An Offer She Can't Refuse
A/N: A little recap: Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are princes of the country Nazo. Nazo is a place where youkai and human live together in peace. Inuyasha was engaged to Kikyo, Sesshomaru to Kagome. But when Kagome was 6, (Inuyasha- 9, Kikyo-7, Sesshomaru-13) a flood devastated the village Mura, and King Taisho was forced to make a wish on the not yet purified Shikon no Tama. King Taisho died, Inuyasha was washed away and found by Naraku, king of a human country. Inuyasha lost his memories, and Naraku is planning on using him and Hojo to eventually take over Nazo.

Chapter 6: An Offer She Can’t Refuse

***** 9 Years Later (since the flood) *****

The 15-year-old girl ran into the shrine and yelled to the monk whom was praying. “Miroku, baachan fainted again!”

The monk with the black ponytail stood up at the sound of her panicky voice. “Kaede-sama has overworked herself again, hasn’t she?”

The girl nodded. Miroku reassured her. “Calm down, Kagome-sama, I’ll go with you at once. Who’s taking care of her at the moment?”

“Kikyo, her herbs are barely holding baachan alive.” Kagome began to cry. “Miroku… I fear baachan won’t make it this time.”

“Don’t despair, Kagome-sama, I’m sure Kaede-sama’s strong enough to pull through.”

It didn’t take them long to reach Kaede’s hut. The old miko laid on a futon, panting for breath, barely alive. Kikyo kneeled next to her, holding Kaede’s wrinkled hand. Kikyo looked like she could be Kagome’s twin.

“Miroku-sama, please do something,” Kikyo’s usual emotionless face revealed signs of panic and fear, “baasan’s…” She was barely holding back her own tears as well.

Kaede opened her eyes at the sudden disturbance. “Houshi, you have come to visit me at my final hour.”

Miroku’s face flinched with pain and concern. Without wasting another second he knelt down next to Kaede, opposite of Kikyo and took out his prayer beads. “I have no healing powers, Kaede-sama, but I will pray for you while Kagome and Kikyo-sama treat you.”

Kaede shook her head weakly and sadly. “It’s no use, Houshi, I’ve used up all my life energy and miko power.”

“Just to purify the jewel?” Miroku looked pained. “Is it worth that much suffering?”

“You know I do not have a choice,” Kaede coughed weakly, “Naraku’s army is getting to close for our comfort. He has many dark miko like Tsubaki on his side; our youkai forces can’t fight him as efficiently. Our only hope is the Tama, but it’s too dangerous for us to use if it’s not completely purified.” Kaede stopped talking as Kikyo forced down some herbal soup down the old miko’s throat.

“I know about the situation, Kaede-sama,” Miroku shook his head, his hands went over his prayer beads, “But how will Nazo benefit if its most powerful miko passes away from over-exhaustion?”

Kaede finished gulping her herbal soup and chuckled with as much energy as she had. “Most powerful? Certainly not? Either one of my two granddaughters has more powers than me. I am old, Houshi, I am nothing but a nuisance.”

“Baachan, don’t say that.” Kagome mumbled with tears in her eyes, while Kikyo wept silently, holding the soup bowl in her palms.

“Then why not let them try to purify the Tama?”

Kaede raised and waved her lifeless right hand. “No, they are young, I am old. If I have the slightest chance of purifying the Tama before I die, then there is no point in endangering them.” She lowered her hand and swallowed. “But it seems like it will take more than my powers to purify the Tama.”

Miroku’s hands stopped. “Kaede-sama, you mean you’re…”

“My life is coming to an end, Houshi, I cannot leave Nazo, Mura, and Kira unguarded without a proper head miko.”

Kagome and Kikyo’s heads raised at this statement. Kagome knelt down next to Miroku and clutched Kaede’s wrinkled hand. “No, baachan, don’t say that. Mama is coming tomorrow with Souta to visit you. And Sesshomaru-niichan and Queen Eri both sent messengers saying that they’ll come as soon as possible. You’ll be fine, baachan, so many people care about you, you’ll be fine. And besides, you can’t let Rin and Shippo see you in such a state.”

Kagome kept on rambling, but Miroku pulled her to him to stop her weeping. For once, the usually perverted monk kept his hands where they were supposed to be. Kikyo wept more after listening to what Kagome said, but the hut was fairly quiet.

“Shush, child, and listen to my decision, you all knew today would eventually come.” Kaede raised her weak arms, signaling to the people around her that she wished to be pulled up. Miroku still held the weeping Kagome in one arm, as he used the other arm to pull Kaede up. Kikyo shifted over so Kaede could lean on her.

Kaede took out a shining Shikon no Tama from her inner wardrobe. “Now, as the head miko of the country Nazo, protector of the Shikon no Tama, guide and adviser of the Inuyoukai royal family, I pass on all my titles and duties to my granddaughter, Higurashi Kagome.”

Kagome was so shocked that she stopped weeping instantly and looked at Kaede with an expression that can only be described as surprise. Neither Kaede nor Kagome noticed it, but an older girl by the name of Kikyo stiffened at the news. Miroku saw Kikyo’s reaction from the corners of his eyes but made no comment of it.

