InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taisho's Darling ❯ The Return of the Scheming Taisho ( Chapter 26 )

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Disclaimer:  I don't own these marvelous characters; they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.  I merely torture them at will and put them in uncomfortable situations whenever possible.

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Chapter 26

The Return of the Scheming Taisho

……

"Well," Kagome cleared her throat, shattering the uncomfortable silence after Kikyo's heartbreaking speech.  Unshed moisture lingered on her lashes, threatening to spill over.  "What are your instructions, Taisho-sama?"

"You and the pups are going to leave immediately," Sesshomaru answered before his father could speak.

Kagome opened her mouth to protest but was stopped by Taisho.  "Unfortunately, that is not an option, Sesshomaru," the elder youkai stated firmly.  He held up a hand, silencing his son's argument.  "There is no place on this earth that Kagome can hide, no shelter where she can find safety.  Onigumo wishes to have her, and he will relentlessly pursue her until he captures her.  She is safest if she remains here with us."

Anything further Taisho had to add was interrupted by Jakotsu.  "It would appear that the local constabulary has returned, Taisho-sama," the guard announced, staring over Bankotsu's shoulder into what appeared to be empty space.

"What's he looking at?" Koga whispered to Koharu.

"The map of the mansion," she explained in a soft voice.  "It's some sort of spell; he and Bankotsu are the only ones who can see it.  The map tells the guards who's arrived at the mansion and where they're located."

"Is there a silver kitsune among them?" Taisho asked Jakotsu.

"No, just a bird oni and a rather large bear youkai," the guard replied.

"Shit!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed, startling the rest of the room's occupants.  "That's gotta be Abi.  I am not here, Jakotsu, you got that?"  The hanyou jumped to his feet and vacated the room, pulling the astonished Sango out the door with him.

"Consider this meeting adjourned until the long arm of the law has departed from our midst," sighed Taisho.  "Miroku, I need a word with you in private.  Young Shippo has graciously allowed me to commandeer his bedroom as a temporary office," he said, rubbing the tiny kitsune's head.  "Jakotsu, find out what the police want from us.  If my son's rapid disappearance is any indication, they are here on a matter unrelated to Sakura's murder."

"Abi is becoming rather voracious, isn't she?" Bankotsu remarked as he followed Jakotsu toward the door.  "I've never known her to pay a house call in order to collect her hush-money.  That one will meet a bad end, mark my words."

……

Kohaku watched the others slowly filter out of the room until he and Kanna were the only ones who remained.  The petite youkai beside him stirred restlessly, perhaps sensing the distress Kohaku was trying so hard to hide.  The mating bond had its drawbacks.

"Everything will be all right," Kanna assured him.  She intertwined her fingers with his, causing a fresh surge of guilt to rise to the surface of the tattered remains of Kohaku's conscience.  His mate's entire world had changed within a day, turning the white-haired beauty from a pampered daughter of a high-society youkai into an orphaned mate of a ningen.  He should be comforting her, not the other way around.  He should fold her against him, stroke her hair, tell her everything would be fine.

But the lie would not fall from his lips.  Kanna was his Beloved, the one creature he could never openly deceive, so he remained silent.  How he wished the voice within his head would be silent as well.  Everything would not be fine.

……

The door to Taisho's temporary office was yanked open before she could knock.  "Watch where you're stepping," Yura snapped as she moved aside just in time to keep from being run over by Miroku.  She noted the ashen look on the human's face as he muttered an apology, and decided not to pursue the matter further. 

Yura was nervous, although she relied on her usual aplomb to mask the signs.  In truth, though, she had been expecting Taisho's summons.  After all, during the earlier meeting she'd openly admitted to engaging in a bit of corporate espionage.  Not that she had harmed Taisho's company, but who wanted a spy in their ranks?

Apparently, Taisho did.  "Yura, it's going to look odd if none of the company officers show up for work today," he told her after beckoning her into the room.  "I need you to go in and take care of things.  I'm sure you'll just have to deal with the usual stuff - handling the production manager's hissy fits, making sure the legal department actually returns from their three-martini lunch hour, that sort of thing.  If anything really important comes up, defer the decision to the Board of Directors' meeting next Tuesday."

