After Midnight

DISCLAIMER: ::levels bullhorn at crowd of lawyers:: I do not own Inuyasha. ::lawyers grumble and walk away::


Chapter 10:
The Snake in the Grass


Naboru stalked down the stone hallway toward the large wooden door of the study. It was rightfully his as Lord of the South, but no, she was there. He was not stupid enough to disobey her. How could he, when he owed her so much?

The door loomed in front of him carved with the draconic figures of the previous Lord’s clan. Naboru sneered at it. ‘That will be replaced,’ he thought. It was a blight in a snake demon’s domain. He knocked.

“Enter,” her voice was light and melodic. Good, that meant she was happy. Whatever she had planned must be going well. She was always giving when she was in a good mood. Perhaps she would finally allow him to kill the miko.

With a harsh scrape the door slid back and Naboru bowed low. “My Lady,” his rich tone echoed off the walls.

“Good morning, Naboru,” she sang. The burgundy streaks in her hair caught the rays of the sun as they filtered through the window behind the desk. An elegant clawed hand motioned for him to seat himself.

The room was cavernous, its slate gray color and lack of furnishings added to the allusion. To his left the overlarge hearth sat dormant.

Naboru closed the door and took up a cushion opposite his mistress. “You appear well, my Lady.”

She sighed contentedly. “I am well. Things are finally coming together.”

Cautious jade eyes observed the tilt of the demoness’ lips and the flush on her cheeks. Truth be told she was a little too cheerful.

Propping her elbows on the table between them, she threaded the fingers of her hands together under her chin. Her voice dropped deadpan. “Now, my dear, I would like an explanation as to how a single miko drove back your army.”

The sensation her words evoked was akin to swallowing acid. For a moment his mouth worked without sound but an impatient cock of her eyebrow broke the dam of his words. “The miko is more powerful than I recall. She was but a weakling before. Something has changed her. She is unlike any other I have crossed.”

The female youkai nodded, tilting her head to the side causing a lock of hair to brush across her collarbone. After a measured silence she replied. “Such high praise for one you so loathe.” He scowled and she continued. “I am aware of her change.”

Naboru blinked in surprise. His mistress rose and circled behind him. Her hand fell on his right shoulder and her breath caressed his left ear. “M-My Lady?” He choked.

“Do not worry, Naboru,” his name slid over her lips like silk. “I am not angry. The miko was not your intended target.” She held a scroll out in front of him with her left hand. “You simply could not resist nettling her could you?” A small laugh escaped her slender throat.

He took the faded scroll in his hands and unrolled it. “No, my Lady.” His voice became a little steadier. “I suppose I couldn’t.”

The demoness moved back around the table, folding her legs under her neatly. She studied the snake youkai’s face as he read. “Why did you not kill her son?”

A blush rose on his cheeks. Only his mistress could make him feel like a reprimanded youth. “I underestimated her. I had wanted to slay the kit in front of her, but she put up a barrier.”

She hummed in understanding and wagged a claw tipped finger at him. “You talked too much, my dear, and missed your chance.”

He nodded sheepishly then gestured to the scroll. “What is this about?”

The smile on her face was dark as sin. “A binding.”

Black brows furrowed and his jaw dropped in shock. “But these ingredients...” he trailed off to glance back at the scroll. “Blood of the faithful, hair?”

“Yes, they took care of both of those at the same time. It was rather nice of them. Hair was simple, but necessary. If that annoying little rat that follows him around hadn’t cut herself, on purpose no less.” She chuckled. “Well I don’t know if I would have been able to get the blood.”

Naboru let his gaze slide back down the list of ingredients. “But a chip from the mirror of Ame-no-Uzume?” He asked incredulously.

The female’s fangs peeked over her bottom lip and she tossed him a playful look. “Not nearly as hard as the skin of a celestial maiden.”

His eyes almost popped out of his head.

“My dear Naboru, you doubt my resourcefulness.” Her grin widened. “I have been planning this for centuries purely for entertainment. I am only now so lucky that it fits my current scheme.” She reached forward and retrieved the scroll from his hand.

“So,” he drawled a glint of mischief in his eyes, “what does it take to bind the great Sesshomaru?” His voice was mocking.

“Much,” she purred.

The corner of his lips quirked. “Your hatred of your family is strong.” Without warning her hands slammed down on the desk between them. He flinched.

“Do not speak of him as family,” she spat. “He is the son of the worthless dog who held my aunt hostage.” Her eyes flashed red.

