Chapter Nine: The Pursuits of the Foolish
Arata paused, chopsticks poised as he listened to the gossip and murmurings making their rounds in the dining area used by the higher-ranked courtiers of Touga's court. There was much speculation on Touga's whereabouts at every table. He wondered which rumor was being given the most credence, and then thought that perhaps it was time to throw another idea into the mix and see which way all the snakes scrambled.
He was fully aware of what his friend and liege was up to; besides Kenji, he was probably the only one Touga fully trusted. And it was one of his tasks to add to the confusion already present on their Lord's whereabouts.
This would be fun.
Once more taking an idle bite of rice, he jumped right into the conversation closest to him, whose members were quite happy to hear from him - since he was known to have Touga's ear, most were very happy to listen to anything he had to say on the subject of their Lord.
"Touga has simply tired of the intrigues in this huge pile," he said, gesturing with his chopsticks to indicate the whole citadel in an offhand way. "He decided to take a break, and one of his friends and vassals offered him a place to guest and get away from it all for a time. Do not think, however, that he is not keeping abreast of what goes on here – what Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't catch and pass on, he has others that do."
One of the men listening to him opine narrowed his eyes on him. "And you would be one of those people, wouldn't you, Arata? As it is known that you are probably his best friend in life." A hint of malice seeped into his voice as he added, "Who knows? Since Touga disbanded his harem, he must be getting pleasure from another source. Why not get that from his 'greatest friend', as well?"
Arata snorted at that, casting the male an incredulous look. "And that statement shows your stupidity bright and clear, Seng – Touga does not swing that way. His desires are all centered on females, you fool. Which is why he has not noticed the come-hither looks you have been casting his way since your arrival here from the mainland."
At that, Seng flushed unbecomingly as titters broke out around the table. "And you have no room to talk, Arata," he hissed through clenched teeth. "It is well known that you enjoy both sides of the bed!"
Shrugging, he yawned, still a bit sleepy. "So? Why limit myself to female or male only? There is pleasure to be had on both sides. Different from each other, true, but still pleasurable. I don't try to hide my nature, Seng, unlike you. Still, make no mistake – all those glances you've been casting Touga's way will bring you nothing except everyone elses attention. There isn't a courtier here that doesn't know your proclivities, no matter how hard you've tried to keep them secret," he grinned maliciously as he outed the other male, deliberately being loud as he added fodder to the morning's gossip.
Reddening alarmingly, the now humiliated male stood and left the dining room to raucous laughter and hooted comments flung at his departing back. That was one fool who wouldn't be showing his face for some time.
Idiot, Arata snorted to himself as he finished his rice. Setting aside his chopsticks, he picked up his tea and sipped it as the conversation at the table turned to a different topic.
It seemed that Seng's comment about Touga's setting aside of his concubines had once again brought everyone's attention back to that fact. Usually, the only time such a thing was done was when a marriage was imminent. Since youkai tended to be very jealous of their mate's attentions, having concubines while married could be an extremely dangerous endeavor.
But Touga had shown no signs of favoring any female of any house. There had been no sightings of him courting anyone or showing any female any attention whatsoever. It left everyone confused and very much trying to figure out what was going on.
"Come, Arata," one of the courtiers said, giving him a knowing look, "while Seng's idea was admittedly foolish as to the reason Touga-sama cast off his concubines, still, he didn't just do such a thing on the spur of the moment. We all know our Lord does nothing without reason. And as close as you are to him, surely you know said reason. Why will you not share it with us? Is it really so important that it must be kept secret?"
If they only knew, the fox thought to himself. The citadel would fall down around our ears if his true reasons were to get out. But there is so much potential here for mischief...
Making sure his voice was loud enough to be heard at the next table where a certain male sat, he said, "It's possible he has marriage on his mind. After all, he is getting older, and he's told me that he would like someone to curl up with at nights. Someone constant, rather than courtesans or concubines." The fox shrugged casually, his voice becoming lightly mocking. "I personally don't see the attraction, but then, I'm a fox, not a dog, and dogs do tend to like having one master." He laughed derisively at the chorus of growls that erupted from different throats around him. "At any rate, last I knew, he had been invited to guest at the home of Lord Hayato. He does have a daughter of marriageable age..." he trailed off, glancing idly at the one his words were an attempt to target.
The male was a highly placed courtier and member of the family of Lord Kaito, who was a fervent rival of Lord Hayato. Both struggled with each other for power at court and Touga's favor. With his words, he'd just lit a fire under Kaito's ass, and he would be left to wonder and fear such an alliance – while trying everything he could think of to cause trouble for Hayato and put a stop to any talks of a marital alliance between the two. The machinations on that score were about to add quite a bit of chaos to the courts, which was a good thing, because it would involve most of the members of the court in one way or another, taking more attention off Touga's plans and true whereabouts.
Still, he thought to himself as he chuckled inwardly at the panicked look on Kaito's cousin's face, this would not deter Takako. No... she would dismiss such talk as worthless, which it was. Touga would never ally himself by marriage to Hayato – and not to mention the daughter was homely for a youkai and not very bright. She would never survive being mated to such a person as Touga. No, she was better suited to marriage to a farmer or some such thing, where thought and intelligence were not required commodities.
