InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE POISON ❯ Imagery ( Chapter 19 )

DISCLAIMER: Would I be writing fan fiction, or be unemployed, if I owned Inuyasha? Rumiko Takahashi owns 'em. You can't sue, so there :P

 

I wanna thank all of my sweet, supportive reviewers! YM wuvs ya all! ::group hug:: Thanks for not yelling at me to update. I REALLY appreciate that! You guys rock! :)

 

I seemed to have offended someone at mm.org. This was not a flame, but constructive critisicm, and this person was very polite and I appreciated that, too. However, I will not change my writing style just because this reviewer doesn't approve of it. If any of you don't like my fic for whatever reason, no one's forcing you to read it. On another note, I'd like to

thank Knock-On-Wood here for her encouragement and sweet words :) Your review meant a lot to me! THANKS!

 

And what would this 'section' be without my endless gratitude to the great Trusuprise? My wonderful, talented, beyond cool, adorable beta and best KS evar! I love this girl to pieces! Gracias por ser vos! ::hugs and embarrasses Trusuprise in public again:: I love doing that too :D Huge hugs and kisses to the beautiful Kona-baby and huggy bear Carlitos! (they're her babies, and the most gorgeous pups This YM has ever seen!)

 

My thanks and love to Scherezade, always. And of course, to the kawaii Lizashu, my fellow Argentinian friend, who has the patience of Buddah :)

 

Enough rambling. Sorry about the delay! To make up for it, this is one long chapter! Hopefully things will be clearer now... although we still have a long way to go!

On to the fic!

 

 

CHAPTER 19: IMAGERY

 

"N-Naraku..." Kagome finally found her voice.

 

Her mind was racing madly. How on earth could Kikyou ever have mistaken this repulsive, evil aura for Inuyasha's fifty years ago when Naraku had tricked them both? How could Kikyou have thought those eyes full of contempt and hatred were Inuyasha's?

 

That evil smirk Naraku gave her... amber eyes glinting with undisguised, sick pleasure at her disgust and fear... how could Kikyou not have known? Fifty years ago the dark hanyou had spoken harsh, cruel words to Kikyou that the real Inuyasha would never have uttered to the undead miko. How could Kikyou have believed it was the real Inuyasha who had stabbed her in the back and stolen the Shikon no Tama from her?

 

Even if Naraku's attack had been too sudden for Kikyou to actually sense his dark youki - this face... it was like a distorted mask of Inuyasha's own. His eyes were so cold and ruthless, and his piercing stare sent shivers down Kagome's spine.

 

His expression, his cruel lips twisted in a loopsided grin, those eyes... they weren't Inuyasha's own. Despite the golden depths Naraku had copied so well, there was no way Inuyasha's eyes could have shown such corruption and hatred, and even if Kagome had not been a miko herself, she would have known it in a second had she been in Kikyou's place fifty years ago.

 

Except before the revelation of the false Inuyasha had struck her, Kagome's mind had been blissfully clouded by her previous reactions to the real Inuyasha... and Naraku had spoken sweet words to Kagome, tender whispers that she had believed were coming from Inuyasha's lips, brushing tenderly against her ear, before she had time to truly sense his polluted aura. He had ravished her mouth before Kagome had the chance to see the naked cruelty in his eyes.

 

But this was now. Kagome's thoughts were dancing wildly in her head in an attempt to ignore the obvious... the painful truth was standing before her, and it was an unpleasant shock for Kagome to actually witness the dark hanyou wearing Inuyasha's appearence; huge golden eyes staring at her in half-contempt, half-curiosity.

 

Such spiteful eyes... they could not hide Naraku's true nature, his dark, depraved soul.

 

The dark hanyou's face was contorted in bitter anger Kagome didn't understand and at the moment didn't really want to grasp. But as soon as she had seen the fury reflected upon the grotesque mask of Inuyasha's face, it melted away, as he continued to grin at her; a taut leer that appeared more threatening to Kagome than his previous look of rage.

 

"Interesting... and here I thought you would fall for it. This Naraku is impressed." Naraku said in Inuyasha's baritone voice, his nasty smirk widening. "The worthless dog is right, though. His miko does taste good... although I have no desire to possess you. Not even if you begged me to. You obviously want this pathetic body so much that I would not put it past you. Humans are so predictable. Three silly little words and your miko powers just refused to see what was so blatantly obvious..." He chuckled evilly.

 

Kagome wrapped her arms about herself, her face pale, shuddering. "You bastard... I'd rather die... I'd never -" She started, but he silenced her with a lethal glare she had seen before on Inuyasha's face, more specifically, when Inuyasha was facing Naraku.

 

"Onigumo's weakness..." He hissed. "Lust... for the miko Kikyou... and you, little girl, you are nothing but a cheap imitation... you sicken me..." Inuyasha's face melted into a mask of rage that Kagome knew the real inu-hanyou could never have worn well.

