that she was nothing but used goods and threw her out into the cold world where people would judge her. Her eyes were sharp, as she said, "Very well, Kagome. But promise me you will not allow this to continue more then this night."
Kagome frowned, glancing at the taiyoukai as his eyes narrowed, before sighing. Giving a nod, she crossed her fingers inside her sleeves, before saying, "Yes, of course, Kikyo. We would not want for an ill omen to wash over the village."
"I will keep you to your word, Kagome," Kikyo said, her tone turning back to calm. "Come, the villagers need the herbs you currently possess."
That was far to easy, Sesshoumaru knew, and he gave a blank look to the elder miko before him. It was obvious she hated youkai; probably having saw one kill someone she held dear to her. However, it was not going to keep him from his newest prize. His beast had decided, their bitch had been chosen, and what the beast wanted it got, especially when it came to something of this caliber. Yes, though his beast usually did what it wanted, and pleased itself, he was going to enjoy tainting Kagome, as Kikyo put it. The miko would enjoy her time with him, enjoy the gifts he gave her, and she would, in the end, squeal adoringly, and jump into his arms when he asked her to be his mate. He would taint her so badly she would love him.
His mindset, his plan in action, Sesshoumaru continued forward, sensing the miko's lie to her sister. It was obvious that something in their souls clicked when they had met, and Sesshoumaru, along with a stubborn Kagome, were not willing to give it up. Without the knowledge of what their meetings would cause, however, they were willing to sneak off into the night to be together.
oOo
Kagome held the silken fabric closer to her chest as she gazed up into the golden eyes of Sesshoumaru. They stood in the moonlight, its heavenly glow brightening the world around them. The only thing they were focused on, however, were each other, which was why they did not notice the shadowed figure hiding among the trees. Each and every night she'd hide far enough away that she was out of the inuyoukai's smelling range, while hiding her aura, her mere presence from them. It had not been hard to see that her younger sister had lied, especially when she began finding her very expensive gifts around their hut, each one of them unseen the day before. When she'd confronted the younger miko, Kagome had merely said that she'd saved a passing traveler, and though she protested, they gave her an item in exchange for her services. She'd believed this the first time, but after that she'd followed her sister as she crept out during the night. Now, usually she did not stay this long, but something about this made her eyes harden a little more, her jealousy rising within her soul.
Disgust ran through her body when Sesshoumaru suddenly moved forward, his lips taking her sister's in a heated caress of the lips. Kikyo, shaking her head, turned her body away and began moving through the forest. She'd ignored the call the first time, but she was going to see that blasted hanyou, possibly getting rid of that bastard Sesshoumaru. It was not fair that Kagome found love so easily, while she was destined to merely watch over their village when their mother died. As mikos' they weren't supposed to fall in love with youkai, yet she was sure her sister's soul was already tainted with the beast's essence. Right now, they were probably locked in a sexual embrace, the damn male she'd come to hate more than her sister, who continued to grow in power, was probably burying himself inside her sister's body. Of course, that was not something for the ears of children, yet they were very close to the village. It was disgusting enough that her sister decided to even lay with such a creature, and yet she continued to degrade herself by keeping such activates close enough for anyone to find them.
She moved silently through the forest, searching for the baboon masked hanyou she'd let escape a few months ago. It had been around a month since the time she'd met Lord Sesshoumaru, but the hanyou in question had touched her soul with his words, making her realize just how much she wanted to rip Kagome's head away from her shoulders. Ever since her encounter with the strange hanyou, she'd looked at Kagome as if she were lower than the evilest youkai scum walking the land. Her soul had turned from its calm blue, to a raging red, lusting for something that she did not wish to truly do, since she knew it would taint her completely, until she lost herself to the bittersweet feeling of insanity. Yes, then she'd end up on the end of a sword's tip, her soul being released from her body into the great Heavens above. If she made it there, her soul might as well be condemned to Hell for the thoughts currently pulsing through her mind.
