Haruko bowed her head slightly.

"My name is Har-"

"I already know your name," Naraku purred, "I heard very much about you, Haruko,"

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"How? I usually try to keep a low profile,"

"Unimportant," Naraku sniffed. "What I want to know is your reasons for hating InuYasha?"

Her face hardened, her ruby eyes flashing angrily. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I too, loathe him,"

"So you're a possible ally?"

Naraku nodded.

"Fifty years ago," She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before continuing, "InuYasha killed the young priestess who had the Shikon Jewel in her possession, Lady Kikyo,"

She glanced at Naraku, and he beckoned for her to go on. "Kikyo and I had a history that I don't want to get into, but we knew each other very well,"

"Ah, a revenge mission," Naraku's lips slid into a smile.

"What about you?"

"I learned recently that InuYasha is alive again. I haven't come into contact with him yet, but we also have a... history,"

Not wanting to waste any more time, Haruko finally asked, "Why did you want me to come and meet you?"

"I wanted to make a deal with you," He said, "Help me kill InuYasha and I will give you the Shikon no Tama,"

Confusion appeared on Haruko's face, "I thought Lady Kikyo brought it into the afterlife with her, and even if she didn't, why would I want that evil thing?"

"The Shikon jewel grants wishes and I know what you want most. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul,"

Haruko's fingers tapped on her lap as she felt a wave of unease. Surely he's lying, right?

Naraku seemed to sense her disbelief and held up his palm, revealing a few glowing slivers. Haruko's eyes widened and her mouth fell open when she realized what it was. The Shikon no Tama has shattered? I really have been gone for a long time!

Haruko pondered what she should ask first, she had so many answered questions and she hoped a fellow hanyo could help. Why is the jewel broken? Why is InuYasha alive again? How did you learn about me? Who is Kikyo's reincarnation? Why did she release InuYasha from his curse?

Her head felt cloudy, so she decided to focus on one thing at a time, starting with the most relevant question. "Why is the Shikon Jewel broken?"

"I don't know, though it happened shortly after InuYasha revived,"

Haruko stood up, looking down at Naraku as she growled, "I accept your offer,"

As Haruko left Naraku's castle, her promise rang in her ears. I accept your offer. She had no idea whether she was going to regret those words. There was something suspicious about Naraku, but she trusted him against her better judgment. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

She knew she had to come up with a plan instead of jumping right into battle. She had never seen InuYasha fight, but she heard the legends about his family. The great dog general and InuYasha's father, Inu no Taisho, was feared and respected among demonkind before his death. His brother, Sesshomaru, was also rumored to be incredibly powerful. He had his father's blood running through him, which meant he was bound to be tough to get rid of. She was going to have to be clever and win without using brute strength.

As the air cleared, she found that it was midnight, the sky was dark tonight. The new moon.

She climbed a tree on the outskirts of another forest, and she sat perched on a high branch, staring at the stars.

Maybe if I find his night of weakness I can kill him then?

All half-demons have one night a month where they become mortal, due to the human blood in their veins. If she found out and targeted him on that night, she could win easily. I just hope it's not on the same night mine is, Haruko shuddered, that would complicate things.

She refused to let such musings cloud her plans as she drifted off to sleep.