Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Her Spirit ❯ Lies ( Chapter 15 )

She entered the room, a while after her summons, and Kurama jolted with realization of the tall silvery figure beside her- Sesshoumaru of the western plains. He watched Hiei stand up straight in his black and white peripheral vision, and he pushed himself away from leaning on the wall to stand at better attention; the two mostly humans of their group followed their examples, untangling themselves from their relaxed position to the more alert and ready to defend wariness that had been ingrained in them since their childhood.

A sheepish Botan followed the pair and sent an exasperated and timid glance at the prince before she made her way to a corner of the room where she settled and pouted. Koenma gaped openly at the lord, a flash of golden eyes his only answer, and Kagome threw her braid over her shoulder before settling her hand on one hip and resting her weight entirely on one leg- the very picture of superior defiance.

Yusuke raised his eyebrows, and his hands settled on his elbows as he stood and contemplated the woman and her escort. Kuwabara himself was staring openly at the female, eyebrows scrunched in silent confusion as he examined her face. Hiei settled into the shadows against one wall, and Kurama braced himself for a long time of standing and listening.

This should be interesting; at the least he wouldn't need to find an excuse to be entertained.

Koenma settled himself into a confident position in his chair, not rising to greet them in respect or acknowledgement of their arrival. Golden eyes flashed.

“We will get straight to the point. Why did you lie?” A steely question of demand, Koenma jumped right into the heart of this meeting without any pleasantries or observed courtesies.

“Lies? I do not lie; Prince Enma.”

“Oh, then what did you call your astral projection?”

A raised eyebrow as Sesshoumaru smirked slightly in the shadows. Her lips smoothed into an indulgent smile; “I call it the deliberate omission of information- information that you had no right to.”

Koenma scoffed at her words, but Kurama found he and Youko amusedly excited. She was a con-artist, and purely kitsune qualities were emerging that colored her personality something interesting. Damn it was fun watching Koenma get flustered like that- as much as he tried to hide it.

“I have every right to it, it threatens my reign.” Kagome chuckled lightly, a hand rising to hide her lips as she closed her eyes. Koenma took a step forward to demand something of her, but the demon Lord stepped forth as well, glaring at the Prince as he emerged from his shadows and stood protectively beside the miko. Koenma backed down but couldn't still his claims. “I could charge you for withholding valuable information.”

All of a sudden Kagome sharpened, her features presenting a predatory cast they hadn't before. “Withholding information?” She practically purred with disdain. Koenma sputtered in nervousness and some surprise, Kurama and Youko were far used to shifting personalities and con artists to really note who it was coming from. “I may `withhold information', as you so put it, but it isn't something you needed to know. I never lie; Koenma. It is beneath me to do so.”

Kurama found himself inching closer to the hybrid friend of his, wanting input on the vibes clashing between the powers and words that seemed more like swordplay and battle than an argument. `I think I'm proven correct…'

Kurama looked at his shorter comrade out of the corner of one eye, far too interested in the silent battle between auras that was happening to focus all his attention on that one comment and its owner. `Your theory?'

Hiei smirked and returned his attention to the argument.

Koenma hissed out his anger and frustration. “It is not right.”

Now her feathers seemed ruffled, her presence actually seeming to multiply and grow despite the fact that she remained her normal petite size. Her chin tilted up, her eyes narrowing to slits and their color seeming to swirl and change to something kin to the ocean during a lightning storm. “What is right? You question my morality and my truth while you so obviously hold back from your detectives?”

Koenma's eyes narrowed in confusion before they widened. Yusuke straightened up in confusion and interest as he looked between the two powerful beings that were battling it out on the political plane. Hiei and Kurama only shared interested glances before turning and watching, Kuwabara standing to his full imposing height as they all looked to Koenma.

Kagome was the one who spoke. “It is considered honorable to share information with your workers; they are your comrades in arms. It is far better to earn the loyalty with truth and respect and not debt and manipulation.”

Koenma rose up with his ire, only managing to look like a kitten that had its fur petted the wrong way in contrast to Kagome's panther like controlled rage. “I think we should get you under surveillance, something you've been doing has been going against the rules set.”

“Have you told them Enma-sama?” Her voice was deadly sweet, the honorific added on startling all present, although with the demon lord you couldn't really tell. It was meant to grab your attention. And it caught theirs, directing it to their reikai contact and boss as his presence seemed to fold in on itself- to shrink in uncertainty and anxiety.

