Part 7

Kagome looked at Sesshomaru. He was smirking again. That oh-so annoying smirk that tempted you to beg for the secret. I could learn to hate that smirk. Kagome thought bitterly to herself. Shedislikedthe fact that they had the upper hand at the moment also.

She bit her lip and finally asked, "What kind of favor?" If she was going to get answers, she wanted them now, screw her pride.

Just as he was about to answer, the dining room doors flew open, letting in a chilling breeze. Inutaisho stopped to look, as Kagome didn't even need to. She had known immediately who it was, for the pitter-patter of smile feet could be heard echoing through out the room. And, as expected, the yell of "Good Morning!" was heard soon after. She knew the rest of them wouldn't be to far behind.

Rin ran towards the table, arms spread wide. She hugged everyone, including Sesshomaru, who mad no move to stop her or notice her presence at all. He merely watched as Kagome sat there silently, her elbows propped up, fingers intertwined, chin resting upon them. She was too deep in contemplation to notice Rin practically squeezing her, he noted. Then again, in matters like these, it was very wise to review the information you already have. Most would break under such pressures, but not this one. Nope. This is no ordinary, dim-witted bandit we are dealing with. Not even close.

X

She wanted so badly to push Rin away at the moment and tell her to stop her incoherent cries of how worried she was, but...no. She wouldn't take this out on Rin nor would she give Inutaisho, Inuyasha, Miroku, or that smiling, arrogant Sesshomaru the satisfaction of finding a weak spot.

Kagome inhaled calmly and exhaled, letting all her frustrations vent before she spoke to Rin. She knew these demon types and their ears. They could detect any single strain in the voice from whatever emotion. She handled them too often in her past years, wether it have been making a deal or lying.

She still remembered when she was younger and new to this new life of hers after the fire. She had foolishly joined a group of rogue bandits and found that she needed to prove herself in a transaction. Her voice had slipped every so slightly when she had been exchanging information with a demon that had cost her the entire bandit gang. Snap out of it! You are in the presence of those who would most likely use your worries and weaknesses against you!

She shook away the oncoming tears as the "fresh" memory of the carnage she had seen that day fled through her mind. She inhaled one last time and looked down at Rin. Rin instantly silenced herself.

She had either noted something was wrong or she had seen it in her eyes, either way Rin had the growing sense of fear. Did she scare Rin that much? Kagome moved to embrace Rin in a hug, and she felt her flinch. But as Kagome's arms completely wrapped around Rin did Rin's fears disperse. Rin equally embraced Kagome in the same bone-crushing hug.

"I'm glad Kagome-chan didn't go away. Well, that's what Sango-chan said, anyway when Rin asked Sango-chan politely," Rin gushed happily as they pulled away.

"I'm glad to Rin. Very glad," Kagome answered, a soft smile gracing her features. For now, she would let this conversation rest. When they were alone.

As if one cue, servants poured in to set the table for breakfast, and Rin, Sango, and the others found their seats. Soon after, more servants came in to lay out food of many different flavors. Scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, french toast, pancakes, blueberries, rasberries, strawberries, ham, rice, fresh bread, everything that hadn't been tasted in a long time for the traveling outlaws.

Glasses were placed before each of them, the adults being poured champagne, the younger ones orange juice. After a short prayer, they began to pile their own plates. Most of her comrades were taking a bit of each, but not her. She wouldn't trust them so easily.

Kagome looked at her dish, using her enhanced vision to pick up any speck of foreign particles, as well as scanned her whine glass, fork, spoon, napkin, practically everything near her and found nothing. She looked over at Inutaisho's, Sesshomaru's, Inuyasha's, Miroku's, Rin's, everyone's plates and utensil for any signs of difference from hers.

She kept scanning them over and over and narrowed her information to Sesshomaru's, Inuyasha's, Miroku's, and Inutaisho's. Naturally, she had checked her closer comrades' things before the four she sat near. What narrowed her down to these four was that something seemed different. Something that wasn't obvious, but something that was...hidden. There was something different with these four. Something about their tense movements and slow actions.

After a few moments of study, she realized they hadn't even so much as sipped their drinks during the first five minutes. Out of all the knowledge she had gained, if the hoist didn't usually sip from their drinks in the first couple of minutes then something was wrong. She had also noticed that they were the only five who had been poured from the same bottle. Strange... Something wasn't adding up.

Sesshomaru had noticed that Kagome hadn't yet taken anything, merely flashing quickly on everyone's utensils. Was she that untrusting? Yet, in the presence of an enemy who wouldn't be? Well, she would just have to be...assured that nothing was wrong with anything surrounding her. Then again, he felt an odd sense in the back of his mind that something was amiss.

Also noticing that Kagome's plate was practically empty and that she had touched nothing, Matsuru leaned slightly toward her, but not noticeably, and whispered, "What's wrong?"

"Something's not right. Something feels off again," she whispered back, in a suspicious tone.