 

His dark eyebrows quirked and he gave her a sadistic grin that looked completely out of place in Inuyasha's face. "I would have loved to see the look on the half-breed's face... I wonder what he will do...when he smells me all over you..." He said thoughtfully, as if he was actually giving this some consideration.

 

"He'd kick your sorry ass so high up you'd be a fucking hunchback. And then he'd kill you slowly and painfully, you fucking asshole."

 

Inuyasha! Kagome's heart screamed with joy. She struggled fruitlessly in Naraku's arms, trying to break free and run to Inuyasha.

 

"You sick bastard, let me go!" She screamed in his impassive face, delivering swift punchs with her small fists on his chest. The dark hanyou merely ignored her and even looked slightly amused at her sudden bravery, when seconds before the young girl had all but burst into tears from her relief to see the real Inuyasha coming to her rescue.

 

Naraku continued to ignore her empty insults as she struggled to break free from his grip with all her might, and he turned to face the furious Inuyasha.

 

"Such a colorful choice of language, half-breed." Naraku replied mockingly, completely oblivious to the menacing growls Inuyasha was giving him and to the tiny miko squirming in his arms.

 

Kagome called out Inuyasha's name. It was confusing to see two Inuyashas, but the real inu-hanyou was beyond reasoning or hearing... and currently turning full youkai before their eyes.

 

Naraku chuckled. "Yes, that was exactly the expression I was aiming for... although it would have been so much fun to kill her and make her believe it was the worthless hanyou she foolishly places her trust in. This Naraku has failed before in forcing her to shoot you... and break your heart - again. I have understimated her, I should never have placed that task in the incompetent hands of Tsubaki. Never again, Inuyasha. Your innocent miko here... why, she is so naive and trusting... but rather slow, I must say. She would have let me have her. Had she not realized it was not you sticking your tongue down her throat... one word from my lips... or should I say your lips? And she would have been mine, right here and in broad daylight, no less." He shook his head as if this shocked and saddened him. "Tsk, tsk. Naughty little girl she is. But that would have been reckless and futile of me..."

 

He turned his golden eyes in Inuyasha's direction and titled his head, feigning curiosity. "But tell me, Inuyasha... is it more fulfilling to taste this young girl's lips, than it is to kiss a corpse?"

 

Inuyasha merely growled at him and Kagome whimpered.

 

"No need to answer that, really. I was just curious." Naraku glared down at Kagome when he said this. "Yes... your miko here spiked my curiosity. But she is rather pathetic. She loves you more than she loves herself. And that shall be her demise one day. My dear, do you not know that this half-breed does not know what love is? Can you not see he is merely infatuated with you? You bear the face of his true love, after all..."

 

"You lie. I will not fall for your mind games..." Kagome muttered darkly, yet his words hit home, and she tried with all her will not to let it show.

 

"Oh, but my dear child... you just did!" Naraku laughed shortly and shook his now silvery white mane. "Kissing me like that...you ought to be ashamed..." He glanced at Inuyasha knowingly with piercing amber eyes. "Then again... accidents happen, do they not, Inuyasha? Anyone could mistake a bait for the real thing... when they hear what they want to hear, and see what they want to see. Because reality and imagery can become one, do you not agree? When your dream reality turns into a waking nightmare... what is there for a weak half-breed, or a helpless little human girl to do, for that matter? Yet I wonder... she has proven her worth, Inuyasha. So how come she is not your mate yet? Could it be... you still wish you were asleep?"

 

"Shut the fuck up!" Inuyasha hissed, eyes flashing golden and back to crimson again as he struggled with his youkai blood to no avail. His left hand was gripping Tetsusaiga's hilt so hard his knuckles were white.

 

Naraku waved his hand non-chalantly. "I do not wish to spoil the surprise I have in store for you. The test is over. Congratulations, my dear. You have passed. But then again, it would not have been fun if you had failed. And indeed I, Naraku, shall have so much fun... or should I say 'we'? Kikyou... why, she is just dying to see you again, Inuyasha. I understand your last meeting... did not go too well?"

 

He laughed cruelly and released Kagome so abruptly she fell to the ground with a small yelp.

 

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Inuyasha growled at his mirror image.

 

The asshole had let Kagome go... he was not using her as a human shield anymore. In a blink of an eye, he would charge and tear the bastard limb by limb. His death grip on Tetsusaiga's hilt loosened slowly but surely... the barrier was rejecting him and had burnt his palm, the sickening stench of his scorched flesh making his stomach turn, but currently the inu-hanyou was giving in willingly to his demon blood and didn't give a rat's ass about any of it.

 

His bitch was all that mattered to him now. And Inuyasha, the hanyou, had foolishly left her alone. He was so mad at himself that he allowed his youkai blood to dominate him completely.

 

Tetsusaiga was beginning to weigh on him... so he carelessly dropped it to the ground, hissing as it burnt his palm yet again. The Fang was a rusty katana for all that it was worth now...but all he needed were his claws... he'd gut the bastard for even thinking of touching his bitch...and he was going to have fun doing it, too.

