(A/N: Sorry, about the long await from the story. Truth is… I wanted to get this all done in a month or so, but I got side-tracked. Sorry again, and enjoy the next chapter. Chapter sixteen! Enjoy, everyone!)


Accursed Meeting

After that little talk with my Onii-chan and murdering my Oni-baba, I decided to tell Kasai about the incident. The incident in where I sneak in the scared ritual tool shrine. He told me…that I was on my own. I don't know what to feel about that. I felt…abandoned. The one person I thought I could trust most in the world had left me, alone, angry, and confused.

Truth be told, that was the last time I had ever talked to Kasai. If he doesn't want to help me, fine. However, he better not get in the way of my revenge. If he does, there will be dire consequences.

I let smirk grace my features. I could use this to my advantage. I just told Kasai that I, Naraku, and Suzaki along with two other people sneak into that forbidden place. He'll help me out, whether he knows it or not, by spreading that news around the village. Since I already locked Onii-chan up, all I have to do is disguise myself as him, and the villagers' will just think 'Naraku' was demoned away.

This plan was perfect! It was so perfect it was a stroke of genius!

The next morning I paid dear, little Suzaki a visit. Why? Simply, if 'Naraku' is 'gone', that means Suzaki is the only one not hit by Oriyshima-sama's curse yet. If I'm going to find my enemy, Tsuskio-chan's murderer, I'm going to need the perfect bait to lure the enemy in. Suzaki just happened to be that bait. Think of it as taking a piece of bread, and throwing it on the ground, waiting for the birds to peck at it. That's what I'm doing with Suzaki. Live bait, I know.

Unfortunately, I didn't get anywhere really with Suzaki. But did learn something a little interested, it seemed Onii-chan already had a talk with her about what happened on the night of the festival.

That sneaky, conniving bastard…! When I told him, he said he knew nothing about people sneaking into the ritual tool shrine. It makes me wonder was Onii-chan really telling me the truth, or…was he lying to me the entire time?

I was still dressed as 'Tanaku', and went to the meeting where the discussing about the curse was about the happened. I went in as the representative for the Monozaki clan. I didn't find out much about who the killer is, but did something intriguing. From what I gathered, I was almost convinced that the murderer was in that room, or the acquaintance to the conspirator. After the meeting, I had asked Hijiro Miyoshi to come by the Monozaki household a little later.

Hijiro Miyoshi is the village leader. He is an old man well into his earlier sixties, but still seemed a little fit for his age. Although he is the village leader, he is not the true leader of the village. My Oni-baba is. Think of Miyoshi as the head representative or figurehead for Harazami. He's the leader above the surface, and Oni-baba was the leader under it…or was until I killed her.

Miyoshi came by just like I asked him to. That was great. We talked and laughed about everything and nothing. Truth is… I asked him to come by because I was kind of unnerved about the people breaking the forbidden getting what they deserved. It kind of shocked me a little as he's like a grandfather figure to the younger folk of the villager. Seeing, that said of him was completely new to me.

He asked about Naraku, and I told him he was awaiting his punishment. He seemed a little afraid of that answer. However, what he said surprised me. He said he'll plead with Oni-baba to let Naraku go. I was so happy. I had someone on my side. But then, he said something he shouldn't have said.

"Yes, Naraku will be forgiven. He won't suffer the same fate as that Itojo wench," Miyoshi said in confirmation. He sounded confident, too.

Did… Did he just say Itojo wench? I felt my blood boil, but kept it under control. Now, wasn't the time to lash out. I needed to be calm, and under control. Yet, I was also confused.

"Wait, wasn't Tsuskio-chan forgiving when Naraku distinguished himself two years back?" I was so confused. I desperately wanted to know. Miyoshi looked as confused as I did, like he didn't know what I was talking about. I reminded him about the three fingers… the fingers I teared up for Kasai, my uncle, and lastly my beloved Tsuskio-chan, which led to my left hand being severed. I managed to get a replacement hand with an old family trick, but that isn't important.

He told me that they were for Kasai and my uncle alright, but the third one was for…Naraku. It was for me, not Tsuskio-chan. I was paralyzed. It felt like my heart collapsed as my whole body was turned into stone. Miyoshi kept talking, but I couldn't hear him anymore. I was too petrified by this revelation. Did you know how much pain I went through? It was incredibly hellish, earth shattering pain. Do you know what it feels like to literally rip your fingers off? It was like falling off a cliff but having your bottom lip caught on a twig, swinging helplessly…waiting for help as the pain increases by the minute. And Miyoshi's telling him I went through all that suffering for nothing?! I endured the pain. I endured it for Tsuskio-chan. I endured it for her…to lift off from the accusation of her family. It was prove of my love for her. Now, I find out it was for nothing?! It was totally pointless?!

I didn't know what happened next. I felt overwhelming rage and hatred overtake me. MY mouth started moving on its own.

"I want to know. Why was Tsuskio-chan demoned away? It's true that her parents were responsible for turning traitor, but what sin had she committed specifically. Why was she cursed? I know! How could I have forgotten? She's the member of the accursed Itojo family, right? That's her crime, right? Anyone who is born a member of the Itojo deserve to be cursed, and demoned away! It doesn't matter what they did! It doesn't matter if they sinned or not… They all deserved to be cursed!"

I was holding my head in agony while laughing maniacally. Miyoshi started to shake with fear. Good! Let him be afraid! At least that fear will help him understand how Tsuskio-chan felt her entire life. I slammed my fist down in irritation as he tried to speak, trying to get me to see the other side of this. I scoffed. What other side? There is no other side. I guess with that, and the look of pure rage on my features successfully shut him up as I continued on with my rant.

"That is utterly ridiculous! Tsuskio-chan's only demoned away because you all wanted it. If doesn't matter who is, if you're an Itojo. If you are in the Itojo family, no one will care what happens to you. According to this village, you are just garbage. A waste of piece. Something that shouldn't even exist! I can't stand that! I can't stomach the pain and suffering people put poor Tsuskio-chan through! WHAT HAS SHE DONE TO DESERVE THIS?! WHAT THE HELL HAS TSUSKIO-CHAN DONE TO DESERVE ANY OF THIS?! Let me tell you, nothing. Tsuskio-chan has done absolutely nothing! Her only sin is being born an Itojo. That is her only crime! Tch, if you can even call that a crime. So, why…? Why was struck by Oriyshima-sama's curse?! WHAT DID SHE EVER DO TO BE PUNISHED LIKE THAT?! HUH?!"

Out of fury, I zapped Miyoshi with my weapon, and he collapsed on the ground…completely unconscious.

Kagome just finished reading the page. She looked up to see the others' reaction in. Inuyasha was growling in irritation, Miroku shook his head…maybe in pity and disappointment, Sango looked somewhat saddened, and Shippo looked a little afraid. Other than that… No one said a thing, and the miko decided to continue on as she turned the page.


(A/N: Once again… Sorry for the long update, but here it is. Done and completed! What a twist, huh? Poor Naraku. Poor Tsuskio. Anyway, please read and review!)