InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty Hero ❯ Faith In Me ( Chapter 42 )

Yes, it is here. At last. I can only grovel. I have no good excuse. In order to write this chapter, I had to plan out the rest of the story so I knew exactly where I was going, which did eat up a great deal of time. I'm also having some trouble with my jobs, and then the real time-consumer came out… How to Train Your Dragon. Yeah. *hangs head* I'm not even going to say how much time I have spent with that. But, the chapter is out now, and hopefully the others will come out faster. I know I say that every time, but this time I hope to not lie to you all. ^__^

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I always appreciate your comments. Nothing is more encouraging than a good review. ^__^

Also, thank you to everyone who did an edit of the chapter for me! It is much appreciated. You guys are awesome.

All right, on with the chapter!

Guilty Hero

Chapter 41: Faith In Me

Rin looked curiously up from reception when the quiet air of the lobby was broken by the shouts and jeers of a small crowd gathered outside when the door was opened. Kagome was prodded forcefully inside by Inu-Yasha, who was backing into the room.

“Like I give a damn what you assholes think of me!” he snarled at those nearest to the door. “Just keep away from Kagome, or you bastards are really gonna find out how violent I can be!” He finally made it all the way inside and allowed the glass door to close. The noise of the city was shut out once more until the only sounds were the soft rumble of the air vent and the whirring of Rin's computer.

Kagome remained silent, watching as Inu-Yasha calmly walked over to a nearby trashcan. Holding his right arm over it, he flicked the bottom half of a hamburger off the back of his arm, leaving behind the pinkish smear of ketchup and mayonnaise. He glanced up, realizing that both women in the room were watching him.

“Feh. Bastard should've realized I've eaten lunch already — it's way past noon.”

Rin was unable to laugh at his poor attempt at a joke. “Inu-Yasha… Did someone throw that at you?”

He shrugged. “Like I give a damn if I've lost a fan. C'mon, Kagome, we're late.” In order to avoid speaking any more on the subject, he gestured at Kagome and led the way to the elevator, snagging a tissue from Rin's desk along the way.

As the elevator doors slid shut and blocked Rin's view of the couple, Kagome turned to look at Inu-Yasha. “I'm surprised at you.”

He kept his eyes off of her, instead focusing on wiping the condiment smear off his arm with the tissue. “What for?” he grunted irritably, stretching a little to reach the spot.

“Well, those people out there were so angry. Did you not notice how fast a crowd gathered around us? I mean, all we did was climb out of the car and everyone was already on us, shouting and pushing and throwing things. All because of that interview. And yet, even as you stand here cleaning off half-eaten fast food, you're so calm. In fact, you only started getting upset when that one guy pushed me.”

A sneer tugged at his lips, and he paused in his work. “He's lucky he's still got both arms.”

Sighing lightly, Kagome smiled. She was relieved to hear that he was at the very least, a little annoyed. “Even so. You still had enough control over your temper to stay calm. Until I was threatened, of course. I just am confused with the sudden change. It's a little unnatural, honestly.”

The half-demon crumpled the tissue in his fist and checked the back of his arm to make certain it was clean. “Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?” he asked distractedly.

Kagome crossed her arms. “Neither. It's meant to be a comment of concern. Seriously, Inu-Yasha, what is going on? Why are you so unaffected by all this? Last night you were ready to go break into Muso's office again and rip his head off! What's happened?” With the worry and anxiety rising in her voice, Inu-Yasha finally sighed and gave her his full attention.

“Because,” he said evenly as the elevator shuddered to a halt. “I've dealt with people who hate me all my life. I know how to handle them. Curses and shouts and…” He lifted the ketchup and mayonnaise-coated tissue. “…Half-eaten food thrown my way. I put up with that for the first sixteen years of my life. It was dealing with the praise and respect that has been the hard part. To be honest, it's something of a relief to have the general public hating me again. But that doesn't mean I'm going to allow them to drag you into this.” He placed his hand on her back to gently lead her off the elevator as she stared at him in surprise.

“You mean… You'd rather have people hate you? You'd rather have people believe lies about you than deal with their praise?”

Snorting, he walked over to the door to Sango and Miroku's office. “Weren't you the one saying, just last night, that as long as you know the truth about me it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks?” He gave her a cocky grin. “I really was listening, you know.”

Kagome could hardly speak for a moment; she was so taken aback by his behavior. It was so different than what she had been dealing with for the past few weeks. She couldn't help but wonder if it was because of her comment to him yesterday: “Just because we have to put our relationship on hold doesn't mean we have to pretend it doesn't exist.” For the rest of the evening, he had been in a strangely good mood. It was as though he had forgotten entirely what had happened in the interview; either that, or he was so distracted by her that he couldn't bother to focus on other things. While she didn't want to flatter herself quite so much, she really couldn't think of another explanation. It was a welcome change, but an odd one to deal with.

