Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original InuYasha characters.
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When I returned to camp everyone was up and about. They were running around the camp taking care of what had to be done. I spotted Nasuku who was handing some papers to a hawk demon. Nasuku told him some things and the hawk nodded before transforming and taking off.
I walked over to Nasuku. "What were those for?" I asked.
"Letters to the families of the dead." Nasuku responded, sighing.
"How many did we lose?"
"Six, but luckily only one was mated," he responded. I sighed knowing that his mate was no longer with the living. If the male of a mated couple dies the female follows three days later. It had been six days since the battle. I was pulled from my thoughts when Nasuku spoke again. "We think we may lose another."
"Lose another?" I asked.
Nasuku nodded. "A wolf demon named Tsaki was badly injured and he hasn't improved. We contacted a Dark priestess who will arrive soon and see what she could do but nothing can be promised."
I nodded. "I hope everything works out for him. Is he mated?"
Nasuku let out a loud sigh. "Yes and with two young cubs." I looked at the ground sadly. "Death, that's what happens during a war nothing can change it." I looked at Nasuku.
Then my eyes lit up. "My father…."
Nasuku cut me off. "Left. He left this morning and there is no way he would return to bring a normal demon back to life. He has more important things to do." He turned and walked towards his tent, he motioned for me to follow. He pushed back the flap and I walked in. "I think Rook should come back don't you?" He asked smiling slightly.
I nodded, "Yes he's been gone way to long. I think the other soldiers are beginning to wonder." I smiled back at Nasuku.
He pulled the two glass bottles from his pocket and removed the cork with the clear liquid in it. He put his thumb over the opening and tipped the bottle over. Then he tapped the tip of my nose. I felt this weird sensation run through me and my scent was now that of Rook's.
"There." Nasuku said. He put the clear bottle away and pulled out the tan one. Removing the cork he gently covered my royal markings. "So your arm any better?" He asked.
"Yes, its doesn't need to be bandaged anymore." I told him.
He smiled. "That's good." Finishing, he put the cork back on the bottle and placed it in his pocket.
"How's your stomach doing?" I asked as I put my hair up in its high ponytail.
"Oh, it's fine." Nasuku responded as he walked over to a small chest and began digging through it. I went to approach him but was hit in the face with a soft and long piece of white silk. I caught it and stared at it. "For your chest." Nasuku responded. "It will probably be more comfortable than the other cloth. I got at that human village where we found Hazari."
I nodded and spun around so my back was to Nasuku. I pushed my shirt off my shoulders so it hung around my waist where it was tucked in. "Your birthday's coming up." Nasuku stated randomly as I tied the cloth.
I glanced over my shoulder at him. His back was to me. I looked back ahead. "Birthdays don't matter to demon's you know that." I said as I fixed my shirt. "We live too long."
Nasuku laughed. "The only reason they don't celebrate them is because they lose count." I smiled. "But I know how old you are so it matters. You'll be sixteen in three days, correct?"
I nodded. "Correct." I walked over to Nasuku. He turned around sensing that I was done. "Thanks for the cloth, Nasuku." I said and kissed his cheek. Turning away, I left his tent, missing the slightly blush that appear on his face.
"No problem, Reeka."
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Mushi was on his way to visit Hazari when he over heard Nasuku who was talking to, as far as Mushi could tell, Rook.
"Your birthday's coming up." Nasuku said.
"Birthdays don't matter to demon's you know that. We live too long." That was Rook.
"The only reason they don't celebrate them is because they lose count. But I know how old you are so it matters. You'll be sixteen in three days, correct?" Nasuku asked.
"Correct." Was the response.
Mushi not caring to listen to the rest of the conversation ran off to find Yugi and Shinsai. He had a great birthday present for Rook.
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When Rook returned the other soldiers were really happy to see him. Many asked me where I had been and why it had taken so long for me to return. I had made up a story that I had to help Lord Sasuke's palace gain order again. They had bought it. When they asked where Reeka had gone I told them that she had returned to her mission of scouting Lord Sesshomaru's land, they believed that too.
I confronted Mushi and asked why Lady Reeka had been placed in my tent he replied that it was inappropriate for a woman to be treated with men especially someone of that status, and that my tent was the only one available. I accepted his reasons.
On returning to my for the first time as Rook as expected Hazari called me Reeka. I explained to him that he was to call me Rook and that I was undercover as a male soldier. He looked confused at first then smiled warmly and replied, "Ok!"
Three days pasted by boringly. Nothing happened. Nasuku was too busy looking after the rest of the men for me to be bothering him. I spent most of the days in my tent playing with Hazari. He enjoyed brushing my hair and I enjoyed the feeling of him doing so, not to mention he was very gentle and never once caught an earring. He once braided some of my hair and I had to hide it in the back of my shirt so Shinsai wouldn't see it when he came in to ask if I had any plans that night.
