Curse of Asmahrany

Hot breath blew onto her neck and Kagome strained to see who the captor was. “Fourth time… Kagome…” The voice was a silky husk of a whisper, and Kagome could recognize it anywhere… Inuyasha?!

Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

-x-

- Defiance -

-x-

“Try harder!”

“I can’t!”

“You must! I do not have you here to give up when the going gets tough. Take out another one and try again.”

Glaring at her sensei, Tsubaki pulled out another shikigami and closed her eyes, concentrating as hard as her mind would allow her to. Her soul poured into that little piece of paper, her priestess abilities beginning to span out around her, creating a monstrous aura. Kikyo watched, her arms crossed out in front of her, witnessing her most prized student work on her summoning abilities.

“They say the shikigami takes the form of your hearts true desires—innocence takes the form of a divine creature whereas greed, hatred, and other emotions of disgust take the form of the demon’s minions—what does your shikigami fair as?” Kikyo roared over the howl of the wind. Tsubaki screamed loudly as her soul poured into the paper…

A pale snake slithered out of Tsubaki’s aura and slithered around her arm, it’s fangs boring at Kikyo. The teacher gasped…

A snake? She thought, That’s the devil’s ultimate creature…

“I did it…” Tsubaki was in awe, “I summoned my shikigami!!”

Kikyo smiled at her student, “Yes… it takes hard work and practice to summon it without losing enough energy—and once you have mastered the summon, you can make your shikigami do your bidding…”

“Bidding?” Tsubaki echoed.

Kikyo nodded. “Yes, your shikigami can do your work for you: carry things should it have thumbs, push things if it’s strong enough—even take a life if it has to.”

Tsubaki listened to Kikyo’s words hard…

Take a life? Her thoughts echoed…

-x-

Kaede closed the black leathery diary that she had found with Kikyo’s artifacts. The information that Kaede gathered had given her various ideas about what could be going on within their small village in Egypt. Firstly, Urasue, a priestess that had served Pharaoh Ramses was the creator and the destroyer of the Asmahrany—in other words, the alter-ego. Tsubaki was the only other priestess, besides Urasue, that had mastered the Asmahrany and utilized it to do her bidding…

And apparently sister Kikyo had trained Tsubaki with her shikigami—something I think that was responsible for my sister’s death. Kaede thought, shuffling through the papers. Perhaps if she had an inkling if Urasue still lived, maybe she could call upon her to figure out the entire web of deceit and lies.

And figure out what happens to Rin during the days and that Kagome-dancer during the nights. Kaede dropped the diary into the box she had dug up and stretched loudly. Her body was giving in desperately and she wanted nothing more than to curl up on her bedspread and snooze…

“Salam, Kaede!!” Shippo bounded into the tiny hut, his face bright and gleaming. Kaede smiled at the young child.

“What’s gotten you so happy, child?” Kaede inquired, patting Shippo’s tiny head.

“Kagome, the Desert Rose dancer person gave me a personal visit and she pwomised me that she’d do a pwetty dance for me tomorrow morning and I’m happy and I don’t hate them anymore and—whatchu doing?” Shippo’s eyes were wide as he stared at the box lying beside Kaede. She sweat dropped.

Talk about shot-term memory, much?

“Research, little Shippo.” Kaede responded warmly. The child’s eyes were as wide as bulbs, staring at Kaede in awe.

“Priestess research?”

Kaede nodded, “Yes, child.”

“Can I help?”

Kaede smiled. “Of course you can—I’m trying to find the whereabouts of this Priestess…”

“Who?”

“Her name is Urasue.” Kaede watched the expression change on Shippo’s face. It twisted from excitement to gasping shock, his eyes widened more so than they already where and his mouth twisting to form an oh shape.

“Urasue?!” He asked, excited and Kaede frowned.

“Yes child, Urasu--…”

Shippo cut her off, “Brother Hiten was talking to Brother Manten about a “witch Urasue” the other day!! I was spying on them because… I had nothing better to do,” Shippo admitted sheepishly. Manten and Hiten were twin bother’s that watch many of the orphans of their tiny village. They were given food, clothing and shelter to do so as gold was a rare item to come across.

Kaede frowned, “They were?”

Shippo nodded. “Yep! I ran away before they found out I was there.”

