Hi everybody. Sorry I am late but I didn't feel well last night. Didn't get any reviews so I hope that you all liked the last chapter. Let me know what's going on. I can't tell how I'm doing without some feedback. Anyway this chapter is going to get the group ready for the next part in the journey. So here we go. REVIEW!!!

CHAPTER XXIX

DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

Kagome smiled at the stern expression on her friends face. She had also noticed that both of the boys were outside of the city. Both of the young demons had fled as soon as they saw their return, but Kagome was amused by their antics. She spoke in a soothing tone as she said ", You know that boys will be boys." Healo continued to stare into the distance but said carefully ", Yes but that doesn't mean that they can't misbehave inside the city. It would kill me if anything happened to them."

The miko turned a thoughtful eye to the other brothers who were all traveling in silence. She wasn't surprised by the lack of conversation, for the most part all of the brothers weren't talkative, but this wasn't a peaceful silence. Kagome didn't understand what the problem was. They hadn't found the sword but the group had received a lot of information about Yamikura and where it might be located. She was trying to look at the bright side of the events.

She was surprised when Sesshomaru spoke while they were entering the gates of Ionin. He said ", We will have a meeting in a quarter of an hour. I don't want any of you to run off," the demon lord finished with a small smile towards Kagome. She did not verbally respond but nodded as she thought ', Who does he think I am? His servant?' The miko was annoyed when a response came ", He thinks that everyone lives to serve his purpose. You will have to learn to get used to his way of speaking. Sesshomaru is polished and refined, but he can be severe and blunt in speech."

His thoughts continued ", However, in this case I believe he is trying to be funny not piercing." Kagome smiled in understanding; it wasn't the first time that she had misunderstood the actions of others and it wouldn't be the last. The miko knew by her friends serious expression that he was still focused on his son so she said ", Come on. I think we've let them worry enough." Her friend smiled lightly and said ", Very well, If I know my son, he will have fled back to his room by now."

Without another word he led the way through the city where most of the people seemed genuinely glad to see their return. She flushed at some of the statements made about her by the people, who were wondering whether she would make a good Lady of the West. Kagome noticed that many of the peasants were whispering about their disappearance, which was natural, however the fact that they knew exactly where they had gone seemed strange to the miko. She started to speak when the Northern Lord said ", They should not have this much information."

Kagome sighed as she asked ", How do you think they found out?" The blue-eyed demon shook his head as he said ", It seems that there is a chain here." The miko was confused and asked ", What do you mean?" Healo kept walking and said carefully ", All of them received the information from some guard who hid his face. Aparantly this guard was trying to stir them into rebellion, and he nearly succeeded. The tension has still not left entirely from some of the people."

Healo said quietly ", In light of this. We must go to this meeting at once. Hopefully we will be able to decipher this puzzle." Kagome was startled at the demon's tone. How could he remain so calm when someone was trying to stir up trouble in Ionin? However, the miko followed him quickly enough and she was soon very glad to see the palace and its' stern defenders in their normal place and state. The Northern Lord did not hesitate but went through the gate without a word to the guards standing nearby. Apparantly they had realized who he was because they did not pursue.

Kagome was struggling to keep up the pace when they finally arrived in the room where they had held a meeting only four days before. Healo was obviously glad to find that everyone of importance was already there: Sesshomaru, Magus, Inuyasha, Riath, and Jaken. The miko started to leave when Healo said smoothly ", It is my wish that Lady Kagome be allowed to remain." Sesshomaru made no verbal response but gave a small nod of assent.

The miko smiled shyly and took the seat that was offered by Riath who moved to stand by the right side of his lord. After a moment Sesshomaru said quietly ", I want to hear both of your reports." Jaken hesitated for a moment before commencing ", A very strange mood has gripped the people. They were starting to become very restless before you returned." The Western Lord did not pause but only said ", Captain you may give your report now."

Riath only bowed and said solemnly ", What Master Jaken says is correct, my lord. There are disturbing rumors running through the capital." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he asked dangerously ", What kind of rumors?" The Captain responded swiftly ", That Naraku and Bianen are planning an invasion, and that you had fled because of this." The demon lord's eyes flared as he asked dangerously ", Who would dare to say such things?"

Kagome carefully considered all that had been said. She knew that she couldn't imagine believing such foolishness. She was quiet as Healo said in a stressed tone ", Brother, there can be only one culprit, assuming that there is no invasion on the way." Here he paused to glance at his protégé who shook his head and said ", I sent for reports from all of our military leaders on the borders. They report that nothing is out of the ordinary in the North or the Eastern Lands."

