The Scent of Night
By: Raiyoan Yashamaru
Rai: Tada!! It's the fourth chapter!! I must say, this story is quite successful. (And oh yes, I forgot. I was rereading my 2nd chapter and I realized I made a couple of mistakes in my third chapter when I wrote it. I'll explain it in this chapter, I think.)
Sess: You said that last chapter and the chapter before that I think. You praise yourself too much. You're going to get cocky.
Rai: So? Can't I just praise my work for once? And besides, I'm always modest in my other fics, and beside THAT, this is the FIRST time I've written a Sess/Kag and been successful at it!! Usually those kinds of stories that I write end up... horrid. ...Wait a second!! COCKY?! THAT'S YOU!!
Sess: I wouldn't worry too much about it, if I were you, because you deleted those stories and you're doing fine now. And I am NOT cocky!!
Rai: You're right. You're just too stubborn to realize how much you really ARE cocky!! Review Replies at the end of the chapter!!
Sess: I am NOT cocky!!
Rai: Are too!! (Note: The argument will continue for a while.)
{Flashback of Last Chapter}
"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Heeheehee!! Still haven't caught me and you were so close tonight, huh? Well, I might as well congradulate you for nearly capturing lil' old me!! But... you STILL haven't caught me as of yet!! So, to help you along the way, here's a clue!! The ax's shine is where you'll see the sun shadow's align. Good luck to you!! And to me of course!! Heh!
Swift Shadow"
Sesshoumaru sighed. 'Well, here I go again...'
{End Flashback of Last Chapter}
Kagome sat in Sesshoumaru's room, waiting for him to come. It was hard for her to keep two different personalities, but it was hard enough trying to change her scent so Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to tell it was the same person. Kagome sighed; her powers were yet to be found and understood. She may have miko powers, but there was something else...
Chapter 4: Fourth Message ...A New Enemy
...Something else, yes. Kagome used these secret powers to change everything about her to what she really was. Miroku was her blood brother, and he, too, had these powers. They both didn't tell anyone about these, and carefully guarded this secret with a passion of determination. A knock on the door sounded as Kagome was brought out of her muse.
"Come in," she called, and turned to see who it was. Miroku entered. "Kagome? Sesshoumaru still has yet to come." Kagome nodded, "I know. So, what brings you here, brother?" Miroku came and sat next to Kagome. "It's about our powers. Sango is getting suspicions about us... well, me."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "And you expected she wouldn't find out? She's quite resourceful, brother." Miroku nodded solemnly. "How do we keep our secret? The inu-youkai family will eventually find out themselves. Just as Lord InuYasha is about to do right now if he doesn't enter or remove himself from the door."
Kagome and Miroku turned to face the door as InuYasha came in. "You like to eavesdrop a lot, do you not, Lord InuYasha?" Kagome said. InuYasha blinked. "You two sound completely different. What's going on?" Kagome nodded to Miroku. "If he can keep my secret of Swift Shadow, then he can be trusted with this information."
Miroku looked to InuYasha and said, "Do you promise on your life you will not tell anyone of our secret?" InuYasha nodded, puzzled. "What's so bad about this secret that you guys can't tell anybody but–" InuYasha blinked as a bright light entered the room from out of nowhere when he realized it was coming from Kagome and Miroku.
The light disappeared, and his sun kissed golden eyes widened. Kagome now had shining silver hair – literally, it was grayish in color – and she had white wings, and she wore a totally different outfit. It was elegant, even more than any of the nobles InuYasha had seen – and he'd seen a lot – Kagome's eyes were an icy violet, like a silver-ish violet.
(Rai: Just to let you all know, if you know about Yue from Card Captor Sakura, Kagome looks just like Yue, except it's the female version, in a way.) Miroku still had his – kind of – short black hair, but his eyes were now an icy blue, and he had black wings. (Rai: Not like a devil's wings. They're both–) His outfit were the same colors, purple and black, but it was exactly like Kagome's outfit.
