Chapter Seven: The Bet of a Lord
Naraku watched almost lifelessly as his newest creation practiced its powers in the courtyard. He was sure that this one could pass almost completely for a demon unrelated to him. But then again, he would only be trying to fool a few humans and maybe a demon or two who'd never before seen him in person.
"Master Naraku, the wolf tribe has come."
Turning away from the window, Naraku saw one of the castle's servants bowing respectfully just outside the open shoji screens.
"Tell the wolves their mission, but do not let them see him." Naraku instructed.
"As you wish, Master Naraku." The servant said.
~*~
"I don't like this place. You'd better have a damn good excuse for this one, Wolf-boy." Inutaisho snapped.
The leader of the pack stepped forward. "Keep your temper, mutt. Can't you feel the power? This is the place where the jewel rests, and the maiden has gone."
Inutaisho, in his significantly smaller form, stepped backwards just a little. He knew of the miko who guarded the Shikon no Tama, and where she'd gone. But Shiro had promised the Western Lands power, and to protect his human mate and ridiculed hanyou son, he needed it.
He didn't like Shiro that much, either. For one thing, all the wolves dressed the same. He didn't care what fancy name they gave it; those fur things were still female clothing. Shiro had slick black hair that was always in a ponytail, and cobalt blue eyes that shone in defiance. The wolf pack came with wolves as well, completely stocked full on those four-legged fur balls. Inutaisho also thought that all the wolves had a distinct smell about them.
"Look, careful now."
Snapping his golden eyes to look at the entrance to the palace, Inutaisho saw a servant walk to the top of the steps. "Respect lords," the human servant called, "Master Naraku has asked for a favor."
Inutaisho shot a side-glance to Shiro. Weren't they here to slay and take power? But Shiro answered. "Depends on the favor."
"He wishes you to bring back his mate and exterminator from the Western Lands." The great dog-demon could see the human beginning to sweat with fear at the mention of his lands. "The miko Kikyou, and a girl named Sango."
Having had enough, Inutaisho stepped forward. "And as payment for our deeds?" The human held up his hand that had been closed in a fist at his side.
Between his fingers he held two shards of the Shikon no Tama.
~*~
Inuyasha changed quickly and tossed his royal clothing onto the floor. Glancing around nervously, as if expecting someone to pop out of the closet, he opened one of the four large windows facing the west, as well as almost directly above his secret spot. Without anymore notice, he jumped down to the closest tree, an oak.
Spotting Kagome sitting with her bare feet in the river, Inuyasha jumped down from the tree.
"Hey, sorry I'm late." He said.
Kagome turned and gave him a smile. "It's ok... I almost wasn't able to make it."
Inuyasha sat beside her and took off the servant's shoes, sticking his feet in the water as well. "I know. I meant to talk to father last night, but the wolf tribe asked him to go with them to the Eastern Lands... something about a human and needing more power."
"Couldn't you just talk to your mother about it?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha sighed. Here was the little niche in the deal.
"I would, but... I think that I gave enough hints to her about what's going on between us."
She looked at him, arching an eyebrow. "What do you mean enough hints?"
Inuyasha sighed again. "I mean that I went to talk to her about her trying to get me to take Kikyou as a mate. I told her that I was already involved, and she asked who... I said you. She kinda got a little angry and told me to never say your name in her presence."
He scooted closer to her and she leaned onto his shoulder. He placed his hand on her other side, the one not close to him, and buried his nose in her cascading raven tresses. For a while they just stayed like that, until Inuyasha spoke again.
"When I told her who you were, I used the title your mother had..."
He felt Kagome go slightly rigid. "What do you mean?"
"I talked to Sesshoumaru a while ago... around the time we first met. I didn't know who you were, and I thought that I knew a fair lot of the servant's names. He said that your mother used to serve mine, and that she was a Lady of the court." He explained.
~*~
*Flashback*
Yumari stepped out and closed the door to Sesshoumaru's room as quietly as she could. Unfortunately, someone came around the corner before she could leave completely.
"Oh! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you."
Yumari turned quickly to find one of her servant friends. Long raven tresses, pulled up in an off-white bandana like hers was, warm blue eyes that were so familiar to Yumari that it almost made her cry again.
