Chapter 3 - Weapons In Hand
As We…
Or, You Call That A Youkai?
"Who asks of the great Benishi-sama?"
Sango and Miroku looked up from their conversation sharply, weapons at the ready. Silently, Miroku cursed his inattentiveness. 'Well, it's not like I had a bad distraction…' He glanced at the taijiya by his side briefly before standing to get a better look at the youkai behind Kagome. Catching a glimpse, he blinked a few times, then burst out laughing.
Sango, who had also stood, glanced at him, and the back towards the demon. She too blinked once or twice, then set Hiraikotsu back on the ground so that she didn't drop it as she collapsed into laughter as well. Kagome glared at the both of them, back still stiff with the tingling sensation that came with having a youkai around. 'Let's see what this youkai looks like then.'
Still glaring at her two adult companions, she stood, holding Shippou close to her chest while keeping a hand on Atai's brown head. Slowly turning around, she blinked. There was no one there. A cough from near the ground caught her attention and she looked down. There, standing on two worn and torn legs with both stuffed paws on his hips, was Atai's teddy bear.
He was badly ripped up and his dried herb stuffing was leaking all over the ground, though he tried to still look intimidating. She couldn't help but smile and kneel back down in front of him. "Benishi-sama?"
He lifted his cute stuffed chin so arrogantly that Kagome giggled, holding out a hand. "It's nice to meet you, but why didn't you say anything when we met before?"
He scoffed at her, the expression of disdain so amusing on his face that she had to hold back another giggle. "Anyone who's anyone knows not to mess with inus, feral or no! Speaking would have drawn its attention to me and my ward."
"Your ward?"
"I believe she has been named Atai, now. She sits beside you."
Kagome nodded and allowed Shippou to climb up onto her shoulder as she walked over to her backpack and fished out her sewing kit as well as some sweet smelling herbs she had collected on her journey. She usually reserved them for stitching and healing wounds, and, in her eyes anyway, the youkai's 'wounds' could use a little surgery. She returned to her place by the failing fire, Shippou hopping from her shoulder to gather more fuel without having to be told. Atai stood and accompanied him, though never strayed from Kagome's sight.
Sitting again, she gestured to the stuffed bear. "Benishi-sama? Will you allow me to look at your injuries? I am a miko, and might be able to help."
The miniature koma looked her over blatantly with stubby arms crossed over his chest, then nodded once and climbed into her lap. "Very well. I will allow you to treat this Benishi's grievous cuts."
Sango sat again across the fire from Kagome and the strange youkai. Miroku remained standing, and even walked towards the fringes of the camp keeping his eyes, ears, and senses open to the forest bathed in the light of the waning day. Kagome watched him briefly, her thoughts on their errant hanyou companion for just a moment before she returned to the task at hand.
Assessing his rips, Kagome decided to begin from the top and work her way downwards, starting with that nasty tear between his little ears. "Excuse me Beni-sama, she murmured as she felt around his head, gauging how much of her dried herbs would be used to re-stuff him.
By the time she had worked her way to his furry torso, Miroku had returned, shaking his head once in answer to Sango's silent question. Shippou and Atai were playing a game of tag nearby, running around the small group and giggling. Kagome smiled at them, glad to hear the girl make noise again.
After a moment more of silence amoung the adults, Sango spoke up, watching the komayoukai from across the fire. "If you don't mind me asking, Benishi-sama, are you a lord? I've never seen a, excuse the phrase, stuffed bear demon before, and the way you speak would indicate those of high birth."
Miroku nodded his head in agreement. "You speak like Sesshoumaru-sama."
Benishi looked up from his examination of the work Kagome had done on one of his paws and blinked at the two humans across from him. After a moment, he nodded. "This Benishi is Lord of the Eastern Lands. Or rather, I was until my mate was killed and this curse placed upon me."
Kagome sucked in a breath and shot a glance at her other companions. 'Could have it been Naraku's work?' was the question in her eyes. Miroku and Sango shrugged. Possibly.
The Lord of the East ignored them, watching Shippou entertain his ward with foxfire tricks and his kitsune magic toys for a moment before continuing. "I still hold sway over my lands, but since this form isn't exactly the best for enforcing, my son is ruling in my stead until I can remove this curse and regain my power."
He paused, then looked at the three adults from his space beside Kagome. She was working on the last tear on the bottom of one foot. She had done a wonderful job, and the little bear felt better than he had in years. Remembering something Miroku had said, however, he gazed solidly at all of them. "You've heard of the Lord of the Western Lands, though? Of course you have, since you're in his domain right now. But…you speak as though he has graced you with his presence before. I was of the impression that those he chose to speak to were either other taiyoukai or ended up dead."
Miroku and Sango stood, grasped their weapons and looked around, as if the inutaiyoukai himself would step from the woods at any moment. Benishi looked at them incredulously. "You didn't know? You seriously didn't know you were in his lands? I bet he's coming to see what the disturbance is, what with all the purifying flares and foxfire. I can tell you, your killing that inu won't go unnoticed."
Kagome smiled at him wanly, then stood, and gathered the children to her side. It was at this moment that Miroku took advantage of the taijiya's distraction to place his hand strategically on certain parts of her anatomy. The ensuing scream of "HENTAI!" and familiar crack of bone against unforgiving bone must have been heard throughout half the forest. The koma swung his black gaze to where the Sango stood over Miroku and immediately bowed. He was pleased to see the miko and children follow soon after, though he had to suppress a smile at the muttered "Speak of the devil…" from the enchanting female beside him.
Sango stiffened and turned slowly to see who they were bowing at. There, standing in the fading light of dusk at the edge of their campsite, was The Lord of the West, Sesshoumaru, in all his glory. One fine silver brow raised as Sango hurried to bow as well, backing away from the lord while dragging her monk companion with her.
The taiyoukai let his gaze fall over the entire group before settling on the miko across the fire from him. When he inclined his head only slightly, the group rose from their bows to face the hard gaze of Sesshoumaru. Kagome kept her eyes down and resisted the urge to gather Shippou and Atai closer.
"Miko." The command was harsh and she raised her eyes to meet those of the inu before her, fighting to not rebel against the use of a title and not her name. 'He probably doesn't even know it.'
He continued, staring coldly at her. "Where is my half-brother?"
Kagome hesitated a moment before she spoke. "We do not know, Sesshoumaru-sama. He left yesterday evening and has not returned since."
He nodded once, as if confirming something he already knew. With a gesture of his one hand, Jaken stepped forward and laid a cloth-wrapped bundle at her feet. The size and shape were all too familiar to the girl from the future, but she dared not believe that's what it was.
"Open it."
Again the harsh command as she kneeled gracefully to the package and unwrapped it with faintly shaking hands. Once the covering was gone, she sighed almost imperceptibly and lowered her gaze to her lap where she folded her hands. The now awake, if in pain, Miroku and a still slightly peeved Sango stepped forward to see what it was that their friend had been given.
There, on the ground, lay the Tetsusaiga in all its rusted and unkempt glory.
