Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Kikyou, Sesshoumaru (sadly..u.u) or any of the other characters mentioned on this fic. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and all that Japanese people, so don't sue me!^^;;
A mysterious lonely figure walks by the winding trail. Her black, long hair is easily mistaken with the dark shades that surround the place, and the shivering breeze that cuts through her skin would be enough to terrify one's soul - that is, if she still had one.
She stops for a while before the castle that stands in front of her and stares firmly at the building, walking toward the entrance gates right after that. She only had to take some more steps and soon she'd be face to face with the silver-haired youkai, lord of the Western Lands.
"Why am I doing this?" -she asks to herself. - "After living a life of hunting and killing demons, having my heart broken by a half-youkai and killed by another, I should've learned by now that they're not to be trusted. Most of them despise humans and just want to put an end to their miserable lives...Yes, I am aware of that...then why am I about to answer to the summoning of one of them?"
She keeps asking that question to herself until she crosses the castle's gates. However, she does know the answer to that query: she's been revenge thirsty since the day she was brought back from the dead. That has been her only reason for staying alive in this clay body and she knows she won't rest until she makes her assassin pay.
- Stop, woman! - a small green youkai stands before her. - You're not allowed to cross from this point on!
She, however, doesn't listen to the tiny creature and keeps walking forward. The youkai, feeling quite mad that he's been ignored, takes a few fast steps and stands in front of her again:
- I said stop, woman! You can't just...ouch! - he cries as she steps on him and moves on.
- This is such an insult! I've never been this humiliated by a mere human...- he says, dusting his clothes. - Now you're going to have a taste of my staff's po...
- Jakken! - a threatening male voice speaks. - Let her in.
- B-but lord Sesshoumaru, she's a human!
- Let her in! - he says, his eyes facing away from the two other beings.
- Yes, lord Sesshoumaru...
- Ah!! Kikyou -sama is here!!! -exclaims a cheerful black haired girl, as she runs toward her.
Kikyou half smiles as she's hugged by the enthusiastic little girl. Even though hate was supposedly the only feeling she was able to have in her clay body, young children appear to actually get to her soft spot.
- Rin! What have I told you?
- Oh? Sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama... -Rin replies, letting go of Kikyou.
- May I ask the reason why I was summoned here?
- Are you really the same miko that used to guard the shikon no tama fifty years ago? - Sesshoumaru asks, still looking away from her, since the mere sight of humans disgusted him. - The same one that was killed by Naraku back then?
- Yes.
- Then I assume you're also the same miko that my stupid little hanyou brother fell in love with, aren't you?
- That was in the past. -she replies, coldly. - My feelings for Inuyasha are over.
She knows she is lying. She knows there are still some feelings hiding inside her, and they are a mix of love and hate for the hanyou. However, she also knows that revealing those feelings to Sesshoumaru would be mighty inconvenient, for he would probably take the rest of life that still exists in her.
- Are you sure that is the same miko that saved your life, Rin? - he asks to the little girl who is clinging to his clothes.
- Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama! Kikyou saved Rin from that evil demon* !
- I've answered your question, Sesshoumaru. Now answer mine. - she demands.
- For a useless human, your behavior is very audacious. - the dog demon says, in a superior tone of voice.
- If I am that useless, then I might as well leave.
- Who do you think you're talking to? Don't you have any love for your own pathetic life?
- And who are you, a youkai, to talk to me about love? - she replies, just as coldly as Sesshoumaru himself.
- That's enough, woman! - Jakken raises his staff.- Lord Sesshoumaru, let me take care of this petulant human!
- That won't be necessary. - he finally turns around to face the miko for the first time. - I need this miko to fulfill my plans.
- And what would those be? - she asks with an enigmatic smirk on her lips.
- As you have just confirmed, you were killed by Naraku, therefore I have assumed you wanted him to pay for that. I also want revenge against him and that would've been really easy for me if it weren't for the shikon shards he has now. That's where I'm going to need some help.
- What do you need my help for?
- From what I've heard, the shikon no tama's real power can only be used if the jewel is corrupted by evil...and you were the miko who used to keep it pure.
- I see. You want me to purify those shards Naraku has so that you can kill him.
- Exactly.
- Isn't that ironical? - she smirks. - You despise humans, yet you can't destroy your enemy without the help of one of them.
- I do despise humans, but I despise that coward Naraku even more. He tricked me into one of his plans once, but I'll make sure that'll never happen again. And I need your help for that.
Kikyou remains silent for a moment, returning Sesshoumaru's narrow glare. His unusual offer has caught her off guard and she's still not sure that she can trust a youkai. She needs a little more time to reflect upon this, so in order to gain some time, she asks:
- Why did you choose me to help you?
- Mostly because of your purifying powers and also for the extra pleasure that it'll give me to see Inuyasha being tortured by the sight of his former lover helping his hated older brother. - Sesshoumaru smiles evilly.
- You could've used...that other girl. - Kikyou's voice sounds a little bitter. - She is the one he loves now and she can also purify the shards.
- Maybe. But she wouldn't help me, since I have tried to kill her and all of Inuyasha's little friends. Besides, I had to make sure that any of my temporary allies wouldn't hurt Rin, and she seems to trust you.
Kikyou looks at the black haired girl who is hiding behind Sesshoumaru and smiles. It feels good to know that there's still someone that actually trusts her and that doesn't see her just as a piece of clay that should never have been brought back to life. Rin also looks at her and returns the smile.
- So, what do you say? - he asks. - I need your help and you obviously need mine.
Joining forces with Sesshoumaru is something Kikyou had never really thought about before. Now that she has, however, she realizes that getting Naraku killed isn't something that one can do by him or herself, and since even the great prince of the Western Lands has admitted that he alone can't beat the shape shifter, she'd also have to acknowledge that and accept the deal of mutual help that he is offering her.
- Then I think he have a deal.
- Good. We shall leave this place tomorrow morning and begin searching for Naraku. You can stay here until then if it pleases you, woman.
- Aah!! Is Kikyou-sama staying here with Rin? - the girl asks, hopefully.
- If Rin wants me to stay. - Kikyou kindly replies, smiling.
- Can Rin play with Kikyou-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama? - she looks up at her "adoptive father".
- Do as you wish.
- Yay! - Rin runs to Kikyou and pulls her by her hand. - Come, Kikyou-sama, let's play with the butterflies near the river!!
Rin and Kikyou soon get out of Sesshoumaru's sight. After that, he keeps staring at the direction they went with his narrow yellow eyes and says:
- Jaken!
- Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?
- We'd better keep an eye on that miko. She is no ordinary human...and she can represent a threat to my plans if she decides to change her mind...