The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Heart

Chapter 206 - The Heart

*Double-Crossed Fool* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Fighting down her nervousness, Kagura approached the old, dilapidated village Naraku was using as his hiding place. She smirked as she saw the reason both humans and demons avoided the place. The spider hanyou had used some serious magic, with the help of a dark miko, to ensure his hibernation spot remained deserted. People believed the place to be haunted, and so they avoided it like the plague.

She headed directly to the headman's hut and entered, ignoring the groaning of the rotting floorboards. She neared Kanna and Kohaku, giving them a nod. Two pairs of blank eyes followed her as she walked by, heading towards her master, ready to give him his daily weather update. Even though he slept, a small part of him was conscious, and she reported to him every day whether spring was nearing. Kagura was thankful for this habit of hers, because neither Kohaku nor Kanna would question her reason for approaching Naraku.

The jar she had received from the witch was tucked under her arm as she walked slowly down the old staircase into the root cellar. She could see the mound of dirt that hid her master from sight and right beside it was the jar holding her heart. She approached cautiously and knelt down as close as she dared.

"The snow is still quite deep outside, and the wind still blows. It is not yet time for Spring."

She was always polite when she addressed the slumbering hanyou. She learned her lesson. She only angered him enough once for him to raise out of the ground to punish her, but what a punishment it had been. Even though he was slow and weak from the cold, he squeezed her heart until she was sure she was just seconds from death, and that was something she never wanted to experience again.

Nothing had happened with the jar, and Kagura mentally cursed. How close did she need to get to make it switch out her heart? She didn't dare get any closer to the container holding it because doing so would risk Naraku thinking she was trying to steal it. She didn't know why he left it on the surface instead of burying it with him, though she expected it was either to remind her of her place or to tempt her to try and escape him, for which he would enjoy making her pay.

Naraku was a sadistic freak, and she knew he reveled in the knowledge that he controlled her very life. She could not die so long as he held her heart, except for at his hands, and he used it to punish her whenever he felt even the slightest bit bored. If only the jar worked, then he could never hurt her like that again.

Kagura retrieved the jar from under her arm and held it out as far as she dared. Her eyes widened at the short light show as a red orb rose from the jar on the ground and rushed into the one in her hand. Another orb of a slightly different shade left the jar in her hand and made its way into the container that once held her heart. She was free! Mentally rejoicing, Kagura rose and left the root cellar as slowly as she entered.

The wind witch nodded at the empty eyed pair as she passed them once again. She had to find a safe place to hide her heart until she figured out how to get it back into her body. The witch hadn't given her any instructions, but she hoped the evil human woman would help her once more in thanks for what she had done. Naraku was now a sitting duck, a beacon beside him ready to lead his enemies right to his hiding place. He would never survive.

- *Domino* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Migotoyami smirked as she felt the switch happen. Things were falling into place one by one, just as she intended. She wondered what Kagura would do now that she had her heart. Would she seek her out for help? Would she figure it out on her own? Really, returning her heart to where it belonged was an easy task. All she needed to do was press it to her chest and her body would reabsorb it.

Now she needed to alert Lord Sesshoumaru that she had done as she promised, and located Naraku's hiding place. The spider hanyou was bold, that much was certain. He was hiding just outside the West. The taiyoukai and his entourage had to have passed close by his hiding place during their hunt for the spell bags to bring down the barrier over the border, and they had no idea.

The witch scowled at the thought of what she had to do now. She hated traveling. It always left her feeling exposed. No, Migotoyami liked to stay in her well-hidden and protected lair. She rarely ventured outside unless she had to, and this time she did. She could not simply wait and hope the Western Lord would check in. She needed to go to him to give him her news personally.

It would go a long way in earning his trust, though she doubted she would ever truly have it. Lord Sesshoumaru was far too wise to trust someone like her. Perhaps, though, it would be enough for him to truly forgive her transgressions against him. Yes, she had given eternal life to his mate and her companions, but he still held feelings of hostility towards her. He was not an enemy she wished to have, and so she continued to try to make up for her actions against him.

And so Migotoyami gathered some of her belongings, things she didn't dare leave behind. She sealed up her home with a powerful spell to protect everything else, and she began her trek through the deep snow towards the Western Palace. Hopefully, she would receive a warm welcome. Lord Sesshoumaru would definitely be pleased with what she had to share.