InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ The Beginning of the Festival ( Chapter 58 )

Chapter Fifty-Eight:

The Beginning of the Festival

Kagome looked at herself in the mirror. The maids and Shusui had really outdone themselves. She looked….beautiful! Her kimono was expensive and extravagant, made of the finest silk in Japan. It was deep blue and silver; a silver obi tied about her waist, soft blue slippers graced her feet. Her hair was piled atop her head, a few curls left loose to hang about her shoulders and back, her lips painted a deep red, and blue eye shadow applied lightly to her eyelids.

Kagome smiled at her reflection in the full length mirror.

She felt like a princess.

"Oh, Kagome-sama, you look so beautiful," Shusui said clapping her hands together.

"It's all thanks to you Shusui," Kagome said to the woman as she turned and clasped hands with her.

Shusui merely smiled at the complement.

"We'd better get downstairs. I have to have breakfast before I go and greet our guest, though it sounds as though more and more guests are arriving. To tell the truth, I did not expect have so many guests to arrive on time," Kagome said.

"They have come to see Lord Sesshomaru's pregnant mate, as well as gawk at Lord InuTaisho's return," Shusui predicted with a small frown.

Kagome sighed.

No doubt her guest were here to sniff out any hint of a scandal that included Lord Sesshomaru's new mate or his newly returned father. Kagome shook her head. She wasn't the least bit surprised by their behavior. If there was one thing people enjoyed, it was gossip, and like it or not, they were here to do just that.

"Let's get this over with," Kagome said as she stepped down from the dressing stool and walked towards the door.

Opening the door of the dressing room, Kagome walked into her bedroom to find Sesshomaru dressed and handsome. He wore a deep blue and silver kimono and deep blue hakamas, accented with a silver obi. Walking over to him, she placed her hand on the arm he offered and they left the bedchamber, Shusui walking a few paces behind them.

As the walked down the complex maze of hallways, stairs and corridors the noise from the Great Hall reached her ears. From the volume of the noise, Kagome could tell there were a lot of people crowded in the large room.

As they passed by the Great Hall, Kagome couldn't help but wonder, judging from the high volume of noise, how all the guests fit into that room. Of course the Great Hall was a large room, but it sounded like a stamped had taken up residence in the Hall.

They reached a moderate sized room, a smaller version of the main dinning room. Sesshomaru led her to a chair, pulled it out and pushed it back in after she was seated before sliding out a chair for Shusui next to Kagome. With the women seated, he walked over to sit at the head of the table.

They sat for no more than a few minutes before the servants began to serve them breakfast. Since there were no humans at the table, the cook had prepared raw deer meat, an assortment of fruits and leafy green vegetables.

Kagome felt her stomach rumble and her mouth water as the scent of the bloody meat reached her nose.

Picking up her knife and fork, she dug in as Sesshomaru and Shusui ate their food quietly. Once they had had their fill of the meal, they sat to converse for a while before tackling the task of sorting out the chaos that was their guests.

"What events do you have planned for this festival, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.

He had let her plan everything, and had not once asked her what the festival would entail, and he had not thought to ask her.

He was curious now.

"For tonight, just a banquet, and tomorrow will most likely be too soon to do anything other than make sure everyone is settled in. This week is mostly just to get everything and everyone in order. The events will not start until next week; however, if everything gets settled before then we will start sooner. The first event will be a series of games; swimming, running, archery, things of that nature," Kagome explained.

"We've come up with a few prizes. Gold medals for the winners of the games, a modest sum of money for the winner of the tournament," Shusui added, "and Kagome is thinking about having a talent show towards the end of the festival,"

Sesshomaru raised a brow at that.

"Talent show?" he inquired, confused by the pretty flush that rose into her cheeks.

"Kagome-sama herself is thinking of participating," Shusui said with a proud smile, "With all the erhu lessons I've been giving her these past weeks, I think she's ready to have her very first performance."

Sesshomaru didn't know if that was true or not, she had never before performed for him and he had never been around to listen in on the lessons Shusui gave. He was always shut up in his study trying to figure out a way to pursue the Evil Six without having to involve Kagome in the battle.

After the close call with that band of sadistic bastards, if he could avoid having to rely on Kagome's ability to locate them he would.

His mind had been so focused on his task that he had not taken the time to see her progress on the erhu, but if Shusui thought Kagome was ready for such a thing as an actual performance then she probably was. Shusui would not have let her do so if she wasn't absolutely sure. Sesshomaru made a mental note to make sure that he made time to hear her play when the talent show began.

"I'm really nervous about it, and I'm going to keep practicing until the time comes, but its something I wish to do," Kagome admitted, her face beet red, "I just hope I don't make a fool of myself. I think I'd die of embarrassment if they laughed at me,"

"They would not dare," Sesshomaru informed her with absolute certainty.

If they did dare to laugh at his mate, he would rip their throat out with his fangs himself.

Kagome smiled.

"You sound so certain of that, Sesshomaru,"

"This Sesshomaru is always certain, woman"

Shusui smiled at that. He was so arrogant.

"We had better get out to the Great Hall," Kagome said.

Sesshomaru stood, pulled out the chairs of both Kagome and Shusui, offered his arm to Kagome and headed to the Great Hall. Kagome was pleasantly full from the breakfast and as she walked, she felt a flutter in her belly. Actually, it could no longer be considered a flutter. It was actual movement. She could feel a soft appendage pushing at the confines of her abdomen.

Smiling, she caressed her swollen belly as they turned the corner and walked down the hall that led directly to the large double doors of the Great Hall.

The soldiers standing outside of the doors leading to the Great Hall opened them without hesitation.

A hush instantly fell over the guests at their entrance. Various individuals stared at the Lord and Lady of the Western lands. The maids and servants had done a wonderful job with the decorations. The hall was decorated in different hues of blues and silver, dozens of candles lined the walls and the floors had been scrubbed extra clean. Not that Kagome could see the floors with all the guests packed into the Great Hall.