At thought of the dragon female, Arata looked around as he cradled his cup of tea, wondering when she was going to put in an appearance, for surely she would. She was quite pleased with herself thinking that she had hooked his attentions and would not want to let him languish for long without trying to sink her claws deeper into him.
He glanced at the male next to him as he was elbowed, frowning. "What?" he snapped, annoyed.
The other male chuckled at his reaction. "And what about you, Arata? We've all seen you sweet-talking that whore Takako. What possible reason could you have for sniffing after her? After all, even a bird youkai with no sense of smell could scent the many, many males she's taken to her bed."
Arata rolled his eyes. "I'm rather bored right now, as it seems there is nothing of real interest going on around here. I decided that attempting to sniff out an accurate count of those she's bedded was about as much entertainment as I was going to find, that's all."
The table erupted into laughter at his words. "And how far have you gotten in your count so far, eh?" someone called out from the other end of the table.
"Sixty-nine," he answered, deadpan, and the laughter grew in volume at his clever play on words. Even the females present were laughing.
Does the bitch even know how much of a laughingstock she is? he wondered. Surely she would be too embarrassed to show her face if she did. But then again, she is a dragon in a house full of canines. Dragons really have no sense of smell, so it is very possible she has no idea that we can all smell her bedtime activities.
"But she is merely an overly large snake, as all dragons are, and everyone knows that snakes cannot smell well at all. She has no idea that the rest of us can tell what she's been up to," he tossed out, chuckling. "And for curiosity's sake, I will sacrifice myself to gain an accurate count so that we may all know for certain how many times she's played the whore. One wonders if she's even perhaps bedded her own sire, as promiscuous as she is."
More laughter erupted at his mocking words, and shouts of encouragement for his 'sacrifice'. It seemed the female was even more of a laughingstock than he'd first thought, as someone called out the idea for a betting pool based on his final answer as to how many lovers she'd had.
He smirked as he thought of the reaction of the bitch were she to overhear the things being said of her. Right now he couldn't allow himself the pleasure of telling her, but once Touga returned with his new bride... oh, what great pleasure he would take in filling her in on just how despised she was – and not even just because of her species.
But it did bring one thing to mind - one question.
Ryukotsussei was known to have several daughters of marriageable age. So why had Takako been chosen above the others?
Was it just chance, or was there another reason?
~oOo~
Takako heard the ribald laughter and loud voices from the dining room ahead with disgust. Such behavior wasn't allowed in her father's palace – decorum was everything. Of course, most of those here were mangy canines of one sort or another with no sense of class at all, so she really shouldn't be surprised.
Still, it was pathetic, and she couldn't wait for the day she could go home. She glanced down at her clawed fingers and scowled slightly at the reason she was the one forced to dally here rather than one of her sisters.
She was fully aware of what her father had wanted her to do – she was supposed to seduce Touga, get the location of the Shikon no Tama from him, then kill him in his sleep and return to her sire with the information.
But Touga was proving himself to be quite shifty and much harder to get her claws into than any of them had thought. After all, weren't dogs supposed to be lusty beings that would rut with just about anything that moved?
Perhaps their beliefs on the canine nature weren't quite correct, though plenty of the courtiers had proven to be just so with their promiscuity. Maybe the higher inu were different in their makeup?
Takako ignored the stares of the servants as she passed, by now used to it. At first it had angered her, but then it was explained to her that none here had ever seen a dragon youkai before. It was amusing to scare the stupid servants – but she only did so when no one else was looking. It wouldn't do, after all, to call attention to herself in a way that underlined her differences.
Striding confidently into the dining area, she was instantly struck by the deep lull at her appearance, and eyes narrowing slightly, she was almost positive she had been the topic of conversation amongst most in the room. There really was no other reason for all the talk to come to a standstill at her entrance.
Angry but hiding it carefully, she looked around the room to see who was there, hoping to find her target in the room, and fortunately, he was, looking comfortable as he lounged at a table sipping tea and listening to the talk. She watched him carefully for a moment, and then, setting a light smile on her face, drifted to his table to take a seat. She motioned for a servant to bring her food and then turned to the kitsune with a light bow of her head.
"Good morning to you, Arata-san," she said pleasantly.
"And you, Takako-san," Arata replied just as pleasantly. "One hopes you rested well?"
She nodded easily as one of the hovering servants appeared to lay out her repast before her. "Very well, though it would have been more pleasant with company," she sighed, flashing a glance his way. "I grow weary of sleeping alone."
Arata snorted inwardly at that comment. Weary of sleeping alone, was she? How long had it been since she'd bedded someone – two days? "I agree, Takako-san – there is certainly something to be said for not waking up alone." There was just a hint to his voice of something else, and Takako shot him another glance, not sure what it was. His face was pleasantly bland, however, giving nothing away, and she let it go, not wanting to screw up her chance to sink her claws into his brain and pick it for the answers she needed to gather for her father.
"I'm glad to find that we are of like mind, then, Arata-san," she said, fluttering her lashes flirtatiously before taking a sip of her own tea. "Mmm... piping hot, just as I like it. It took the servants long enough to understand how I like it, that's for sure. Boiling and right off the fire."
