It's time to begin again. Took a much longer break than I expected because this was just a bad month for me. Chapter 30-32 will be posted within a day of each other. Chapter 33 will be posted for October 31. Thanks so much for the reviews, they made me happy. Here's chapter 30 you lovable lots. Also there were some simple spelling errors in the last two chapter that I had to fix. Barely noticeable.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters to Inuyasha.
Chapter 30: The calm before the Storm
Kirara reached the shrine early the next morning with the reply from the western palace. In the letter it stated that Kagome have had a few incidents of her own, and that it was probably best if they all regrouped. Certain things had to be discussed in person, most of which concerned Meichiko and Naraku. So, through an unanimous decision, they all decided to leave at once. Inuyasha ran ahead with Kikyou on his back. Sango and Miroku followed behind on Kirara. Despite Sango's protest, the monk insisted on going along. He was still in pain and bleeding from some of the wounds but he guaranteed he could handle the journey.
As the sun began to rise higher, and noon got closer, Inuyasha decided it was best to stop for a while. Sango took that time to check on Miroku's injuries and change his bandages. "You should have stayed."
"I'm a selfish man. I did not want to sit around doing nothing so excuse me for for being a burden." Miroku replied wincing when Sango cleaned out his wounds.
"You not a burden." Inuyasha said keeping his eyes on their path.
"Is something wrong? You seem on edge." Sango asked as she wrapped the monk in clean bandages.
"A storm is coming."
"Should we find a place to shelter?" Kikyo questioned looking in the same direction he was.
Inuyasha shook his head. "No. By the time it arrives we should be at the western palace."
"Then is there something else bothering you?"
The hanyou was quiet for a short time. "I don't think it's anything important."
"Your not the type to worry about unnecessary things Inuyasha." Sango commented. "Tell us what's on your mind."
"It just might make all our other problems worse."
"Oh for the love of- would you just tell us?!"
"It's strange don't you think? We haven't had any run ins with Naraku, except for Miroku of course. But anyway, that isn't the problem on my mind. When we first got Mizuki, her mother and father were killed because of demons attacking them for a shard. Then we were also attacked demons when we first left the western palace."
"Inuyasha-"
"Who is the only person we know that would send multiple demons just for one shard? I kept thinking it was strange but I left it alone because I was being stubborn. Naraku may have been behind it all."
"I could find out for you." Kikyou said. "My soul collectors can gather information for me."
"It's been a month since then." Inuyasha responded a little doubtful.
"The spirit of the dead leaves behind trails, memories and such. I can collect what we need from that."
"Well if that's settled, I suggest we keep moving." Miroku commented standing up.
"Don't push yourself." Sango said watching him carefully.
"I'll be fine. After all the sooner we get there the better."
"Suddenly it feels as if you and Inuyasha have switched places."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, Inuyasha is the one who usually rushes us while you're the one to always think and question our situation."
"I just want us to be careful this time around," Inuyasha stated. The others watched him as he stared of in the distance. When they were all set to go, they continued forward to the western palace.
Kagome rotated her shoulder before stringing her bow. It was just her luck, when she finally was able to practice again, the bow string snapped. It took her about ten tries to finally get a new string attached. She tugged on the string before notching an arrow and firing a test shot. "Perfect."
"Your basic skills needs improvement."
Kagome huffed and turned to face the daiyoukai. He was sitting away from her, Mizuki carefully wrapped in his pelt and Rin decorating the pup's hair with flowers. It was such a cute scene, Kagome felt she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. "What do you mean by that?"
"It took you too long to string that bow," he replied.
"I never once had my bow string break so there was never a need to." She pluck the string and watched as it vibrated. "I did pretty well for my first try don't you think?"
"Hn." He turned her attention away from her and toward Hayate, who was busy training the young kitsune. They were practicing defensive techniques, and how to properly disarm an opponent. Shippo had a concentrated look on his face as he listened to every detailed instruction Hayate gave him. He took each step with caution but much confidence. In time the boy would make a great warrior.
"The kit has not had much training has he?" Sesshomaru asked never taking his eyes off them.
"None," Kagome answered, continuing firing her arrows at a target. "We had to always rely on our friends to protect us. Even now I still do."
"Now it is most difficult to protect yourself," he said stealing a glance at the little inu in his pelt. "You now have another life to protect."
"As do you," Kagome muttered quietly to herself, although he heard her quite well.