Kagome had never seen so many humans, hanyous and demons in one room before. On the other side of the Hall, she could see even more guest were pouring into the room, quieting as they too spotted the couple.

Kagome could not help but think she may have gone a little overboard with the invites. Inwardly shrugging, she drew in a breath.

"Thank you all for coming," she began in a strong voice, hoping everyone could hear her, though she seriously doubted it, "We welcome you to the Western lands,"

Kagome waited for the applause to die down before she continued speaking.

"As you know, the May Day festival is a very important time of the year. It is a time for fellowship and fun, friendship and banquets. I encourage you all to enjoy your stay here in the Western lands. You will all be assigning rooms here in the castle; if you have brought servants they are welcome to share the servant's quarters, and if you have brought soldiers or guards, they are welcome to seek lodging in the soldier's quarters or they are free to sleep here in the Great Hall.

Once everyone has been settled and all sleeping arrangements have been made, we will all celebrate the first day of May with an elaborate banquet, at which, the many games, tournaments, and other forms of entertainment and the time of these engagements will be told to you all. Once again, I welcome you all to the Western lands, and hope you all enjoy the May Day festival,"

Kagome breathed of relief as the crowd cheered at the announcement. Kagome looked at Sesshomaru, wondering if he had anything to add. As he stared silently back at here, she figured he didn't. With the announcement made, the noise level steadily began to rise until Kagome could scarcely hear her own thoughts.

Kagome didn't mind at all. She was so excited, too excited to care about something so insignificant as the noise level of her guests.

She so loved celebrations of any kind, the May Day festival especially, everyone seemed happy and content to be kind to others. All in all, the May Day festival put everyone in a good mood, and with the threat of the remaining Evil Six members loose, as well as the new threat her vision had made visible to her she knew that everyone could use this celebration to bring smiles to their faces and the burden of worry from their shoulders.

"Now that the announcement has been made, we should help with assigning the rooms, ne, Kagome-sama?" Shusui asked from behind the couple.

"Good idea, Shusui," Kagome said as she detangled herself from her mate and turned to face Shusui. Linking arms with the older female, Kagome began to lead her down the stone steps of the Great Hall.

"You are not to overtax yourself, Kagome," Sesshomaru reminded her as the two women began their decent, "If you feel tired, you are to rest. If you have need of me, send a servant to locate me,"

Kagome pretended not to hear him as she lead Shusui away, a smirk on her face as she felt the hot burn of his scowl of displeasure on her back. Shusui turned to give the displeased male an apologetic smile as she and Kagome disappeared in the sea of bodies.

Sesshomaru watched her disappear before turning on his heel with an inaudible sigh. The minx. He knew damn well she had heard his command.

Walking down the hall, he headed towards his study. With his mate, Shusui, and several servants overseeing the celebration there was nothing left for him to do but return to his work. He had made his appearance and would not need to make another until the banquet began tonight.

For that, he was grateful.

He didn't like strangers in his lair and really didn't care one way or another to be around them or to play the gracious host. He would be civil to the guests for Kagome's sake, he knew she had put her heart and soul into making sure everything was perfect, and he would not be so disrespectful as to ruin this for her, but he liked his privacy and these intruders infringed on his good mood.

He was a very private male.

He had never really entertained. If any celebrations occurred in the Western lands it was usually not happening in his castle. He attended celebrations, but the Western castle had not hosted a festival since his father had 'died'.

To tell the truth, he found such gatherings to be a bit tedious, only good for searching out temporary mistresses to sate his lust and that was it.

Besides, with everything that was going on, he was not really in the mood to tolerate a festival or gossip seeking demons, hanyous and humans. He had so much on his mind; the remaining individuals of The Evil Six, his father, the possibility that he may be stripped of his title and station, the pups Kagome carried, and Kagome herself.

Had he been a lesser male, it all would have been too much for him to bear at once; but of course, he was no lesser male. Not in any way. He backed down from no one, shied from no responsibilities, or problem. He faced every trouble in his life with open eyes and courage.

This was no different.

He straightened his shoulders. He would carry each and every burden and not falter. Not only did the world hold him up to a certain standard, he himself held himself up to a standard many could only dream of. He refused to lower them, no matter the circumstance.

Life would not get the better of him.

As he approached his study, his father's scent came to him. Sesshomaru stopped at the door; hesitating.

He grimaced at his lack of confidence. It was not like him. He hesitated before no male…and yet here he was. Hesitating before a male. His own father no less.

He clenched his fists. He had to get a grip on his emotions. Where was his cool aloof attitude? Where was his cold and calculating air? He never allowed himself to show so much emotion, whether it be anger, apprehension or otherwise. Not to himself and damn sure not to anyone else. Things were changing. He was changing, and was not sure he liked it.

Damn this change, damn his father and damn his overtaxed emotions. He hesitated before no male!

Gripping the door handle, he forced all emotion aside as he pushed the door open. His father sat in his big chair behind his large desk, scrolls and documents stacked neatly in piles. The rising sun from the window behind his father let in fresh sunlight. His father looked up from the parchment he had been reading. A beam of sunlight illuminated the amber eyes that were so like his own, and instantly, Sesshomaru was taken back to a time in his childhood.

A time when he had loved and admired his father above all.

He scowled.

Nonsense.

Fucking nonsense.

They sat in awkward silence for a while, their eyes locked.

"Good morn, Sesshomaru," his father greeted softly.

"The same to you," Sesshomaru said civilly.

"If you have need for your desk, I will move at once. You need only ask," InuTaisho said half rising from the chair.

Sesshomaru made an impatient motion with his hand. He would not act the child and command his father to leave his study when it had been decreed that they work together as co-Lords of the Western lands, he would behave himself as such.

"There is more than enough room for us both," Sesshomaru said.