He nodded. "Servants often have to take instruction more than once on fulfilling their duties, as I'm sure you know, Takako-san," he said enigmatically, and once again, Takako was certain he was saying something that she wasn't catching, though... oddly enough, his words sounded just like her father's – he had many times said almost exactly the same thing, in almost the exact same tone of voice. Had Arata ever been in her father's palace? She had to wonder, because from the gossip around this place the fox had been just about everywhere, and with his powers of illusion, it was perfectly possible that he had infiltrated her sire's lands at some point in the past.
"So what is the conversation this morning?" she asked brightly after a moment in between bites of her meal.
Arata leaned back and spoke idly, as if bored. "Just more speculation on Touga-sama's whereabouts and his plans," he said, his manner offhand and casual in the extreme. "The same as it always is, really, for the people around here are simple and cannot think beyond the Lord's life to their own."
He watched carefully, though seemingly laid back and careless, her reaction to his words, and indeed, the look in her eyes deepened – she was very interested in those same questions. Which meant that her father was interested.
Arata, of course, already knew this – but the question was, why were Touga's whereabouts of such interest to him?
Just what was the dragon after?
From what had happened with Sesshoumaru-sama's patrol yesterday – yes, he knew of what had happened on said patrol – it would appear as though the dragon suspected that Touga either had the Shikon no Tama, or knew where it was.
He would bet all he owned that the dragon lord was after the jewel, and thought that Touga's 'visit' with an ally was about that same subject. If so, it was a deep game the damned flying snake was playing...
I need to be certain, though. For how would Ryukotsussei have found out about Touga's involvement in hiding that accursed bauble? Even Sesshoumaru does not know of his sire's guardianship of it. If he knows... it could only be because someone turned coat and gave him that information. But who?
That was a very disturbing thought, because the list of those who knew of the jewel and its hiding place was very lightly populated. And the thought of one of those few being a traitor was disturbing and dangerous in the extreme.
With an inward sigh he continued the light conversation with her as she finished her breakfast, and then stood and invited her for a walk in the gardens. He knew of a nice little place for a spot of dalliance and intrigue...
She was very quick in her acceptance.
~oOo~
From his study on the floor just below his father's, Sesshoumaru watched Arata entertain Takako with a cold eye. He was well aware that his father's oldest friend was seducing the disgusting female at his sire's request.
It was not hard to figure out why.
He growled at the thought of his powerful sire mating such a filthy whore. Was the dragon really so much a fool that he thought such a ploy could work? He had to have known that the great Dog General never would have fallen for such a low scheme – which meant that Takako was merely a screen. Oh, not that she wasn't reporting everything she heard and saw back to her father, but there had to be someone else here in the palace that was the real spy.
Claws almost glowing green with the urge to kill the female or anyone else affiliated with those cold-blooded bastard dragons, he turned from the window with a deeper growl and sat down at his desk. Steepling his fingers, he closed his eyes and calmed his blood until he could look at the problem collectedly. Anger would serve no purpose at this point except to distract him.
Father is hiding something... and that something is what Ryukotsussei is after. That is why so many of his serpents are sneaking into Western lands – they search for whatever this object is.
He thought back to yesterday and his sire's instructions after he had reported to him. And his reaction to said report. He had scented of deep concern, even worry. Whatever this object is it is being kept by the slayers. He was too concerned with their security for it not to be so.
But why would he entrust something so obviously dangerous to the care of ningens... slayers or not? They could not hope to defend against an attack by dragons in force. Would he not have been better served to hide whatever it is here in the citadel?
Then again... if such an object were hidden here, the snake would probably have attacked the West already. That may be the only reason he has not – because he does not know the whereabouts of whatever it is that father hides that he desires so badly.
For a moment, he wondered why his father had not stationed a garrison of his soldiers at the slayer's village... but then the answer came to him. No... for then the dragon would know for certain that it lay there, and so far he does not. He is looking everywhere. Perhaps, then, I should give him several other places to concentrate on...
Turning to the tidily sorted shelves behind him, he took out a map of the Western lands and began to pore over it, looking for a good place – or two – to act as decoys to the spies constantly trying to sneak into the West.
Here... and here, he decided, a grim smirk twisting thin lips. Both places were garrisons that his sire had placed in unsettled regions, for reasons he had never understood – until now. Clever, father... clever. Always thinking ahead...
They could easily be fortified, making it look as though they were protecting something precious, while in truth, they were protecting nothing at all.
It would be interesting to see what reactions his own actions would precipitate.
Placing the map back in its spot neatly, Sesshoumaru summoned a servant and asked them to send in one of his father's Generals.
Within an hour, two army units were under notice and preparing to deploy to new stations.
And Sesshoumaru was once again standing at the window, watching Arata twist Takako around his little finger. He would have to drop a few words in the fox's ear about what he'd done - and tell him to make sure he passed it on.
~oOo~
Certain that his so-called master was about to meet with his spy in Touga's citadel through his scrying mirror, Kenichi used his most secret skill and entered the room just before the dragon Lord turned to close the doors and set a locking spell on them.
Floating along invisibly behind the tall male, he waited patiently for him to seal the room with a soundproof barrier and then open his mirror to call out to the one just like it that his spy held.
He wasn't disappointed.
The mirror opened within moments, and the now incorporeal Kenichi watched silently as a robed and hooded male was revealed in the mirror. Damn! Why'd he have to be hidden? Still, by listening carefully, he could possibly identify the traitor by voice alone.
He tuned everything else out and concentrated only on the conversation going on before him.
"... what he is currently doing?" he heard Ryukotsussei ask.
