Lord of the Tattoos
Crossover between: InuYasha and Rurouni Kenshin
Um... yeah... so I have no idea what possessed me during this chapter. So bear with me as this might have just taken an abrupt left hand turn into oncoming traffic, there will be swearing involved as I swerve to try to avoid anything REALLY unintentional. What I can tell you is that there is a hell of a lot of chapter here for you guys. Point of views will be labelled in an attempt to help lessen the confusion. Uber thanks to reviewer pammazola for the proper spelling of hanyou which I will be going back to correct tonight in the other ten chapters as I suspect that error is everywhere...
Last time: ~~~"Perhaps," Kenshin responds with a nod of his head. When Katsura turns his head he takes off for Kyoto, fully aware that all that awaits him there for the next several years most likely is blood and murders.~~~
Chapter 11- The Essence of White Plums
Kenshin sat there drinking, he was still half a year away from being considered a 'man' rather than a boy. He had ran into some interesting trouble recently, and somehow it resulted with someone's sword actually marring his perfect skin. The blasted wound refused to close, and Kenshin was sorely tempted to use the Tenseiga to fix it if it didn't close up soon. Saitou happened to sit down across from him, which normally meant his entire evening was about to be ruined.
"You work for Katsura right?" the wolf hanyou asked quietly. Kenshin leveled him with a glare, such questions were against the rules. Saitou was welcome to ask for help, but nothing about his work… there were too many political games going on for that.
"We have discussed this Saitou," he warned before taking another sip of his sake, "we also discussed that you would leave me alone when I wanted to drink."
"Hasn't stopped me from following you before, why would it now?" the wolf hanyou of the Shinsengumi shrugged with a toothy smirk, "it's important otherwise I wouldn't be here Himura." Kenshin raised an eyebrow, normally the man beat more around the bush than this.
"This seems more like a moonlit conversation than a tavern one wolf," he whispered. The man nodded paid Kenshin's tab and the two of them walked out into the streets before hopping up to a point it would be exceedingly difficult for someone to eavesdrop.
"Aku Soku Zan," the wolf hanyou started with, Kenshin nodded, "there are concerns amongst the Mibu about a certain insurgency plot. Katsura's name has appeared, we will be called to strike against the meetings soon, the Shinsengumi I mean."
"You have nothing to worry about Katsura, he's not your enemy. While he is on a different side than the one you have chosen his goals are very similar to yours. For your sake, and my own you had best have more to go on than that," Kenshin spoke looking over the city bored, he didn't have an actual assignment tonight, which was why he tolerated the wolf's presence in his part of town.
"It is an unspoken fact amongst youkai that you are backing the Choshu, since you are the mutt has agreed to side with them as well. This means that the entirety of the Western lands is now backing the Choshu clan and its plans," Saitou explained, "does Katsura know about that?"
While Kenshin had considered asking Sesshomaru's little brother what he thought about the whole war he never thought that InuYasha would just accept whatever side he choose without question. To find out that the entire Western Lands now supported Choshu's bid for change was a bit of a shocker. Kenshin did know that he had unknowingly at first claimed several parts of Kyoto as his with his work, but the scope of it all had been rather lost to him in light of all the deaths he was causing.
"I am unsure if he knows," Kenshin glanced back to the wolf hanyou with a deep frown, "I didn't know that he was backing my decision, or that he even knew what clan I was working for quite frankly. InuYasha doesn't strike me as a well informed ruler, but I haven't seen him in several years myself. How do you know who he's backing?" The wolf hanyou snorted like the answer was the most obvious thing in the world.
"He's been sighted in town, not by the humans, but some of the Shinsengumi have run across him. The results range from comically outmatched to just plain amusing. He checks on you personally," Saitou added, "said that he doesn't trust his advisors with such an important task."
"That would not surprise me to learn," Kenshin remarked under his breath, "so why are the Mibu so interested in Katsura, surely they don't know what you just told me."
"No, they have no dealings with the Youkai, most of whom are content to let the humans kill each other out," Saitou confirmed, "the problem lies with an acquaintance of Katsura's. I believe his name is Miyabe or something?" Kenshin sighed, he knew exactly who he was referring to.
"That man is an idiot. No, Katsura is attempting to cut ties with him completely from my understanding. That nutcase almost had Katsura ready to draw his sword on him," Kenshin replied irritatedly, "Katsura has sworn an oath to one of his officers to never draw a blade again, so that is a relatively large statement by itself. He has no intention of following any of Miyabe's plans."
