Playing Thief by Night Beauty
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
Chapter 3:False Affection
Don't be fooled.
Sango shook her head and saw a picture frame forming around the image of her little brother.
"Just a painting?" Sango thought out loud. "Is this. . .the one I'm after?"
Her eyes shined with determination and reached out for the painting. . .if only it weren't for the mirror blocking its way.
Shit.
She turned around, and saw herself in the mirror.
Sango, Kohaku's voice said sadly, we'll see each other again, right? Why do you turn away from me, sister?
The girl turned at the painting, and found the mirrors around her closing in. Kohaku stared back at her with vacant eyes, his eyes nearly brimming with tears.
"Kohaku, why are you. . .?"
Are you afraid of being alone? He kept speaking. Our parents left us alone. . .Are you leaving me too? Sister, have you become so cruel?
"Stop it!" she covered her ears, and collapsed on her knees. "Help me!!" She screamed.
"Uh?!" Miroku frowned and ran towards the voice. His eyes fell upon the sobbing girl who sat on the ground. "Sango?!"
She looked at him, her eyes nearly red. "Miroku. . .?"
"It's okay," he hushed, placing an arm around her. Was it the demon. . .?
"Damn," Inuyasha rubbed his golden eyes. "Her scream ruined my concentration."
Miroku helped Sango off the ground with her arms clung around his. He slowly led her out of the mirror room, his eyes scrolling down at her from time to time. She. . cried? What would've scared her like that?
She closed her eyes and embraced his arm tighter. "Don't leave me, Miroku."
"I won't," he comforted with a soft smile. I'll seal the demon, and save you and Inuyasha.
"Where were you?" Kagome stood with her arms crossed when the two exited the Hall of Mirrors. She blinked at the sight of Sango gripped to Miroku's arm.
"We got lost. . .Mirrors, weird things, really," Miroku laughed nervously in a way that make Kagome look at him with a 'you're-hiding-something-stare'.
Sango gave a 'don't-worry-stare' to Kagome, who turned around and scratched the back of her head.
"You. . .still gonna grip me like that?" Miroku said, returning to his old perverted self. He grinned as Sango released him with her cheeks burning red. "I'm happy, but. . ."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, running up to Kagome and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Let's get going, okay?"
Kagome shrugged, "I have to look for Inuyasha. . .he seems to have disappeared too. What's with you people today?"
"H-hey!"
Miroku grabbed Sango's hand and took off in another direction. "We'll help find Inuyasha, Kagome!"
"Uhhh. . ." she sweatdropped, watching dust spread around as Miroku ran off with Sango behind him.
Weird, Sango thought, I would've thought he'd ask me why I cried. . .
"Let's go on the ferris wheel to see if we can find Inuyasha," Miroku suggested, and without waiting a reply, left in that direction.
Sango could feel her fingers twitch. The ferris wheel?!
Indeed, a ferris wheel happened to be in the demonic amusement park. It was shaped like a spider; its legs hold the compartments. Miroku and Sango both went and sat opposite from each other, each looking out a different window.
"The view's nice," she spoke, breaking the silence.
"I think the view of your chest is nicer --"
Smack. Thump.
She glanced at him, wondering how such a perverted guy like him could be so serious and comforting back there. "Hey."
"Mm?"
"You see that sakura tree all the way over there?" She pointed out in an area out of the park.
Miroku nodded. "Yeah."
"One day, my father was there, just looking at the beautiful thing. The sakura blossoms were blooming, even if the wind blew, they wouldn't fall off, it was amazing. . ." she smiled. "And then, this woman was there on the other side, wanting to get a sakura blossom. Since none of them would fall, she couldn't get one, nor could she have climbed up there in that skirt she was wearing. My father climbed up there and took one fully bloomed, and gave it to her with only a few scars. She was so happy. . ."
The boy blinked. She had trust me to reveal such a story?
"One year later, my father came back around the time they were beginning to bloom, when all of them would fall freely, and when he got there, so was the woman. They were surprised. . .it must've been fate. The two started going out, and eventually got married. The woman of course, is my mother." The girl leaned her head against the window. ". . .They started having arguments after my brother, Kohaku, and I were born. Their jobs were constantly getting them overworked, and eventually my mother moved away with my brother and my father left somewhere else, leaving me in the apartment alone. I was old enough to handle myself, plus they didn't have enough money to take me along, and I offered to stay."
So that's why she lives alone. . .Miroku nodded and smiled softly, "I understand."
