InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter TwentyFour ( Chapter 24 )

Chapter TwentyFour

 

 

Kohaku leaned his head on his fist, one hand playing absently with his breakfast. Shippou and Rin were with him and he was starting to be suspicious of the fact that he had been left alone with the two younger children. The kitsune had been complaining that he'd woken up all by his lonesome early in the morning; no Kagome and then he'd been soundly shushed by Makiko. The head of staff had simply shoved him into Kohaku's room before the human could say two words about it.

 

Eventually, he'd managed to ignore Shippou's babbling and get back to sleep. That was exactly when Rin had burst in; deeply upset that Sesshomaru-sama's personal servants refused to allow her in his rooms. She wasn't quite brave enough to try and bother the demon lord while he was sleeping, but this was the first time that she'd been flatly denied access to the outer apartments.

 

"It's not fair, Kohaku-kun," the little girl said petulantly. "They've never kept me out before!"

 

"Maybe you shouldn't pry," the older boy said, still picking at his food. He wasn't hungry, usually he woke up starving and ready for a big savory meal from the kitchen, but today he just wasn't interested.

 

A strange feeling of melancholy was settling over him and Kohaku wasn't sure what was causing it. He felt healthy enough, no fever, no weakness. It was his mind that felt woolly, stuffy and distracted. Maybe it was just lack of sleep from having a hyper kitsune roommate last night.

 

Rin poked him to get his attention. "You aren't listening," she accused.

 

The boy yawned, watching Shippou stuff his face until his eyes were bulging. He didn't know fox demons could eat that much. "I am listening, Rin," he said mildly. "You were complaining."

 

The girl still looked pouty over being denied access to her favorite person. "I'm not complaining," she said in a sulky tone. "I don't see why I can't go in there, I went in last night and Sesshomaru-sama was letting Sango stay with him, but not Rin."

 

Shippou belched and earned a glare from the young girl. He grinned, wiping his face. "That's because Sesshomaru really likes Sango, he even..."

 

Kohaku reached over and clamped his hands on Rin's ears. "Hey!" she squealed.

 

"Watch what you say, Shippou! She's just a little kid."

 

The fox demon stared at him. "So? Why is it a secret?"

 

Rin had pried his fingers off her ears. "What's the secret?" she asked excitedly. "Is it about Rin?"

 

"No," Kohaku and Shippou answered, exchanging grins.

 

Now Rin was getting annoyed with the two boys. "Tell me!"

 

Shippou shook his head, having fun teasing the young girl. "You're too young," he said loftily, feeling superior and privy to adult affairs.

 

Rin slammed her hand down on the table, making the two boys jump and looking remarkably like Makiko when the youkai female was in an angry mood. "Why won't you tell me?"

 

"Because it's obviously none of your business, Rin," Makiko said acidly from the doorway. She glared at the youngsters and Kohaku could tell that she was in a particularly foul mood. He thought he'd like to know why, but he didn't dare ask. Instead he just smiled faintly and told her good morning.

 

Makiko scowled at him. "You don't look well, Kohaku. Are you feeling ill?"

 

He should have expected she'd notice. "I'm fine," he answered truthfully. "I don't feel sick, I just feel a little tired this morning."

 

Nothing would do but to have her feel his forehead and look at his eyes. Kohaku sat passively, ignoring Shippou and Rin's interested gazes. He did get tired of being treated like an invalid. Finally Makiko was satisfied that he wasn't concealing a deadly illness and walked away, muttering darkly about Hisuni getting off too easy and if it had been up to her, things around here would be much different.

 

"She's in a really bad mood," Rin commented, leaning on her elbows and forgetting about the previous argument. "I bet Jano did something to make her mad, he always makes her mad."

 

Shippou didn't care one way or the other about irritable female demons who were used to not being questioned. He was bored. They'd been here for three days and he was so bored it was going to kill him.

 

"Let's go outside," he begged.

 

"Don't you want to wait for Kagome?" Kohaku asked. He had noticed that none of Shippou's friends were early risers today. Usually Miroku and Kagome joined them by now for breakfast.