With a small smile and a shrug, she stepped forward and knocked on the door to the office. “Well, while I may not understand what has caused the change, I am proud of you. You're handling this well.”

Miroku opened the door at that moment, appearing a little stressed. “Come in, come in,” he said distractedly, glancing at a paper in his hand before stepping aside so they could enter. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

Inu-Yasha said nothing as he followed Kagome inside and took a seat next to her on the couch in their office. Taking his hand, Kagome gave it a small squeeze in reassurance. Although he had been in a strangely good mood that morning, he had voiced his concern to her about how Sango and Miroku were going to react to the interview. Despite Kagome's assurances the night before, he knew the loss of the defense branch had been hastened by his actions and he wasn't sure how Sango and Miroku would take it. So, taking a deep breath, he set his jaw and stared evenly at the pair, ready to accept whatever they threw his way.

“All right,” sighed Miroku as he sat down behind his desk. “I'm sorry we're so disorganized today. There is so much we have to prepare for right now with the defense branch about to go under. We have to take precautionary methods to ensure the city will have some protection for this demon attack, and it's extraordinary how much there is to do. Plus, it all has to be done in secrecy so this Muso fellow doesn't get his sticky fingers in it.” He let out a groan and rubbed his face in frustration.

“Muso seems to be a real thorn in the Order's side,” Kagome said.

“You don't say,” grumbled Sango. “That man has his finger in every aspect of this city. And since we still have no solid evidence to back up our theory that he is in cahoots with this super-demon, we can't pin anything on him.” She tossed her pen down in exasperation. “Things are not going well, to say the least.”

“Well, surely Muso can't work with this demon for too much longer before his true colors will be exposed,” replied Kagome thoughtfully. “I'm sure the city will come around to our side soon enough on this matter. It may just be a matter of waiting until Muso makes that one slip up.”

“Unfortunately, we can't really afford to stand around and wait,” piped in Miroku, resting his chin on his hand. “The city is going to lose its last line of defense in a matter of days, and we cannot allow that to happen. We're going to be struggling on our own for a while. At the very least, we've known about this beforehand, and for that I am grateful. That's the one thing Muso couldn't pull over our eyes. If he wants to get the city on board with him, he had to let them be aware of it. And if the city is aware of it, then we are aware.”

“Speaking of which, we need to discuss the reason we asked you to come today: The interview from yesterday.” Sango tugged out the transcript of the interview.

Inu-Yasha, who had been shifting uncomfortably on the couch as he waited for Sango and Miroku yell at him, was so relieved that no punishment had come that he didn't hesitate to speak up. “I want to know how they got that `security' footage outside the Order,” he growled, clearly displaying his irritation. “There are no security cameras that would have gotten a shot like that.”

“Precisely what we wanted to discuss,” replied Miroku. He sounded a little pleased that Inu-Yasha had noticed something as technical as that. He and Sango had suspected Inu-Yasha's reaction to the interview had not been a pleasant experience, but if the demon had been able to take note of that sort of detail, then perhaps his control over his temper was getting better.

“Sango and I were discussing the possibility that you are being followed, Inu-Yasha.”

With a snort, Inu-Yasha leaned back and crossed his arms. “Feh. I think I would notice if I were being followed. Only an idiot would attempt to tail me.”

Sango and Miroku exchanged a look of surprise. Hearing Inu-Yasha sound so confident was a strange occurrence; such a statement was said only by the Inu-Yasha from years past, when years of surviving on the streets had imbued him with an inflated ego. He had long since lost the faith in his abilities, or so they had thought.

“Well, while I do hate to argue with you,” began Sango, leaning forward on her elbows to study him. “How were those ogres you killed able to get close enough to take a swipe at Kagome before you attacked them? If you were unable to catch wind of two hulking, inexperienced ogres, surely a skilled demon could tail you with little trouble.”

Inu-Yasha opened his mouth to argue, but under the combined gaze of Sango, Miroku and Kagome, he slowly shut his mouth and sat back, scowling at them as he thought. While he didn't want to admit it, they did have a point. Nowadays, he was usually too distracted by the lack of booze in his blood to pay much attention to his surroundings. And before Kagome had come into his life, he was far too drunk to bother worrying about what was going on around him. Thus, his senses had dulled from disuse over the years, and it was entirely feasible he was being followed.