 

"Relax, Inuyasha. I will keep your dirty little secret... trust me." Naraku chuckled darkly at his own words, not in the least concerned by Inuyasha's transformation. However, his eyes narrowed slightly at the fact that Inuyasha did not seem to hear him at all.

 

Laying like a rag doll on the ground, Kagome chewed on her bottom lip, tasting her own blood where Naraku had bitten her, feeling filthy and wiping her mouth frantically with the back of her hand. She could still feel his tongue attacking hers mercilessly, his hand touching her... she shuddered.

 

"Why?" She asked to no one in particular; she hadn't really meant to say this out loud.

 

Naraku gave her a wide eyed, almost puzzled look, for an instant looking very much like the real Inuyasha, until he grinned down at her toothily, the perfect imitation of Inuyasha's fangs grazing his bottom lip glinting in the morning sun when he did so.

 

"My, you really are slow. I would have thought you had figured it out by now. It keeps me entertained, to mess with the feeble minds of the weak. You cannot blame a man for having a hobby, now can you? And you, my little miko... you are, as always, the damsel in distress... longing for that sickening happily ever after fairy tale ending... with puppy eared children, and your loved one protecting you for all eternity... how revolting..."

 

Kagome was too busy at the moment feeling repulsed and physically ill to register Naraku's taunting words as her stomach turned. 'Gods...he kissed me... and I - I kissed him back...' She made a gagging noise, one hand still covering her mouth.

 

"Oh, for crying out loud, I might not have a privileged sense of smell, but I know you enjoyed that." Naraku rolled his eyes without even looking down at her.

 

"I hate you..." She muttered.

 

Naraku feigned a hurt expression. "You break my heart." He said, Inuyasha's voice coming out of Inuyasha's lips dripping with sarcasm and barely concealed amusement.

 

His head turned sharply, silvery white hair flying as his amber eyes locked with the real Inuyasha, whose eyes were now bleeding scarlet.

 

The full dog demon was growling loudly, baring his sharp, enlongated fangs at the hanyou image of himself.

 

Naraku's amber eyes widened slightly. "Oh my... you mean you haven't told her?" He asked the now full youkai Inuyasha rethorically.

 

Inuyasha let out a loud, blood curdling scream of white, blinding rage and without further ado, the now inu-youkai attacked the dark hanyou.

 

Naraku chuckled and dissipated in a cloud of poisonous fumes, his physical absence causing Inuyasha to fall on top of Kagome, who was sobbing soundlessly, hiding her face from view, her lithe body shaking uncontrollably.

 

"Things will get... shall we say, 'interesting'... from now on. Let us see how much you trust yourself... when your miko is concerned. Judging from your current appearence, I must say you do not trust yourself to protect her. How sad... how sad indeed..." It was Naraku's deep voice this time, growing distant, as his form vanished in the sky.

 

Inuyasha was panting heavily, his razor-sharp claws digging into the earth, still on top Kagome, growling dangerously, completely oblivious to the fact that she was sobbing helplessly under his weight.

 

He rolled onto his back, muttering words that made no sense whatsoever.

 

"Mine. Bitch. Mine!" Was all Kagome caught. "Fucking kill him...bitch is MINE!"

 

"Inuyasha..."

 

"I'll fucking kill him!"

 

"Inuyasha!"

 

Inuyasha rose to his full height and glared at the Naraku-less sky. Kagome sobbed loudly this time, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the sound. "Please..." She pleaded with him.

 

"Ka.Go.Me. My bitch! Mine!" He growled at the heavens above.

 

"I - I knew it wasn't you... I knew it... but he wouldn't let me go... and I was too slow! I should have realized sooner! I should have... but... but he said... Inuyasha... please... please listen to me... come back to me..." Kagome clutched his arm in a death grip desperately, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, her face imploring. "Come back..." She managed in a choked whisper.

Inuyasha turned his crimson eyes on her, apparently seeing her for the first time since he had transformed. His face did not soften but his dark blue pupils dilated, his breathing slowly returning to normal.

 

"Inuyasha knows that, bitch..." His harsh, throaty voice softened, as he blinked rapidly and his eyes gradually melted back to gold, fangs returning to their usual length, hands relaxing at his sides, fists unclenching as his claws shortened, although his hands were still shaking. The angry, jagged purple markings gradually vanished from his cheekbones.

 

Apparently, his youkai and human blood had come to a temporary agreement. The transformation was immediate and there was no arguing with himself this time. Youkai Inuyasha grudgingly admitted wordlessly his bitch needed the worthless hanyou. And let him take over. For now... it was all right.

 

"I know, Kagome... I know..." Hanyou Inuyasha mumbled, exhausted. He collapsed on the ground, gathering her to him again. "I trust you, you stupid, careless wench." He nuzzled her temple.

 

Suddenly he stiffened, furious with himself. His arms tightened around her small body. "Shit! I leave you alone for a second and...fuck! That bastard!" He hissed and immediately looked her all over, checking for any possible injuries.

 

"Are you okay?" His voice was tainted with guilt as he sniffed her frantically. His thumb caressed her bottom lip where Naraku had bitten her. "Fuck..." he muttered.

