Lady Kagome, The High Priestess

A Deal Made

     I wake up but don't open my eyes, letting my body feel it's surroundings and damage. It's cold, damp, and the floor I am laying on is tile. Not nice tile either. More like... dungeon tile. I open my eyes and sit up slowly, worrying about any injuries I may have that are unknown to me at the moment. I wince in pain as I look down at my stomach, shirt drenched in blood. Clenching my teeth, I lift my shirt up slightly so I can see what happened. I have a huge, jagged line running diagonally from my left hip to the right side of my ribcage. I gasp aloud. I remember now.

     I run to InuYasha's side and whisper to him

     "I sense a sacred jewel shard." He looks at me, grabs my waist, and jumps into the tree just narrowly avoiding Naraku's sword. I look down in fear.

     "Find where it is and tell me. I'll get it." I nod before he grabs me again jumping to the ground in front of my bow and arrows.

     "Time to get in this fight." I say smiling. He smirks at me like he's proud or something. Weirdo. I grab my bow and put my quiver over my shoulder. "Dork." I mutter knowing full well that InuYasha heard me. I hear him chuckle as he pulls out his Tetsaiga.

     "Wind Scar!" Naraku splits in half before regenerating again. I look everywhere around me. Where is that stupid shard?

     "Kagome! Get down!" Miroku yells from across the field. I drop on my stomach and look up. "Wind Tunnel!" He's about to suck Naraku in before I intervene.

     "No! Miroku! He's got a sacred jewel shard!" Right as I yell that, the Saimyosho appear making Miroku close his wind tunnel. I look at Naraku again and see the pink glowing of a sacred jewel shard. I pull out an arrow and notch it in my bow. The shard is right in his chest. InuYasha notices my bow and arrow ready and runs over.

     "Where is it?" He asks. I ignore him and he continues to ask. I pull the string back. "Kagome! Where IS IT?!"

     "Shut up!" I let go. The arrow charges looking like a comet soaring through the sky, landing in Naraku's chest. My victory is short lived, however. One of Naraku's flying tentacles hits me and throws me into the sky hitting my head hard on a tree. After that, I close my eyes but don't go unconscious. I hear InuYasha yelling my name and calling Naraku something I can't make out, though I have a feeling it's not pleasant. I feel Naraku's tentacle wrap around me, lifting me into the air, and pulling me towards him.

     "If you want her," Naraku says smugly, "you'll have to find her."

     I frown at the memory and the cut, knowing it will leave a nasty scar, and ignore the pain, forcing myself to stand up. I hear a dark chuckle from the other side of the room and turn to face the voice with a cold stare.

     "So, you have awaken." He steps out of the shadows and I smirk to myself knowing he didn't come out of the battle too well either. His chest is still bloody from my arrow and his arm has a huge gash in it from InuYasha's Tetsaiga. "Come with me. I wish to show you something." I go with him cautiously.

     "Where are my friends?" I ask angrily. He turns and smirks.

     "Are you sure you can handle it in your condition?" I nod, suddenly nervous at his choice of words. He turns around and I follow him, curiosity getting the best of me. We end up at a waterfall inside of his castle surrounded by flowers and trees. I feel my eyes widen in shock. "You like it?"

     "It's... beautiful." I reply before I can stop myself. He turns to look at me.

     "Just because I am heartless does not mean I do not enjoy things of beauty." He turns away from me and walks to the waterfall. He waves his hand over the water and suddenly there is an image on the water of my friends all sleeping soundly. I sigh in relief. Shippo and Kirara look unharmed, Sango and Miroku have a few scratches, but where's... "If you're wondering where the hanyou is, he is at a different setting." He's coming to find me! I look at Naraku feeling his eyes on me. He looks at me with... pity? He sighs heavily. "Kagome... he's not coming to save you." He waves his hand over the water again and there's InuYasha! With... Kikyo. They're... together. In each other's arms. Kissing passionately. I hear a gasp escape my lips and feel my knees give out. Just before I hit the ground, Naraku catches me.

     "No. It can't be. You're lying!" I, try to, yell at him but it comes out as more of a pitiful plea.

     "Kagome, I am a man of my word." I look into the water once more and feels tears stinging in my eyes. No! I'm not going to cry. I knew this day would come. I had just hoped... "Kagome? I can help you." I turn to glare at him.

     "I don't want your help. All your help does is hurt people." Naraku smirks and crouches down to my level.

     "With this offer, there are no strings attached. Kagome, I can make you a High Priestess." Naraku pulls out the sacred jewel, now 3/4 of the way whole. He holds it out to me. "You can guard the jewel, complete it, and gain great power. You'd be stronger than Kikyo." I look up at him cautiously. He seemed sincere.

     "What's the catch?" He chuckled under his breath.

     "The catch, my dear, is that you must never approach InuYasha again. If he comes to you, it may only be for twenty minutes." I consider it in my head.

     "Why so generous with the time?"

     "I don't see you wanting to see him for five minutes, let alone twenty right now." I nod my head in agreement.

     "I accept."