"You must just be on edge. You are being given a little suspense in what they have in store for you. Eat. You need your strength. They wouldn't try anything like-"

"I assure you, Kagome, nothing has been poisoned or cursed and such. We hold you in higher respect than to just assassinate you in such a...filthy manner. Foul play is usually not my business," Inutaisho interrupted.

Kagome's vision flashed venomously for a second as she could feel Inutaisho watching her. She began to look up when she had noticed something floating in her glass. Something like a fizz, but not quite. More like...sugar crystals, transparent, yet easily seen when in clumps. Then, it immediately hit her.

Her tone grew even more urgent and silent as she asked Matsuru, "Do you still have my sword?"

"...Yes...of course...always," he answered cautiously. Where was she going with this? She wasn't going to assassinate Inutaisho was she! "Why do you ask?"

"I may need it quite soon," she whispered back, becoming calm once again, and not secretive anymore. She listened in to that oh-so familiar, high-pitched, hardly-able-to-hear scream and, just as Matsuru stated, he had it on his person...exactly on the side she was sitting on. How ironically convenient. she thought sarcastically to herself.

Slowly, she reached for her glass and felt Inuyasha tense rather than see it. She looked his way and found his gaze on her. She smiled reassuringly at him and nodded in a polite sort of way, as if to greet someone silently. A smirk nearly broke from her graceful smile, but she immediately kept it locked up. Slowly, she raised the glass to her lips and sipped lightly just as expert wine tasters would. She felt the burning warmth as it poured down her throat delicately and melt into her somewhat empty stomach.

Not soon after, the burning sensation grew. It pumped throughout her entire body like a rush. It burns! It felt as if she were being torn inside out, that something was eating through her.

Her vision faded in and out, and soon began to blur. Or was it just her movements? She had dropped the wine glass and heard the faint echo as it shattered on the floor. She felt its liquid pool around her feet. She could hear the faint voices of everyone, but could not make out any words.

She had seen Inutaisho raise his glass to his lips slowly, calmly, as if waiting to be assassinated. She needed to stop him.

She grabbed the hilt of her sword, somewhat hidden beneath Matsuru's clothing, but not much of an obstacle. As if meant to happen, it slid free of its sheath and she heard its painful screams all to clearly. The blur of hands snapping to ears were seen as the silent, high-pitched scream "rang" throughout the hall. It was like a silent scream, more felt than heard and it gave her the advantage.

Only a second later Kagome reached Inutaisho. She raised her arm and slashed at him. No one had been fast enough to stop her. No one.

She felt liquid splatter her face as well as a few shards of glass scrape her skin, but nothing else. The liquid was not the warmth she was expecting, but chilling cold. More glass was heard, clattering to the floor, then, it almost felt like time froze. The commotion had stopped. Kagome stood, her sword in the finished movement of the arc. Matsuru in mid reach to stop her.

But...it was only for a moment. In a second arc-slash, she destroyed the rest of the dishes. She wasn't yet sure of how well the poison could be contained.

Inutaisho looked on at her ragged form. What had she done? Why had she not slain me? I thought for sure that she would attempt and assassination, but... His thoughts only deepened, but he was soon snapped from them as the realization hit him.

X

The heat. Why was it so hot all of a sudden? She could feel the poison begin to fade as the dragon blood slowly consumed it, but why was she still so hot? Had she not yet recovered from her earlier wounds? And what was with poison and her! Why couldn't it be some simple metal object? Geez... she thought, smiling to herself somewhat.

She could feel warm liquid rise in her throat. Was she going to through up? She didn't know if she was until she took a breath. It felt as if she had just drowned in liquid. She choked on her breath and began coughing violently. Her free hand shot to her mouth as the liquid heaved up her throat in a strangled cough. It splattered out of her mouth. She had seen the redness drip to the floor, but didn't mind it too much. Sometimes the body just needs to get rid of the poisons the old fashioned way.

Kagome pulled her hand away. Her hand was painted red...again. At least it was her blood instead of some poor animal's blood this time.

She had felt Matsuru rush to her side to support her as she had coughed and was now giving her a napkin to wipe her mouth clean as well as her hand. Kagome mumbled a thanks as she accepted it politely.

Her vision began to come clearer and clearer as the poison she felt rush through her veins slowly melt away. This was how poisoned worked...and this was how dragon blood works.

"Well...I thank you for saving my life, Kagome. Maybe I owe you your explanation now," Inutaisho said numbly. Although he had been a bit shocked at her actions, his voice was strong and commanding.

The echo of silence followed as Kagome regained her composure. Her skin was slightly pale, but not so much that she was ill and there was now sign of a light sweat. She sheathed her sword accordingly as Matsuru gave her its sheath. The silent scream had just silenced like it had not been there at all. Then, she strapped it to her own waist.

Poison. Another attempt. How foolish humans can be. But...if that was poison, in its most lethal form...with such a large dose...how did she survive it? She should have been killed instantly. Sesshomaru thought to himself. He made a note to ask her once she has her explanation.

Inuyasha felt shocked. He stood there silently, making not so much as an ounce of movement. He wasn't sure if the tension in the room was the from Kagome's actions or anticipation to her answer. It had frightened him a little when her sword had swung past him, but what had frightened him more was what her had seen, even if it had been a flash.

