InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fire and Ice ❯ By the Moonlight ( Chapter 10 )

A/N: This one took awhile, hard to write but I really wanted to do it. Plot bunny? Yeah, probably, but sometimes you get a scene in your head and you can't get it out. You'll all survive. Yeah, I don't think Shippou really knows his own name right now. Poor confused little fox. Beautiful females everywhere, and none will give him the time of day. But we all know I'm a sucker for happy endings, so don't feel too bad for him. I love Katsuro too, mostly because Mizuki is so dang hard to write! But I'll admit, I'm counting the sentences until I can bring Merkamou back in. He's still my favorite. Nilee, take care of yourself for goodness sake! Asthma sucks! Okay, okay, I own stuff. Just nothing that makes money, so don't sue. All you'll get are my student loans.

 

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“And where do you think you're going?”

 

Mizuki finished her swing onto Shou. “I am going hunting. There has been a youkai causing problems in the area.”

 

“You are supposed to be practicing.” Katsuro marched over to the dragon. “Father will be furious.”

 

“Father is busy today, and this youkai needs to be eliminated. More to the point, I need to spend time away from this place.”

 

“I'm going to get in trouble for letting you go, you know.”

 

“Not if I capture you.”

 

“Nani?”

 

Grabbing Katsuro by the collar, Mizuki hauled him on Shou as the dragon took flight.

 

“Help! I'm being kidnapped!” The ground disappeared from under Katsuro's feet as he clung to Shou.

 

“Help me to destroy this youkai and we will return before father has even noticed our disappearance.”

 

“Anything you want, just don't drop me!”

 

Mizuki smirked as she pulled her brother the rest of the way on.

 

“So, what are we hunting?”

 

“I do not have much information. I do know that it is in the woods not far from the palace, and that it is some sort of a cat.”

 

“Not vague at all.” Katsuro rolled his eyes. “Well, I guess we can just fly around and see if it comes out for us.”

 

“Reasonable, since I was looking for an opportunity to leave the palace.”

 

“We're going to get grounded for this. I just know it.”

 

----

 

“You said I couldn't do it. Well, you were wrong.”

 

Sesshomaru looked up to the excited ningen and her patient assistant. “Explain.”

 

Kagome looked downright smug. “I got a location, and it looks like I'll have all of the taiyoukai lords coming. Plus a couple of others.”

 

“And how did you arrange this?”

 

“Merkamou was easy, I just asked. Akira was actually pretty willing to go, even if she didn't much care for the location. Mayu was tougher, but I think she's bored and didn't want to be left out. She'll get Hideaki out there one way or the other.”

 

“And where is this meeting taking place?”

 

“The youkai exterminators' village. Nami told me that it would be fine.”

 

`I am fairly certain that she just said the exterminators' village. Perhaps she did not mean to say that.' Sesshomaru listened very carefully. “Nani?”

 

“The exterminators' village. Nami is married to the headsman.”

 

`No, I did not misunderstand her. She is simply insane.' “You convinced the Lords to meet there?”

 

“And some others. It seems that they aren't happy with just the Lords and their mates. Hideaki wants to bring a couple of lords, Akira wants Seiji and one advisor, and Merkamou wants Yurkio and a couple of his generals. Not sure why.”

 

“And they are all gathering at the exterminators' village, who know that they are coming.”

 

“Hai.” Kagome felt a dull ache spreading across her temples, and she knew where it was coming from. “It's not that odd.”

 

`I do not even have a response to that statement.'

 

“You said you would go if I could arrange it.”

 

`I did. Baka.' “Hai.”

 

“Then you can plan on seeing everyone in just over a month. It's going to be so nice to see everyone again.”

 

“Hn.”

 

“Maybe you'll get really lucky and one of them will say something objectionable so you can toss them around. Will that make you feel better?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Then I'll see what I can do.” Kagome gave him a sweet smile before turning on her heel and hurrying out.

 

`Arigato, koishii.'

 

----

 

“Do you hear that?”

 

Mizuki nodded, her eyes trained on the trees below them. Something large was moving through the branches.

 

“Did the whole flying around until it showed up plan actually work?” Katsuro leaned past Mizuki to look at the tree tops.

 

“Perhaps.”

 

“Let's go down and take a closer look. With our luck it's just some tree dweller that has gotten fat.”