"No, my Lord, not with any surety. However... the visit he is making has nothing to do with the Shikon no Tama, that much I am positive of. It is some other scheme, one I do not think is of any importance to you or threat to your goals. If the talk here is correct, I believe it is simply more of the futile maneuvering for position between the houses of Lord Hayato and Kaito. Occasionally, Touga-sama does something to up the ante between the two, so to speak, to keep them from allying together and causing him more headaches," the voice returned. "His friend Arata spoke of this same thing this very morning."
There was a hiss, then the room fell silent for a moment. Then Ryukotsussei said, "Still, while he might not necessarily be somewhere dealing with the tama, keep your ears open. He knows of my forays into his lands. If he begins to move his soldiers anywhere for no apparent reason, that would be a good indication that the protection of the tama is involved. Continue to listen and if anything comes to your attention, do not hesitate to contact me."
The figure in the mirror bowed, and with a wave of his hand, the mirror cleared, flattening and brightening and showing nothing more than the dragon standing before it once more.
"I'm almost sure he knows I'm looking for the jewel. So he has it hidden somewhere he thinks I will never look. It must be that for him to be so cocksure that I will not find it." The dragon turned from the mirror and ran an irritated hand through his scarlet mane.
After a moment, though, his expression lightened, and he chuckled, an evil sound.
"Still... I cannot wait to face the fool dog with how high within his court's ranks my reach is – just before I kill him."
Kenichi pressed every bit of what had happened in this room into his memory and waited, still incorporeal, for the male to open the room back up and leave. Floating off in a different direction once the way was opened, he made it back to his rooms before allowing himself to form into his physical body once more.
Kenichi was an elemental with the ability to literally turn himself into little more than invisible molecules – though only Touga and one other knew of that ability. He was also Touga's most secret spy. No one knew of him except Touga – not even his son, Kenji, or Arata. It was a fact that was now serving him well, as he could sneak himself into the dragon's lair and said dragon had no idea that he had any ties in the West at all.
He let his thoughts drift to all he needed to pass on to his true Lord... and then, afterward, his mind wandered to someone else – someone who had become dear to him, though such a thing was dangerous. Yet, it could also be most advantageous...
He hadn't been in the dragon's service for four months when his youngest daughter, a tiny female named Mine had begun to fall in love with him. And as odd as it seemed, as much as he disliked dragons, he had found himself returning her feelings. The girl was nothing like the rest of her family.
She was actively mistreated by all of them. Smallest of all his brood, Mine was, in his eyes, anyway, the most beautiful of his daughters... and shockingly, with a family and sire like hers, she had a good heart. She was soft and caring and were she to linger in her father's house unmarried for very long, she would probably eventually be killed by one of the others – or her own sire.
Unable to see such a thing happen, he had gone to Ryukotsussei to ask for Mine as his bride – and had been accepted. The dragon had no use for her and was happy to get her married off to someone. She was no longer his responsibility and that was good enough for him.
But Mine knew what he was... and who he truly held allegiance to – he'd been unable to hide the truth from her, and he had been sure she would not turn against him, anyway. She hated her family with a passion and her father most of all.
When the time came, Kenichi was sure that the sight of one of his own standing against him with his most hated enemy would certainly enrage the narcissistic Ryukotsussei. He was so certain that he had a stranglehold on all his children, his wives, and his court, that he wouldn't even have conceived of one of his own turning against him.
But Mine was his trump card. Because Ryukotsussei had a bad habit of gloating to all his children and wives about his various schemes, and Mine in turn told him everything that was said when he was not present. It gave him two edges – his ability to spy unseen, and his sweet little wife, who no one would ever consider as a spy, least of all her sire.
To him, she was just a useless female – but to Kenichi, she was his love and his second set of ears, as well.
His attention was pulled from his thoughts by the object of them as long green hair whirled into the room. Flushed and pretty, Kenichi smiled at her and once again wondered how she could really be a cold-blooded dragon. She was always warm to the touch and her cheeks were even now flushed with warmth. He shook his head and opened his arms to her with a deepening smile as she walked right through the permanent soundproof barrier he had placed around their rooms and into his embrace.
"What is it, my sweet?" he asked, holding her opalescent eyes with his own silver.
"I overheard father a little while ago, love – he is raising the army bit by bit but hiding his actions by conscripting soldiers and then keeping them in the mountains to the North so that Touga-sama will not know he is preparing for war," she said, worry in her voice. "I'm so surprised that he hasn't spoken of this at all until just now... usually, he brags about everything, you know?"
Her worries weren't idle, either. If it came to war, he and she would need to get away – to get back to the West, and such an escape would not be easy. He had suspected for some time that the dragon was slowly adding to his forces, but had no proof – until now.
Perhaps he needed to contact Touga sooner than he had planned – like tonight.
He looked back down at his wife as she gripped his arms tightly. "What are we to do, Kenichi? He could begin the attack much sooner than we had thought! It will be difficult for Touga-sama to catch up in gathering his armies since father has apparently been doing this for some time. He was quite happy to tell us that the army is far larger than it has ever been." Her brow furrowed, then. "Although... he did say that many of the soldiers are really little more than fodder youkai, with no true combat skill. He thinks to overwhelm the West with numbers, I think."
