InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Unexpected Circumstances ( Chapter 19 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 467 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.25.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 467 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 19: Unexpected Circumstances
They left at dawn the next morning, their newest member seemingly content for the moment to walk peacefully along. Once they'd moved a few miles from her palace, she turned to Kagome and held out the shard of the Shikon.
“My end of the bargain, miko,” she murmured as she handed it over. She watched, fascinated, as the shard that had been heavily tainted, purified in the instant that it touched Kagome's hand.
As Kagome moved towards Sugimi to give the shard into his keeping, she cast a thoughtful glance at the woman who'd given it to her. The shard had been tainted with a malice that could only have come from Naraku.
But what would his purpose be? Was this all just a ploy to get her into our circle? Should I be watching for a betrayal from within? And then she frowned as something came back to her – something Kana had said when they had first had an audience with her.
She knew Naraku enough to say that he had too much arrogance. Which means she's met him. I bet he gave her that shard to get her to do something to us.
“Lady Kana, where did you get that shard?” she asked neutrally.
“Does it matter where I got it?”
Kagome nodded, and Kana's eyes narrowed. So she suspects... maybe she is not as much of a babe in arms as I had thought... “I took it from a youkai plaguing my lands.”
“That's what those soldiers told me, Kagome... why? Is there some reason for you to question this?” Sugimi asked.
“People tend to underestimate my connection to the Shikon no Tama. Let me reiterate, Lady Kana – I was born with it inside my body. I lived with it as a part of me for fifteen years.” She pinned the other woman with a steady gaze. “Now, would you like to answer my question truthfully?”
For a moment, everyone wondered how she was going to handle Kagome's demand, and they all tensed in case she chose to attack. However, though it was obvious that Kana was irritated, she managed to regain her control and laugh lightly.
“If you insist, miko. Naraku came to me with a request, and gave me that shard to carry out his bidding. But I am no man's bitch, and had no intention of doing anything he asked. He was such an arrogant prick about it, too. I would like to bring him down a few rungs and teach him to respect his betters.”
Nodding, Kagome appeared satisfied.
Kana was not, however. “Tell me, miko... how were you able to tell who I got it from?”
“The taint in it held his signature,” she replied easily. “When most demons get ahold of a shard, there is a certain level of corruption that flows into the Tama from them. Think of the jewel as a mirror that reflects your soul. But when Naraku has held a shard, it holds a darkness, a malice that isn't found in any other.”
Kana actually looked intrigued at her explanation. “So what you're saying is that all youkai are bad, but Naraku is worse?”
Frowning, Kagome shook her head. “No. I didn't say youkai were bad. I said a certain level of corruption is found after a youkai has held it. Maybe I should have qualified that statement further. It wouldn't matter if a human held it – every living being carries a dark side, and it's that the Shikon reflects.”
“If that were true, though, wouldn't it taint even when you touch it? Are you saying that you don't have a dark side like everyone else?”
Scoffing, Kagome rolled her eyes, but didn't answer as she noted Miroku wanted to speak.
“Kagome is no different than anyone else – she has some darkness in her heart. However, it is minimal. The purity of her soul is second only to the kami, and that is why she can not only handle the jewel, but keep it pure.”
He glanced up ahead to where Sugimi walked, then back to meet the Southern Lady's eyes. “There are others, however, that can carry the jewel, and not taint it. Those who have control of their darker nature, such as Sugimi-sama, and Sesshoumaru-sama. They cannot purify a shard that has been tainted, but they can hold it without danger to themselves.”
Inuyasha, silent during all this, scowled and kept his gaze pinned to the ground. That just proves how screwed I am... because the jewel has no problem corrupting my mind and taking control. Tired of listening to talk of the jewel, he dropped back to walk at the rear of the pack, content to ignore everyone. He was feeling too anti-social to deal with anyone at the present time.
Miroku was about to expound on his words when Kana shifted her attention once again with a sudden frown. “Tell me, miko... I distinctly remember you saying that the shard I had was the last one unaccounted for, correct?”
