Chapter 9
Ai froze where she was standing when she laid eyes on Masahiro. "Father," she greeted quietly, nodding.
Masahiro's previously angry expression dropped into a neutral mask. "Daughter. How have you been?"
"Fine, and you? I trust your health is well?"
"Ah, yes," nodded Masahiro. "What of your family?"
"Dai was unwell yesterday, but recovered ahead of schedule. Sesshomaru is fine, as always, and my husband is in excellent health, despite the present stress. I would tell you of Inuyasha and Miroku, but I believe you know more on that subject than I do."
"Ah, how could I have forgotten that sharp tongue of yours?" Masahiro's eyes narrowed at his daughter's accusing tone.
"Let me give you a warning, father," Ai began, her usually gentle voice hard and unyielding. "I know you are after the Shikon no Tama, but if you value any sort of happiness in your life, you will leave my family alone. That includes anyone my sons call friend. Is that understood?"
"Are you threatening me?" he asked quietly, his face contorting into the facial cast people knew to fear.
"I'm warning you," Ai repeated, admirably challenging her father.
Masahiro nodded, bowing ever so slightly before continuing his way out of the Palace. Ai stood frozen until Inutashio placed a hand on her shoulder. She slumped into his arms and buried her face into his chest. "That was a very brave thing you just did," Inutashio whispered quietly.
"Very stupid too," she replied.
Inutashio smirked and looked down at her. "I don't know about that. At least we know where we stand with him."
"I suppose," Ai nodded in agreement. "What will we do now?"
"I think the best thing to do now is try and find Inuyasha. We need to think of a way to smuggle them into the city without anyone discovering who they are."
Ai sighed and closed her eyes. "Things use to be so simple."
"Yes, well . . . the children had to learn to walk some time."
Ai giggled and shook her head. "You're not funny."
"You laughed didn't you?"
"Only so you wouldn't feel inferior."
Inutashio snorted before fixing his wife with a glare. "May I remind you, dear wife, of an incident not . . ." Inutashio glanced down at his watch "Six hours ago?"
Ai blushed before sticking her tongue out at him. "Baka."
"Brat."
Ai smiled slyly and began walking back towards her bedroom. "I'll just remember that for next time, dear husband."
"So what did Ayame tell you?" asked Inuyasha.
Kouga's grin faltered and his expression became somber. "Believe me when I say this is unbelievable, but this is what they know so far, and you're not going to believe me when I tell you where this information came from."
"Who?"
"Dai."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Kouga sighed and sat up, propping his head up on his hand. "She can talk now."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha's confused expression only lengthened.
"She's talking, with words, although her meaning is very confusing."
"But how?"
"I assume you know she was hurt during the bombing of your home?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Yes."
"Well, she woke up this morning and she was all better. Ayame was in the kitchen when Dai started screaming."
"Screaming? How the fuck could she scream? Why was she screaming?"
Kouga snorted. "Imagine you had never said anything your entire life and then you wake up one day and you can talk. What would you do?"
"Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh.' Well anyway, she started talking like mad. Mostly broken sentences. It sounds like what she's speaking is a foreign language to her. I suppose it is. Most of it is riddles, nothing clean cut. They were able to piece together enough of what she said to understand her meaning however."
"Her meaning?"
Kouga shook his head and met Inuyasha's eyes. "The things she knows . . . it's unlike anything I've ever heard of. She knew Masahiro sent me to keep an eye on you. She knows things about the Shikon no Tama that no one should know. She was also spewing some garbage about Miroku falling in love."
Inuyasha's surprise registered enough for Kouga to sigh and mutter angrily to himself. "She's right, isn't she? Some Demon Exterminator chick named Sango, right?"
"How the hell could she know things like that?" Inuyasha whispered to himself, but Kouga answered anyway.
"Believe me when I say you're not going to believe this. She hears voices in her head."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I. I'm just repeating what Ayame told me. She's my best connection to what the hell is happening in the Palace. Dai said that there are other people on your trail. Others besides me. I haven't seen anyone but . . . right now I'm not willing to bet on that."
Inuyasha stood and began to pace. "What does this have to do with the Shikon no Tama?"
"Apparently, you're the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama."
"I'm the what?"
