Chapter Fourteen
Minako Miharu: Well, thank you for not killing me over the Rin/Sessho-maru thing, I was quite worried about it. Lol, I had to put that scent between Koga and Kagome in there, it is just sooooooo him! Alright well, I've got to update this, so thanks for the review, and hope to hear from you again.
iNuQTpIe: Thanks, and I'll hold you to that.
Angela: Thank you for the review, I'm glad my writing is good enough to get you emotionally into it… though, I'm not sure if it's good that you feel sorry for Inu-Yasha or not… But anywho, hope to hear from you again.
stand alone complex: Thank you, I'm glad you thought it was great. I'm sorry this is late, but my internet was cut off all weekend, and I had no way of getting to a computer that had internet, so please forgive me. Hope to hear from you again.
EternalAffliction: Thank you for not killing me, it means a lot to me. : ) Anywho, sorry about the late update, my internet was cut off, and there was no way to get to a computer with internet, so I'm FINALLY updating now. Thank you for your review, and please enjoy chapter fourteen.
AN: Ok, if you haven't already read, this chapter is late because my internet was cut off for some unknown reason this weekend, and I had no access to another, so please forgive me, I truly had no control over this problem…Anywho, on with the story…enjoy…
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inu-Yasha and Co. not me, ok? Anyone else does belong to me though, so please don't steal the few things in life that are mine! Lol…
Kagome blinked as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. Spring had finally come, which meant she could leave the castle. The newly twenty-one-year old took a deep breath of the cool, crisp morning air. She stood straight, the bow and quiver of arrows tight against her muscled back. Her sword rested at her side, its sheath tied securely to her belt. The dagger that hid at her left ankle was cool against her flesh.
"Kagome-san!" A female voice called. The Miko smiled as she turned around to look down the hall behind her. A girl and a neko ran toward her, the child waving and laughing.
"Mayoka, you know Jaken gets angry when you two run through the castle." The woman scolded with a smile. Mayoka and Hokori came to a stop in front of her, the child panting and smiling.
"But we're leaving today, ne? So what does it matter?" The eleven-year old laughed.
"I've still got enough time to knock some sense into you, girl!" The green toad youkai shouted as he appeared from a nearby door. Mayoka faked a screech and hid behind Kagome, holding back her laughter.
"No way, you're not bringing me into this!" The Miko said, jumping sideways, allowing Jaken a full view of the child. A fake gasp of surprise came from Mayoka.
"Kagome-san!"
"Nintou—" The little youkai was cut off as Mayoka knocked him over the head with her sheathed sword. The child began to laugh again as Jaken fell to the ground, his eyes swirling.
"Mayoka, that was rude, you should listen to what Jaken says, remember how much you've broken running around?" Kagome said sharply. The girl's head lowered slightly as her smile faded.
"Gomen, Kagome-san."
"Don't worry about it, Mayoka, he deserved it." Rin put in, walking up to the little group standing just outside the open door of the castle.
"You two…" The Miko sighed as she shook her head. "You've become a bad influence on my little girl, Rin."
"Why, thank you." The younger girls began to laugh again.
"What is so funny?" Sessho-maru's voice froze the air around them. All eyes turned the youkai Lord.
"Sessho-maru-sama." Rin's change to formality was instantaneous. She bowed deeply as the youkai stopped in front of them. The Lord looked down at Jaken's still form.
"I see." His voice held no real emotion. His golden eyes slowly turned back up to the Miko standing upright in front of him, no hint of hidden fear in her gaze. Both of them knew that she could hold her own against him now. "You are ready?" He asked.
Kagome bowed her head slightly in a nod. "Yes, we will be leaving for sure today."
"Don't get yourself killed."
A dark grin pulled at her lips. "I wasn't that easy to kill to begin with."
Sessho-maru flashed in front of her, his clawed hand shooting out to wrap around her throat. The Miko continued to smile as only her right hand snapped up to grab his wrist, quickly twisting the youkai away from her. He twisted his hand in hers again, grabbing her wrist and turning back to face her. The woman broke his grasp and flipped away from him. She crouched low to the ground, the grin still on her face.
"Kagome-san!" Mayoka whined, running to the Miko's side. Hokori walked calmly over to his master. "Do you two ever stop fighting!" The child scolded. Kagome straightened up, her eyes never leaving Sessho-maru.
