"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 25: Retreat
~Camp (Kagome's POV)~
The fires burn brightly between the lines of tents in the growing darkness. I hear the quiet steps of the changing sentries marching past my tent. I get up, pick up my pack and steal silently out of the camp. Out of the light of the fires our armies are slowly gathering. I join the crowd and search the faces for Miroku. He is standing off to the side and I approach him in relief.
"Is everything running smoothly?" I ask.
"Fine. I made sure only our sentries would be on duty for tonight. The rest of our soldiers should be coming soon with the horses. Then all will be ready."
I nod and turn to search for Inuyasha in the crowd of whispering soldiers. I cannot see him and it starts to worry me. How easily could be betraying me now.
The crowd grows silent and I turn around to see a large group of soldiers leading our horses behind them. They join the group and I see Inuyasha briefly, he is leading two horses to the opposite edge of the crowd. I push by people with whispered apologies and come to stand in front of him.
"Where were you?" I ask in a strained whisper.
"I had to do something." He answers casually.
I stare at him and when it seems that he does not intend to elaborate I give the orders to prepare. They fade quickly into the darkness.
"Are you ready?" Inuyasha asks me.
I nod and he hands me the reins to my horse. I mount and ride a small distance until I am concealed in the trees. We all wait.
Soon we hear the tired footfalls of an approaching army. Scarcely daring to breathe I watch the army come into the firelight and look around in bafflement for some one.
I hear the hollow bird calls from across the clearing and I walk into the firelight. I look around and see our armies surrounding the exhausted soldiers. They blink in surprise at their attackers. I urge my horse forward a few steps.
"I am Lady Kagome of Regenbogen. You will tell your King and Prince that our alliance is broken. Both sides of the contract will not be met."
Miroku also comes forward.
"We give you all to the count of one hundred to pack all your belongings and start your march back to Tour de Loup. If you are not over Shi Wase borders by tomorrow, military action will be taken."
They look like they might fight but after a quick count they realize that we hopelessly outnumber them. We have all the advantages.
They break apart and start to pack together all their equipment. We all watch carefully for any warning sign that they do not intend to retreat.
They pack everything and are marching away before we reach seventy. The soldiers around me give a loud cheer for victory. I stare after the soldiers of Aoi Kaze and know that they are tenacious: they will not give up a chance to gain Shi Wase so easily.
~Tour de Loup (Kikyo's POV)~
I am sitting in the soft window seat in my chamber when Kouga come barging in. I am surprised. Usually he is courteous enough to knock and wait for an answer.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Kagome has broken the alliance. She has agreed to marry Inuyasha and stop the rebellion."
"Impossible!"
"No. I have here a rather...detailed letter about what has transpired that he wrote before he helped Kagome betray my father and I. He seems quite proud of the whole affair."
"What are you going to do?"
"I am leaving for Hikari immediately. I just came in to tell you what has transpired. I do not know if you will be welcome here now."
"I will come with you."
"But---"
"I am an exile. I have very little loyalty to the King of Shi Wase."
His face lightens with understanding.
"Fine. Pack your things. We will leave as soon as possible."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I will claim the throne and Kagome as my wife just as she promised."
I look away at this, strangely hurt by his single mindedness.
"I will be ready shortly."
He nods distractedly and leaves the room. After he is gone I get up and go into my bedchamber to pack. I do not have much and I have no intention of bringing the dresses and jewelry that I have received as gifts. Soon we will be on our way and I will see Inuyasha---and Kagome again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
kinda short I know. sorry! sorry for the delay as well! ^_^ unless my teachers stop giving psychotic amounts of homework in a frantic attempt to ready us for exams I will not be updating for a while. -_-;; we'll see though.
lots of thanks to: Soudesuka-Shurikens, ShadowSpinner, hyperchica11, ShellBabe, bonessasan, guessgirl, SwtAngl53, Arwen of Imladris and gueshoo for your reviews!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 25: Retreat
~Camp (Kagome's POV)~
The fires burn brightly between the lines of tents in the growing darkness. I hear the quiet steps of the changing sentries marching past my tent. I get up, pick up my pack and steal silently out of the camp. Out of the light of the fires our armies are slowly gathering. I join the crowd and search the faces for Miroku. He is standing off to the side and I approach him in relief.
