Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, which is probably lucky for the characters because most of them would end up in various asylums if I was running the show
Please read the author's note at the end.
Reflections on the Inside
Chapter One: A Black and White World
Song for this chapter: Strange and Beautiful-Aqualung
She ran her fingers gently over the surface of the mirror, feeling pictures float like the errant strikes of a paintbrush into her mind, clean sweeps of colour in her darkness. Images flittered in and out of the cold, etchings on coloured glass, free of sound or smell but with expressions of fear and hatred burning in every line. Blood was flowing through them as well, red trickling through every frame in a kaleidoscope of swords, claws, magic and imported weapons.
Things were beginning to spin out of control; the terrorists were more active than they ever had been, save prior to Naraku's corruption of the jewel, and with the spreading rumours of her masters…condition many of his more powerful subordinates believed they saw an opportunity arising. The pictures glimmered and faded into shroud as her ears picked up the faint sound of footsteps headed towards the conference room.
Carefully Kanna tucked her white homongi under her knees, smoothing out the invisible creases she could feel crackling against her skin as she moved into a low bow. Naraku's tread drew closer, accompanied by the brisk march of the Shichi'nintai leader Bankotsu. Kanna's lip curled. Though she did not dislike the youngest member of the assassination squad personally, wherever he went his obnoxious companion, Jakotsu, followed. He disturbed her quiet with his exuberant movements, twisting the air currents unnecessarily and making it difficult to 'see', also the man covered himself in paint and perfumes, making it impossible to discern his emotions when she couldn't catch the saline scent of fear or the metallic rising of blood to the face resulting from embarrassment or anger.
The demoness had changed in the centuries since Naraku had completed the shikon jewel. Many things had changed, some to her liking and some which were…more unwelcome than unexpected. Her sister had fled; after Kanna's metamorphosis Kagura had been unable to cling to that last shred of sisterly love which had bound them to each other and had escaped with the Western Lord into the underground resistance which had emerged under Naraku's rule. Most of her original siblings were dead now, on Naraku's orders or slaughtered by the little acts of terrorism the old world survivors committed to reassure themselves that they were still fighting, and she disliked the new shell like beings which her master carved from magic and mountain air, or at least, she disliked them as much as she ever disliked anything. Left of the incarnations were Jakotsu and Bankotsu, preserved after the completion of the shikon jewel by Naraku's magic, herself, Kagura of course and, though Naraku would adamantly deny it Kanna was convinced that Hakudoshi had somehow managed to forge an existence all of his own. That little boy was far too dangerous to have just lain down and died.
The silk screen doors opened, the sounds brushing gently against her ears. "Lord Naraku, Bankotsu." She threw her words out into a room she couldn't see and waited for a reply.
"Kanna" He knelt in front of her and she felt the cool dampness of his breath on her face and heard the assassin shift uncomfortably somewhere to her left, "How are things?" He wasn't enquiring after her health; the very idea was laughable except…she didn't laugh. Kanna did not find things funny or hurtful or upsetting. When Kagura had left her it was true, she had experienced a curious little ache at the back of her throat but that had left quickly when she focused on other things and she had never done the strange eyewater phenomenon save when she had dust in her blindfold.
"The sea people near Mito have angered the nekoyoukai in the east and drowned a demon child in response to the rape of three village women. The youkai are attempting to contact their western brethren in order to slaughter the community there. Lord Sushiko has imposed sanctions on both factions until they reconcile but felt it unnecessary to concern you with the matter." Kanna intoned, bringing up required images on the mirror that lay on the floor between them.
"Hmm…have a letter sent to Sushiko, enquiring about the state of things in his area of control. Do not mention anything of the nekoyoukai or the Mito fishermen, let him reply and then I will decide what to do with him." He said, "Anything else?"
"Crop rotation experimentation has proved successful and there is a copy of the Lord Mitorisu's farming report in the lower study. We received it this morning."
"Excellent, at least that western captain was at least some use, or at least what we could decipher from his screams, yes Kanna?" His tone was a little off, as if testing for something.
