InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow's Warrior ❯ Plans for a Dance ( Chapter 6 )

Here is chapter six for all those following my story.

To you who are ardent Kouga lovers, I warn you he doesn't look very good in this chapter but he does improve later.

To any of my readers, feel free to point out any grammatical or factual errors you may find. I might have skipped over a few things in my wish to post this chapter as soon as possible. Any questions you have whatsoever are also welcome.

If you are confused please also do not be afraid to ask. I'd be more than happy to make future chapters more clear on some points.

Please Enjoy.

Fefe aka Eef

A mission of choice she's become a part of, a mission of pain it must soon become.

Tearing her apart she must move forward for there is nothing left behind.

A friend of old will see betrayal. A love of old must be lost.

- - - -

It was night. The dull, small moon barely lit the buildings throughout the town as it's fought to breakthrough the clouds.

Sango was going through the same well learned routine she had been doing for the past four nights. She spent the night tailing Miroku, and made a last minute dash home to get into bed before Miroku checked on her. Tonight, however, she wasn't going to go to sleep.

Instead of changing into normal clothes, Sango merely waited to hear Miroku fall asleep before venturing out into the dark again.

Jogging across the road and into the forest, she headed for the pre-chosen meeting spot.

Sango knew she was already late. Miroku had taken longer than usual at the barracks and she was running behind because of it.

Reaching the meeting spot, she ducked behind a tree and scanned the area.

"You're late."

Sango's head snapped in the direction of a man's voice coming from above her head.

Looking up she saw Inuyasha casually sitting on a branch with his back against the trunk. Without any effort, he swung his legs over the side and dropped down in front of Sango.

"Where is Kagome?" Sango queried, after realizing Kagome wasn't with him.

"She'll be here in a second. She had to stop by and talk with Kaede for awhile."

Sango nodded, "Should we wait until she gets here?"

"Nah," Inuyasha stepped over to the trunk of the tree and sunk into a cross legged position, "She told me to begin, and she'll be here soon."

Sango had guessed that much, "So what news do you bring?"

Inuyasha absently scanned the surrounding area as he answered, "O nothing really, the same old check up on the work you have been doing and the customary pat on the back for not getting caught so far. Got to also make sure you are still breathing, of course."

"Good to know they are thinking of my well being."

Sango tossed a bag she had been carrying at Inuyasha's feet. "As for the mandatory check up, you'll be able to find at least one thing of particular interest in there. This I believe will be sufficient to satisfy the council."

Inuyasha grabbed the bag and dumped its contents on the ground in front of him. Leaning over he picked up the map that landed on top. He then took a small candle out of his coat and set it on the ground. After carefully lighting it he brought the map closer and started to examine it.

"It's a map to General Naraku's private base. The place is a maze of caves located not far from here near the drop off and waterfall. I found it, and Naraku, my first night of following Miroku. I have been back scouting it on a number of occasions but since the first night I have not located any trace of our target."

Inuyasha nodded and started sifting through the other things that had Sango had brought.

Sango continued. "Along with the map there are a number of papers I found of particular interest. I found these papers and others like them, of particular note because their obvious origin is Naraku but all our signed Onigumo. This is what first drew my attention to them, upon reading them however I decided that the name was more than just a simple cover up of him being involved. There is a lot of information currently going between the Empire capital and Naraku, but I'm sure that none of it is under official business. From what I can see Naraku has some help in the capital from a number of fairly influential people. I made copies to leave behind and took the originals for you to take back to the capital with you."

"Have you located his official seal yet?"

"No I am still unable to locate it."

Inuyasha again gave an absent nod while shuffling through the papers.

"And what is this?" he asked holding up a decorated paper that had been on the bottom of the stack.

"That is an invitation to a banquet General Naraku will be holding in honor of the upcoming summer. It is scheduled at the fort for Friday night, four days from now. All known military personnel not on duty are required to attend. You asked me to keep you posted on the goings on of the fort. This is all anyone has talked about for the last week. Parties are always a welcomed change to the hell this town has slowly become.'

"Did you say ALL personnel will be in attendance?" Inuyasha for the first time looked away for the papers and at Sango.

"There will be a few night guards left on duty from what I could gather but the majority will be in attendance at the banquet."

Inuyasha smirked a little, "I think that would be the perfect night to give Naraku's hideout a thorough search."

Sango nodded, "I have been thinking that too. I'll fake being sick so that Miroku will attend the dance with out me. That way I can sneak..."

