Chapter 2

Inu Yasha was instated officially in the Shinsengumi. Kouga would laugh that the mutt was trying to be a real dog by becoming a Mibu okami. Inu Yasha threatened to knock him upside the head. Kagome sat Inu Yasha and lectured Kouga. That was the end of that.

The hanyou still acted like he was under the Isshin Shishi. Anything Naraku-"sama" told him to do, he did. He would inform Sesshomaru (the "11th" squad leader) about the assassinations. They would still take place.

Kagome came to the Ishin Shishi head quarters on business of both kinds. She had fallen in love with Inu Yasha, and Inu Yasha had loved her the moment he first saw her. Kagome played her geisha roll perfectly, saying she must just be the inu's favorite. They would pass information back and fourth in that idea, make out, and then Kagome would leave.

Inu Yasha had started truly believing in the workings of the Shinsengumi. He started believing that Naraku and the other imperialists had the wrong ideas. So many ties, the hanyou wanted to stand up and object openly. But he knew, he could play out the role of spy for a while more. At least until he saw Kagome again. That time would come and go, but he couldn't even mention it to her.

Then, finally, Inu Yasha made his stand. There was a small meeting of the 11th unit Shinsengumi. Inu Yasha stood up towards the end and requested an assignment.

"Sesshomaru, I want you to give me an assignment. I feel I have been doing the work all of the other spies are doing, and nothing more. I want to do more for the cause."

"Just because we are brothers, that does not give you right to address me as such," Sesshomaru replied coldly.

"Excuse me for my mistake," it was almost serious. Inu Yasha had gotten a big whooping once for his sarcasm.

"We'll see if we can dredge something up for you. Kagome-san will give you any information."

Inu Yasha was asked -not told- to press more for information. Though he wasn't quite satisfied, he found it exciting to sneak around like several of the ninja he had seen.

From that point on, Inu Yasha led a double life. One was the obedient lap dog to the Isshin Shishi, the other, the secret Miburo spy.

There is a boundary for how long something like that could go on. Inu Yasha had been patrolling the streets as a member of the Shinsengumi when a "fellow" imperialist had spotted him. Inu Yasha was forced to kill the poor soul, but he didn't feel sorry. The odd, elation arose. A crazy idea started forming. He knew what he could do for the Shinsengumi. The plan would take place right before Kagome showed up the next day.

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The night was crisp and windless. Inu Yasha snuck through the halls of the area the Ishin Shishi inhabited with skilled ease. His katana was loose in its sheath. The hanyou came to the room he knew to be the leader's. Naraku would die.

There was only a slight rattle as the shoji slid open. Inu Yasha padded inside. There was Naraku, sleeping at unawares. Inu Yasha smiled as Tetsuiga was unsheathed. His sword poised over his head, ready to slice, Inu Yasha paused. Should he do this? And why not? It would greatly benefit the Shinsengumi. It would greatly benefit humanity, for all that mattered. Naraku was an imperialist only because he would take over in a matter of years. Kill him! His thoughts shouted.

He swung the blade in a downward arc. He was prepared for the slight sound of skin being severed. He expected the warm rush of blood on his hands. He had done things like this so many times. But he was off balanced when his blade came in contact with an iron fan. Inu Yasha looked up into the face of a woman. She was smiling slightly. Inu Yasha recovered and started stepping back.

"Where are you going, Inu Yasha? Aren't you going to finish this?" the woman asked.

Inu Yasha slowly recognized her as Naraku's personal woman. Rumor had it that she was his daughter of sorts.

"Just leave me alone, Kagura. This doesn't concern you," Inu Yasha growled.

"Killing my master has nothing to do with me? The Shinsengumi must have addled your brains. Go ahead. Try and kill Naraku. Get through me first."

"If that's what you want."

"Inu Yasha, don't lay a finger on her."

Kagura turned slightly and knelt to the ground. She bowed respectfully and stayed on the ground. "I am sorry to disturb you, Naraku-sama," she whispered.

Naraku was sitting up on his futon (not like the ones in America. The ones that the Japanese use that are on the ground) a small smile on his face. "Inu Yasha," he chuckled. "I never thought to see you here like this. Though, at the same time I always knew I would. Trying to kill me in my sleep, were you? How very honorable."

Inu Yasha jumped forward to attack. An invisible barrier sprung up around Naraku. The hanyou bounced off the shield and slid back.

"Not bad, Inu Yasha. However, you have forgotten something." Naraku held out a hand, and pain shot through the hanyou's body. Inu Yasha cried out in pain, falling to the floor.

"Kagura, take our rebellious little hanyou to the holding cell. We need to find out some information."

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Inu Yasha was in pain. His arms were chained above him to the ceiling, and his haori had been removed. Blood was running in steady streams down his bare chest from open wounds. Kagura stood in front of him, thoroughly enjoying her chore: breaking Inu Yasha.

