When Toga had set out to save Kagome, he had not expected for his journey to end in traveling with a small, human hime. Though she'd been frightened to leave her family behind, she'd exploded with energy and gumption when her family home was too far for her weak human eyes to see. The first day of traveling had of course been spent looking for this hime and now that he had her, what should have taken only a few hours of travel had taken two days thanks to said child.
She constantly needed to eat or sleep or stop to relieve herself or play because she was bored. Gou was amused and reminded Toga that Izayoi was still a child, and a very young one at that. It was simply impossible, and a breach of trust from the Setsuna Lordling, to knock the girl out and fly at top speed.
By the time they arrived in the Realm of Fire, the Inu no Tashio was nearly at his wits end. If he'd thought Sesshoumaru and Kagome were troublemakers, Izayoi was in a whole other league. Both he and Gou had made the mistake of giving the girl too much privacy for certain things, or not paying attention when she needed a break to play—these mishaps had resulted in easy slaughtering's of lesser youkai and a thoroughly unfazed, highly entertained young hime.
"I don't want to go inside," Izayoi whispered, hiding behind Gou's legs. Where the two days had been a journey of the kind she'd never had, an adventure like the ones the nursemaids told to lull her to sleep, the reality of going into a dark, scary place like the cave that guarded the afterlife was too much.
Toga crouched beside her and studied the entrance to the cave. "It does look like a very scary place," he agreed, telling himself to be patient. "My pups don't much like the dark either."
"There are monsters in the dark," she said, her tiny fingers clenching all the tighter in the blue hakama of the bear demon. "Monsters and nasty demons that eat little children."
Gou glanced down at child and Lord, and grinned. "You know Hime, Toga-sama here is a pretty scary demon himself. Lots of big, sharp teeth and nasty claws. He might not look it now, but everything in that cave will be as terrified of him as you are of what's in there."
Izayoi hesitated a moment more as she glanced between the two males and the cave before she finally nodded. "I would fear Toga-sama too," she mumbled and beetling her brows together in a pure look of childish determination, started towards the cave. If they were scared, then she would have to be the first one to go inside.
It took a moment for both males to realize they were being patronized. Gou grinned, a chuckle rumbling in the oak barrel of his chest and Toga just groaned, before striding off to catch up with the girl.
Inside the cave, all three were silent. Even Izayoi, a simple human with no remarkable abilities of her own, could feel something there. It made her skin crawl and she wanted to curl up into her father's arms and never, ever come back—but she settled for clinging to Gou-sama's massive paw of a hand.
When they reached the giant guardians standing before the door to the afterlife, Gou settled the child just behind him as Toga stepped forward. The one on the left was Gozu, of the Ox-head with his massive horns and blunted nose, and Mezu was on the right with her long horse face and silky mane.
"Do you wish to pass?"
Toga paused, his yōki hesitating in its exploration of the door and what he'd thought to be mere statues. On a closer look though, the figures were much too life-like to be made of mere stone and clay. "I do."
That answer gave life to the two figures and they stared down at him. Instinct had a hand resting on the hilt of one of his swords and though he hadn't meant to attack, both sets of eyes followed his hands.
"Do not be a fool, little demon. No mere mortal blade, even one imbued with youkai magic, may cut us. No blade of this world may harm us. We refuse you entrance. Only the dead may pass."
Before Toga could think to utter a response, his temper riled by the insult to his own massive stature, Izayoi raced out from behind Gou and Toga both and stood to face the Guardians. "Let us through," she demanded, stunning all of them into silence as her voice echoed with an authority no eight-year-old should yet have, but most especially a human.
For a moment all was silent as Toga and Gou stared at the girl, horrified and prepared to spring before her in protection. Neither male could move though as Gozu and Mezu moved as one to kneel before the child.
"Little mistress," Gozu said and bowed his head before her.
"Little Lady." Mezu reached out and patted her on the head with the slightest touch, as if very much aware his massive hand could smash her to pieces. "We have long awaited your return to the afterlife."
Izayoi studied the two creatures before a cheeky grin curves her pale cheeks. Looking to the demons behind her, she pointed to the doors. "We want to go in there, right?"
Toga, too stunned to speak, nodded. It took a moment, but when he'd managed to compose himself he nodded again. "Yes. We need to bring a soul back to the land of the living." He studied the kneeling guardians and didn't bother to smother his curiosity since they didn't seem to be in the mood to attack him. "Why is the child able to cross this border? Surely there is more to it than her death and then return to life as an infant."
"It does not concern you," said Gozu, and turned to the child again. "Do you wish to enter?"
"Yes, please!" she chirped, and strode forward and through the doors as they opened, unaware until it was too late that Gou and Toga had not been admitted as the doors slammed closed behind her.
o.O.o
Word Count - 1054