Please excuse the occ-ness and the bad grammar.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. All rights are reserved to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, and Sunrise.
Chapter 9
"Damn it Inuyasha! Behave yourself before I throw you into the water to cool off!" Miroku snapped tired of tolerating with his insolence for the last hour. The half-demon spun his head around and barked, "Shut up Miroku, I have all the right to be pissed off and you know it! Neither you or this idiot", Inuyasha waved his hand at his stoic brother to emphasis his point; "That Naraku owns half the fucking country of…of Transylvania."
"Romania Inuyasha; Transylvania is just a small part of Romania that is notorious for supposedly being the place where Dracula lives. It is not a country as you assume it to be." Sesshomaru informed his brother with a cool air. Inuyasha snorted and retorted, "I don't care if it's a damn continent he owns, but why didn't you tell us sooner? If you haven't noticed by now, we're only a four day radius away from where Naraku is and we haven't even made up a plan."
"When have you ever been one to relay on a plan of strategy Inuyasha? If I remember correctly, which I do, you're just as rash with or without a guide to follow. This should be amusing for you anyways." Miroku scoffed and exchanged an intelligent look with Sesshomaru, whose attention was trained on the snowing exterior outside their carriage. They were all sure Kagome and the others had heard Inuyasha's shouting, but they would have to be informed them later once they arrived in the village and settled down.
"That's not the point Miroku. You can't be serious about us just walking up to the front door of his big castle and ask that they let us in to see him." Inuyasha shifted his weighted and waited for the former monk to speak. Sesshomaru looked bored with their conversation, but decided to say something before Inuyasha lost his temper and did something further stupid as he was accustomed to.
"Surely you have some influence in Transylvania, Miroku that can be beneficial to us? Have your sources informed you of anything that can get us into Naraku's castle without arousing suspicion?" Sesshomaru asked in an attempt to keep the line of conversation from turning into a bloody scene. Miroku smiled and bowed his head at Sesshomaru, silently thanking him for his participation.
"You'll both be glad to hear that I have some interesting news that might be what we've been waiting for, but I must ask you both to what extent are you willing to go to steal into his castle?" Miroku watched in silent laughter as both brothers regarded him with a confounded look before asking what he meant.
"What I mean is how far are the two of you willing to go to penetrate his fortress and confront him? I think I've made myself clear enough to be understood, gentlemen." Miroku made no signs of saying anything else before they gave him their responses separately. Sesshomaru sighed mutely and remarked straightforwardly, "To any extent as long it remains reasonable, Miroku." The former owner of Salón Rouge smiled and waited for the other's answer. Inuyasha crossed his arms and muttered stubbornly, "Whatever, just as long as I get the chance to kill that son of a bitch I'll be happy."
Miroku laughed crisply and resumed his point before he had demanded a response from each of them. "I'm afraid Sesshomaru, Inuyasha is right in his untroubled and rashness for once." Inuyasha shot him a withering glare, but Miroku brushed it asides and continued. "You must know now that I have been notified about an event that is going to take place in Naraku's castle in exactly four days, the same amount of time it will take us to get to the Carpathian Mountains. He is holding an annual masquerade that will be the perfect method for all of us to enter the party while wearing disguises."
Inuyasha uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. His eyes were ablaze with excitement that he looked almost like a puppy. Sesshomaru, rather then show his content or displeasure, waited for Miroku to continue. There had to be a catch; there always was in these sorts of things. The youngest from the three growled and pressed why he had not told them sooner. It was at this comment Sesshomaru's assumptions became clear that there was more to this then they anticipated.
"Settle down Inuyasha, there is no need to get anxious. I chose to tell you both now because of the time and the distance we still have to cover before we get there. As I'm sure Sesshomaru has guessed I haven't been preciously sincere. The masquerade will provide us with a chance to get in, that, nevertheless does not give us a way to get into the castle. I'm sure you both can surmise that it will be heavily guarded and I can only bring one guest with me to the event and—" Miroku was in the middle of explaining, when he was rudely interrupted.
"What the fuck do you mean by "Can only bring one person?" you mean to tell us that Naraku invited you to his gala?" Inuyasha shouted galled and stood up in the middle of their small shared compartment. The carriage went over a bumpy surface and he was knocked back into his seat, though it was Sesshomaru's shove that produced Inuyasha's muffled moaning. Whilst Inuyasha recovered from his dizziness, Sesshomaru faced Miroku with a serious look.
"Enough games Miroku. How did you manage to receive an incitement from Naraku without some sort of violent response?" Sesshomaru crossed his long legs and quickly glanced at Inuyasha's form against the side of the carriage. Perhaps he had been a tad bit too rough, but oh well. He would get over it soon enough.
"Are you accusing me of conspiracy Sesshomaru? Shame on you, I was waiting for Inuyasha to think something like that, but you? I did not. You're both jumping to conclusions and before this gets any more complicated then it is already, I have a connection working amongst Naraku's servants and she has made some arrangements that Sango and I may enter." Miroku claimed with a serious face to show he was not lying.
"Ah my damn head…Sesshomaru you bloody bastard! You didn't have to—" Inuyasha complained and a handkerchief was shoved into his mouth courtesy of the bloody bastard. With a muffled 'oof' the half-demon was temporarily silenced and the two gentlemen of reason continued their conversation.
