Unexpected Success
I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters or locations.
An Unintentional Rescue
Inuyasha reclined further in his seat, his neck craned to ensure that he would be able to see Kagome regardless of the small circle that had placed itself around her, effectively obstructing his previous line of sight. He, along with a large part of the room, had watched as King Inutaisho and Queen Higurashi had approached the Princess with two men trailing behind them.
The first was someone Inuyasha was very familiar with: Myoga, a demon in his father's Council that acted both as an adviser to the King, and a retainer to the Prince himself when he had first been brought to live in the Palace. Of course, in Inuyasha's opinion, the demon was no more than a cowardly flea that was a bit too enthusiastic about female bodies, but even he couldn't deny that the old man was knowledgeable about many matters concerning both history and politics. Also Inuyasha found punching him to be an immensely enjoyable experience. The second man, on the other hand, he knew very little about. Known to be a general or captain of some sort, the dark haired man was from Kagome's kingdom and would accompany the Royal family on all of their previous visits. Keh, the only reason I know he exists is that Miroku is jealous of him, he scoffed.
Indeed, the young monk could be seen glowering at the man—perhaps his name was Kisuke—from where he sat, his expression nearly mirroring the one Inuyasha wore only minutes ago. Recalling how the man was even better at attracting women than Miroku, despite seeming to be not interested in them, the Prince suddenly felt his lips quirk up in amusement.
But what are they all talking about? It was clearly an odd scene, all of them gathered together in a tight huddle, and Inuyasha found that curiosity had begun to eat at him. Straining his ears, he attempted to eavesdrop on their discussion, but even his hearing could only pick up snippets over the din of the party crowd.
"Security arrangements… seemed too obvious… turns out… there was a pebble in my shoe…"
"… to place additional guards along the outer perimeter… in case of emergency… keep you safe."
"That doesn't seem logical… studied guard positions and shift changes… better to change posts and routes than simply increase numbers."
Although he had no idea what they were talking about he could piece the general discussion out from context. Clearly, there was some kind of security issue—that often happened at large scale high society events such as this. What had really surprised him, though, was the fact that his father had neglected to say anything to him and had instead included Kagome in the conversation. Inuyasha checked his gut to see if he could scrounge up any feelings of anger or resentment, but any trace he did find was overwhelmed by the greater feeling of surprise brought out by Kagome. The last comment had come from her, and being a trained solider he could appreciate the logic behind her words; under the unlikely circumstance that anyone would be stupid enough to try entering the palace premises, they would need to have done sufficient research beforehand. Memorizing guard stations and security routines would be necessary in order to infiltrate such a heavily guarded area, and should those details suddenly change the very night of the heist… Let's just say that any criminal worth their salt would know to cut and run.
Looking back towards the group, the Prince found that the small circle had since dissipated, all of them likely going their separate ways to mingle or deal with whatever threat was looming. However, Inuyasha found himself unable to let go of his need to be in the know and leaned casually towards Miroku, "Hey monk. Did my father say anything to you about additional security for the ball?" Being a general, it was part of Miroku's job to be well informed about security conditions within the castle.
Miroku, for his part, hadn't the faintest as to why his friend was suddenly inquiring about such matters. Surely the hanyou couldn't be that bored. But the tone of his voice and hard contours of his face compelled the pony tailed man to answer with equal seriousness.
Xxx
Sango watched from the other side of the ballroom as the tall man next to the Prince slowly got up from his seat, and then proceeded out the nearest exit with a profound sense of purpose in his step. She briefly wondered if it had to do with whatever the King had been so eager to inform Kagome of. The demon slayer had caught sight of the approaching group almost immediately after she and Kagome had descended the flight of stairs. By the noticeably anxious looks on each of their faces—and a discreet indication from the Queen—Sango had made a hasty exit from the ensuing discussion, delaying only long enough to give her friend's hand a supportive squeeze.
She had then meandered her way through the large crowd, occasionally stopping to speak to anyone who sought her attention, and pointedly ignoring the large niches along the expanse of the ballroom that housed all the deadbeats, rakes and desperate husband hunters. As she engaged in conversation with an older gentleman who was acquainted with her father, Sango's gaze simultaneously swept the ginormous hall while the young woman inside her eagerly took in the elegant décor and sophisticated ambiance.
She recalled a conversation she had once had with her father as a young girl, during one of her lessons in history. He had remarked on how Inutaisho, upon being crowned King, had neglected to construct a Palace in the traditional style of the demon kingdom with wood and intricate arrangements of walls and paths. He had instead created a fortress made completely of stone and metal, with its spirals and towers being more reminiscent of Kingdoms from across the seas. "A display of power", Kagome had once said and Sango knew exactly what she meant. By creating a stronghold unlike any other in the land, made from rare materials and exuding a kind of terrifying beauty and elegance not normally seen by the people of his land, the silver haired King had made a statement of his wealth, influence and power that would remain for centuries to come.
