Chapter 21

"I am beginning to find this development more entertaining, than sending my puppets out. The great demon lord and his brother have fallen in love with the priestess. This shall prove beneficial. I find it even more funny that they wish not to fight over her, and will draw up a pack clause. Maybe I should visit this miko and take her for myself than use her for the shards?" the red-eyed half demon contemplated.

He had been watching Kagome for some time, and knew she harbored powers that were yet to come forth. Her exceptional skill under Sesshoumaru's tutelage was not small feat. It took many demons three times the length of time to develop perfect form in basic forms.

"But my Lord Naraku, you've pledged yourself to a great female demon long ago," Kanna said, the images within her mirror fading.

Kanna knew more than she let on. She held the body of a child, but her youkai heart was old. When she had been absorbed into Naraku, she had been over four hundred years old. She had served as a vassal for the Lord of the South for some time before venturing out on her own. When she had happened on Naraku, he had seen her take the soul from a passing group of bandits and decided to absorb her. She had not been able to free herself and it was until she had been inside him that she gave up and pledged herself into Naraku's service. Eventually he came upon Kagura and she was absorbed as well. Kagura and her were sisters, despite how much different they looked from each other. Naraku had expunged them together from his body and held their hearts from them as his way of threatening them that they were to do his bidding. She had never really rebeled against Naraku, and kept mum every time Kagura tried to break free.

Naraku always kept her close and eventually he had mentioned about his life before taking Onigumo's body.

"Yes, and I haven't found her. I've been searching for her, even before I took Onigumo's body for my own," Naraku sighed. "Raven hair, pink sun of her house upon her brow, black stripes on her cheeks, and the stormiest blue grey eyes. Any man or demon could get lost in them. The priestess has eyes similar to my lady. As much as Inu Yasha had taunted Kagome that Kikyo was prettier, it was not true. Kagome exceeds Kikyo's beauty by far. Yes, I've decided. The priestess will suffice. She would make me invincible as well as give me fine offspring."

Kagura walked out from the shadows, pinning up her midnight hair. Kanna had mentioned Naraku's obsession for some female demon from long ago and shuddered to herself, 'Any woman, whether demon or human would be repulsed by him.'

"What if you don't find her?" she asked, her ruby eyes glittering through the dark room.

"As I have decided, the priestess will make a fine substitute," he smiled, as Kanna brushed his wavy raven locks.

"She would not agree to such a union," Kagura stated frankly.

Kagura knew that Kagome was not one to give up, and let someone like Naraku have her. She would fight and if she did not succeed, she would kill herself to keep from being defiled.

"I know this, but I will get what I want regardless of the inu brothers. I will have both the completed Jewel of Four Souls and her," he said, quite determined. "The jewel and her have a strong connection and she can be manipulated. She has been controlled before and it can be done again. She will be mine."

'Yes, I will have it all,' he thought, and then laughed out.

Kagura shuddered, 'I must warn the priestess. I cannot allow Naraku to take her. I will never be free if Naraku gets both the jewel and the priestess Kagome.'

Kagura bowed and excused herself from Naraku's presence to deliberate on what she could do to prevent Naraku from getting his way. It was hard to disappear without Naraku noticing. She loved her sister, but her sister was too loyal to the evil hanyou and her mirror showed everything.

She sat in the doorway to her room, looking out to the lake nearby. The castle she stayed in was stolen from a minor human lord. It was not the first castle that Naraku had used for himself. He stayed within, as Hakadoushi did the dirty work, keeping InuYasha's group busy. Right now was a quiet time. Even Hakadoushi waited until Naraku ordered him.

She thought about the recent events of learning that Sesshoumaru was indeed smitten with a human. She was hurt as she had hoped after Naraku's defeat and if she was still alive that perhaps she could catch the silver- haired demon lord's eye. Although she was not of any court, she had served as a demon geisha in the Southern lands and learned about demon society. Lord Sesshoumaru could have anyone he wanted, however it was better for him to mate with someone of great power and even more so, of a royal clan. Kagura knew she was powerful, but she was not as powerful as Kagome and she shoved her jealousy aside.

'The Priestess of the Jewel has given up many things, and she will destroy Naraku, with both the dog brothers at her side. And if I live, I will pledge my life to making sure she and any of her descendents will be safe,' she vowed to herself.

She was so deep in thought that she had not heard Kanna's near to silent steps treading near.

"Sister, go and do what you must," Kanna's eery yet soft voice drifted to her ears.

She looked up and her eyes widened.

'Does she mean what I think she does? She knows that I want to inform the little miko,' Kagura wondered.

As if reading her thoughts, Kanna smiled slightly and replied, "Go, he will not see this time."

Kagura smiled at her sister and ran off, plucking a feather from her hair and throwing it up so she could catch a good wind. After hopping into her feather, she looked over towards the castle. Kanna stood outside and then turned to walk back to her own room.