Rebirth of Sounga
Chapter 2: Entei & the Rumor
It took some time for Miroku to adjust the the new woman, before he tried to grope her. She had been bending over tending the deer she'd killed for dinner that night. Sango saw his hand but before she could say anything Kagome touched her finger to her lips in the universal sign to wait. As Miroku's hand touched down on Toboe's ass.
A growl was heard before Toboe turned faster then Miroku could react and she laid him flat with her left land. Sango winced at the crack her bloody knuckles had made against the monks cheek. Toboe went back to cleaning the deer, growling. Inu-yasha stalked into camp and noticed the flat unconscious monk. "Sango, The lecher at it again?"he asked and was surprised by the shake of her head.
"Not me Her."Sango pointed to the growling Toboe as she cleaned their dinner. He was astounded to realize that he understood what she was saying. Stupid bastard! How dare he touch me. He growled to see if she knew what she was saying.Toboe, Can you understand what I am saying?He saw her head whip around to look at him and she growled back. Inu-yasha you understand me?? Kagome watched the two look at her and they pointed to the other and said. "He/She Speaks fox/dog."Kagome laughed at their expressions.
"Inu-yasha Toboe was raised by fox demons, Toboe you know that Inu-yasha is half dog demon." she said as they turned to look at one another. She was glad to have left Shippo at Kaede's for this trip. Inu-yasha watched as Toboe went back to her work and wouldn't talk for the rest of the night.
It took another two weeks of hunting before they heard anything. They had heard tales of a little boy and a demonic horse in the forest to the north of the village. They had also been told that the village to the east of them had been destroyed two days before. "Hurry Up Fox-girl your slowing us down." Inu-yasha yelled back to Toboe as she ran below.
Sango and Miroku still didn't trust her so she was stuck running. "Then leave me behind, But leave me a trail to find you." She yelled as she leaps over a fallen tree. Inu-yasha called to Miroku. "Lecher cut the fox a trail. I am going ahead."He saw the monk nod and jumped onto the air currents and ran ahead.
By the time Toboe got there Inu-yasha,Sango and Kirara were fighting. Hakudoushi laughed as Entei slammed his hoof into Inu-yasha's sword. Toboe was outside the battle watching out for Kagome. "Toboe I have to help but I can't get a shot from here."Toboe looked for a way to help her friend. "Kag climb on the rocks"she locked her hands together to giver her friend a boost. Kagome made it up the rock-face onto a small out cropping. Inu-yasha had been thrown against the ground again.
She got into position and knocked her arrow. As she pulled back she noticed that Hakudoushi had seen Toboe and went for her, She released the holy arrow. Time slowed down as the arrow closed in on its target, Entei noticed it at the last second and swerved. It sliced a six inch scratch into his neck but missed the Hakudoushi entirely. Toboe had barely dodged the bladed staff he wielded.
Entei turned and let a fireball loose in the priestess' direction. Inu-yasha had seen his head turn and snatched Kagome off the cliff moments before impact. Her bow and quiver landed not far from Toboe. She saw that Kagome was safe and breathed easier. Hakudoushi turned Entei back at the meddlesome priestess and her half-demon pet. "Die Inu-yasha!" he bellowed the bladed weapon held strongly in his left hand. Inu-yasha knew that he couldn't turn in time and tossed Kagome to Sango above him.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome screamed. Toboe saw what was happening and to her time slowed down, she lunged for the bow and arrow. She was a decent shot but was used to a heavier pull. She aimed for the boy's shoulder and let it fly. She hadn't expected Entei to see the arrow, But the demon steed had misjudged the target. The arrow pierced through the boy's back into where his heart should be, instead of his shoulder. Hakudoushi exploded into dust leaving behind only three jewel shards.
Entei noticed that his master had been slain. He turned his bloody gaze to the woman who's arrow had done it. The curse made him land a few feet from the group. He would be this woman's servant until someone killed her. Toboe's emerald eyes were locked on the youkai stallion as he stood before her. Kagome was hugging Inu-yasha as she turned to see Toboe and Entei staring at one another. "I am going to kill that horse."Inu-yasha said as he brandished the Tetsusuiga.
