Itachi – Touga really is hard-headed for a reason – try putting yourself in his shoes, I'm pretty sure you'd be envious too…Onto the new chapter! (I had some really crazy writers block…) By the way, look out for Kouga's bad language.

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JokerChapter 7

"Wander into the woods at night, and he will steal your heart." That had been told to wanderers to keep them from the surrounding wooded area, but, when a lone girl finds herself lost and in the midst of a storm, she stumbles upon an empty castle, staying for just the night, she soon learns the legend had been real…for the acceptation of his utter laziness.

Breaking Promises...

As always the nighttime hid the unseen. It hid the lurking shadows, the trees, everything. But this night…this night itself was lonesome. Without him here, something in the midnight breeze felt oddly numbing, it had only been the ending of my first day here, but in a way, it felt as I'd been waiting to go back to him for weeks on end. I missed him. Stepping out from the small balcony – leaving open the door as to let in some air, I laid down on the large bed, closing my eyes, sighing as a suddenly comforting breeze past me by. I kept my eyes closed, even as the sound of boots made its way across the floor, the sound soon fading away…I opened my eyes slowly once I felt the warm, familiar sensation of arms wrapping around me.

"Forgive me…for intruding so late, Kagome." Came the voice of Sesshomaru. Ever so slowly did I sit up, starring into his molten eyes of his, leaning onto his chest and letting his warmth cover me.

We stayed like that for a while longer, in the blissful silence of the night, the moon's light shining dimly through the open balcony window – I didn't want to let go – that it, until the sound of footsteps echoing through the halls caught our attention…but our attention was soon diverted from the now silent sound to one another once more. It took far less than a moment for Sesshomaru's lips to crash onto my own – successfully pinning me to the bed beneath him.

He growled – the low gruttle sound was sure to have echoed outside of the room-

"Oi! Ka-gome?" I felt his warmth disappear as the sounds of the – now audible footsteps stopped at the door leading to the room us two occupied, the door swung open at that very moment only to reveal Kouga, who; upon entering, looked around carefully, as if scanning the area around…searching. Sesshomaru was gone before Kouga could notice. His attention was on my form, "Was there anyone…" He scratched his head, "Was anyone in here?" A short wind coming from the open balcony caught his eye as a sudden gust gently shut it closed.

"N-No one but me," I spoke quietly while managing a nervous yet believable laugh.

"Hmm…" The blue eyed demon took a sniff in the air, "Kay' whatever ya' say…" I shook my head in response as Kouga strolled out the room, shutting the door behind him…Once he was out; his blue eye's narrowed in suspicion… "Keh…liar," he mumbled as he made his way down the pitch black corridor's to Inu no Taisho's room.

"…I was keepin' an eye on her like you told me ta'," Kouga spoke to the older demon at the opposite side of the candle-lit room, who seemed to be listing intently, yet facing the colorless wall, "An' outta' nowhere I heard a noise…I felta' presence other than her own in tha' room…then…" Kouga crooked his head to the side in thought, "…Then the presence was gone once I walked in."

"And?" Inu no Taisho stared at the wall while speaking to Kouga, "Was anyone else really there?"

"Yeah I'm sure," He pointed to his nose, "This nose ani't a liar, it picked up a smell…a really," His eyes narrowed as they did before, the sudden waves of anger flaring around his tightend form, "…really, really familiar smell – the scent of the Night Walker…I know it might sound crazy, Touga but its-"

"Do you want to know something about my eldest son, Kouga?" The older demon interrupted. Once the mention of Touga's eldest son was mentioned did the wolf go silent. Touga sighed, "He and the young lady I asked you to see to are actually, hn…how would you say? 'lovers' I suppose?" At the revelation did Kouga's blue eyes go wide. He always wondered why Touga kept the human in the castle – but now this?!

"Wha.." The blue eyed demon found himself at a loss for words; a silent rage was crossing his features.

"Yes, yes, just as what was mentioned in 'The Legend of the Night Walker'" Touga smiled as he spoke, feeling the pitch – black fury roll of the younger demon, "The same being that killed your dear Ayame has a lover of his own now and she's here in this very castle of mine…"

"Why…" Kouga spoke through gritted teeth, "Why didn't cha' just kill the girl if ya' knew all that?!"

