InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Impoverished Heir ❯ Sneak Tactics ( Chapter 31 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

If you take the time to listen, to enjoy life's gifts, to make anxieties go away and just see how you appear to your loved one and the world, then you can be confidant. If you take the time to make each moment count then you are truly blessed.

I am truly blessed with my hot Skye, my darling tender one. I love you very much, at any time, anywhere. I was waiting for you for years and now that I have you, I'm going to make you always feel welcome and loved and appreciated, because I appreciate being with you and loving you. Dedication in full goes to my beloved one.

Dedication in part to Inugrrrl. Always a shout out to da grrrl and her talents!

Cheers to all who've read and reviewed; forgive this one, but I have 5 hours to get some sleep before I have to get up for my last night of work before vacation. VACATION!! I need it.

Disclaimer: Penpaninu does not claim to own the likeness of Inuyasha or his crew. They belong to Takahashi Rumiko and all her lawyers.


"Impoverished Heir" chapter thirty-one
"Sneak Tactics"

Inuyasha stood outside Miroku and Sango's apartment door and watched the hallway. With the oddities that had been occuring lately, trouble could be in any dim area, any dark place. Maybe even in the dust motes dancing through the hallway window could be used, Inuyasha thought darkly. Then he frowned. That seemed alittle too farfetched, even with all the weirdness.

But then again, Sesshomaru and even Ookami Kouga had spoken of the same seeping darkness...

Inuyasha doubted the lawyer could see past the tip of his own nose, but if Junior backed up his big brother's claim, then maybe.... just maybe...

"It could be fucking true."

"What's that, man?" Miroku called from further inside the apartment. Inuyasha shut the door carefully and leaned against it. A frantically packing bodyguard in grey, Fujiyoshi's partner, walked past, juggling clothing and a duffel bag. Inuyasha gave him a cocky look that clearly said to hurry the hell up.

"Just move your ass, man!" Inuyasha called. Loud griping from the bedroom made his ears perk up as Miroku grumbled a virbal tirade.

"I'm gettin' everything, just chill!" he hollered. Inuyasha crossed his arms and waited. His partially golden eyes blinked as the setting sun outside made everything harder to pick out before his better vision clicked in. Fujiyoshi's partner moved through the living room into the kitchen away from him. A crescendo of noise heralded his attempts at packing a stack of dishes.

Inuyasha held his brow in his hand.

"What the fuck, Yash, I'm hurrying!" Miroku called from the master bedroom.

"It's not me, it's them!"

Fujiyoshi rushed from the hallway and met his very red partner in the kitchen. They ribbed each other as they zipped up duffel bags. Inuyasha caught a glimpse of one of Sango's favorite old tops from their Fantasy Past days; a purple sequin thing she used to wear when she was feeling "particularily flashy."

Inuyasha ruefully reflected that they didn't know what they were doing if all they packed was the first thing they saw. Miroku huffed his way from the back of the apartment, juggling a large duffel bag, his priest's ancestral staff and Sango's bone blade.

"Here, make yourself useful," Miroku snapped, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. Inuyasha made to take the ancient blade but Miroku shifted his arm, and dropped the bag at his friend's new leather shoes. Inuyasha looked down then up and shrugged.

"Okay, if that's the way you want it," he said. Miroku shouldered the staff and clenched the sheathe of Sango's family blade in his other hand.

"It's important to Sango so it comes with me," Miroku gave. Fujiyoshi glanced at his wristwatch and straightened his tie.

"We should hurry, sirs," he exclaimed. Inuyasha tapped his shoe on the floor.

"I agree. Miroku, are we done? You got everything?"

"Yeah, come on, let's away," Miroku grinned. The bodyguards laughed.

"Let's away? That was so..." Inuyasha began when his cell phone sang out his theme song. A picture of his brother with someone giving him bunny ears showed on the back of the cellular device flashed and he clipped it open quickly. "What's up, Sesshmo?"

"Inuyasha, are you and Hoshi-san about done?" he asked.

"We're leaving now; what's going on?" he wanted to know. Sesshomaru sighed on the other end.

"I'm heading to my apartment, and I need your help. I fear something is after me so could you..."

"We're on the way. Be careful," Inuyasha said. He clipped his cell shut and pocketed it. "We're making a detour to back up Sessh, come on."