Kagome, intrigued at the woman's tone of voice, nodded.
“Then why did Naraku insist that there was still one more out there?” She waved a hand as Kagome opened her mouth to answer. “And it wasn't the ones held by the slayer or wolf – he counted those in his tally. Yet he counts one more shard than you do.”
Brow furrowing in thought, she closed her eyes and once again touched her bond with the jewel, searching out the knowledge needed. After a few moments, her eyes popped open – she looked surprised – but pleased.
“I know why, now. That shard was indeed the last one... but the one Naraku thinks is still out there is the one we found surrounded by adamant!” she exclaimed excitedly. “That means that Naraku is still focused on finding that last piece – while we know exactly where it is! There's so much potential in this situation...” she trailed off, glancing over at Sesshoumaru's face to see his reaction.
She didn't miss the pleased light in his eyes, and once she looked at Sugimi, she caught the rest of that expression being shared between he and his son... plotting. They were plotting the spider's downfall.
“Are you certain, Kagome?” Sugimi asked, his gaze intent.
She nodded. “Yeah. I know you have that shard – and yet, I can't sense it. I never noticed before because of all the other shards in such close proximity - I can only sense the other shards and not that one. And you know,” she mused, brow furrowing again, “that might be something I could use.” She was mostly speaking to herself, though everyone grew curious as to what she meant.
Shaking her head at one thought or another of hers, she continued walking by rote, not paying the least attention to the conversations breaking out around her as she got lost in her own mind.
If the shard caught inside the adamant can't be sensed even by me, then it's certain no youkai could sense it, either. The only time I could feel it at all was when I was holding it – and that, only because of my connection to it. I bet Sugimi can't feel it even now as he carries it. It would be the best solution if we could get the whole jewel inside there...
But how? I wonder...
Snapping to attention once more, Kagome moved closer to the intently listening daiyoukai. “I think we need to take a small break, right about now,” she said, and after giving her a confused look, he nodded, and called for a halt.
Once everyone gathered around and dropped to the ground to sit for a few, Kagome looked at Sugimi. “I need all the shards you have – including the adamant encased one, please.” Despite the fact that she'd said please, it was really not a request. A brow rose in surprise, but he did as bid and handed all of it over – after all, she was the Shikon no Miko, not he.
Opening the little pouch that carried all the loose parts of the jewel into her hand, she picked one up, and held it to the chunk of flashing diamond held in the other. To the immediate fascination of everyone present, the shard slowly merged with the beautiful stone, sinking into it like it was water until it bonded to the shard already inside.
Kagome grinned with excitement as the feel of that shard also almost entirely disappeared. It was apparent that she had found the best way to keep Naraku, or any other demon or human, from using the jewel, because once a shard was inside, there was no way to extract it again.
As the rest of the group watched in awe, she fed all the shards she had to the hunk of adamant, and within a few minutes, not one person in the field could feel the jewel at all... except Kagome, and that was only because she was holding it. Even then, it was so faint that if she moved even a few feet away, she'd lose all sense of it.
“I had wondered and worried for so long on how to get rid of this jewel,” she mused as she stared at the beautiful and terrible thing she held. “Everyone always said that it had to be a pure wish to end the Shikon no Tama – but it occurred to me long ago that there is no such thing as a pure wish. A wish, in and of itself, is impure – because it is, at its heart, a desire for something that one does not already have. So that would never have worked.”
She looked up at the intent and surprised gazes around her, and shook her head in bemusement, waiting for someone to speak up.
It wasn't surprising that it was Inuyasha.
“Keh... so you're saying that if me'n Kikyou had wished on it back then, it would only have tainted the wish and made things worse?”
“Yeah... perhaps, in a round about way, Naraku's involvement was necessary to keep you from such an evil fate. It's just like the kami to use such situations to their advantage,” she replied.
Sesshoumaru spoke up, then. “At this point, then, it is probable that Naraku will keep searching for that missing shard, while we ourselves can now stop looking, and settle down to come up with a way to either lure him out of his forest – or destroy that forest and go in and beard him in his den.”
