InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Unforeseen Flame ❯ It's A Trap! ( Chapter 20 )

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

A/N: I'm actually really pleased with this chapter and what I've got in mind for the next few! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.

It had been a week since Sesshomaru had left Kagome and the others, and the inuyoukai was dying to return to her. As he stood, watching the goings on at Naraku's castle under the cover of complete darkness, he could not get thoughts of the young woman out of his head. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved, the way she smelled, the softness of her delicate skin, the taste of her lips when she pressed them against his…it all invaded his mind, distracting him from the task currently at hand.

The Demon Lord inhaled sharply, closing his eyes and clearing his mind. He needed to focus. He listened to the chirping of the crickets, calling out to one another and to the rustle of leaves being teased by the late spring breeze. He could feel the humidity of the balmy night settle against his skin and the faint tingle of the nearby barrier. He could smell the trees and the dirt and the rancid odor of Naraku that ran rampant through the air, and, off in the distance, his sensitive nose could detect the scent of wolf.

There had been little to no discernible movement about Naraku's castle since Sesshomaru began his stakeout. No one had come, and no one had gone, but the barrier had remained destabilized. Sesshomaru was now certain that it was a trap Naraku had set to ensnare his enemies, and the inuyoukai had no intention of find himself caught in it. A week was far too long for Naraku's barrier to be weakened by his time of enfeeblement.

His thoughts returned to the priestess he had left behind. He wondered if she was safe. He felt a momentary surge of panic as he suddenly considered the thought that this was a trap to lure him away from her, so she would be unprotected and easily dispatched. But, as far as Sesshomaru had seen, no one had left the castle, and as far as he knew, no one, save Inuyasha and his three companions, was even aware the woman was traveling with him.

As he sat there pondering her well being, he understood what it was to truly miss someone. He had hoped they could spend the days following her return from Inuyasha's company in a very different manner. After so much time spent controlling his desires for the human, to have to leave her so soon after giving way to his feelings was very near to torture. Especially since, he didn't get to spend the evening with her in all the ways he so desired. His mind began to wander, as unseemly thoughts of the woman's perfect form danced through his mind.

He shook the lusty thoughts from his mind. His lack of control when it came to the woman was certain to get him killed if he kept letting it get the best of him. It was better to focus on the problem at hand and worry about pleasures of the flesh after his duty was attended to. If he spent too much time daydreaming he could very well miss any movements taking place in or around the castle, and even the slightest change could be of significant importance.

"Kagura," Naraku called from his personal chambers inside his castle. He was enjoying involving the woman in his newly concocted plan as it pained her greatly to know of Sesshomaru's involvement with the human, Kagome. Now that everything was in motion, the wind sorceress would come face to face with the fact that the Youkai Lord had no interest in her whatsoever. The warped hanyou could not express in words how much delight his incarnation's suffering caused him.

"What is it?" she spat irritably, padding into the room silently. She hated Naraku more than ever for tormenting her thusly. He already possessed her heart, and now he was so excited to see it broken.

"Are our plans on track? What have you seen in Kanna's mirror?" he demanded eagerly. This was by far the cruelest plan he had ever contrived. It was even crueler than pitting Inuyasha and Kikyo against each other. At least jealousy had been his motivation in that instance. This was just for his own twisted entertainment. He could not help the cruel smile that formed upon his lips at that thought.

"The wolf is nearing the castle, and Inuyasha and his friends aren't far behind," she hesitated a moment before continuing on. For a brief moment, Kagura considered lying to him, but he was certain to discover her treachery if she did. He wouldn't hesitate to end her life if she betrayed him once more. It wouldn't matter either way. Utsuro knew the inuyoukai's position and was on his way to capture the priestess.

"What about Sesshomaru?" Naraku inquired pointedly, sensing her reluctance to finish her statement.

"He is outside the barrier, watching. He seems to possess the knowledge that the weakened barrier is a ruse, for he will not enter to investigate any further," she replied woodenly. She hated herself for having any part in this foul plan of Naraku's.

"That won't matter once we have the woman. Is she within Utsuro's possession yet?" he queried further. He knew Sesshomaru was bound to come for Kagome once he became of aware of the fact that she was in danger.

"Almost," Kagura answered. "He is waiting until she is away from the rest of her companions to avoid any trouble from the beast of burden that travels with Sesshomaru. He has decided the beast is more powerful and intelligent than it seems."

"Have Kanna notify me when she is in our grasp and remove yourself from my presence at once," he commanded curtly. Naraku was certain he had never been more thrilled with himself in the entirety of his existence. It was finally the priestess's turn to be broken, just as he had broken her friends before her. He would crush her spirit like a spider under foot.