 

Shou dipped down, taking them to the tops of the rustling trees.

 

“See anything, Ki-chan?”

 

“No, and I will not see anything if it flees due to the large amount of noise you are creating.”

 

Katsuro took the hint and shut up. Shou dropped lower, all eyes searching for the source of noise.

 

The source launched from the trees, landing on Shou and knocking Katsuro clean off.

 

“Katsuro!”

 

Mizuki did not have much time to worry about her brother, as a tiger youkai swiped at her. Twice the size of a horse, he was digging his claws into Shou's flanks as he advanced on the rider.

 

Suddenly thankful for her lessons with a short sword, Mizuki pulled her weapon and struggled with the youkai. She had to get him off of Shou, who was completely occupied with not crashing into the trees.

 

Red eyes glared as the tiger forced her back, creeping towards the dragon's neck. If they went any further the youkai would have access to an easy kill, and Mizuki was not about to let that happen. `Strategy be damned, he is threatening Shou. I simply need to kill this!'

 

As the claws flashed down again, Mizuki let her new training take over. She swapped her sword to her left hand, blocking the strike while her right hand went to the naginata at her back. The tiger never had a chance to see the second weapon. Instead of the usual wide swing, Mizuki thrust it right into her opponents face. A lucky hit blinded the youkai in one eye and drove him back, while the sword slashed out and slit a leg open.

 

“Ki-chan!” Katsuro leapt from a tree top, his own sword flashing in the sun. “Duck!”

 

Without a second though Mizuki dropped to Shou's back, letting Katsuro's swing slash through the youkai's shoulder and sending it tumbling to the ground.

 

“Are you okay?” “Are you harmed?”

 

The two siblings blinked at each other, then smiled.

 

“Shall we finish it?”

 

“Hell yes! It knocked me off Shou! That hurt!”

 

Shou snarled and dove through the limbs at a breakneck pace, the usually happy and sleepy expression replaced by predatory drive. There was a trail of blood across the fallen leaves, leaving an obvious path to follow. The track ended at a small cave, with the youkai holed up inside.

 

“Just great. I don't want to go in after him. Now what?” Katsuro hopped down from Shou and went to take a look. Deep in the dark he could see two red eyes glaring at him.

 

“Shou-chan, are you all right?” Mizuki ran her fingers over the gouges running along the dragon's side.

 

Rumbling, Shou walked to the cave and shoved Katsuro out of his way. Glaring at the tiger, he took a deep breath and blasted the inside of the cave with ice shards, shredding the youkai.

 

“Eww.” Katsuro peeked in the cave but quickly turned away. “It's too bad, that would have been a nice pelt.”

 

“Barbarian.” Focusing on Shou, Mizuki tried to check him over again. “I think we should walk back.”

 

Shou gave his partner a glare.

 

“I am only thinking of your welfare.”

 

There was a click of teeth.

 

“Very well, if you are that certain of your health.” Swinging into her usual place, Mizuki reached down a hand to help her brother up. “If we return now it is unlikely that father will notice that we have been gone.”

 

“Like he isn't going to smell tiger's blood on us, or dragon's blood for that matter.”

 

“A prompt return will keep his fury down, in that case.”

 

“Or I could just tell him that his daughter actually has a decent set of instincts when she's pushed.”

 

“Nani?” Mizuki turned her head to watch her brother as Shou set off for the palace.

 

“I saw you with that tiger, and that was some nice work with both weapons. And I know you didn't stop and think about it, because you didn't have time.”

 

“True.”

 

“It means that all your work is working!” Katsuro gave Mizuki a shake. “You're turning into a fighter!”

 

“It would seem that way.” Staring at the horizon, Mizuki's mind spun on. `Maybe I do have a chance after all. I am still Sesshomaru's daughter.'

 

“I actually feel sorry for Seiji-san. A little bit.”

 

“Hn.”

 

----

 

`I think Katsuro might be wrong. I'm not seeing much other then ruthless killer here.' Shippou picked himself up off of the ground. “Would you mind not smacking me into the ground?”

 

“I thought that was the point of this exercise.” Mizuki stood over the kitsune, her mask firmly in place. Father had not noticed their morning escape, and she had returned to her training with renewed enthusiasm.

