Twenty four hours earlier…
"No matter what happens, you must keep your wits about you. Don't succumb to fear, doubt or worry. The smart thief remains cool and collected at all times. The thief who lets his guard down is the thief who wakes up with a dagger in his back. Remember that, Zoku."
Dull blue eyes darted around feverishly as a dry tongue darted out to lick at cracked black lips. The ragged blanket-his sole disguise-was wrapped tightly around his body like it was a sacred talisman. When one of the unsuspecting humans passed by his hovel, he would tuck his muzzle against his chest, wrapping the blanket still more firmly around himself to disguise his less-than human appearance.
After two weeks of living in hiding, dreading what might lie around every corner and jumping at every little sound, Zoku had had about enough. Sure, he'd lived a cautious life before, but that was nothing compared to how life was now. At least then death hadn't been guaranteed. Worse still was the fact that the only way to really hide effectively was to hide amongst humans; dirty, smelly, horrible, selfish, monstrous humans. 'I'm trying to remain calm, Father…but I can't fucking take it anymore!'
Kami, he never should have taken that damn job, no matter how much gold those mother fucking cunts had offered him. He should have shoved his dagger into the lying lizard's thin chest and made a break for it then and there. Instead he was having to hide like a common human beggar, and all because of some stupid urn and Zoku's own greedy heart. 'Isn't that the reason I gave up being the White-Tail in the first place?' he asked himself sardonically. Then his ears drooped slightly beneath his flimsy hood. There was no doubt in his mind that his father would be ashamed to see his son cowering in a gutter because of a stupid mistake. 'Damn it all to Hell.'
Leaning back against the battered wall of the shelter, Zoku closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift away in a tide of fantasy. In his mind's eye, the mission had not been a set up and had paid handsomely. Gold flowed through his fingers like water, making his clothes less shabby and his hidey-holes higher quality. The faces of all those people-youkai and humans alike-who had scorned him slowly twisted in jealous admiration as they caught glimpses of the specter-like 'man' passing through their midst. Finally, he felt the hilt of a dagger press into his paw, brand new and eager to taste blood. Seconds later, the delusion had faded back into the recesses of his mind, leaving the thief in the same place as before; wrapped in rags and squatting in a hovel that was worth less than a pile of horse shit. 'Some life this is,' he snorted.
A sudden commotion in the surrounding village made Zoku's ear twitch. One eye cracked open as the tip of his black nose protruded from the blanket and started snuffling. Human, human, human, human, guh, all these fucking Kami-damned humans, human, human…ryū-youkai? Frowning, Zoku sniffed again, his muzzle wrinkling in slight disgust. Yes, there it was, like a rotting pig in the middle of a dung-filled field; the unforgettable stench of a ryū-youkai. There was something else there too…the pungent odor of a panther? 'Odd…far, far too odd for this backwater slum.' Gathering his blanket about him, he stole out of his hovel and dived into the shadows, following the scent trail to its source.
Several minutes later, the figure of a stooping giant came into view, his shoulders level with the tops of some of the lower buildings. Zoku kept to the shadows as he inched closer, one paw on his dagger just in case. He squinted at the giant's back, sniffing again. There was something familiar about him, if he could just put his finger on it…
The giant straightened, revealing broad, muscular shoulders barely concealed beneath a raggedy old tunic and arms that could crush boulders and level forests. His messy hair was such a dark hue of blue that it looked black in the half-light of the early evening. With a jolt, Zoku realized just who he was looking at. 'Fucking hell…if it ain't the beefcake prince of idiocy himself.' The thief's eyes narrowed, his teeth baring into a fierce snarl. Damn, this was the last thing he needed.
Wait a second…there was a woman next to him…a human woman. Kami, was there no low to which the stupid dragon would sink? Zoku scowled darkly, his paw tightening about his dagger. 'Stupid fucking lords with their stupid fucking laws and their stupid fucking obsessions with stupid fucking humans.' A murmur on the wind distracted Zoku from his dark thoughts. The idiot prince and his human companion were talking to each other. Hmm…
"…even know what we're doing right now," the woman was saying. The kitsune-youkai's nose wrinkled at the tone of her voice. Some might call it alluring; he would call it annoying. She sounded like the kind of bitch who lounged around complaining about everything in the world while those she considered beneath her did all the work she didn't. How he hated women like that.
"I like to get to know the people living in my realm," the princeling declared in a voice several times louder than was necessary. "When one aspires to be a strong ruler, one needs to know everybody in his kingdom." Just like the beefcake to start bragging about how strong he was. No need to check this out any more; this was probably just the idiot's new thing or something. Zoku had turned his back on the pair and was about to start walking away when the beefcake spoke up, though his voice had lowered somewhat. "Anyway, they might know something about that object you're looking for."