“What were they talking about?”

Shippo shrugged, “I don’t know. They said she’s a witch…”

“Did you hear anything else?”

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

“Positive?”

Shippo frowned, “You’re getting annoying. I’m leaving, bye!!”

Kaede point-blanked as she watched Shippo run out of her hut, his little head bobbing with every step he took that continued his run. Shaking her head, she made a mental note to go pay Manten and Hiten a little visit concerning the witch named Urasue…

Shippo is such a deviant little child—guess it comes with not having parents… Kaede thought ruefully as slowly slouched into her kitchen area to prepare a brunch, as she hadn’t eating breakfast…

-x-

Inuyasha had instructed Kagome to leave for that moment in time—he said he’d come retrieve her and he promised that it would be long before sunset. Smiling, Kagome agreed readily and accepted the farewell kiss he bestowed upon her. She jumped out of the balcony and began walking towards the main village. She had glanced over her shoulder to find Inuyasha staring after her and she merely sent him a warm smile—receiving one of her own.

On her way back to the village, she bumped into a young child…

“Are you Kagome?”

Frowning, she nodded and the kid latched onto her leg. “I don’t like you anymore! You weren’t there for a dance that you were supposed to do for us and you left at sundown and it made us all sad—especially me because I love dancing and you have to be nicer to little kids next time! By the way, I’m Shippo and I’m an orphan.”

Laughing, Kagome dropped to her knees and hugged the young child, “I apologize, Shippo. I had errands to run that night but I promise you, first thing tomorrow morning, Desert Rose will give you and your friends a private show—can I count on you to spread the word to your friends?”

Gleaming, Shippo launched at Kagome and embraced her tightly, “Thank you! Thank you!”

“You are very welcome. Now scurry along and tell everybody!!” Smiling, Kagome watched Shippo bound off to whatever direction the wind was probably blowing…

Cute kid.

Making her way back to her hut, she spotted Ayame yelling animatedly to what seemed like—Kouga… Frowning, Kagome broke into a full speed run in their direction…

What do you think she’s yelling about? Kagome inquired to her other half.

No idea but you better stop her before she rips his unmentionables off and sells them to the Black Market. Rin sounded extremely amused, which ticked Kagome off.

Excuse me, madam? You are a priestess—you can’t be talking about ripping off unmentionables!

I’m only human too!

Yeah? You have standards to live up to.

And you don’t?

I don’t guard a sacred temple, I dance for a living.

It doesn’t make you lesser than me.

Actually Rin, it does—now hush! Kagome ended the conversation as she approached Ayame. She heard the last moments of their conversation.

“YOU DO NOT ASK A WOMAN OUT IN THAT FASHION! LEARN TACTICS FIRST BEFORE YOU APPROACH ME, UNDERSTOOD?!” Her hands were balled into fists, one shaking in the air like a bat. Kagome frowned, finally arriving beside her best friend.

“What’s happening?”

Kouga looked at Kagome with a pleading look. Ayame whirled to her best friend, “THIS MAN HERE,” said with emphasis, “tried to flirt with me in such a disgusting and inhumane fashion!! How could he possibly think I would agree to be courted by the likes of him if he cannot respect a woman’s body and mind?!”

Kagome looked at Kouga, hoping to get a straighter answer.

“I’ll take my leave…” He bowed and began walking off. Kagome frowned.

“Hold up,” She moved away from Ayame and ran to catch up with Kouga.

“What happened?” She inquired again as Kouga continued to walk with a manly stride…

“I told her she was my woman and that she was expected to have a dinner rendezvous with me tonight—she slapped me and began accusing me of not understanding a woman’s mind and body. What did I do wrong?” He raised an eyebrow at a twitching Kagome. At that moment, she felt like shoving a rock up his larger unmentionable.

“You do not tell a girl that she is your woman and you do not demand presence at dinner. You’re supposed to woo her and ask her to!” Kagome sighed.

“Well you were supposed to help me to get her to say yes, for a hundred coins.” Kouga reminded her, “Do it now, because obviously she hates me, and I’ll give you three hundred.”

