Kita and Saramaru
Opening her eyes, Kita found herself in a small, soft bed next to a much larger one. "Saramaru-sama?" she asked, sitting up and looking around. There was no reply.
The door was open, and a picture of Inuyasha and a picture of Sesshoumaru sat on the bedspread. Getting out of the bed, Kita crawled onto the other bed and over to the painting. She recognized the person as Sesshoumaru, but he looked much different.
The painting was of a smiling Sesshoumaru, who looked like an 11 year old. A soft breeze swept into the room, ruffling the young girl's hair. Shivering a bit, Kita moved onto the picture of Inuyasha. This one was even cuter. It was of what looked like a 6 year old Inuyasha, sitting on a dock over looking a lake.
The breeze changed directions suddenly, pulling open the already half open door. The creaking scared Kita a bit, but then she realized it was just the wind. She jumped off the bed and walked out the door, wondering where the breeze was coming from.
At the end of the hall, there was a huge clear window. It was half open. The window provided a view into the garden. There was Saramaru, sitting by the pond, reading. Grinning, Kita found the nearest set of stairs and hurried down. Amazingly she found her way to the garden without getting lost once.
Saramaru raised her head to see Kita running through the garden trail to where she was. She smiled, and put down the scroll she had been reading. "Good morning." She greeted the girl, "How did you sleep?"
"Good." the kid replied, sitting down next to her, "Where are we?"
"We are at the Lady of the Eastern Land's palace." Saramaru said, smiling a bit.
"Who's the lady?" Kita asked curiously.
"I am." Saramaru replied, smiling.
"That's so neat!" she exclaimed, "Your house is so big and pretty!"
"Thank you." Saramaru said still smiling.
"Are we going to stay here now?" Kita asked.
"For a while. I have to be here to meet Sesshoumaru. We have a meeting scheduled face to face. No fighting. He agreed to an extent, saying that I would have to pull my army off of his ally, the Northern Land." Saramaru sighed. "Maybe I can get him to bring Rin."
"I want to see Rin again." Kita said nodding, "She was really nice and likes all the things I do!"
"Than I will see what I can do to get her here." Saramaru said smiling. "Do you want me to see right now, or should I ask him later?"
"Right now." the girl replied.
"Alright. Just give me a second." Saramaru closed her eyes., and sat down. 'Sesshoumaru? Are you there?' She thought to him.
'What do you want now?' came the response, 'We seem to be in contact more than usual.'
'My human companion wishes to see Rin. I told her I would ask you to bring her. Is that alright?' Saramaru asked.
'This Sesshoumaru was planning to bring Rin anyway.' Sesshoumaru replied, 'I knew you would not object. You've never had anything against humans.'
'That's good, then. I will see you in a few days.' Saramaru then closed the connection with her cousin. "He was nicer than usual. "She remarked to Kita.
"Maybe he was in a good mood." she suggested.
"Maybe. But he said he was planning on bringing Rin anyways, so that's easier for us." Saramaru smiled, wishing he would always be that nice.
"I'm hungry." Kita announced.
"Breakfast should be starting soon." Saramaru said, smiling. "Inuyasha will still be asleep, so do you want to help me wake him up?"
"Yeah." Kita said grinning mischievously
Saramaru got up, and took Kita's small hand. She walked towards the palace, and towards Inuyasha's room. The room they entered was anything but colorful. It was a weapons room, filled with old swords, daggers, and any other weapon imaginable. The walls were a shade of red, and in the corned there was a bed. Inuyasha was found there, snoring amazingly loud. "So, how do you think we should wake him up?" Saramaru whispered to Kita.
She thought for a moment. "Could you pull all the swords off the wall at the same time with your magic?" she asked.
"Yes." Saramaru was instantly interested.
"Then let's do that!" Kita said giggling, "That would be funny!"
"You want it noisy, right?" Saramaru asked, grinning. Kita nodded.
Saramaru grinned, and raising her hands, she pulled them slightly towards her, her wrists twisting and turning. All the weapons came crashing down from the wall, stopping in midair and then flying with un-natural speed to the stone floor.
The clashing was so loud that even Kita had to cover her ears. Inuyasha jumped out of his bed with so much force that he hit the ceiling, leaving a large dent. He then landed on his feet next to the bed, hand on Tetsusaiga, ready to draw.
Saramaru was rolling on the floor, in a fit of laughter. Her face was red, and when she looked up at Inuyasha, she started to laugh even more. Kita was doing the same thing. Inuyasha's face was also getting red. From two reasons. Embarrassment and rage.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!" he yelled.
