Hokai's spy had delivered pure gold when he reported his observations on Sesshomaru.
The spy had reported that a priestess had sealed the northern lord in Sesshomaru's domain, ending the war between the west and the north. The northern demon's were fleeing across the country, trying to get away from whatever wrath Sesshomaru had in store for them.
Who did he know who had a talent for sealing demons? Kagome, but she had been under his watchful gaze this whole time whilst in Inuyasha's village, she could not have done it. But after a bit of digging and eavesdropping, it was clear: Lady Kikyo was alive, resurrected as a consequence of the young demon slayer's death, and was now living with Sesshomaru.
Which begged the question, why? Hokai was well aware of her romantic relationship with Inuyasha. And he had never heard of Kikyo and Sesshomaru crossing paths in their pursuit for his brother Naraku. It seemed that now the younger dog was unavailable, she had moved on to the elder.
Inuyasha will love that, Hokai thought.
Seeing a chance too crucial to miss, Hokai abandoned his unsatisfactory caves near Inuyasha's village, and set out for the outskirts of seshomaru's castle. He commanded his spider soldiers to pack up and make their way to Sesshomaru's domain. The half of his underlings that he had sent on his secret mission had still not returned, he had been tempted to follow up on what they were doing, but ultimately decided against it. He had given them a difficult, maybe impossible task, they would need time to complete it.
His spies had informed him where the northern lord was sealed, perhaps observing this sealed demon would provide some ideas on how to destroy Sesshomaru once and for all. With Sesshomaru beaten, the others would fall easily.
The Wicker clan spiders had unusual skills that befitted their skulking ways. The females of the clan could transform their bodies into a humanoid form, this way they could easier attract human prey whilst guarding their precious eggs. The males could change the shape of their bodies at will. In their larger, most natural form, they were more or less the size of a horse, at their smallest they could shrink to the size of a garden variety critter. It made their clan excellent at information gathering and evading attacks. Any human or demon that did notice them in their tinier forms, would think them harmless.
Hokai detested using their shrinking ability, and only did so when it was absolutely necessary. Being so small made him feel vulnerable, and he despised it. But in this situation it could not be helped, Hokai would not willingly traipse into Sesshomaru's domain in his usual gargantuan size, he was bound to be spotted.
Bringing some muscle in case things went awry, Hokai and his posse made their way to the now heavily scarred land outside of Sesshomaru's castle in their smallest form possible. Travelling across such a wide expanse this way was slow, but allowed some caution.
Hokai was alert, poised for any sign of the dog demon, but he did not show.
The vision range on Hokai's eight eyes was not particularly great, but he did not need his eyes to see what was around him and beyond. The hairs on his body could filter movement and objects from the wind, he used these senses to scan the area around him.
He could sense Tsumetai's frozen presence, pinned to a rock and encrusted in ice. There was another, strong demonic force very near to the northern lord's body.
Hokai and his spiders crept as close to the boulder where Tsumtai lay as they dared. A demoness was there and seemed to be attempting to rouse the northern lord. The demonness's form was humanoid, showing she was a high born demon. A dark red star was planted in the centre of her forehead, making her turquoise eyes seem to glow all the more brightly. Deep red hair flowed down her pale shoulders and she was dressed in a fine silk kimono. The demoness circled the imprisoned lord before her with frustration, like he was a puzzle she could not solve.
"...Shall we make contact with the demoness lord Hokai?" one of his soldiers asked with uncertainty. Hokai hushed his clutter of spiders warily, worried this mystery woman would hear them. He watched the demoness's machinations intensely, trying to place her.
"Shhh, speak quietly or she'll hear you! This is not a demoness we should approach lightly," he hissed the instant he recognised her.
Being a paranoid and learned spider demon, Hokai had an impressive knowledge of the high born demons and who they were. He knew the demons in the north were ruled by a family of frost demons, Tsuemtai having usurped the throne and land for himself a few years ago.