"You really shouldn't be hearing this from me," Kouga sighed shaking his head. "I don't understand half of the stuff I'm saying. Listen, I don't know how to say this, and I don't want to chance anyone over hearing this." He glanced around nervously before looking at Inuyasha again. "Kagome not only has the Jewel but . . . she is the Jewel, or at least use to be."
Inuyasha's knees collapsed beneath him and he crumbled to the ground in shock, staring at Kouga with wide eyes. "What the fuck are you saying, Ookami? That's impossible!"
"Don't you think I don't fucking know that? I'm only telling you what Ayame told me!" He sighed miserably before standing. "Come on, Dog-breath. I have nothing more to say on the subject. You want to know more, you call yourself and fucking find out."
"But I can't contact them," Inuyasha replied, glaring at Kouga.
"Of course you can. I just have to create a secure connection. Come on, I'm sure there's more to it then what I know."
Rin watched silently as Dai considered her next move in their game of chess. They were sitting on a blanket in the courtyard. Ayame sat beside them on another blanket, silently going over some paper work. "Come on, Dai," Rin prodded gently, "we can't play all day. You have to go to a party held in your honor tonight. We still have to get you ready."
Dai stuck her tongue out in distaste of the prospect of the party but made her move. 'Why did you do that? Now you're cornered!'
"Shut up," Dai whispered quietly, tapping on her head.
"Did you say something?" Rin asked, looking up from the board.
"No," she replied quickly, making her move on the chessboard to draw Rin attention away from her.
Ayame looked over at her curiously, an eyebrow raising in speculation. Dai ignored her and concentrated on the chessboard. 'Aiya! Leave her alone Ichi. She doesn't want your help. She'd only lose the game anyway.'
'Go shove it, Shi. You know damn well she would win if she did what I told her.'
'No she wouldn't.'
'Yes she would.'
"Shut up," Dai whispered desperately, banging her head with the palm of her hand.
"Dai-chan?" said Ayame, studying the hanyou with measuring eyes.
Dai shook her head and made her move on the board. "Check mate. I'm gonna go get something to eat." Dai stood up abruptly and ran into the palace, leaving two very confused women.
Rin slowly collected the chess pieces as she stared at the door Dai had run into. Ayame sat up and folded her arms, her expression troubled. "What do you think is going on?" asked Rin.
"I don't know," Ayame replied slowly. The ookami's phone rang before more could be said. She glanced down at the contraption before standing up quickly. "Excuse me, I have to take this."
Rin watched as Ayame dashed into the Palace and left her alone in the courtyard. The woman sighed sadly before folding the blankets and also heading into the Palace. She paused just in front of the door when the chessboard fell from its place atop the blankets and clattered to the stone patio. Rin kneeled down to pick up to scattered pieces only to come up short when she picked up the Queen pawn. "Broken . . ."
'I don't know what your problem is! She's fine!"
'You listen to me, San! You're going to tangle everything up, and then where will we be? Back to square one! Except we won't have anywhere to go! We'll be stuck . . . cornered. We'll never get the Jewel back that way.'
'We shouldn't have to get the Jewel back. We should be with it right now!'
'Just leave her alone while she figures it out.'
'She's been figuring it out since we got here! We don't have much time left.'
'So what do you expect her to do San? You know as well as I do she can't fix everything with a snap of her fingers!'
"Shut up, please just be quiet," whispered Dai, squeezing her eyes shut and resting her head on her lap. Her ears flattened atop of her skull as silent tears leaked out from her eyes.
'Quiet?'
'She wants us to stop talking, Ichi.'
'Yes . . . we will be silent . . . for now.'
Dai waited until the pounding in her head had died down to a bearable degree before opening her eyes and raising her head enough to stare at her bedspread. "Too crowded, much too crowded."
"Dai? Dear are you in there?" came Ai's voice through the door.
With a squeak of fright, Dai crawled beneath the covers, viciously wiping her tears from her eyes. "Dai?" repeated Ai, opening the door.
"Hai?" asked the little hanyou, lifting her head from the bedspread.
"Come on, dear. There is someone who wants to speak with you."
Inuyasha paced the space of Sango's living room as he listened to his brother through the video com. Kagome sat on the couch beside Sango with Shippou in her lap. Miroku stood silently by the doorway with an easy view of the video COM while Taijiya and Kohaku had both taken a spot leaning against the wall. Kouga stood by the window, quietly listening to the conversation.