"You want me to go into the office and act as if everything is normal?"  Yura was astonished.  She paced in front of Taisho's chair.  "I'll do it, but don't you think it's going to raise a few eyebrows?  I'm not even a manager or a supervisor!"

"Sesshomaru promoted you yesterday; didn't he tell you?" Taisho asked in an unconcerned tone.  "You're now in charge of the bid and proposal department, and you're the acting company officer when both vice presidents are absent.  I'm sure you'll do a fine job."

"Wha…?"

"Are you wondering why I'd keep a scheming, conniving little minx on my payroll?"  Taisho stood up as he spoke and advanced upon her, backing her small frame into a corner with his own tall body.  "Let me clarify something, Yura," he leaned down and whispered in her ear, causing a shiver to trill down her spine.  "I don't care what you stick your nose into or how you get your information.  I don't care who you do it with or how often, Yura, as long as you remember this - you work for me."

His last sentence was little more than a hiss.  Yura gulped, remembering everything she'd ever heard about the demon in front of her.  This was Taisho she was dealing with, not some two-bit youkai with a tough attitude and a wish for an early death.  The message was clear: screw Taisho over, and the price would be very high, indeed.

"You're kind of intimidating, you know that?" she responded weakly.  Funny, but her voice seemed to have left her, along with most of her courage.  "You don't have to threaten me, Taisho.  Toto-sai has decided to back you up in this fight, and I'd never betray him."

"Not even when he has chosen to lavish his affections upon a human?"  Taisho moved back slightly in order to eye her skeptically.  Yura felt her stomach tighten at his words.  He just had to bring up the subject of Kaede…

She forced her own gaze away from his piercing eyes.  "There's plenty of other youkai available," she muttered.  "Manten's all right, I suppose."

"Manten?"  Taisho's eyebrow rose in an amused arch.  "Hiten's brother?  I wasn't aware you knew the lad, Yura."

"He's actually really sweet.  I got to know him through our weekly meetings for Follicle-Lovers Anonymous," Yura said defensively.

"Ah, the hair-obsession support group."  Taisho smiled.  "I'm glad to see you've taken steps to overcome that problem of yours, Yura.  I'm certain my sons will sleep more soundly knowing this."

"Of course, I couldn't help but notice how pretty your hair is," Yura observed.  She toyed with a few strands, enjoying the silky smoothness as she wound it around her fingers.  "If you ever get lonely, you could always give me a call," she offered.  She meant it, too.  She could spend days on end playing with his lovely white mane…

"There was a time when I would have taken you up on that offer," Taisho chuckled.  He retrieved his long locks from her grasp and directed her toward the door of the bedroom.  "I won't tell you to behave yourself, Yura, for I know that's an impossible task.  Get to the office, will you?"  He gave her rear end a gentle pat as he pushed her out of the room.

Toto-sai was out in the hallway, wearing an absolutely wicked smirk.  He unfolded himself from where he was leaning against the wall and linked Yura's arm through his.  "Any luck?" he asked as they walked down the corridor.

"He smacked my bottom and told me to run along and play," Yura said somewhat wistfully.

His response was a snort.  "Must be getting too old for fun and games," Toto-sai snickered.  "Five hundred years ago, Taisho would've had you in the corner with your skirt up around your waist.  Or maybe," he mused, "you're losing your touch?"

Yura shook her arm free of his, annoyed with his insinuation that somehow her sex appeal might be lacking.  "I got the impression that if Kaede had made the offer, Taisho would have accepted it," she said meanly, enjoying the jealous expression that crossed Toto-sai's face at her comment.  What was so damn special about that human woman, anyway?

……

"What did Taisho want?" Kagura asked, flopping over on the mattress.  She squinted at Miroku's form as he moved about the bedroom, her vision still fuzzy from the medicinal hangover.  What the hell was in that stuff, anyway?  It was probably best if she didn't find out, Kagura decided.  Anything that could knock a wind youkai on her ass had to be vile…

"He freed me."

All wandering thoughts immediately vanished from Kagura's mind.  Sitting up on the bed, she took in Miroku's pale face and worried expression.  "He freed you?" she asked, the implications of Miroku's statement hitting her.  "Um, are you all right?"  She winced, the question sounding lame even to her own ears.  "I mean, of course you're not all right, but how…?"

