Thief of Hearts - Chapter 2
By: Sakura Katsana
Disclaimer: It's a depressing thing to say . . .I do not own Inuyasha.
Sakura's Note: I know I should be working on Mission Completed and WAALHW but, just to let you know, I already had a few prewritten chapters for this story. So, I basically just had to add the author's note and all.
Also, this story does not take place in Japan, but more so somewhere near Persia and Arabia. Think of Aladdin and you're pretty much set.
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Chapter 2: Those Two Gold Eyes
"Any spoor?" Inuyasha rode up to meet the other Jidai.
"No, and the sandstorms have probably already reached Ano Horaana," Miroku sighed, leaning on Kazaana's head.
"You can head back, those horses are ours' fair and square. . . .Well, most of them anyway. But that's not the point. I'm going to find them." Inuyasha leapt off his horse, picking up some sand in his hands and letting it blow away through his fingers. "They went that way."
"How do you know this stuff?" Miroku groaned, spurring on Kazaana.
The honey-eyed male shrugged nonchalantly, but his anger soon surfaced. "When I find whoever stole our horses they'll wish their mothers had never been born!"
Miroku winced in pity for the poor soul who was in possession of their horses at the moment. He knew what his friend could and most likely would do. Inuyasha had a soft spot for children but when anyone else took anything from him, or any other Jidai for that matter, everyone in his way would face his wrath.
Sand whipped at Inuyasha's face, causing him to raise a hand to block it out. "Let's pick up the pace, 'storm's close."
They continued on through the smooth dunes of sand, the only trace of them ever being there erased within minutes, until they reached the peek of the desert.
Miroku's eyes widened as he scanned the village for any trace their property, "They've taken them to Shikon just like we thought. Oh, there're gonna pay for this. . ."
His leader growled, ready to pound something into the ground. "I bet it was that cursed wench and her men who're behind this. What in the seven hells made her think we wouldn't find them?!"
"Inuyasha, maybe that's exactly it. She knows you'll be able to track her and once you're in her city, capture you and I both." He looked out at the night's sand thoughtfully, "Such a smart woman. . ."
"If that's the case then we'll have to keep unnoticed," Inuyasha finally said, "Let's go." The angry leader nudged Bakuryuuha, riding down the dune with his best friend and most trusted thieve by his side.
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"My lady, we were not able to detain the Sengoku Jidai at their most recent raid but we were able to capture their horses." Her high ponytail swayed in the light breeze flowing in from the room's glassless windows.
"Sango, you're the best Shikon Warrior and friend I've ever seen," the pearl-gray orbs of the younger girl glowed in the moonlight as she nodded dismissing the palace guards. With a playful smile she stood up, all regality aside. "I'm glad you've made it back alright."
They embraced like cousins should, "Did you learn anything new about the Sengoku Jidai?"
"By the time we got there they were already raiding the village. And they managed to defeat almost all of us. The surprising thing is they didn't take my defeated warriors as prisoners, they just continued looting the entire time and left."
He's thoughtful. . .in a way. Kagome sighed, "Did you get a good look at their leader?"
Her cousin paused in thought, "Yes, I can recall his face. To tell you the truth he wasn't all that bad looking either."
"Sango!"
"What? It's not like I'd run away with him. He's just some idiot with a shiny sword and a lot of men under his command. I hate men in control. Besides, there was this man with him, looked like they were close. He was so. . .FULL of it!"
Kagome smirked, "What was his name?"
"I don't know, none of my men could find out. They were too busy fighting." Sango continued seeing the man's face, his oh-so-sure-of-himself face and she hated it.
"Oh, right, well, you managed to get their horses, so you must know their location, correct? . . .Sango?"
"We couldn't find a dwelling anywhere near the horses, only a myriad of dunes."
"Any caves?"
"No."Kagome held onto the pink jewel at her neck, rolling it through her fingers absent-mindedly. "It must be a spell."
