InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Miko's Love Story. ❯ Good and Evil ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own or make profit from the Inuyasha series Copyrights to Inuyasha and Characters belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I only own the plot, and story line to this story and Tara, and Ryori. There. I said it. (sighs)

A HUGE Thank you SangOtaku6 for your many ideas, suggestions, and mostly your advice :)

Good and Evil:

After the sun rose and he was back to his usual hanyou self, Inuyasha walked around and woke everyone but Kagome and Bankotsu. He smiled as he saw them still slumbering. 'I'm glad she is finally happy.'

Bankotsu's eyes opened and he looked at the angel wrapped in his arms. Kagome's head was resting against his heart. Her soft hair pressed against his warm chest.

He smiled down and the woman he was going to spend the rest of his existence with. 'I love her more that life itself.'

Kagome sighed in contentment. She smiled and snuggled deeper into his strong arms and muscled chest. Being in his arms was the safest feeling in the world for her.

Bankotsu smiled at the woman in his arms. 'I love holding her in my arms, it makes me feel so… at peace.' After a moment, he reluctantly shook her awake. "Kagome honey, we need to get up."

She mumbled sleepily, "Five more minutes."

Bankotsu smirked and leaned down kissing her lips gently. "Now angel," he ordered, pulling back to gaze upon her porcelain skin once more, denying her the warmth of his body.

Kagome sighed and sat up rubbing her eyes. She stretched and smiled at him, taking in his handsome face. "Morning handsome," her hand cupped his cheek and she leaned in for a morning kiss.

Bankotsu grinned. "Morning Beautiful," He gave her a chaste kiss, before rising to his feet. "Now get up."

Kagome nodded and smiled. She took his proffered hand and rose to her feet.

Jakotsu groused as he was forced from his bedroll. "Stay away from the springs! I didn't get my bath last night, so I'm going now."

Knowing that Jakotsu would be more manageable once he'd bathed, Bankotsu chuckled. "Okay Jakotsu, go get your bath."

Jakotsu nodded once. He gathered his things and left.

Amusement danced in Bankotsu's warm blue eyes. "Same old Jakotsu," he chuckled.

Bankotsu turned around and his eyes followed her every move, as if he was entranced by her beauty.

Kagome walked the few feet over to the group, unconsciously swaying her hips in a naturally seductive motion. "What's for breakfast?"

Inuyasha walked up carrying rabbits and threw them down. "These, so get cooking."

Blue eyes clashed with amber ones. "Oi mutt, don't talk to her like that! Kagome is no one's slave and will be treated with the respect she deserves. Got it?" After chastising the rude hanyou, Bankotsu's eyes were instantly drawn back to his angel.

Kagome smiled. "Thank you Inuyasha," She turned and her eyes landed on Bankotsu. He was staring at her in a way that made her feel like the most beautiful thing in the world. She blushed.

Inuyasha followed her bashful gaze. He stared at the mercenary leader a minute and then spoke. "There's something different about you."

Inuyasha inhaled a deep breath and his eyes bulged. "You smell... different… like old gym socks, body odor, and musk... instead of graveyard soil." Now that his full sense of smell had returned, he'd figured out what had been bugging him all night.

Bankotsu frowned. "Come to think of it… I feel different too…" he looked down at his hand from last night and noticed a bruise. 'Eh?' Now when did that happen? I haven't gotten a bruise since...' his eyes shot wide open. Clearly something was amiss here.

Catching his thoughts, Kagome stared at him intently. A shaky hand flew to her chest and a gasp escaped her lips. She'd looked at his neck and noticed them missing, so she quickly looked at the rest of him… only to find them gone as well. "Ban... Bankotsu, why don't you have jewel shards in you?"

Unable to believe what he'd just heard Bankotsu's eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets. "What?"

Looking him over a second time Kagome spotted the scars on his neck and his wrists. 'Eh? Scars, but how?'

Catching her thought he looked for himself and scratched the back of his head. 'Now that doesn't make any sense,' he stared at the scar on his wrist. 'How did that happen?'