"That's reassuring," the wolf hanyou mused, "what on earth is that smell?"
"White plums, it's coming from the night district I think," Kenshin answered sniffing the air, "I have to go bother Katsura now, did you have anything to tell him?" The wolf hanyou shook his head and was gone before Kenshin could say anything more.
KATSURA PoV
Katsura was reading with the young red head made his way into his room, his consort was back home for the time being so it was only logical that his best assassin would talk now. The boy looked startled by something, which already somewhat of a feat from what Katsura knew about him. He sat down quietly, and waited for him to finish with his book before speaking. Kategai was probably going to have a fit when he discovered the impromptu meeting.
"It's been a while since you last stopped in, has something happened?" Katsura asked cautiously.
"In a manner of speaking, do you remember how I told you I occasionally gossip with a member of the Shinsengumi?" the red head asked, "he had some interesting things to say tonight."
"Pardon me Kenshin, but it strikes me as odd you are gossiping with a member of the Shinsengumi in the first place," Katsura interrupted, "most of my men would be killed for such a thing by Kategai."
"We have a standard no discussing work rule, which he breaks more than I do. He owes me a rather huge favor from before I joined," Kenshin explained, "it's a long story, but his information is reliable."
"If you say so, but I cannot rely on the words of a Shinsengumi operative to determine my politics for the clan," Katsura insisted, "you also said you don't want anything to do with politics. Which is exactly why I assigned you assassinations in the first place all those years ago."
"His information is something I can and will have independently confirmed, I assure you that it may have some effect on your morale to say the least," the red head pulled his swords and set them to the side. Katsura was intrigued, this was the most respectful the red head had been in a long time.
"So what did your wolf of Mibu have to tell you that is so important?" Katsura asked setting his book aside. The red head held up a hand with his eyes closed and another sword appeared, only this one came from thin air.
"This is Tenseiga, it is a InuYoukai's sword, it happens to belong to the Lord of the Western Lands in particular. Currently his younger brother is running said lands," the red head started, "this is important to you because that particular hanyou is supporting the Choshu clan. Which is the first thing that Wolf of Mibu told me…"
"Youkai don't interest themselves in the wars of men, how can you be so sure that it was true," Katsura would love it if such a far-fetched idea were true, he just didn't think it was possible.
"I will bring that InuYoukai here, he can confirm that for you if you want, his reasons for supporting you have to do with this sword right here though," the red head said pointing to the sword, "Tetsusaiga, his sword can kill a hundred demons in one sweep, where as Tenseiga its brother can save a hundred souls in one sweep. I possess Tenseiga, so he follows my lead on some matters."
"Why do you have an InuYoukai's sword in the first place?" Katsura interrupted.
"I can't tell you that right now, what I can tell you is that the Wolf of Mibu I have been speaking to you is a wolf hanyo, so his word on that is fine. Especially when it started with Aku. Soku. Zan," Kenshin explained, "I have been speaking about you to him, which I realize is out of turn, but hear me out."
"What have you been saying? I can only hope you haven't done something foolish that will get us all killed," Katsura asked suspicious of the red head sitting across from him.
"Nothing of consequence has been said other that your intentions are pure, and that I would be rather pissed off should something occur that would abruptly end your life," the red head answered easily, "he was asking about your connection to Miyabe. I told him you did not side with his ideas at all."
"That's rather fortunate, why is he so concerned about—" Katsura was inturrpted by loud footsteps outside his door, and a silver haired man walked right in and sat down it his arms folded impatiently, "can I help you?"
"No, I came to see him," there was a thumb rudely pointed over in Kenshin's direction, "you must be Katsura."
"He is, and you need to learn a little restraint," the red head chastised the silver haired man, "you are blending in better, but your manners are worse than Izukai's still. You'd think with running the Western Lands you behavior might have improved…" Katsura was watching the two of them interact carefully, he wasn't sure what to make of this newcomer to his room.
"She only said responsibility, not my manners. You got saddled with compassion and everything else remember?" the silver haired man reminded him, "so the little toad said you had something to ask me about?"
"Yes, I did, is it true that the Western Lands is backing my decision to work with the Choshu?" the red head questioned, "and if so, why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"It didn't seem important at the time bozu, but yes," the silver haired man responded, "we are supporting Choshu's actions discretely from the Youkai side. That's why there aren't many full blooded Youkai in Kyoto at present. I think there's you and a couple of Koga's clan with the Shinsengumi."
