Chapter XVIII
Ryutaro was resting underneath a tree awaiting for his little brother to return from the palace. He'd ordered his brother to retrieve the something that he had forgotten from the palace, but that happened hours ago. He couldn't believed that he, of all people, would forget something so vital to their plan. The said important something turned out to be someone, Kagome. He didn't hear his brother approaching until he heard him muttering curses. When Ryu met his brother, he flipped the unconscious miko from over his shoulder and laid her down at his older brother's feet.
Ryutaro lift an eye brow and asked, "Why is the human miko unconscious, Ryu?"
"When that human bitch burned me with her purification, I knocked her out," he answered with a shrug.
"Idiot. Why did you unchained her," Ryutaro asked when he noticed that she didn't have the chain and cuffs on.
"What took you so long anyways?"
Ryu growled as he recall what happened in his mind...
Flashback Begins...
Ryu walked into the dungeon with the keys to the cell, where the mikos where being held. Once he was inside of said cell, he looked at the beautiful mikos while they were glaring at him. Suddenly, before he knew what hit him, both miko-youkai pounced him, while Kagome stood watch. Ryu, somehow, overpowered them to get them off of him. Zokushi put her reiki-made chain in front of Ryu's neck and pulled back to choke him. Inuhime grabbed the keys from Ryu and unlock herself and Kagome from those chains and cuffs.
Inuhime calmly said, "We have some questions Ryu."
Ryu gasped for air to speak. "Like hell I'll answer them!"
Inuhime growled, "If you value your life, you will. You are currently not in any position to NOT answer us."
Ryu scoffed, "Like this one is afraid of you."
Inuhime chuckled darkly as Zokushi did as well. "Is that so? Kagome, will you please...?"
Kagome knew what Inuhime was asking of her. No, she wouldn't enjoy doing it, but she was so tired of being rescued all of the time. She wanted to prove; not just to herself, but to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, that she was NO damsel in distress anymore. After her nap earlier, she was introduced to Zokushi. The three of them discussed a plan to escape from this hell hole. Kagome did as she was told and stood in front of Ryu, while Inuhime rose up his haori's sleeve. Ryu was going to laugh until he felt a burning sensation on his upper arm and began to scream in agony.
Ryu half-screamed, half-growled, "FINE! I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU ASK!" As soon as he yelled those words, Kagome went to her previous position, which was standing watch.
Inuhime gave him a feral smile. "Good because you know as well as I do that my brothers and the General are coming for me and Kagome. I promise you that my brothers, especially Sesshomaru, will NOT show mercy to you if you follow through with your father's plans. And I'll give you my word that no death will come to you. However, I can't give you any guarantees that there will be no maiming on your person."
"Whatever. Just ask your stupid questions," he growled.
"You were heading towards them, but then, both of you stopped. Only you returned and came directly here. Why?"
Ryu narrowed his eyes at the one who burned him. "I am here to get the human miko."
"Why?"
"Ryutaro figured that since she's a human, she couldn't put up much of a fight, like you or Zokushi would."
"Alright, why take her to them, then? What's the purpose?"
Ryu gave her his own feral smile. "To make Sesshomaru weak. We noticed that Sesshomaru favored the human more than the other women there. We thought about taking his ward, but the way your brother looked at her. She was the better choice. We want Sesshomaru to make him loose more of his focus while we'll be fighting him."
"What will your father do while you make fools of yourselves?"
Ryu frowned. "I, honestly, don't know. Only Ryutaro would know that."
"I see."
"How you think we will be making fools of ourselves anyways?"
Inuhime smirked at him. "It's obvious, Ryu, that neither of you knows anything about the Inu-youkai. Now, Ryu, this is what you will do...' she paused for a moment. 'You will do what you were planning."
The look on Kagome, Zokushi, and Ryu faces were priceless to Inuhime.
"What," Kagome asked in confusion.
After Inuhime explained the reason behind that plan, Kagome and Zokushi were alright with it. Ryu was beyond confused.
He asked, "What makes you think that I won't tell Ryutaro about this?"
"It's simple, Ryu. You want to be Lord. With your father and elder brother out of the way, you'll be next in line. You and I both know that you truly hate them. The way they'd always treated you like dirt underneath their feet. This is your chance to show them that you aren't what they believe you to be."
"You know nothing about me and how I feel towards them!"
