CHAPTER 28

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CHAPTER 28 A Clue

IN THE CLEARING

Sango and Miroku took off as soon as Kohaku was up on Kirara's back. Ayame and Koga returned after they had turned back into their humanoid forms. Their eyes glimmered dangerously still in the dim light between the trees, never leaving the seven people lined up before them.

"Shichinintai, what an honour to finally formally meet you," Sesshomaru began. Inuyasha noted he was deliberately not looking at either woman beside the warriors.

Sara and Kikyo didn't seem to particularly mind. Shinidamachu softly curled around their shoulders, bringing with them their eerie glow. It almost makes them look like ghostly apparitions rather than physical humans that helped us.Something in Inuyasha's stomach flipped at that thought, his demon rearing its head uneasily.

Bankotsu took a step forward, cocky grin across his face, head tilted to the side. "The pleasure's all mine. Always wanted to meet the sons of the great dog demon." He looked back over his shoulder at his men. "Heard quite a few rumours about you as well, didn't we?"

"And pray tell, what might those be?"

"You've got some wicked claws on you," one of the other warriors spoke up. He reminded Inuyasha of a toad. Wide mouth and almost black eyes, now greedily eyeing Sesshomaru's claws. "I would love to get a sample of that if possible."

Koga badly stifled a laugh as a cough.

Bankotsu played along, although Inuyasha didn't miss the flicker of something crossing his face. "Mukotsu hasn't talked of anything else since your friend contacted us." His eyes flickered meaningfully towards Kikyo.

Ah, diversion from the awkwardness and possible insult. Not a bad idea. Fluffy tends to not take a liking to people trying to threaten him. However indirectly. Inuyasha's eyes drifted over to Kikyo. The young woman stood calmly under the scrutiny now on her.

After a moment of silent staring, she offered a shallow bow. "I apologize, if I have inconvenienced you in any way."

"No," Sesshomaru replied curtly. "On the contrary, priestess. You brought us new allies." His mouth twisted slightly as if he had bitten on something sour. "If anything, this one should thank you."

Kikyo's eyebrows disappeared under her bangs.

"There's really no need for that," Jakotsu chimed in. "It was no big deal after Kikyo explained the situation to us. We were all itching to get in a good fight, weren't we?"

Gods above, how does he make it sound like an innuendo? Inuyasha barely resisted the urge to pinch his nose. Instead, he laid his hand on Tessaiga's pommel.

"Besides," Jakotsu's voice dropped, "Bankotsu wasn't lying about the rumours. You brothers are famous for your fighting prowess among demons. Legendary swords at your sides and the leaders of the big wolf clans at your side as well as the heir to the demon slayer clan and a monk with unfathomable power bound by a curse." He flipped his hair over a shoulder. "One has to get curious at some point."

Ah. That's why. He just plays everything as one continuous innuendo. Inuyasha's eyes darted between the warriors before them. Hopefully, the rest of them is less… Hm, well, more someone I can deal with.

One of the warriors, the most unassuming of the bunch with claws strapped to his hands, looked at his watch. "I am very sorry, but I'll have to leave. I have a lecture in the morning for which I need to be awake." He gave Kikyo a soft smile and patted Jakotsu on the shoulder. "Don't go too crazy." The man bowed to Sesshomaru in particular.

"Greet your students from me," Jakotsu chirped. "I'll be back for another special information thingy day next year."

With a hum and a wave, he turned around and jogged off into the night.

"I suppose, this is our clue to leave as well," Sara spoke up. Her voice was quiet, almost inaudible. "There are important things to consider in the morning. And given your friend just retrieved her brother, you might have your work cut out for you as well." Her eyes lingered on Sesshomaru, not even glancing at the rest of them.

Kikyo tilted her head back, eerie glow shifting across her face. She looks so ethereal. Like some kind of ghost or goddess. Inuyasha forced his eyes away from her to look back at his brother. And Sesshomaru is staring uncharacteristically intensely at Sara as well. Almost like he sometimes looks at Rin?

"I hate to agree with our mysterious allies there," Koga said. "But I think that might be the best idea. There is nothing to be done today that we couldn't discuss in the morning." He eyed the group of warriors. "Given you actually want to work with us and not just play around on occasion like these two."

A muscle in Ayame's face twitched at the insult thrown at the priestesses. Her green eyes narrowed ever so slightly and the hold on her crossed arms tightened.

Kikyo on the other hand didn't react in any way. She met the wolf's stare with calm eyes. "We do not intend to interact more with demons than is absolutely necessary. As for the other warriors," she turned towards Bankotsu, "You know how to contact us. Sara is right. We have been overstaying our welcome far more than necessary."

"You will not be able to run like this forever," Sesshomaru said. "You will have to choose your allegiance one way or another."

