Chapter 15:

"Something needs to be done about those hunters." the Northern Lord of Lightening replied. "They aren't like the others. Not only did they destroy hundreds of my soldiers but they almost gotten through the barrier without detection. Many of our people are beginning to worry if they will be safe and are questioning the competence of our Noblemen." Everyone nodded in agreement when Lukus finished.

"Have any of the Noblemen reported any news about them?" Lady Sakura of the Wind Kingdom asked. This time Artemis spoke

"Yes. In addition to what Lukus has said, they have identified them by gender; 2 males and 2 females. Kouga Wolf and Rin Sato, both from the Dog Kingdom, have been attacked physically by them. Shortly after Miroku Sauna was almost injured to what was described as a chemical bomb."

"If they can get that close to them without notice there will be no defense against our own Kingdoms." Lord Daren of the Dog Kingdom was taken aback by Sakura's statement

"You make it sound like we can not defend our Kingdoms on our own." Artemis folded his hands in front of him on the table

"Though we are able to fight our own battles, it'll be difficult to do so since our opponents have a new weapon…Miasma,." he paused to let it sink in. "For some odd reason they were able to convert the usual gas and make it into a liquid form."

"That's impossible!" Lukus exploded. "No one can do what they have claimed. How do they know?" Artemis gave him a stern look.

"Because, according to Kouga Wolf, one of the hunters said that they soaked their weapons in it for a month. Dr. Sato has also confirmed it for she had to treat his wounds. Any other questions?" Lukus backed down and was quiet for awhile.

"This isn't good. Maybe you shouldn't give the throne to your daughter, at least not for a while, with all this chaos." Daren suggested

"I've already considered it but I haven't made up my mind."

"But you have already announced that you would in the beginning of the new year. That's least then 6 months away." Sakura said. Artemis gave a sigh

"I'm sure everyone won't mind if I delay the event for a few more months."

"Yes, give everyone more reasons to worry." Everyone turned their attention to Lukus. "Everyone knows what has happened at My Kingdom. They'll panic if something else goes wrong and/or question Your authority as King that You can't handle this situation and protect them. You need to keep things as scheduled." Everybody in the room was silent. No one in their right mind ever talked to Artemis that way unless they wanted to die a slow and painful death. Artemis worked his jaw, trying very hard not to cuss his ass out; and if it wasn't for the facts that: 1) Kaori wouldn't like it if he'd gotten blood on the furtinture. 2) They were in a meeting and 3) Out of respect of the other leaders that he didn't cut him in half; had they been out in the streets it would have been a different story. He took a calming breath before speaking.

"I'ma say this because you have no idea that you have just stepped into a danger zone so I'm only going to warn you once cuz the next time you step out of line and talk to me in that tone, I'ma break you in two. Don't you ever in your pathetic excuse of a life ever talk to me that way or tell me what I should do. I've been in this seat for over 500 years while you only been here 1 year so watch it." Lukus sneared at him but didn't speak. "And see, I don't give a damn if I piss you off so I'm gonna say it out loud so that there is no misunderstanding; because of the alliance of our Kingdoms do I tolerate you but deep down i don't like you, I have no respect for you. You're nothing but a greedy, pompous, head-up-the ass kid. So don't think that just because you have 'Lord' in front of your name gives you the power in the world because if your father hadn't died so suddenly you wouldn't be here, and after he was finished ruling he'd have given it to your younger brother and you know it. So don't push it; I won't back down next time." Artemis commanded the room and no one spoke; every word that he had said was nothing but the absolute truth. Lukus face was beet red and was breathing heavily trying to control his anger. How dare he humiliate him this way.

"I don't have to take this ridicule from you. I deserve just as much respect as everyone in here."

"That's true," Sakura folded her hands in her lap, "but it's hard to give you respect when all you do is disrespect us and believe that you're better than us but in truth you are still a child." Being a mother of 2 Sakura has the most tolerance for bullshit.

"There seems to be a lot of heated tenison. Maybe we should dismiss this meeting for now." Daren knew that they would get no where with Aretmis' temper and Lukus' stubbornness.

"Agreed." Karoi said, sensing that her husband has enough of back talk. Everyone got up and, for the exception of Lukus, bowed and was escorted out.

"I think he killed his old man himself." Artemis and Kaori turned to the door behind them to see their youngest son.

"Souta, that's not right. You shouldn't say things like that." Kaori stated but had a feeling that her son might be right. Souta just shrugged and moved towards his parents.

"I was just saying my opinion," he sat on the arm of his dad's chair." I'd be hot if I was the oldest and my dad decided to pass the crown to my younger sib. Especially when I was getting ready to take over, be top dog for once in my life, piss people off, call all the shots and no one could say a damn thing to me. Then I find out that that power isn't in my reach any more cuz my pops thinks I'm too greedy and arrogant and that my younger bro can do a better job then me. Given the opportunity, I can off my pops before he announces the future crowning; law states that if the current ruler dies before then, it automatically goes to the first born." Artemis put his hand on Souta's shoulder.

"As much as your theory sounds valid, there is no proof." Late King Darius was once Artemis' mentor as a child and he looked up to him as a father and respected him very much. His younger son, Akito, was a lot like him; Lukus however, just turned out so bad some how. He knew Souta's words were true but he couldn't say them from outside these walls; conterversy would arrupt between the two Kingdoms.

"You still gonna let Kagome take over?" Souta rubbed the back of his neck as he waited for an answer.

