The Scent of Night

By: Raiyoan Yashamaru

Rai: Yay!! This story's pretty good so far, after all!! Hee!

Sess: Of course. After all, anything with this Sesshoumaru in the fanfiction makes the story good. No, better than good. No, greater than better. No–

Rai: SHUT UP!!! growls You like yourself WAY too much!!!

Sess: Of course. I am the lord of the Western lands of Japan.

Rai: sweatdrop; sighs ...

Sess: Here is the second chapter of this beautiful fiction of yours truly.

Rai: ...You'd think he'd stop admiring himself and get his ego down 5 notches...

Sess: What was that?!

Rai: ...Nothing...

{Flashback of Last Chapter}

She smirked again. 'Here I come, Sesshoumaru, and I'm not letting you catch me!!' Checking to make sure Sesshoumaru's door was locked, she jumped out the window and landed on the tree just outside of it. 'Let's see if you're smart enough to catch me stealing, eh?' she thought, grinning. 'This is gonna be tons of fun...'

{End Flashback of Last Chapter}

InuYasha saw Kagome's figure land in the tree just outside Sesshoumaru's room. 'Keh, there she goes again. Hopefully, she won't get caught. Because if she does... who knows what will happen...' InuYasha sighed and stared up at the starlit sky. 'Kagome... I'm trying to get you away from Sesshoumaru... can't you see that–' "InuYasha!!!"

InuYasha looked up to see a girl who looked similar to Kagome but with straighter hair and dark, cold brown eyes glaring at him. "Kikyo? What are you doing here?" Kikyo was famous throughout the land as the total opposite of Swift Shadow, like a twin. Although Kagome was just as famous, Kikyo had named herself the Lightning Sunbeam...

Chapter 2: Second Message

...Unfortunately, Lightning Sunbeam meant her arrows. You see, she was a miko, (a priestess for those of you still working on your Japanese), and a powerful one at that. She was known to be able to knock out at least 5 youkai from 30 yards away with her arrows. However, she was not considered the reincarnation of Midoriko.

Come to think of it, people suspected that Swift Shadow herself was the reincarnation of Midoriko, considering her abilities to be able to steal the highest possible quality of weapons – especially swords – and elude even the greatest detective in the land. Besides that, people – especially amongst the commoners – highly suspected she did this to help the lowly people.

Mornings of the day after she stole weapons people found the stolen items at certain places and the shop keepers awarded the people a lot of money to get the weapon back. So, many people thought of her as an angel brought to Earth to help them out. However, the nobles weren't so happy.

...Except for the Western nobles. The Western nobles were left alone for a seemingly unknown reason, but people suspected it was because Swift Shadow had some sort of affection for one of the princes. Many people suspected her a demon for her lightning swiftness and her ability to be as silent as a cat pouncing on a mouse with its guard down.

However, most people thought her human because of her generosity to some of the poorest people in the land, and that she used miko powers to help her out. Unfortunately, those beliefs just ended up being rumors, and half the people believed her to be more youkai than priestess anyway.

Kagome landed on the rooftop of the Sword's Smith Inn. Looking down, she noted that Sesshoumaru stood at the door, conversing with the owner of the Sword's Smith Inn. She grinned. 'How much more stupid do people get these days?' Jumping off the roof, she landed in a crouch and unlocked the back window silently.

Slipping in, she pulled the window closed and locked it. Looking around, she began examining the swords kept farther in the back of the store and where more expensive because of how they were made. She noted with satisfaction that the best sword was a dual blade, one of her most favorite swords.

Turning to look at the front, she dropped a message onto the counter, took the dual blade, and slipped out the window, carefully so as to make sure that the window locked as she left. She jumped up to the rooftop and looked down. The owner had now just found the message and had fled to the back of the room to check on his precious swords.

Sesshoumaru had gone in, and Kagome guessed he had taken the message. Quickly, she jumped across the village rooftops and stopped at a hut. She dropped the sword into the window next to a young boy and then fled toward the Western castle, knowing full well that Sesshoumaru would be inspecting the "crime" of Swift Shadow and that he would soon return to ask for her advice.

'Heh, catch me if you can, Sesshoumaru!!'