At that point, Kana broke into the conversation. “Then why do we not return to my palace, and deliberate there in comfort?”
Immediately, Sugimi's hackles rose – he wasn't blind, and he'd caught her sidelong glance at him. Her green eyes were full of heat and slyness, and that was setting his instincts off.
“No... I don't think so, Kana. I have no intentions of returning to your home,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Just then, a lone figure topped the hill they were sitting on the side of, and paused for a moment in surprise, then rushed forward, cheerfully calling out, “My friends! It is good to see you again,” Akitoki Hojo said, before looking Kagome's way and blushing. “And you especially, Kagome-sama.”
All she could do was stare at him in stunned dismay, while trying to say something polite. Why is it when you think you've hit rock bottom, the bottom of 'rock bottom' drops out, and you end up falling in even deeper?
While she may have been tongue-tied, Sugimi was not, and he stared intently at the young human male staring besottedly at his miko. “And you are?” he asked pointedly, moving forward to address the youngster.
“Oh! I am sorry for my lack of manners,” Akitoki said cheerfully. “I didn't notice for a moment that there were strangers to me traveling with those I already knew. I am Hojo Akitoki.” He bowed politely to Sugimi.
It looked as though Kagome had found her voice, because the next words came from her mouth. “So... Akitoki,” she said, false cheer laced through her voice, “Where are you headed?”
“Well,” he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “Actually, I was looking for you and your friends. I had been told you were in the south, and that's why I came this way.” He frowned for a moment. “I guess the information was correct, after all, and we just missed each other. I went too far south, it seems.”
“Keh... all that chatting still doesn't tell us why,” Inuyasha muttered as everyone else stared at the human.
“Pardon my chatter, I am just glad that I found you. Have you perhaps heard of the forest where the tree of ages used to stand?”
Eyes narrowing, every single person's attention was now firmly on him.
“Ye-es,” Kagome said slowly.
He beamed at her, not noticing the tight look on the largest male's face as he did so. “Well, my family's lands lie along that forest. For many generations, our people have cautiously explored some of it. While it has always been a dangerous place, lately... it has become twisted and evil. There is a tainted, poisonous cloud that seems to be seeping everywhere through it. So... knowing that you all are searching for a most evil being, and those shards, I volunteered to pass this information on to you. What's going on in that forest just might be the work of that person.”
Sesshoumaru spoke, then, intrigued with something the boy, this Akitoki, had said. “You say that your family has explored part of this forest? What person within your clan has such knowledge?” he questioned.
Turning a wide-eyed gaze onto the youkai Lord, Akitoki stumbled over his words for a moment. “W-well, um, I do,” he said. “I've explored that forest with my father and uncles since I was very small.”
“And how far in have you gone?” Sugimi asked, finally gaining control of the jealousy that had practically drowned him at the way the boy obviously worshiped Kagome.
“Um, the most any of my family has done is go about three quarters of the way to where the tree of ages once stood. After that, the aura of evil and decay becomes too strong to fight off – it was even like that before this new evil seeped in.”
Kana eyed the young human boy thoughtfully, letting the conversation wash over her as she lost herself to her plotting. So... another male smitten with the girl. I still do not comprehend their fascination with her. And even Sesshoumaru... that one I had never expected to thaw towards anyone. Beautiful as he is, I never thought to dally with him – I've never been fond of frostbite. But this situation shows promise... it is likely they will invite him to join the group, as he has knowledge of this dangerous place.
She smirked to herself. I can use this to my advantage...
Everyone fell silent when Kana chimed in. As the human male turned to look at her, the shock on his face was gratifying. “It seems to me he would be a useful asset if we are indeed to enter this forest after Naraku,” she said blandly, idly perusing her nails.
Sango, as much as she hated to say it, had to agree. “Hai... she makes a good point,” she said reluctantly, not afraid to meet Kana's rather mocking gaze. “He is no warrior, but as a guide...”
