Chapter 2: The Mystery Revealed…Sort Of

Kyoten moved in. His sword movements were slow and easy to read. Clearly he did not think Inuyasha knew how to fight. Inuyasha traded blows for a minute or so, then lunged forward in an attempt to disarm. His opponent leaped backwards; when he landed, there was a small smile on his face.

"So, you do know how to fight. I figured you were just some schmo who bought a fancy sword from the costume shop. But you do have skill." He brought his sword up again. "So let's turn it up a notch." He advanced and began the fight again. Much to Inuyasha's dismay, he merely quickened his pace a little, but kept the same predictable structure. The crowd was beginning to get bored, and Inuyasha was rapidly tiring of this monotonous fight. So he locked swords with Kyoten, and while struggling for the upper hand, whispered in his ear.

"You really don't think much of me, do you? Now I'll show you what I can really do."

Inuyasha broke the sword lock and charged. He brought his sword down with all his strength, and began a devastating offensive. It was all Kyoten could do to defend himself. The crowd cheered as Kyoten began to lose ground to Inuyasha. Finally, he leaped back again and put up his sword.

"Well, well, well." His eyes glittered. "We have a true warrior in our midst. That's no technique I've ever seen…you must really be a master. But careful." He leaned forward and extended his sword. "Now I'm really going to show you what I've got."

And then, the battle was truly fought.

The spectacle that followed was really something to see. The crowd roared as Inuyasha and Kyoten clashed swords, in maneuvers and styles that looked far cooler than anything they had seen before. Kyoten leaped over Inuyasha's head, parrying a fierce thrust while in midair, then landed and turned around just in time to block two attacks and launch three of his own. Inuyasha backed up, then dived at Kyoten. The other man whirled to face him, but Inuyasha twisted around in midair and landed on his back, sliding under him and aiming a fierce blow at his chest. Kyoten jumped up and brought down his sword to parry Inuyasha's attack.

For an instant that was an eternity, the two fighters stayed in that position; Kyoten in midair, Inuyasha on the ground, eyes blazing with battle fury.

Kyoten did a backflip and landed nimbly on his toes. Inuyasha did a handspring and touched ground. In a flash, they were sparring again. Their swords locked, and as each man struggled for an advantage, Inuyasha saw an opening. He broke the sword lock and feinted to the left. Kyoten fell for the ruse, and Inuyasha countered with a roundhouse kick to the chest that sent Kyoten flying. He slammed against the wall; without hesitating, Inuyasha hurled Tetsusaiga right at Kyoten's head. He dodged it, but the blade sliced open the shoulder of his robes as it embedded itself in the wall.

Nobody moved, nobody even breathed. Kyoten looked down at his torn robes, put a gloved hand there, and brought his hand to his mouth. He tasted something, then nodded.

"Yeah. Blood. You win."

The crowd roared and surged towards Inuyasha. Before he could react, he was being carried back into the bar by the rabble underneath him. He panicked and looked to Kagome.

"Kagome! What's going on?"

"Just go with it, Inuyasha. They're not gonna hurt you." She smiled.

"Don't be so sure. With this bunch, anything could happen." Kagome whirled around to see Kyoten right behind her. He handed her Tetsusaiga. But when she looked at the blade, there was no blood.

"K-Kyoten? Didn't you say that you got cut by this?"

"What? Yeah, I cleaned it off. A sword's no good if it rusts into pieces." She managed a giggle. "C'mon, let's go in. The party is just starting."

Inside, the party had indeed started. Inuyasha was at the head of it all, and people were crowded at the bar, buying rounds for him and the others. A glass was placed in front of him. Kagome struggled through the crowd and came up beside him.

"Kagome? What is this dark liquid?"

"It's called whiskey. It's alcoholic, so be careful." Right after she said that, she realized that he didn't know much of anything about alcohol. She was about to say something to him when he drank the entire glass in one gulp.

"This stuff is great! Where can I get some more?"

Instantly, about fifteen cups, goblets, mugs, shotglasses, etc. were plunked down on his space at the bar.

Two hours later, Inuyasha was so drunk he could barely think. Kagome hadn't drunk anything. Kyoten had drunk an awful lot, but still was the only sober one in the bar. Inuyasha was telling a long and boisterous story at the bar while Kagome was hanging out, watching TV.

