Friday, May 27, 2005

The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 6*

Sesshomaru sits in a cavern, the walls are made of radiant blue ice; there is no exit. The Tokigin lies on the floor, where he dropped it after a futile attempt to breach his cage. Also lying on the floor is an unconscious Kagura. The lord leaves her alone and talks to his second sword. “What do you want from me, father? You are trying to tell me something about this demoness. You had me free her at the expense of an opportunity to rid myself of Naraku. You insisted that I revive her. I did, without even using the opportunity it presented to my advantage. I have allowed myself to cherish Rin. I have stood beside your bastard in battle. I haven’t killed a human, without provocation, in months. Still you are not satisfied. I have offered to mate with her and she refuses me. I have been put in a position to force her to be my mate, and you insist that I reject it. I cannot have her, but you will not let me forget her. What do you want father? Do you want me to beg her? Do you want me to plead with her like some love drunk mortal? Why do I need her? Why do you need her?” “Does he answer?” Kagura asks. Sesshomaru looks up and sees her struggling to her feet. He makes no offer to help her. Once she rises, he says, “Not in words. But I can sense his desires.” She asks, “And what does he want from me?” Sesshomaru tells her, “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be sitting here, in this unpleasantly frigid setting, asking for guidance from the dead.” She gives a harsh smile. “Well, if you’re going to whine about the cold,” she says “I had better do something about it.” “I wasn’t whining.” he tells her. “But what do you intend to do about it? If I cannot break through this accursed ice; you most certainly cannot.” He snickers, “Or do you hope to find something to burn; your clothes perhaps?” She raises her fan to her breast, and flicks it open. The chamber is suddenly flooded with warmth. Sesshomaru looks at her, inquiringly. She asks, “What kind of wind sorceress cannot change the temperature of air, at will?” He admits, “A useful talent given our situation.” She says, sarcastically, “It is an honor to be of service, lord Sesshomaru.” He growls, “You mock me!” She snaps, “You belittle me!” He asks, “What does the one have to do with the other?” Kagura says, “You ask me to bear your young, but I am not worth the respect you shower upon mortals.” He asks, “By what right do you demand respect from me? You are nothing; a mere incarnation of a half-demon. I am a mighty demon, of noble linage.” She says, “You are also the spawn of a mutt who lost his fangs to a mortal. Should I not fear this same thing shall happen to you? One day, you may defile my offspring by loving a human. Perhaps that child you take with you. When she grows into a ravishing beauty; will your father’s heart emerge and draw you to her bed? You might create a nephew worthy of his uncle.” Sesshomaru snaps, “My brother in whose company you travel?” She says, “If you object to the company I keep, then judge me unfit. Drop your suit and leave me.” He says, “As I said, my father’s will does not permit me that option.” She asks, “Then that is your excuse? You must obey the will of a dead dog?” He turns from her; flexing his claws. “Do not underestimate my father’s power.” he warns. “Even in death, he is mightier then you could ever hope to be.” She says, “He certainly was far greater then you are now.” There is a long tense silence. Finally he asks, “Do you not want this? When I look at you, I feel such fire. Do you not feel the same?” She says, “I feel a powerful attraction to you; you are most desirable. But I will not be ruled by my lust; will you?” He asks, “And what if I would be? There is no exit to this chamber; nowhere for the wind to run. I am stronger then you are. What is to stop me from taking what I desire?” Kagura smirks. She says, “Your pride. The great Sesshomaru could no more take a mate by force then he could; how did you put it? Plead with me like some love drunk mortal. Your ego requires that I come to you by choice.” He sighs. “What would that require?” he asks. She pauses in thought. She says, “Perhaps when you learn to wear the Tenseiga as something other then a shackle; when it does not have to tell you what to want; then I may change my mind. Master your sword by mastering yourself; then we shall see.” He nods, accepting the challenge.
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Thursday, May 26, 2005

two for your enjoyment
The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 4*