The thief jerked to a halt. The woman was looking for something? No, it couldn't be…it was just a coincidence, it had to be!
Aforementioned woman flinched and made a frantic slashing moment across her throat. "Shiranui, hush! I don't want anyone to know what I'm doing, okay? Well, except for you of course," she quickly amended.
"Why not? The more people you have to help you, the faster everything gets done, right?"
"Shiranui, I really appreciate your help, but humans can't help me with this." The woman's face was drawn up, as if this mission of hers was souring her insides. "I just want to get to the castle, all right?"
Hmm. A human woman on a mission to find an object that normal humans wouldn't know about was definitely something worth checking out…especially if that thing happened to be the urn that the kitsune-hanyou had stolen. 'If this is a fucking double cross…I won't rest until my dagger rests between that bastard's shoulder blades!'
With that final thought ringing in his mind like the tolling of a bell, Zoku started tailing Shiranui and his female companion, sticking to the shadows and keeping his blanket about his body. Come hell or high water, Zoku would make sure he was in the clear again, no matter what the cost.
As the thief started following the mismatched pair in front of him, he failed to notice a large raven perched on a nearby roof. The bird preened its feathers and fixed its beady eyes on the straggly trio before it. Then it opened its wings and took off, winging up into the open sky, pursuing the kitsune-hanyou as he sought after the miko.
After three hours of pointless meandering and chattering, it was very much a relief to get out of the village and proceed to the Northern castle. Shiranui said it was close enough for 'even a human' to walk to, so they went on foot, the ryū-youkai striding purposefully toward his home while the hyō-youkai followed him, toting the miko along on her back.
"Not far now," Shiranui kept saying. "We should reach my castle before dark falls completely."
"What a relief," Kagome sighed. She was tired; she had already been pretty tired when she discovered Shiranui in the forest, and the addition of traveling a further however many miles she had gone had taken most of her energy away. It was all she could do to not fall asleep as they meandered through the fields of Nippon.
"Ah! Here we are!" Shiranui's voice jerked Kagome out of a light doze, as did Yoru's abrupt stop. She blinked twice before squinting around suspiciously. There didn't seem to be any castle in sight, youkai or otherwise. She was about to ask Shiranui what kind of joke he was pulling when she felt something brush against the edge of her reiki. At the same time, Shiranui raised one hand and passed it over the air. A blue shimmer appeared in the place his hand touched, and seemed to push back against his huge fingers. "Barrier," he explained. "Keeps out unwanted humans and youkai. Only those who have been accepted by the house of the North can pass through it."
"Wow," Kagome breathed, watching as Shiranui drew his hand back. The shimmer faded as soon as his fingers left the barrier. "Is the Northern castle the only castle protected by a barrier?"
"Yeah," Shiranui admitted. "Then again, we're the only ones out in the open like this. East's deep within a mountain, West's on top of a mountain, and the South…well, they're located in the middle of the Land of Fire. They've all got natural barriers, so we needed our own. It works, though, and that's all that really matters."
'Interesting…I wonder why the Western castle doesn't have one? I mean, sure they're all the way on top of a mountain, but technically they're still in the open.' Then she remembered what Hattori had said about the incredible hubris of the guards, as well as how arrogant Sesshoumaru generally was. 'I guess they're just too proud to rely on that sort of thing.' Getting her mind back to the situation at hand, Kagome asked, "So…will it let me in?"
Shiranui turned to face her, his brilliant blue eyes shining brightly. "You are my friend," he thundered. "It will yield for you." With that, he turned back and strode through the barrier, the blue shimmer blazing around his gargantuan shape. When it faded, the ryū-youkai had vanished as completely and totally as if he had been plucked from the Earth.
Even though Shiranui had said that it was safe, Kagome still steeled herself before urging Yoru forward. As they neared the place where the barrier began, the miko squeezed her eyes shut, her body tensing still further. There was a small tingling sensation, like a tiny electric current was running rampant in the air around them. Then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over.
The first thing Kagome noticed was the sharp drop in the temperature. One moment, it had been a bit chilly, the next it was practically subzero. Upon opening her eyes, she discovered a vast expanse of snowy field under a sky the color of dull steel. Flakes of snow descended from on high, floating weightlessly down to the ground and settling down amidst the rest of their white brethren. Quite a few of these flakes landed upon Kagome, melting into her hair or her clothes. She shuddered and drew her jacket tighter around herself, trying desperately to ward off the cold.
"Absolutely fantastic, isn't it?" Shiranui was beaming around at the snowy wasteland as if it was the loveliest of paradises. "It just goes to show you, water appears in so many different and wondrous forms!"
"S-S-Sure," Kagome chattered, her teeth clicking together as she shivered. Yoru was trembling too, her fur speckled with melting snowflakes in a strange parody of the nighttime sky.