"No need Inu-yasha do you remember what the priest told us about Entei's curse?"The half-demon shook his head. "He is bound to her until she is defeated. Entei Belongs to Toboe."Sango clarified. Kagome noticed Toboe's eyes were glazed. Kagome noticed Inu-yasha "You're saying I own him?" Toboe said as she came out of her thoughts. "more or less yes."Kagome said as she saw her friend approach the demon. Entei stood still as this woman approached him. He tossed his head as she came within striking distance. She held her hands out allowing him to catch her scent.
It took the stallion a moment before the curse forced him into her hands. He was surprised that she stroked him and heard her hiss at his wound. "Ouch Kag you really got him good." Toboe said as she examined the slice. "An inch or more and you would have killed him. Kagome pulled out some bandages and cleaning solution. "This might hurt." Entei watched as they cleaned his wound and stomped his hooves when the stuff that looked like water burned. His demon healing would have the wound gone in under an hour.
"Well now at least she will keep up." Sango said after Toboe took Entei to get some water. "She's not bad Sango she hunts and fishes very well." Kagome said as she started the fire for that nights dinner. Sango couldn't trust the woman, Yes she liked Inu-yasha but something about this 'Toboe' made every instinct she had scream to beware.
--With Toboe and Entei--
Toboe looked at the demon that walked beside her. He snorted and bent his head to drink, as he was drinking she looked the creature over carefully."Your one handsome stallion."she said as he lifted his head. He looked at her and nickered.
"What surprised? I wonder if Kaede can break your curse." She looked at him again assessing him with a critical eye. "Do you eat like mortal horses?"He shook his head and mane. He licked his lips. "Hungry?" he nodded. "Do you want to hunt alone?" he nodded wanting to eat heartily and slightly afraid his new master would make him eat lightly."OK go hunt, don't come back until your full!" she said looking at his belly. "After that I'll give you a bath if you want one." He nodded and took to the sky for his first hunt alone in a century.
He returned over an hour later bloody but satisfied. She chuckled at him. "Feel better?" He nodded. "Ready to get clean?" he nodded. "OK go get in the water and I'll get the soap and be right back" she walked back to camp for her soap and a brush she had got for Kirara but now decided that Entei needed it more. Kagome saw what she grabbed and didn't saw anything. When she got back to the river she noticed Entei had waited for her. "OK I'm back in you go"she said as she stripped and walked into the water after him. She used the bowl she had brought to wet him throughly and then pouring a bit of soap on him she started scrubbing.
It took her almost a full hour to scrub him fully clean she had noticed that by the time she had gotten to his neck the cut was gone and the blood was crusted and dry. She scrubbed the dried blood from his hide and then attacked his mane and tail. As they both climbed out clean and she dried him off. Toboe laughed at the fact by the time she got him dry she was too. After she got dressed she grabbed the brush and started brushing him. Entei was in paradise he couldn't remember the last time he'd been brushed. It scratched, soothed and made his milky hide glitter. As she used it to gently groom his mane and tail he shook after she finished. "Oh, Entei" she said as she laughed, He was strutting before her and she stroked his neck softly.
She stood before the noble horse and bowed before she told him her name. "I'm Toboe my friend" she said and what shocked him more then her calling him friend was the hug she gave him afterwards. "It will be nice to have someone to talk to." she said as they walked back to camp. After dinner Toboe rolled out her sleeping bag and got ready for bed. Her sword was nearby, and she had left her boots right outside her bag. What surprised her was that Entei chose to sleep near her. The next morning she left camp early with only the stallion as company. She had skins from the deer,boar and other animals she had killed for food to trade at the village also Inu yasha had killed several fire-rats for her and helped her pull their teeth and skin them. The group had passed a good sized village a few hours back, Inu Yasha hadn't let the group stop to replenish any supplies so Toboe had left Kagome a note and headed for the village.
