Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.
Last time…
In furthering Sesshomaru's plans Kagome had traveled to the Exterminator Village. There she reveals the truth about herself to the village leaders, and proposes they ally themselves with Sesshomaru.
Elsewhere Inuyasha arrived at the palace, learning the new dangers of this new place. Meanwhile his mother has settled into the human palace.
Chapter 12: Sound of Winter
Sesshomaru watched as the cold flecks of frozen water fell from the sky. Humans made poems about the beauty of the lands covered in this substance. He could not find such things attractive. To him the only distinguishing factor of snow was that blood shone more brightly when splashed across it.
He turned to see Inuyasha struggled through the small drifts; they were crossing the plaza of the castle to the smaller building that concealed the steps to the Hunter's Den. There was another entrance within the castle proper, but that way passed near the Kennels and Inuyasha was unnerved by the Inuyokai Beasts.
They reached the small building just as the door was pushed open and three Hunters exited. Upon seeing Sesshomaru they all knelt with their heads bowed.
Sesshomaru growled, "Get up, I forbid you to kneel in the snow. Relay that to your brethren."
The Hunters didn't respond merely nodded and got back to their feet, but kept their heads bowed.
Sesshomaru moved past them to the open door, Inuyasha still struggling to keep up. One of the Hunters suddenly moved and caught the hanyo by the collar and lifted him from the snow. He then placed Inuyasha in the area cleared by the opened door.
None of this went unnoticed by Sesshomaru, who'd been ready to act the moment the Hunter had moved, but once his brother was safely on the ground Sesshomaru spoke, "That wasn't necessary."
The Hunter saluted Sesshomaru, "My apologies my lord, but it was." The Hunter powered up his yoki and swiped his claws towards the snow. Immediately a metal trap sprung and snapped closed, the trap was large most likely one used for catching larger yokai beasts.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened. Had Inuyasha tripped it the trap would have decapitated him. Without a word Sesshomaru fixed his face back to its normal indifference, "Have the servants clear the plaza of snow…assist them by clearing these traps."
The Hunters bowed again then went to complete their orders. Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha, "I believe we'll use the other route when we leave."
Inuyasha nodded as he glanced uneasily at the trap he'd very nearly tripped.
Several minutes later they entered the den, a cavern that was the lowest level of the castle and home to the Hunters. The hunters were scattered about the cave in the midst of various activities, some were cleaning fresh kills, and others were checking traps, while younger ones were stoking fires and changing the piles of dried grasses used as bedding.
A Hunter with an eye patch noticed them and approached, "Lord Sesshomaru, we did not expect you to come here."
Sesshomaru indicated Inuyasha, "I have duties to attend which prevents me from watching my brother. I intend to leave him here under your caste's guard. If anything happens to him I'll hold you personally responsible."
The Hunter chuckled, "We're not casteless my lord, you don't need to threaten us. We'll keep the whelp safe enough."
Sesshomaru gave a curt nod then turned to Inuyasha, "You will remain here I or father will come to get you later."
Inuyasha smiled at his elder brother, "Okay Sesshomaru."
With that Sesshomaru turned and departed the way he'd come. The Hunter watched the young noble depart then turned to Inuyasha, "So you're Inu no Taisho's youngest. Sho said you were half transformed, didn't believe him myself. I've seen plenty of hanyo who looked just about as close to their yokai kin."
Inuyasha was surprised, "You know Sho?"
The Hunter nodded, "Sure do, guess Gen never mentioned that his father's brother is still alive and kicking. Though I wasn't much of a pack member to him or Barraka, I'd already cut ties with my pack by the time they were born."
Inuyasha frowned, "You don't look older than Gen?"
The Hunter chuckled, "You're thinking like a human, we Inuyokai don't age like them remember. Though truthfully I'm only a couple centuries older than Gen, I was the youngest in my pack. Sho took after me though and became a Hunter, good kid, but hasn't stopped following his brother like a normal pup."
Elsewhere…
Sesshomaru walked the halls of the castle, searching for something. Ever since Koga had come to him with a warning about the clandestine meeting he'd overheard Sesshomaru had been trying to find the exact location. Inu no Taisho and Sesshomaru had agreed it best for Koga to return to his tribe while Inuyasha was around, so the wolf wasn't there to point him to the exact room.
Though in truth that mattered little as it was most likely the cub didn't even remember which room he'd been passing at the time. The warning in itself was the true prize, with that bit of information he'd had his pack on standby for the first attack. So far that first attack has been the only one, save for the recently set traps that Inuyasha had become aware of.
In the three months his brother had been at the castle six attempts had been made. During the first night the Fourth Phalanx Commander caught a casteless trying to sneak into Inuyasha's room. A couple days later Shin and the Second Phalanx Commander interceded when a group of rogue soldiers were plotting.
Stopping in his tracks he spotted movement down an adjacent hall. A group of individuals was gathered at the end of short hall that led to one of the war rooms. Sesshomaru turned to face the group, "What are you doing there?"
The individuals turned and all immediately bowed. Sesshomaru approached, quickly recognizing the group as the Phalanx Commanders as well as his own combat pack, and Ton's brother Shin. Sesshomaru's own second Shinji spoke, "My Lord, we were merely discussing the recent attacks. All the attackers had no obvious connections to their backers, but there has to be something."