Immediately he bowed his head in shame. “Forgive me, my Lady.” Lengthy apologies where no good he knew. She would either kill him or forgive him. Her moods were always fickle.

Silence reverberated through the room as the female youkai regained herself. She sniffed, and flicked her wrist casually. “Do not think on it. We have more important matters to discuss.”

When he once again raised his eyes to hers she continued. “I have it under good authority that the miko is headed north along with her troublesome retinue. You are going to take the full force of your army and finish what you started. Every village between the border and the keep of the Eastern Lord, raze it all.”

Hesitantly he interjected. “That will take time.”

“I know. I know, but I’m sure your men will enjoy themselves. Just keep a steady pace. When the time is right I’ll send word of another task I have for you.”

“Send word? My Lady, if I may ask, where will you be?”

She drug a single claw along her bottom lip and laughed. “Where else but by my beloved uncle’s side?”

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“How can it be so cold in the morning and so hot by mid day?” Akitsuki gripped as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

Sayuri tapped her chin in thought before chirping, “Because it’s springtime.”

Akitsuki sighed. “This is ridiculous. How did I get stuck with a sister that is eternally happy?”

“Luck,” the peanut gallery riding on her back quipped.

She desperately wanted to reach back and smack her sister. They had been climbing up the mountain pass for hours it seemed and all they could see was brown dirt, gray cliffs, and the almost visual stench of ookami. ‘At least we know we’re close,’ she thought wryly.

After the leopard attacked Akitsuki no longer questioned her sister’s insistence they both wear the talisman. Without it they both would have surely been captured, or killed. She shivered despite the heat. The thought of meeting their ends at the youkai’s claws reminded Akitsuki of something.

“Hey,” she called back to her sister.

Sayuri’s chestnut head appeared in her peripheral vision. “Yeah?”

“When we see Father again you need to tell him you took first blood from an opponent.” The elder hanyou commented proudly.

Her sister went oddly silent.

“Sayuri?” Akitsuki twisted to see her sister’s face. She looked pale and sad. “You did a good job Sayuri. Don’t feel bad. He would have hurt us.”

The younger girl bit her lip. “I know.” Her voice was so soft Akitsuki had to strain even though her sister was next to her ear.

“No, you don’t know.” She pushed, locking stern brown eyes with her sister’s curious green. “Mother would be proud of you. Ojii-san would be proud of you too.”

“Really?” Sayuri blinked owlishly at the idea of her Grandfather being proud. She tried to imagine the look on his face when he found out she, the one who dallied in the gardens, and not her sister, the one who trained endlessly, took first blood. A giggle bubbled up in her chest and spilled over her lips. “I bet his face will look funny when he finds out.”

Akitsuki took a moment to contemplate before she too began laughing. She imagined his golden eyes going wide and his jaw flapping open in shock revealing his long canines. Her laughter increased ten fold as she shared the image with her sister. Soon both siblings were too lost in their mirth to realize they had reached the entrance to the valley of the wolf den.

“Halt.” The stern voice almost caused the elder panther hanyou to stumble in shock.

Two pairs of eyes looked up to see the one who addressed them. Standing in front of them was a wolf youkai with a white mohawk. He had a long spear in one hand, the sunlight glinting off its tip. Thankfully it wasn’t pointed at them but instead propped with its blunt end against the ground.

Another wolf youkai sauntered up. He had a bluish-gray streak down the middle of his hair and wore mostly fur. “What do you got there?”

The first youkai scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. “Uh, I don’t know.” He admitted. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Akitsuki bowed, careful not to go low enough so that she would be overbalanced. When she raised up she met the curious looks of the two youkai. “We are friends of Lady Kagome here to see the wolf Prince Koga.”

“Friends of Kagome!” He exclaimed.

“You’re friends with Nee-san?” Asked the second.

Both girls nodded, a little taken aback by the reception. The two wolf demons beamed in unison.

“I’m Ginta,” the second continued. He pointed to the youkai with the mohawk, “and he’s Hakkaku.”

Sayuri eyed the two wolves, enjoying their animated and jovial nature. “My name is Sayuri and this is my sister Akitsuki. Kagome told us if we got separated from her to go to Prince Koga.”

Akitsuki shot her a glare to show her disapproval. Sayuri merely shrugged.

“Nee-san’s not in trouble is she?” Ginta asked.

The two hanyous looked at each other for a moment before Akitsuki answered. Her voice hesitant. “We’re not sure.”

Hakkaku’s face turned grave. “We better get you to Koga so you can tell him what’s happened.” Ginta nodded his agreement.