Seeing his scowl turn into a low growl of realization, Miroku decided to continue. “There are other signs that you're being followed. There is a small building nearby that would have been the perfect vantage point for someone with a camera to capture your fight with those ogres. Plus, that video would have the same angle used in the footage from the interview.”

“We've also had a few of the Order's members come forward and confess that they spoke with a stranger who asked questions about you. However, they only said that they mentioned your issues with assignments. But, Muso mentioned that you had injured other people and yourself while drinking, as well as the fact that we decided to have Kagome work with you. So far, no member has confessed to mentioning those things with this stranger. However, someone who has been tailing you would know of this.”

“All right, all right. So someone is followin' me. What do you want me to do about it? Just not say anything about the Order? Kinda hard, since I work here,” growled Inu-Yasha in annoyance.

Miroku shook his head. “Actually, in a few days, you won't be working here,” he reminded the demon gently. “But that is not an issue. You won't really have to do anything about this mysterious follower of yours.”

“What do you mean?” asked Kagome, sounding a little concerned. “What if this person can gain information about what we're planning to do once the defense branch is dissolved? I thought we were supposed to keep that under wraps. Muso would love to get his hands on that sort of information.”

“It appears that whoever has been following Inu-Yasha has merely been keeping track of his movement, rather than trying to gain information about us. You'll notice, they had to resort to taking on a disguise and asking members of our staff to get the information they wanted. Thus, once they realize that Inu-Yasha is no longer a part of the Order and thus not a part of the war, they will lose their interest in him and move on to other tactics.”

“Then why bother following me in the first place?” the half-demon grunted, growing frustrated with the situation.

“Well, to bring down the Order, obviously,” replied Sango. “We know that Muso is connected to the person following you. And, Muso wants to bring you down in the eyes of the city, thus he needs to know what you've been doing with yourself. He finally gained enough data on you to deface you and make you fall. Now, there is nothing standing in the way of taking down the Order's defense branch, which was his ultimate goal.”

“So he used me to weaken the Order.”

“In a sense, yes.”

“Hmmph.” Crossing his arms, Inu-Yasha scowled and looked away. “That asshole better not cross my path anytime soon, otherwise I'm gonna—”

“What you're gonna do is nothing, Inu-Yasha,” warned Miroku, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “Exacting revenge on Mayor Muso is only going to involve you in this war. Sango and I are trying very hard to respect your desire to remain outside of this, and we would appreciate if you would not take action that would draw you in.”

Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed as he glared at his superiors. “I think I have every right to be pissed with a man who used me for his own gain.”

“You do have every right to be angry. But you don't have the right to act on that. Things are going to be different from here on out, Inu-Yasha. You are going to have to detach yourself from the Order. Once the vote passes to disband the branch, you will no longer be under our employ, and we therefore cannot keep you informed on everything. Kagome, if she agrees to it...” He paused to glance at Kagome who nodded in response. “…will be your only correspondence with the Order. Any more contact than that, and you can become a weapon against us. Is that what you want, Inu-Yasha?”

Clearly unhappy but in no position to argue, Inu-Yasha shook his head.

“All right, then.” Miroku nodded and sat back in his chair.

“So, to be absolutely clear on this…” began Sango. “You are not to do anything about whoever is following you. If you happen to catch them, fine. At least, they will be off your tail. If not, then they will lose interest in you soon enough. Understood?”

Inu-Yasha nodded grimly.

“Excellent. Now, if you don't mind, we have plenty of work to do. If you can see yourselves out…?”

With a growl, Inu-Yasha climbed out of his chair and stalked to the door. As he held it open for the silent Kagome, who followed after, he glanced back at Sango and Miroku and opened his mouth to speak. However, Miroku was digging through some of the files on his desk, and Sango was already on the phone.

“Rin, would you please send Kohaku up here, and then let Kaede know we are ready for the meeting?”

Sighing, the half-demon decided to leave his complaints unspoken. With Sango's little brother beginning his training in preparation to go into the caverns in just a week's time, he knew they had bigger things on their plates than dealing with his displeasures. He quietly shut the door and jogged the couple steps to catch up with his nurse.

They silently walked down the hall toward the elevator, until finally Kagome took hold of his hand. “Are you all right?” she asked as he pushed the button, accepting her contact without complaint.

He frowned slightly. “I'm just not used to this,” he told her, waiting for her to get on the elevator before following after. “Up until this point, I have been forced to be involved with the Order and the fighting. I don't know how to deal with not being a part of it this time around.”

“Well… isn't that what you wanted, though?” she asked gently.

He rubbed his head in frustration. “Yes, that is what I want,” he emphasized. “I'm just not used to it, that's all. Sango and Miroku have never told me to keep my nose out of their business before. Never.”

