Chapter 5: Old Friends
Inu Yasha walked through the quiet courtyard. Last night had been spent by his royal mother's side, caressing her hand and soothing her pained whimpers. The royal doctor finally came half an hour after the Angel of Death left, and was shocked to see that a different type of poison had been applied to the injured Queen.
"The Angel of Death has used a tactic of 'using poison to attack poison', My Lords."
He had said this, then proceeded to drone on and on about the painful process of the poison, purifying the demon's poison. There were types that were not painful, yes, but because the youkai's poison was so lethal, only one matching or above it would cure. Lord Miroku and Lord Myouga had gone back to their own chambers after guarding the Queen for two more hours. At dawn, the King was found, asleep, next to his mate's bed. The young prince decided to take a walk and nap, seeing that his royal Mother's breathing had already returned to normal, as did her troubled tosses in bed.
** ** **
Ears twitching, he was wakened by the loud, annoying chatters of children, and he recognized them to be servants in his household. Among the sweat dominating stenches and dirt covered smells, one scent in particular allowed him to win against the argument of to wake and scare the kids awake or to not awake and not scare the kids away, which he was currently debating in his head. He decided to settle down more comfortably, and did so, snow white ears flattening against his skull in an attempt to shut out the noisy chatter, and nose breathing deeper, hoping to catch and keep the flowery, sweet smell he had grown to take comfort in. However, as her melodic voice started up, his sensitive ears picked up, and he listened to the story intently, though still resting his eyes, safely closed behind their tired lids.
** ** **
"Phoenix onee-sama! Thank you for taking us out to the garden! We've been so tired and busy!" A girl of about seven summers bowed to Kagome, arms occupied by her four year old sister Mya and Mya's twin brother Mye.
"Yeah, it's been a long time since Mya has come out to play!"
"Mye too! Mye too!"
"Tell us a story, Phoenix onee-sama!" A brown haired boy of three cried, and the rest of the group of children, the older sister of the twins being the oldest, agreed readily with exclamations of "Yeah!"; "Ma an' Pa never have time for bedtime storyeee~~~s no mou~~~re~~~~~!"
Laughing lightly at the sparkles in the young children's eyes, Lady Phoenix, her own arms weighed down with two children and another on her back, sat down on a large rock, the children assembling themselves in front of her on the ground. As she waited patiently for the five year old on her back to join the group before her, she mentally noted the position of the young prince, in relation to her and the group of about 12 children.
"Ok, let's see..." Thinking for a moment, she decided on a story that her mother had once told her.
"There was once an old, married lady, and she went to the village to buy some supplies. As she returned home, she noticed three old men with long white beards sitting on her porch. Stepping up, she asked them: 'Good sirs, may I help you?' She didn't know them, but she was a kind old woman. The old man in the middle replied, 'Is your husband home?' She said: 'Nay, but you and your friends must be hungry. Come inside and I'll have broth to keep you warm and fill your stomachs.' Again, the old man in the middle replied, 'No thank you. Here we await for your sir to return.' So the old woman went inside, and when her husband returned, she told him of what happened. 'Call them in, then, my dear, for 'ere have I returned.' As told, she went to the porch and asked for the three old men to come in. Shaking his head, the old man in the middle said: 'Not yet, not yet. Out of the three who here await, only one can enter the house. My name is Success, his Love, and that one's Prosperity. Go tell your man and choose who you'd like to enter this house.' Delighted, the old woman once more told her husband of what happened.
'Call in Prosperity!' the husband cried, but the wife said: 'I think Success.' The daughter in law, upon hearing the news, suggested: 'I think we should call in Love.' Who do you think they called in?"
A chaotic burst of chatter followed her question to the group of listeners, and she put up both hands in the air, to calm the group down: "One at a time, one at a time."
"Mya think Success, because then they can do whatever they want."
"Mye too! Mye too!"
"Atsko believes that they gonna choose Love, 'cause Ma and Pa love each other, and they had me, and they told me that they loved each other, and they said that--"
"Atsko's wrong! Atsko's wrong! They'ma gonna drag Prrrr~~~~osperityeee~~~~~~ in and dro~~wn him with bro~~~~~~~th!"