Shiranui noticed this, and frowned slightly. "Ah, how foolish of me to forget that many are not as strong as I. I suppose that, to you, this is quite cold."
'It's a little more than quite,' Kagome thought. She would have given voice to this complaint except that her teeth were chattering far too hard now.
"Let's not stand around nattering, then! To the castle!" Shiranui started running, his feet barely disturbing the deep snowdrifts as he powered his way toward his home. Kagome sighed softly before nudging Yoru forward. The hyo-youkai broke out into a run, plowing her way through the snow as she followed their ryu-youkai friend.
Mere moments later, Shiranui drew them to a halt once more. "Behold, friends: my home, the Northern castle!"
Kagome gasped, her chilled flesh and weary muscles momentarily forgotten. Standing before her was a wondrously beautiful castle. It was styled in the manner of a more European castle-except that it was made out of sparkling ice instead of stone or wood. It sat like a crown of icicles before them, glimmering despite the lack of sunlight.
"It's…so beautiful," Kagome whispered. The Western castle paled in comparison to this architectural wonder.
"That it is," Shiranui agreed. "Every day I thank the Kami for my home."
They stared at it for a few minutes, taking in the diamond-like spires and crystalline walls. Then Shiranui led them towards a gaping hole in the castle's front, presumably where the gate was located. Five minutes later, they were standing before a large wooden gate with two snarling dragons painted upon each door. "My father commissioned these when he was building this castle," Shiranui commented. "You won't find another set of doors like this anywhere; not in Nippon, not on the continent, not even in the rest of the world. They are absolutely unique." The miko did not reply, and soon Shiranui let the subject fade.
If Kagome thought that Shiranui was going to use his brute strength to open the door, she was mistaken. Instead, the ryū-youkai simply clicked his fingers, and, with a great creak, the doors slowly swung open. Far too astounded to comment on this stunning display of magic (or whatever) the panther followed after Shiranui, her rider almost completely overwhelmed now.
A magnificent courtyard spread out beyond the doors. The path crawling through its middle was paved with smooth white river rocks and edged with obsidian flagstones. Six translucent dragon statues flanked the main part of the path, three on each side and equidistant from each other. After the last pair of dragon statues the path split into three forks, one leading to the larger main castle, and the other two leading to smaller stone buildings.
Shiranui stopped when they reached the fork in the path. "I'm gonna have to ask you to dismount, Kagome," he stated sheepishly. "Yoru is not allowed to enter the castle…you know how it is."
"Okay." Kagome climbed down from Yoru as swiftly as she could manage. "I guess I'll lead her to the stables, then."
"No need." Shiranui let out a shrill whistle, startling Kagome and Yoru at the same time. Barely three seconds passed before a servant appeared, bowing low to the ground. "Lead this fine hyō-youkai to the stables, please," he requested. The servant nodded, then reached out and patted Yoru's muzzle. With a soft grunt, the panther followed after the servant, glancing back at Kagome with concerned green eyes.
"She'll be fine," he reassured when he saw the equally concerned look on Kagome's face. "The stables are warm and roomy, and we provide plenty of meat to our loyal friends."
"That's good," Kagome complimented. 'Much better than what she got back in the Western castle.'
"Now, would you like me to carry you?" Shiranui offered. "I know you are very tired, Kagome, and a small human such as yourself would be no hassle for a strong youkai like me to carry."
"Thank you, but I can manage, Shiranui." Privately she added that she could also manage without references to how strong he was. The ryū-youkai shrugged and moved forward, the miko tagging along as best she could.
The doors leading into the castle were also enchanted, and sprung open with a single click of their master's fingers, revealing a bright hallway. The vaulted ceiling seemed to stretch into infinity, and although the building seemed to be made of ice, it was actually quite warm and pleasant inside. The tall walls of the hallway were decorated with dragons; paintings of dragons, statues of dragons, dragon themed armor, and so on. The only artifact in the room that had nothing to do with dragons was a small painting near the entrance, which depicted a calm seascape.
"Do you like it?" Shiranui asked, holding his hands behind his back and shuffling his feet.
"It's…wow, I can't even think of any words to describe this," she whispered back.
Shiranui smiled in response. "I'm glad you like it. If you'd like, I can give you a tour, unless you want to rest first."
"Gomen, Shiranui, but I really need to sleep, and after that I don't think I'll have time to take a tour." Kagome started waving her hands in a placatory manner, as if her statement had been terribly rude. "Not that I don't want to see your castle, Shiranui, it's just that this business is really important."
"Don't apologize, Kagome. I understand." Shiranui clapped his great hands, and another servant appeared. This one wasn't as nondescript as the first one; for starters, he was clad in a faded purple happi with blue octagons stenciled on it, and darker blue hakama. His hair was mostly brown, though there were black stripes here and there all over his head. His eyes were dark brown, though they looked almost black because of the dark purple rings beneath his baggy eyelids. Overall, the servant seemed worn out and forlorn.