"Is Takahashi-san alright?" Fujiyoshi asked. His partner raised his brows.

"I don't know. We better hurry," Inuyasha said. Miroku fished his house keys out.

"Right, I got it. Come on!"

The four men grabbed up their bags and peered out into the hallway. After darting out, they waited a moment for Miroku to lock up and ran on like children from a monster. Miroku kissed his fingertips and slapped them against his and Sango's front door.

"Until we can come home," he murmured before he shouldered his staff and tore off after the others. Thunder rumbled down, heralding darkness approaching. The muscular bodyguards shivered and flanked their charges.

All too soon, the four were inside the company SUV and peeling out.



***



Sesshomaru looked to his left and to his right. His two bodyguards flanked him, tensed, as they waited. The front walkway to his apartment building looked quiet and normal enough, but looks could be deceiving.

"It looks alright, Boss," one of his bookends commented.

"I say we go ahead," his partner agreed. Sesshomaru held up one hand, stopping the two.

"There's someone there, gentlemen. He reeks of desperation," Sesshomaru squinted his golden eyes. The rank stink of taint assaulted his sharp nose and he frowned.

"Whattaya mean? I don't smell anything," one of the guards asked. Sesshomaru shook his head. He peered at the lobby door through his sheer white bangs.

"He's there alright. If Inuyasha and his unit hurries, we should have nothing to worry about," Sesshomaru murmured. A screech sounded down the road and the bodyguards shook their heads.

"Is Fujiyoshi showing off again?"

"That was too fast."

Sesshomaru merely waited. Inuyasha, Miroku and their own bookend bodyguards ran down the sidewalk and joined them.

"We're here, where's the fire?" his brother asked insolently. Sesshomaru reached into his pocket for his house keys. His claws tapped the metal ends.

"Come with me, Inuyasha, and could you try to stay serious?" Sesshomaru complained. Miroku shouldered his priest's staff as Inuyasha cracked his knuckles.

"Let's just get your skivvies and your Tag bodywash, Sessho, you know it isn't safe. What the hell possessed you to leave the building anyways?" Inuyasha stopped and turned. Sesshomaru sighed deeply, feeling the burden of being the eldest sinking his shoulders into his stomach.

"I need to get Father's other sword. I can't believe I was so careless as to forget it..."

Inuyasha gaped at him. "You mean Tokujin? Are you crazy?"

"Not so crazy as to unsheathe Tetsusaiga without knowing about the holy breath," Sesshomaru gave back wryly. The bodyguards tried to stay serious as the brothers almost went nose to nose.

"Well, let's go get it. Should I handle it, or can you manage that strong bit of iron?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshomaru smirked and the seven men made their way to the front door. Sesshomaru tapped in his entrance code to the apartment building and the door pinged open. They all walked into the eeirely empty lobby slowly. Their footsteps clicked and echoed on the freshly polished floor.

"I don't know, man..."

"What's going on, Boss?"

"It doesn't feel like much, maybe it's gone..." Miroku commented.

Around the corner, Hakudoshi leaned against the wall and waited. He closed his eyes, and made a fervent prayer. At his side, four lumbering oni in black suits shuffled from foot to foot, waiting his orders. Their beedy dark eyes told Hakudoshi that while Naraku had put him in charge, if they didn't get fresh meat soon, it might well be HIM they would feast on.

Hakudoshi leaned his head to the side, his white hair spilling down against the wall as he regarded his bloodthirsty servants. A line of cold sweat poured from his jaw down his throat. The salt of his body sweat tingled as it slid through a black slash imbedded beneath his adam's apple. He swallowed, his tongue daring to dart and attempt to wet his dry lips. His throat was so dry...

"They have come, Hakudoshi," one of the oni growled. His vicious tone sent a chill down Hakudoshi's spine. His left hand clenched his katana's sheathe. The dark metal inside burned him with it's unholy kiss.

"Then you know what you have to do. Go on, then," Hakudoshi said, trying to steel his eyes. He was so frightened, his arms were growing limp. The oni all grinned then roared and all but streaked around the corner. Trace residue of black oil pitch clung to the walls at where they touched. Hakudoshi shivered. Then he calmly pushed off the wall and willed his rubbery legs to take him around the corner to follow.

