Chapter 17-One Too Many Questions
It was some time in the march when Inuyasha gave the order for the army to rest as they stopped to gain their strength. Though they were nearly at Tsubaki's castle the weather was unbelievably hot at that moment and the armor was not helping him or his troops at all. Kagome along with Miroku, Shippo, and Kikyo decided to find out a little more about Inuyasha by asking one of his proud soldiers other then Shinn about Inuyasha and why they were all so loyal to him. "Can I ask you a small question?" said Kagome in a sweet innocent sounding voice to one of the soldiers who was resting on a rock as he took off his helmet.
"Depends on the question...little girl. What exactly is it that you want to talk to me about?" said the soldier in a tired, but still strong toned voice.
Kagome held back the urge to throw a fit when the soldier called her "little girl" because her objective outweighed her personal feelings at the moment. "Oh well it's nothing too big it's just that me and the other just wanted to ask you a few questions about Inuyasha. Is that all right?" said Kagome in a in the most innocent sounding voice she could produce from her lungs.
"You're asking me a question...involving multiple questions? Is this some kind of a sick joke mortal?" said the demon soldier in a suspicious tone.
"No! It's just that...were Inuyasha's friends and since he left us and up till now he seems different. We were hoping you would have some answers as to what Inuyasha was like when you served under him and why you still do? Stuff like that," said Kagome in a very defensive to offensive manner.
The demon soldier eyed Kagome with a suspicious look while the others were looking on behind her carefully to see his response. "I suppose I could answer a few questions. But only a select few and if I don't like the questions I hear then this conversation is over and I'll report this to General Inuyasha. Understand?" said the soldier as he finished setting the ground rules.
Kagome nodded in approval as Miroku and the others walked over to hear what the soldier had to say about Inuyasha. "So what was Inuyasha like?" said Kagome getting started on her questions.
"First off my name is Ryoushin and I have fought beside General Inuyasha in over 60 bloody battles in two out of the four different lands. Whatever I tell you about General Inuyasha it is out of respect for him and his friendship with all of you. If you try to use this against him in anyway I will personally make sure you pay dearly for it," said a semi-threat sounding Ryoushin.
"We understand Ryoushin we are just worried about Inuyasha that's all and we feel that if we understand him more we can help him later," said Miroku who was trying to sound convincing.
"You cannot fool me so easily holy man. I saw General Inuyasha with the woman that was once of your affection that is now his mate. I will not ask any questions if they come from you monk...only the little girl," said Ryoushin who stared at Miroku and then back to an angry Kagome who hated being called that.
"Look can you just tell us about Inuyasha. What was Inuyasha like when you were with him on and off the battlefield?" said Kagome whose patience was clearly becoming thin.
Ryoushin looked at Kagome for a moment before answering her question. "In all my life I never met anyone like General Inuyasha before. On the battlefield he always seemed so incredibly strong, so powerful, and in my opinion...I consider him to be the Demon God of War when it comes to battle. However, when the battles were over and we had won the day and land that went with it he always seemed as if he lost a piece of himself on that day and on particular battlefields," said Ryoushin as he remembered those days as if they were yesterday.
"Lost a piece of himself?" said Shippo surprised by Ryoushin's words in talking about Inuyasha.
"Yes little fox. There were sometimes when I saw General Inuyasha after a battle that made me think that I was a solider under the command of a dead man walking. The way general walked, talked, and acted after every battle was that of either a very old man or that of...a walking corpse. All those that were severely wounded he picked off the ground or ordered us too and saved them from death whether they were the enemy or his fellow soldiers in arms. It was as if General Inuyasha thought that he could at least try and redeem himself in some way for killing so many. It's like he told his mate Sango when they were in the castle when they made a deal for her to see Kohaku 'I'm a sinner on the battlefield and a saint to everyone else' heheheh," said Ryoushin with a sarcastic laugh as he stared out at the nothingness as he remembered seeing Inuyasha traveling back to Tsubaki's castle with several wounded soldiers on his back and the blank look on his face as if the life had been sucked out of him.
