Rebirth of Sounga

Chapter 12: Icy Bond & Betrayal

Kagome suddenly froze. "I feel a jewel shard!" Everyone looked at her. "Its that way!" She pointed further north. "I think we're going to stick around with you Toboe, you seem to have interesting adventures." Youko said. Toboe chuckled turning to Kagome. "Looks like we have two more companions." They headed further north traveling at a comfortable speed guided by Kagome. When the sun was low in the sky Sesshomaru spotted a cave on the ground. "Its time we land and set up camp for the night." Kagome and the others nodded. Toboe, Kuroune and Youko took off hunting. Sango and Miroku collected as much firewood as they could find making several trips to break off dead branches and pick up the ones that had already fallen. InuYasha broke them down to size and piled them up. Kagome lit the fire and set up the tripod and with Kouga's help they filled the pot to over flowing with clean snow. As it melted the three hunters returned, two large deer were cleaned and ready to be hacked up. Toboe also carried herbs with her. Several of them would flavor the stew and help the youkai regain energy. Toboe dismissed Entei and her two fire cats to hunt, Kagome shortly released hers to follow.

Kuroune and Toboe took the job of cutting the meat into cubes and strips. Kagome added the herbs to the pot and watched them dissolve, before adding a few more from her pack. The two youkai worked quickly and soon all the meat was in the now bubbling water. They went outside and washed their hands and arms with snow and came back inside. Rin was shivering in her light kimono. "Sit near the fire little one, it will warm you." Toboe said gently and the child moved from the dragon's side to Kagome's, the heat of the flame soon slowed her shivering. Sesshomaru nodded at the vixen who smiled at him. Toboe pulled the saddle bags off of Entei and started setting her bed up. Once she had unrolled the thick pad she slept on she realized Kuroune had grabbed one of the thinner blankets and held it out to her. Together they unfolded and finished setting up the bed. "So I am guessing I will be sharing again?" He only grinned and Toboe chuckled. Kagome stirred the pot and the pleasant smell filled the cave. It was a while more before Kagome said the food was done and they gathered around the fire to eat. Rin and Shippo were served first and warned it was hot. As the food was handed out to the youkai they separated to different places in the cave to eat. Youko and Kuroune were sitting on Toboe's mound of blankets eating and were amused to have the female settle between them to eat. "Besides you two are my favorite youkai." She said, both grinned. Kagome sat near InuYasha as she ate. Sango sat curled into Kirara's side.

The children both began to yawn not long after dinner was over so Kagome set up her sleeping bag only to have another tossed at her. The black bag landed on her red one. She turned to see Toboe had pulled it out of her bags. "Zip them together and keep both of the kits with you it will not only be warmer but more comfortable. Her blankets are to light for this weather and your sleeping bag alone is only big enough for you and Shippo." Kagome unzipped her bag all the way and spread it out, then she unrolled Toboe's, hers was thicker and heavily padded. She zipped them together and it made a nice sized bed. Easily enough for her and the two children. She got a child to each side and settled in the middle. "Wow Toboe its warm." The fox snorted. "My sleeping bag is made for much colder temperatures then yours is. You'll have to get one like mine next time we go home. We have no idea where those damned shards will pop up." Kagome looked to InuYasha who nodded.

Kouga's men set up their sleeping space as the wolf prince looked outside. "Its going to be cold tonight." Kagome sighed. "And will only be colder tomorrow we're still headed north, but the jewel shard isn't moving." The wolf nodded and he and Sesshomaru shared a look. Kouga went and set up his bed, Sesshomaru settled a reasonable distance from the fire. Kuroune opened the covers and crawled in, wiggling around a bit to get comfortable and make sure his wings were covered. Toboe had removed some of her outer wear before crawling in, a yawn exposing her fangs. She nestled against him, he dropped an arm around her waist pulling her firmly against his body. Kurama looked at the surprised priestess and demon slayer before changing shape. The good sized three tailed fox walked over and settled himself on the bed in front of Toboe who slid her arms around him.

