Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
A/N: Alright, everyone currently planning my murder for not updating can now cease and desist with their nefarious plotting! Yes, I admit that the wait was long (Bruce: Bloody two months Della!), but setting that aside, I believe it is better to focus on the here and now. So, here is my next chapter, and now you may go on and enjoy it (hopefully).
But before you do, please observe a moment of respect for my wickedly awesome beta, Angel, who is now back and once again cleaning up the mess that is my writing and putting some badly needed polish on my phraseology.
Chapter 27: It's an ill wind that blows…
"Who is it?" Sesshoumaru demanded, sweeping his gaze across the room to see if there was anyone he didn't recognize.
"They, or I should say she, isn't here yet," Kagome replied, her tone short and aggravated.
"She?" Sesshoumaru questioned as he led Kagome off the dance floor and to a secluded corner. 'Then it is not him,' he thought.
"Hai, she," Kagome snarled. "I swear Sesshoumaru, the minute I lay eyes on whoever it is I'm gonna…" She trailed off and the unfocused look of a moment ago returned. "Wait a second, there's something off about her. It's almost as if…"
"How much time do we have?" he asked, trying to bring her back from whatever place she had just drifted off to. "If there's going to be a confrontation, then perhaps we should go to meet her. I'd rather not have a battle at the reception."
"I don't think we need to worry," Kagome said in a thoughtful voice. "The aura doesn't feel angry or violent, just kind of curious…and empty."
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru called, taking her chin and lifting it so she would meet his gaze. "Are you sure?"
"Hai," she replied, nodding slightly.
For a moment, Kagome got lost in the taiyoukai's gaze, marveling at how it seemed to get deeper as he stared at her. Unfortunately, the arrival of their quarry ended it. Tearing her eyes away from the golden ones of Sesshoumaru, she looked over to the door that led out to the gardens where a red eyed demoness had just entered.
"She's over there," Kagome whispered, nodding her head towards the richly dressed woman who was holding an intricately-patterned fan and tucking a white feather into her short ponytail.
Sesshoumaru immediately tucked Kagome behind him. "Stay here," he ordered. "I shall deal with the intruder."
"No, Sesshoumaru please," Kagome pled as she reached out to grasp his hand. "Let me do it? There's something off about her and I think I know a way I can turn this situation in our favor."
Given her previous threatening statement, he wasn't sure that this was a good idea. He knew she was difficult to contain when it was her family at stake. 'She'd probably blow up half the building in anger,' he thought.
"I won't, I promise!" she said in defense against his unspoken thought. Before he could get hung up on her reading his mind again, she continued. "Nothing will be damaged and no one will even know anything is going on; I can do this!" she said desperately.
"As you wish," he sighed.
"Thank you," she squeezed his hand and gave him a quick smile. "Meet me in my room in ten minutes!" she whispered into his ear before slipping away.
'It is a good thing no one heard that last part,' he thought inwardly as he watched Kagome make her way across the room towards Shippou and Micah. He heard her chat for a minute, laugh at the kit's antics, and finally invite the two for a walk.
"Micah, Shippou, are you two interested in taking a turn about the gardens? All that dancing has made me hot," she explained, taking them both by the hand.
A second later Shippou was in his mother's arms. She lightly scratched his back with one hand wile the three of them made their way towards the doors the foreign demoness was standing by. As they passed Kagome let out a small cry and tripped, knocking not only the stranger down, but taking herself and her two companions as well.
There was a brief period where the tangle of limbs was lost in a puff of Shippou's purple smoke, but it was over before anyone could interrupt and offer their assistance.
Sesshoumaru watched as a red-faced Kagome made her apologies to the cool and sneering demoness. The latter simply waved the trio off and sunk back into the shadows amid the snickers of the surrounding crowd.
'How in the name of kami is that going to accomplish anything?' he wondered as he watched Micah and Kagome stroll hand in hand out the door with a quiet Shippou in his mother's free arm.
At the last second, Kagome poked her head back in and glared at him. "Trust me!" she mouthed.