I told him I didn't. There was no reason I would, seeing as I wasn't allowed to leave without Nasuku's permission. Shinsai smiled and told me to meet him in Mushi's tent when the sun was almost gone. I agreed. Then before he left he said, "Oh and Happy Birthday, Rook." That confused me. I thought only Nasuku knew it was my birthday.
"It's your birthday today!" Hazari had asked quickly afterwards.
I nodded then remembered. "Yes it is." I said as I unbraided my hair. I was about six hours past midday meaning it would begin getting dark soon now, and if waited too long to undo the braids my hair would be curly when I went to meet Shinsai.
Hazari's face saddened. "I'm sorry, Lady Reeka. I don't have anything to give you as a present." He apologized.
I stopped unbraiding my hair and gathered Hazari up in my arms. I put him in my lap. "There's no need to worry Hazari. Birthdays don't matter to demons that much. It's just I'm young." I told him as I removed his small ponytail and ran my hand through his hair a couple of times. "And please call me Rook." I told him gently.
He nodded. "M'lad…I mean Rook, how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I just turned sixteen. I'm actually very young." I told him.
"Oh sixteen?" He asked loudly in surprise. "I thought you were like a hundred at least!"
I shook my head. "No, I'm very young for a demon as I told you before."
I laughed as he let out a long, "Ohhhhh."
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Quickly it started to become dark. I retrieved a bit of dried meat and a canteen of water for Hazari. He thanked me and held out his arms meaning he wanted a hug. I smiled and hugged him. He rested his chin on my shoulder and told me to stay safe and return soon. I laughed and ruffled his hair.
"I'll always be safe." I told him. "I'm a demon aren't I?" He nodded. I smiled knowing he was more relaxed now and wouldn't worry as much. "If anything happens call my name loudly and I'll come."
He nodded. "Alright."
"You be good now." I said jokingly as I left. He stuck his tongue out at me and I laughed.
When I came to Shinsai's tent I heard many soldiers inside. I was about to walk in when three pairs of arms emerged and pulled me inside. Shinsai, his partner Saka, and Mushi smiled at me and announced I was there. All of the soldiers in the tent smiled at me and shouted, "Happy birthday, Rook!" There were maybe twenty soldiers there.
I blinked at them a couple of times in confusion. "Shinsai, what's going on in here?" I instantly recognized that voice as Nasuku's. Shinsai and Mushi reached out of the tent flap, grabbed the front of Nasuku's shirt and yanked him in. He stumbled in and stared at the soldiers in the tent.
"Hello General Nasuku!" Almost all of them shouted.
"What's going on?" Nasuku asked confused.
Shinsai wrapped his arm around Nasuku's shoulders and said, "Well General, we overheard that it was Rook's birthday today and we decided to celebrate so here we are but this is not where we are going to celebrate." He explained.
"And when were you going to inform me you were leaving camp?" Nasuku asked sternly.
Saka jumped in front of Nasuku. "Well we were going to invite you once everyone was ready to go." He said trying to save all of their butts.
Nasuku stared at him for a moment then sighed. "Where are we going?" Everyone cheered, happy that he had approved.
"That's a secret General." Mushi said. "It's going to be a surprise for Rook, and before you worry General Nasuku we've taken care of everything. The soldiers who didn't want to come have agreed to watch over the camp. We left Kyru in charge. He'll make sure nothing happens while we're gone."
Nasuku thought over what Mushi had just said. "Good enough." Nasuku said then glanced over his shoulder at me. I shrugged. I didn't know anything more than he did. "So when are we leaving?"
"Well since you approved…right now!" Mushi said as he ran past Nasuku and hooked arms with me. The sudden jerk made me spin around and I had to run to keep up with his pace. Everyone poured from Shinsai's tent while Nasuku stood there a bit in shock.
Saka run up next to me. "You'll love this we promise." He said, smiling. This was the first time I had ever really gotten to inspect Saka. He had long white hair that would have reached his waist if it were let down from it's ponytail. His eyes were a light gray. I stared at him trying to figure out what kind of demon he was.
Finally I gave up. "Hey Saka." I said.
"Ya."
"What kind of demon are you?" I asked.
"Oh. I'm a air demon." He told me.
"I thought air demons were rare!"
Saka smirked. "They are and that comes in handy where we're goin'." He said.
Shinsai ran up. "Put this on, Rook." He said as he held up a piece of cloth. "It's a blind fold. We can't have you seeing the surprise before we want you to." He gave me the cloth and I tied it over my eyes.