"What the fuck!" Fujiyoshi yelled. He and the other three bodyguards pushed ahead of their charges and met the oni-men in physical combat. They grunted as they blocked vicious blows with their forearms and punches were landed. They went down to one knee as the oni pressed the advantage and gained the momentum of their running leap.

"Get off me, man! Get off me!" one of the guards growled. Veins popped in his head as he gritted his teeth to push the larger THING off him. The oni growled in his face and his beedy black eyes made the human's gut turn to water.

"This ain't right!" his partner called to his right. He pushed the oni off him and tried a punch. He howled in pain as the oni bled darkness; his hand was caked with it.

"Ow!"

"Hang on!"

"We gotta help em, Sessh!" Inuyasha growled. His brother held him back with his one arm and looked him in the eyes.

"They know what they're doing, and we need to finish our objective. Come on, brother, hurry," Sesshomaru insisted. Miroku tapped Sesshomaru's shoulder with his priest's staff lightly and parted his way through the two Takahashi.

"I can help. You two go on ahead," Miroku said. He kept his eyes on the oni pulsating inside black suits and raised the haft of his priest's staff. The overhead flourescent light glinted off the sharp edge of the staff's top.

Sesshomaru nodded. "We're gone, Hoshi-san. Hold the hallway for us."

Inuyasha was more kind in his parting. As Sesshomaru dragged him off the other way, he called, "We'll be right back! Hang in there."

Inuyasha followed his brother as he weaved his way around expertly to his apartment. Sesshomaru forced the keys into the lock and found a moment to regret not being here safely with Rin before Inuyasha pushed him from behind. The two tumbled into the entryway and almost tripped up the step inside the main room.

"Hurry up! My friend's back there," Inuyasha yelled. Sesshomaru bit back a curse and vaulted across the coffee table towards the master bedroom. Inuyasha kept a sharp lookout as he heard crashing from the room. If the situation weren't deadly, he would have burst out laughing.

"I found it!" Sesshomaru called in triumph. He came out clasping Tokujin's sheathe in his one hand. The blade seemed to vibrate in the dark room, echoing the battle outside. Inuyasha stepped back from it, his eyes wide.

"YOU handle it," he decided, his hands automatically going up to ward the bloodthirsty feeling back.

Sesshomaru nodded. "Let's go."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Inuyasha agreed. He held up one hand and Sesshomaru juggled his keys before tossing them. Inuyasha found a moment to grit his teeth at the scuffmarks their shoes had made past the entryway, then he locked up the door and followed Sesshomaru at a full-run back to the lobby.

The two men stopped as one and stared at the scene before them.

"My God...." Inuyasha murmured. Sesshomaru's golden eyes squinted thoughtfully. Miroku had his staff held in both hands as if it were a spear, and stood with his legs spread wide, his knees bent. The Takahashi bodyguards lay in varied degrees of defeat around the priest's son as he pressed the end of his staff into the last remaining oni.

The oni was not appreciating being touched with the simple shaft of wood and steel, and pulsated wildly, trying to flail and reach the offending human behind the object of purity. Miroku crouched lower and drove the spear up into the oni's chest and THROUGH. The oni screeched, his black eyes as wide as death. Light seeped out his mouth and through his eyes and he exploded. Small patters of blackness rained down on the men.

Fujiyoshi coughed and held his arms above his head. The others cringed as small droplets singed their clothing. Miroku held his position a moment longer, then revertly pulled his staff back. He jerked it in a hard gesture, flinging oni gore from the sharp edge.

Inuyasha shook his head and made to call out to his friend when Hakudoshi sighed. Sesshomaru met his gaze, and something dark settled in his eyes.

"You guys are really something else. Can't you all just give up? Would that be so hard?" Hakudoshi complained. Inuyasha shook his head.

"You're going to bed with the enemy and you're annoying as hell. Why don't YOU just give up? It wouldn't be too hard for a loser like you," he leered. Miroku watched the white-haired man with a wary gaze.

"Inuyasha, we could just..."

"Hoshi-san, stand down. If Hakudoshi-san wouldn't wish to be here, he wouldn't have agreed to take an item of darkness, and he wouldn't have sealed his soul to the devil," Sesshomaru growled. Inuyasha looked at him in amazement. His brother's fully golden eyes were cold, his white hair looked far more regal than Hakudoshi's platinum.