"We're not fighting, just playing around." Her eyes lowered to the girl. "Are you ready to go?"
"Our doors are always open to you." Rin cut in. The Miko smiled at the teen.
"Thank you, Rin." She and Mayoka climbed onto Hokori's back. "Tell Jaken I say good-bye."
"Me too!" The youngest called, waving as Kagome told Hokori to take off. The Miko watched as Rin smiled and waved, while Sessho-maru turned away and reentered his castle.
Her mind turned to what lay ahead as Hokori turned toward the Northern Lands. It was time to get down to business.
((Across A Land))
Sango closed her eyes tighter as crying broke into her dreams. Miroku was supposed to have put him back to sleep.
"Sango?"
How could she have known?
"Yes, Miroku?" The Taijiya asked with her eyes still closed and head buried into her blankets.
"Could you give me a hand, dear?" His voice was drowsy. "Please?" The Houshi's voice came again.
"I'm coming." She got up, rubbing at her eyes as she made her way to her husband's side. A smile lit up the woman's face as her gaze fell on the still screaming baby boy. "Hey, hey, baby." She took the child from Miroku's arms. "Hush now, everything's alright." She bounced and rocked him lightly. The cries quieted, and the small mouth and hands began to reach for her breast.
"Ho do you do that?" Miroku asked with a sigh as he sat back down on the futon.
"Tori just likes me better is all." Sango replied with a grin as she allowed her child to nurse, moving next to the Houshi again. The man's eyes lightened as his hand rose to stroke the baby's head softly. There was a calm silence until Tori decided he was done.
"Can you believe he's going to be two months old tomorrow?" Sango asked as the three of them lay down again. The Houshi's arm wrapped around her back as Tori was laid between them.
"You mean later today." Miroku laughed; she quickly joined in.
"Yes, later today then." They fell silent again.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." She replied just as quietly. They slowly leaned together, their lips connecting softly, lovingly. "Try to get some sleep." She smiled as they finally pulled apart.
"And you as well." Their eyes closed simultaneously.
((Across A Land))
Kagura grimaced as she got out of bed, the now sixteen-month-old Aijou clapping his hands in her ears. "Mama, mama!" The boy shouted with a laugh. The shadow forced a smile as pain ripped through her chest.
"Yes, Aijou?" She asked, walking to the bucket of water just beside the exit of her hut. Miroku and Sango had begun work on fixing up a hut from the village as soon as she had agreed to stay with them. She in turn cooked for the group until she was well enough to help with work around the village.
"Hungry!" The boy added, tottering to his mother's side. Kagura smiled as she cupped her hands filled with water, and moved them to her parched lips. "Hungry, mama!" This time his little fist pulled on her kimono.
"Ok, ok!" She laughed as she crouched to his level. "Let's go see who else is up, and I'll make breakfast." Her fingers reached out to tickle his exposed stomach before lifting the child into her arms.
"Food, food!" Aijou clapped his hands again. Kagura pushed out of the door and began to walk toward the center of the village.
"Quiet now." The woman said sternly as they passed Sango and Miroku's hut. Hearing the change in his mother's tone, he obediently closed his mouth.
"Good morning, Kagura-san." Hana greeted, looking up from the pot of boiling water as the shadow entered the main clearing. The thirteen-year old smiled as she got to her feet, moving forward.
"Are you the only one up?" Kagura asked as she handed Aijou over to the younger girl.
"No, Kyouko went to catch some fresh fish." The teen replied, her attention focused on the baby in her arms. The shadow's red eyes scanned the area, her breath burning as it entered her body.
Damn…it's getting worse…I don't know how much longer I can put up this front…
"Kagura-san?" The teen's voice drew her attention again. "Are you alright?" Both Hana and Aijou were watching her carefully.
Another forced smile appeared on the shadow's face. "I'm fine; do you need any help, Hana?" The woman changed the subject.
"Sure, you can help cut up the carrots for lunch's stew." The younger girl replied with a smile, letting the argument go.
"Hungry, Hana!" Aijou put in. The females laughed as they nodded. Kagura handed him a carrot piece to tide him over until the others were up.
Nintoujyou is the attack Jaken uses when he uses the Staff of Two Heads.