Inuyasha
Survival of Love
Chapter 7
Enemy's Around
July 27, 2017
Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku left Edo Village early that morning with Inuyasha following them at a distance to keep watch over his friends. They were making their way towards Kouga's pack of wolves because that is where their quarry is located. These Priests and Priestesses have been going through the Northern and Eastern Lands claiming to have found a way to rid the world of demons. The problem was any demon who could get close enough to figure out what they were doing, up until now, disappeared never to been seen or heard from again. It was a true threat and one Kagome couldn't ignore much to her mates displeasure.
Late that evening after dinner Sango was curious. " Kagome how do you plan to get in their good graces?"
"We'll help how ever we can, it's going to be hard to turn against Kouga and his pack though. I will be holding back of course against them I just hope Inuyasha get's to him first to warn him that I'm not really their enemy." Kagome said softly as she watched the fire. She wasn't worried about eaves droppers because she had scanned the area before dinner then put up a barrier to protect them from intruders.
"I'm sure Inuyasha will do his part." Miroku said as he watched the two ladies.
"How..." Kohaku started then was hushed by Kagome suddenly.
Kagome stood up quickly and turned to her right staring through the tree's where she knew the edge of her barrier was something had just touched it. She picked up her sword placing in it's place on her side then picking up her arrows and she slid them over her shoulders. She pulled one the arrows picked up her bow notching the arrow easily and she made her way into the tree's.
Sango and Miroku had jumped up when Kagome armed herself and followed a few feet behind her. Kohaku stayed behind to guard camp it was never a good idea to focus all the attention to one place in his opinion.
"Who's there?" Kagome asked as she watched the forest around them in the fading light.
"You're good Priestess." a male voice said off to her left.
Kagome looked at the man curiously he was dressed like a Priest, tall and skinny with extremely short black hair underneath his traditional hat on his head and blue eyes. She narrowed her eyes at the man but didn't draw her bow, "Bring out the others." she said warningly she didn't like to have people hidden around her.
"There are no others." the Priest said as he clasped his hands in front of him.
"Liar. There are four of you." Kagome said as she motioned with her bow three other hiding spots and watched as two priestesses and an second priest walked out from behind their given tree or bush.
"She's really good, Akira." The other male priest said he had short black hair and green eyes also dressed in priest attire.
"Can I help you?" Kagome asked curiously as she switched her gaze between the four new arrivals.
"We hope so, may we come in and speak with you?" one of the Priestesses asked hopefully, she has long black hair pulled back and tied at the base of her neck with two loops of hair hanging down her face then pulled back under her ears to be also tied back. Her eyes are hazel.
"That depends, who are you people?" Kagome asked curiously she had no intention on dropping her guard she hadn't expected to meet up with these people until tomorrow, they were still a half a day away from Kouga and his pack.
"I am the Priestess Kiyoshi." the Priestess who had just asked for permission to enter Kagome's barrier said she was young, a couple of years older than Kagome, with a bright smile and energetic eyes.
"I am the Priest Hiroshi." said the Priest with short black hair and green eyes. He was older than Kagome but younger than Miroku.
"I am the Priestess Cho." The other priestess said she seemed to be the oldest of the four with a few stray hair starting to turn gray at the roots. Her dark brown eyes seeming dull in comparison to Kiyoshi.
"And I am the Priest Akira, I'm sure you've heard about our mission." the first priest that had stepped out and spoken said. He seemed about middle aged and kind of distant personality from what Kagome could sense about him.
"Rumors only if you're who I think you are." Kagome said then glanced back at Sango and Miroku questioningly. They nodded to her and she nodded back to them. "Very well." she said after a brief pause then motioned them in through her barrier.
Inuyasha watched the events unfolding as close as he dared to get high up in the tree's. He is inside Kagome's barrier protecting camp but with a second smaller barrier around him to mask his presence.
"And you are?" Priest Akira asked curiously as he passed through Kagome's barrier, he was obviously the leader of this small group.
