InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Love Thy Enemy

 

So sorry this chapter is late. I offer no excuse but laziness.

 

Chapter 8

 

“Let me see the ID,” the guard barked. Inuyasha glared at him and pulled out his ID, identifying him by both his current army designation and his given name from the truce. “Inuyasha…you don't use the name Taisho anymore I assume?”

 

“No,” the hanyou muttered.

 

“Alright. The rules for the city are as follows. First, you are not to engage in any type of physical or verbal altercation with anyone, especially mikos, or you will be ejected from the city. Second, you must check in with the War Registration Bureau as soon as you find a place to stay, and give them the address and phone number of that place. You must also check in with them at eight am, noon, and eight pm every day, and the calls must be from your registered address and phone number. You will also-”

 

“Yeah yeah yeah, I know the fucking rules,” Inuyasha snapped. The guard glared at him.

 

“You will also abide by standing city law and will accept the penalties for breaking those laws. Now, how long are you staying?”

 

“A week.”

 

“It is currently eight-fourteen am. You will report to the city gates by six am a week from today to be properly discharged, or you will be apprehended. Understand?”

 

“I got it.”

 

“Fine. Enjoy your stay,” the guard sneered, entering the guard both. The automated metal door for the gate slid open, and Inuyasha lifted his suitcase and marched through it. The lights on either side of the door flashed green and closed as another guard in another booth looked up.

 

“Alright sir, identify yourself by name, alignment and youkai breed.”

 

“Inuyasha, youkai forces, inu-hanyou,” Inuyasha droned. The guard nodded and wrote down the information on her clipboard.

 

“Do you have some source of funds for your time here?”

 

“Government-issue credit card.”

 

“Very well. Any current plans for place of residence for your stay?”

 

“Not yet, I'll find a hotel, and yes I know to call the damn WRB and let them know when I do.”

 

“You've been cleared for weapons before the gate?”

 

“Except for the ones on my fingertips? Yeah.”

“Alright. You understand the WRB reserves the right to investigate you under any circumstances, these sources of investigation including random checks on your registered residence, telephone tapping, movement monitoring, momentary monitoring, and whatever other methods deemed appropriate?”

 

“Yes, I've been on leave before you know.”

 

“Just standard procedure sir, we're done. Thank you for your cooperation.”

 

Inuyasha nodded and moved past the gate. The War Registration Bureau was a sub-division of the War Affairs Organization. The human-run WAO had been established worldwide on the outbreak of the war, to keep humans out of and away from the war. Doing that meant having all miko and youkai give their personal information to the WRB whenever they entered a human city, to be tracked. The WRB was an absolute, but accepted and needed, invasion of youkai and miko privacy to keep the peace in the cities.

 

The city before Inuyasha looked a lot different in the daylight than it had the other night. Inuyasha tossed a glance down the street at the site of the attack. There were construction crews and police cars on the street. Several windows on the second floor had been blown out and were covered in hastily erected plywood panels. The explosion must have destroyed them. Inuyasha turned down a side street, not wanting to get too close in case someone recognized him.

 

The hanyou made his way down the street, not really having a destination in mind. Around him, a few people tossed him glances. Faint wisps of miko and youki auras teased his senses, but he ignored them; his mind was elsewhere.

 

Why had Sesshomaru discharged him? He didn't buy that `clear his head' crap. Something was up with his brother. He didn't truly know him that well, but he knew him enough to know something was up. The medal came back to him. That had to be the key. Naraku and Sesshomaru knew a lot more than they were letting on, of that he was sure. Inuyasha knew he wasn't the most perceptive person, but he wasn't an idiot. That piece of metal had some sort of significance. He wondered how to go about finding out.

 

The hanyou raised his head to gather his bearings about the city, and had an idea. Smirking, he picked up the pace. He just hoped the old geezer was still around.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Kagome drew back the bowstring, the material of her glove shifting position slightly. Narrowing her eyes, she released her fingers. The arrow flashed pink as it skewed through the air, slamming into the bulls-eye of the target across the field. A few of the trainees behind her applauded as Kagome lowered her bow.

 

“It's fairly easy to channel energy into the arrow,” she instructed, turning around. “Enchanting objects with your energy is a simple matter of concentration and mental and physical strength. Simply imagine your aura flowing into the object, and it will work. Typically you'll have to be in close proximity, or more often physical contact. So the training today is to work on your pull of the bow and your accuracy. In time you'll have to perfect both - it doesn't matter how many times you fire if you can't hit your target, and it doesn't matter how accurately you can hit your target if they move before you take the shot. Understand?” The six new miko recruits nodded.

