A.N. Mikazuki Tsuki here with a new story! It's called Captivated Amber...
Summary: "Why did you decide to spare us?" Broad shoulders rose minutely in a shrug. Even that managed to look regal. "Your eyes..." S/K
Disclaimer: The plot is mine, but the characters of Inuyasha definitely are not.
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Captivated Amber
Chapter One
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(Tsuki)
Everyone in the Western Lands was bustling with excitement. The elder of two sons, the prince, Sesshoumaru would be turning of age to take over the crown in place of his ever aging father- the current ruler, Lord Inu Taisho.
Since it was the eighteenth anniversary of his birth, the whole community was invited to a gathering that would be held at the palace itself, which further stressed the celebration's importance.
Everyone was required to be at the court yard of the palace in exactly two hours for that was when the speeches would be given and the entertainment would begin.
A brunette with chocolate eyes winked at a man who was about the same age, with a laugh. She was very dressed in a simple and worn yukata. She had a triangular sheet of cloth holding back her hair. "It's sure to be a ...wonderful celebration."
The two of them were relatively young- only fifteen a piece, but of marrying age. The woman was named Sango. She had been the daughter of a family of infamous hunters until their village had been plundered and destroyed by a band of mercenaries.
Weaponry made of bones, and tricks that worked on mere wood animals were no match for guns and the sadistic militia.
The man, her companion, was had a slightly unruly mop of silken raven hair, held in a pony tail that ended at the nape of his neck. He went by the name of Mirouku.
Mirouku had lost his father- a monk, and his mother, who had been the daughter of a village head (the two lovers had been kept their love affair a secret) to two men who had been out pillaging villages, while they were out on one of their escapades with Mirouku. (He had always wondered how it was that his mother hid the pregnancy and the birth that followed.)
He had been spared due to his parents' selflessness, and so despite the fact that he was not a true and practiced monk, though he had remarkable spiritual prowess, he wore the robes as a constant reminder. It also helped when they wanted a place to stay... False exorcism, 'an ominous cloud is hanging over your household', etc, etc.
But they were tramps- they had no real homes or immediate family that they knew of that was still living. So they wondered, and to get by they stole. By any means possible when necessary.
Sango placed a stray lock of hair underneath her bandana, "So we meet up ready, half an hour before the festivities alright, Mirouku?"
They were in the local marketplace, and like it was basically every day, it was packed. There was barely an inch of space that had been left unoccupied, and their conversation was easily lost to any one else beyond the two of them.
Mirouku nodded with a flirtatious grin, "I wouldn't dream of missing a chance to spend time with you, my dearest Sango."
To anyone else outside of their conversational ring, it appeared that they were two poor lovers, courting without care of their lack of financial statures.
Sango flipped her mid-back length hair over her shoulder and quipped, "I recall you saying the exact same thing to that young woman—what was her name again, hmm? You seemed quite interested in her."
Mirouku's face flushed, "Um... I'm pretty sure it began with an 'a'..."
She walked briskly a short way in front of him, with a snort of disgust. "Ha! Not even close, you lecher!"
Before an even bigger argument could break out between the two, a black haired blue eyed girl, came rushing up to them. "Mirouku, Sango!"
Once she was in step with them, she smiled, and greeted both.
Mirouku gave her a look over, "Kagome, what a pleasant surprise. You're looking ... well today." The remark earned him a smack upside the head from Sango. Mirouku did not even falter in step. The three of them had been friends for a long time and so by now Mirouku was probably well immune to physical harm.
Kagome rolled her eyes at him, her delicate brow twitching in annoyance.
Out of all the cases, she was the strangest. A miko who's mother had been forced away from her during flooding. They had come across her laying soaked and unconscious on a river bank.
There had actually been a chance that her mother was actually living, but Kagome had no idea where said mother was. She may have had living relatives, but her memory of them was 'a giant blur' as she would say sadly.
The brunette then smiled at the other similarly dressed female, and returned her previous greeting.
"Hey Kagome. Are you ready for tonight?"