"As much as I hate to admit it, Lukus it right. Delaying or canceling the ceremony would worry people and questions will being and so on. We don't have time for that right now." He dragged his hands through his hair, a gesture that he made when he was stressed a little. "We need to focus most of our attention on these hunters and their Miasma weapons; right now they pose a very big threat." Souta got up and stretched.

"Well you don't have to worry about me killing you. This job is too stressful." Both his parents laughed softly. Kaori stood up, wrapping her arms around Souta shoulders

"Come on, Let's go into the kitchen and I'll cook you guys something to eat and you can tell us about your trip in Italy.

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Naraku walked into his condo; he was tired as hell; an acquaintance threw a party last night and had begged him to come. Knowing that she would bitch and moan from dust til dawn and instead of telling here no he stupidly went, had gotten wasted and for some reason he went to school. He'd never questioned his actions before but... What the fuck was he thinking? He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

"What are you doing here?" he asked after taking a swallow of water, never turning around.

"What? No hi? How you've been? I missed you sis?" he turned around to see his sister, Kagura, sitting on one of the couches.

"I don't ask questions for something I have no interest in." Kaugra sat back, crossing her arms over her green halter top, and turned up her nose at him.

"Why do you always have to be so mean?" Naraku rolled his eyes

"If you have nothing important to say to me then get out." She waited a beat

"The boss called sometime this morning; he's highly pissed." Naraku walked over and sat down on the couch across from her.

"And I care why?"

"Oh come on, we need help."

"I already told you what to do but you dumbasses jumped the gun and went after them as soon as the Oracle said something. Now you have the Noblemen on their toes, waiting for you all to strike at any moment so in my opinion it's your falut." Kagura just played with the hem of her skirt. Naraku shook his head in sighed, he knew she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Lay low for a while. Don't attack them or anything; just watch. If they think you guys have given up a little they'll let there guard down a little. In the meantime, find out who they're with, what they're planning and so on. You guys have 6 months to kill them; you've got plently of time.

"But the boss wants it done as soon as possible." Naraku bared his teeth

"Then let him do it if he's such in a damn hurry! You guys do it my way not his." Kagura pursed her lips, giving him and evil look.

"You just don't want us to kill that demon girl Kagome," Naraku didn't say anything. "You're not a hunter like us so why do you care what we do with her? She the enemy but yet you want her alive. You're no different.; you're just like the rest of those demon lovers!"

"Watch your mouth!" Naraku crushed the glass bottle in his hand but he seemed to not notice it. "You keep thinking it's just about you all. Listen if you get the Noblemen I can step in and take Kagome for myself."

"But she already has a boyfriend." Kagura pointed out; making Naraku even more angry.

"I know that! But I can have her mind earsed. Why do you think Kanna is with you all? So she can just give you her you-all-are-dumb-mother-fuckers- look? She's also able to control minds, earse or alter memories. Kill off the smaller ones first, the bodyguard and the girlfriends before you work on the big guys. Once you finished we'll alter Kagome's mind to make her believe I was her boyfirend all along. We'll get married and I'll rule the Dragon Kingdom." Kargura nodded as she took a mental note of all the information.

"He wants to rule every Kingdom though."

"I don't give a flying fuck what he wants. Once I rule he won't have the balls do argue with me." Kagura stood up and brushed off her skirt before walking towards the door.

"Whatever you say." and she was gone.

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THUMP! BOOM!

"Oww! Damn it, Kagome come down." Come down how can I calm down when the bitch was leaving me!

"How could you? How could you say yes and leave me all alone this summer with god knows who." I grabbed another stool and threw it at her; pissing me off even more when she caught it. She just told me that she accepted this intern job for Cara Usagi. Don't get me wrong I'm happy for her but now she's leaving me as my bodyguard and now I'll be stuck with some goon that my dad picks out or worst, he'll make me stay in the house all summer. I ran out of things to throw so I just stood there giving Sango an evil look. She sigh dramatically

"You are such a brat."

"Am not!" I yelled "Just on Thursdays." she smiled, knowing that I had finally cooled off. I boosted my self up on the marble counter and pouted.

"I'm happy for you..."

"Funny way of showing it." she started to put everything that wasn't broken back in their original places.

"It's just that I'll be by myself now." I saw her moving her mouth trying to mock me."Your mean."

"Stop being a baby," She turned to look at me." You won't be by yourself. I'll only be there Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays; so I'll be there sometime."

"But not all the time." I whined. She dusted off her hands after she was finished cleaning.

"You act like you won't have Inuyasha there with you." I looked up at the ceiling then back at her

"Oh yeah I forgot. Ok, I'm all better now." I walked over to her and gave her a hug. "You can forget about the Chanel boots I got you." she looked at me in disblief

"Come on, that ain't fair." I stuck my tongue at her.

"Too bad." I said laughing. It died down a little bit when I felt my phone vibrate; I frowned when I saw the caller I.D

"S'up?"

"I see you were smart enough to trace the phone number." my stalker replied

"Well you know I've got my moments. What you want?"

"Just called to hear your pretty voice that's all." I felt sick to my stomach

"Is that all? Well your generating a phone bill so if that's all..." I stopped when he started to laugh at me.

"... hahaha. You still think you're in control little girl? Far from it. I'll make your whole world crumble right in front of you." That's all he said before he hung up.

"That was him wasn't it?" I nodded my head, answering Sango's question. I closed my phone and shook off the bad vibe that I had.

TBC

-----------------------------------------Author's note----------------------------------------------------------

Yeah...um... my little cousin is playing her piano right behind me and it's driving me CRAZY!!! and I can't think right now. Anyways thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I hope you like this one too. Until next time

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