Please note,I only changed the bottom sections. If you've read this before, then skip down...
Koenma: …I suppose its safe to say that we didn't get very far with the original plans…
This comment earned him many a glare from around the room, as well as the rolling of many an eye. Cluttered in his office (which was much larger than they realized) was Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, (Hiei was still incapacitated) Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, (much to his displeasure) Kyubi, Taisei, and lastly, Kijou (who had wanted to come just to speak with Sesshoumaru). Kenyusa, to her own enjoyment, was left to take care of Hiei, along with Abunai, who'd rather help her and didn't really want to partake in the others' meeting. Said meeting wasn't progressing, due to the fact that half the people didn't want to be there, but figuring that the sooner something was said the sooner he could leave, Inuyasha spoke up….albeit rather loudly.
Inuyasha: You know, Lord Koenma, I think this whole little plan of yours is a load of bull! Its not getting us anywhere, and just making the dragons angry!
Koenma: You really feel that way, do you?
Taisei: (sitting against a wall) Its way more than a feeling. I say we just fight them again like we did before, and win so they'll leave us be.
Sesshoumaru: (leaning against the opposite wall) That plan didn't work before, and circumstances have yet to change. (he turned his head toward Koenma) These gemstones…What are they about?
Inuyasha: I've heard a lot about them too. They sound something like the Dragonic version of the Shikon Jewel.
Yusuke: We already got the briefing on those. They're after them because of their power…That, and something that has to do with these ancient dragons of theirs.
Kijou: I know what this is about…there's something of a legend about those. When the powers are released in certain orders, the dragons reemerge, and each one offers its own gift; or curse, as the case may sometimes be. Its been going on for years; the Dragons want to take "their land" back.
Taisei: I knew this was gonna go back to that damn war…
Inuyasha: For someone who didn't even fight in the war, you sure know a lot about it now.
Taisei: Don't be jealous because my brain is thrice the size of yours, and my common sense even greater.
Inuyasha: You wish, you faggot freak.
Taisei: (jumping up and stepping towards him) You wanna take this outside the office?
Inuyasha: Hey, if I'm alone with you, I don't want to take it anywhere. We all know what you try to pull when you're alone with other men, and if they don't, they will.
Taisei: You're pushing it…
Inuyasha: (ignoring him) You and Jakotsu would have made a cute couple when he was alive…
Taisei: I'll rip your--
Sesshoumaru: You won't be ripping anything. Now sit. (Taisei would have argued, but the look in Sesshoumaru's eyes provided no room for argument. Thus, he sat, much to Inuyasha's loathing pleasure)
Kurama: Surely, Koenma, you haven't gathered us all here in order to have us quarrel. Truthfully, we all have other things we could be doing, so it'd be kind of you to get to the point.
Koenma: Indeed…Now, as each of you has probably had some encounter with Hitairu or his lackeys, I think you can all relate. Botan has been on watch for some time now, and though many of you may disagree, it would seem that our old enemy is enemy no longer…
Yusuke: You're kidding! He's tried to kill us all at least once, and I'm not talking about the last Dark Tournament.
Kuwabara: Yeah! What about his groupies coming to kidnap me!
Koenma: That act wasn't completely his doing. In fact, Yashira and Setare were to be elsewhere; the dragoness wanted the Emerald back, and Setare went along for assistance.
Yusuke: I don't believe that for one minute…
Inuyasha: If he's not an enemy, then why did he attack the castle?
Sesshoumaru: It wasn't him. It was a Shadow Dragon cast to his appearance. In fact, Hitairu was elsewhere, when the castle was attacked.
Taisei: And you know this for sure?
Sesshoumaru: Don't test me, Taisei. Would I defend him otherwise?
Kijou: He's got a point…
Kyubi: Okay, I know I don't have much of a clue as to what's going on, but this mess is just one big riddle. I say we start over at the beginning; the Gemstones. How many are there, and how many do we have?