The two were short and tall, white and pale as the other, but they were severe contrasts despite the visual similarities. One was the image of valid sincerity; the other a pale imitation.

Hakudoshi felt the moment weigh on him too and he squinted his eyes darkly. The life seemed to go out of him with a weary sigh then he notched his thumb to his blade.

Sesshomaru held Tokujin's sheathe up and shook his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Hakudoshi frowned, hearing Naraku's tone in Takahashi's words. It was probably meant to be an arrogant warning as it was, but it pissed him off even deeper than it should have. He would have his own way, he would be free someday. If he had to fight Takahashi Sesshomaru at this moment, so be it. But he would do this his way!!

He drew. Sesshomaru sighed.

"Very well then. You choose to walk with oni and the like. Face me now, oni spawn."

Hakudoshi took another deep breathe. Then he clasped the katana's hilt in both hands and seemed to burst with energy. "Get out of my way.... MY WAY!!"

"Fool!..." Sesshomaru breathed. Inuyasha ran to Miroku and pushed him back against the wall as he felt his brother PUSH out his battle chi. The two men flattened themselves as Sesshomaru seemed to fly past. Miroku oofed into Inuyasha's cheek.

The two blades clashed. Inuyasha turned his head to see dark waves fly with the sparks as Tokujin greedily struck against Hakudoshi's dark katana again and again. Hakudoshi screamed obscenities at Sesshomaru that included his parentage, his work status, his ability to raise his manhood in lust.

Sesshomaru's eyes grew heavy at that statement and his arm flew in a blur. Tokujin took his hatred at such statements and fed his sole limb iron strength. He swore in those few moments he would never put Tokujin down until it had slaked its considerable thirst for blood. The straight blade hissed and exhaled a red mist that surrounded Sesshomaru's hand and extended down his arm. Hakudoshi, pressed beneath Tokujin's onslaught, was pale with fear. Lines of sweat poured down his face and dripped onto his hands.

His dark katana whispered for blood but it was ineffectual if the wielder did not desire it as much. He didn't even want to be here this night. And Sesshomaru sincerely desired to put a stop to his orders.

"Stop," Hakudoshi pleaded. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in anger. He growled and a shiver went through the platinum-haired businessman. Takahashi Sesshomaru had a touch of something more, like Onigumo Naraku, like the dark katana in his hands.... and like the blade that was pressed so hard against him, its tip was less than an inch from his face!

"Stop!" he pleaded again. Sesshomaru's chest was rock hard and extended with the strength of his transformation. His golden eyes widened and his face wavered, seeming to stretch before everyone's eyes. His lips parted, his teeth grew longer and he felt like he was doubling in size. Sesshomaru growled almost happily and Tokujin purred along with his mood; he was going to cleave this sucker in two, he was going to slice the skin right off his face and swallow it down whole....

Then the world paused and a warm image drifted closer into Sesshomaru's mind. It was Rin; his Rin preparing breakfast, Rin laughing at something someone said, Rin with her head on his knee, Rin naked in bed, her arms around his belly, Rin smiling with her black hair unbound.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath and exhaled his battle chi. The air seemed charged and struck Hakudoshi in the face. He pushed back from it. When Sesshomaru didn't seem like to advance, with his golden eyes soft before him, he took his chance.

"Hyah!" Hakudoshi screamed and struck hard. Sesshomaru's eyes squinted once more, and snapped to attention. And he thrust Tokujin up underneath Hakudoshi's left armpit and sliced up. Hakudoshi screamed, or maybe it was in his mind. And something flew to the floor at his feet. His katana clattered to the floor in a pool of blood as his right hand opened and Hakudoshi realized it was his own arm there along with it on the red carpet.

"AHHHH!!!" he screamed as the realization brought the pain to his mind. Hakudoshi fell to his knees, the slacks of his pants growing red with his own wound. Sesshomaru exhaled his battle chi again and flung Tokujin in a violent yet fluid gesture to his side. Drops of red blood and gore spattered the building wall.

"An eye for an eye perhaps, Hakudoshi; or an arm for an arm," Sesshomaru entoned. His left stump throbbed in satisfaction. Hakudoshi wheezed, his right hand clawing to squeeze shut the open hole from his left shoulder. He was in no position to do anything now.