Kagome felt like fainting on the spot. Without second thought, she shook her hand with Kouga and ran back to her best friend. Besides the fact Ayame totally blew up in Kouga’s face, Kagome had an inkling feeling that, perhaps, Ayame and Kouga could make a rather adorable couple—

Three hundred or no three hundred gold coins, Ayame’s future was much more important and Kouga seemed like (other than his mannish behavior) the right candidate.

“So?” Ayame tapped her foot, “What did you two talk about?”

Kagome laughed, hugging her. “I told him that he couldn’t tell a girl that she is his woman. It was brute, wrong and stupid and he kind of realized his mistake.”

“And?”

“And he offered me three hundred gold coins for you to say yes for dinner. So unless you want the other girls to run your ass into the ground, I suggest you have one dinner date with him, get our three hundred gold coins and never speak to him again.” Completely hypocritical to her earlier thoughts, Kagome also gave her best friend the option of leaving…

Despite Kagome’s thoughts of happiness for Ayame and Kouga, it was ultimately Ayame’s life…

“You wagered a bet on me?!”

“It wasn’t a bet,” Kagome rolled her eyes, “it was an offering. He offered three hundred and I accepted. You don’t have to if you don’t want to…”

Ayame sighed, her physique fatigued already, “I’ll think about it. Anyways, where were you, missy?”

Kagome grinned, “With Inuyasha.”

Ayame’s eyes widened. “Oh?!”

“Yeah!”

“Tell me!!” She demanded, dragging Kagome inside. Koharu and Sango were off by an oasis with Mushin, practicing their dancing. It was Ayame’s time of feminine displeasure, so she was lazing around at home, allowing the pain rocking through her legs to rest.

“Well, I promised him I’d be by his balcony by sunrise and I went and well—we kissed?”

“YOU WHAT?!”

Kagome giggled, “He picked me up and put me on his balcony. Oh my gosh, he wrapped his arms around me like I belonged to him and kissed the heavens out of me!!”

“Oh Allah!!” Ayame breathed, “You two had a hot, twisted, sinful affair, didn’t you?!”

“We didn’t consummate.” Kagome twitched, dryly. “We merely expressed lustful attraction towards one another by whispering into each other’s mouths.”

Ayame snorted. “Right, whispered into each other’s mouths, my butt. That’s like saying when you have sex; you’re actually baking a cake.”

Kagome raised an eyebrow. “What does sex and baking a cake have anything to do with each other?”

“Exactly my point! What does kissing and whispering into each other’s mouths have anything to do with anything?” Ayame countered. “Your analogy’s are really poor, Kagome.”

“Oh hush.” Kagome crossed her arms. Ayame laughed, leaning against the wall. Her eyes were dancing in amusement in Kagome’s predicament: the girl who never flirts, always rejects and hides from the idea of love and attracted had attracted not only a man, but the young Prince of Egypt.

Damn, Kagome had style…

“So when are you meeting him next?”

“About now.” A deep throaty voice sounded. Both girls shot their look over to the entrance of the door where Prince Inuyasha stood, crossing his arms, smirking wildly at the two belly-dancers.

“Already?” Kagome raised an eyebrow. “I just got home!”

“Quit complaining!” Ayame hissed, “Go frolic in the sand!”

“Shut up!”

Grinning, Ayame gave Kagome a shove. She, stonily, stood up and headed towards Inuyasha. Nodding at Ayame, Inuyasha lifted Kagome up (unexpectedly, of course) and carried her towards his mare. Groaning, she dug her head into his neck.

“Why do you feel the need to carry me?”

“Because I want to.” Plopping her atop the horse, Inuyasha mounted and waited for Kagome to hold him firmly around the waist. Once complete, he took off in a fast trot. Ayame could only stare…

Aww—how cute… and immediately, her thoughts began to trail to that castle guard, Kouga…

Should I?

-x-

“So what exactly happened?” Sesshomaru asked as his father twitched in such a fashion, it worried Izayoi.

“That brother of yours just walked out on me.” Inutaisho snarled. “Like uprooted and hopped off like a gypsy!”

Sesshomaru snickered, “Why?”

“Because I told him Yura’s family is coming for the anniversary affair your mother and I are planning.” Inutaisho revealed. “I don’t know what he has against her. Allah, he left before I could even tell him his marriage was being planned with her!”

Sesshomaru paused. “Inuyasha is—what?”