He watched the intruder intently as she circled the room, not engaging anyone in conversation and moving about in a way that made it so practically no one even saw her. After a few laps she exited, and from quickly following her Sesshoumaru realized she was heading for Kagome's room.
At the door was a softly glowing yellow barrier, but she easily slipped through it. Sesshoumaru hesitated momentarily, and followed. Inside he saw Micah and the intruder interrogating Kagome whilst Shippou seemed to be knocked out on the bed.
"Kagome what the hell is going on?" Micah demanded, his face grim.
"Don't swear in from of my son," Kagome snapped back, whacking him on the head.
"Do NOT change the subject!" Micah snarled.
"Yeah Mum, give it up. Who is that chick?" the demoness asked simultaneously, tugging on Kagome's sleeve.
"I seemed to have missed something," Sesshoumaru interrupted, looking at the other three in turn.
"You ain't the only one," Micah muttered.
"Oh! Sorry Sesshoumaru," Kagome answered. "Shippou love, switch back please."
There was yet another large puff of purple smoke and the body on the bed became the intruder's whilst the person tugging Kagome's sleeve turned into Shippou.
"Bleh," the kit huffed. "Good riddance, I hate transforming into girls, it feels so weird!"
"How did you two know what to do?" Sesshoumaru asked, impressed with how seamlessly the three worked together.
"I knew something was up when she said she was hot," Micah explained. "I could feel from her hand that her body is still in its human icepack form."
"And when Mom was scratching my back she was actually writing directions," Shippou added.
"And once Shippou worked his magic, I simply used that same sleeping spell to knock her out while the smoke was still thick enough to hide the light. Then when we were outside, Micah picked me up and leapt through my bathroom window, the same way we got out last night," Kagome finished.
"Indeed," the taiyoukai said with a raised eyebrow. "Most effective. Now, Peters, Shippou, you two will leave and return to the party. Try to keep others from wondering where Kagome and I have gone to."
"Aye, aye!" Shippou saluted. "I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve that can guarantee to have everyone's attention on me," he grinned, rubbing his hands together in anticipation as he scurried from the room, mumbling something which sounded very close to "Grandma is just gonna love this..."
"I believe I instructed you to leave as well, Peters," Sesshoumaru said when Micah didn't budge.
The offending demon wasn't paying attention to the inu, though; he was staring intently at the woman standing in front of him. "Kagome," he began, suddenly taking her face in his hands. "Remember what I said last night, be fair and no handling," he said softly. "Give things a chance."
"I'll try, but no promises," she blushed.
"Good girl," Micah smiled as he kissed her forehead. The sound of cracking knuckles and low growling made it clear it was time for his exit. "And on that note, I'll be leaving," he grinned. "Have fun, you two; I'm going to go make sure Shippou doesn't cause too much mayhem."
"Do you know who she is?" Kagome asked Sesshoumaru, referring to the woman still unconscious on the bed.
"Hai," he replied as he felt the energy in Kagome's barrier increase now that Micah had departed. "Her name is Kagura, and she is the creation of a hanyou named Naraku."
"If she is his creation then it is likely that this Naraku is the source of the taint," she said, eyeing him closely. "It is stronger on her than any other I've come across."
"That is very likely. Naraku has the ability to absorb others into his body to gain strength which would explain why his aura would feel like a 'mishmash,' as your mother put it," he explained.
"I take it you have been after this guy for a while huh?" Her tone wasn't angry, but it wasn't warm either.
"Hai."
"And it was him that you sent Kikyou and Inuyasha to spy on earlier this week?"
Sesshoumaru was reluctant to answer, but rather than drag this on by arguing he decided it was better if he just answered her questions. After all, he was going to need a lot more than just her simple cooperation very soon; best grease the wheels now. "Hai."
Kagome's face became impassive. The colored contacts she wore made her eyes difficult to read, but it didn't matter; Sesshoumaru could feel the hurt his reply had aroused. Feeling the need to try and explain himself, he continued.
