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An Unlikely Fellowship Chapter 18: Hardship and Healing
Her soft ruby eyes scanned the campsite cautiously, all the fish youkai seemed to be asleep and Balorog wasn't any where to be found...that meant that she could have some time to her self. The cloaked female kitsune softy crept out of the clearing. Deep into the lush green forest she trotted smelling the fresh, non-fish tainted air. "Beautiful..." was all she said as she removed the hood her head. The moonlight shined gently upon her snow colored hair that sprinkled ice blue at it's very tips. The kitsune's pale ears also had the ice color smoothed out at their tips.
She was a sight to see, beautiful but...sad... Her dainty clawed hands reached up to her slender neck. There, a gruesome collar gripped tightly around it. Because of the accursed thing, she was a prisoner to the famori king; a slave forever to fight for him until he was killed. It seemed to her, that the damned fish could never die, that she was forced to be his weapon until she died. However, hope filled her scarlet orbs tonight, the blessing at the river told the young kitsune that she had a chance. Maybe, if she could find whoever purified the river and convince them to join Sesshomaru's team, every thing would be perfect.
She pulled out a long golden chain with a ruby crystal attached to the end of it, the same magnificent color as her eyes. A dear, dear friend had given this to her along time ago...when she was still free. A silver tear fell from her eye as she remembered her past with this dear person. He was a loner most of the time, wild, cunning, and extremely handsome to her. The greatest demon thief there was...but...he was taken from her...murdered. A holy warrior from the west had slain him.
Her eyes glowed a fierce blizzard like blue as she swore revenge on the damned ningen. She closed her eyes and leaned against a tree. A memory of her foolishness haunted her...she had tracked the one who killed her friend to a distant western land. She had been so angry that she almost murdered the innocent children that came form that man's clan. At the time, she didn't care...she wanted to wipe them all off the face of the planet. Then the warrior came, baring his holy power in a rage.
"Why have you come, fox? To feed off my family's children?" Her eyes had blazed with a deep ice flame as she yelled to him, "FOOL! I DO NOT EAT CHILDREN! I HAVE COME FOR REVENGE FOR MY FRIEND THE SILVER ONE!" The warrior's cobalt orbs filled with sadness, "I am sorry, vixen. Your friend was doing evil to the defenseless...you do not have to go the way he did...it is a path only to end in one's own misery." The kitsune opened her eyes, how right the warrior was...she should have listened to him. But no, her heart was full of hatred and she lashed out at him with her katana. The warrior easily knocked her away into the river...He was merciful...but the demons in the river where not.
They beat her nearly to death, she had already been overwhelmed by the holy warrior and couldn't fight the lesser demons. They dragged her under the currents until they threw her to their king, Balorog. Balorog saw the power in her and made her a salve fighter for the Gathering...Damn him... Her thoughts went back to her dead friend as a sad sweet song rose from her lips...
"I listen to the wind and watch as the water rushes by.
I see you off in the distance and I know I am home.
I see your loving smile, and I hear the voi-"
"Now why don't you ever sing that to me, fox?" interrupted a cold, evil voice from the trees. The kitsune's eyes flashed ice again as she hissed, "Go to hell, Balorog." The fish king laughed as his green hair dangled behind him, "In due time, my slave. What is that horrid thing around your neck?" She growled at the oversized salmon, "Idiot, it's the slave collar you put on me." His eyes teased her as they wandered to the golden chain, " No, I am rather fond of that, I was talking about that golden chain your clinging so desperately to." He sprang down from his perch with a hint of annoyance emanating from him, "Another male gave that to you didn't he? Foolish woman, you belong to me and only me."
She roared in pure rage at him, "I BELONG TO NO ONE!" Suddenly she felt her breath escaping from her as the collar began to tighten around her neck. Balorog smirked at the woman as she fell to the ground trying to rip the collar from her. While she was distracted with that, the fish king tore the beautiful chain from her neck. "Eh...a male fox's scent...how disgusting..." With that, Balorog threw the necklace into the forest as tears of hate and sadness bucketed from the Kitsune's coughing figure on the ground. "Y-YOU BAS-BASTARD!" She cried as she reached for her katana. Once again the vixen was overcome by the collar's power on her.
"Remember, Ria! You belong to me!" Roared the famori as a chain of pure energy appeared in his scaly hand as it wrapped around the poor girl's collar. "Now come, we are leaving!" He laughed as he dragged the weeping Ria with him. The golden chain, still clinging tightly to the ruby crystal, glistening in the moonlight as if it was crying it's self.
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Shippo danced in the early morning sunlight, he was so happy to be with Kagome and Kurama. He had learned so many new tricks from the silver fox already. He bounded over to Inu Yasha with joy in his eyes, he didn't admit it, but the hanyou was like a big brother to him. "Inu Yasha!" He called hoping to get the dog's attention, "Look at my new trick that Kurama showed me!" Inu Yasha didn't even notice the kit, he felt horrible and the last thing he wanted was to play with a brat.