"In that case they would have to have a sorceress, or a miko all the way from the lands of Japan!"
"It wouldn't be im-"
"Pardon me, Lady Kagome." A man around Sango's age rushed in, "Sango, there's a disturbance at the west side of the palace! Come quickly!"
Sango gave her cousin an apologetic look, "Inform the others!"
The young warrior leapt up from her kneeling spot and rushed from the room, grabbing her large boomerang bone from the corner as she did so. "We'll talk later, cousin."Kagome nodded, a serious look back on her face.
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"Ho there! Who're you?" The guard put his arm out in front of the entrance. "No one enters the Sultana's palace without her majesty or her majesty's daughter's permission."
The lavender-eyed man sighed, pulling down the bandana covering his nose and mouth. Flashing the guard his most dashing smile he drew back his fist.
- - -and punched.
"Gods! You're the dupe beaten by our Lady Sango!" the guard now held his nose, blood dribbling from the cracks in between his dusty fingers. Yet, somehow, he still had the guts to laugh.
"Ah, so that's her name!" Miroku said cheerily, "That vixen's sure a catch. Pity I'll have to defeat all her men. Oh well, it can't be that much of a loss losing a bunch like you. . ."
"Get 'em men!" The injured guard yelped, grabbing his sword from its place at his side.
"We'll give 'em a nice Shikon welcome, ay boys?" another guard grinned, standing in a fighting stance.
"Well let the games begin boys, I have all the time in the world."==========================================================
He slipped into the holding room where he could hear the faint neighing and whinnying of their horses and instantly covered his nose.
The smell was worse than the smell of death!
Gods, for the richest village of the deserts it sure as hell didn't keep its stables clean.
Almost immediately the horses silenced and allowed their central reigns to be grabbed up and pulled from the building. Inuyasha smiled lightly, counting off the horses. "Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty, forty-one, forty- - -"
Wind Scar, she wasn't there.
The Jidai leader scowled, looking in even the darkest corners of the holding area, seeing no other horses.
Muttering dark curses under his breath he herded in the horses out into the early sandstorm. The faint sounds of Shikon Warriors carried on the fierce gusts of wind.
Miroku had come through.
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"I hope you don't welcome all your guests like that. That would give you a bad name. But, that, my foolish Shikon warriors was a Jidai welcome. Much more polite than yours. Be sure and remember it and you'll be fine." Miroku leapt onto Kazaana, "I think I stole Inuyasha enough time."
"Miroku!" Inuyasha rode up on Bakuryuuha.
"Great! Gotten the horses I see, ready to go-"
"Wind Scar wasn't there."
Miroku looked from the large mass of horses being led by Inuyasha's stallion. Wind Scar was Bakuryuuha's mate, and when either went missing there was hell to pay. He could tell just by the air around Inuyasha that he wasn't happy, "Where could she be?"
"They must have taken her to another area of the village for some reason," Inuyasha muttered, talking to no one in particular. "But where. . .?"
"For all we know they could have eaten her." Inuyasha shot him a deadly glare, making him stop cold turkey. "But-but, they wouldn't! They . . .they . . .they," he pointed behind him, "wouldn't! I've only heard that The Harpies eat their horses!"
Inuyasha sighed, "The Harpies only follow in our shadow, taking whatever we leave behind. They should be The Vultures if anything. They give thieves a bad name. They can't even clean the blood from their swords, let alone steal a horse on their own . . ."
Miroku nodded in agreement, mounting his auburn horse. "Alright, the storms coming through, it should be past Ano Horaana by now."
Inuyasha nudged Bakuryuuha forward, causing a wave of horses to follow. "Take half the horses and lead them with Kazaana. Let's get out of here before they all descend on us like a hungry pack of wolves."
"Have you ever even seen a wolf?"
"Shut up." Inuyasha handed off half of the reigns. After Miroku had secured them all around his fist they were off.
"But what are you going to do about Wind Scar?"
"I'll find out where she is, all I have to do is ask."
