Yeah, chapter twenty-two… wow this is going to be a long story! There are going to be like, 45 chapters! Yikes! Oh well, all I have to do is separate my story, add comments and post the suckers. Ahahahaha… oh the joys of finishing a story and then posting it. ChaoticReverie you sly dog, you.
Disclaimer: This one's in Dutch… Ik bezit Inuyasha niet.
Formulating a Plan
Slamming his fists down on the table, the southern Lord rose from his seat to hiss, "Before we begin, I would like to inquire as to why there is yet another ningen present. It's bad enough that you allow the annoying child to wander freely through your halls, but now you're bringing in human wenches? Taking on a new fetish, Lord Sesshomaru?"
Kagome frowned. The southern Lord had some nerve to say something that rude, especially when Rin was sitting at the table. She cast a quick glance in the child's direction, and her heart broke a little when she found the girl looked rather down.
Catching the child's attention, Kagome gave her a reassuring wink and smiled widely. Instantly Rin was back to her old self.
Sniffing, Sesshomaru ordered softly, "Sit down, Rika, you shame yourself with this childish behavior. The Lady Kagome is aiding our efforts in defeating the hybrid, Naraku. Her powerful miko abilities will be of great use to us when dealing with the Shikon shards that the hanyou so greatly covets."
"Are you suggesting we lure him?" Takura inquired.
"Indeed," the western Lord affirmed, "if we collect the remainder of the shards, Naraku will come to us."
"How do you know she will not betray us?" Rika remarked snidely while shooting Kagome a venomous glare.
Trying to keep her fuming gaze off of the emerald haired snake youkai, Kagome focused on her fork, memorizing the pristine, spotless prongs and the smooth, slender neck.
"Kagome would never do anything like that," Kouga admonished, "I've been allies with her for years now, and never once have I seen her loyalty falter. In fact, she's by far the most honorable person I've ever met!"
"Wench," the snake youkai bellowed, "what purpose could you serve in aiding us?"
Not wanting Kagome to end up getting in trouble because of her tendency to get smart mouthed, Sesshomaru spoke in her place, "She will aid the men, and-"
"I do not recall asking your opinion, western Lord! Do not forget that we are at war!" Rika snarled.
"Gentlemen, please," Kagome spoke calmly, trying her best not to let Sesshomaru down. This was an important meeting and she would try her best not to ruin whatever weak ties these Lords had with one another. "There are far more serious matters to worry about than the petty squabbles that have recently been occurring. Naraku is a very real, very dangerous threat. If he is not stopped, whatever disagreements you have will not matter, because you'll all be dead."
That statement seemed to capture everyone's attention, and she used her knew found notice to her advantage. "I realize that he is a mere hanyou, yet even so, you cannot deny that he is powerful. He has evaded each and every one of us and is not to be taken lightly. Should the whole Shikon-no-tama fall into his hands, it would be the end of the world as we know it."
Frowning gravely, Takura asked, "You have dealt with Naraku often, am I correct?"
"Yes," Kagome answered, "the group I traveled with a few years back was formed for the soul purpose of hunting down the hybrid. I have encountered him on several occasions."
"Then, since you have a better understanding of how the scoundrel works, what would you suggest?" the ginger haired demon queried.
"It is as Lord Sesshomaru stated earlier. All we need to do is collect the shards. Then, all other pieces will fall into place."
"How do you know this, wench?" Rika growled, fangs peeking from his mouth in a menacing fashion.
Coolly folding her hands into her lap, Kagome explained, "Only days ago, the hanyou appeared to me. He told me himself that he would no longer search for the remaining shards, but leave it to me to collect them. When I do, he swore to come for them."
Nodding, the Lords of the east and north concurred that it was a suitable plan of action. Sesshomaru sat motionless, as usual, and Rika seethed angrily from his end of the table. Rin, of course, was content with staring off into space.
"Are we to place all of our trust in this filthy human whore?" Rika roared animatedly, green brows crinkling together, lips pulling back in a sneer.
"I assure you, Lord Rika, I am no whore, nor am I filthy. Human I may be, but I am a valuable asset to you."
"You, valuable to me?!" the southern Lord scoffed spitefully.
Lifting both brows, Kagome jested, "Oh, then perhaps you can find the shards without me. I'm sure your own senses can hear the call of the Shikon fragments." When he did not respond, she clipped, "That's right… one needs a miko to locate shards. It seems, Lord Rika, that you need me a little more than you care to admit."
"Do as you will, human, but do not think to make an ally of me. I will fight to stop Naraku, but I refuse to rely on a sniveling ningen for aid," Rika grumbled while crossing his arms stubbornly in front of his chest.