"You are very young, Kagome." He began. If anything her expression became more inscrutable, so he took that as a cue to continue. "Gifted though you are, and despite the fact that you have bested me in your little game, you are still relatively inexperienced. I have known you only a few months and it would have been foolish of me to divulge anything regarding Naraku."
She did not reply.
"What was it that you said was odd about her?" he asked, wanting to engage her somehow. "You mentioned beforehand that something felt off. No doubt it is because she is an unnatural creation."
"That's not it at all, Taisho-sama," Kagome finally replied, her tone the respectful and professional one he'd only heard her use at work before. "Now having had personal contact with this demoness I feel I can say with certainty that…"
She stopped at the sound of Kagura stirring. Both she and Sesshoumaru focused their attention on the intruder, their muscles tensing as the demoness came to and sat up.
"My my Sesshoumaru," she said in a mocking voice. "Carrying me off to a distant bedroom with another woman? I didn't think you were the type. Still," she continued, ignoring the growl that came from the taiyoukai, "tempting though this is, I think it's time I made my exit. That was a very clever trick, little miko, but you'll find I'm not so easily held."
In the next instant she made a rapid sweeping gesture with her fan, sending a tornado-like attack straight at Kagome.
Sesshoumaru made to leap in front of her to take the blow but Kagome dove under him, somersaulted and came up in front of the attack. However, instead of being injured she merely held up her own hand an absorbed it.
Sesshoumaru and Kagura stared in shock for a few seconds before the latter adopted what was supposed to a nonchalant smirk. "Impressive," she smiled sardonically.
"You weren't trying very hard," Kagome replied off-handedly. "We both know that was only meant to be a distraction."
"Perhaps. Sadly, I doubt that any of the other guests even noticed," Kagura sighed.
"Even if I hadn't deflected it no one would have known," Kagome explained. She gestured to her softly glowing gold barrier. "This ensures our privacy, even from the being who holds your heart."
The smirk fell from the demoness' face as Sesshoumaru's eyes instantly narrowed.
"So you blocked him out eh?" Kagura snorted, though her paling complexion gave away her anxiety. "Why, so you could kill me in peace?"
Sesshoumaru, who didn't appreciate being left out of the conversation, decided to take matters into his own claws. "If we had meant only to kill you I assure you that your death would have already been accomplished," he said coldly.
"Then perhaps you mean to torture me for information first? Your infamous methods are not unknown to me, Sesshoumaru-sama," she sneered back.
"And yet I find myself unable to say the same about whoever it is you serve."
"You don't really expect me to believe that, do you?" she laughed derisively. "You've been on Naraku's tail for two years now. You were even so kind as to have your little brother and his darling fiancée call on us this week."
Sesshoumaru had expected Kagome to betray some kind of emotion at that comment, but she just stood to the side, still and passive looking. "Are you responsible for their capture, then?" he asked, refocusing his attention on their captive.
"Ha, as if," she snorted. "Naraku is afraid that the tetsusaiga's kaze no kizu would be too effective against my own attacks. No, I along with others merely felt the consequences of his disappointment at their escape."
"And yet you serve him in other ways," he said in his most condescending voice.
"It's like little miss miko over there said; I don't have a choice. He literally holds my heart. The bastard keeps it in a jar with a spell on it so that none but him can touch it. He carries it on him at all times so if I don't do what he says, he makes sure I feel his displeasure."
This last statement was accompanied by the smallest of shudders, but both Kagome and Sesshoumaru caught it.
"So you are not loyal to him, then?" he asked.
"I am loyal to no one," Kagura replied proudly. "I am like the wind, meant to be free and tied to no one."
"It is a lonely life that has no ties at all," Kagome said, surprising the other two with her interruption. Sesshoumaru was beginning to think she wouldn't say anything else.
"Yeah, well, I think after Naraku I can handle a little alone time."
"Isn't there any way your loyalty could be earned?" she asked, still maintaining her impassive expression.
"Don't you mean bought?" Kagura smirked sarcastically.