Saramaru quickly got up and tried to once again appear dignified, but when she saw his face, she fell back into laughter, hitting the floor with a thud, but the 'Ouch' was drowned out by laughter. Kita hadn't even tried to act dignified, she was still laughing on the ground.
"ANSWER ME DAMN IT!" Inuyasha screamed, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT TO ME!"
Saramaru sat up, hissing with laughter every now and then. "Now, now cousin, no need to get upset. Would you have rather missed breakfast? I got some of that ramen stuff for you from Kagome, but I guess you don't like it." Saramaru said, grinning insanely.
"Ramen?" Inuyasha repeated eyeing Kita who was still laughing on the floor.
"Yes, Inuyasha. Ramen. But I'll tell them you don't want any. Maybe I'll let Shippo have it..." Saramaru said in mock thought as she turned to leave.
"No!" Inuyasha said running after her, "Don't let the brat eat my ramen!"
"What Inuyasha? Give Shippo all your ramen? Okay, I will." Saramaru was having immense fun.
"NOOO!" Inuyasha begged. Now Kita, who was still on the ground, wasn't laughing, she was more like crying she was laughing so hard.
"Alright. But you have to say something, and I'm not telling you what." Saramaru turned around to face her cousin.
"That's no fair!" Inuyasha exclaimed, "How am I supposed to know what to say if you don't tell me!"
"I know it's not fair, and anybody with half a brain could do it." Saramaru smiled.
"Could I please have my ramen?" Inuyasha guessed.
"Nope. Try again." Saramaru smiled.
Inuyasha glanced down at Kita, trying to figure out what Saramaru wanted him to say. "You know," he said changing the subject, "If you don't calm her down soon, I think she'll suffocate or something. Her face is turning purple."
Saramaru walked over to the girl and leaned down. "Kita," She said, "It really wasn't that funny. Stop laughing before you hurt yourself."
"It was funny!" Kita insisted, still laughing, "But now I just can't stop laughing!"
"I might be able to do something." Saramaru grabbed Kita's arm, and concentrated on being calm. Kita's laughing subsided, and all that was left was a huge smile.
"Thank you." The child said getting up.
"Your welcome." Saramaru turned back to Inuyasha. "You haven't said the right thing yet." She said smiling.
Inuyasha glared at her. "You're the best cousin in the world." he guessed again.
"There we go. And so are you. Well, what are we waiting for, lets gather the troops!" Saramaru said a little over enthusiastically, walking away.
When they had gotten everybody seated on cushions in the traditional dining room, Saramaru spoke up. "Sesshoumaru will be coming to meet with me in two days." Inuyasha spat out the water he had been drinking.
"The reason he is coming is because I have my army in his ally, the Northern Lord's, lands. And he wants them out. I just thought I should give you fair warning, because I need you all on your best behavior." Saramaru continued, "This war has gone on long enough, and Sesshoumaru is the only one who can make the Northern Lands and I allies again. And that is what I desperately need." Saramaru wore a tired expression as she talked about the war with the northern lands.
"We'll all be good, don't worry." Kagome said, "We've been around Sesshoumaru enough to know to be polite if we don't want to get killed."
"Everyone else yes," Inuyasha agreed, "But I don't know about you. You're the one who shot your arrow at him when I told you not to."
"You're the one who cut his arm off." she retorted.
"See? This is what we DON'T want to happen. A conversation of how we tried to kill Sesshoumaru." Saramaru rolled her eyes at her cousin. Kita giggled
"Oh Lady Kagome wasn't trying to kill Sesshoumaru." Miroku said, "She was trying to get the jewel shard off his stump of an arm. I can't say anything about Inuyasha though."
"Thanks a lot." Inuyasha said sarcastically.
"Anytime." the monk replied.
"Oh and Inuyasha, no remarks. Okay? I don't care what he says to you, just leave him be till after he leaves. Please?" Saramaru gave Inuyasha her 'Watery eyed puppy face'.
"Feh." he replied, "If you want that so badly."
"Thank you." Saramaru said, and she began to eat her food, thinking about the meeting she was going to have with Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is bringing Rin with him!" Kita said happily.
"Yes he is. Oh and Kita?" Saramaru said, "There is a waterfall in the back garden. I thought you might want to see it after we eat."
"I'd love that!" Kita exclaimed, "Are there deer there like at the other water fall?"
"Yes, there are many different animals. They all know me, I used to frequent the back garden when I was little, so they will be easier to get near this time." Saramaru smiled as she remembered walking through the back gardens in her younger years.