A bit surprised, InuTaisho sat back down in the chair, his eyes one Sesshomaru. They stood there once again in a heavy, awkward silence. Clearing his throat, InuTaisho turned to the scrolls in hand.

"I've been investigating some strange occurrences in the Western lands over the past few years," InuTaisho began.

Sesshomaru said nothing, instead looked his father straight in the eyes as the only sign that his father had his full attention.

"It seems that a strange disease has claimed the lives of many women, hanyou, youkai and human alike. The disease occurs suddenly and without warning, its origins are unknown and have been for the last few decades," InuTaisho said.

"What are the symptoms of the disease? How is the death caused?"

And how had he missed such a significant disease? He had not heard of such a disease. There was no way such a thing would have slipped his notice.

Was there?

"The affected female becomes mentally unstable, suffers nightmares and hallucinations, coughs rake the body, some of the more susceptible women cough up blood. The disease is similar to a wasting disease. The female becomes easily fatigued until she can no longer move from her bed. The disease can last for days, months or even years, it depends upon the woman. Death can come without warning. The vital organs of the body shut down automatically or one by one. None have survived the disease, and none have found a cure,"

"Why has this Sesshomaru not been informed of such occurrences?" Sesshomaru asked softly.

"Mayhap because you were not meant to be informed," InuTaisho said, "Elder Torao has investigated these happenings himself and has not saw fit to inform you or anyone else of the incidents. I took the liberty of sending some investigators out to the villages where the women died and this is all the information they were able to recover," he said motioning to the scroll with a clawed hand.

Silver brows drew down in confusion.

"What reason would Elder Torao have for undertaking such an investigation without consulting this Sesshomaru, let alone asking permission to do such a thing?"

"My sentiments exactly," InuTaisho agreed, "I believe Elder Torao bears watching,"

Sesshomaru walked over to one of the large floor length windows near a corner of the room, his back to his father, hands clasped behind him as he stared out at the bright red and orange strips rising up into the deep blue sky. Its red beams of light stretching out into the sky like graceful vines of a rose bush. Now that he thought about those symptoms, they seemed eerily similar to the symptoms his own mother had suffered.

His mother had died just as InuTaisho described. Before her death, she had suffered horrible, horrible hallucinations and night terrors.

As a child, he had awoken on more than one occasion to her piercing, terrified screams.

"Don't let them take me…..please don't….I'm so scared Sesshomaru…."

He closed his eyes against the memory of his mother's trembling voice. If her death had in fact been this illness InuTaisho spoke of, then it had been around longer than a few decades. But InuTaisho probably had not made the connection. He opened his eyes to stare at the beautiful sky once more.

Nay, his father had not made the connection.

How could he have?

InuTaisho had been gone most of the time with his beloved mistress and had not known how bad his mother's condition had gotten before she died. By the time he had returned, his mother had been too fatigued to even have nightmares or hallucinations. She had simply laid there.

Dying.

Wasting away before his very eyes until one day, she had slept and never woken again. He had laid next to her cold body a few hours before the servants had come into check on her.

He remembered being carried away. He had not made a sound. Had not shed a single tear or showed the slightest emotion as the maids cried their eyes out, all the while trying to comfort him when it had been them that had needed the comfort.

The fact that InuTaisho did not seem to realize that he was reading the circumstances and symptoms of his son's dead mother's illness instantly soured his mood.

"Aye," Sesshomaru said quietly, "Elder Torao bears watching. This Sesshomaru will see to it,"

Again, the silence stretched between them. InuTaisho watched his son from his seat behind the desk, silently wishing there was something he could say to remove the cool, aloof attitude his son used as a barrier to keep him out.

"How is your mate, Sesshomaru?" InuTaisho asked, "No visions to disturb her?"

"Nay,"

InuTaisho waited for Sesshomaru to say more before realizing his son did not intend to elaborate further. InuTaisho inwardly sighed. His son was sure as hell stubborn. InuTaisho knew he had no one to blame but himself for that little flaw in his son's character; he himself had such a flaw and had no doubt that he had been the one to pass it down to Sesshomaru himself.

If safe and polite conversation would not work to break the uncomfortable tension in the room, mayhap a more direct approach was called for.

"Can we not put the past aside and start over?" InuTaisho asked abruptly.

"There is naught to put aside. This Sesshomaru's past need not be put aside," Sesshomaru said, his back still turned to his father.

"Can you not even turn to look at your own father when he speaks to you?" InuTaisho asked impatiently.

"If this Sesshomaru had a father, he would have no problem facing him," Sesshomaru replied dryly.

InuTaisho brought his fist down hard on the mahogany desk in irritation.

"Dammit boy, how much longer can you hold this grudge?" he suddenly exclaimed, "I know that I have made mistakes where you and your mother are concerned, I should have been there for you, I should not have made Izaoi my mate so soon after your mother's passing. I made a mistake. I understand that now, but damn it all Sesshomaru, hating me does nothing to help our relationship as father and son. Hating me will not erase years of pain, hating me will not bring your mother from the grave,"

Sesshomaru turned then, eyes blazing.

"You speak out of turn, old man. We are Co-Lords of the Western lands and that is the extent of our 'relationship'. Do not overstep those bounds," Sesshomaru hissed.

"Sesshomaru, I know how you feel about me, hell I know how you felt about me after your mother passed, but son those feelings of hatred will do naught but fester inside of you. You must let go,"

"This Sesshomaru does not have feelings towards you, negative or otherwise,"

"I had not thought that one such as you would stoop to self denial,"

Sesshomaru growled low in his throat, clenching his jaw tight in order to keep his lips from forming the scathing remark he so wished to deliver to his father. He would not let him goad him into making such revealing comments. He would keep his emotions in check, buried deep inside him. As he pushed down his tornado of feelings, he turned his back once more, staring at the brightly lit sky.