As Inuyasha and Sango get to their feet, they take a moment to assess their situation. They are in an ice cave, 4 meters at its greatest dimension. The walls are resonating a blue light. Air seems to be coming into the chamber, but there are no openings apparent. The temperature is low and dropping fast. Inuyasha tries hitting the wall. He doesn’t make a dent. He takes his sword and hacks at the wall; also to no effect. He says, “Sango, get back.” He lets lose a windscar. The ice is not damaged. Inuyasha sheaths the Tetsusaiga. “Well, we’re not going anywhere.” he says. He looks around. “Hey!” he shouts. “Kagome’s bag. You think she’s alright? Sango?” He turns to her. She is huddled against a wall, shivering. Inuyasha stops to realize that it is well below freezing and that Sango’s slayer outfit was not designed to withstand low temperatures. Due to the necessity of action, Inuyasha’s dull wit becomes razor sharp. He digs into Kagome’s bag and pulls out her bed roll. He wraps it around Sango and stands back. “Sango, are you ok?” She says, “Better. This cold doesn’t bother you?” He says, “I don’t like it, but I’ll live.” “I won’t.” she tells him. “Even with the blanket I’ll only last a few minutes.” “I’ll try the windscar again.” he says. “No.” she says. “Even if you could get through, I’d be long dead.” He shouts, “I’m not gonna sit here and watch you die!” “Come here.” She says. He kneels beside her. She takes his hand and presses it against her cheek. “You’re so warm.” she says. “Inuyasha, I can survive this. But I’ll need your warmth.” As she shyly pulls the blanket aside he blushes and looks away. She says, “Or, if that makes you uncomfortable, I can freeze to death.” He sits next to her. She spreads the blanket over both of them and rests her head on his chest. He hesitantly puts his arm around her. “…um…” he says. She says, “Inuyasha, don’t say anything. Just tell yourself that we’re only doing it to stay warm. You’ll feel better.” After a momentary hesitation, he nods and holds her tighter; just to keep her warm.

“Um…Inuyasha?” Sango asks. He says, “It’s the Tetsusaiga.” “Oh.” She says.

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The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 5*

Shippo picks himself up and looks around. He is in a cavern made of ice. The walls are glowing blue. He launches foxfire at the wall to see if he can melt his way through. After a few attempts, he resigns himself to the fact that he will have to explore the chamber he is in. There is nothing in the area he is in, but the cave bends around a corner and there is an area he cannot see. He cautiously turns the corner then jumps back in fear. He scampers back to the far end of the chamber. The one he is fleeing turns the corner and says, “Wait, fox. Why are you running.” Shippo says, “Stay back! I’m warning you, I’m not defenseless! Don’t come any closer!” “Why not?” he is asked. “You travel with Sesshomaru.” he says. “That means you must be dangerous.” “But I’m just a kid!” she says. “Hey!” he says. “That’s my line.” “It’s me, Rin.” she says. “We were together earlier and I didn’t hurt you then.” “But then Sango and Miroku were there. How do I know you weren’t just afraid of them?” Rin seems about to answer when she gives a great shiver. “You’re cold?” Shippo asks. She nods. “Then you must be a human.” he says, heaving a sigh of relief. Rin says, “I am human and I’m cold. I was wondering if you had any extra clothes.” Shippo says, “No, sorry. Hey wait!” he says. He shoots foxfire at her. As she is enveloped, she laughs. “That tickles.” she says. “Feel warmer?” he asks. She nods and smiles at him. Shippo asks, “If you are human, why do you travel with Sesshomaru?” “I’m his servant.” she says. Shippo is puzzled. “What would a demon like him need a human servant for?” he asks. “What do you do?” She says, “I tend m’lord’s dragon, and help master Jaken. Also, sometimes m’lord listens to my songs and I bring him flowers. How do you serve your lord?” He asks “My lord?” She says, “Lord Sesshomaru’s younger brother, lord Inuyasha. I first saw you with his woman.” Shippo says, “I’m not Inuyasha’s servant. Kagome takes care of me, and those two are in love. That’s why I travel with him.” “Oh.” she says. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re cute?” “Ya.” he says. “You’re not going to grab me and squeeze me, are you?” “Not unless you want me to.” she says. Still enveloped in Shippo’s flame, Rin folds her legs under her and sits on the floor. He says, “So, you said that you sing for Sesshomaru?” She nods. He asks, “Would you sing for me?” A smile erupts on her face.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2005