"The problem was that I made my eldest a deal," The older demon sighed once more, slightly regretting how truthful he was to never breaking promises, "I told him to use these two days to think everything over – two days off as the infamous Night Walker to think of what he really wants to do with the girl, kill her and he'd be free of the curse, leave her alive and continue on as the Night Walker – though, I'm sure if he did the human emotion of 'fear' would eventually grab hold of her heart…or lastly, if he could find a reason why I should remove the curse from him – but that as well wouldn't be so easy for him to accomplish seeing as I decided to add a little something along with that as well…" Kouga kept silent, "I decided to ruin my policy of' never telling a lie' – I told to him and his younger brother that he would either go through temporary madness or extreme pain and will only find relief in consuming the closest heart to him… that in itself was a lie…so that he may actually search for a good reason for me to set him free, but in that time, I can't harm or kill her while she stays here."

All throughout Inu no Taisho's speech was the younger demon seething, "I wanta' make that * pay for what he did to Ayame…" Touga said nothing, "Here I am suffering 'casue a' him and there's his girl just laying around while he kills more people just to keep his fu*k toy alive! What the hell!" A punch was landed on the wall…and in that moment did Kouga realize something.

The deal was that Touga- Sesshomaru's father couldn't harm her…but he wasn't Sesshomaru's father…he was 'Kouga'… which meant-

…In an instant was Kouga out the door. The older demon simply sat in the same place as before, starring at the blank walls…a frown marring his tear-streaked face.

..

Joker…

..

The night was once again turned into a lonesome landscape once the warmth known as Sesshomaru had left. The only comfort to me had been stare out the closed balcony window, waiting for the day when he would make his decision, or if he made any decision at all, every option that he had only left him alone once more in the end…it was a horrible fate he'd been sentenced to…

My thoughts on Sesshomaru came to a halt when – unexpectedly - the door slammed open to reveal Kouga once again, not even thirty minutes passed, yet he was here in this room once again, so…why was he just standing there..? "Uh…" I looked up to meet his gaze, "Kou…" My words trailed off as I soon regretted ever looking up to meet his stare – greatly did I regret it. In the stare of his alone was the single worded message received and delivered. Hate.

"Ya' know somethin', Kagome?" His words dripped malice through gritted teeth, "Even though I really didn't give a crap about cha' before," I saw claws spring forth from once dull finger tips, "Just finding out that your that Night Walker's bit*h makes your value in my eyes next ta' nothing…Even if you didn't kill Ayame, I can't stand you...I wonder how that Night Walker would feel, if I gave him your dead body – with your heart all ripped out, your eyes still open…lifeless…" I backed up to the balcony – nowhere to run – he knew- but how?! "Forgive me for this," He raised a clawed hand in the air and struck-

Without anytime to think did I let myself fall over the edge – the sleeping attire on my form torn from the near-death attack from Kouga, luckily, I was not seriously injured. Nothing more than a small wound. But I jumped without having a plan, without any second thoughts – I felt it, the wind slapping my hair into chaos, my heart thumping in my ears, and the horrid feeling of creeping death- I was too scared to even scream. Just as the tears threatened to flow, I felt I pair of arms wrap around me – I was cuddled gently against an unknown warm that felt oddly…cold.

"I have one last deal to propose, tell none of it," Opening my eyes, "If you help me to start this life of mine over, I will remove the curse and its repercussions indefinitely." I found the reason.

The coldness which gently held me was none other than the very being who wished for my death more than anything. Inu no Taisho – Touga himself.

..

Joker…

..

Seconds after Touga's bare feet touched the ground did Kouga too landed quietly yet quickly, his once carefree blue eyes now intense screaming silent 'bloody murder' – his gaze was pinned on my form which was still cradled almost protectively in Touga's arms.

For a moment did Inu no Taisho glace at me, "I will inform you for clarity on our deal at a later time, do not question my thinking if you happen to figure out the meaning of the said deal, just decide once you are able…" What? I had not a single idea what he meant, "Kouga," The older demon spoke calmly to the younger one, "Pray tell as to what you're doing out so late-" He was interrupted.

