Disclaimer: telling you all that I don't own Inuyasha and such gets tiring after a while…(sigh)
Last Time:
Left alone now, Sachi sat upon a natural underwater bench, hugging her knees to her chest as if to keep herself from falling apart; the probability of that possible. Her eyes were mournful and faraway in reflection and memory. With a soft, long sigh, Sachi removed her arm warmers, and placed her arms in the healing hot water. Still though, her thoughts were on the task at hand, and her hand went subconsciously to the bleeding cut on her neck.
Resting her chin on her knees, the crimson haired girl sighed deeply once again. "Things are getting so complicated…"
This Time:
Chapter 37-Challenging That Which Is Unblessed
"What do you mean I have to dress up!?" panicky stammered out Sachi as she stared up at the Lord of the Western Lands. "I don't have to wear a dress kimono do I?!" She absolutely hated them, they were so restricting.
Sesshomaru stood over a just awakened miko, eyes cold as he gazed at her. She had slept practically all day yesterday to regain all her lost energy. Now it was time for the Lady of the House of Moon to do what she had come here to do; Sachi had to go to and help promote the other youkai lords to fight Sou'nga.
"You will dress and act like a true Lady of the House of Moon, onna. That includes wearing a kimono and standing silently by your mate, until spoken to or receiving permission to speak," coldly stated Sesshomaru in his stern, cold and low silken voice.
Sachi bowed her head and stared into her lap in submission. "Hai, my Lord, I will do what you ask of me."
"Hn," was the only answer the inu daiyoukai teemed as a reasonable response. "A servant will be here to prepare you for the evening. This Sesshomaru will hear no complaints from you onna; you will greet my guests with due respect."
Pushing back blankets, Sachi rouse to her knees and bowed in a geisha fashion. "As you wish…Sesshomaru-sama."
And with nothing further to say, Sesshomaru was gone. Sachi looked up as he left and when he shut the door behind him with a small clack, she sighed. Reverting herself from her bow, Sachi rouse fully from her bed to reach for the ceiling as she stretched her arms above her head. She pawed at the air with unsheathed claws like the feline she was. A yawn was soon forced from her and Sachi knew she was flashing her fangs to the world.
"Man…do I feel like a bum. Slept till mid-afternoon yesterday, now being forced to get up at noon. I'm getting lazy in my old age."
"Hardly Sachi-chan," spoke a voice that the crimson haired girl knew instantly.
Spinning around to face the gangway doors, the emerald eyed teen found a smiling taijiya standing there. Sachi beamed at her. "Sango-chan," she cried and leaped at her good friend and sister. "I've hardly seen you since we've gotten here! Oh how I missed you, and you were only a few doors down from me too!"
Sango returned the embrace with just as much vigor. "Hai, it's been a while, but now I have the privilege of helping you get ready for the evening."
The modern girl looked up wide eyed. "Really? Sesshomaru gave you permission to help?"
The female taijiya nodded but scowled slightly. "He did, but only after I asked him if I could. I really don't trust the other female youkai servants here, and more importantly your arms. If they bathe you they'll see and go straight to Sesshomaru and start rumors and gossip. We can't have that; not now."
Sachi nodded solemnly as she gripped her right arm. "That wouldn't be good at all…"
Sango smiled as she placed a hand on Sachi's shoulder. "Come on the, let's get you ready."
And the process began.
To get ready for such an elaborate evening took several hours; in Sachi's case, the rest of the afternoon. Sango accompanied the miko in her bath, washing her hair with rose scented soup and oil. All the while paying no heed to the self inflicted scars that road on the redhead's limbs. They spoke softly and slowly, enjoying their time together and filling it with meaningless but enjoyable chatter.
When their bathing was done after an hour or so, Sango and Sachi retired back to her and Sesshomaru's bedroom. There the taijiya combed through the young woman-child's flaming mane. Once done in soothing silence, the taijiya showed Sachi the kimono she was to wear. There were many layers of colors of decorated silk. It would have been heavy for a ningen hime, but Sachi was youkai, mostly anyway and it would be no trouble.
So the dressing began with the lower layers of bright colors that went well with Sachi's unique hair color. She normally wore black, fall colors, or navy because they didn't clash, however, Sango carried forward a rich but deep purple kimono. It was decorated in white, silvery swirls like the flowing wind filled with snow. Coming next was a gorgeous piece of work that Sachi couldn't help but awe over. The flawless golden yellow silk was adorned with crimson sakuras in a random pattern. Scattered all about were these beautiful bursts of ruby color set in the setting color of the sun. Some more layers came after that, but soon the last one came, but it was far from being the least.
