InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

 

Love Thy Enemy

 

Chapter 7

 

“Hm…the limb will be fine, since you're a youkai it'll heal perfectly, two days tops. It's definitely going to hurt though, you're lucky you didn't break it, or you'd be off your feet for a week.”

 

“Spare me the lectures and tell me what I need to hear to get outta here,” Inuyasha grumbled. Totosai rubbed his chin.

 

“Well, you just need to lay off the leg for a few days, like I said. Here, have a crutch.” Totosai stood and walked to a cabinet, pulling out a plastic and steel crutch and tossing it at Inuyasha. The hanyou caught it and hefted himself off the examining table.

 

“Thanks,” he said, leaning on the crutch and making his way to the door. Although he wouldn't normally heed Totosai's warnings, not seriously, he unfortunately was limping on his injured leg and so used the crutch to hobble to the door of the infirmary, leaving his room and heading down the hall. A few youkai looked at him as he walked across the grounds, likely surprised to see the taiyoukai's brother taking his time for once.

 

“So, how did it go?” Kagura asked as Inuyasha's shadow fell over her desk. She looked up, saw the crutch, and winced. “Ah.”

 

“His office?”

 

“His office,” Kagura nodded. Inuyasha grunted and moved to the elevators, flinging out the crutch to catch the doors. A kitsune pushed them open, and the hanyou mumbled a word of thanks as he slipped inside. He rode the elevator to Sesshomaru's floor and hobbled down to his brother's office.

 

“About time,” Kouga called, leaning against the wall. “I've been waiting, he wants to see both of us.” Inuyasha nodded as Kouga pushed open the door, and the two walked inside.

 

“Welcome,” Sesshomaru said, finishing his typing on his computer. He moved the mouse and made a few clicks, and the printer against the wall beeped to life. That done, Sesshomaru turned to face Kouga and Inuyasha as they sat down. “So, report. Kouga, your side of events?”

 

“Infiltration and extraction were carried out flawlessly. Inuyasha's…return, to the truck was unexpected, but we got in and out without being bothered. I sped out the gates so I wouldn't be searched, but with no plates they have no way of finding who it was,” Kouga said.

 

“Good. Inuyasha?”

 

“Got into the party alright, didn't have time to search for a spy,” Inuyasha shrugged.

 

“How so?”

 

“There was a bomb like, half a hour after I arrived.” Inuyasha thought for a moment. Unless Sesshomaru called him out on it, there was no point in mentioning Kagome. “I fought off a couple guys, got to the roof. There was a guy in come cloak and uniform there, named Magatsuhi.”

 

“Magatsuhi?” Sesshomaru interrupted.

 

“Yeah…you know him?”

 

“No…continue,” Sesshomaru shook his head, and Inuyasha mentally frowned.

 

“He took off in a chopper, left some guy named Muso to fight me. I tricked him into tackling me off the roof onto Kouga's truck. He's the corpse in the morgue.”

 

“Ah…anything else of detail?” Sesshomaru asked.

 

“Yeah, I overheard Magatsuhi talking. He mentioned an informant that had told him `one of the three was there', but that they had lied. Not sure what he meant.”

 

“Neither am I,” Sesshomaru admitted.

 

“Hey, show him the medal,” Kouga reminded. Inuyasha nodded and dug into his pocket.

 

“Here. Muso was wearing it,” Inuyasha pulled out the medal Muso had worn and tossed it across the desk. Sesshomaru caught it and examined it. “It says kun-ko ki-sho on the back.”

 

“The phrase is unknown to me…” Sesshomaru mused, turning the medal over and running a thumb over the ancient text etched there. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher the mysterious emotions passing through his brother's face. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Kouga and Inuyasha looked over their shoulders.

 

“Come in,” Sesshomaru called. The door clicked open, and a man walked into Sesshomaru's office. He wore a dark blue dress shirt with black dress pants and a black tie, long black hair streaming down his chest on either side of his face, and down his back. His eyes were deep red, and the man stopped before the chairs Sesshomaru and Inuyasha sat in, and bowed his head.

 

“Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru,” the man said deeply, lifting his head. Inuyasha stared at him.

 

“I know you,” he muttered. The man turned his crimson gaze down at the hanyou. “I saw you last ni-”

 

“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru cut off. Inuyasha remembered his cover, and fell silent. “Kouga, Inuyasha. Allow me to introduced Amane Naraku, gentlemen. Naraku is one of a small handful of youkai-appointed ambassadors to the human cities.”

 

“Pleasure to meet you, Kouga,” the wolf youkai said, holding out his hand. Naraku smiled and shook it, then turned to Inuyasha.

