AN: Well howdy-ho my dear reviewers! If you haven't already heard, I can't do anymore smilies...yes I know, it's very sad. I also started another story with my co-author Xessive aka Cheesecake! It's called The Hospital for lack of a better title. But anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer: Goodness, do I really hafta do this? I've done a disclaimer a total of....19 times? I guess that's not that much when ya think about it...oh well. I don't own Inu and crew!
Last Chapter:
"I had to do it, it's dinner time and you wouldn't wake up," said Shippou, leaving the room to go to dinner. Inuyasha growled and looked for a towel. Finding one, he quickly dried his face and hair before making his way to the dining room. Upon arriving, he noticed he was the last one to show up. He took the only seat left, in between Miroku and Princess What's-her-face. He surveyed the table and its occupants. The King was at the head of the table with the Queen on his right and the Princess on his left. A girl with raven black hair was sitting next to the Queen. Inuyasha couldn't see her face because her head was bowed. To the left of the girl was a wolf youkai with his black hair put in a high ponytail, his piercing blue eyes seeming to be narrowed at Inuyasha. Next to the youkai was Shippou. To the right of the Princess was Inuyasha, then Miroku. Sitting next to Miroku was Sango. Kirara was on the floor in a corner, lapping at a bowl of milk.
"Inuyasha, I'm glad you came," said Kikyou. At the mention of Inuyasha's name, the girl across from Inuyasha raised her head sharply, her brown eyes wide with shock. Inuyasha glanced at her then did a double-take. 'What...How could...That can't be...What is going on!?' Inuyasha thought, his expressions turning to shock then to relief then to confusion.
A Mistake Gone Right
Chapter 7: Surprises Lay Around Every Corner
The two stared at each other for what seemed like hours but was merely a few seconds. They broke their stares at someone clearing their throat and then speaking.
"Have you two met before?" questioned the King, noticing their surprised looks. Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the girl.
"No!! I've never seen this man before in my life," she said desperately, "But I've heard of his reputation from my father and mother," she said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Well then let me be the first to properly introduce you two," said the Queen. "Lord Inuyasha Akai, meet Lady Kaitou Hitoride from the eastern Kingdom of Fumounochi." Inuyasha opened his mouth yet again as if to say something, but Kaitou gave him a pleading look that said 'Don't say anything!' Inuyasha complied and shut his mouth.
"Well now that we are all properly acquainted, let's start eating, shall we?" suggested the Queen. Her husband nodded in response and waiters came in, carrying several large silver platters. They expertly placed them on the table and quickly left. Dinner was eaten in silence...well, mostly. Everyone but Kikyou was quietly enjoying their food. Kikyou, on the other hand, was eagerly talking to Inuyasha who stayed quiet and snuck quick glance at Kaitou every few minutes. He was very aware of the fact that Kaitou snuck a few glances at him too. Inuyasha dropped his fork on his plate when he finished and scooted his chair back.
"I'm done, thank you for inviting me to dinner, but I'm afraid I'm very tired and must retire to my bed," he said with a politeness his mother taught him to use when talking to fellow royals. He stood up before anyone could protest and sluggishly left the dining room. Kaitou looked after him before dropping her own fork and standing up.
"I...I think he looked a little sick," she explained while bowing and hastily following after him. She ran through the halls and finally found him walking up the grand staircase.
"Inuyasha," she called. He stopped but didn't turn around. "Inuyasha?" she called again. This time Inuyasha's ears twitched before he fully turned around.
"What happened after Kagura kidnapped you, Kagome?" he asked bluntly. Kagome's eyes seemed to freeze up and she became rigid.
"N-nothing! I...I escaped! Yeah, I escaped!" she blurted out. Inuyasha scowled.
"You don't have to lie to me! I was worried that he'd hurt you, or worse!" he said gruffly before he could stop himself. He quickly turned around again.
"Inuyasha...I'm fine," Kagome said, changing the subject. "See? Not a scratch on me!" she said happily. Inuyasha turned back around and studied Kagome. She was right, she was perfectly fine...but how could she be perfect? No one was perfect. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Kagome...if Naraku made you do anything or if he made a deal with you...you would tell me, right?" he asked, already knowing Naraku must have asked her to do something. The only question was...what?
"Of course, Inuyasha," Kagome said in a quiet voice, but not breaking eye contact. Inuyasha reluctantly turned back around and headed to his room.
"Ok I believe you...Kaitou," said Inuyasha as he disappeared into his room. Kagome sighed and decided to head to her own room. 'It's going to be really hard to lie to Inuyasha,' she thought. 'But I have to! For his own sake!' she thought with determination as she entered her room.
