Thief of Hearts
Sakura Katsana
Disclaimer: You poor thing… you still think I own Inuyasha? I think you should get some rest.
Sakura's Note: I'm glad to be back, although the trip was great.
Chapter 3: Caged
"Well then, that was quite a diversion!" Gatenmaru laughed, punching Miroku's shoulder. "You injured, too!"
A roar of laughter let up around the room, Miroku sucked in air and waved his hand, using the other to grip to his shoulder. "Yeah, quite… quite a diversion alright." They loved doing that…
"Oi! It's Kikyo!" Onigumo grinned from ear to ear, literally knocking his brother down in the process of rushing to the silent woman.
"Hey, watch it you insolent little bastard!" Naraku seethed, dropping his calm outer exterior.
Two other Jidai helped Naraku get up, him grumbling about the sake ruining his clothes.
"Why hello there, Kikyo," Onigumo laughed heartily, leaning in a bit too close for comfort. "Haven't seen you around for a while…"
That's because I was locked in my room…imbecile. "Onigumo," she said coldly, walking away faster than he could get his drunken behind up.
The thief's shoulders slumped forward, his head lowered, and he slumped back over to the group of howling men. "Oh shove it!" The men continued to bark, slapping their hands against their thighs.
They'd always been the kind to laugh at rejection.
It wasn't that funny.
Well…
Maybe it was.
"Naraku, why's she avoiding me?" Onigumo whined, returning to his embarrassed brother's side."You're not exactly something a woman would look at," Naraku admitted, taking another swig of his beer. "She ain't that special herself, either."
"How can you say that!?" Onigumo continued, pounding his fist down upon the table. "She's ungodly! No wonder she's holy in Japan!" The beady-eyed man smirked, looking at her backside as she walked away, "I can see why…"
"You're a pervert, Onigumo," Ryoukan growled, "More perverted than the rest of us when drunk anyway."
"But seriously, why's she avoid me?"
Naraku finished off his drink, grabbing up a piece of ham. "You're so injured all the time, you're wrapped in bandages half your life!"
Inuyasha smirked, "Not that bad of a disguise though, no one outside of us ever sees him without 'em."
Kikyo sighed, double checking all the exits to see them guarded by the more burley looking members of the Jidai.
No way out.
She'd better make the best of the fresh air.
Most of the Jidai men steered clear knowing that Inuyasha would most likely kill them for touching her. At least she could help herself to the food without getting too much attention.
Inuyasha sighed, looking over at his best friend. "So, did you see the wench that caused us to use all Onigumo's bandages on you?"
"Those were his?!"
"Yeah, but Gatenmaru poured some water on them before. Don't worry, Miroku." Inuyasha grabbed another drum stick, chomping away at it. "Anyway, I know where we're raiding next."
All eyes were now on him, the cave in pin drop silence.
"How's our loot supply, boys?" Inuyasha leapt up atop a table, then to his chair.
"It's the best we've ever had! Over a hundred chests of gold!" Mukotsu piped up, clapping for no one in particular.
"Yes, and it's all because of our wonderful, brave, strong, powerful, mighty, majestic, handsome, oh-so-manly leader Inuyasha!" Jakotsu squealed, clapping his hands and giggling like a geisha.
The wind could be heard swirling past the other members of the Jidai, a disturbed look on their everyone's face - especially Inuyasha's.
"Shut up, Jakotsu! No one asked you! Gods man! Our leader's straight!" Miroku whapped the man on the head before looking back at Inuyasha with an air of fulfillment.
Jakotsu sighed, depression written all over him. "I know…"
Bankotsu rolled his eyes. His brother was hopeless…
Inuyasha's eyes avoided Jakotsu's direction while he continued his speech. "Yeah, ahem, so anyway. We're as rich as we could be, that is… unless we raided Shikon."
Kikyo's eyes widened, her hand becoming limp enough to drop her grapes. She caught Inuyasha's eye, trying to tell him it was madness, but his honey orbs had already moved on before she could.
"Shikon?""Shikon?!"
"Yeah! We'd have all the loot we'd ever need!"
"Raid Shikon!"
Inuyasha waved a submissive hand, "Then it's settled. When we raid Shikon all our problems will be over--"
"That's suicide."
Everyone looked around the group, searching for the drunken fool who'd spoken such words.
All eyes stopped on Naraku.
"What the hell Naraku? Even you have to admit that there's no down side to raiding that city!" Jinenji stated wryly. "All we'd need is five minutes and we would have more than enough!" Everyone knew that was highly exaggerated, but didn't say anything.
"Going there with so few men compared to their hundreds is suicide enough, let alone the fact that the one thing we're really after is guarded by a powerful Princess. Her mother, the Sultana, even possessing powers of her own, and the Jewel itself contains hidden magic to put our…miko's to shame."
Kikyo shuddered at the coldness he'd put in the word, but said nothing. Instead she took another bunch of grapes and began eating them one by one.
