QoH: *sniff* I feel so pathetic… Only 3 reviews… And this is one of my fave stories, too. (ie I thought I did rather well on it) Could ya maybe help me out, here? That is, click that little box down at the bottom sayin "submit review." It'd be greatly appreciated!
Chapter 3: Noble Traitors
"Say what?!" Kagome gasped, dropping her fork, "What do you remember from that time? Why do you think it's this guy?"
Inu-Yasha's eyes were distant, as though looking into the past that he'd trying to avoid for so long, "There was a rumor, back then, that a giant serpent by the name of Jashin-Jadoku (A/N: jashin- evil heart/design, jadoku- snake venom/toxin. Essentially, I'm calling him "Heart's Poison") from the mountains was gathering followers. He hated humans, but the lowlife was also greedy, so he made the inhabitants of the villages around him pay a hefty tribute to him twice a year so he wouldn't destroy them all."
"How cruel!" Kagome cried, incensed, "That doesn't leave them much to even live on!"
"That's not the worst of it," he breathed deeply, his face tense with anger, "He ordered that, with every offering, a one person must go with it as a sacrifice. The villagers were left to decide who would fill that position. Not one of those people ever returned."
"Oooh!" Kagome stood up furiously, "Let's get going, right now! I want a piece of this scuzball!"
Inu-Yasha shook his head, smiling just slightly, "Ladies and gentlemen, meet Kagome, fiercest of all. Always ready to protect and avenge the oppressed dregs of the earth, even if it was over half a century ago."
"Oh, sorry."Kagome blushed, laughing as she sat back down, "Would you like to continue?"
"Anyway, after a while, he became unsatisfied with merely terrorizing the surrounding humans. He, and his band of goons, began to attack low-level youkai who'd taken human mates. Right then, he wouldn't dare go beyond that, but my father knew he'd soon grow bored with it, so he started making preperations to face him."
"He planned to go up against an army all by himself?"
"Yes," Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed, and his voice hardened, "The other three demon lords, of the East, North and South, argued amongst themselves on whether to help, too busy to really do much of anything. The Eastern lord, Kuroikaze (A/N: kuroi- black, kaze- wind), was ready to do so, but the other two weren't any more fond of 'weaklings' than that snake was. Kuroikaze, who was Father's best friend, and also had a human mate, was tired of their whining. In defiance of their 'advice,' he sent his forces to our aide. But, they were attacked before they could reach us."
"How could Jashin-Jadoku have known, to have sent his thugs out so far ahead of time?"
"He didn't. His army wasn't responsible for the ambush. If it had been, they could've beaten them easily. As it was, Kuroikaze's men never really stood a chance, though it is said they went down fighting, to the very last man."
"If it wasn't him, then who? Who else would've wanted to stop them so bad?" Kagome wondered, clearly puzzled. Her eyes widened in horror as it dawned on her, "You don't mean...."
Inu-Yasha nodded as he struggled to keep his emotions under control, "The lords of the North and South sent their own armies to intercept them. Those who should have been fighting alongside my father and Kuroikaze, were secretly working with against them," he punched the ground in disgust, "Until it was too late, none of us knew they'd had an alliance all along with that-that..."
Kagome's eyes shimmered with tears, "Didn't anyone escape?"
"A few kitsune scouts did, because they'd been sent away from the main group. When they returned to report what they'd seen, they saw what little remained of their comrades. The tale the handful of soldiers told Father..." he shuddered at the memory.
A new, quiet voice joined the conversation, "All that could be seen for miles around was a sea of red, drenching the snow in front of them, the bodies of their friends torn apart so that it was impossible to tell one from another. All that remained standing were a few banners that fluttered in the forlorn wind."
They turned to look at Shippou, who seemed less boisterous than his usual self. Mirkou and Sango were beside him. "When'd you get here?" Inu-Yasha asked.
"While you were talking about the battle. You were just too involved in that to notice." Shippou answered.
"How did you know what those soldiers told us?" he wondered, surprised.
"Because my father was one of those scouts," he glared hard at his feet, his fists clenched, "He used to tell me stories about his life, and that one was always the hardest for him."
"Who was your father, Shippou?" Sango inquired softly, sitting down.
"His name was Akaiame," he whispered, (A/N: akai- red, ame- rain) smiling sadly, "The youngest brother of Kuroikaze, and the commander of his army. Normally, he'd be leading the rest of the troups, but his kitsune abilities were suited better to scouting. It was also for bluffing purposes, since opposing armies would try to take out the leader to cause disarray."
"What?! You're Akaiame's son? Wait, of course..." Inu-Yasha looked closely at him, "Your fur, it's just like his," he looked at the others, who seemed rather confused, "Kuriokaze and his brothers were each named after their coloring and a force of nature. As far as I know, there were five of them, but I've only ever met the youngest and eldest."