"No! Min thinks that they go tell Love to come, lock him in the batha-rooma, and then tell Prosperity to come in, and lock him in the beda-rooma, and then call Success in, and lock him in the keeeeet-chun!"
"Min's don't's makes senses!! Lyra's gots answers! Theys goings to's lets Success's ins!!!"
Once again chuckling at the adorable youngsters, Lady Phoenix finished listening to everyone's opinions.
"Well, in the end, the husband said: 'Let us listen to daughter in law, and invite Love in for dinner.' So the daughter in law went and asked the three men: 'Which wise sir is Love? Please come in.' Love steeped up, and comfirmed his identity. As the daughter in law led Love into the small house, Success and Prosperity followed. Puzzled, she asked Love: 'Did not you say that only one could come in?' Love said: 'When you choose Prosperity, he alone will enter. When you choose Success, alone shall he enter. When you choose Love, Prosperity and Success will go wherever he goes.' So, it turns out that Atsko, Mikatu, Okai, and Fushi were the ones that guessed correctly."
** ** **
Again, there was a load burst of chatter and cheers, and the hanyou, in the tree opposite the estate and to the left of the group, winced at the noise. Giving up on continuing his nap, he turned to sit up, back against the trunk of the old tree he occupied.
The girl with bouncy curls cried out, "Mya wants more! Mya wants more!"
Her annoying twin brother mimicked her actions, bouncing on the arm of their older sister, nearly falling off: "Mye too! Mye too!"
"Mya~! Mye~! Myu~! Time to get back to work!"
"Hai~~~!!! Ma~~~!!!!" Jumping out of their sister's arms, they landed on the ground and ran to their mother, the older sister walking after them. Turning back, she thanked the dancer for the interesting story and fun time away from work.
"Well, guess you kids gotta go too, mm?"
Reluctantly, they left, one after another, after giving their onee-sama a tight hug round the neck. Pretending that she had not noticed the Prince, she began to walk towards the magnificent building.
"Oi! What the heck was that load of crap you just story-told them?"
"That 'load of crap,' Inu Yasha, was a story with a moral."
"Really? What was the moral?"
"Come down from wherever you are and I'll tell you."
"Keh." Following his ---seemingly--- favorite word, the hanyou landed beside her, where she had stopped to talk to the trees, still pretending she knew not where he had been.
Pretending to catch her breath at the shock of him landing next to her from "out of nowhere," she put her hand up to her heart.
"My gosh! Inu Yasha! Do you always jump out at people like that?"
"I didn't 'jump out' at you! You told me to come down so I did! Didn't you know where I was? ...Obviously not." From the look of utter shock on her face, Inu Yasha deduced that this mortal was weaker and less alert than he thought. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Well what was the moral, damn wench!?"
"Oh. The moral was, that Love will always bring Prosperity and Success, so cherish those you love and you will live a much happier life."
"..."
"Inu Yasha? Are you o-"
"I'm fine! Leave me alone, its none of your goddamn business!"
"Oh... well then, in that case, I'll see you later. ... Bye... ..."
Sighing, she entered the building and returned to her room, where she practiced her dances. Outside, the prince had once again entered his sanctuary of tree branches, and was sulking about the fact that the moral of the story had brought up the girl he was trying really hard to forget: Kikyou.
** ** **
'Jeez, what's with these people?' Kagome was truly confused. It was the second night of the reunion, and all guests had already arrived. She was on her way to the dining room, where she would serve the Lords and Ladies and sing and dance when it was her turn to go on stage. As she passed the halls, the servants and maids--slaves, in other words to the youkai-- kept staring at her and whispering to each other, the fear of her hung in the air. She could smell their fear as they cowered out of her path. Her sensitive ears picked up syllables of the mutters here and there: "...you..."; "...ki..."; "...west..."; "...pois..."; "...kiky..."
