Prologue: Deadly Alliances
Have you ever seen the face of hatred?
The face of hate is cold and lifeless.
The hate cannot let go and is forced to remain- trapped- forever stuck in that moment of its hating. It lives but it can never truly live. It can only hate. The hate can find no rest not even in death.
The face of hatred is one of sorrow- forever hating, never able to move on. The hatred can never forgive. It is instead damned to an eternity of hating. Revenge cannot even satisfy the hatred. The hatred must instead hate- it is unable to be resolved.
Have you ever seen the face of hatred?
I have seen the face of hatred.
The face of hatred is pained and angry. Its eyes bear scars from a lifetime of injury. It has wounds that will never be allowed to heal because it can never let go of its hate. And yet it is…
Beautiful.
***
"I am honored by your respect of my request. Your presence is greatly appreciated."
"…"
"I must admit- I was doubting whether you would come. But I see that you truly are a man of his word…however few they may be."
"I assume you requested me here for a purpose and not just to irritate me."
An unreadable expression appeared within the russet eyes. "I should have known better than to expect one such as yourself to lower himself to such petty things such as humour and small talk. So yes, I have asked you here for a purpose. A cause that would be deemed worthy even in your eyes." A pause. "We- you and I- can help each other."
"Are you trying to imply that someone such as I would ever require assistance from the likes of you?" A glare. "Or was that another attempt to aggravate me?"
"I expected no less from you. I knew you would not be willing to agree. At least…not without a valid reason, of course." That expression again. "But what if I told you that I can help you? That I can help you get that which you have vainly sought after for all this time?"
"Vainly?"
"My humblest apologies. I did not mean to offend." A smirk. "The treasure you covet after even now as we stand here speaking. If I could help you obtain that. What would you say then?"
"I have no need for any alliances. If that is all you have come here to say, then I have wasted valuable time on nonsense. I am leaving."
"Foolish man. You covet after a prize that you cannot even hold with your own hand. So stubborn. You are so much like him, you know?" An airy laugh escaped, finding its way through the darkness that surrounded them into the night sky.
"Do not ever make the mistake of comparing me to him. Repeating it would not be wise."
"But how can I not? When the two of you are so very much alike?"
"…I am leaving."
"You want it but not bad enough to risk death for it. Because you know that's what it means to face him again. Death is always a possibility." The words lowered to a whisper. A soft whisper that was like a kiss to his ears. A kiss reeking of the bittersweet taste of death. And yet also held…promise. "Because he will never hesitate to kill you. But me…" The smirk again. "He cannot kill me."
A pause. Considering the idea. "And what do you hope to gain by assisting me?"
That infuriating smirk again. "Me? I have my own treasure that I am coveting after. A prize that with your help, is easily within my grasp."
"…"
"I take your lack of response as a consent? We will discuss this again. The same time tomorrow?"
"Do not make me wait."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
***
And they were so alike in so many ways.
She was hatred, given form and breath, but not life. She was hatred without a soul- walking throughout a world in which she no longer held a place with no purpose other than to hate. And he-
He had enough hatred within his soul to fill all the oceans of the world.
***
"You are late."
"My humblest apologies." The sarcasm in her voice and amusement in her brown eyes did not go unnoticed by him. "It will not happen again." Her insolence was grating on his already thin patience. It was, to date, the third time she had kept him waiting. He constantly found himself questioning his judgement in agreeing to their alliance, albeit temporary. He studied his companion. Her physical appearance, the fair skin, slender lithe body, brown eyes and long dark hair with blunt bangs, was, he could admit, impressive. On human standards she was, one could say, beautiful.
But she was not to be trusted.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you prepared to carry out your end of this bargain?"
"But of course. However, I require from you a little more time."
"As far as I'm concerned you have wasted far too much of my time already. I tire of you quickly." The threat lay there, dormant in his low cold voice. Dormant, but still there.
But apparently not enough to strike fear into her. That damn smirk again. She was amused. The arrogant wench. "You are right of course. But I still need a little longer of your precious time."
He turned, having finished his business with her. He could, after all, only stand being with her in short periods of time without being overwhelmed by the urge to kill her.
She smirked at his retreating figure. He did not trust her and she had never expected him to. After all, she had no intention of placing any faith in him. He was merely pawn- a tiny piece in an infinitely bigger picture.
***
And underneath all the hate, there lies something else.
Sorrow.
***
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all of its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Not me.
R&R- Amethyst