In The Blood
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Three
Raizen watched on in amusement as his two 'children' bickered back and forth for the last twenty five minutes. It had been a surprise to find that not only did the two know each other, but they were in fact twins. It showed in their looks and in their expressions as they argued without really getting anywhere. Neither wanted to tell the other how they had come to be there or why. He could gather that they had grown up separately and had not seen each other in some time. While it was entertaining for him to watch on as they argued, but explained nothing, he knew that he would have to be the one to stop it.
"Enough!" He finally growled when Yusuke, in his aggravation, blew out the west wall of the throne room with a solid punch, and Kagome stomped her foot so hard the floor rumbled as the stone caved from the impact.
A temper tantrum between two Mazoku teens could destroy not only this tower, but the whole surrounding area. That was one thing Raizen wanted to avoid. The throne room had already just been finished being repaired after Yusuke had arrived about a month ago. The last thing he needed was the have to repair the whole tower. He didn't really care about it, but he preferred his solitude most of the time. With repairs being made he was not likely to get it.
Kagome fell silent and still at Raizen's reprimand while Yusuke continued to grumble, but did not argue. Looking back and forth between the two he knew that his blood did indeed run true in these two. He had known that with Yusuke when his blood had woken, but had not realized Kagome had the same temperament. Kagome, quiet and respectful to him, had shown her true colors when facing off with her brother. The large dent in his throne room floor was only proof of that much.
Where Yusuke had wanted nothing more than to defeat him since his arrival in Makai, it did not seem to be so with Kagome. She had been almost the polar opposite from the time she had walked in the door to what he had expected. He could tell, with her quiet show of formal etiquette when addressing one above her station, that she had been taught well. The intricacies of demon politics was complex and often convoluted. The mannerisms he had seen from her so far were common among the Cardinal Lords of the lands. Someone had taught the girl those mannerisms, but how much did she know? Who was it that she had learned from?
"As entertaining as it is to watch you two argue in circles it solves nothing." His growl was beastial as the dust finally settled in the room and both teens moved back toward him.
"I agree." Kagome said quietly while her chest rumbled with a growl of her own when she looked at her brother.
"Well if you would just answer my damn questions-" Yusuke started to rant once more before Raizen cut him off.
"We will hear both sides. The older twin will start." He commanded in order to stop another argument before it started.
"Well, do you want the whole detailed thing or a summary?" Kagome ask with a small sigh as she resigned herself to telling them.
For better or worse this was her family now. She would be under Raizen's protection here in Makai for the foreseeable future. He deserved to know just whom he would be sheltering here. What was more, as her 'father' he had a right to know. She held back the scowl of frustration.
"Summarize, and anything can be asked later." Raizen told her as he settled back in his throne.
Nodding, Kagome moved to sit on the floor before him and waited for Yusuke to settle before she started. She had known she would probably have to tell them sooner or later anyway.
"Well, backstory is that we're twins, but I was raised by our Aunt and Grandfather while Yusuke was raised by our Mother. We have not seen each other in a few years. I was raised on a shrine where last year…" Kagome started to explain how everything had come to this point.
She told them of the well and her travels in the feudal era. How the Shikon No Tama had been ripped from her body, and how she had found out she was to be its protector. She talked of how it had been shattered and how that had started her journey to put it back together. Kagome explained about her friends and companions along her travels and their battles with the hanyou Naraku and his incarnations. She told them about her training in the past and their mission. Finally she came to when she died.
"It was our final battle with Naraku. All the jewel shards had been collected, and I had part of it while he had the rest. He came after us. I died during the battle. I woke and you took control. Thank you for that as I had no idea what was going on at the time. I mean I was dead, and then suddenly I'm alive again. In that kind of confusion things could have gone a lot worse. When Naraku was dead Lord Sesshomaru and Sango explained a bit to me about what had happened to me." She said before taking a breath and continuing on.
"With the Shikon completed I made a wish for the jewel and it's power to not be a danger to anyone again. When that happened there was a bright flash. I woke up back in our time in front of the well. The well's power is closed now. A couple weeks later and Seitei and Hokushin found me. I knew I needed training. Without it not only am I vulnerable to anyone stronger than me, but I was a danger to my human family. So I came here."
Kagome went quiet as she waited for the information to settle with the two males. It was a lot to take in, she knew, but she also knew she had to be as truthful as she could. Kagome had resigned herself to the facts of what she was, but she had found reasons of her own not to sink into despair. Now she was here, and ready to train to be stronger and find those important to her.
"I had heard of the Shikon shards and Naraku five hundred years ago, but they held little interest at the time. They are were not true power. False power is not worth seeking." Raizen said in thought and Kagome found herself smiling.