His head lowered to rest on the pillow next to hers. Kuroune covered them with his wing then the blankets. Toboe reached out and made sure the blanket covered both the wing and tucked it around Youko's paws. The fox was amused, his tails spreading over her legs, then he felt something wonderful. She was running her fingers through his fur. Stroking his neck and shoulders, then she reached up and rubbed his head. Taking time to gently massage each ear before softly scratching between them. He purred deep in his chest, a low pleased sound. Good vixen, tend to us properly. His beast rumbled in his mind. His lips curled into a canine's smile. He was surprised when she stopped scratching and slid her arm around his chest. Her fingers softly grasping the thick fur. She yawned again and snuggled down, rubbing her face against his neck he felt her breaths even out and she slept. Her guard completely relaxed, small bits of her youki could be felt by the others.

Youko's golden eye was slightly open and he caught the slayer's look of distrust as she looked over at them, she set up her bedding next to her fire cat and lay down for the night. His eye narrowed, the slayer was not someone to be trusted with the vixen's safety. He curled closer to her and she sighed happily, petting his chest and stomach. He made a noise in his throat and Kuroune's eye opened, before focusing on him. The slayer isn't to be trusted. She seems to target the vixen. What belongs to us must be protected. Youko said softly in bat, few knew he spoke the tongue. Kuroune nodded. She cares for us very tenderly, for a vixen she seems to have had a great deal of knowledge about my species. She devotes a good deal of her time tending to our needs first, even her horse comes before herself. Youko purred his agreement, both closed their eyes. Then Youko caught her scent. It was a soothing smell, soon the fox drifted off his body relaxing into deep slumber.

They slept until well after sunrise, the chill was only mildly unpleasant. But as they traveled further it would only get worse.Toboe woke up to warmth surrounding her, it was a wonderful feeling. She squeezed the fox demon slightly and he grumbled in his sleep. She smiled and started scratching his side, slowly one golden eye popped open and he looked at her sleepily. That's probably the first time someone has awoken me without rousing my temper. What a pleasant way to be awakened. You may awaken me any time. She chuckled before turning slightly, causing her back to pop pleasantly. She started to rub her hands across the wing above her, smoothing the thin flesh and warming the slightly chilled wing. The arm around her tightened slightly and she was suddenly looking into deep purple eyes. "That felt good. No one usually dares wake Youko and I, yet you can do so pleasantly." She smiled at him, her fingers coming up to stroke his ear softly. "Looks like I need to get a bigger thicker blanket too." he chuckled. "You should, Youko and I enjoy your company. Your the first woman who sees us a males not objects or prizes." Toboe smiled rubbing his ear gently, his contented purr could be felt in his chest. She stretched her legs and just lay there in the warmth of the two males.

She heard Kagome wake up and start moving around. "Toboe? Are you awake?" "Yeah, just to damn comfortable to move." Kagome giggled. "I can tell, but I want to get moving soon, this way we can find another cave well before dark comes and it gets colder." Toboe saw the logic and sighed. Both demons groaned and they got up. Toboe folded and packed up the bedding with Kuroune's help. "Perhaps its best Kuroune if you ride behind me, as we get higher into the mountains your wings will freeze while you fly." Kuroune shivered at the thought. "I see your point, what about Youko?" She chuckled. "He'll have to share a ride with Kouga." The two males looked at one another an nodded. Within half an hour they were airborne. Toboe was wearing her cloak black side out. She had taken one of their blankets and wrapped it around Kuroune, keeping his wings from most of the chilled wind. "This was a good idea, we are able to go much faster now." Youko called from next to them. Kagome was leading them further north, and the winds were starting to get very cold. Rin was tucked inside Kagome's cloak with Shippo. Sesshomaru actually rode his dragon.