"I am not accusing you of anything Miroku, though I have all the right to since you've neglected to tell us anything till now. I can ken the fact that you have some influence in his household, but I must ask why you could not get us all in. To save us a headache you could have in the least gotten Rin, the miko, and Shippou in, and have Inuyasha and I find another less suspicious way to get in." Sesshomaru countered austerely. Miroku allowed a smile to betray his amusement of the matter and he laughed.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and prepared to hear the others proposal, while he kept Inuyasha from getting up with his left hand pressed in the centre of his breast. The older man raised an eyebrow and prompted, "What do you have in mind Miroku for the two of us? You've made it clear enough that it's something abashing, now tell us what it is."
Miroku smiled and expressed mock lamented. "Since this is a masquerade, a masquerade needs a way to entertain the guests, right? Well I've managed to sneak the others in, but it's you two that's going to be more difficult. The reason why I'm mentioning entertainment is because one of you is going to have to dress up like harlequin whilst the other dresses up like a ringleader and pretend to be members of the circus that Naraku has hired to perform at the masquerade."
Inuyasha, like Sesshomaru fell victim to shock and were transfixed into stun silence. They looked at each other and then faced Miroku with puzzled countenance (that was Sesshomaru's reaction) and the other with an enraged complexion (that was Inuyasha's reaction), that it only made Miroku chuckle. "You've got to be kidding us right, Miroku? There's no way you're going to make me wear a stupid red jacket and tight pants!" Sesshomaru glared irritated at his brother and bit, "And are you suggesting my dear Inuyasha that I wear the harlequin costume when it clearly fits you perfectly?" he then said to other, "There has to be another way Miroku. One that is less abashing and degrading."
Miroku shook his head and appeared to be regretful about what this meant for the two siblings to do. "I'm afraid that was the best I can do for the two of you, Sesshomaru. It was either that or dressing up like butlers. Either way it's still abasing." Inuyasha closed his eyes and muttered hotly, "Screw dressing up like a fucking clown, I prefer dressing up like a butler." Sesshomaru exhaled softly and thought for a moment. He looked out into the white covered land and began to make up his mind. It was either dressing up like a circus performer or lowering himself even more and act like a bloody butler. Either option was to his liking.
Right as he was about to make up his mind, Miroku lifted his hand and said, "You don't have to make a decision at the moment. Think about it and again I'm sorry about this, but it's the only way I can get you both into the masquerade without Naraku's knowledge. Now turning the conversation away from breaking-and-entering, let us talk about what we are going to have to do once we arrive in Transylvania. The first thing, of course is to get clean and rest for a few hours before getting ready for the party." Sesshomaru listened with a deaf ear and drifted off to sleep with the swaying of the carriage and the coldness. There was still time for rest even if he did not take much advantage to shut his eyes and relax.
In the carriage behind them, Rin, Sango, Kagome, and Shippou—Kirara was curled up in Sango's lap fast asleep— played a game of charades and truth or dare to make the hours fly faster. Earlier they had heard the commotion in front of them and deduced it was something about their destination. Sango had promised them that she would ask Miroku and ask what it was all about, but for now they enjoyed their small attempts of amusement and found the snow covered lands breath taking.
By the time their games and zealousness had wearied down, it was already night and they would not stop until they arrived near the Carpathian Mountains. As the others around her settled down to sleep, Kagome curled herself against her corner of the carriage and numbly thought about Inuyasha. She looked up into the sky and noticed it was a new moon. She smiled despite the fact that they were all in peril and thought about how cute he would look when he began to shout that he was a weak human. Then her smile fell and her musings stumbled upon Sesshomaru.
She knew he did not like her, it was clear enough in the piercing looks he gave her when he looked at her, but she could not help but wonder what was different about Inuyasha. He seemed so changed in certain ways and she was worried. Rin covered her mouth when she yawned and rested her head on Kagome's shoulder. Rin looked up at the older girl and asked languidly, "What's troubling you Kagome-chan? Is something on your mind?" Kagome smiled down at Rin and replied softly, "No Rin everything's fine. I was just thinking about how Inuyasha's going to react once he finds out he's a—"
"What the hell do you mean I'm human! I can't be a bloody human, it's not a new moon…oh of all the—what the fuck so funny you lecherous monk! Shut up!" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome and the others in the carriage fell silent and listened with strained ears to hear what was going on. There was the sound of a struggle and a few hushed words said then no more loud foul mouth Inuyasha. Kagome sighed and smiled. Miroku and Sesshomaru must have gagged, blindfolded, and bound him to keep him from making a louder commotion.
'It's sad that I can't see Inuyasha while he's human. He's nicer and more understanding when he doesn't have his youkai and I feel like I can talk to him easily. Oh well, I'll see him tomorrow and ask him how his night was.' Kagome leaned her head against Rin's and whispered to the little girl—who was not so little any more—and said good night to them all. Shippou yawned and muttered a drowsy 'night' and shut the shutter of his carriage door while Sango closed the other. In moments everyone was asleep except for a now wide awake Sesshomaru and a bored-out-of-his-mind Miroku.
Instead of trying to sleep, they both used this time to read a book and collect their tossled thoughts. In the midst of their leisure, the silence was interrupted when they heard the heavy breathing of a sleeping Inuyasha. Miroku covered his mouth from laughing while Sesshomaru turned away to hide his smirk.
A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner, but I'm uncertain of continuing writing to this story. Anyways a million thank yous to those who've read and reviewed. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter somewhat and that you will please review and tell me what you think.
Just one little thing if it's not too much to ask. Could you please tell me what you would think would be more amusing for Inuyasha and Sesshomaru to wear as a means of disguise to get into Naraku's gala, please? Thank you my dear readers and good night!