And speaking of silver hair, she thought just as her eyes landed on an Inuyasha with an unusually somber expression on his face. Sango briefly considered whether the prince was truly the same as Kagome had described. During the years of listening to her fantastical stories about his temper, overbearing attitude and sheer rudeness, Sango had come to the conclusion that her closest friend may have been exaggerating a bit. While she knew that Kagome would never purposefully embellish a story in an effort to garner sympathy—mostly due to her dislike for appearing weak- the dark haired royal did have the innate ability to make everything sound a bit dramatic. Surely the Prince couldn't be that bad, if the hordes of women falling at his feet was any indication.
As the lithe young woman traversed the length of the ballroom, she could tell from the slight stiffening of Inuyasha's physique that the hanyou had seen, or at the very least smelt, her approach. However it was not until she stood only a few feet away that Sango chose to speak.
"Good evening, Your Highness."
Inuyasha stood to greet the female standing before him; his nose had pick up a vaguely familiar scent only moments prior, effectively drawing him out of his contemplative thoughts. "Good evening, Lady Sango. I trust you are enjoying the party?"
The hanyou vaguely recalled his thoughts from earlier that day, from the minute that the three women has stepped off of the carriage that had brought them to his palace, he could tell that Kagome's friend was not simply a gently bred daughter of nobility but a fierce warrior as well. Sango, too, stood slightly on edge. Given her heritage, being this close to a demon as powerful as Inuyasha caused her defensive instincts to bare to the surface. As the hanyou's gaze bore into hers- it was clear that the half-demon sensed her unease—she searched her mind for the best possible route to gain the information she desired, only to recall something that Kagome had once told her.
"Probably the only good thing about that sadistic puppy is that he doesn't resort to senseless mind games. He appreciates it when people are straight with him, because he'll always be straight with them; there's no pretending with Inuyasha."
As she noticed Inuyasha's gaze travel up and down her body, not in any lecherous or condescending manner but simply as though he was trying to figure out exactly what she was, Sango decided to follow that little voice in her head that sounded exactly like her insane friend. She decided to be straight.
"In case you're wondering, I am the daughter of a Duke but my family line traces back to the demon slayers of old. And yes, I can fight. I've also heard some pretty terrible things about you and am curious as to how true they might be." For a split second Sango's entire body froze, and her muscles prepared for fight or flight until she realized that the fangs on display were not a sigh of aggression but that the Prince's expression of practiced formality had transformed into a smirk.
With an amused glint in his eyes, the hanyou spoke with humor in his voice, "Demon slaying, huh. Not exactly a flourishing market." Of course the trafficking and smuggling of demons was still done, but Inuyasha doubted that her family had any part of that action. True demon slayers operated by a code of conduct.
"It may not be profitable any longer, but that does not mean it isn't important." The woman's cat like eyes narrowed even further, but the hanyou prince couldn't help but want to stoke that fire behind her eyes. After an entire evening of mindless chatter and unnecessary formality, Inuyasha was dying for a good battle—even if it was only a battle of wits. "Seems pretty pointless to me."
Sango had been waiting for such a response. "Tell me this your Highness, you get served seven course meals every day and yet you still learn to hunt." She got him there. Inuyasha still remembered the first time his father had taken him into the woods, miles away from the castle with no weapons or provisions, and told him to survive with nothing but his fangs and claws. When the young boy had questioned the need for such activities, they weren't wild demons after all, he had received a sharp look and a few curt words.
"Circumstances will constantly change, but certain things stay the same. These are the things that make us who we are."
Inuyasha shared a knowing look with Kagome's companion, much as a tiger and wolf would meet in the jungle, they acknowledged each other's power and around them hung an air of mutual respect. If nothing else, at least Kagome had good taste in friends.
Xxx
They had changed.
Or, at least, they were changing.
He had watched, first from his position atop the hill and now from his perch on a high branch, as bodies rushed about in the dark. Heavily armored and carrying torches, it was clear that they were all soldiers—the palace guards he had been observing for quite some time. It was a pity that none of them were beautiful enough to be observed with any interest. However, he had more important matters at hand to think about.
It was fortunate that his method of infiltrating the Dog King's palace was not reliant on any such bypassing of security. If it had, he may have had to bolt, and that would have made a certain someone very unhappy.
Oh well, he thought, time to get to work.
Xxx
"Ah, Inuutasa, you reallzy are- hic- one ob the mossd handsome - hic—I know", slurred the dark haired man, leaning heavily on said handsome man's shoulder.
