DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.

01/11/2020 Looks like this chapter didn't upload correctly the first time, so I'm trying this again.


Chapter 11

The path beneath the temple was cold as death and near as dark. The guards' lanterns did little to relieve the gloom. Kagome's feet were lost in the shadows. If it wasn't for the frozen rope strung along the wall they'd have all lost their way long ago.

She threaded her way forwards, drawing her cloak tighter against the chill. A precious few feet stood between her and the gaping chasm below. Her eyes remained fixed on the trail. She'd chosen this path. She just prayed she had the courage to stick to it.

Her feet had other plans. She squeaked as they slid in opposite directions across a frozen puddle.

"Avatar!"

Miroku caught her before she slipped off the trail. He whisked her back onto her feet. She thanked him with a wheeze. Her eyes still flicked towards his hands.

He peered down over her shoulder. His face was remarkably sincere. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm... " She gave another wheeze. "Good. Thanks." She tugged at his sleeve when he didn't release his grip.

"She'll breathe easier without your help, Miroku." Kaede gave him a knowing look.

He released Kagome with a nod. She filled her lungs with gratitude. His face remained drawn.

"This is a treacherous path at the best of times, Avatar. If you need a break-"

"I'm fine. It's just a little longer, right?"

"Just another couple of flights," Kaede replied. "Still, I'd mind your feet if I were you. I did tell them the salt was running low," she muttered.

Kagome nodded. "No sense in turning back now." She kept her voice brighter than her mood and resumed her path.

"I suppose not." Miroku trailed after her with just a hint of reluctance. "Still, I would urge caution, Avatar. This thief is clearly no ordinary bender."

She wouldn't argue with that. No one who'd laid eyes on him could. The memory of his body wreathed in flames sent another shiver up her spine. She shrugged it away.

"Maybe not. But he has to know something."

"Perhaps." Miroku was less convinced. "Although, if you'll pardon me for saying so, he may not be inclined to share it with you. I gather he's been rather uncooperative."

She gathered several of the prison guards were still nursing their burns. If a place like this couldn't douse his flames... she shook the thought from her head. She wouldn't back down now. He had far more to lose than she did.

"It's... kind of you to worry, Miroku. But you needn't. I've got you and Kaede, right?" She flashed him a smile.

The one he gave her in return wasn't quite so bright. "You can have no doubt of that, Avatar. Still-"

"Halt! State your business." A voice boomed from the bottom of the pit.

The procession drew to a halt. Kagome just about kept her footing this time. The head guard cleared his throat.

"The Avatar wishes to speak with the prisoner."

There was a brief and muffled discussion. A lantern flickered into response.

"You may proceed."

The head guard raised his lantern with a curt nod. The others resumed their march. Miroku cast her a glance. She pressed on before he could get another word in edgeways. She'd made her choice.

The stairway ended in a solid wall of ice. Two guards waited before it, standing tall against the gloom. The cold was deep enough to sear her lungs. She tugged her cloak closer as a chill crept through her clothes.

Kaede raised her hands. The guards stepped aside. She circled her arms to carve a doorway into the ice. It melted away to reveal a large tunnel. She beckoned for them to proceed. Kagome followed with only the briefest of hesitations.

The tunnel soon branched into a warren as dark as the void. The walls were bare ice, without so much as a blubber lamp to relieve the darkness. Even the stairway was cosy by comparison. She kept her eyes on Kaede's lantern until they finally drew to a halt before another wall.

Kaede turned to the head guard. "Here?"

"Safest place for him, Master."

She ignored his edge of sarcasm. "Very well." She circled her arms to carve out another doorway.

This one led to a shorter, broader tunnel, lined with iron bars on either side. The only light came from a couple of ventilation shafts in the ceiling. A closer look revealed a series of frigid cells. All were empty. Kagome hurried after Kaede, squinting in search of the thief. Her eyes found only shadows.

