InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

 

Love Thy Enemy

 

Chapter 5

 

The hall where the party was being held was fairly large, and standard as far as Inuyasha was concerned. Half the area had been turned into a dance floor with a stage with an orchestral band on it at the far end. The other half of the room held the food tables and seating areas. A balcony ran along the walls looking over the room, with no staircase within the room itself going up. The entire color scheme of the room was a mix of red, gold and brown.

 

Thoroughly not impressed, Inuyasha quickly moved to the food tables and grabbed a plate and a bread roll. Ignoring the serving hands on the other side, he proceeded to take a small container of butter, a utensil set wrapped in a napkin and a small salad in a bowl before staking out a table and sitting down. Violet eyes scanned the crowd as Inuyasha unrolled the knife and fork from the napkin and set into his salad.

 

He wasn't one for social events, never had been, so keeping himself from getting immersed in the festivities wouldn't be hard. Except that was the problem, he was supposed to mingle. Taking another mouthful of his salad, he stood and grabbed his food and walked to another table.

 

“Excuse me, mind if I sit here?” he asked, trying to disguise his voice slightly. The man sitting at the table, an older man with sandy short hair and a beard, turned. He had on a pair of black dress pants with a matching tie over a light beige shirt. A black jacket was on the back of his chair.

 

“Absolutely, feel free,” he smiled, waving his hand.

 

“Thanks, I came alone and was looking for some friendly company,” Inuyasha replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

 

“Well then look no further, young lad,” the man chuckled, holding out his hand. “Montgomery Benix, England. Call me Monty.”

 

“Yash Shingetsu, Japan. Call me Yash,” Inuyasha replied, shaking his hand.

 

“Pleasure Yash,” Monty nodded. “Shingetsu, that name is familiar…” Monty thought for a moment as Inuyasha poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table. “Ah yes, now I recall. Are you perhaps related to an Nomura Shingetsu, from Kyoto?”

 

“I'm not sure, they may be a distant relative. I've never looked into the family tree much,” Inuyasha said evenly, trying to maintain his cover.

 

“Ah, well it is just as well, Nomura is a scoundrel of a crooked man,” Monty shrugged. “What do you do Yash?”

 

“I manage stock portfolios, investment opportunities, gross deduction…” Inuyasha deliberately trailed off, and Monty frowned.

 

“I don't believe I entirely understood that,” he admitted.

 

“No one does, that's how I get away with charging so much,” Inuyasha smirked, biting into his salad. Monty let out another chuckle and took a bite of a pasta dish on his plate. Inuyasha thought quickly for a moment. He was supposed to socialize, fine. But he couldn't keep his cover easily if Monty kept asking such questions.

 

“So how do you know Ms. Alicia?” Monty asked.

 

“Who?” Inuyasha replied.

 

“The mayor's daughter, that young woman over there.” Monty waved a hand, and Inuyasha leaned over the back of his chair. At a larger table near the wall was a young woman with long brown hair. Six security guards were standing around the table, although Inuyasha figured that there were a few disguised among the partygoers. Beside her was an older man with glasses and a suit worth more than Inuyasha himself. That must have been the mayor.

 

Beside the mayor, was not his wife, as Inuyasha would have expected. It was a man, a young man, only a few years older than Inuyasha's human form appeared - maybe mid twenties, or late? He had long black hair tied into a loose ponytail and dark red eyes and wore a dark violet suit with a white shirt and black tie. Inuyasha didn't know who he might be, but he was clearly involved in a heated discussion with the mayor, although they didn't seem to be arguing. In fact, the mayor was listening intently and occasionally nodding. Inuyasha frowned as he turned his attention and eyes back to his companion. Something about that man was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it…

 

“I don't know her, I came here on behalf of someone else,” he said to Monty. “Miroku Houshi.”

 

“Ah. I've heard of him, but haven't had the pleasure myself,” Monty nodded. Inuyasha finished his salad and looked around for another means of escape. He found one on the other side of the room.

