AN: Hey! Sorry for not getting this out earlier!
I banged my fist on the wall, watching the guard crumple before me. This had to be some sick, disgusting joke! There was no way the prisoners could have escaped! I put my two best men downstairs! Nothing was going right, first Miroku…and then this. I wondered if Higurashi was among the ones to escape, and for some bloody odd reason, I didn't want her to be part of the pack. Things would've been kept in motion if she was still here; at least there still would've been some sort of enemy in my head. Nevertheless, I summoned the other 5 into my quarters. God knew this was never going to come out correct…
Sango, Souten and Kanna were among the first ones to come. Figures since Sango was already in my room and the other two were prancing around outside of it. Miroku came last, which is not at all a surprise; he was probably mooning over that idiot un-girlfriend of his. I sincerely hope that combat won't be too hard for the poor fellow.
"The prisoners have escaped," I whispered. My slurring voice filled the room, echoing off the tough walls. I could almost feel the tension in the room. Almost.
"How'd it happen?" Kagura eyed me, if that was at all possible.
"I don't know."
Silence hovered above us, and I could tell the surprise look etched on all their faces. Any idiot would've seen it. The great Inuyasha? Not knowing? That was absurd! And in their faces, I could see something different too. I don't know what it was, but it lightened them; like the bags under Kagura's eyes miraculously disappearing; or the slow grin appearing on the twins' mouths. What was it? Something I hadn't experienced since a long time, I reckon.
So I looked into their eyes, searching for an ounce of betrayal anywhere within them. Growing up without emotions, it was incredibly easy to find them in other people.
"Inu-yasha, what're you doing?" Souten asked, clasping his hands tensely. I could see the small beads of perspiration hanging off his chin. Wasn't that sweet? The kid was scared. And I smiled because of it.
"Checking for something. Straighten your backs," I ordered.
It was different for everyone. In Sango's eyes all I could see was renewed vengeance; in Kagura the only thing there was a monotony of sorts; while looking in the twins I saw something I never would've expected; shedding innocence. And I realized that I've hit home with that. Innocence. Had I ever been so full of it before? Had I ever even been a child? I can't remember much of my days as a sodding kid, and I felt this weird thing in the pits of my stomach, calling out to me.
I ignored it.
Miroku was next, and the final one in the group. There was just that certain thing about him that made him a lone wolf; I think it was that he wasn't afraid of me like the rest. God knows he always treated me like an equal and not the fucking superior I wished for myself to be. And it oddly felt good that there was somebody in the world that wouldn't look up to me in apprehension. Was I going soft? No, I suppose it's been in me for a long time. Perhaps all my life.
"Inu-yasha," Miroku huffed, eyes dead set on me, "we better catch them as fast as we can. Leave someone in charge of the castle and we can try and get to them."
I nodded slowly, releasing my stare at the man. "Come on. I'll leave Tell the head guard downstairs he's in charge. And tell him it's a direct order from me. He can imagine the consequences himself if everything wrecks havoc."
"All-right," Miroku said, turning to flee downstairs.
"And Sango, honey, we have to close up our plans as of now. Fun working with you," I lifted her chin with a claw.
And for once, she didn't object.
~*~
It was weird going to the outside world after a while. Of course I'd been here whenever I caught my prey; but the actually see it was a different experience all-together. Like the cities; have you ever noticed how all the buildings are perfectly aligned together in symmetry? Or the houses; have you ever heard the laughter in them? Made me feel almost guilty to actually rob those bastards of their families. And I found myself wishing to God that I hadn't gone out here. Was this how the guards felt every night? Thank God I wasn't them.
"Let's split up here," Miroku announced all of a sudden.
"Good idea. They could be anywhere within a 2 mile radius," Sango agreed. I dispersed them too all the locations needed to be checked out. Catching Miroku's eye before I left on my own, I nodded at him. Maybe I could trust him to deal with our matters as well. Odd, isn't it? How your first pound of something real was in such a hectic situation.
To these five others in front of me, I could finally let my shell go.
They'd never know it, of course, but it was the letting go that was important.
~*~
Kag's POV.
"Come on," Miroku prodded me on, waving me to his direction. I looked around me before I finally ran up to him. This should be fun, our night out into the town! I knew that I hadn't done that in a long time, and it felt so good to be out. I'm just happy to rid myself of that dreadful dungeon with all the rat-infested sewers and crazy old man hampering about.
