Legend Has It…
Disclaimer: Don't own Inu Yasha.
Chapter 3 – Stolen
"Well, I must thank you for bringing the stone to us Taisho-sama. Though, I apologies for the...troubles you came across," the curator of the museum said.
"Please, it's Sesshoumaru," he replied, "And it's of no consequences to me. It is my job."
The curator held the crescent moon to his face as they continued to walk through the long hall of the museum, passing precious artifacts along the way.
"You're predicament though is very intriguing. Can you tell me again how your image changed so drastically?" The curator asked curiously as they stopped in front of another room. From what hung on his neck, the curator pulled a card and slid it on the card reader and immediately a beep was heard.
Sesshoumaru sighed. There were several odd looks as they were passing through and even when he and Inu Yasha walked through the hospital. He didn't mean to catch too much attention. "I honestly can't say," Sesshoumaru truthfully replied. He really had no idea how this transformation happened. It must have something to do with...no, never mind.
They stepped through a door and Sesshoumaru was greeted with several, ancient and more valuable artifacts. Even though he had seen several artifacts of his time, he was still amazed with them.
They walked pass them and straight for a small vault with a glass already shielding it. The curator quickly swiped his card and opened the glass. He slowly placed the crescent stone on a safe, secured cushion that was protected by several security measures. Slowly, the curator put the glass box back on top.
"I am starting to think it's the curse of the crescent stone that did this to you," the curator said as he led Sesshoumaru back to the exit, "But that can't be it."
Sesshoumaru furrowed his eyebrow. "What do you mean? I thought the crescent stone was to trap the power within it to begin with?"
"Well," the curator started, "That of course is true, but... It is said that if the maiden who created the stone were to awaken, she'd have the power to transfer the youki of the stone to a new host. It's rather interesting really on how the legend works."
Sesshoumaru paused for a bit in his thoughts. "Youki...?"
The curator nodded. "Yes, the youki is the power within the stone. Youki is the-"
"Energy of a youkai. As ki within a normal human's life force, youki is a sense of life force within youkais'."
"Precisely. As expected from Sesshoumaru Taisho," the curator said nodding his head as he led Sesshoumaru towards the entrance of the museum.
Sesshoumaru frowned. "So, theoretically, what if the power of the crescent stone has been put into a host?"
"Then the crescent stone can never leave the host or else whoever has the stone controls the will of the person, kind of like a dog collar per se," the curator said chuckling.
The curator shook Sesshoumaru's hand and smiled, "Thank you for bringing the stone. It is very much appreciated. And I assure you, the stone will be on display for the public to witness this fascinating stone of legends."
As the curator left, Sesshoumaru glared hard at his hand. Without noticing himself, his dull nails slowly elongated into claws.
As they crawled through the vent, Inu Yasha couldn't help but asked, "Didn't you just give the stone away?" They were dressed in nothing but black, form fitting outfits of common thieves.
"Yes," was Sesshoumaru's answer as they stopped above a vent cover. Sesshoumaru quickly unscrewed the four corners and quietly pulled the cover off.
"So, why are we stealing it again?" Inu Yasha asked, puzzled.
Sesshoumaru swiftly jumped from the vent and landed on the ground. Inu Yasha quietly followed suit.
"Because, if per chance a common thief were to obtain that stone, I'll be reduced down to nothing but a slave, a pet dog," he said quietly.
"Ohh...the whole ancient youki thing huh?" Inu Yasha asked.
As they tiptoed through the museum hallway, they didn't notice that they passed by a small figure that was posing as a small statue.
"Hi uncles!" Rin exclaimed.
Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha tripped over themselves as they backtracked to their little niece who was slowly putting the vase back on top of a stand.
"Rin! How did you get in?" Inu Yasha asked.
"Through the door," she simply said.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, "Go home Rin," he ordered.
"B-but uncle Sesshoumaru, you brought uncle Inu Yasha! Why can't I come too?"
"Because this is grown up business kid!" Inu Yasha replied.
"I don't see you acting like a grown up uncle Inu Yasha!" Rin protested.
"There it is," Sesshoumaru whispered as he spotted the glass display where the crescent stone was located. As he walked forward, he spotted the sensors that were attached to either side of the wall.
"Inu Yasha," he called.
"Coming bro!" Inu Yasha replied as he brought out hair spray from his black pouch. He slowly sprayed the area. It was infested with red laser sensors, criss crossing all over the place. Sesshoumaru sighed.
With practice ease, Sesshoumaru slowly moved through the lasers. One by one, with careful steps, he made sure that his body was angled correctly through the maze. Just as he passed through, Sesshoumaru found himself facing the accursed stone.
It was situated in a glass display with sensors on the bottom of the glass that was beeping green every once and awhile. He crouched down and placed his ears against the bottom of the glass as he listened to the beep. The alarm that would make the security go off was located inside the stand, under the glass. As he listened, and with the right time, he flicked his finger against the green sensor and instantly, a quiet beep was heard disarming it.
Slowly, he brought his hands on the side of the glass and lifted the glass out. Putting it on the ground, Sesshoumaru placed his hand in his pouch and took out a small replica of the crescent stone, courtesy of the souvenir shop.
