I am back. RL has kept me very busy.

Bold Italicized words are for telepathic speech.

Italicized for thoughts.

Tora-tiger youkai

Name of Sesshomaru's mother in this is- Ariake -dawn with the moon still out

The name of the exiled heroine is: Boumeisha- means exiled, refugee

The name of the ninja village is: Haisho- place of banishment

The name for sprite in Japanese is Yousei

The name for the tora from Haisho is Moushou-meaning brave warrior in Japanese

The name of the Northern Lady Hokkai-northern Sea

The name of Hokkai's eldest son- Yūshi - brave warrior

The name of Hokkai's 2nd son- Aoihi - blue flame

Chapter 24

It was just midmorning when the leaders made it to the dojo, to a command table set up for them in the corner. Boumeisha ignored the looks of shock from those of the Solas court that began to walk into the dojo when they saw her true face. She did not have time for any of their drama now. Aoihi brought up a layout of the western grounds, already marked with important notes and locations. Boumeisha checked everyone's placement with Hokkai joining in.

Looking straight at Ghrian, the Solas Banríon, "I would appreciate if your people keep back."

Ghrian looked surprised. "Why?"

"I have no reason to trust them. They will not be part of this battle. They do not need to be any part of the planning," Boumeisha answered bluntly.

Ghrian was silent for a heartbeat, then nodded to her people. They immediately walked out of hearing range, followed by a group of shinobi.

"Thank you," she said with a small nod. "Anything or anyone you want to add to this, dear?" she asked Hokkai.

"Yes, I already have a flight coming. They should be here within the hour. We will have air support."

They began to go over the map, but a deep discussion was beginning a few paces away. Kagome and Inu Yasha were standing away from the main body, where Kagome led them. It was time for a quick discussion. "Ok, so I would like to lay everything out on the table, but I may not have enough time to do it. I will try to hit the major points, if that is ok?"

Inu Yasha nodded, allowing his confusion and wariness show. He was upset that Kagome wasn't completely honest with him about who she was. He was also concerned because she said she was going to be involved in the upcoming battle. He was afraid that what she had been showing him had been a lie, a cover for her being in his home.

Taking a deep breath. "Ok. Well, I am from Haisho. I am a kunoichi, but also a miko." She noticed the fear in his eyes. "Oh, I don't hunt youkai. Well, only those that willfully hurt the innocent. Haisho is a village full of youkai, hanyous and humans. We live pretty peacefully. My older sister is married to a demon possessed doctor."

Inu Yasha is openly surprised.

"That will have to wait for more time. Where was I? Oh, yes. I am a kunoichi. I owe my allegiance to Boumeisha. She has helped so many of us and our families. She does not just see us as weapons. She worries about us."

"Why are you really here?" he asked, quietly, watching her closely for any signs she may be lying. So far finding none.

"Boumeisha was visited by Myoga with the missive from your father requesting our help. I was a cover for Boumeisha to enter your home and move about freely. But, there is some truth in my cover story. I used my real name. And, I was told to get to know those invited here."

"You were told to get close to the guests? My family?" he asked, getting a little upset.

"Yes, I was. In order to protect your family," she answered honestly.

"To get close to me?"

"No." This she answered honestly. "I was to look for any information that could help us protect you and your family." She watched him, as he processed what she has told him. She stepped closer to him, keeping eye contact. "But, I enjoyed meeting you. Talking to you, and spending time with you. I like you very much, Inu Yasha. I do wish, in a small way, that I was just an ordinary girl, but I am more than that."

"Only in a small way?" he asked, curious.

She smiled. "I like what I am and who I am. I like what I can do. I like helping. I cannot and will not give that up. I would like to get to know you better, but I will understand if you don't want to. The only request I dare ask of you is to just stay safe with your family."

"What are you going to do, Kagome?" saying her name for the first time since following her to the dojo.

"I'm going to do what I've been trained to do. Protect people." She turned to walk away, but was stopped by Inu Yasha taking her hand. She looked at their hands, then met his concerned gaze. As she watches, he steps close to her, keeping their hands between them. Then, she feels his other hand gently cup her cheek. "Inu Yasha, what?"