A couple of minutes later Saka announced we were almost there. I sensed Nasuku walk up near me but he didn't say anything until a weird scent hit my nose. "No!" Nasuku said suddenly. "We are not taking him there! He's too young!"
"Aw come on General! He just turned sixteen he should be allowed besides it's not like you're his father. He can make his own decisions, can't ya Rook?" Mushi asked. I didn't answer right away I was too busy annualizing the scent. Finally I figured out what it was.
"Why are you taking me to a brothel?" I asked with a sudden fear. What if they found out who I was!
Saka snapped his fingers and removed the blindfold. "I knew we should have given him something to keep him from being able to smell. Oh well." He said.
I looked at the building in front of me. It was huge and if I couldn't smell I might not even suspect it was a brothel more like a human lord's palace. I looked at Nasuku who seemed irritated.
"We can't take him in there!" Nasuku said.
"But General you already approved!" A soldier behind us shouted.
Nasuku spun around. "Yes but if I knew you were coming here I wouldn't have said yes!"
"Oh but General Nasuku the point isn't that you wouldn't have said yes the point is you did say yes." Shinsai pointed out. Nasuku growled knowing he wasn't going to win. They had a point. "And if recall last war all you wanted to do was come to the brothel."
"Fine!" Nasuku said blushing slightly. "But next time I want to know exactly where you're going no exceptions."
"Yes sir." The soldiers said.
Nasuku walked up to me and whispered so only I could hear him, "I'll think of something." I nodded.
Mushi opened the door to the main entrance. There was a large rectangular table there and around it were many pillows. Many beautiful demons of all kinds sat around the table dressed in very expensive looking kimonos. When they saw us enter they stood. A cat demon with glasses stood as well he approached Mushi.
"Hello Mushi you're a bit early." The cat demon said smiling, the bangs cupping his face shifted as he tilted his head to the side.
"Yes I hope you don't mind." Mushi replied.
"No, no not at all." The brothel owner said. "I'll leave you to your business." And with that the cat left.
Nasuku pushed his way through the crowd of soldiers and the second the female demons saw him they all squealed, "It's General Nasuku!" Nasuku looked up in near shock that they remembered him after almost eight years. Four of the females ran over to Nasuku and hooked their arms around his and pulled him to a pillow where they made him sit and proceed to snuggle him.
I just blinked at them and suddenly Mushi grabbed me. He pulled me in front of him. "Hey girls, this is Rook! He's the birthday boy." About ten of the females stared at me and quickly ran over. They looked at my face and one squealed.
"He's so cute. He has the face of a girl!" She said. She looked like a dove demon with her white hair in a high bun and light blue eyes. She smiled at me and hooked arms with me. She led me to a pillow then made me sit down. The other girls followed me and cuddled into my sides. I was a bit startled by the face that girls found me attractive. Some of the men laughed at the look on my face.
Mushi smiled. "Looks like they like you." He said. The rest of the girls picked men. Some finding the ones they had been with before and not even sitting down but instead they just left to find a room. Two of the females approached Mushi but he waved them off. "I'm sorry but I don't intent to bed anyone." He said. A couple of men laughed but he ignored them and sat at the table.
When all was said and done only Saka, Mushi, Shinsai, Nasuku, myself, a couple of soldiers and to my surprise Yugi remained in the main room. I gave Yugi a questioning look and he replied. "I don't trust you with Nasuku." He replied. Everyone but Nasuku and I gave him a weird look.
The dove demon remained by my side with her arms wrapped around my chest while the other girls left. They had silently decided that the dove was to remain with me. The girls with Nasuku remained. The girl with Saka poured some sake and passed around the small cups.
I didn't drink it right away instead I just held it while everyone else took a sip of theirs. While they did so I glanced around the room and spotted a female I hadn't noticed. She was a tiger demon, and she sat all by herself in a corner of the room trying not to be seen. I stared at her and she met my gaze before looking away. She would have been quite beautiful if her eyes weren't so scared looking.
I sighed and sipped my sake. Saka started a conversation about the last battle. To impress the girls I guessed as I continued to drink my sake. The subject randomly changed and at one point the dove demon snaked her hand into my shirt. It startled me and I dropped my sake. Everyone laughed except for Nasuku and Yugi who knew why I had been startled.
"I'm sorry Master Rook." She apologized bowing. "I didn't mean to startle you." Quickly she cleaned up the mess and refilled my cup. Then she settled next to me again. She placed her hand on my chest. "Were you injured in battle? Your chest is bandaged." She stated. The men looked at me awaiting an answer.
