The Heart of the Nile: The Band of the Black Cobra
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were sitting in the thrown room talking about Rin's upcoming birthday when the doors were opened and a servant announced the arrival of their unwanted guests. As the servant was speaking a group of 10 individuals in total stepping inside. Leading the group was their father's younger brother Narakututmote and trailing behind him were his two children, Kogatutmote Prince of the Southern Kingdom and his younger sister Kana. Behind them were their personal bodyguards known as the Band of Seven.
Leading the Band of Seven was Bankotsutet. He had long black hair braided down his back and had baggy cotton pants with a sword along his belt. Sesshomaru had heard of his skill with the blade on the battlefield and knew him to be a mighty warrior. Next to him was his second in command Renkotsutet. He was the brains of the group and helped strategize attacks. He was also a great blacksmith and engineer creating unique battle weapons. Next in line were Jaktosutet and Suikotsutet.
Jaktosutet was also a skilled swords man but tended to enjoy torturing his victims by slowly slicing them into pieces. He was also known to enjoy the company of men. Suikotsutet was the healer of the group but suffered from a multi-personality disorder that caused him to become violent at times. The last three were Ginkotsutet, Mukotsutet, and Kyokotsutet. Ginkotsutet was the meat of the group standing 7 feet tall and was pure muscle. He had a fake arm that allowed various weapons to attach to it. He towered over anyone and could easily bringing them down.
Mukutsutet was a magician. He was Narakututmote's personal assistant with black magic and curses. He was short, fat and walked with a slight wobble. Lastly was Kyokotsutet. He was the tallest of the group being around 8 feet in height and was rumored to be cannibal. He was also not very smart and was easily outwitted. Overall the group was impressive and deadly. As the group continued to approach the thrown Inuyasha and Sesshomaru observed their uncle and cousins and how they had changed over the years.
Their uncle wore the nemes headdress made from the pelt of a baboon. He looked to be roughly around 50 years old now and was beginning to show his age in face. He wore a black cape around his shoulders and black baggy pants that synched at the ankles. To complete his look he had black slippers that curled up on the ends and a red tie around the waist that had a leather purse on it and a small golden dagger. He walked slinky like a snake with a bronze walking staff. It had the face of a cobra with its mouth open with red rubies for eyes.
His eldest son Kogatutmote looked to be about 25 years of age now and wore his hair high upon his head with the sides shaved. He wore a blue band around his head and had a single golden earing dangling from his right ear. He had bright blue eyes and had a scar on his right eyebrow. He also wore black pants with a blue tie around the waist. His sister Kana was about 9 years old now and wore a simple white cotton dress, two golden bracelets on her wrists and had two pigtails tied off in her hair with white flowers and silver ribbons.
"Ah... my favorite nephews," Nurakututmote purred as he continued to walk towards them. His voice was cold and clung to the air like poison, making you have shivers go down your spine. He mocked them as he slightly bowed with his eyes raised.
"Greetings… Uncle," Sesshomaru answered coldly. "What brings you to our home so early in the crop harvesting season?"
"Aw… is a grandfather not aloud to visit his own granddaughter on her birthday? My, My, what would your Father say I wonder?" he teased with a slimy smirk on his face.
Before Sesshomaru could respond a soft voice as quiet as a mouse was heard in the corner of the room. Turning his attention behind him he saw little Rin standing in the doorframe leading into the palace.
"Daddy…" she said. "Can you come and play with Rin? It's lady Sango's day off and I was wondering if you were done talking to these people?"
"Shit…" both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru said in their minds.
"So this is my granddaughter, the Princess of Egypt?" Nurakututmote said as he staring at her through the mouth of the baboon mask. His dark soulless eyes looked at her taking all of her in.
"Rin, come here," Sesshomaru commanded as he extended his hand for her to take.
Rin eyed the large group standing before her father. She did not like the feeling she was receiving from them so she shyly hid behind his leg to stay safe.
