Disclaimer: I do not own either Inuyasha or Rurouni Kenshin.
A/N: I have also added a section to Chapter 17, so if you haven't read it recently, you may want to reread it. (I also fixed the mistake about 'Tenken no Soujiro' in Chapter 8, I don't speak Japanese very well so thanks for pointing that out.)
Chapter 18.
Alanor moved back from the tree he had been standing behind. He had seen enough. The small island housed a massive demon population. He slipped back from the clearing and headed back toward the water. As he arrived he slowly began to change until he looked like a large sea turtle.
Alanor didn't feel relief until he was far away from the shore of the island. He got back to the mainland and shifted back into his customary shape before heading inland a couple of miles. Once there he surrounded himself in his traveling sphere of energy and rocketed off towards his camp.
Anji was meditating and Cho was cooking a few rabbits over their small fire. Anji didn't stir as he stepped into the camp and sat down exhausted.
"So how did it go?" Cho asked trying to hide his enthusiasm.
"Not good. They have some sort of fortress and it's surrounded by demons. I was nearly caught five times just getting close enough to look at it." Alanor said grumpily.
"So how are we supposed to storm the place and shut the gate?" Anji said as he finally looked up from his meditation.
"We don't. That place is too well defended. If we were to try to get in there without an army I have little doubt we would be slaughtered." Alanor said sadly.
"Well, maybe an army would be the wrong idea." Cho said seriously.
"What do you mean?" Alanor asked.
"Well, since you don't need any of our help to get the gates closed, I can only assume that you're the only one who needs to get in." Cho said quietly.
"Yes, so what is your point?" Alanor said irritably.
"Well, we used to do some stuff like this back home. Raising armies, attacking governments, that kind of thing is what we do best. If we were to get the demons attention, maybe you could slip in and destroy the gate." Cho said finally. "We can go get the others and round up as many people as we can. Then we can attack. While the demons are fighting with us, you can slip past and seal this stupid thing."
"Do you e any idea how many lives you're talking about wasting." Alanor said in annoyance.
"That is the way of war, Alanor-sama." Anji said seriously. "If people throw their lives away to see that a goal is achieved, it is not exactly a waste."
"Shishio understood this. He knew that when you wage a war you have to make sacrifices. That's why people don't like wars." Cho said as he shrugged.
Alanor thought about it for a moment. If the swordsmen COULD cause a big enough distraction, he could get by. He might have to have Kagome's help, but could probably get her past the demons as well. Most of these swordsmen had finished their place in history. He could use their help and he believed they would probably understand the sacrifice that was being asked of them.
"We'll head back then. Once we get back we'll start discussing how to plan our attack." Alanor said finally. "Let's just hope it isn't for nothing."
Kenshin watched Yahiko sparring with Inuyasha. Granted it was more along the lines of Yahiko swinging madly at Inuyasha while Inuyasha looked on, but it was good practice for Yahiko.
Kenshin had also noticed Sesshomaru watching the training with intense interest. At least he figured it was intense interest since the demon hadn't moved from the spot he had been sitting for hours and hadn't stopped staring at Inuyasha. Finally, Kenshin went to sit down beside the demon.
"Inuyasha is getting better." Kenshin said not really expecting to get an answer.
"Yes. His sword style looks a lot less like that of that young boy's now." Sesshomaru said quietly. "Soon it will be time to kill him."
"Why do you want to kill Inuyasha?" Kenshin asked seriously.
"He is a filthy half breed who is an embarrassment to my family. What my father was thinking when he sired him is beyond me." Sesshomaru said disdainfully. "However he is powerful, and this training is making him even more so. I look forward to facing him, it promises to be a mighty battle."
"I am not sure Kagome-dono would like to see Inuyasha get killed." Kenshin said worriedly.
"What she does or does not want does not concern me." Sesshomaru said looking down at the necklace around him again. "As soon as I find someone powerful enough to remove this charm I will deal with Inuyasha."
Kenshin left the demon to his thoughts and was getting ready to send Yahiko for lunch when Master Hiko came wandering out to the clearing they were using as a training ground with Kagome in tow.
Kenshin wanted to laugh, but he didn't dare. Inuyasha didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, and Yahiko was looking at Hiko with even larger stars in his eyes.
Hiko was dressed in a fine gi and hakama that made him look like a daimyo. The clothes fit him well and he looked like he could have easily passed for a warlord with the sword at his side.
