Title: The Taste of Honey
Author: landofthekwt
Rating : G
Word Count: 504
Prompt: Rejection(Wilted Rose Week 17)
Genre: Kiss offs
Warning: Spoiler for Chapter 173
Summary: Kikyou laces her rejection of Inuyasha's offer of protection with honey.
Her soul collectors had reenergized her false body. She was now back at full strength. The time had come to depart. She was grateful that Inuyasha for saving her from the giant soul collector. If not for him, she would have met her end alone. She was even touched by his claim that her life belonged to him. The bond between them was still strong.
But now it was time to move on. She had already devised a plan for protecting herself from Naraku. Once she was covered with the dirt from Onigumo's cave, neither Naraku nor his incarnations could touch her. Naraku was still bound by the lust which Onigumo had for her and would not be able to harm her once the soil shield was properly applied. With this protection she could waltz into Naraku's castle with impunity. She did not need or want Inuyasha's protection.
Her fight was her own. She had been guardian of the Jewel of Four Souls. Once Naraku had all of the pieces of the Jewel she could send him to hell. Nothing Inuyasha did would make any difference. She could not even protect Inuyasha from Naraku. It would up to him to survive.
She may love him, but her love for him had cost her life once. This time she would proceed on her own without Inuyasha's help. She had been on her own before she met Inuyasha. Now she would face Naraku without fear of reprisal. She would never be so weak that she would need Inuyasha's help again.
She started to leave. A curt dismissal to send him off to his friends before she proceeded on her mission was all he got. She wondered if she had been too harsh. He seemed dumbfounded by her rejection of his offer of protection. The idea that she was going to Naraku's castle without him had made him fear for her safety.
Of all the topics she had raised. Naraku's love for her had raised the most concern in his eyes. It would do to have his jealousy of Narkau cause him to follow her. She needed to be bold. Having a puppy trailing along behind her would prevent her from taking the action she intended to take to place fear in Narkau's heart.
Just before leaving she decided to lace her rejection of his protection with honey. Embracing him, she promised him that no other man but him would ever touch a hair of her head. He ate it up. She was able to leave without any more protestations on his part. He was happy with the sop she had thrown him. She would be able to proceed with her plan without any further interference from her.
Men were simply so easy to manipulate. Both Inuyasha and Naraku could be controlled by their love for her. With a hug and a promise Inuyasha let her go to Naraku's castle by herself. She would not need Inuyasha's protection because Onigumo's love for her would protect from Naraku. She need never fear him again.