"You were in the room when Toto-sai told us of his portal to the Free Lands," Miroku said, reminding Kagura of the conversation that took place before Kikyo's tale of the Shikon Jewel.  "Taisho-sama wants me to depart," Miroku continued in a mumble, the shocked look in his eyes revealing what his words could not.  He slumped down onto the bed, his shoulders drooping.  "He removed my slave bond."

"How long do you have before the residual effects of the bond wear off?" Kagura asked, scooting across the bed to sit beside the shaking man.  "You don't have to leave immediately, do you?"

"I have a couple of days, possibly a third," Miroku answered hollowly.  "Even at that, my strength will be greatly diminished by the end of the first day.  Kagura - why now?  Taisho-sama can't possibly expect me to abandon him while Naraku is still at large!"

She placed a hand upon his shoulder, feeling the taut muscles beneath his shirt.  The human slave - former slave, she mentally amended - seemed to be at a total loss.  "Did Taisho say why he's doing this?" Kagura hesitantly asked.

"He's trying to protect me, whether I want him to do it or not," Miroku replied bitterly.  "He just doesn't get it!  I owe Taisho so much; how can I run off to safety, knowing he's in danger?  And what about the girls?  How could I leave, knowing they were in jeopardy?  I tell you, Kagura, I'm tempted to go and ask Sesshomaru if he'll renew my slave bond," he added earnestly.

The wind youkai pondered this new revelation.  "You'd willingly be enslaved again?" she asked, surprised.  "Just for the opportunity to stick around and be slaughtered by Naraku?"

"I was sort of hoping for a different outcome than the one you just mentioned," the former monk said dryly.  "But yes, Kagura, I'd willingly be enslaved.  There are worse things than a lifetime of servitude."

"Such as?" Kagura asked incredulously.

"Living with the knowledge that you deserted your loved ones in their hour of need," Miroku answered.  "Kagura, if you believe this is a battle that we cannot hope to win, then why are you staying to fight?"

"He killed my mother," Kagura answered simply.  "Even if she wasn't a shining example of moral rectitude, she was still my mother.  I couldn't begin to walk away."

"And neither can I," Miroku told her.  The pair fell into silence, each lost in their own gloomy thoughts.  "Kagura, would you - "

"Would I what?" the wind youkai asked, waiting for the handsome male beside her to finish his sentence.  She wondered what the lecherous man could be contemplating; he seemed to be chewing on his tongue in nervousness.

"Oh, never mind," Miroku gulped.  "It's…damn it!  I…I just wondered if you might consider doing the slave bond…yourself."

"You mean you want me to enslave you instead of having Sesshomaru do the job?" Kagura questioned.  She pursed her lips as she contemplated the matter.  "I'm not sure about this, Miroku," she said finally.  "It just seems wrong on so many levels…not to mention, I'm nowhere near as powerful as Sesshomaru or Taisho.  I'm not sure I could do it."

"I suppose you're right.  Never mind, it was just a random idea," Miroku sighed.  He fell back across the bed, pulling Kagura down with him so that she was lying across his chest. "I'm grasping at straws, Kagura.  It's not often that Taisho-sama manages to surprise me like this."

"No, you're usually on top of everything," Kagura agreed, resting her cheek against the broad plane of his shoulder.  A distant part of her brain wondered why she felt so damn comfortable when lying next to this man.  She was tempted to blame the hangover, but what explanation could she offer for her actions yesterday evening?

"I wasn't on top of everything last night," Miroku teased.  His hand shifted down to softly squeeze her derriere.  "I seem to remember you occupying that position."

Her response was to smack him lightly across the head.  "Pervert," Kagura scoffed, moving his hand.  "Can't that oversexed brain of yours ever think of anything else?"

"I'm thinking of saying goodbye to the most enchanting, witty and entertaining female I've ever met.  And I'm not just saying that because she's the hottest bed partner I've had in centuries," he surprised her by saying.  "I don't find the thought of leaving her very appealing."

"She sounds fantastic," Kagura remarked, rolling her eyes.  "Do I know her?"

"You might."  Violet orbs filled with warmth swept over her.  "I'm trying to be serious, Kagura.  Could you humor me for a moment?"