Still, Kikyo walked along the path the strongest man of their village had created by cutting down the trees blocking it, her stance calm, her mind racing, and yet her fists were clenching again and again when the image of the gifts Kagome had received moved into her mind. It was obvious that filthy youkai wanted her sister, not just for a quick rut in the woods, but as his eternal mate; it would completely taint Kagome, and for that Kikyo believed she should be thrown into the pits of Hell. She did not realize the path she was walking was completely tainting her own soul, no, for her mind could only grip the love that her sister was receiving, while she, Kikyo, was merely thrown into the background, never noticed except for her miko talents; it would not be fair if Kagome got the life of an ordinary woman, while she, Kikyo, had to continue with her life as a miko. Worse, Kagome would not just have an ordinary life, but she would be ravished with gifts as if she were a true hime. She deserved that life, since she was eldest, but no, her sister was always recognized before her.
Even when she was first born Kagome got every bit of attention that she tried to have at one time. Their mother had instantly seen the treasure that Kagome was, and so she spent most of her time with her to help her along the path that had placed her sister where she currently was. Kagome had been with their mother when a youkai had attacked their father, while she, Kikyo, was watching from the background, hidden after she'd told her father about the youkai's presence. Never again would she trust a youkai, but it was only worse when summers later Kagome's power continued to grow, while hers merely stayed at the same level that her mother had determined her to be at. Again she was cast into Kagome's shadow. And then again when Kagome's kind nature proved that though their father died at the hands of a youkai, Kagome would care for anyone, and anything. She helped that blasted neko-youkai, which gave her the friendship of another that Kikyo had never experienced, because she was too caught up in her miko studying, trying to become better then Kagome ever could be. Now, Kagome was receiving the love that she deserved, even if it came from youkai filth, turning her back to their training, and trying to make a life of her own.
In her eyes, Kagome was always turning her back to everything that ever crossed her path. Even though it was said that when one door to fate was opened, another was closed, it seemed to her that Kagome always picked the correct door that led her to happiness. It was as if some god had given Kagome the ability to choose a path that would give her everything she didn't deserve. It was as if some god loved Kagome so much that they wanted to give her everything wonderful, and fulfilling in life, while she was merely pushed back into the shadows, her life meaningless to those around her.
The hanyou, though, the one by the name of Naraku, he owed her, and he was going to help her. Even if she had to wrap her hands around his grimy neck, and threaten to purify him, she would get him to help her get rid of Kagome once and for all. Then she would be the better sister, she would be the one on top, and no one would try and stop her, especially when she had the hanyou as her ally. What she did not realize, however, was the deeper she walked into the forest the further she walked onto the path an ancient miko wanted her to tread upon. Wanted her to embrace with her very soul, until all the pieces fell into place.
Sighing, Kikyo felt the hanyou's presence surround her as she stepped into the very clearing Kagome had met the taiyoukai at. Her sister might not have known it, but it was the very place the hanyou had spoken to her, telling her the words she needed to hear before she told him to leave, and if she should ever need him she might call upon him. It appeared that the hanyou had known she would come, and as she looked up at the white baboon pelt that covered his body, she glared a little, before calling out his name, "Naraku."
"Kikyo," he replied, his tone dark and wise, "what a pleasant surprise."
"Do not speak as if we are friends, Naraku," Kikyo hissed. Her mind turned to other things as she began telling him of her desire. The small jewel her sister had shown to their mother a few hours after the taiyoukai had disappeared back into the forest. Their mother had seemed very surprised at seeing it, before she told Kagome never to let another know about it, never to let it out of her sight, and to protect it with her very life. Their mother had acted as if the small, ordinary jewel could cause mass destruction over the land. Nothing was that powerful, unless they had a strong demonic aura surrounding them.
Naraku seemed not to care, but then again, Kikyo couldn't really tell since he was covered in all that fur. His mask made it impossible to know what his face could have told her, but still she waited for his reaction. She did not have to wait long. "You still feel as if you're nothing more then a shadow to her?" merely got a nod from her, which received another from the hanyou.