The miko sighed glad at the tidings. She was surprised to find that her friends face took on a sadder expression as he said softly ", Then it is as I feared. There is a spy somewhere in the palace." Stony silence followed this declaration as Kagome tried to figure out what her friend was suggesting. The first to respond was Magus who said carefully ", I must agree with my brother's conclusion. The only way the people could have known are destination is if there is an informant within our own ranks."

Riath said carefully ", I agree with your sentiments, but how can we know that it is one of our own? Is there anyone among us who seems to be disloyal and has access to this information?" Sesshomaru cut through the debate quickly ", Whether it is a spy or a mole, either way it must be removed, immediately." The Northern Lord spoke carefully ", Brother, that may not be possible. If we haven't detected an informant yet what is the chance that we will ever find it? I believe that are best course would be to use less consideration with our decisions that way even if there is a spy they will not have time to report on our dealings."

Healo paused then continued ", Besides I hope that you all remember something that seemed insignificant about the incident with the panthers. They had been there for less than a day, but they were waiting for us. They already knew almost exactly when we would arrive at the island and exactly what path we would take to get there."

The Western Lord responded ", Yes. Also we must not discuss anything that we consider in council to others." Sesshomaru stared at Healo who only smiled as he said ", It will be done as you say." Kagome stared at Jaken who only shook his head lightly. The miko remembered what some of the maids had said about what the toad had told them. Perhaps his loose lips had been what caused the entire incident.

Inuyasha said irritably ", So what's our next move? Or are we gonna sit here talking and skulking over the past?" Magus smiled and said ", I agree. I suggest we finalize our decision to meet with the Imperial Regent besides we may visit—" He was interrupted when Healo said sternly ", Visit Maleon and the Regent. Yes?" The younger brother took the hint and continued calmly ", Yes. I agree with the earlier decision to use the passes in the Western Mountains in order to get to the city without detection."

Sesshomaru nodded as he said ", I think that we all can agree to the wisdom in that plan. What demands are you foreseeing from the Regent in exchange for an alliance?" Healo spoke up carefully ", I think that he will demand that you try to control some of your ex-naval troops on our side of the Great River. Some of my agents suggest that a great deal of raiding is taking place in that area." Magus seemed surprised as he said ", Yes that is almost certainly going to be a demand. However, who knows how far the Regent will push?"

The Western Lord responded quietly ", I am willing to bring the pirates under my control, but I also think that he may make territorial demands. I can only hope that the Regent will see what a dangerous position he is in. He faces Naraku and Bianen on the one side, and myself on the other. He will have to tread carefully." Jaken said strongly ", Surely he will side with you my lord. You are the image of nobility and he will surely stand to aid you in the destruction of that horrible Naraku."

The demon only smiled lightly and said ", Hopefully. In light of the possibility of enemy agents in the city; I want you all to be ready to leave by tomorrow. Riath will remain to command the affairs of the lands and Jaken shall once again serve as his aid." He turned to look at his henchmen and said ", However, we shall be gone for a longer period of time then before. Understand that failure means death." The toad quailed but the Riath's purple eyes held understanding as he bowed carefully.

Kagome was startled when Healo immediately stood and made his way out of the room. 'He must really be upset with Sulam. I better go talk to Shippo too.' The miko made her way out of the room while the others continued to discuss some of the minor incidents that had taken place in the city. when she arrived in the Northern Wing she was glad to see that the Northern Lord was just now opening the door to the room that the children played in.

As she entered she found that Sulam had a meek expression on his face as he explained carefully ", We were going out so that we could see you all as soon as you returned." Her friend did not smile but asked in a solemn tone ", Then why did you flee when you saw us?" The young demon turned away as he said quietly ", We could tell that you were upset with us." Kagome heard Healo sigh and watched as the severity drained from his eyes. When he spoke it was in a soft tone ", My son. I understand that you are young. To you the world still seems to be a kind of giant adventure where no harm can come to you, but that is not so."

He paused for a moment before he kneeled down so that he was near his son's level and said carefully ", I was angry because I do not want anything to happen to you." The miko was surprised when the young demon asked harshly ", Because of your responsibility to me?" Healo pulled his son into a warm embrace as he said with emotion ", No, it is because of my love for you. You are the most precious thing in the universe to me. It would kill me to see anything happen to you." It was a touching scene and Kagome decided to remain silent and to allow the father and son there moment of peace in the chaos of this world.

Yay for mush! Anyway again I am sorry about the lateness. Hope that you all keep reading and let me know what you think. So do you all know who is causing all the trouble in the city, I mean do you all know who the agent is? Mystery! So remember to…REVIEW!!! Update should be Monday or Tuesday.