AN: You all know the drill, reviews and suggestions and all that jazz...
Disclaimer: don't own inuyasha
"Incompetent cur!" Masaru shouted. "That dog wench has been here for days, and you said that the old hound's son would barter for her return! We haven't so much as heard a word of offer from them!" he fumed. Katai stood in front of his father, trying not to cringe.
"Monto and Soko said they saw him talking with her alone," he said, trying to reason with his father. "They must have some kind of connection."
"If those two idiots couldn't distinguish her from a human, then what makes you think they know anything else?" Masaru growled. "You're as ignorant as your brother is soft!"
"Things will work out father, just trust me." he said, trying to sound convincing. He turned and walked away before his father started another tirade. In actuality, his mind was spinning, trying to figure out what his next move should be. His brother's voice stopped him as he started down the corridor leading outside.
"Do you really think they will come for her?" Kozue asked as Katai passed him.
Katai stopped, but did not turn to face his brother. "I have sent spies to discover whether or not they are making any plans," he said. "They should be back before nightfall."
Kozue considered this for a moment. Soft light was playing in from the entrance of the caves a few yards away, and a moth flitted in and past them, accentuating the silence. "Do you really think that father expected them to give up their land, even if you had managed to get the right woman?" he asked. "Or do you think that this was all a ruse set up to cover for a larger scheme?"
"What do you mean?" Katai asked, verifying his brother's suspicion that he had heard nothing of the sort.
"As badly as this whole kidnaping ploy has gone, I would have expected father to come apart at the seams," he explained. "He seems angry, but not as angry as he usually is when a plan of his has failed. I think he has some other plot in the works that he's not telling any of us about." he told him.
"Why would father do that without telling anyone?" Katai asked. "What kind of sense does it make to formulate a plan that no one will be prepared for?"
"It doesn't." his brother answered. "I think father is losing his grip on reality. He has spent his entire life enmeshed in this pointless feud, and I think it's finally gotten to him." he said. "I have wondered for a long time now if there is some way to finally put an end to all the years of bloodshed other than killing and driving off the dog demons."
Katai stood in silence, his back still to his brother. He had never questioned his father's rule, or his reasons for fighting the dog demons. It had been his entire way of life as well, and he had long since accepted it as normal. He had never given much thought to the actual motives behind it. What if there were other options besides overcoming them and essentially stealing their land from them? For the first time his mind swam with questions as to the justice of taking away land that none of his people ever bothered laying claim to.
"I'll leave you with your thoughts," Kozue said, sensing his brothers mood. He had wanted to broach the subject of putting an end to their fighting with the dog clan to him before, and now he felt that Katai might have found a reason to consider it. It was more than obvious to him that his little brother was developing feelings for their accidental hostage, Misaki. Perhaps she would be just the catalyst that was needed for him to finally realize the error of their father's ways.
"You know we cannot give in to their preposterous demands." Inuyasu said to his son, who was sitting in his chambers with his head in his hands. "And they have Misaki guarded day and night, under lock and key. There is no way any of our operatives can get into that maze of caves and out again without being discovered." he said. He cast a long glance at his son. "At least she is still alive." he offered.
"Yes, that is fortunate indeed," Inukatsu agreed, rubbing his eyes. "I must admit that I was surprised that they didn't kill her immediately when they found out their mistake." he said. It was night now, and the solitary lamp in his father's meeting quarters cast long shadows on the walls. His head ached with fatigue and desperation.
"We still have the upper hand, at any rate," Inuyasu told him. "If they were going to kill Misaki, they most likely would have done it already. Also, they haven't made any more demands." he said. "Our best option right now is to keep sending spies to report any changes. They will let us know if the situation is becoming dire."
Inukatsu rose and walked to the sliding door that opened onto the outer gardens. Moonlight spilled in as he opened it, along with a chilly nighttime breeze. The cold dew gave a crisp scent to the last of summer's green foliage as the refreshing air drifted in, easing his head. He thought of Kinome then, and sighed again in the relief of knowing she had made it safely into the west.