"I don't know what I'm feeling right now, but I do want you to come back so I can find out," Inu Yasha said softly, cataloging her face as if he was trying to memorize it. "Come back to me."

Kagome smiles warmly, and leans in to give him a soft kiss. "I will do my best, Inu Yasha. Stay safe." She squeezes his hand and then walks back to the command table.

He watches her go, with a happy smile on his face, but then he realizes that he may not be able to stay behind. He will find a way to stay close to her. He decides he will do what he can to help her. With that in mind, he makes his way to the command table. He catches the look his mother gives him. He blushes a little, knowing that she saw everything. But, he is happy he spoke to Kagome. He meant what he said, he does want to get to know her and figure out what he was feeling.

Those around the command table are in discussion over what to expect and how to fight the enemy that will arrive shortly after sundown. That is when Boumeisha figures the gateway will be opened from the Between. The Dorcha Rí, while impatient, would wait for a more advantageous time to attack. She began to advise what they could expect, warriors coming through and what they may be able to do.

The command meeting lasted about an hour, since everything was already planned prior. The shinobi already knew where they needed to be and what they had to do. The meeting was just to go back over and to incorporate the Western army in the protection of the palace and people.

"We will keep the fight outside the Palace walls as much as possible to keep the non-combatants safe. But, there are measures in place to help as well. If you would keep your people within the walls, we will focus on the battlefield," Boumeisha asked, looking at InuTaisho for his agreement.

"And, you will be where, in this battle?" he asks, glancing at his eldest son out of the corner of his eye.

"I will be on the field, but I will leave some of mine on the walls for defense."

"I see," he mumbled, seemingly distracted. He noticed the way his eldest became tense, standing straighter.

Ariake, concerned especially now knowing who Boumeisha is, asked, "Why?"

"Because, I will lead my people, not just send them out there. Plus, it seems he is here because of me. He would not even be here if it was not for some rumor of me being here and alive. I will have to face him."

"Is this the only way, then?" Ariake asked.

"Yes, it is. He will not stop unless I either go back with him or kill him myself," Boumeisha answered, kindly. "Please, excuse me. I am going with Hokkai to wait for her flight and get them set up." She nodded, and began to leave the dojo for the courtyard with Hokkai.

Sesshomaru silently fell in beside Boumeisha out of the dojo. He did not like her being in the middle of the battlefield, but he would be with her. There was no way he was going to stay behind the walls in safety while she was out there in the thick of it. If she was going out there to fight, he will just have to go with her.

You have a shadow? Hokkai teased, walking to the courtyard. She knew her flight will be arriving any second now.

Boumeisha just barely stopped her eyes from rolling. She had noticed Sesshomaru leaving the dojo with them. She even noticed him getting tense when she told his father that she was going to be on the battlefield and not safe behind the palace walls. This was her fight, not theirs. Unfortunately, everyone else gets drawn into this. She will have to do everything she can to end it quickly. And, maybe, just maybe keep her people from dying. She was realistic enough to know that some of her new family will die, but she will do her best to keep the numbers as low as possible. That means getting to that bastard, the Dorcha Rí, as fast as possible and dealing with him. She will challenge him to a duel to the death to finally end this. Hopefully, finally get revenge and justice for her father, and herself. She was pulled from her musing by the feeling of a well-toned arm pressed against her own left arm. Not leaning, but touching, as if to offer strength. She gave him a small nudge, and a small smile.

Sesshomaru let a small smile grace his lips briefly in response. But, was unable to say anything to her, because the Northern Flight had arrived. And, to say he was impressed by the number and sheer size of the dragons arriving was putting it mildly.

The number was pretty large, for only being half the total flight the North had. The dragons also varied in size and color. There were blues, purples, reds, yellows, greens, a veritable rainbow. As for the size, they had to change into more humanoid shapes and sizes in order to land and fit into the main courtyard. Once, everyone had landed, they each dropped to one knee in front of their queen.

One of the newly arrived dragons made the greeting. "Greetings to you, my Queen." Then, turned to Boumeisha. "Greetings to you, Honored General."

Boumeisha nodded her head in greeting. "We will go over where you will be deployed while we wait for night fall. Please, follow us to the dojo."