"No."  She shook her head against him.  "I don't like it when you're serious, Miroku.  It scares me."

"I didn't think anything could frighten WinDWitch, other than writer's block or poorly written fan-fiction…or possibly the daytime-drama actors' union going on strike."

"You'd be amazed at what strikes terror in my soul," Kagura revealed with a muffled laugh as she snuggled closer to him, burrowing her face into his warm neck.  "Miroku…" she hesitated, summoning up her courage.

"Hm?"

"Stay," Kagura whispered.  "Stay here, with me."

……

"Taisho-sama?"

Koharu's sweet voice trembled when confronted with her master's continued silence.  Koga had just declared his intention to take Koharu as his mate.  Now the couple standing before Taisho's desk waited nervously for a response.

"I'm sorry Koharu, but I cannot approve of this match," Taisho said as gently as he could, hating the crushed expression that instantly fell across his Innocent Darling's face.  His gaze hardened as he transferred his attention to Koga.  "The ookami is promised to another; I believe her name is Ayame?"

Taisho watched as the shock and confusion settled across her freckled features.  "What?" Koharu gasped.  She cast a desperate look toward Koga.  "Is this…is this true?" she asked the wolf demon, her voice catching in her throat.  "Tell me Taisho-sama is wrong!" she begged.

"He is wrong!" Koga protested.  "At least, I mean…I didn't say I would do it!  My father and Ayame's grandfather arranged everything!  No one consulted me!  Koharu," he clasped the pale woman by the shoulders, "you've got to believe me - you're the only woman I've ever wanted!"

"But…but you knew your family wouldn't agree," Koharu stammered.  "You were…you were courting me, and you knew you were promised to someone else!  Koga, how could you?"  She burst into tears, her sobs noisy and heart-wrenching.

"Did you even listen to what I just said?" Koga asked, trying in vain to comfort the crying girl.  "I didn't agree to any of this!  You're my woman, Koharu!  I'm taking you for a mate, no one else!" he insisted as he pulled her tightly to him.

"Not under my roof, you aren't," Taisho growled as he watched the sobbing Koharu throw her arms around the wolf's neck.  "I'm very disappointed in you, Koga.  You come from a good family; I expected better behavior of you.  I can't imagine what your mother's going to say to me when she learns of this…"

"I'm not afraid of my family," Koga retorted.  "And my mother will know the blame for the situation lies with me, not you or Koharu."  He shifted the slave within his arms.  "You're not the only one who's disappointed, Taisho.  I never thought you'd put saving political face as being more important than Koharu's happiness!"

Taisho's voice rose in an effort to be heard above the girl's wailing.  "This is a matter of family honor, young pup!  I've known your parents for centuries!  You cannot ask me to go against their wishes, not when they have already promised you to Ayame!"  He jerked his head in the direction of the door.  "I believe you have officially overstayed your welcome, Koga.  Jakotsu will show you the way out."

Koga looked as if he wanted to say something, but a further glare from Taisho silenced the ookami.  "There's no need to call your guards," Koga huffed.  "I'm leaving.  Just let me say goodbye to Koharu."

"Take this with you," Taisho said, tossing him a wallet.  "Abi dropped this off when she was here earlier, along with a message for you and Inu-Yasha - something about the two of you being slightly behind on your charitable donations.  Now, you have fifteen minutes to get out of here," Taisho threatened.  "And ten of those are already gone."

……

"Stay with you?"  Miroku repeated.  His confused expression was endearing.  "I thought you said you couldn't enslave me," Miroku began.  "Oh," he blinked, catching her intent.  "Kagura, are you seriously suggesting that we become mates?"

"I'll understand if you don't want to do it," Kagura said hurriedly.  Her throat had gone dry.  "I mean, it's not like we're in love with each other or anything, but I think we'd do all right together.  You were already considering an arranged match; why not with me?"

"But what of you?"  Miroku asked, concerned.  He cupped her cheek with a tender hand.  "Kagura, I couldn't take your freedom."  He rolled over, moving her beneath him.  "You move with the wind, Kagura.  How could I hope to tie you down?"