A high born water demon called Miya and her daughter Natsu ruled the southernmost area of Japan's mainland. There were also the island lords and ladies who resided even further south.
Sesshomaru and his mother Sora had by far the largest domain amongst the high born demons, but this area was largely neglected by Sesshomaru because of his complete lack of interest, and ignored by Sora who was rumoured to prefer throwing banquets rather than worry about the state of the western lands.
But the eastern lands had been ruled over by three brothers. The brothers had displaced their older sister Mikata from her throne some hundred years before, even though the eastern lands were meant to be inherited by the eldest child. Before MIkata could claim her prize, a violent coup had taken place, and she had been cast out. The brothers had openly claimed to the higher demon community that they had had no choice but to take over, that their sister was crazed, murderous, and that had she been left in a position of power, they feared she would have killed scores of humans and demons alike, all because she enjoyed killing.
These brothers had recently been overthrown by their elder sister Mikata and she had stepped back into her position as Lady of the East. Details about her bloody climb for power were shrouded in mystery. Because not only had Mikata killed her brothers, she had killed her brother's entire court, revenge for subservience to the wrong sovereign.
But now she was here, circling the northern lord…attempting to free him?
There could only be one reason for this, Tsumetai and Mikata were a new alliance in the high born community. They had used their newfound union to gain control of their own respective lands, and now they had banded together to topple Sesshomaru from being Japan's most apex predator.
Mikata and Tsumetai could very well be the best allies in removing Sesshomaru from the picture. But it was risky to approach a demon with a reputation like Mikata's. And Hokai was not fond of taking unnecessary risks. ..But this was a door to defeating Sesshomaru that may close soon and never open again .He had to make a choice, return to his cave and accept the reality that alone he would never be able to conquer Sesshomaru, or take a chance, hope Mikata was not crazed enough to kill him without conversing, and see if he could spin an alliance to crush the dog demon.
Approaching Mikata with a group would be a bad idea, she could interpret a group as a threat and kill them all. Instead, Hokai brought one soldier with him for back up. If Mikata attacked them, Hokai could use his one soldier as fodder and, hopefully, make his escape.
Feeling jittery, Hokai swelled back to his natural size and made his way slowly towards Mikata, keeping his soldier close to him. Now aware that she was not alone, Mikata ceased her circling and watched the spiders advance with a belligerent eye.
Hokai stopped a few metres from the demoness, and gave a knowing gaze. "I know you, you are the sister of the lords of the eastern lands, are you not ?"Hokai said graciously. Like a gentleman addressing a lady.
Mikata gave a mechanical looking smirk. "No. I AM the eastern lady. A tragic accident befell my brothers and now I rule the lands they once claimed as their own" Mikata said proudly, Hokai arranged his features so he looked impressed.
"Congratulations on your new title Lady Mikata. And how convenient for you to have such a family tragedy at the same time as your northern lover here" Hokai said, indicating the half frozen Tsumatai with a clawed leg. It was bold to get straight to the point, but Mikata did not look like a demoness who enjoyed idle chatter.
She did not seem to appreciate his direct attitude either. "What do you want, spider? Tell me quickly, or I will rend you asunder in an instant. It would be good entertainment for me." Mikata snarled threateningly. She withdrew a gold, serrated knife lovingly from her short, crimson coloured kimono, and began to move towards Hokai in a predatory manner.
"Perhaps I can help you free your partner here, for a price," Hokai said quickly. Mikata stopped her ravening tread and stared at Hokai curiously, eyes narrowed.
"What price?" she said.
Hokai decided honesty was the best option with Mikata, he had to appear to be valuable or he would most certainly be killed. "I am interested in tearing Sesshomaru down from his pedestal. If I help you release Tsumetai, you will not kill me, you will allow me and mine to form an alliance with you. Together the three of us will kill Sesshomaru and take his lands for ourselves".
"A priestess sealed my lover to this boulder here, and I can't remove this accursed arrow or wake him, no matter what I try... You can have your alliance if you set him free for me," Mikata agreed reluctantly. Hokai tried to prevent the relief he felt from seeping up and onto his spidery face.