"Oh wow," breathed Sachi delicately stroking the youkai woven silk.
Sango grinned while running her own hand across the ebony silk. "I couldn't agree more. Sesshomaru said this was in the treasury, he found that this was the right opportunity to bring it out."
Sachi gapped further caressing a flame colored wing. "Phoenixes…the symbol for good fortune…I could use some."
"Sachi-chan….onegai, I know this is all farce, but do try to enjoy yourself. It's a once in a life time opportunity!"
The miko looked up at her good friend and seemingly older sister that she never had to slowly nod. "Hai, I'll try to enjoy it, just wish I didn't have to wear so many layers! And…it would be nice if it was something different we were debating."
Sango chuckled, silently sighing in relief that it wasn't her in Sachi's place, the taijiya knew she wouldn't have lasted an hour with all those layers. "Come on now, let's get this on you."
And so the older warrior woman helped Sachi into the last layer of her kimono. This time the shining onyx silk with birds of fire flying across its midnight canvas finished her off. The phoenixes were in a wide verity of colors of fire, sown into the material with a very gifted steady hand making it quite obviously youkai made. Looking down at herself, the flaming haired young woman found herself dressed in the colors of twilight. Golden circling her neck to flow into orange and crimson, to become shades of violet and indigo, and finally transitioning into ebony like the night. Yes, Sachi for once in her life felt undeniably beautiful; if only her okaa-san could see her now.
"Oh, Sachi-chan, you're absolutely gorgeous! Wait till the male youkai see you, they won't be able to look away!!"
The disguised miko blushed and smiled sheepishly at the excited taijiya. "For their sakes I hope they don't. With three inu-youkai, two son's of Inu no Taishio sitting next to me the other males will get clobbered if they even look at me wrong!"
The two girls burst into girlish laughter then, but soon it died. The two good friends just smiled at each other happily.
"Oh! Before I forget," spoke Sango abruptly as she fumbled in her kimono's sleeve. "I made these for you while you were training," and she pulled out a pair of ebony silk arm warmers; holes for the thumb while one single hole was for all four fingers. "I thought these would look better then ribbon wound around your arms."
Sachi graciously took them with a smile as she began to slip them on. "Arigotou Sango-chan, these will look much better." She had just finished pulling them on when a feminine tapping came rapping. "Come in."
Not a second after Sachi called, the shoji door was pushed aside to reveal two youkai women. Both of them were carrying small baskets full of finely decorated combs, jeweled and beaded hair pins. These onna were Sachi's hair dressers.
"We're here to do your hair My Lady," spoke a midnight haired inu with mint green eyes, with a small bow at the waist.
"Let the pain begin," she grumbled softly in English, but smiled none the less. "Arigotou, I look forward to the finished work; I hope it will be one befitting for this evening."
"Of course My Lady," smiled the sandy haired younger female. "We wouldn't have it any other way!"
Sachi could only smile, but her orbs did catch Sango's retreating form. "Sango-chan, you leaving me already?"
"Hai," she said with a bow being that there were servants present. "I must prepare myself for this evening as well My Lady. I will see you there," and she was gone, leaving the modern girl to her torture.
Who knew putting ones hair up in an elaborate undue would be so painful. But they were painful; Sachi preferred battle wounds then having her hair yanked on continuously. The two onna youkai pulled, tugged, combed and yanked Sachi's crimson mane like she was a lifeless Barbie. Yet no matter how much she wanted to cry out the young teen did not, she just bit her tongue till she tasted the metallic coppery flavor of her blood. After what seemed like endless grueling hours of pain filled silence, the servant girls were done and quickly left with a forced thank you from Sachi.
The miko heaved a sigh of relief as they left. "I thought they'd never leave," breathed the nearly unrecognizable unblessed teen in English.
"They did what they were told, and they did it to their Lord's standers."
Spinning her head about with the jingling sounds of her jeweled and beaded hair pins, Sachi stared up wide eyed at the handsome inu daiyoukai standing in her doorway. His haori and hakama were ivory with crimson fading into it from three places like he had just come from a battle. The first place was his left leg; flowing upward from his booted ankle the ruby color flowed to just below his knee. From his pale neck down to his left shoulder to fade out by his bicep; staining his right haori's cuff, the color of life flowed up ending finally at his elbow. Around his slim muscular waist was an indigo dyed obi, while rippling through it were golden and silver swirls. It was this obi that held his freshly polished armor to his chest, while draping over his left shoulder was the spiked shoulder guard. Sesshomaru demanded attention when with his warrior appearance and flawless silver white hair, and the relentless eyes of unyielding gold would trap anyone in their gaze.