Around midday Toboe spotted something from the air, her gaze narrowing she tugged Entei into a shallow dive. It was a woman laying in the snow, she was obviously injured. The others had seen her landing and soon had followed her. Toboe got down after asking Kuroune to wait there in case it was a trap. Toboe got to the woman's side only to realize she was a youkai, an ice youkai at that. They were very rare and hunted for their tears. Which became jewels when shed. She carefully moved her only to discover she was heavily pregnant. "Kagome! Come help me, she will need to be healed." Kagome came over and focusing, they healed the wound in her side. It was a few moments later when the ice youkai woke up. Her startled eyes fell upon Toboe then Kagome, seeing both were female she relaxed somewhat. "Who are you?" Toboe looked at her. "We are travelers looking for something. Why are you here and injured at that?" The ice youkai's eyes watered, but no tears fell. "I am afraid to return to my village." Kagome was shocked. "Why would you be afraid of your own people?"

The ice youkai focused on Kagome. "Your a priestess, yet you helped me, why?" Kagome smiled. "I value all life, I have no hatred for demons. My best friend is a demon, it was her who spotted you in the snow." The youkai's eyes widened and she looked at the other female. "Your a fox demon." Toboe chuckled. "Guilty now, tell us what troubles you." The ice maiden's story spilled from her lips then. "I broke the law among ice maidens, I fell in love with a man. He and I mated and I know carry his children within me. I know one will be male. Males are forbidden in the village. I am frightened for my child." Toboe's eyes narrowed. "If males are forbidden by your village I will make a pact with you." The Ice maiden looked at the fox youkai with hope. "I will take you home with Kagome and I will tell your village that I will be taking your male child. I will take him and raise him as my own." The ice maiden then started to cry, her tears forming gems which Kagome quickly picked up and placed in a pouch.

She offered the pouch to the youkai when she had collected them all. "You would give up such wealth?" Kagome smiled. "it is not mine to take." The maiden took the heavy pouch before handing it to Toboe. "Take this, so that you can provide the child with anything he needs." Toboe took the pouch with reverence, placing it in her pocket. "Very well. I guess its time then." Kagome went to the others and explained. Though the demons had heard the conversation. InuYasha, Sango and Miroku had not. "Is there a cave?" She asked Kouga and he pointed to one set a bit off the ground on the far wall of the canyon. Sesshomaru walked over and inspected it, He used Tokijin to enlarge the opening and destroy a few lesser youkai that came out. "we will make the cave inhabitable, uphold your oath." Toboe nodded to the dog demon. Kuroune had slid off Entei's back and Toboe helped the ice youkai onto her horse before swinging up.

"Give me the bags, that way when you return the bedding will be ready." Youko said as he came up next to them. Toboe reached back carefully and lifted the bags free then handed them to him. "We will try and be back soon, I don't know how far the village is from here." He nodded and walked back towards the cave the bags over one shoulder, Kagome and one of her fire cats came close. They nodded to each other and took to the sky, following the directions the ice maiden gave to them. They flew high and fast, suddenly the clouds cleared and they saw it a floating island. "The home of the ice maidens." The pregnant youkai stated. They landed on a large ledge, Entei melted all the snow around him. "Its best if he stays here, most of the village is formed with snow and ice." They nodded and Toboe patted the horse. They walked only a short way up the path when they were challenged. "You! Why have you returned, you broke our most sacred law." The ice youkai stood straight. "I will still birth my children here it is my right. I need to speak to Kimina." With a snarl they were lead up the path until they reached a village, most of the women traveled in pairs.

Upon seeing the maiden they traveled with most turned away or glared at her. They were lead to a building at the core of the village. Once inside a single female awaited the three. "You have disgraced us, yet you want to birth your children in this village. You have lain with a man. That is forbidden." Toboe stepped between the ice maidens, her gaze now bright purple, her slitted pupils were narrow with anger. "I have made a pact with this ice maiden. Her male child will be mine. I will take him and raise him well away from your island." The other female's head snapped back, she could now feel the woman's youki. "So you bring not only a priestess into our village but a demon fox as well." She thought for a few moments. "I will concede to the pact you made, so long as the forbidden one is removed from this isle as soon as possible." Toboe snorted. "If the weather holds and we know the day she is to give birth, I will be here to take the child at that time."

