Chapter Eight
lil-kag0m3: Lol, yes, I had a package of Zebra Cakes that I was eating while I wrote, so I decided to share with whoever reviewed. I'm just original like that. But anywho, thank you for the review, and complement, you really think I'm talented? That's awfully nice of you. Here is chapter eight for you, enjoy.
RamblingPhilosopher: Thank you for the review, and here is the next update, indulge.
Alohamorayourass: Alright, as for the Kagome pairing, I don't know myself yet, it was originally supposed to be one thing, but then the characters took over, and the plot changed, so I am just going chapter by chapter. When I know what will happen, you will know. Sorry bout that. I am honored to be on your favorites list, as soon as you put me on there, thank you. I hope this chapter helps with the non-killing you thing, please enjoy, and thank you for your review.
iNuQTpIe: Thank you for your review, I'm glad you like my fic. Chapter eight is now presented…
stand alone complex: Ok, first of all, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME! OMG, I totally freaked out with your first three sentences. But I was better when I read on. I'm glad you like it, even if you like to give me a heart attack first. Here is another chapter, be happy. Thank you for the review.
EternalAffliction: Well, as for Koga, I'm not really sure about that, either, he seems to kind of do his own thing, despite my wishes. I thank you for the review, and hope you enjoy chapter eight.
Kalei: Ya, I love Zebra Cakes. Koga is doing well? Good, just what I was hoping for. I don't write him in my fics very often, so I'm kind on new to that. Yes, I do try to update every Friday, unlike my past fics, but I have been doing well. Yes again, Sessho-maru will play a large part in Kagome's training in becoming "strong enough to face Inu-Yasha." I will try to get more into the actual training a little later on in the chapters, but for now it is just mentioned. Thank you once again for the review, and so in depth! Enjoy the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Sessho-maru, Koga, Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Shippo, Rin, and Jaken. Anyone else, as well as this plot line, belongs to me. I have no money, don't sue me!
"Sensei, are you sure this is the right size for me?" Kyouko, the oldest male of the group asked, fidgeting with the skin tight armor of the Taijiya. The woman smiled, nodding.
"It's just right for you, Kyouko." She turned to Hana, the older girl. "You look good in that." Sango's heart swelled at the young woman in front of her, she had already begun to fill out the armor. The girl blushed at the comment.
"Thank you…" She muttered as she too began to fidget with the cloth covering her body. The Taijiya knelt as she turned to the two younger children of the group.
"Try not to think about it, let the armor become a part of your body, just move naturally." The woman said as she fixed Kibou's buttons. The younger boy stood tall, not moving at all. Sango laughed lightly as she moved to Mitsukai, the youngest of all four.
"Ok, now that you have your armor, you'll need a weapon to work with." The woman said as she got to her feet. The new students moved after her, following to a shed. Sango stopped, forcing herself to take a deep breath, before reaching out and pulling the doors open. The four behind her gasped in awe at the rows of Taijiya weapons lining the inside.
"Did you make all of these?" Kyouko asked, stepping up even to his sensei.
"No, these were made by the other Taijiya before they were killed." She didn't say anything else, stepping into the shed. Hana stopped her friend before he could follow.
"Watch you tongue! Do you want her to change her mind?" The girl hissed.
"Oh, mind your own business." He pulled out of her grip, moving into the shed. Hana sighed as she shook her head, following the other four into the shadows.
((Across A Land))
The youkai ouji stopped, his nose lifting to the wind again. Her scent was back, and she was on the move, the scent here was already old. Above him, Hokori roared, obviously catching his master's scent too.
"What is it, Koga!" Mayoka called down to him. The ouji growled under his breath before turning to look up at the child.
"I've got her scent." He replied. The human girl smiled at him.
"Let's hurry then!"
The ouji couldn't agree more. He lowered his head and kicked up a whirlwind, taking off in the direction of the Miko's scent.
((Across A Land))
He stopped, his senses going wild. He could smell her again. Her scent was even fresh, but it was moving. She and his brother were still moving toward the Western Lands.
She could be in trouble.
It doesn't matter. She doesn't matter.
It's my brother. Kagome's with my youkai brother.
And what are you?
Silence.
He growled in anger, letting go, as his body dug up bark off of the tree branch. He was no more than a red flash as he got back on the trail to find his blood and Miko.