Hiko sat down and watched Yahiko and Inuyasha far a few moments before making some corrections. He then turned to Kenshin. "Kenshin, you start sparring with Inuyasha. I'm going to show a couple of basics to Yahiko and have him start doing his repetitions while you two are training."
Kagome went to bring lunch and the men quietly ate before going back to practice. Kenshin noticed that Hiko had an unopened jug of sake with him. The only two things that caused Kenshin to wonder anything about this was that first, it was opened yet, and secondly, how he'd managed to get it away from Tae.
Hiko spent the afternoon staring at the jug while Kenshin sparred with Inuyasha. Yahiko happily set out doing to move that Hiko had shown him over and over again trying to perfect it.
The sun had started to sink low in the sky when the man rode up to the group. He was on horseback and looked like he was a samurai. He didn't even stop as he thundered up to Hiko.
"You must be the warlord of this village." The samurai said wearily. "Gather all of your men as quickly as you can. There is an emergency. The lord of this area is engaged in a pitched battle and has sent me out to seek you. He is beset by an army and needs your help."
"Why our help?" Kagome asked innocently.
"This is the demon slayer village is it not? I was told to come here immediately. The army we are beset by is a fowl army of demon ninja!" The samurai said desperately.
Hiko turned to the man and nodded. "Return to your lord then. We'll set out first thing in the morning."
The samurai galloped away and Hiko looked at all the people gathered. "Get everyone together. We need to talk about this now."
Kenshin looked out over the people gathered in the village. Everyone had come to hear what was going on. After everyone was settled, Hiko spoke up. "The demon ninja have found us."
The gathered men and women soaked this in calmly and looked around grave. Tae was the first to speak. "What are we going to do?"
"We should probably pack up and leave here as quickly ass possible and go find another place to wait for Alanor." Hiko said gravely.
"But those men." Kagome said desperately. "They're being attacked because we are here. We can't just leave them."
"We can and should." Inuyasha snorted. "It's not our problem."
"I disagree." Sesshomaru said simply.
Everyone looked at the demon that had taken the place of Aoshi as the most silent member of their group. Inuyasha was ready to gnaw through rock.
"What, do you mean you disagree? Since when did you start caring about humans?" Inuyasha said angrily.
"I haven't. I just decided to help because you didn't." Sesshomaru said icily.
Kenshin shook his head and looked back to Hiko. "Master if it is because we are here, then this isn't something that would disrupt history by our being here. If anything, we could be disrupting history by NOT helping."
"Yes, Kenshin, I know." Hiko said calmly. "That's why I said that we SHOULD be leaving, not that it was going to be necessarily what we are going to do. If we try to run then we're going to be hunted down. We can try to keep running, but sooner or later the demons are going to catch up to us. We have to do something about them. We should be able to hold out here at least until Alanor gets back. What I am recommending is that we go to battle."
The men all started to let this sink as Kenshin thought about it. A pitched battle; he hadn't been in one for quite some time. These were demon warriors as well. He couldn't be certain they would do any better than they had in their first encounter with the demon ninjas. His blood began to race at the thought of being in a fight for his life again to defend the one he loved.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru. She was looking down and he knew what had to be running through her mind. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and nodded. It was going to be tough for everyone.
"Sango, you said that your people have armor similar to your own?" Hiko said finally.
"Yes, there should be plenty of armor left, as with the weapons." Sango said seriously.
"Then I think you need to show us where it is." Hiko said finally.
Nearly everyone got up and went to the old village armory. They began looking around trying to find armor that would fit them. Kenshin noticed that some of the men were looking at Sango, Misao, Kaoru, Kamatari, and Yahiko as they found armor that would fit them as well. Sango was giving Yahiko a suit of armor that had apparently belonged to her little brother Kohaku.
Hiko didn't say a word as he watched the five of them putting on armor and getting out weapons. Finally he shrugged into some armor that was his size. Everyone got into some armor and by the time it was over with, Kenshin watched a loosely associated group of individualistic swordsmen transform into an elite unit of demon slayers. It was an inspiring and yet terrifying thought at the same time.
Hiko looked them over and then made an announcement. "Yahiko, you and Tsubame take the children to the main hut."
