Chapter 8: Kaira's Nest Part 3
Kagome finish putting on the kimono she was forced to wear for Kaira. She really hated it for its design. It was black and red all over, like a bucket of red paint was splashed all over it. She didn't know Kaira had such horrible taste when it came to women's clothing. But she had to do this. She hoped that she will survive this dinner she's having with him.
Masahiro, please hurry! I don't know how much longer I can put up with this guy! Kagome thought as she let out a sigh. Then she heard a knock at the door behind her. She turned and saw a tengu at the entrance. He had long black hair tied up in a topknot and grey eyes. He also wore a black kimono and grey hakamas along with a pair of zori sandals. He had an emotionless face, which reminded her of Sesshomaru. She found out that his name is Iwao when she first encountered him.
"Dinner is ready, miko. Kaira waits for you." Iwao said.
"Hai." Kagome said. Then she followed Iwao to the dining room. Kagome was somewhat nervous on the way to dine with Kaira. Suddenly, she felt a pull nearby. She knew that feeling. A jewel shard was nearby. But she couldn't get to it at the moment. She to endure the meal she was going to have with Kaira. When they were halfway there, Iwao handed her a vile of purple liquid.
"What is this?" Kagome asked, looking at the vile with curiosity.
"It's a potion. Kaira has put some sort of drug that will make you go into heat. So take this before the meal." Iwao said. Then he noticed that Kagome stopped and went stiff at that moment. She could not believe the nerve of that tengu! Trying to mate with her on the first night. She couldn't wait to purify him.
"Okay." Kagome said as she opened the vile and drank it all in one gulp. Her face scrunched up at the horrible taste. It smelled and tasted like vinegar almost.
"I know that it tastes disgusting. But it's the only way to protect you from the drug. It should last for a couple of hours." Iwao said.
"Thank you, Iwao." Kagome said as she stopped and gave him a small bow. She was glad that she had an ally in this horrible place. She remembered the day when he told her that he needed her help.
Flashback:
"Who's there?" Kagome asked when she heard the shoji door open. She saw a male tengu enter the room. He had long black hair that was tied in a topknot and he had grey eyes. He wore a black kimono and a grey hakama along with a pair of zori sandals.
"My name is Iwao." Iwao said.
"What do you want?" Kagome asked. She was being on guard in front of this tengu. But this tengu had a different aura than all the other tengus. It seemed calm, yet worried. What could he be worried about?
"I ask for your help, miko." Iwao said.
"My help?" Kagome asked, her brow arched. She didn't know why this tengu would need her help. There was already one annoying, self centered, over confident, and sinister tengu that wanted her help. Hopefully this one had a real good reason.
"Kaira has imprisoned my sister and I'm unable to free her." Iwao said.
"What do you mean you're unable to?" Kagome asked.
"Kaira has hidden her somewhere in this nest. He promises that if I do everything that he says, she'll remain unharmed. But if I disobey an order,...he'll hurt her." Iwao said. Kagome was shocked at that moment. She couldn't believe that Kaira was actually forcing Iwao to work for him. Her fists clenched at the thought of his sister being tortured. She should have known that Kaira was capable of doing such things. He was just like Naraku.
"Why does he want you to help him?" Kagome asked.
"My sister and I come from a powerful tengu clan that resides in the west. Kaira captured at her most vulnerable moment. Since I'm second strongest to my sister, Kaira decided to use me instead." Iwao said.
"How come he didn't use your sister?" Kagome asked.
"She refused to help him. So I'm forced to work for him." Iwao said. A silence came between Kagome and Iwao. This situation was similar to Sango who has her brother, Kohaku, under the influence of a tainted jewel shard.
"I'll help you. But in return you must help me." Kagome said.
"I will. Thank you, miko." Iwao said as he gave a small bow.
"If you betray me, I will purify you to hell and back." Kagome said with a stern face.
"H-Hai." Iwao said, nervously.
"Good luck, miko." Iwao said when they arrived at the door. He bowed and Kagome nodded. He opened the door and she was surprised at what she saw in the dining room. There was a long line of food that was on the table. It was more than enough to feed an entire village. That food was probably from the village. Kagome felt sick just by looking at it.
"It's a pleasure for you to join me, miko. Please help yourself." Kaira said, giving off a fake smile. Kagome slowly made her way over to the table. She sat down five seats away from him.
"There's something I wish to know, miko." Kaira said, moving closer to her.