With a thoughtful nod, Miroku also agreed. “Her point is well taken. However...I do have a reservation about this. Once we reach Naraku, he will be helpless, and we will not have time to protect him.”
Kagome, who was trying not to have a screaming breakdown, jumped right in, relieved that someone had brought that up. “You're right, Miroku. It would be too dangerous to drag him in there with us. Maybe he can just draw us a map?” she asked hopefully. She really didn't need things to get any worse – they already had Sugimi's rather ardent admirer along – they didn't need Akitoki's bumbling adoration of her muddying the waters, as well.
The object of all their deliberations looked at Kagome, then, and said, “A map has never been made, Kagome-sama. It would be far too time-consuming of a task, since the area to cover is much too large. Plus, the forest changes from time to time. I'm afraid if you want a guide, it's going to have to be me.”
With an inward groan of dismay, she caught the devious look on Kana's face as she eyed Akitoki, and then Sugimi. Just great – the bitch is up to something. Just what we all need.
Rubbing a hand over her eyes wearily, Kagome finally said, “Fine. We've got a new member of the group. Now... can we please decide where we are going?”
As the rest of the group broke out in discussion on that subject, Akitoki cleared his throat and said, “Well, it would seem to make the most sense to head to my family's shiro, ne? Since it is so close to your ultimate goal?”
Sugimi, despite his jealousy, actually considered that for several long moments, then finally shook his head. “No... we would be too close to the spider, making it much too likely that he would find us there before we were ready with a plan to defeat him.”
Akitoki's face fell with dejection - he'd wanted Kagome to see his spacious palace... wanted to show off his family's wealth for her. Maybe if she knew how well taken care of she would be, he would stand a chance? But it didn't seem that would happen, because the larger of the two youkai seemed to be the one making the decisions, and he apparently didn't want to be so close to the enemy. He could see the males point, but he was still disappointed.
Kana glided forward to stand next to the boy, (because that's exactly what he was), and with a sly look in suddenly devious eyes, she spoke up in support of Akitoki's plan. “Does it truly matter? So, he knows we are there – but that doesn't tell him anything, really. He would have no way of knowing why we were there.”
Red-haloed, narrowing eyes pinned her, and she stepped back a pace in surprise. Sugimi was getting angry enough to let his blood boil over, and she belatedly realized that maybe she was being too obvious, and needed to tone it down a bit. So, in keeping with that, she bowed her head a little and backed off that idea. “No need for anger, Sugimi, it was just a suggestion.”
Akitoki was rapidly becoming confused at all the dangerous undercurrents running through the greatly enlarged group, and frowned. “May I ask who you are?” he asked Sugimi politely.
Gritting his teeth for a moment, he managed to calm his blood, and say, “I am known as Sugimi, Inu no Taisho-” his ego swelled a bit at the wide-eyed look the human gave him, obviously having heard of him, and he gestured to Sesshoumaru, “and this is my son, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West.” Then he pointed at a sulky Inuyasha. “Inuyasha is also my son.”
Kana, cocking a mocking brow at Sugimi for his pointed refusal to name her, introduced herself. “I am Kana, Lady of the South,” she said mildly, an innocent smile on her face that fooled nobody – except the one she'd turned it on.
With an awkward bow towards the three powerful beings, he responded politely. “It is my honor to be in your august presences.”
“Okay, nice, great, your honored, they're honored,” Kagome broke in, “but with all of this talking, we still haven't figured out where we're going. I'd like to figure that out before Naraku dies of old age and makes all this a moot point,” she finished sarcastically.
At that, Sesshoumaru, who'd been oddly quiet through all the last bit of chatter, spoke, silencing everyone. “We will retire to the Western palace, miko. It is the best option.”
He let his gaze run over everyone, and when no dissenting voices were heard, he stood up. “As it appears no one has anything negative to impart, perhaps we should leave, now?”
Quietly, all the members of the group stood and began following the Western Daiyoukai like obedient pups – even his father.
He smirked to himself from his position at the head of the pack. It wasn't often someone got the better of his powerful father, so he enjoyed it immensely when he did.