"Hey, Higurashi." Yumari mumbled.
Ae Higurashi looked over her friend's soft features with worried eyes. "What's wrong? Did Sesshoumaru do something bad to you?"
Yumari's frame trembled for a minute before she let out a soft sob. "No... I don't think I'm going to see Sesshoumaru again."
Ae's eyes went wide. "You told him?" Yumari nodded before collapsing, and Ae pulled her friend into an embrace on the bench by the window. "What'd he say?"
"To go be with my King," Yumari said miserably.
"Don't cry, it'll be ok." Ae said comfortingly.
Yumari jumped up. "How is it going to be ok? I'm a human pregnant with a youkai's baby! How is that ok?!"
"I don't... I..." Ae hung her head. "I don't know, Yuma."
~*~
Shiro slammed down his cup, effectively breaking the fifth one.
'That damn dog is just in my way...'
Inutaisho had told Shiro earlier that by no means was the wolf tribe coming into his lands to capture those girls. The argument quickly evolved into another fistfight between the two temperamental lords.
'Stupid mutt doesn't even need the power, why the hell should I even listen to him?'
But as arrogant as the wolf youkai was, he knew that he had to wait a while before attempting to do Naraku's bidding. Though he knew the consequences of not heeding his old friend's warning, the lure of the jewel was stronger.
'Besides...how will I ever prevent what happened to my mate from happening to Kouga if I don't get this power?'
Strengthening his resolve against the dog demon, Shiro picked up his scythe from the corner of the room and went out to once again argue his point. The hard way.
~*~
Sesshoumaru stepped away from the window when he heard someone enter, and caught the scent of the human girl his step mother had invited to their home. He almost sent her away, but thought better of it. Kikyou could be of use to him.
"Prince Sesshoumaru," Kikyou called, announcing her presence. "I wish to speak with you about Prince Inuyasha."
The young youkai stepped up to his desk in front of the large windows and gave Kikyou and icy glare. "Ask what you will, speak what you will about him, but I may not choose to answer."
Kikyou bowed her head respectfully. "Very well."
Sesshoumaru gestured for Kikyou to sit in one of the armchairs on the other side of the desk, and he sat in his chair. She didn't say anything for a few moments, obviously believing he would bring up the subject first. At last she cleared her throat and began.
"Lady Yumari, as you know, has given me rights to become Prince Inuyasha's mate. Now I don't know him that well, truth be told, as have only met him once before. However I think I can trust my instincts, as they are never wrong." Kikyou stated.
'Quick to the point, is she? Then again, most humans are when confronted with youkai...' Sesshoumaru thought, amusement crossing his golden depths. "And what have your instincts told you about him?"
Kikyou locked her ice blue eyes in a hardened gaze with his golden ones, and said plainly, "I believe he is seeing a girl who is undeserving of his attention."
"A female below his rank, I assume." Sesshoumaru said, leaning back. Kikyou nodded. "Well you are not wrong."
Now was clearly the time to use Kikyou in his plan. She was clearly a powerful priestess; she must be able to find out more from her viewpoint than he from his.
"She is a human servant by the name of Kagome Higurashi." Sesshoumaru summarized. No details just yet, he had to make sure he could trust her.
Kikyou frowned. "And how did you find this out?"
In a second his claws were dripping poison, inches from piercing her neck. Only this was interesting: her eyes, though cold, showed no fear of the impending death. Straightening up and satisfied that she had gotten the warning, Sesshoumaru sat back down.
"Never question my authenticity. On anything." Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed. "Now that you know, I think it's time you leave. I may summon you later on if I find something you ought to know."
Kikyou got up and bowed, then left quickly. Once again Sesshoumaru found himself staring out at the distant mountains, brooding on his newly formed plan.
AN: I know the last chapter was short, and I know this one isn't exactly long, but I'm suddenly sick... . Not fun. I have a general idea on how this is going, and I want to thank everyone for their reviews! They keep me going, and it's a major ego boost. The more reviews, the more chapters. I think it's going to have a lot of chapters, but some it might be fluff/just filling stuff... Leave a review with suggestions, flames, comments, ect.