Yusuke: What's that got to do with--
Kurama: I, for one, side with Kyubi. We can sort our enemies and allies at a later date. The Gemstones are most important as of right now. So, are we agreed on, at least, this?
Various murmurs of affirmation were scattered through the room, and Koenma sighed, looking at Sesshoumaru. The pallid-haired demon only turned his head slightly away.
Koenma: Okay. Perhaps we should figure out which ones we don't have.
Kuwabara: This is like dejavu. We don't have the Sapphire, the Black Diamond, the Golden or Azure Topaz, I think the Sardonyx…and I'm not sure about the others…
Kurama: With Kenta being a rather questionable morality, I doubt we can trust him to simply hand over his stone. However, if Hitairu is really an ally, then he holds both the Azure Topaz as well as the Black Diamond.
Taisei: When we finally do get these stones, are we going to destroy them? It doesn't seem worth it to just keep them around…
Yusuke: Either way, I doubt they'll be safe here. We all know Koenma's lock-and-key forces aren't that strong.
Kurama: This is true. We need a solid place to keep these stones, and it needs to be somewhere where they won't be suspected.
Kuwabara: How about my place?
Yusuke: Okay, that is DEFINITELY not the best policy. My place is no good either, cause Keiko will probably think they're some kinda present…
Kurama: Don't even look this way; I already have an angry dragoness after me, and I don't need more of the same.
Taisei: What about the castle?
Inuyasha: What about the castle! Look, I got no problems with the women; in fact, they seem kinda smart and are kinda pretty to boot. However trustworthy they seem, though, I don't like Abunai, and I definitely don't like Kenyusa. The wolf knows too much about me, and I don't even know her last name; Kenyusa's a dragoness, and just like Kenta, she can turn.
Yusuke: Well it's about time! Ya hear that, Kurama! Even if it had to be him (he held out his hand toward Inuyasha with the word) at least somebody agrees with me!
Inuyasha: What do you mean "even if it had to be him"? You got problems with me, do something about it!
Kyubi: Cut it out you two; do you males have to be so violent?
Taisei: Shut it, Female; nobody invited you anyway. (to this, Kurama gave something of a snort as well as what would have passed as one of Hiei's most deadly glares)
Kurama: Firstly, that's no way to speak to Kyubi, and secondly, in case it slipped your memory, you most definitely were not granted a personal invitation to this meeting.
Inuyasha: Yeah! Besides, we gotta have someone here of the opposite sex to keep things like you at bay.
Taisei: You're just begging me to kick your ass, aren't you?
Inuyasha: Oh no. Its not the kicking of my ass that worries me; its what you'll do to it after you kick it that freaks me the hell out.
Kijou: Shut up, Inuyasha, before you burrow into a hole that you can't leap back out of. (he turned toward Koenma) Can this meeting be adjourned so we can talk? It's still important, you know…
Koenma: Of course. We'll find a place to put the stones when we find them; until that point, just focus on the actual finding part, but I suggest that you all get back to your lives first, hmm? Well, you're free to go.
After a bit of a squabble between Inuyasha and Taisei on their way out the door, ending with Taisei being shoved roughly through the doorway, the others filed out at their own drawled pace, leaving only Kijou to take a seat in one of the previously occupied chairs and Sesshoumaru to let his back slide down the wall until he sat on the floor, one leg bent beneath him while the other leg, knee up, was a prop for his left arm. He kept his gaze locked on Koenma, while Kijou continued to look at the floor, never raising his head as his hands fiddled nervously. Koenma eyed him for a while before looking once at Sesshoumaru, who remained silent…
Koenma: Kijou, (he said the name as if it left an odd taste in his mouth) what's this about?