Kenichi chuckled. "That is something that Touga expected, I believe. But the truth is, the Western Armies are always kept at full strength – he never draws them down, peace-time or no. Many have wondered at this and his councilors have even chastised him for the cost of it, but he has always ignored them all and gone his own way. Now I know why. He is a crafty youkai, Mine, but one with a good heart who cares for his people as best he can. I know you will like him."
Her brow furrowed sweetly and he was hard pressed not to kiss her, but he wanted to hear what she had to say. "But I am a dragon, even though I hate my family and how horrid and violent they are... will he accept me?"
Pulling her closer to him, he held her firmly and comforted her fear. "He may be a little suspicious at first, but he will soon learn to love you, my sweet, just as I did. I once believed as he did – that the only good dragon was a dead one. But then you came into my life and I learned that things are never so clear-cut. Touga is very wise. He will accept you, and you will be protected, my love, this I promise you."
He smiled to himself as he felt her nod against his chest and tighten her arms around him, and he swore to himself once again – she would be safe. He would not allow her disgusting father to ever lay a hand on her again.
~oOo~
Arata lay sprawled with elegant disarray across Takako's bed, and sighed inwardly, bored.
It figures. Even with as many males as she's laid with before, she's a terrible fuck. It's a good thing I have a very good imagination or I'd never have been able to bring myself to finish. Gods... I hope I don't have to do this too many more times – although I probably will. Touga, my friend, you had better reward me greatly for this!
He glanced at the female at his side, scooting carefully as far away as he could get and yet remain in the bed. Her body was cold and it was giving him chills to be too close to it. Pleased that at least he had managed to wear her out, he took his time looking her room over carefully. So... what is it she uses to keep in touch with her disgusting father? His gaze lingered on her vanity table, taking note of the bottles of scent she had. His brow furrowed. She sure had a lot of those scents, but then again, in a palace full of warm-blooded beings that didn't like her kind, she probably used those scents to at least take the cold edge off her personal scent.
Moving on from there, his eyes wandered to the very large wardrobe that stood against one wall, and his frown deepened... did she really need that many clothes? That wasn't the original piece for this room, he knew – it was too large and ornate to be to Touga's tastes. The smaller, plainer wardrobe sitting in a corner was the chest that belonged here. It was odd...
And so was the fact that nowhere in the room did he see anything that could be a mirror. A noblewoman without a mirror? Unheard of... unless she kept it in that ridiculously large wardrobe she had. It was big enough to hide a floor-length model – which, as the daughter of a cardinal Lord, she may well have, expensive as all get out or not.
He knew for certain that the rooms meant for Touga's bride had such a mirror, highly reflective and large enough to show a woman from her feet up. It was a hugely expensive thing – but Touga was extremely wealthy, after all. He could afford a hundred thousand more just like it and blink off the cost.
Our backgrounds are so different, he and I... it's a wonder we ever became friends.
His mind slipped back in time to the days of their youth. He was the son of one of the Lords under Touga's father, and though of noble birth, he was nowhere near Touga in station. But unlike many of higher rank, the young inuyoukai had not been snobbish at all and had for that reason not gotten along with most of those who could be considered his peers – or at least, as close as any could come.
As a youngster, Arata had been smaller than most of the others and had perfected his magic and illusions much faster than the rest of his own peers simply to escape being beaten all the time.
One day, one of the other Lord's bratlings had cornered him in an out of the way corridor, and with nothing else left to defend himself, had used an illusion that was so good he'd frightened the bully half to death. The male had been stricken dumb and hadn't spoken for days afterward. Touga had by chance been hiding out in a room down that self-same corridor as a way to avoid afternoon lessons and had seen the whole thing. He'd laughed himself silly before explaining to the parents what had occurred, thereby saving young Arata a good beating by a flustered father.
They'd been best friends ever since.
There wasn't much Arata wouldn't do for his friend, knowing that the favor was returned – Touga would stand by him through anything, no matter what it was, and had proven it many times. They'd had each others backs so many times in battle and other situations that there was no need to even ask on either one's part. It was just a silent, accepted part of their friendship.
And that was why, even though he found Takako to be boring, exceedingly arrogant, and a dead fuck, to put it bluntly, he would pretend otherwise as though the safety of the entire world hung on his convincing the wench that she had him completely in her claws. Because really, more than likely, it did.
He shuddered at the thought of that bastard dragon taking over the west. The lands would be plunged into a darkness that would rival the underworld for hopeless misery, and then the fool would rule half the country.
He wouldn't stop at that, either, for if he could take the west, he would then turn his eyes to the east and south. The entire country would be overwhelmed with bloodshed and suffering, affecting youkai and ningen alike.
No... Ryukotsussei must never be allowed anywhere near the Shikon no Tama...
Or the seat of power in the West.
Finally realizing that the female was going to sleep for quite some time, he rose gracefully and silently from the bed and redressed, casually dropping a tiny black blob on the table near the bed as he finished, then decided to go bathe the scent of cold blood from his body before it made him sick. Slipping from the room as quietly as a mouse, he headed immediately for his rooms to grab a change of clothes, before turning for the baths.
He squinted at the position of the sun out his windows before leaving – at this time of the afternoon the baths would probably be empty, which suited him just fine. It would give him time to think over his course of actions with the wench. He didn't like to do things on the spur of the moment if he could plan ahead, though he was skilled at working off the cuff if it was needed, as well.