 

Shippou flushed bright red and ducked his head. "No," he said slowly. "I'm not sure when she's going to come down."

 

Kohaku scratched his head. "You were sure upset last night, Shippou. I thought you were going to scream the building down when you couldn't find her."

 

"Is Kagome missing?" Rin asked, wrinkling her forehead. She really liked the human girl who had pretty much adopted the kitsune orphan. Nothing bad could possibly happen to her in the fortress. Sesshomaru-sama simply wouldn't allow it. Still, the nervous look on Shippou's face had her curious.

 

"Do you want me to help look for her?" she asked.

 

The kitsune's face was burning with embarrassment. "I know where she is, I heard Jano talking to one of the guards. She's with Inuyasha."

 

"Then she's fine," Rin said brightly. Kohaku and Shippou exchanged glances and finally the older boy shrugged. "Then let's go outside."

 

oOo

 

Shiou looked nervous and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know, Aiko," he said, uneasy with the young woman's request. "I don't think me and Haru need any more trouble. We're already on Jano's short list after yesterday."

 

Aiko glared at him, folding her arms defiantly over her chest. "I'm not asking either of you to lie, I just want something said in the presence of the other guards."

 

This time it was Haru's turn to sigh. "Listen, girl. If you want to start a rumor, talk to the kitchen staff or the stewards. I don't want to get involved."

 

She shook her head. "No, Makiko was very specific about it. She wants the household guard to know first, that will make it to his ears faster."

 

Shiou spat on the floor and received an angry look from Aiko. "Someone has to clean that floor," she snapped in annoyance.

 

He ignored her comment. "Aiko, whatever little plot you're trying to hatch, I want no part. You do not mess with someone like Jano, you definitely don't fuck with his head."

 

The girl sighed loudly and turned away. "I didn't want to have to resort to blackmail, but you two give me no choice. Unless you do as I ask, a simple favor mind you, Makiko is going to tell the captain of the guard that she found you two asleep on duty."

Haru gaped at her. "That's a lie!"

 

Aiko's smile turned positively sweet. "She's also going to tell him it's not the first time...and that you were found in each other's arms."

 

Angry, Shiou reached out and grabbed the girl by her shoulder and spun her around. She hit him hard in the face and stepped back, her chin high and her eyes glittering. "Before you make any quick moves, think about this. Who do you think the captain of the guard will believe? The head of the household staff or two lazy degenerates who can't even keep a small pack of humans out of trouble?"

 

Actually Makiko would do no such thing, Aiko thought, watching their faces turn colors in amusement. Her sister would never stoop to tell lies about anyone, but in this case she thought these two needed an extra bit of prodding. She had been asked to drop a certain rumor into the fortress' common gossip and that was exactly what she aimed to do.

 

Aiko knew that the guard was as prone to talking amongst themselves as the maids or the stable hands and this rumor had to reach a certain pair of ears belonging to a certain cocky bodyguard. She smiled as she watched their expressions change from anger to consternation to resignation and at last, defeat.

 

"We'll do it," Shiou muttered, hating himself for giving in like this.

 

Haru grunted. "Yeah, but if he asks us, we're telling him exactly where we heard it."

 

Her smile grew even wider. "That's what Makiko is counting on.”

 

oOo

 

“What the fuck happened to you?” Inuyasha burst out, almost choking on his breakfast. Kagome's face was pale as she stared at her friend, taking in his battered and weary appearance.

 

“Miroku,” she squeaked. “Were you attacked?”

 

“You could say that,” Miroku said wearily. He slowly lowered himself to a seat, wincing as bruises and contusions in intimate areas protested the movement. The monk's face was a mess; one side bore four long gouges, as if a set of claws had been raked from his cheek to his chest. His lower lip was split and swollen and a lovely bruise was forming under his left eye. In spite of his injuries, he had a faint smile on his face. He hadn't stopped smiling for hours, even when he'd passed out from sheer exhaustion, he'd kept a satisfied and grateful grin.