"No, you'll be going to the dance Sango." Kagome's voice came from the bushes as she stepped into the open, "The dance is a perfect opportunity for you to get in with the military crowd. It also provides you an opportunity to see Naraku if he makes an appearance there."

"But Kagome, I think I would be a much greater help going through the caves. I already know my way around them."

Kagome shook her head and bent to pick up the map Inuyasha was holding out for her.

"From the looks of it Sango anyone can find their way just fine with the map you brought back. Inuyasha can easily explore the cave on his own. There is something to be said for fresh eyes looking it over."

Sango was still a little hesitant. "Kagome, I really don't think me going to a dance with Miroku will help anything. My attendance for to the dance isn't even secured yet. I doubt that he, with his popularity among the women of this town would bring me with him."

Kagome smirked much like Inuyasha had been and got an odd twinkle in her eye. "Don't be a fool Sango. He'll ask you. I'll make sure you get a dress and have everything ready by the dance. Meet me at Kaede's to get ready around noon. We'll make you so beautiful that no one will ever suspect you of any wrong doing. You will take their breath away."

"Kagome, Sango, one of the night patrols is coming this way." Inuyasha's rough voice interrupted. He bent down and started shoving the papers into the bag and then blew out the candle.

Kagome peered around the under brush at the oncoming man. "Well that is our cue to leave. Inuyasha and I will see you at Kaede's, leave everything to me."

Straightening, Inuyasha tapped Kagome on the shoulder. Giving a small wave goodbye she followed him as they both disappeared into nothing.

Sango watched the two vanish, but couldn't get over the uneasy feeling in her stomach. The dance was four days away, but that was far too soon for her liking.

- - - -

Sango had seldom been nervous in her entire life but right now she felt her gut twist in apprehension. She was just standing at the entrance of a room listening to people discuss her and what would happen to her. She was trained to not show fear or nervousness but that did not mean she couldn't feel her stomach lurch sharply as the quiet and regal man at the end of the table caught her eyes.

"Why don't you ask her?" The room went silent as Lord Sesshomaru spoke for the first time. "She has been standing at the door for the last ten minutes."

The whole room immediately turned and looked at her. Nothing was said for a moment. To Sango it seemed like an eternity but it couldn't have been more than a few seconds.

"Sango! You made it." Kagome broke the silence, walking around the table and crossed the room to greet her. Taking Sango's hand she lead her to stand in front of the half circle table so that she had a clear view of the ten or so people that sat along both sides and Lord Sesshomaru, who sat in the center directly across.

"I think before the questioning begins it would be good for you to get an idea of who you are in facing." Kagome whispered to Sango.

"Lord Sesshomaru," Kagome turned and spoke loudly to the regal man sitting at the end of the table, "I ask permission to brief Sango on the people in attendance so that she won't be handicapped by a complete lack of easily given information."

There was some grumbling from the man who had been arguing against her case earlier but Lord Sesshomaru raised his hand before any words of protest could be uttered and gave a small nod.

Kagome gave a slight bow and steered Sango over to chairs at the far side of the room out of ear shot from the rest of the table which had moved onto another topic and already started arguing.

"I am not sure if my brother has filled you in yet but I will give you a brief over view." Kagome began as soon as they sat down.

"This is the Grand Council of the Shikons. It is a very fancy name for a group of people who advise and help Lord Sesshomaru. We assist in the governing of the Shikons and also act as representatives of the people.

"Those who you see before you are chosen or appointed in various ways either by the rank they carry, such as General Kouga our military advisor," Kagome motioned towards the man with long brown hair that had been arguing earlier, "or by an expertise they have, like our technology and engineering advisor Totosai." A lean, old man sitting at the half way down the table seemed to be nodding off half asleep.

"Along with those two there is Myoga" he was an old, short man sitting not far from the near end of the table, "advisor of internal affairs and historical expert.

"Next to him is Hojou" a younger looking man with a kind and simple face, "the agriculture and resource advisor.

"To his left is my cousin the Lady Kikyou," she was a woman who looked remarkably like an older version of Kagome, "who is our health and medical expert.

"Then there is Shippo," a younger boy with a mop of red hair sat looking bored and fidgety, "he is Lord Inuyasha's assistant.

"The next one over is Lord Inuyasha." It was the angry white haired man from earlier who had been arguing on her behalf with Kouga. "He is the brother to Lord Sesshomaru and his second in command. He fills in where Sesshomaru cannot find the time to and does a lot more field work. They rarely act kindly towards each other and it often appears as though they want to kill each other but Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are very close and rarely trust others with important matters, even members of this council.