Kagome's outfit was gray, white, and silver while Miroku's was dark midnight blue, purple, black. Kagome's voice rang like the high heavens and that of promised sunny days and peace when she spoke. "InuYasha, son of Inutaisho and a human mother, behold! Before you are the angels of life and death."
(Rai: I'm sure all you readers can guess who the life angel is and who the death angel is.) Miroku nodded. "I am known as Enjerushi, the angel of death. I take upon the name of Miroku for I am the guardian of this Earth." Kagome looked to InuYasha, who seemed frozen and shocked. "I am Enjerusho, the angel of life. I take upon the name Kagome for I am the other guardian of this Earth."
InuYasha finally caught himself gaping and being rude and immediately bowed. (Rai: Wow, he's being respectful for once!!) "Forgive me, greater ones, for intruding upon your presence! I am honored you trust me with your secret!!" Kagome and Miroku grinned at each other and became what they were before.
"Don't be scared, InuYasha, we won't hurt you! We're only what we are. We're actually cast outs of the high heavens of Kami..." Kagome began. InuYasha immediately stood up and said, "But still! You two are the most respected angels of this world!! I'm just... uh oh!! Miroku, let's get out of here!! Sesshoumaru's just arrived.
Miroku nodded, "I know. Come, InuYasha, we have training to do." InuYasha and Miroku disappeared in a flash of blinding light and Sesshoumaru entered the room in a huff. "Kagome!! Swift Shadow eluded me again!!" 'As I always do, Sesshoumaru, chosen one,' Kagome thought. "Here," Sesshoumaru handed Kagome her note. Kagome opened it, and read,
"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Heeheehee!! Still haven't caught me and you were so close tonight, huh? Well, I might as well congradulate you for nearly capturing lil' old me!! But... you STILL haven't caught me as of yet!! So, to help you along the way, here's a clue!! The ax's shine is where you'll see the sun's shadow align. Good luck to you!! And to me of course!! Heh!
Swift Shadow"
Kagome managed to hide her laughter and looked at Sesshoumaru with a slight serious expression. "Hm... the axe's shine is where you'll see the sun's shadow align... I might suggest the Shadow Axes. And I'm not sure of when she might go to that weapon store..." Sesshoumaru nodded. "Why don't you go around and ask the other occupants of this castle?"
Kagome stared at him. Sesshoumaru ignored it. "Swift Shadow always leaves a clue as to when and where she'll come and go. So, today I give you a day off to do that one order." Kagome bowed and rushed out of the room (not at her Swift Shadow speed) and decided to pretend going around the castle asking for information if she knew Sesshoumaru was keeping an eye on her.
'Darn it, Kagome! Why didn't you put down WHEN you'd go get that axe?' she thought to herself. Looking around, she felt herself become like that of Swift Shadow...
Sesshoumaru was at the shop Shadow Axes, examining what kind of axe that Swift Shadow would take next. Sighing, he decided to go and check back at the other two stores that he had some sort of encounter with Swift Shadow. 'Maybe if I can examine the kind of quality in the weapons she steals, then maybe...'
He arrived at the Sword's Smith Inn, and asked the shopkeeper for permission of examining his swords. The shopkeeper complied, thinking he was there to buy a sword. (Rai: Shopkeeper's not very sharp. He doesn't even remember Sesshoumaru being there a couple days before! Heh. ) Sesshoumaru looked at the spot where one sword was missing.
The shopkeeper looked where Sesshoumaru was looking, and said, "Oh, that sword. I lost it to that annoying thief Swift Shadow. She came through the back window and left a message for someone, but I don't remember who. Anyways, that was one of my best blades!! Lord Inutaisho had preordered that sword and now it's gone!"
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the slight information. He had been ignoring the first part until his father was mentioned. So, his father had preordered that dual blade, eh? 'Well, how interesting...' Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he arrived at the Hunter's Spears. "The spear stolen by Swift Shadow was of the highest quality yet to be found!!"
