A Role Reversal by Striking Falcon

An Invitation to the Dance

Chapter One: A Clear Invitation to the Dance

Inuyasha jumped down from the God Tree, sniffing the area for Kagome’s presence and the aroma of ramen. He caught her scent, but it was still by the well.

‘What is that wench waiting on?’ he grumbled as he ran to the clearing. ‘Do I always have to get her?’ When he arrived, he found Kagome not there, only a scrap of white cloth at the foot of the well. He picked it up, nearly dropping it as the scent of blood and Kagome’s tears flooded his nose. A small scroll fell to the forest floor.

Inuyasha picked it up and read it. He paled just as Sango, Miroku and Shippou walked into the clearing. He dropped the scroll and ran off, leaving the others to wonder.

“What’s the matter with Inuyasha?” Sango wondered out loud as Miroku picked up the scroll. He too paled as he read.

“What is it Miroku?” Shippou asked, settling on the houshi’s shoulder. Miroku cleared his throat, then read the scroll out loud

To Whom it may Concern:

You are hereby cordially invited to witness the execution of Kikyou’s incarnate, unless you bring the rest of the Shikon no Tama to Naraku‘s stronghold. It will appear north of Inuyasha‘s forest in one day‘s time.

*

“Hey Kouga! We’ve got something here!”

Kouga sighed, but stood up and followed the youkai outside. A scroll lay innocently on the ground, with a green cloth holding it together. Kouga picked it up, sniffing the green fabric for a trace of who sent it. He growled dangerously, his cerulean eyes narrowing dangerously.

“What is it boss?”

“Kagome…” He jerked the scroll open, reading the contents before throwing it aside and sprinting north.

*

Kagura watched Naraku warily as he petted over the miko bound to the wall, her starlight eyes glittering hatefully in the dark room.

“Why is she here Naraku?” Kagura asked, her fan waving lazily in the miasma.

“It is not your place to question me Kagura. Especially after your last stunt.”

Kagura bristled, remembering well what happened the last time she tried to rid herself of Naraku. The physical wounds were healed, but her heart would never recover. Naraku chuckled at her shudder.

“You really should show more respect,” he cooed, tracing a hand down the miko’s face. “Daughters should love and obey their fathers. Look at Kanna,” he absently swept a hand toward the child, who stood quietly in a corner. “She obeys without question, without rebellion. She is the perfect child.” Naraku returned his attentions to the miko. “But then again, you all live until your usefulness expires.”

Kagura’s fan beat faster under her rage, willing for looks to kill. She watched as Naraku tested the rope bounding the miko’s arms, spread apart as the rope at her feet held them together.

“Now do as your told,” Naraku commanded, dismissing Kagura entirely. She took no hurry in her leave, moving slowly through the castle to the courtyard outside. In moments she was in the air, her gossamer chariot rising on the wind currents she so loved.

‘This plan of Naraku’s is bound to fail,’ Kagura thought sourly, looking below as the trees and streams zipped by below. ‘He may have had a chance with Inuyasha and the wolf mutt, but this is bad. There is no way he can trick the western lord to come.’

Kagura sighed. ‘The western lord,’ she thought wistfully.

****

SF: Before ya’ll flip, this is NOT a Kagura/Sesshoumaru fic!

****

If any youkai puzzled her, he would be it. So proud, yet quiet. She took the time to observe him as he traveled, marveling at the simple way he commanded those around him. Even the little human (who Naraku so foolishly kidnapped one time) listened to him as devoted as any true servant. Kagura couldn’t imagine the lord as kind to the child. To be perfectly honest, he barely acknowledged her but to keep her out of trouble. The two-headed ryuu youkai was mostly responsible for the child, with the toad youkai second.

‘If any being can defeat Naraku, he can,’ Kagura concluded as she followed the lord’s scent to a nearby clearing. ‘Yes, he would be a likely bet for freedom.’

She landed but a few feet away from the child, watching as she picked tiny white flowers along the grass. ‘I wonder if Kanna would be like that,’ she thought as the girl skipped toward the toad youkai behind her.

“Look Jaken-sama! Rin has flowers for Sesshoumaru-sama. Does Jaken-sama think he will like them?”

“Of course not, you silly human!” the youkai shouted, swatting the pretty blooms out of his face and her hands. She looked to cry for a moment, then turned around.

“Then Rin will pick more flowers for Sesshoumaru-sama!”

Kagura smiled at the child’s persistence, wondering where the lord of the group was. Just as she thought to look for him, a white blur scooped up the little girl, then disappeared before Kagura could get a scent.

The western lord appeared moments later, setting the giggling child beside the ryuu youkai and approaching Kagura’s hiding place.

“Come out and your death will be quick.”