Inuyasha sighed and offered Fujiyoshi his hand up. The bodyguard came to his feet and the others stood also. Miroku watched Sesshomaru with a wary gaze and the guards were in awe.

"Bastard, I'll kill you... bastard!" Hakudoshi wheezed. Sesshomaru held Tokujin out and Inuyasha ran up witih its sheathe. He helped Sesshomaru cage the beast that was a blade and the two regarded each other wearily.

"I think we're done here, Sessh," Inuyasha said. Sesshomaru nodded and held Tokujin close.

"I agree. Hoshi-san, men, are you ready to go?"

"Oh, we were way ready, Boss," Fujiyoshi said. The other bodyguards nodded rapidly. Miroku and Inuyasha helped them out.

The men in grey couldn't help but look back over their shoulders at their employer with a huge degree of awe.

"Did you see that??..."

"Cut his arm right off..."

"Serves 'em right for cutting the Boss', I say."

Fujiyoshi narrowed his eyes. "Takahashi-san isn't one to be trifled with, guys.... keep that in mind next time you want to call out."

"No way..."

"Man..."

"Wouldn't ever dream of it."

Sesshomaru carried Tokujin carefully and strode quickly towards his company car. His bodyguards parted company with Inuyasha and Miroku's little group and fell all over each other to open the door for him.

Takahashi Sesshomaru sat in the backseat, his long white hair settling around his shoulders delicately. With Tokujin propped against his knee, he looked like someone you didn't want to mess with. The sharp gaze in his golden eyes certainly attested to that, even had you not seen what his guards had just seen.

"Shall we, men?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Sir!"

Inuyasha and Miroku trotted to their own SUV and piled in with their bookends. Fujiyoshi slid behind the driver's seat and buckled up.

"Can we get out of here, sir?" he called back to Inuyasha. Miroku and Inuyasha looked at each other seriously and nodded.

"Burn rubber, Fujiyoshi-san," Inuyasha swore. The vehicle made a loud screeching sound as Fujiyoshi put the pedal to the middle. The two SUV's traveled closely together towards the skyscrapers ahead.



****



Sesshomaru walked into his building and heaved a sigh of relief. His younger brother was at his side, and they had come away without being singed. Even their bodyguards were in one piece and he had Tokujin in his hand. It's edge was still wet with another's blood and he could feel the strength gnawing at his palm. It longed to bite and taste another's insides once more...

"Hey, Sessh, hey man... you okay, bro?" Inuyasha asked sincerely. He was so jittery, his hands were shaking. He clenched them together.

Sesshomaru took an uncustomary exhale of breathe and looked down at his father's second son. "Is it too much to say I was afraid for a moment?"

Inuyasha laughed, then stopped at the serious look in his big brother's sharp golden eyes. "You couldn't have been. You had him right where you wanted him."

"I was too close to the darkness engulfing that little pissant," Sesshomaru cursed smoothly. "His katana was so powerful and it was so.... so dark. I thought I wouldn't find my way away from it."

"I saw your eyes soften even before you sliced his flipper off. Did thinking of Rin help?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome's smile flashed through his mind's eye and he instantly felt relieved.

Sesshomaru nodded slowly. Rin's shy but knowing gaze drifted through the static chaos of his mind and his chest surged with the strength of his emotion for her. "I'd be lost if I didn't have her, either way."

"I hear you, Sessh. Hurry on up to her, and watch Kagome. I don't want Kagura stealing her away from me all night. I have to get Sango and Miroku ran to collect his reports for you."

"Go on then, Inuyasha. Tell your friend to calm down. Our work criteria isn't the first thing on my mind," Sesshomaru gave. Inuyasha smiled and nodded, but worry tugged the corners of his eyes.

"Alright, then. Please, keep Kagome for me a moment. I'll be fast," he pleaded. Sesshomaru nodded and loosened his tie. A few flecks of bright red blood dotted the silk and the brothers saw it at the same time. The same chill ran through them both.

"She shall be well guarded, little brother," Sesshomaru promised. He picked up Tokujin's sheathe and walked comfortably off towards the elevators. His bookend bodyguards kept a close distance, as if to borrow their employer's strength. What they had seen had impressed and frightened them all at once.