"What's that?" Kagome asked.
"Your name. You must have a name. A lovely lady most certainly has a lovely name." Kaira said, smirking as he sat down next to her. Reina felt his presence most disturbing, which it was. He was more annoying than Koga when he keeps asking her to be 'his woman'. She really hated those who would use her for their own benefits.
"It's Miko." Kagome said, blankly.
"Tell me your real name." Kaira said, his brow twitched.
"Miko." Kagome said, blankly.
"Tell me your name, please." Kaira said, starting to get angry.
"It's Miko." Kagome said, blankly.
"TELL ME YOUR REAL NAME RIGHT NOW!" Kaira shouted at Kagome as he stood up with his eyes glowing in darker red. He breathed heavily as he tried to calm himself. This miko was being very stubborn towards him. He didn't know why the girl wouldn't tell him her name. He knew that she must have a beautiful name. Why was she making it so difficult for him?
"It's Miko." Kagome said. Kaira clenched his fists as he quickly sat down.
"Fine then." Kaira said as he sat back down, "So tell me, why are you searching for the shards, miko?"
"It's my duty to collect them." Kagome said.
"There must be some other reason, miko." Kaira said.
"It's my duty. That's all." Kagome said. Kaira sighed at the moment. He knew that this conversation was over.
"How about dessert?" Kaira asked, trying to change the subject.
"I don't like sweets." Kagome said, blankly. Kaira sighed again. He also knew that he was getting nowhere with the miko right now.
"I will escort you to your room, miko." Kaira said as he stood up.
"No, I'll have Iwao escort me." Kagome said.
"How do you know his name, miko?" Kaira asked, his brow arched.
"It's because I asked him." Kagome said.
"Fine." Kaira said as he gritted his teeth. The miko was starting to test his patience. First, she didn't tell him her name and now she won't tell him about her decision. Not to mention she didn't eat anything of the food that was set out. He saw the miko get up and head towards the door.
"Where are you going, miko?" Kaira asked as he stood up.
"To wait for Iwao." Kagome said without looking at him.
"Sit down and wait for him." Kaira said.
"I rather wait by the door for him." Kagome said.
"I said sit...down, miko." Kaira said, pointing his left finger to the ground.
"No." Kagome said, glaring at Kaira. He quickly got up, grabbed both of her wrists, and pinned her against the wall. He stared into the miko's blue eyes. They were more beautiful than the ocean. The eyes lashes that outlined her eyes made her so enchanting. Her pink lips looked so kissable, which made him want to kiss her with passion. She was the definition of temptation. Before he could do anything else to her, he felt a burning pain in his hands. He released the miko's wrists and stepped back. He looked down at his hands and noticed the severed burns on them. He glanced at the miko with hatred in his eyes. The miko was making him go crazy with obsession. He wanted nothing more than to take her and be damned with the consequences. But he realized if he tried, he would be turned to ashes.
"Touch me again like that again and I'll purify your entire reproductive system." Kagome said.
"I didn't expect the dinner would end soon, miko." Iwao said, shocked.
"Sorry, I just couldn't spend another minute with that disgusting tengu." Kagome said as made an "ugh" sound. Iwao could tell that she was really annoyed by Kaira. He couldn't really blame her. There are some demonesses who disliked Kaira as well.
"He was that annoying?" Iwao asked, his brow arched.
"Yes, it was like talking to a lecher who's asking a girl to marry him." Kagome said. When she said that, it reminded her of Miroku. She remembered all those times when Miroku would ask every village girl he ran into to ask if she would bear his children. Then Sango bang her Hiraikotsu. She missed Miroku and Sango. She hoped that they were doing okay.
"Well, I hate to be that girl's shoes." Iwao said.
"Do you wish to find a mate, Iwao?" Kagome asked. Then she saw Iwao stiffen and remained silent for a moment or two before he decided to speak.
"Yeah...I do." Iwao said, blushing.
"What kind of mate?" Kagome asked.
"She has to be kind, caring, tough, and courageous. She will care and love our children. She has to love me for who I am and accept me for what I am." Iwao said, blushing. Suddenly, he went blushed into a deeper shade of red and realized what he had just did. He couldn't believe he told all of this to the Shikon Miko. But he was glad he didn't tell her that he has his sight set on a village girl he met recently. To him, the girl was everything he had told the miko.
"I hope you find her, Iwao." Kagome said.
