Chapter 3- A Foot in the Door-Naraku's Sinister Plot to break up the Demon Council!
"Well I think I will-" Kagome began.
"Look Kagome I…" Inuyasha interrupted.
"You what?"
"I'm…I'm sorry." He whispered.
"Let's just put it behind us."
"Fine." Inuyasha said not missing her monotone voice.
-x-
"My lovely Sango how kind it was of you to invite me with you. Now if only you would bare my-"
"PERVERT!" Sango yelled smacking him.
They had just arrived in the village. Old Kaede walked over to greet them.
"Miroku, Sango, what are ye doing back without Inuyasha and Kagome?"
"Those two still have not spoken to each other past a handful of words. We hope the alone time might bring them around. Although, Kagome is rather determined." Sango informed her.
"Ah I see. Well ye are welcome to stay as long as needed. Those two are so stubborn this may take a long while to mend."
"I don't doubt that." Miroku answered.
-x-
Hours had passed and still the uneasy truce continued. Dusk was fast approaching.
"I'm going to go to bed early. See you in the morning." Kagome said.
"Goodnight."
Kagome awoke two hours later a bit startled. She had sensed something that had woken her. Sitting up she gasped.
'Oh great, I'm all alone!' She thought frantically.
Not ten feet from her was a giant…Inu-demon?
'I thought all Inu-demons in the western lands were silver…white…with magenta markings…'
Then curiosity took over. Kagome knew she should be paralyzed by fear, but the demon in front of her was beautiful. It was ebony black with deep indigo markings. It had piercing red eyes of a demon in true form. It approached her and Kagome struggled to keep her composure. It sniffed the air near her and then in a split second disappeared. A moment later Inuyasha came back into their camp.
'Did…it leave because of Inuyasha's return? Why would that be?'
"Everything alright here?"
"Yeah…strange dream." Kagome explained lying down again.
"Wait, why are you here Inuyasha?"
"I…well I'm not gonna leave you here alone all night." Inuyasha responded. Kikyo had not been happy about him returning early he thought to himself with a sigh.
"Don't do me any favors Inuyasha."
"I thought we were gonna put this behind us!"
"I was surprised to see you is all, and I can take care of myself." Kagome said with less confidence than she felt. What if that demon had attacked her?
At midday Sango and Miroku returned to the group with high hopes.
"Good morning!" Sango said with a cheerful smile.
"Morning, how are Shippou and Kaede?" Kagome asked.
"Fine, just fine. No need to worry Lady Kagome." Miroku answered, walking up with a fresh handprint on his cheek.
"How was the night here guys?"
"No problems." Kagome answered smirking at the ever persistent monk.
"You guys ready?" Inuyasha asked.
"I heard a rumor Naraku may be west of here. Let's head that way." Sango said.
-x-
It had been a week since Kagome had returned to the feudal era. Her mother sighed. It was May now. Kagome's birthday was in about a month. The pressure, the urgency, to talk to her daughter was growing as was the guilt.
'How can I tell her? After all these years…'
Her mother, Mikomi sighed for the thousandth time when Kagome's grandfather entered the kitchen.
"Worrying will not make Kagome return quicker nor will it make this any easier."
"I know, Dad. How can I tell her? What if she hates me for it?"
"Kagome has been going to the feudal era for three years. What she has seen we have only read in books. We can only guess at what she has gone through. She may be stronger than you think Mikomi. You are her mother, and that will never change. Kagome has a big heart, she will not hate you."
"Maybe…"
"My daughter, have faith." He said with a loving smile.
-x-
Kagome's thoughts ran rampant in her mind. 'Was it a dream?' The picture of the large demon formed again and again. 'Maybe I've finally lost it!'
"Kagome, would you stop daydreaming! Stay alert." Inuyasha's harsh voice broke into her thoughts. As she was about to fall over a tree root, he caught her.
"Sorry…" She said with a light blush at her clumsiness.
-x-
"I have come to make you an offer." Said a deep voice in the woods.
"And I am to trust someone who's face I cannot see?" said Lord Koumori.
When Inuyasha had defeated Taigokumaru, the leader of the bat demon clan, Koumori had risen to the challenge of being leader. Since then the tribe and the nearby village had lived peacefully like in the days of Shiori's father. Shiori and her mother had finally been given the chance to have a peaceful life.