The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 3*

Koga, Sesshomaru’s party, and Inuyasha’s group approach the dark one from all sides. Seemingly in resignation; Naraku waits for them to close around him. He stands beside Kanna; holding her mirror. As the pursuers close the last meters, he turns toward Kagura. He clearly intends to give a final monologue, and she is to be its victim. The others wait for him to make the first move. “Kagura, you continue to frustrate my designs.” he says. “You refuse to die, you orchestrate Kohaku’s rescue, you unite my enemies, and now you force me to accelerate my plans for your sister. Several years from now, this would have had a far greater effect.” “What are you planning, Naraku?!?” she asks. Naraku turns to Sesshomaru. “Tell me, lord Sesshomaru, what do you get when you put something into a void?” The lord says, “Something, of course. What it is would be determined by what you add to the nothingness.” “Exactly!” Naraku says. He places his palm against the mirror; there is a flash of blue light. Kanna staggers. As her lips turn blue, Naraku pulls aside her robe revealing her child’s form. Kanna crosses her arms and begins to shiver. As her pale skin turns the same color as her lips, her body is wracked by spasms. She begins to transform. The growth of a decade occurs in a few seconds. As frost spreads outward from her feet; she grows into a beautiful, pale blue woman. When the spasms cease, she looks down at her hands. Her eyes travel along her arms and over her body. She screams and a blizzard strikes. Powerful winds knock everyone but her off their feet, as sheets of ice grow by meters in a few seconds. When the wind dies down, there is half a cubic kilometer of ice where the thirteen had been standing; and no sign of any of them.
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Tuesday, May 24, 2005

