"So...have you done as I asked?" a thin voice rasped on the phone.
"...Yes."
"Did he suspect something?" the voice asked again.
"N-no…no, I don't think so."
"Are you sure he didn't suspect something?" a hint of urgency crept into the voice.
"Yes I'm sure…what do you take me for?"
"Just checking...no need to be mad. In any case, it won't be much longer now."
"…You are saying that for the last one month."
"I told you – I've had to make…arrangements. Just bear with me, just a little longer."
The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. A shadow stiffened.
"Somebody's coming. I gotta go."
"Big party at the Taishou residence, eh? Alright, until next time."
"Can I reach you on this number?"
There was a slight pause before the reply came.
"I'll reach you."
The butler carrying the tray of champagne paused as he noticed the slight quivering of a curtain.
Who could be in the parlour at this hour?
Setting the tray down upon a bureau he adjusted his glasses and peered into the darkness.
His nose caught a whiff of orchids. He fumbled for the switch, and a moment later the room was washed in yellow light.
Myouga looked around in surprise.
The room was empty.
He shook his head uncertainly. He was gaining in years; his eyesight wasn't quite what it used to be, but still…
With a sigh he switched off the light and withdrew from the room.
Unnoticed by him, a figure stealthily crept out of the parlour and ran down the corridor.
CHAPTER 1: THE ENEMY WITHIN
Sango Taishou glided gracefully down the corridor of the Taishou residence. The newest addition to the family, she was already dressed for the party, which was held every year in the honour of her father-in-law's birthday. It was mandatory for the entire family to come together and attend it.
An orphan brought up under adverse circumstances, most people would say she had married beyond her means.
Her expensive jade bracelet tinkled against the banister as Sango paused to look at her mother-in-law's blue and gold bedroom. The door to the room was slightly ajar, and she could see Izayoi combing out her long tresses. The latter's ebon locks now wore grey highlights and the corners of her ocean blue eyes crinkled as she laughed, but age could not diminish her beauty even by an iota. Sango had already heard all about the courtship between her father-in-law and Izayoi - it was the family's favourite topic for fireside chats.
Deciding against disturbing the older woman's toilette, Sango kept on walking. The next two doors were closed but the third was wide open.
Sango was not surprised. The room belonged to her brother-and-sister-in-law, Inuyasha and Kagome. As a couple they were most surprisingly frank, and the door to their room was almost always open during the day – except when it closed at odd hours. During one such time Sango had unknowingly gone to borrow Kagome's brooch. She had quickly withdrawn after hearing the sounds coming from within. Sango still blushed when she thought about it.
Right now, though, Kagome and Inuyasha were discussing in an animated way, about a spate of murders that had recently shaken up the city.
It seemed as if a madman was killing people at random by hitting their heads with a blunt object. First it was a tramp, then a shop owner, then an old lady – the police were at a loss when it came to identifying the killer, as there was no correlation between the victims. Inuyasha, who himself belonged to the police department, had discussed the case with them at length during dinner the previous night.
Sango shook her head as she thought of the poor victims. She absently continued towards her room when an out-of-breath Ayame suddenly collided into her, rudely jerking her out of her reverie.
Of all the children of Izayoi, Ayame was Sango's favourite. She loved the girl's irreverent and rebellious attitude - traits she dearly wished to emulate. Ayame's life was just as colourful as her personality. She had quarrelled with her parents and run off to marry Kouga when she was barely eighteen. Of course, later on Kouga and Ayame had been reconciled with the Taishou family and Kouga had been given an office in his father-in-law's business. With that income they had recently bought an apartment in a nearby locality. At present they were living with the family on occasion of the party.
"Sorry," Ayame said, flashing her reckless grin, "Didn't notice you there."
"It's okay. Did you want something?"
For a moment Sango felt as though Ayame was going to tell her something. The girl's keen eyes had a peculiar kind of expression – whether it was fear or excitement Sango could not tell. Then as quickly as it came, the look vanished from her eyes.
"No, it's nothing…gotta run."
Sango looked thoughtfully at the girl's retreating figure. Downstairs in the main hall a clock struck eight. The guests would start arriving any minute. Myouga could be heard giving instructions to the staff. Sango broke into a short run and went into her room. As she entered, her husband beamed at her from the mirror.
Miroku was Izayoi's younger son. Sango's heart skipped a beat as she looked at her husband's face. Although Miroku's womanizing days were a thing of the past, he still retianed his fine looks and impeccable manners that had helped him become one in the first place.
She had initially declined him, but had relented after a serious pursuit spanning an entire year. Her brother Kohaku had been instrumental in their coming together. They were married less than a month ago.
As Miroku beheld his wife, resplendent in her jade green gown that nicely accentuated her gorgeous figure, he was once again blown away by her beauty.
Sango walked over to him and handed him a box of aspirin.
"We should keep this stuff in our bathroom as well, so we don't need to run down the corridor every time we need it," Miroku remarked as he took it from her.
After hours of sitting in front of his laptop and typing out his latest novel, his head was ready to split.
"I take it that the Iron Lady has arrived?" he asked his wife.
The 'Iron Lady' was Miroku's affectionate way of calling his stepmother.
"Yes, I suppose so. At least, Myouga said she has."
"Ah, good. And brother Sesshoumaru as well?"
Sango nodded in the affirmative.
"Although I haven't met either of them."
Miroku let out a chuckle.
"No need to rush. They are not exactly the friendliest specimens of humanity."
Sango raised an eyebrow.
"That bad?"
Miroku scratched his cheek as he looked at her thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't say bad – that's more Inuyasha's way of speaking. 'Interesting' and 'challenging' are the words that are coming to my mind right now."
"Then I'd better not go anywhere near them."
"Ah, no, no dear girl! That's where you are mistaken. You must make acquaintances with brother Sesshoumaru. I'm sure you'll find him most fascinating."
But Sango looked skeptical.
"This brother of yours…what does he do for a living?"
"That's top secret. I guess he works for the right side, although at times it seems questionable seeing the company he keeps, but betrayal doesn't go with his nature so I'd say he's alright. He's been to almost all the places and has had all kinds of experience short of being boiled alive in a cauldron by a host of cannibals. He knows the meanest crooks in the business as thoroughly as the top brass. He's a bit of an enigma, really."
"I see."
"His stories are the inspirations for almost all of my novels, you know."
"And what about his mother?"
"She's an educationist by day – Board Member of several universities. Don't ask me what she is by night, though."
Sango was confused whether Miroku was serious or joking. He certainly looked serious enough.
She was rather startled by a knock on the door. A minute later Myouga's head announced that the party had assembled downstairs.
Sango gave her hair one last pat as she headed out of the room, a groaning Miroku in tow.