InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Separation ❯ Prologue: A Sinister Alliance ( Prologue )

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

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the publicly known characters, plot, etc.  I’m just renting them from Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, etc.   I do own the plot of this story and any original characters I’ve created.  I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.


Fanfiction of the week:  Needing It, by Shadowmeteor.  


A/N – For those of you who are new to this story, I wrote it about five years ago.  It was only my second story, and the first of any significant length, so I was definitely a beginner back then.  I’ve known that this was in dire need of an edit for some time, but I never got around to it until now.  While the plot is basically the same, I overhauled a few chapters and even completely rewrote a couple.  Overall, I believe it has a much more mature feel to it now, similar to Entrapment.  I feel much better about the new version, and I hope you enjoy it.  

Prologue: A Sinister Alliance

Kagura soared through the air on her giant feather, relishing in her freedom.  Idly she wondered how long she would be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of the wind in her hair.  Soon Naraku would call her to return to his castle, or worse yet simply kill her.  The instant she was no longer of use to him, her life—if one could call it such—was over.  Of that she had no doubt.  She could only hope that one of his enemies would destroy him before he grew tired of her.  Sesshoumaru seemed the most likely candidate, but she would not be too surprised if Inuyasha and his strange miko ended up dealing the finishing blow.  The wolf, on the other hand, was completely hopeless, and the dead miko…well, Kagura could never tell what that crazy woman was thinking.  

Movement ahead and below caught Kagura’s attention, breaking her from her gloomy thoughts.  There, a few hundred yards away, white serpent-like creatures rose out of the forest canopy.  They glided directly into her path, their shimmering bodies undulating slowly in the wind.  It took Kagura a moment to recognize the creatures.  Speak of the devil.  But why is that walking corpse signaling me?

She briefly contemplated ignoring the creatures and flying away, but decided against it.  That would not go over well with her master, especially if the miko had something important to say.  Grimacing, she followed the creatures down to a small forest clearing before dismounting her feather and dropping to the ground.  A slight shiver passed through her frame; the dead woman before her had always given her the creeps.  

“What do you want, miko?”

“I wish to speak with Naraku,” Kikyou stated neutrally.  “Tell him he is to arrive at this spot two sundowns hence.  He is to come alone.  If those two requirements are met, I shall arrive shortly thereafter and make an offer Naraku cannot refuse.”

Kagura scoffed.  “What makes you think he won’t just kill you?”  

“If Naraku does not accept my offer, I have no doubt it will result in his destruction.  Now go, and see that you deliver my message.”

Kagura scowled.  That bitch!  Why does everybody have to order me around?  Huffing, she once again took to the skies, suddenly wishing she hadn’t stopped to see what the walking corpse had wanted.  

Two days later, just as last rays of sunlight disappeared below the western horizon, Naraku arrived at the clearing.  He came alone, just as Kikyou had demanded.  She had once again piqued his curiosity.  Failure to accept will surely bring about my destruction, eh Kikyou?  Just what are you planning?  

A pale glow from above alerted him to Kikyou’s impending arrival.  She descended to the ground on her shinidamachu, which bathed the clearing in haunting luminescence.  Naraku grinned in barely disguised contempt.  

“Ahh, Kikyou.  To what do I owe the pleasure?”

The miko’s eyes were hard; she returned his smile with a cold glare.  “Make no mistake, Naraku.  I gave you the shards of the Shikon no Tama, but it has always been my intention to send you to hell.  I seek you out now only because we have a common enemy, one who I am finally ready to dispatch.”

Naraku’s smirk widened in amusement.  “And who do you intend to release your pent up hatred upon?”  

“It is not hatred,” she corrected tersely.  “She is merely an obstacle.”

Naraku chuckled maliciously.  “Ahh, so it is Kagome you wish to…dispatch.”  

Could this possibly get any better?  The young miko had been a thorn in his side for far too long.  She had destroyed his first body with a single arrow, and only her incredible spiritual power kept the jewel shards in her possession from becoming tainted with malice.  

Getting no response from the girl’s preincarnation, Naraku nodded in mock sympathy.  “I can see why you would want to be rid of her.  She and Inuyasha grow closer every day.  One does wonder where his heart lies…”

“Silence!” Kikyou barked, her eyes flashing in anger for a split second, before she replaced her emotionless mask.  But it was enough for Naraku, who thoroughly enjoyed even the momentary discomfiture.  

“Do not presume that you know anything about Inuyasha or my reincarnation,” Kikyou continued calmly, as if the outburst had never occurred.  “For they have both defeated you time and again, have they not?”  

Naraku’s mood soured just slightly at the reminder.  “Your point?”  

“My point is that only I know what Inuyasha truly desires.  His heart belongs to me.  He is merely confused, and that indecently-dressed copy of me does not help matters.  In the end, Inuyasha will come to me willingly.”  

Naraku resisted the urge to roll his eyes.  Truthfully, he didn’t care which woman Inuyasha chose; they were all going to die anyway.  But he would at least hear what Kikyou had to say before he killed her.  

“And your offer has something to do with this?”  

Kikyou paused to gather her thoughts, or perhaps to solidify her resolve.  “There is something about Kagome which you do not know,” she stated finally.  “The girl is my reincarnation, but she is not from this time.”  