"Hey, so we're still meeting at that café tomorrow, right?" Miroku asked, hooking his arm into mine. He patted my head and ruffled me around a little before grinning.
"Of course, so what's his reaction to us leaving?" I asked, smirking.
"Oh, you should've seen it! He looked like he was actually trusting us for once!" Miroku laughed; well, bellowed really.
"Is that so?" Poor bastard; the only people he ever trusted in his life and the one he honored the most was the one betraying him. I can't say that Inu-yasha didn't deserve it, though, because I could almost swear he was the devil incarnate. Those claws and that hair! If they were natural then he should really check out the beauty parlor down the road; he'd either be defiled or sent on exhibition.
"Come on, there's this festival in the city center and I want to go there!" I announced, grabbing Miroku by the head. The old times were certainly back.
"You know, that hurt," Miroku pouted, rubbing his head. "And besides, a festival is so boring!"
"There's a lot of girls there," I sang, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Hell yeah!"
I shook my head gravely.
~*~
So we went to the festival and trounced around for a while, winning every fair-booth there was in our vicinity. We were famous within the vendors and one by one, we found them turning us down. It was disappointing, really, because we could've won a whole lot more. There was one vendor that was left unexplored and Miroku came bouncing towards it when he saw a girl trying to play darts in it.
"Here, pretty lady," he chuckled, taking away the single dart in her hand, "this is how you do it."
He raised his hand expertly as he threw the dart right in the center. The girl gasped (of course) and turned around to thank him. I slapped myself in the forehead when I realized who she was. Sango. Of all people, that bitch!
I hid behind a bush to catch their conversation. What was wrong with being a peeping Tom? No fault to it. I bet everyone's eavesdropped at least once in their lives. Now it was my chance.
I never like Sango; since the day she came into my town, I could never quite put my finger on what was so right about her. Everyone loved her; my parents, her fosters, even my friends. Couldn't stand the way she danced around with her frilly pink bows, laughing effortlessly at how the 'wind blew in her face.' That was direct quote taken only from her majesty. Was I jealous of her? Hell yes! And did I despise her? Even more so. She was nowhere near the angel she so proclaimed to be. In fact, she was an all-out fake. She threatened me behind my back, spread crude remarks about me; the only person that trusted me in the end was Miroku. And in the end, he was also the guy she wanted. Too bad she couldn't have him. Too bad that right now she looked like the only girl he noticed.
I reckon I can't really blame Sango for hating me because of what I did. I can't face myself every single day, knowing of those futile actions I undertook way back when. I still can't admit I did that. That's how shameful I am.
After what I did, I went on the run; never saw Miroku or anyone else again after that. When they caught me, they told me I was a bloody sacrifice for their 'god.' His name was Inu-yasha. And the worst thing about it was that I couldn't find a single difference between him and I. Not a single difference
Cold blooded murderer? Here I am! Unappreciative prat? I raise my hand! Would rather be dead? I hereby announce my presence.
I guess I haven't told that story about all the murders, huh? Yeah, you'd be frightened to know just how easy it was to do everything.
I turned my head as I heard parts of their conversation.
"Sango! I forgot you were patrolling here!" Miroku exclaimed, trying to cover up his dire mistake.
"Yes I was, what're you doing here?"
"Well what are you doing here? Playign games, huh?"
"And yourself, with all those rabbits and first-prize trophies?"
"I was just testing to see if I still had great reflexes!" And I jolly well slapped myself again that time. For a supposed genius, Miroku sure as hell was a bad liar.
Oh right, back in the day, we went to the same school. Yes Miroku was an announced genius, yes he had a bright future ahead of him, yes I ruined it all for him.
"So, I'm going back to my turf," Miroku stuttered halfway through.
"See you around."
"Of course."
As soon as Sango turned her back, I snatched Miroku behind the bush, clasping my hand over his mouth so he wouldn't scream or anything.
"That was so close!" I hissed.
"Sorry! I forgot what Inu-yasha's orders were!"
Silence filled around us.
"Hey, I've got a question."
"Shoot."
"Do you love her?" I asked. I studied the lines of his face once more, before finding my answer in them.
"I--…"
"You know what, you don't have to answer. Just," I added, "just be careful."
He nodded.
~*~
AN: OK, so the San/Mir pairing is going to come sooner than Inu/Kag. But don't' worry, Inu/Kag will be together in the end! As for what Kagome did? That will all be revealed later on. There's still a few little things I want to add here and there.