"Of course the man he sits next to is his brother, Lord Sesshomaru." The man was tall and very handsome with shocking white hair and gold eyes like his brother. His face and demeanor were polar opposite of his brother however. His entire essence was one of complete calm and control.

"He took the throne around two years ago with the help of his brother. You see the rule had fallen out of the families control for ten years following their father's death. When he took back the throne from those who had taken control of it he severely punished those involved and redistributed council positions to those loyal to him. This is why the council is quite young as a whole."

Kagome took a breath and then continued motioning to the small woman sitting next to the lord. "That is the Lady Rin, Lord Sesshomaru's wife. She is in charge of youth affairs. Schools and the care of orphans are under her control. She is also his right hand woman and at many times acts as his voice.

"Then odd looking man next to her" he was strange, very short with a pointy little face, "is Jaken. He is Lord Sesshomaru's trusted assistant. He has worked with him for a number of years, very loyal but kind of strange.

"I have already mentioned both General Kouga and Totosai. The last one" she pointed at a young girl with red hair. "is Ayame. Her domain is trade and commerce."

Sango nodded slowly taking in everyone again. "What is your position, Kagome?"

"Me? Well I don't really have a position." Kagome shrugged, "I am more of a representative of someone else. I am a stand in for Lady Kaede whom you already know. She is the head of foreign affairs and prefers to spend most of her time in close contact with the people of the Empire"

"Kaede?" Sango mumbled slightly taken aback, "You mean Kaede is a spy?"

"A spy? Well not quite. A spy must answer and get orders from someone telling them what to do. Kaede is that person. No she just would rather be the first one to know about any new developments instead of needing to wait to be informed of them, so she lives not far from the closest Empire fort to do so."

"Are you done yet?" There discussion was interrupted by Inuyasha.

Kagome bristled a little at his question and snapped back. "Actually, yes we are, and if you weren't so impatient I would have just been telling you so."

"Keh, you would probably still be sitting there talking about nothing for the next hour while we wait for you."

"Inuyasha don't be so rude." Kagome replied trying to act in control but being clearly perturbed.

"Everyone let us get back to business." Lord Sesshomaru spoke again sufficiently cutting off any more comments. "I am eager to hear our guest and who seems to have much more intelligence than your mindless babbling, Inuyasha."

Lady Rin stood then and motioned for Sango to approach. "Lady Sango, please stand in front the table. The Council will now ask you questions that you must provide clear answers to the best of your knowledge. Answer truthfully and hide nothing. Lord Sesshomaru does not take kindly to lies."

Sango nodded respectfully and took her spot in front of the council. She stood straight backed with her eyes forward. The regal and professional attitude she maintained without the slightest show of fear of anxiety did her military raising proud.

"Are you ready Sango?" came Kagome's voice, which had returned to the professional tone she used for serious business.

"Yes my lady."

Clearing his throat Myoga was the first to speak. "We have received intelligence that two weeks ago an incident occurred during the night where General Tajiya of the Empire army outpost at Agnus, his wife, and son were caught in a fire where they were all killed. We have resources that state a fellow colleague General Naraku, who shared joint control of the outpost, was involved in this said accident. Can you verify this?"

Head straight with voice possessing a military calm, Sango answered curtly, "There was no accident. General Naraku was involved."

"Are you stating that the accident was in fact a deliberate murder on one of the army's highest officers?" Myoga questioned.

"Yes, General Naraku's intention was to eliminate my father, General, along with his family who he viewed as threats."

Kikyou fielded the next question, "Even General Naraku has announced you are alive and were sent away in need of medical care. There is no faked death or further pursuit in attempting to kill you. Why is that?"

"They don't perceive me as a threat." Sango lightly licked her lips and continued. "I am a girl and so hold no military or political power in General Naraku's eyes. Further pursuit would be an annoyance and would raise questions. As would me returning to Agnus if people thought I was dead. No one will worry about me anymore in a week's time. If I ever return any thing I say can be discounted as the ramblings of someone in grief."

"Won't your friends in Agnus wonder about yourdisappearancewithout so much of a letter?" The younger Hojou asked almost kindly.

Sango took a deep breath but maintained her outward façade, "I possess no lasting friendships in Angus besides Kaede's."

