Disclaimer: No, these characters don't belong to me, they belong to the great Takahashi Rumiko. The story doesn't belong to me either, Anne Bishop wrote The Black Jewels Trilogy.

All the people from both series: Thank God she doesn't own us!

Kitsunehime: *glare*

Sesshoumaru: Why am I so OOC anyways?

Kitsunehime: You are? Oops, I didn't notice......eh heh heh.......but it works for the story! Besides, I'm the author and I can do anything I want! Muahahahahahahaha!

Daemon: And why does he have to be me? We look nothing alike.

Kitsunehime: because you have kinda similar personalities.

Lucivar: Who's playing me?

Kitsunehime: Inuyasha over there.

Lucivar: Who?

Kitsunehime: The guy over there with the long silver hair and the cute ears, see? Waaaaahh! I wanna have ears like that! They're so fuzzy and cute and they can hear anything.........

Everyone: *sweatdrop*






To Rule The Darkness

ch. 9 Pillow fight


Sakuya began tapping her nails on the windowsill. "Well what? Tell." Rin remained silent. "Unless it's..............male troubles?"

That got her started. "What...........how did you know?"

"I didn't. You just told me. Let me guess, you're moping over Sesshoumaru." Rin's nod confirmed it. "Let me tell you, Rin, males just aren't worth it."

"........Some are."

"None. Absolutely none."

Sakuya's answer seemed to have broken Rin's mental barrier. Of course, she had no idea that Sakuya was doing it half on purpose.

"Some are worth it, Sakuya! What about Inutaishou?! Shippou?! What did they ever do to you?! Naraku's the one who killed you! And sesshoumaru! He's definitely worth it! I lo.........." Rin suddenly stopped, not wanting to say it, at least not yet.

"You what, witch-child?" Inutaishou appeared in the doorway. "Sakuya?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

Rin glared. "You ganged up on me!" She was furious.

Inutaishou stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder. "Rin, we're worried about you. You haven't been quite yourself since............since Sesshoumaru left."

"I don't know why you even worry about him. He'll be back. Troublesome Warlord Princes usually do."

Inutaishou sent Sakuya a look that said 'if-you-don't-have-anything-nice-to-say-then-shut-the-hell-up-or-I'll-kill-you.'

She sent one right back that said 'go-ahead-see-what-I-care-I'm-already-dead-and-so-are-you.'

Inutaishou just scowled at her.

Rin watched the exchange of looks with some amusement, not angry anymore. It was actually kind of funny...........

His next look said 'I-don't-care-I'll-think-of-something-even-more-horrible-to-do-to-you-so-ha!'

Sakuya, surprisingly, stuck her tongue out at him. "So? I don't like you anyway."

'This is getting pretty funny.' Rin leaned back against the window to watch the interesting scene unfold.

Inutaishou crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. "Yes you do." You know you like me." He smirked.

Sakuya threw a cushion at him. "Do not!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too.

"I do NOT like you!"

"Sure you do. Stop lying and admit it."

"Bastard!" Sakuya picked up a particularly large cushion and began pummeling Inutaishou with it.

Rin couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing. 'This is good entertainment! Two "grown-ups" fighting like little kids!'

Shippou peeked in the door. "Hey, that looks fun!" Grabbing another cushion, he joined Sakuya in whacking Inutaishou, who had grabbed a chair and was using it to defend himself. Rin slid off her seat and landed on the floor with a thump, then pitching over on her side and howling with laughter.

A maid walked by and goggled at the scene within. The two normally solemn 'adults', and demon-dead ones at that, having a pillow fight with a little kitsune........not to mention a girl howling with laughter on the floor. 'Am I seeing this right?......Stress! Yes, that's it! Stress! I just need to get some rest! Yes, that's it!'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Miss Kagura, this information is all correct? This......Naraku wishes to be made the Warlord Prince of his Territory?"

"Of course it's true!" Kagura snapped at the Council Head. 'Why do I even bother with my seat on the Council? Even if Naraku wants me to influence things this way.........oy......'

"All members, this vote must be unanimous. All for it?" About half of the Council members raised their hands. Kagura's eyes narrowed. "All against?" The other half raised their hands. The Head turned to Kagura. "Well, there you have it. Tell Naraku we've voted against it."