Sachi let a smile grace her face to replace her awe. "Forgive me My Lord, I didn't hear you enter."
Sesshomaru ignored her comment as he let his eyes wander over the miko's appearance. He took in the colors of twilight her kimonos created; how the silver hair pins accented bright red hair. While the beads and jewels matched the colors of the many layers of silk Sachi wore; they shimmed every time she moved. Then there was her face, paler with the ivory powder, her lids done ruby instead of onyx, while her pointed tear streaks adorned her face, showing her lineage.
"You are acceptable," he deemed in his toneless way.
Sachi's slim brow twitched with ire. "Thank you for your acceptance, I would have hated to hit you if you had insulted my vanity," roughly spoke the dressed up warrior miko in English.
The Ice Prince once more ignored her; something he apparently was good at. "Come onna, it is time we made our appearance." The daiyoukai stepped aside from the opened door.
Sachi gracefully rose from before her mirror and made her way to the door. The sound of softly tingling glass beads filling the pair's silence. Exiting the darkened room, the lady of the House of Moon waited outside for her lord to exit and lead. Sesshomaru did exit the room, and Sachi followed close behind, eyes straight forward.
Through the halls the Lord and Lady strode, but slower then the times before, because him in small quick steps was Sachi; she could only go so fast. Once before the meeting hall decorated screen doors, the servants beside the doors opened them.
"Presenting Sesshomaru-sama and Sachi-sama; Lord and Lady of the House of Moon," spoke up a male servant and the whole room stood up in respect and bowed.
Following Sesshomaru's lead, Sachi followed behind. When he stopped to seat himself comfortably on a very expensive cushion, the dressed miko placed herself beside him. Only then did Sachi let her amethyst cat like eyes wander as the rest of the room sat.
There were many breeds of daiyoukai assembled in the large room; the Lords had brought their court it seemed or some of them. There were neko, dragon, insects, birds, kitsune, spider, snake, inu and ookami and among many other that the miko could not make out. All assembled in one room were the youkai powers of Japan, and one certain ookami prince had to be there grinning at her.
"I can't believe that flea-bag is the reining power of the East," softly snarled out a voice that was very recognizable.
It was only then that Sachi noticed who sat on her left. She would have remained expressionless as she could, but it was as impossible with Inuyasha as it was with his elder half-brother.
Inuyasha's face remained as it always was; tan, untouched by everything, and always holding a boyish demeanor. Yet he appeared as a man in his clothing of fine silk. It was like the robe of the Fire Rat that he always wore; bright red. But running through the haori and hakama were golden swirls, like capping waves at sunrise. His cat like amber spheres stared relentlessly at poor Kouga across the way. Sachi smiled once more to keep her mouth from falling open just she had done upon seeing Sesshomaru.
"Come now Inuyasha-sama, Kouga-sama will start something if you keep glaring at him like that."
The inu-hanyou turned his amber eyes on the nearly unrecognizable Sachi who was smiling brightly at him. "R-R-Right," he stuttered with a blush growing on his face s he turned away from the miko. "Leave the politics to those who know it; that's something you'd tell me."
"Right you are Inuyasha-sama."
"Stop calling me that…sama…," he huffed grumbling while through a glare at her. "Makes me feel older then I am."
The warrior miko turn youkai lady only giggled as she looked further down the line of the table to find Miroku and Sango done up beautifully and smiling warmly at her; the houshi more like gapped in shock at her transformation. Kirara was pleasantly perched in her lifetime companions lap, purring most likely being that the taijiya was petting her. Continuing to smile, Sachi turned to her right and to find Sesshomaru, then Genken, followed by Rin and Shippo.
Genken, like Sesshomaru wore his polished armor, his haori and hakama much like the Western Lord's only that ebony faded into the ivory, instead of crimson. Wound around her otoo-san's waist was an obi of indigo and burgundy; it was very familiar.
Rin wore a kimono made up of three layers, while the outer layer was burnt orange with swallow butterflies on it. Her silk obi was a pale shade of violet contrasting well with the fall color. Sachi couldn't help but remember the little girl saying she wanted a kimono like Sachi's okaa-san's she wore that one time. It appeared she found one to deal with till she was able to get one of her own.
The young kitsune was dressed in a haori and hakama of grass green silk with paler green bamboo stocks crisscrossing over the material. It looked good on Shippo, and brought out his bright green eyes, and set off his orange hair like a bonfire, much like Sachi's own hair did. Her son looked so grown up sitting calmly, but the wonder was still clearly seen in his child eyes.