"A kite with no strings attached blows about aimlessly," Kagura reminded him, reaching a finger up to trace his firm jaw.  The man was entirely too handsome for his own good.  "I don't mind the thought of being tied down with you, Miroku.  We're good friends, aren't we?"

"I suppose," the man said thoughtfully, "there are weaker foundations than mutual friendship on which to base a lifetime commitment.  Kagura, are you certain you want this?  I see every advantage in this for me, but none for you.  If you're going to have an arranged match, you should be seeking an alliance with a strong youkai like Sesshomaru, not a human slave."

"Oh, I can just see being mated to that domineering inu," Kagura grimaced.  "Face it, Miroku, any demon with some strength to him would be locked in a constant battle of wills with me.  It won't be like that with you."

"Are you saying I'll just roll over and do whatever you wish?" Miroku asked.  He seemed offended by the insinuation.  "I'm not some lapdog, Kagura."

"No, I'm saying you'll smile and nod and then do whatever the hell you want to do," Kagura clarified.  She shrugged.  "At least, that's what you've been doing up to this point."

She flipped the two of them over, placing herself on top of him once again.  "The more I think about it, the better it sounds, Miroku.  And honestly, do you have a better idea?  Your only other options are to go to the Free Lands or become Sesshomaru's slave.  And somehow, I don't think Sesshomaru will give you the kind of latitude his father did, providing he agreed to enslave you in the first place."

"Maybe you need to persuade me," Miroku responded, rolling them back so he was once more on top.  "Make me forget the insanity around us, Kagura," he whispered hungrily as his lips descended upon hers.

Kagura had a response for him, but it was lost in the surge of warmth that exploded within her.  Instead, she concentrated on showing him every advantage of being mated to a female wind youkai.  Before this morning was through, she vowed, the man's eyes would be crossed with pleasure.

……

"Are you stirring up mischief again, Taisho-sama?" Bankotsu asked, entering the room and closing the door behind him.  "The ookami nearly ran me over in his haste to leave, and the Innocent One is wearing a rather determined look on her face.  What are those two planning?"

"Their elopement, no doubt," Taisho muttered, staring out the window at the wolf's departing form.  "I informed the pair of lovebirds that their union would not be receiving my stamp of approval."

"You used the engagement to Ayame as your reasoning, I suppose," Bankotsu sighed.  "Forgive my curiosity, Taisho-sama, but why could you not give them your blessing?  Even you are not so old-fashioned as to believe a broken engagement is a stain on the family honor.  Koharu will take this especially hard; you know how much she loves and respects you."

"Better to have my Innocent Darling angry and upset with me than to have her lying on the ground cold and lifeless," Taisho said thoughtfully.  The guard cocked an eyebrow.  "Oh come now, Bankotsu, I had to do something," Taisho continued.  "I need Koharu unbound from my life-span now, not two years from now when everything has been settled with Ayame.  So, I gave them a bit of a push…"

"Hopefully, it wasn't a push off a cliff," Bankotsu finished.  "You should be ashamed of yourself, Taisho-sama, the way you manipulate everyone.  And what makes you so certain your plan is going to work?  Koharu is submissive and obedient by nature; Koga might have trouble persuading her to elope."

"Oh, she's already made up her mind," Taisho announced.  He leaned back in his chair and pointed a finger to the scene outside the window, where Jakotsu was helping Koharu load a couple of suitcases into a waiting taxi.  "Obedient she might be, Bankotsu, but she's in love with the wolf.  And love," he proclaimed, "can lead you to do things that are completely out of character."

"As you ought to know," Bankotsu murmured.

Taisho pretended not to hear him.  "Miroku and Koharu are taken care of then," he said as he drummed his claws against the arm of the chair.  "That only leaves Kaede…"

……

"Taisho-sama?"  Jakotsu poked his head around the door.  "The ookami has departed the grounds.  Do you have any further instructions?"

The youkai beckoned his guard into the room.  "Did Koharu leave the mansion with him?" Taisho asked.  "I know you wouldn't be so lax as to permit such a thing, Jakotsu."

"Of course not!"  Jakotsu was offended.  "She followed shortly after," he added with a sniff as he studied a spot on the wall behind his employer.  "She was going on a shopping trip, she said.  Of course, I would be remiss in my duties toward your Darling if I allowed Koharu to leave without an appropriate amount of spending money in her pocket."