Smile tilting her lips, Kagome turned back to Sesshomaru. "It seems all is in place, my Lord. I will do all I can to help end this."
Pleased with her, he nodded once and gave her hand a pat under the table. She smiled charmingly at him, her naturally rosy lips lighting up her face with but a quirking of their sides.
The remainder of the meeting had passed by quickly enough, only a few small arguments rising between the Lords of the west and south. Sesshomaru, however, was quick to end them with his sharp, merciless tongue.
When dinner was served, it seemed all occupants of the room gave a relieved sigh. Though discussing the battle to come was important, every tenant in the meeting was undoubtedly hungry, including Sesshomaru. The scent of tender, foreign delicacies and fine sake permeated the air with its palpable aroma.
At one point, Kagome's stomach had acted up and voiced its own hunger, to which two chuckles, one amused glance and a glare were her reward. She blushed such an amazing shade when she was embarrassed, like a budding rose, delicate petals ripe with color.
The cuisine that night, due to the fact that most present were youkai, consisted mostly of raw meats.
Several small woodland fowl were trimmed with wild berries and parsley, the small wreath of vegetation a mere decoration to the youkai. Kagome, however, seemed to eye them rather anxiously, considering nothing of her taste had come up as of yet. A basket of freshly baked bread was set onto the table, to which she was grateful, as well as a bowl of fruit. There was also rice and, for the centerpiece, a large, skinned boar.
Her gut churned painfully as she caught sight of the bloody carcass. How on earth could anyone stomach something that looked so… vulgar?
A small, steaming plate was placed near her, one that made her bounce merrily in her seat. What looked to be a tiny, roasted turkey decorated the plate, the scrumptious odor it gave off calling to her like a seductive caress, beckoning her closer.
"I took the liberty of making certain that the cooks roasted one bird," Sesshomaru told her, noticing that she seemed to be devouring the bird with her eyes. Though he himself was devouring a piece of flesh with his eyes, it was none of the specimens that sat so invitingly on plates. No… he was devouring her delicious form, honeyed orbs shimmering with lust. He bet she would taste better than any morsel of food on the table.
Hearing his quiet comment, she smiled brightly at him. "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama, how very considerate of you!"
Allowing a light chuckle to pass through his lips, Sesshomaru quipped, "I doubted you or Rin would enjoy gorging on raw flesh."
Sticking out her tongue in a childish manner, she screwed up her face into a look of absolute distaste.
When the jug of sake was passed to her, she shrugged and poured herself some. What the heck, she was well over the drinking age, and she had yet to sample any form of alcohol.
"Excellent decision, miko," Takura praised, "This sake was imported form across the seas. It's aged beautifully."
Nodding, Kagome smiled and took a cautious sip. Eyes shooting open, she held back the cough that welled up in her throat, choking down the powerful mixture. By the gods she had never tasted anything so strong. It was warm, and slid down her throat like honey. It wasn't unpleasant, but bizarre rather. Taking another, smaller sip, she found that it was tolerable.
Watching as the priestess managed to hold down her sake, Sesshomaru sipped his own drink, relishing in the strong and flavorful taste it held.
Waiting until Rin had gotten her share, the young miko asked Kouga to pass her the cooked meat, thanking him and eying the fowl in what must have seemed like a crazed fashion, like a cat about to consume a mouse.
"Pitiful humans," Rika scoffed while slipping a strip of bloodied meat between his lips. Mouth full of food, he continued, "With your deplorable senses I'm surprised you can even taste that. Cooking meat takes the flavor out of it. Then again, I suppose your filthy kind wouldn't know too much about that."
Feeling somewhat bolder than before, Kagome laughed sarcastically and snapped back, "I can taste cooked meat just fine, Lord Rika. Perhaps it's your senses that are dwindling if you can't even taste meat after it's been heated. Oh, and as for the whole filthy humans not being educated bit, did you know that raw meat contains more harmful bacteria than the backside of a wild animal? Viruses such as Salmonella thrive on raw flesh. I may be a human but at least my eating habits are clean. You however seem to have the table manners of a child. Hasn't anyone ever told you it's impolite to speak when your mouth is full?"
A hearty laugh filled the silence that ensued after Kagome's bold remark. "This girl," Lord Takura remarked, "is one of the most amusing and quick witted people I've ever met. It's no wonder Sesshomaru appreciates your company, little one. Your intellect rivals even that of the Lord of the west."