----Later that night----
Kagome's eyes flew open as she bolted upright in her bed, panting and sweating. She calmed her breathing and looked out the window only to see the night sky and the moon still hanging in the air. She sighed as she got out of bed and walked to her door. Cracking it open and peeking outside she saw the coast was clear. She opened the door all the way and softly padded down the hall. She reached a stairwell and grabbed onto the banister to walk down. Trailing her hands on the walls to lead the way, she slowly and carefully made her way to the kitchen, intent on getting a glass of water.
She finally reached the kitchen door and slowly slid it open. She lit a nearby candle and when she looked up she covered her mouth to stop her scream. There was a man lying on the floor in a pool of blood with a knife embedded deep in his back. She slowly crept nearer to the body and peered at the face in the dimly lit room. It was the cook, killed with his own butcher knife. She slowly backed away, covering her mouth to keep from retching. To her horror, she ended up backing into something, or someone. She slowly turned around and came face to face with the King.
The King looked confusedly at who he believed was a royal named Kaitou and then behind her at the bloody sight of the dead cook. His eyes widened and he returned his gaze to Kagome. Shock and horror set in his features before they turned to anger and outrage.
"Did you do this?" he questioned. Kagome gulped. Something told her that even if she said 'no' he wouldn't believe her.
"No, I didn't," she replied firmly.
"Then who did? Surely you must have seen them?" he questioned, suspicion slowly creeping into his voice.
"I don't know, I just came down for a glass of water and-" her explanation was cut short as the man grabbed her arm.
"I do not allow killers in my house," he said menacingly. "Guards!" he called, "Guards!" Kagome's eyes widened in fear as two guards came running into the room. "Take this murderer to the dungeons. I'll decide her punishment later," he explained, leaving the room to find some servants to take care of the body. The guards roughly dragged her down to the dungeons where they locked her cell.
----Next morning----
Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the light filtering in through the window. He took in his surroundings before remembering he was at the Yamakaji castle. He reluctantly got out of bed and changed his clothes. Shippou wasn't in the room and Inuyasha figured he had gone down to breakfast. He also decided that food would be a good idea so he made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the door he peered inside. Almost everyone was sitting at the table but there was no food. The King was talking in a low, serious tone and everyone was listening intently, all with grim expressions. As soon as he opened the door, all eyes went to him.
"Ah, Inuyasha, you should take a seat. This is very important and everyone needs to hear it," he said, gesturing to the seat next to Kikyou. Inuyasha looked around at the table.
"What about Kaitou?" he asked, sitting down when he realized she was the only one not present. The king hesitated before explaining to Inuyasha.
"Well, that's what this is about. You see, I came downstairs to the kitchen last night," he began, "I saw Kaitou in the kitchen and on the ground before her was the cook...he was dead," he explained.
"You think she killed him!?" he exclaimed disbelievingly.
"Who else would have done it?" the King asked sharply. Inuyasha silenced and stared unseeingly at the table in front of him. "We've locked her in the dungeon for the time being," he added quietly, "until we decide her punishment." Inuyasha's hands clenched under the table and he gritted his teeth to keep from yelling at the King. He had to see Kagome and ask her about this. Suddenly standing up, he quickly left the room.
"Inuyasha, where are you going?" he heard Kikyou call out, but he didn't answer. He kept turning down hallways and down stairways, following Kagome's scent. Finally reaching the door to the dungeons below, he began to turn the handle, but stopped short when he heard a guard.
"Hey you, what do you think you're doing?" Inuyasha turned around.
"I wanted to speak to Kaitou," he answered honestly. The guards studied him, making sure he wasn't carrying any concealed weapons.
"Make it quick," said the first guard as he opened the door to let him through. Inuyasha nodded in thanks and entered the dungeons. Quick descending the stairs, he found Kagome asleep in a cell. After looking behind him to make sure the guards weren't listening, he turned back to Kagome.
"Kagome," he whispered. When she didn't respond, he called her name a little louder. Groaning in protest, Kagome sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Inuyasha?" she questioned when she saw him standing outside her cell.
"Yeah, it's me," he answered. "I came to ask about the cook." Kagome's eyes flashed in anger.
"You think I killed him? I didn't do it, Inuyasha, he was already dead when I found him!" she exclaimed. Inuyasha sighed in relief.
"I didn't think you did, but the king does and he's got the whole castle thinking the same thing. If we don't get you out of here he could have you killed," Inuyasha said seriously.
"What would it matter," Kagome muttered as she looked at the ground.
"What would it matter?" Inuyasha repeated. "Kagome, you could die! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Kagome looked Inuyasha square in the eye and said, "No...it doesn't." This took Inuyasha by surprise. What happened to the happy energetic Kagome he had met a few weeks ago?
"Kagome...this has to do with Naraku, doesn't it?" he asked. Kagome's fists clenched as her eyes watered with unshed tears.
"No," she forced the lie out through gritted teeth.
"You're lying," Inuyasha stated squarely.