After Shippo, much to Sachi's relief sat Juugoya. He was dressed as he was normally, just more finely; more up to the standards of the evening. Sachi was glad that the elusive and antisocial inu was there, because after him came Kekkon. She didn't want her adopted son anywhere near the blood lusting Naraku look alike.
"Now that I am here," spoke Sesshomaru interrupting Sachi's gazing; she returned her sight to the table before her. "We can begin the discussion on Sou'nga and the matter of war."
"I still disbelieve that Sou'nga's threat still exists!" spoke up a snake youkai so his S's were droned out in an annoying hissing fashion. "Did you not seal it in Hell yourself Sesshomaru-sama?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his ice flaked eyes at the male, which went unnoticed by the object that the Ice Prince's gaze. "Hai, with Tensaiga and Tetsaiga the cursed sword was sealed in the Netherworld. However, Sou'nga may have found itself a new Master, quite possibly the King of Hell himself."
Mutterings of surprise were heard all around the room, followed by hisses and growls, snaps of irritation or the like.
"That's quite the accusation Sesshomaru," stated Kouga, boldly leaving out the honorific of Lord. "Do you have proof to back it up?"
"Iie, Ookami Prince, merely stating that the mere possibility of such an occurrence can not be overlooked."
Kouga nodded in understanding. "And how did we find out this declaration of war? I wasn't here or in close contact, and little has been said on the subject. Gomen if I'm a little slow on the uptake here."
"A messenger came," stated Captain Takani before anyone else could. "He brought forth a letter of war from his Master, against all who apposed Sou'nga."
"Who was the messenger?" inquired this hissing snake lord as he sneered at Genken, the glare from Sachi going unnoticed by him.
The fire haired inu glared at the questioning youkai lord, but answered none the less. "Tetsuya, my son, was the messenger."
"Ooooh..." sneered the snake man. "That must have been a very heavy blow to the great Geken-dono. Having his own son hand him a declaration of war when he was on the side of Sou'nga; how sad."
A growl came not form Sesshomaru or Genken, but another male daiyoukai. "That's enough Orochimaru," he snarled. "Keep your deceiving forked tongue in your mouth, none of us need to hear you petty insults against a far greater male then yourself. If you have something useful or insightful please do speak, but only then."
After the male's very amusing outburst, Sachi gave him a calculating stare. This daiyoukai was unmistakably kitsune. Covered head to toe in white, the male was like a Kami, or Kami's gift to the female race, just like how the Taishio brothers were. His mane of hair was snow white, his skin pale but tan, his tufted white ears and tail were what gave his lineage away. The kitsune's clothing was slivery white silk, while his cat like eyes were a pale grey silver color, like winter storm clouds rolling through the sky. He was an image of masculine beauty while showing he had wit and loyalty to boot.
Surrounded by the fascinating images of inu and kitsune gods, Sachi mentally drooled; she was one hell of a lucky girl. However, suppressing the urge to attack her koishii at her left, Sachi instead looked to the lord on her right from the corner of her plum colored eye.
"I like him," she whispered in English to the lord and returned her gaze to the kitsune. Her comment went ignored and unheeded, just as she expected it to be.
Sesshomaru instead looked to the kitsune himself. "Idzuna-sama, you have been collecting information on Sou'nga's seeking of troops, what do you have?"
The silver fox bowed his head in respect. "I have Sesshomaru-sama, and found the accursed sword is calling for any who are willing to fight or fight for his cause…alive or dead. However, the ones living who do agree…don't say living for long."
The inu youkai lord nodded. "Fire will be needed in the battle. Captain Takani and Sachi-sama are two fire wielding youkai, who else has the gift of fire in their households or lands."
A few nodded a yes, but still one was not present that had been in the battle before. Sachi knew exactly who it was.
"May I speak My Lord," softly inquired the young teen staring into her lap in a timid manner hoping not to disrespect Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru looked down at her form the corner of his gold hard eye, but gave the smallest of nods. "You may."
The young modern woman looked fully up at the Lord of the Western Lands then. "Perhaps Toutousai-san would be willing to help us in the coming battle. He was there in the last battle helping all he could. If we ask him again for his assistance, he may say yes."
There were many nods of agreement and looks of slight surprise as they eyed Sachi. While other looks of masked malice and contempt mixed with in the rest of the comforting gazes. Sachi remained appearing unfazed, when the mass of looks did in fact affect her. Her eyes remained on Sesshomaru however, waiting for his response on her idea.
"Hai, it would do well to acquire Toutousai, Saya as well for that matter may prove useful."
"Saya? He with Toutousai then?"
A nod was Sachi only answer.