Deep in thought, he finished his bath and then headed for the dining room – dinner was about to be served, and he had worked up an appetite.
He was shaken from his thoughts as his Lord's son suddenly appeared next to him. He blinked in surprise.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," he acknowledged, wondering why the heir to the West was walking with him. Sesshoumaru did not associate himself with anyone in the citadel at all except for when conducting business.
"You have begun entertaining Takako, have you not?" he asked quietly. "I have some... information that you could let 'slip' to her."
Straightening, Arata nodded curtly. "Hai? What is that?"
"Two army units are moving out at first light tomorrow. They are going to strengthen two garrisons in unoccupied lands. Does it not seem odd that it would be deemed necessary to add so many men to areas that have... nothing to protect?" he responded, not looking at the fox.
Brow furrowed, Arata processed his words, and then what Sesshoumaru was doing came to him and he grinned maliciously. "Ah. I would be most pleased to spill such information into her ears, then, my Lord."
With a slight nod Sesshoumaru walked away, and Arata watched him for a moment, then continued on towards the dining room, chuckling inwardly. Even Sesshoumaru cannot help but to dip his fingers into the intrigue that goes on in this place. I wonder how skilled he is in such games...
Entering the room to knowing shouts and ribald laughter, Arata bowed mockingly to those in the room, then chose his usual spot and settled, motioning for a servant to serve him his meal. He had hardly taken a sip of his tea when one of the younger courtiers asked knowingly, "So... have you gained in your count any more, Arata-san?" to the backdrop of guffaws around the table.
He placed a hand across his forehead and languidly answered, "Yes, I have done my duty, as unpleasant as it is, and have added twenty to the count so far." As those gathered round laughed and made sport of Takako, Arata straightened in his seat and began to eat – the day's activities had made him hungry, especially as he'd missed lunch. He had no doubt Takako would be along soon, as well, so he nudged the talk in other directions.
"Oi, where's Haruko?" he asked leadingly, and just that quickly the talk turned to Kaito's cousin, who had overheard his planted – and false – story about where Touga actually was and what he was actually doing.
One of the females let out a particularly vicious laugh. "Oh... he ran for his rooms as soon as he finished his breakfast, Arata-san, and not half an hour later, he'd dispatched a message to his cousin. I've no doubt that Kaito's already read the message and is now stewing and panicking over what to do to put a stop to such an alliance."
He eyed the female carefully, trying to remember who she was affiliated with. "Don't worry, I'm not part of either house – or most of the lying and backstabbing that goes on here. I am from the Southern house come to the West as a councilor," she said at his searching look.
"Ah." That was why he didn't recognize her. "And you are of what race?" he asked, unable to place what type of youkai she was from her looks alone. Tall, obviously graceful, she had fiery red hair and the strangest but most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen – they swirled orange and red like fire in her delicately molded face.
"Firebird," she said, and he kicked himself inwardly – from another country on the mainland or not, her kind were seen here enough he should have recognized her. Especially as the Southern Lady was a firebird.
He bowed his head and smiled charmingly at her. "Then I say welcome to this cesspool of backstabbing, infighting and lying known as the Citadel, Lady...?" he asked leadingly.
"I am known as Kajiko," she said, smiling back at him slightly. "I have the feeling that I am speaking to the one who stirs up the intrigue in this place almost more than any other, am I right?"
He smiled modestly and demurred. "Alas, no, Kajiko-san," he said. "I am but a poor fox in a den of dogs. I do what I can to protect myself, that is all. And the name is Arata, please."
She eyed him with disbelieving amusement and then went back to her dinner with a nod of her head. Arata watched her for a moment, actually charmed by her. That was rare... not many succeeded in gaining his approval or actual admiration.
He would certainly be keeping an eye on her, but unlike the case with Takako, this time he would be doing it for himself.
Things just might have gotten a great deal more interesting around here, that's for sure! But dammit, why did it have to be now, when I'm stuck dealing with that cold-blooded bitch?
He picked up his teacup and sighed, listening idly to the talk around the tables nearest him, and watched as Kajiko finished her meal silently and then excused herself for the night.
At least she left before Takako came in. For some reason, acting the lovers in front of the firebird bothered him, and he determined then and there to do his best to keep his game with the dragon female as far out of sight as possible.
His eyes turned towards the doors as the female in question slinked into the room with an intimate smile in his direction. Inwardly shuddering, he managed to smile back, though he absolutely hated it.
It was time to return to work.
He kept a straight face as she sat down near him, moving proprietorially closer than polite company would normally allow and smiled at him.
"You must have been hungry after such a busy afternoon," she hinted heavily, obviously pleased at her 'conquest' and wanting everyone to know what she had been up to. "I find myself just as famished, I do say. Perhaps I should have the servants bring a tray of fruit or something to my rooms, you know, just in case."
Smiling enigmatically, he agreed. "Perhaps you should, Takako-san. You never know when having such a snack around might come in handy."
She didn't say anything else as she finished her meal, and with his next move mapped out, Arata stood from the table and asked her to walk with him in the gardens once more.
Not suspecting a damn thing she agreed, and within minutes, the two were walking in the softly lit eastern gardens, the small lamps swinging lightly in the breeze of the early evening. These particular gardens happened to overlook the lower level of the castle and the yagura.* No one could possibly miss the activity taking place in those yards.