“But baachan, why?’ Kagome barely had the energy to whisper out the question, her sobs were still slightly choking her vocal cord.

“I need not give any explanation.” Kaede shifted and slid back to lying position. “Now, Houshi, Kikyo, leave Kagome alone with me so I may teach her the essentials of being a miko before I take my final breath.”

Miroku fully let go of Kagome and stood up and bowed in respect. Kikyo was still kneeling on the floor, still shocked. But Miroku’s movements snapped her out of her astonishment and she followed the monk out.

Miroku gently tapped the ground a few times and cleared his throat as they got out the hut. He looked at Kikyo from the corners of his eyes and found the girl looking dazed on the dusty ground.

He cleared his throat again. “There are some injured human soldiers being moved into the village huts. Kikyo-sama, I’m sure your miko powers would be very useful to them.”

Kikyo heard him, loud and clear. Her heart turned cold at the sound of Miroku talking about her “miko powers”. She scoffed once, twice, three times before breaking out into a silent cackle. But she stopped soon and walked toward the village side with a drooping head, down to where the wounded soldiers were.

Miroku watched Kikyo’s figure sadly. He mumbled “at least she still knows her duties” before heading toward Kira and notifying everyone of Kaede’s decision.

Kikyo trudged blindly ahead, her feet felt like they weigh a thousand pounds. How could baasan choose Kagome over me? I excelled at everything, everything…

“Someone looks like they need some cheering up.” Kikyo snapped her head up and tried to locate the body where the sudden voice came from.

“I’m over here, pretty miko-chan!” The womanly voice held a glint of menace in it. Kikyo followed the voice until her eyes fell upon a figure sitting on top of a boulder.

It was a woman, probably in her twenties. The way she dressed, the amount of makeup on her face, and the way her hair was decorated made her seem like a woman of noble birth, but why was a noble woman alone in the countryside? The woman held a paper fan in her right hand, constant fanning herself even though it was only early spring.

“Who are you?” Kikyo walked closer, but her guard was up.

“You can call me Kagura, mistress of the wind.”

“Your name, it sounds familiar.” Kikyo’s brows knitted together. This was no normal woman.

“Well, it should.” Kagura almost chuckled. “After all, I am the right-hand youkai serving His Majesty, Naraku-sama.”

Three words caught Kikyo’s attention: “youkai”, “serving”, and “Naraku”. Kikyo realized the danger she was in and berated herself mentally for leaving her bow and arrow in Kaede’s hut of all days.

“Why are you here? And alone? Don’t you know that all I have to do is use some of my miko powers and you’ll be disintegrated?” Kikyo threatened her. Although she didn’t have her bow and arrows, she can still do a lot of damage to youkai if she wanted to just by touching them.

“Oh, of course I know that.” Kagura kept on fanning herself, as if she was bored. “I know that you’re probably the most powerful miko in the world. But I came today with no defense, no barriers, and no shields; because I know you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”

Kikyo cocked her right eyebrow, not buying it a bit. But she said nothing.

“You see, miko-chan, I know how powerful you are, and how talented you are, that’s why I think it is so unfair for that old hag to choose that weakling over you.”

Kikyo stiffened. “How do you know that? And how dare you talk of my family that way?”

Kagura laughed. “Family? You still call them your family? How ridiculous!” Kagura jumped off the rock she was sitting on and began walking closer to Kikyo. “I know what they’ve done to you. I’m a youkai, I hear things, and see things, and I’ve lived much longer than you have.”

Kagura began to revolve around Kikyo like a vulture circles its prey. Kikyo said nothing, and Kagura’s plan has already half succeeded.

“I know everything about you, miko-chan. You were little, six years old perhaps, I remember. The old king, Taisho, he always favored your cousin more than you. Everyone loved her more because her mother was the dowager queen’s best friend. What’s her name again, oh yes, little Kagome.”

Kikyo’s eyes closed, and her delicate mouth folded into a thin line. She clenched her teeth, hard, trying not to let Kagura’s words sink in. But she knew that everything Kagura said was true.

“That arrow incident from so many years ago, it still haunts you doesn’t it? Little Kagome never practiced archery, while you slaved for it day and night. You never got to have any fun. You were too busy training. And what happened in the end? She shot a miko arrow! And all your trainings were for nothing!”

Kagura was leaning closer and closer. Kikyo refused to look at her, but her body gave away her true emotions as she shivered at Kagura’s every word.

“And then there was the engagement plans. Little Kagome got the older prince, the one destined to be king. Why? Just so Taisho can secure little Kagome’s position as Sesshomaru’s queen one day. You remember what Taisho said, don’t you? The reason that you got stuck with the younger, hanyou prince was to accommodate little Kagome, because they feared that little Kagome and hanyou Inuyasha would fight too much if they were together.

