Kitsunehime: Ladies and gents, don't hit me, but I am a major procrastinator with the memory span of a goldfish. Ok, maybe a bit more than that, but certainly no more than a parakeet.

Miyu: Translation: Kitsunehime forgot to update, yet again.

Kitsunehime: Gomen ne!!! I'll try to update at least every month from now on!

Koryu: *muttering darkly* You had better . . . *holding up various sharp, pointy, shiny kitchen utensils*

*see, I'm even too lazy to get myself a disclaimer. =P J/k. Me no own, you no sue. *





To Rule the Darkness

ch. 37: Downhill

Sitting over a quiet, calm breakfast, Fahleing and Koryu exchanged looks. She then placed down her bowl with a soft clink and cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her.

"Ehh . . . umm . . . I hate to disturb the peace, but . . . "

Sakuya raised an eyebrow. "What a rare sight. Everyone's favorite female hanyou acting bashful." Koryu just glared at her.

Fahleing bit her lip. "I . . . this . . . This is hard for me to do, so listen!" she burst out.

"We're listening," Inutaishou said, giving Sakuya a dirty look. "Please, continue."

"I know I should have told you all sooner, but this . . . this has only recently healed over for me. And when it did, I didn't want to spoil the mood for the wedding . . . " She took a deep breath and went on. "You all have a right to know, and I'm sorry.

"You asked about my family before, Inuyasha. What happened to them was . . . "

Koryu made as if to continue the story for her, but she stopped him with a wave of her hand.

Fahleing smiled wanly at Sango and Miroku's confused looks. "You don't know, do you? In the Forest, way before this Court even formed, my father ruled. He was a Warlord Prince, my mother was a Priestess out of Amdarh. I also had two sisters, one a full demon and one entirely human.

"Then Naraku, that damned plague Naraku – he came and slaughtered them all." She closed her eyes as if in pain, then turned and sank into Koryu's waiting arms.

"I'm sorry," Sakuya said softly, looking for all the world to be contrite, for once.

Fahleing's eyes remained closed, silvery lashes against pale skin. Kohryu, too, closed his eyes and drew her closer.

"Forgiven," she murmured. "Inutaishou?"

"Yes?"

"That portrait . . . the one of the whole family done decades ago? Do you still have it?"

He nodded. "Of course. It is such that I would never throw away."

" . . . Can you hang it up? As a sort of . . . tribute?"

"Will do."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sitting at the table with the others after Fahleing left, saying she wanted some time by herself, Inutaishou sighed.

"So. That's what happened."

Silence met his statement.

"I suspected, but wasn't sure," Sesshoumaru admitted after a while.

Inuyasha punched the floor in frustration. "Why the hell didn't she say something sooner?!"

"She's only just come to terms with it," Koryu said quietly.

"I know!" Inuyasha shouted. "I should have been there! If I was — "

"If you were there, you would have been slaughtered," Sakuya stated matter-of-factly. "Don't make that face at me. You know it's true that you're much stronger now than then."

"I don't care! They were family!"

"Inuyasha, please!" pleaded Kagome. "Please stop. There's nothing you can do."

Miroku, trying to put a lighter face on the subject, said, "Well, look at it this way: As a second family, we can help along the healing process."

"Inutaishou?" Sango asked. "Is there any chance that at least the old Warlord Prince of the Forest became demon-dead?"

"If he did, I've never seen him." Inutaishou's voice was almost leaden with sorrow. "He was my best friend, you know. Back when we were young and so full of ourselves."

"I should have known," Rin berated herself.

"There was no way you could have." Inutaishou stood up and started to leave. "But she really should have spoken up sooner."

"She was still recovering," Koryu repeated, but with a hint of menace this time.

Inutaishou paused without turning around. "Fahleing was the one closest to them, yes. But some of us here were only a bit farther away."

"Say any more, and I'll make you regret it."

Inutaishou gave a small smile. "I'm glad you're growing into your role as Warlord Prince and her Consort."

Koryu, taken aback, did not reply.

"But," Inutaishou continued. "I believe that your role as Consort right now is beside your lady."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Well, Kikyo. Long time no see."

"I'd thank you if you do not address me so informally," she snapped back. "What do you want, Naraku?"

"Simply calling in a favor, my lady."

"I don't do favors for scum like you."

