InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the West ❯ Persuasive Conversations ( Chapter 23 )

[A/N: Hello. Sorry for the slow update. I've been playing way too much Fire Emblem. Now I'd just like to take the time to say that on MediaMiner.org, the problem with chapter 21 has been fixed. And yes, FDC, it was the beginning to a completely different story. Heh heh heh…Anyway, please enjoy! Read and Review!]

Daughter of the West

Chapter 23: Persuasive Conversations

Aya walked idly through the woods, her cloak gone and her old yukata replaced by another, this one being a brilliant shade of red. "The little hanyou honestly thought that his little technique could scathe me? The blithering idiot. Their stupidity proves that he and Sesshomaru are related," she thought, frowning a little. After a few moment, she stopped, sighing, a very annoyed expression on her face. "Dammit!" she cursed, "Where am I supposed to find this zombie priestess?"

A few miles away, a woman dressed as a priestess walked along a path, heading towards the forest. There was a bow and arrows slung over her shoulder, and her dark hair was tied back, and out of the way of her honey-brown eyes. Indeed, she was Kikyo, the undead priestess that Aya sought. She was leaving a village where she had tended to some wounded citizens, attacked by some sort of demon. The villagers had absolutely no idea what it could be, and she had decided not to get herself involved. She had no desire to waste her time in such matters, even though she had all the time in the world. Literally.

When she entered the forest, she immediately got the feeling that she was not the only person there. She stopped for a moment, her grip tightening on her bow. "Who goes?" she demanded. Of course, there was no answer. But a few instants later, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. A bluish glow surrounded her body, and the energy was draining from her body. This could only mean one thing: the dead souls were leaving her body. She turned, feeling as though she would collapse, and there stood some anonymous figure: Aya.

In her clawed hand was a large, red jewel, a blue glow around it, Kikyo's souls being drawn to it. "Hello, Kikyo," Aya said. "What…Who a-are you?! How…d-do you know…my name?" the priestess demanded angrily. Aya smirked a bit, wrapping her hand around the crystal. This stopped it from drawing in any more of the woman's souls. The priestess fell to her knees, breathing heavily. Aya walked over to her, chuckling slightly. "You may call me Lady Aya," she said. Kikyo growled slightly at her. "And what exactly do you want from me?" she hissed. Aya smirked a little. "Well, Kikyo, I have a proposition to make."

Kimi sat on a gently sloping hill, watching the sun rise. She had gotten only a few moments of sleep, and just couldn't bring herself to close her eyes. Doing anything was painful. The wounds were nothing. The pain was mostly from all of the poison she had in her system. She was pretty much there waiting for Sesshomaru to return. He had gone off looking for where Aya had transported herself to. However, she had a sinking feeling that there was no chance of tracking her down. When she heard footsteps behind her, the cat demon turned around, and saw Kagome.

Kagome walked up beside her and sat down. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, a concerned look on her face, "Your injuries are too bad for you to be walking around!" Kimi looked back at the pink horizon, sighing slightly. "Kagome…I really need to speak with you," she said glumly. Kagome sat down next to her, looking worried. "Kimi, is there something wrong?" she asked. Kimi glanced at her, a grim look in her eyes. "Kagome…I think it would be best if…when Seshsomaru and I depart, we go on our own," she said. Kagome gaped a little. "Kimi, I…" She was silenced when the cat demon pressed a finger against her lips. "Ssssh. Saving Aikina and getting rid of Aya are our problems. I can't drag you into such a thing. If you or any of your friends were to be injured or even killed…" Kagome smiled at her slightly. "Aikina is our friend, Kimi. And we want to help. We won't just abandon you," she said, a slightly cheery tone to her.

Kimi smiled slightly at her. "You're a good friend, Kagome. I don't think I could ever find a way to repay you for your kindness," she replied gently. Kagome's smile grew. "Don't worry. Everything will work out," she said. The girl stood, just as Sesshomaru leapt up onto the hill. "I could find nothing," he said, a look of defeat on his face. Then he noticed Kagome, sitting next to his wife. He glowered at her slightly, but did nothing more. Taking the slight hint, Kagome stood up, and after a slight wave, departed. The sun was now completely out, shining down on them. Kimi stood up, and in one fluid moment, fell against him.

Sesshomaru instinctively put an arm around her. "I'll never let this happen to you again, Kimi," he said gently. Kimi sighed slightly, a few tears falling from her eyes. "No, Sesshomaru, I'm the one who ran off," she said. Sesshomaru's grip on her tightened. "Don't worry, Kimi."

Kikyo glared up at Aya, barring her teeth. "I have no time for this, demon!" she yelled. Aya sighed sarcastically. "Ah, but you cannot go anywhere unless I permit you to," she said, holding out the red crystal. "It's called the Tamashii Ishi. The Soul Stone." Kikyo breathed through her nose, her patience trying. "Return my souls, and I will do you no harm," she hissed. Aya chuckled. "Not until you accept my offer," she said. "What is it then?" Kikyo demanded. "It's simple. Kill Inu-Yasha," she said.

Kikyo looked at her strangely. "Inu-Yasha? How do you know him?" Aya sighed a little. "He's just a snag in my plans. But, I think it would be lucrative if you were the one who killed him, not me," she said. "And why would you think I would want that miserable half-breed dead?" Kikyo asked. "Don't play dumb with me, Kykio. I know how he betrayed you. I'm just making sure it doesn't happen again," she said. Kikyo scoffed at her. "I have no desire to help you," Kykio growled.

Aya stood. "Fine, then. I shall take my leave. Just know, that without the souls I contain in the stone, you are as good as dead," she said. Kikyo laughed a little. "Fool. Once my soul collectors come, I'll be fine," she said. Aya scoffed at the priestess. "Oh, no, no, no, my friend. Let's just say that your soul collectors have been…decommissioned," she said. Kikyo's eyes widened. "Fine. I'll do whatever you want, just give me back my souls," she said. Aya smirked.

"I knew you'd find it my way," she said. Aya turned back around, a shimmering little jewel shard between her thumb and middle finger. "And what do you plan to do with that?" Kikyo demanded. "Hand me your bow," she said simply. "My bow? What?" Kikyo asked, sounding slightly confused, but complying. Aya took the priestess's bow and easily embedded the Shikon shard in it. "You may need a power boost. Inu-Yasha and his friends are traveling with two new companions. Two demons," she said. Kikyo nodded slightly. "My souls?" Aya sighed a little. "Now, now. I can't just be letting you go off with my jewel shard," she said, holding out the crystal. It was at that moment that Kikyo noticed that there was a chain around it. Aya put it around the priestess's neck, and her strength quickly returned.

"Take it off and your strength will dissipate. When you banish Inu-Yasha to hell, the souls will by then begin to ascend to their afterlife. Come back, return your shard, and your soul skimmers shall come back to you, and you can continue with your mock life," she said. Kikyo stood up and took her bow back from the green-haired demon. "The directions seem simple enough. When Inu-Yasha is dead, I will come and return your shard," she said. The priestess gave her one last, sharp look, and then quickly departed.

Aya smirked a little. "The foolish phantom-woman. She has no idea what she has gotten herself into."