Kagome rubbed her eyes. "I'm more nervous than ready. We're pulling on a huge stunt."
Mirouku gave her an indifferent shrug, a sigh coming from his parted lips "It's what we do. This time is just a small step up from the normal."
Sango smiled swinging an arm around her, in a half hug. "He's right. We'll pull this off- we always have." Kagome smiled sheepishly, "I guess you're both right. I shouldn't be so negative."
Mirouku smirked, "Really?" He grabbed her hands and held them in his own, "Then would you do me the favor of bearing my children?"
Kagome sighed in exasperation, "Can't you be serious for a second?" Mirouku, removed a hand and placed it over his heart, "How wounded I am! I was being serious."
Sango fumed a tad jealously as he took Kagome's hands and rubbed them against his cheek, "So how about it Kagome? Care to have some fun?"
Kagome's face flamed up, mirroring the color that Sango at the same moment was seeing.
Simultaneously both girls slapped him and walked off in annoyance. People never changed...
Mirouku stood staring at their swaying backs with a dazedly rewarded look to his eyes. "Definitely worth it..."
(Tsuki)
Sango stripped from her afternoon's attire, behind a screen and slipped the designated costumes over her under garments.
They had wormed their way into the entertainment list as the third to last act. It was lucky for them that they had an internal contact.
She slipped into a thin pink beaded skirt. It was made completely out of thin beads, and silvery carnation pink thread. The thread ended merely in a V a few inches down her thigh. The beads however, went all the way down to the floor and had slits on each side that reached high up into the thighs.
Next came the top that was made of the same beads and the same colored pink silk. It dipped in low and the frayed bottom ended simply an inch below her breasts. The sleeves were long, transparent mesh and had belled ends.
She slipped out from behind the screen to find Kagome already out finished dressing, and putting on jewelry from a small mound located on a wooden desk that had seen better days.
Kagome's outfit matched Sango's completely. Sango sighed, fitting a ring of silvery metal and jewels over her forehead. She felt completely naked. "I cannot believe we let Mirouku convince us to wear these."
Kagome gave her a look that said she agreed completely, and slipped on a silver band over her upper arm, "I remember when we got all these."
Sango chuckled, "Well you should..." the brunette tied a silk sheet over the lower portion of her face. "They were part of our first real haul."
The raven haired girl laughed. "You know, I think that this will go well. Even if this is a bit extreme. We are after all the best in the 'business'... "
Sango smiled and slid on a pair of delicate slippers. "And don't ever forget that..."
They were the known as the Faceless Nagaremono, throughout the parts Japan in which they traveled. The title meant the Faceless Tramps- not that they minded.
If people actually knew who they were, they would have no chance with their raids, and sooner or later get caught and probably jailed or beheaded.
They pulled cons, stole, and would sell their acquired merchandise in another village. They never stuck around long enough to be caught. It was how they lived since finding each other. They didn't know anything else anymore.
The girls continued talking, putting on earrings, bracelets for both their wrists and ankles, necklaces, and rings, and once they had put on some make up they decided to open the door, and let their companion in.
They had changed their minds about meeting each other, to lower the complication level.
"Mirouku?" Sango looked out into the hallway finding it empty.
Even though they currently resided with an old woman named Kaede, she was employed somewhere in the heart of the village, so the house was mostly empty.
The violet eyed man walked into the room, the upper portion of his face masked in a bandana with eye holes. His torso was completely bare save for two golden chains that ended an inch below the base of his neck. He simply wore a pair of dark colored pants, and black slippers.
Three golden hoop earrings on his right ear stood out among his black attire with his chains.
He smiled, "You two look convincing." Mirouku was playing it serious for the time being. He was of no use with a concussion...
Kagome smiled beneath her mask, "The same can be said for you. Now come on. We wouldn't want to be late..."
Sango tightened the string that held up her skirt, and the three donned hooded robes and sturdier shoes went over their delicate slippers. 'There was no need to call attention to themselves,' Mirouku thought picking up a sack.
And they definitely would the way they were dressed.