Sesshomaru looked at the other Inuyokai, "You can add another attack. Someone laid traps in the plaza, had a group of Hunters not been departing their den then this attack would have succeeded."
The Phalanx Commander with braided hair stepped forward, "We can no longer afford letting chance save the pup. We must actively seek the conspirators."
Sesshomaru turned to the female, "I'm open to suggestions." A flash of foresight revealed this subordinate of his father had died alongside Gen in the old timeline, meaning she was another loyalist.
Shinji rubbed his chin, "Perhaps we could trick them into revealing themselves."
Shin glared, "We're Inuyokai, and trickery isn't really something we're good at. Heck Ton and I had to rely on a Tanuki and some Kitsune to punish Lady Izayoi's parents."
Sesshomaru turned to look at Shin, "Perhaps we'll take a page out of your book. Near the lands of the Thunder Yokai Tribe there should be a pair of Kitsune, bring them here."
Shin stepped back, "My Lord I can't…I can't leave the castle while Inuyasha is here."
Sesshomaru nodded, "Right…" He turned to Shinji, "Take Ton and go retrieve the Kitsune, if they know of any others bring them as well."
Shinji and Ton bowed and rushed down the hall.
Once they were gone Sesshomaru turned back to Shin, "Inuyasha is currently with the brother of your father's father in the Hunter's Den. Please stay with my brother until I or my father arrives."
Shin bowed then also departed.
Sesshomaru turned to the remainder of his combat pack, "Both of you will return to the Exterminator's Village, and return with a report from the miko. This time it had better be more than five words, am I understood."
They both gulped than practically flew down the hall.
Exterminator Village…
Kagome was helping a group of women with the evening meal when two shadows passed over the village. The exterminators tensed at the appearance of two Yokai, but relaxed when the miko waved at the pair.
The larger of the two transformed and landed in front of her, "Lady Kagome, our Alpha desires a report…a detailed report."
Kagome was contemplating how to respond when the Village headman and his sons walked up, "Lady Kagome is there a problem?"
The miko smiled at the men, "No, just Lord Sesshomaru again. Guess he wasn't thrilled with the 'I am fine Lord Sesshomaru' response last time."
The warriors nodded, and the smaller one growled, "We're not to return without a full report."
The Headman chuckled, "What's there to report? Your Miko has been exalting the virtues of your masters, and the merits of forming an alliance with your kind would bring."
The larger warrior grinned, "Thank you, that's all we needed." He turned to Kagome, "We'll be back."
Kagome watched the pair depart then turned to the Headman, "See they aren't so bad."
Laughing the Headman watched the two Inu fly off, "If you say so Miko, but weren't they quick to leave?"
After a moment Kagome sighed, "Well those two are kind of…well I almost purified them once."
The Headman stared at her in mild shock.
Lord Hirako's Castle…
Izayoi and Rain walked down one of the quiet corridors, until they were stopped by a man wearing the colors of the Emperor. The man knelt before Izayoi, "Milady, I was told you would be here." The man held out a scroll, "A message from the Emperor's son."
Growling Rain took the message, "Who let you up here?"
The man glanced at the yokai, "My badge of office allows me passage into every corner of any lesser lord's castle."
Izayoi placed a hand on the female Inu's shoulder, "Enough Rain, he means no harm."
The messenger glared at Izayoi's hand, telling the two women he didn't like the contact. Though, he was smart enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Pounding feet drew their attention to Inari and a dozen guards coming upon the scene.
The young man glared at the envoy, "My uncle ordered you to await my sister in the tea room, not to seek her out on your own."
The messenger sneered, "Afraid I would find out you harbored yokai, sorry but I can't believe you're not all under some spell."
"Abari, that is enough." The guards parted to reveal a man in armor stepping down the hall. Everyone except Rain bowed their heads. The human looked at the yokai, "You do not bow creature?"
Rain snarled, "I would bow if you were my lord, but you are a mere human. A speck of dust compared to one of my kind."
Smirking, the man nodded, "Lord Hirako told me as such." He turned to Izayoi's brother, "Inari please stand, I'm a guess in your uncle's home, not the other way around."
The messenger frowned, "My Prince, I did not expect you to arrive so soon."
The Prince frowned at the man, "Nor I expect you to abuse your badge of office, or insult Lady Izayoi's attendant with rude thoughts."
Abari bowed low, "My apologies my prince."
The Prince waved him off, "Leave, and apologize to Lord Hirako, I'll agree to whatever punishment he passes on you." Gulping Abari quickly scurried away, leaving the Prince to turn his attention on Izayoi, "It has been a long time Milady, would you accompany me on a tour of your Uncle's gardens…I'm told you are quite familiar with them."
Forrest beyond the castle…
Gen sat in a tree watching the road to the castle. He'd followed an envoy from the human ruler, and then spotted the procession of some noble. It had only been a few hours when the envoy exited the castle without his horse. A moment later an arrow with a scroll landed in the branch above him.
Looking to the wall he saw Lady Izayoi's youngest cousin standing with his bow. Looking back to the arrow he took the message, after reading the request he rolled his eyes and shredded the paper.
The envoy was just scurrying below the trees when a clawed hand reached down and caught him under the chin. His scream was cut short by an audible crack, and his body was quickly dragged into the branches.
End Chapter 12
A/N: Okay next chapter is a little time jump to get this story moving again.