 

Sango looked closer and reached up to gently shift aside his clothing. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she could see a ring of bite marks surrounding the monk's neck. Neat crescents of bruises, some with dried scabs from fanged puncture wounds adorned him like a rosary, trailing down his chest and under his robes. Her eyes flicked to his bare hand, she could see scratches there as well as what looked like rope burns on his wrist.

 

“Miroku,” she breathed, her eyes flashing angrily. “This is awful, who attacked you?”

 

He sighed. “My dear Sango, I never kiss and tell.”

 

“Kiss and…” she trailed off, realization dawning in her eyes. She met Kagome's shocked expression and the younger girl blushed hard. “You mean to tell me you let a youkai woman do this to you?”

 

“Two youkai women actually,” he murmured, blowing on his tea to cool it. It stung his lips and even his tongue was sore from bite marks this morning. He would definitely need a few days to recover before trying anything like that again.

 

“Two women?” Inuyasha asked. The hanyou leaned forward, sniffing at Miroku, testing to see if the monk was just trying to have them on. His eyebrows raised in surprise even as a wicked smirk crossed his face.

 

"You ain't hardly bullshitting! I'm shocked you can even walk!"

 

Miroku nodded an acknowledgment of his friend's admiration. He felt he deserved the praise in more ways than one. The ladies had let him doze for a few hours after the first session, and then he'd been roughly shaken awake to go at it again. He was sore in places he hadn't even known he had, getting dressed alone had been an ordeal.

 

Apparently, Aiko and Zumi thought they'd done enough in letting him live, they hadn't stuck around to help him recover in any way.

 

Still, he thought fondly, such wonderful, sweet girls they were. If this was really how dog demons lived, he was seriously considering approaching Inuyasha's brother to see if there was any openings in his household for an itinerant Buddhist monk.

 

“Pervert,” Sango muttered, unable to help herself from grinning. “You look like you enjoyed having the hell beaten out of you.”

 

“Let's just say that I have finally been taught why I should keep my hands to myself,” he commented in a mildly amused tone. “At least until I have a chance to heal.”

 

Whatever Sango was about to say was interrupted when Makiko entered the room, carrying a steaming bowl of rice for her human and hanyou guests. “Pleasant morning,” she said, setting down the bowl and starting to ladle out portions. “Did everyone rest well last night?”

 

Silence answered her and she looked around, her brow wrinkling slightly in confusion. Four blushing faces, four sets of averted eyes. She sniffed the air delicately, particularly noting the change in Kagome's scent and the way Inuyasha was looking anywhere but at her. Her grin widened when she took in Miroku's battered appearance and Makiko shook her head in amusement.

 

“Did anyone rest at all last night?” she drawled, taunting them. When no one answered, she gave a wicked smile at the monk. She reached over and turned his cheek with her finger, lightly touching the scratches.

 

“I believe I recognize these,” she said. “Would you care for some salve to aid the healing? I did ask my sister to be careful, but I suppose the fact that you walked here on your own is proof that she kept her word.”

 

“Your sister?” Kagome asked, finally looking up to meet the woman's gaze.

 

“Aiko did that to you?” Sango burst out, turning to Miroku. She was quite shocked, the gentle youkai girl who had assisted her with her bath that morning had been sporting a satisfied smile, but she'd never imagined this to be the reason why.

 

Miroku studied the ceiling. “The scratches are Zumi's,” he said at last. “The bites were Aiko. Anything else I'm not quite sure of...the evening kind of blurred after a few hours.”

 

oOo

 

As he walked outside, taking the long way around the main courtyard, Jano bent his head in contemplation. He hadn't been able to get what had happened with Makiko out of his mind. It ate at him, every time he closed his eyes and saw her, so beautiful and until recently, he'd thought completely unattainable.

 

Damn it, was he the biggest fool to ever walk the earth or what? A woman, no, the woman he'd been pursuing for literally decades had burst into his room, stripped naked as the day she was born and flat out dared him to have her.