Kagome lightly squeezed his hand. “Is this such a bad thing? This could be just the thing you need. So much pressure will be lifted from your shoulders. You'll be happier; you'll be less stressed… And hopefully, with both of those factors coming into play, that will make quitting drinking that much easier.”

Groaning, he shook his head. After his relapse two days prior, waiting until six o' clock had been far more difficult. The thought of anything to make that time go by easier was a welcome idea. “I hope you're right,” he muttered.

They fell quiet after that, each lost in their own thoughts as the elevator shuddered down to the ground floor. However, when it dinged open and deposited them in the lobby, Kagome spoke up. Her voice was soft.

“I'm a little frightened, actually.”

Inu-Yasha quickly looked up at her. Thoughts of his frustration were forced out of his head at the comment. “Frightened of what?”

“Of what's going to happen when the defense branch is gone. Sango and Miroku have already spoken with me privately about what my role will be with the Order. They have asked me to become a part of their underground army.”

A snarl tugged at his lips. “They what?”

“And, I said yes.”

“You said yes?! Kagome, do you know how dangerous that is going to be? Working in secrecy? Fighting against demons we know nothing about?”

“I understand, Inu-Yasha. But, I still want to help. I want to fight for the city. Besides, Sango and Miroku seem to think that my spiritual powers will be a strong weapon against this super-demon. I am not going to be the one to deny the city a chance at winning just because I am afraid of what might happen.”

He growled with displeasure. “You're not gonna be put in danger. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“You won't have anything to say about it, Inu-Yasha,” replied Kagome. Her tone was harsher than she really intended. “Your word will have no sway at the Order once the defense branch is gone. You're going to have to accept that.”

His mouth clamped shut.

Seeing him clam up, Kagome took hold of his other hand in an attempt to be kinder. “Look, Inu-Yasha. I can take care of myself. The Order is going to give me the proper training I need before they send me out to fight. I am capable and I have a level head on my shoulders. You have to have a little faith in me.”

“I have all the faith in the world in you,” he mumbled, not meeting her gaze. “It's the ones you're gonna fight that I don't trust.”

She laughed lightly before tugging him toward the exit. “I don't trust them either, but thank goodness that isn't a part of the fight. Now, come along. We've discussed this enough for one day.”

Frowning, he walked along behind her. He should be happy. Kagome was right — with the weight of the Order no longer on his shoulders, he should be feeling relieved. However, Kagome's new position weighed more on his mind than anything, and he was beginning to question his desire to remain unattached to the war.

The sun was barely beginning to color the night sky with a warm orange hue as Sango drove her brother down the vacant streets. Everything in the city was hushed and soft, as though the slightest noise would awaken the slumbering beast. Inside the car, the atmosphere was the same. Sango stared straight ahead. Her grip on the wheel was as tight as her lips as she steered them toward their destination.

Kohaku, although not as tense as his elder sibling, was just as quiet. He looked out at the scenery as they drove past, wondering how often he would get to see the building and streets of the city once his new assignment began.

However, he surprised even himself at how he was handling his emotions. He was feeling a good amount of fear, certainly. But after a full week of training, of preparing himself for any circumstance, he had come to terms with his emotions. Fear was a natural part of the job. As long as he accepted and controlled that fear, there was nothing to worry about. In fact, he found that he was almost anticipating this task. He was ready and eager to serve his city.

Thus, when they reached the gate to the quarry, it was not Kohaku who left the car with the most trepidation, but Sango. Before she had even unbuckled her seat belt, he was out of the car and pulling his gear out of the backseat.

“Okay. Scythe, cell phone, spare clothes…” he mumbled to himself as he rummaged through his pack. Noting that he had everything on his checklist for the backpack, he made certain that the more important equipment that he had on his person was accounted for. He fingered his right ear, which held a miniscule, flesh-colored recording device should he catch the enemy speaking of important information concerning the Order. In his other ear was some communication equipment that would allow him to contact the Order when needed. Reaching his hand into his pocket, he jiggled the spare change inside. Should his equipment break, malfunction or be taken away from him, he would have change for a payphone if he were able to escape. He allowed a smile to stretch across his face at the thought; even with all their technology, he still would rely on an old-fashioned pay phone in the end.

Deciding he might voice that thought to his sister, he pulled his pack out of the backseat and then turned to look at her. “Sister, I just… Sister?”

Sango was staring solemnly at him from the other side of the car.

After she stayed silent for several moments, Kohaku finally walked around the front of the car so he could be closer. Smiling, more to bring her comfort than for his sake, he said, “Sister, you shouldn't act like you're sending me off to my death.”