They reached the palace quickly, having taken less traveled and met up with a guard. He stared with a stoic face into the clearing until Mirouku spoke to him. Then he became completely genial.
Mirouku grinned, "Hi, we are act eleven, I believe, under: Onomeragan."
Kagome looked incredulous, 'That's backwards...' The significance of the name completely soared over his head and the guard smiled, "Ahh okay hold on...O's...Okay. Onomeragan. Alright, you three can enter. Good luck!"
Sango smiled, "Thank you."
Once inside, they took off their hoods. Kagome started giggling, "Whose idea was the name?"
After a moment, two fingers pointed at the opposite companion in unison, "His/Hers!" Laughter started anew, and Sango and Mirouku joined in.
A man gruffly interrupted them. "Mind sharing the joke?"
He had long black hair and violet eyes. The stranger's voice was gravelly and rough. He seemed to be a worker at the palace for her had a royal crest embellished on his clothing. Mirouku stepped up, "It was a moment between friends, I assure you."
The man frowned, "Well keep it down! Some people are actually rehearsing what they are doing and you just happen to be distracting them."
Kagome leaned over to take off her boot, "You can leave now, we're no longer causing a distraction as you put it." She glanced pointedly around at everyone who had stopped what they were doing to stare.
His eyes flashed and he huffed, "Whatever." He walked away muttering about rude women- to put it mildly.
Sango stifled a laugh, and they began setting up. Tonight would definitely be interesting if not prosperous.
(Tsuki)
Sesshoumaru Tarutaki looked with indifference at the scene before him. The sun slowly was setting in the background, and in front of him were the many humans under his soon-to-be rule.
They were in the ever crowded court yard, sitting through the celebration of his birthday. Outwardly he appeared to be as regal and stoic as rumored, but internally he was willing some thing to just kill him and save him from his boredom. It was extreme yes, but there was nothing at this moment that he wanted more.
His father sat as regally and attentive as ever despite the fact that he looked well over sixty. Sesshoumaru snorted.
'Sixty, indeed.'
His half-brother sat on the other side of his father. All three men looked similar with long black hair, hazel eyes, violet in his half brother's case, and muscular builds.
Inu Taisho Tarutaki leaned over to his youngest son "Were there any problems in the back?"
The man huffed, "Only this group that wouldn't shut up."
Sesshoumaru idly remarked, "You have so much in common, Inuyasha. You propably got along wonderfully." The before mentioned brother growled, the noise sounding quite convincing, "Shut up, you bastard!"
Bored hazel eyes met his, "My father is sitting right here, halfling."
Inu Taisho's eyes flashed, "Enough, both of you!"
Sesshoumaru inclined his head, "I apologize, father." Inuyasha muttered something, and Inu Taisho placed a hand on his forehead, "Continue with what you were saying, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha shook his head as the entertainment started, "I'll point them out when they come on."
It was eighteen hundred second later, not that Sesshoumaru counted the seconds of the next half hour...
Thankfully it was almost done, and he would be a speech away from the entrance of this Hell.
Three more acts left.
He was hoping it would not be another poetry recitation... or any of the ten previous horrendous displays.
It was simply amazing how his father and brother seemed to enjoy such insipid acts.
Sesshoumaru shook his head and tried to concentrate on the eleventh act. No one was onstage yet he noted.
Suddenly the stone tiles were covered in smoke. 'This might interesting.' He sat up a bit, his attention sparked.
Three figures, whom had not been there before sat on the floor.
Sesshoumaru smirked, his sensitive nose quickly picking up the use of pure magic. He barely heard Inuyasha whisper to his father that these three were the noise makers.
'Hmm...'
"Inuyasha... what do they call themselves?"
(Tsuki)
The crowd murmured as different reactions settled among them as the three slowly rose. A woman huffed, "How scandalous! Do you see how the women dress?" other reactions were a bit more positive at the display.
Sango and Kagome shared a grin under their coverings, Mirouku simply smirked, blowing a kiss towards Sango.
She crossed her arms, and turned her head away, blushing. The audience laughed at Mirouku's expense.