"This Sesshomaru has killed many a person for comments less offensive then the one you have delivered,"

"I don't doubt it," InuTaisho said unapologetically, "The comment was not meant to be offensive, it was merely the truth of things,"

"Believe what you will. This Sesshomaru knows 'the truth of things',"

Silence once more reigned superior. InuTaisho so hated that damning silence.

"Am I not allowed to make a mistake?" InuTaisho asked tightly.

"You are free to make as many mistakes as you please,"

"That is not what I mean and you damn well know it," InuTaisho took a breath, "Sesshomaru, I am only a demon, not a God. I am not perfect, not now and certainly not then. You must understand,-"

"I must understand nothing," Sesshomaru said.

InuTaisho growled in frustration. He was behaving like a stubborn pup.

"Now look you here-"

A knock at the door stopped InuTaisho mid sentence.

"Enter," Sesshomaru said from his place before the window.

One of the tall doors of the double doors opened and Miroku entered, Jaken trailing after him. Jaken instantly pushed past the human and dropped his face down to the carpeted floor.

"Good morning my Lords," he squawked, "might I say that-"

"No you might not," Sesshomaru said, cutting off Jaken's irritable tirade of compliments and praises before they even began, "State your purpose,"

"Y-yes milord, right away mil-"

"Jaken," he warned softly.

Jaken picked himself up from the floor and cleared his throat. Miroku rolled his eyes, wanting nothing more than to stomp on the little grin imp. They would be here a whole century if they waited for the toad to spit out the reason for his visit, and judging from Sesshomaru's tone of voice, the demon Lord was extremely prickly today and was likely not in the mood for Jaken's antics.

As Miroku looked over at the silver haired male seated at Sesshomaru's massive mahogany desk, he was certain that the male was the direct cause for Sesshomaru's displeasure. The rumors of the friction between father and son were clearly not an exaggeration at all.

Though Miroku had not met the older male before, he seemed to be a lot open and approachable than his son. His eyes were a lot warmer and almost friendly in their warmth.

A stark contrast to his son's eyes.

"I bring news from the former Northern lands," Jaken began, "Th-"

"What news do you bring, adviser?" Sesshomaru inquired, once more cutting off the green toad.

Miroku cleared his throat as the green midget next to him glared up at him, clearly unhappy with his master's dismissal of him. Miroku could care less. He could tell from the sound of his voice that Sesshomaru was one second away from decapitating the next person that got on his nerves, and he had no intention of being that hapless person.

"So far the investigators have not been able to tell if the deaths that have been occurring are directly connecting to the last remaining members of the Evil Six," Miroku began, "So far thirty-two villages have been attacked, all villagers killed, not a shred of evidence left behind, not even a scent for the demon trackers investigating,"

The report was nothing Sesshomaru had not already expected. If his own investigators were not able to find out more about this new threat, Sesshomaru was sure Miroku's investigators wouldn't be able to either. Another thought came to him. Maybe Miroku's investigators had uncovered more information about the mysterious illness that had claimed the lives of countless females, and may have very well killed his own mother.

Any information the adviser had would be of great value not only in understanding the illness, but also seeing if Elder Torao had any involvement in the disease.

"Have there been any unexplained deaths of females?" Sesshomaru asked.

Surprised, Miroku shook his head. He could not remember any such reports of such deaths at all. Though to tell the truth, he had not been looking for anything of that nature.

"Not to my knowledge, however, I have not had the chance to look over the death records as of yet. The threat of the Evil Six and this possible new threat has taken up most of my time,"

"Upon your return to the Northern lands, you are to check death records from the past century and report any strange deaths to this Sesshomaru within a fortnight. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my Lord," Miroku said, still confused as to why Sesshomaru would ask such a thing of him.

He guessed he would find out soon enough. Miroku figured he was dismissed, however he hesitated. Sesshomaru had not introduced him to his father and did not seem inclined to do so. Miroku, however, wanted to become acquainted with the returned demon Lord, simply because he too was a Lord of the Western lands and therefore, his liege Lord as much as Lord Sesshomaru was.

"Is there more you would say?" InuTaisho asked.

Miroku cast a cautious glance at Sesshomaru's tall, brooding form by the window, wondering if the younger Lord would be offended if he introduced himself to his father before he spoke.

"Aye, my Lord, though I do not believe we have been acquainted. I am Miroku, a long time friend and adviser of Lady Kagome," he introduced himself with a bow.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miroku," InuTaisho said with a nod, "I am Lord InuTaisho,"

"A pleasure to meet you as well, sir," he said with a smile, "I look forward to working with you,"

"And I you,"

Miroku bowed once more.

"Thank you for your time, my Lords, I shall take my leave now,"

That said, Miroku turned, 'accidently' stepping on the green toad on his way out the door. Jaken let out a loud squawk and stood up quick, shaking his two headed staff at the retreating human male.

"You stupid human!" he yelled, "I ought of have you whipped for that!"

"Jaken,"

Jaken stiffened and turned to face the owner of the voice that had called his name. Lord InuTaisho's amber eyes flayed him on the spot. Jaken had forgotten how deadly his former master's looks could be, though he was not sure how he had forgotten, heaven knows his son had inherited the looks from his father.

"You are dismissed, Jaken," InuTaisho said.

"Y-yes my, Lord," Jaken said as he turned tail and headed for the double doors, not wanting to push his luck anymore than he already had.

As the door closed behind the toad with a bang, the silence that InuTaisho so hated returned as deafening as before.

InuTaisho sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagura looked up at Ensei's warm brown eyes. The concern inside those eyes made her heart clench.

What could she say staring into such kind eyes?

How could she explain? How could she not?

Reaching out, she stroked his face. Nothing more than a gentle caress, and yet it was so much more to Kagura. She wanted to remember this face, the feel of smooth warm flesh, the familiar look of kindness and tenderness found in those eyes.

God why did she have to love? Why did she have to love him so?