As they were walking down the path Entei noticed a rock suited to allow his new mistress to climb to his back. He stood there and snorted for her attention. Toboe looked at him, he tossed his head towards the rock. "you want me to ride?" Entei nodded his head and she walked over and stepped up on the rock and set her hands on his back. "OK I'm getting on" He stood still and she swung her leg over his back and settled onto him. "Wow" she mumbled as he started to walk she slid a little bit but she tightened her legs slightly on his sides and threaded her fingers threw his mane. "This is so cool" It took them only thirty minutes to get to the village and while she rose she told him that part of the reason she was coming to the village was to get something made for him.
As they arrived at the village she got several fearful looks from the villagers. She slid from the stallion's back and told him to wait at the edge of the forest for her she would whistle for him when she was ready to leave. She also told him if he got hungry while she was gone to go ahead and hunt. She whistled once to let him know what it would sound like and the stallion flew off to comply with his master's wishes. The villagers relaxed slightly as she walked headed for the merchant's shop. "Welcome I am Tanaka, How may I aid you" the man had a kind look to his face and Toboe smirked exposing one fang.
"I wish to have a few things made and trade some pelts" she looked down at him, like a female youkai would. "Ah very well my lady, What do you wish made?" She explained about the fire-rat fur and the slightly altered bridle she wanted made from it. "There is enough here for seven bridles, Or do you wish something else made from the left over fur?" She nodded and commissioned a set of saddle bags, a cloak and two sets of gloves. He asked for the measurements on the bridle and saddle bags she told him the ones she had taken from Entei on her ride there.
"It will take me a few hours to create what you ask my lady, do you need any thing else?" she shook her head and paid him with the coins she had removed from the bandits before they left Kaede's village. She also asked him where the kimono shop was and he pointed her down the road a ways, she waived her thanks and set off. As she walked Toboe over heard a pair of gossiping women as they washed clothes in the stream. "Did you hear Kira-chan there is a slave trade camp to the south of us."The other woman gasped. "Really Hana-chan? Are they youkai slavers or human ones?"
The elder of the two twisted the small kimono she was washing out before submerging it again."Youkai,I also heard that the head of the caravan wears a necklace that has purple shards of something jewel-like on it."Toboe smirked,As the conversation changed to the village scandals she silently continued on her way to the shop, now she could return to the group with the rumor and check it out. She made no quarrel of pickpocketing the humans she passed. She lowered her head as she walked to shield the look in her eyes. She entered the kimono shop her braid swinging behind her as she walked. An elder woman sat there sewing a kimono as Toboe entered the brown eyes found her form. "Greetings Elder, I wish a couple of kimono's made for my self and one made for my younger sister. I know her size." the elderly woman smiled at the young demoness that stood before her. She was popular for her kimonos in both the youkai and human circles. She was a spider youkai and could use her powers to make the kimonos quickly.
"I am Zera come let me measure you and tell me of the designs you desire. Then we will speak of your sisters kimono"Toboe nodded and proceeded to tell the woman what she wanted, then she explained the measurements for the other kimono she requested with the design and colors she knew would help protect the one it was for. She also chose geta and toe-socks to go with the kimonos. It was nearly five hours later when the elderly spider returned with the requested kimonos. She paid for them after examining them and finding them done beautifully. She handed them back to be wrapped for protection against falling in the dirt. "My thanks Elder, you do your kind proud" Toboe tossed over her shoulder as she walked out the door, when she noticed the scent of spider silk in the kimonos. "Your welcome Vixen" the spider smiled as she watched the fox walk up the road towards the tanner/fur trader's shop. Smiling she returned to the kimono she had been working on before.
Toboe held the wrapped kimonos under one arm as she entered the fur traders shop a few minutes later. "Welcome back my lady"She nodded to him. "Are my things ready Tanaka-san?" the man nodded as he laid the item's out fer her inspection. She went over every thing carefully to ensure that nothing had been messed with or was substandard. "Quality work, Did you also find the snow deer hide cloak I wanted?" the man nodded and set a folded white-gray cloak on the counter, it had a beautiful broach that had been carved into an image of a solar eclipse. She gave it the same through inspection she had given all her other purchases. "Excellent, I will take the cloak,Also do you have a priestess in the village?"He nodded and gestured to a path that led east off the main road. "Our village priestess lives down that path." She nodded thanked him, paid for the cloak and packed all her other purchases into the saddle bags. She slung the bags over her shoulder and walked out of the shop and down the path towards the den of the village priestess.