"Sho there I wassh. A great, big, great demon, jusht chargin' down the path. He wassh twenny feet tall, with wings an' claws an' all that shtuff. He came a-chargin' at me, I pulled out my shword, an' – Hey! I'm outta that wishkey again!" His glass was refilled. He took a long drink before continuing. "He came jusht barrelin' down the road. I pulled out my shword…" Everyone leaned closer in. "An' shtabbed him through the heart!" They cheered.

Kagome looked at Kyoten for a minute. "Hey Kyoten…you've drunk as much as Inuyasha! Why aren't you looped like him?"

He smiled slightly. "Alcohol doesn't affect me the way it does most people."

"Okay…" She looked around for a clock, finding one on the wall. Wow, it was later than she–

1:36??!!

She turned to Kyoten. "Kyoten, it's 1:30 in the morning! I gotta get back to… uhh… Inuyasha's house!"

He turned to the bar. "Okay. I'll get him." He walked up to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha…it's time to go home."

Inuyasha stared at him. "Why? I'm having sho much fun!"

"Kagome says so. Now come on before I have to carry you out." As it turned out, Kyoten actually did have to carry Inuyasha out, as he was too drunk to walk on his own. As he began to leave, the bartender spoke up.

"Hey! Who's gonna pay for all these drinks…not to mention damages?" Kyoten cast a  glance around the room. The place had been wrecked. All but three of the tables had been overturned, glass had been smashed, the pool balls were randomly flung around. The revelry had junked up the bar.

Kyoten looked around at all the people who suddenly had important engagements elsewhere, and turned to Inuyasha and Kagome. "Wait outside. I'll handle this." They left. He pulled a wad of bills out of his pocket; and as the bartender gaped, counted them out.

"Five, six, seven, eight…You know what? Forget it. Just take all this and keep the change." He thrust the bills into the shocked bartender's hand and strolled out the door.

Outside the bar, Kyoten made a mysterious phone call and told them to wait. While they waited, Kyoten spoke up.

"If you need a place to stay, my place is big enough for all three of us. What do you think?"

Kagome was puzzled. "We just met a few hours ago and you're already offering us a room?"

He looked in higher spirits than when they had first met. "That was the most fun I've had in years. You two really are great to be around. I haven't met anyone like you in at least…" he thought for a minute, "…a decade."

Inuyasha stumbled over. "Jusht how old are you, anyway?"

An odd, closed expression was on Kyoten's face. "Older than I look." He looked away.

Inuyasha stood up straighter, with an almighty effort. "Well, I trusht him. He and I are great palsh now!" He attempted to clap Kyoten on the shoulder, but missed and went sprawling in the dirt.

"Whaddayou think, Kagome?" came his muffled voice.

"Umm…well…" She thought for a second. We don't even know this guy and he's giving us a place to stay?! There's got to be something up. It's probably a trick. "No…my house is fine. We can visit later."

"Very well." At that moment, a limousine pulled up. Kyoten opened the door and gestured inside. "Well? The car's waiting…"

Kagome was surprised again. I expected a taxi…this guy must be pretty rich. She got in and pulled Inuyasha in with her. Kyoten got in nearer the front. "Where's your house?" he asked. She told him, and he told the driver, who sped off.

"I know what you're thinking," Kyoten began. "You think I'm pretty rich. Well, I am. You've heard of my…profession?" Kagome nodded slowly. "I've never failed a contract yet. As such, I can charge ridiculously high fees for my work and people pay it."

"Of course, the downside of being so successful is that everyone else in the business is out to get you. Hardly a day goes by without some jerk and his Glock showing up who thinks he can put me out of commission permanently. But, it goes with success, I guess. Hang around me long enough and you'll see that happen."

Inuyasha lurched drunkenly up. "Hey…" he said. "You shtill haven't told ush your name. What ish it anywaysh?"

A barely describable emotion flitted over Kyoten's face. It looked like a mixture of anger, fear, sorrow, pain, and insanity, all in one. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. He bowed his head and remained silent for several seconds. To Kagome, it looked like he was struggling not to cry. Finally, he lifted his head.

"Tobias."

No, he isn't a softy. He just has painful memories surrounding that name. More on that later. So w00t!! Review PLEEEEEEEASE!! I'll give you a cookie...