Kagome snapped her fingers and the amount of smoke increased. Mirouku brought out a flute from the plume of smoke and began to play. Beautiful music from the flute and seemingly from the ground flowed throughout the courtyard, dazzling the villagers.
Both women as if mirror images of each other, began to dance. They were similarly dressed, but one had bright blue eyes while the other had chocolate brown ones.
It was a spectacle to see them snake around the courtyard, mirroring each other and twisting and ungulating their bodies in some exotic dance.
Sango's eyes flickered in Mirouku's direction, and Kagome winked subtly to signify she understood.
They dipped and turned, moving back toward Mirouku never did they break their mirroring moves, every sway of the hips, every footstep was matched impeccably. Mirouku continued playing, but stepped up and between them and they fell to the floor simultaneously. The two pushed themselves up and rolled onto their sides. Mirouku's flute disappeared in the plume of smoke it came from and he reached down to help each up.
Once they were completely on their feet, Mirouku disappeared in a burst of smoke and glitter, but the music continued to play.
Sango and Kagome continued on for a few minutes before sharply stopping. Slowly the began to lower into the rising smoke, their bodies snaking around each other but managing never to make any contact, before unraveling.
And then they dropped to the group and as the last note played they clasped hands.
The music died away as the girls disappeared. As sparks of glitter washed over everything gradual clapping began. The applause was fantastic.
Before Kagome completely vanished, however, she was shocked to see the intense prince's eyes looking directly at her. They seemed to bore directly into her very being.
(Tsuki)
Sango and Kagome stifled a shriek, as they fell through the ceiling of the palace. They landed none too gracefully.
Kagome wiped the glitter out of her hair tiredly, from her spot on the floor, "Mirouku... do you think you can cover the rest with Sango. I'm ..so... tired.."
She drifted off to sleep.
Kagome had gotten them into the palace from the courtyard, and put on most of the illusions during their performance, so she was completely drained.
Mirouku picked her up bridle style, "Come on, Sango, we don't have much time." Sango nodded, picking of her pace, and running beside Mirouku.
"Did you find the room where they keep their cache?"
He nodded, "I did, it is hidden by a simple barrier. I can take it down, but you'll have to get rid of the guards." Sango smiled. They were truly the perfect team; a miko, a monk, and a hunter.
Mirouku stopped running, and whispered, "Once we turn there are a couple of guards. They're a bunch of morons, so you won't have any problems."
Sango nodded and walked confidently out into their line of view. She put on a blank expression. "Excuse me, I'm a bit lost..."
One guard who seemed to have a permanent sneer on his face, smirked, "Well what do we have here?"
The other, a man with light brown eyes, smirked, his eyes glinting, "I believe it's a damsel in distress."
The first grabbed her arm roughly, "Then let's help her out."
Sango gave a smirk of her own, fisting her hand to punch him. "Idiot."
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Mirouku leaned Kagome against the wall as soon as the first punch sounded. He sat cross legged, with one hand raised in a prayerful position. He sat mumbling a prayer for a moment.
With the free hand, he pulled out an ofuda, and turned the corner. He threw the slip of paper at the barrier, and on contact it began to dissipate.
Sango stood over two unconscious bodies, and Mirouku smiled at her, "Good job, my love," she rolled her eyes, at that and Mirouku threw her a sack, "Hold on for a second, I'll get Kagome."
Sango caught the bag easily and with a mock salute, whispered back, "Yes, sir."
Mirouku returned shortly with Kagome- she had stirred a bit, and had insisted walking on her own. With Mirouku's support, she made it. "Ready to go in?" Sango nodded.
The three of them entered together.
The first thing that caught their eyes was that the room was neatly filled with fine silks, jewelry, incense, and everything they imagined that would have been there.
The second thing that they noticed was the amber eyes that were glinting with an unreadable light.
Mirouku's grip tightened around Kagome, "Oh, fuck."
(Tsuki)
And that was one of my many newest installments (there are four total). How did you like it? The dance scene felt horrible lol, so I might change that later on...
Please give some feedback!
Happy New Year,
MT