The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 2*

Inuyasha and Kagome approach Kagura and Sesshomaru. The demon lord looks up at their approach. “An interesting plan.” he says. “Kagura has filled me in. I must assume that my brother had no part in its formation.” Inuyasha says, “I don’t even know what the plan is.” Sesshomaru says, “It is a proposal far beyond your limited capacity for strategy.” Inuyasha makes a barely audible growl. His brother continues, “I take it you are the architect Kagura.” Kagura says, “It was Kagome’s idea.” Kagome says, dismissively, “We did it together. Now Kagura, it’s time to call Koga.” The sorceress nods. She extends her fan in Kagome’s direction. She snaps the fan open and gives an articulate flick of her wrist. Kagome is encircled by a whirlwind. The current circles her for several seconds before shooting off away from the gathering. Kagura says, “It should reach the mountain domain of the wolf tribes in a minute or two. It will lose some of its potency, but he should have no problem picking up the scent. If he reacts as Kagome predicted, he should be here in a few minutes.” Kagome says, “Knowing Koga, he’ll drop whatever he’s doing and follow my scent.” “Getting him should be much easier then summoning you was.” Kagura says to Sesshomaru. “We know where he is. I had to send my scent out in all directions to find you.” “I get it.” Inuyasha says. “You’re calling them by manipulating scents in the wind.” “Yes little brother.” Sesshomaru says. “And that is the essence of your woman’s plan.” Kagome says, “Hey! I have a name, and it’s Kagome. Anyway, if Naraku hasn’t thought of it, he might not be hiding his smell.” Kagura says, “I can bring the wind here from all over. If he isn’t masking his scent well enough, anyone of the three of your noses should be able to find him. By having you all work at once we can cut the time it takes to a third of what it would take with just your nose Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru says, “Then once we have found Naraku, we surround him. I am not pleased that I will have to rely on any of you, but Naraku has proved that he is able to escape my pursuit. I must trust you to cut off his escape routes so that he will be forced to face me.” Inuyasha says, “How about you cut off his escape so he fights me. I do have the oldest business.” Kagome shakes her head in dismay. “Inuyasha.” she says. “It doesn’t matter who beats him. He’ll probably take you all on at once. He won’t win, but he will fight all of you.” The half-demon looks crestfallen, and several minutes pass in silence. At length, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sniff the air. Suddenly, a living tornado flashes across the horizon. When he gets close enough, it becomes apparent that Koga’s target is Kagura. As the tornado is about to slam into her, Sesshomaru’s arm flashes out. When the dust clears, the others see Sesshomaru holding Koga by his calf. The leg in question is extended in a kick clearly aimed at Kagura’s head. The lord tosses the wolf away from her. Koga lands gracefully and glares at Sesshomaru. “How come you’re protecting Naraku’s bitch?” Koga asks. “I thought you were enemies.” Kagome says, “Koga, Kagura no longer serves Naraku. She’s free now and she’s helping us fight Naraku.” Koga says, “I don’t care! She killed my comrades and now I’m going to kill her.” Koga throws himself at her once again. In the ensuing flash, Sesshomaru grabs Koga by the tail and flings him away; this time his landing is anything but graceful. The lord says, “The next time, I will simply kill you. Your nose and your speed may prove assets in this venture, but if you jeopardize my chance for vengeance by trying to harm Kagura, I will not show you mercy.” “Koga!” Kagome shouts. “We have a way to find Naraku. We plan to surround him and make it so he can’t run away. Then we’re going to destroy him. You can be part of this, but only if you stop trying to kill Kagura. The plan centers around her, and besides that; she’s my friend now. She’s proved to me that she can be trusted. Attacking her will be the same in my mind as attacking me. Do you understand me Koga?” The wolf gives a disgruntled grunt. “So what’s this plan of yours?” he asks. After Kagome explains the plan, Koga reluctantly agrees to participate. The three canines spread out around Kagura and Kagome. After several minutes of sniffing various air currents, Sesshomaru says, “Kagura, this one.” She flicks her wrist and says, “This?” “No.” he says. After several tries, Kagura finds the right one. After Inuyasha and Koga confirm the scent as Naraku, Kagura gives a direction and distance. Koga says, “I’ll go ahead and get around to the other side of him. You had better be there when he runs. And you,” he says to Kagura, “if this is a trick, I’ll skin you alive.” With that, he heads off. Kagome says, “Let’s get the others and go.” The four head back to the village where the others wait.
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Monday, May 23, 2005

The Soul Cages: Frozen In Time
*episode 1*

Inuyasha says, “Kagome, try explaining this one more time. Why do we need their help?” “Because…” she says, distractedly. “Could you try to do better than that?” he asks. She looks up from her bag, “Because Naraku is weakened.” “Ok,” Inuyasha says, “but doesn’t that mean that we won’t need their help?” She admits, “Yes it does; if we were trying to beat him.” “Isn’t that exactly what we’re trying to do?” he asks, genuinely perplexed. “No!” she says in exasperation. “We don’t want to beat Naraku; we want to destroy him. We want to crush him, obliterate him, defeat him, heck, kill him; in a way which will result in him being permanently dead. For as long as we’re on the offensive, our objective is to kill him and his is to stay alive. Which means that if he escapes, he wins and we lose. We have to corner him. Once we have him trapped, we have to make sure that he doesn’t escape. Also, we can be sure that he’ll have something up his sleeve. If it works at all, we will only get to use this once. We have to make sure that we have as much strength as possible, so we need Koga and Sesshomaru.” Inuyasha stares off. Miroku says, “Inuyasha, you seem pensive.” The half-demon comes back to the moment and says, “Na, I was just thinking; when did I agree to this?” Kagome says, “When I said you did.” “Look at it this way,” Sango says, “we aren’t asking for their help, we’re offering them ours.” “And what if they don’t want to work with us?” Inuyasha asks. “We’ll just have to worry about that when they get here.” Kagome says. “They’re coming to us?” he asks. “Your brother should be here any minute now.” she tells him. “Then we’ll call Koga.” “How?” he asks. “Kagura’s taking care of it.” Kagome says, glancing off toward where the demoness is standing alone, outside the village. Inuyasha tries again, “Taking care of it how?” Miroku says, “We have company.” Jaken and Rin approach. The imp asks, “Do any of you know where that woman gets her audacity?” Shippo says, “She must be spending too much time around humans.” “Well,” Jaken says, “my master is confronting her now. She had best have a good excuse.” Kagome says, “Inuyasha, if Sesshomaru is here, it’s time for you and me to go join them.” Shippo gives Jaken a nervous glance. The fox-child says, “I think I’ll stick with Inuyasha.” “No Shippo,” Kagome says, “we have to have as few people as possible to keep the air clear.” Jaken says, “My master specifically said that he wished to speak with that woman privately.” Kagome says, “Well, we have to be there to and that’s that. Come on!” She grabs Inuyasha’s arm and leads him away. The look on his face says that he realizes that he’ll be filled in when and only when she is ready.
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Sunday, May 22, 2005