 

"I'm so sorry..." They said in unison.

 

Kagome shook her head. "It wasn't your fault... it was me... I... oh, Inuyasha..." She broke into uncontrollable sobs again. "I'm sorry... please forgive me... I knew it wasn't you... I knew it... he - he said he loved me... I - I wanted to believe it was you..." The last part was barely audible. "He said... you l-loved me..."

 

"Oi, don't cry! Stop this shit right now! It wasn't your fault! Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Kagome! Anyone... anyone could have made that mistake..." Inuyasha scowled and refused to look at the girl in his arms in the eye when he spoke these words hurriedly.

 

"The shards..." Kagome said between sobs. "He didn't...he didn't have any Shikon shards..."

 

Inuyasha's scowl deepened, his brow furrowed. Suddenly, his golden eyes widened in realization.

 

"B-baka! Where are our shards?" He all but shouted at her.

 

Kagome shook her head helplessly. "They're safe... in my backpack... in Kaede-obachan's hut... he didn't..."

 

"He didn't come for the shards..." Inuyasha finished for her slowly, his face displaying a variety of troubled emotions. Confusion came first, followed by annoyance, and quickly replaced by fury.

 

"Inuyasha... w-what did he want?" Kagome asked shakily.

 

"I don't know." Inuyasha said between his teeth.

 

He'd always been a lousy liar, so he turned his face away from Kagome when he answered her question, lest she see right through him like the clever wench tended to do.

 

'You.' Inuyasha thought angrily, unaware that he was snarling, as his arms tightened considerably around Kagome.

 

'The bastard wanted you. But he said this was a test. A test for what? I don't get it! Shit! Naraku knows about Kikyou... and he asked why Kagome wasn't my mate yet. Does he want me to mark Kagome? That doesn't make any sense... but...'

 

"Naraku didn't come for the shards..." Kagome said smally, trying to understand the dark hanyou's sudden, unwelcomed appearence, completely unaware that she had just finished Inuyasha's thoughts.

 

"Shit..." Inuyasha muttered. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself down. If he went berseker on Kagome now, it would definetely not help the situation.

 

Kagome was obviously in a state of shock. She had stopped sobbing but her body was shaking and her eyes were wide, her pupils contracted. Her face was pale and her small hands, clutching Inuyasha's haori, tightened around the fabric.

 

'And now she knows. Naraku made damn sure Kagome heard that he knew I saw Kikyou that morning... and that something went wrong...' Inuyasha thought desperately.

 

Still, he knew Kagome would not press him on the matter until he was ready to tell her himself. And he dreaded that moment. No, he was not ready. He didn't think he ever would be. All he wanted to do was forget about the damn incident by the stream. But his blood refused to let go...

 

Inuyasha tried to focus on something else, namely the Shikon no Tama. The jewel Kikyou had snatched from Kagome and... given to Naraku.

 

"Are you sure he didn't have the shards with him?" He asked tentatively.

 

Kagome didn't answer with words, but she nodded her head and let go of her death grip on him.

 

"I don't feel well..." She starting gasping for air. "I-Inuyasha... I think I'm going to be sick..."

 

"Dammit, wench, don't throw up all over me!" Inuyasha snapped and rose to his feet at once, carrying her with him. Kagome leaned down and he held her hair back as she emptied her stomach behind a bush.

 

She wiped her mouth with the back of her still shaking hand. "Yuck..." She managed. "Oh Gods... oh Gods..."

 

"Kagome, don't freak out on me! We gotta get moving... are you okay now?" He smoothed her black hair carefully behind her ears. Her face was covered by a thin layer of cold sweat, her bangs sticking to her pale forehead.

 

"I'll never be okay, baka!" She shouted. "I kissed Naraku!"

 

"I've noticed." Inuyasha said grimly, narrowing his eyes. "But you thought he was me... right?"

 

"What kind of question is that?!" Kagome was slowly slipping out of her shock and becoming angry. "I knew it wasn't you, Inuyasha, but I ... I..."

 

She couldn't explain it to him, how could he understand? Little did she know Inuyasha understood a lot more about her situation that he let it show.

 

He had made the same mistake that fateful morning. He had chosen to believe Kikyou was Kagome...his eyes had seen what he'd wanted to see.

 

Naraku had exploited Kagome's weakness... he'd told her what she'd wanted to hear from Inuyasha. And she'd chosen to believe him, too.

 

"I wasn't thinking... I didn't want to see... it was... it was you in my mind... but it was... so wrong... so wrong... I knew it right from the start and I refused to see it..." Kagome said hurriedly, praying to all the Gods Inuyasha would forgive her for her fatal mistake.

 

"Do we have to talk about this, Kagome? I already told you, I know! Anyone could have made that mistake..." Inuyasha said harshly, looking away from her again.

 

"I was stupid." Kagome whispered.

 

"True." Inuyasha nodded, arms folded across his chest.

"I was blind." She went on smally.

 

"True." Inuyasha agreed, nodding again.