"Wait… what?" Katsura looked back and forth between the two of them, "he's not a Youkai." Kenshin sighed, and the silver haired man laughed.
"Actually… I am, well sort of. It's part of the story of why I have Tenseiga and Tokijin," the red head conceded, "I can't control or use any of the Youkai abilities right now so it's a moot point to bring up. The more important part is that yes, we do have the support of the Western Lands and InuYasha right now."
"So why are you talking to a Wolf of Mibu about me?" Katsura decided to skip onto. The silver haired man lounged where he was at and the red head looked at him with annoyance.
"The wolf hanyou was implying that it would not be safe for you to attend meetings that Miyabe is at," Kenshin passed on, "is there a way you could loan me someone to guard Katsura when I'm not around InuYasha?"
"Why not just assign Jaken?" the silver haired man complained, "I have enough staff issues with your resquests."
"Sesshomaru said that you owed me one, consider it paid if you could spare someone," Kenshin bartered, "I would feel a lot more at ease knowing that a Youkai was watching over him in addition to his regular guards."
"Obviously I can't watch him, I could see if Koga's got someone he would recommend, otherwise I might send Kurosawa san," InuYasha thought aloud, "on second thought I will send both Kurosawas. They should be more than enough."
"Don't I get any say in this manner?" Katsura asked watching the two of them bicker about it for the moment.
"Kurosawa? He'd be perfect, but you said something about both?" Kenshin's eyebrow was halfway up his forehead.
"Jin and his twin Kuri, they are too much like Sesshomaru for my liking…" InuYasha replied after a moment, "too cold, and they don't get along well with others."
"Sounds good, tomorrow?" InuYasha nodded, and stood up, "you should get back soon if that's the case. Safe travels idiot."
"I will bozu," the silver haired half demon nodded, "later Katsura." With a twitch more of his ears the peculiar man was off. Leaving Katsura alone with Kenshin once more.
"Do you trust him? And do you know of these 'Kurosawa' twins he is referring to?" Katsura was uneasy about this whole thing.
"InuYasha? I have no reason not to, he is acting under his own judgment, and he appeared to like you as well. That is beneficial should we require help," Kenshin answered easily, "he is a rather simple individual, his elder brother however is another story. Sesshomaru is… was a cold hearted InuDaiyoukai sentenced to learn compassion."
"Why would anyone force a demon lord to learn compassion?" Katsura asked, sure that this one demon had everything to do with whatever his red headed assassin was telling him.
"I am unsure, but in order to learn this lesson he decided to live among humankind. Sesshomaru saved my life as a small child, I am unaware of all of the details of how, but his power and soul now reside within my body. They have since I was born," Kenshin explained, "this is the secret I have kept from you, I suppose you can understand why?"
Katsura sat there dumbfounded, his great assassin was actually an InuDaiyoukai possessed child? That certainly explained why the child was so strong and why he was hanging around with a wolf hanyou. It also explained why the young red head was so… exotic looking.
"Katsura?" the red head was looking at him with that innocent confused look, "are you okay Katsura?" He took a step forward, and Katsura was hypnotized by the young man's amethyst eyes. He found himself unable to move, almost unable to breathe. A gentle hand pressed against his forehead as those eyes watched him in concern.
"I… I don't know," Katsura pulled his head back from Kenshin's hand, he couldn't pull his thoughts away from the boy in front of him, "I… I… I think you should go." The Choshu leader couldn't understand what was going on, he'd never been so unable to control himself. Kenshin's eyes widened, he took several steps back looking at the sword he had called 'Tenseiga' then back to Katsura.
"What's wrong with you?" the red head asked still confused. Amber flashed through those amethyst eyes that were locked on him, it sent a shiver down his spine. His shiver made the amber reappear, it also made some strange facial markings across Kenshin's cheeks and forehead, completely backing Kenshin's story. This time the amber didn't leave those orbs.
"You seem to be at a loss for words," this amber eyed version of the red head, "and a loss of breath. Himura's concern for you was great enough for him to call me out when I told him I would kill everything, but there is nothing threatening our life, so why would he call on me now?" Katsura felt the air catch in his lungs, his heart beat too fast, and the fear made his mouth go dry. What had Kenshin just released on all of them?