"Rin, this is your mother's father Lord Nurakututmote and your Uncle Kogatutmote and Aunt Kana. They have come to visit for your birthday."
Rin's eyes grew large as she took in her grandfather, Uncle and Aunt in for the first time. Her Grandpa wore a dead animal on his head and he had a scary snake on a stick. She also thought he smelled funny. He was definitely different from what she remembered of her mommy. Her uncle looked to have an attitude problem like her Uncle Inuhotep but didn't look nice like him. Her Aunt looked to be a little older than she was and even had flowers and ribbons in her hair. She decided she liked her.
"Hi…" she said shyly before looking down to the tile floor.
Nurakututmote kneeled down and placed the palm of his hand under her chin. When he could look into his granddaughter's eyes he said, "What a beautiful Granddaughter I have. You look just like your mother did at your age. I am sorry I was not able to come and visit you sooner child. I hope during our visit we will become better acquainted?"
Sesshomaru gently pushed Rin behind him after he had finished speaking. Narakututmote stood back up and looked into his face coldly. It was obvious Narakututmote was trying to manipulate his way into their home through Rin and Sesshomaru was not about to let that happen.
"Rin, why don't you take your Aunt Kana here and go play. This one must speak with your Grandfather and Uncles." Sesshomaru said.
"Yes daddy," she said as she offered Kana her hand. Once she took it she escorted her new playmate from the room.
"Such a sweet child. Rin will sure to grow up into a beautiful woman." Narakututmote said.
"Hm." was Sesshomaru's only response to his uncle's remark.
"Cousin Inuhotep, my men and I were hoping to stretch our arms after traveling. You wouldn't mind humoring your cousin with a light sparing would yah?" Kogatutmote said with a smirk on his face while wrapping his arm around his cousin's shoulders make them shake slightly. Some of the band of seven members were eyeing back and forth the cousins waiting to see if Inuyasha would take the bait.
"Why not, there is an open courtyard in the back we can use. Come on, I'll take you guys there," Inuhotep said as they left the room leaving behind Sesshomaru, Nurakututmote and Renkotsutet, Suikotsutet, and Mukotsutet in the thrown room. The servant then took the remaining three memebers of the Band of Seven to their rooms leaving only the royal family behind. Once they were gone Sesshomaru returned to his chair and looked at his uncle.
"What is it you wish to speak of Uncle?" Sesshomaru asked impatiently.
"I hear that you found your father's treasure he was so obsessed with. Is this rumor true?" Narakututmote asked.
"And there it is…" Sesshomaru thought to himself as he inwardly rolled his eyes. "How predictable you are Uncle..."
"Yes, the rumors are true. We just arrived home not 4 days ago," Sesshomaru replied as he further reclining into his chair.
"What of the great power? Where you able to find it as well?" Narakututmote asked almost desperately.
"Ah, yes... the great power rumored to be amongst the treasure. Alas, it was only a rumor. No such power was found. You can even ask my men. The treasure was great but not powerful." he lied.
"Hm, such a waste. Perhaps you found the wrong treasure?" Narakututmote replied.
"No, we found the right treasure. We even had a descendent of the original crew accompany us along our journey. We even had a map in perfect description of the treasure." Sesshomaru said.
"Hm, your Father would have been proud of you. Too bad you couldn't bring home the power he so desperately wish for. I'll leave you to continue your business. I've already taken up so much of your time. Until this evening Nephew, it is good to see you again..." he mocked as he walked out the door into the palace.
After watching his Uncle leave the room Sesshomaru sat back in his chair and rubbed his face with one hand while subconsciously rubbing his thumb across the leather purse on his side with the other. It was just as he feared. His uncle was after Kagome. He was unsure how long his uncle planned on staying at the northern palace but he was going to do everything in his power to keep her and his family safe. It was two days until Rin's birthday. There was much to prepare for the grand celebration. He just hoped his sanity would hold until then.