“I see nothing I have to tell them.” The prince had found his voice, but it wasn't what the miko wanted to hear, as her eyes narrowed impossibly further and her lip lifted slightly into what would have been a snarl before her face cleared and she threw a demeaning glance at the prince and an amused expression to the silver haired demon.

Then she broke out laughing, hysterically at that. Kurama shifted slightly wondering if she had lost her mind while in the coma and really wasn't anything of a threat. Youko scoffed in the back of his mind. `That woman is not insane' - a veiled look of interest directed at the faint movement of her hand near the cuff of her sleeve, a flash of silver - `she finds something amusing about this conversation- and we will soon find out what.'

`But Koenma has said he wishes to speak of nothing.'

`Then he is a fool.' Kurama started at the interruption of Hiei's echoing mind voice, but found the hybrid still looking attentively at the miko and Youko only distracted him by nodding happily in agreement; he turned his attention to the happenings in the office, paying slight attention to the faint mind mumblings of the fox and smiling briefly when he noted the lord step closer to the miko with an amused smirk upon his face, twisting the smooth stripes of his station into something far more sinister than a social symbol should be able to portray.

Her laughter stopped. It was as abrupt as it had begun, and Kurama shook his head to clear it of the marvel he found at such odd behavior. And then she stepped forward.

All attention was focused on her now, as there was no looking aside from her presence. Not only was her aura physically pulsing around her stature, but the air in the office seemed to still and shift only to her will and person. “You haven't told them yet?”

Koenma seemed to bristle even more, the hair around the nape of his neck starting to rise slightly with his ire and irritation. Kagome's tone was slightly mocking and all disapproving; something that Koenma wouldn't like- it sounded like she was talking to a child.

Kagome turned abruptly to face them, her hair swinging out as her eyes curved into crescents of mischief and glee. “Ne, I guess I will then.” All joy left her features, the now solemn woman regarding them without any spark in her eyes- more reminiscent of the hardened warriors they had met who only sought death. “The barrier is falling.”

And then her smile returned- the gentle light it emerged with was entirely different. Something that Kurama had seen her use on some level but never to this extent.

Kurama gaped as she seemed to desire leaving the conversation there, shoulders squaring and her hands settling at her elbows in a pose of self assuredness and calm. Youko broke out into a gale of laughter, and Hiei twitched slightly in response beside them. The miko wasn't finishing the conversation, but she was waiting for denial or questions so she wouldn't leave them all stewing in confusion.

`Or let the brat take this and spin it so he doesn't look in so bad a light.' Youko drew his attention to the frantic Koenma as he half stood from his chair and gripped the side of his desk with white knuckled hands. Kurama idly admired the desk, a fine mahogany that was polished despite the fact that it so rarely saw the natural light that would leach it of its color and detail.

None were voiced, and Koenma seemed to pale under the silence and his inability to break it. Kurama half heartedly smiled, `I guess it's all true, Koenma has been keeping this from us.'

Youko growled faintly, his fur bristling and eyes narrowing. `I would have thought him smarter than this, but alas I am proven wrong.'

Kagome sighed, a hand coming up to press against her temple as she lost the aura of stoic politician and become the girl that had a brother she cared for deeply and a welcoming home and friends that called her…

.x.

Shikato shivered as he approached the shrine, wondering why it felt so foreboding when he knew he was welcome just by his heritage and not even with the relationship he had developed with the Higurashi siblings. He sighed as he reflected that a close relationship wasn't so true, but he guessed he could have been settling for less had there been any more complications. He wasn't exactly sure what had set the young Higurashi off- he didn't have his ancestor's insight after all.

It was said that the Wanderer had been renowned for his wisdom, and always knew the exact words to say to relieve the tension or ease a troubled heart. He supposed some of that could have been embellished over time, but he had no reason to second guess what he had found in the scrolls of legends right now.

He sighed once more and straightened his shoulders as he started on the steps that would lead him to the inevitable truth he sought. For some reason there was something off in the air, and he needed to speak to Kagome-sama and possibly another Eschew before he founded his own conclusions- it was always prudent to second guess one self, it led to less mistakes.

He nervously fidgeted with the hem of his sweater as he knocked on the shrine household, twitching as he felt the blatant test of the barriers on his person, and he shivered just as the wind from the door opening sent more power rushing along his newly awoken senses.

A scowling Souta greeted his vision before he grimaced and interrupted any curt words. “Something's up.” The boy stopped whatever tirade he would have started. And Shikato sighed and gestured to the warmer inner house hold.