"Will they like me too?" she asked.
"Yes, they should." Saramaru replied, smiling.
"I'd like to see the water fall too." Kagome said.
"And I." Sango added.
"Me too!" Shippo exclaimed.
"Perhaps we should all just visit the waterfall." Miroku suggested.
"That sounds great." Saramaru said smiling. 'This is the most fun I've had in 50 years.' She thought.
"Let's go now!" Kita said jumping up, and forgetting about her breakfast completely.
"After you eat, Kita." Saramaru used a stern voice, but it was soft.
"Alright." she replied. The girl kneeled back down and continued to eat her meal.
Saramaru smiled. 'So innocent. So kind. She'll make a difference in the world when she grows up.' The demoness thought.
"So when exactly is Sesshoumaru coming?" Sango asked.
"Two days from now, in the afternoon." Saramaru said.
"How'd we get so far in front of him?" Miroku wondered, "We just saw him yesterday.
"He went back to his castle." Saramaru replied.
"That would make sense." Sango said nodding.
Saramaru nodded. Finished with her food, she got up. "I'm going to go to the stables, to make sure the animals are fed. If anybody wants to come, then lets go." Saramaru said.
"I'm coming too!" Kita said getting up and following.
Saramaru walked towards the stables, which lay on the side of the palace. When they got closer, they could hear neighing, and banging against wood. Saramaru walked through the stable doors, and all of the sudden it was quiet.
"Look at all the horses!" Kita exclaimed, her eyes going wide.
"There are a few here you don't want to go near without me though, alright? The two black ones over there are nasty, and won't hesitate to rip off your fingers. The rest are good. Especially the miniature ones. They pull the two people carriages around." Saramaru walked over to a small pen, which had 15 small horses in it. The horses heads where even with Kita's.
Kita giggled. "They're the smallest horses I've ever seen!" she said. The girl stopped to think for a second. "I've only seen a couple of horses in my life." she added.
"I love horses, so there are many of them here." Saramaru answered.
"I like horses too!" Kita said happily.
"Do you want to ride in one of these mini carriages to the back garden? It is a long walk.
"Yeah!" Kita exclaimed.
"Okay." Saramaru smiled. "Want to help me hitch them up?"
"Alright." the girl replied, "What can I do?"
"See that stable hand over there? Ask him to get three carts. And you and I will get the mini's." Saramaru said.
Kita looked at Saramaru in surprise. Then, without a word, she hid her face in the demoness's pant's leg.
"What?" Saramaru asked, slightly puzzled. Kita didn't reply, but continued to hide her face.
"Oh. You want me to come with you? The stable hand is nice." Saramaru asked. The child nodded her head.
"Ok. Saramaru took Kita's hand and walked towards the stable hand. "Cujo? Can you get three mini carriages for me please?" Saramaru asked.
The stable hand turned around to reveal a green haired, boy, about the age of twenty. He smiled, and said, "Sure. Who is this little girl?" He bent down to bring himself to eye level with Kita, and smiled warmly. Kita hid her face again in Saramaru's shirt, to shy to say anything. Cujo smiled. "She's a shy little thing, isn't she?" He laughed a lighthearted laugh. "I was shy too. But then I met that black horse over there. His name is Shetan, and you can't afford to be shy around him." He smiled again.
Kita looked up at the boy. "You don't need to be shy around me, kid. I'm nice." He flashed her a smile, and chuckled. His green eyes smiled, and had 'Nice guy' written all over them.
Kita was still to shy to say anything. Her glance went from Cujo to Saramaru to the horses and then back to Saramaru.
Saramaru chuckled. "Maybe she'll talk to you some other time Cujo. The three carriages I need are Shinta's, Koltzan's, and Sierra's. Please?" Cujo nodded, and got up. Saramaru walked back to the mini horses. Grabbing a bay, a black, and a chestnut.
She pointed to the chestnut, and said, "This is Sierra. She a nice little girl, so I'll let you hold her." Saramaru handed Kita Sierra's rope. "And this one," She pointed to the black one, "Is Shinta. She's feisty, so I'll let Inuyasha drive her carriage. She only listens to him." And she pointed to the bay and said, "And Koltzan, is a mellow little guy, but he likes to get speedy sometimes."
Kita petted Sierra on the nose. The pony returned the affection by rubbing her nose on Kita's cheek. Kita giggled.
"Do you want to drive Sierra's carriage?" Saramaru asked.