“By age, you should’ve been Sesshomaru’s fiancé, you should’ve been queen. But it would’ve been fine too, if Kagome went off to Kira and became queen, and you married Inuyasha and stayed here to serve as the head miko. You’re sixteen now, miko-chan, you should’ve been married by now! But Inuyasha died in the flood, didn’t he? And you became a widow before you were even married!

“And now little Kagome is going to get everything. She’s going to be queen once she turns sixteen, and she gets to be head miko, protector of the Shikon no Tama, guide and adviser to the Inuyoukai royal family. Nice and long title, isn’t it, Miko-chan, isn’t it?”

Kagura stopped talking and stood merely inches away from Kikyo. Her speech was passionate, as though she actually cared about Kikyo’s feelings. Kikyo’s head was drooping again; she refused to let Kagura see how much the youkai’s words have affected her. After a long moment of silence, Kikyo was finally able to say to clenched teeth: “what do you want with me?”

Kagura smiled sinisterly. “I want nothing with you. The question is, miko-chan, what do you want?” When Kikyo gave no reply, Kagura went on. “Revenge no doubt, anyone in their right mind would want justice to be served. You don’t deserve such horrible treatments.”

“And no doubt Naraku would benefit from this.” Kikyo was angry, but she wasn’t completely blinded by her hatred.

Kagura smiled. “What a smart girl you are, miko-chan.” Kagura began circling Kikyo once again. “The best way for you to get revenge on little Kagome, and for Naraku-sama to win this war, is for you to destroy the Shikon no Tama.”

Kikyo finally raised her head and she scoffed. “Have your king no common sense? The Tama cannot be destroyed unless someone makes a wish upon it once it’s completely purified…”

“…Or completely tainted by evil.” Kagura grinned. “We know that. But there is another method, and that’s to hide the Tama where no one may find it, such as, say, an active volcano.”

Kikyo finally looked straight into Kagura’s eyes. “You expect me to betray my country and family by dropping the Tama into the volcano on the other side of Kira?”

Kagura kept on smiling and she simply nodded.

It was now Kikyo’s turn to laugh, “You must be insane.”

“Oh, so you say you won’t do it?” Kikyo laughed more. “Then why are you still standing here, listening to me talk? You’re interested. I know you are, miko-chan. Help Naraku-sama do this, and by the time he takes over Nazo, you’ll be even more famous and more powerful than that old crone Tsubaki.”

Kikyo sneered at Kagura. “You think I’ll betray everyone I know just to gain fame and power?”

Kagura plucked a feather from her hair and it transformed into a floating cloud. She stepped into the cloud and began to float off. “Yes, I do. After all, fame and power are things you’ll never earn if you stay with your ‘family’. Think about it and you’ll see my way, miko-chan!” With that Kagura disappeared into the air in an instant.

Kikyo stood there frozen for a long time. She thought about what Kagura said over and over in her head. And each time she replayed what happened, the more sense it made to her troubled heart. What do I gain by staying in this pathetic place?

Kikyo shook her head violently, trying to wake up her conscious. But it seems as though her conscious decided to take a temporary vacation.

One thing’s for sure though, she wanted to hurt Kagome.

*****Naraku’s castle*****

“Do you bring me good news or bad news, Kagura?” Naraku didn’t even have to look up from his war map to know that Kagura has returned.

Kagura smiled in the same sinister way. “It was too easy. For a powerful miko, the girl held more hate in her than purity.”

“When can we expect the Tama to be gone then?”

“Within three days.”

Naraku looked up with a grin, even more sinister than Kagura’s. “How can you be so sure that she’ll do it?”

“Because,” Kagura walked over to Naraku and sat on his desk, “first of all, she didn’t notify anyone of my visit. And secondly, let’s just say I offered her the same thing you offered me 15 years ago.”

“Fame and power, guaranteed to drive anyone insane, doesn’t it, my dear?” Naraku reached out to grab Kagura’s chin, but she was too quick for him.

“Then we’ll be attacking Mura soon?”

Naraku nodded. “And since Mura is right outside of Kira, we’ll be able to penetrate the capital city within days.”

“And the legion you’re sending to attack Mura will be…”

Naraku laughed aloud. “Let’s just say, I’ll be returning Nazo’s missing prince within three days.”

Kagura smiled at the news. “You think they’ll recognize him after nine years?”

Naraku laughed louder, more sinister. “They won’t know what hit them. All those years of listening to Hojo’s stories are paying off. There’s a secret route into Mura from a small forest just outside of it. It’s not far from the miko Kaede’s hut and not even most adults know about it.”

“How long do you plan on keeping the boy?”

Naraku stared into Kagura’s eyes and shook his head slightly, unwilling to answer that question. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her and went back to his war map. At the same time, congratulating himself on his “brilliance”. Only he forgot one thing: Everything was pre-destined, you can’t fight fate and destiny.

Date Started: July 15, 2003
Date Finished: July 23, 2003
Word Count: 2711

A/N: Confused? Want to beat me up because you don't understand? Where did Miroku come from? And Shippo and Rin just popped up out of nowhere? Well, everything will be explained in the next chapter. *Evil Grin*

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