Yahiko and Tsubame gathered up the girls, Rin, and Shippou and headed for the main hut with them. As soon as they were out of earshot, Hiko addressed the group. "All of you remember what Alanor said about those two. If we know it, then we have to assume the demons probably do too. We're not all going to go help in this battle. Sango, you take Kaoru, Kamatari, and Misao. You have to watch this village while we're gone. If anything looks strange, you HAVE to get those two and the children out of here."
For once, no one was arguing. Kenshin recalled his comrades during the rebellion always wanted to argue abut things until they had been forced into hiding. Mutual extinction tended to settle most arguments between the most bitter of rivals. He only needed to look at Saitoh to be reminded of that.
"What about me?" Kagome said quietly.
"I want you to stay as well." Hiko said finally. "If everything goes badly, make for the well. Try to hide in a different time if you to."
Hiko turned to the rest of the group. "We'll set out first thing in the morning. Everybody try to get some rest."
After everyone dispersed, Sanosuke headed for the main hut to go collect the girls. He couldn't help feeling a little bit like a father to the two little girls. They made his somewhat dark life a little brighter, just by their being in it. He flexed his new demon bone gauntlets and adjusted them a little bit. With luck these things would come in handy tomorrow.
Sanosuke arrived to find Kenshin, Kaoru and Megumi all at the main hut. They were all looking a little shaken at the news of a coming battle and Kaoru looked miserable about Kenshin risking himself again.
"Well, I guess we better get some sleep Kenshin. I'll get the girls." Sanosuke said getting ready to walk into hut.
"Sano, wait." Megumi called after him. "Kaoru, can you keep the girls tonight."
Kaoru looked at Megumi and then back at Sanosuke before she started blushing uncontrollably. She looked like she was ready to nod for a moment, but then shook her head. "Let's get Yahiko and Tsubame to do it."
Sanosuke looked at Kaoru blushing as she took Kenshin's arm. Kenshin looked startled and ready to protest. Suddenly something clicked in Sano's admittedly slow brain as he looked at the fox. She wouldn't look directly at him, and she was blushing as well. He didn't even think she knew HOW to blush.
"I just think you need to have a good night's sleep." Megumi said defensively. "And there have been a few things we've needed to talk about between the two of us."
Sanosuke just nodded dumbly and watched as Kaoru pulled a dumbfounded Kenshin off towards her hut to 'talk about a few things' too.
Miroku went back to his bedroll. He had done something strange tonight. He had picked out his own armor. He had fought the demon ninjas before and they had nearly killed him. Without his wind tunnel, he had to rely on his sutras and his fighting ability with a staff. He had therefore thought it wise to get some armor as well.
Sango had been looking at him ever since he donned the armor. He could only imagine how silly he must have looked. He didn't really like being in the stuff, but if it saved his life it would be worth it.
Miroku was just about to get ready for bed when Sango found him. "Miroku, can I talk to you in private?"
"Certainly Sango, what do you want?" Miroku said as he stepped away from the hut where he and Inuyasha had been staying.
"I need to show you something." Sango said mysteriously as she led him through the village. Miroku noticed that just about everyone else had turned in for the night.
Finally, they stopped in front of a large house near the center of the village. Sango stepped inside and motioned Miroku to follow. Miroku stepped in as Sango lit a lamp and led him through the house out to a small garden. It looked as if this had been where Sango had been staying.
"Miroku, I know I've never shown you this place. This is my home. This is where Kohaku and I were raised." Sango said evenly.
Miroku looked around the house. It was well appointed and was obviously a house built by a well off family. "It looks wonderful Sango."
Sango turned to Miroku and looked up into his eyes. "Miroku, you a I have been getting closer since our journeys began."
Miroku smiled. He stood there thinking about his time with Sango. For once his reminiscing about the past had caused him to forgo making a lewd comment.
Sango blushed. "Tomorrow, you'll be going off to battle and I'll be staying behind here. Miroku, this decision wasn't easy for me to reach, but the idea of losing you to the battle when I wouldn't be by your side has made me realize that I want you stay in my life. I don't want to lose you."
Miroku pulled Sango close. He had come to love the demon slayer and now the idea of losing her was a sobering thought as well. He stood there trying for once to say something reassuring instead of his usual perverted attempts to make her laugh.