"Inu Yasha! Come on! It's really, really cool!" The hanyou snapped, "I DON'T CARE SHIPPO! LEAVE ME ALONE!" The kit's eyes filled with tears, why did he have be so mean all the time? Suddenly, fist pounded into the hanyou, knocking the doggy-man right off his feet. Inu Yasha angrily rose to his feet as he glared at the perpetrator, Yusuke. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR GREASE-MONKEY?" Yusuke's brown eyes seemed to glow a deep red, "That was for being an ass-hole to a kid, mutt! What the hell is up with your, 'I feel sorry myself' attitude all the damn time? It's really starting to piss the hell out of me!"
"Feh! Like you would understand cave-man! Your so called tough-guy attitude isn't as flattering as well!" Yusuke prepared a fighting stance, "Oh really? Well at least I don't take my anger out on little kids!" Inu Yasha froze and lowered his head, "...Yeah...I guess you're right for once, gorilla-brains." Shippo smiled at Yusuke who smiled back, even though Yusuke was a good for nothing, he always seemed to respect children. The spirit detective arched an eye brawl at the hanyou, "Could the reason your so down have something to do with Kagome? She's been acting strange."
Inu Yasha's eyes popped open, grease-monkey hit it right on the nail. "It's none of your business..." "Keh, you can be so whiny you know that? Instead of being such a pussy bout it, why don't you say you're sorry?" The inu growled at the Spirit detective, "It's not that simple!" Yusuke smirked as his eyebrows raised with mockery, "Really? Did you run off with another woman, Dog-brain?" Inu Yasha tripped over with astonishment, The ningen had hit the nail once more.
"You weren't with Kikyo again last night where you?" asked Shippo as an aura of anger surrounded him. Yusuke turned around and faced the inu, "Kikyo? Who the hell is Kikyo? You aren't two-timing Kagome are you?" Shippo bounded on to Yusuke's shoulder, "Well, from what I have heard from Miroku, Inu Yasha Loves them both!" The hanyou sprung from the ground and dashed toward the kit but halted as he saw where the little kitsune had taken refuge, "Shippo! Mind your own business!"
Yusuke
shot a death glare at the dog, "You know, Kagome cares a lot about
you...If I were you, I'd pick the one I have the strongest feelings for
and stop leading on the other. It won't hurt the other girl so badly
that way"
Inu Yasha grabbed the street punk by the collar of his
shirt, "And what the hell would you know about women? I bet you're
GAY!" Yusuke's aura blazed, "What the hell did you say?" The dog man
smirked as he smelt the anger rise from Yusuke, "I'll put into terms
you'll understand monkey. U-R-G-A-Y!" Yusuke's body shuttered with
rage. Feeling the sense of danger, Shippo bounded off Yusuke's shoulder
and ran to the safety of Kurama's arms crying, "KURAMA-SENSEI! Yusuke
is going to kill Inu Yasha!"
Suddenly, the sounds of a gruesome battle begun. "Geez, what did Inu Yasha say to Urameshi this time?" Kuwabara asked as he approached the two foxes with Sango and Miroku. "YUSUKE! INU YASHA! We have no time for this foolishness!" Shouted Miroku as he charged into the fight separating the two with his rod.
Sango sighed as she muttered, "Inu Yasha has been much more childish recently." Kuwabara scratched the back of his head as he replied to his friend, "Nah, I just think that having Urameshi here bothers him. I mean, the two of them are very much alike. And I mean, very." "Sit." Called a voice from behind the group. Suddenly, Inu Yasha plummeted to the ground. Yusuke growled as he stomped away from the hanyou and the houshi, "Serves you right! I was just trying to help!"
Miroku sighed as he stared at the hanyou sulking on the ground, "I swear, the two of you act like spoiled children." Sango nodded as she and Kuwabara continued an forward. As Kuwabara passed the hanyou he shouted, "Try to cheer up, man!" "Inu Yasha..." said a soft voice. The dog-man raised his head to met the soft stare from Kagome, "Please don't fight with Yusuke." Inu Yasha rose form where he had fallen, not breaking the gaze between the two if them, Yusuke's words echoed in his head as he finally whispered, "Kagome...I...I'm...Sorry."
Kagome's face brightened a bit as she smiled at him. "Thank you, Inu Yasha. It's all right, don't worry about it!" she said in a cheery voice. Inu Yasha felt the stone in his heart lift, Kagome was so forgiving. Heck, maybe Grease-monkey did know or thing or two about women. He would have to thank him later. "Ahem," said a voice from in front of them, "We mustn't keep the others waiting shall we?"
It was that damn fox, Kurama. Inu Yasha's faced glowed red with embarrassment and bashfulness, the foxes had seen the whole thing. Quickly the hanyou raced away with Shippo bounding closely after him. Kagome's smile faded back to the sad face as she began to continue her walk, only to have her arm gently seized by the concerned Kurama. "Kagome," he cooed softly, "Tell me, what is wrong? You seem very upset."
