Sesshomaru's Secret Admirer: I thought you liked my Nurarihyon/Kagome fiction? *tear*
What with your last chapter and all, well… who needs a heart anyways? *sniffle*
Yes, I am and I already posted the first chapter.
Halley Vanaria: Yup! Scary Nura-chan is bad for your health after all.
Kazuma-sama: I already posted, actually! And OMG THAT'S SO AWESOME! I must read, I can't wait to read! Gah! And I would love to PM you to talk about fanfictions!
Coldjoker: Ah, I have a best friend who is more like a sister that does that with me. Although I highly doubt I could keep anything I write a secret from her, you can be assured I will keep yours!
LoveInTheBattleField: My, you certainly get around a lot, huh? Thanks for the motivational reviews, I'm delighted you enjoy my fictions!
Kimori Takahashi: Nope! Just to Nurarihyon. The others don't, well didn't, know about him. Blame it on Nurarihyon and his neglect to mention important things.
Professor of Gallifrey: Yes, it is, isn't it? I'm totally sure you'll love it! Mwahaha! *pauses* Have you read a fiction called 'Honor Bound'? Or 'The Snow Angel'? Or 'Pride is a Barren Mountain'?
*wide eyes*
Oh, have you heard of 'forthwrite'? OMG I ADORE forthwrite! You must read!
nyan-nyan-san: *starry eyes* OMG, it is? Wow! I'm honored! Thank you! Hopefully, I will be able to update once a week and with all the reviews I have it's easy to have an awesome day. Again, Thank You!
From the darkness, three shadows emerged. They watched carefully as a tall ayakashi with two-toned hair and amber eyes disappeared into a local inn. Two were kneeling on the ground and as soon as the long trail of ayakashi and demons that followed after Nurarihyon faded from sight, they spoke.
"Katsuo-sama, it appears Akai has failed, but he did manage to send one final message."
"Yes, that low life would get himself caught! Ha! He claimed to be one from the Band of Seven!"
"Silence, what is the message?"
The two underlings quieted at the indifferent voice of their leader. Since there was very little light, not much was seen of this Katsuo, save for seven deep russet tails resting delicately on a broad shoulder.
"He spoke of a weakness."
A gleam in the dark as white pointed teeth were exposed and red eyes flashed.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Sounds of cloth moving and Katsuo turned to look at the small scroll clutched in the hand of a groveling ayakashi. Reaching out a blood-stained hand, he picked it up, taking only a moment to read the words.
"A wife. A wife with child, no less."
A chuckle rose from deep in the fox's throat as the message was soon crushed in a large fist and quickly soaked in the blood clinging to the hard skin.
"Send word to him. I'm sure his blade is hungry for flesh and blood."
"Hai, Katsuo-sama."
"And also," the kitsune paused before he again smiled, "I have a mutual friend to visit."
As the kitsune melted away like smoke, one turned to another, a questioning look on his face.
"Mutual friend?"
Rolling his eyes, the other answered him sharply.
"This ayakashi kill Hagoromo Gitsune! Katsuo-sama going to," the ayakashi waved his hands looking for the right word, "see his strength."
With that final word, the ayakashi left.
Nurarihyon stood horribly still as a small scroll burned into ashes on the ground beneath his feet.
"Karasu-Tengu."
At the sound of his name, the raven ayakashi bowed before his commander, pointedly ignoring the tiny fire that promptly disappeared.
"Yes?"
Amber orbs peered at him from the corner of Nurarihyon's eye.
"Pass a message along to the birds that this village has been rid of the disease."
"At once."
Turning to leave, the raven paused.
"Supreme Commander?"
"What it is?"
Seeing the deceptively relaxed lines of Nurarihyon's body, Karasu-Tengu decided to proceed with his question, albeit cautiously .
"Do you think Hime-sama will be-"
The instant the title left his mouth, the Tengu regretted voicing his doubts. Taking an instinctive step back he waited in silence for his Supreme Commander's response.
"Youkai, Fear and reiki work in ways no one could ever fully understand. My hime is safe. We will remain in the place for two more day before returning home. Any other questions, Karasu-Tengu?"
Nurarihyon's tone indicated that the raven did not have more to ask, and said ayakashi quickly left the room.
Left along once again, Nurarihyon thoughts drifted to Yohime. Just little things that filled his mind after he had been gone. Like the way when she tried to be serious, but failed miserably and ended up laughing so hard she cried. Or when she was resting under the cherry blossom tree in the yard she usually fell asleep.