"What can I do for you, Shiranui-sama?" The youkai's voice was soft, so soft that Kagome might have missed it if she hadn't been paying attention.
"Hello Hisoka," Shiranui greeted. "You can take this young lady to one of our guestrooms, if you don't mind."
"It will be as Shiranui-sama wishes," he replied in that same soft voice. Shiranui nodded, then turned to Kagome.
"Kagome, this is Hisoka, my personal servant. He is tanuki-youkai, but I know for a fact that trickery is the last thing on Hisoka's mind at any given moment. He has been in my service for many years, and will be for many more." Shiranui smiled at the wan youkai, whose lips quirked slightly.
"Shiranui-sama exaggerates greatly, but I am glad that he views me in such a good light," he commented. "Now, follow me, Kagome-sama. I shall show you to your room." Hisoka whirled about and began striding off, his movements so precise and smooth that Kagome almost thought he might have been preprogrammed to perform them. Then, with a jolt, she realized that he was leading her to her room, and hastened to follow him.
"Good night, Kagome! I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow!" Shiranui's voice echoed in the great hall behind her, bouncing off the walls and reverberating in her head. Feeling a little dizzy, Kagome squeaked a reply that was quickly lost in translation.
"This way, Kagome-sama," Hisoka murmured, tugging gently on her sleeve. Kagome shook her head to get the last of the reverb out of her brain, then promptly resumed walking. Hisoka opened a small side door located in the wall, quickly striding down the much smaller hallway and turning a corner. Kagome sprinted to keep up with the tanuki, feeling her aching muscles protest with each action.
Just when Kagome had started feeling lost and confused, Hisoka drew to an abrupt halt. "We are here, Kagome-sama," he announced, his voice never rising above a whisper. He pointed to a richly decorated set of shoji doors, strangely out of place next to the glittering walls of ice. "If you need anything, clap twice or call my name. I shall come with all the speed I possess. Is there anything else you require?"
Kagome opened her mouth to say "No," but paused, remembering the scroll that Hattori had given her. "Yes, actually…could you take this for me?" Reaching into her bag, Kagome drew out the scroll and handed it to Hisoka. "If anyone asks why a human is here, just give this to them. It should explain everything."
Hisoka eyed the scroll curiously, turning it over in his hands as he examined it. "It shall be done, Kagome-sama." With a small bow, the tanuki excused himself and headed back the way he had come, vanishing quickly from Kagome's line of sight.
Upon opening the shoji door, Kagome discovered a rather modest guest room. Although it lacked the opulence of the Western castle's guestroom, Kagome found this one more pleasing, and not just because the youkai here seemed a bit more pleasant. Small candles were set in sconces along the crystalline walls, sending golden sparkles dancing about the room. A large futon lay in the room's exact center, looking very fluffy and quite inviting.
Disregarding the fact that she was still in her traveling clothes, Kagome let her backpack drop to the ground, de-shoed and quickly scuttled beneath the blanket of the futon. It was just as warm and inviting as it had looked, and the miko found herself dropping off to sleep almost immediately, her exhaustion giving way to peaceful slumber.
Kagome woke the next morning, feeling bright and alert. Thankful that she had slept dreamlessly that night, she yawned and stretched lazily, too warm and content to do much else. She had a big day ahead of her, but for now she was content to be phlegmatic. 'I don't remember the last time I slept that well…'
All too soon, however, the miko knew that it was foolish of her to stay in bed for this long and decided to get up. So, with another yawn, she pushed back the covers and stood up, her body languidly uncurling after her slumber. Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the sparkling wall opposite her, Kagome made a face. Her clothes were rumpled and dirty, so much so that it was a wonder anyone had treated her respectfully last night. Grimace still firmly in place, Kagome quickly stripped, throwing her soiled garments on the floor before rooting around for cleaner clothes. In the end she chose a light beige-colored sweater and jeans; much more suitable for the cold north than a skirt and blouse.
Satisfied with her appearance, Kagome decided to head out for breakfast. However, she was unsure of how to get to wherever breakfast might be. Finally, after a few minutes of pondering, she lifted her hands and clapped twice, feeling very foolish as she did so. Mere seconds later, the shoji door slid open and Hisoka entered, clad in a white happi embroidered with red flowers and matching hakama. "Yes, Kagome-sama?" he asked, his voice still soft.
"Um…I just got up, and I was wondering how I could get some breakfast." Kagome went bright red as she explained herself, but Hisoka neither laughed nor mocked her.
"If you will follow me, Kagome-sama, I shall show you to the dining hall." Without further delay Hisoka was off, turning smartly on his heel and striding out the door. Kagome scrambled to join him, nearly tripping over the doorjamb and her own two feet in the process.
