InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Beneath a Smile ❯ Failure's Price ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: If I owned them, then I'd be rich instead of living in the dumpster behind the Bank One, typing this story out on a laptop that knocked me unconscious for a few hours when some one tossed it in!

Hidden Beneath a Smile

Chapter Ten: Failure's Price

They knelt before him like slaves, kissing the ground at his feet as they begged for their lives; a pitiful sight. A sight that sickened him to core. They should not be like this before him, a man no greater then they. A man whom was also not without failure. The two should not be at tears, pleading to live for they are the only ones their families have to care for them, they are what bring in the money for several others survival. These two agents would be missed in the world. That was his key to freedom of having the heavy task of putting to end their lives.

"Is it true what they say?" He catechized his grandfather quietly, the would not have been able to hear the words over their own loud sobbing.

"Yes." His grandfather replied, and by the reluctant tone it was made obvious to the grandson he knew of his planned action for this situation.

Nodding, he opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by interesting words. "We were not complete failures, I saw something that may be of interest." The sounds were forced out in desperation, and he was curious to know what was waited until now to be spoken of. They say curiosity killed that cat. A curious mind should never seek out its want, and satisfy its burning hunger, for it will only lead to ruin and heavy regrets. Yet, he was only a man and men never know when to say no, when to let sleeping dogs lie or so to speak.

"Go on." Dooming words.

The man kept in his knelt position, though he had a high suspicion it was more for the wounds by the whip the force him where he was. That or fear for another round. "I fallowed the son of the traitor, I saw him speaking with two young females and an even younger male." Words were hoarse from his own sobbed entreaties that went unheeded until now. "They seemed close to one another, very much so that it would leave me to believe they've been acquainted for sometime now perhaps even years." For every piece of information given there is an action that needed to be decided, and judging from his grandfather's wicked smile he had plagued himself with yet another burden for his heart to carry.

"Truly." Sadistic delight, his tone told to his grandson. "Perhaps a traitorous son and missing agents aren't our only options." Cruel eyes, hardened over the years slide to the side. "Grandson, tell me, did those DEA we sent out days ago ever make it back?"

"No." He whispered, dread filling his heart.

"And you sent more out, true."

"Yes." He did not like where this was going, but did not make it known through his words, through his features, nor through the stance he partook at the moment. His eyes were focused on a upon the ground, away from the bleeding men at his feet and his grandfather to his right.

"What did they see?" The growing excitement in the old man's voice was steadily chilling the young man's veins.

Swallowing hard, he began to speak already foreseeing where this was headed to. He now only needed a way to counteract his grandfather. "Nothing out of the ordinary grandfather." The word burned his mouth, like it always did when he addressed this man so. "It appeared as any shrine would, an old man and woman tending to it, children running off to school and the usual visitors coming to pay respects." He would not have innocent blood of the young on his hands.

"You, how old did they appear? And where exactly would this have been that you sighted these two?" He questioned the same man whom gave out this information in exchange for his life; scum.

"School aged, sir, and this was at the edge of Kyoto." He supplied as well as he could through his sore throat.

"You will earn your life by ending theirs."

"No!" He watched at the old man's eyes turned sharply to his own in irrational scorn. Those hard coal colored eyes burned into him with such heat that he should be nothing but standing ash by now. "You forget grandfather that I run this show and that all is okayed through me first and I will not spill innocent blood. This dream is coming to life for the main purpose of the government spilling such blood with no remorse and no care whatsoever. I will not demean myself by fallowing the actions of the enemy." He rasped out in harsh tones, and in his rant he had taken steps towards his grandfather; they were face to face now. Nose to nose. "I will not kill children." He stated firmly before turning to his DEAs and their torturer. "Your lives are spared, but failure can not be left unpunished." This was for the benefit of his grandfather, for those around him that thought him weak like every other instance before this. "Two hundred lashings of the whip." He watched they were shoved to their feet and herded away by the man whom would bring them to task.

"What is the meaning of this defiance!?"