"I… do not know," Katsura whispered, "what are you going to do? If you told Kenshin that you would kill everything, what will you do to me?" The red head's face had gone unreadable, it was terrifying for Katsura, especially when this demon leaning down just in front of his feet.
"Ah, but I do. Which I suppose is everything," the Daiyoukai responded with an uninterested voice, "Kenshin, he truly believes that humanity, which he has never belonged to, is worth saving. He wants me to mark you as pack I suspect, which is to protect you from me. InuYasha has been by, I can smell his presence, which means he approved whether or not he realizes it." The Daiyoukai smirked, and Katsura felt like his blood was freezing in his veins.
"Why would he… you need to do that?" Katsura's voice was still shaky, and it seemed to amuse the Daiyoukai further.
"It would mean that he thinks the area is about to get dangerous, or perhaps he just thinks it is better to be safe than sorry. I will mark you if I see the need to so," the Daiyoukai whispered into Katsura's ear, "in the meantime, you will be working with me. I will take Himura's assignments, but you will bring them yourself. Leave them here, with the scent of white plums, I will get them. Do you understand?"
"Yes… What about the rest of our clan, the Choshu?" Katsura questioned, "InuYasha is sending two more… to protect me at Kenshin's request. The Kurosawa twins?" The Daiyoukai tilted his head and brought a hand to his chin.
"That is why he wants you marked, that way you are also protected from them. Kenshin has a far better understanding of Youkai than I give his human loving mind credit for," the Daiyoukai flexed Himura's hands, from his nails became deadly claws that emitted a mortifying green color.
"What the hell do you think you are doing in here Himura?" Kategai looked at the two of them, then at the claws, "what the hell are you?"
SESSHOMARU PoV
Sesshomaru looked at the newcomer with slight interest, what interesting people little Himura worked with. He stepped between the new man and Katsura, he did not know much about Kenshin's situation right now. He was beginning to regret his choice not to be involved.
"Kategai," Katsura stood up and placed a hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder hesitantly, "this is not what it looks like." Sesshomaru watched as Katsura, who was currently drowning in hormones of all sorts, tried to diffuse the situation that he thought was appearing. Kategai was frowning spectacularly, and Sesshomaru retracted his claws after spotting Tenseiga and another set of swords that smelled like Sesshomaru/Kenshin's scent.
"Katsura, he is not allowed in your room, especially not after dark and certainly not alone," Kategai tried to lock eyes with Sesshomaru, but Katsura moved directly between the two of them.
"I called Himura in, I wanted to speak privately with him," Katsura moved his hand from on Sesshomaru's shoulder to a possessive posture, wrapping it past his neck to his other shoulder, "I am allowed to call my operatives in on my own, aren't I?" His pitch dropped, and Sesshomaru felt Himura's pheromones respond to Katsura's hormones. Sesshomaru leaned in against Katsura, marking the man with his actual sent rather than just Himura's restrained scent. The first step in marking the human, and Katsura was responding to those pheromones by pulling him closer.
"Katsura, this is highly irregular," Kategai started to argue, and Sesshomaru realized that Katsura didn't want him to kill the other man or capture him in the same way that he had been.
"Himura isn't going to hurt me, are you?" Katsura's voice dropped to address him. Sesshomaru was too curious to argue at present, but that didn't mean he was going to make Katsura's job easy for him, "he's not even wearing his swords Kategai."
"He's a demon sir, that makes him a threat," the other man ground out drawing his sword. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow before pulling Katsura's arm off his person, he called Tokijin and the sword jumped to his hand.
"Kategai, he's a Daiyoukai," Katsura responded still trying to keep Kategai alive. Sesshomaru was about ready to end this foolishness himself, despite Katsura's assurances that they were both to remain alive.
"Himura's a what?" the man responded.
"You are speaking to Sesshomaru sama, Lord of the Western Lands," Jaken interrupted as he reappeared, "are you okay Sesshomaru sama?" Sesshomaru frowned, he hadn't called Jaken, why was the little toad doing here now?
"Jaken," Sesshomaru acknowledged, then placed the Tokijin in his belt, "escort this man out. Is InuYasha sending the Kurosawa twins like Katsura said?"
"Yes they are my lord. What should I do with him my lord?" Jaken asked looking over at Kategai. Sesshomaru wondered what his former Lieutenant would think of the Choshu men.