"You don't understand, Inuyasha," repeated Sesshomaru, glaring at his little brother. "We have a big problem here. Naraku could be right on your trail. The best thing to do would be to smuggle you into the city. Even father agrees with me."
"And just how the hell do you suggest we get into that blasted city? You said yourself that it is damn near impossible."
"Son," the video cam flickered and Inutashio's face appeared. "We have a way to get you into the city. You just have to get to the city first."
"I thought the reason we were sent away was to get away from Naraku."
"Yes," agreed Inutashio. "But complications have arisen. It would be best if you brought Kagome back to the Palace where we have an Army to protect the both of you."
"Both of us? I thought it was just Kagome who was in trouble."
"Not anymore," came Dai's voice. The video COM flickered again and showed a picture of the library with Dai at the center. "Tangle got too big. You need to come here."
"When this is all over," Inuyasha growled, fixing Dai with a very annoyed look, "You're going to tell me just what the hell is going on with your voice."
Dai gave him a weak smile before continuing. "You in danger as well, Niichan. You bound your soul to Kagome. No undoing."
"What are you talking about?" asked Kagome, her eyes growing with concern.
Dai shook her head. "It's a matter of souls. Seven souls in all, three outsiders. Four souls created first outsider to be their center. Center lost the way, met sixth soul. Center and Six bound so tight no undoing without all seven dying. Four souls asked seventh to help. Seventh say okay, and got all tangled with every one else. Big tangle."
"You're not making any sense," argued Inuyasha, shaking his head in confusion.
Dai bit her lip in anger before shaking her head. "No! I make sense! It everyone else too stupid to understand! You and Kagome be Center and Sixth. You bound your souls to one another without ever knowing. Didn't notice cause no one ever notice when that happens. Mates do it all time. Mama and Papa have bounded souls. Miroku-niichan and Sango-San soon do same. Same thing with Sesshomaru-niichan and Rin-neechan. It matter with you and Kagome-neechan because Kagome-neechan is the manifestation of the Shikon no Tama's conscious!"
Inuyasha stopped pacing and sat down beside Kagome. Kagome's mouth hung slightly open in shock, her eyes large and glassy. The room became very silent. The only sound was of Dai's growling coming through on the video com. "But . . . how is that possible? I'm . . . I'm not . . ." asked Kagome very quietly, Dai's demon hearing barely registering it.
"It shouldn't be possible," replied the little Inuhanyou. "But something went wrong. You should have turned back to Jewel twelve years ago . . . but . . . you and Inuyasha-niichan got all tangled up."
"Who is this seventh soul you spoke of?" asked Miroku.
"I seventh soul."
"How did that happen?"
Dai glanced at Kagome briefly before answering. "The power that was dormant inside Kagome, it woke up minute after I born. Most souls . . . they not know how to listen because they learn to block everything so they can protect themselves . . . but my soul was so new to this world . . . it listened . . . I listened. I told Four Souls I would help. Inuyasha-niichan is Guardian of Shikon no Tama, he Guardian of Kagome-neechan. Both same."
"So what do we do?" asked Inuyasha.
"Come to the city," replied Dai. "Then we comb the tangles out."
Kagome sat silently between Inuyasha and Miroku. They were alone on the house patio, each silently contemplating the coming days. Kagome's mind was a jumble of confused thoughts; her mind running in so many directions she couldn't concentrate on any one idea. What was one suppose to think when you discovered you had once existed as a powerful and rightly feared jewel? And what would Inuyasha think?
Inuyasha was no better. Despite all attempts to register all of the new information, only one thing seemed to gather his full attention. 'You bound your souls to one another without ever knowing. Didn't notice cause no one ever notice when that happens. Mates do it all time.' Mates. Did that mean he and Kagome would soon be Mates? He knew they were married, but that was by human tradition. It really held no value in the world of the youkai, and despite Inuyasha's human blood; he lived by the instincts of a youkai. But now he knew that he and Kagome were bound together, and from Dai's broken sentences, Inuyasha could conclude it was something very important and very unique.
"So," Miroku said, breaking the tension in the air. He took on a very innocent pose and looked at both Kagome and Inuyasha. "You two mated and you didn't tell me?" For a moment Miroku wondered if it were possible to get that red, and the next moment he was unconscious.
Kagome glared down at Miroku when he finally raised his head and roused from his beating. "Hentai."