A huge grin crossed her lips. "Bankotsu! You're alive again!" she began dancing with him, spinning around in circles. "You're alive!"

Bankotsu pulled Kagome off of him. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to puzzle it out. "How could that be possible?"

Inuyasha smirked, cracking his fist. "One way to know for sure," he hauled his fist back and punched Bankotsu's jaw.

"Shit, that hurt!" Bankotsu glared at said mutt and rubbing his now sore jaw." His eyes shot open. 'Wait! I haven't felt pain since then either!'

Bankotsu blinked and then smirked. "Heh, guess I really am alive again." Turning to Inuyasha, he smashed his fist into Inuyasha's face and walked off wearing a huge grin. "Thanks mutt," he shook off the sting of his now aching hand.

Kagome ran over with an ice pack from her bag, settling it on Bankotsu's swollen knuckles.

Touched by her concern, Bankotsu smiled. "Thanks babe."

Knowing she was likely wasting her breath, Kagome sighed. "Try to get along with him, okay?"

Bankotsu scoffed and declared amused, "Mutt and me get along? Now that's funny!"

Groaning Inuyasha held his own sore jaw. "Ungrateful corpse!" he glared at said person.

Bankotsu chuckled darkly. "Seeing as I'm no longer undead…That's a lousy come back," he retorted arrogantly.

Jakotsu was just returning from his much needed soak. Unable to believe what he'd just heard, His eyes widened. "What?"

Bankotsu looked over at his shrieking comrade. A grin spread on his handsome features. "Not sure how yet… but I'm alive again."

Feeling left out, Jakotsu pouted. "Meanwhile I'm still undead," He sat down arms crossed and lips puffed out.

Realization dawned in Kagome's eyes. 'Hey! Wait a minute…'

Bankotsu blinked. "What do you mean wait a minute, love?"

His question startled everyone else, because they didn't recall her saying anything.

Kagome grinned and started bouncing in place. "Enju… She can help us."

Bankotsu frowned. "Who?"

Kagome smiled. "Inuyasha, remember when we went looking for who was behind the clay soldiers?"

Inuyasha frowned. "Yeah, but how's that gonna help?" His eyes communicated his doubts.

Sango thought back. "Wait! She's right… there was a girl with red hair," she said, also remembering the lost soul.

Miroku smiled fondly remembering the beauty they spoke of. "Yes and she was quite beautiful too."

Sango smacked him upside the head and her eyes narrowed angrily. "Focus monk!"

Kagome grinned. "Enju... she's Urasuia's daughter... she can help us! Remember she was experimenting when we left her... and she said she owed us one," she explained happily.

Thinking it over Sango shrugged. "It certainly couldn't hurt."

Not one bit happy about this situation, Inuyasha groaned. "Why do we even care?"

Bankotsu glared at the half-breed. "Because Jakotsu is the only one of my brothers who has ever proven beyond a doubt he is loyal. I will do whatever it takes for him to live again!" his countenance spoke volumes of his seriousness. 'I owe him that much.'

Laying a gentle hand on his arm, Kagome soothed, "Calm down Ban…That's why we are going to seek out Enju."

She cupped a hand against his cheek. "I know how much Jakotsu means to you," honesty shined in her brown eyes.

Bankotsu cupped his stronger hand around hers, leaning into it. "Thank you Kags," feeling truly grateful she would even try.

Kagome smiled and kissed his lips.

He kept the kiss sweet and tender then pulled back.

Looking at Jakotsu, Kagome smiled and spoke confidently. "It's the least we can do."

Jakotsu gasped. His heart warmed and he felt awed by her generosity. "Thank you." His eyes locked with Bankotsu's. "I can see now, why she means so much to you," He smiled at Kagome.

Bankotsu wrapped his arm around Kagome's waist from behind. "That and much more," his eyes filled with pride. This girl and only this girl would ever be worthy of becoming his wife and she was his - that alone filled him with such awe and pride he couldn't help but smile.