The shopkeeper was agitated. "That spear was custom made for Lord Inutaisho himself!! It is irritating at losing such a good spear; especially when I would have been paid a high price!!" Sesshoumaru remained his emotionless self as he absorbed the information. 'Swift Shadow seems to steal weapons my father had preordered. Interesting...'
Sesshoumaru left with a determined air, and immediately set to his home. He had a few questions he'd like his father to answer, and all of them involved the weapons and Swift Shadow.
Inutaisho was beginning to get worried. Sesshoumaru had just come in a couple minutes ago asking whether he had preordered some custom made weapons. He had said yes, and then Sesshoumaru asked if he knew that Swift Shadow had been stealing the weapons he had ordered. He had some difficulty in replying to that, but in the end had managed to say that he knew but could do nothing about it.
Swift Shadow lived up to her name, and was not "catchable". She was a difficult person to corner, for she moved as her name depicted. Sesshoumaru had seemed satisfied – SEEMED, anyway – before he had left, saying he was tired and wanted his servant back. Inutaisho had then sent for Kagome who immediately accompanied Sesshoumaru back to his room.
'Will the secret of Swift Shadow be unveiled before the final step is ready?' Inutaisho thought to himself. 'I hope not... because the first step was making Swift Shadow an infamous thief, and the second step was to send clues to Sesshoumaru, and after he'd figure out who Swift Shadow was, the third step... has yet to be able to work...'
(Rai: Hm... I wonder if any of you readers have figured it out yet!! What's the third step? But first, you have to know who the new enemy is... or in this case, an old enemy that is known, but new in the fiction yet to arrive. Guess who!)
In Sesshoumaru's room, Sesshoumaru was eating his dinner as usual with Kagome, when he popped the question. "Kagome?" Kagome looked up. "Yes, Sesshou?" Sesshoumaru gave her a strange look. Kagome's stomach did flip flop. She knew that look. He was up to something... "Kagome, I think I've been able to uncover who Swift Shadow is..."
Kagome gulped mentally, hoping that Sesshoumaru would be led off track somehow. "...And although she may seem bad to the nobles, I'd rather help Swift Shadow in what she is doing rather than trying to expose her." Kagome blinked. "Well, my lord? Who do you think it is?" Kagome had her fingers crossed behind her.
Sesshoumaru took a sip of his jasmine tea as he looked at Kagome. Her expression was devoid of any guilt or any panic. 'She's good,' he thought, 'very good. But I have it all figured out. It took me several years, yes, but I do have it figured out.' Sesshoumaru put his teacup down and said, "Swift Shadow is in this very room, in my presence as of now.
"She is you, Kagome. It took me a couple years after that first encounter with you four years ago. I hadn't heard much of Swift Shadow until I had actually encountered her – well, you – on that fated night. Do not deny, Kagome, or have you forgotten my sense of smell? You may have practiced with your emotions, but I will still be able to tell."
Kagome sighed. "You have me, Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru nodded. "So, then. Does my father have anything to do with this?" Kagome nodded, and began the whole story...
{Flashback}
Five years ago...
Kagome and Miroku were travelers with the arts of many martial arts. They also had the skills of ninjas, taijiyas, assassins, spies, and thieves. With all of these skills combined with their holy power (Rai: And their OTHER unknown power Kagome won't mention.), they were becoming famous as the angels of life and death.
(Rai: Talk about the irony!! Heh.) Miroku was the angel of death, and Kagome was the angel of life. However, only humans believed this. Youkai who were cocky and arrogant came from all over the world to challenge these two. But all were either sent packing back home or were destroyed instantly.