 

“Get him again, Ki-chan!” Katsuro cheered from the sidelines. Father was dealing with official duty stuff, so the practice had a slightly more casual feel. “Get him all the way over your head this time!”

 

“Help!” Shippou yelped as Mizuki snatched him off the ground again. “I thought you were my friend, Katsuro!”

 

“I am! That's why I'm right here for you, ready to get the healer.”

 

“Arigato.” Flat out in the grass, Shippou stayed very still.

 

“Ki-chan, we should head in.” Katsuro looked at the sun.

 

“In a moment. I wish to finish this exercise.”

 

“Fine, but don't take too long.” Keeping one eye on the sun, Katsuro headed inside. Shou landed on his shoulder, hitching a ride back to the palace and, most importantly, the kitchens.

 

“What if I don't want to finish this exercise?” Rolling onto his back, Shippou stared up at Mizuki. He had been drafted into teaching Mizuki over the last two weeks, improving her hand to hand skills, and he was one, long bruise. Unlike her difficulties with weapons, she took to this straightforward kind of fighting.

 

“Up, Shippou.”

 

“Fine, fine, I'm up. Don't get all killer on me.”

 

“I will not cause you permanent harm.”

 

“Well, that makes me feel so much safer.” Shaking the grass from his hair, the kitsune crouched down. “Okay, let's try it again.”

 

Mizuki moved to grab his arm, but was blocked and tossed to the ground by the smaller youkai. Her arm was twisted into a pin, holding her down. With a knee in her back, the kitsune was making damn sure she could not get away from him and toss him around again.

 

“If you can't get it past me, I know you won't be able to get it past Seiji.”

 

“This is not about Seiji.”

 

“You're a lousy liar, Mizuki. This is all about you beating that dragon, and I want to see that just as much as you do.”

 

“Why would you feel anything about this?”

 

The arm was released, allowing Mizuki to stand and face the kitsune.

 

“He shouldn't have beat you up like that.”

 

“You are confused. I hit him first.”

 

“But . . . “

 

“It is none of your concern, Shippou. I should join my brother.”

 

“No, wait. Why can't I be concerned?” Shippou planted himself in front of Mizuki, blocking her path.

 

“It does not involve you.”

 

“If he beats up on a friend of mine, it concerns me.”

 

“Friend?” Mizuki's eyes stared blankly at the kitsune, leaking some of his confidence away.

 

“Well, yeah. You're a friend of mine.”

 

“If you insist. I must leave.”

 

“Come on, Mizuki.” Again the kitsune moved right in front of her. “Can't we just be friends?”

 

“We can discuss this later.”

 

“Why later? Katsuro keeps telling me that you're not a ruthless killer . . . “

 

“Then I must have words with my brother about lying.”

 

“You wouldn't kill me. I know you wouldn't.”

 

“If you do not move. . . “ A pale hand grabbed Shippou's throat. “I will be sorely tempted.”

 

“What's so bad about saying you're my friend?”

 

“Later, kitsune.” Pushing Shippou aside, Mizuki trained her eyes on the sun. `I have cut this too close.'

 

A clawed hand closed over her arm. “What are you so scared of?”

 

“Again, it has nothing to do with you. Release me. I need to join Katsuro.” Mizuki grabbed the kitsune's wrist. “I will not ask again.”

 

“What is bothering you?”

 

Mizuki snatched him off the ground, but he broke her grip and landed on his feet.

 

“I taught you that trick, remember?” Shippou dodged back as Mizuki went for him again. “Does Seiji have you this wound up?”

 

“I have not even spoken to that dragon since our altercation.”

 

“Hey, I just want you to know that I'm a friend. No reason to kill me.”

 

The hanyou stopped, watching the kitsune. “I understand, Shippou. I do not have an issue with your friendship.”

 

“So you would call us friends?”

 

“If you wish, but I must join my brother immediately.”

 

“Fine, fine, go see your brother. It must be something pretty important to get you this worked up.” Shippou gave her an adorable smile, which did not seem to have much of an effect. “I'll see you later, okay?”

 

“Hai.”

 

The kitsune strolled away, wandering over to find the haori that he had tossed aside while practicing.