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They left at dawn the next morning, their newest member seemingly content for the moment to walk peacefully along. Once they'd moved a few miles from her palace, she turned to Kagome and held out the shard of the Shikon.
“My end of the bargain, miko,” she murmured as she handed it over. She watched, fascinated, as the shard that had been heavily tainted, purified in the instant that it touched Kagome's hand.
As Kagome moved towards Sugimi to give the shard into his keeping, she cast a thoughtful glance at the woman who'd given it to her. The shard had been tainted with a malice that could only have come from Naraku.
But what would his purpose be? Was this all just a ploy to get her into our circle? Should I be watching for a betrayal from within? And then she frowned as something came back to her – something Kana had said when they had first had an audience with her.
She knew Naraku enough to say that he had too much arrogance. Which means she's met him. I bet he gave her that shard to get her to do something to us.
“Lady Kana, where did you get that shard?” she asked neutrally.
“Does it matter where I got it?”
Kagome nodded, and Kana's eyes narrowed. So she suspects... maybe she is not as much of a babe in arms as I had thought... “I took it from a youkai plaguing my lands.”
“That's what those soldiers told me, Kagome... why? Is there some reason for you to question this?” Sugimi asked.
“People tend to underestimate my connection to the Shikon no Tama. Let me reiterate, Lady Kana – I was born with it inside my body. I lived with it as a part of me for fifteen years.” She pinned the other woman with a steady gaze. “Now, would you like to answer my question truthfully?”
For a moment, everyone wondered how she was going to handle Kagome's demand, and they all tensed in case she chose to attack. However, though it was obvious that Kana was irritated, she managed to regain her control and laugh lightly.
“If you insist, miko. Naraku came to me with a request, and gave me that shard to carry out his bidding. But I am no man's bitch, and had no intention of doing anything he asked. He was such an arrogant prick about it, too. I would like to bring him down a few rungs and teach him to respect his betters.”
Nodding, Kagome appeared satisfied.
Kana was not, however. “Tell me, miko... how were you able to tell who I got it from?”
“The taint in it held his signature,” she replied easily. “When most demons get ahold of a shard, there is a certain level of corruption that flows into the Tama from them. Think of the jewel as a mirror that reflects your soul. But when Naraku has held a shard, it holds a darkness, a malice that isn't found in any other.”
Kana actually looked intrigued at her explanation. “So what you're saying is that all youkai are bad, but Naraku is worse?”
Frowning, Kagome shook her head. “No. I didn't say youkai were bad. I said a certain level of corruption is found after a youkai has held it. Maybe I should have qualified that statement further. It wouldn't matter if a human held it – every living being carries a dark side, and it's that the Shikon reflects.”
“If that were true, though, wouldn't it taint even when you touch it? Are you saying that you don't have a dark side like everyone else?”
Scoffing, Kagome rolled her eyes, but didn't answer as she noted Miroku wanted to speak.
“Kagome is no different than anyone else – she has some darkness in her heart. However, it is minimal. The purity of her soul is second only to the kami, and that is why she can not only handle the jewel, but keep it pure.”
He glanced up ahead to where Sugimi walked, then back to meet the Southern Lady's eyes. “There are others, however, that can carry the jewel, and not taint it. Those who have control of their darker nature, such as Sugimi-sama, and Sesshoumaru-sama. They cannot purify a shard that has been tainted, but they can hold it without danger to themselves.”
Inuyasha, silent during all this, scowled and kept his gaze pinned to the ground. That just proves how screwed I am... because the jewel has no problem corrupting my mind and taking control. Tired of listening to talk of the jewel, he dropped back to walk at the rear of the pack, content to ignore everyone. He was feeling too anti-social to deal with anyone at the present time.
Miroku was about to expound on his words when Kana shifted her attention once again with a sudden frown. “Tell me, miko... I distinctly remember you saying that the shard I had was the last one unaccounted for, correct?”
Kagome, intrigued at the woman's tone of voice, nodded.
