Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

The characters do not belong to me.

Chapter 38

The city greeted them before they even reached Edogan.

Two demons distinctly humanoid, but their bushy tails and pointed ears were a dead giveaway. Sasuke was confused on whether they were wolf demons or dog demons but the dilemma was solved for him.

"Cousin!" the two male demons exclaimed.

"Hakkaku! Ginta!" It was the miko's turn to be pleasantly surprised.

Sasuke groaned, earning looks from the other Shinobi from Konoha.

"What's the matter?" Naruto asked.

"Wolf demons," Sasuke sullenly muttered.

At Naruto's inquisitive look the Uchiha elaborated.

"They are Kouga's pack. Kouga is a Wolf demon, an Alpha in fact," Sasuke said. "He also hates me."

"No surprise there," Kakashi said, earning himself a glare from the raven haired youth.

Kagome had made her small talk with the two and now started introducing them to the Shinobi that had followed her all the way from Konoha. The two siblings were gracious and friendly and even teased Naruto when they realized that the blond was not simply human.

"I take it you are here to escort us?" Kagome asked.

Hakkaku nodded. "We have been waiting for you for a while."

"Human, not demons," Kagome reminded them and they sheepishly nodded. "Lead the way then."

Edogan was beautiful up front, but in a rural kind of way. The city was the size of Konoha easily but looked more exotic with all the demons around. It was the first time the Leaf Shinobi, except for Sasuke, that they saw so many demons, some blatantly non human, gathered in one place. And there were humans too. Left and right humans and demons mingled like it was an every day occurrence. Children played together and people went about their business like in every normal town.

"That's… impressive," Jiraiya admitted as he glanced around. Sasuke noticed but it was Ginta who talked to the Toad Sanin.

"Careful where your eyes stray," the wolf demon told Jiraiya.

"No harm in looking," the author of Icha Icha grinned.

"Unless you want to lose your eyes…" Hakkaku said. "That was a neko you were eyeing, cat demon. And a newly mated one at that. Demonic relationships are not like human ones. One wrong look and her mate has the right to challenge you to death. If he doesn't kill you, which is improbable, she will."

Jiraiya shuddered. "I get the picture."

"Good," Ginta said. "We have rooms reserved for tonight for all of you."

"Finally!" Kagome sighed. "A real bed."

"Can we look around a bit?" Naruto asked.

"Not today," Hakkaku told him.

"Besides," Ginta added. "The main city is much better."

Naruto pouted at this but nodded anyway.

They were all led to the inn where they were distributed in rooms. The married couple stayed together and Sakura in a single room but all the others had to share.

"It won't be long," Sasuke mused.

Kagome was curled up beside him, her eyes already drooping. "Hmm, worried?"

"I have reason to be," the shinobi replied. "I bet your brothers and cousins, the whole lot, will be wanting my head."

"Not your fault," Kagome muttered.

Sasuke sighed. "Just rest, alright?"

"Hm, you too," she sleepily mumbled. "You're mine."

"And?"

"No one takes what's mine," the miko whispered.

Sasuke smiled. "Of course," he agreed and plastered kisses on her forehead before closing his eyes to rest as well.

They rose up early the next morning. They had all been tired from the long road but resting in real beds, getting a large meal and having a bath after days on the road, were now rejuvenated and not as tired as before. There was little fuss as they started the last leg of their trip. Kagome seemed much more talkative as well, gushing about the various things she loved about her country. Then she turned to Hakkaku and Ginta.

"I did not ask earlier but is Kagura completely healed by now?" the miko inquired.

Gina smiled. "Can you imagine Naraku having it any other way?"

Kagome grinned.

"Naraku, he's the scary guy, right?" Naruto asked, remembering some of the things Sasuke had informed all of the Leaf shinobi at some point during their trip.

"He's not scary!" Kagome protested, making the two wolf demons and her own husband snort. "He's not!"

"Kagome love," Sasuke told her, "You are not exactly the best judge of character when it comes to big, scary demons."

The miko cocked her head to the side. "Why not?"

"You cuddle up to Sesshomaru when he's in demon form," Ginta pointed out.

"True," Kagome admitted.

"That's it!" the miko said with delight. "The barrier is here!"

"What barrier?" Naruto asked.

Kagome smiled. "Technically, the city does not have walls."

"No wall?" Shikamaru ever the strategist was alarmed.

The miko smiled mischievously. "That is not something to hinder us. The walls around this city are invisible barriers. They allow people to enter. Bad or good intentions it does not matter, you are welcome. Then the guards take over. You will see that any outsiders, and I mean those outside the demonic nations, already stand out. Their reactions to the demons are telling enough so the city guards know what to look for."

"Do those barriers do anything?" Jiraiya asked.

"Well," Kagome said, "That's a secret!"

The shinobi face pained.