'That mutt was with another woman last night, fox,' Echoed Hiei's voice inside Kurama's mind. Kurama's eyes widened with shock, 'Hiei, how do you know this?' 'Hn,' grumbled the koorime's voice, "How do you think? I was there.' Kurama's voice filled with pity, 'I see...where are you Hiei?' 'Away, I need to be alone, right now. Fox, do me a favor.' 'Yes?' asked Kurama with curiosity. 'Confront the miko...' The kitsune's attention suddenly was caught, 'Of course, but why me?' There was a slight pause in the mental connection when Hiei muttered with sadness, 'Because...I...I do not know how...'
'Hiei,' Kurama said with concern as he tried to contact his friend, however, the Fire youkai had cut the connection. "Kurama, you don't have worry it was nothing re-" "Kagome...I'm sorry about what happened to you." Kagome suddenly found herself in the warm embrace of Kurama, "Don't be sad, Kagome. You are not alone and you'll never be alone." Warm tears streamed from Kagome's beautiful eyes, she was happy to have such wonderful new friends.
A black figure watched silently from the trees as he masked his presence. Kagome was alright now and that was all that mattered to him.
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Botan walked slowly down the unseen path lead eagerly by Rin. In front of them, the Giant of Raccoon-dog and the pompous lord of the western lands strode together as they drew closer and closer to a giant mountain. "Botan-oniichan...Rin has a bad feeling." Botan smiled at the little girl and patted her raven head, "It's alright Rin-chan. You've got me here," she paused for a moment and glared at the taiyoukai adding with much sarcasm, "and the "GREAT" Lord Sesshomaru!" Sesshomaru growled in deep threatening tone. How dare that wench, no one spoke to him like that. He would have to punish her later.
Suddenly, the rumble of the jolly laughter roared form Seiko, "You better watch out Fluffy-sama. She sounds dangerous!" Sesshomaru glared at his old nana with bitter anger in his golden eyes, "I told you, Seiko. Never call this Sesshomaru, Fluffy." Seiko simply smiled with her fanged teeth, and turned her gaze toward her mountain home. "Here we are, Home sweet home!" Lifting up her humungous Hammer, Mune, she struck a certain part of the mountain wall shouting, "Mother's home!"
With a loud rumble, the wall came lose and many different types of children running out to the old raccoon, hugging and kissing their foster mother. Botan smiled, to think that there would exist such a kind old youkai that would take in any type of child. People like her where rare, even in the Spirit World. Seiko smiled at Rin and purred, "Rin-chan, why don't you go and play with my children? They are all very nice and well behaved." A random girl with cherry pink hair and pointy ears raced up to her, "Yeah, come and play with us Rin-chan!" Rin was ecstatic, there where hardly any children for her to play with in Sesshomaru's palace. Quickly, she ran off with the group of children just as a short and extremely muscular man approached the elders.
"Seiko-sama, we actually went way above schedule for the Swan. I believe you will be pleased," the dwarf announced. Sesshomaru strode forward to the blacksmith, "How much is completed?" The dwarf smirked as he stroked hairy beard, "It is done." Sesshomaru's golden eye glinted with pleasure, "Good, then I shall have to collect my fighters." He turned to Botan with a wide smirk appearing on his face, "Well then, Bitch. Shall we leave, now?" Botan growled as the Lord of the Western Land strode toward her, Quickly she placed her hands behind her back, making her trusty ore appear. There was no way in hell that this dog would use her. As soon as the taiyoukai stood in front of her, she slammed her boat ore across his head, knocking him to the ground.
Seiko and her dwarf friend stared in shock as the lady of death then quickly took to the sky at top speed. "Lord Sesshomaru!" the dwarf cried, "Are you alright?" The lord spoke nothing, but a low and extremely angered growl emanated from his body as he rose from the ground. Seiko turned toward her tiny friend, "Get inside now...before he kills you." The dwarf shook his head and ran into the mountain hideout. Sesshomaru turned toward his old nana, his eyes bleeding red with hate.
"Sesshomaru," Seiko said softly, "Calm down. Don't do any thing stupid." Suddenly the lord's body changed into a giant white Dog, howling with rage. Seiko growled sternly, "Sesshomaru-sama, don't do it. She was just protecting her self." The Dog roared at the raccoon-dog and bounded away after the tiny grim reaper. Seiko sighed with worry, "Oh kami, please don't let him kill her. I'm too, old to stop him myself."
Botan raced through the trees sensing the enraged dog lord quickly catching up. "Botan you idiot! You just had to hit the Lord of Western Lands didn't you? Yusuke! Where ever you are, PLEASE HELP ME!"
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Ok Here's the scope peeps...It maybe a long time before I update this story again. I have a basic Idea of where I want to go with it but I just have no inspiration to write it for the time being. BUT I will have some new stories up soon and I'm sure you'll enjoy them!