"I've never driven a carriage before." Kita replied.
"It's easy." Saramaru said. "I got your carriages!" Cujo called from behind them. Saramaru turned around to see Cujo pulling three small black carriages. Saramaru took the first one. It had Shinta on the side of it. She handed Cujo Koltzan, and pulled of Shinta's halter. Putting her in the carriage, Saramaru fooled around with the buckles, till she had it tight on the muzzle, and roomy at the chest area. Shinta tossed her head, as if saying, 'Inuyasha's the only one I'll work for.'
"How do you drive a carriage?" Kita asked Saramaru.
"Here, get in the seat there." Saramaru climbed in, and motioned Kita to get in. Kita climbed into the carriage a little clumsily.
Saramaru gave Kita the reins, arranging them so that she was holding them the right way. "Now, when you want them to go, you cluck. And when you want them to slow down, you pull on the reins gently and say 'Whoa'. If you want them to go faster, you simply cluck again. Ok? You want to try, or do you want to watch me first?"
"Watch first." Kita said nodding.
"Ok." Saramaru took the reins back, and clucked, She steered towards the open door, and clucked again. Shinta broke into a smooth trot, although she tossed her head. "Oh ya, and if you want them to turn, just pull on the rein that's in the direction you want the to turn. Like this," Saramaru pulled the right rein, and sent Shinta in a tight circle. She then pulled slightly on the reins, and called out in a clear voice, "Whoa."
"You said this horse only listens to Inuyasha, right?" Kita asked.
"Yes." Saramaru eyes widen. "OH! Right. Shinta is not Sierra..." She shakes her head. "Just goes to show how smart I am. Lets go get Sierra. Cujo should have them all ready by now." She drove back towards the stable, shaking her head and muttering how far away her mind is these days.
Cujo was just finishing the tacking of Sierra as they rode in again. Saramaru got out of the carriage. "Cujo, could you please lead Koltzan and Shinta up to the palace, and have them wait outside till I get there?" Saramaru asked the stable hand.
"I would love to." With that Cujo grabbed Shinta and Koltzan's reins, and walked out. Saramaru climbed into the carriage. Kita followed her.
"You ready to try?" Saramaru asked.
"I guess." Kita replied, taking the reigns, she clucked a little and the horse began to move. Kita giggled, proud of what she had done. As they headed out of the barn, Sierra sped up just a little, excited to be outside This scared Kita a bit, but she said nothing. "Where are we going?" she asked Saramaru.
"To the palace. It's the direction were going, so that makes it easier." Saramaru replied.
Kita nodded. A few minutes later she was beginning to get the hang of driving and was enjoying it. Saramaru smiled. She could tell the girl was having fun, and was happy that Sierra was behaving.
Kita stopped the carriage right outside the palace. "I did good!" she announced happily.
"You did great! Now lets go get the others." Saramaru jumped out of the carriage, and tied Sierra by the other horses. Kita jumped out of the carriage and followed the demoness.
"Everybody ready to go to the back garden?" Saramaru asked as she walked into the dining room.
"Yes!" Kita said excitedly, "And we're going to ride in carriages!"
"Is that right?" Kagome asked
"Yes!" the girl exclaimed.
"So, let's go! I can hear Shinta neighing." Saramaru said, smiling.
"Shinta..." Inuyasha repeated, "Sound familiar."
"You might remember when you see her." Saramaru said. "Come on!" And with that, she walked back outside.
Kita followed her and the others followed the child.
When Saramaru got outside, she turned around to face everyone. "Inuyasha has to go with Shinta. She only likes him. And Kagome and Shippo can go with him, since Shinta's is stronger than Koltzan. Koltzan can take Sango and Miroku, and I'm assuming Kilala is just going to go where Sango is. Kita and I will take Sierra, the least strong of them all. Now, Inuyasha and Miroku, you both know how to drive a carriage right?" Saramaru said.
"Of course Lady Saramaru." Miroku said nodding.
"Inuyasha? What about you?" Saramaru asked.
"Feh." he replied, "I don't but it's gotta be easy."
"It can also be dangerous." Kagome replied, "I know how. I'll drive."
"But- but!" Inuyasha stuttered.
"Kagome, can we see what Inuyasha can do?" Saramaru pleaded, an amused look in her eyes.
"Alright." Kagome said. She, Inuyasha, and Shippo climbed into carriage. Inuyasha took the reigns and snapped them. Shinta also snapped into gear. Kagome screamed and grabbed onto Inuyasha, who smirked. Shippo was holding onto Kagome's head for dear life.