It took her about ten minutes to find the priestess' home. She saw that the woman was tending her garden so she called out as so not to startle her. "Hello" the woman turned and placed her hand over her chest. "Oh! You startled me." Toboe offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I am looking for the priestess"The woman smiled back. "It's alright, I am the village priestess Rena"Toboe asked the woman to bless the broach and she agreed heartily when she learned it was to be a gift for one of her sister priestess'. After she had blessed the broach, Toboe took her leave with a grin and a waive she walked over the hill and back towards the village she stopped about halfway between the two and whistled loudly. She waited a few moments as she took in a breath to whistle again she heard Entei's greeting whinny. As he landed she grinned at his slightly bloody nose. "Did you enjoy your meal?" He snorted at her. "I have a few things for you" It took her about twenty minutes to get him to accept the bridle until he noticed that it had no metal for his mouth. As she tightened it over his head he realized it was actually comfortable to wear and it hadn't burned off when his body heated up. When she set the saddle bags over his back and asked him to walk around and see if they bothered him.
As he trotted around the bags settled and he was finally comfortable. Toboe called him over to a rock and she climbed onto his back,and tugged the reigns gently left then right to test them. They worked nicely as he turned right then left in response to her tugs."So ready to go?"Entei gave a loud snort and jumped into flight the flames on his ankles dancing brightly as they flew. She was wiggling to settle into a comfortable place on his back. It took them only a few minutes to reach camp. When they landed Kagome greeted them happily and asked how the village was. "It was fine, but I heard a rumor that may intrigue you. Since it reminds me of those pink-menaces" Toboe said as she landed on the ground and lifted the saddle bags off Entei's back and set them next to her stuff. She told them of the rumor and people she had encountered while at the village. "I got you a few things Kagome. They seemed to suit you, and plus they will be useful if we decide to check out the slave encampment." Inu yasha had her retell the rumor to him piece by piece. They discussed it over dinner, it was fish that Inu yasha had caught while she was out.
"Well there was a plan Grandsire-fox thought of for when the slavers took members of the clan."Kagome and the others looked up at her. It was Miroku who spoke the unasked question though."What was the plan?"Toboe slowly explained that it consisted of a few members of the tribe would disguise themselves as owners/ slaves and enter the camp under the intension to buy more slaves. They would then buy the clan members back one by one, and after they had bought them all they would raid the place. Stealing all the gold, setting the slaves free and escaping in the chaos that followed. "The woman said purple shards of something that looked like a jewel around his neck"Toboe reminded the group. Kagome looked up as she finished her fish.
"How would we get in Toboe?"Toboe chuckled. "You and I can pose as owners seeking more slaves, Inu yasha can portray my protection slave so that he can keep Tetsusuiga with him at all times. Sango can be your protector while Miroku can handle the animals."Sango spoke up. "why would you have Inu yasha and not Kagome?" Toboe chuckled darkly. "Because I can pass for a youkai, Kagome is a priestess and its natural that she would have a demon slayer for a protection slave."Sango understood the reasoning and nodded. "But what about Kirara? How can we get her inside?" Toboe chuckled again.
"I will be mounted on Entei it is fitting for my companion to be mounted on a fire cat isn't it?" Sango laughed in its simplicity. "when we leave we can set the slaves free to give us room to work" the group spent the rest of the day and most of the evening practicing their parts. Toboe coached Kagome how to act like a slave-owner and also went over a few pointers of traveling with a full youkai. "you guys are well known so we are going to have to change your names a little"The others nodded and while Toboe thought they practiced a bit more while setting up for bed. "Kagome your not supposed to set your own bed up Sango does it for you while she checks it for snakes, curses and other such things"
Toboe said off handedly as she noticed Kagome's movements out of the corner of her eye."Miroku you will tend to Kirara and Entei but you must also set up a barrier inside whatever place we sleep in while Inu yasha carries in our belongings." She would drop comments as they got ready to go to bed."OK I came up with some names for you guys.""What about you?"Kagome asked as she settled into her sleeping bag. "I already have chosen my name. Kagome you will be Hikari. Sango you can be Mara. Miroku we can just shorten your name to Roku. And Inu yasha will be Inu"They thought about it for a few minutes and nodded to her. The group fell into a restful sleep the members dreaming of the parts they were to play on the morrow.