"I know of the priestess that sealed your love here, her name is Kikyo. She's not human, in fact, she has been dead for over fifty years and lives through a counterfeit clay body. There are only two people in Japan who can remove that seal. Kikyo, and her reincarnation, Kagome.
Mikata screwed her face up in exasperation. "So how do we free Tsumetai? I'm not hearing a solution from you spider."
Hokai gazed at Tsumetai's wintry, lifeless form, thinking hard. It was a tall order to have to devise Tsumetai's release within seconds, but his brother's Naraku's enemies all had one thing in common. They were either humans or protected humans, and that made them weak. A sinister plan began to take form in his mind.
"I think there is a way out of this mess. Kikyo is not human, but she was once, and has lingering mortal feelings. We will have to exploit those feelings, push her past her emotional limits. When she was alive, she was a defender of humans, and as such, cannot bear to see vulnerable humans, such as the elderly or children, in pain... Isn't there a village with children nearby? I believe those residing in the village will be of some use to us." Hokai said silkily.
Understanding his meaning, Mikata smiled evilly, showing her pointed fangs.
Kikyo has been given her own designated room in the castle, not far from Rin's own bedroom. It was smaller and plainer than Rin's intricately decorated room, with a plain futon and basic, scrubbed wooden floors. Sesshomaru wondered about offering Kikyo a handful of demons to decorate the room for the priestess, then shook such nonsensical thoughts from his mind. He had made the decision to keep his interactions with the priestess down to a minimum, to avoid any unacceptable feelings from rising up within him.
A difficulty with keeping his distance was that Rin adored Kikyo, and did not seem to want to be away from the priestess. The next morning after breakfast they had both wandered into the castle gardens together, paying no heed to the demonic servants that were busying themselves with repairing the castle. Sesshomaru had followed them, but as his conversations with the priestess were still short and awkward, he made do with hovering nearby like a bodyguard for the two females.
Rin herself was ecstatic about the plan of Kikyo looking after her when Kikyo had mentioned it. "I've always wanted to come back and live with Lord Sesshomaru, now you're here, I'll finally get my wish! We'll have a wonderful time together Lady Kikyo! Could you teach me to gather herbs and plants like you do? Kaede and Kagome were going to show me when they had time, but they never seemed to have any time to spare. Kagome told me that writing and learning my numbers were more important" Rin said happily as she parted the castle grass, looking for any distinctive plants to add to the pile she had already collected.
"Of course Rin, there are plenty of herbs in this region that can heal a myriad of ailments, we'll make a healer out of you yet. I can help you with writing and numbers as well, if that is Kaede's wish, though Kagome may be a better teacher in that regard" Kikyo admitted, kneeling next to Rin.
Sesshomaru had been watching how Kikyo's hair glinted in the sunlight, tiny particles would catch the sun and seemed to sparkle as she turned her head this way and that. He was so distracted he did not immediately notice a vaguely annoying scent getting closer and closer.
"That's certainly enough to start off with Rin, we take these herbs into the kitchens, sort through them and perhaps preserve a few" Kikyo said, brushing dirt off of her red trousers as she got to her feet. Rin smiled happily.
The scent approaching was familiar now. It was Inuyasha. No doubt he was leaping through the trees and fields, covering ground at a vast rate. Perhaps Sesshomaru's castle was already in his sight? Sesshomaru glanced at Kikyo, how would she react if she knew her old flame was nearly at the gates?
Kikyo and Rin were making their way inside, their arms laden with herbs and flowers.
"Inuyasha is coming, his scent is drawing nearer". Sesshomaru told Kikyo's retreating back abruptly.
The girls turned to look at Sesshomaru. For a moment they looked confused, then Kikyo's eyes widened with understanding and shock. Inuyasha was coming!
Kikyo dropped her bundle of plants. She was not prepared to see him, not ready to let him know that she was alive, that she walked this earth yet again.