"I am Priestess Kagome, these are my friends and partners. Monk Miroku and the Demon Hunter Sango." Kagome said as she shook hands with Akira wondering if they were really that desperate to defeat Kouga that they had sought her out.
"Good evening to you all. But shouldn't there be one more of you?" Akira asked as he eyed the others curiously.
"There is, follow me." Kagome said as she turned and led the way back to camp entrusting Sango and Miroku to watch her back.
"Ah and there is the other demon hunter." Akira said once they arrived at the camp.
"This is Kohaku a Demon Hunter. Kohaku this is Priest Akira, Priest Hiroshi, Prestess Kiyoshi, and Pristess Cho." Kagome said as she introduced everyone. She put her arrow back in her case and took it off her shoulder, then laid it and her bow down as she took her seat again though noticeably she didn't put her sword away she kept that on her.
"An interesting choice of weapons Kagome." Kiyoshi said as she nodded the sword curiously.
"My friend here taught me the sword techniques. Some times in our line of work close combat can not be avoided it's good to have a back up." Kagome said motioning to Sango as her teacher, to which Sango just nodded when the others turned to look at her.
"Very interesting what exactly is it that you do?" Akira asked curiously looking around at the small group sitting down opposite Kagome across the fire with the others following suite by him.
"We travel from village to village helping where ever we can we've dealt with wounded demons hiding in human bodies, to demons who snatch females to be their bride, to demons that just want to kill and destroy." Miroku answered as he sat beside Sango who was beside Kagome. Kohaku had managed to sit on the other side of Kagome.
"The four of you have quite a reputation in this area though I've never heard of you." Cho said as she looked at them curiously.
"My powers were not realized until my family moved to Edo Village about two years ago where the Priestess Kaede helped me realize my potential, I've been traveling the country side learning from any priestess who would share knowledge with me other than that I've taught myself so a normal village priestess job isn't in my near future I still have a lot to learn." Kagome said downing her own powers like she didn't think she was that powerful.
"Ah my dear Kagome you have an extreme control over your power, your barrier and your ability to know where we were hiding is proof of that." Kiyoshi said with a bright warm smile and admiration.
"Thank you. But I get the distinct feeling you want something. You sought us out for some reason." Kagome said as she looked from Kiyoshi back to Akira.
"Quite right. The four of us have came up with a way to imprison powerful demons. Would you be interested in helping us rid the world of these accursed creatures?" Akira asked curiously as he watched the group in front of him look at each other stunned.
"So the rumors are true, you've found away to do it." Kagome said curiously as she leaned forward slightly wanting more information.
"Yes it took us a couple of years to get it to work but we can imprison even a demon lord if we could get close enough." Kiyoshi said as she leaned forward towards Kagome excitedly.
"If you could do all that why do you need us? What could we do?" Kagome asked looking around at them curiously.
"Well we've hit a snag, a wolf pack to be more precise. We could use some close combat fighters like yourselves and some more power to add to our own." Hiroshi said as he nodded over to Sango and Kohaku then motioned towards Kagome and Miroku.
"You've taken on a whole pack?" Kagome said feigning shock.
"Well yes and no. We went after their leader his name is Kouga from what we understand. He's quite the tactician with his pack members, him and his pack thwarts us at every attempt we make at him." Akira said as he crossed his arms and stared at the fire.
Kagome and the others all had the same thought 'Kouga a tactician...' he seemed very brash and impulsive like a certain half demon they all knew it was hard to see Kouga as a brilliant military mind.
"If you can take a demon Lord why do you need us for a mere pack leader?" Miroku asked curiously raising an eyebrow at them.
"Well actually we have up till this point caught the demon unaware of our presence." Kiyoshi said with a small laugh and a scratch of the back of her head.
"Ah I see you've attacked from a blind side." Miroku said then looked over at Kagome curiously.
"And how do you intend to take this... Uh Kouga right? Since surprise is obviously out of the question now." Kagome asked curiously pausing to fake remembering her friends name.