 

"And you're not helping!" Kagome snapped, grabbing his white forelocks, her moist brown eyes meeting Inuyasha's golden depths that suddenly hardened as he looked right into her deep, almost fearful brown eyes.

"What do you expect, wench? Do you expect me to be happy about this shit?" Inuyasha growled, and grimaced inwardly.

 

He'd meant to tell her everything would be okay, that no damage had been done... she was all right, a little shaken and pale and currently directing her frustration and anger at him, but... all that mattered was the she was unharmed.

 

"I'm sorry." Kagome said, letting go of his hair, as Inuyasha sighed.

 

"Me too." He said irritably. "He just... that asshole! He said... just the right thing to make you forget about yourself... it's what he does best, Kagome. He fucks up with people's heads. We're no exception. Fifty years ago..."

 

Kagome's expression softened and she took his large hands in hers and squeezed them. "You don't have to talk about... that..." She said tenderly. "I was a fool... and I know you care about me..."

 

Inuyasha looked away yet again, unaware that he was frowning at her words.

 

'I don't care about you, you stupid bitch, I fucking love you! And that bastard took those words from me! When I said them out loud last night, they felt so right... but then again, I was human, and humans... well, they need to hear those words, I guess... and they need to say them, too... it's not enough for them to just feel. They rely on reassurance too much. And just when I was trying to tell you, to fight away all of your fears... bastard just had to show up wearing my face and dares speak those words to you... he fucking dares touch my bitch...kiss your lips that are only mine to kiss! And he took that away from me! You say those words to me and it comes naturally for you... so maybe... if all this becomes real... it won't be such a bad thing. Fuck him, fuck him! His timing couldn't have been worse! I was going to say it! Okay, so maybe not... but I meant to! I tried, Kagome... you expected that of me and I let you down again! And then that asshole appears out of no where and makes you believe I'm not the fucking coward I am... that I could, and said, that I love you. What if I say it now? Would it make any difference? Would you be reassured? Would you think I'm just saying it just cause you want me to, or cause he said it first? Would you believe me?'

 

Inuyasha sighed irritably. Fuck it all, he loathed thinking! His head was so full of questions and doubts and anger he couldn't deal with himself. He had to do something... anything... just to stop this much thinking.

 

"Kagome..." He started slowly, his small dog-like ears drooping. "I need to tell you something... something you should know... from me, at least..." The inu-hanyou was hesitant, and Kagome gave him a weary, sad look with a tinge of hope that made him swallow hard.

 

But there was something bothering him to no end and he just had to tell her... he literally couldn't breathe at the moment because of it... he felt physically ill, and there was no way he could stay around her like this.

 

"What is it?" Kagome asked softly, looking up at him, her unconditional love for him evident in her chocolate-hued eyes.

 

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment before looking away, a scowl adorning his face. He had to tell her. Now.

 

Shit, it was killing him not to say anything about it! He was beginning to feel a sick, too, his stomach knotting.

 

He wrinkled his nose, a look of undisguised disgust on his handsome face. "Go take a fucking bath. You stink, wench."

 

Kagome nodded and bit her lip, tasting her own blood again. In all honesty, that was what she wanted to do in the first place. Although she doubted she'd ever feel clean again.

 

They stood up together and Inuyasha wordlessly stared at Tetsusaiga, laying abandoned on the ground like shedded skin.

 

He shut his eyes, guilt and self loathing at his own weakness assaulting him full force now that he could actually think, the fact that he had let his demon side take over him without a second thought, discarding his Father's sword like garbage weighed on him and made him grimace.

 

Inuyasha lifted Tetsusaiga from the ground gingerly and sheated it immediately.

 

Kagome was slient all the while, clinging to his arm and dragging her feet until he silently offered her his back.

 

She climbed onto Inuyasha's back, her small frame still shaking, and he slid his hands beneath her silken thighs, thumbs absently stroking her skin. His hands shifted under her knees.

 

Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself to the warmth of his back, burying her face in his neck, letting his presence and the woodsy, clean fragance of his hair soothe her, her long shapely legs squeezing his waist tightly.

 

Inuyasha carried her to Kaede's hut and none of them said anything for the rest of the brief walk.

 

________________

 

 

Kagura sighed irritably, bored to death, sitting on her heels with her back against the wall and glaring at the figure sitting placidly in front of her.

 

Kikyou's unnerving presence had annoyed the hell out of the Wind Sorceress when she had been informed she was to remain with the undead miko and wait for Naraku's return.

 

In the dark hanyou's words, he was risking abandoning the safety of his castle to see for himself if there was a possibility that Inuyasha might eventually mark Kikyou's reincarnation. He'd never put the young miko or the inu-hanyou's trust for each other to the test himself, even though he had tried to make Kagome shoot Inuyasha while being possessed by a tainted Shikon shard.

The black miko, Tsubaki, had failed in her task; Kagome hadn't shot him, and Inuyasha in turn had not left her side, in spite of the fact that he'd known she was possessed and could very well pierce his heart with a purifying arrow, repeating her reincarnation's fateful deed.