There was a sudden jerk. The two saw the lights flicker and then shut off.
"Black out?!" Sango stuffed her hand into the jean pockets of her skirt. Inuyasha's come back again!
Miroku frowned and looked out the window. I'll get him.
The reincarnation slid the window open, sitting on the windowsill. They were near the top of the ferris wheel already, and the lack of electricity kept them there. Bye-bye. . .She fell backwards out of the compartment, placing the beads on around her neck. "T-a-i-j-i-y-a."
Her hair grew into its long length and swiftly she tied it up. When she transformed into her demon slayer outfit, she quickly drew chains and flung it onto a spider's leg, spinning it tightly around it. Her hands gripped to them tightly as she nearly landed onto the soft grass. When she stopped, she released the chain and landed safely on the ground. She ran hand across the dark ground, clutching onto the Hiraikotsu that came out of the dark void.
"Taking such risks," Miroku looked down at Taijiya who fled to the Hall of Mirrors. "You'll get hurt one day if you don't take caution."
"We're going, too!" Kouga ordered, who had appeared from beneath the back of his shirt.
He nodded.
"A calling card?!" Kagome nearly ripped the paper in her hand. "Right now?! No fair!"
"I've come to steal the deception of beauty," Taijiya leapt from a tree and in front of Kagome. "At least you got notified! You should feel special!" she winked, running into the tunnel. "Inuyasha!" she called out, making her way through the mirrors. "Come out!"
"Get the painting!" Ayame called from her purse.
Demon Sealer Taijiya looked up and found the picture of Kohaku. "Found you."
She felt a swift breeze rush through the side, and saw a golden staff flying towards the portrait. "No way!" she threw the huge boomerang and deflected the staff before it sealed the portrait. "Are you going to be in my way again?" she turned and saw Houshi behind her.
"I told you," he said calmly, "it's a challenge."
"Fine then," she threw three chains and they tightly wrapped his body.
Houshi sat on his knees, his eyes twitching. "Damn it."
She held a victory sign. "Yeah! Counterattack successful! That'll take a while to untie!" She considered removing the mask he had covering half his face, but stuck to the task at hand. "Inuyasha!" she shouted and flung the boomerang through the mirrors, shattering them. She followed and nearly ran into possessed boy.
Ha. . .Ha, ha. . .
"Inuyasha. . .?" Taijiya stared at him. His hair had turned into a silver color and his eyes filled with amber colors. He ran and slashed her with his claws. He barely missed when she rolled to the side.
This boy has too many regrets, even if you seal me, he'll be easily possessed. . .These feelings for this Higurashi girl are too cowardly to be revealed. . .
"Seal him, don't be deceived, Taijiya!" Houshi called.
I won't be so easily deceived, Houshi. She smiled, throwing Hiraikotsu to the target. From the bottom left to the top right, Kohaku disappeared and a new portrait came up. The angel's raven hair danced around the roses, her wings wrapped with vines. "Sealed!"
Ayame popped out of the purse and grabbed the Shikon shard and flew away from the scene.
"You know what?" Taijiya looked back at Inuyasha, whose hair had been changing back into its raven color and his eyes turning back into violet. "You should always attempt new things to become stronger. You shouldn't regret what you've done, but regret what you haven't done!"
"Huh?" Inuyasha watched her run away. "Wait, Taijiya!"
"Finally. . .found. . .you. . ." Kagome panted as she came through another pathway. "Huh?"
Inuyasha stood, his arms scrapped with a few pieces of glass. "Feh, you're so slow."
"Ah," Houshi stood, relieved as he finally untied himself. I admit, this time I actually lost. .
"Inuyasha, are you okay?" Kagome gently touched the wounds on his arm. "You're bleeding. . ."
Blood flowed warmly through the young boy's cheeks. "Yeah, I'm fine. . ."
"Ayame! Wait!"
The half-angel turned and saw another one of her kind. ". . .Kouga?"
"What are you doing?"
"Can't you see?" she tilted her head. "I'm helping Sango."
"But, Ayame. . .why are you still. . .you know," Kouga scratched his cheek. "Here. . .?"
The female half-angel hugged the Shikon shard in her possession. "It's. . .none of your business."
Ayame's been gone all night, Sango shut the alarm off and sat up from bed, placing the back of her hand on her forehead. I hope she's okay. . .
"Good morning, Sango-chan!" Ayame flew up and hugged her cheek. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Where were you?"