"Yes." I replied. "When I was at Lord Sasuke's palace I was attacked but I'm fine." I told her.
She smiled and rested her head on my shoulder. "That's good, Master Rook. I hate seeing you hurt." I sighed and drank the sake. This was a little too much for me to handle.
"Hey Rook!" Saka said suddenly. I looked up. He smirked. "You should probably retire for the night don't you think, and since it's your birthday pick any girl in the room to take with you."
I stared at him trying to think of an excuse not to. I looked at Nasuku. He was smiling and laughing with the girls around him. I sighed. He was drunk. No good to me. I looked at Yugi and he shrugged. He had no power over the men here.
I looked at the dove at my side she smiled at me. That's when I remembered the tiger demon. Glancing at her, I decided she didn't want to be bedded. I smiled that was good. I looked at the dove again. I placed my thumb under her chin. "You are very pretty and sweet but I think I would rather go with the tiger over there." I said. She looked up at me and I could smell the fear coming from strongly now.
The dove frowned. "But she won't be any good. She has no idea how to do anything." She complained. "I on the other hand am very good at everything."
I stood. "Don't worry I'm sure Saka would love the company." I told her as I walked over to the tiger. Yugi stared at me confused. I gave him a look that said not to worry. I held my hand out to the tiger. She didn't take it but instead stared at the ground. I crouched in front of her and whispered, "I'm not going to bed you."
She looked at me surprised. I smiled at her. "Really?" She asked. I nodded. She stood instantly and hooked arms with me. I led her from the room and heard Shinsai and Saka cheer me on.
The tiger demon led me to a vacant room and opened the door. She let me walk in first then shut the door behind her. Once it was shut she hugged me. "Thank you, thank you, Master Rook!" She said as she buried her face in my shoulder.
"Please don't call me master." I told her as she let go of me. "I don't see myself as such."
"But we are required…" I cut her off.
"But I don't wish for you to and no one will know that you didn't." I explained. She smiled. "So why are you in this brothel?"
She diverted her eyes. "My father…. he owes money here." She said.
I sat down and stared at her. She sat down in front of me. She was actually very young, maybe my age or younger. "How much does he owe?" I asked as I reached into my pocket and grabbed my money.
"More than any one person could pay." She said seeing what I was doing.
"Oh really?" I asked. I opened the sack of money and she stared in shock.
"How could you have so much…Are you a thief?" She asked.
I laughed. "No."
"No one but the lord's and their family could…" She looked up at me again and gasped. "Oh my!" She bowed. "My lord." I rolled my eyes.
"Get up." I told her. She did so instantly. "You are very good. No one has figured out who I am, surprisingly." I said. "So you must not tell anyone who I am." She nodded. "So how much do you need to get out of here?"
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I spent the night in the tiger demon's room so no one became suspicious. She now had enough money to get out of the brothel and enough extra to start her own life. She had thanked me for an hour strait, but eventually she fell asleep and I stared out the window, thinking about random things. When morning came I woke up the tiger and told her I was going to leave. She nodded and I left.
I instantly ran into Saka. "So how was it?" He asked.
I stared at him then answered, "I was…great." I said hesitantly.
He smiled. "That's just what I wanted to hear! So you'll come with us from now on." He asked.
I shook my head. "Nah."
"But why not?" Saka asked. "I thought you said…"
"I did but you know what, having girls climb all over you because they have to isn't really my favorite thing to have happen." I said. Saka gave me a look of complete shock.
"What the hell is your problem?" He asked. "Are you gay or something?"
I shook my head. "No." Then I walked past him. He watched me in disbelief.
I returned to camp quickly. Hazari was probably worried sick. I told him I wouldn't be out to late. I quickly enter my tent to see him asleep on my futon. I smiled. He didn't look worried.
"How did you pull that one off?" Nasuku's voice startled me slightly.
I turned to face him. "I didn't bed the girl is all. Not that you would remember you were drunk." I said.
"I know. I know." He said. "And I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen." That's when I noticed a package in his hand.
"What's that?" I asked.
Nasuku lifted the package and gave it to me. "This is for you." He said. "I was going to give it to you last night but well…" I nodded understanding. I opened it and gasped.
It was a beautiful white kimono with pink cherry blossoms on it along with light blue circles randomly on it, like bubbles. I stared at the kimono then set it on the futon before launching myself at Nasuku and hugging him tightly. "It's beautiful Nasuku!" I told him.
He smiled and hugged me back. "I thought you'd like it."
"No." I told him. "I don't like it…I love it! Thank you so much Nasuku!" Nasuku tightened him grip and buried his nose in my neck.
"I'm so glad you like it."
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So what do you think of Saka? Rate him for me!
Review please.