I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas. I'm so happy right now. My computer was
acting all weird and wouldn't turn on, and then when I tried it after I
opened all of my presents, it worked. I was so happy that I didn't have to
go buy another computer. Of course I'm kinda regretting the fact I went out
and applied for a job at Baskin Robins right after it started acting
screwy. Oh well. Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 49- Return to the Mountain
Rin could not really understand why her Sesshomaru-sama wanted to travel with the other white-haired man. She didn't mind, to say the least, but she was curious in the reason why. At least Jaken had stopped grumbling an hour or so ago. Rin sighed deeply and shuffled her feet a little further. They had been walking all morning to the mountain Shippou had told her about. From what he had said, there were plenty of other children for her to play with and Rin looked forward to that, but at the same time she wanted to be alone with Sesshomaru like it use to be.
Shippou rode on Inuyasha's shoulder, periodically looking over to make sure Kagome was okay. When the pair had returned with supplies, the kitsune had noticed that Kagome looked calmer than the day before. Her color had returned and she smiled occasionally, though not as often as before Shuri's visit.
Inuyasha watched his surroundings intently as Machiko led them on a different road than the one they had previously taken to the mountain. The Inuhanyou had assumed that the reason was to avoid the village near the mountain, but he soon discovered that it was in fact much quicker. Every now and then there was a sliver of magic in the air and Inuyasha sensed that they were closer to the mountain than should be possible in the small amount of time they had been traveling.
Sesshomaru traveled just behind Machiko where he could overlook the strange child that promised hope. The Inuyoukai had read the scrolls and knew of her mistress's story, but he had not fully accepted the fact that the scrolls were indeed fact, not fiction.
"It's just up ahead," announced Machiko.
"Ah, good," commented Rin.
"How did we get here so quickly?" asked Sango.
"Magic," replied Machiko.
"Magic. I hate magic," the Taijiya muttered under her breath.
"With good reason, I'm sure," Miroku said quietly, but loud enough for Sango to hear.
She blushed and turned away abruptly, quickening her pace to walk with Kagome and Shippou. Kagome eyed her out of the corner of her eye when Sango moved beside her. The miko couldn't smother a small smile. "So, Sango- chan, will there be another bet at the village for you and Miroku-sama's firstborn?"
Sango's blush spread to the tip of her ears and she looked at Kagome in embarrassment. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Kagome-chan."
"Huh-uh, what do you take me for?"
Shippou giggled at Sango's embarrassment and jumped to Kagome's shoulder so he could look the Taijiya in the eye. "Does this mean we're all going to have to leave you and Miroku alone in the village so you two can mate like Kagome and Inuyasha?"
Thankfully, Sango's reply was interrupted by an unexpected guest. "Kouga-kun," greeted a puzzled Kagome. "What are you doing here?"
Kouga looked as surprised as Kagome. "I don't get it," whispered Inuyasha, coming to a halt beside Kagome. "Why are we all here? Was this planned?"
"In a way," said a new voice. From the shadows of the mountain emerged Chiyo. She was dressed in a light pink kimono that glittered with small daisies.
"I don't understand," replied Inuyasha, studying the ancient youkai before him. He had never seen her in any light other than the dim candle lighting of the mountain. Her hair looked lighter, almost golden. Against of rays of the sun, Chiyo's skin was as pale as the moon, her eyes all the more haunting. However, Inuyasha saw something in her eyes that had not been there before; a fierceness that could only be attributed with the ancient youkai's own desire for her end. She was determined, and Inuyasha looked upon her as one would a poisonous snake.
Good thing she's on our side, Inuyasha thought to himself.
"It's quite simple really," continued Chiyo. "It is a gathering of allies. I presume you do not know a Kami's nature, or you would have found it peculiar that Shuri was unaccompanied by his numerous minions."
"And I suppose you know a Kami's nature?" asked Kouga, sounding skeptical.
"Not all Kamis' nature, but I know those of Shuri's House. They are the soul eaters and the rulers of the Hells. Hell is my specialty."
Kouga shivered at her words before moving out of the shade the mountain offered and into the sun. Chiyo observed him with something akin to amusement before turning her attention back to Inuyasha and Kagome. "I am glad you two have survived thus far."
"How did you know Shuri was alone?" interrupted Inuyasha, observing Chiyo.