Kagura bowed stiffly and all but ran from the room, grateful to be away from the fiend. Not only was he overjoyed at the pain of his enemies, he also delighted in the suffering of those allied with him. The hanyou was simply monstrous. How was it possible that she was an incarnation of that foul beast? She almost shuddered at the thought.

The hot spring sun hung high in the mid-afternoon sky, beating down mercilessly upon those unfortunate enough to be underneath it. Kagome fanned herself lazily wondering why the weather was so unusually hot for the time of year. It was almost May, and it would soon be monsoon season. She hoped Sesshomaru had somewhere other than the middle of the woods to leave his traveling companions once the weather turned inclement. She was less disposed to colds and illness than most, but she wasn't sure her immune system could handle the entire rainy season out of doors.

She sighed as she thought about the Youkai Lord. She missed him dearly. She wondered if he had come across Koga yet. The wolf had visited the day before, but with the shards in his legs, Koga was definitely fast enough to be near Sesshomaru and Naraku's castle by now, which meant that Inuyasha probably wasn't far behind the wolf. She hoped all of her friends would be all right.

"Lady Kagome!" Rin's cheerful voice interrupted the woman's thoughts as the girl took a seat next to her.

"What is it Rin?" Kagome asked in reply, trying very hard not to snap at the girl. The miko could feel a headache coming on. All of her worrying was starting to take its toll, but she couldn't help it. She had barely been able to eat or sleep since Sesshomaru had left, and when she did manage to drift off, her rest was plagued with ghastly nightmares.

"When is Lord Sesshomaru going to be back?" she inquired, assuming that Kagome had more knowledge about the Youkai Lord's situation than she did.

"I wish I knew…" Kagome replied pensively. She rubbed her aching temples gently between her thumb and middle finger closing her eyes in momentary relief. Then, more to herself, added, "He's been gone awhile now. I hope he's safe."

"Lord Sesshomaru is very strong!" Rin interposed assuredly. "He will have no trouble defeating his enemies!"

Kagome wished she could be as confident as the young girl was. Naraku was a lot more dangerous than Rin's immature mind could grasp. She was certain the hanyou would be difficult to defeat, even for someone as strong as Sesshomaru.

"Yes Rin, I'm sure you're right," Kagome replied, trying to stay as optimistic about the situation as she could. "Hey, would you want to take Jaken and Ah-Un and go catch some fish for dinner tonight? I'll go find some herbs so we can season the fish, and maybe even pick some berries for dessert!"

Jaken, who had been keeping to himself up until this point, decided that his opinions were necessary and began to argue with Kagome's suggestion. Standing to his full, yet diminutive, height the imp glared at her as if he were issuing a challenge. Kagome took a deep breath, reminding herself to keep her fists unclenched as the imp began to speak.

"Ah and Un can protect Rin just fine, and she is plenty capable of catching enough fish for all of us," he squawked stridently. It took all of Kagome's willpower not to roll her eyes at him. Most days she almost felt it was impossible to resist the urge to purify the annoying little beast, and today was no exception. "If Lord Sesshomaru knew I let you wander off into the woods unprotected, he would surely have my head!"

"Fine," Kagome conceded in exasperation. Kagome was not desirous of any company, especially not the pushy toad. His strident voice was already starting to make her previously pounding head hurt even worse. "Rin and Ah-Un will go catch some fish, and Jaken, you and I will go forage for herbs."

"Oh-Kay!" Rin replied exuberantly, skipping off to the nearest stream, Ah and Un lumbering slowly behind her contentedly. The priestess smiled to herself at the girl's lively behavior, watching her small ponytail bounce and her dark locks sway as she continued to hop away. She was always so happy to do anything and everything. Kagome wished she could be more like that.

"Come along Jaken," Kagome sighed trying to keep her vexation with the imp out of her voice as they walked the opposite way that Rin had gone, deeper into the forest. She had really just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. If she was lucky, the little green youkai would have nothing further to say to her.

"Hmph!" the toad harrumphed, cross that a human was ordering him around as if he was a child. This time Kagome didn't even bother trying not to roll her eyes. She sighed to herself quietly. At least he hadn't said anything else.

From a branch high up in a leafy tree, completely obscured from view, a lanky man with shaggy black hair was observing the priestess and her diminutive companion. He knew it was time. The two-headed dragon was finally away from the woman, and the imp would pose no challenge to one such as himself. He would capture her easily, and she would be in his master's grasp by sun down. Naraku would be most pleased with him.