There was a lot to be done before any type of attack could be made on the south. Inutaisho and Mizuko would spend a majority of their time in counsel with the other lords trying to persuade them to help in the attack against the southern lord. All the while Zane, Kaze, and Kito would meet up with Mizuko's 'liaison' with them. The moment she had arrived at the village Mizuko made her way into the back fields and to Sakura to mark her with her ink. Once that was done she instructed her on where to go and to wait as soon as she got the boat. With a true grin on her face Sakura took off through the southern lands to the Lower Cliffs.
Now all Zane and Kito had to do was wait for Kaze to arrive. They figured that she would get there some time that night and they would leave out in the morning. What they didn't expect was Kaze's new choice in weaponry. Inutaisho's initial reaction was shock then confusion because his littlest cousin had always followed Sakura in carrying double katanas, yet here she was approaching them with what looked like a thin, long oar.
"What the hell is that?" Inutaisho just about shouted. Kaze looked over at him, then not answering his question she turned to Mizuko and bowed.
"It is an honor to help in anyway I can." Her voice was breezy almost like her name sake. Kito took a sudden interest in this obvious nonviolent woman.
"Can I ask way you're carrying a Kai Bo?" Zane asked motioning to her weapon. Grinning, she lifted a hand to lightly caress the dark wood of her weapon.
"I'm afraid that I don't believe in killing for any reason. This may look like a weak weapon, but I assure you it isn't."
Inutaisho stared at his cousin as if she was insane. She was planning on going through enemy territory with just an oar. Kaze looked over at him and grinned.
"Dear cousin, don't you remember that I never used the blade side of my katanas?"
"Yes, I remember, but why the sudden change?"
"I'm more comfortable with this. Don't worry I'll be fine and I will help defend those in my group. Besides aren't I going as a negotiator?"
"Don't worry so much Inutaisho." Mizuko said putting her hand on his shoulder. "After all Kioshi wouldn't have suggested her unless he thought that she could handle herself."
"You're right." He sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You all leave out tomorrow," he informed walking back to Juniko's hut, disappearing inside. Mizuko shook her head.
"Don't worry about Mizuko-san, he's just worried that his cousin might get hurt." She grinned in an almost impish way. "He is under a lot of stress. After all he has to prove to the other lords that he's capable of taking over his father's lands."
"Yes, he does, doesn't he?" Mizuko said almost to herself, a sad expression on her face. "Now then," her face became emotionless suddenly as she turned back to them, "you all should get some sleep. It'll take you all day tomorrow to get to the Lower Cliffs. There will be a boat there waiting for you." Nodding each took their separate way to a hut to try and sleep before the journey the next day.
As the sun dawned over the mountains in the east three figures could be made out leaving the small village on the very edge of the western lands heading into the south and the coast. The three of them ran hard all day long only taking a short rest at midday to drink and eat a bit of food before moving on.
They arrived at the Lower Cliffs just after dark. They searched around for any sign of their contact. A light suddenly appeared near the entrance to the caves on the rocky shore.
"Over here." A smooth voice called to them. They followed until they were inside the cave with the strange woman, the only thing of her they could see was her tattooed arm and the back of her silver hair that was tied back in a braid.
"Who are you?" Kito asked taking a defensive position.
"Can't you tell?" The woman asked not bothering to turn around.
"Sakura!" Kaze wailed jumping forward and pouncing easily on her older cousin. "Sa-chan!" She nuzzled into the other girl's back. Both men watched with expressions of awe at the display in front of them. Kaze was wiggling so much that her Kai Bo seemed to have a life of its own.
"Wait a minute." Zane said regaining his composure. "Aren't you supposed to be home?"
Kaze removed herself from Sakura allowing her to turn around. Sakura flashed them a wide smile. "Maybe." With a mysterious grin gracing her face she continued farther into the cave. Zane didn't miss the spiraling red tattoos that came up her neck and ended around the left side of her face. "We'll stay here tonight and rest. I know you all must of had a long day. I tried to take out as much of the scouts as I could to make your journey easier. You didn't run into any problems on the way now did you?"
"No, we didn't." Kaze answered jumping forward to inspect the boat sitting in the middle of the cavern they had just entered. It was large enough for the four of them and a few supplies, which were already in the boat and tied down. There was but one oar, most likely for steering Kaze guessed, and a link of green tinted rope. She picked it up wondering what it could be fore.
Sakura walked over to Kaze to explain the rope unaware of the watchful green silver eyes.
The next morning they pushed the boat out into the water and loaded into it. Sakura placed Zane in the back of the boat with the oar for steering while she sat in the front with the greenish rope in hand. Zane had been instructed to 'paddle' out past the small waves of the shore till they hit smoother water. Once there Sakura let them float a bit further before pulling out a wooden flute and setting it against her lips. She played a few deep haunting notes, letting the last one die on the wind before returning the flute to its place. They sat there while nothing happening. Suddenly the water in front of them exploded and a large blue dragon head raised out of the water to greet them.