"Well we plan to hit the wolf pack at day break in two days, with your group added to our own we should be able to take their leader quite easily." Akira said as he looked at Kagome's group curiously something was off with them but he shrugged the thought aside the information about them had come from a trusted Priestess who was powerful but had her own village to protect and was unwilling to travel.
"You said imprison, so you're not killing them? But where are you imprisoning them and how does that work?" Kagome asked curiously if these fools would just offer up the info she could go home now. She had only been separated from Sesshomaru and Hikaru for one day but the world just seemed darker around the edges or maybe it was just her world that was darker she wasn't sure. Tsubaki had warned Kagome the longer she was away from Sesshomaru the worse her emotional state would get and the same would happen to Sesshomaru, that there is an emotional bond made when demons mate unlike humans who just agree to share everything.
"You'll see if you show up in two days." Akira said with a wicked smile as he stood up. Obviously he believed it was time to go.
"Excuse us it's getting late." Kiyoshi said brightly as the others followed Akira. They were heading for the area in the barrier that Kagome had let them through.
"Well that was enlightening..." Kagome mumbled to herself then stood up and followed them. "Goodnight. Oh where should we meet you?" she asked curiously wondering where their base camp was.
"Just keep heading that direction we'll find you in about half a day." Akira said with a small wave then walked out through Kagome's barrier.
"He's very secretive." Kiyoshi said with a small laugh as she shook hands with Kagome.
"It keeps the demons on their toes remember that young Priestess." Cho said as she taped her younger counterpart on the head then just continued following the two priests.
"Yes, yes I know." Kiyoshi said with a bright smile and a shrug then turned and followed the others quickly. They vanished out of sight after a few minutes.
"I believe..." Sango said then stopped as Kagome held her hand up for silence.
Kagome turned and walked back towards camp nodding to the others to follow her. "We're being watched, stay where you are Inuyasha." She said softly chancing a glance out of the corner of her eye making sure he heard her and understood. She sighed once he nodded then sat back against the tree, which at least for tonight would be his home.
"I no longer sense them Kagome." Miroku said softly as he sat down by his and Sango's stuff.
"Not to far away the older Priestess Cho suddenly disappeared but what they don't realize is that last time through my barrier I let a little bit of my power cling to them and even through their barriers I can sense my own powers. It appears they don't completely trust us." Kagome said softly with a smile thinking that they have a right not to trust them.
"Well I believe that young Priestess Kiyoshi is lively and trusting." Sango said softly with a wink.
"I agree the others seem more reserved." Miroku said as he crossed his arms around his staff with his wife sitting beside him.
"Bad habits resurfacing monk?" Kohaku said with a laugh when Miroku's mouth fell open to an O, like he couldn't believe this young boy had just called him a pervert again in front of his wife.
The ladies for their part laughed they knew he was just agreeing with Sango the young priestess did seem more likable to them as well.
~*~*~*~ Western Castle ~*~*~*~
Hikaru seemed to be Sesshomaru's only salvation, he was lonely with out Kagome's usual interruptions through out his day. All he had now was Jaken's annoyingly squeaky voice bringing him more paperwork. With Inuyasha gone as well he had no one he could truly spar with none of his staff was near his power level though Himeko was the most powerful she was only a large bright candle against his large camp fire.
Rin came to see him per her normal daily routine of changing out the flowers in his study that she had picked for him. She seemed to be more preoccupied by Shippou now that she had someone closer to her own age to play with, someone who didn't have duties to preform.
Himeko did her duties per normal but seemed distracted every now and then, Sesshomaru would catch her staring off at the distance not really paying attention to what was going on around her. At moments like those Sesshomaru would undoubtedly find some errand for her to run to keep her mind preoccupied this just happened to be one of those moments.
Sesshomaru walked out to the main gate his intentions were to take a patrol around his lands but he spotted Himeko standing up on the wall with one of her dazed looks and his lips twitched slightly into a smile, he was sure what her problem was, a young half demon and half brother of his, Inuyasha had been gone for nearly two weeks now. He had seen his half brother leave with a set of armor on and the faint sent of Himeko lingered on the new addition to his wardrobe. Truth be told he had intended to have a set of armor made for him but never had the time to get it arranged.