Then one day, a great royal youkai descended upon them. He was the great taiyoukai Inutaisho. Kagome and Miroku were half honored, half insulted. Honored because they were in the presence of the taiyoukai, insulted because he wanted them to work for him. However, they consented to work for his army, on one condition:
They would lead the army as second command under him. Inutaisho agreed, because he knew their abilities and knew that if he disagreed it'd be a dishonor upon him as well as them, plus it would be his life on his own part. However, that night he had been watching them and realized that they had other skills other than their fighting techniques.
Kagome was using her thieving skills combined with her spying skills to make sure that the innkeeper wouldn't cheat them on their money. It turned out the innkeeper was pricing them higher than the actual price, and the innkeeper resulted in begging the two to not tell the local police that he was cheating the travelers.
So, Inutaisho came up with the idea of the infamous thief, Swift Shadow, and Miroku was promoted to training InuYasha on certain types of martial arts. So, the first step of project Swift Shadow had begun, and the second step was getting the elder son of Inutaisho, Sesshoumaru, to figure out who Swift Shadow was and hopefully help her.
The third step would present itself as soon as the elder accepted to help Swift Shadow, IF he consented to help instead of exposing the plan. Inutaisho would tell everyone who knew Swift Shadow – her true identity – and were somehow involved. And the reason for this plan was because there was a tyrant named Naraku who was cruel to youkai and humans alike.
{End Flashback}
"...Two years after that, Sango found out. Rin and Shippo were with her at the time so they found out as well. InuYasha only found out because he just happened to walk by when I was in a meeting with Lord Inutaisho," Kagome said as she concluded the story. She knew that Sesshoumaru knew what happened during the after years after she had encountered him a year after the plan had gone under way.
Sesshoumaru had been quiet the entire time Kagome was explaining the story to him. And then he finally said, "I see. Well, then. I will help with this plan of my father's. But I do believe I would want to keep my identity a secret as well. Hm... what name shall I take?" Kagome giggled softly. "How 'bout Silversun?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "No, that would make it too obvious who it was." Kagome nodded. "You're right. Well, we've all night to think on it." Sesshoumaru smiled. "Well, let's get some sleep first. This has been an interesting day." Kagome smiled back. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru, let's get some sleep."
A/N time!!!
Rai: So, Sesshoumaru has discovered Kagome as Swift Shadow. So, then, how did he figure it out? If you all look at it from his point of view, it was simple as eating a piece of cake.
Sess: Heh, so soon into the story, too. I love it.
Rai: You're acting OOC, Sesshou, get back to being yourself.
Sess: smirks Indeed.
Rai: If you guessed from the title who the new enemy for the fic was, it was that annoying shiseiji Naraku!! And what's this secret of the guardians of life and death that Kagome and Miroku are hiding? Find out as the story goes on, more intense with action and even more romance to come!! The adventure is just beginning...
Sess: Of course. I think you've got the reviewers psyched to get the story going.
Rai: Don't I always do that?
Sess: Sometimes. But what about that one reviewer who was a flamer in your other story?
Rai: Whoever that person was, I checked out their profile and fanfictions and not ONE of them had my idea in "Raised 'Wild' ". And if anyone else had this idea for "The Scent of Night", they've another thing coming cause I came up with the idea myself!!
Sess: She's ranting, but believe this Sesshoumaru, it's happened to her and she's not too happy about some people that do that when they don't give a reason as to WHY and HOW she had done it. If they did, she would stop the story altogether and begin something else.
Review Replies:
bad-girl4 – Thanks for reviewing and you're right!! Better late then never!!
Rai: Well, that's that!! R & R!!
Sess: The next chapter gets... exciting and... interesting. If you like this story a lot so far, stay tuned as more chapters come up and see how my relationship with Kagome comes around.
Rai: InuYasha doesn't get with anybody in this fic, I'm sorry. In this fic, he's entitled to ME!! In a way, at least.
Inu: Feh. I'm having to replace Sesshoumaru with helping you out in this?
Rai: YUP!!
Inu: ...Feh... R & R!!
