Otherworld 2: Naraku's Revenge
[This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations]
Chapter 9 - Mirago's Choice
She couldn't stop crying. It just wasn't fair!! Why did the Princess have to bind Bakura? She already had three wonderful males and a tall handsome mate.
Mirago had dreamed of a romance with the mage, filled with magical gifts from him and other fantasies. She was barely 16, and had been kept very protected by her mother and father. Miroku, well known for his own lecherous ways, remembered how he used to be and kept his own daughters very sheltered. And the irony of having daughters did not escape him!
Rin tried to console her younger sister, but Mirago refused to be comforted. She sobbed, begging to go home -- she did not want to stay in the Castle for another day! The Princess refused to deal with the childish antics of Mirago and made Kurama deal with her instead. Kurama was not happy about it either -- he didn't want to get involved in a childish snit -- and he wasn't just talking about Mirago! In his opinion, Aara was behaving just as badly!
Also, Hiten, Kouga and Kenshin had left for Kaede's Village very early in the morning, so there was no one to take her home. Finally, after a couple hours of listening to her sob, Kurama relented and sent her home with a couple of guards. Miroku would not be happy!
Before Mirago left, Suzuki came to see her, wishing there was something he could do to stop her sadness. He would miss her company. Kaiba also visited her, sorry to see his apprentice leaving, and feeling that he had failed her. There had been so much going on that he had not had the time to start her studies. He promised her that if she ever changed her mind, she would always be welcome as an apprentice. A little after noon, Mirago and three guards started the journey home. They would camp out tonight and arrive at the village tomorrow in the late afternoon.
Naraku stood there on the edge of the forest, watching the three guards set up camp. They were guarding a teenage girl. He smiled. His plan was coming together almost by itself!
After his capture and imprisonment by Shido, his killer insects were almost eradicated by Kurama and his plants, but there were still a few left alive. Even during his captivity, Naraku was aware of what was happening in Otherworld through his insects and he knew that the girl was Mirago, youngest daughter of Miroku. Fortune had placed her within his reach.
When the search for him concentrated in the north and northeast, Naraku had gone south instead and now was camped only about a day from the road between the Castle and Kaede's Village. As soon as he felt it was safe to travel again, he would again start the journey north to Seiryuu.
He separated a Demon from himself, a huge beast that could easily handle the three human guards. Without warning, the beast attacked the camp, slaughtering the guards in moments. Mirago screamed in terror and ran for the forest. The beast was at her heels and the girl knew she did not have a chance of outrunning it. Suddenly, out from the forest charged a young man with a sword. He leapt high in the air and clove the beast in two. He rushed to her side, grabbed her hand, and ran with her deep into the forest. "These Demons often travel in pairs. We must get away from the body," the young man quickly explained. Mirago ran after her rescuer into the forest.
After a couple of miles, he stopped in a natural glen, trees growing around it so that it was hidden from sight. She fell to the ground, panting from all the running. "Thank you!" she gasped, "Thank for saving my life!"
"I'm only glad I got the chance," he replied, smiling at her. He took out a container of water and gave it to her. She drank thirstily and handed it back. This was the first time she got a good look at him. He was incredibly beautiful, fair of face with long, wavy dark hair and large brown eyes. "I am Mirago."
"My name is Kunara. I am from a small castle in the western lands of Otherworld."
"Castle?"
"Yes, I am a prince, but a very insignificant one," he told her modestly.
A prince! She had been rescued by a prince! And a very handsome one. This was indeed a fairy tale come true. She smiled at him, flirting shyly. If she could entice this young man, she would be a princess on her own right. A really princess, not just an honorary one like Aara. And he was so handsome! Better looking that any of the Princess' males!
They talked most of the night, Kunara telling her of his small castle and his lands. His father had died recently and he was on his way home to take over management of the lands. It was very late when he insisted that she must get some rest. She lay down on the ground but it was so uncomfortable, she could not go to sleep. He lay down next to her and offered his shoulder as her pillow. Covered in her cloak and snuggled against her savior, she fell asleep, dreaming of castles and a beautiful prince.
Mirago had never really been in love with Bakura. She had imagined loving him, but a dream version of the mage, not the real man. Now a real prince was in front of her, and her romantic fantasies easily switched from the mage to the prince.
In the morning, when she woke Kunara was gone, but soon he returned, carrying a large leaf filled with berries that he had picked for their breakfast. He apologized for the poor fare but Mirago thought it was ambrosia. She was afraid that he would take her to the road and leave her there, but instead he offered to escort her home, a two-day journey. She was overjoyed. They walked side by side, going through the forest and not using the road because of the possibility of a second beast. As they walked, they talked, finding that they had much in common. Everything she liked, he seemed to like also. It was like he had been created just for her!