“Then why did Naraku insist that there was still one more out there?” She waved a hand as Kagome opened her mouth to answer. “And it wasn't the ones held by the slayer or wolf – he counted those in his tally. Yet he counts one more shard than you do.”
Brow furrowing in thought, she closed her eyes and once again touched her bond with the jewel, searching out the knowledge needed. After a few moments, her eyes popped open – she looked surprised – but pleased.
“I know why, now. That shard was indeed the last one... but the one Naraku thinks is still out there is the one we found surrounded by adamant!” she exclaimed excitedly. “That means that Naraku is still focused on finding that last piece – while we know exactly where it is! There's so much potential in this situation...” she trailed off, glancing over at Sesshoumaru's face to see his reaction.
She didn't miss the pleased light in his eyes, and once she looked at Sugimi, she caught the rest of that expression being shared between he and his son... plotting. They were plotting the spider's downfall.
“Are you certain, Kagome?” Sugimi asked, his gaze intent.
She nodded. “Yeah. I know you have that shard – and yet, I can't sense it. I never noticed before because of all the other shards in such close proximity - I can only sense the other shards and not that one. And you know,” she mused, brow furrowing again, “that might be something I could use.” She was mostly speaking to herself, though everyone grew curious as to what she meant.
Shaking her head at one thought or another of hers, she continued walking by rote, not paying the least attention to the conversations breaking out around her as she got lost in her own mind.
If the shard caught inside the adamant can't be sensed even by me, then it's certain no youkai could sense it, either. The only time I could feel it at all was when I was holding it – and that, only because of my connection to it. I bet Sugimi can't feel it even now as he carries it. It would be the best solution if we could get the whole jewel inside there...
But how? I wonder...
Snapping to attention once more, Kagome moved closer to the intently listening daiyoukai. “I think we need to take a small break, right about now,” she said, and after giving her a confused look, he nodded, and called for a halt.
Once everyone gathered around and dropped to the ground to sit for a few, Kagome looked at Sugimi. “I need all the shards you have – including the adamant encased one, please.” Despite the fact that she'd said please, it was really not a request. A brow rose in surprise, but he did as bid and handed all of it over – after all, she was the Shikon no Miko, not he.
Opening the little pouch that carried all the loose parts of the jewel into her hand, she picked one up, and held it to the chunk of flashing diamond held in the other. To the immediate fascination of everyone present, the shard slowly merged with the beautiful stone, sinking into it like it was water until it bonded to the shard already inside.
Kagome grinned with excitement as the feel of that shard also almost entirely disappeared. It was apparent that she had found the best way to keep Naraku, or any other demon or human, from using the jewel, because once a shard was inside, there was no way to extract it again.
As the rest of the group watched in awe, she fed all the shards she had to the hunk of adamant, and within a few minutes, not one person in the field could feel the jewel at all... except Kagome, and that was only because she was holding it. Even then, it was so faint that if she moved even a few feet away, she'd lose all sense of it.
“I had wondered and worried for so long on how to get rid of this jewel,” she mused as she stared at the beautiful and terrible thing she held. “Everyone always said that it had to be a pure wish to end the Shikon no Tama – but it occurred to me long ago that there is no such thing as a pure wish. A wish, in and of itself, is impure – because it is, at its heart, a desire for something that one does not already have. So that would never have worked.”
She looked up at the intent and surprised gazes around her, and shook her head in bemusement, waiting for someone to speak up.
It wasn't surprising that it was Inuyasha.
“Keh... so you're saying that if me'n Kikyou had wished on it back then, it would only have tainted the wish and made things worse?”
“Yeah... perhaps, in a round about way, Naraku's involvement was necessary to keep you from such an evil fate. It's just like the kami to use such situations to their advantage,” she replied.
Sesshoumaru spoke up, then. “At this point, then, it is probable that Naraku will keep searching for that missing shard, while we ourselves can now stop looking, and settle down to come up with a way to either lure him out of his forest – or destroy that forest and go in and beard him in his den.”
