Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. I don't own any of the songs that I put into the story, except on cd's. But I do own Shiori, Miyu & Koshin Hakogami, Kil Kai-another snow demon from feudal times & Aisu-female snow demon from feudal times, they are all mine.
AN: " " is speaking, ' ' is thought
AN: Shiori is still in demon form, so she's walking with her wings.
And thanks to those that read & review, especially to Sesshomaru's Angel, thanks for the great reviews. The reviews mean a lot.
Now on with the show.
Glossary:
youkai-demon
inu-youkai-dog demon
ningen-human
ookami-wolf demon
osuwari-sit
aisu-ice
Chapter 19: Learning a Bit More
After breakfast, everyone started packing up camp to get started on the hunt for more shards. No one spoke of what happened between Shiori and the Great Ice Prince. They felt that she needed some time to cool off.
Shiori, in the mean time, was trying hard not to think about how kissing Sesshomaru might be if he put some effort into it. Every time her mind would wonder down that path, she would shake her head and scowl.
Kagome caught her changing facial expressions. "What's on your mind?" she asked quietly, as the group followed behind Inu Yasha.
"Nothing," Shiori answered, trying, and failing, to sound convincing.
Kagome smiled and nodded her head. "Yeah, I can imagine that six feet, five inches of nothing couldn't possibly distract a girl."
Shiori turned her head and scowled at her cousin.
"Oh, come on," she urged. "You can't tell me that kiss is not on your mind. I know you. So, was it that bad?"
Shiori turned her attention back to the path and said quietly, "No. But I don't think it should have happened."
"Why not?"
"Because, there is no way in Hell that I'm going to allow myself to fall for a stuck up jerk like that. I don't need that in my life, now or ever," Shiori answered with conviction.
"But, what if he needs someone like you in His life?" Kagome asked with a smile.
Shiori just sighed, and saw out of the corner of her eye, Sango walking on the other side of her.
"She could be right, you know," Sango added. "You could be just what he needs to remove that stick from his butt."
Shiori smiled at that. "I don't think there is any being, anywhere on the planet that could remove that stick." This caused the girls to laugh.
"What's so funny, ladies," Miroku asked.
"Nothing, just talking about fluffy," Shiori answered.
"I see, well, I hate to pry but I am going to have to talk to you about these dreams you've been having in order to try to help you stop them," he added sagely.
"Yeah, I know. I'll talk to you about when he make camp tonight. I want the dreams to stop and I want to keep him out of my head," she said, determined for some peace.
Just then, Inu Yasha stopped and sniffed the air, along with Shiori, Shippou and Kirara. Everyone stopped and waited for the hanyou to say something. "I smell Kagura. She's near by."
"Who's Kagura?" Shiori asked, sniffing the air again, locking the scent into memory.
"She's one of Naraku's 'children.' She's a wind witch," Kagome answered her cousin. "She can be trouble."
The Inu group walked to the edge of a clearing and found Kagura there, as if waiting for them. She turned as the group spread out to form a semi-circle, weapons out.
"What do you want, Kagura," Inu Yasha asked, wearily.
"I have come to talk, that is all," Kagura said, coolly.
"Yeah, right. You expect us to believe that load of shit?" Inu Yasha spatted in disbelief, sword already drawn.
"I don't care if you believe me or not, Half-Breed," she spatted back with equal heat. "I am here, none the less to warn you. If you do not wish to hear me out, then I will leave." She turned to leave on one of her feathers, when Kagome spoke.
"What do you have to tell us, Kagura?"
Kagura turned around and gave her full attention to the miko. "I know that he is searching for something, other than the Shikon no Tama, that will help him gain more power than you can imagine." She didn't have to say the name for everyone to know who 'he' was.
"What is he looking for?" Miroku asked.
Kagura was all business. "He still desires the Shikon no Tama, but he is now looking for the key to the Gates of Hell. He already has the spell scroll that will open the gates and give him control over the demons from Hell."
"No, it can't be," came from the Inu group, softly. It was from Shiori.
Miroku and Kagome also knew what this meant and shared in the Guardian's distress.
"I assure you, I'm telling the truth," Kagura said, barely glancing at the youkai-Guardian. "He is, even now, looking for the stone that he needs. The ritual can only be performed on a specific night at a specific time. So you have time even if he finds the stone today."
Shiori nodded her head. Then quietly asked, "What is the other thing that he is looking for?"
"It appears that there is a female snow youkai that has caught his interest. He said that he can sense the power coming off the creature and believes that he can control her and use her power to add to his own," at this time, Kagura was beginning to really 'see' Shiori as if she had see this creature somewhere before. "He will do everything in his power to control her, even force her to be his mate."
Kagome turned worried, frightened eyes on her cousin. She was silently praying that she can protect her cousin from such a terrible fate.
Shiori caught her cousin's look and answered with a hardening of her eyes and will. She was letting Kagome know that she will never fall to the likes of that monster.
Suddenly, while watching the silent conversation between the two women, Kagura realized where she had seen Shiori. "You are the female that Naraku is looking for!"
Shiori turned her gaze to the wind witch, trying to study the woman, and stepped out into the sunlight flooding the meadow, so Kagura can get a better look at her.
"But how can that be?! You smell like a hanyou!!" She was truly confused. 'How can this woman be the one that my master is searching for? She appears to be human, but smells like a hanyou,' she thought.
"That is not for you know," Shiori answered. "How does he know about me?"
"My sister, Kanna, has a mirror that lets her see whatever she wishes. He saw you there, at night, flying around," Kagura answered, still in amazement. "I thought he was just imaging what he saw."
"Well, I'm real and more than I ever appear. Now, I have a question: why are you telling us this?"
Kagura stood straight and proud, "I want to be free of him. I have to do his bidding, no matter what because he literally holds my heart. If I don't he will squeeze it until I'm dead. I don't want to be under his rule any longer."
Shiori watched the wind witch's eyes and said, "So, we are a means to an end. Seems fair, because we could see you the same way."
"I don't care, I just want to be free," Kagura said with strong conviction. She hated being bound to Naraku more than anything in the world. "I want him to die so my sister and I can be free."
Shiori nodded her head. "That I can understand. So, how are you going to help us and how are you going to keep him from finding out?"
"I have my ways. It won't be easy, but I have ways. I just want to know that you can destroy him," Kagura asked.
"I may know of a way, but I have to find someone first and discuss this with them. With her wisdom, I can find a way to stop him, permanently," Shiori growled. She was already thinking of a way she can contact the Goddess, and talk to her.
"When will I be able to find out if you have a plan?" Kagura asked.
"I'll find a way to let you know without tipping off Naraku, or just look for me again. Now, I think that we should part company for now."
"Very well, I hope you can find a way to end this," with that Kagura left on one of her feathers.
Kagome walked up to Shiori and watched Kagura leave. "I guess we have to talk to the Goddess."
"Yes, we do."
AN: And again, I'm so sorry that I have been slacking on updating. I admit that is was because of a bit of writer's block and because I got so caught up in reading the other wonderful stories on this website. How do you guys like it so far? Please read & review. Or I won't write any more!!! just kidding, please review.
I would like to thank my wonderful editor, ninjawarrior4life, my bro. glad you like it.
And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story from the beginning when I first started posting it. And to those who read and like it.
THX to all my readers.
