A balance hanging
Her wrists were sore, her ankles were sore .. those shackles, they hurt but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing.
Kikyou looks at him as he clutches hard on his cup, eyes never leaving hers for a second.
His eyes, she notices are Auburn, almost red in moments like this, moments of madness.
He was mad. After that fateful night, something broke in him. The once cautious, almost coward Naraku was exhibiting a recklessness, a nonchalance that was too foreign to him, a stupidity she must say as to take her, his sister and a good portion of his troops on his journey for negotiations, leaving his capital city susceptable for an inevitable attack, breaching the terms of negotiations with Sesshomaru.
And now on their way to the lands of the wolves, he insists she travel in shackles with him, stay in his own tent against Kanna's advice .. in a brackish intent on humiliating her.
They were back to the square one.
They have both retreated to how they used to be before their wretched familiarity, she became as withdrawn as he distanced himself .. as he became cruel .. and part of Kikyou wonders if all the cruelty he is showing is merely a ploy to convince her .. to convince himself he no longer harbours anything for her.
It wasn't working though.
His shell was already broken, and he was now exposed to her .. and the worst part is she was beginning to pity him, she was beginning to sympathise the way she used to when she was tending to him, nursing him back to health in Shikon instead of vehemently hating him.
It was getting on her nerves .. it made the whole lot of simply hating him for her capture and the terrorising night they had together harder than should be.
Although part of her was also happy she was finally moving out of his domain .. she was marching towards her people even in shackles and that should make her hopeful ... but somehow with Naraku there isn't much hope to expect in the first place and again she was giddy .. all the changes that have come to pass while she was captive, they unnerved her ..Inuyasha, Kaede ... everything ..
She will have to wait for everything to unfold eventually.
All in all, Kagome could say Kagura wasn't that bad.
They had to share a ride, all the women in the entourage and so she along with Sango were forced to deal with Kagura.
It was so tedpid at first and admittedly Kagura had an annoying sense of sass, but eventually they got along.
She was as much a fighter as bith her and Sango were.
But she could sense a rift between her and her brother, a big one. Kagura didn't rever him in any sort. In fact, she might be close enough to call him an enemy as much as they do.
That is why she kept a thin straight line of non chalance when they were talking about him, never negating any atrocity they attributed to him.
But Koga, the wolves leader was an entirely different thing ...
It was almost comical when they met .. with his attention all shifted to her, leaving Inuyasha riling and going up in smoke.
Sesshomaru was almost amused as well by the constant tension his half brother was in and she felt kind of satisfied really, a payback for all the times she felt sidetracked in favour of Kikyo.
Kikyo, an absentee who is always present, always a constant in her life.
But joking aside, Koga had worrisome news, the eyes on the road told him Naraku has gathered troops, he was marching in more numbers than termed and that they should quickly assemble their allies as well.
"I knew the bastard wouldn't keep his word" Inuyasha commented
if there is one thing common between Inuyasha and Koga, it would be their loathe for Naraku
"He is marching in approximately how many?" Sesshomaru asked
"A thousand"
"He must be mad" Miroku said "Such number for a simple endeavor .. we termed a hundred in our negotiations, we even thought that was too much ."
"Koga, how many troops can you gather in this short while from your tribes?"
"A hundred more, but forgive me, they might be skeptical. I mean, they might think you are sacrificing them instead of your troops and they might be reluctant to ..."
"How many can we gather from our nearby station points, Inuyasha?"
"A good few hundreds as well .. if we want to gather half as much as Naraku has, we can do so without as much trouble, no need for skeptics and cowards"
Inuyasha was clearly shading his wolverine counter part, earning him a pointed look from Sessuhomaru and a glare from Koga.
"We will have to call them to arms then, right now"
"Do you think he wants war?"
"No, I don't think so, but we should be careful." Sesshomaru concluded.
They reached the outskirts of the city one day after the date agreed upon, Naraku was travelling slow, intentionally slow and Kikyo doubted this round of negotiation would pass peacefully.
He seemed keen on testing Sesshomaru's patience.
And Kikyo didn't doubt his, but rather Inuyasha's and she had every reason to.
He was more than seething by the time Naraku arrived. Disrespect .. this is what it should be called, arriving after due date, this should be good reason enough to revoke all those negotiations ...
But Sesshomaru will never do and Miroku tended to get along with him on that.
"At least, let us get Kohaku before you decide to go on rampage, please Inuyasha?"
Sesshomaru sent his messenger, now that they should meet ...
Koga had setup his tents already, in between both camps .. Naraku would come in fifty guards along with Kohaku ... and so shall Sesshomaru.
The day had arrived, everybody lined up for the meeting ... Naraku intended on wearing the best of his garbs, riding the best of his horses .. he respected Sesshomaru that much and he felt that much inferior, inferior to him.
Sesshomaru rode along with Inuyasha and Miroku, Kagura was taggimg along on a horse of her own. She was palpably shaken, sad ... Kagome could feel. But she had to go back.
Sesshomaru craned his head towards her, giving her one pointed look and an almost smile, only she could see
"Don't say a word, follow me"
Both parties treaded their way to the centre cautiously until they met face to face on the field
"Lord Sesshomaru" Naraku nodded his head
"Naraku"
Both hostages swapped their sides without a single word .. in the distance stood both spectators holding their breathe ..
Kanna couldn't believe her sister came back to her and Sango ran towards her brother, eyes tearing as he approached her. Finally her nightmare was over, her little boy was back.
