InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cursed ❯ Machiavellian Machinations ( Chapter 24 )

Chapter Twenty Four - Machiavellian Machinations

 

 

Sarath looked over the scrolls in front of him. All was going well. At the moment he had everything he needed. His army was in peak fighting condition and larger than it had ever been in its 1500 year history. A twisted smile curled onto his blood red lips forming a strange crescent against the dark green that was his scaly skin. It was only a matter of time now before his plans would bear the fruit he'd been so carefully nurturing for a year now. Ever since the inu lord had disappeared into seemingly thin air, everything had been progressing with a smoothness that he almost found unsettling but what about implementing and financing an internal coup wouldn't unsettle a youkai. Sarath was interrupted from his thoughts by a knock at his study door.

 

“I told you that I was to be undisturbed.” He growled at the cause of the interruption. A meek voice spoke from the other side.

 

“Yes my lord...but he would like to see you.”

 

A clear look of agitation crossed the serpent youkai's features. What in hell was he doing here? “Of course,” he forced himself to sound anticipatory though he felt nothing of the kind, “send him you fool. He should not have to be announced!” This was the price he paid. It was necessary at time to make a fool feel important it he could advance your cause. His servant knew full well that sending this twit in without announcement would ensure his quick but painful demise but the servant understood the purpose of subterfuge by false flattery. If he didn't, he would not be standing guard outside of the Lord's door.

 

Sarath plastered his friendly mask firmly into place as the door was slid back, revealing the very fool that was the major key to his plan.

 

“Ah, Loki my good man, what brings you here so unexpectedly? I thought that we had agreed that it was best for you to remain in the West until we commence the next part of our plan.”

 

The fat youkai huffed as he moved into the room that Sarath would not have believed the slovenly youkai to posses. “It's over!” He all but cried. His pudgy features were red with his discontent and the exertion to move more quickly that he was used to. “It will not work. We are ruined!”

 

Sarath took a calming breath, suppressing the desire to plunge his fist into the belly of this pathetic excuse for a lord. “Slow down Loki. Just what could have happened to cause your mind such troubles? There is nothing that could have happened that a little good planning can not fix.”

 

“Bullshit!” He yelled. “He'd back!”

 

Sarath's eyes widened marginally.

 

“And just what clever little plan do you have now? We're done. There is no way that we can defeat him now; too many people will stand behind him now that he's back. We had a chance before but it's all over now!” He fat youkai was getting hysterical now. “I will never be the Lord of the Western Lands now!”

 

Sarath suppressed an eye roll but this new development would cause some trouble. Best to start trying to figure out what to do right away and for that he would need as much information as he could pull out of this idiot.

 

“It will be all right. Since when has your good friend Sarath not taken care of you?” He almost choked on the words. “This is just one more obstacle to overcome and in the end it will have only made you stronger. The West will still be yours, just tell me all that you know.” He now made his way over to the shaking ball of fat.

 

“How?!? How can you possibly do anything? I am superior to him but I could not defeat him when so many of the other lords will back him. Not even you would be able to strengthen my position enough now with all your armies to defeat them all.”

 

“Loki!” Sarath hissed a bit too forcefully though he was quick to correct himself. “Loki,” he spook more softly, “trust me. I will find a way but you need to tell me everything.”

 

The pudgy youkai finally calmed himself enough stop the constant fidgeting he'd been engaged in since he'd reached the north. “You really think so? Even with Sesshoumaru back, you really think so?”

 

“Yes, yes, I do. Now what do you know?” He was getting tired of repeating himself.

 

“Well,” Loki took a deep breath, “he came back last night, that's all I know.”

 

“That's all?” Sarath couldn't help the derision in his voice. Luckily, Loki was too stupid to notice it at the moment.

 

“Yeah, I immediately came here to tell you.”

 

Sarath's nails were now digging painfully into his palms as he fought against his desire to destroy the mutt in front of him.

 

“Here's what we are going to need to do. You need to return to the West immediately so that no one suspects anything. Remain there for a week and find out everything that you can about his return. Why was he gone, where did he go and everything else that you can? No detail is too small, no piece of information is unimportant. While you are gone, I will begin to modify our plans in preparation for this change. Then come back to me with what you have learned.”

 

Loki nodded. He was now wringing his hands together. “Your right, your right.” He looked up from his hands to the serpent standing before him. “I'll remember you when I am the Western Lord. Our lands will be allies forever.”

 

“Yes of course.” Sarath wasn't sure how much more of this acting bullshit he could take. It was taking all of his strength but when he remembered the reason for swallowing his pride like so much bitter medicine, it gave him new resolve. “Allies forever. Now go and learn what we need to make that a reality.”

 

“Yes, yes. I will go right away.”

 

“You do that.” He commented patting the ample backside of the youkai as he escorted him to the doorway before pushing him just a little too hard out the door. Loki of course didn't notice this; his mind was too full of images of him wearing the crests of the Western Lands.

 

Only when he was sure that Loki had left his estate did Sarath finally let his mask slip. “What a moron. How did he even make it into adulthood with that mind of a simpleton?” He returned to his desk. This was going to take considerably more planning now with this new development. He would not give up so easily as his fat dog would though. Too much had been invested to back out now. He would have the Western Lands and he'd see the Dog General's son dead by the time it was all over.

 

 

AN: `Holy crap!' you say? Another chapter out so soon? What can I say, I'm unpredictable sometimes. And now, something we've all been missing, review responses. Just for the last two chapters though, sorry.

 

Nikkie23534 - I missed you guys too! I just couldn't stay away forever even if it did seem to take that long, eh?

Sola - Not only did I give you a longer chapter but another on the very next day. Come one, who's your pal?

Susanne - I'm glad to be back and I'm glad that you're still here to put up with me.

White Luna - Whoo hoo. I never do seem to have too little of those, do I? Oh, and I saw the art you did for your story, very nice. I wish I could do that but I don't think stick figures would cut it.

DragongirlCV - Oh come on, let's be honest. You were just as disappointed in me as I was that it took me so long to come back to this. It's ok, you can say it, I'm a big girl. :)

Lamb - I could say the exact same thing for myself. As far as not reviewing, really who do you think you're talking to. I do love the reviews, don't get me wrong but I would never think poorly of a beloved fan for such a thing. In fact, I stopped reading a story and didn't leave a review just yesterday when I read an authors note that said they wouldn't write anymore without getting reviews first. I mean really. If you don't have enough confidence to write a story without getting constant little pats on the back for doing so, then your story just isn't worth it to being with. *gets off soapbox* Anyway...thanks for the review...yours always make me smile.