Kagura sat up gingerly, rubbing at her neck.
“One of those swords of yours,” she said, glancing toward his left hip, “has the power to resurrect the dead, is that right?”
Sesshoumaru’s claws clenched around Tenseiga’s hilt. “How did you come by that knowledge?”
“Does it matter?” Kagura countered with a twist of her lips. “My condition is this: that you use your resurrection sword for me.”
Sesshoumaru’s brow creased in confusion. Her request caught him off guard to say the least. Yet he inclined his head nonetheless.
“I will do as you ask.”
The wind witch relaxed, looking toward the woods behind her as she stood. “Come over here, Kohaku.”
Lightly, a young boy in taijiya attire leapt down from the trees. Rising from his crouch, he approached, his brown eyes flat and expressionless.
“This boy has a shard of the Sacred Jewel embedded in his back,” Kagura stated, “which Naraku uses to control him.”
Sesshoumaru regarded him. “This boy is the demon slayer Sango’s younger brother.”
Kagura nodded as the taijiya drew to an obedient stop beside her. “That Jewel shard of his is the only thing keeping him alive. If it’s removed, he’ll certainly die.”
Drawing Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru stepped forward. “I understand.”
Frowning, Kagura circled around Kohaku. With a flick of her fan, the shard expelled in a spray of blood, the boy crumpling lifelessly to the ground. Sharply, she turned away as Sesshoumaru leveled Tenseiga above him.
The fang glowed blue with otherworldly light, the pallbearers of hell materializing before the daiyoukai’s eyes. With a quick slash, he dispelled them all, and the boy drew in a gasping breath.
“…Kagura?” he asked in confusion as he sat up.
“Hey, kid,” the demoness replied, the corner of her lips rising.
Blinking between her and Sesshoumaru, Kohaku slowly stood. “…What happened?”
“The shard in your back’s been removed, and thanks to Sesshoumaru-sama, your life’s been restored,” she said briskly, inspecting her fan. “You’re free now to go to your sister, or wherever you choose.”
“Th…Thank you,” he murmured to Sesshoumaru in awe before turning and flinging his arms around Kagura. “Thank you…!”
The wind witch’s eyes widened, her features softening briefly as she patted him on the head. “There, there…no need to be so sentimental.” Glancing archly away, she fanned her flushed cheeks. “I just didn’t want Naraku to get his way, that’s all.”
Eyes gleaming, Kohaku pulled back from her with a smile. Sheathing Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru strode past them, to where the expelled Jewel shard glittered rosily against the rock.
“Wait,” Kagura warned, walking over to join him. “Don’t touch it directly.”
A vast purifying power emanated from the shard. Slipping a hand beneath the neck of his haori, Sesshoumaru withdrew Kagome’s hair ribbon and folded the fragment within it.
“Before the priestess Kikyou died, she imbued Kohaku’s shard with her reiki,” Kagura explained, studying the small square resting in Sesshoumaru’s palm. “This is why Naraku’s been waiting to retrieve it—he needs to absorb Magatsuhi’s power first.”
Sesshoumaru’s eyes cut to her in question. “Magatsuhi?”
“The Shikon no Tama’s demonic incarnation,” Kagura replied. “Magatsuhi alone possesses the power to defile Kikyou’s handiwork, but at the moment, Naraku has him hunting down the remaining Jewel shards.” Her arms slanted across her chest as she met his gaze. “…He’s the one who kidnapped your miko, by the way.”
Sesshoumaru’s fist clenched. Magatsuhi…I will rip you limb from limb.
“Naraku will send him after your shard too,” Kagura continued pointedly. “That’ll be your chance—defeat him and force Naraku out of hiding. His prisoner, as well.”
“Where is he keeping her?” Sesshoumaru demanded.
“In the void between worlds,” the wind sorceress answered. “Only his most loyal incarnation can open the way.”
As Sesshoumaru tucked the wrapped shard away, he regarded her curiously. Her actions surprised him. No doubt Naraku would kill her for such a betrayal as this.
“Why?” he asked her. “Why forefeit your life to lend me aid?”
Kagura glanced away. “I’ve done many regrettable things at Naraku’s command. I thought I didn’t have a choice in the matter, but now I realize that wasn’t true.” Her garnet eyes closed briefly. “Naraku is not my master—that’s what I’ve decided.”
With a soft sigh, she looked to him again.
“Sesshoumaru…I wanted to help you of my own free will.” Her eyes warmed as they held his. “This is the memory I wish to carry with me, in the end.”
Stepping back, she retrieved a feather from her hair, Kohaku walking over with a frown as she alighted upon it.
“Kagura,” the boy asked, “where will you go?”
Smiling serenely, she looked to the sky.
“Wherever the wind takes me.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Oh my goodness…😢 Something is in my eye.. and no, I am not sniffing. It’s my sinuses. Dang weather… Curse you.
Hahaha funny – the same something was in my eye as I was writing this :’)
Thanks, DevaG! <3
Kagura grew a heart! Pfft! Bad joke, bad joke. I know.
This was bittersweet. I really like Kagura’s interaction here. Especially with Kohaku.
Lol yeah I always liked the idea of Kagura having a “heart” in the metaphorical sense at least 🙂
So glad you liked the interaction! <3
Awww… Redeeming and very sweet. I have a feeling that will be the last scene like that for a while…
Thank you! So glad you liked this chapter. <3