"Yes, that is what Lord Sesshomaru said as well. He held no interest is the Shikon. He wanted Naraku dead for his own reasons and so joined us. He started my training because he said a Guardian could not be so weak as to depend on other to protect that which is the Guardian's responsibility. I agreed with him though Inuyasha was not happy about it."
Raizen nodded slightly as he listed to what she told him. This Lord Sesshomaru must have been the one to teach her what she knew. Spending so much time with one of the demon Lord's five hundred years ago would no doubt have an effect on her behavior. Now he could only feel pleased she had that experience. Yusuke was much too hot headed and stubborn to deal with the Cardinal Lords, but Kagome would know how to maneuver so as not to offend them and cause an uprising.
"What happened to the Tama?" Raizen asked to which Kagome would not meet his gaze.
"It will always exist, but not in a form where anyone will know of it."
"You are still the Guardian of the jewel, then." It was more statement than a question and Kagome acknowledge that with a bow of her head.
"I am, and that is why I need more training. The knowledge of the jewel's existence may have passed into legend and memory, but there are those who would still look in a desire for that power." She admitted.
"This knowledge is not to leave us here. There are many fools in this world who would grasp for that kind of power. Even a false power can be a tempting lure for the weak." Raizen's voice held a command and both teens knew it.
"You realize how unbelievable that whole story would be to a normal person, right?" Yusuke said as he thought about all his sister must have gone through.
Hell, his own story wasn't normal either.
"Maybe so, but I did not lie. The fact that we are sitting here now just shows that we are not normal. Now I believe it is time you tell what happened with you as well." Kagome said shortly as she crossed her arms expectantly.
"Well…" Yusuke started as he explained his own story.
He told her of the first time he died. How he had come back, and become a spirit detective. He told her of his friends, how they met, and everything that had led up to his own blood waking. Yusuke then went on to tell her of how any why he had come to Makai. Kagome let off a soft giggle when he told her of his first meeting with Raizen.
"You really expected to win? Yusuke, even in the past I have heard his name. He has well over a thousand years of experience on you." She said before seeing the amusement in their 'father's' eye.
"Don't care." Yusuke muttered a bit sulkily before looking out at the setting sun through the large part of missing wall.
Shaking her head Kagome looked between the two male Mazoku in the room before giving up. She knew when to stay out of it. Her brother was just as stubborn as she was anyway. Once he had decided on something it would take life and limb to persuade him otherwise. As it was she was still letting his story settle in her mind. A realization stunned her momentarily before she looked back at him.
"Wait...Rekai had a kill order out on you. Does that mean if I had stayed in Ningenkai, and they found me?" She questioned, and watched as Yusuke's expression sobered.
"They might have tried." Yusuke growled angrily at the thought.
"You are in Makai now. They would not dare. You will start training tomorrow." Raizen spoke gruffly.
"Yes. Could I ask that someone search out for any information on my friends? I know Makai is extensive, but I would like to know how they have been since. I would like to see my kit if it's possible…" Kagome trailed off as she bit her lip in worry.
Shippo had been so young yet when the Shikon had taken her from them. She had been worried for him, and just wanted to know that he was still alive. She wanted to know if he as well as the others were happy.
"Speak with Seitei. He should be able to find someone to do some information gathering." Raizen told her as both she and Yusuke stood from where they had been.
"Thank you, father." Kagome said a bit formally as she bowed to show her gratitude.
"He's not our father." Yusuke grumbled in irritation before Kagome looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"As much time as you have spent around demons you still do not know anything. He is the father of our line. Our yokai blood comes from him. In the eyes of any demon in Makai he is our real father just as much as much as the man who knocked up our mother and ran out on her." Kagome's voice was soft, but her words were harsh.
Yusuke started growling in anger. The subject of their father had always been a sore one between them. They both felt that he was a man not worth speaking of, but so too did Kagome feel about their mother. Atsuko had chosen to give her to their Aunt to raise while she had kept Yusuke with her. He was the boy, and had reminded her the most of their father. Atsuko had said as much when they were children and she had been drunk. Kagome and Yusuke both had been there and heard her at the time.
"This is not the time for another argument. The sun has set. You both have training early."Raizen said firmly before they could start up again.
Really it was like he was dealing with two squabbling children. Well considering his age they were children. His children. A son and a daughter of his blood. It was more than he ever thought he would have.
"Right." Yusuke growled in irritation before turning around and stomping out of the throne room.
Shaking her head at her brother's childishness Kagome turned once more to Raizen.
"Good night, Father." She said knowing Yusuke was not yet out of hearing range.