Reaching up, Ensei covered her hand with his own, the warmth and tenderness of the gesture brought forth another constriction to her heart. Her breath hitched as he placed a warm gentle kiss on each of her fingertips.

Leaning down, Ensei nuzzled her check with his nose, his lips brushing over her ear as he held her captured hand against his heart.

"Tell me Kagura," he implored softly, "tell me what troubles you so. Tell me so I may fix it,"

Kagura closed her eyes against his words, her heart unbearably tight, her lips clenched together to keep from complying with his soft demand. Even as she knew she could never tell him the truth, she longed to unburden herself, to let his strong broad shoulders carry her heavy burden.

Nonsense.

"There are some troubles that cannot be fixed," Kagura said after a lengthy silence.

"You can't know that,"

"Yes I can," she said looking away, "I know that as I know the sky is blue,"

"Kagura-"

She placed a finger to his lips.

"Can we not talk of other matters?"

Ensei scowled at her finger, but sighed.

"I suppose we could," he said reluctantly, "But do not believe I have given up this inquiry, I mean to find out what troubles you so,"

Kagura was just as determined to make sure he did not.

"Tell me of your days in the Eastern lands," Kagura asked changing the subject.

Ensei lay back on the soft green grass of the hill they sat upon, placing his hands behind his head as Kagura leaned over him.

"There is not much to tell that you probably don't already know," he began, "Things have been similar to the way things are here in the Western lands. This new threat has been ravaging the villages in the Eastern lands and despite our best efforts; we cannot locate the culprits,"

Kagura sat silently, wondering if in fact her creator was behind the deaths. She would not put it past him. Even with the death of all except two members of the Evil Six, she knew for a fact that Vishious was only getting started. This had his name written all over it.

What sort of horrors had her creator unleashed?

She could not even begin to imagine.

"Is it really bad?" Kagura asked softly.

"Aye, it is really bad. Many are dying by the hundreds. Entire villages and cities completely wiped out in a matter of hours. Lord Sarinji is here for the May Day celebration as well as to speak with Lord Sesshomaru and Lord InuTaisho about this growing threat. He wishes to come up with a strategy to stop or at least identify what we are facing,"

"Lord Sarinji wishes to speak with Lord Sesshomaru? Considering what went on between them, do you think that's wise?"

Ensei sighed.

He himself had questioned the same thing.

"No, I don't think it wise but what other option is there? This has to stop. If we do not do something soon all of Japan will be wiped out. Besides, I've spoken to Lord Sarinji on numerous occasions about his behavior towards Lady Kagome and I believe I've been able to talk some sense into him,"

"I hope so, because Lord Sesshomaru's mood has been considerably dark since his father's return. I do not think he would think twice about seriously hurting or even killing Lord Sarinji,"

"I think he's finally come to his senses,"

"That's good,"

"And you Kagura?" he asked as he pulled her down next to him on grass, "how have things been here with you?"

Kagura lay down willingly next to him, stretching out on her side to face him, as he too turned on his side.

"Well, I have been learning to cook with the head cook in the kitchens. I am rather good at it though I was not when I first began," she blushed, "I nearly blew up the kitchens, it was very embarrassing," she confessed with a smile as Ensei chuckled.

"Well, now that you are better at cooking, I would love to sample some of your dishes," Ensei said with a smirk.

Kagura laughed.

"Of course, my Lord,"

As laughter faded Ensei reached up and caressed her cheek in that soft way that she loved. Kagura felt her heart pound as he looked at her with a smoldering look in his eyes. She did not resist when he pulled her close to him and placed his lips against her own. Instead of the tender kiss he normally placed upon his lips, this one was fierce and demanding, stealing the breath from her lungs.

She had barely begun to return the kiss before he pulled back, nuzzling her cheek softly.

"Kagura," he whispered, "Would you mind terribly if I courted you. I wish for you to become my mate,"

Kagura leaned back to looked at him with shocked eyes as wide as saucers. Had she heard right? Had he really asked her that or had her mind played a cruel trick on her?

She looked up into his eyes. His gaze was steady, measuring her reaction, awaiting her answer.

She had not heard wrong. She took in a deep breath, willing herself not to shout out 'yes!' and throwing herself into his kind arms. Gods she couldn't even consider it! Vishious would never allow it and she could never keep it a secret, not when he was always in her mind, sometimes when she wasn't even aware that he was there.

"Ensei, I-"

Seeing her hesitation he stopped her words with a clawed finger.

"You need not answer now. Give me this month to court you properly, Kagura. At the end of the May Day festival, I shall inquire again,"

Deciding not to argue, Kagura merely nodded.

"When the May Day festivals comes to an end, I will have your answer,"

"Good," he said standing and pulling her up with him, "Now, why don't we continue our tour of the grounds. You have yet to show me the gardens,"

Kagura smiled as she looped her with his and headed to the gardens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking through the woods, his pets and Ehvil a few paces behind him, Vishious heard the entire conversation between Kagura and Ensei as if he had been a fly in a tree next to the couple, and the words they spoke filled him with glee.

He smiled.

When he tore them apart the pain would be unimaginable, especially Kagura's pain.

Being so connected with her, he would be able to feel her pain as if it were his own, and knowing that fact made him so damn impatient to tear them apart now. He wanted to feel her pain, wanted to taste it, to feel it wash over him in all its twisted glory. But he would wait. He would make himself wait until he was at a point when he could cause as much as pain as possible.

He could wait for that day. At least he hoped he could, there was not telling with him. He may change his mind later on down the line. He shrugged. It mattered not; he would cause her pain when he was ready and not a moment before.

Although, he wonder how far he should let things go. Of course letting the relationship continue as far as possible would ensure that both individual's agony would be great when he separated them, however if she got too close to him, she might forget herself and let slip who and what she really was and in the long run that would ruin the many plans of torture he had for the demon lord.

Kagura was needed to carry out his orders and get rid of those beasts living inside the womb of his woman.

