InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Captive Soul ❯ chapter 26 ( Chapter 26 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters.Author's note: Yes everyone, Inu and Sess are brothers and they will meet soon about chapter 28 or 29. Near the end of the banquet. I know all of you have your sights on that event and it will be quiet a moment. In chaper 25 Sesshomaru smelled Inuyasha. Tensaiga and Tetsaiga recognized each other. oooooo.....weird huh?

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Captive Soul: Chapter 26: Dancing with the Devil.

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He had been standing there during the orations with his arms crossed.

Sighing with boredom, Inuyasha backed away into the deeper darkness when the man at the podium called out the fourth name of the evening.

Loud clapping roared throughout the room.

As his back touched the wall, he caught sight of another small light to the far left. A dull luminance shown through two, double glass doors. A tall, dark sillouette passed in front of the glass. The person opened the door and walked out. Inuyasha hurried as fast as he could without drawing attention to himself. The dark outline of the person had been male and it had long, black hair.

Inuyasha opened the thick, glass door and entered a lavishly styled flower garden.

He stood very still and listened.....waiting....

Stretching out with every sense he had, Inuyasha searched.

Water bubbled nearby.

Crickets chirped at the floral edges.

A cool wind brushed against his skin and hair.

Suddenly, a night bird fluttered in a tree branch over his head.

It flew off, screeching down one of the brick paths.

Taking the strange occurrence as a sign, Inuyasha dashed toward the middle pathway.

Blackness shadowed the leaves and bushes on his right and left as he ran.

A familiar scent wafted on the breeze, he smirked. Naraku.

Soon, he came upon a vast area covered with fresh cut grass. Sparse lighting along with towering, stone statues created a somewhat misty, graveyard effect.

Looking up, he beheld the clear night sky sprinkled with stars.

A crescent moon hung amidst the twinkling starlight...the crescent moon... the...blue...crescent...moon.

Blinking hard, Inuyasha switched his gaze from the moon's odd hue to his present surroundings.

Dozens of stone statues littered the immense, darkened courtyard.

Even though the scent was faint, he could tell the hanyou had been here recently, maybe even minutes ago.

Crouching, Inuyasha sniffed the ground.

Picking up the trail, he jumped up, running off into the night.

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Sesshomaru took her hand and led the way to the circle of dancing couples.As they approached, Rin could see Kouga dancing with his companion. They swayed together in the slow melody, gazing at one another. Kouga brought Jessica's hand to his lips and slowly kissed once.

Sesshomaru pulled her into the circle.

Swirling around to face him, Rin smiled.

They came together once more. But for some reason, the dance faded away to be replaced by something far different.

Glossy amber captured her attention. It did not search, only warmed it's way into her heart.

One thing she could not understand: How could such a public, reserved glaze hold such a private warmth for her?

But it did not matter, for she could see and feel what his honeyed embrace confessed: wanting...a need...for her.

Clouds lifted her feet. Warm arms encircled. Rin sighed while laying her head against her love's chest.

She breathed in deeply, holding his comforting, spicy scent as long as she could before letting it go.

That treasured feeling blanketed her spirit: Love.....for him.

This was heaven.

She did not know how long they floated together.

But the music stopped.

When another song began to play, Rin felt a vibrating rumble deep inside Sesshomaru's chest.

They did not resume the dance.

Something tapped her right shoulder.

Rin lifted her head and blinked up.

Naraku.

He stood there in his very expensive tux, smiling pleasantly. "May I have this dance?"

This time Rin heard Sesshomaru's objection loud and clear.

Almost afraid to look, Rin glanced up at Sesshomaru who was now glaring icily at Naraku.

Pastel honey darkened into a dangerous, black amber.

One side of his lip curled up in a snarl, exposing one extremely sharp fang.

Rin started, blinked, then composed herself.

She looked back at Naraku who seemed to be ignoring her dancing partner's obvious warnings.

Naraku's expectant gaze focused only on her.

His sugar coated smile brightened. "Please Rin? Perhaps you would grace me with at least a single dance?"

Sesshomaru's right hand gripped her waist tighter, pulling her slowly away from the hanyou. His warning growl formed gnarled words. "Stay away."

The hanyou redoubled his efforts, stepping closer. "Rin, do you let your servant speak for you? I was under the impression that you made your own decisions. After all Rin, he is merely your slave."

Anger spread through her at Naraku's blatant, outspoken remarks. But apprehension overrode the anger. She didn't want Sesshomaru and Naraku to cause a scene, or worse, start fighting. Someone could get hurt.

Rin didn't know what to do, but she did not want to dance with Naraku. And she was not about to hurt Sesshomau's feelings by accepting the invitation either. She would politely decline the offer, hoping that Naraku didn't retaliate by publicly announcing Sesshomaru's status.

She smiled apologetically. "I am afraid I must decline the invitation, Naraku."

The hanyou's smile faded to a tight, thin line as his stance became rigid. "Oh?"

That eerie sensation began to resurface. A creepy coldness slithered all around.

Sesshomaru's grip tightened even more as his growl ascended. It rose to such a pitch that Rin knew other people close by could hear it as well.