Kouga grunted a little, "Isn't that a little suspicious. A grown woman who has spent most of her life in the same town has no attachments to anyone. What about your girl friends or a significant other? By empire standards shouldn't you be married or engaged by now?"

A spark appeared in her eye but she replied evenly, "When I was younger, most of my time was spent training and fighting. I never fit in, or wished to, because of my dedication to my training. I don't have a husband because men don't like women who can protect themselves and beat them at fighting. It scares them." The last comment was said with bite while staring straight atKouga.

Kagome started to smirk a little but quickly schooled her face again.

"You're a member of the Empire army?" Inuyasha spat out.

The brief light in Sango's eyes died and her demeanor turned to ice. "I was banned from military participation and combat training when I was fifteen by an Empire wide ordinance. I, of course,complied."

Inuyasha raised an eye brow at her. "Really?" he said, butnot so much a question as an expression of doubt they both knew was justified.

Totosai cut off the line of questioning with a different one. "You should be dead but you are not. How did you survive when your family didn't?"

"I…I'm not sure." Sango replied her voice a little higher than normal.

"Not sure is not an answer. You must answer." The toady Jaken pronounced haughtily.

"I'm not sure. I don't remember much from that night." Her eye's flashed a brief look of horror that only Sesshomaru caught.

She was lying but it was not out of purposeful deception. No, the girl didn't want to remember, and if she said it enough she might actually forget. He wouldn't press it.

"How convenient." scoffed Kouga.

"Kouga don't be rude." Kagome shot at the young general.

"Why not?" he spoke as he stood up. "This woman here somehow makes it through the forest alive in the middle of the night to our city and we are supposed to welcome her with open arms for making it that far."

Pushing back his chair he pointed around. "I will not stand back and watch this Council get deceived by it's weakness for well planned sob stories and their loyalty to an old easily deceived hag."

Walking over to the front of the table he stood a few feet from Sango. "It is so convenient that her life was the Empire military and she just gave it all up. It is so convenient that she miraculously lived when her whole family supposedly died. And it is so convenient that when asked how that came to pass the entire event slips her memory."

Squaring up to Sango he delivered the final blow to his speech. "If you ask me I think this is all a set up. She faked the fire and the deaths, tricked Kaede into trusting her, wormed her way into the heart of the softest person hereand this whole time she is probably a lap dog of Naraku's. Listening and hanging on his every wor…"

The wind was hit swiftly from his lungs as General Kouga, prized Shikon fighter just under the two ruling brothers, was taken unaware and unceremoniously flipped onto his back.

Sango kneeled above him her right forearm pressed strongly against chest holding him to the ground. Her face was a sheet of ice except for the burning eyes that bore him down. Eyes that blazed of hatred very few will ever experience in their lives.

Her voice came out in a perfectly calm, schooled voice that showed how much she must be holding back.

"I would sooner slit my throat than ally myself with that bastard. You have no idea what hatred is until you are in the position I am in now. That man has slowly tried to destroy my family since my childhood. He pushed for a law that banned me from fighting, he tried to break my mother's spirit every way he knew how and he demeaned and undermined my father every chance he got; and after all that the anger and loathe I had for him only a few weeks ago would pale in comparison to the hatred I feel for him now.

"I watched that animal come into our peaceful house and stab my father in his sleep. That thing slit the throat of twelve year old brother before me. The bastard tried to rape my mother but she fought so hard that he instead broke her neck. " Tears were streaming silently down from her eyes and the room was deathly silent except for her bone chilling words.

"You want to know how I survived. They thought they had already killed me. They thought that a blow to the head would be enough to keep me down at least until they lit the roof over our heads on fire. It wasn't enough though, and by some cruel twist of fate I was conscious enough to see that demon destroy everything in my life piece by piece. It wasn't till they lit the house on fire that I got enough energy to fight back. I was lucky that the building started to collapse then, and I got out with only a burn because if it wasn't for that fire, I would have fought till I was killed too."

Sango released a now frozen Kouga and sank back onto the floor. She shut her eyes and breathed deep for a second.

"If you are wondering where my loyalties lie and if I will betray you to Naraku," She looked up eyes scanning and meeting everyone in the rooms, "I think you know the answer."

- - - -

Sango stared absently at the spoon she held as she stirred porridge she was making for breakfast. Miroku had left earlier that morning and she had missed his departure so was stuck waiting until he returned instead of following after.