"Himeko." Sesshomaru commanded clearly trying to drag her out of her stupor.
"Huh?" Himeko questioned as she looked around confused she was sure she heard some one call out to her then she caught the sent of her lord and looked down horrified that he had called to her and she was lost in her own thoughts unaware. She jumped down from her perch on the wall and kneeled before him. "My Lord." she said apologetically as she bowed down to him.
Sesshomaru smirked then shook his head. "Get up Himeko we have work to do." he said then turned and walked out through the gate expecting her to follow him.
Himeko started as she looked up at his retreating form her lack of attention would have, in the time before Kagome, caused her great pain at his hands. "My Lord?" she asked as she jumped up then ran to catch up with him making sure to stay a couple paces off to the side and behind her lord.
"I will be doing one of my normal rounds of my lands. Himeko I want you to go and inform the Southern Lady Tatsu about Kagome's mission." Sesshomaru said as he continued to walk without looking back at his servant.
"Is that wise My Lord? Many of the Southern demons follow their Lady but they may disobey her at any moment if they feel they have the chance to kill and unguarded enemy." Himeko asked curiously as she looked at at Sesshomaru worried about this decision. She knew it wasn't her place to question him but with Kagome being her pupil and her friend she decided to ask anyway.
"You are correct Himeko it may not be wise, but I must trust in my mates abilities to create friends from enemies. She has done so many times I see no reason to doubt her now. Besides I don't want them blowing her cover by accident. This way I know if they do it, it was on purpose and I can kill them with out regrets." Sesshomaru said as he glanced back at Himeko with a hard look in his eyes and she knew that if the South caused any problems during this mission her lord would be merciless.
"As you wish My Lord. Do you wish me to convey any other message?" Himeko asked curiously as she looked up at her lord. He could have chosen any of the messengers to do this mission so why had he chosen her was this punishment for her lack of attention over the past couple of days?
"No just inform them of her mission and my wrath if they break her cover." Sesshomaru said as he continued to walk impassively. "On your way back Himeko I do have another mission for you." he said in an ever so slightly softer tone of voice.
"Yes My Lord anything for you." Himeko said as she kept up with him easily.
Sesshomaru's lips twitched into a smirk. "You may regret that comment." he said seriously keeping his attention forward as he glided along on his long powerful strides.
Himeko now wondered what kind of horrible assignment he had in mind for her this was for sure punishment for her distractions as of late. She made a mental note that if she survived no matter what she would no longer for any reason be distracted while on duty and she gulped as she waited for the worst news of her mission to come.
Sesshomaru heard her gulp and wondered what horrible, gruesome missions she had just envisioned for herself. "Meet up with Inuyasha and get a report from him. By the time you are done with the Southern Lady they should have already found the enemy and joined up with them." he said and glanced back at her impassively wanting to see the look on her face, he couldn't help it he had built this up so much he had to see.
Himeko looked up at him shocked this wasn't punishment, this wasn't a horrible job, could this possibly be an impostor. She was curious so she stretched out her powers ever so slightly testing the feel of Sesshomaru's against her own she knew that feel and would know instantly if some one had taken his form. It was her lord alright, then she looked up into his eyes to see they were lonely. "My Lord..." She said softly as a huge grin spread across her face. She understood he had picked her because of her distractions as of late but it wasn't out of punishment but out of pitty and loneliness he had given her this assignment.
"Go on Himeko I am officially making you my go between for me and the advanced unite of my mate, do not fail us." Sesshomaru said with a small sad smile just before turning away from her and disappearing into the forest to do his rounds. He could help her loneliness by letting her see Inuyasha even if it was for short burst but him, he would have to suffer in solitude unable to quench his need until his mate returned to him.
Himeko stood there for a few minutes feeling her lords power vanishing quickly north towards the boarder between the lands. 'Thank you My Lord.' she thought as her grin faded becoming more business centered and she looked South then disappeared herself into the forest, her speed untraceable by all except the highest class of demons all above her own station in life.