He bristled as he thought of those mutts inside his woman.

They would definitely need to be disposed of, and there were plenty of ways to do so, each of which would punish her for daring to let that rabid beast impregnate her.

He was almost tempted to allow her to have the pups just so he could stuff them in a bag and throw them in the river to drown. The idea very much appealed to him but he still would prefer that the little bastards not be born at all.

He shrugged.

Either way it went, those miserable pups would not live to see their first birthday. He would make sure of that himself if he had to.

"How did their feeding go?" he asked without turning or slowing his pace.

"It went well. They were able to wipe out each village within an hour or so," Ehvil answered, "So far none have been able to make a connection between them and us,"

"Have any of the villagers been left alive?"

"Nay, we were very careful to search each and every village for survivors. None were left alive, I made sure myself,"

Vishious nodded in satisfaction.

He knew he could always count on Ehvil to carry out his orders flawlessly. The bond the two males shared had been forged through fire and was as strong as any physical bond. There had been a time during Ehvil's time with Kagome that Vishious had questioned the male's loyalty, but so far, he had proven every bit as loyal as he had always been.

"And their learning progress?"

"So far, Tourcher seems to be making the most progress," Ehvil said waving a hand at the new Tourcher, "He seems to understand much when I speak to him and make commands, though he still cannot string together a proper sentence,"

Vishious had expected nothing less. The creatures impersonating his former companions were slow learners, but as cold and vicious as Vishious himself was. They did not really form the emotional bonds as his former group members did, however they were known for having an extremely addictive personality.

If they found they liked a certain thing, they became obsessive, addicted quite easily, and it was next to impossible to break them of whatever habit they develop, however, their addictive natures were not only a disadvantage, but also a large advantage. At least an advantage for Vishious, for if he could find out what they most desired, he could control them, dangle what they most wanted before their face and only allow them to have it when his orders were carried out to perfection.

This was why he had Ehvil watching their activities very closely; looking for the first sign of their weakness.

Vishious had no doubt in his mind that their obsessions would be revealed to him soon. They were only a few weeks old, there was no way he could have missed it.

"What of the others?" he asked.

"They are slowly learning. Mahdness seems to be the next fastest learner, however, he seems to be forming his addiction already though," Ehvil answered looking over at the new Mahdness.

It had stopped to look up at a bird chirping happily on a low branch of a tree. With blinding speed, it reached out a hand and snatched the bird from the branch capturing it in a fierce, crushing grip. Bringing the bird up to eye level to study the squawking bird, seemingly amused by the way the bird's eyes bulged as he applied pressure.

As the others closed in to look at the bird in his tight grip, Mahdness turned away. Not to be put off, once again they tried to take a look at the bird. Mahdness growled deep in his chest.

"Mine," he hissed, striking out with a fist that caught Khaos in the face, laying him flat out on the ground.

"What his affliction?" Vishious asked.

"It seems to be greed," Ehvil said as he turned from the display.

Vishious chuckled. Such any easy affliction to control. Dangling material objects before the creature would secure his cooperation without effort.

"The others have not made much progress, though their progression is not at a stand still, they are making progress, just not as much as Tourcher and Mahdness,"

"I see. You are to take Tourcher and Mahdness out more than the others, hone their learning skills. They should be able to catch on completely pretty soon," Vishious said, "If we have at least two of them with enough sense then they can help the others catch up,"

There was silence for a while as the group made their way deeper into the woods. The deeper they walked, the darker their surroundings grew. Dead and dying vegetation hung over their heads and underneath their feet. The area became to look more and more like a swampland. The dirt beneath their feet was soft and muddy, the nearly scarce amount of brown grass crunchy. The sound of wildlife was all around them, screams and growls of predators.

Behind Ehvil, Mahdness continued to squeeze the poor bird until a loud popping noise filled their ears and the birds head slumped to the side, its eyes bleeding. Looking at the bird in confusion, Mahdness squeezed the dead bird again, trying to once more make it squawk in pain.

The bird did not make a sound.

Brow drawing down he shook the bird in growing anger, squeezing a few more times but still, the bird neither made a sound, nor did it move.

Rushing to catch up with Ehvil, he stood in front of him and shoved the dead bloody bird in his face.

"Why?" he asked in angry confusion.

Ehvil gently pushed the bird from his face.

"It is dead," he said.

Mahdness' brows drew down at that statement.

"Dead," he said, testing the word on his tongue, trying to locate the meaning of the word in his memory.

He remembered hearing that word before, when big brother Ehvil took them out to feed on the…. His mind searched for the word Ehvil had called them. Oh yes, when he took them to feed on the humans.

"The bird…is….dead like humans," Mahdness said.

Ehvil nodded.

"Aye, they are dead like the humans you feed on in the villages," Ehvil agreed.

"Feeding…kill to feed," Mahdness murmured to himself as he looked at the bird again.

Shrugging his shoulders the way he had seen Ehvil do, he brought the bird up to his mouth and bit off its head with a loud crunch. As Ehvil continued to walk behind Vishious, Mahdness walked happily, munching on the carcass of the dead animal.

The group traveled a good distance into the wooded area until finally they reached the stone structure they had been searching for. The stone ruins were what remained of Vishious lair. Ehvil was surprised the building was still intact after all these years. Though it looked more than a little run down, the place had not really changed at all.

It was as massive as a palace, built completely of stone. The stones had been made with strong material, making the castle durable and strong. The structure was made up of a complex maze of halls, rooms, and corridors. Ehvil remembered the day they had taken the castle; it was long before the Evil Six had been formed. They had needed a hideout, had been discussing possible locations and had settled on this large structure.

It had been built in a remote, isolated, heavily wooded area. Not once in their entire time together had anyone had been able to sniff out their location when they were within the stone walls. As they approached the stone walls surrounding the hide out, Vishious' hands began to glow a dark purple.