The Jidai blinked in surprise.
"He speaks the truth," Onigumo admitted, seeming to lose his spark. The spell of riches and power was already being put to doubt.
…All because of Naraku.
Inuyasha growled to himself, cursing the man. Why did he always feel like he had to disagree? Who gave him any authority around here?
"Did you see how easily we handled the Shikon Warriors at that village?" Miroku retorted, defending his best friend, "We were able to ride away no more than twenty minutes later. With the loot!"
"How should you know, Miroku, you were being beaten by a woman the entire time!" Naraku growled but no one even snickered. He glared at his brother, who--as if a switch had been flipped--began to laugh.
"Shut it, Naraku. You're one to talk, being seduced by a gypsy to give away 30 tumans." Inuyasha flicked a stone at the man, hitting him right between the eyes.
Jakotsu snickered, "Good aim!"
"I don't see why you're trying to convince everyone they'll die when we get there. That doesn't show much faith in everyone… What do you think we're gonna do when we get there? Get shot with arrows and stabbed by swords? Keh, it's not like we're some whimpy wolves or something. No offense, Kouga."
The man in question, who wore rare wolf furs, growled, and referred to the Jidai as his pack, shrugged. "None taken."
"Naraku, we're not children. We're not old fools. We're men who know what we want and are gonna get it."
There was a roar of "Yeah!"
"We'll never have to work another day of our lives…"
"Yeah!"
"And… we'll have a lifetime supply of the best sake and beer!"
"YEAH!" The Jidai went wild, clinking goblets together, tossing around loot carelessly, and breaking out even more alcohol.
Inuyasha smirked, enjoying the looks of happiness on his men's faces. Yes, life was good.
And beer was better.
Kagome sighed, staring out her window in longing. Down below little children danced around to the tunes of the Snake Charmer, giggling with joy. One little girl, dressed in silks and velvets, got a bit too close and gasped. The old charmer just smirked, knowing all to well that the snake wouldn't bite her for no reason.
And this happened everyday.
Without even looking to her right Kagome knew that Ayame would be sitting at her stall, painting a picture of the same woman that came there everyday. She wanted a picture of herself for every day of the year. No one knew why and no one ever asked.
The fruit vendor would be yelling out how ripe his goods were in a few minutes after his afternoon nap.
"Watermelon! Grown right in our very own Oasis! Freshly picked! Cheapest you'll find in this desert!"
Well, of course, Kagome thought, a smile on her face. He was the only vendor for miles with the melon…
Young girls her age were out with their soon-to-be husbands, laughing at the antics of the children…
How she wished she was one of them.
Willing herself to turn away, the Princess sat on her bed, petting her pet cat, Buyo. "How does it feel, Buyo? How does it feel to– "
"Princess Higurashi!" the Princess started slightly, turning to see her suitor in her doorway. He beamed happily, marveling at her like an adoring fan. She felt a little scrutinized, but knew she shouldn't say anything about it.
"Hojo!" Kagome smiled, nodding when the man bowed. "What brings you here?"
"I have a gift for you, Princess," Hojo blushed, oblivious to Kagome rolling her eyes. Why did he have to be so shy all the time?
"And where would this gift be?" Kagome played along, smiling despite his unsure behavior. Shy people made her laugh, no matter how much she wanted to yell for them to stop being so embarrassed.
"Follow me, Princess," Hojo took her hand and escorted her from the living quarters, and through the indoor garden.
They passed through the twin marble doors on the way towards the unknown destination, both nodding their appreciation to the guards that opened them. They entered a room which looked like a mini arena where the racing horses were kept. There were enough seats there incase the room was ever used for what it looked like--a fight.
But, once Kagome mother had become Sultana the fighting had virtually ceased. Kagome was proud of her, hating such violence herself.
Unlike what she heard about the stables, this room smelled quite nice. That was probably because of the incense burning in the corners though.
"There," Hojo smiled, releasing her hand for her to hold onto the railings in a very unladylike manner. "Her name is Desert Flower," the sandy-haired boy continued. He joined her after a moment, looking hesitant to touch the railing like she did. "She is a prized and very valuable mare, fit only for such royalty as yourself."
Kagome gasp, looking past the railing to where a Shikon Warrior fed the horse and apple. The horse's eyes sparkled with untamed beauty, her mane flowing gently in the breeze, her black coat a threat to the heavens. "Can I go and touch her?"
Suddenly the boy became--if possible--more nervous. "I don't know, it is awfully dirty down there. What would the Sultana say?" Hojo twiddled his fingers, looking nervously back down at the Warrior in question.
Kagome could have sworn she saw the Warrior give a slight nod.
Of course, she could have sworn she saw the innocent horse being pricked with a needle, too.
But Hojo would never do anything like that, would he? Really, what was there to hide about a horse?