Inuyasha sighed and knew that he was out numbered. "Fine let's get going then," His face was set in a deep scowl.

Kagome nodded as she and Bankotsu started gathering their things.

Everyone else did likewise. After everyone was packed, they made sure not a trace of them or their group was left behind except the charred remains of Renkotsu's clothes, and left to find Enju.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Deep in the murky swamp laid a solitary stone castle. Its windows resembled bottomless eyes, causing a shiver to run down the onlooker's spine. Anyone unfortunate enough to gaze at the castle felt all happiness drain from them instantly and a dreary sadness creeping into their very soul.

Its inhabitants were some of the evilest beings known to this world. One even viler than the wicked hanyou Naraku…

Crimson eyes glared at his two incarnations before him. "Kanna, Kagura, you two are to go and check on Renkotsu. Do not allow yourselves to be seen."

Kanna bowed.

Kagura's jaw tightened. She pulled out one of her feathers and made it expand. Climbing onto the feather and making sure Kanna was secure, Kagura flew off. "'Damn Naraku, I need to get away from him so that I can be free… but how?'

She and her sister flew off towards where Renkotsu last mentioned the groups were staying.

Upon nearing the site Kagura flew down and replaced her now shrunken feather. "We should go on foot from here," she commented.

Kanna nodded and they proceeded in silence.

A few minutes later they reached the camp. 'Where are they?' They found no one in sight and not even a hint that they had once been there.

Kanna's cold black eyes gazed around until she spotted a charred cloth. "Kagura look," she pointed to the single shred of cloth.

Kagura gasped. She walked over and picked up the charred bandanna. 'Bankotsu and the others must have found out he was a spy.'

Kanna was holding the mirror and Naraku saw everything.

'Damn,' he thought upset. 'It was sooner than I had planned… but no big loss,' He spat venomously, "Renkotsu was scum and he got what he deserved. He was nothing more than a pawn that was growing useless."

Hearing this Kagura cringed. 'Could this be the fate that awaits me when I am no longer of use to Naraku?'

His voice boomed out of the mirror. "Kanna, Kagura, return at once."

He turned to his 'guest' unsure what the next move should be. "Now what?"

A dark, ominous shadow stayed just out of sight. His voice rasped, "That is your part of the bargain." Evil eyes so cold that they made Naraku cringe, narrowed. "I expect you to follow through with your end of the bargain or I will take the jewel for myself!"

Naraku was unable to suppress a shiver of fear that ran along his spine. "I won't fail." Not many things truly scared Naraku… but this one did.

The same cold voice ordered, "See that you don't! Or the night we met... will seem like a dream compared to what you will face." Pure malice shined in his eyes.

XOXOXOXOXO – FLASHBACK - XOXOXOXOXO

Naraku had just deceived Kikyo and Inuyasha. He had tricked them into killing each other. Chuckling as he made his way through the brush, Naraku laughed. "That's what they get - Stupid half-breed and Miko. They were so easy to fool," he cackled.

His good mood suddenly took a nose dive. 'I can't believe I lost it', he thought angrily.

He was lost in his thoughts, barely able to walk and leaning heavily against the trees as he went deeper into the forest. His rant cut off at the sight before him. A vile beast was devouring one of the fiercest looking Dragon demons he'd ever seen.

Hearing the rant, it looked up and snarled with its eyes shining with malice and saliva dripping from his jaws. "Ah my next meal," it flashed him some sharp fangs dripping with fresh blood.

Licking his chops hungrily, he gloated, "An appetizer." his eyes taking in the size of the much weaker demon before him.

Naraku's eyes snapped open. His heart began pounding with fear. "Don't eat me!"

The beast snarled, "Why shouldn't I? What can you offer me that I would spare your life?" His claws wrapped around Naraku's throat digging into his flesh, causing him to bleed and whimper in pain.

Naraku's eyes bulged and he gasped. "If you spare me, I will help you gain more power then you could ever dream."