"If I may be so bold to say, but I am impressed with your Lady's insight and wisdom, Sesshomaru-sama," grinned the white haired Idzuna, as his strange shade of eyes burrowed into Sachi, who could only stare unsure of what to do. "Not many ladies of the court possess such things."
As the stare continued, Sachi couldn't stop the blush that steadily grew in her cheeks; so warm was it that she thought she was going to melt her makeup. She could only open her ruby painted lips to either say thank you or state that she was obviously taken; she really didn't know which one though. Course seeing Sachi's shyness and blush let his masculine mirth fill the room, causing Sachi's blush to further grow in intensity. So she reverted to bowing her head to hide the burning glow; didn't help.
The kitsune chuckled further. "Such a charming and polite girl you have found Sesshomaru! Where ever did you find such a creature!?"
"Feh," exclaimed Inuyasha in his usual manner. "Yea, like her now, wait till you piss her off! Then I suggest you run; she's wicked with a blade."
The miko turned on the hanyou throwing him a look that could kill. "That's enough Inuyasha," she seethed under her breath. "When this is over I'm going to pummel you!"
The inu-hanyou paled as he shrank away from the raging onna. Idzuna grinned boyishly, eyeing Sachi and Inuyasha. "An onna with spirit; hard to find, what's your clan young lady, may I ask?"
Sachi blinked confused. "Clan?" she thought said stumped by the inquiry, but soon the realization of the question came to her. "Takani; my name is Takani Sachi."
All eyes went straight to Genken who grinned liked Idzuna did; like a boyish idiot with charm. "Come now my friends, you can't be all that surprised. I mean, look at the family resemblance, you can't deny that she's the spitting image of myself; she's my one and only daughter."
"I wasn't away you had one," hissed out Orochimaru, eyeing Sachi like she was a slab of delicate, and juicy meat. "Now you have offspring on both sides, what a predicament. Hope this one doesn't betray us like the last one."
The three inu males and including Sachi, gave the snake man a deathly glare that rivaled that of Hell itself in strength.
"Don't worry Fang-Face," huffed Kouga as he arranged himself in a more leisurely fashion at his place. "Sachi's not betraying anyone; I don't think she could. She's as loyal as an inu, no pun intended inu-korro," grinned the ookami prince at Inuyasha who growled low in his throat at being called Mutt-Face in front of everyone. "But," he began again threatening growl ignored. "Give Sachi a reason though…and she'll loop of your head, or…slowly torture you. Kinda like Sesshomaru would, only she's a little bit more lenient."
Sachi stammered, unsure if she should feel insulted or happy at the comment. "I don't know about that…Kouga-san…but do you always have to be so blunt?"
"Since when has he not been blunt," growled out Inuyasha.
The young lady sighed. "I guess that's true…" Kouga just grinned at her, Sachi assumed it was supposed to be charming, but it was outdone by the grins she received from Inuyasha.
"So you're a warrior then?' inquired the kitsune, interested in this fact, when most of the other males scoffed at the possibility of the mere slip of a girl could even measure up to being called warrior.
The mere slip of a girl nodded in a confident and prideful manner. "Taught by my otoo-san at an early age and continued on after. I actually fought Captain Takani a couple of days ago in fact." All gapped at her like she was crazy or had grown a second head. "Nani?"
Idzuna smirked as his cloud spheres sparkled with mischief and amusement. "Then by the fact that you're alive and well provides that you did far better then most of us. Genken-dono has never been defeated by anyone other then Sesshomaru-sama, or Touga-sama."
The disguised miko blinked, but soon recovered with a quick nod, but leaned closer to the hanyou on her left. "And this conversation got to me how?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes and shrugged.
"Indeed," Sesshomaru said hearing Sachi's whispered words as he looked sternly at her from the corner of his molten gold eye. "We need to discuss who is willing to fight for our freedom."
The lords nodded in agreement. The time was now to be decided who would fight for the whole of Japan and the rest of the world for that matter.
"I'm with yea," spoke up Kouga first, giving Sesshomaru a steady look that meant he'd never back down.
"I will also fight for our freedom," agreed Idzuna now serious.
Sachi politely smiled at the kitsune lord, as Sesshomaru nodded his apparent thank you for agreeing. But the miko also saw from where she sat that Shippo looked up at Idzuna with a wide grin on his face. Apparently the young orange haired kit had taken a liking to the kindred spirit. Yet, eyes soon turned on Orochimaru to hear his decision.
The snake youkai seemed to ponder for a time, the act putting everyone else in the room on edge.
"I agree with fighting Sou'nga; you have my support."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They were droned out however, by Sesshomaru giving his agreement to wage war against the sword from Hell.