At that sentence, Sango's expression morphed into one of guilt, and she looked away. “But that's the way I feel,” she said softly. “How can you be this way? How can you be smiling when you are about to embark on a nearly impossible mission?”

Kohaku let out a weak laugh. “You don't really give the best pep talks, sister.”

She looked sharply at him at the comment, and he noted the tears in her eyes. Clearly, now was not the time for jokes.

He sighed and set his pack on the ground. “I won't lie to you. I am scared. Terrified, even. But…” He stepped forward and took her hands in his smaller ones. “You've inspired me, sister. You and Miroku and Inu-Yasha… Everyone who fought in the last war. You're such strong people, and so brave. And I… I'm not always so brave.” Releasing Sango's hands, he held his out so she could see that they were trembling uncontrollably.

“I know you guys were scared when you fought Naraku,” he said softly. “But the point is, you still faced him. That's why I'm doing this, sister. In all my time at the Order, I've done only small assignments that haven't required much of me. It's time that I face my fears and serve this city the best I can. I need to do this.”

The guilt that was already plaguing Sango gnawed deeper into her gut as he spoke. The reason he had only done such small assignments for the Order was because of her. Because, she hadn't wanted to put him at risk or in danger. Because, she was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of an intense situation.

And now, to see him standing in front of her with trembling limbs but also with determination in his gaze, she realized that she was the only thing that had been holding him back. It was because of her that he was so dead-set on proving himself inside the cavern.

“I understand,” she said softly.

Once he picked up his pack, she put her arm around his shoulders, and together, they slowly walked toward the entrance to the quarry. The gate was still locked shut as it was still so early in the morning that none of the workers had arrived, but it would be no problem for Kohaku to get inside.

They stopped and stared down into the quarry for a while, focusing in particular at a black point a long ways away--the place where Kohaku would be disappearing to. He looked up at his sister, trying to keep an easy smile on his face despite the anxiety welling up inside him.

“I should probably get going. The workers will be here soon, and we don't want to arouse suspicion.”

Sango blinked, then tore her gaze away from the quarry and turned her attention to him. “Right, of course.” Clearing her throat, she gazed sternly at him. “Do you have all of your supplies with you? All the equipment we gave you to communicate with us? Did you check and make sure it was all working properly?”

“Of course I did, sister. I want to stay in contact with you as much as you want to stay in contact with me.”

All of a sudden, Sango reached forward and gripped her little brother in a fierce embrace. He returned it for both desired to have this last moment of physical contact before he would be lost in the demon caverns for an unknown length of time. It would be the first time they would be separated for more than a few days, and the thought alone terrified both.

“I'm frightened, sister,” he murmured softly into her shoulder.

“I am, too,” she replied. “But, I have faith in you.” The statement surprised her, but she knew it was the truth. It had taken Miroku's kind words to make her aware of that fact, but there was no doubt. It was her brother's time to step forward and show his inner strength.

I have faith in you. That was the last bit of encouragement Kohaku needed. Hugging his elder sibling tighter for just a moment, he finally pulled away and slung on his pack. Turning around, he faced the closed gate and jumped as high as he could. He grasped the chain links and climbed like a monkey to the top. Once he had dropped down to the other side, he faced his sister once again.

She was watching him with a strange mixture of pride and sadness etched in her features. Stepping forward, she placed her fingers on the chain links, which he gripped in return. “Be strong, Kohaku. I will see you soon.”

He smiled at her. “See you soon, sister.” Without another word, he turned and entered the shadows of the quarry.

His progress was slow as he began his descent to the bottom of the trench, tugging a small flashlight out of his pack as the shadows blinded him to what lay ahead. Everything around him quickly faded to black, and it soon became easy to convince himself it was the dead of night. The air was still and silent, causing his footsteps to be overly loud as he crunched through the gravel.

Now that he was alone, it was a bit harder to keep his resolve. Being shrouded in total darkness was also unnerving for he knew he had quite a ways to go before he came upon the cavern. “Myoga never mentioned this part…” he whispered under his breath. “I wish he had.” He was really only talking to steady his nerves and to take the edge off the darkness. Hearing his voice, though it was thin and echoed in the canyon, offered him a bit of comfort.

“I can do this,” he said, straightening his shoulders and quickening his pace. “There's nothing to be afraid of yet. And, when I do reach the demon's lair, well…” He removed his scythe from his belt and hefted it in his hand, finding the familiar weight comforting. “Kaede did tell me to `make myself interesting'.”