"No, I meant earned," Kagome explained. "To buy it would imply it has a low value and easy transferability. If I want something, I earn it."
"Why would you even bother?" Kagura asked suspiciously.
"It's like you said," Kagome said simply. "You're like the wind. That means something to me. You may have Naraku's foul taint all over you, but it cannot completely hide your individuality, your own soul. I can feel how it longs to be free, how it needs it, even."
Kagura waved her hand, dismissing Kagome's argument. "You're just playing with words. Besides, I don't know what you think you can do about it."
"Oh I think you'd be surprised by what I can do about it," Kagome smiled as she walked towards the demoness. "Now hold still please, this will no doubt tingle a bit."
Before either demon could question her intentions a green light surrounded Kagome's hands as she placed them on Kagura's sternum. The love of the young miko once again radiated through her surroundings and Sesshoumaru found himself torn between reveling in the sensation and trying to stop the rash girl before she knocked herself out for another twenty-four hours.
He needn't have feared, though; Kagome was soon backing away from Kagura, who dropped to one knee clutching her chest.
"What did you do?" she gasped out in a shocked whisper.
"I gave you a new heart," Kagome replied softly as she began to walk across the room. "I cannot give you complete freedom as long as Naraku still holds your original heart. You can still feel pain, or be weakened by his manipulations, but not so much that you couldn't resist. As long as one heart or the other is intact you will live, and," she added with a poignant stare, "If I get a hold of your first heart I can combine the two to make you stronger and completely free."
"Why did you do it?" Kagura asked in a raw voice. "To make me your ally? I promised you nothing," she finished distrustfully.
A small tear slid down Kagome's face as she smiled and answered. "I did it because you are like the wind. The wind is not meant to be held or contained, and neither are you."
The two demons stared incredulously at her, Sesshoumaru taking special note of how her step seemed to falter ever so slightly as she made her way to a chair.
She smiled at him as she passed; the love she just finished exuding easing the earlier tension between them.
"Hando-san," he asked in a curt tone which he hoped would hide the concern he felt. "Does Shippou require your assistance?"
What he actually meant was, 'Are you alright? Do you need to leave?'
Kagome, catching onto his tactic, smiled and shook her head. "Iei, Taisho-sama. Do you wish for me to check on Jaken-sama?"
What she really meant was, "I'm fine. Do you want me to leave?"
Sesshoumaru stared at her hard for a moment, trying to see if she was in any true discomfort. When he decided she was not in danger of fainting he replied. "That will not be necessary. Now…"
"It's not Kikyou, it's you," Kagura cut in as she got to her feet, still rubbing her chest. A combined look of humor and understanding took over her features.
"Explain yourself," Sesshoumaru commanded.
Kagura hesitated and glanced back and forth between the two, uncertain if it was really safe to start spilling Naraku's secrets.
"You should realize that just because the miko spared you it does not follow that I shall be as generous," he said in a deathly tone.
"You know you are not nearly as personable as the little miko over there, Sesshoumaru-sama," she chided.
"This is your final warning," Sesshoumaru growled with a stony expression of indifference on his face. However, if one looked close enough, his entire being screamed 'defy me and live with the consequences.'
"Fine! No need to get in a temper simply because I stated the obvious. I had no idea you were so sensitive."
The taiyoukai's response was to let his acid begin to flow into his hand and step towards the demoness.
"Alright, alright!" Kagura yelped as she stepped backwards. "I guess if she can give me a new heart then it's relatively safe to assume this barrier thing works the way she says it does."
"Hey, I'm still in the room you know!" Kagome protested. "Just because I sat down doesn't mean I should be forgotten or treated as if I'm not here."
Completely ignoring the miko, Kagura began her explanation.
"Naraku thought that the strange power spreading through Tokyo these past few months was Kikyou. He thought her powers were growing exponentially which is why he attacked when he did. He believed his plans might be jeopardized as it was and he didn't want to risk further delay."