 

And what did I do, Jano sneered to himself. Tossed her out, turned her down, and shoved her out the fucking door. Over what, he scratched his head in befuddlement.

 

Some kind of twisted sense of honor? Oh no, he wasn't about to start bullshitting himself about pretending to be noble. He'd lived many years and seen more than he cared to admit to, but he could still be honest with himself. What was it then, pride? After spending so much time and energy and effort trying to seduce the damnable woman, he wasn't about to let her get away with just a casual rut on the floor.

 

Jano winced, his thoughts had taken a decidedly erotic turn and now his mind was trying to punish him with visions of doing just that. Damn again, he could still smell her, that warm softness in his arms, that smooth delicate body. The way her pale skin had flushed deep rose when he'd kissed her, the exotic feel of her braided hair.

 

No other female he'd ever seen wore their hair like that; it was one of the first things that had captured his interest about Makiko. He wanted to know how it would feel to take a handful of it in his fist and hold her breathless against him while he...

 

He stopped and smacked himself hard in the head. "Snap out of it, fool," he muttered, gritting his teeth. He was just torturing himself for no reason, it was done, he couldn't go back in time and change his mind. He'd be lucky if she didn't gut him with one of her carving knives the next time she saw him.

 

He made a mental note to wear the heavier armor for a few days.

 

And to make sure his door was secure while he slept. And to also be sure he got his own food too, no way was he going to let any of her staff serve him so much as a plain bowl of rice. An experienced chef and healer knew way too much about herb lore, knew just the amounts of what compounds to feed him in order to keep him painfully, humiliatingly indisposed for weeks.

 

Jano was starting to worry, wondering if his imagination was getting away with him now. Surely even Makiko, especially Makiko, wouldn't be so angry or resentful that she'd even attempt to take his life? Jano shook his head and let out a long exhale of tension.

 

He'd better tell Sesshomaru to keep Tenseiga handy just in case.

 

No, he was being foolish and obsessing about her again. Jano firmly reminded himself that he was no pup to let himself get this upset or frazzled over a mere woman. It wasn't as if he didn't have his choice of lovers, he and Makiko had long had an understanding of sorts, an easy working relationship if nothing else.

 

Now with that thought firmly placed in his mind, he went to the wardroom next to the armory where the household guard drew weapons. His lord had asked that the patrols be doubled; something was definitely under Sesshomaru's skin. Jano didn't like mysteries either.

 

The entire fortress had been tense enough lately, now was no time to start being lax about security. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his legs taking him in long easy strides to his destination. He wondered how long the hanyou and his friends were actually planning on staying.

 

His lord's mate, of course, wasn't going anywhere.

 

He was almost certain she was pregnant. An inuyoukai's nose was his strongest sense in many ways, just because he didn't spend much time around human females didn't mean he could tell when one was with young, especially if that young was of daiyoukai blood. He would have to be a nose blind fool to not smell the signs, even this early in a pregnancy. In fact, he had smelled such a combination only once before.

 

Jano hadn't thought about her in years. Hell, he'd been young and green beyond belief, it wasn't any surprise that he had pushed that memory far to the back corners of his mind.

 

For good reason too, Jano thought grimly. Sesshomaru didn't want to talk about her, didn't want to be reminded or questioned in his decisions regarding Inuyasha's mother or her offspring. The lady had been very sweet, very kind and quite gentle. At the time, he'd thought her a diversion of the Daimyo, a mere plaything.

 

What else could a human be to a youkai?

 

I was wrong, Jano thought, one finger reaching up absently to touch the pale, thin scar that ran from the middle of his left cheek almost to his ear. Inuyoukai didn't scar easily. He'd made a point of making sure this mark didn't fade, asking a healer for a special salve to make the scar a permanent reminder of his moment of stupidity, his ignorantly loud mouth, and the lightning feel of Inutaisho's youki strike across his face.

 

Sesshomaru had never commented either way about the scar not fading, but that was typical for Sesshomaru in many ways. Jano's eyes narrowed, his expression grim as he descended the level where the guard was housed when on duty. The stone walls closed around him, bathing him in ever-deeper shadows.