Sesshoumaru had arrived at the Sword's Smith Inn to talk with the owner about letting him have the run of the shop to catch Swift Shadow, and the owner just HAD to bargain with him... when they both heard it. A click. It was toward the back and at least an hour had passed by. Sesshoumaru growled. Swift Shadow had been here and gone!!!

The owner fled into his shop and made a cry. He then ran to the back of the room. Sesshoumaru entered the shop and saw a piece of paper with Swift Shadow's signature on it. He picked up the message since it was to him. 'Darn that shop owner!!! I could have caught Swift Shadow!!' Opening the neatly folded message, he read:

"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Hahaha!! You haven't caught me yet!!! How pathetic is that? (Sesshoumaru growled at this part of the message) Well, for your next clue to catch me: A flying wooden spear is where you will next see me near. See if you can catch me then, eh? I will be at that place on the night of the waning crescent moon. Till next time, m'lord!!
Swift Shadow"

Sesshoumaru folded the note and left without a word, listening to the shop owner's cries of unhappiness at losing a valuable sword. 'When I get back to the castle, hopefully Kagome will help me to figure this out! She usually has information on Swift Shadow... but how? That's something to consider...'

InuYasha was having problems with Kikyo, who, of course, was trying to get him. "Go away, Kikyo!!! I don't need you here!!" InuYasha yelled. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kagome climb into Sesshoumaru's window. He focused back on Kikyo who was on his bed next to him and trying to hug him.

'Whoever said Kikyo was emotionless only saw her on the outside,' InuYasha thought, disgusted. "Go away, Kikyo. For the last time, I've had enough. Go find your next mission or some–" InuYasha was interrupted as a servant burst in. The servant's name was Miroku. "Forgive me, Lord InuYasha, Lady Kikyo, but Lady Kikyo is required to go to the shop called Sword's Smith Inn."

InuYasha nodded, pretending to be indifferent while mentally rejoicing at the interruption of Miroku. Miroku was known as the lecherous monk that worked with InuYasha in his training. Miroku winked at InuYasha after Kikyo had left and bowed. Then he left as well after he said, "Swift Shadow says mission successful."

InuYasha waved to him and he bowed and left. 'So, Kagome... Your mission was successful... That means you weren't caught, huh? Good...' InuYasha swerved his (Rai: CUTE!!) dog ears towards the sound of Sesshoumaru arriving home. 'He's back... Well, time for the little brother to do his specialty!!' InuYasha got up and listened for Sesshoumaru's footsteps.

In Sesshoumaru's room, Kagome was back in her maid clothing and sitting on Sesshoumaru's bed. She was staring out the window as she might have done waiting for Sesshoumaru to return. 'He's silly! Why did he reason with the shopkeeper when all he had to do was push the shopkeeper aside and go in! Oh well...'

"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru's velvety voice cut through her thoughts and she looked at him, immediately getting off his bed and bowing. "Sesshoumaru- sama!! You have returned." Sesshoumaru walked in and shut the door, and Kagome returned to her normal self. "Well, Sesshou? What did you find out?"

Sesshoumaru growled as he took out the note given him from Swift Shadow. "Here," he handed the note to Kagome, "read it and tell me what you think." Kagome opened the note and read,

"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Hahaha!! You haven't caught me yet!!! How pathetic is that? (Kagome imagined that Sesshoumaru growled at that part) Well, for your next clue to catch me: A flying wooden spear is where you will next see me near. See if you can catch me then, eh? I will be at that place on the night of the waning crescent moon. Till next time, m'lord!!
Swift Shadow"

Trying hard not to laugh, Kagome handed back the message and said, "A flying wooden spear is where you will next see me near... Well, I'm guessing she might go to the Hunter's Spears shop. It did mention a spear in her rhyme." Sesshoumaru nodded and walked toward Kagome. He fell atop his bed, pulling Kagome down with him in the process.

Kagome blushed as she said, "Se-Sesshou, wh-what are you...?" Sesshoumaru growled and rolled over onto his stomach, letting go of Kagome's waist. "Swift Shadow was at the Sword's Smith Inn shop. I didn't even notice she was there!! According to her lingering scent, she was there for an hour and I–"

Kagome rubbed his back, soothing him. "It's ok, Sesshou, calm down. Don't be so angry!! At least she leaves you clues as to where she goes next, right?" Sesshoumaru sighed and sat up, grabbing Kagome and hugging her close, burying his head into her soft, silky hair. Sesshoumaru breathed in her scent, reveling in how much she smelled better than any other humans.