 

“Excuse me Monty, I see a young woman who needs a dance partner,” he said, standing up. Monty winked.

 

“Ah, that's the spirit, go get `em boy,” he laughed, pouring himself a glass of water. Inuyasha ignored him and vanished onto the sea of people on the dance floor. He looked down at his watch. He'd only been there fifteen minutes. Damn. He noticed a woman bowing away from her dance party and moved towards her.

 

“May I?” he asked, holding out his hand. The woman, a middle-aged blond in a dark red gown, turned to him and smiled.

 

“Certainly sir,” she nodded, taking his hand. Inuyasha avoided eye contact as he tried to observe the room. The woman, thankfully, took the lead and left him to watch. There were plenty of guards around the room, many uniformed but there were others in the crowd who had the same stern face of an officer. So much for picking out a spy, half the room looked suspicious. At least he was blending in fairly well.

 

“You dance well,” the woman smiled.

 

“Thanks,” Inuyasha muttered, not really paying attention. He scanned the balcony running along the walls. More guards patrolled it, and there were a few doors he could see leading to side rooms. He made a note to check them out later. Turning back to the crowd, he looked through the people to see if anyone was watching him. To his relief, none had noticed the lone man scanning the room. Perhaps, as he had deduced, he just appeared as an un-uniformed security agent.

 

“Excuse me sir, my husband is calling.” Inuyasha turned his attention back to the woman as the song ended.

 

“Sure,” he replied. The woman smiled at him and moved off the floor to another man with a dark blue suit. Free to look at the upper floors, he moved to the edge of the floor.

 

“Hello.”

 

Inuyasha mentally groaned and turned. A young redheaded woman smiled up at him, blue-green eyes twinkling. She had on a light blue dress cut just above the knee with a small silver necklace. Her red hair was tied into a bun with her bangs hanging over her forehead.

 

“May I have the pleasure?” she asked, holding out her hand. Inuyasha mentally debated the best response.

 

“Whatever,” he said, taking her hand. The woman's grin widened as the next song, a faster one, began.

 

“I have to say I don't recall seeing you at these events before. I'm sure I'd remember someone so handsome,” she teased. Inuyasha spun her and ignored her. Compliments weren't his thing. “So what's your name?” the woman asked.

 

“Yash Shingetsu,” Inuyasha replied. “What about you, you have a name?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Although he wasn't really interested, the woman's flirty response was nonetheless uncomfortable for him. Inuyasha frowned. He hadn't come to the damn party to socialize, even if he was expected to. And that damn smile was really annoying him for some reason.

 

“Fine, don't tell me,” he muttered.

 

“As you wish,” the woman giggled. Inuyasha lifted his eyes from her and looked up at the stage. The podium was being adjusted, and he noticed a few people on the side of the room walking towards it.

 

“Sir, you seem a little distracted. Am I not good company?” the woman pouted.

 

“What? No, it's…” Inuyasha shook his head and remembered his cover. “Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind.”

 

“Really?” the woman asked as he spun her out. She turned back into his chest and looked up at him. “Like what, Inu-chan?” she whispered.

 

Inuyasha's violet eyes widened as the woman took advantage of his hesitation and took the lead in the dance. He looked down at her smirk and mentally cursed. Now he knew why it was so off-putting to him.

 

“Kagome?” he hissed between clenched teeth.

“Yes?”

 

The music and the noise of the party suddenly seemed to grow quiet as Inuyasha glared down at the miko in his arms, smiling at him like he had just given her the key to the city.

 

“What are you doing here?” he snapped, his patience running out in that split second.

 

“Dancing,” Kagome replied. “Unless you'd rather fight, but I'd prefer not to blow my cover, thanks.”

 

“How are you here, why do you look like that?”

 

“Hair dye and contacts, not all of us need concealment scrolls, Inu-chan. So, you want to take me up on that fight offer or what?”