"Keep him alive and relatively unharmed," Sesshomaru's could see Katsura shiver at his voice again, "I have business with this one. It has to be finished before those two arrive."
"Kategai," Katsura made a pleading expression, "I'll be fine." Kategai, realizing he probably had no choice, exited with Jaken who would keep any other would be interrupters away. Sesshomaru watched as Katsura started to shake and fall to his knees under the pressures of his own hormones, particularly lust.
"Your level of self control is amusing, but no longer necessary," Sesshomaru whispered, breathing lightly on the man's neck as he did so, "this will hurt you. It will however protect you from the twins, you'll be out for several days, so you might want to write out some instructions to your friend so he doesn't do something stupid."
"What are you going to do?" Katsura asked moving towards where he kept his writing tools. Sesshomaru showed his fangs in a world ending smirk, and sent out some calming pheromones which allowed the other man to relax a little. Sesshomaru watched as he wrote a letter several pages long. "Can I give this to Kategai? That way he knows it was my choice, and that way he listens to my instructions." As he turned Sesshomaru sunk his fangs fully into his neck, Katsura froze at the feeling.
He licked as he removed his fangs from the man's neck to help delude the poison, and was surprised to see the other man's eyes cloud over with lust rather than fear. Sesshomaru was so amused by this man that he thought about giving him a second dose, but it would probably kill the man to do so right now.
"You have a little over twenty minutes," Sesshomaru explained, "the poison from my system won't kill you, but it will render you unconscious while you recover. No demon in the right mind will come after you, especially with my scent drifting off you now. I will keep an eye over you until the Kurosawa twins get here."
~A week later~
"What did you do to Katsura? He smells funny," Saitou asked sitting on the roof top next to Sesshomaru, "you aren't Himura right now are you?"
"I'm surprised a half breed like you noticed," Sesshomaru responded, "but yes, Himura's taken a back seat for the moment. He had me mark Katsura as pack."
"Ah, that explains the overbearing smell of dog in this town right now. Who are the two new guys following him around?" Saitou asked, "I've encountered the woman occasionally, she seems to be checking over the whole town inch by inch."
"My Lieutenants the Kurosawas, they are Katsura's new bodyguards. Jin could take out the Shinsengumi on his own with no difficulty, so he's rather bored," Sesshomaru answered looking over the dark streets, Saitou happened to be hiding next to Sesshomaru on his mortal night.
"I'm surprised you met me up here tonight," Saitou answered, "your reputation with your brother is not very comforting for most half demons. What has changed?"
"That is none of your concern," Sesshomaru answered, "get inside, there's a foul chi in the area. Now." He jumped down silently, he had worn Himura's hair down since that night. The swooshing it made as he walked was irritating. He walked down the alleyway silent as death, his eyes seeing everything despite the lack of light. Then his nose caught onto the scent of white plums, he also could smell something dark and foul.
"Show yourself your filthy dog," someone called, Sesshomaru looked around, keeping his chi tightly masked. He was at a slight disadvantage since he was restricted to Himura's swords instead of Bakusaiga and Tokijin. "WHERE ARE YOU?" Sesshomaru stepped into deeper shadows and watched an assassin wander past unknowingly.
"Here," Sesshomaru announces from a reasonable distance back, "assuming that you meant me." The assassin turned to look at him, when he still couldn't see him Sesshomaru smirked. The man drew his swords, which a chain like the one on Kohaku's kasarigama connecting them.
"You will die," the man announced. Sesshomaru stood still, wondering just what this idiot wanted with him. He just wanted to, nope… he was just going to slice him in half. Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles, and brought his fingers together to form his whip.
"Unlikely," Sesshomaru retorted. The assassin launched himself forward and Sesshomaru sent the whip of light forward. He delicately flicked his wrist, the assassin that had foolishly attacked Sesshomaru was reduced to little more than blood in a few quick strokes. He dispelled his whip and was treated to the sight of a blood soaked woman in a white kimono. The same woman that had been walking around with the scent of the white plum for the last month or so…
"You… you make the rain bleed," she stated looking at him blankly. Sesshomaru tilted his head and watched as she toppled into the blood with no warning. It was then that Kenshin started to stir again, causing Sesshomaru a little irritation. He wasn't ready to give Himura back his control yet, he was quite enjoying the bloodbath requests of Katsura. Well, more like his men's assignments since Katsura had been out cold until this morning.