She recognized the name that was repeated over and over. Kikyou. Inu Yasha and Miroku had called her that the first couple of times they met. They had told her that she looked very much like the dead maid of this household. The details, though she continually pried for them, were never revealed, and usually ended up with twovery moody Lords. As she entered the dining hall, her gold tray with the large bowl of soup safely held in both hands. The bowl itself was about half a meter in diameter, and the tray about a decimeter larger than the bowl. She had pasted on the cheery smile that would allow her to concentrate on analyzing the youkai leaders before she met the waiting doormen of the dining hall. Stepping in, she silently made her way to the left side of the room full of tables. When finally reached the host's tables, she was relieved to see that the Queen had already recovered fully from the poison, and was joining in on the formal occasion. As she set the tray down and proceeded to scoop the warm soup into the empty soup bowls, she was greeted by a shriek and a very threatening growl. Looking up, her smile faded as she watched the King clench his fists, arms protectively around his shuddering mate. Looking over to Inu yasha, her gaze was enough to say what she wanted to ask.
"Wh-what are you doing here, bitch?! I thought you died!" Her gaze was interrupted by the King's outburst to her. Turning to look at him, the same puzzlement in her eyes, she said: "Your Majesty, I am here to serve you your soup. It is customary to serve the Host before the guests an--"
"Don't lie! Guards! Get this assassin out of my sight before she hurts anyone!" By now, the whole room was filled with standing demon lords, and the word 'assassin' only helped to make them curl their lips up in threatening snarls to their Hosts' defense.
For the second time since she came, the bell of alarm began pounding through her head as the guards pushed their way through the gathering crowd and took hold of her arms, weapons pointed at her chest. 'Ohmygoodnesstheyfoundmeout!!!' Truly shocked, she gave no resistance when heavy, cold chains were locked to her wrists. Her mouth opened, then clamped shut, and opened again. At a loss of words, she simply pleaded with her eyes to the frantic hanyou prince.
"F-Father! You're mistaken! She's not Kikyou! Kikyou died a-"
"Boy! Are you blind? She is Kikyou. Just because you love her doesn't mean I'll let her kill my family and destroy my kingdom!"
Giving up, Inu Yasha simply growled at his father, then turned and with a swipe of his claws, the chains came off. Grabbing her by the wrist, he forcefully pulled her in front of his father.
"Look carefully, Father! See the difference! Kikyou's eyes were a cold, smokey gray color that was sometimes tinted hazel. Lady Phoenix's is Gary blue, a blueberry color! Kikyou is cold and deceiving, Lady Phoenix is a... a... is not like Kikyou at all!"
Shaking in the custody of the royal guards, Kagome whimpered, tears of fright rolling down her pale face. As he looked closely, King Inuzhao found that indeed, she was very different in appearance to Kikyou. Still not letting down his guard, he grunted, signifying the release of the teenager. "I... apologize, Lady Phoenix. For compensation, I'll give you half your current amount as a bonus to you for your own use. It is... hard to-"
"I understand, Your Majesty. I am fine, just needing to catch my breath. M-May I please be excused to freshen up?"
"Why, of course!"
"Thank you, and when I return, I'll give you a song and dance in honor of your great reign."
With that, she left, bowing and paying respects to the Lords and Ladies that parted for her to go through. 'That was close.' She thought. As she ran down the winding halls that she had already memorized, she sensed someone, a human, following her. This human was quite skilled, as he or she was extremely quiet. If not for Kagome's sensitivity in her ears, a human would not had heard him or her.
Turning a sharp corner, she leapt up the wall and hid where the decorative column met with the ceiling to support the end of the dedicate arc of the hall entrance. Using the magnificently carved nooks and indents as foot holds, her skill allowed herself to seek stability in the placing of both palms flat against the ceiling above her head.
As her follower rounded the corner, Kagome could tell it was a girl. Dressed like a servant, the gleaming neck piece around her throat confirmed that she was indeed a slave of a youkai master's household. The girl paused, feet apart one bore the other, in a defensive stance that suggested easy access to bolting at signs of danger and quick blocks to incoming attacks. Her kimono, a pastel blue color, was made of silk, meaning she worked for someone of high standards. Not recalling her long black hair and ruby red eyes in the household she herself worked in at the moment, she deduced that this girl had come along with one of the Lords or Ladies attending the alliance reunion.
'Wait..! Ruby red eyes, long black hair--!' Growling, she leapt upon her prey, the later not noticing until the skilled fighter's delicate hands wrapped around the back of her neck and her left wrist, threatening to end her life with a mere tap of the dangerous pressure point at the back of her neck.