"I found some information on Kouga and Demon Sealer Houshi!" she cheered proudly, sitting Indian-style on the girl's head. "Houshi appears to be working under Naraku. And like myself, Kouga is helping him collect the Shikon shards in order to help Naraku become stronger."
"But. . .Naraku initially placed his power into the portraits, right?"
"I know what you're thinking," Ayame replied, "Why would Naraku send someone out to collect the shards if he placed them here? Well, since you started sealing them, the ones you have are for a priestess long ago, who originally possessed the Shikon no Tama. Her name was Kikyo, and now she lives as a spirit in Heaven. Naraku tricked her and took possession of jewel, later spreading its evil into the human world. Now that you started taking them back for Kikyo, Miroku has to retrieve them for Naraku."
"Too much information in the morning. . ." Sango groaned.
She stood and quickly stuffed a chocolate chip muffin in her mouth and gulped down a bottle of milk. She quickly got dressed and brushed her hair. She exhaled and grabbed her bag. "I wonder when I'll ever get my letter from my family. . ." Sango sighed as she placed the messenger bag over her shoulder.
Kagome was there when she opened the door. "Sango-chan! Ready to go?"
She nodded and locked her door. "Yep. Is Miroku coming?"
"He said he had something to do," she tapped the tip of her foot.
"Feh."
Both girls looked up at Inuyasha. "What are you doing here?"
"I just came to say somethin', that's all," he replied, crossing his arms. "I decided. . .that I would catch Demon Sealer Houshi, seeing that Kagome here can't seem to capture Taijiya."
"Since when did you want to play detective?" Kagome arched a brow.
"It just came to mind."
". . .You're an idiot."
"You're the one to talk."
"At least I'm trying!"
"Try trying harder, wench!"
Slowly but surely. . .Sango sweatdropped at the two arguing, the only reason he's doing this is to help and protect Kagome. . .One day, you'll admit it, Inuyasha.
"I'm not sure you can't think of clever plans to capture Houshi!"
"They don't have to be clever," he retorted, "they just have to work!"
Their argument continued as they made their way into the elevator. . .
"Ehehe. . ." Sango smiled nervously, as she inserted the key to her mailbox. She gasped. "Kohaku. . .?" She took the paper and opened it. Just a piece of paper. . .
The reason why you always look so sad is because you're waiting a reply from your family, right? Well, I'll keep sending you these, so you won't be so sad when you open your mailbox. – Miroku.
Miroku. . .
She looked over the complex's balcony and saw him already heading to school. "Hey, Miroku!" She jumped off from the second floor and landed in front of him. Thieving skills always come in handy. . .
"Eh?" Miroku tilted his head, but then saw her hand was clutching his note.
"You didn't have to do this. I just felt like telling you about my parents, but other than that, it's none of your business!"
Heh, I thought she'd say that. . .He smirked and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"But. . ." she turned and flashed him a smile. "Thank you!"
Thump, thump.
Miroku's heart was racing, and it didn't help that warmth was rising up his cheeks.
"Stupid detective!"
"Idiotic detective-wanna-be!"
Sango joined the two who were still arguing and trudged off to school, waving to Miroku.
Miroku breathed heavily and followed them slowly. "It's just. . .false affection."
Aamalie- Hn, yes! Hope that answered your question about Kohaku. . .-.-;; I suck at cliffhangers now. . .I concur! Sawatari and Siera would've been cute. . .-.- I didn't understand the "One-year old Siera, Two-year old Siera, Three-year old Siera, etc". . .It was weird. O.o
Kashiaga- Thanks! If I have time, I will try and read your story. It took so long to write this. . .I'm so slow. ;;
FieryDemonFox- I'm so glad you liked it!
Valdimarian- Of course! It shall be Kouga x Ayame! O!
Angel Nina- Ahh. . .I see. Otay, I use Word Document for my fics, so I already have them italicized when needed. When you save your file, it should be saved as a Web Page for them to show up! Let me know if it's not working, I'll be happy to edit it for you. . .
Crimson Eyed Angel- Thanks for liking all my stories!
KyosNekoGirl- Hey there! It's nice seeing you again! Hn. . .I'm surprised a few reviewers know Saint Tail! As for chapters, I might be a little slow, I'm already losing interest in it. . .xx;
Soli-chan- Heheh, how Miroku knows will soon be revealed. . .Of course, "false affection" isn't exactly true, ne? : Smiles :
Hyper-Citrus- Thanks! Hn, maybe she will find out who Houshi is, maybe not. . .you'll just have to keep reading, hehehe.