InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Way Ice Can Turn Into Sun ❯ Naraku's Plan ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Naraku's plan

 

 

The next morning Kumiko woke up in Sesshoumaru's arms. His golden orbs were fixed on her and she sustained the intensity of his gaze.

“Morning Sesshoumaru” she smiled cuddling into him even more.

“Good morning Kumiko” he answered stroking her soft, now dry hair.

She smiled at the sound of her name and felt happy he had decided to finally use it. Being called human or miko was really getting on her nerves anyway. The change in him was obvious and seemed real. She feared he would change his mind in being with a human and revert to his cold self, but it seemed it wasn't so.

“We must travel further today.” his voice brought her back to reality “I sense Naraku's disgusting scent.”

“Naraku.” She remembered. She had almost forgotten about the one that had brought her here to suit his unknown purposes.

He released her gently from his arms and slid his haori and armor back on with fluid motions, placing his two swords at their former place.

She followed him as he walked back to the place where Jaken and Ah-Un were waiting.

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” came his servant's shrill voice. “Oh, and the human!”

“Jaken. We are leaving. Go get her food. Than follow us. Take Ah-Un with you and return quickly.”

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!” his loyal servant instantly hoped on the dragon and flew away.

“Well...now that we're alone...” the tayoukai reached her waist and pulled her against him, smiling at the blush on her cheeks.

He kissed her again, with all the passion that had been burning inside him since last night. His lips gave her sensations that she had never experienced before. She felt like she was in the middle of a whirlwind and the only stable thing was his warm body. Her hands clutched on to him tightly as she surrendered, like that kiss was stealing the life away from her. He stopped and his yellow eyes examined her with a pleased expression.

“If I go on you might not be able to travel today.” He grinned.

She recovered her senses and shot back, returning his grin:

“Don't be so full of yourself...I'm just weak from hunger.”

“Is that so...we'll continue this after you eat then.”

He liked the way she stood up to him and let her do that. Playing with her amused him, the girl knew he could subjugate her easily and she still fought back which made everything more interesting. He preferred it this way, her giving in little by little until he could completely own her in body and heart.

He released her and started walking. She followed him and, thinking this would be a good time to find out more information, asked:

“So...why are you after Naraku?”
He expected her question and had already prepared an answer:

“He tried to use me in one of his petty plans once. Also he once dared to take something that belonged to me...His insolence cannot go unpunished. I will take his life.”

“What...is he? A youkai?” she asked curiously.

“He is a low-life hanyou, but not one born from a human and a youkai, like Inuyasha. He is born from many youkai that have devoured a corrupted human soul.” He said disgusted.

She shivered at his words. “A corrupted human soul devoured by youkai, that's abominable, what being could possibly result from this?” she thought.

As if he could read her mind, Sesshoumaru responded:

“He is a cowardly and disgusting creature, always sending puppets or his minions to do his dirty work and manipulating beings into hurting their loved ones.”

“Why? Why would anyone do such a thing?” she asked, appearing horrified.

“His only desire is the Shikon no Tama, as far as I could figure.” He answered knitting his brows.

“The Shikon...That thing Kagome was talking about. What is that?” her voice trembled a little as she remembered Kagome said that thing was somehow connected to the travel through time.

He didn't miss the slight tremble in her voice and knew what it was about. His eyes darkened at the thought that he might lose her. That could not happen. She had to be his and he would not let her leave. He decided to answer her and so he did in a cold voice:

“The Shikon no Tama is a jewel that gives unimaginable power to youkai and can fulfill human's desires. It has been shattered into pieces little time ago. Inuyasha and his group seek the pieces to make the jewel whole again. So does Naraku, and until now, he has the most shards.”

“A jewel that gives power...so everyone's after it...” She thought aloud.

“I am not.” He decreted in a superior tone.

Her question was to be expected:

“Why?”

“I do not need some magical trinket to give me power. That is beneath me” He replied.

“Of course you wouldn't.” she thought. “What power could the Shikon no Tama give you that you don't already possess?”

Their dialog was interrupted by the arrival of Jaken that had brought lunch for Kumiko. He almost tossed it in her face yelling insults. He didn't get to finish his words as Sesshoumaru's clawed hand raised him by the neck to meet his full stare.

“You will, from now on, address her properly.” He dropped his servant, adding:

“Do not anger me again.”

Jaken crawled away from him, bowing his head in acceptance. “Sesshoumaru-sama has never ordered me that before, not even with Rin! Could it be that my master is growing too attached to this human? No, I am foolish to think that, it is just bait for Naraku.” Jaken reassured himself while following as far from the demon lord as he could.

The sun was beginning to go down as they past a field full of the most wonderful flowers Kumiko had ever seen. She looked pleadingly at the taiyouaki:

“Can we stay here tonight? Please? It's so beautiful!” Her dark eyes implored him.

He gave in to see her happy and answered:

“Very well.”

“Yay! Thank you so much!” she laughed and started to run through the flowers.

It was amassing to the youkai lord how nature seemed to impress the girl in such a way and make her happy. Rin loved flowers too, she would always pick them up and give them to him. Kumiko and Rin would have gotten along so well, he thought. When this will all be over, he will take them both to live in his castle in the Western Lands.

His gaze followed the girl that was still running amongst the flowers. She was just like a child. Her name suited her perfectly, Kumiko...eternal beautiful child...