 

Inuyasha considered the situation. It was true, he didn't have a weapon but he'd been trained in unarmed combat. Still, if he blew his cover, Sesshomaru would have his ass, especially if he found out the cause. Not to mention he may not survive to escape the party with so many guards around. Deciding it was too much trouble, he took the lead back from Kagome and lifted his hand into the air to twirl her.

 

“What's going on, why are you here?” he asked. Kagome rolled her eyes.

 

“Like I can tell you,” she snorted.

 

“You tell me why you're here, I'll tell you why I'm here.”

 

“Didn't we play that game before? It was show, not telling, I believe.” Inuyasha's face went red at the memory of the night she was referring to.

 

“Well?” he asked, putting his libido in check for the time being.

 

“Fine.” Kagome lowered her voice. “I'm undercover. There's someone leaking information, we think it's a human. I'm here looking for someone suspicious.”

 

“Really?” Inuyasha frowned at the familiar story.

 

“Yeah, why?”

 

“Because that's why I'm here.”

 

Kagome's face darkened as the two of them silently considered what that meant. Both sides had sent them to investigate a spy, at the same place, the same night, with the same justification for the search.

 

“This doesn't smell right,” Kagome muttered. “I don't buy it. Even if we both had spies, there's no way they'd both be here.”

 

“You think someone is setting us up?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Why? My superiors like me, and unless yours are pissed off there's no reason to get rid of either of us,” Kagome shook her head. “If we're here for the same reason, then either someone is lying, or…”

 

“We're looking for the same person.” Inuyasha lowered his gaze. “Maybe someone is playing both sides.”

 

“Why, that doesn't make any sense. The only reason for selling out both sides would be…well, maybe make the war go longer. I mean if you wanted it over sell out one side, but both? What's the point of that?”

 

“I don't know.”

 

The two slowed their dance as they thought over the small revelation. Inuyasha's mind was racing. What purpose could be served playing the two sides against each other, when by all accounts it had already come to that? There wasn't a third side in the war, the humans didn't count, they were mostly neutral. So if someone was lying both ways, maybe it was someone leading an underground group. Or someone was acting on their own. Who the hell could have so much power that they would infiltrate betray both sides and not get caught?

 

“Attention, dear guests.”

 

Inuyasha turned to the stage as the song ended to see the mayor at the podium adjusting the microphone.

 

“Welcome to the party for my dear Alicia. Thank you all for coming, we truly appreciate it,” the mayor continued. The guests applauded, and Inuyasha began to follow suit when he noticed his hands were unoccupied. He turned and looked through the crowd. Kagome was gone. He muttered a curse and turned back around.

 

“Although my daughter knows this is her celebration, I also have an announcement to make, well, not mine really. You see, ladies and gentlemen, tonight is a special night. Not only is my lovely young lady a year older, but this is a grand night for the entire city. However, I feel I'm likely not the best man to explain why. So if you'll please, welcome to the podium, an honored friend.” The mayor turned and lifted his hand to gesture at a man standing beside him. Inuyasha frowned. It was the same crimson-eyed man that had been talking to the mayor earlier.

 

“Dear guests, welcome to the podium, a good man, an intelligent friend and a hanyou ambassador for the youkai. I give you, Amane Naraku.”

 

The crowd applauded awkwardly, but more than a few whispers circled as the mayor shook hands with Naraku and stepped away from the podium. Inuyasha shared their surprise. A hanyou friend to the mayor of a miko-aligned city? That would explain what he had sensed about the guy earlier. But for an ambassador, he'd never heard of anyone called Naraku before.

 

“Thank you, Mayor Wilkins, for that introduction,” Naraku nodded at the mayor and turned his attention back to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, as my good friend Mayor Wilkins said, I am Amane Naraku, ambassador of the youkai and a hanyou of the kumo-breed. Please, do not be ashamed to show your surprise, I understand. It is that very reason I am here tonight.” Naraku lowered his head and cleared his throat before continuing.