"Greetings." Sakura said bowing. "Mizuko said that you would be willing to help us get to the island."
The dragon turned it silver eyes to peer at her. "Mizuko, you say? I will do all I can to help her." His voice boomed across the waters. He gently took the rope from her before disappearing back under the water until all that was visible was the top of his head.
"What the hell is that?" Kito exclaimed pointing at the dragon's head as they jutted off toward the island.
"That is Uzimo. He is a water dragon that is a friend of Mizuko. He will take us to the island quicker then we could sail."
And she was right they made it to the island in four hours were it would have taken them several days. He left them there promising to come back for them in one day time and for them to be ready. As Kito and Zane pulled the boat up onto the shore, Sakura and Kaze walked up to the edge of the woods.
"I will need you the most my littlest cousin. I have a feeling it will be your skills we will need the most in convincing them to help our cause." Sakura stated softly.
"What about this weapon that the Southern Lord has?" Kaze asked as they started to make their way through the jungle toward where Zane had said the village was, making it rather obvious that they were there. Zane's shouts were lost to them and seeing that he was being completely ignored him and Kito took to the trees to stay out of sight.
"You leave that completely to me. As soon as we get back to the main land I'm off to find out while the rest of you report back to Mizuko." Sakura gave her a meaningful look.
"Don't worry. I have this all under control." Kaze replied with a grin. Soon both noticed that they were being surrounded by what were most likely the outer guards. They stopped their conversation, but continued on as if they didn't even notice them there. In fact they were let right into the village before they were stopped. Looking around Sakura quickly took note where the chief was standing looking curiously over at them. The guards moved in on them with their Naginatas pointing at them.
"Zane, Kito." If you really wish to make this work you will come out now and show yourselves. I would also suggest that you throw down your weapons as well." Kaze instructed them, then out of the corner of her mouth she said to Sakura, "Place your katanas into the sand and in a non-threatening voice state that no one should touch them."
Sakura did as she was told saying in a low voice, "Please, for your own safety do not touch these katanas." Catching the approving nod from her cousin out of the corner of her eye she shot mentally to her Well, I guess this means that you still remember about the barrier spell. At that time a bow, quiver, wakazashi, and katana landed near them and they moved away from the weapons so as to show that they had no interest in using them against the village. Zane and Kito soon appeared and were forced to the women and then they were moved to the chief. He was a rather large man wearing nothing but a black lone cloth and about twenty pounds of beads around his neck. Kaze bowed deeply, the others following her example, then began to remove her Kai Bo to place at his feet when she was stopped by her words.
"I respect your choice in weapons, so you may keep it on your person. As for the others their weapons will stay where they are until we are sure of your intent." His rough voice seemed to draw the attention of the rest of the village, including, what Sakura guessed, was the chief's son.
"We have come with a request of alliance from Sesshoumaru-sama, Lord of the Western Lands of Japan, and Mizuko-sama, Lady heir to the Southern Lands." Kaze said, the others staying silent.
"It is the Southern Lord that helps those damned Potakas attack our island." The young man that looked to be the chief's son spat at them.
"Goh, be quiet and let this young woman finish."
"Thank you, M'lord. It is because of Mizuko-sama that we have come. She has been disowned and had disowned her father and wishes your help to gain back the southern lands from him. In recent years he has become insane and she wishes to atone for his mistakes by killing him and setting things right. However, even with the other lords' help we will still not have enough soldiers to destroy his army and take back the southern lands." Kaze fell silent so that the chief could take in all she had said before continuing with what might just lose their help, but she knew that she shouldn't keep any important information form a possible ally in case they find out later and feel betrayed. "They have a weapon that if fired it could very well wipe out this entire island and they plan on using it on our forces if we do combine our armies with the other lords."
"And why the hell should we help you? What will we get out of this?" Goh bit off his anger at her not hidden very well. Kaze spared him but a glance, before returning her waiting gaze on the chief.
"My son is right. Why should we involve ourselves in this conflict?"
Kaze held her hand out toward Kito. He took but a second to reach into his bag and pull out a sealed scroll. She took it from him and handed it to the chief. "Many men died for this information and Mizuko-sama asked that we give it to you in case you asked of this. Not even I know of what it contains."
The chief took it and breaking the seal read its contents. A look of surprise came over his face as he finished it. "It seems as if that weapon you talked about earlier will be turned on us soon and our island will cease to exist."
Goh moved toward them snatching the scroll from his father and reading it as well. When he finished he balled it up with one fist and threw it back at them. "They lie." He stated not even turning back to look at his father. "Look at this they sent a women to negotiate, and this one cannot even carry a real weapon!" He shook his finger at Kaze. "How can they expect to gain our trust when they have soldier that carry non-combatant weapons?"
Kaze took a deep breath. "It is my choice never to kill any living being. My mother's miko powers may run through my body but I shall never kill!" Her voice rose with each passing word sending Zane and Kito a step back in surprise, but Sakura remained unmoved by her cousin's words. She had known of her decision for a long time.