 

`I can't risk going through the palace. I'll cut around the outside.' Running across the grounds, the hanyou made a break for her room. `This is not the kitsune's business. Why does everyone think they need to become involved in this? I appreciate father and Katsuro's assistance, and even Shippou's at times, but it is my fight. There will be another round, and I intend to win. If I must live with that dragon I will not be a shadow that is only sometimes seen and never heard.'

 

She was about three quarters of the way through her run when she felt her legs turn to lead.

 

`No. Not now. I will kill that kitsune.' Leaning against a tree, Mizuki tried to catch her breath. Soft hands with blunt nails pressed against her chest as she wheezed. `Katsuro is waiting.'

 

Weaving through the grounds, the now ningen Mizuki moved closer to her window, trying to keep alert with her weakened senses. She pressed her back against the outside wall, peering around the corner to see if anyone was there.

 

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

 

Whipping around, the ningen found Seiji staring at her, a hand resting on his hilt.

 

`Run run run run.' Mizuki bolted, running back the way she had come and aiming for the cover of the trees. She knew that Seiji could out run her, but why would he want to chase a pathetic ningen?

 

In amongst the trees she sucked air into her aching lungs. `Damn ningen body. It is worthless!'

 

“You did not answer my questions. Who are you, ningen, and what are you doing here?”

 

Cursing his existence and his timing, Mizuki slowly turned to face Seiji.

 

“Do I know you, female?”

 

“Let me go. I am not a threat.” As always, the hanyou was disappointed in her control over her ningen voice. It did not sound cold or commanding. It sounded rather pleading.

 

“Then why were you skulking around Mizuki-san's window?” Tasting the air, Seiji tried to figure out the enigma in front of him. She almost smelled like Mizuki and was dressed like her, but she was a ningen.

 

“Please, just release me. I am just a ningen.”

 

“Not until you tell me why you were there, and where I know you from. You smell familiar.”

 

Defeat slumped the white clad shoulders. “I am Mizuki.”

 

“You need to put more thought into your lies. You are a ningen.”

 

“But I am still Mizuki. Look closely Seiji-san. Do I not smell like Mizuki?”

 

“Then explain this.”

 

Dropping to sit on a log, Mizuki kept her eyes on the ground. “This happens to me once a month. I am a ningen for one night.”

 

“That is difficult to believe.” There were soft footsteps as Seiji moved over and lifted her chin. The blue eyes glared up at him. “But there is no denying the resemblance.”

 

“What would you like as proof?”

 

“I suppose you must tell me something that only Mizuki-san would know.”

 

“I am not your intended, and you should not be looking forward to this relationship.”

 

The eyebrows disappeared into Seiji's hair. “Well, that is certainly information only she would know, but delivered in a way that she would never use.”

 

“I am a ningen now, complete with a ningen's lack of control.” Tossing her now black hair behind her shoulder, Mizuki pushed his hand away. “And what will you do now?”

 

“Do?”

 

“Hai. What will you do with this information? Will you hold it against me silently, or will you tell all about my night of weakness?”

 

“I have no reason to tell anyone of this.”

 

“So you alone will hold this power over me.”

 

“I would have found out eventually. Were you planning on simply hiding from me one night a month?”

 

“I am not your mate.” Mizuki crossed her arms, glaring. “Quit acting as though this is a completed deal.”

 

“And why are you so strongly set against it?”

 

“Why would I wish to go to the east and be the despised hanyou, especially since my mate would share the opinion?” Now on her feet, Mizuki forced Seiji to step back. “Why would you wish to have a half breed around you? You will have to sire offspring on me. Do you want that?”

 

“I wanted a taiyoukai.” Seiji watched as pain flashed across her eyes before being hidden again. `Yes, her control as a ningen is shaky at best.' “But that is not what fate has dealt.”

 

“You can choose to walk away from this, just as you can choose to tell everyone about my night as a ningen.”

 

“I will not tell any about this. You have my word, Mizuki.”

 

The intensity in his voice broke through the roiling emotions that were threatening to drown Mizuki. “Why?”

 

“Despite everything, you are not my enemy. I will not reveal your one weakness, no matter what type of a relationship we end with.”

 

“Arigato, Seiji-san.” Backing away from the dragon, Mizuki tried to bring her emotions back under her control. “I apologize for my outburst.”

 

“Somehow I think that you have had these thoughts all along, but only now have decided to share them. Perhaps I should ask you other questions.”