By: Raiyoan Yashamaru
Rai: Tada!! It's the fourth chapter!! I must say, this story is quite successful. (And oh yes, I forgot. I was rereading my 2nd chapter and I realized I made a couple of mistakes in my third chapter when I wrote it. I'll explain it in this chapter, I think.)
Sess: You said that last chapter and the chapter before that I think. You praise yourself too much. You're going to get cocky.
Rai: So? Can't I just praise my work for once? And besides, I'm always modest in my other fics, and beside THAT, this is the FIRST time I've written a Sess/Kag and been successful at it!! Usually those kinds of stories that I write end up... horrid. ...Wait a second!! COCKY?! THAT'S YOU!!
Sess: I wouldn't worry too much about it, if I were you, because you deleted those stories and you're doing fine now. And I am NOT cocky!!
Rai: You're right. You're just too stubborn to realize how much you really ARE cocky!! Review Replies at the end of the chapter!!
Sess: I am NOT cocky!!
Rai: Are too!! (Note: The argument will continue for a while.)
{Flashback of Last Chapter}
"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Heeheehee!! Still haven't caught me and you were so close tonight, huh? Well, I might as well congradulate you for nearly capturing lil' old me!! But... you STILL haven't caught me as of yet!! So, to help you along the way, here's a clue!! The ax's shine is where you'll see the sun shadow's align. Good luck to you!! And to me of course!! Heh!
Swift Shadow"
Sesshoumaru sighed. 'Well, here I go again...'
{End Flashback of Last Chapter}
Kagome sat in Sesshoumaru's room, waiting for him to come. It was hard for her to keep two different personalities, but it was hard enough trying to change her scent so Sesshoumaru wouldn't be able to tell it was the same person. Kagome sighed; her powers were yet to be found and understood. She may have miko powers, but there was something else...
Chapter 4: Fourth Message ...A New Enemy
...Something else, yes. Kagome used these secret powers to change everything about her to what she really was. Miroku was her blood brother, and he, too, had these powers. They both didn't tell anyone about these, and carefully guarded this secret with a passion of determination. A knock on the door sounded as Kagome was brought out of her muse.
"Come in," she called, and turned to see who it was. Miroku entered. "Kagome? Sesshoumaru still has yet to come." Kagome nodded, "I know. So, what brings you here, brother?" Miroku came and sat next to Kagome. "It's about our powers. Sango is getting suspicions about us... well, me."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "And you expected she wouldn't find out? She's quite resourceful, brother." Miroku nodded solemnly. "How do we keep our secret? The inu-youkai family will eventually find out themselves. Just as Lord InuYasha is about to do right now if he doesn't enter or remove himself from the door."
Kagome and Miroku turned to face the door as InuYasha came in. "You like to eavesdrop a lot, do you not, Lord InuYasha?" Kagome said. InuYasha blinked. "You two sound completely different. What's going on?" Kagome nodded to Miroku. "If he can keep my secret of Swift Shadow, then he can be trusted with this information."
Miroku looked to InuYasha and said, "Do you promise on your life you will not tell anyone of our secret?" InuYasha nodded, puzzled. "What's so bad about this secret that you guys can't tell anybody but–" InuYasha blinked as a bright light entered the room from out of nowhere when he realized it was coming from Kagome and Miroku.
The light disappeared, and his sun kissed golden eyes widened. Kagome now had shining silver hair – literally, it was grayish in color – and she had white wings, and she wore a totally different outfit. It was elegant, even more than any of the nobles InuYasha had seen – and he'd seen a lot – Kagome's eyes were an icy violet, like a silver-ish violet.
(Rai: Just to let you all know, if you know about Yue from Card Captor Sakura, Kagome looks just like Yue, except it's the female version, in a way.) Miroku still had his – kind of – short black hair, but his eyes were now an icy blue, and he had black wings. (Rai: Not like a devil's wings. They're both–) His outfit were the same colors, purple and black, but it was exactly like Kagome's outfit.