Takako most certainly did not.
She stopped and gazed over the wall, a frown on her face. "What in the world is going on down there at this time of night?" she asked aloud, though it was clear she was really talking to herself.
He answered anyway. "Ah... from what I heard, two units of the army have been ordered to leave at first light to strengthen two garrisons." He frowned artfully, feigning confusion. "But I can't figure out why... those two garrisons are in the middle of nowhere. Actually, no one has ever been able to figure out why we have two full garrisons stationed in the middle of nowhere to begin with. It is most strange," he finished, eyeing her covertly to ascertain her reaction.
She was greatly excited and excused herself from his company with a most ridiculous excuse as cover as soon as she possibly could, leaving him to his own devices.
And she swallows the bait, he thought, grinning inwardly. I almost can't wait for the day when she finds out just how badly she's been had.
Chuckling evilly, he made his own way back into the palace, headed for his rooms. Since she had left him, he had every excuse to go to his own rooms to sleep, rather than hers. He was quite pleased to be escaping the rather dubious honor of warming her bed again, at least for tonight.
I suppose I must take such chances where I find them and be glad for them. Ugh.
With a sigh, he prepared himself for bed and tucked himself into the covers, dropping to sleep almost immediately.
After all, he'd more than done his duty this day, and deserved what sleep he could find.
~oOo~
Takako couldn't get back to her rooms fast enough, having to walk slowly and with decorum so as not to alert anyone to her excitement. This would be something to give her sire to lessen his anger with her.
That could only be a good thing for her continuing health.
Slipping quietly into her room, she hurriedly set the soundproof warding and then opened her wardrobe and activated her mirror. She knew her sire would be alerted, all she had to do now was wait for his response.
In the meantime, she decided to go ahead and change into her night yukata, wanting to get comfortable. For some reason she felt strung out and tired as though she'd run miles, and all she wanted now was to pass on the knowledge she'd gained to her father and then go to her rest, hopefully with his approbation rather than his anger, as his anger was always to be feared.
Soon enough her mirror flashed, and she knew her father was waiting. Moving to stand before it, she bowed deeply to him, keeping her gaze turned down from his own cold one.
"Takako. Since you are calling for me, I assume you have some information of importance for me?" he asked frigidly, and she was very aware that he would hurt her badly if he was displeased with her words. But she didn't think he would be...
"Father. Yes. I have done as you instructed and begun to keep company with Arata. And sure enough, he seems to know most of what goes on in this place. While he has said nothing of Touga's whereabouts, I did manage to find out something else that might just be what you are looking for."
"Well, out with it, girl, don't make me pry it from your cold, dead body."
With a shiver, Takako nodded hastily. "Hai, father. There are two units of the army that have been summarily commanded to leave at dawn to strengthen two garrisons that are, in his words, in the middle of nowhere. And he rambled a bit while talking of those garrisons. It seems that no one knows why these two garrisons even exist at all – they protect nothing in the way of towns or anything else of importance – or at least, of visible importance."
Her father looked thoughtful as she finished speaking. "You have actually done something right for a change, Takako, and pleased me. Did he say where these garrisons are?"
She shook her head, a bit chagrined that she hadn't thought of that. "No, father, and I feared somewhat to ask, not wanting to give him suspicion of me," she lied quickly, hoping that excuse would work.
It did.
He flicked his fingers dismissively, then. "Fine. I will get that information from my other spies. Still, keep on him. The fox is the key to Touga's unraveling. If you can get him to spill his guts while in the bed, then all the better for me – as I can then watch as an angered and wounded Touga truly spills his guts for his loose lips and betrayals of his secrets."
With that, his image faded, and with a sigh of relief, Takako closed her wardrobe, not noticing the tiny little insect that dropped from the side of the piece of furniture and scuttled under the door of her room.
No one else would notice the little bug, either, as it scurried along the ceiling towards its master's rooms. Once there, it would await his pleasure, showing Arata everything that had happened in the room after Takako had entered and set that barrier.
Intrigue and spying truly was a part of the lifeblood of this palace – even the insects had gotten in on it. It was really common knowledge among a few of the higher ranked courtiers that some of the bugs in the place were much more than just innocent insects – but what no one realized was just how many of those tiny spies called Touga himself master.
And as for Takako, she had no idea that any of the nasty little bugs occasionally to be found in her rooms were anything more than what they seemed, as no such species of youkai insect existed in her father's lands.
It was an oversight that would, eventually, cost her a great deal.
~oOo~
Striding slowly along a softly illuminated corridor, Kajiko thought about the things she had heard so far since her arrival here in the citadel.
She sighed tiredly, rubbing a finger along the tight collar of her warrior's kimono, and shifted her shoulders to settle her armor a little more comfortably.
Ostensibly just another courtier from a different land, Kajiko was really anything but. She was the Southern heiress, daughter to the Lord of the South and next in line for the throne, as her sire laughingly called the ornate seat in the audience hall of his palace.
Her true duty here at this time was simple – she was a spy set by her father and Touga to watch the comings and goings in the citadel while the Western Lord was away. Even more, she was there to watch how Sesshoumaru handled things in his father's absence.
For that reason she'd been assigned by Touga himself to Sesshoumaru's personal guards, those who went with him on patrols and were at his beck and call. As the Western heir, Sesshoumaru needed much work before he became a viable candidate for the Lordship, as Touga and her own father agreed.