Sasuke threw his wife an amused look. He knew what the barriers did. You could get into the city but not get out. He and his team had found out the hard way the first time they visited the place. Once inside the city all outsiders had to report to the registration office for a temporary pass. There were outposts on the roads that left the city and one had to show said pass to the demons and demon slayers guarding said passages to escape. And being shinobi had not exempted Sasuke and the team Orochimaru had given him from being noticed. Also, the Uchiha knew from Kagome that in battle situations the city had several protections. Elemental demons allied to the Dog Demons and Tree Demons protected the city. The miko had confided to Sasuke that a barrier of earth and trees could and would rise around the city and around it a huge circle of water. And added to that a barrier of miko energy and youki would form a barrier like bubble over the city's castle. There had been wars in the past, among the various demon clans. Kagome had admitted to being too young to remember but the tales Inutaisho told Sasuke with relish had given the Shinobi an accurate idea as to how dangerous and deadly and devastating Demonic Wars could be.

So the Sharingan user did not share Shikamaru's disbelief or the shock the others displayed. Instead, he looked around at the familiar town that had become his home, when he had defected from Orochimaru. The houses grew progressively taller as they went deeper into the city. The guards made their presence known every once in a while. Much like Anbu, though without masks, they hoped from roof to roof or even glided on the air, observing the group. Kagome seemed happy to see a number of them and Sasuke recognize a few familiar faces.

Naruto was looking around. The guards were blatantly demonic and the demon vessel looked on in awe. The demon jailed inside his stomach felt the demonic energy from all around the host and grew restless.

"What are they?" the blond asked.

It was Ginta that answered. "Can't you guess?"

"Huh," Naruto scratched his head. Then his blue eyes went wide. "They have tails! Actual tails!"

"I have one too," Ginta pointed out.

"Don't give him puzzles," Sasuke told the wolf demon. "Some of them are dog demons, others are tanuki demons, that one with the pale skin is elemental, don't ask me what kind and the first two we encountered were cat demons."

"And one bat youkai," Kagome added and waved at said female demon. "She's Shiori's aunt, remember her Sasuke?"

The shinobi rolled his eyes. Of course he recalled the young girl. Shiori was a half demon. Her father Tsukuyomaru was one of the demons responsible for the barrier around the capital of the Western Lands. His daughter admired Sasuke the way most kids followed after Kagome like puppies. The girl with the violet eyes was not a fan girl, but more like a sister or cousin to Sasuke, especially since she and her family were his hosts while he started staying in the city and tried to win Kagome's heart. Yes, the bat youkai were family. The female demon nodded once towards them and hopped away.

Going deeper into the city they saw more shops, more stalls, temples, kids of all species and ages and adults too. It was a busy town, busier than Konoha and everything was bigger, more massive. The streets were wide enough for a demon Kyuubi's size to be able to walk to the center of the city. When Sakura asked why Kagome had answered and told her that while strong demons held humanoid forms they had animal forms they usually favored.

"This place is home to demons and humans alike," the miko explained. "It has to cater to everyone's needs."

"Also," Hakkaku added. "It was originally the main street the demon army used when entering the city after a long campaign and usually a win. After all general Inutaisho won almost every battle he fought."

Ginta nodded.

"Just when you see him," Kagome added, "Because you will, don't act all awed or sacred. He has a big ego. Oh, and Sakura? A word of advice, stick to the walls and watch for his hands. He's very hands on."

Sasuke snorted. "The only one worse is Miroku."

"But Sango keeps him in check," the miko told her husband.

"Only half of the time," Sasuke reminded Kagome.

"Well, he did not try to cop a feel since before we married," the demon raised miko commented.

Sasuke's smug grin spoke volumes. "Really? How nice."

Kagome rolled her eyes. And after that she started looking around the city she grew up in. many familiar faces saw her and greeted her with a few words, a kind smile or wave. A few times children she had helped heal or met walked up to the group and hugged the miko and chatted with her until Ginta or Hakkaku would urge them on.

"Kagome's really popular," Jiraiya noted.

"She's a princess here," Sasuke reminded the Toad Sanin.

Then they reached the main market place where a bazaar was in action, the merchants many, loud and colorful. For a while the shinobi were overwhelmed and intrigued and their party lingered, staring at the odds and ends and various items around.

"Let's go," Hakkaku said. "They are waiting for us."

Kagome nodded. "We will certainly visit the town more later."

Ginta nudged Naruto and Jiraiya on and Hakkaku pulled Kakashi and Shikamaru away from the stalls. Unsurprisingly Neji had more restraint and Sakura was just too nervous around so many demons to feel at ease.

"Oh! There it is! You can see it from here," Kagome said then.

"Is that…?" Naruto murmured.

"Wow," Sakura whispered.

The castle of the Western Lands stood tall above them, tall and enormous and dangerous.

"This is home," Kagome whispered.

End of chapter

A/N:

The Poll results about Naruto's significant other from the opinions of 105 people who voted went like this:

Gaara… 24%

Shikamaru… 20%

Hinata….. 18%

Sai… 12%

Shino….. 8%

TenTen… 7%

Kiba ….. 4%

Temari..….. 3%