Ok. To start I want to thank everyone for reviewing the last chapter. You can tell me anything you wish to in a review so don't hesitate. Special thank you to byakugan-master93 for his continued service to my writing, Kaihaku No Iroke for her kind words, and to Vicky for her impression of Healo. Secondly, this is a little off topic, but I thought that most people wouldn't get this. Healo is not pronounced heal-oh, it is He-Ah-Low. It has an invisible "H". SO in this chapter I want to continue hinting about one of the other puns for the title. It's going to get very messy soon. Review.
CHAPTER XIII
THE INNOCENCE OF A CHILD
Kagome was quiet as Sesshomaru told them sternly ", Remember. To tell anyone of what we have discussed here would be high treason." His face became colder as he continued ", Unlike my softer brothers I would not hesitate to destroy any of you for such an offense." The miko saw that Inuyasha's eyes filled with defiance, but most of the others squirmed uncomfortably. However, she was surprised to find that Healo, far from being cowed, was contemplating his half-brother with a small smile. 'That may be fine for him but I know I don't want to tick him off,' she thought with a grimace.
The Lord of the North sighed and said ", I suppose that it will take some time to prepare our ship." Sesshomaru answered calmly ", At least a few days. I have no desire to make our objective obvious." Magus asked cautiously ", Who will we leave in command of the city? We will need someone who can assure the people that nothing is amiss, should our journey become known." Healo smiled and said ", That is very true. If you don't mind, Sesshomaru, I have a candidate to suggest."
The Western Lord blinked but responded calmly ", Indeed. Who?" Healo answered in a casual voice ", Riath, he is the Captain of the guard. He should be able to handle the situation if assisted by Jaken." Kagome shuddered at the memory of the toad-like demon. Sesshomaru however, took no notice of her disgust, though she thought she saw Healo's mouth quirk, but replied with a nod ", That is acceptable. I will inform him of his duties before we leave."
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and continued ", For now that is all. I will have my servants show you to your rooms." His golden orbs caught Kagome and stayed there for a moment as the room waited in silence. He suddenly got up gracefully and left the room. For a moment the others sat there, but Healo also stood and said kindly ", Come. You have traveled a great distance and you will now see the hospitality of the West." He smirked slightly as he paused before finishing ", Which, luckily for you, is better than that of its lord." Kagome gave a small laugh and even Inuyasha grinned as they followed their make-shift guide out of the room. 'I wonder what's wrong with Sesshomaru,' thought the miko.
The miko was brought out of her thoughts when she was surprised to find four servants waiting for them in the hallway. She was glad to see that they were all human and that they did not seem openly hostile to her or her friends. Healo noticed the servants and said calmly ", No. That will not be necessary. I will show our guests to their quarters." They stared at the demon lord for a moment but then bowed and left without a word. He turned to the group, said ", Follow me," and began walking gracefully towards their destination.
There was silence for a few moments as the group absorbed some of the splendor of the palace. Kagome recognized several types of demons in painting that they passed through the hall. She asked softly ", What area of the palace are we staying in?" The demon lord kept walking as he spoke ", The Eastern Wing of the palace is used for storage, the Southern Wing is reserved for Magus and any of his guests, the Western Wing is occupied by Sesshomaru, and you will stay in the Northern Wing where the children and I stay."
Inuyasha spoke up suddenly ", So does my brother make you take care of that little girl who's always tagging after him." Kagome didn't even glance at the hanyou as she said ", Sit." Healo paused at the accompanying thump and turned to find Inuyasha rising from the floor. The young girl realized too late what a noise that action had made, but she was relieved to find that when she turned to the demon lord that he was grinning. "Be glad that he didn't damage the floor," he managed with such solemnity that the whole group, except for Inuyasha, burst into laughter."
He found far less humor in the situation as his ears flattened and he muttered ", Stupid wench." Healo regarded his brother before saying ", You should be careful Inuyasha. As far as I know Lady Kagome has done nothing to earn such disrespect. This applies for the child, Rin, as well. Try not to be disrespectful while you are here. If Sesshomaru kills you all my compromising would come to nothing." The hanyou muttered something but then nodded in assent to his elder's suggestion.
However, the demon lord had already continued his walking and he said nothing else until they arrived in the Northern Wing. As soon as they entered the hall Healo stopped and pointed a finger at first the door on the left and then the other on the right. "Miroku, you will stay here, Sango, you will stay in this room." Both bowed to the demon but when they stood Miroku's eyes gleamed as he said ", Sango, perhaps you would honor me by--." He was interrupted by the broad side of the slayers weapon.
Sango sighed as she rubbed her head and said ", I don't think he'll ever learn." Kagome decided to tease her friend ", We all know that you wouldn't have it any other way." The demon slayer began to retort when she was interrupted by Healo ", Lady Sango, since you did the damage would you kindly place the monk in his room?" Sango sighed in frustration before grasping the delusional monk by the arms and dragging him through the door that Inuyasha opened for her.