"Where's he-"

A snicker came from the furthest cell. The back of her neck prickled. She drew herself up to her full height and strode forwards to join Kaede at the end of the corridor. Miroku followed at her heels. The guards filed in behind him.

The cell held a huddle of furs slumped against the wall. She squinted closer. The prisoner's face was shrouded in a heavy hood. Not a sliver of flesh caught her eye. An escaped lock of matted white hair was the only clue she had.

A rustle of chains confirmed her suspicions. She craned her neck and made out a large iron ring embedded in the wall. Another clink drew her attention to the shackles attached to it. She turned to Kaede with a frown.

"He's been down here the whole time?"

"He's wounded our men, Avatar," one of the guards replied.

Kaede gave her a solemn nod. "We did no more than was necessary. I can assure you of that."

She didn't doubt it. The sight of Akitoki in flames was still seared into her dreams. "Still... "

She took a step closer to the cell. Her eyes sought the thief's. He kept his fixed on the ground.

The guard cleared his throat. "The Avatar wishes to speak with you."

The thief didn't stir.

The guard raised his voice. "The Avatar is here."

No answer. The guard heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry, Avatar, he's been... difficult."

"It's okay." She took another step towards the cell. "You heard, right? I'd like to-"

Flames erupted from the darkness. She staggered back into Miroku's arms. The flames licked out inches from her face. She caught a glint of a grin.

Another snicker came from the cell. The guards whirled on the thief.

"Bastard!"

"You dare-"

"Wait." Kaede held up her hand.

The guards drew to an unsteady halt. One of them shot her a questioning look.

"This is as far as he can go."

The look became a frown. The other guards just gaped. The thief gave a scoff.

Kagome stared back at him. The flames hadn't even singed the bars. So even he had his limits. They were still a little too broad for her liking. She let out her breath.

"It's okay."

"Avatar?" Miroku peered down at her.

She tugged at his sleeve. "Let me talk to him."

"Are you quite-"

"That's as far as he'll go. Right?"

Kaede gave her a nod. The thief gave another scoff.

"Very well." Miroku let her go.

She held her ground and raised her chin. The thief paid her no mind. His gaze was fixed on the wall.

"Hey."

No reply. She cleared her throat. "I know you're listening."

His hood gave the briefest of flickers. She pressed on.

"I'd like to talk to you."

Another flicker. She ventured a question. "What's your name?"

"What?" His head snapped upwards for an instant. He turned away before she could catch his eyes.

Well, that was a start. "Your name," she said. She pointed to her chest. "I'm Kagome, remember? And you?"

He raised his head again. He stared at her for a few seconds before he let out a snort. "Like I'm going to tell you?"

"Okay." This was never going to go smoothly. She tried a different tack. "What would you like me to call you?"

"What?" His stare remained unbroken. "Oh, don't tell me you're serious."

She held back a sigh. "You think I'd come all this way just to laugh at you?"

"Wouldn't be the first." There was no humour in his voice. He shrugged off his hood and looked her full in the face. His own was still unearthly enough to take her breath away. His eyes held nothing but contempt.

"Well, laugh all you want. We'll see who laughs last." He turned back to the wall.

"I'm not laughing."

He didn't reply. She bit back a scoff and exchanged glances with Miroku and Kaede. Kaede gave her a nod. Best get straight to the point.

"Listen. We both came here for a reason."

He didn't dignify that with a response.

She swallowed another sigh. She'd have more chance of getting a straight answer out of Kallik. At least he would hold a conversation. She reached into her parka and drew out her trump card.

"The Oasis, right?"

She held a sheer silk bag up to the light. His eyes widened as he caught the glint of broken glass. His hands clenched into fists. He snapped his gaze back to the wall. His fists stayed tight.

She pressed on. "You know about the Oasis. Who told you?"

He didn't reply. For all his caginess he was a poor liar. She'd get to the bottom of his lies soon enough.