The other ice maiden thought it over. "You are indeed a formidable female, for that I commend you. I will see she gets the care she needs until she gives birth." Toboe held out her hand. "An oath! I trust nothing without one." The ice maiden produced a blade and slit her palm before the fox sliced hers. Clasping hands a chill swept through the building. "I swear on blood oath that the male child of this maiden will be turned over to you." Toboe spoke next. "I swear to take the child and raise him as my own, to teach him to wield his power with honor." The magic ran through both demons and they let go of each others hands, the wounds were healed but both now carried marks around their wrists. Toboe's were of little snow flakes gently wrapping her wrist. The ice maiden's wrist beheld the image of a silver fox with glowing eyes, Kagome couldn't see the tails but she knew they were there.

"We will wait here until a healer has looked her over and given us a time for her birthing." The ice maiden lead them out of the building and into a house nearby. The woman inside gasped on seeing the three. "Kimina what is the meaning of this?" The ice maidens spoke for a few moments, Toboe's eyes were the only thing that gave away she was a demon now. "So, I am to attend you. Come let the exam begin." They went into a separate room and Toboe listened, some time later the two returned. "She will give birth within the next few days. No longer then five at the most." The healer said coldly. Toboe growled. "Then I will return in three, weather permitting. I warn you, steal from me and I will not be pleased." The healer had read a fable about a fox demon's wrath but it had been about a male so she dismissed it. "Very well, I will have you escorted out of the village."

With that they returned to their waiting mounts. The ice maiden looked up at Toboe as she was sitting on her horse. "Thank you. Both of you." Toboe snorted. "Think nothing of this." With those words they departed. Returning to the cave was easier then they thought, the winds aided them all the way to the entrance. When they landed, both could smell the roasting meat. Entering the cave they shook off the light snow. "What happened?" Shippo asked the question on everyone's minds. As Kagome explained, Toboe settled next to the bat demon. "Your angry." He said. She smiled. "I am, I am appalled that she would be treated this way for falling in love. That's why I offered to take the child. So he will not suffer their hatred." Kuroune's wing wrapped around her and pulled her to him, she slid into his lap and lay against him. "I am pleased you are willing to take in a fledgling not of your own kind." Toboe smiled and relaxed against him, soon falling asleep.

For the next two days they remained at the cave with ease, but on the third day a snowstorm swept through the valley. It only lasted until the next morning, but something woke Toboe. A deep sense of wrong flooded through her. She left the bed and looked out to see the skies had cleared. Kagome woke up to the sound of hooves on stone, she sat up to see Toboe putting on her cloak. "Whats wrong Toboe?" her question woke most of the group. "Something feels wrong and the mark on my wrist has started to burn." Kagome got out of bed. "Kairi, can you take me to the village again?" She asked her fire cat, who nodded walking outside and with a flash of fire was ready. Entei had melted all the snow for a fifteen foot circle around him. Toboe strapped Sounga to her right side, she squeezed the hilt for a moment before letting go and walking outside.