"Why does everybody always mistake me for Kikyou?" Kagome cut in. The tension in Sesshoumaru was setting her on edge and she hoped she could lighten the mood a bit. "Honestly, it's not as if we look alike or anything. Personally, I think she is the spitting image of Ji-san."
Her plan did not work.
Sesshoumaru was looking more annoyed than anything else, and Kagura seemed to be regarding her as if she questioned Kagome's sanity.
"Uh, right," she blushed. "Never mind, please continue; tell us how Naraku knew of Kikyou."
"Naraku met Kikyou four or five years ago," Kagura continued, albeit still wondering about Kagome's odd remark. "He was weakened then, hiding out in a gang of youkai until he could regain the strength he had lost in his search. This gang attacked a young miko, Kikyou of course, not realizing how powerful she was. She purified every single one of them except Naraku, and sent him off to spread the word about her lack of tolerance to those who would be stupid enough to come after her."
As Kagura continued, her tone grew disgusted. "Since then, he has become obsessed with her. He has been patiently plotting to seize all that he desires in one foul swoop. Tsubaki was supposed to assimilate her holy powers, then transfer Inuyasha's demon half into Kikyou's body. Naraku would then absorb Inuyasha's human body and soul, mate Kikyou, and finally go after his ultimate prize with the aid of her and Tsubaki."
During this speech Kagome's temper had been rising to a pitch that caused even Sesshoumaru to glance warily at her. Not only had her miko powers spiked, but she seemed to actually be glowing a bit too.
"Not my Kikyou! I'll never let him get close enough to even smell her scent!" she snarled protectively. Had the situation not been so serious, Sesshoumaru would have been very impressed at the sound.
"He will never stop trying," Kagura replied a little nervously. The holy energy in the room was making her skin tingle, and not in a pleasant way.
"Then he'll be wasting his time, won't he!" This last comment from Kagome was meant as more of a statement of fact rather than a question, and both demons took it that way.
Once again, Sesshoumaru tried to regain control of the conversation. This whole discussion had been like a battle, but with three sides whose allegiance seemed to fluctuate depending on the topic. Furthermore, he could not let things get too bloody before he had all the information he wanted. He walked up to Kagome, put a hand on her shoulder in a calming gesture, and looked to Kagura.
"You mentioned that Naraku has been searching for something. What is it?"
"Power of course," came her cool reply.
"That is not so unusual," the inu responded in an indifferent manner.
"True, power in and of itself is a common enough goal. However, I believe we both know that it is no ordinary power he seeks, Sesshoumaru-sama."
"I am not interested in your beliefs, spawn," he retorted, now bearing down on Kagura as if he would like to snap her in half if she tried to delay any further. "I am interested in what you know."
All of a sudden Kagura clutched her chest and looked wildly at Kagome.
"Don't worry," the young miko chuckled softly. "You heart is supposed to race like that if it senses a threat to your life. It's survival instinct and completely normal."
"I think I'd prefer it if it didn't do that anymore," Kagura said, blanching.
"Then I suggest you remove the threat to your person by telling me what I want to know," growled Sesshoumaru. "My patience wears thin."
Kagura, who was beginning to wonder if Kagome had really done her a favor by growing this new heart, cracked under the imminent threat of the angry taiyoukai.
"Naraku seeks the Shikon Jewel!" she said quickly.
Sesshoumaru had expected this answer. After all, he had spent the last two years researching Naraku and planting false information in the hanyou's way so as to misdirect his efforts. He knew what devastation would be wreaked if that foul excuse for a living being were to get a hold of a power source such as the jewel.
What he did not expect was Kagome's reaction. In less than five seconds after Kagura revealed Naraku's intention the room nearly exploded with energy. Pink and green lights swirled and swelled about the miko and her countenance seemed to flicker with its own radiance. She was up on her feet and the chair she'd been sitting in was knocked over from her haste in standing.
"NEVER!" she bellowed in a voice that was strangely dissimilar to her own. "That fiend shall never be allowed to abuse one of my sisters so!"