Naraku watched almost lifelessly as his newest creation practiced its powers in the courtyard. He was sure that this one could pass almost completely for a demon unrelated to him. But then again, he would only be trying to fool a few humans and maybe a demon or two who'd never before seen him in person.
"Master Naraku, the wolf tribe has come."
Turning away from the window, Naraku saw one of the castle's servants bowing respectfully just outside the open shoji screens.
"Tell the wolves their mission, but do not let them see him." Naraku instructed.
"As you wish, Master Naraku." The servant said.
~*~
"I don't like this place. You'd better have a damn good excuse for this one, Wolf-boy." Inutaisho snapped.
The leader of the pack stepped forward. "Keep your temper, mutt. Can't you feel the power? This is the place where the jewel rests, and the maiden has gone."
Inutaisho, in his significantly smaller form, stepped backwards just a little. He knew of the miko who guarded the Shikon no Tama, and where she'd gone. But Shiro had promised the Western Lands power, and to protect his human mate and ridiculed hanyou son, he needed it.
He didn't like Shiro that much, either. For one thing, all the wolves dressed the same. He didn't care what fancy name they gave it; those fur things were still female clothing. Shiro had slick black hair that was always in a ponytail, and cobalt blue eyes that shone in defiance. The wolf pack came with wolves as well, completely stocked full on those four-legged fur balls. Inutaisho also thought that all the wolves had a distinct smell about them.
"Look, careful now."
Snapping his golden eyes to look at the entrance to the palace, Inutaisho saw a servant walk to the top of the steps. "Respect lords," the human servant called, "Master Naraku has asked for a favor."
Inutaisho shot a side-glance to Shiro. Weren't they here to slay and take power? But Shiro answered. "Depends on the favor."
"He wishes you to bring back his mate and exterminator from the Western Lands." The great dog-demon could see the human beginning to sweat with fear at the mention of his lands. "The miko Kikyou, and a girl named Sango."
Having had enough, Inutaisho stepped forward. "And as payment for our deeds?" The human held up his hand that had been closed in a fist at his side.
Between his fingers he held two shards of the Shikon no Tama.
~*~
Inuyasha changed quickly and tossed his royal clothing onto the floor. Glancing around nervously, as if expecting someone to pop out of the closet, he opened one of the four large windows facing the west, as well as almost directly above his secret spot. Without anymore notice, he jumped down to the closest tree, an oak.
Spotting Kagome sitting with her bare feet in the river, Inuyasha jumped down from the tree.
"Hey, sorry I'm late." He said.
Kagome turned and gave him a smile. "It's ok... I almost wasn't able to make it."
Inuyasha sat beside her and took off the servant's shoes, sticking his feet in the water as well. "I know. I meant to talk to father last night, but the wolf tribe asked him to go with them to the Eastern Lands... something about a human and needing more power."
"Couldn't you just talk to your mother about it?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha sighed. Here was the little niche in the deal.
"I would, but... I think that I gave enough hints to her about what's going on between us."
She looked at him, arching an eyebrow. "What do you mean enough hints?"
Inuyasha sighed again. "I mean that I went to talk to her about her trying to get me to take Kikyou as a mate. I told her that I was already involved, and she asked who... I said you. She kinda got a little angry and told me to never say your name in her presence."
He scooted closer to her and she leaned onto his shoulder. He placed his hand on her other side, the one not close to him, and buried his nose in her cascading raven tresses. For a while they just stayed like that, until Inuyasha spoke again.
"When I told her who you were, I used the title your mother had..."
He felt Kagome go slightly rigid. "What do you mean?"
"I talked to Sesshoumaru a while ago... around the time we first met. I didn't know who you were, and I thought that I knew a fair lot of the servant's names. He said that your mother used to serve mine, and that she was a Lady of the court." He explained.
~*~
*Flashback*
Yumari stepped out and closed the door to Sesshoumaru's room as quietly as she could. Unfortunately, someone came around the corner before she could leave completely.
"Oh! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you."
Yumari turned quickly to find one of her servant friends. Long raven tresses, pulled up in an off-white bandana like hers was, warm blue eyes that were so familiar to Yumari that it almost made her cry again.