He turned his back, walking towards the exit as though he heard not his grandfather's words. He paused to give a response. "It is no defiance, but merely logical reasoning." He said on the spot, moving to face the man head on. "We kill those two and we will have the Shikaku brother's on our tail more then we do already, and not only that but their allies will also be out for our blood. It is a known fact, that to mess with them in such a way is to ask for wrath of all mafias associated with them and the Shikakus make no secret of whom they are associated with either." That was not it, not it at all. The thought of murdering children did not sit well with him, and that his grandfather would consider it was disturbing to say the least, if not all surprising.

The old man snorted, crossing his arms behind his back. "Are you afraid, is that why you yield when opportunity presents itself?" He sneered, standing back a bit to study his grandson as though a butcher prodding for the best cut. He felt thoroughly examined.

"I fear nothing, grandfather." Not the slightest flinch was made on his behalf under that stare of the old man. "Not even my own destruction." He replied tonelessly. Turning his back to the old man he made way once more to the exit, sparing no more words to the old fool. He wanted freedom of this place and of the confusion and turmoil it bore in his heart. He wanted out.

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Nighttime around the southern piers wasn't the best time to be out in the open for normal folk with no destination other than passing through. Really anywhere out on the water front at night when legitimate shops and boaters packed it in for the day was a terrible place to be; unless you had a purpose, unless you were of importance to the lesser society of life. This area, however, wasn't safely traversed even by those of the trade, or even by those of whom are allied with the territory owner. Higawa, Naraku -they say- seemed to have a bad streak of betraying anything that breathes. At lest this was spoken in whispers by those during they day, those that knew this cunning mind as the business tycoon owning a company of many that manufactures war weapons for the country's army. Not a comforting thought to those that knew his true face.

Leather encased hands housed themselves in dark pant pockets, amber eyes staring at the ground before his feet uneasily; though he tried hard not to show it. It was difficult enough to figure out how to avoid the catastrophe he could foresee before him, then having to worry whether or not the monk would notice his apparent reluctance in this venture his brother sent them on. Calm was an impossible thing to grasp at the moment, not when he knew the damnable Spider waited to trip him around the corner.

"You alright, Inuyasha?" Miroku commented cautiously towards the pensive stature of the hanyou. "I can go alone if you wish it." They were nearly standing right out side the metal door that barred them from entering as they pleased.

He was most certainly not going to let the monk in their alone with the spider, there was no telling the kind of falsehood the fiend would fill his partners head with. Inuyasha knew that whatever it may be, it was definitely likely to be so far from the actual truth… maybe that might not be such a horrible thing. He shook his head, no, counting his luck, the luck of a hanyou, it would be the exact truth and not an exaggerated word falling from his mouth. "Tch, I'm fine, you're the one that's got to worry about walking in there, human." Around this time every person within Naraku's joint would be some type mythical being; it was a place were one could shed their skin and be what they truly were. Not just the costume they hid behind. It would have been a rather nice place if it wasn't run by the spider.

Miroku nodded with out comment as the tense form beside him pounded on the metal door a couple times resulting in a resounding thud. The metal eye pieced slid back with small clank to reveal cold glaring browns. "What the hell do you want now?" A familiar voice shrieked. "Haven't you harassed us enough for the week!?"

"What are-"

The confused inquiry barely had the chance to leave his mouth once those browns beheld him. "Oh, the monk is with you this time around." She commented venomously, hard eyes slide back to the hanyou. "I guess he was wrong mutt, the hentei didn't abandon your flee bitten hide." Clicking her tongue she sighed dramatically. "Here I thought the monk had finally wised up and-"

"Damnit miko witch, we don't have time for this!" Inuyasha snarled, his lips lifting enough bare a little white fang to the outside world. Though he could receive only traces of her scent through the door, he could still detect her fear. It made him grin wickedly. "You are going to let us in and then your going to tell the spider the conversation he we had a couple days ago stays between me, him and the don. Let him know that if a word of it, or any insinuations pop up in conversation today I'll level this whole place to the ground along with the patrons." His word were slow and deliberate as if he was trying to speak with an ignorant child.