"Great," exclaimed the ookami prince. "Now that we agree on clobbering Sou'nga, let's seal the packed with a drink, so drink up boys…" Kouga looked at Sachi and saw her raised brow. "…and Lady…"
Looking down at their places, all found a small drink dish and a jar of sake before them; all except Shippo and Rin. The males were quick to down their drink which was expected. However, Inuyasha hesitated as he eyed Sachi from the corner of his amber eye, as she in turn looked at him. The miko relinquished her gaze to stare to take up her own cup. While the men were already on their second drink, Sachi slowly raised her dish to her lips; she hated sake, hated it with a passion. Yet the occasion called for it, so who was she to complain. So feeling the dish touch her painted lips, she prepared to drink the liqueur; a sudden gut wrenching force of dark youki hit the miko.
The sound of shattering clay filled the room, and all eyes turned swiftly to the origination. Everyone found the Lady of the house ghostly pale and trembling in small convulsions. Her whole body trembled, causing the beads of her hair pins to make an eerie shim. Sachi's eyes were wide in invisible terror, as her iris flashed between her original emerald orbs to her youkai amethyst ones. The hand that had once been holding the cup was still in the air shook uncontrollably as it slowly made its way to Sachi's chest where it gripped the kimono layers there. And as the fit continued on, the young woman began to hyperventilate.
"Sachi, what's wrong!?" franticly asked Inuyasha a hand on his koishii's shoulder.
Sachi didn't answer; she quaked further, eyes unblinking and all color gone on her face leaving behind only the chalk white of the powder. And like Inuyasha, Genken was by his daughter's side franticly asking about her sudden laps into what appeared to be a panic attack.
"Listen to me Sachi! What's wrong!? What do you sense?!"
Their only warning was a husky, fearful whisper.
"…h-he's…h-h-here…"
The shoji doors across from Sesshomaru and his party exploded inward with the sound of strong wood cracking to splitters. Youkai and ningen alike raised their eyes to the cause of such a bombardment of their war meeting. What they found confused and worried them all.
Standing in the doorway was a group of three youkai and one ningen. The ningen or ningen onna was instantly recognized for who she was. So were the other two male youkai on the center man's left though, were recognized as well. One was the dragon Lieutenant that had confronted Inuyasha and Sachi all those months before. The other male was the creature of opaque darkness that had attacked them and had nearly killed Inuyasha; his name Kurokusomone…Dark One. Sachi knew them all and it shook her to the core, and not because of the sword that rode on the obvious leader's back.
"W-What's the meaning of this!?" hissed out Orochimaru as he burst to his feet. "Who the hell are you people!!?"
Three of the four individuals remained expressionless, while the ruby eyed male in the center grinned manically, flashing razor fangs. The four of them fully stepped into the room, coming to the center of the U shaped table format, stopping just before Sesshomaru.
"Really now," he said; voice low and menacing, but sounding like a deep velvet sea; smooth, flowing and dark in every possible way. "Do you really not recognize…" his hand reached up for the sword on his back as he droned his words. "This blade…" and he quickly unsheathed the weapon that was slightly longer then a normal katana, and the sphere on the end glowing scarlet unusual as well.
"What an honor to meet you again Inuyasha…Sesshomaru," sneered a very evil voice as the words reverberated off the walls.
Inuyasha gave a fearsome glare while he clutched his right arm. Sesshomaru gave his signature icy glare, but this time it was a death glare, far more vicious then his others. Sachi, though, who sat between the two, could only tremble further in the presence of the male daiyoukai as her pale lips formed one word.
All three however, said it aloud in an eerily quiet room.
"Sou'nga."
The cursed sword and its wielder chuckled.
"Good…you remember," sounded the sneering voice of the dragon within the sword. "I should thank you for sealing me in Hell, or I would have never had met the man that was like myself in everyway."
Sachi raised a shaky finger as Sou'nga words faded, to point not at the sword but the man. "…y-you…I left you there…b-beyond the well…y-you can't be here…-h-how…?"
"My dear girl, do you really believe, that after all these years that you were finally able to throw me off your trail. Come now, My Unblessed Child, you seriously don't give me enough credit…little miko."
Looks of shock coursed through the room, eyes sternly landing on Sachi who was still too preoccupied with the monster before her.
"You killed nearly everyone I ever loved, and took my brother from me who now stands beside you as a youkai of darkness. I should have seen this; the clues were obvious."