Rin had told her that Inuyasha and Kagome were married now. Would the knowledge of her existence tear a rift in Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship, like it had done so many times before, even if she had tried to stay away?
Kikyo began pacing the castle grounds like she was in a prison yard, trying to think of a way out of her predicament. Sesshomaru watched Kikyo suspiciously.
"What's the matter, priestess?" he asked. Kikyo stared at him unhappily, her composure had slipped away, leaving raw emotion on her face.
"Nothing! I…it's just… I cannot see Inuyasha right now. Not now, not like this," Kikyo said, wringing her hands.
"Like what?" Sesshomaru snapped.
Kikyo threw her hands up into the air, as if she could not find the words to express how she felt. "Like this! so soon, so unplanned," she finished lamely, looking stricken.
"Are you really running away from my little brother? Whatever could have happened between you to cause such an overreaction" Sesshomaru taunted. He should have been amused by Kikyo's uncharacteristic flapping, but instead found that he was quietly furious. Why should his uncouth younger brother cause such a reaction from a lady as serene as Kikyo? What was it about his brother that she found so appealing? Was it merely history? Or some other connection he did not understand?
Kikyo did not seem to hear his questions. She knelt by Rin, taking the young girl's warm hands in her cold ones. "Rin, if Inuyasha speaks to you, please do not tell him that I am the priestess looking after you".
"If you want…but…wouldn't he be pleased to know your alright Lady Kikyo?" Rin said, looking baffled. Kikyo closed her eyes, as if she wished to hide the torrent of emotions that could be found there. "Yes he would, but I want to tell him myself, in my own time. You understand don't you?" Kikyo said earnestly. Rin did not look like she understood at all, but nodded her head anyway.
Kikyo rifled through the overgrown foliage in the garden, searching for something. "It's here, somewhere. I saw it the day I arrived here", she muttered to herself.
"What, spectre?" Sesshnaru asked nastily, watching her rummage with a distasteful look on his face.
"Dokudami" she said simply, not even bothering to look offended by Sesshomaru's choice of words. Her explanation meant nothing to Sesshomaru, who had no choice but to silently seeth behind her.
Kikyo dug through the undergrowth, careless now of the dirt and mud that stained her hands and clothes. She gave a cry of relief and ripped up some wide, rather sickly looking leaves, holding them aloft in the air triumphantly.
"Fetch me some kindling Rin, and hurry," Kikyo said. Rin disappeared into the castle swiftly, and returned with some thin bits of wood for fires and a chunk of flint.
Kikyo used the sparks from the flint to burn the plant she had found, reinforced with the thin slivers of wood Rin had collected. The Dokudami plant began to smoke, filling the air with an acrid stench. Sesshomaru backed away, his nose felt like it was on fire.
"Have you lost your mind priestess? What are you doing?" Sesshomaru hissed, his golden eyes reduced to slits because of the stinging smoke.
"These leaves dull the senses of demons that rely on smell, such as yourself and Inuyasha. It will allow me to take my leave without Inuyasha following. Then I can talk to him, tell him what I need to...When I am ready" Kikyo said, "I'm sorry Sesshomaru. It will clear quickly. What direction is Inuyasha coming from?" she asked.
Reluctantly, Sesshomaru pointed to the east. Kikyo kissed Rin's cheek and gave Sesshomaru one last sad look before picking up her bow and arrows and heading in the opposite direction of Inuyasha's approach, out towards the former dead zone. Sesshomaru watched her go with a face like lead, the foul leaves burning and billowing behind him.
She still has feelings for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru surmised.
Sesshomaru had hoped that the realisation that Kikyo still had feelings for his brother would make it easier for him to distance himself from her. But his reaction was more drastic than even he had anticipated. In that moment he hated Inuyasha, more than he had ever done so before. All because of the priestess. For the first time in his long life, Sesshomaru's rage was tinged with the ugly jade of jealousy.
Writer's note: I just wanted to say thank you for my reviews and follows! I hope you are all enjoying the story :)