He was much too cold and convinced of his own power and superiority to be a good ruler at this time.
Kajiko had to agree. True, he showed much promise of being just as devious and capable of running circles around the fools in this place as his sire, but with his narcissism he would make no better a ruler in his own way than Ryukotsussei did.
So far, though, he seemed to be handling things well, and she'd caught on to his scheme with the army units quite quickly. It was an excellent ploy, one she'd have been proud of if she'd thought of it herself.
Now, if only he could add a compassionate heart to those beneath him, he'd be perfect for the role, she sighed. We will see where this road leads, sure enough. But it won't lead anywhere for him if he doesn't grow a heart, that's for sure.
She stepped out onto a small landing, then headed down it and into the relatively small 'moonlight garden' as it was called. In it was every type of pleasing night-blooming flower and bush with a small waterway set amidst the garden and feeding into a pond, with many frogs to sing into the night. There were even a couple of moonbridges at different intervals throughout the garden, and it was her absolute favorite place in the entire citadel. She came here almost every night once her duties were done, and especially when the day had been long.
The sweet smell of the flowers combined with the soothing water sounds, and even the croaking of the frogs always managed to ease the tension from her shoulders, and coming to her favorite spot at the little pond, her fingers moved up to undo the ties holding her bamboo armor in place. She sighed in contentment as the armor fell to the ground, and rolled her shoulders to work the kinks out.
Once she had herself settled on her favorite rock, she took her boots off and her socks, and dipped her slender feet in the water with a pleased smile at the cool, wet feeling.
What a beautiful garden, she thought to herself, mother would love this.
Kajiko smiled wider as she thought of her mother. A firebird from a country on the mainland, she had come here to this country as a young girl, bound for marriage with the Southern Lord, a greater hawk youkai. The fights between the two had been epic, from all the stories she'd heard, but love had come and then their firstborn had as well.
To her sire's delight, she had taken after her mother in looks and strengths, although she was larger than most Firebirds were due to her father's side, whose hawk ancestors were much larger than most of the other predator birds in this land.
Grinning to herself, she shook her head – despite her status as the heir to the Southern seat, Sesshoumaru had no idea she was his equal – and in more than just rank. But because of his standoffish ways, he had no idea she was anything more than what she claimed to be, leaving her free to do that which her sire and Touga-sama asked of her.
As if she would turn her godfather down. She understood his worries about his heir quite well, and hoped for his sake that somehow, Sesshoumaru would be taught a little humility. It would do him some good.
But I can hardly wait for the day Touga returns – and I can step into my true rank, if only to see Sesshoumaru's reaction.
She giggled softly to herself at the thought, and then after a moment to contemplate such a silly thing set everything aside and just let the night and the garden soothe her.
She had the feeling that she would definitely need that sense of peace tomorrow.
It had been extremely difficult to hold her form and not attack that disgusting dragon female the moment she'd seen her. Even more than Touga-sama's despite of the dragons was her family's – they hated those cold-blooded flying serpents with a passion unequaled by anything else. They were, after all, responsible for her grandmother's death.
Tension tightened her shoulders despite her attempts to quell it as she thought back to that dark day in their lives. She'd been little more than a child when it had happened, but it had hit her hard, as she'd been very close to her paternal grandmother.
The female hawk had been out enjoying the warm air currents of a warm early autumn day, flying high and stretching her wings, when she'd been attacked from above, the bastard dragon dropping on her and running his claws all the way through her. She'd barely managed to make it to the ground before she'd transformed, and she'd bled out within minutes before her son and his entire family.
Her father, in his rage and grief had immediately chased the bastard down and destroyed him – but it wasn't enough. The attack had been a deliberate order of the dragon lord, Ryukotsussei, for reasons none of them had ever been able to figure out, but with that single act, he had forever earned the enmity of the entire Southern house.
She lived for the day of their destruction and actively worked for it. But having to coexist in this palace with a daughter of the son of a bitch who'd ordered her grandmother's death while leaving her alive and unbroken was extremely difficult.
However, for the sake of her duty she had to put aside her anger. It was frequently that way for the ruler of a land – one could not always do what one wanted, Lord or no. You had always to think of others first.
It was a hard lesson to learn and a bitter pill to swallow.
Soon, though. Soon it would not matter and she would be able to sink her claws into the female's gut and then set her afire to burn agonizingly slowly. Though dragons were immune to most fire, they were not immune to the fire of a Firebird. And that was one big reason her sire had already decreed that when Ryukotsussei attacked the west, as he was sure to do, they, the Southern Realm, would go into battle on the side of the Western forces.
She could hardly wait.
But she couldn't help but wonder...
What was the trump card against Ryukotsussei that Touga had spoken of?
He had certainly seemed very confident that he would have a weapon that the dragon would be unable to counter when it became necessary.
I can hardly wait to find out what that secret weapon of his is...
As long as it carries the potential to destroy those disgusting creatures I'll be all for it – no matter what it is.
The fires in her eyes flared for just one moment, then went out, and the night once more closed in.
But the flame had not truly gone out – it had just been dimmed for a while.
Soon, it would flare back into life and then the day of destruction for all dragonkind would be at hand.
Fangs flashed as she grinned.
~oOo~
Edited 8/12/13