Her absence was more difficult to bear than he expected, and it caused a strange feeling of emptiness to well up inside him. In truth, he had been so overwhelmed when Misaki was taken that he had almost chalked his feelings for his wife up to circumstance. Now, with her gone, he was appalled that he had thought such a thing. Inukatsu looked up at the autumn moon, wondering if his wife was sleeping soundly in the west at that late hour.
The next day dawned bright, and a chill stayed in the air even after the sun had risen. Kinome sat near the edge of a large open green, watching Inutaisho train with his father. She was amazed at his strength to be so young. When he sparred with his father, he became extremely focused and intent. At one point after blocking his father's attack, he actually managed to bring him to his knees with a swift returning blow.
Inutaisho's response to this was to jump up and cheer. "Yay! I won!" he exclaimed with glee. He was rewarded with a swift and heavy blow to the mid-section by his father. Kinome winced as the young boy doubled over and clutched his stomach, fighting for air.
"Look at me." his father commanded, his tone unyielding. Inutaisho did so, and he gasped as air finally returned to his lungs. Tears filled his eyes, but his tight squint kept them at bay. "That is what happens when you take time to celebrate and gloat over your victory." Inuhide told him, his eyes fixed firmly on his son's. "There is always another enemy waiting to dispatch you. You must never let your guard down for even a moment. Ever." he said sternly. His gaze locked with his son's for a moment longer, then he reached down to help him up. "You're training is finished for today," he told him. "Miss Kinome is waiting for your company." he said, a slight smile returning to his face.
"You are very strong," Kinome told her young friend as they left the training commons. The day had warmed somewhat but the shadow of the mountain kept a measure of chill in the air. "You will be a great warrior one day." she said. His spirits were somewhat dampened by his father's rigid instruction, and she hoped her compliments would encourage him.
They walked on for a moment together before he spoke. "Sometimes I don't think my father ever wants to have any fun," he said gloomily. "He's always telling me to straighten up or settle down." he told her.
"Sometimes it is difficult for adults to have fun when they have many things they must look after." she told him. "I'm sure your father is only trying to prepare you for being grown up in his own way. Battle is a very serious matter, but when you have free time it is good to try and have fun with life." she told him. "Your father loves you very much, and I'm sure he's only trying to do what he thinks is best for you." she explained.
Inutaisho stopped on the path. "Like when uncle Inukatsu sent you here to stay with us?" he asked, his eyes staring up at her imploringly. "Mother said he was afraid you were in danger, so he sent you here to keep you safe." he said.
Kinome was silent for a moment. She had tried to keep her thoughts far from Inukatsu's feelings for her and his motivations for sending her to the west. "Yes, I suppose so." she finally answered. "I didn't want to leave home, but it was the best way for me to be safe." she told him. She hoped she sounded convincing.
Inutaisho smiled broadly and put his small hands on his hips proudly. "He made the right decision!" he declared. "He knew he could count on me to protect you!" he said, brandishing his wooden training sword for emphasis. "Miss Kinome, as long as you're here, I promise I will protect you!" he told her proudly.
"Thank you so much!" Kinome said, trying not to laugh at his precious display.
"When everything is safe, my uncle will come give you a big kiss and take you back home." he said, as if he were telling a story, still swinging his training sword at an invisible opponent.
"A big kiss?" Kinome said, watching her nephew in humorous amazement. "What do you know about big kisses?" she asked, staring at him inquisitively.
Inutaisho lowered his wooden sword and looked up at her, his focus returning. "I saw my parents kissing one time," he said. "I asked mother what it was and she said it was what two people do when they love each other." he said. "I thought it looked silly, but they seemed happy." he finished.
"Well," Kinome began, her voice full of mischief, "What if I kissed you?" she asked, reaching down to pull him to her, and over-puckering her lips for a comical effect.
Inutaisho dug his heels hard into the ground and pulled back from her, breaking away. "Nooo!" he wailed, "That's gross!" he called as he ran from her into the gardens.
Kinome chased after him, laughing. "I have found your only weakness!" she called after him. "It is a kiss that will defeat you!" she mockingly chided. Inutaisho laughed then too, and their voices echoed off the hard face of the mountain.