The glow rapidly engulfed his body. The creatures behind him looked around in confusion as the ground began to shake beneath their feet. The glow from Vishious rapidly made its way down to the ground, turning the soft dirt and dying grass a deadly black color. The color engulfed the entire wooded area, consuming the stone building as well.

As the rumbling increased, the ground beneath their hide out rose up into the sky, towering over the group. The crater beneath the stone building filled up with a dark liquid.

The stone castle atop the raised ground turned black, no longer looking as rundown as it had before. It looked as if it had just been built. The roof was no longer crumbling, there were no cracks in the walls, no overgrown vines hanging from the windows, and a dark purple glow radiated from the entire structure. It looked….evil.

The trees around the area swayed, their branches reaching like arms towards the building.

The trunk of the trees began to form dents and from those indentations faces formed, mouths lined with rows and rows of teeth opened, emitting loud snarls and growls. Everything around them seemed to come alive, each creature radiating evil and malice. It was a sight to see.

A beautiful sight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yamiko grunted as his sword was pushed back from the force of the strike. Leaping backwards, he sprang forward bringing his sword down hard against InuYasha's blade. The sound of metal hitting metal rang in his ears.

"Not bad, ugly," InuYasha taunted.

"Not bad yourself, mutt," Yamiko said with a grin.

The two males were engaged in their new routine of competitive sparing. Since Yamiko had arrived, the two had sort of settled into an easy routine to pass the days. In the morning, they would wake and have breakfast downstairs with Kagome, Shusui, Kagura, Lord InuTaisho, and Sesshomaru if he was inclined to join them, which was very rare, especially if Lord InuTaisho was in attendance at the breakfast table.

After breakfast, they would either go swimming or go just relax and trade insults down by the river until the midday meal was ready. Again, they would share a meal with the women, Lord InuTaisho, sometimes Elder Toramaru, and Sesshomaru if he was not locked up in his study.

After stuffing their face, trading insults over the table, and receiving a badly needed scolding from both Kagome and Shusui about their language, they would head off to a secluded area to spar and again trade insults until they tired of fighting, a winner was declared or dinner was ready, which ever came first.

So far everything was working out fine.

Pushing against InuYasha's blade with his own, Yamiko retreated a distance away from the hanyou before leaping forward. As InuYasha brought up his sword in a defensive stance, Yamiko took advantage of the position.

With a hard swing, he pushed InuYasha away, sending the blade flying into a nearby tree as he pulled back his fist and let it fly right towards InuYasha's face.

Briefly surprised, InuYasha barely had enough time to dodge the swing. As he moved slightly to the left, he captured Yamiko's fist and spun him around and around before letting him fly.

Yamiko cursed as he was sent flying head first into a tree.

Flipping in mid air, his feet landed on the trunk of the tree. Using the momentum, Yamiko launched himself back at InuYasha, just as the hanyou dove for his sword embedded in the tree to his right. He barely brought the sword up in time to block the attack. He grunted as the force of Yamiko's sword pushed them both backwards.

As they hit the ground, InuYasha grabbed hold of Yamiko's arms, placed his foot, none too gently into his gut and flung him over his head. Yamiko somersaulted over InuYasha, barely landing on his feet.

InuYasha sprang up onto his feet.

As the two males sank down into position to clash again, a rumbling sound drew their attention. Turning around InuYasha looked over at the forest behind him. It looked like someone or something was tearing down trees at a very rapid pace. As the trees fell, dust rose. From the way the trees fell, InuYasha could tell that whatever it was, it was blazing a trail headed right for them.

"What the hell is that?" InuYasha wondered aloud as he gripped his sword, prepared for whatever manner of beast would emerge from the forest.

Yamiko merely sighed and placed a hand to his head.

"Crap," he said an instant before the 'beast' finally emerged from the tree line, sword in hand, yellow eyes blazing.

"Yamiko! You're dead!" a voice called out.

InuYasha blinked in surprise as a beautiful woman came running towards him, murder in her eyes. She wore a red kimono that was scandalously slit at the sides, revealing the smooth skin of her legs. Her yellow obi matched the yellow daisies embroidered on her red kimono, and red slippers covered her tiny feet. Whoever the woman was, she was damn fast. InuYasha barely had enough time gasp before she was upon him.

Smacking one delicate, strong hand on his face, she gripped his face and tossed him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, clearing a direct path to Yamiko.

InuYasha was too shocked to even feel the impact of the tree he crashed into. He could only watch in stunned silence as the female went to town on his friend. Yamiko barely brought up his sword up in time to block the vicious attack from the small female.

InuYasha was sure his jaw was touching the floor.

As the woman unleashed a barrage of fierce attacks with the deadly, jagged edge sword clutched in her small hands, Yamiko could do nothing more than block each attack, the force of the blows pushing him backwards. With an angry growl, the woman landed a rather hard blow against Yamiko's sword, sending the male hurtling towards a tree.

Yamiko hit the tree, steadying him. Before he could even draw a breath, the woman was once more on the attack. With a surprised shout, Yamiko ducked a second before her sword slashed at his head, cleaving the tree behind him in two. Yamiko sat on the ground a moment, gaping at the woman before his brain decided to function .

As the woman raised her sword again, Yamiko crawled out of the way to avoid injury. He wasn't fast enough. With a red slipper covered foot, the woman drew back her foot and launched it hard into Yamiko's rear end, sending him skidding across the ground where he landed a few feet away.

Before he could rise, that same slipper covered foot stomped on his back repeatedly.

InuYasha could barely make out her words, as the woman was growling with each well aimed stomp.

"No…good…lying….bastard…..Leaving… . me…with….all…that…..goddamn…paper….wo rk !" the woman growled between stomps.

InuYasha was so confused.

"Language, Lady Jolicia,"

InuYasha jumped in surprise at the sound of the voice next to him. The male had a booming voice and though he sounded stern, as he looked up at the tall tower of a male, his face did not reveal any of the sternness projected in his voice.