They made their way down the valley passing several real wolves sunning themselves on the rocks along the stream. The closer they got to the den the more nervous the girls became. When the wolf brother’s caught their darting glances Ginta spoke up. “Hey, don’t worry. No one here will hurt you. Kagome’s our pack sister and if she sent you to us then you’re under our protection.”

Akitsuki nodded dumbly watching as the wolves eyed her and her sister. They passed through the waterfall before Hakkaku called out. “Hey Koga!”

“What?” A voice called from the back of the cave.

“Kagome-nee-san sent these two to us.” Ginta gestured to the two nervous panther hanyous at his side.

Koga’s head snapped up. “Kagome?” Ice blue eyes swiveled to take in the appearance of the two young cubs. He motioned for them all to sit. His brow creased in worry. “What happened?”

It was Akitsuki who explained while Sayuri added anything she thought her sister had left out. By the end of the tale all three wolves were slightly awed they’d made it to the den by themselves. But the wonder was overshadowed by concern.

After a few moments Koga seemed to snap out of it. “Ginta, get these girls something to eat and drink.” The youkai scurried off. “You two could probably use some rest as well.”

Sayuri nodded. “Thank you.”

“Hey don’t mention it kid.” He replied gruffly.

“Are you going to go check it out Koga?” Hakkaku bit his lower lip.

The wolf Prince cracked the knuckles on his right hand. “Yeah. You girls will be safe with these two. Stay in the cave.”

Akitsuki, Sayuri, and Hakkaku watched as, without another word, Koga sprinted through the cave and leapt through the waterfall in a flurry of brown fur.

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The trees whipped by in blurs of brown and green. She dodged a few roots before alighting on a convenient deer trail that lead in the direction the pull was coming from. After a scant ten minutes the sensation ceased, meaning that either the danger had passed, the girl’s got away again, or the necklace broke. Kagome really wasn’t sure of how much the charm could take before the enchantment snapped, but she was hoping it was a lot.

About a mile behind her she could feel Shippo and Rin’s aura. Further behind them she could feel Inuyasha and Kikyo. Back farther still was Sango, Miroku and Kirara. It was like a line of very fast ants moving through the forest. All streaking after an insufferable daiyoukai in white.

Without the insistent tug on her being, Kagome found her thoughts wandering to said youkai. He had a lot of good qualities. The fact that he bolted from the clearing before she could finish getting all the words out of her mouth proved it. She was convinced, the demon Lord could care. So why was he always so snippy with her? But then he hadn’t really been short with her at the stream, had he?

She replayed the conversation in her mind. No. He had almost been...nice. It had seemed like he had been trying to comfort her at one point and she was certain he had teased her. Kagome shook her head and dodged a deep rut in the forest floor. The situation was too odd. The last night‘s discussion with the daiyoukai had been on the same level of weirdness as one she had long ago.

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23 Years Ago

A single guttering candle sat on a low table. It was the only measure of time for Kagome in this place. Long shadows wrapped around the bookcases and she wondered how youkai noses could handle so much dust. On a slightly worn navy cushion she sat, reading by the waning light.

This was her favorite time, when the large library was empty of any other presence. Rin had turned in for the night hours ago and Kagome guessed it was now about three in the morning. In another hour, hour and a half, the servants would begin rising to prepare an early breakfast for their Lord. For now though all was silent and the miko reveled in the peace. The smells of parchment and age that clung to the room gave it a warm and comforting feel. She was just about to call it a night when she felt him.

His presence moved from his study down the hall and paused just outside the door. Kagome waited to see if he would continue on. Instead he simply stood there. The low thrum of his youki not necessarily disrupting her tranquility, but something she was incapable of ignoring all the same.

Another minute passed before she broke the silence. “Are you going to stand out there all night?”

The shoji screen immediately slid open. “Miko,” he acknowledged as he stepped over the threshold.

“Good evening Sesshomaru.” Kagome tucked her left ankle under her right knee and sat up a bit straighter. When he said nothing further and continued to stare at her she self-consciously smoothed the wrinkles from her hakama. She would never be one for kimonos.

His deep voice startled her after such a drawn out silence. “Why is it you address me properly only in front of others in my castle?”

Her head snapped up and she frowned in thought. “I’m not sure.” A pause. “Why? Does it bother you?”

The demon Lord said nothing instead choosing to slide the screen shut behind him as he moved into the room. He seated himself regally on the cushion across from hers. His head tilted to the side quizzically and Kagome had the mental image of a curious puppy. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Why do you avoid me when I visit?”