 

“Good. Then go to the stand and take your bows and quivers. If your shots seem off don't worry, we'll be customizing arrows and bows for your specific techniques later. Also, alert me if you start to get tired, enchanting the arrows may seem simple but it can be exhausting. Your typically miko can shoot fifty arrows before feeling the effects, but it varies. Don't push yourself. Now begin taking your shots.”

 

The six moved aside and lined up after collecting their equipment. The air soon turned humid as miko energy flared up again and again, arrows striking targets with varying accuracy. Kagome stepped back and watch the recruits train. As miko they would have a natural affinity for archery, but affinity did not mean expertise, as two on the end were proving.

 

“It is good to see you're returning to your duties so early after the other night's failed mission,” Kikyo said, observing the trainees with her.

 

“Why not? I'm not the one who leapt off a roof,” Kagome shrugged.

 

“I have to admit, I'm surprised you so readily confessed to allying with him. I am also surprised the Elders did not reprimand you as harshly as they should have.” Kikyo replied.

 

“We were up against an unknown number of enemies from an unknown source with unknown strength. Allying with Inuyasha against them was the natural thing to do in such a situation.”

 

“I actually agree. I believe the Elders were more concerned with your mysterious attackers than the hanyou. We've never encountered such a being as this `Muso' you described. To have no aura of either alignment…”

 

“I know. I'm not sure what to make of it either. But if that Magatsuhi guy was any indication, Muso was just the first of several.”

 

“The question at hand is `the first of several what'.”

 

The two mikos fell silent and watched the six trainees continue their archery.

 

“Kikyo,” a voice called. The elder miko turned to see Tsubaki standing in the door to the barracks. “I must speak with you.”

 

“Of course. Excuse me Kagome.” Kikyo turned and follows Tsubaki inside. “Well?”

 

“The Elders received new information from their contact,” Tsubaki whispered. “It was the Order as they suspected.”

 

“Damn,” Kikyo muttered. “What are the orders?”

 

“Keep an eye out for any signs of the higher classes, and don't let Kagome know. She doesn't need to be aware of the significance of her battle.”

 

“These are the orders of the Elders?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kikyo nodded and turned back to look at Kagome out the window.

 

“What am I to do if she starts asking questions?”

 

“Don't answer them.”

 

“…how did the Elders find out about the Order?”

 

“That's classified.”

 

“Hn.”

 

Kikyo knew there were spies on both sides of the wars. It wasn't something she cared for. Wondering who was really on which side, only led to needless suspicion and paranoia. Neither was something she particularly liked. All the same, sometimes, there were secrets better left just that - secrets…

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Welcome to the shelter sir,” the desk clerk said, smiling through the glass. Inuyasha set his suitcase down and stepped up to the desk.

 

“Yeah…I'm looking for a pet. For a friend,” Inuyasha replied. The dozens, hundreds of animal scents overwhelmed him, but the scent he was looking for was there.

 

“Alright, follow me in the back,” the clerk said, stepping back. Inuyasha waited as she opened the door and followed her into the back. Rows of cages containing well-fed but otherwise lonely cats and dogs lined the walls. Inuyasha sniffed. Not here.

 

“You got any larger dogs?”

 

“Oh sure, this way.” The clerk opened another door and led Inuyasha into another room. Several full-grown dogs lazed about in much larger areas in the walls, separated by glass. Inuyasha sniffed again. This seemed like the place.

 

“Thanks,” he muttered, kneeling to look at a gold retriever. The animal turned an eye his way. There was a distant ring, and the clerk turned.

 

“Excuse me,” she said. Inuyasha waited as she went to get the phone, and looked around.

 

“Hey, where are you?” he asked, looking around the room. His scent was strong, he was around somewhere. “Oi, ya old coward, come out, it's Inuyasha!”

 

“Inuyasha-sama?”

 

There was a pinprick on the back of Inuyasha's neck, and he narrowed his eyes.

 

“It is you Inuyasha-sama! Long time no suck.”

 

The hanyou reached back his hand and slapped his neck. There was a small groan of pain, and the hanyou brought his hand back, a small four-armed youkai hanging from between his fingertips.

 

“Oi! Myoga, I told you to stop that!”

 

“Sorry my lord, but you have the most delicious blood!” Myoga squirmed out of Inuyasha's grasp and perched on his nose.

 

“Suck again and I swat again,” the hanyou growled.

 

“I won't, flea's honor!” Myoga vowed.

 

“Right. Get somewhere outta sight, we gotta talk private.” Inuyasha moved back to the entrance to the pet shelter as Myoga hopped down into the collar of his white T-shirt.

