Fair Trade by kmoon

Prolouge

Disclaimer: I own my shoe...only one...that's it....

~Prologue~

"I can't believe you broke the Shikon Jewel....AGAIN!!"

Kagome stared at her rude companion, slight annoyance apparent in her expression. "Well at least we don't have to worry about Naraku anymore! Give me a break! We have half of it back already. And it wasn't entirely my fault anyway. Oh, and I'm going back home for a few days."

"WHAT?! No your not! We still need to find the rest of that jewel! You can go when we're done!! Hey! Are you listening to me?! Get BACK HERE!"

Inuyasha stood fuming a few feet away from Kagome, before rashly deciding to jump in front of her and push her back a few steps. Kagome looked up at him, anger finally starting to take its turn. Her brows scrunched together and a small angry frown took the place of her usual cheery, bright-eyed smile.

Shippou, recognizing her expression, tensed just a little on Kagome's shoulder.

"Uh-oh Inuyasha, you've really done it this time!" With that, the kitsune jumped off of our infuriated Kagome and sought the shelter of a nearby tree.

"Shut up, you little runt! It's not MY fault we're going to be stuck searching for this jewel for ETERNITY!" He yelled, eyeing Kagome accusingly. "If we didn't have to deal with this dumb-"

"THAT IS IT!" she interrupted. Inuyasha's ears flew straight back out of pain from her screaming and realization of what was about to come. "I am NOT dumb, it is NOT my fault, and I AM going back to MY HOME because I haven't seen my family in four months since we defeated Naraku; so if YOU have a problem, than you can SIT!! SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT!!!

*WHAM* Inuyasha went face first into the dirt, making a small cloud of dust arise along with a groan for every sit Kagome yelled at him. Shippou, Miroku, and Sango, all watched on with unfazed amusement.

"No matter how many times she does that, it will always be the best entertainment," Sango sang out to who ever was listening. The slight grin on her face broadened into a full smile, misleading Miroku into believing that this would be the perfect time to just reach over and...

*SMACK* Sango's smile disappeared as she instantly turned to her hands-across chest-and-hip-out-"I know you did not expect to get a free feel from me, hentai!" posture she usually gets to practice about ten times a day.

"You will never learn to keep your hands to yourself will you? Uh! Worthless pervert!"

She quickly replaced her expression with another warm smile as she turned to Kagome and waved.

"When should we expect you back, Kago?"

Kagome instantly forgot her anger at the stubborn hanyou and smiled warmly in return, "Don't worry! I wont be but for three or four days! I'll bring you guys back some Ramen! Bye Sango! Bye Shippou, Miroku!"

Shippou waved back ecstatically with a huge, cute grin on his face, and Miroku, massaging his smarting cheek, waved back with a small grin, for it hurt too much to have a full smile.

"Bye!!" they all yelled in unison. Then she turned her attention to Inuyasha, who was still twitching from the many "sits" used against him.

"I won't be long, so don't be so grumpy; and if you're that strung up about the jewel shards, then search for them yourself! Just remember that I'll be back in less than a week. Oh, and if I hear you've caused any trouble while I'm gone....you're gonna think these 'sits' were nothing! Bye!" She smiled warmly at him and half-waved before leaping into the well.

Inuyasha yelped again as another, smaller dust cloud arose during the midsts of her speech, and she disappeared for what seemed like the LONGEST three day's ever.

* * * * *

"Kanna!"

The voice echoed through out the darkness, bouncing of each of the cold stone walls as it made it's way down the long twists and turns of the corridors, stirring whatever creep and crawl might have been in its wake.

"Yes, Naraku," Kanna replied, monotonous and void of expression. Her snow white locks fell plainly down her back, away from her precious mirror that Naraku no doubt was about to demand service.

"Show me that wench, that 'Kagome' whom is collecting all the shards for me...again. I wish to see if the time is right for us to be...reunited." 'Yes...reunited.' He liked that. It suited perfectly. A most disturbing smirk grazed his pale lips. He had healed, fully, was stronger than before...they would not kill him that easily. 'Fools! To think they defeat me?! Naraku?! I would not die so easily!' No...he was not dead. He let them believe that...that he was dead. The Shikon Jewel would then be completed if he allowed them to think that...yes...it was all turning out perfectly...until that idiot girl broke the Shikon again! 'But no matter, she now has some shards, and I can find them easily enough on my own...I've proven that already...'

He was pulled suddenly from his musings as Kanna stepped closer and held her mirror out to him. A mist swirled for but a few second's as an image began to appear at the mirrors heart. Kagome was going back to her time...yelling at the hanyou, Inuyasha...and that was all he needed to see.

He waved his hand at Kanna, dismissing her, but not before sending her to summon Kagura to his chambers. He rested his forehead in his hands and smiled wickedly. 'They are making this all too easy! All too easy...within a matter of days, they will be without their precious shards and their precious Kagome.' He would make sure of that. Then...

"You called for me, Lord?" How she hated calling him this, 'Lord!' As if he deserved it! She had to use all her will not to spit out her words at him in disgust. He, however, had another plan...and to foil it and chance at her freedom...she would call him 'daddy' and pick him pretty flowers to put in a lovely vase.

He smirked at her. 'No doubt, she is waiting for a little information on my plots, and the opportune moment...to gain her freedom from me.' Hmm, he was not as dumb as that, and they both knew this; but she was not stupid either, and he knew that as well. But she could not foil his plans this time, that was certain; besides, he would be rid of her soon.

"My dear child, Kagura. I have a very important errand for you to run. I need you to first, find Kikyou and bring her here. Then...I have a very, very important message for our dear Taiyoukai of the West..."

"Naraku, Kikyou will not be an issue, but Lord Sesshoumaru? He would rip my head off as soon as look at me!" '...or you...no, especially you, for that matter.' She doubted Sesshoumaru had forgotten the arm Naraku had once graced him with.

"Are you questioning me, Kagura?" He asked her in sheer mockery, a smile etched into his features as his eyes glinted dangerously, with excitement, challenge, and something else she'd rather not like to test.

"No," and with that, she bowed, and waited for Naraku to give or tell her whatever it was that would be for Sesshoumaru.

"You, Kagura, are under NO circumstances what so ever to read this...and believe me, I will know if you do." He held out a small parchment of paper, wrapped to look like a scroll with a blackish purple ribbon tied around the middle.

She didn't doubt that he would know. He watched her every move, especially since she had allowed Inuyasha to sense whatever it was he needed to use his fang, and hopefully, defeat Naraku. 'To bad it didn't work.'

She took the scroll and hoped upon her feather, riding quickly and silently out into the night.

* * * * * * *

A: Okay... wasn't that fun? Don't get your panties in a wad just yet, it was only the prologue. Oh, and the reason Kagura is acting strange is because when Kagome and Inuyasha "defeated" Naraku, Kagura betrayed Naraku and gave Inuyasha a chance to use the Wind Scar and all. R&R and VOTE!!! No rude or discouraging criticism please!