Winner Takes All
Light Surrounding You
Disclaimer: I know, nothing!!! I own nothing!!!!
Soz guys, I kinda fell out of this story but now I'm back and ready for action! Also, I was wondering whether I should make it sess/kag or inu/kag. Some tips please? Oh! and does the summary sound better?
- scene change
Thoughts/flashbacks
"speech"
PREVIOUSLY:
If only I hadn't been sold to Kikyou! Why did my family have to be poor? Didn't they love me? All I can remember is being given to Kikyou and Kaede when I was old enough to walk. I can't remember anything before that. Now that Kaede went away, Kikyo controls me. I have to leave, as soon as I return to my room, I'll leave, claiming I'm going to become a wondering miko. I wonder what she'll think of that? Kagome thought and looked up. She'd arrived.
But she never would return to that room.
NOW
"Kagome, come in." Sneered Kikyou. She flicked her hair out of her face as she turned around at the sound of Kagome opening the door.
Kagome entered hesitantly but as calm as death. I'm not afraid of Kikyou, I'm not afraid of her Kagome repeated in her head. She closed the door quietly and seated herself in front of Kikyou, keeping her eyes averted.
"Kagome, have you heard of the four lords of Japan? The Eastern, Western, Northern and Sourthern Lords?" Kikyou asked, staring intently at the girl opposite's face.
"Of course, the eastern lands are ruled by Lord Kouga, western by Lord Sesshoumaru, Northern by Lord Inuyasha and Southern by Naraku. Why do you ask Kikyou?" Kagome replied nonchalantly.
"Well, I have informed them off a challenge, to each of the four lords, about a certain Shikon no tama, you also know what that is." Kikyou said.
"Yes, it's a –
"That wasn't a question. Anyway, the object of the challenge is to find the Temple of Defi, where the Shikon no Tama is kept. The first to arrive there receives the Shikon no tama." Kikyou stated. "When the first lord gets there, he'll have to make a wish quickly – lest another lord comes and fights him for it."
"Why are you telling me this?" Kagome asked, genuinely curious. "And how does this benefit you?" she asked suspiciously. Kikyou had never, ever done anything that doesn't require something in return.
"Can't I ever do something for the fun of it? Besides, it's boring just sitting here, doing nothing but practice archery and improve one's miko powers." Kikyou replied haughtly. "Although some of us have no real miko powers to practice." She said with a pointed look at Kagome.
"Ok, that answers my second question, now what about the first? Why are you telling me this?" Kagome asked, getting frustrated by Kikyou's attitude.
"Because you're going to play too. You're going to help each Lord find the Shikon no tama, with equal amounts of time with each lord. The winner, not only gets the jewel, but you." Kikyou said haughtily.
"I'm not property!!" Kagome screamed as she leapt up, pointing her finger at Kikyou. "You can't just use me as a prize in your stupid game! What do you think I am? No way in hell!"
"Your forgetting that your parents sold you to me. I can do whatever I want with you. You also forget that I know your secret." Kikyou said. (AN: soz guys, that sounds really corny but is necessary.)
Kagome stared at Kikyou in horror, mouth agape. "Who told you?" she chocked out.
"You honestly think I wouldn't find out?" She hissed. Staring with malice intent, looking more and more like a predator cornering it's prey. "You will do as I say. Now get out of my site."
Kagome was in a state of turmoil. Hate. Shock. But mostly a burning anger at the girl now dismissing her. Kagome stood up, hands clenched so tight, her fingernails drew blood. She turned around and walked agitatedly out of the room. She felt if she stayed in the room any longer, she'd kill her.
This hadn't gone unnoticed to Kikyou. As the little 'talk' had proceeded, Kagome's aura had become darker with hate, her power expanding until she glowed a dark magenta. Kikyou knew she needed to get away from Kagome, as she might not have defeated the anger-fuelled miko.
Kagome stormed her way down the hall, sparks of violet seemed to shoot out from her. I cannot believe she can do this! She reached her room. She grabbed a vase off her dresser and threw it across the room. Venting her pent up anger she proceeded to throw around every object that she could. After a while her aura turned pure pink and finally exhausted, she threw herself onto the bed, her eyes starting prick with tears. A single tear slid down her face, followed quickly by another. Before long, tears were streaming down her face. She tilted her head in the dying light of the day to see her single photo of her family. She could only recall one memory, she had only been very young when she was forced into Kikyou's and Kaede's miko school.