Sesshoumaru stared at the ancient crescent stone and slowly brought the fake next to it. With precise and quickness not usually found in normal people, he switched them. He sighed and put the crescent in the pouch that he took the fake one from.
Turning around, he made sure to walk into a different corridor and away from the laser sensors only to stop short as he met with something unexpected. It was a female in nothing but a black spandex body suit and a mask that covered everything but her eyes and a long ponytail.
Quickly, they both jumped into a fighting stance, giving each other some distance.
"Uncle Sesshou-"
Rin was cut off as she gasped in surprise.
"The hell? Thief!" Inu Yasha exclaimed.
The woman in the black suit raised an eyebrow.
Sesshoumaru glanced around the room and noticed the phantom prism was gone, an invaluable crystal that has been in this museum for generations. "Give back what you stole thief," Sesshoumaru said.
There was moment where she looked at him with incredulous before glaring at him. She suddenly charged at him with a well-aimed kick. He dodged with his wrist and quickly dodged another punch. He quickly grabbed onto her hand as she tried for another punch. Suddenly, she was locked in Sesshoumaru's grasp as he held her arms from behind.
With grace, the thief slipped under him and manages to crouch down and kick him from underneath. Before he hit the ground, he back flipped.
He and the woman charged with another kick, this time hitting each other in the face as the two fell backwards, dropping identical black bags.
As Sesshoumaru quickly got up, he saw Inu Yasha holding onto her arms from behind.
"I got-"
Before he can get another word in, the thief quickly slipped beneath Inu Yasha's arms and gutted him with her elbow, making him double over. She grabbed onto a black pouch, jumped against the corner, and out the open window.
"Woah..." Rin started as she stared with wide eyes, "That was so cool."
Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha glared at her.
"Now Rin, don't ever rob a museum," Sesshoumaru said as he went over to pick up the other black pouch on the ground.
She turned to him and tilted her head. "But isn't that what we're doing now?" She asked, confused.
"Don't do what I do, do what I say," he replied nodding.
"Keh," Inu Yasha said, "Hypocrite."
Inu Yasha opened the bag and an eyebrow lifted up slightly.
"Um Bro...?"
Sesshoumaru, who was currently reading a massive book, did his simple "Hn" to show his acknowledgement.
"I know it's not a good time but..."
He read on as he tried to find legends about the crescent stone. Some about servitude, bonds, bounded, or even chained souls... He didn't know which one to buy.
"I don't think we stole the right item."
Sesshoumaru stopped and turned to Inu Yasha.
"What?" He asked.
Between his fingers, Inu Yasha held a blue crystal like stone. Sesshoumaru's jaw dropped. "It's the light prism sapphire..."
"Uh..."
"We need to return that immediately," he said rising from his seat. As he started walking, Inu Yasha shook his head.
"Wait wait, so you're telling me we're just going to waltz in there, give them back the sapphire and tell them that we stole the wrong item?" Inu Yasha asked incredulously.
Sesshoumaru paused for a moment, contemplating what Inu Yasha said. Hm. Not a very good idea apparently.
"I have an idea..."
Two pair of eyes turned to the little girl that peeked out the corner, along with her half ponytail. She was holding onto a wallet, open, a driver's license ID present to them.
She incredulously stared at the item in her hand. "What is this?"
An image of her fighting the strange white-haired man appeared in her head. As she escaped through the window, she remembered picking up an identical black bag...
She then turned back to the small relic. It was very old, yet very sturdy. She fingered it and felt the rough edges. It was definitely a rock. As she lifted the stone up, she accidentally directed at the crescent moon that shone out from her window.
Suddenly, the stone simmered just slightly and her eyes widen as it brightened the entire room.
The white light encompassed her entire being.
It was then that she found herself in a strange...white empty space. She looked around, panicking.
"Wha-"
"...Not who I expected..."
She turned around quickly only to find the white space around her flourished into a rainforest. It took her breathe away. There was a waterfall behind her, bushes, trees, and a lovely warm sunlight peeking through the leaves.
A woman lay before her, levitating...yes floating above a stone on a lake. She was laying on her side with her hand under her cheek, resting her head on it in a bored manner. She was wearing a thin black robe, white skin peeking through the slits. Long, wavy black hair hung in the air in waves. Striking deep blue eyes stared into her own eyes.
"What happened to that beautiful man I turned earlier?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"W-Who are you?" She asked.
The woman smiled, dimples showing. "Glad you asked..." She whispered as she lifted her hand up. Too struck by the presence of the woman, she couldn't do anything as the woman's nails softly grazed her cheek.
"My name is Kagome."
The finger that grazed her cheek was suddenly on her forehead. Before her world became dark, she felt a soft breathe against her face.
0000000000
Sesshoumaru frowned at the phone in his hand.
"Maybe we should just go to her place, knock down her door, and take the item," Inu Yasha suggested.
"...Hn."
Sesshoumaru was contemplating whether to do just that.
"I mean this Kagura chick can't be that good against us," Inu Yasha commented.
"...You mean against Uncle Sesshoumaru!" Rin piped up.
"Shut up Rin."