Kijou: Man, Koenma…(he lifted his head back, but craned his neck so far that the top of his head touched the wall that the chair was pushed up against. Sesshoumaru turned his gaze toward the dragon, golden orbs becoming less like cold metal.) …There is no other way to put this, but, the world has left me behind all these years…
Koenma: It must be pretty hard for you, Kijou, but I don't really see--
Kijou: What happened to him? (he shot the question sharply, his head snapping back to a normal position and his eyes gleaming dangerously)
Sesshoumaru: There's no reason to be so violent with your thoughts, Kuro.
Kijou: That's not my name anymore, Sesshoumaru, you know that…
Sesshoumaru: Kuro will always be your name, just as your brother's never shall be.
Kijou: It has to be--
Sesshoumaru: No, it doesn't. Things can't end this way, and you know that; you've got to settle this score.
Kijou: Like you and Inuyasha have? I doubt we'll be quite that brotherly…
Sesshoumaru: Firstly, there was no score to settle between us, and if there was, it wasn't like the one between you and your younger brother. Secondly, the term "brotherly" has absolutely no relevance to the relationship between Inuyasha and me.
Kijou: I know…But sibling rivalry is just flowing out of the woodwork now. Look at all these problems, and tell me that a family feud wasn't behind it…
Koenma: I know how you must feel, and though I cannot relate, I can say that you do have a point. (he turned to Sesshoumaru) You are an expert on family-conflict; may I ask why?
Sesshoumaru: Do you want the truth, or do you want me to lie to you and make it sound sweet, rather than bitter? (Kijou could almost see the sarcasm dripping from the demon's fangs as he spoke)
Koenma: Blunt and to-the-point, if you please.
Sesshoumaru: There's so much similarity, it makes us feel antonymous.
Kijou: Careful Sessh, your poet is showing… (Sesshoumaru half-rolled his eyes)
Sesshoumaru: Does that answer suit your fancy, Milord? (Kijou was beginning to wonder if that sarcasm was supposed to be green like the demon's poison…) And to be honest, simply to cut you down, its actually more like psychology or philosophy, Kuro.
Koenma: Could have been more direct, but it'll do.
Kijou: You always did like to verbally slice people in halves… Nice to see at least one thing hasn't changed.
Koenma: The only thing that changed is the fact that your sons have grown up.
Kijou: That's the point! If I saw my youngest son, I probably wouldn't recognize him; hell, I don't even know his name!
Sesshoumaru: I stake my honor on the fact that you would recognize your youngest son were you to run into him. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that it would be like an owl hitting a very clean window.
Kijou: …I'd try to walk right through him?
Koenma: I don't think that's exactly what he meant, but I have to agree. Now, if all you're worried about is your sons, than I--
Kijou: It's not… just… them…
He had interrupted quickly, but trailed off as though he had become unsure of what to say. Finding his hands rather interesting again, he lowered his head a bit, his bangs covering his eyes rather thoroughly so that Koenma had no idea of what his expression may be…Sesshoumaru, however, knew exactly what was going through the dragon's mind, and after waiting for a minute and becoming sure that Kijou wasn't going to speak his mind, the demon spoke up, addressing, however, the silent man across the room. His own expression never changed, although he spoke a slight bit more softly than he normally would have.
Sesshoumaru: …You don't want to go back. (to this, Kijou lifted his head)
Kijou: Stay out of my mind, Sessh. I know I'm not that easy to read, so stop looking through me…
Sesshoumaru: Actually, I didn't look at all. Its plain to see; I wouldn't want to go "back" either.
Kijou: Where I have to go back to, and where you do, are two COMPLETELY different places, and two COMPLETELY different circumstances.
Sesshoumaru: Are they really that different?
The dragon was going to respond, but somewhere in the process of opening his mouth and actually speaking, he'd forgotten the words that he was going to throw at the demon. Closing his mouth slowly, his eyes met Sesshoumaru's, and for only a brief moment, he felt a chill run the length of his spine; as he thought, he realized it was rather easy to forget the things that had occurred in his most recent past. At this conclusion, he instantly looked away.