The though spark an irrational rage throughout as she took in deep breaths to relax her trembling body. Pulling back the look she tossed the door open with high hopes of the heavy metal waking a certain inu square in the face; unfortunately he managed to dodge this. Quelling her disappointment, Kikyou motioned for them to enter. "Pick a place to sit and wait." She turned to fix the door latch making sure that it was in fact locked. "Monk if you want anything ask a waitress, not grope." Her eyes then lit heatedly upon the dog eared man to the monk's left. "I swear if you make even the slightest sound in complaint or harass anyone, then you can bet your food will be good and poisoned." With that she turned on a heal, stalking away from them.

"Whatever you say, Miko Witch!" Inuyasha called cheerily after her.

He watched as she paused, taking deep breaths, her hand clenching and unclenching at her sides. "Breathe in, breathe out." She mumbled over and over again lowly under her breath. She didn't know what it was about the hanyou. Whenever he was around his words, his arrogant air forced her from the cool and clam face she wore daily into throwing names right back at him like a two year old that had her new toy taken away from a much bigger child. It infuriated her, so much so that she was forced into taking anger-management classes by Naraku, that she was destroying walls and such of his property with miko energy to rid herself negative feelings running through her.

Miroku watched the interaction between the two with amusement like always, and yet something nagged at him, or rather two some things. Fallowing Inuyasha to the farthest table in a corner booth that was both block from sight of the bar and entrance, as well as offered limited lighting for the eyes to see, Miroku sat across from the hanyou. "I've never asked before, unsure if I truly wanted to hear the answer, but…" he leaned forward a bit. "What happened between you and the miko for her to despise you that much." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "A one nightstand-"

"No I didn't you letch." He felt revulsion shiver down his spine a the mere thought, before a slight smile broke over his features. "Apparently some of the more underdeveloped civilizations out there still believe in burning witches at the cross."

His eyes widened in realization. "You didn't." Miroku knew that Inuyasha had a short fuse and it was not a good idea to push him least one wanted to end up dead, yet he also knew the hanyou did not extend that invitation to woman and children, especially not to humans. It took a lot for the hanyou to harm a human.

"Of course not!" He growled with a pointed glare in the monk's direction. The idiot should know him better, he huffed mentally. "Back before she met the spider, miko witch and I had an assignment taking us to Israel and somehow ended up in some unnamed village in the Egyptian desert I think." From his position he had a perfect view of the spider's office. If they had to wait that meant he was already speaking with someone else, and depending on the weight it could mean he views this someone else as more important, and quite possibly more dangerous, than Sesshoumaru. If that's the case then whomever exits that door along with the Miko Witch needed close watching. "We were standing outside the hut, I guess you'd call it, arguing over whose fault it was for being lost. She pulled some of the miko crap on me and I yelled at her for using black magic to win our argument."

A grin broke out over his features and he shook his head ruefully. "Next thing I know she being jumped by nearly the whole town while I'm taken to their witch doctor, as they call him, to break the enchantment the 'witch' placed on me. I was told after being made to recuperate from being cast upon, they were going to burn the 'witch,'" Inuyasha's grin turned feral as he though about the ending of the story. The corner of his left eyes watched, as he expected, as Kikyou lead two ordinary street punks to the door. He wasn't a fool, a fool didn't live a life on the streets as long as he and continue to breath. Inuyasha could spot a DEA a mile away, no matter the undercover wear. "Just as the threw the torch into the hay, I tare in there growling for them to hand over my pet. It was great." He left his watch as his eye noticed the Miko Witch coming towards them, feigning innocent over what he'd lain witness to. "As they were screaming and running to find weapons to fight the 'Demon' I grabbed the Miko Witch and ran. She still hasn't forgiven me." He said smugly, as though it were one of the greatest accomplishments in existence.

"Surely your over-exaggerating, she can't possibly still blame you for this." Miroku tried to reason, ignoring Inuyasha's horrified look.

"She can and she will." A familiar voice stated firmly from behind, Miroku turned slightly to catch a glimpse of Kikyou before she moved to stand directly next to their table. "It's the flee bitten mutt's fault in the first place for hiring an incompetent pilot that can't read a map." They're she went again, resorting to childish tactics as name calling because of him. The arrogant dog that had plagued her life since the moment she came to work for his brother. No matter the amount of effort she placed into keeping her stoic face, her stoic aura, she could not keep it from cracking to dust in his presence.