"Saitou," the Daiyoukai called, soon enough the wolf hanyou appeared. It took a little longer than usual since his night vision was gone for the night.
"What is it, oh… quite a pretty one you've found there," Saitou said looking over the woman lying in the puddle blood left by the failed assassination attempt. "What are you going to do with her?"
"Himura seems to be interested in her," Sesshomaru responded. He wasn't interested in carrying the woman back to the hotel.
"So take her with you, get her cleaned up and find something for her to do while you use Himura," the wolf hanyou remarks, "she certainly smells pleasant. Wonder what she was doing here…"
"I don't know, I'll have Kuri clean her up then," Sesshomaru looked at Saitou with an impassive look, "you are going to carry her." The wolf hanyou didn't bother to argue, he carried the woman as deep into the InuDaiyoukai's territory in Kyoto as he dared. Sesshomaru dismissed him as they came into view of the Choshu motel housing the newly recovered Katsura and the Kurosawa twins, Kuri was already outside waiting for him.
"Who is that?" the female youkai questioned, referring only to the blood soaked female rather than the wolf hanyou who was retreating, "what do you want done with her?"
"Clean her up, have her join the hotel staff, keep an eye on her," Sesshomaru instructed, "when did Katsura awaken?" He assumed that was why she was outside waiting in the first place.
"10 minutes ago, he was asking for you. Izukai seems to be getting uneasy," she replied, "I don't know if it's the lack of bodies combined with the amount of blood or if it is Jin's constant presence."
"Probably both, your brother has a knack for disturbing anything less than a Daiyoukai," Sesshomaru answered with his version of a chuckle. Kuri nodded with her own version of a smirk, she slung the unconscious girl over her shoulder with little effort.
"Do you want her dropped off in your quarters later?" she asked as he walked in through the main gates, "my Lord?" Sesshomaru could see Katsura standing at the koi pond waiting for him with an extreme look of displeasure.
"Take care of it, it appears someone wants a word," Sesshomaru dismissed her with a nod of his head. He almost glided over to the koi pond where Katsura was waiting, Jin's scent was everywhere, meaning Katsura had asked the man to clear the area.
"You poisoned me, intentionally," Katsura growled, he certainly sounded irritated.
"I warned you," Sesshomaru looked over the man, "you recovered well enough. You belong to the Western Lands clan now, you do well to remember that."
"Does it change anything I need to know about?" Katsura asked him with a weary expression, "when will you release your hold on Himura?"
"I will release Himura when I want, this is my body, not his," the Daiyoukai growled, "I was told to show compassion, I saved Himura. I saved his friend 8 years later, and now I have saved someone else for him. He isn't complaining, and I am still doing his assassinations. I will relinquish control when Kenshin is no longer expected to kill for you."
"That isn't what you told him is it?" Katsura responded, "he's a human boy underneath all your power, he needs to grow like one and learn restraint like a normal human boy." The InuDaiyoukai resisted the urge to laugh, Kenshin was inwardly shaking his head at the Choshu leader.
"I assume you have more than that to say, otherwise you would have waited," Sesshomaru questioned. Katsura flicked some fish food out into the pond wearily, and Sesshomaru watched the way he hesitated, "what is wrong, you are more… disconcerted than when you were marked."
"Izukai is concerned about the rumors penetrating the town, ones that Kategai also shares. While I may not have been awake they did leave an incredible amount of letters that your 'friends' took the liberty of informing of," Katsura's voice, "I have only glimpsed the male one, but Kuri is certainly a piece of work from what I've seen."
"Kuri and Jin are my Lieutenants, you can trust them to practice some discretion. Jin can assist you should you require any tactical suggestions, he beyond overqualified to be your bodyguard Katsura kun," the InuDaiyoukai pointed out, "I'm far more interested in your disturbing rumors." Katsura didn't even bat an eye at the vocal demotion from Sesshomaru.
"Izukai's comment is he would like to actually be able to see who they are labeling as a 'message' for our enemies. Kategai is more unsettled about the random puddles of blood that aren't from your assignments," Katsura explained turning to him, "not to mention the fact that you poisoned me. He doesn't trust you, and he thinks you're going to kill all of us."
"If I wanted you dead we wouldn't be talking," Sesshomaru responded with a snort of amusement, "you can come out now Kategai, your heartbeat is loud enough to wake the dead."
"Why did you poison Katsura?" the man asked coming up to face him.