 

“As a hanyou, I'm sure you know that I am half-human, half-youkai. And for years both races condemned my kind as an `unholy union', a crime against nature. We all know that is not true now, and I believe in this age, nothing could further from the truth. For I believe it is my heritage that has given me a unique perspective on the war surrounding us. Make no mistake, I know the view many humans take to my youkai cousins. Monsters, murderers, senseless killers. And while yes, many youkai are these things, could we not say the same for many humans? While we are all entitled to our individual opinions, there is no denying that while our races are quite different…in many ways, they're quite the same.”

 

“So, ladies and gentlemen, why is it, we focus on the differences? Why must we use such archaic terms like human, hanyou, youkai, miko? Are we all not people, us all? I believe in a world where all of us can sit at a table, drink and eat and be friends. And to my great pleasure, Mayor Wilkins shares my vision. My vision of a world united against the greater evil. Poverty, crime, homelessness, injustice, there are the forces that plague us all. The time has come for youkai and human to put aside their differences and fight those evils. And it is for that reason, that Mayor Wilkins tonight, wishes for me to inform you all that this is no longer a miko-allied city.” The crowd burst into more murmurs as Mayor Wilkins stepped back up beside Naraku.

 

“That's correct. Tonight, my dear guests, this city takes the first step, to a world united. I hereby open our doors to all the peoples of the world, hanyou, youkai, miko and human alike. Let us all find our place, wherever it may be, and let our city serve as an example to others, that this war shall not continue.” A waiter held out a tray with two glasses of wine, and Mayor Wilkins took them, passing one of them to Naraku.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, a toast!” Mayor Wilkins smiled.

 

“To a world united!” Naraku nodded. Inuyasha rolled his eyes as the two clinked their glasses together.

 

Then, the second floor balcony exploded.

 

Screams rang out and the guests ducked as rubble rained down on the floor. Inuyasha raised his head to see a large portion of the balcony missing, and burning chunks of rock and wood littering the area around the missing area. The security agents had leapt into action, filing the guests out of the room. Inuyasha looked at the stage. The mayor and Naraku were already gone. There was gunfire, and Inuyasha looked up to see two security agents stumble back over the balcony. One collapsed against a support pillar while the other fell over and landed in a sickening thud on the ground. Inuyasha rushed over and grabbed his gun from his limp hand.

 

“Sir, drop the weapon and evacuate!” Inuyasha turned his head to see one of the security agents glaring down at him, aiming his gun at his head. A second agent ran up to him, a hand on his earpiece.

 

“We've got a problem, two unidentified people spotted in the stairwells, they're got the daughter and another unidentified hostage,” the second guard said. The first nodded.

 

“Sir, drop the weapon and evacuate, or I will fire!” he warned. Inuyasha looked down at the gun he was holding, then back up at the guard. Suddenly, the guard grunted and stumbled forwards. Inuyasha ducked out of the way and slammed the butt of the pistol into the back of his head as he fell. He looked back up to see a small white heel lift into the air and kick the second guard backwards, his gun falling from his hand and into another, smaller hand.

 

“Miss me?” Kagome grinned, holding out her hand.

 

“Like a cold,” Inuyasha growled, pushing her aside and climbing to his feet. “They got the mayor's daughter.”

 

“I heard, they've gotta be looking for a way out.” Kagome nodded.

 

“Good luck going out the front door, they're probably got the entire block covered by cops now,” Inuyasha snorted. The two shared a glance and reached the same conclusion at the same town.

 

“The roof,” Kagome gasped.

 

“The explosion was just a diversion,” Inuyasha agreed.

 

Kagome turned to run for the exit, and Inuyasha watched her go. Kagome looked over her shoulder at him.

 

“Well, we going or not?” she snapped, heading for the door.

 

“Oh, we're a `we' now?” he called back, following her.