That sword has been through hell and back. Miroku thought to himself. He was sure, by Inuyasha's expression, that both had seen the image. It was a battle field of carnage. The dead covered the ground in heaps, each casting their own gruesome image. They were decapitated or their bodies were severed into tiny pieces. Their eyes hung out at awkward angles. Some were gutted, entrails scattered near them. Was that a war? Was it a massacre? When had it happened? So many questions scattered his mind that he had not notice Inutaisho had spoken, but had noticed when the shrill cry had stopped. Strange...

X

Kagome thought and thought. Did she really want to know what they had planned? If this type of stunt was on the tip of the iceberg, then what else lay beneath it? What was she getting herself into? Stop! You're starting to sound like Matsuru! She nearly glared at him, but thought better of it. The last thing she needed was that arrogant, oh-so-sweet looking smile.

She breathed deeply. Inhaling, then exhaling, calming herself little by little. Then, "Yes. I would like an explanation...now. We should discuss this matter more...privately." Kagome indicated Rin and the rest. Inutaisho nodded, and with the snap of his fingers, servants rushed in, and without a word more, they took them away, leaving Kagome, Matsuru, Inutaisho, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Miroku.

"Shall we take our leave from her then," Inutaisho suggested as he began walking towards the huge double doors, his sons and Miroku following.

Kagome paused for a moment. Once she learned their "plan," would her game be fun anymore? Or would it just be another boring piece of her life? She sighed. If it turned out to be boring, then it would just fly by like everything else.

The life of a dragon was just too long for her. And it would destroy her reputation if she committed suicide as well as be "defeated" by an obviously weaker opponent. Kagome sighed again. What the heck. I'm this deep in it already.

With that, she took her first step toward the doors, Matsuru following after.

X

The study was cozy, and Kagome was glad it had been. She had just spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the situation already built up in the country. Kagome used all her strength not to yawn. He could have just said that some evil demon-guy was trying to take over their lands. Kings these days. Too overly dramatic.

She sat in a red velvet chair framed with the finest oak. Kagome sat comfortably on it. Casually leaning back, legs crossed, her arms hanging loosely on the armrests. Night had just set in and the fire was ablaze, crackling in the hearth. Maids had come in earlier with dinner. It wasn't a feast, but it was satisfactory.

So, with her stomach full and her body warmed, Kagome wasn't surprised that she was falling asleep. She usually hungered for information, but, right now, she just wasn't interested. She concluded that her body just hadn't had enough rest before the second poisoning.

"Now, all we ask of you is to help us find the Shikon-no-Tama, or 'Jewel of Four Souls,'" Inutaisho stated.

Kagome snapped out of her daze instantly. "Jewel of Four Souls!" She looked suspiciously at Inutaisho, her sleepiness completely gone. What was he up to? Everyone knows that it is just a legend in a story book. "What do you mean? The Shikon no Tama isn't even real. So...why are you going to chase after a fairytale?"

"Well, weren't half dragons a fairytale," he answered smugly.

Kagome opened her mouth to argue back, but Matsuru glared at her. She shut her mouth tight while she listened to Inutaisho's explanation.

"Well, yes. We are going to chase after a fairytale. A very much alive fairytale. You see, recently Sesshomaru had found a very tattered book within our library. It seemed to have been keeping over a few centuries because its contents were very old. Its contents were in the language of dragons."

Kagome's eyes widened. Dragons! That language died nearly ten-thousand years ago! It was only known to few...very few. People these days thought that it was a devil-worshiper's language.

Now she was hooked. If it had to do with dragons, then she wanted to know everything about it. If it were even old enough, it would probably say how dragons came to be. And, as if he had read her mind, Inutaisho pulled out the book from his desk drawer and, hesitantly, handed it to her. Kagome took it gently, as if it were a fragile piece of glass that could break at even the slightest presence of pressure.

It was old. The cover seemed like it had been made from layers of the finest material, then it had been shredded and been splattered with brown dirt. Amazingly its spine still held all of the pages, which were not as torn up as the book. The pages must have a protecting spell. she thought as she opened the book to the first page experimentally, then closed it again.

Then, she noticed something. On the cover something could be seen faintly, like an etch of something. Kagome looked closer at it and nearly dropped it in shock. Instead, she gently placed the book on the small table nearby and sat back in her chair, slowly.

Matsuru looked at her curiously. He had noticed her skin seemed to be paler than before, and she nearly glowed against the fire's light. Stepping towards the table, Matsuru picked up the book just as lovingly, and squinted his eyes to see what had given Kagome such a stir.

"'Kagome'...," he whispered. It read "Kagome." He was paler now, his mouth dry. He stuttered a little, but finally said, "So...this is why you needed her and not some other person."

Inutaisho nodded grimly. "Yes. Now I suspect you really want to know what you have to do with any of this."

Kagome nodded, slowly regaining her composure and skin color.

There was a moment of silence. Then, "Well, then. Let's start at the beginning..."

I know I'm evil!

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