"Ryoushin are you all right you spaced out for a moment?" said Shippo who waved a hand in front of the soldiers eyes till he snapped out of it.
"I'm sorry I was...remembering something extremely disturbing that I witness thatI had buried in the back of my head for so long I thought I forgotten it. I was wrong. What other questions do you have for me?" said Ryoushin.
"Were you always a soldier Ryoushin or did Inuyasha recruit you like Tsubaki did with him?" said Kikyo out of the nowhere.
No priestess of clay and former holder of General Inuyasha's heart. I was never a soldier at first for I was once and I guess I still am...a family man at heart. All of us here are family men who have wives and children that we hold dear to our heart as we fight for their future," said Ryoushin who let out a small smile as he remembered his family.
"A family man? You have a family and yet you let yourself be recruited by Inuyasha to fight for a worthless cause," said Kikyo who couldn't believe what she had heard.
At that moment however, after she gave a response to what Ryoushin had said about him being a family man the soldier snapped into a gaze of pure furry. The demon soldier dashed forward, grabbed Kikyo by the throat, and raised her into the air getting the attention of everyone in the army, including Inuyasha who saw it go down. "Listen to me very carefully dead priestess. I fight beside General Inuyasha because of my family and for what we believe in. It is a belief that my family as well as the families of every soldier here as well believe in so deeply that we have fought and killed for. General Inuyasha has given us a chance to realize our dream so that our loved ones would have a chance to live without fear. Without the General showing us the potential for our dream of becoming a reality our families would to have to worry about someone coming for them in the night. Someone to take their lives because of what they are or what they could become later on in life," said Ryoushin as he increased his grip on Kikyo's throat.
"Ryoushin! Release the priestess at once," said Inuyasha as he walked up to his loyal solider waiting for him to comply with the command.
Reluctantly, but ever so slowly Ryoushin lowered Kikyo and released his grip on her throat before taking several steps back. He then turned to face Inuyasha and kneeled before the half-demon General who was not too pleased with him. "Forgive me General Inuyasha for my display of unnecessary force on a fellow ally. It was wrong for me to engage her like that and I dishonored you in the process. However, in my defense I was not about to have the priestess call our belief of a sanctuary for full and half demons as well as humans a worthless cause. Not when it we have all spent so much time fighting for it beside you sir," said Ryoushin who awaited a deadly blow from Inuyasha for trying to defend his actions.
The attack on the demon soldier never came; instead Inuyasha put a hand on Ryoushin's shoulder as he kneeled down to the soldier's level and merely smiled at him. Ryoushin couldn't believe it as he stared at Inuyasha and the smile Inuyasha was giving him. It was a smile of understanding as well as forgiveness. "It's all right Ryoushin. There have been sometimes where I've wanted to do that, but I was restrained by my morals...that and a magic enhanced necklace was an insult to injury," said Inuyasha as he looked from Kikyo to a surprised Kagome over the fact he looked at her with such an angry scowl on his face.
"That's not fair. You're saying this is our fault and not Ryoushin's even though he is the one who attacked Kikyo," said Kagome trying to intimidate Inuyasha like she had before.
Unfortunately for Kagome she didn't have the necklace to call upon to back up her usual ranting and lecture to Inuyasha. "I suggest you watch your mouth Kagome...and mine considering you'll find yourself out numbered by my army and myself. You no longer have that necklace to restrain me and I know longer care what happens to you. The ONLY reason I keep you around is to stop our mutual enemy that is Tsubaki. However, if you or any of the others provoke any my soldiers and tell them that our belief in a perfect sanctuary is a worthless cause I'll kill you myself. Understand?" said Inuyasha in a dark voice that sounded all too familiar.
All Kagome and the others could do at that moment was just nod their heads out of fear of being killed by Inuyasha and his army. "I think we better move out now general," said Shinn who saw that the stress and heat were starting to get to Inuyasha considerably.