"How did I know to send Machiko yesterday, or of the Fire Pit snakes or that you would find a place for Aiko-chan or that the Kamis would insist on an impossible price if the spell has not been performed but once since my father's time?" she replied, sounding amused and at the same time bitter and sad.
"Yes," said Inuyasha uncertainly.
Chiyo smiled before replying. "Magic."
Sango sighed and Miroku had to work to control his serene expression. "Yes, well," continued Chiyo, wiping her face of all emotion. She looked over to Sesshomaru and smiled. "I had not foreseen the Demon Lord of the Western Lands."
"I was merely visiting by little brother when Shuri made his price known," Sesshomaru excused himself.
"And yet you accompany him to my home to help him defeat a Kami. I respect you for that, Lord Sesshomaru. You are more like your father than I took you for."
"How did someone such as yourself know my father?" sneered the Inuyoukai in disbelief.
"A looking glass. I never said that I personally met your father. I haven't. His reputation, however, yields to Legend." Chiyo sighed and waved her hand, signaling the end of the topic. "We can discuss Legends later. For now, we should focus on knowing our enemy."
"Why do you want the Kami dead?" asked Kouga.
"I could ask you the same thing, Wolf Prince."
"That ain't none of your business."
Chiyo smiled before shaking her head. "Enough. We will beget a War of mortals and Immortals in four months time. If we are to die, I say we do it right."
"We're not fighting to die," said Inuyasha, looking at Chiyo. "My Pack and I are here so my pups can live."
"Yes," agreed Chiyo, smiling at Kagome fondly. "But at times such as these life is only possible through death."
"I don't want any of my Pack or my allies," continued Inuyasha, looking over at Kouga. He would not sacrifice his pride to say 'friend.' "Dying. If we're going to do nothing but ready ourselves for this 'War,' than it will be so we can all live. I won't have my Pack going into this thing thinking they're gonna die, cause they ain't. If anyone is going to die, it will be that fucking Kami."
"Well said, Inuyasha-San," conceded Chiyo. "I, however, I'm fighting to die."
"Well, than I'll make sure not to help your ass," Inuyasha replied jokingly.
Chiyo laughed and nodded her head. "Fair enough, Inuyasha-San. I admire your good nature. After this War, I am quite sure your name will follow your father into Legend, along with everyone else who will fight."
Inuyasha bowed, lightly smiling. "Yes, I'm quite sure this War will be something to be remembered."
Chapter 49- Return to the Mountain
Rin could not really understand why her Sesshomaru-sama wanted to travel with the other white-haired man. She didn't mind, to say the least, but she was curious in the reason why. At least Jaken had stopped grumbling an hour or so ago. Rin sighed deeply and shuffled her feet a little further. They had been walking all morning to the mountain Shippou had told her about. From what he had said, there were plenty of other children for her to play with and Rin looked forward to that, but at the same time she wanted to be alone with Sesshomaru like it use to be.
Shippou rode on Inuyasha's shoulder, periodically looking over to make sure Kagome was okay. When the pair had returned with supplies, the kitsune had noticed that Kagome looked calmer than the day before. Her color had returned and she smiled occasionally, though not as often as before Shuri's visit.
Inuyasha watched his surroundings intently as Machiko led them on a different road than the one they had previously taken to the mountain. The Inuhanyou had assumed that the reason was to avoid the village near the mountain, but he soon discovered that it was in fact much quicker. Every now and then there was a sliver of magic in the air and Inuyasha sensed that they were closer to the mountain than should be possible in the small amount of time they had been traveling.
Sesshomaru traveled just behind Machiko where he could overlook the strange child that promised hope. The Inuyoukai had read the scrolls and knew of her mistress's story, but he had not fully accepted the fact that the scrolls were indeed fact, not fiction.
"It's just up ahead," announced Machiko.
"Ah, good," commented Rin.
"How did we get here so quickly?" asked Sango.
"Magic," replied Machiko.
"Magic. I hate magic," the Taijiya muttered under her breath.
"With good reason, I'm sure," Miroku said quietly, but loud enough for Sango to hear.
She blushed and turned away abruptly, quickening her pace to walk with Kagome and Shippou. Kagome eyed her out of the corner of her eye when Sango moved beside her. The miko couldn't smother a small smile. "So, Sango- chan, will there be another bet at the village for you and Miroku-sama's firstborn?"
Sango's blush spread to the tip of her ears and she looked at Kagome in embarrassment. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Kagome-chan."