 

He wasn't about to mention Sango's pregnancy before Sesshomaru decided to make it public. If anyone else suspected, he hoped they'd have the good sense to keep it to themselves. It was not considered to be polite to discuss a lady's condition among the staff or soldiers. Jano would not tolerate disrespect; Sesshomaru's tolerance was even more limited.

 

He grinned. Family trait, that was.

 

He continued along his way, trying to dispel dark memories as he walked, focusing instead on what he planned to curse out the captain of the guard for this time. Jano's face had a wicked smirk, the guard much preferred it to be him doing the cursing and the shouting. The entire fortress lived in dread of the day that Sesshomaru-sama would take it into his head to discipline any of his forces.

 

Having a reputation for icy detachment was one thing, having a viciously bloodthirsty nature when annoyed was quite another.

 

Jano fondly remembered the last time, oh years ago, that Sessh become irritated by some stupid fool who didn't quite understand that his lord's orders were always supposed to be obeyed to the letter, never questioned and performed immediately. It had taken the staff days to scrub the charred spot off the courtyard paving.

 

The sound of raised voices caught his attention and Jano slowed his pace to a quiet whisper of steps. Whatever they were arguing about this time, it was better for him to listen in himself rather than try to sort it out later. He leaned against the wall just next to the slightly open door of the wardroom and listening intently.

 

"You're a fucking liar, Haru," a deep voice rumbled. Not in anger, Jano thought, more like amusement. It would be some minor dispute then, not something he'd have to go in and tear angry men apart for.

 

He heard Haru sigh heavily. "I'm just telling you what Aiko told me," the guard said in a sullen voice.

 

The first voice laughed and Jano thought he recognized it as Nizo, his recently disciplined target of throwing blades. He frowned, wondering if Nizo had the good sense to have cleaned his favorite knife yet. No matter, he'd get it back soon one way or another. For now he just wanted to listen in, it was always a good thing to stay on top of the usual rumors and gossip.

 

"That bit of fluff, what would she know about it?" Nizo chuckled, watching Haru's angry flush.

 

"She's Makiko's own sister, I guess she'd know her sister's mind," Shiou snapped.

 

Jano's ears pricked up and he leaned closer. Makiko, what were they talking about her for?

 

Nizo belched loudly and Jano rolled his eyes in disgust. "You mean to tell me," Nizo sneered contemptuously, "that Makiko tried to get Jano into bed and he turned her down?"

 

He thought his heart was about to stop. Jano had ice water in his veins and couldn't move. She told Aiko what happened, he thought in fury. And Aiko told Shiou and Haru of all the fucking people? His fists clenched in sudden rage and Jano had to restrain himself from going in there and knocking some truth out of those fools.

 

Shiou cleared his throat. "That's not all," he muttered, sounding more like a man pronouncing his own execution rather than spreading juicy gossip. "He not only turned her down, he tossed her out of his room and slammed the door in her face."

 

"What did she do then?" one of the younger guards asked, his voice eager with interest.

 

Yeah, damn it, Jano thought. What the fuck did she do other than run her mouth to that fucking sister of hers?

 

"She took it very badly," Haru said softly, Jano had to strain to hear him. "Aiko said she was crying her eyes out for hours. I guess she's always had a thing for him and never let on."

 

"No fucking way," Jano breathed, damn near pressing his nose against the stone in an effort to keep from going in there. It was not possible; she'd been ready to murder him on the spot for one thing. He couldn't imagine Makiko sobbing like her heart was broken...over him?

 

"That's what Aiko said," Shiou said gruffly. "She told us that Makiko was so angry and embarrassed over it that she didn't think she could ever face Jano again. He rejected her and Makiko's a proud woman. Very proud. Told her sister that she was thinking of asking Sesshomaru-sama to let her leave his service."

 

Jano about choked on his own tongue. Now that had to be an outright lie. Makiko would never leave the fortress. Hell, the fortress might not even survive her absence. And she didn't have any family other than Aiko, where would she go? Shiou and Haru had it wrong; they must be making it up in their own minds.

