Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.
Chapter 24: The Plan
The hanyou's broken body lay lifeless beside him. The greatest thorn in his side had at last been removed and the rest of the little group had crumbled just as easily. The only sound to be heard on the field was that of the lower demons and carrion birds feasting on the flesh of the fallen. Naraku moved his hulking mass forward in search of the more powerful of his minions to honour them with a chance to join something greater than themselves; to become one with him! As his undulating form slowly made its way across the blood drenched land a pain filled cry assaulted his ears, a cry that was distinctly human. Changing direction, he made for the unique sound. 'If one of Inu Yasha's companions has survived' he thought, 'there may be fun to have yet.'
It didn't take long for him to find the whimpering human struggling to get to her fallen weapon, her legs shattered in the battle. "Once again, you alone survive my attack. What a strong will you must have. I will take great joy in breaking it."
The exterminator's tear filled eyes lifted to lock with his, "Help me, Miroku."
"Thank you for helping me and Miroku." Sango repeated, realizing that she had woke the other woman from some dream. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you –"
"No." Naosu cut off her apology. "It was not a dream I wished to continue. I thank you for disturbing me." She shook her head, freeing herself from the already weakened grasp of the unpleasant memories that dominated her dreams as the exterminator moved to sit beside her.
"After the death of my mother I use to have terrible nightmares about the demon that had killed her. She was peaceful and hated fighting, much like Kohaku when he was younger. I would wake up screaming; believing that the youkia had returned for the rest of family until my father would come rushing to my side to assure me we were safe. He would hold me close, stroking my hair and hum me to sleep again."
Naosu saw the tear streaked face of her great grandmother through the eyes of her grandfather. She held him close to her breast, stroking his hair and singing to him. Naosu began to hum along to the bittersweet lullaby in her head, drawing a stunned expression from the woman who sat beside her.
"Yes! That's the song he use to sing. How did you know?"
"My mother use to rock me to sleep with the same tune…I didn't mean to start humming it." Naosu felt heat rush to her cheeks as she attempted to hide her eyes from the exterminator's inquisitive gaze.
Sango let the subject go, even though her senses told her there was something more to it. It was obviously a difficult topic for the female hanyou to talk about. "What I'm trying to say is that if you ever need someone to tell you it's all going to be alright, I'll be here for you."
Kagura watched as the two women sat talking, although she couldn't quite hear them. Naraku had instructed her to locate Inu Yasha's elder brother and report back to him. She had caught the youkia lord's scent quickly, but was confused to find not only the stately Lord of the West, but the strange female hanyou Naraku had become obsessed with seated alone at the foot of a small tree. As the other woman had approached, Kagura had hid herself behind one of the larger trees across the clearing and downwind from the demon exterminator, and where she assumed the rest of the small group was camped.
"I appreciate the offer. Thank you." Naosu's soft spoken words drifted across the open field as Sango stood and headed back the way she had come. 'I'm glad I got the chance to know the real you.' Naosu thought as she watched the exterminator leave.
Kagura froze as the cold burgundy eyes of the hanyou seemed to lock on her position momentarily before moving off and scanning the rest of the tree line. 'I've been waiting for this,' Naosu thought as she climbed to her feet and headed to the middle of the field. The wind witch watched her approach and was about to step out of hiding when a loud yell cut through the still air.
"Where do you think you're going, wench!?"
Naosu turned back to face the scowling hanyou. "What business is it of yours, half-breed?"
Inu Yasha's blood began to heat at the smugness of her tone as she stood waiting for his response. "Watch who you are calling a half-breed, Half-breed, or I might just let Naraku have you!"
"And the miko will make use of her choke chain to discipline her bad puppy." Naosu caressed the collar of her haori as she spoke as an indirect gesture to the rosary that could be used to subdue him. Satisfied with the verbal portion of their confrontation, she turned her back to him and continued across the field.
'How dare she,' he thought, as he watched her move away from him. 'She must pay!' He ran at her, claws extended, ready to do damage. The rustling of the long grass made Naosu turn, only to have the wind knocked out of her lungs by the unexpected impact of his fist.
Inu Yasha stepped forward as she stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. "Get up and fight, bitch…" He growled, dropping his voice, "or has sleeping with my brother made you weak?"
'How dare he,' she thought as she climbed to her feet, 'but I will not give him the satisfaction.' Forcing down her anger, Naosu moved closer to him, "Bite your tongue mutt, or I may decide to betray you to Naraku."
"But you won't because then he would win and your precious Sesshomaru would die."
"With Lord Sesshomaru's help, you are expendable."
Kagura strained to hear the conversation but their voices had fallen so low that she couldn't be sure if they were still talking or just staring each other down. 'It really doesn't matter,' she told herself, 'this is my chance.' Seizing on her advantage, the wind witch took to the air.
Naosu's eyes remained locked with Inu Yasha's, waiting for him to initiate the next stage of the plan. She could see the tension mounting in his muscles and braced herself for his attack. Inu Yasha threw himself forward to strike at the defiant woman with the intent of drawing blood, but instead found himself hurled aside by a swirling column of wind. Naosu had told him that they were being watched, in a barely audible whisper, and that they were going to have to make a good show of it. Neither one had expected their observer to make her move so soon.
Naosu found herself helpless as the swirling air lifted her from the field. The bits of dirt and grass that whipped around her stung her exposed flesh, forcing her to clench her eyes shut to protect them. Within seconds she felt the wind die and the softness of Kagura's feather boat beneath her.
As the whirlwind dissipated Inu Yasha jumped to his feet to find himself alone in the empty field, Naosu's scent quickly fading on the breeze. At full speed, he took off into the trees, following the flying feather into the north. Only a few feet into the wood, however, he found himself dangling from the end of the powerful arm of his full-blooded brother, whose one hand held him firmly around the neck.
"You must be more careful whom you are insulting, dear brother, or you may find you do not like the consequences." The tone of Sesshomaru's voice sent a shiver through the helpless hanyou.