"He won't be happy to hear it. Take another vote."

"I'm sorry Kagura. No."

Kagura grabbed him by the throat, faster than he could dodge. The Council Head was now dangling in the air. "I ask you one more time. Take another vote."

Choking, he nodded. She dropped him. "All in favor?" This time everyone raised their hands. Kagura smirked. "Good. Give the papers to Kanna. I'm sick of you all." She turned to go. "Oh, and one more thing. Just because I'm sick of you all, it doesn't mean I'm giving up my seat on the Council. Make sure you fools remember that, and don't find my replacement this time." Everyone in the room gulped and let out the air they were holding when she left.

Kagura caught the Red Wind and rode back to Naraku's castle. Kanna was in her room, as usual.

"Kanna. Go get the papers from the Council. If they haven't written them out yet, feel free to kill one of them." the silent girl in white left on the Red Wind.

She then went up the stairs to Naraku's room. He would want to hear the news immediately...........

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hello, cousin."

Koryu froze when he heard the voice, and turned around slowly. "And to you, cousin."

Sesshoumaru stepped out of the shadows and beckoned for him to follow out of the crowded marketplace. Koryu followed warily. He and Sesshoumaru weren't enemies...........but weren't exactly allies either.

They stopped walking when they reached Koryu's house. How Sesshoumaru knew where it was, he didn't bother to ask. Sesshoumaru had his ways. And he never told.

Koryu sat down at the kitchen table, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "So, Sesshoumaru. What brings you here?"

His cousin didn't answer, taking a web out of his sleeve and watching as another strand went dark. "Yes, just as I thought. Koryu, you are to serve in the Witch's Dark Court. When it forms, that is."

"..........Then if it hasn't formed yet, why is this important now?" 'And why are you here to get me?'

"That isn't important for you to know. Go to the Hall in the Western Lands and ask for Inutaishou. Tell him I sent you." Sesshoumaru stood to go.

Koryu still kept his face carefully expressionless. "And if I don't go..........?"

The look on Sesshoumaru's face was........unsettling, to put it mildly. "Even if we're both Warlord Princes, I can easily overwhelm you, my Black to your Gray." He left.

Koryu slumped in his chair. 'Hell's fire, Mother Night, and may the darkness be merciful............the Witch really exists! And I'm to serve her.........!'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Inuyasha, can we stop in this town for the night? We need some more supplies, and I heard the inn here's good." Kagome and Inuyasha had been traveling towards the Western Lands for a couple days. This town was only a couple more days from the border.

"Feh."

"Does that mean yes or no?" No answer. "I'll take that as a yes then." Kagome dragged Inuyasha into the inn and asked the innkeeper for two rooms.

"I'm sorry miss, we only have one room left." The innkeeper, Kouga, eyed Kagome. "But you can stay with me if you'd rather not sleep with your companion."

"Back off bastard." Inuyasha growled at Kouga. "She's not your woman! So keep your hands off Kagome, you wimpy wolf!"

Kouga's blue eyes narrowed. "I could throw you out for that. This is my inn."

Inuyasha smirked. "I'd like to see you try. I outrank you, both by Jewels and caste. Even Kagome here outranks you."

Kouga growled. "So? All I have to do is find someone who outranks you! Dog turd!"

Inuyasha was still smirking. "You won't. There's only one person in the entire Realm who outranks me. And he wouldn't help you."

"How do you know?"

"He's my brother."

Kouga snarled at inuyasha. "Fine! Take the room! Just make sure you can pay!" He stalked off to get more sake from the kitchen.

Kagome watched him go, then turned to Inuyasha. "He's a little.........scary. Thanks for protecting me."

Inuyasha turned his face away to hide the slight blush that covered his features. "Feh. Let's go up to the room. Unless you really do mind sharing with me?"

Kagome shook her head and they climbed the somewhat creaky stairs to their room, which luckily had two futons. Otherwise, there would probably have been a fight to see who got to sleep in a futon and who had to sleep on the floor.






I need at least 5 more reviews before I post the next chapter, which will introduce another new character!

drow goddess: The first book is Daughter of the Blood