The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Wind

Chapter 199 - The Wind

*Order of the Underworld* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagura was flying high above the clouds. It was absolutely frigid up there, but she loved it anyway. It was a million times better than being cooped up in Naraku's winter hiding spot with Kanna and Kohaku, and she tried to go out flying at least once a day. It was the only time she felt free of the bonds that held her to that monster.

She loved the winter more than any other season because the cold forced Naraku into hibernation. He wasn't around to remind her of her place as his slave. He wasn't there squeezing her heart simply to amuse himself with her pain. Most of the time he had no idea what was going on around him, trusting his incarnations to keep his location a secret and protect him while he was weak.

She couldn't understand why he would trust her with his safety. He knew she hated him and wanted nothing more than his destruction. She feared that he had something else protecting him, spells or traps, and so she did not betray him. It was tempting though. She would fly over the group of shard hunters from time to time, wishing she could tell them just where her master slept, nearly defenseless, but she could never bring herself to do it. He slept with her heart in a jar close by. If he woke to discover she had betrayed him, he could take her life in an instant.

The kaze youkai sighed and breathed the thin, icy air deeply into her lungs. She wished she could fly lower and look over the snowy world below, but the blizzard was still blowing ferociously. She hadn't spotted Inuyasha and his pack for some time, and she wondered if they had given up or if they were just holed up somewhere, riding out the bad weather.

*Vortex of Chaos* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagura was startled and nearly fell off her large boat-like feather when a strange gust of wind hit her. There wasn't usually wind up so high, and she was unsure what to think of it. Suddenly, a voice sounded all around her, and the demoness looked around in shock and fear.

"Tell me, kaze, do you wish for things to remain as they are, or do you wish for your freedom?"

"Who's there?" Kagura demanded, still searching for the source of the voice. A whirlwind formed in front of her, one that reminded her of the wolf demon whose tribe she slaughtered, except this one was made out of wispy clouds instead of dirt. A moment later, the wind subsided, and a woman walked out of it.

She was standing on thin air, walking as if she was on solid ground, and Kagura immediately sensed the evil of the woman before her. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but the woman's words were stuck in her mind. Could this evil human witch possibly help her gain her freedom?

"My name is of little importance," Migotoyami said, unwilling to share her true name with a servant of the dark hanyou, Naraku. "My offer, however, is certain to intrigue you. I can give you back your heart, if you agree to help me locate your master."

*Fortune Teller* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Why? What do you want with him?"

"I am under orders of a certain Demon Lord to locate Naraku's hiding spot. We know he is in hibernation. This is the perfect time to defeat him, when he is least expecting it."

"If he finds out that I betrayed him, Naraku will kill me," Kagura said, her hesitance obvious.

"If you wish for your imprisonment to end, then you will accept my offer. Take this." The witch held out a jar that looked identical to the one currently holding the kaze youkai's heart by Naraku's resting place. "All you need to do is get this jar close to the one that holds your heart. The contents will switch, and he will never know the difference. Then you will be safe from repercussions when he awakes under attack."

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

"I suppose you don't, but it is worth the risk, is it not?"

"How will you know where to find him? I can't show you."

"The contents of the jar will act like a beacon, leading Lord Sesshoumaru and his comrades to their greatest enemy. The end will come quickly, and you will be free. You know of the Demon Lord's strength. Do you question his ability to kill Naraku?"

"No, I know he could do it, especially if Naraku is caught off guard. I suspect, however, that he has the place rigged with protection spells or something similar. He would not simply trust me to keep him safe and hidden."

"As I expected. You need not worry yourself. The Western Lord and his new mate will defeat your master. All they need is the ability to locate him."

*Last Inferno* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

At the witch's words, a little of the fire inside Kagura burned out. She had always dreamt of winning the taiyoukai's heart once she had her freedom. "His new mate?"

"Ah, so word has not reached you yet. Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru has taken a mate, someone you know, in fact."

"Who?" the demoness demanded. Who had taken her rightful place by his side? Who had melted the ice around his heart?

"The Shikon Miko. I believe he called her Kagome."

Hope and pain warred in Kagura's heart. She knew that the Shikon Miko would be the one who would defeat Naraku in the end. Yes, Sesshoumaru was strong enough, but Kagome was the one who would purify the jewel of Naraku's evil taint. Only she could take away the power it had given her master. Together, the two of them would be sure to finish off the dark hanyou.

*Last Exit to Paradise* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Fine," she finally agreed. "I'll do it." Kagura accepted the jar the witch offered, trying to ignore the desire to shiver when their hands touched briefly. This witch was filled with evil, but it was a different kind of evil than Naraku. Her master held such darkness inside of himself that there was no room for light. This witch was doing good, was possibly saving the world, despite her own darkness. It was at that moment that the kaze youkai realized that she finally had a real chance at being free. She could only hope things turned out the way they were supposed to. Naraku needed to die.

Kagura watched in shock as the witch leaned back and allowed herself to fall. She watched from her feather as the woman disappeared through the wall of clouds beneath her. She shook her head, disturbed by the remaining feeling of powerful magic, and went about her way. She wasn't quite ready to return to her hiding place. She had a lot of thinking to do, and it would take a while to work up the nerve necessary to use the jar to switch out her heart.

Migotoyami sat up in her bed with a gasp, shivering violently. Out of body experiences always left her feeling disturbed. Still, she had been successful in her task. Now all she could do was wait. Kagura would do her part, and then she would go to the palace to inform Lord Sesshoumaru that his enemy had been located.