A bitter laugh fell from Kikyo's lips. She tilted her head in a way Inuyasha had never seen her do before, her eyes as hard as coals. "I have chosen my allegiance long ago, Lord Sesshomaru." She offered a deep bow to him. Much deeper than the one before, head lowered in deference. "I am your ever humble servant, my Lord. I will fight by your side and serve however you see fit."

"However I see fit," Sesshomaru scoffed. "You have a very strange way of showing that. Running away and doing things behind our back. Not too long ago, you attacked one of us without any provocation."

Sara shifted her weight uneasily. Even Jakotsu and Ayame for some reason or other seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation. "I don't think, we have any reason to doubt the priestess's alliance," Ayame tried. Her voice quivered. Her fingers twitched where they were now hanging at her side. She's nervous about this. Inuyasha stiffened. She knows, who Kikyo is. Her actual identity. And if she knows, that means, Kikyo trusted her enough to tell her about it.

"Kikyo did nothing untoward," Jakotsu chimed in. "She merely alerted us to your cause and offered an insight into where Naraku might strike next."

And he knows her too. They're trying to protect her. A cold shiver ran down Inuyasha's spine. I wasn't surprised, Sara knew her. Those two introduced themselves as friends to us. But Ayame and Jakotsu? Why does she trust them? She doesn't know them?

His inner demon growled. It couldn't be. He and Kikyo knew each other for years. They had met before any of the others had gotten to know her. Why would she trust them over him?

Sesshomaru stepped up to Kikyo, obscuring Inuyasha's view of her. "You will be held by your word, priestess." Before anyone could react, he pulled Bakusaiga and rested the sharp blade against Kikyo's neck.

No! Inuyasha staggered to the side. You can't hurt her! She's my mate!

To her credit, the priestess didn't even flinch. She merely lifted her chin slightly to accommodate the blade. "Lord Sesshomaru. I assure you this is not necessary. If you so wish, I will attend the meeting with your new allies in the evening tomorrow." Her eyes landed on Bankotsu. "I assume, your bar will be available for this kind of use?"

"Hm, sure. But don't lift your sword against me or my men or it will get messy."

Sesshomaru turned his head to stare the Shichinintai down, sword still at Kikyo's throat. "Very well. Tomorrow evening. Eight o'clock." Within the blink of an eye, he sheathed his sword, whirled around and moved to leave the clearing. "And do not be late."

Koga and Ayame gave one last glance around, then darted off into the trees at well, followed by the six warriors. Inuyasha remained rooted to the spot, staring at Kikyo. Sara was by now looking at her throat.

"Sara, I'm unharmed," the older woman assured her. "It's not even a scratch."

"And you're lucky for it," Inuyasha growled.

Immediately, Kikyo's face closed off. "I don't think, I asked for your opinion. Now, don't you have a brother to run after? Go, little puppy." She waved her hands in a shoo motion. The Shinidamachu around their shoulders drew closer, as if sensing their mistress's wish to leave.

"He's right, you know. You can't run forever. Someday you'll have to face me. Us. What happened between us." Inuyasha stared up as the women were carried off. Neither said another word to him, although Sara at least looked back at him. It might have been a trick of the light, but he thought he saw pity on her face.

WITH KAGOME AND RIN

"This is getting out of hand," Kagome mumbled as soon as her feet touched the ground.

Next to her, Rin brushed her hair back from her face. "You think? Sesshomaru just basically lost his temper with you and demanded Kikyo to attend regular meetings." She stroked the back of her Shinidamachu thoughtfully as it curled around her and shrunk back into her necklace. "Which raises the chances of people discovering our identity. If they haven't figured it out yet."

"You mean it raises the chances of Inuyasha discovering my identity." Kagome carefully tugged the wig off her head. "He was already looking suspiciously between the warriors and Ayame and me as it is. Maybe it's already too late to deter him from my trail."

Rin didn't respond to that. She began walking towards the shrine in silence. I doubt Kagome will find a solution for that. And contrary to popular belief, Inuyasha isn't entirely blind to what his senses tell him. He just doesn't know how to connect the dots like Sesshomaru does. He figured us out almost the second we talked for the first time. She tilted her head to look at the full moon in the sky. It's a wonder, he allowed us to keep the secret for so long.

"We'll have to tell Mom about this, I guess," Kagome said from behind her. Steps crunched on the ground as her sister caught up with Rin. "And she will not be pleased. Then again, neither is Izayoi with the current house guest. I really wish, Inu no Kami chose any other time to reappear in her son's life."

The light in the main house was still on. Their mother had to have noticed their absence and decided to stay up for their return. This does not bode well.

The sisters exchanged a weary glance before entering their home. As soon as the door closed behind them, Misses Higurashi peeked out from the living room. Her eyes scanned over her daughters, looking for any kind of damage. Finding none, her shoulders dropped and she allowed herself to lean against the door frame.