"Oh? I believe you'll agree to this one nonetheless. Because, without my help, you'd be dead by now."

"Damn you . . . "

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sango froze in the act of pulling out a book from the library.

"What's wrong?" Miroku asked, trotting up.

"Something tainted's at the front gate," she said, wide-eyed with apprehension. "You warn everyone down here, I'll go upstairs!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sesshoumaru prowled out into the foyer just in time to meet Inuyasha.

"Where's Rin?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Resting." He looked around the room a bit. "Is there any way one can get up into the bedrooms from here?"

"The only ways up are the staircase, the courtyard windows, or the servant's stair. Inutaishou's coming down from the main stairs with Fahleing, so I doubt anyone's going up that way."

"Sango and Kirara have the courtyard covered, and Koryu and Sakuya are headed towards the servant's stair right now," Miroku added.

Sweeping down the stairs at a brisk pac, Inutaishou took command. "Fahleing, stay by the stairs. Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, stay by the side halls. Miroku, open the door," he said while positioning himself in plain view.

All this happened none too soon, for there sounded a knock at the door immediately after.

As the door opened, Inuyasha's nose wrinkled. The stench of the taint was so strong he could almost gag on it. Sesshoumaru discreetly lifted a hand to cover his nose. The others couldn't afford the luxury, as they were in plain sight.

"I demand to see the Queen here," the source of the stench – a woman with long black hair and an arrogant air – decreed.

"You'll make no demands here, lady," Inutaishou rumbled, voice as chill as a mountain glacier.

"You'll do to address me better, Warlord. I am Kikyo, Queen of Chaillot!"

That malevolent smile appeared on the High Lord's face. "I shall address you as I please. Not only do you barge into my domain, you do not observe even basic courtesy."

"How dare you — "

At a silent signal, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru emerged from the shadows, and Fahleing stepped forward. "Oh, I dare," Inutaishou crooned. "The High Lord of Hell dares very much."

Kikyo's entourage flinched back, earning them a glare from her.

"You see," Fahleing said, picking up where Inutaishou left off. "We play by different rules here."

"And we don't mind killing Queens," Sesshoumaru added.

"As long as we deem them a threat to ours," Inuyasha agreed.

"So, either you state you business, or be removed by force," Miroku concluded. "Which will it be?"

Kikyo alternatively paled and flushed – in rage or fear, Fahleing twitched an ear and smiled. Moments later, she spoke. "Well, well. What a foolhardy thing to do, trying to sneak in the back." The bloody head of what was clearly one of Kikyo's henchmen materialized in the air above her hand.

Kikyo bit her lip so hard it bled. "Very well then. I apologize for the . . . misunderstanding," she said haughtily.

"Good. Then leave."

"What — "

"Wait." Rin's voice, coming down the stairs, made them all halt. Appearing around the corner at the top, she said, "You may stay, but only until your business is finished. Understand?"

"But, my Lady," Inuyasha protested.

"That is my decision, Prince Inuyasha. Prince Inutaishou, show them to the guest suites. Prince Sesshoumaru, attend to me. Lord Miroku, Lady Fahleing, please notify the housekeeper."

Grimacing, they complied.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Once inside her given room, Kikyo yanked a small hand mirror out of her luggage. As soon as she did, the glass went blank and then Naraku's face appeared in it.

"Happy now?" Kikyo snarled. "I'm in."

"Good, good. I was starting to doubt."

"Shove it. What the hell do you want now?"

"Just one simple thing . . . "

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Um, sir?"

Inutaishou turned. It was a pity, he thought, that such a sweet, young girl had to be that person's sister. "Yes, Lady?"

"You can call me Kaede."

"Kaede, then. What is it?"

"Can . . . May I go to the library?"

Inutaishou softened up a bit. "Come then."

On the way there, Kaede said in a soft voice, "I know you don't like me or my sister much. I'm sorry, but she did used to be nice when I was little."

"I don't hate you, little Kaede. You are a nice girl. It's your sister that we dislike."

" . . . Um . . . Just so you know, I won't tell Kikyo where the library is. You don't want her in and around the halls, do you?"

"No, I don't. Thank you, and here you are. After you're done, just ring the bell and a servant will take you back."





Just for the record, Kaede's still a little girl in this story, and Kikyo's not dead. Sankyuu for reading. ^________^

Ja!