InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bound to Tomorrow ❯ The Rules of the Game ( Chapter 13 )

 

 

 

 

*

Hello guys I'm back again! I'll be honest; I've had quite a fit of writers' block lately with this particular story. I knew where I wanted the plot to go but I was concerned about the pacing. I think I've got a handle on it now, thank goodness.

 

Author's Note: `Cliff' very helpfully informed me that Koga is seen getting married to Ayame in the last episode of Inu Yasha: The Final Act. So, I think I will go ahead and try to squeeze her into the story at some point. I'd lost track of watching the Final Act for a while so I'm glad someone mentioned to me what happened at the end. So, thank you for the info, Cliff! It was quite helpful!

*

The sun was just beginning to set when the gang reconvened at Kagome and Inu Yasha's house. Kagome really did not want to discuss Noboru so soon. She was utterly exhausted from the events of that afternoon.

.

At the shrine earlier that day she had explained to the gathered villagers and rescued women as much as she could about what had happened during the liberation but wisely left their little encounter with Noboru out of it. The miko then asked for more volunteers for patrols to keep watch in case of another attack. When several people announced that they would volunteer she instructed them to talk to Miroku and Inu Yasha about setting up time tables for guard duty. After that she had asked for volunteers to house the other displaced women. She was surprised to find that most of the people of Edo were more than willing to open their homes to them. Finally, she pulled Shoko aside to explain what was left of the two villages she and the gang had visited. The miko asked the priestess to wait a day before telling the other women of those villages what had happened. In that way they could have some time to think about the gentlest way to explain the situation and it gave the villagers some time to adjust to their guests; some of which could potentially become permanent residents under the circumstances.

.

Now they were back at home after everything had been said and done and all Kagome wanted was to flop down onto a futon and fall asleep. Unfortunately, Inu Yasha had other plans. He was the one who had insisted that they get this conversation over with as soon as Kagome had finished speaking. The conversation wasn't going well.

.

“I think we need to hear Noboru out.” Kagome rubbed the bridge of her nose and tried to ignore her husband's rising ire.

.

“Lady Kagome is right, Inu Yasha. I don't see the harm in her doing so. He never said we could not be there to watch over her.” Miroku added as he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

.

Sango had been quiet throughout the evening but finally broke her silence just then. “We don't know what he's got planned and as I told you before, he's very fast. Whatever poisoned dart he used to knock me out did so in seconds. I'm not sure what it would do to a hanyou and Inu Yasha's the fastest one here.”

.

Inu Yasha nodded his head in agreement.

.

Miroku sensed another `what if' moment coming from his wife and wasn't disappointed when she added, “What if we attack Noboru and it just makes him more angry?”

.

“Who said we had to attack?” Kagome argued. “We just want to hear him out…when everything went dark inside the cave; didn't Noboru have a chance to attack us then, too?”

.

“Yeah but he wants something out of you, Kagome.” Inu Yasha grunted, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed in thought.

.

“Yes, but, couldn't he have taken her while we were in the cave?” Sango tapped her chin absently, she really wanted to go back home and spend more time with her children.

.

“Well I don't like it, it all screams of a trap. Remember, this guy is related to Naraku!” Inu Yasha snapped.

.

“Yes, but if he said he was being held by Naraku. What if he simply wants to get revenge on him by using Kagome for something? It's not like any of us would mind taking down any lingering minions of his down a few notches, no?” The monk replied.

.

“Besides that, what if we don't talk to him?” Kagome had been silent for a few minutes at that point, processing the words that were being passed around. “If we don't talk to him at all, then who else might give us leads on Yuriko and Kimiko? He's obviously good at covering his tracks… think about the other villages. How many witnesses survived? Just two?”

.

“That's exactly what I mean!” The dog demon exploded, “This guy as far as we know it is brutal. I'm not gonna sit around like an idiot and let you walk right into a trap!”

.

Sango bit her lip and looked towards the sliding doors. Growing up with hunters had proven to her how badly hostage situations went when it came to youkai. Normally, more people ended up dead and the hostages would have been already eaten. The huntress in her could not permit her friend and ally to simply walk into such an obvious trap, yet the mother in her still clung to the strongest hope she had of finding her children alive and well. When she felt Kagome's eyes on her she gave a sigh, took a deep breath and spoke.

