Kitsunehime: Aand, I'm back! == It seems we're finally heading into a (somewhat) comprehensible plot, and I'm moderately sure of where I want this headed, sooo

Kagome: So she thinks she might be able to start typing instead of loafing around.

Fahleing: No promises though.

Sakuya: And remember, kiddies: Kitsunehime owns nothing here; not the characters, not the basic plot.

To rule the Darkness

ch. 38: Unwanted Attentions

"Um, sister?"

"What is it, Kaede?"

"Well . . . the High Lord requests that you stop your amorous advances toward Prince Inuyasha," she answered hesitantly.

"Hah!" Kikyo barked. "Demands, more like. Why should I?"

"But, sister . . . Prince Inuyasha is married. And . . . isn't that what your Consort is for?"

"Him? Bah." Kikyo dismissed him out of hand. "I only brought him along because he was amusing, nothing more. No imagination, and not nearly so . . . stimulating."

"But — " Kaede protested.

"End of discussion, Kaede. As a Queen, I can do whatever I please."

"Hello, Kagome."

"Er . . . Do I know you?" she answered cautiously, eyeing the approaching Warlord with apprehension.

He frowned for a second, but didn't seem much more taken aback than that. "Kouga, from the village you passed through a few years ago."

"Ah . . . "

Bristling, Inuyasha marched up. "What do you want, you mangy turd?" Without waiting for an answer, he steered Kagome towards the library, leaving Kouga behind.

"Inuyasha, what — "

"I don't trust the creep," Inuyasha growled. "Stay away from him."

Kagome peered at him fo a moment. "Is something else the matter?"

"No," he replied, rather brusquely.

"Sakuya, did you find the info I asked for?" Inutaishou was sitting languidly behind his desk.

"More or less. How bad has the problem gotten?"

"Worse, I'm afraid. Please, do sit and report."

"Very well." She immediately flopped into the most comfortable of the proffered chairs. "Heh, comfy."

Inutaishou just drummed his fingers on the desk.

"Roughly fifteen years ago, the Queen known as Kikyo set up her court at Beldon Mor in Chaillot. A few years later, reports of unfair rule and mysterious disappearances began to circulate. Strangely, those informants that imparted that knowledge to us were among the first to vanish.

"About nine years ago, the Taint began to manifest in that area, along with increased rumors of unrest. Around that time, a Warlord Prince by the name of Youko served in Kikyo's Court." Sakuya snapped the folder full of notes shut. "That is all our records say on the subject, but I believe one can easily figure out what happened afterwards just by looking at the aftermath."

"Do continue," Inutaishou rumbled, sounding none-too-pleased at what was turning up.

"Seven years ago, there was a large uproar in Belden Mor about an attempted murder on the Queen. No suspect was ever caught, nor did there seem to be any actual conspirators among those the Court interrogated. Prince Youko was discovered missing shortly after the investigations.

"A few months following that matter, Prince Youko was said to have been seen in Furei, headed for the Fox Forest. The latest information we have on the issue is the subsequent fortification and reestablishment of the Forest as one of the few major Territories, ruled by the Darker Jewels, still untouched by the Taint. The rest, I think we all know," she finished, depositing the folder on his desk. "Anything else?"

"Just one thing – Just what position did Youko serve as?"

Sakuya hesitated. "Thirteenth circle, 'Court Lover.'"

"'Court lover?'" Inutaishou raised an eyebrow ominously.

"It's a relatively new term, High Lord."

"I am aware of that. Definition, please."

. . . . "An all-purpose 'lover,' High Lord. One given to any and all that have the 'need,' and just one small step above being a pleasure slave."

Inutaishou's fist thunked down onto the desk. "That — that btch! She can consider herself banned from this place, on pain of death!"

"With all due respect, High Lord, but Queen Rin has decreed that Queen 'I-am-a-haughty-turd' is to stay here until her business is concluded."

"I don't ca — "

Sakuya interrupted. "We know also have the reason why she is pursuing Inuyasha."

"What?"

"Have you seen the similarities between Youko and Inuyasha? There are definite differences, but . . . "

Inutaishou ground his teeth. "Damn — Keep a close watch on our guests. As soon as they make a mistake . . . Report them directly to me."

A slow smile crept across her face. "And you'll expel them."

He nodded with a certain degree of vindictiveness. "With force, if necessary." As an afterthought, he added, "And would you please take a look into our other Court members' pasts? I know we shouldn't pry, but do check what we have in the records."

"Yes, High Lord."

The next morning, due to the servants' holiday (which Rin refused to cancel), Kikyo and her entourage had to eat with the resident Court. Kagome and Sango were still upstairs with Rin, and Inutaishou had yet to make his entrance, but every one else was present.

Evidently, even early morning wasn't to early for Kikyo to begin her chase of Inuyasha.

"Go get me something," she ordered Kouga. "I'm simply too tired. Lord Inuyasha was just so simulating — "

Inuyasha's eyes went blank with rage.

"Shit," Fahleing cursed. "Damned woman doesn't even know when to shut up!"

As Inuyasha lunged towards Kikyo with a knife in hand, Sesshoumaru tried to hold him back. "Sakuya, go get Inutaishou!"

Even Sesshoumaru couldn't quite hold Inuyasha back. As his grip slipped little by little, the knife was able to connect, and the thinnest trickle of blood ran down Kikyo's neck. She screamed.

"Koryu! Fahleing! Either get help, or help here!" Sesshoumaru barked. "He's gone berserk!"

Koryu managed to get up and under the knife, and tried pushing Inuyasha backwards. Fahleing dashed over to grab his knife-holding arm and pull it back. They weren't having much success.

When they finally either had to let go or be dragged along, Inutaishou hurtled in. "Inuyasha, stop it this instant!" Sakuya rushed in right behind him.

Scarcely a moment later, the walls iced over in the deep cold that came on suddenly. Rin, looking absolutely furious glided in.

"Prince Inuyasha, stop."

Inuyasha began to shiver.

"Prince Inuyasha. Stop now."

Still shivering, he dropped the knife. Narrowly missing Koryu, of course. Who then swore. But that is beside the point.

"Prince Inuyasha, I will see you in my study. Immediately."

As soon as he left, she turned on the rest of them. "You. Shut up," she snapped at Kikyo. "Prince Inutaishou, you will explain. In the study. Prince Koryu, Prince Sesshoumaru, you will be next."

They left, bearing remarkable resemblance to whipped dogs.

"Lady Fahleing, Lady Sakuya, Lord Miroku, I hope you will deal with the mess here. You will report to the study later." With that, she swept out of the room, and with her departure, the ice began to thaw.

"Crud," Sakuya cursed. "I better go get Kagome and Sango down, and explain while I'm at it."

"We need a Healer for Queen Kikyo," one of the Escorts said.

"Well, would you look at that. They're alive! Walking talking, and everything. I would never have guessed by the way they were all sitting on their thumbs and sucking on their toes a moment ago," Fahleing remarked caustically.

"Shut up, whore!" the Escort yelled.

"I wouldn't speak to her Ladyship that way," Miroku said mildly. "I believe there's a collection of idiots' balls hidden in her cache."

Myeh =3

I believe this chapter explains why Youko Kurama's in here. =3 Just to show that he's a slightly different character here though, he is called Youko in this story. Blarg, I actually blame it all on whoever translated the series while forgetting to flop his name like the rest of them. Confuse the whole audience, why don't you?

Ja!