500 hits ^_^
The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 11*

After leaving Rin and Jaken, the group seeks out a hot spring. Kagome and Sango invite Kagura to join them. After a short conference, it is decided that Kohaku is young enough to bathe with the girls. Inuyasha sits by a fire a safe distance from the spring. As the four soak off the stress of one ordeal after another, most of them relax. However, although he has no problem looking at his sister and he quickly becomes comfortable with Kagome, Kohaku keeps his eyes off of Kagura. The pointlessness of this, considering that he has treated wounds deliberately inflicted on her most private areas, does not escape him. However in his mind, for some reason, rules of modesty which do not apply to the other young women do apply to Kagura. After a few minutes, Sango asks Kagome, “So what happened between you and Sesshomaru?” “What happened?” Kagome says. “I’ll tell you what happened! He grabbed me and shoved his tongue down my throat!” Sango says, “That’s odd. I thought he wasn’t interested in human women.” Kagome says, “He wasn’t. The creep just wanted to show that he was in charge. First, he started talking about me as if I was a piece of furniture. As far as he was concerned, at that moment, he was just examining a piece of his brother’s property. He looked me over, prodded me a few times, and said that I have a nice body, even if it’s only mortal.” Kagura says, “You do, you know. He probably meant it when he said that.” “Gee, thanks. I think.” Kagome says. “Anyway, he smelled me, then he gave me a small kiss on the cheek; it was probably his idea of a joke.” “So what did you do?” Sango asks. “What do you think I did?” Kagome asks. “I slapped him. Anyway, he had to prove that I couldn’t tell him what to do; or what not to do.” She turns to Kagura and says, “I think you made the right call, turning him down. I don’t think he could ever treat you with respect.” Kagura smiles. “Romance between demons is not the same as it is between humans; or even between demons and humans. It isn’t about respect, or even love. It’s about intelligent passion. How a male acts should only impacts my judgment in as much as it reflects what kind of children he would give me. Sesshomaru is a truly mighty demon. He has a right to be arrogant. He can reject females; among demons it is generally the other way around. He could find stronger demonesses to be his mate. By every argument, I should have accepted his offer and considered myself lucky.” Kagome asks, “Then why’d you say no?” Kagura says, “You of all people should know that there are exceptions.” “Me?” Kagome asks. “How could Inuyasha’s father have possibly believed that a mortal woman would produce the strongest possible demonic offspring?” Kagura asks. “I admit, in terms of strength Inuyasha rivals his brother. But his human heart has proved more powerful then his demon instinct. Or do you fancy yourself to have been chosen for the quality of your potential children?” Kagome blushes. Sango says, “Kagura, how do you know all of this? You said that your experience was limited to Naraku.” Kagura says, “When he created me, Naraku made sure that I had a full understanding of such matters, both among humans and demons. I think it was a part of his mind games. Information he was sure I would never need, but which would add to my longing for freedom” “So, are you looking for love Kagura?” Kagome asks. “I don’t know.” the demon admits. “Part of what Naraku put in me was a conflict of desires. I have always known that freedom would entitle me to seek a worthy mate and bare offspring. But recently, I have begun to realize that I have had a hidden desire to be…” she hesitates, “loved, all along. Add to this the fact that I know that Naraku created these desires when he created me, and that I am therefore not sure if I want to follow either of them; and I just need more time to figure out what it is that I want. So I passed up an opportunity which may never come again.” “Well you know,” Kagome says smiling, “I could be partial, but I think you’ll be happier if whoever you end up with is someone who cares about you. Find some demon, or even a human, who will love you, not just mate with you.” “Like you and Inuyasha?” Kagura asks. Kagome pauses, then she gives a barely perceptible nod. When Kagura breaks eye contact with Kagome she sees that Kohaku’s eyes are locked on her face. Involuntarily, she gives a small smile. The boy blushes and looks away. Sango says, “I’ve had enough. We ought to give Inuyasha a turn. Kohaku, you can stay if you want to.” The three girls get out and head for their clothes. Suddenly, Kagome lets out a shriek. Everyone turns to see her dropping her blouse. “Snake.” she says apologetically. Inuyasha bursts into the clearing, brandishing the Tetsusaiga. He stops, awestruck by the sight he encounters. Kagome shouts, “Inuyasha!!!” The spell broken, he turns and rushes back to the fire. As the girls turn back to their clothes, Sango asks Kagome, “No sit?” Kagome blushes and says, “It was an honest mistake. I screamed, he came running.” Sango says, “That never stopped you before.” Kagome is still blushing. She says, “Look! I don’t want to talk about it. Kagura, Sango, if either of you think he deserves it, you smack him.” Kagome walks off leaving her new friends perplexed and her old friend amused.
*The End*
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Saturday, May 21, 2005