Miroku grimaced and slowly began to stand. "It was an innocent question."
"Innocent question my ass!" replied Inuyasha, raising his fist to once again strike the houshi over the head.
"Inuyasha, we have been over what your ass is and isn't. You should really stop insisting on these ridiculous statements of yours." Miroku somehow was able to maintain a calm composure as Inuyasha swung his fist, aiming at Miroku's chin.
Well, thought Kagome as she watched Miroku and Inuyasha wrestle on the ground beside her feet, boys will be boys. "I haven't mated her yet Goddammit!" yelled Inuyasha as he threw another punch.
"Yet?!" repeated Miroku, quickly avoided Inuyasha's fist and scrambling away.
Sango blinked at the scene before her, silently sitting down beside Kagome and shaking her head slowly. "They are acting like children," she mumbled, smiling a bit.
"Yeah, I know." Kagome returned the smile and shrugged helplessly. "Some things never change."
"Yes," agreed Sango. "But then if they did it wouldn't be half as entertaining."
"Agreed."
"Get off of my hair houshi!"
"Then stop ripping out mine!"
"Are you hungry?" Sango asked Kagome, lifting her eyes from the arguing boys.
"Sure." Without a look back, Sango and Kagome stood and walked into the house.
There was something phenomenal witnessing species dwindle before perishing into the depths of death, even if the death was not a natural one. Indeed, the most astounding of deaths was painted in blood. Each scream, each cry, each tear; tangible limbs of death reaching out.
Naraku tapped his fingers on the mahogany armrest of his chair. The room was vacant of all but Naraku and his chair. There were no windows, no doors, only darkness. Silence built the walls of his room and stillness kept it standing. No one else would enter here. That didn't, however, keep them from transmitting messages.
A breeze floated across Naraku's skin, interrupting the constant tapping of his fingers. A jerk of his hand and the silenced room fell away, leaving a sun lightened room and an impatient Kagura. Naraku spoke smoothly without hesitation. "I do hope all is going well, Kagura. I would be disappointed if I hear of a repeat of last time."
"There will be no trouble," Kagura repeated evenly. "Kana will attend me this time."
"Very well. Just make sure that girl is returned to me alive."
"Of course."
Ai froze where she was standing when she laid eyes on Masahiro. "Father," she greeted quietly, nodding.
Masahiro's previously angry expression dropped into a neutral mask. "Daughter. How have you been?"
"Fine, and you? I trust your health is well?"
"Ah, yes," nodded Masahiro. "What of your family?"
"Dai was unwell yesterday, but recovered ahead of schedule. Sesshomaru is fine, as always, and my husband is in excellent health, despite the present stress. I would tell you of Inuyasha and Miroku, but I believe you know more on that subject than I do."
"Ah, how could I have forgotten that sharp tongue of yours?" Masahiro's eyes narrowed at his daughter's accusing tone.
"Let me give you a warning, father," Ai began, her usually gentle voice hard and unyielding. "I know you are after the Shikon no Tama, but if you value any sort of happiness in your life, you will leave my family alone. That includes anyone my sons call friend. Is that understood?"
"Are you threatening me?" he asked quietly, his face contorting into the facial cast people knew to fear.
"I'm warning you," Ai repeated, admirably challenging her father.
Masahiro nodded, bowing ever so slightly before continuing his way out of the Palace. Ai stood frozen until Inutashio placed a hand on her shoulder. She slumped into his arms and buried her face into his chest. "That was a very brave thing you just did," Inutashio whispered quietly.
"Very stupid too," she replied.
Inutashio smirked and looked down at her. "I don't know about that. At least we know where we stand with him."
"I suppose," Ai nodded in agreement. "What will we do now?"
"I think the best thing to do now is try and find Inuyasha. We need to think of a way to smuggle them into the city without anyone discovering who they are."
Ai sighed and closed her eyes. "Things use to be so simple."
"Yes, well . . . the children had to learn to walk some time."
Ai giggled and shook her head. "You're not funny."
"You laughed didn't you?"
"Only so you wouldn't feel inferior."
Inutashio snorted before fixing his wife with a glare. "May I remind you, dear wife, of an incident not . . ." Inutashio glanced down at his watch "Six hours ago?"
Ai blushed before sticking her tongue out at him. "Baka."
"Brat."
Ai smiled slyly and began walking back towards her bedroom. "I'll just remember that for next time, dear husband."
