Chapter Four
A month had flown by far quicker than Kagome had expected. She now stood nervously in the entryway of the citadel of the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. She, along with Naraku's other guests and luggage, would be escorted to the guests rooms to settle while her lord met with the Western Lord.
Kagura stood beside her looking bored. Hakudoushi was intimidating the passing servants with his dark, blank gaze. If it weren't for Kanna's calming presence by her side, the young miko would have passed out from her excitement. There were so many things to see.
Kagome had never before left Naraku's palace, so seeing another lord's citadel was mind-blowing. The citadel was absolutely breathtaking. The whole estate seemed to be a construct of porcelain and fine marble, all pure white. It gleamed in an almost blinding manner.
She felt so out of place, almost inadequate in such a grand palace. In her life, she had not imagined something so magnificent. She was not looking down upon her lord's estate, but it was something much more familiar to her than the white citadel.
Naraku's own palace was of a traditional Japanese design, thus mostly wood and paper screens, though they had been spelled to be much more durable. It was huge and sprawling, encompassing an impressive area, but Kagome had seen little of it outside of her room, her master's room and the gardens.
A slender ferret-youkai arrived to show them to their accommodations. He paused a moment, his silken ears quivering as he took in the alluring scent of the miko. Slightly puzzled, he twisted his sleek body to turn and lead them to the rooms. A troop of small nezumi-youkai had scurried in and moved their baggage already, so the guests were left to follow the ferret.
Kagome felt pressed to take in all her surroundings at once. Her head swiveled back and forth, admiring all the architecture and activity of her surroundings. She was amazed at watching the small nezumi, and had briefly considered following them to simply watch what they did. Now she was watching the other youkai servants.
A strange aura teased her senses. Something was approaching. Turning her head toward the entryway, she could make out a pinkish glow emanating from the other side of the door. A white neko-youkai with large tawny eyes was walking toward the entryway. As he answered the door, he raised his paw in greeting. Kagome had not noticed that she had fallen to the rear of the group, she was so focused on the glow.
A scruffy looking ookami-youkai entered behind the neko. The glow seemed to be coming from him. The ookami scented the air before turning ice blue eyes onto Kagome. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she felt her foot catch onto the hem of her kimono. She quickly disappeared from the ookami's sight.
-oooooo-
Sesshoumaru gazed uninterestedly at the kumo-youkai. "Yes, I believe your requests will have been met to your satisfaction." He intoned formally. "Your guests should be within their accommodations now. My servant will show you to your quarters." The prideful youkai was stung by the kumo's assumption of ineptitude where the ningen race was concerned. True, he cared little, if at all, for the inferior race, but he was not ignorant of them. After all, he thought grimly, his father's second mate and his supposed step-mother had been of that breed.
Naraku grinned. "I appreciate your troubles, Sesshoumaru-sama." He gave a small, yet respectful bow and strode to the door. Laying his hand upon the marble construct, he opened it slowly, at the same time, dropping the guard spells on his body for a split second. Enjoying the inuyoukai's reaction out of the corner of his eye, he fluidly left the chamber, the door silently closing behind him.
Sesshoumaru stiffened as the faint wisp of scent wafted towards him as the kumo opened the door. It was barely a teasing fragrance, but there was no mistaking that scent. He suppressed the urge to slam the doors open and tear after that scent, perhaps smashing an irritating arachnid-youkai along the way.
The girl was here. So, he had been correct in assuming that the girl was bound by a lord who would be a guest of his citadel at this banquet. She would no doubt be present with her lord at the opening presentation commencing the banquet. If not, he had a week to find out whom she served, and get a few more questions answered.
Was she the servant of Naraku? He had not smelled her until the kumo was leaving. Either the scent had come in from the outside, or the youkai had purposefully dropped her scent for him to notice. Golden eyes narrowed. Sesshoumaru did not like being toyed with.
-oooooo-
Hakudoushi's small white hand on her shoulder was the only thing supporting Kagome. The ferret-youkai had been leading the group down a flight of stairs when she her foot had caught the edge of her kimono. She toppled forward, bowling over an unsuspecting Kagura and Kanna. Hakudoushi had superior reflexes to his elder siblings. He was able to spin around and catch her before she knocked over himself and their guide. "Watch it." He said softly before righting her.
Kagome smiled. "Thank you." She had long become accustomed to the smaller boy's quiet ways. Him catching her was a small way showing that he did not hate her, else he would have allowed her to continue falling and knocking over the ferret on their way down. She repressed a shudder. Her lord would not have approved of that. She would have to be more careful. "Thank you, Hakudoushi." She whispered again.
The white boy nodded blankly. Not saying anything further, he twined his tiny hand through Kagome's, his way of ensuring her future safety.
Noticing the ferret's side glance, she straightened. Behind her, Kagura and Kanna had recollected themselves. Kagome flashed the servant a smile and nodded for him to proceed. The ferret narrowed his almond eyes slightly before resuming stride. Puzzled, Kagome followed quietly, Hakudoushi at her side. Was the youkai mad at her?
-oooooo-
Naraku was already aware of where his guests would be staying. He himself had covered his darling's room with seals when the opportunity arose. The wards would allow him to entrap her within the room and allow no other youkai to enter, if he deemed it necessary. It had been his riskiest venture to bring her to the banquet, but if he was able to acquire what he desired, it would be worth it.