"Even if it does have something to do with Naraku...it would be better if you didn't know," she said, choosing her words carefully, trying to convey to Inuyasha to drop the subject.
"If Naraku hurt you or threatened you in any way, I swear I'll kill him," Inuyasha said.
"You should go," Kagome said, changing the subject, still staring at the ground. Inuyasha turned around and walked to the foot of the stairs, turning only once to see Kagome. He continued up the stairs and left the dungeons. Turning a corner, he bumped into the wolf demon he saw last night.
"Watch where you're going, Mutt," the demon ordered, bypassing Inuyasha.
"Who are you to order me around?" Inuyasha asked without turning to face him.
"I'm Kouga, the leader of the wolf tribe," the demon answered turning around.
"Well, Kouga, you don't know who you're messing with, so lay off," Inuyasha said, starting to walk again.
"I know that you're a filthy half-breed," Kouga replied smugly. This made Inuyasha stop dead in his tracks and face him.
"I may be a hanyou, but I could beat you any day," Inuyasha said.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph, I don't have time for the likes of you, I have to talk to Kaitou," Kouga said, turning back down the hall.
"How do you know Kaitou?" Inuyasha asked.
"She showed up here yesterday, and I'm going to make her my woman after I save her," he answered.
"Your woman?" Inuyasha said softly in order to keep the anger out of his voice. Kouga didn't answer and kept walking down the hall. Inuyasha turned around and stalked off to his room deep in thought.
----Kagome's POV----
Kagome sat in her cell after Inuyasha had left, thinking about their conversation. It was true that this had something to do with Naraku, not just her little 'mission', but the killing of the cook too. Who would kill the cook? What cause did they have to kill him and leave his body? And what was the King doing down in the kitchen? Was he just getting a glass of water like her, or was he doing something else entirely. She put her thoughts on hold when she heard the door open yet again. This time Kouga stood in the doorway.
"Kaitou, are you okay?" he asked, rushing to her cell. Kagome stood up and brushed herself off.
"I'm fine, Kouga," she answered.
"I don't see how the King could think you killed the cook, but I'll get you out of here one way or another," he said, determination set in his voice.
"I don't think you can," she responded.
"I can and I will!" he protested, "I'm going to go talk to the King. The only reason he thinks you killed the cook is because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Kagome nodded in agreement. "I had no reason to kill the cook. I didn't even know his name," she muttered more to herself than to Kouga.
"And after I get you out of here, we can leave."
"We?" Kagome repeated skeptically.
"Yes, we. We can get married and you can be my mate," he explained.
"Kouga, it wouldn't work out between us," she said softly.
"You say that now because you're scared. Don't worry, Kaitou, I'll protect you," Kouga replied, turning to leave. "I have to go now, don't give up hope," he added, climbing the stairs and going through the door. Kagome sighed in relief when she saw the door close. Her relief was short-lived however, when a demon suddenly appeared in the darkness.
"Kagome, how did you get yourself in this mess?" Kagome growled when she recognized the figure.
"Kagura," she ground out.
"Yes, Naraku has sent me to see how your little mission is going," she explained in her sultry voice.
"It's going great, just peachy," Kagome answered sarcastically.
"What have you been accused of?"
"Killing the cook."
"Who really killed the cook?"
"I don't know," Kagome answered truthfully.
"You do know that the cook possessed a jewel shard, do you not?"
"He did?"
"Yes, he did. Did you see it in his body?"
"I think I may have glimpsed it when he was alive, but I thought I was just imagining it. It wasn't in his dead body," Kagome responded.
"So that means someone else must have taken it," Kagura looked thoughtful.
"What about the King?"
"How would the King know about the jewel shards?"
"I don't know, but he was the only other one in the kitchen when I found the body," Kagome explained.
"Hmmmm...I must tell Naraku about this. Do not forget about your mission in that little cell of yours," Kagura said, preparing to leave.
"Wait! You're not going to get me out of here?"
"If I did, where would you go? You still need to complete the mission but if you mysteriously escaped the dungeon, they would suspect something," Kagura explained as she vanished. Kagome sighed in defeat. 'This mission is going to ruin everything,' Kagome thought as she slunk back to the ground. Little did she know that that was a big understatement.
AN: Well that took forever. Sorry I took so long, I really am. I had a little bit of writer's block, but I'm over it! Well right now my computer doesn't have internet access, so this could take longer to update than I want it too. On to Reviewer Responses!
purity.starz- Wow...I have to say that's the best review I've ever gotten! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! lol! Thank you so much for reviewing! Hope you review again!
eddie4- Don't worry, there'll be more fluff in later chapters...really really later chapters...lol. keep reviewing!
Xessive- ...I still don't know Rehio is...and I don't know why you had 3 personalities in that review...I'm not sure if I wanna know though...Oo...REVIEW AGAIN!!
Well that's it. Catch ya later!