"Huh-uh, what do you take me for?"
Shippou giggled at Sango's embarrassment and jumped to Kagome's shoulder so he could look the Taijiya in the eye. "Does this mean we're all going to have to leave you and Miroku alone in the village so you two can mate like Kagome and Inuyasha?"
Thankfully, Sango's reply was interrupted by an unexpected guest. "Kouga-kun," greeted a puzzled Kagome. "What are you doing here?"
Kouga looked as surprised as Kagome. "I don't get it," whispered Inuyasha, coming to a halt beside Kagome. "Why are we all here? Was this planned?"
"In a way," said a new voice. From the shadows of the mountain emerged Chiyo. She was dressed in a light pink kimono that glittered with small daisies.
"I don't understand," replied Inuyasha, studying the ancient youkai before him. He had never seen her in any light other than the dim candle lighting of the mountain. Her hair looked lighter, almost golden. Against of rays of the sun, Chiyo's skin was as pale as the moon, her eyes all the more haunting. However, Inuyasha saw something in her eyes that had not been there before; a fierceness that could only be attributed with the ancient youkai's own desire for her end. She was determined, and Inuyasha looked upon her as one would a poisonous snake.
Good thing she's on our side, Inuyasha thought to himself.
"It's quite simple really," continued Chiyo. "It is a gathering of allies. I presume you do not know a Kami's nature, or you would have found it peculiar that Shuri was unaccompanied by his numerous minions."
"And I suppose you know a Kami's nature?" asked Kouga, sounding skeptical.
"Not all Kamis' nature, but I know those of Shuri's House. They are the soul eaters and the rulers of the Hells. Hell is my specialty."
Kouga shivered at her words before moving out of the shade the mountain offered and into the sun. Chiyo observed him with something akin to amusement before turning her attention back to Inuyasha and Kagome. "I am glad you two have survived thus far."
"How did you know Shuri was alone?" interrupted Inuyasha, observing Chiyo.
"How did I know to send Machiko yesterday, or of the Fire Pit snakes or that you would find a place for Aiko-chan or that the Kamis would insist on an impossible price if the spell has not been performed but once since my father's time?" she replied, sounding amused and at the same time bitter and sad.
"Yes," said Inuyasha uncertainly.
Chiyo smiled before replying. "Magic."
Sango sighed and Miroku had to work to control his serene expression. "Yes, well," continued Chiyo, wiping her face of all emotion. She looked over to Sesshomaru and smiled. "I had not foreseen the Demon Lord of the Western Lands."
"I was merely visiting by little brother when Shuri made his price known," Sesshomaru excused himself.
"And yet you accompany him to my home to help him defeat a Kami. I respect you for that, Lord Sesshomaru. You are more like your father than I took you for."
"How did someone such as yourself know my father?" sneered the Inuyoukai in disbelief.
"A looking glass. I never said that I personally met your father. I haven't. His reputation, however, yields to Legend." Chiyo sighed and waved her hand, signaling the end of the topic. "We can discuss Legends later. For now, we should focus on knowing our enemy."
"Why do you want the Kami dead?" asked Kouga.
"I could ask you the same thing, Wolf Prince."
"That ain't none of your business."
Chiyo smiled before shaking her head. "Enough. We will beget a War of mortals and Immortals in four months time. If we are to die, I say we do it right."
"We're not fighting to die," said Inuyasha, looking at Chiyo. "My Pack and I are here so my pups can live."
"Yes," agreed Chiyo, smiling at Kagome fondly. "But at times such as these life is only possible through death."
"I don't want any of my Pack or my allies," continued Inuyasha, looking over at Kouga. He would not sacrifice his pride to say 'friend.' "Dying. If we're going to do nothing but ready ourselves for this 'War,' than it will be so we can all live. I won't have my Pack going into this thing thinking they're gonna die, cause they ain't. If anyone is going to die, it will be that fucking Kami."
"Well said, Inuyasha-San," conceded Chiyo. "I, however, I'm fighting to die."
"Well, than I'll make sure not to help your ass," Inuyasha replied jokingly.
Chiyo laughed and nodded her head. "Fair enough, Inuyasha-San. I admire your good nature. After this War, I am quite sure your name will follow your father into Legend, along with everyone else who will fight."
Inuyasha bowed, lightly smiling. "Yes, I'm quite sure this War will be something to be remembered."