"Damn it, Miroku. How come I have to be the one to haul your drunk ass back to your room every time?" Tired and worn, the already unhappy hanyou was becoming increasingly more so as the night progressed. Sure, it had become routine by now. Whenever there would be a celebration of any kind, the stupid monk would drink too much, and then proceed to flirt with every woman his lecherous eyes would land on. The aforementioned flirting would then lead so some kind of fallout—whether it was with a husband, a suitor, or even the lady herself-, leaving Inuyasha to step in and attempt to diffuse the situation.
But it was worth it this time, he thought, as an unintentional but appropriate snicker slipped out. Thinking back, it was a rather absurd situation.
Inuyasha held Sango's gaze for a moment, and just as he prepared to release an appropriately sarcastic and witty reply, his keen senses honed onto the entrance at the far side of the ballroom. Walking their way with a somber expression and quicker-than-necessary stride, the hanyou's body immediately grew tense as he waited for Miroku to reach the table.
"And?" He asked, once his friend had reached his side.
However, instead of answering, the dark haired man simply extended a sideways glance towards Sango, implying that whatever the general had to say was for Inuyasha's ears only. That wasn't good.
Sango, for her part, had remained silent for the duration that Miroku had been approaching her and the prince, choosing instead to keenly observe the silent interactions between the two men. It wasn't until the taller man had gestured for her to leave that the demon slayer decided to voice her thoughts.
"If this is about Kagome—which I think it is—then I believe I have the right to be privy to this conversation." And she did. For what most people did not know, was that only months after Kagome and Sango had become good friends, the slayer had been summoned by the Queen, and for the last four years had served as the princess' bodyguard without the younger girl's knowledge. Therefore if something, or someone, was endangering Kagome, Sango was required to know about it.
Miroku watched the young woman for a moment, as she seemed to wage an internal battle of some kind. He assumed it was whether or not to tell us why a noble woman, and friend to the princess, had any interest in palace security details. However, as the moments dragged on, the solider in him gave way to the man, and he could not help but notice how deep and soulful her eyes were. Different from most women he knew, they showcased a certain extent of pain and suffering, but strength and wisdom as well. Like velvet over steel. And speaking of velvet…
Inuyasha swerved his head, startled, as Sango—in a more feminine voice than he thought possible—let out a shriek, and, yelling "Pervert!" proceeded to leave a bright red hand print on Miroku's cheek. While the outburst did turn a few heads, most of the assembly simply gazed on with pity and mild amusement. By that point, everyone had a good idea of what had prompted the scream and subsequent slap.
The half demon released a long suffering sigh as he watched Miroku's hand twitch as Sango yelled at him. He never did learn what information Miroku had.
And now the damn bastards too drunk to tell me, Inuyasha grumbled. Putting an end to his reminiscence, the prince unceremoniously dropped his friend on the bed. Having fallen asleep halfway through the flashback, Inuyasha knew that trying to wake the sleeping man now would get him nothing. After depositing a glass of water on the night stand, the hanyou began the walk towards the other side of the castle, where his own bedchamber was located.
Now that he had a moment alone—truly alone – he found himself reflecting back on what was perhaps the most significant part of his evening. The Sango-Miroku incident did not count as significant. That was just the lecherous monk being… well, the lecherous monk. It was in those fleeting moments of silence where both his immediate companions seemed to be lost in thought that Inuyasha's nose picked up the faintest trace of a scent. One that he could only associate with Kagome. One that made him lose all rational thought (not that he had many rational thoughts to begin with, mind you).
He slowly turned his head towards the source of the scent, his body instantly becoming ridged.
There she was.
Almost directly across him, she stood with her back facing his direction but he knew for certain that it was her thanks, in no small part, to the rich crimson dress she wore. Deciding that this was a rare opportunity to study her without being reprimanded for staring, Inuyasha allowed his eyes to briefly carry over her form. It really was astonishing to what degree her outward features had *coughcough* evolved. It still bemused him, honestly, how humans could change to such a degree in such little time. What had once been round and pudgy was now slender and curvaceous.
Oddly enough, Inuyasha found his gaze being specifically drawn to her neck. Under normal circumstances, Kagome had the tendency to leave her hair open, allowing it to fall past her shoulders and drape over her back, so it wasn't often that the hanyou could view the pale smooth slope that she kept hidden from view. It was a smart measure—whether conscious or not—to cover her neck, as most demons considered it an optimal place to mark a woman. The primal demonic part of him could envision sinking his fangs into the milky softness. And that dress! She knew that red was his favorite color. So, had she worn it on purpose?
It was then that he noticed her companion—the man she had been speaking with for a few moments. He noticed how the man's attention seemed to be fixated on her, as though he was riveted by whatever she was saying. However, Inuyasha knew very well that the moron was more focused on seeing than listening, if the trajectory of his gaze was any indication. The hanyou knew that Kagome was aware of this as well, and even if he could not hear over the crowd, he could imagine that the princess was making an excuse to leave the conversation. The strangest feeling began to well in Inuyasha's gut, as he watched her twirl her glass of amber liquid in clear agitation—Wait. There were no amber colored drinks being served, as far as he knew. Perhaps—
"Pervert!"