They were quiet for a few minutes as they traversed the long and sparkling hallways of the Northern castle. Kagome glanced over at Hisoka from time to time, unable to contain her curiosity. He was nothing at all like Hachiemon, the goofy tanuki who 'served' Miroku. He took on the form of a man instead of a raccoon dog, and seemed about as magical as her left foot. Also, weren't tanuki supposed to be tricksters like kitsune?
"Excuse me," she finally squeaked. Hisoka turned toward her, one eyebrow raising over his tired brown eyes. "Um…you seem kind of…tame for a tanuki." She instantly chided herself on phrasing, mentally slapping herself and barely withholding a groan. 'Kami, Kagome, could you sound any ruder?'
Fortunately, Hisoka did not look insulted. A soft chuckle escaped him, hanging in the open air for a few seconds before dissipating. "Yes, I suppose that I am. My explanation for you is this: not all who live in the water are meant to swim." He left it at that, and Kagome decided not to press him.
'Not all who live in the water are meant to swim? What the heck does that even mean? I've never heard of a fish that couldn't-' Kagome paused in her line of thinking as a new idea dawned on her. 'No, all fish swim, but they don't make up the water's entire population. There's barnacles, crabs, plants and all sorts of other creatures that don't swim. Hmm…so what Hisoka was trying to say was that not everybody who is born in a certain world is expected to act in a certain way…I think.' It made sense, when Kagome thought about it a little more. The simple moral expanded into almost every situation she could apply it to: not every tanuki was a trickster, not every miko was inherently good, not every youkai was inherently evil…then her mind added an addendum: not every hanyou is overcome by the fate set in store for them.
"Did you make that up yourself, or did someone teach it to you?" Kagome asked without thinking.
"I taught it to myself, Kagome-sama," he replied before she could regret asking. "After spending a few centuries wondering why I didn't fit in with the others in my clan, it had to dawn on me sometime." He was silent for a few seconds before posing a question of his own: "Why are you so determined to talk to me, Kagome-sama? I am not the best of speaking companions."
"It's…um, well, it's just who I am, really," Kagome offered lamely. "I like trying to find out about people…try to understand them better so I don't accidentally hurt them by saying something stupid." That particular quality had been cultivated and perfected thanks to all the time she had spent with InuYasha. Instinctively she pushed the hanyou and all thoughts concerning him back into the corner of her mind. She already missed him, so there was no need to fuel the flames of that particular fire.
"Hmm…a good quality to have." A smile flickered over Hisoka's face, small and brief, but true as the morning sun. "Many people are not as willing to understand as you, Kagome-sama."
"Yeah," she agreed. She had seen plenty of that first hand, and known someone who had lived a terrible life because of it. Again she pushed those thoughts back into the corner of her mind. Thinking of you-know-who would get her nowhere. Instead she focused on Hisoka, who seemed to have withdrawn into himself again.
Before she could think of another question to ask him, he quietly announced, "We have arrived, Kagome-sama." Blinking in shock at the journey's abrupt end, Kagome focused on what Hisoka was standing in front of. An ornately carved set of double doors stood in front of her, looking for all the world like some craftsman had taken a chisel to an enormous diamond to create them. They were quite stunning, and the miko found herself staring at them a little longer than was necessary. By the time she snapped out of it, Hisoka was looking faintly amused.
"Sorry, I just…let's just go." Blushing furiously, Kagome strode forth and pushed the doors open.
The room that lay beyond the doors was huge, with a ceiling that was so tall even Shiranui's long arms couldn't reach it. Sparkling stalactites hung from the icy beams, making the miko slightly nervous as she looked at them. Torches were set in sconces along the walls, highlighting the many treasures decorating the hall. A multitude of round tables dotted the floor, while a gigantic ice throne overlooked the lot of them. There was a murmur of light banter in the air, though it died away as soon as Kagome opened the door. The miko blushed as dozens of eyes became fixated on her.
"Fear not," Hisoka muttered. "They will not harm you so long as you remain in Shiranui-sama's favor."
As if he had heard his servant use his name, Shiranui appeared, his large form blocking out the hall. "Kagome!" he cried, as if they were old friends who hadn't met in a few years. "I'm glad to see you up and about! How are you?"
"Fine, thanks." Kagome looked around, trying to locate a free table. "Um…where should I sit?"
"You will sit with me. You are my guest, and guests of the Northern castle will be treated with the respect and lavishness they deserve." He smiled down at her, and Kagome couldn't help but to smile back. Shiranui really was a nice person, even if he did tend to ramble on about how strong he was. She was glad that she was in his custody, at least for the time being.
Shiranui led her over to the largest table in the hall, which was right next to the stairs leading to the throne. He sat down, taking up quite a bit of the table space. "Sit down, Kagome…it's a lot warmer than it looks." Shiranui chuckled slightly at his joke, his guffaws more like crackling thunder than laughter.