He was let in; shoes carefully placed facing the entrance and guest slippers donned quietly before he followed the tense teen in front of him to a cozy den. Souta passed by him to close the door, and Shikato almost found himself intimidated by the obviously larger teenager before he straightened up his back and settled himself down on a small chair.

Best he starts before the boy could work up his ire. He had spent his life avoiding the ridicule of the descendents, he could still one boys indignation he was sure. “The other Ningen Eschew are being informed, but I feel something is wrong. Kagome-sama is…”

Souta interrupted him as he growled rather convincingly and sat in a chair he pulled up close in front of him. He leaned forward on his knees, hands bracing him as he regarded him hostilely before it warmed to something wary and welcoming. Shikato blushed lightly and furrowed his brows in confusion as he returned the glance.

“My sister can take care of herself- I should know.” Souta settled himself against the back of the chair, his hands folding together under his chin and foot tapping with excess energy against the floor. “Yes the spirits that have been released at your home would affect you this way- you can sense everything and know nothing of it.”

Shikato blushed hotly now in anger and embarrassment but Souta smiled and all chariness seemed to vanish from his expression. The smile faded into something contemplative, and he ran his eyes over Shikato; “My sister is one who will do what she wants, as long as she feels it is right. You can try to talk her out of something for it being too dangerous, but then you'll let her talk you into letting her go. That's how she is. The only thing you can do is follow along and guard her back. But she's my sister, and I will always guard her back.”

Shikato twisted slightly, eyebrows furrowing as he felt something moving in his bag as it rested at his feet. He was distracted from his train of thought as said bag fell over, squirming about as he and Souta watched on in curious horror. Bags are not supposed to move.

.x.

Kagome stretched her hands above her head, cracking her fingers as she interlocked them and pushed.

“A long time ago there was no barrier, but the races were in turmoil and war and death were prominent guests in everyone's life. The Sengoku Jidai, the Warring States era, labeled such for the blood and souls that were lost and the senseless battles for honor and pride.” Sesshoumaru shifted, settling further against the wall and in the shadow as Yusuke watched with his curious gaze. He knew this was true, he could feel it in her words and see it in her face. “It was then a jewel was created between warring kis, a miko and some gathered demons. These demons were the ancients, who had the ability to congeal into one gigantic monstrosity to accomplish their purposes. But this miko gave her life to seal her fate in a jewel- locked in eternal battle to protect her village from the lust of one man- one that wished and proceeded to be twisted for selfish gain.”

Sesshoumaru spoke up, stepping out of his shadows and picking up the thread of this story as if he was the original teller. “The jewel was slightly sentient, but it was defenseless. It was passed along through several caretakers before it ended up with one miko.” He spun on his heel, beginning to pace as Yusuke kept his true focus on the small little miko in front of him. “She was renowned for her solemn purity, and the jewel was left in her care where she honored her duty for years to come. And then she met a hanyou.” Kagome smiled lightly in amusement. “They entered a tentative friendship that grew to love. It was at this time she came to oversee that caretaking of a dying human- trying to make his life as comfortable as possible until he passed on from the world.

This injured man lusted after the beauty of the solemn miko, and he lusted after her power and the jewel she protected. In his rage and jealousy he offered himself to demons and became the conglomerate hanyou that tainted the tentative love between the miko and pure hanyou. They both were sealed with betrayal and lost to time.

The jewel itself, though few know this truth, was growing in its spirituality and loathed all who yearned for it- but with the death of its guardian and being burned with her cremation it used up most of its powers to create the barrier between the worlds- this would never happen again.

“And the barrier grew as the jewel went into ningenkai and sought another miko to live by. It found one and it was peaceful for a while.” The demon lord gave a cool gold eyed glance to the prince who was pale and shivering slightly. “But it sensed the barriers falling and realized that nothing was safe, that knowledge and awareness would be the best. And with the barrier's falling it was in danger again with a guardian that knew nothing of true powers.”

Kagome sort of pouted, but her eyes were smiling and Yusuke found himself smirking in slight confusion but able to feel and understand the emotions nonetheless, even if he knew not why they were in attendance to the story. Kuwabara had settled heavily beside him, listening in rapt attention as smooth words flowed in the air of the room.

“It was at this time that there was an accident, and the jewel in its sentient thought found the opportunity to teach this new miko. There was a journey, and there was turmoil and trust and danger and betrayal. But most of all there was this new miko; strange and kind and a dreamer who welcomed all and smiled at the simple things.”

Kagome blushed lightly, and Yusuke found the proverbial light bulb going off in his head. He shook it swiftly to clear it and listen better, now much more interested than considered possible at this little bit of history.