((Across A Land))
Kagome's eyes widened, despite her attempt not to stare. The Inu youkai Lord's castle rose in front of her. It was huge, rivaling some of the buildings in her own world, or the world that used to be hers. She couldn't tear her eyes off of the castle.
It had four tall towers, with at least ten windows in each. The lower, main level, stretched back, out of her vision, into the setting sun. The walls were made of grey stone, matching the twenty or so foot entrance wall Kagome now stood inside.
"Are you coming?" Sessho-maru's cold voice echoed back to her. The Miko's eyes snapped back into focus as she blinked. She nodded silently as she followed the youkai's retreating back.
The castle echoed as the main door scraped across the floor; it was completely silent, or at least, it was. "Sessho-maru-sama!" A young girl called, running up to the youkai.
"Rin." The name was short off of his lips. The girl continued to smile as she stopped at his side, lowering her head in a bow.
"Welcome home, my Lord." Rin had grown up since the last time Kagome had seen her, but that was to be expected. It had been three years after all. How old would that make the girl then? 13? A young teenager?
"Where is Jaken?" Sessho-maru had walked off again.
"Jaken-san is out back, training." Rin turned to follow the youkai, but stopped as she seemed to realize that someone else had entered the castle with the youkai. "Kagome-chan, is that you?" She whispered. The Miko tried to smile as she nodded.
"Hello again, Rin."
The girl glanced at her Lord's retreating back and then turned back to Kagome. "What are you doing here? Where are Inu-Yasha and the others?"
"We've…gone our separate ways, now that Naraku has been destroyed." The woman didn't go into much detail.
"I see," Rin's head lowered slightly. "You must be hungry, come, dinner is almost done." She smiled at the woman, again raising her head.
"That you, dinner sounds good." The two females went off to find some sustenance for what promised to be a long night.
((Across A Land))
There was a tight silence, the crackling fire the only break in the thick air. Brown eyes stared into brown eyes, while bowls of food sat on the floor, long forgotten.
"May—maybe it's time for bed." A voice broke the stillness. Everyone turned to look at Hana, who flinched under the scrutiny.
"Yes, Hana is right, bed you two." Kyouko added, getting to his feet. The older two ushered the younger two out. Shippo didn't move, his arms crossed over his chest, his head lowered in thought. Sango and Miroku kept silent.
"What is it?" The Taijiya finally asked. The youkai slowly raised his head, turning his deep brown orbs up to the woman.
"Those four, they've made me start to think. What if the village were open to others like them? What if more children orphaned by the wars, famine, and disease were allowed to take shelter here, having the option to train as a Taijiya warrior? It could save many lives, and maybe even build the village back up to its former glory."
The adults stared silently at the kitsune for a minute. "Shippo…" Sango tried, reaching a hand out to him. His eyes filled with question at her tone. "That sounds like a good idea, but what about food, clothing, even shelter? I don't know if we could handle all of those needs." There was silence again at the woman's words.
"Well, it was just a suggestion." The youkai got to his feet. "I'll see you two in the morning." He pushed his way out of the hut, allowing the cloth door to flutter closed after him. A light grin danced across his lips as his sensitive ears picked up footsteps behind him. So the children hadn't gone to bed as they had said they would.
The boy stopped, but didn't turn around. "Kyouko, Hana, I thought you and the others were going to bed." He waited for their response. The eldest was the first to respond.
"Shippo, don't be angry with us, we just wanted to make sure everything was alright. Everyone seemed off tonight." The four humans appeared at the youkai's side at Kyouko's words. The kit sighed as they all moved toward the hut they now shared.
"Everything is fine, Sango and Miroku just need to find out the best way to live a more settled life, it has been a long time for both of them since they have stayed in one spot for very long."
"I see…" Kyouko fell silent as the small group reached their hut.
"Shippo, do you think Sensei would turn away others if they came here?" Hana asked as she changed her clothes to get ready for bed. The other humans turned to look at the kitsune, waiting for his response.
"You know, Hana, I don't think she would, but I have not been in either Miroku or Sango's company in three years, things may have changed."
"Oh," the female's head and eyes lowered back to her sleeping blanket.
"Don't worry, Sango has a good heart, and I'm sure if the need arose, she would make the right decision." Shippo added with a soft smile.
((Author Notes))
Ok, thank you everyone for reading, now please review, (this goes out to everyone but my regular reviewers, I know I will be hearing from you soon. P ) Just push the little button, we all know where it is, thanks a bunch,
See you all next Friday!
Myst