She swung onto Entei's back as Kagome got on to her fire cat. They took to the skies, Toboe raced through the wind and clouds. Something urging her to hurry, Kagome had a hard time keeping up but once they spotted the isle Kagome felt it. Something was indeed wrong. Both landed and dismounted, walking up the path they were surprised no one challenged them. Just before the village they found many ice maidens were in a semi circle around one. Someone spotted them and all eyes were upon them. The one on the ground looked up and they realized it was the ice maiden they had saved. Kagome rushed to her side. "Are you alright?" She saw that the woman was holding a small baby wrapped in blankets. Kagome smiled and gently caressed the baby's cheek. "How lovely." But the ice maiden had started to cry, gems spilled all over the snow, Kagome quickly picked them up and placed them in a pile before the maiden. "Please will you hold her?" The ice maiden asked. Kagome gently took the wrapped baby and cuddled her humming a lullaby and rocking her. Toboe was watching with glowing eyes. "Where is my kit..." Her voice was just above a growl. One of the maidens pointed at her. "We did what was proper." Toboe walked forward her left hand taking hold of her sword hilt. She grasped the ice maiden by the throat and lifted her a couple feet off the ground. Her claws leaving thin but painful scratches. "I will break your neck before destroying this village... Where is my kit!" The ice maiden touched Toboe's left arm then, her gaze was watery and Toboe squeezed a little tighter. "They took him away from me, he was born yesterday during the storm. They wrapped him in seals and and..."She had started to cry again, Toboe looked at the ice maiden she was slowly suffocating. "And what?" The ice maiden gasped. "I threw the forbidden child from the isle." Toboe's eyes narrowed, She squeezed until the mother touched her again. "There is no use in killing her." Toboe threw the ice maiden into a tree. She drew Sounga, his dark cruel aura filling the area. She swung the blade and a dragon of purple-black energy tore through most of the village. She raised the weapon again but the mother again grasped her. She pressed something into Toboe's hand. "Please don't. I know you are angry. They have killed him, do not give them the peace of death. Take this to remember." Toboe was trembling in rage and anguish. "I warn you, you broke a blood pact with me. The one who bears the marking will suffer a painful drawn out death for this. If I should find this isle again. There will be no forgiveness from me." She turned sheathed the blade and walked away. Kagome handed the baby back to her mother. "There is a shard of a terrible jewel on this island. I must find it before I can leave." One of the women ran off and returned carefully carrying a small pillow before her. On it was a dark purple shard. Kagome reached out and picked it up, the shard turning a pink so light it seemed white. "You have purified the evil." Kagome smiled, dropping the shard into the bottle around her neck. "I am the Guardian of the Jewel. I broke it, I must fix it." The maidens all looked at the priestess. "So you are pure then, You are welcome to return to the isle. The demon however is not." Kagome nodded and waiving to the baby she followed the path to where Toboe waited. She could see her friend was barely holding on to her emotions. "I think its best when we get back to the others, if we head back and go home for awhile." Toboe said nothing but nodded. They took off and when they returned to the cave, the others were waiting outside. "Kagome?" Sango asked as Toboe got down, went inside and started packing. She was still trembling, and her youki was flickering. Kagome looked Sango in the eye. "They did something horrible." Sango looked at her with steady eyes. "They... Tossed him off the isle during the storm." Sango gasped. The males looked at Toboe with understanding, her scent was flickering between intense rage and deep sorrow. "We need to get back to the village quickly, then Toboe and I are going home for awhile." InuYasha was opening his mouth to say something but a look from Sesshomaru had his jaw snapped shut. "We are over a week's walk away from Kaede's village." Miroku stated. Kagome smiled slightly. "We will fly it." Sesshomaru calculated the distance in his head. "If we maintained a fair pace we could make it to The village near InuYasha's forest in four days." Kagome gave him a true smile. "Wow, Then we might as well get going." Toboe walked out of the cave her saddle bags over her shoulder. She tossed them up and into place, Entei shook to make them settle. Toboe mounted up but was pleasantly surprised when Kuroune settled behind her. "I will ride with you, so you don't push yourself." She gave him a wry smile and they took to the sky, the others not far behind. Four days of travel saw them flying over InuYasha's forest. The demon's landed in the clearing of the well, Most of the rest of the group continued onto the village. Kagome however had not. "Shippo, you can stay with Kaede or with the other youkai." The fox kit smiled. "Maybe I can get Youko Kurama to teach me something cool!" The silver raised an eyebrow. Maybe he could teach the kit a few new pranks to pull on the half-breed for amusement.

Toboe took her saddle bags and dropped them next to the well. "I need to wash the blankets and see about getting some new ones as winter is coming. Sesshomaru?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Can I get Rin a thicker mat and blanket?" He thought and nodded. "I approve of your actions vixen." She smiled at him but there was no joy in it. Her scent flickered even as she slept. Kagome picked up her large back pack and walked towards the well. Toboe picked up her Saddle bags. "Entei?" The horse snorted. "Eat as many bandits as you want." The horse licked his lips in glee and snorted at her again. She chuckled. Kagome handed her a shard before jumping in. Toboe looked at the shard. "I still think its ugly." She grumbled before jumping in, Kuroune burst into laughter. "Only vixen I have ever met who thinks a jewel is ugly." Sesshomaru shook his head. "False power is always ugly." Youko Kurama nodded.