Kagome's outfit was gray, white, and silver while Miroku's was dark midnight blue, purple, black. Kagome's voice rang like the high heavens and that of promised sunny days and peace when she spoke. "InuYasha, son of Inutaisho and a human mother, behold! Before you are the angels of life and death."
(Rai: I'm sure all you readers can guess who the life angel is and who the death angel is.) Miroku nodded. "I am known as Enjerushi, the angel of death. I take upon the name of Miroku for I am the guardian of this Earth." Kagome looked to InuYasha, who seemed frozen and shocked. "I am Enjerusho, the angel of life. I take upon the name Kagome for I am the other guardian of this Earth."
InuYasha finally caught himself gaping and being rude and immediately bowed. (Rai: Wow, he's being respectful for once!!) "Forgive me, greater ones, for intruding upon your presence! I am honored you trust me with your secret!!" Kagome and Miroku grinned at each other and became what they were before.
"Don't be scared, InuYasha, we won't hurt you! We're only what we are. We're actually cast outs of the high heavens of Kami..." Kagome began. InuYasha immediately stood up and said, "But still! You two are the most respected angels of this world!! I'm just... uh oh!! Miroku, let's get out of here!! Sesshoumaru's just arrived.
Miroku nodded, "I know. Come, InuYasha, we have training to do." InuYasha and Miroku disappeared in a flash of blinding light and Sesshoumaru entered the room in a huff. "Kagome!! Swift Shadow eluded me again!!" 'As I always do, Sesshoumaru, chosen one,' Kagome thought. "Here," Sesshoumaru handed Kagome her note. Kagome opened it, and read,
"To Lord Sesshoumaru:
Heeheehee!! Still haven't caught me and you were so close tonight, huh? Well, I might as well congradulate you for nearly capturing lil' old me!! But... you STILL haven't caught me as of yet!! So, to help you along the way, here's a clue!! The ax's shine is where you'll see the sun's shadow align. Good luck to you!! And to me of course!! Heh!
Swift Shadow"
Kagome managed to hide her laughter and looked at Sesshoumaru with a slight serious expression. "Hm... the axe's shine is where you'll see the sun's shadow align... I might suggest the Shadow Axes. And I'm not sure of when she might go to that weapon store..." Sesshoumaru nodded. "Why don't you go around and ask the other occupants of this castle?"
Kagome stared at him. Sesshoumaru ignored it. "Swift Shadow always leaves a clue as to when and where she'll come and go. So, today I give you a day off to do that one order." Kagome bowed and rushed out of the room (not at her Swift Shadow speed) and decided to pretend going around the castle asking for information if she knew Sesshoumaru was keeping an eye on her.
'Darn it, Kagome! Why didn't you put down WHEN you'd go get that axe?' she thought to herself. Looking around, she felt herself become like that of Swift Shadow...
Sesshoumaru was at the shop Shadow Axes, examining what kind of axe that Swift Shadow would take next. Sighing, he decided to go and check back at the other two stores that he had some sort of encounter with Swift Shadow. 'Maybe if I can examine the kind of quality in the weapons she steals, then maybe...'
He arrived at the Sword's Smith Inn, and asked the shopkeeper for permission of examining his swords. The shopkeeper complied, thinking he was there to buy a sword. (Rai: Shopkeeper's not very sharp. He doesn't even remember Sesshoumaru being there a couple days before! Heh. ) Sesshoumaru looked at the spot where one sword was missing.
The shopkeeper looked where Sesshoumaru was looking, and said, "Oh, that sword. I lost it to that annoying thief Swift Shadow. She came through the back window and left a message for someone, but I don't remember who. Anyways, that was one of my best blades!! Lord Inutaisho had preordered that sword and now it's gone!"