Koenma: …Kijou, what I think you need to do, (he paused as if searching for the right words) is get back into circulation. I doubt that Sesshoumaru would object too strongly at your being at his domain for a while…
Sesshoumaru: (slightly annoyed) Why must you constantly volunteer my agreement for people to reside in my home?
Koenma: Because I outrank you, that's why.
Sesshoumaru: (standing) No, your father outranks me, and even then, its by a rather SLIM margin. Now if you'll excuse me, or even if you won't I couldn't care less, but this conversation has nothing to do with you. Thus, (he looked at Kijou) we can take it elsewhere.
And on that note, he strode from the office-like room, Koenma shaking his head slightly after him…
--…Blinkingly, he reopened his eyes, finding himself in a place completely different from that which he had just been in. It seemed to be something of a very large garden, for he could see the opposing wall, and he moved forward cautiously, unsure of what to find in this strange place. All around him, there were odd plants, giving off scents that he couldn't identify; as he touched one of them, it withered and blackened at his fingertips, as if he had burned it somehow. Having kneeled to get a better look, he stood warily, turning slowly as he felt a chilling energy flowing around his back; however, he saw nothing, and the feeling disappeared, confusing him even more than when the flower died at his touch. He turned his head, continuing to look around, but suddenly, he felt that same pulling sensation, and he began to follow the impulse, noting absently that the plants around him charred as he walked by. Dizziness threatened to overtake him again, and here, he had no walls to lean upon and make the feeling pass; rather, he fell back, sitting on the ground to shake his head slowly---a vain attempt to force his body to behave normally…
At least, until a loud scream echoed through the still air, sending a chill up his spine. His ears couldn't tell who it was, but his mind seemed to know, and without even realizing it, he was on his feet and running toward the ear-splitting sound. He could almost feel the plants, no longer burning, but grabbing at his body, trying to hold him down to one place like chains and shackles of foliage; with a rush of red through his vision, he found himself freed, and continued at a swift pace through the garden. Another corridor greeted him at the other side, but the minute his steps echoed over stone, the walls began to crumble and quake around him, as though they were going to collapse. Narrowly, he dodged a falling slab of rock that came from overhead, but he had never even seen the stone fall; rather, his body forced him out of the way, his mind focused on finding the source of the earlier scream.
Rounding corner after corner, he came to a halt before another door, but as he reached out to push this one opened, he stopped, suddenly, not wanting to couch the door. There was an odd feeling about his body now, as though he were both fatigued as well as having an adrenaline rush; unknowingly, he backed a few steps, but the scream sounded again, much louder and far closer than before…but it was different this time, and rather than leaping into action, something within his mind didn't want to see what was causing these sounds of alarm and pain. However, it didn't seem as though he had a choice, and without his consent, the door swung open, and a powerful energy thrust him into the room, even as he tried to avoid moving.
The large black dragon, its body like a snake but its limbs like those of a great alligator, was towering above a being far smaller than itself. An underside of limey green and claws of gold were all that he could really see through the dim lighting, and high above the ground, two eyes glowed through that same shadowed atmosphere. Before his eyes, the beast lowered its head, and enclosed its many fangs on the unfortunate soul on the ground…But the scream that he, too, emitted was one that fell on deafened ears. He was in too much pain to even register what his eyes had locked upon. It was an agony unlike any that he could ever have imagined before, and he felt his knees collide with the unforgiving stone; whether he had broken them or not, he was uncertain, but the only thing he could focus on was the initial pain…
He looked up suddenly, feeling the eyes of the dragon on him, and as they made eye contact, there was the chilling of his blood that confirmed the dread that he felt. As if his spirit had left his body and entered the beast's, he saw himself on the ground, a scarlet haze clouding his eyes as he looked into those mirror to his own…And then a rage unlike any other over came him. He lunged, intending to close his fangs over the man on the ground---
But everything went black around him. He heard the scream…and theneverything was deathly silent…--
Hiei awoke with a start, his chest pounding and his blood colder than ice; as he sat bolt-upright, his hand immediately went to his face, wiping the cold of the sweat from his skin. He swallowed many times in the process of catching his breath, trying to bet both the nauseating feeling out of his stomach as well as the tang of blood out of his mouth. Confusion plagued his mind as his eyes searched the dim lighting in the room, trying to force his sensibility to tell him where he was; shaking his head again, he stood on somewhat shaky legs, and stumbled slightly toward a wall from which he could see tiny lines of light seeping through. As he pushed away what appeared to be a tapestry, rather than a curtain, he was met with a blinding dose of sunlight, as well as the picturesque landscape of what he instantly remembered to be the side-gardens of Sesshoumaru's dwelling. Realization hit him hard as he realized that he must have somehow been brought back to the castle, but his mind was immediately overcome by the memory of what he'd seen before he had fallen into so deep a sleep. His blood ran chilled again, as both the images that flashed in his mind as well as the sound of the screams in his dream raced back; turning abruptly and ignoring the pain that his stomach used to curse him for it, he shut his own energy down and searched for the traces of those he sought.
