Thief of Hearts
By: Sakura Katsana
Disclaimer: Does it look like I have 22 million dollars to you?
Sakura's Note: Here's the latest chapter, hot off the presses. Sorry that I haven't updated for over a month, I hated not having the time. But, like I said in the latest Mission Completed chapter, I've been extremely busy. Chapters should come much faster now, so please bare with me.
I was thinking of making this chapter longer, but I couldn't help but add a cliffy. I ask in advance that you don't kill me. Look at it this way: Killing Authoress No more updates No good. Anyway, I should have new chapters up before my birthday for all my stories. Knowing me, I'll probably post another on my birthday, but yeah… nuff said.
R&R!
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Chapter 4: Playing with Fire
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It had been an incredibly exhausting shift, and Sango for one was ready to call it a day. Of course, the head of the Shikon Warriors for the Royal Family never really got much sleep for herself, even on the calmest days.
There was always some poor sap that thought that just because they had an innocent face they could score a private meeting with the Princess.
And they weren't at all innocent.
Sango yawned, raising her arms above her head to hear the satisfying crack of her spine settling back into place. She drew the curtains to her door closed and fell onto her bed. She barely had the strength to pull of her boots, but somehow she did, and then just as she was about to pull off her shirt –
"Lady Sango!"
There went a chance at some sleep…
"All I know is it better not be another rat terrorizing the village people again…" she grumbled bitterly, stalking over to the door.
A newly recruited Warrior nervously entered the room, "The Jidai bandits caught us off guard! They're raiding the village!"
The adrenaline-pumped man nodded and dashed down the hall yelling orders down all the corridors. Horses whinnied outside, along with terrified screams and the sounds of breaking pottery and splintering tables.
Sango moved around the warriors heading to the entrance of the palace. The farther she went, the emptier it got. "Kagome! The Jidai are here, I'll put two soldiers outside your door, but surely no one will get this far."
Kagome looked up from her spot near the ivory balcony. "No."
"No? What do you mean no?"
"I'm safe inside the palace. You'll be finished with them before they can reach this far anyway. Defend the villagers first and foremost. They matter the most, Sango."
"It's an order from the Princess." Kagome said sternly. At Sango's doubting face she gave a soft smile, "I'll be ok, Sango. Take care of yourself, and give that one you were beating on last time a good kick for me."
Something sparkled in her cousin's eyes. "Anything for the Princess." Sango disappeared down the hall, "Alright boys, this time it's personal! Take them dead or alive and don't let a single one escape!"
Kagome returned her gaze to the chaotic streets, pulling her bow from its spot in the corner. Her mother would kill her for sure if she knew she could do this… but, her mother never had to know, now did she?
Her room was the first place the Sengoku Jidai would look, but not the stables…
.-.
"Fill the damn bag or you'll be doing all your breathing from the slit in your scrawny neck," Naraku boomed, his sword pressed threateningly against the shopkeepers skin.
"A-anything you say!" Immediately Naraku was handed over a bag full of gold and the day's fresh produce. "Please, I have a family!"
Naraku ignored the man's last statement. "See, that wasn't so hard… We'll have to do business again sometime." Onigumo jumped up and down behind his brother.
"Naraku, these bandages are hot!"
"Why're you telling me? I didn't tell you to put them things on! Go loot something!" Naraku tossed the man a melon, "For having to listen to my brother whine."
Nearby, Manten chortled, "This is too easy!" With one sweep of his arm the jewelry rained down into the bandits canvas bag of goods.
Miroku watched the pillaging with only slight enthusiasm. Something was amiss… "A little too easy if you ask me." he muttered, drawing his sword. "Be on the lookout, we don't want any sneak attacks getting in the way! Inuyasha said to wait for his signal." Inuyasha, you better not get caught. I don't think I can handle this bunch without you…
"Freeze, Jidai."
Miroku turned with a dashing smile, "I'm sorry, did you think that would work?"
Sango frowned, "No. But I have other plans that might."
The Jidai considered this. "What might they be, beauty of the desert? Hopefully you stripping down to nothing will be your next attempt. That would certainly work." There was a flash of a very angry face, then the searing pain that came with taking a hit from her oversized boomerang.
"Give it up Jidai!" Sango growled, catching her boomerang as it returned. "I have you right where I want you."
"But, Lady Sango, we're not in a bed… I never thought of you wanting an audience." He almost burst out laughing at the expression of abject horror that flashed across her face.
"Shut up bandit!" Sango threw her boomerang more carelessly towards him. He dodged, holding his right arm gingerly. How does he know my name?
"Is that any way to talk to an old friend?" Miroku chided, ducking her powerful right hook.
"I don't befriend dirty," – she took another swing at him – "heartless fools."
"That wasn't very nice," the Jidai didn't need to feign hurt to look convincing. "I take a bath everyday."
She scoffed, temporarily forgetting just how dangerous the man in front of her was. "Liar."
"No, really, we have a hot springs," he continued, buying himself time. It was easy to distract this one. But, boy was she sexy mad.
The established sound of cloth ripping to release twin arm scythes was almost lost in the riot of other fights bursting out everywhere.
"Stop trying to distract me with things I really don't care about! What do you take me for?" Since the opportunity to retrieve the Jidai's bag of booty presented itself, Sango took it.