The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 10*

As Inuyasha and the others reach the field Kohaku guides them to, they see a camp fire. Inuyasha hasn’t smelled Kagome’s blood, but he knows that his brother has ways of killing that do not leave any blood. Inuyasha shouts, “Kagome!” “Over here!” she calls from the fire. Her voice has none of the panic which his voice had hinted at. As the newcomers approach the fire, they see Kagome, sitting with Rin, eating some kind of roasted meat. Jaken is sitting on the far side of the fire giving Inuyasha a wary stare. Inuyasha says, “Are you alright?!? Where’s Sesshomaru!?! If he hurt you I’ll…” Kagome cuts him off, “I’m fine, he’s not here, and he didn’t hurt me. He was rude, but he didn’t hurt me.” “Where did he go?” Kagura asks. “He said he didn’t want a fight, so he thought that he shouldn’t be here when you came.” Kagome says. “By the way Kagura, I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier, are you ok?” “What?” Kagura asks. “You were hurt pretty bad.” Kagome says. “Are you feeling alright?” “I’m fine.” Kagura says. “I was worried that I had gotten you killed.” “Well I’m fine.” Kagome says, smiling. “Kohaku made exactly the right decision.” “How can you say that?!?” Inuyasha asks. He kneels in front of her. “You could have been killed. I was…worried; very worried.” “Inuyasha.” Kagome says sweetly. “I’m sorry you were worried; and I’m glad you kissed me the other day. What happened earlier could have ruined my whole concept of kissing.” “You kissed him?!?” Inuyasha asks. “No, he kissed me!!!” Kagome shouts back. “What’s the difference!?!” he asks. “He forced himself on me!!!” she says. “Do you really think I would have kissed him if I had had a choice?!? What kind of girl do you think I am!?!” “Why don’t we ask Koga what kinda girl you are!?!” he asks. “Sure!” she says. “At least he’s man enough to come out and admit that he has feelings for me!!! And then we can talk about Kikyo!!!” On the sidelines, Kagura asks Sango, “What’s going on?” “This is business as usual.” Sango says. “They’re just happy to see each other.” Back in the action, Inuyasha says, “Look Kagome, knock it off!” “Knock it off,” she says, “after what you just said? I don’t think so mister…” He cuts her off, “Kagome I want to tell you something! I…” She cuts him off, “I don’t even want to hear it!!! Inuyasha you are the most self-centered, pigheaded…” He shouts, “YOU HAVE TO SHUT UP AND LISTEN!!!” She says, “OR YOU”LL DO WHAT!?!” He kisses her on the cheek. She sits there, failing to comprehend what has just happened; but she does stop talking. “I’m glad.” he says. “I’m so glad you’re alright.” She is still stunned as he puts his arms around her. “Inu-yasha?” she eventually whispers. She lets out a small sigh and hugs him back. In time, they both look up and realize that all eyes are on them. As Kagome blushes, Inuyasha asks, “Don’t you people have something better to do?!?” Each in their own way, they indicate that they don’t.
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Friday, May 20, 2005