That night, Kunara prepared a small shelter for her, and covered the ground within it with soft grasses. He was so wonderful, so caring and considerate. And then all her dreams came true when he told her that he had fallen in love with her the moment he saw her. He begged her forgiveness for being so forward and she told him that she felt exactly the same way. He gently kissed her, her first kiss ever, his mouth soft and warm. Exactly like she had always dreamed her first kiss would be.
"Please be my princess," he whispered in her ear, and she threw her arms around his neck. "Yes!!!" she cried joyfully.
He covered her face in kisses. Then slowly he undressed her while he continued to kiss her. She was so happy she thought she would faint with joy! He was so gentle and loving to her, Mirago was sure that she had found her life mate.
They spent the entire night and much of the next day in each other's arms. Over and over he made love to her, always tender and loving. The next night, after a dinner of fruits and nuts that he had procured, they slept in each other's arms. The next day they would start out for her home. She couldn't wait for him to meet her parents. Mirago was sure that they would love Kunara as much as she did -- a young, handsome prince that was kind and brave. How could they not love him?
As they got closer to her home, Kunara changed the plans. "My love, I must go to my castle and tend to my father's affairs. They are waiting for me and my lands are in disarray. Please go to your home, but do not tell them about me. I want to come for you and properly ask for your hand, as I should have done before we mated. I will come for you in a week. Will you wait for me?"
"Of course! I am your mate now, aren't I," she exclaimed, disappointed that he would not come with her, but understanding his need to hurry home. At the edge of the village, but upwind from the wolves' camp, Kunara kissed his new bride farewell, promising to come for her as soon as possible. Then he watched her go to her home and slipped back into the forest.
Naraku smiled as he watched the foolish girl go home. It had been much easier than expected. He didn't have to even seduce her. Her stupid fantasies about castles and princes did that for him. And now she would have a surprise waiting for her very soon. With a cruel laugh, he turned to start the journey back to the camp where his true princess, Ashara, waited.
Miroku and Sango were in the Human World. They had gone through the portal at Kagome's family home, but were staying in a hotel, a luxury that was unknown in Otherworld. Miroku was trying to take his mate's mind off of the departure of her daughters, and they were both blissfully unaware of the events happening in Otherworld.
While money was not used in Otherworld, it was definitely important in the Human World. Fortunately, Kurama came up with a solution. The wily fox had cached much of the treasure he had stolen while he was a thief and took some very valuable pieces to the Human World to sell. From that nest egg, he created a portfolio. He was very savvy in the stock market and soon the portfolio was doing very, very well. He employed a financial company to do take of his finances, although he made all the decisions, and also set up credit cards for Miroku, Kagome, Kenshin, Keiko, and himself, all drawing from the main account. Every so often, one of them would go to the Human World and buy items for Otherworld. There was always a long shopping list, with underwear always high on the list.
This time was no exception; the list was just a long as usual. Underwear by the dozen for everyone. Kaoru wanted a couple of lacy nightgowns, Hiei wanted chocolate (as always!), and on and on. Their hotel room began to look like a storeroom. Miroku wasn't sure how he was going to get it all home. It would never fit into one taxi! They had left a cart at the portal to carry all the things, but they still had to get it to and through the portal. But finally everything on the list was purchased and tomorrow they would go home. Although the city was exciting, they both missed the quiet of Otherworld. Miroku lay there that last night, Sango's head on his shoulder. He never once regretted taking her as his mate and neither did she. Since time didn't pass in Otherworld at the same rate as the Human World, they both looked exactly the same as when they mated, nearly 17 years ago. And they would continue to look that young for many centuries. Kaede was showing age, her hair graying, but she was now over 500 years old.
The next morning, they managed to get everything into a pair of taxis and drove to Kagome's family home. Miroku went into the well through the portal, and with the help of Kagome's entire family, Sango threw everything into the well where it would appear in Otherworld where the cart and Miroku were waiting. Then she went through the portal and they headed home.
But their homecoming was not a happy one. They heard the terrible news of the death of Bankotsu, the escape of Naraku, and the problems with Ashara and Tasuki. And then they found out that their youngest daughter was missing, her guards found slain. Kouga already had his wolves out and they had found the body of the beast that had done the damage. But they could find no sign of Mirago. Sango burst into tears and was getting ready to search with Kiara, her giant Demon cat, when Mirago suddenly walked out of the forest. She told her overjoyed parents about being rescued by a young man who took her home, but didn't tell them about her involvement with him, respecting Kunara's wish to ask for her hand. Miroku was disappointed that he could not thank the man for rescuing his daughter and Mirago smiled to herself. When Kunara did come for her hand, her father would gladly give it to him. Only a few more days and her prince would come back for her.
