InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Long, Stout, and Sharpeye - A Fairy Tale ❯ Naraku ( Chapter 7 )

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A/N: Once again thanks to all my readers -old and new : ) it’s great to know you guys are enjoying this story, and I just can’t tell you enough how nice it is to read your reviews :D



It was quite some time later before the comfortable ease they had settled into was shattered upon the opening of the door to the room.

The heavy wooden door scraped roughly against the floor as it slowly opened into the room. In it’s wake stood a rather impressive appearing man. He stood tall and straight, with the air of someone who commanded and expected your respect.

He wore a black robe that fell to the floor. On his shoulders were spiked armour pads and around his waist were three iron belts.

He was not unattractive, in fact he was disarmingly good looking.

“Hello Inuyasha.” His silky voice flowed easily into the room as he addressed the prince. He ignored the other three occupants.

“As I imagine Kanna has told you, I have been expecting you. For quite some time, actually. It took you far too long to get here and I am very disappointed in you. I had expected better from you. Clearly though, it was foolish.”

Inuyasha growled, the hair on the back of his neck standing up.

“Shut up bastard! Where is the princess?”

“Tsk, tsk. Inuyasha, so impatient. Again, you disappoint me, but I guess I should not have expected better from you.”“Cut the crap, Naraku! Where is she?”

“Very well, Inuyasha, I will let you see her, but see alone. Do not think that it will be so easy for you to take her from me.”

Naraku waved his hand, and the princess slowly appeared before their eyes in a cloud of the purple miasma.

She looked just as she had in the enchanted window. Dressed all in white, her jet black hair cascading around her and the crown of pearls resting atop her head, glinting in the light of the room.
But it was her eyes that held Inuyasha’s attention. They too, were the same as they had been in the window - filled with sorrow and loneliness, but this time there was no sign of life bellow their glossy surface.

Inuyasha ran to her side, grasping her hands in his own.

The princess made no move. She did not even blink. It was as though she was asleep.

“Princess?” Inuyasha asked quietly.

He received no response.

“Princess? Naraku! What have you done to her?”

“Inuyasha,” Naraku admonished the half demon with his tone. “It is but a simple spell, there is no need to worry. She is not harmed by it.”

Inuyasha snarled again at the vile creature. “Bastard, why is it you hold her captive here?”
“That is none of your concern.”

“Then let her go!” Inuyasha ground out.

Naraku chuckled darkly. “Inuyasha, think of her as an item - a possession, like a piece of fine art, or a jewel, and I own her. She is mine. And I certainly do not intend to give her up so easily.”“Then I challenge you for her!” Inuyasha grasped the hilt of his sword.

“Of course. I expected nothing less. I accept your challenge - on one condition. For three nights, Inuyasha, you will stay here and guard the princess in this room and I shall try to steal her from you. If I succeed and by dawn she is not here, you - and your companions shall be turned to stone. Like those that came before you.”

Inuyasha turned cold. The statues. They had been alive?

Sango gasped, clutching tightly to Miroku’s robes.

Naraku smiled darkly, pleased with the shock value of his statement. “So Inuyasha? Do you accept, or do you give up, return home and leave the princess to her fate?”

As he said this, Naraku removed something red from his robes and squeezed it. The princess fell to the floor, a cry of agony escaping her lips.

“Stop!” Inuyasha roared, trying desperately to reign in his demon self from coming forth and protecting what he now considered his. “I accept, but as long as we are here, you shall not harm her again!”

Naraku considered. “Very well. I shall not harm her while you are here - alive. If you fail and are turned to stone, I may once again do with her as I please.” He loosened his grip on the object in his hand, and replaced it in his robes.

“It shall begin now. This, Inuyasha, is the first night. Once this door is shut, the deal is closed and there will be no backing out. Kanna, or one of the others will attend to you. If you need anything, food or anything just speak it and it will be brought to you. Know this is possible because I am always watching you.”

“I’ll leave now, I imagine you all wish to get some rest.” At this Naraku laughed loudly, the sound filling the room and sending chills down the other’s spines.


The sound quickly died down, however, and Naraku turned to leave.

“Naraku, wait. She is still under her spell. She will not be able to speak, correct?”

Naraku inclined his head in consent.

“Then, she would not be able to speak her name?”

“No, Inuyasha she will not be able to tell you her name.”

Naraku once again turned to leave, no pity or sympathy for the Prince in his heart.

“Naraku!” Inuyasha called out again, once more halting the half-demon’s exit from the room.

“Her name…tell me her name.” Inuyasha spoke this quietly, his voice not demanding, but pleading. He wished desperately to learn more of his love, and wished for now instead of later. Assuming he succeeded at all.

Naraku turned and walked from the room, the door closing behind him.

But he paused just before the door completely closed against itself.

“Kagome. Her name is Kagome.”

It was a rare sign of what appeared to be compassion from the dark creature who had destroyed many lives without the blink of an eye.

The door shut, sealing them into the room.

There they were, alone again. The four companions from before - the half-demon prince, the all-seeing, all-groping, hentai monk, the Warrior taijiya who was afraid to let her guard down, and the jolly, boisterous boy-trapped-in-a-fox-demon’s-body. And now a fifth joined them. The lovely princess Kagome. The saddest princess in all the world as she lived in her trance-like state.

This promised to be the most unusual and interesting three nights of their lives.



A/N: well that’s it for now, hopefully next chapter wont be to long in coming, but it’s looking to be a busy week, so I make no promises. Please don’t hate me if it is *sad puppy dog eyes*

To Kookookitty on aff.net (and to all else interested) - the book the fairytale is in is called ‘Once Long Ago - Folk and Fairy Tales of The World’ and it was published in 1962 if that helps any. I doubt, though that you will be able to find very much, believe me, I’ve tried. The book I have is in very poor condition and I have been hoping to replace it but have had very, very little luck with finding much out about it. Even in today’s age of research and technology. I did find out some information, but not much pertaining to the individual stories within the book.