When Healo spoke again he said ", Inuyasha the next door on the left is yours." The hanyou nodded and turned to go back out of the hall but he was interrupted by his brother ", Inuyasha you must rest yourself while you may. Who knows what we may encounter or how long it will take?" The hanyou slumped slightly and began to head towards his room. Kagome yawned and asked ", So where's my room?" The demon lord smiled and said ", You and the kit will both stay in the room beside Lady Rin." Kagome smiled as she nodded. She loved the little girl, I mean who could really resist.her?
Healo laughed and when the miko stared at him he merely shook his head and began walking further down the hall. Only a little distance farther and they stopped in front of a large wooden door. The demon lord knocked and the door was opened by a harmless looking elderly woman. She smiled at her master and said ", My lord the children have been very well behaved today." He nodded and asked ", All has been well then?" The woman's eyes sparkled as she replied ", Yes they have gotten along the whole time." Healo smiled and said ", Very well, Adiana. You may go to your quarters." She curtsied and replied ", Yes my lord."
Adiana smiled at Kagome as she passed. 'What a nice old lady,' the miko thought with a bemused expression. She heard ", Indeed. She has served Sesshomaru for many years." Surprised Kagome glanced at Healo who was wore a too innocent expression. "Is something the matter Lady Kagome," he asked curiously enough but the miko saw the twitch at the edge of his mouth and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Healo," she began in a quiet tone but she was interrupted by something hitting her legs and the words ", Kagome!"
She was not surprised to find a kitsune at her feet. He gave a childlike smile as he said ", Where have you been Kagome. I was starting to worry that you all had left me." Kagome laughed as she shook her head and said ", How could you think anything like that? We just had to talk to Inuyasha's brothers." Shippo's eyes widened as he turned and said ", You didn't tell me that you were Sesshomaru's nephew." Kagome looked up and found that Rin and Sulam were both standing in the room.
Sulam sighed as he responded ", You never asked. Besides why does that matter?" Shippo blanched but said ", I guess it doesn't." Healo turned to his son and said ", I hope that you have been treating our guest well." Sulam smiled at his father and replied ", Of course. We were just listening to his stories about all of his adventures." Kagome's eyes lightened as she watched the kitsune straighten before Rin said ", And about all the demons he's defeated."
The miko held in her laugh but asked ", Ya! Shippo why don't you tell us about some of them?" The other two children looked expectantly to the young demon who merely tensed and said ", Well…there was the time…wait, that was Inuyasha. Well, what about…no that turned out to be a lizard." He was rescued by Rin's outburst of ", Sulam also showed us some fighting techniques."
Healo was silent for a moment before addressing his son ", Is this true." Sulam hesitated before lowering his head and saying ", It is." The demon lord was quiet as he took a quick scan of the room and pronounced ", Well, they mustn't have been very good ones. Nothing has been broken." All the children giggled as Healo smiled admitting his joke. Kagome also smiled softly and thought ', He has such a way with people, even children. I wonder how he does it. I can't seem to understand anyone.'
The demon lord turned to regard the children and said ", I am afraid that it is time for all of you to go to bed. Sulam, I will see in the morning for your lessons, Rin, you may choose your own activities for tomorrow." She smiled sweetly as she turned to Kagome and asked ", Will you go with me to pick flowers?" The miko smiled and replied ", Sure, but you must wait till tomorrow." Healo nodded as he signaled to Kagome and the Shippo who obediently followed him.
He eventually stopped, opened a lavish door, and said ", Lady Kagome, young Shippo, I hope you have a restful evening." They both thanked him profusely and when he shut the door the young miko sighed and said ", Finally some peace Shippo." The kitsune twitched his tail before glancing evilly at his adopted mother and saying ", He acts really weird around you." Kagome stared at Shippo and asked ", What do you mean?" Shippo crossed his small arms and he grinned and said ", Well, he wasn't acting nearly as serious as Sulam says he usually does."
Kagome blinked before saying ", We're his guests Shippo, that's all. Some demons, even those related to Inuyasha, can be perfectly nice. I don't see why you're trying to see anything else in it." The kitsune rolled his eyes as he dropped the subject. Kagome could not so easily dismiss them as she though ', Could he be right about Healo?' She laughed at her own thoughts and prepared for bed.
Outside the door the fore mentioned demon stood at the door. He thought to himself ', I don't understand why Sesshomaru refused to give her a guard, but I suppose I'll have to do it. The shards are too important to be left unprotected.' He was intrigued by the miko's thoughts. 'The kitsune is overreacting. I am a kind being by nature.' Or at least that's what he convinced himself of as he stayed there until the sun finally rose again.
Alright another chapter done. For a while I will be going more in depth with some personal things between the brothers and their pasts, but it will give more hints as to what is going on. SO remember that reviews influence me. I will probably post again on Saturday then, depending on reviews Monday. Review.