The 5th Son
A/N-You guys remember chapter 5? Do you guys remember that one guy in the woods from chapter 5? If you don't I suggest you go back and read chapter 5 again, because now is where he comes into the story (yesh I have a villain and none of you even noticed XD)
Chapter key:
Italics=Dream
=flashback= in the beginning and =end flashback= at the end of any paragraph(s) means there is a flashback (duh ^^;)
~*~
Chpt 8:ShadowsLight breezes blew quietly through the air and a dark figure made his way around the security at Lord Taisho's Manor. It was a dark night, moonless in fact, but this just made the dark figure smirk.
He had now made it into the Manor gardens, it was only a matter of time before he entered the manor itself… suddenly the dark figure froze, standing quietly without making a sound as the faint sound of screaming echoed in the distance.
The dark figure faltered for a second before laughing a little at himself. There was no reason for him to be worried; after all, he was Izumo Arakida, strongest and most feared of the shadow warriors.
Soon the screaming he heard became clear and sounded something like, the closets are haunted? Izumo shook his head disdainfully before continuing on his way.
As he walked he turned his gaze to the manner and spotted a raven haired maiden who seemed to be watching the infidel who was screaming about closets. Suddenly her gaze adverted and in the blink of an eye Izumo hid before she could see him.
There was one thing that made a shadow warrior easy to pick out from normal beings, and that was the fact, that no matter how dark, no matter how little to no light there was, he would always cast a shadow…
Soon Izumo watched as the maiden turned and went back inside closing the balcony doors behind her. And then swiftly continued on his way…
~*~
=Flashback=
"L-lord Oshima!" said a gruffy looking man as he stumbled up to the throne. Lord Oshima sighed nonchalantly "Yes Basho?" he asked exasperatedly. Basho looked around nervously "Well you see, Lord Oshima, when I went out today to the woods, to capture more peasants to be sold as slaves, so that we may profit I… I found this one girl who I'm sure would have gotten us quite a bit of yen, but then this damn Hanyou came, and tried to kill me. The only thing I could do was flee for my life!" Basho finished worriedly.
Lord Oshima fisted his hands in anger for a moment, but the he calmed down after he suddenly pinpointed a certain part of Basho's story, "Hanyou you say? What did this Hanyou look like, by chance?" he questioned.
"Well, he wore red, and he has long silver hair, sharp claws, golden eyes, and he looked rather young" Basho replied. "Izumo!" Lord Oshima commanded as his best shadow warrior stepped forward. "Tell me Izumo, can you identify this Hanyou?" Lord Oshima questioned him knowingly.
Izumo nodded "Yes, he is Inuyasha Taisho, son of the Lord of the western lands." Izumo replied curtly. Lord Oshima rubbed his chin in though. "Izumo! I want to you to go to the Taisho's manor, gather as much information on the Taisho's and this girl they seem to be protecting. Then if you find that she proves of value to them, do as you see fit" Lord Oshima ordered.
Izumo nodded, and before another breath could be taken he was gone~.
=end Flashback=
~*~
Kagome woke up with a start gasping as she looked around her… It was the oddest thing, in her sleep she had felt someone was watching her, as if she were being stalked or something.
"Weird" She muttered as she looked around her room, for a second she spotted what looked like a person's shadow, but when she blinked and looked again it was gone. "I must be going crazy" Kagome sighed out loud slipping out of bed.
She picked a Yukata to wear today instead of a kimono. She didn't feel like messing with all of the ties and whatnot kimono's had, and besides, yukata's were more comfortable anyways. It was a simple cream colored Yukata with white plum petals embroided into it.
Sleepily Kagome walked down the hall, not much in the mood for breakfast this morning. Yawning wearily Kagome continued down the hall lost in her thoughts.
Things around here weren't going as bad as she had originally thought they would when she first arrived. All of the Taisho's seemed to be very nice actually. "Especially Inuyasha…" Kagome thought becoming a bit dazed.
"Umph!" Kagome began to fall backwards but was caught by a strong hand and pulled up. "You should be careful and watch where you're going" Inuyasha scolded mildly. "Gomen" Kagome said sweat dropping little.
For a moment they just stood there staring at each other. Then both noticed that Inuyasha was still holding Kagome's hand and they blushed profoundly. "Eh, um I need to be on my way now" Inuyasha said letting go of Kagome's hand and walking away.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called out as soon as he started to leave. Inuyasha turned back and arched an eyebrow "What?". Kagome fidgeted a little and looked up "What is there to do around here, it seems no one's around right now".
Inuyasha thought for a moment "Well, we're supposed to spend today with my dad, that is, me sesshoumaru, Keita, and the twins. So, I'm not sure what you could do, maybe check out the library, or hey, you know I'm pretty sure my mom's around someplace" Inuyasha said. "Anyways, I really got to go, I'm already late" he finished as he took of.
"Well isn't that just peachy " Kagome though wearily when suddenly a shadow she saw from the corner of her eye caught her attention. But it had disappeared as easily as it had been noticed. "I really must be going crazy" Kagome thought as she wandered off.
