Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ True Power ❯ Chapter X ( Chapter 10 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

True Power

Chapter X

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or Yuyu Hakusho!

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Botan was still crying by the time she made it back to the Spirit world, only she was attempting to hide it from all those that crossed her path. Unfortunately she ran into Kurama as he was making his way to the library within the spirit world palace. His keen nose picked up the scent of her tears and he stopped her to find out what was wrong. Finally coercing the story out of the young woman he tugged her back to Koenma's office and asked the spirit prince to summon Genkai, Kuwabara, and Hiei back for a meeting. Once all were present he had Botan retell the story about what had happened.

The others all appeared to have thoughtful looks on their faces when Kurama finally brought up the query he had originally wanted to ask the group at large. “Has anyone thought to ask where she learned to cure what ailed Yukina? I mean not even Lord Koenma could save her and he's the prince of Spirit world.”

“Wait a minute Kurama, you're not sayin that Urameshi's girl is one of the bad guys, are ya?” asked Kuwabara as he looked around at all the others of the gathered group. “Is that why he's not here?”

“Well, with what Kurama has suggested we all know he wouldn't take well to the thought of it. But his point has its merits. She did know how to undo what the demon had done and she was also the one that drove him off during the fighting. This theory brings to light that it could all be a ruse to get close to the team and gain our trust,” Koenma stated rationally.

“I choose to trust the girl; the dimwit is usually good when it comes to judging people.” Genkai said simply as she flicked a cigarette away from herself.

“I cannot penetrate her mind with the jagan,” Hiei stated simply causing the others to all look at him in surprise.

“What happens when you try?” questioned the spirit prince tiredly.

“I can sense nothing about her when I touch her mind, almost as if there is no mind there to contact.”

“I believe that this situation calls for some careful monitoring at the very least,” Kurama stated coolly as he looked at those present. “She is definitely a possible threat and she is dangerous.”

“I can see if Shizuru will meet her, maybe she'll get a feelin about her,” offered Kuwabara as he looked to Koenma for permission. Said demi-god nodded tiredly as he allowed himself to drop down into his chair.

“Try not to let Yusuke in on what you're doing, the last thing I need is a pissed off mazoku on my hands.”

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Yusuke had come home in a bad mood after hearing that the demon was rampaging within the Makai and that he and the rest of the group would have to go in after him. Kagome took the news fairly well and even helped him pack a little bag in order to take with him, including a first aid kit. He was actually quite amused at all of the items that she had packed for him. There was even instant ramen and cereal bars in the bag along with matches to start a fire.

An hour and a half after he had gotten home Kuwabara had stopped by to hang out for a few. Knowing that he wanted to spend time with her boyfriend, Kagome made her way into the kitchen in order to start making dinner. Since Yusuke was a mazoku demon Kagome decided on a mostly meat dinner; Yusuke's would be rare and lightly seasoned, hers would be medium rare and lightly seasoned, and judging Kazuma by the way he acted he'd like his medium well.

It was during dinner that the human male spoke up about his sister wanting to meet the woman that manage to tame Yusuke and get him to make a commitment. Kagome giggled but waved her hands in front of her in the negative, “sadly when you all leave for the Makai I will be leaving to visit relatives and will be out of town.”

“Which relatives?” questioned Yusuke as he looked up from his delicious food.

“The ones I told you about the other night,” she murmured softly. “They have made some plans for the near future and I need to be present in order to help them.

“Ah,” he said knowingly, “by the way the food is perfect.”

“Glad you enjoy, I guessed you'd like it rare, most demons do.”

“You've spent a lot of time amongst demons?” questioned the human psychic as he looked over at her.

“More than most humans, I'm sure.” Her eyes held amusement as she looked at him from her spot across the table. “I mean, I'm currently spending time with one now, as are you.”

He had to smile at that as he acknowledged the truth of her statement. Unlike Kurama he didn't feel that she was one of the enemies, because she gave off a vibe that said she was kind, caring, and friendly. From what Hiei said he couldn't exactly sense her presence, but he, Kazuma, could. Her energy felt welcoming and thrummed with happiness at the moment unlike when her aura washed over Kurama and Hiei and she felt of indignation and anger. At the meeting he had kept his mouth shut though as it was obvious that the others were against her presence with the exception of Genkai.