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the slight information. He had been ignoring the first part until his father was mentioned. So, his father had preordered that dual blade, eh? 'Well, how interesting...' Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he arrived at the Hunter's Spears. "The spear stolen by Swift Shadow was of the highest quality yet to be found!!"
The shopkeeper was agitated. "That spear was custom made for Lord Inutaisho himself!! It is irritating at losing such a good spear; especially when I would have been paid a high price!!" Sesshoumaru remained his emotionless self as he absorbed the information. 'Swift Shadow seems to steal weapons my father had preordered. Interesting...'
Sesshoumaru left with a determined air, and immediately set to his home. He had a few questions he'd like his father to answer, and all of them involved the weapons and Swift Shadow.
Inutaisho was beginning to get worried. Sesshoumaru had just come in a couple minutes ago asking whether he had preordered some custom made weapons. He had said yes, and then Sesshoumaru asked if he knew that Swift Shadow had been stealing the weapons he had ordered. He had some difficulty in replying to that, but in the end had managed to say that he knew but could do nothing about it.
Swift Shadow lived up to her name, and was not "catchable". She was a difficult person to corner, for she moved as her name depicted. Sesshoumaru had seemed satisfied – SEEMED, anyway – before he had left, saying he was tired and wanted his servant back. Inutaisho had then sent for Kagome who immediately accompanied Sesshoumaru back to his room.
'Will the secret of Swift Shadow be unveiled before the final step is ready?' Inutaisho thought to himself. 'I hope not... because the first step was making Swift Shadow an infamous thief, and the second step was to send clues to Sesshoumaru, and after he'd figure out who Swift Shadow was, the third step... has yet to be able to work...'
(Rai: Hm... I wonder if any of you readers have figured it out yet!! What's the third step? But first, you have to know who the new enemy is... or in this case, an old enemy that is known, but new in the fiction yet to arrive. Guess who!)
In Sesshoumaru's room, Sesshoumaru was eating his dinner as usual with Kagome, when he popped the question. "Kagome?" Kagome looked up. "Yes, Sesshou?" Sesshoumaru gave her a strange look. Kagome's stomach did flip flop. She knew that look. He was up to something... "Kagome, I think I've been able to uncover who Swift Shadow is..."
Kagome gulped mentally, hoping that Sesshoumaru would be led off track somehow. "...And although she may seem bad to the nobles, I'd rather help Swift Shadow in what she is doing rather than trying to expose her." Kagome blinked. "Well, my lord? Who do you think it is?" Kagome had her fingers crossed behind her.
Sesshoumaru took a sip of his jasmine tea as he looked at Kagome. Her expression was devoid of any guilt or any panic. 'She's good,' he thought, 'very good. But I have it all figured out. It took me several years, yes, but I do have it figured out.' Sesshoumaru put his teacup down and said, "Swift Shadow is in this very room, in my presence as of now.
"She is you, Kagome. It took me a couple years after that first encounter with you four years ago. I hadn't heard much of Swift Shadow until I had actually encountered her – well, you – on that fated night. Do not deny, Kagome, or have you forgotten my sense of smell? You may have practiced with your emotions, but I will still be able to tell."
Kagome sighed. "You have me, Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru nodded. "So, then. Does my father have anything to do with this?" Kagome nodded, and began the whole story...
{Flashback}
Five years ago...
Kagome and Miroku were travelers with the arts of many martial arts. They also had the skills of ninjas, taijiyas, assassins, spies, and thieves. With all of these skills combined with their holy power (Rai: And their OTHER unknown power Kagome won't mention.), they were becoming famous as the angels of life and death.
(Rai: Talk about the irony!! Heh.) Miroku was the angel of death, and Kagome was the angel of life. However, only humans believed this. Youkai who were cocky and arrogant came from all over the world to challenge these two. But all were either sent packing back home or were destroyed instantly.