Raizen only gave a slight nod in response before she turned to walk out and find Seitei. Looking out at where the sun had already disappeared he shook his head and grinned in amusement. Things would no doubt be interesting with those two here now. He only had so long to make them ready before the other two Kings would act after his death. They were not his children directly, but they were his blood. His heirs. He would not have them too weak to take over their responsibilities when the time came.
123
It was early the next morning when Kagome made her way to where she would be starting her training with Yusuke. Truth be told she was interested in seeing what her brother could do. He had always been one to get into fights as they were growing up, but this would be altogether different. She made her way to where Seitei had shown her to go the night before dressed in her taijiya armor that Sango had made for her. Surprisingly he was already there with Hokushin and Seitei when she got to the training grounds.
"Good morning everyone." Kagome greeted them with a smile while Yusuke looked grumpy at being awake while the sun had just started to rise.
"Ah. At least one of you will have no problem starting the day." Seitei said with some relief as the other two greeted her.
"We always started the day early when I traveled with my friends. I see Yusuke still has some trouble though." She teased her brother lightly before taking the time starting to stretch as Sango had taught her to do before training.
"That's an unusual outfit." Hokushin commented as he watched her movements.
Kagome looked down at her armor with a small smile as she remembered the friend who had made it and given it to her when she had completed her training. Her demon slayer outfit consisted of a black skin tight jumpsuit like Sango's and even had the kanji for sister written on her left shoulder. Where Sango had pink armor plates made of demon parts Kagome's were red as blood, and she wore a pink sash around her waist that had matched the color of Sango's armor plates. Her throwing knives were stored in her armor plates like Sango had shown her and the sword Sesshomaru had gifted her was tied at her hip. Her filter mask rested around her neck within reach and her bow was grasped in one hand.
"Is it? I suppose you wouldn't recognize the style. With the barrier I guess there aren't any others like me anymore." She mumbled catching her brothers attention.
"Others like you?" He asked.
"My friend Sango was the last survivor of her village. She may have passed the training down to her children, but with the barrier they wouldn't have needed taijiyas in the human world anymore." She replied to him before seeing surprise flash across Hokushin's face.
"Taijiyas? You're a taijiya?" He had obviously heard of or encountered them before.
"Sango was, and she was one who trained me. I learned some weaponry, hand to hand combat, blacksmithing, how to make poisons, and knowledge on different types of demons from her among other things. At the time she wanted to teach me how to defend myself. Now I suppose I'm the last one." She explained with a small smile at his expression.
"What's a taijiya?" Yusuke asked with some confused curiosity.
"The taijiya were humans who trained in the art of demon slaying." Hokushin replied to his question.
"Right. Sango was the daughter of the village leader. They would train from an early age to slay demons who were a threat to either their village or other human villages. She was one of four who trained me in different things." Kagome replied as she nodded to herself.
"What else have you been trained in?" Seitei asked; they would have to know what she would need training in for the future.
"Well Lord Sesshomaru trained me in weapons for the most part. Swords mostly, but he was a hard taskmaster. Miroku and Kaede both trained me in my holy power." Kagome explained only for both Hokushin and Seitei to pale a bit.
"Holy power?" Hokushin questioned a little stiffly.
"Yes. Before my demonic heritage showed itself I was just a miko." Kagome said before pointing her bow out away from everyone and aiming.
Pulling the string back she felt her reiryoku gather on instinct and form an arrow before she let it go in a stream of pink purifying light. She turned back to find all of them watching as it traveled about seventy yards before it disappeared. Both Hokushin and Seitei seemed a little unsettled, but Yusuke was more intrigued. He had never seen anything like that. His instincts told him well enough that he would want to stay out of its path. Something in him told him that his sisters power was dangerous to him.
"What was that!?" He asked as he shifted uncomfortably.
"That would be power we thought had died out. The holy power a miko uses is enough to purify any demon." Seitei said wonderly and a little on edge.
"Maybe so, but I only use it if I have to. I was trained to use my reiryoku by an old miko I knew, and I had a friend who was a monk. He taught me what he could to use houriki. What I need is training to control my youki, and get stronger. I have no control over it, and with no control I can't use it properly." Kagome replied before putting down her bow to make the others a little more comfortable.
"Now that is something we can help with. Are you ready?" Hokushin asked with a small smile.
These teens were Mazoku alright, and he could see the potential clearly. Kagome and Yusuke were both fairly strong already, but not to the level they would need to be. With the right training they could one day be as powerful as King Raizen. They just needed the time to get there.
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A/N: Well that's chapter three. Still undecided pair, but we'll see. I tend to lose myself in the story, and I don't even know for sure who it's end up being yet. Thanks for all the reviews!
~Ryu