Inuyasha turned his back and ambled off down past the offices on that floor toward the secreterial cubicles. He knew where he would find his friends, and it would be at their work stations. Sure enough, after rounding a few corners, Inuyasha spotted the top of Miroku's head. The priest's son was hunched over his computer and finishing up his reports diligently.

He smacked his hand against the cubicle wall. "Yo."

Miroku turned and smiled slowly. "I'm almost done, Inuyasha. Got to impress the big man, even if he's your brother."

"He's not that worried, believe me," Inuyasha said. He sat on top of the desk near Miroku's and crossed his ankle over his knee. "You looked lost in thought, Miro. Worried about more of this freakiness?"

"It's not just that. It's even about the ordinary," Miroku tucked a pencil behind his ear and stopped typing. He leaned back, his collar open, his tie loose around his neck. "What happened to the days when we'd go to Fantasy Past and have a few drinks til we passed out?"

Inuyasha flipped his ponytail over his shoulder and grinned.

"You mean til you picked up a girl and I ran out of money?" he commented wryly. Miroku flushed and waved a hand at him.

"Yeah well... I'm trying ta make a point, Yasha. When did life get so complicated? Why?" he complained. Inuyasha crossed his arms and leaned back.

"You mean before Naraku and all his crap?" he griped. Miroku plucked the string on his wrist ward and pulled it taut; it jangled lightly.

"I mean before the big job, before your brother and all this money, before... Sango," he admitted. Inuyasha smiled sadly.

"She's been waiting for you for years, Miro. Don't tell me it's too good to be true," Inuyasha wondered.

"It's great. I mean, she loves me, and I've loved her for years. I've always wanted her. Ya gotta miss the days when we didnt' have much responsibility, though. But it's all good, Yash."

"Miroku the priest player settling down, I know, it's about damn time," Inuyasha concluded. Miroku met his eyes seriously.

"I mean, it's a relief. It's work almost all the time, and sometimes we argue over stupid small shit. But, we found each other. She holds me and tells me everythings going to be alright, and I believe her," Miroku admitted. His eyes dropped and he smiled to himself. "I need her maybe more than she needs me."

Inuyasha watched his best friend, his eyes sad. "Miro, man.... sometimes I bust your chops, but you let her in. All I can say is, it's about time."

Sango deserved happiness with the man she had loved for years and she finally got it...

Miroku laughed, his eyes bright. "Maybe I should ask Kagome that. How come we couldn't have known her years ago? You couuld have crashed with her when you and Sesshomaru had your fight."

Inuyasha scratched the back of his neck. "I wish it too. I've waited for her for years only I didn't know her.... you at least got to see Sango almost every day before you grabbed a brain."

"I know, I'm so lucky," Miroku grinned. He tapped a framed picture of him and his girl perched importantly on his desk. "At least I knew what I needed. Fortune had to drop yours in your lap."

"I guess I'm lucky Wolf Shit used to be a jerk, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed Kagome on the sidewalk. Thank god for attended rapists," Inuyasha said dryly.

Miroku typed a few more lines and leaned back. "How does that look?"

"Good," Inuyasha mentioned.

"How is Kagome doing? With Kouga-san, I mean," Miroku brought up. Inuyasha fingered the end of his ponytail and sighed.

"She's doing well. I know Ayame-san will make sure all goes as intended, so I don't have to worry about Wolf Shit trying anything. Besides, Pop trusted his old man. He's okay."

"Miroku, aren't you done yet? Sesshomaru's ready to show us our rooms upstairs!" Sango called from down the cubicle aisle. Miroku rolled his chair out backwards into the opening.

"Coming, baby! I'm printing out right now."

"Good! Me too," Sango answered. Inuyasha ambled down the aisle and pulled Sango's chair backwards. She yelped, and grinned upside down at him.

"Hi," she smiled. Crinkles pulled at the corners of her eyes and Inuyasha sobered to see the tell-tale signs of the grief she was getting over.

"Hi," he smiled back instead. "Ready to camp out in my dad's big building?"

"Ohhhh you," Sango flipped back right side up and collected her ledger. "It'll be fun. Like the slumber party before hell opens up."

"Tell me about it. Wanna do some sparring later?" Inuyasha nodded towards Sango's bone blade. She picked up the sheathe and leaned it against her shoulder.

"You're on! We have to be ready for whatever comes... " Sango said.