Naraku’s brow furrowed in consternation as he took in this new information.  That would explain the outlandish clothing, at least.  This could prove to be very interesting indeed.  

“Near my home village,” Kikyou continued, “there exists a portal to Kagome’s time period, some years in the future, which only she and Inuyasha can pass through.  I will take the shards of the Shikon no Tama in Kagome’s possession, and send her through the portal, at which time you will seal it using the power of the tainted Shikon no Tama.”

Naraku took a few moments to digest everything that Kikyou had said, searching for any sign of deception.  But all of it made sense, and more importantly, fit with what he knew about Inuyasha and his strange miko.  Slowly, his malevolent grin returned full force.  

“And what makes you think I won’t just find this portal, kill Kagome, and take her shards of the Shikon no Tama myself?”

“Because Inuyasha will detect you.  You may be able to conceal your demonic aura, but you cannot hide your scent.”

Naraku thought about it, and realized Kikyou was right.  Presumably, and if the dead miko’s words could be trusted, Inuyasha likely accompanied Kagome through the time portal.  And if not, even the inu-hanyou would not be so foolish as to not guard the portal while waiting for Kagome’s return.  That was too obvious a vulnerability for even Inuyasha to miss.  No, Inuyasha would almost certainly detect him if he tried to ambush Kagome as she came through the portal, and he definitely did not desire a confrontation with the hanyou’s unnaturally powerful sword.  He would fight that battle only when he was ready.  

Still, if Kikyou was trying to get rid of Kagome, why could she not simply take care of the matter herself?  

“Why not simply kill Kagome and be done with it?”  

“Inuyasha feels an obligation to protect her, and though she is an obstacle, she has done me no harm.  She does not belong here; I merely wish to send her back to her homeland.”  

More like you don’t want Inuyasha to grieve for her, Naraku mused, but he kept his thoughts to himself.  Though judging by the way Kikyou narrowed her eyes, perhaps she could read his mind.  He hoped not, because he was already trying to discern the best moment to betray Kikyou.  If he simply killed her now, it would change nothing; he would still have to deal with Inuyasha and Kagome in the future.  If on the other hand he attacked while Kikyou was taking Kagome’s jewel shards, he would end up facing the combined power of both miko, as Kikyou would certainly turn to face the greater threat.  No, it appeared this time he would have to play it straight.  There was so much to gain from following Kikyou’s plan, and much to lose from deviating from it.  Still, he was uncomfortable with the arrangement.  Betrayal was in his blood, so to speak.

“When is this plan to take place?” he asked reluctantly.  

“Three days from now; Inuyasha and his group should have returned to the village by then.  Go and wait for me in the forest nearby.  Make certain you are not detected.”  

“And what happens once Kagome is sealed permanently in her time?”

“I will hand over the shards of the Shikon no Tama to you, and then Inuyasha and I will journey to the netherworld together.  I care not what you do with the jewel thereafter.”  

This time, Naraku could not resist a taunt.  “And what if Inuyasha decides he does not wish to join you in hell?”

There it was again, that flash of rage he had so enjoyed seeing earlier.  

“Do not concern yourself,” Kikyou snapped.  “Inuyasha will come to me willingly,” she repeated, like a broken record in denial.  

Naraku barely contained his mirth.  For all her posturing, Kikyou’s plan had one fatal flaw: the inu-hanyou himself.  She had overestimated her hold on Inuyasha.  It appeared that he would not have to betray Kikyou after all.  It would be far more enjoyable to watch Inuyasha break her heart all over again.  For he knew exactly what the inu-hanyou would do: frantically search for a way to reopen the portal and bring Kagome back.  And observing Kikyou suffer as she realized this…well, that would be the sweetest thing of all.  

Putting on his best sincere expression, Naraku gave his answer.  “Very well, Kikyou, we shall follow your plan.  You have my word.”

Kikyou scoffed quietly.  “Your word?  Anything that comes from your lying tongue means nothing to me.  I know you will not betray me because it is in your best interests to follow my plan.  Besides, if Kagome remains in this era, she will eventually destroy you.  Of that, I have no doubt.”  

Naraku felt hot anger boil in his belly at that comment, perhaps because being purified by Kagome was something he secretly feared.  But he contented himself with the knowledge that soon Kikyou would experience more anguish at the hands of her beloved than he could ever hope to inflict upon her himself.  

After studying him a moment longer, Kikyou silently took her silent leave.  

“That went very well, indeed,” Naraku reflected aloud, chuckling viciously.  In just three days, he would possess Kagome’s jewel shards and the young miko would be permanently out of the picture.  And Kikyou was about to undergo a very rude awakening to the true loyalties of former love.  Almost every aspect of this plan of hers was absolutely, positively delicious.  He only wished that he could see the look on Inuyasha’s face as he slaughtered Kagome in front of him, but allowing the young miko to escape was a small sacrifice.  Inuyasha, Kikyou, and the rest of those fools would all suffer a great deal.  Oh, yes, they would all suffer dearly.  


A/N – I realize that Kikyou’s characterization is questionable for this point in the series (near the end of the original anime).  I don’t think I saw it as an issue before, but I do now.  But rather than making this story take place earlier, and changing every single aspect that included a detail from later in the series, I decided to leave it as is.  I hope I can persuade you to just “go with it” on this one detail…