The male daiyoukai grinned madly as he sheathed Sou'nga. "Hai, you should have child. I am the Master of Hell, and I was sealed there just like Sou'nga was. We both wanted revenge on the same person that had caused our fall from power. You, Midoriko, or her reincarnation as it were. "
Sachi flinched away, the mark upon her brow bursting to light, to glow there for a time before fading into an ebony tattoo. All eyes were on Sachi now, and the majority of them were not friendly in the least. It was apparently to the modern teen that though Midoriko did a lot of good, she wasn't very much liked among the youkai people.
"What's the meaning of this Sesshomaru!? You disguise a miko, Midoriko's reincarnation no less and bring her here as your mate! What are you playing at," screeched Orochimaru.
Sesshomaru gave the snake youkai a steely glare. "Midoriko defeated both enemies, and her power is required again. Her safety was the highest priority, taking her as my mate was a required cover."
"So…she's not your mate then," inquired the white Kitsune.
"Iie," answered the frigid lord.
Idzuna raised a silver brow. "So she's unclaimed, how interesting," he said with a seductive grin. "Perhaps I should court the female then."
Inuyasha instantly had an arm in front of Sachi, guarding her from the kitsune as he growled ruthlessly. "Over my dead body Fox!"
The silver male grinned charmingly. "Guess I'm out of luck then."
"You should leave her Inuyasha," murmured the onna among the males. "She will die soon anyway; save yourself the agony of her demise."
The hanyou turned his eyes on the white and black garbed Kikyou; a dark miko now. "What are you doing here Kikyou, and with them," he snarled as he nodded his head toward the group of daiyoukai that had attacked him and Sachi months ago.
The clay onna smiled cruelly. "I want the onna dead, leaving you all to myself at last. I almost had you when that wench died, then that freakish child came along."
"Don't you dare insult Kagome, or Sachi, Kikyou!!? I'll kill you for what you've done!!!"
Kikyou gave another haunting smile. "Then come; my hanyou lover…if you can."
And an attack was unleashed, but it didn't come from Inuyasha. Quick as a flash, Sachi leapt and pounced at Kikyou, her claws unsheathed. Though as fast as she was, Sachi's speed wasn't enough to meet its target. Because the attack was halted by a pale, agile clawed hand attached to an ebony stripped wrist. This hand gripped Sachi's wrist in an iron like hold. The miko paid no heed to the restraint, just the object of her all consuming wrath.
"Kikyou," Sachi seethed softly, baring her fangs. "I will kill you."
The dark miko smiled evilly, eyes cold as black marble. "I look forward to it, Unblessed Child."
The youkai miko then turned to the owner of her retraining hand. Sachi narrowed her plum colored orbs even further at the male, but not in anger; never anger, but sorrow. "Otoo-san was right; there's nothing left of you in there…is there brother?"
Kurokusomone remained as emotionless as Sesshomaru as he spoke in a lifeless manner, obsidian eyes staring into Sachi's. "I am all here…little sister."
"You're lying," she murmured with a shack of her head. "Where are your smiles then, Tetsuya?"
The dark daiyoukai scowled, quickly released Sachi as if she was burning him. "They were taken from me when I was taken from you. It appears…you did not suffer the same fate, sister."
Sachi stepped back quickly, distancing herself from monster and brother, while Inuyasha and Genken came up to flack her in protection. "Wrong Tetsuya, I lost my smiles too. I just found them again, even after that monster," she pointed at the Hell Lord with a furious glare. "Slew everyone I knew back home. I'll make you pay for all the suffering you have caused, but first I think I deserve to know my personal nightmare's name."
The brunette, ruby eyes male grinned. "Why of course, gomen for the late introduction…my dear," he said giving a mocking bow at the waist. "I am Kyousou, Lord and Master of Hell; wielder of the Sou'nga; an honor to meet you finally in person little one."
The teenage girl's eyes smoldered with ire, but she said nothing, just stood there letting her anger burn away her fear of the man before her. "Why are you here? You can't have come just for me." And she pulled from beneath her many kimonos, pulled out a clear sphere from a chain. "And you couldn't have come for the Shikon, being that I'm sure you knew that I gradually over time absorbed its power."
"Quiet true," he said. "I came to tell you all that war is coming soon. You won't be able to stop it, even with or without…your not-so-secret weapon."
Sesshomaru growled low in his throat, the sound causing the hair o the back of Sachi's neck to rise. "You're army will fall just as they have fallen in the past Kyousou, King of Hell."
Genken laid a hand on his shivering daughter's shoulder, while his solemn yet fearsome eyes were only for the dark warrior. "You will find no mercy from my boy."
Tetsuya or Kurokusomone now, narrowed his emotionless eyes. "I expect nothing else old man, and you will receive none from me."