"Or whoever. I think we have a handle on it right now," Inuyasha said. He saw bright red blood streaming from the stump that was Hakudoshi's arm in his mind's eye. His stomach turned at the horrific sight he had just seen and he wondered if he was going to be seriously ill.

"Come on! Let's go upstairs," Miroku called. He cradled his own folders against his chest, and held his priest's staff with his other hand. He thumped the butt on the carpet to get their attention.

Inuyasha and Sango grabbed the rest of her work papers and the trio headed to the elevators, chattering amongst themselves to fill up the emptiness of their surroundings. It was fun to work without the usual staff or board members around, but it was alittle eeirie when they were silent. The three hurried onto the elevator to meet up with their friends and hopefully make the silence in the building stay unheard.


****



Kagome sat cross-legged in center of the Room of Supreme Contemplation and concentrated. Her eyes were closed, the string of beads Kagura had given her clasped between her fingers. The bandaged woman lowered her head, her bun bobbing slightly and smiled. She tapped a hand fan against her knee and parted it in one soft movement.

"Very good, Kagome-san... I think it'll work yet," Kagura murmured. Kagome nodded, and kept her eyes closed. The door to the Room opened and she slit an eye open.

"Hi, Yasha..." she barely had time to say before her boyfriend crashed into her and rolled across the floor with her. "Yasha!!"

Inuyasha rolled on top, his legs pinning his girlfriend down. He grinned happily down at her, but his eyes were very serious. "Are you okay, 'Gome?"

Kagome touched his cheek with her palm and sighed. "I'm safe here, Yasha. Don't worry. Did something happen? There's blood on your jacket!"

Inuyasha sighed and climbed off her and shucked his suit jacket off. Spots of dark residue and Hakudoshi's blood dotted the garment. "Just ask Sessho. But don't bother him right now; he's putting Tokujin away safely."

Kagura poked his rumpled jacket with the end of her fan and turned her nose up. "That's a real bit of business there. What DID I miss out on?" Kagome reached for the discarded beads and carefully wrapped them up. They lay cradled between her palms.

"I would love to see what you're made of, but be glad you missed out," Inuyasha said. He settled back, his knees spread, beside Kagome. She curled up by his side on the simple tatami mats. Kagura snapped her fan open and waved it slowly back and forth.

"Oh, you'll see soon enough," she promised. "Just ask Naraku how his neck is."

"Huh," Inuyasha tried to get around but nodded. "I guess I believe ya."

"You better," Kagura said.

"Hey, did you two get your room yet?" Sango called out from the doorway. She and Miroku stepped out of their shoes and then stepped out into the main portion of the dojo.

"Yes; I started to set up while Inuyasha got our things. Did you get everything, baby?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha nodded, his mind rapidly inventorying what he had put in his duffel bags.

"Yeah, sweetie. I got everything we'll need." He had even been careful to throw contraceptive into their toiletries. But then again, with all the danger around, he had tried not to use it too carefully..... Inuyasha's gaze settled on Kagome's breasts, and the roundness of her hips. She would look wonderful full with his baby....

Sango laughed and settled down with her friends. "Well, that's good, because your bodyguards don't know what they're doing. When am I going to wear this if we go to battle??" She crooked a finger and held up her purple sequin club-stompin' top. Inuyasha laughed out loud.

"You know, I saw that go in, but we were too much in a hurry to do much about it."

"Thanks, Yasha, I appreciate the support. I hope you got SOME useful things, Miroku!" Sango exclaimed woefully.

Miroku carefully laid his priest's staff down horizontal on the floor and sprawled beside her and Kagura. The woman laughingly fanned them as they joined the party, so to speak.

"Of course I did, my love. I know what you need in your daily routine," he said confidantely.

The five shouted and talked together while Myoga watched from the doorway. He smiled and turned to move down the hallway. Sesshomaru and Rin were heading his way, the latter leaning against the former, darkness against light.

Myoga bowed his head to the heir of the company. "Sesshomaru-san. I hear you had an encounter with Hakudoshi-san."

"So you've been listening to those idiots in there," Sesshomaru said wryly. Rin made a small exclamation and swatted his arm. Sesshomaru laid it around her and squeezed her hip lightly.

Myoga nodded. "You've seen their Katana of Power.... how was it?" How strong was it?, his words meant.