Sango pushed away from Miroku and he let her go as she stepped back from him and started loosening his armor. "You're not used to this stuff. I'll have to help you with it in the morning or else it's likely to fall off of you in battle." Sango said in a business-like manner.
Miroku's eyes started to widen at the implication. "Miroku, that over there is my room." Sango said pointing. "Will you please stay with me tonight and… Will you give me a child?"
Miroku smiled again as he once again pulled Sango to him. "No."
Sango jerked away and looked up startled into Miroku's face. He put his hands to her lips before she could say a word. "What I will do his help you make OUR child."
The night had turned cold. Kagome shivered in spite of the warmth of the small fire in the middle of the room where the children were sleeping. By children she also included Yahiko and Tsubame. Yahiko looked handsome in his demon slayer armor. He had actually gone along with the announcement when he found he was going to be left behind. He didn't want to leave Tsubame.
Kagome sighed as she watched everybody headed for their huts. With a few exceptions, everyone had pretty much paired up by now. Inuyasha was sharing a hut with Miroku and in all honesty Sango was probably the only woman that no one had bothered to insist on being guarded at night.
"Worthless lecher." Inuyasha snorted as he entered the room. Kagome sat up and looked around. She was the only woman left in the room for some reason.
"What's wrong Inuyasha?" Kagome asked sleepily.
"Why is it you humans feel the need to mate before you go into battle?" Inuyasha said testily.
Kagome blushed. So that's where everybody had gone. "So Sango and Miroku?"
"They're over at Sango's old house. She took Miroku over there to 'show him something'. I don't think he'll be back tonight. That leaves me as the only person left to guard you and the rest of the children." Inuyasha groused.
"Well, I guess it's because the women really don't want to loose their men and want to have a few last moments with them before they go. They may never see them again after all." Kagome said looking up at Inuyasha. Just like I don't want to loose you.
Inuyasha moved over to sit next to Kagome. "Kagome. Can you answer me a question?"
"Sure, what do you want to know?" Kagome asked as she settled into her sleeping bag.
"Why did you put that necklace on Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha said seriously.
"You two were fighting, and it was the only way I could get you to stop." Kagome said seriously.
"Why didn't you want me to kill Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha said looking away.
"Because I don't think it's necessary to kill everybody." Kagome said seriously. "Even though you think he's your enemy he's still your brother, so I don't want you two to be fighting, especially when things are so dangerous right now. We need all the help we can get."
"So it's not because you think I'm weak?" Inuyasha asked.
Kagome sat up. "Of course I don't think you're weak Inuyasha! How could you say that?"
"It's just, that I've always been the one to protect you. I failed to protect Kikyo, and I don't want to fail you too. I hate to think of you choosing someone lese to protect you because you thought they were stronger." Inuyasha said quietly.
"Is that what all this is about?" Kagome asked incredulously trying to keep her voice down from the children. "You think I prefer Sesshomaru over you because he's stronger?"
"Isn't that why you won't let me kill Kouga?" Inuyasha said seriously.
"No Inuyasha. I don't prefer anyone over you." Kagome said suddenly sucking in her breath. She'd basically let her feelings show. Now she just hoped she wouldn't end up hurt… again.
Inuyasha turned to her and smiled. "Among dog and wolf demons, only the strongest male in the pack gets to mate."
"You're also half human, and humans mate for love." Kagome said laying her hand on his arm.
Inuyasha looked around in fear. "Kagome there are kids here." He whispered emphatically.
"That's OK Inuyasha. Just sleep here with me and keep me warm tonight. I know you're strong enough to come back to me tomorrow, no matter what the odds." Kagome said making room for Inuyasha in her sleeping bag.
Shippou rolled over and looked at Inuyasha and Kagome snuggled next to each other in her sleeping bag. "Finally!" He whispered to himself. He had wondered why Kagome had made him sleep with the other children and now he knew. Still he missed his warm spot curled up on top of Kagome. Shippou looked around until he saw Rin sleeping next to him. She looked warm.
Soujiro added another piece of wood to the fire and started shrugging out of his armor. It took him a moment before he realized that he wasn't alone. He turned around to find Misao staring at him from the doorway of the hut he had claimed as his own. She entered in and set her things down, she then came over and started to help him with his armor.
"Misao, what are you doing here?" Soujiro said shocked.
"I'm helping you with your armor silly." Misao said as she continued to undress him.
"But, why?" Soujiro said getting alarmed.
