InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Heaven ❯ The Hunter ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Dark Heaven
 
The chappie dedication was pretty close! A FF reviewer AND a MM reviewer both gave the answer within 15 minutes of each other! But chanda*nsi* gets the dedication!
 
Chapter 2
 
The Hunter
 
“I still say this meeting is a bad idea.”
 
“And I still say I frankly don't care what you say,” Kikyo and Naraku bantered, walking down the halls of Council Tower II. The two often clashed in wars of ethics over the Council's actions. Really, it was a pointless cause. Kikyo was Councilor Three, but Naraku stood tall over her as Councilor Two. Midoriko still stood as Councilor One, but she rarely partook in details anymore. Kikyo wasn't sure why. The Council Head recently seemed emotionally and physically drained, although which one had caused the other, Kikyo wasn't sure.
 
“What exactly do you plan to do? I assume since you organized this meeting, you have a plan,” Kikyo said.
 
“We tell them she is a Renegade, and the House of Taisho has no comment on her,” Naraku explained coolly. “We do not tell them her name, and imply that we are prepared to send out the Elite Guard to capture her. That is all.”
 
“So we lie to them yet again?” Kikyo grated. She had joined the Council to help the city of Haven, not lie and cheat its people. But Naraku did have a method to his deception this time. Angel's real name was Kagome Higurashi, but a thorough search of the city once she had come out of hiding had turned up nothing. She either had taken an alias, or was hiding out in the. They surely could not tell the city that Angel was living among them, there would be panic in the streets.
 
“Well, what is our alternative? The truth?” Naraku laughed. The truth of the story, that Angel was the daughter of the now-dead councilor Naomi Higurashi? That the Council had known of her for 17 years, and done nothing? That her own mother had betrayed the Council for her daughter's life, only to give up her own by committing suicide? The scandal would ruin the Council.
 
The two reached the twin red oak doors at the top floor of Council Tower II, and pushed them open. Inside lay Midoriko's private quarters, spanning across the rest of the floor and up 2 more floors. Midoriko herself was leaning back in a wingback chair in front of a fireplace. Kikyo noted that the Head of the Council was looking rather pale as of late. Next to her chair stood a tall, brunette man with dark blue eyes.
 
“You have arrived,” He said. The man was Kouga Ookami, official liaison between the Council of Thirteen and the House of Taisho, the governing body of the youkai city of Horai. The house consisted, from what Kikyo had heard, of a kitsune, a koumori, a raidin, a ryu, and was headed by Toga Taisho himself, the Inu no Taisho, leader of the youkai. Kouga was not an official member of the House, but was rather the appointed contact from one body to the other. He was one of the few, human, youkai, or hanyou, who had free reign to come and go from either city as he pleased.
 
“Why does Toga feel the need for you to be here?” Naraku asked.
 
“The Inu no Taisho feels that any investigation concerning non-humans should be carried out with a non-human hand,” Kouga explained.
 
“She is not a youkai,” Kikyo said.
 
“We shall be the judges of that,” Kouga replied. “If she is youkai or hanyou, she will be brought back to Horai to stand trial for her actions, after which she will remain there. Assuming that you humans find her before the Ambassador does.”
 
“Ambassador?” Naraku asked, clearly surprised. “We were not informed of such a thing.”
 
“The Inu no Taisho felt that telling you of the Ambassador ahead of time would cause…complications for him.”
 
“Who is he, and when will we meet him?” Kikyo asked. Kouga shook his head.
 
“You won't. He is already in the city, and I am under orders to not release his name to you. If he is to complete his task properly, he is to remain anonymous.”
 
“I see…” Naraku muttered. “And what is this task he is to perform?”
 
“He will find this `Angel', and determine if she poses any danger to Haven or Horai. If he determines that she is not a threat, she will be taken back to Horai to stand trial.” Kikyo narrowed her eyes.
 
“And if she is found to be hostile?” She asked.
 
“Then he is to kill her,” Kouga said simply. Kikyo gasped.
 
“You can't be serious!”
 