"Hey, Higurashi." Yumari mumbled.
Ae Higurashi looked over her friend's soft features with worried eyes. "What's wrong? Did Sesshoumaru do something bad to you?"
Yumari's frame trembled for a minute before she let out a soft sob. "No... I don't think I'm going to see Sesshoumaru again."
Ae's eyes went wide. "You told him?" Yumari nodded before collapsing, and Ae pulled her friend into an embrace on the bench by the window. "What'd he say?"
"To go be with my King," Yumari said miserably.
"Don't cry, it'll be ok." Ae said comfortingly.
Yumari jumped up. "How is it going to be ok? I'm a human pregnant with a youkai's baby! How is that ok?!"
"I don't... I..." Ae hung her head. "I don't know, Yuma."
~*~
Shiro slammed down his cup, effectively breaking the fifth one.
'That damn dog is just in my way...'
Inutaisho had told Shiro earlier that by no means was the wolf tribe coming into his lands to capture those girls. The argument quickly evolved into another fistfight between the two temperamental lords.
'Stupid mutt doesn't even need the power, why the hell should I even listen to him?'
But as arrogant as the wolf youkai was, he knew that he had to wait a while before attempting to do Naraku's bidding. Though he knew the consequences of not heeding his old friend's warning, the lure of the jewel was stronger.
'Besides...how will I ever prevent what happened to my mate from happening to Kouga if I don't get this power?'
Strengthening his resolve against the dog demon, Shiro picked up his scythe from the corner of the room and went out to once again argue his point. The hard way.
~*~
Sesshoumaru stepped away from the window when he heard someone enter, and caught the scent of the human girl his step mother had invited to their home. He almost sent her away, but thought better of it. Kikyou could be of use to him.
"Prince Sesshoumaru," Kikyou called, announcing her presence. "I wish to speak with you about Prince Inuyasha."
The young youkai stepped up to his desk in front of the large windows and gave Kikyou and icy glare. "Ask what you will, speak what you will about him, but I may not choose to answer."
Kikyou bowed her head respectfully. "Very well."
Sesshoumaru gestured for Kikyou to sit in one of the armchairs on the other side of the desk, and he sat in his chair. She didn't say anything for a few moments, obviously believing he would bring up the subject first. At last she cleared her throat and began.
"Lady Yumari, as you know, has given me rights to become Prince Inuyasha's mate. Now I don't know him that well, truth be told, as have only met him once before. However I think I can trust my instincts, as they are never wrong." Kikyou stated.
'Quick to the point, is she? Then again, most humans are when confronted with youkai...' Sesshoumaru thought, amusement crossing his golden depths. "And what have your instincts told you about him?"
Kikyou locked her ice blue eyes in a hardened gaze with his golden ones, and said plainly, "I believe he is seeing a girl who is undeserving of his attention."
"A female below his rank, I assume." Sesshoumaru said, leaning back. Kikyou nodded. "Well you are not wrong."
Now was clearly the time to use Kikyou in his plan. She was clearly a powerful priestess; she must be able to find out more from her viewpoint than he from his.
"She is a human servant by the name of Kagome Higurashi." Sesshoumaru summarized. No details just yet, he had to make sure he could trust her.
Kikyou frowned. "And how did you find this out?"
In a second his claws were dripping poison, inches from piercing her neck. Only this was interesting: her eyes, though cold, showed no fear of the impending death. Straightening up and satisfied that she had gotten the warning, Sesshoumaru sat back down.
"Never question my authenticity. On anything." Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed. "Now that you know, I think it's time you leave. I may summon you later on if I find something you ought to know."
Kikyou got up and bowed, then left quickly. Once again Sesshoumaru found himself staring out at the distant mountains, brooding on his newly formed plan.
AN: I know the last chapter was short, and I know this one isn't exactly long, but I'm suddenly sick... . Not fun. I have a general idea on how this is going, and I want to thank everyone for their reviews! They keep me going, and it's a major ego boost. The more reviews, the more chapters. I think it's going to have a lot of chapters, but some it might be fluff/just filling stuff... Leave a review with suggestions, flames, comments, ect.