 

“Then that would make you Inuyasha,” Naraku chuckled, holding out his hand. Inuyasha didn't take it, and with a shrug, Naraku folded his arms behind his back. “Please, no need to be hostile, if it would please you, you can finish your earlier sentence. I didn't see you at the party last night, but I would imagine you were using a concealment scroll, yes?” Inuyasha's mouth fell open.

 

“How the hell did you know that?” he asked.

 

“I know many things other youkai aren't privy to,” Naraku said simply. “When one acts for the greater good of a species, it helps to make sure one is on top of things.”

 

“So you spy on other youkai?” Inuyasha snapped, climbing to his feet. “What the hell kind of ambassador is that?”

 

“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru growled in warning. Naraku held up a hand.

 

“Please, Sesshomaru, no need to reprimand him. With a true spy or two running about, it is good to see your brother is so diligent,” he explained. “To answer your question Inuyasha, the youkai council knows the need for information. Simply put, when it comes to the youkai hierarchy, the higher you go, the more you know. And seeing as how I am one of their chief ambassadors and in charge of working towards re-establishing a truce, it follows in kind I would need access to information lower-ranked soldiers simply aren't allowed to know.”

 

“Spare me the political bullshit,” Inuyasha sneered. “You know, all three of us got tricked by a spy last night, and you were at that party. In tandem with your little speech, I'd say that sounds like a confession to me. You there just for speeches and drinks, or to make sure your little buddies took us out?”

 

“Us?” Sesshomaru frowned.

 

“Oh, you didn't tell Sesshomaru about the fun you had with your miko playmate last night?” Naraku asked. Inuyasha grimaced as Naraku turned his head to Sesshomaru. “Apparently, Inuyasha and the miko Kagome here made quite a tag-team last night, dispatching five armed guards in moments. I do say, it sounds like they work better fighting together than fighting each other.”

 

“Really?” Sesshomaru muttered, glaring at his brother. “Did you know this Kouga?” Kouga coughed into his hand.

 

“I…may have…” he mumbled.

 

“It's not important,” Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes.

 

“I beg to differ, you said `all three of us got tricked'. You, Kagome, and Magatsuhi makes three,” Naraku replied. “So, Inuyasha. What did she tell you…or, perhaps you should tell us what you told her?”

 

“You seem to know what I told her, how about you say it?” Inuyasha muttered.

 

“I didn't know you told her anything. But, `in tandem with your little speech, I'd say that sounds like a confession'.”

 

“Will you stop quoting me?” Inuyasha hissed.

 

“I would not be able to quote you if you learned to stop stumbling over your own words and hypocrisies,” Naraku replied. “You are aware, I assume, that leaking information to the enemy is means for imprisonment and perhaps even discharge on grounds of insubordination?”

 

“I didn't leak information, we exchanged information, there's a difference,” Inuyasha grated.

 

“And you accuse me of being a spy,” Naraku said dryly. Inuyasha snarled and stepped towards him.

 

“That's enough Inuyasha!” Sesshomaru shouted, standing up. Inuyasha whirled his head to glare at the taiyoukai. “Kouga, please leave.”

 

“No problem,” the wolf youkai muttered, standing up and walking to the door. It slammed shut behind him, and Inuyasha backed down slightly.

 

“Now, Inuyasha. Tell us exactly what transpired between you and Kagome last night,” Naraku instructed, sitting down and crossing his legs at the ankle. Inuyasha took a breath.

 

“I met her on the dance floor, we danced, and I didn't know it was her when I began the dance,” he said, eyeing Sesshomaru's disapproving glare. “She told me she had been sent there to investigate a spy. I told her the same.”

 

“Given the current situation, it would remain to be seen if this exchange of information will be a boon or a hindrance,” Naraku stated. “Continue.”

 

“We thought maybe, there might be a triple-agent…someone playing both sides against each other,” Inuyasha explained.

 

“That seems possible, but such an endeavor would be pointless. What gain could be had by pitting two sides against each other, when they are already fighting?” Sesshomaru asked.

 

“I am not sure,” Naraku admitted, bringing his hands up face and tapping his lips. “Continue.”

 

“Then a bomb goes off the balcony, after you gave your speech. The guests scatter, she and I fight to the roof. The rest is as I told you, she fought Muso with me.”

 

“Interesting…” Naraku mused. “And this mysterious faction that attacked kidnapped Mayor Wilkins' daughter…”

 

“Yeah, their leader on the roof was named Magatsuhi…Sess, show him the medal Muso was wearing.” Sesshomaru picked up the medal from the desk and held it out to Naraku. The hanyou took it and examined it.