"Okay. Would you like to sit with us, Hiso-" Kagome's sentence was cut off as she turned around, only to see that Hisoka had vanished. "Where'd Hisoka go?"
"I don't know. Hisoka's a little…introverted." Shiranui made a face and ran a hand through his hair. "He's been with us for five hundred years, yet he hasn't changed a bit. He's still just as reserved and quiet as he was when we found him."
"Too bad. He seems really smart and kind." Kagome sat down, doing her utmost not to invade Shiranui's space. The ryū-youkai didn't seem to mind, though, so she relaxed, folding her hands in her lap as she waited patiently for breakfast.
Minutes later, a plethora of servants entered the hall through unseen side doors, bearing large platters of food on their shoulders. Moving swiftly amongst the tables, they deposited the platters and left as swiftly as they had come. The largest dishes were placed before Shiranui, to no-one's surprise but Kagome's. "Hmm…not as much food as usual. I guess Father is concerned about my diet." Shiranui frowned slightly. "Doesn't he know that I work out a lot?"
"Maybe he thinks you don't work out enough," Kagome suggested, reaching for a grilled fish and taking a delicate bite out of it.
"Could be…the old man does tend to underestimate me a lot." Shiranui seemed upset by this, but shrugged and started digging into what looked like half of a roasted cow. Kagome quickly looked away, focusing on her own breakfast. 'Better not watch him eating unless I want to be sick.'
She had just finished her fish and started on a bowl of rice when Hisoka suddenly appeared at Shiranui's side. "Shiranui-sama," he intoned. The ryū-youkai put down his giant mug of water and leaned toward him, offering the tanuki one pointed ear. His servant proceeded to whisper to him, his already quiet voice dropping quickly to a level inaudible to the human senses. Whatever news Hisoka had must have been dire, for Shiranui's face tightened, his eyes flashing and his mouth thinning.
"I see." Shiranui rose, dusting off his tunic and running a hand through his hair again. Then he turned to Kagome. "Father wants to see you."
"What? Why?" Kagome dropped the bowl in shock, her heart thudding against her ribcage. Had she unknowingly committed some faux pas? Was something wrong? Maybe the Ryū-no-Taishou didn't approve of having humans in his palace, or-
"Hisoka said he was showing your letter to some of the nobles when my father ordered him to show him what all the fuss was about. He read it, and now he wants to talk to you." The giant youkai's eyes were tight with worry, though he tried to force a smile for Kagome's benefit. "I'm sure everything will be fine. Let's go." With that, he started walking away, Kagome hurrying to keep up with him.
"Shiranui…is there something between you and your father?" Kagome asked after a few minutes of walking.
Shiranui tensed slightly, his shoulders stiffening until they resembled round stones. "Why do you ask?"
"When you talk about him, you don't always sound too happy. Also, you just don't seem to be too eager to lead me to him." Kagome studied the big youkai, concern pulling her mouth down into a frown and furrowing her brow. "If you can, could you tell me what's wrong?"
The ryū-youkai sighed deeply, his tension abruptly abating. "It's a long story, so I'll try to keep it short. The old man's…aged a lot these past few decades. I mean, he was considered old four hundred years ago, but I guess his age is finally catching up with him." Shiranui looked up at the ceiling, his gaze melancholy and pensive. "You know, when he dies an era will have ended." When he caught Kagome's confused stare, he elaborated: "The Ryū-no-Taishou is the last of the original four lords left in Nippon. Most praise him on his longevity, but he thinks it's a curse."
"That can't be it. Getting old is a little sad, but it's not the end all divide."
"Very true. I wouldn't mind if he were just growing a little white of whisker. But it's his mind that makes him so…so…" Shiranui trailed off, unable to find a word to describe his father.
"Is he senile?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah. That's a good way to describe it. Half of the time he's in this…this land where only the dead exist and nobody else. And the other half…he's just gone." He blinked rapidly, and Kagome was shocked to see tears glimmering in his eyes. "He doesn't even recognize me anymore."
"I'm so sorry, Shiranui," she whispered, drawing to a halt with tears in her own eyes. "I didn't mean to-"
"It's all right," he interrupted. "I'll be fine. I'm a strong youkai, remember?" Shiranui smiled at her, but it was a weak, tremulous shadow of his former grins, and they both knew it.
"I have to ask, though, and I hope I don't sound rude…but how would he have the…the presence of mind to know that I'm a stranger here, or what my task entails?" Kagome winced at the overly direct question, but knew that there really wasn't any other way to phrase it.
"To be perfectly honest, I don't know. I don't know half of the things that run through his mind anymore. For all we know, he could think you're a spy for some long dead enemy, or else a correspondent for one of the dead lords, or something." Shiranui shrugged halfheartedly. "Could be any reason, really."