He tapped a smooth stone lightly against the porcelain walls of his miko's room. The cool stone would enable him to keep track of his miko's location at all times. Normally, he would simply place a tracking spell on her, but with what he was about to do, the tracking spell would have been blown away and be rendered useless.
Crimson eyes scanned the room. The Inuyoukai had western tastes. A western bed and dresser were placed against the walls, a vanity beside them. It was conservative and efficient in dealing out the space, not that it was needed. The room itself was enormous, much larger than he would have placed the girl in, but she would love it. There was very little she did not love. He frowned. She most likely would love the servants as well. He would have to screen them carefully and make sure they would pose no threat to his little darling. He wouldn't want them corrupting her fragile mind.
-oooooo-
Sesshoumaru was irritated. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. Soon after the kumo's leave, the ookami prince of the west arrived. He was far earlier than usual and the ookami attributed it to trying to avoid unwanted company. His home was not a hideaway. However, he was required to keep his temper in check. It was looked poorly upon any youkai lord being inhospitable to a guest, especially during an event such as a banquet.
Even more so, his investigation had revealed little to him, and he was becoming impatient. Kireto had been less than informative upon his last report. According to him, the assassin had been a rather ordinary youkai. He had been in the business for approximately seventy-eight years and had only been average. He showed no proficiency in high-ranking youkai assassinations, and made most of his living by being hired by ningen lords. In all, the lizard-youkai had led a pathetic existence.
Perhaps the only irregularity in the life of the lizard would be it's possession of the shard. Kireto had to interrogate mikos to find out any information on the fragment. It wasn't until the kage had come across the obscure Higurashi Shrine that any information was revealed.
Apparently, the shard was a piece of a legendary jewel which empowered ningen and youkai alike. According to the myth, it had the power to grant wishes, transforming ordinary ningen into youkai, and giving youkai god-like abilities. It was shattered over fifty years ago in an accident involving a clumsy miko-apprentice.
It was all rubbish to Sesshoumaru. The Taiyoukai saw it as useless, but his enemies would view it as a powerful tool. He would keep the shard until he found a way to destroy it. He had the shard sealed in his study. He wanted to transport it elsewhere before the banquet, but was having a difficult time finding a window of opportunity. The shard gave off a surprisingly powerful aura. It would not do to have another Taiyoukai inquiring about his possession of the shard.
-oooooo-
Chiharu stiffened in mid-stride. He saw his twin mirror his actions as their senses were sent reeling. The scent floored them. They had been patrolling the interior of the citadel when their senses suddenly went into overdrive. A powerful aura had invaded their awareness.
The pair froze, their sharp eyes shifting to the right, down a perpendicular corridor. Passing the corridor along a parallel path, they saw the albino ferret leading a group of guests toward the east wing of the citadel. They recognized the group as the guests usually brought by the kumo-lord, except for the girl behind the ferret.
The scent seemed to be emanating from the girl. She was holding the hand of Hakudoushi. It was puzzling, the small white boy usually unnerved even other youkai-lords, yet he held the hand of an unrecognizable girl.
Sensing their spectators, Hakudoushi turned his chilling stare toward the kitsune guards. The kitsune responded in kind with their stony glares. The white boy nodded and gripped the girl tighter, as if urging her faster. She smiled down at the boy and continued following the servant. Kanna and Kagura made no notice of the guards.
Kimimaru faced his elder brother. "Poor Shinsen," he commented dryly, referring to the ferret.
Chiharu nodded in agreement. The girl's scent had frazzled his nerves. She had an unimaginable amount of power, he could feel it. The poor ferret must be being tortured by her presence. Pure youkai blood screamed threat to youkai instinct, but at the same time, held a powerful lure. It must be taking all of the ferret's strength to keep himself and check, and restrain himself from jumping to poor girl and spilling her blood to feast upon.
He wondered for what purpose the shady kumo had brought such a powerful miko to a youkai citadel.
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ODM: I'm so sorry for not updating sooner! My computer decided to contract a virus so for a while I was cleaning it out, then I had to go out with my family and now I feel bad. Anyways, here's my update, THREE CHAPTERS!!! -- Even if it doesn't sound that exciting, I think it's an accomplishment for me. The sixth one might have errors, well they all might. Review and criticize!
As always, thanks to my reviewers. Makes me happy and continue to write, cuz I'm notorious for getting lazy and never finishing some fics --
Heaven: Yay! I like it too!
Stacerue: Yup, I can't wait either!
CherryBlossomLove: I've doubled my chapters! YAY!
dendrodium: Hahahahah!!! That's happened to me before! I'm so glad that it was that interesting!!
Scruffy Wolf: Yes! Me Too! I think they be cool. I can sit at my backdoor and look at crows all day!
Row( ): Wow, you ask a good question. These chapters should be a bit more telling. I can't answer your question though. It's part of what ties my plot together, so for now, I'll just keep it a secret. -
KioneThan: Yes, yes. I'm updating. Review again please!
Continue your reviews, they're helpful and give me some idea on what your thoughts on the story are. I'll try to answer questions, especially if my writing get's confusing.