That night he left in a good mood, not caring that he wouldn't be able to have his sister sense her to see if she had negative feelings from his best friend's girlfriend. He himself felt no ill will from her; it just seemed to him that those suggesting such had been on receiving ends of her anger and were in turn spiteful. Koenma only agreed to the plan in his opinion because Kurama was normally level headed and the facts as they were presented had made sense.

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Rain pelted the ground as a lone figure made her way through the Makai forest and to the palace that lay beyond. If she had wanted she could have easily opened a portal right to the front gates, but she preferred to stroll through and take in the scenery as well as the feel of demonic energy. A smile touched her lips as two familiar energies brushed against her senses, because these two energies headed for her destination as well. Their speed was greater than her own, but she felt no need to rush as she continued on her way. When she felt them reach the palace a small laugh escaped her lips because she felt the tense auras of the palace guards.

It was about fifteen minutes later when she arrived at the gates and both guards bowed before her. She greeted them with a nod and a smile, having long since given up on commanding them to not bow to her. Handing her cloak to a maid that rushed to her smile she asked for a slight snack and fresh clothes to be delivered to the bath as she made her way to her room and her own personal hot spring. Oh she was so ready to get the travel grime and the smell of Ningenkai off of her body.

As the maid rushed to do as her mistress asked she also remembered the orders of the lord and stopped another servant that was carrying his tea and gave the man further instructions. He agreed and continued on his way. After knocking and being told to enter he poured out three cups and served tea to all present before bowing deeply to the lord of the house. “Sesshoumaru-sama, a maid told me you wished to be informed that hime-sama has arrived and is bathing before she will join you.”

He gave a nod and the servant took that as a clear dismissal and exited the room. Interest entered the avatar's eyes as he looked at the powerful demon lord with a new light. Before he could stop himself he opened his mouth with a question. “Sesshoumaru-sama, I had no idea that you had a daughter, let alone a mate.”

Bored golden eyes never looked up from the papers on his desk as he deigned to answer the inquiry about his person. “Not that it is any of your business but I do have a daughter though not a mate. Also, he speaks of my sister both of whom are adopted into my house. Of course I had thought you come to ask after the new threat and not my family.”

Properly knocked down a peg about asking something he shouldn't have he nodded his agreement before voicing the query that Koenma had sent them there for. “Koenma-sama has sent us to inquire if we might search your lands while we hunt for the demon that attacked our own.”

“Your search of my personal lands are unnecessary, for Hideki is not upon them, or do you doubt my abilities and my army?”

Hiei tensed at the clear threat hanging in the air as Kurama sat up straighter at his perceived slight to the lord. “Of course not Sesshoumaru-sama, it was just that Koenma-sama wished for us to be thorough in our search.”

“You may tell Koenma that his people are not to tread on my lands and that my patience wears thin with his emissaries. Now leave my presence before I forcibly remove yours.”

Both immediately bowed and left his office to find a waiting girl giggling at them as her honey-brown eyes glowed with amusement and her tail swished behind her. “You really shouldn't anger papa so early in the morning, especially when he is busy and you're interrupting.”

“And you are?” snapped the hybrid as Kurama sent him a warning glare.

A familiar smile touched the girl's lips as she looked at him, “you are very courageous to snap at a princess in her own home, especially one with a father as powerful as mine. I suggest you leave before my aunt finds that you have not only snapped at me but also angered father.”

Her eyes flicked off when she mentioned her aunt before she turned and walked into her father's study. Kurama strode from the hall and quickly made his way from the building with Hiei not far behind. When the two were safely far enough away from the palace he turned to the hybrid and glared darkly. “Why on earth did you snap at her when she referred to Sesshoumaru as `papa'?”

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Kagome smiled as she rose from her bath and dried off. She found an elaborate kimono set out for her and sighed but began putting the pieces on none the less. First was a yukata, followed by a soft ice blue kimono, and a dark blue kimono with snowflake patterns. Her obi was a white one and after tying that in place she pulled her hair up before letting a few strands fall to frame her face as they curled slightly. Sesshoumaru had this obsession with forcing her to dress up or as he would say `properly' when she was visiting the palace.

It irked her that she had to wear such finery, but she had become accustomed to the dress from the many times she had stayed with the demon lord in the past. When she had all five layers of the light silk on she pulled on the soft silk slippers and started making her way to where she could feel her brother's presence. It didn't take long before she opened the door and walked in without announcing her presence, but he was used to such things when they pertained to her.

“It's good to see you dressed without any fight,” the demon murmured without looking up from his desk.