"Because I don't want your armor digging into my back while I sleep." Misao said softly. She stopped for a moment before putting her hands on Soujiro's chest. "That is, if you'll have me."
Soujiro stood there stunned for a moment. She was offering to… "Misao. I don't want it to be like this. Misao you deserve…"
Misao had placed a hand over his mouth before she kissed him. "If you say that you don't deserve someone as pure as I am, or that you're not worthy of me, I swear I'll scream. I want you Soujiro, and only you."
"It's not that." Soujiro said quietly. "I've never been with a girl Misao, and I would want more than anything for you to be the one I was with. But I'm a wanderer. What can I offer you? I want you Misao, and I love you. I couldn't do that to you. You deserve someone who could be your husband."
"I know Sou-chan. I love you too, and you've already given me something I've never really had before. You've given me your heart. That's all I've ever wanted, and all I'll ever need is to know that you me. If you want to wait until we can be married then I will wait, but tonight I want you to hold me in your arms. I want you to kiss me and make me feel loved. I want to feel that before you go." Misao said as she started to undress.
Soujiro stood there stunned as Misao took off the armor and the clothes she was wearing before getting into the futon. "Come to bed love, the night is cold and I want your warmth next to me until you have to leave tomorrow."
Tae looked around the village. Just about everybody had paired off and gone to bed for the night with varying levels of activity, from the sound of things. Aoshi and Kamatari had wandered home and Saitoh and Tokio had gone to their hut. She figured that Misao was also out hunting since she had seen her headed off after Soujiro. She sighed and went back into the hut where she had been staying. About the only being in the camp that didn't have a companion for the night was Sesshomaru, and she honestly didn't think he cared either.
The door opened and Hiko finally came inside. Tae wasn't overly surprised to see him and he didn't really say anything either as the two of them started to get ready for bed.
Tae went to the shelf and pulled down one of the jugs she had gotten out earlier. She handed it to Hiko. "Here. You'll need all the rest you can get tonight."
Hiko looked at it for a moment before setting it back on the shelf where she had gotten it. "I still have the jug you left me this morning." He said simply.
This more than his being in her hut surprised her more than anything. "How did you sleep last night?"
"It was OK." Hiko said finally. "I took me a while, but the dreams finally stopped."
"Are they that bad?" Tae asked quietly.
"Sometimes."
"Why didn't you drink what I gave you?" Tae asked, helping him out of the armor he was wearing.
"I figured as long as you were willing to help me sleep, I didn't need it." Hiko said as he finished getting ready for bed. He handed the small jug back to Tae.
Tae looked at the jug, and then popped the cork out. She drank deeply of the sake before handing the jug to Hiko. "Then I guess we should drink it to celebrate then."
"Celebrate what?" Hiko asked confused.
Tae smiled and dropped her kimono to the floor. She wasn't a shy woman, but she was blushing anyway. "Let's celebrate you finding a reason to live again." Tae said as she stepped away from her clothes to kiss Hiko before settling into the futon. "Come. We'll see how deeply we can get you to sleep tonight."
Tae wasn't the first to awaken the next morning. She'd finally fallen asleep in Hiko's arms after they'd both exhausted the sake and themselves the night before. He hadn't stirred the entire night. She had only awakened as the first rays of light had pierced the room and Hiko had pulled away from her to rise and get into his armor. Tae silently got up and dressed quickly before helping him into his armor.
There were no tearful good byes, or long declarations of love between the two of them. Tae figured that the two of them were old enough to have outgrown such childish romantic notions. Instead, there was just the silent familiarity of two people who were in essence one. Tae left the hut at the same time as Hiko. She went to the storage huts and started gathering food for the men that they could eat on the way to battle. She noticed that most of the other women were already there, doing the same.
They all quietly got the provisions together and all the women went to see off their husbands, lovers, and betrothed as they gathered together to set out for the battle. Two demons, and seven warriors turned from the women and started out into the rising sun for the battle. Tae watched them go along with the rest of the women. Some were crying, some looked brave, but they all had one thing in common. They were all worried.
Tae turned as she saw them disappear into the trees. "Come along ladies." Tae said as she busied herself straightening her kimono and starting to get things together to cook for breakfast, trying to cover the worry she had etched into her own features. "If I know Hiko and the rest of these men. They'll be back to claim what's theirs."