At that point, Kana broke into the conversation. “Then why do we not return to my palace, and deliberate there in comfort?”
Immediately, Sugimi's hackles rose – he wasn't blind, and he'd caught her sidelong glance at him. Her green eyes were full of heat and slyness, and that was setting his instincts off.
“No... I don't think so, Kana. I have no intentions of returning to your home,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Just then, a lone figure topped the hill they were sitting on the side of, and paused for a moment in surprise, then rushed forward, cheerfully calling out, “My friends! It is good to see you again,” Akitoki Hojo said, before looking Kagome's way and blushing. “And you especially, Kagome-sama.”
All she could do was stare at him in stunned dismay, while trying to say something polite. Why is it when you think you've hit rock bottom, the bottom of 'rock bottom' drops out, and you end up falling in even deeper?
While she may have been tongue-tied, Sugimi was not, and he stared intently at the young human male staring besottedly at his miko. “And you are?” he asked pointedly, moving forward to address the youngster.
“Oh! I am sorry for my lack of manners,” Akitoki said cheerfully. “I didn't notice for a moment that there were strangers to me traveling with those I already knew. I am Hojo Akitoki.” He bowed politely to Sugimi.
It looked as though Kagome had found her voice, because the next words came from her mouth. “So... Akitoki,” she said, false cheer laced through her voice, “Where are you headed?”
“Well,” he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “Actually, I was looking for you and your friends. I had been told you were in the south, and that's why I came this way.” He frowned for a moment. “I guess the information was correct, after all, and we just missed each other. I went too far south, it seems.”
“Keh... all that chatting still doesn't tell us why,” Inuyasha muttered as everyone else stared at the human.
“Pardon my chatter, I am just glad that I found you. Have you perhaps heard of the forest where the tree of ages used to stand?”
Eyes narrowing, every single person's attention was now firmly on him.
“Ye-es,” Kagome said slowly.
He beamed at her, not noticing the tight look on the largest male's face as he did so. “Well, my family's lands lie along that forest. For many generations, our people have cautiously explored some of it. While it has always been a dangerous place, lately... it has become twisted and evil. There is a tainted, poisonous cloud that seems to be seeping everywhere through it. So... knowing that you all are searching for a most evil being, and those shards, I volunteered to pass this information on to you. What's going on in that forest just might be the work of that person.”
Sesshoumaru spoke, then, intrigued with something the boy, this Akitoki, had said. “You say that your family has explored part of this forest? What person within your clan has such knowledge?” he questioned.
Turning a wide-eyed gaze onto the youkai Lord, Akitoki stumbled over his words for a moment. “W-well, um, I do,” he said. “I've explored that forest with my father and uncles since I was very small.”
“And how far in have you gone?” Sugimi asked, finally gaining control of the jealousy that had practically drowned him at the way the boy obviously worshiped Kagome.
“Um, the most any of my family has done is go about three quarters of the way to where the tree of ages once stood. After that, the aura of evil and decay becomes too strong to fight off – it was even like that before this new evil seeped in.”
Kana eyed the young human boy thoughtfully, letting the conversation wash over her as she lost herself to her plotting. So... another male smitten with the girl. I still do not comprehend their fascination with her. And even Sesshoumaru... that one I had never expected to thaw towards anyone. Beautiful as he is, I never thought to dally with him – I've never been fond of frostbite. But this situation shows promise... it is likely they will invite him to join the group, as he has knowledge of this dangerous place.
She smirked to herself. I can use this to my advantage...
Everyone fell silent when Kana chimed in. As the human male turned to look at her, the shock on his face was gratifying. “It seems to me he would be a useful asset if we are indeed to enter this forest after Naraku,” she said blandly, idly perusing her nails.
Sango, as much as she hated to say it, had to agree. “Hai... she makes a good point,” she said reluctantly, not afraid to meet Kana's rather mocking gaze. “He is no warrior, but as a guide...”