 

“And why would you do this?”

 

“Because I would like more of an answer then one syllable and a cold stare.”

 

“Then you will take advantage of my lack of control, and the fact that I cannot get away.”

 

“Hai.”

 

Dropping back to her log, Mizuki set her eyes on the ground. “Bastard.”

 

“And why have you been avoiding me, even more so then before?”

 

“I have been busy.”

 

“Not that busy.”

 

Even as a ningen Mizuki had an impressive growl. “I did not wish for your company.”

 

“Can we survive with each other?”

 

“I do not know.” Smirking, Mizuki looked up to meet Seiji's eyes. “How sad. The taiyoukai is concerned for his safety with the hanyou.”

 

“And legitimately so. The more I know you the more I believe that I do not want you to be annoyed with me and behind me at the same time. I have known very strong youkai and very intelligent youkai. It is the intelligent ones that concern me. Blind strength is not a concern.”

 

“But is pure intelligence enough to be a threat without the might to back it up?”

 

“I believe you to be a threat.”

 

“And I believe that you have enough intelligence to make your might into a threat.”

 

Chuckling, Seiji sat down so that he was at Mizuki's height. “And yet you somehow make that into an implied insult.”

 

“A skill that you have mastered.”

 

“My father may be right. Some elements just do not belong together. I believe that we bring out the worst in each other.”

 

“You may be correct.” The now slate blue eyes flicked back to the ground.

 

“We seem to be born to fight each other.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Shall we report to your parents that we are incompatible after all?”

 

“Compatibility does not concern me. If we can learn enough control to avoid murder it will be enough. However, we can not report that to mother.”

 

“She must believe that you have affections for me.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“But you will be satisfied if we do not kill each other.” Seiji gazed up at the branches above him as night set in. “What do you want out of this, Mizuki-san?”

 

“Nani?”

 

“What are your goals?”

 

“Position and an alliance.”

 

“And that is all? You have no female dreams of undying affection?”

 

“Have I shown any indication of foolish female behavior?”

 

“No, but it is best to make sure. I do not need to deal with any surprises.”

 

“In that respect we are well suited. At least it is not a complete mismatch. And your goals?”

 

“A strong heir.”

 

The hanyou's eyes remained fixed on the ground. “It seems that achieving your goal is more questionable then achieving mine.”

 

“I am less concerned after meeting your mother.”

 

“My mother?”

 

“Ah, you have not heard.” Seiji actually smiled as he remembered. “Your mother had words with me regarding my behavior. She is quite impressive, especially for her small stature. I believe I know where your temper came from.”

 

“Mother attacked you.”

 

“Hai, and yelled at me quite a bit. It was reminiscent of having my own mother yelling at me, but my mother never grabbed me by my kimono in order to pull me down.”

 

Mizuki snickered. “She grabbed you by your kimono?”

 

“And threatened to purify me out of existence if I laid a claw on you again.”

 

The snickering grew louder. “So my mother defeated you.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“It would have been amusing to watch.”

 

“I have no doubt. Do not worry about your bloodlines. You family may be insane, but they are certainly powerful.”

 

“I am having difficulty in believing your words. You have been quite set against having a hanyou.”

 

“But you are not the average hanyou, are you?”

 

Staring at Seiji, Mizuki heard the words over and over again in her mind. “And what do you mean, Seiji-san?”

 

“That was a powerful miko that bested me, and your father is considered the strongest taiyoukai alive. I believe that those bloodlines combined with my own will suffice. So long as we can avoid killing each other long enough to produce the next generation, that is.”

 

“If you are saying this just to say pleasant things . . . “

 

“Since when have I ever done that? If I truly thought that our offspring would be weaklings I would tell your mother about our murderous tendencies and leave. I have no wish to have an heir that cannot hold his lands. You were not my first, second, or even a considered choice, but this may very well work. Believe me, this is more of a surprise to me then you.”

 

There was a long silence as Mizuki went over his words, and her own words from when she was a pup.

 

I have no shame in my bloodlines. My mother defeated Naraku, and my father is the greatest of the taiyoukai.

 

“My brother will be worried about me.”

 

“We do not want Katsuro-san to fret. I will escort you back, so that you will remain unseen.”

 

“Arigato, Seiji-san.”

 

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