“The Inu no Taisho is quite serious, Councilor,” Kouga said with a shrug. “You claim to have evidence that Angel is not a youkai, but if we find her to otherwise be dangerous, she will be dealt with.”
 
“The Council has a complicated history with Angel,” Kikyo said. “We will meet and determine if we will allow your…minion, to hunt Angel.”
 
“You may meet and vote if you want, but the hunt will continue. We have already been authorized to do so.”
 
“And just who authorized this?” Kikyo asked.
 
“I did,” Midoriko whispered. Kikyo's eyes widened. Midoriko never abused her standing like that. Pulling rank was something the other Councilors did, using their high rank to make decisions, and refusing input from lesser Councilors. Midoriko never pulled rank, she always let the Council vote. It wasn't as if she couldn't pull rank…she just didn't.
 
“Angel is a variable in the equation of peace,” Midoriko continued. Kikyo noted with concern that her eyes had black circles around them. Had she been having trouble sleeping. “A variable we cannot allow to be unchecked. If she wishes us no harm, then let the House do what they want with her. If she wishes harm…then we shall do the same.”
 
“Don't you think that's a bit harsh?” Kikyo asked. “You used to be Naomi's friend, Councilor, surely you realize that your judgment is…”
 
“An excellent decision,” Naraku finished, cutting Kikyo off. “Tell me Kouga, when does this Ambassador begin his hunt?” Kouga nodded.
 
“He has already taken into the city to search,” He said.
 
- - - - - - - - - -
 
“Lunch,” The guard snapped, opening a hatch at the bottom of the cell door and sliding a tray of barely edible food into the cell. Musou grunted and hopped down from his bunk, grabbing the tray with disgust. He grabbed the plastic fork and snapped it with his palm, not caring as a splinter cut his thumb. He grabbed a handful of lumpy, lukewarm mashed potatoes with his hand and crammed it in his mouth.
 
“Hey! Gumo!” Musou looked up and scowled as the guard tapped his nightstick on the cell bars. “You've got a visitor. It's your brother.” Musou frowned as the guard pulled out his keys and unlocked the cell.
 
“I don't have a brother,” He said. The guard ignored him and pulled Musou to his feet, slapping a pair of handcuffs around his wrists. He pushed Musou out of his cell into the hall and marched him down the row of cells. He turned, opened a door, and pushed Musou inside. Musou turned.
 
“Hey, this isn't the visitor center!” He protested. The door slammed shut in his face, the locks clicking into place. Musou turned back and squinted into the dark room. It wasn't that large, maybe the size of his cell. A single small window on the wall cast a gloomy light into the room. Musou stepped forward, and a hand wrapped around his throated. Musou gasped as he was pushed back against the door, puffs of hot breath on his nose.
 
“Wh…who…?” He groaned.
 
“You're Musou Gumo?” The man in the room asked, growling. Musou nodded.
 
“Are you here…to help me?” He asked.
 
“No,” The man replied. “You're a bastard, and I'd rather just kill you here. But you have something I want.”
 
“I have nothing,” Musou protested. The man slapped Musou across the face. Musou's eyes widened as he felt a trickle of blood on his cheek.
 
“Claws…you…you're not human,” He said
 
“No shit,” The creature growled. “Who is Angel?”
 
“What?”
 
“Angel, who is she?” The creature snapped. Musou couldn't see well enough to tell if he was a youkai or a hanyou. Like it mattered, he could kill him now no matter what he was.
 
“I don't know,” Musou said.
 
“Where can I find her?”
 
“I…don't…”
 
“GUESS!” The creature snarled. Musou squeaked as the hand around his neck tightened.
 
“C…crime. She goes after the crooks. Four times now,” He gasped. “Watch for criminals…she'll come to you.” The creature growled.
 
“You'd better be right,” He threatened. “Or I'm coming back for another visit.” The creature flung Musou away, sliding along the floor. He coughed and looked up as the creature pulled open the door, breaking the frame where it locked, and swept out of the room.
 
Dedication to the reviewer who can tell me (in English), what 4 youkai are in the House of Taisho, besides the Inu no Taisho. Again, the types are: kitsune, koumori, raidin, and ryu.