"So, you still use your alternate identities?"

"Only to keep you safe from whatever demon might decide a priestess is a good target for an attack," Kagome assured her. "Plus, I was very against Rin coming along until Kaede literally handed her the necklace."

"Kaede you say?" Their mother tilted her head downwards. "Well, if Kaede approved the two of you, I guess, I'll have no right to tell you otherwise. Aside from the fact that you're both old enough to decide for yourselves what you want to do." Misses Higurashi pushed off the door frame to go into the kitchen. "You will tell me everything over a cup of tea. And I mean everything."

WITH INUYASHA AND SESSHOMARU

As soon as Inuyasha caught up with him, Sesshomaru braced for the inevitable onslaught of questions. His half-brother had had some epiphanies this evening and they needed to be addressed one way or another. It has taken the pup long enough to come to this conclusion anyhow.

"Since when do you know the identity of Kikyo and Sara?"

Ah, beginning with the most obvious. As usual. Sesshomaru didn't even glance back at him. Moving was their priority right now to avoid suspicion and shake off any prying ears and eyes. But of course, Inuyasha didn't care for these intricacies. Instead, he growled softly and bounded up in front of Sesshomaru.

"Answer me. Since when do you know their identities?"

"You are slow sometimes," Sesshomaru replied calmly. His eyes wandered around the darkened scenery around them. Even with the streetlamps littering between trees and the rising city lights there were enough hiding spots within demonic earshot. "Let us go home and discuss it there."

At least that seemed to get through Inuyasha's thick skull. His eyes darted around as well; lips still curled in a malcontent frown. With a huff, he turned on his heel and stalked towards the mansion. This is going to be highly entertaining once he realises the identity of his beloved Kikyo.

Somewhere in the distance, Ayame and Koga gave the signal for clear. Twin howls rising towards the moon. A haunting melody that rarely shook the humans living in the city anymore. Hounds do sometimes howl like their ancestors. And wolfs tend to not come too close to the city either way, preferring to stay out in the mountains.

"Are you coming or do you want to stare at the sky all night long, Fluffy?" Inuyasha called from a few paces away.

Without deigning to answer him, Sesshomaru started walking again. The rest of the way, silence hung heavy between them. The secret identity of their saving graces in priestess form lurking in the shadows of every unsaid word. Even once the lights of the mansion came into view, did Inuyasha not say anything or relax his posture.

Jaken greeted them at the door. The imp bowed deeply towards Sesshomaru. "Welcome back, Lord Sesshomaru. Your mother is awaiting your presence in the salon."

"Tell her, this one'll come see her as soon as possible," Sesshomaru said at the same time as Inuyasha muttered "Yeah, welcome to you too, toad."

Jaken ignored the half demon and scurried off to inform Lady Inu no Kami about her son's return and answer. That should be enough to at least allow a short run-down of what this mutt was missing out on in his pining.

"So, away from prying eyes for now," Inuyasha spoke up as if on cue. "Now, care to tell me when the hell you, Ayame and that guy from the Shichinintai figured out who the priestesses are?"

"You tend to have difficulty seeing beyond your own nose." Sesshomaru unstrapped his sword from his hip. "It's a disgrace, this one has to tell you at all. What are your superior senses for, if you refuse to make use of them?"

Inuyasha scoffed, no doubt rolling his eyes for good measure. "Yeah, yeah. I'm terrible. Can we get to the point where you tell me, who the priestesses are and since when you know about them?"

"Unlike you, this Sesshomaru tends to actually think. And as such, figured out their identity almost as soon as we met them. This one simply kept it to himself because their intentions in our affairs were unknown." The image of the Higurashi sisters, laughing and smiling at their dinner table flashed through his mind. Neither of them had said anything about them being demons or stepped out of line in revealing their existence to anyone else. On the contrary. The measures they take to ensure their own family as well as ties back to us are kept undercover are quite impressive.

Sesshomaru shook his head before gathering the loose strands into a low ponytail. "It is unknown, how or why Jakotsu and Ayame know about their identity, but it can be assumed, they are neither the first nor the last to know. Whether that is by design of the priestesses or by chance that these figured it out, is impossible to determine at this moment."

A glance over his shoulder revealed Inuyasha staring back at his brother with a slightly open mouth. Gears were visibly turning in his head and Sesshomaru decided to leave him to it. Whenever the pup decides to come out of his trance, he'll either have new questions or begin to draw his own conclusions. Maybe that will finally bring him to the most obvious conclusion there is to this whole situation.

Sesshomaru turned around and walked down the corridor towards his mother and her no doubt plethora of questions regarding their whereabouts he'd have to answer as blandly as possible. One can never be too careful.