 

That should have been proof enough, but Naraku had wanted to try something that, according to him, he had not attempted in fifty years.

 

Not that he'd actually said all this to Kagura, but he'd been talking to Kanna, his ever faithful, silent creation. The wind youkai, his ever unfaithful, and never silent creation, had been casually passing by and had overheard the one-sided conversation.

 

A mistake for which she had been punished with the horrid task of 'baby-sitting' for the undead miko, who was not a likely ally to her 'master' in Kagura's opinion at all.

 

Not that Kagura gave a shit. If Sesshoumaru wouldn't do her the courtesy of killing Naraku for her, she didn't give a flying fuck who did, as long as the bastard stayed dead and she was freed from this prison that she called her life.

 

Kagura's annoyance had quickly turned into confusion. Why was the dead miko there... again? What exactly were they waiting for? And why did she feel so... nervous and awkward under Kikyou's presence?

 

And most of all... why the in the Seven Hells was Kikyou holding Naraku's Shikon shards? Naraku never left the precious gem out of his sight... and he had trusted the jewel to the dead priestess that represented his greatest fear, the one being he could not bring himself to destroy... and yet the jewel of the Four Souls remained tainted, and did not show any signs of beng purified.

 

Was it that Kikyou couldn't use her miko powers like she used to when she was alive to cleanse the jewel, or could it be that she just wouldn't?

 

Kagura guessed she'd never find out. And discovered she didn't give a damn, really.

 

The wind youkai did recall that when Kikyou had unceremoniously tossed the stolen Shikon no Tama at Naraku's feet, the jewel had been a pure, rosy pink. Then again, up until then, the gem had been under Kagome's care who'd purified it with her own miko powers. As soon as it touched Naraku's fingers, the Shikon no Tama had turned from rosy pink to corrupted black, and it had remained that way ever since - until Naraku had placed it in Tsubaki's greedy hands.

 

Kagome's mere closeness to the jewel had immediately begun to purify it, much to the black miko's shock, in spite of the fact that Tsubaki had cursed her and the girl could barely move.

 

Kagura's deep, crimson eyes were now fixed on the precious jewel, Sesshoumaru's words, spoken so long ago, ringing in her ears. 'Take the Shikon shards and defeat Naraku yourself.'

 

The wind youkai snorted. Yeah, right. If she took the jewel, Naraku would squeeze her bleeding heart and dispose of her in the blink of an eye.

 

Besides, Naraku must have had a reason to trust the dead miko with the Shikon shards. Naraku always had a motive.

 

The incomplete, pitch black orb called out to Kagura silently from the pale, cold hands of the priestess.

 

Kikyou's ghostly white, soul gathering serpents were unable to enter the castle, therefore the undead miko was unable to move. Naraku didn't trust her, of course. And still, Kikyou was guarding the jewel while Naraku was away.

 

Nobody could traspass the powerful barrier that shielded Naraku's castle... and Kagura understood all too clearly that Kikyou was protecting the jewel from her. The wind youkai pouted and her brow furrowed, eyes still glued to the black orb.

 

Indeed, Kanna would never take it for herself. Kohaku wouldn't know what the heck to do with it, since he had no idea he was Naraku's pawn and had no desire for revenge. Kohaku's reluctance to carry out Naraku's orders was unconscious; it was his human heart, the soul of the boy he used to be, that kept the tormented, mindless puppet from fulfilling his duties to his 'saviour'.

 

Now, as Kagura watched the Shikon no Tama taunting her with its silent promise of freedom, she could also see the stolen souls Kikyou took from dead women to keep her body alive, if one could call it that, leaving the miko's fake body, and returning to nothing.

 

Would those souls find peace? In all honesty, Kagura didn't care, and apparently, neither did Kikyou.

 

The impassive miko showed no visible signs of being in pain; her face was a mask of indifference, and she didn't even seem to be aware that she was slowly but surely losing the souls that she regularly fed on.

 

Kagura shuddered. So there she was, locked in the vast room of the castle with a dead woman, a miko at that. Kikyou had always given Kagura the creeps, but now that Kagura was actually witnessing the stolen, miserable souls being freed of the miko's temporary hold, the wind youkai was becoming more and more aware of the fact that Kikyou was... well, nothing but an empty carcass.

 

Kagura did not particularly enjoy the company of a corpse, but she recalled feeling this very same sense of dread that took hold of her, as she had laid on the grass the previous night, when Naraku had ordered her to abandon his domains while the dead priestess remained within the castle. Apparently, the two of them had been discussing some sort of alliance... and Kagura was not at all surprised that Naraku did not wish for her to discover his plans anyway, but... the miko was a threat to them all, was she not? Yet she held the precious Shikon no Tama in her dead hands.

 

And there she was, sitting peacefully like she owned the damn castle, the only soul remaining within her clay body now being the single soul that rightfully belonged to her reincarnation, completely oblivious to the poisonous atmosphere that would have killed any human in a second.