A sleek eyebrow raised. “This Sesshomaru does no such thing.”

Kagome rolled up the scroll she was reading and folded her hands in her lap. She sent him a no nonsense look. “Yes you do. I can sense you, you know. There have been many times you have been near me late at night like this, or when I’ve trained in the dojo.”

If she had been expecting him to look abashed she would have been highly disappointed. He blinked slowly and she could have sworn a corner of his lips quirked ever so slightly. “Perhaps.”

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He had not said much else. Simply advised her to get adequate rest and quit the room. ‘I swear between Inuyasha and his brother I’m going to go crazy before I make it another 450 years.’ She sighed. It seemed so long until she would be able to see her family again. A quick mental slap kept her from getting swept up in depressing thoughts about that subject and she realized she hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings. It was nearly noon and she could feel Sesshomaru’s aura a few miles ahead of her.

The sensation of a sharp prick on her neck caused her to swat reflexively. She brought her had away to reveal a flattened flea youkai. “Myoga! What are you doing here?”

There was a faint popping noise before the old demon regained his original shape. He hopped up onto her shoulder. “Hello Kagome. Have you by chance seen Lord Sesshomaru?”

Now she was baffled. Myoga was Inuyasha’s retainer not Sesshomaru’s. “Um, yeah. Actually I have. I’m headed toward him now.” She attempted to shoot a sly look at the flea but couldn’t really manage it due to his position near her neck. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”

“Observant as ever my Lady.”

Kagome huffed. He knew she disliked the titles. “Has something happened?”

Myoga used one of his four hands to scratch the back of his head. “Several things actually.”

“I’m waiting,” the miko ground out a bit impatiently, leaping over a downed tree branch.

“Oh, yes. I received word Lady Rin was kidnapped.”

Kagome cut him off. “That’s old news. She’s with us now. Actually not too far behind me riding with my son.”

“Well that’s a relief.” He let out a sigh.

The miko raised an eyebrow in a very Sesshomaru fashion. “Was that all?”

“No.” He answered slowly.

“Spit. It. Out.” Kagome said, losing all patience with the little flea.

He had the decency to blush. “Apologies. The attacks on Lord Sesshomaru’s lands have ceased.”

Her brows furrowed. “And this is a bad thing?”

“Indeed it is. They have been going on now for a year. The only reason to pull back would be so that they could prepare for a full assault.”

Kagome gasped. “Oh no.” She felt it a moment before it happened.

Kagome skidded to a stop nearly unseating Myoga in the process. The sharp zing of a sword was heard as it was brought down directly in front of her. She jumped back and stared at the oni now in her path. Cursing, the miko took a moment to berate herself about letting her guard down.

“So, you are the miko?”

Kagome fought off her surprise. This ugly orange glob of demon knew who she was?

“Awful small.” The oni commented off hand. He leaned his sword up on his shoulder.

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Small am I?’ The sound of her own weapon leaving its scabbard ricocheted off the trees. With a start she noticed Myoga hadn’t run off.

“You’re staying?” She asked incredulously.

“With all due respect Lady Kagome. I am much safer on you at the moment.” Myoga said as he crawled under the collar of her tunic.

“Well that’s a relief I guess.” She turned her full attention onto the oni. “What do you want?” She bit out. “Leave, and you may live.”

His grotesquely yellow fangs flashed and he chuckled. “Oh, I can’t do that. You see I’m here to delay you.”

She brought her sword around to block his swing. ‘Delay me?’

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AN:

::falls out of chair::
I was... nominated... for the Dokuga awards... for Best Action/Adventure... holy crap!
::stares at screen stunned::
Thank you! Thank you to whoever nominated me!
Wow, I’m glad you guys enjoy reading this. I’m deeply honored.

As always thank you to my reviewers who make writing this less of a sad little hobby and more of a joy.

Preview!

Chapter 11:

“Lord Sesshomaru!” Rin’s feet pounded across the forest floor toward the distant white figure of the daiyoukai.

In a blink, the demon Lord that was a hundred and fifty yards away, was now ten yards away. Kagome sucked in a startled gasp. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. His youki, which was usually contained to a comforting thrum was now a pounding bass that vibrated to her bones. The hair on the back of her neck and arms stood at attention. Looking ahead, she could tell Shippo was feeling the same. His usual shapely tail took on the form of a bottle brush. He reached out a hand to grab Rin by the arm.

Round brown eyes locked onto the kitsune’s wan face. “What?”

Neither mother nor son answered.