She couldn't help wonder if Miroku would indeed ask her to the banquet but then berated herself for her pettiness and stupidity. She was his house guest of with no commitments barring her from attending; it would be rude for him not to invite her. One of the chief both Kagome and her decided on her staying with Miroku was to create the obligation for this very situation. Why now was she doubting herself and going against her duty?

The answer lay in her memory. Being around him reminded her of times where she would go to the banquets and watch Miroku flaunt himself around girls. She hadn't minded it, or at least that was what she told herself. All she was concerned about was the well being of her friend and how should stay away from uniform chasers.

Now as another dance with Miroku for the first time in four years was staring her in the face all the anxieties and worries of her youth were bleeding into her current thoughts. It was unnerving and very unprofessional but this dance was starting to mean more to her than a simple mission, and that was not good.

So deep in her wanderings, she missed the door quietly open and a man stop to observe her for a few seconds.

"A coin for your thoughts?" Miroku's friendly voice called as he finally closed the door behind him and hung up his jacket.

Sango was started and dropped the spoon. A blush of embarrassment tinted her cheeks at how she had been thinking of just this man. Trying to cover her coloring up she kept her head low over the pot looking for a way to recover her spoon.

"It would be a waste of your money." She lightly replied as she carefully fish out the spoon and wiped it on an apron she wore.

Miroku cheerfully walked towards Sango, "Nothing is a waste where you are concerned my lady."

Sango's cheeks pinked again at his closeness and his words. It was hard to recover from her musings of the past and return to the present was not working very well.

"Well, good sir." When all else fails with Miroku play it light and fall back on old games of acting high class. She mustered her haughty well schooled voice "If you would sit down you shall find out if I am a waste of a cook. Your feast will shortly be served."

"Sango, you are my guest you don't need to make me breakfast." He watched as she grabbed two bowls and ladled food into them.

Sango grinned as she turned around holding the bowls. "I didn't I made myself breakfast but I have a lot extra and I am willing to share."

She placed his bowl in front of him and took her place at the table across the table. "Now eat up. It might be good now but porridge cools like a rock and you need to eat it while your spoon doesn't get stuck in it."

Her attention then went to consuming her own breakfast but when she didn't hear the same activity across the table she paused and looked up. Staring at her Miroku held a small smile on his face.

"What is it?" Sango questioned now slightly self-conscious.

"My lovely lady Sango will you do me the honor of attending the banquet with me Friday?"

Sango schooled her girlhood giddiness she would have felt on this occasion a few years prior with the reminder of her purpose in going to the banquet with Miroku.

She gave a polite smile and nod. "That sounds like fun Miroku. Yes I'll go with you."

Miroku's grin faltered slightly at the politeness in her tone but then broke out into a breathtaking smile that had always made him so popular among the ladies.

Sango looked down into her food and took careful spoonfuls concentrating far too much on such a simple task.

`That smile is going to be the death of me.'

- - - -

Miroku smiled gallantly as he led his latest partner over and container of ale and ladled her a mug.

That was the fourth tonight, Sango absently counted as she secretly watched her best friend talking lightly to the petty, mindless girl.

No she shouldn't call the girl petty and mindless. It wasn't her fault she fell for such a flatterer. Everyone in the town was head over heels for him except herself. Who could blame all of them for falling for a man so handsome and promising?

Absently sighing she turned away from the sight and instead stared out the window. For some reason Sango didn't feel like dancing or talking with anyone. She was in a far corner hidden mostly by large curtains so she didn't have to worry about anyone finding or interrupting her in her solace; at least she thought you didn't.

"Someone of your beauty and character should not hide herself away in the corner." A wealthy land owner by the name of Kuranosuke stood near her.

Sango couldn't ignore or pretend he wasn't there forever so she turned not bothering to smile kindly at the man.

"May I have this dance?" he asked in his well educated voice.

Inwardly sighing again, she nodded and took his hand as he led her out on to the dance floor.

Sango straightened taking her position and then proceeded to mindlessly follow the delicate steps assigned to her. Letting her body work on auto pilot and setting a polite smile in place on her face, she again allowed her mind to drift.

Lost again in her revere, she failed to observe her best friend standing at the back of the room intently watching her just as she had done earlier.

- - - -

Looking up at Miroku, she smiled back weakly while fighting back the voice in her head reminding her that she was only using him. He was supposed to mean nothing to her.

Again, as always, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you- Marie Marko, Nasa Ow/d Maxwell, Aamalie, tearsofregret and kiki. Your reviews help me motivate myself to write faster.