Chapter 16
Shura awoke slowly as her senses warned her of a lurking presence outside. Pricking her ears upward she listened quietly for a moment as the creature approaching fumbled noisily through grass and foliage. Shura opened her eyes just slightly and coiled her fingertips over the handle of Soma's dagger. The figure outside had reached the building. The demon tightened her grip on the weapon as the door to her room opened slightly. Whatever creature had the nerve to intrude on her was either very brave or very foolish. Keeping herself perfectly still Shura waited. For several minutes the room was silent with the exception of the intruders subtle breathing. Whoever was there was clearly assessing the situation. Then footsteps. They were light, but Shura heard them clearly. Shura felt her muscles tense. The trespasser was nearly at her bedside. She just needed to wait a few more seconds until…
Her strike was perfectly executed. Just as Jaken had wondered into rage Shura jolted upward with such speed that the demon didn't even have time to yell let alone move. Now with her blade mere centimeters from his exposed throat Shura glared on with cold annoyance at her former babysitter.
"Jaken. It's not polite to sneak into a lady's room uninvited." Jaken of course would have bowed frantically in apology but the sharp object pointed under his chin made that impossible. This time his shaking knees were the only visual submission he could offer.
"F…forgive me Lady Shuramaru…" Jaken squeaked. At the mention of her birth name Shura edged the tip of her blade closer causing Jaken to speak a full note higher. "I didn't mean to intrude…but…" Shura glared in disgust. She already knew where his conversation was going.
"Why did my father send you Jaken?" Shura growled as she simultaneously recoiled her dagger. Jaken let out a deep breath of relief then quickly got back to the matter at hand.
"Lord Sesshomaru has asked me to deliver a message. He wants you to meet him tonight before sunset." Shura's reaction was exactly what Jaken had anticipated and feared the most. She turned up her nose.
"I'll bet he does," Shura grumbled. Jaken did an anxious little dance as he tried to persuade Shura to rethink matters.
"Please Lady Shura, it would mean a lot to him if you would come. After all he hasn't seen you in years and…" Jaken clamped his mouth shut when Shura narrowed her eyes and contracted her pupils into angry slits.
"That was his choice! Not mine!" she snapped. Shura felt herself shudder at her own words. The feelings of bitterness she had managed to subdue years ago still lingered painfully in her heart. And as much as she desired an explanation from her father, deep inside Shura knew she wasn't strong enough to hear it. Not yet. The demoness rose and swiftly rotated herself so she was facing away from Jaken.
"Jaken I want you to leave." Shura spoke in a quiet but firm voice. "And I don't ever want to see you or father here again understand."
Jaken was stunned. He knew Sesshomaru's daughter had always been rebellious, but commanding on top of refusing a request! She was acting almost as arrogant as the demon lord himself. Even so, he couldn't return to his master empty handed.
"Please my lady, please reconsider!" Jaken cowered as Shura's cold gaze fell on him again.
"And why should I do that?" she inquired with a note of sarcasm.
"be…because he'll be angry if you don't…and you know how he gets when he's angry…." Jaken stammered. Shura clenched her hands into fists. She knew exactly how her father would react if she refused an audience with him. The hotheaded demon lord would not hesitate in destroying the entire village if the end result was dragging her out. It was a risk she couldn't take. With so many innocent lives on the line Shura had no other option then to obey her father's request.
Sighing heavily Shura finally agreed, much to Jaken's relief. His task completed, Jaken scampered outside and waited for Shura to follow. After carefully setting Soma's dagger among her collection, Shura gathered up a fresh bag of flash powder, just in case. She also selected another weapon to carry with her. Less conspicuous then her favorite weapon the dragon's eye, Shura chose an elegant flame whip and tucked it inside her kimono. Then she stepped outside into the afternoon sunshine and followed her father's servant to where their mount was waiting.
Shura got an enthusiastic greeting from the dragon beast that had accompanied Jaken. She was surprised the creature still remembered her after so long. Pulling herself into the saddle, Shura eased the creature off the ground with a gentle command. All to happy to obey, the dragon took off before Jaken could even seat himself.
The sun was fading lightly in the sky as the dragon beast arrived at its destination. As expected, Sesshomaru was waiting. He watched calmly as the creature lowered itself to the ground at the command of its passenger.
"Hello Shura." the demon lord extended a greeting in his typical, emotionless manner. Shura glanced over to where the demon lord stood as she dismounted. Her greeting was voiced in the same manner except where Sesshomaru's held dignity, Shura's held bitterness.
"Father." Sesshomaru watched with cold, dull, eyes as his child approached him.
"You don't look happy to see me." his comment made Shura's fur stand on end. Her instincts warned that something wasn't right with her father. Even in his most emotional states, which were rare, Sesshomaru had never spoken to her with such coldness as he had just then. Shura also felt a definite disturbance in the immediate area.
"What do you want?" came Shura's blunt reply. She wanted to end this meeting as soon as possible. With her intuition blazing full alert, she knew that this was not the time to dwell on her past family issues. Sesshomaru's expression didn't change.
"I want you to bring me Inuyasha's sword, the Tetsusaiga." Shura narrowed her eyes. A reunion after nearly twenty years and the first thing her father does is have her run his errands! Unbelievable! For a moment Shura let down her guard and was about to put in an angry word when her protest was interrupted. Jaken, who had positioned himself next to his master, looked up in bewilderment when he heard the order.