Kagome was in heaven. She was being held by one of the hottest guys around, and she was lucky enough to even be his personal maid and even call him nicknames!! But stuff like this was just... Kagome's dream-like thoughts were cut short by a rough knock and she and Sesshoumaru quickly jumped away from each other, their faces red.

Kagome ran into Sesshoumaru's bathroom to act as if she'd been in there cleaning and Sesshoumaru smoothly moved to his desk so it seemed he'd been working. "Come in," he called to the door. InuYasha entered to find them like this. (Rai: Yeah, their last minute thinking in a hurry from their romance time. )

"Hey, Sesshoumaru!! How was capturing Swift Shadow?" InuYasha asked, smirking. Sesshoumaru growled as he was reminded of the thief. "I did not catch her, but I know where she will be next time. Then I will catch her." InuYasha looked to Kagome and walked over to her. Sesshoumaru snarled quietly.

'InuYasha... make any moves and you die...' Sesshoumaru thought. InuYasha inwardly laughed at Sesshoumaru's jealousy trait and continued towards Kagome. "So I hear you're helping Sesshoumaru capture Swift Shadow?" InuYasha's golden eyes twinkled with mischief. Kagome's own eyes were sparkling, but neither of them let Sesshoumaru know.

It was all a game, and only two others knew Swift Shadow's identity, and they were the servants Miroku and Sango. Kagome nodded and bowed her head. "Yes, Lord InuYasha." InuYasha chuckled quietly, along with Kagome's soft laugh and he stood up. "Well, I'll be leaving now. And Sesshoumaru? Tell me when you don't want Kagome anymore; I'll be glad to take her."

Sesshoumaru growled and said, "Leave my room, InuYasha, before you find yourself speaking with the lord of Hell." InuYasha fled the room, laughing. Sesshoumaru sighed and looked back at Kagome who had now entered the bedroom and had just shut the door. "What did he want from you?"

"You weren't listening?" Kagome asked, hiding her smile behind her "shocked" expression. "No," Sesshoumaru said coolly. Kagome laughed and ran over to where he was and hugged him. "Don't worry about it so much, ok, Sess-chan?" With that Kagome let go and ran over to her bed that had been moved into Sesshoumaru's room earlier.

Sesshoumaru stared at her sleeping form for a bit and then a genuine smile appeared on his [handsome] face. (Rai: drools Wish I could see that...) 'Then I won't, Kagome...' he thought, and laid in his bed, and fell asleep.

A/N time!!

Rai: Ok, Sesshoumaru was a tad OOC in here, but please!!! It's a Sess/Kag, and I just HAD to put in some fluffy romance!!!

Sess: stares This Sesshoumaru is not THAT Sesshoumaru.

Rai: Well... I DID like the smile...

Sess: Ok, so maybe this Sesshoumaru IS that Sesshoumaru...

Rai: rolls eyes Well, here are the review replies!! I got so many for the first chapter I was blown over!!!

Review Replies:

the swift shadow – Hey!! How'd you get that name?? Oh well, thanks for reviewing!!!

bad-girl4 – Thank you very much for reviewing!! Glad you thought it was cute.

Kage Otome – Thanks so much!!! I'm glad you like it!!

Diana – Heeheehee. blushes Thanks for the compliment. And thanks for reviewing!!

fireangel – Glad I caught your attention!! Thanks for reviewing!!

eiko sejinumaru – Yeah, Kagome IS kind of like "Zorro" in this story, isn't she? Thanks for the compliment and for reviewing! But I think I can do without the lint.

Tiger – I have mercy, don't worry!! Lol. I'm glad you liked it!! Thanks for reviewing!!

little-taurus – I know, I know. People have told me over and over how cute it is. Heh. Thanks for reviewing!!

taiyoukai-chan – Wow, you really felt like you were in the story? That's great!! And no, you're not weird it just means you really like my story!! I'm glad you did!! Thanks for reviewing!!! Um... and please don't hurt me!! sweatdrops

inukagonly – Thank you very much for reviewing!

Vengeful Goddess – Of course I'll R & R your fic! Or fics? Oh well, don't worry!! Thank you for reviewing my story!!

Rai: That's a wrap!! Till next time, everyone!!!