.

“I leave this decision to you, Kagome. I cannot ask you to help us, knowing the risks. I would understand, and forgive you, if you would not go, but I can't say that I do not wish you would.”

.

That was enough for Kagome to make the decision right there and then. She smiled a little and reached over to give her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze. “I'll do it. Besides, if we'll all be there together then Noboru really can't do much, can he?”

.

Inu Yasha gave a disgruntled snort but made no further comments. He knew his mate would ultimately decide to risk a trap for the chance to help her friends. Sometimes, she was too damn selfless for his own sanity's sake.

.

Miroku leaned forward to steeple his fingers together, “All right then. So what's the plan?”

*

In the early morning hours, barely a day after their return to Edo, Kagome slid open the front door to her house with her bathing bucket tucked securely under one arm. The moment her foot stepped off the front porch she nearly tripped over a bamboo sapling. Instead she awkwardly stumbled forward until she managed to find her balance once more. She turned to glare at the offending plant as if it cared. Her features blossomed into a look of confusion as she realized that there was no reason for bamboo to have grown there. The dirt too dry and too heavily tread upon for the plant to have managed to survive. Stranger still, it dawned upon her that she had not tripped over the thing the day earlier. It had to have grown up literally overnight; otherwise she would have tripped over it sooner. Frowning, the miko bent down to inspect the offending bamboo shoot more closely.

.

To her utter shock the side of the bamboo appeared to have Japanese carved on it. Then after a second look she realized it appeared to have grown on the shoot itself. The sentence read: I'll be waiting for you in the glade west of here at mid day in three days - Noboru. With a start she scrambled back into the house, calling Inu Yasha's name.

.

*

Three days later, as instructed, Kagome found herself standing between her husband and Sango in the aforementioned forest clearing. She shuffled her sandaled feet as she waited for the strange “youkai” to appear. She tried to quell the anxious feeling in her gut when Noboru finally emerged from the forest on the opposite end from where they stood. He smiled at them in a way that seemed almost benevolent; it made the girl's skin crawl.

.

The expression quickly changed to child-like glee, “You came! I knew you were smarter than what little credit the flesh gave you.”

.

The miko shrugged casually, “You're quite observant, Naraku was a fool.”

.

She and her friends had decided a few nights ago that the best approach to take would be to flatter the man, yet maintain an air of confidence around him. From what little they knew of him they were all fairly certain he was not one to appreciate weakness. Still, Kagome had hoped that by bringing Sango along she might be able to appeal to some emotional side of the kidnapper that might help them in negotiating their return. Meanwhile, Miroku, Kohaku, Shippo, and Kirara hid out in the surrounding woods; in case Noboru's meeting did turn out to be a trap.

.

Noboru seemed to appreciate Kagome's words and his smile broadened. “Ah! I just knew you would understand.” He looked terribly young when he smiled, so much like a child, yet Inu Yasha could sense that the man was quite dangerous. Just then Noboru clapped his hands together, “All right then let us get on to business… I would like to get this whole nasty oath thing out of the way quickly, I hope you understand.”

.

The miko did not have a clue, but she nodded in feigned understanding. If she pretended to know a great deal about the stranger then he might be more willing to bargain. Her status as a great a powerful miko was often helpful in such situations.

.

“Well then,” He began, “I believe I already told you what I wanted: I would like to learn more about you. I'd like to visit on occasion and have a nice little chat with you.”

.

Kagome crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him, mimicking something she'd seen Inu Yasha do on a number of occasions. “You say `chat' but I know, as well as you, that word could easily be replaced for the word `ambush' or `attack' so, do you really mean to talk with me civilly? I won't agree to anything less than peaceful.”

.

“Oh but you are so clever!” Noboru gushed happily, “No, no, you're correct. I promise to do nothing but talk with you during our meetings.”

.

“What of your allies?” Kagome interjected, “You may promise to be peaceful but that wouldn't bind your friends from attacking my friends, family, and village.”

.