His serene thoughts were interrupted by an alert from his senses. A familiar scent was coming this way. Some “friends” of his from the Western Lands. Two demons landed in front of him. They both had human form, a fact that showed that they had power enough to control their appearance.

“Good afternoon, Sesshoumaru-sama” One of them spoke with a grin.

Sesshoumaru quickly turned his head to see where the girl was. She had wondered to far away to see them. He was thankful for that.

“What are you doing here, Kazumo?” the taiyoukai asked in an icy tone.

One of the demons looked in the same direction, following Sesshoumaru's gaze and said in a low voice:

“We have heard you are planning to take a human mate. We didn't believe it, but I see now it is true. We cannot allow you to do that. The Lord of The Western Lands cannot have a human mate.”

This was not the time to fight his opponents from the Western Lands, nor to announce that he had chosen a mate. Naraku had to be dealt with first. He would deal with these insolent bastards and those who followed them afterwards. Still, the demon's impudent words stirred his anger.

“You have become quite arrogant, Kazumo, what are you thinking questioning me?” he spoke, his icy eyes piercing through the demon's.

He could defeat both of these foes...but surely there were more. He couldn't keep the girl safe from Naraku while fighting them every day. Aside from that, his lands would be torn apart by war if news of this got there before he did.

The demon Kazumo took a step back, but replied with bitterness:

“Your father made the same mistake.”
”Do not dare soil my father's memory with your unworthy mouth!” Sesshoumaru growled putting a clawed hand on one of his swords.

His immense youki started to grow along with his anger, terrifying the two demons. However, it was the wrong way to handle things, he thought, calming himself.

“I do not know who started such a rumor, but I choose any pet I want.” He said. It hurt him to call her that, but for now it was the only way.

“Pet, you say?” the other demon asked with an evil grin.

“I do not like to repeat myself.” The taiyoukai snapped with his youki growing again.

“She is merely a play thing then?” Kazumo asked.

“Indeed.” Was Sesshoumaru's simple answer. “Now be gone...you offend my eyes.”

“A pleasure, as always...Sesshoumaru-sama...” Kazumo said bitterly before taking off with the other demon.

Kazumo did not doubt his word. He wasn't happy about it though, Sesshoumaru thought, he must have hoped to use that fact against him and take over the Western Lands. The taiyoukai sighed with sadness. After dealing with Naraku he would have to let out the truth. But with him in the castle of the Western Lands, they would have to accept it or die.

 

Kumiko was resting in the flowers when she saw a strange child approach her. The little girl was white...her hair, her skin, her clothes, all white. The only thing that had some color were here black eyes. Not like Kumiko's, they were totally blank and seemed empty. The little girl was holding a mirror.

“Look.” Her voice was a mere whisper

Kumiko did as she said and in the mirror she saw Sesshoumaru and...two other demons she didn't know. He was talking to them. She looked closer and realized with astonishment that she could hear their voices. She heard Sesshoumaru talking about a pet and than saying she was a play thing. No, this couldn't be true, he wouldn't say that! She thought desperately.

“The mirror never lies.” Said the strange little girl in a low voice, as if she had read her thoughts.

“No! It's not true!” she yelled running back towards the place where she had left Sesshoumaru.

As she was getting close she saw the two demons from the mirror take off. She fell on her knees, entirely covered by the tall flowers. It was true. She had to escape from him; she didn't want to see him, to hear him lie to her again. She got up and started running away as fast as she could, tears pouring down her cheeks. How could she have been so stupid! She had let herself get ensnared by a demon who thought humans were lower than the dirt on his boots! She kept running and running without looking back driven by the desire to get as far away from him as possible. In her pain she didn't even wonder about the white child. She couldn't sense any youki from her anyway and she didn't care who she was. Tears were pouring down her cheeks as she ran as fast as she could.

Sesshoumaru picked up her movement and ran after her. His speed was incredible and she couldn't compete with him, but just as he was closing in on her, a barrier got in his way.

Naraku's barrier.

The girl was still running on the other side of it. She had not noticed it.

“Show yourself, you scum!” Sesshoumaru spat pulling out one of his swords and trying to slice the barrier. It had no effect.

“You should control your anger, Sesshoumaru-sama.” He heard the familiar mocking voice of Naraku's puppet. “That barrier is unbreakable. Even for you.” it seemed to smile underneath the baboon skin.

“What have you done to her?” He growled trying to control his urge to rip apart the puppet. That would be useless and he needed information.

“Me? But Sesshoumaru-sama, it is you who has done something to her...” the puppet's voice sounded annoyingly pleased.

“What are you talking about, you bastard?” He barked.

“I merely showed her...A pet...a play thing? Where those not your own words?”

Sesshoumaru froze, realizing he had fallen into another of Naraku's traps. The puppet started to laugh and Sesshoumaru could control himself no longer. His claws ripped it apart, but he could only feel the baboon skin. The flesh he had wanted to cut so badly was not there. He felt foolish, he had been again manipulated by that cowardly hanyou and now he had lost her, the only woman he truly loved. Naraku made it so that he would hurt her. He could smell her tears in the air and it made his heart bleed. He realized she thought she had been only a toy to him. How wrong she was...He couldn't just sit there and do nothing. He reverted into an orb of light and took of with incredible speed after Kazumo.