"Inuyasha, turn her to the left. And make her trot." Saramaru called.
Inuyasha pulled back on Shinta's reins, a little too hard. The horse reared, making Kagome scream again and hold on tighter.
"More GENTLE Inuyasha!" Saramaru called out.
The hanyou tried again, this time it was gentle. The horse stopped. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome, who's face was white. "You're not scared are you?" he asked.
"Inuyasha, I said make her trot, not make her stop." Saramaru was intent on him getting this right. "Kita could show you how with Sierra if you want."
Inuyasha glared at the little girl who smiled back at him innocently. "And when did she learn how to drive a carriage?" he asked.
"Just today. She did great." Saramaru said. Kita's grin was growing bigger and so was Inuyasha's scowl.
"Inuyasha, get MOVING." Saramaru called out.
Inuyasha started the carriage again. The speed was fast, but not as fast as before. Shippo settled in Kagome's lap. The miko in question had let go of Inuyasha, but her face was still visibly pale.
"That is a pace, not a trot." Saramaru exclaimed.
"Well it seems to suit Inuyasha." Miroku said, "Lady Sango, would you like me to drive you to our destination?"
"I guess that would be nice." Sango replied. The two got into their carriage
"Kita, do you want to drive?" Saramaru asked.
"You drive so we can catch up with Inuyasha-sama!" Kita said, climbing into the carriage.
"Ok." Saramaru grinned as she climbed into the carriage. She clucked, and soon they where off at a gallop, Sierra throwing her head. They caught up with Inuyasha in no time, and went shooting past him.
"HEY!" Inuyasha yelled. With a snap of the reigns, they were catching up. Kagome was clutching at Inuyasha again. And Sango and Miroku were traveling at a comfortable pace behind both carriages
Sierra threw her head up. Cujo had been working her, and she was ready to show how strong she had gotten. After that her head went down, and her pace increased incredibly. Saramaru smiled. 'Someone is willing.' She thought.
Kita had been enjoying the fast paced ride up until the carriage rode over a big bump. After almost falling out of the carriage, Kita did what Kagome was doing, clung to the driver.
Saramaru looked at Inuyasha. He looked quite happy. 'Probably about Kagome clinging to him.' Saramaru thought with a smirk.
"Are we almost there?" Kita asked.
"Almost." Saramaru replied. She asked Sierra for another burst of speed. Sierra took the extra rein, and increased her speed. Kita scootched closer to Saramaru, praying she wouldn't get thrown off the carriage next time they went over a bump. Saramaru quickly pulled Kita into her lap. On her lap, Kita felt much safer and she relaxed a bit. Sierra was slowly losing speed, and Shinta was just keeping a steady pace, here black coat wet with sweat.
'You look pretty happy, kitty ears.' Saramaru thought to Inuyasha.
'Don't you start calling me that too' the hanyou shot back.
'I'm sorry. How about Mr. Kitty ears?' Saramaru thought laughing in her head.
Inuyasha growled at her. 'Stop it!' he insisted.
'Fine fine! I'm sorry! But um, you might want to know there's a lake ten feet away...' Saramaru thought as she pulled Sierra to a stop.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed, "STOP GROWLING AT SARAMARU AND LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING!" Shippo was smart enough to abandon ship before the horse ran strait into the knee-deep water.
Saramaru laughed. This was too good. She didn't have to miss having fun tricking Inuyasha, now she just had to do so.
There was the sound of a very angry Kagome's SIT and a splash of water. Kita laughed.
'Lady Saramaru. Satan has gotten out. He is around the back garden. Be careful!' Saramaru heard Cujo's voice. Her eyes widened. "Nobody make fast movements." She called out, slowly looking around.
"Why?" Kita asked.
"Satan has gotten out." Saramaru said, so that they could all hear. "And no, not the common devil, my devil." She added.
"Your devil?" Miroku repeated, "Are we talking about a real devil or an animal with an extremely bad temper?"
"A huge black animal with an extremely bad temper." Saramaru said.
"Is it a horse?" Kagome asked, leading Shinta out of the water.
"Yes. And he's here. I suggest you sop any and all movement." Saramaru said slowly.
Kita clung to Saramaru. Inuyasha stayed face first in the water. Kagome stopped in mid step.
Just then, they heard a crash, and birds flew out of a thicket of trees on the opposite side of the lake. A huge black horse stepped out. It stood there, observing it's surrounding's. Then, it let out a loud scream, and charged into the middle of the lake. Everyone stayed where they were.