Kagura smiled, stepping from behind the tree and in his presence. He stood silent, no doubt addressing the threat she created as Kagura opened her fan. “Hello Sesshoumaru-sama. How are you this evening?”

Sesshoumaru said nothing, watching her should she move to attack.

Kagura sighed. ‘This is what I tried to warn Naraku about. This lord is too dangerous to fool.’ “Straight to the point, I see. Very well. Naraku wishes to give you something-”

“I require nothing from the hanyou.”

Kagura nodded in appeasement, her fan waving lightly against her face. “That I don’t doubt, but there is one thing that you don’t have. That your brother does….” She let this hang as Sesshoumaru considered, his eyes never wavering nor his face ever changing from the cold stoic boredom it normally carried.

“This is a trick.”

Kagura shrugged. “Perhaps. But Naraku holds prisoner the only one who could give the Tetsusaiga to you. He would be willing to give her to you.”

“Under what condition?”

“No condition. An apology, if you will, for the human arm.”

Kagura smiled at the flash in his eyes, knowing the next question before he could ask. “And how would he know how to break the seal?”

“How do you think? His castle appears north of Inuyasha‘s forest at sunrise.” And with that, Kagura left him to ponder what he would, secretly hoping Sesshoumaru would ignore the invitation and stay to himself.

‘But that is not for me to decide,’ Kagura concluded as she sailed away, glancing down at the lord and his party once again before disappearing in the clouds above.

*

Sesshoumaru watched the wind witch as she floated away, his eyes glittering a hard gold. ‘What is the hanyou up to now?’ he wondered as Rin wrapped herself around his knee.

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” she chirped happily, grinning from ear to ear. Sesshoumaru glanced down at his charge, with only the nod of his head as acknowledgement. Sesshoumaru glanced up once again, Kagura’s words calling back to him from memory.

‘So, Naraku knows who can change the seal does he? This must be investigated.’ “Rin, stay here.”

“Hai Sesshoumaru-sama!” Rin replied with a bow. “And when Sesshoumaru-sama returns, Rin will have lots of flowers!”

Sesshoumaru flew off, mentally smirking at the child’s words as he traveled east. ‘What is disturbing is that Naraku knows how, even thought he can not wield the Tetsusaiga.’ He neared his destination, a deserted forest on the eastern border of his lands. He settled down, then walked but a few paces to the tree youkai in his council.

“How long has it been Sesshoumaru-sama,” the youkai croaked, its voice leathery and strained. “How long since your last question?”

“But a few months. I have another.”

“Speak it, and I will try my best to answer accordingly.”

Sesshoumaru took but a moment to phrase his request. “I have been told that someone can reverse the Tetsusaiga’s seal. Is this true?”

The youkai sighed, it’s eyes closed as if in deep thought. “I honestly have no knowledge of it. But it could be possible.”

“How?”

“If it were possible, then the Tetsusaiga and the Tenseiga would switch seals.”

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. “So that the Tenseiga would be in charge of Inuyasha’s youkai blood.”

“Correct my lord.”

“Who would be able to do such a thing?”

The youkai opened his eyes, staring deep into Sesshoumaru’s. “Whoever set the Tetsusaiga free in the first place.”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed, then widened before disappearing toward Inuyasha’s Forest.

*

Naraku sighed the moment Kagura left the grounds, finally able to have a free thought without her rebellious ones tainting his plans. He glanced back at the bound girl, fingering the rip in her skirt with interest.

“What is this strange kimono you wear miko?” he asked her. “Don’t you know it’s indecent?”

She squirmed away from his touch, but said nothing. Naraku laughed, tapping the gag around her mouth. “What’s the matter my dear? Can’t you talk?” He laughed as her eyes narrowed, then pried one of her eyes open. “How…lovely. What color are your eyes?”

She mumbled something unintelligible. Naraku untied the gag, only to get spit on.

“Inuyasha‘s going to waste you when he gets here!”

Naraku chuckled, retying the gag around her mouth despite her struggling. “I doubt that very much, little incarnate. You see, I have something in mind for today.”

She stopped struggling, her eyes questioning and frightened for her friend. Naraku shook his head. “I have the perfect game planned for you.”

He walked away, stopping in the middle of the room. “I sent invitations of a sort to Inuyasha, the wolf prince, and Sesshoumaru-” he stopped at the sudden fear lacing through her scent. “Oh. You fear the inu taiyoukai more than me I see. Oh well. I plan for Inuyasha to come first, but Kouga does have some jewel shards. One or the other will die today. We’ll just have to see which one.”

Kagome whimpered, then started to cry. “Oh don’t do that,” Naraku cooed, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “You’ll have fun playing my little game. You’ll see.”

He turned to leave once again, sliding the paper door open. “Because it will be the last game you ever play.”

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