They continued on in silence after that awkward conversation, their footsteps echoing in the grand hallways. The passageways seemed to wind on and on, trailing into infinity as they walked and walked and walked and walked. Finally, just when Kagome was starting to feel worn out, they reached a wooden door; unusual in this palace of shining ice. Shiranui reached out and pushed it open with one giant hand. With a great creak and a groan, the door inched open, revealing a small sliver of light beyond it.
"Sorry to say, Kagome, but you're gonna have to be on your own from this point on," Shiranui informed her. "Since Father doesn't know who I am any more, I can't go in unless he directly summons me. I'm really, really sorry, but I can't change my father's crazy mind." He patted her shoulder in what was clearly supposed to be a comforting fashion, but nearly made Kagome's knees give in. "If you want, you can turn back now and spare yourself."
"No. This is something I have to do, no matter what has to happen. And besides, it's not like I'm going to spar with a rabid youkai, is it?"
"I guess not. Just…be patient and courteous, and if he gets into his absent-from-Nippon mode, just leave. It's not like he'll notice or anything." With that, Shiranui held the door open, and, taking a deep breath, Kagome walked through. The door gave a mighty groan as it slowly swung shut behind her.
At first, Kagome thought she had walked into the wrong room. Surely this couldn't be the domicile of the Ryū-no-Taishou, last of the original four youkai lords of Nippon. It was far too simple; not even one painting decorated the dull walls, and the only permanent features seemed to be an aged futon and a small desk, upon which were balanced several oil candles, which flickered and danced like snakes, throwing eerie shadows on the surrounding walls.
"Who's there? Who's there? What do you want?" Kagome jumped at the sound of the voice, which was old and frail, yet still managed to boom like a foghorn. A shadowy figured rose from the futon, and at the same time unseen torches along the walls flared to life, making the miko blink furiously. Then, as her vision slowly cleared, she finally saw the youkai who had once been Ryū-no-Taishou.
An ancient, withered husk of an old man had risen from the futon, one bony hand clutching the thin blanket to his chest as he stared at her with wide, milk-colored eyes. She could tell from the width of his shoulders that he had once been powerfully built like his son, but age had robbed him of his muscles, leaving nothing but pale skin stretched over knobby bones. What little hair he still possessed was pure white and hung in uneven strips on his skull. He blinked slowly, his dull eyes searching for the intruder while his breath rattled through his yellow teeth. "Who disturbs the Ryū-no-Taishou?" he asked, his clawed fingers trembling as he pointed around the room.
Kagome, trembling almost as much as the old man, slowly mustered up the courage to speak. "It's Higurashi Kagome, Ryū-no-Taishou. You read my letter, and you wanted to see me."
The old man let out a hiss, his skull-like face swinging about to face her. "Hmm…hmm…what voice is that which speaks to me as an equal? Hmm…" Abruptly the old youkai grinned, his remaining fangs gleaming in the light. "Izayoi, can it be you? Forgive this old one and his weary ki; I did not notice you."
Kagome's mouth flopped open, but no words came out. Of all the things she had been expecting the youkai lord to say, this was not on the list. "That's not my name, Ryū-no-Taishou. My name is Kagome. Ka-go-me."
"Don't try to play games with me, young'un. I know who you are. I remember the day that sly dog brought you in front of us and announced that you were his mate." A dry, hacking chuckle rose up in the old youkai's throat. "Sly old dog. I suppose he is happy with you, though."
Kagome quickly realized that there would be no dealing with the old dragon. As Shiranui had said, he was clearly out of his mind. Hopefully, though, she would be able to play along and get back to the hunt soon enough. So she held up her hands and smiled brightly. "You got me, sir. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, Izayoi. If anything, it is I who should apologize to you. Yes indeed, yes indeed." The old man sighed, his shoulders sagging in sudden sadness. "I was not so kind to you when you were first introduced to us. No, no, I wasn't. Cruel things I said, things that cannot be rescinded. Things about you and your pup. So cruel, so cruel."
"It's okay," Kagome said quickly, for the youkai lord looked like he might start weeping, "I forgive you. You obviously don't feel the same way now, right? Anyway, I need your help."
The Ryū-no-Taishou blinked at her, a small smile tugging at the edges of his thin lips. "You forgive me, Izayoi? Then the Ryū-no-Taishou shall do his utmost to help you, Izayoi. What do you require, hmm?"
Kagome reached into the pocket of her jeans, where she had stashed the handkerchief with the tuft of white fur. She showed the precious bindle to the youkai lord, who weakly sniffed at it. "I need you to tell me if you recognize the scent of this kitsune-youkai. If you don't, could you point me to someone who does?"