The group stood as one and began to walk to the dojo with the small welcoming party. "So, we finally get to repay our debt, huh?"

Boumeisha smirked. "Yes, though, I never saw a debt that needed to be repaid."

"Of course there was. You saved us. We owe you a great debt."

"I wish you did not have to get involved in this mess."

The dragon, a tall female in purple dragon scale armor, laughed. "Well, we were getting a little bored anyway. Can't have this lot get soft, now can we?"

"You lot, get soft? I doubt that is even possible," Boumeisha teased.

"What debt?" Sesshomaru asked. He had been hearing this off and on for a few days now. Plus, seeing the amount of respect the Northern clan gives her, has him very curious.

The group stopped to look at him. It was Boumeisha that started. "It is not my story to tell. Hokkai should be the one to answer this."

Hokkai nodded. "Why don't we get comfortable for this, since we have the time." The group walked over to a stand of trees in the courtyard, close to the dojo. Everyone sat down under the trees. They took note of Sesshomaru sitting close to Boumeisha. A few of the newly arrived dragons smirked, the rest watched him closely.

"We were experiencing a time of peace and prosperity in the North," Hokkai began. "We had new clutches born and hatching healthy. We did not have to worry about invasion. We were content. But, we also did not see the danger that was looming from within our own borders. Our own clan. My mate's brother was a jealous soul. He wanted to rule the Northern lands, but could not because only females rule. So, he decided on another avenue to gain the clan and power. By murdering my mate, then try to force me to become his. I was unable to protect my mate, but I vowed to protect my children, my clan. I was able to stop him from attacking the clutches, but I had not been able to kill him. Not until Boumeisha arrived. We just had a skirmish with some of the Betrayer's soldiers when we crossed paths."

"Crossed paths?" Sesshomaru interrupted, giving Boumeisha a curious glance.

"I was just passing through, no real destination in mind. When a group of soldiers came running my way. They thought I was an easy target."

"They were proven wrong," Hokkai continue. "But, she did allow us to catch up to them. We were able to stop the soldiers, but knew nothing about this stranger. We did not know who or what she was.
Only that she was not of our clan. So, of course we were leery. Especially with current events."

"I agreed to go with her to the Northern palace. I understood her suspicions, even more after we began talking." Boumeisha picked up.

"What about the bond you two share?" he asked. His question did not garner any response from the two friends. They guessed someone would have sensed it by now.

"That was not really planned, but we were glad it happened," Boumeisha answered, honestly.

"I was counselled by one of my advisors to delve deeper to see if she was telling the truth. It is an old spell, not really used anymore. This advisor is very old, very wise. That being said, I think he botched it." The last was said with a smile. "It was not supposed to bind us. We learned every intimate detail about the other. It was painful. But, after we felt stronger for it." She looked to Boumeisha, who smiled and nodded. "It was very helpful when it came time to storm the castle."

"Storm the castle?" he asked, arching one silver eyebrow.

"Yes, we had made a plan to assassinate the bastard and he was held up in a castle. But, it was very risky," Boumeisha answered.

"Risky, she says," one of the newly arrived dragon warriors stage whispered, smiling. Those in the group chuckled at her purposeful understatement.

"I believe the word used was suicidal," Hokkai said. "And, rightly so. It would involve only us two entering the castle. It was the only way. It was heavily guarded and fortified. My people did try to talk us out of it, but it would have been a slaughter if we had taken troops."

"Were neither of you worried about your own lives?" Sesshomaru was upset. The thought that his future mate could have died before them ever meeting scared him. Just as he was scared now. The thought of losing her was almost unbearable. But, hearing that she would willingly infiltrate a heavily fortified castle with only one other to watch her back? All just to assassinate an enemy that was not hers!

Hokkai met his gaze directly. "To be honest, I was not truly thinking about surviving at the time. I was too overcome with the loss of my mate, to be honest. I had even made my wishes known in the event I did not survive as to what was to be done with my children and my people. I was only focused on avenging him, and prevent any future attacks on my children."

Sesshomaru then turned his gaze onto Boumeisha, who shrugged. "I did not either. You saw my memories. You know why I left my homelands. I heard Hokkai, agreed to the spell. That we were bonded was a sort of fortuitous accident. We used our new connection inside the enemy's stronghold. It came in handy many times."