"You met him?" Shippou gaped at him, "When?"
"He stayed at our house for about two days, while he recuperated from his ordeal, before he went into hiding." Inu-Yasha closed his eyes sadly, "He knew he couldn't return to his home."
"Why couldn't he?" Miroku asked, leaning against his staff, "I'd think he'd try and get home as fast as he could."
"By that time, it was already too late," Inu-Yasha shook his head in regret, "Not long after Akaiame arrived, Father got word that Kuroikaze and his brothers were dead, assassinated by spies from those they should have been able to trust with their lives."
"So, that..." Kagome, who'd been silent since Shippou, Sango and Miroku came over, stood up slowly, as though trying to maintain her temper, "That was all a plot, from the very beginning. That Jashin-Jadoku guy was just an underling, huh?"
"No, he wasn't." Inu-Yasha laughed bitterly, "In the end, he played his 'allies' false, as well. He sent his own hit men after them, just when they thought everything was going to work out for them. When he and his 'followers' invaded our house, he bragged how he'd fooled everyone, even those who knew what he was capable of."
"Well, at least they got what they deserved!" Sango exclaimed, enraged.
Miroku smirked as he sat back against a stump, "Interesting, to die by the treacherous hand of the same person they'd used to betray those they'd called 'friends.' Quite the fitting end, I'd say. Now, we'd better get some sleep if we're going to be delivering a little justice to a certain, well-deserving snake tomorrow." Grim nods rounded the circle of friends before heading off to their chosen sleeping arrangements. Kagome put out the last of the fire and climbed into her sleeping bag, little Shippou joining her as soon as she was settled. Sango used some left-over water from the pan to rinse out their bowls and stacked them next to Kagome's backpack, then spread out her blankets nearby, Hiraikotsu within easy reach. Kirara curled up beside her in kitten-form. Miroku just leaned back against a relatively smooth tree, his healthy hand protectively covering the rosary beads over the Air-Rip.
Inu-Yasha remained where he was, watching his friends fell asleep. Restless, he fought the urge to pace, not wanting to disturb them. When he was certain they were well into the dream world, he got to his feet silently and crept over to Kagome's bag. Rummaging around as quietly as he could, he soon found what he was after. Sneaking a glance at her to make sure she still slept, he returned everything he'd gotten out to their proper places, or as near as he could figure, anyway. I don't want them noticing anything different just yet, so I can't afford to be sloppy about it.
He headed back to his tree, but stopped as he passed Kagome, Shippou cuddled against her like a little puppy. Looking down at her, he marveled at how, after all they'd been through together, all she'd been forced to endure, she still somehow maintained a purity of heart unlike anything he'd ever known. Inu-Yasha crouched down and used one claw to delicately lift away the hair that had fallen into her eyes when she'd rolled over. He smiled a little to himself as he stood and returned to his branch.
For a while, he simply gazed up into the silver-sprinkled leaves, wondering how to say all he wanted to in that brief time. Inu-Yasha sighed and hung his head, then lifted it as an elusive scent wafted by his nose. He turned his head, sniffing, trying to pin down where it had come from. Finally, he managed to locate it across the clearing.
It was a flower, a young tiger lily, alone against the choking weeds surrounding it, straining to receive the wan light of the rising quarter moon. Hopping down, he laid the notebook and pen against the trunk before crossing to it. Peering at it contemplatively, he found he felt a bond to this little plant so much like Kagome. In seconds, he'd cleared the space of all but the lily, hoping that would allow it to grow and spread. I just wish the real-life enemies, those bent on destroying my world, were so easy to defeat. If they were...
Inu-Yasha shook his head and strode back to the tree, now knowing what he wanted to write. Soon, after giving it a final inspection, he carefully tore the paper out and tucked it away. He put the materials away again and returned to the branch, less restive now. He close his eyes and hummed a sad little tune he'd heard once in Kagome's time until he, too, drifted off into the land of dreams.
~Who will be there to take
my place?
When I'm gone, you'll need love
to light the shadows on your face.
If a great wave shall fall,
and fall upon us all,
then between the sand and stone,
could you make it on your own?~
QoH: Hey, guess what ppl! The next chapter is gonna be a BATTLE ROYALE! lol I've never done a "demon fight" before, so if you'd review and tell me how I did, maybe make some suggestions, it'd be greatly appreciated! Thankies!
Inu-Yasha: Let me get this straight. You're asking them to review something you haven't even WRITTEN YET?!
QoH: ^_^ Yup. Your point is....?
Inu-Yasha: *falls over anime-style* ..................