How could she stop the two males if they began to fight?

She was not about to give Sesshomaru an order. He would definitely ignore it, causing more problems.

Rin swallowed, she could feel the tension between the two. It was rising to an uncontrollable level. If she didn't do something fast, blood might get spilled.

She needed to calm her partner. "Sesshomaru."

He did not seem to even hear; his glare locked on Naraku.

Placing a hand on Sesshomaru's arm, she squeezed while leaning her right cheek against his right arm. Hiding her face from Naraku, she whispered a breath that only Sesshomaru could hear. "Love."

At this, the rumbling in his chest died.

Leaning back, she looked up to his face. He had calmed some but not enough to kill the tension.

Thankfully, someone else decided that it was time to intervene. "Naraku?"

Rin turned to see Kagome approaching on her left, smiling. The hanyou blinked out of his seemingly irritated disposition. With almost wary eyes, he followed Kagome's movements until she stepped to his side.

Her sister lightly took Naraku's arm. "Would you care to dance, Naraku? Unfortunately, I do not have a partner tonight and I see that you are free. It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful song."

The hanyou gave a slow nod, his demeanor changing in degrees to a reserved civility.

For a moment, Rin could have sworn she caught a glimpse of fear in his relaxing features.

Naraku accepted Kagome's hand and they began to move away from them.

Rin let out the breath she had been holding.

She would have to thank Kagome later. Her sister always knew how to dissolve a bad situation.

Looking up to her future mate, Rin found that Sesshomaru still had his hardened sights set on Naraku.

With a small smile, Rin reached up and touched his cheek, effectively gaining his full attention.

The lines on his face softened when he looked back at her.

Rin whispered. "Sess...."

His tight grip on her body loosened. The corners of his mouth raised only a touch.

Naraku forgotten, they began, once again, to move together, swaying slowly to the gentle melody.

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The song ended.

Rin's cheeks flushed pink as she looked up. "Uh...I'm kinda...thirsty."

With her arm in his, Sesshomaru led Rin over to a long table loaded with desserts and drinks.

He watched, amused, as Rin began to gulp down punch.

But he couldn't help but glance at the sweets.

Maybe he and Rin could go out later to the garden again with a few.....

"Sess..." Rin pointed to an open doorway several feet to the left of the stage, not very far from where they stood. ".....the bathrooms are over there. I have got to go really bad. Do you need to go?"

He shook his head. "No. I do not need to...go."

Rin switched glances from him to the open doorway. "Will you wait here for me?"

He gave a single nod. "Yes, Rin."

With a quick smile, she tugged on the front of his clothes just enough for him to lean down. After giving him a peck on the cheek, she hurried towards the bathrooms. "I'll only be a few minutes."

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Kagome continued to dance with Naraku as the next song began to play.

His rigid stance and stiff steps led her to believe that he felt uncomfortable.

She inwardly smirked. Naraku was afraid of her. Kagome had always known this. But the fear was understandable. Being in the presence of a trained miko probably sent his self preservation instincts into overdrive.

As they waltzed in between other couples, Kagome caught a glimpse of Rin and Sesshomaru by the dessert table. She smiled to herself at the scene before other dancing couples obstructed her view.

A distinct "Ahem." close by made both of them halt.

Kagome turned to see her father grinning at them both. "Naraku, dear boy, would you mind me stealing this beautiful young woman away from you?" Her father gave her a wink. "That is...if the lovely lady wouldn't mind giving her father the honor of this dance."

Naraku smiled politely with a small nod. "I do not mind, William."

The hanyou backed away with refined grace, disappearing into the crowd.

Kagome took her father's hand and began to dance. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Naraku vanish into the crowd. Some small part of her, deep inside, whispered a silent warning.

Her father's deep voice broke the ominous feeling. "Dear, you are suppose to be enjoying this evening. Stop that frowning."

Kagome looked back to her father with a forced grin which she let grow to a warmer smile when she saw his playful expression. "Sorry Daddy, guess I got a little distracted."

Grinning, her father let out a laugh. "That distraction couldn't be Naraku, could it?"

Not letting her father see her soured reaction, Kagome only shook her head. "No, Daddy."

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Sesshomaru watched his future mate as she walked away.

When her emerald light disappeared into what he supposed was the female's bathroom, he turned to look back out at the dancing floor.

Casually, he searched the dancing couples then began a thorough scan of the rest of the room, including the tables and upper floor. But he did not see who he was looking for.

A faint, night scented breeze cooled his face and fluttered through his hair. Sesshomaru thought it peculiar that an outside wind could find its way amongst all these people.

"Excuse me."

Sesshomaru climbed out of his musings and peered down at the female owner of the voice: a young woman wearing a floor length, midnight blue evening gown. The contoured folds of her dress sparkled as she took a step closer. Her bright eyes smiled with true warmth. "I saw you standing here alone and wondered if you would like to dance."

Sesshomaru blinked once. "I am waiting for someone. I must decline the offer."

The young woman's smile fell only a touch. But then she grinned warmly and nodded before moving away to another young male several feet away.

The inu youkai began, once more, to search the room. That strange night wind persisted, lingering, playfully alighting about his clothes and hair.