"Hmm…hmm…that does not smell like youkai…no, hanyou, it is hanyou fur, yes it is indeed." The ancient dragon hissed again, drawing one skeletal hand over his sunken chin. "Hmm…perhaps the Sugureta clan knows of a kitsune-hanyou. Yes indeed, I remember there being some sort of kerfuffle a few hundred years ago…or was it a few thousand? Hmm…hmm…" He trailed off and looked blankly at Kagome, as if she had just dropped down from the ceiling. Then, unexpectedly, his eyes teared up again. "Midori? Is that you?"
"Um, no, I'm not Midori," Kagome told him, fighting back a sigh.
"Midori, my saiai, I never thought I would see you again…Midori…Midori…" The Ryū-no-Taishou's voice faded and died, leaving behind an old man staring blankly into space.
"Ryū-no-Taishou? Are you okay, sir?" Kagome strode forward, unsure of whether or not she should call for help or just try to rouse him on her own. The youkai did not respond to her query; he just stared at the wall, his eyes wide open but unseeing. It was then that Kagome realized that this was the other half of the Ryū-no-Taishou's senility; his body was on Earth, but his mind was in another place altogether. 'Poor guy…nobody wants this to happen to them when they get old. The worst part is that there's no real cure for senility, not even back in the Heisei jidai. So, wherever the Ryū-no-Taishou is now, there's no getting him back.' Even though it was a wasted gesture now, Kagome clasped her hands in front of her and bowed deeply. "Arigato, Ryū-no-Taishou sir. You were really helpful, whether you know it or not." With that, she turned around and exited his room, leaving the mad youkai lord alone with whatever inhabited his mind.
Shiranui was waiting for her outside the room, shuffling his feet and looking anxious. "Well?" he demanded. "What do you think?"
"Your father is in really bad shape," Kagome replied. "Poor guy. It's kinda hard to believe he was ever lord of the North, when you look at what's happened to him."
"I know." Shiranui glared at the wall, as if it was the source of all the evil in the world. "Who…who did he think you were?"
"First he thought I was Izayoi, which I guess makes sense if he read the letter, and then he thought I was someone named Midori. Do you know who that was?"
At the mention of the name 'Midori,' Shiranui froze, his muscles locking down as if for impact. His electric blue eyes were wide with shock, his jaw tight and rigid. "What?"
"Right before he shut down, he started talking about her. He sounded almost like he was in love with her." Kagome took in his stiffened form, her eyes swiftly becoming concerned. "What's the matter?"
"Midori…was my mother." Shiranui sounded like he was confessing to committing some great evil. His fists were clenched tightly, his claws digging into his palms. He was still glaring at the wall, though now a measure of hurt was creeping into his eyes. "I never knew her, but Father was infatuated with her. The rumors say she was a minor kami, but I think that's a load of bull. They had a relationship that only lasted about fifty years or so and ended with my birth. Midori just left me at the gate of the castle and took off, never to be seen again. When he wasn't campaigning or trying to hold this land together, Father wasted years of his life trying to find her." Shiranui bit his lip, his fangs puncturing his lip and sending beads of blood dribbling down his chin. "I never understood it. Why would he want to find her…when she left him because of me?"
Kagome sniffled, tears rising in her eyes and falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…" She broke off on a small sob, burying her face in her hands. The pain in Shiranui's voice, the futility of the Ryū-no-Taishou's search, and, above all else, the similarity between him and a certain inu-hanyou made the young miko feel unbearably sad. 'The Ryū-no-Taishou spent his whole life searching for somebody he would never find…and who possibly never loved him. Does…does that mean InuYasha won't ever stop searching for…for…' The thought trailed off before it could reach its inevitable conclusion, leaving her to cry brokenly in the middle of the hallway.
"Hey, hey, don't cry, Kagome. I didn't mean to make you sad." A huge set of hands wrapped around Kagome's small frame, lifting her up as if she was a toy and cradling her against a muscular chest. "It's not really that bad. You don't have to cry for me."
"But…but it's so…so sad," Kagome sobbed. "Your father loved your mother, but he never found her…"
Shiranui sighed deeply, and Kagome suddenly felt a lurching sensation in her belly as the giant youkai started walking. "Yeah, I know. I try not to think about it too much, though. I just…I couldn't say I loved or hated Midori, simply because I never knew her. Maybe…maybe one day, if she ever shows up, I can…try to get her to explain herself, or something."
Kagome sniffed and dried her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater (since her only hanky was otherwise occupied). "That sounds…that sounds good." She paused, then added, "You can put me down now, Shiranui." The youkai chuckled softly, then set Kagome down on her feet, watching her carefully to make sure he hadn't accidentally hurt her. She finished drying her eyes off, then looked up at Shiranui, a tremulous smile spreading over her face. "Thank you, Shiranui."
"What for?"
"Just…thank you."