Even though he was only half demon, Inu Yasha was not relenting to the torture. Nothing about the Shinsengumi passed through his lips, except that he was a member now, had been for a while, and to say anything further would result in his death, according to the code. He didn't mention he would die any way.

Naraku was standing in the shadows, waiting patiently. It was nearing daybreak. "Inu Yasha, what about that woman who always comes to your room?" Naraku asked quietly.

"She's just a geisha. I really like her style. She has nothing to do with the Shinsengumi," Inu Yasha muttered through his swollen lip.

"But...she is a miko."

"Your seeing things. She's just a plain, boring woman. She can dance, and she is great to sleep with, but that is all. She doesn't have enough wit to even think about being part of a political war."

"You love her dearly, don't you, Inu Yasha? And she is coming soon, am I right?"

"Looks like you've done your homework."

"Yes, I have. Maybe she will get you to talk."

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Kagome knocked again on the arched doorframe. Finally, just as she was about to leave, the door opened partially. "Yes, what business do you have here?" a young woman asked. Her dark hair was tied in a ponytail and she wore grand layers of kimonos. Her eyes were a captivating, curious red.

"Um...I was sent for by one of these men. May you please show me to his room?"

"What is the charming man's name?"

"Inu Yasha."

"Ah. We just recently moved his room. If you would just follow me, I will show you where it is," a fan snapped shut as the woman started walking away.

"Oh, thank you," Kagome followed after the figure.

The woman at the door led Kagome through the household, pausing now and then to make sure the younger girl was behind her. Finally, she came to a stop in front of what looked like a shrine house. "Here we are. He should be right inside."

Kagome stepped forward. She opened the door slowly. It was a dark room, lit with a faint, inhuman light Kagome knew as an aura. She scanned the room slowly then ran forward. "Inu Yasha," she cried. Kagome draped herself over the hanyou's body, sobbing into his shoulder. "Who did this? Why?"

Inu Yasha rubbed his face against the girls. "They know, Kagome. I'm sorry. It was the best I could do."

"Know? Know what, dearest?"

"Naraku knows I am a traitor. But, that is all."

Footsteps resounded in the small confines of the room. Naraku stepped up, smiling sadistically. "Yes, Kagome. So very quaint to have another Miburo stop by. Do you want to kill me as well?"

"Inu Yasha, you didn't."

The hanyou nodded once, eyes closing in pain.

"Why you..." Kagome muttered.

"Now, Inu Yasha, is there anything else you would like to tell us? Such as the main plots of the Shinsengumi?"

"Inu Yasha, don't tell them anything. If you do, I will say it, and say it, and say it."

"But, Kagome, they'll kill you too."

Kagura walked into the room as well. "Naraku-sama, this will take too long this way. Can't we just kill them and get it over with? Everyone will be up soon and will wonder where you are."

"Very well Kagura. Do the honors. Give Inu Yasha a slow death so that he can tell us anything he wants."

"My lord," Kagura smiled, stepping closer to the hanyou's form.

"No," Kagome shouted, positioning herself in front of Inu Yasha, arms spread out.

"You can prevent this too girl. Just tell us."

"I..."

"No, Kagome. Just as you wont let me tell, I won't let you. Let death come swift," Inu Yasha whispered harshly.

Kagome turned, her eyes finally picking up the blood. Kagura slipped past the stunned girl, the metal fan slicing through the hanyou's stomach. Inu Yasha held back his scream. Kagome shouted his name as his body went slack. Kagome hurried to his side.

"Kagome, it hurts," Inu Yasha whispered."

"I know. Just...wait...for a second," Kagome hesitated. She turned to Kagura. "Have you know honor. Finish him off. This is the price for being a traitor. This is Inu Yasha's seppuku."

"Go ahead Kagura. Then maybe Kagome will be willing to talk," Naraku commented.

Snorting, Kagura swung the fan downwards. The silver-haired head rolled to the floor. Kagome's sobs echoed dully.

Naraku looked to Kagome. "What a pity. Will you meet the same fate he did? A meaningless torture and death?"

Kagura took a step towards Kagome. The geisha took several steps back. She yanked out one of the hairpins that held her hair back and held it poised at her neck. The hair that she had coaxed into the gaudy hairstyle just hours earlier fell about her in waves of raven locks. The second hairpin fell to the ground with a small clatter.

"You wont get any information out of me, either," Kagome stated loudly. Then, she shoved the sharpened pin into her throat. Women of that time were taught to conquer their disgrace as the samurai. To keep their beauty intact, they would cut the jugular vein. This is what Kagome did.

Naraku laughed, as Kagura stood back, stunned. "What pitiful fools," Naraku chuckled.