FLASHBACK
"Mother! Come look at this! "a little girl of two exclaimed.
"What is it Kagome, dear?" a woman of around twenty asked, the girl, wiping her hands on her apron as she walked out of the house.
"Mother! Look!" the girl exclaimed. She took her toy bow and arrow and fired at the target at the end of the garden. As she fired, the arrow was surrounded by a brilliant pink light, it expanded as the arrow traveled, filling up the garden with the surreal light.
Kagome's mother gasped. For more then nine generations, since Midoriko herself, there hadn't been a single drop of miko talent in her family.
"Isn't it pretty mummy? Let's show daddy!" Kagome said bouncing up and down with glee.
"Ok sweety." The woman said as they walked into the house.
END FLASHBACK
The tears had dried on her face as she slowly fell asleep.
Meanwhile, the northern and eastern kingdoms were marching to battle. At the head of the eastern army was Kouga, the wolf demon. Leading the northern kingdom was Inuyasha, the inu-hanyou. The two armies met on a deserted plain.
At the sight of each other, Kouga and Inuyasha started the verbal battle of insults, this continued for ten minutes until both armies were thoroughly bored.
"Dog-breath! You couldn't hit me if you tried!"
"Bastard! If I did hit you, you wouldn't survive!"
"Watch your language mutt, there are ladies present, one of which is you!"
"ENOUGH!!!!" the two armies cried, Sango putting her hand over Inuyasha's mouth as Ginta and Hakkaku tackled Kouga, leaving him with a mouthful of dirt – effectively shutting him up.
"Let's defeat these demons and be done with!" Sango shouted at the eastern army, as Ginta and Hakkaku glared at her.
With the traditional "Charge!" sounding from Miroku and Ginta, the two armies surged forward.
Between these two armies, this would be battle 56
Naraku and his band were currently headed towards Sesshoumaru's castle. As they arrived, they split up to find the Tai-youkai. Kanna and Kagura went to the front gates to distract the guards while the rest infiltrated the castle.
Kagura walked up holding Kanna's hand, as if they were real sisters, and walked up to the western land's guards.
"Halt! Who goes there?" one of them exclaimed, dressed in the traditional white armor with two purple stripes on the sleeves and legs.
"Don't worry, it's just me and my sister, two humble villages from down yonder," Kagura stated, bowing meekly before the guards. Whipping her fan up to her mouth she suppressed a snort as the guards relaxed and started to look her up and down.
"What is it that you want? We have no time for petty village-beggars such as you." An arrogant guard scorned.
"We only wished to see the brave soldiers that fight for our Lord, Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagura said, giving a flirtatious look while mentally throwing up.
"Fine, you've looked, now go." Said one of the guards cockily, practically preening himself at Kagura's words.
"But sir's! My little sister just wanted your autograph." Kagura said. I can't believe Naraku came up with this. There's no way their gonna buy it.
"Ok, one quick autograph." They said.
Then again…. Kagura thought they are arrogant pricks.
"Quickly Kanna, where's that scroll you had?" Kagura asked when –
"Wait a second! I know you two! You're Naraku's servants Kagura the wind demon and Kanna." One of the guards exclaimed.
"Oh, so you finally noticed." Kagura said as Kanna brought out her mirror, racing it to just under her chin, the guards stared at it stupidly, with a flash of the mirror the souls of the guards were extracted and sucked into the mirror.
sigh "What a bore, not even a challenge" Kagura said with a bored expression, taping her closed fan against her chin. "Maybe I'll be allowed a little fun later…" she said as they swept into the courtyard.
Sesshoumaru heard the guards exclamations of surprise long before Jaken came to inform him of the invading party.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Naraku's army has infiltrated the palace!" Jaken exclaimed, running into the room and falling down in his hurry to kneel in front of the youkai.
"You think this Sesshoumaru didn't already know of this?" Sesshoumaru said, turning his cold eyes to look at the pathetic toad sprawled on the floor in front of his feet.