** ** **
Letting out a near silent "Damn!", she froze. Lifting her right hand slowly into her attacker's plain sight, she waited for whatever was to happen.
"Who are you? And why are you here? Do you plan to harm the King and his family?"
"No, but I do what you do as well, Angel of Death."
** ** **
Gasping, she tightened her hold on the girl in front of her, hissing out a demand for her to reveal her identification and how she knew who she was. The girl who attacked with the boomerang the night before requested Kagome to release her, so that they could talk properly, assuring that she would not attack or flee. Knowing that this girl's goals were similar to her own, the act last night providing her with evidence, she let the female go, allowing her to turn around and look her straight in the face.
Blink.
Blink.
"KAGOME?!"
"SANGO?!"
Blink.
Blink.
"What...What are you doing here? I thought you went with your mother to the mountains to train!"
"I did, Kagome! But my mother fell ill, and she passed away. Father took care of me. But... he likes to gamble, like you know, Kagome. And he... he lost a great deal of money to the son of a great demon lord. So he sold me and Kohaku to the Lord's son to pay his dept... He got Kohaku back, but he left the city we were staying at once he won a great amount of money from betting. He never came back after that, and so I had to serve in the Lord's household. It's been three years since I last saw them, Kagome, and now, the stink'in creature wants me to be his fregg'in concubine."
"I'm so sorry. I-- Wait, there's someone coming. Quick, up here!"
Leading her long lost friend up to the same corner she had situated herself in, she helped Sango balance herself against the wall. After the patrolling guards passed, Kagome motioned for Sango to follow her. Leading her friend into her room, Kagome closed the door and motioned for Sango to sit.
"So? What're you doing here? When I saw you, I was so suspicious. I was thinking that it couldn't be you, but I just had to know! And what's this? You work in a brothel?!"
"No. Well, yes. I work at the brothel, called the Autumn Flowers House. I work as an entertainer, not as a night companion. I'd never disgrace my Father by becoming one of them."
"Yeah. Hey, what's with the Prince?" As Kagome got up and prepared tea, the older female questioned her.
"Sesshoumaru? Oh, he's just a block of ice, don't mind him." Setting the tea down in front of the ruby red eyed girl, she fished out a nicer looking dress and sash, and started undressing and dressing.
"No, the one that saved you. I think his name was Inu Tasha?"
"Inu Yasha. He's just got a hot temper and a low patience level. Don't worry 'bout him, either. Oh, and Sango, please call me phoenix-chan from now on. Even though my hearing is top quality, It's still better."
"Oh. Sure, and you call me Kotori-chan, 'kay? That's the name I'm using. Too bad I didn't think of using yours; it would have been more logical, the Phoenix Clan being my School."
"Haha. Kotori-chan, hm? Well, 'Least it's a bird."
"Um, phoenix-chan, it was you who killed all those bastards, right?"
"Yup. And I'd be careful if I were you: there are Wanted posters all over the capital, and it has your picture too, considering that I made your hood fall off. Sorry 'bout that."
"It's not your fault. You were just protecting them."
"Yeah... but I still feel bad. ... Hey! Now that you're staying for at least the next three weeks, we can travel at night together, and perform together too!"
"Sure! Why not? We used to do everything together."
** ** **
"Sorry it took so long, Your Majesty."
"That's alright, Lady Phoenix. I see you've met Lord Youti's new concubine, Lady Kotori."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I knew here since we were children, grew up together, until five years ago when she left the village with her mother. I request for us to entertain Your Honored Lordships together, as a sort of reunion."
"Very well. Let the dancing begin!"
As the two girls danced and sang, the dinner resumed its course, the girls providing soothing background music to the business affairs happening throughout the dining room. After their turn was over, Lady Kotori stayed on stage, by request of Lord Youti (much to her disgust and lack of luck), to perform a solo song.