Inu yasha, Miroku and Toboe were up with the dawn. Toboe taught Inu yasha to pack her saddle bags and how to hold himself like a slave, while he practiced she taught Miroku to brush Entei seeing how the priest had watched Sango brush Kirara enough to be able to mimic her perfectly. Kagome and Sango woke shortly after the other three and Toboe picked up a few packages and handed them to Sango to carry. "Now you have to get used to carrying stuff for Kagome or myself." As they walked to the river and bathed Toboe coached Kagome some more on dealing with both slaves and masters." It took them over an hour to clean them selves throughly. Toboe clicked her fingers at Sango and the woman froze for a second before coming to her side."Don't freeze Sango,It creates an opening for others to mock Kagome on your hesitation."She took four of the eight packages and handed them to Kagome."I got those in town yesterday after I heard the rumor."
Kagome put on clean undergarments and unwrapped the packages, the kimono was beautiful it was a deep blue with silver stars all over it she turn it around to see that with delicate thread the stars connected to form the pattern of a nine tailed fox looking towards her right shoulder and a crescent moon done in black with silver highlighting to enhance its shape. After she put on both the inner and outer kimono layers Sango picked up the obi and with out being told wrapped it around Kagome and tied a box knot. "Well done Mara" Sango only stepped back so that Toboe could check every thing. "Excellent Sango You were perfect"
Sango grinned and they watched Kagome put on the fire rat gloves that had been dyed to match her cloak. After she had them on Toboe handed her the last package. "This is blessed by one like you for protection." When Kagome saw the cloak she hugged Toboe. "Thank you its beautiful""Sango will you help Kagome put her hair up?There are clips and hair sticks in the small bag" Sango nodded to her,Toboe nodded back and disappeared to get herself dressed and change her hair style. After she was finished she looked like a youkai hime.
When Toboe stepped from the trees Miroku dropped his staff in shock, the others turned to look at her and were shocked. "Now now guys its still me." They relaxed but Kagome studied her a bit more. Her kimono was black with deep blue moon phases lining the edges. It was the back of her kimono that was the true master piece of the outfit. It was a nine-tail Kitsune with the same colored eyes as Toboe. Each of its tails were beautifully and individually stitched with white and silver threads giving the fox the appearance it was going to jump right off the kimono. Her inner kimono was a deep blue with what Kagome could see were black moons embroidered on it. Her gloves her dyed black to match her kimono.
Her hair was up in a bun but the base of it looked braided. Her cloak was also black with silver foxes running along the hem she could also see that the inside was lined with silver silk and was embroidered with black foxes. She noticed it when Toboe bent over to check how Inu yasha packed the saddle bags."you have a tail Toboe!"Toboe laughed. "Yeah I do, its an old fox magic spell that my fox-father cast on me when I proved to be a full member of the clan. I always have it but I just normally cast a small ignore curse on it and remove it when I want it to be noticed. By the way in case I forgot to tell you my name will be Kuroune,Lady Kuroune. Now lets get moving." She sat side saddle on Entei, While she watched Kagome mount and get situated on Kirara she was glad she had both the bridle and saddle bags dyed black. While they rode south Toboe coaxed Kagome into a conversation to get her to practice.
"Are you excited as I to see if this caravan has good slaves?"Hikari nodded and giggled. "Yes Kuroune-san I am, Thank you for inviting me on this trip with you." Toboe smirked revealing her pearly fangs. "I was delighted that you accepted Hikari-chan, we have both spent too much time around the court hall lately" Kagome caught the smirk and motioned that she could feel a lot of youkai just on the other side of the trees, Toboe nodded. "I do hope we arrive soon, I Wish to get out of the sun before the day gets too hot."As they came around the curve of the trail they noticed that two bear youkai were hiding on either side of the path a few hundred feet ahead of them. "I share that hope Hikari-chan I am getting thirsty for something besides water."