With a thoughtful nod, Miroku also agreed. “Her point is well taken. However...I do have a reservation about this. Once we reach Naraku, he will be helpless, and we will not have time to protect him.”
Kagome, who was trying not to have a screaming breakdown, jumped right in, relieved that someone had brought that up. “You're right, Miroku. It would be too dangerous to drag him in there with us. Maybe he can just draw us a map?” she asked hopefully. She really didn't need things to get any worse – they already had Sugimi's rather ardent admirer along – they didn't need Akitoki's bumbling adoration of her muddying the waters, as well.
The object of all their deliberations looked at Kagome, then, and said, “A map has never been made, Kagome-sama. It would be far too time-consuming of a task, since the area to cover is much too large. Plus, the forest changes from time to time. I'm afraid if you want a guide, it's going to have to be me.”
With an inward groan of dismay, she caught the devious look on Kana's face as she eyed Akitoki, and then Sugimi. Just great – the bitch is up to something. Just what we all need.
Rubbing a hand over her eyes wearily, Kagome finally said, “Fine. We've got a new member of the group. Now... can we please decide where we are going?”
As the rest of the group broke out in discussion on that subject, Akitoki cleared his throat and said, “Well, it would seem to make the most sense to head to my family's shiro, ne? Since it is so close to your ultimate goal?”
Sugimi, despite his jealousy, actually considered that for several long moments, then finally shook his head. “No... we would be too close to the spider, making it much too likely that he would find us there before we were ready with a plan to defeat him.”
Akitoki's face fell with dejection - he'd wanted Kagome to see his spacious palace... wanted to show off his family's wealth for her. Maybe if she knew how well taken care of she would be, he would stand a chance? But it didn't seem that would happen, because the larger of the two youkai seemed to be the one making the decisions, and he apparently didn't want to be so close to the enemy. He could see the males point, but he was still disappointed.
Kana glided forward to stand next to the boy, (because that's exactly what he was), and with a sly look in suddenly devious eyes, she spoke up in support of Akitoki's plan. “Does it truly matter? So, he knows we are there – but that doesn't tell him anything, really. He would have no way of knowing why we were there.”
Red-haloed, narrowing eyes pinned her, and she stepped back a pace in surprise. Sugimi was getting angry enough to let his blood boil over, and she belatedly realized that maybe she was being too obvious, and needed to tone it down a bit. So, in keeping with that, she bowed her head a little and backed off that idea. “No need for anger, Sugimi, it was just a suggestion.”
Akitoki was rapidly becoming confused at all the dangerous undercurrents running through the greatly enlarged group, and frowned. “May I ask who you are?” he asked Sugimi politely.
Gritting his teeth for a moment, he managed to calm his blood, and say, “I am known as Sugimi, Inu no Taisho-” his ego swelled a bit at the wide-eyed look the human gave him, obviously having heard of him, and he gestured to Sesshoumaru, “and this is my son, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West.” Then he pointed at a sulky Inuyasha. “Inuyasha is also my son.”
Kana, cocking a mocking brow at Sugimi for his pointed refusal to name her, introduced herself. “I am Kana, Lady of the South,” she said mildly, an innocent smile on her face that fooled nobody – except the one she'd turned it on.
With an awkward bow towards the three powerful beings, he responded politely. “It is my honor to be in your august presences.”
“Okay, nice, great, your honored, they're honored,” Kagome broke in, “but with all of this talking, we still haven't figured out where we're going. I'd like to figure that out before Naraku dies of old age and makes all this a moot point,” she finished sarcastically.
At that, Sesshoumaru, who'd been oddly quiet through all the last bit of chatter, spoke, silencing everyone. “We will retire to the Western palace, miko. It is the best option.”
He let his gaze run over everyone, and when no dissenting voices were heard, he stood up. “As it appears no one has anything negative to impart, perhaps we should leave, now?”
Quietly, all the members of the group stood and began following the Western Daiyoukai like obedient pups – even his father.
He smirked to himself from his position at the head of the pack. It wasn't often someone got the better of his powerful father, so he enjoyed it immensely when he did.
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