Chapter Five
RamblingPhilosopher: Do you really want to know? Lol, well, I can't tell you that, because in all honesty, I don't even know yet. I'm just kind of going with it, because in my mind, I can't see to the end yet. I'm sorry I can't answer you question, thank you for leaving me a review though.
lil-kag0m3: I should really apologize to you, please forgive me for not updating on time. Finals are this week, and my grades really could use the help, so my mom's been on me to study up for them, so I haven't been able to get to a computer for more than a few minutes. I hope that this chapter and chapter six is an ok make up for being so late. Thank you for another review! Let me know how these two chapters are, please.
EternalAffliction: Well, you don't find out too much in this chapter about that, but I promise things will become clearer as the fic goes on. Good to hear from you, hope you enjoy these next chapters.
Kalei: Welcome to the review responses for Across A Land, Kalei! Sessho-maru is kind of doing his own thing, but that will unfold as we go on :wink: I'm glad you like Kagome and Koga, I was trying to make a little more of a relationship with those two than there is in the series, how am I doing? Thank you for reviewing all of my previous chapters, that means a lot that you would take time out to do that! I loved reading your reviews too, they were talking about things going on, not just that you liked it. I hope some of your questions were answered from you previous reviews? If not, review or email me and I'll answer if I can! Ok, thank you for all of your reviews, and I hope to hear from you again!
Disclaimer: I own Hokori and Mayoka, but Rumiko Takahashi owns all of the Inu-Yasha gang, ok?
Hey everybody, I want to apologize on the wait for this chapter. I had finals this week, and I needed to find a way to dig my Algebra II grade out of the center of the earth, so I turned to studding my science. Lol, I'm joking, but that is why this is so late, I hope that two chapters at once is enough of a make up, please read and review! Ok, enjoy chapters five and six…..
Mayoka's eyes were growing heavy as Hokori flew in a circle again. They had followed the youkai below them to a forest, where he had lost Kagome's scent. "Hokori, come down here!" The ouji's voice echoed up, waking the child fully
"Did you find anything?" She asked as the Neko landed at his side. His dark eyes turned to her.
"No." He replied calmly, looking around. "But it's getting late; you'll need your rest."
"You mean you need to sleep too." Mayoka replied. The ouji's gazed turned back to her and she swallowed, trying to hide her fear.
"Yes…" He finally said slowly. His eyes turned to look around again. "I guess you are right. We will not stay long, so—" He turned back to the child as he heard her heartbeat slow. "May—" He stopped again as he saw her asleep. The youkai smiled lightly as he moved to Hokori's side. The wolf lifted the girl off his back so the Neko could take a break too.
"Are you doing alright, Hokori?" Koga asked softly as he laid the girl down carefully on the ground. The Neko nodded before lying down around Mayoka, resting his head on his large, soft paws. The ouji's head looked around again before sitting down, his back resting against the nearest tree trunk. Hokori was already asleep, one ear twisted unconsciously to the sounds around them.
Koga sighed lightly as his eyes rose up to the stars slightly visible through the tree leaves. Hold on, Kagome… His head lowered as he too released to sleep.
((Across A Land))
"Think Kagome."
She staggered sideways, using a tree to support herself.
"Listen to what is going on around you, use the senses you have forgotten." His voice echoed around her, yet didn't. She was lost, confused, in the dark.
Movement.
She turned toward it, and got a punch to her ribs. She gasped and tried to bend over double, but another fist connected with her jaw. She fell back, landing roughly on the ground. She tasted metallic blood in her mouth. She glared daggers at the youkai as he clearly stopped in front of her, using his poison claws as a light.
"You are not concentrating." He stated.
"No shit, how can I think straight when you attack so fast?" She growled back. A dark grin flitted across his features as he crouched down in front of her. She pulled away as his green claws reached out to her face.
"Do you think my brother will attack slow, Miko?" The glow faded as his deadly claws touched her face. Her eyes widened as his face followed.
"Sessho-maru…?" She whispered. His lips were now a breath away from hers.
"He will attack fast and hard, Kagome. The hanyou you once knew is not there anymore. His youki will not hesitate to fight dirty, when you least expect it." His voice sent shivers down her spine. She knew all that the youkai Lord said, but it scared her to hear it come from him. Her breath was ragged as he grinned again, pulling away. "Scared yet, human?" He turned away then, throwing one more hint of advice at her before disappearing into the shadows. "Get some sleep; you'll need your strength."