Oblivious as to why, he sighed in relief when he felt Kenyusa's energy flowing from somewhere on the floor below, and after his mind was cleared of this apparent worry, another realization dawned upon his fogged brain. True, he couldn't feel his sister's presence, but he knew her aura well--- it was an apparent moot point, but he suddenly felt the relinquishing of unease as he absent realized that it was the shock of seeing her form that had stalled him from countering the attacks in that corridor, not the fact that it was Yukina herself who was dealing the near-fatal blows… But his mind returned to thoughts of Kenyusa almost like a boomerang to its thrower, and this time, no matter how he instinctually tried to focus on other topics, his mind couldn't leave her. Cursing silently, he left the window seat he had sat upon unknowingly, and against the will of his body, began a shaky attempt at making his way to the door. After a few steps, he found his more natural grace, and though difficult it was to walk, because of his unclosed wounds, he pushed the door aside, and exited, eventually to pick his way carefully down the staircase, and nearly be thrown off balance again when Kenyusa spotted him at the foot of the stairs.
Kenyusa: Hiei! What are you doing up so soon!
The startled shrieking of his name gave him an involuntary panging to his gut instincts, and though the tone sounded agonizingly familiar, he pushed it aside, and looked around once before lowering his head so that his words weren't louder than need be.
Hiei: Kenyusa…I think, we need to talk. (he paused briefly) Alone.
Though she was a bit put-off-course by the fact that he suddenly had such a strong desire to be alone somewhere with her, as well as the fact that he was rather nervous about it, she stalled for a moment, searching his body language for a sign of any kind as to what his sudden problem with her was. The only thing she noticed, however, was the darkened hue of his eyes as the hooded orbs stared intensely at her, as if Hiei were trying to look through her; the power of the gaze brought back the image of Sesshoumaru's eyes as he looked at her in nearly the same way, but the slightest difference between the eyes of gold, and those of red that she saw now, was what compelled her to keep the contact that she had made with those ruby eyes. Without a single word and only a nod in compliance, she allowed him to lead her down the entrance hall and out of the castle, stopping to face her some distance away in the small field that was considered the lawn.
Hiei: Kenyusa, I don't know exactly what signals may have been crossed between the time I first met you and now….But I need to know. (he found eye contact again) What are you keeping from me…and I want to know the truth.
She only looked away from his gaze, unsure of what to say in reply to this inquired accusation…
HA! There it is; I think this particular ending is rather a bit better than the previous. I changed the chapter and deleted the old one, so I think those of you who read it before will find a definite difference.
Also, I know I'm horribly slacking in this, and although I don't expect you guys reading to either really care or be at all pleased, I am going to clear my own conscious by letting you know that this story is on an ABRUPT stand-still. Lots of stuff on the mind, and I still have school, so if i get to it around Christmas, then its all good...but don't expect it...
...Alright, you're free to stone me now...