Chapter 7

Magic Dance

Golden yellow eyes scanned the room for any sign of disorder, only to find the normal chaos that was the throne room. The only difference of this day to the others was the presence of a small infant boy with bushy brown hair and the biggest, most innocent green eyes any of the goblins had ever seen. At current, the boy was exploring his surroundings curiously, clumsily walking about on chubby baby legs, occasionally grasping a passing goblin to keep his balance, or just to see how hard he could tug on the creature's hair before the action was protested.

Content with the 'almost serenity' of his throne room, Sesshoumaru shifted in his seat and lifted a small crystal orb before his eyes, gazing down on his Labyrinth through it, locating the girl easier than he had thought.

"Master?"

"What is it, Naraku?" Sesshoumaru glanced down at the little monster and then back to his orb before he tossed it into the air where it vanished. "Well?"

"The….that is, the girl…"

"What of her?"

"She's gotten further into the Labyrinth now, hasn't she?"

"Will you eventually reach a point, Naraku?"

"She's almost as far as Inu-"

"SILENCE!" Sesshoumaru commanded as he leapt from his seat to hoist the goblin into the air by his neck. "I told you to forget that name! To never speak it again!"

"F-forgive me, master, I meant no offense!" Naraku struggled vainly as his Lord' claws began to nick at his flesh. "Master, please! I meant only to ask of the girl's chances!"

"She has no chance," Sesshoumaru growled, releasing his hold so that Naraku slammed into the concrete floor at his feet. "Take heed, all of you! I told you to forget the name of the Halfling and I expect you to do so! If I ever hear of his name being spoken from any of you I shall kill you myself and I shall drop your rotting carcass into the Bog of Eternal Stench before your heart stops beating!"

Unbeknownst to the Lord and his slaves (followers if they could even be called as much), the infant Shippo had been startled by Sesshoumaru's outburst, and was biding his time until someone noticed him again before he would express the emotion. It was just as Sesshoumaru turned to confirm the boy was still present that Shippo released his breath in shrill, unhappy wails.

Wincing, Sesshoumaru turned away, his sensitive ears unable to handle the high pitched horrors leaving the infant's throat. "Quiet!" He commanded, though Shippo took no heed of this and continued, tears spilling down his chubby, reddened cheeks without a care. Groaning, Sesshoumaru walked towards the child and held his hand out towards him in order to use magic to silence him. However, before he could summon up the magic, Shippo latched securely into the white fluff that touched the ground at the Youkai's feet and stifled his sobs in the fluffy new substance.

Quirking an eyebrow, Sesshoumaru watched the child snuggle until his tears stopped and the cries ceased. "Is that all it takes to silence such small children?" He reached down and collected the boy, studying him intensely as he squirmed to get another handful of fluff. Spotting it at Sesshoumaru's shoulder, Shippo eagerly allowed himself to be coddled and sleepily hugged the white cloud against his body.

"How very curious," Sesshoumaru reclaimed his seat on the throne and stroked Shippo's brown hair with his sharp claws. "For such a horrible burden on Kagome, you're easily subdued. Perhaps you'll make a better Goblin than any of those in this room," Smirking, Sesshoumaru looked upon his slaves and felt their fear. They had tested him today and he hadn't liked it at all. "Remember what I said. Forget or die,"

At least now she had plenty of turns and pathways to choose from instead of just a deceiving straightway. It wasn't necessarily easier on her, but at least she had the peace of mind of making decisions other than, "Keep going straight or turn and go straight the other way".

Kagome paused for a moment at a junction and pulled her eyeliner from her back pocket, using it to mark an arrow on a brick before the turn she was taking. Satisfied, she rose and turned in that direction. She failed to notice the small dwarf-like creature that came out from under the brick and turned it over, disappearing under it and cursing her existence because he'd have to clean up after her. Kagome continued down the pathway she had chosen, turning right, then left, then right and right again. It was as she gazed upon the far distant domain of the Goblin King that she heard the first echoing rounds of her baby brother's shrill cries. Startled, Kagome paused and chewed on her lower lip in anxiety. "I'm coming, Shippo, I promise! Just hang on for me, ok?"

"Jaken!"

Shrieking in surprise, the dwarf whirled around to face his Lord, clutching his two headed staff in some kind of death grip.

"W-why Lord Sesshoumaru! How are you?"

"You know your duty, do you not?"

Jaken swallowed hard, having hoped that his Lord wouldn't call upon him. "You want me to lead her back to the beginning?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru knelt down slightly. "I would suggest you reach her before she gets any further into my Labyrinth or I'll have to deal with you in a very unclean manner. Am I understood, Jaten?"

"Jaken,"

Eyes narrowing, Sesshoumaru waited.

"Yes, my Lord,"

"Good," Sesshoumaru rose and moved towards a pathway set behind the dwarf. "Don't just stand there, idiot! Go now!"

"Y-yes, master!" Sesshoumaru waited until he was alone before he turned his ears towards the sounds of the wailing baby. "Silence, little one. You'll soon be mine," Turning away, Sesshoumaru vanished down a pathway back to his castle.

"Stop that crying!" Naraku protested as Shippo latched onto his hair. "W-what do I do?"

"Dance!" One of the other Goblins suggested.

"Dance? How is that going to help?"

"Just do it!"

"Make him shut up!" Another wailed, pressing small three fingered hands to his pointy green ears.

"What kind of dance shall I do?"

"A Magic Dance," Quieting those in the room, Sesshoumaru's voice carried over them deeply, stoically. He reached for the child and smiled into the baby's reddened face. "Yes, a dance of magic." He set Shippo down onto the ground despite the boy's cries of outrage at such a move and produced a small crystal orb from out of nowhere. "A wonderfully magical dance," The orb floated from his palm and spun in the air above the boy's head before it exploded into brilliance. Shippo quieted as he watched the event and stared in wonder at the fluffy white mass of fur that captured his attention. The strange creature turned and danced, amusing the baby, singing as he moved.

"Dance, Magic. Dance,"