"So what did Ayame tell you?" asked Inuyasha.
Kouga's grin faltered and his expression became somber. "Believe me when I say this is unbelievable, but this is what they know so far, and you're not going to believe me when I tell you where this information came from."
"Who?"
"Dai."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Kouga sighed and sat up, propping his head up on his hand. "She can talk now."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha's confused expression only lengthened.
"She's talking, with words, although her meaning is very confusing."
"But how?"
"I assume you know she was hurt during the bombing of your home?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Yes."
"Well, she woke up this morning and she was all better. Ayame was in the kitchen when Dai started screaming."
"Screaming? How the fuck could she scream? Why was she screaming?"
Kouga snorted. "Imagine you had never said anything your entire life and then you wake up one day and you can talk. What would you do?"
"Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh.' Well anyway, she started talking like mad. Mostly broken sentences. It sounds like what she's speaking is a foreign language to her. I suppose it is. Most of it is riddles, nothing clean cut. They were able to piece together enough of what she said to understand her meaning however."
"Her meaning?"
Kouga shook his head and met Inuyasha's eyes. "The things she knows . . . it's unlike anything I've ever heard of. She knew Masahiro sent me to keep an eye on you. She knows things about the Shikon no Tama that no one should know. She was also spewing some garbage about Miroku falling in love."
Inuyasha's surprise registered enough for Kouga to sigh and mutter angrily to himself. "She's right, isn't she? Some Demon Exterminator chick named Sango, right?"
"How the hell could she know things like that?" Inuyasha whispered to himself, but Kouga answered anyway.
"Believe me when I say you're not going to believe this. She hears voices in her head."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I. I'm just repeating what Ayame told me. She's my best connection to what the hell is happening in the Palace. Dai said that there are other people on your trail. Others besides me. I haven't seen anyone but . . . right now I'm not willing to bet on that."
Inuyasha stood and began to pace. "What does this have to do with the Shikon no Tama?"
"Apparently, you're the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama."
"I'm the what?"
"You really shouldn't be hearing this from me," Kouga sighed shaking his head. "I don't understand half of the stuff I'm saying. Listen, I don't know how to say this, and I don't want to chance anyone over hearing this." He glanced around nervously before looking at Inuyasha again. "Kagome not only has the Jewel but . . . she is the Jewel, or at least use to be."
Inuyasha's knees collapsed beneath him and he crumbled to the ground in shock, staring at Kouga with wide eyes. "What the fuck are you saying, Ookami? That's impossible!"
"Don't you think I don't fucking know that? I'm only telling you what Ayame told me!" He sighed miserably before standing. "Come on, Dog-breath. I have nothing more to say on the subject. You want to know more, you call yourself and fucking find out."
"But I can't contact them," Inuyasha replied, glaring at Kouga.
"Of course you can. I just have to create a secure connection. Come on, I'm sure there's more to it then what I know."
Rin watched silently as Dai considered her next move in their game of chess. They were sitting on a blanket in the courtyard. Ayame sat beside them on another blanket, silently going over some paper work. "Come on, Dai," Rin prodded gently, "we can't play all day. You have to go to a party held in your honor tonight. We still have to get you ready."
Dai stuck her tongue out in distaste of the prospect of the party but made her move. 'Why did you do that? Now you're cornered!'
"Shut up," Dai whispered quietly, tapping on her head.
"Did you say something?" Rin asked, looking up from the board.
"No," she replied quickly, making her move on the chessboard to draw Rin attention away from her.
Ayame looked over at her curiously, an eyebrow raising in speculation. Dai ignored her and concentrated on the chessboard. 'Aiya! Leave her alone Ichi. She doesn't want your help. She'd only lose the game anyway.'
'Go shove it, Shi. You know damn well she would win if she did what I told her.'
'No she wouldn't.'
'Yes she would.'
"Shut up," Dai whispered desperately, banging her head with the palm of her hand.
"Dai-chan?" said Ayame, studying the hanyou with measuring eyes.
Dai shook her head and made her move on the board. "Check mate. I'm gonna go get something to eat." Dai stood up abruptly and ran into the palace, leaving two very confused women.
Rin slowly collected the chess pieces as she stared at the door Dai had run into. Ayame sat up and folded her arms, her expression troubled. "What do you think is going on?" asked Rin.