Sesshomaru looked down, almost contemplative if not troubled. "Very strong... very formidable. But Hakudoshi's heart wasn't into it... so I found a way through."

"Tokujin beat out over it," Myoga said, his eyes sharp and gleaming. "With you holding it, I have no doubt, young master."

"Myoga... I swear, we're in for some bad things. What we saw was only the very beginning," Sesshomaru swore. Rin squeezed his side and looked up, thoughtful.

"But Hakudoshi-san is out of the picture, isn't he?" Rin looked faintly ill at what that implied but perservered. "Besides Naraku... what else is that dark?"

"Oni, creatures, all who harbor a black heart," Myoga said quietly. "At least I got all of you here safely. We must find a way."

"We will, Myoga-san," Sesshomaru said. "I promise."



*****


Hakudoshi sat on top of the medic cot, one knee hooked up to his chin. His right arm lay limply around his raised leg, and he stared blankly ahead of him. The company doctor was talking next to him, but he didn't care. His left shoulder was swathed in bandages, the blood from his slacks stained his remaining hand.

When the doctor offered him a clipboard to sign, Hakudoshi made to take the slab of wood with his missing hand, started, and almost fell right off the damn cot. Aside from a deep pulsating throb what was left of his left shoulder, he could swear he felt his missing arm twitch beside him, phantom fingers stretching forth a new yawn of pain. Hakudoshi yelped and cursed, his eyes hard beneath his white bangs. He snatched the offered pen from the apologetic doctor and scrawled across the signature line for his emergency surgery and exam. It looked more like shit than his signature, but he could give less than two fucks about it.

Deep rage stretched red across the diminished businessman's mind, until the doctor made to leave and Onigumo Naraku himself strode in. His daughter Sakura was behind him and Hakudoshi snapped his eyes angrily to his employer's.

"You fuckin' bastard," he growled in greeting. Sakura cringed back into the doorway but Naraku only laughed in reply.

"Hakudoshi. You know better than to address me as less than you should," he said arrogantly. Hakudoshi pushed off the cot with his right leg. His remaining fingers hung limp and twitched together when Naraku showed his white teeth in a mocking grin.

"Just shut the hell up," the irate man swore. "You did this to me... LOOK AT ME YOU FUCKIN' BITCH!"

Sakura paled as Hakudoshi thrust his bandaged stump in Naraku's general direction. The tycoon smiled and inhaled. He coughed and shook his head.

"You couldn't beat Tokujin with our Katana of Power? Hakudoshi, I had more faith in you..."

He leered and Hakudoshi felt his slashmarks throb with the darkness Naraku pushed forth. His head was pounding, he had to get away... without thinking, Hakudoshi reached down for the katana the doctor had been so thoughtful to set by his side. He flung it hard at Naraku and watched the sheathe smack into his side.

Onigumo Naraku stopped laughing and stopped. He leaned down to collect the sealed weapon, and his eyes were very dark.

"You would give this back? It's tied to you, Hakudoshi..."

End for now

I wrote this literally within a couple of days, so this means my muse has been sitting content. I hoped to post before my vacation. I'm taking some time off to take my wife to see my relatives and Mickey Mouse!
I had a fun time listening to new songs put on my ipod my lovely downloaded. Weird mix, but they made a good mental image. Especially I'm so Excited by The Pointer Sisters when I was writing about Hakudoshi. Imagine hearing THAT when he gets his arm cut off! :P
............Then Footloose, I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, It's Raining Men by The Pointer Sisters, Rock me Amadeus by Falco, I wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney! So it's been a funny 70/80's mood.
To complete my thought processes while I'm writing, I also listen to pop/rock, etc: Shake Ya Tailfeather, What Goes Around, Buttons, La Tortura... mainly things that make me think of Inuyasha and Sessh strut-walking like the badasses they are, or like I said, "the Denzel Washington" walk. You know what I mean!
Please review, please say what you think. One more thing... does Jesus Walks by Kanye West remind you somehow of..... Akira?? heheh!

Again, dedicated to my love, my mate, my Skye. Many of these lines took a long time to write because I let the writing flow from the heart. It sounds abit hokey, but that's where the truer writing comes from; when I don't try so hard. I hope you enjoyed.

Everyone else, please review! It would make my doggy day ^_^

most sincerely yours, penpaninu
5/14/08