What Sesshomaru did not know was that the odd breeze secretly covered his form, creating an invisable barrier. It blocked all traces of miko power from his senses, as well as a particular scent.

He had not been warned.

The warning would have given him time to move away...to get to Rin before...

Sesshomaru was completely unaware of the female who quietly approached from behind until it was too late.

"Stay very still and do not make a sound."

Sesshomaru froze.

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Inuyasha cursed into the darkness. He had followed Naraku's ever growing scent to the edge of the expansive, statued 'field' and now stood staring at a seven foot brick wall that closed in the entire garden. If he didn't know better, he would think that he had been led on a wild goose chase.

Turning around quickly, Inuyasha began running back the way he had come. This had been a diversion. He knew that now. And it may have cost him his suspect. This diversion used up the better part of an hour.

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A small, female hand grasped his, pulling him away from the table. "Come."

Sessomaru had no choice but to follow her orders.

But he didn't have to like it.

As he turned to follow the miko witch, he noticed that she wore a dress quite similar to Kagome's. Her raven hair flowed down her back as she hurriedly walked towards a lighted archway several yards from the bathrooms.

Why had he not sensed her?

Something was wrong. He had been set up. Sesshomaru knew this now.

There had been no way he could have missed her presence unless something or someone had interfered with his ability to sense the miko.

Whoever had done this was cunning.

Someone wanted him out of the way.

And that meant Rin might be in danger.

But now he had no power to do anything about it.

His only hope lay in Kagome or Rin. He silently wished for one of them to see him before this female led him from the banquet room.

His hope died as he exited banquet hall. He followed Kikyo through a sizable archway, down a long, wide, corridor and up a wooden staircase.

Sesshomaru could hear her sharp mutterings as he trailed behind. "I knew Rin couldn't resist bringing her pet to the banquet. I'll show that little tramp. No one slaps me and gets away with it."

Soon they reached the second floor: a long carpeted hallway lit with soft, glowing lights and decorated with several paintings. Kikyo turned to the first door on the left and produced a key. She opened the door and went in.

He followed behind silently, entering what looked to be one of the hotel's rooms. The extravagant room contained an oval shaped bed, dresser, desk, kitchenette, and TV as well as a small balcony curtained off by white drapes.

Stopping in the middle of the room, she ordered him to kneel. He did. His knees hit the plush carpet as he stared straight ahead. Hot red dripped into his vision, smearing the milky white, lace curtains with shades of scarlet.

The young miko moved around him. The door clicked shut but she had not locked it.

Kikyo walked over to stand in front of him. Putting both hands on her hips, she frowned. "Now, demon, you are all mine."

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Rin came out of the bathroom. As she stepped out into the banquet hall, she looked over to the dessert table where she had last left Sesshomaru.

He was not there.

She stopped immediately and began to scan the room.

Trying to calm her increasing heart rate, Rin took in deep breaths while searching the nearby tables and dancing area.

She didn't see Sesshomaru anywhere.

Making her self move, Rin walked to the dessert table, continuing to glance about the room.

Unease began to build, beginning with a tight, sick knot forming in her stomach.

No...Rin breathed...She would not let panic get the best of her.

She needed to be more optimistic. Maybe Sesshomaru went to the bathroom.

Stopping at the table, she looked back to where she had come, watching and waiting hopefully.

Not a second later, a smooth voice gained her attention.

Rin turned to see Naraku standing next to her, a slightly worried look on his face.

He smiled halfheartedly. "Rin, what is the matter? You appear to be....worried."

Ignoring her current distaste for the man, Rin let her mounting concern influence her reply. "I....seem to have lost my companion for the evening. I do not know where he has gone."

Naraku smiled warmly and pointed to the garden exit. "I believe I saw your servant and your cousin, Kikyo, leave through those glass doors. As they passed, I heard your lovely cousin mention something about the hedge mazes."

Shock hit Rin instantly. 'KIKYO?'

Now the panic set in. Rin could barely contain her fear.

Naraku frowned. "Why, Rin. What is the matter? You are white as a sheet."

Rin stammered while tunnel vision centered on the distant, glass doors. "Oh...Ah...nothing...I think I...need to...get some air."

Without looking at the hanyou next to her, she excused herself and began walking quickly toward the garden exit.

She needed to hurry.

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Inuyasha walked back into the banquet hall. The first thing he noticed was a young woman wearing a sparkling emerald dress hurrying passed him. She smelled of fear and rising panic.

The scent startled him so much that he stopped and almost turned around to follow the distressed female. But he froze as his senses picked up something familiar: power, miko power mixed with.......

Raising his nose just a touch, Inuyasha inhaled deeply.

Kikyo.

He became rooted to the spot. His sights had caught a flash of glittering red flitting between the dancing couples.

But he had also glimpsed a very familiar face.

His breathing hitched as he watched a strikingly beautiful, young female stroll away from the circle of dancing couples, arm in arm with a tall, older, dark haired male.

Her laughing smile and radiant glow stirred up vivid memories from the not so distant past.

Without knowing, his mouth formed the name he had not uttered in six months.

"Kikyo."

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