"Ask? You're going to go up there and ask the guards where they put your horse?! Have you lost your mind?" Miroku's eyes went wide in disbelief. That was, until Inuyasha struck the man's noggin.
"No idiot! I'm going to ask her! Her! Our captive! Gods man, sometimes I wonder if you've taken one too many blows to the head." Inuyasha slapped a hand to his face, spurring Bakuryuuha into the desert storm ahead.
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The two Jidai men reached the dip of the two dunes- the ones that never seemed to change with the wind no matter how bad the torrents. It looked as if they had just missed the storm. "Akatsuki yami," The honey-eyed leader boomed.
The wind picked up again, dying down almost instantly bringing a cold chill that breathed on both men's faces violently. A large cave began to materialize in front of them magically, although neither thought it to be much of a wonder anymore. Their hideout was much more secure now that it was invisible to anyone, including themselves.
"Oi! It's Inuyasha!" Jakotsu beamed, recklessly abandoning his goblet of rice wine to go to the entrance. On his way he grabbed up a small tin, opening it to make sure his makeup was still flawless. For Inuyasha to see him any other way would be awful.
" 'E and Miroku brought the horses!" Jinenji downed the rest of his beer. Happy to see his own horse with their leader he happily returned to the kegs of liquor in the corner, swaying gently the whole way there.
"Inuyasha! You are so strong and brave! You give the rest of us a bad name," Jakotsu batted his eyelashes at his leader. "Are you injured? Are you hurt? Do I need to go get bandages? I could change them for you."
Inuyasha leapt from Bakuryuuha--who automatically snorted at Jakotsu--and knocked the Jidai away. "Stop being so creepy, Jakotsu. And back up a little, respect my personal space for once. . ."
Miroku inched around the flirtatious man and led Kazaana to Nobunaga, who was waiting happily for all the horses' reigns.
"Good thing you got them back," the boy commended, patting Miroku on the back. Nobunaga petted Pyre's--Naraku's horse--affectionately before leading them all back outside towards a small oasis nearby.
Rouyakan grunted, swiping up a few grapes to toss in his mouth later. "So, who were the little screwballs that took 'em?"
"Ask Miroku," Inuyasha grabbed up a golden goblet lined with rubies and filled it to the brim with sake. "I got some business to attend to."
"A'ight boss," they said in unison, all their eyes now focused on Miroku, who was already reciting the occurrences.
Inuyasha clenched his fists as he walked through the tunnel leading to their sleeping quarters. He continued until he reached his own personal room. A small opening to the side revealed a small tented bed, gold designs scattered across the fabric.
Without announcing his presence the white-haired Jidai pulled the flap open, "Enchantress, I need you to tell me where Wind Scar is."
"How nice it is to see you too," Her dark eyes looked up from the scroll on her large black pillow.
"Cut the crap, Kikyo," Inuyasha snarled. "Tell me where Wind Scar is."
Kikyo rolled her eyes, "You treat me like some desert hound. I'm a miko, not an animal or an enchantress. . ."
He took a calming breath, knowing very well she would be more stubborn to assist him if he got angry. "Wench, tell me now or you'll be those dogs' dinner." He thought his reasoning to be sound, but apparently she did not. Inuyasha began to unsheathe his sword, growling warningly in his chest.
"My powers are not always with me, they come and go." She couldn't hold in the gasp as the cold steel of the sword touched her throat.
"Tell me, miko, before I make you wish you'd never come here from your lands."
The miko let out a sigh, crawling from her overly large pillow to a small crystal at the foot of the feather bed. She picked it up gingerly, balling her hand into a gentle fist. Her eyes became void, her body glowed a vague pink. "Your mare is in the city of Shikon, under the care of the Sultana's daughter. Yet the Princess does not know as of yet, so threatening her will do no good. Your horse's whereabouts in the city can not be determined within my powers."