~*~
"What to do, what to do" Kagome mused to herself as she walked around bored as wood. Soon Kagome came to halt as she reached a dead end and saw two oak doors. "Wonder what's in here" she said as she looked around her, and then pushed both doors open.
Inside was, to say the least breath taking! Rows appon rows of books lined the walls of the entire room ending with one large window that went up the entire wall! Kagome wandered in with aw almost tripping over herself as she gazed around the room.
'There are so many books here, it's crazy' she though as she walked up to a shelf. Battle tactics, A winning warrior, Documents of the lands, East, West, North, and South… "Seems this would be Inutaisho's little section of the library" Kagome laughed a little.
She continued down a ways and continued to find several more, interesting looking books, when she came across one that looked like she'd like it, 'Tales of a land Apart'. Kagome took the book and walked over to one the many couches that happened to be in the room.
She sat down on the soft cushion and turned the book over to the back so she could read the summary. ' In a land where Adventure always thrives the young Shinzou Yakamoto comes across a fair young maiden in distress, or, so he thought... Hikura Tashika is in search of a treasure beyond the horizon in the lands of Rokutsa. When these two meet they go on a journey to seek out this treasure and claim it. Full of Adventure, danger, and a little romance, Tales of a land Apart is sure to give a thrill!'
"Sounds good!" Kagome mused as she opened up the book, becoming too engulfed in it to notice the shadow that lurked near by…
~*~
Izumo had made it in rather easily the previous night, and was now in the manor observing it's inhabitants. It had seamed so far, that the girl had a sharp eye, 3times she had noticed his presence… Once the previous night, once when she awoke, and once in the hall after the Hanyou left. Yes, she had a sharp eye indeed 'I'll have to be more careful from now on' he thought as watched the girl from the shadows in the library.
=flashback=
(the previous night)
Izumo entered the Manor and soon came across the conference room where Lord Inutaisho and his five sons resided speaking.
"Tomorrow!?" Inuyasha practically yelled. Inutaisho sighed and rubbed his fore head "yes, tomorrow Inuyasha" was his short reply. "Well, what about Kagome? Can she come?" Inuyasha questioned a hint of hope in his voice.
Inutaisho mentally groaned "We've been over this already Inuyasha. No Kagome can not come, tomorrow is a day intended for the five of you to be able to experience what it is like to be a Lord. Tomorrow is NOT a day for women to tag along".
Inuyasha fisted his hands "But dad, it's just a bunch of discussions with people in the surrounding area about the laws that we'll be sitting through! And besides, what is Kagome going to do all day then!?"
"Inuyasha, my patience is growing thin… Tell Kagome, that if she wishes to find, activities to do tomorrow, to try the library, or perhaps she can speak with your mother" Inutaisho responded waving a hand dismissing Inuyasha and his brothers.
Inuyasha walked off grumbling something like 'stupid law discussion' and 'who would want to talk with mom?'. All the while Izumo watching in the distance.
=end flashback=
It seemed indeed, that Inuyasha, had some kind of bond with this girl. 'It may prove useful later on' Izumo thought as he sunk further into the shadows as he sensed another's presence approaching.
~*~
Her nose buried in the book the slightest thought that some one else had entered the room didn't even occur to her as she continued reading. "That's a favorite of Inuyasha's you know" Lady Mio said startling Kagome out of her thoughts.
"Oh, hello Lady Mio" Kagome greeted warmly as she places a silk lining in the page she was on and shut the book. "Oh you don't need to say Lady Mio, Mio is just fine" Mio said as she sat on the couch next to Kagome.
"Ok then Mio" Kagome replied cheerfully. "So Kagome, we really haven't gotten the chance to talk, tell me about yourself.
"About myself?" Kagome thought for a moment. "Well, I grew up in a small village, with my father. You see, my mother died when I was young. But I still got along rather ok."
Mio interrupted for a second "Tell me, do you have a, special some one back in that village". Kagome blushed from embarrassment at being asked such a personal question. "Well, no, no I don't" she replied skittishly.
"Lady Mio nodded "continue telling me about yourself. Kagome smiled "Well I like to-" Lady Mio's mind drifted away from Kagome voice deep in 'serious' thought.
'No special some one back home eh? Perfect! Kagome'd make a wonderful daughter-in-law I think. Now just the decision of which of my boys to pair her up with. First there's Sesshoumaru… well perhaps not, he's more of the serious type. Maybe Keita? But no, he's got his eyes set on that Saori girl. Hmmm… Well it couldn't be Ryuichi, nor could I set her up with Ryohei, those boys are inseparable, and they'd probably end up fighting over her instead. That leaves… Inuyasha! Yes, they would make the PERFECT match! Oh Mio, you go girl!' Mio thought before she tuned back into what Kagome was saying.
"And that's when I ended up here" Kagome finished. Mio faltered 'I missed everything she said!? Oops…' she though. "Well that was very interesting, you seem to be quite a nice girl Kagome" Mio said standing up. "Well I am sorry, but I'm afraid I have some things to attend to now" Mio said as she left the room.
