InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 17

Love Thy Enemy

 

Mostly a filler chapter, so it's a bit shorter and a bit sucky-er. Next chapter we get back on track with the main plot.

 

Chapter 17

 

“Your audience will be held now,” the attendant said. Sesshomaru took a breath and stood up, steeling himself. He looked down at himself before entering. He had hung up his standard military uniform for his ancient, white kimono and boa. He hadn't really worn the thing in over three hundred years, but tradition dictated he be dressed in such a way when seeing the council.

 

Stepping away from the desk, Sesshomaru walked to the door that lead to the audience chamber of the youkai council. Two heavy-bound youkai stood guard, one a inu, the other, Sesshomaru was not sure. They looked him over and nodded, then stepped aside. The door to the room was pulled open, and Sesshomaru stepped inside. Behind him, the door slammed shut, leaving him immersed in darkness.

 

“Welcome, Sesshomaru,” a soft, female voice whispered. Sesshomaru nodded. The youkai council, now and forever, was shrouded in secrecy. It had nine members, that much was known - one inu, two neko, one koumori, one ryu, one ookami, and on nezumi. Those were the known ranks of seven of the youkai council members. However, there was one more, the head of the council. Even their breed could not be discussed, and so the youkai council preserved such information with great care. Outside the council, their identities were concealed from all but the highest-ranking youkai. For the most part, the youkai populace, Sesshomaru included, had no idea who among them had a seat among the council. To keep that secrecy, the council's audience chamber was shrouded in darkness. Sesshomaru did not even know how large the room was.

 

“And what do you have to report?” A gruff, male voice asked.

 

“You summoned me, councilors,” Sesshomaru said, confused by not willing to show it. “Perhaps you should tell me what it is I'm to report?”

 

“You will not speak to the council in such a way, inu!” a sharp, high voice, another male, snapped at him from the shadow. “You'd do well to remember what is your place and what is not! And it is not your place to question us!”

 

“Let him ask, there is no harm in answering,” another male voice, this one light but firm. “We have summoned you because we've heard that you and your battalion have run afoul of the Order of the Three.”

 

“Ah. Then I report yes, it is true,” Sesshomaru said. “My battalion has made contact with them several times now.”

 

“Any reason you suspect why?” This time it was a female voice, demanding and harsh.

 

“No, I do not have any idea why. Perhaps it is just coincidence.”

 

“We will not hear your speculative lies!” the sharp voice again. “You will tell us, inu, all you have learned of them.”

 

“As you wish,” Sesshomaru said, annoyed. “The Order of the Three is indeed in operation, we've identified roughly half their official members. As expected, a number of lesser youkai have joined their cause, and we've reason to believe they have spies operating in the miko camp.”

 

“And how have you come to these conclusions?” a new voice, deep and booming, certainly a male.

 

“Two of my soldiers, Inuyasha and Yuka, witnessed a meeting between a member of the Order and a miko. Several lesser youkai were present, under the Order's command. The conversation with them indicated the miko was not acting on the wishes of her superiors.”

 

“You said you have identified members of the Order of the Three. Name them,” the same voice ordered.

 

“Certainly, sir. As Rank Eighth, we have identified a man called Muso. He has been dispatched. At Rank Seventh, a flame youkai named Kagemusha, also dispatched. Rank Fifth is a woman named Abi, we identified her from humans who saw her engage a miko battalion. And Rank First, we know quite well, councilors, for it he is the same man now as he was when last we heard from the Order.”

 

“Then you speak of Magatsuhi,” the demanding female muttered. “Clearly the legends of his untimely demise were exaggerated.”

 

“And what actions have you taken against the Order of the Three, inu?” the sharp voice.

 

“None, sir. In my opinion, there is no action to be taken. As ordered by you, we are awaiting further information about the Order, and will act against them is possible, when possible.”

 

A disturbed rumble came through the chamber, and Sesshomaru caught faint whispers, even with his hearing. Finally, he was addressed again.

 

“Who told you this?” the booming male asked.

 

“Ambassador Amane Naraku, sir,” Sesshomaru answered. Another rumble in the darkness.

 

“We issued no such orders, to you or Naraku,” the gruff male said slowly. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. That couldn't be. Naraku had said that the council was looking for information, would they would relay to him when acquired.

 

“Forgive me for questioning, councilors, but are you certain? Naraku himself claimed you were researching the Order, and would pass the information along to me when you had found something.”

 

“We have done no such thing!” the sharp, irritating male voice screeched. Sesshomaru winced as the voice grated his ears.

 

“We will investigate Naraku ourselves when we are able,” the booming male cut off the other councilor. “For now, tell us what all else you know of the Order of the Three.”

 

“As you wish. Naraku has currently told me very little that I've not already known. We know the Order appears to be seeking the three treasures that are the key to the imperial bloodline,” Sesshomaru said.

 

“And what progress have they made in this?” another new voice, a soft female.

 

“We're not sure. We suspect, due to the conversation that Inuyasha and Yuka overheard, that they have already located at least one treasure. We believe another of the two remaining treasures may be a mirror of some sort.”

 

“Anything else of importance?” the same voice asked.