"I'm gonna kill that girl," He pointed a clawed finger, his words coming out more as growls and gruttle noises, "She's the Night Walkers property - willingly…she deserves death, so he could-"

"So he could suffer, is that what you were going to say?" Touga's once calm expression slowly turned into the face of a twisted being, "You're not allowed to kill her, nor are you allowed to take my place in causing him any pain…I've told you this so many times and yet once you find out that she in fact has more to do with the Night Walker than you once expected, you betray my pact…" His gaze lowered to my form, still being held in his grip, "Go wait by the castle door," It was not far – only steps away. Not knowing what else to do, I complied, stepping over littered bones and human remains… He turned to face Kouga, "Do you wish to defy me foolish wolf, and end up as another pile of remains lying in my yard, or will you bow your head in shame and beg that I forgive your foolish impulsiveness?"

"But Touga!-" Kouga spoke lowly- A sudden pulse of anger flashed in the now red eyes of Touga as the young wolf dared to speak against him.

"Wolf," He spoke every word with malice, "Do you wish for death?! If I tell you not to kill her, you ask no questions." His words left off with finality – until…

"If you can't do it…" Kouga's gaze wavered… in an instant did he start off in a run towards me, "Then I'll finish this shit myself ya' useless bastard!" Before he could get any closer did a curtain of silver hair drape before me, blocking Kouga's attack… successfully forcing him to stop in his tracks. It was Sesshomaru. Graceful as always did he appear.

Then, there was silence.

Not even a scream rang from Kouga's mouth as a pale, clawed hand sprouted through his back – specks of blood landing on my cheek as a pool of the thick red liquid made its way from the gaping wound once the clawed hand violently removed itself, dragging out bits of his inner gore…Sesshomaru flicked Kouga's blood off his arm, starring as Kouga fell. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out what looked to be an amulet, kneeling down to place it in the wounded demons cold hands, Kouga tried hard to smile, forcing out mumbled words, "A…yame…" He fell silent soon after.

Taking a glance at his father, Sesshomaru picked me up bridal style, and finally did we leave Inu no Taisho's castle.

In a moment did we arrive back at the Black Castle. But my shock had not worn off. We two took a shower and I watched as blood rushed with the water. Sesshomaru bandaged my wound, right after did he take me to our room, not even bothering to close the door as he silently went to tangle our bodies together once again…

I didn't refuse.

I didn't hesitate.

But I had to ask before we went any further, "W-Why did you, kill him..?" I felt him lick slowly at my naked shoulder.

"Simply because my – father would have done the same…in a much, much more painful way." Softly down did he bite…

"Ol man…" Inuyasha said as he starred wide-eyed at his father who was casually standing outside of his Inn. Casually, did Touga hand a letter to his youngest son with an air of uneasiness surrounding him. Little did the older demon know that the same air of uneasiness surrounded his youngest, "So…" Inuyasha started once again, "This' for me? Or-"

"It's for the young women currently staying with your older brother," Inuyasha slightly narrowed his eyes, knowing that whatever was in the said letter wasn't something that would be particularly 'good'. The want to know what was written had his curiosity working, "Don't even bother to open it, my youngest, I have made sure that the letter can only be opened and read by the one it is to be sent to."

"Why didn't 'cha just deliver tha' thi-" Inuyasha was interrupted-

"I do not have the want to see my eldest so soon," Touga softly brushed back strands of hair behind hidden, pointed ears, turning around to walk away from a slightly bewildered Inuyasha. He smiled a small yet confused smile, thinking back to the words spoken by the young women before, "Maybe…maybe if you tried to forget the hate that you hold against Sesshomaru-"…"I wonder," Touga spoke as he walked along, passing by the questioning looks of the people, "If I ever did try to forgive him…Would the pain finally…disappear..?"

Giving the matter some thought, the lonely demon walked quietly down the, now moon-lit pathway, seeking the even more lonesome castle he called 'home'…

Joker… Chapter 7

End

T.B.C

Itachi – Yeah, a lot happened in this very late chappie! Blame the lateness on my horrid writers block! I tried and I tried but it wouldn't go away! (Once I had a break – from – the- block, I wrote this little guy up as fast as I could!) And no, Sesshomaru is NOT a vampire! (He is in my other Fan Fic 'Vampire Hunters and Un-human Monsters'. I really do hope you all would forgive me! Review please!