Izayoi grinned, “Getting married to Yura!!”

-x-

Inuyasha jumped onto his balcony first and, quickly, lifted Kagome up behind him. Guiding her to his bed, he pushed her down onto it, smirking manically down at her. She watching him, both in horror and in awe…

Think he finally lost it? Rin asked.

Maybe—not that I would mind much…

Excuse me? Have you forgotten the fact that when you lost your purity, I do too!! And what kind of Priestess, have you heard of, loses her purity through the means of her alter-ego?!

Let me think on that, Kagome internally grinned, only you. Don’t worry, you can set a standard.

What kind of standard are you speaking of?!

The kind that allows you to lose your innocence and purity without actually having to do anything. Kagome taunted. You forget I’m a belly-dancer—I’m supposed to do impure actions!

Being a belly-dancer doesn’t mean you have to go around being willingly raped by the Prince!! Rin shot, It merely means you dance and show your belly!!

Same deal, Rin.

Actually no! Kagome, please… don’t do anything more than kiss…

Sighing, Kagome stared at the Prince. He was beginning to crawl onto the bed, his eyes locked intently with hers. I promise…

Thank you… and Rin’s mind went dormant.

“Would you believe it if I said I missed you?” Inuyasha drawled out, in a husky whisper. Gulping, Kagome kept Rin’s promise faintly in her mind. Inuyasha had finally reached the belly dancer, his arms propped on either side of her and his legs pinning her knees down. She was a caged animal.

“Would you believe it if I said I missed you—more?” Kagome asked meekly. Smirking, Inuyasha brought his nose down and nuzzled her cheek.

“What are you?” He whispered into her ear, causing her heart to race. “Out of all the women in Egypt—of all the status and powerful families I could entice… I just had to pick you… didn’t I?”

Kagome remained silent…

“I had to pick a powerless, lowly belly-dancer.” He murmured, more to himself than her, “A belly-dancer who stood me up four times.”

That hit Kagome hard. He made it seem like she was nothing… “If I irritate you so—than you can go entice a powerful beautiful woman who won’t go about standing you up. Why waste your time – and mine- being here?”

Inuyasha snarled, his grip tightening on her. “Do you not understand, you impudent dancer?”

Kagome stared at him expectantly.

“I chose you because you have the stupid gall to stand me up. If it were anyone else, I would have killed them. Nobody else would threaten to kick my ass! You have a fiery thing about you…” His left hand trailed down her cheek onto her collarbone, “That I just can’t resist…”

Kagome gulped, “Sire…”

He didn’t respond. His eyes were glazed over by something deeper than Kagome could put a finger on—his hands were still caressing her skin, leaving a burning sensation where his large hands pressed. She repeated: “Sire?”

Inuyasha’s eyes flickered as he looked at Kagome. “What?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Depends…”

“Stop touching and start kissing,” She grinned and Inuyasha couldn’t help but laugh.

“With pleasure.”

His face dipped down and caught her waiting lips. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Kagome pressed his body as close as she could to her own. She wanted to feel all of him without breaking her pact with Rin—her other-half by literal definition. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her fingers dug into his flesh. Inuyasha’s hair curtained them, his lips working like magic around hers. Their tongues dancer to an invisible tune, lips suckling, tongues clashing—breaths mixing.

Kagome pushed him off to breathe and his lips continued to kiss her. Kiss her cheek, ear, neck, collar—his kisses even trailed as far as to her cleavage. Instantly, Kagome pulled on his hair and his lips hurried to find hers, to rejoin their bodies—and possibly, their souls, once again. Kagome let out a breathless moan as Inuyasha’s hands caressed her body, his lips caressing her soul, his body caressing her aura…

She wanted more…

Kagome! No! Rin’s voice rung and Kagome had to hold onto her own passion. She made a promise—and if she didn’t stop now, she’d end up breaking that promise.

“Inuyasha?”

Instantly, Inuyasha ripped away from Kagome, both of their eyes widening. Her prayers had been answered—a distraction.

“Inuyashaaaa??” The voice sung again. Frantically looking around, Inuyasha tugged Kagome up.