"Now that our little swap over has been gotten over without much hussle, allow me to invite you both to our tents to resume the rest of our friendly chat" Koga grunted
Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and Miroku dismounted their horses, followed suite by Naraku and his general Bankotsu
"May I request Lady Kagura be presence at our talk?" Sesshomaru requested
Miroku, Inuyasha ... everybody within hearing distance was taken aback by the unexpected request even Naraku couldn't hide his intrigue, why would lord Sesshomaru possibly ask for such thing.
"Excuse me?" Bankotsu replied
"I was asking if Lady Kagura would join us at our negotiation talks"
"I don't think that is possible nor proper, Lord Sesshomaru"
Sesshomaru looked solemn, before nodding his head, he wasn't fighting Naraku for this, no .. he had plentiful more to fight for.
"Can you at least let her be within hearing distance?"
"That if it could be arranged"
Something in Naraku doubted what Sesshomaru means and that further threw him off balance but no, he will have to doubt himself, he will have to bail on that thought ...
'It can't be ...'
They sat facing each other, Naraku didn't try to show off in front of Sesshomaru, there is the thing, he respected Sesshomaru, looked up to him even .. imagined himself in his shoes, respectable, revered and loved ..he even wondered sometimes what didn't Kikyou fall in love with him instead of Inuyasha? was it the fact he was married? Maybe .. or maybe they were just too strong for each other, anyways they don't change anything, his thoughts .. They don't lessen the pain even, Sesshomaru .. Inuyasha ... Kikyou will never love him.
"You know we come to negotiate Lady Kikyou's release" He cut to the chase, Sesshomaru is his usual no non-sense self.
"Of course, Lord Sesshomaru. I amnot surprised"
"So, what is it that you want Naraku?"
"Lord Sesshomaru, I never said I wanted anything"
Indirectness was really Sesshoamru's bane, and he was so good at being indirect that it got on Sesshomaru's nerves.
But he remained silent, stoic .. waiting for Narakku to list his price
Only Inuyasha couldn't remain as patient.
"So, you are holding her captive for sport. Naraku, get this done with, otherwise I swear to g.."
Sesshomaru glanced towards Miroku who seemed to take his cue, nudging Inuyasha slightly so he would understand it was time to stop.
Luckily, he seemed to understand.
Naraku made a point not to respond to Inuyasha, I would rile him more and indeed it did. Inuyasha was eyeing him with all sorts of contempt, of deridance and abjectness.
But if it made him angry, he was too good at concealing it.
"Naraku, In the end, it maybe inevitable to forsake lady Kikyou to us. Let's make it sooner than later for all our sakes."
Naraku recognised this as a thinly veiled threat on Sesshomaru's part and an offer for him as well.
As for the threat, he wouldn't bother, as long as he has what they want, they will tolerate him so mostly their threats are empty.
As for the offer ... his was far fetched
"Do you have a preposition lord Sesshomaru? From the manner of your speech, it sounds you have something on mind."
"I do have, if you are willing to listen"
"I wouldn't be here, if not"
"How about an alliance of sorts?"
Naraku couldn't deny it sounded appealing ..
"What kind of alliance?"
"A general one .. economical, political and military. We can offer you aid in fending off Rasetsu, we could open all our blocked ways to trade .. Plenty of things if you are open to it"
"Sounds appealling but ... the sovergnity"
"You remain lord of your region, King of your land with as much autonomy as could be provided ... "
"And why should I accept this?"
"Think about the benefits we can both reap, and the enemy at the door"
"That is all that it is?"
"Actually No, we still have more to offer"
"If you need a ransom of sorts for the lady Kikyou, we can negotiate this .."
"You speak to me like I am a worthless Bandit, Lord Sesshomaru .. It isn't the money that I seek"
Sesshomaru knew Naraku loved money and did all that it is to obtain it, but somehow he seemed sincere in his objection .. this really isn't about money to Naraku.
"Very well then .. "
"Your offer is appealing, although it needs much time and more details to be approached"
"But preliminary, are willing to consider it?"
"I must otherwise I'd be out of my mind, wouldn't I? but tell me, lord Sesshomaru, all this for the Lady Kikyou"
"The lady Kikyou has always been a harbinger of peace and prosperity between regions. I think she would be extremely happy her release woud bring our alliance to existence"
"What if i said no? What if I want something more?"
"Like what?"
"Shikon for an instance, what if I want to add Shikon to my soverignty, my territory?"
Sesshomaru mustered all his might not to show any sign of his internal fury ... this isn't getting easier, on the contrary, it is getting harder.
"I have no authority to hand over Shikon to you. this choice is lady Kikyou's to make"
"But it is under your soverignty"
"By mutual agreement between our houses, it doesn't give me authority however to make such choice on the people's behalf, on Kikyou's behalf"
"What if she says yes?"
"She won't .."
"you are too confident"
"I just know her well."
This statement made his boil, everybody seemed to know Kikyou better thatn himself. He knew her, didn't he? He knew her as well, better than all of them. Kikyou maybe honorable, kind and selfless but she was human as well, Kikyou was no saint. She wanted to be priortirised over territory, over power and land ... even when she doesnt voice it loud, even when she vehemently denies it, somewhere in her soul she was craving ...
it doesn't matter.
Maybe it is him who really doesn't know her at all.
"Is there anything more you wish to offer Lord Sesshomaru?"
"There is .."
Naraku couldn't think he possibly had anything more to offer but Sesshomaru managed to surprise him when he said
"If you should consider our former offer, I would like to strengthen our ties further by asking Kagura's Hand in Marriage"
The entire place fell silent.