The dinner ended, and the dancing started. All guests and entertainers, slaves and concubines were led to the huge, cavernous ball room that glittered with crystal chandeliers and polished marble floors. The light of the candles reflected off the smooth, mirror like walls and illuminated the whole room in a warm and fuzzy glow. Large white, delicately carved doors led outside to the ballroom garden, another of the hundred of gardens within the estate, where ponds and statuettes, benches and fragrant, blooming trees, shrubs and other plants grew in a carefully planned and manicured landscape. Refreshments were set at a long, white clothed table to the right of the garden doors, providing fresh air to those that rested sore feet or felt light headed from the closeness of the crowd on the dance floor. Like any other ballroom, the other walls were lined with fashionable and expensive looking furniture: couches, benches, small tables, vases, potted plants, large framed paintings, chairs; and a lush, oriental looking carpet acted as a walk around the whole room, where inside the lush rectangle would be the activity area and outside it the couches and chairs.
Again, the dances, too, were ended, and the guests filed out to their own respective chambers, where they would sleep a peaceful and undisturbed night.
** ** **
"Your Majesty! Queen Helian! I bring unfortunate news!"
"What is it, Heraloumaru the Messenger?"
"Sir Goshitama has been murdered by the Angel of Death! A letter had been left in his blood, saying that he had become prey to she who killed at nightfall because he had given information to Kikyou and Naraku, arranging entrances to and fro from the estate."
"What?! My brother would never do such a thing! Dear husband you must stop it! You know my younger brother wouldn't betray you! For crying out loud what good would it do to him?! He's human and if we did die or met some unfortunate fate he would lose all his power obtained from being my dearest brother and he would be sold as a slave and he wouldn't even be able t--" (AN: she's babbling. no commas are used for a good reason.)
"Helian! Helian! Heraloumaru! Get a doctor! My wife is not fit to receive such a shock! Get a doctor,NOW!"
"Y--Yes s--sir. As you command..."
** ** **
"Well, doctor? How is she?"
"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."
"I don't understand. What are you trying to say?"
"The baby is gone. I'm sorry."
The King tried to push away the tears, but they came anyway. He held his mate's hand, forehead pressed against her backhand, and he listened to the royal doctor in despair.
"She was not fit to have such a shock. She has weakened significantly from her first birth, even though it was seventeen years ago, but I had warned you that she may not make it through a second pregnancy. When I found that she had actually managed to survive and carry the baby after the poison she experienced coursing through her body, I was truly shocked. We should be thankful, in a way, to the Angel of Death, as the poison she used had healing properties as well, and it did well to the baby."
"Will my mate fare well?"
"I cannot say yes or no, as I honestly know not. We must pray that she will return to us safely. She should regain consciousness in a couple of days, as the sudden shock has effected her so greatly it needs much time to wear off. If she is in denial about the situation, it may take much longer, and she may no wake at all. It is possible."
Waving the doctor away after the old demon listed the medicines and the instructions for use of them, the mighty King was left alone in his chamber with his paled wife.
After what seemed like hours of thinking, he summoned his younger son's advisor.
"Myouga. I trust you can solve this occurrence which I wish to be rumored. I want to know the truth of it all, and very, very soon. I trust that you are a wise and righteous lord. Do whatever it takes. If the Angel of Death is guilty, though I do believe that she has been framed, she shall suffer the consequences like any other. If she is not guilty, then I want the killer found immediately."
"Hai, Your Majesty."
** ** **
"Phoenix-chan, do you want to go take a look around the capital?"
"Sure Kotori-chan. Let's get ready."
** ** **
"Sango-chan, we'll have to rely on signals now. No talking from now on."
"Un."
** ** **
Two dark shadows leaked out of the tall, white washed walls of the Royal estate. Traveling on rooftops, they leapt from street start to street end, street end to street start, looking for signs of people in distress. They laughed silently at the Wanted posters of both the shadows.
An hour after trekking the dark streets and saving one old grandfather from a local thug, the taller of the two signaled for the slightly shorter to follow her down to the road. As the blueberry color eyed female joined her friend, she saw curious read eyes scanning a new Wanted poster. How strange.
Leaning forward to peer over the older girl's shoulder, the Angel of Death scanned the Wanted poster as well.
"To the Angel of Death.
We have received grave news that you are responsible for the murder of Queen Helian's younger brother, Sir Goshitama. We request that you make an appearance within the second week of the Alliance Reunion, to discuss this very important matter.