 

“Interesting…” Naraku said aloud. “Well if that's all then, I have no further questions.”

 

“Nor do I. Inuyasha, return to your quarters and back your belongings,” Sesshomaru instructed.

 

“What the hell for?” the hanyou cried.

 

“You're being sent back to the city, for leave. To rest and take some time off. You've had two stressful encounters with Kagome recently, clear your head. Just a week, return here in seven days and we'll continue.”

 

“What the fuck did I do to deserve this?”

 

“Nothing, just…take a break.”

 

“This is bullshit!”

 

“Inuyasha…please,” Sesshomaru muttered. “Just go gather your belongings and wait in your quarters, I'll be by to clarify my request with you once I finish speaking to Naraku.” Inuyasha glared, but climbed to his feet and marched out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Naraku twirled Muso's medal about his fingers, then lifted his eyes.

 

“Is he out of hearing range?” he whispered. Sesshomaru waited, then nodded. Naraku took a breath and lay the medal back on the desk. “You know what this medal means, Sesshomaru.”

 

“Yes, I do,” the taiyoukai agreed. “What I don't understand is why it's appeared. Why would the Order resurface now?”

 

“Well, what did Inuyasha tell you about Magatsuhi? Anything he didn't tell me?” Naraku asked. Sesshomaru thought for a moment.

 

“He did mention Magatsuhi said `one of the three' was there…” he muttered. Naraku cursed under his breath.

 

“So the three rise up again and of course the Order is not far behind,” Naraku said, standing up and pacing. “That medal is only Eighth Class. They have not unleashed their full might yet, but if Magatsuhi has reappeared then they must surely believe that the three are out there. How long has it been since last he showed his face?”

 

“Just over five hundred years ago, in Japan,” Sesshomaru said. “You may be too young to remember though.”

 

“I'm four hundred and sixty-two,” Naraku replied curtly. “I may not have seen Magatsuhi's rampage myself, but I did see the fallout of it. We cannot allow a repeat of that. It is bad enough the war began again when we worked so hard to end it, but if we experience a repeat of the warring states era, in this age, with this level of technology…it would be an unprecedented apocalypse.”

 

“That will not happen,” Sesshomaru said. “We are fortunate that their place at the board has been revealed before they can finish gathering their hand. Now that we know the Order is an active force again, we can begin working against them. Already one of their number has fallen.”

 

“Yes, the Eighth Class, their weakest, and your brother nearly got himself killed doing so. I for one do not look forward to when the higher classes make themselves known. I can only hope Magatsuhi stays out of the fight until we are in a position to fight him.”

 

“Magatsuhi…” Sesshomaru whispered. “The first, oldest, and leading member of the Order…we cannot let him find the three. Does the youkai council know their locations?”

 

“No, the records were destroyed long ago. That's the whole reason the Order was founded, to hide the three from miko and youkai alike,” Naraku explained. “Of course, that was before Magatsuhi perverted their purpose.”

 

“The Order was created to keep youkai and miko from destroying themselves,” Sesshomaru whispered, “and now they may be on the verge of destroying us both themselves…how bitterly ironic.”

 

“I do love bitter ironies, but not when they are at my expense,” Naraku admitted. “I must report this to the youkai council. I doubt the Order is only operating here, with the council informed we can expand our search globally. All the same, I want you to keep a particular look-out here, if the Order has returned and made their first strike here, they may strike here again.”

 

“Yes. We have to begin to work to find the three before the Order does. I'll investigate this further here, the week's leave will keep Inuyasha from asking questions until I'm ready to give him appropriate answers. How soon can you return to the council?”

 

“I am always in contact with them, but an event of this magnitude will require a direct audience…I've not been to Horai Island in some time, but then I guess I am overdue for a return. I can leave tonight,” Naraku said.

 

“Good, the faster we move the better.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

Naraku moved to the door, and looked over his shoulder.

 

“As you said, be sure when Inuyasha returns, you have appropriate answers Given his connection to the miko, any information we give him will be in jeopardy of being leaked. If we are fortunate, they need never know of this incident's true significance.”

 

“Of course,” Sesshomaru nodded. Naraku left his office, shutting the door behind him. Sesshomaru sat back in his chair and let out a long breath, reaching out and taking the medal on his desk between his thumb and forefinger. Holding it before his eye, he turned it to its back. Kun-ko ki-sho…

 

“As if this war wasn't dangerous enough already…”

 

Clever readers may have already stumbled on my little plans for Magatsuhi…those who haven't, well, that will make it much more fun when I reveal his role in full. ^_^