Inuyasha snorted at the comment. "You were the one that claimed to be able to read the damned map, and you were the one that said, and I quote, 'Land here you incompetent fool, this is the spot!'" He mocked in a high pitched voice that sounded awfully like a dying cat in an alleyway.

A scandalized gasp escaped her over painted lips. "I do not sound like that!" She shrieked in horrified tones. "I would never have nearly died by being burned alive if you hadn't opened your big filthy yap!" She snapped at him.

Kicking the hanyou underneath the table and earning for himself a scathing glare for his actions, Miroku turned to Kikyou with a charming smile painted on his face. "As much as I'd love to sit hear listening to the both of you verbally tare into each other, you, dog, and I need to speak with the spider on behalf of the big dog." The miko looked down her nose at him, turning on heal and motioning for them to fallow her lead. Inuyasha silently cursed his code name as he made to shadow the two. They really needed to think of better names then their origins and habits.

Entering the office, Inuyasha made sure to keep his eyes level the with the spider's own. If he could not get a verbal acceptance then he would get on in sight. Feeling only slightly comfortable with what was seen in Naraku's dark red orbs, the hanyou conceded to allow Miroku to handle the verbal parts in this visit, at least until the end or an unfortunate technicality comes up. Taking to leaning against the back wall to observe the conversation, Miroku took a seat before the spiders desk.

Naraku grinned as he took in the sight of the monk, he wasn't present the last time. They were always together, they were partners, they knew everything the other knew; at least everything that dealt with their line of work. "What do I owe this visit, Inuyasha, so soon after the last one?" He nearly let out a depressed sigh as the monk paid no mind to the bait. His countenance showed not the slightest alteration to show that he in fact had no knowledge of this encounter.

Calmly Miroku replied. "Inuyasha will not be involved in this conversation and all comments and questions should be addressed to myself." Leaning back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other, he said. "You are not to question anything I say least you wish to deal with the don, do as you are told and everything will end alright for you ." During business transactions he left his farcical manner aside along with his open and easy going self and donned a hard expression that let nothing pass with an endless patients that astounded most. "This is your payment." Miroku said, delving his hand into his coat pocket and tossing the bundle of cash at the spider.

Catching it, he brought the green before his eyes. A clawed finger separated each thousand yen as he mentally counted. Seven hundred and fifty thousand yen, just what exactly was expected of him that would warrant such high price. He already knew it involved a risk to his life, anything over five hundred thousand yen always did. "What, pray tell, am I to do?" He queried lazily, handing the cash over to Kikyou for safe keeping. She took it wordlessly and left the room for the safe to store it.

Noting that he had accepted the money and could not, without great bodily risk, refuse their request Miroku went on to explain the job he had unknowingly and silently taken. "A document has recently come into our hands, the don wishes to know if there is any truth in its contains." Miroku explained, his hand once more disappearing into his coat pulling fourth a small file and again tossed it out to the spider watching as he caught it effortlessly. "Read it later." He commanded sternly as Naraku's hands moved to open the file and feast his reds upon the information it held for him. "You are to do as instructed, no more and no less. This is to be held higher then your other projects and will be completed within the week, this extra fifty thousand yen if to see to that." He flashed the bills before returning them. "You will receive this payment in the usual secured bank account the moment the information we seek is sent." Pausing, he looked Naraku square in the eyes. " Do we have an understanding?"

"Hai." His smooth as oil voice confirmed.

Miroku nodded. "Good." He stood from his chair and made for the door. "Then we have nothing else to say to one another."

Inuyasha had been watching the entire conversation, silently noting the reason he always let the monk handle the transactions and meetings. People listened to the monk, and while it was the same for him it was mostly done out of fear for their lives; fear can be a bad thing. Then there was always the cocky one, the one that got on his nerves enough for him to consent to the death wish the made for themselves the moment they opened their mouths in arrogance. Miroku actually had the patients to deal with such matters as that without violence. It was also, he knew for fact, the reason Sesshoumaru made the monk his third forcing Miroku to shadow him during all of his duties to keep him in line.

Pushing from the wall as the monk came towards him, he said. "Go and wait by the door, I'll be with you in a moment." Nodding he left without a word, but not without a curious glance and Inuyasha made way to stand before the spiders desk. "Do you have the information I asked you about?"