The room seemed to lower its temperature back to that of a normal desert night as her eyes fluttered open, now glimmering with fury. He never gave her the respect she deserved. Had he ever experienced years of sitting in the same bed without seeing barely anything else? No, and he never would. The fearless leader would never be caught, never see a jail cell, always be free. Unlike her.
"See? All you had to do was hold a crystal and close your eyes . . ." Inuyasha graced the room with a small smile, putting his hand in a small leather pouch at his side. "Here," he tossed a silver coin at the woman, "for your time."
Kikyo glared at the silver. Really, what could she use it for?
"Tell me, King of Thieves," the man turned, allowing the curtain to fall back closed behind him.
"What is your name?"
"You could easily use your seeing crystal to find that out. You don't need to bother me about it." Inuyasha snarled, tossing a ruby into the air and catching it upon its return.
"You captured me from the village at which I was training. I'll never see my sister again, I'll never see the cherry blossoms in bloom, the snow, the koi, the birds chirping their sweet serenades . . . All because you thought I would be useful in your thieving. Yet you barely even see me more than to give me food. I think you owe me one request."
The leader of the men sighed, his eyes softening for a second before their tough exterior regained control, "Inuyasha."
Kikyo seemed surprised that he had answered. She had expected him to just leave back to the festivities. "Inuyasha . . ." she repeated slowly, testing it on her tongue.
"Yeah. You asked for my name didn't you? Well I gave it to you, and, for your helpfulness you can join the festivities until you start bothering people or they start bothering you. Then it's back here, no funny business. Sesshoumaru won't take kindly to you trying to escape."
The miko raised an eyebrow, "Is that caring in your voice?"
"No, it's not."
With that the leader swiftly left, instantly acting as if nothing was wrong when he rejoined the wild partying. The miko followed minutes later, noting the exits as she went.
The moonlight came through into the torch lit cave romantically, though no one other than her would ever think romantic a word for it. The large hole in the ceiling also brought in a cooling breeze that kissed her cheeks. When mixed with the heat from the torches it created a comfortable atmosphere.
There were three tables filled to the edges with food. She had never been able to understand how they had been able to keep themselves so well stocked every time she was allowed outside. Kikyo looked to her right to see a card game in progress, with riches piled high in the middle for the winner.
Inuyasha was laughing in the corner with Miroku and a few others that still wanted to hear both men's detailed description of their horse escapades.
Gold was scattered everywhere carelessly, sending the silent message that the invisible charm that she had put on the castle indeed kept them safe. She was a little glad that it had. Despite their pompous attitudes and rude gestures, Inuyasha never had let them do anything do her. She was safe, albeit a prisoner.
During her two years in that room he had allowed her out into the main area more than this once, which in itself was odd, and had given her some of the best food they owned. He glared at anyone who even thought of trying something under his nose with her, and kept her in his room for her own protection.
This Inuyasha seemed to worry about her, no matter how much he denied it. Beneath the tough and thieving exterior, there was a good man.
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A woman in her early forties sat elegantly in her throne with expensive silks draped across her, sewn together to become a beautiful white dress. Golden lining decorated the midriff and matching hoops adorned her arms. "Welcome to Shikon, you are both very brave to bring your little brother all the way here after such an awful battle," the Sultana smiled lovingly, feeling pity for their losses. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you need."
The eldest brother, around ten, bowed, followed quickly by his sister. They were both amazed by the palace, supported by sturdy and well-designed marble pillars standing on marble floors containing mosaics of the city's rich history.
"But before you are shown to your sleeping quarters my daughter wished to speak with you all."
Kagome entered, her own pale green gown sashaying around her feet. The dress put the accent on her curves pleasingly until it tapered off right below her hips. The collar was covered sparingly in jewels the children had never even seen before.
Sango walked by her side, still dressed in her formal warrior's attire. "They're so adorable!" She whispered. The eldest boy visibly blushed, bowing to the Princess and her guardian as well.
