Chapter 19: Baiting Aoshi

Misao stared wide eyed at Harata Gojin. The older man calmly took a sip of tea while young Kaia chomped eagerly on a small rice cake.

"Y...youkai?" she sputtered in disbelief. Even Okina's eyes had widened slightly. Aoshi, of course, refused to show any reaction to this revelation. Misao had heard stories about youkai since she was little, but had never believed any of them. Youkai were just bedtime monsters to threaten disobedient children with.

"Why would youkai attack you?" Aoshi asked. Gojin looked up from his tea. The human didn't miss a beat. The youkai set down his cup.

"My lord has had run ins with youkai in the past. Perhaps they sought to seek their revenge by killing his daughter and vassal." Aoshi's eyes narrowed.

"The Meiji era no longer allows a feudal system," he said coolly. "How can you say that you are a vassal?" Gojin studied him for a moment. The human can sense falsehoods, he thought, I'd best speak the truth when possible.

"My lord...is, how shall we say, not entirely thrilled with the new government. He believes it to be nothing more than an organization of corrupted officials. He'd rather see a return to shogun rule."

"Even the shoguns were not fair to the common people," Okina reminded him. "Under the Meiji system, everyone is equal." Gojin gave a light chuckle. He despised the idea that everyone was equal. The youkai was of the opinion that the weak must be ruled by the strong.

"True, but my lord does not wish for a complete return to the way it was." he admitted. "He believes the shoguns should have a loose confederation of sorts, and that the common people should be allowed to live under the shogun of their choosing."

Okina poured some more tea before studying the disguised youkai with hidden suspicion.

"You say that your...lord has had run ins in the past with youkai," the old man said. "Do you care to explain?" Gojin smiled inwardly. These humans were sharper than the average pack of vermin.

"My lord's contacts have informed him that several high ranking Meiji officials are really youkai in human form. We do not know the extent of their operation, but we do know they report to a dog youkai named Inuyasha. His domain is known as the Western Lands."

They sat quietly for a time as a bored Kaia fidgeted at Misao's side. Misao looked down at the young girl and smiled.

"What's your father's name Miss Kaia?" she asked. The little girl looked up at her with large green eyes before smiling brightly.

"His name is Daddy," she replied. Okina smiled warmly down at the young girl.

"Yes little one, but what is his name?" the old man asked.

"His name is Onigumo Naraku," Gojin answered. "His land is just outside Kurashiki." Aoshi gave him a sharp look.

"That name is unfamiliar with me," Aoshi replied.

"His is a minor lord," Gojin explained. "And holds no official power in the Meiji government."

"Official?" Okina asked. Again, the hidden youkai chuckled.

"Lord Onigumo holds no official power, however, he does hold many unseen contacts within the government."

"Is that why the youkai attacked you?" Misao asked. "Because they're afraid your lord will expose them?"

"Yes," Gojin answered. Okina rubbed his beard thoughtfully before replying.

"Hmm, it would appear that the Meiji government is more corrupted than we had originally believed," he said. The young girl made a face at Misao's side and gave a 'bleh."

"Miss Kaia?" Misao asked. The little girl made another face as she looked up at the young woman.

"Daddy doesn't like the Me..mei..meig...the Mean govahnment! He says it's bad! Bleh!" She stuck out her tongue to illustrate her point. Okina chuckled lightly and looked up in surprise when Aoshi handed the young girl another rice cake.

"Your father is an intelligent man Little One," Aoshi said dispassionately. The little girl smiled brightly up at him as she accepted the little cake.

"Uh huh!" she said happily. Okina considered Aoshi for a moment. He seemed strangely at ease around the girl. Usually Aoshi was uncomfortable around children. It was something to think about.

"Mr. Harata," Okina said as he turned to the other man. The disguised youkai looked up from his tea. "Why don't you and Miss Kaia stay the night here? Then tomorrow morning perhaps I can send some of our people to accompany you to Kurashiki. These youkai may very well attack you again."

Gojin bowed politely before taking another sip of tea.

"Yes," the snake youkai said. "Your help would be greatly appreciated indeed."

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"HAHAHAHAHAAA!" Tears were running down Sanosuke's face. The kitsune growled back at him.