~*~
"Finally! It's over!" Inuyasha stretched as he exited the conference room where he had just spent a large portion of his day listening to boring verdicts on rules of the Western lands. "Now time to go see what Kagome's up to" He thought as he yawned.
Kagome stifled a small yawn as she set the book down for a moment stretching a bit. "Hey, Kagome!" she heard the familiar voice of Inuyasha as he approached her. Kagome flashed a small smile once Inuyasha reached her and took a seat.
"So how was your day today?" She asked devoting her full attention to him now. "Eh, it was long, full of boring junk about the lands and stuff, I'm actually surprised that I didn't fall asleep half way through it. But who cares about that, what'd you do all day?" Inuyasha replied his ears twitching a little waiting for a response.
"Well, I've been reading this" Kagome said holding up the book in her hand. "Tales of a land apart, good book" Inuyasha said noting that she had good taste. "Ya, I can't seem to put it down. Though I'm starting to get a bit tired" She said stifling yet another yawn.
"Well, you could always take it to bed with you, you know" Inuyasha replied. "Really?" Kagome said looking at the book, and then at the exit of the library. "sure" Inuyasha said shrugging.
"Wow, that'd be great, thanks!" Kagome said hugging Inuyasha. "Uh ya, no problem" Inuyasha replied, his cheeks burning a deep shade of red. "I'm off to bed then" Kagome said getting up and leaving.
'Oh wait, I forgot to tell her about what we had planned for her tomorrow' Inuyasha thought as he jumped up and headed to catch up with Kagome.
~*~
Kagome walked happily down the halls headed for her room 'I'm so happy Inuyasha's letting me take the book with me' she mused cheerfully to herself when a, shadow caught her eye. But then it vanished as quickly as it had been seen.
Kagome burrowed her eye brows a bit in 'I've been catching glimpses of this, shadow all day, and I'm really starting to wonder if some one really is watching me' Kagome thought wearily as she continued walking.
And then , she spotted it again, the shadow. A cold chill ran down Kagome's spine as she quickened her pace feeling as if some one were right behind her now. And just as she reached her a room a hand came out and grabbed by the shoulder from behind.
Kagome whirled around and was about to scream when she gazed into the eyes of… Inuyasha? "Holy crap don't scare me like that, I can't believe it, it's been you all day hasn't it!?" Kagome scolded Inuyasha.
"Been me all day?" Inuyasha asked looking at Kagome and wondering if she has already forgotten that he had spent the whole day in a boring conference. Kagome blinked, and the rubbed her head "all of this is starting to give me a head ache, maybe I'm just paranoid" She said wearily.
"Was there something you wanted?" she asked Inuyasha as she looked up at him. "Uh well, I just wanted to tell you not to make plans for tomorrow" He said as he started to walk away. "Why shouldn't I make plans for tomorrow" Kagome called out to him as he continued to walk away. "Because, we're throwing you a surprise birthday party. But I didn't just tell you that because it's a surprise, ok?" Inuyasha called back right before he disappeared around the corner.
"Surprise Birthday party!? I didn't even know that they knew my birthday was tomorrow!" Kagome thought excitedly. She walked into her room a smile on her face and was greeted by a cold breeze blowing in through the balcony, whose doors were open.
"I thought I closed thos-" Kagome was cut short as a strong arm wrapped around her and an icy hand covered her mouth. Kagome's froze in terror momentarily, but it didn't last long as she bit down on the mans hand making him let go of her mouth. "Inuyasha!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
'Damn girl!' Izumo thought as Kagome bit his hand. And screamed out the hanyou's name. "Lights out for you women" he spoke quietly as he pushed her pressure points and knocked her out.
~*~
As Inuyasha continued down the hall he suddenly got this odd feeling, like something was wrong with Kagome. And unexpectedly Inuyasha heard the high pitched scream of his name coming from Kagome's room. "Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled as he turned around and ran as fast a she possibly could.
A soon as he reached Kagome's room he threw the doors open and stopped catching the slight glimpse as what he recognized only to be a shadow warrior, holding and unconscious Kagome. "You bastard!" Inuyasha yelled as he jumped forward with every intention of ripping the shadow warrior apart.
But instead the warrior simply vanished, with Kagome and all. "Kuso!!!!!" Inuyasha yelled slamming his fist on the wall. Within a matter of seconds later Inutaisho, Mio, Sesshoumaru, Ryuichi, Ryohei, and Keita were all there.
"What happened?" Inutaisho asked in a serious voice. Inuyasha turned to his father his eyes reflecting sorrow, but mostly sheer hatred "He took Kagome…"
~*~
A/N- DUNdunDUN!!!!!! It's the cliff hanger!!! Kinda… Heh a lot of you in your reviews said you liked the Miroku screaming about haunted closets thing. Hehehe he tends to be a good source of comic relief in this story doesn't he ^o^;
Reviewer who inspired this chap was InuLover *hugs* you rock! ^-^
~Angelwingsbaka~
Your CCC (comments, compliments, and criticism) is greatly appreciated! ^_____^