Kagome knelt down, beaming at the three children. "This is my cousin and protector, Sango. She would like to ask you a few questions. It would be a very big help." Sango waved at the little girl, causing her to giggle. "Please follow me to my room, Yuka brought up some things you can snack on there."
The children didn't need to be told twice. They were already half way down the hall.
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"When you were at your village, did you see their leader?" Sango questioned, handing the girl a pastry.
"Uh huh. He talked to us." she managed through a mouth crammed with chocolate. She accepted the pastry happily, bowing slightly in thanks.
Both Shikon women raised an eyebrow, "He did, did he?"
The little girl nodded vigorously, her midnight curls bouncing as she did so. "Yup! He was really nice for a Jidai!""What exactly did he say to you?" Sango continued, nodding for the green-eyed artist also in the room to begin taking note.
"He said, 'Get out of here, and if any of my men say anything to you, tell them Inuyasha says to leave you two alone.'" The little girl blushed, "He was handsome too!"
Sango coughed awkwardly, almost choking on her tea. A girl at her age thinking such things made her both want to laugh and blush at once. "So he defended you?"
The older boy nodded, "Yeah, these two others were bothering us when he came."
"What did he look like?" Everyone seemed surprised that Kagome was still there. Her pearl gray eyes mirrored her curiosity, "This Inuyasha."
"He had pretty gold eyes and white hair." The girl offered, already halfway done with Sango's gift.
"So he's old?" Kagome asked.
"No, he seemed to be the age of my papa."
"And how old is your father?" Sango asked, sitting down next to Kagome.
The little girl paused, looking at her brother for support. Suddenly she sprung up from her seat proudly, "I heard mama say papa was twenty three!"
The princess couldn't help but become curious as to what their leader looked like. For someone at twenty three to have white hair . . .
Her brother seemed to be remembering the events of that night vividly. When he spoke, he was hesitant. "His hair looked more silver. He had a golden hoop in his left ear . . .and he had brown vest and baggy white pants." The artist began drawing at a faster pace. "He had a really big sword, it didn't look like it fit in the scabbard, but when we were running we saw it transform." Sango nodded at the boy.
"You have a very good memory."
"He was really handsome!" his little sister chirped, giggling.
"I see." Sango blushed, "Thank you both for your help. Eri will show you to your room and will help out with the care of your baby brother."
The young maiden appeared at the door when her name was mentioned, obviously she had been eavesdropping, and escorted the children from the room.
"Did you get all of that Ayame?" Kagome got up from her bed and walked over to where the painter was working away, obviously in some kind of artist's trance.
"Almost done."
"Good. He seems to care about little children. What do you know? He has a weakness." Sango paced back and forth, one hand on the sword at her hip.
Ayame coughed, giving a triumphant grin that indicated she was finished. "Based on the lack of information this is the best I could put together . . ."
Sango slowly picked up the cloth, pulling it taut and staring at it with a critical eye. "Yeah, that's him. Perfect work Ayame."
Ayame blushed and nodded, picking up her materials and heading out, stopping only long enough to accept her payment. "Tell me if you need any more help."
"Thank you, again, Ayame. We will."
"So, we finally have a name and a face," Sango cocked her head in thought, "I was right, he isn't that bad looking, now that I have a chance to get a closer look at him."
Kagome let out a laugh, "Let me see. He probably has a mouth full of yellow teeth!"
Sango handed over the painting, "I must go, the others and I are going after them to try and find their hideout. We're asking a few other thief parties."
Kagome nodded, "Be safe." Sango acknowledged the gesture with a smile, picking up her giant boomerang from the corner and called Shikon Warriors from their posts as she went down the hall.
The Princess looked back down at the picture, resting on her bed. Pulling it taut like Sango had just done she let out a gasp.
Those eyes . . .
They danced with glory, bravery, and malice, yet also hidden beauty and compassion.
All balled up into those two gold eyes.
Suddenly she wished she could meet this Inuyasha, King of the Sengoku Jidai.