"Taiyō-san! Tsuki-san!" A young butterfly yōkai ran in, juggling several hastily written reports in his hands. Shippō close behind him.
"Yes, Yōchū?" The female moth yōkai indicated for him to speak, covering her male counterparts mouth with a hand as soon as he opened his mouth to yell at the young one for running in without knocking.
"Shippō-san arrived with one of the groups. There's a lead to one of the yōkai forests." He breathed out in a rush, pushing the reports onto her desk.
Yōchū bowed quickly before running back out of the office.
"What was that about?" Shippō muttered, edging towards the open doorway.
"He's the only runner for the different branches of the Hantei," she told him. "Maybe I should suggest adding more to the roster at the next meeting." She mused.
"That's not important." Taiyō chided, batting her hand away and looking down at the paper. He stiffened and a frown formed on his lips.
"Shippō-sama, please take these to Azami-sama." He told the kitsune who technically outranked him.
"I was gonna do that anyway, but yeah. Sure." He said, taking the papers and rolling his eyes.
Azami immediately sat up straight in her chair when Shippō walked in, a pensive frown in his face. The other occupants of her office reacted with her. Uroko-ju stopped slouching in his seat and put his crossword down. Fukushū rose up into a sitting position from where he had been lying.
"What news do you have?" She asked promptly, breaking the expectant silence that had fallen when he walked in.
"We've found them, Azami." He answered, placing the four reports in front of her.
Her eyes flicked over them, noting the location with mild surprise.
"That cant be right, the Higurashi shrine was built where Inuyasha's forest once stood. The forest was chopped down." She muttered, a crease forming between her eyebrows.
"Hmm, and what's more, the amount of trees seems to be growing." Shippō added, dropping down into the spare chair, huffing slightly in annoyance.
"It's possible they could have a plant yōkai on their side," Azami looked doubtful of her theory even as she said it. "But then why were all the demons that attacked canine in nature, if they had other breeds on their side?"
"I'm as in the dark as you are." He replied.
"Ayame and Koga's pack is willing to join forces with us to take care of this." Uroko-jū reported, standing up with his battle axe in his hands.
"Well, that's something at least." She muttered, pushing herself out of her chair before grabbing Sakenomi from her desk.
"How'd your talk with Sesshomaru go?" Shippō asked, stretching as he stood.
"As well as could be expected from him. He will only interfere if Fuyu is in danger." Azami rolled her eyes as she spoke.
"Fuyu?" Shippō cocked his head to the side slightly.
"Rin's descendant." She told him simply.
Fukushū stood up and padded over to stand beside her, she rested one hand on his head, idly stroking the fur.
"So we're off then?" Uroko-jū asked for confirmation.
"Seems so." The fox and the cat replied in sync, whilst Fukushū growled.
Amai breathed out shakily, she could hear the general coming.
She didn't like the general. He was rough and crass and stared at her creepily sometimes.
"Well now, my pretty," His rough voice coughed out. "Shirubādoggu-sama wants to see you. Do try and behave."
He grabbed her arm, and pulled her through the door, uncaring of how tight his grip was and how he was half dragging her on the floor.
'That going to bruise' she thought idly, before focusing on keeping up with the much taller and older male.
The inside of her brothers 'throne room' was plain in comparison to his grandiose appearance.
Tall, with sharp features reminiscent of their uncle. Long hair pulled back in a high ponytail, a band of gold wrapped around it. He wore a dark red floor length kimono with a golden chest plate.
Personally, she thought it looked tacky, but maybe that was just her.
The general shoved her to the floor. She bit down on her lip to supress the pained yelp she would have made if she hadn't.
"Here she is, Shirubādoggu-sama."
"Thank you, Unubore. You may leave us now." He said dismissively.
The general all but fled the room, leaving her with her hated older brother.
"So, Imōto. How are the cells treating you?" He asked, smiling insincerely down at her.
"Well, Kiba-nii, they have been treating me well," She replied, raising her head to look at him. "But that isn't why you had me dragged here, was it?"
"You always were a smart one," He said, before dropping his act of friendliness. "What do you see in my future? Ah, and none of that 'you will die' nonsense either." He said, smiling venomously at her as he interrupted her before she could speak.
"Fine. You will lose. All will be lost. That is what I see." She stated, looking at him with angry eyes.
"Wrong, Imōto, so very wrong. I will win." He sneered at her, revealing his sharp teeth.
Three sharp knocks sounded out in the tense silence that had fallen.
"Come in." He snapped irritably.
A grunt marched in.
"The Vongola Decimo has been sent to face us, Shirubādoggu-sama." He reported, eyes locked with those of his leader.
"Any news on his sister?" A sharp, bloodthirsty smile crossed his face at the thought of facing her.
"None, my lord." He replied.
"Pity," He glanced at his sister. "Tell the general I want him to take her back to her cell. Order her food portions to be restricted."
"Yes, sir." And the grunt left.
Cold amber eyes watched as his sister was dragged out of his room.
Maybe if she had cooperated instead of making things difficult by refusing to tell the truth, he would have been kinder.
A mad laugh escaped him.
Soon the sword would be his, and he would have no need for traitorous seer sisters.
Hi again.
How's life?
Just wanted to say thanks for the kind words on Down in Underland, as well as inform you that I rewrote the last chapter of Black cats and orange skies slightly.
Thoughts? Questions? Please let me know.
See ya