It took a few more minutes of a pep talk as Kohaku made his way through the canyon before he finally fell into a calm silence, focusing his mind on the mission. Judging from what Myoga had regaled to him, the opening to the demon's cave was at the heart of the gorge, in the deepest, darkest recesses. Once he arrived there, he should be able to find the barrier the demon had erected to keep its aura contained. From there, a crack in the ground was the only entrance.

I suppose it doesn't matter that I use the front door… he thought, a small chuckle breaking the silence. I'm not there to hide from them, am I?

Both his mouth and his thoughts stilled after that since he needed to divert his energy to finding the cavern. He continued to hike through the cracks and crevices in the gorge for what seemed like an eternity. His view of the sky was limited to a tiny thread of color etched high above him, breaking the darkness of the canyon. It was his only sense as to how much time had elapsed. He was able to watch as that stripe lightened from a deep purple to a pale yellow, and at last to a bright blue as the sun fully rose.

Hmm… It's been about two hours, I suppose, he thought, staring up at the thin strip of sky. I should be coming upon the entrance soon.

As he brought his gaze back down, he noticed a soft blue glow coming from around the bend, so pale and weak that he could barely see it. However, it was enough of an indication that he quickened his pace, eager to see if he had finally reached his destination.

“Ah…” As he rounded the corner, he found an open area of rock. Even though it was a very small area, it offered Kohaku a great amount of relief from the claustrophobic pathway that had led him here. What was more, a large rounded barrier of swirling energy bathed the surrounding rock walls in an eerie blue light, but to Kohaku, it was a source of comfort to find light in the inky darkness.

How funny that the entrance to a demon's lair is making me feel better. He laughed to himself, shaking his head. But, no matter. I need to see if I can breach this barrier and make it to the entrance.

The entrance to the cavern was actually visible through the barrier's pale wall. It was a small crevice dug out of the ground, clearly manmade judging from the smooth edges. Another sign that this was indeed the place he had been searching for.

Getting a better grip on his scythe, he took a deep breath and stepped toward the barrier. With more than a little hesitation, he touched the trembling tip of his weapon to the barrier, waiting to see if perhaps a shock of energy might blow him backwards. However, his scythe met no resistance and simply passed right through.

All right… Kohaku released a breath he didn't know he had been holding and withdrew his weapon. Apparently, the barrier was solely for keeping demonic energy inside. He pondered the reason of this for a moment. I suppose it wouldn't really matter if anyone somehow stumbled across this, he realized. If this demon is as powerful as Sango says, then whoever went inside would never come back out. He swallowed hard. Oh well. That's what I'm here for.

Squaring his shoulders, he marched right through the barrier and slipped inside the crack in the ground.

The boy first came upon a set of steps, illuminated by torchlight. He easily recognized the flames as demon-fire. It was the next best thing to electricity when one was well over a mile underground, he supposed.

Peering down the lighted hallway of stone that lay ahead of him, he saw no sign of life anywhere, but that hardly put him at ease. A surprise attack on a lone human would be more than likely in a place such as this. If he wanted to make it to this super-demon alive, he would need to survive the trip there.

His hands shaking more than ever, he held his scythe at the ready and started down the walkway, keeping all his senses alert. All of his training had prepared him for this. The only problem was, no one seemed to know of his presence. He had spotted several areas where a path or two would diverge from the main hallway, but he noticed no other demons, humans or even any form of life. Everything was as eerie and silent as the gorge outside, and he was beginning to wonder if anyone was even occupying the cavern at this time.

“Where is everyone?” he finally whispered after several minutes of walking, glancing around to see if anyone was perhaps following him.

“The other inhabitants do not feel the need to waste their time on a foolish human.”

Kohaku whirled around at the sound of the dry voice, to be greeted by a rather beautiful demoness. Or rather, she would have been pretty were she not scowling at him. Her crimson eyes were glaring at him with an expression of distaste; clearly, she felt he was a waste of her time as well.

“I would imagine not,” he replied slowly, trying to keep the fear out of his voice and sound casual.

The woman snapped her fan open, and at the sound, he could tell it was made of metal. He could only assume it was her weapon of choice. “I am hardly inclined to myself,” she informed him; her message was only too clear. “I do not know what your purpose is here, human, but neither do I care. You have stumbled upon the wrong place at the wrong time, and it is my orders to dispose of you.” She brought the fan up to her shoulder, readying for an obvious attack. “Goodbye.”

Kohaku took a defensive stance and held his scythe out in front of him. He cast a steely gaze upon the woman, something Sango called his `battle face'. He had never thought of himself as a frightening figure, but many a demon had taken a step back when he glared their way, and he hoped perhaps this demoness might as well. “I wouldn't do that if I were you,” he informed her.