Meanwhile:
Akari and the women sat in the room where they were being kept. Akari calmed them by telling them how she met the Shikon Miko and her other pack members. The women were surprised that a miko would get along with a demon. The women also told what happened throughout their years in the village.
"Are the male demons in your pack very handsome?" One woman asked.
"Which one are you interested in?" Another asked.
"Well, I…" Akari began to say. Truth be told, she was kind of interested in Hansuke. He is handsome, strong, loyal, caring, intelligent, and very kind. She blushed at the thought of all of Hansuke's qualities. For some strange reason, she felt an attraction towards Hansuke. But was he attracted to her as she was to him? It made her feel troubled at the moment.
"Not telling!" Akari said with cheer. The women were begging her to tell them. For now, she'll keep it to herself.
"Well, I know who Kuri likes." A woman said.
"Who?" Another asked.
"I believe his name is Iwao." Another said.
"But there's no one in our village named Iwao." Another said.
"So who is he, Kuri?" Another asked. Kuri was receiving all kinds of stares when they asked her about who she liked. As she wanted to tell them, she couldn't. She knew that the village will hate her for being in love with a demon.
"It's a secret!" Kuri said.
Outside of Kaira's Nest:
Masahiro and the others arrived at the entrance to Kaira's nest. They waited for Iwao to show up and guide them through the creepy and sinister place. Iwao explained of why he was working with Kaira and reassured them that Reina and Akari were alright. They all let out a sigh of relief. They were beyond worried for both of their comrades.
"So what's the plan, Masahiro?" Akinobu asked as he sat on Masahiro's shoulder.
"Let's meet up with Reina and Akari first. Then we'll formulate a plan." Masahiro said.
"Good plan." Hansuke said.
"I'll lead you to Reina's room." Iwao said. They all ran behind Iwao who lead them to Reina's room.
Kagome sat in her room with nothing to do. She really hated Kaira. After the dinner was shortened, she was sent to her room. She didn't like the kimono she was wearing, so she changed into her miko robes instead. She didn't know where he got such an ugly kimono. She normally liked the blue ones instead because they matched with their eyes. But she liked other colors as well. Then she heard a tap on the door.
"Who is it?" Kagome asked.
"It's me, Iwao." Iwao said through the door.
"Iwao? What are you doing here?" Kagome asked.
"There's something I need to show you." Iwao said.
"What is it?" Kagome asked. She heard the door open and she saw all of the familiar faces.
"Mama!" Shippo and Tomoe said as they embraced her.
"Akinobu! Tomoe!" Kagome said as she hugged them back.
"You're okay!" Tomoe said.
"Of course I am okay. I wouldn't let that overconfident tengu take control of me." Kagome said. When Akinobu (Shippo) and Tomoe released her, she saw Masahiro in front of her. He stared at her for a moment. He looked concerned and relieved at the same time.
"Masahiro?" Kagome asked. Unexpectedly, Masahiro pulled her into his arms. Kagome was shocked as Masahiro tightened his arms around her. She felt him trembling as he held her close to his chest.
"Thank goodness, you're alright." Masahiro said. Kagome could tell that he was worried for her. She rubbed her hands in circles on his back to help calm himself.
"I'm fine, Masahiro." Kagome said.
"I know, Reina." Masahiro said. Then he released her. He was glad that she was alright. He regretted his choice of giving Reina (Kagome) and Akari to Kaira in order to infiltrate his nest. But for now, he was just happy that she's unharmed.
"It's good to know that you're alright, Reina." Hansuke said.
"Thank you, Hansuke." Kagome said.
"Well, now that we found you, what's next?" Shippo asked.
"We have to find Akari, free the women, and escape this prison." Masahiro said.
"But we also need to go after the jewel shard I just sensed." Kagome said.
"Which direction?" Masahiro asked.
"Down that way. But it might be further more down." Kagome said, pointing the way.
"Iwao, find Akari and the women. Then lead everyone out of here. Reina and I will head towards the shard." Masahiro said.
"But, mama..." Akinobu and Tomoe said.
"Don't worry, we'll meet up with you later." Kagome said as she rubbed both of their heads, "I promise."
"Just be careful you two." Hansuke said.
"Hai!" Kagome and Masahiro said at the same time. Reina's pack members nodded their heads in agreement and followed Iwao down the hallway where Akari and the village women were being kept.
"Let's go, Reina." Masahiro said.
"Hai!" Kagome said as she lead the way to the pull of a jewel shard.
End of Part Three