2 today
The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 8*

Kohaku sits in the moonlight holding Kagura. Near by, Kirara is grooming herself. Slowly, Kagura begins to move. When she is able, she turns her face away from him. Latter, when her voice returns, she asks, “Why?” He says, “I had to save you. All debts have now been paid.” “What about to Kagome?” Kagura asks. “How will you pay that debt? If she isn’t dead, then she’s dieing as we speak.” “No.” he says. “If he were going to kill her, he would have made sure that Inuyasha was there to watch. I was pretty sure, but it was Kirara who decided.” Kagura asks, “Kirara?” Hearing her name, the cat looks up from her coat. Kohaku continues, “If Kagome’s life was in danger, she never would have brought us there. She knew that this was the only way to have you both alive. He’ll probably use her as a hostage; demand something from Inuyasha for her release. I don’t have anything that he wants. But, by getting him Kagome, I gave him power over his brother. He may just want Inuyasha to worry about her. But if he’d planned to hurt her, Kirara would have known. I don’t know which I would have chosen, you or her. But, Kirara would have picked Kagome.” “Is she that intelligent?” Kagura asks. “More so.” he tells her. They sit in silence. Finally, Kagura asks, “So what do we do now?” Kohaku says, “I promised him one hour. After that, I go and tell Inuyasha everything. Then I accept any punishment he thinks is fitting, as long as I’m the one who gets hurt.” “And what if you’re wrong? What if he doesn’t want to use her as a hostage or as bait? What then Kohaku?” she asks. He says, “In that case, she’s already dead; and there is no way that she will be revived by the Tenseiga.” He gets up. “I kept you out for a long time.” he says, helping her to her feet “We should go.”
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The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 9*

“YOU WHAT!!!” Inuyasha shouts. He is standing in front of Kaede’s hut, holding Kohaku by his shirt. Sango grabs the half-demon’s arm and says, “Let him talk.” Inuyasha steps back. Kohaku repeats, “I traded Kagome to Sesshomaru in exchange for Kagura. His price for restoring her life was that I bring Kagome to him in a way that wouldn’t bring you searching for her right away.” Kagura says, “It’s my fault. I…” “No!” Kohaku cuts her off. “She told me not to give him Kagome. This is my crime, I’m responsible. I don’t think that he planned to hurt her, but if he did it’s entirely my fault.” “Well I’m so happy you’re ready to take responsibility, but how is that going to help if Kagome’s dead!?!” Inuyasha shouts. “It isn’t.” Kohaku says. “And if I’m wrong then I can add one more name to the list of my victims. I did what I did. I am sorry, but I’m not ashamed.” “Kohaku, you have to take us to where you left her.” Sango says. “That’s why we’re here.” he says. “I promised Sesshomaru one hour, and it’s been one hour. Come.” He steps towards Kagura, clearly intending to ride the wind. As Sango heads to Kirara, Inuyasha takes her by the shoulders. “Sango, if she’s dead,” he says, “I might transform again. Then I’d probably kill Kohaku. If that happens, I want you to know that I’m sorry.” Sango places a palm on his chest. She smiles, then she turns to go. The five head off into the moon light.
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