The lifting of a silver brow was the only motion Sesshomaru made, his entire frame remaining stiff. She had been doing so nicely, and then she had to go and say something like that. He was disappointed. Kagome never spoke so brashly, not unless she was seriously perturbed. Normally, she would have let a comment like that slide. It would have been expected had Rika pushed envelope a bit, but that had been the first comment he made since supper started. Something was wrong.
Scenting her aura, he found it to be rather unfocussed and muddled. Realization struck him. The sake. 'Seems our little miko can't hold her alcohol very well,' he mused. Looking to Rika, Sesshomaru noticed the look of loathing in his onyx eyes, and spoke up nonchalantly, "I believe that is enough sake for you, Lady Kagome."
Takura released another chuckle as Sesshomaru pushed the girl's cup away from her, finding the adorable pout she wore to be rather alluring.
"Is that new armor?" Kouga asked, pointing to Takura's chest plate. Two curved tusks spiked out at either side, where the clasps were, green tassels hanging from them. The rough, thick cover that adorned his pectorals and most of his abdomen was a deep brown shade, decorated with a four pointed star in the center, like the one that adorned his forehead.
"Yes, actually, interesting story that. It was fashioned from the tusks and skin of the giant boar, Ferbrand, that dwelled in the swampy regions of the eastern lands. I actually came upon the beast while it was rutting with a sow…"
Kagome ceased to listen to the conversation at that point. Head tipping in the opposite direction, she whispered to herself, "I can't believe he's talking about animals rutting at the table… when there is a child present no less."
"Gods how I'd love to rut you."
Cerulean orbs widening in alarm, the beautiful priestess turned her head sharply toward Sesshomaru, gazing questioningly at him. Had she just heard properly? It sounded as though he had just said he wanted to 'rut her'.
His composed demeanor gave away nothing as he looked back at her, eyes unwavering, lips unmoving. Perhaps she had imagined it. Blinking a few times, she turned back to focus on something other than the fact that her mind was beginning to slip. 'Maybe I have had too much sake,' Kagome muttered.
Takura lifted his fork with one hand and brought it down into a large hunk of meat on his plate while explaining, "Then I straddled its back and skewered it on my sword…"
"Now that's a pleasant thought. Perhaps I shall skewer you on my sword."
Going rigid, she perked instantly, trying to determine whether she was actually hearing these things or her imagination was getting carried away. Casting a quick glance at Sesshomaru, she found him to be staring still, face the same as it had been the last time she looked.
In the corner of her mind, she could hear Takura rambling on about how he had mounted the beast and beheaded it. When Sesshomaru's lips parted, she instantly took notice, her gaze never having left his face.
"I'm going to mount you, my miko tease."
Gasping, she froze to her seat upon affirmation that she had indeed been hearing those things and that the one who was saying them was none other than the western Lord, himself. Going wide eyed, jaw agape, she watched as he began making seductive and suggestive motions at her with his mouth and eyes. The looks he sent her, the way he bit his lip made it hard for her to keep down a blush. 'Maybe the alcohol is getting to him too?' she joked dryly.
Sensing arousal and shock, Rika glanced past Takura, who was just ending his story, to the couple at the end. Apparently, they were doing something more than conversing.
"Can you keep your disgusting habits out of the dining hall, Lord Sesshomaru? No one wants to watch you and your whore's filthy display."
Slowly moving his gaze to Rika's, Sesshomaru remarked quietly, "At least I can retain the attention of a female, unlike your self. You, whose vile attitude and disagreeable stench makes it impossible to bear his presence."
Midnight orbs narrowing dangerously, the serpent demon rose and bit out in a clipped manner, "I believe I've had enough of this nonsense."
"In that case," the inu remarked dryly, "we will meet again on the battle field. Hopefully, this time you will be on our side."
Huffing under his breath, the southern Lord stormed from the room, the large, mahogany doors slamming shut loudly behind him.
Atmosphere lightening, Kagome waved a hand and mumbled, "Good riddance."
A warning growl ensued, to which she swiveled her head to find Sesshomaru lifting a scolding brow at her. Sinking in her seat like a child, she murmured an apology and picked away at her food.
Oh, oh, looks like there's trouble brewing! Kagome made another enemy and Sesshomaru's patience is shot! What will the outcome be? Find out tomorrow, because I kick ass and I update every day!
I will only continue to do so if you review! I want this story to have the big five hundred by the time I post the last chapter. You got it? So start reviewing. I've almost got two-hundred-fifty, and I'm not quite half way into the story, meaning the possibilities of me reaching my goal are looking good! Give to charity… put in a review for good old CR.