Author's Note: You guys are so gonna hate me for this. It's a short chapter today, cuz I am tired, so deal with it or go find something else to read. I'm a jester, I don't care! :P I wrote this entire thing while waiting 2 hours for a freaking doctor appointment that only took five minutes! Ok, now that that's otta my system, sorry for the tyrade folks. Anyways, enjoy chapter 13 and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)
Stolen Goods
There it is again…that feeling. Something is wrong.
Sesshomaru glanced around the room warily. Due to the hot springs, his senses were clogged, meaning he could no longer smell Kagome or the others. Miroku seemed content, but Sesshomaru noticed his cursed hand twitching slightly.
"Speak. What is bothering you?"
"Maybe you were right to be wary about staying here. The Kazaana won't stop burning."
"Hnn."
While they were speaking, Koga continued pacing inside the narrow room, glancing nervously at the windows from time to time.
"Stop acting so skittish pup," Sesshomaru said annoyed.
"Grrr! I can't smell or hear anything! What if something happens!" Koga glanced cautionsly at Sesshomaru, then asked, "Can I go check on them?"
Sesshomaru thought for a moment before nodding. "But be discreet. I am not certain if our hosts are friends or foes."
"Hehe, leave it to me!" The pup quickly scurried out the room, leaving Sesshomaru and Miroku to worry. Yes, there was definitely something wrong, and Sesshomaru was going to get to the bottom of it.
xxx
Koga spied the hot springs building from his hiding place in the bushes. He couldn't hear a thing, which wouldn't have bothered him if he didn't know how loud females gossiped during baths. He took a careful look around before bounding to another set of bushes closer to the building. He breathed in the air but instead of smelling the steam from the springs, a sickening poison filled his lungs. He coughed furiously and snarled, "Ugh! What is that?!"
The door to the springs suddenly opened and the young woman acting as their host stepped out and walked back towards the main building. After he made sure the woman was nowhere in sight, Koga rushed to the door of the hot springs. He peered inside only to see the three women and Kirara completely unconscious. He rushed over to Kikyou and started shaking her furiously. He did the same to Kagome, but neither would budge. Finally Sango stirred slightly but was still too weak from the poison.
"Ko…ga…get…help…" she managed before passing out again.
Koga became frantic and sprinted back towards the door only to find the young woman waiting for him on the other side.
"Well now, what do we have here?" she smiled dangerously. Without options, Koga did the only thing that he could do. He screamed. He screamed long and loud until he was cut off by a sharp hit to the back of his head.
xxx
Sesshomaru's ears pricked to attention when he heard Koga scream. He sent a brief glance toward Miroku before dashing out. Faster than the human eye could detect, he was out in the courtyard facing the empty hot springs. A large kusarigama appeared behind him and Sesshomaru dodged quickly to find the boy named Kohaku drawing it back for another throw.
"I cannot let you leave."
Sesshomaru drew his sword and quickly parried the oncoming blow. "What are your reasons for doing this?" Sesshomaru asked, masking his emotions.
"My master wishes to extend an invitation for you to come to his residence."
"And who is your master?"
"He has many names, but he is most commonly referred to as Naraku."
"Did you say Naraku?!" Miroku appeared at that moment holding his hand up, ready to unleash the Kazaana. "Answer me!"
Kohaku starred at him with unblinking eyes before abruptly leaping in the air and landing on a large two-headed dragon that had materialized in the sky. On its back sat the young woman, and behind her lay the three girls, Kirara, and Koga, all of which were unconscious. The dragon then began soaring higher before Sesshomaru could leap after them.
"You have been courteously summoned to Naraku's castle. Consider this his invitation. Follow the trail of miasma if you want to find him. Tootles!" The duo flew off, towing their incapacitated companions in their wake.
Sesshomaru's eyes glazed red with rage. He wanted to tear after them, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Miroku's hard eyes held the same anger as his, and Sesshomaru forced himself to stay calm.
"For now we will do as Naraku says, but we will not let him lead the game for long!" Miroku declared, strapping Hiraikotsu to his back.
Sesshomaru took another longing look towards the direction the dragon flew, before the two of them bolted after the trail of miasma that was slowly making its way across the continent.
Other Author Note: I promise guys, you'll find out Naraku's identity in the next chapter. In the mean time, I'll let the anticipation kill ya a little! Oh, and my friend has finally posted the first episode of the video series he's making for Mirrored on youtube! You can find the link on my profile, or search youtube under Mirrored Episode 1 The Pilot!