KATSURA PoV
Katsura watched in horror as Kategai invaded Sesshomaru's space, the damned fool was trying to get himself killed if he didn't watch it. Kuri had laughed as Katsura described Sesshomaru's first reaction to his overly vocal advisor, then she told him Sesshomaru holding any type of sword usually was deadly. He pushed himself between the two of them once again, knowing that Sesshomaru wouldn't kill him for pulling him back. Surprisingly the Daiyoukai moved willingly back at the slight effort on Katsura's face.
"Kategai please," Katsura turned and held his arms out, "you are going to get yourself killed over this."
"The poison was deluded with the intention that Katsura live through it," Sesshomaru explained locking eyes with Kategai over Katsura's shoulder, "it was Himura's request. He wanted Katsura kun protected from other Youkai, more specifically me if I went off the handle." Katsura was surprised that Sesshomaru was even answering.
"Why would Himura think he would need protection from you?" Kategai asked. Katsura had learned from Kuri that Kenshin's concerns were rather obvious. The Daiyoukai Sesshomaru left a city wide path of destruction wherever he went, especially when he was in a bad mood. Kenshin had him marked so Sesshomaru would remember not to level Kyoto in a fit of rage.
"The Bozu didn't want him to level Kyoto, that was an obvious reason," Jin's gravelly tone announced bored, "do you require anything more of me tonight Sesshomaru sama?" Katsura could just make out the Youkai's form sitting on the nearby roof.
"Katsura mentioned that you were concerned about the blood trails that you are assuming are from me," Sesshomaru questioned walking ever so slightly to the side of Katsura, "just how many people have gone missing that you would blame on me?"
"Dozens, but not all of them leave the same massive puddles of blood you do. Most of them don't, it's like the bodies were absconded with," Kategai answered curtly, "it wasn't your two new buddies you have watching over Katsura?" It was the snort from Jin that clued him in that his advisor was so far off, he glanced over his shoulder to look at Sesshomaru who had placed a hand on his chin as he was in mid thought.
"Hardly, Kuri and I don't leave a trail like Sesshomaru sama. He doesn't believe in discretion at times, he wouldn't know tact if it hit him square in the face either. No, this is someone else's work," the blond youkai responded with slight amusement, "I'll look into it none the less, it could prove entertaining."
"No," Sesshomaru responded, "let me check with the wolf first, he might know what's going on. I doubt this is anything more than a quiet plot to cause unrest for the humans."
"As you wish my Lord," Jin bowed deeply and took his leave. Sesshomaru removed his hand from his chin and started to walk away.
"We aren't finished here yet," Kategai spoke pointing at Sesshomaru's retreating form.
"No, we are not, stay here. I need more information, Jin will be watching the hotel, he'll handle anything messy that comes up," Sesshomaru explained, "I don't like this development. It has the marks of something troublesome, like that damned annoying half breed. It might also accelerate your old associate Miyabe's plans to quickly for that moron to control. I will be back in a few hours with more details." Katsura watched as Himura's possessed form disappeared in a flash.
"What does that thing want with you?" Kategai asked Katsura, "first he poisons you, then he threatens us, now he's off doing kami sama knows what." Katsura motioned for Kategai to follow him inside for more privacy.
"He would have killed you," Katsura informed him, "one of these times Sesshomaru is going to kill you and I won't be there to put myself in-between the two of you. Himura has given me the ability to stand up to Sesshomaru by having me marked. We do not have the luxury of asking him to do the same for you. We need to play our cards right or I'll be the only one left standing." Kategai was uncomfortably silent for several minutes, and Katsura never suspected the next question out of his mouth.
"Are you sleeping with it?" Kategai asked cornering him in his room. Katsura would have laughed if he wasn't sure that Jin and probably Kuri hadn't heard that as well. Instead he opted for a snicker, and then heard a tapping at the doorway. He opened the door to reveal a very scandalized looking Kuri.
"First of all Lord Sesshomaru is a he, not an it. Second of all he doesn't sleep—" the she demon said shaking her finger. Katsura watched bemused as his favorite advisor was given a full dressing down.
CrimsonChoucho: I suppose its a good thing I have even a margin of restraint otherwise I would have had Katsura and Sesshomaru/Kenshin sleeping together. Which you have no idea how tempting that was, but I resisted! Anyways you will find that everyone seems to think that they are as result of my corrupt mind.