Naraku leaned back in his chair, a frown marring his features with his brows drawn down tight a displeased look embedded in his deep red eyes. Inuyasha took this as bad news, in which he was correct. "The files are untraceable after a bit of tracking, whomever did this was an expert to say the least." The words were spoken in a low tight and controlled voice. He did not like the fact that he could not accomplish such an easy task as this should have been. "Though I can tell you this, Inuyasha, whomever stole those files did so from your own computer and I do not mean through your computer by means of another. This was done from this IP address and this one alone." He held out a small squared paper with numbers written upon it. "Whomever this belongs to is your likely culprit."

Inuyasha took the paper from between the spiders claws, placing it within his leather jacket's pocket. "I see." Tossing the payment at the youkai, he turned stiffly from the room trying to contain the anger he felt at the moment. He did not need to look into the numbers written upon the square to know it was Miroku whom did this. The question would be, Why? Why did he feel it so important to hide this information from them, what was in it? The questions were eating at his mind with nothing to fill their growing appetites, and thus he paid the monk no mind as he stormed passed him down the way they come, Miroku trailing silently behind him, but now without his curious looks. The monk was never with out is inquiries when he could not read the hanyou's expression.

"Inuyasha, what is wrong?"

"None of your damn business monk!" He snarled walking ahead. Taking a deep breath, he replied in a more controlled tone. One that bespoke of a man at the edge of utter fury, it brought unease to the monk's mind. "Actually you and I are going to speak about it later, that I can promise you monk!" He stated firmly.

Suddenly Miroku wasn't entirely sure he wanted the answer to his question. Especially if all that anger was directed at him.

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The sun had long ago left it's reign in favor of allowing the moon some time to grace the sky as it had done earlier. Along with the moon, stars dotted along the blackness above, though it was slightly hidden from view by the pesky clouds that decided to vie for a stargazer's notice. Rin rubbed her hands together as she seated herself upon the same swing she had been in the last time. She knew it was rather foolish of her to be out at the park during this hour of night, but she could not help it. Her mind was at an unrest and hopped that the peace and quiet she received her would do her some good.

Actually that wasn't entirely the truth. Her mind was alive with images and thought, and not just any thoughts any image, they were of the man that had helped her that evening. Not matter what she would do there seemed to be no curing him from her mind, it was little more than aggravating; torturous of the worst kind more like. No one had ever left such a lasting impression upon her before, and she had no idea why this one man was so important, so memorable.

Perhaps it was the kindness he showed to her, Rin mused in a half daze as she swayed slightly in the swing, feet still planted upon the sandy ground. She refused to believe what Sango had told her before she wound up here at the park. It was not possible, such thing as that did not exist in the world.

Rin did not, like Inuyasha and his brother, believe that love was a fools gain. She did not believe, like the inu brothers, love to be an emotion fit for the weak and fool hardy. That world bore no longer such emotions as love. Just lust and a means to an end. A useless commodity is what love is made into now a days. Said only when one needed something, desired something; all of which had nothing to do with the true meanings of love. That is what they claim.

No.

The girl believed in love, that it still existed, but what she found utterly impossible is love at first sight. Sango was wrong, that was not her probably. Instant attraction maybe, and all she needed for such a disease was a distraction. If only she could find that right cure. Nothing as of yet seemed to be working.

"It is you." Soft as silk across her skin the voice whispered, causing her to jump slightly and turn to face the intruder with wide frightened eyes. "I didn't mean to startle you." Amusement laced the words, as the body cloaked in darkness came around to sit in the swing beside her own just like before. "I never expected to see you again, such a lovely surprise for the day I've had."

Speak of him and he shall appear, or think as the case may be… Rin's brows drew down in befuddlement. "How does seeming me equal that?" She questioned, firmly keeping from looking at him. Why did she have to ask that…

He chuckled heartily, but did not answer. "How are you doing opposed to the day we first met?" He ventured down another path instead of giving voice to answer he did not have. For some reason that he could not fathom he felt more at peace now that he sat beside her. A brown eyes slide to observe her in secret, such a cheerful girl by nature. He could see it in the way she held herself, in the lithe of her words and sparkle of her light brown irises and rich black pupils. Somehow being around her he felt as thought something had been lifted from his chest, he felt free; perhaps it was something contained within her aura.