"But master why would you have Shura do such a thing? You can't even handle the Tetsusaiga!" Now Shura was convinced something was not right. Why would her father request a sword he couldn't even use? Sesshomaru glared bitterly at Jaken.
"Do not question me again Jaken!" he threatened. Timidly the little demon cowered in fear as his master once again turned his attention to Shura. "Do as I say, unless you want that village to suffer." Shura glared angrily but said nothing. Once again she was left with no other option. Her father, and whatever other force was behind him, held all the cards, and she had neither the strength nor the skill to oppose them. For the time being, she would have to honor his request. Perhaps by doing so she could unlock the mystery taking place, and find the reasoning behind the demon lord's strange behavior.
It was dark by the time Shura returned home. The air was filled with the sound of insects and the scent of flowers hung everywhere. Journeying around the back of the inn, Shura quietly crept into her bedroom and shut the door behind her. Then she sat down on her bed and tried to clear her mind. She needed to remain calm if she was going to solve anything. After breathing deeply for a few minutes Shura was finally relaxed enough to focus on the most immediate task in front of her; stealing Inuyasha's sword. But how to go about it? She certainly couldn't do it herself; she was no thief, and Inuyasha was still a guest in her home. She couldn't ask for it either. Shura knew Inuyasha would never part with his blade. Not to mention that such a request coming from her was bound to raise the others' suspicions, and that could turn ugly. But how then?
Shura perked her ears when the rustle of foliage sounded outside her door. At first she was afraid it was Jaken sent to check on her progress, but one sniff quickly assuaged her fear. Though the scent drifting through the air was coming from a demon, this creature's presence was a welcome one. Shura got up, opened the door and beckoned the demon inside with a smile and happy greeting.
"Welcome home Ukuri." Shura crooned as a small, serpent like dragon with the head and ears of a wolf strode into her room. The creature was still very young for a dragon kit, with a body that only reached about six feet in length. His metallic scales ranged in color depending on his mood, but normally they maintained a shade of rose pink, all except for his feet and belly, which were white. The little beast also had pure white, feathery frills atop the ridges of his shoulders and thighs, as well as on his wrists, ankles, between the eyes and at the very tip of his tail. The colors provided quite a contrast with the creatures, intelligent teal eyes.
Shura smiled affectionately as her dragon friend chirped a happy reply to her greeting.
"Did you have trouble delivering the medicine I asked you to?" She asked him. As she expected Ukuri shook his head. Despite the lengthy trip, the dragon's visit to a neighboring forest guardian to transport supplies and medicine was actually quite routine.
Relieved in the success of the delivery, Shura briefly left the room to find food for her companion. It looked to her like the slender creature hadn't eaten in days, in which case he probably didn't. A devoted worker by nature, Ukuri took Shura's requests very seriously. Despite his friend's gentle warnings he always put assignments ahead of even his most basic needs. Shura returned moments later with a bowl of cream and large piece of leftover mushroom. The dragon ate ravenously and was only content after he devoured every last crumb that even remotely resembled food.
When his stomach was full the dragon kit stretched and rested his head in Shura's lap. Purring softly, Ukuri listened as Shura spent the next hour retelling the series of events that he had missed over the past few days. The dragon perked up with interest when she reached the part concerning her father's unusual demand, and the resulting dilemma. Considering Shura's rapport with her guests it didn't seem right that she should be the one to betray them. Perhaps the task of stealing the Tetsusaiga was best left up to him. When he suggested the idea to his friend, Shura's only response was an expression filled with both gratitude and guilt. As much as she liked the dragon's request she couldn't shove another task on him so soon after his return.
Ukuri crooned compassionately and coiled himself around Shura's body. She finally agreed to his plan, but only after the creature assured her that he was happy to help considering he owed her his life.
"Very well then Ukuri. You should easily be able to outmaneuver the girl, monk and fox child, but be cautious around the exterminator and her guardian beast." The dragon flicked out his forked tongue and nodded his understanding. "One more thing" Shura added just as the dragon had reached the door. "Despite his recklessness, Inuyasha is a skilled fighter." As she spoke, the demon healer slipped a small pouch around the dragon's neck. "Use this to slow his pursuit." Shura instructed as she opened her bedroom door. "Now go swiftly. When you retrieve the sword bring it to me, I'll be waiting at the village outskirts." Ukuri nodded and slipped into the hallway. Shura watched as her companion's form seemingly disappeared as he walked. With the ability to mimic his exact surroundings, Ukuri was indeed the best creature for the job. Shura only hoped his thievery would go unnoticed.
Moving silently the dragon kit crept down the hall until his sharp nose picked up Inuyasha's very distinct half-demon scent. The trail led to one of the guest rooms near the front of the building. Ukuri flicked out his forked tongue. He was in luck, the door to the guests room was open slightly; just enough room for him to sneak in undetected.
As he slithered his way through the doorway Ukuri surveyed the scene carefully. The group of six were sitting around a nearly empty platter of food. The two smallest ones, both demons, were sound asleep. As Ukuri stepped closer he quickly identified the half demon Inuyasha. He was sitting cross-legged furthest from the door, and tucked securely at his side was his fabled sword. Ukuri crept forward very slowly, his eyes never leaving his target.