 

“Thanks, didn't see anything though,” he tossed over his shoulder, grabbing his suitcase. The clerk looked up at Inuyasha left. The hanyou walked down the street and ducked into an alley. He wrinkled his nose at the smell, but he needed someplace private.

 

“Alright, come out where I can see you,” he ordered. Myoga hopped out of his shirt and onto the lid of a trashcan. “I wanna talk information,” Inuyasha said. He had met Myoga a few decades ago when his mother had died and the flea had come to summon his to his father's guardianship. He had no use for Myoga during the truce, he was annoying as hell and not good for much with his size. However, once the truce ended, Toga had dispatched Myoga to keep watch on the city. No one noticed a flea spying on conversations, and his youki was so small that most miko didn't notice him either. Myoga usually hung out at animal shelters, unless he had been given an assignment.

 

“You have a new assignment from Sesshomaru my lord?”

 

“Fuck him, this is about me,” Inuyasha muttered. “So this doesn't get back to him, got it?”

 

“Yes of course,” Myoga agreed.

 

“Good. What does kun-ko ki-sho mean?”

 

“Hm…that's Japanese isn't it?”

 

“Yeah, what's it translate to?”

 

“I'm not really sure, but for some reason the phrase does sound familiar. Where did you hear it?”

 

“It was on the back of an old medal a guy was wearing,” Inuyasha half-answered. Myoga crossed his four arms and looked down.

 

“A medal…curious. It doesn't ring a bell, though perhaps I could look around?”

 

“Sure. What about the names Muso and Magatsuhi?” Inuyasha asked. Myoga's head snapped up.

 

“You know of Magatsuhi?” he cried.

 

“Yeah, who is he?”

 

“Well, he lived about a century before my time. But according to the rumors, during the height of the youkai-miko wars five hundred years ago, Magatsuhi was one of the most powerful youkai alive. Even your great father was not so strong as to challenge him in combat.”

 

“Really? This guy was stronger than the old man?” Inuyasha muttered. Toga was the most powerful youkai he knew of. How strong was Magatsuhi that even Toga wouldn't dare fight him?

 

“Oh yes, he was a terror, he held allegiance to neither youkai or miko and slaughtered both. Then, suddenly he was killed, and never spoken of again. Why do you ask of him, Inuyasha-sama?”

 

“Cause he ain't dead,” Inuyasha replied.

 

“Impossible!” Myoga shrieked, hopping up and down. “He vanished, no one ever saw him again! Magatsuhi revelled in the thrill of combat, he would never have stepped away from the war willingly!”

 

“I saw him with my own eyes, he didn't seem too interested in fighting me,” Inuyasha shrugged. Myoga calmed down.

 

“No, he wouldn't be I suppose.”

 

“What's that supposed to mean!?” Inuyasha snapped, leaning forward to glare at the flea.

 

“Ahhhh, I merely meant to say, he must be severely weakened, if he did indeed step away from the war on his own!” Myoga scrambled. Inuyasha stood up.

 

“I'm in town for a week, Sesshomaru sent me off on leave. I'll be in touch, you find out more about those words and Magatsuhi. Something's going on and I wanna know what.”

 

“Why not ask yourself?” Myoga asked.

 

“Because Sesshomaru is being an ass and is the one not telling me,” Inuyasha explained. “Now I'm gonna go find a hotel, you do you what you do best and poke around.” Inuyasha turned and paused as he felt Myoga land on his neck again. “Not on me.”

 

“Sorry, my lord.”

 

Myoga hopped off and vanished into the alley as Inuyasha walked back onto the street. He knew the city fairly well from when he lived there, so he turned down the street and headed to where he knew a good hotel was.

 

As he stopped on the curb, a woman with red eyes and black hair watched him from across the street. She sipped her mocha latte and pulled out her cellphone, dialling.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Inuyasha just finished talking to the flea, about you no doubt,” the woman said, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.

 

“Don't worry about Myoga, he's smart but there's nothing for him to find. What about the hanyou?” The woman lifted her crimson gaze to track Inuyasha as he crossed the street.

 

“He's heading for a hotel I think. Follow him?”

 

“For now, but avoid fighting him and don't be seen. He's already got Muso, Abi, and you're simply too high ranking to be lost to that filth.”

 

“You know I can take that pathetic whelp, even without my halberd!” Abi hissed.

 

“So could Muso, and look how that turned out. Just follow him and report his location, if we want to make a move, Byakuya is coming to the town in a few days. He's more expendable than you and is still strong enough for Inuyasha.”

 

“Understood. I'll follow him and call back once he's stopped moving.” Abi hung up and stood up from her chair. She tossed a bill for her latte on the table and straightened out her skirt, before leaving the café and walking down the street after Inuyasha.