"I'm doing better." Her soft voice answered him and he found himself smiling for it. Something so inane, it had been such a long while, if ever, he had been able to smile or behave in such a manner.

"Good, I'm glad." Suddenly he felt an urge bubble up in him, one that confused him. He had never had it before and thus it came as a great surprise now as the words bubbled fourth from his lips. "I understand what it is like to lose." He whispered, he shook himself of it forcing this want, this need down. "Never mind, I don't want to bore you with nothing." He smile reassuring at the young woman at his side as her light browns looked at with concern. His chest felt tight, he had never been the recipient of such genuine concern before. Suddenly it felt a bit difficult to breathe. Perhaps he should leave, but then he was reluctant to do so…

"It might help to talk of it." Her words broke through his reverie, causing him to blink at her wordlessly a moment. Blushing, Rin shook her head. "I'm sorry, that was too forward wasn't it?"

He smiled again, he couldn't help such a reaction to her and it bothered him. Grinning beyond even his own control, he had never had such a hardship of controlling his reactions, his emotions like he was having as of now. He looked away from her, perhaps it would help. "No it wasn't." He took a deep breath. "I've no memory beyond the age of fifteen to lay claim to. Apparently I am orphaned with my grandfather as my sole guardian, so I understand, slightly, of what your going through." His smile held so much warmth and good humor that it was hard to believe he was the same as the boy that lurked around his grandfather's home, and the office.

Rin swallowed hard, she had not meant to bring such a painful past into remembrance for him. Though he likely never did forget such a thing, her questioned likely brought it to the surface for him at the moment. She felt horrible. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." She squeaked, a confused frown broke out upon her face at the laughter that fallowed her apology.

He had not laughed with such heart in as long as he could remember, which wasn't much. No harsh undertones shadowed his chortle like in past instances, it actually made him feel wonderful, feel free! Freer then he had in such a long time of coming to work with his grandfather. "I don't mind it all, it's just you are the first I've spoken of this too. It's not so bad having to past to look to." He lied easily. "But it does leave a whole where your heart should be." He contradicted his sentence with this soft admittance. Why did he impart such knowledge upon her girl he was likely to never see again? Perhaps he was being foolish after having such a stressful day.

"I'm Rin, and you would be." At his confused look, she added. "Last time we met we did not introduce ourselves, I don't want to make the same mistake twice and thus I'm doing it now."

Nodding his understanding, he replied. "Haku, I am called Haku."

"It's nice to meet you Haku." She said, a soft smile adoring her face and matching her eyes. "I have to be leaving now or my caretaker will be worried seeing that it is awfully late fore me to be out."

"I see." He frowned, not wanting her to leave but consenting. "Would you like me to walk you, being a young girl alone in this side of town isn't a very good thing after the sun sets?"

Rin smiled gratefully. "To my car, I would love that." She stood from the swing as he fallowed suite, placing a hand at the small of her back leading her back to the small path way before allowing his hand to fall away and for her to lead him to her car as he made sure nothing ill befell her.

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Eyes watched in a building from across the street as one by one the light of the penthouse of his query went out. His newest assignment. Stake out the building that was already being watched by the Shikaku brothers, and see just whom it was exactly that treaded into the building and out. Once that was complete and he reported back within a couple of days, he was destroy the occupants of the house, as were the orders of one Mr. Akihito Haku. If, provided what he reported back, was necessary.

For now was the easy part, he just needed to lie and wait.

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A/N: I wanted to update this yesterday by my brother hogged the computer all day! Grrr, such is the woes of having younger siblings, or siblings at all! Just being a bit overly dramatic there… Nah, I really do love my bro ^_^

Anyways, what did you all think of this chapter? Spiffy, no? I think it was, anyways be sure to review and tell me what you think. I value your guys' opinions ^_^ How am I to know if I'm doing a good job when you don't review?

Anyways….

A special thanks to all my lovely reviewers out there, and a thank you tall of you that reads it! You all get a cookie of your choice, what ever you think it'll appear right before you! Cool, neh? ^_^