 

Then again, she was dead.

 

The only dead Kagura appreciated were the ones that danced for her. Now that was entertaining. This was just... plain boring. Not to mention slightly disturbing.

 

The nagging feeling of dread refused to abandon her. It was like an ominous cloud hanging over the Wind Sorceress' head. Kagura shuddered again, as confusion quickly turned into fear.

 

How come she was stuck there with a clay zombie, waiting for Naraku to return from whatever 'test' he itched to try out on the dog demon and his young miko? Why not his precious Kanna? Or Kohaku? He was dead too. He'd probably have more in common with Kikyou.

 

As it was, Kagura was beginning to think she'd have more fun in the dungeons.

 

Kagome would have sensed the shards immediately, Kagura reasoned... so that would explain why Naraku hadn't taken them with him... but it did not explain why he had left them under Kikyou's care.

 

The fear had not left Kagura, and she felt something was completely off in this picture, but she couldn't risk it and leave the castle, disobeying Naraku's orders - yet again.

 

No. Her life was her top priority. But boredom always brought the worst out of her.

 

Maybe it was another test? Perhaps Naraku was expecting Kagura to try and snatch the Shikon no Tama from Kikyou? As if she was that stupid! And still... it was tempting...

 

Take the jewel, dispose of the dead miko... get the hell out of the castle, find Naraku... kill him... and be free. It was all too easy, and Kagura was sick and tired of Naraku's little tests.

 

She had once tried to take the few Shikon shards Naraku had had under his possession the very same night she had been 'born'... and had found a barrier protecting the lonely shards. Of course... that had been a test. Kagura had failed, and she had almost been killed by Inuyasha's Wind Scar that night, too.

 

Curse Naraku and his fucking tests. She was not falling for it this time...

 

Kagura scowled at the figure in front of her. Kikyou did not look directly at her and didn't utter a word. In spite of the fact that she was souless, her icy, almond-shaped eyes were focused, and Kagura had given up trying to get the miko to talk. Not that she wanted to chit chat or anything, but she was bored out of her mind, and for a moment she'd thought she could at least talk to someone other than Kohaku, Kanna, or herself.

 

Kohaku was human, undead, and on the verge of losing his mind. Kanna rarely replied to anything Kagura said, making the Wind Sorceress want to shake the albino child by the shoulders and yell in her impassive face. Making Kanna engage in small talk was like trying to make a rock bleed.

 

Kagura had hummed to herself for a while, tapping her fan against her palm. She had sulked. She had stomped her feet in frustration and screamed. She had hmmph'd and sighed in annoyance. She had paced the empty chamber up and down like a caged lion, muttering curses under her breath.

 

Currently, Kagura was pouting again and leaning her cheek against her palm, sighing irritably every two seconds just to hear some sort of noise.

 

Maybe she'd die of boredom...

Or she could entertain herself with not so pure thoughts about a certain Lord of the Western Lands... not that she could even attempt to find him from here, or actually daydream in peace with such cold, dead eyes staring at her.

 

And she wouldn't try it, really, the last time she had done it he had actually called out her name. She'd freaked out. Well, almost. That fucking, gorgeous bastard. She hadn't expected Mr. Personality himself to actually speak. He who communicated with his eyebrows.

 

Kagura rolled her eyes again and sighed, this time in near despair bordering on white fury. Bastard, bastard, bastard... why did he have to call out her name like that?! Damn him! Well, at least now Kagura was not entirely bored... but she was majorly pissed off.

 

She scowled at the impassive, pale face of the undead miko in front of her, not really seeing her at all. "Asshole..." She murmured, not quite aware she had spoken out loud.

 

Kikyou's eyes focused on her and she stared at Kagura until the wind youkai snapped. "What the fuck are you looking at?"

 

"A lady should act like one." Was Kikyou's soft reply.

"Well, I ain't no lady. And I don't recall asking the opinion of a dead miko, thank you very much!"

 

"Not for long." Kikyou murmured, her expression deadpan.

 

"Huh?"

 

"How does it feel, Wind Sorceress... not to have a heart?"

 

"I have a heart! It's just... not inside my chest! But I have one! Unlike some people who are just fucking dead!" Kagura spat.

 

What the hell was Kikyou getting at? Scary little witch...

 

"To be heartless... is like being dead." Kikyou said placidly, as if she was talking to a child.

 

"The hell it is! I don't steal souls from dead women, you freak!"

 

"Freak?" Kikyou's eyebrows arched slightly. "I do not believe you quite know who you are talking to."

 

"Hmmph! I know I'm talking to a clay zombie, so excuse me for not minding my fucking manners." Kagura snapped.

 

"I am a miko. And my soul is not dead." Kikyou responded coldly.

 

"Yeah right. And I'm free, and Naraku is Buddah." Kagura snorted. "You've been reincarnated. I hate to break it to you, but your soul isn't yours anymore."

 

Kikyou glared at her impassively. "I did not ask to be brought back."

 

"Then why not do the world a favor and drop dead?"