Although she hardly appeared afraid, she did freeze in her attack position. She was rather bored after being stuck underground for so long. While she did not care to lower herself to speak with a mere human boy, he was breaking the monotony of the day.

“Oh, really?” she asked sarcastically. “And why is that? Are you here to destroy us all?”

“Quite the contrary,” Kohaku replied, keeping his tone firm but friendly. “I am here to join your ranks.”

This caused the demoness to lower her weapon, but only due to laughter. “What could a brat like you possibly have to offer us?” she snorted. “You are nothing. You will be annihilated like the rest of your kind. Why would we allow you among us?”

Kohaku straightened from his defensive stance, although he kept his scythe ready in a firm grip. “That is something I wish to discuss with your leader, not with you.” It was a foolish thing to insult this woman, he knew. However, he was fairly certain that her master, the super-demon who Sango and Miroku feared so much, was listening in on the conversation. One thing that demons admired above all else was power. If he could prove that he did not fear this minion and that he held the power in the conversation, he might earn himself an audience with the city's greatest enemy.

The woman's cheeks flushed scarlet with fury, and she whipped her fan back up to attack. “How dare you, you puny little—”

“Kagura.” A deep voice rumbled through the passageway. It was full of power and menace, and it caused Kohaku to shudder in surprise and fear at its strength. Even the demoness, apparently named Kagura, lost her anger at the sound.

“Stay your blade, Kagura. Lead the boy to me. His proposition must be quite… interesting for him to come so far alone.”

Kohaku was having a far more difficult time keeping his trembling under control as the voice spoke. There was something in the tone, although sounding innocent enough, that hinted this demon knew far more than he was letting on.

Kagura appeared to have a better grip on her emotions for she was glaring at the stone floor as she slapped her fan shut once again. However, Kohaku did notice that there was the hint of fear in her eyes; another sign that this super-demon was not to be trusted.

“Fine,” she snapped angrily, standing up straight. Casting her furious gaze at Kohaku, she turned on her heel and stalked away. Had he not been aware of Kagura's orders, he would have thought she was simply ignoring him. But, he followed after her, jogging a little to keep pace with her angry strides.

The journey led him even deeper into the caverns. The air grew damp and frigid so that not even the demon-fire that lined the way brought them any warmth. His breath misted in front of him, and he finally had to stick his hands under his arms to keep them from going numb. He noticed that his guide seemed to be in almost the same condition, although she was more stubborn than he about showing it. Her shoulders were trembling in the chill, and she cast nervous, anxious glances around as they proceeded. Clearly, she was quite uncomfortable underground.

This piece of information surprised him. He had thought that any creature that was to serve this super-demon would be accustomed to his living arrangements, and therefore, would have adapted to life underground. But this woman, not only harboring a dislike for her master, was unable to handle the environment. So why was she here?

“Hurry up, brat,” she barked at him. “The master is waiting.” `Master' was uttered with a hint of sarcasm, and Kohaku knew that this demon may be stronger than her, but he did not hold her respect.

When they finally reached the end of the main tunnel, Kohaku was nearly brought to his knees by the strength of the demonic aura exuding from the cave. His footsteps wavered, and he had to place a hand against the stone wall for support as a wave of nausea washed over him. He had never felt an aura so powerful or menacing. The thought made his limbs shake and his knees knock together; Sango was right to fear this creature.

It was the demoness who snapped him out of his frightened state. “Move, insect!” she snarled, waving her fan and creating a gust of wind that forced him into the room. “Don't make the master wait!”

He stumbled inside, covering his eyes from the sudden barrage of light. After so long in utter darkness, the appearance of light was harsh and painful. Squinting and blinking, he slowly lowered his arm and finally faced the demon.

At the center of the room was an enormous purple orb, swirling and crackling with a fierce energy. Inside, he could see the faint shadow of a humanoid figure, but no other details could be determined. He frowned in confusion. What was the orb for? Why did the demon need to hide when no other creature was foolish enough to come this far into the caverns?

“Hmm…” The deep, familiar voice spoke once again. “You have traveled a long distance to merely have lost your way, child. I assume that you have sought me out.”

“Th-that is correct,” Kohaku stuttered, slowly standing up straight. It was more important than ever that he kept a level head now that he was speaking with the super-demon. “I wish to join your ranks.”

Silence met his request. The figure inside the orb shifted slightly, and Kohaku had the uneasy feeling that he was being studied closely.

“Why do you assume that I have ranks for you to join?” the demon finally asked.