Two weeks had passed and Mirago still waited for her prince. It must be taking longer to settle his father's affairs. She sat there on the porch, always looking west, towards his lands.
Sango walked by her daughter's room; it was always a mess! She went into it to straighten it a bit, when she saw the childish writing, over and over, just one word: Kunara. The name of the young man who had rescued her. She smiled at her daughter's crush on her rescuer, and then she saw it.
The items she was holding fell from her hands. No!!! She picked up a pencil with trembling hands and erased the first two letters of his name and then rewrote them at the end. Kunara became Naraku! She flew out of the house to the porch and grabbed her daughter by the arms. "Tell me exactly what he looked like!" she demanded.
"What? You're hurting me!"
"Kunara -- the man who rescued you. Tell me what he looked like!"
"He is very handsome, with long dark hair and large brown eyes. Why?"
Sango released her daughter and sank to the floor, tears beginning to run down her face, "No. No. Oh, please, no!" she sobbed.
Mirago ran to get her father who was with Kenshin at the dojo. Both men ran quickly to Sango and Miroku held her tightly. Brokenly, Sango told Miroku what she had realized: that Kunara was in reality Naraku.
"No! You are wrong. Kunara was sweet and kind!" Mirago cried. "He loves me!"
Miroku turned to her, "Loves you? What do you mean?"
Tears began to run down her face. What her mother was saying could not be true! "He … he is my mate."
"No!" cried Sango, "You didn't!"
"He loves me! He told me so and I love him. He can't be Naraku -- Naraku is a monster!"
"And a deceiver and a manipulator." Miroku seized his staff, "And he will be dead!!!"
"No!" Kenshin grabbed him, "That is exactly what he wants! For you to go after him. He will kill you; remember that he has two Blood Demons at his command and who know what else. Think! Do you want to leave your mate alone and daughters fatherless?"
Miroku dropped the staff and sunk against the wall, defeated. Another victory for Naraku. His child! "That's it! That's what he is doing -- he's taking revenge on our children. Shido's children, Aara's daughter and now Mirago. Damn him!!"
By now, Kouga, Kagome and Hiten had joined them, Kenshin quickly filling them in. Kagome went to Sango and hugged her tightly. Kouga stood next to Mirago and put an arm around her to hug her lightly. His eyes suddenly narrowed and he met Kagome's eyes. She looked askance at her mate and he shook his head. He released Mirago and took Miroku aside. "There is more bad news, Miroku. When I touched her, I felt it immediately -- she is pregnant."
Miroku looked at the wolf in horror, "Are you positive?" Kouga nodded sadly. With a heavy heart, Miroku went inside to give them even more heartbreaking news. Hiten left the room and told Kouga that he was heading to the Castle immediately to tell them what had happened. Kouga promised he would keep an eye on Serafin for him. Hiten ran to his home to tell his mate goodbye and to get his fire wheels.
The Princess was filled with guilt; if she had not acted so childishly, Mirago would not have left the Castle. It was her fault!! "There is plenty of fault to go around," Kurama admitted. "I was tired of her tears and sent her home with only three guards. I too am at fault."
"I need to return home. I don't want to leave Serafin alone." Hiten said, then turned to his son, "Souten, be very careful. If Naraku is targeting our children, you could be at risk. And tell that to Kome also." Souten nodded.
"Please wait a few minutes before you leave," Kaiba requested and then ran up to his tower. A few minutes later he returned, taking Hiten aside. He handed the Thunder Demon a small vial of golden liquid. "Tell Mirago that all she has to do is drink this. But it must be her choice."
Hiten stared at the mage, then saw the sadness in his blue eyes, and nodded. "I will give it to her."
The next evening, Mirago sat there alone in her room in darkness. In her hand was a small vial of liquid. Just a swallow and everything would be resolved. She put her other hand on her flat stomach, sitting that way for a long time. Then she unstopped the vial.
In the morning, Sango went to her daughter's room. Her bed had not been slept in and the empty vial was on the windowsill next to Mirago's favorite chair.
"Miroku! Miroku!" She rushed to find her mate. "Mirago took Kaiba's potion and she is not in her room! She might be bleeding and hurt…" Together they rushed out of their house to search for their youngest daughter, when they saw her coming up the walkway.
"Are you alright? I saw the empty vial." Sango asked her daughter.
"I'm fine. I didn't take it, Mother. I poured it out the window. I realized that this baby is completely innocent -- he can't help who is father is, but he can know his grandparents, his sister, and a loving mother."
"He?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, I went to see Kouga to find out what my baby will be."
Sango hugged her daughter, "We will make it through this and your son will be raised in a loving family. I am so proud of you."
Miroku put an arm around both of his women, his loving mate and his daughter who was no longer a little girl. Like Sango, he had never been more proud of Mirago. And they would make it through this, together.