 

"I have a duty to fulfill." Kikyou said simply.

 

"Kill Naraku, huh?" Kagura was suddenly interested, a smirk playing on her bloodred lips. "Well, you could hurry the hell up! Why did you give him the jewel anyway? Does being dead make you senile or something?"

 

Realization struck as she leaned forward slightly. "I see now... you want Naraku to complete the jewel... and then..." Kagura arched a delicate eyebrow. "You'd destroy the jewel? And Naraku? Is that why you gave it to him? You don't want the Shikon no Tama to remain in this world... and you're obviously out for revenge... you do realize that if Naraku completes the jewel, not even you would be able to defeat him? And here I thought you had a brain..." She rolled her eyes and sighed in obvious dissapointment.

 

If Sesshoumaru wouldn't take care of her problem for her, and Kikyou could not kill Naraku due to some stupid plan that reeked of over confidence on the dead woman's part... then maybe Inuyasha... reckless as he was, perhaps... yes, with his little miko's aid... there was a possibility that -

 

But Kagura's thoughts were interrupted by Kikyou's icy response.

 

"What I do is not of your concern. I do not expect the likes of you to understand. And you ask too many questions."

 

"'The likes of me?'" Kagura snorted. "Says the clay zombie who wanders the earth and feeds off souls like a leech." Kagura shrugged carelessly. "I can tell you're not the sort of woman who'd care much for pity, but, damn, you're certainly pitiful..."

 

She had obviously hit a nerve when she had called Kikyou 'pitiful'.The glare she was getting from the dead miko was all the answer she needed.

 

"Touchy..." Kagura muttered.

 

"The only pitiful being I see here is you, Wind Sorceress. You are a slave. Heartless. Bitter. But I do find it amusing... you have a purpose. You simply do not know it. But you will soon find out." Kikyou actually smirked then, her eyes narrowing. "Pitiful indeed."

 

Kagura rolled her eyes. "I'm so not in the mood to hear a dead woman's ramblings... I might be a slave but I didn't choose to be one! Naraku owns my heart. That would make anyone bitter, you conceited, arrogant little bitch! As for you...you're a slave to your selfish desires. You're a restless soul that lives for revenge. And even if you get it, you'd still be bitter and unsatisfied, because you can't get what your dead heart craves for. Not in life, and certainly not in death. That makes you heartless in my book. If you're trying to compete and see which one of us is more pitiful, I'd say you've won, hands down."

 

Kikyou regarded her with a calm, cold expression, her eyes reflecting her hatred for her, or for the world, Kagura didn't particularly give a damn which, and not another word left the undead miko's lips after that exchange.

 

Fuck the scary little witch. Fuck Naraku for locking her up with a talking corpse. If a load of shit was all that was going to come out of Kikyou's mouth, then Kagura rather have the silence she had grown accustomed to.

 

Also, she was getting ticked off with the undead miko. So what if Kagura killed her now? She could chop off her head with one swing of her fan. Naraku would probably be grateful... and of course... there was the Shikon no Tama...

 

Okay, so maybe not.

 

But damn, it was just too tempting. Kagura unconciously unfolded her fan and tapped it against her shoulder impatiently.

 

Was Kikyou strong enough to attempt to purify Kagura in self defence if Kagura were to attack? The jewel was not purified... but Kagura was still debating with herself whether it was because Kikyou couldn't purify it or simply wouldn't.

 

'I don't really fancy finding out.' Kagura thought with a scowl and let out a sigh of frustration, folding her fan again. 'Screw this! Naraku definetely hates her more than he hates me. Whatever they are planning, it won't be pretty for her in the end...'

 

 

TBC

 

 

AN: Kagura curses like a sailor and has no manners whatsoever, although she makes up for it with her amazing style (can you tell she's my favorite IY female character?) Those who watch the show in Japanese and read the manga already know this, but for those who watch it dubbed, yes, she can get as bad as Inu and Kouga.

Regarding the Shikon no Tama: When Tsubaki cursed Kagome, the jewel remained tainted even though Kikyou faced off with her old enemy and was right in front of it, and the jewel showed no signs of being purified with her in the room. It was purified however, when Kagome neared Tsubaki's hiding place, so there ya go with that explanation. It's a mystery if Kikyou merely won't purify it or can't (my opinion is she can, since she still has her miko powers. But being dead changed her in more ways than one, for instance, she couldn't approach Mt Hakurei...but this is fanfic. Just my humble opinion here...)

 

Also someone asked me if I don't know what's going to happen next. I do! This fic was planned a long time ago and some later chaps are already written. Sometimes the story DOES lead me elsewhere (stories tend to do that...for example, believe it or not, this was intended to be a one-shot! lol) which is why I say it 'writes itself'. Trust me, I know where I'm going with this fic, so worry not! :) Thanks again for the lovely reviews! ::emotional tears:: KEEP 'EM COMING!

 

Thanks for reading! And onegai REVIEW! Review review revieeeeew!

Much love, ramen and pocky! (only to those who review...want...more...reviews...)

YM