Then one day, a great royal youkai descended upon them. He was the great taiyoukai Inutaisho. Kagome and Miroku were half honored, half insulted. Honored because they were in the presence of the taiyoukai, insulted because he wanted them to work for him. However, they consented to work for his army, on one condition:
They would lead the army as second command under him. Inutaisho agreed, because he knew their abilities and knew that if he disagreed it'd be a dishonor upon him as well as them, plus it would be his life on his own part. However, that night he had been watching them and realized that they had other skills other than their fighting techniques.
Kagome was using her thieving skills combined with her spying skills to make sure that the innkeeper wouldn't cheat them on their money. It turned out the innkeeper was pricing them higher than the actual price, and the innkeeper resulted in begging the two to not tell the local police that he was cheating the travelers.
So, Inutaisho came up with the idea of the infamous thief, Swift Shadow, and Miroku was promoted to training InuYasha on certain types of martial arts. So, the first step of project Swift Shadow had begun, and the second step was getting the elder son of Inutaisho, Sesshoumaru, to figure out who Swift Shadow was and hopefully help her.
The third step would present itself as soon as the elder accepted to help Swift Shadow, IF he consented to help instead of exposing the plan. Inutaisho would tell everyone who knew Swift Shadow – her true identity – and were somehow involved. And the reason for this plan was because there was a tyrant named Naraku who was cruel to youkai and humans alike.
{End Flashback}
"...Two years after that, Sango found out. Rin and Shippo were with her at the time so they found out as well. InuYasha only found out because he just happened to walk by when I was in a meeting with Lord Inutaisho," Kagome said as she concluded the story. She knew that Sesshoumaru knew what happened during the after years after she had encountered him a year after the plan had gone under way.
Sesshoumaru had been quiet the entire time Kagome was explaining the story to him. And then he finally said, "I see. Well, then. I will help with this plan of my father's. But I do believe I would want to keep my identity a secret as well. Hm... what name shall I take?" Kagome giggled softly. "How 'bout Silversun?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "No, that would make it too obvious who it was." Kagome nodded. "You're right. Well, we've all night to think on it." Sesshoumaru smiled. "Well, let's get some sleep first. This has been an interesting day." Kagome smiled back. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru, let's get some sleep."
A/N time!!!
Rai: So, Sesshoumaru has discovered Kagome as Swift Shadow. So, then, how did he figure it out? If you all look at it from his point of view, it was simple as eating a piece of cake.
Sess: Heh, so soon into the story, too. I love it.
Rai: You're acting OOC, Sesshou, get back to being yourself.
Sess: smirks Indeed.
Rai: If you guessed from the title who the new enemy for the fic was, it was that annoying shiseiji Naraku!! And what's this secret of the guardians of life and death that Kagome and Miroku are hiding? Find out as the story goes on, more intense with action and even more romance to come!! The adventure is just beginning...
Sess: Of course. I think you've got the reviewers psyched to get the story going.
Rai: Don't I always do that?
Sess: Sometimes. But what about that one reviewer who was a flamer in your other story?
Rai: Whoever that person was, I checked out their profile and fanfictions and not ONE of them had my idea in "Raised 'Wild' ". And if anyone else had this idea for "The Scent of Night", they've another thing coming cause I came up with the idea myself!!
Sess: She's ranting, but believe this Sesshoumaru, it's happened to her and she's not too happy about some people that do that when they don't give a reason as to WHY and HOW she had done it. If they did, she would stop the story altogether and begin something else.
Review Replies:
bad-girl4 – Thanks for reviewing and you're right!! Better late then never!!
Rai: Well, that's that!! R & R!!
Sess: The next chapter gets... exciting and... interesting. If you like this story a lot so far, stay tuned as more chapters come up and see how my relationship with Kagome comes around.
Rai: InuYasha doesn't get with anybody in this fic, I'm sorry. In this fic, he's entitled to ME!! In a way, at least.
Inu: Feh. I'm having to replace Sesshoumaru with helping you out in this?
Rai: YUP!!
Inu: ...Feh... R & R!!