As seemed to be the trend when dealing with Kagome, Sesshoumaru was uncertain of what to do. The miko energy flying through the room was already beginning to burn him and it was only more dangerous closer to the source. Then again, if he did nothing, surely even a barrier of her own design would not be able to hide this size of disturbance from the wedding guests below, or anyone in Tokyo for that matter.
'Possible death, or possible mass hysteria,' he thought ruefully to himself. 'Well, this Sesshoumaru should hate to be thought of as an ungracious host, so possible death it is.'
He was banking on the assumption that Kagome wouldn't really purify him. So, trying to appear as if he didn't feel like liquid fire was flowing through his veins, he approached the miko. Slowly, but deliberately.
"Hando," he said firmly and clearly, "cease this display, it is unnecessary."
She turned a looked at him, but for a moment, he almost felt that it was not Kagome gazing angrily at him; she seemed like someone else entirely different. Sesshoumaru once again laid a hand on her shoulder, using every ounce of self control he possessed so he wouldn't wince at the agony of her purification powers.
"Kagome," he whispered into her ear. "That is enough. We will hunt him down and destroy him together, but not now; for now, you must come back to me Kagome."
There was a moment where he wasn't sure he'd made the right choice in approaching her, but then the twinkle he associated with her, and her alone, came back into her eye. The light and miko energy receded and she placed a small, hot hand over his clawed one.
"Arigatou Sesshoumaru," she smiled as she healed the burns she'd caused. "Gomen nasai for…"
"Do not concern yourself," he said gently. "However, you will please behave better from this point forward."
The ghost of a smile on his lips let Kagome know he hadn't meant the latter remark as a rebuke, and she beamed back at him.
Across the room, a slightly singed Kagura stared in disbelief. Not only had Sesshoumaru somehow gained the allegiance and trust the most powerful miko she had ever seen or heard of, but he also seemed to be immune to her purification. He'd shown no sign of pain, and now that she could see clearly again, Kagura saw no burns on his skin. What was more, the little miko seemed to have some kind of affection for the taiyoukai.
'This could either be my salvation or my damnation,' she thought to herself. 'I will have to play this very carefully.'
"Oi, Kagura," Kagome called to the wide-eyed demoness on the other side of the room as she leaned to peer around Sesshoumaru's tall form. "Sorry about that; I've got kind of a bad temper sometimes."
"That," Sesshoumaru said dryly, "is an understatement, Hando."
"Hey!" Kagome pinched his arm hard and tried to look angry. When she got no reaction, she returned her attention to the wind demoness. "I'll heal it if you like, but I don't know what you plan on telling Naraku when you return. Since you've been flying under the radar this past while, perhaps it will be in your better interest in the long run to return home a little roughed up. I believe the right thing to do is be half truthful; you could let him know it's me he's after and not Kikyou, and say that I caught you sneaking around."
Kagura stared at her in disbelief. "You wish me to inform Naraku of your identity?"
"I think you'd better," she replied seriously. "It's going to get out fast that Inuyasha and Kikyou have both been transformed; and that Kikyou has a sister not previously known who is a miko with a strange aura. He's going to find out regardless, and he'll know that those are things you should have learned here today. If you don't tell the truth, he's going to know it and make you pay for it. Am I right?"
Kagura only nodded.
"Well there you have it then," Kagome smiled understandingly. "Tell him enough to let him know it's I and not Kikyou he's going to need in order to go after the Shikon."
She looked to Sesshoumaru for approval and when she saw his cold glare she added a quick addendum.
"That is, if Taisho-sama agrees. This is his territory, not mine."
"I didn't say anything about following your orders which you have so pleasantly masked as advice!" Kagura said in a half suspicious, half determined voice. "You gave me a heart without my asking. Remember what I said little miko, I promised you nothing."
"And I expect nothing," Kagome said calmly. "I really was just spouting ideas."
"Besides which," Sesshoumaru said turning his frigid gaze towards the demoness. "As Hando-san so plainly said, this is my territory. If you wish to leave here alive, I suggest you remember that."