Deciding it was time that he showed more of a backbone, Kohaku crossed his arms and frowned at the orb. “Please. I know exactly what is going on down here. You are planning a takeover of the city, and you are creating a demon army underground while the mayor plants the seeds of your power all over the city. When the time is right, you will rise up and take control.”

A deep chuckle met his assessment of the situation. “And who are you to know all this, boy? That is not information the average citizen is privy to.”

This was the moment where Kohaku was to gain the demon's trust. “I am Kohaku, the younger brother of Sango, head of the Order. The Order. The only opposition you face in your takeover of the city.”

Once again, the demon went silent. Kohaku even suspected that this bit of information was a surprise to him.

Holding back a gasp of surprise, Kohaku flinched when he spotted a pale green tentacle slowly emerge from the orb and wind its way toward him. “And is Sango sending her little brother as a peace offering to save her precious city?” The tentacle wound itself ever-so-slowly around Kohaku's neck. “As though I would accept such a ludicrous offer.”

Kohaku stood still as a statue, his chin lifted defiantly as the tentacle began to squeeze. “Not hardly,” he said; his voice was cold. The pressure on his neck ceased, although the tentacle did not move.

“Then what is your purpose here?”

“As I said. I wish to join your ranks.”

The tentacle slipped off his neck and retreated back into the orb. Silence was his reply, but Kohaku had the feeling the demon was waiting for him to explain himself.

“I do not remember much of the first demon war,” he began, doing his best not to rub his neck in relief. “But what I do remember is what happened to the city and the people. We have never fully recovered. We are weak. We will be unable to take another fight. As a human, I am told that I will automatically be on the losing side, and that doesn't sit well with me. I find it foolish to stay with a losing side for something as transparent as loyalty.”

Another low chuckle emerged. “You are not as thick-headed as your sister, in that aspect,” he responded, his tone amused. “But why should I offer you a place among my ranks? You are merely a human. Why take a chance on your loyalty when I could squash you like the miniscule insect you are?”

Kohaku did not even flinch at the threat. “I can be useful to you in your takeover. Were you not listening? I am the younger brother of the head of the Order. She has yet to know of my betrayal. I can give you all sorts of information you need to know. What their next plan of action is, what they intend to do to fight back, what weapons and armies they are stockpiling… Having someone on the inside will save you much work and time in the long run. All I ask in return is to live among the demons safely once the takeover is complete.”

Once again, the demon remained quiet as he pondered the proposition. Finally, he asked in a tone more serious than he previously used, “Why should I believe you, boy? You seem very willing to betray your own flesh and blood. Why should I not assume you will betray me as well?”

Kohaku laughed. “I am betraying my sister because I do not want to lose my life. You are the one who offers me life after the war. She is the one who offers death during the war.”

The demon's voice grew cold. “I do not offer the certainty of life, child.”

Kohaku was unfazed. “I would rather have the chance of life than the certainty of death.”

“What is your name, boy?”

It was difficult to hold in the sigh of relief. By asking his name, it was almost certain he had been accepted into the demon's army. “Kohaku.”

“All right then, Kohaku. I am going to offer you… a chance. Prove your worth to me over the coming days, and we shall see what your fate after the war will be.”

Kohaku bowed his head. “More than I can ask for, my lord.” He figured it best to use a title of respect for the demon.

“Hm.” The demon then diverted his attention to Kagura, who had been listening to the conversation from among the shadows at the edge of the room. “Kagura! Take Kohaku to his room. Treat him well. His training begins tomorrow.”

Frowning deeply, she stepped forward and waved her fan toward the tunnel. “Go on, boy,” she said harshly, still refusing to use his name. “Move along. I'll be there in a moment.” He understood that his presence was not wanted, so he quickly ducked out of the room, placing a hand over his pounding heart.

Once he was out of earshot, Kagura quickly stepped close to the orb, unable to hold her opinions back. “Lord Naraku, the boy is obviously a spy! Why on earth are you allowing him among us?! It would be far easier to kill him! He will be one less thorn in our side!”

“Of course he is a spy,” Naraku calmly replied. “But he is young. And, easily manipulated. Easily controlled. He will give us no trouble, and quite possibly be of some use. For now, I will allow him to keep the hope that he has fooled us. It will be amusing to see him try and prove his worth. But, when the time comes… There will be little doubt where his loyalties lie when he is under my control.”

Kagura could not restrain the sneer of disgust. Naraku derived far too much pleasure from manipulating souls. Even though the boy was hardly worth the time of day, she could not help but feel some sympathy for what was to happen to him. However, she could not voice her opinion.

“Yes, my lord,” she muttered. “It will be as you say.”

Thanks for reading! Please, leave a review and let me know your thoughts. I do love them so. ^__^