"N-n-no Sesshoumaru-sama! Of course not! I-i-i just thought…" Jaken stammered but was suddenly interrupted by a crash outside the room.
Just then, a tall figure entered the room, cloaked in a baboon skin.
"Sesshoumaru. You may need to think about hiring a few more guards, they were a little rude to us on the way in, so we killed them." He said, evil lacing his words.
Sesshoumaru looked at him with his usual, bored-blank-cold expression. "Leave now. I have no interest with you."
"Oh Sesshoumaru, after we've traveled all this way, you're not going to even invite us to dinner?" Naraku chuckled.
"Why would I let a filthy hanyou such as yourself stay here longer then necessary?" Sesshoumaru stated.
"I was just wondering if you'd heard my proposal." Naraku stated. Kagura, Kanna and the other servants of Naraku had all arrived and stood behind him.
Sesshoumaru gave him a cold glare, he hated being 'left in the dark' as he was now. He turned his glare to his servant, still cowering on the floor, yet he had changed his position to being behind Sesshoumaru, hidden away from Naraku.
"The message wasn't received." Sesshoumaru stated.
"It was to inform you of a new possible alliance between our two kingdom's." Naraku said.
"This Sesshoumaru makes no alliance with hanyou's." the youkai replied. "Leave. Now." He said and turned away, dismissing the lot of them.
"As you wish–" Naraku started but was interrupted.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" a young voice called out. "Sesshoumaru-sama, please help me!" a girl cried as she was dragged into the room by Bankotsu.
"Such a nice little girl, isn't she? She was so helpful to point out where you were." Bankotsu smirked, holding up the kicking and screaming girl.
"Rin you baka! What are you doi–" Jaken cried but was stopped by Sesshoumaru.
"Rin." He said to her. "Calm down. Let her go." He warned.
"This time we will, but she might not be so lucky next time." Naraku warned. He threw her towards Sesshoumaru and walked out of the room, and back towards the southern kingdom.
"Jaken, take Rin to her room. Then report back to me." Sesshoumaru said, in his usual, monotone.
"Hai! Sesshoumaru-sama! But what of Naraku? What if he comes back? Is it wise to just let them go?" Jaken asked.
Sesshoumaru gave him a cold glare and said "Are you questioning this Sesshoumaru?"
"Of course not Sesshoumaru-sama! This loyal, unworthy servant would never do such a thing!.." said Jaken and continued to ramble on about the youkai's greatness and his own humbleness.
"Jaken. Go." Seshoumaru stated, giving his infamous death stare and turned his back on the two small figures. He proceeded to walk into his study and lock the door, Searching for peace and quiet as he read the reports of his kingdom's status.
The next morning Sesshoumaru woke up and after doing his usual morning routine – i.e., get up, have breakfast, half-hour training session and shower – he walked over to his study desk and was about to start some of the mountains of paperwork he had when he spotted a small, cream envelope in the centre of his desk. He picked it up and found it addressed to himself, on the back the miko's guild's seal was found. It was a purple stamp with a star in the centre, with an arrow piercing through it. He shredded the side of the envelope with a claw and unfolded it. It read:
Lords,
Tomorrow starts the race and the fight that will determine who will win the Shikon no Tama and the most powerful Miko in existence. If you are interested, meet at the Shrine of Shikon outside the miko's guild for further instructions.
Prepare the best people in your service and have them accompany you.
Be there by sunset tomorrow.
He raised an eyebrow at this and laid the letter back on the desk. He had heard of the Shikon no Tama before, and had been currently undergoing a detailed search to find it. This seemed to be the perfect opportunity. He wouldn't need to bring anyone with him except Rin and Jaken. He didn't trust Rin to stay in the palace all by herself for who knows how long and he didn't want the bother of looking after her while searching, therefore, the need to bring Jaken. He called in the previously mentioned toad and told him of his plans. This could be interesting.
A/N: I decided I'm going to stop here for now and write another chap soon. I've been working a lot throughout the holidays but will try to update again soon (after I go for my L's, wish me luck!!! Going sometime before the end of the holidays). Cya!