 

Nizo whistled softly. "She's that pissed? I've seen Makiko threaten to geld Jano on more than one occasion, but I'm having a hard time with this. Aiko really said that her sister was in love with him?"

 

He let out a small whine; he couldn't help it and clapped a quick hand over his mouth. In love? He couldn't breathe for a moment; his stomach was turning over queasily. This had to be a joke.

 

"That's what Aiko said, she was pretty pissed off herself," Haru continued, his voice cool and distant. "Apparently, Makiko is in love with him, too proud to tell him of course, and finally worked up her courage with some excuse or another last night and the damn fool turned her away."

 

Damn fool was right, Jano thought, feeling a little bewildered. He shook his head, denying it. No, they were full of shit; this had to be some kind of game that Aiko was running on them. He was going to go right to Makiko this minute and sort it out. He didn't care how much ass he had to kick along the way; he would have the truth out of someone about this.

 

"That doesn't sound like the Makiko I know," the younger guard said, sounding a little hesitant.

 

"Turned her down, that doesn't sound like the Jano I know," Nizo laughed.

 

Damn right, Jano agreed. He listened as Shiou took up the story where Haru had left off.

 

"I'm just saying that Aiko said her sister had already been offered a position in a very respectable household from a clanlord who is very much in Sesshomaru-sama's favor. She'd turned it down, but now she can't stay here if she has to face Jano with that kind of rejection hanging over her head. Now that she knows he doesn't want her..."

 

Hell if I don't, he snarled to himself, digging his claws into the hard stone of wall. What a stupid woman, she didn't understand. I meant I didn't want her like that. I never meant I didn't want her at all!

 

"What a stupid fool," Nizo said, yawning as he stretched and scratched himself. "If that woman threw herself at me, I'd make sure she had no complaints about it. I'd have her on the floor with her legs spread so fast she'd not know what hit her."

 

He was growling, outright growling at the idea. He'd rip Nizo's throat out for just saying it, let alone trying it. As if Makiko would ever want a greasy, smelly, foul mouthed...

 

"So where is she going?" the younger guard asked.

 

Yeah, damn it, where does she think she's going, Jano echoed in growing fury.

 

"It was Barou-sama who offered her a position," Shiou answered.

 

Jano felt the blood drain out of his face in surprise. Barou? That damn snake of a mind reading youkai? Why the hell would he even do such a thing, it didn't make any sense. And why would Makiko even dream of accepting? Barou's territory was hell and away far from here, far from everything she'd known.

 

"It's the distance that made her take the offer," Haru commented. "You going to drink that, Nizo? My throat is dry from all this talking."

 

"Go ahead," Nizo grunted, shoving the bottle in Haru's hands. "What else did Aiko say?"

 

Shiou seemed to be getting into the spirit of relating the story. "Not much, Aiko's not happy about it. Seems to think Barou might have other designs on her sister than just a household manager."

 

"No way," the younger guard said breathlessly, leaning forward. "What makes her think that?"

 

I'd like to know myself, Jano thought, his teeth clenching until his jaw ached.

 

Haru's shrug was evident in his voice. "She's a lovely woman, he wouldn't be a male if he didn't notice it. He's hardly the first clanlord to want something like that. His own mate is quite nice, but he wouldn't be a male if he didn't crave a little something extra now and then."

 

"And Makiko would go for that?" Nizo asked in disbelief.

 

"Why not?" Haru answered. "He's powerful, a clanlord, and has Sesshomaru-sama's favor and trust, mind you. And the ladies all seem to agree he's desirable and very artful with his ways. Seems he would be the one who'd know what a woman wants. Makiko's not a fool, boys. Having a lord like that wanting you for his lover would turn a woman's head, especially if the man she's in love with made it clear he don't want her."

 

He couldn't listen anymore, it made him sick. Jano shoved away from the wall with an angry snarl, not caring if the gossiping guards overheard him.

 

This wasn't over. If Makiko thought she was getting away from him, she was a fool.