He was as tall as an oak tree with long black hair and deep, forest green eyes and ruggedly handsome. He wore a deep green and navy blue kimono and matching green hakama. His hair hung loosely about his shoulders, down to his back. On his face were blue markings, much like Sesshomaru's however they were navy blue in coloring and upon his forehead was a blue diamond.

"The asshole deserves to be bad mouthed," Jolicia said as she reached down and pulled her brother up by the hair.

"Ow, ow, ow dammit! Let go Jolicia!" Yamiko shouted in pain.

"Language, Yamiko," the male next to InuYasha chided though both siblings seemed not to hear him, which was ridiculous to InuYasha, the male's voice was louder than a thunderstorm. InuYasha thought that perhaps the two had learned to ignore or at the very least tune out the older male's scolding.

"What's the big idea leaving that mountain of paper work back home, big brother," Jolicia hissed.

Yamiko rolled his eyes.

"It was not a mountain, more like a hill…." He cleared his throat as he detangled her hand from his hair, "A rather large hill I will admit, but a hill none the less,"

"Hill my ass," Jolicia muttered with a narrowed glare, "I was buried under all those scrolls and parchments! Some of which were very, very important and needed a signature right away! You're lucky I'm good at forging your signature and that I happen to know a thing or two about maintaining the Southern lands otherwise you would have had a mess waiting for you as soon as you returned home,"

"Jolicia, language," the male said again.

InuYasha wondered why the male continued to scold the two for their language, it sure as shit didn't seem to do any good.

"Look Jolicia, the work got done, and I'm pretty sure you enjoy doing my work more than I do, so why bitch about it?" Yamiko asked.

"Yamiko, language," the male scolded once more.

InuYasha thought the male sounded like one of the birds that talked and yet said the same things over and over.

"Because, brother, it is your responsibility," she said with a scowl, "and as long as it is your responsibility I will see to it that you carry it out even if I have to drag you there myself,"

Yamiko sighed and glared at his sister.

"You can be a real bitch you know that?" he asked with a narrowed look.

Before the male could once again scold Yamiko about his language, his sister Jolicia did it for him…rather forcefully.

Balling up her little fist, she reared back and struck him right in the mouth with enough force to make InuYasha wince, laying the male out on the ground.

With a huff, she turned her back on her fallen brother and turned to the male standing next to InuYasha, the anger finally vanishing and softening her features.

InuYasha felt his cheeks heat.

She had to be the most gorgeous female he had ever laid eyes on. Her eyes, though they were much like her brothers, were the most striking shade of yellow, and there was enough warmth in them to melt an iceberg.

She was simply beautiful.

Suddenly, those striking eyes were on him for a moment. InuYasha felt his heart speed up as she looked over him in an assessing glance before she dismissed him from her thoughts altogether with an almost insulting look.

Silver brows drew down in irritation at that action.

As she walked over to the male next to him, he felt he could not hold his tongue. How dare she just dismiss him?

"Hey! You can't just barge into our sparing match and disrupt shit like that!" he said standing.

The male standing next to her turned to him, a frown of displeasure on his face.

"Language, young male," the male said.

"Fuck that! She had no right! And what the fuck right do you have to shove me aside the way you did, you could have said excuse me!"

InuYasha thought that was a funny statement coming from him. He had never said 'excuse me' in his entire life and he certainly never had any intentions of ever saying it. But that was beside the point, this wasn't about him, this was about her.

"You shouldn't have gotten in my way," she said with a dismissive shrug of her slender shoulders.

"What did you say?" he growled, eyes blazing.

Jolicia turned to him, her own eyes blazing.

"I think you heard me, or are you deaf as well as stupid?"

"Why you-"

"I have no time for you and your stupidity. I came here to dish out punishment, and so I will take my leave of you and my idiotic brother," she said as she once more turned her back, "Sinjaku, we will take our leave of these males, I find their company deplorable,"

"Yes, my Lady," Sinjaku said.

Yamiko picked himself up from the floor as the two took their leave, heading in the direction of the castle. InuYasha growled and glared at their rapidly disappearing forms.

"Damn, I'd forgotten how hard Jolicia hits," Yamiko muttered as he dusted off his clothing and turned to InuYasha.

He chuckled as he looked at the seemingly flustered hanyou. Yamiko followed his eyes and took in the intent way the hanyou was watching his sister's hips, as well as the deep crimson flush that stained his cheeks and neck.

"What they hell do you find so funny?" InuYasha demanded as he turned his attention away from the swaying hips of Jolicia, his face burning.

"Well she is my sister after all, of course you'd find her attractive," Yamiko said almost to himself, "I'd be pounding you into the dirt if I wasn't already used to the way males look at her. Or the fact that I know for damn sure that she could take care of herself,"

"What the hell are you talking about?" InuYasha blustered turning away so that Yamiko could not witness the deepening of the flush that engulfed his entire face, "I wasn't looking at your sister in any kind of way,"

"Oh sure you weren't" Yamiko said with a smirk on his face.

"Shut up!" InuYasha said with a growl, his face an even deeper shade of red.

Yamiko laughed then wince at the pain in his mouth. Seeing the wince, InuYasha shot him a smug smile.

"Serves you right you bastard," he said.

Yamiko chuckled and shrugged his broad shoulders.

"We'd better head back to the castle," Yamiko recommended as he walked over to pick up his sword, "Jolicia will probably cause a commotion up at the castle,"

InuYasha had no doubt about that. The woman was completely mad! Not to mention extremely brutal and violent…and so beautiful.

InuYasha growled at that last thought. Who the hell cared if she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, that bitch was crazy! She had attacked her brother as if he were the enemy, without an ounce of mercy.

InuYasha was definitely not interested in a woman like that. He shook his head.

Definitely not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Laters!

~Sessakag