Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in anyway. Blah, blah, blah, blah!
A/N: Some one asked me a while ago and I keep forgetting to answer the question. The reason why the guy does not recognize Khali is because he had never met Khali before. He knew she was in the area and he took Mariko anyway. Sorry, if this chapter sucks, since I found out about Glenn Quinn's death, I don't feel much like writing (talk about living under a rock. I don't find out until almost a year later). I'll try to shape up so that my next chapters are better. This is a little OOC. This chapter may be a little short, but my next ones will be longer.
"You ran?" Shaneal asked curiously.
"Yeah." Sango replied meekly while her attention was focused on her small feet.
"I thought you were 'Sango the Demon Hunter'?" Johanna asked.
"I am. I was expecting Mariko to be tied up or being tortured. As soon as I walk in she is making out with Merrick and she has a pretty big stone on a ring that wasn't there 6 days ago!" Sango stated.
It was late at night once everyone had gone to bed. The girls decided that they needed a new plan to save Mariko.
"To her, you guys left her here stranded a little more than a year ago." Johanna replied.
"Merrick has also brainwashed her to believe she is in love with him. They have already set a wedding date; 3 days from now." Shaneal answered.
"So soon, this is not going to be easy," Kagome whispered wearily.
"Let's try getting her alone to talk to her. She might listen to reason." Johanna responded.
"Now that the plan is set, quickly, get back to bed before someone realizes what we're up to." Sango ushered Johanna and Shaneal out.
"Have patience Inuyasha, the castle is big and has many guards and it is only 4 girls." Miroku said trying to reassure Inuyasha.
"Miroku, don't you dare!" Khali yelled grabbing the monk's hand and twisting it a little.
"What, I didn't do anything!" Miroku protested.
"You were going for my butt." Khali countered as she let go off Miroku.
"How did you? Oh, your psychic," the monk said while wincing, although Khali did not look it, she was incredibly strong, maybe even strong enough to rival Sango.
Khali looked over at the agitated demon, if she didn't do something soon, he would go off on his own. "Inuyasha, we will get word within the next few days, trust me."
"That's what you said when they left!" The half-breed spat.
The morning air was crisp and dewy. Kagome looked out of the window to watch the sunrise. She caught a glimpse of a dark-haired girl, before Kagome left she shouted to the cook that she would pick fresh berries for Master Merrick's breakfast and was out the door.
Kagome headed into the labyrinth, weaving in and out, back and forth until she reached a waterfall. In was cool and majestic; it was the most beautiful waterfall Kagome had ever seen.
There was a girl braiding her hair on a large boulder while humming the "wedding march." Kagome walked inched closer, and closer, until she was only a few inches away from the girl. Kagome extended her arm out to touch the girl.
"Kagome, what are you doing here?" Mariko asked as she turned around.
"I have been looking for you ever since you went missing." Kagome answered.
"You've been looking for me for a year? Why are you wearing a maids uniform?" Mariko asked.
"Who do you think lives here?" Kagome asked.
"Mark Giovanni, my fiancé." Mariko said happily.
"I hate to have to tell you this…" Kagome started.
Apparently Mariko was still in "la la land", "No this is perfect. I can take him through the well to meet my parents. Wait, what do you mean 'I hate to have to tell you this'?"
"Mark Giovanni is really Merrick. I had to disguise myself as a maid to get in here. You haven't been missing for a year, just about 6 days. Somehow time on this castle grounds is different from the real world." Kagome answered with downcast eyes.
For a long time both girls were quiet, and refused to look at each other. Then as if Kagome had insulted Mariko's mother, Mariko began to yell at the top of her lungs, "You're lying! I have something going great for me for once and you want to take it away! How could you? Just because you couldn't find me for a year doesn't mean you hav e the right to ruin my dreams!"
Mariko ran off through the maze again, Kagome tried to follow her, but it had appeared as if Mariko disappeared into thin air.
"Great, Shaneal was right, Mariko is totally brainwashed." Kagome muttered.
Mariko had made it back to the master guest room undetected, although Mariko wanted to believe otherwise, a few things about Mark did seem weird like the way the servants flinched or the fear in their eyes once Mark was around. Now that she was marrying Mark, Mariko got the same looks, because some believed that Mark used Mariko as a spy.
Mark came into Mariko's room with a bouquet of different color roses, "One down, two days to go. Can you believe it? We will be married in two days."
Mariko's attitude change automatically, "I know it seems like yesterday that we got engaged."
Merrick leaned in for a kiss when Mariko leaned away, " Not till the wedding," she teased.
"Fine," Merrick kissed her on her forehead and left.
Mariko noticed that sometimes Mark would speak outside her door, but the conversation would be muffled so she never really heard anything. She pressed her ear against the door and listened, silently praying that Mark would slip, and talk outside.
"It's Shaneal!" Khali called to the guys inside the cave. She was peering outside the cavern at the castle.
"See Inuyasha, I told you we would get word." Miroku answered.
"Quickly inside the cave." Shaneal whispered looking back. Once every one was inside and sitting around the warm fire Shaneal started again.
"Want some soup?" Shippo offered.
"No thanks, I must give you Kagome's message and go back to the castle before they realize that I am missing. Kagome says to strike at midnight tomorrow night. She had some trouble convincing Mariko that Merrick set her up, but she said that she will have Mariko by then."
"About time." Inuyasha grumbled.
"If I may speak freely, might I suggest that even if Kagome hasn't convinced Mariko entirely by then, that you attack. The most important thing id to break Mariko and Merrick up before the prophecy comes true; by any cost break them up." Shaneal added before leaving.
"What are you doing here Kinshasa?" "Mark" bellowed.
"Today is my turn to clean the guest rooms except for the master guest room." "Kinshasa answered.
"Funny, that girl sounds like Sango." Mariko whispered under her breath.
"This is the guest hall, not a room!" Merrick corrected her.
"Still counts, check the maid chore list if you want verification." Sango answered.
Merrick reached for the list. He read it, then handed it back, "Fine, but finish your work here and take the rest of the day off. My guest is very tired, and would like some sleep." He yelled.
"Yes Master Merrick." Sango called.
"What?! Oh no!" Why did I run away from Kagome? I'm all alone now!" Mariko whispered.
Around midnight, once everyone was asleep, Mariko opened the window to climb out. Just as she was almost out, her bedroom door opened, and a figure walked in. It ran to the window and grabbed her arm. It threw her onto the bed.
"Just where do you think your going? Where getting married in two days whether you like it or not!" The voice yelled.