"Really? You could have called the guards in anytime to help you out, but you didn't. Besides, Ryu, we knew each other for a very long time. I knew how you felt about them. You used to tell me all the time. Kami answered my prayer by sending you; not your brother in here. Don't you see now, Ryu. The Kami is giving you an opportunity."
Ryu's eyes widen at the realization. He knew that this was his one and only opportunity to finally avenge what his father had done. Not just to him, but to Yuki as well.
He looked at Kagome. "Miko?"
Kagome looked at him in indifference. "Yes?"
"Yuki? Is she still in the West?"
Kagome smiled kindly, "Yes. She's now under Lord Sesshomaru's protection."
Ryu smiled gratefully. "Good. At least now I know she's safe." Then there was silence until Ryu spoke once more. "Alright, Lady Inuki, I'll do what I can to bring down my father and brother."
Inuhime smiled softly. "Good because I didn't want to kill an old friend."
Flashback Ends...
Ryu answered his question with a lie, "I have to look for my keys because I'd lost them."
"Idiot," Ryutaro sighed and continued, "Now, we will have to wait until the human wakes before we could proceed with our plans."
"Hn." Ryu gathered Kagome and went to a different tree across from his brother to sit underneath. He gently laid Kagome on the ground and took off his haori. He fold it up to put underneath Kagome's head.
His brother chuckled at him. "It seems like you had taken a liking to this one."
"No. She earned my respect. That is all."
"Hn... Since you don't seemed to be interested in her. I'll take her. She's Sesshomaru's after all. I will have what's his, after I finish him off."
"You speak as if she were property. She's a living being. She deserves respect."
"Oh, not this again, little brother. You know, you were always mother's favorite."
"Jealous?"
"No... why should I be? The only opinion that matters is father's."
"Why is that?"
"Because mother is a female. A female is only useful for procreation and upholding the household and such."
"You are wrong, brother. A female is worth more than that. Have you ever heard 'behind very great male is a great female'?"
Ryutaro scoffed. "That kind of thinking makes you weak, little brother."
"If you say so, brother."
He sighed and thought, "I really hope that plan of Inuhime's works. If not then I hope I don't live through this."
Meanwhile in the Northern Palace, Inuhime and Zokushi, who were shielding their scents and auras, were moving towards the study, where they heard Arashi's and Setsuna's voices inside.
"Father, why the hell would you want to mate with that bitch, Inuhime? We are ryuyoukai. We don't breed with dogs."
"Oh, says the one who wanted to mate with her brother. How hypocritical of you, Setsuna. Have you forgotten that Inuhime and Zokushi are miko-youkai?"
"No!" She pouted. "I hate them, father, especially, Inuhime!"
"Setsuna... my sweet Setsuna,' He yanked on her hair to bring her closer to him.
She screamed, "Please let go, father!"
He whispered cruelly, "If you touch a hair on Inuhime's head, I will kill you. Do you understand, my sweet Setsuna?"
She nodded. "Good. Now go tend to my younger female dragonlings, since Yuki isn't here to take care of them."
"Father, before I leave, I have a couple of questions..." He motioned for her to continue. "What about Zokushi? The human miko?"
"What about them?"
"Are they yours?"
He raised an eyebrow. "No, they're your brothers to do whatever they want with them." A moment has passed. "Is there anything else?" She shook her head. "Then do what I commanded you to do!"
With that she turned around and left the study as the miko youkai found a spot for them to hide in. They watched her walked pass them; down the hall; then turned a corner. Inuhime gave the 'shh' gesture as they went inside the study. When they saw Arashi turning around, they hid behind a flowing, red curtain.
After what seemed like an eternity, they watched him leave the study. They sighed in relief. Zokushi said, "I stand guard while you search." Inuhime nodded in agreement. Inuhime walked towards Arashi's desk. She began to go through his things to find something that could be used against him.
"How's it going?"
"Nothing thus far."
"You need to hurry before he returns."
"I know that. I am abo-...' she paused. "I think I found something."
"Great! Now lets get out of here and join Kagome and the others."
They quietly left the study. After they turned the corner, Arashi returned to his study with plate full of food. He sat down and munched on some dried meat. As he was reading one of his scrolls, when he began to notice something was off. He began searching for a particular documentation that would help him with his scheme to kill Sesshomaru and that inu-brat of the Dog General.
Inuyasha (c) Rumik Takahashi
Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari