By. Seelin
Disclaimer: Inu and the others do not belong to me.
A/N: Sorry, my avid reviewers, for not updating this story in a while. My other stories have been keeping me preoccupied. Plus I've been vacationing in Texas. Please don't hurt me!
Chapter Six:
A Dragon's Tale
It was dusk, birds had stopped their calls and the bats flew out into the night. The humid air had begun to cool, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to stand outside. Though cool, the air still remained dry causing for troubled sleep and unknown sicknesses. The guards at the main gate could be seen switching between shifts.
Inuyasha led the way to the formidable castle that added to the village's size, which in contrast was pathetically small. Myam kept up the rear, keeping watch for any unwanted guests. Once they reached the main gates they were stopped by two, tall bat youkai. One was tall and lean and the other was more stout and muscular but both had a grim look set onto their faces. They both carried large spears that were adorned with feathers. Both guards sneered at the small group of travelers and were annoyed by their sudden appearance. The two guards instantly spread out their wings to guard the main entrance, like there might be something to hide. They gripped their spears, not taking any chance that the group might be an enemy.
"Halt. State your name and your business here," commanded the muscular guard, motioning his spear at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha gripped his sword's hilt tightly. "I am Inuyasha, we are here to discuss the Tigran menace with the lord of this castle."
The tall guard sneered, "I have heard of such a half breed."
The tall guard jabbed his spear menacingly at Inuyasha, "We need no help from you!"
Myam, unenthused about the guards belittling behavior stepped forward, "I am Myam. Send word to your master that my group and I need to speak with him. He will know my name." She directed her attention to the taller of the two. "Make haste!" she added with a snap.
The guard on the left flew into the air towards the castle. The remaining guard moved into the center and spread his wings out to their full span, making it impossible for the group to see beyond the gates. It was only a few minutes until the taller guard returned.
He landed on his knee in front of the other guard, spear still in hand hitting the ground when he landed. "My lord and master has agreed to see you. But I am required to detain the Tigran so that it may cause no harm."
Inuyasha stepped in front of her, "She comes with us. She is a victim of the Tigran plague and our friend. She is why we have come to seek audience with your master."
"Very well. You shall be held responsible if the beast looses its sanity. Follow me. The lord is unwell, you will have to wait until daybreak tomorrow."
The guard opened the gates and ushered the group inside. He led them up a long path that was surrounded by stone statues and large bushes. They reached the castle as sun as had finished setting. The guard took them into the castle and showed them to a large room. He walked into the room and opened a door that led to a huge bathroom. The bedroom contained two large beds on either side of the room. There was no balcony in this room, although it did contain a large window. It was very spacious for there was no other furniture in the room besides the large beds.
"Make yourselves clean, the master does not like dirty and smelly guests residing in his house. Do not wander the halls or you will anger the lord and he may refuse to see you. Servants will bring in food soon. I will fetch you all when the lord and master is ready," The guard said curtly.
The guard left the room and locked the door behind him.
Kagome sat on the bed nearest to the window and looked out to see a huge, foreboding garden. Outside it was dark and the moon had hidden itself behind the large castle's exterior, making it darker than it actually was. A small flying figure grew larger as it grew nearer and landed on the garden's lawn, walking into a door on the side of the castle. She figured that the demon lord who resided here must also be a bat youkai. She snapped back to reality when Sango sat down next to her and grabbed her shoulder in a comforting manner. Inuyasha sat down against the wall, close to the door with Shippo perched on his shoulder.
Sango turned to Myam and was the first one to ask the question that everyone wanted to ask, "Myam, how did you know that the lord of this castle would know you?"
Myam seated herself on the floor instead of one of the luxurious beds in the room, "There are many things you do not know about me."
"Like?" Shippo asked curiously.
Myam smiled, "Well, for one, I'm older than most on this world. I know many things and many people."
"Tell us about the dragons," Miroku said, seating himself next to Sango. "Why is it that there are not many dragons left in the world?"
"It was we who were created first and then the Tigrans and then the demons, followed by humans. Dragons and Tigrans clashed because we are both represent opposite elements. Tigrans, fire and Dragons, water. It was I who banished Mayhemik from our world," Myam said. She looked down, "Our numbers were decimated during our war with the Tigrans. But despite our few numbers we conquered our foe. The rest of us keep to hiding due to courageous young men out to make a name for themselves."
"That's horrible that people hunt you," Shippo pouted.
Inuyasha didn't feel like letting the conversation lead to a more sentimental direction and so he changed the subject abruptly. "If you're so big and bad, how come the Tigran wench came back?" he scoffed.
Myam lowered her eyes, "Somehow she found a loophole."
Sango glared over at Inuyasha, "Hey, let off. It's not her fault. Please, continue."
"Another thing that you do not know is that it was my brother who separated from our cause. My brother helped in the making of the Jewel you search for. He was one of the demons who fought with the priestess Midoriko. "
Kagome looked down at the jewel fragment on her neck. She thought about how it came to be but couldn't remember exactly, only muddled visions of a big fight that went to far. She stayed silent during Myam's tale, uncomfortable with interrupting the story. Kagome gasped when Myam suddenly opened her wings and a golden flash of light temporally blinded her. Shippo rubbed his eyes, as did everyone else.
Inuyasha covered his eyes with his sleeve, "Oi Woman!"
Myam smirked at her mishap, "My apologies. I wanted you all to see these." She pointed to a huge red jewel on her golden breastplate. "This is the Eye of the Dragon. Only the clan's leader is able to hold it. And these," she said pointing to three glittering scales on the breastplate, below the jewel, "are the scales from my fallen kin."
Shippo hopped off of Inuyasha's shoulder over to the spot on the floor where Myam sat and reached to touch the shiny objects. He stared into the jewel and became entranced. It was like staring into space; it kept going on and on. Shippo snapped out of his trance when Miroku cleared his throat. He smiled and went over to Kagome and seated himself in her lap.
"So, why do you have such an elegant breastplate? Doesn't it get in your way during battle?" Sango asked.
Myam ran her hand over the smooth gold surface, smiling at her treasure. "No. The metal is a good conductor of electricity and the Dragon's Eye entrances the enemy, while the scales give me the strength of my kin. It is the honor of being my clan's leader to where such an armor."
"That's nice and all, but a true warrior doesn't need jewels and scales and whatever to succeed in battle," Inuyasha goaded.
Myam looked up from her breastplate and smiled, "Why is it then, that you seek the Jewel of Four Souls Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha stood up, defending his pride, "Whatever, I'm strong enough already."
Miroku, Sango, and Shippo shook their heads. Kagome just watched the scene, not being able to stifle oncoming laughter at the sight of Inuyasha popping a vein.
"Besides, you don't see any marks or blemishes on the armor. That's because no one has ever come close enough to touch it," Myam said, folding her wings neatly over her chest.
Miroku smacked Inuyasha over the head with his staff to calm him down, which just sent the half demon after the monk. Sango turned to face Kagome who had her hand over her mouth, hiding her giggles.
"So what do you think about all of this?" Sango asked.
"Kagome looked outside and then back at Sango, "I think that the demon lord is also a bat youkai."
"Oh, I was actually referring to Myam's stories but you've brought up a very good point," Sango said. "I wonder how Myam knows him, she never explained that."
Myam sighed, not listening to the girl's conversation, "If only there was a way to stop them."
Shippo had jumped in the fray as well, by laughing and pointing, Inuyasha chased after him as well. "Kagome! Inuyasha's picking on me!"
Sango laughed, "Maybe if Kagome tells Inuyasha to sit, he'll stop. Go on, give it a try Kagome."
Kagome gave her companion a confused look, seeing that she was hiding something. Nonetheless she gave it a try, figuring she had nothing to loose, "Sit boy!"
Inuyasha hit the ground with a loud crash. Kagome looked very pleased at her new found control she had over the half demon. Myam laughed, "You'll have to use your newfound power a little more often. How did you accomplish such a feat?"
Kagome shook her head. Sango saw her friend's discomfort and told Myam of Inuyasha's prayer beads and how Kagome had only to use the word sit to subdue him.
Inuyasha sat up and crossed his arms over his chest gruffly, apparently not amused by his fall. Miroku and Shippo, on the other hand, felt differently about it. "Feh," was Inuyasha's only remark.
The time had come for everyone to settle down for the night. They had settled that Kagome, Sango, and Myam would occupy one bed while the guys would sleep in the other. Inuyasha declined the bed and settled himself on the floor, against the wall. Myam also declined the offer, stating that she rarely slept and was wary of their surroundings. Miroku offered to take Myam's place in the bed, but instead of an invitation to the bed he was rejected with a slap.
Sango and Kagome headed to the bathroom to bath in the huge tubs. Myam accompanied them along with Shippo leaving Miroku and Inuyasha to wait in the room.
Sango looked out of the partially opened door, her gaze burning a hole into Miroku's head. "You two had better not be caught peeping or else," she said flatly. She closed the door behind her and prepared to get in the tub.
The girls and Shippo all simultaneously let out a sigh of relief. Each one letting the warm waters wash away all their stress.
Meanwhile, Miroku plotted to do what he did best. Inuyasha, who had his eyes closed, opened one eye at the monk, "You heard what she said. It's not worth it anyways."
"Oh my friend, it is always worth it," Miroku said back with a small smile.
Inuyasha sighed and closed his eye. "Besides," Miroku began to explain, "she said if I got 'caught'. She didn't say I couldn't try."
"Feh, do what you want, but don't come running to me when she pummels you into the floor," Inuyasha said with a retort.
To Miroku's luck there was a small air vent above the door to help ventilate steam from the bathroom. He grabbed a chair that was the two huge beds only company in the room and placed it in front of the door, directly beneath the vent. He wrestled silently with the vent cover until it popped open, revealing the steamy bathroom full of naked women.
Inuyasha opened both of his eyes to find the monk staring into the bathroom through an opened vent. "You stupid monk, what do you think you're doing?"
Miroku grinned at him, "What nature intended."
Inuyasha stood up and walked over to the perverted monk. "If nature intends you to endure a bloody end then sure, that's what it means. Get down before they catch you."
Myam's sharp sense of hearing caught some of the commotion outside. She got out of the tub and wrapped a robe that lay out around her. She walked over to the door and put her ear against the door. She heard the two voices of her male companions. "Miroku, get down from there now. Or I'll have to make you get down." "Don't worry, you'll have your turn in a moment." "Get down now monk!"
Myam gestured to the girls that they had a couple of lechers on their hands by motion her head to the door and the vent above it. They both grabbed towels and crept over to the door.
Unfortunately, Miroku was to busy arguing with Inuyasha to notice that the girls had been conspiring against them. The door, that swung to the inside of the room was shoved open, knocking Miroku onto the floor and in turn falling on Inuyasha. It was a messy scene. Inuyasha pleaded with Kagome that he was innocent and that he wouldn't waste his time with peeping. Still he received a sound sitting from Kagome while Miroku suffered from a blow to the head and many slaps. Myam offered to jolt them a bit with her electric powers but Sango shook her head saying that Myam shouldn't waste her strength.
Inuyasha returned to the wall, the girls settled into the bed, Myam stared out the window, Shippo cuddled next to Kagome, and Miroku rubbed his head but was afraid to fall asleep because he might have a concussion.
Eventually sleep overtook each of them, even the two steadfast demons. They were all awakened at the same time by a brief knock on the solid wood door.
The click of the door being unlocked could be heard. It was pushed open by the same guard that had shown them there the night before. He didn't enter the room but stood guard by it as four human scullery maids came in carrying large trays adorned with exquisite foods. They set the trays down on the floor and left the room. The guard waited until they had left and closed and locked the door.
Inuyasha looked at the door, "I don't understand why they lock the door. If we wanted out we could just blast through the damn thing."
"They do it so we know that they mean for us to stay in the room," Myam said as she eyed the food.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and walked over to the trays of food that had been laid out. Each one had different types of foods on it: pastries, meats, and fruits. The diet seemed to be for that of a bat. No one complained though, the food was delicious.
They each ate their share and pushed the near empty trays into the center of the room. Shippo grabbed his belly, "I'm so full. You wouldn't think they'd be this hospitable to us."
Myam shook her head, "No, bat youkai are different from other demons. They always treat guests with respect, even enemies. They don't believe in torture, just a swift and honorable death for prisoners who don't answer their questions. Prisoners who value their lives spill their information and are eventually set free to be dealt with by their superiors."
"Hospitable hosts don't lock their guests in rooms," Inuyasha said.
"Respectful guests don't poke their noses in their host's privacy," Myam countered.
The rest of the day passed by peacefully and dull as the group waited for nightfall. They used conversations about past events to keep themselves entertained and to fill in Kagome on what she couldn't remember.
They were in the middle of the story about Inuyasha discovered the Scar of the Wind technique when something came crashing through the window.
---It took me forever to get this down...I hope it was good. I just never had the time to type it up since I've been busy with my other stories. From now on I'll try to update them equally, even if you like one better than the other. Happy Reading!