Chapter 10
Naraku smiled from within the depths of his baboon skin cloak, it was a sardonic smile that made Kagura’s skin crawl; once again she found herself wishing for the courage to run from this despicable monster – or better yet, kill him.
Naraku stared intently into the mirror Kanna held before her; it showed a small stone room, empty except for a broken orb and a small jagged shard of the sacred shikon jewel; almost unconsciously his hand reached inside his cloak and withdrew the almost complete shikon jewel, complete except for one jagged piece.
Closing his eyes Naraku steeled himself mentally before thrusting his right arm into Kanna’s mirror; the small child-demon gasped in surprise as the mirror shattered, Naraku gritted his teeth as sharp slivers of glass cut his arm and buried themselves deep into the skin.
He could still partially see the stone room in the broken shards of the mirror, it was still empty except for an arm seemingly suspended in mid-air; slowly Naraku’s hand closed around the tiny piece of the sacred jewel before withdrawing back out of the mirror.
Kanna fell to the floor – lifeless.
“Thank you, Kanna. Your duty to me is fulfilled.”
Naraku turned away from the corpse of his incarnation and beckoned Kagura to follow him; nervously the wind sorceress did as she was commanded.
When the two were sat in Naraku’s private chambers the half-demon lord reverently replaced the final piece of the jewel; there was a blinding flash of light before the jewel melded as though it had never been shattered.
Naraku turned to Kagura and opened his arms wide; she backed away with a look of revulsion shaking her head.
“Come to me, Kagura. I need you no longer, come back to me where you belong.”
“No, please. I can help you, I can serve you.”
Kagura fell to her knees pleading, she no longer cared that she was a servant to Naraku’s every whim; at least she was alive.
“You cannot help me, I need no help now I have the sacred jewel.”
Naraku’s arms closed almost tenderly around Kagura, as she felt herself slipping away into oblivion she sighed.
The smile spread across Naraku’s face and soon a deep laugh could be heard echoing in the corridors that made all who heard it tremble.
(Meanwhile)
“So you’re saying the two of them,” Shippo paused to take a mouthful and wave his chopsticks in the direction of the two brothers. “They share one soul?”
“In essence, yes. Although what actually happened was that each soul was split and then mixed and joined again, so they each share the other’s soul.”
Inuyasha growled and leaned forward to pick up Myoga, he squeezed him tightly between two claws.
“I know all this; this isn’t helping to break the curse.”
“I don’t believe it is a curse, Master Inuyasha.”
“Not a curse! If you don’t call being stuck with Sesshoumaru a curse then I’d like to know what is a curse.”
Struggling to retain his ruffled dignity Myoga wriggled free from Inuyasha’s claws and stood on his hand; but before he could speak Miroku chipped in.
“I think Myoga has a point; I’ve heard of this sort of thing happening before. It happens when a ghost, usually emotionally attached to the victims in some way, makes a sort of wish. It could be that this spirit is hoping that by making sure you two can’t separate you’ll make friends.”
Everybody turned to look dubiously at Miroku; for the first time in hours Sesshoumaru looked up at the group and spoke in a cold voice.
“Or it could be that whoever this spirit is, they want us to kill one another.”
“But who would do such a thing?”
“Naraku!” Kagome burst out. “He hates you both and would do pretty much anything to get you out of the way.”
“It’s not Naraku.” The words were spoken from within the shadows, the voice was melodious but seemed somehow distant.
Within moments the group were on their feet and ready to fight, all except Sesshoumaru who took a couple of steps towards the shadows with a look of confusion on his face.
“Get back here!” Inuyasha shouted, unwilling to follow Sesshoumaru. “Where are you going?”
“Be quiet, pup! I know that voice, but I have not heard it in many years.”
A delighted laugh came from the shadows; it was filled with warmth and friendship. A young woman stepped into the flickering light of the campfire, she was dressed in a simple dress and her feet were bare; she glowed with an ethereal light and seemed slightly transparent, as she smiled at Sesshoumaru her whole face lit up with joy.
Sesshoumaru stood as if struck dumb, when he found his voice it was only to whisper one word.
“Ukil?”
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