Her eyes flashed slightly, but she remained calm as she spoke a reply. “I decided that at least you didn't try making me wear the miko robes again. I still detest donning them even with everything laid to rest.”

“Understandable, but the last time the servants laid them out for you it was Inuyasha's childish prank, which you throttled the whelp for.”

“True,” she added with a light smile, “but you are also known to have them laid out when I have angered you.”

“And the last time I did that you stalked to my office in naught but a towel, so I doubt I'll be doing it again.”

“At least not anytime soon,” she agreed with a grin before turning her attention to the young demoness in the corner. “And what are you up to today Rin?”

“Papa has agreed to let me go into the human world with Shiori to do a little shopping, I was actually wondering if you would be willing to accompany me?”

“Forgive me Rin, but I must meet with several people here in this world before I even think about returning to Ningenkai. But I'll go shopping with you the next time you go, sound good?”

The girl nodded as she rose and offered both of them a smile, “then I'll just be going to find Shiori now and I'll see you tonight at dinner.”

Both nodded and said their good-byes before Kagome turned back to the demon lord with amusement dancing in her eyes. “How went the meeting with Koenma's lapdogs?”

“It would seem that something has gotten under the kitsune's skin; he is agitated and easily angered it would appear.”

“Ah, that may be my fault. He decided to question my loyalty to the ones I care for, so I decided to put him in his place.”

“And where exactly is his place?” asked the demon king with a raised brow.

“On his knees bowing at my feet,” she replied with a slight smile. His answering smirk was reward enough for her answer. “Do they have anything informative to tell us or are they fishing for more information?”

“Neither, they wish to search my personal lands for this Hideki. I shall send word to Kouga and Shiori to deny all requests for similar reasons. We would be able to sense this threat if he were within our own borders.”

“Is Shiori in charge while Inuyasha is here helping with the planning?”

“Yes, just as Rin will be in charge here when I am away for battle.”

“Do you think it will come to an all-out war like it did with his father?”

“Inuyasha and I have decided upon a course of action, we will draw him out from wherever he is hiding away. There is to be a tournament in two months that will decide the next general of the west, and I shall open the tournament to all those that are willing to compete for the honor. The tournament will end with the winner facing off against the current ranking generals.”

“How do you know that this tournament will draw him out?”

“He wants to show his power and that he has surpassed his father. He will either show up to the tournament or he will participate in order to take down the house of the west. All other ruling parties will be in attendance and even the spirit prince will receive an invitation to attend.”

“Shall I attend as a member of the family or as an escort for my boyfriend?”

“For now Hideki has no idea of your true identity, so you will attend with this boy. I do plan to meet him and judge his potential as I know he will most likely compete as well.”

“Then it would seem everyone has a battle to prepare for,” she murmured softly as she looked into his cool amber eyes.

Sesshoumaru stood up and walked to her, wrapping her in his arms as he inhaled the scent of her hair. “You do not have to be present or even join the battle if you do not wish to.”

“And you know as well as I do that it is my duty to you and to the land to protect all life.”

“And you know that every single one of us would give our lives to protect you.”

“I'm no longer the little girl in need of protection aniki, I'm no longer the same girl that started the shard hunt five hundred years ago that was weak. I can't afford to be that girl anymore, even if sometimes I wish I could be.”

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“We've been in the Makai for a month and haven't been able to find a damn thing, what about you two?” asked Yusuke as the four detectives waited in Koenma's office.

“Nothing much, only that demons have been disappearing to join his army even though none know exactly where he's hiding.”

“Fuck, then we got nothing out of the entire trip!”

“Quiet Yusuke,” sighed Koenma as he walked into his office and plopped down into his chair behind his desk. “It would appear that the king has come up with some kind of plan, as he is hosting a tournament to decide his next general in a month. Lord Sesshoumaru is expecting that this Hideki will be in attendance and is preparing for an all-out war with any forces that the enemy will bring. I want all of you to compete, and know that if you win you will be granted the honor of joining the king's army and will be training with him to become his next general.”

“Does that mean we'll be released from our duties as spirit detectives?” asked Hiei as he looked interested.

“If you are named the winner, then yes I will release you from my service as I have no power over Lord Sesshoumaru or his house. And to let you all know; Yukina, Shizuru, Botan, and Keiko will be attending as my escorts so that they will be close in case this demon decides to attack our families.”

“I suppose it would be safer to have them under the watchful eye of the demon lord than back in the Ningenkai unprotected.” Kurama said softly as Hiei glared at both him and the spirit prince.

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