"You can't be working alone. Where are the others?" she asked.

He continued the silent treatment. Miroku cleared his throat.

"If I may be so bold, I would recommend you answer the Avatar. Few secrets escape the spirits."

The thief shifted his head a touch. No doubt he was rolling his eyes.

"Keh." He didn't even give Miroku a glance.

She shook her head. "You know, you're really not making this easy for yourself."

"Like you're going to?"

"Hey." She put her hands on her hips. "I'm giving you a chance, aren't I?"

"Yeah. To help you." He stifled a yawn. "I'll pass."

Her fists tightened into knots. She held her voice steady. "Even when it's your own life on the line?"

"Oh? Now there's a threat." His voice was as dry as the winter air.

"The Avatar speaks true," said Kaede. "I'm afraid the Council will value her words more than yours."

"Guess I'm done for then." His voice held neither concern nor surprise.

Kagome suppressed a groan. "I'm giving you a chance," she insisted.

"To do what?" He levelled her with a stare.

"You could at least do something."

"Oh? You want me to do something?" He gave a bitter laugh. "Sure would've been nice if you'd got round to that some time in the last few decades."

"I'm sixteen. I wasn't even born then."

"Exactly." The word cut like glass.

Her knuckles grew white. "How was I supposed to-"

"Don't bullshit me. There's always an Avatar." His eyes narrowed with contempt. "Just never when you need one."

His glare stung worse than his words. She forced down the lump in her throat. She wasn't giving in.

"So that's it. You're giving up?" She fixed him with a stare. "You won't."

He curled his lip."Worked out okay for you, didn't it?"

She ignored the jibe. "You've risked your life for 've risked the spirits' wrath. You've risked the entire Fire Nation."She shook her head. "A guy like you doesn't just give up."

He turned away in disgust. "You don't know me."

She straightened her spine. "I know anyone who'd risk a spirit's curse can't be a quitter."

His head snapped up like a wolf's. His eyes slitted with fury. His hands clenched into burning fists. The guards tensed as he gave a growl.

"I know you're a real pain in the-"

"I'm giving you a chance." She stood her ground. "You can take it or you can leave it."

He gave a mirthless laugh. "I never had a chance, Avatar."

"So you're just going to sit here and wait until you die?"

"Not before you-"

"Silence!"

One of the guards lashed out with a water whip. The flames sputtered out in an instant. Three more whips snapped towards him. Kaede deflected them with a wave of her hand.

"Enough. The Avatar has this under control."

"Control." The thief gave another laugh. "Least your master's honest."

Kagome shook her head. "I meant it."

"Sure." He turned his eyes back to the wall.

"I mean it." She sought his eyes in vain. "Everyone has the right to a fair trial. I don't care if you're curse-"

"Just shut the hell up already."

His voice was choked with rage. His eyes flared with loathing. It couldn't hide his pain. He turned away before she could glimpse any more of it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"I was born cursed." His voice was a ragged whisper. "There. You satisfied, Avatar?" The last word was the bitterest of all.

Another lump rose in her throat. "I'm only-"

"Keh."

He didn't even look at her. Her temper cracked like lightning.

"Oh you - I'm giving you a chance!"

He didn't answer. His back had become a wall. One she had no hope of overcoming tonight. Her temper dimmed as suddenly as it had flared. She heaved a sigh.

She started as Miroku laid his hand on her shoulder. "A word, if I may?"

He probably wasn't going to have any more success than she was. Then again, he could hardly have any less. She gave him a nod.

"His situation may not be as hopeless as it seems. The trial will take some time to arrange."

"Perhaps another time," Kaede agreed.

Kagome glanced back at the thief. He stared back at the wall. She'd have more chance of getting past that than his stubbornness. It wasn't like he'd give her another chance any time soon. If ever. She turned back to her companions with a sigh.

"No. You were right the first time, Miroku." Her heart sank with her eyes. "He's hopeless."


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I update once a month.