"Perhaps it is time we become friends, Kikyo," he laughed. "Together we could get rid of Kagome. Together we could destroy the taiyoukai who has fallen for her charm, and together, Kikyo, we could put you on top as the first miko to ever rule over one of the territories the youkai rule. After all, the Western Lands are said to be the finest, so why shouldn't it be a powerful ningen who ruled them, instead of youkai taint filling the very soil?"
"Naraku, you are part youkai," Kikyo said, "yet you speak as if it is disgusting even to you."
Naraku's voice turned dark, and cold, "It is, Kikyo, but it is. Being hanyou, both ningen and youkai hunt for my blood. Both sides feel that as half I am nothing more than an abomination from the belly of a tainted soul, because they decided to mate with a breed not their own. It is not a hanyou's fault that their mother or father decided to lay with someone not of their kind, yet others feel it is. That is why they hunt me."
Kikyo nodded, feeling slightly disgusted herself for even talking with this being. However, it could not be helped, and she once again nodded, glancing up at his form, covered in mostly darkness from the forest. "I do, however, agree with you upon the design of the Western Lands. Such finery should not be controlled by something so evil. The youkai line that controls it should have been overthrown many years ago, but they taint the minds of others, making it seem as if they will be protected, yet many times we have ningen from their villages come to us, telling us that they have been attacked, and have yet to receive word from their Lord. If I ruled the Western Lands, the problem would have already been taken care of, instead of making them wait until I felt the need to protect them.
"Sesshoumaru does not deserve his birthright," Kikyo hissed. "He is cold-hearted and cruel. Such a being does not deserve to have even an ounce of control in a place that is rich, and peaceful. I am surprised they have not fallen into chaos by now."
Naraku smirked. He truly did not care about the fate of either Kikyo's sister, or her current lover, Lord of the Western Lands. No, something told him that he needed to find a creature told only in stories, a creature that had tricked him. He'd felt the power of something new wash over himself a month before, and when he went to find it, he'd found it, but not where he'd expected it to be; it was within the hands of Kagome, Kikyo's sister. However, a piece of him had disagreed with his logic, a piece of him that he knew was older then himself, telling him that it was merely a copy, not the jewel of true power, a jewel known as the Shikon no Tama. The name, actually, had brought these thoughts to mind, the name Kagome. He was sure that if he destroyed the girl, he would be lead to the demoness of legend, a woman also by the name of Kagome. When he found her, he would kill her, for some part of him hated the woman, even when he had never met her. Now, he was bargaining with Kikyo, knowing somehow that the demoness's domain, her home of darkness, was located close to the border between the Western and Northern Lands.
How he knew most of this he did not know, but he did know that it was what he needed, no, what he wanted to accomplish. After all, if he could find this demoness once mated to a now dead taiyoukai, then he would also find the Shikon no Tama. When the jewel was within his hand he could control all the lands, not just one –
- Even better, he might be able to control the world!
Still, what Kikyo did not know would not hurt her. Well, it might in the end, but for now it might be good to merely allow her to go on with her plan. After all, her sister, from what he heard and saw, was growing in power each and everyday. It was almost as if her soul was getting ready for something, as if her very being was trying to become more then it was designed to be. Kagome could be a major thorn in his side, fighting against him, possibly stopping his plan from happening. It would be best that she was removed from the picture, even though a piece of him merely wanted to bathe in her blood because of her mere name. Another piece of him couldn't help but wonder if that made him insane, since he knew that no one except Yumi had ever done anything to him.
Yumi, even his once ningen soul still sang out when the name was mention, but it did not matter to him anymore, since Yumi was dead. He'd killed her with his own hand, along with her youkai lover. All right, Yumi had done that, but it had been him to have truly betrayed the bitch. He'd tricked her quite easily into thinking her love had turned against her, until she sealed him within a shrine, hidden away from the world for the rest of his life. Never would he be reawakened, his soul restless inside its prison. Once he'd rid himself of her, however, everything had gone nearly to plan until he'd been hit with an arrow by this stupid miko. After a few words with her, however, Kikyo had let him go, and now he stood before the same miko, allowing her to speak even though he did not listen.