"Absolutely," Taisho nodded.  "I assume you helped her carry her suitcase, as well?"

"A suitcase is a perfectly reasonable item to take on a shopping trip, Taisho-sama.  After all, a girl needs to have someplace to put her things after she buys them, doesn't she?"  The guard gave Taisho a cheeky grin.

Taisho's face remained passive, but his golden orbs twinkled slightly.  "For someone who professes to hate women as much as you do, Jakotsu, you're rather helpful with my Darlings.  I find myself surprised, but grateful."

"I know," Jakotsu sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.  "I'm turning into a bit of a romantic.  I blame it all on those big, beautiful eyes.  They'd soften the hardest of hearts, Taisho-sama."

"Koharu's eyes?"

"Bankotsu's," the guard corrected him.  "Taisho-sama, do you think it's possible to fall in love all over again with someone you've been with for years?"

"Seeing Bankotsu in a new light, are you?" Taisho asked.  "I don't see why not, Jakotsu.  The kami themselves are witness to Bankotsu's undying loyalty; you couldn't ask for a more faithful companion.  You might want to consider treating him a little better and quit lusting after my son."

Jakotsu looked absolutely glum at the thought of giving up his adoration for the hanyou.  So much for trying to reform the unrepentant guard, Taisho decided.  Some people were beyond hope for change.  "Jakotsu," the youkai changed the subject, "Have you managed to get in contact with Koga's mother?"

"She's currently staying at the family's vacation home in Italy.  I managed to weasel the private number out of an old…acquaintance," Jakotsu informed him.  He handed his employer a scrap of paper.

"When you say 'acquaintance,' are you referring to that thieving ookami you caught breaking into the mansion a couple of years ago?" Taisho asked as he picked up the telephone.  "I'm glad to see you changed your mind about killing him, Jakotsu.  You seem to be learning patience as you grow older."

"Once again, Taisho-sama, I credit your fine example," Jakotsu grinned.  "It really can be more profitable to allow the vermin to live."  The guard beamed with amusement.  "Very profitable, indeed."

"Judging by that fine piece of painted silk covering your bedroom wall, I'm forced to agree," Taisho grunted.  "Just watch your step, Jakotsu," he warned the guard as he punched in the number to the ookami vacation home.  "This nasty business with Sakura means that we haven't seen the last of our local law enforcement.  They're going to be back, and they'll be returning with search warrants in hand.  Make sure you have receipts for everything, will you?"

……

The phone rang, interrupting the peaceful quiet inside the luxurious Italian villa.  With a languid air, the female ookami reclining on the chaise lounge reached over to answer the call.  With a slight frown marring her smooth brow, she listened intently for a few minutes before giving a soft response and hanging up the phone.

"Who called, My Love?"  Her mate, currently basking next to the pool, opened a curious eye.

"Taisho was on the phone, Dearest," the lovely youkai answered, assuming her previous position of relaxed indolence.  "It would appear that our son has finally taken a mate.  Taisho was merely offering his congratulations."

"It's about damn time," the wolf demon mumbled, burying his face back into his folded arms.  "Thought Koga and Ayame would never get around to business.  Don't know what's wrong with this younger generation.  Why, you and I - "

"Not with Ayame, dear," his Love interrupted, correcting him.  "Taisho would hardly contact us at our vacation home over that arrangement.  No, he called to tell us that Koga has tied himself to some human girl.  Taisho said her name was Koharu."

The wolf started.  "You mean that ungrateful whelp broke his engagement for a human nobody?  What am I going to tell Ayame's grandfather?"  He stared with suspicion at his pretty mate.  "You seem very calm about all of this," he noted.  "What haven't you told me?"

A toothy smile graced the female ookami's face.  "She's one of Taisho's Darlings," she said with satisfaction.  "Taisho assured me that he welcomed Koga as a son."

