Chapter Two

"Shippo!" Morinoko shrieked as she shot a hand out and Shippo ducked, laughing wildly.

"Scared you, did I not?" Shippo laughed, his ponytail swinging violently.

"You dropped out of a tree!" Morinoko ground out, making Shippo laugh harder. Morinoko swung at him again, her fingertips brushing against the side of his ear as he moved away.

"You will not hit me if you swing that slow," Shippo taunted, keeping a grin on his face. Morinoko growled and left Shippo standing as she moved farther into the gardens.

"You better run back to the kitchen, boy," Morinoko snapped. "Ayame-chan looks like she is going to have a fit if you do not do your job." Shippo's laughter ceased and when Morinoko turned around, Shippo had fled. Morinoko smiled smugly, hoping that Shippo would face the wrath of Ayame.

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The stars twinkled dimly in the setting sky, the moon rising steadily. Morinoko gazed wistfully out the window, feeling depressed. Father had only recently come out of his study, and that was only to eat. To Morinoko, it seemed he had gotten worse as the threat of Naraku loomed over his head. Morinoko hoped Inuyasha would return home soon to lead out another border patrol to watch Naraku and his grubby fingers.

Feeling mischievous and downright curious, Morinoko slinked over to the kitchen and peeked in. Ayame was nowhere in sight and Shippo sat lazily on a barrel, his eyes half-shut.

"Shippo-kun!" Morinoko hissed and Shippo jumped up, his head twisting wildly as he looked around frantically. His eyes finally settled on the door and he smiled when he saw Morinoko peering through the crack between the doors.

"Eh, Morinoko, what do you want?" Shippo whispered.

Morinoko grinned, sliding open the door just a tiny bit more. "I am feeling a bit evil, actually. Come with me, I am bored."

Shippo nodded his head vigorously, sneaking out of the kitchen and following Morinoko down a hallway. "And what exactly are we going to do?" Shippo asked, feeling like a young boy again. He could not help but feel giddy about it, despite being a young man now.

"Spying," Morinoko informed him. "I want to know why Father is so anxious right now."

Shippo froze. "You want to spy on Sesshomaru-sama? He will hear us!"

"That is why we are spying," Morinoko told him. "If you do it well, he will not hear us." Shippo felt worry growing in his belly, but he followed after Morinoko, keeping his head down.

Morinoko came to a stop in front of her father's study, pressing an ear to it. Shippo hesitantly did the same, still looking worried. The muffled voices of Sesshomaru and Miroku filtered through the thick wooden doors and into their ears.

"…Not quite sure. Maybe?" It was Miroku and he sounded unsure and annoyed.

"I doubt it. He would not easily agree," Sesshomaru responded in his deep voice.

There was a mumbling sound from Miroku, followed by him more loudly deciding, "For a parcel of land?"

"No," Sesshomaru sighed and Morinoko could picture him leaning back, resting his head in his hand.

"Then I have nothing!" Miroku groaned. "I am too old for this! I do not know how, but we are always a step behind him! Remember the old days, back when a man's land was his own and not a soul dared to question it?"

"You must be ages older than I, for I do not remember such a time. Naraku had always been encroaching on my land, but this time, I am defenseless."

Morinoko frowned. This is what had Father acting more distant than normal? Naraku? Morinoko leaned back and stood up. Shippo glanced up at her and did the same.

"Always politics," Morinoko sighed.

Shippo grinned. "He is a lord, Mori-chan. What did you expect? Him to be having a tea party?"

Morinoko glared at Shippo, nonverbally telling him that she did not appreciate his humor at the moment. "I do not see what the big deal is! Why do we not just go in and take back the land?" Morinoko complained.

"It is not that simple," Shippo answered. "For many years now Naraku's armies have defeated ours and Sesshomaru-sama is at loss for what to do. Naraku seems untouchable now."

"Naraku must have a weakness," Morinoko decided. "And I will find just that!" Shippo's eyes widened as Morinoko strode off purposely.

"She is going to get herself in trouble," he mumbled, following after her.

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The lights in the library were dim, burning low. Miroku, his lids heavy, shut another heavy book and groaned. "I am too old for this!" he complained.

A small voice filtered through the dark room. "Always a lazy man, are you not?" Miroku turned and grinned as Sango came to join him, sitting beside him.

Sango looked Miroku in the eyes and frowned. "You are worried," she stated.

Miroku looked away. "Times have worsened, my dear."

Sango sighed. "I wish you were not so secretive with me. I wish to know what bothers you!"

Miroku turned and took his wife's face in his hands. "In due time you will know, dear, but for now, it is between Sesshomaru-sama and me."

Sango nodded, standing up. "I understand, Miroku. You have a job to attend to," Sango told him. "I am tired and will turn in for the night. Do not stay too late, will you?"

Miroku nodded and turned back to his work as his wife left. Sango stopped at the door, glancing once more at her aging husband with concerned eyes. The last few years had been difficult ones, with tragedies scarring memories at every turn.

A/N: Whoa, hey, I'm not dead! :D I'm back after such a long…uh…vacation-thingy? Anyway, yeah, I kind of kept "forgetting" I had this story in the making so…yeah. I'm also lazy. We can't forget that.