“You need to leave through the window,” he whispered. Kagome looked outside and saw the sun was just about getting ready to set. It was also her cue to leave…

“When do I see you again?” Her eyes searched his. Whatever had gotten into her, she wanted it to stop. She didn’t want to want to see him. She wanted to live her life as she always did, with the Asmahrany and Rin. And maybe if the curse was broken, live her life as a belly-dancer, earning money for her makeshift family.

“Come tomorrow morning?”

Kagome shook her head.

“LORD INUYASHA!”

Kagome panicked, “I have a show…”

“Afternoon then?”

“At the balcony?”

Inuyasha shook his head, “I’ll come get you.”

Nodding, Kagome took her farewell kiss and jumped out the window. Immediately, Inuyasha opened the door to find Miroku grinning at him. “You look flushed, sire.”

“I was training.”

“Sure—with rumpled sheets?”

“I fell down.”

Snorting, Miroku entered into Inuyasha’s room, uninvited. “You fell down. I find that hard to believe.”

“Well, you better believe it.” He growled.

“Whatever you say sire,” Miroku smiled mischievously, “I just came here to say that tomorrow afternoon, guests will be arriving for the five-day entertainment wedding anniversary your parents have prepared. You have to wear the new outfit your father has tailored for you and your brother.”

Groaning, Inuyasha crossed his arms. “Let me guess, I have to go try that shit on right now.”

Smirking, Miroku nodded. “I can’t wait to see you look like a fool.”

“Shut up.”

-x-

Rin paced in front of the Temple of Four Souls, her mind resting as Kagome’s slept. The routine was an old one but remained new to both of them. As the rest of Egypt slept peacefully, Rin was guarding a temple, for reasons that remained unknown to her…

“Priestess.”

Whirling around, Rin was shocked to find Prince Sesshomaru standing before her. How could she not have sensed his aura approaching?

“Lord Sesshomaru.”

He nodded, “Have you thought about my proposal?”

Gulping, Rin tried to cover her emotions. “I have discussed it with Kaede,” not really, no she hadn’t, “and she suggested that since there was a recent break-in, leaving the temple unattended would be a very foolish decision.” Rin could see anger ticking in Sesshomaru’s eyes, but couldn’t stop. “I apologize, severely, that I will not be able to attend. I tried, but Kaede’s logic had sense to it.”

“Then where do you disappear off to every day?!” Sesshomaru demanded. “I came by here this morning and you were not here! In your stead, a barrier lay! If you can disappear during the day with a barrier protecting the temple, why not come to our festivities.”

Rin had no answer to that—but thanked Allah above when Inuyasha’s light began flashing: the signal that Sesshomaru needed to return home immediately. Glaring at her, Sesshomaru was about to say something but clamped his mouth shut. Turning around, he began to leave…

… “Remember, Priestess,” he spoke, a few steps away from Rin, “you have defied the Royal Family by not attending our festivities. As the guardian of our Temple—you will be punished.”

And with nothing said, he left. Tears instantly flooding Rin’s eyes as she sunk to her knees.

Rin?

The tears rolled down her cheeks and Kagome’s mind instantly awakened. What happened?!

Sesshomaru—he… he said I was to be punished for not attending the anniversary party…

Kagome gasped, Why?! How?!

I don’t know—oh Kagome, Rin sobbed, I hate this. I hate how we’re like this! Why can’t we fix it?

I wish we know why… Kagome breathed, Don’t worry… I’ll try to get Inuyasha to get Sesshomaru to reconsider?

Don’t! Rin screamed, It’ll only make matters worse. Sesshomaru will begin to wonder why Inuyasha is pestering him about me. No, Kagome.

But Rin.

I said no!

Do you want to die?!

No, we’ll figure something out before then—we have until the end of the festivities before Sesshomaru decides to punish me. We’ll think of something…

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Rin stood up and stared up at the moon. We’ll figure the Asmahrany out—if it’s the last thing we do…

Kagome was quiet. Did you ever wonder to talk to Kaede about it?

Rin was silent, No… your parents told us not to tell anyone of our curse…

We won’t tell her—we’ll just, subtly inform her. Kagome stated. Don’t worry about it, I’ll figure out the kinks to the plan. Just—relax, and guard the Temple…

Silence enveloped both of them as Rin began pacing once more, her minds wondering to the various possibilities of the details of their curse.

Who?

What?

And most importantly… why…

-x-