Thus, his train of thought had been interrupted. Although one thing he had taken away from that memory was, perhaps, something he had never thought of before. Never needed to think of, seeing as both he and Kagome were only children when they had last met. It was the severity and frequency with which men of all species objectified the dark haired Princess. Himself, included.
No, he thought, what I do isn't objectification, it's just observation… and analysis. I think.
Really? Spoke a dark recess of his mind. Weren't you picturing yourself—?
Ahh! Fine. Ok. Whatever. I'm a horrible person. Kagome, despite her many faults, was not just a mindless body, and she certainly wasn't like many of the girls that Inuyasha knew. In fact, he had probably never met anyone as compassionate as she was. Thinking back to one of the rare times in their childhood that the two had actually agreed on something and decided to sneak out of the palace after their parents had attempted to force them into dance lessons, Inuyasha recalled how they had stumbled upon the hut of a half-demon named Jinenji. Unlike himself, the giant hanyou did not resemble humans, making the burden of hatred that all hanyou bared much worse. The silver haired man also recalled his astonishment when Kagome had fearlessly walked up to the hulking man and innocently inquired what his fields were planted with. She then spent the remainder of the day, until sundown, making conversation with the man as though he was any other human.
It was then that he noticed that his stride had broken and at some point he had stopped walking, too lost in thought to realize. Inuyasha then looked up, expecting to see the familiar doors that led into his bedchambers, but instead found himself facing the entrance to the royal family's private library. It was by this point that the rest of his senses had begun to awaken, making him aware of the smell that saturated the air. He subsequently realized what he was doing here. He had unconsciously followed the scent. Followed her.
Venturing further inside the darkened hall, he might have missed the figure in the large armchair by the window if it wasn't for his demonic sight. Silently debating as to whether he should wake her up or simply have someone come in and get her, his body seemed to be ahead of his mind. He found himself moving towards the light, the serene darkness of the library cut only by a few faint streaks of moonlights coming through the windows. He was unsure when Kagome had left the party, but judging from the fully burnt candle next to her, it had been sometime.
Involuntarily, Inuyasha felt a surge of frustration wash over him. There she was, lying horizontally across the large chair, her hair askew and a book the size of his head threatening to slip from her nimble fingers. How can anyone be this clueless?, he thought as he brought his hand up to his forehead and released what was probably his hundredth sigh this night. Surely even she knew that it was unsafe for her to be alone here, and in such a defenseless state.
The prince's mind couldn't help but shift to the many guests that were still lingering in the ballroom and halls. Although the rational part of his mind reasoned that this library was private, thus no guest could enter this section of the castle, he didn't want to think about what could have happened had she been found by a guard on patrol, or a passing servant.
Roughly grinding his teeth, the hanyou called her name in an effort to wake her up and lecture her. Once, twice, and yet she simply refused to awaken. Sleepy and exasperated, he took a step closer to her form. Curiously, he found that the scent that usually overwhelmed his senses when Kagome was nearby had dimmed. Perhaps it was because she was asleep?
"Oi, stupid. If you're tired then go sleep in your room." His hand involuntarily nudged her shoulder. However, that simple brush gave Inuyasha some startling information. Her breathing was shallow, and her pulse was slower than normal. It was almost too slow. Panic began to seize him as he bent down and placed two fingers on the pulse point on her neck, only to find that her skin had become chilled, and she had shown no response to his voice or his touch.
"Kagome. Kagome!" The knot in his heart tightened slightly, and just as he turned to call out for assistance and a medic—A shadow. Of a man.
Despite dreading leaving Kagome for even a moment, Inuyasha's feral side had become predominant, resulting a menacing growl escaping his throat. The sound seemed to startle the intruded, who seemingly had been biding his time, maybe hoping that Inuyasha would leave or let down his guard enough for the man to knock him unconscious. While under normal circumstances he would be positively giddy at the prospect of killing such a beautiful man, today his mission was simply to take the girl and escape with no one the wiser. The dog demon was a complication.
However he had no more time to think as his complication had noticed he was there, and subsequently, launched straight in his direction. Deciding that a tasteful retreat was in order, the intruder grabbed his package and bounded towards an open window.
Seeing red, Inuyasha only just managed to reach the window before the man, dresses in black with a purple scarf, could jump. With the speed and agility only a demon could possess Inuyasha reached his hand out the window, but instead of tearing through flesh like he intended his claws barely managed to tear away a piece of material from whatever the intruder was carrying.
Gazing at the figure disappearing into the shadows with pure hatred, the hanyou prince briefly considered pursuing the man, but ultimately decided against it. Kagome was more important.