Tensions arouse between son and father till the air itself was thick with it and seeming to come to a boiling. It took the dragon Lieutenant to shatter the strain with a harsh grip upon the young man's forearm.
"That's enough Kurokusomone; you'll find him on your blade soon enough," he roughly said and the younger male obeyed. "Gonzo, Kekkon, we gave you strict orders to taking the wench into custody, why didn't you?"
Shocked silence ensured. Eyes starred at the two youkai sitting side by side. They both sighed deeply before rising and kneeling on one knee to Sou'nga and the sword's wielder.
"Gomen nasai, Kyousou-sama," spoke up Kekkon. "I found little opportunity to do so, and with Sesshomaru claiming her to be his mate provided getting closer to her difficult. I had an opportunity, but Gonzo interrupted me."
"Don't blame me Kekkon-kun!" snapped the still oddly cheery daiyoukai. "Juugoya-san was just about to find you and rip you apart because you were too caught up in defending your wounded pride to notice!"
Sachi growled at the backs of the two youkai, her own growl molding into the three other inu growls vibrating the air. A spy was in the court, they knew that much, but didn't know there were two daiyoukai, let alone bubbling Gonzo being one.
"One acting the apart, the other doing the part," murmured the Kitsune prince eyeing the two traitors with distain. "Clever."
Kouga huffed, his ice blue eyes glaring at the ivory fox. "Don't encourage them; it wasn't their idea I'm sure. Those two are too stupid to think something like that up." The ookami prince of the ease received glares and growls from the offended two, but easily shrugged it off.
"This is getting us no where," roared Orochimaru. "The enemy is standing before us and we're yammering on like this is some family dispute!! We should kill them now while we have the chance!"
Kyousou chuckled as Sou'nga glowed and their laughter melted together. "Please to try Orochimaru-sama, it's been so long since we've had a decent battle."
The snake lord hissed, cat like eyes narrowing Orochimaru's next words however, were droned out by the electric buzz of miko powers filling the air. All eyes turned to Sachi to find her brandishing her inu katana.
"Strangely," she said with venom hoping for him to attack first. "I'm agreeing with snake man. You want me dead Kyousou, then come and get me!"
He grinned, the image distorting his pale handsome face. "As appealing as that is my dear, I'm afraid I still have things to prepare before our battle. Gomen, you'll have to wait to face me." The Lord of Hell turned to his men as they to him. "We're leaving, our message as been delivered." Spinning on his heel, Kyousou and his men made it to the door unchallenged.
She remained though, eyes piercing into Sachi, as Sachi pierced into Kikyou.
"Kikyou, come. You'll face her later," spoke up the miko's master.
The dark miko remained stationary as her ebony eyes clashed with now hard emerald. Kikyou gave the smallest of curt nods, her emotionless eyes conveying a message only her and Sachi would know.
Sachi pointed her blade at the dark miko, a deviant smirk playing across her ruby painted lips. "I'll be seeing you again."
The clay onna only grinned before striding to her lord's side, to vanish in a portal of shadowy mist. They were completely gone, without even a scratch on them.
"Sesshomaru!" roared Orochimaru. "You let them go alive; they're enemies, we should have killed them here and now!!"
"You may not have sensed it," flatly answered Sachi, eyes till pinned to the point where her personal enemy had vanished. "But I did, among others."
The snake lord hissed enraged by the miko's lack of respect and answer. "Sense what wench!?"
Inuyasha snarled at the lord, but the crimson haired teen held up a hand for quiet. "He had us surrounded; one wrong move on our part, and we wouldn't have stood a chance against that many undead being unprepared as we are. That's why Sachi wanted him to attack first, rather then us."
Orochimaru fell finally silent out of shock, but he was also furious, just like the rest of them.
"I think this is a good time to retire," nervously chuckled Genken trying in his own way to lighten the mood in the room.
"Hai," answered Sesshomaru, his eyes hard and distant. "Its time for us all to retire; we have much to think on." The inu lord's eyes turned to rest on Sachi, as his voice droned on in its silky low rumble.
Sachi noticed his gaze; felt it on her back, but ignored it the bet she could. The unblessed miko could only ask herself one question that caused the great Sesshomaru-sama to stare at her so sternly. Was if he did understand Kikyou's wordless message? The Takani daughter could only hope in vain that he in fact didn't.
A/N: sorry for the delay on this update, semester is ending so there's lots of things that need to be done and lots of studying. Hope u enjoyed the little council meeting and the conclusion on just how Sachi was involved in this war. 16 pages long, I really need to start making them not nearly as long…or maybe not.
Well till next chapter!
BLAZE