Please come unarmed; we will not attempt to harm you in any way.
Sincerely,
The King and Lords of Nokihs."
The younger stared at the older, watching the older's brilliant red eyes question hers. Shaking her head, she headed back to the estate, already thinking of ways to break the suspicion of her as the murderer, and ways to make the murderer appear. She noted, her demon-like sense of smell and hearing notifying her, that her friend followed close behind. That was good. She would need a friend to talk to and plan things out. She would also take her friend with her; Sango had been her best friend, and they'd grown up together. After a long time they had finally met, and she would not exclude her from anything she did.
As they reached their room, having shared Kagome's, they took off their disguised and discussed about the letter, and what they would do. It was already the fifth day into the first week of the Alliance Reunion, and they had less than three days to find the identity of the actual murderer. Of course, they could just go and promise to find the true person at fault after proving Kagome free of guilt, but the young fifteen year old's love to the royal family would not allow her to go empty handed. They went to sleep then, after much discussion, and a promise to find out the truth before the third day ended.
** ** **
Myouga sat in his large and comfortably furnished room. All the furniture
and things in the room were normal sized towards a demon in human form, but
he did not mind. He liked it this way. Now, he sat in his cushioned chair,
thinking about the daughter of his dear old friend.
Yes, it had been a century from the last time he'd seen phoenix demon Fukuma. He had saved the flea demon's life once, when the puny flea had decided to take a slurp of a very fierce dragon demon's blood. Myouga could still remember the way Fukuma and his soon-to-be wife Tanikura fought side by side; lovingly, gracefully. They had been a perfect match of beautifully colored phoenixes, their long, green and blue eyed tail feathers glistening in the sun's rays.
Although he had not seen the face of the Angel of Death, he could tell by the way she fought, and the aura she gave off that she was their daughter. He knew her name, as he was the one that had ceremoniously bound the two love birds (^.^) together and it was he, too, that was witness to the procedure of the demon mating. In thanks, he had been given the honor to name the child they would have first.
=========Flashback
"Myouga, we thank you very much for helping and advising us. In return for our in-experienced-ness, we'd like you to name our first child."
"Mnmmm.... I'm honored to, great Guardian of the Skies. Let me think... Kagome. Kagome would be a wonderful name."
"Yes... Kagome Higurashi. It is truly wonderful."
=========End Flashback
GLOSSARY
*youkai=*sigh* It's the equivalent to demon/monster/and such
*onee-sama=older sister/way of addressing an older than you female (equivalent
to "jie" (chptr. 2)
*Hai= yes
*Un=think of it as when you agree (or say yeah/yes) by way of "mm-hmmm".
not necessarily japanese, though in jap I think it's "yeah" as well.
AN: Oooo~~! Big cliffhanger there! at least, in my opinion! don't worry, the suspense will build over a couple more chapters, then you'll know the history of everyone in the story! *evil grin* Ummm... i'm very sorry 'bout the interruptions of AN's in the chapter! I try as much as possible not to. As well, anyone who reviews and leaves their email will get a notfication email when the next chapter comes out, so if you dun want one, tell me in your review. I'll also be emailing to say thanx for reviewing(to those that reviewed for the first time), just so you know how much i appreciate them. hmm... what else? oh, yes. my other fic, World's Craziest and Curelist Inu Yasha Pairs will be redone: i am going to literally make a story of it, though i'll keep the format of no one talking except for the very end. So please review or email me at athena_amy@hotmail.com; and a final thanks to those that emailed and encouraged me! Even flames are welcome, pple! i love anything from my readers; i wont get mad, really! (well, only if you DONT review...) Ah, yes. And min and Lyra, did you like your part? #_#
Disclaimer:
"I'm a poor little girl, on an empty stage,
For ideas to turn the light on.
My life, dear readers, is a fully written page,
That I will continue to write on.
To write on.
You are no~t Rumiko Taka-hashi,
And I sure-ly am not either,
I trully don't own Inu-Yasha, and Co.,
so please don't sue~~ me!" from Sixteen Going on Seveteen of Sound of Music. I dont own that movie or its songs either. *sigh*