"I don't know," Ayame replied slowly. The ookami's phone rang before more could be said. She glanced down at the contraption before standing up quickly. "Excuse me, I have to take this."
Rin watched as Ayame dashed into the Palace and left her alone in the courtyard. The woman sighed sadly before folding the blankets and also heading into the Palace. She paused just in front of the door when the chessboard fell from its place atop the blankets and clattered to the stone patio. Rin kneeled down to pick up to scattered pieces only to come up short when she picked up the Queen pawn. "Broken . . ."
'I don't know what your problem is! She's fine!"
'You listen to me, San! You're going to tangle everything up, and then where will we be? Back to square one! Except we won't have anywhere to go! We'll be stuck . . . cornered. We'll never get the Jewel back that way.'
'We shouldn't have to get the Jewel back. We should be with it right now!'
'Just leave her alone while she figures it out.'
'She's been figuring it out since we got here! We don't have much time left.'
'So what do you expect her to do San? You know as well as I do she can't fix everything with a snap of her fingers!'
"Shut up, please just be quiet," whispered Dai, squeezing her eyes shut and resting her head on her lap. Her ears flattened atop of her skull as silent tears leaked out from her eyes.
'Quiet?'
'She wants us to stop talking, Ichi.'
'Yes . . . we will be silent . . . for now.'
Dai waited until the pounding in her head had died down to a bearable degree before opening her eyes and raising her head enough to stare at her bedspread. "Too crowded, much too crowded."
"Dai? Dear are you in there?" came Ai's voice through the door.
With a squeak of fright, Dai crawled beneath the covers, viciously wiping her tears from her eyes. "Dai?" repeated Ai, opening the door.
"Hai?" asked the little hanyou, lifting her head from the bedspread.
"Come on, dear. There is someone who wants to speak with you."
Inuyasha paced the space of Sango's living room as he listened to his brother through the video com. Kagome sat on the couch beside Sango with Shippou in her lap. Miroku stood silently by the doorway with an easy view of the video COM while Taijiya and Kohaku had both taken a spot leaning against the wall. Kouga stood by the window, quietly listening to the conversation.
"You don't understand, Inuyasha," repeated Sesshomaru, glaring at his little brother. "We have a big problem here. Naraku could be right on your trail. The best thing to do would be to smuggle you into the city. Even father agrees with me."
"And just how the hell do you suggest we get into that blasted city? You said yourself that it is damn near impossible."
"Son," the video cam flickered and Inutashio's face appeared. "We have a way to get you into the city. You just have to get to the city first."
"I thought the reason we were sent away was to get away from Naraku."
"Yes," agreed Inutashio. "But complications have arisen. It would be best if you brought Kagome back to the Palace where we have an Army to protect the both of you."
"Both of us? I thought it was just Kagome who was in trouble."
"Not anymore," came Dai's voice. The video COM flickered again and showed a picture of the library with Dai at the center. "Tangle got too big. You need to come here."
"When this is all over," Inuyasha growled, fixing Dai with a very annoyed look, "You're going to tell me just what the hell is going on with your voice."
Dai gave him a weak smile before continuing. "You in danger as well, Niichan. You bound your soul to Kagome. No undoing."
"What are you talking about?" asked Kagome, her eyes growing with concern.
Dai shook her head. "It's a matter of souls. Seven souls in all, three outsiders. Four souls created first outsider to be their center. Center lost the way, met sixth soul. Center and Six bound so tight no undoing without all seven dying. Four souls asked seventh to help. Seventh say okay, and got all tangled with every one else. Big tangle."
"You're not making any sense," argued Inuyasha, shaking his head in confusion.
Dai bit her lip in anger before shaking her head. "No! I make sense! It everyone else too stupid to understand! You and Kagome be Center and Sixth. You bound your souls to one another without ever knowing. Didn't notice cause no one ever notice when that happens. Mates do it all time. Mama and Papa have bounded souls. Miroku-niichan and Sango-San soon do same. Same thing with Sesshomaru-niichan and Rin-neechan. It matter with you and Kagome-neechan because Kagome-neechan is the manifestation of the Shikon no Tama's conscious!"
Inuyasha stopped pacing and sat down beside Kagome. Kagome's mouth hung slightly open in shock, her eyes large and glassy. The room became very silent. The only sound was of Dai's growling coming through on the video com. "But . . . how is that possible? I'm . . . I'm not . . ." asked Kagome very quietly, Dai's demon hearing barely registering it.
