InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Betrayed ❯ Abandoned Hallways ( Prologue )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: Okay, so I’ve finally started one of my other fics that I said would be up a looooong time ago, but I guess better late than never. I have been working on it; I’ve just been trying to perfect it a little before posting it, so hopefully it lives up to your expectations…

DISCLAIMER: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don’t own Inuyasha, so please don’t sue…

~ * ~

Prologue: Abandoned Hallways

Inuyasha slouched on his rather oversized throne, feeling a little embarrassed by how small he was in comparison to it. He was going to have to get used to it. Starting tomorrow night, everything was going to change…

Sighing irritably, Inuyasha stood and began pacing, running his clawed hand through his messy bangs.

Miroku watched silently as his eyes followed Inuyasha’s movements.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth…

"Inuyasha, would you please stop pacing?" Miroku, although appearing calm, was getting increasingly annoyed with the hanyou prince.

Inuyasha glared at him out of the corner of his eye, but stopped anyway. Miroku flashed him an appreciative smile, but Inuyasha just rolled his eyes at him and turned to his best friend. "Miroku, something doesn't feel right. What if something goes wrong? What if-"

"Inuyasha, calm down.” Miroku interrupted. “I'm sure you're just over reacting. Everything will be fine." he reassured his friend, keeping a calm composer and sighing when Inuyasha resumed his pacing.

Rain poured from the angry darkened sky outside the castle, creating a soft pitter-patter as the droplets of water crashed against solid stone.

"Miroku, I'm not sure I even want to be king. Why didn't father leave the kingdom to Sesshomaru?! He should be king! He's older than me; He'd be the true king under normal terms, anyway! He can have the damned crown! I don’t fucking want it!" Inuyasha ranted, becoming louder and more exasperated with every line he spoke. Inuyasha suddenly lost his belligerence and sighed, pausing, and then continued softly, almost inaudible, “Perhaps he would’ve been better off that way.”

Miroku understood Inuyasha’s guilt. Inuyasha blamed himself for his father’s resent death. "Inuyasha, there had to be a reason that your father left the kingdom to you instead of Sesshomaru. Your father was a very wise man... Uh, demon.” he corrected himself. “I'm sure he had a good, logical explanation behind his decision." Miroku reasoned.

Inuyasha sighed. He knew no one would approve of a ‘half breed’ ruling over his father’s lands. His dying wish was for Inuyasha to be king instead of his eldest son, Sesshomaru. The two brothers had never gotten along in the first place, but since then, Sesshomaru had absolutely despised him. Inuyasha didn't particularly care anymore though. He was pretty used to it by now and it rarely fazed him anymore. He had come to learn quickly that everyone hated him and there wasn't really anything he could do to change it. It was just the way it was. He’d learned to just accept it.

Miroku was always right, though. He always used logic in his reasoning and was good at staying calm in bad situations no matter how hopeless it was. The monk was rarely ever wrong. He was clever and sneaky, but he did it in an innocent way that made him seem harmless and no one really picked up on his true motives. Miroku knew how to manipulate people and get what he wanted. Many underestimated the monk because of his light-hearted personality, but Inuyasha was no fool and he was cautious by nature. He knew very well what the monk was capable of. He had been Inuyasha’s friend since they were young. The monk had once helped Inuyasha ditch his body guards when they were small and had been friends ever since. Miroku was trustworthy and a good friend and loyal servant, just as his father had been to Inuyasha’s father.

He and Miroku made a pretty good team. They were complete opposites, but that was a big reason why they stayed such good friends for such a long time…

Inuyasha sighed again, “I guess you’re right.”

Miroku beamed happily, “Of course I am.”

Just then, a tall, thin woman with pale, flawless skin stood in the grand entrance. Growling angrily at the interruption, Inuyasha turned to acknowledge her.

Her eyes were a deep crimson red and her black tresses were pulled neatly into a tight bun. Her small, thin lips were coated with red lip-color and her expression was none too friendly. It was one of Naraku’s servants. Inuyasha wasn’t really good with names, but he was pretty sure her name was… Kagura?