"Yes," Naraku replied, "Sesshoumaru does not deserve what he holds. Together, Kikyo, we could get rid of him, and your sister easily. Together we could rule the Western Lands, before one day taking over the other lands, allowing the taint to be removed from the land, each youkai lord or lady falling to their knees to beg your forgiveness." He knew his words rang within her ears, yet he continued afterward, knowing that the more he talked, the deeper Kikyo sank into his plan. "Destroy the taint, Kikyo," he urged, "get rid of the taint to the lands, and allow the ones who truly should rule their chance. Do not wait until the final moment, Kikyo, for then it will be to late, and they will know of your plan. They will know…"
Kikyo glanced toward the ground, a final sigh falling from her lips. Lifting her gaze, she sealed her fate by speaking; "I will help you take down Sesshoumaru, as soon as you get rid of Kagome, Naraku. She will get in the way, I know it."
Another smirk formed on his lips, as he said, "Help me, Kikyo. Help this lowly hanyou destroy her. For you know a miko cannot hurt another miko, but she could easily purify me. Together we could corner them; together we could rid the land of their presence. Then you won't be in the one in shadows any longer, Kikyo. No, for then you shall be the one in the front, surpassing Kagome's dying form the way she never could… but you must take her life, Kikyo. Only you can do it." She might not know it, but in the end she would also end up dying. In the end he would kill her.
"Together," Kikyo repeated. She took a step forward, "Together we shall rule!"
"Yes, Kikyo," Naraku replied, his tone neutral. Never would she know her fate. No, for he would place it into his claws, before he ripped it to shreds. There was no way he was going to allow this woman to rule anything. No, for her head would have a better use, he would use it as a paperweight once she was gone, for that was what she would be best suited for. Yes, that seemed like a much better fate then allowing Kikyo to become a ruler of even the worse of the lands.
oOo
The gods continued to watch as suddenly Midoriko gripped onto the black phoenix like shape that symbolized the demoness Kagome. They wondered what the miko had in mind, for surely she was thinking of something that would finally complete the game, and return to them their possession. However, they watched as Midoriko moved the black baboon mask, and the near black piece of silk in front of the silver dog, and the pink bow, while her hand continued to hold onto the phoenix like a lifeline. The miko was acting as if she were finally going to remove the magic she'd placed around the demoness Kagome and set her free, but her hand merely held onto the piece, tapping it with her fingertips once in a while. The demoness, they knew, was probably frustrated that her prison continued to act as if it were going to set her free, before strengthening its power around her. However, for now they would allow Midoriko to control the game, and when she made her fatal mistake they would take action, moving to the Earth's surface to take the Shikon no Tama with their own hands, returning the torn souls to their original forms, before returning to Takamagahara. Once Midoriko made her mistake, it would only prove to them that they should never allow another mortal soul to touch their game for Nihon. True, the entire board had not been together for many centuries, but that did not matter to them—they would keep every mortal soul away from each piece.
Midoriko tapped the piece beneath her fingers once more, telling the demoness silently that soon she would be able to break free of her prison, joining together with her other half. Of course, the demoness might not have believed her even if she told her in person, but that did not matter. After all, she would need them together for when the final act came together. True, the demoness might never forgive her, but she had her reasons for leaving her in her imprisonment for so long. What better way to create the perfect soul? Of course, only she knew of her final move, but when it happened, even the gods would be shocked to find that she created the perfect being, half light, and half dark, part innocent, part corrupted. After all, the perfect soul should be able to admit that they were innocent, yet corrupted at the same time. When she brought them together they would be able to admit this, making them perfect in every way.
Perhaps, though, she should grant them a wish through the Shikon no Tama as well? Perhaps…