 

“None, councilor. However, unless the council has any objections, I reserve the right to send my soldiers out to combat the Order if we receive any information leading to their location.”

 

“The council currently has no objections to this, but things will change in the future,” the booming male said. “Sesshomaru, we thank you for your report and for being forthcoming with the information we desired. You are free to return to your station and rank and continue operation with your battalion.”

 

“Thank you, councilor,” Sesshomaru bowed.

 

“However…” the councilor continued, “we also order that you keep records of what orders you are given by Amane Naraku. If he is abusing his authority as ambassador, we will know of it.” Sesshomaru nodded.

 

“Of course. Naraku shall be watched with a close eye from now.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Kagura looked up at a shadow fell over her desk, and she frowned slightly.

 

“O…oh, welcome back, sir,” she said, confused. “Hadn't the council summoned you?”

 

“An error on the part of some silly clerk, it was another commander. But enough dwelling on such things. Send Inuyasha and Yuka to my office at once,” Sesshomaru ordered, walking to the elevators.

 

“Ah, yes, of course, sir,” Kagura nodded, picking up the phone.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

“Why does he wanna talk to us?” Inuyasha grumbled.

 

“I don't know,” Yuka shrugged, leading the way down the hall to Sesshomaru's chambers. The neko pushed the door open for Inuyasha as she walked inside. Sesshomaru turned away from his window.

 

“Thank you for coming,” he nodded. “We've little time, I'll be brief. We've received word of another transaction between the Order and the miko tonight.”

 

“Where?” Yuka asked, her eyes lighting up.

 

“An abandoned factory complex a few miles to the south. I'm afraid we're a bit short of manpower at the moment, you two will have to handle it alone. That's not a problem I hope.”

 

“We'll be fine, just have Totosai and the infirmary ready for us when we come back,” Inuyasha mumbled, distracted. Something wasn't right here. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about Sesshomaru seemed…off.

 

“Good. It's late, you'll have to depart immediately. Go down to the garage, I'll call down and have a vehicle ready for you when you arrive,” Sesshomaru said.

 

“Thank you sir,” Yuka bowed and quickly left the room. Sesshomaru nodded and turned his attention to Inuyasha.

 

“You sure this info is valid?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Of course, direct from Ambassador Naraku who learned it from the youkai council,” Sesshomaru nodded.

 

“Right…see ya when we get back,” Inuyasha said, turning to leave.

 

“Of course,” Sesshomaru nodded again. “Be careful out there, I'd hate to see my little brother get killed in the line of duty.” Inuyasha stopped and looked over his shoulder, a perplexed look on his face. Sesshomaru smiled. “Well? Yuka is waiting.” Inuyasha gave him the perplexed look a moment longer, and closed the door as he left the office.

 

“Great, another member of the Order. By our rate of progression, we're on to Rank Sixth now, right?” Yuka asked, walking back to the elevators. Inuyasha clasped a hand to his mouth, thinking. “What is it?” Yuka asked stopping. Inuyasha looked up at her.

 

“Anything about that seem weird to you?”

 

“Not really, why?”

 

“Sesshomaru, he…he told me to be careful.”

 

“You're his brother, that's natural.”

 

“And he smiled at me.”

 

“Maybe he's just in a good mood.”

 

“Sesshomaru doesn't have a good mood, he has bad mood and worse mood.”

 

“You're making a big deal out of nothing,” Yuka muttered, rolling her eyes and walking again. “So he expressed concern for you, why is that a bad thing? Be happy.”

 

“And he smelled funny…” Inuyasha said under his breath, reluctantly following Yuka. He had smelled that non-Sesshomaru scent before…but where?

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Sesshomaru listened to the footsteps and muffled conversations in the hall, then reached down and picked up the phone on his desk. He dialed and waited.

 

“Yes?” the voice on the other end growled.

 

“They're on their way, they'll arrive tonight,” Sesshomaru said.

 

“Good. We'll kill them quickly.”

 

“There's been a change of plans, as well. I've arranged for that little miko wretch to be dispatched to the location as well.”

 

“Why her?”

 

“She's been irritating to Sesshomaru and myself. I should think eliminating her would be a good thing. Besides, when she and Inuyasha are both found dead, creating a convincing cover-up will be much easier.”

 

“Point taken. No matter, she won't be a problem.”

 

“Good to hear,” Sesshomaru said, looking at the clock on the desk. “I have to go, I'll contact you later this evening. I have one more thing to take care of, then I have to leave before the real thing returns.”

 

Sesshomaru hung up, and sat down at his desk. He leaned over the computer and called up a search window. He typed, and a moment later several document titles popped up in the window.

 

“So, been keeping secrets, have we?” Sesshomaru chuckled, smirking. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, silver object. “We'll have none of that.” He slid the end of the object into the USB port of the computer, and began copying the documents onto the drive. Sesshomaru sat back as the documents copied, and a few moments later the download bar filled up and closed. Sesshomaru reached over and removed the USB drive from the computer and slipped it into his pocket.

 

“That about concludes it,” he sighed, standing up. He froze, and thought for a moment. Golden eyes slid back down to look at the computer screen. “Better not. There'll be time to dispense with discretion later.” Sesshomaru walked around his desk and left his office, whistling softly.