“Your uncle wishes to see you.” she stated simply in her stern, yet still feminine voice before turning to carelessly walk away.

Inuyasha stood there a moment, watching her go before turning back to Miroku, exchanging mixed looks.

Miroku shrugged before letting his lecherous violet eyes wander back to the woman wandering further down the corridor, watching her behind sway as she walked.

~ * ~

It was as silent as a tomb in the castle hallways. The occasional echoing of footsteps were the only thing breaking the eerie silence and the rain that came down relentlessly with no signs of letting up anytime soon.

Inuyasha couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right and it had only gotten worse as he wandered down the halls. His uncle had summoned him to his personal chambers. Never in the many years had Inuyasha known his uncle had he ever let anyone into his personal chambers.

The corridor seemed especially dark and quiet as the wind created a draft, making the fire torches flicker; the light battling against the shadows as it danced against the cold stone. The walls were decorated elegantly with paintings and statues, sculptors and the finest decor.

Inuyasha stood nervously before the two heavy double-doors that towered over him, barely managing to keep a solemn composure as he entered the dark room, the door noisily creaking open.

“Inuyasha,” Naraku’s sly voice came from somewhere in the shadows. “Please, come in.”

Inuyasha shut the door behind him and hesitantly made his way further into the room. “You summoned me, uncle?” he asked hesitantly, staring blindly into the shadows.

“Yes.”

Inuyasha was puzzled when that was all he said, but before he could ask, Naraku continued.

“As you know, your birthday is tomorrow and your crowning to be king will follow.”

Inuyasha sighed. Of course he knew; that was all he could think about. The thought plagued his mind to no end, screaming at him that something was going to go wrong. He could feel it. There was no way he could possibly have described what 'it' was, but like a sudden foreboding, a stirring in his blood, an instinctive sense of danger.

Inuyasha nodded only vaguely in reply, the shuffling coming from behind distracting him. "What’s going-" he began he began to say.

But he was too late. A sharp pain suddenly shot through his stomach. Inuyasha cried out in pain, suddenly finding it hard to breathe and his breaths came is short, labored gasps and his vision started to blur.

The figure before him held a dagger in their hand, the dull moonlight revealing a crimson liquid coating its blade.

Blackness evaded Inuyasha’s vision and he slumped to the floor, barely hearing his uncle’s words before falling unconscious.

“I can’t let that happen.”

~ * ~

‘That bastard, Naraku,’ Kagura thought bitterly. ‘Why is it that I always end up doing his dirty work?’ Kagura frowned at the blood spot staining her dress, the body of the former prince lying limply beside her as she flew over the village on her giant feather.

The boy’s face was deathly pale with a blank expression, his skin cold and his body lifeless. He was on the brink of death. Kagura never really knew the kid well, but she couldn’t help but to feel pity toward him. He hadn’t deserved to die…

But what was done was done and there wasn’t anything she could do about it, so she might as well not dwell on it too much.

The rain had finally stopped; the air was cool and refreshing as the wind blew through her hair and even if only for a moment, Kagura felt contentment. It felt as if she never had to see Naraku wretched face again; as if she were free… Though deep down, the sad, harsh reality ate away at her heart like acid. Free, was something she’d never be.

Finally the river came into view and Kagura landed, heaving the prince’s body over her shoulder and dumping it into the water.

Well, that was that…

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A/N: I know, I’ve kinda been slacking and I haven’t been working on any of my other fics, but hopefully I don’t make a habit of it. I’m a little relieved to have finished the first chapter, finally… The good news is that I’ve already started the second chapter so hopefully it’ll be up soon, but with how bad I’ve been at updating lately, we’ll just have to see…

Also, let’s just pretend that Naraku is Inuyasha’s uncle cause I’m the powerful author and I say so!! ^_^ No, Inu isn’t really dead, so don’t worry cause I’d never kill adorable little Inu, off. Duh! What would I do for the rest of the story?? Oh, and please don’t forget to review!!