"Yes my Lord." Kanna carefully shut away the memories of that screaming young man and his ashen, strange shaped face, they made her a little uncomfortable but mostly it was simply not the time to dwell on them.
Minutes passed in silence before he sharply broke the air with a bark of laughter, "You really are loyal, aren't you Kanna." He said, almost merrily and whirled around, seizing her blindfold but not pulling it away from her face.
"Of course Lord Naraku, you are my master." She did not flinch, did not move away but stayed kneeling and allow him to push and pull her head back and forth, side to side, using the material as leverage. She wondered, as her head lolled helplessly, what could have sparked this latest outburst of insanity; though Naraku's paranoia had been escalating ever since a western battle ship had penetrated the magical barrier two years ago.
Everything possible had been done to ensure that Japan was never penetrated by other cultures; access to the country by western traders was prevented by a massive magical barrier courtesy of the shikon which surrounded the whole of the main island and there were smaller demonically induced barricades surrounding Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Sea spirits were expected to make the coastlines impossible to traverse and calling up storms and gales if a ship came in sight and a new ring of mountains from Aomori to Kanazawa had been raised up by the bear and earth demons. Travel to the outside world was absolutely forbidden and any attempts were seen as acts of treason, with the appropriate punishments.
His grip tightened and she was flung to the floor, prostrate at his feet, "Do you remember how hurt I was when your sister left me for that western dog?" Kanna nodded silently, listening to the half mocking tones of someone who might actually mean what they said, "You do?" One of his fingers curled beneath her chin, raising her head and then brushing along her jaw, "You are faithful to me aren't you Kanna, you always place my desires above other's?" She nodded again, feeling his hand gently touch the silken blindfold which hid her eyes then retreat again.
"Good." He stood and headed for the door, "I'll leave the rest to you then Bankotsu." With that her master left.
Kanna didn't bother with confusion, instead laying out each of his actions before her, listening to Bankotsu's quiet breathing in the corner. Evidently Naraku had been searching for some sort of confirmation from her reactions to his touches; doubtless he had wanted to make an impression on the assassin as well, by showing the dead human his power over a monster like Kanna. The human came closer and she snapped her head around.
"What does Lord Naraku want of us?" She asked softly, knowing Bankotsu didn't like remembering that he was Naraku's slave.
"He wants to crush out the last of the resistance, he's been furious ever since they took out Sukikotsu." She almost missed the hitch in his voice as he spoke of his lost comrade, but responding to it, she allowed her presence to fade even further into the background, listening. It was useful; the ability to make people forget she was there-invisibility has many different forms. Evidently Naraku wasn't the only one angry.
But…fighting in fury, it was dangerous and foolhardy of her master to send someone so closely involved with the situation on this sort of mission. She half listened to the angry pacing of the human which made the wooden floorboards of the conference room creak. If he lost his temper and attacked in rage, he'd be sliced to pieces no matter what; one immortal was not a match for the whole of the resistance.
"I'm supposed to pretend to try and kill them." Kanna made no answer, "Me and Jakotsu will attack them a fortnight from now, on the new moon-we'll go for Kagura, you protect her and supposedly they'll welcome you with open arms." She could sense him staring at her, searching for a reaction to the news. Sighing, she rose.
"Would you send me the details in the morning; I'd like to look over a written copy to find out how much information we have. Then we can have a briefing with Jakotsu in the evening." Her head hurt and she needed to work out what Naraku wasn't saying, besides it was too late to deal with the effeminate older Shichi'nintai member's antics. The young woman pulled open the screen door and left to her own apartments.
A/N: Right this is the very beginning of a saga I have in mind, so if you'd like the next bit please review! My chapters won't have set lengths, so some'll be really short and some very long, depending on where I think the best stopping point is. The description in this paragraph is very detailed as it was from Kanna's sort of POV and she paints pictures for herself with words. You'll find out more about her transformation in the next couple of chapters! The world is our period, but because of Naraku's rule things are very different and Japan is still completely isolated.