Desert Flower began thrashing around, knocking the soldier to the ground before neighing and whinnying crazily, rushing past Kagome towards the exit, almost ramming into her. The soldier quickly got to his feet, grabbing the horse's reigns and tying her to a post. "Oi! Hold it, beast!"
The mare protested, jerking her head away from the man. That only earned her more yells from the Warrior. "Stop it!" Kagome cried, watching as the man brought out a whip. "As Princess of Shikon I order you to!" The man was reluctant, but knew it would be worse to upset a princess than to ignore her. Especially if it reached her fiery mother.
That was when Kagome turned on her suitor, stormy eyes holding the spark they always held when she was fighting to keep her very unladylike emotions inside. "How, Hojo? How could you let him do that to her?"
"It was for your protection, Princess. Just think what could have happened had that kind Warrior not been here to help you? You might have been attacked. I don't think you should get too close yet. Wait for Desert Flower to be tamed. But, you have to admit… it is just a beast."
Kagome's left eye twitched from restraining her glare. "It is a mare – a she – named Desert Flower."
She was happy to see he at least had the decency to look ashamed. She didn't know if it was an act or not, but he look guilty nonetheless. "I apologize, but it is rare to refer to be- animals in the ways you do… You're special, Princess… in more ways than one."
The Princess blushed. Why did he have to become charming after he angered her? "I thought you said she was a real prize, yet she knocks him around like a stallion and doesn't seem to have any training." Kagome eyed the male next to her warily, "Don't get me wrong, I love her… but I have to ask: where did you get her?"
"Get…get her?"
"Yes, where did you get Desert Flower from?"
"I received her from a very reliable horse trader, his horses have been used in races before. I felt like he was a good enough seller, and Desert Flower seemed to be in need of a noble owner."
But if he was a reliable horse trainer, then he's considered a noble in Shikon… Kagome nodded slowly, looking back down at the horse that was pacing back and forth frantically trying to free itself. She'd known the boy since she was born, or at least she was always told that. He had been three years old then, and had barely left her side. But for the life of her, she couldn't seem to fully believe what he was saying.
Who would hurt a defenseless animal? Even if it could kill you with its hooves… she still called it defenseless. Just to keep from feeling so guilty about not believing him.
As Hojo rushed off, something about important business, she could see something very familiar in the mare's eyes. Familiar from when she looked in the mirror every night and every morning, the look her eyes carried every moment she was alone.
Desert Flower wanted to be free.
"So we attack tonight then?" Miroku looked up through the hole of the cave, "A perfect night, full moon. Seems we always have the best luck during this time of the month."
Inuyasha nodded, somewhat preoccupied. He grumbled to himself, fumbling around his room in search of something.
"What is it?"
"I can't find it…" he managed to murmur, still scouring his living area.
"Um, find what?" Miroku looked from left to right, as if him glancing would bring the item right to him.
"Wind Scar's reigns…" he mumbled, lifting his satin pillow from its place on the bed. He didn't think he'd put it there, but sometimes when you drink too much sake…
"Didn't Nobunaga lose her normal reigns and then you said he could use yours until you could steal some more for him?"
The pillow dropped back down onto the plush bed, its owner with a dark look on his face "Nobunaga! I'm gonna friggin' kill you!" The leader of the Jidai stormed from the room, obscenities gushing from his mouth as if they were running from a flood.
"W-what did I do boss?!"
"You know damn well what you did! You let them steal the horses with my reigns on Wind Scar! You know those were the one thing I've ever paid for!"
Miroku sighed, shaking his head in disappointment as he left the room.
How could he buy anything?
"Alright men, let's get a good haul tonight. But, you know the code, you get caught, you keep your mouth shut about everything. This time it's serious, this isn't some poor defenseless village in the middle of nowhere. This is Shikon." Inuyasha shot serious looks at the more rambunctious members of their clan, silently vowing to make sure they die horribly if they screw things up.
The men nodded in agreement, securing all their weapons to their belts. There was a scurry for a moment when someone yelled they'd forgotten their lucky tiara… Jakotsu's new word for the thin crown.
"Keh, what kind of name is tiara, anyway?" Naraku sneered to Sesshoumaru. The two had a silent agreement: I hate you… but you can relate.
Sesshoumaru shook his head, not even bothering to give Jakotsu the time of day. He was straight, and had a unspoken fondness of a certain gypsy, but when Jakotsu had said Inuyasha was the prettier of the two brothers… well the blow to the ego was not appreciated.
"Feel free to take whatever you want and do whatever you want to get it," Inuyasha saw the malicious sparks in his men's eyes and quickly added, "But don't bother the brats. And remember, leave the Shikon Jewel to me."
The men nodded again, cheered, and took their last sips of sake before leaping atop their horses and flooding from Ano Horaana, the moon above shining it's light upon their next victim.
a tuman was the gold currency used by the ancient Persians. They used others, but seeing how a tuman was the most expensive I thought that would humiliate Naraku the most.
Next chapter the love birds will finally meet. ::sigh:: let the sparks fly…