"Obviously someone much more foolish than you." Miroku muttered under his breath.A sword met her throat a bit too close for comfort, "I'll have those back now, my Lady." Miroku caused her knees to buckle with a thwack from his sword. "Sorry, Sango, but business before pleasure!" With a brusque wave of his uninjured hand, the midnight-haired thief disappeared into the pandemonium.Moments later his voice yelling 'Hiyah, let's go.' and the fierce clap of hooves against pavement echoed in Sango's ears.
"He could have killed me…" Sango murmured, thrusting herself up off the ground. She hissed from the stinging in the backs of her knees, but ignored it as she searched for a horse.
She spotted one just ahead of her and made a run for it.
That aggravating Jidai would not lose her that easily…
.-.
He had effortlessly taken care of the pitiful amount of guards at the entrance of the golden palace. It was way too simple, really. A few flowers and a 'Welcome' banner and he'd really have felt invited.
So, being a welcomed guest of the city of Shikon, he did was guests did.Right now, he was biting into a drumstick on his way down the south hall leaving a trail of leftovers behind him.
After finishing off his last piece of poultry Inuyasha tossed the drumstick over his shoulder and proceeded onward.
Where could they be holding his horse?
"Oh stop neighing, if you don't want to be stolen then you're going to have to stay quiet."
The leader of the Jidai paused mid-step, looking down the hall to his left disbelievingly.
"We wouldn't want a Jidai stealing you, would we?" Kagome sat down on the railing, petting the horses mane. "You're so beautiful… so free. How does it feel? The wind rushing through your hair?"
Gotcha.
When he met this woman who was with her he swore-
"You're not violent – he did something to make you do that, didn't he? …I must be crazy, expecting you to answer." Kagome gave a light laugh, her stormy orbs reflecting memories she knew she'd be lucky to have herself.
The horse known to her as Desert Flower neighed, jerking her head away from the Princess' ivory hand. She looked past her owner, her whinnies sounding delighted.
"What is it, girl?" Kagome tried steadying the exciting horse by wrapping her fingers around the golden reigns, but it didn't do any good. "Calm down, it's ok… There's nothing to be worried about."
"What the hell are you doing with my horse?"
A jolt of pure shock raced up Kagome's back, making her entire body jump in reaction to the cold voice. It wasn't familiar; it wasn't one of the guards. She hadn't brought anything to protect herself, thinking it would be safe enough this deep into the thick palace walls. Whipping around, she was greeted with a face she thought she'd never see without being separated by bars.
"…Inuyasha…"
His eyes widened slightly, barely visible from where she was standing. Before she could really take notice of his confusion, he reverted back to his usual intimidating scowl. He'd always been proud of his incredibly sharp canines – that is until Kouga asked if he was some sort of dog. So, he showed them off too.
Kagome refrained from murmuring his name dreamily again, afraid of giving him the wrong idea, and backed up slowly. She kept a firm grip on the reigns. He wasn't taking her horse away from her, not when she finally had a way of–
"Let go of her." When the girl didn't comply, he took a menacing step forward. In doing this, he noticed she took a step back.
"She's mine and I won't let someone like you take her!"
"Well then, I guess I should get going, shouldn't I?" Inuyasha mocked backing away terrified, before scoffing at the look of hope on her face. "Not a chance, bitch."
The raven haired Princess bristled at the name, "What do you want with my horse anyway? Don't you already have enough? I mean, you already smell like twenty of them!" She would have already been holding her nose if it wasn't for the fact that both her hands were occupied at the moment. One holding the reigns, the other hiding the jewel around her neck.
Inuyasha froze. He could have sworn he'd seen red for a moment. This… this wench… this bitch had tried to insult him? She had guts, he had to admit. But, there was a difference between having guts and just being plain stupid.
He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and waved a hand. "That's not how it works, girl. You don't try and get the best of me. Especially not when I'm five seconds away from mauling you beyond recognition."
Kagome glared – intensely.
Ok… new approach needed. "Look, this horse is mine, so– "
"Desert Flower is mine!"
"…Desert Flower…? DESERT FLOWER?!" He roared. All out roared, the name echoing through the halls. "You steal my horse and then give it a sissy name like THAT?!"
"But…" Kagome stopped, pursing her lips together stubbornly. It is a sissy name… but I didn't name it. Hojo did!
Inuyasha sighed in exasperation, reaching for his sword. He drew the rusting piece of metal, using it to point angrily at the bridle. "Read the reigns!"
Her eyes darted to the side, looking for the writing he claimed was there. In expensive gold lettering was his name along with that she figured was the horse's. "Wind Scar?"
"Wow, she can read." Inuyasha said dully, rolling his eyes. "Now get the hell out of my way, you annoying little gnat!" With much greater force than she knew he had the silver haired, violent, Jidai yanked the reigns out of her hand, making her fall back on her arse.
With an indignant growl, Kagome hoisted herself back up with a glare. The subject of her annoyance was trotting off smugly, riding his mare with an all too cheerful grin in place. "Hey!"
This girl was pushing it… "What? You waiting for me to kill you?"
Well… yeah.
Kagome looked down at the ground.
"Keh," Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Wench, you've wasted enough of my– wait." His eyes zeroed in on something just above her chest… something that he hadn't noticed before. Something round, pink, and very, very valuable…
Kagome followed his gaze back to her, immediately covering the jewel back up with her hand. Oh no…
"On second thought…"
Too late.