Chapter 3:

A/n: Spoilers for disc 22! BE CAREFUL THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!

Kagome sat upon a rock and immediately removed her shoes to reveal blistered feet and holey socks. "I knew we were traveling too fast! And this was my last pair of socks too! I left the rest in Kaede's hut. Now what am I going to wear?"

Alanna stared curiously at the teen, wondering 'These are the warriors from another time meant to save us? The young one complains all the time, the small demon is but a child, and the other three are… a little dysfunctional.'

InuYasha caught her staring at Kagome. "What're you looking at, huh? She's not used to the pace okay? Just 'cause you have a horse to ride doesn't mean Kagome can't walk all day."

Alanna almost slapped herself. Of course! To the teen she nodded. "I'm sorry. I should have realized that you would be tired from walking all this distance. I guess…" She trailed off, not sure how to say that she had expected more from warriors of the gods without offending them.

The demon slayer, Sango, seemed to sense the unspoken words and raised an eyebrow. "'I guess' what?"

Alanna looked down and sighed. "I'm sorry. I have to remember that you're all so much younger than I am. I'm used to such treks. You are not." She gestured to Kagome. "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

Kagome nodded. "I learnt a little in Kaede's village, but I haven't had much practice. We're normally walking or flying on Kilala."

"Or riding that weird machine of yours Kagome." Miroku interjected.

Kagome gasped. "Oh no! My bike, we left it when the demons attacked, and now it's sitting there in the forest, who knows how long for! It might get stolen!"

InuYasha rolled his eyes. "Right. The trees are going to steal your bike. Don't worry about it Kagome. Only the people from Kaede's village go into that forest. If any of them find it they'll give it back."

Alanna cleared her throat, getting back to the subject at hand. "Well if you'd be more comfortable riding than walking we can trade places. You're feet must be killing you, and I'd like to stretch my legs."

InuYasha sniffed. "Why would she need to do that? I mean, if you want to stretch your legs do it now. I'll carry her. It'll save time than you walking." Sizing her up, including her short legs, he added. "It doesn't look like you can walk very fast anyway. This way we can get to Colus or whatever faster, finish the mission faster and get back to hunting for the jewel shards faster!"

Alanna almost made an issue of the speed comment, but settled on correcting him instead. "Corus. The city's name is-"

She didn't get to finish as Miroku and Sango both said, in synchrony, "There's something coming. And it's not friendly!"

Sango raised her Hiraikotsu, Miroku his staff. InuYasha and Alanna both unsheathed their swords, and Kagome raised arrow to bow. Shippo, well he just clung to Kagome's shoulder and shivered in terror. They stood, waiting for the source of the evil aura to appear.

They weren't waiting long, as seven spidrens burst from the bushes. The leader, an unsightly female whose face was as ugly as her aura was evil, laughed. "Ah, five meals and one dessert. You'll kill your own boys, if you can't bag one you go without!" With that they jumped at their pray.

Kagome let loose with a sacred arrow, Sango with her Hiraikotsu. Miroku blocked the first attack of a young male on his staff, and counterattacked with a swing that left the immortal's skin burning. That was three down before any of the foul creatures were close enough to strike at Alanna.

InuYasha chose that time to strike. "WINDSCAR!"

Alanna looked around for a spidren to strike but found none. Casting a glance at the young half demon, she saw a smug grin on his face. "You… you took out four spidrens in one swing." It wasn't a question, more of a disbelieving statement.

He swung the tetsusaiga up to sit upon his shoulder. "Yeah, so?"

She shook her head and remounted. "Nevermind. We should get going; there'll be more."

InuYasha snorted. "Pfft. As if it matters. They get close enough and wham!" He swung his sword. "They're as dead as the Jaken will be next time I see him." InuYasha was still mad about the little skink trying to steal his sword. (A/n I just saw that episode, it's so cute! Except when Rin gets kidnapped. Poor Rin.)

Kagome rolled her eyes. "What happens if they come back stronger? Come on InuYasha, like you said earlier; the faster we get to Corus the faster we get back."

He nodded shortly and gestured for the young miko to climb upon his back. Alanna just stared. Sango took pity on her and led Kilala to stand next to Darkmoon, who was fidgeting in the presence of the cat demon (A/n. IS Kilala a cat demon? WHAT THE HELL IS SHE? Lol, if anyone can tell me I will be very grateful. Anyway, for the purpose of this story she is now :P) "It's better if you just ignore what InuYasha can do. He's not normal, even by demon standards."

The seasoned knight just nodded, made painfully aware at how little of the world she had actually seen in all her years.

The party was a strange sight. Alanna the Lioness, accompanied by a female in a form fitting suit of pink armour, a monk of no order the world has ever seen, and a young man with silver hair in bright red robes carrying another young lady on his back, with a small boy on her shoulder. Not mentioning that the young man with the silver hair and the small boy both had ears. And that one of them had a tail. Yet here they were, walking casually through the castle gates as the guard announced them to the courtyard.

Daine spotted them from her perch on the paddock fence, where she was busy inspecting the Rider trainee's use of the horses. She trotted over to them, and InuYasha set about sniffing her.

Shocked at his behaviour, four women asked at the same time, "What the hell do you think you're doing!" Whilst Miroku just grinned lecherously and said smugly, "InuYasha you sly dog." Shippo couldn't understand what was wrong, as he had smelt the same thing InuYasha had. Numair, who had been watching his wife train the trainees, came over, anger blazing in his eyes.

Kagome, however, beat him to it. "InuYasha! SIT!"

InuYasha stopped sniffing in time to have his face slammed unceremoniously into the dirt as Numair stopped his murderous rampage in the general direction of the half demon in shock. InuYasha picked himself off of the ground. "What! What was that for!"

Kagome looked exasperated. "What do you mean, 'what was that for?' You were sniffing her! That's not very polite!"

InuYasha looked outraged. "She has the smell of animal on her! I mean, lots of different animals! But it wasn't like she'd been around them, more like she was an animal herself."

Kagome and the others were saved from having to respond by Queen Thayet and King Jon themselves walking out of the castle. When they reached the group, Thayet threw herself into a hug with Alanna.

InuYasha, still irritated at having been forced to eat the dirt, muttered. "And who are these two? More people Kagome can 'sit' me in front of?"

The rest of the shard hunting party glared daggers at him, while Jon considered him coolly. "Alanna has told me about you. All of you. I-" he was interrupted by (A/n I know you've ALL been waiting for this) Miroku.

He had Alanna's hands in his own, and was looking down into her battle hardened face. "I know you barely know me, but I have been cursed. I am not so long for this earth as I would like. Will you do me the honour of bearing my child?"

Alanna looked shocked and, getting a hand free, made to draw her sword. Miroku backed off, hands held up placatingly. "Okay, okay, I can take a no." He turned to Daine, and Numair sent him a warning look, which the monk ignored. "How's about you then, my fair young maiden?" Daine's hands grew bear claws. He backed off very quickly this time. "Ooookay…" He spotted Thayet and his grin turned very mischievous. "What of you, o fairest of maidens. Will you bear my heir?" King Jon's face turned the same shade as Numair's, but it was Sango that acted.

SLAP! SLAP! A slap mark on both cheeks, and he had been dragged away to the back of the group. Kagome looked embarrassed. "He he.. sorry about him. He gets that way with all the women. I really must see Kaede about some rosaries for him."

King Jon nodded to accept the apology, and led them to the entrance of the castle. "Come. Your rooms are ready. I was given… warning of your visit. You'll get any help you need."