Intrigued, the beast quirked a bushy brow and eyed his intended meal. "I'm listening."

"I know of a jewel... help me get the jewel and it will give us both more power than we could ever dream of."

The beast snarled. "Where is this 'jewel' you speak of?"

Naraku lowered his eyes. "I lost it."

"How then, can you offer me such a thing, when you cannot deliver it?" Growing angry it yowled, "I should eat you and be done with you."

Naraku's eyes returned to the best and locked. "We can get it... if we work together."

Shoulders tensing, the beast snapped, "I don't believe you! Die worthless demon!"

Naraku's shriek reminded the beast of a weak human girl it had once feasted upon. "Wait! I swear we can get it! We only need to wait for the one who carried it to be reborn."

The demon bit into Naraku's arm ripping the meat from the bone and snarled. "Why would you torture me with such lies?"

Naraku howled in pain and agony. "She was a priestess!"

The beast's eyes snapped to his as he demanded, "A priestess eh?"

Naraku nodded eyes wide with fear.

"How long?"

Naraku answered, "Not long… their souls are reincarnated quickly. We only need to wait for the reincarnation to appear."

The beast glared at the maggot before him. "Lies!"

Naraku said, "No! Come with me and I'll show you proof of the jewel's existence!"

Already craving the power he was offered the beast snapped, "Be quick and pray you aren't lying to me, or your life is forfeit worm." He grabbed the weakling's uninjured arm. "Lead me to your 'proof."

Grunting in pain, Naraku led the way with the beast's claws still wrapped around his arm. He led them to just outside the village.

Tsubaki stormed by angrily. "Kikyo should never have been entrusted with the jewel! I should have been the one to guard it! Now she's dead and the jewel went with her. I will have to wait for her to reincarnate before I can receive my eternal youth."

The beast stepped forward, "It is eternal youth you seek?"

Tsubaki's eyes widened. "Yes, why?" she was surprised at this unexpected visit.

The beast smiled. "I can help you…if you agree to tell me when the soul of Kikyo returns."

Tsubaki stared at him with uncertainty. "How will I find you?"

"You will find him," the beast pointed to Naraku. "And I will find him."

Tsubaki tilted her head. "When do I get my youth made eternal?"

"Just as soon as you agree to my deal," The beast eyed her intently.

She'd do anything to keep her youth. She smirked. "Deal," and held out her hand intending to shake on it.

The beast eyed her coldly. "If you fail to uphold your end of our pact, not only will I rip away your beauty, I will make you long for death which you will never receive."

Tsubaki answered unafraid, "I understand."

The beast smirked. "Come over here to me and drink," he slit his wrist.

Tsubaki did so and felt a strange feeling come over her.

He bit her neck also drinking. Once the exchange was done, he licked her neck and his wrist closing the wounds.

"Enjoy your beauty, and do not forget your end of the bargain," it said before dragging Naraku back into the woods.

The beast slammed him against a tree and snarled. "I will wait sixty-years, no longer. If she isn't back by then, I will slay you. Now be gone."

Naraku scrambled away in fear for his life. 'I've bought myself sometime… now to find that jewel.' He began wondering the lands, in search of the Shikon jewel.

XOXOXOXOXO - END FLASHBACK - XOXOXOXOXO

Naraku cleared his head of the unwanted memory. He faced the best lurking in the shadows. "He is yours once we have the jewel and Inuyasha has been killed. Until then, he is our best chance at getting the jewel completed," his voice trembled with fear.

The beast snarled, "As long as I have the power you promised me long ago and his body, I care not what you do with the others!" it once again melded into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.

Watching his visitor disappear, Naraku breathed a sigh of relief. "As you command….Ryori," His voice was calm and even held a hint of respect

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Okay, that's the improved chapter nineteen. Please review.

P.S. For those of you who do not remember, Ryori was mentioned in this story already. I suggest re-reading the chapter titled 'Feudal Era and Modern Era' as it should clear up any questions about who 'Ryori' is. All other questions will be answered in coming chapters XD