I Fell for Myself by Stella Mira

That's Really Helpful!

Kagome uncurled the yōki coils from Kagura's neck to allow her freedom of speech, but the threat lay heavy in the gold of her eyes. Spasmodic fits of coughing came from Kagura's throat as she labored for respiration. When she could take in breath without blood congesting her lungs, she only gave partial truths and elusion.

"Che, I don't know of any other dark miko who could reverse the curse. Naraku favored the slut because of her unique abilities."

"If you're lying to us, I'll do more than ruffle your feathers, bitch!" Fangs bared, Inuyasha growled a mere breadth's away from her face.

Chin held high, she didn't shy away, but that changed when Sesshōmaru dragged a reiki-pulsing fingertip across her cheekbone. "Tell us where Naraku is hiding."

Kagura hissed in pain and fear – of Sesshōmaru's persecution if she didn't talk, of Naraku's retribution if she did talk. "He'll kill me if I breathe a word of his whereabouts."

"That's it! Start talkin' or you'll taste the steel of my Tetsusaiga!" Sword clutched tightly in his grip, Inuyasha swung in a half-arc, with halved-power, but Kagome blocked the path of his attack. A twist of her wrist and the yōki sizzled and dispersed as if it had never been unleashed.

"Calm down, Inuyasha. She is cooperating in her own way. She didn't deny knowing where Naraku is even if she didn't reveal the place."

Sullenly, with almost child-like petulance, Inuyasha fumed. "What's the point if she ain't talkin', wench?"

"I can't tell you where he is, but I have information of interest to you."

Kagura's bargain was met with intrigue, with silence, until Sesshōmaru motioned for her to proceed. "Speak, woman."

"You have to promise me you'll let me go first."

"I give you my word of honor. You will be released to return to your master – or wherever you wish to go." Sesshōmaru's avowal rang clear and true, dissipated the shadows of suspicion in Kagura's cerise irises.

"Naraku has always been interested in curses and whatnot. He has gathered many scrolls about different curses and their remedies. I was never interested in them, but I stole a peek once in a while since I was bored anyway. There was a specific scroll telling of the exchanging of souls."

Silence prevailed once more, though of a different kind. Mistrust wafted into the vapor-tainted wind, and Kagura chuckled. "What? You thought I could not read or something? Don't compare me to an illiterate brute like you." Her insult was a spit of saliva and mockery, hurled at the hanyō's face, waking his wrath anew.

"Why you…" Inuyasha took a menacing step towards her, claws raised, yet it was Sesshōmaru who held him back this time with a tilt of his neck and a nod in Kagura's way.

"Continue."

"You need a special concoction of herbs. You must submerge yourselves in water mixed with those herbs according to the soul exchanging ritual described in the scroll. That is as far as I can remember. If you wish to know more details, you must get that scroll from Naraku."

A shrug of nonchalance and lips thinned. Kagome appraised the wind witch, knew she would not disclose more no matter what incentives they gave her.

"That's really helpful!" Voice gruff, coated in thick irony, Inuyasha snorted.

"I told you wh-" Kagura never concluded her sentence. Eyes wide, horror-claimed, she clutched at her chest with fretful fingers, knuckles white, spasm-ridden.

"What's wrong, wench?"

The painful twinge in her features spoke of felt anguish, too real. Inuyasha made to grab her arm, shake her out of it – but her body gave before he could reach her, bloodless lips and moans and ashes.

"Nar-ak-ku – m-my…h-heart –"