Kagome held her breath until her vision blurred. She bit her lip, pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her shins. For the first time in three years she lowered her head to her knees and began to sob, allowing her pent up tears to flow in rivers down her cheeks.
Sessho-maru was right, she was scared, and that scared her more than coming face to face with Inu-Yasha.
((Across A Land))
"Hey, Miroku, can you come help me up here?" Sango called from the roof of the hut closest to the main entrance of the village.
"Yeah, sure," the Houshi replied, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. He set down the hoe that he had been using to clear an old garden and moved to the ladder leading to the roof. "What are you doing up here?" He asked, moving to the Taijiya's side.
"Hold this board still." She handed the wood over as she began to hammer a nail into the board. She sat up straight as the iron disappeared. She smiled over at her companion. "This one's almost done. No more holes anywhere."
"Good." He smiled back. He hesitantly leaned forward, and noticed she did too, meeting him halfway. Their lips connected lightly at first, before becoming heated up, with Sango using her tongue and Miroku pulling her into him. They lost track of time as their hands explored the others hair, and tongues their mouths.
"Hey, Sango, there's someone here to see you." Shippo called, breaking their kiss after what seemed like hours. They quickly broke apart, a blush on both of their faces at being caught by the kit.
"Who—who is it, Shippo?" The Taijiya asked. The two humans looked down at the youkai.
"I don't know, just a bunch of kids. Will you come see them?" The child replied. The Houshi and Taijiya shared a glance before climbing down and following Shippo to the main gate.
"Sango-sama!" An older boy shouted, falling to his knees before the woman. Two girls and another boy followed. The woman blinked in surprise. The oldest slowly looked up at her silence. "You are the great Taijiya warrior Sango, ne?"
"Yes, I am the Taijiya Sango, but why have you come here?" Sango replied. The boy's head lowered in another bow.
"We thought that the Taijiya had been wiped out, but here you are." He stood up straight, coming to about the woman's shoulder. "We ask to be trained as warriors, in order to help end this reign of terror by youkai." The other three children stood up also.
"Please, Sango-sama, allow us to become your students." The oldest girl spoke up. "We will work very hard for you." She added. The youngest two nodded enthusiastically.
"I—" The Taijiya started, looking over at Miroku. He shrugged slightly. Translation: It's your decision. She turned back to the four expectant faces. "You can stay here tonight, if you need to, but I need to think about training you." She looked at the Houshi again.
"Thank you, Sango-sama." The eldest bowed his head again before he and the other three were led away by Shippo to get some food as the evening meal. The two adults turned away, moving into the almost complete hut. The others would stay in the completed hut, on the other side of the village.
The woman sighed, shaking her head as she moved to the man's chest. He smiled softly as he wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"What's wrong, my dear?" He whispered. She turned so her face was pressed into his robes.
"I don't know if I can do as they ask." She replied. "I've failed so many times before…" Her teeth grinded together. His hand began to stroke her hair softly.
"This is a new try, a new time." His voice was soft. "You wanted to rebuild the Taijiya village, won't you need more warriors to fill it?" The Houshi spoke kindly. Sango… His eyes closed as his head lifted to the heavens. He continued to stroke her hair in silence until she moved under his touch. "Sango?" He questioned, looking down at her.
"You're right, it's a new time." Her face was alight with a smile as her wet eyes looked up at him. "Please…hold me, kiss me, love me." She leaned up on her tip toes to press her lips to his. He pulled her to him, and she followed him to the ground. His tongue explored her mouth, memorizing every crevasse as he went. She fought back, her own tongue chastising him for not paying enough attention to her.
His lips slowly began to trace their way from her now swollen red lips to her jaw line, up to her ear, where his teeth began to nibble lightly on the flesh. His hands massaged her shoulders and down her arms, while her fingers explored the best way to undo his robes.
He stopped, slowly looking up at her. "Is this what you want?"
"Yes, Miroku." She breathed as he stroked her stomach. "I love you…I want to be with you…forever…if you'll have me."
"Sango…" He reached up, locking her lips in a deep kiss once again. He slowly pulled back. "I love you too, and I would be honored to have you by my side for all eternity." His words tickled her face. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What?"
"Since the moment I laid eyes on you, I fell in love with everything about you."
"Oh, Miroku…" She pulled him back down to her, as his hands discovered where the buttons were to get rid of the Taijiya's armor.
((Across A Land))
He had taken a short cut, by-passing the forest, and now the scent was gone. He growled loudly as he turned back slightly, his eyes searching the outer line of trees. Where in the hells had the bastard gone, and Kagome with him?