“So the barrier is falling and Kagome needed to be trained. But in doing so she started a dream. And then the Eschew were formed. We gather to control the taint of the world and advocate the workable peace that we discovered with our miko; Our Heiwa no Miko. Heed this; the barrier is falling.” Sesshoumaru leveled them with a forthright glare, daring them to argue.

“We know it like we know our ways.” Kagome spoke up gently, gaze going beyond all of them to somewhere they could never be.

“We are gathering and setting up the worlds for the inevitable, hopefully there won't be much turmoil if we have the Eschew working…”

He abruptly broke off as Kagome threw back her head and her arms flung out in a spin in the center of the room. Her braided hair whipped around her neck and back, forming odd patterns in the air. Sesshoumaru jolted a step forward, as startled as the tantei at this behavior before his face cleared into something fondly confused.

Her eyes were brilliantly lit when she stopped and faced them all, grinning charmingly and enthusiastically at them and Yusuke couldn't help but wonder exactly who this woman was. He knew her superficially, enjoyed her presence and her home and her family, and he was drawn to her like he knew her completely. He didn't, he didn't know her likes and dislikes, could only guess at her love and joy, and could only wonder about her complete past and her dreams. Her shadow truths…

“They're answering!!! Sesshoumaru! They're okay, they're here! Oh, it's so beautiful!!!” Her gleeful shout was met with her little jump of joy as she bounded over to her demon accomplice, her hands held in front of her face in exuberance to cover her smile at the sheer overwhelming joyous thought of whatever had set her off.

And then the structure of reikai rumbled, the sensors blared along the shelf in Koenma's office, the lights flickered; and then an overpowering wave of colorful spirit energy flooded through the whole place and knocked them to their knees.

Kagome seemed unperturbed, standing and smiling and laughing as she spun in the powerful currents.

An answering power came from the opposite direction, pushing them further to the ground and causing the miko to light up with an inner joy so palpable Yusuke swore he saw Hiei get a happy flush to his cheeks. Yusuke started laughing, unsure whether it was the affect of the miko and the power or just simply his amusement at the stray thought… `Hiei looks plastered…'

.x.

A quiet mew came out as a cat's head worked its way between the flap of the bag and the floor, fur bunching and pushing oddly as ears popped out of the constricting bag and eyes closed against the abrasive surface of the carpet. Souta knelt down without thinking, letting his natural instincts to aid the animal surface as he gently picked it up and out of the bag and set it on the floor.

Shikato was tense in his chair, hands fisting with white knuckles as he looked over his knees at them on the floor. “What…what is that?”

The kitten shook its head, fur ruffling back into its natural place and its trio of tails curling around its dainty black paws at it regarded the two boys. Shikato seemed curiously horrified, like one would when passing something they knew was mortifying but their innate instinctual curiosity drove them to look and be grossed out anyway. Souta distractedly wondered if he ever really acknowledged the reality of the demons. Maybe he just abstractedly thought of them as something like human mutants…

But Souta knew what this was.

A nekomata; it was a small little neko that could light with fire and transform to some giant saber-toothed roaring beast that could protect and attack at whim.

He shivered.

Scary…but cute! Darn it, Kagome was rubbing off on him. He scratched the back of his head and regarded the cute bundle of blonde and black fur as it tilted its head sweetly and blinked its wide crimson eyes. “Well…” he chuckled lightly and relaxed, hands falling gently to the floor beside his knees. “I never expected to see you…you are Kirara right? I always heard of twin tails…gotten powerful ne?”

The kitten mewled lightly again, Souta grinning as he watched the stunned Shikato out of the corner of his eye. “That's Kirara- the demon that served my ancestors?”

Souta lowered his brows over his eyes, tilting his head and picking up the cat to cradle her against his chest and scratch under her chin like Buyo enjoyed. “She aided and worked with your ancestors and my sister as an equal- just one of the many demon kind that met and walked with the group.”

Shikato blinked and looked up at him. Hand tentatively outstretched to caress the fur on Kirara's head. “Do you think we…” he smiled briefly at the purr that rumbled through their fingers from the small animal, “I think we should compare histories.”

Souta settle back against his heels and regarded the Eschew in front of him. Shikato really had no clue what he was getting into…Souta laughed and nodded his head, picking up Kirara and settling back into his chair to listen and then to tell.

It might be a very long night…enough time for his sister to come home.

And then the power hit.

..x.X.x..

.x.x.

.x.