Both pretended to be startled when the bear youkai appeared. Inu yasha and Sango drew their weapons and placed them selves between them and the bears. "Who goes there!" Both women pretended to affronted and turned their noses up at the sight of the bear youkai. It was Miroku who answered the two. "My mistress the priestess Hikari and her traveling companion the Lady Kuroune." Both bear youkai studied the priestess for a moment before turning to the one who rode beside her the Vixen was very pretty and they could tell she was pure youkai even though she looked pure human, she showed extraordinary control in her transformation. She allowed her tail to slide from under her cloak to show her pedigree. "Forgive us honorable Kitsune-sama, It has been many years since one of yours has come past us." She turned her head to look at them the outer rings of her eyes glowing softly. In her head though she was laughing. "You will be forgiven on one condition, You must escort us safely to the caravan's encampment." the guards nodded happy that they had been let off so easily.
The Fox and Priestess clicked their fingers and their protection slaved returned to there sides. As they walked the brown bear introduced himself as Zanza, and then introduced the black bear as Kado. "Thank you for forgiving my partner and I"As they passed the outer most buildings they came to a large wooden gate. "This whole town and the fortress belong to the caravan leader." the gates opened when one of the guards up o the wall recognized Zanza. They walked through the fortress both women noticed the three long buildings with iron bars on one side instead of walls. "Those are the slave cages, They changed the slaves in them every so often"
Kado said when he noticed Kagome staring. "Oh really! After we settle in may we walk the cages Kuroune-san?"The guards watched her face go from blank to thoughtful then to a soft smile. "Of course Hikari-chan"The bears had no idea that Sango was laughing mentally. The conversation ended around the time they arrived at a nicely built castle. "Wait here one moment M' ladies while I speak with the leader." They both nodded and Zanza walked inside leaving Kado to point out various points of interest in the fortress. "We have a fairly large hot-spring here, and over there is the auction block. There is the arena where we hold slave matches as a dinner theater."
It was a few moments later when the doors reopened and Zanza came out leading a man dressed in the finest spider silk he had black hair that brushed his shoulders freely. "Forgive my guards Ladies, I am Rando leader of this caravan. I would like to invite you both to remain as my guests." Both looked at one another for a moment and nodded to Rando. "We are honored to stay here, for we have come to purchase some more slaves anyway. This arrangement will make it very convenient for us."Hikari replied gently. Inu stepped to Entei's left side and gently eased Toboe onto the ground and nearly hesitated before tugging Entei's reigns over his head and handing them to Miroku as he helped Kagome down from Kirara.
"Do you have room in your stables for my stallion?" Toboe asked while Inu removed the saddle bags and Kagome's bag from their places on the mounts. He nodded and gestured to a cat youkai who led Miroku and Entei away. He watched as the fire-cat transformed into a smaller version and was gestured to ride on the slayers shoulder. "Come I will show you your rooms" He lead them through the castle, Toboe mentally mapping each corridor in her head. When they arrived at the room and he gave them a brief tour of the seven rooms that were theirs for the length of time they were there. He also told them that a the balcony that was connected to these rooms over looked the stables.
After they had finally got rid of him they waited for Miroku to return from grooming Entei. Nearly twenty minutes later he opened the door bowed, and then walked in sealing it with an spell scroll he quickly placed them in all the rooms to prevent spying. Kagome spoke up finally. "Those things on his neck-less are not Jewel shards"The group sighed and Toboe figured that they couldn't just pop out now to suspicious. "OK That was great now we are in, but the true hard part will be getting out of here" Kirara purred as Sango scratched her for her part so far. "Excellent we will rest for a short while and then head out onto the grounds, I warn you its not pretty but we need to know the full layout of these grounds. And Kagome, We need to change I brought a set of priestess robes from the shop in town but the color is a little different." the group nodded and separated.