Small things.
A wry smile curved across his face as his eyes softened subconsciously. Then it quickly vanished as an image of Yohime lying in a heap, blood soaking the covers of their futon invaded his mind. As his fingernails dug into the flesh of his palm, his eyes shot to a corner in the small room.
"I know you're there, scum."
Seven red tails broke away from the walls, betraying no shock nor apprehension, but instead greeted Nurarihyon with a calm face.
"Nurarihyon-sama, there is no need for insults. I was just passing through and I realized one Lord of Pandemonium was-"
Katsuo snapped his mouth shut, gathering his tails tightly to his body. The ayakashi didn't even move, not even a twitch, yet the fox's instinct warned him against saying another word. He quickly retracted the spell he had placed over Nurarihyon inducing the vision of the death of a loved one.
"You wouldn't be one Seven Tails, hm?"
Not portraying any of the unease he was beginning to feel, Katsuo smiled lightly.
"I am honored you have heard of me, Nurarihyon-sama."
Steeling himself against the overwhelming instincts that were screaming at him to run, the fox smoothly took a step forward.
"Nurarihyon-sama-"
Barely having time to breath, relying on reflex alone Katsuo crafted an illusion and cloaked himself in another. Watching as Nurarihyon slammed his illusion into the wall, sword at the illusion's throat, the fox rapidly processed his information.
Nurarihyon was staid to have defeated the Great Lady with the aid of an omyoji, a rumor that was never verified. He also brought the ayakashi and demons under his loose control in and around Edo in only six months.
More rumors of a powerful miko who was either held prisoner in his mansion, or was a member of the family, yet no one knew exactly. The rumors had skyrocketed when the daiyoukai of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru came in person to visit the Lord and took off in his true form, said ayakashi riding on his back with an unknown human woman.
Although Katsuo did not believe that at first, his informant in the Western Lands confirmed and she also spoke of a Great Lady who had returned after a long absence. While she refused to say who the 'Great Lady' was, it proved the Lord of the West and the Lord of Pandemonium had met.
Other than that, there was very little on the ayakashi's personal life and family. However, thanks to that human-turned-demon a weakness was revealed in the ayakashi's wife. It also appeared that Katsuo's information on Nurarihyon's strength was outdated. This presented a tactical disadvantage.
The disadvantage was confirmed very rapidly as Nurarihyon's eyes turned from the illusion to the real fox who was standing to the side.
Totally unused to being at the disadvantage, for Katsuo was never surprise, always managed to have the upper hand, he was beginning to plan for an escape.
"Nurarihyon, slippery as an eel. Many times I have heard many say this, yet-"
His illusion shattered as Nurarihyon swiftly cut through the spell, and smiled, face perfectly composed.
"Maybe you could help me with something, ne? I have a problem with low-life demons who threaten me and mine. There's this one who is looking very closely at my precious woman, " the Lord of Pandemonium said, his tone conversational, yet the hairs on the back of the fox stood on end.
At that same moment, Katsuo finished crafting an escape plan and regained his composure. Languidly bringing his tails up to stroke them, the fox confidently answered.
"That is a troublesome issue, Nurarihyon-sama."
Katsuo, on hearing Nurarihyon's low laughter, he rearranged his features into a confused expression.
"Is there something amusing, Nurarihyon-sama?"
Turning his back to the fox, the ayakashi strolled to the window.
"You should attempt to run now, Seven Tails."
Dropping all pretenses, the youkai fox bowed mockingly.
"Attempt, Nurarihyon-sama? What makes you believe I will not succeed?" Katsuo sneered, his muscles tensing.
There was a sudden silence in the room between the two men. One youkai, one ayakashi. And then…
…that moment shattered.
A/N That is, by far, the most cliffiest cliffie I have ever written. I mean, I can hear the screams, "Help me! I'm gonna fall! Somebody help!".
Ah...
Hear ye, hear ye! I have a new Sesshomaru/Kagome fiction! 'Two Worlds' and I've already written the stupidly annoying back story (forgive the horrible writing, I promise it will get better) so GO FORTH MY MINIONS! GO FORTH TO CONQUER THE WORLD! MWHAHAHA!
*crackles insanely*
*chocks*
*cough*
Uh, I mean, go and read it if you like. You don't have to conquer the world. I mean, if you want to conquer the world, go right ahead but I won't uh… actually? I think I'll just stop talking.
So review! Pretty please?
Because the reviews are my Statue of Liberty, my American Flag, my Declaration of Independence.