Sesshomaru raised an eye brow muttering, "Well, that is wonderful."

Both women just smirked.

"It was a most glorious battle, young prince," one of the newly arrived dragons said. "They fought off unnumbered enemies to get to the one responsible. And, when they got to him, we could hear the battle from the gates. At that time, we were on our way to them. They had been able to clear out most of those keeping us out. When we got to them, we were able to help finish off the rest. We found Boumeisha, heavily wounded trying to guard the door. We carried her out as our Queen finished off the coward."

"How badly wounded was Boumeisha?" Sesshomaru asked quietly, afraid he knew the answer.

There was silence, which answered his question.

"I survived, that is all that matters," she answered matter of factly, to cut the silence.

"Yes, but it took a long while, dear," Hokkai answered, which did not calm Sesshomaru down much.

"That is not really important," Boumeisha commented.

"I beg to differ, General," one of the dragons countered. "You risked your life for a queen and people that were not your own and for no reward. That means something to us. Something that we will never forget."

"Agreed. And, when the call went out to come help you, we were more than willing to answer it. I dare say, most of the flight was willing to come."

"We sort of drew numbers to keep from having any in fighting," another laughed.

"You all are crazy; you do realize this?" Sesshomaru asked. He was a little shocked at the overall levity the dragons were showing. He has heard they are very skilled warriors, but they all sounded insane.

"But, of course," they both answered.

Sesshomaru only sighed, getting more worried about the upcoming battle.

"Well, that is the tale. Now, we need to get these louts," this answered with laughing, "into position. The sun will be setting so enough." Hokkai said, with everyone getting up, ending the tale.

Sesshomaru walked with the group, staying beside Boumeisha. They brought the commanders of the newly arrived dragon flight to the dojo to go over where they were to be and what they were needed to do. By now, everyone was used to seeing Boumeisha with her tall silver shadow.

Before going into the dojo, he stopped her, silently asking for her to wait a moment. When they were the only two outside, he met her questioning gaze. "I will be with you on that field."

She let out a small sigh. "I want you to remain safe. I do not want to worry about you out there."

"I am a highly-trained warrior." He stated, a little stiff.

"I know you are. But. . ." She was cut off before she could finish.

"You honestly think I would just sit here, protected while you are out there?!" He asked in a heated whisper. "How could I cower behind these walls, when I could be out there watching your back? It would be. . . impossible."

She stared at him, seeing the fear he kept off his handsome face, but not out of his eyes. Those golden eyes could hide nothing from her. She realized that he cared for her, deeply. And, in such a short amount of time. She also realized that she could read him. He wasn't lying. She was stunned. She just assumed that she was just a passing curiosity to him. That his feelings for her could not possibly be real. "I did not know you really cared for me."

He sighed. "I do care. It happened so fast, I didn't understand it. But, for inu youkai, when we find our mate, it happens fast. I, honestly, didn't believe it possible at first." He took a deep breath. "I know it may not be like that with you, but it is for me. I am yours, no matter what happens or what you decide. I am yours. And, I cannot just sit in safety while you are out there fighting with someone, who has caused you so much pain. I will be out there with you."

Boumeisha was floored. This is the most emotion she's seen from him, aside from frustration or anger. It almost seemed unusual for this man to show this much. She understood that he kept tight control of his emotions. Very tight control. To see him like this now, was humbling. And, this was because of her? That was a little humbling. Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze. "Alright, I will not ask you to stay behind with your family. I just want you to know that I think you are crazy."

With a small smile, he said, "No crazier than you."

Boumeisha chuckled. "Too true, Sesshomaru. Too true." She noticed his gaze seem to intensify slightly. "What?"

"That is the first time I have heard you use my name. You usually call me young prince."

"Well, you are younger than me, and a prince. But, since you will be with me on the battlefield, I might as well call you by your name." She gave a cheeky grin.

"I suppose you should," he answered with a small smile. They both went back into the dojo where plans were being finalized.

Irish Gaelic translations:

dorcha means dark

Banríon means queen

Rí means king

Dragan means dragon

Bandia means goddess

Lann - means blade, using as a name