"Ah."  The wolf demon's response was pleasantly smug.  "Excellent move, then," he agreed fervently.  "It can't hurt to be closely allied to a youkai as powerful as Taisho."  He pondered this information for a few moments before speaking again.  "You realize, Love, that the human population in my district grows larger every year?  Having a human wench in the family could help me considerably in my bid for re-election…"

"Mmm," the female responded absently.  She left the subject of politics far behind, her mind already racing ahead to thoughts of future pups to spoil.  True, they would be hanyou, but that thought hardly bothered her.  Ookami, after all, tended to not care about such things.  Why, her own ancestry was a mixed bag of inu, ookami, and, it was rumored, a bit of kitsune.

……

"The police are here again, Taisho-sama," Jakotsu called out to his employer.  The guard barely had time to finish his sentence before a silver kitsune slid by him into the room.

"No need to announce my presence," the kitsune police officer said smoothly, sending the startled Jakotsu a slight smirk.

"That will be all, Jakotsu," Taisho told his guard.  "Show this officer's partner around the place, and see that we're not disturbed."  As the door closed behind the guard, the inuyoukai turned to his latest visitor.  "Congratulations," he said to the kitsune.  "It's a rare youkai that can physically slip past my bodyguards."

"Thank you," the other youkai nodded.  "Chalk it up to years of practice.  I've found such a skill quite useful when it comes to accessing the inaccessible."

"Yes, and it comes in handy when removing valuable artifacts from their current place of rest," Taisho added dryly.  "Tell me, how is your mother faring these days?"

In all his years, he'd never lost the thrill of seeing all color recede from an opponent's face, Taisho decided with satisfaction.  The physical reaction to a verbal bombshell was intensely gratifying.  The silver kitsune before him was no exception; the fox appeared ready to lose his breakfast.

To his credit, the kitsune made a weak attempt at recovering his composure.  "Perhaps you are unaware that both of my parents are long dead," the fox said feebly.  Taisho didn't miss the slight tremor in the officer's voice.

"I was referring to your human mother, the woman who housed your youkai spirit within her womb and gave birth to your human form," Taisho responded easily.  "Her health is improving?  She was in the hospital for quite some time last year.  Relax," he ordered the kitsune, who by this time was looking very agitated.  "I pose no threat to you or your mother."

"Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe," the police officer murmured.

"Have a seat, Yoko Kurama."

"If it's all the same to you, I'll stand."

"Suit yourself," Taisho replied, resting his head against the back in his chair.  "I can see how you would perceive me as a danger to your well-being.  After all, you have presented yourself as being an exceptional youkai with a nose for criminal activity, a credit to the police force, straight as an arrow and above corruption.  That reputation would certainly take a hit if your real history was known."

"And what do you propose to do with your information?" the kitsune asked warily.

"Not a blessed thing."  Taisho eyed the kitsune.  "For the spirit of a thieving kitsune to seek shelter in the womb of a human female - that implies a desperation bordering on madness.  That you have chosen to protect the woman who gave you another chance at life speaks volumes for the loyalty residing within your heart, Yoko Kurama."

"Where are you going with this, Taisho?" the police officer asked heatedly.  "I'm not like Abi and her compatriots, accepting bribes in exchange for silence.  I'm in the middle of a murder investigation, the murder of your fiancée.  And I'll remind you, I'm not without resources of my own."

"Oh yes, I'm well aware of that."  Taisho leaned forward.  "Listen - we fight a common enemy.  I've no doubt at all that Naraku is responsible for Sakura's death, and obviously, you believe the same.  Otherwise, you would have shown up on my doorstep with a warrant for my arrest."

"I might still do that," Yoko Kurama warned the dog demon.

"If you're going to arrest me, then make sure the right information is on the paperwork," Taisho growled.  "The only blood to stain my claws will be that of the human Onigumo or the youkai Naraku."

"Don't you mean the hanyou Naraku?"

"The Naraku I have encountered through various business dealings has no human blood within him," Taisho frowned.

The kitsune shrugged, his silver hair settling around his shoulders.  "I've not met Naraku face to face," he told the inuyoukai.  "My information is based upon an old report.  The youkai filing the report called him a hanyou."  He sighed in disgust.  "As usual, it appears the police records are wildly inaccurate.  I tell you, Taisho, it's a miracle we catch anything more dangerous than a cold."

……

"Inu-Yasha, let me up," Sango insisted.  "I have to start preparing lunch.  Aren't you hungry?"

"The only thing I'm hungry for has nothing to do with the kitchen," her mate growled, pulling her back against him.