Sesshomaru made no indication that he heard her. He switched his attention between the miko, the kit, Rin and the pup. Just when did the number of people around him start to increase? He could still recall the times when he was alone, traveling across his lands. Back then he spent less time at the palace, and even when he was there the only ones he allowed in his presence was Hayate and Tsume. The tori had a bad habit of trying to get him to show any amount of emotion, most of which was annoyance. Soon after traversing alone, he gained Jaken as his retainer. As obnoxious as the imp was, Sesshomaru found him to be useful at times and loyal. Then he managed to tame Ah-Un, and for a long while they were the only ones he tolerated. It would be many years, after the humiliation dealt by his half-brother, that he would meet Rin.
Rin, a tiny human child who should be below his notice had impacted his life greater tan any one else. What had started as a test for Tensaiga soon became much more. He had not cared much when the little girl followed him around, but now he couldn't imagine what it would be like if she never did. Well, he could, but it would seem very...dull. And now... he had Kagome, Shippo and Mizuki with him. Who would have thought there would come a day when he would protect the miko who traveled with his brother. The girl, who on several occasion dared to insult him and fire an arrow at him. And with her came the young kitsune, another of Inuyasha's companions, and an inu youkai pup. So yes, the number of beings to protect had increased, and Sesshomaru found himself caught between hating it and not minding the change at all. If he was his old self, this situation would be laughable, pitiful, and disgracing.
The small sounds of giggling interrupted his thoughts, and once again he realized he lost focused with his surroundings. He turned his attention to the two young females at his side. Somehow Rin had gotten the idea to cover parts of his pelt in flowers. Completely oblivious to the fact that he was now watching her, the girl continued to loop flowers in the fur. He gazed over to the pup and almost sighed. Mizuki's hair was parted in two and braided with flowers weaved in it. There was so much, it looked like the pup's hair was made entirely of flowers.
"Rin," he finally said after a while.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin answered never looking up from her task.
"Too much flowers."
The little girl paused and smiled up at the inu. "There's no such thing as too much flowers."
He turned when he heard a short laugh. His eyes landed on Hayate, who tried desperately to hide the smile sneaking on his face. Noticing he was being glared at, the tori pointed in the direction of the laugh. Sesshomaru fixed his sights on Kagome. The young girl was turned away from him, but he could clearly see her shoulders shaking. "Miko." He called out sternly.
Kagome flinched when she heard him. She turned slightly and looked at him. "Yes?" By now Rin had covered nearly half his pelt with flowers. It was such a weird sight that she couldn't hold it in any more. She started to laugh... hard.
At first he was insulted. She was laughing at him. She dared to laugh at him. Then as he watch her cheeks turn red and listened to the sound she made when she laughed, he didn't seem to mind it. He just stared at her and realized this was the first time he had ever seen her so happy. Sure she smiled and laughed when she was around the children but this was the first she had done so in his presence.
It was a short while when her laughter finally settled down. She wiped the few tears that slipped during her giggle fest and looked at the inu. He was staring at her with no emotion or reaction at all. Blushing, she quickly remembered just who it was she was laughing at. "I'm sorry. I did not mean any insult. It's just that... the flowers suit you very much."
Hayate snorted at the statement and quickly returned his attention to Shippo. "Let's see how well your offensive skills are and we'll move on from there." The energy from the kit was enough to distract him from the inu and miko.
Sesshomaru ignored the tori... for the moment at least, and stayed watching the miko. By the reddening of he face he guessed she was now embarrassed. "You seem happy." He commented, never changing the neutral look on his face.
"I am," was her response. She watched as he faced Rin and whispered something to her. The young child smile brightened as she ran towards Kagome, kimono full of flowers.
"Rin will make Kagome's hair pretty with flowers." The young girl said kneeling next to her.
"Eh? Really?"
"Lord Sesshomaru said it would make Kagome smile more."
"He did?" Kagome stared at the daiyoukai. His face was as emotionless as ever but she could feel it. Whether, he would ever admit it himself, the great killing perfection was content. Suddenly as if a clock chimed, they both turned their attention to the northern skies. There was a storm coming, and it was going to be big.
Well that's that. Thought I should still throw in a little character development for Sesshomaru and a little fluff here and there. Chapter 31 will be up next and so forth and so forth. Sorry you waited for so long. This week is the last of October, I'm sure you all know. I'll try not to risk this happening again. So hope you liked it. Please review, it's always a delight. Lot's of things will be happening with the plot. For one thing it will be moving forward. Second some insight to the antagonist of this story (to which one I'll leave you guessing).