"It shouldn't be possible," replied the little Inuhanyou. "But something went wrong. You should have turned back to Jewel twelve years ago . . . but . . . you and Inuyasha-niichan got all tangled up."
"Who is this seventh soul you spoke of?" asked Miroku.
"I seventh soul."
"How did that happen?"
Dai glanced at Kagome briefly before answering. "The power that was dormant inside Kagome, it woke up minute after I born. Most souls . . . they not know how to listen because they learn to block everything so they can protect themselves . . . but my soul was so new to this world . . . it listened . . . I listened. I told Four Souls I would help. Inuyasha-niichan is Guardian of Shikon no Tama, he Guardian of Kagome-neechan. Both same."
"So what do we do?" asked Inuyasha.
"Come to the city," replied Dai. "Then we comb the tangles out."
Kagome sat silently between Inuyasha and Miroku. They were alone on the house patio, each silently contemplating the coming days. Kagome's mind was a jumble of confused thoughts; her mind running in so many directions she couldn't concentrate on any one idea. What was one suppose to think when you discovered you had once existed as a powerful and rightly feared jewel? And what would Inuyasha think?
Inuyasha was no better. Despite all attempts to register all of the new information, only one thing seemed to gather his full attention. 'You bound your souls to one another without ever knowing. Didn't notice cause no one ever notice when that happens. Mates do it all time.' Mates. Did that mean he and Kagome would soon be Mates? He knew they were married, but that was by human tradition. It really held no value in the world of the youkai, and despite Inuyasha's human blood; he lived by the instincts of a youkai. But now he knew that he and Kagome were bound together, and from Dai's broken sentences, Inuyasha could conclude it was something very important and very unique.
"So," Miroku said, breaking the tension in the air. He took on a very innocent pose and looked at both Kagome and Inuyasha. "You two mated and you didn't tell me?" For a moment Miroku wondered if it were possible to get that red, and the next moment he was unconscious.
Kagome glared down at Miroku when he finally raised his head and roused from his beating. "Hentai."
Miroku grimaced and slowly began to stand. "It was an innocent question."
"Innocent question my ass!" replied Inuyasha, raising his fist to once again strike the houshi over the head.
"Inuyasha, we have been over what your ass is and isn't. You should really stop insisting on these ridiculous statements of yours." Miroku somehow was able to maintain a calm composure as Inuyasha swung his fist, aiming at Miroku's chin.
Well, thought Kagome as she watched Miroku and Inuyasha wrestle on the ground beside her feet, boys will be boys. "I haven't mated her yet Goddammit!" yelled Inuyasha as he threw another punch.
"Yet?!" repeated Miroku, quickly avoided Inuyasha's fist and scrambling away.
Sango blinked at the scene before her, silently sitting down beside Kagome and shaking her head slowly. "They are acting like children," she mumbled, smiling a bit.
"Yeah, I know." Kagome returned the smile and shrugged helplessly. "Some things never change."
"Yes," agreed Sango. "But then if they did it wouldn't be half as entertaining."
"Agreed."
"Get off of my hair houshi!"
"Then stop ripping out mine!"
"Are you hungry?" Sango asked Kagome, lifting her eyes from the arguing boys.
"Sure." Without a look back, Sango and Kagome stood and walked into the house.
There was something phenomenal witnessing species dwindle before perishing into the depths of death, even if the death was not a natural one. Indeed, the most astounding of deaths was painted in blood. Each scream, each cry, each tear; tangible limbs of death reaching out.
Naraku tapped his fingers on the mahogany armrest of his chair. The room was vacant of all but Naraku and his chair. There were no windows, no doors, only darkness. Silence built the walls of his room and stillness kept it standing. No one else would enter here. That didn't, however, keep them from transmitting messages.
A breeze floated across Naraku's skin, interrupting the constant tapping of his fingers. A jerk of his hand and the silenced room fell away, leaving a sun lightened room and an impatient Kagura. Naraku spoke smoothly without hesitation. "I do hope all is going well, Kagura. I would be disappointed if I hear of a repeat of last time."
"There will be no trouble," Kagura repeated evenly. "Kana will attend me this time."
"Very well. Just make sure that girl is returned to me alive."
"Of course."