"I'm going to kill you Bird Head," Shippo warned.

"Hah! I'd like to see you do that in this form!" Sano yelled.

"I'LL DUMP YOU OFF RIGHT HERE YOU BAKA HUMAN!"

"Feh, I'd like to see you...hey! Okay! I'll shut up!"

Kenshin and the others held in a snicker as Sanosuke sat back down in a huff. In order to get to Inuyasha's land as quickly as possible, Shippo had transformed into a long, pink balloon like shape. Inuyasha and Jaken had jumped on without a word, and the hanyou had barked at the others when they hesitated. Now they were flying somewhere over the mountains. Namu and Sango were both riding on a flying Kirara's back.

Sanosuke had been making fun of Shippo's transformation since he first hopped on.

"You know Shippo," Miroku said quietly, "You didn't have to use the same form as Hachi. You could have..."

"Transformed into a dragon!" Yahiko exclaimed. "That would have been great!"

"Yes, or even a giant bird would have been more creative," Miroku added. Shippo growled warningly at them.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP ALL OF YOU OR I'LL DUMP YOU OFF RIGHT HERE!"

"Miroku's right Dad," Sango called over from Kirara, "Why couldn't you transform into something less stupid?" Shippo grumbled incoherently at that.

"Hah! What, no witty comeback fox?" Sano yelled.

"I'm going to kill you Sanosuke!"

"This is really your own fault," the dead monk remarked from Yahiko's sash.

"Shut up Miroku!" the kitsune yelled.

Inuyasha growled to himself as he looked impatiently into the west. He tapped his fingers against his crossed arms as he glared into the distance.

Kagome...

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A horrified Kagome stared at Naraku.

"What'd you do to me?" she cried. She stared at her hands. They were cold... Realization hit her with a start.

She had a clay body.

Angry, she shoved her hands in front of her and prepared to blast spiritual energy at the smirking Naraku. His image was different than before, but the voice and the demonic aura were exactly the same.

"No," Naraku said. Kagome's hands trembled. Why wouldn't they obey her? Fine, if she couldn't use her spiritual gifts, then she'd use other methods. She swung her fist toward him in a punch, but again, her trembling hand paused before making contact. What was going on?

Naraku smiled darkly as he studied the confused priestess.

"Kagome," he said. "You can not harm me. You will do as I say."

"NO!" she protested. Naraku chuckled again before narrowing his eyes at her.

"You have no choice priestess. The demonseed has been placed inside you. You belong to me."

Kagome fought down panic as she ran through her dwindling options. What was a demonseed? What had he done to her? What could she do?

Inuyasha! she cried silently. Kagome didn't know how she would get out of this, but she refused to give up. Not to Naraku.

Inuyasha! I need you!

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Okina and Aoshi sat quietly up on the roof. The other Obiwaban were below with Kaia and Gojin. The female Obiwaban were currently playing with the little girl.

"Will you go?" Okina finally asked Aoshi. The silent man stared up at the darkening sky. His fingers unconsciously fingered the hilt of his Kodachi.

"I don't trust him, no matter what he says," Aoshi admitted.

"Yes, neither do I. His words sound plausible, but my heart is telling me to beware," the old man said. "Even so, will you go?" Aoshi pursed his lips in thought.

"If he speaks the truth, then he and the girl will need protection."

"Ah yes, the girl," Okina chuckled softly. Aoshi gave him a sharp look.

"What?" he asked flatly.

"Nothing," Okina chuckled again. "It just seems to this old man that you've grown a bit fond of that little girl."

Aoshi said nothing. She was just a slip of a girl. Even if he distrusted Harata Gojin, the young child was just that. A child.

"Even if Gojin is lying, the child is still in danger," he admitted, but said nothing further. Okina smiled inwardly. Aoshi must finally be healing, he thought, if he cares for the welfare of a child.

"Misao will follow you," Okina pointed out. Aoshi gave no reaction, he knew full well what she would do.

"Nothing I could say would keep her away," Aoshi said.

"Yes, that is very true. But still, will you go with them to Kurashiki?" Aoshi looked at him impassively before looking away.

"Yes," he answered. "There is something he is not telling us. I wish to know what it is."