"You all are nothing but scum to come here and lie to us! You want nothing more then to steal our island!"
"How dare you suggest such a thing!" Kaze shot back not noticing the grinning face of the chief behind his son. He rather like this woman; not many would stand up to royalty like she was currently doing. "We have not even offered anything because M'lady said to let you be the ones to decide what you want in return!" By this time anyone (except the two fighting) close to Kaze noticed that the wind had picked up in a circular direction and the sand was beginning to move with it.
"Fine then show me that you are worthy enough for our alliance!" Goh shouted pointing his finger to Kaze. His mistake, Sakura thought.
She was so rallied up that Kaze couldn't stop herself from reaching up with one hand and whipping out the Kai Bo and catching Goh in the side. For a split second nothing happened then it was as if the force she had used suddenly caught up with the weapon and Goh was sent flying into a tree, leaving waves of sand in his wake. Placing the weapon on her back again Kaze took deep shallow breathes to try and calm herself. She was drawn out of her self stupidity by bellowing laugh. Looking up she saw first several members of the village rushing to Goh to aid him, then it she was drawn to the large chief laughing.
"We shall be your allies, if in return you help us protect our island and bring in new blood." He said once he finished laughing and was gasping. "Just send word with you will need us and we will come." A grin spread over his face. "After all it is hard to defend against two lines of attack."
"Thank you, sir." Kaze bowed again before she was taken up into a rib creaking hug by the chief.
Once they reached the main land again they set up camp for the night in the same cave they had been in before. Sakura watched as her little cousin fell asleep with a red and blue beaded necklace around her neck which was given to her by the chief along with a solid blue one for Mizuko as a sign of his alliance. She knew the moment that Zane and Kito were done talking Zane would want to talk with her, or yell if he was anything like her father. The thought of her parents brought a sad smile to her face. Her mother must be going crazy as her father tried to comfort her. She was pulled from her thoughts as Zane kneeled in front of her, resting his hands on her knees. His face was blank as he looked up into her face. She glanced over his should to see that Kito was on his bed roll to rest for the night.
"Why?" He asked quietly, whether it was so that he could control his anger or to keep from waking the others Sakura couldn't tell.
"I am not like my mother, or my brother." It was all she could think of to say.
"I know that, but why did you come out here, become one of Mizuko's soldiers and take on those markings?" He tightened his hold on her knees, his face still a blank slate.
"I could no longer sit locked up in that mansion like some kind of hidden prisoner. No matter what anyone says that is what I was. I know that I'm the next heir if anything were to happen to my brother, but I had to do something." She had tried to hold back the tears, but they were beginning to pool on the edges of her eyes and run down her face. "I'm not made to be someone's quiet, well mannered wife. I cannot be locked up in a mansion or castle for the rest of my life and forced to bare children for someone I cannot stand." She staggered to a stop as she sob, flinging herself into Zane's arms. He sat there a long time holding her tightly to him. She reminded him in so many ways of his sister, but what he was beginning to feel for her was definitely nothing like what he had felt for his sister. He still hung onto her when her sobs quieted down.
"In a way you remind me of my sister." He said softly. "She was forced to marry a man who wanted to break her wild spirit. He never got the chance. My sister killed herself rather then submit herself to him." He took a shaky breathe before continuing. "That is why I am banished from my home. I killed him for killing her." He then buried his hands into her thick snowy hair drawing her face up to look in his. "I will not let that happen to you, I promise. What I feel for you is nothing like what I felt for my sister." He loosed one of his hands so that he could take her chin in his hand and trace her lips with his thumb.
"Every time I'm near you, you surprise me with something new. I may be from a tropical island, but I have iced over my own heart, yet you have awakened it again." He was acuity aware of her shortened breathes and how she clung to his arms as he held her. "If you will let me I want to be with you and I promise never to tie you down or lock you up. It is your wild spirit that has drawn me to you." With that he leaned in and gently kissed her slightly parted lips. It was short, but Sakura could feel that he had poured all his feeling into that kiss. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked into his miscoloured eyes. It was then that she felt as if she had fond her life mate and knew that he would keep his word to never to lock her up.
"If that is how you feel then be my life mate after we win this war." She whispered a blush rising up on her cheeks. His answer was another kiss this one more passionate then the last. They fell asleep wrapped in each others arms. It was when both either breathing evened out that Kaze sat up with a smile on her face as she watched over her cousin. Ever since she could remember Sakura had been lonely and it looked as if she finally found her life mate. Her grin spread. Neither her uncle nor Inutaisho would like this at all. She just hopped that the war ended soon. She didn't know how long any of them would last once the final battle began.
I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, please don't kill me. I've just had a really busy summer. You just can't imagine. However, I promised a long chapter if I didn't update as soon as I could and here it is. So please be happy with this for a while. Also I don't know if I will be finishing this story...I've kind of lost interest in it, however, I will try to update every once in a while. I have...one...two...three...Naruto stories to write, and a Harry Potter story. I also have a bit of work to do on my Big Eyes Small Mouths story arc.