"Is everything running smoothly?" I ask.
"Fine. I made sure only our sentries would be on duty for tonight. The rest of our soldiers should be coming soon with the horses. Then all will be ready."
I nod and turn to search for Inuyasha in the crowd of whispering soldiers. I cannot see him and it starts to worry me. How easily could be betraying me now.
The crowd grows silent and I turn around to see a large group of soldiers leading our horses behind them. They join the group and I see Inuyasha briefly, he is leading two horses to the opposite edge of the crowd. I push by people with whispered apologies and come to stand in front of him.
"Where were you?" I ask in a strained whisper.
"I had to do something." He answers casually.
I stare at him and when it seems that he does not intend to elaborate I give the orders to prepare. They fade quickly into the darkness.
"Are you ready?" Inuyasha asks me.
I nod and he hands me the reins to my horse. I mount and ride a small distance until I am concealed in the trees. We all wait.
Soon we hear the tired footfalls of an approaching army. Scarcely daring to breathe I watch the army come into the firelight and look around in bafflement for some one.
I hear the hollow bird calls from across the clearing and I walk into the firelight. I look around and see our armies surrounding the exhausted soldiers. They blink in surprise at their attackers. I urge my horse forward a few steps.
"I am Lady Kagome of Regenbogen. You will tell your King and Prince that our alliance is broken. Both sides of the contract will not be met."
Miroku also comes forward.
"We give you all to the count of one hundred to pack all your belongings and start your march back to Tour de Loup. If you are not over Shi Wase borders by tomorrow, military action will be taken."
They look like they might fight but after a quick count they realize that we hopelessly outnumber them. We have all the advantages.
They break apart and start to pack together all their equipment. We all watch carefully for any warning sign that they do not intend to retreat.
They pack everything and are marching away before we reach seventy. The soldiers around me give a loud cheer for victory. I stare after the soldiers of Aoi Kaze and know that they are tenacious: they will not give up a chance to gain Shi Wase so easily.
~Tour de Loup (Kikyo's POV)~
I am sitting in the soft window seat in my chamber when Kouga come barging in. I am surprised. Usually he is courteous enough to knock and wait for an answer.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Kagome has broken the alliance. She has agreed to marry Inuyasha and stop the rebellion."
"Impossible!"
"No. I have here a rather...detailed letter about what has transpired that he wrote before he helped Kagome betray my father and I. He seems quite proud of the whole affair."
"What are you going to do?"
"I am leaving for Hikari immediately. I just came in to tell you what has transpired. I do not know if you will be welcome here now."
"I will come with you."
"But---"
"I am an exile. I have very little loyalty to the King of Shi Wase."
His face lightens with understanding.
"Fine. Pack your things. We will leave as soon as possible."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I will claim the throne and Kagome as my wife just as she promised."
I look away at this, strangely hurt by his single mindedness.
"I will be ready shortly."
He nods distractedly and leaves the room. After he is gone I get up and go into my bedchamber to pack. I do not have much and I have no intention of bringing the dresses and jewelry that I have received as gifts. Soon we will be on our way and I will see Inuyasha---and Kagome again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
kinda short I know. sorry! sorry for the delay as well! ^_^ unless my teachers stop giving psychotic amounts of homework in a frantic attempt to ready us for exams I will not be updating for a while. -_-;; we'll see though.
lots of thanks to: Soudesuka-Shurikens, ShadowSpinner, hyperchica11, ShellBabe, bonessasan, guessgirl, SwtAngl53, Arwen of Imladris and gueshoo for your reviews!