"Yes you're right Lieutenant Shinn were starting to loose track of time. Is everyone rested enough to move out?" said Inuyasha looking over his troops who all gave a nod with a look of eagerness to fight.
Inuyasha smiled and they all began to march again with Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, and Kikyo having a look on their face of fear of what Inuyasha said echoing in their heads. Kilala was now beside Inuyasha in her more transformed state and was purring somewhat affectionately towards him. Possibly over the fact that he had fallen in love with Sango who just happened to be her mistress. In any case Inuyasha patted her head with equal affection as they marched to the Tsubaki, her castle, and the enemy army. When they were nearly at the castle they found an army their waiting for them with Sesshomorru out in front with Tokijin in hand. Almost immediately every soldier of Inuyasha's drew their weapons ready to fight this foe before them, but Inuyasha raised his hand for them to lower their weapons. They responded somewhat reluctantly as Inuyasha drew Tetsuigia and walked over to Sesshomorru who just stared at Inuyasha with his emotionless face. "Hello Sesshomorru. You're looking rather well for yourself since the last time I saw you," said Inuyasha in a calm voice.
"I could say the same about you too Inuyasha, my little brother. I also sense something has changed in you and that the evil that you once commanded in your heart has been removed. Totosai explained everything to me about the black pit that consumed your heart in darkness and how Tenseiga help remove the evil that was the pit from your heart after ourfight with each other," said Sesshomorru.
"Just because the evil was removed from my heart Sesshomorru doesn't mean I have lost my edge. In fact...I think the edge I have now is even stronger then before now that the evil from the pit has been removed. That and...I've found the love of my life that at the moment is unfortunately not able to be here to join me in battle," said Inuyasha with a wicked smile on his face Sesshomorru remembered all too well.
"Love of your life you say?" said Sesshomorru who looked and noticed the demon slayer was not their.
"Yeah she's a feisty that one. She may be human, but trust me from someone with experience...she's got A LOT of fire in her that's worthy of being called a demon," said Inuyasha whose smile increased even more.
As Inuyasha said these words Kagome turned red with jealousy and Miroku was forced to plug Shippo's ears since he was too young to understand. "I'll take your word for it. In any case Inuyasha I've come to assist you in taking down Tsubaki and I wanted to tell you before the fighting started," said Sesshomorru who cracked a small smile.
"That's good to hear my brother. Shall we get started?" said Inuyasha who still kept his smile where it was before.
"Yes," said Sesshomorru as he and Inuyasha along with both their armies marched till the bottom of the castle's large walls could be seen.
"You have a plan my brother? Because if you do I suggest you tell me before I execute mine," said Inuyasha looking at Sesshomorru as he slightly turned his head to look at his older brother.
"I'll follow your lead and plan Inuyasha as will my men in my name. The rest I leave to you and your men...general," said Sesshomorru with a smile when he said "general".
"Thank you Sesshomorru that very brotherly of you," said Inuyasha releasing a small laugh.
"Don't get used to it my little brother, this is a one time deal so enjoy it while you can," said Sesshomorru who didn't turn his head to face Inuyasha.
Inuyasha ignored the meaning behind Sesshomorru's words and turned to face his mighty soldiers who were ready to fight for their general. "At long last fellow warriors the Silver Devil has come back to his second home...to kill. ARE YOU READY?" said Inuyasha as he stared at his troops who stood at attention.
"YES SIR GENERAL!" said all the demon soldiers at once as they readied their weapons for war.
"THEN FIGHT! AND UNLEASH THE DOGS OF WAR!" said Inuyasha as he pointed his sword at the castle as he and his men charged at the walls of the castle.
(A/N: A little corny I'm sure, but it leads up to the few remaining chapters left. Please review I really need your feedback on this! Also next chapter Gore VS Inuyasha. Who will win and how? The results may surprise you.)