"Lord Koumori, is it not? The next meeting of the Demon Council fast approaches."
"Who wants to know? Show yourself!"
"Very well. Now will you listen to my proposal?"
"Why do you hide in the skin of a baboon?"
"A precaution of course. Is that not what the barrier of the bat demons used to be? A defense?"
"Yes, we were a force to be reckoned with. We still are. Do not think lack of the impenetrable barrier has made us fools."
"And what if I told you I could give you your barrier back?"
"How?"
"Shards of the Shikon Jewel. Even a single shard…"
"I know the tale of the Jewel. But why offer it to me?"
"Nothing is free. Do you remember a certain hanyou from one year and half ago?"
"The one who killed Taigokumaru? Sure. What was his name again?"
"Inuyasha. His name is Inuyasha, and I want him dead."
"If he was strong enough to kill Taigoku-"
"I understand your concern, however I shall give you the Jewel first. Just imagine the praise you would receive for killing the infamous half demon. I might also add that as the half brother of Lord Sesshoumaru he is next in line as heir to the Western Lands. With him out of the way, and Sesshoumaru's impending hearing with the council, the Western Lands may be up for grabs."
"And what do you get out of all this?"
"Watching Inuyasha finally die…and finally claiming what should have been mine long ago. A priestess named Kikyo."
"Well then…you have an accord…?"
"Naraku."
"Thank you for the information and the shard, Naraku. You shall see the head of the half demon."
"No thank you, Lord Koumori."
-x-
"Milord, as your assistant, I felt I should inform you as this lunar cycle comes to a close, we have only one left and then the council must meet before the following new moon."
"I am aware of that, thank you. You may go."
The young woman bowed and walked swiftly away. He began to address eight letters. One to each member of the council: Lord Ginkouzetsu of the Northern Lands, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, Lord Kyoukan of the Eastern Lands, Lord Keibou of the Southern Lands, Lord Koumori of the demon bat clan, Lord Itazura of the kitsune clan, Lord Koga of the wolf clan, and Lord Kuromeru of the panther demon clan. The letter read:
Dear Lords of the Demon Council,
The time draws near for us to meet once again. For now I simply want to alert you to watch for my call. I am aware that this is to be my last term as leader of the council and keeper of the demon archives. My years are catching up with me. I will be paying each of you a visit soon, as is my duty. A curiosity has been brought to my attention. A possibility thought long dead. Watch lords. Watch for the Lunar Eclipse of the Full Moon! We have much to discuss if I am correct.
Till I speak with you again,
Saiki Higurashi- Leader of the Council
-x-
Several days had passed and still no sign of Naraku.
"Why don't we give it a rest?" Kagome asked, tired.
"I agree wasting needless energy will do us no good." Miroku added.
"Fine…only for a day or two." Inuyasha said reluctantly.
"Kagome!" Shippou yelled upon their entry into the village.
"I've missed you Shippou. Are you being helpful to the village and Kaede?" Kagome asked.
"I sure am!" Shippou beamed.
"I need to return to my time ok? I will see you in two days."
"Promise?!" Shippou asked her, trying to be strong.
"Of course Shippou."
-x-
"Welcome home Kagome."
"Thanks Grandpa."
"How goes your travels my dear?"
"I don't know. Something odd happened this time."
"I trust you will find a solution."
"Yeah…."
Kagome headed up to her room planning on a hot bath. 'Wonder what his deal is today? Normally he doesn't ask me much about it…' Her train of thought stopped when she saw her mom waiting for her in her room.
"Mom? What are you doing in my room?"
Her mother smiled a sad smile while holding an old photograph in her hand.
"Kagome…I had hoped that this day would never come. I must tell you something Dear. Something that may change everything."
-x-
A/N- Sorry this Chapter isn't longer, I was planning for it to be but it took me a long time to put this together the way I wanted it to be. My next update should be sometime this weekend, if not tomorrow. If you're curious, I looked up Japanese translations to get my names-here is what they mean.
Koumori-Bat
Itazura-Mischief
Kyoukan-Ferocity
Kuromeru-Black
Ginkouzetsu-Silver-tongue
Keibou-Strong-one
Saiki-Wisdom
Mikomi-Hope