"Well, your insatiable hunger is going to have to go unappeased," Sango laughed.  "I get sick if I don't eat at regular times.  Come on, let me out of this bed."

Reluctantly, he allowed her to leave his side.  "Our pups have quite an appetite," he said, an exhausted yawn escaping from his mouth.  "They'll be healthy little brats, won't they?"

Sango paused while pulling her shirt over her head, somewhat startled by his easy acceptance of her babies.  Our pups, he had said.  She knew Inu-Yasha accepted her, had he not proven that time and again?  He certainly proved it last night…her mind wandered to that delicious memory.  Although there was something that confused her…

"Inu-Yasha?" she asked.  "Last night, when we were, um…there was this one point where your cheekbones had purple marks on them, kind of like Taisho-sama's.  Why did that happen?"

There was no response from the bed.  The tired hanyou was sound asleep, his face buried deep within the pillows.  With a tender smile, Sango pulled the blanket up against his shoulders and kissed his forehead.  Any questions could wait.

……

"What is this?" Kagome asked drowsily.  She ran a finger across Sesshomaru's bicep.  "I can see a line across the muscle right here."  She peered closely at the mark, barely able to discern it with the sunlight streaming through their bedroom window.  "I don't remember seeing it before."

"You've not had such ample opportunity to inspect my body," Sesshomaru mumbled tiredly into the pillow beside her.  "I suppose you could call it a scar, although it's not.  That's the spot where my arm was severed from my body a few centuries ago."

"You lost your arm?" Kagome blinked.  "How did that happen?"

"Inu-Yasha removed it with Tetsusaiga.  It took forever for my arm to grow back, and it itched constantly during the regeneration process."

"That's terrible!" Kagome exclaimed, all sleepiness fading at the thought of this apparent injustice.

"Not really, when you consider I was trying to kill him in order to possess the sword," Sesshomaru answered.  "I suppose I should be grateful he wasn't aiming for my head.  Although with his poor swordsmanship, he might have been."

"Kill him to possess…you know what?  I don't think I want to hear about this," Kagome sighed.  "I'm glad the two of you have ceased the open warfare."

"We had to put an end to the fighting.  Father came back from his journey and threatened to drown the both of us if we didn't stop immediately."  Sesshomaru gently traced the outline of Kagome's hip, reveling in the silky feel of her skin.  He could spend eternity wrapped against her warm softness, drowning in her scent…

"But that means Tetsusaiga must be a very powerful sword, if it could do that kind of damage to you," Kagome persisted.

"It was a powerful weapon," he reminded her.  "Tetsusaiga now possesses so little ki that any youkai attempting to use it would be immediately drained of all life energy.  Even Father will not transform the sword, and it was created from his own fang."

Sesshomaru moved his head downward to place an affectionate nip on Kagome's bare stomach.  "Now tell me why we are wasting our pups' nap-time with idle chatter?"  A delighted giggle was her only response.

……

Taisho all but collapsed after the kitsune police officer left, wondering if he'd survive long enough to actually meet Naraku in battle.  The preliminaries were absolutely exhausting.  He was too old for this kind of subterfuge.

He loathed the waiting.  Naraku would not make his move without preparing beforehand, and preparations took time.  Time to plot, time to manipulate…

 It was only a matter of time before the traitor within their midst would strike.  Taisho's heart was heavy, knowing this was where he had failed spectacularly.  The kami knew he'd tried his best, but that was small consolation.  He'd fight to the end for whatever frail spark was left within the heart of Naraku's pawn, but the pessimistic side of him believed the battle was already lost.  He'd provided too little, too late.

The door to the room swung open silently, and Taisho braced himself to fight against the viper he'd nourished in his own home.  At the back of his mind, he wondered if he could really bring about the death of someone for whom he cared so deeply.  Who needed to wait for death, when hell was right here on earth?

……

A/N:  Here is the disclaimer - I don't own Yoko Kurama, nor will this be a YuYu Hakusho crossover.  It's more of a cameo appearance…he just seemed to fit in so well.

Thanks so much for reading!  Y'all have no idea how much I enjoy writing this!

*Lavender showers her beta, TitianWren, with cyber-chocolate*