Kagura gulped and nodded.
"You will inform Naraku of Hando's identity and that it was she who successfully transformed Inuyasha and Kikyou into powerful, full-blooded demons. You will further tell him that she and I are not in each other's good graces. I would go so far as to say that we barely tolerate one another, that we have a tendency to become violent when not in the general eye of the public, and that it is only our family which restrains me from killing her."
"Keh," Kagome snorted, "as if I wouldn't kill you first!"
"I'm guessing you want me to explain my absence by saying that I followed the strange miko in here and witnessed an altercation between the two of you?" Kagura asked, ignoring the younger girl's comment.
"Precisely," he nodded. "You may say that we were both so angry at each other that your presence went unnoticed. Furthermore, I think it wise to inform him that Hando-san was once in my employ, but that after a particularly heated argument she quit."
"Is that true?" Kagura asked. "I don't want to feed him lies he will discover later and end up paying for it."
"You bet it's true!" Kagome chortled. "I threw him right through my mother's front window, and then I zapped off the shrine altogether."
"Not before I landed a direct hit on your face, Hando," Sesshoumaru growled. He did not appreciate the impression the miko was giving. "I drew blood, you did not."
"Only because Kikyou was holding me back!" Kagome retorted, becoming a little disgruntled herself.
"There's another thing," Kagura cut in. After having just sampled what the miko's power felt like, she didn't want her riled up again while she was still in the same room. "Won't Naraku notice that I now have a second heart?"
"You said he keeps your original one with him at all times, right?" Kagome asked, letting herself be diverted.
"Yes."
"Then as long as he keeps that one so close, he will be unable to tell because he'll believe whatever he hears or senses is coming from the one he holds. But even so, I suggest you avoid close, personal contact with him anyway."
"As if I don't avoid him like the plague whenever possible already," she snorted.
"Well," Kagome smiled brightly, "I believe that's all for now on my part. Kagura, it was lovely to meet you," she said as she shook the startled wind demoness' hand. "And Taisho-sama, please excuse me. I fear the results of leaving my son with the American for such a long period of time."
"You may go," Sesshoumaru answered, still not appreciative of being referred to as 'Taisho' instead of 'Sesshoumaru.' "I shall return shortly, after I have finished questioning the spawn."
"Well, whatever you do please do me the courtesy of leaving her heart in tact. It's a fairly nice piece of work if you ask me and I'd like not to have it ruined so shortly after finishing it," the young woman teased and she opened the door to leave. "Oh, and the barrier will last another ten minutes."
Kagura did not appreciate the little miko leaving, as she seemed to keep the taiyoukai in check somewhat, and when Sesshoumaru turned to her with a feral glare once Kagome was down the hall, she gulped in fear.
"Remember what the miko said, Sesshoumaru-sama," she attempted to tease. "No destroying my new heart!"
"There are other things I can destroy without damaging your heart, spawn," he growled. "Now, you will tell me what I wish to know without delay or I will remove your flesh a kilogram at a time. Understood?"
Wide-eyed and new heart pounding, Kagura could only nod while attempting to look cool.
"Excellent," the taiyoukai sneered.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
When Kagome returned to the ballroom downstairs an amazing sight met her eyes.
"Oh holy…" she breathed. "Sesshoumaru is so not going to like this!"
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
A/N: So there you are, hopefully not too big of a disappointment for having had to wait that long. So now we know how Naraku fits in (remember how early in the story we learn that Sesshoumaru found Kikyou just after she'd had a run-in with a gang? Well it was the same incident. Duh, duh, duuuuuh!). But yeah, let me know what you think.
On to the spoilers!
-"Hey Mom look," Shippou spouted in a effort to divert her attention from himself. "Miroku and Sango just came back. Hey wait a second, why do they look all messed up? And why are their faces all red? And their lips puffy?"-
-"Oh shit!" Shippou screeched, pointing behind Kagome's shoulder.
"Shippou! What have I told you about swea-" she began as she turned to see what he was looking at. "Oh shit!"-