-The present-

Both girls climbed out of the well and left the well house, it was really early or very late on this side of the well as they opened the door to the house and went inside. They had just made it into the living room when they noticed the kitchen light was on. Kagome's mother stuck her head out. "Welcome back girls." "Hi mama." "Yo, Mrs, H." Mrs. Higurashi laughed. "What do you intend to do this time your home?" Toboe snorted. "I'm headed for Granny's place. I need to blow off some steam." Kagome smiled at her mother. "I'm going too, I need to talk to Grandmother about something." Kagome's mother nodded. "So will you need me to wash anything while you are away?" Both smiled,

"Pretty much everything we took with us is dirty now. And I have to buy more blankets and a bigger pad. Winter is coming on the other side." Kagome's mother nodded wisely. "That's good, what about you Kagome?" Her daughter smiled. "Mine's all dirty too, and I'll have to buy a heavier sleeping bag, Toboe had to lend me hers so I would stay warm."Her mother nodded again writing every thing down on a list. "When you get back from Genkai's we will go shopping. That way your stuff won't be sitting here collecting dust until you get back." Both nodded, they were asked a few more questions and more things were added to the list before they were told to put their bags in the laundry room and to hurry the bus would be there soon. "good thing we keep clothes at Granny's" Toboe said as they were walking down the stairs to the bus stop. "Yeah, and thanks for replacing all the priestess robes with the ones like you got in the past. I hate red and white, It makes me look like Kikyo." Toboe looked confused.

Kagome explained who she was as they waited for the bus to get there, she finished her tale just as the bus came in sight. "I see her, she's ash. Regardless of InuYasha's whining." Kagome knew it to be true, they paid their fair and got their transfers before finding seats at the back of the bus. Both spent the long ride in thoughts.

-Spirit world-

Koenma was working when another reaper entered his office. "Sir, its happened again. The time line has shifted." Koenma banged his head on his desk there had been several shifts in the time line over the past several weeks. They couldn't pinpoint the source either. "I guess I am going back to Genkai's" He grumbled, thankfully he had left both the bat demon and Toguro there. He sighed and called for Botan. She appeared in his office on her oar. "To Genkai's Botan." She opened a portal and he stepped through changing into his teenage form.

-Human world-

He stepped out into the main room of the temple, surprised to see everyone there eating breakfast. "Back again Koenma?" The old woman said. "It keeps happening, now its getting more rapid." He had only just sat down when they all heard arguing. Genkai smiled. Now things would get interesting. Before anyone could move the door slammed open and two women stepped inside, the smaller one closing the door softly. "Can it. Kagome!" The shorter one sighed. "No, you have a nasty habit when your this angry." The taller one growled. "Are you saying I don't have a right to be pissed off?" Kagome raised her empty hands. "No I'm not saying that at all, I'm only saying when you lose your temper bad things happen." Someone snorted with amusement and Toboe whirled seeing the mostly stunned audience. The one who snorted however, he looked both over with an amused eye. "You two haven't changed at all." Toboe brightened and before anyone knew it had hopped the table and was hugging the laughing figure. He chuckled for another moment before the scent hit his nose.

She was crying. His eyes lit with anger, he maneuvered her into his lap and mantled his wings, using one to cover most of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest. The redhead beside him was stunned for a moment before he felt himself being shoved aside mentally. The change took his body and the silver looked down at the vixen, Kuroune was right she hadn't aged a day in five hundred years. He reached out and stroked her hair, causing her to look at him, a tear splashed on his hand. He and Kuroune exchanged a look before the bat demon moved his wing and picked her up, Carrying the crying female they headed for the bedrooms easily finding hers. Youko opened the door and Kuroune brought her in. "Grasp my sword by the sheath and lean him against the door. Only touch the sheath."She warned. He did so and felt the barrier form around the room. Her youki started to leak before she lost control of the spell and simply let go of her emotions. They got into her bed settling her between them. "I don't have enough youki in this world to take on your favorite form anymore." She said nothing but hugged him to her anyway. Kuroune covered them with wing and blankets and after weeping herself nearly sick she fell asleep.