-Chapter Seven-

Deadly Deals

I finally came to in a cozy bed. It was warm and I really didn't feel like showing to the world that I was back yet. Everything seemed to be perfect and simple in the utter blackness with my eyes shut. It took a moment for me to try and think of what had happened to me in the first place. My silver eyes shot wide open and unconsciously a heated blush came to my cheeks as I realized that I had passed out in Tasuki's arms. How humiliating. He was never going to let me live it down.

It was then that I looked around and saw Tasuki's eyes trail from his conversation with Miaka to reach mine. I saw something shine in them, was it concern? No way. But it was gone before I could really think about it and he was already on his way over to me. Miaka smiled and waved while I just huffed and looked away. She was the reason I got into that whole dilemma anyways. Although for some reason it didn't really surprise me.

Tasuki knelt down next to the bed and me, "You feeling better?" He asked. I didn't look at him. I was still looking around noticing that we were well…in the middle of nowhere. Plus Hotohori and Nuriko were talking to Miaka who seemed to need cheering up after my shut down.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I snapped a little quickly. I didn't like the fact that he had been concerned. No one should have been. I was fine. I could handle myself. Who were they kidding? Me, need help, please.

Tasuki seemed to take offense to this, "Well you did get buried alive! And you passed out in my arms and all!" He said raising his voice.

"Who said I wanted your help?!" I said back just as quickly my voice rising too. My eyes burned angrily but I didn't realize that a tear was in the corner of my eye. "You should've stayed with Miaka. It's your duty to protect her not me." I said spitefully. There was a darker uncommon feeling residing there when I thought about this. I decided to dwell on it later.

Tasuki growled in annoyance his eyes starting to burn with fire, "Miaka was fine! You weren't! You scared me to death you baka! And this is all the thanks I get for saving you?! Damn Suzaku created one hell of nuisance when he thought of you!" He yelled. By now our companions were watching us bicker. I didn't have to look over at them to tell.

"Thank you?! Thank you?! I don't think so! I didn't need your help! You're the one that came after me on your own remember?! I don't remember asking for you!" I lied quickly my anger clouding my thoughts.

"Well if you weren't stupid enough ta get yerself caught in that kinda situation then I wouldn't have ta waste my time coming to fucking look for ya!" Tasuki yelled back. He was obviously just as angry as I was.

At this I got extremely angry, "I put myself in that situation?! Is that what you think?!" I yelled throwing off the blanket now and standing. He followed my lead and was now standing too. "If I'm such a bother than I won't stay!!!" I shouted shoving him away from me. "Then you won't have to worry about me being a 'nuisance' anymore! Go protect that baka of a miko!" I shouted now knowing that the tears were stinging my eyes painfully. Why was it that this was hurting my heart so much? I walked past him angry as hell.

I was surprised when he grabbed my arm, "Now wait one second-!" He started.

"NO!" I yelled back. "Don't fucking touch me!" I yelled at him as I yanked my arm painfully away from him and I disappeared into the shadows.

Tasuki was nearly boiling with rage at the fact that Kura had disappeared. Miaka came up behind him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "She'll be back…" She started but he had shrugged her off despicably.

"Do you really think she will?! God you're a baka! She aint commin' back! Why would she?!" He yelled at her as he walked away trying to calm down. He was confused as to why they had fought in the first place which had angered him even more. "Damn women…." He muttered hatefully as he slumped against a tree. He began to maul over what Miaka had said. Would she come back? And if she did….why would she?

I reappeared somewhere in a forest. I knew I had been here before and I walked the ever so common route to the small stream of crystal clear water. I scooped some of it into my hands and splashed it across my face. It was refreshing and it brought a small comforting smile to my face. Afterwards I just sat watching the water rush past me. I was away from everyone again. Good. I yelled at myself. It was what I wanted wasn't it?

This made me scowl because now I wasn't entirely sure 'here' was where I wanted to be. This confused me slightly. Why wouldn't I want to be here? I was alone. I was in a calming forest abound with shadows, which was great for training, and I didn't have to worry about those silly seishi anymore. Plus there was this great little river conveniently located here. I crossed my arms and huffed looking away from my reflection. Who was I arguing with anyways?

'I don't really know, no da. Why are you Kura?' came the reply in my head.

"Stay out of my head Chichiri!" I yelled back bitterly to him. I then frowned and he sighed.

'Can I come, no da?' He asked politely.

I scowled but gave in, "Yes."

It was only moments before he appeared just on the other side of the stream. He was sitting down too and he removed his smiling mask for me to see his real features. He looked at me concerned. "Why are you not with the others no da?" He asked.

I huffed and let my right hand trail in the water. At first he thought I was going to ignore him but finally I replied, "Because….because they're stupid!" I shouted out bitterly to him.

At this Chichiri found great amusement and he chuckled shaking his head. "What gave you that idea, no da?" He asked his voice holding amusement.