Here Noboru nodded agreeably, “I would have lost so much faith in you had you not been so sharp. No, my minions will not be allowed to touch your village while we are speaking; neither before, nor after.”

.

“That doesn't prevent you from attacking at any other point in time…” Sango muttered.

.

Noboru raised an eyebrow at the woman and smiled sweetly, “That is correct, but I must have insurance, too you know. If I feel threatened then I have a right to lay waste to my enemies.”

.

“So I can't ask you to leave our village alone entirely?” Kagome queried.

.

“No, my dear lady, I am sorry. I cannot allow that.” His smile seemed genuinely sad.

.

The miko was convinced that was the best assurance of safety she could get out of the man, so she moved on to her next line of questioning, “So, as long as I speak with you on occasion you will give me clues to the location of the women and my friend's children?”

.

The flaxen-haired man nodded vigorously, “Yes, my lady. Of course, I get to pick the date. Additionally, I will always let you know at what time I shall speak with you again, provided you have answered my questions to my satisfaction—and truthfully, I might add.”

.

Kagome resisted the urge to worry her lower lip. She knew she was taking a risk, but it seemed like the best way to get him to return more quickly. “That seems almost reasonable, however, I propose this: I will answer one question about myself truthfully and in return you will answer one question about yourself. I want an equal exchange of information.”

.

Noboru's red eyes widened for a moment, his surprise unmasked. Apparently, he had not given the miko enough credit for her intelligence. Yet another smile spread across his lips and he thought to himself: She truly is something special. “I'll agree to this under one condition: The question you and I ask must be specific. It'd be such a shame lay out all of my plans bare before you. It would be much more fun to watch you discover more on your own.”

.

“Is this information in addition to the clue you will give her for playing this little game?” Kagome heard Sango ask beside her.

.

Noboru tapped a finger to his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded, “Since you have been such good sports I think I'll give you that. You'll get one clue for one exchange of information.”

.

“What assurance do we have of the safety of Sango's children?”

.

“You have my oath that they will not be harmed, nor altered, nor touched by time until you find and release them. That is all.”

.

She and Sango exchanged a look about the last part of Noboru's promises. She wondered if she should ask and risk sounding ignorant in front of the man holding Sango's girl's hostage. Eventually, her concern won out and she opened her mouth to ask the question only to have Noboru shut her down.

.

“I won't answer any more questions. I fear you've gotten more out of me than I had intended to give. I suppose that must be the magic of your charm.” The man gave a wistful sigh. “None the less, I'm done answering questions. Will you agree to the terms of our oath, Lady Kagome?”

.

The miko glanced at her husband and Sango for help. The huntress gave a nod of approval while the dog demon huffed and shook his head. He had been against any agreements with Noboru from the get-go. Kagome gave him an apologetic look before turning back to the blonde. “Very well, I accept these terms.”

.

Noboru was all smiles as he bowed respectfully to her, “Excellent, thus shall I be bound to this oath.”

.

This time when the red light came from the man's forehead Kagome and company were ready to shield their eyes. As soon as the light vanished the miko pulled down her arm only to discover that Noboru was gone. A familiar shaft of bamboo grew in the place where he had stood moments before. Kohaku, who had been hiding a few yards away, was already there with sickle in hand. He bent down to study the `note' left behind while the rest of the gang gathered around.

.

He answered everyone's unspoken question, “It says that he'll meet us back here in thirty years.”

.

“Thirty years?” Sango gasped. “We'll be in our fifties before we get our first note!”

.

Inu Yasha growled behind her, “I guess we know why that bastard mentioned they wouldn't be `touched by time'…”

.

“But I thought the only way a human could stay young that long was if they were bound to a youkai…” Shippo piped up.

.

“That would cause them to be altered, though wouldn't it?” Miroku broke in, “Didn't Noboru also say they wouldn't be altered?”

.

Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose in thought, “But then… how does he plan on keeping them young?”

.

Inu Yasha shrugged. He'd never heard of such a thing in all of his wanderings. There was a long moment of silence as everyone became lost in thought.

.

Miroku was the one to finally break the quiet, “Well then, we'll just have to find a way to stay young.”

*