I glared at him, which seemed to have no effect, damn. I was gonna have to work on that later. "Well there's that high horse emperor!" I said nodding my head effectively as if making a point. "And that cross dressing freak! He's a man for crying out loud!" I yelled even though the idea of it really hadn't bothered me. At least he had been cheerful on our travels. "Oh-ho-ho and that silly baka no miko!" I said an evil grin coming to my face. "She's just a great girl! Talking of dead people like it's not business and having us all wait hand and foot on her! Plus making that fang boy rescue her when she isn't even in trouble." I added bitterly at the end. "Ugh and fang boy? Don't even get me started on him." I said scowling as I splashed the water.

"So in reality you're jealous, no da?" Chichiri said blatantly.

"W-what?!" I sputtered looking quite offended.

"You're jealous that Miaka has been receiving attention from Tasuki, no da." Chichiri said simply smiling softly at me.

"I am not!" I said indignantly. "Why would I be jealous of that?" I asked.

"You'll have to answer that yourself no da." He said cheerfully.

"Can we talk about something more realistic?" I asked shooting him a glare of 'change the subject or else.'

Chichiri gulped but said, "Well…you are going to come back to the palace aren't you Kura, no da?"

I sighed defeated. There was a good question. I looked back up at him and he wore a hopeful smile on his face. "Yah…" I muttered under my breath. I could already see him doing a happy chibi dance. "But not yet." I added quickly which made him stop dancing and look disappointed.

"When are you going to come back, no da?" He asked sadly.

"I don't know yet…." I replied honestly. The idea of me being jealous of Miaka was still floating in my head. It made me laugh. No way. I thought trying to brush it off but it didn't want to leave. "Well I'm off then." I said running my hands through my hair as I pulled it all back into a low ponytail and it then fell across one shoulder.

"Where are you going, no da?" Chichiri asked interested.

"Kutou." I said nonchalantly.

"What! Why, no da?!" Chichiri shouted shocked and standing up now as I did.

"Well someone needs to retrieve Tamahome." I said with a slight smirk. I then had the shadows start at my feet and swirl around me to disappear.

Where I appeared was a desolate and dim palace. Everything was blue. Blue tile, blue paint, blue curtains. Granted they were different shades of blue but it was still blue none the less. I chuckled a little at that thought. I then looked out one of the windows and saw Tamahome. My eyes narrowed suspiciously at him as I noticed he was speaking with that bastard Nakago. "What could he possibly be doing with him?" I muttered to myself under my breath.

"I could ask you the same exact question." Came a whispery and fluid answer.

I whirled around shocked that I hadn't sensed anyone come up behind me. The man that stood in front of me was taller and obviously well trained. He had pale blue hair that was choppily displayed all over his head while his eyes were a piercing dark blue. His skin was extremely pale and the demeanor that Nakago carried around him. But none of that I cared about. I was concerned with the fact that I still couldn't feel his chi when he was standing right in front of me.

"I know…it's a hard thing to adjust to right? There's no chi." He replied to me as if he could read my thoughts and sense my dilemma.

"No shit." I replied narrowing my eyes at him and acting as if I wasn't surprised at all by this new piece of information. Secretly it was one of the most perplexing things I had ever had to try to comprehend.

"I see your feisty." He chuckled at me.

I rolled my eyes and at the end let them rest back on the figure of Tamahome. I needed to talk to that man and get us the heck out of here before this man tried something weird. His voice was familiar but I blew it off. "Well it was a pleasure talking to you but I have much more important things to deal with." I smirked at him.

Before I could register what happened I found myself pinned to a wall my arms pinned above my head. "My sweet," He cooed. It sent chills down my spine. "There is nothing more important to attend to besides me..." His eyes were only inches from my own. I was trying to gather my composure and think of something to do but he started talking again. "You want to protect your seishi dont you?" He said with a pleasent smile. I just glared and he continued. "You know theres something different about me." He toyed. "I'm powerful and not your ally. That's all you need to know." He said while I just stared at him in disbelief. "I have a proposition my sweet." He said and I could feel his breath roll against my skin like warm water. "You can make this easy or hard but either way you need to die. Now...you could let me kill you now and I wont kill any of your seishi. It will be a blood bond impossible to break even by the gods themselves." He smirked. "Or..." He continued rolling his eyes. "You can be difficult and fight me through this until I have killed every one of your seishi in front of you and then kill you so that you may rejoin them." His voice said coldly but his eyes showed that he was going to have fun with either decision I picked.

I glared at him and shoved him back from me with a hard thrust of my leg. He layed on the ground in laughter. I hovered over him with death in my eyes. "I refuse your offers and when the time comes that I must kill you I hope you understand it was you that brought it upon yourself." I said twirling around and disapearing into shadows. Screw Tamahome.

When Kura had left the man got up from the floor continuing to laugh. His eyes flashed from fluidly water to hard ice. "Foolish girl...I will kill you...and I am going to enjoy it..." He laughed down the halls.

So...no I'm not dead. haha. And look at that! The EVIL character arrives! Lol it only took him seven chapters...haha. The procrastinator...haha seems like we have something in common eh? Lol well let me know what you guys thought of it hm?

Oh and btw Tayk. I got your email and I checked out the picture. Very lovely. It was great and I can't wait to see more of your work!

Until next time!

-miracle